“Have you ever gotten lost in the dungeons, Crispin?” Kalin asked, wide-eyed. Bubbling magma surrounded them from all angles, seeming to rise slowly towards the pair’s hooves with every passing moment.

“Many times,” the old Courser replied. “More times than I can count.”

“Are we lost now?” Kalin backed up further from the edge as a magma bubble burst, sending specks of molten rock flying several feet through the air.

“Yes.”

Kalin’s gaze shot up to the big grey Courser. To know that Crispin, of all Coursers, was lost… it was almost unthinkable. He was the first, the best; how was it possible that he didn’t know his way? Her thoughts spiralled quickly, and her breaths came quicker and quicker.

“Easy, young one,” Crispin rumbled. “There is no need to be so afraid. Come, let us find the exit.” Nudging her gently with his muzzle, he led the way across a narrow strip of igneous and hopped a small pool of magma.

Kalin nearly stumbled over her own feet as she followed, regaining her balance clumsily and trotting after her guide. She kept her eyes squarely on the path in front of her, Crispin’s heels flashing in the top of her tear-blurred vision. How could her family have been so cruel as to send her down to the second level of the dungeon before she’d even conquered the first? She still had so much to learn – she’d barely finished her training on cavern plant identification, let alone those in the Furnace! She’d only barely touched on the mastery of her daggers and hadn’t even begun training with swords! Bile rose in her throat, acrid and uncomfortable.

“You know more than you think, young one,” Crispin’s voice came again, and she realized she’d been babbling out loud. “Rest assured, I have seen far less prepared Coursers than you take to the lower levels of the dungeons. Their foolishness, their arrogance- those are what led them to their demise. Your caution is admirable, if stifling.”

Kalin looked up and found the old adventurer’s gentle gaze on her. “How did you know when you were ready?”

"It will come with time. Sometimes, you will only realise afterwards that you handled something well." Crispin's tail flicked gently over her side. "For you, young one, that day may come later than others, but as with everything, practice will help."

Kalin nodded wordlessly. The constant thoughts swirling in her head were rarely kind. There was a bigger chance they'd tell her, no matter what she did, that she'd made the wrong choice.

"We're here."

A tall, thin crevice in the wall loomed above them, and Kalin looked dubiously at it. It barely looked wide or tall enough for her, and Crispin was nearly double her size.

"It widens. Come, now." The big grey Courser squeezed through the crack, crouching to make his hindquarters fit.

Kalin followed.