After entering the cave, they immediately found a stone staircase. The steps weren't too steep and were quite comfortable but looked worn out, lit by lamps with sunstone. When they reach the entrance to the first room, they stop. The entrance was wide enough for two men to cross. The room was rectangular, with an exit in the middle of every wall. It was empty and made entirely of steel.

  "An empty room built entirely from metal." The commander said aloud.

  "Ay, definitely trap room."

  "Methild, Hemben, can you see something?"

  "I have zero knowledge about metal traps." Elf shakes his head.

  "I can only say that whatever that trap is, it’s not magical."

  "So we need to go with the usual method." Lucius draws his sword and commands. "Shield up. Methild, pay attention to every movement on the walls." Slowly he starts poking with his sword tiles before him. Dwarf was doing the same as they predicted, after entering something like three steps, they found a trigger. But the trap wasn't on the walls or floor. It was on the ceiling. Some panels drop out, revealing two shafts with three rotating disks full of teeth. And they were descending and gaining momentum.

  "Shields above heads! Fall back!" The commander shouts. When the disks touched the floor, they stopped with a loud bang.

  "Well. Our young Dungeon Mistress is maybe a little soft, but she knows a thing or two about traps." Said Methild.

  "Ay. It's fine steel, too. Heavy as fuck. Anyone too stupid to evade or fall back could lose his head."

  "How does it work? I didn't feel any magic at all." Hemben was confused.

  "See that groove on the wall? There is a wavy or toothed pattern on one side. There should be a gear wheel at the end of the shaft. Yep, there it is." Thuldir smiled. "Simple as fuck, but what an effect."

  "I found a prize for this room. Damn, it’s just one silver." Rafin was a little disappointed. After sharing it with everyone, it will be just two and a half coppers.

  "Ha, ha, ha. What do you expect, a chest full of gold?" Laughs Thuldir.

  "You know, there is that rumor about why guilds and temples are so rich."

  "It's your first dungeon. However, you shouldn't listen to what some drunkard says in a tavern. They are rich because all gold and artifacts go through their hands. And not for free." Said the commander. "And divide the prize between yourselves. It will be your extra pay. Ready for the next room?"

  Everyone nods. From now on, time starts ticking. After an hour, the trap in the room will be restored. They will need to trigger a trap on the way back.

  Upstairs, Shewa saw that the Dungeon Mistress had closed her eyes and was very nervous.

  "Are you keeping an eye on them?" She asked.

  "Yes."

  "They are good. Aren't they?"

  "Probably? I have no idea. But they are disciplined and careful."

  "That is the definition of a good adventurer." Priestess nod. "Can I have a question?"

  "Sure." Naomi looked at the priestess.

  "How did it go with untying the dress?"

  "Oh. I couldn't concentrate enough to do it through magic, so I called one spider, and he managed to help me."

  Adventurers start listening, hoping Dungeon Mistress slips something more than big spiders. For most of them, this news was disappointing and boring. Spiders? No dungeon uses them beyond the fifth floor. And when they did, it was a distraction.

  "I bet you hugged him afterward. Yes?" Priestess kept asking, seeing that her distraction was working. The adventurers were rather amused by how the Dungeon Mistress treated some giant spiders as pets, but that proves that they aren't dangerous.

  "He deserves it. And his hair was so soft and silk-like."

  Meanwhile, the adventurers were preparing for the next room.

  "Opposite doors are open. What about the side doors?" The commander asked.

  "Tightly shut. No way to open it."

  "Let the exploration team find a way to open them. We are going to see what is in the next room."

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  On plain walls were plant patterns made of copper in the corners. On the ceiling was a diamond pattern.

  "Ceiling or floor commander? I bet on the ceiling." Said Thuldir.

  "You're probably right." Lucius agrees. "Hold shield ready. Methild, watch the walls to be sure."

  "Yes, commander."

  A trap was sprung when they were almost in the middle of the room. Like they predicted, it was the ceiling. Some of the tiles moved, and spears made from steel jumped out from behind them and fell on the adventurers.

  "Evade!" The commander managed to shout before the spears fell. "Report!" He demanded when silence fell.

  "I got scratched in the hand," Only Rafin reported a hit. "These strange dimensions make me sloppy."

  "Use healing potion. And you should be more careful. Although you are right that it looks like a dungeon mistress added a few inches to the yard."

  "It's a normal thing in dungeons. They love to use some obscure measurement length, or like here. They add a little to the normal yard to confuse you." Thuldir said.

  "And I have a prize, no gold again, just one silver." Laugh Methild.

  "Rafin, you good?" Asked commander.

  "Yes. Just like I said, I was scratched. No biggie." He shows his hand.

  "Good. Side doors still shut tight?"

  "Yes," Hemben answered.

