The Only Son Amongst The Daughters Of Eros

"They\'re alive! They made it, I\'m sure." Bel\'s voice followed, though faint. "Dig through! We\'ll get to them!"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"That could take forever."

"We don\'t have any other choice. We are not moving on without Alzera and the kid."

Ryn crossed his arms, his sharp gaze fixed on the blockade. "I would warp through it, but I can\'t see the other side and so it\'s possible. Digging through it is a problem. That thing looks ready to collapse again at the slightest touch."

Kael frowned. "Well, we don\'t have many options. Unless you have a better idea?"

He didn\'t reply immediately, his expression unreadable as he scanned the towering wall of stone. "Abandoning them is off the table so it seems like I don\'t."

"I guess we\'re going to dig then. Come on!"

Ryn sighed, wiping sweat from his brow and lowering his mask. "This is going to be a long day."

"Then stop talking and start climbing," Bel said, already stepping toward the rubble.

~ ~ ~

The scanty forest outside the cave was eerily quiet, broken only by the soft shuffle of the paws and wings of two beautiful Beast Companions cutting through the air.

Rosette and Misty rode on the backs of their mounts, the large Owlbear and Misty\'s Horsesparrow.

Their presence as usual was imposing as anyone would be seated on such gallant beasts as they approached the cave entrance. Misty leaned forward slightly on her beast, her sharp eyes scanning the entrance. Her hand hovered near the hilt of her sword, as though expecting trouble.

"Is this the place?" Misty asked with a shaky voice. "What would Aeric be doing in caves?"

\'Concorting his evil plans, I\'m sure!\' Rosette, seated regally atop her Owlbear, nodded. Her eyes were fixed on the cave. "This is where Bardie tracked his Silverwolf. The beast should be inside. We have to check."

"Not before you," Misty muttered, staring at the cave like it was the entrance to hell.

As they approached, a low growl emanated from the shadows of the cave. Slowly, Sylver stepped into view, his silver coat glinting faintly in the darkness of the cave. His eyes burned with hostility, his growl growing louder as he stepped protectively toward the entrance, barring their way.

"He certainly doesn\'t like us," Rosette remarked.

Misty whimpered, uncertain.

"Sylver," Rosette said, her voice steady but with a touch of disdain. "Step aside. We\'re here for your master. Where\'s Aeric?"

The wolf\'s growl deepened, his fangs bared in a clear warning.

"Rosie?" Misty whispered urgently, tugging on her sister\'s sleeve. "Perhaps this is a good moment to remember that Sylver is ranked higher than our beasts. We shouldn\'t provoke him. You know he hates us."

"And whose fault is that?" Rosette snapped.

Misty frowned. "You?" she mumbled under her breath, though it was loud enough for her sister to hear.

Rosette shot her a sharp look but said nothing.

She looked at the Silverwolf and saw that it was not messing about. Its posture was unyielding, his glare as cold and unforgiving as ice. If they dared step inside that cave, it was going to demolish them and their beasts.

Grunting, Rosette dismounted, her boots crunching against the gravel. She was about to take a careful step forward when her eyes caught something behind the wolf\'s legs. She crouched, narrowing her eyes as she saw a fragment of fabric.

Rosette\'s heart skipped a beat as she recognized it — Aeric\'s royal clothes. \'So that\'s what it\'s protecting.\' She looked at the wolf. \'Smart beast. Aeric should never have gotten you.\'

Then she stood up and turned around to Misty. "Come on, let\'s go."

"What is it? What did you see?" Misty asked, leaning over from her mount.

"His clothes," Rosette said, returning to her beast. "He was here, but he\'s not inside the cave now."

"Then where—?"

Rosette\'s expression darkened. "I ignored it at first because I thought it was a coincidence, but... there\'s a Dungeon Entrance nearby."

"A Dungeon Entrance?" Misty\'s eyes widened. "What are you saying? You think Aeric…?"

Rosette nodded grimly. "Since he\'s here, it\'s no coincidence. He\'s disguised himself as a commoner, either trying to challenge a Dungeon or plotting his evil plans for Erothyria that has something to do with Dungeons."

Misty frowned, her unease evident. "Again with these \'evil plans.\' Rosie, You always think the worst of him."

Rosette glared at her. "Because he\'s clearly up to something. He\'s not like us physically and so he can not be like us naturally or spiritually. Something else is driving him in this world, Misty. He has a plan."

She looked away and scoffed. "Either way, we\'re not leaving until we figure it out. Now, come on. There is usually a queue of Players who want to challenge, let\'s go check it."

Misty obeyed and the sisters approached the crowd of Players gathered near the Dungeon application board. It was a somewhat lively scene — young warriors in mismatched armor discussing strategies and admiring each other\'s weapons.

After checking for Aeric amongst them and not finding him, Rosette understood that he was already inside the Dungeon.

\'What is he even doing? He\'s way too inexperienced to challenge a Dungeon or any Divine Quest for that matter. What is your evil plan, Aeric?\'

"These ones won\'t enter a Dungeon today," she said to Misty, observing the long line. "If we apply now we\'ll have to wait till tomorrow. We must enter today. Right now in fact."

Misty glanced at her skeptically. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Your journey continues with empire

Rosette thought deeply about that. Then the answer came like it was heaven sent. Her attention was drawn to a squad approaching the entrance, and leading this squad was a striking figure in a green feminine gear, beautiful red hair and long m, adorned ears.

She was the stunning but silent—

"Faeryn of Elysium," Rosette murmured.

Misty\'s eyes widened. "What\'s she doing here?"

Taking initiative, Rosette strode forward, stopping Faeryn and her team in their tracks. "Faeryn, darling! How wonderful to see you."

Faeryn, calm and composed as always, inclined her head. "Rosette. I didn\'t know you challenged Dungeons"

"Wish I could say the same thing about you," Rosette said smoothly. "Challenging Dungeons is pretty much all you do, I\'m told. But shouldn\'t you be challenging the Dungeons in the Elysium Plains?"

"I\'ve already cleared all the Dungeons in my region," Faeryn replied, her tone polite but straightforward. "I wanted to see what Starlight has to offer."

Rosette\'s eyes lit up. "Perfect. This is why you\'ll be taking us with you."

Faeryn hesitated. "It doesn\'t work that way. My team is already prepared—"

"Oh come on. I think your team wouldn\'t mind allowing the Daughters of Eros to work together as they were always meant to." Rosette interrupted. She turned to two of Faeryn\'s teammates, pulling out a pouch of gold. "Ten pieces each. That\'s more than anything you were going to get in the Dungeon."

The two Players exchanged glances before reluctantly grabbing the gold, pocketing it and running away excitedly.

Misty sighed. "Rosie. You always have to buy your way through everything."

Rosette ignored her, turning back to Faeryn. "Well then. It seems you need two new teammates and Misty and I volunteer as tribute. Lead the way!"

Faeryn gave her a long, measured look before nodding. "Very well. But this is my expedition. You follow my rules."

Rosette smiled thinly. "Oh, of course, of course. Lead on."

They entered the Dungeon together.