《A Summoner Awakens [A Card-Based GameLit Progression Fantasy]》


 Chapter 1

    [02:17:36]

    The luminous red numbers drifting above the great Origin City were as conspicuous as ever, the sh of the seconds ticking down hard to miss for anyone who didn''t frequent the Origin Floor. It had been almost fifty years since I''d witnessed the abnormality. Every time my gaze crossed over it, my stomach would churn, though I wasn''t sure why.

    People stepped out of the way while I ambled down the street, my cane tapping lightly against the cobblestone as I observed my surroundings. The Trade Center was bursting with life as more and more people flocked to the streets, a mix of fear and excitement evident on their faces. Music was ying, and decorations were strung about the antique streetlights. The raucousughter of drunken men and ying children filled the air.

    It was the Tower''s anniversary, and not just any anniversary. The clock was about to strike zero. Every year, a festival would be held, but I hadn''t seen one this unruly sincest century. I grimaced, clutching my cane tightly as I recalled those days.

    I was healthy then... before I''d taken the first step and cleared the First Floor. Before I realized what I was doing, I''d pulled out my Origin Card from my chest pocket. As always, it was nk aside from the string of numbers that ran across it, constantly ticking upward. The nk face was lined with grey trim, and the back was ck, with an ornate, silver ''O'' imprinted in the center.

    With a long sigh, I tucked the unusual Card back into my jacket pocket, made my way from the busy street down an alley, and walked toward a nearby pub. I wasn''t one for drinking. With my health, it would probably mean the death of me. Still, after spending fifty years on the Tenth Floor, I wanted to see a familiar face.

    My joints were killing me by the time I traveled up the alley and opened the pub door. As I walked in, I tried to straighten myself and look a bit less frail. There were a few nces, but for the most part, no one would bother with an old man like me.

    With a few short strides, I reached the bar and found a seat at the far end. A young woman I didn''t recognize walked up to me with a radiant smile. She was lovely, and I felt a sense of familiarity.

    "What can I do for you today, Sir? Whiskey? You look like a whiskey man," she smiled brighter and leaned her elbows on the counter while she spoke.

    "Little L?" I chuckled, and the young woman gasped in recognition.

    "Uncle Rowan? Is that you?" L''s smile grew, and she reached for my free hand. "It''s been ages! You must be here to see Papa. I''ll go fetch him!"

    She jogged off toward the back, much to the annoyance of the other patrons who still hadn''t ordered a drink. A few cast annoyed nces toward me but held their tongues. Unfortunately, there were two young men who didn''t share that same respect for their elders. The other patrons watched but didn''t try to block their approach.

    "Oi! Pops!" One of the men called out as they walked toward me. "What''d you say to the youngss to run her off like that? Do you need someone to put you in your ce?"

    I inspected the young man. The boy was lean, clean-shaven, and didn''t have a single scar marring his skin. What a joke.

    "Did you hear me, old man?" He reached out to push me but suddenly found himself unable to move. A thin, steel de was pressed against his throat. If he had taken another step forward, he would have been impaled.

    "Normally, I''d charge for this kind of lecture, but I''m feeling generous today," I said tiredly, scratching my chin with my free hand. "Strappingds such as yourselves could be powerful Climbers. It would be a shame for your lives to end before they begin."

    The young man gulped, "I- I''m sorry, S-Sir. It won''t happen again. I swear."

    "Good, good," I pulled my de back and sheathed it. Once again, the object in my hand looked like nothing but a fancy cane. "No hard feelings, gentleman. If you fellows make it up to the Tenth Floor, I''ll be happy to give you another lesson."

    The young men nodded and walked back to their seats, no longer interested in impressing theirdy friends. A chuckle sounded from behind the bar, and I turned my head to see my friend Crole shaking his head. L was standing beside him with an amused smile on her lips.

    "Rowan! My friend!" Crole walked around the counter and sped my shoulders. "It''s been a long time. How''s life on the Tenth Floor treating you?"

    "I''m doing well, old chap," I smiled. "I keep getting older, and these youngsters I look out for keep improving. Thest party that made it to the Tenth Floor managed to take out the Fiend with very little guidance."

    "Oh? I suppose the Network is doing its job then?" Crole asked.

    "Unfortunately," I nodded. "Anyway, I just wanted to catch up a bit before these old bones gave out on me. If I can help it, I''d like to make my way home before the real festivities begin."

    Crole frowned, "You''re not worried?"

    I nced around the bar. A few of the younger folks were celebrating, getting drinks to go, and heading out to the streets. The rest of the patrons looked nervous or fearful.

    "Whatever happens, happens, Crole. My gut says that we should be wary," I spoke quietly. "I''ve kept my ear to the ground, and none of the Officials seem to be worried..."

    "Eh, those pompous asshats wouldn''t know anything," Crole scowled.

    Iughed. It was true that the outer branches of the Government didn''t know much, but my channels went a bit deeper. Through the years, I''d helped many men and women with their first Boss and gained some connections. My condition may have left me weak, but I wasn''t worthless.

    For some time, the two of us chatted while watching theings and goings of the crowd. As time passed, the bar slowly emptied out, and we said our goodbyes for the night. The alley was almost deserted, and rather than going home, I decided to make my way to the Trading Center.

    Fireworks crackled loudly, coloring the sky red and lighting the faces of all those present. Women and men smiled and danced in the street while the children ran and yed around them. As for me, I just leaned on the edge of the alley, watching the festivities and catching my breath.

    My health had rapidly declined since I''d finished the First Floor. One of my old mentors from my days in the Academy could link it to my Origin Card, but no one had a way to stop it. I managed to climb to the Tenth Floor and kill the Boss before my health took a turn for the worse. It was like the Achievement had elerated my body''s deterioration.

    I knew my body wouldn''t be able to take much more, so I stayed on that Floor and helped others as they came along. It was easy coin, and I became a core member of the Tower Network, sending information about the Boss'' patterns and other Achievements on the Tenth Floor. In return, I had full ess to the Network''s database and spent my days studying the higher floors, looking for patterns to report. It wasn''t like I had anything better to do.

    ''''Thirty seconds left!''''

    Someone nearby yelled, pulling me from my reverie. The crowd cheered and started chanting as the clock ticked down. My gut twisted, a feeling that usually came just before something terrible happened. Thest time, the Tenth Floor Boss had changed its patterns, and a group of young men and women were ughtered.

    "Twenty-five... twenty... fifteen... ten..."

    The crowd continued to count down, oblivious to mybored breaths and drumming heartbeats. I clutched my stomach and forced myself to breathe deeply while keeping my eyes open. Something wasing.

    The clock hit zero, and thousands of fireworks exploded above Origin City. For ten thousand years, that clock had counted down. No one knew what it was for, but there was spection.

    Some of the older folk in the crowd began to tear up, staring at the now-empty sky. When they were children, the clock still had several hundred years to go, and they were taught from a young age that the Tower would open to the world when it struck zero. Many shared this sentiment, and churches that were thousands of years old continued to preach of the paradise that awaited them.

    There were some folks, like Crole, who didn''t believe this rubbish. Still, the Churches were just as influential as the Government, and bad things happened to people who spoke ill of their beliefs. So it wasmon to meet in back roomste at night to discuss the goings on of the Tower. But, even so, these people refused to join the other Church that preached about the clock being a sign of end times.

    "Cheers!" A burly man with a greatsword on his back rolled arge keg into the center of the street and popped the barrel, filling his cup. "Free drinks for all my fellow Climbers! May the Great Liberator bless you!"

    I rolled my eyes at the scene and continued watching the children run about, keeping my eyes peeled for the danger that my heart felt. Then, something told me to look up. Where the clock had vanished, something was changing in the air. A soft ripple marked the sky but was gone so swiftly that I felt I''d imagined it.

    What was that..?

    It was hard to hear over the festivities, but I could swear that I heard a heavy thump, like someone striking a tree. Nearby, another seemed to have heard it as well. She was a young-looking woman with long, red hair and arge belly, probably already eight months along. I could tell she was a powerful Climber, probably older than myself, and was likely only down here to wait out her pregnancy.

    "Did you hear that?" She asked, trying to get the attention of the drunkard who''d rolled out the booze. The man, who I assumed to be rted to her somehow, turned to her with a drunken frown.

    "Hear what?" He asked, chugging down another pint of the red liquid.

    She shook her head and looked around, "Maybe it was nothing."

    The woman caught my stare and met my eyes with a solemn gaze. I may not have been a powerful Climber, but I''d lived a long life, and the woman seemed to be able to tell that I''d heard the noise too. She started to walk toward me but was interrupted by an ear-splitting sound echoing throughout Origin City.

    I could feel the ground shaking under my boots, and the sky began to shatter like broken ss. The children were the first to notice, and after a moment, their drunken parents looked to the heavens as well. Then, instead of heading toward me, the pregnant woman started yelling for everyone to get in the buildings. Her powerful voice echoed through the street.

    I stayed out of the way while I examined the walls that had protected the Origin Floor all these years. The ceiling continued to shatter, and in the distance, I could see the outer walls begin to crumble. The Tower was copsing.

    Panic spread as others took notice of this phenomenon, but thanks to the woman''s shout, there was some semnce of order. Climbers wielded power and authority, and the people felt safe knowing they were in the vicinity. That was... until the howls began.

    A single, vicious howl echoed throughout the Floor, followed by another, and then another. The once orderly evacuation turned to chaos as women and children began to scream, and men tried to pull their loved ones to the center of town. The mighty walls of the Tower crumbled even further, and distorted faces could be seen through the gaps.

    "Wh-What is that?!" A woman screamed, scrambling back as she stared at the wall in the distance. For the first time in ten thousand years, the citizens of the Tower discovered what awaited them on the outside.

    Death.

    I witnessed hundreds, maybe thousands of giant creatures tear at the wall, roaring and screaming as they tried to break through. All manner of monsters... beasts, humanoids, and other creatures the likes of which I''d never seen.

    The humanoid giants stood at the front. Rotting flesh fell from their bodies as they ran, and their smiles reached their ears when they stepped through the openings. Their footsteps caused the ground to shake, and their cries burst the eardrums of every Dweller on the Origin Floor. Even some of the weaker Climbers clutched at their heads.

    These humanoid giants traversed thend in record time, leaving little time for reinforcements to arrive. Screams of women filled the air as they grabbed their children and ran further into the city. Chunks of stone and other debris fell from the shattering sky, only adding to the chaos as one person after another was crushed by their weight.

    The giants swiftly reached the unprotected city, swinging massive clubs toward the buildings blocking their path. The structures couldn''t withstand more than a few swings.

    I studied the giants. From this distance, I could see that their decaying skin had grown around these weapons as if they were part of the monsters. The blood that fell from their rotting skin tore through the pavement like acid.

    A sea of people ran past my small alley, pushing and shoving others back to get further ahead. I watched on sadly, holding my chest. The feeling in my gut was gone, and my heart was thumping so hard that I could feel it in my bones.

    All the while, the giants closed the distance. The people in the back were already being torn apart and eaten alive. Blood sttered across the sides of buildings and showered the crowd below.

    "Mama! Mama!"

    A voice caught my attention, and I turned to the crowd. A young girl had stumbled and was seconds away from being crushed by the stampede of screaming citizens.

    Without thinking, I used my Dash Card, barreling through the crowd and standing over the young girl. I grimaced and almost copsed, the Origin Card in my pocket pulling harder at my life force for pushing myself. Then, even knowing the consequences, I used a low-level Barrier Card, forcing the crowd to run around us.

    "Are you alright, little one?" Her leg was bleeding, and it looked like it had been broken by the number of people running by. I reached out to the girl, casting a weak Heal when she epted my hand. My legs gave out, and I fell to my knees beside her.

    Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at me, and I almostughed at the sight. This child held pity for an old man like me. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I struggled to stand, leaning on my cane for support while looking for the girl''s family.

    "Melinda!" A young woman pushed her way back through the crowd, and the girl in my arms turned her head. I shuffled toward the call, struggling with the weight of us both.

    "Thank you! Thank you!" The woman cried as she took the child from me. Around us, the screaming grew louder, and the steps of the giants grew closer. The young girl held onto my hand as her mother tried to leave.

    Tears streamed down her cheeks as I released her hand, and the mother took off into the crowd. Her eyes never left mine until they disappeared into the distance. I stared after them for some time before turning to face the iing threat.

    A giant with vast jaws ran up the main street, snatching one person after another and throwing them into its open maw. It stopped and looked down the narrow road upon which I was, blocking the citizens making a break for the government building. A slight sense of relief washed over me that the mother and child had run toward the back streets with another group.

    The frontrunners fell into this giant''s waiting maw, while those lucky enough ran between its legs or turned tail and fled. It was useless. The creature saw them running and forced its way into the street, crashing through the surrounding buildings like they were y.

    Though it was hindered slightly by the buildings, the giant grinned maliciously. Blood stained its rotting teeth, and the smell of death filled the air with its every breath. Waves of putrid stench filled the street, causing many with weaker stomachs to copse, heaving on the gravel.

    I stood still, staring at the creature. There was no sense in running. In my current state, I''d be lucky if I made it back to the alley. Healing that girl had taken a toll on me.

    The giant raised one blood-stained w, looking for its next victim. I watched calmly, feeling my blood rush throughout my body as my heartbeat quickened. A man to my left fell to his knees, begging for forgiveness and pleading for his life.

    I nced at the man and scowled.

    Weak.

    "Everyone, get back!" A booming voice echoed in the area as a shadow passed overhead. A massive, green eagle flew by, wing at the monster as a mannded heroically in the street. Colors shed as the man prepared numerous Spell Cards.

    "That''s Galen! Leader of the Argonauts Guild!" The man beside me cried through the snot and tears covering his face. "We''re saved!"

    "Be wiped from this ne!" Galen shouted, releasing the built-up magic of his most potent Cards. A torrent of mes filled the street, encasing the beast in a wall of deadly fire. Cries of agony could be heard as the monster thrashed back and forth.

    I nced at the young-looking man. I''d gone to school with him a century ago and heard that he''d managed to climb to the Thirtieth Floor. His Cards were a bit weak for such an aplishment, but I knew from the Tower Network that he had some powerful Guildmates.

    Many citizens cheered, and Galen smiled brightly, "Fear not! The Climbers from the Fifty-Second Floor are on th-"

    He never had the chance to finish. Arge, bone mace mmed down on him. His body burst into blood and bits of flesh from the impact.

    I turned back to the still-smoldering giant. It was heavily damaged, but it was far from dead. The creature breathed in heavily and released a defiant roar.

    Screams could be heard around the city, telling us that it wouldn''t be safe no matter where we ran. A young couple was sobbing next to me, and the man who''d begged for mercy was scrambling backward. I looked around, eying the many children among the terrified faces. Not caring for our suffering, the giant once again lumbered toward us. Then, I made a decision.

    "Run,ds! Get these youngsters to the alleys!" I said as loudly as I could. My Strength Card wasn''t at a high enough level to empower my voice, but it was loud enough for those around me to hear. Many looked at me in surprise, but no one stopped to argue.

    It wouldn''t be long, but I could buy them some time. Satisfied that the men were guiding the children away, I activated my most powerful Card. Green light streamed from my body, and a small orb appeared behind me. A tiny, winged, humanoid creature materialized, looking at me sadly.

    I could feel another Card burning in my chest pocket as more and more life energy was pulled away. My hands began to shake, and I struggled to stand. The petite pixie flew to my shoulder and kissed my cheek, and I could feel its healing magic coursing through my veins.

    "Thank you, old friend," I smiled and pulled my Cards from a pouch on my belt. It was a weak Deck, but it was all that I could offer. I cast the barrier again, just in time to intercept the giant''s mace. The pixie''s magic continued to empower me, but it wasn''t enough to offset the life that I was losing.

    The barrier shattered, and the giant pulled back its mace for another swing. I unleashed everything I had. Every Card in my Deck shined brightly as Spells and Abilities I''d rarely used flowed out of me. My skin tightened, and I could feel my bones copsing inside of me.

    I looked behind me, smiling. The people had heeded my advice. They all managed to escape.

    The monster swung down with a shrill cry, angry that its prey had escaped. I watched the weapon as it drew near, closing my eyes as I weed death... but the expected blow never came.

    I opened my eyes, surprised. Then, looking up, I found that the weapon had stopped inches from my head. The giant wasn''t moving, and the screams around me had stopped. In fact, I couldn''t hear anything anywhere.

    "What the bloody hell is going on?" The pain that I''d experienced for many decades was gone. I couldn''t hear my heartbeat or even feel it thumping in my chest.

    A harsh, burning sensation pulled me from my thoughts. My Origin Card. I reached into my pocket quickly, pulling out the useless piece of metal that had apanied me throughout my life. Only, this time, it wasn''t nk.

    The grey around the border had been reced by beautiful, golden trim. An hourss was etched into the background, and glowing text now surrounded the numbers that had been ticking up for thest century.

    [Card Name: Origin]

    [Level: X]

    [Life Energy Gathered: 3,154,107,372]

    [Effect: Steals life energy from the Wielder. Points are given based on the life energy provided, and more points are rewarded for deeds that count toward the advancement of humanity. For every point of energy gathered, Wielder will be awarded that many seconds upon death]

    Once I finished reading, the Card in my hand vanished. My body rose into the air, and I could see the destruction and mayhem across thend. The sky had utterly shattered, and many pieces of the Floor above had crashed into the Origin City. mes and smoke rose from the buildings, and evenrger creatures poured in through the openings in the Tower walls.

    Just as I reached the ceiling of the Origin Floor, something started to change. The fire and smoke dwindled, and the chunks of stone rose into the sky, reconnecting with the Tower. I watched the giants walk backward through the wall as it was repaired, and fireworks once again lit up the night sky.

    My gaze turned to the sky, and I was surprised to find that the clock had re-appeared. Not only that, the numbers started moving. Finally, the fireworks were pulled to the ground, and the clock began ticking upward.

    One second...

    One minute...

    One hour...

    Faster and faster the numbers climbed as days and nights shed before my eyes. I saw the city shrinking and buildings that had been erected decades ago return to construction material and then to dust. This phenomenon kept on, and when it finally stopped...

    [100:10:13:33:06]

    I gasped, but before I had time to think, my body was yanked through the unseen stone that separated the Origin Floor from the First. My body moved on its own until it was high above an ornate building. Spires and parapets surrounded the ce like some medieval castle.

    The Academy.

    ? Once again, my body was flung forward. Faster and faster until it passed through the stone walls and into arge room. Forty or so young men and women were sitting at their desks, listening to the woman standing at the front of the ss. I continued flying forward until I mmed into a particr student who had his head down on his desk. One that I recognized.

    ''''Urgh...'''' I groaned slightly, my head pounding. Disorganized thoughts filled my mind, and my vision swam. I thought I heard someone calling me, but I couldn''t quite make it out. The puzzled mess in my mind began piecing itself together, and just as suddenly as the confusion hade, it was gone. My mind was clear again.

    ''''Mister Wilder, am I boring you?''''

 Chapter 2

    I raised my head, staring uprehendingly at the woman who''d shouted. She was a tall, middle-aged woman with brown hair and a long nose. The bane of my existence back when I was young, always giving me a hard time because she knew that I could do better. Miss Warren.

    Wait... Miss Warren?

    I locked gazes with the shrill-voiced woman and opened my eyes in surprise. Memories came flooding back of a time when I was nothing more than a child struggling through his days in the Academy. Those were the worst days of my life. Even my days of being a sickly old goat were better.

    I saw her lips moving as if she were talking to me, but my mind was elsewhere. My gaze shifted to look around the ssroom andnded on the window next to me. There, I found a young, ck-haired, green-eyed man staring back at me. I felt as if I was thinking back to some distant memory. My eyes still hadn''t turned color from attaining my Origin Card.

    This isn''t possible.

    I moved my hand up and felt the smooth texture of my unblemished face, the man in the reflection mirrored my movements. His eyes were bright, and his skin was tan. There wasn''t a single wrinkle marring his clean-shaven face.

    Suddenly the reflection disappeared, and I found another figure standing before me. Miss Warren looked down at me with annoyance, but her gaze turned to worry when she saw my far-off expression. She ced one hand on my forehead.

    She was exactly as she was a century ago. She may have been a hateful old crone on the surface, but she was a teacher who really cared.

    "Rowan?" She spoke much more softly than she had before. A small hand was waved back and forth before my eyes, and her gaze shifted back to annoyance when she saw that I responded appropriately. The woman huffed loudly and headed back to the front of the ssroom.

    The sounds of snickering and muffledughter reached my ears, catching me off-guard. I turned away from the window to see the rest of the room, and several familiar faces stared back at me.

    My mind showed me the older versions of each of these men and women as I looked from one to the next. I involuntarily shuddered when I met the eyes of Galen just a few rows down. After a few seconds ofughter, Miss Warren mmed a book down on her desk, making many students jump and shutting down the ruckus.

    "That''s enough!" She yelled, her voice obviously amplified by one of the Cards that she carried. Her long nails rapped the board multiple times until she was sure that everyone was paying attention. The students'' amusement with the prior incident vanished.

    "Now, Miss Aurora, could you please remind me where we left off?" She asked and looked toward one of the seats at the front of the room. A beautiful, ck-haired girl with untanned skin stood. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her Academy outfit didn''t have a wrinkle on it. She was the picture of a model student.

    "Yes, Ma''am. We had just turned to page fifty and were reviewing what we''ve learned about the Cards over the years," Aurora spoke confidently and nced at me with an irritated look when she was done. Out of habit, I raised one of my eyebrows in a ''so what'' gesture, only annoying the girl more. The teacher thanked her, and Aurora took her seat, but I could tell she was fuming.

    Iughed internally. The old me would have turned away shyly, intimidated by the young woman''s beauty and ss rank. As for me now, I knew how little this Academy actually mattered. People who took things as seriously as Aurora neversted in the real world. In fact, she had gone missing shortly after graduation, and I''d never heard another word about her.

    The rustling of pages sounded throughout the ss as multiple students who hadn''t been paying attention quickly adjusted their books. When I realized what was happening, I did the same, and only then did I realize how badly my hands were shaking. I was spooked.

    Once I''d found the right page, I rubbed my hands together, amazed at how smooth and unscarred my youthful skin was. No wrinkles or brown spots. My skin wasn''t cold, and I was brimming with energy. I hadn''t felt like this in almost a century.

    Emotions flooded through me, and it took everything I had not to start crying in my seat. I couldn''t believe it. I was back. After a few deep breaths, I somehow managed to calm myself and flipped to the next page with the rest of the ss.

    I wasn''t really paying attention, but I pretended to follow along for the sake of Miss Warren. The pages were filled with information about the Cards, a gift from the Tower itself... depending on which Deity you believed in. But my mind wasn''t on my studies.

    This uniform. The scent of this ssroom. All of these people... Am I truly back in the Academy?

    A hundred years had passed, but I could remember it all so perfectly. I''d spent ten years with these people... in this same building. I hadn''t been close with any of them, but I could still remember them as if it were yesterday.

    Another ck-haired boy sat next to me, and he was still grinning with amusement at my former interruption. He was a ss clown and also a bit of an asshole. This kid had always been one tough at the expense of others, and he always tried his best to make jokes about the poorer students so everyone couldugh. I remembered this jerk well.

    Then, there was the model student, Aurora. She was the ''cold beauty'' of the Academy and didn''t give two shits about anything but her studies. All of her scores were at the top of the ss, and her fighting skills were even top-notch. There was a bigmotion when she disappeared, but after a few weeks, she was forgotten. Amon thing in the Tower.

    Did I really travel back in time?

    There were only two exnations. Either I was dreaming... a very vivid dream where even the smells were urate. Or, I was actually in my younger body just days before graduation. I turned my attention to the teacher to see if something looked off. Reading the board, I found what I was looking for, a date in the upper corner.

    The year was 9899, only ten days before the turn of the century. 9900. Exactly one century before the end of the world as we knew it. Before my mind could take me on a journey through time, the teacher''s voice caught my attention.

    "As you all know, these Cards are the core of our world," she said, trying not to sound too dull. She held up the metal box that contained her Deck. "These Cards are what give us strength, and they are the reason our society is flourishing."

    "Without these Cards, civilization wouldn''t have advanced as much as it has. In fact, without the resources of the higher Floors, we would still be living in a stone age," sheughed. "These Cards are the reason that we''ve managed to climb so high in the Tower, regardless of the Demonic scourge."

    I smiled, actually somewhat enjoying the lecture. Though my life in the Academy had been terrible, times were simpler. Back then, everything was straightforward, and I only had a few worries.

    "Now..." Miss Warren looked around the ss, her eyes lingering on a few students. "There''s only a week before graduation and just a few days before the Century Celebration. Once the Celebration is over, the stairs to the Second Floor will be opened to you."

    "Leaving the First Floor marks the start of your adventure, and many of you are nervous," she sighed. "I would like to say everything will turn out fine, but that isn''t true. How you''ve performed on the First Floor will determine your future."

    No one was actually too frightened by her words. That was the whole point of the Academy, to prepare to leave the First Floor. They''d been studying and training with different weapons for ten years. Killing the Boars and Wolves on the First Floor had be almost a chore for most of them.

    "You''ve heard this a hundred times, but we will still be doing quick reviews for the rest of the week," she spoke loudly. "Knowledge of the Cards is essential. Most choose their build after seeing their reward from the First Floor, but many of you have already started collecting."

    "As you know, there are six sses of Cards. Origin, Foundation, Enhancement, Ability, Spell, and Summoning. Our Origin Cards are unique to each of us, and the nine Foundation Cards are the same for everyone."

    I looked at the current page we were studying. It showed the nine Foundation Cards. Strength, Vitality, Endurance, Agility, Dexterity, Perception, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Will. These were vital, and other Cards couldn''t even be used properly without them.

    Without embellishing the matter, Miss Warren continued, "Of the other four sses, Climbers typically choose one to focus on and then use the other three to augment their build. For example, a Climber who focuses on Abilities may choose Enhancements that increase their physical prowess."

    "Enhancements passively boost your body''s capabilities and the might of your other skills. Abilities enact attacks or movements onmand, which your body usually wouldn''t be capable of. Then there are the Spell Cards, which hold great power, but can also be very costly," she looked around the ssroom again.

    "As for the Summoning ss, it is unlikely that any of you will be able to build such a Deck. It isn''t impossible, but the drops for actual Summons are so rare that even the top Climbers only have one or two. So if you choose this build, you shouldn''t have high expectations."

    Most of the students nodded, knowing that it was nothing but a pipe dream to aim for a Summoner build. Of course, it wasn''t impossible for them to get a single, low-level Summon and a couple of buff Cards for it, but even thinking about a Deck assembled around Summoning was just absurd.

    Summoning Cards...

    Instinctively, I looked down at my hip and caught my breath as I did. There was a small metal Deck Box that I hadn''t seen in years. Of course, I wasn''t the only one carrying such an item. Every student walked around with their Cards on them, and some would sooner die than be caught without.

    Some of these boxes looked luxurious, some decorative, and some were rather in. Mine, well, mine was just dirty. With just a nce at my tattered and blood-stained Deck Box, most of the other students would just turn away. Thus, before I''d even made a friend, my reputation had be that of a poor orphan boy.

    I thumbed open the leather strap that kept the box closed and took a peek inside. Sitting loosely within were seven thin metal cards that fell back and forth when I moved. One Card was missing, and it was one of the few treasured Cards my father left for me when he passed.

    My careful attitude when I was younger wouldn''t allow me to tote around something so precious. Currently, the Card was hidden in a lockbox in my dorm. I''d felt that there were many who would kill me for such a Card. It wasn''t something that someone like me should have. Looking back now, I know I was right.

    Even though the Card was nothing more than a death mark, I could never bring myself to get rid of it. The small Deck was the one thing my father left for me, and that Card was special. He''d received it from my grandfather, and it was one of the few things I still had of him.

    It was important to me. It had been enough to get me through the first Ten Floors in my previous life, even with my debilitated condition. It had also served my father well... until it got him killed. Miss Warren''s voice pulled me from my thoughts again.

    "Your Deck is your life. Take care of it," she said earnestly. "Now, let''s move on to what we know about the Cards. The Levels of the Cards range from One to Ten, each being exponentially more powerful than thest. There are five Ranks agreed upon by both the Church of Liberation and the Church of Damnation. Pure, Blessed, Holy, Sacred, and Angelic."

    Even with my current worries, I couldn''t help but chuckle inwardly. She was missing one. Before the Network became a well-used resource, not even the teachers in the Academy knew of the Celestial Rank Cards. Luckily, it seemed that I''d retained my memories from my previous life.

    ''''Excuse me, teacher!'''' Sitting in the front row, a short, brown-haired young man raised his right arm.

    ''''Yes, Luke?''''

    Luke stood up and said, ''''I heard from my father that there are actually eleven levels. Is that true?''''

    The teacher smirked, "That''s amon rumor, usually talked about in pubs by drunken old fools. Unfortunately, no one alive has been willing to verify it, even if it is true. As such, it''s nothing but a myth."

    I smiled subtly. I knew that it was more than just a myth.

    Luke nodded and sat back down. He leaned against his left arm and scribbled on his notepad. From where I was sitting, I could see what he was drawing. It was a cartoon picture of him holding 52 cards while standing on top of the Tower. I chuckled inwardly.

    "Remember, a list of regrly found Pure Cards can be found at the back of your book. Make sure you study them. Many will be on your final exam. Also, be sure to memorize the Essence chart for the first five Floors," she called out. The kids were getting restless as ss was about to end.

    "More importantly, you need to study up on the creatures and learn the dangers of the Tower!" Miss Warren''s voice was louder this time, forcing the students to stop squirming and listen. "This Tower may be our home, but it is also the home of many dangerous monsters. It is the job of the Climbers to venture through the hundred Floors and bring back resources for the rest of us to survive. Climbers are heroes!"

    Many of the students began looking upward, imagining the glory of reaching the higher Floors.

    "However," Miss Warren snapped. "None of you will be heroes if you don''t learn how to stay alive first!"

    "You must know your limits and the limits of your Deck," she continued. "Without that knowledge, you will die, and your adventure will never begin. Don''t venture out and die early because you refused to study!"

    She looked directly at me when she said that, and I had to fight off the urge to roll my eyes. I was too old to put up with this shit a second time. The other students listened silently, and a few decided to take those words to heart.

    Before anything else could be said, a loud bell sounded out in the center of campus. Everyone rose from their chairs almost simultaneously and rushed to join their friends. Discussions of adventure andughter filled the air. Some young men swung imaginary weapons back and forth.

    No one walked toward me.

    "I can''t believe this..." I''d slipped out the door long before any of the groups could reach it and escaped into the hall. Some other doors opened, and students began to pour into the open corridor.

    I ignored them all. My focus was still on the ss that I''d just left. The talk of Cards, the Tower, and the dangers we would face were all very familiar to me. That same ss had taken ce one week before graduation. And I''d just heard it again.

    That also reminded me that this was thest week of my life that I''d been healthy. I could hardly remember a time when I hadn''t woken up coughing blood in the middle of the night. Even standing up in the morning without copsing was a rarity.

    "Well, I think I can rule out this being a dream. Which means... all of this is real," I pinched the tips of my unscarred fingers. The pain was there, and I couldn''t be happier to feel it. Grimacing, I tried to remember the exact words of my old Origin Card, but it was a blur for some reason.

    Why me? I''m not someone who deserves a chance like this. Why not one of the heroes who''d made it past Floor Sixty?

    I couldn''t help but wonder. My life had been far from extraordinary. With a sigh, I shrugged it off. There was little chance I would ever find the answer.

    For now, I should head to my dorm.

    Turning right, I rushed down the nearest set of stairs. The corridors were rtively empty, as most of the students were heading to or had already reached their next ss. As for me...

    That wouldn''t do! I''m much too old to experience school a second time!

    After reaching the bottom floor, I found myself in a hallway full of lockers. For old times'' sake, I walked over to one of the lockers at the end of the hall. Fifty-Two.

    In a few swift motions, I pulled the little key from my pocket, unlocked the door, and pulled it open. What I found inside wasughable. An old, worn-out jacket, a pair of filthy shoes, and a pair of loose pants that had probably been lying in the bottom for a month.

    A picture of my father was tucked onto the shelf. It was faded from age, but I still smiled when I saw it. I carried around the same picture a century from now, but it was so worn that his face couldn''t be made out.

    Walking from the hall and into the courtyard, I strolled by a fountain with crystal clear water pouring from the top and left the Academy. While wandering about, I turned and got a good view of the building. It was absolutely massive.

    The Academy was located in the center of the First Floor, blocking the exit leading to the Origin Floor and the entrance to the Second Floor. Both were closely monitored, as the government and the churches wanted all Climbers to be registered before acquiring their Origin Card. Criminals and delinquents were banned from moving forward, though everyone knew that all it took was a few Essence for the guard to look the other way.

    These were the inner walls, however. Another smaller wall stood a reasonable distance in front of me, and it cut off the Academy grounds from the Academy Town. Without wasting any more time, I walked briskly through the gates and headed to the dorm buildings. They were built on the grounds but further from the Academy.

    While walking through the dorm hallways, I rummaged through my pockets, finding a few different items. After fumbling for a bit, I pulled out two small bronze keys. It wasn''t long before I stood in front of the door to which one of them belonged.

    There on the second floor, I stood in front of a small wooden door with the number twelve engraved in the center. The key slid easily into the slot, and I pushed open the door while holding my breath. I smiled. It was just as I remembered it.

    The room was simple. It had a small living room with a single chair, a connecting bedroom, a separate bath, and a balcony overlooking the wall. I didn''t take the time to reminisce as I went straight to the bed and flipped it on its side.

    I peeled up the floorboards to reveal two wooden boxes. Both were locked, with chains wrapping around them. It may have been overkill, but I was paranoid back then. Rightfully so, since I hadn''t been strong enough to guard what was mine.

    After lifting the boxes, I opened a nearby wardrobe and rummaged through the mess of clothes at the bottom. They weren''t clothes that I actually wore. They were just there to hide the small safe thaty beneath them. I pulled out the metal box and spun the numbers until I heard a satisfying click.

    The lid popped open on its own, and I pulled out the two keys that sat inside,ughing as I did so. Everything was just as I remembered it... down to thest detail.

    I opened the smaller of the two boxes and pulled out a long, ck cane. The shaft was ck, and an ornate, silver handle decorated the top. It was the same cane that I''d died holding, though it was in much better shape. It wasn''t beaten and battered, and the handle hadn''t been worn out from years of use.

    "Ho ho! What a work of art!" I pressed a hidden button on the handle, and a small click could be heard. In one motion, I pulled on the handle, revealing a short, thin sword that had been hidden in the shaft.

    I flicked it back and forth a few times before examining it. The sword was just under three feet long and was as sharp as a razor. Reflected within the shining de, I could see my eyes looking back at me. Those weren''t the dull eyes of an old, worn-out man.

    Those eyes were young and full of ambition.

 Chapter 3

    "You haven''t even gotten your de wet," I chuckled and ran my finger slowly across the edge of the sword. This was another family heirloom, and I had no clue where it hade from. I''d had it appraised once, and the smith said the materials hade from a higher Floor. That''s all I knew.

    The weapon had yed a significant role in my previous life, and even walking from the Academy to the dorms without it felt ufortable. After so many years, it was like the cane had be a part of me. Regardless of its value and the risk I was taking, I decided that it would apany my journey in this life as well. It''s not like I was the inexperiencedd I''d once been.

    I spun the sword slowly in my right hand while tightly holding the shaft in my left. It would take time for this body to be familiar with the moreplex movements. My training in the Academy mainly dealt with broader swords, spears, and abination of the two with shields. Dual-wielding and the use of rapiers or other unusual weapons were additional sses only offered to those who could pay.

    "I''ll have to get used to using my technique with this body, but the simpler movements shouldn''t give me any trouble," I chuckled and made a few gestures with the de, using a technique I''d picked up in my forties. A quiet whistle sang as the edge cut through the air.

    sh, stab, parry.

    The movements were a bit stiff, but they were more than enough for the First Floor. That was eighty years of experience at work. I feltfortable taking on even the Fourth Floor with just my de if needed. After a few more movements, I slid the two pieces together.

    Click.

    The cane was whole again, and it would take a very discerning eye to know that a de was hidden within. Cane in hand, I moved toward the second chest, a light tapping echoing in the room as I went.

    Using the other key, I opened the old trunk. The lid didn''t creak, and no dust escaped, showing that even as a young man, I had taken good care of the contents. The smell of cedar wafted from the interior, the fragrance filling the air like a strong perfume.

    "It''s just as I remember..."

    One by one, I began pulling items from the trunk. Aplete set of basic leather armor that my grandfather once used, a canteen, a small throwing knife kit, and a pouch that jingled when I lifted it. I pulled the drawstring on therge bag, revealing more than a thousand shards resting inside.

    "Twelve hundred Essence. Well... it''s a start," I grimaced. There had been a slight chance that I''d already paid next month''s house payment. Luckily, that didn''t seem to be the case. Putting the pouch to the side, I reached into the corner of the chest and gently lifted the inner liner.

    There, just beneath the felt, was a shining metal card. I pulled it out with a smile and scrutinized it. On the front was a picture of a small humanoid with light green skin. Vines decorated the Card''s border, showing the creature''s nature.

    "You''re just as I remember," I smiled and looked over the beautiful artwork. The beautiful woman on the front was smiling as she sat on a swing made from vines. The Card glowed briefly as if in response to my admiration.

    This was the rarest ss of Card, a Summon. Though there were a handful of Climbers on the upper floors that held one or two Pure Summons, there were very few who could brag that they owned a Holy. My grandfather had a habit of casting his Tame Creature Card before every fight, and by an incredible stroke of luck, the demonic creature he''d killed dropped this Card.

    When he passed away, he left this Card to my father, even if my old man''s Deck wasn''t really made to use it. The Card ended up getting my dad killed. Some bandits on the Eighth Floor attacked him and stole most of his Deck. I never figured out why he was targeted, but I assumed the existence of this Card had somehow been leaked.

    We were poor, and nothing my father owned was valuable. He carried around a basic sword and shield while wearing leather armor. His Deck box wasn''t shy, and he didn''t wear any relics. This Card was the only reasonable exnation.

    The only reason that I held the Card today was because of my benefactor. He happened upon the scene as the thieves tried to rip thest of the Cards from my father''s grasp. Most of his Deck was gone, but my dad managed to hold tight to hisst five. This benefactor had heard my father''s final words and brought thest of the Cards back to me on the Origin Floor.

    I never doubted the strange man''s story. He''d never told me his name, but looking back, I knew that he was from an influential family. His robes and Deck box gave him away. There was no reason for a Climber such as him to lie to a child or even to help one, for that matter.

    Instead of taking the Summon for himself, he made sure that my father''s Cards were returned to me. I promised the man that I would reach a high Floor one day to thank him properly, and I still remember the smile that he''d given me before leaving. After that, I never saw the man again... my sickness hadn''t allowed me to fulfill my promise.

    A man from the Academy came to retrieve me just a few days after my encounter with the Climber. He told me that I had received ast-minute schrship and that I would be escorted to my new dormitory immediately. It had been a bizarre few days, and I was sure that the strange Climber had something to do with it. The payments on our family home had even been covered for the first five years until I was old enough to hunt on the First Floor with the Academy''s permission.

    I still didn''t know why the man had done it. Whether it was because of pity or some strange sense of justice, I never found out. I never heard from the Climber again, and I never got the chance to thank him. Maybe this time around would be different.

    Turning my attention back to the Summon Card, I popped open the top of my Deck Box and slipped the Card inside. In the past, I''d feared losing the Card or someone discovering its existence. Looking back, I''d made the right call. This time, however, I believed the Card would be safer with me.

    Deck boxes were explicitly made with the intention of holding fifty-two Cards. That was the limit. No one had ever discovered why no more than fifty-two Cards could be used... it was just another of the Tower''s many mysteries. There were theories, of course. Since the Deck Box was a Relic that supposedly attached to a Wielder''s soul, it was believed that the soul itself could only handle a maximum of fifty-two Cards.

    Some people had tried holding excess Cards in another pocket and switching them out when the situation called for a different Spell or Ability... and it didn''t end well. The Card would activate, but the holder suffered such a powerful bacsh that he almost died. Others tried, but all of the experiments failed.

    At the moment, I have eight Cards. As far as students at the Academy were concerned, it was pathetic. Most of my ssmates had already filled their Decks. Even the poorest had more than half, which wasn''t surprising since the students regrly earned Essence while hunting beasts.

    Essence was the currency used within the Tower. Using Essence, Climbers could increase the Levels of their Cards, giving them more power and allowing them to climb to higher Floors. Essence could also be used to buy Cards of higher Ranking, which were usually more powerful than those of a lower Ranking.

    Every action in the Tower revolved around Essence... and there was only one way to get it. Killing monsters. When a beast died, a reaction urred within it that caused its blood to crystalize. A majority of the time, this crystal could be found near their heart. This shard contained the coveted Essence.

    Thinking up to this point, I nced around at my grandpa''s old gear. One of the teachers had refitted the old leather armor so that it wouldn''t slide off my slender figure. I was toned and muscr, but bulking up was difficult without proper sustenance. Even after the constant training, the Academy put me through, I struggled to build anything other than lean muscle.

    It took a few minutes to slide it on and clip the old Deck Box onto the custom-made belt slot. Imented the fact that I didn''t have the Auto-Equip Ability Card from my previous life. It was only a Blessed Card, but it made it simple to exchange one''s gear and everyday attire. I smiled at myself in the mirror before plopping down to y with the Essence pouch.

    When I was young, I had to be very stingy with my finances. The payments on our family home were just at fifteen hundred Essence per month, and it took everything I had to keep it in my name. Buying new Cards or purchasing better gear was out of the question. Many nights I''d gone to bed hungry because I didn''t have the funds for dinner. The Academy only provided a single meal in the mornings. Beyond that, students were on their own.

    My teachers tried to talk me into selling the estate, but I just couldn''t bring myself to give it up. Aside from the misceneous items I kept under my bed, it was the only thing I had left that belonged to the Wilder family. Because of this, my school years were my worst. I tied the pouch to my belt and leaned my head against the wall, thinking about everything that had happened.

    Time travel?

    That was absurd!

    I was an old man on the brink of death, yet here I am, fiddling with a bit of Essence in my old dorm room. It just didn''t make any sense. There were many powerful Cards and even rumors about Cards that could affect time and space. However, from what I''d heard through the Network, their effects were very limited.

    "I need to arrange my thoughts..." I sighed and massaged my temples while I tried to recall my current circumstance. "At the moment, I''m in danger of losing my home. The fucking bank was always up my ass, and if I was even a dayte, they would post an eviction notice."

    "There is just over a week before the next payment is due. Fifteen hundred Essence was arge sum for me back then. Gathering that amount was possible, but I constantly missed meals," I smiled.

    "The situation this time will be different," I hummed to myself and tapped the floor with my cane while formting a n. My pupils shrunk as I remembered something vital. "That''s right, the date!"

    I stood up and jumped in excitement, almost knocking my head against the ceiling, "There are still several years before the public learns of this century''s First Floor Achievements! This is my chance!"

    All of my reservations about my current situation flew out the window when I thought of this. I was an old man, and I''d experienced many things. I''ll be damned if I don''t make the most of this second chance.

    "If I canplete all of the Secret Achievements, maybe the max Level of my Origin Card can approach six or seven!" I snatched up the pack of throwing knives and attached them to another section of my belt.

    The First Floor, also known as the Floor of Awakening, was essentially a Tutorial Floor for the Tower. There were no demonic creatures, and a handful of basic Achievements had to be met before one could ascend to the Second Floor. The stairs leading up were blocked by a barrier that wouldn''t allow anyone to pass unless they''d met the minimum requirements.

    The better one performed on the First Floor, the more powerful their Origin Card would be. The Origin Card didn''t count as part of the Deck and was unique to every Climber. It was spected that one''s nature had just as much to do with the Tower''s decision as their performance.

    Aside from the basic Achievements, there were several more that hadn''t been made known to the public. These Achievements were not as well-known.

    Some of the Achievements were told to all who reached their senior year in the Academy. It was known that all graduates had more powerful Origin Cards than their peers, but the reason for this was well-kept.

    There were some even less known Achievements that were only known by a few influential families within the Tower. Beyond those, there were a few secret Achievements that almost no one knew about, but the families will somehow learn about them a few days from now.

    And how did I know all of this? Because around fifty years from now, this information will be made public through the Tower Network! Of course, the Achievements reset every century, so this news had only been released to force Climbers to spend more time on the First Floor searching for new Achievements.

    No one could stop the rumors, so there were plenty of Climbers who stayed on the First Floor for years in the hopes of gaining a powerful Origin Card. I could remember when the rumors were confirmed, people who had never thought of Climbing flocked to the First Floor to try their luck.

    In my previous life, I''d onlypleted the basic Achievements and those provided by the Academy. This time, however... The corners of my lips turned up, and I couldn''t hold back the excitement I was feeling.

    I wasn''t sure why I was given this opportunity. As much as I hated my previous Origin Card, it seemed to have be my salvation... thoughts of the monsters that stormed the Tower before my death flooded my mind. There were only a hundred years to prepare for that catastrophe.

    There was no way to fight it, but maybe... If I was strong enough... could I escape? My mind whirled. Would I really leave all of my people behind? Maybe I could tell them..? No, they''d think I was a freak. Even if I were believed, some powerful faction would likely lock me away to use my knowledge for themselves.

    But, that wouldn''t happen if I were strong enough...

    "I''ve got to reach the Upper Floors!"

    With no time to waste, I double-checked my gear, making sure that my Deck Box and throwing knives were clipped tight. I pulled open the wardrobe and grabbed my old backpack. It was just a simple bag with a sturdy leather strap... It would do.

    I nced through the contents and tossed my canteen and Essence pouch inside before leaving. My cane tapped on the wooden floor, and I hummed a merry tune as I strutted out the door.

    The dorms were empty, as there were still several sses left for the day. The tap, tapping of my cane echoed loudly as I made my way through the silent halls. My humming filled the void, and my smile grew as I thought about what I was going to do.

    First, I strolled back along my former path, heading for the inner gates of the Academy. My eyes darted to and fro, observing the few guards and the constant silhouettes of my peers walking by therge ss windows. It seemed that they were all making their way to the next ss.

    My humming was interrupted by the thought of sitting in a ssroom for the rest of the day. I strode toward therge fountain in the courtyard while pulling the canteen from my bag. After filling it with the forever-clean water of the fountain, I tossed it into my bag and began my trek to the outer gates.

    As I walked back toward the dormitory, I admired the beauty and greenery of the courtyard. Many statues of famous Climbers adorned the campus grounds, and it had been many years since I''d seen themst. The view didn''tst long as I quickly made my way beyond the dormitory and walked up the cobblestone street toward the exit.

    The tapping of my cane drew the guards'' attention as I waltzed through the gate. One or two cast strange nces toward the cane that I was holding, but none tried to stop my leaving. The Academy''s students regrly went out to hunt for Essence, and it wasn''t their job to make sure that we stayed in ss.

    "Ahhh..."

    The sun was shining, a light breeze brushed against my skin, and I felt like a new man. An abundance ofnd spread out before me, showing the oundish size of the First Floor. With the Academy sitting atop arge hill in the center of the Floor, I could see the small town and farnd extended below me and a vast forest reaching beyond that.

    It only took a bit of walking for the sound of whispers to catch in my ear. The wind carried the voices of theborers and shopkeeps, and I could smell the aroma of freshly grilled meat from a not-so-distant tavern. Within minutes, I was walking through the inner ring of Academy Town.

    It was a simple ce, matching its simple name. The soil on the First Floor was fertile, and the resources that could be found were much more abundant than those of the Origin Floor below. Manyborers, cksmiths, or other craftsmen preferred to make their life on the First Floor rather than risk the climb to the upper levels. These people made up the majority of Academy Town, though there were still plenty of wealthy folks who took up residence as well.

    The muddy streets were worn by the constant travel of carriages. Excess trashy on the sides of the unpaved road, proving that the government still hadn''t bothered to develop this ce after hundreds of years. I grimaced as I trudged down the filthy path, doing my best to avoid getting the grime on my tattered boots.

    It was a shame that the same care that was given to the Origin Floor couldn''t be extended to the farmers around the Academy. If it weren''t for these men and women residing here, the cities below wouldn''t be as advanced as they were today. A horse-drawn carriage barrelled down the road, and I jumped to the side to avoid the sshing muck.

    If there was one thing I couldn''t stand... it was filth. At this time, the younger me had yet to discover the magnificence of the Cleansing Card. Even in my old, decrepit state, maintaining an immacte appearance had been one of my priorities.

    After all, one''s appearance spoke volumes.

    It took some time to make it to the main street, where the cobblestone once again reced the muddy roads. This was the only paved road outside of the Academy. It was wide enough for three carriages to pass and ran in one massive ring around the Academy.

    My pace quickened once I''d left the run-down inns and the shabby homes of theborers behind me. On either side of the ring, one could find spotless taverns, friendly shops, and Guild Halls that were quite active during the day. Many of the smaller Guilds set up shop to pull in young Climbers before they made a name for themselves. It was just a gimmick to look for potential early and underpay those with talent.

    Ignoring the calls from these buildings, I made my way along the much cleaner sidewalk. Though these Guilds were stingy, they hade to an agreement with the Academy to pay for a portion of this roadwork.

    It wasn''t unusual for an armored individual to walk this street, yet the eyes of the pedestrians constantly eyed my cane as it tap tap tapped on the smooth surface of the sidewalk. Seeing such a young man with a cane was odd, and the expensive item didn''t match my attire.

    Seeing young men on the Origin Floor attempt to imitate the wealthy old blokes wasn''t unusual, but I knew that my current situation was unorthodox. My old, dirty armor and the blood-stained Deck Box I had equipped didn''t match the brilliance of the polished cane. Most probably thought that I was a thief.

    Eventually, I hesitatingly stepped off the clean road and made my way to a small butcher''s shop a couple of rings back. Those shops on the main street were too expensive for me. A thick scent of blood radiated from the open-air shop, and flies buzzed around the area. There was a bulky, scarred man chopping meat while a younger man tended to the customers.

    Looking at the flies and rotten meat tossed to the side, I couldn''t help but sigh. Doing my best to keep a straight face, I joined the line and waited my turn as several customers left the ce with bags of boar meat. When it was finally my turn, I slipped my pack around to ess my Essence pouch.

    "Wee to Lacier''s Butchery," the young clerk smiled happily as he wiped snot from his nose with the back of his hand. His teeth were slightly rotten, and it didn''t look like he''d bathed in a long time.

    "Ugh... Hi there. I''d like to get two days'' rations of jerky, please, young man," I made a show of digging for my pouch, while in reality, I didn''t want thed to see my grimace. When I pulled out the smaller bag, the boy''s smile widened, and he turned to a side table.

    I looked on in horror as I watched him wrap the meat with the hand that he had just used to wipe away his snot. His grungy nails pushed into the dried meat as he packed it and wrapped it in the white paper. Without knowing my thoughts, thed returned to the counter and slid over the six individual packs.

    ''''30 Essence, please.''''

    Could I have bartered a bit? Sure... but I wanted to get out of this ce as soon as possible. I dropped the Essence into his waiting palm without touching the filthy hand, tossed the rations into my pack, and hurried away from the stall.

    I quickly made my way back to Main Street and took a deep breath. What a terrible experience. The thought of the dirtied rations in my pack made me shiver. With a bit of effort, I calmed down and nced at my surroundings.

    There was a nice-looking store across the street with arge ss window. On disy were a handful of Cards and a few pieces of adventuring gear. I smiled and nced at the mostly empty Deck Box on my hip, "I''ve still got over eleven hundred Essence."

    After crossing the street, I peeked in the window and saw a greedy clerk rubbing his hands behind the back of a customer looking over the disys. A few vivid memories yed when I watched the chubby man. It only took a few moments for the client to finish his transaction and leave.

    When the client walked out, I slipped through the open door to keep the bell from ringing. The merchant had already slunk to the back, and it gave me some time to browse his wares. This ce had an impressive amount of exotic items on disy, including a few Blessed Umon Cards.

    "Oh, I didn''t hear youe in. What do you w-" The little merchant was rude, openly judging my attire. Though, the moment his eyesnded on my cane, his attitude changed. "I mean, how can I help you, sir?"

    This man was nothing more than a crook. I remembered once buying a Card from here for 500 Essence, only to find outter that it was only worth a hundred. This little man constantly scammed students and other Climbers that had just begun their adventures.

    "Hello, sir," I decided to test the waters first. Currently, my needs were limited to the Foundation Cards that I was missing. Without such Cards, the others would uselessly collect dust in my Deck Box. "At the moment, I require a Strength Card. It doesn''t seem that you have any Foundation Cards on disy."

    My cane tapped lightly on the floor as I strode confidently to the counter. The man gulped as he eyed the silver handle that I was holding, clearly interested in the item. The chatan smiled, and I could tell he thought he was dealing with some naive boy who came into wealth.

    This man, who, funnily enough, was named Crook, widened his smile, "Please wait here for a moment."

    He walked to the back room, and I could hear him rummaging around. Eventually, the sound subsided, and the fat man returned, looking quite pleased with himself. I almostughed when he ced a ss disy case on the counter, with a simple Level 1 Strength Card sitting on a soft cushion inside.

    Strength Cards were the mostmon of the Foundation Cards. He probably had a stack of them sitting just around the corner. It seemed that this little man really thought that I was naive and that he could con me by dressing it up. Still, I yed along and examined the Card. The image in the center was of a bulky man flexing his muscles.

    "What a fine specimen! How much are you charging, good Sir?" I asked, making my Essence pounce jingle as I pulled it from my pack.

    Crook smiled, revealing a perfect row of white teeth, "Only 500 Essence for you, young man."

    "Is that all?" My own smile broadened when the merchant started rubbing his hands together. I pretended to count out the Essence before I stopped and looked at the man, "Are your prices negotiable?"

    "I''m sure that you know the importance of a Foundation Card. Without it, any other Cards that you possess are merely trinkets," Crook stroked his chin. "I''m sorry, but I can''t go any lower."

    "That simply won''t do," I rolled my cane between my fingers. "Would you be willing to make a trade?"

    His eyes shed greedily, and it looked like his eyes would jump out of their sockets as he examined my weapon. Iughed, knowing the Strength Card wasn''t worth more than a hundred Essence, and my cane was worth a few thousand, "Y-yes. I think we coulde to some sort of agreement."

    "Good. Then, I''ll trade you a vow of secrecy," I smiled at the man. My face remained the same, but my eyes turned cold as I leaned in. "I can assure you that this will be a great deal for you, Sir."

    The man scoffed, and I held up a hand before he could speak, "I''m sure the Guilds would love to hear about the fine medicine that you''re selling them. Advertising it as a minor healing powder while it does nothing but numb the pain. The traces of Howler venom that causes the consumption to be forgotten is also a nice touch."

    "W-what?!" Crook''s face turned white as the color was drained. He stammered for several seconds before putting on a forced smile, "Y-yes, yes. In fact, I just remembered that we were having a sale on Foundation Cards this week. I believe that this trade is of equal value."

    I smiled and pulled the Card from the shiny case before turning away. On my way to the door, I spotted a wooden case that contained twelve vials of translucent, green liquid. Sitting beside the case, another Card was on disy.

    "I''ll have to trouble you some more," I said merrily, taking the box and Card off the shelf and cing them in my bag. "In the future, I hope that we can continue to do business."

    I turned to bow slightly before backing out of the door. The little man''s face was red, and his arms shook from how tightly he gripped the counter. With a wave goodbye, I stepped out onto the street and put the shop to my back.

 Chapter 4

    "That unscrupulous merchant," I couldn''t help but grumble. He tried to shaft me... again. "If I weren''t able to make use of him, I would oust him to the authorities regardless of our agreement."

    After putting some distance between myself and that vile man, I found a clean roadside bench a short way from the Chapel of Liberation. The building stood taller than those surrounding it, a tribute to the wealth and power of the Church.

    A simr, darker facility stood on the southern side of the Academy. The Church of Damnation opposed the Church of Liberation, and anywhere you found one of their buildings, another could be found close by. Neither would let the other have a monopoly on an entire Floor.

    I brushed these thoughts away and pulled seven Cards from my Deck Box, mixing in the Strength Card I''d just acquired, along with the other prize from my excursion. It was a simple Card called Dash. Though it was only of Pure Rank, it would blend nicely with the other Cards that I currently possessed.

    "I now have three of the nine Foundation Cards. Intelligence, Agility, and Strength," I ced the three to the side. Without the addition of the Strength Card, most of the Cards in my Deck would be worthless. "These four Ability Cards should be more than enough to get started."

    This group of Cards consisted of Pierce, Howl, Throw, and the new Dash Card that I''d procured from the shady little merchant. Most Cards of this ssification required physical Foundation Cards to use, Strength and Agility being the leading examples. Abilities and Spells could be used without the necessary Foundation Cards, but the strain on one''s body or mind was immense if overused. There were cases of Climbers having heart attacks or giving themselves aneurysms when attempting to use a Card multiple times without the matching Foundation.

