They were finally heading down to talk to Zif but it was not the following day as they all had hopped but the day after before they headed down to meet the Keeper of the Jade Temple as many now called him. Helmric had explained that requests like these from other teams took days for the expedition office to answer but since it was urgent they would have to wait only a day so they could review their request. Even then he said he knew he would be charged with favoritism. Every Gold ranked team wanted to talk to the Zif but the Keeper of the Temple had requested for the Expedition to limit the amount of people that visited him for now.

  They had argued that of course Zif had not meant them and that did not apply to them as they were True Friends of the Jade Temple. Helmric just said to have Zif put them on an exempt from approval list.

  So they had waited and Franco had told them in more detail of what they had missed over the last few weeks as they rested and recovered. They also prepared by buying supplies and doing a half day of training together.

  The fact that the entire first floor of the real dungeon had been cleared or at least lightly gone over already was amazing and both Frazier and Maph wished they had gotten down there sooner. Oaken still wanted to learn one more spell but agreed they could not wait another month before getting back to it. At this rate the second floor of the dungeon could be cleared and they would miss out on all of it and that is not what they came here for.

  When they could head down they were not going to allow anything to slow them down so their team was up early and were some of the first ones in line for breakfast and out its doors heading to the Jade temple before most adventurers were even up, hours before the sun came up. They in their haste to leave didn't notice the gathering crowd of team captains that entered the mess hall just after they left.

  ***

  “Why are we here this early girl?” Mari asked with a sweat roll in his mouth as he poured himself another cup of coffee while they sat and waited

  “I told you already that Cid gave me a heads up about something happening today that we would want to be a part of.” She said as she picked at her breakfast. It was too early to eat but she knew she would be hungry in an hour or so if she didn't eat something now.

  The large warehouse turned mess hall was mostly empty this early hour except for the twenty three team captains and Sir Allen that gathered around one large table. Summer had noticed Franco and his team already heading for the Jade Temple when she was walking in.

  She looked over the group of team captains, all of them were dressed and ready for action and many with coats as these mountain mornings were getting colder as summer ended. She just noticed at that moment that there were no other Bronze ranked teams but hers represented here. This was both a good and bad thing on her part but it meant she owed Cid and Allen a thank you.

  “Good morning” Sir Allen said to the gathered captains.

  His voice was gruff and in his adventurer persona he was all business and hard lines. Not the pudgy friendly house guard he presented when he was protecting Autumn and herself.

  “You all got invited here for a reason so listen up and maybe we get to see history today. I’m leading per Helmric but this is a Wrath of Pele’s play.” Sir Allen said, making sure to look around the table.

  No one doubted his word so if they wanted in then they would fall in line and Sir Allen had proven beyond a doubt that he could lead.

  “Good, Jax,” Allen said as he waved for the [Hoplite] to speak.

  “Thank you, so we think we have a way down to the second floor and Helmric has given his approval at a try today. So here's our plan..”

  Everyone including Summer leaned forward to hear the plan. This was history and Summer could feel her heart start to beat faster in excitement. It was growing with every word Jax spoke. It was time to gamble it seemed.

  ***

  “I can’t believe how different things are, it's been what, little more than a month? If that to be honest since we were last down here” Frazier said with annoyance and a bit of unease in her voice.

  Franco just smiled. He was just happy to see that they were taking these changes about as well as he had the other day.

  “ Yep just over a month and it's like this the entire way to the Temple?” Maph asked Franco.

  “The side tunnel we took to reach it is still narrow but yea it’s like this the entire way there. Hard to believe but we will be there in less than an hour and not three like last time.”

  The miners had worked hard over the weeks and with forced dedicated mage support by the Expedition, that made Mages with the relative spells take turns each week the miners had help daily and had expanded and cleaned up the existing tunnels quickly.

  Frazier was animated as they walked the empty tunnels. “You were right Franco, very right. Waiting would see us miss out on even more. Did you hear yesterday in the office that another thousand person caravan left a few days ago from Gemport and less than fifty left from here and went back. They were debating how many more people the village could hold which is apparently only about another 1500. They were getting heated over what to do after this new group shows up. If they should limit it to that or start occupying the first floor of Desanigh but Helmric pushed hard against that. He was saying he won't allow it until they get at least a year with full control of the first level before they think of having people live there.” She said as they walked.

  The early morning tunnels had no traffic and only today's assigned guards were ahead of them and passed them through their check points after a brief glance at their pass.

  “He was saying last night that he would send for Mom a few months after the way to the second floor is found. He is worried that entering or activating the next floor will change the previous one. Apparently that’s pretty pretty common in these older dungeons. I have two brothers that are beating their tails wanting to get here but dad wont let them skip skip the line in Gemport as adventurers. Now if they come as guests or merchants where they can be kept from going down here then they will be here next week” Oaken added.

  Franco knew that Kimber had litters of usually three but sometimes of two or four children. They were not twins like Summer and Faye and did not get secret twin powers like human twins did. Oaken was different; he was from a surprise third pregnancy from his mom which was rare already for Kimber and he was an only birth. A one in a hundred kind of thing to hear him explain it. A kind of thing that set him apart as different and strange compared to other Kimber. It was one of the reasons Helmric watched over his son so much, that and Helmric had made it big already as an adventuring merchant by the time Oaken was born

  “Master Helmric does not want your brothers down here?” Maph asked, surprised.

