Chapter 6.27 - My First Dungeon

"Alright children! Today is a day you have all been waiting for. Some of you have been begging me for it since you got to my class."

Instructor Lidia did not have to finish before the children were cheering. Most of them had a bit of practice with combat, private tutors on weekends or adventurers for parents helped, a few had even been allowed to switch their wooden weapons for dulled metal ones in practice.

But today was different. Today they would face real threats. Today the younglings of class 6A would be participating in their first outing to the training dungeon.

And out of all the students in this class, none were more excited than Nok Aegis.

Olma, between dungeon guide work and assisting Nok's father Serin with a lot of his work, was a perfect mother. Students normally spent all their time in the Academy, as it was a live in school. But each weekend, students were permitted to return to visit their families and guardians. This was to ensure that families were able to spend quality time with their children, as well as give teachers a chance to take a break from their 24 hours duties at the Academy.

The last time Olma had been with Nok she had ensured he learned to shape his fingers into claws, and his teeth into fangs. "A changeling will use every part of his body to fight." She had told him, a lesson for him to take to heart.

So while all the other students grabbed sharpened blades from the school supply, Nok declined. He knew he would fight with his hands, like his mother had taught him. When his hands wouldn't work, his father had snuck him a few spells. 'Family Secrets' and a wink was how Serin prepared his son.

Nok wished he had his father's power and his mother's expertise. In time that would be his goal. But for now, he would do his family proud and hunt in the training dungeon. Nok was fully aware that his father was important, and he could have used his status to take Nok into the training dungeon, but his father had said something about 'not abusing power' and 'let children have their time to grow'.

Nok's class was fairly diverse. There were mostly Demis and Changelings, a handful of Humans, a few Forest Elves and planetouched, and some Gole. Nok mostly got along with everyone. Except one of the humans. He liked to talk about how his father was a noble and how his 'pedigree' was important. He had come from outside Haven while Nok was born here. This confused Nok. During their Sociology class, Nok had learned about Haven and how merit was the deciding factor of importance, and that all races were inherently equal. But still this student liked to brag to his friends about this 'pedigree'. Nok didn't understand what it was to have a 'pedigree' but it must be something important to only some humans. Although his father had never mentioned it.

But for now Nok was excited.

***

"Now remember children, today we will play a game. Your job is to work as part of your assigned teams and hunt slimes. Today will be about working together. The slimes will be difficult, but remember, it is about working together to defeat them. The last team to be ejected from the dungeon wins!"

The children had been randomly split into teams of 4. Nok was sad he could not be on a team with the children he got along with, but was instead paired with the noble human and two of his human cronies.

Nok was surprised as he entered the dungeon to find a beautiful field, with dozens of slimes. He knew that Changelings had to do extra training since these enemies left no bodies to eat, but he was happy to train with his class. It was a rite of passage to be celebrated, even if his team were jerks.

Nok had run ahead in excitement and called to his team "Hey guys, i am mostly a frontline fighter, so how can I best help.." Nok was cut off as he felt something hit his back. Was it a slime?? Nok knew it carried a bit of wait and was known to bodyslam opponents. Nok was only a child. However when knock looked back he saw the noble boy, Aaron, with an outstretched hand readying a spell. "Our team has no need for freaks like you."

A firebolt left Aarons hand and Nok saw a flash then he fell and landed just outside the dungeon. His teacher, Lady Lidia, looked confused. "Nok! What happened? Your team had just entered the dungeon?"

Nok was in tears. He tried to run back in, but the other teams were still queued up to enter. The teacher put her hand out. "I am sorry Nok, but you are out. I want you to read the sign there until the rest of the class gets ejected from the dungeon." Nok just sat there. As he read the sign it hit him with the weight of a basalt slab.

KNOW YOUR LIMITS!

If this dungeon forcefully ejected you, in the other dungeon that would have been your death.

***

It had been a week since Nok had first entered the training dungeon and been betrayed by his team. Serin and Olma had been called in to speak with Nok's instructor. The instructor stated it would be a private meeting, so Nok was spending the day with Avea. Serin and Olma were glad that they were called in, because Nok had lost the bright cheerfulness since the last time he saw them andd it had been replaced with a rather sullen look that worried both of them.

Lady Lidia sat down "Lord Serin and Lady Olma, thank you for coming to meet with me despite your busy schedule. I would have gladly met with you at your home at any time for your convenience."

Serin did a wave. "It is no issue Lady Lidia. At this meeting, we are simply concerned parents."

Lady Lidia smiled, "That is ok. Anyways I know you are busy people so i wanted to get straight to the point. I was wondering what your thoughts are on Nok entering the sustainment route for education."