    Not intending to pull my Summon Card out, I looked at thest two. One was a Spell Card and the other an Enhancement. Enhancement Cards were simr to Foundation Cards that affected your person, but they were more precise and had more profound effects. The Enhancement Card that I was holding was called Memory. As the name suggested, it helped me remember tiny details that I would often forget and was one of the only reasons I''d been able to maintain my schrship.

    Lastly, the only Spell Card that I had on me was Inspect. It could be used to view more detailed information about any living creatures I came across. Unfortunately, I didn''t own the Examine Card that would allow me to view more detailed information about Cards or Relics. I did, however, have one of the simple tools handed out to Academy students that held a simr effect, but only on Cards.

    I pulled this item out of my pack. It was a nk, metal sheet the same size as a Card, simply called Demon ss. It was one of the cheapest and mostmon Relics among hunters. When tapped against a Card, it would pull up its basic information, the Essence needed to push it to the next Level, and expose the Card''s Rank.

    "Now that I have the Strength Card, I''ll be able to use Throwing and Pierce without holding back..." Slipping the Strength Card in with the rest of the Deck, I felt a sudden surge of warmth flowing through my veins. It was brief, and once it was over, I could tell that my body had be more powerful.

    As with all Foundation Cards, the effects were subtle. I couldn''t suddenly punch through walls or leap onto a second-floor balcony. Before the first Examine Card and the discovery of Demon ss, no one knew the exact effects of the Cards. Nowadays, it is well known that a Level One Foundation Card would increase the corresponding attribute by ten percent.

    "Hey, kid," a weary voice sounded behind me, interrupting my train of thought. I turned to see a haggard, drunken man looking over my shoulder. The boozeing off of his breath was heavy. It was odd how he''d sneaked up on me... my perception wasn''t that bad, was it?

    Since this fellow wanted to pry into my personal space, I decided against being courteous. Slipping my Cards into my Deck Box, I stood and put some distance between myself and the filthy vagrant.

    "Can I help you, sir?" I asked, doing my best not to snap at the man. One''s appearance must be proper. Even if my feathers were ruffled, I wouldn''t let it show.

    "Shouldn''t you be at the Academy, boy?" The drunken man asked while peering side-eyed at the uniform below my armor, "These old ears haven''t heard the final bell ring... meaning yoouuu are out here during school hours. That ain''t eptable,d."

    I couldn''t help but chuckle at the drunkard''s words. This boozer had another hundred years or more before he could call me ''boy,'' "Well, do you intend to rat on me?"

    "I might..." The man shrugged his shoulders and fiddled with his dirty Deck Box, "Kid... You really should head back to the Academy. You may not see it now, but you''ll regret missin'' those sses one day. Every lesson is valuable. You keep bein'' arrogant, an'' skippin'' ss yer gonna end up in a monster''s gut."

    "Hmm..?" I took a second look at the man. At first nce, he just seemed to be some drunken old fool, but after observing him for a moment... deep scars marred both of his arms. Though he was leaning over, his body was strong, and it appeared that he was forcing himself to look like a slob. His eyes were bright, and it looked like he''d seen his fair share of battle, which was odd to see on the First Floor.

    Either way, I wasn''t going to humor him. There was too much to do and hardly enough time to do it. He may have meant well, but this fellow''s uncouth nature and thatment about my arrogance had riled me up enough.

    "Pardon me, sir," I said, turning to leave. My cane tapped against the cobblestone as I walked away. "You should be old enough to know that blind advice tends tond on deaf ears."

    "..." The man watched silently as the young man retreated. Once the boy was a distance away, he shrugged his shoulders and moved back into the alley, "Youths, they never learn."

    This time, I found a more secluded spot to sort through my effects. It was a small garden next to an inn that had a few benches around a flowerbed. No one was around, and the area was bright and tranquil.

    Once I was settled, I pulled the Essence pouch and Demon ss from my pack and sorted my Cards next to me. There was 1,170 Essence left after paying for rations, and now it was time for me to make a choice.

    This decision wasn''t life or death at the moment, but it would affect how I needed to go about the next few days. It would take almost all of my remaining Essence to Level a fresh Card from Level 1 to 2. If I could use my Summon, this wouldn''t be necessary. Unfortunately, using Summons required an equivalently Leveled Wisdom Card. There was no way I could get my hands on a Level 3 Wisdom Card with my current funds.

    So, tofortably hunt the creatures on this Floor, it would be best to Level one of my Cards. At the moment, I felt that there were only two viable options. Strength or Agility.

    Leveling either of these would significantly enhance my physical attributes along with the effectiveness of my Ability Cards. My former self would likely Level the Strength Card to augment the Throwing ability. With my experience and my cane in hand, there was no reason for me to kill these mobs from afar.

    "Agility it is, then..." I tapped the Card with the Demon ss and looked it over while waiting for its stats to pull up. After my health started to decline, I relied on Agility in my past life. The Cards only augmented one''s attributes, and even doubling my Strength would have been useless when I struggled to lift a camping bag. While I was considering this, the Demon ss had finished doing its job.

    [Card Name: Agility]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Rank: Pure]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 55 / 1000]

    [Effect: Enhances the Wielder''s movement speed by 10%, allowing them to move faster. Also, any Cards that require Agility as a Foundation be more instantaneous, and their cooldown is decreased]

    "Well, it''s nice to see that it''s already absorbed some Essence," I chuckled and prepared myself for the lengthy process. Holding a shard of Essence in one hand, I pressed it against the surface of the metal Card. The Card shined briefly as the crystal lost its glow and turned pitch ck.

    The Card had consumed the Essence within the shard, leaving a worthless rock behind. On the surface of the Card, it looked like the woman hade alive briefly. She was a purple-haired beauty, and her dress and hair flew in the wind behind her as she sprinted through the woods.

    For almost an hour, I sat hunched over as the Card constantly glowed in my hand. Imented the fact that my pouch only contained Level 1 and 2 Essence. When I was done, the Card shone brightly, and the tendrils of wind surrounding the woman in the image seemed to increase. Once again, I tapped the Demon ss to the Card to examine it.

    [Card Name: Agility]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Rank: Pure]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 0 / 10,000]

    [Effect: Enhances the Wielder''s movement speed by 50%, allowing them to move faster. Also, any Cards that require Agility as a Foundation be more instantaneous, and their cooldown is decreased]

    My body felt lighter, and I couldn''t help but smile. This was the first step toward not being an invalid in this life. I nced over to the pile of nearly useless ck shards beside me. Aside from selling them to one of the Churches for a portion of the original value, I didn''t know what they were suitable for.

    I scooped the empty shards into the bottom of my pack and slid my Cards back into the Deck Box. Seeing the pile of useless scraps scattered throughout my bag, I couldn''t help but frown. Almost one thousand Essence gone, just like that.

    "That leaves me with two hundred twenty-five Essence," I sighed and tossed the pouch into my bag. It would be a while before I could upgrade a Card to Level 3, but before that, there were plenty of purchases and a payment on the estate to make. "No matter. Gathering more Essence won''t be an issue."

    Just when I turned to leave, the sound of a horse''s hooves clopping echoed down the street. I tucked my cane under my arm and dashed to the sidewalk, waving my free hand andughing, "Lucky me, my ride was just on time."

    A bearded man with an unnaturally round head pulled the carriage to the side of the road. His face was half buried in the bushy beard, and it was impossible to see whether he was smiling or scowling.

    "Good afternoon, sir," I bowed slightly to the driver. His brows rose, and even though his beard, I could sense a hint of a smile. Those that weren''t Climbers or of higher standing were looked down on and rarely treated with respect.

    "Hmm," the driver eyed me without speaking. I knew I probably looked strange wearing such shoddy armor over my Academy uniform, and it wasn''t often that anyone from the Academy showed amoner such respect in the first ce.

    "May I have a ride to the forest, sir?" I asked the man, cing my cane against the ground and leaning toward him. "I know I''m missing ss, but we''ve got to do what we can to make a living, right?"

    The bearded man scrutinized me for a while before his eyes softened and he nudged his head to the back. "Hop in, young man. You said the forest earlier. You mean the Old Boar Forest, right?"

    "Yes, sir!" I hopped in the back and tapped his shoulder to let him know I was ready.

    "Alrighty, then," he snapped his reins, and the horses trudged forward. "The road is a bit rough out there, but I can get you pretty close to the edge."

    I nodded in appreciation and settledfortably onto the long bench. It was padded with hay and suited for the small bumps of the cobblestone Main Street. Thefort didn''tst long. The moment we pulled off of Main Street, the vibrations were almost unbearable.

    I sat on the wooden bench and nced through the contents of my bag. Though the driver said he''d give me a lift, I nned to pay the chap 50 Essence. That was enough for a round trip... I knew he was going out of his way for me.

    After paying the man, I would have 175 Essence left. More than I''d anticipated, and that number would only grow over the next couple of days. It seemed thatdy luck was on my side.

    While we traveled, I examined my surroundings. The outer ring wasn''t as dirty as the inner ring thaty closest to the Academy. In this area, most of the big-time farmers, merchants, and wealthy individuals of the Origin Floor had set up onrger plots ofnd. The view from most of these locations was excellent, and there was more room for their stables and warehouses.

    As the carriage traveled further, I could see more and more space between the dwellings. When we approached the outskirts, small mansions withrge yards could be seen overlooking the farnd. The difference between these homes and those of theborers in the inner circle was like night and day.

    Once we reached the farms, the road smoothed out again, and the foul smell of the small city was reced with fresh air. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, soaking up the rays of the sun above me. This was nice, and I''d enjoy it while I could. With every Floor, the sky would be darker, and thend would be gued.

    Though the ride was bumpy, the driver wasn''t rushing his horses to get back to the city. Anyone else would probably make this trip as fast as they could to hurry back to the wealthy men and women who refused to walk the streets.

    "The view out this way is quite beautiful, isn''t it?" I asked, striking up a conversation. I knew that most of his patrons would likely ignore the man''s existence.

    The bearded man nodded and squinted his eyes, "That it is, sir. It isn''t often I get the chance to journey beyond the farms. Most Climbers on this Floor are poor, and the students of the Academy usually have their own horses in the summer homes."

    I chuckled, and the small talk continued long after the farms were at our backs. Finally, the driver had to stop as the wheels became ensnared in the tall brush. He turned the cart around and pointed the horses back toward the city.

    "I''m sorry I can''t take ya any further,d. The cart will be stuck out here if I do," he shook his head apologetically.

    With a smile, I patted the man on the shoulder and sat the stack of 50 crystals on the seat next to him, "No worries, sir. I''m delighted that I didn''t have to wear out these old bones to walk here."

    "Take your wife somewherevish this evening," I hopped off the back and dashed toward the woods before he could argue about the money I gave him. Along the way, I found out that the two were expecting.

    "What a strange kid," the driver scratched his beard and pocketed the Essence before steering his horses away. He smiled and hummed jovially, pleased with this recent expedition. I couldn''t help but chuckle at the man''s forwardness.

    It only took me a few minutes to reach the forest''s edge. With my Agility being boosted, I could have kept pace with the horses if I''d jogged beside the cart. Of course, they weren''t going full speed, and I would have exhausted myself.

    My eyes scrutinized the woond. Six men could have wrapped their arms around the massive tree''s trunks and were as tall as the wall around the Academy. And these were just on the outskirts. The further one delved, the broader and taller these trees would be.

    This was the start of the Old Boar Forest. It was aptly named for the thousands of Level 1 Wild Boars that were housed throughout. Even from this distance, I could hear more than one snorting within the brush.

    "Haaahhhhh..." I stretched my arms and yawned loudly. Tears formed at the corners of my eyes, reminding me of how tired I was. It urred to me that during my school days, I''d barely gotten any sleep. "Ugh... That isn''t something I should have forgotten."

    It was one of the reasons I''d splurged to buy the Memory Enhancement Card. Sleep wasn''t an option. In the Academy, sswork meant nothing. Only one''s grade on the final exam would determine whether they passed or failed. As long as one were to graduate, they would receive a Card of the Blessed Rank. If you couldnd in the top ten, you would get a Holy Rank Card, and the top spot even received a Sacred Card.

    Naturally, there would be a small handful of students that received full marks. In such a case, an essay exam and the students'' practical scores would be averaged to determine the final result. In my previous life, Aurora had been the one to receive the Sacred Card, which was enough to draw the ire of many other students.

    Memories flooded back to me while I stood at the edge of the woods. Those days had been painful, but I still looked back fondly when the nights were quiet. After all, these were thest days I''d spent being healthy.

    I swiped back the long, ck hair that had fallen into my eyes. How I lived like such a slob, I would never know. Using my de, I cut some of the excess string off my Essence pouch and used it to tie my hair back, "Welp, now that''s out of the way, I think it''s high time to loosen up these stiff bones."

    My countenance changed the moment I stepped into the forest. Though these boars were nothing more than a nuisance, I still needed to test my body. It wasn''t used to the many techniques I''d learned over the years. To be safe, I would go for a test run before the true hunt began.

    Cane tucked beneath my arm, I sped up to a jog and nimbly dodged in and out of the trees to test my reflexes. The results were satisfactory. I didn''t stop until I heard the loud grunting of a boar on the other side of a nearby brush. This was the opportunity I was looking for.

    Quietly, I peeled back a few branches until I could see the shape of the creature. It was just a normal boar, half as tall as a man, with two small tusks protruding from its snout. I almostughed... It had been years since I''d seen such a normal-looking beast.

    Before making a move, I pulled my Inspect Card from my Deck Box. Regardless of a creature''s appearance, it was taught in the Academy, as well as through life experience, that one should always get a read on their opponent before initiating an attack. It wasn''t particrly necessary on the First Floor... but old habits die hard.

    I held the Card up through a gap in the leaves and faced the back directly toward the creature. There was a floating eye in the center of the Card that slowly faded as it began to do its work. In just a few moments, I had confirmation that this wasn''t a tainted beast.

    [Wild Boar]

    [Level 1]

    "Ah, right..." I chuckled quietly and slipped the Card into my Deck Box. "At Level 1, the Inspect Card does nothing more than show a creature''s name and Level. I''ll be sure to upgrade it before heading to the Second Floor."

    Casting the stray thoughts aside, I grasped the hilt of my cane. In one swift motion, I activated the Throw Card while simultaneously clicking the button to release the de. The sheath slung forward with inhuman speed and uracy, hitting the boar''s temple. Dazed and injured, it squealed and ran in circles, searching for the offender.

    When it came within five yards, I activated Dash. As if I were prompted by some unseen force, my body lurched toward the stunned beast. I was going faster than expected. In my haste, I hadn''t considered the additional power provided by the Strength and Agility Cards.

    I quickly repositioned my sword so that it was parallel to the ground and activated Pierce. The edge glowed with a blue sheen that hadn''t been there prior. My body continued to fly forward, and the tip of the de prated directly through the boar''s skull, killing it instantly. The Dash Card continued to propel me forward, pushing myself and the corpse another two yards.

    Once the Ability Cards had settled down, I pulled the de from the creature''s skull. It was a clean kill. Blood poured from the wound as the corpse fell to the ground with a dull thud.

    "Haah..." I breathed out loudly and shook my head. It was ignorant of me to believe that I still had so much control over my body. In my elder years, I had enough control over myself and the Cards that I could cancel the active effects, "It seems that I will have to instill some discipline in this body."

    Iughed loudly and reviewed my blunders, "The Dash Card at Level 1 has a cooldown of twenty seconds and a distance of five yards... However, I didn''t ount for the boost from my Foundation Cards. My Strength increased the initial burst by ten percent, and my Agility increased the distance traveled by half. Therefore, the current limit should be approximately eight yards."

    Squinting, I checked that my math was urate before slicing open the boar''s chest with one of my throwing knives. This was my least favorite part of hunting. With deft movements, I peeled back theyers of meat, thrust my hand into the open chest cavity, and pulled back a hard, stone-like object.

    Opening my fist, I found that I was holding a beautiful crystal, matching those of the Essence in my pouch. It was spotless. Even the blood that was still warm on my hands didn''t seem to soil its surface.

    I tossed it to the side and opened my pack with my clean hand, rummaging through the mess until finding the box that the merchant had been kind enough to provide me. Grabbing one of the twelve vials, I pulled the stopper with my teeth and poured a single drop onto my sword, knife, and bloodied hand.

    The blood evaporated instantly. Not just the blood, but I could feel all of the grime that was built up on my body disperse. Even my hair was no exception. It felt as if I''d just finished bathing in a warm spring.

    "All this for a single Essence," I chuckled. As far as I knew, there wasn''t a possibility for the beasts on this Floor to produce a Card. The beasts here didn''t contain the Demonic Essence that formed the Cards. On the Second Floor, things were different. The drop rate for a Pure Card from a Crazed beast was one in a hundred.

    "There will be plenty of opportunity to farm Cardster," I told myself, tossing the Essence into my pouch and sheathing my sword. This test proved to me my current limits. Throughout the rest of my task, I would hone my body''s skills and gain control over the Cards. It wouldn''t be easy.

    Luckily, my task would assist me greatly. I turned my head upon witnessing the rustle of a nearby brush. It seemed two boars had heard themotion ande to investigate. I chuckled merrily, not bothering to hide my presence. If anything, I needed to attract more of these brutes. The first of the Secret Achievements was a rather lucrative task.

    Kill one thousand Wild Boars in under six hours.

 Chapter 5

    "What took you so long?" Crook practically shouted the moment the shop door waspletely closed. He tapped his feet against the wood floor impatiently while staring at the three individuals who had just entered his store.

    One by one, they removed their hoods, revealing stern looks on their scarred faces. Each of them had dark hair, and they all held very simr features. The biggest of the brutes pulled down the cor of his dark robe, revealing a skull tattoo on his chest.

    "Yes, yes, I know who you are. What the hell took you so long?" The merchant asked, pulling a long face and mming his fist on the counter.

    Thergest of the men frowned at the merchant''s attitude but didn''t look at all upset by the little man''s tirade. He stepped toward the counter, towering over the little man, and grunted, "What''s got you so riled up, Crook?"

    "Rock," Crook took a deep breath and bowed his head respectfully. "I''m sorry for my actions."

    Rock frowned and shook his head, but before he could speak, one of the other men walked over and leaned heavily on the counter. He was a tall, lean man with a splotchy beard and yellowed teeth. "Stop wasting our time. What business do you have with Skull Mercenaries?"

    "Boulder..." Rock warned his little brother, who rolled his eyes and backed off the counter. Boulder grumbled and went to stand with the third and youngest of the brothers, who was browsing the wares, "Sorry for his bluntness, but he''s right. You called us here for a reason. Spit it out."

    Crook rubbed his hands while sweating buckets. The man before him was known for his strange personality. He might seem polite now, but he could be seconds away from splitting the merchant''s head open, "I-I have another target. Are you interested?"

    The giant of a man suddenly moved. Crook flinched but looked back up when he didn''t feel any pain. Rock was on the other side of the store, "Stone! If you break any of this man''s wares, I''m taking it from your cut!"

    "S-Sorry..." The smallest of the three stammered.

    Rock sighed and returned to the counter, frowning, "So, you have another target? This is the fifth time already. Do you know what that means?"

    "Y-Yes. Please tell your boss I''ll have the Essence delivered via the usual route," Crook embellished on the matter. Though he knew that he was only supposed to discuss payment with the boss, he would do well to keep these guys happy.

    Rock clicked his tongue and growled, "What''s the target''s description?"

    "A young man, around eighteen years old and wearing a set of old leather armor with an outfit from the Academy beneath it. Long ck hair. Oh, and he carried a remarkably ornate cane for someone who looked so poor," Crook grinned, knowing they were interested from the look on Boulder''s face.

    Stone was standing by one of the shelves, writing something in a notebook. Crook assumed that it was the description that he gave.

    "What did this kid do?" Boulder asked while looking at the Cards in the disy case.

    Crook clenched his fists, "That rat threatened me and then stole from me!"

    "What did he steal?"

    The merchant gritted his teeth, "Does it matter?"

    "Answer him," Rock said sternly. A cold feeling washed over the room, and Crook visibly paled.

    "A-Alright," he gulped. "He stole a Strength Card, a Dash Card, and a case of Infernal Wash."

    "Pffft," Boulder held his hand over his mouth, doing his best not tough. "You mean to tell me this boy made a fool of you for two easy-to-get Pure Cards and some fancy soap?"

    "Is he just a fool, or does he have a reason for being so arrogant..." Rock wondered aloud.

    "He''s a damned fool!" Crook shouted angrily, "Since he''s a part of the Academy, he must think that we peasants are nothing but rubbish!"

    "That isn''t anything new," Stone rolled his eyes. "The Academy''s students receive more resources than us mon'' folk. That doesn''t mean anything. They have no experience and some even faint at the sight of human blood!"

    Rock felt that something was missing from this merchant''s story. They''d worked for the little man before, and though he was petty, he wouldn''t be the type to throw this much Essence away for a few items that weren''t worth a tenth of their expense. This kid must have taken something else he doesn''t want us to know about.

    ''''Any idea about his whereabouts?'''' Rock asked.

    "Yes. I had a man tail him when he left the shop," Crook answered. "He jumped on the first carriage he saw and was taken to the Old Boar Forest."

    "Very well. We''ll bring you his head in the morning. The Wild Boars can take care of the body," Rock huffed and motioned for his brothers to follow him. The trio left the store, and Crook was once again left alone.

    "Haah..."

    The merchant sighed and rubbed his temples for several minutes before finally calming down, "They''re right, it isn''t worth it to bother them over some kid. That doesn''t mean that I can just let it go..."

    Crook clenched his fists tighter as he thought of the Essence he''d thrown away while disposing of the evidence. Each of those salves would have pulled in hundreds of Essence.

    ''''Those fools just don''t understand. If I were to do nothing and my employer were to find out, it would be my head and not the kid''s...''''

    As the bandits set out to the Old Boar Forest, Aurora sat in her seat at the front of the ss. She was ncing back and forth between her notebook and arge, open book filled with images of Cards with brief descriptions beneath them. One of the Cards within her Deck was active, muffling the ruckus of the rowdy ss behind her.

    The Card was deactivated when she felt a light tap on her shoulder, and she huffed in annoyance before turning around. The afternoon sun shone through the window and blocked her view, something the Academy designers obviously didn''t consider when the building was erected.

    "Miss Aurora?"

    She knew that voice. Aurora raised her hand to block the stream of light, revealing the face of one of her least favorite ssmates, Zachary Gray. He was second in the ss, just behind her. He had blonde hair, was very handsome, and though he''d always seemed kind, the guy gave her the creeps. His posse of low-life cheaters and rich boys stood behind him, ring at her over his shoulder.

    "What do you want, Gray?" She asked sharply, hoping he''d make it quick so that she could get back to work. Senior year wasing to an end, and she wouldn''t have ess to these resources once it was over.

    Zachary smiled, ignoring the cold attitude, "Miss Aurora, would you mind if I borrowed your notes on the progression of the Demon Rankings?"

    "You can''t use your own?" Aurora snapped, "The end of Academy is still a few days away... don''t tell me you''re gettingzy, number two?"

    "Hah. You''ll have to excuse me, Miss Aurora. It seems that I''ve lent my notes to the wrong person, and they misced them," He smiled at a chubby young man standing behind him, but that smile did not reach his eyes. The plump man shriveled under his gaze, and Zachary''s attention shifted back to Aurora. "Even if I had them, your notes are likely leagues better than my own."

    "Your poor judgment is not my problem, Zachary," Aurora turned around, activating her Sphere of Silence Card and returning to her studies. A dark gaze reced the man''s usual, pleasant demeanor, but it passed as quickly as it came. When he turned to his friends, he still seemed to be the cheerful young man he''d been moments before.

    Compared to his seemingly tranquil attitude, the heavy man who''d misced the notes looked livid, "How dare you act like you''re better than us! You''re just some bitch from a third-rate merchant family! If you don''t treat Sir Gray with respect, I''ll-"

    "You shouldn''t show yourself in such a way, Graham. It isn''t proper. Besides, she''s still one of our ssmates," Zachary''s arm extended in front of him, blocking the angry man from touching the young woman. He shook his head, "Besides, it isn''t like she can hear you."

    A fetching young woman with auburn hair standing close to Zachary huffed in annoyance. Her face flushed as she nced between the young man and the beautiful woman who stood at the top of the ss, "How can you be so kind to her while she''s treating us like trash? You aren''t any less important than those from the Noble Families."

    One of the other students nudged Zachary with his elbow, "I don''t me ya. I''m a bit infatuated myself. It''s a shame she''s so cold."

    The auburn-haired girl clenched her fists and red at the back of Aurora''s head. A mere merchant''s child didn''t deserve to have so much attention.

    Zachary just shook his head at all of this, not voicing his thoughts to those bickering around him. Before the group could get even more riled up, the ssroom door opened, and a chill washed through the crowd of students.

    Miss Warren stepped in, carrying a stack of papers and a few old, leatherbound books. The chill in the room dissipated once all of the young men and women had taken their seats. She nodded in approval before walking down the stairs toward the oversized ckboard.

    Aurora closed her notebook, deactivated her Sphere of Silence, and watched respectfully as the professor closed the door. Miss Warren walked down the stairs and stopped about halfway up with a frown on her face. She stared at an empty seat on the far end, closest to the window.

    Aurora followed the woman''s gaze and took note of the empty chair. It seemed Rowan hadn''t shown up for the afternoon ss. That was strange...

    Though Aurora had never paid attention to her lower-ranking ssmate, the look he''d given her this morning had thoroughly ruined her day. She was at the top of the ss and had worked hard to get there. Where did some schrship student who couldn''t keep his grades up get the balls to look down on her?

    "Has anyone seen Mister Wilder?" Miss Warren asked loudly while continuing down the stairs. Some snickered, and others looked between the empty seat and the teacher, wondering why she cared.

    Aurora took one more nce at the seat, rolled her eyes, and turned her textbook to the page they were studying the day before. She didn''t have time to deal with some loser who wouldn''t bothering to ss just before the final exam.

    Miss Warren took in all her students'' actions, sighed, and rubbed her temples. She wished they would care more about one another... having a solid team that one could trust was just as crucial in surviving the Tower as having knowledge.

    "All right! Everyone open your textbooks," she used a Card that allowed her voice to reach everyone in the room. "Miss Aurora, please remind everyone where we left off."

    Shhwoo!

    A thin de tore through the air, slicing wind and leaving a barely visible tail behind. A boar''s head thudded to the ground, rolling slightly beforeing to a stop. Not a drop of blood remained on the de, and the warrior behind it stood as clean as if he''d just dressed for the day.

    "Six hundred ny-two..."

    Without a second nce at the corpse, I tore off into the next clearing. Though many Climbers would kill thousands of Wild Boars before heading to the Second Floor, they took the time to cut out the Essence. This was the reason very few folks had found out about this task.

    If I had a full Deck, maybe I could rip out the Essence as I went, but I wasn''t ready for that as things stood. The best I could manage was to kill a couple hundred boars an hour and return to collect the Essenceter. I wasn''t expecting to get much of it. Climbers, hunters, and other creatures regrly roamed these parts... and none would pass up such an effortless fortune.

    The sun had already begun to fall, leaving long shadows dancing wildly between the trees. I was only left with a couple hours to finish my task... It was more than enough time to do the killing, but the number of boars in this area had begun to thin. I''d already relocated twice, and it seemed I''d have to do so once more before the day was through.

    Leaping over some overgrown bracken, I found myself face to face with three startled boars. I smiled. My feet hit the ground, and before they could charge, I activated Dash.

    Jogging around a tree on the other side of the clearing, my grin broadened when I heard three soft thuds in the grass behind me. My control had increased exponentially over thest few hours, and I could now alter the distance or even change the direction of my Dash before the Ability hit its limit.

    Training the body was one thing, but conditioning my mind to better control spells in the future... I shook my head, "One thing at a time. Can''t let this old mind wander."

    Casting Dash every time the cooldown was over, it only took a few minutes to make it several hundred yards further into the forest. I burst from the thicket and found myself in an immense in... and there were Wild Boars as far as the eye could see.

    "This..."

    I couldn''t believe it. Several hundred of the tusked beasts wandered aimlessly about, sometimes stalking off into the surrounding trees. If I were right, this must have been the spawn zone for these simple creatures. This had to be a spawn zone.

    But this was more than a spawn zone... This was a Climber''s paradise.

    Well, it would have been if I had a full Deck. With the few Cards I had, taking them all at once would be the equivalent of suicide. Fortunately, I had a solution for this.

    With practiced movements, I pulled out two of the throwing knives from the pouch on my belt. I mbered into the lowest branches of a nearby tree and chose a boar that was about a fifth of the way into the crowd. My arm heated up as the Throw Ability was activated, and I aimed for a plump spot on the beast''s backside.

    Swoosh!

    With a flick of my wrist, the knife left my hand and flew toward the creature, striking it perfectly in the rump. The boar cried in anguish and thrashed about, crashing into the beasts surrounding it before turning toward my position and barreling toward the woodline. Each boar that it knocked into followed suit, and they formed a small stampede that paraded loudly through the woods.

    "One, two, three..." I counted forty in total. It was a bit more than I''d meant to pull, but it wasn''t more than I could handle. The small horde of swine raced harmlessly by the tree where I was perched, smashing the brush and leaving a tant path with which to pursue them.

    The final boar passed by unawares, and I activated Dash. My body lurched forward, and the Ability''s momentum carried my de directly into the pig''s skull. Almost no sound was made as my feet lightly tapped the ground, and I directed the skill tounch me toward the next target, Pierce already active.

    The target was run through, and I drove the second small throwing knife into the beast''s eye before choosing my next target. Two boars had died, and the small horde ahead of them were none the wiser.

    Over the next several minutes, I chased after the slowly diminishing pack, striking down one after the other until those in the lead began to take notice. It was toote for them. The boars'' numbers were down to twenty-six, and just like the mindless Crazed beasts on the next Floor, they''d charged in a straight line... and corralled directly into a small clearing I''d passed before finding the spawn zone.

    With their momentum gone, the overgrown pigs couldn''t bust free from the other side of the clearing. Turning around was hardly an option for the thick brutes either. A smile crept on my face... I took a deep breath and...

    "Hooooooooooooooo!"

    A deafening howl escaped my throat, sounding close to that of a wolf''s. The effect was immediate. For a moment, all was still, and you could almost cut the tension in the air with a knife. Then, trapped and facing forward with no means of escape, the Wild Boars scrambled into one another, trampling their peers into the ground. I smiled, knowing that my kill count was rising.

    This was a trick I''d picked up from a Climber I met on the Sixth Floor and also something they didn''t teach in ss. Even if mobs or demonic creatures were to be the direct cause of death, if you indirectly forced it, the Tower would grant you the kill. This was tricky, as the Tower would grant kills for actions like area of effect Spells or forcing beasts to ughter one another... but when it came to locking a beast in a building and forcing the roof to cave in... nothing.

    I waited until the boars'' frenzied movements had ended, and then I made my move. With a Dash and a few light steps, the heads of the final beasts fell to the ground. Unfortunately, I hadn''te out of the mess unscathed.

    "Almost seven hundred boars and not so much as a speck," I grumbled. "Then just one simple herd maneuver and these boots are stained so badly that even the Infernal Wash won''t be able to clean them properly."

    I sheathed my sword and continued grumbling as I pulled my knife from the leading boar''s thigh. Begrudgingly, I held on to the de and made my way around the edge of the spawn zone... without cleaning myself. Infernal Wash may not have been a rarity after the Fifth Floor, but getting another case of the stuff so easily on the First Floor would prove to be a challenge.

    Quiet grumbles constantly sounded from beneath the forest canopy as I trudged along, my blood-soaked boots squelching with every step. Each time I heard the noise, I couldn''t help but cringe and force myself to ignore the warm, wet feeling between my toes.

    It only took a few minutes of searching to find another simr clearing... and then the game began again. The efficiency was much greater than I imagined, and I finished the task just as I lost sight of the sun behind the trees. It had been a long afternoon, and the blood-soaked floor of the forest was a testament to my perseverance.

    I stood in the center of another small clearing, the corpses of nearly fifty Wild Boars strewn around me. Sweat poured from my brow, and my clothes nor armor had been spared from the shower of blood that had urred only moments before. Though, most of the mess hade from harvesting the corpses while waiting for my reward.

    "Haahhh..." Heaving a sigh, I stretched and pulled the open vial of Infernal Wash from my pack. Without hesitation, I pulled the cork and emptied the contents onto myself, my clothing, and my weapons. Dim, red light encased my being as the blood and grime turned to dust and blew away in the wind. "Now... where is it?"

    I sheathed my de and watched the skies. This was something I''d never experienced before, but based on the information from the Network, the Tower should gift me with a Card any moment now. ording to the data, each of the Secret Achievements could reward the Climber with one of four Cards based on the task. Most thought the selection was random, but a few believed that the Tower would bestow the Card that would benefit the Climber most.

    It took another few seconds, but I finally felt a change in the air. A warm breeze surrounded me, the sound of music tickled my ears, and a golden light fell through the canopy of the trees. Within the rays, a small, rectangr shape slowly emerged.

    I reached toward the shape, which drifted out from the light,nding in my open palm and killing the theatrics. The wind, the music, and the lights vanished as one. Curiously, I scrutinized the metal Card, my Demon ss already in my hand.

    The face of the Card held the figures of two men. One of the men was slightly injured, and the other waved a pair of glowing hands over the wound. My visage brightened the moment I recognized it, and I shifted my gaze to the words on the Demon ss.

    [Card Name: Heal]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1000]

    [Foundation: Intelligence, Wisdom]

    [Effect: Grants Wielder the ability to heal wounds that aren''t excessively deep. The injury can not be under the effect of any damage over time ability, infected, or in critical locations. 5-minute cooldown. Effects of the healing are determined by the Wielder''s Intelligence. The cooldown is dependant upon the Wielder''s Wisom]

    After reviewing the text, I shoved the Demon ss into my pack and carefully ced the Heal Card into my Deck Box. It may have only been a Blessed Rank Spell, but a Climber without some way to heal might as well hang up his hat and forget reaching the higher Floors.

    Something rustled in the brush behind me, breaking me away from my thoughts. I whipped my head around and found three ratherrge men standing behind me. Each was donned in a familiar cloak that I recognized from the images shared by the Tower Network. These guys were members of the Skull Mercenaries.

    So... the merchant has made his move.

    The smallest was carrying a pouch, grinning from ear to ear as he weighed it in his hands. I eyed the bag, trailed down to examine the man''s boots... Then, my grin widened as well.

    I was in need of some new boots.

    "I hateing to this ce," Boulder griped, tossing a small, glowing ball back and forth between his hands. "It''s so humid... couldn''t we have just waited for the kid toe back?"

    Rock grunted and kept walking forward, but Stone scoffed at his elder brother, "What''s got your knickers in a twist? Look at all this loot!"

    Stone bent down and held his hand over a corpse. His palm lit up, and after a few seconds, the boar''s skin began to stretch as if something were trying to get out from the inside. Stone made a small nick with his dagger, and an Essence shard burst out and flew straight into his hand.

    "Just look at this," he said, tossing the Essence into his bulging pouch. "I''ve already gathered almost a thousand of these things. What kind of loon goes hunting and doesn''t gather up his haul?"

    Rock shook his head, ignoring his younger brothers'' bickering. Something felt wrong. This was supposed to be an Academy student, but these kills were too clean. At first, there had been a mess, and the kills were a bit sloppy... but for thest hour, there hadn''t been an ounce of blood sttered around the wounds.

    Then, they''de across the first clearing. Several corpses were strewn about, and many were stomped and bruised... like they''d been struggling to escape some terrifying enemy. It was like the kid had gained several years of experience after just a few hundred measly boars. Though they''d gotten a profile from the kid from their rat in the Academy, Rock felt as if he didn''t have enough information.

    "But he''s still only a kid... Right?" He mumbled, ncing at the carnage around him. Just ahead, the blood on the corpses had yet to thicken. They were getting close. "You two look alive... We''re close."

    His younger brothers grinned and jogged up next to him, Stone tossing his treasure up and down and Boulder dismissing the glowing ball. Rock pushed aside the thick leaves of another bush, exposing another clearing with several dead boars. But this time, there was a difference.

    Standing in the center, with his head cocked to the side, looking at the three brothers, there was an attractive young man with a frown on his face. He had long ck hair tied into a ponytail and bright green eyes, and there wasn''t a speck of dirt on his person. Well... aside from the ugly blood stains on his tattered boots.

    What stood out the most was the long, ck cane with the ornate silver handle. That confirmed it. This was the youth named Rowan Wilder.

    Rock felt unsettled as the fellow stared at each of them with a discerning re. Those weren''t the bright, hopeful eyes of a young man. Those were the eyes of a man who''d seen blood. The man''s focus shifted to the bag in his younger brother''s hands... and then, for some reason, to his feet.

    The young man grinned, sending shivers down Rock''s spine.

    "It seems that you gentlemen have saved this old man the trouble of a lengthy walk," the youth continued to smile, but it didn''t reach his eyes. "I suppose I''ll have to thank you properly."

 Chapter 6

    The forest was silent... as if it could feel the tension between the youth and the three assassins. The wind remained dormant, the leaves above held perfectly still, and even the boars in the distance had ceased their mor. Only the young man dared to interrupt this tranquil moment, his grin never fading

    "Our mutual friend didn''t waste any time, did he?" I chuckled and leanedzily upon my staff. The center mercenary''s face scrunched when he heard my words, but he didn''t respond. I sighed, "Well, good sirs, I don''t suppose you''d like to hand over my Essence, and we chalk this up to a deadlock?"

    Rock''s face twitched, "So, is that your game,d? Kill a few Level one boars and bluff your way out of the mess you''re in. Do you think feigning arrogance is your best option?"

    "I suppose neither of you gentlemen wishes to contribute to our conversation?" I asked, ncing between the two younger men. "It''s odd that you''re letting Rock do all the talking."

    The two brothers, who hadn''t been taking this seriously, turned solemn. Boulder pulled the broadsword from his shoulders and held it in front of him, "How do you know Rock?"

    "Wouldn''t you like to know?" I asked, shifting my stance slightly. The reports I''d read painted Boulder as the hothead of the group. Rock was the brains, and eventually, Stone became the brawn. In another few years, they somehow gained control of the Skull Mercenaries and wreaked havoc on the lower Floors.

    Boulder''s face turned red, "You want this Essence so badly? How about you try and take it from me?!"

    "Boulder, wait!" Stone shouted, but the callnded on deaf ears.

    He snatched the bag from Stone and charged forward, swiftly closing the distance between us. The broadsword shed in the pale afternoon light, its wide frame careening down as soon as the man was in range. I stepped forward, turning into the brute''s momentum...

    Click!

    Stone watched in horror at what happened next. He could scarcely follow the youth''s movements as Boulder''s sword came down on nothing but air. Rowan had already spun into him. There was a hushed clicking sound, a sh of light... and a blood-soaked de sticking through the back of Boulder''s throat...

    I snatched the bag of Essence from the gurgling man''s grasp and pulled my sword free. A dull thud sounded in the silent clearing as his body crashed to the ground. I shook my head in disbelief at this chap''s reckless actions. He didn''t bother to assess the situation or work with his brothers.

    "Thank you for delivering my Essence," I smiled down at the corpse and weighed the pouch. It seemed that I wouldn''t have to bother tracking down any of the swine corpses.

    "B-Brother..." The quiet whisper of the youngest reached my ears. I tossed the pouch on the ground and studied the faces of the two mercenaries.

    "How dare you!" Rock screamed, his knuckles turning white on the grip of his longsword.

    "What?" I cocked my head to the side and looked at therge man incredulously, "How dare I? Do you mean to tell me that you expected me to stand there and allow your brother to cleave me in half?"

    And to myself, I thought about how he actually would have if I hadn''t memorized those reports. The middle brother was famous for his temper and his brash nature... Along with his immense strength. With Agility and Strength Cards entuating his already profound natural abilities, he was a force to be reckoned with.

    Fortunately, goading him into doing something careless wasn''t challenging. In fact, he''d been captured simrly in my previous life, and now the odds were two to one. Though Rock and Stone wouldn''t be so impulsive, and I knew I wouldn''t be able to kill either of them before they could use their Cards.

    "Rock... H-He..."

    "I know," Rock held his arm out, worried his little brother would rush forward. His voice was quivering as he spoke, "First, we need to finish the mission. We''ll make this kid pay."

    Stone shook his head and whispered, "It isn''t that, Rock. This kid... He just skewered Boulder without even blinking. That''s not normal."

    Rock red at the youth, who stood there casually, acting like none of this was his problem. His bright green eyes stared back at them as if he were daring them to step forward. It made Rock feel uneasy, but they were given a mission, and there was no way a brat still on the First Floor could have as much experience as two mercenaries.

    "He has to be bluffing..." Rock responded doubtfully, moving his weapon in front of him. "Stone... stay back. If I can''t handle it, run and report this to the boss."

    Stone couldn''t believe what he was hearing, "But if we both attack at once-"

    "Stone!"

    Stone looked at Rock again. His brother''s face was stern, and sweat trickled heavily down his brow. Grinding his teeth, Stone conceded and stepped to the side, keeping a grip on his weapon in case he was targeted.

    His brother must have already decided that the two of them couldn''t take on this threat with the few Cards at their disposal, and he wanted Stone to get as much intel as possible before rushing back. It also meant that Rock didn''t think they could easily escape.

    "I''ll do as you-" Before he could finish his sentence, a voice called from across the clearing.

    "I''m sorry, gentlemen, but unfortunately, it''s gettingte, and I would like to rest before tomorrow''s ventures," the youth spoke casually as if this were just another day for him. "So, if you won''t step forward..."

    The young man leaped into the air, "...then I''ll have toe to you!"

    His ragged boots glowed a dull green before his body lurched in the air. As if he''d kicked off a pedestal, his body flew toward the still hesitating figure of Rock. Stone tried to call out, but something struck the side of his leg before he could.

    "Aarghhh!" Stone copsed and looked down, breathing heavily. His knee was twisted at an unnatural angle, and the long ck shaft of the youth''s caney beside him. With that one move, Stone''s apprehension had turned to dread. He watched as the Demon arrived before his brother.

    "Lady Tara... Please help us..."

    My de left a faint trail as I stabbed forward, the speed from my Dash augmenting the power behind my Pierce. Still, Rock was no novice. He adjusted his stance, his body swathed in a dull gleam as he sidestepped my assault. Simultaneously, his de swiped toward my neck.

    Using thest of the momentum from my Dash, I managed to throw myself out of the sword''s range. My heart raced when I realized how close that had been, the wind from the strike still tracing my skin. Rock was already in another stance, his sword overhead, preparing to strike.

    He was open, but his de would reach me before I closed the gap. Dash and Pierce were on cooldown, but retreating wasn''t an option. If I backed off, with his experience, he would find a way to change the pace. I stepped forward... and howled.

    "Hooowwoooooo!"

    Rock''s muscle''s tensed, slowing his strike, and I dived forward to take advantage of the opening. Still, Howl was only Level 1, and the man quickly found his wits and struck down just as my de found a gap in his armor.

    Searing pain exploded in my left arm, but I drove my attack home. The tip of my de tore into a gap just under the mercenary''s arm. Blood gushed out, and I leaped back as therger man tried to pursue. He never had a chance. His body copsed, and blood continued to flood the ground around him.

    "Where is..." I looked around the clearing, not wanting to leave an enemy unchecked. It only took a moment to find my prey, cowering near the trampled brush where I left him. This... was supposed to be the great Stone..? Seeing that the man was practically paralyzed, I turned to look at my wound.

    The side of my arm was bleeding heavily. Rock''s sword had fallen on the outer edge of my shoulder and cleaved the muscle to my elbow, leaving a nasty tear. Gritting my teeth, I pulled out a bottle of Infernal Wash and gently tilted the bottle so that a drop would fall on the wound. The blood and dirt evaporated and continued to do so as I clearly spoke...

    "Heal."

    The massive wound scabbed over almost instantly, and the leaking blood ceased to evaporate. I sighed in relief as the pain eased, though it continued to throb. It would take a few more casts to gain full movement and another few to bring it back to normal, though the scar would remain until Heal reached a higher Level.

    "Alrighty then..." I walked toward Stone, who was trembling intensely and sat on the corpse of a boar nearby. He stared at his older brother''s bleeding body, his face white as a sheet, either from fear or the pain of his broken knee.

    "To be honest,d, if he weren''t so inexperienced, he probably would have had me," I tapped the cowering man''s head with the t of my de to get his attention. He flinched but turned his gaze to me.

    "When you swing wide," I lifted my de and pointed to a section between my bicep and chest. "You leave yourself open here below your arm. There''s a spot here that, if sufficiently severed, can bleed a man to death in seconds."

    "It took several years to learn to fight properly with such a frail body. Mistakes weren''t something I could allow," shaking my head, I stood up and ced my de against the future assassin''s neck, a feeling of solemnity brushing away my nostalgia.

    With one swift motion, I thrust my de through his neck and the base of his skull, severing the bone and watching his life fade almost instantly. He wouldn''t get a lesson on this method. It was a painless death, one that he probably didn''t deserve.

    "Well, gentlemen, I hope you''ll forgive me for what happens next," I sat down... and pulled off the near-pristine boots that the mercenary was wearing...

    About an hourter, I was walking along the side of a nearby rocky hill, admiring thefort of my new boots and sporting an extra pack. My cane tapped gently against the gravel while I looked closely for a shallow cave to use as shelter.

    The First Floor was set up in multiple rings. The center had long been cleared, and the Academy, Town, and farnd took the ce of the old ins. The Old Boar Forest encircled the farnd, while the Howling Hills imed the next section. The outer ring was a mountainous area simply known as Bear Peak.

    Without the canopy of leaves above me, I could see the beauty of the ceiling. The clouds were painted orange from the sun''s glow, and it felt like I was looking at a work of art rather than the bottom of the next Floor. Each Floor became progressively darker, and once I ascended, scenes like this would only be avable during brief trips to the Origin Floor.

    When the Origin Floor crossed my mind, I shuddered. During myst visit, those monstrosities wrecked the ce... and then I wound up back here. Thinking of my previous life, I began to reflect on the three brothers and the Skull Mercenaries.

    The Skull Mercenaries gained notoriety in about three years. Rock, one of the men I''d just killed, had arranged a coup and taken over the organization alongside his brothers. It wouldn''t have been possible without Stone, who had acquired a Card that led him to be a great assassin. Well, as far as the lower Floors were concerned.

    Even the Network hadn''t known why the brothers had overthrown the current boss, but in this life... it seemed I was destined to find out. When looting the corpses, I found that each of their Deck Boxes only contained a few Cards. Even less than myself, surprisingly.

    Along with the Cards, I seized their gear and Essence pouches and found a letter in one of Rock''s pockets. After taking a few seconds to make out the chicken scratch scribbled on the paper, the nks in the Networks data filled themselves in.

    ''Rock, your current target is nothing but a lowly brat from the Academy. I''ve attached the reports from our rat, and it doesn''t seem that this kid is anything special. Meet that filthy merchant and see why he''s paying so much for such a simple task... He''s trying to woo us, but I''m still unsure why.

    This job shouldn''t take much. I''ve delivered five Cards each for you and your brothers, along with your cut. They are in the usual ce. Get this done promptly, and you can each choose one of the Cards to keep for your personal Decks.''

    That was it. It seemed that the leader of the Skull Mercenaries hoarded their Cards and only sent his men out with what he deemed necessary to get the job done. As for Crook... Once I was back in town, I had a few questions for the little man.

    "Maybe I shouldn''t be too hard on him..." adjusting the pack on my shoulder, I could feel the weight of the armor and Essence within. It was one of the reasons I''d targeted the merchant.

    He was arrested in my previous life for colluding with the Skull Mercenaries, and at this stage, only the three brothers took on the messier tasks. The group as a whole was still known as a budding Mercenarypany, and there hadn''t been any reason for the guards to look into their activities.

    Knowing Crook''s nature and the current state of the Skull, it was easy to deduce that the three brothers woulde after me. I''d eliminated one of the most significant future threats to the lower Floors, saving many lives. That gave me pause...

    How much would change because of this? Hundreds of targets had been taken out by Stone before he was caught... Some were innocent, but most had been unscrupulous businessmen that had wronged some other corrupt individual. What if something worse survives because of my meddling..?

    "Hmm..?"

    My introspection was broken when I noticed a broad fissure in a nearby rock face. It was wide enough for two men to walk abreast into the opening but deep enough that I could see to the back wall. Thankfully, it was unupied.

    I trudged into the little cave and made myselffortable against the back wall. It was dark, but one of the brothers had been kind enough to provide me with a source of light.

    "Ball," I muttered quietly, and a glowing ball the size of my palm appeared. It wasn''t overly bright, only illuminating a meter area around where I was sitting.

    Why a mercenary would carry such a Card, I''d never know. Ball was nothing more than a child''s ything that provided a bit of light. Only the caster could hold the object, and it would disperse if touched by another Wielder, so it couldn''t be used as a projectile. Still, the light was bright enough for me to sift through the day''s gains.

    Opening the pack, I pulled out the stack of Cards the brothers had left me. Aside from the Ball Spell, there were twenty-one Cards, and I''d only briefly nced through them. Each of them carried Level 1 Strength, Agility, and Inspect Cards, which I sat to the side as they were useless to me.

    Of the other twelve, I pulled out Perception, Dodge, Movement, Tracking, and Stamina, all Cards I could recognize from their illustrations, and slid them into my Deck Box. There was also a Rage Card, which I sat to the side along with a few copies since it wasn''t something I would use.

    Finally, I turned my attention to the final Card, which, oddly enough, I didn''t recognize. After tapping the Card with my Demon ss, I looked it over while waiting for the results.

    The back was royal blue and boasted the familiar outline of a me in the center, indicating that it was a Spell Card. On the front, a man in a robe had his arm extended toward a tree, where a branch with an apple could be seen bending toward him. I watched with curiosity as the information began to form on the Demon ss.

    [Card Name: Pull]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 498/1000]

    [Foundation: Intelligence, Wisdom]

    [Effect: Concentrate on a non-sentient object within one yard and pull it toward you. Does not have to be in the Wielder''s line of sight, but the Wielder must be able to picture the item clearly. The object can not weigh more than one-tenth Wielder''s body weight]

    "How useful," I smiled and slipped the Card into my Deck Box with the others. Not much changed from the additions. The Cards were only Level 1, and a ten percent increase in my Perception was hardly noticeable. The Movement Card would show its worth when I set off again in the morning.

    There were still two tasks left for me toplete before returning to the Academy, both simr to the task with the Boars. One required me to kill 500 Wolves within 6 hours, and the other demanded 200 Bears within 6 hours. It would be a full day, but the rewards would be worth it.

    "Pull."

    I cast the Spell on the glowing Ball that had rolled a few feet away. At first, it shuddered, but I moved my arm closer, and it flew into my grasp. It seemed that the Intelligence Card I held didn''t increase the range, meaning that Intelligence controlled the weight I could lift, and Wisdom would determine the distance.

    Light in hand, I filtered through the remaining contents of the leather bag. I''d shoved all their gear into a satchel Stone had been carrying. As for their bodies, I headed back to the spawn zone and led a few hungry boars to the clearing. By morning, there would be nothing left.

    "Let''s see... most of this gear is useless, but I can sell it," I''d already equipped Stone''s boots, and none of the other gear had fit me. Boulder did have a nice pair of leather bracers, which I''d strapped to my forearms. Each had a hidden pocket inside that could hold two throwing knives.

    Alongside the Essence they''d picked up on their way to meet me, there was another pouch full of Level 1 and 2 Essence. In total, I''d umted 2,167. Since I had two bags, I filled one with 1500 Level 1 Essence to make the payment on my estate and shoved the rest to the side to useter.

    That done, I leaned my head back and dismissed the Ball Spell, allowing the cave to fall into darkness. It wouldn''t do for some passerby to spot me while I was trying to rest. I stared at the roof of the cave, letting the thoughts I''d pushed aside return.

    My actions would change the course of history.

    But... was that really such a bad thing? Why had I forced a battle with the brothers? When my eyes fell on Crook''s shop, the idea sprouted, and I didn''t give it a second thought.

    Did I do it because they were terrible people? I nced at the overstuffed bag beside me. Did I do it because I knew they would harbor a decent amount of wealth?

    "I suppose both of those motives are true, but..."

    An image of a young girl crying for her mama amidst a stampede of screaming people came to mind. I reacted before I could think, jumping out to keep the poorss from being crushed.

    It was the same reason I''d set up shop on the Tenth Floor when I realized my body wasn''t equipped to continue. My coffers were full, and I could have retired decades prior, but I stayed to guide the younger Climbers through their first Fiend. It wasn''t really some oundish sense of justice... I just...

    "I want to help people," I realized.

    Hundreds of atrocities would ur between now and the time the Tower copsed. I didn''t have the time or the power to uproot all these troubles alone. For now, I wouldn''t go out of my way to save anyone.

    If it would aid my quest for power, I suppose I would step off the path a bit, but my main focus would be to climb the Tower. Though... I nced at the bag and thought of the note written by the leader of the Skull. He was a terrible man, and it seemed he had numerous Cards at his disposal.

    "What kind of gentleman would leave someone so unrefined amongst the good people of the First Floor?" I smiled. "That just won''t do."

 Chapter 7

    "Hmm..?" The ground trembled beneath me. I opened my eyes, wincing at the onught of bright light that intruded upon my vision. Another tremor followed, more pronounced than thest, and I blinked my eyes rapidly, forcing myself to limate to the brightness.

    My eyes fluttered open... just in time to see a crimson boulder flying toward me. I leapt to the side, my back aching and my lungs exploding from the effort. The boulder crashed to the ground, rolling harmlessly along the... cobblestone street?

    I looked for my attacker, finding only rubble and smoke in the distance. My mind cleared as I observed the destruction around me. I wasn''t on the First Floor anymore. I was back on the Origin Floor, only...

    "No..." I looked down... and found that I was looking at the body of a decrepit old man. "No... No! Not again!"

    Wrinkled hands probed my chest pocket, searching for the Card that had given me a second chance. Nothing. I fumbled for the Deck Box that never left my side... also gone.

    My heart ached. Never had I been without my father''s Cards, which had apanied me throughout my long life. A feeling of vulnerability overtook me, and I suddenly noticed an endless sea of corpses stretching far into the distance.

    That feeling of helplessness only increased when the sound of a guttural roar reached my ears. I turned and found a massive creature standing in front of one of the many ornate churches that saturated the Origin Floor.

    The beast had five legs and tens of tentacles squirming from its sides. A few pious worshipers of the Church of Liberation threw their hands up before the monster, crying and prostrating themselves before it. Insensitive to the humans'' worship, the tentacles snaked out, tearing into the still-smiling faces of the believers.

    Another heavy growl pulled my attention to the north, toward the location of the stairs leading to the First Floor. My knees began to tremble as I looked upon the carnage. The mansions that once reached for the sky had been razed to the ground, and standing in their ce was thergest beast that I had ever seen.

    It was humanoid... but only barely. It was pitch ck. Purple veins wriggled visibly beneath its skin, and two massive purple horns nearly pierced the bottom of the First Floor above. The monstrosity held an enormous scythe, bathed in a dark aura that seemed to spread hundreds of feet around it.

    My body wouldn''t stop shaking as I looked upon this living cmity. It was attacking the stairs. Why would it be... I forcibly tore my gaze away from the creature and noticed that the high walls that once connected the Origin Floor to the First were gone.

    "The Tower hasn''t... fallen?"

    Did I just speak? The voice was raspy, much like the voice of a decrepit old man, but my lips never moved. Still, the voice was real, and it seemed that it didn''t go unnoticed.

    The hellish creature turned its gaze upon me... and I felt a fear that I''d never felt before. Its eyes bore into me. My body quivered, my legs gave out under me, and the warmth spilling out of my trousers reminded me of just how vulnerable I was.

    "You... Shouldn''t... Be... Here..."

    The words echoed in anguage I didn''t know yet somehow understood. It seemed the sound came from right beside me, even though I was miles away. Waves of raw force resonated with the voice, tearing my skin, rending flesh from bone, and ultimately obliterating the old man that had once been quivering in the street.

    "Haahh!"

    I woke up panting, covered in a cold sweat, and my body shaking. Looking around, I found myself in a dark space, though the signs of morning showed near the entrance. Probing my side, I found my Deck Box fastened to my belt.

    A dim, glowing ball appeared in my hand. It was a youthful hand with no wrinkles or scars marring the smooth surface. The panting turned intoughter as the sleep faded from my mind.

    "It was just a nightmare..." I told myself, though my body shivered, remembering the fear I''d felt. With no choice but to brush it off, for now, I stood up and collected my packs. "I have to get stronger."

    Tap... Tap... Tap...

    The butt of my cane echoed throughout the small cave, the familiar sound further calming my nerves. I stepped out into the morning sun, the stone ceiling of the First Floor swathed in the purple morning light. The fresh, untainted air of the forest filled my lungs, bringing on a smile.

    Today was a new day, and with it came new opportunities. There were only two lesser-known hunting tasks to go and two new Cards for me to earn. With a life in my step that hadn''t been there prior, I turned and jogged into the hills.

    The sounds of grunts and fighting flowed into the hills from the Old Boar Forest. Today, the students of the Academy were given free rein since the final exam would be held the following morning. I smiled, thinking of my prior, pitiful results.

