Primal Dawn

“You know, part of the condition of that favor I owed you was that it wouldn’t put my life at risk. I think fighting a hero of the church is pretty risky behavior.”

Peter’s gaze continued to wander around, searching for ferals. “If that’s the case then I suppose I still have that favor.”

“Haah. There’s no way I’m letting you get away with that. I think you might even owe me a favor.”

“A tamer owing a primal something, you have the strangest ideas.” The two continued to walk in silence for a short while. “And? What kind of favor did you have in mind?”

“Well, it’s not really a favor. More… suggestion, really. About our agreement, you know, me helping you, you keeping me ‘tamed’. It just seems that you do things with your primals that might draw suspicion if you don’t do them with me, y’know? Like hugging, holding hands, things like that,” Fira shrugged. “Maybe you should do that with me… too?”

Peter burst out laughing.

“N-nevermind,” Fira cringed. Peter grabbed her hand.

“I would have never imagined someone capable of lighting this place up would find themselves scared of the dark.”

“I’m not-, ugh,” Fira rolled her flaming eyes, her hand squeezed hard, then relaxed, but didn’t let go.

The two continued to walk quietly, eventually interrupted by Peter’s muttering, “Squire.”

Fira looked to see the Squire now running towards them. Standing in the middle of this intersection of three passages, it was a lone opponent, but one that continuously proved troublesome for Fira.

“Stand back,” Fira commanded, releasing Peter’s hand. “Flamethrower!” A burst of flame lept from her mouth and towards the feral. She casually raised her shield, the flames heating up the metal but otherwise deflecting outwards and against the walls. 

“Don’t waste your energy,” Peter said while placing his hand on her shoulder.

“Well then what am I supposed to do?!” she cried, frustrated. “I have to protect you!”

Peter gently shoved Fira down one of the hallways. “Let her focus on me and then smack her with your flames.” Peter paused. “Hopefully you’ll be a bit more accurate this time.” 

Fira frowned at the quip but nodded.

Waiting. Waiting. Now standing here, she could no longer see the Squire. Only Peter, who held his sword overhead with a tight grip. With a loud clang, the feral’s arrival was clear, the Squire smashed her sword against Peter’s.  His arms rattled, and though he managed to successfully defend against the attack, he’d dropped his sword.

“No!” Fira shouted as Peter retreated to the side, the Squire now wholly in Fira’s vision. “Flamethrower!” 

At this distance, it had felt a sure shot, but the Squire swiftly met the flames with her shield. Fira hissed in anger, but it was enough. Fira slowly stepped backwards, the feral now focused on her. 

The Squire’s eyes widened as a sword suddenly stuck out straight in the center of her chest. Her arms and legs rattled like a shaking puppet’s, before the sword retreated backwards and the feral collapsed into a heap.

“Good work,” he said as he patted Fira on the shoulder. Before she could respond, an Arachnid turned the corner.

“Fla-”

“Wait!” The Arachnid shouted. “It’s me! Elshee! Erst’s Arachnid!” Her two hands quickly raised.

“It’s us!” Erst said, popping his head out from around the corner. 

Peter breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad to see you’re all alright,” he said as Erst’s Trickster Silly appeared. “How did you three find each other so fast?”

“We… weren’t separated? I just summoned them once I appeared in the maze,” Erst said aloud. “Oh, some of your primals are still missing, that’s not good.”

Peter tapped his chin. “So keeping them desummoned means you can just summon them after entering, I see. Well, that makes things a little easier. We still need to find my two primals though.” Peter focused inward, searching for both their presence. Kalista seemed to have gotten a little closer, despite him having gone in the opposite direction with Fira. Gaia… was now closer too, since they had opted to go in her direction instead, but it felt as if she was in the exact same position as before. How strange.

“Come on. Gaia’s this way.”

