{Friday, 26th of March... 9:25 AM...}
Today was a special day for Dinah. Today marked the day that Panacea and her Familia Captain gave her the green light to dive back into the dungeon once again. Dinah was fully kitted out and ready. However, as she walked towards Babel, her mind was somewhere else.
This morning's training session with Faith and Lianne grew more intense with the addition of the projectile dodging sessions. It helped that both Faith and Lianne were getting more in touch with their senses. Everyone 10 years and older in the Familia have been coached by Dinah every 3 days in how to start using their instincts more as well as trying to sense the auras of everyone around them. So far, a handful have been able to heighten their senses past their limits. Interestingly, Faith and Nuit were the only ones that can sense auras as of now. Dinah's senses, instincts, and aura sensing is still superior compared to everyone from her Familia, for the moment. However, she knows that it won't last.
Dinah suspects that given enough time, practice, and training, everyone that's a Demi-Human within her Familia will have better enhanced senses, instincts, and aura sensing than her. Given Faith, Nuit, and Isabella's proclivity towards practicing fine Mana control, then their aura sensing could become better than hers sooner than later. 'For the students to surpass their teacher, how poetic. Aura Sensing in the past was just my ingrained instincts and senses combined and honed after fighting so many dangerous people for so long and having avoided death through very close calls... -- Sharpened through adversity, hardship, and constant danger. The Falna enhanced both my instincts and senses and by using them together, they become what I've taken to calling Aura Sensing. If Faith, Nuit, and Isabella find out how to enhance it by applying their knowledge and experience with Mana, then I doubt anything could ever sneak up on them.'
That thought lead her to mentally visualizing her 10 year old student and her amazing growth. 'I still remember Lianne being able to dodge the last few dozen rocks I've launched her way during the last few minutes of the exercise with her back turned. It was significantly slowed down, but still... I'm so proud.'
The training session took up half of her thoughts, but the other half was Panacea's and Faith's words to her during breakfast this morning. Now that was an interesting conversation.
["...Dinah, we've been discussing your results when you got back from the dungeon last week. During all those monster parties, ambushes, and the like, did you feel fear, desperate, or afraid at all?", questioned Faith while she drank her morning tea alongside Panacea.
"Not really.", she answered with a shrug while she hid a minor flinch at the reminder.
Dinah's answer had Faith and Panacea exchange a glance before they met her eyes again. "According to your theory; which we don't have an actual basis for proving, Adventurers gain Excelia situationally. The more danger someone's in, then the more Excelia they'll acquire in the dungeon. Physical fatigue and exhaustion plays a role, but mental fatigue could be the other half to that.", stated the half-elf with a thoughtful look on her fair face.
"You've told us of the hardships that you've overcome, and if we compare and contrast what you've experienced in your past with your previous dungeon dive and the changes in your Status, then it's going to be difficult for you to gain Excelia naturally. If we go by your theory, then you'll be having trouble gaining Excelia unless you're fighting things that are leagues beyond your Level. If we go by the deeds you've accomplished, then nothing short of knowing that certain death will befall you will push you to exceeding your limits." Faith frowned a little when she mentioned that particular tidbit, but she soldiered on. "The way you think, you move, and how you train is different. You're literally the first type of Adventurer of your own kind that we've heard of. You're not an ordinary mortal woman. You've trained as a hero and have been a hero for years and you've almost died numerous times. I doubt you've told us everything that you've done, but what you've experienced gives you an advantage. Your training is giving Lianne and I that advantage as well. I've got a feeling that it'll be difficult for us to gain Excelia in the dungeon too."
Before Faith continued, Panacea stopped her with a raised hand and a gentle smile. "What Faith is trying to convey, is that don't be surprised that you'll have to work a little more intelligently as well as put in more effort in order to gain more Excelia. An untrained, regular, mortal woman with recently given Falna with little training could definitely gain more Excelia, but if you really compare... Hmmm... think of it like this... Picture yourself as a very lucrative and picky collector. You know what you want and need, so anything less is not worthy of your attention. However, the new Level 1 with only little training is new to the game. They pick and choose everything that's in front of them because they don't know any better."