  “Not really, of Mim and Hawak, only Hawak did some real adventuring but they are both married with young families. Mim works the merchant side on the docks for the family and Hawak is a [Caravan Leader] now so he still has some fighting skills but he usually travels the mountain towns for the family. My sisters and their husbands all work for the family running the business under mom out of Gemport and won't come out here till they can see a show and get important wines daily.” Oaken trilled in amusement.

  “You have four sisters right,” Franco said. He was sure he had heard Oaken explain this before.

  “Yes. They do keep their husbands busy and I have seventeen nieces and nephews. How would you feel finding out you had a family that big Franco” Oaken asked.

  Franco thought about it as they walked the cleared and well lit tunnel paths. It would be strange.

  “Honestly I think like how I feel about hearing about yours, I guess. It's an interesting fact but not real to me yet. Maybe if I met them all at once and they looked similar I could see it.”

  “May the Four Gods protect us from a hoard of Franco looking people” Frazier said teasingly.

  “They would have this dungeon cleared in an hour and somehow kill a dragon” Maph added in.

  The elf's breast plate was buffed to a nice shine and the tunnel lights shone off it. He looked at ease in the armor as they walked.

  “And get all the credit after we did all the work” Frazier said.

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  “I represent that,” Franco said jokingly.

  In a loud stage whisper with his hand on the wrong side of his bill, Oaken pretended to whisper to Franco.

  “It’s, I resent that fact,” Oaken said.

  Franco gave him an exaggerated wink, his hair longer now and almost in his eyes.

  “I resent that”

  They chuckled as they waved at the guards after showing them their papers and walked down what they liked to think was their tunnel. The one that had changed their lives and made them a real team.

  ***

  Cid hopped from foot to foot as they walked down the stairs into the city. With Sir Allen in the lead they were just behind him. They had come through the 9th gate, their gate Cid liked to think. The one that would put the Wrath of Pele into the history books. And this morning felt like another one of those days. A day where they would put his plan into action and Pele would get to hurt this damn dungeon a little more.

  Cid had pushed for this and his team had backed him. They would risk it again here and they would come out on top and they would get to pay back this damn place a little for taking Mia.

  ***

  Autumn did not like this at all. She had a bad feeling about this but didn't know why. This was an opportunity for sure. Some mad scheme by the Wrath of Pele that could possibly open the way to the second floor and they were the only Bronze team here. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. She just wished she know why she felt like like she was about to fall into one of her brothers pranks

  The trip to Desanigh was worth what they had collected in items so far even if they missed the next semester of the Scholaria. Not only the life changing gear they had gotten and Summer’s new class but the seventeen weapons, five of them gold rated that Sir Allen had pulled from that Bone Abominations. All that and their gold would go to their family and change their futures.

  Monsters in this first floor had dropped kingdom quality gear. Between Summers new class and what they could gift their future husbands' families the House of Skye would change. From a minor noble house to a major one overnight. Their two unwed older siblings and two younger would all have better marriage prospects but better yet as long as Summer or her married into one of the eleven High Houses they could pursue their interests and marry someone they liked as the family would be taken care of.

  In that way their secondary mission for the Crown and their family had been a wild success but what really brought them here had been slow and painful to watch. Franco did not know who he was and where had come from. He seemed happy but a sense of unease lingered with him and Autumn could understand why.

  Her friend had died and her other friend didn't really remember how he got her killed but something had changed she thought after Franco had passed out. They should be with him or near him at least. Something was happening there and that was their goal, not enriching themselves or their family any more. She felt at her chest where in an inner pocket of her duster was a new letter from the Gemport spymaster, Mr. Atkin and the warning that not only was his team ready and would be on the next caravan out but that these newest ones would be here in days. It also had forty three adventurers from Abigail who many would know Franco by name at least for who he was. Mr. Atkin had talked to the two Gold ranked teams as they could be trusted but the rest had only the wild rumors of the port city to go off of. They would confront Franco at some point. That collision was unavoidable now and Autumn needed to prepare him for that. She shouldn't be wasting her time here she felt.

  When they got down the stairs into the city she caught up with Summer who instantly turned to look at her.

  “What's wrong?” Summer whispered to her, her eyes darting around looking for what caused her twins change in mood.

  Kara was there a heartbeat later reaching for her new hammer that was strapped to her back.

  “Calm down, I’m going to the Jade Temple. I’m going after Franco.”

  “Now” is all Summer said after looking at her for a few seconds.

  They had the real conversation and argument with just a few looks. It wasn't really telepathy at least not like an Ability or how the Book of Levi described it. This was one of the special inborn twin powers they had.

  “Yes, It feels like today's the day.” Autumn said.

  “That it does and you won’t stay to see how this plays out this morning?” Summer asked knowing the answer already.

  “No I wont”

  They both turned to look at Kara who went from looking at one to the other. They were arguing who should take her and why the other needed her more.

