Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“What do you mean something feels off? Laios, we’re almost at the dragon; we can’t just stop now!” Namari chuffed at the tall man leading the party, seeing him look about the dungeon curiously, pulling a small book from his armor.

“I don’t know. I just feel… eyes. Maybe it's tentacles?” Laios offered with a smile, flipping through the pages of his book ecstatically. “Or a mimic!” he exclaimed, much to the chagrin of the party, especially Chilchuck, who was quick to curse under his breath and begin a scolding before being interrupted.

“Wait…” Falin whispered, her mace fully extended towards the shadows. “Laios is right,” she cooed. The party stared into the void of a hallway in anxious anticipation. A pair of violet eyes soon glowed in the distance, low to the ground. A growl escaped from the same direction. Laios laid a hand on the hilt of his blade, Chilchuck quickly backed away as Shuro and Namari soon stood beside the tall man, the former protectively in front of Falin, prepared for whatever creature might come their way. As the standoff continued, a voice soon echoed over the daunting growl.

“You’re going a bad way… You should probably turn back while that dragon stays on this level a little longer. You’ll have time.”

The voice was odd, soft but shrill at the same time. The party looked among each other with furrowed brows, about to protest before the voice continued.

“We can take you through a shortcut. We know how to get to town quickly,” this new voice purred as the growling stopped. The party was stunned for a moment by the offer. Laios smiled in appreciation, about to reply when a hand clamped tightly over his mouth. Namari soon took his voice as Shuro kept the blonde silent.

“How can we trust you?” she asked through gritted teeth, ignoring the tug at her side as she waited for a response.

“We could have let you go on and die,” the second voice hummed from behind the party, everyone whipping around. “We can tell you’re tired. Hungry. We hear your stomachs,” it cooed.

The tug pulled at Namari’s attention again as Marcille gathered the eyes of the tall men and the dwarf, a look of worry and dread all over her face.

“Whatever these things are, they’re right,” she whispered. “We’re in no state to fight! Falin and I are low on mana, you three are starved, Chilchuck won’t—”

“Can’t!”

“—can’t fight,” she finished in a still hushed voice, though her eye roll was obvious to everyone in the room. The party was silent in concerned thought as they looked around the shadows. A discussion broke out as their voices slowly climbed to a small fight, unable to agree on anything, before Laios spoke above the rest to the voices.

“What’s in it for you all?” he quickly barked out. Silence followed for a few moments, and finally, a single statement.

“Food.”

The silence was deafening as the situation struck a standstill. Not one person dared to break the silence. Except… Laios.

“Just food? That’s easy!” He laughed so sweetly, everyone staring at him in shock before yet another fight broke out. Various party members chimed in about money, their own hunger, and more. Everyone ripped the tall man to shreds besides Falin, who had… wandered off? By the time the party noticed the younger tall man’s disappearance, she was already halfway into the shadow. Her laughter echoed down the halls before she stepped into the dark, waving the party along after. Marcille was the first to let out a shriek, prepping a small fireball with Shuro drawing his blade beside her.

“Wait!” Chilchuck yelped, shoving Marcille lightly as the fireball went out, blasting through the wall of the hallway with a deafening blast.

“What was that?!” she yelled defensively at the half-foot, pushing him away with her foot angrily.

“You’re the one who said we can’t fight, idiot!” he screamed back. Shuro and Namari soon joined in on the argument themselves as Laios found himself distracted, staring at where his sister had disappeared, now visible in the dim light of the wall’s embers. Two figures were speaking with Falin. He took slow steps towards the flame with a furrowed brow. His sister turned and met him in the middle.

“They’re good,” she told him with a smile.

And that was all he needed to hear. If Falin trusted them, so did he. With a smile and a nod, Laios turned to the party.

“Let’s go, everyone!” he called, the siblings turning on their heels to follow the strange shapes ahead of them. The party stopped mid-scuffle in horror, watching as the siblings walked on. Separating with an embarrassed look, they were quick to follow after reluctantly, still arguing in hushed voices.

The now larger group traveled on in near silence, narrow paths turning thinner and more grotesque as they walked, but most of the group didn’t mind. Throughout the whole walk, though, no one truly got a good look at their strange guides. Falin was the closest, and she only explained a bit to her brother. But the party caught the worst highlight: whatever they were following was some type of monster… It took less time than ever for the group to come across the well-lit paths leading to the small trading hub within the dungeon, a sigh of relief escaping each member. Laios was the first to notice their lack of guides, looking about with a frown.

