Everyone that was on the beach admiring the ship immediately started running back to the mansion. The pulse of mana didn’t harm anyone or anything. It was just unexpected to see a blast of mana like that and to see the beautiful mountain range crack as it did. Most of the people wanted answers about what happened.

  Upon reaching the mansion, they all stopped as a familiar figure came walking out the front door. Gene was right. Drackenn had finished the dungeon.

  “King Captain! Good to see you. What in Mothollo happened?” Minily had known Drackenn for years. She trusted him with her life, and she had been a bit concerned for him.

  “What do you mean? I just emerged from the dungeon. Does anyone know how long I was in there?”

  “It’s been a week. My question was referring to the huge pulse of mana and the crack that formed in the mountains.”

  “Only a week? Wow. I was in there for nearly four years. As for the other stuff, I have no idea. Perhaps it’s a side effect of the dungeon completion?”

  Gene spoke up. “It does seem to be the case. The dungeon probably pulled in a lot of ambient mana when it generated your completion rewards. That mountain range seems to be stone that was enhanced by aether or in other words, physical mana. When you left the dungeon a lot of the compressed space time mana must have been released. That explains the massive time dilation. A week out here was four years for you.”

  “So, you’re saying we could go in there and age fifty years while the rest of the group only experiences a couple of months? Zuls asked with a bit of fear in her voice.

  “No that shouldn’t happen. Class chosen age slower the higher your level. The System also preserves your body while in dungeons. You will only age the real time equivalent.”

  “Interesting. The System never ceases to amaze me. Will the mountain take further damage?” Synexus was both amazed and concerned by the mechanics of the dungeon.

  “I believe it will. With how big that crack is, I wouldn’t be surprised if six dungeon runs will completely destroy the mountain range. This is what happens when mana builds up like this.”

  “We will have to see what damage comes from the dungeon when Minily emerges before making any decisions. If the crack extends anywhere near the mansion, we will have to make a temporary base in the forest while everyone completes the dungeon.” Vorin was pragmatic as always to protect the group.

  “Alright, well I’m exhausted. You will have to catch me up later. I’m going to find a bed.” Drackenn looked as if he was going to fall over, so Minily ran to him.

  “Don’t worry, King Captain. I’ll take you upstairs before heading in for my go at the dungeon.”

  “Thanks, Minily. Be careful in there. It was much more difficult than I thought.”

  The two walked upstairs and out of sight leaving everyone else outside the mansion staring up at the crack in the once perfect cliff face.

  “Four years. Think of the progress we could make in our classes in four years.” Synexus broke his gaze on the mountain and decided to say what was running through his mind.

  “Yes. This opportunity could be beneficial for all of us. I don’t intend to waste it. However, we must take into account that the higher the reward, the greater the risk.” Prith casually dropped a cryptic warning before walking away back to his mediation rock.

  Zuls just stared at her friend as he walked away. “I feel like the dramatic flair wasn’t necessary. I for one was already planning to be careful.”

  “I’m just hoping for a combat intensive dungeon for myself. I’ve been itching for a good fight ever since we arrived.” Kumo shrugged as she relayed her wishes.

  “Prith is right. We all must be careful. If you die in the dungeon, there won’t even be a body to recover. You will become pure mana to feed the dungeon itself.” Gene followed Prith’s example and flew off to land on the crow’s nest of the newly grown ship.

  “Seriously, what is with the drama today?”

  Everyone laughed at Zuls comment before separating and getting back to the duties at hand. Some went to tend to camp life while others followed most of the class chosen back to the ship to prepare. Tomorrow they would start sanding. Kumo and Prith would be instrumental with their cloud and sword skills respectively. Kumo’s abilities would also be beneficial when drying the wood out. Her breeze will reduce the time significantly. Zuls’ penguin also had an ability to increase the heat of an area. This project would be a united project.

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  ***

  Clix had been a passenger onboard the Windswept before everything happened. She was still six months away from getting her class. Her parents wanted her to attend the premiere school for new class chosen and got her a spot on the voyage. The open seas hadn’t been kind to her even before everything with the pirates and the scary monster that had capsized them. Sea sickness alone had made her resent the decision her parents made.

