Delving into the dungeon. Now this is what I was expecting. The outside of it looked like nothing special. An old goldmine pickaxe and shovel. Broken down cart and wooden beams. But as we passed that space and into the darkness…

There is a normal torch you’d imagine. Lit and burning so someone must be around. It’s kinda important to take notice of these things Locke thinks to themself. 

“It’s a torch.” Locke admits looking at it burning.

“I really can’t believe this is happening.” Corin replies.

“Where are the workers?” Locke asks.

“Everything has just been brought back to being. It might have been how it was when it happened. Like. Frozen in time.” Nora states.

“So you’re saying that the demon stopped time and froze everything? Then grew vines?” Locke replies. 

“Exactly. She froze time and her minions would turn things they touched to ice. As the story goes they fought them in some epic battle. Shattering demons like Crystal. We really liked it because the diamond king is said to really like crystals and stuff. So breaking them was a bonus.”

“Wow, that’s very poetic.” Corin acknowledges 

“Yeah, they had similar attributes.” She replies. “They’re very much alike.”

“How far down does this thing go?” Locke states and it echoes into the black hole that lay ahead of them.  There is track and rail. Otherwise it’s rock and root and stone.

“Should we take the torch?” Corin asks, calling at them from the entrance.

“I’ve goblin fire. We’ll use that.” Nora replies.

She casts her goblin fire from her hands and the entrance does expand. 

“By the devil’s” Nora exhales “goblins eye...”

The entrance behind them vanishes as the cave and rock and filth fade away and in its stay is a fully furnished chizeled artisan made dungeon hallway. 

“Gran gran would joke to me about not being able to see…” Nora huffs out with tears in her eyes. It’s obvious now the goblins have been hiding their design behind a veil. Their artistry and industry are on another level. Puts the Olcan clan to shame. Truly she was primitive after all. 

Nora lit her globin flame and they ran about illuminating a room fully furnished and finished. You see, the goblins are greedy folk and they like to keep even the beauty of things to themselves…

The cave is no cave, it's a fully furnished temple dungeon.

The walls are covered with art of goblin graffiti Locke would describe it. 

“It looks like the sixteenth chapel…” Corin declares. 

“Wow” Nora says aloud.

“This is really breathtaking.” Locke admits. Scanning the pathway it’s bricked pristine goblin masonry. Their neurotic nature makes them hyper focus on even the most simple things. Designs on designs. Let’s just say.

The goblin fire Nora summoned strolls about multiplying and jumping onto robust torches decorated as if for a king. The ground they stand on is now lined with red carpet and marble goblin men at arms line the halls. They carry every type of invention for beheading and spaghetting things. It just goes and goes.

“I suppose we should go forward then?” Locke states.

“No.” Nora replies with her arm stretched out to hold him back. “We’ve to be careful. The demon has had this place for ages now. There is no telling what she’s had the goblins do in their madness.” 

“You mean like traps?” Locke replies.

Exactly. I’ve set traps for you to survive. I hope you enjoy the little playhouse. Don’t die. I mean I know you won’t but I can’t keep everyone alive here. It’s not part of the mission log. They gotta do it themselves. Hahaha

“Crap.” Locke states.

“What? Did you see something Locke?” Corin shoots.

“Would you stop it already? Why do you always gotta be like that when I say something?” Locke complains.

“I don’t know you always see stuff. You’re the martial arts champion dancer and shit.” Corin replies.

“Dancer?!” Locke says.

Corin laughs. “I mean, yeah. Step? That’s like a dance term right? Beat? Half step. Fighting is a dance right?” She chuckles. 

“Brilliant. I gotta deal with you too.” Locke complains

“You too?” Corin responds. 

“Ugh, just shut up.” Locke states.

“Am I annoying you sir Locke?” Nora replies.

“Sir Locke?” Corin asks.

“Sir Locke?” Locke replies.

“Oops. Sorry. I just figured I’d get you used to the title.” Nora responds by shifting her foot into the dirt.

“Oh my god… Sir Locke, how do you do there sir?” Corin states hand scooping and bowing to Locke.

“Well, I don’t know. How do you do there sir Corin.” Locke responds back, returning the scooping bow. 

“We’ll, I say sir. Sir. Here here!” Corin replies back laughing. 

“Can you two stop?” Nora demands. They both stand still and look back at her chortling. “I dont see why you find it so funny. You’re my summons and I’m a noble you’re going to be treated like that in the future. You do realize that right?”

“Hey lady, the future is down a really long path. And this title stuff is lame. Please. Spare us.” Corin replies. 

“How rude. Even you? I thought it was only Tye who acted that way. How about you Sir Locke?” Nora asks

“Well, to be frank. I don’t believe in monarchies and that stuff so I don’t really embrace titles either. It’s kind of offensive really.” Locke replies. 

You tell her…

“There is a need for it. Order is maintained by structure. And structure is maintained by order and rank.” Nora states. 

“Oh my gosh, I never thought I’d be admonished like that before.” Corin laughs. 

“Really cements my feelings on the matter truthfully.” Locke finishes. 

“Well alright then. Locke. Come on, let’s push forward but carefully.” Nora states as she pushes past them and walks down the hall.

“After you Sir Locke.” Corin states waving her hand forward. 

“No, I insist. After you Sir Corin.” Locke replies. 

“Wait, aren’t we supposed to be addressed as Dame?” Corin asks. 

“You’re upset she’s misgendering you now?” Locke replies with a smirk. 