Olma's normally bright and cheerful demeanor immediately erased, replaced with what Serin had coined her 'scary smile'. He had seen it when he faced down Narissa, and when Olma had single handedly defeated the frost serpent boss of the dungeon, and seeing it on her face as she looked at the human instructor... it honestly worried Serin.

Olma asked, "Interesting idea. What thoughts brought you to that conclusion Lady Lidia?"

Lady Lidia nodded, not picking up on the fact that Olma was ready to kill. "Well, we started the training dungeon last week. His assigned team is usually first to enter, and without fail Nok is the first one being ejected. At first I just thought that maybe he needed more practice, but now he has requested to not enter the dungeon anymore. I just don't think fighting is the best route for him. He spends his time reading books now."

Olma smiled, Serin could see that under the table she had scratched large jagged lines into the bottom of the table.

"What is he reading?" Lady Lidia smiled at the question. "Oh! He reads books on Human history, human cultures, human sociology, and human etiquette. I think he maybe wants to be a diplomat."

Olma nodded. Serin figured it out. Olma was interrogating the teacher and she was oblivious. Olma continued. "That is very astute of you. Nok's team, I worry that without his participation they might suffer a setback. If they are human, it could lead to Contentment."

Olma referenced the curse of humanity, the teacher perked up. "Don't worry. They receive private lessons on their weekends back home to ensure they are well prepared for their plating."

Olma got that answer, "Oh it is good to hear that the refugees from the GWA have done so well in the past years."

Lady Lidia smiled, "Well no, these students emigrated during the Winter emigration a few years back."

Serin understood by this point.

Olma then smiled, "I would love to meet the parents of Nok's team. I should get them something nice to thank them for taking on the burden of my son."

Serin then had to pull the reins before his beholden murdered an entire family. Serin spoke up.

"Lady Lidia, how much have you read about changeling culture and biology." Lady Lidia proceeded to read off the cliffnotes. "A changeling is a being that thrives by the interaction of the genetic material of other creatures. It uses this to become stronger, find good mating partners, and ensure its own diversification in its environment."

Serin understood. This human teacher knew, but didn't understand. "Lady Lidia, how many changelings have been moved from the general class to the sustainment path, in the history of the school?"

Lady Lidia smiled, "None! But doesn't that seem exciting? Nok could be the first one."

Olma couldn't hold her composure. The table she had been clawing into to stay calm snapped under her grip. Lady Lidia, confused by the sudden snap of the table commented "oh my!"

Olma then looked at Lady Lidia. "Lady Lidia, I would like a meeting with the boy and his parents. I still wish to respect your position as a teacher, so I request you allow this instead of making me force the issue."

Lady Lidia was confused, "I don't see why that's necessary. And i don't appreciate the brute-ish approach you are showing Lady Olma. I am still the teacher here and you came here as Parents. Your rank doesn't matter here, and should you continue to act so confusingly, I will have to ask you to leave and report this incident to my superiors."

Serin saw Olma was about to kill, so he laid a hand on her shoulder. "Darling, it's not good for the baby." Seirn then smiled at the instructor. "Lady Lidia, you seem to have an elementary education about Changeling psychology and culture. So I will repeat the entire subtext of the conversation that went over your head today."

"Changelings do not shy away from violence. They also would not be ejected by a simple slime, especially Nok, who has been fighting since he could walk. Nok was not defeated by slimes, but by his own team. It would explain his ejection from the dungeon so early."

Lady Lidia shook her head, "No one saw that happen, and I know for a fact that those boys come from a rather influential family back in the Northern Kingdoms."

Serin continued, "I am not done. Nok must have lost several times, but did not want you to realize because then it would make you possibly figure out what was truely going on and intercede."

Lady Lidia looked confused. "Why?"

Serin nodded, "Nok has been attacked over and over by those boys. He has since declined to enter the training dungeon, something that inherently doesn't benefit his race. He is reading on human culture, history, and etiquette because those boys are his targets. He will kill them. Outside the dungeon. Then he will eat their hearts. And were they all old enough to be plated, by the laws of this country, he would be within his rights, as they have violated our second law."

Lady Lidia was shocked, "That's preposterous, it's all preposterous! And even if it were true, you can't just kill children for a schoolyard tussle!"

Serin nodded, "If they were adults, and one adult attacked the other based on racial motivation, they absolutely could."

Serin then looked at Olma. "She may have seemed like she was angry, but Olma wanted to settle this issue with the parents. There is a good chance that if this is racially motivated, the children's parents are to blame. By meeting with them, we could confirm this and limit the exposure of this issue. What you thought was Olma swinging her political weight around was her trying to save your job. That is because if you wish to do this through the official channel, I will contact my council representative.." Serin Pointed to himself. "And explain the situation which would cause said representative to call the Inquisitor Team."

