"…Uh."
A figure with dog features (rounded ears, brown fur brushed with gray around the muzzle) and clad in bright colors stood near the entrance with a bright, cheerful smile.
I stared.
I'd heard more than one weird story about Dungeons, but seeing it in person was something else.
"Travelers!" He called, waving us closer. "Come in! Come in! All visitors welcome!"
Llewellyn sighed.
"Alberan," he said. "Is this really necessary?"
The dog-person's smile didn't dim one bit as he eyed us from behind his monocle.
"Welcome to Mondwyn Harbor! I'm Alberan, your guide to all things magical and marvelous within our walls. We have accommodations for weary travelers, fresh meals at the Drifting Lantern, and the most spectacular view of the Evening Sky Ritual at sundown." His muzzle crinkled with delight as he pulled out a scroll from his pocket. "Would you care for a map? First one's free!"
I glanced at Llewellyn, who looked resigned.
"Sure," I said, taking the offered scroll. It unfurled to reveal a cheerfully illustrated map of the town, complete with little drawings of important landmarks. "Thanks."
"My pleasure!" Alberan beamed, completely ignoring Llewellyn's deadpan. "Explore at your leisure! Remember—all purchases require Coins and some areas might be restricted until you've completed certain tasks."
I studied the map more closely. The town seemed larger inside than it had appeared from the bridge. Probably some spatial distortion effect—typical Dungeon stuff.
"Anything else we should know?" I asked.
"Just enjoy yourselves! The Harbor has much to offer those with curious hearts and open minds."
Llewellyn was already walking past him toward the town entrance as if this was a waste of time.
"Thanks for the welcome," I said, hurrying after him.
Sun spilled across the stone streets as we entered the town.
Colorful banners hung from windows and between rooftops. Bedsheets snapped lazily from second-floor windows as townsfolk moved easily through the streets—most of them with features that reminded me of dogs and foxes, laughter trailing behind them.
I caught a whiff of bread, woodsmoke, crushed herbs warming in the sun.
Somewhere, a lute played low and melodious, half-hidden by the sound of feet against the stones.
Damn. I'd come back on holiday here, if I could.
As soon as I voiced my thought, a notification window popped open in front of me with a soft chime.
[System Notification: User preference for Mondwyn Harbor noted. This location will be included in future Dungeon configurations when possible.]
"Wait, really?"
[System Notification: Emotional and preference-based feedback is automatically collected to enhance user experience.]
Well, then. I wouldn't mind seeing this place again.
Llewellyn crossed the street without pausing.
The square opened before us, bustling with activity. Market stalls selling potions, artifacts, food, and who knows what else covered the area, while the dog and fox people went about their business, picking up items or trying to negotiate prices.
A festival stall offered gliders for rent. ("Use at your own risk," read the sign.) Maybe next time, then.
"What exactly are we looking for?" I asked, looking around.
Llewellyn slowed near the edge of the main square, eyes inspecting the buildings ahead.
"We need to find the Kiosk. There should be a map posted."
A few steps ahead, a small structure stood tucked into the square—stone base and walls, and a wide awning striped in bright cloth.
No one was in, but through the window, a slab of glass shaped like a flat pane could be seen hanging on a wall, humming faintly with light.
It looked a little like a magical TV.
Above the Kiosk, a simple sign whose golden letters looked recently polished, gleamed in the sun:
INFORMATION KIOSK—VISITORS WELCOME
As we approached, the glass pane stirred. Light appeared on its surface, forming letters, and a friendly voice, bright and melodious, floated out:
"Welcome, travelers! The Festival of Echoes is underway!
Missing Dungeon Map fragments have been scattered across Mondwyn Harbor for safekeeping. Find them all to unlock the route to the Heart!"
Llewellyn stared at the screen for a long, blank second.
I snorted. "Treasure hunt?"
He sighed. "Treasure hunt."
The view in the glass pane shifted again, listing three tasks:
Retrieve the lost delivery baskets for the bakery.
Solve the riddle at the Knight's Monument.
Collect festival tokens and exchange them at the fountain.
I briefly wondered if we were going to remember all of that, but Llewellyn made a noncommittal noise and walked away before the explanation to the first task even appeared.
We cut toward the nearest alley and into the main street.
The town stretched broad and bright around us—low half-timbered houses with curved gables and steeply sloped roofs, gardens overflowing onto the stones.
As we crossed the street, a baker with wide, retriever-like features leaned over the threshold of a quirky-looking shop, waving frantically.
"You there!" he called. "Adventurers! Good timing! Lost half my delivery baskets to that cursed wind!"
He pointed down a side lane, where a few baskets lay overturned—one wedged under a bench, another bouncing lightly as a stray gust pushed it along the road.
I glanced at Llewellyn.
"I'll get the ones on the left," he said simply.
I did my best not to grin. The strongest guy alive, chasing after bread baskets for a dog baker. Niamh would have a field day.
I peeled off toward the right.
The baskets weren't heavy, just all over the place, tied with bright ribbons like parade prizes and occasionally blown away by a gust of wind. A group of kids—a scruffy pack of young dog-like creatures—chased after one that kept tumbling away, their laughter bright.
By the time I retrieved mine, Llewellyn was inside the shop where he had already stacked his part neatly on the baker's counter and was waiting.
The scent of sweet pastries wrapped around me as I also stepped in.
The space was small but bright, all polished wood and brass fixtures, with rows of pastries dusted with sugar or covered in glaze. Near the register, a collection of small, delicate cakes sat beneath glass domes, decorated with sugar flowers.
The baker grinned as I dropped the last basket onto the pile.
"Wonderful, wonderful!" he said, brushing flour from his apron, which had 'Best Bread in Town' embroidered across the front. "Can't thank you enough. Those baskets are enchanted, you know. Special delivery system. You can't replace them easily. Here!" he said, reaching under the counter. "Special reward for quick work."
He handed over freshly baked buns neatly packaged in two separate bags as well as two coffees.
"Thank you," I said, taking the warm bags.
One of the bags included a folded piece of parchment—a corner of the map, still warm from the contact with the bun.
I handed Llewellyn his bun and coffee.
He eyed them for a moment, likely running them through the System to see if they were safe, then he bit into his bun almost happily.
Well. Who knew he had a sweet tooth.
Or maybe he just appreciated the stamina and strength boost.
We said goodbye and left the shop with our reward.
"Next part's at the Knight's Monument," I remembered, taking out the town map we got from Alberan and trying to reorient myself.
Llewellyn nodded once and tucked the Dungeon Map fragment carefully inside his coat.