It was … boring. Or perhaps we were overprepared. Or just too darn strong for the first floors of a Dungeon. The team did well, even though I restricted them to using only their weapons and wits. Not all of them have wits, but I keep hoping and it doesn’t seem to matter in this case. We cleared two floors as planned and it took less than two hours, despite the fact that we stopped after each room and discussed our performance.

  Things to note: 1) Saki doesn’t have a physical weapon. To be honest, she probably doesn’t need one but I want her to work on something just in case. 2) Once engaged in combat, everyone seems to enter a strange sort of mind meld. It almost seems like they’re appendages of some larger organism. This even includes Penny, whom we have been working with the shortest amount of time. I attribute it to my Family Boon; Communication. 3) Every single one of us could have cleared those floors on our own. I’m so proud of my team. They’ve worked so hard and learned so much.

  Final note. Penny is incredibly skilled with whips. She claims she just started training with them last week but I suspect that she’s been fighting with them for centuries at the very least. She is taking her time integrating the memories of all of her lives together. Or rather, it’s one life lived many times? I’m not sure how to characterize a person who’s been alive as long as she has and compartmentalized so many memories.

  And she looks so incredibly hot! I wish I could take a video. It would go viral instantly back on earth. I’m just sad that the oblivious idiot she wants to impress the most is the only one who can’t see her …

  Our new Master’s name is Keldon. He’s the same man who’s been training Rio, Nix and Addie. He’s an adventurer from Ronsun. He’s also strong, talented, a good teacher, and kind of hot in a gruff older gentleman sort of way.

  So why is he our new Master? Because Addie says so, of course. The Family is off on their first Dungeon dive, so we were sent to begin training with Keldon. I’m learning the bow and Tara is learning twin blades. She hasn’t decided if it will be daggers or short swords, yet. I think Addie will want her to use daggers. Just a feeling.

  At any rate, the woman I remember as a cute little girl with skinned knees and a shy smile has grown up. She sure likes stabbing things at any rate. And with a wicked grin while she’s doing it. I wonder who she’s thinking about? Hope it isn’t me!

  I’m doing well with the bow, too. Much better than I’d do with a blade. I find the process of drawing a bow calming; I think I would be a screaming mess with a sword.

  What was even more cool was that we met a Great Hero and a Great Saint! Or rather, Tia and Bethany as they insist we call them. They saw us on the training field in the early morning and came over to see who we were. They smiled when they found out we were Addie’s maids. Didn’t seem at all surprised that two maids were out training after they heard that.

  Bethany helped me for quite some time. It seems she’s like me in how drawing the bow calms her mind. She’s really cute. Surprised the heck out of me when she started asking questions about Nix of all people. Blushed the whole time, too.

  After we finished training, I mentioned it to Tara. She just laughed. Seems like Tia was asking her similar questions as well. Our shy little man is quite the sleeper hit with the ladies. And totally oblivious. We debated telling him about it, but then decided it would be more amusing just to sit back and see what develops.

  Ah, to be young again …

  I’ve been found deficient. This is my own fault, really. I’ve been so focused on learning magic that I neglected the weapons training that the others have done. I believe I’ve made the right choices so far, but Addie is right in requesting me to find a weapon and learn how to use it.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  But she’s a bit behind. I already have a weapon. Mentally, I reach into my Personal Inventory and pull out what I found there after the Family Trial. A simple, black tooled leather case with an attached belt with brass fittings and buckles to go around my waist. I set it on the table and carefully open it.

  Inside are nine metallic balls: black yet polished to a mirror finish. There is also a glowing red crystal about the size of a baseball. I pick it up and stare into it; drifting within is what looks like a network diagram with black nodes and edges.

  Instinctively I know what to do. Without even the slightest bit of hesitation, I channel my mana into the crystal. Nothing happens for a moment, then my mind gives a convulsion and I cry out in pain. Images and understandings flood my mind. I cry out briefly but then the pain stops as abruptly as it began.

  I watch in wonder as the crystal seems to dissolve and flow over my skin, stretching and shaping and itching like crazy until my whole body is covered in a super-thin layer of energy which slowly fades away as it becomes a part of me. I close my eyes briefly. Trust. Trust in the Goddess. Which I guess I should call faith. Have faith.

  Suddenly exhausted, I get up and totter over to my bed. With a sigh and a burning unfulfillable desire to eat a tater-tot, I fall asleep.

  ###

  When I wake up, I realize that the chaotic images I received from the crystal have now been organized and processed. I have to say that crystal was pretty awesome. I briefly wonder where I can find more like it but then turn my mind to more practical matters.

  Getting out of bed, I pick up the black case and buckle the belt around my waist. The bottom of the case has another short leather belt which loops around my thigh to keep it from bouncing as I walk. Other than the shape of the case, it’s rather similar to the holsters the old-fashioned gunslingers once wore.

  Giving a tug or two to make sure it’s on properly, I open my door and head deep into the Palace’s unused corridors. Within moments, I’m standing at the door of the other gift the Goddess gave me. My training room. As I open the door, I’m prompted by the system interface:

  Welcome to the Magical Training Center (MTC). This simulation room has been designed for the exclusive use of Sakura Tsubaki, The Destroyer, by the Goddess Manalea, Lady of Order.

  Please choose from the following menu:

  Design and Cast Spells

  Fight a Simulated Battle (random setup based on user level and abilities)

  Fight a Simulated Battle (advanced setup - requires user input)

  Design a Non-Battle Scenario (advanced setup - requires user input)

  Choosing the last option, I start setting up a simple room with training dummies and plenty of room all around them. It’s time to get busy. The guys think that Penny and her whips are scary, but they ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

  Swirl, swish, swoop, shwock! I put the last details onto my new invention. Itsa my super-snooper clandestinal viewalizer! Aka the Magic Mirror.

  Recently a nice mirror was donated to me by an unknowing benefactor. Or actually, I think I got it from one of the Dungeon’s rooms. Somewhere, anyway. Not stolen; that’s my point. I cleaned it up, sanded down the frame and then decorated it with the runes and magical markings as taught to me by the Goddess by way of the book she gave me after the Family Trial: Scrying Across Space-Time. My activities are, therefore, Goddess approved.

  Now it’s time to test it! Channeling Primal energy, I think about my target. “Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who’s the biggest horn-dog of all? Slowly the mirror changes from my reflection to a scene from somewhere else in the castle. Hmmm. Looks like a closet.

  Yeah, Ima spying on horn-dork Rio. The closet is the clue, in case ya missed it. He’s not alone in there either. Is that? Yes it is. Mindy the Bitch.

  What are they doing in there? O! M! G! They’re making out! What a surprise. Why does Mindy have her shirt off? That’s going a little too far, don’t you think Mr. Horn-dork?

  Well, maybe not. I wouldn’t know, never having been in such a situation myself. I can see the reason boys find her attractive, though. Make that reasons; emphasis on the plural. Good Goddess! How much milk has this girl been drinking?

  In the interest of testing my new magical device, I continue watching. Had Tara make me some popcorn earlier, too. Just because I like popcorn - I wasn’t planning this at all. I’m not a perv! It’s you who’s the perv!

  Now I need to figure out how to make recordings…