5 Chapter 5: A castle for the king, set in the clouds

Both Arthur and Leneus had left De-Armes behind on his cloud whilst they made their way quickly down to what Leneus called the 'Soul Chamber'. It was surprisingly enough, easy to get down from the top of the huge tower but Arthur did not however get down from the tower but instead went up. He ascended the invisible stairs to one of the floating clouds, a particularly large one atop which was the most beautiful landscape he had ever seen. A stream joined up, rounding the castle, at the center and flowed off the edge, to where, even Arthur couldn't tell. The castle stood tall and there on the door to the castle was the same rune mark that was on his arm, engraved against the glassy but not see-through doors.

"This here, master Halo is where you will be living," said Leneus walking up the small steps rounding the water fountain that stood at the center, where the water flew up and came down the two wings that were the centerpiece of the fountain. To left and right were gardens with an arrangement of flowers resembling perfect rainbows and this landscaping was done brilliantly. Arthur surely had to see the genius behind such extensive and beautiful landscaping but he remembered the important matter of the commoner that could use explosion spells which he was quite sure were molotov cocktails or something akin to that. As the reached the glassy door previously seen before both he and Leneus stopped.

"Raise up your runemarked palm master Halo," said Leneus and Arthur did so without questions.

As he did the double-doors miraculously swung open admitting them entry into a large manner with floating lights much akin to how they floated on the stalactites but here they floated on nothing. He could swear that the lights had switched on as soon as he entered and also the ceiling had changed. He looked up to see the beautiful bright blue sky and for a moment thought he was outside. Questioningly he looked at Leneus who seemed to be basking everything in himself. As soon as he noticed Arthur's curious gaze, he followed it to the ceiling and nodded understandingly.

"I would wager a guess that Blue Lands Castle has recognized its master and the ceiling reflects its master's mood with weather changes," said Leneus. "It's old magic and it also helps the servants around here understand their master's moods, including me."

"Servants?" asked Arthur trying to understand, never before, ever in his life had he ever been subjected to such luxury.

"Not many to count master Halo," said Leneus. "When the old ones died, we tried hiring new ones but not many want to work in or for a dying dungeon, we have two, Myrcella, she does everything inside the manor and Gregor, he does everything outside the manor, I would introduce them but we must get to the Soul Chamber."

"Right, of course, lead the way," said Arthur.

Even as he followed he paid attention to everything. At the entrance there were two extensive balconies with periodic pillars and under each gap there was an ice sculpture, or maybe it was made of glass, ice would surely melt in this temperature, but it was clear and see-through. Upon the balconies were rooms laid out at a distant interval and as they reached the other end he saw two stairs leading up to their respective balconies, one for the left and one for the right. In front of them there was another set of double-doors gold sky-blue in color and it was smaller than the glass doors that led them in and to either side was black painted iron doors. Leneus reached the gold double doors with the engraving and he pushed it open and Arthur wondered for a moment whether he would be able to push it open as easily as Leneus. They had appeared in another hall with a large chaise longue to the sides were various paintings, landscapes and people. Arthur did not recognize anyone but the paintings were quite nice. To the side were huge windows with curtains pulled up. This was true opulence he nodded as he looked around at the greenish blue room, even the carpet had a similar color and there hung a decorated chandelier above, not as large as the one he saw in Tenevus' room but still quite large. There was a coffee table infront of the chaise longue and to the side there were cushioned chairs made of fine wood, engraved and ornate. Even the ceiling here reflected his mood, the bright blue sky outside, he must have been feeling particularly happy. On either end of the far side there were two doors looking very remote and Leneus walked over to left door and gently pushed it open.

"Master Halo," said Leneus and he pointed to a room across which he would walk around this area to get to. "That there is the dining room and a little past it is the kitchen. There windows layered across the side of this hallway and the floor was carpeted a darker shade of aquamarine similar to the other room.

Leneus closed the door behind him and as Arthur walked forward he saw another fountain, a folded wings version of what he saw out in front and on a smaller scale, in the area between where he was standing and the apparent dining room. Next to this one was a bench and surround it with one opening was bushes neatly trimmed. He saw at the far end one door that led into this area outside. Arthur and Leneus walked right past the right turn that would lead them to the dining hall and also would lead them to the door that went to the outside, into that particularly set yard. As they moved a little past the right turn the halls suddenly widened and at a certain point the wide hallway ended.

