“Lila darling, how would you feel about coming to the springs with us? I assume you’ll be coming with me, Zoe?” Eliza asked.
Lila shrugged. “It sounds as fun as anything else, sure. Lets go.”
“I mean I’d be interested, but right now?” Zoe asked.
“I recall you saying you wanted to make a checklist of things to do? Well what could be better than making a checklist other than just going and doing some of your chores?" Eliza asked.
Zoe smiled and shrugged. “Can’t argue with that I guess. Sure, lets go and check out the dungeon then. Do you know what the tunnels could be?"
Eliza shook her head. “No idea, but I’ve never seen a productive dungeon that wasn’t a little bit more than meets the eye. The system gives us these dungeons, or maybe they’re formed from mana naturally, but I doubt that more and more with every day now.
“Mana doesn’t just do things on its own like that, and especially not with such purposeful direction. All of this,” Eliza gestured around her at the wisps of light that floated through Zoe’s cave. “Coming together entirely on its own to completely rebuild Flester like that?” She shook her head.
“No. The system creates these, I have little doubt of that. For what purpose? I’m not sure. To better us? To harvest something from us? I’m unsure, but I believe that the system was designed to help us in some way. To help control the mana, perhaps? To what end? I’m not sure. If we’re more powerful, and controlling more mana, maybe we would be more effective at whatever purpose the dungeons serve.
“Or maybe we would be more effective at whatever purpose the system has thanks to the dungeons spurring us on. But I think that they are, at least in some way, benefiting each other through their effect on us.” Eliza said.
“Which means the Springs of Gir are trying to harvest our dirt and grime?” Zoe laughed.
“Mana, of course.” Eliza said. “I’ve rarely met a productive dungeon that didn’t have some means of harvesting mana from people. The Springs of Gir itself has visitor cards that you fill with mana, for instance.”
“I kinda figured as much, but what I never understood was why? To power the dungeon?” Zoe asked.
Eliza sighed. “I’ve thought about it for years on end, but the only answer I can ever come up with is out of some form of generosity from whoever designed the system. Which I find so difficult to accept. Why would somebody create the system just to help us?"
“I’m not saying I agree with you about the system being designed.” Lila said. “But if it is. If, it is. Then why would it be so difficult to accept that somebody did it out of the goodness of their heart?”
“Because nobody is that nice. They would revolutionize an entire world, an universe universe even? How far does this system extend before we’re outside of its range of operations? And for what? Because they felt like helping us along?” Eliza shook her head. “I find the idea outrageous. Nobody is that nice, no single creature in existence is that kind. There must be a purpose to it.”
“You’re clouding your judgment by forming conclusions before you have answers, Eliza.” Lila said.
“I know! But the only thing I can think of is that whoever made the system did so to help us, and I can’t think of why. Productive dungeons harvest something from us, but not in a harmful way. And as far as I’ve seen, never without consent. A visitor pass you push mana into is obvious, but not malicious. It would be simple to look at productive dungeons in a vacuum and argue for them being some evil creation meant to manipulate us for some reason.
“But even then, what’s the issue with them harvesting some mana, with our consent? What’s the difference between that and just making it cost some extra money to enter? Why shouldn’t mana be a currency? And then we look at other dungeon types, and the amount of mana that is spent to keep them running and I don’t see how they’re harvesting enough mana to continue operating. Maybe they have some efficient means of recycling mana spent?
“But again, even that doesn’t explain how the dungeons are able to transform so much mana into the rewards, and why they’re okay with us effectively taking those rewards elsewhere. If they were recycling mana, they would want the rewards to be kept in the dungeon to be recycled, no?” Eliza asked.
“Maybe there’s just an expectation that eventually those rewards will make it back to some dungeon, and on such a large scale it’s safe enough to assume that it will work out fine?" Zoe suggested.
“I’ve thought as much. But then how do productive dungeons fit into the mix?” Eliza asked. “They’re very clearly mana positive for the system, and what purpose would that mana serve?”