    My schedule had been packed in my previous life, as the need to earn Essence kept me from my studies. I''d splurged on the Memory Enhancement Card to help ovee myck of time, but at Level 1, it could only do so much.

    Things would be different tomorrow. Since my practical scores were actually on the higher side, doing well on the exam would help me rank amongst the top students. The Academy awarded the top ten graduates a Holy Ranked Card, and the top student even received a Sacred Card.

    There was no chance of my cing above Aurora, but earning a Holy Card would be doable. Having another Card with the same Rank as my Pixie... The anticipation was killing me. But, I had to take things one step at a time.

    Pushing my slightly enhanced senses to their limits, I listened for the distant howls of the wolves that weremon in this area. Though the trees weren''t as densely packed as those of the Old Boar Forest, they were still spaced near enough to keep one from climbing to the top of a hill to examine the area.

    After a few minutes of jogging, tiny blue shimmers began to emerge here and there along the foot of the hills. My new Tracking Enhancement seemed to be doing its job, and I recalled the description without having to pull out the Card.

    [Card Name: Tracking]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 381/1000]

    [Foundation: Perception, Wisdom]

    [Effect: Grants Wielder the ability to detect tracks left in the vicinity. The Wielder must be within 5 yards of the trail, and the track can be no more than 10 minutes old]

    The older the tracks were, the harder they were to make out. At 9 minutes, the trail would be cold, and the shimmering was barely detectable. Even with the 5-yard limit, they were impossible to make out unless you were almost on top of them.

    If the tracks were only a minute old, however, they would glow brightly, and you could even use the Inspection Spell to get a few minor details about the creature or person you were hunting. With my Perception boosted, my current detection range was increased by about one and a half feet, but unless I acquired a Wisdom Card, the time limit would only increase with the Level of the Enhancement.

    I smiled and took off briskly in the direction the tracks were facing. More and more tracks materialized, dully glowing, while the more recent trails started to shine brightly. There were about a dozen, all heading in the same direction.

    This was a good sign. The wolves in the Howling Hills would emerge from their dens at night and stalk around the hills looking for wandering travelers or Wild Boars that crossed into their territory. During the day, they traveled back to their caves.

    It was rather dangerous to hunt wolves during the day since a dozen or more of the cunning beasts would be packed together in one area, but there was no other way if I wanted to finish this task. Generally, only the top students were allowed to venture beyond the Old Boar Forest without a party.

    Of course, I wouldn''t be adhering to any such rule. It wasn''t like the professors were here to enforce it, and during our free time, students weren''t expected to stick to the rules, only encouraged.

    Just a few minutester, I could hear the sound of whimpers and growlsing from beneath me. The ridge I was standing upon was illuminated by hundreds of glowing paw prints, and I had to will the Card to dim the glow so I could see clearly.

    "That would take much less effort if I had all of the Foundation Cards," I muttered and shook my head, not caring if the wolves heard me. Bending my knees, I crouched forward and looked into the small chasm below. I''d reached the spawn zone for the Howling Hills.

    The Howling Hills consisted of four quadrants, each separated by a long ravine that connected the Old Boar Forest to the foot of Bear Peak. Many parties looking to farm Essence would enter from the Old Boar Forest and work their way through the many caves. I didn''t have the luxury.

    Toplete my task in 6 hours, I would need to be as swift as possible, andpeting with others was time-consuming. Thus, I found it prudent to enter from further down and make my way toward the third goal as Ipleted the second.

    "One... Two... Three..."

    Using my cane, I pointed out four thin ledges between myself and the bottom of the gorge. With gravity''s assistance, my Agility would be more than tripled between each leap... It was feasible.

    I tucked my cane beneath my arm, adjusted the straps on my packs, walked back from the cliff''s edge... and ran full tilt toward it. Pushing my muscles to their limits, I vaulted toward the wall on the opposite side. I cleared the eight yards to the other side, gravity pulling me down onto the thin ledge.

    Just beforending, my boots gave off a dull, green glow. The soles hit the ledge, but rather than slowing, I bounded from the wall like I''d hit an stic surface and soared across. Twice more, I changed direction, flipping in the air so the balls of my feet would hit the canyon walls.

    My Dash dried up just as I hit the final ledge. Rather than changing direction and bouncing down, I hit the wall, my legs buckled... and I dropped like a sack of rocks. With great effort, I managed tond on my shoulder and roll painfully across the stony ground.

    Luckily, the final ledge was only a few yards up, not much higher than the lowest branch of most trees. If I''d known that Dash would run out before I hit, I could have perched on the ledge and hopped down safely from there.

    Shaking my head at my carelessness, I cast Heal upon myself and pulled out a vial of Infernal Wash, using it to dissipate the dirt and blood from the few scrapes I''d earned. Overall, my descent was sessful, even if thending was unsatisfactory.

    I watched the dust and dried blood evaporate, stretching my limbs to ensure everything had healed properly. Satisfied that the wounds had been minor, I picked up my cane and merrily walked down the path, following the glowing footprints to a nearby cave.

    I was unmoved by the ident. Mistakes and pain weremon in the Tower, and all one could do was learn from them. Luckily, this had just been a minor setback... I was still getting familiar with these low-level Cards, after all.

    The tapping of my cane came to a stop as I entered the closest cave. A dozen sets of yellow eyes stared at me from the darkness. I drew my de... and they charged.

    "Hooooowwoooooo!"

    My voice tore through the pack of wolves, the small space amplifying the effects of my Howl. Many of the wolves were stunned, while those that continued to trot forward were slowed. I dashed forward, shing the heads of the wolves with my de.

    They fell one by one, the effects of the strengthened Howl keeping the beasts from retaliating. In less than half a minute, the cave was still, the sounds of blood dripping from the corpses being all that broke the silence.

    I scratched my chin, feeling the childlike stubble that had seemingly grown overnight. The Howl had been highly effective, but Pierce was only useful against one or two enemies at a time. If it weren''t for the high-quality materials in my de, killing these wolves wouldn''t be so simple.

    "I''ll need to acquire some more offensive abilities... My old chum Crook may be able to help me out," I chuckled as I pictured the little man''s beet-red face and jogged toward the next cave. If every encounter went as well as thest, I could finish this task in just a few hours and reach Bear Peak before lunch.

    My hunt continued for another two hours before I decided to take a break. My kill count had already broken three hundred, and I was well on my way topleting the task. I whizzed in a back corner of the cave, then pulled out a piece of dried meat, using a drop of Infernal Wash on both it and my hands. I still hadn''t forgotten the glob of snot thatd had wiped before wrapping my lunch.

    Voices from out in the gorge reached me while I was chewing thest bits of jerky. Seeing that others were encroaching upon my hunting ground, I pulled on my packs, grabbed my cane, and was prepared to leave when I found a few familiar faces standing at the entrance.

    "Oh? What have we here?"

    I raised a brow as I met the eyes of a tall, athletic young man with ck hair and an annoying smirk. His tanned skin didn''t have a drop of sweat on it, while hispanions were drenched.

    "Galen," I nodded in greeting and made to leave, not caring to waste my time with the ss clown who''d made my life miserable all those years ago. Before I could reach the exit, two of the goons that were with him stepped in to block my path.

    "You can''t even spare a minute for your old pals?" Galen chuckled and stooped to examine the corpse of one of the wolves. "Or are you running with a new crowd now? Guess you fell behind and are in a hurry to catch up."

    He stood up and turned to look at me, eyeing the two packs I carried, "Whoever you''re traveling with will be disappointed that you haven''t been picking the Essence for them. What good is an ass who can''t pull his own weight? I can''t even tell you how much Essence we''ve already nabbed."

    The group of studentsughed, and aside from the two blocking me, the others pulled out knives and started looting the corpses. Galen walked over and pointed at therger of my two packs.

    "How about you leave your loot with us? Maybe if you lighten your burden, you''ll be able to catch up with the party that''s dragging you along," he and his friendsughed again.

    I sighed and turned to face him, "Lad, you''re wee to loot the bodies, but I''ll be holding on to my effects. Thank you for your concern."

    Galen scoffed, "Acting tough because you''ve got a few new friends?"

    He pulled a wooden shortsword from the secondary scabbard on his waist, and the four hoodlums that traveled with him did the same. It seemed the group had held on to their Academy issued training weapons. My face brightened for the first time since this pointless encounter began. I didn''t care to hurt a youngster, these brats were just being boys. But, remembering the hell I''d been put through by this lot, maybe they did deserve to be taught a lesson... After all, if they didn''t learn now, they may offend someone truly dangerous in the future.

    My thumb moved from the button on the hilt of my sword. I didn''t want to kill them, so maybe a few knocks on the head with the shaft would help the lesson sink in. Before I could act, my ears twitched as I heard another set of footsteps approaching from the ravine. The pace of the neer was slow and steady, almost like the trained guards on the Origin Floor.

    Galen heard the steps a secondter and lowered his weapon slightly, scowling at the cave''s entrance. His scowl turned into a look of panic when a giant of a man turned the corner, hands holding tightly to the grip of a polished ive.

    His long, silver hair whipped in the wind that constantly rushed through the canyon. I eased my thumb away from the switch as Galen and his entourage quickly sheathed their weapons. I knew this young man. Nathaniel Syward.

    "L-Lord Nathaniel," Galen bowed his head in respect, the others following suit.

    Nathaniel cast his grey eyes about the cave, quickly taking in the corpses, the group of hooligans, and the strange young man leaning casually on a well-crafted cane. He nced at the wounds on the two-dozen wolves and swiftly noted that none of the swords these young men carried could have caused them.

    He''d been searching for the culprit for thest hour and happened upon this scene. Nathaniel was sure that if he hadn''t shown up, the five students would have lost their lives today. Even he felt uneasy under the strange man''s gaze... as if he were being watched by an experienced veteran rather than another student at the Academy.

    It wasn''t hard for him to piece together what had happened after following the trail. This young man had been ughtering wolves, and these thieves were following behind, iming the bounty. They caught up to him and thought they could pinch his gear since he was alone. But...

    "What''s your name?" Nathaniel asked, his deep voice sending chills through those weaker than him. The youth bowed casually, spreading his arms much like the heads of the Great Families when they were greeting an equal. Out of habit, Nathaniel returned the gesture.

    "Rowan Wilder," he smiled and stepped out of the cave, speaking lightly as he passed. "You''ll have to excuse me, young man. I''m in a bit of a rush, you see."

    Wilder..? It wasn''t a name he recognized. Nathaniel watched the back of the young man as he walked toward the next cave, the tapping of his cane being carried back by the wind. Since when did someone not from the Descendant families know about the Secret Achievements?

    After some time, he shrugged. His curiosity had been satisfied.

    Nathaniel turned back to the cave, looking at the five youths still standing with their heads bowed toward him. He really didn''t care to deal with this bunch today.

    "Thievery is against Academy policy," he said sharply.

    Sweat formed on Galen''s brow as he spoke, "It was just a joke between ssmates, my Lord. I swear, we would never harm a fellow student, especially one so much weaker than ourselves."

    Nathaniel raised an eyebrow but didn''t ask any further questions. More than anything, he despised dealing with nobles who polluted their speech with honey-coated words. He would find out about this Rowan Wilder from a more reliable source.

    "Flee from this ce," Nathaniel said, turning to leave. "You''d do well to spend the rest of your day in your dorm, studying for tomorrow''s exam."

    "Y-Yes, Lord Nathaniel!"

    After my encounter with Nathaniel, I rushed through the canyon, tearing through every wolf den I could find. As far as the Descendant children went, he was a very noble man. But, he would have questions, so the sooner I finished my tasks, the better.

    That group knew of the three Achievements that I was working on, but my time was limited. Sometime in theing days before the graduation ceremony, the Descendants would discover the remaining tasks. For each of these, only a limited number of Climbers couldplete them before the tasks stopped giving out rewards.

    If I wanted to take advantage of my knowledge, I would need to im one of these slots in every task. Four of them wouldn''t be a problem. Thest one, however...

    I shook my head, not wanting to think of what I''d have to do before ascending to the Second Floor. The final task could only be achieved by ten individuals, and it required bloodshed.

    My Dash came off cooldown, and I tore into another cave, using Howl to stun the wolves before ending their lives. One of them broke free early, and I jumped onto the wall to dodge its fangs, pushing off and using Pierce to drive my de into its skull.

    A light shone from the corpse, signaling my 500th kill, but I continued shing until thest few wolves were dead. Breathing heavily, I walked back to the glowing corpse and waited patiently for my reward. Just sixty secondster, it fell into my hands.

    This was a Card I hadn''t seen before. The back was red with an ornate shield and sword, indicating that it was an Ability Card. On the front, one wolf swiped down on another, leaving a bloody gash on its side. The border was a deep red and looked eerily like the blood pouring from the injured wolf. I tapped my Demon ss to the Card and waited for the results.

    [Card Name: Rend]

    [ss: Ability]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1000]

    [Foundation: Strength, Will]

    [Effect: Can only be used with a ded weapon. Wielder''s de gains a trace of the wild. Strike tears open the target''s skin in a jagged pattern, making it harder to recover. A thinyer of the Wielder''s resolve remains on the wound, making it more difficult to heal, even with Spells. The damage the wound causes is gauged by Strength, the difficulty to close the wound is based on Will]

    This was an outstanding addition to my current Deck and would give me another means to attack. Pierce would only go so far on its own before I met a creature it couldn''t kill. The de''s length was only so much, and it would take more than a simple stab to reach their organs.

    I slipped the Card into my Deck Box, collected the Essence, and left the cave. There was only one more of these tedious tasks, and the previous night''s rest in the burrow hadn''t done much for my recovery. Just two hundred bears...

    "Almost done, Rowan," I told myself, stretching my arms and yawning. "Aaahhlmost done."

 Chapter 8

    It only took me a few minutes to jog to the base of the Bear Peak Mountains. I could feel the effects of the Stamina Enhancement and was pleased that I''dmandeered it from the mercenaries. Though, I couldn''t wholly credit myfort to my current physique.

    The base of the gorge had a nice, smooth surface, so traveling through the canyons of the Howling Hills was much more agreeable than traversing the uneven terrain above. If I''d been hunting the hills, I would have worn myself out even with the boost from my recent acquisition.

    I nced up at the mountains on the outskirts. They were nothing special... At least notpared to those further up the Tower. On the First Floor, all but one mountain was small enough that their peaks could be seen clearly from their bottoms. Higher up the Tower, the Floors expanded, and even the hills would take immense effort to climb.

    Hiking the slope leading out of the canyon, I eventually came to see the semi-barrennd that separated the hills from the mountains. Along this line, the glowing tracks of a few other Climbers appeared, but I couldn''t see any sign of my prey. Luckily the number of hunters was low, four or five at the most, and it didn''t seem likely that they would interfere with my hunt even if I stayed in this area.

    "I should really consider Leveling my Movement Card..." Recently, I''d acquired many new Cards and had enough wealth to Level one of them while still having most of what was needed for the payment on my estate. Leveling the Movement Enhancement or Dash would save me time in this hunt... but there were still the task rewards and the Holy Card I should earn from the Academy...

    "Aaaagghhhhh!"

    Before I could consider it further, a frightened shout sounded from the left side of a nearby mountain. Recalling the screams on the Origin Floor, I used Dash to get to the top of the nearby ridge... and almost exploded withughter at the scene below.

    Two men were fighting a bear... or, at least, they seemed to be trying to. The bear was sprinting forward, chasing after a chubby man with cropped brown hair that bounced around like a toupee. He wore a set of brown robes that were too small around the midriff and only carried the belt upon which his Deck Box was fastened.

    Behind him, the other man was the source of the screaming. He sat atop the bear, clinging tightly to the fur around its neck and holding on with all he had. With every bound of the giant bear, the man''s loose robes flew into his face, covering the red hair and freckles beneath. Weapons and supplies were strewn all around the small valley.

    "Deacons," I scoffed.

    I wasn''t sure what had happened, but I was convinced that if I didn''t step in, these men would die. Containing myughter, I sped down the hill, unsheathing my sword and triggering Rend. How often would I have the luxury of live bait to test my abilities? Of course, if things became too heated, I would end the fight swiftly.

    The bear was faster than me while Dash was on cooldown, but the stout man had noticed my presence and turned toward me, waving his arms. To my surprise, he didn''t cry for help. Instead, he yelled for me to run away, saying it was dangerous. What a breath of fresh air after all the trouble people had caused me since my return.

    I smiled and sprinted by him, ducked under the bear''s paw as it made to swipe at me, and dragged my de across its stomach. The beast howled in rage and stood tall, flinging the small red-headed man from its shoulders as it did so. Though my strike hadn''t wavered, the wound on the bear''s side looked like it had been torn by jagged ws.

    The damage was impressive.

    The bear struck out, ignoring the wound that spilled blood as it moved. As Rend didn''t have a cooldown, I kept it active and sidestepped while striking at the creature''s shoulder. Another irregr gash emerged following the trajectory of the sword''s strike.

    With an angry snarl, the bear gave up on me and turned to chase down the easier prey. The red-haired man stilly prone where the beast had tossed him. However, it never had a chance to reach him. Between my sprint down the hill and the brief encounter, Dash hade off cooldown.

    I activated the skill, leaping forward at high speed and activating Pierce. My sword drove deep into the creature''s neck, the effects of Rend tearing the inside of its throat. Yanking my de free, I leapt back, avoiding the blood that spilled from its various wounds. In seconds, either from asphyxiation or loss of blood, the brute fell to the ground, lifeless.

    I frowned and looked at my sword. A dull red aura surrounded it, which promptly vanished when I deactivated Rend. The Ability would be practical againstrger targets, but for normal mobs, it did nothing more than make a mess. Fresh blood still poured from the corpse''s wounds, and I hadn''t been able to avoid the spray from the initial strikes.

    My thoughts were interrupted when the two Deacons approached me. The short, red-haired man stared at me with a goofy grin on his face. He was bouncing up and down with excitement, and from this distance, I could tell he was no older than me... Well, the current me.

    The taller, stout man was more reserved and wrung his hands as if he weren''t sure what to say. I''d been so tied up in my head that I hadn''t even seen the shorter one get to his feet. I really needed to stop doing that.

    "Th-" the bigger man began, but the redhead beat him to it.

    "Thank ya fer helping us!" He almost shouted in excitement, "I''m Locke! An'' this ''ere is Nick! We was kicked out o'' the Churchst week. What Card caused all ''at there damage?! Are you really only a student from the Academy? Wh-"

    "Easy now,d," I chortled. "Can''t answer more than one question at a time, after all."

    The youth blinked quickly and then blushed in embarrassment. Locke looked down at his feet, and the fellow named Nick stepped forward to take his ce. The Deacon bowed slightly, surprising me, as even a mere Deacon of the Church typically held more authority than most of the wealthy merchant families from the Academy.

    "Greetings, sir. Thank you for stepping in to assist us. We may not have survived otherwise," he smiled and stood still, his head slightly bowed.

    I patted him on the shoulder and helped him up, "No need for that now, chap. I''m no one special. What were you two gentlemen doing out here anyway? It''s umon to see a member of the clergy this far from the church pulpit."

    "Ahh..." Nick scratched at the back side of his toupee as if he weren''t sure how to answer.

    "That''s my fault, it is," Locke said timidly, still looking at his feet. Though he suddenly seemed to find his confidence again as he spoke, "I-I questioned the Book of Liberation cause somethin'' just didn'' seem right. The Priest ''ad me tossed out, and Deacon Nichs ''ere walked out with me. He''s taken right good care o'' me since I was little he ''as."

    "I see." Turning to the ex-Deacon, "I suppose you gentlemen are out here trying to earn enough Essence to get to the Second Floor."

    The stairs may have been within the Academy, but they were guarded by the Tower''s government. Without proper registration, the guards would bar anyone from entering the Second Floor. It was the government''s way of keeping up with the Climbers when they returned to the Origin Floor. For example, they didn''t want some powerhouse from the Thirty-Fifth Floor walking around the city without their knowledge.

    "Yes, sir," Nichs nodded. "There is no ce on the Origin Floor for an emunicated member of the clergy... and everyone on the First Floor knows us. Our only option is to register and start over somewhere new. We were hunting the smaller wolf groups in the hillsst night, but when the day came, I thought we would be safer taking one bear at a time than attempting the canyon on our own."

    I nodded, rubbing my chin. He was right. Taking on a single bear was much more straightforward than facing a cave full of wolves. At night, the wolves only traversed the hills in groups of three to five. If they could handle that... then they weren''t useless...

    "That''s settled then. I think we cane to some ord," I pulled a vial of Infernal Wash from my pack and ced a drop on my hand, cleansing the blood from my skin and garments.

    "S-Sir?" Nichs squinted as if he were trying to get a read on me. There were numerous stories of Climbers luring others off to kill them and take their Cards. "I''m not-"

    "Jus'' tell us what ya be needin'' from us!" Locke shouted enthusiastically.

    The boy''s naivety made me chuckle. That was something he''d have to work on if he wanted to survive the Tower. I turned a questioning gaze to Nichs, who, after a bit of hesitation, nodded in agreement.

    "Goodd," I patted the youth''s shoulder and looked at Nichs. "As a Deacon, your registration should already be taken care of, so you only need the Essence for this exemry young fellow, correct?"

    The man looked at me oddly but nodded, "Aye. We''ve already earned the 50 Essence needed for his registration. Our goal was to save enough to cover a month''s stay on the Second Floor while getting our bearings."

    I smiled, pping my hands. "Brilliant! Then you blokes follow behind for the afternoon, collecting the Essence of the bears that I hunt, and you can keep 100 Essence from the pile. Does that suit your fancy?"

    "Why would-"

    "I''m on the clock, you see," I nodded to the corpse. "If you gentlemen choose not to apany me, the Essence will go to waste."

    "So... yer sayin'' we can jus'' follow you anyways an'' take the Essence if we want?" Locke asked, confused. I just shrugged in response. They could if they wanted, but if theynded in a spot of trouble, I wouldn''t help, and I''d end up with the Essence anyway.

    "We''ll take the work," Nichs said quickly. "Thank you for your generosity."

    "Oh, and one more thing," I smiled. "No matter what, don''t touch a single beast until I''ve confirmed their death."

    The two nodded in response, though their faces were filled with confusion. In unison, they began collecting their scattered gear, and while Locke farmed the corpse for its Essence, Nichs approached.

    "As most of my Cards are only Level 1, I wasn''t made to return them to the Church," he said hesitantly. My eyebrows rose in surprise, it was a considerable risk to tell me this, and he was trusting that I wouldn''t kill him for his Deck Box. "Would it provide any benefit if I cast my Blessings on you?"

    My surprise turned to delight, "That, sir... would be bloody brilliant."

    The hours passed, and the beautiful blue sky turned orange as the sun moved to the far corners of the Floor''s ceiling. The inner edge of the Old Boar Forest bustled with activity as the hunters and woodsmen made their way back to town.

    Climbers, students, and simple hunters who resided on the First Floor wandered by the farms as they boasted about the day''s kills. Horses and carriages waited by the path for the wealthy hunters, while those without means were forced to return to the town on foot.

    The less fortunate coughed and eyed the carriages with annoyance as they threw dust in the air. Many had to quickly step to the sides of the road to avoid being trampled. Others were already walking through the mud closer to the fields to avoid the hazard in the first ce.

    Injured Climbers limped slowly or leaned on their party members for support. These groups, in particr, stared at the swiftly receding carriages covetously. Those with wealth didn''t know the hardships of those who started with nothing. Most Climbers never earned their first Cards until reaching the Second Floor, where the mobs had a chance to drop them upon death.

    Injuries on the First Floor were dangerous. Only the Churches held Cards with healing or curing spells. It wasmon for people to die between the forest and town, their eyes zing over as they stared hopefully toward the steeples. Even if they managed to drag themselves to the altar, they would only be healed at the cost of the day''s Essence.

    Such was life on the First Floor. The rich would rush home, get plenty of sleep, and be back at it in the morning. The poor would get homete, wake up early, trudge back to the forest, and risk making mistakes that could cost them their lives due to theirck of sleep.

    Many came to ept this way of life, but others strove to change their circumstances. One such man watched the carriages with a light in his eyes. The smell of booze kept the other hunters at arm''s length, his haggard appearance not helping his allure. A drunken smile yed on his lips as he trudged through the mud, tracking blood with his bare feet.

    Elsewhere, in the gullies around the edge of the First Floor, two men rushed to carve out corpses as a young man ughtered his way through the mountains. The small satchel Nichs brought along had already been filled, and he''d had to ask for another from their young benefactor.

    "Oi, Nick! Did ya see that?" Locke called as he cut open another corpse. "Rowan''s already killed nearly four ''undred o'' these blokes, and he''s still puttin'' it to ''em!"

    "Yes, yes, I see," Nichs shook his head over the boy''s zeal. In all the years he''d known Locke, he''d never seen the youngster so worked up. "If only I could have gotten you to show the same interest in your studies."

    Still... Nichs turned to face the strange youngster again as he thrust his sword into the neck of another bear. Through the ughter, the youth remained calm and collected. Though, there was an incident a few hours prior where he''d been pretty riled up.

    The young man mentioned something about not being fast enough and said he needed to find a spawn zone. Nichs was horrified at the idea. Killing them one by one was doable... but a horde?

    As it turned out, there was no need for him to worry. Thed seemed to be an expert at luring out perfect-sized groups, which he then proceeded to tear apart with that tiny sword of his. He''d bait each group to a different location, allowing the pair ample time to collect the Essence. So far, they were just shy of 1200, and thisst group would push them over.

    Rather than watching the fight, Nichs turned to Locke, smiling. The boy''s eyes were zing with a fire the old man had never seen. He''d found Locke on the street a few years prior and brought him into the Church. The youth wasn''t the best pupil, but he was ambitious.

    "Locke..." Nichs started to say something but was distracted by a bright lighting from the direction of their benefactor. He whipped around, holding his staff out, prepared to cast a spell... but stopped when he saw the cause. His jaw dropped. "By the Tower..."

    A Card had just descended from the sky.

    I stood with my hand outstretched, patiently waiting for the Card to fall within reach. The second hunt had gone much more smoothly after locating a string of spawn zones that weren''t too far from the Howling Hills. Bears were much more spread out than the other creatures, and I''d only managed to kill just over twenty an hour in my first attempt.

    The Cardnded in my palm, and I wasted no time tapping it with my Demon ss. The face of the Card had a male body, though it was divided into sections. One quarter showed his body, the next showed his muscles, then his organs, and finally his bones. It reminded me of the portraits hanging in the health and body ssroom back at the Academy.

    [Card Name: Constitution]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1000]

    [Foundation: Endurance, Vitality]

    [Effect: Increases the Wielder''s overall physique. The toughness of the Wielder''s skin, bones, and organs are all affected. The Wielder is overall more resistant to physical damage and can push themselves harder without feeling fatigued. The Wielder''s overall physical resistance is enhanced by Endurance. The Wielder''s resistance to fatigue is increased by Vitality]

    I read over the description on the Demon ss carefully. Yet another Blessed Card to add to my Deck, and this one would assist me immediately. It was a long run back to the Academy, I wouldn''t be getting much sleep, and tomorrow was the final exam. When I slipped the Card into my Deck Box, I instantly felt some relief... but even another Card to boost my stamina didn''t help with the overwhelming exhaustion.

    The sound of footsteps drawing near roused me from my consideration. I observed them as they worked hard to collect the Essence and noticed Nichs throwing nces my way. I''m sure he was curious about the Card... he had been a Deacon of the Church of Liberation, after all.

    I pulled a vial of Infernal Wash from my pouch, dripping the solution on myself, my de, and my pack. Killing these beasts one at a time was no issue, but I''d been forced to keep Rend active while luring five at a time. The blood and filth vanished as if they were never there.

    "Care for some wash?" I asked the ex-Deacon as he made his way toward me.

    "Uhh... Yes, please," he said, quickly adding a hurried, "Thank you."

    Carefully tilting the bottle, I poured a drop on each of my two associates, "No need to thank me, gentlemen. The two of you have been working hard. I''m sure we''re all knackered by now."

    "You were amazing!" Locke exploded as if he''d been holding himself back for hours. "The way you stabbed, and then did the thing with the twist, and that sh, and... and..."

    "Hoho! Calm down,d," Iughed at the boy again, though I had to admit... his attitude was infectious. "So, gentlemen, what''s our haul?"

    Nichs handed over his small pouch of Essence along with my muchrger satchel that I''d nicked from the Skull brothers. There were just over 60 shards in theirs and over 350 in mine. Being they were Level 3 Essence, the total value was over 1200. I tossed a few more shards in theirs, making it an even 70.

    "Here''s your cut, chaps," I handed the pouch back to the startled ex-Deacon.

    He stammered, "B-But this is more than double what you promised!"

    "Don''t get your knickers in a twist," Iughed and patted the man on the shoulder. "You worked hard. You deserve proper wages."

    "Thank you, sir!" The old man bowed gratefully, and this time, so did Locke.

    I ushered them to stand, "Now, now. There''s no need for all of that. I killed twice the creatures I''d intended, so you did double the work I''d meant for you to do. Think nothing of it."

    "Now," I looked to the sky, which was quickly dimming, "It should be dark enough we can head through the canyons. The wolves will be up on the hills at this hour, so we can jog straight through to town."

    The Deacon nodded, "I''ll cast Blessings of Agility, Swiftness, and Stamina. We''ll be as fast as horses for the next ten hours."

    Different colored auras enveloped the three of us as the Blessings took effect. I instantly felt lighter, and my movement speed increased by nearly 90%. ncing at Nichs, I thought of how well such a man could benefit me in the future. The Deacon''s Cards were low Leveled now, so he couldn''t stack more than three at a time, but in the future...

    We sprinted off, Locke merrily talking about my battles and how he''d love to be a proper Climber one day. The trip went smoothly, and between our boosted speed and not having to face any enemies, we made it back to the edge of town in merely six hours. A well-trained horse might have managed in five.

    I sighed inwardly when I bid the two men farewell. They were heading straight up to the Second Floor and told me to visit them when I moved up. Nichs had a cousin who worked at the Drunken Pony, so they would rent a room there while learning about the ce.

    "Three down, four to go," I muttered. "It''s a shame Nichs is leaving so soon. If he were around, the tasks I''ll be facingter wouldn''t be such a chore."

    I watched the backs of the two men disappear, then adjusted the weighty burdens on my shoulders and turned toward the Academy.

 Chapter 9

    The cane tapped lightly against the cobblestone as I walked across Main Street toward the Academy. Lights filtered from open windows, bathing the street in a pale light. The sun had vanished, and there was hardly any light offered by the canopy of the First Floor above.

    Tap. Tap. Tap.

    I listened to the familiar sound of the cane, admiring the town''s silence after the shopkeepers had returned to their homes on the Origin Floor. There were many who stuck around, having turned the upper floors of their shops into lodgings, but most found it beneath them to stay here.

    A few guards were present here and there along the sidewalk, but most werezily resting on the benches or ying dice in the well-lit areas. Crime wasn''tmon on the First Floor... at least not on Main Street, and the guards wouldn''t risk their lives stalking through the unlit backstreets at night.

    The tapping of my cane drew the attention of one of the nearby groups, but they just nodded when they noticed the Academy uniform beneath my gear. I greeted them in return and continued on my way.

    Rather than taking the side entrance closest to the dorms, I decided to take the cobblestone walk that connected Main Street to one of the four major entrances of the Academy. I didn''t want to get my new boots muddy, after all.

    As I approached, I looked up at the north gate, which consisted of two slightly leaning pirs supporting an arch-like structure on top. Many facets of the Academy still held these ancient structures, which we were told warded the area from corruption. I''d never heard of such a thing, and they weren''t even Relics.

    Two heavily armored guards stepped out from behind the pirs as I approached, spears held out. I pulled out my registration card, which clearly showed the Academy''s stamp of two golden shields hovering around a silver Card.

    The guards pulled back their weapons, and one held out his hand for my identification. I handed it over without fuss and watched as he promptly pressed a piece of Demon ss to the corner. The Demon ss lit up, giving off a dull, silver glow.

    "You may pass," the guard nodded and handed back my registration, the slit in his helmet showing soft eyes rather than the aggressive ones he''d had before. "May the Tower''s light shine upon you."

    I scratched my chin, thinking he must have seen my status as a schrship student. Though I was given hell by the students in the Academy, the working ss tended to see schrship students as their representation amongst the greats.

    "What a fine gentleman," I smiled and moved toward the dormitory, passing the open gate of the Academy as I reached the courtyard. There was a nip in the air...

    I stopped and looked around. My instincts warned me that something wasn''t right. My breath escaped in harsh bursts, steam forming on my lips as the temperature continued to drop. The water in the fountain started to freeze, and I struggled to take another step...

    "He... Hehe... Heheh..."

    A child''sughter echoed throughout the courtyard, followed by the sound of a bouncing ball. The noise faded in and out of existence, making it hard to pin down. I swallowed involuntarily.

    The hair on my arms and neck gradually rose, and a cold sweat trickled down my back. It took immense effort, but I forced myself to dig my nails into my palms. Blood trickled as my nails dug into my skin, but I managed to break free from the fear effect theughter had incited.

    I turned and looked at the Academy''s entrance, the fear gone and a smile back on my face, "It''ll be your turn soon enough, dear boy."

    With that, I left the courtyard, the tapping of my cane resuming as I made my way to the dorms. For good measure, I cast heal to stop the bleeding, the light alerting a hunched-over figure that sat beside the doorway of the dormitory.

    "Oi! Who''re you?" He asked loudly, uncaring of the residents sleeping inside. "You ought to know students ain''t s''posed to be about at night."

    I smiled at the old miser. The caretakers of the grounds would regrly opt as doorkeepers in the evenings to keep the students in check... In exchange for extrapensation, of course. This fellow, in particr, was here almost every night working on getting that Essence... and after dealing with snobby students for so many years, he naturally became a bit of an arse.

    Ignoring the custodian for a moment, I nced at the windows that were visible from this side of the building, seeing that there were more candles burning than usual. The Academy never bothered paying the Church of Liberation to paint Blood Circuits throughout the dorms, saying, '' Students have to understand discipline. There won''t be such conveniences on the higher Floors.''

    "You deaf,d?" The man asked again, though it had been less than a second since he''d spoken the first time. Though I usually wouldn''t be bothered, I''d been through a lot over thest forty hours, and hisck of decorum managed to sully my mood.

    "Rowan Wilder, Sir," I said tersely, showing my registration.

    "Hmmm, Mistah Wildah..." The man opened a hefty tome that sat beside a glowing Relic on his station. "Ahh, yes, you din''t show ups'' night either. I ''ad to take a chewin'' from ol'' bat Warren I did. Where''s abouts was you?"

    ? Rubbing my temples, I candidly replied, "Hunting."

    "Hunting, eh? Fer two days?" The man scoffed in disbelief but wrote the information on the page under my name anyway. Dark purple ink seeped into the page and seemingly disappeared. I knew that a simr book in the Headmaster''s office would document the note. "It''s past curfew, ya know?"

    "What an astute observation," I said in a praising tone. It wasn''t like this man had anything else to do. He would sit here for the rest of the evening, twiddling his thumbs. "Sir, your powers of perception are astounding."

    Not detecting the sarcasmden within my words, the caretaker grinned widely, his mood changing. I sighed in exasperation, not caring to bother with the man any longer. Nodding to the temperamental man, I pulled out my keys and entered the dormitory. Before I shut the door behind me, I could see that the custodian hadid his head on the tome, using it as a cushion to get some sleep.

    The male dormitory consisted of three floors. The first included the entryway, argemon area, and a small library, along with the ornate wraparound steps that led up. This was the nicest of the amodations and was only meant for those who''d reached their tenth and final year at the Academy.

    As I stepped off the stairs onto the second floor, I noticed that many of the rooms were open, an odd sight for it being after midnight. Students rushed back and forth with pages in their hands, calling out answers to other students'' questions.

    It seemed that the final exams in the morning had everyone worked up. That wasn''t surprising since if one failed to score 50 points or above, the Academy insignia would be removed from their registration, and they wouldn''t receive the Card reward that most had been working toward.

    I reached my own closed door among the sea of open ones, ced my cane under my arm, and fiddled with the ring of keys until I found the right one. About the time I''d unlocked the door and turned the knob, someone tapped lightly on my shoulder.

    "Hey... uh, Rowan," a somewhat sheepish but recognizable voice sounded behind me. I turned with my eyebrow raised, seeing my ssmate Luke standing behind me, scratching the back of his head. Already in a foul mood due to the old codger outside, I knew I probably looked annoyed at his approach.

    "What can I do for you,d?" I asked, trying to ease the tense muscles in my face. It wasn''t easy.

    He looked at me like I''d said something funny but shrugged it off and quickly replied, "Miss Warren wasn''t pleased with your absence yesterday."

    "Oh?" The irritation crept back into my voice, "That''s all, is it?"

    "Uh, no," he raised his hands defensively. "I didn''t mean to be usatory. I just... Miss Warren was worried. I only want you to consider your actions and how they can affect others. You only performed a little above average on the practical, and you missed the final day of review before the written!"

    I just stared at him nkly. Sure, that was the case, but what that had to do with anyone else was beyond me. He sighed in exasperation and shook his head.

    "Look, Miss Warren is a friend of the family, so I know her," he said. "For whatever reason, she''s worried you''ll die a pointless death after leaving the First Floor. You can''t me her. Your performance has been nothing but mediocre."

    My face softened, and I nodded, "Thank you for telling me."

    Luke nodded, but as he turned to leave, I could hear him mutter under his breath, "At least I tried. I don''t know what Miss Warren sees in him, but even if he dies early, my conscience is now clear. Maybe he''ll get..."

    I never heard the rest as the young man sauntered out of earshot. Sighing, I closed the door and ced my bags on the ground beside my overturned bed. My grimace deepened when I remembered how hastily I''d left the ce, never tidying up the fallen mattress or sheets.

    While I tended to the mess, I thought about what Luke had said. He''d spoken simr words to me in my first life, though they weren''t quite as harsh. It seemed missing thest afternoon of review before the free day given for cramming hadn''t gone unnoticed. Still, it wasn''t like the written exam was something I had to concern myself with this time around.

    Luke may have just had a guilty conscience, but I knew that what he said was true. Miss Warren meant well, and she''d even tried to stop me from ascending to the Second Floor in my first life. In some ways, I wished I''d listened. If I hadn''t gone up, I never would have received the Origin Card that ruined my life...

    "Well..." That thought hung in the air for a moment. Had it really ruined my life..? Or had it saved me? Without that Card, I wouldn''t have returned with my current knowledge and would have perished alongside everyone else on the Origin Floor.

    Still unsure whether I should be grateful for my deficient health in my previous life, I finished tidying the area. That done, I used a drop of Infernal Wash to cleanse myself before removing my gear. It would be wasteful to purify the pieces individually when the liquid also affected any donned attire.

    Iy the gear out neatly on themon-room table before proceeding to the washroom. My visage appeared in the ornate mirror that clung to the wall. The Infernal Wash nor the additions to my Deck could remove the dark bags under my eyes, though thanks to the Constitution Enhancement, I knew I''d be back in top shape with a decent night''s rest.

    After relieving myself, I returned to themon area, pulling open a desk drawer and retrieving an old wristwatch I''d hardly used in my previous life. It was a cheap purchase I''d made on the origin floor after seeing it in a store window. The ss was cracked, but it was still a Relic that remained attuned to the clock hovering above the Origin Floor no matter where one advanced within the Tower.

    [100:08:23:56:32]

    Tossing myself on the mattress, I stared at the watch for a long time before sporting it on my wrist and setting the attached timer to go off in about six hours. There were just under nine days until the turn of the century... thest century.

    My mind drifted, thinking about the few acquaintances I''d made in my previous life and the connections that I''d built. Settling down had never been an option. Due to my health, I hadn''t been able to conceive, so there was no wife and no children for me to miss.

    Most of my associates went off to the higher Floors or died long before the end. None had been close enough for me to consider recruiting them in this life, and the only one that could be called a friend hadn''t been born yet. I chuckled when I thought of how Crole and I had met, him hiding from the guards after having stolen a bottle of scotch.

    I wasn''t sure how long I stared into the darkness before my consciousness fled... and the next thing I knew, there was a pull in my mind. My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was the early morning sun creeping through the window, falling warmly upon my face.

    It was a soft enough light that I wasn''t forced to blink, and Iy there for a moment, thinking briefly about closing my eyes and going back to sleep. The tug on my mind hit again, stronger this time. I sat up, rubbed the sleep from my eyes, then nced at the time on my watch.

    [100:08:17:58:49]

    The pull came again, this time feeling more like my thoughts were being yanked toward the watch, "Bloody hell, I''m awake!"

    I fumbled with the lever on the side of the watch, flipping it into a downward position and then back up again, shutting off the alert. Now fully awake, I stretched, cleansed myself with the Infernal Wash to rinse away the morning ick, then performed a few exercises.

    Today, rather than my father''s old leather armor, I sported the standard uniform of the Academy''s tenth-year students. Around my waist, I wore a multi-pocket belt with my Deck Box attached. Aside from that, I carried nothing. For the final exam, even the pens would be provided by Miss Warren.

    After dressing, I spent some time looking at myself in the mirror. The dark circles under my eyes were gone, and I felt fresh as a spring chicken. With a skip, I grabbed my cane and walked out the door, locking it behind me. Though I wasn''t sure if she would condemn me for it... an old man had to have his cane.

    Many students were rushing about frantically in the corridor, having gotten upte due to theirte-night activities. I spied Luke, leaving his room down the hall, who shot a look in my direction. Not wanting to be tactless, I gave him a slight nod before proceeding toward the stairs.

    After I left the dorm, I fell in line behind a few batches of students. The boys and girls walked and chatted merrily in their little groups, many of whom would form parties to take on the Tower after the graduation ceremony. It was impossible not to pick up on the childish conversations, and I couldn''t help but chuckle at the senseless drivel these students discussed.

    The young men were flexing in front of the women and demonstrating how they would bring down Fiends with their bare hands. The women blushed, twirled their hair, and tried to cozy up to any of the men that looked like they could back their ims. In the shadows of the building, couples could be seen snogging before they had to break off and head to ss.

    With the constant entertainment of the innocence surrounding me, the ten-minute walk to the ssroom only seemed to take seconds. My cane tap tap tapped on the stone floor as I walked into the room, drawing a few students'' attention. I proceeded to my lonesome seat near the window, not minding the few stares.

    I leaned my cane out of the walkway and sat down, staring out the window while waiting for Miss Warren to arrive and distribute the tests. There were still things that I needed to aplish on this Floor, and they couldn''t be done from the ssroom.

    A prickling sensation caught my attention... something of an instinct I''d picked up after years of facing danger. I turned to find the source, only to see Aurora ring maliciously in my direction. When her eyes met mine, she didn''t look away... like she was waiting for me to back down to prove her superiority.

    I chuckled inwardly, not intending to give her the pleasure. My lips curled up, and I matched her gaze, not really sure of what game she was ying at. As it was still somewhat early, there weren''t many students in the ssroom, and they quickly took notice of this strange interaction.

    As the seconds passed, more students flooded into the ssroom, each of them feeling the tension in the air as they saw groups of students ncing back and forth between Aurora and... Rowan? I ignored the sudden gossip that erupted from the onlookers.

    "Miss Aurora, if you keep staring at me with such intensity, I may start to feel that it''s courtship you''re seeking this morning," I shed my most charming smile, stood, and bowed slightly while extending my hand. "If such is the case, the pleasure would be mine."

    I could almost hear every jaw in the room drop, and when I looked up, Aurora''s eyes were wide, and her face was beet-red. When she didn''t respond, I stood, nodded in her direction, and returned to my seat.

    "Y-you..." She stammered for a few seconds before letting out a long stream of air and turning back to her work, instantly casting her Sphere of Silence. I smiled again and returned to patiently waiting for Miss Warren, but the rest of the ss was another matter...

    Zachary watched on from his seat in the back of the room, his face tranquil as ever. He hadn''t missed two days prior when Aurora stared at Rowan''s empty chair, and Zachary suddenly gained an interest just now while the two were looking at one another. Then, after Rowan''sment...

    "Is that why she''s ignored my advances?" He asked quietly, more to himself than his admirers who stood around him. They were surprised by his sudden question. Zachary was incredibly calm, so they weren''t sure if he was simply interested or if he was upset about the matter.

    Multiple conversations sprouted amongst the groups, including his own, and these exchanges only served to make Zachary curious, as he''d never known the youth to garner such attention. He watched the back of Rowan''s head as the other man stared uncaringly through the window, twirling that foolish-looking cane.

    Suddenly, Rowan''s head turned in his direction and met his gaze. Just like with Aurora, when their gazes locked, the youth refused to look away first. Zachary blinked, more from surprise than anything, causing him to lose the challenge. Rowan nodded slightly and turned his attention back to the Tower''s sky.

    Zachary''s eyes narrowed slightly, but unless one was paying close attention, they wouldn''t have noticed the subtle change. He stood, intending to approach the cheeky bastard and find out what suddenly made him so confident, but before he could, a chill washed over the room.

    Miss Warren stepped in, holding a strange orb, a massive book, and an borate wooden container. She nced around the room, seeing that almost all of the students were looking in one direction. Following their gazes, she was surprised to find that everyone was looking toward the back corner of the ss.

    Zachary watched her turn toward the ipetent student, smile, and proceed down the stairway until she reached the bottom of the ssroom. He remembered how she had asked about the student two days prior, and his curiosity grew.

    "Maybe there''s something more to this... Rowan Wilder."

 Chapter 10

    Zachary Gray... I stared at the young man, looking for the darkness that he was so openly known for in the future. I hadn''t intended to challenge the youth by meeting his gaze, but he seemed to take my look in such a way. After our eyes met, we regarded each other for a moment before he blinked, and an almost imperceptible sh of hatred appeared in his eyes.

    It seemed that I was right in my assumption and that darkness had always been there. Whatever had happened to make Zachary this way must have urred long before his Academy days. It was a shame since he would someday be a powerful Climber. I nodded to myself, affirming my assessment before returning my gaze to the beautiful sky outside.

    "Since when has Rowan been so... confident?"

    "He sounds so refined. Has he always talked like that?"

    "Who knows? I don''t think Rowan''s said a word in ss this year. It''s hard to believe the first time he would speak would be to Miss Aurora."

    "Isn''t he just some nobody?"

    "I don''t know... but wasn''t that rather... alluring..?"

    I felt the stares of several of my ssmates burning into my back. No one bothered to hide their thoughts, and as the room was full of somewhat confident youths, none of them kept their voices down, either. Part of me found it amusing, and their innocence was refreshing, but another part of me could only sigh. For something as simple as that to bother these young men and women so much...

    "The reality will be harsh once they''re forced to face their first group of Crazed..." I murmured.

    Not wanting to ruin my mood, I decided to explore the ssroom a bit rather than gaze up at the open skies. My eyes wandered around the nooks and crannies of the stone-walled room, admiring theck of dust in any crevice. Three rows of short tables stair-stepped from the podium, making their way up to the two entrances in the back.

    It wasn''t a massive ssroom, with the front desks each holding two individuals, the second three, and the long tables in the back holding five. My table only consisted of myself and two others who sat on the opposite end, and the ss held twenty-eight students. This was only one of the ten tenth-year ssrooms.

    My gaze fell upon the old chalkboard in the front center of the ss behind the podium. It seemed that Miss Warren hadn''t erased the subject they''d been discussing at the end of the review two days prior.

    [gued Beasts: Ranking and Evaluation]

    This would be the source of the final exam. Magically constructed images would present themselves on our test papers one by one with a situation written beneath. We were required to quickly answer their Ranks and number of Skills, and give a brief evaluation of what we should do in each case, along with how the creature may react.

    Such an exam wouldn''t give me any trouble. More than anything, I wanted to leave this room and start preparing for the following tasks. With a sigh, I read thest of what was written on the board. Below thebel, Miss Warren had given two basic descriptions for some of the creatures we may encounter on the earlier Floors.

    [Feline, Blood Toothed: Large creature that appears feline in nature. Notorious for its vicious tendencies. These beasts hunt in packs, usually under a Fallen, and rely on their sharp teeth and razor-like ws to tear apart their enemies. Tend to roam arid, t regions with little means for cover]

    [Arachnid, Corpse Devourer: Spider-like monstrosity that spreads near-invisible webs to capture their prey. The venom in their nds is exceptionally potent and is used to paralyze struggling victims. Their webs can be shot from a distance to entangle their enemies. Tend to live in densely wooded areas orrge caverns]

    These names were created by Climbers and weren''t what was shown when casting Inspection. This was just a way to help categorize the beasts and train others to better deal with them. It was a popr theory that the gued Beasts were once the same as some ordinary creatures seen on the Origin Floor. They''d been infected by the Demonic gue and undergone horrific mutations.

    From the Fifth Floor on, it was no longer possible to determine whether a beast had once been a dog or if it was some form of mouse, so Climbers just began to use broad terminology when describing them based on their structure. The second descriptor usually consisted of how it killed or what a Climber needed to look out for when facing such a monster.

    My thoughts were broken when a sudden chill permeated the air, and the sound of the children''s chatter became mute. I nced back briefly and noticed Miss Warren standing in the doorway, examining the room. Uninterested, I continued studying the room while waiting for the exam to begin, though I felt a slight chill when her eyesnded on me. Whatever Card that was, it had to be at least Holy Rank.

    Miss Warren walked briskly down the stairs and stationed herself at the front of the room. No one said a word, only watching as she passed. Her shoulder-length, curly brown hair bounced as she walked, and though she looked stern as her gaze passed over the students, the tiny wrinkles at the edge of her eyes revealed years of smiling andughter shared among friends.

    "Since you lot would rather prattle on than study this morning, I suppose that means you''re all prepared to jump right into your exam?" Her tone was harsh, and many students averted their gaze, feeling shamed by their mentor''s words. It was apparent that many weren''t, in fact, ready for their final exam, even after many years of study, while some others sat with straight backs and a confident look in their eyes.

    It just so happened that I didn''t fall into either of these categories, only nonchntly waiting for the exam to begin. I somewhatmented that fact when I felt the teacher''s gazend on me. She ced her burden on the desk beside her, ascended the short flight of stairs, crossed behind the second row of desks, and stopped right in front of me.

    "Rowan Wilder..." She looked down at me with that dissatisfied look that educators used when a talented student refused to study. One hand was on her hip, the other palm down against the table in front of me. I had to do my best to hold back myughter. It had been many years since I''d been berated in such a way.

    "Cecelia Warren," I responded with a simr tone, doing my best to hold back a smile. "How may I help you?"

    She tensed slightly when I used her full name, as it was information that students weren''t privy to. More than that, she looked surprised at my nonchnce. I wasn''t sure what she''d expected, but I certainly wouldn''t climb under the table like some frightened chicken.

    After the surprise faded, she asked, "Where were you during our review, Mister Wilder?"

    To my right, a small group of individuals started snickering. I didn''t have to look to know that it was Galen and his crew, who, for some reason, were acting like tykes watching the scolding of another child.

    "Miss Warren, I was certain the review period was optional," I spoke calmly. "Was I mistaken?"

    The snickering stopped, and Miss Warren seemed to be caught off guard. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as if she were trying to recall something.

    "I... No, it doesn''t seem that..." She looked at me incredulously, "Did you actually read the Academy''s regtion guide?"

    In fact, I had read the school regtions long ago. There were many rules forbidding students from certain activities on the First Floor, and I had to learn them due to my circumstances.

    "Excuse me, Miss Warren?"

    The voice came from my right, and I knew that Galen was attempting to stir up trouble. Miss Warren turned to look at the youth with one brow raised and gestured for him to continue.

    With a grin, Galen stood and spoke confidently, "Even if he wasn''t required to participate in the review, isn''t it against the rules to hunt in the Howling Hills with a party of less than four?"

    Miss Warren''s eyes widened, and she shot me a re, "Is this true, Mister Wilder?"

    "It is," I smiled up at her.

    "Not only that, Miss Warren, but he was hunting the canyon during the day! I never saw anyone with him," Galen smirked toward me, as Miss Warren wasn''t looking in his direction. Inwardly, I shook my head, knowing the fool thought that I had only been a porter for some stronger group.

    "That''s enough, Mister Boyd," she admonished the youth without turning her head. Her eyes were narrowed as she stared at me, "May I inquire as to why you would do such a thing?"

    "Not all of us were born with a silver spoon," I indicated my uniform, which wasn''t quite as admirable as those around me. Informing the ss about my estate would have been in bad taste, but Miss Warren''s visage softened.

    "Be that as it may, Mister Wilder, you should be more mindful when making such decisions," she turned back to the stairs.

    Galen gaped, "Wha- Miss Warren, shouldn''t you punish him?!"

    "Mister Boyd," she didn''t bother to stop as she responded, "You would do well to follow Mister Wilder''s example in understanding the Academy''s regtions. Yesterday was a free day, and students were in no way subject to follow our guidelines."

    Galen''s jaw fell slightly, and I had to work to hold back myughter. A gentleman wouldn''t twist their knife in the wound of someone they''ve already beaten. Moreso, it wasn''t in good taste to incite trouble with someone who could hardly defend themselves.

    I did feel another pair of eyes on me, however. For the second time that morning, I turned my head to find Aurora staring in my direction. When our eyes met, she frowned and turned back toward Miss Warren.

    "How strange," I mumbled, uncertain what to think of her sudden interest in me.

    "Well, that''s enough time wasted this morning," Miss Warren spoke. Her voice sounded as if she were standing just in front of me, and I knew the other students heard her in the same way. It was one of many suchmunication Cards, and each of the Academy''s professors received one. "It''s time to start the exam."

    She opened the ornate box she''d sat on her desk and pulled out a small stack of grey papers, along with twenty-eight ck and purple pens. These were simr to the book and pen used by the custodian watching the dorm entrance, though much more advanced.

    "You will have four hours toplete the exam," she said as she walked up to the first table and began passing out the supplies. "Once the exam starts, the first image and scenario will materialize at the top of the page. You are to note the creature''s name, ss, and habitat before describing what you should do in the situation."

    "Once finished with your description, simply tap on the image with the provided pen. The page will be cleared, and the following scenario will rece it," she exined. "Your grades are based on both speed and uracy. When faced with these situations on the higher Floors, you won''t have time to use your Inspection Cards or flip through the pages of a book to learn how to save yourselves."

    She reached my table and ced the two items down before returning to the front of the ss, "If you score less than fifty points, you will lose your right to graduate and will be removed from the Academy. Are there any questions before we begin?"

    The room fell silent as the students picked up their pens and waited for the images to appear. Rather than grabbing my own pen, I raised my hand, wanting to confirm something before starting. Miss Warren looked in my direction, but her face looked unsure as she called on me.

    "Uhh... yes, Rowan?" She asked hesitantly.

    "When we are finished with the exam, may we leave? Or do we have to sit until the others are done?" I asked calmly but spoke loud enough for her to hear my question clearly.

    I wasn''t trying to be arrogant, but the questions in the exam were rather elementary for me. If the beasts that appeared were from the Upper Floors where the true demonsy, I might face some issues, but this exam only contained creatures found between here and the Tenth Floor.

    "...leave early?" Miss Warren''s expression changed, and I heard Galen and his associates again snickering to my right. It was clear that they thought I didn''t know the material. Based on the professor''s hesitation, she didn''t seem to think that I would do well, either.

    "If youplete the exam before the four-hour mark, then you can leave early," she spoke softly. "But I must encourage you to review your responses thoroughly before continuing to the following scenario. Though these scenarios are currently only on paper, they are situations that have urred in the past."

    "Thank you for your concern," I smiled and picked up the ck pen beside my own examination paper. Glowing purple lines ran from top to bottom, slightly resembling veins. Many of these students weren''t aware, but the objects we were holding were once the ws of gued Beasts.

    "Try not to give up..." I heard Miss Warren speak as if she were right beside me. "Even if you don''t know how to deal with the situation, at least try to answer. You may get some points."

    I nced up and saw her worried expression, which held the same look she''d given me when trying to talk me out of ascending to the Second Floor in my previous life. With a confident smile, I nodded in her direction and waited for the test to begin.

    "The time is currently [17:00:21]," Miss Warren spoke, looking at a clock on the wall that was in sync with my wristwatch. "Your examination papers will stop epting answers at [13:00:00]. You may now begin."

    Miss Warren opened the hefty tome that sat on her desk, and suddenly all of the exam papers in the room shone with a dull, purple light. The light died down after a few seconds, and a lifelike image appeared on top of the page, along with a paragraph beneath it.

    I only had to nce at the image to recognize the creature, and all of the associated information came flooding to mind. The illustration was of a beast that appeared to be a giant boar. Two long, ck tusks protruded from its upper jaw, curving upward in front of its face.

    There were also two strange arm-like features on its face. One between the two tusks and another growing from its lower jaw. The beast stood as tall as three men, and though its fur was mostly brown, there were ck streaks running across its mutated body. Its ck and purple eyes looked nearly lifelike on the page. Two simr-looking beasts followed behind it, though they were much smaller and only had one of the appendages growing from its maw.

    [These beasts have discovered you and your party. You are in an open, t area, and the nearest cover is a woodline fifty yards back. Your party is a basicposition that consists of two Spell Decks, one Enhancement Deck, and one Ability Deck. None of the party''s Cards are over Level 2. What is your next action?]