  "Let’s see what is behind these doors." Commander decided. What they saw made them stop for a moment. It was the shrine of The Smith. They sheathed their swords and entered. In the center stood a statue of a god with his arms crossed over his chest and the expression of someone challenging you. In front of the Statue stood an anvil. On the sides, fire pits were the only light sources.

  "I Thuldir greets god ancestor." Dwarf stood at the front. "Thank you for our weapons and armor made by those who follow your call."

  "We thank you." Repeat the rest of the team's traditional prayers to The Smith. The temple had not been consecrated yet but was built by a protégée.

  Only then did they start looking around, and what they saw amazed them.

  "Look at these walls. If I guess correctly, they are depictions of crafter jobs." Whispers Hemben when he gets closer to the nearest wall. Indeed, on steel polished surfaces with great precision using different colored metals and small gems were depictions of people doing their everyday work. There were smiths, smelters, alchemists, cooks, potters, glassmakers, architects, and so on and on.

  "And I think they could depict all existing crafters' jobs. They are everywhere." Added Rafim.

  Thuldir got close to the statue. In light of the fire, he saw something on its surface.

  "Ha, ha, ha." He laughed when he understood what he saw. "She didn’t stop on the walls. There are tools drawn on the surface of the statue. Most likely all of them, too." He pointed with his finger.

  "We are going back. This is the third room and, most importantly, the shrine. We shouldn't break our word to the Dungeon Mistress." The commander said.

  "Ay. Finding a hidden shrine just like that is like a sign. We shouldn't tempt fate." Thuldir agrees, and the rest of the team agrees, too.

  "Ach, they are back." Smiled, Shewa saw all five adventurers exiting the dungeon." And they are all fine. But maybe I will take a look at them. I bet this will calm you down quite a bit."

  "Please," Naomi said. The priestess's constant questions about anything distracted but she still feared that something could happen.

  "And they fine." Said Shewa after checking all five of them. "And I even said very fine?" She added, looking curiously at the commander.

  "We find the shrine of The Smith."

  "And what a fine craftsmanship it was, my lady." Thuldir laughed.

  "And these pictures of jobs, no wonder that goddess of arts likes you. If we guess correctly, they show every existing job. Isn’t it, Mistress?" Ask Methild.

  "Thank you." Naomi bows. "And yes. Well, maybe there is a chance that I miss one or two rare ones."

  "Unlikely, there are so many of them that you can always find something similar." Disagree Hemben.

  "And there is a chance for a few extra pieces of gold." Laughed Thuldir. "These rotating discs with teeth. We can sell it at the temple of The Smith in the city. It could be used in sawmills or maybe by carpenters too."

  "Don’t count me in." Said commander. "As I said earlier, you have to divide every reward you find between the four of you. And your idea counts, too."

  "Have you heard that? There is a chance that we end around two golds when we return." Dwarf and the rest were happy, too. Even if they ended with just one gold, it would be good.

  "Mister Thuldir. Can I take a moment of your time?" Naomi came closer to the dwarf.

  "Yes, Mistress, absolutely," He answered immediately.

  "Thank you for liking Shrine. And thinking favorably about my dungeon as inspiring, but I have a small request."

  "If it will be in my capacity, I promise to do it." Thuldir, swear.

  For some reason, all stood around them holding their breath, and Jolana, like in a trance, took a clean piece of paper and pencil for unexpected notes and got ready to write.

  "Please promise me that whatever you create, small or big, you try through your creation the easy life of the poor and weak, or at least don’t add new burdens. And please don’t be greedy. Because when you cut all trees for your creation, there won’t be air to breathe, and you can't breathe money. Remember, you can’t drink money when you dry all lakes and rivers for your creations. And when you rob the earth from its reaches, and it turns into a lifeless desert, remember that you can’t eat money."

  "I Thuldir solemnly swear in the name of my ancestors that your words reach halls of the grand smithy of Nezmaen, and even death will not stop me." Dwarf bows before Naomi.

  "What?" Naomi was a little confused.

  "Shush." Priestess jumps and touches her lips with a finger. "I will take that piece of paper. Thank you." She swiftly grabbed a note made by Jeana. "And now our Dungeon Mistress and I need a place for a very private talk. I think the temple of The Lady will be good. Can I ask you, Commander, to ensure that no one will disturb us?"

  "It will be done." He answered.

  "Come, my lady." Shewa put her arm around Nomi and gently pushed her forward to the road leading to the center of the oasis.

  When both disappear between trees, Venancijs comes to the commander and whispers.

  "That was a prophecy. Yes? Tell me I'm wrong, my friend."

  "Only the Citadel of Light can decide if something is or not a prophecy," Lucius told him and for all gathered half-truth. It was true that the Archpriest of God of the Sun had the final word. But the verdict was always based on signs, and they were there.