Dungeons and Discussions

The plan was to travel from the merchant city of Ter’aquit east towards the Ruins of Talir’sahn. From there, we would skirt around the forbidden zone and enter the ancient Talir’sahn Eastern Operating Base via the recently exposed secondary escape hatch. Then, once in, we’d use our new and improved combat training to clear all three levels and loot as we went. Finally, we would prepare a trap and take on the young dragon that had taken up residence.

“All in all, we should each walk away with close to two thousand gold pieces after roughly a week of work.” I concluded, “And if we’re lucky, we could use some of the more niche items to build relations with a future political player.”

The three stared at me, slack-jawed. My mind began to race as anxiety filled me.

Oh gods, what did I say? Was this too much for them? Crap. I guess I should have had us help an old lady or find some puppies first.

“What?” I worked up the courage to ask.

“Two thousand gold—” Rionriv started.

“Each?” Sharzin finished.

“Hey, now, I know it’s not a lot for bona fide adventurers, but it’s a good starting point for our adventuring rank—”

“That’s amazing!” Aesandoral pulled me into a hug.

Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump!

Ooop—boobies. I thought as my face was buried into Aesandoral’s diminutive bosom. She squeezed me in tight as she continued to gush.

The alcoholic vapours hanging from her every word were so strong that I felt myself getting lightheaded. Or at least that was the reason I was telling myself. And that it had nothing to do with the sudden, directed affection at all.

“Okay, perv, enough. Six seconds is all you get.” Rionriv injected, stepping over and pulling me away from the chest of her drunken sister. “Now, how sure are you about this? So far, the entire campus oracle stuff has worked out, but you’re asking us to do a harsh, real-world dungeon dive with you. That’s a lot of money, but you also said there would be a dragon.”

With a hand on my shoulder, Rionriv leaned in and got close to my face. Her following words were passionate and provocative. If she weren’t always so intense, I’d swear she was flirting with me before going in for a kiss.

“What assurances do we have from you, Ruby Oracle?”

She placed a single finger on my bottom lip, pulling it down teasingly.

Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump!

“I—uhm,” I swallowed my words.

What was happening to me? I thought as chills surged through my body.

Had Rionriv ever been this close before? My god, was that alluring smell her? How have I never noticed just how beautiful her eyes were before? And her other—perky features.

“I, uh, y-yeah, assurances.” I stammered. “I’ll get us whatever items we need and distribute my personal healing potions. I-I’ve been working in Phyllis’ shoppe on the side, so I have money. Whatever you need to feel safe.”

“Whatever. I. Need?” Rionriv leaned in closer, her lips inches away from mine.

Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump!

“An-anything...” I whispered back, closing my eyes and leaning in, drunk with arousal.

“Good.” Rionriv pulled away quickly and placed her hands on her hips. “Bwahahaha, just wanted to make sure.”

With a snap of her fingers, the chill that had washed over my body and the intoxicating feeling that followed quickly faded. Like being dunked in a pool of cold water after hours of drinking, I was snapped back to a harsh reality.

“Heh, wha—?” I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly, looking at Rionriv. “What just happened?”

“Oh, I ensorcelled you to make sure you wouldn’t get us killed the second we left campus grounds. It worked like a charm; thanks for the assist, Aes.”

“Bwuh?! That’s so not cool! You can’t just play with someone’s emotions like that. It-It’s…well, it’s not that—but it’s not nice to do to friends.”

Rionriv giggled as she sat back down in her chair and leaned over to Aesandoral. Resting her head on her sister’s shoulder, she nuzzled into it and looked up at me with her bright, sapphire eyes.

“Aww, did I get you all riled up?” She asked, her voice becoming seductive once more. Reaching a finger up to Aesandoral’s chin, she turned her sister’s face towards her. “Do you wish that I did something like this—”

Rionriv slowly lifted her head to Aesandoral, her lips puckering for a passionate kiss.

Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump! Thuh-thump!

“Okay, stop!” I shouted, turning away quickly, gripping at the sides of my hips and concentrating.

No, no. Down boy! Not now.

“You’re drunk. You three can stay and do whatever, I’m going to head out.”

“No, no!”

Rionriv looked at me, pausing inches away from a tomato-red Aesandoral who appeared to be frozen like a deer in headlights.

“We’re just playing, stay.”

The other patron of the café chose this moment to stand up and leave. This caught my eye even though he attempted to slip out unnoticed.

“Oooh! No one else will be here. Let’s get another round.”

“Goodbye, Ri.” I said, beginning to waddle myself uncomfortably out of the café.

“Boo! Okay, fine, we’re coming.”

The boots scraped across the floor as all three stood and stumbled after me.

“You don’t have to follow me,” I called back to them as I ascended the stairs. “Please. Go back. Have fun.”

“Aww, don’t be shy, I know you want the three of us to come with you.”

Nnngh—phrasing! No, shush, she knows what she’s doing.

I pushed out into the light, once again blinded by my nemesis, the sun.

“Hey, keep that up, and you’re going to get me in trouble.”

“Trouble—well, I think you’ve got plenty of that already.” A pissed off voice announced to us.

My eyes finally adjusted, revealing a dozen red and blue wristbands affixed to the monstrous students we had been farming for the last few weeks. They had found us. And we were surrounded.

Sighing drunkenly, I turned back to the triop.

“I should have just called your bluff, Ri.”