    I read the words and couldn''t helpughing inwardly. These creatures were not onlyrge but equally heavy. Their footsteps could be heard for many hundreds of yards. If the region was t, the party would have spotted them long before leaving the wooded area.

    Well, it wasn''t up to me to create the scenarios, and if what Miss Warren said was true, this had indeed happened to someone. Careless. With this in mind, I began to jot down my answer on the lower half of the parchment.

    [Creature ssification: Swine, Earthen Tusks]

    [Ranks: 1 Fallen, 2 Corrupted]

    [Primary Skills: Basic earth maniption, abilities that cause minor earthquakes in a small area, sound attacks from the arms on their faces, and many physical attacks, mostly involving the two tusks or using their overwhelming size to stomp down with their front legs]

    [The Party in question should have long noticed or picked up on the noise the small herd made while traveling the ins. Considering theck of power from their Decks, the Spellcasters should cast area of effect entanglement skills to slow the beasts while backing to the tree line.

    The Enhancement and Ability users should taunt the 2 Corrupted creatures, keeping the two smaller beasts between themselves and the Fallen as they slowly retreat to the wood line. Even if performedpetently, it would take nearly ten minutes to safely work their way back. If the party identally kills one of the smaller beasts they are using as barricades, the party will die]

    Hmm, I wonder if the party survived. It was unlikely. If they were so ipetent as to find themselves in such a situation, they certainly wouldn''t have found a way to get out of it in time. Since the Academy was able to learn of this scenario, it was likely that the Enhancement and Ability Wielders sprinted to the tree line, leaving the Spellcasters behind as bait.

    With a sigh, I tapped on the image and watched as the illustration and my answer were slowly expunged. While waiting for the following scenario to appear, I thought about the different Ranks that were used by the general public. These Ranks were what appeared when using an Inspection Spell on a gued Beast.

    Crazed, Corrupted, Fallen, Fiend, and Demonic. Of course, there was another that I knew of, but even the Network hadn''t found out about the sixth Rank until around fifty-five years from now when the first Climber to reach the Seventy-Fifth Floor reported back. These Ranks were eerily in line with what appeared when one used Demon ss or an Examine Spell on a Card. The only difference was that they followed a corrupt pattern rather than pure.

    After many hundreds of years of study, and thanks to those few individuals who poured their Essence into their Examine Spells, the Climbers of the Tower came to understand the differences between these Ranks. Much like the feudal system from the Tower''s younger days, the gued Beasts faced simr roles. The higher a beast''s Rank, the more sway it had over beasts of a lower rank. Further, the higher Ranked beasts were much more powerful and intelligent and had additional abilities.

    During my introspection, the second image appeared at the top of the parchment, depicting arge group of canines. I fiddled with my pen for a moment before writing my solution to the scenario below, wondering just how far I should go.

    What I was trying to do now was water down my responses slightly. Many tactics were stored in the Network in the future, even some that hadn''t been discovered yet, and I''d been privy to most of that information. It wasn''t that humans hadn''t learned such things over the past ny-nine hundred years in the Tower, more that the factions were stingy with their information.

    It took breaking through to the Seventy-Fifth Floor and discovering just how powerless we were before the many families came to an agreement with the government to make their secrets public. Up to the Fiftieth Floor, small guilds and mighty parties could ascend sessfully. Beyond that, onlyrge and powerful factions managed to climb further. As for the Seventy-Fifth Floor...

    I shook my head. My thoughts were straying again, and I needed to finish this exam so that I could begin my other preparations. With my mind back on task, I swiftly gave my responses, making sure it appeared that I was studious and well-prepared rather than some sheltered genius. It was too early to draw the ire of the families by ''discovering'' their secrets.

    Besides... some of my knowledge could be sold for tremendous profits in the near future. Once I''d made my decision, it only took a few moments per scenario to jot down my solutions. Only a half hour after the exam began, I stood and approached the front of the ss, ced my pen and exam sheet on the desk, and swiftly left before Miss Warren could get over her surprise, my cane tapping as I ascended the short flight of stairs and left the room.

    Cecilia watched over the ss of scribbling students from the seat behind her desk. Each of them had their heads down, seemingly working hard. Some held furrowed brows or frowns, while others simply took the test in stride. It was apparent to her who had and hadn''t studied.

    She hoped that all her students would do well, as a Climber''s life was dangerous, and she wanted them to have every advantage they could get. Though Blessed Cards weren''t exactly rare and could even be found as drops from the Second Floor onward, it would be a great boon to those who arrived on schrship or were from lower-ss merchant families.

    More importantly, graduating from the Academy provided opportunities that would be an advantage to even those of the great families. The Academy''s mark would remain on the graduates'' registration cards and would allow them ess to specific shops, auctions, and information brokers that were otherwise inessible.

    Her worries were more about what would happen to her students after the First Floor rather than whether or not they would pass the exam. Compared to therger senior sses, some of which boasted nearly seventy students, hers was one of the smaller few. With only twenty-eight students, she''d be rather intimate with most of them and had spent the better part of the first half of the year studying their files.

    That being said, she believed that most of her students would do fine, as they already had offers from guilds or other factions, but there were a few who concerned her. Cecilia''s eyes shifted to one of her more sessful students in the front row, Aurora Price.

    Among all her students, Aurora was the one whose test results she was the least concerned with. The girl had a bright mind and was very studious, however... Cecelia worried for her future. Aurora had no friends that she knew of and had turned down every Guild invitation she''d received. If she insisted on being a loner, she wouldn''t make it very far.

    The young woman''s blue eyes scanned her answers constantly, re-reading each sentence several times before moving to the next scenario. Her long ck hair was held up in a bun, though wisps of hair still fell into her eyes. Her wless skin and well-defined figure had many of the young men ncing toward her, even amidst this exam.

    Cecilia shook her head at this and let her eyes linger on another student. Galen Boyd. Despite his questionable character, the young man was intelligent and was already familiar with surrounding himself with students with more physical skills than him. Though the youth was maniptive, likely a cause of his upbringing, she believed that this trait would help him survive in the Tower. He often boasted about one day forming his own guild and recruiting powerful Climbers.

    Finally, she turned her gaze to the student that made her the most anxious. The youth sat in the far back corner of the ss near the window, his long ck hair pulled back into a ponytail. His bright green eyes, which were usually staring out into the sky, were turned down and focused on his exam. Though... His brow wasn''t creased in concentration, and his pen was moving so swiftly that he couldn''t have been writing legible words.

    Rowan Wilder had always been a shy and honest young man, though he never seemed to believe in himself. Well, until two days ago when she''d tried to scold him for not paying attention to the lecture. One minute, he''d been his usual self, and the next... well, she didn''t know how to describe it. He''d gone from slouched over to straight-backed in mere moments.

    There had been many instances in which she''d tried to speak to him, but the young man couldn''t even look her in the eye without ncing nervously away. That day, however, he''d stared back at her, his smile reminiscent of an old man looking down on some naive youth. That was strange.

    Something else that she found odd was his history. The records showed that he was an orphan picked for a schrship, yet he''d never proven to be studious enough to receive such merit. His practical skills were above average, rating among the top thirty percent or so in all of his physical lessons, but even that wasn''t enough to warrant a schrship.

    Still, the dean was quite adamant that he be afforded the same respect as any other student, not that Cecelia would treat any student differently, anyway. Sure, he was sharp, butpared to the likes of Aurora or Zachary, he was nothing special. Still, as an orphan herself, she felt for him. Her parents were already old when she was born, and they''d passed while she was still an adolescent.

    She studied his rxed expression, and it unnerved her. He''d asked if they could leave early if the exam was finished. Was he... nning on giving up? The way the young man''s pen was still gliding across his parchment... he barely had time to read the scenarios.

    Just then, to her surprise and horror, Rowan stood up with his pen and paper in hand. The youth grabbed the cane from beside his seat and swiftly walked toward her. He ced the two items on her desk, smiled, turned, and walked briskly up the stairs.

    Tap. Tap. Tap.

    Cecelia watched his back as the tapping of his cane echoed through the quiet ssroom. She''d been too surprised by his abrupt movement to stop him. Her gaze shifted to the clock on the wall behind her.

    [16:38:46]

    It had barely been twenty minutes. Cecelia sighed and shook her head, knowing that the young man really had given up. Flipping through the massive tome on her desk, she found the section in which Rowan''s answers appeared, intending to mark down his failing grade. However, when she began reading through the youth''s responses, her eyes widened...

    While Miss Warren was rifling through the pages of her tome, she hadn''t noticed another set of eyes staring at the youth as he turned in his exam and left the room. Aurora gawked at the audacity of the young man doing such a thing. Had that fool really given up? Without even trying?

    Her stomach fluttered briefly as she thought of their prior encounter, but she quickly quashed that down, and a look of disdain marred her visage. Regardless of how attractive that sudden confidence may have been, it was worth nothing if all it hid was a lost cause.

    She''d disliked Rowan from day one. Somehow, he''d gotten in on a schrship while her family had spent over half their savings to give her the opportunity. But, while she pushed herself, Rowan never seemed to put forth any effort in his studies.

    Her family gave up a better life for her to be here. If she''d been granted a schrship, maybe... Aurora sighed. There was no use in thinking about it, not now. This was the final exam, and all of her hard work over the years was about to pay off. She''d pushed herself to be the best in both the practical and knowledge-based courses.

    She gripped her pen tighter, trying not to think about how that man had wasted an opportunity that many others would kill to have. The next query on her exam appeared, and it was time for her to get back to work. Her family depended on her sess, and she couldn''t get distracted.

    She thought of her dad, who she hadn''t seen for over a decade. He''d vanished without a trace, never returning from his ascent of the Tower. There had been no news, and even their queries to the government hadn''t turned up any leads, almost like he''d never existed.

    It was hard on Aurora and her mother, but things changed when they met her stepfather. He was a good-hearted man, part of the Merchant Guild, and a small-time merchant. Not only did he love her mother, but he even epted Aurora as his own and sold most of his assets to give her this opportunity for a better life. She owed him everything...

    But that didn''t keep her from wanting to find out what happened to her father. She was very observant, even from a young age, and there were details about his disappearance that didn''t add up. The only way to find out what had happened was to get stronger. And to do that... she had to ace this exam.

    With some effort, Aurora pushed her straying thoughts from her mind and focused on the task before her. To achieve her goal, she had to be the best.

 Chapter 11

    The tap, tap, tapping of my cane resounded in the wide stairwell as I stepped out onto the bottom floor of the Academy. As the students from every year were taking their final or advancement exams, I''d only passed a handful of staff along the way. Currently, there was only one more between myself and the exit, and I could hear the sloshing of water as he dumped a bucket on the floor and began to scrub the area.

    I couldn''t help but wrinkle my nose slightly when I saw the muddy puddle that was created. Sure, I hadn''t forgotten to bring a vial of Infernal Wash with me, but that didn''t mean I cared to stain my new boots. ncing at the middle-aged man who made the mess, I decided not to me the man, as he wore an amulet from the Church of Damnation.

    "Mornin'' kid," he lifted his hand as I walked by, attempting to skirt around the puddle of mud. "Ain''t it a bit early to be out the ol'' ssroom already."

    I nodded in acknowledgment, "A good morning to you as well, sir. My exam has already beenpleted, so my professor allowed me to attend to other matters."

    "One o'' those savvy kids, are ya?" The custodian asked, frowning and noting that I was being careful to step between the puddles. His previously pleasant demeanorpletely changed. "Can''t even be bothered tuh get yer boots wet. I reckon you''ll be dead before ya see the Fifth Floor."

    My brow twitched, "Well, sir, if you would just use a Cleansing Spell, there wouldn''t be any water to be avoided. I''m well aware that the Academy freely provides you with the necessities to do your job."

    "W-Well, I, uh..." In a short span, his face shifted from its original disdain to a flustered state. Then, he became irate andshed out, lifting the charm from around his neck, "This ''ere is a token o'' the Church. The Patriarch says the Cards are a gift from Tara, and we ought not abuse ''em. Not that I ''spect a pampered noble arocrat would understan'' that."

    "What you mean to say, sir, is aristocrat," I shook my head and spouted, "At least a gentleman wouldn''t be so hypocritical in his beliefs."

    The custodian was taken aback, "Lad, don''t you dare be pesterin'' me ''bout-"

    "Oh? So that isn''t a Savory Scent Enhancement I smell on your person?" I asked, "Last I remembered, the Patriarch was firm that no Cards should be used unless they made the Wielder better suited to purge the gued Beasts. Maybe you should remove that chain and swear fealty to the Church of Liberation."

    The man tried to stammer something but couldn''t find his tongue by the time I''d left the building. I hadn''t meant to rebuke the man to such an extent, but those types of insincere congregants really knew how to press me. Even on the Tenth Floor, I''d faced condemnation from both Churches, being called a heretic almost daily by ''followers'' who didn''t even observe their own beliefs.

    Most of this was due to the side effects of my Origin Card. It wasn''t amon urrence to receive an Origin Card that worked against a Wielder, but it wasn''t particrly rare, either. About one in fifty Climbers would receive an Origin Card that took away from one of their faculties in some form to enhance another.

    Both of the Churches found this as an affront to their ideals. The Church of Liberation believed that these Cards were the Tower''s curse ced upon those who had an affinity for the gue. As for the Church of Damnation, they simply believed that the affected individuals proved too weak to assist in escaping the Tower, so the Goddess Tara had removed their ability to ascend. Both were nonsensical.

    Still, that didn''t stop most folks with the affliction of an unlucky Origin Card from having a rough life. The two Churches had their hands in everything, and though there were many who didn''t believe or care about their beliefs, there were equally as many who did. As such, it was hard for Wielders with the affliction to find a ce in the Tower, and many picked up jobs as civil servants working for the government.

    This religious war affected many people. Most chose to avoid it, but if a vulnerable person spoke the wrong words in front of the more devout members, it wasn''t unheard of for the Inquisitors of the Church of Liberation or the Exorcists of the Church of Damnation to appear at the doorstep of a so-called sphemer.

    In fact, my old friend Crole had even told me of some people he knew that were friends, even though they were members of the opposing Churches. Someoneined about this to their respective Churches, iming that the two were sharing secrets. Not even a dayter, the two men went missing and hadn''t been heard from again.

    Knowing that these pious supporters wouldn''t change between now and the end of the century didn''t help to appease my mood, but I''d forced myself to calm down by the time I reached the dorms. There was no reason to be so worked up over something that couldn''t be helped. It wasn''t like the Inquisition was out to get me.

    I jogged up the stairs and grabbed my effects before heading back and making my way to the front gate. My business today involved visiting an old friend... One who''d been kind enough to send three mercenaries to help me farm the Old Boar Forest. My Essence pouch weighed heavily on my side as I walked toward the northern exit of the Academy, my cane tapping against the cobblestone path and attracting the attention of the guards.

    I nodded and raised my cane slightly. Both guards nodded in response, tapping the hilt of their swords to acknowledge my greeting. They didn''t bother speaking out to stop me or ask why I was leaving the Academy so early on the day of the final exams.

    After stepping through the open gates, I could see the vast expanse of farnd just beyond the town. From the top of the hill upon which the Academy sat, the tops of the smaller businesses and Guild Halls could be seen clearly. Scents from the many taverns wafted up the hill, assaulting my senses and making my mouth water.

    "Mmm... maybe I can afford a proper meal today," I mused, making my way down the cobblestonene and swiftly reaching the intersection at Main Street. As was customary in the middle of the day, the streets were bustling with activity.

    Carriages moved this way and that along the vast expanse of road while Guild promoters stood in the streets calling for passers-by to sign up. Alongside the promoters, small and somewhat impressive-looking parties sat ying dice or cards, inviting those interested in enjoying a game with them.

    These parties would typically help their newer members finish the basic tasks on the First Floor before providing them with the documentation needed to ascend to the Second Floor. Though the party members would never enjoy the fame of their guildmates who made it to the upper levels, their jobs paid well, and more importantly, they were safe.

    I passed arge group of armored men and women who stood next to a broad sign on the corner of the street. Multiple sheets of paper hung on the board, primarily requests from the many businesses asking adventurers to head into the mountains to guard their miners or bring back wolf skins. Pictures of some criminals adorned the board as well.

    Finding bandit and mercenary groups on the First Floor wasmon, particrly in the vast mountains around the outskirts. It would take a man close to forty days if he wanted to travel from one wall to another, assuming thend waspletely t, and he only had to stop to eat and sleep. But, the mountainous regions took up more than three-quarters of the Floor, making it easy to remain obscure.

    If one were tomit a significant crime on the Origin Floor, there would be no ce for them within the Tower. Though the guards would look the other way for a few Essence if one was a petty thief, murderers and the like would be arrested on the spot if they attempted to ascend the stairwell. Thus, there was only one ce for these criminals to flee.

    "Hey, hey!"

    I turned around, feeling a sudden pressure on my shoulder, and found myself looking into the face of a tall,nky woman with glowing eyes. She had long, thin hair and yellowed teeth, indicative of her terrible habits. Even with her gaunt figure, her grip on my shoulder was tight, almost painful, and indicated that she had a Strength Foundation of at least Level 3.

    "How may I help you?" I asked, ncing at the woman''s hand and finding it covered in dirt and grime. When I saw this, I tried to wrest myself from her grip and take a step back, but her grip was too tight.

    "You, boy, sell me your cane," she quickly replied, spittle flying from her lips while she spoke. Her gaze traveled to the cane in my hand, and I saw her eyes begin to glitter. "I want it, boy. How much?"

    "My possessions are not for sale, ma''am," I spoke inly, and red at the woman when her grip on my shoulder tightened. Before she could speak again, another,rger woman grabbed her by the arm and tugged her away. The woman cried out in surprise as her grip on my shoulder weakened.

    "Gertrude, release this young man at once!" She barked, yanking back harder on the haggard woman. This woman was also tall, but she was by no means gaunt. Her body looked like that of a strongman you would see in a carnival, her ck hair was cropped close to her ears, and she had a short, masculine face. "I''m sorry young man. Gertrude here doesn''t know how to keep to herself."

    I regarded the gigantic woman for a moment before nodding. She smiled in response and began to reprimand Gertrude while I turned to leave. Before I made it out of earshot, I heard the bony womanin, "But Bertha! You haven''t seen the Essence contained in that thing!"

    My steps faltered briefly upon hearing that, and I recalled how the woman''s eyes glittered when her gazended on my cane. I kept walking, pretending I didn''t hear her crazed shouting, but I suddenly became curious about the object I was holding.

    This had been my grandfather''s cane, and it had been his grandfather''s before him, and I didn''t know anything about its origins. When I''d had it appraised in my previous life, the shopkeep had told me that it was a rtively solid object made from some materials found on the Twentieth Floor. Aside from that, he hadn''t discovered any unique traits.

    Although...

    I was young when I''d had that done, so the memory had be fuzzy as my mind and body deteriorated. Now though, my mind was in peak condition, and I could remember the encounter clearly. That clerk had been nervous... no, almost afraid as he handed the staff back to me.

    After I''d walked far enough down Main Street for the women to be out of sight, I stepped into an empty alley and looked down at the weapon in my hand. It looked just the same as my previous life, aside from being free from the wear of years of use. That''s where I caught myself.

    Why would it have had all of that wear from me using it on the Tenth Floor when it had been passed down through multiple generations without taking damage. For many minutes, I stood in that alley, aghast and going over the implications in my mind.

    "Had that shopkeep had a replica crafted..?" It wasn''t impossible. But what I didn''t understand was... "Why?"

    I stared at the sword in my hand for a few more minutes before sheathing it and departing the alley, leaving the guild halls and job board behind to head to the business establishments. It wasn''t long before I saw the merchant''s shop. The lights were dimmed, and a closed sign hung on the door.

    Shaking my head, I approached the two-story building and tried the handle. It was locked. ncing both ways and seeing no one nearby, I raised my cane and lightly bashed the silver head into one of the small window panes. Carefully reaching through the broken pane, I unlocked the door and stepped inside.

    Ding.

    I nced at the small bell above the door before shutting and locking it behind me. My cane tapped on the nicely polished wooden floor as I approached the desk and gently tapped the bell on the counter, waiting patiently.

    "Sir Crook!" I called. "It''s rude to keep a customer waiting."

    A bit of shuffling and then a loud thud from the dark room in the back, followed by a tirade of curses. Holding back a chuckle, I waited for the bulky merchant to round the corner, still cursing and rubbing the top of his head.

    "Can''t you see we''re closed? Who do y-" Crook''s face went pale, and his eyes widened when he recognized me. He lifted a hand as if to cast a spell, but before he could, I was over the counter with the tip of my sword lightly pressed against his throat.

    "Sir, don''t you think it''s a bit discourteous not to wee a customer with a proper greeting?" I asked, smiling down at the sweating man, easing my de from his throat. A thin trail of blood trickled down, staining the edge of his cor.

    "Y-You''re right. P-Please forgive my rudeness, Sir Wilder," he lifted his hands very slowly and pointed to a cloth in his front pocket. "M-May I?"

    I eased my sword back but kept it in a position where he knew I could reach him if he tried anything clever. The merchant nodded and pulled out a finely knit handkerchief, pressing it to his minor injury. He looked me up and down as he did so, still a bit shaken but no longer terrified. In his line of work, I was sure this hadn''t been the first time he''d been put in such a position.

    "How can I help you today, good sir?" Crook asked, panting and through gritted teeth. He stepped around me to take his seat behind the counter, and I watched amusedly as he struggled to climb onto the stool.

    Once he was properly seated, I walked to the front of the counter and unfastened the Essence pouch from my belt, "There are a few matters we need to discuss, but we can start here. I have just short of thirty-five hundred assorted Essence here, and I would like to exchange it all for its equivalent in Level 5 Essence."

    Crook''s face contorted slightly, "Oh, you don''t want me to just give you the Essence for free?"

    "Well, if you''re insisting," I smiled, pretending not to have heard his sarcastic tone.

    "No, no, no," Crook hurriedly waved his hands and turned to a massive box beside him on the counter, opening it. Inside were thousands of Essence of varying Levels. "So, will seven hundred Essence suffice?"

    "Make it six-hundred fifty, and I''ll purchase another case of Infernal Wash," I told the man, dumping my pouch gently on the counter for him to sort through. The weasel nodded and began poking through the shards, counting them swiftly while grumbling about how I''d never purchased the first case.

    "Now, for our second order of business," I tossed the missive on the counter that I''d acquired from the three brothers. The merchant paused his counting and read through the message, his face turning darker with each line.

    I snatched the paper back from him before he had a chance to try and dispose of it. His horrified visage turned to one of defeat, and he spoke solemnly, "What do you want?"

    "Well, my dear fellow, there are several things you can do for me," I said, smiling brightly. "But for now, we will keep it simple. I''m in need of a Wisdom Foundation Card, and I would like to know everything you have on the Skull Mercenaries."

    "And you''ll be wanting this for free, will ya?" The merchant growled but simmered down when he caught my icy stare, and he looked again at the blood spatters that stained the parchment I was holding. He gulped, "What... Uh, happened to the brothers?"

    "Mmm..." I grinned again as I rolled up the paper and ced it in my personal pack, then tossed the Mercenaries'' pack on the counter beside the pile of Essence. "Theds and I exchanged a few pleasantries, and after, there was a boar of a feast..."

    I chortled at my own joke as the merchant''s face turned pale. If his blood kept draining like this, I was sure the wily fool would have a heart attack before we could get anything useful done. He sat in silence for the next several moments as my words sunk in.

    "B-But you''re just a... kid..." Crook whispered, more to himself than to me. Without saying another word, he went back to diligently counting the Essence on the counter, though his hands were shaking.

    "So, I''ll hold on to this," I patted my sack which held the proof of Crook''s wrongdoings, "And I''ll exchange it for your services between now and the time I leave for the Second Floor a few days after the graduation ceremony."

    Crook nodded, "You''re not going to turn me in?"

    "Sorry,d, but you won''t be getting off that easy," I told him. "I want a full report on everything you know about the Skull Mercenaries by the time I return. You''ll offer a fair price for all of the gear that Imandeered from your friends. And finally, I need a Wisdom Foundation Card."

    "S-Sir..." He seemed to hesitate, but I gestured for him to get it out. "You should know that Wisdom, Intelligence, and Will Cards are the most difficult of the Foundation Cards to get your hands on until the higher Floors."

    I nodded. Of course, I knew this. The magic-based Foundation Cards only started to drop once you reached the gued Beasts that used such abilities on the Fifth Floor or higher.

    "Your other two requests, I can manage," Crook said solemnly, "But if you want a Wisdom Card in such a short time, I''m not sure I''ll be able to attain it."

    "Do your utmost to locate one, and I''ll consider our deal concluded," I stroked my chin thoughtfully, then added, "Only if it''s obtainable, of course."

    "Yes, sir," Crook looked annoyed, but he didn''t argue. Pleased with his response, I waited patiently for him to count out the remaining Level 5 Essence, pour them into a new pouch, and ce them on the counter. "Six-hundred fifty Level 5 Essence and your Infernal Wash is on the same shelf asst time."

    It seemed that my paying for the wash this time had softened his mood toward me a bit, but he was still dour. I was afraid that if I''d taken too much advantage of him, he would''ve fought or just let me turn him in. Neither of those options would have benefited me in the end.

    I picked up the small sack of shards and, as an afterthought, added, "Also, if you can get hold of a Cleansing Spell Card, I''ll pay market price."

    His eyes softened again, but he still seemed exasperated from all that had happened over thest few minutes. I tossed the now much lighter pouch in my pack, scooped the case of Infernal Wash from the shelf, and made my way to the exit.

    "Until then, good sir," I bid a short farewell, slightly bowing my head, and backed out of the merchant''s shop. The fresh air blew through the streets, bringing with it the smells of a nearby bakery. My mouth watered again, but I decided to hold off for now.

    "It doesn''t seem that he''s contacted Skull since our prior confrontation," I mumbled, ncing back at the closed sign in the window. "I wonder what he''ll do next. The brothers should have been the only decent force they could muster other than the head Skull. I wouldn''t expect the dozen or so criminals that make up the current crew to have much experience."

    I shrugged and made to leave. There was no reason to concern myself with hypotheticals. What mattered now was finishing the tasks, and it seemed I was a free man until graduation. Though, the sooner, the better...

    I needed to clear these tasks before the younger Descendants converged onto the First Floor.

 Chapter 12

    It had only been a few hours between my departure and the time I arrived back at the dormitory. I made my way to the second floor amongst the bustle of students who''d finally been released from their exam rooms. Many spoke loudly about their experience, asking questions and trying to best determine their results. Some were excited, others were nervous, and a few simply cried behind closed doors.

    While I weaved my way through the crowd, I noticed something peculiar. There were many students carrying suitcases, their faces grave as they made their way to the stairs. Every one of these students had something inmon, aside from their dour mood. Each of these youths was a Descendant.

    Publicly, the families they hailed from were simply known as Noble Families. Behind closed doors, however, they were known as the Descendant Families. Each of these great families had some meaningful connection to the past, and their familial heads were some of the oldest Climbers currently living within the Tower. Aside from the Churches, there were no factions as powerful as the top families, while even the lower of the hundreds of families were considered almost as influential as the tenth-ranked Guild.

    These young men poured from the flight of stairs leading to the third floor and swiftly made their way down the hall, ignoring the gawking students as they left the building. Then, I noticed a familiar face walking toward me as I fit a key into my bedroom door. He was a broad, handsome young man with silver hair cropped like a soldier''s. Nathaniel Syward.

    The mountainous young man''s eyes turned slowly toward me when he caught my gaze, and he veered off from his initial path. Some of the other Descendants looked at him in puzzlement, while the many ordinary students quickly made to step out of his way. Nathaniel stopped next to me and nced at the key ring still hanging from my door in apparent confusion.

    "I suppose you living on the second floor is why I''ve never noticed you," he said, and it almost sounded like a question. "Anyway, have you prepared to leave? Once we''ve reached the Origin Floor, it will take some time to travel to the Hall."

    I raised an eyebrow, "I''m sorry,d, but what makes you think I''ll be leaving?"

    "What?" Nathaniel frowned, "Didn''t your family contact you?"

    "My family?" I thought about thest time I''d seen each of my parents, and my gut twisted. Even after so many years, there was some pain that didn''t fade. Doing my best to keep my feelings to myself, I asked, "For what reason would my family reach out?"

    Another group of Descendants passed, nodding to Nathaniel and, surprisingly, even me in turn. I responded in kind to each of the greetings while waiting for the bulky man''s response.

    Nathaniel''s frown deepened, and I could see the confusion growing in his eyes. He looked me up and down before stepping closer and speaking softly, "If they haven''t told you, the heads of the ten great families have called a meeting, saying it is of the utmost importance. If you haven''t prepared, you are wee to apany me. We have a carriage waiting near the stairs."

    My few doubts had been confirmed. Though Nathaniel may have looked like a brute due to his size, he was brilliant. He must have pieced together that I waspleting the yer tasks when he noticed I wasn''t harvesting the wolves.

    Calmly, I tapped my door with the head of my cane, pushing it open and giving the boy a sad smile. "I''m sorry, young man, but I believe you have me mistaken for someone else. Unfortunately, I have no family to call me anywhere."

    "What?" Nathaniel''s confusion grew further, and he spoke softer than before, his tone taking on a note of gravity, "Your ughter in the canyon didn''t go unnoticed."

    I pondered that statement for a moment, unsure how I should react. Was he threatening me? No... that wasn''t in his character from what I remembered. Did that mean... were there others with their eyes on me?

    My face must have darkened briefly because Nathaniel added, "You have nothing to worry about from me, but keep your eyes open. I''ll be going now."

    I nodded in appreciation, "Safe travels to you,d."

    He scrunched his nose like I''d said something strange before nodding back and heading toward the stairs. I watched his back for a moment curiously before walking into my room and shutting the door. There had been multiple sets of eyes on us while we spoke, and I didn''t have time for the drama our interaction may have caused.

    With the door closed, I murmured, "It seems the time hase. I''ll only have three days at the most to clear as many of the tasks as possible.

    Galen frowned, leaning against his doorframe and watching the two youths speak further down the hall. His friends were sitting on the floor and bed behind him, chatting about their exam answers, as were most of the other groups in the dormitory. Unlike the others, he and his friends were confident that their results would be exceptional.

    He watched Nathaniel step closer, the two of them talking in hushed whispers briefly before separating. Galen couldn''t figure out what someone from the Noble Families would want with some poor loser like Rowan. First, Nathaniel stopped them from roughing Rowan up in the canyons, and now they were chatting like old mates..?

    "What the hell does Wilder have that I don''t?" His scowl deepened. If he wanted to form his Guild in the future, he needed connections. But no matter what he did, he couldn''t get anyone from the Noble Families to give him the time of day.

    Finally, the two parted, nodding at each other like they shared some deep secret. Nathaniel continued down the hall, and Rowan vanished quickly into his room. Galen couldn''t stand it. He stepped out and blocked Nathaniel''s path, doing his best to look humble.

    "S-Sir," Galen spoke respectfully, "I''m sorry for my ssmate Rowan''s behavior. No one likes him due to his arrogance, so I''d like to apologize if he treated you rudely."

    "Rude and arrogant, you say?" Nathaniel snorted, obviously annoyed though his face still held that t, cold look that never seemed to change. Aside from when he''d just been talking to Rowan, Galen noted. "If anyone was being rude and arrogant, it was I."

    "Eh?" Galen flinched as Nathaniel brushed passed him and walked down the stairs. Embarrassment showed on his face when he noticed some other students snickering. His eyes shifted toward Rowan''s door, and his chagrin was reced with anger.

    "Hey, Galen!" One of his friends called from the bedroom, "We wrote down all our exam answers. Are you ready to go over them?"

    "Fine!" Galen snapped and spat on the floor toward Rowan''s room. He turned and mmed his door, demanding for one of the inhabitants to get out of his seat.

    Further down the hall, back toward the stairs ascending to the third floor, another presence watched curiously from the shadows. Zachary Gray witnessed the interaction between the highly regarded Nathaniel Syward and that lowly Rowan Wilder.

    He wasn''t sure what to think of the exchange, but his mind traveled down dark roads as he considered the obstinate youth. Zachary''s countenance didn''t change, holding that bored look that he''d trained himself to keep when no one was speaking with him. The fake smiles, frowns, and other expressions he wore took years of standing in front of a mirror to master.

    Zachary continued to watch after Rowan closed his door. Nathaniel was stopped by another of his ssmates, that sycophant Galen who always tried to cozy up to those with wealth or power. Whatever he''d said didn''t seem to go in his favor, and after Nathaniel vanished down the stairs, Galen spat toward Rowan''s door.

    "Fascinating..." Zachary mused, watching the anger on the young boy as he stormed into his room and mmed the door, "Very interesting."

    Zachary''s bored expression unnaturally shifted to one of cheerfulness before he stepped out from the shadows and mounted the stairs to ascend to the third floor. His steps scarcely made a sound as he climbed and muttered, "It seems it''s time to make a new connection."

    ?

    A familiar pulling in my mind forced me to awaken. I nced at the watch on my wrist and found it was alreadyte into the evening. It was time toplete the first of the secret tasks, and I had to steel my resolve to force myself out of bed.

    This would be my fourth of the lesser-known achievements, bringing me one step closer to thepletion of all eight. Along with the well-known ones on the First Floor and the few that were only told to seniors in the Academy... I will have finished this Floor with a perfect clear. In that case, I wouldn''t be subject to the Tower''s affliction... right?

    I couldn''t bear the thought of living another life with such poor health. If my Origin Card in this life turned out to be the same as thest... would I really want to live through that again? And all that, only to be butchered by some monstrosity in the end?

    My thoughts strayed to a dark ce... somewhere they hadn''t been in many, many years. I shook my head and brought myself back to the present. This time would be different.

    "I can''t miss a single achievement..." I clenched my fists and hurriedly got myself ready. My pack wasn''t necessary for this task, but not knowing exactly what I would run into, I decided to wear my leather armor and take two sets of throwing knives.

    Cane in hand, and a bundle of keys jingling softly in my pocket, I left the room at a brisk pace. Many of the doors were closed for the night, but there were just as many opened with students mingling, likely too nervous to sleep after the exam that morning.

    Gently, I shut the bedroom door and trod carefully down the stairs, doing my best not to draw any attention. When I reached the bottom floor, I peeked through one of the windows and saw the caretaker asleep as usual. As silently as possible, I opened the door and slipped out, hurrying toward the courtyard. Once I''d reached the gates, I let out the breath I''d been holding and looked around.

    The Academy was dark at this hour, with only a few areas lit in the upper rooms, likely where the professors stayed overnight to grade today''s exams. It was much too distant to provide light to the courtyard or for me to worry about being spotted. I stuck to the shadows, avoiding the few couples who''d snuck out for ate-night engagement or those few individuals looking for something a bit more exciting to get into. It was the end of the year, after all.

    Once I''d made my way to the Academy doors unnoticed, I looked around one more time. Satisfied that no one would spot me, I reached out to turn the handle, and... it was locked.

    "Hmm..." I hadn''t been expecting this. The doors were usually open for students who wanted to reach the library forte-night study groups. They may have been worried that some students would try to break in to alter their exam scores.

    I really hadn''t nned to break in, but the stakes were too high for me not to. With a flick of my de, I cut through the lowest ss pane, attempting to tear through the ss without causing amotion. Unfortunately, Icked the Dexterity Card needed to perform such an action, and the ss shattered rather than being cut in two.

    Without hesitation, I reached through the opening and rushed inside, using my Dash to flee the scene as swiftly as possible. There was no way the guards hadn''t heard that, and they would be upon me shortly if I didn''t create some distance.

    Before the effects of my Dash ran out, I''d torn through the hall, up the flight of stairs to the second floor, and halfway up the next flight to the third. It was there that I felt the chill. Just like the previous night in the courtyard, the air grew cold, and bursts of steam surfaced with every breath.

    The effects of the ghost''s aura tried to y at my fears, and I managed to push it down, but not without wishing I had the Will Card necessary to thwart this influence. Once confident that I could handle the fear, I finished walking up the remaining steps to the third floor.

    As soon as I stepped onto the floor, a small ball rolled toward me. It was just big enough that I couldn''t wrap my fingers around it, with the exterior so faded that I could hardly make out the original brown color that it had been. Watching the ball inch its way closer, I could tell that it was older than me... much older.

    The ball continued to roll forward, and it didn''t stop until it came to rest at my feet. I picked up the oddity and examined it, finding nothing special besides its age. Yet, the air around me grew colder still, so I could only connect the ancient toy in my hand to the Academy''s ghost.

    Though there had been many reports of strange activity within the Academy over the years, there had never been any confirmed sightings. At least, if there were, no one had admitted it. Once the truth came out about the tasks in the future, there had been no additional information for this one outside of the instruction; Find the ghost of the Academy and hear its story.

    I heard a shout outside, and the chill in the air suddenly dissipated. I blinked a few times as the effects of the fear waned entirely and found that when I opened my eyes, the toy in my hand was gone. Without time to consider the phenomenon, I peeked out a nearby window and found two guards rushing toward the double doors.

    Luckily, guards weren''t scouts, so they shouldn''t have any type of tracking Card unless one of them regrly hunted the surrounding area as a hobby. The head guard likely would, but I could vaguely remember that he attended some political event at the end of every year in an attempt to raise his standing.

    I watched as one of the guards yanked open the door and pointed to the stairs. It was high time I put some more distance between us. Wishing I''d nicked a Dexterity Card while I was at the merchant''s shop, I activated Dash again and tore down the hall. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a light bit of frost forming on every window I passed.

    "Oi! We know you''re in here!" One of the guards shouted from the second floor, "Come on out, and we won''t have to report you!"

    The nking of the metal armor worn by one of the men mored as he rushed up the stairs. I assumed the other was waiting on the second floor, watching for any reaction. There were more nking echoes in the hall as the second guard jogged slowly down the third-floor corridor.

    While the two guards attempted to track me down, I had already turned a corner and found myself at a dead end. I jerked my head back and forth, looking for the stairs leading to the fourth floor. They should have been right here.

    I nced in each direction, looking for a space to hide, when suddenly, a peal of childishughter filled the passageway. Theughter hung in the air, and the longer theugh continued, the more it seemed to stack and echo down the hall. Soon, the chill returned, but this time the fear didn''t set in.

    The noise seemed toe from all around me. I turned in circles, searching for the source and forgetting the guards who''d been hot on my trail. Not that I had to hurry, though, as I heard the two men shouting over the raucousughter.

    "Wh-who''s there?!" I heard one of the guards yell down the hall. "Come out this instant!"

    The chill set in further, and I couldn''t help but shiver. At the same time, the other guard spoke loudly, and I could hear the fear in his voice, "L-let''s get out of here. W-we aren''t getting paid to hunt ghosts!"

    Theughter slowly died down, and though I couldn''t see around the corner, I could hear the guards'' armor shaking from their shivers, "Ce on, let''s find this kid and-"

    The guard was interrupted by the sound of a bouncing ball. From the sound, it seemed to be heading slowly and deliberately toward the two guards. Theughter came again, in much greater force and loud enough that I had to cover my ears. That seemed to be it for the guards. I could hear the loud ngor of metal hitting stone as the two guards stumbled down the stairs in a bid for their lives.

    Without the effect of the fear in my mind, I couldn''t help but chortle at the men''s predicament. Theughter died down, slowly quietening until it only came from one direction. I turned slowly, following the voice, and found that where the dead end had been, there was now an old, wooden door with a busted window framed into the wall.

    That was unexpected.

    Curiously, I peeked through the window and could vaguely make out a transparent blue figure standing within. The ss was smudged and dirty, so I couldn''t see the figure clearly, but by its size, what I assumed was the ghost couldn''t be more than a mere youngster. When I spotted the child, theughter stopped, and the door slowly creaked open.

    With a deep breath, I stepped into the small room, knowing this was what I had to do. The chill in the air was gone, and the fear had vanished many moments prior, which helped urge me to move forward.

    Upon stepping into the room, I found that it was filled with various items that didn''t seem to have any purpose being in the room. There were pens and papers, gloves and shoes, and the asional weapon... and I swore I even saw a youngdy''s undergarments.

    Next, my eyes fell on the ghostly figure. He was smiling at me, amused, and seemed to be waiting for me to say something. Due to the nature of his physique, I couldn''t make out the color of his hair or eyes, but he couldn''t have been any older than ten and seemed remarkably cheerful. Unexpected for ad who could induce so much fear.

    "Hello there,d," I bowed my head slightly and spread my arms in a polite gesture. Thinking of the items in the room, I pulled a single Essence from the small pouch on my hip and held it out to the boy. "I apologize for not having a more suitable gift. If I''d known about your collection, I would havee better prepared."

    "Hahaha," the young boyughed again but stepped forward and pulled the Essence from my grasp, the tip of his fingers leaving behind a frost as they touched my palm. His figure seemed to glow brighter as the shard melded into his hand, and he spoke, "You''re funny, Mister. Why do you talk like such an old man?"

    It was my turn tough, "Well,d, I suppose I am getting a bit on in years."

    The boy was silent for a moment as he regarded me. After a moment, he walked to one of the piles in the room and pulled out an old brown ball, much like the one I''d been holding earlier.

    "Do you want to y with me?" He asked, smiling and sitting cross-legged on the ground.

    I grinned back and imitated his posture, sitting directly across from thed and cing my cane to the side, "I''d be happy to. What''s your name?"

    "David," the ghost answered, rolling the ball in my direction. "W-why are you here, Mister?"

    I caught the ball and spun it a few times on the ground before pushing it gently back to the boy, "Well,d, I heard that you had a story to tell, and I was interested in hearing it. Oh, and you can call me Rowan."

    The boy froze, and the ball skirted right by him, only stopping when it hit the pile of items. He scrunched his eyes and looked at me intently. I couldn''t help but be worried.

    "What''s wrong,d?" I asked gently. "Are you alright?"

    "Huh..." The boy looked at me, confused, and his voice quavered as he spoke, "Y-you want to hear my story? Do you mean it?"

    "About listening to your story?" I asked, stroking my chin thoughtfully, "Well, I won''t be on the Floor for much longer, and I have some time to spare this evening. So, yes, I would be delighted to hear you out."

    For several seconds, the boy simply stared at the ball that had rolled by him. Finally, he turned his gaze toward me, "Are you sure?"

    "I''m certain," I said, smiling brightly.

    This time the youth''s eyes brightened, and he began tough. It was an innocentugh, one filled with joy and hope, two things I hadn''t truly felt for a long, long time. Theughter was contagious, and soon I felt myself joining in, and neither of us stopped until tears had already formed in our eyes.

    The Tower was a dark ce, and it was a rarity to feel anything other than avarice, grief, or rage. Children begged for Essence on the street while most adults scraped by or risked their lives climbing the Tower for treasures and power. It wasn''t even unusual toe across the skeletal remains of starved children or animals on the street. If it weren''t for his mysterious benefactor, it was likely that Rowan would have suffered a simr fate.

    But now, at this moment, Rowan felt like he was truly at peace. For the first time in over a century, his heart was calm, and he could see that there was more to life than his need to be powerful. All this because of the young, joyous form before him.

    The two calmed themselves and looked over each other again, with David breaking the silence, "You know, it''s been hundreds of years since someone listened to my story. You''re the first toe to visit me in a long time. Most of the time, when I try to speak to someone, they just run away!"

    Before I could respond, he continued, "I never understood why people run away. I''ve seen myself in a mirror and don''t think I look scary... Mommy always told me that no one would like me if I kept being a bad boy. Is it because I took all of these toys to y with? I didn''t mean to be bad..."

    I watched as young David''s shoulders drooped and his face saddened, and I couldn''t help but ask, "Uh, David... Do you always try to make friends like before?"

    His saddened eyes looked at me, confused, but his face became excited as he spoke, "Yes. Wasn''t it fun? You wereughing when those mean men ran away!"

    I couldn''t help but scratch the back of my head, "Ahh... let''s just say I''m a special case,d. Most people are probably frightened by your abilities."

    "Is that why?!" David gasped and looked thoughtfully at the ceiling, "Anyway, I''m happy that you''re here. Even the one woman who listened to my story didn''t talk to me like this. Being all alone isn''t fun."

    A thought suddenly struck me. What happens to this boy when those monstrosities break into the Tower? Will he cease to exist? Suddenly, my urge to help the youngd hit me like a sack of bricks. Only... I didn''t know what I could do. For now, the most I could do was hear him out.

    "Well, if you can find sce in thepany of this old man, I''ll be more than happy to spend the evening with you," I smiled and tried to console the boy. "And I understand. People used to run away from me quite often as well."

    The boy wiped his eyes and nodded, "Thank you, Mister Rowan."

    He then stood up and walked over, sitting again just before me. His eyes glowed a strange blue, and he reached out, touching one finger to the center of my brow. David''s smile grew, "I''m so happy I can show you my story!"

    Those were thest words I heard before everything turned ck.

 Chapter 13

    My mind raced when my vision fled, trying its best to recall anything from the Network''s database that could help me piece together what happened. One moment I was talking with David, and the next, I found myself drifting along in this inky ckness. I couldn''t see, I couldn''t move... I couldn''t even feel my own body.

    Though my mind started as a flurry of activity, an unnatural calm seeped into me, soothing my thoughts and inducing my current state of being. The moment my mind calmed, and my thoughts were in order, I blinked... and my eyes fluttered open to glimpse a beautiful world the likes of which I had never seen.

    The darkness in which I''d been trapped was gone, and above me were vast blue skies, a vibrant canopy of leaves rustling in the wind, and the thick trunk of an ancient tree upon which my back was resting. I breathed the uncorrupted air as I took in the vibrant colors of the world around me.

    What was this ce? My eyes moved without mymand, looking away from the sky and darting along the ground below. Swathes of greeny before me, a vast in stretching out with many kinds of vegetation I had never seen. Strange bushes and vines sprouted from the grassy floor as various animals I couldn''t name flitted to and fro between them.

    In the distance, a creature resembling the giant boars from the Fifth Floor traped across the nd, ignoring the other animals and using the arm on its face to pick from the strange fruits amongst the trees. Its fur was brown, and its peaceful nature was in stark contrast to the gued Beasts I hade to know.

    "David?"

    A man''s voice hissed from below, and I somehow knew it was directed at me. My mind took this oddity in stride, neither allowing me to feel agitated at the situation nor ignore the happenings around me. Somehow, I knew the dark space had been meant to prepare me for this. I was nothing more than a passenger, only here to witness.

    "David! Get down here!" The voice hissed again, this time slightly louder. My head turned, and I could see a shirtless young man sporting strange green and brown breeches with many holes ripped in them. His hair was ck, much like many of the Tower''s residents, and he had emerald green eyes.

    I couldn''t help but think how handsome the young man would be if it weren''t for his gaunt figure. He looked malnourished, with his cheeks sunken and clothes hanging off him. There was a soft expression as he gazed up at me.

    "David,e down from there. We''re about to leave," this time, it wasn''t more than a whisper, but I could clearly hear what he was saying.

    "Coming, Brother Abel," I called, my mouth moving on its own. The feeling was disconcerting, and I could hear a familiarity within the voice. It was David''s... and with that realization, I fully came to understand what was happening. This was thed''s story.

    My arms and legs moved of their own ord as thed scampered from the tree. I watched as I ran up to the young man, my eyes barely reaching the young man''s chest. Inwardly, I couldn''t help but smile as the enthusiasm of young David washed over me.

    Abel lowered his hand and ruffled my hair, much to the dismay of David, as I felt my nose scrunching up, "Stop it!"

    "I told you not to wander off while we prepared to leave, David. Why don''t you ever listen to me?" Abel asked, ignoring theint and continuing to tussle my hair. I had to admit, it was getting ufortable, and I could see why children disliked the action.

    I waved my hands, pushing away Abel''s hands and fixing my hair while grumbling, "But watching is sooo boooring!"

    Abel shook his head, "Anyway, do you have everything ready to go?"

    My head bobbed up and down, and I ran over to the tree, snatching up a small green sack. I could feel David''s giddiness as he ran back to Abel and proudly showed him the bag, opening it to reveal its contents, "Mom packed for me this morning!"

    Abel rummaged through the bag as David watched. Inside were an old set of clothes, a small brown ball, a y container for water, and an apple. When Abel saw the apple, he quickly shut the bag and shoved it back into my hands.

    "That apple... did your mom give it to you?" Abel whispered.

    "Yes!"

    "Shhh," he nced behind him worriedly, though I could feel that David didn''t understand the severity of Abel''s gaze. "Your mother truly cares about you. Make sure to keep your bag shut and don''t let the others see it."

    I felt David nodding vigorously, though I could also feel his confusion. Abel smiled and tousled my hair again before bing serious, "David, you know how important this expedition is, right? If it weren''t for your luck in finding food, I wouldn''t be bringing you along. You have to promise that you''ll listen while we''re gone. No more running off."

    David nodded through Abel''s entire rant, and I couldn''t help but feel a bit unsettled by the admonishment. From the looks of the young man, he''d barely left his teenage years, but he was acting more like a kind father than an older brother. It also felt bizarre to be reprimanded by someone who wasn''t even a fifth of my age, even though I knew it was directed at David.

    "Good," Abel smiled again and waved for me to follow. "Come on, Cain is waiting with the others. He''ll be angry if we''rete."

    "Okay!" I felt my feet moving quickly as David rushed to keep up with Abel. His eyes wandered around the trees, and the two remained silent, giving me time to think about the situation.

    This Abel fellow looked like he was about half-starved, and I could feel that David''s stomach was in pain, though I couldn''t sense any difort. It was almost like they were used to it. But animals were running about all over the ins, so I couldn''t understand why they would go hungry.

    Their attire was also quite simple, not made from leather or fur but from nts. The green and brown pants the young man wore seemed to be woven from different grasses, as was the bag David carried. It was all so... primal, yet their speech was no less articte than my own, even if they didn''t seem to use any sort of formality when speaking.

    We soon walked out of the trees and entered a small vige, where others were going about hurriedly, presumably preparing for this expedition that Abel had mentioned. They wore simr nt-weaved clothing and toted around baskets and y pots. Very few individuals carried any weapon, but those who did appeared to be better fed than those who didn''t. The weapons carried by the warriors were primitive, nothing more than spears with stone tips, clubs, or bows.

    The vige was simrly primitive, sporting wooden huts or y buildings with uneven dirt paths joining them. It was cool out, likely early morning, yet strangely, no smoke rose from the spouts in the center of the buildings. David''s eyes darted back and forth to the hard-working men and women, leaving me little time to analyze further.

    I could feel thed''s admiration when his gazended on the warriors, his eyes lingering on the crude spears and weapons which they carried. Their bodies were scarred, and though they weren''t as starved as themon folk, I could tell they were emaciated. It seemed that this expedition was as vital as Abel made it out to be.

    Without warning, the bustling and preparations ceased, and as one, the people of the vige looked to the sky. David was no exception, and when he did, I couldn''t help but gasp internally. Floating many hundreds of feet overhead, the glowing numbers of a familiar clock were ticking down.

    [9899:364:23:59:59]

    The clock had just ticked down, marking the passing of a century. But this was... I couldn''t believe it. Allmon knowledge stated that the clock had formed at exactly ten thousand years. If those teachings were true, I was witnessing the end of the Tower''s first century... Amazing.

    With this knowledge, my understanding of the situation grew, though not by much. David and his people were on the Origin Floor, and it was obvious that civilization had only recently begun to take root. That only made my curiosity grow... I found it even more bizarre that people spoke the sameplexnguage this far into the past.

    I could feel an admiration bordering on reverence within David as the boy stared up at the clock. Then, all of the other vigers resumed their tasks, and David ran to catch back up to Abel. Soon the pair arrived at an old, simple carriage with two horses fastened at the front.

    "Took you guys long enough," a voice sounded nearby. David quickly shifted his eyes from the horses to the man leaning on the back of the carriage. I could feel both admiration and fear through whatever connection we shared, and an odd sense of familiarity passed over me as I sized up the man.

    The man looked a lot like Abel, with the same ck hair and emerald-green eyes. He was a few years older, thick stubble growing from his less emaciated jaw. Though he still looked starved, it was apparent that he was better fed than most of the others here. His broad chest and shoulders held a thickyer of muscle, and his arms were as wide as Abel''s thighs.

    It seemed that the warriors in this vige were given priority. Still, I had trouble understanding why the people were so starved. There were animals aplenty just behind in the ins, so why were these people suffering?

    "Cain," Abel nodded, and David waved in greeting.

    "We''ve been waiting for some time," Cain replied, pointing to the carriage, where a small group of people sat holding weapons and supplies. "What were you doing?"

    Abel chuckled and ruffled David''s hair. I could feel thed''s cheeks burning, "I just had to pick up some extra baggage. David here promised to be a good helper."

    "Yeah!" David pumped his fist before trying to pry Abel''s hand from his head.

    Cain looked between Abel and David for a moment. Each time his eyes met with David''s, a current of... something washed over me. I wasn''t sure what was happening, but the man gave me a strange vibe, and I still couldn''t brush off the idea that I''d seen him before. Before I could ce it, he shook his head and leapt into the carriage, waving for us to follow.

    "Well, hurry and hop on," he said, sitting near the front. "We can''t keep wasting time. You know how important this is for the tribe."

    Abel picked David up under the arms and sat the boy on the carriage before hopping in. A few travelersughed in amusement as I stumbled back, barely gaining my footing before plopping on one of the benches. Most of them, however, wore severe expressions and even looked at me in annoyance, as if I didn''t belong.

    "Cain, how much longer do we have?" Abel asked once the carriage began to move, the bumps of the unpaved roads breaking up his speech.

    "We won''t make it through the winter unless we''re lucky," Cain frowned. "We split our holdings evenly, each group taking a month''s supply as long as we ration properly. Everything within two weeks'' travel has been picked clean, so each caravan... It''s best not to worry. It may not be safe, but we''ll find something to the north."

    Abel mumbled something under his breath while staring up at the sky. Each of the other upants simrly looked off in some random direction, likely not wanting to see the apprehension in the others'' eyes. David took all of this in with his boyish curiosity before he, too, turned to watch the clouds.

    ...

    As the carriage rolled down a well-trod path, I could feel the difference between its structure and one from modern times. The ride was less than pleasurable, and the constant squealing from the wheels had been eating at my nerves over thest two weeks. If it weren''t for my mind being affected by David''s intrigue in the world around him, the noise would have driven me insane. Not to mention the filth...

    David and the other passengers were grungy. The smells from their unwashed skin assaulted the boy''s senses, and unfortunately, I had to live through them. This struck me as odd and gave me another hint about their lives. These people still hadn''t discovered the magic of the Cards.

    If that were the case, it made some sense that they were starving. Even on the Origin Floor in the present, it was hard for Non-Wielders to work thend. The fruits clinging to the tops of the trees took a decent amount of strength to remove and even more to open. I''d alsoe to understand that they wouldn''t eat meat due to their belief in the Goddess Tara, who loved all creatures, which helped fill in some gaps.

    I''d heard the brief conversations the adults were having throughout the trip and had begun to get a general idea of the situation. Over thest few decades, the vige''s poption had grown, and so too had their consumption. The foragers expanded outward, gathering the low-hanging fruit and mushrooms that they could harvest with their strength. Their conversations also revealed that the warriors'' job was to protect the tribe from other humans.

    "Looks like we''re here," a voice pulled me from my thoughts, and David''s head jerked around to take in his surroundings. They''d made it to the trail''s end a few days prior and continued until the carriage couldn''t proceed any further.

    Abel was the first person to hop out, turning to assist David, who was attempting to scramble after him. The others weren''t as excited, clutching tightly to their weapons as they looked around them. It was clear that they were stepping into unexplored territory.

    "Come on, David," Abel said, "Help with the baggage."

    "Okay," David quickly sat his own pack to the side and began toting the rest to a nearby tree, separating them based on who they belonged to. As he worked, he peeked into the densely packed trees, and I could feel his excitement almost boiling over.

    I didn''t recognize the vast forest that spread out before us. Apparently, the geographical changes over thest nine thousand years were nothing to scoff at. In the current century, there were hardly any forests on the Origin Floor, most having been long logged and reced with buildings or railways.

    Once the luggage was dealt with, the men and women began leaving the cart. Cain was thest to jump out, stretching and issuing orders the moment his feet touched the earth.

    "Let''s not squander a single second," he said, pointing at the clock above us. "I want the horses watered and a small camp ready within the hour. No fires. Abel, David, Mathias, and Luna wille with me to search the forest. Be on the lookout for any berries or recognizable mushrooms. Stay within earshot in case one of us runs into trouble."

    A young woman with a bow slung across her back, and a tall, bulky man with a long spear stepped out of the already working crowd. David quickly grabbed his bag from the pile of luggage and pulled out a small stone knife before strapping the bundle to his back. Abelughed when he saw this and brought two spears from the cart, handing one to Cain.

    "How far do you intend to search this evening?" Abel asked, ncing up at the clock.

    Cain rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Let''s start with the perimeter. Tomorrow we will form arger party and start taking things seriously."

    "Alright then, let''s get going, shall we?" Luna stepped forward. Her eagerness was no less apparent than David''s.