"We are now at the very back of the castle," said Leneus and he rubbed the wall looking for something and as he found it he appear to have rubbed the white pain off revealing a hand print.

"Right here master Halo," said Leneus. "Place your hand here and enter the Soul Chamber."

Arthur took in deep breath, stepped forth and placed his hand on the hand print and whole wall suddenly disappeared revealing to them a room akin to a library with large shelves and books on them but as he walked forward he realized it was only the tip of the iceberg. The bookshelves, the whole library was placed up on a balcony and two sets of stairs on either side led down to what Arthur could only describe as the antiques' collection, statues, swords, armors and all sorts of other miscellaneous items. At the center of all this was another chaise longue with several ottomans to the side and in front of it all was a large box.

"The Soul Chamber," said Leneus looking expectantly at Arthur who showed his impression and appreciation.

"It's not exactly a chamber though," said Arthur looking around at the enormity of the room. "A little too big for that."

"Regardless master Halo, that is where you control the dungeon," said Leneus pointing to the big box situated at the center and Arthur looked at it for any signs that would let him control a dungeon but all it seemed like was a big box.

"Let's go down master Halo," said Leneus and he moved through the maze of bookshelves with expertise and Arthur followed.

Arthur and Leneus reached the place of antiques and they walked towards the center, towards the couches and the box.

"Wait here master Halo," said Leneus and he rushed off to the side and disappeared in among the antiques and came back soon with a crystal ball.

Arthur gazed at it curiously. "A crystal ball?" he asked. "Can it see the future?"

Leneus let out a snort and a chuckle, "Hardly, master Halo but it can communicate with the three boss class monsters in your dungeon."

"Right then," he graciously took the crystal ball of Leneus and he let the green-haired butler turn his attention to the box.

Leneus appeared to have pressed something and the box unfurled from a box and it's squares moved around creating a somewhat perfect square and it lit up with a map, a top-down three dimensional map of the tower. Every detail of the Blue Lands Dungeon could seen here and he saw a figure moving across labelled 'Commoner'. He saw Tenevus, Ariel and De-Armes in their respective positions.

Leneus face suddenly turned ugly, "It's another origin instance, if he kills our boss class monsters, it's over."

"Origin instance?" asked Arthur, not quite understanding the word set nor the context.

"Yes, it means the dungeon play is rooted in reality, whatever dies in there, dies permanently," said Leneus. "You need high classifications and I don't understand how this commoner received the sufficient classifications, if this is a move to shut down our dungeon...?"

Arthur's eyes narrowed, "He's an enemy we need to take care of then."

"Very much so master Halo," said Leneus. "At this point if we lose Tenevus, Ariel and De-Armes, Blue Lands disappear, permanently."

"I see."

Arthur bit his thumb and examined 'Commoner', he had a large bag on his shoulders. This was where the man kept his molotov cocktails. A dangerous thought flashed by Arthur's head, torture and kill but he shook it off, he needed to gauge his monsters' strengths and for that this commoner would serve nicely. Arthur turned to Leneus who was looking at him with curiosity.

"Contact De-Armes and Ariel," said Arthur and Leneus took the crystal ball back from Arthur.

"You simply speak the name and the person comes up," said Leneus. "There are crystal balls that can contact and more, I could get one of that for you?"

"No need," said Arthur. "This commoner is deft at dodging the traps call Ariel first and then De-Armes."

"Ariel," said Leneus holding the crystal ball up and a fog lifted from the ball and figure of the beautiful Ariel showed up, she wore gold armor and wielded two swords, her angelic wings were completely unfurled and she was awaiting battle in the dome which seemed to completely clear of all the clutter.

"Leneus?" came a surprised voice from the other side.

"Master Halo wishes to talk to you," said Leneus and moved to hand the ball back to Arthur but he was quickly stopped.

"Tell her to meet Tenevus at his room," said Arthur. "Call De-Armes and ask the same."

"Did you hear that?" asked Leneus to Ariel and he heard a thump, she had probably knelt assumed Arthur.

"I will get there as quickly as possible, dungeon master," came Ariel's voice from the other side.