“They left?” he mumbled, Falin looking at him curiously before being pulled away by the party towards civilization. Laios was left by himself to look into the abyss behind them with a frown. A deep sigh escaped him, turning on his heels and heading after the others with a small smile.

“Wait up!” he finally called after them. The eyes reappeared once the quintet was finally out of sight. A small sniffle escaped one.

“Let’s keep an eye on them,” the violet eyes purred behind them, a squeaky “mhm” following soon after.

Chapter Text

“Wait—what?! What do you mean you’re leaving? You’re one of our best fighters, Namari!” Marcille wailed, her voice tinged with desperation. Falin, standing beside her, gave the dwarf a look of concern, her brow furrowing with worry.
“Is it because you’re hurt?” the tall man, Falin, offered softly, his tone gentle and probing. Namari spoke above the pair soon after, her voice steady and resolute.
“No—don’t worry about that, Falin. I’m okay,” she sighed, the weight of her decision evident in her voice. “But we turned back from the dragon. Sure, maybe that’s for the better. We were in a tight spot. But we’re still in a tight spot. I can’t be stuck babysitting a party without pay.” Namari continued a bit gruffly, her words striking a chord of truth. Marcille felt tears prick at her eyes, the reality of their situation sinking in.
“I understand,” Falin replied with a caring smile, about to speak again when Shuro requested her in private. Her cheeks flared up light pink, nodding before following him. The duo talked amongst themselves as Namari was left to Marcille’s cries and Chilchuck’s grumbling. Namari shook her head, feeling the smallest smile perk up.
“Hey now… That doesn’t mean you all can’t beat the thing. It just won’t be with me. I believe in you all!” she told them with a big grin, trying to instill some hope. “Find me when you all do. Maybe I’ll fight alongside you then.” Namari laughed, beginning to walk away just as Laios finally returned to the party.
“And where were you…” Marcille groaned, ignoring the tall man’s questions about Namari’s departure, only for the few that remained to grow entirely silent as Falin returned as well.
“Shuro said he’s going home,” she hummed softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Shocked sounds escaped each member.
“Shuro too?!” Marcille cried, gaining looks from a few other dungeon crawlers, making her clamp a hand over her mouth in embarrassment.
“Aw… I was excited to fight the dragon with him,” Laios groaned, a hand moving to scratch the back of his head. His brow furrowed as he tried to think. “I was hoping he could teach me some more swordsmanship…” He finally sighed, his disappointment palpable.
“He asked me to marry him... And I turned him down,” Falin explained sweetly, Laios’ jaw dropping the moment the words left her mouth. Marcille’s reaction was almost the same, her eyes wide with surprise. The interaction simply left Chilchuck to groan as he debated his departure. But a rumbling stomach made him stop that train of thought, followed by the rumbles of the other three. The quartet looked at each other in slight embarrassment, shuffling through their bags for food or money to their dismay. Nothing.
“I think…” Laios slowly started, pulling the book from his chest plate again, brows furrowed as he was rudely interrupted.
“You think what, Laios?! We’re going to starve! We have no money, nothing to sell, no energy for odd jobs! Just what do you think?” Marcille barked in her upset, folding her arms tightly. Chilchuck nodded in agreement, but he wouldn’t look Laios in the eyes. Even Falin kept her head down. She wasn’t mad at her brother but the situation was worrying. What were they going to do? Were Marcille and Chilchuck next to leave? Sighing, she was about to speak up before her brother’s confidence returned.
“I think we can find perfectly suitable foods here in the dungeon! I have this book of recipes and instructions!” Laios beamed as he explained with his hands, his enthusiasm almost contagious. “If we can just find safe monsters to eat, we should be perfectly fine!” he exclaimed. Everyone looked at him weirdly, especially outsiders. Everyone but Falin. It was in that stunned silence that he thought he heard some scuttling, and Marcille wailing in the background. As the party tried their best to console the half-elf and see if Falin could talk her brother down, he was already long gone, following the sound down a dim hall, ear to wall. The sound inside of it sounded similar to… humanoid steps?