The points that Panacea tried to get across made both Faith and Dinah think more deeply while they digested her comparisons. "Now then, picture yourself as a figurine made of the hardest material you can think of while you picture the other Level 1 as a figurine made of porcelain. This indicates how much training you've each had, your experiences, knowledge, and everything in between..."
After a pause, Panacea continued on while her two children try to follow their Goddess' words through their mind's eye. "...Now add a thin layer of stone protecting both of your figurines. This represents the Falna. At first, it enhances your power, dexterity, agility, endurance, and if you have magic, then you'll have even more of it. Everyone has this type of Falna at the start, including you, Songbird, and the other Level 1. Now, imagine the damage that the figurines will experience as the catalyst to gain Excelia. The more the figurine inside the thin layer of stone is damaged, then the more Excelia that figurine will gain through the stone..."
"...Overall, It'll be very difficult for something to hurt you while the other Level 1 can be easily damaged. As the porcelain gets damaged underneath that stone layer, then they'll slowly become something else. The stone will help the porcelain evolve and vice versa. The porcelain will no longer be porcelain and the stone layer either thickens or becomes something else. Their bodies are strengthened, senses heightened, agility increased, so on and so forth. You on the other hand, will struggle to gain Excelia since not a lot of low Level monsters can do you damage unless they're in staggering amounts or differs in strength from their normal counterparts. I prefer you as the current you, because I won't have to worry as much about you in the early floors of the dungeon. However, if you truly think about it, I'll still worry because the dungeon seems to harbor an immense amount of hate towards heroes. Why do you think the dungeon kept throwing monster parties at you? It's because it probably sensed that you were different."
Both Dinah's and Faith's eyes met in astonishment. "That was actually not too bad of an explanation, mother.", said Faith with a smile while she held Panacea's hand with care.
'I guess that sort of makes sense.', thought Dinah with a furrowed brow.
"Keep in mind that this theory of yours could still be proven otherwise, Dinah. We don't really understand everything there is to know about the exact Excelia distribution to the Falna we've been given. It's not like it's an exact science...-"]
Dinah finished reminiscing when she reached one of the wooden elevators. However, this time, she wasn't alone. There was a female Pallum, Human male, and a Dwarf male sharing the elevator with her. She gave them a cursory glance before she went back to her own thoughts while her instincts were on high alert.
Dinah never left her guard down around strangers, and she's not about to start now. The Pallum woman; of whom belonged to a Demi-Human race of small people, felt a little bit stronger than a Level 1. The man and the Dwarf also felt stronger than a Level 1. 'Thankfully, my senses are telling me that these guys are decent people.'
As she studied them more, she saw what she expected. 'They must be a group of Adventurers that formed their own party. The glances and the familiarity between them gave it away.'
As the elevator rose in the air, Dinah held on to one of the railings. Dinah wore her usual outfit, but this time she wore a yellow crop top t-shirt under her black leather jacket. She also had on a small traveler's backpack that had her satchel of holding inside one of the easily accessible side pockets while a few dozen small rocks were on another side pocket. Faith told her that this would work as a much better camouflage for her seemingly bottomless satchel. Plus, her dagger can be easily accessible from her right side; from a stranger's point of view. 'Too bad I don't really need it.'
'Panacea and Captain Faith gave me free reign to gather as many monster parts as I can from the first 5 floors. However, I need to be back home by 7pm. I don't want to miss dinner. If I just visit Henrietta after my dungeon dive, and then head back, then I'll be home on time. I'll just do the magic stone exchange another day.'
When Dinah reached the top, she joined the procession of Adventurers that were heading down the stairs towards the dungeon entrance. 'I'm glad I remembered to pick up the registration papers from Delilah a couple of days ago. I wasn't expecting any new gossip as I picked them up, but it looks like I was wrong. Thankfully, she passed it on without fanfare. Delilah is what I'd definitely call a free-range information hub. That woman knows a lot. Thanks to her, my Familia are now privy to some prime information that just started circulating.'
As Dinah descended the stairs further, her mind wandered again on a different thought while she tried to stop flinching from what her aura sensing and instincts are telling her. While she kept her stride even and her thoughts wandering, Dinah tried to act nonchalant. Her descent brought her closer to a few groups of high-level Adventurers around the area and their presence was very grating to her senses.
