<div class="floatleft">(http://i.imgur.com/dDULapj.jpg)</div>Lydia remembers little of the fey queen's taunts. No words, really, just raw emotion: contempt, hatred, indigence. She wakes naked, in a soft, plush bed. For one terrible moment she fears she is still in the Marchioness's grasp, but then realizes that she is in fact in the chambers between levels.<br/><br/>Between levels...with no counselor.<br/><br/>She sinks back onto the pillow and tries her best not to sob, gritting her teeth so as not to let the tears slip free. If she lets it, that single realization will crush her to dust. Some contestants have been dragged kicking and screaming to the next level. That will not be her. Gradually she remembers more of the Marchionnes's taunts, and her ire rises once more.<br/><br/>Lex and Dex, her ever-present companions, are off to the side, their unblinking gaze focused on her. She glares at them. "Only royalty are arrogant to presume an insult meant solely for them must apply to their entire species.<em>Whore</em>."<br/><br/>Lydia notices the length of her hair before the color, almost immediately aware of its weight and the unfamiliar brush of it against the middle of her back. A quick peek in the mirror confirms the impossible color as a parting gift from the fey queen.<br/><br/>"Fine," she says to the mirror. "This is fine. You want fire, Dungeon? I'll give you fire. I'll give you such fire as you haven't known before."<br/><br/>She then turns on a heel and heads for the bathing room for a nice, long soak. She pulls the gong and orders food, lots of it, and water. She is going to die, and soon, but for now she will live as well as she can, and penetrate the Dungeon as deeply as possible, just to spite it. She made level one. She can make level two. One level at a time...that is the plan.<br/><br/>At best, she has six hours. Usually they take no longer than that. The more popular contestants would spend the time gaining interviews and such, meeting their Patrons, but she can't expect such help now. Those who fail to gain Counselors are Pariahs. What patrons she had are probably shifting their allegiances to other contestants as she sits here helpless in the tub.<br/><br/>That is fine as well. She has her sword. She has her armor. She has the water from the sylph--who will probably try to kill her the next time they meet. That will have to be enough for now.<br/><br/>For now, she eats, she sleeps, she relaxes. She doesn't bother with clothes; modesty is pointless in the Dungeon.