Harvest Dungeon - 46 Chapter 46

I groaned as I opened my eyes. There was a stabbing pain in my head that made all of my other headaches seem like wet dreams. I had no idea how long I had slept, but I looked to my side to see Vanessa was gone. As she had been wrapped in my arms when I went to sleep I was sure something had to have happened.

I crawled out of bed despite the pounding headache that nearly made me go blind every time it sent a spike of pain through my head. There was a great deal of new information in my head, information that I was sure was from my father. That being the case I had to have leveled up to level five. Which meant that the barrier was down, probably the reason Vanessa wasn’t still in bed with me.

Thinking about the level up, I quickly thought about assigning the points I hadn’t used yet, all ten into wisdom. Instantly my headache eased up a lot. It didn’t disappear, but it was manageable. Once my head cleared a bit I hurried to my door, down the hallway, and up the stairs.

I found the girls sprawled out on the chairs and couches looking exhausted. Zephirah was perched on the back of a chair talking to Vanessa while Lilian was nowhere in sight.

“What happened?” I asked worriedly.

All of the girls turned to look at me, even if some of them did little more than open their eyes.

“Late.” Elisia said from where she was resting, she looked the worst of the girls, her fur a mess and her eyes closed as soon as she saw me.

“Sorry.” I apologized.

“How are you?” Vanessa asked.

“Confused.” I replied. “Didn’t the shield come down?” I asked.

“Yes, some jerks sent a swarm of rats our way, it leveled you up and dropped the shield. Then they disappeared.” Vanessa replied. “Only to show up with another swarm just as the golems and badgers finished off the last of the first swarm. There have been four swarms so far, you probably leveled up to six already.” she told me tiredly.

“How many in a swarm?” I asked.

Vanessa shrugged so I looked to Zephirah.

“Averaged around two hundred.” Zephirah said with a yawn.

“And no one else showed up?” I asked.

“Nope, but I want to thank them, gave us the rat design, though I doubt we will us it, and it leveled up the badgers a bit. All of them have already topped level ten due the sheer numbers that made it past the golems. I had to fix a few of those, I hope you don’t mind.” Zephirah told me.

I shook my head, “No, that’s fine.” I replied.

“She is downplaying it, Vanessa and Elisia both went out and fought too. I think each gained a few levels.” Selia said. “Rena and Jesaline both completed the synchronization with Zephirah and fought the second, third, and fourth wave.” Selia told me.

“What of you and Firenne?” I asked.

“Third and fourth.” Firenne replied. “Wasn’t sure I wanted to stay.”

“I see.” I said then looked back to Vanessa but the door behind me leading down the stairs opened behind me. Which was odd as all the girls were in front of me and Lilian didn’t need a door.

It took a moment for me to realize that thought, by the time I did I was already being hugged from behind. A pair of large but soft mountains being pressed into my back. Oddly enough it seemed familiar.

“He’s going to freak out.” Vanessa said in warning, “We haven’t said anything about you.”

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“I wonder why.” a familiar voice replied playfully.

I turned around quickly to confirm who I thought it was. Candice smiled at me with her deep blue eyes. Like the others she looked exhausted. “Hey Jason.” she said then while I was too shocked to react she moved closer and planted a brief chaste kiss on my lips.

“Not fair!” Vanessa called out from behind me.

“You don’t have to break the sister image from his mind. I swear if I didn’t love my mother so much I would…. I don’t know, too tired.” she started then seemed to lose steam and leaned into me placing her head on my chest and squeezing me. “Don’t move.”

While I was still trying to comprehend everything I stood rooted to the spot. However despite the enormous surprise and my headache I was eventually able to adjust, thought that might have been in part to what the Overseer had said which partly prepared me. Once I could admit it I leaned down and scooped Candice up into my arms then walked her over and set her down on one of the couches.

“If I get up will you do that for me too?” Vanessa asked.

“Maybe later.” I replied.

Vanessa groaned then stuck her tongue out at me eliciting a few chuckles from the other girls. It seemed that having fought together had made the girls bond.

“So?” I asked looking down at Candice.

“So?” she asked in return shifting in the seat to get comfortable.

I rolled my eyes, “Candice.” I said warningly.

She groaned. “Did I not mention tired?” she whined.

“Seriously?” I asked.

She gave me a mock glare, but started to talk. “Your friend mister snakey called in a few favors. Caused some trouble for us. Dad took care of it with a bit of help from mom. I did my thing and got dad to call up an old friend who owed him a favor to transport me here to help out if anyone tried to cause trouble for you. Didn’t really need to though, these girls are all pretty badass, once they resolved themselves to help.”

I nodded. “Can’t blame them for that, none of them are really here willingly.” I said.

Vanessa raised her hand as if to say she was.

“So you wouldn’t prefer to be undiscovered and back with your family?” I asked.

Vanessa frowned unsure how to answer.

Candice hit me, not hard but enough to get my attention. “Be nice, don’t ask difficult emotional questions.” she scolded me.

I blinked at her a bit surprised. “I was warned you would be different.” I commented.

Candice snorted. “Of course I am different, I don’t have to pretend to be human, or your big sister anymore.” she replied. “Though it was kind of funny to do something you couldn’t explain and watch your face go completely blank as aunties spell kicked in.” she added with a chuckle.

“Huh?” I asked confused.

“I did warn him that none of the people around him were normal.” Vanessa spoke up. “Probably didn’t think about anything beyond Melissa though.” she added with a sigh.