"Now quickly call De-Armes," said Arthur and as he watched Tenevus released bird with goat like legs, he assumed these were the Starry Fethairs that had been mentioned, they were not huge but they weren't as small as birds either.

Arthur bit his thumb, that wasn't part of his plan. If could quickly call Tenevus tell them...no it was too late, the Starry Fethairs were about to encounter 'Commoner'. Leneus by this time had finished calling De-Armes and though extremely unwilling the Sky Demon had decided to move. On seconds thoughts, Arthur thought this might be a good idea, the Starry Fethairs would keep 'Commoner' busy long enough for De-Armes and Ariel to get to Tenevus' room. They were still getting there and he watched and examined. 'Commoner' put down his bag and from it grabbed two bottles and shook them up.

"No need of fire," said Arthur mentally noting it down, this would mean that this 'Commoner's' exploding bottles were more troublesome.

He chucked the bottle and it created a sizeable explosion and Arthur realized with glee he could see radius of the explosion, it wasn't large but neither was it small. He also realized there wasn't much force, it was the fire and the mix of chemicals that was killing the monsters. Seven meters was those cocktail's radius, anything beyond would not get burned.

"Call Tenevus," said Arthur to Leneus who mysteriously popped up from beneath the stool the box was placed.

"Please touch on their figures and you would be able to talk to them directly," said Leneus. "I just fixed the communications rune from the crystal ball to the cube, it's not a long term solution but it should work and I'll fix it properly at a later date."

"That works," he said and touched Tenevus figure and his face suddenly popped in a mist that came above his head like a large thought bubble.

"Dungeon Master?" asked Tenevus.

"The range of those bottles, they're seven meters," said Arthur. "Locate where they land and get out of its range, if it lands on you, I suspect it'll be trouble."

"I take it then you're viewing the cube dungeon master," said Tenevus with a chuckle and then he nodded seriously.

"De-Armes and Ariel are coming to meet you," said Arthur.

"A second time?" asked Tenevus with a frown. "What if the commoner complains to the dungeons association?"

"Dungeons Association?" questioned Arthur looking at Leneus, he was starting to think he should give up the chair Leneus.

As he was asking this question he kept a sidelong glance at 'Commoner' and saw that he had blew through half of the Starry Fethairs sent out and he had more cocktails. He was methodically destroying the monsters without getting close.

"There protocols enforced in a dungeon and dungeons association keeps watch and shuts down any dungeons that aren't obeying protocol but I doubt the commoner could open an origin instance without cheating by some means, he is hardly strong enough attain such a qualification even against our dungeon," Leneus replied.

Arthur had been thinking somewhere along those lines, from what he assumed, if dungeons needed a pass to enter and origin instance was a particularly difficult mode then a man described as a commoner could hardly attain sufficient qualifications to perform such deeds. The man indeed did have a backer, his intentions were unknown to Arthur, for now.

"Tenevus, I hope you heard that conversation," said Arthur and Tenevus sounded his reply which made Arthur continue. "You don't need to worry about complaints or any such things but don't kill the man, I need him alive."

Arthur's eyes chilled for a moment as he said that and he let out a smile. Things were working out, this whole dungeon master business, it was sort of like a superior game of strategy but defeat your opponent wouldn't be your only end goal, the desired outcome changed on your understanding of the situation.

"Understood dungeon master," said Tenevus and he slowly stood up as Arthur watched the last of the Starry Fethairs being blown away.

He also watched as De-Armes and Ariel arrived.

"Tenevus, ask them to stand to the side," said Arthur. "You're going to swap in this battle, I'll need to see exactly what you are all capable of."

"Understood dungeon master," said Tenevus and moved to convey Arthur's message to De-Armes who proceeded to snort and Ariel who bowed once again.

"Also Tenevus, explain to them about the radius they must stay out of."

After conveying messages Arthur leaned back on his chaise longue with a relaxed smile and Leneus looked at him with an astonished face.

"You are quite adept at this master Halo," said Leneus.

"Not quite yet Leneus but I am talented."

"What now, master Halo?"

"Now we crush his miserable confidence and after that I want him before me."

"Do you know or understand something the rest of us do not about this situation master Halo?" asked Leneus as 'Commoner' made his way up to the doorway that guarded Tenevus.

"I have my suspicions."

He watched 'Commoner' drag his bag through and he entered Tenevus' domain.