NOVEL WEB (Book 2) Epilogue
The sound of persistent chatter filled the city. Just over a week since news of the Rosewind adventurer’s feat had spread throughout the kingdom, thousands of people poured into the newly established hub. Guildhalls and trade branches popped up faster than mushrooms in rain. What had been a small insignificant town in the middle of nowhere had quickly become the flavor of the month, attracting all that wanted to make a name for themselves, or in search of profit.
A large number of thieves had also tried their luck, yet whether alone or in groups, they’d be quickly caught out by the local city guard. Some would swear that the walls had ears in Rosewind, and to a certain extent, they would be correct.
The city also opened its walls to everyone from the nearby villages. With the expected increase of inhabitants, food and crafts were of key importance. It was said that the local duke offered free lodgings for a whole year to anyone with sufficient skill.
However, it was neither the talking nor the clamor of hammers that caused Theo to wake up. Instead, it was the faintest of sounds caused by the appearance of a single magical letter. Oblivious to the horror the city had been subjected to not too long ago, the letter came into existence right above the living room table. Ignoring the aether sphere that formed around it, or the blest lightning that attempted to singe its pages, the letter gently floated onto the polished wooden surface, in defiance of the dungeon’s attempts to get rid of it.
“Spok!” the dungeon yelled, as he shook the table itself.
The letter didn’t budge, as if glued on. When turning the piece of furniture upside down didn’t work, Theo moved the table to another room, only to have the letter detach itself and gently float to the carpet.
“Spok!” Theo shouted again.
Having Switches construct a core pendant for the spirit guide had proven to be the worst idea yet. Now the dungeon could never be fully sure where Spok was and, more annoyingly, she was increasingly using his own spells to prevent him from reaching her. Normally, Theo wouldn’t make a fuss, but he had come to expect that his spirit guide would be there in the moments he required guidance.
“Cmyk!” the building and all underground tunnels shook. To no surprise, the minion wasn’t there, either.
With a double grumble, Theo’s avatar got out of bed and started the long journey to the living room. A week ago, the dungeon would have been terrified that this might be another cursed letter sent by an abomination, but the weak of sleep had dulled his fear to the point that he only felt annoyance at being woken up.
“I save the world twice and can’t get a single moment of rest,” he grumbled as doors opened along the way of his avatar.
Finally arriving, the avatar stopped a step away from the letter and looked at it. It was smaller than the average letter, made entirely of glowing cyan paper and with a seal of blue wax. Just as he was about to reach down and pick it up, he was interrupted by a high-pitched yell.
“Baron!” Switches drilled Theo’s very consciousness. “You’re awake!”
“Damnit, Switches!” Both the dungeon and the avatar snapped in anger. Allowing the gnome to keep the mechanical colossus was the second worst decision he’d made. Apparently, during his name, the small nuisance had further transformed it to serve as an instant communication advice. Now, Theo got a vague idea why Spok kept her pendant silent so often.
“You have to see this!” the gnome insisted, standing next to a small treasure chest of sorts.
The creature’s current location was five levels down and to the east of the main building, near one of the sections that Theo had used for gold storage.
“Jewels and golden trinkets,” the dungeon grumbled. “So?”
“Well, yes, but while cleaning up, I also found this among them!” Eagerly Switches reached into the treasure, then took out an impressively green gem. Rather too impressive, come to think of it. “Ta-daa! It still needs to be charged, of course, but—”
“A mana gem?!” the dungeon couldn’t believe its senses. “Where did you get that?”
“Ah. Well, funny story about that. It seemed to be in one of your treasure chambers all along,” Switches said with a chuckle. “From what Spok told me, you took it from the earl’s vault…” he paused. “I mean the duke’s vault during our little misunderstanding a while back. You must have forgotten in all the carnage and explosions.”
“I had another mana gem this entire time?” The baron trembled, as did most of the city.
“I knew you’d see the funny side of it!”
“I had it all along…” the avatar went to the nearest couch and collapsed into it. “I didn’t need to go on any of those damned noble quests…”
“Well, yes, technically true. But it’s a good thing that you did. Otherwise, we might have never met again.” Switches grinned. “That would have been a massive loss for the both of us.”
The dungeon remained silent. There possibly were worse things that could have happened, but right now he couldn’t think of a single one.
“Want me to charge it up?” the gnome suggested. “I’m working on a new device that could charge up mana gems in a tenth of the time!”
“How come Spok didn’t know about this?” Theo managed to ask.
“Well, she was confused herself.” Switches shrugged. “She clearly remembered upon seeing it, but for some reason it had slipped her mind. Not impossible with all the destruction and carnage going on back then. So, do you want me to charge it?”
“Do whatever you like.” The dungeon’s avatar stood up and made his way to the staircase. “I’m going back to sleep. If I’m very lucky, all this might end up being nothing but a nightmare,” he muttered beneath his breath.
As he did, the letter on the floor unfolded.
Dear Valued Benefactor,
We hope that this letter finds you well.
Our scholars and researchers are working diligently on the issue you brought up to us. We’re confident that an answer would be found shortly.
In the meantime, we are turning to you for assistance. Being a member of the Feline Mage Tower, we call upon you in this vital junction of our tower.
Please respond as soon as possible to receive further details!
Arch council of the Feline Mage Tower