“My moon, what are you doing?” Jensen came through the moon door into her dorm room. The boys had access during the ‘public hours’ to their room and vice versa. They had put this into practice once Edgar started sleeping the boys’ rooms more. The young boy had spent the last two years in their room so often a special exception was made. A comfortable cot like bed was added to their room. He shared storage space with them, no longer having his own dorm. The school didn’t mind as it left a dorm free. Edgars’ dad, Lord Poe, welcomed it saying something about roughing it out with the boys.

  “I’m just reviewing the dungeon finances.” Auna was weakly smiling at Jensen. “We have made much progress in these last two years. We found the mountain village which helped further spread our people, helping the over crowding. Then we got nearly two hundred refugees from wardite, which has us back into crowded territory.”

  “Yeah, but aren’t we making loads of money?” Jensen sat down on her bed. The rest of the group were setting up her birthday celebration. The dungeon people had thrown one as well.

  “We make over 2,700 gold a year. Roughly. We have the trees that produce maple, and fruit. We process it to make candies, juices, syrups, canned goods, and even booze. We use less than twenty acres to produce this. We consume most of the goods.” Auna cracked her neck pulling another set of papers over.

  “Next our mostly consumable products like tomatoes, onions, potatoes, rice, wheat, mushrooms, grapes, sugar cane, chickens, and even salt take up roughly fifty acres. We do make money from that obviously, but our people need to eat.”

  “Grapes, rice, and wheat have double uses. They can be used for animal feed, and wine. Our wine is getting us hundreds of golds a year, though we age most of our product currently. Once our wines are aged, we should be able to sell them for more. The mountain village being covered in snow seven months a year, and cool all year around has given us some more space to grow the winter grapes. The goats like the taste though so it has been a struggle. Especially since the treants can not work in cool mountain.” Auna groaned deeply as she pulled more papers.

  “The fishing village and forest village are mostly supporting our people. They sell extra meat, skins, scales, and products. With the hemp field on the farm, we have dealt with the hygiene, paper, and textile supply issues. We can even sell a decent amount of it. Having Nero, our scribe helps as he has skills for paper making. It makes the quality top notch.”

  “The mountain village was unlocked only last year and it is already a great producer. The goats and sheep are giving us milk, and cheese. Enough to keep the pregnant women, and children fat and full. I also love cheese, our people being able to eat it more often is nice. They are aging some as well. The goats produce hair for paint brushes, and writing tools. These tools have upgraded our school programs. The goats produce cashmere, and the sheep wool. Now we have comfortable clothes, and even beds!”

  “There is a huge lake at the top of the mountain that is frozen nearly solid eight months a year. It sells well, our merchants take it to the stores and other merchants in the spring and summer. Because of the dungeons properties the lake ‘grows’ new ice weekly in these months. We store the ice with people that have the ability to do so without it melting. So, we now have a near monopoly on ice, that is not made from magic. That means we can sell it cheaper than ice made by ice mages.”

  Auna gave a bright smile. “The mountain village has great nooks of acres of viable land. Perfect for cabbage, barley and herbs. We now sell a variety of teas, make high quality cheap ale, and the meals in the dungeon have become more enjoyable.”

  “We are trying not to eat the sheep or goats, as we have enough protein sources. We want to keep them more for milk, and fiber. They do sometimes attack the fields though, which the villagers laugh about often. Even though it is a cool, and harsh village the people there are mostly from wardite. As you know wardite has mountain ranges both in their north and south regions, with the baren problem on top of that makes them perfect for the village. They don’t mind working hard, or in the cool to cold conditions.”

  “I know we were worried about bringing in the refugees of Wardite. I think they are a great bunch, and are helping bring up our finances. They are also very skilled in a variety of subjects. When not busy they help with the school programs.” Jensen gave a nod as Auna continued.

  “On the farm we have the school buildings for the young children to play, and learn. We have a school house for the older apprentice level children, more around our age well into mid twenties. We have a school building exclusively for adults to ‘catch up’ or learn new skills. In the same complex we have a town hall for the management and running of the dungeon. As you know we have the community centre that is used to hold events, like my birthday party over the weekend we had. Many in the community use it. We also have research buildings, and a few multi residential buildings to help with the crowding of villages.” Auna took a deep breath.

