As Caspian stepped out of the carriage, all eyes turned to him. The female royal guard immediately recognized him.
"Prince Caspian! Welcome. How may I assist you?"
"At ease. I'm just here to enter the dungeon. Here's the pass."
She rose, accepted the pass, and inspected it. When she looked up again, surprise flickered across her face as a second figure descended from the carriage.
Kala wished she could disappear under the weight of so many stares.
Caspian retrieved the pass and gently led Kala forward. With her gaze fixed on the ground, she followed him past the long line of waiting explorers and into the swirling portal.
The bear beastkin muttered in disbelief.
"Only two of them? Are they insane?"
The plain-looking human replied lazily.
"They're higher race. They live by different rules. The world's unfair like that. Thank the Virtues we're still breathing."
They crossed their arms in an X over their chests in prayer.
On the other side of the portal, Kala spoke softly.
"You can let go now…"
Caspian blinked, realizing he was still holding her hand. He quickly released it and walked ahead, pretending it hadn't mattered.
Each dungeon was different.
Labyrinths of puzzles and monsters, usually spanning three floors, with a final boss waiting at the end.
They descended into the first floor—narrow corridors, thick cobwebs, dust hanging in the air—until they reached a large chamber.
The first trial.
The entrance slammed shut behind them. Light faded into total darkness.
Then braziers ignited along the walls.
A horde emerged.
Goblins. Giant spiders.
Individually weak, dangerous in numbers.
Kala gripped her staff.
"I… I'm not sure what to do. I'm new to this."
Caspian stayed calm.
"It's fine. Do what you can—I'll cover you."
He grinned.
"And it's my first time too."
Then he charged.
Spiders surged forward.
Kala stayed behind him, casting "Water Ball" to intercept goblins attempting flanking attacks.
Azure bursts struck hard, dropping goblins one after another. Even she looked surprised at her own effectiveness.
"Chains of Radiant Blaze."
Golden fire wrapped around Caspian's forearms as blazing chains formed.
He lashed out.
The chains unravelled like whips, sweeping wide arcs. Holy flames scorched monsters on contact, purifying them.
He moved like a predator unleashed.
A left swing crushed a cluster of goblins, purple blood spraying as shrieks filled the chamber.
A spider lunged.
Caspian caught it mid-air by the head.
The chains coiled around his fist.
He punched.
The creature burst apart like a ruptured sack of flesh.
"I'll never get used to this strength…"
Then—
He noticed goblins slipping past him toward Kala.
Caspian dashed back.
Spinning with full force, his chains dragged across the floor before snapping taut and whipping outward.
They tore through goblins, crushing bone and shredding flesh.
The air filled with crimson mist.
The pack was annihilated.
"You okay?" he asked, only slightly winded.
Kala answered with action.
Her staff flared, sending a Water Ball past his shoulder. It slammed into a surviving spider and killed it instantly.
"I'm okay. Thanks."
Her voice carried new confidence.
"Thanks for the cover."
Caspian smiled, and her composure cracked into a shy blush.
Their moment ended when a thunderous roar shook the chamber.
A grotesque troll lumbered forward, drool hanging from its jaws.
Caspian gave Kala a quick nod.
She understood and stepped back for ranged support.
He dismissed his chains and drew the sword his mother had given him, steel singing as it left the scabbard.
Simple, but forged from dwarven steel—sharp and durable.
Caspian rolled his shoulders.
"Alright, you big ugly bastard… let's do this."
His draconic instincts surged, eager to dominate a worthy foe.