  She wanted to learn on her own like the rest of her friends in Gale. There was an idea in her head that they would form a party and go adventuring together around the world to learn with each other. It was what she and every other person her age dreamed of. Now she was stranded on an island with a group of strangers.

  The only redeeming factor of the voyage was a boy she had met one day when she finally was able to get up and walk around without feeling ill. Laiko had been the best parts of her day. They would talk for hours when there was nothing else to do. Besides Synexus, he was the only one that even had bothered to try and get to know her. Of course, she was a true introvert and didn’t bother to join them all on deck for the big gatherings. It just wasn’t for her.

  That was her life. Always feeling distant or on the outside. She had finally found friends in Gale and then her parents sent her away. Laiko had been her way back to feeling even remotely comfortable. Then everything happened and his sister died. Even after the funeral he had been distant and pushed her away. She understood how devastating the loss was, but she wanted to be there for him like he was for her.

  When the word that Synexus had finally finished growing the ship arrived, she was ecstatic. They would finally get off this island and back to civilization. Her plan was to immediately send word to her parents that she was coming home. There was a teleporter in most major cities including Gale. It was expensive, but she would come up with the money at any cost. She was working up the courage to ask Synexus for it because she had overheard that he had money while they were all talking on the Windswept. The excitement made her want to go see the ship for herself. First, she was going to get Laiko and let him know the good news. He was always in the same place these days. His sister’s grave.

  She ran to relay the news to him and then they would go see it together. He came into view, and her voice rang out to get his attention, but it was muffled out by a loud thunder. The mountain had started to crack. Fear struck her for the countless time on this voyage and as always, she ran to what made her feel comfortable. Her gaze focused back onto Laiko who had looked up towards the mountain when the crack happened. Suddenly, there was a wave of energy that seemed to pass right through her. When it got to him, however, he disappeared.

  Panic filled her and she ran to the grave. He can’t be gone. Frantically she searched for any sign of him, but all that was left were his footprints in the dirt. She ran to inform Vorin and the others.

  ***

  Minily helped Drackenn to his bed and he instantly fell asleep. She couldn’t believe how exhausted he was. It must be a side effect of the dungeon. Her thoughts immediately went to a familiar place. Was she strong enough to handle this?

  If her King Captain was this exhausted after his trial, what hope did she have? She shook away the thoughts and put her mental bandage on like always. That was a series of positive affirmations that she would think to herself when her thoughts started toward a negative outcome.

  She spoke as she went through the normal list. “You can do this. You were one of the most elite pirates back home. You were the youngest in your city to pass the gauntlet of pirates. People do like you. You will advance. You will become a class master. You can do this.”

  It was always a list of accomplishments from her past mixed with her goals for the future. This was a habit ever since she was a little girl. Her family was poor even before they all died. She never had friends; she had bullies. Even her teachers would tell her she wasn’t going anywhere.

  At some point, her tears ran out. She got up and started feeding herself positive thoughts even if most were simple, unimpressive ideas. This was her lifeline. The way she survived her childhood. Now anytime she started to doubt herself, she performed the same ritual. In a way she was still that little girl that got bullied and worse in that dirty, ran down part of the city.

  Drackenn was the first person who actually believed in her. The day that he made her his first mate was one of the happiest days of her life. She never even wanted to be a pirate growing up. It was just the quickest way to success in Doubloon. Under her King Captain, however, she felt content with the choices she made in life. That was just how he was, and she would be forever grateful.

  This dungeon wasn’t about him though. She wanted to succeed for herself. To prove to herself that she can overcome her fears. That she would overcome herself. That was the secret, in order to succeed in your own eyes, you had to overcome yourself. Of course, it’s much more difficult than it sounds. We are always getting in our own way.

  She got up and made her way downstairs to the basement. There was a thought to go say goodbye to everyone, but she didn’t think they would care all that much. Her hand reached for the lock on the dungeon door, and the question was asked. She answered without hesitation.

  “I need to overcome my self-doubt. The fear of being insignificant.”

  The door opened and Minily stepped through to face her trial.