  “That and the storage areas take nearly 160 acres. Now that isn’t too bad, we do have roughly 250 acres left on the farm, including the mushroom cave. Which the cave is so over grown with mushrooms, we can’t sell them fast enough.”

  Falling back on her bed Auna sighed. “Our food growing, and material making helps our people survive. What we sell brings in more seeds, tools, and materials we are not producing. This helps our people live. Now the school, and events this helps our people thrive. Though we are not fully at that point.”

  “Living in the dungeon helps keep people relatively healthy, lowering their consumption needs as they live in a magic dense area. Many of our people even travel into the towns to work as apprentices, or other jobs. Our merchants travel as well. They all seem to have a fulfilling life. To give them that we take sixty-five percent of the dungeon profits the merchants bring back and put it back into the dungeon. Then I divide the left over among us eight. We all own it together.”

  “The magic practice, the ambient magic leaked from us, the growing plants, the experiments, and the limits on killing the monsters and animals help keep the dungeon briming with magic. This helps our crops grow, and replenishes the natural resources. It also means we can’t just strip everything at once. So, we make money more slowly.”

  “Do you understand now?” Auna looked at Jensen who was on his elbow watching her in awe.

  “I do, it takes a lot for small city to run, even more inside a dungeon. I also understand if you took Ciels’ share of the money you would have made 200 gold this past year. You only need 180 gold steady income.” Jensen smiled as Auna groaned deeply.

  “I won’t take her share, even if I am technically her guardian.” Auna looked at the papers on her bed from her laying position.

  “Say, how is the forest city thing going?” Jensen smiled moving on from the topic they had struggled with before. Some of their money was taken by the Merchants’ guild when their people sold goods. However, it was all being sold under Ember Moon, which meant once Auna gave up that secret she would gain her freedom. They were very close to her having 180 gold herself in a year. Enough for school for two children, and a modest living. More if the king right fully counted Cielas’ share into it as well. He would have to wait and see though. It was ridiculous to think a sixteen-year-old girl with very little political backing would be able to generate enough money for a family of four and to send two children to school. Though Auna would stand tall in a few years, properly free.

  “You help me every second we have free.” Auna scolded. “Shouldn’t you know?”

  “I like hearing you talk; besides I just do what I am told to and let you handle the big picture things.”

  “It seems like that is how it always has been.” Auna spoke in a whisper.

  “Yes, my moon. I will always refer to you. Besides you managed to get a 99% in the ranking test. I only got a 98 this year. Of course, I will refer to you.” Jensen winked and tugged her cheek.

  “I think they made the test we took harder, I asked around and our questions were for sure not just different. They were much harder.” Auna slapped him gently for tugging her cheek.

  “Don’t change the subject, come on. Tell me about the grand city in the forest you are trying to build.” Jensen settling back onto his elbow.

  “Well. I want to build a great big port city at the edge of the great monster forest. The forest is deep enough that we can create a port city with out anyone being able to enter it by the forest. It will be closed off from the other territories, only accessible by boat. Our people would take a short boat ride to one of the territories near us then travel deeper inland. It would mean another port in the canal made by the three islands. It would allow our merchants to move around less sneakily.” Auna sighed lulling her head to the side.

  “Once the city becomes big enough, we would invest in a teleportation circle that connects with the capital. Though our dungeon people would still most likely use our moon doors. We would keep them as our inner circle. Some dungeon people would gladly live in the forest, though still have access. It should lessen the burden on the dungeon, and make our people thrive better. It would also help make sure the immune systems of our people aren’t so fragile. I know our merchants bring back illness and such but I don’t know if that is enough.”

  “Once we are properly established, we will have achieved something no one has. We will have conquered a place so full of magic and monsters. A place deemed unfit for survival. A place that has taken over a thousand years to prune into what we call the great Monster Forest. It was once so grand it covered well into wardite, and even the islands. What would people think if we could live in more harmony with it? Instead of destroying it.” Auna paused to look at him with a smile.