'Hmm... if I subtract the total from my purchases as well as the 100,000 Valis I gave to my Captain, then I have 109,465 Valis left over. It's a good amount of savings, but I've got a feeling that I'll need more.'
Dinah quickly looked herself over subtly while she shifted her leather jacket a little and exhaled softly afterwards. 'I need more protective equipment. Hmm... I'll need to talk to Isabella sometime soon. I know Panacea mentioned something about her being a seamstress and that she's trying to learn how to be a leather worker as well. I'll just buy the proper materials for her, then she'll have enough materials to practice and eventually become a master. And she could potentially agree to make my equipment for me.'
After some time, Dinah now found herself walking the Beginning Road once more. 'I miss everyone already, but I'll be back. I'll be home before dinner.'
Before she veered off the beaten path, Dinah pictured Conner's adorable baby cheeks and smiling face. 'I miss you, baby bird. I need to take you to the park again soon.'
——————————————————————————————
{10:19 AM}
With a somersault, Dinah dodged an ambush from a pair of Goblins while she delivered a neck breaking kick to another one of the green monsters.
^(!SNAP!)^ ^(!CRUNCH!)^
Those sounds and others like them echoed throughout the tunnels as the Black Canary delivered a swift end to yet another monster party that she happened upon.
"You green uglies don't give up, do ya?!", she asked out loud while she performed a backhand sideways flip.
In a flash, she tossed a few small rocks into the air and punched them towards the eyes of the last pair of Goblins that tried to go for her flanks. 'I'm getting disturbingly good at that.'
The now blind pair didn't last long as they met the receiving end of an upper cut and a cross.
*Whew* "Finally." With that bout ended, Dinah picked up her spoils. 'That makes 47 tiny magic stone slivers and 10 Goblin Fangs. Not a bad start.'
Before she ventured forth, she looked at the time. {10:27 AM}
'It was kind of Faith to lend me her pocket watch again. I really need to get one for myself, but the cheapest I could find was 110,000 Valis. I guess it's hard to find anyone willing to make such delicate instruments and those that do make them are backed up with orders from the rich and famous.'
With a quiet inhale; to take in the stale underground air, she continued exploring. After a few minutes, Dinah paused and found herself between an intersection with more than a few forks in the tunnels that lead to other areas unknown. 'Is this...?'
She tried to remember a recent map of the 1st floor that her Official Guild Advisor; Henrietta, showed her a few days ago. While she tried to recall the image, she studied the beaten path and found a few footprints leading towards the farthest tunnel that lead downwards.
'Hmm... if I recall the map correctly and if those footprints are indicators that further add towards my assumption, then that would be one of the paths that lead to the 2nd floor. I somehow found a shortcut from the Beginning Road to the next floor. How lucky.'
With a shrug and a smile, she went down towards the next floor of the dungeon. Dinah was still fully alert, since you never know what you'll encounter in the dungeon. As she descended; however, she found a few things odd.
'Hmmm... I don't sense anything yet. And the walls, floors, and ceilings are still intact. The dungeon hasn't summoned anything for 12 minutes now... What's it waiting for?'
When she turned another corner, she encountered a new monster she's only ever read and heard about. The slightly shocking thing was that she didn't sense it at all.
'A Dungeon Lizard. The Lizard-type monster that's the size of a large dog and can be found in floors 2 through 4. It has a slightly tougher hide, green scales, bulging eyes, long darting tongue, and it can move quickly.'
Dinah studied it closely and noticed a few things about it that was very crucial. 'It's not moving an inch. It's not emitting any particular scent that I can differentiate. And it's not making a single sound. I can usually tell when a Goblin or Kobold are nearby through smell or sound. It looks like the Dungeon Lizard is more than meets the eye. I can't really rely on aura sensing since this dungeon is still very grating to my instincts. This might prove a challenge.'
Before she was spotted, Dinah pitched a rock towards one of it's eyes.
*!HISSSSSS!*
With the lizard half-blind, distracted, and shrieking in pain, it didn't see the blond woman sprint towards it with eagerness.
