Once Marcus had finished up speaking with Jarek and watching Alaric demonstrate what he had learned the two of them headed back to the Towering Bear Inn.
When they arrived, Clara ca to greet Marcus and told him that she was glad he had returned safely from the dungeon.
“Lady Irene, while you were gone you received a letter from the viceroy of the city. He was hoping to request a eting with you within the next three days.” Clara said as she passed over the letter in question.
Taking it from herm Marcus read it over before shrugging and storing it away into his ti box.
“I will write a letter to the viceroy telling him I am indisposed and cannot make his eting. If you would please deliver it tomorrow, Clara, I would be much appreciated.” Marcus said without a hint of care.
Clara on the other hand stiffened up, and said, “Lady Irene, I think it would be best to accept. The viceroy is the highest ranking noble in the city and I believe it would not be a good idea to upset him. You just got back, so surely you were already planning on taking so ti to recuperate. Extending your rest for a bit longer and going to see the viceroy would not be too much trouble I believe.”
“Sorry Clara, I already told Alaric I would take him into the dungeon tomorrow since he worked so hard to rank up. Anyway, I do not need any rest, and you know I am not one for noble socializing. Especially when it is likely to be annoying. Normally it is no problem for you to simply reject any invitations.” Marcus said to Clara hoping to bring this to an end.
However, she had a worried look on her face and continued to try and talk Marcus into accepting the invitation.
“Lady Irene, I know I might be out of place, but I just want to look out for you. In the royal capital it is fine for you to reject most invitations since I simply write in response that you have an engagent already scheduled with your friend Princess Mrazivý or one of your other high-ranking acquaintances, but here you have no one to support you.” Clara said, hoping to guide Marcus.
She already knew that her employer was different from most nobles, but she also knew about how high ranking nobles could do things to make those they did not like miserable.
“Fine, I will go. Send a letter acknowledging my acceptance of the eting.” Marcus said begrudgingly.
He could tell that Clara was just looking out for him, and it was not like this eting would cause that much trouble.
“Irene does that an we will not be going into the dungeon tomorrow.” Alaric ca up and said with a disappointed look in his eyes.
“No, we are still going into the dungeon. I will just pop out quickly to go to this eting and then co back right away once it is over.” Marcus said.
A look of relief appeared on Alaric’s face when he said this. And while Clara did have so misgivings about it, she did not say anything else.
After that Marcus wrote the letter and gave it to Clara to deliver tomorrow.
The three of them then ate an enjoyable dinner in the Towering Bear’s restaurant with Marcus taking full advantage of the unlimited free food and having one of everything on the nu.
Naturally he received plenty of stares as he ate a mountain of food, and Alaric looked stunned while Clara’s normal public smile actually faltered from watching Marcus eat so much.
‘That was pretty good. And I was able to get so new ideas for my cooking.’ Marcus thought when they returned to their rooms.
Upon the coming of the next day, he and Alaric, along with Blitz headed off to the dungeon.
On the way there Alaric seed like an engine revving up with how excited he was to be going into a dungeon for the first ti.
“Sorry ma’am you can’t bring kids into the dungeon.” The guard said when he saw Alaric.
Yet his tune quickly changed when Marcus showed off his guild card along with Alaric’s.
“Sorry, I see he is a silver rank. It is very rare for children to be such high-ranking adventures. You may go on ahead but be careful.” The guard said with a look of concern for Alaric.
Now that they had made it through the gate of the dungeon Alaric whose anticipation was at its peak began running full speed down the first tunnel. Even using wind magic to help accelerate himself.
Soon they were standing in the first area that was a complete empty room where the kingdom’s army had set up.
For a few monts Alaric stood around and stared, taking everything in.
“Okay Alaric I know you are thrilled to finally be in the dungeon but now it is ti to calm down a bit. This is not so sort of attraction. This is a dungeon. A very dangerous place where anyone who enters it can lose their lives.” Marcus said with a grave tone.
Luckily this brought Alaric back to his senses and his gaze went sharp and he started taking things more seriously.
He even went so far as to cast his enemy detection wind magic spell and hold it up as he was trained.
“Good, seems you are ready. Our destination is that tunnel. Now you take the lead, and I will follow behind.” Marcus said as he pointed towards the tunnel that would take them to the winter hills area.
Nodding his head, Alaric steadily began walking towards the tunnel no longer needlessly exerting himself and keeping his guard up.
“Wow it is beautiful.” Alaric said once they made it into the area.
Of course, while he took in the sights, he did not let his guard down.
Once Alaric was done looking around, he decided to head to the right following along the wall of the area.
He had read and been told by the mbers of the Depths Delvers that the deeper you went into an area the more likely you were to encounter a high-level beast or monster, so to start it was best to stick around the outskirts.
It as not too long after that they ca across their first dungeon creature.
Standing before them and snarling was a pure white wolf with red eyes.
Both Marcus and Alaric recognized it from their readings, and it was a common grade magic beast called a snow wolf.
‘Level fourteen. About as weak as they co in this dungeon. Also, it is already injured. Looks like it had a territorial dispute with so other beast.’
Having appraised it, Marcus was certain Alaric could handle this beast, and figured it would be a good warm up for him.
“Go ahead. It is already hurt, so as long as you are carful you should win without issue.” Marcus said to Alaric who had been staring down the wolf.
With Marcus’ approval, he began casting a spell and running towards the wolf. Ready to take on his first battle within the dungeon.
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