  “Yes. It is a grand plan. To live with the forest, to etch out just a small spot while allowing it to thrive. It would be a city more suited for adventures, retired fighters, and other strong people. But how are you going to build a city? Monsters would destroy it, and you don’t have enough magic to make ancient runes at that scale. It nearly killed you to make the small area for the salt mining. And that was before you were so busy.” Jensen snickered as Auna rolled her eyes.

  “We have begun building a wall. At the base of the wall, underground, in intervals are stones with ancient rune magic. A magic that is basically one hundred percent at keeping monsters, and predatory animals away. At the top of the walls visible to everyone in alternating intervals are modern runes.”

  “The modern runes are less effective at keeping monsters away, though able to keep most predatorial animals away. They do help a bit though. The alchemist team have created a few different items in forms of mist producers, light emitters, and some other devices. All of these also help slightly ward off monsters of all levels.”

  “Next on the inside of the wall dungeon flowers are being planted, not in the same places of the ancient runes below the ground. We have picked flowers that grow and bloom in the warm conditions. To keep them blooming all year a glass roof, and siding has been created to enclose the whole side of the wall. Workers will be in charge of monitoring the temperature, and water levels of them. A canal between the city streets and the flowers will be created.”

  “To cross this canal and walk along the wall and flowers, one will need a pass that allows them to. There are modern security runes that create a magical barrier to keep people from touching the flowers.”

  “The top of the wall will be walkable for guards to stand watch. They too will need a pass. The beach will have the wall but no flowers. The city entrance will be inside the forest and have a proper wall and gate. The beach will be considered outside of the main city, and possibly dangerous. Though ancient runes will protect the beach, we will have a double encased wall protecting the port. Though we all know most monsters don’t leave the forest and roam the beach.”

  “The boats we build will have ancient runes carved on the bottom to help keep sea monsters from attacking. The more normal modern runes will littler the more visible parts of the ships. You know I have managed to teach Nero the ancient runes, though it takes him much longer than myself. We have a few others learning as well.”

  “Say, my moon. You never told me what that bracelet says.” Jensen asked as Auna stopped.

  “Oh, right after we learned a few ancient runes in class my teacher gave me access to the library section meant for people specializing in rune magic. He said I could continue to use it, even though I am not majoring in runes, only magic with the runes’ subset. Apparently, there is a whole major on runes both modern, and ancient though you need to be invited into that major. Maybe after, I’ll take it in the scholars’ school? Anyway, I learnt the bracelet said ‘In moon we trust.’”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Does the description say anything yet?” Jensen sat up taking her arm with him.

  “Yes, it said ‘An old bracelet from a saint of a dead religion.’ Be gentler!” Auna half laughed, half screamed as Jensen pulled her up into a full sitting position.

  “That is very neat. I can see why you wanted it. If anything, did you scam that guy by taking it for a few coppers?” Jensen smirked letting her go. He began picking up the papers on her bed.

  “Ah, maybe?” Auna also started to clean up the papers. Her party would be starting soon. She had dressed in a light purple dress with black stars on it. She had on slip on shoes with the same pattern. Her mantle was a nearly see-through fabric of lighter purple. The clips that attached to her dress were black crescent moons. Her hair was down, with a small braid tied by a red ribbon. She still had her three-bell ribbon in as well. The red ribbon matched Jensens’ eyes, they were getting closer by the day.

  “Come on, we should head to the party.” Jensen reached out his hand to her. He wore a light blue suit, with red stars on it. His mantle was more solid, but still see-through, a light blue. His claps were red crescent moons. His hair was pulled up into a high pony tail, with pieces falling down to frame his face. He had a bright green ribbon, matching the eyes of his moon.

  Auna laughed as they took the moon door to the main building. A small corner of one of the halls in the arts study wing now had a beautiful door painted on it. No one had removed it as many students painted the walls in expression here. It was so beautiful no one felt the urge to cover it up.

  “Happy fourteenth birthday!” Everyone in the event room yelled at once. There were people from her grade, and below. Some from above her grade had joined as well. Auna and her friends might have been known as the crazy kids, they were also known as the crazy smart kids. They often helped the older children who were taking classes they had completed, or were currently in. This made the crazy kids well liked, even if they were a bit avoided outside of study groups.

