Chapter Two-Hundred Ninety-Two

    Berdol

    He’s been looking forward to this inspection

    Inspecting Thedeim is still intimidating to the catkin, and he’s not certain he’ll be able to do it justice, but the dungeon’s protege is another story. He’s had fun sparring with Onyx, and now she’s apparently the Voice, he can’t wait to be able to hold an actual conversation with her.

    And, with the paperwork finally sorted with the inspection of Hullbreak, he’s ready to check on the youngest dungeon in the area. He’s not so sure he can say the same thing about Olander, though. If Violet wasn’t a toybox, he’d be concerned about how distracted the elf is. If he’s supposed to be a bodyguard, he should probably pay a bit more attention.

    He can guess as to why, at least. The elf had been very apprehensive about Thedeim, even planning to do a solo delve or two before Teemo waylaid him with the suggestion to fight Rocky. He did his first solo delve the other day, and there’s probably only a handful of people in all of Fourdock who don’t know he accepted the quest.

    A lot more people probably don’t know that he actually got a reading from Tiny, though. Berdol didn’t even know that was a thing! He was vaguely aware that people with strong Fate affinity could do something like that, as he was aware Tiny was supposed to be the scion with the most fate expertise. He just never put those two threads together.

    He eyes Olander as the two make for the sewer outlet to the sea, wondering what’s going on in the elf’s head. There’s probably no harm in asking, right?

    “Worried about fighting Rocky?” Berdol would be, even if it were an ordinary challenge. He’s read the reports of other challengers, and has no idea how someone is even supposed to fight the crazy zombie.

    At least the question seems to knock Olander out of his own head, earning a confused sound before he processes the question. “Not worried. More... intrigued. I’ve faced a lot of scions from other dungeons, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard one talked up as much as Rocky. With the average level of Thedeim’s denizens, it’d be easy to think the townsfolk lack perspective on how strong scions can get... but with how odd Thedeim behaves, underestimating Rocky would be a fast way to lose.”

    Berdol nods at that as they near the shoreline. The sewer outlet isn’t exactly by the docks, but the geography makes it simplest to have the outlet near there. Thankfully, not near enough for the smell to travel far. “Yeah, if you don’t take the fight seriously, he’ll knock you out without much preamble. I get the feeling he’ll want to make a show of the fight with you, especially with the notice on the board about it.”

    Olander snorts. “I’ve never seen a dungeon advertise! Sure, more people will come to watch, but how did he even come up with something like that?”

    Berdol echoes his snort as the outlet comes into view. “That’s a question I hear around the guild a lot. We don’t really have an answer, and I think both Tarl and Telar have given up on finding it.”

    “How about you? Do you have any ideas, or hopes of figuring him out?”

    The catkin shrugs. “Not really. I don’t think it really needs an answer, and the surprise is part of the fun of delving him.”

    “I understand that, at least. Teemo mentioned Thedeim wanted me to not be bored, but I didn’t think he’d be able to give me any kind of a challenge. Then he chained encounters at me throughout the entire manor, keeping me constantly moving. I’ve never had so much fun against denizens I so outclassed.”

    Berdol nods absently as he levitates out the key and unlocks the grating, though he pauses as he notices something. He levitates his notes as Olander gives the air a few tentative sniffs.

    “I don’t smell much sewage. Either there’s a clog, or Violet is already working hard in there.”

    Berdol hums as he makes his notes, agreeing. “Yep. Her expanding is all but official in our records, so part of this inspection will be in making it actually official.” With his note made, he uses his affinity to open the grate, rather than touching it directly. Violet doesn’t seem to own the sewers all the way to here, and even if she did, it’d take more time to clean it enough for him to touch.

    His eyes twinkle in mischief as he continues. “I’ve heard of adventurers sometimes keeping putrid oozes, though. Just put it in a box or other container and have a bottomless chamberpot!”

    Berdol gags at the idea, much to the mirth of Olander. A second voice joins the echoing laughter as the sewer tunnel darkens, cutting off the elf as he raises his glaive.

    “A portable ooze! I wonder if I could get Violet to send them on expeditions like that, somehow.” The shadows lengthen as the elf takes a defensive position, though Berdol’s laughter cracks his focus for a moment.

    “Relax, Olander! It’s Onyx!”

    Olander does anything but relax as he keeps his eyes on his surroundings. “That’s not a gremlin.”

    “Not anymore I’m not, no. I’m a shade now. It’s a lot easier to get around like this.” She slowly steps away from the wall in front of Olander, respecting the distance he can easily reach with his weapon. Where she used to hardly reach Berdol’s waist, now she’s noticeably taller than him! Two holes in the darkness mark her eyes, letting the two delvers see the tunnel beyond her, and a mouth cuts through the shadows when she speaks.

    “It feels like it’s been a while, Berdol! Too busy to come give me more fighting tips?”

    He chuckles and nods. “A bit, actually. There’s a lot that goes into learning to be an inspector, and your mentor causing mischief doesn’t help things.”

    Onyx’s grin stretches her face, making Olander tense up again, but Berdol ignores him and simply steps up to get a closer look at his friend and scion as she replies. “Mischief is part of the fun!” Her smile slips a bit for a moment, before she sighs and lets the smile shrink back to more ordinary proportions. “Violet says it’s only sometimes fun. Are you going to be ok? She was worried you might freak out if I kept teasing,” she asks Olander, who slowly lowers his glaive. He takes a few moments before replying.

    “Sorry. I haven’t had good experiences with shades before.”

    Onyx slumps a little. “Ah, sorry about that. I’m still getting used to being a shade. There’s just so much more I can do now!”

    “On top of being a Voice,” points out Berdol, earning a happy nod.

    “Yes! That’s actually why I’m here. Violet knows the Mentor usually has his Voice along for inspections, so I’m here! Is there anything I can help with?”

    Berdol nods and consults his notes. “I have a whole list of things, if you don’t mind.” She smiles at that, urging him to continue. “Well, to start with, are there any new scions?”

    “Yes, Slimy and Teeth! They’re both a bit busy, but Slimy is just back that way, dealing with a pool. Let me introduce you”!

    Berdol starts to protest, but is cut off by a smirking Olander. “He’d love to! It’s his duty as an inspector to personally meet as many scions in a dungeon as he can, after all.” Berdol’s look of betrayal earns another peal of laughter from the elf, who follows along as Onyx leads the way.

    Being an inspector is not always easy.