Dungeon Champions

The deck of the ship was relatively calm. Night had fallen, and the moon was rising over the bay. Dimly lit lanterns hung from the masts, casting a warm and gentle glow over the ship. Crew members rushed back and forth in near silence, letting the creaking of the boat and the lapping of the water seem almost thunderous by comparison.

Above, a blanket of stars glittered, a thousand tiny diamonds scattered across the inky blackness. There were brighter glowing bits that both my Earth and Fae Wilds memories told me were planets, but neither could agree on which I was looking at.

I took a deep breath of the salty sea air, trying to clear my head. The cool night breeze helped calm my racing thoughts and cool my heated skin. I couldn’t believe how deeply Nym’s affection had affected me. The catgirl was intoxicating—everything about her was filled with so much love and care.

Making my way across the deck, I spotted Captain Drake at the helm. He was barking orders at a young sailor who scurried off as I approached.

“Captain,” I said, greeting him with a nod of my head. “I wanted to check in about our watch schedule for the night.”

Drake grunted, eyeing me suspiciously. “Thought you lot were supposed to be protecting my cargo. Shouldn’t you already have a plan?”

I nodded, unfazed by his gruff demeanor. Something about him tugged at my Earth memories, reminding me of a middle manager I once knew. “We do, but I wanted to coordinate with you to ensure we’re not duplicating efforts or getting in your crew’s way,” I said, lying smoothly.

The captain’s expression softened slightly. “Hm. At least you’ve got some sense. Alright, let’s hear it.”

I outlined an improvised watch schedule that allowed two of us on duty at all times throughout the night. Drake listened, occasionally nodding or grunting in approval.

“Sounds reasonable,” he said when I finished. “Just make sure your people stay out of my crew’s way. And keep that nervous catgirl of yours from causing any trouble.”

“We will,” I assured him. “And I wouldn’t worry about Nym; she’s calmed down already.”

Drake nodded, and then something crossed his face. “Just don’t screw this up, okay? I… This is my last shot.” He said it with confidence, but I could tell it was false bravado instead of arrogance. “Without Giles’s contract, we’ll have to sell the ship. And then what? I’ve got a crew to look after.”

I was taken aback by the captain’s sudden vulnerability. It seemed there was more at stake here than just a simple cargo run. “I understand, Captain. We’ll do everything in our power to make sure this shipment gets to Lans safely.”

Drake grunted, his gruff exterior returning. “See that you do. Now, if there’s nothing else, I’ve got a ship to run.”

I nodded and turned to leave, but paused. “Captain, have you noticed anything…unusual during your recent voyages? Any strange lights or occurrences?”

The captain’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you ask?”

“Just something Giles mentioned,” I said casually.

Drake was quiet for a moment, then sighed. “Nothing I’ve seen. There have been…things. Whispers from the crew about lights dancing on the water. Strange noises in the night. But nothing concrete, mind you. I wouldn’t worry about it, if I were you.”

“Thank you, Captain,” I said. “We’ll keep our eyes open.”

When I entered our cramped quarters, I found the atmosphere had shifted. The earlier tension was gone, replaced by a sense of camaraderie. Zuri was reading over her notebook while Merielle and Britney were engaged in what looked like an intense game of cards. Nym was curled up on her bunk, Sadie nestled in her arms, looking much more relaxed than before.

“How’d it go with the captain?” Zuri asked as I closed the door behind me.

I relayed my conversation with Drake, including the watch schedule I’d improvised. “So we’ll need two people on watch at all times through the night,” I concluded.

Merielle looked up from her cards. “I’ll take the first watch with you, Jordan. I’m not tired yet anyway.”

I considered the elf, realizing that we hadn’t spent any real time together since the dungeon. The strategist in me saw the flaws in having both close-range fighters off rotation, but the tactician realized the value in quality time with each member of the team.

Giving her an approving look, I said, “Thanks, Merielle. Zuri and Britney, you two can take the middle watch. Nym and I will handle the last shift before dawn.”

Nym perked up at this, her ears twitching. “You’ll be with me for the watch?”

“Of course,” I said, smiling at her. “I promised I’d be there for you, remember?”

Nym’s answering smile was radiant, and I felt that familiar warmth spreading through my chest again.

“Now,” I said, “the captain mentioned some strange occurrences, just like Giles mentioned.”

“Any idea what it could be?” Merielle asked.

“Without seeing directly, no.”

“I bet it is sirens,” Skullie said with a grumpy grating of his teeth.

I raised an eyebrow in his direction. “Are sirens normally an issue in the bay?”

