“That pleases me, for I have forgotten much of the knowledge that once made me among Eosor’s most formidable dungeons.” Kyrine stared ahead, as though she was seeing something in her mind’s eye. “Back then—a long time ago, it seems to me now—thousands of spells, minions, and traps were at my disposal. Now, however, they are relics of time past. I can almost recall their forms, but they are mere shadows. From what I understand, the other dungeons have suffered similar mental afflictions.”

Astrid had mentioned that other dungeons had awoken on Earth, but I hadn’t had much time to consider the implications. If there were other dungeons, did that mean there were other Keepers?

“How many others like you are on Earth?” I asked.

“That is entirely dependent on how many of my sisters escaped Eosor.”

“When you call them sisters, is that just some way you refer to them, or are they actually your sisters? You know, do you share a parent?”

“Our kinship is complex. Before I was a dungeon core, I was something else. I have residual memories of this time, but little more than that. This is something I have never told another soul. Not even past Keepers. But I fear that any secrets I keep may prevent the hasty progression we desperately need to stop the Fateweaver. Do you have secrets, Jeremy?”

“I’m an open book,” I said, spreading my hands wide. “Ask me anything, I’ll hold nothing back.”

“How much do you know of the agents who brought you here to me?”

“Not much,” I said. “They told me they work for some kind of government agency. They showed me some ID, but I wasn’t paying a great deal of attention. I guess I work for the agency now, too. Kind of crazy how that worked out. I never really had a choice though; it just fell into my lap. So, this Keeper business, what exactly is my role? Other than ‘keeping’ you out of mischief, that is.”

“Typically, the Keeper guides a dungeon’s progression. I will build or fashion whatsoever you ask of me. Keepers are also responsible for the management of dungeon minions.”

“Neat,” I said. “And can I do some crafting? That’s what I did before all this happened.”

“Of course,” Kyrine replied. “Everything you see in the mansion has been crafted by my hands. Now that you share my power, you can craft anything you wish, simply command me to do so.”

“So you’ll craft anything for me?” I asked.

“That depends on what you have in mind. It must be an item which I have absorbed into my core. I also must have a sufficient amount of the particular mana type required to create it. The agents who brought you here have been living in rooms in the mansion for several months. They provided me with many things from Earth when they found me in Belvedere Mills.”