  “Thank you everyone, I hope you all have a wonderful time.” Auna paused for a second looking around. “I also hope to see everyone who was supposed to be at tonights’ study group tomorrow.” This caused some groans, laughs, and whines from the crowd.

  “Oh sister, you are very hard on people.” Seth pulled her into his arms, he was now much taller than her, easily picking her up to swing around. Their relationship had only improved.

  “Yes, brother. If I am not hard on them, they will fall behind!” Auna giggled as he spun them, making her dress and mantle flow like a beautiful river.

  “Well said.” A teacher known for his harshness gave her a gentle nod as handed her a gift. “This is from the teachers.” Students usually got a gift from the teachers left in their rooms on their birthdays. They were children away from home, often it was a simple gift the parents had confirmed their child would like.

  “Thank you, Sir.” Auna took it from him, as Seth put her back down.

  “Sir, usually we do presents at the end.” Seth scolded the harsh teacher without worry. He had become more confident and assertive. He had stop relying on his name as his father had not seen him in over two years now.

  “I know, though I wish to see her open this one. I am leaving soon, papers to grade.” The teacher gave an expected look.

  “Alright, Alright I understand. Auna you should open it.” Seth motioned for her to go to the middle of the room. The others all formed a semi-circle to watch.

  “Okay.” With a smile Auna carefully pulled the ribbon tying the box together. Inside was a simple looking book with runes carved into it. Reading the runes made her aware this book would never run out of pages, saving the information internally into the runes. It also made it possible to hide information as well. In normal writing “AunaLunas’ Private Journal” had been embroidered with threads of different colours resembling a galaxy. The book had a slot for a writing tool on the spine. It held a carved wooden stick held together with twine; a graphite centre was already rubbing off on her hands. It looked like the centre could be replaced.

  “It is beautiful, thank you.” Auna teared up slightly. The book itself was a normal leather-bound journal with blank pages. Without knowing what runes meant it would appear like nothing special. Identifying further would reveal the leather was from a bore. One of the first known creatures she had killed. It was obvious the Bloodwaves, or perhaps the Gary couple had told the teachers of this.

  “We are happy to see how much you like the gift.” The harsh teacher gave her face a wipe with a soft cloth. She had let a few tears fall down her face.

  “Ah, Sorry. It’s just such a well thought out gift. I am happy.” Auna meant every word, the journal was perfect for her. She had recently thought about making Nero something similar, though she had failed a few times. She just couldn’t get the right combination of runes. Now she would be able to. So, you like it because you can make something for Nero? Mr. Voice asked. I suppose partly that is the reason, however, it is also well thought out and meaningful. I don’t get many things like that in any life. Auna thought back, which satisfied the answer.

  “Come, let’s dance!” Jensen carefully took the box handing it to a triplet. He then pulled Auna close as the music started, they began the waltz from their old world. As usual it looked wild, yet controlled as they moved gracefully with their mantles flowing. Soon others joined.

  “Chloe! Come dance!” Mateo chased down the young lady as she shook her head no. She was not the best dancer, though with some persistence he did get her on the dance floor. She stepped on his foot at least four times before they went to mingle instead.

  “It’s so good!” A few girls were squealing about how good the cake tasted. It was something similar to a strawberry, chocolate cake with hints of banana. Though the fruits were not the same from her old world.

  “You boys really are excellent cooks, and bakers.” Auna winked at the triplets.

  “Thank you. We have worked hard on our house keeping skills.” Bruno smiled.

  “You really don’t want to run your own house? Content to just live under someone else? Isn’t Lord Pearl also isn’t able to run his family. So, what is your actual plan?” An older girl asked.

  “Oh? We will stay by Aunas’ side. Just like how the rest of our group will. Sure, right now she doesn’t run a family line, and maybe she never will. I do know that she will be highly powerful, and successful. Maybe we will wander as a well-known adventuring party, or a merchant group. Maybe she will rise to enough power that she is granted a noble line of her own. We might even leave this nation for good someday and settle down in a nation that grants her said line. Even if we all just live simple lives as commoners, I would be content to follow. She doesn’t know how to cook at all so us three will most likely be in charge of meals.” Diego was bold in his declarations.

