Chapter 11

11

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"You've bested many fiends, but now is the time to test your mettle. We're going Dungeon Diving today." °Dungeon Diving° sounded delightfully dangerous and Caste perked right up at the mere mention of it--no potions needed. "When we get there, you will need to focus all of your will into Fire Magic. I am unsure if there are torches therein..." Caste glanced down at her little Majesty. "What? You expect Royalty to venture into such a loathsome, filthy place? Hmph!" This translated to "I have no idea what's down there but I'm too prideful to admit it." Casterline was fine with exploring a deep, dark mystery dungeon and a little proud of herself for being able to understand Fiaerna's communication style after such a long time together.

Finally, I'm making progress! I'll get through to her soon. Maybe I'll adopt her when I get home...I just have to convince her to come with me... She lost herself in thought and by the time she'd finally decided to look up, they'd already reached their destination. The abyss-like hole before them was nothing special to look at. But the aura emanating from it left Caste feeling hopeless and frightened. She knew these were not her emotions, though and stepped forward to assess the entrance.

Dungeon Diving, to Caste's detriment, was exactly as it sounded. In most video games and TV shows the Hero or Heroine always waltzed right up to a dungeon entrance and walked straight on in. Sure they may have had to find a key or solved a few puzzles to unlock the entrance, but never had Caste seen anything like what she was being forced to do. Telling Princess Fiaerna that she was afraid of heights only made Fi frustrated enough to sweep Casterline's legs out from underneath her so that she would fall head first into the entrance. Needless to say, it was a long way down and Caste felt like she were falling endlessly into the pits of Hell. She landed so hard that both of her legs shattered beneath her own weight. She screamed out in agony. Her pain echoed across the cavernous walls. When Fiaerna gingerly landed beside her as if she'd glided in on a Spring breeze, she scoffed cruelly at the Adventurer's predicament. "Help me...it...hurts..."

"Help yourself. I know you're capable of healing yourself." But she wasn't. They both knew she'd never been taught such Magic. Even still, she tried her hardest to concentrate on Healing Magic that moved like a green vine that curled up and around her shattered legs to mend and ease. She opened her eyes. Through tears and labored breathing she realized it hadn't worked. Meanwhile, Fiaerna stood tauntingly in front of her, guzzling down a Healing tonic out of sheer spite. Caste reached like a beggar for the bottle in Fi's hand. But the pain was so intense she passed out on the spot. When she awoke, she noticed her name and HP bar full and fixed just above her head. Bright green and one hundred percent as it...always was? Of course. The Skill names floating inside her head right now, the HP bar just above, these were a natural part of her and had been since the moment she'd arrived in the Kingdom of Krowne.