Sapling Amongst the Cloud: Prologue [Dungeon Core SI] [Patron Reward Funded]

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Have you ever just laid down on a field of grass and looked up at the sky, watching the clouds pass by without a care in the world? There was just something about the way those giant balls of fluff lazily float by the sparks of imagination; How soft and fluffy were they? They would make quite the cozy bed if I could just gather enough of them.

I knew they were mostly made of ice and water vapors, with a few bits of dust, debris and even bacteria as nucleation sites, but was it wrong to wonder, to make believe and dream just to give life a bit more luster. What was life without dreams but simple survival? Is such an existence even worth living? I refuse a life without whimsy!

"One of these days, I'm going to find a way to sleep atop a cloud," I told myself, dreaming of that day while I lay there in my grassy perch, sheltered by the shade of the sapling which I found myself under. It's not like I can do much given my rather strange condition. Could I even do anything now that I was a simple crystal ball?

Focusing on the dew hanging under one of the leaves of my beloved shade, I found myself staring back at a crystalline ball which glowed with an inner light. Gone was the man, made of flesh, blood and bones, in its place was that of minerals… probably? I wasn't quite sure what I was actually.

Despite these drastic changes, I'm still me, "But am I?" I wondered. I had my memories, my emotions, my feelings still inside me. I'm still the neurotic, nervous wreck that I am so does that matter? Besides, it's not everyday I can say that rocks can have anxiety as well. Feeling the existential dread creeping just around the corner, I shifted my focus.

"Ok… let's backtrack a bit," I told myself as I gathered my thoughts. Screaming wasn't going to do me any favor, I needed to take stock of my situation. Looking around the grassy meadow, I asked myself, "Now, where exactly am I?" I was certainly not in my house right now, that's for sure.

I found the world spinning as I looked around. It wasn't everyday that I got to see everything. Up, down, left and right, I can see just about everywhere around me. A full three hundred sixty percent vision though parts of it was obstructed by where I sat. "At least I'm not as blind as a bat without my glasses anymore?" I told myself as I focused on my surroundings.

Based on my rough estimate, assuming my current body was the size of a human head, it was probably thirty six square meters or around three hundred eight sevenish square meters of dirt, grass and rock which stretched out from where I sat before roughly terminating to the open air.
There was no sound of water lapping by the beach nor sound to which it would crash against the shore. All I could feel and hear was the disconcerting howling winds as I felt the ground shift ever so slightly. Feeling the ground beneath shift ever so slightly as a strong breeze washed over me sent shivers down my non-existent spine. Was I atop a mountain? Perhaps some peak poking up the very sky? Surely I can't be on some floating island, right?
I thought as such until I noticed a dark shape casting its shadow upon my perch. As the clouds parted, I found myself gawking as the jagged bottom of an island passed by my tiny perch. I was at a loss of words at such an impossible sight. It was inconceivable that something heavy could ever fly but here I was, made to eat my own words.

"Wow…" I whispered in both awe and terror as the mountain passed by, revealing the various tiny islands that surrounded me. For a moment, I feared that one would crash against my ride before I realized that they were static, or rather floated at about the same rate as mine. I was safe for now.

How the hell did I even get myself in this situation? "The last thing I remember was sleeping before this happened," I recalled, trying to remember anything amiss.

The good news, I didn't have amnesia. I could still recall my parents, my friends and thousands of other trivias crammed inside my head like how you should always dry the bottom of a rice cooker pot before placing it as rust was the enemy of its electro magnet. Bad news was clueless on how this even happened. The hopes of waking up seemed to grow more distant as the world kept turning.

Shaking my non-existent head, I turned my attention to far more pressing matters at hand. So I woke up on a floating island as some crystal ball, now what? Despite having no body, I could still feel, hear, see and oddly enough, smell. The scent of the ocean breeze was proving to be a boon for my frayed nerves. I needed to do something.

While I didn't exactly have a body, or limbs for that matter, surely there must be a way for me to move right? Staying here was death. I needed to figure out how to get out of here or find a way to steer my current ride; the former of which looked more likely so I did just that. I pushed, willing myself to move. My mind strained as I tried leaning against my current form.

It seemed hopeless until I felt something in me pull taught before a pillar of earth pushed against me. "Woah! Oh fuck!" I cursed as I found myself rolling towards a certain doom. Desperately, I reached out to that sense, feeling it latch out like tentacles until a ring of earth rose up to envelope me. "That… was close," I breathed out in relief as I settled into my nest of dirt.

