Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The New Dungeon Manager.
For three wonderful, blissful days, my dungeon was quiet and peaceful.
After the chaos of the opening ceremony, the entire team took a much-needed vacation.
The "Closed for the Private Event" sign remained on the opening of my dungeon, and the only sounds in the dungeon were the gentle trickle of the fountain and the soft, happy snores of my residents.
I spent most of the time doing what I do best: napping. I sank back into a deep, quiet state of core-sleep, and I could feel my Dungeon Points slowly trickling back in, a warm feeling that was almost as satisfying as the silence itself. It wasn’t coming from outside. It was coming from inside—from the quiet happiness of Gilda sharpening her axe, from Pip and Clank’s friendship, from Zazu’s peaceful snores. The contentment of my little family was literally recharging my batteries.
But the peace was a fragile one. Lord Vorlag’s public threat hung in the air like a storm cloud on the horizon. We all knew he was coming for us in the main tournament.
On the morning of the third day, a new energy began to fill the dungeon. The air itself seemed to hum with a quiet focus. The main tournament was about to begin, and it was time to get back to work.
I sent out a mental summons, and my team gathered in the main lobby. They looked completely transformed. Their exhaustion was gone, replaced by a quiet, focused determination. Gilda’s armor was polished like a mirror, Pip looked confident, and even Zazu seemed... well, he still looked sleepy, but it was a calm, ready kind of sleepy.
This was the moment FaeLina had been waiting for.
’Alright, everyone, listen up!’ her psychic voice, full of a new, terrifying level of managerial authority, buzzed in my mind. ’The celebration is over! Lord Vorlag has publicly declared war, and the main tournament starts tomorrow! We need a strategy, and we need it now! Tell them to assemble by the chalkboard!’
I sighed. My post-victory nap had been far too short. A familiar thrum of annoyance pulsed through my core at being disturbed so soon. Still, I relayed her message in my usual, calm, monotone voice.
’Our... operations manager... has requested a strategy meeting,’ I projected, trying to find the right words for her. ’Please assemble by the chalkboard.’
The team exchanged confused looks.
"Operations manager?" Gilda asked, her brow furrowed. "Core, what are you talking about? You’re the one in charge here. Do we have a new dungeon manager we don’t know about?"
Pip looked nervous. "Is it the Duke? Did he send someone to oversee us?"
’No, no, no!’ FaeLina fretted in my mind. ’Just tell them it’s the... uh... senior strategic advisor! Yes, that sounds more official!’
I ignored her. ’The operations manager is a... consultant,’ I projected, which was technically true. ’She has some ideas for the upcoming tournament.’
The team, now even more confused but trusting me, gathered by the chalkboard. FaeLina, still invisible, began to lay out her plan by telling me what to say. but, the process was... inefficient.
’Okay, first point: our branding!’ she buzzed. ’Our victory has made us famous for being clever, but also for being weak! We need to project an image of ’unassuming but dangerous’! Tell them I’ve designed a new team uniform! It’s a lovely shade of lavender, but with reinforced shoulder pads!’
’The consultant has designed a new team uniform,’ I projected. ’It is lavender. With shoulder pads.’
Gilda just grunted, with a clear "absolutely not."
’Okay, fine, we’ll stop the discussions about the uniforms for now!’ FaeLina huffed. ’Next point: our strategy for the qualifying rounds! We’ll be up against dozens of other dungeons. I’ve analyzed their stats. The ’Gloomfang Caverns’ have a high poison resistance but a low tolerance for cheerful music. The ’Iron Citadel’ is immune to physical attacks but is emotionally vulnerable. My plan is to create a series of custom-tailored psychological attacks for each opponent! Tell them that!’
’The consultant suggests a series of psychological attacks,’ I relayed. ’Based on her analysis of our opponents.’
Pip looked nervous. "Psychological attacks? That sounds... mean."
This was going nowhere. FaeLina was trying to conduct a fast-paced, high-energy strategy session, but my calm, slow delivery was turning it into the most boring meeting in the history of the world. I could feel her psychic frustration building with every word I relayed.
’This is impossible!’ she finally shrieked in my mind. ’This is like trying to direct a battle through a sleepy, monotone translator! I need to talk to them directly! But...’
I could feel her hesitation. To reveal herself was to give up her safe, invisible position. It was to step out from behind me and become a real, visible part of this weird little family. It was a big step.
She looked at the team. Gilda, the strong protector. Zazu, the wise heart. Pip, the brave-but-nervous soul. Kaelen, the silent, steady guardian. This was her team. Our team. And they needed a leader.
She took a deep, psychic breath.
’Ok, tell them... tell them not to be alarmed,’ she whispered in my mind.
’The consultant would like you all to know,’ I projected, ’that you should not be alarmed.’
And then, with a brilliant shimmer of pink, sparkling light, she appeared in the middle of them all.
She was floating in the air, holding her tiny clipboard, her face was a mask of pure, nervous determination.
The reaction was immediate. Gilda instinctively took a half-step forward, her hand moving towards her axe. Pip let out a small yelp and hid behind Clank again. Zazu just blinked slowly, a calm, knowing smile on his face. Kaelen’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second, her analytical gaze taking in the tiny, magical creature.
"Greetings," FaeLina said, her voice small but clear, trying her best to sound like a proper manager. "I am FaeLina. The... uh... Chief Operations Officer of this establishment. And from now on, I will be conducting these strategy meetings in person."
She zipped over to the chalkboard, grabbed a piece of chalk from the ledge with a determined flick of her wrist, and turned to face them. Her initial nervousness was gone, replaced by the fiery energy of a true commander. "Alright, team," she declared, her voice now twice as loud. "Let’s talk about how we’re going to win this thing."
The team stared at their new, tiny, sparkling boss. A new Chapter in the history of The Comfy Corner had just begun.
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Author’s Note:
After a well-deserved vacation, the team is back and getting down to business! And what a business meeting it was.
FaeLina has finally revealed herself! I’m so proud of her. It’s a huge step for her character, moving from a hidden guide to a true, visible leader (even if her first idea was lavender uniforms).
The team has a new, tiny, sparkling manager now. How will they react to taking orders from a very loud fairy? This is going to be a fun new dynamic to explore as we head into the main tournament! Thanks for reading!