"Lady Lidia, you are a kind teacher that only thinks the best in your children. That is commendable. But some of your children are slowly succumbing to a growing threat of xenophobia. I will let you choose. You can call those parents and those children in. I will ask for a 3rd party Lancer and Diviner to sit in and act as passive interrogation. Or I can fire a flare into the sky this moment and start an inquisition. Your Pride or your Career, Lady Lidia. It's your choice."

***

"Emergency Conference! By the divines it's two hours until midnight! You bother us at this time? What is this changeling doing here?"

Elfin Dennis and his son Aaron Dennis, were quite well known. They had fronted the credits for several dozen businesses for the Human immigrants during the winter mass immigration. It wasn't against Haven's laws, but now the Dennis family were one of several families that had accumulated their merit by transferring part of their accumulated wealth, and building their wealth by being silent partners to hardworking humans. It was distasteful, but had Serin tried to stop it, he would have been accused of trying to centralize all loans for the nation, and some could argue violating the first law of the nation.

The meeting was already off to an 'interesting start'. Serin knew that as long as he didn't sit in the meeting, there was a good chance that this person would slip up. Serin was almost unhideable. Even when using his [greyman] skill, people quickly figured out it was him. The absence of something was as strong an indicator as its presence in his case.

So in a side room, an illusory panel was placed to appear as a wall while the actual wall was removed. Serin Sat with five council members, Juni the Lancer Gole from the inquisition team, and a Dhamphir Diviner named Krysta. Her only job was to identify statements that were lies. This ensured the dhamphir's 'kindness to a fault' did not hamper investigations.

Olma sat there with Nok, who smiled with all his teeth at the boy sitting across from him. Serin was nice enough to relay messages to Lady Lidia. If she was to continue to be an instructor, she would need to get a crash course in all of the races of Haven, and tonight's lesson would be changelings.

[Lady Lidia, that is not a smile of happiness. It is one of excitement. Usually changelings only smile like that at those they are about to make love to, or those they are going to kill. Since its a child, I would assume it's the ladder.]

Lady Lidia blanched as the situation now looked completely different. "Elfin Dennis. I am glad you took the time to meet me. I have spoken at length with Olma about a situation that has arisen between your Son Aaron and her Son Nok." A bit of recognition flared on Elfin Dennis' eyes. But it was gone in an instant.

In the adjoining room, Juni filled in the missing text for Serin. "Elfin Dennis thought he recognized the names, but he quickly dismissed the thought, as I quote 'All Changelings look the same'."

The Council laughed. They did not think his response was funny, but who he had said it to merited the laughter. They were aware should his words and actions mirror his thoughts, then by the end of the night this man would have dug his own grave.

Serin relayed the thoughts to Lady Lidia, who continued, "I have some concerns that your son Aaron may be bullying Nok. and while this does occur, it is possible that there is racial motivation behind it."

"That's not true!." Aaron began speaking. "He is just too weak. He fell to the first slime we encountered and got ejected. After that happened a few times, he just quit going in. I shouldn't be responsible for carrying dead weight." Then Aaron spoke with a bit of aire, "One is measured by one's own merit."

"That was a lie." Inside the observation room, the Dhamphir spoke. "His statement regarding the situation behind Nok's ejection was a lie." Juni confirmed it. "The child has no control over his surface thoughts. It was racially motivated, as assumed."

Serin relayed this information to the instructor, who was trying to keep her composure. Serin started to feel sorry for her. She was a bit of a ditz, but she always saw the best in her students. Lady Lidia asked Nok, "Nok is this true. I only ask the truth"

Nok had not let his eyes leave Aaron since he had entered the room. It was as if they were the only two in the room. Serin recognized this. It was a Changeling that had identified its quarry. Serin warned Olma and Lidia. Olma showed the smallest smile.

Nok then began to speak. "For the few instances I entered the dungeon with Aaron and his fellow nobles, they would wait until we are within the dungeon and out of sight of the teacher and other students. They then use their magical superiority to attack me three on one at range. They were always too much for me to overcome in a straightforward fight, so I was ejected. For me to overcome this burden, I was required to wait until Aaron was closer closer and his guard was down."

Olma saw Nok's fingers turn to claws as he spoke, "Mortis Nostrae Oppressores." Nok jumped, Aaron and Elfin tried to guard their faces, and had Olma not caught her son by the leg yanking him back into his seat, his swipe would have severed most of Aaron's head from his body. Instead it only sliced his arms causing them to profusely bleed. If immediate aid was not rendered, the job would still be done.

Aaron yelled in cowardice, while Elfin screamed, "How day you? Some freak bastard of a whore dare touch my son?! I will make sure you are both executed for this!"

Olma smiled, "My apologies, Elfin Dennis. My son should not have struck yours. As your Son is not yet plated, he is currently unable to break the second law of our country. My son," Olma hit him upside the head to bring him back to his senses, "should have bided his time and waited until yours plated. Then, when he ripped out Aarons throat and ate his heart, he would not be breaking the law."