“To power the system itself, or supplement mana needed by dungeons that are running at a deficit?” Zoe asked.
“Exactly! I believe that productive dungeons serve as a backup of sorts, in case any dungeon is unable to sustain itself. This system of tunnels beneath the springs may be for maintenance, but they may very well be related to how the dungeon itself is serving its purpose. And I would love to find out which that is. Zoe? If you would?” Eliza asked, holding out her hand.
Lila followed suit, and Zoe grabbed both of them then teleported them off down the road to the west towards the springs of gir. In a few brief minutes, they landed on the worn path through the forest that branched off the road and led to the familiar springs and began walking the short distance remaining.
“So how has life been for you otherwise?" Eliza asked. ”You’ve been down in the valleys?"
Zoe nodded. “I was, for a few months. It was interesting, but I don’t think I’ll be back for a while.”
“Bad experience?” Lila asked.
“Mhm. It was really great for a while, until suddenly it wasn’t. Well, it was my fault, really. I pushed things a bit too far.” Zoe said.
“What happened?" Eliza asked.
“Have you heard of the wanderers?” Zoe asked.
Lila and Eliza both shook their heads.
“They’re these people, kind of that come out in the night down there. Terrifying, high level humans that have embraced the darkness, so to speak. I thought I could communicate with one, and I tried. But it didn’t go well.” Zoe shivered. “It almost killed me in my stupidity. But it did seem to be able to communicate. I think it could understand me and follow simple commands, and it had some ability to send mental images and emotions.”If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
“Interesting.” Eliza hummed. “My life has been much less exciting. Rumours of an interesting class in this city or that, and off I go to find them. Even if I find somebody with a class I’ve never seen, able to cast magic I don’t recognize, it’s so rare for them to be willing to actually share that with me. The requirements, the abilities it grants them. Everybody’s so uptight about their own abilities.” She shook her head.
“Knowledge is a weapon, Eliza.” Lila said.
“Yes, yes I know. But would it be so bad if we were all armed with the same weapons? Knowledge is power, but only to those who hoard it. To those who share it, knowledge is beauty and life, a tool for growth and progress. That so many try to keep it close to their chests is why we’re so far behind where we could be. Imagine, a world where you could go to the library and get a detailed look at every class we knew about?
“Where children would grow up thinking of what specific requirements they needed to get for their class, where schools had resources available for any of their students to meet strange, outlandish requirements. Do you know how many feats there are? How many of them would be so easy to just hand out like candy to people?
“Flester’s Might! My god, the audacity of it all. Foizo has such an incredible resource at their fingertips, and I doubt any of the leadership have even had the thought of taking the town’s children to the dungeon with the royal guard to get them the slayer feat. But why wouldn’t they? Why can’t we share our knowledge, why can’t we use the knowledge we have to better ourselves? Why must we stagnate as we do? Stubbornly locking ourselves to the things we know and never bothering to expand that qualification.” Eliza shook her head.
“I apologize. I’m rambling.” Eliza said.
“No, it’s fine. For what it’s worth, I agree with you.” Zoe said.
“Thank you! I knew you would.” Eliza laughed. “Everybody else calls me radical, pushing for change in society that never needs to happen. But from my perspective, it’s all so stupid. We could be so much better.”
“And for what it’s worth, I think that Foizo has good leadership. Or at least I trust Joe a lot. They have some higher priorities, but I think that they would be receptive to the idea, if you had somebody in mind to act as a protective detail.” Zoe said.
“The royal guard! What else are they going to do?" Eliza asked.
“You know they have to watch over the city, Eliza.” Lila said as they approached the entrance to the Springs of Gir.
“Oh pish posh, what good is watching over the city if they can’t spend some time making the people who live in it better?” Eliza asked before turning to face one of the goblins sitting at the front desk near the entrance.
Its big blue eyes turned to look up at her with a welcoming smile growing on its face. “Hello! Welcome to the Springs of Gir!”