    Abel pped his hands, grabbing everyone''s attention, "Alright, David and I will take the left. Luna, Mathias, the right. Cain, you stay in the middle where you can hear any calls for help. Try not to spread too far. Meet back here in two hours."

    Cain nodded in agreement and turned to leave, calling over his shoulder, "You heard the man. Get moving!"

    Luna and Mathias didn''t waste any time, darting into the forest before Cain had left David''s view. Thed turned to say something to Abel but found that he was alone. I could feel the fear of being left out creeping in when Abel poked his head out from behind a tree, "Youing?"

    "Brother Abel!" David cried, "Wait for me!"

    I could feel the little legs I was attached to, working hard to catch up, brightening my mood. It was still strange feeling the world through another''s perspective, especially someone so young, but I''d grown ustomed to it over the past two weeks.

    "We..." David huffed when he caught up to Abel, struggling to catch his breath, "We should go that way."

    David pointed toward the northwest, and Abel looked over curiously. The trees looked nearly the same in every direction, other than the marks Abel left on the trunks of the ones he''d passed.

    "Why this way?" Abel asked curiously, turning in that direction and scoring another tree with his knife.

    "The creatures I watch always walk this way," David said. "Our trail brought us north, but the mammoths always walk northwest after they pluck the goa fruit. I think they bring them here for some reason."

    Abel looked down at David, surprised. I would have been as well, but I''d been sharing thed''s thoughts for many days. Though David acted like a typical youth, he was very good at noticing patterns through his observations. This included the movements of many of the animals he watched from his perch in the tree to the way certain nts grew in specific areas. He would have made a great tracker when he was older, though based on the age of his spectral form, it was reasonable to assume that he never grew up.

    "You know we can''t pluck the goa fruits, right?" Abel asked, only to see David nodding in response and hurrying ahead.

    David turned to walk backward and looked up at Abel, "I know, but there are always berries growing beneath the goa trees. We''ve just picked all of them near home. Maybe they are nting new trees."

    Abel grinned, "I''m d I talked Cain into letting you join our group."

    The two continued talking while I reviewed what I''d learned from David''s thoughts and memories. The mammoths he spoke of were the giant boars with arms growing from their faces, or rather... trunks, as David called them.

    I''d never heard of such creatures on the Origin Floor. The Academy taught that there were a few basic creatures, and we based our knowledge of the gued Beasts on what existed in modern times. There were Rodents, Swine, Canines, Felines, Equus, and Ursidae. Those were the only species that lived on the Origin Floor or First Floor in modern times, and there was no record of anything prior. Any Floors above that, and the animals became twisted by the gue.

    The Summon Cards that existed did help with determining the origin of some of the gued Beasts, but they were few and far between. The going theory was that when a Taming Card was sessfully used, the Summon received would be the Non-gued version of whatever beast you were fighting. So far, all signs pointed to this being true, which made me wonder about my Pixie. Humanoid creatures only started to appear beyond the Twenty-Fifth Floor, and they weren''tmon until the Fiftieth.

    I pictured the mammoth David had spotted andpared it to the beasts I knew from the Fifth Floor. If gued Beasts were simply the infected versions of real creatures... I forced myself to stop thinking about it and focus on the memory. Thinking about the gued humanoids of the upper Floors would only dampen my mood if I started wandering down that rabbit hole.

    A sh of color caught my eye, and apparently David''s as well. He tugged on Abel''s pant leg and pointed forward, "This way, Brother Abel! Come on!"

    The boy ran forward, stopping in arge clearing with a single, massive tree rupturing the ground in the center. The tree was muchrger than those around the clearing, though only in thickness, not in height. If it took ten men grasping hands to circle a standard tree, this one would take fifty. David''s face broke into a grin, and he pointed to the low-hanging branches and the roots stirring the ground below it.

    Laying amongst the roots were tens of odd-looking giant fruits that looked like they''d beenid down as an offering. I identified them as the goa fruits David had watched the mammoth pick. The branches above also held a variety of fruit, each of which was a different color. Also... I felt like I''d seen this tree somewhere before...

    David stood at the edge of the clearing, jumping around to point at the multitude of low-hanging fruits and the multi-colored goa fruits thaty on the ground. Abel stood stock-still, staring in awe at the bounty disyed before him.

    "Look! I told you there would be something over here!" David tried to run forward but was caught by the shoulder before he could take a step. He looked up at Abel, who was warily looking around the clearing.

    "What''s wrong, Brother Abel? Shouldn''t we go get the fruit?" David asked curiously. I could feel the confusion as he looked between the tree and Abel.

    Abel shook his head, "We should tell Cain and the others. Something isn''t right... What if this is a trap, and one of the mammoths sees us stealing its fruit?"

    David stopped trying to rush forward but looked longingly toward the clearing. He sat down next to a nearby tree, pouting and covering his ears while he waited. As for Abel, the young man ced two fingers to his lips, and a shrill whistle rang throughout the forest. David uncovered his ears, and soon another whistle was heard. A few secondster, I could scarcely make out a third in the distance to the east.

    Abel stood beside David and rustled his hair, "Don''t worry, I''m sure it will be fine."

    It didn''t take long for Cain to reach them, "What''s wrong, did y-"

    His words stopped short when he noticed the treasure in the clearing, and Abel had to stop him the same way he had David, "Cain, wait. David found this ce by following the mammoths. We need to be cautious."

    Cain nced over at his brother before looking around the clearing. Tracks of all shapes and sizes led up to the enormous tree, and at the end of each trail sat a goa fruit, restingfortably among its massive roots. He gestured for David and Abel  to stay quiet as he slowly crept forward.

    David held his breath, watching as Cain stalked toward one of the goa fruits, dislodged it from the roots, and then rolled it back to where they were sitting. Nothing happened. No animals leapt out to stop him, and Cain safely made it back with one of the giant fruits.

    "It seems safe enough," Cain whispered. "Let''s see if we can get two more to take to camp. David, try climbing the tree and picking a few fruits."

    "Okay!" David whispered back excitedly, darting out from the woodline before the others had a chance to react. I watched as the tree grew closer, trying to ce where I''d seen it before.

    David ran around the tree, his eyes pointing up as he looked for a good spot to start climbing. Without warning, I felt a surge of pain as David cried out, and we went toppling to the ground. Cain and Abel called out, asking if he was okay, but David ignored them, clutching a stubbed toe and looking for the culprit that harmed them. That was... until he looked up.

    Along with David, I quickly forgot the throbbing pain I felting from his foot. His eyes were focused, staring in amazement at a cavernous opening carved into this side of the tree. Within that opening, I saw something very familiar... Something that I could never forget.

    David had stumbled upon the metal stairs that led to the First Floor.

 Chapter 14

    "David!"

    A worried Abel called from the other side of the clearing, "David! Are you alright?"

    From the peripheral of David''s vision, I could make out Cain and Abel running toward him, both wearing concerned expressions. In the same instant, Mathias and Luna burst into the clearing. The pair quickly took in the scene before also running in David''s direction.

    David sat still, ignoring the adults approaching him while gaping at the stairs in the tree. He was taking it well. The stairs to the First Floor gave off a sort of pressure that caused them to feel unsurpassable to individuals who hadn''t been exposed to the gue, either through the power of the Cards or other means.

    I couldn''t help but chuckle, remembering my first time approaching the stairs when I was brought to the Academy. At the time, I only had the few Cards that survived my father''s assants. The effects weren''t terribly overwhelming with two Level 1 Foundation Cards, but I''d still staggered when I came close.

    Through David, who had never been exposed to the energies of the gue, I could feel the effects in full... and they were nothing to scoff at. An invisible pressure fell upon the boy''s shoulders, pressing him into the ground, yet not so much so that he felt any pain, only a severe sense of difort.

    As Abel and the small party came within range, they were osted by the burden ced upon David''s shoulders. Each member staggered in turn, Mathias actually losing his bnce and falling inelegantly to the polished metal path upon which David was kneeling.

    "What in Tara''s name is this?" Mathias shouted, riled up by the feeling of his face meeting the walkway. He pressed his arms to the ground, defying the pressure and looking to the sky, searching for some unknown enemy.

    Cain pulled the man to his feet while also looking for the unknown threat, his eyes eventually wandering to the tree. He gripped his spear tightly, standing protectively in front of the group while peering into the darkness at the top of the stairs.

    Abel stood to his left, Mathias to his right, and Luna standing next to him, her bow at the ready. Through David''s eyes, I looked up at the four figures, another memory spawning in my mind. The four primal warriors... the great tree...

    This scene was carved upon the dais that stood in the center of every Church of Damnation. Not for the first time, David''s memories left me marveling at the implications, though the darkness soon shut down those feelings, forcing my mind into the calm state that it had been.

    I had no doubt that my thoughts and emotions would explode when this was over, but for now, it looked like I could only keep experiencing that which the young man felt. It was probably for the best. If my mind were left to wander, I likely would have quashed the spell and sent myself back to the void.

    "Cain, what are you doing?" Mathias hissed.

    It seemed that while David''s spell was soothing my thoughts, I''d missed a few minutes of his memories. The group was standing closer to the tree, and Cain had already ced one foot on the lowest stair. Before he could go further, Abelid a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back.

    "Cain, it''s already gettingte. We should get the others and gather this fruit," Abel spoke softly, "I can feel it too. Like... something is calling me to go up, but first, we have our people to think of."

    David watched Cain jerk around, and I could see the anger in the man''s eyes just as much as I could feel the fear in David''s heart. It looked like Cain would explode, but when he took his foot from the step, he seemed to calm down before shaking his head and returning to normal.

    "You''re right, sorry," Cain apologized to his brother and nced back into the darkness, "I''m... not sure what came over me."

    "It''s alright," Abel sped his shoulder. "Let''s get the others and return before nightfall. We can feast and choose a group for the exploration... Maybe there is more food to be had above."

    "Mmm," Cain rumbled in assent before turning to face the others. "You three stay here. We don''t know if this is a permanent structure, so I want you to keep an eye on it. We will be back within the hour."

    "Aye!"

    "Yes!"

    Mathias and Luna both shouted their assent, and David found a root on which to sit. Cain nodded to Abel, and the pair dashed off in the direction they''d arrived, following the marked trees.

    "Mathias..." Luna whispered, "We should stand back. I can feel it too... I think it wants me to climb."

    Mathias nodded, "What do you think it is? Is it a gift from Lady Tara? Look at all of this food!"

    As he spoke, he jumped to one of the lower branches, snagging one of the purple fruits and pulling it loose. He spun it in his hands a few times before taking a bite, the juices sshing down his chin, "Mmmm. This is sweet. It''s almost like the center of a goa fruit."

    "You shouldn''t indulge yourself until Cain gets back," Luna snapped. "What if it is a gift from Lady Tara, and you ruin it by not letting the shaman bless it first?"

    David turned away from the squabbling pair, who had ventured further from the tree to resist its pull. I was surprised to find that though the pressure was a bit tough to bear, David didn''t even feel the call of the First Floor as the others had. Instead, I felt the strong urges of a youngd. The curiosity was almost overwhelming.

    I watched as the young man hopped up from his makeshift seat and began examining the peculiar path leading to and from the tree. Reading his thoughts, I found that metal was a material that was scarce in this era, and he''d never actually seen it... Cain being the only warrior with a metal-tipped spear that was stolen from another tribe.

    David dug at the dirt, attempting to reveal more of the strange walkway. It took the boy a few minutes, but I was surprised by what he found once his quest wasplete. The boy''s fingers traced along the metal, following thin markings that were etched into its surface.

    I recognized these. They were almost identical to the ''Blood Circuits'' used by the Church of Liberation to empower many of the facilities and appliances on the Origin Floor. The only difference was that these were simply carved into the path rather than painted with the purple blood of a gued Beast.

    I watched on curiously as David followed the strange markings to the base of the stairs, where they continued up into the darkness. As he walked, he traced the images with his finger, looking for a pattern. When he reached the first step, David nced back to the two adults standing guard.

    The two adults were still bickering about whether they should consume the fruit, Mathias having already secured one of the red ones. With a smile, David turned away and quietly made his way into the tree.

    "If this is Lady Tara''s doing, I want to be the first to see," David mumbled. A wide grin was stered on his face, his excitement fully disyed as he stepped into the darkness.

    I wasn''t sure what I expected when David ascended the stairs, presumably being the first to climb them. Maybe some fanfare or one of the strange screens that appeared between Floors beyond the First? But no, none of that happened.

    David''s first ascension was no different from my own. Around the fiftieth step, a vague sense of vitality flowed through him, which I knew to be the feeling of having one''s life force extended. Then, on the very next step, David stepped off the stairs and onto the virgin ground of the First Floor.

    What greeted him was a ring of massive trees. Aside from the slightly darker color of the wood, the clearing in which he stood was much like the one he''d left. It was new to me as well. When I traveled to the First Floor, I stepped into an enormous stone room housed in the center of the Academy with a reception desk and a few guards waiting.

    David looked back curiously. The great tree was gone, reced by two rectangr huts that looked to be made of the same material as the stairs and walkway, though both were covered by moss and vines. In the hut he''d just left, there was a set of stairs leading back down the way he''de. In the other, another simr set of stairs led up.

    David knelt down, digging through the old moss on the ground until his fingers brushed the cool, silver rock beneath. After clearing some of the dirt, he found markings much like the ones he''d seen below.

    "What are these..." David traced the lines with his finger, noticing repeating patterns every so often as he cleaned away the dirt. After a few minutes, he seemed satisfied and turned to the second set of stairs.

    Watching David made me realize something... I''d never caught the repeating patterns in the Church''s Blood Circuits. Or rather, I had noticed them but never put any real thought into understanding them. My own curiosity was piqued, though it was swiftly quashed by the calming mist that I''d grown somewhat ustomed to.

    By the time I came around, David had stood and made his way to the second set of stairs. Unlike before, there was no pressure, and he felt no pull goading him into walking closer. Instead, I could sense something instinctually telling him that he couldn''t ascend the stairs, even if he wanted to. That same feeling advised him that he could return the way he came and that he wouldn''t face any issues in joining his tribe at the bottom.

    Still, his curiosity trumped his instincts, and David took a few steps closer toward the stairs leading to the Second Floor. Needless to say, thed didn''t make it very far. A dull purple barrier appeared, keeping him from even getting a toe on the first step.

    "Ahh!"

    David, obviously not expecting this at all, jumped away from the sudden appearance of the barrier. The scream that left his lips was deafening in the silence, echoing in the small clearing. He tumbled to the ground and stared at the glowing purple wall in front of him.

    Before he could study the anomaly further, a second presence made itself known in the silent clearing. Somewhere behind David, there was a harsh snort, causing thed to slowly turn his head. I cringed when I saw what his yelp had attracted.

    A massive boar stood at the edge of the clearing, staring at the boy with hunger in its eyes. Though it wasn''t any bigger than those I''d recently ughtered, it looked like a giant in David''s eyes. The beast stood a good few inches taller than David, each of its tusks being as long as the boy''s arms.

    Time seemed to stand still as the boar sized up thed. David had no weapons and waspletely vulnerable in his current position. Even if he was on his feet, I didn''t think he would be able to sprint down the stairs before the boar gutted him.

    I found myself wondering if this was how the boy had passed on. No sooner had that thought crossed my mind than another noise broke the silence.

    "David!"

    If I could have breathed a sigh of relief, I would have. It seemed Mathias had made his way up the stairs searching for thed. Not that it made the situation any better. The boar stopped ring at the kid and turned its head to the stairs, though David didn''t take his eyes off the creature.

    "David! What are you-"

    I couldn''t see the man, but the way his voice stopped abruptly, I could assume that he''d seen the nearby threat. The boar''s eyes shifted between David and the new target, likely trying to determine the level of threat the two posed.

    Honestly, Mathias wasn''t much of a threat. Even though the Wild Boar was only a Level 1 entity, it was still a gued Beast strengthened by Essence. Even though he didn''t have any Cards, I felt that Mathias could still kill the beast... if he weren''t starved.

    Even if Abel, Cain, and Luna were to join him, they would have to wear the beast down. Due to their emaciation, I didn''t feel they could drive their stone spears deep enough into the beast to causesting damage. Well... Cain did have that metal spear...

    The calming nature of the spell dragged me from my thoughts again, and I was thankful to find that I hadn''t missed much. I could now see Mathias standing beside David, both hands gripped tightly around his spear. At the other end of the clearing, the boar was stamping one of its cloven hooves on the ground.

    "David," Mathias whispered. "Go back down and fetch Luna. We won''t make it if we both turn our backs on this thing to run."

    "But Mathias-"

    "Just do it!" The man hissed, "Get Cain and Abel if you can."

    The boar was already on edge, and the harsh whispers shared between the two were enough to push the bnce. It stamped its feet one more time and squealed loudly before charging forward.

    "Now, David! Run!"

    David scurried to his feet and ran for the stairs, reaching them quickly. He turned back in time to witness the boar m into Mathias'' spear, snapping it in two and sending the man flying. Unlike most boys his age, David didn''t freeze upon hearing this. Instead, he took a deep breath and rushed down the stairs.

    After only a handful of steps, David found himself back in the first clearing. The sudden appearance of the roots surprised him, and he tripped over them in his rush to find help. Luckily, Luna was waiting and caught him before he could get injured.

    "Luna!" David cried, "You have to-"

    "What were you thinking, David?" A voice interrupted him, and he looked up to find Abel stomping over. "What if you''d gotten stuck up there?"

    "Abel!" David took in the scene behind him, where Cain was also approaching with the rest of the expedition in tow, "You have to get up there now! Mathias was attacked!"

    Abel''s countenance shifted from one of scolding to one of worry. He didn''t have time to say anything before Luna released her grip on David, letting him fall to the ground as she dashed for the stairs. I could see the hesitation in Abel''s eyes... until another figure sprinted by him.

    Having been within earshot of the trio, Cain heard the revtion and barrelled up the stairs. Abel also steeled his resolve at that moment, gripping his spear tightly.

    "David, stay here," hemanded before he, too, followed after the others.

    David stood there for a moment. The other caravan members stared at the tree curiously but continued making camp at the far edge of the clearing. He could go and join them, but...

    I sighed inwardly, knowing what the boy would do before he''d even made up his mind. As expected, David returned to the tree and ran up the stairs, consequences be damned.

    The sound of battle met him the moment he stepped onto the First Floor. Grunts, squeals, and shouts of pain assaulted his senses, and it took him a moment to locate their origin. The battle had moved and was now taking ce somewhere behind the stairs.

    Even so, David didn''t miss the corpse thaty nearby. He fell to his knees when he saw Mathias'' motionless body. The tusks had opened arge gash in his stomach, leaving the man''s entrails spilling on the ground.

    I groaned as the boy vomited and did my best to tune myself out. There are some things I just prefer not to relive, thank you very much. Luckily, my ploy worked, and the calming magic took a few seconds to bring me back to the present.

    By the time I could see clearly through David''s eyes again, he was crouched in the small alley between the two sets of stairs, clutching tightly to Mathias'' spear and watching the ongoing fight. The boar was bleeding from multiple wounds, though it was still going strong, thrashing its head toward Cain and Abel while a heavily injured Luna shot her arrows from afar.

    Though the boar was in rough shape, it looked like it had done a number on the party. Mathias was dead, one of Luna''s legs appeared to be broken, and one arm was hanging limply at Abel''s side. Cain had a few scrapes but otherwise looked to be holding up better than the others. His spear was almost a blur as it struck at the already opened wounds in the boar''s hide.

    "I''m almost out of arrows!" Luna called, nocking another and sending it flying forward. The stone-tipped projectile harmlessly nced off the boar''s hide, ttering uselessly to the ground.

    Cain grunted loudly and jabbed at arge cut on one of the boar''s front legs. It squealed in anguish as itshed its head toward the man, but Cain had already pulled his spear free and backed away.

    "Abel, disable its legs," he called. "Luna, hold for a clear shot!"

    "Aye!"

    "On it!"

    As the boar limped after Cain, Able closed the gap and mmed the tip of its spear into one of the creature''s back legs. Its stone tip didn''t pierce through, but I could tell it wasn''t the first hit the beast had taken in that spot. The boar stumbled before tearing its head around,shing at the new offender with its tusks.

    Abel wasn''t as quick on his feet as his brother, and one of the tusks caught his side, tearing it open as the man tried to dodge. He grimaced, stumbling back, waving his spear threateningly with his uninjured arm.

    Cain took this opportunity to dash in, thrusting his spear forward at the leg that Abel had weakened. The metal tip of the spear tore into the softened flesh, severing the muscles and forcing the beast to the ground.

    Abel backed away, leaving space for Luna to use herst few arrows to pepper the creature''s face. Her third arrow burrowed into the already weakened creature''s eye, leaving it blind to Cain''s approach from the side.

    Cain jabbed forward with his spear, finding an already injured portion of the boar''s neck. He dived forward with the weapon, putting all his weight behind it. David watched in awe as the spear pierced all the way through the monster''s thick neck until it protruded from the other side.

    The boar let out a pathetic squeal as it fell, a dull thud sending a small cloud of dust in the air. Luna fell unconscious, and Abel copsed to the ground, covering his face with one hand. David''s breath came out in ragged bursts, his adrenaline pumping from the battle he''d just witnessed.

    "Cain..." Abel spoke softly. It was almost too quiet for David to hear across the clearing with the blood pumping in his ears, but he managed to calm down. Of course, he didn''t leave his shelter, even shrinking back slightly, thankful that it was already dark.

    "What is it?" Cain asked, "Don''t tell me you''re going to cry to Lady Tara about this. The beast attacked us first. It even killed Mathias!"

    "I just..." Abel sighed, "It isn''t right."

    "Listen, Abel," Cain snapped, pointing to the boar with his spear. "We''ve been over this time and again. Our people are dying. The teachings of Lady Tara be damned!"

    Abel looked offended and tried to speak, but Cain kept on, "The Tower has provided us with this boon, and we should ept it! You and the Shamans keep praying to Tara while the other tribes are growing and taking our food and women! Be it meat or fruit, we need sustenance!"

    Before Abel could respond, both men were cut short as a golden light filled the clearing. David winced and looked away, but not before I''d gotten a glimpse of what was happening. It was just like when I killed the thousandth boar.

    The light dimmed, and David turned to see a Card slowly falling toward Cain from above the boar. From this distance, I could scarcely make out the golden lines on the back of the Card. My mind reeled, and once again, I was thrown away from the memory.

    I couldn''t help it... That was a Celestial Rank Card! Was that the reward for the first kill in the Tower''s history? What Card was that?

    By the time the spell forced my mind back into tranquility, I found an entirely different scene before me. A very different-looking Cain stood over Abel, his spear pointing at the younger man''s throat. Cain was muchrger, his muscles and face filled out like he''d been eating well for years.

    "Don''t worry, brother," Cain''s voice loudly resonated throughout the clearing. "I''ll tell them of the beast and this great gift that the Tower has given me. I won''t let our people starve for some Goddess who doesn''t give a damn about them."

    With that, Cain slowly pushed the spear forward. Whatever Abel''s response, it was lost in the sshing of blood that escaped his gaping mouth. David gasped, and Cain whipped his head to the stairs, instantly spotting the boy even in the darkness.

    Before David turned to run, I saw the sadness in Cain''s eyes as he pulled the spear from Abel''s throat. He hefted the spear as David turned around. I felt an intense pain in my chest and then... darkness.

 Chapter 15

    I''d only managed to get a few hours of sleep before I was awoken by the mental tug from my watch. ncing at myself in the mirror as I stood, I could scarcely believe theck of dark circles beneath my eyes. To be young and healthy again after so many years of being old and feeble... It was remarkable.

    After getting dressed and looking at the old uniform, I frowned while smoothing out the many wrinkles. If it weren''t for graduation being just a few days away, I would purchase aplete set. Presentation was just as essential as decorum, in my own modest opinion.

    "I suppose I should make my way to the ol'' haberdashery before too long..." I mumbled. It would be uncouth to continue wearing the Academy''s uniform after graduation, though there were many who still chose to do so. My eyes lingered on the Deck Box I had strapped to my old leather belt, "I''ll need something to better secure you as well."

    It was getting increasingly dangerous to hold on to my possessions. If someone were to find out... I flipped the lid open and pulled out the Card I''d received the night prior, tapping the Demon ss on the corner to look over the details.

    [Card Name: Spirit, David]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Sacred]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0 / 1,000]

    [Foundation: Intelligence, Wisdom]

    [Effect: Wielder can summon a Spirit familiar for a short time. Summonsts for 15 minutes, during which time Wielder can give basicmands. 30-minute cooldown after the Summon is dismissed. Summon Skill Power based on Intelligence, Summon cooldown based on Wisdom]

    [Blessings: As a Sacred Summon, the Spirit, David, has been blessed with natural awareness. Will Foundation not required for this Summon]

    [Skills: Minor Fear]

    An image of thed floated on the front of the Card. He was holding the tattered brown ball in one hand, with most of the junk from the hidden room sitting in the background. I didn''t fail to notice that the women''s undergarments he''d filched were at the top of one of the piles.

    "I''ll have to keep an eye on him when I let him loose," I chuckled and shook my head while sliding the Card back into its slot. "Can''t have him getting me in that kind of trouble."

    When I left the memory, I passed through the darkness once again before finding myself cross-legged in an almost empty room. The piles of misceneous items were gone, and David''s Card was lying on the ground in front of me. Unfortunately, Summons weren''t the same as the other Cards, and I wouldn''t be able to chat with him until I''d secured the Wisdom Card I had Crook searching for.

    The best I could do for thed now was to keep him safe, along with the Pixie that was passed down by my grandfather. With that in mind, I could see a nice suit with a proper belt attachment in my future. Until then, I would sport the Academy uniform and the bit of gear in my possession.

    I didn''t have time to waste on such matters today. On this day, I had to travel through the Old Boar Forest, across the Howling Hills, and make my way into the heart of Bear Peak Mountains to the north. There, a majestic mountain stood taller than the rest, its shadows looming heavily over the First Floor.

    With my current build, I could make the distance before the day was over. All but one of the remaining tasks awaited me in this ce, and I''d be a fool not to get there right away. As long as there were no unexpected urrences, I could reach the mountain, perform the tasks, and be back in time for a couple days'' rest before the graduation ceremony.

    Once I tired of admiring my appearance, I pulled on my hunting gear, grabbed my cane, and made for the door. Holding the spectacr weapon brought a smile to my face. Though only a short time had passed on the outside, close to a month had passed in David''s memories, and I missed the gentle tap that echoed as I walked.

    "And to be clean again..." I shuddered. Living in the woods without theforts of modern relics... Once I''de to and secured David''s Summon Card, I doused myself with an entire vial of Infernal Wash.

    Seeing as I was in such a chipper mood this morning, I decided to swing by Crook''s shop before my departure to see if he had any updates on my requests. I know I''d given him a little more time, but hey... I was feeling lucky.

    ?

    I pulled the door shut and weaved my way through the throng of students meandering in the hall. There were no sses or exams, so many chose to spend theirst days before graduation with friends or forming parties in the dorm rather than going home to their families.

    "-was broken intost night!" I heard a voice on the other side of the door and halted my steps rather than moving forward. I recognized it as Miss Warren, "We''ve already interrogated the students from your logs. Are you sure that no other students left the dormsst night?"

    Ah.

    "No, Miss," I heard the jostling of paper. "All the students were ounted for."

    "Alright," Miss Warren sighed heavily. "We have professors questioning the younger years, but whoever this was, they were skilled enough to outwit the guards. It has to have been one of the seniors."

    The two exchanged thoughts for another minute, and when it didn''t seem like Miss Warren was in a hurry to leave, I decided to get moving. I didn''t have all day to stand around. Miss Warren''s eyes darted toward me as soon as I opened the door.

    "Rowan?" She smiled at first but then began to frown as she looked at my attire. I''m sure the old ragged leather armor I was wearing was a worrisome sight, "You don''t n on attending ss today? The year is over, but I''ll still be offering what knowledge I can to those who sit in."

    "I''m sorry, Miss Warren, but I will not be attending the final sses between now and graduation. Unfortunately, my financial situation is a bit precarious, and I would like to use this time to shore up my savings and get some more field experience," I couldn''t help but smile. Even though the way in which she spoke was rather harsh at times, she really did care for her students. "Thank you for everything you''ve done for me over the years."

    "E-Eh?" She seemed stunned, and even the custodian listening in looked at me funny. Miss Warren wasn''t wrong to be surprised by what I''d said. As far as she could remember, I was the quiet type and never cared to share my burdens with others. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "You say that like I won''t be seeing you again."

    I shook my head, "No, I just realized that I''d never thanked you properly before. I''ll certainly be seeing you at graduation. I have a reward to retrieve, after all."

    "Oh? Confident, are we?" Her face assumed aplicated expression as she spoke. I simply nodded, knowing she''d likely already seen my test score. Coincidentally, that was also one of the reasons I wasn''t concerned about my being a potential suspect in the break-in. Someone who did well on their exams wouldn''t need to break in and tamper with the log book, right?

    "Well, I hate to rush, but I would like to clear up a safe area before setting camp tonight," I nodded to the caretaker and again to Miss Warren. "I''ll see you on the day of the ceremony. Now, if you''ll excuse me."

    I could almost feel the professor''s eyes boring holes in my back as I walked away, cane tapping melodiously on the cobblestone walk. No one else stopped me as I made my way through the northern gate and headed into town. No strange adventurers made a bid for my staff, and no guild callers tried to recruit me. It was still shaping up to be a nice day.

    Before long, I stood before the merchant Crook''s shop. The break in the ss had already been repaired, but this time it appeared that he was open for business. The door opened effortlessly, the chime from the little bell causing the patrons and the clerk to look up at the neer.

    It seemed that the merchant had been putting his moves on the young couple that stood at the counter. They were holding a bottle of unsightly green liquid, a few coins ced between them as if they were haggling over the price.

    I chortled softly, ncing at the bottle and then back to the slightly flushed face of the young woman. It seemed that Crook would never change, no matter how much trouble he found himself in.

    When he saw me, his face whitened slightly, and he politely but swiftly sent away the customers with their prize. The woman grabbed her partner''s arm in delight as they left, and the man had a goofy grin on his face, likely thinking that he''d gotten the better end of the bargain.

    The bell above the door jingled as the couple left, and I flipped the sign to closed before making my way to the counter. Crook didn''t seem as tense as on my previous visit, but the sweat on his brow showed he was worried about something.

    "Ahh, good to see you again, Sir Wilder," he smiled awkwardly. "You''re a bit early."

    I nodded, tapping the tip of my cane gently, an action that didn''t go unnoticed by the merchant, "Not much to do between now and the ceremony, my good Sir Crook. I''ll be out farming for a few days and need to borrow some supplies. My old camping gear is a bit worn out, you see."

    "When you say borrow..." Crook trailed off, one eyebrow raised.

    Iughed, "Well, I may have to bother you for the sleeping roll. I will return the rest, however."

    "I can deal with that," the man sighed. "Come with me to the back. I rmend we rece your pack with a suitable travel bag. You can pick through my selection of used ones while I ry what I''ve learned."

    "Oh?" It was my turn to be surprised. "You''ve already met some of my requests?"

    "All, actually, though I''m not sure you''ll like what I have to say," he spoke thest part under his breath. I followed him into the back room, which looked to be a small warehouse, until we reached the back corner. A pile of discarded bagsy in the corner. "Sift through them and take your pick. They may be dusty, but they are all good quality."

    I nodded appreciatively, surprised at how amodating the man was being today. Still, I didn''t miss him rubbing his temples when he sat down, as if he was wondering where to begin. Something was up.

    "The lead Skull himself showed up at my door yesterday."

    Ah, this is what he was worried about. I turned back from my searching and raised an eyebrow, "And?"

    "He asked about you, and obviously, I didn''t refuse," Crook flinched as he said this but kept talking. "I didn''t say anything about the gear you left or that you wanted more information on his mercenaries, but I did tell him you looked pretty beat up and were looking for the magic Foundation Cards. I had to say something, or the man would have yed me."

    Crook held his breath, waiting to see how I would react. I thought about it for a moment before asking, "Why are you telling me this?"

    "Because I''m fucked," Crook sighed and rubbed his temples again. "I don''t regret sending the brothers after you. You''re an infuriating brat, and you deserved it."

    I chuckled to myself and let him continue. There was no reason for me to take offense at the usation. I''d purposely provoked him, after all.

    "My purpose here was to recruit the Skull, and there''s no way that''s happening now that one of my requests killed their top members," the merchant stared at one of his rings, one that was marked with the seal of the Society. "Even if the Skull doesn''t gut me in my sleep, my employer has already dismissed me, and I''m to leave this ce when the month is up. This shop and the mission he gave me were my tickets to the big leagues."

    "Anyway, I don''t know what you n to do with the Skull, but I''m sure it won''t be pretty. I may not be the most honest merchant," Crook looked to the ceiling, "But I don''t think I deserve to have my guts spilled. If you can offer protection, I''ll do what I can to help."

    Ahh... this is why he''s being so agreeable. The Society was one of the more prominent factions in the Tower created to rival the Noble Families, not that they could evene close. Still, they had hands everywhere and could likely rival the top Guild in influence. Zachary''s family belonged to this group, though I wasn''t sure about their ce in the pecking order.

    "Hmm," I mulled over his words for a while. The Skull was one thing, but if the Society wanted him, there was nothing I could do. Did I really want to risk myself for this swindler? I sighed, defeated. I''d already decided that I would help where I could... and Crook did have ess to the Merchant''s Guild...

    "That depends. Were you working directly for one of the Fingers?" I asked. The Society''s Fingers each held much more power than I could contend with for now. Each of their operations included multiple Guilds, shops, and resource farms.

    Crook looked at me like I''d just sprouted horns, "No, not at all. If that were the case, I wouldn''t be dealing with the likes of the Skull. The gentleman I''m working for is trying to grow his influence to take the mantle of Little Finger. He still has a ways to go."

    "You''re in luck, Sir Crook. I''m feeling generous today," I turned back to sifting through the pile of bags while talking over my shoulder. "You continue to assist me until I leave for the Second Floor, and I can assure you that the Skull will no longer be a problem. You said they had more to tell you. Fill me in, if you please."

    ...

    Around half an hourter, I exited the shop with a skip in my step. My Essence pouch was heavier, Crook having paid me for the loot I''d left with him in my prior visit, and he''d even provided me with another crate of Infernal Wash. It was an unexpected turn of events, but it seemed that I''d found an ally in the paunchy salesman. One with a lot of insight into the inner workings of the Society.

    The Network held extensive knowledge about the Floors and gued Beasts, along with information on all the known criminals and criminal organizations of the time. Still, being a government establishment, the Network had very little in the way of the various legal factions within the Tower, no matter how shady they may be.

    There hadn''t been time for an interrogation today, but I felt Crook would be able to fill in a few of the gaps in my knowledge. Once I''d agreed to help the poor bloke, he came clean with all that the Skull had told him.

    The head Skull informed Crook that he possessed not just a Wisdom Foundation Card but all nine Foundation Cards. He wanted Crook to tell me that he''d found a seller and that I was to meet them to purchase the Card, where it was likely that an ambush would be waiting. The appointment was scheduled for the day after the turn of the century.

    Before leaving, the lead Skull also demanded several barrels of liquor be delivered for the end of the century''s festivities. Apparently, their entire group would be in town to celebrate. That suited my needs just fine.

    After giving Crook a few orders, he fished out the camping gear I needed, along with the Essence for the Skull Brother''s loot. It was a good haul.

    My new pack was one of those high-backed deals with straps for mounting a bed and canvas roll. It was filled with rope, knives, a fire starter, a small hatchet, and a few climbing picks. The loot had alsoted me another 1500 Essence, which was paid in Level 5 shards.

    "Pay?! You expect me to pay to ride in this dingy ass carriage?" A voice from across the street broke my train of thought. I looked over and saw a familiar face, though he was frowning at the source of theint.

    The fuss wasing from a young man, no older than fifteen, if I had to guess. He was red-faced and yelling up at the carriage driver who''d been kind enough to cart me out to the woods.

    "I''m sorry, young man, but I have a family to feed," the driver spoke carefully, trying to defuse the situation. "The trip you''re asking of me will take about an hour both ways. I can''t do it for free."

    "I don''t care about your sniveling brats!" The boy kicked the side of the cart and pointed to an emblem on his cor. Of course, I was familiar with it, as it was the same ced upon my own, "You see this? Do you think somemoner has the right to argue with a student from the Academy?!"

    The bearded man upon the seat sighed, and I could tell he was about to give in. Even if the kid was no one special in the Academy, it was a fact that students were of higher standing than most individuals. If the kid really tried to cause a problem, he would simply be scolded and sent on his way, even if the carriage driver was heavily injured.

    Before the driver could speak, I had already leapt into his carriage from the other side. The man looked back, startled, while the child''s face turned red as a tomato. If we were on one of the higher Floors, I would swear he''d been infected by the gue.

    "Lovely day for a ride, isn''t it?" I asked the driver, patting his shoulder.

    The kid barked before the driver could respond, "And just who the hell do you think you are?!"

    I sighed. My day had been going so well, "Lad, where''s your mum? It''s dangerous to walk about unapanied at your age."

    "W-What did you say?" The kid stuttered and fumbled with his sword. "You can''t talk to me like that!"

    "Hmm," I took in his awkward stance. "You still haven''t learned to hold a sword properly at your age? What''s your name, boy? I''ll see if Professor Landri will take you into his summer program."

    The kid nched, almost dropping his sword. He observed me for a moment, looking at my gear before his eyes came to rest on my uniform, particrly the golden stripes that marked me as a tenth-year.

    "Y-You''re also from the Academy?" He stammered.

    "You didn''t think you were the only one, I hope?" Iughed and patted the driver on the back, "To the northern border of the Old Boar Forest, good sir. And If you don''t mind, I''d like to sit up here where we can have a proper exchange. No need to stand on ceremony."

    "Ha! No problem," the bearded man snapped the reins after I sat my pack on the back bench. The boy still stood on the street, holding his sword awkwardly. "It''s nice to see you again, young man."

    "Likewise,d. I never caught your name," I nced at the driver expectantly.

    "Jacopo. And you?" He shuffled the reins a bit and offered me a hand, which I grasped firmly.

    "Rowan."

    "Rowan? Like the tree with the red berries?" Jacopo asked, raising an eyebrow.

    I nodded, "That''s right."

    We swiftly arrived at the city''s edge, leaving behind the paved and well-managed roads to cross the much bumpier terrain between the vast farms. Though these roads were regrly traveled, none of the farmers or adventurers bothered to tend them.

    The carriage bounced as we continued our chat, Jacopo eyeing me curiously, "So what''s a young man like you doing out in the forest? Hunting for game?"

    "Myst trek out was to gather shards. I can''t hire an upright chap such as yourself to take me to and fro otherwise," I smiled as Jacopoughed merrily. Once he''d calmed down, I continued, "This venture, I''ll be doing a bit of hiking. There''s some time to kill between now and the graduation ceremony."

    That was somewhat true, and I didn''t want to outright lie to the man after he''d been such goodpany. One of the tasks required me to climb to the top of the mountain, while the other twoy in a valley on the other side. Yes, there would be plenty of hiking. My legs already ached from thinking about it.

    "Hiking, huh?" Jacopo eyed the cane with concern, then nced back at me, "You sure you''re up for that?"

    I chuckled, picking up the cane and spinning it nimbly between my fingers. The cane whirled so quickly that a strong breeze passed by the two of us, "I appreciate the concern. However, I don''t carry this around because I''m injured. It was a gift from my grandfather."

    "I suppose so," heughed again as the breeze blew his beard into his face. "Just make sure you''re careful out there, ya hear? It''s not often I get to meet such a decent chap around here."

    Our conversation continued until we reached the edge of the forest, where I bid the man farewell and fished out more Essence than was needed to pay him. He thanked me profusely and even asked me to stop by for dinner before I left for the Second Floor. Apparently, his wife made a mean apple pie.

    I dashed through the forest, heading straight north instead of veering toward the chasm of the Howling Hills. I would have to cross the massive dunes to reach the foot of thergest mountain before nightfall.

    Of course, my journey was regrly interrupted by the many boars and wolves that blocked my path. I slew them effortlessly. Also, I found that using the Spell Card I''d acquired from the Skull brothers to Pull the Essence shards to me saved a lot of time.

    I made it to the foot of the mountain a few hundred Essence richer, just before the sun fell over the western mountains. I could hear a Level 3 bear snarling somewhere to my left and a few wolves barking back. The smaller creatures likely wandered too close to the bear''s domain.

    It wouldn''t have taken long to dash over and collect their Essence, but I wasn''t here to fill my coffers. I looked up at the mountain, scarcely able to make out the branches of arge tree somewhere at the peak.

    I spotted a shelf cut into the rock a few yards above me and used Dash to cover the distance. It was a safe enough spot to set up camp for the evening. While working, I nced up the mountain again and heaved a heavy breath, thinking of what woulde in the morning.

    It was going to be a long climb.

 Chapter 16

    Stones rolled down the cliff as I lost my grip for what had to be the hundredth time. My hands slid down the rock face, searching for a grip while my pack threatened to tilt me back and toss me from the mountain. My Strength hadn''t been great enough to use the climbing picks, so this was unavoidable.

    Eighteen... I struggled to find a handhold while gravity tried to get the better of me. Neen... My foot slipped, and my thigh snagged on a jagged rock. Gravity won...

    Twenty. The cooldown for Dash ended, and I careened upward along the steep precipice and onto the t summit of the great mountain. Inded awkwardly and copsed in a heap beside one of the great tree''s mighty roots. That was a close one.

    My hands were bloodied from scraping against the cliff. Luckily none of the damage was too severe. The worst was my thigh, where my uniform was torn apart to reveal a bleeding scrape. It wasn''t deep. I was experiencing more pain from the bacsh of pushing Dash to do something it shouldn''t be able to than I was from the various cuts and bruises.

    "Heal..." I grimaced as the healing effects of the Card took effect. Not because of the pain but because I''d always found it awkward to have to speak the spell when using it. It was only temporary. The magic was still rtively new to me, and it took using a Card regrly for one''s body to properly limatize to having it in their Deck.

    The downside to this was that the more attached one became to a Card, the more bacsh one faced when unequipping it. It became worse the more powerful the Card was. A Level 2 Card might only cost a migraine to remove, while a Level 5 Card could leave one bedridden for months if it didn''t kill them first.

    Thus, building an appropriate Deck from the start was crucial. As I thought of this, I calcted the Essence I had left after paying Jacopo and collecting shards from the corpses during the previous day''s travels. I was up to 5,238 Essence.

    If I''d Leveled Constitution and Stamina, that climb wouldn''t have given me so much trouble... No. I need to wait until I''ve seen my Origin Card. Tara forbid it''s the same asst time... If it is, I''ll need to build a Deck that can counter the effects.

    I really... Really don''t want to be trapped by that weakness again. One lifetime of endless pain was enough. Regardless, I''ll have to wait to use my Essence until I know what shape my future Deck will take.

    "Heal," I targeted the injuries on my hands again, watching as the skinced itself together and left light pink marks in ce of the wounds. One more Heal would keep the scarring to a minimum.

    While waiting for the cooldown, I pulled out a vial of Infernal Wash to take care of the blood and dirt on my equipment. I now had just over two cases of the stuff left and didn''t really need the extra case Crook had given me... There had already been enough tost me at least a month. Still, I wouldn''t look a gift horse in the mouth.

    With a grunt, I stood and walked to the cliff''s edge. The sun shone brilliantly, the early morning light casting shadows across the horizon. No mist or fog was blocking my view, and I could clearly see the Academy in the distance. Its pearlescent walls shimmered as the rays were cast upon its surface.

    I turned my gaze to the foot of the mountain, my grin widening as I scanned the distance. Maybe I was a bit mad, but there was a thrill to seeding at something that could have taken my life. Acting so recklessly was something I''d never been able to do in my previous life.

    "Hahaha," Iughed heartily and turned away from the scene. Sightseeing wasn''t on the agenda for today. I cast heal again as it came off cooldown and looked up at the mountain''s only tree.

    It was an impressive specimen, about three times the width and height of the trees in the Old Boar Forest. The roots extended into the t, stone top of the mountain. They ran deep enough that there were even hand and foot holds formed from the roots on the cliff face I''d just climbed.

    There it is, the first of thest four tasks.

    I looked at the tree''s crown, several tens of yards above me. This part of the task would be much easier than scaling the cliff side, as the branches offered plenty of support.

    Nothing to it but to do it.

    I cast heal onest time while jogging up to the nearest branch. My head was still aching frompelling Dash to do things it shouldn''t without taking breaks between, but my wounds were closed, and I didn''t have time for the bacsh to wear off.

    When I reached the base of the tree, I tucked my pack cozily in a cranny under one of the roots before grabbing the lowest limb and hoisting myself up. The branch was broad, at least wide enough for three or four people to sitfortably and y a game of brag.

    Not really in a rush and also not in any danger at this point, I decided to hold off on using Dash. It would take a few minutes for the migraine to cease, and I didn''t care to make it worse. So, I leapt up and caught the next branch with a bit of a running start, foregoing the use of any active skills.

    As I made my way to the top of the tree, the smaller limbs growing off therger branches became more abundant, slowing my pace to a crawl. Leaves and twigs scratched at my exposed skin and snagged on my uniform, making the climb more of a hassle than it should have been. At least it was safe.

    It took several minutes to burst through the canopy, but once I did, the view took my breath away. I stared into the distance, clearly seeing the mountains surrounding the entire First Floor. The Howling Hills spanned arge ring after that, with four canyons each leading from the foot of the mountains to the beginnings of the Old Boar Forest.

    The vast farnds took up the next ring after the forest before finallying to therge vis of the wealthy. I could make out the steeples of the two Churches on either side of the Academy. The charts in the cartography room didn''t do it justice.

    "Haahh..." I took a deep breath, tasting the fresh air while watching the light of the Floor''s sun flood over thendscape. ncing at my watch, I saw that there were around fourteen hours to the next day, so it had taken me three and a half to climb from my campsite to the top of the tree.

    A golden sh drew me from my admiration, and I nced at the tip of the tree beside me. There was a Card hovering there, just above the highest branch. I plucked the item out of the air and examined it.

    There was no reason to pull out my Demon ss, as I recognized the Card immediately. It was a rtivelymon Card called Leap, which extended the height of a Wielder''s jump, and lessened the impact from thending.

    Dash should be enough for now...

    I slipped the Card into my uniform pocket. For now, I had to be picky about what Cards I put in my Deck, lest I face a significant migraine after I leave the Floor. I sighed and looked over thend again before scurrying down the tree. Thendscape wouldn''t be so serene after I left this Floor.

    It didn''t take long to reach the ground and secure my pack. I hefted the massive bundle up while pulling my cane from the side, along with a half ration of dried meat. The journey down to the next task wouldn''t be as demanding as the trip up, and I wanted to ensure I was armed in case any bears had spawned in the area.

    The jerky was tough and tasteless, and if it weren''t for the convenience of the stuff, I wouldn''t be eating it. Eating healthy was one habit that I didn''t want to break, but this heavily salted meat was all that was avable on the First Floor. Finding a Relic for storing proper meals would just be one more item to add to the list.

    The northwestern side of the mountain''s crest broke into a gentle slope that led down into one of the deep valleys below. Once I came to the foot of the mountain, I would have to travel around another until I reached the back side, where a waterfall should be waiting.

    I was trusting my memory to lead me in the right direction, as I''d only seen maps of this area through the Network when information about the tasks had been revealed. Below the waterfall was the deepest valley in the area, and within the valleyy a massive pond. That was my next task, explore the depths, and reach the lowest point of the First Floor.

    My cane tapped away as I traveled, resonating with the sound of my steps. It was quiet here. Peaceful. At least for now. That would likely change when the Descendants arrived.

    Having a more urate time frame would have been nice. But, an old man can only do so much. Now... was it a left or a right at the cleaved boulder?

    With a shrug, I took a left. Left was always right, or so they said. The Memory Enhancement I had was helpful, but my memories... weren''t exactly in my mind. Huh... Where were my memoriesing from then?

    I continued my venture in silence, contemting my existence and how the Cards would interpret my past. The Memory Enhancement... I could feel it. Minor details of the textbooks I''d studied throughout my Academy years sprung to mind, along with the lessons I''d been taught in swordy... and, for some reason, an image of Galen picking his nose.

    However, my memories of my advancement through the Tower were normal. Some minor nuances escaped me, but I could still recall everything I''d learned while working for the government. Hell, they''d practically forced it into me to memorize everything, and I hadn''t had a Memory Enhancement at the time.

    So... Either the Cards worked in some way that I couldn''t begin to fathom, or my memories of the future were attached to something else. A soul? If that were the case, did my soul rece the soul of the younger me?

    The sound of rushing water pulled me from my reverie, which was fine because I didn''t care to contemte whether I''d identally murdered myself ormitted some form of assisted suicide. I tucked my cane under my arm and sprinted forward, focusing on the wind rushing through my hair rather than the lingering thoughts.

    The noise of the falls grew, and the air became humid as I made my way around the foot of another mountain. Before long, I could see the spray of the falls filling the small valley, and theke I was searching for sat just below. It was... beautiful.

    The falls descended from the top of the mountain, sshing against the surface of a small pond and forming rainbows in the emerging mist. The diameter of the pond was no longer than ten yards, which struck me as odd for the amount of water being funneled into it.

    With a light click, I pulled my sword from the shaft of the cane and proceeded forward cautiously. I hadn''t run into a single bear during my trip, which struck me as odd. The ce should have been swarming with them.

    I found a tiny crevice at the foot of the mountain to cram my pack into and then proceeded to the pond. Contrary to what I thought would happen, there were no surprises. No bandits tried to leap out from the rocks, and no bears spawned on top of me. It was simply... peaceful.

    For half an hour, I stood there, observing my surroundings to ensure the area was devoid of life. Nothing. I shrugged and began to pull off my uniform, surprised at the simplicity of it all.

    These missions were so bizarre. Seven of the tasks on this floor required killing. I just couldn''t wrap my head around these three being as simple as they looked. Climb to the highest location, swim to the deepest location, and make your way to the darkest location. They just seemed so mundane.

    I pulled off my boots, took a deep breath, and dived into the water without hesitation. It was a bit nippy but could hardly be considered freezing. If anything, it was about the temperature of a bath you''d let sit for too long before climbing in.

    Green light emanated from the algae that clung to the sides of the small pond, making it easy to see once I opened my eyes. I looked around, studying the area, though there wasn''t much to observe. The pond looked one hundred percent man-made. It stretched down approximately fifteen yards beforeing to an abrupt stop on what looked like a t bottom.

    If it weren''t for the glowing algae, I''d think this was dug in some wealthy chap''s backyard rather than a natural urrence. My lungs started to burn while I took in my surroundings, and I kicked my legs, quickly propelling myself until I broke the surface.

    "Haaaaahhhh!" I gulped in the air while I cast my eyes about for any signs of movement. Still nothing. Once my breathing calmed, I swam to the pond''s edge and hoisted myself out. I was going to need some outside assistance to tackle this task.

    Sure, swimming to the bottom wasn''t an issue. Even having some spare seconds to reach the center wasn''t impossible. The problem was that I didn''t know how long it would take for the Card to appear. So far, the average time was around thirty seconds.

    "It''s not that deep..." I nced down at the water and ran some numbers. Swimming to the bottom will take me around 30 to 40 seconds. I''ll need some time to find the deepest section. Another 30 or so to wait for the Card... and if I push from the bottom, the swim up shouldn''t take more than 20 seconds.

    I should be able to handle about two and a half minutes, so that leaves a minute to find the deepest section when I get down there. Hopefully, it''s in the center.

    I found a small, round boulder along the edge of the mountain. It was only about asrge as my head, but it would do. With a thought, I used the Throw Ability, increasing my uracy before tossing the bolder into the center of the pond with a loud ssh. Without hesitation, I took a deep breath and dived in after it.

    My estimations were right, and it took me just over half a minute to reach the bottom... but there was a problem. The algae had fooled my eyes, and the pond bed was not t. The ground sloped, and the boulder I tossed slowly rolled toward the edge.

    Tara be damned, this is not what I''d been expecting. My arms scooped the water behind me as I chased the boulder to the bottom of the slope, where I found a small opening carved into the wall. Like the rest of the pond, the space looked as if it had been sculpted by human hands. Unlike the rest of the pond, there wasn''t a spec of algae growing near the little cubby.

    I swam to the bottom and wedged my foot beneath the boulder, which hade to rest neatly under the small niche. Well, at least there wasn''t any question about this being the deepest point. My lungs were already starting to burn, and I didn''t think I had it in me to search the whole pond.

    By the time the Card appeared in the cubby, I was nearing my limit. The extra time to swim to the pond''s edge may have been within my estimation, but apparently, my lung capacity wasn''t what I thought it was. I snatched the Card and pushed off the ground as hard as possible, even using Dash to speed my progress.

    Part of me was d there was no one around to see as I shot from the water''s surface like a carp from ake. My bare back hit the ground hard, scraping against the gravel terrain and knocking my breath out. I gasped for air, drinking in the life-giving substance as fast as I could. And even through all of that, I couldn''t help butugh.

    I''d never felt so alive!

    Twice this day, I''d faced death and lived. Sure, I''d done so on asion in my previous life, but never on my own terms like this. Through all my years, I''d never felt so alive as I did right now.

    Once I caught my breath, and my heart slowed, I looked at the Card I was still clutching in my hand. It was one that I somewhat recognized but had never actually cared for it enough to learn the description. The image on the front depicted a man swimming in a small creek. I grabbed my pants from where I''did them and pulled my Demon ss from the pocket, tapping it on the edge of the Card.

    [Card Name: Swimming]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1000]

    [Foundation: Agility, Endurance]

    [Effect: Increases the Wielder''s litheness when in any body of water. Speed while swimming increased by 10%, further affected by Agility. Lung capacity while submerged increased by 50%, further enhanced by Endurance]

    Well... that would have been useful a moment ago.

    I chuckled and pulled out a vial of Infernal Wash while casting Heal. The cleansing liquid instantly dispersed the water and blood while the spell took care of the scrapes along my back and shoulders. I pulled on my clothes and tucked the Card into my pocket with Leap. Both were useful, but I was still hesitant to add them to my Deck.

    After retrieving my pack from its hideaway, I jogged around the pond''s edge, avoiding the sshing droplets and making my way behind the raging waterfall. It was there, just like the Network had described. Embedded in the mountain wall, just behind the cascade of water, was a massive cave entrance leading into bottomless darkness.

    Thest of these three tasks was a maze. It was the most dangerous of the three, though not overly so. From the reports I''d read, this maze was filled with Level 1 Rodent type creatures around half the size of the Wild Boars. They were weak and easy enough to deal with... the dangery in the darkness.

    I could vaguely recall the map that had been made for this ce, but my memory was fuzzy. There were close to twenty dead ends, and only one marked thepletion of the task and gave the achievement. I knew it was one of the leftmost three, but I would have to try each of the forks unless I got lucky.

    The Descendants that were sure to arrive in the next day or two would have troublepleting this one. Whatever powers kept this ce dark only allowed the light of the Cards to grace its interior. Torches would be snuffed out upon reaching the first fork, and the rats would take away any trail markers left on the ground. Getting lost wasn''t an impossibility.

    With a thought, an orb the size of a football appeared, its glow extending a few feet in each direction. Maybe it was only a child''s toy, but it was one I was grateful for.

    Thank you, Boulder.

    Iughed as I thought of the three siblings. The wretched Skull Brothers had undoubtedly been very generous in their contributions. After positioning the ballfortably on top of my pack, I unhooked my cane and confidently made my way into the inky darkness.

 Chapter 17

    "Silence!" a ring voice boomed in the circr chamber, followed by a chilling aura, instantly settling down the cacophony of ancient voices. Nine heads snapped to the head of a long, marble table. Piercing silver eyes passed over the nine elders at the table, and the man who possessed those eyes frowned at each member in turn for their outburst. He looked no older than twenty, had cropped hair as ck as the night sky, a towering presence, and his skin seemed to shimmer with the same silver glow as his eyes.

    "Sir Wales, pardon us for the interruption," an older man bowed his head slightly in respect when the silver gaze turned to him. His voice was melodious and brought peace once more to the tense atmosphere. "This news is unprecedented. During thest five centuries, not once has there been a task in which only ten Wielders can partake. The reward must be... exceptional, to say the least."

    The man straightened his posture, the golden monocle ced upon his right eye gleaming in the bright light of the room. His hazel eyes brimmed with intelligence and were the only outstanding feature the man possessed. His broad forehead andrge ears lessened his appearance and weren''t befitting the man''s position, not that anyone would risk pointing that out.

    Elder Wales stared at the older-looking man for a few moments before responding, "As usual, you are correct, Sir York. However, it is distasteful for Wielders of our age and standing to lose theirposure over something so inconsequential."

    "That may be true for the Wales family, but for my sweet Kasimira, this is the perfect opportunity," an enchanting voice teased the ears of all those present. Ordinary men would have been smitten by the sound alone, but the men and women in this room were immune to the wiles of the youthful dominatrix. Though, like everyone in this room, her age couldn''t be determined by appearance alone.

