They arrived at a tall structure known as The Dungeon of Water. It's a round yellowish tower. The four are walking on the first floor, each floor isn't that long in length, but with a tower-like look, there should be around 5-6 floors. They've spent a fortune renting this dungeon for one day and wanted to make the money back with, of course, some profits.
The luggage carrier they hired seems to be an ordinary guy. He introduced himself as Rioul — a D-Rank Spell Caster. While a D-Ranking adventurer can certainly make a fair amount doing hunting commissions; spell casters aren't very trusted. They can use a wide range of high-ranking spells at a low rank, there's rumors about an F-Rank spell caster being able to cast an A-Ranking spell. But the cost spell casters needs is tripled the amount of mana — say, a mage or sorcerer normally needed, plus the fact that they need some time to chant and cast their abilities making them very vulnerable and need proper protections. It's a wise choice for this guy to work a boring one-time job, but seems too laid-back even when carrying two heavy backpacks in an unknown dungeon, look he's whistling!.
They're passing through the first floor with no problem. Rina constantly uses her naturally bright eyes's power to scout ahead for wandering skeletons. Going with her ability to manipulate wind in her favors; Rina can shoot an arrow and control it so that it dodges wind/air monocules on the path, significantly minimizing the damage drop off from firing far distances. The only thing her team saw is Rina stretching her bow, fires and bone clacking.
They passed the first floor with ease, on the stairs leading to the second floor — there are shiny blue crystals stuck to the ground and walls, they seem to give off a good amount of mana energy just by standing near them.
"Alright Rioul, our pickaxes." Pearl said, picking a small crystal off the wall.
These are mana crystals/gems. Treated like unofficial currency of the adventuring world — the more you have these, the better; and they sell for a pretty good amount in large quantities.
The four started using their pickaxes to mine these, it's not that tiring considering standing near them fills you with energy, but it's still boring and tough.
They'd rather not do this because there might be monsters with good loot on the way, but in the off chance there aren't — they won't leave empty handed. Adventurers can't live with bread and salted water alone you know.
"Can I, in anyways, help?" Rioul the luggage carrier asked, feeling kind of ashamed for resting.
"It's okay, you helped enough carrying our luggage, don't think about it." Marc said, smiling and waving it off, even though they paid the guy; Marc considered that helping.
"I won't turn down that offer though, mind helping this weak, defenseless, exhausted woman?" Rina said, handing the pickaxe over.
'Lady, we saw you killing more than 30 skeletons and clearing the first floor of a dungeon all by yourself.' Rioul thought, but giggled it off and started helping.
Meanwhile, at town…
"And here's an old picture of me and Mister Chup when we went vacation fishing for our 15th anniversary, the artist who drew this was such a nice lady." Miss Chup said in a nostalgic voice, smiling and rubbing Esmeralda's head down to her back.
"Eek."
"Ooh yes you're right. Mister Chup isn't back yet, how long can buying some snacks for our little Veldrielynth be? He must be drinking again."
"Krik!"
"Yes! Countries have rules and families have standards, I'll teach the old man a lesson when he's home."
Back to the team…
After cleaning out the vase of crystals, everyone continued on the second floor. Mei — being a natural in fire and air magic, lit up the burnt out torches on the wall by just one swift staff motion.
…
Woot
Rina quickly charged an arrow and shoots it forwards. Everyone heard an echoey splash and things went silent again.
"Good news, our first good enemy. Bad news, it's water." Rina smiles
"Literally?" Mei asked
"Literal water." Rina confirmed.
Everyone silently admires all water in the ground, air and even some from Rioul's water bottle all formed up into one big tall body, the body of water then proceeds to leave a big ROAR signifying its unhappiness towards them.
"I never knew these existed." Rioul said
Mei then explains to him, as she and Pearl stood side by side:
"When enough elemental energies become life form and merge together, it can act like a living being" She said, which he understood a bit "A small amount of elemental energies all goes together can be a elemental crystals, which can be obtained and used to make potions. The more elemental energies that get together, the more dangerous and powerful they become, you can take elemental slimes, blocks, spirits,... and in one occasion in all of history, a living thinking entity, similar to humans. This watery thing we're seeing right here is a spirit. We'd like to call it Water Spirit. And don't mistake it for spirits that give you power and fly around while being translucent, this thing right here slam you. Hard"
"Enough with the schooling, we've practiced this, let's bring it down and proceed." Pearl said as he pulled a magical wooden staff out of thin air.
dash
Marc with his sword in a ready stance, immediately rushed towards, facing with the spirit. His sword sliced down right through the spirit's leg, which did nothing, the sword passed through the spirit's water body like it was trying to cut air, pointless and a waste of stamina. Or is it?
"I'm in position, quick, throw me the potion." Marc says, as he blocked a punch from the spirit. The thing works like Obito from Naruto, if you touch it first it's pointless, unless it touches you then you counter attack which Marc did.
Rioul dropped the backpacks down to search for the potion, it's in the same compartment as medical supplies. Medical supplies such as bandages work like cheap potions for small wounds so they didn't bring much.
"Catch!" Rioul said as he threw the half red half blue potion towards Marc, which Marc successfully grabbed, he then pushed the spirit backwards, opened the cap and chugged the potion whole.