His brows furrowed until he found a crack in the base, attempting to stick his blade in to check with caution. Careful movements jabbed something solid. A few more pokes… A… a leg? Laios couldn’t help but freeze with a tilted head, about to stick his hand into the crevice with a hello when a scorpion’s tail sprang into the cloth wrapped about his blade. Shaking his head slowly, he must have imagined it. He dragged the scorpion out before using a single, quick motion to kill it, walking to the party with his hunt.
“And here’s dinner!” he said, holding out the dead critter happily, much to Marcille’s dismay.
“THAT?!” she shrieked. “ABSOLUTELY NOT!! What if it is poisonous?!” she continued in a wail, Falin’s hand finding a place on her back.
“Laios knows a lot about monsters, Marcille. If he says it’s safe, I trust him,” Falin purred, giving her brother a short nod. “Either way… I found a walking mushroom on our way here… Maybe we can use this too, right big brother?” she asked in excitement, pulling the dead critter from her bag as Marcille stared in horror.
And with that, our adventurers found a quiet place to settle. Chilchuck retrieved the water as Laios read up on the recipe. Marcille and Falin worked together to prepare the magic circle for heating with a hum. But… occasionally, Laios couldn’t help himself, eyes wandering to the edge of civilization within the dungeon, shadows engulfing the corridor. He blinked himself back awake as he realized he was being asked a question.
“Are you sure… positive… it’s edible, Laios?” Chilchuck asked again with a scowl. “What has you so distracted anyway? You seem way more airy than normal,” he grumbled.
“Oh! It’s nothing, just thought I felt a leg in the crevice where I found the scorpion. It was probably a corpse, though,” Laios said as if it were nothing. “And yes! Look, I’ll even try some now,” he hummed, taking a quick bite of the arachnid… only to throw it back up soon after. Chilchuck grimaced at the scene, followed by a quick interruption.
“Scorpion hotpot, huh? Though, I don’t agree with your method,” a dwarf hummed from behind the party.
The party turned in unison to face the newcomer. He was a stout figure with a rugged appearance, his beard tangled and his eyes gleaming with curiosity and amusement.
“What method would you suggest then?” Laios asked, wiping his mouth and trying to regain some semblance of dignity.
“Well, for starters, you should properly clean and prepare the scorpion. You can't just eat it raw,” the dwarf explained, stepping closer. “Let me show you how it’s done.”
Intrigued and somewhat relieved, the party watched as the dwarf skillfully dismantled the scorpion, removing the venomous parts and preparing the edible sections. His movements were precise and practiced, a stark contrast to Laios’s earlier attempt.
As the dwarf worked, he introduced himself. “Name’s Senshi. I’ve been exploring these dungeons for years. Seen many a fool try to eat what they shouldn’t,” he chuckled. “But with the right knowledge, there’s plenty to eat down here.”
Laios and the others listened intently, absorbing the dwarf’s wisdom. The atmosphere grew lighter as Senshi shared stories of his adventures and culinary exploits within the dungeon. Marcille, though still wary, couldn’t help but be fascinated by the wealth of knowledge the dwarf possessed.
With Senshi’s guidance, the scorpion hotpot was soon ready. The rich aroma filled the air, making their stomachs growl even louder. Tentatively, they each took a bite, their expressions changing from apprehension to surprise.
“This… isn’t bad at all!” Marcille exclaimed, her earlier fears forgotten. Falin nodded in agreement, savoring the unusual but delicious meal.
“You see, food isn’t just about survival. It’s about making the most of what you have, even in dire situations,” Senshi said with a grin. “Sometimes, a good meal can lift the spirits like nothing else.”
As they finished their meal, the party felt a renewed sense of hope and camaraderie. The challenges ahead still loomed large, but with newfound knowledge and a full stomach, they were ready to face whatever the dungeon threw their way.
The departure of Namari and Shuro had left a void that couldn’t truly be filled, but the arrival of Senshi brought a new dynamic to the group. They spent the rest of the evening sharing stories, planning their next steps, and laughing together, the bonds of their friendship growing stronger.
As the fire crackled and the shadows danced on the dungeon walls, Laios looked around at his companions. Despite the hardships, despite the uncertainty, they were a team. And with a team like this, he felt they could conquer anything.
“Tomorrow,” he said, “Tomorrow we find the dragon and prove we’re a party worth looking at.”