    There were a few nods of agreement while the rest cast their gazes between the Grand Elder of the dimir Family, who''d just spoken, and the Grand Elder of the Wales Family. Micaiah Wales was not a forgiving individual, but here amongst the heads of the Descendant Families, it was unlikely that he would act against another. Still, Lucinda dimir was brave, and more than a few admiring nces were cast her way.

    "Since the Ancestors were also quite clear on this matter, I shall approve of a postponement for the other subjects they brought to our attention," Micaiah stood and gestured for the others to do the same. "Each of you should have already chosen a Descendant from your family to participate in the final task. As per the norm, the vanquishing ceremony shall be performed in order of the Family Ranks. Wales, York, Manchester, Scot, Sinir, Syward, Windawn, Grandhardt, dimir, and O''Connel. News of this is not to be spread until after the ceremony."

    Micaiah ced his hand on the shoulder of one of the men next to him, "Simeon. I expect the Manchester Family to use their influence with the Church of Liberation to secure prisoners for the ceremony."

    "It shall be done," Simeon bowed. The sound of lightning crackling could be heard with his movement.

    "Then we shall take our leave. Wayne, you are to stay behind to inform the Lower Families of the tasks they must perform toplete the hidden achievements," Micaiah ignored the grumbling man and turned to leave. He and the other eight elders departed through a back entrance while Wayne Grandhardt made his way to the front.

    The room shook as the giant of a man stalked toward the door, grumbling about having to handle the shit work. One massive hand pushed open the door while the other reached into a small alcove at the door''s side. Tens of thick, glowing purple lines crept out from the cavity and extended to the many lights set about the chamber. He plucked a massive shard from the nook, and the lights slowly dimmed until darkness encased the room.

    "Seems it''s about time to rece this chunk," Wayne mumbled, tossing it to the side. "How a shard containing ten thousand Essence can be depleted so swiftly is beyond me. I''m sure Micaiah expects me to handle that as well."

    Nathaniel stood in arge, open room with a balcony overlooking a spacious seating area. It wasn''t dissimr to one of the many opera houses spread throughout the city, but this had been designed with meetings and tournaments in mind. Grand tapestries with symbols of the ten families were draped from the rooftop, while wless statues were carved into the face of the walls.

    Some may have been captivated by the grandiose architecture, but Nathaniel was busy peering into the crowd below. Everything and everyone in this ce was nothing more than a reminder of why he''d chosen to go to the Academy rather than study with his family''s tutors. The excessiveness of it all just seemed so... confining.

    "Nathaniel Syward!" He stopped scanning the crowd and turned to face the familiar, boisterous voice. An enormous sandy-haired young man stepped up beside Nathaniel and leaned against the balcony, grinning, "It''s been a while, Syward. A little birdy told me that you were about to graduate. Have you given any thought to my offer?"

    "I''m sorry, John, but I''ll have to decline," Nathaniel said calmly, turning back to cast his eyes over the ever-growing crowd. John frowned but didn''t pester the man. Nathaniel had always been this way, almost bereft of emotions while turning down any assistance from any of the Families, not just his own. John was sure the man wouldn''t have bothered to show up if it weren''t for the mandate.

    "Ahh, that''s alright," John grinned and pped his hand on Nathaniel''s back. "If you ever change your mind about joining the party, just step into any one of the Grandhardt Guildhouses and request to meet me. An arrangement will be made promptly."

    Nathaniel looked up from the crowd long enough to nod, which was as much confirmation as John needed. He left to conscript a few of the other simrly aged Descendants while waiting for whatever announcement it was the elders needed to make. His offer had been fair, but Nathaniel didn''t care to work with any of the Families if he could help it, not just his own.

    "Too bad they''re everywhere," he grumbled, turning to the crowd just in time to see a massive figure lumbering toward the center of the stage-like arena. John''s elder grandfather, Wayne Grandhardt, stood at least seven feet tall, a sight swiftly noticed by all those present, and a hush fell over the noisy throng of young adults.

    "Greetings, young men and women of the Descendant Families," his voice echoed throughout the cavernous hall, filling every cranny and making it impossible for his words to go unheard. "The announcement that I''ll be making today will bring a great boon to the younger generation of each and every Family."

    Whispers started amongst the gathered crown, and soon a cacophony of noise filled the hall. The Grandhardt Elder pulled a massive war hammer from seemingly nowhere and tapped the base of the shaft against the stage. A sound like pping thunder filled the air, and when it faded, so too did the noise within the arena.

    "If you can refrain from interrupting again, that would be greatly appreciated," Wayne''s weapon disappeared, and he spoke once more. "Four new tasks have been reported on the First Floor, each of which we would like you to take advantage of."

    He paused, likely waiting to quell any uproar, but none came. The man smiled and continued, "The first of the four tasks is to speak to the ghost that takes residence within the Academy, though from our understanding, the creature only appears when it wishes to. Luck will y a significant role in the first task. As for the following three, I expect every one of you to fulfill the requirements before ascending to the Second Floor."

    "These three are to climb to the highest point on the First Floor, to reach the lowest point on the First Floor, and to reach the darkest ce on the First Floor. All three of these tasks are located to the north of the Academy. A map has been prepared in the outer hall, and I expect you to study the locations and begin the moment you depart," he ced his hands behind his back. "Do I make myself clear?"

    "Yes, sir!" over a hundred voices sounded at once, and the Elder nodded, satisfied. He looked up to the booth, where Nathaniel and nine other individuals stood apart from the crowd, "Those who have been pulled to the side are to stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed. Remove yourselves from my sight."

    The floor below exploded into action. Nathaniel observed from the balcony as the hundreds of individuals who''d yet to leave the First Floor scrambled to be the first out the door. It was painfully evident that each wanted to be the first toplete the missions, serving as another reminder as to why he didn''t want to be part of the Family''s games. It wasn''t like the tasks were going anywhere. He observed the others in the room, finding seven males and three females, each scrutinizing the others.

    Suddenly, the Grandhardt Grand Elder was standing in the center of the room. Nathaniel blinked while two of the women jumped back in surprise, and one younger man even yelped. The Elder nced at the boy who''d made the noise and shook his head, causing snickers from one of the other young men.

    "You lot gather round. This is to be kept between us, and my voice tends to carry if I speak at more than a whisper," Wayne spoke quietly, but Nathaniel could tell he was right. People were already ncing up at the booth curiously, likely having heard what the man said.

    Nathaniel stepped forward, as did the other nine individuals present, and waited patiently. The Elder looked at each of them in turn before lowering his head and whispering to the group, "You should be proud. The ten of you have been chosen by your individual elders to participate in the final task."

    A few ears twitched, and some smiles could be seen, but no one dared interrupt the Elder. When he saw this, he continued, "Only ten individuals can receive the reward for the final task, and there are stiptions in ce that make it nearly impossible for others to achieve. You must kill a dozen individuals on the First Floor, but it must be done within thest hour of the century."

    A few gasps could be heard, and Nathaniel shifted his gaze to examine the other chosen participants. The reactions were varied. The young man who''d previously yapped at the Elder''s arrival had gone pale. One of the women also looked a bit anxious but didn''t seem too torn up about the announcement.

    On the other hand, there was a young woman, barely fourteen if Nathaniel had to guess, brimming with excitement. Her hair was white as snow, and her blood-red eyes shined in anticipation. Those traits couldn''t be mistaken. She was one of the dimir children.

    Aside from the girl, there were a few of his peers who seemed to be thrilled. Whether that was due to them being chosen or because of what the task entailed, Nathaniel didn''t know. There was one individual who looked like he could care less either way. The Elder took all of this in faster than Nathaniel and had already begun to speak again.

    "Members of the Church of Liberation will be bringing prisoners to the base of the stairs on the First Floor. Do not inform them of the rewards," Wayne eyed the young men and women in turn, making sure they understood. "We''ve informed them that we wish for you to experience the hardships you''ll face while ascending. They will find out the truth after the fact, but by then, it will be of no consequence."

    "Each of you will arrive at the base of the stairs an hour and a half hour prior to the century''s end, where the prisoners and a representative from the Wales Family shall be waiting. You will act in order based on your Family rank before ascending to the Second Floor. Do any of you have any questions?"

    The men and women nced at each other, wondering who would be the first to speak up. Almost unsurprisingly, it was the young miss of the York Family, Emilia. Her hazel eyes shone with wisdom unbefitting of a woman her age, the spitting image of her ancestor. Also, like most of her family, she had no other outstanding features. She was pretty but not overly so, and if it weren''t for the small horde of relics she wore, Emilia would seem to be an ordinary young woman.

    "Elder Grandhardt, may I ask how the elders came to know of this information?" she queried hopefully, "Is it a newly discovered relic? Have we had a breakthrough in understanding the Tower''s Cores?"

    Wayne looked at the young woman in annoyance. It was clear that he hadn''t expected one of them to ask a question, "You''ll have to ask William about that, youngdy. There are still a few secrets we elders must keep to ourselves, though I have no doubt that you lot will be some of the first in your generation to learn them."

    "Yes, sir. I understand," Emilia mumbled.

    Wayne scowled at the rest of the group, "Alright, that''s it for the questions. You''re dismissed. Have the other taskspleted before the turn of the century."

    With that, he was gone. Nathaniel noted a gentle breeze, but he''d scarcely seen the elder twitch before the space became empty. He didn''t have to be told twice and promptly made his way to the open door before John could ask to party up to perform the tasks.

    By the time Nathaniel left the building, the many carriages that lined the streets upon his arrival were gone. There were a few stragglers, and a handful of young men and women could be seen walking in small groups, but the majority had long fled to the Central Market, where the stairs were located.

    The afternoon sun of the Origin Floor shone over the pitched rooftops of the entertainment district. Tall spires stretched up overhead, casting the well-paved roads in shadow. Nathaniel turned toward the Central Market and strolled leisurely along the walk, ignoring the protests from his driver, who was waving from across the street.

    This was what Nathaniel wanted, the freedom to do as he saw fit with his own life. His entire childhood, he''d been shackled by his identity. Even now, after cutting ties with most of his family, the Elder dragged him back into it. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck... this was an opportunity that he couldn''t bring himself to refuse.

    If only ten individuals could receive this achievement, didn''t that mean their Origin Cards would be a cut above the rest? To live with the liberty he desired, Nathaniel would need to be one of the most powerful individuals on any Floor at any given time. An exceptional Origin Card could help him achieve that goal, and if he had to ept his great uncle''s gift for that...

    "So be it," he muttered and kicked at a loose piece of concrete into a nearby alley just as the streetlights began to flicker. Thousands of intricately carved grooves began to emit a soft purple luminance as energy was transferred from the local church and spread across the district.

    Nathaniel traced the grooves with his eyes but didn''t stop to ogle. He shook his head and nced at the fancymp posts and shimmering signs. All of this was just another cage. A way for the church to charge citizens for the convenience they provide, even if it wasn''t asked for.

    He refused to be part of it. What he wanted could only be found on the upper Floors. If he were strong enough... If he had a team that was just as driven as him... One day, he would be high enough that the world couldn''t reach him.

    The tightly constructed facilities spread out as he rounded the corner, leaving the entertainment district and stepping into the outskirts of the Central Market. Immense structures made up a vast circle around the outer edge of a wide street. Hundreds of smaller shops made up the inner perimeter and looking through the gaps between them, one could see many carts and open-air stalls lined neatly along the many walkways.

    If a Climber wanted to sell their wares for as high a price as possible, this was the ce. Anyone could rent a space without a license, but only licensed individuals could set up shop permanently around the inner perimeter of Central Avenue.

    The more prominent buildings on the outer rim were for the more influential factions. Along the vast highway, one could find establishments belonging to the two Churches, the top Guilds, the Merchant Guild, and the Central Hub for the railway that extended to all of the outer cities. Needless to say, this was a district that never slept.

    The purple grooves along the walls and pavement were so abundant that the area took on a purple ambiance in the evenings, earning it the title of the Amethyst District. Nathaniel waited for a horse and buggy to pass before making his way across the street and down one of the many small avenues leading to the center.

    A few shouts entered his ears as he walked by the stalls, weaving his way through the throngs of people stopping to stare at the Climbers'' wares. After walking the mile or so to the center, he found himself standing before arge porcin building. An iron fence surrounded the structure, with armored guards standing every few yards.

    "Identification," one of the guards stepped forward and held out a piece of Demon ss for him to see. Nathaniel slipped a chain from around his neck, grasping the metal card hanging from it and tapping it gently to the ss.

    "Mister Syward," the guard nodded and slipped the Demon ss back into his breast pocket. "You''re clear to go. Please take care, and may the Tower''s light shine upon you as you ascend."

    Nathaniel grunted in acknowledgment and entered the porcin building, stopping once more to put his name on the registry before ascending the metal steps. When he stepped onto the First Floor, he swiftly left the Academy and looked up at the night sky. He could see the stars in all their glory with not a singlemp post to dull his view.

    This was all the proof he needed. Ascending the Tower was the path to freedom.

 Chapter 18

    "Squueeaaaa!"

    *squelch*

    "So much for having a month''s supply," I grumbled and pulled my de from the boar-sized rat I''d just skewered, waving the weapon to clear it of the blood and grieving my dwindling supply of Infernal Wash. It was dark, and the dimly lit area around me was littered with rat corpses of varying size.

    Either my memories of the reports were wrong, or the Network hadn''t recorded the whole story. There were only supposed to be Level 1 rodents in this area, but I''d encountered multiple Level 2 beasts within the tunnels. My sword style could handle numerous enemies in an open space, but it hadn''t been designed to handle battles in a tunnel no wider than three or four men.

    Dark stains had already tarnished the lower parts of my uniform, the blood having sunk in so thoroughly that the wash couldn''t sear it out. My face twisted as I thought about the germs and diseases these hairless rats had to be carrying. I''d spent enough of my life nauseous and indisposed, and I wasn''t nning to do so again.

    I unstoppered another bottle of the wash and dripped the content on my skin, cleansing away the sttered blood and giving me further peace of mind. The uniform couldn''t be helped, but at least the wash kept the damage to a minimum.

    Thanks to Pull, I didn''t have to dig through the corpses to secure the Essence. With a wave of my hand and a bit of concentration, I managed to Pull all of the shards within a few feet at once. My Level 1 Intelligence increased my range slightly... it was easily one of the most convenient Cards I''d owned in either of my lives.

    Even with the Spell, obtaining all of the Essence took several minutes. By the time I was done, my head was aching from overusing the Card. I really needed to get my hands on the Wisdom Foundation to avoid this bacsh... And I really wanted to speak with David.

    With a sigh, I nced at the wall behind me. This tunnel had been the third dead end I''d run into. At least my memory had been mostly urate, and I''d smoothly made it to the final fork. Where I''d been mistaken was the number of tunnels at the leftmost junction. Rather than three, there had been four, and my luck had been shit enough that each one I''d chosen led to a dead end.

    "What a bother," I shuffled my bag so the light from the Ball Spell exposed more of the area in front of me and trekked back the way I came. My cane echoed in the narrow tunnel, the monotonous tapping fading into nothing as I became lost in thought.

    Since I''d returned, there had scarcely been a moment to slow down and think. For the moment, I was at ease in this quiet, rat-infested cave. If the pattern persisted, I wouldn''t see another rat swarm until halfway down the next tunnel. My hunch was that critters spawned from the darkness at certain intervals, as I couldn''t find any traces of burrows or hidden passages along the walls.

    Now that I had time to consider my circumstances... The changes that were sure toe because of my meddling were starting to worry me. First, now that Crook''s prescription scheme had been foiled, he wouldn''t be caught by the guards. It wasn''t something I felt to be a big deal, and if what he said was true, his backer had put him up to it.

    Second, and only slightly more troubling, were the Skull Brothers and their gang of mercenaries. It wasn''t hard to imagine what would happen if some of their more nefarious targets weren''t killed, but what about the exemry ones? I wasn''t too concerned since it was likely that the original contractors would just hire another group, but I needed to consider the possibilities.

    Third, and the most problematic of the current changes... David. There were reports of at least a few dozen Climbers having spoken with him. That was close to forty Origin Cards that wouldn''t get that boost. How would this change affect the clearing of the upper Floors in the future?

    That wasn''t all. My Memory Enhancement might not be helping with recollections of my previous life, but I could almost swear that there were only supposed to be a handful of rats in this cavern. Coupled with there being Level 2 rodents as well... There was no way I didn''t remember that correctly. The revtion of the Secret Achievements had been a massive deal.

    My pace slowed and my pondering ceased as I crept closer to what should be the halfway mark of the final tunnel. A light click echoed from the walls as I slid the sword from its sheath. I checked the ties on my pack, making sure the Ball was firmly in ce, before turning and treading slowly backwards.

    One... Two... Three...

    "Squeeeeeaaaa!"

    Right on cue, the rats started scampering out of the shadows where I''d been moments before, just beyond the reach of my Spell''s area. The first time I''d been swarmed, it hade as a surprise and resulted in a few nasty wounds. After experiencing the same ambush twice more, however, I was ready.

    Desperate to snuff out the light encroaching on their domain, the first pair of rodents leapt forward, soaring toward the glowing orb on my back. I bashed the closest back with my sheath while skewering the second using Pierce. The Ability left behind a glowing wisp as it prated the back of the beast''s throat.

    Before the effects of Pierce could wear down, I Dashed forward, using the sudden momentum to impale two more rats that leapt behind the first. The skewer of rodents acted as a wall while the eleration of Dash pushed me forward, stopping the momentum of the iing mob. My style may not have been ideal in such a cramped setting, but the swarm of beasts crawling over one another wasn''t faring any better.

    As Dash reached its limit, I kicked off the ground and forced the skill to send me back, leaving the three-rat kabob as a barrier between myself and the horde. The trap had been set, and it was time to reap the rewards. I used Rend, coating my de with a dim red light andshing out at the first rodent that dared to scale the barricade.

    With the split second that bought me, I dismissed the light on my back and cast Ball again, tossing the Spell onto one of the corpses. Chaos ensued. The beasts attempted to mber over the remains of the fallen to get at the Spell, leaving me free to attack.

    The edge of my sword Rended their flesh and Pierced their skulls with little resistance as they died on the backs of their brethren. The light would vanish from time to time, only to appear in another location. With every sh, another of the rodents would squeal and copse, and soon enough, it was over.

    It was a night and day difference from my first battle with the creatures, and I found it a shame that I''d onlye up with this method now that I was on the right path. A pile of at least thirty bloody corpsesy strewn across the tunnel. Who said you can''t teach an old hound new tricks?

    I breathed deeply, soaking in the adrenaline as thest began to fade away. Climbing the mountain, diving into deep waters, exploring the unknown... it had been many years since I''d felt such a rush. It left me wanting more.

    With a few casts of Pull, I added another 50 Essence to my growing pool of wealth and turned to finish my task. ording to my timepiece, it had been close to seventeen hours since I''d entered this ce. The hike out would take another three hours, meaning I''d make it out around noon. The sooner I returned to the town, the sooner I could begin my preparations for the final task.

    After a quarter-hour of walking, I reached the end of the tunnel. This time, no herd of hairless rodents appeared to assail me, but neither did the expected Card appear after nearly five minutes of waiting.

    "Wait... Travel to the darkest point of the Floor..." I cancelled my Spell, drowning my surroundings in darkness. Ten secondster, I had my answer. A brilliant light shined from the furthest wall of the cave, blinding me as I reached out to grab hold of my prize. With bated breath, I summoned the glowing Ball and tapped my Demon ss to the surface of the new Card.

    [Card Name: Illumination]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1000]

    [Foundation: Intelligence, Will]

    [Effect: Can be cast on any non-living object. Causes the target to glow, lighting a 10-yard area for 5 minutes. Reveals any person, creature, or entity in the area using a concealment skill. No cooldown, but Wielder can only have one active at a time. Intelligence influences the range of radiance. Caster''s Will must be higher than the Will of any concealed entities to reveal their presence, or the Level of Illumination must outrank the Level of their concealment]

    "Oh? This is the higher Rank variant of the Shine Spell I had in my previous Deck. Having it would have made this trip much more tolerable," I read over the information again before deciding to equip it. This was a Spell that I would permanently want in my repertoire.

    I closed my eyes and focused on the new Card I had ced in my Deck Box. A sense of warmth washed over my being when I made the connection, and I could feel the Spell bing part of me. With a thought, I cast the new Spell, targeting the watch on my wrist.

    "Bloody hell!"

    The light that filled the tunnel wasn''t as bright as the sun, but after spending almost a full day in this darkness, it might as well have been. I blinked my eyes rapidly while chuckling at my mistake... I should have known better.

    When my sight adjusted, I was pleasantly surprised to find the tunnel lit clearly for at least 11 yards, the 10% increase from my Intelligence Foundation showing its worth. Unlike the Ball Spell, where Illumination''s range ended, there was no overflow. The light just stopped, and darkness took over.

    "Ahh... Might as well get that over with..." I reached down to the leatherbound Deck Box on my side, flipped the top, and thumbed through the Cards until I found the Ball Spell. With a deep breath, I concentrated on the Card while removing it, this time willing away the attachment I felt.

    "Ungh!"

    The thread connecting me to the Spell snapped, and the ache that arose in my mind and body left me feeling cold. I sat on the ground and leaned gently against my pack. It would take about twenty minutes for the pain to fade, but I was safe enough here.

    I smiled through the pain, "Just one final task."

    "This must be the ce..."

    A small group of young men and women rounded a long cliff face and found themselves standing before what could only be called a mountain paradise. A waterfall spilt from a ridge, colliding with a small pond and showering the sandy valley with a beautiful rainbow mist. Hanging moss and white flowers grew from the mountain walls and some of the more enormous boulders in the clearing.

    Around thirty of their peers were already in the area, diving into the watering hole and lounging about on the sand and boulders. Though on the surface, it may have looked like the young adults were on vacation, there was an ocean of tension in the air. Several small groups stayed to themselves while a few individuals argued about who would take the next dive. Of course, some were carefree, justzing about, patiently awaiting their turn.

    At the head of the new arrivals stood a young man with shoulder-length brown hair and a wild look in his eyes. He grinned boyishly as he looked out over the scene, even taking a running step toward the smallke before a hand pulled him back.

    "Alden, mate, you can''t go running off like that. We only followed you here because you grabbed thest of the leaflets!" The speaker was a tall and thin man with sses and had been friends with Alden for years. There weren''t many who dared to speak with a member of the Windawn Family in such a way.

    "Oi! Don''t get yer knickers in a twist, George," Aldenined. "I was just going to have a bit o'' fun! Look at those falls. Just imagine diving off of ''em!"

    Alden calmed down and pulled out the pamphlet he carried in his pouch, finding a t rock about waist height to unfold it. He smoothed out the paper and pointed between the map and the instructions.

    "See here, chaps," he waved them over to look. "It''s the same as the big tree. We just swim to the bottom o'' thatke and venture into the depths of that cave behind it, and boom! Done! For those who don''t have Shine or something simr in your Decks, my pops sent me with one o'' our old Relics."

    He reached into his bag and pulled out an odd-lookingntern, but instead of a wick in the centre, it had a pedestal with purple markings extending out from it. cing it on top of the pamphlet, he pulled out arge shard of Essence and arranged it in the centre before closing the lid. Once sealed, a bright purple glow radiated from themp, clearly visible even in the daylight.

    "I don''t mind sharing this with you blokes, but not until we have a map of the innards. Ya got that?" he nced around to ensure the others understood. "It shouldn''t be too dangerous. The report here says we''ll only see some Level 1 Albino Rodents."

    The youths standing behind him nodded, and he rolled up the pamphlet and slipped the Relic into his back, "For now, let''s go for a dip!"

    Nathaniel leaned against a boulder not far from where the leading group had been talking. He hadn''t purposely followed them, but thepany arrived at the top of the mountain around the same time as him, so he had to wait patiently for his turn. They waited until he''d finished his climb before descending the slope, so he tagged along, hanging back a short ways behind the group.

    This Alden Windawn was someone he''d heard about. From what Nathaniel knew, the younger man wasn''t malicious like most of the younger Descendants, but he was reckless. With a sigh, he shook his head and strolled toward theke.

    His mind wasn''t present, as he was still mulling over the final task that had been presented. Alden was to be part of that group, yet he didn''t seem at all put out by the news. Killing a dozen defenceless people before ascending? Sure, they were already ted for death, but it didn''t feel right.

    "Haah," Nathanial breathed out and shook the thoughts away. These were hardened criminals, and if being their executioner would further his goals, so be it.

    "Syward!"

    Nathaniel looked up from his musing to see that Alden had made his way back. He held out the Relic with an expectant look and spoke in a low voice, "Would you lead a small group to map out one section of the cavern? George already has the Luminosity Spell, so it would be better for all of us if we split up. We are on a bit of a schedule, after all."

    "Hmm..." Nathaniel considered this. Alden was thest person he would have expected to think this far ahead, given his reputation. Working with other Descendants was something he didn''t care to do, but primarily because of their arrogant attitudes. It seemed Alden was different. "I suppose..."

    "Hey! Someone''sing out!"

    He was interrupted by a sudden shout near the cave entrance. The pair looked up to find a single figure walking out of the cave. It was a young man with long ck hair wearing the robes of the Academy. His uniform was scarcely tarnished, with only a few bloodstains around his boots. A cane could be seen tapping gently against the stone as he walked.

    "Rowan..?" Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and started toward the man, but not before a small crowd had gathered around him. Once might have been a coincidence, but twice? He had to admit that he was curious.

    When I''d reached the first fork of the cavern, my Tracking Enhancement picked up on a few pairs of very dull, blue footprints heading in different directions. If it weren''t for Illumination having worn off, I likely wouldn''t have seen them. This meant that either they''d passed quite a few minutes ago or were already in possession of a Will Card, and I''d only just missed them.

    "It seems the Families have arrived," I sighed and shifted my pack slightly, ensuring my belongings were tightly secured. There was no way to know how they''d react. It was likely that most would think I was one of them... but there were always exceptions.

    The tapping of my cane echoed as I strolled casually toward the light, the soundsing from the end of the tunnel a cacophony of inconsistency. There were sounds ofughter and yelling, and someone with a horrendous voice was singing in the background.

    I''d dealt with asional Descendants from the lower Families in my time as an advisor, but I''d never witnessed a scene like that in the valley. When I stepped from the mouth of the cave, I was greeted by a peculiar sight.

    There were young men and women of all shapes and sizes prowling around theke. More hair colours than I''d seen in both of my livesbined wereid bare before me. Reds and blues and purples and... white?

    A sh of white passed by me, and I felt a sharp pain on the back of my neck. I whipped my head back to the tunnel, but no one was there. Strange. I turned around to face the valley... and found a young girl standing before me.

    I recognized the telltale signs of the dimir Family the second I saw her. She had long white hair and deep red eyes... eyes that were staring into mine with burning curiosity. Her skin was fair, and her head barely reached my chest. And on the corner of her bright red lips was... blood?

    My hand shot to the back of my neck and came back wet and red. Had this girl really just-

    "I don''t recognize you," the girl said confidently, her words sounding more like they were sung than spoken. She didn''t say anything else and only stared at me with those eyes, waiting for me to answer. I felt drawn to respond, to tell her who I was and why I was there. I opened my mouth to speak...

    Ah. Some type of Charm Spell. The moment I realized it, the connection was broken, and I was free to move. With haste, I stepped around the girl... only to find a crowd of more than thirty young men blocking my path. When the hell had this happened?

    "How dare you ignore Miss Kasimira like that!" one of the men shouted, ring hatefully.

    I nced back at the youngss who just stood there, eyeing me with a smug smile. Ahh hell, what had I been dragged into? She didn''t say a word, but three of the men stepped forward threateningly while I was trying to assess the situation.

    One of them grabbed my shoulder, and I acted on reflex. There was a quiet click and a yelp as my sword left its sheath, and the point found itself on thed''s neck, the tip barely touching his skin. Another two des were pressed against my own.

    Bloody hell. This was not what I wanted. Whatever the girl had done to me, my mind was off. I''d acted on instinct rather than reason.

    "Hey! What''s going on here?!" amanding voice called from somewhere to my left, but I couldn''t turn and look. Blood was already trickling slowly down the side of my neck, warning off any sudden movements.

    "dimir," the voice said cooly, and this time, I recognized it as Nathaniel''s. "Let him go."

    "Oh, you know him?" the melodic voice asked, obviously in no hurry to resolve the mess she''d started.

    "Mm," I heard Nathaniel grunt. "Rowan''s a friend of mine from one of the lower Families."

    My features didn''t change, but inside I was stunned. Why would Nathaniel say that? We both knew that it wasn''t true. Well, if it got me out of this mess, I''d have to thank thedter.

    There was a movement to my side, and one of the des was pulled away. The girl, Kasimira, stepped in front of me and giggled, "So your name is Rowan, is it?"

    "That''s right, Miss dimir," I pronounced, shifting slightly to look down at the girl. She was toying with me... "Now, what''s a pretty young miss such as yourself doing causing this kind of trouble?"

    She smiled and reached out. I felt a cold hand touch the base of my neck, and the other de pulled away. The girl pulled me down to face her, and the singsongy voice whispered softly in my ear, "Let''s y again sometime when it''s not so crowded. And don''t fret, I''m not as youthful as I appear, either."

    She pulled her hand away and licked the blood that had trickled down her fingers. After tossing me a yful smile, she took a single step back and vanished. There was a change in the air, and I quickly withdrew my sword and sheathed it as every young man in the vicinity began to blink rapidly. My mind was reeling with what the girl had said, but I didn''t have time to think.

    Nathaniel walked over, shaking his head. By the time he reached me, the small crowd had dispersed like nothing had happened, "Why is it that every time I run into you outside of the Academy, you have a de pointed in your direction?"

    "That''s a good question. It seems I always manage to find myself in a spot of trouble," I chuckled and rubbed my neck gently, casting Heal and closing the tiny wounds in one shot. "You didn''t have to step in like that. Please ept my gratitude,d."

    Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, "You tell me why you talk like that, and we''ll call it even."

    "Hmm?" I looked at him curiously and then realized what I''d said. Had I been doing that this entire time? I patted him on the shoulder, "Maybe I''ll tell you one day. Now, what in Tara''s name was that magic?"

    "Vampiric magic, I guess," Nathaniel shook his head, seemingly okay with my avoiding his request. "Her Family is known for it, but I''ve never seen anything like that. What are you doing out here?"

    I shrugged and inclined my head to the cave while walking away, "Just remember that left is always right, and you''ll be out of there in no time."

    No one so much as gave me a second look as I left the valley, that encounter fresh on my mind. I''m not as youthful as I appear, either... I wasn''t sure how much she knew, but I felt that a whole new set of problems were made with that encounter.

    "It seems I''ll never catch a break..."

 Chapter 19

    I yawned and pulled back the thick drapes blocking the window in my bedroom. The sun trickledzily in through the window, warming my bare skin as I stood there in my knickers. My timepiecey with my clothing in the next room, but reckoning by the sun, I knew it had to be nearing noon.

    It was thest day of the century, and celebrations had alreadymenced. The Guilds were hurling Spells in the air on the city''s outskirts while the citizens who waited until thest minute rushed to and fro, stringing up lights and catering for their many businesses.

    I let out another yawn, stretching as thest remnants of a long rest faded away. This time after leaving the mountain range had been a flurry of activity, much of it spent in Crook''s back room making preparations for my departure. I worked in the cramped warehouse throughout the daylight hours and staked out the back alleys and slums at night.

    After tying back the curtains, I proceeded into themon room, dragged my already-packed trunks closer to the door for the Academy''s porters toter retrieve, and washed and dressed before heading out into the world. My first order of business was to have a word with Crook before making my way to the courtyard where the graduation ceremony would be held.

    As I walked down the halls, I noticed a mood had settled over most of the better-dressed students. A group of three were huddled at the edge of the stairs, talking in hushed tones. Some of their whispered words reached my ears when I passed.

    "-anyone even spotted this so-called Ghost?"

    "No one that''s been willin'' to fess up. I reckon-"

    The voices faded to nothing as I descended to the first floor, smiling subtly. David was cosily tucked away, safe and sound, in the Deck Box on my left hip. If all went well, I''d be able to speak with him tomorrow... something I desperately wanted to do. I had questions, and hopefully, the ghostlyd had some answers.

    I was hedging my bets on being able toplete the final task before at least one of the Descendants. When this night was over, I would have what I needed to ascend without worry. This was the night that would change my future for the better.

    The details of how the Descendants had performed this task hadn''t been in the reports, at least not that I could recall, but I had some guesses. They definitely hadn''t killed civilians... if they had, that information would have spread like wildfire. They would be more likely to capture criminals or use servants as sacrifices.

    That didn''t leave me with much time, a few minutes at most. I could only hope that nothing went wrong. My musings continued, and before I knew it, I stood at the back entrance to Crook''s shop. A few wagons were prepared, three with most of his inventory piled atop them and another full ofrge wooden barrels. The merchant fiddled with a length of rope, looping it to create a winch before tossing it over the top of his goods.

    "Look like you can use a hand there," I grabbed the looped end of the rope and ran it through a metal hook before tossing it back over.

    "Oh! Rowan. Much obliged," he pulled the rope taught and secured it somewhere along the bottom of the carriage. "Ungh. That ought to do it. Now, what are you doing here, boy? Shouldn''t you be up at the Academy with the other urchins?"

    "Shouldn''t an old blighter like you be down in the sewers with the rest of the rats?" I retorted. Our rtionship may have developed a fair bit over thest few days, but the man was still a sleaze. I came to know that he''d happily fleece a man out of his Essence, but the shadier business he''d been involved in actually had been because of the hand behind him... or rather, the finger.

    Crook released a sigh and reached into his pocket, sliding out a small, purple vial so that it was barely visible, "When I said I''d handle it, I meant it. You just y your part in this, so I don''t have to worry about some thug slitting my throat while I sleep."

    "You''re a right good chap, William," I chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. "Don''t let anyone tell you otherwise."

    "I told you not to call me that," Crook grumbled, only causing me tough again. Sifting through the boxes in his back room, I''de across a packagebelled William Crook. Apparently, the merchant didn''t like it because it was his father''s name. I''m sure there was a story behind that, but we never got into it.

    "Well, that''s enough of that," I dropped my voice and leaned forward on my cane. "Have you gotten in touch with that little birdie of yours?"

    "The seed has been delivered," the merchant responded casually. "You have my address. Find me in a few days. The songbird should have tweeted by then."

    I smiled and tilted my head in a slight bow, "Much obliged, Sir William."

    "If you call me that again, I''ll knock you so hard with that cane that you''ll need it just to limp to the Second Floor! Now, get on before I change my mind. And you better not break your word."

    "I wouldn''t dare," I assured the man and turned to leave, ncing at my timepiece as I did so. Less than an hour remained before the ceremony, and graduates were to assemble with their ss ahead of time. "I''ll be seeing you, Crook."

    Well, that was that. My futurey in the hands of a sleazy merchant. For some reason, I wasn''t feeling the trepidation I should have. The man genuinely just wanted to get ahead in life, and I''d offered him a deal he couldn''t refuse. He would get a plot on the outer edge of my estate in the city of Grandhardt, and I would gain ess to his Merchant License and connections, plus receive thirty per cent of all future sales.

    After we''de to an ord, he filled me in on just how many connections he''d been able to make over the years. I was thoroughly impressed and really hadn''t expected the lowborn merchant to be so well acquainted. Through a series of both fortunate and unfortunate events, Crook had formed bonds with a few lowly members of the Scot''s informationwork and even weaselled his way in with a group of traders working directly for one of the Society''s Hands.

    For his first assignment, and to prove that he was telling the truth, I asked him to gather information on the dimirs, particrly their progeny Kasimira. I was more than a little disturbed that I''d managed to somehow attract her attention... but something was off about her attitude.

    Though she was obviously batshit crazy, the girl in the valley didn''t strike me as the one who''d murdered and drained over four dozen miners on one of the upper Floors. That had been big news, and it was the first time the Guilds had actually been given permission to ce a core member of one of the Families on their bounty boards.

    My cane tapped the ground, and I enjoyed the view while strolling back to the Academy. This would be myst time seeing the First Floor during the day, and I wanted to make sure to remember every detail. When I reached the gate at the top of the hill, I turned and looked over the city. The farnd, the Old Boar Forest, the Howling Hills, and the great mountain are in the distance.

    "Everyone, gather up!"

    It was from some distance away, but I could hear Cecelia''s voice from across the campus. More shouts followed her own, each of the professors from the ten senior sses gathering their pupils. With onest nce at the terrain, I turned and strode casually toward the amplified group of voices.

    A small line was already formed in front of each of the professors by the time I arrived, with students still trickling in, some worriedly adjusting their clothes and others grinning excitedly.

    While the ten senior sses were gathering, the other groups of students were rushing to the courtyard. Hundreds of chairs had been set up for the asion, where the top students would be called, and all of the graduating ss would receive their rewards and have the Academy Seal permanently stamped on their registration cards.

    I joined in at the back of the group and waited for the rest of my peers to arrive. It seemed my prior disturbance was forgotten, and things were back to normal with no one paying me any mind. I much preferred it this way and really should watch myself... but messing with the youngsters was just so damned fun.

    A tingling sensation ran up the back of my neck. I tensed and moved my thumb over the sword release while scanning for the source of my distress. My mind eased when I found the culprit.

    Nathaniel was watching me from a few groups over. He nodded when we locked eyes, and I returned the gesture before we both turned back to our respective sses.

    He was another enigma. I could understand him questioning my origins after our encounter in the Howling Hills, but I couldn''t fathom why the young man had stepped in at the cave. It wasn''t appropriate in our current situation, but I felt I should thank thed somehow.

    An announcement came from the courtyard, a thundering male voice that echoed across the Academy grounds. This was the headmaster, who I''d only seen twice in my previous life. The first time was when he weed all of the new students the year I arrived, and the second was at this very ceremony.

    "Today, we celebrate a new end and a new beginning. Not only is today the turn of the century, but the day that your fellow brothers and sisters ascend beyond the realm of mortals..." the man paused for dramatic effect.

    "Whether you have chosen to follow the path of Damnation, the way of Liberation, or you are determined to chart your own course, know this; The Academy will always support you. One of our branches is avable on every Fifth Floor, and as long as you carry our seal, you will be wee. Now, let us be witness to the glory of the Academy!"

    Miss Warren was the first to move, followed closely by Aurora and Zachary, and then the rest of the ss, which trailed behind in no particr order. We filed into the courtyard and took our seats in the first row. Once we were settled, the next group followed, the next, and then the next... this... was... without a doubt... the ndest activity I''d taken part in since my return.

    It took nearly half an hour for all two hundred thirty students to file in, take their seats, and for the professors to make their way up to the provisional stage. When everyone was seated, the headmaster said a few words congratting each of the teachers on a job well done, as not a single student had failed in this entire graduating ss.

    Which wasn''t right.

    What the bloody hell was this? When I graduated, only around one hundred ny of us walked across the stage... yet now not a single person failed the final?

    "Today, I have to say goodbye to the young men and women who I''ve watched grow over thest ten years," she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and continued, "Whatever path you choose, I hope that it''s full of wonder andcks regrets. May you live a life that''s full... and thank you. Thank you for all of the wonderful years you''ve given me."

    She took a moment to gather herself before opening arge book on the podium while two other professors walked to the edge of the stage, where a nketed table had been set. One held a small box while the other stood calmly to the side.

    "Headmaster Be has given me the honour of calling out the names for the top ten scores from this year''s exams," Cecilia smiled proudly. "This year, we graded our exams differently and decided to delve deeper into the solutions that each student presented. Theprehension exam score will then be added to the practical score to determine your overall rank. Theprehension exam was graded on an eight-hundred-point scale, while the practical was graded on a two-hundred-point scale.

    This... was also different. Not overly so, but it was certainly not the same as I remembered. Something was off. Were all of these changes my doing?

    "In tenth ce, we have..." I listened half-heartedly while pondering the differences. My ears twitched when I heard that Nathaniel had been called up for seventh ce, and I pped along with the rest of the crowd before returning to my brooding. Only one other person from my ss had been called, and that was one of Galen''s friends who''d reached tenth ce.

    "And in fourth ce, with the only perfect score in ourprehension exam and a practical score of one hundred thirty-two, it is my honour to call on another of my students, Rowan Wilder!"

    I stood from my seat and walked calmly toward the stage. Miss Warren beamed down at me from her ce behind the podium while I climbed the stairs, my cane tapping lightly on the wooden floor. Nathaniel looked at me from his ce on the stage, a small but inquisitive smile ying on his visage.

    "Rowan, congrattions!" Cecelia stepped forward and hugged me tightly, her warm breath tickling my cheek as she whispered, "I was so worried about you. Thank you for not letting me down."

    She backed away and gestured for me to step to the table to im my prize. I pulled my registration card out from beneath my cor and passed it to the first of the professors, who used an oddly-shaped ck and purple stamp to mark the new seal. When he was done, the other professor stepped forward and handed me a Card, which I tucked firmly into my breast pocket to examer.

    "Thank you, gentleman," I gave each of the men a slight bow before stepping up to Cecelia and taking her hand. "And thank you, Miss Warren, for everything you''ve done for us over the years."

    I bowed and ced my lips upon her hand before taking my ce among the other members of the top ten. A low chortle came from somewhere behind me. It seemed the headmaster found my performance amusing... that, or the flustered look on Cecelia''s face. Priceless.

    "And- Ahem... In third ce, we have Arthur White. Please step up, Arthur," Cecelia turned the page and gave it a quick read. "Arthur managed to rank second in the practical exams,ing just behind Nathaniel, who had a perfect score. Additionally, Arthur performed exceptionally well on hisprehension exam, earning a total of nine hundred fifty-nine points!"

    The unassuming young man received his rewards and took his ce next to mine. In the front row, I saw Aurora gripping tightly to the edge of her seat. The way things were going, I couldn''t say for sure that she woulde in first ce.

    "In second ce we have... Zachary Gray!" Cecelia cried out, "Zachary also scored near-perfect in the practical exam, earning one hundred ny-two points, while in theprehension exam, he gained seven hundred sixty-eight points!"

    From my position on the stage, I could see Zachary''s eyebrow twitch, but otherwise, he didn''t react to the loss. Or that''s what I thought. When he took his position next to Arthur, I could see his knuckles turning white from how hard he clenched his fists.

    "Next, we have our top scorer of this year''s exam. Aurora Price, please step forward!" The man who''d been handing out rewards walked over and ced a shimmering Card in Cecelia''s hands.

    "Aurora scored near-perfect marks in theprehension exam, falling short by a mere two points! She scored one hundred sixty-eight points in the practical, putting her ahead of Zachary by only six points!"

    Aurora smiled brightly as she stepped onto the stage, her customary indifference gone and a look of pure bliss on her face. I couldn''t help but smile, happy for her. Another ck-haired woman and a speckled-grey-haired man cheered loudly, and I noted them as Aurora''s parents.

    Her resemnce to her mom was uncanny. The man, though... I just couldn''t see him being Aurora''s father. Not that I really understood gics, but from this distance, I couldn''t see any simrity.

    "Congrattions, Aurora. You''ve worked hard throughout the years, and you deserve this. Keep it well," Cecelia handed Aurora the Sacred Card and personally stamped her registration. Aurora stood in her spot next to Zachary, and we all took a bow before returning to our seats.

    The hours dragged on as the ceremony continued, the rest of the students getting called in order from highest to lowest and given a chance to select their Blessed Card from the selection on the table. In all, the graduation took approximately four hours, and the sun was beginning to fade by the time we were dismissed.

    While the parents who hadn''t ascended beyond the First Floor met with their children for a dinner the Academy was hosting, I slipped through the gates unnoticed. Seeing the young men and women with their families brought back a bit of nostalgia and reminded me of something else.

    "In all the excitement, I forgot that my birthday was today," I chuckled, looking over my registration card and the newly upgraded seal. "I should go visit mom and pop tomorrow. Eighteen years old... They''d like to know their little boy made it to adulthood safely, right?"

 Chapter 20 Promotion

    I turned a corner and jogged down another back alley, stepping from one shadow to the next while avoiding the scattered bottles and mugs from the day''s festivities. It was already nearing midnight, and the city was still going strong.

    Massive fires controlled by Spells were lit by the Churches at every major intersection, where Deacons from the Church of Liberation and Acolytes from the Church of Damnation were praising the Tower or the goddess, Lady Tara. Bright explosions came from the farmers'' fields where the Guilds were still celebrating.

    As I prowled the back streets, the noise of the crowds and the shadows cast by the enormous walls of me concealed my movements. My pack was crammed with everything I felt I might need for the rest of the week, weighing me down as I scurried about.

    It would be at least ten days before the Academy had the rest of my belongings shipped to the Origin Floor, and I couldn''t be without the essentials. My cane was tucked neatly beneath my arm rather than tapping noisily against the ground as was customary.

    I sprinted a few streets over and finally slowed in the snicket behind an old, worn-out inn. Peeking around the corner, I could see two cloaked figures shoving each other andughing while a thirdy slumped against the wall.

    The inn was a three-story structure. Each of its windows was boarded shut, and the area around the dwelling smelled of sweat, urine, and cheap booze. Amotion could be heard from inside the ce... cups clinking, men cheering, and women moaning in a blend of pleasure and pain.

    With soft steps, I crept back to a nearby alleyway and crouched in the shadows, thinking over the supposedyout of the building while keeping an eye on my timepiece. Another explosion roared in the distance, and when it died down, I heard footsteps rapidly approaching.

    My body tensed, and I reached for one of the throwing knives hidden under my cloak, but I quickly settled down when I saw the short and chubby neer. I released my grip on the knife and stood, stepping out of the shadows and noting the time.

    [01:10:04]

    "Someone''s a bit tardy." I slipped the pack from my shoulders and stretched my limbs. "Did something happen?"

    The figure reached for his hood and removed it, revealing a pale-faced Crook heaving beneath. It took him a moment to collect himself before speaking, "It''s done. The back entrance is propped open, so you can move when ready. The drug was already taking root before I sneaked out."

    The drug wasn''t poison but a weak tranquilizer made from the sap of a specific tree found on one of the upper Floors. It was sweet and often mixed with liquor to help those with frequent nightmares sleep at night, and in higher doses, it would cause both the body and mind to be sluggish. It was unlikely to be noticed in a ss of already sweetened ale.

    "You''ve kept your word. I''ll keep mine." I patted the merchant on the shoulder as he reached for my bag. "Meet me at the station in Grandhardt tomorrow around noon. Are... you sure you''ll be able to handle that?"

    Crook looked at me with an annoyed grimace and slung the massive pack over his shoulder like it weighed nothing. "Lad, you''re good, and I''ll admit you got the drop on me leaping over my counter like you did. Don''t let that get to your head. Even a lowly merchant such as myself must be strong enough to haul and protect my wares."

    I cocked my head to the side and observed the man in the bright light of another explosion before nodding in agreement. Those cartsden with his goods hadn''t been built for horses to pull but for a man. He had to have a Strength Foundation of at least Level 3. One solid hit from him would have sent me sprawling.

    "Indeed, I have been rather pretentious," I admitted. Though he wasn''t aware of my decades of experience, it was correct that I wasn''t omniscient. If Crook''s Deck had been packed and built for anything other than managing a shop, he could''ve avoided my coercion. "Many thanks. Fortunately, I''ve spent thest few nights gathering information on the Skull. I''m not going in blind."

    "Just be careful in there, kid." Crook gripped my arm and turned to leave, still talking over his shoulder. "My employer won''t be happy, and I need you alive to keep your word. The Society''s Fingers are spread wide."

    "Oh, one second." I reached into my bag and pulled out a vial of Infernal Wash, shing it to Crook with a grin before tucking it securely in my pocket, "The value of exemry hygiene is beyond estimation."

    "You are one strange individual." Crook shook his head and walked away, "I''ll be seeing you."

    I nodded in gratitude and swiftly returned to the overgrown snicket, armed with only my cane, half a dozen throwing knives, and the Skull cloak I''d procured from Stone. Without the pack weighing me down, I felt like an entirely different person.

    ncing around the corner of the boarded-up inn, I found the three cloaked men were gone, meaning they''d likely returned with the arrival of a new batch of booze. That was good. I was nning for a full house.

    When I was sure the coast was clear, I walked into the alley, opened the service door, and walked in after removing the handkerchief that had been keeping it open. Crook had briefed me on the building''syout, but seeing it myself... I had to admit that I was impressed.

    While the outside of the building resembled a run-down inn, the inside was immacte. The side entrance led me into a well-lit kitchen with elegantly carved cabs and all the essential appliances. Unfortunately, I didn''t have time to admire the ce... I wasn''t alone.

    A man stood directly in my path with his pants around his ankles. In front of him, a middle-aged womany half-dressed on the floor. Multiple cutsyered her uncovered thighs, and blood poured from her mouth, but she still looked up at the man in defiance.

    *Click*

    Before I knew it, my de had severed the man''s spine and torn through his neck, sttering blood across the woman and floor in front of him. I withdrew my sword, and the mercenary fell to the ground, the hole in his throat spraying blood as thest of his breath escaped his lungs.

    The woman gasped and looked at the body before turning to give me the same look of contempt as she had the mercenary. She tried to stand but fell, and I noticed multiple bruises on her legs.

    "I''m not with them, Miss." I nodded to the corpse and knelt down slowly, gesturing to her wounds. "May I?"

    She red at me but didn''t resist when I pressed my hand gently against her ankle. I felt a mental tug as I cast Heal, and a dull glow enveloped my hand. The shallow wounds on the woman''s body began to close at a visible rate, and even the bruising started to recede.

    She gasped, "Are... are you from the Church?"

    "No, madam. I''m sorry, but I won''t be able to escort you, so I hope you''ll be fine on your own. You don''t seem to be distressed..."

    "It''s just part of the job." the woman winced as she stood but didn''t fall back this time and even managed to pull on her breeches, albeit clumsily. "Unfortunately, there''s always one or two whose tastes are a bit... crude."

    "So, no qualms if the rest end up like that?" I pointed to the still-bleeding corpse with my de.

    She shook her head and limped toward the door, "Be my guest, just don''t hurt my girls. We were only paid to entertain."

    With that, she was gone, the light from another explosion casting her shadow as the door shut behind her. For a group of dollymops like her to be here on the First Floor... I thought of the man behind Crook. He must still be trying to recruit the Skull.

    No matter. I slipped the vial of Infernal Wash from my pocket, using a few drops to clean the blood from my sword and cloak. It wouldn''t do to be noticed the moment I stepped in. Before leaving, I pulled the mercenary''s Deck Box and tossed it in an empty sack I had tied to my waist next to my Essence pouch. With that, I nced at my timepiece.

    [01:01:16]

    Not a moment too soon. I wrapped the cloak around myself, stepped out of the kitchen, and walked quickly down the hall to the open double doors at the end. Empty mugs and ss jars littered the entryway, and riotousughter could be heard from the room.

    Smells of vomit and alcohol assaulted my senses as I took in the scene. It was disgusting. In my previous life, I''d avoided alcohol like the gue. Others took the health of their body for granted. I hadn''t been afforded that opportunity then, and I certainly wouldn''t squander the chance I''d been given by abusing my body now.

    Therge room looked to be a renovated dining hall. Mercenaries and women alike were scattered about the ce, dancing and hollering. The loudest was an obese man who sat at arge table opposite the entrance.

    His hands, wrists, and neck were covered in cheap jewelry, and his bare chest flopped about with every one of his obnoxiousughs. Four of the most beautiful women in the room were standing around him, feigningughter and serving him fruits and ale. My first target. The head Skull.

    I made my way calmly toward his table, trying not to draw the attention of the other mercenaries. ncing around the room, I didn''t think that would be an issue. Most of the men and women were stumbling into one another. A few others were slouched against the wallsughing and pointing at their strugglingpanions. Whatever dosage Crook had given them, it was effective.

    The head Skull was slightly better off, but not by much. He continued spewing slurred profanities andughing as I approached, never once looking up. My eyes wandered across his skin, looking for the best point to strike.

    The jewelry on his neck isyered heavily enough that I can''t guarantee a clean hit... Eyes, maybe? No... Time? Two seconds. I should- Shit.

    Someone grabbed my shoulder from behind, "Oooi! Wheere''sss yoour driink, frie- Ooooof!"

    <novelnext>  </novelnext>

    I jammed the head of my cane into the man''s gut, sending him sprawling. Before I heard him hit the ground, I''d already Dashed forward, clearing the way between myself and the boss in a wink. The giant man tried to move, to shout, but it was toote. My sword had already passed, leaving the glowing crimson trail of Rend in its wake.

    In the silence that followed, a wet, squelching sound was heard... and all hell broke loose as a gigantic tear opened in the man''s massive stomach. His guts and innards sloshed and spilled to the ground in a pool of blood.

    [59:59]

    Before the first person could scream, I''d turned and used the remainder of Dash to appear before the sprawling man from moments before. Despite his protests, I jammed the tip of my de into the base of his skull.

    "Well,ds." I nced around the room and smiled, "Don''t stop the party on ount of me!"

    Apparently, a few in the bunch still weren''t wholly blootered because four of the men charged at once. I pulled my sword free and observed their clumsy movements.

    "Lesssa k-kill thiss bootlicker!"

    My brows pulled together at the insult, "Lad, you shouldn''t speak about your elders in such a manner."

    My wrist flicked. There was a sh and, shortly after, a scream. The man who''d spoken found a short de sticking through his cheek, but I didn''t have time to admire my handiwork. The other three were on me.

    I kicked away the first of the drunkards whileshing out at the second with my de. A jagged wound appeared on the man''s shoulder, and his arm went limp. Rather than retaliating, he screamed in agony and dropped to the floor.

    The third mercenary never made it. In his drugged state, he tripped over his own feet before reaching me and was struggling to stand while vomiting the contents of his stomach. I took pity on the man and ended his misery with a Pierce to the neck.

    I almost felt sorry for the men... almost.

    Two shadows appeared behind me, and I dodged to the side as a chair mmed down on the floor. Another sh, and my assant fell to the ground with a thud, my de protruding from his chest. His partner was armed and drunkenly swung his sword back and forth at me.

    I was without my weapon, but rather than backing off, I waited for the next half-hearted swing and jumped forward, mming into the stumbling man with my shoulder. He lost his grip as we tumbled to the ground, and his sword ttered to the floor behind us. As we hit the floor, there was a shattering of ss, and I felt a numbing cold from my side.

    That was my only...

    "You absolute bungler!" I raised my fists and pummeled the man''s face. One hit after anothernded, not stopping until I felt a sharp pain from my side. Someone had thrown a bottle, "Thanks for the help!"

    While still pinning the man down, I raised my hand and reached for the bottle. It vibrated and shot toward my hand. I''d barely caught it before my hand swung down and the bottle smashed into the already unrecognizable man''s head, ending his life.

    The first mercenary I''d kicked was climbing to his feet. I used Throw again, slinging the bottle as hard as I could toward his skull. In an instant, he was back on the ground, this time unconscious.

    Concentrating on Perception to help sharpen my senses, I swiftly took in the happenings of the room. The rest of the Skull were in rough shape. Some were stumbling toward the door while others clumsily made their way toward the fight. It seemed these men were the only few able to put up a fight.

    The cooldown on Dash was over. My feet pressed into the wood floor, and Iunched forward, catching the group trying to escape and quickly ending their lives. Only three were left, and they''d lost the will to fight.

    They fell to their knees and didn''t bother to struggle as I ended their lives. Since they''d given up, I ended their lives in the most painless ways I knew. When thest man fell, there was a sh of light and a clink of metal as an object ttered to the floor before me.

    That was different. There hadn''t been any of the usual fanfare or the thirty-second wait... I picked up the Card and looked over it. I''d never seen anything like it.

    It was just a silver Card with a VIII stamped to the front in golden lettering. The back was in with none of the usual colors that would indicate whether it was a Spell or Ability or any other Card ss for that matter.

    Curious, I reached into my front pocket and pulled out a soaking-wet piece of Demon ss. When I''d tackled that one mercenary to the ground, my vial of Infernal Wash had busted open, resulting in me having spotless breeches but a bloodied face and jacket. With a sigh, I touched the ss to the corner of the Card and waited.

    [Card Name: Promotion]

    [ss: Relic]

    [Uses: 8]

    [Effect: Wielder can use this Relic to increase the Rank of any Pure or Blessed Card. This Relic has a limited number of uses that can not be recharged]

    I stared at the object in awe... a Relic... that could promote a Card to the next ss? Was that even possible? My body shook with excitement, but I didn''t have time to focus on this now. I ced the Relic safely in my satchel and nced at my timepiece.

    [55:35]

    All that had taken just under five minutes. Even if it seemed fast, I didn''t have much time. For this century''s Achievements to matter, I had to ascend before the century was over. Still, I''d nned to finish here in around nine minutes, which left me a bit more than four to loot.

    I set to work immediately, securing the Deck Boxes of the fallen before making my way to the corpse of the head Skull. All the women had left, but when I arrived at the table, I found a surprise waiting for me.

    "There you are..." I smiled and looked behind the bench, where a drunken mercenary was fussing with the belt that held his former captain''s Deck Box. There were supposed to be fourteen mercenaries other than the head Skull himself, and I''d killed the boss and the one in the kitchen before thest hour.

    "D-Don''t kill me!" he cowered back and pressed himself against the wall. I stared at the man for a moment and nced at my wrist. There was time.