  “I might be sold to the church though.” Auna pointed out.

  “Only for like what ten years? Then you will be free anyway. So, we will follow you to the church until you are free.” Diego countered.

  “I’d rather not bring you all down that way.” Auna gave him a cheeky smile.

  “Nonsense, you are not being sold. It is just a deal to have you as our ward.” A religion teacher repeated again. Over the years the religion teachers and the other religious figures had to constantly repeat that line. Others had even begun to see the church as trying to go around the no slaves’ rule of the kingdom. Other nations allowed slave sales, which the church partook in, making them look even worse.

  “Yes teacher.” Auna said in a monotone voice. Not for a second do I agree with that bullshit, if they take me, I won’t ever be free again. Auna thought full of malice.

  After cake she opened gifts, most were interesting books of varying subjects. Some were different feather pens, and other tools. She even got a rune carving kit. Jensen was last. He handed her a plain looking box.

  “My moon. Do you like it?” Jensen was grinning like a fool. He had given Auna something truly odd. It was a simple cast iron like metal chain, it then changed to small eight-pointed stars with small purple stones in the centres. In the middle of the item was a hanging crescent moon carved of a white gem, inset into a silver metal holder. The white gem had deep red veins in it, most likely from Jensen when making it. Auna immediately recognized the item as a band for her head, she placed it there moving her hair to cover it. Her ears would help hold it, though it was a perfect fit as it wouldn’t slide down more. The moon hung right between her eyes.

  “I love it, you did an amazing job.” Auna threw herself into his arms giving him a huge hug. Everyone started praising the boy for such a pretty gift. Some even recognized that he had made it himself during his crafting lessons. He was in different metal working lessons while Auna took her history classes. He had had no interest in history lessons, having taken the basics and some advance while at home. During the third year his classes were slightly different, taking all the same only when they were not rune or history-based electives.

  “I’m glad you—” Jensen started and was interrupted by a loud boom.

  “The perimeter has been breeched!” A man came running inside the event room.

  “Again?” The history teacher sighed. “Just head to the dorm room belonging to A, Jade as usual. I am sure the intruders are there.”

  “Yes sir!” The man, a patrol officer left.

  “Sorry about that.” Auna said unwrapping herself from Jensen.

  “No, really it’s fine. Just—” The history teacher was interrupted.

  “There you are!” A masked person with three others were covering the door now.

  “Come with us quietly or die here.” Another of the masked people spoke from behind the first as they slinked into the room.

  “These attempts on my life are becoming boring, and predictable.” Auna dusted herself off, making a slow show of getting up. She didn’t need to unpack her weapon, or her friends. They were old enough now that they were allowed to carry their weapons openly.

  “Okay everyone not in my party head to the back corner. That includes the twins, Seth and Josh. Teachers please secure the students, let us handle this. Ciela it is your choice, fight or go to the teachers?” Auna gave the youngest one a choice in battles like these.

  “I’ll fight.” The little farmer got herself ready.

  “A, Jade you are a student as well, fall behind.” A teacher tried to tell them. Though the teachers still followed orders and made no more of a move to keep the children from fighting.

  “A cocky child for sure.” The first masked person rushed the children, Jensen easily throwing them with his shield.

  Next all four came running at the two front runners. Jensen and Auna kept them occupied while more masked people came rushing in. The late commers were met by Chloes’ mad thirst for blood, the teachers, and the triplets. Ciela and Meredith kept their support magic aiding the teachers in protecting the other children. They also used ranged attacks. Meredith summoned her tamed monsters that had been left in the room, and the monster barn. She had learnt this trick in her classes, now she could treat her tamed monsters as summons. She was still not great in the ability to purely summon monsters yet though.

  The event hall became very crowded, with no one really being able to evacuate. The masked people rushing in were followed by the guards, and patrol officers of the school. A few other teachers not apart of the celebration also came to help. The mask people were now trapped.

