The quaint, cobblestone street of Varona's residential district, usually a tapestry of gentle murmurs and the distant clatter of daily life, was pierced by a sound primal and pure: the first, raw cry of a newborn. Inside a modest home, bathed in the soft, golden light of late afternoon, Tina and Mark Ely were caught in the whirlwind of new parenthood.

  Mark, a man whose rugged beard couldn't conceal the boyish wonder in his eyes, held Tina's hand, his own trembling slightly. "Tina," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, "I... I'm a father. A father!" Tears, unashamed and joyful, streamed down his face. "You were incredible, absolutely incredible." He gazed at the tiny bundle cradled in Tina's arms, a mixture of awe and disbelief swirling within him.

  Tina, her face flushed and radiant despite the exhaustion, mirrored his emotions. "I know, hun," she replied, her voice soft and tender. "We're parents now. It's... it's almost unreal." Fresh tears, born not of pain but of overwhelming love, welled up in her eyes as she gazed at her son. "He's so perfect, isn't he?"

  But the newborn's cries, though initially a symbol of new life, held a deeper, more unsettling story. Within that tiny, fragile form, a fifteen-year-old boy named Bruce Gold was trapped. Moments before, he had been diligently working on his math homework, the complex equations a familiar challenge. Then, a sudden, sharp impact at the back of his head, a disorienting rush of tinnitus, and the world had dissolved into an abyss of darkness.

  He had tumbled through the void, a terrifying, weightless journey, until a faint glimmer of light beckoned him back. But the world he emerged into was not the one he knew. He was no longer a teenager; he was an infant, his limbs tiny and weak, his voice a helpless wail. A cruel regression, a fifteen-year leap backward in time, had stolen his life and replaced it with this bewildering infancy.

  The cries that echoed through the room were not just a baby's protest; they were the anguished sobs of a boy who had lost everything. He was a prisoner in his own body, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and despair. Yet, as the warmth of his new parents enveloped him, as their gentle hands stroked his cheek and their voices filled the room with love, a flicker of something else began to stir within him.

  Bruce had spent his entire life in an orphanage, a cold, sterile place where affection was a rare commodity. Abandoned at birth, with only a name scribbled on a note, he had yearned for the warmth of a family, a longing that had become a nightly dream. Now, that dream was a reality.

  The tears that flowed now were different, a mixture of grief and a fragile, burgeoning hope. He was a baby again, forced to relive his childhood, but he had something he had never had before: parents who loved him. The pain of starting over was immense, but the prospect of belonging, of finally having a family, was a beacon in the darkness.

  Just as the baby's cries subsided, a voice, sharp and slightly raspy, cut through the tender atmosphere. "Has anyone seen my scissors?" A woman, her face etched with a strange, unsettling calmness, stood in the doorway. She was the midwife, but there was something else, something subtly off about her. A faint, almost imperceptible aura of coldness clung to her, a hint of something ancient and dark. "I swear they were right here when I left."

  Dungeon Stories Volume 2

  Not only did I fail to notice the absence of Eddie's presence, but so to did everyone else. Understandably, it is an easy thing to do, overlooking something that's not where it's supposed to be. More so when they don't actually frequent my tower. The inky person who's been there recently is Me.

  As my mist blankets everything in sight, I see a person-shaped emptiness slowly moving away from Me's table. Pointing at nothing, I shout that someone is there and everyone dives toward the empty location completely trusting my words. All the dungeon-borne that is.

  Three Categorisers, an elf, a Cleric and a Rainbow Mage, all look baffled as the pile of Assassins starts to increase. Jumping on top of each other, from the bottom Lara shouts, "Oh. I think I've got someone." Holding on to an invisible object, a second one hits her in the face. Fortunately my family are tougher than they look and Lara pulls the invisible person closer until she's hugging them beneath the pile on.

  "I've got her," She shouts as the pyramid of people collapse and crowd around her. Taking the target from shopkeeper Dagger, Light and Noir hoist up an invisible person before hauling them over to me. With their plan ending in failure, the thief drops whatever spell was being maintained and a woman is left hanging in the grip of the Assassins.

