After a few moments the guild master coughs slightly then shifts to a more serious demeanor for the next leg of the chat. The energy shift from the more lighthearted if pressing questioning to the more official duties he seemed to have come here to carry out. The change is minute but noticeable to everyone present, as the adventurers and my elemental seem to straighten up a bit. Hell I bet if I still had a back to straighten I would to, instead my attention sharpens on him.

  “Firstly we are going to be expending energy to get you classified as a legacy dungeon under the current agreement between the Church of the Fractured Pantheon, and the Adventurer’s guild,” he pulls out a book that seems well used but also rarely smiled upon as he speaks. “Now we intend to classify you as older then the agreement and reawakening, the fact you are a spirit-earth-graveyard dungeon does lend to that. All three of those types of dungeons tend to be of the older and slower side, prone to hibernation.”

  That makes sense to me, even among the dead spirits tend to be less then active even in old stories I remember. And the earth isn’t much in a hurry, taking its sweet time in everything, though my elemental and constructs seem rather active. Something to look further into when this conversation is over and I can breath. But the question is, considering that this man and the team he brought with him seem to know I am not that old, is why are they doing this. But without the ability to really ask and this ‘Church’ breathing down my nonexistent neck, it’s probably for the best to leave it for now.

  “Now most dungeons like you would be sanctioned but under the legacy ruling if you are held in control by the adventurer’s guild and considered older then the agreement, you are considered ‘guild property,’” He holds up some air quotes as he says that, and even seems a little disgusted by the word choice. “Since dungeons are considered locations and estates and not living things, that’s the best deal the law will give you sadly.”

  The elemental tilts his head for me as we both consider what that would mean, and boy do I not like it that much. I can’t say no though is the issue, since I am not really in a position to fend off people even half as strong as Ava and her team, and this church seems dedicated to killing dungeons. So with that I have the elemental nod in our understanding of the general idea, though it is a jerky movement as he tries to fight with both the instinct to protect me and the instinct to obey. The guild master’s eyes squint ever so slightly at that but the man doesn’t press the issue much as he gives a smile at the acquiescence we gave to him.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “well then that makes this next part easier, we want to send people to raid you.”

  that sends the whole conversation to a stop.

  I could feel a pressure building behind my core as my instincts rebelled, and I could feel some of my [Aether] being pushed into the elemental. Trying to give him the strength to push back against this request, this foolhardy attempt to control and kill me. I could see Ava, that sly mage who would use me, and how she tensed in anticipation as power seemed to flare around them and into the elemental. It was almost too much to hold back myself and the elemental, but then there was a sudden clarity in my mind as everything pushed aside.

  ALERT

  A PATRON DEITY

  HAS TAKEN NOTICE

  OF YOU AND YOUR

  POWER

  HE OFFERS YOU A BOON

  Boon of The Scales

  [Divine]

  [Rank 1]

  A God of balance has taken note of you

  and has offered you the ability to

  take charge of the scales and see their balance.

  While you cannot effect them at this rank,

  you will be given minor protection from deals

  that tilt the scales far out of your favor.

  Accept?

  [YES] [NO]

  Something feels intensely odd as I look at this. It’s as if everything has stopped or slowed in the half second before I lost control, and I could see a golden scale set before me. There was no one watching them, no one making sure they are balanced, and yet. There are many, several who use them to balance in trade, in judgment, or just in understanding. Then a figure walks out from the scales and gives a sly smirk at me, like they where waiting for this moment.

  I couldn’t exactly say no to this now could I.

  Accept?

  >[YES]< [NO]

  Boon of the Scales acquired,

  The old gods have took notice.