When Lady Itylara, along with her commanders and the Grand Priest, entered the fifth floor, they stopped. The description was accurate, but also somehow downplayed the enormity of what they saw. Such a vast floor couldn't be built so early. But it was there.

  There was one more strange thing happening right before their eyes. Dungeon Mistress was training sword fighting with a visibly pregnant beast woman.

  “Paoli, I appreciate your willingness to teach me, but I think it’s a bad idea. You should take care of yourself and your baby. Also, my guests are here.” Dungeon Mistress said, barely avoiding some slashes and one throw of sand.

  “I’m honored by your care, Dungeon Mistress. But cultists don’t care. And your guests are a nice distraction.” An adventurer, most likely, suddenly made a move, looking like skating on the sand and tripping the Dungeon Mistress. The elves take a deep breath, waiting, but nothing happens to the adventurer.

  Instead, Dungeon Mistress stood up and dusted off her leather armour.

  “Thank you, Paoli. However, we should concentrate on the basics. I can’t become a warrior like you or anyone else. Also, you really should be careful with the baby.”

  “You underestimate yourself, Dungeon Mistress,” The adventurer answered. “And fast running and warm blood is good for the health of the newborn. Any healer will tell you that.”

  “If you say so. But I know my limits. Sparings are one thing, a real fight is another. But I need to go to my guests. Thank you again, Paoli.”

  “You're welcome, Dungeon Mistress.”

  “Greatings, Lady Itylara, Grand Priest.” Naomi also nodded to the commanders. “I see, my first four floors weren't too demanding?”

  “Greetings, Dungeon Mistress,” Lady answered. “For us, only deeper floors could be challenging. However, the first floors would be a good place for our youngest to train and learn.”

  “Glad to hear that. And sorry for not greeting you immediately, but my teacher was for some reason adamant to train today.”

  “We saw that, Dungeon Mistress.” The lady looked at Paoli standing nearby, and she immediately saluted her. Itylara smiled slightly. Now she was sure, the adventurer came from one of the desert tribes. “And knowing how to fight is important. However, why are you doing it? You, Dungeon Mistress, don’t need to know how to wield a sword.”

  “Yes, and I don’t intend to be a warrior. I am learning so that I can better understand people in this world. I was always taught that you should talk about any dispute. Violence is a sign of weakness. It means you are not smart enough to convince your adversary to stand down and talk. Contrary to my world, you fight head-on any danger you face. Violence is as good a solution as any for you. My teacher.” Naomi turned to the Paoli, but she vanished. “Had an idea that swordfighting could help me, because it’s not only about swinging a sword, but also to prepare you to kill. For now, however, I only gain true respect for you because I now know how hard and dangerous your path is. And you're still doing it anyway. I pray that I never find myself in a situation where I have to kill.”

  “But you, Dungeon Mistress, were in that situation. We saw a monument on the second floor.”

  “That was before all of this. I made a mistake back then, and it almost broke me. Only the help of the grand priests and my teacher got me through. But maybe let’s talk about this floor instead. Shall we?” Naomi decided to change the subject of conversation.

  “Yes, Dungeon Mistress.” The lady agreed. “Grand priest, you have the necessary knowledge, please discuss details with Dungeon Mistress.”

  “I was waiting for an opportunity.” He smiled. “Dungeon Mistress, I can feel that this floor is indeed a proper trial ground. Even our spirits are eager to show up. But what kind of challenges did you prepare?”

  “I think it’s safe to release your spirits. No one is wandering on this floor, and we are out of sight. We can eventually say these animals are from this floor. I frequently play with all of them, and adventurers saw me accompanied by them many times.” Naomi said, and immediately five animals materialized. The lions belonged to the Lady. The Grand Priest had a desert owl as a companion. Commander Keerla Zelphar and Traeliorn summoned a scorpion the size of a big dog, a two-meter-long centipede, and a wolf, respectively. Naomi greeted them with a smile and even petted them to the complete surprise of the elven warriors.

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  “Dungeon Mistress, you are not afraid of them? Those are dangerous animals even if they don’t pose a threat right now.” The lady observed.

  “I have a blessing from my patron goddess to better understand the animals. And also, I have similar creatures on this and my core floor. It’s true that only in my position as dungeon mistress is it possible. Normally, I would run after seeing a normal-sized scorpion or centipede. Let me show you some of the denizens of this floor.” For the next hour, they were guided through the ruins and the sands, where they saw almost all known desert creatures. Not only predators like lions, foxes, or eagles. There were also rabbits, some gazelles, and small singing birds. All will be good companions for warriors.

