The Dungeon Fairy: A Dungeon Core Escapade (The Hapless Dungeon Fairy Book 1) by Jonathan Brooks (read novel full .txt) 📕

didn’t even think about what her name would be; obviously, she couldn’t use her actual name, because that would probably negate everything she was trying to do with the misdirection of her corpse. For all her smarts and perceived knowledge, she couldn’t think of a proper name.

Shale was staring at her in suspicion, so she started to blurt out her name, changing it at the last moment.  “Ta-mara.  Tamara, my name is Tamara.”  She knew she sounded stupid, but Shale seemed not to notice anything wrong with it.

“Nice to meet you, Tamara.  I have to admit that I’m a little nervous about being your Assistant.”

Tacca/Tamara spoke without thinking.  “Why?  Because you think I killed the previous Fairy?”

Shale’s face lost a lot of its color, which made him look odd.  “N-no, not because of that, but now that you mention it I’m even more nervous now,” he said with a stutter.  Taking a deep breath – she assumed to calm himself down – he continued.  “Actually, I’m nervous because you’re my first Dungeon Core that I’ve been Bonded to.  I just finished my training – actually, I got pulled out a little early – and got sent straight here to retrieve Tacca and take over for her.  So, if I seem a little hesitant, I apologize; I have the knowledge, but this is my first time actually speaking and interacting with a Core.”

She told him that was fine, and that she was actually doing fine without him.  His face fell at her words, so she tried to explain; she didn’t want to hurt him unnecessarily, but she also didn’t want him to stick around if she could help it.  “Tacca explained a lot to me and I think I have a really good grasp on how all this ‘Dungeon Core’ stuff works.  It was amazing how much she seemed to know about even the smallest things; we used to talk late into the night about the best strategies to use for my development.  I’ll miss her dearly…but she set me up for success quite well and I don’t really need any help from here.  You said that you…Dungeon Assistants…are in short supply, so I can certainly Dismiss your Bond and you can go help someone that really needs it.”

His face was a complex up-and-down of emotions as she spoke.  First he looked hurt that she didn’t need him, then happy when she said he could leave and go somewhere else, followed by sadness and disappointment.  “Thank you for the offer, but I have specific orders to stay here just under a year by the Lead Placement Council Member.”

“Lily?”

He looked shocked.  “What?”

Whoops.  “Uh…I said, ‘Really?’  I think if you go back to this…uh…Council Member…and explain the situation to her—him—whoever—that they’ll let you go somewhere else.  I have this well in hand here, so I’m not too worried.”

Again he looked suspicious, but he obviously wanted out bad enough that he didn’t question his good fortune.  “I need to go back and make a quick report, and I guess it couldn’t hurt to ask…as long as you’re alright with that?  I don’t want to leave you if you really need some help.”

“Nope – I’ll be fine.”

“Good, I’ll be back to let you know their decision and we can break the Bond if they’re sending me somewhere else.  Talk to you later…Tamara.”

Without saying anything else, Shale fluttered away from her Core and activated his Translocation Ability.  Seconds later he was gone and Tacca was alone again – which was just how she wanted it.  She could still feel the Bond with the other Dungeon Assistant, however, and knew that she could communicate with him if she had need.

Not that I need him, of course; I hope he can convince Lily that I can be left alone and be sent somewhere else.  I have a feeling, though, that I’m not going to be that lucky – because that has worked out for me so far…

Chapter 16

Tacca didn’t see any sign of Shale over the next two days, nor was his Bond broken by the Council; she wasn’t sure what was going on, but when he didn’t return almost immediately she held out hope that he was in the process of being reassigned.  At least, she hoped that’s what it meant instead of something more sinister – though she couldn’t imagine what that might be.

Regardless, it gave her time to finish trapping every available space of her four rooms, placing an additional 400 small Confusion Enchantment Traps on the floors, walls, and even the ceilings until she nearly ran out of room.  She could see a spot in her boss room for another few dozen, but that was about it as far as space was concerned.  Just in case Shale came back – which could theoretically be at any time – she didn’t trap any of her Core Room; while he should theoretically be safe as long as he had his Invisibility activated (most traps used a visual trigger mechanism), there was the possibility that he might forget to turn it on.  It wouldn’t necessarily hurt him, but she didn’t want to scare him any more than he already seemed to be around her.

Shale still hadn’t returned – nor had he communicated with Tacca/Tamara even though he could from a distance – by the time her second month as a Dungeon Core was up.

Congratulations, Tacca GloomLily!

You have reached Core Improvement Level: 3

You have reached Core Improvement Level: 4

Current CIP Countdown: 0/400 in 30 days

Core Improvement Points earned: 500 (500)

Special Characteristic Points earned: 50 (75)

Congratulations, Tacca GloomLily!

You have reached Assistant Rank: Novice

You have reached Assistant Stage: 4

Current Experience Countdown: 0/400 in 30 days

Maximum Fairy Mana: +100

Fairy Mana Regeneration: +4 per minute

New Ability: Healing Aura

That’s what I’m talking about!  The shortened countdown from a year