“Hey,” Eliza said. “I’m told there are some tunnels beneath the springs that you don’t let people into. I wanna see em.”
The goblin shook its head, the large ears that hung from the side flopping back and forth over its face. “No miss, customer can’t see tunnels.”
“I’m sorry, I think you misunderstood that as a question. I am terribly curious about what you are using them for, and I intend to see them.” Eliza leaned forward onto the desk, staring at the goblin.
The goblin shrunk into itself with a concerned look on its face. “Will ask boss, please wait.”
“Good.” Eliza said, watching the goblin crawl through the small door behind it. The other goblin sitting at the desk watched with a hint of fear creeping up through its excitement, its eyes darting back and forth between Eliza and somewhere off in the forest.
The goblin returned a few minutes later and looked at Eliza. “No can do, boss says no.”
Eliza smiled and climbed over the desk. The goblins tried to stop her, but she shoved them aside and knelt down next to the small door. “Through here, yes?"
Neither of the goblins responded. Eliza laughed and opened the door to poke her head into it. “Bit of a tight fit, but I think we could do it. You two up for crawling through some tunnels?”
“I’m sorry.” Zoe said to the two goblins who stared at the scene, jaws dropped in shock. “But I also kinda really wanna see what’s going on down there. We’re not gonna hurt you though, you’re fine.”
“Well I wouldn’t say that.” Eliza shot back. “This is a dungeon, and while we appreciate its utility when we respect it, right now we most certainly are not. If they’re hostile as a result, then I won’t hesitate to kill them. What’s the difference, ultimately, between this dungeon and something like Flester’s Might, for instance?”
Zoe shrugged. “I’d prefer not to hurt these two at least.”
“I’m not making any promises while we don’t know what we’re getting into.” Eliza said.
“I’m terribly sorry you two, but if it’s not too much to ask could you send your boss a message?" Lila said to one of the two goblins cowering in the corner of the small building.
Both of the goblins nodded.
“We’re going to be exploring here, and we’d appreciate if we could do so without having to be too rude, but Eliza’s quite passionate about this sort of thing so I’m afraid we’re not going to be able to just leave. Could you let your boss know that you have some particularly interested individuals who won’t let up, and see what options we might have?” Lila asked.
One of the goblins nodded and eyed towards the door Eliza was elbow deep into, trying to wiggle her way even deeper into the tunnel.
“Eliza dear, could you come out for a moment?" Lila asked. ”We’re going to try asking the boss again if we can come explore.“
Eliza wiggled her way back out and hopped over the desk as the goblin ran back through the door and out of Zoe’s vision.
“So frustrating.” Eliza said as they waited. “We should just dig our way down and see what’s going on. It’s a dungeon! Who cares if it’s a productive dungeon, I wouldn’t ask the zombies on Moaning Point if we’re allowed to dig into their mountain, or steal their bones. I wouldn’t ask the elementals in Flester’s Might if we could take some of their books.”
“They wouldn’t have a front kiosk where you check in either, though.” Zoe suggested.
“Bah!” Eliza waved her hand up.
“Least we can do is try and be respectful at least. But I agree, I’m pretty curious about what’s going on below. And I’d really like to meet the boss.” Zoe said.
“It does sound fun. I bet some of the other patrons here have tried, too.” Lila suggested. “Maybe we could ask around in some of the nearby towns and see if anybody knows anything.”
“We’re here, now. Let’s just break in if they say no.” Eliza said.
“Hello there!” A goblin said as it crawled out of the small wooden door in the back of the building. “I’m Jeffrey, it’s lovely to meet you all. I’ve heard you’re rather insistent on viewing our tunnels?”
“Yes, and I’d like to meet your boss as well when we’re done.” Eliza said.
Jeffrey grinned. “I don’t think you would.”
“Oh I want to even more now.” Eliza said.
Jeffrey shook his head. “Well, if you’ll follow me I’ll lead you to the visitor entrance.”