The group continued at Peter’s lead, navigating through twists and turns. Finally, Peter came to a corner, and frowned. “She’s… on the other side?” He tried pressing on the wall. Kicking. Even swinging his sword, half expecting it to cleave through the rock, but for the first time ever, it just bounced off.

“Maybe there’s a long path leading to her?” Fira suggested, grabbing his hand and pointing in a direction with the other. They spent some time exploring the various nearby passageways, but none seemed to get them any closer to Gaia. 

Peter checked his bond again. She was definitely very close by. He could also feel Kalista’s presence had stopped moving as well. If either had been killed or gravely injured he’d definitely feel it, so he knew both must be at least alive. What was going on?

“...Gaia, I’ll be right back, okay!” Peter shouted as he tapped on the rock. “I’m going to look for Kalista, and get you out of there!” Perhaps a swing by Kalista could break through. The team began to travel through another series of passageways. Had Peter not been using his bonds as a ‘guiding light’ of some sorts, he could easily imagine himself becoming lost and wandering inside this Dungeon forever.

They eventually came across a hallway which opened up to a room, a first for this Dungeon. At the center was a slightly raised platform which Kalista sat on. Behind her was a pedestal, not unlike the previous Dungeon’s, with a button on top.

Kalista stood up and said “My dashing Prince,” as Peter let go of Fira’s hand and ran up to her.

“My sweet Princess,” Peter laughed as they embraced.

“I was looking for you but came across the pedestal. I figured you’d find the others.”

Peter nodded. “Between Fira and my sword I was well protected. Did you try pressing it?”

“Yes. It didn’t work. I’m guessing it has to be a human, same as the others.” Kalista paused, looking worried.  “Where’s Gaia?”

Peter shook his head. “She’s trapped behind some of the passage walls. I couldn’t break through them with my sword. But you’re much stronger, maybe you can?”

Kalista nodded. “Do you want to try pressing the button first?”

“Let’s… wait. I don’t want something bad to happen to her. Let’s try breaking her out first. I know the way, ah, but how’ll we get back here?”

“What do you mean?” Erst asked, puzzled. “Just leave Fira with us and navigate using your bond?”

Peter froze, then smacked his head. “Oh. Duh. Come on,” he said to Kalista, the two leaving. As they ran back in the direction of Gaia, Peter carefully tried to remember the direction of the turns they took. After some time they managed to arrive at the same rock wall that Peter had been at before.

“Vengeance!” Kalista yelled, smacking at the rock. Her blade effortlessly bounced away. Peter sighed. “And you’re sure there’s no other way to get to her?”

“Positive. We explored earlier with our group of five. Maybe… no, I can’t seem to desummon her from here either.” Kalista nodded. “Alright. Let’s head back and try pressing the button. Here’s hoping I remember the way…”

Peter began to chant aloud the directions they had taken, each time reaching where he ended the song previously and taking another turn. Slowly they managed to make their way backwards. At one point they had gotten lost, but some sense had managed to point him in the right direction once again. By the end, Kalista was repeating his every word. “Right, Left, Right!!!” They both sang as they skipped back into the room with the pedestal, the others looking slightly amused excluding Fira who covered her eyes in shame.

“Sorry,” Peter awkwardly said as he held his finger over the button. He pressed down, and the Dungeon began to shake and creak. Layer by layer, the walls of the labyrinth began to sink into the ground, slowly transforming the maze into one large and empty room. Peter watched the corner where Gaia had been, and indeed, a section of the wall cut away to reveal her, crouched and hunched over.

“Gaia!” He yelled while running toward her. Her gaze slowly moved up to meet him, her body trembling. Peter helped her stand. “Gaia,” he repeated softly, “you’re hurt.” Her forearms were red and slightly bloody, as were her fingertips. “Did something attack you?”

Gaia hesitated at first but then nodded. She touched his chin with both hands and whispered, “Heal.” The small cut the Frentus left on his chin disappeared while blood trickled down her fingers and onto his cheeks.

“Look!” Erst shouted.

At the far end of the room stood the portal out of the Dungeon.