Corin blushes and runs after Nora.

Locke can feel something in his heart giggle. So hard. They has discovered something about their friend that they didn’t realize before. Maybe Corin actually is a girl.  

“Be careful. If sir black hears you disparaging his title he’d draw his sword on you. Challenge you to a duel.” Nora calls to them knowingly. 

“Oh yeah? Well, I’ve got a 556 which means I'm dangerous.” Corin replies back at her in a shooting motion. 

Nora doesn’t understand. 

“What’s a 556?” Nora replies curious. 

“It’s nothing.” Locke admonishes. 

Corin laughs. “Yeah I ain’t got it so no mind anyway.”

“Do you think a sword could beat a rifle?” Corin continues to Locke in a hushed tone.  Nora is curious now so she can hear them.  She’s very curious so she’s reading their thoughts. 

“I mean, they still have a mount on the rifle for sticking people. So..” Locke replies jabbing at her.

“What are you two talking about?” Nora asks.

“Nothing. Human stuff. Rock. Paper. Scissors sort of stuff.” Locke calls back. 

“As in rock beats paper?” Nora asks.

“Yo! It’s like.. universal!” Corin exclaims.

“Nothing is original.” Locke nods in  agreement. Shifting their glasses back into their face. 

“So what is a rifle?” Nora asks.

“Aaaaaa….” Corin tries to sound out her thoughts.

“We aren’t supposed to tell you things you’re not supposed to know yet.” Locke states frankly.

“What do you mean, supposed to know yet? I’m your summoner. I have to know we have to defeat this demon?” Nora replies.

“Well, how do I put this… you’re not gonna run into it in here most likely. So you don’t need to worry about it.” Corin returns. Hands up. “Technology is different from where I am from and you wouldn’t understand.”

“This again. I know you are from a more advanced place in time and space. I can wrap my head around that. I’m just worried it’s something I’m going to need to know.” Nora explains to them.

“Well, I don't know. Uh, you can’t make things you imagine can you?” Corin replies. 

“I can summon things that belong to you.” She states. “Like weapons.” 

“….”

“You shoulda told us that from the start!” Locke cries out. 

“I know right!? What the hell lady we coulda left Tye and Brent back there with a machine gun or something.” Corin replies.

“You have a machine gun? What’s a mama-ma-machine gun?” Nora asks.

“I don’t but Tye does. Technically his dad bought a ton of firearms under his name. Machine guns. Rocket launchers. A fucking tank. I’m serious, this guy is crazy.” Corin explains.

“Well, what about you two?” Nora asks. “Do you own any items that are considered your weaponry? I can summon them here to us. If you can imagine it I can grab it.”

“Holy shit.” Corin replies.

“Yeah. This changes everything. Okay…” Locke interjects. “I have a set of swords I got from Japan.”

“Swords?!” Corin protests. “You want swords?!”

“Among other things.” Locke replies. 

“Well I think I can draw out four things. I’m not very good at it yet because I’ve never done it before but I’m pretty sure I can pull out about four things.” Nora states. 

“Okay well, his swords. One. I’ve a rifle bag… Two. And I think…” Corin states as Locke interrupts her. 

“Is it really okay to do this?” 

“Allow me to be what I am. A summoner.” Nora replies. “Corin, focus on your choice of weapons and I’ll try to summon them.” 

Corin sits down in an Indian position and meditates focusing on her rifle bag and cell phone.

Hey, this is cheating. Stop them.

I can’t stop them. Locke thinks to himself smirking. Quite she might hear you. 

“Who are you talking to Locke?” Nora asks as a flash of power washes forth and before Corin drops her rifle bag and cell phone. The bag has four full clips filled and the gun in the bag. Corin is stoked.

“Fuck yeah! It worked!” Corin screams, grabbing the cell phone first. 

“Hey, you don’t need your phone for this!” Locke complains. 

“Fuck you this thing is my life. You never know. I was sick of watching Brent play on his. I can’t believe his battery hasn’t died yet.” Corin replies. 

“Well now do me too.” Locke complains trying to think about his swords and cell phone. 

“No” Nora replies. “Who were you talking to?”

“A demon.” Locke states back. 

“She’s in your head?” Nora hisses.

“I hear voices. I don’t know if it’s her or the thing we’re searching for.” Locke replies. 

“How come I can’t hear her?” Nora inquires.

“I don’t know I guess you weren’t paying attention?” Locke states back in defence.

“You’ve got to tell me when things are speaking into your head Locke. It’s important.” Nora complains sternly.

Yeah Locke. You big idiot. Why didn’t I let you tell her I was talking to you the whole time. ;)

“I’m not really in control of what I’m able to say at the moment.” Locke replies. 

“Shit.” Nora states then covers her mouth embarrassed for cursing. “Sorry… okay new plan. Locke tell me things I need to know okay?”

“Always.” Locke replies motioning with an “okay” gesture. 

“What does that mean?” Nora asks. 

“It means okay.” Corin whispers.

“Why are we whispering?” Nora replies back.

“So the demon doesn’t hear us?” Corin replies back using hand signals as she does it then winks.

“Oh, okay. Got it.” Nora affirms. 

They’re very cute. Hate to see them die.

“She seems confident in our demise.” Locke retorts. 

“Of course she does. Tell her to fuck off.” Corin responds by flipping her off while pushing it through her other hand forming a hole.

“I know what that means.” Nora states. 

Obstacle 42. Geek