The man cast me an amused look before crossing his arms and focusing on Clover again. “A healer who only deigns to heal mortal wounds? Sounds like a poor excuse for one.”

  Clover bristled, her tone sharp. “I don’t heal injuries caused by stupidity. If I did, the idiots would keep throwing themselves into danger without thinking first. They can live with the pain from their own actions.”

  He tipped his head, a thoughtful hum escaping him. “An interesting perspective. Twisted, but it has its merits.”

  Tucking his staff into his robes, he dipped his head. “I am Azurith. And you are?”

  “Frederick,” I answered. “But what are you doing here?”

  This dungeon was out of the way, hidden in the hills. I wouldn’t have even noticed it without Clover leading us to its doors.

  Azurith’s gaze swept the room, lingering warily on the phoenix. “I heard of Starkfell’s troubles and their need for the herb, Veridanis. It only grows in deep dungeons, and this was the one people pointed me toward.” He shrugged. “Imagine my surprise when most of the floors had already been cleared.” He gestured toward the fallen scorpion. “This one spawned just as I was preparing to descend to the fourth level. Instead of chasing me, it raced here. I assumed there would be other adventurers, and I was correct.”

  Clover huffed, crossing her arms. “We could’ve used your help when we fought a level five one yesterday.”

  Azurith’s lips twitched, amusement flashing in his icy blue eyes. “Well, I wasn’t here then. My deepest apologies for not being omniscient.”

  Clover’s irritation softened into mild exasperation as she waved him off. “As you should be. But enough of this. I’m Clover, and we’re here for the same reason you are.”

  Turning to the phoenix, she asked, “Speaking of which, have you seen any Veridanis? It glows green and gives off mana particles.”

  The phoenix tilted its head, considering. After a moment, it nodded. “There is one such herb.”

  With a powerful beat of its wings, it flew to the far corner of the room. A hole sat mostly hidden in the wall and when I looked closer, a faint green glow emanated from it.

  “You may take it,” the phoenix said. “Though that blasted basilisk damaged it.”

  Clover carefully uprooted the herb and secured it in her pack. “It’ll have to do. Thank you.”

  With the herb safely stowed, she turned to me, her face lighting up with a beaming smile. “Looks like we’re heading to Starkfell.”

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  A weight seemed to lift from her shoulders, and I gave her a thumbs-up. “First dungeon, cleared!”

  Azurith raised an eyebrow. “This was your first dungeon? And you didn’t pick a smaller one?”

  I shrugged. “Clover needed help getting the herb.”

  She nodded and started for the exit. “And now we have it. Let’s get moving.” She paused, glancing back at me. “Can you handle walking, or should we rest first?”

  Her worried gaze swept over me, lingering on the hole in my armor. A haunted glint flickered in her eyes. I smiled to reassure her. “I’ll be fine. I can move—just a little slow and stiff.”

  Her lips thinned. “I wish we weren’t on such a tight schedule. You need to rest, or that ‘Exhausted’ status will turn into ‘Heavily Exhausted’.”

  I took her hand, squeezing gently. “There’s no helping it. Let’s get to Starkfell. I’ll rest once we’re there.”

  The worry eased into a smile, and she leaned into my side as we walked. “I’ll hold you to that, darling. Now let’s go. The sooner we get there, the sooner you rest.”

  Turning to Azurith, she asked, “Will you be joining us?”

  He shook his head. “I’m on a separate quest for our king. I only deviated because so many lives were at risk, and I knew he would approve. You’ve handled that, so I need to get back to my mission.”

  His gaze shifted to the phoenix. “Are you really going to let us leave so easily? I thought you were the final floor’s boss.”

  The phoenix nodded. “Many adventurers have assumed as much. I always tell them the same: this is not an ordinary dungeon. It was built as my home. When monsters began appearing, adventurers followed. They are often disappointed when they fail to defeat me.” Frustration laced its tone.

  I glanced at Clover. “Can we spread the word that this isn’t a dungeon?”

  She shook her head. “Even if we did, people would still come to kill the phoenix. And leaving the monsters unchecked would mean they’d eventually threaten the nearby towns.”

  The phoenix hummed. “That is why I allow intruders to roam the lower levels. When they reach me, I give them one chance to leave. If they refuse...” It trailed off ominously.

  I nodded. “Then their deaths are on them. Do you know why creatures from the Inbetween are breaking through?”

  The phoenix shook its head. “No. Perhaps your spirit does.”

  I focused inward. Do you know?

  Her reply was immediate. I do not. It is possible a rift has opened between this place and the spirit plane. Death’s chosen usually deals with those, but perhaps he is unaware of it. I will inform Death at once.

  Focusing on the phoenix again, I relayed the message. “She says there might be a rift, and she’ll notify Death to handle it.”

  “Good,” it said, its feathers ruffling. “Hopefully it will be mended before another basilisk appears.” Grumbling to itself, it flew back to its eggs. “If your business here is complete, I ask that you leave. All this excitement is draining.”

  I nodded, picking up my pack without protest. “Thanks for your help,” I said, remembering the fire resistance that would come in very handy later.

  It hummed in response, its sharp gaze following us as we exited the room.

  Once we reached the third floor and were well out of earshot, Azurith shook his head. “I never thought I’d face a phoenix—or that it would let me go so easily.”

  Exhaustion weighed on me like a stone, but I managed a grunt. “Trust me, when it attacked us at first sight, I didn’t think we’d survive.”

  Few would have. And we wouldn’t have either, if not for my spirit’s intervention.