In the archives of the Citadel of Light and the Riley dungeon, clerks frantically searched for truth scrolls to identify the commander of the invading army. Cultist commanders like to show off, and the number of the banners was substantial. There were even cases where someone used an old design from a confirmed killed commander. Most likely to convince people that they are immortal or something. It was also probable that it was someone new. Send to prove himself, or just doing it without Archlich approval. Both cases have happened a few times already.

  It was a Chino who discovered the commander's name. One of the priests was standing on the ladder, trying to reach another old scroll with some older flags of mostly deceased cultists. He, like the rest of the archivists, had been working nonstop for half a day already and was tired. He staggered but thankfully didn’t fall from the ladder. Instead, he knocked down a few scrolls.

  “Are you alright?” Chino asked worriedly.

  “Yes, Dungeon Mistress.”

  “I think we all need a break. After all of those hours, we went through only half of the archive. One hour of delay doesn’t change much.” Chino decided.

  “Yes, let’s make a break.” Archpriest agreed. “Everyone, finish what you started, and we will resume our search in an hour.”

  While priests and archivists were preparing to leave, Chino leaned forward to gather fallen scrolls. Then she saw a fragment of a dark banner. She grabbed the scroll and unfolded it to see a whole picture. It was exactly as described in the call from On Taram. But after she read the name under it, her legs buckled, and he slumped on the floor.

  “Mistress!” Archpriest runs to her.

  She showed him the scroll with her shaking hand and eyes wide from fear.

  “Oh gods, no!” Archpriest slumped on the nearest stool when he saw the banner and the name under it.

  ‘Grand Lich Joana.’

  The meeting was organized immediately. All leaders of On Taram, City of Adventurers, and Archpriest of the Sun, with three dungeon masters, were gathered.

  “I am confirming the findings. Commander of the undead army marching to On Taram is led by Grand Lich Joana.” Duncan said, and everyone froze in fear.

  “Excuse me.” Naomi broke the silence. “As the clueless one, I need to ask. I know it’s bad, but how bad is it actually?”

  “Until now, none of the grand liches were ever sent with an army to attack someone. But their rank suggests they are very competent compared to other cultist commanders.” General Serator explained.

  “To be exact, there are testimonies of spotting them a few times, but they always kept away from the fights. Some witnesses suggested that they were sent not only to intimidate defenders, but also to motivate cultists who were tasked with the attack.” Duncan added.

  “So, someone dangerous, powerful, and competent, but actually hard to say how much?” Naomi summarized.

  “Yes, Dungeon Mistress,” Archpriest answered.

  “So, I guess plan B, yes? We are evacuating everyone inside the oasis and preparing for a siege, while sun elves harass them when they try to split to search for food and water.” Naomi asked, hoping they would use her idea instead of facing the invading army head-on.

  “I’m against that plan.” King Alduin shook his head. “While I admit that my initial reaction was rushed, I cannot agree to allowing the cultists to take a foothold next to this oasis.”

  “I know you don’t like this, and I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble, but better be safe than sorry.” Naomi tried to persuade him gently, unlike before when she forced him to change his plans. Currently, they require smooth cooperation between parties that have not previously worked together.

  “While your plan has a lot of merits, it has one major flaw. One third of that army is under the direct command of the grand lich. Using your plan will give her time to find a way to counter whatever advantages you have. And at the end, there still will be an army of two thousand undead commanded by Grand Lich, which will know how to fight against us.” Duncan explained.

  “I told you earlier that I don’t know anything about the war. You all are experts, and you must decide what to do. I'm just trying to help. I’m terrified knowing how many people will die.”

  “And we agree with your wish, but regrettably, there is no other way, Dungeon Mistress.” Grand Priest Jathur said.

  Next month was a whirlwind of preparations for the incoming battle. Knights were training, commanders made a plan on how to coordinate three different forces, and adventurers gathered supplies from the dungeon. Naomi wasn’t sitting idly either. She spent most of her time in her private workshop building something in secret. Paoli even asked her about that once.

  “There is nothing to talk about. It’s still not working properly, and I don’t even know if it will before the battle.” Naomi shakes her head.

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  “It’s a new kind of weapon?” Paoli pressed.

  “I have them ready, but they can be used only inside the dungeon. I don’t have time to build one for real.” Naomi answered.

  “That is not fair, Dungeon Mistress. “Paoli whined. “We will need to screw up badly to see them.”

  “I will see if I can use them on deeper floors, but no promises.”

  For Naomi, the most important thing was her reconciliation with the king Alduin. It turned out that he had been avoiding her because he was ashamed that his pride had gotten the better of him.

  “Listen, I know what I said back then, but I did that to make you stop. I think it wasn’t a pride back then.” Naomi said, hearing his explanation.

  “I’m sure it was pride.” He answered confidently.

  “Well, you are the sun elf, so pride is an inremovable part of you. But back then, it was anger, even fury.”

  “Anger?”