    "Let''s make a deal." I snatched the Deck Box from the corpse and gestured to the drunkard. "You tell me where this guy keeps the good stuff, and I won''t take your Deck before I leave."

    The man gulped and clutched at the wooden box on his waist, "H-Heee... It... I-In here."

    He pointed toward a small door that I hadn''t noticed before. It was hidden under the bench where the boss had been sitting. I nodded and used Pierce, ending the man''s life before opening the trap door. As promised, I didn''t take his Deck Box.

    It took some effort to shove the obese man off the bench. Once he was out of the way, I focused on the door. With a grunt, I pulled it open and peered inside. Rather than a batch of loose Essence and Cards like I''d been expecting, there was a leatherbound book and a rusted metal crate.

    I strained to pull the safe from the hole where I could look it over. With a thud, it hit the ground, and in the light, I could see the tiny keyhole on top. Peeking into the cubby, I didn''t see a key, so I ran over and felt around the head Skull''s corpse. As luck would have it, I found a tiny ck key hanging from one of the bracelets on his wrist.

    "There''s no time to sort through it..." I sighed and untied my Essence pouch before pulling a Card from my Deck, Strength. As fast as I could, I fed the Card two hundred of the Level 5 shards. When the Strength Foundation hit Level 2, I felt a surge of power flood my body.

    My muscles tensed, and I gritted my teeth as every muscle in my body cramped at once. The rush overtook the pain, and soon enough, the difort was reced with a soothing warmth. I breathed out slowly and returned the Card to its slot.

    The Foundations that directly affected the body weren''t as simple to Level as Agility or Perception, where the changes were much more subtle. At least for the first few Levels.

    With the boost to my Strength increased from ten to fifty percent, I tried to lift the safe. This time, it was within my limits. I gathered my thrown weapons and my sheath before lifting the safe onto my shoulder and returning to the shadows of the alley.

    Eventually, I made my way out of the slums and back to the main road, where I saw the Academy looming on the hill above. Only one guard was stationed at the gate, and hey on the ground snoring with an empty bottle on his chest. A gift from Crook.

    I smiled and strode confidently through the open gate. It was finally time to leave this ce. I was ready to clear the First Floor.

    [28:59]

 Chapter 21 Origin

    With an hour left until the century''s end, the most spectacr disy of Spells were fired off in the farmer''s fields. The night turned to day, and even the great mountain to the north of the city had the chance to bask in its glow.

    The magnificent courtyard of the Academy was not exempt from this luminous exposition. Its grass was bathed in a whirlwind of hues while the fountain in the centre shimmered with multicoloured lights. A few people gathered around the fountain,ining about their circumstances.

    Beyond this fountain, set within the inner courtyard of the Academy, was a set of double doors which usually stood wide open, weing those who wished to enter... Tonight, however, they were shut tight. A scarcely visible light shimmered in the corridor beyond, where another set of doors was propped open.

    Two guardsy incapacitated to either side of this entrance while a cloaked figure strolled purposefully through. The figure stepped into an ornate marble chamber where two men and ten rtively young individuals waited patiently for his return.

    He pointed his thumb back to the entrance and gestured for the two men to leave. Through his beaked mask, the strange man returned the gazes of the few youths who seemed to have a problem with his choice of action.

    "Grand Elder Wales has stated that he wishes for any potential witnesses to be dealt with." the figure spoke in a raspy voice and cackled, giving the impression of an old, entric man. "If you wish to challenge his decisions, you may do so on your own time. You are wee to see how far that will take you."

    With his statement made, the eerie figure waved his arms, gesturing to ten of the two-dozen doors spaced evenly along the curved walls. An ominous aura spilt into the room as he gave hismand.

    "From left to right, enter the rooms ording to your family''s standing. Do not begin until I am present. Young master Wales, if you please." the masked man bowed slightly and proceeded to the first room behind Kanan Wales.

    The ever-serious ck-haired youth strode forward without a pause and opened the door, where a dozen cowering faces could be seen briefly before the masked representative mmed it shut. One by one, the other Descendants disbanded and walked into their designated rooms.

    ...

    The first two doors opened almost simultaneously just minutes after the group dispersed. Kanan stepped out without breaking stride, gently wiping his cheek with a kerchief before stuffing it back in his breast pocket while Emilia stared curiously at the object in her hand. Her eyes shifted to the young Wales Descendant when she heard his steps.

    "Oh, just leaving?" she asked curiously, ncing up at the youth halfway to the set of glowing metal stairs in the centre of the room. "Wait, Kanan! I apologize for being forward, but does yours say ten?"

    Without stopping, Kanan gave an almost imperceptible nod and vanished behind the purple barrier of the stairs. She frowned and nced at her own Card. It was pure silver on both faces with only a golden IX engraved on the front. Through the lens of her sses, she could clearly see the description of the object.

    [Card Name: Promotion]

    [ss: Relic]

    [Uses: 9]

    [Effect: Wielder can use this Relic to increase the Rank of any Pure or Blessed Card. This Relic has a limited number of uses that can not be recharged]

    "He could have at least let me look at it. How else am I supposed to discover new Relics?" she grumbled and ced the Relic in a pouch on her hip. "That boy has always been in such a hurry."

    Roughly three minutester, the third door opened, and another young man emerged. Seth Manchester. He was a handsome, brown-haired youth and one of the two youngest of the Descendants participating in the night''s events. Blood dripped from the towel with which he used to clean an oddly shaped de.

    "Oh, Miss Emilia!" the youth tossed the bloodied towel back into the room and grinned. "Stunning as always. Were you perhaps... waiting for me?"

    Many other girls had fallen prey to the youth''s charms, but Emilia just rolled her eyes, not even bothering to observe proper etiquette with the well-known phnderer. She knew shecked the allure of most women and was too devoted to her trade to waste time with men.

    "Save the ttery for the women in the brothel," she retorted, "More importantly, I want to know about your Relic. Did you receive number eight?"

    "Eight?" Seth cocked his head to the side and looked at the metal card in his hand, "No. My reward was seven."

    "Strange. I received nine, and I''m pretty sure Kanan received ten..." Emilia muttered and stroked her chin, "Does this mean that someone stole your turn?"

    Seth''s face turned red as he looked at his Relic again. At the same time, the fourth door opened, and a sleepy-faced man strolled out. He held an obscenely wide lute with a multitude of strings, and other than his light green hair and the quirky instrument, Alec Scot was rather nd.

    "Alec, youzy bye-blow!" Seth stepped threateningly stepped toward the man, both fists clenched. "Did you happen to kill your prisoners too early, you diddling piece of-"

    "Seth!" Emilia scolded the young Manchester, "Watch yournguage!"

    "Huh?" Alec''s eyeszily turned to the still-smouldering Seth as if he''d just noticed the youth. After staring for a good ten seconds, the fog in his eyes vanished, and he gained a moment of rity, "Seth... Early..? Oh, I see. No, you dunce. Do you believe I would dare do such a thing with a representative of the Wales family attending this event? I didn''t dare act until I was informed of yourpletion."

    "Then show us your Relic!" Seth demanded.

    Alec sighed and rolled his eyes, pulling the metal object from a space behind his lute, "Miss Emilia, I don''t trust this duffer. Would you be a dear and read it out loud?"

    "Of course!" Emilia rushed forward excitedly and took the Relic in her hands. As expected, it was a simple silver te with an ornate VI etched into the surface. She read the text aloud.

    [Card Name: Promotion]

    [ss: Relic]

    [Uses: 6]

    [Effect: Wielder can use this Relic to increase the Rank of any Pure or Blessed Card. This Relic has a limited number of uses that can not be recharged]

    "Then who stole my bloody reward?!" Seth raged and stormed off toward the stairs, ignoring the others. There was no chance it had been another of the top ten. No family outside the top four would dare face the wrath of those in the upper stations. "I''ll be waiting on the Second Floor! Don''t forget we were supposed to meet at the O'' Connel''s Inn after this. I''ll buy drinks if anyone can tell me where my damned Relic is."

    Emilia frowned, "There has to be some usible exnation. Maybe some scamp was listening in? No. There''s no way Grand Elder Grandhardt would have missed that. What do you think, Alec?"

    She looked up at the man, but his eyes had fogged over, and he began shuffling slowly after Seth mumbling something about Inns. With a sigh, she turned and followed the man up the stairs, her interest in the purple patterns on the walls quickly overtaking her curiosity about the missing Relic.

    ...

    "Haaahh...." I huffed another breath and stepped into the outer courtyard. My significant burden grew heavy, and I almost wished I''d Leveled Stamina while I had the chance.

    A few passersby stopped dead in their tracks, staring, ncing between me and the prone figure of the unconscious guard lying against the gate. Before I could say a word, one of the young women screamed.

    Bollocks. Squeakers actin'' like they''ve not seen a bit of blood before.

    I hadn''t had the time to freshen up. Even now, I had less than half an hour to ascend. If I didn''t hurry it up, all this would''ve been for nothing. I''d managed to force it out of my mind, but now that these kids reminded me, I could feel the clotted blood clinging like worms to my skin. I shuddered.

    With quick strides, I jogged passed the stunned group, controlling my breathing and adjusting the rusty casket on my shoulder. I wondered why students were still wandering the grounds. The events for youngsters ended over an hour ago, and most should have descended the stairs and returned to their homes. There were even a few students from my year, most of whom should have already ascended.

    With my free hand, I pulled the hood of the Skull brother''s cloak tighter around my head. It wouldn''t do to be recognized in this state. This was supposed to be as straightforward as slipping up the stairs while the grounds were mostly vacant.

    I travelled the cobbled walkway until I reached the entrance to the inner courtyard. My breath quickened, and with it, so did my steps. The stairs were just beyond the shrubbery, through the double doors, and down a stretch of hallway.

    This time... I took a deep breath to calm myself. This time, things would be different.

    When I reached the courtyard, my excitement turned to confusion. A crowd was gathered in front of the double doors leading to the stairs. They were closed.

    That''s not right... The stairs are supposed to be essible to anyone at any time aside from the night of the final exam... Could it be..?

    The stairs were close... as was my new life. At this point, the consequences didn''t matter, and I didn''t care who was barring entry. I needed to reach the stairs.

    "Hoooooooooooo!!"

    My voice exploded around the courtyard, and many people jumped for cover while a few drew their weapons. The packed crowd began to spread, and I found my opening.

    Sprinting forward, I leapt, pivoted through the frenzied throng of people, and swiftly reached the double doors. Without hesitation, I busted open the recently repaired pane of ss and grabbed the handle from the inside, throwing the doors open and resuming my race into the corridor.

    Two guards stood at the next entrance, their weapons already unsheathed when I tore into the hall. They weren''t wearing the colours of the Academy uniform, but I didn''t have time to consider their loyalties.

    The men ran forward, swinging their swords with rehearsed motions at my neck and shins. At thest second, I threw the strongbox behind the men and leapt over the entanglement, using Dash and pivoting so that my feet hit the ceiling. With a mighty push, Inded behind the guards and scooped up the safe before resuming my run.

    The stairs were in sight, and so was... Nathaniel? He looked up from the shining silver object in his hand and opened his eyes wide in surprise. My hood had fallen when I Dashed over the guards, and I knew he recognized me from his reaction.

    "Sir! Stop the intruder!" one of the guards shouted from behind.

    Nathaniel held up a hand, "Leave him be and go back to the entrance. It seems you have a crowd pushing through."

    "But the Elder said-"

    "Now you will do as I say," Nathaniel''s gaze turned cold, and he growled at the guard. "Bar those doors before the whole of the First Floor rushes in."

    "Yes, Sir!"

    Nathaniel nodded toward me and jerked his head to the stairs, curiously eyeing the safe and the bloodied clothes. Using my free hand, I tilted the brim of an imaginary hat in return. He chuckled and fell into step beside me, looking at the blood on my cloak with an interested smile.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    As one, the two of us stepped through the shimmering purple barrier, and I lost sight of the young man. I grinned. It seemed I had another reason to thank him. With a shake of my head, I nced at my timepiece. I''d made it with time to spare.

    [22:09]

    ***

    An inky ck space greeted me as I stepped through the barrier. The safe was gone, my cane was gone... even my clothes were gone. I waited patiently in the darkness, and after a few moments, a path was lit.

    Sharp purple lines and circles spread out from where I was standing and shot forward into the nothingness, creating a path of glowing purple circuits leading ahead. I followed the trail for several minutes, admiring the bright amethyst-coloured patterns until they stopped at an open circle.

    Without hesitation, I stepped into the pulsating purple glow at the centermost point of the circle. It had been over fifty years since I''d been in between Floors, yet this was a sight I would never forget. Suddenly, my confidence wavered.

    I did so much... what if it wasn''t enough? No. I can''t think that way. When I started this, I knew there was a chance I''d fail, and there''s no turning back now... Whatever life has in store for me this time, I''ll face it head-on.

    As if in answer, the pulsating light beneath me stopped. The purple faded, and I clenched my fists as it shifted into a dull grey.

    It seems it isn''t meant to-

    My thoughts stopped as the grey brightened... and brightened some more... and it continued to do so until I was bathed in a harsh silver light. I blinked rapidly to adjust my eyes as a floating silver text appeared before me.

    My heart jumped. It was much longer and much brighter than the first time.

    ***

    [Name: Rowan Wilder]

    [Age: 18]

    [Achievements Cleared...]

    [Collect 100 Units of Lumber - Completed - Average]

    [Collect 100 Units of Wheat - Completed - Average]

    [Kill 10 Boars - Completed - Average]

    [Kill 10 Wolves -Completed - Average]

    [Kill 10 Bears - Completed - Average]

    [Kill 1000 Boars in 6 hours or less - Completed - wless]

    [Kill 500 Wolves in 6 hours or less - Completed - wless]

    [Kill 100 Bears in 6 hours or less - Completed - wless]

    [Meet the Ghost haunting the Academy and listen to what he has to say - Completed - Peerless]

    [Climb the highest point of the First Floor - Completed - wless]

    [Dive to the deepest point of the First Floor - Completed - wless]

    [Reach the darkest point of the First Floor - Completed - wless]

    [Kill a dozen people in thest hour of the century - Completed - Third Rank]

    [Calcting...]

    [Result: wless]

    When I finished reading, the text burst into a sh of silver light. The particles pooled together to form a silver Card in the air before me. On its face was a single man sittingfortably on a hill with tens of different creatures surrounding him. The Card''s description floated silently behind it.

    [Card Name: Summoner''s Blessing]

    [ss: Origin]

    [Rank: Origin]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1,000]

    [Description: The Wielder gains an increased affinity for Summoning]

    [Effect 1: Summons'' cooldowns are halved]

    [Effect 2: Summons'' durations are doubled]

    [Effect 3: Requirements to use Summons are reduced by 1 Level]

    [Effect 4: The Effects of Tame Creature are increased by 10%]

    I gasped and took the Card in my hand. The silver text exploded once more and converged into my brow. And then... the space was gone. The bright lights faded, and the silence was reced by horses neighing, boisterousughter, and all-around celebration.

    When I opened my eyes, I found myself standing on the pavilion at the centre of a small marketce. in, square-shaped two and three-story buildings surrounded the area, and drunken men and women still revelled in the feel of the night''s frenzied celebrations.

    Rather than the pleasant chambers of the Origin and First Floors, the stairs to the Second sat in the open air. Until the Tenth Floor, there would be no more registration checks or guards hovering about the premises.

    Nathaniel stood to the side, having alreadypleted his evaluation. He watched me with that same interested look as before, though he didn''t try to initiate an exchange. When my eyes met his, he gasped and stood straighter. I found this strange but didn''t ask.

    I was dressed again, the blood and filth from my previous ventures removed as if they had never existed. The strongbox sat in the mud beside my feet, along with my cane, and I swiftly scooped them up before someone beat me to it.

    It was all so nostalgic. I''d ventured out hastily in my previous life, looking for monsters to hunt and Essence to harvest. This time, however...

    I chuckled, turned around, and entered the stairwell.

    ...

    Nathaniel watched as Rowan turned and descended the stairs, not a care in the world for anything that was happening on the Second Floor. He was supposed to meet up with the other Descendants at the O'' Connel Inn... but wouldn''t that just be him giving in to the family''s wishes.

    Watching Rowan casually walk back down the stairs everyone so desperately wanted to climb, there was a tug in his mind. He looked in the direction the Inn was supposed to be... and then turned to follow Rowan down the stairs.

    The two vanished in a sh of light, neither noticing another pair of eyes watching them with interest.

    I showed my registration to the clerk as I left the domed chambers of the Origin Floor stairs. The clerk wrote something down and then nodded to the guards, who stepped aside for me to pass.

    The smile on my face widened as I left through the well-guarded gates. Everything was just as I remembered. A bustling bazaar surrounded by small but well-built shops. Beyond those, the shes of Spells exposed the pitched roofs and tall spires that rose into the sky.

    These buildings suited my tastes much more than the simple shops and residences on the First Floor. In the light, I could see the fog of the factories spilling out of chimneys in the distance. The ring sound of a train''s horn filled the square, drowning out even the explosions of the Spells.

    Intricately carved circuits filled the ground and sides of the buildings, leading to the many lights and speakers that filled the streets. Yet none of thatpared to the railway. The towering bridges upon which the trains ran cast pulsing purple light for hundreds of yards, lighting even the darkest spaces within their range.

    I fixed my hair, tightened my grip on my cane, secured the safe, and slipped my Origin Card safely into my pocket. Nathaniel appeared beside me. The noise drowned out his voice when he tried to speak, so he made a gesture indicating that he would follow.

    Thed certainly had my interest. As I stepped onto the pavedne, hundreds of Spells were tossed into the air, and the loudest cheer yet sted my senses. I nced at my timepiece.

    [99:365:23:29:59:59]

    Thest century had arrived.

 Chapter 22 Returning Home

    Being back on the Origin Floor, I felt ufortable toting around the heavy strongbox. Due to the inferior benefits avable on the First Floor, there were few Wielders with powerful Cards lurking about, excluding those from the Academy. Parading about on the First Floor wasn''t too risky, and aside from a few outliers, I shouldn''t face any significant threats until I reached the Tenth.

    On the Origin Floor, however... I wasn''t conceited enough to believe I could keep my spoils if someone coveted them. Forget my one century. There were Wielders here with multiple of those under their belt. Origin City was policed well enough by the Tower Administration, but their forces couldn''t be everywhere.

    Well... at least I have a deterrent. Once I''m on the train home, I''ll feel more at ease.

    I nced over at the still-silent Nathaniel, walking beside me with his hands behind his head, looking around. He still hadn''t spoken, so I figured it was time to strike up a conversation.

    What a strange young man. Hmm... What would I have liked to talk about at his age? Ascending? Adventure? Or I suppose I can simply ask why he''s tagging along.

    "That crate of yours looks kind of heavy." Nathaniel smiled, nced in my direction, and spoke over the crowd, beating me to the punch. "Where are you heading?"

    I chuckled lightly and ignored his first statement, nodding to one of the signs above the Station''s entrance, "I''ll be journeying to my manor in Grandhardt. There are a few matters with my estate I must attend to before heading to the Second Floor."

    "A manor in Grandhardt, huh?" Nathaniel looked at me appraisingly, "That exins the way you speak... mostly. I have some business myself in Syward, but I would like to have a chat when we aren''t in such a rush. If you aren''t too busy tomorrow evening, we could meet at Eden for a dish of tea."

    "Oh?" I grinned and thought of the small cafe my mother and I frequented before she passed. "Alright then,d. Let''s say three hours to dusk? The vour of their Eve''s Apple is absolutely divine."

    The two of us gabbed about our favourite vours of tea as we climbed the stairs to the central crossing. Nathaniel would have to wait another half hour after my departure for the railway that headed into Syward. Our conversation stopped abruptly as soon as we dismounted the stairwell.

    "Out of the way, you mots! Some of us have ces to be!"

    "Bloody hell, get on with it!"

    "Who you callin'' a mot, you old codger?!"

    No longer able to speak freely over the ngour of the Station, we pushed our way through the fussing crowd until we stood before therge booth in the centre. A middle-aged man stood behind a window, epting Essence and handing out tickets through a hole in the ss.

    "Next!"

    We stepped up to the ss, and the man behind the counter held out one hand without giving us a second nce. His other hand pointed casually toward a sign above his head. The Station''s bluster vanished, and I could only assume that the clerk held some sort of noise-cancelling Spell.

    "Where youds headed off to?"

    "Grandhardt, sir," I replied, reaching through the gap in the window and cing 15 Essence in his outstretched palm.

    The clerk fiddled with a device I couldn''t see before sliding a cardboard ticket across the counter and turning to Nathaniel, "Here ya are. And what about you?"

    "Syward, please. Round trip. And I''d like to pay in advance for a ticket to Grandhardt at noon tomorrow," Nathaniel passed over a singlerge shard of Essence, and the clerk''s eyes widened.

    "Sir! I don''t have change for this!"

    "Keep it," Nathaniel shrugged, and the man swiftly prepared his tickets and bowed slightly as he handed them over. The ngour of the Station resumed once we stepped out of the clerk''s range.

    "I''ll wait with you at tform 8," Nathaniel spoke over the noise while pointing at his ticket. "The train to Syward won''t arrive for another hour."

    We continued to talk about this and that, though I could tell the young man was holding something back. The conversation never once turned serious, and it seemed he was avoiding any topics that could develop into more personal questions.

    I did find out thed was well-versed in the workings of the railway and how Essence powered the contraptions. It seemed he was formerly acquainted with the curious young miss of the York family, who talked non-stop about the Relics her family developed.

    It seems strange that this technology is the same now as it will be in a century. I wonder if we''ve reached the limits of what Essence can do or if the Yorks were busy developing something else.

    "Rowan?"

    A soft voice disrupted my thoughts, and I noticed that the mour of the Station had once again vanished. Nathaniel was looking over my shoulder with an intrigued gleam in his eye, much the way I''d seen him stare at me.

    I turned back and found a familiar face just a few steps away. Aurora Price stood beside us, her breathing heavy as if she''d been running. Her once blue eyes were now a brilliant emerald green, though her ck hair and delicate features hadn''t changed.

    It''s subtle, but she looks... uneasy.

    One hand was clutching tightly to arge, brown suitcase. I could see the whites of her knuckles from how hard she gripped the handle. She scratched her elbow ufortably with her free hand, and her gaze darted between the faces of the crowd a few times before settling on mine. Her eyes widened briefly, but she caught herself and reverted to her usual visage... though she couldn''t hide the unease that was still there. Not from me.

    "Aurora," I smiled and shifted the strongbox on my shoulder to give a slight bow. "To what do I owe this pleasure? Oh, and pardon my rudeness. This is an acquaintance of mine, Nathaniel Syward. Nathaniel, this is my ssmate, Aurora Price."

    "How do you do, miss," Nathaniel gave a slight nod and resumed his usual stillness.

    Aurora''s nerves seemed to settle after Nathaniel''s introduction. She looked him over, and I didn''t miss her eyes lingering on his burly arms and chest. Her cheeks started to flush, and she quickly looked away after giving a half-hearted curtsy. I chuckled lightly and did my best to appear oblivious to what had transpired, gesturing to her suitcase.

    "Could we offer our assistance? It doesn''t seem you''re travelling light."

    "Hmm? Ahh... N-no. Thank you for offering," Aurora adjusted the handle slightly and stepped back, speaking softly. "I''m heading just there to tform 2. It isn''t that far."

    "I see," I smiled and motioned to my timepiece. "It was nice seeing you, but we really must be-"

    "Ah... Could you wait just a moment?" she reached out to stop us from leaving and took a deep breath. "I... I just wanted to apologize!"

    "Uh..." I was taken aback by the sudden apology. What reason could she possibly have to apologize? I nced at Nathaniel, who shrugged and gestured that he was leaving, obviously not interested in listening to the private matters of others. "What exactly are you sorry for,ss?"

    "I... I used to be jealous of you..." Aurora clenched her fists and looked at the floor. "You were this lucky fool who managed to get into the Academy on schrship even though you were so ordinary. My parents... they gave everything to get me in... and watching you squander your fortune as if you didn''t care..."

    She sighed deeply and shook her head, "I never thought that you actually deserved it. Not until the ceremony. So, I wanted to apologize for being wrong and congratte you on your perfect exam score. I don''t know why you''ve chosen toy low for so long, but I''m willing to admit that I was wrong."

    Her head was bowed low at this point, her eyes facing the floor. I reached out and patted her head gently, chuckling, "Don''t you worry about that, young miss. You had every right to feel the way you did. I''m not sure why you feel the need to apologize for what everyone likely thought, but I forgive you,ss."

    Aurora''s shoulders loosened, and she raised her head, though she still looked like she had something to say. I gestured for her to resume.

    "Why do you act like an old man?"

    I chortled and scratched at the back of my head, "Old habits die hard, I suppose."

    "I see," she squinted her eyes and shrugged. "Thank you for epting. I''ll be going now."

    I nodded, "I wish you safe travels on your journey."

    What a kind gesture. There was no need for her to do that... I hope she''ll be alright this time around.

    A nearby whistle sounded, signalling the arrival of car 8. I shifted the weight on my shoulder, pulled the cane from under my arm, and proceeded toward the extended tform to wait for the doors to open.

    The closer I got to the loading dock, the more crowded it became. Waiting passengers pushed and shoved at others, trying to get closer to the front of their assigned zone. My own ticket was marked for zone 12, which, unfortunately, was on the opposite end of the tform. By the time I squeezed my way to the 12th zone, the 15-carriage train had already arrived.

    The contraption was multiplerge carriage-like structures strung together by an stic material found on one of the upper Floors. Each of the boxes was painted pitch-ck with a bright purple ''York'' painted on the side of each.

    These trains were one of the many innovations of the York family. Using the circuit carving method of the Church of Liberation, the Yorks discovered a way to send Essence energy down the rails. The wheels on the cars were Relics that kept the vehicle hovering a hair''s breadth above the tracks. Finally, another Relic provided by the Church of Damnation was used to ''chase'' the Essence energy, causing the entire train to move in whichever direction the hub sent the Essence.

    I can''t imagine how many beasts it took to gather enough blood to fill the circuits. There have to be fourteen hundred miles between here and home alone... and there are twelve of these contraptions.

    "tform 8 to Grandhardt will depart in fifteen minutes! All aboard! Have your tickets ready to check in upon entry!"

    The booming voice came through the Relics mounted on posts every twenty yards or so. I moved into the train''s halls alongside the crowd, only peeling off once I found the number of thepartment I would be staying in for the seven-hour journey. Finally, I ced down the heavy container and copsed on the bench beside it, locking thepartment door.

    Grandhart... After all these years. I am finally returning home.

    Zachary stood in a small group on the tform''s edge, staring out into the crowd of individuals wandering to and from the central hub of Origin station. He took a long drag from his freshly rolled cigarette and gazed through the thinning smoke of thest puff.

    The cordoned-off area was hazy, explicitly reserved for those individuals who needed a hit before boarding their trains. Zachary ignored the conversations around him and stared at a specific ce on a nearby tform.

    There, two individuals were chatting. One woman with long ck hair that flowed freely, and the other a man with even darker hair tied neatly into a ponytail. He watched as the man smiled and patted the woman on the head. Zachary''s gaze shifted toward a third figure who had just fled the scene, a silver-haired man who was wandering off toward tform 6, where a train would leave for Syward City.

    "tform 8 to Grandhardt will depart in fifteen minutes! All aboard! Have your tickets ready to check in upon entry!"<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    Zachary plucked the cigarette from his mouth, turning it over and dabbing the cherry on his tongue before tossing the half-finished roll to the ground. He savoured the pain as he washed his hands under one of the area''s Relics.

    His vision blurred as the pain sunk in, a feeling of relief washing over him. A high-pitched ringing reced the racket of the Station. The faintest of smiles formed on his face and-

    "Excuse me, sir, but it''s not appropriate for a young gentleman such as yourself to be littering here," a voice cut into Zachary''s reprieve, and he turned to find a plump, bald man standing behind him.

    The man wore a light brown suit with a ck bowtie. A dark red handkerchief was tucked into the front pocket, and he walked with a cane, reminding him of Rowan, though this man''s was much more ornate.

    Zachary looked over the plump man briefly before shing a charming smile and bending to retrieve the damp cigarette from the floor. He tucked the remains into his chest pocket and turned back to the gentleman.

    "You are absolutely right. How unbing of me," Zachary extended his hand to the fellow. "Zachary Gray, it''s a pleasure to meet you, sir. And thank you for calling me out on my blunder."

    "Ahh! A young man with manners!" the pudgy man epted the handshake and smiled exuberantly. "It''s nice to meet you as well. Dominick Marcus, at your service."

    "What an intriguing name," Zachary grinned. "May I inquire about your business, Sir Marcus?"

    He let go of the man''s hand and showed a curious expression. Dominick''s smile widened further, and his back straightened with pride. He pulled a small card from behind his kerchief.

    "I happen to be the manager of the Luxton Bank down in Grandhardt," the man passed the card over to Zachary. "Have you heard of it?"

    "Oh? Luxton?" Zachary epted the card and looked at the address before tucking it into his coat. "That''s no small feat, Sir Marcus. My father uses the Luxton, and there''s no finer bank amongst the Familial Cities."

    Dominick rubbed his nose in embarrassment. He knew the young man was ttering him, but it was hard not to blush at such ament.

    "Your father is an intelligent man. We offer some of the best rates on the Origin Floor," Dominick chuckled. "How about you,d? What is it that you do?"

    "Me? I just graduated from the Academy," Zachary showed a simrly prideful smile and replied merrily.

    "The Academy, huh?" the banker looked him up and down. "If you need any help with funds for your ascension, you and your dad shoulde to visit ol'' Dominick. I''ll make sure to treat ya right."

    "Last call for tform 8! 5 minutes to departure!"

    "It seems I must take my leave," Dominick smiled and patted Zachary''s shoulder. "You have my card. If you need anything, please stop by and show that to the teller. She''ll get us in touch as soon as possible."

    "It was nice speaking with you. I''ll be sure to visit," and almost as an afterthought, Zachary added. "By the way, nice kerchief. That red is a lovely colour."

    "This?" the banker stopped and nudged his pocket, "If youe to visit, you''ll have to stop by Mikalian''s Crown! Mika is one of the best tailors in the business!"

    "tform 10 to O'' Connel will depart in fifteen minutes! All aboard! Have your tickets ready to check in upon entry!"

    "It seems I must be off as well, Sir Marcus," Zachary waved. "I''ll be seeing you."

    "Stay safe, young man!"

    Zachary turned to head for the adjacent tform, the smile on his face fading into a t line. His eyes dulled, and he patted the card in his pocket and weaved his way through the crowd, vanishing amongst the masses.

    Grandhardt Station 4

    After the seven-hour trip, I stepped out of the train, cane tapping along the tform and strongbox lifted over my shoulder. Grandhardt''s fourth and final Station was almost deserted, being thest on the line. Still, I saw one beaming figure strolling toward me.

    "Rowan!" Crook shouted and jogged up beside me, carrying a massive satchel on his back. He looked at the strongbox andughed loudly, "You''re mad, boy! I can''t believe you actually pulled it off. And you''re not dead!"

    "Nice to see you too, you old cad," I patted Crook on the shoulder andughed, falling into step beside him. "How have things been here?"

    Crook passed over a small bag, which I gently took and ced in one of the pouches on the pack he was carrying, "Things have gone well, but I''ve been wandering around for most of the early morning trying to avoid telling the drayman where to drop my goods. He''s walking around acting pissy at a nearby inn for now."

    Iughed and pulled out a set of keys I''d plucked off my keyring on the way here, "Tell him to take it to emporium number 15 up on Devonshire. It''s just a few spaces down from Mikalian''s Crown. You know what to do, right?"

    "Yes. You don''t have to worry about a thing," Crook shook his head. "To think you were a moneyed man ying poor this entire time. Saying you have an emporium on Devonshire like it''s nothing!"

    The overweight merchant looked left and right before snatching the keys and swiftly stuffing them in his pocket. He poked his head behind the stairs before climbing up. His behaviour caught me off guard, and I couldn''t help butugh.

    "What in Tara''s name are you doing,d?" I raised an eyebrow when he shot me a questioning look. "We aren''t doing anything uwful."

    "Eh..." his face stiffened, and he rubbed his hands together awkwardly. "Force of habit..."

    "Alright, well, you have a safe trip to the shop, ya hear?" I tucked my cane into the side pocket of the satchel and gently pulled it from his shoulders. "There''s a full tenement above the shop. Make yourself at home. I''ll visit you after I''ve settled with Luxton."

    "Okay, I''ll see you then."

    I bade Crook farewell and adjusted the satchel, so I wasn''t off bnce. My estate was only an hour''s walk from the Station under normal circumstances, but with the added burden, the sun was already beginning to crest as I made it to the edge of the property. It was on the outskirts of Grandhardt City, and the grounds covered the edge of the furthest road to the massive ck wall of the Tower that loomed a few tens of miles in front of me.

    53 Cloverdale St.

    It makes me a bit ufortable to be this close to the wall... but I''m d to be home.

    Knowing what was on the other side of the wall made me uneasy, but it was something I had to live with. At least for the next century. I adjusted the sign, which was leaning slightly, and pushed open the wrought-iron gate. It took a lot of force, almost enough to snap it off its hinges.

    I''ll need to have that looked at. I didn''t expect to start a repair list this early.

    A polished earthen wall stretched for miles in either direction on either side of the gate. When grandpa had the ce built over a century ago, he''d hired some of the best earthen Card users to raise eight-foot walls around the property. Another chunk of Essence had been spent on adding protection circuits to the walls, grounds, and manor, though the ones outside the mansion hadn''t been active for decades.

    I turned back and gazed at the floating clock far in the distance. Here, far away from Origin City, the numbers were nearly impossible to see. I liked it better this way.

    Spinning slowly, I took in the surroundingnd. The high walls, the decorated fence, the perfectly spaced trees my dad nted with his as a child, and finally, the manor.

    Standing in the distance atop a hill was a beautiful mansion surrounded by fields of red and yellow flowers. The walls were made of polished white bricks, and the pitched rooftops were covered with blue tile. Sixrge windows taller than any man adorned the face of the home, looking out over the captivating fields. The pebble path leading to the front door was overgrown, but it brought back memories of my pops racing me to see who would get a taste of momma''s cooking first.

    I strolled to the entrance as the sun began to rise, watching the shadows dance as its rays stretched across thend. My keys were already in my hand when I stepped onto the stone veranda leading to the front door.

    The door creaked loudly, and a shower of dust fell upon my head when I pushed it open. I was d to have gotten my Infernal Wash back from Crook. That trainpartment could have used an entire case on its own.

    Sitting the pack and lockbox down in the foyer, I rummaged blindly through my bag and found a vial of the coveted liquid. The dust vanished, and I opened my eyes to see that the house was covered in grey.

    At least three inches of dust covered the floor and every piece of furniture I could see. Well... aside from a wide area beneath where I was standing... and a spot by the door where it looked like someone had been pushing papers underneath regrly for a while. I picked up the cleanest one and unfolded it.

    Mr Wilder,

    Your payment is overdue. Please pay the amount owed, or we will bepelled to seize the property. You have five days to respond...

    Luxton,

    100:01:14:32:20

    I didn''t bother to read the entire notice.

    If I go tomorrow, I''ll be within their five-day deadline. Maybe I should-

    Thud!

    The chandelier jingled melodiously, and I nced to the top of the open foyer. There were three primary levels and an attic in the small space above.

    I snatched my cane from the satchel and Dashed up the stairs, moving quickly and carefully to the third floor. Doors lined the hall, and at the very end stood a single door leading up to the attic. It was too dark to see.

    A bright light filled the hallway as I cast Illumination... and revealed the attic door wide open with a ck-d figure standing inside. The figure mmed the door shut, and I could hear the faint sound of steps rushing up the attic stairs.

    I yanked up the door and sprinted after the figure, but by the time I reached the top, it was toote. The attic''s only window was swinging back and forth in the morning breeze, and the figure was nowhere in sight.

 Chapter 23 Gains

    The bandit was long gone by the time I reached the window, my Tracking Enhancement not even picking up the dull glow of the figure''s footsteps. That was troubling. I looked carefully down the hallway before pulling shut the window and securing thetch. It seemed that I would need to work on the manor''s security in the near future.

    A thief? But what were they after?

    I poked my head into the attic and looked around, finding the ce had been ransacked. My dad''s and grandfather''s belongings had been dumped and tossed away from their cases and cabs. My eyes wandered to the far end of the space, where a pile of nketsy neatly on the floor next to a few dozen candles, a book, and some empty bottles and wrappers. Tens of letters and papers were scattered around the space as well.

    Maybe they were just squatters looking for something to turn a profit? There''s no dust in the attic. They''ve been staying up here for a few weeks, at the least.

    That didn''t seem right. I''de down before graduation in my past life to make the payment and check on things, and there had been no drifters present then. I sighed.

    Just one more instance to add to the list. What else could be different..? Could it be that I''m being watched? What if they left some Relic or Spell behind to monitor me?

    I sifted through my recent memories. Had I been reserved? No, not at all. But my actions hadn''t been too inordinate... Okay, maybe I had done a bit much, but whoever this bandit was had been here since before I regressed. And they weren''t harmless.

    With my inability to see their tracks, they had at least a Level 2 Wisdom Foundation. If someone was observing me, they could have left a Relic or Spell behind to monitor my movements. I lifted my cane further above my head.

    Illumination''s rays shone brightly, lighting the dark space as if the sun shone upon it. Nothing was noticeable, but that didn''t mean there was nothing there. Illumination was currently only Level 1, and even at higher Levels, its effects were only so strong.

    But if it were Radiance...

    I thought of the Promotion Relic still sitting snugly in the pocket of my uniform. Details on the rewards received from the First Floor achievements were never shared with the Network, and I''d never read of another Relic with the same or simr effects, though there were rumours that the churches had a way to do something simr. So, even if it were possible to find another, I didn''t know where.

    As always, I don''t have enough data to make an informed decision. Maybe Relics like this are unremarkable finds on the upper Floors. I want to summon David, and I can''t do that without ensuring that our conversation will be private. Well, one task at a time.

    I left the attic space and searched the manor for any points of entry. None of the doors or windows had been broken into, confirming the suspicion that my guest hadn''t wandered in through ordinary means. Seeing in the dark didn''t appear to be any issue for the criminal either, as the manor''s circuits hadn''t been activated.

    Unable to continuously sustain Illumination, I trekked to the basement and made my way to the centre hub of the manor, where all of the dull purple circuits lining the walls ultimately led to a sturdy metal door. My head was already aching, and I felt secure in assuming no one else was lurking about.

    The door was still locked, further ascertaining my spections. I pulled out my ring of keys and opened the door. The hinges creaked as I stepped into the dusty chamber. It wasn''t huge or extravagant, being only the size of arge closet,pletely empty aside from a waist-high pedestal in the centre. Hundreds of sharp purple lines converged onto the pir before ultimately forming a neat circle on top.

    Let''s see... two hundred ought to do it.

    With a light tug, the Essence pouch came loose from my waist, and I counted out twenty Level 5 shards, cing them on the post. The first shard lost its lustre as it hit the tform, and an eruption of purple light filled the enclosure.

    Every circuit acquired a bright purple sheen as the Essence transferred. It would take several minutes for the gued Energy to spread throughout the manor, and knowing that this room was safe, I decided it was time to sort through my gains.

    With hurried steps, I rushed to the front door and retrieved the hefty container before retreating back to the hub. The Essence had stretched halfway down the basement hall and was beginning to creep up to the first floor.

    Now that the hub was covered, I pulled another shard from my pouch and tossed it into the wall cavity beside the door, which instantly ignited the ss Relic hanging from the ceiling. The small room was flooded with light, and I sighed in relief as I released the Spell that still shined brightly on my cane.

    After inspecting the hall one final time, I ced the safebox on the floor and secured the door. I wasn''t sure what the squatter was after, but even if they came back, they wouldn''t be able to break in. Once all of the circuits were fully active, I would stake my bets that they wouldn''t even be able to break a window.

    Before leaving, I should invest in better protections for the manor and the shop. Maybe a sentry or two? Crook can supply a steady stream of Essence to the hub once he''s established. Now, on to the fun stuff.

    I rubbed my hands together and plopped downfortably next to the box. I''d lugged the damn thing around long enough and was fully prepared to receive the fruits of mybour.

    First, I dumped the satchel full of Deck Boxes, jewellery, and other odds and ends I''d plundered from the corpses. I''d face years in the mmer if I were caught with any of the Deck Boxes. Fourteen of the illicit items tumbled to the floor, each with its own unique design. I arranged them neatly to one side while cing the Promotion Relic and the other misceneous items in a pile of their own.

    Lastly, I emptied my pockets and found the tiny ck key that I''d nabbed off the head Skull. While doing so, I came across the Card I''d received as my reward from the Academy. Curious, I pressed my Demon ss to the corner and examined the artwork while awaiting the results. On the face was a young woman looking warily at a man standing opposite her. The man''s face was smiling, but a dagger was held ready behind his back.

    [Card Name: Threat Acuity]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1,000]

    [Foundation: Will]

    [Effect: When interacting with another living entity, Wielder will feel ufortable if said entity harbours malicious intent toward the Wielder. The higher the Level of Threat Acuity, the more the Wielder can pick up on the intensity of the intent. The difference between the Will of both parties determines the strength of the ufortable sensation]

    Well... this didn''t change from my previous life.

    All of the Cards offered by the Academy were rare Cards that dealt with sensing or avoiding danger. Each of the top ten received this same Card, while those who fell behind were given the option of three Blessed Cards with simr but weaker effects. I was never made aware of the Card that Aurora received.

    After inspecting the Card, I turned back to the safe. Illumination hadn''t revealed any hidden traps on the safe, and I was confident the Skull wouldn''t have prepared anything the Blessed Spell couldn''t show. Before using a Promotion on the Card, I figured it was worth at least checking the loot. Maybe I''d get lucky, and there would be a Radiance Spell sitting within.

    The key turned perfectly within the lock, and I sighed in relief when the door swung open. No traps. Though there was a small curtain strung from the top corners, presumably for the head Skull to keep others from peeking while he looked for certain goods. I pulled back the curtain... and gasped.

    In the centre of the crate were three crystals the size of my fist. Almost a dozen stacks of Cards and smaller shards littered the base of the strongbox around the giant crystals, along with a handful of bloodied Deck Boxes shoved to the back, a few notes, and a bracelet from the Church of Liberation. I recognised the crest on one of the Deck Boxes as that of an Acolyte from the Church of Damnation.

    My heartbeat quickened. I''d been expecting a few tens of thousands of shards... but this? I removed the closest stack of Cards and began to flip through them. My eyes lit up... There it was!

    The Wisdom Foundation I''d been needing. And not just one, but more than a dozen, along with multiple duplicates of Intelligence and Will. Based on the different illustrations, these mainly were Level 1 with a few Level 2''s spread throughout.

    I pulled out the following stack... All Strength. The one beside that... Agility. Dexterity. Vitality. Endurance. Perception. There were anywhere from twenty to thirty of every physical Foundation, each ranging from Levels 1 to 3.

    My hands shook as I sat the Cards to the side and reached for the next stack. This stack was much thicker and contained a multitude of Pure Cards. Howl. Shine. Inspection. Throw. Hack. Examine. Strike. I held almost a hundred different Pure Cards in my hands, a feat unprecedented for a Climber who''d only just cleared the tutorial Floor.

    Carefully cing this stack beside the now-organised Foundation Cards, I removed therger of the two remaining piles, which were much smaller than the stack of Pures. This stack held around a dozen and a half Blessed Cards, most of which I was familiar with as the elevated version of their Pure counterparts. Illumination. sh. Roar. A couple of copies of Bash.

    Appraisal..? I''ve never actually seen this in person...

    The illustration on the face of the Card was a floating ss eye. Within the eye were a plethora of items and creatures. The back of the Card was the standard blue of a Spell with the outline of a me etched in the centre. I tapped my Demon ss to the corner and waited for the information to appear.

    [Card Name: Appraisal]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 4,368/10,000]

    [Foundation: Wisdom, Will]

    [Effect: Can be cast on oneself. Gives Wielder the ability to receive a brief description of any entity, living or non-living, that theyy their eyes on. The description''s detail is determined by Appraisal''s Level and the Wielder''s Wisdom. The amount of detail that can be seen is determined by the difference between the Wielder''s Will and the target''s. Duration of ten minutes. Cooldown of ten minutes]

    Even though Appraisal was only a Blessed Rank, it was one of the most difficult to get. From the data I''d read through the Network, I knew these only dropped from a small batch of Fiends on the Fiftieth Floor called Beholders.

    Whoever was backing the Skull wasn''t some nobody. In our conversations, Crook had disclosed that his employer had connections, even if he wasn''t an official Finger of the Society as of yet. On the topic of the Card, if I were to promote Inspection or Examine, Appraisal should be the result... at least if I were to go by the Card Compendium.

    My own copy of the Compendium was wedged between a few other texts in a crate somewhere in the Academy. I could remember much of its contents through my Memory Enhancement, but with it being Level 1, there were plenty of gaps.

    I set the Card atop the strongbox and arranged the rest on the floor next to the Pures. With that done, I pulled out the final stack of Cards. There were only half a dozen, and I was surprised to find that all but one was of the Holy Rank.

    ze. I recognised this Spell from the image on its face. It was one of the moremon Holy Cards that materialised a small field of fire at the target location. The following Card bore a man in pain with smoky tendrils wrapping around his body. Not having seen it before, I used my Demon ss.

    [Card Name: Hex]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 8,133/10,000]

    [Foundation: Wisdom, Will]

    [Effect: When cast on a living target, reduce the effect of the target''s Foundations by 12%. Wisdom increases the intensity of the effect. If Will is equal to the target''s, reduce the power of Hex by 10%. For every Level the target''s Will is above the caster''s, reduce the effects by an additional 20%. Cooldown of 30 minutes. If the target dies, cooldown is reset]

    Wow. A sudden drop in power in the middle of a fight can do a lot more than even the odds.

    I hesitated briefly before setting the Card on top of the safe. This Spell had to have belonged to the Acolyte of the Church of Damnation. Unlike the blessing magic that the Deacons from the Church of Liberation would use, this curse magic focused on either debuffing the enemy or damaging them over time.

    The following Card was another unknown. On its face was a man standing below the moonlight with his arms outspread. The visible parts of his body were covered entirely by shadow, making it impossible to distinguish his features.

    [Card Name: Shroud]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 710/1,000]

    [Foundation: Wisdom, Will]

    [Effect: When cast, a shroud of darkness surrounds the Wielder''s skin for 10 minutes. Conceals the Wielder''s physical appearance; during this time, the Wielder is twice as hard to detect with divination magic. The effects are only half as strong during the day. Wisdom determines the duration of the Spell. Will increases the power of the veil to divination magic. Cooldown of six hours]

    Another Card for the pile. It seems this Acolyte was more of an assassin than a preacher.

    Seeing as the Church of Damnation was full of battle-crazed individuals, I wasn''t surprised. Their goal was to cleanse and destroy everything between them and the rumoured Hundredth Floor, where they believed they could exit this Tower where all of Humanity was supposedly damned by an enemy of the Goddess Tara.

    ncing at the next Holy Card, I found it to be one that I recognised. Greater Healing. Its effects were very simr to my own Healing, only more remarkable, and seeing as how I hadn''t Levelled mine, I added it to the pile of potential equips.

    The final Holy Ranked Card was another I didn''t recognise, but it didn''t look like it belonged to the Acolyte... unless he''d been a shield-wielding assassin, that is. In its image, a man wearing full te armour stood wielding two short swords while his shield floated in front of him.

    [Card Name: Shield Drift]<novelnext></novelnext>

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 24,201/100,000]

    [Foundation: Endurance, Wisdom]

    [Effect: Cast on any three entities that an analysation Spell would deem a shield. The entities drift around your body, protecting you from harm for 15 minutes or until the Wielder''s Endurance is pushed too far. All bodily functions affected by Endurance are 25% less effective for every entity under Shield Drift''s power. Wisdom increases the Wielder''s control over the entities. Cooldown of 15 minutes]

    Hmm. All of these are Spells. The Skull head may have focused on Abilities. His skin wasn''t thick enough to suggest he relied on Enhancements, and I can''t see a Spell slinger passing some of these up.

    My smile widened as I looked over the final Card. It wasn''t overly powerful... but it was rare. The back of the Card was a deep purple, much like the blood of a dying gued Beast, with an open eye in the centre. This was a Summon.

    I recognised the creature on the front, but it was a bit different from its gued counterparts that I''d faced on the Tenth Floor. It had six spindly legs, an orange shell, and a massive horn growing from the top of its head.

    [Card Name: Beetle, Rhinoceros]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Pure]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 0/10,000]

    [Foundation: Intelligence, Wisdom, Will]

    [Effect: Wielder can summon a Beetle familiar for a short time. Summonsts for 30 minutes, during which time the Wielder can give basicmands. 30-minute cooldown after the Summon is dismissed. Summon Skill Power based on Intelligence, Summon cooldown based on Wisdom, Summon awareness based on Will]

    [Skills: Reinforce, Crunch]

    Now that... that''s going in the equip pile.

    I whistled and ced the Card in my stack of possible equips with the others. Considering my Origin Card, even as absurd as it sounded, a Summoner build was the way to go.

    Going the route of a Summoner will leave me with less versatility when I can''t use my Summons. Not to mention it will be dangerous. If others realise I have a Deck full of them... Anyway, I''ll need to be smart about this.

    If I want to focus most of my build on Summons... I''ll need Enhancements, Abilities, and Spells that will increase my survivability and synergise with group fighting... or make me more effective while fighting with a group. Darting in and out of a crowd while doing high amounts of damage would suit my fighting style.

    I''ll also need to form a party. Recing tames with people... hoho. What a thought. The same tactics I taught youngsters on the Tenth Floor would work with a group of Tames just as well as a group of people, and having a party will give me an excuse to search for some of the Cards I have in mind.

    There are a few up-anding powerhouses I know of that haven''t chosen a path yet, but they will save many lives alongside their factions. My existence has already seemed to alter the present, and I''d rather notpletely disrupt the future. For now, anyway. What if...

    What if my party was formed of folks who will die soon anyway? Or even those who won''t make it anywhere in life. That can work. They don''t have to be powerhouses for me to use the Cards I have in mind...

    It was a solid idea for a build that would only be exponentially more powerful as time passed. The only problem was getting my hands on those Cards. Most were impossible to get unless you were a follower of whichever faction sold it. I looked over the Cards on the strongbox, and an idea started to form in my mind.

    I pulled Illumination from my Deck Box and pushed it to one side of the makeshift table while cing the bracelet from the Church of Liberation above it. On the other side, I slid the Shroud and Hex Spells to the edge while picturing the nes of the Church of Damnation packed away in my satchel by the front door.

    This... I can pull this off.

    Before I could change my mind, I grabbed the Promotion Relic and pressed it to the corner of Illumination. Radiance would be necessary for this to work, and only followers of the Church of Liberation could purchase this Spell from their stores. Plus, I still needed to give the manor a once-over, so I needed to do this anyway.

    The golden VIII on the Relic gave off a dim glow. Seconds passed as I held the items together, the light brightening steadily until, finally, it stopped. I looked at the two Cards, both of which had changed. The engraving on the Relic had dropped to VII, and as for Illumination...

    [Card Name: Radiance]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1000]

    [Foundation: Intelligence, Will]

    [Effect: Can be cast on any non-living object or the Wielder themself. Causes the target to glow, lighting a 15-yard area for 15 minutes. Reveals any person, creature, or entity in the area using a concealment skill. No cooldown, but Wielder can only have one active at a time. Intelligence influences the range of radiance. Caster''s Will must be within two Levels of the Will of any concealed entities to reveal their presence, or the Level of Radiance must be within two Levels of their concealment. All darkness based Spells cast within Radiance''s area of effect are weakened by 50%]

    With this and Greater Healing, I can almost pass as a believer of the Tower. The majority of folks believe in one of the two Churches already, so it isn''t like it would be anything unusual. And carrying one of their emblems, I''ll have ess to their brokers, which would justify owning the Cards they sell to their followers.

    The Church of Liberation, much like the other powerful factions, owned a specific Floor in the Tower where they farmed and hoarded Cards to further their own interests. Followers who donated enough were awarded a Relic that would allow them entry to different shops and auctions run by the Church. This bracelet happened to be one of them.

    As for Shroud and Hex... those are both Cards found on the Floor owned by the Church of Damnation. Though I''m not sure where the Skull Brothers received those pendants, they allowed ess to the Church''s more inferior shops.

    Followers of the Goddess Tara were awarded different tiers of said pendants based on their contributions toward clearing out the Tower. It was just the inkling of an idea, but I believed it would work.

    I would be a supporter of Liberation on the surface, using the bracelet to gain their benefits. If they searched the records, they would find that my mom was a follower, so that shouldn''t be an issue.

    As for the Church of Damnation, most of its stronger supporters are rather secretive. I wouldn''t need a backstory to use one of the lower-tier pendants, and gaining merits to have it upgraded would be a simple matter. I nned to carve through a ton of gued Beasts either way.

    I turned to the Deck Boxes and emptied them one at a time. It would take more than a couple of Cards to make it work. Unfortunately, the twelve flunkey''s Boxes were either empty or held a few Cards already in one of the piles. As for the head Skull''s box, it was filled with treasures, but only a few that would work for the build I had in mind. Slowly, I read through each of the Cards to determine what would be useful.

    Quake. Earthen Barrier. Golem. Earthen Fist. Earthen Toss. Constitution. The list went on, and each of his Foundations was Level 2 or 3, with all his Spell Foundations being Level 3.

    It seems I was wrong about the man not being a Spell caster. He simply wasn''t interested in the others, or too many of his existing Spells were Levelled too high to remove safely. A Level 3 Card could be removed, but the recovery time was slow, and considering the crowd he surrounded himself with...

    Yeah. I would''ve stuck with what I had as well.

    Not many of these Cards would suit the build I had in mind, but I moved all of the Foundation Cards to the pile, along with four other Cards from the man''s Deck that I felt would be of use.

    [Card Name: Featherfall]

    [ss: Ability]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 992/10,000]

    [Foundation: Agility, Dexterity]

    [Effect: When falling, the Wielder can use Featherfall to drastically reduce the speed of decline. Agility influences how quickly speed is reduced. Dexterity determines how well the Wielder can control their direction while falling. Cooldown of three hours. Featherfall only ends when the user cancels the Ability ornds on a solid or liquid surface]

    [Card Name: Golem, Earth]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 66,490/100,000]

    [Foundation: Intelligence, Wisdom, Will]

    [Effect: Wielder can summon a Golem familiar for a short time. Summonsts 1 hour, during which time the Wielder can give basicmands. 30-minute cooldown after the Summon is dismissed. Summon Skill Power based on Intelligence, Summon cooldown based on Wisdom, Summon awareness based on Will]

    [Skills: Rock Toss, Burrow, Stone Maniption]

    [Card Name: Incantation]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 203/1,000]

    [Foundation: Intelligence]

    [Effect: When using any Spell, if the Wielder recites the name of the Card aloud, the effects and duration will be increased, and the cooldown will be decreased by the Level of the Wielder''s Intelligence times 10%]

    [Card Name: Mastery]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 1,108/10,000]

    [Foundation: Foundation]

    [Effect: Increases the effects of all Foundations by 4%]

    Righto. Now, this next part is going to hurt...

 Chapter 24 Scrap Of Truth

    I breathed heavily as I focused on the link and removed the Inspection Spell from my Deck. Sweat dripped down my brow, and I clenched my teeth, wishing I had a Relic to ease the pain. Inspection had been part of my Deck for years, having been one of the Cards passed down from my father, and though it didn''t have as much influence as Levels, removing a Card that had been ingrained in my soul for such an extended period wasn''t easy.

    Once the removal was sessful, I ced the Card gingerly to the side. It wouldn''t go in the pile of others removed that I would have Crook sell in the shop. There was a small sitting room upstairs adjacent to the library, and I hoped to frame this Card along with Pierce and Intelligence to keep on the desk as a remembrance. I''d also removed the Level 1 Perception, but it wasn''t a Card I held a great attachment to.

    Not that I''ve removed Pierce yet. It can stick around until I find a higher Ranked version for sale. It''s just toomon to waste Promotion on it, even if it is sentimental.

    With a sigh, I lifted the small stack I''d built beside me and mixed it with the pile that would go to Crook. Inspection, Healing, Throw, Howl, Dodge, Stamina, and Constitution were all there. With the build I had in mind, they were either Cards that I didn''t need or their Ranks were too low, and it would make more sense to purchase the superior form.

    The first removals hadn''t been terrible, only leaving me with minor headaches for a matter of minutes, but the impacts after that gradually increased. Intelligence was the worst. Removing a Foundation was... less than pleasant. My mind felt sluggish in addition to the pain, and all I wanted to do was rest. As for Perception, I hardly noticed the loss of hearing and vision.

    The next part would more than make up for the hardship. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples, patiently waiting for the pain to recede before equipping the new Cards. I''d like to say I was using this time to further n my build or contemte the structure of my future party, but it was all I could do to stay conscious.