  "Let me go you, stupidly-strong men!" The old lady protests, wriggling all the while. With hair as white as Veris', the interlopers is certainly due to the passage of time rather than her trying to make a statement. A skin-tight bodysuit and a leather satchel, both black, are all she's wearing.

  "Where's Eddie!?" Are the first words to leave my mouth. As soon as they have found their way into the world, it's already too late to ask a better question and I can feel Me rolling his eyes behind my back.

  The woman doesn't reply because she can't see or hear me, once again making me curse the stupid laws of being a Dungeon Core. Luckily, Noir prods her in the side and repeats my question.

  "W-Who's Eddie?" She coughs. The old lady might have a few internal injuries after being forced underneath the pile-on, but they can wait.

  "Eddie the Teddy! He's a black and white Direwolf and you better give him back right now!" Noir gets there faster than Light does and earns himself in the process. Not from me, all I want to know is, where's Eddie?

  "Abi?" From behind, Anya's voice sounds like it's a mile away. After her haunting, however, I can't not hear it. No matter where it is. "Abi?" It's not alone anymore though as Katrina also calls out my name as do a few of the others.

  "OK. OK." The Dungeon Mist dissipates and everyone calms down. "I wasn't going to kill her. I swear. I was just... Upset." Aura seems dubious, Kat looks doubtful and Anya's face says it all. She knows me the best after all. The also a certain helper, one who's disbelief is apparent by the way he keeps rolling his eyes.

  "Does she have my paddle!?" Veris wades through the various people to get to the front. "I'll kill her for you, Boss." Fortunately, I'm saved from making another poor apology by the terrifying glare Veris' is giving the intruder.

  The thief, visibly shaken by the appearance of a younger, prettier version of herself, one threatening her own life no less, turns white. I, on the other hand, turn red. What the hell does she mean, where's my paddle? I didn't even want her to have that thing in the first place. Although, I'm probably irritated since I upgraded it for her and she's lost it. Well, maybe not...

  "I have the paddle!" the intruder shouts, "And... A few other things." Even though she's still suspended from the floor, her body is shaking. It's nothing to do with Light and Noir having a stare off either. If anything, those two are like statues and I doubt they're even paying attention.

  "Well. Where are they!?" Asking at the same time, I look at Veris, who in turn looks at me. She better know what the most important item is or she's going to get herself a paddling. And not the kind she'd like either.

  "They're all inside here." Her eyes motion to the satchel at her side. I tell Noir and Light to release her, but as expected neither are listening. If I wasn't too worried after slapping Me they'd doth be getting it right now. As it stands, shouting in their ears also works. Telling them to stay alert, they release the thief and she begins throwing items out of the small bag.

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  "Eddie!" Before in can hit the floor, I dive at the airborne teddy only to phase straight through it. Cursing The System, I inspect my cuddly wolf for any damage to make sure he's unharmed. I've taken good care of him ever since the old man gave it me. Well, he gave it to The Syndicate, but beggars and choosers, right?

  It's my Direwolf.

  "Please don't kill me. I-I can't help myself sometimes. I was exiled from my own village because I can't keep my hands to myself." The old-thief drops to her knees and begins pleading for her life. All I can think though is that she's mega stupid.

  "Why would she tell us that?" After making sure Eddie the Teddy's unharmed, I question the sticky-fingered old lady's life choices.

  "Please let me stay here," she blurts out just as I'm pondering what to do with her. People never make things easy, do they? Can't she just quietly wait whilst I decide what to do with her. It doesn't make it easier when she's begging like that either.

  "What? Why would we do that after you stole my damn Paddle!" Veris screams while holding the inanimate object close and the thief nervously edges away. I really want to talk to her about that thing, but now's not the time. Veris wasn't the only person to have something stolen from them and many people are gathering personal belongings. Even the Ringmaster, freshly summoned not that long ago, is retrieving a cane.

  Or at least I think it's cane. It could be anything knowing these lot, but the spiked bottom looks like it could do some real damage if rammed through someone. The diamond on top is guaranteed to break a few skulls too.