  “I do have Allen and about a hundred other adventures around me,” Summer said with a smile. She had won that conversion.

  Autumn turned to Kara and nodded.

  “Do you mind missing the fun and coming with me? I think running through the city will be faster than heading back and Summer does have Mari and Sir Allen to watch her.”

  Kara just nodded and readied herself to run.

  Summer and Autumn hugged. They both felt it now. Today was a day of action.

  “I love you sister,” Summer said as they hugged.

  “And I you. Use it if you need to” Autumn whispered back.

  With their hug over, Summer turned to run after the group of adventurers that were heading to the central plaza while Autumn made sure her cowboy hat was on tight before she started jogging towards a different route from this square with Kara keeping pace.

  “What is it?” Kara finally asked, her face grim.

  “A race against Fate, can't you feel it” Autumn said as she picked up her pace.

  ***

  “Well now this is just embarrassing,” Franco said.

  They stood now in front of the massive open doors of the Jade Temple. A temple that had changed just as much as everything else down in the depths. The large square in front of it was well lit with glow orb lanterns spaced around it pushing back the surrounding darkness.

  Their team stood at the base of the steps leading up to the temple's front doors and looked in horror at the now painted walls next to the doorway. On either side of the door stood a representation of the Jade Goddess, the left dressed as a smith and the right as a warrior and both had her bearing her rope like crown.

  Both of the paintings of the Goddess were fine if done with a little to bright colors. No, their horror was further to the right of the warrior Goddess as there was a scene depicting them. There stood the Stone Eaters including Sarah along with Gull and Finn fighting against Minotaurs and Daemons. The picture showed Franco in mid lunge with his Jade saber killing a Daemon.

  “That's not how that happened" Franco mumbled.

  “Do I actually look like a turtle in my armor?” Frazier said with a bit of horror in her voice.

  “Not at all, the perspective is off a little. I think the lesser golems must have painted them by number” Maph said as he kept his hand on her shoulder for support.

  Two golems stood watch by either side of the doorway. Both armed with long spears and large round shields. Neither had moved so much as an inch when they appeared.

  “Well now we all have questions for Zif” Oaken said as he started to walk up the stairs.

  When they reached the landing the two golems turned sideways to face them as a blue wall of force appeared blocking the doorway with golden text appearing after a few seconds.

  Welcome Friends of the Jade Temple

  Brother Zif has been informed and will meet you inside.

  Please find a seat inside as it will be at least two hours before he can reach you from the depths

  Thank You

  The force wall and words were up for a minute before they disappeared. They entered the temple and found the inside even more impressive than the first time as it was fully lit now with bright glow orbs unlike last time.

  The white stone floors and columns seemed to gleam under the light, freshly waxed or cleaned at least. Now as they approached the large stature of the Jade Goddess a blue like fire burned at her feet from the plinth she stood on as well from the sensor she carried.

  The masterwork painted murals on the walls shined from the lights filling the space. Bright colors depicting great moments of victory as well as that of death and war. Fires were more common throughout the building from hanging and standing brazers. The room was a comfortable warm now from the heat as compared to the colder dryness of the caves.

  They took their time as they slowly meandered through the temple inspecting everything they couldn't see last time before they reached a teaching area near the back of the great room with its sunk amphitheater design with a large table in the center. There they all took seats in different spots and Oaken immediately took out his grimoire to study the next spell he was learning. Franco wondered what spell he had gone with for his second.

  It would still be at least an hour before Zif would show up.

  ***

  Cid wanted to get moving again now that they had reached the central plaza but Sir Allen talked with the team captains about the next step. He fidgeted in his Sea Dreamer armor and his right hand rested on his new dagger. The one they had spent so much gold on and Mia’s armor. He was getting that itch between his ears which always meant trouble.

  “I agree with you, I just don't want to do it,” Finnegan said brushing aside Nathen’s comments, Captain of the Gold ranked team Lagoon’s Forge.

  “Well we can't all stand around Cid with our thumbs up our asses” Willow said. She was the captain of Easing the Badger, an all Kimber Gold ranked team.

  “Enough” Sir Allen said and then looked at Jax who just shrugged his shoulders.

  “Fine but Daggron stays with Cid, and leave me some Gold heavy hitters just in case. Twenty of us as a reserve should be fine, you get to tell your teams.” Jax said.

  The group broke up after that and Cid did not like it and told Jax as much.

  “What am I supposed to do? I suggested it so now I get to hold back as the reserves. I expected a Gold captain to take it but we are being childish. You will be the first one down if this works anyway"

  “If the stairs are nearby. As far as we know a wall will fall down along the edge of the city and a giant staircase will reveal itself and unleash a horde of flesh eating mice” Cid muttered thinking of a similar thing that had happened to them before

  “Well that's why Helmric held back everyone but us and the guards at the open Gates, just in case” Jax said as they watched people who did not want to wait on the side lines argue with their team captains no one wanted to miss out on some Bone Giant wielding Gold rated weapons.

  “Dont worry, this is going to workout and honestly probably nothing will happen. This is a long shot” Cid said

  “It is but it feels like it's going to work,” Jax said quietly.

  “Yes it does” he finally replied.