Dungeon Dive (VI)

Dairen walked around, picking up the carcass one after another, allowing them to keep moving forward through the forest.

Snow couldn't help but keep looking at Dairen. She was impressed that he was able to upgrade the storage capacity, but him knowing Necromancy was something serious. She was afraid of her friend's life, mostly because she knew that the magical community did not agree with the thought of raising up the dead.

"What Snow?" Dairne couldn't help but was getting tired of her stares. He stopped for a moment as he allowed her to get closer. "You boring holes at me won't get you any answers."

Snow crossed her arms, looking at him with a bit of a glare." Throwing up her hands, Snow spoke. "Why?"

"Why, what?"

"Necromancy. You heard what I said it is a forbidden art."

"Yes. I did." Dairen continued to walk, leaving Snow behind. She sped up her pace to catch up to him.

"Why didn't you listen to me. It's a forbidden art for a reason."

Dairen stopped, Snow bumped into him from behind. "Look." He let out a sigh, annoyed at Snow's chattering about the dangers of the Forbidden Art. Pulling back his hair, he grabbed her by her shoulder.

Snow wasn't too happy with how he placed his hand on her shoulder. Grabbing it off his hands, she pushed it back to his chest.

"I know the peculiarities of it." Dairen replied, reassuring her. "It's the God of Darkness that gave it to me."

"Yea, which is why it's dangerous." Snow retorted back. "Any skills from the God of Darkness is something to be taken very seriously. The last known necromancer, Zion, destroyed a city and raised up a dead from his victims. From there, he conquered cities after cities, until finally a Hero slayed him."

"I'm not going to become like that."

"We don't know that." Snow snapped.

"Snow." Dairen replied with a bit of force. "You don't know me like that. Don't you believe in me?" His voice went up an octave, his fist clenching.

Snow gaped for a moment, unable to answer.

The silence was all he needed for him to understand Snow's thoughts.

Turning his back towards Snow, he spoke. "I thought you did. You said it to me last time. Was it all just a lie?"

"Yes, but-" Snow tried to explain that the power was forbidden for a reason.

"Look." Dairen raised up his hand, silencing her. "I can take care of myself." He left her behind, heading ahead.

Snow was unsure what else to say, leaving her confused. She thought she was doing a right thing by warning him of the dangers of such magic. If the Magical Community knew about this, he would probably be imprisoned for life. Maybe even terminated.

Such thoughts rage in her mind as she was worried for him, but just as she was worried. Her mind raged with anger.

"Why couldn't he see that it could cost him?" Snow seethed, getting angry by the second. "I was doing the right thing." She glared over towards Dairen, who didn't even turn around to look back anymore.

"Fine." Snow wasn't going to worry about him anymore. "He can deal with it himself." She crossed her arms, swearing to her mind that she wasn't going to help him if he got into trouble by the magical community….maybe.

Red came over, looking at Snow with interest. She clasped her hand. "You shouldn't worry too much." She spoke, reassuring her. "I won't tell a soul."

"That's not the problem." Snow replied. "It's the future events that worry me."

"It's the future. It's not something you can control." Red walked next to her, twirling her hair. "Work on the now because it's the only thing we can control at this moment."

Snow wanted to scream at herself, throwing away at the annoying worry that built up in her mind. Taking a deep breath, she washed away her feelings as best as she could.

"You're right." Snow sighed, "I was overreacting."

Red patted her shoulders. "Good to see you're back."

"Wait, you thought I went insane?"

"Nope."

Snow looked at her, not really believing her, but she knew that she was being overly paranoid.

"Thanks though." Snow replied. "I needed that."

"You're welcome."

It took a bit of effort to steady her chaotic mind as they trekked through the forest. It took a good half of the trip through the dungeon floor; eventually, Snow was able to have a better understanding of herself. Finally, picking up her courage to say sorry, she walked towards Dairen.

"Hey, Dairen." Snow's started to fiddle with her fingers, peeling a bit of skin off her cuticles. She wasn't too thrilled at herself in coming into this decision to say sorry, but she felt it was the right thing to do.

Dairen didn't turn around instead he seemed to keep walking.

"Dairen?" Snow tried again.

It was as if Dairen was ignoring her, making Snow a bit frustrated.

"Dairen," Snow reached out and pulled on his sleeves.

Pulling back his hand, he wasn't too thrilled at his sleeves being pulled

"I'm not in the mood to talk right now."

Snow tried to start a conversation. "Well, I still wanted to say something."

"I said, not now." Dairen walked away, leaving her behind.

Snow was appalled, her anger rising, but Red saw what had happened. She reached over towards her and shook.

"He just walked away from me." Snow threw out her hand. She blew her hair in front of her."

"Just give the guy some space. Maybe later" Red replied, she pulled back her hand.

"I guess…"

They continued through the level, fighting Demon Tigers. Throughout the whole time, Dairen and Snow were at their own little cold war, making the whole journey a bit stifling for the others.

Out of nowhere, a squeaking laughter could be heard from above as the group could see some kind of orange colored monkeys with thick fur, swinging over their heads. Their long twin tail, flared around in vigor. Many of them had large fists double the size the number of a human skull. They laughed and pounded against the tree branch, creating a ruckus.

"What is that?" Red asked, looking around worriedly. "Do they normally do that?"

"Orange Fanged Monkeys." Snow replied, "they usually come in large groups."

"Large groups?!" Red nervously stated. "Are they dangerous?"

"No." Snow replied, but she was getting a bit worried by the amount of monkeys that were appearing. At first it was only a few handful, eventually going past twenty. "They are easily scared and usually don't fight."

A breath of relief escaped Red's lip. She suddenly started making an icicle ball as she threw them at the monkey's, trying to scare them away.

The monkeys screeched and yelled, dodging her ice ball attack.

Red bit her lower lips, this time she sent an icicle spears in succession as if it was raining. One after another, she kept throwing it after each other in the hopes to impale them.

"Stand still!" Red shouted, the others looked at her as if she was crazy. Until finally, she was out of breath.

"I suggest just leave them alone." Snow stated. "There more of a nuisance than a threat."

"Still." Red huffed and puffed. "They could be a threat."

"Yes, but they are known for running away." Snow said again. "Let's just go and get to the next level."

Thinking about it, Snow didn't feel like this level was suitable for a place to set up shop. There was a bit too much going on in the forest where it was a lot more difficult to keep in touch with her surroundings. She needed a more open space with less trees. The number of guards were going to be needed constantly and having too many blind points made things difficult to keep the place safe.

Most of the time, the Monkeys followed the group from above, but were too scared to attack as they cause more annoyances than harm.

When a few fell down they scrambled in fear as the Monkeys started to throw large acorns the size of a ball to protect their fallen brethren. It scrambled back up onto the trees and started screeching and yelling at them again.

"Oh god, can't they just shut up." Tommy was getting annoyed. "They just won't stop screeching."

"Tell me about it." Mike replied with just as much annoyance as the others were getting a bit frustrated at the monkey's yell. "Why don't we just wipe them all out?" He gave Tommy a look which both of them nodded their heads as a glimmer of an idea spawned in their head.

"Let's do it."