“Unknown. But if there are lights on the water and people swearing they hear things…sirens.”

Merielle looked from me to the lich. When I didn’t break in to elaborate, she gestured for my familiar to go on. “And? What does a siren look like? What can they do?”

“Well, I’m told they are disgusting, treacherous creatures. During my life, I heard plenty of stories of them luring sailors to their doom with enchanting songs and illusory beauty. But their true forms are monstrous—scales, claws, razor-sharp teeth. They drag their victims beneath the waves to feast.”

He wiggled his jaws from side to side. When no one said anything, he cracked his jaws and exclaimed, “What? No one is going to comment on that rhyme? Teeth and feast! That was practically poetry!”

Ignoring his antics, Nym shuddered, clutching Sadie tighter. “That sounds terrifying.”

Skullie’s description was enough for me to check on both my inherited memories and the data on my Tablet. Both confirmed what he’d said. “If it is sirens, we’ll need to be extra vigilant. Their songs can supposedly enthrall even the most strong-willed individuals. Remember, we’re here to protect the cargo and investigate these strange occurrences. Stay alert, and if you see or hear anything unusual, report it immediately. Don’t try to handle it alone.”

The others nodded in agreement.

“All right,” I said, “Merielle and I will head up for the first watch. The rest of you try to get some sleep. We’ve got a long night ahead of us.”

Merielle and I headed upstairs. Most of the crew had retired below, leaving only a skeleton crew manning the ship. We found a spot near the bow where we could keep an eye on both the sea ahead and the deck behind us.

“So,” Merielle said after we’d settled in, leaning against the railing, “you and Zuri seemed to have quite the evening last night.”

“Ah, yes. It was…nice.”

Merielle chuckled. “No need to be coy. We’re all adults here.” She paused, then added more softly, “I’m sure she told you that we’ve all had discussions about the possibilities of…sharing.”

I turned to look at her, surprised by her directness. “And your thoughts?”

Merielle’s eyes sparkled in the moonlight as she turned to face me. “My thoughts?” She chuckled softly. “I think it’s an intriguing idea. We’ve all been through so much together already. And you...” She trailed off, her gaze roaming over me appreciatively. Her eyes lingered on my shoulders, my chest, and then darted away. “You’re unlike any man I’ve ever met, Jordan.”

“Thank you. I think you’re pretty incredible yourself.”

She smiled, a hint of shyness creeping into her expression. “So, hypothetically speaking, if we were to…pursue this arrangement. How would you see it working?”

Fortunately, I was ready for this question. “My world didn’t normalize harems the way they do here, but my take on it is…fundamentally, it’s about trusting relationships. I see forming a harem as a group of people, whatever their gender or species, agreeing to invest in each other.”

“Invest?” she said, arching a brow. “You make it sound scholarly.”

I held up a hand. “By invest, I mean invest emotionally. Forming deeper bonds. Both Skullie and Zuri helped me see that harems are as much about romance and emotional intimacy as the sex aspect, which is what I expected it to be at first.”

“Ah. And that sex aspect was…”

“Remember when we met? How I told you I didn’t want my Tablet to be a coercive factor in working with me?”

“I do.”

“Sex is nice. Don’t get me wrong. I want it. A lot. This body of mine is capable of some amazing things. Of wanting like I can’t remember ever experiencing.”

She blushed at that, looking me over and biting her bottom lip.

“But what’s most important is any choice we make is for the right reasons. We need to approach it as equals. You’re all skilled adventurers in your own right, not just…companions to be left behind. It would be about supporting each other, sharing our strengths, and growing together.”

Merielle blush faded as she took in what I had to say. “That sounds…nice, actually. Better than what I’d imagined being in a harem with a man might be like.”

“What did you imagine?”

She looked away. “Oh, you know. The typical. What you said you thought, too.” She didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t need her to.

“I won’t lie and say I’m not attracted to you.” It was the truth, and one Zuri had recommended I give them. Sensing the truth in the gorgon’s words, I spoke from a place of pure earnestness. “I won’t say that I don’t want more. But that’s natural. What’s important is that desire doesn’t cloud anyone’s vision about making this into a true partnership. I may be the team leader, but the keyword is team, not leader. We all give, and we all take.”

Merielle smiled, reaching out to touch my arm gently. “I like the sound of that.”

We fell into a comfortable silence for a while, scanning the horizon and the deck. The moon cast a silvery path across the water, and the gentle lapping of waves against the hull was almost hypnotic.

“Jordan,” Merielle said softly after some time had passed, “Did you see that?”