Elfin was flabbergasted at her statement. "How dare you?! You freak and your freak kind! You are a stain and should be thankful for whatever scum fell for your trickery and sired your child."

Olma smiled as she thought of her beloved standing nearby, "I am very thankful for him. He is truly a wonderful man." Olma's eyes narrowed as she then gazed at Elfin, "unlike you." Elphin Dennis was about to speak but it was cut off by Olma, who was emanating pressure from her immense power.

"Elfin, do you know what it means? Mortis Nostrae oppressores? It is in the language of my people. Since we speak in Common for you, let me translate. In our tongue, it means 'death to our oppressors'."

Elfin regaining his composure, feigned his air of superiority as he scoffed, "And why should I care?" Olma looked, "It seems you during your immigration studies you must have missed that part. A changeling puts his pride, and his life, on the line when he states that phrase. He has named your son an enemy of our people. It is with no small will that he has uttered these words, because these words cannot be taken back." Olma then pulled the stack of books and notes. "He did his research. He ensured he was within his legal rights as well, although I am sure he would have still acted. He found out what your son meant when he bragged about 'pedigree' to his fellow classmates. This word is not something that holds value here."

Olma then looked at Elfin. "At this point, had your son been a plated adult, his life would have been forfeit. If you had backed his position, yours would have been as well. Thankfully for you and your son, he was not plated."

Elfin attempting to gain control of the situation, yelled at the room, "Threats! I will have your heads! I will call the guards for this blatant attack on persons and on our character!" he looked Lady Lidia, "Lidia, I got your husband the funds to start up his shop. You know I am a good man which means this woman speaks only vile filth and has broken the second law. Call the guards, and we will have her and her bastard son executed."

Lady Lidia, being brought back to the moment, heard Serin's message. "Elfin Dennis, because of the monetary support you provided for my husband's bakery, I will give pause and ask to ensure that is what you want." She looked him in the eyes, pleading, "Are you sure you wish to bring this matter to court?"

Elfin, having completely misread her reasoning, felt victorious and smiled, "My son's wounds speak for themselves. Everything else is hearsay. Summon the guards. I stand firm in my position."

Lady Lidia frowned, Olma smiled. "As you wish, Elfin Dennis."

With that, the illusion magic on the wall fell, and there stood Serin, two members of the Inquisitor Team, and five members of the national council.

Elfin was shocked, "Lord Serin, What is going on here?"

Serin smiled, "Your trial has just adjourned. Due to my relation to the defendant, Nok Aegis, although not required, I will follow the direct guidance of the Council."

The council was all smiling. Bilol, the changeling member of council spoke. "We find Elfin Dennis guilty of the second law through proxy; poisoning his son's mind with ideas of racial superiority. Due to Elfin Dennis' connection to several businesses involved in state secrets, we cannot offer him the option of exile to his home country. Instead he may choose to be a passenger for life, or have his flesh torn from his body and given as an offering to those he so abhorrently despises."

Elfin tried to run, but there were two protectorate waiting ate the door. Bilol continued, "As for the unplated child, Aaron Dennis is to be held blameless of his crime, however he will have the mark of 'Oppressor' upon him. In the spirit of our people, those that change, we invite him to change who he is. Should he sufficiently prove to the council that his soul is redeemed upon receiving his plate, he will be spared. Otherwise, he will be marked as Oppressor and may the Divines have mercy on him. Either way, the Aaron Dennis that stands before us, in either form or ideal, will die."

Aaron, "How will I know its not a trick? How will I know you won't wait until I plate and kill me anyways?"

A voice that was standing in the corner spoke. It was Ansar, Scion of retribution. "You raised a hand against changeling children unprovoked, and even though there was no death, you have caused physical and mental suffering. Though my sight is not like yours, I remember what fire looks like. You shine as a bright red and angry silhouette among a sea of white and grey. There is nowhere you could go on terra that I could not see you. Should your spirit be healed through reflection and time, that glow will fade and disappear. This is your only warning."

Aaron was unconvinced, when another spoke. "On my honor, what was spoken to you child was not a lie. And if you still do not believe what you hear, take time to read about our peoples. If the truth still eludes you, I am not sure redemption will be possible. The hatred may have poisoned your soul." It was the Dhamphir diviner. Though they had a tendency to try to see everything in the best light, they did not lie when performing their duties as diviner.

***

Given the choice between death, or passenger, Elfin chose passenger. Another present in the room smiled. Upon selection of Passenger, the parasite representative Hamil walked forward and produced a vessel, Elfin blanched, "Here and now?"

Serin smiled, "We don't want you to tell anyone. Your new job will be to report on all of those who are currently poisoning the youth. You are a cancer, Elfin. And you will lead us to the source."

***