Looking behind me, I could see the thousand foot drop below; the blue expanse stretching as far as the eye could see. As far as I could tell, there was no land aside from those up in the air. Strange was at play here, possibly the same thing that allowed me to manipulate the very ground.

I was hesitant to call it magic, but as I felt it root out to the island, extending my sense until I could feel every inch of the island, I feel like it was the appropriate term. My train of thought however would come to a halt as I found myself with an unexpected visitor. The cawing of a crow echoed in the sky as it landed before me, "Caw!"

Staring at my form, it tilted its head. Looking back, I found myself drawn to the beautiful creature. They had these bright blue plumage that made them pop out even against the clear. With their black beak, dark eyes and black skin, they almost look phantasmal. Then there were their eyes, ones sparkling with intelligence. I've never seen a bird quite like this. It was a crow in shape but it was different, something more.

With inquisitive eyes it pecked at me, making me flinched as its beak dinked against my hard surface. "You must be fascinated by your reflection," I chuckled, making it rear back as it spread its wings in fright. "You can hear me?" I asked as it cawed back angrily, puffing up yet all I could feel right there as relief, "I can talk!"

I was so busy celebrating that I didn't notice how truly pissed off the crow was until it started pecking at me aggressively, "Hey! Stop that!" I shouted but that only served to encourage the bird to push harder. Using its head, it pushed against my form. I would have been impressed by its dedication if it wasn't intent on trying to toss me off a cliff.

"H-hey, this isn't funny!" I protested but they would fall on deaf ears as I felt myself getting dislodged. Thankfully, my weight would prove too much for the bird. "Hah! Can't do it, can you?" I taunted though perhaps my celebration was a bit too early.

Puffing up and shaking, it reared its head back before cawing loudly, "Caw! Caw!" I thought it was just letting its frustration out until I heard the rustling of a dozen feather wings. Crows, a whole murder of them, landed on my island. While smaller than the blue one, their numbers were concerning.

"Oh crap," A warranted fear as they followed the blue ones example as they pushed at my form. "Come on, you wouldn't want to break me!" I tried negotiating with them, "I can make you nest! I could be your friend!" The crows however weren't interested.

In a panic, I reached out to the island, pushing as much force as I could to anchor myself. I dug in deep, feeling that taut band inside me stretched. I could feel it aching as I pushed myself to my limits until something gave way; It snapped. "Wha-!" There was a blinding flash of light as I felt my senses expanding.

Unbound, I felt it all. Their very souls open to my mind's eye. I could feel the light inside them changing, growing, as I became one with them. One became many before it all came rushing back. I jolted back to my senses as the crows collapsed, like puppets whose strings were cut. Stunned and disoriented from the discharge, I almost missed the blue one speaking as they picked themselves up.

"A-angry shiny!" the crow said, their feminine voice trembling in fear as they limped away. They sounded young as well and clearly terrified as lightning danced across their form. Raising their wings and shying away, they begged, "Crow doesn't want trouble! Don't break Crow's mind!"

It took me a second to process what they just said. I couldn't believe what I just heard. "You can talk!" I exclaimed. It wasn't just simple strings of disconnected words, but actual sentences, as crude as it sounded. I could understand them. What's more is that I could feel them; As if an invisible leash now bound us together. It felt just like the roots now coursing through the island, but far far more intimate.

"C-crow talk?" The Blue bird blinked before they hopped around happily, celebrating the sudden change, "We talk!" It seems even they were surprised by the sudden change as the rest of the crows got up and talked about themselves.

Looking closer, I noticed that they've grown bigger; The blue one more so. Their size doubled, towering over my form where once we were at eye level. Something definitely changed but what? Turning to me, the blue one shouted, "Shiny isn't angry! Shiny made us better! Dungeon Core chose us!" Throwing their heads back, the murder of crows let out a chorus of cries "Praise Shiny One!"

"Wait, stop!" I shouted, making them all pause as they turned their attention back to me, "What did you just say?" I asked as I realized that they knew far more than what I expected. They might just know what I am but I did not like what I heard.

"Praise Shiny One?" One of the crows piped up as they nodded amongst themselves.

"No, before that," I corrected, trying to get them to remember. I knew I heard something about dungeon cores but I wanted to make sure. The shape, the form, the abilities, it fits almost all too well. Had I just become a dungeon core?