  “Isn’t it obvious. Some stupid cultist decided to invalidate your desert, threaten your people, and planned to do terrible things to your girlfriend. Anyone will be pissed in that situation. I’m still angry.”

  “You?”

  “Yes. I know, it doesn’t look like I’m, but only because I can’t do anything about that, and half of that anger is directed at myself. How I provoke a whole mess, how I need to watch how you will fight and die because I’m too weak to force you all to run away, or at least hide inside the dungeon.”

  “You are anything but weak.” The King Alduin disagrees. “It was your idea to give Alessia a bag of alchemical potions and drop them on the necromancers' heads. While these attacks aren't as deadly as anyone would like, I'm sure the cultists regret every step. You've already said you want to fight. It's just that you want to use your dungeons as a weapon. I bet you'd fight with us if you could.”

  “What!? No! I can’t leave the dungeon!” Naomi, for some reason, jumped and started strongly denying. King Alduin and Itylara looked at each other, surprised by her outburst. “Anyway, even if I could do that, you wouldn't allow me to do that. You will place me far back. At best, I will be allowed to help healers dress bandages.”

  Finally, the time for preparation ended. According to scouts, the lich was two days away, and it was a time for everyone to get in place and get ready. Naomi also finished her special project, which she had been working feverishly on for the past month. It was barely working, half-finished, and far from what she wanted, but it was working.

  “Can I really use it?” She asked her patron gods, who appeared beside her while she watched her newest golem. “I really won’t break any of your laws with this golem?”

  “You won’t.” God Junos assured her. “And this is not exactly a law but a harsh reality of how dungeons were established.”

  “The more important question is if you are ready for the consequences when you do that.” The Lady answered.

  “Right, people will start imagining a lot of things after that.” Naomi sighted.

  “Don’t worry, you should do it. It will be the second-best prank in recent days!” Tabitha was excited.

  “The second?” Naomi asked.

  “Forgot the jar of sewage water from the second floor?”

  “Alessia!”

  “Yes. She scored a great hit with that jar, and I didn’t even need to help her. Cultists needed three days to resume their march, and they needed to get rid of dozens of zombies.”

  “Well, as fun as that was, your newest golem is only half finished,” Smith observed. “On the other hand, there is a risk it will be destroyed during the battle, so maybe that’s for the better?”

  “The final decision is yours, my daughter. You will still have my blessing regardless of your choice.”

  “I will do it.” Naomi decided.

  King Alduin was standing next to the return platform. He received a message from Naomi that she wanted to meet with him there. When she appeared, she looked very different than usual. She wore her adventurer's armor and even carried her sword, but she also looked like a golem.

  “Dungeon Mistress?” King Alduin asked hesitantly.

  “Yes. It’s me.” She answered and showed him her path. There was a hint of amusement in her voice, but her face was like a mask.

  “You look much different than usual.” He observed.

  “I know. I wish I had more time to prepare everything. And about time. We should go, or we will be late for the last briefing.” She extended her hand to him.

  He takes it disoriented by the whole situation. When he grabbed her hand, it felt somehow strange.

  After a short march, they reached the northern tower and then the gate leading to the desert.

  “Thank you for your company, Dungeon Mistress. I promise I will return to you after this battle.”

  “I know. I also hoped you would show me where the command tent is, but I guess will need to ask someone else for directions.” Naomi answered and stepped over the threshold of the gates. King Alduin and the guards stared at her in disbelief. Naomi, meanwhile, moved a few steps forward to step out from the shadow of the tower. She turned her face to the sun and closed her eyes. Although she couldn't feel the sun's warmth because she only had time to activate the golem, she imagined what it would be like to feel the warmth on her face. After a while, she opened her eyes and knelt to touch the sand. Again, she doesn’t feel the warmth of sand, only that she touches something. She didn’t have time for implementing anything beyond the senses of touch, hearing, and seeing.

  When she stopped admiring everything, she stood again and looked at the images of her patron gods. It was the first time she saw them. She bowed in half and said aloud.

  “Thank you.”

  People who gathered around later were telling the same story. The gods on the wall moved. Some smiled, others just nodded, and the white fox had a fit of laughter.

  “Dungeon Mistress?”

  “Oh. Hello, Grand Priest.” She turned to the minotaur priest. “Yes, it’s me.”

  “But, how?” Grand Forge master asked. “Wait. Is that a golem?” He squinted his eyes.

  “Yes. It barely works, but I made it on time.”

  “But why?” Grand Priest of the Sun asked.

  “Well, there are a lot of reasons, some probably silly from your perspective, and I’m not sure myself why I’m doing this. I really don’t want to be here and see the carnage that will happen tomorrow, but somehow I also feel that I must be here. It’s not right for me to hide and pretend everything is alright. I can’t explain that properly.” Naomi was fidgeting nervously.

  “Well, Dungeon Mistress. You will need to find a good explanation anyway. News is spreading, and people are gathering.” Eriser pointed out.

  “Right, consequences,” Naomi answered, looking at the growing crowd.