The cobbled streets of Varona pulsed with the rhythm of daily life, yet every seventh day, a silent, almost magnetic pull drew the Dungeon Priests, Acolytes, Disciplines, and Tironians towards the hulking edifice that dominated the city's heart. Once known as the Townhouse of Tribulation, a place of shadowed whispers and enforced penance, it had been reborn, expanded, and sanctified. Now, within its newly fortified walls, the faithful gathered, calling it the Cathedral of Confession, a name whispered only within the dungeon's embrace. To the outside world, it remained simply "the cathedral," a monolithic structure dwarfing any conventional church.

  Inside, the air crackled with anticipation. Zen, Ang, Avos, and countless others, their faces etched with a mixture of devotion and the lingering shadows of dungeon life, filled the vast space. The scent of incense, thick and cloying, mingled with the earthy aroma of damp stone and the faint, metallic tang of the dungeon's depths. They awaited Cardinal Carn, their spiritual shepherd, whose weekly sermons, known amongst the congregation as "Dungeon Days," offered a fragile beacon of hope.

  Cardinal Carn, a man of imposing stature and eyes that held the unsettling intensity of a zealot, ascended the raised podium. His voice, resonant and commanding, echoed through the cathedral, weaving a tapestry of cryptic pronouncements.

  "You may have glimpsed her in the market, a fleeting shadow amidst the throngs. Perhaps she shared a simple meal at Ali's, her presence unassuming, her touch unseen. She may have bartered for goods, her coin as ordinary as any other, or offered a silent hand in some unnoticed task. Even a casual greeting, a momentary exchange, could be a brush with her divine purpose, a whisper of the dungeon's will."

  "Such is the will of the dungeon," the congregation chanted, their voices a low, rhythmic drone that reverberated through the stone arches.

  "She moves amongst us, a silent guardian, her form indistinguishable from the common folk. She asks for no recognition, no tribute, yet her influence permeates every facet of our lives. She blesses the harvest, strengthens the seed, even guides the ebb and flow of our experience. Her selfless devotion to Tironia and its children is the very essence of her being. Such is the will of the dungeon."

  "Such is the will of the dungeon," they echoed, their eyes fixed on the Cardinal, their breaths held in rapt anticipation.

  He paused, a flicker of something akin to triumph in his eyes, and took a deliberate sip of water, the crystal glass catching the dim light.

  "The dungeon we serve is unlike any other. It is a living entity, unique and compassionate. It sees us, feels us, and loves us with a depth that transcends mortal understanding. Her care is reflected in the very air we breathe, in the warmth that blooms in our hearts. She provides, she protects, she prevails. Such is the will of the dungeon."

  "Such is the will of the dungeon," the congregation responded, their voices a collective sigh of devotion.

  The hypnotic rhythm of the sermon was shattered by a piercing shriek, a sound that ripped through the cathedral like a jagged shard of ice. The congregation surged towards the massive oak doors, their faces contorted with terror. A colossal shadow fell across the cathedral's facade, and a guttural roar echoed through the city. A dragon, its scales shimmering like a thousand emeralds, soared overhead, its eyes burning with predatory intensity.

  Panic threatened to engulf the crowd, their voices rising in a chaotic cacophony of fear. But Cardinal Carn, his face alight with a strange, almost ecstatic joy, pushed his way to the front, his laughter cutting through the din.

  "Fear not, my children! Behold the true power of the dungeon! Her radiant glory will shield us from all harm. Our holy mother, Abi, watches from her tower, her gaze unwavering. She will deliver swift justice to any who dare defile her sacred streets!"

  He gestured towards the sky, his eyes gleaming with fanatical fervor. While the primal fear of the dragon's presence lingered, Cardinal Carn's unwavering conviction, his almost manic certainty, calmed the immediate panic. They stood at the cathedral's entrance, their eyes wide with a mixture of terror and awe, their minds wrestling with the question: Would their goddess, Abi, truly save them?

  Abi.

  A vision of emerald hues: green hair, vibrant green eyes, a small, delicate frame, barely five foot five. Yet, her smile, a beacon of warmth, radiated an almost tangible aura of love and protection. A goddess, a protector, a silent guardian.

  Or something like that.

  Cardinal Carn's Mass, Dungeon Days

  Dungeon Stories Volume 3

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  For some strange reason, the Dragon didn't attack my city and instead decided to make a den on my mountain.

  I've never actually seen a Dragon with my own eyes before today. Not first hand anyway. I've seen pictures inside books, but they didn't do the creature I saw justice.