"Dungeon Core chose us?" The blue one answer, making my fears come true. I was not an ordinary gem but a fearsome creature, one that changes the very world around them as they grow. However, that means I was someplace fantastical, someplace far more dangerous than I ever hoped or wanted to be in.

Taking a deep breath, I did my best not to panic. It simply made too much sense. Maybe I was wrong, maybe this was just a dream, but this nightmare was slowly becoming my new reality. I… I needed to know, I needed to prepare. "... Tell me everything you know," I commanded them, wanting to figure out just where the hell I am exactly.

-x-x-x-

Without the fear of getting destroyed and new guests to entertain, I worked on making my surroundings comfortable. Fiddling with my new found powers, I molded the island around me. Forcing myself back to the middle as I made various nests for my new inhabitants. They were crude, Bowl shaped indents on the ground with myself and sapling as the center but they would do for now. I still had much to learn.

It took quite a bit to parse through the blue crow's broken sentences and abstract words but their tale slowly formed a picture which depicted a realm far removed from my own. From tales of monsters, to fearsome dungeons that grew to such sizes as to swallow whole islands, of broken continents, and even tales of kingdoms, my reality started setting in. I was transported somewhere far more fantastical; Some place where fantasy was reality.

"Crow apologize for trying to push you off island," The blue one said as she looked away, unable to gaze towards me, "Elder taught us to be careful of angry shinies that bind us and rob us of our will," she explained with fear tingeing their voice.

"You were an egg. Young Dungeon, not dangerous but can be," She told me as she looked away, their feathery form trembling as they added, "We tried destroying you before you grow. Before Shiny One becomes a danger," She apologized, bowing before me along with the rest of the crows; a show of intelligence much closer to my own than something more bird-like, "We are sorry."

"We apologize!" her fellow crows chorused and I nodded back. After hearing what they had to say, I couldn't blame them. The dungeons of these worlds sound terrifying. Creatures of ruin, their only purpose to consome; Like some cancer in this world. The fact that they can subjugate living beings worried me greatly.

"It's ok. I'd be scared as well if I saw myself," I told them. From their words, my existence would be quite the danger for any creature. If such was truly the case, and their words weren't the exaggerated tales of creatures simply being predated on by dungeons, then would there be concerted efforts amongst the sapient inhabitants of this world to cull and destroy new dungeons?

"At least now I know what I am," I muttered, considering my dire situation. Things weren't looking good for me. As if being trapped in an island that could be smashed by a bigger island wasn't bad enough, I might have to contend with those seeking to destroy me and I'm not sure I can rely on what I did to these crows.

"Shiny one is strange," The blue crow noted as she moved over and sat down beside me, fluffing her feathers as she nested close by. "Have they forgotten what they are?" they asked curiously.

"It's complicated," I replied dodgily, not sure what to say about my status. Being a Dungeon Core was already bad enough, I was sure people knowing I was something else before I became a Core would complicate it even more. Getting dissected and experimented on does now sound appealing at all. "So can you remind me again what I can do?" I asked, running through what they said once more.

"Of course! Crow can now remember much better after you chose me!" The blue crow puffed up as they recounted, "Dungeon Cores are dangerous and helpful. They destroy and create. They consume and nourish. They are our greatest enemy and our bestest friend."

"Hmmm, ok I can work with that," I nodded. It seems that I have other tools to my arsenal other than molding earth and binding creatures to myself. "Are there others like me around? Other cores?" I asked, wondering if I had to deal with competition early on.

"No, flock moved here after the last water island was taken over," The crow explained as she shocked her head sadlly, "Angry Core took Elders. Angry Core broke them…" They told him as they shook their heads. Looking up to me, they asked, "Shiny One won't break us, right?"

Hearing the innocent tone in their voice, I just couldn't say no. "No, I'll never do that. I promise I'll protect you," I told them. These birds might have tried to kill me but they were only doing it out of fear. They… they deserved a life where they can live. I was going to protect them the best I could.

"Crow will serve Core then," She replied happily as I felt our bond grow closer, the teether binding us growing strong. "Crow thinks this isn't too bad of a deal! We got a new cozy nest! We just need more bedding," She exclaimed happily as they rest chirped in agreement.