  “Now I will show you some special animals,” Naomi said and guided them a little away from the ruins. “Please don’t move for a moment. They can be easily frightened.” She then moved forward a few steps, crouched, and summoned some carrots. “Hey guys, it’s me. I have something for you.” She said gently, although there weren’t any animals in sight. But soon they saw some movements. Whatever that was, it was fast. Suddenly, Dungeon Mistress was surrounded by a bunch of hares with small horns on their foreheads. They munched gifts in a hurry and vanished, surrounded by illusion magic. The elves were only able to tell where they ran by tracking their footprints on the sand, and even those were erased by small gusts of wind. Those hares would be the best scouts ever, despite being non-combat creatures.

  Dungeon Mistress also showed them a giant reptile with six legs and armour made from crystals and stone. Great companion for any front-line warrior, but none of them know what you need to do to earn this creature's respect. A similar situation was with an enormous scorpion. Dungeon Mistress called him the Emperor Scorpion, and it was an adequate name. It was the size of a small house. You could ride on its back. His pincers will be able to crush any armour. Keerla’s scorpion and Zelphar’s centipede show they respect by lying flat and motionless on the sand.

  “There is also a Rock. It's a thunderbird. And she is circling above us.” Naomi pointed at a big bird in the sky.” We can’t get near her. She is very overprotective of her chicks. Even I can’t get too close to the nest.”

  “What do you mean by thunderbird?” The Lady asked, and as if the creature heard her, it cast a lightning.

  “Exactly that.” Dungeon Mistress added.

  “Imagine someone marching with that bird on his arm,” Keerla said to her colleagues.

  “You weren’t able to do that.” Naomi shakes her head. “She is big enough to carry you on her back.”

  The elves stand watching a bird making circles around the main pillar. They can’t understand how something that big could fly. Magic was the only answer they could find.

  “Dungeon Mistress, those are magnificent beasts. However, I hope that the challenges you designed for them are not impossible to fulfill.” The Grand Priest said.

  “I don’t know how hard they will be, only that they will be fair. Because it wasn’t me who would give them, but the gods, or maybe the universe itself.” Naomi answered.

  “Then I don’t have any more questions. This place is a recreation of what we lost. There is hope for our children.”

  Naomi was very curious but stood still. Sun elves had their secrets. If they decide to tell her, they will. Her excessive curiosity almost ended badly last time.

  “Dungeon Mistress. We sun elves are in great debt. One hundred years ago, we lost all our sacred grounds. Some were destroyed, others desecrated. Despite our best efforts, even one wasn’t restored utill today. Now we have it back. Now our children will have a future.” The lady Itylara bowed to Naomi, and the rest of the elves followed.

  “I don’t accept your debt. I do what I think is right. And if this gives you a chance to follow your path, that's even better. Until I came to your world, I was unable to follow my path, so I understand what you are feeling.”

  After returning to the oasis, Lady Itylara called a meeting for all sun elves.

  “There is no change in our plans. From tomorrow, as planned, all of us will start training in the dungeon. Details, as always, will be decided by the senior warrior in each team. The most important part, the thing promised by the Dungeon Mistress, is ready and waiting to challenge you all.” At first, they didn't believe what they heard. It’s ready, just like that. Then murmurs and whispers started spreading. Young elves were telling of a companion they were dreaming of. Their parents were trying to advise them once again on how to act when their trial begins. Lady Itylara raised her hand, and silence fell immediately. “Trial grounds are on the fifth floor. For those who have a companion, it’s a safe floor, but for the rest of you, it won't be. There are many desert animals here, including some rare and legendary ones. When you step on this floor, expect anything. Grand Priests and healers will have a tent there if anything happens, but during a trial, you will be on your own. We don’t resume marching until all of you have your companions. Also, I will send a letter to my husband and elders. We should have a permanent camp here. This place must be protected at all costs. Furthermore, our blacksmiths will be able to easily obtain the metals necessary to craft weapons for our warriors. And I don’t need to remind anyone here that the final war is coming.”

  The sun elevates were very secretive. Not many people know what happened one hundred years ago in the heart of a great desert. And those who know keep their mouths shut. Back then, many sun elves died, but not because of undead, plague, or natural disaster. They died at the hands of other sun elves. The traitors believed the empty promises of the twisted gods and incited a rebellion. It was suppressed, but the price was high, and not all traitors were brought to justice. Now, the sun elves roaming the desert were very young. Three centuries at best, many were born after the fall of sacred places. Their parents are mostly dead, and those who are still alive choose to live in solitude. Only a few, like Grand Priest, still travel through the desert. For the last hundred years, all sun elves have lived to protect the great desert and remnants of their heritage. Also, they were preparing for the great war that would banish twisted gods and bring to justice all traitors.