Dungeon Core Academy: Books 1-7 (A LitRPG Series) Alex Oakchest (list of ebook readers .TXT) 📖

name? I’d have heard of a place like this if it had been this way for two hundred years.”

“The Valley of the Wrong Turn was what Saber, our joker of a bard named it. Saber was especially adept at spreading rumors, and soon this name stuck. People gradually shortened it, until it was known was Wrotun. This became the name we called ourselves, too.”

“Still never heard of it. If you loved traveling so much, why have you stayed here?”

“Perhaps Core Jahn has already guessed the reason for that. I would be surprised if he hadn’t.”

She looked at him expectantly now. I could tell how much Jahn was enjoying being known as the smart one, and how much he was struggling to answer this.

“I’m sure an answer will spring to Jahn’s mind,” I said.

“Yes, yes,” he said using his sage voice again. He really had no clue.

“Mysteries are like mana to Core Jahn,” I said. “They fill him with energy. They make him spring like a new lamb. Mana. Spring.”

Jahn coughed once. Then again. “I seem to be getting a sore throat.”

“Cores can get maladies?” asked Galatee. “Should I fetch for honey and lemon?”

“It’s been a long trip, and it came straight after some strenuous dungeon building for us both,” I said. “Core Jahn will be back to his best soon. Until then, we would be grateful to hear the story from you.”

Galatee nodded. Her eyes looked sad now. “Risto, a first-leaf of the Redbar tree and a gifted illusionist, suspected there was more to this land than we could see. He said he could feel it. We agreed to stay for one night, just so Risto could explore this feeling. One night turned to two, then five, then ten, before finally, Risto found it. The door.”

“Like the one we used to come down here?”

“There are three such doors that we know of.”

“So you find the door, you come down and explore. Then what?” I said.

“Then we found the mana springs.”

If I could have jumped up and punched the air, I would have.

“I knew it!”

“Hmm?”

“I suspected you were hundreds of years old,” I explained.

She gave me a look that could have shattered a sword.

“I mean, your eyes. The way they shine so blue. That depth of color can only come from one who has ingested or been exposed to pure mana. And pure mana can extend a person’s life.”

“Ah, I see Core Jahn’s perception is rubbing off on you, Beno. You are right. All those years ago, we discovered mana springs here, deep underneath the wasteland above. Our people have bathed in them ever since, extending our lives beyond any mortal. But, with a gift, comes a price.”

“Mana addiction. I’ve heard of it.”

She nodded. “To leave this place, leave our springs behind, would mean walking away and facing mortality again.”

“So you settled here and built this place.”

“It is our home now, and has been for two hundred years. But we aren’t the only ones who have learned of the springs.”

“The seekers!” said Jahn, unbelievably excited to have guessed right.

“Yes, Jahn. We do not know where the Seekers live, only that they know of the springs. They have mages who can find the doors, just like Risto. Every so often, they send their best warriors here to take this place from us. No doubt you understand your purpose now, Core Jahn? Is it as you expected?”

I think I understood now, but I wondered if Jahn was still following. When he said nothing, I decided to spare him the embarrassment.

“There are three doors. The one we came through to get to your home, and two others. I’m guessing that the other doors lead to the mana springs.”

“Correct.”

“Core Jahn and I are to defend these doors for you.”

“A door is just a door. You need to defend the springs themselves. We aren’t ready to give up their gifts.”

“I understand.”

“I hope you do, but I fear you will need to meet the seekers in battle before you truly realize how much they thirst for our dearest treasure, for the very source that keeps our people alive. Every year they come in greater numbers, with stronger warriors. We can no longer defend against them ourselves. In their last attack, we lost every leaf on the Rischer tree. The leaves on this tree were our best fighters. Every time the seekers come, we are weakened.”

“And that’s why we’re your salvation.”

“I am glad you understand, Core Beno.”

I did, and that was the problem. I finally grasped just how important we were to these people, and how heavy a burden we were taking on. Building dungeons to defeat heroes was one thing…but this?

I started to feel a little anxious about it all. Because from what I’d seen so far, from the people I had met (rude orcs aside), I liked them.

The lightorium door flew open now, and a figure emerged in the doorway.

“Second-leaf,” boomed a voice. “Why aren’t the cores at work already?”

Galatee shot to her feet. A look of alarm crossed her face. It was the first time I had seen her lose her cool.

“First-leaf Godwin,” she said, her voice soft. “I thought you were meditating.”

“I had to come and see our saviors for myself,” he said, dripping a gallon of sarcasm on the word saviors.

CHAPTER 4

The first-leaf of the Godwin tree was a foreboding figure. I could tell that straight away, but not in his appearance. He was small even for a gnome, and he was so old he looked like a shriveled raisin. Pure mana might be able to extend life, but it isn’t a great beauty regimen.

I knew better than to speak this out loud. In fact, I had long ago learned it was wise to keep many of my thoughts to myself. I’m sure