"I guess I have minions now," I chuckled before I sighed as I gazed out to the islands once more. It's a rough day for me. From waking up in a strange new world to adjusting to my current body, it's almost too much for me. Still, it wasn't all bad. I had new friends, companions on my new journey. Turning to the blue crow, I asked her, "Calling you Crow is a bit tiring though. Is that really your name?"

"Name?" They asked back, tilting their heads at me as they said, "Name is for big things! Crow is only a lowly Crow."

I snorted as I replied, "Well if you're going to work for me, I'm going to have to name you all." No friend of mine was going to go without a name. Plus, it was far too tedious to keep calling them Crow when there were a dozen other crows around. She needed a name and I might just have something for them.

"You will be… Papi!" I christened them, naming them after a great harpy. Their color reminded so much of the cute little gremlin. They were also just as adorable!

"Papi? Papi!" She said, testing the words in her beak before she nodded happily. "Crow is now Papi! Papi is very happy!" She declared as they got up to their feet and hopped around. Her friends cheered for her as they made a ruckus.

"I'm glad you like it," I laughed, amused by their energy and enthusiasm. Having them around certainly made my day, making it more bearable. I could use the distraction.

"But if Papi has a name, surely Shiny One has one too!" Papi shouted excitedly as she turned to me, "Only strong things have names and Shiny is clearly the strongest!" She declared to which her fellow crow all nodded in agreement. They were silly little birds, all of them.

Deciding to amuse them, I replied, "My old name doesn't exactly fit," It might be self aggrandizing but a mundane name just doesn't fit. I needed something better, something fitting. Deciding one the name, I told them, "From now on, call me Ark."

"Shiny One is Ark!" Papi cheered before she started laughing, "Silly Name!" I might not have ears but I could still feel them burn as the bird brained gremlin taunted me.

"It is not!" I fumed. It wasn't the best name, I'll admit, but I love it. It had sentimental value to me. "I'll have you know it's a dignified name!" I replied, refusing to budge. They might find it silly but I was going to wear it proudly!

"Ark is Silly," Papi chuckled as they gave me a playful peck. Rolling my eyes, I let this slight pass. They were just being cute.

Turning to the rest of the crows, I asked, "Well, how about you guys?" Seeing their shared looks of confusion, I added, "Do you want names or what?" If Papi had a name, so shall they. It took a bit of jostling but I got them all to line up. By the end of the day, I found myself the proud master of several dozen named Crows.

-x-x-x-

Watching the sun set over the horizon, I found myself at awe at the colors awash over the clouds and islands alike. From the most vibrant of reds to the bright orange, it was as if the entire sky was lit on fire. I admit, I've seen many sunsets before but they hold a special place in my heart.

"This… this is nice," I whispered, watching the shadows cast by the islands stretch far behind them. No movie or picture could have quite captured the majesty before me. "I can certainly get used to this view," I said out loud as I settled into my earthen throne.

"Sunset is beautiful, Papi agrees," Papi nodded beside me before she looked at me. "What does Ark want to do now?" She asked, making me pause.

"Huh…" I replied, considering her question, "Good Question. What did I want to do?" I asked. I had many goals but they weren't quite achievable now. He wasn't even sure how he was going to reach those goals? How could he find a way back?

"Elders taught Papi that Ark's kind always wants to grow and learn," Papi replied as she closed her eyes and yawned. "Eldars taught us that giving you new things makes you stronger but they also make you happy," She told me before she asked, "Does Ark want new things?"

"Well, this place is a bit barren," I answered. While I couldn't figure out how to get back to my old world, maybe growing strong enough so I could have time does sound like a decent plan. Yeah, maybe that's what I'll be doing in the meantime.

"Why don't you bring us some seeds?" I asked, considering how I plan to grow. I needed materials and plants seemed like they'd be the easiest thing to gather. "Growing some food doesn't sound like a bad idea," I mused out loud, wondering how I was going to feed all these crows.

Hearing my plans, Papi's eyes shot wide open as she shot up to her feet. "Ark can grow food!?" She exclaimed, waking up the rest of the crows, "Ark is the best Dungeon Core there is!" She shouted, making me shake my head at the chorus of cries that soon followed. They might be silly little birds, but I had a feeling that they were the best companions I could ask for.

A/N:

A high tier patron wanted to fund this little idea so I got to working. Sunday Snippets would be moved to next week btw. Sorry for the delay. Got sick yesterday and today. Stomach was not a happy camper but I'm back to wroking order as this fic would tell. Hope you guys like it. Will be working back on Seoul Kitchen again.