Lootbox Hero (Old)

Chapter 3: Dungeons & Delvers

After Tayka finished his meal he took his time getting dressed. Not because of any leisurely reason, but because any time he moved too fast pain racked his body. The slower pace did give him a chance to really look over both the dagger, and Lootbox he received from the Crypt. First, Tayka picked up the small weapon. The blade of which was wide and short. He guessed it was around four inches long. Looked super old, too. The metal hilt, and grip were covered in strange symbols he didn't recognize. The dagger's pommel was tipped with a small spherical crystal. It glittered an array of colors in the room's dim light.

It certainly was a fancy looking weapon. He just wished that Poe hadn't made the activation method so... Painful... Was he really going to have to stab himself every single time for that boost in power? Tayka wasn't sure if that was worth it or not. Well, he'll have to cross that bridge when he gets to it. Slipping the blade into his belt he took hold of the Lootbox. It appeared to be made of the same material as the dagger's crystal. The ancient device was also smaller than the modern Lootboxes of today. Turning it over in his hand he couldn't see any seams or openings in the construction.

A realization suddenly hit him. Tayka had used it back in the Crypt, and it was still in his possession. That wasn't normal. At all. Typically when a person activated a box it vanished after an item was dispensed. Very rarely did a Lootsmith craft one that could be used multiple times. The teen supposed that since Poe Tenshal made this Lootbox it could have a few more uses. Although, somehow he could sense that there wasn't anything currently inside it. Strange... He'd have to find a Lootsmith to ask about it. Until then he put it away in his pack.

Animated voices from below reminded Tayka wasn't alone here.

"I guess it's time to meet my saviors..."

He mused while reaching for the door, and headed down the stairs. The next room he entered was absent of people. It was pretty dark, which told him it was still the night before the Worldbox Festival. Unless he had managed to sleep for a whole day. Which he figured could be possible after what he went through. The room itself looked to be comprised of a hodgepodge of materials, and that meant he was probably back in the slums. Hearing the voices again Tayka turned towards a closed door; light danced from underneath as people moved about in the lit room. Cautiously he moved over to it, and reached for the handle. Just in time for it to swing open abruptly. The influx of light temporarily blinding Tayka as his eyes adjusted.

A burly man stood in the doorway, blocking the view into the room. Tayka squinted at them, only really able to notice that they were barely taller than he was.

"Thought I heard something... Well?"

With that the older man stepped back into the room with the others; giving them a quick:

"He's here."

Following close behind Tayka took in the new room, and the people in it. He recognized the old man from earlier, but there was also two other people he was seeing for the first time. A man, and a girl.

"Ah! Looks like you're feeling better. I'm glad! Had us worried, you did."

The man next to the girl said upon noticing Tayka. He gestured towards a recliner, offering for the teen to sit. To which he obliged.

"Name's Ardy! The old guy is Yulbi... That grump there is Serja... And the young lady is Maxxie! We're DAD!"

The man introduced everyone. Pointing to each one in turn, but the last part threw Tayka off.

"D... Dad?"

The younger guy started to question, but Maxxie interjected before he could finish his train of thought.