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

As large as the Council headquarters reportedly was, it appeared nearly empty; Tacca didn’t see a single other Fairy flying into or out of the carved marble and gold-rimmed entrance, nor did she see anyone as she was immediately forced to stop her exploration in a small, garishly decorated room immediately inside.  There was a sign that said, “Take a seat”, and it was only after she set down, folded her wings along her back, and sat – gratefully, since she was practically exhausted after her flight – on the single bench in the middle of the room that she finally saw someone.

“You’re late…Tacca GloomLily?” a voice said from behind her, prompting her to whip around at the unexpected sound.  Emerging from a hidden panel in the wall behind her was a female Fairy, though Tacca wasn’t sure at first.  Fairies technically aged over time, but for it to really show, it could take many millennia; from the appearance of the one looking at her over a stack of papers, the mystery DPRC member must’ve been around for a long time.  Her short hair was still a vibrant light-blue color, but the Fairy’s face was a mass of wrinkles and lines – something that Tacca had never seen before.

Standing up, she said, “I apologize – I flew all the way here from DAPS—”

“That’s your problem right there, you flew; if you’re ever to be a successful Assistant to a Dungeon Core, you need to learn how to use your Abilities effectively.  You would’ve been better served coming here directly through Translocation rather than having me wait for half a day,” the wizened Fairy said gruffly, while at the same time motioning Tacca to follow her.

How did she even know I was coming?  She immediately felt foolish at her questioning thought; it should’ve been obvious that someone from DAPS must’ve Translocated there with her file as soon as it was determined that she was going to the DPRC.

She followed the other Fairy down a fairly tight hallway, which shortly led to an even smaller office than the one used by Head Instructor Lapis.  The DPRC representative flew over and sat down behind a large desk that took up most of the room, before pointing at a stool in front of the desk.

“Let me introduce myself.  My name is Lily MageDaisy and I’m the Lead Placement Council Member here—”

“Ooh, Lily was my mother’s name!” she exclaimed, before shrinking back down on the stool from the dangerous look coming from the other Fairy.

“I’m well aware of that, Tacca GloomLily, and if you want to live to have children of your own someday I suggest you don’t interrupt me again.”

Tacca somehow shrunk even further down in her stool so that she was basically bent in half, and the look and tone of Lead Placement Council Member Lily made her want to shrink down even more.  There was so much power and authority inside her aged frame that her presence was extremely intimidating.  Just shut your mouth and don’t do anything else to cause her to dislike you any more than she obviously does.

“Anyway, as I was saying – before you so rudely interrupted me – is that I’m the Lead Placement Council Member here, and I normally deal with placing Dungeon Assistants with quite a bit more…seniority.  However, after being informed of your…unique…circumstances, I had to take care of this myself,” the much older Fairy continued.  “I’m assuming you aren’t too sheltered not to know about your portentous origins, yes?”

There was no reason to fake understanding, since that almost certainly wouldn’t go over well.  “Yes, I’m quite aware.”

“Well then, that will make this much easier.  There isn’t anything in your file about how your Mentor training went other than it was completed; would you care to expound on that?”

Tacca had been fervently trying to forget what happened through her entire flight there, so she was reluctant to share her experience; plus, Head Instructor Lapis distinctly stressed that it wouldn’t be a great idea telling anyone what had actually happened, though it was more for his School’s benefit than hers.  Still, she thought it was probably prudent not to mention it unless she was expressly ordered to.  “It was…an experience, that’s for sure,” was all she said, though she was prepared to provide more detail if she was pressed.

Lead Placement Council Member Lily apparently didn’t care to dig too deep.  “That’s fine, it doesn’t really matter anyway.  Your test scores are quite impressive, which works perfectly for my needs; having a Fairy that can think on her feet and use her smarts to provide Assistance to a Core is essential to success. Luckily for you, I have just the Core in need of your particular skills.  I’m not going to lie and say it won’t be a challenge, but I’m sure you’ll be fine,” she said, her smile mirroring the same disingenuous one she had just recently seen on the Head Instructor’s face.

Before Tacca could request any more information about her assignment, she was mentally sent the visual for where she was supposed to go – and then ushered quickly out of the room and hallway to the waiting room she had briefly sat down in when she first arrived.  There was a hollow thud behind her as the panel hiding the passageway to Lily’s office was shut, and even knowing exactly where it was the entrance was very difficult to see when she looked for it.

She stood there with her head spinning from the abrupt meeting and subsequent dismissal; after a few minutes of her mind coming to terms with what just occurred, she finally spread her wings and flew out of the garish waiting room.  When she was in the open air, Tacca looked around and still didn’t see anyone nearby, which seemed strange for such an important place.  I guess new Assistants