Chapter Text

With the party now well-rested and their stomachs full, they continued their trek down the floors. Floor two took almost no time for the experienced adventurers. Laios and Senshi enjoyed each other's odd company in various discussions about the monsters on this floor.

“We might benefit from stopping for a moment to pick up some supplies for the deeper floors. We can go further on full stomachs and with good rest,” the dwarf mused, surveying the floor. “Mandrakes are common here and quite nutritious, as are many of the plants.”

“Mandrakes? How do you harvest them?” Laios quickly questioned.

“Easily,” Senshi chuckled. “I just…” He began before being interrupted by Marcille.

“We were taught how to do it in school. You're supposed to tie the plant to a dog and find cover. Keep your ears covered and let the dog pull it out!” the elf explained matter-of-factly, even making Falin grimace at the explanation.

“Well, that sounds rather cruel…” Chilchuck grunted. Marcille turned with a sharp glare.

“It's better than going crazy!” she retorted, crossing her arms momentarily, her anger rising when a sudden breath of a scream made her and Falin panic. The latter cried out, “Wait!” as they tried to stop Senshi from stabbing the creature's head. The shriek was cut short by a quick death, and a sigh of relief escaped everyone.

“I don’t know what nonsense they’re teaching you girls in those schools, but this is how I’ve always done it. Quick and easy,” Senshi grunted with a grin, encouraging the others to follow suit. Laios beamed as he copied the dwarf's movements, and Chilchuck soon reluctantly followed.

“At least this way is much more humane…” Chilchuck said smugly, glancing at Marcille, who blushed and looked away with a frown.

“I was just letting you all know the right way!” she pouted. “There must be a reason they teach us that way! What if doing it differently makes them inedible?” Marcille argued with a frown.

“Senshi just said he's been doing this for a while now, Marcille,” Laios responded, tilting his head. Marcille refused to meet his eyes, thinking to herself and breaking into a slight sweat, waiting for the others to become distracted gathering food before sneaking off on her own. She would prove them wrong. She would show them the book was right.

Stalking away from the party, Marcille began to plan. She pulled rope from her bag to secure a mandrake and looked among the overgrown trees for signs of life. There were no dogs, and she wouldn’t go out of her way to find one; she agreed it was inhumane. But she needed something—something like a monster. With that idea, she refocused, looking for any creatures, her attention drawn to what appeared to be a giant bat’s nest.

“Perfect,” she whispered to herself, trailing the rope behind her as she climbed a separate tree. She prepared a snare at the top of the branch, straddling it, gripping her staff tightly and taking aim. “I just need one…” she whispered, beginning the incantation.

“Ignis… Crepitus… Iecit…” The half-elf whispered, her staff outstretched, only to falter awkwardly as she was startled by a voice, making her jump. The shot missed the nest but landed nearby.

“Falin!” Marcille yelled in shock, seeing the tall man at the foot of the tree looking up at her. Marcille's eyes shot to the approaching bats before diving off the tree. “Duck!” she wailed to the blonde, landing on top of her with a crack, covering Falin's ears as the bat dove through the rope. The mandrakes shrieked, filling the dungeon to everyone's distaste. The three boys covered their ears in shock as they watched the flying creature flail in the sky until crashing into the trees below, running after its crash site, not realizing who was missing.

“Falin! Marcille!” Laios called as they ran to the pair. “Are you okay?” he asked fearfully, quickly checking over the two blondes for any injuries.

“I-I’m okay, big brother,” Falin groaned as she helped Marcille up, the half-elf's head spinning from the cries of the plant-like monster she had just harvested. Foaming at the mouth and muttering nonsense, Falin couldn’t help but giggle a bit. “She’s okay too,” she hummed.

“And it looks like she got a tasty haul!” Senshi declared, looking over the body of the giant bat and the singular mandrake tied to its foot. “I can make a fine meal with this indeed. Let’s find a spot to rest for lunch and for the elf girl to recover from her daze,” he suggested, leading the way. Everyone nodded in agreement to follow.

“That was really clever, Marcille,” Falin said with a smile, helping her walk to a large hollow that Senshi and Laios had picked out. “And I appreciate you making sure I wasn’t hurt too,” she added with a smile. Marcille blubbered odd, happy sounds.

Now settled in for the afternoon, Falin focused on helping the others heal. She tended to a few injuries Senshi and Laios had gathered while fighting their own battles with carnivorous plants, humming as she worked until she eventually reached Marcille, gently placing her hands on her temples and whispering, “Sana mente.” Marcille blushed as she began to come to.

“Falin, watch out!” she wailed again, shoving the other girl to the ground with heavy breaths. After taking a moment to look around and orient herself, Marcille scurried off. Everyone chuckled and smiled, telling the wizard it was a pleasure to have her back. Senshi eventually handed her a bowl.

“Eat up. You got us the best Mandrake I’ve ever tasted. It seems your book might have been right after all,” he nodded as she took the meal. Pride filled her before reluctance set in as she looked at the food before her.

“This is the bat, isn’t it?” she sighed, slow to take a bite as everyone encouraged her. Her eyes lit up when she finally swallowed the food.

“This is amazing!” she squealed. Everyone cheered before each took a bowl of their own. A bat and mandrake stew marked the true beginning of their journey on quite a high note indeed. The party ate in preparation to delve deeper, having already neared the next floor. They were ready to take on the ghouls that called the third floor their home.