The Dungeon Crawler's Academy

The First Dungeon

Argent's words faded into the expanse as they stepped into the teleport, finding themselves situated in an expansive section of cave system. It was dark, lit subtly by patches of glowing moss and fungi which grew along the rocky outcroppings making up the place. The soft bio-luminescence gradually began to feel more substantial the longer his eyes adjusted to the environment, but it was still uncomfortably dark for someone with natural human eyesight. From within the low light of the room Instructor Liamra's voice sounded amongst them, a message pre-recorded for their arrival.

"Welcome to the fifth and final trial of your examination. The dungeon lays before you, how will you proceed? You need but touch the summoning orb at the end of it all, and you'll have passed the obstacle... Touching the orb behind you will return you to the garden, but you will forfeit the test. Just remember, my dear students-- Nobody is coming in after you. You are all there is. Make the Academy proud, will you? I'll be here to kiss your ouchies when you're all done. Best of Luck~!!"

"Somehow, her overbearing affection does little to comfort me."

Jaroth stated dryly, letting out a sigh as he adjusted the way his bow rested across his shoulders. It was the first time Argent really got a good look at the weapon, and the boy who owned it for that matter. Jaroth was sturdier looking up close than his cloaked appearance had lead Argent to assume at first glance, the composite segments of his bow comprised of heavily glued and pressed Ironwood and wild Sapwood from Orodae, fitted with steel banding for extra support. Looking at it now, Argent supposed that Jaroth must have been deceptively strong in order to handle the draw weight on such a weapon.

"I think I understand what you mean. I know she means well, but... She doesn't exactly come across like a teacher?"

Argent responded, earning a grin and a nod of agreement from Jaroth as the young rogue turned to face him fully for the first time. Cool, stone coloured eyes sized him up for a moment or two, before the other boy extended a hand outwards for Argent to shake.

"Call me Gauge."

"Argent."

"Works for me. And you, Shizuka?"

"Mhm."

"Stellar."

The quick moving introduction caused Argent to chuckle. Jaroth, or Gauge, as the boy requested to be addressed by his surname, seemed unusually straightforward for the thieving type. Shizuka was aloof but her aura felt kind. Considering the three of them together, Argent's relief was tangible as he thanked his good fortune at being selected by Shizuka for this group. They seemed to be getting along together far better than the initial stages of their class indicated, though admittedly their current team had avoided any of the obvious aggressors. Turning his mind back to the task at hand Argent realized he knew almost nothing of his classmate's specialties other than what was visually discernible, but before he could open his mouth to voice the question, Shizuka had already started down into the depths of the cavern. Gauge trailed along behind her without complaint, leaving Argent to hurriedly follow after.

The beginning segments of the tunnels left him with embarrassingly little to do. His teammates navigated the somber dark with ease, Gauge appearing to melt into the darkness completely as he shifted forward from one position to another. His Empathy and Sense Aura arts allowed him to easily locate and identify targets for Shizuka, firing off an opening shot or two from the cover of stealth before leaving her to mop up the survivors. As Argent had anticipated based off her prior performance, Shizuka's agility was distinctly inhuman. Wielding a pair of twin kusarigama she navigated the battlespace as if she were ethereal, using her kama and weights not only as weapons but also as methods of movement, hooking onto available segments of terrain and swinging or leaping from walls and pillars with the assistance of her chains. Chains which, as Argent looked closely, he realized were changing lengths at varying intervals as though controlled by her mental command. Moreover, if the amorphous lengths of her blades weren't enough, each of Shizuka's kicks struck like a smith's hammer slamming against an anvil.