In Naomi’s main room stood a clock. Her device was much more complicated than the first clock of Grand Forge Master, because it showed the exact hour and date on the surface.

  “Twelve days passed. The caravan most likely already went back.” Naomi took a look at the stables, and they were empty. “Just like I suspected. At least I say farewell before I start working. Then let's go to the tavern. Time to relax a little.”

  “Good day, Dungeon Mistress!” Lisusa greeted her.

  “Hello. Any problems with the tavern?”

  “Besides the fact that working here is too easy?” The tavern keeper laughed. “Everything is in order, Dungeon Mistress. Simple rearrangement of a few things makes it work.”

  “Great. I see that the adventurers went on another expedition.” Naomi asked, seeing only a few people sitting and eating or drinking.

  “Yes, Mistress. I’m sorry for being noisy, but don't dungeon masters know what is happening inside their domain?”

  “I do. But there are so many things going on at the same time. My head starts spinning whenever I try to look at my whole dungeon to see that. And there is also that it’s scary and nerve-wrecking to observe adventurers while they fight.”

  “I’m sorry, Dungeon Mistress, for bringing something unpleasant.”

  “Don’t worry. They are part of what I am. Thankfully, there are a lot of joyful happenings too.”

  “And about happy things. I already paid rent for the first week, so your money is waiting.”

  “Owsom. My first peychec. I need to celebrate this. Can I order a cake? Sweet with lots of fruits?”

  “Absolutely.” Lisusa laughed. She was afraid of what her relationship with her boss would be like. She was the dungeon mistress, the envoy of the gods. It turned out that this woman behaved like a normal person and was not demanding royal treatment. She was warned, and well aware that she should watch herself nonetheless. However, her goddess isn’t known to like typical nobles, so the future looks promising. “Robur, we need a cake. Sweet, with fruit!” She shouts after approaching a counter.

  “Cake? No problem.” Answered a hobbit, who appeared in the kitchen doors. “Oh. Dungeon Mistress. Good day, ma'am.” He bowed. “I'm guessing this cake is for you, Mistress?”

  “Hello. Nice to meet you. And yes, I want the biggest cake you can bake, sweet with lots of fruit.”

  “What about honey?”

  “Oh, yes. I’m quite proud of my bees.”

  “Rightfully so, Mistress. Their honey is on par with the honey of royal beekeepers.”

  “It’s sort of a work hazard being a dungeon master. I constantly overdid things.” Naomi laughed. “Oh, right. How much will it cost? I don’t know how much I have.”

  “It will cost one gold, and take around two hours to make,” Lisusa said. “And about money. Let it be a surprise. It’s my duty and privilege to make jokes and pranks for everyone.” She grinned.

  “Oh, my. I guess I'll have to face what's coming if I want to eat the cake.” Naomi said theatrically.

  “Good afternoon, Jalena,” Naomi said when she entered the tent.

  “Good afternoon, Dungeon Mistress. Congratulations on finishing your next floor.”

  “Thank you. I hope adventurers will like it.”

  “There is a good chance for that. And about the good news. I have received payment for renting the tavern.”

  “Right. So, how much do I earn?”

  “Two golds, three silver, and seven copper.”

  “It’s a lot?”

  “It’s a decent and expected amount. With increasing numbers of adventurers, it’s expected to rise to three gold or more.”

  “Great. For now, I will take one gold and the change. The rest of the money will be used to pay off borrowed money and add it to the funds.”

  “Understood. I will make proper annotations in records.”

  “Great. When you finish, come to the tavern. I ordered a cake to celebrate my first paycheck. I want to invite you too.”

  “A cake?” Jelana gulped. “I…”

  “It should be ready in two hours. Don’t be late, or there won’t be anything left.” Naomi laughed.

  “Understood, Dungeon Mistress.” She gave up.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Naomi maneged to find also Priestess Pinera, Selphie and Paoli. Abby went on the expedition as part of her healer work. Most of them mingled together while waiting for a cake. Selphie sat on the back and got engrossed in reading scrolls.

  “Hello, Selphie.” Naomi approached her. “What is this time that gets you so occupied?”

  “Good day, Dungeon Mistress. I finished the measurements, which we discussed. Now I try to understand them.”

  “Congratulations. So, how does it look?”

  “Better than what was presented in the scroll, but still bumpy. So I guess he is right anyway.”

  “Oh, are you sure?” Naomi asked, seeing the graph with her data. “For me, there is a big difference between the graphs.”

  “Yes, Dungeon Mistress, but measurements still aren't in a straight line.”

  “True. But you forget about measuring error.”

  “But we train a lot to be fast enough to stop the clock at the right moment.”

  “Ok, but what about mana?”

  “I used a small mana stone to measure how much mana I’m using. I fill a bigger one with mana from the smaller one to have bigger amounts for throwing projectiles.”

  “Smart. But you forgot our talk about mana. You said for yourself that mana can’t be measured.”

  “I forget. I was so fascinated by the whole idea that I forgot.”

  “Don’t worry. Everything is all right!” Naomi got scared that her attempt to teach the sorceress could have the opposite effect, and kill her scientific curiosity. “I’m sorry, Selphie. I’m bad with words. Let me show you what I mean. Ok?”

