Victor’s dungeon rolled to a halt in a small clearing, its brass walls gleaming in the afternoon sun. Victor’s core pulsed with a mix of relief and unease. The encounter with Aelin and Borin had left him shaken, and he wasn’t sure what to expect next.

  He had spent the last few days upgrading his defenses, adding Piston-Jump Traps and reinforcing the walls with salvaged metal. The Ticktocks patrolled the perimeter, their movements smooth and efficient. But despite his preparations, Victor couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched.

  The first sign of trouble came in the form of a faint clicking sound, like the turning of a dozen tiny gears. Victor’s core flared with alarm as a small figure emerged from the underbrush.

  It was a gnome, no taller than three feet, with wild auburn hair and goggles perched on her forehead. She wore a patchwork coat covered in pockets, each one bulging with tools and trinkets. In her hands, she held a strange device—a cross between a telescope and a clock, its lenses whirring as she peered through it.

  “Fascinating,” the gnome murmured, her voice high-pitched and excited. “Absolutely fascinating.”

  Victor watched her through the exterior cameras, his core pulsing with curiosity. She didn’t seem hostile, but he wasn’t taking any chances. With a mental command, he activated the Spark Trap, sending a harmless arc of electricity across the entrance.

  The gnome jumped back, her goggles slipping down over her eyes. “Whoa! Easy there, big guy. I come in peace!”

  Victor hesitated. Her voice was earnest, and she didn’t seem armed. Still, he kept the Ticktocks on standby, their wind-up needles at the ready.

  “My name’s Pip,” the gnome said, holding up her hands. “I’m a tinkerer, an inventor, a lover of all things mechanical. And you, my friend, are a marvel.”

  Victor’s core pulsed with surprise. No one had ever called him a marvel before.

  Pip approached cautiously, her eyes wide with wonder. “I’ve never seen anything like you,” she said, her voice filled with awe. “A mobile dungeon? With steam-powered defenses? It’s genius!”

  Victor remained silent, unsure how to respond. Pip didn’t seem to mind. She reached into one of her many pockets and pulled out a Dwarven Pressure Gauge, its brass casing gleaming in the sunlight.

  “Here,” she said, placing it on the ground. “A gift. Consider it a token of goodwill.”

  Victor’s Ticktocks scurried forward, their tiny hands clutching the gauge. The hologram flashed:

  Item Acquired: Dwarven Pressure Gauge.

  New Blueprint Unlocked: Steam Cannon Trap.

  Pip watched with fascination as the Ticktocks carried the gauge inside. “Incredible,” she murmured. “Absolutely incredible.”

  Over the next few hours, Pip returned with more offerings: a Fairy Lantern that glowed with soft, blue light, a bundle of Copper Filaments, and even a small Clockwork Bird that chirped when wound up. Each gift unlocked new blueprints and upgrades, and Victor found himself growing fond of the eccentric gnome.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Victor’s peace was shattered by the sound of familiar voices.

  “I’m telling you, Aelin, this is a bad idea,” Borin grumbled, his voice carrying through the trees.

  “We don’t have a choice,” Aelin replied, her tone sharp. “We need those crystals.”

  Victor’s core flared with alarm. He activated the Smoke Vent, filling the clearing with thick, acrid smoke. The Ticktocks took up defensive positions, their needles gleaming in the dim light.

  Pip, however, didn’t seem concerned. “Relax,” she said, her voice calm. “I’ll handle this.”

  Before Victor could stop her, Pip stepped out of the dungeon, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. “Aelin! Borin! Over here!”

  The delvers emerged from the smoke, their weapons drawn. Aelin’s bow was aimed at Pip, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Pip? What are you doing here?”

  “I could ask you the same question,” Pip replied, her voice cheerful. “But I think we can all agree that fighting isn’t the answer.”

  Borin lowered his hammer, his expression wary. “What’s going on, Pip? And what’s with the metal shed?”

  Pip grinned. “This, my friends, is no metal shed, it's a dungeon and no ordinary dungeon either. It’s sentient. And it’s magnificent.”

  Victor watched through hidden cameras as Pip explained the situation. She spoke with passion and conviction, her words painting a picture of a world where dungeons and delvers could coexist.

  “Think about it,” she said, her eyes shining with excitement. “This dungeon isn’t like the others. It’s not mindless. It’s not cruel. It’s just trying to survive, like the rest of us.”

  Aelin lowered her bow, her expression thoughtful. “You’re saying it’s… intelligent?”

  “More than intelligent,” Pip replied. “It’s brilliant. And it’s willing to work with us, if we’re willing to work with it.”

  Borin crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. “And what’s in it for us?”

  Pip reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, glowing crystal. “This,” she said, holding it up. “Aether Crystals. The dungeon can produce them, and it’s willing to share—if we help it grow.”

  Victor’s core pulsed with surprise. He hadn’t realized Pip had been collecting Aether Crystals during her visits. But her plan was sound, and he found himself agreeing with it.

  Aelin and Borin exchanged a glance, their expressions unreadable. Finally, Aelin nodded. “Alright,” she said. “We’ll give it a chance. But if it turns on us…”

  “It won’t,” Pip said, her voice firm. “Trust me.”

  Over the next few days, an uneasy alliance formed between Victor and the delvers. Aelin and Borin helped defend the dungeon from wild monsters, while Pip worked tirelessly to upgrade its defenses. Victor, in turn, provided them with Aether Crystals and rare materials.

  It wasn’t perfect—Borin still grumbled about “trusting a pile of gears,” and Aelin kept her bow at the ready—but it was a start. For the first time since his rebirth, Victor felt a flicker of hope.

  As the sun set over the Wildwood, Victor’s dungeon rolled forward, its brass walls gleaming in the fading light. The Ticktocks patrolled the perimeter, their movements smooth and efficient. Pip rode on the roof, her goggles reflecting the orange glow of the sunset.

  “You know,” she said, her voice soft, “I think we’re onto something big here.”

  Victor’s core pulsed with agreement. For the first time, he felt like he wasn’t alone.