The Abnormal Delima

Zain was a little off put by how his mother had just spoken about him and Sophia, he knew that they did make a good team as far as combat was concerned so he nodded to her in response knowing that any more than that would make her want to pry. But pry she was going to do anyways.

"So how long have you two actually known each other?" she asked with a grin going from ear to ear and lifting her eyebrows at them.

"Well, about two weeks ago she came in and bout a new weapon after learning how to fully use it. After that, she was talking with me and her commanding officer about me becoming the smith and alchemist for the magic knights." Zain spoke as if it was just a run of the mill type of thing that held no promise.

"You never told us you were in contention for that!" His father exclaimed as if he was just told his son was in contest for a medal of bravery or had a nationwide contest.

"Well, nothing is official yet, is it?" Zain asked, keeping a level head while starting to examine the monster they had just slaid.

"It is not yet set in stone." His mother spoke giving a cheerful smile before continuing, "But it is set in motion."

Zain at this point was getting engrossed in the aspect of the beast and what it actually was, so Sophia responded. "We have put in the word, but he is also a fresh face in all of the kingdom. I just so happened to need a new weapon while I was in town and so I went to the local smith." She pointed at Zain then continued, "He is knowledgeable in all of his crafts and in implementation of his works, but that is not everything in the knight's order. A reputation is also looked into heavily and if there isn't much of one then t can affect how the individual is perceived by them."

Sophia's explanation of the situation seemed to shed a new light on why Zain maybe acting indifferent about his circumstances but given his perceptiveness in situations like this that did not shock anyone.

By the time Zain had finished analyzing the creature he brushed himself off from the debris that had started clinging to his clothing and looked at everyone then asked, "Shall we continue?" Then turned and started walking again.

As the odd ball in the group Sophia once again tried to strike up a conversation, so looking to his father she asked a simple yet complicated question. "Has he always been like this?"

"Yes, he's always been a little more on the eccentric side with his behavior, if he doesn't like how a conversation is flowing, he will go analyzing something or to submerge himself in a piece of work." Damascus spoke trying to keep a level head about the one pet peeve he had with Zain. "Don't get me wrong he is a great worker and even better at keeping a level head than me, but he doesn't have a confrontational bone in his body and as a merchant of any kind that can be dangerous in a different way."

Sophia nodded, getting the gist of what had been spoken as they all made their way behind Zain following the frozen cobble stone route that was laid before them.

After walking for a few minutes, they came upon a fork in the path. One side was still covered with patches of frost while the other was regular old stonework that was almost artisan-like. Infront of the fork in the path there was a sign and Zain walked up to it to read what it said. What was on it in plain writing was as follows: "Here you have a choice. The path to the left will take you back to the entrance of this dungeon, and the one to the right will take you deeper into the depths of the abyss. If you look too hard you might find that it stares back."

Zain whipped around to look at the group that had been tagging along with his and he simply pointed to the path without the frost covering and began to explain, "If you want to get out of here, we go that way." Everyone looked at him waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop as he took a breath. "This path will take us into the deeper parts." He said as he pointed at the frost covered path. "And the last part I do not know what to make of it, so I am choosing not to dwell on it." He finished off looking down at the path covered in frost.

Damascus stood tall and walked over to him. Placing a hand on Zains shoulder, he began to speak. "No one would think any less of anyone if they wanted to go back to the surface. But I know you, and you always want to see things through to the end. I support that but this is also going to be a group decision. We don't want anyone hurt, and we aren't going to be reckless."

Zain's mother looked around her as if everyone was waiting for her decision first, but they weren't, they were all in their individual thoughts, so she walked up beside Zain who was moving closer to the frozen path.

Walking up to join them Sophia reiterated, "I just can't use that spell from earlier for a while, but we should be fine I hope."

Zain's father looked longingly from one path to the other then walked around Damascus to read the sign that Zain had read earlier. After contemplating the meaning of the last for a moment, he breathed heavily and went to join the group as Damascus looked at him and asked, "What did it say?"

"Oh, just that if you stare into the abyss, it stares back." Zain's father spoke jokingly.

Zain's mother froze in her tracks as she heard those words. She had heard them before, but the saying wasn't all of the one she had previously heard so she continued it. "And when the abyss stares back, it's already got it's hold and pulling you in." Her eyes shot wide with the realization that she just had. "This is Lillith's dungeon, and right now she has her sights set on Zain."

Everyone stopped and stared at her for a moment. The only sign of life still from the group was their breath frosting into the air before Zain started laughing.

"What would a demon princess want with me? I'm just a multi-talented merchant who can't use magic." Zain was smiling at this, but everyone else looked straight at him as if he was losing his mind.

His mother walked up and put a hand on his shoulder before speaking once again. "Zain, I've known for a while now you would be special. Being chosen by a dungeon core is no easy feat. Add on that this is a demon princess who is the dungeon core. Even if we asked you to abandon this madness, would you?"

"I have a feeling after making it this far, it would keep me up at night not knowing what was at the end of this journey." Zain responded with his resolve unwavering even with his concerned mother asking him this.

"Very well, we will finish this one. But be warned, you normally don't get a chance to get out of a dungeon and with there being one here, that means it's about to get really deep." His mother said as she took the torch and started leading the group down the frozen cobble stone path that laid ahead of them.