  "For now, ask her how she hid herself from the dungeon, please." Me answers as I'm lost in thought. The Ringmaster must be a right brute because everyone shows him respect as he makes his way through the crowd. Everyone that's been to the Coliseum, that is.

  "I thought we didn't talk about the dungeon to outsiders?" That one catches my attention, however, and I can't help but shake my head at Noir. At this rate, I'll start calling him Prince Sillybollocks the Second instead of Prince Loudmouth. All muscle and no brain these male Assassins. My sympathies lie with Carrie and Dropper.

  "Noir, we're inside the dungeon, right now. Or have you forgotten? Look," I point at Samantula, trying to kill the thief with a death-stare. Even though she doesn't have eyes. Then I move his gaze to flying congregation of monsters all above us, followed by Trixie, the Mimics and everyone else, before looking back at him. "I'm pretty sure she already knows."

  Noir turns red and his eyes drop to the floor. Light seizes the opportunity and gloats about how he knows everything, this that and other, and blah, blah, blah. Seriously. I'm seriously going to slap to slap the shit out of them both.

  Instead, the Ice Queen steps forward and the intruders flinches away as their eyes meet. Carrie asks how she managed to conceal her presence and when she answers, my anger is overwritten.

  It turns out that the thief isn't actually a thief at all, but is in fact a kleptomaniac Space Mage. The technique she uses to hide is called Void Step and is unlocked at the third rank of her class. Third rank! The fact that she's a Third-Tier human is even more shocking than her being able to hide from me in my own dungeon.

  She's a rarity in these times, if we forget my family exists for a moment that is. Even the Lord's guards haven't past the second tier and they're not likely to do so. Easy living means stagnated levels and the only way to grow is to put the effort in. You've got to risk it for a biscuit, or so they say.

  Not only is the sticky-fingered Space Mage in the third rank, but she's actually level 79! She's almost ready to advance Fourth-Tier which leaves me with more questions than I started with as per the norm. Nevermind being a Dungeon Core, life is just frustrating in general.

  The fact that the Space Mage is surrounded by, what she would call monsters, my family in our Sanctuary, means we can't possibly let her go. She's way too valuable for that and plus, she knows too much. I have to contract her by any means necessary. Even if I have to threaten the old bat with Veris.

  "Erm.. I don't suppose it would be okay if I stayed here with you guys?" As though she's also able to read minds, the thieving Space Mage solves my problem for me and I can keep the smile off my face. Until a loudmouthed, butt-hurt Assassin voices her own opinion on the matter.

  "Definitely not!" Veris voices said opinion very loudly too which makes me feel awful. The Space Mage looks like she's about to cry and I can't help but feel sorry for her. Plus, who died and made Veris boss of the dungeon? Well... Technically, I made her Boss of the dungeon, but that doesn't mean she outranks me.

  I make the decisions in this dungeon and I really want that space attribute too. It'll add to the creation of my body, when I finally get to it, but I don't want to upset my family just because of that.

  "Veris. Let me see that paddle for a second, will you?" The scowl she's aiming at the thief turns to a face full of fear as she clutches it so tightly I worried it'll snap. After reassuring her I'm not going to do any malicious to it, she bounces over to me in joyful suspense. Holding out her toy like it's a legendary weapon, Veris' excitement is clearly visible and the animosity from a moment ago is long forgotten.

  Gods, she's easy.

  The paddle shines in her hand as she squeals in delight. After it fades, Veris inspects the freshly-upgraded tool of spanking. Diamonds line the outer rim and a golden V sits in the middle of the Dominatrix's personal weapon. Her eyes go wide and she squeals, "I love it, Boss," in a childish manner. Grabbing Sweet C from the crowd, Veris drags her off to the Pleasure Palace to test out her new toy and just like that it's problem solved.

  "Now that that's sorted," Light and Noir are laid on the ground arm wrestling and I just want to kick them so hard, "Please ask what her name is, Carrie." I sigh and notion towards the confused thief, still under the watchful eyes of a few hundred Assassins and monsters. Although, after watching Veris interact with seemingly-nothing and witnessing a dungeon item upgrade in front of her, the old Space Mage has settled down somewhat.