  “Ha! You trapped yourselves!” Diego the ever-cocky guy sang as he killed a masked person.

  “I think it is time to retreat boss!” Another masked person yelled.

  “I’m trying!” The original masked leader shouted.

  “My moon, are you blocking any space magic?” Jensen asked as they stood back-to-back. There were easily over fifty masked people in the event room. The huddled students, and teachers in one area were fending off a group with the aid of Aunas’ party.

  “Yup. They keep trying to teleport, either out or to bring more in.” Auna shrugged. Her Space magic was still in the beginner class Sage Survivalist, she had worked it into the highest level for beginner – Advanced Space magic. When her job grew it would be knocked back to basic.

  “What?” One masked person stopped moving, having a rapier plunged deeply into their chest. It was not surprising they had such a reaction. Usually at a beginner job, advanced space magic could let you feel when others activated their own space magic. However, usually it took a job level of thirty-seven(common) with advance space magic, or higher (Expert) with intermediate space magic. It was unheard of to be able to disrupt someones’ space magic when such low leveled, or appearing low leveled.

  “What, teleport magic is my thing.” Auna shrugged slashing the chest of another. She was not lying though; her moon doors gave her a unique insight into teleportation magic. This insight allowed her to disrupt other teleportation magic near her. Though that was about it, any other space magic was not disreputable for her. It also costs an outrageous amount of magic to disrupt teleportation. With the four hundred eighty points into her mana her mana reserves were more than enough.

  Auna and her friends had been a bit upset when they got the same reward twice from their dungeon clearing. They all had over four hundred status points in mana. With fifteen units of mana per status point Auna had over seven thousand mana units in her reserve. She was not at risk of running out, especially since her intelligence was at sixty-five. That meant she would regenerate one hundredth per status point in intelligence. She would regenerate three hundred ninety per minute. More than enough given her big pool of mana.

  “This is fucking ridiculous, sir we need to give up this job!” A masked person screamed as they punched a hole into the outer wall.

  “I agree, retreat.” At the words of the original leader the ten or so masked people left through the hole. The school guards followed them while the patrol people came to check on the children.

  “It doesn’t appear like anyone is hurt.” The teachers led everyone but the nine left. Edgar was apart of their dorms now, so he would be escorted as well.

  “It appears none of you children are overly injured either. We shall escort you to your dorms. There are no more intruders on campus.” A kind looking guard helped the children pack themselves up, ready to leave the event room. The room was in shambles now, many had screamed in fear and soiled themselves. It couldn’t be helped most had only been in mock battles, or low leveled monsters in dungeons. They were not ready to really face their deaths.

  “We are alright, how is everyone else?” Auna asked as they walked to their dorms.

  “The intruders managed to do some damage. Not more than we could handle though. They seemed to invade the main campus only. They did not try to get into the dorms this time though, so that is a good thing.” The man forced a smile.

  The last time intruders came to kill her, they had to sleep in a different dorm room for a few weeks. Their room had been covered in poison magic, which had been contained, taking time to disperse. “I suppose so. I am sorry though.” Auna said after a pause.

  “There is no reason to blame you. You have not done anything to warrant such aggression and assignation attempts. Please do not feel responsible for others attempts at your life. We will handle the fools.” He gritted his teeth before patting her head softly. “You children are very vicious.” He grinned with a smirk.

  “We need to be, to survive.” Auna was serious, she was only met with an odd grunt.

  They were tucked in bed after some showers. The boys had slipped into their room. After an attack they usually did. Auna slept with Ciela. Meredith and Chloe slept together. The triplets slept in the third bed, and Edgar slept beside Jensen in the final bed. Auna would sleep in her own bed, while Chloe climbed into Merediths’. Jensen took Cielas’, and the triplets would take Chloes’. Although there were guards at the dorms, they never opened the doors anymore.

  The attacks were becoming way too frequent, even the king himself had suffered a few attempts on his life. The king laughed them off to the public but the few times he and Auna had met he seemed worried. The king had started to visit nearly every two weeks. In these meeting they spoke about hypothetical issues, and plans. Auna had an inkling they were tests of some kind.