Chapter 3 Part 1

"God, I really am out of shape." Christopher says through ragged breaths.

"At least we ain't in a blizzard this time." Heather says.

"This is the first true physical exertion I've done in months, it feels great." Christopher exclaims.

"All I can think about is a nice warm cup of tea." Beauregard exasperates.

"The air feels great on the skin doesn't it." Jasyn says.

"No, I'm fucking freezing my ass off back here!" Beau expresses.

"Makes me feel glad we got these bracelets." Heather comments.

"We've been traversing this frozen hellscape for three days! How have we not found an entrance?" Beau complains.

"Calm down, if you're really that spent, climb back down. The camp is still being guarded ya know." Haider says, silently judging the nobleman.

"Eat shit, Haider! You don't even feel the cold so why are you even expressing an opinion?!" Beau yells, agitated by Haider's comment.

"Because all I've heard from you since we started climbing is constant bitching and whining! Gods, grow a pair of balls and suck it up already." Haider says.

Beau bites his tongue, unable to respond to Haider's sound logic. He grunts in frustration.

"Look, Beau. We wouldn't mind if you wanted to retire back to the camp. Your outbursts keep getting worse." Christopher interjects.

"No I." Beau takes a harsh breath in. "I'm fine, let's just keep going. Sorry, Haider."

Haider waves his arm to the side. "Already forgotten."

"Let's stop for a second." Christopher says.

After stopping and turning to look at his brother, Haider says, "Everything alright?"

"I'm just thinking for a moment. The entrance isn't where it was the last time we were on this mountain, and that collapsed cave has seemingly disappeared from the trail. Even that ice wall we traversed past wasn't there. The whole mountain is warping and shifting around. Something more is going on here." Christopher says.

"I can't detect any traces of magic being used at all either." Heather comments.

"Which means this is one of two things. An unknown natural phenomena, or an automated system that can use mana in the environment to work." Christopher says.

"That would certainly explain why this entire mountain range is devoid of all possible life. It's only snow and rock for miles." Haider says.

"Then there's only one question left. How do we find it?" Jasyn asks.

(Narrator) That is the biggest question here. How do you find an entrance that won't let you find it?

(Nebulon) Intent.

(Narrator) What? It sounded like you just said something out of impulse.

(Nebulon) Just watch.

…

(Dime) Sir, I am detecting tremors from deep below the mountain.

"Again? That's weirdly artificial." Christopher says.

"Explain, I'm not fully understanding." Beau says.

(Dime) These tremors are happening like clockwork. On the hour, by the hour. Not something an earthquake would do, at least not in theory. It should be more scattered and random.

"Right. But how does that help us?" Beau asks.

(Narrator) Oh, The Dungeon Master intended for the entrance to be impossible to find for people without patience. Right?

(Nebulon) Exactly. The entrance is on a basic cycle. Wait long enough at a known location, and you can enter from that location. But everyone just assumed the entrance moved or disappeared. Christopher should figure this out any moment now.

…

"Let's head towards the summit, along the trail. We're gonna try something." Christopher says, a hand on his chin.

"We've already searched the peak, there wasn't a single thing there, not even a clue or sign." Haider comments.

"I disagree. Didn't you see a notable decrease in the amount of snow, where the entrance we came out of was located?" Christopher says.

"Really? God, I really wasn't paying attention at all." Beau says.

"It did seem odd." Jasyn says, everyone else responding with hmm's and nod's.

This brings an entertaining look of defeat growing on the Marquis' face.

I'm picking back up after a few tremor cycles pass by. With each hour, the moral of the group fades a little as no entrance opens. Night falls and the five, plus companions, continue waiting.

"It's been eight hours. How much longer do you want us to wait here? It's getting harder for me to maintain this frost protection spell ya know." Beau says.

"I don't know. This IS just a hunch afterall. You're welcome to wait inside my dimension for now if you wish, Dime will notify you when something happens." Christopher offers. Dime responds by materialising a door.

"*Shiver* No, I'll wait it out. I can't have Jasyn beating me now can I?" Beau says.

"I'm not even using magic so I'm winning by default." Jasyn boasts.

"If you get sick, you aren't to come anywhere near me." Christopher warns.

Jasyn promptly activates a resistance spell. "I take guarding you very seriously. I could never forgive myself if you were to get hurt where I could've been your shield." He expresses a sweet and endearing smile.

"Awe…Shame Christopher would never allow you to do that." Haider says.

Christopher has a thankful, but also somehow disappointed expression. Conflicted on how he should feel. "As your damsel, I'm flattered. But as your partner I refuse to let you do that."

"Called it!" Haider says, thrusting his finger to the clear skies.

"Because I feel the same way." Christopher says.

Haider stands frozen, which is ironic. "Fucking nevermind." He says.

"It's almost time for another cycle." Heather says.

"How do you know?" Christopher asks cynically.

"Look, I'm so bored that I've been counting every second that passes." Heather says.

"I can't imagine being that mute. I'm always saying something in my head." Christopher says.

"Wait, you can talk, in your own head?" Heather asks.

"Yeah, doesnt everyone?" Christopher answers.

"No!" Heather shouts.

"So everything is just silent in your head? Like you don't see anything?" Haider asks.

"I don't think so. I've never talked to myself in my head before." Heather says.

"Neither have I." Jasyn says.

"How are we now only having a sudden revelation that people function differently?" Beau says.

"Seems overpowered that Christopher can have a full conversation with himself and his thoughts." Jasyn says.

"Why only Christopher?" Haider says, not thinking about his question. Before anyone can say the obvious Haider exasperates, "Yeah I heard it when it came out my mouth."

Simon's head jolts towards the supposed entrance as Dime informs the group of another tremor. Aggressive sniffing ensues.

"Goblins." Heather says.

"All the way up here?" Christopher says, confused.

"It's only five." Heather says.

"Don't they usually gather in much larger groups?" Jasyn asks.

Not long later, an entrance seems to phase into being. Five goblin's guarding the entryway can be seen. Two have bows, two have spears, and one has a staff. They all seem shaky and afraid at the sight of the group.

Jasyn and Beau spring up from their seated position on the ground, armed and ready.

"Will you two chill out?" Heather says.

"We would like to have a chat with your Dungeon Master if that's ok with them?" Christopher says.

The two spearman Goblins look at each other and they both start laughing. "This is a Dungeon, Human." one of them says. "We don't talk to filthy adventurers like you!"

"We actually had a chat with your master before. I believe their name is Crearwy?" Heather says.

The mage retreats into the cave while the others whisper to one another. When the mage returns they say, "We have no choice but to deal with these intruders, that's what Second said."

"Look, we don't want to fight, but if you attack us we'll have no choice but barge our way through your Dungeon, you hear me!" Haider says with attitude.

"It's not like we have a choice in the matter, human. The higher ups ordered us to!" The goblin mage says.

"*sigh* You asked for it." Heather says. "Simon, take care of these pests."

The vine leopard quadruples in size, about three metres tall, or half the height of the cave entrance. The second he starts to growl, the cowardly goblins promptly, and literally shit themselves, sprinting inside the Dungeon. It didn't take long for Simon to chase them and return with all four of their shit covered corpse's to be on the end of one of the leopard's vines.

"I was expecting something more professional, especially coming from Crearwy. I'm actually kinda disappointed." Christopher says.

"The golem me and Haider encountered was way more powerful than these things." Heather says. "Also Simon, that's gross, just get rid of them."

Unexpectedly, Simon launches the corpse's off the side of the mountain. "Or you could do that, I guess." Heather says.