When Marinus finally reached the end of the tunnel, he saw Alba glaring at a crystal.

“I will not fight a child, you wretch,” screamed the sea witch at the crystal. Marinus took out the four-leaf clover he had prepared as payment and held it in front of him as a shield.

“Lady Alba? It is I, Marinus. Do you remember me? I collected you some lobsters a year ago,” said Marinus as he neared the fuming stingray.

Alba had the shape of a stingray, but the body of a woman. She had jet black hair and blue eyes. Her body was white and so were her clothes. She had the changeling skill, albeit in part.

“Mari, dear, what are you doing here? How did you manage to reach the core tunnel?” Asked Alba, and Marinus pointed at his legs.

“I have the changeling skill, Lady Alba. I needed it to be able to be with my fiancé,” said Marinus, and Alba smiled knowingly at him.

“You found yourself a girl? My, but you are still a baby, Mari. Who is the lucky lady? When did you meet?” Asked Alba, flicking her tail at the crystal and ignoring its angry glowing.

“Her name is Theanore, and she is a nymph. We met six months ago. And she is also six months old. I am her first real friend!” Said Marinus proudly. Alba blinked at that.

“Cradle robber,” she said, voice full of disapproval. “How did you decide to make a newborn your fiancé? Don’t tell me you spirited the baby away from her family!”

Alba wasn't very knowledgeable about nymphs, and so she was not aware that Theanore had been born from a tree.

“She is also a dungeon core, Lady Alba. And I always wanted someone to be with me, always. She is safe at home. I wanted to ask you if you have a life-extending ring for sale? She came from an apple tree, and she will live only 150 years. I can’t outlive her. I will be alone once more!”

That terrified Marinus more than anything. He had grown used to having a family, and now with Esmer he even had something like a mother. He felt like a thief sometimes for sharing in Theanore’s parents without asking, but he couldn’t stop himself from doing so.

“Mari, you have always been a lonely child,” said Alba. She would have adopted the merman if it wasn’t for the fact that she was the protector of a dungeon core. “This thing you speak of is not loving. It is an obsession born of desperation.”

“I love Thea. When I go to sleep, I turn to her to see her falling asleep and when her breathing becomes even, then I fall asleep too. When we sit down to have a meal, I help her eat. When there is a door before us, I open it for her and hold it open until she passes through it. I do everything that a gentleman does for his lady love,” said Marinus, a little annoyed at having to explain himself.

“Be as it may, you have to give it all time to develop, Mari. Tell me, and be truthful, do you have to explain to her about love multiple times per day?” Asked Alba, and Marinus looked down. He mumbled a yes and Alba chuckled.

“You can’t expect a baby to love you romantically, Mari. If she is anything like the water nymphs, I know, then she is a cherub now and will grow into a beauty. But her looks can’t be everything. Tell me, what is she like?” Asked Alba.

This crush Marinus had on the nymph was adorable, but the sea witch had heard more than one tale of such things going awry when nature spirits were involved.

“She is kind and gentle and attentive to everyone in her dungeon. During the dungeon’s worker syndicate meetings, she even represents the plants. I know that in time she will understand what love is and will love me back,” said Marinus. He couldn’t wait for Thea to grow up, so they could be together.

“Are you sure she is a dungeon core?” Asked Alba with a raised eyebrow.

“She started off as a mob, but Tania, her system, spirited her away just as she was about to be created. Her mother is Esmer von Kleindorf. The core of the dungeon of illusions.”

Alba paused at this to think. Esmer was the second, or perhaps even the strongest, dungeon core around. She could offer much to Alba. And it was not like Marinus was coming empty-handed. She could feel the magic coming out of the four-leaf clover.

“You need two rings? One for you and another one for her? I have only the strongest two rings left. They extend the life by one million years,” said Alba, and she pointed at a jewelry box with two rings on a cushion. “But a single clover is not enough for such a gift.”

“And what is?” He asked and Alba pointed at the core that was still glowing black and red.

“This thing has kept me as a prisoner, in its death trap, for centuries. It gave me the life-extending ring and took my freedom away. I can only leave here for a month every year. Smash it and free me. Then the rings are yours,” said Alba, and Marinus looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.

“Why don’t you smash it? There are no more protections around the core that I can see.”

“Whoever smashes it becomes the new dungeon core of this dungeon. I have no desire to connect myself to a place that can be raided by adventurers,” well, neither did Marinus!

He stared at the core and felt something like fear coming out of it. There had to be a way to free Alba without him himself becoming trapped.

He went to the dungeon core and tapped it. It glowed red and Marinus blinked. He was in a valley of some sort. Trees heavy with fruit spanned all around, and red and black birds flew in the sky. The grass was verdant green and covered with dew. Even the air smelt of everything Marinus liked. The sea and flowers and herbs that are found in Theanore’s garden.

Someone sniffled and Marinus saw a small boy, no older than Theanore in appearance, hugging his knees.

“Are you here to hurt me?” Said the boy, and then he gave out a pained wail.

“I am here to free you,” said Marinus, pity wailing up in his chest.