The 5 meters between it and Dinah took only a few seconds for her to cross. And when she was near enough, she gave it's head an experimental kick.
Surprisingly, before her foot made contact, the lizard rolled to the side and dodged.
"Interesting... Even though you're still in agony, half-blind, and you couldn't have possibly seen me, you still dodged."
With a raised brow in intrigue, Dinah picked up her speed. She feigned a roundhouse, and just like she expected, it tried to dodge.
Too bad it left its underbelly exposed as it rolled to dodge her feint.
^(SQUELCH!)^
With her leg already moving as a feint, she shifted her roundhouse easily into an axe kick that took the life from her 1st Dungeon Lizard.
With it's death, the body of the lizard turned into black dust. It left behind a slightly larger magic stone sliver, but as Dinah studied it closer, she saw that it was only a few centimeters or so larger than the sliver from a Goblin.
Dinah immediately picked it up and stuffed it into her satchel; within her small traveler's backpack. But all of a sudden; when she stood up, she smelled something foul.
Her nose lead her to her boot which still had bits and pieces of lizard on it. *Sigh* "Damn... I need to ask Kim to make some kind of protective coating for my clothes, so I won't have to deal with this kind of crap."
After wiping her boot on the walls, she explored the slightly wider tunnels of the 2nd floor. 'At least this doesn't smell as bad as the Goblins do...'
When she turned into another fork in the tunnels, she realized how ridiculous her last train of thought was. "Why can't I fight monsters that don't smell?"
**\!CRACK CRACK CRACK!/**
That familiar sound signaled her into taking a defensive stance as the dungeon released more of it's denizens. Funny thing is, their familiar smell kind of clued Dinah into what they were.
"Well f*** you too, you stupid dungeon!", Dinah taunted with a disgusted look on her face. 'Damn Goblins...'
As she scanned her new enemies, a slight twitch appeared on her eye. 'Are those Goblins... riding on top of the Dungeon Lizards..?'
——————————————————————————————
{Same time...}
Captain Faith Mably; of the Panacea Familia, was normally a very kind, courteous, and understanding young woman when she's working on the ground floor of the Medical Ward.
This moment; however, was not one of them.
"What do ya mean there's no more space?!", shouted a very rude man who slammed his beefy hand at one of the receptionist's desks in outrage. "I came here ta get me wounds checked ya bitch! And you're tellin me that you can't take me in!"
Before things got even more heated, Faith intervened. "Excuse me, sir! I suggest you get away from Ms. Gillighan's desk and leave the premises at once.", the half-elf warned with her emerald eyes already turning into cold pools of green while a frown marred her lips.
Some of Faith's coworkers came to get help while the rest slowly backed away from the altercation. A few came to help the distraught Ms. Gillighan while the large man was distracted by Faith.
A 5ft 5in Half-Elf telling off a large 6ft 5in Human would've been hilarious in any other situation, but this wasn't one of those lighthearted scenarios. This large man had well-developed muscles with tanned skin that was heavily scarred in several areas. He wore a tattered leather tunic, a short sleeved dirty green t-shirt, dusty brown pants, and he was barefoot. He wore a scowl on his ugly face that would've looked unmemorable in any other situation. His beady black eyes, the dark circles under his eyelids, thick head of messy black hair, and gold ear piercings didn't help him look any more civilized.
What had everyone worried; besides this man's size and demeanor, was the large two-handed sword that was strapped to his back; within easy reach of his right hand. He had bandaged arms, but there was barely any blood on them.
"Well what do we have e're!? *HIC* A snooty half-blood bitch of the pointy-ears!? F*** off ya bint! I was talking to tha old bag a bones, so get lost!"
Before she approached any closer, Faith used all of her senses to scan this ruffian. It didn't take her long to find the likely source of this man's vulgarity and uncivilized behavior. 'He smells like alcohol. He's as drunk as a skunk after sipping onion soup?!'
"Sir, you're drunk. You smell like a sewer gave birth to you after consuming a bar. You need to leave at once.", Faith stated more firmly while she motioned for everyone to back away slowly.
