Make room! Four mighty warriors clothed in gleaming armor and enchanted cloaks entered into the dungeon. Prisoners and guards scattered about hoping to catch a glimpse. 

Are they– Shobai said.

Adventurers. Richard said.

A powerful swordsman with stern, silver eyes, pale skin, and silky, blonde hair championed the group. His luminous sword, adorned in topaz and sapphire, spoke to his royal status. Prince Alderon, the Elfen Prince, they chanted.

The others–an archer, a dual swordsman, and a healer–all trailed behind, each appearing to be mighty warriors in their own regard. Just how powerful were they? He thought.  

How do I look? Tiana said. 

Shobai almost didn’t recognize her in the guard uniform Richard ‘borrowed’. Wow, you look– 

Perfect. Richard said.

Ugh, let’s get this over with. Tiana said. The boys nodded and followed her into the crowd. As they approached the entrance, a patrol guard stopped them. 

Where are you going? The guard said. No prisoners allowed on level four.

I have orders from Donavon to take these two to the torture chamber. She kept her gaze fixed, refusing to break eye contact. 

The guard took her in, his eyes lingering on the ill-fitting uniform, the informal posture, even her voice—a touch too high, too youthful for one in their ranks. He slowly reached for the hilt of his sword. Had they been found out, already? 

Listen. Tiana said. Do you want to be the one to stop Donavon from torturing these pathetic humans?

A fresh fear washed over him. Everyone knew Donavon took special joy in torturing humans, especially Richard. I–

Didn’t think so. Tiana said. Now move! I’m in a hurry, and this one has a tendency to grab butts. She trotted past the bewildered guards without so much as a glance. Richard and Shobai quickly followed along. 

Where did that come from? Richard said.

Shobai smirked. Trust me, you haven’t seen anything yet.

As they traveled down the passageway to level four, Shobai recalled the monsters he had run into the last time he was here–the spiders. Could the adventurers really kill them all? 

You’re up. Tiana said, turning to Richard.

Right! Richard quickly pulled out Shobai’s map and turned it over several times. 

Maybe… that way. Richard pointed a wavering finger down a dark, unlit path. No, wait… He said, awkwardly shifting to another passageway. This way. Yeah, that feels right. 

Tiana and Shobai exchanged a look of concern. 

As they plunged deeper, level four proved to be a cynical mockery of Richard's poor sense of directions. Even what vague recollection Shobai had of the floor vanished amid the twists and turns of Richard’s leadership. 

Shobai gently tugged on the chain that bound them together. Sensei, are we lost? 

He didn’t answer, his eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. Had he finally cracked? Shobai thought. Or did he see something? Shobai’s eyes slowly followed Richard’s. And there, in the distance, a tiny red dot pulsed, barely visible against the shadows. 

Could it be… the exit? He said. With a spark of sudden hope, he turned to Tiana, whose eyes were also fixed on the distant glow. Tiana–

Get down! She said. 

Just then, the air cracked open with a terrifying roar! A monstrous explosion of blazing flames tore past them. The fiery bolt all but singed Shobai’s shoulder, leaving a lingering warmth on his skin. Falling to the ground, he struggled to pull air into his lungs. Small, gritty particles of scorched rock rained down on his head. Above him, a flaming arrow formed a deep crater in the wall. 

What’s wrong? A voice called out in the distance. 

An archer, cloaked in shadows, appeared silhouetted in the trail of flames. She peered in Shobai’s direction and then turned abruptly.

I thought I saw a spider. The archer said. But it was nothing.

Shobai’s heart hammered against his chest. Was that the adventurers?! A sudden, chilling thought seized him. What would happen if they found out his group was trying to escape?

I think… they’re gone. Tiana said. 

Did you think I wouldn’t sense you? A firm hand, cold and calloused, clamped down on her shoulder.

A whirlwind of primal fear screamed from Shobai’s heart as he looked up to the man. His bloodthirsty gaze, sharp as daggers, tore through Shobai's soul. And gripped tightly in his hand, a mighty sword drank in the silence, heavy with the cry of a thousand deaths. This was no wandering adventurer. This was Alderon, the warrior prince. 

I’m... Tiana tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out. I’m a–.

Come with us. Alderon said. It’s safer if we have eyes on you.

Thank you, Alderon. Richard sai, a small puddle at his feet. Alderon pushed him away, his steely countenance now fixed on Shobai. 

You. Alderon tossed a heavy bag to Shobai. Make yourself useful. 

Reluctantly, Tiana, Shobai, and Richard trailed behind the adventurers as they carved a path deeper into the dungeon. With each chamber and corridor, Shobai grew more and more fatigued.

I can barely breathe. He said. 

That means we’re close. Alderon said. Guided by a torch, he proceeded into the next chamber: an ocean of jagged, uneven rocks and darkness. With each step, the air filled with a thick, musky dampness.

Close to what? Tiana said. 

Alderon pointed to a rotten cluster of twisted branches and minerals in the center of the room. Several slightly translucent eggs lay nestled within the heap.

Spiders. Shobai’s stomach churned at the thought. 

Alderon silently signaled to the other adventurers. Without a word, they melted into battle-ready stances around them. And all together, they began their slow, deliberate crawl to the nest. When suddenly–

SLITHER. 

Shobai heard a low, haunting whisper escape from the passageway behind him. The splintering sound–scraping scales against rock–clawed at his mind. But what was it? 

Through the blurry edges of his vision, it finally emerged into the light. A tangle of coiled bodies, a slithering mass of scales, writhed along the walls. A shifting, scaly horror that seemed to breathe with the room itself. This wasn’t a spider’s nest, it was–

A snake's den. He said.