Cerberus Rex, Nameless

Wizard Dungen, 26

Noarwin followed Silas, whom he suspected sensed danger better than the rest of them. It reminded Noarwin of Silas's feelings shared with Feri in the previous dungeon. He felt useless? Ironic. Noarwin hadn't involved himself with Asinis and Feri because he deemed them curious and useful. He'd waited for them because he had witnessed Silas save them from the rogues who'd entered Waywin Wood.

Captain Fairwind had sent Noarwin there. Arne sometimes shared strange premonitions. Noarwin didn't know their origin, but events often proved the captain right. So, Noarwin made the half-day journey to survey the forest few willingly entered. He had found the broken moon wells, investigated the arcane shrine curiously left untouched. He'd witnessed Silas change, saw him kill those who murdered the stag, and he witnessed the way Feri helped him. Noarwin knew what it meant. Arne had taught him about the stag, and the process by which he became a beacon of hope and a hero.

Each decision Noarwin made since was on behalf of the sorrowful creature. One who had accepted the torch to help the world despite his suffering heart. The creature who declared his intentions and didn't know doing so made him a leader.

Watching Arne had taught Noarwin a special truth. Leaders inspired others to take action for a cause they deemed worthy of their intention. Those leaders didn't need to do all the work themselves. Captain Fairwind had several under his command. He would never complete all his goals and tasks without them. And sometimes, he too sat holed up in safety while his minions, Noarwin one of them, returned with the necessary information for the next step. And often, Arne wasn't the one who made that step. Noarwin could explain all of this to Silas, but he suspected that a waste. Lessons of one's influence and importance were best learned through experience. Silas had none, so it would take time for him to learn and gain the confidence to accept help and delegate commands. Besides, revealing all of that would put Noarwin in a difficult position. He didn't want to explain his story to Silas and especially not the others. Though, maybe someday he would.

They ascended the last steps into another round dungeon. A gold magic circle was carved into the cobblestone. Silas stopped short of it and held out his arms to prevent them all from stepping on it. His brow drew together. "It's a summoning circle," he said.

Noarwin leaned over to look at it. "How is it activated?" he asked. His specialty was illusion, not spells and circles.

"Touch. Don't step on it," Silas warned.

"Do you see a door?" Feri asked crouching under their legs to look in.

Silas and Noarwin's gazes flickered around. Silas shook his head.

"No," Noarwin said. "There is no door." A mage's dungeon tower wouldn't hang an exit sign, though he'd hoped for a moment.

"Then each level's monster must be defeated in order to trigger a way," Asinis surmised.

"Great. So that means we have to activate it," Noarwin said. He didn't like the idea of more battle. Not with Dar still recovering from the last one. Noarwin tossed him a concerned glance, but the rock beast stood calm at the back of the line in the stairwell. Noarwin frowned at how he shifted in the tight corridor. "I'm sorry, friend. I didn't intend to get you involved like this."

Dar looked at him and hummed a reassuring sound. Noarwin smiled, but it felt as fake as the one Silas forced for Feri earlier. He cleared his throat and turned around. "Any idea what might manifest?" he asked. Silas didn't look sure.

Asinis peered in to try to see the circle. He sighed. "It's hard to tell. It's been a long time since I've had a chance to study a magic circle."

"Alright then." Noarwin strode forward, his boot pressing into the gold lines. Any of them could offer themselves as a sacrifice, but he thought it best that he suffer the consequences as the one who led them into this. The others gasped.