  Black scales and beautiful features were all I saw. Sure there was a hint of terror somewhere underneath the surface. For some reason though, I was enraptured by her beauty.

  Is it a she?

  I'm definitely not an expert on Dragon anatomy or anything, but for some reason I'm pretty sure she was radiating feminine charm.

  Or is that just me?

  Either way Varona is in uproar as the citizens are in full-on panic mode. Dashing around and screaming like headless chickens, it's taking the combined effort of all my family just to stop them from arguing with each other. The Dragon hasn't gone either and instead has decided to take up residence in the black forest about three quarters of the way up my mountain. The monster ripped a few trees out to make space for herself and then dug slightly into the mountain before going to sleep.

  Seriously, what the hell?

  It could be the fact that everything has been sunshine and rainbows recently and all the minor problems accumulated into one big shit show occurring at once? That's not how it should be though, right? I thought I was just enjoying the fruits of my labor. Living the good life, you know?

  Never did I expect that the next problem to fly my way would be one on this scale. I mean, who could possibly fight a Dragon and win? They're meant to be like next-level monsters and only the strongest dare to challenge them. Not that I've ever heard any story regarding them winning that is.

  OK. My best option is go with the two people who always surpass expectations, right? It has to be! I'm definitely not sending Noir up there. He would more than likely piss the Dragon off at which point it could lay waste to my city from the sky.

  The buildings aren't so much a concern but the citizens themselves are and my family is priority number one. Under no circumstances can I let any harm come to them.

  I suppose I could just ignore the Dragon. Pretend it's not even there and tell everyone it left? No, that won't do. Honesty is the best policy after all. Plus, I can't fall back into ignoring problems that I don't know how to deal with.

  "Abi! Was that a Dragon?" Anya shouts, running up the street toward me.

  "Yeah. I suppose it was. Don't you think she looked kind of beautiful?" I asked before realising what I said.

  "What? No... Well maybe, but she definitely did look kind of fucking dangerous. You know, the kind that eats you and sets fire to everything type of dangerous?" Anya's serious and isn't playing around.

  "I know. I'm going to get Light and Dropper to see if they can communicate with it." I let the Rainbow Mage know my intentions, simple as they may be.

  "What!? Abi, no! You've got to kill it. It's a Dragon. It's not going to talk to you, you know?" Anya's basically screaming at me now. Seriously, what did I say that time?

  "Don't be like that. What if it's an intelligent creature? There isn't much information on Dragons so it's worth a shot, right?"

  "What did Me say?" I hadn't even thought to ask what he knows about the creature in question, but a quick telepathic question confirms my suspicions.

  That settles it. I have to see if they can talk it into leaving before anything bad happens. I don't really want my efforts to go to waste or for my city to become a black spot after all.

  Light and Dropper arrive in the shadow of the closest alleyway and rush over to me and Anya.

  "Master, we are here." Dropper announces their arrival while Light questions me about our latest threat. "Is this about the Dragon?"

  "Thanks for coming so quickly and yes, I've summoned you because of the Dragon." Light struggles to contain his joy whereas Dropper's composure is something to be praised. Have they always been like that? It only feels like recently that Light has been acting out a little more than usual. For now I'll put it down to him spending too much time with Noir and leave it at that.

  "I want you to see if you can talk the Dragon into leaving. Me says they're intelligent creatures so there's a good chance you will be able to communicate with them."

  "What if it doesn't want to leave?" Light has a mischievous look in his eye as he asks the biggest question on his mind.

  "As long as it doesn't pose a threat to anyone then it will probably move on at some point." It's rare you get to see a Dragon these days, or at least it used to be. Not that we've seen any others in the last year except this one. "The most important thing is that you come back alive and the city stays safe. Do not under any circumstances engage the Dragon in combat. Am I clear?"

  Both Light and Dropper acknowledge my order. The blue-haired Assassin grumbled something about "not being fair," under his breath before they disappeared, which didn't escape my hearing But I decided to ignore it. As long as they don't die it will be a win in my book.

  Twenty minutes later and I remember why I stopped sending Light and Dropper on scouting missions.

  I sigh in relief as neither of them are injured. A massive smile is plastered across Light's face.

  "What did I say?" I ask weakly, but Light just laughs as though he doesn't remember me telling him not to engage the Dragon.

  "Well. I only hit it once when we were retreating as you ordered, but it just sort of... Went down."

  I don't know what to say. I honestly thought a Dragon might actually pose some sort of risk or threat to my city and dungeon's security. Was I foolish for being cautious?

  Surely not.

  It's just Light and Dropper, right?