I looked up, blinking. Had I seen something? Where had my mind been? How much time had passed?

Pushing away from the railing, I scanned the horizon intently. “Where? What did you see?”

Merielle pointed off the port side. “There, just at the edge of the moonlight’s reflection. I thought I saw…a flicker of something.”

I squinted, trying to pierce the darkness beyond the moon’s silvery path on the water. For a long moment, I saw nothing. Then, just as I was about to give up, I caught a glimpse of it—a faint, blue-green light dancing just beneath the surface.

“I see it,” I murmured, my hand instinctively moving to summon my sword. “It matches the description of what others have reported.”

The light flickered again, this time joined by another. They danced and swirled beneath the waves, mesmerizing in their fluid movements.

“Should I let the others know?” Merielle asked, her voice hushed.

“Yes.” I didn’t take my eyes off the lights. “But quietly. We don’t want to cause a panic among the crew if it turns out to be nothing.”

Merielle turned to go below deck, but I gestured for her to wait. There was…something. I heard it—a faint, haunting melody carried on the night breeze. It was beautiful, unlike anything I’d ever heard before.

Part of me wanted to lean over the railing, to get closer to the source of that enchanting sound.

I gripped the wood tightly, fighting against the allure of the haunting melody. “Merielle,” I called out, my voice strained. “Do you hear that?”

She paused, tilting her head. Her eyes widened. “I…yes. It’s beautiful.” She took a step toward the railing, as if in a trance.

“No!” I grabbed her arm, pulling her back. “Don’t listen to it. Remember what Skullie said about sirens? This has to be their song.”

Merielle blinked, shaking her head as if to clear it. “You’re right. I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s okay. But we need to warn the others quickly. This could get dangerous fast.”

As if on cue, a shout came from the other side of the ship. “Lights in the water! Starboard side!”

I cursed under my breath. “Go wake the others. I’ll keep things under control up here.”

Merielle nodded and hurried below deck. I made my way towards the shouting sailor, my sword in hand. More crew members were emerging on deck, drawn by the commotion.

“Everyone, stay back from the railings!” I called out. “And try to block your ears if you can!”

But it was too late for some. A few sailors were already leaning dangerously far over the side, their eyes glazed over. I rushed to the nearest sailor, grabbing him by the back of his shirt and yanking him away from the railing. He struggled against me, reaching out towards the water.

“Let me go!” he cried. “Can’t you hear them? They’re calling to me!”

“Snap out of it!” I shouted, shaking him roughly. “It’s not real!”

More lights appeared in the water, swirling patterns of blue and green that danced hypnotically beneath the waves. The haunting melody grew louder, more insistent. I could feel its pull even as I fought against it.

Captain Drake emerged from his cabin, his face a mask of confusion and anger. “What’s going on out here?”

“Sirens, Captain!” I called out. “We need to get everyone below deck now!”

Drake’s eyes widened in recognition. He began barking orders, his voice cutting through the ethereal song. “All hands below! Move it! Plug your ears and get below!”

As the crew scrambled to obey, I saw movement in the water. Sleek, shadowy forms were gliding just beneath the surface, circling the ship like sharks. One broke the surface briefly, and I caught a glimpse of glistening scales and razor-sharp teeth.

Merielle burst back onto the deck, followed closely by Zuri, Britney, and Nym. They all looked disoriented, fighting against the siren song. I quickly assessed the situation as my team emerged on deck. Nym’s eyes were wide with fear, her ears flattened against her head. Zuri looked resolute but dazed, while Britney seemed to be struggling to resist the siren song’s pull.

“Cover your ears!” I shouted. “Zuri, do you have any beeswax and cloth to block out the sound?”

Zuri nodded, already reaching into her pouch. “On it!”

I turned to Merielle. “Help me get the rest of the crew below deck. Britney, if you see anyone going toward the sides of the boat, grab them. Slap them! Do whatever you can to break the hold.”

Britney’s eyes gleamed golden with celestial mana as she shoved the wax wad into her ears. “I’ll try!”

We blocked up our ears and got to work. Even muted, the siren’s song was tempting. And the sirens themselves grew bolder. More shadowy forms circled beneath the waves, and occasionally, one would leap from the water, revealing glimpses of their monstrous forms.

Suddenly, an enormous tentacle shot out of the water, wrapping around the ship.

Creeeeeeeak.

The ship strained under the pressure.

A dozen tiny bells started to ring, muted to a tinny sound beyond the wax and cloth in my ears.

“What the hell?!” I shouted. “Skullie didn’t mention tentacles!”