  “Yes. Dungeon Mistress.”

  Naomi summoned a jug of water, a small cup, and a bowl.

  “Now I will repeat your experiment. This jug is your whole available mana, cap is a mana shard, and bowl is a big mana stone.” Selphie nodded. “Good. Now I fill mana shard.” Naomi poured water from the jug. “And now I transfer mana from it to the mana stone.” She emptied the cup into the bowl. “Now we have an empty shard, and can measure the next portion of mana. Yes?”

  “Yes, Dungeon Mistress,” Selphie answered, observing everything.

  “Look closely and tell me if it’s empty.” Naomi gave her a cup.

  Selphie took it and looked inside. Suddenly, her eyes went wide with realization.

  “There are droplets. The same could have happened with mana shards. Some droplets of mana could be left, and they are causing errors in measurements.”

  “Exactly.”

  “So, I did it?” Selphie hesitantly asked.

  “Almost. You need to prove it wasn't a fluke, and anyone can do it.”

  “But how?”

  “By hiring a group of mages who will repeat your test. One crucial thing. Don’t tell them why, only how.”

  “Because of intent.” Selphie guessed immediately.

  “Yes. There is one more thing you should do. You should check how magical missiles behave. They are solid like a real one, but made from the mana.”

  “Understood.” Selphie started hastily making notes. Suddenly, she slumped on the table.

  “What happened?” Naomi asked.

  “I just realized I will need money. Probably a lot of them.”

  “No problem. I will pay.”

  “With all due respect, Dungeon Mistress, I don’t want to have any debt. Event to you, Mistress.”

  “Understand, but it is not a loan. It will be patronage. Think of it as a side job. I will pay for the necessary expenditure for research. In exchange, I got the first copy of your scroll with presentation of your discoveries.”

  “Scroll?”

  “Yes. Something similar to this you showed me back then. You need to do something like that anyway. Lose notes will soon be lost, and it's hard to tell where they begin or end.” Naomi, didn’t add that if Seplhie’s research brings results, this knowledge should be spread.

  “I guess.” Selphie wasn’t sure.

  “Take as much time as you need. Once you make your decision, go to Jelena with the list. I will inform her about my proposition, she will be ready.” Naomi sniffed. The air was filled with a heavenly smell. “Cake is ready. Gather your notes. It’s time for a party.” Naomi smiled.

  They needed to wait some time before the cake cooled down enough. The smell intensified a few times when he was brought into the hall. The cake was huge, almost square, and half a meter long.

  “How to cut it, Dungeon Mistress?” Lisusa asked.

  “Oh, yes.” Naomi was mesmerized by the smell. “The rectangular pieces will probably be the best. And size? Cutting it into nine-by-nine pieces should get us the best size, and all of us will have up to three pieces.”

  “Yes, Dungeon Mistress,” Lisusa answered and carefully started cutting the cake.

  “On those plates first, please,” Naomi said when the cutting was done. Lisusa saw six plates, each with a different shape, and not part of the tableware from the tavern. There was one made from wood, another was a leaf. The third one looks like a scale pan, the fourth was made from bronze. The fifth one was made from black wood and, in the past, was broken and is now repaired. The sixth was from the polished white stone with golden and silver veins. Pinera was the first one to recognize the hidden meaning of each one. Lisusa realizes that something is to happen when she sees the last plate on which she placed a piece of cake. It looked like a sleeping fox.

  “Thanks!” Lisusa hired a melodious, happy voice and saw her goddess taking a plate with a cake.

  “You're welcome, goddess.” The tavern keeper answered politely.

  At the same time, Naomi distributed the rest of the special plates to the other gods. Then they vanished. The whole thing lasts a short moment.

  “That was very appropriate, Dungeon Mistress. Unexpected, but appropriate.” Pinera broke the silence.

  “Show off!” Paoli started laughing. “But I guess I will have something unbelievable to brag about. Wait, priestess, can I boast that I got to know half the pantheon while eating a cake?”

  “You need to be respectful to the gods while doing that. But if you do that, I don’t see the reason why not.” Pinera answered.

  “And about respect for the gods. A usual sculpture dedicated to the goddess won't be enough.” Lisusa sighted. “I think I need the whole shrine.”

  “No problem. I will do it. Just tell me how it should look.” Naomi answered.

  “Well, usually it's just a wooden sculpture of a fox. Sometimes you can find one made of stone. They are always painted white. Fox usually lies down and sleeps, but sometimes it observes what happens in the tavern. Sculpture is usually placed where it’s partially hidden.”

  “White fox. And a pedestal to make the whole thing look like an official shrine.” Naomi summarized.

  “Yes, I guess.” The tavern keeper answered. “How much will it cost?”

  “Nothing. It will be part of the dungeon.”

  “Thank you, Dungeon Mistress. Ordering a sculptor will take a lot of time. Probably money too. But I still promise something sweet when you finish the shrine.” Lisusa bowed to Naomi.

  “Well, I guess that kind of payment I can accept.” Naomi laughed. “But I think we forget about the cake.”