I am approached by Four. Before I can give a proper look, their words distract. The front, a man? With pointy ears.
"You happen to be the Lord of The Forest?" Their stance is practiced. Like that of a Doll. "We need as much lumber as you can spare. We're at a dead end, and have people to protect."
"I will not let anyone who does not call The Garden home steal from it." They look to the girl behind them. A little taller than him. She nods, his gaze is back to me.
"I'm afraid we must insist. This is a dead end. We need a home to defend if we are to defeat our pursuers." They seek safety. The Garden is willing to harbor all.
"You may stay in The Garden for as long as you wish." Cecil tilts her head and squints her eyes a bit, as if she's trying to remember who pointy ear is.
"We accept then." The air around him goes from doll-like to fear. Is Ball here? "I am Spencer. Just a humble father." Cecil claps her hands together.
"Spencer! I read about you in a book. A legendary elven doctor. I thought you were dead." Cecil rubs the back of her head. "Well. I thought the rest of the world was dead."
Spencer replies. "Well, the closest city to say... 'Modern' Is a three year trek south." Hm? Three years to get to a big city? Is this land dead?
"Where do you come from?" Spencer gestures to the other three. Starting with a girl. She looks like she is Cecil's age. Maybe a bit younger...
"This is Io. She only talks to her sister, or business." Io has been ready this whole time. Keenly aware of her surroundings. Spencer jesters to the boy, also looks about Cecil's age. Wearing what she used to wear. Looks big, has a hood on the top. Flaps in the middle.
"This is Milo. He punches things." Milo nods. Cracking a big smile. He kinda looks like a girl.
Spencer then gestures to the old lady behind Milo. "This is Meeko." He then comes forward, sitting on one of the various logs. "To answer your question. We come from just south of this continents capital. We've been heading north on the run for about ten years now."
"You are a Physician? A Refiner? I need treatment." Spencer looks a bit surprised but nods.
"What's wrong?" He takes out a paper. Inscribing some symbol onto it, a circle. This seems to confuse Cecil.
"What's that for? Don't healers just touch people?" Spencer smiles, looking to Cecil briefly.
"I am no priest. I am a alchemist, a proper Doctor. Most priest couldn't tell the difference between organs." This gets a chuckle out of Cecil.
"Shush!" This is about me, no talking. I hold out my arm. "I am melting. I'm not supposed to melt." I summon the crimson flame in the palm of my hand.
Spencer puts his hand to my forehead, then recoils. A burn mark across his hand. "I see. Typically, people are immune to their own supernatural byproduct." He place the paper on the snow in front of me. "Could I have a blood sample?"
A simple finger snap. My blood escapes me. Drooled onto the paper. So many letters and numbers appear. Bunch of blah blah.
Spencer looks baffled. "You're a Lost One." I tilt my head. He addresses my confusion. "A Lost One is the term given to a theoretical visitor from another continent." He looks up to me from his nonsense circles. "Well, not theoretical anymore."
"How do you know?" He points at the mass of nonsense numbers and letters.
"To put it simple, you are one hundred percent human. That simply isn't possible. Humans are extinct on this continent." Huh? I point to Io
"Is she not human?" Spencer shakes his head.
"No, she is half who knows what. Quite the source of Trouble." I point to Milo. "Milo is even more mysterious than Io. And before you ask. Meeko is descendant of Dryad." All the blood here is tainted?
Before I can make words. Spencer gets rather close to me. Staring straight into my eyes. "You have a Resonance? Fascinating."
"Resowhat?" Cecil and I say at the same time.
"A Resonance." Spencer rubs his chin a moment. "Think of it like a superpower. Each Resonance has a static power. For Example. Red will always have the same power, no matter who is Resonant with Red." He pokes my forehead, recoiling again. An expression of thinking ones self is stupid.
"You have the Resonance of Crimson. I don't know what it does. But it is simple to see if it is why you are melting, just turn it off."
"How do I turn it off?" Spencer crosses his arms.
"As far as I know. You just decide it isn't on." I bring the flame close to my face. Watching as it turns black. Then vanishes.
"Black fire is much cooler." Spencer stands. Looking down at me. Looks like he agrees, Black Fire is cool.
A pat on my head. "You should be careful. The Crimson flame can very easily kill you."
I close my hand, the flame vanishes. "As I said, all are welcome in The Garden. Just remember the pillars. Change, Freedom, and Indifference." Z speaks. Questioning the pillars.
"Does the order matter?" A good question.
"Indifference is always last. For it is the Pillar the Leaders must comprehend." Z nods in response. Back to his pondering expression. Spencer ask a follow up to Z's question.
"Could you give me some insight into these pillars? A starting point?" I shake my head.
"No. I am but a baby. I don't understand anything." Spencer turns, returning to his group. They speak amongst each other in hushed tones. Not that I care to listen anyways.
Their talks seemingly have no end. Or do I lack patience? I decide it is time for Cecil and I to continue training. With the addition of flame. These rounds go much better. The first bout is mine. A swift victory. The next three result in draws. The final five result in my defeat. Some time passes. A rest.
Yelling. "STOP!" Spencer is holding out his arm, the three with him look like they were about to fight. Ball is here. Ball approaches me. Holding out a flower ornament. A cobalt Rose. I adorn my hair with it. Spencer approaches the two of us.
"Is this a Monster? And they've a Resonance. That's..." People are so rude. What used to be a Monster is no longer. The world must Change. Less History repeat.
"Ball is just people. Like everything else." I pat Ball on the head.
Spencer looks to Io, she nods. Turning back to me, Spencer speaks. "We will go discuss things with the rest of our group." With that, they leave. Normality returns to our home.
[Notice! You have completed a Quest! The Garden has reached Level 2! You have been awarded with a Friendship Ticket!]
"Friendship Ticket?" Cecil looks up to me. Formerly engrossed in a game with Z. The one he played with Inky.
"Hm?"
[The Friendship Ticket will summon a Race of Friends to The Garden]
"Why are they friends?"
"Why are who friends???"
[Notice: Creatures Summoned as part of The Dungeon's Defense System are enchanted to have a positive viewpoint of the Dungeon & Dungeon Master]
"That's stupid. Turn that off."
"Turn what off? There are things on? Are you talking to me? Hello???" I look over to Cecil a moment before turning back to the screen.
[Notice: If turned off, creatures may appear hostile, confirm?]
"Yes."
"... Could you... maybe explain then? I don't really know what we're talking about..."
[A temporary inventory slot has been added, it will be removed when the ticket is taken]
I reach out and pull the ticket out of the box. Cecil looks completely baffled.
"The Dungeon said this will bring people who will live in and defend The Garden." Cecil crosses her arms.
"The Dungeon..?"
"Mhm. The floating words that talk to me." Cecil's expression turns to concern.
"Right..." She looks to Z, whom shrugs.
"How do I use the ticket?"
[Simply rip it in half. It will summon a random species between F and S Rank]
I rip the ticket in half. The Sky turns night. Snow falls. A Blizzard.
[You have summoned the D Rank Snow Goblin!
The Snow Goblin species will now spawn in The dungeon
Congratulations! You have summoned a Named Monster, and a Unique Monster!]