36 A new companion
The wait for an answer took much longer than I expected. Eventually, the dungeon core with an unpronounceable name responds.
"I think exploring a world could be fun. Who knows what is out there? I've never heard of one of my kind being able to explore a world, so this sounds like a novel experience. I would like to join you." I feel a happy tinge through the connection, and I feel its... her perception leave this room, and she continues," It seems as though there are other people in the main boss chamber. "Do you know them, or do we need to try to get rid of them?"
"They are friends, miss...uhhh. I can't really pronounce your name. We should give you a nickname that people with mouths can pronounce. Something short." I respond. "My friend Trix will take care of them for the moment. I would be happy to take you with me. Maybe we can create a magical construct for you to pilot. We will discuss all that when we return to my wagon. For now, what should I call you so I can introduce you to my friends?"
"I have heard of a goddess named Tyra. She was a goddess of rain, growth, and love, and I think I would like to use her name. Does that seem good to you?"
"That will work just fine," I respond with a smile. "Let's go see how my friends are doing."
I pick up Tyra and walk out to check on my companions.
System note: *Static for a few seconds. No words can be detected.*
I had forgotten about Carac. Jivana was kneeling over him, eyes closed. She had been getting close with him. I move toward her and give her a hug.
"I'm sorry." I held her tight for a while, sharing her pain. She picked him and they joined us together.
Jet and Sophie are getting the story from Trix, who is animatedly explaining how I beat the Succubus at her own game. Trix is very animated. Jet and Sophie have horrified looks on their faces. It was a very strange way to defeat them. Karmic vengeance allowed for a very weird victory. I'm sure Trix will want to try something like it, except without the threat of violence. She is a kinky girl.
As Trix finishes the story, the others look at me and the ball within a ball I am holding.
Sophia speaks up. "What is that very magical-looking sphere you are holding?"
"This," I hold up Tyra, "is Tyra, the dungeon core of this dungeon. She has requested that we take her with us. She was trapped by the dungeon boss using the artifact that is surrounding her. I tweaked it, and now she is free to travel."
The conversation started with some questions from Sophia about how I could alter an artifact. I simply told her how small the changes actually were. That didn't appease her. She seems kind of jealous of my understanding of magic. Tyra told me what I did was very unusual and wouldn't normally be done.
Jivana wanted to know if the demons responsible for Carac's death were taken care of. That reminded me... I still had one of them. She would wait until we got to my wagon. I could rig up some kind of cage for her.
"Jivana, I'm sorry about what happened to Carac," I consoled. "But the demon that killed him was banished after some interesting torture. If you missed it, Trix would be happy to repeat the story. The succubus that was in charge has been captured. We will decide what to do with her later."
Jivana nodded, picked up Carac's body, and then we headed for the dungeon's exit.
I was thinking about the possibility of bringing Carac back. Checking on the way my resurrection item worked, I realized that it catches what makes me who I am and doesn't let it leave, putting it into another vessel. That won't be possible here. I would have to find a way to reach out and recapture his, for lack of a better term, soul. That won't be happening anytime soon.
Trix and Sophie go and collect the treasure from defeating the boss. I completely forgot it was there.
Jivana and I begin the process of digging a grave for Carac. He will be missed. We spend time just holding each other by the grave. After a while, we hold hands and walk back into my wagon.
Trix and Sophie have laid out the treasure we earned. They seem to be discussing some of the magic items. a couple rings that provided different kinds of protection. A dagger that seems to have a corrosive coating. The more important things to me were the mana crystals. I decided to ask the dungeon core, Tyra, about them.
"Hey, Tyra," I begin asking, "how do items get generated in your dungeon?"
Tyra takes a minute to respond, but eventually comes back with, "I have some automated functions that can turn either physical items or ambient mana into rewards for completing sections of my dungeon. I can control them, or I can let the process happen naturally. What the mana wants to become is generally stronger than if I direct the process. Mana crystals are a common enough byproduct of this process."
"If I provided either materials or mana, would you be able to create higher-quality mana crystals? I would like to finish a project." I expain to Tyra.
"Sure, but I would require a domain. I can only do things like that in my dungeon. This extradimensional space would work fine. I may even be able to expand it. I would have to adhere to some basic structural designs. I would create a 'boss room," and I have to have a boss. I think you still have my old boss. I would like her back."
Tyra continued, "I will definitely want to pay her back for the years of capture. I will also be able to suppress her powers. Maybe you could help me pay her back."
"Absolutely. Feel free to claim the space. I can always make a new one if necessary. That's actually what I will be doing with the higher-quality mana crystals I would like you to make. Once you have a place to contain her, I will let the succubus out. "Let me place you in the room you can start in." I take the dungeon core over to Carac and Jet's room and place her in the center.
I will have to make new arrangements for Jet, but for now, this is the dungeon's room. Tyra indicated it was going to be a while, so while that happens, I think we all could use some rest. I expand my bed and get everyone into the same bed. I drag Jet in, and we all lay down for some rest.