This time, it's me and Sini. Is the dungeon going to cycle through all permutations? I wonder what algorithm it's using to group us. It will be interesting to see at the end.

"Thank you for giving us a chance, Lucius." She laughs softly. "Another chance, that is." I just nod.

"Sini."

"What is it, Lucius?"

"I don't hold any animosity against you. Don't... You don't have to try so hard to... I don't know. ...Earn something back?" Man, I'm bad at this.

"No. I do." She stares straight ahead, raising her arms and getting the arena ready. Spires of ice start jutting out from all surfaces. "I was so focused on what the world owed me, I forgot what I owed to the world." Crackling, purple energy starts forming on the floor and between the icy structures. "I forgot why I became an adventurer in the first place."

"What I am trying to say is, let's just put the past behind us."

"Okay, Lucius."

Cloaked figures start appearing from within the energy. In their hands, they each hold a staff, wood growing around blue crystals.

I draw my sword. "I like the new hair color by the way. Suits you."

She quickly runs a hand through a lock. "Aww, thank you." The spires explode into deadly splinters, shattering the Skeleton Mages' shields and pulverizing them into fragments.

I sheathe my sword. "Uhm... Done anything fun lately?"

"Klara and I went to a really pretty cafe last week." She adds, "Klara's my daughter." And then continues, "She gorged on so much cake, she fell asleep in her chair. It was so precious." Sini stretches her back and groans lightly. "Had to carry her all the way home. A harsh reminder I should work out more."

"Why not just teleport?"

"And waste the perfect opportunity to cuddle her when she's so defenseless? No way."

I smile. "How old is she?"

"Turned eight a few months back." Sini looks me in the eyes. Another thanks remains unsaid.

The disruption whisks us back together.

I turn to the older of the two brothers. "Dibs on Miv."

The voice silently fulfils my request, as we are moved once more for battle.

Miv glances around the space. "I shall refrain from expressing gratitude, Luci. I am sure my teammates have fulfilled that obligation." I hum in response. He flourishes his sword, ready for the appearing threat. "Good."

The flavor of the current encounter is Skeleton Warriors. Compared to their lesser variant, these monstrosities of bone and steel differ significantly. Gone is the disorientated onslaught, replaced with an almost malicious formation. The ten undead start slowly spreading out, intent on surrounding us. Gleaming swords held in both gauntleted hands, silvery armor glinting with sticky, purple light. Their red eyes are glowing dimly, studying every one of our movements and reactions.

Miv is entirely unbothered by the encroaching enemy, merely waiting for their eventual arrival. "I really hope we can continue working together. I meant what I said back then. Even if my intentions were less than stellar," he says and does another elaborate flourish, his sword starting to glow a soft pink.

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I unsheathe my sword and roll my right shoulder, loosening it up a bit. "I would like that, Miv. I... You need only ask." I would do anything for you. For all of you. That is my purpose... Maybe my only purpose... Something grips my mind and lets go, just a cold imprint left from the touch.

Miv exhales out, selecting a target. "I am thankful, Luci. Kindness has been"—he chuckles under his breath—"in short supply for me, for us." A warrior falls into two pieces. A pink line lingers in the air for a moment.

The rest of the undead rush as one, momentarily stumbling through metal wire half a meter off the floor. The powerful skeletons shear my thread into pieces, but I still disrupt their charge.

"Strong," I remark and engage one side.

Miv sends a few more slices to the other, cutting them all down. Through the clatter of metal and bone I hear, "You'll get stronger." He stabs the tip of his blade in the ground and lightly rests on the handle, observing my fight. "Archmage Elisa will make sure of it." A pink glow is stopping the sword from plunging any deeper.

I shout out, "What did Pemik tell you!" A skeleton crashes against a wall. Sorry, horror from beyond understanding, you were a comedic prop today. "I swear to the Goddess, if—"

Miv tries to placate me, "Calm yourself, young Luci. On my heart, he did not share the secret you two discussed."

Another skeleton is categorized as prop two. I think the ceiling will be pretty funny. "Just the existence of a secret, then?"

"Pem Pem still carries a smidgen of a grudge it seems." He pulls out his sword and plunges it on the other side, repositioning. "But I am sure his intent was more impish than roguish."

"As long as he didn't share details, I don't mind." I take pity on the remaining props and dispatch them in the conventional way.

Miv pulls out his sword again and sheathes it back in place. He chuckles. "Masterfully done, Luci. It seems our hall master did not exaggerate one bit. Your abilities truly are extraordinary. It fills me with even more confidence about this delve, having you with us."

I sheathe my sword as well and turn to him. "Thank you."

"But the easier these encounters are, the stronger the boss will be. Stay ready."

"Will do."

With the foes slain, we are returned to the waiting room.

Miv addresses the party, "The next encounter will most likely be the boss. Sini."

She nods and covers everyone in rime. The defensive spell grows for a moment and then becomes near transparent.

And as if on cue, or as if it heard us mention it, the voice shakes the ground, "Sublime! The pests survived. Come to me, pests. Show me your worth." The world tilts to the side, when it straightens up, we are not inside a familiar arena.

The ground is made out of solid, black stones, flat and slippery. There is no walls nor ceiling. The enormous space continues on forever, obscured by a purple mist. The mist wafts down from the sky and spills over all around us. Columns of black stone pierce from the ground and continue into the unknown. The data from my sensors is a series of resignation notices.

Dominating the space is a raised throne. It's made of the same black stone. A brutish design. No comfort. Not even utility. Blocky and sharp. Atop the throne sits a garbed figure. Its flowing robes are dark purple, rippling with barely contained energy. The hood partially conceals an eternal expression. Two purple eyes shine dimly within, appearing almost unfocused.

The figure twitches at our arrival and pins us with its gaze, the two purple orbs starting to grow brighter, awakening. It slowly slides its bony hand against a stone armrest, producing a soft scratch. The hand stops, and the walls of mist explode with movement.

Through the clattering of bones, the Lich's whisper tickles our ears, "Entertain me."

Sini shouts, "Domain of Winter!"

The monster raises its hand in response. "This is my domain, witch." Mana swirls, disrupting Sini's spell.

The backlash leaves her momentarily stunned. The boss lowers its hand, an ever-sneering smile on its weathered skull. A spear of ice forms above the throne and shoots for Sini. Pemik looses an arrow that destroys the projectile. He then shoots another up in the air. The arrow detonates, and a blanket of bright, crystalline thorns falls, cutting the first wave of the approaching horde down.

The ice mage recovers from her spell being countered and exhales a breath of condensation.

Miv flicks a quick look at the other two Rangers. "Pemik, Sini, hold back the swarm. It might not stop until the lich falls." The two follow the command, starting to unleash attack after attack. Miv continues, "Luci, with me." I nod, and we rush forward.

The lich's eyes brighten even further, tracking our approach. It stands up in a jerk and takes a few steps toward us.

I make some distance from Miv, using a row of stone columns as temporary cover. Miv's sword glows in a deep red. He unleashes a stroke, still far away from the boss. The red streak impacts a purple shield and dissipates into nothingness, not even leaving a mark. The undead retaliates with a raised hand. An onslaught of electricity connects with the swordsman, getting split into two by his blade, but still stopping Miv in his tracks.

At the same time, I've reached the lich and strike. The tip of my weapon skids over the barrier, ineffectively.

Welp, that was as bad as I expected it to be.

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