We Can Be Heroes ...?

23

Mila turned away from the portal, looking, instead, at the workbenches. For certain, Shion thought it odd for a pub, or a tavern, to have such things in the cellar, alongside the usual barrels and crates of bottles, but she would gave thought the twin more intrigued with that glowing blue portal. Mila had as much dismissed the portal, however, even if Jova's wide eyes remained on it. Dave had wandered away, picking up various bottles and examining them.

"Dave, check these crafting stations. See if they have set bonuses. We need every advantage we can get." Now she turned to the portal, walking around it. "I don't want to touch this, but it must be here for a reason."

"Perhaps its a way out?" Jova's fingers itched to touch the portal, a gleeful twinkle in her eyes, and Shion prepared to stop her touching it, as Dave had. "Maybe they've given us a chance to abandon the dungeon?"

"Why here?" Now it was Shion's turn to examine the rippling magic. It looked similar to the magic of the Transit Portal, but also different, hanging in the air, enticing them. "Did some mage from the time before the city became abandoned create it, or has someone, something, created it after?"

Mila said nothing, looking around until she saw a nearby crate filled with empty bottles. Taking one in her hand, she tested the weight before tossing it toward the pulsing, magical rift in the air. It passed through, smashing against the floor at the other side and Mila nodded. It seemed clear that it didn't automatically transport things to wherever the portal led.

"Why here, exactly?" She looked to Jova, frowning. "Most other players run through these types of dungeons. How many would take the time to explore the buildings? Let's face it, we're the only ones that would waste the time, thanks to Dave."

Dave held up a hand, sticking out his thumb as he continued to examine the workbenches, without looking back. Shion didn't know why anyone would rush through a place such as this, taking the chance to run into more of those foul creatures that inhabited the city. It sounded like madness, putting themselves in unnecessary danger, but, in a way, that was what they were doing. Only taking their time to confront monsters that Shion would rather avoid.

Mila summoned one of her blue rabbits and sent it bobbing toward the portal. Shion still didn't like using the Bobs for that sort of thing, though she had decided to believe that they weren't real rabbits, only magical constructions. If she allowed herself to think of them as real, she would never rid herself of the guilt every time one died.

Of course, that was how Mila thought of her. To Mila, Shion wasn't real, as the Bobs weren't real to Shion. And, if Mila was wrong, as Shion knew perfectly well, did that make Shion wrong about the Bobs? Was there, in some far off field, a colony of blue rabbits, minding their own businesses until Mila summoned them? One moment prancing among flowers with their family, the next forced to charge toward some vile monster, sacrificing themselves so Mila, Shion and the others could gain an advantage?

Regardless, Mila sent the rabbit toward the portal, only for it to leap through and land on the other side, unharmed. It scratched its ear with its back leg and faded away as Mila dismissed it, possibly returning to that distant place filled with other, oblivious Bobs. With Mila scratching her head in thought, the sound of fingers clicking came from the workbenches. Dave needed their attention and everyone moved to gather near him.

"You were righ'. Se' bonus. Good one, too." He held up a knife that looked, as far as Shion could tell, exactly the same as the ones he normally carried. "A' our levels, we can' make anything' decen', bu' i'll give us a wee edge."

"What bonuses?" Mila touched Dave's arm as the man summoned his parchment. "Hmm. Weapon bonuses for two, extra stamina for three, more weapon bonuses at four and, ooh, nice! Shield! Not strong, but it'll stop at least one attack damaging us too much every fifteen seconds. Right, get crafting. Five pieces for each of us. We need level appropriate weapons or we'll start causing less and less damage as we level up."