“Probably, been chasing after her since she gave him her that first smile.” Candice grumbled. “Never knew what you saw in her, isn’t even that pretty.”

“Compared to you maybe, but you were sister material then.” Vanessa said back.

“Hey.” I complained as the two talked over and around me.

Another chuckle from the peanut gallery.

“I am a sylph Jason, sort of like the wind version of the dryads and naiads.” Candice replied. “Mom is too, dad is a human like your parents, a Rune King if I remember right, one level lower than your dad.”

“She’s pretty strong too.” Zephirah commented.

I didn’t know what to say, “we can deal with that later.” I told her.

“We? No, you. I have been one my whole life, nothing to deal with.” Candice told me.

“Fine.” I replied. “But it was Seth who sent those people after you and your parents?” I asked.

“It’s my best guess, no proof though.” Candice replied.

“Same situation for the swarms?” I asked.

“Yeah, we know they were herded to us, but no idea who did it, or who they are associated with.” Zephirah replied.

I nodded as my mind raced. Without proof I couldn’t accuse anyone, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t do anything. I looked over at Selia. I wasn’t able to read her expressions but she was watching me carefully. “Are you staying?” I asked her.

“Told you!” Zephirah said loudly.

I frowned at the sprite. “What?” I asked.

“You had a listening spell to hear what we were talking about while you were passed out, right?” Zephirah asked.

“No, I could make one, but you sprang that sleeping dust on me by surprise. We’ll have to talk about that later.” I said reminded of that little trick.

“Nope, you needed it.” Zephirah replied stubbornly.

“Off topic.” I said then looked back to Selia. “I know we had a deal with your father, but it doesn’t seem like he is upholding it, and after I didn’t object to you passing on that information yesterday, I find it to be more than a little insulting for him to play it to the letter. With potential friction between me and your family, do you want to stay?” I asked her then frowned. “Nevermind, I will hate to do it after you fought for us, but it would probably be best if we just sent you back.” I said.

“What?!” Selia said surprised.

“I can’t in good conscious make you choose between us and your family. If everything is resolved between us later, you will be more than welcome to return.” I told her.

“Wow.” Candice said seeming surprised.

“What?” I asked. “Seth wasn’t even gone a day. Makes it clear which side of this his father is going to lean. As Selia was sent here to save Seth, so it seems obvious who he values more. Add the fact that she immediately sent off a message as soon as she learned something interesting, I can tell where her actual loyalty is. So I might as well send her home now before I have to do something I would regret later.”

“Maybe you should sit down and rest a bit. I am not so sure that logic leads in the direction you think it does.” Candice told me.

I shrugged. “Maybe, but if we are being attacked with beasts that live around us, it should escalate sooner than later, especially as they aren’t using their own forces.” I said then stopped as a new thought crossed my mind. “Which bathroom did the living water get placed?” I asked.

“Mine.” Vanessa said with a groan and tried to stand up but fell back down before she even made it halfway. “Fine.” she grumbled then doubled herself. The second body appeared standing beside her then headed for the door leading downstairs.

“Are you accusing me of stealing?” Selia asked.

“You?” I asked. “No.” I replied.

“The overseer says that she is still watching, almost as good as daytime soap operas and all that. She expected you to…. Nevermind, I don’t need to repeat that. The point is none of the mediators are allowed to move into our dungeon without permission from her, which Candice’s ride had.” Zephirah told me.

“Jason!” Vanessa shouted.

“Its gone huh.” I said then looked over to Zephirah, “No surprise, the bathroom it was in wasn’t interesting to watch.” I said then looked to Candice who seemed surprised. “Any idea if your ride was friends with Selia’s dad? Or owed him a debt too?” I asked.

“Oh boy.” Zephirah said. “I do not want to be him.”

“Mad?” I asked.

“You have no idea. She forgot to turn the link off, I haven’t even heard of some of those curses.” Zephirah told her.

I shivered, “Can’t be much worse than a drunken sailor.” I said.

“They just use curse words, the overseer is using actual curses. Probably going to have to remodel when she calms down.” Zephirah replied.

I shivered at the thought.

“I can’t believe we played right into their hands.” Candice muttered tears streaming down her cheeks.

I patted her shoulder to comfort her. I wouldn’t blame her. If the situation had been reversed I was sure I would do the same thing she did.

“Umm, not sure if this will make you feel better, but the overseer is saying she will personally investigate this matter, I guess she is more than a little offended that this happened while she was watching. Anyways the living water will be replaced out of her own pocket if necessary. As it could have only been removed by a mediator while she was watching over us, it is considered to be an enormous breach of the trust she has placed in them. Whomever is found to be involved will be executed and their families will pay a penalty and be completely banned.” Zephirah told us.

“Jason, I want to stay.” Selia immediately spoke up.

“Ummm.” I said uncertainty.

“Please, you don’t understand what that punishment entails, I will personally allow the Overseer to search my mind if it will clear me.” she begged.

Before I could reply Selia disappeared. We all stared in shock at the empty space she had just inhabited a moment ago. After several moments Zephirah sobbed, “Fool.”

“What?” I asked.

“She was guilty.” the overseer said appearing in the room sitting where Selia had been. “Interestingly enough her father gave her a technique he thought could hide her thoughts from me. They never thought they would be able to get a hold of a living water heart, but assumed they could eventually use Selia to reclaim the core for Seth.”

“Blackmail?” I asked.

The overseer nodded. “Smart boy. Unlike her brother, she has an acceptable motive. So boy, you have a choice to make.” the overseer told me.