Headed by a Snake

Ishmael slowly tilted his head to the side while staring at Tycondrius.

He made a single gesture.

[Safe.]

Tycon's shadow had but a single mission: to protect the Elven Arcanist, Coraline Heartsong.

To that end, he'd performed his duty admirably.

Thus, it was fair that he looked... insulted to have been questioned.

...Tycon shrugged lightly to apologize-- then turned to nod at the concerned elf.

"Beatrice is not a cause for concern. Now, I'll have your report, Miss Coraline."

Coraline sighed, "The Tree God sent me away-- well... he banned *all* elves from coming into his forest... ever again."

"Hmm," Tycon pursed his lips. "I see..."

He recalled analyzing one of the many Repeater-Formations he'd found near the forest's entrance.

Logically, there was a complex Main-Formation somewhere deep within, perhaps hidden with other architecture, similar to the archways.

It would be a simple matter for the Tree God to improve its potency and efficacy against their singular target, Elvenkind.

In theory, Tycon should have been concerned for Coraline. However, her anti-enchantment earrings were crafted by Bella Sapphira, one of the strongest Arcane Casters in the Realm.

She'd be fine.

"And the reagent?" Tycon asked, "Have you recovered it?"

Coraline bowed her head... "The Tree God said... that his sap wouldn't be effective for how we were gonna use it."

"And you believed that?"

Tycon exhaled and rolled his eyes. By coincidence, his attention drifted to the plank hanging above the cabin's entrance.

"...That's odd," He muttered.

"The facts check out, Sir," Coraline folded her hands... "I did get a new lead, though... We need... Resonant God Essence."

"Tss..." Tycon shut his eyes and raised his eyebrows. "Very well."

A 'resonant' reagent.

Of course.

The term referred to a high-purity-mana catalyst for use in conjunction with a ritual of matching affinity.

Tycon had previously utilized the concept in a ritual to summon Hades, the God of Death and the Dead. In lieu of costly materials worth hundreds of thousands of silver, he and Krysaos defeated an Adamantine-Rank undead lizard.

They tore its leathery, shriveled heart out of its broken ribcage.

...which took more effort than Tycon cared to admit.

Fourth-Circle. Death affinity. It worked well for its purpose.

However, concerning the Curse-Break Ritual Tycon had designed for the Lone Shadowdark needed a greater power.

It was feasible to use a Third-Circle power source... while hoping that his best-guess efforts in forming the various runic circles would be accurate enough for the ritual's success.

Tycon swept back his hair in frustration...

He was hoping that the Tree God's blood-- or sap, rather, would have served as a suitable mana source. To counter slight script inaccuracies, he planned to rely on the sheer mana-output of the Fifth-Circle reagent... or Sixth, depending on the source's practical level of divinity.

However, if the Tree God was to be believed... that was not enough.

What they needed wasn't blood... or something of Nature-Affinity or... Plant-Affinity-- whatever the hells the sap was.

They needed Resonant God Essence.

A Divine-Affinity reagent.

...A portion of a divine creature's soul.

As for a plausible source?

High-ranked, pure-blooded angel.

God... or demi-god... god-born or god-woken. ..

Tycon knew one god he could call as a friend. However... the volatility of Hades' Death God essence would be best to save as a last, desperate measure.

The Tree God was the next rational choice, due to proximity. Though that fellow was obviously unwilling to give up their essence-- it could be forcibly taken by way of violence.

Tycon glanced at the far wall in the unlikely case that there was a Woodbane Weapon amongst Ravidius' armory.

"...Huh. That is... very odd."

It had been a pain to destabilize the protective formations around the armory enough to borrow a 'simple' dagger. Tycon also clearly remembered reactivating them.

Currently... they were inert.

"Where are the others?" Coraline asked, "Beatrice... she went off on her own after I met with the Tree God."

Tycon shook his head, trying to ignore the anomalies he kept noticing.

...which included the fact that the cabin floors somehow looked... cleaner than before?

The Dungeon Core, Alana, must have had some sentience to have a name. Reasonably, she might have... been responsible for the changes.

...But why would she disable-- bah. It was unimportant.

"My apologies, Miss Coraline," Tycon frowned. "What about Miss Beatrice?"

"She..." Coraline twiddled her fingers, "There... there were enemies."

Ishmael waved an arm, [Coraline and I. We withdrew. One engaged.]

Tycon nodded thoughtfully as he painted a logic-picture in his head.

His senses were loosely linked to his shadow's. As such, it was likely that Ishmael retraced Tycon's steps to reach the cabin, circumnavigating the traps without outside assistance.

However, enemies appeared-- not a surprising situation in a Dungeon. Beatrice stayed behind to defend her summoner while Ishmael followed orders, escaping with Coraline in tow.

...It explained the young fire elemental's condition when Tycon and company recovered her.

She lived. That would be enough.

Thus, it was more important to discuss other matters.

"Our host and master of the Dungeon, Ravidius Orion, is preparing dinner," Tycon smiled politely. "Ah, Miss Coraline, I recall you prefer a vegetarian meal?"

"I can eat cured meats, but yes, I prefer-- RAVIDIUS ORION, the Hero of PASSAGE?!?"

"Is... that so?" Tycon narrowed his eyes...

He'd thought he judged Coraline to not be as fickle with her relationships as a stereotypical elf... but as he and her were technically friends, he would respect her decision.

The Lone Shadowdark was a lost cause, anyroad.

"Coraline, if you'd like to abandon your current quest--"

"NOT WHAT I MEANT!!" She screamed. In Tycon's face. Rudely.

"Miss Coraline..." Tycon shut his eyes, patiently waiting for the ringing in his ears to cease... "Inside voice, please."

The elf's ears began to glow red-hot, "S-sorry, Sir... Please... tell me about the others."

...Tycon stared for a moment longer-- ensuring he wouldn't be interrupted before he continued,  "Lieutenant Mina and the Coral Boys are on their way to rejoin Imperia's forces. Beatrice and Krysaos are recovering in the Dungeon Infirmary."

Coraline's eyes widened, "Is she okay!? --I mean, are they okay?"

"Too close, child," Tycon poked the young lady between the eyes, pushing her back, "Yes... with Beatrice in a far better state than the other."

He took a deep breath, "We found her unconscious, her ceramic armor donned, ceramic shield strapped to her arm... and a cursed black sword held in a death grip. She was surrounded by corpses-- enemies defeated. Thirteen fae... their wings twisted and torn, their insides spilled onto the stones..."

Tycon was filled with a sense of nostalgia and pride as he spoke... "In my Sol Invictus... no man, woman, winged-folk, or four-legged sentient is a coward."

"You what?" Coraline's mouth hung agape, "Sh-she did what?"

Tycon blinked. Had he said too much?

"She'll be fine," He patted the young elf on the shoulder, "--with rest."