'Did she really need to say it like that!?', were some of her coworkers' shared thoughts.
"You bitch!!!", the man yelled out, as he unleashed his two-handed sword from it's sheathe.
Normally, this would've been the moment that someone intervened... unfortunately, the nearest Adventurers were either too injured, or asleep in their beds in the Ward. So the ones that rushed away to call for help had to go farther to find able-bodied Adventurers for help. Another thing to note was that there are no actual guards to the Medical Ward. I mean, who'd be stupid enough to attack a neutral area owned and run by the Guild who had Adventurers for patients.
With a *Sigh* Faith wasted no time in smacking the ears of the man with her gnarled staff with a spin and then she twirled around and dodged the careless swing of the now discombobulated man.
The sudden impact to the man's ears dazed him and since he was still as drunk as a skunk, his grip on his weapon wasn't solid.
Faith spun on her back foot and kicked the man's chin while she channeled a little bit of Mana into her left hand; making it glow a calm blue.
Before the drunkard could do anything else, Faith blurred forward and slashed her glowing fingers into the wrists of the sluggish man.
With the nerves in his arms disrupted, he dropped the blade with a loud ^(!CLANG!)^. Before he could reach for it, Faith kicked him in the temple with a solid ^(!THUMP!)^.
A loud ^(!THUD!)^ sounded out when his unconscious body dropped to the ground. Faith; with her leg still outstretched, exhaled slowly before she lowered it down. As she tried to calm her beating heart, she absentmindedly twirled her staff around her before she placed its butt on the ground.
With practiced movements, Faith slowly backed away from the unconscious assailant; just in case, while she surreptitiously scanned the area automatically.
While she kept a wary eye on the drunk, she gestured for one of her coworkers to come near.
"Carl, please get a few of the guys to restrain this fool with the best rope we've got in storage. Afterwards, call up the Head of Staff for the Ward and tell him what just transpired. This idiot's an Adventurer, which means that we've got concessions to make of their Familia for this fools uncouth behaviour...-"
While Faith gave out her orders, the rest of the people at the receptions area was still in awe.
"Who knew Faith had that in her...-"
"Did you see those moves?..-"
"Damn, I'm glad she works here...-"
"What a nice dearie, helping me out like that, don't you think so, Mr. Jin?"
*Cough* "Hnn.. yes. It was most impressive, but look at the damage to your desk and the floor. That drunken fool was lucky that he didn't hurt you, who knows what your grandsons would've done?"
Conversations like this were abound amongst the workers in the receptions area as well as the few people that were about to check in before the whole debacle started. If any of these injured people could've helped, then they would've, but these guys were just Supporters who ran afoul of the dungeon and came out with minor injuries.
Faith didn't know it yet at the time, but rumors of a cute blond, Half-Elf, receptionist that can defend herself would spread like wildfire within the coming weeks. This would help ward off the future idiots and drunks from making trouble in this establishment again. The fines that were levied against the drunkard and his Familia was like an army of nails to the proverbial coffin that further walled out the troublemakers.
This was how Faith's legend was born... and she didn't even realize it until it was already in circulation.
After she was finished giving out her orders, Faith kept watch on the drunk. She shifted herself into a subtle neutral stance while she kept her guard up. Dinah's teachings have borne fruit, and Faith was inwardly grateful, giddy, and ecstatic while she kept a calm facade.
'This guy's definitely Level 1, but he's on the cusp of being a Level 2. He was drunk; extremely so, and the bags under his eyes indicates that he probably hasn't slept a wink in 3 - 5 days. He's not that injured from the look of those bandages, but he was probably hallucinating at the time. He thought he was still injured. Those factors are the only reasons that I was able to take him down. That and the element of surprise.'
*Sigh* With an exhale, she studied the slumped man further. 'He was probably on leave to recover, but had a bit too much alcohol. He was probably on medication as well, so that -- plus alcohol isn't a very good mix. That could explain the aggression, hallucination, reduced reflexes, and the overall weakness. What doesn't make sense is how he got here in the first place...? Hmm... he probably walked here... but for a drunk to get all the way to the top of the tower unaided? Very unlikely... who sent you?'