  I'm be surprised she's not freaking out if I hadn't already had my fill of daily surprises.

  "M-Marie. My name is Marie. Did the dungeon just upgrade that bat?" Carrie relays my words and the thief answers. I nod toward my Assassin, giving her the Ok to answer Marie's question and she does so with the same gesture. That's not what I meant when I did it, but the point was received so...

  The old lady drops to her knees in reverence and begins praying. Which isn't the strange part. Oddly enough, I can actually hear the prayer she's saying inside her head. Her hands are clasped together and her mouth is completely shut, yet I hear every word.

  Once she's finished and opens her eyes, nothing has changed and I'm left surprised at how much she reminds me of Veris than anything else. Because of that fact, I suspect her prayer could have gone on for much longer, but she cut it short due to current circumstances. In that brief period of time, however, the amount of luxuries and extravagant items she requested was just ridiculous.

  Honestly, she just reeled them off like I'm the Dungeon Core that never stops giving.

  The crowd of people and non-people, all family in my eyes, disperse at my say so. Ali offers Marie a warm meal whilst Talia provides the booze and, in turn, they explain what I can and can't do. Most importantly, they talk up the fact that Marie must contract with me before anything can happen at all.

  Not that their embellishment was needed. It didn't take much to convince her, almost the same as Simon, and once again I'm wondering why everything is going so well. Seriously, I'm not complaining. It just seems like one of those preludes. The ones that come right before the protagonist has to walk a dark and dangerous path without sunshine or rainbows. There might be a few unicorns, but they're probably zombified at best.

  Anyway, after earned myself another Categoriser and a Space Mage in the same day, I can't but feel like I'm killing this dungeon thing. Even if Me is still complaining about my lax spending habits. Now, I just need a Time Mage and I'll be able to create the strongest body the world has ever seen. Laughing to myself, both Anya and Me pull the same quizzical expression.

  "I hope you're not thinking about anything sinister there, Abi?" My friend jokes.

  "It's more than likely something ridiculous, I'd wager," Me adds with an eye roll.

  "I was thinking about how close I am to creating a body made from all eight elements." Unable to contain myself, I explain why I'm in such a good mood. It's mainly to do with the skill I earned when the Space Mage accepted my contract. A spacial skill. It can make the inside of any object, room or feature, bigger than it actually is. I don't know how it will relate to dungeon'in yet, or in the creation of a body, but it's bound to be good.

  "Ha! I knew it would be something ridiculous." Me shakes his head. Winning the competition of who knows Abi's mind the best. To be fair, we've been together ever since I had to endure the early days of Dungeon Core'in and, even though he has his own body, we're never actually apart.

  Anya laughs at my partner's accurate assessment and the two share a disheartened sigh. It wasn't that bad though and there's no need to be o dramatic. Isn't it cool that I can create ridiculously-strong people by infusing elements into them? Why's no else seeing the awesomeness but me? And I don't mean that ginger bas...

  "Well then. I suppose we'll have to keep an eye out for a Time Mage won't we. Although, out of all the elements and Mages, they're the rarest by a mile. Controlling Time isn't like space, or anything else so I've read. It's meant to be almost impossible. Even for those gifted by the mana, their bodies may age rapidly if they can't control the time element. More so when they sleep... It's not a friendly magic to the user." Anya sheds a cloud over my spirit. A pretty dark one at that.

  "Quite. Plus, the chances of one just happening upon our city are little to none." Whilst Me brings a thunderstorm and drives home the finishing blow.

  "All right, doom and gloom. Stick the spiritual knife in some more, why don't you?" I laugh if off, Eddie beside me warms my Core. Even after hearing their pessimistic projects for the likelihood of Abi 1.0 coming to fruition, I don't feel disheartened in the slightest. I'm enjoying life, as much and if-not more than I was before, with the family surrounding me.

  Old and New.

  Did I say it yet?

  I love being a Dungeon Core.