    Finally, after a bit over a half hour, the pain receded. I plucked the small batch of new Cards off the floor and flipped through them until I located the Level 3 Intelligence Card included among them. It was the one with the most Essence invested, sitting at just under eighty-thousand of the required one-hundred thousand to reach Level 4. For the other Cards I''d chosen, I simrly made sure to take those closest to the next Level.

    The Card slid easily into one of the empty slots, and I could instantly feel the change. The fuzziness vanished, reced by a tirade of ideas that threatened to tear apart my mind. These thoughts pooled together,ing and going with such a swiftness that I could hardly concentrate.

    This build can undoubtedly work, but wouldn''t I be more powerful if every one of my Cards were a Summon?! What if I had an army of those mammoths from the Fifth Floor? I could... wait, that reminds me. I still need to get a Tame Creature Card. Without that, my Origin Card might as well be... Card... Card... That''s right!

    I shook my head wildly to chase away the flurry of thoughts. I''d known this would happen, and having anticipated this, the Level 3 Wisdom Foundation was already in my hand. Before another idea could distract me, I slid the Level 3 Wisdom Foundation into one of the empty slots.

    My mind expanded, and I felt rity I hadn''t experienced in years. The thoughts and ideas didn''t slow, but my mind processed them almost instantaneously andpartmentalised them into easily essible areas for me to visitter.

    Additionally, I could vaguely feel the outline of my soul... or rather, the receptacle in which my being was contained. Whether or not it was a genuine soul was still a topic of debate.

    Slightly dazed by the sudden increase in mental capability, I closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing. The steady rhythm of carefully timed breaths calmed me, and after a few minutes, I pulled the next Card from the top of the pile.

    There was a reason I worked in this specific order. If I hadn''t started with my mind, the drastic changes to my body would have been overwhelming. It took a strong Will to handle the physical changes, and equipping a high-Level Will without the Wisdom or Intelligence to utilise it was dangerous.

    Though it hadn''t happened often, there were a few known cases of Wielders getting their hands on a high-Level Deck, usually passed down from their deceased rtives, and they drove themselves crazy when introducing their body to its contents.

    Will without Intelligence, for example, could lull the Wielder into a state of excessive serenity. If one''s Strength was high, yet their Endurance fell short, they could hurt themselves through simple actions. Perception without Wisdom was exceptionally dangerous. Each Foundation needed another to remain bnced after certain Levels.

    Equipping Will went smoothly, and this time, I could somewhat feel a change in my ''soul.'' The outeryer shuddered, and though it didn''t expand, I suddenly felt... heavier. I''d been able to notice subtle changes in my previous life, but I''d never once gone from not having a Foundation to having one jump to Level 3.

    Unhurriedly, I equipped Endurance and Dexterity, followed by Perception, which was instantly discernible. The lights in the room grew brighter, I could hear my own heart beating in my chest, and I could feel the sweat umting on my skin. It dripped slowly, tickling the tiny hairs on my arms as it passed. After taking a solid ten minutes to familiarise myself with the changes, I looked at thest of the Foundation Cards and whistled.

    [Card Name: Vitality]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 4]

    [Essence: 13,320/1,000,000]

    [Effect: Increases the Wielder''s ability to physically recover. This includes both stamina and health. Speed of recovery increased by 150%]

    I''m d I chose to use Rend on that miscreant. If I''d used Pierce or simply shed him, he might have healed with this and his build. If I wanted to be a tanker, I''d be all set.

    I smiled, marvelling at my good fortune before sliding the Cardfortably into my Deck Box. A surge of energy rippled through me, and even with the morning I''d had, I felt that I could run from here to town and back at least a dozen times.

    Once the Foundations were equipped, I added the Beetle and Golem Summons. Unlike the Foundations, I couldn''t feel a difference within my soul, even after many minutes of focus.

    The same held true for Appraisal, Greater Healing, Threat Acuity, Incantation, Featherfall, Hex, and Shroud. I could feel a connection to each of the Cards through my Deck Box, but there were no apparent changes to my being. Mastery, however, was another story.

    When the Card wasfortably socketed into the Deck slot, I could feel the surge of enhanced power through each of my Foundations. As for the Card, there was nothing remarkable, only the same feeling of existence as each of the others.

    That was exhrating. Now.. the groundwork isid, leaving me with twenty-three slots avable. Before investing any Essence into these, I should check the Circuits.

    I nced at the top of the pedestal shining dimly before me. Over 150 of the 200 Essence had already been consumed, and the design beneath was only partially lit. With a sigh, I sifted through the pile of crystals gained from the Skull and plucked out one of therger ones, casting Appraisal as I did so.

    This may be enough to revivify up to the outer gate. If not, it should be close.

    [Essence]

    [9,870]

    [The umted gued energy of a beingpressed into physical form]

    The words appeared floating above the crystal, and the same urred for every item within my peripheral. If it weren''t for my new Foundations, I was sure the information would be overwhelming.

    [Essence]

    [52,600]

    [49,200]

    [25,000]

    [25,000]

    [500]

    [540]

    [Mid Quality Backpack]

    [Card Name: Strength]

    [Armored Door. Relic. Grade 3]

    ...

    ...

    ...

    The list continued, and I had to force myself to focus on the object before me, which wasn''t an overly burdensome task with my increased Wisdom. I ced the crystal in the centre of the tform and stepped away, frowning at the sluggish disbursement of the energy.

    The circuits that split off into the manor were lit, but only the small percentage of them that made up the basement, ground, and first floors had spread outside the room. At this rate, it would take another hour or two for the manor to be wholly powered... and at least a week for the Essence to reach the gate.

    No matter. I doubt the squatter will return. They''d been staying here for a while, so whatever nonsense they''d been up to must have been finished, right?

    I frowned. What had they been up to? And why only stay in the attic? There were plenty of beds on the other floors.

    Well, I''m in peak condition and now have the means to examine the area. Might as well take a break. How long have I been down here now?

    [11:36:11]

    Only a half-hour past noon... so around five or six hours?

    There hadn''t been any disturbances on the ground floor, or one of the circuits would have been activated. Before leaving, I cleaned up the chamber, neatly cing the strongbox in the corner to hold my valuables and organising the plethora of spare Cards to be taken to Crookter.

    The only objects that made it inside the safe were my Dad''s Cards and the spare nes I''d nabbed from the Skull brothers. As for the Essence, I neatly fit the threerger crystals in the bottom of my backpack while scooping the rest into my pouch. With the assistance of the still active Appraisal, I estimated that I had just over 215,000 Essence left, including that I''d farmed on the First Floor.<novelnext></novelnext>

    All right. Now I can just...

    My thoughts trailed off when I reached for my cane. Like every other object in the room, its information showed in my vision, but what it had to say left me dumbfounded.

    [Cane]

    [ss: Relic]

    [Grade: 8]

    [Type: Bound]

    [Bond: Wilder]

    [Effect 1: Requip. The shaft is finely crafted from the carcass of a Voidcrawler. Using the Voidcrawler''s warp ability and preparing the shaft with a specific set of Circuits, this item can store up to 20 other articles with the ''Gear'' specification.

    To store, unsheathe the weapon and press the desired item gently into the open slot. To requip, picture the stored object and rotate thumb clockwise on the sheathe]

    [Effect 2: ???]

    [Effect 3: ???]

    [Craftsman: ???]

    [Note 1: Dear John, I know I haven''t been around, and I hope you can forgive me... and I''m sorry I can''t exin my absence further. If you''re seeing this, you''ve grown either powerful or wealthy enough to know a token of the truth. This information can only be seen by those who share my blood. Also, don''t concern yourself with passersby discovering the Grade. Aside from a few select individuals, the cane will appear as a Grade 2 Relic unless given to them freely by a Bonded Wielder.

    That said, be careful in your endeavours. Things are not as they seem. I can not return to the Origin Floor, so I''m unlikely to see you again. I''ve not left you defenceless. In the attic, you''ll find a crate with a few of my effects and one of my first Summons. Use it to help you climb. I''m proud of you, son. All will be revealed as you ascend. Love, Dad]

    [Note 2: John, My dear boy, I knew you could do it. I hope that my Logbook and Pixie have served you well. Her assistance was vital in getting me through the early Floors. Your Will must be at least Level 5 for you to be seeing this, which means that you''re ready for the next chest.

    The next time you''re at the manor, make sure the hub is powered. Use any kind of detection Spell or Ability in the attic. Without the circuits being powered, it won''t reveal itself regardless of what Level or Rank Card you use. When you''ve opened the chest... I''ll know. Someone will be in contact within the next month to further exin. I can''t wait to see you, son. Love, Dad]

    What... What is this? Was this all left by grandpa Charles? And this Effect... Amazing. When I handed that shopkeep the weapon back then... My hunch was right. The cane I''d carried all my life wasn''t the same. Foolish.

    I read through the Effect and the Notes again, amazed by what I was seeing. A Grade 8 Relic? This cane was more valuable than the entire estate. And the messages left behind... bloody hell. Just who was grandpa Charles?

    Dad had told me stories about him. Everything I knew about the man led me to believe he was a simple man who''d ascended a few Floors in his younger days and gained some wealth before retiring.

    In Dad''s stories, Grandpa Charles was a kindhearted and humorous man. He made light of any situation and always kept a smile on his face. In fact, Dad even made it a point to speak about the only time he''d seen Grandpa serious.

    I couldn''t remember the whole story, but I did remember Dad saying he was terrified. A young bearded man wearing all ck and a strange mask had visited, but it hadn''t been the man that scared Dad. It was the pressureing off of Grandpa.

    That''s the only story Dad ever told me where his father hadn''t been making jokes orughing, so it stood out. I tried recalling as much as I could about the man while climbing the basement, satchel tossedzily over my shoulders and cane tapping gently along.

    There was nothing else. I didn''t even know what the man looked like aside from his well-described smile, height, and the bushy handlebar moustache he''d kept properly brushed to the sides. No photographs adorned the walls, and I''d never once spoken to someone who had met him.

    Well, no use thinking about it. Maybe I''ll find out more when I reach the attic... Hmm... Is it possible that the squatter had been looking for whatever Grandpa Charles left behind? But how would they know to look in the attic? The rest of the house was untouched.

    It couldn''t be a coincidence. I definitely needed to learn more about this would-be thief. Whether they were acting solo or had been hired by someone was a matter of grave concern. An individual acting on their own, I could bear. An entire group, however... I just wasn''t ready.

    I can''t spend too much time on the Origin Floor. Once the Circuits are active, the manor will be safe enough for me to leave. Crook can take care of the ce after. If I haven''t begun my ascension in one week, I''ll drop whatever I''m doing and leave the following morning.

    By the time my thoughts settled, I''d reached the second floor, where the Circuits had already lit the hallway and were approaching the door leading to the attic. Even with the severity of thest couple of days, I couldn''t help but smile at my impable timing.

    I opened the door and followed the Circuits as they lit the stairwell, rummaging through my pouch for a shard suitable to power the attic light while I searched for my Grandpa''s inheritance. Inheritance should be the right word. Seeing as I''d never met the man in my previous life, he was likely deceased.

    cing the Essence in the centre of a cubby carved neatly into the wall at the top of the stairs, I waited patiently for the Circuits to catch up while surveying the chaos in the room. The window was still shut tight, and nothing had moved.

    ncing down the stairs, I estimated that I had at least another ten minutes, so I cast Radiance on one of the shelves in the centre of the room and set about straightening the mess. While cleaning, I carefully looked between and under the shelves, behind the curtains, and even through the trash left behind by the squatter.

    Nothing.

    With Radiance active, I was confident that nothing had been missed, and the intruder simply hadn''t left behind a means to keep an eye on me. That being the case, it was more likely they''d been after whatever Grandpa had left behind and weren''t after me at all.

    After stacking the papers, I bundled all the trash onto the makeshift mattress before walking it downstairs and setting it in the hallway. By the time I returned, the ss orbs mounted to each of the walls were lit, casting bright lights across the room. And there, sitting against the back wall, were tworge ornate chests that hadn''t been there before.

    Well, I''ll be damned.

    One of the chests was wide open, presumably the one my Dad had opened to receive the Pixie and Logbook. The one beside it was still shut, and neither of the containers had a spec of dust upon them.

    Curious, I withdrew Radiance and watched with fascination as the chests disappeared. I cast it on the shelf again, and the trunks materialised on the back wall as if they''d never moved.

    Truly fascinating.

    I smiled and approached the open chest. Finding itpletely empty, I stepped in front of the closed one, unhooked thetches, and threw open the lid.

    Inside were five items. An old, leatherbound book with multiple tabs and strings sticking out from the pages. The cover read; Logbook, 21-40. That alone was enough to make me blink.

    I was aware that Grandpa Charles had a sessful career... but 40 Floors? He should have easily outlived Dad... and even me in my previous life.

    Besides the book, there was a sealed envelope, an admirably tall ck hat, and an onyx ck mask. The mask was adorned with carved purple circuits and a long metal beak extended from the front with three thick leather straps on the sides and top for sporting it.

    These three objects were sitting atop a perfectly folded ck suit with barely discernable purple and gold trim. I raised a brow while looking over the ensemble. It seemed my Grandfather had some rather extravagant tastes.

    Before touching the other articles, I decided to open the envelope. More than anything else, it was information that I needed. Like the notes on the cane, the letter was addressed to my father. The handwriting was rough but legible. It almost looked as if it were written in a hurry.

    John,

    My dear boy, I hope this finds you well. If you''re seeing this without having spoken to me... I''m sorry. I truly am. If I''d stayed any longer, I''m afraid it would have caused you and your mother... never mind. There''s too much to tell you and too little time.

    You finding this with a detection skill means that either you are powerful enough to have high-Level Foundations or wealthy enough to have purchased higher Ranked Cards than the basics that can be found on the lower Floors. In either case, you are ready for another scrap of the truth.

    The Order has been searching for a long time... uncovering and unlocking certain truths that many in the Tower don''t want us to know. It worked in silence, quietly discovering pieces of history that had gone untouched for thousands of years... some predating the Tower itself. That knowledge led to us unlocking secrets... patterns that helped predict specific urrences within the Tower.

    Eventually, the existence of the Order was found, and some of its secrets leaked. Over the years, its members were hunted to near extinction... tortured for the knowledge they possessed. But some lived on.

    When I was young, I left everything behind to join the remnants of the Order. I climbed the Tower slowly and deliberately, using the methods they taught tob through each of the Floors in my ascent. Much of the information in the first Logbook contained hints on how to advance and receive the greatest benefit from each Floor.

    I left that life behind when I met your mother... but it didn''tst. We were at risk of discovery, and I couldn''t imagine what... I''m getting off track again. Just know that I love you, son, and I will see you again as long as you let the Logbooks guide you... and be careful who you trust.

    When this chest is opened, I will receive an alert. An old acquaintance will be in touch within the month to assess you. If you pass, he will help train you further... if not, he will provide you with what''s needed to survive and wipe all traces of my existence from the manor, which will remain in your possession.

    The ensemble provided in this chest will authorise entry into any facility run by the Church of Damnation. A member of the Order can be found within, no matter which Floor. Though we are not associated with the Church, we act as members to throw off the members of the Church of Liberation who actively pursue us.

    In the chest pocket of my old suit, you''ll find one of our emblems. If you''re ever in trouble, don the outfit and look for a person with a purple lustre. You''ll know what I mean when you see it, but you must be wearing the mask.

    May the Truth guide your ascension.

    Love, Dad

 Chapter 25 Luxton

    "Why does it feel so awkward..?"

    Sunlight filtered through the sash windows of arge hall where three figures sat at a long wooden dining table. Though there were plenty of seats, the individuals were as far apart as could be. A sumptuous breakfast was spread before them, consisting of all varieties of food. Cups of steaming tea sat before each of them.

    "Shh, don''t speak so loudly. You can''t let them hear you," an older feminine voice hissed.

    An oppressive silence dominated the hall, and the older maid feared the new hire would be heard even though she was whispering. This silence had persisted since the return of Zachary Gray, the youngest heir of the Gray family. The usually lively estate had been quiet, the maids and butlers remaining tight-lipped since the young master returned. There were rumours surrounding the disappearance of other staff members, and none of them wished to find out whether or not they were true.

    At the same time, none dared to leave their positions. The O'' Connel Municipality was the smallest of the twelve great cities, but it was still wealthy. And other than working directly for the O'' Connels themselves, the Grays were one of the top-paying families in the area.

    "I just want to know why the atmosphere is so stifling!" the young maidined. "It makes it hard to focus on the work. Do they not get along or something?"

    The older maid nced worriedly to the table and hissed, "Just do your job and don''t ask questions. The less you know, the better."

    In a dignified manner, Zachary picked up the teacup and took a small sip before smacking his lips together and smiling in satisfaction. His eyes darted to the side, spotting two maids looking around the corner whispering. His smile receded ever so slightly before he shifted his gaze back to his parents, who were sitting at the opposite end of the long table, though there were quite a few empty spaces between his mother and father.

    "I''m d I could enjoy a meal with the two of you before beginning my ascent. It''s been quite nice, wouldn''t you agree?" he gently dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a towel before cing it back in hisp.

    "Why yes... of course, Zachary. I''m... happy that you decided to stop by," Margeret Gray talked in a soft voice, trying to make herself seem as small as possible. For the keen observer, it was evident that her statement was forced, and she kept ncing between Zachary and his father.

    On the surface, this could have been considered a typical family meal if one were to overlook the apparent tension... but there was a clear divide. Anyone who''d known the Grays for even a few days would be able to tell that the couple weren''t fond of each other, and they were even more uneasy with Zachary''s presence.

    Margeret nced between the two men once more before trying to break the awkward atmosphere again, "So, how was your final year at the Academy? I''m so proud of you for cing seco-"

    Crack!

    The porcin cup in Zachary''s hand shattered, and the liquid spilt all over his sleeve and the table. He didn''t react, even as the scalding hot tea blistered his skin. Once again, the hall fell deathly silent, though instead of the former awkwardness, it felt... cold.

    "Oh, my apologies," after a few gruelling seconds, Zachary smiled and apologized to his mother while dabbing at the liquid on his hand with thep towel. "It seems as if I''m still getting used to my Strength. I did Level it to prepare for my ascent, after all."

    "There''s no need to apologize, dear," Margeret said, getting to her feet to help him. "You must be careful. Here, take my tow-"

    "Sit."

    Themand came suddenly as Margeret made to move toward Zachary. Aldis Gray had finally spoken, his harsh voice cutting through the room and stopping Margeret in her tracks. She looked at her feet and slowly moved back to her chair.

    The man''s face was stone cold, and he looked at Zachary in disappointment, shaking his head. As for Margeret, she was only partially disturbed. She looked off to the edge of the massive chambers, her eyes boring into the two maids waiting by the wall.

    "His clothes are wet. New girl, fetch some more. Helena, see to drying and cleaning my son''s sleeve."

    Zachary raised his hand, the smile still on his face, "There''s no need, mother."

    He stood and carefully slid the chair under the table before calmly adjusting his dripping sleeve. His calm and collected demeanour impressed the two maids at the back of the room, who were used to the wealthy going berserk when something didn''t go their way.

    "I did enjoy breakfast. Mother, father. Please excuse me. I have a prior engagement that I must attend," Zach pressed firmly against therge wooden door to the dining hall.

    "Wait! What about your clothes?" Margeret stood, mming her hands on the table. "You can not go out like that. No son of mine will be seen in such a shabby state!"

    Zachary''s smile never left. He held up the sleeve, his mother''s unsettled gaze following his movement, "This? No need to worry, mother. I have something in mind that will be perfect for cleaning this up."

    Before she could say another word, he left the room. This time, the smile on his face was genuine. He really had recalled the perfect item for cleaning up this mess.

    The massive doors mmed behind him, and the ufortable silence returned to the hall. For many minutes, the couple stared at the empty seat, where tea still dripped slowly onto the floor. Neither spoke for the rest of their meal.

    ***

    Luxton Bank, 23 Main St

    I stopped in front of arge white building at least twice as wide and tall as the manor. Four gigantic pirs supported an ornately decorated overhang where stone-carved steps led up to arge door.

    High metal fences surrounded the building, and although they were decorative, I could faintly see the Circuits adorning each of the spires. If someone were to try to climb or leap over it when it was active... Even with them deactivated, folks walking along the bustling street gave the fence a wide berth.

    Carriages adorned with gold and silverttice lined the street in front of the building, where men and women of many ages strode about confidently. The styles of the outfits were abundant, ranging from scantily d to overly dressed. Many wore masks, while others worerge hats or veils.

    With Appraisal active, I could see the golden-brown glows of Enhancements emitting from their Deck Boxes, elucidating the quick and graceful movements each of these men and women exhibited. Though these movements were normal on the streets, allowing citizens to move faster than the horse-drawn carriages, the pavements were calm. The pulsating purple circuits carved into the stone wouldn''t allow the use of specific Enhancements, making it safe for all individuals to travel, regardless of power.

    Grandhardt offered an exhaustive collection of unique and rowdy individuals. The metropolis was home to most of the top Guilds. Many small and medium Guilds followed suit, bringing people from all walks of life to the city.

    Even with this bunch of unruly denizens, it was rare for one tomit a crime. Sure there were bar fights and the asional street brawl, but the citizens respected the power of the Grandhardt Family and never dared cross the line.

    "Good day, sir. How may I help you?"

    One of a few men standing to the side of the open doorway stepped forward as I approached. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and short hair. His Deck Box perfectly matched his ck suit and was one of the only ones within the facility that glowed brightly with many colours, showing he was immune to the effects of the Circuits. He was both guard and greeter and wasn''t to be trifled with.

    I smiled politely and handed the man the notice I''d found upon arrival, "I''m here to repay my debt, sir. I don''t have an appointment."

    "I see," his stern expression softened, and he handed the paper back. "One moment, please, young man. I''ll have someone with you shortly."

    "Many thanks," I smiled back politely and almost chuckled at the notion of being called a young man. It wasn''t easy to get used to.

    The guard held his hand up to his ear and spoke softly. With Appraisal still active, I could see the glowing blue around his thumb and pinky. Communication magic. After a moment, he removed his hand and gestured inside the building.

    "Please make your way to the north wing and take a seat in cubicle 16. One of our tellers will be with you shortly," he shed a quick smile before returning to his post.

    "Thank you for your assistance," I bowed slightly in respect and proceeded into the building.

    The bank''s foyer was a vast, high, open room with multiple columns reaching from floor to ceiling. Desks lined the walls where small groups waited patiently. Between the desks, on the three walls aside from the entrance, were open arches leading to the different wings.

    I approached the arch leading to the north wing and found the other side lined with cubicles, each covered by a dark shroud that offered privacy to the upants. It only took a moment to find cubicle 16, where a short, thin man patiently waited with a forced smile.

    The unenthusiastic man waved me over, undoubtedly already informed of who to look out for. He had a long nose and ck hair parted evenly to either side. His eyes peered at me over the edge of his thin-framed oval sses.

    "Hello, I am William Cleeves of the Luxton Banking Corporation. How may I be of service to you today?" he spoke in a whispy voice, and even though his visage said he didn''t want to be here, his speech was polite and professional.

    I bowed slightly, earning a raised eyebrow and a subtle change in demeanour, "It''s nice to meet you, Sir Cleeves. I''m here to inquire about my ount and repay my debt."

    With a flourishing gesture, I produced the most recent notice and passed it to the gentleman, who read it over and nodded, "Very well,e with me."

    We stepped into the cubicle where an borate desk and twofortable-looking chairs were waiting. William sat and gestured for me to take the other seat while pressing a metal badge into the corner of the desk.

    The carved Circuits came to life, and a floating transparent window appeared between us. I couldn''t see what was written on the other side, but William pressed the notice into the desk beside his badge and began reading something that presumably appeared on the ss.<novelnext></novelnext>

    After a moment, he cleared his throat, "I see. Mr Wilder, may I see your registration?"

    I nodded and passed him the identification, which was already in my hand. He pressed it into a spot on the desk and looked over the information again, nodding to himself.

    "Congrattions on graduating from the Academy, and in the top ten, no less. Impressive," he smiled, and his demeanour changedpletely. "You''re also now old enough to be dered the official holder of this ount, so I can speak openly."

    "Before I begin, I''m required to inform you that this cubicle is protected, and no one outside can overhear our discussion. The urrences within this cubicle are recorded for both of our safeties, and those recordings can only be essed by our Manager, Dominick Marcus. Do you have any questions?"

    I shook my head, and he continued, "Very well. This ount was opened as a loan against your estate by one Mr John Wilder, who is now deceased. He borrowed a total of 300,000 Essence with the promise to pay back 375,000 in regr payments of 1500 Essence every month. The current total bnce is 151,500 Essence, and the current payment owed is 3000 Essence. 1500 which is past due, and 1500 which is currently due."

    "I''m also inclined to inform you that there are three buyers interested in the property if the debt is too much for you to bear. I know you''ve been paying it for years, even while underage, but it is a lot of responsibility for someone as young as you," he sighed and shook his head.

    "I''m sure you''re nning on ascending. Your estate is worth much more than the 300,000, and these offers aren''t paltry numbers. You can set yourself up for a very sessful climb. If you have to make these monthly payments... I''m afraid you may lose your estate if it takes you more than a month to find your way to one of the stairwells."

    I was a bit surprised. The man was actually concerned, and rightfully so. The estate was easily worth an amount of Essence ranging in the millions. To lose it over a 300,000 Essence loan would be nigh unforgivable. I was also curious about the offers, and my mind snapped back to the thief.

    "May I know the amount of the offers and who is interested?" I asked without much hope for an answer.

    William nced at the screen, "One offer is for the storefront on the 15th of Devonshire for an amount of 6,850,000 Essence. It is a low offer for the location, but more than enough to repay your debt. The other offers are for the estate as a whole. One for 24.4 million Essence and the other..."

    His eyes bulged, "Th... The other offer is for 72.5 million Essence. I''m afraid I am not permitted to divulge the name of the potential buyers unless you agree to meet with them here in the Luxton."

    I had no ns to sell the estate, but I feigned as if I were considering the offer. Thatst offer was around 30% higher than the surface value of thebined properties, meaning whoever it was really wanted to get their hands on it.

    Well... at least I may have found a lead on my former guest.

    "I''m sorry, Mr Cleeves, but I''ll have to decline all of those offers," the man looked aggrieved... until I untied the crammed pouch on my waist and ced it on the desk. "You did say the remaining bnce is 151,500 Essence, correct?"

    "That''s correct, Mr Wilder," he spoke sceptically and looked at the pouch.

    I opened the bag and activated Appraisal again, as it had run out earlier and juste off cooldown. Picking out the correct amount of Essence, I pushed the small pile over to the banker and tied the pouch back to my waist, estimating that I had around 65,000 left over to prepare for my future endeavours.

    William removed his sses, cleaned them, and put them back on while looking over the pile of Essence, "It seems that I don''t have to worry about you losing the estate after all, Mr Wilder. I''m sorry for doubting you. I will have to contact the bank Manager to send for the deed to your estate. Do you have a few moments?"

    "I do," I nodded my assent and waited for the banker to contact his superior.

    In a simr fashion to the guard, he ced his thumb to his ear and pinky near his mouth, "Mr Marcus, could you please direct your Relic to cubicle 16? Thank you. Mr Wilder would like to pay the remainder of his bnce. What? The Academy? Yes, he graduated in the top 10. Oh, I see. I''m sorry to disturb you while you''re preparing for your guest. Thank you, sir. I''m sure he''ll be thrilled."

    Minutester, a young woman stepped into the room brandishing two rolled-up pieces of parchment and handed them both to the banker. She nced at the pile of Essence on the table, then smiled at me before leaving the room. I chuckled at that, much to the amusement of the banker.

    "Alright, here is your proof of receipt. Make sure to keep this in case of any future discrepancies," William unrolled one of the papers and slit it toward me.

    This document serves as proof that the former debtor, Mr Rowan Wilder, has repaid Luxton Bank the due amount of 151,500 Essence on [99:364:13:00:40:51].

    The bank will cease charging the debtor the standard remittance of 1500 a month and will release the coteral property.

    From this moment forth...

    "And here is the deed to the property," William grinned as he handed the second parchment over. "Congrattions on bing debt-free, Mr Wilder. Mr Marcus would also like you to have this in hopes you will continue using the Luxton in your future endeavours."

    He slid a golden metal object across the table, which I picked up and examined. It was small, the shape of a Card but closer to the size of a cuff pin. In fact, that''s precisely what it was, with the logo of the Luxton on the front.

    "This Relic marks you as a favoured client of the Luxton," William exined. "Clip it somewhere visible on your person before you enter any branch of the Luxton, and you will be given superior treatment. The Luxton looks favourably on the Academy''s top graduates."

    "Thank you, Mr Cleeves, and thank Mr Marcus for me when you get the opportunity," I offered my hand, which William epted with a firm grip. "I look forward to working with you in the future."

    ...

    I left the bank after securing the two documents in a metal tube provided by the Luxton. My cane tapped against the ground as I walked, looking at the bright blue sky with a wide grin. It felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

    I''ve done it. I actually managed to pay my debt in record time and even made another connection. I''ll be able to ascend without worry from this point. And this... this is just the beginning. Now... where do I go from here?

    It was still a bit early to meet with Nathaniel, and I didn''t n on speaking with Crook until tomorrow when I had the time to deliver the stacks of Cards to put on disy.

    Well, I still need to prepare. I''m d I haven''t used any Essence to Level my Cards... There are still quite a few purchases I need to make.

    "The prices at Mikelian''s Crown are absurd! Can you believe that it cost me 8,000 Essence for this suit? And it''s only a lower Floor Relic!"

    "What material did they use?"

    "The outeryer is made from the hide of a Level 15 Blood-Toothed Feline, but the inner liner is only crafted from the fibres found on the Sixth Floor. It was the only thing in my price range with the loan I took out, but it shouldst me until the Twentieth Floor... I hope."

    "Bloody hell, quit griping. That''s a great deal, and they even made it cheaper for you by recing the inner liner."

    Hmm... Mikelian''s Crown, eh? I suppose I have time to get fitted, and Mikelian''s is the best in the city.

    It wasn''t far from the Luxton, being in the central shopping district and only a few storefronts over from my own ce on Devonshire Ave. Almost anyone with a bit of wealth would make it a point to visit. Being they were centred in a city full of Guilds, materials were easy toe by, so their prices were more than affordable. The only mark against them was that they didn''t craft masks or hats, which were standard items for many Climbers.

    With my mind made up, my pace quickened. I stepped around the corner, not bothering to keep my distance from the iron fence, when I heard someone call my name.

    "Rowan?"

    I looked up to find Zachary Gray standing just a few feet from me, not bothering to stand away from the fence others were avoiding like a gued Beast. He was wearing a blue suit with a lovely silk hat.

    He smiled politely, "Were you just visiting the Luxton?"

    "I was," I nodded. "There were some matters I needed to handle before beginning my ascent."

    I didn''t like the young man, but I had no reason to show hostility, especially in public. Fortunately, it didn''t seem that he would take up much of my time, as he''d already begun walking by.

    "Is that so? A pity that I arrived toote. It would have been lovely to catch up, and I''m curious about your ns for the future. Perhaps another time," he tipped his hat as he passed. "Pardon me. I have a meeting, and I''m already running a bit behind."

    Zachary disappeared through the open gates and headed up the stairs into the Luxton. I didn''t miss how one of the guards personally escorted him inside.

    I squinted at his departing figure for a moment. There was something off about his behaviour. On the surface, he seemed fine, but... I shook my head.

    It''s none of my business. For now, I need to get a new suit, meet with Nathaniel, and start locating the Cards I need.

    The encounter was pushed from my mind as I walked toward Devonshire Avenue.

 Chapter 26 Chains

    My eyes darted between the five mirrors set in a semi-circle around a low dais. I smiled, admiring the new garments Mr Mikelian himself had prepared for me.

    The suit pants and jacket were a pleasant, light brown that perfectlyplimented the darker brown vest beneath it. I donned a cored white undershirt, and a red tie with silver id stripes tied the ensemble neatly together.

    The shining silver in the tie wasparable to my now luminous eyes, and the red matched the band that held my hair in ce. Mr Mikelian had even crafted multiple red ties, bands, and even a nice bowtie out of the material from the Academy uniform I''d been wearing.

    A middle-aged man stood beside me, looking pleased, "You''ll need a sturdy pair of shoes to match, and I rmend extracting that timepiece from its wristband and purchasing a chain across the street. There''s a slit there in the vest above the lower pocket. Morefortable in battle than pinning it to one of the buttons."

    His eyes shifted to the silver-handled cane held firmly in my grasp, up to the suit, then down to the cane again. He''d done this several times since I''d donned the suit, and I was beginning to worry he was one of the individuals who could see its properties... until he spoke.

    "That cane,d..." he looked over the ensemble again and shook his head. "You should do something about it. It''s exquisite... but it doesn''t suit the Mending Bronze Ursidae thread I used. Might I rmend a model crafted from the bark of a Chrasalk Tree?"

    A smile yed on my lips as I returned my gaze to the closest mirror, "I''m afraid it will just have to do. It means more to me than you could know."

    "I see," Mr Mikelian frowned and scratched his chin. "Well, I may have just the thing. Hold tight."

    While waiting, I looked over the outfit again, carefully memorizing the location of each hidden pocket and nning the best manner in which to mount my throwing knives and Deck Box. My next order of business would be to purchase a proper belt and boots... possibly a hat. I was undecided on the hat, as I''d never liked how they pressed down my hair.

    Maybe it''s for the best. I''ll already have to get used to the topper my grandfather left.

    That outfit was storedfortably within the shaft of the cane, ready to don at a moment''s notice. I''d spent the morning experimenting with its ability, testing different methods of swapping clothing in batches or just one article at a time.

    A few minutester, the haberdasher returned carrying a small bin of nking metal objects. He rummaged through the container, ncing up at the suit and shaking his head multiple times before nodding in satisfaction and pulling out a small silver ring.

    "Looks a bitrge. Maybe wear it on your pointer," he passed the ring over and looked at me expectantly. Unsure of what the man was getting at, I cast Appraisal and observed the piece of metal in my hand.

    [Ring]

    [ss: Relic]

    [Grade: 1]

    [Type: Unbound]

    [Effect 1: Concentrate on any object within 5 yards to change its colour to any you can clearly picture. Can only be used on one object. Effects persist until Wielder leaves the range of the item]

    I looked up from the ring, cancelling Appraisal before the hundreds of Relics in the shop caused my head to erupt. Even in that brief instant, my increased mental faculties sorted at least half of the effects of the items in the shop. My new suit was nothing inparison to many of the Relics hanging about.

    "Well, go on," the man made a gesture to the cane. "Alter the colour of the base there to match. I won''t have mypetitors deprecate my work over something so mundane."

    After considering for a moment, I slipped on the ring and pictured one of the Blood Oaks on the Tenth Floor. It was simr in texture to the bark the man had mentioned but was a darker, almost burnt colour. In seconds, the change took ce.

    "Brilliant!" Mikelian nodded enthusiastically. "These rings are nothing more than trinkets, but I always keep some around. Many of our patrons wish to alter the tone of their outfits without changing the material. There are many gued Beast pelts that won''t ept dyes, you know."

    I smiled and reached for my effects as I stepped off the dais, "This is remarkable. Thank you, Mr Mikelian. How much do I owe you?"

    "16,500 Essence. Rings are of no additional cost on any purchase over 10,000. If you ever spend over 50,000, I''ll include a Grade 2 ring that will alter the colour of your entire ensemble," he looked down at my boots and frowned. "On second thought, just 15,500 is enough... But only if you go to Boyer''s across the street and buy a new pair of boots immediately. Next to his shop, you''ll find chains, belts, and other trinkets."

    Chuckling, I counted out the Essence and passed it over. "I''ll do as you suggest. It would be unbing to be seen in such exquisite attire with these ragged boots."

    I bid farewell to the man and proceeded across the street, ncing at my timepiece as I did so. There was plenty of time.

    ...

    "Rowan, thank you for meeting me."

    "It''s always a pleasure,d. We should always make the time to reminisce with our old associates," I smiled and sat on the chair across from him, leaning my cane against the table. We met on the third-floor balcony of Eden, one of the top best tea shops in Grandhardt.

    "There you go again," Nathaniel shook his head. "We just graduated two days ago, and you know we''re the same age, right?"

    I cocked my head to the side. I''d done it again, "One day. One week. One month... One century. It can go by faster than you think."

    I deflected the question, but hisment brought back memories. My friend Crole came to mind, along with the few other acquaintances I''d made. At this point, I could only wish them well in this life... and maybe help them if time allowed.

    Ahh. My thoughts are wandering again. Even with my Wisdom at Level 3, it seems my mind is still a bit flighty. Bloody hell, I''m just making things awkward. Young Nathaniel here is going to think I''m a loon.

    I waved over one of the waitstaff who was walking by, "My dear, I''ll take a cup of Eve''s Apple Tea, please."

    "I''ll take a cup as well," Nathaniel nodded at the waitress and waited until she''d left to speak again. "I''ll let you dodge that question if you answer another. Nice suit, by the way."

    "Thank you," I chuckled. "What would you like to know?"

    "How did you know about the tasks?" Nathaniel asked. "Most of the Descendants rushed to perform them as soon as they learned... yet you were already there."

    I smiled, "I''m a lost soul who traversed the sands of time after the end of the world and learned many mysteries along my travels."

    "Wh... Huh?"

    "I discovered a tome with a bucket list of goals one shouldplete before leaving the Floor," I somewhat lied with a chuckle. "When the first Card appeared, I was amazed and decided to pursue the rest."

    Nathaniel scratched his chin thoughtfully, and at that moment, our tea arrived. The young waitress fluttered her eyes at the silver-haired man before retreating. He didn''t seem to notice.

    Poor girl.

    Aside from a very brief look of confusion when I''d told the truth, Nathaniel''s visage hadn''t changed throughout our conversation. His stony face revealed little, only leaking subtle smiles or confused frowns from time to time.

    "I can believe that," he finally answered. "It wouldn''t be unheard of for some loon to climb to the top of that tree, and ughtering gued Beasts is a secret that can only be held so tightly with every one of the Descendants from every Family knowing it..."

    "But...?" I urged him to go on.

    "But..." Nathaniel took a moment to sip his tea before answering, "It doesn''t exin how you knew about the final task. No point in denying it. The blood, the timing, and you should have heard Seth seething over not receiving the 8 Promotions Relic."

    He looked amused as he spoke of his fellow''s misfortune, and I assumed there was some underlying gossip between Nathaniel and Seth. Seeing him grin so broadly, an irregrity for thed, I couldn''t help but be infected and let out a chortle.

    "You''re right," I blew lightly on my tea before taking a sip. "Mmm, delicious. And yes, I also happened upon the final task. A few days prior, I was assaulted by a group of the Skull Mercenaries. As you can imagine, there was a hint of animosity between us, and I decided to rid the Floor of them before leaving. When you saw me, I was attempting to flee the Floor before the guards caught on to what I''d done. The Relic was a very nice bonus."

    "So it was you," Nathaniel grinned. "I knew it. And don''t worry, I haven''t spoken to anyone. The O'' Connel boy was happy when he found out, though their Grand Elder was displeased. I''m d the boy didn''t have to go through with killing those men after Kasimira received the single Promotion Relic."

    I raised an eyebrow. I''d almost forgotten about the dimir girl with everything that had happened... Not that I''d been idle when it came to her.

    That''s right. I still haven''t listened to the recordings that Crook handed me at Grandhardt Station.

    I''d asked the man to collect as many details as possible about the dimirs and their youngest Descendant in particr. He''d managed, but I''d yet to go over the information.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "You were right to leave as quickly as possible," Nathaniel continued. "The Skull were working with one of the associates of the High Society. Even if that associate was further down the pecking order, they don''t take kindly to interference in their business."

    "Oh?" I raised an eyebrow, "You seem to be well-informed."

    Nathaniel sighed heavily, "Unfortunately, I have to be. My parents are always dragging me to the Family meetings, where I''m required to sit through hours of lectures about the goings-on in the world. I thought joining the Academy would help me leave that behind..."

    He stared at his reflection in the teacup, and I could see the sense of longing in his eyes. This young man was a mighty figure in the future, and it wasmon knowledge that he could have grown much stronger... but his family held him back.

    Once the Grand Elder who favoured him passed, his elder siblings and cousins kept him from ascending. Apparently, he was already being weighed down at this age.

    I wonder what he can be if he isn''t tied down... just the thought is exhrating. Would someone like him really form a party with someone like me? Well, it can''t hurt to ask. I''d love to help the poord if I can.

    My own life yed in my mind. Decades of being dragged into the ground by my Origin Card. It didn''t matter how much money my estate was worth or even if I''d learned of its secrets back then. The shackles that were ced upon me... they couldn''t be broken.

    "Your chains are heavy, aren''t they?" I asked sadly.

    Nathaniel''s head moved up from his cup of tea, and he stared at me, not speaking for a long time. I sipped at my own cup, waiting patiently for his response.

    "Rowan... how does it feel? To... you know. Be able to live as you please," he finally asked, his voice almost a whisper.

    "That''s hard to say," I looked off into the afternoon sky. "There was a point in time when I was shackled by my own circumstances. I still have an immense weight on my shoulders... but I can move forward confidently now, at my own pace, and in whatever direction I choose. It''s... liberating."

    Nathaniel''s shoulders slumped slightly, "I see."

    "That doesn''t mean it''s all fun and games," I reached out and gripped the top of my cane, once again recalling Crole and his niece, my friends from work on the Tenth Floor, and the many students who still sent me letters. "It gets rather lonely at times. The links that were severed to gain this freedom... I''m not sure they can ever be reconnected."

    "I would choose loneliness over the life I''m living now," the young man sighed and finished his tea.

    "How about we get out of here?" I asked, throwing a few dozen Essence on the table. "I swear I''ve felt eyes on the back of my neck for thest ten minutes."

    Nathaniel''s eyes darted around the room, his face returning to its stony countenance, "I suppose we should."

    We left the cafe and walked along the streets, chatting about our experiences in the Academy. Luckily, I remembered arge majority and could entertain his questions about my past while I got to know the inner workings of the Syward Family.

    Nathaniel was in high spirits at first, though I noticed it seemed to dampen with every step we took closer to Ward Lane, where his family had a small dwelling for when they had business in Grandhardt. By the time the small manor was in view, the boy was downright depressed.

    "Easy there, Nat," I patted him on the shoulder. "Are you going to be alright?"

    "I''ll be fine," Nathaniel nodded and reached out. "Thank you for meeting me. I hope it won''t be thest time."

    "I''m sure it won''t be. You can visit my ce at the end of Cloverdale any time," I grasped his hand and shook it, looking at his saddened eyes. "Bloody hell, boy. If you really hate it here so much, just pack up your things and stay at my ce. I''ve got enough space to house your entire generation."

    Nathaniel stared at me for a moment before giving a curt nod and turning toward the wrought-iron gates. I shook my head, chuckling. It didn''t seem the boy was a fan of wit. He could have at least pretended tough.

    One of these days, I''ll find someone who doesn''t take everything so seriously. It''s been so challenging to get a rise out of folkstely. Maybe I''m losing my touch.

    ...

    Fog gathered on the streets as I made my way home. The lights of the streemps and the glow from the blood-filled Circuits lining the pavements shed in the night, forming an odd aura that turned the already gloomy walks gloomier.

    The fog wasn''t an effect of the weather... It was caused by the many factories in this part of town. It was nowhere near as heavy as in Origin City, but it was still enough to cause the odd phenomenon for a few blocks.

    After breaking through the fog, I found myself on Cloverdale, just in front of Station 4. Still, I had a long walk to get to my home at the end of the street. As I walked through the darkness, my cane tapped noisily against the poorly paved road. There were few streetlights in the area, as the road was mostly empty, save the asional small residence.

    I could see a dull purple glow as I approached the end of the street. The Essence energy seemed to be spreading faster than I thought. It still hadn''t reached the fence, but the almost dead fields of flowers near the house were covered in a purple ambience that could be seen from many hundreds of yards away.

    A sudden noise in the darkness pulled me from my admiration. I drew my sword and spun on my heel, casting Appraisal and focusing on the link that connected me to my Tracking Enhancement.

    Several small footprints appeared in my vision as I squinted my eyes. Surprisingly, I recognized them. They looked like tracks from one of the Rodent-Type gued Beasts I''d seen in the First Floor tunnels.

    But... that can''t be..?

    Before I had the chance to cast Radiance, I heard a shriek, and a mound of fur came hurtling toward me from the darkness. Dash. Pierce. My de drove through the Rodent''s skull, and Dash took me out of the way of a second attacker that I hadn''t seen.

    "Radiance!"

    I cast the Spell on my de, using the Incantation Enhancement to heighten the effects. A dome of light spread out for yards around me, revealing three more of the dirty creatures, and I recognized them instantly.

    [Rodent, Manic Bite]

    [Level: 2]

    [Rank: gued]

    [A gued Beast native to the Second, Third, and Fourth Floors. Typically roam in packs of ten to twenty. Unintelligent. Bites can cause manic episodes. Terrified of me]

    I slung the housecat-sized Rodent free of my de and prepared for the next assault. The first of the rats leapt toward me, and I stepped to the side,shing out at the beast''s side with Rend. It squealed and crashed to the ground.

    Then, unexpectedly, thest two turned tail and fled. I pulled two throwing knives from an inner pocket of my jacket and flung them at the varmints. One struck true, but the other ttered harmlessly to the ground after an uncharacteristic evasive manoeuvre from one of the rats. By the time I''d retrieved my knives, it had long fled.

    What the bloody hell was that?

    I knelt and looked over one of the corpses while pulling a vial of Infernal Wash from yet another pocket. The rats differed from the hairless creatures I''d faced in the First Floor caves. Instead, they were as shaggy as the Ursidae, smaller than their bald counterparts, and... more cunning?

    There was an instance in my previous life when gued Rats ravaged the slums and countryside for a short time. New job postings were set out, thus the birth of the ''Rateneers.''

    They were a group of weaker Wielders who set about hunting groups of these beasts for great reward. I''d personally gone on a hunt with one of the groups to show that the government supported the cause, but...

    This still isn''t right. It''s years too early... and those beasts never showed the intelligence disyed by this group.

    These attacks had felt almost coordinated. And fleeing? gued Beasts didn''t have the intelligence to flee even after the Fifth Floor, where only a Fallen creature would give orders to retreat.

    I wasn''t sure what the difference was, but it didn''t bode well. And it wasn''t something I could help with. I''d never learned the origin of these monsters. gued Beasts weren''t supposed to spawn on the Origin Floor, and this was a different breed from those found above.

    There were several theories. One was that the use of gued Blood in the Circuits over time had started affecting the wildlife... but that was proven untrue around fifty years from now. Another, more usible theory was that the power of the Wielders increasing was beginning to change the environment on the Origin Floor.

    As a Wielder ascended, their body took on more and more of the gue, increasing its immunity and natural aura. It was suggested that this aura affected the environment, and there were facts to back it. If a Fourth Floor Wielder were to stand next to a Fortieth Floor Wielder for too long, they would begin to sweat or even feel fear if the more powerful Wielder turned their ire toward the weaker.

    Neither of these theories was confirmed true, and one day... the rats vanished from the Origin Floor without a trace. After that, all had swiftly been forgotten.

 Chapter 27 Precognition

    Aurora heaved a deep sigh, stopping in front of a small patio. Two rocking chairs teetered back and forth squeakily beside an old stone table. The low-cut grass and flowers in the small garden swayed back and forth in the gentle breeze.

    Shoulder-height wooden fences stubbed out from the ground in every direction, partially obscuring the captivating scene from nosey onlookers. Aurora breathed in deeply, taking in the aroma of the beautiful environment before letting out a ragged breath and steeling herself.

    After so much time spent within the stone walls of the Academy... she was home. If viewed from above, one wouldn''t have any trouble picking out the dissimrities between this home and those around it. The rooftop had a steeper pitch, and the abode was taller than those around it without having an extra story... it was more like the home was wearing arge, pointed hat.

    The outer walls were constructed in a ckened brickwork that bore a stark contrast to the surrounding homes. A dirty, cream-coloured paint was used to highlight the trim around the window frames and ornately carved doorway, giving the house a unique look that the surrounding dwellings didn''t dare replicate.

    After another long, ragged breath, Aurora forced a smile on her face. Opposed to the stone and metal of the Academy, the smell of the flowers and the freshly trimmed grass helped her feel at ease. The sound of the constant creaking of the rocking chairs reced the drumming of her heart. She felt almost liberated from the pressure and the gloomy days she felt at the Academy... though even the high fences blocking the view from the street and the nostalgic smell of the garden couldn''t prevent the odd sensation that had her so worked up.

    Aurora stepped onto the patio... and heard a click. She jumped at the noise, stumbling back before noticing the front door swinging open. A gorgeous woman stood at the threshold, smiling excitedly. If it weren''t for the few lines around the woman''s brow and her speckled grey hair, one would think the door had opened to reveal a mirror.

    "I thought I heard someone shuffling around out here," the woman smiled and stepped forward, wrapping Aurora in a tight embrace. "Oh, my sweet girl, you''ve grown so much. I''m so sorry that we couldn''t stay after the ceremony."

    "M-Mum..." Aurora''s voice came out in a choking whisper, tears starting to form in her eyes.

    "Baby, are you alright?" the mature woman stepped back and looked at Aurora worriedly, wiping her thumbs gently across the young woman''s cheeks.

    "I-I''m fine, mum. It''s just been so long, and I''m tired from the ride," she answered slowly, not wanting to worry her mother. "My bags weren''t light, and I haven''t gotten much sleep since the ceremony."

    "Deary me, why am I holding you hostage out here? Hurry in and getfortable. Come on now," her mother ushered her in, taking the bags from Aurora before she could protest. "Warm biscuits are waiting on the counter."

    "Alright," Aurora smiled... a genuine smile, one not so fraught with worry. She nced at a nearby window, where she could see arge, dark silhouette crouching behind the curtain. "Is dad around?"

    Her mom looked back and winked, "Oh, you know Raymond. He''s toiling around the shop, as usual."

    She stepped in, already smiling and trying not to turn her head toward the living area. This was a game they''d yed for years, and her stepfather always felt lousy when she called him out. Their rtionship changed when he burned through his savings to send her to the Academy. She''d long seen the man as her second father... but she felt indebted to him now, making her feel awkward.

    "Aurora!" as she passed the arch leading to the living area, he leapt out from behind the wall, calling her name andughing. "You''re finally home!"

    Aurora feigned surprise and jumped back,ughing at the antics of the giant man. Her mom smiled from the hall before dragging the overstuffed bags into one of the side rooms.

    "We just got back from the shop no more than a half hour ago! Your timing couldn''t have been more perfect!" Raymond grinned broadly and gestured to the kitchen, "Let''s enjoy some of your mom''s cooking and catch up. We''re so proud of you, and I want to hear everything!"

    His voice and his words were genuine, and his smile lit up the room. Aurora couldn''t help but be affected by his energy. This man had shown up in the darkest period of her life, bringing a beacon of light with him. When her biological father vanished... it put Aurora and her mom in a tough ce.

    Raymond stepped up, taking care of them and treating her like his own. It wasn''t just paying her tuition that left her feeling like she owed the man... he''d given her everything and still supported her dream to find out what happened to her father. There was no way she could ever repay him.

    "What''s wrong?" Raymond turned serious, looking closely at his daughter. There were dark marks under her eyes, and he didn''t miss how stiff her expressions were. "Is there someone bothering you? Who are they? Where can I find them?"

    "Calm down, Raymond!" her mother appeared and wrapped her arms around Raymond''s thick biceps. "She''s exhausted and had a long trip home. Let her rest. You can interrogate herter."

    Raymond raised an eyebrow and looked at Aurora worriedly, "Alright... if you say so. Just make sure to tell me if I can do anything for you. And be sure to grab one of your mum''s biscuits while they''re still warm."

    Aurora hugged them both and grabbed a biscuit before heading to her room and closing the door. She knew that it wasn''t only her that hadn''t been getting rest. Both Raymond and her mother had bags under their eyes... signs of their constant struggle to keep the shop going.

    Her guilt at having soaked up so much of their earnings for herself grew, and she could only be d that it was over. Now that tuition was no longer necessary, they could slow their pace and rx. No more books. No more tuition. No more sending gifts to the First Floor.

    Aurora wished she could show them how truly grateful she was, but the best she could do for now was to reach a higher Floor and pay them back. They went through so many sleepless nights to provide for her. She wouldn''t let them down.

    As shey on her bed, a sudden itch made her cringe. She twitched her neck, rubbing the spot aggressively against her shoulder. A breeze passed through the open window, gently shaking her curtains and causing her to jump. She leapt up and closed the window, ensuring thetch was tight, before crawling back on the silk sheets and cautiously examining her surroundings.

    Aurora found nothing out of ce. Her room was exactly as she recalled. Next to the door stood a tall, ten-foot ss pane which reflected her figure sitting on the bed. She leaned against the wall, stared at her reflection and pulled down the cor of her shirt to reveal a bright red patch of skin. Blood trickled slowly from the wound, and she fought the urge to scratch at it again.

    "Haah..." she ced her head in her hands and began to cry as the itching started again, a primal fear creeping into her mind. Her shoulders twitched as she sobbed quietly into her sleeve.

    "Not again..." she muttered almost inaudibly as her mind formed a connection with one of the Cards within her Deck Box. Aurora did her best to fight it, but it continued to drag her in, her surroundings turning a deep red as she tried to resist the pull.

    Her head shot up, and the room around her began to spin. The familiar white curtains and tall mirror disappeared as the colours swirled together, and she found herself somewhere else entirely.

    A tall white building stood before her. Four enormous pirs supported a massive awning at the top of several wide steps, where a beautifully crafted door stood ajar. Aurora spun, taking in her surroundings.

    High metal fences surrounded the structure, and she could make out the faint glow of unactivated circuits on each spire. Myriad carriages lined the street before the building, where men and women in masks and quirky attire exited and ventured toward the massive building.

    Aurora opened her eyes wide, stunned at the rity of this vision. It hadn''t been the first, but it had been the only one she could see clearly. Before she could get any clues about the location, the scene shifted again, and she found herself in a dark alley.

    Trash and broken ss littered the ground. The broken concrete was filled with water, which rippled as a cold wind blew down the narrow passage, distorting the reflections of the few lights that cast shadows about the ce. There were no indications of life. One of the puddles rippled harder than the others, and she could make out a glowing sign when it cleared.

    Grandhardt''s Sour Skies

    It appeared to be the sign for a small shop... or, more likely, a tavern, judging by the location. Her heart throbbed, and the anxiety she''d been feeling grew in intensity.

    Ssh!

    The same puddle sttered, the tight walls as a ck boot stomped uncaringly down the broken stone walk. Though it was hard to shift her view, Aurora managed to slowly raise her head and catch the sight of a hooded figure traipsing by.

    The shadowy figure carried arge sack over its shoulder. Though the bundle was asrge as the figure, it didn''t seem to struggle under the load. Its footsteps echoed rhythmically in the tight space until it came to rest in front of the tavern.

    With a loud, wet thud, the sack fell to the ground in front of the door. Another ssh ensued, and Aurora flinched from habit, even though the water couldn''t touch her in this form.

    When she looked back, she could see the puddle turning colour. The mirror-like water was turning crimson at a rapid pace, staining the brown bundle. Her heart began to beat fiercely, and she almost retched as a horrid stench assaulted her.

    "Hm..?"

    The hooded figure turned its head swiftly, looking directly toward her. Its face was covered by a ck mask, only its ebony eyes showing through... and its eyes were looking right into her own. She froze, dread and terror filling her as the itching on her neck spread to the rest of her body.

    She needed to flee. To get out of this ce as soon as possible... but she was frozen. Internally, she screamed that she wanted to be free from this ce... and suddenly, she was. As if the Card showing her this vision had listened to her plea, the world swirled again, and she found herself looking into a mirror. The one in her bedroom.

    Her clothes were drenched, as were the sheets she sat on. A bright red stain showed on her cor, and the wound on her neck was openly bleeding, no longer just a blemish.

    Aurora rolled out of bed and stood shakily, trying to control herboured breathing. Closing the distance to the mirror, she looked at the wound and then herplexion. She''d lost colour... her face was pale, dreadfully so. Her lips trembled, and tears welled in her eyes.

    Suddenly, the irritation stopped, and the feeling of dread was washed away by a wave of euphoria. She closed her eyes and focused on this feeling, and she could picture the glowing sign from her vision, though only the first part stood out.

    Grandhardt.

    She pulled a pair of sses from a case on her belt and donned them while simultaneously drawing a Card from her Deck Box. She''d read the description countless times, trying to understand what was happening to her.

    [Card Name: Precognition]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Sacred]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: The Wielder has a sense that steers them in the correct direction to keep them out of harm''s way or lead them to great prosperity. At times, both peril and fortune walk hand in hand]

    [Sacred Effect: When an important decision needs to be made, the Wielder gains deeper insight through a vision. The target of this insight will either lead the Wielder to great danger or to remarkable fortune]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder experiences irritation when there is an opportunity or danger is imminent. Danger is typically apanied by an ufortable sensation while opportunity is denoted by a soothing warmth]

    Auroray back on her bed, thinking over the lines she''d read. Peril and fortune walked hand in hand... and both awaited her in Grandhardt. Her eyes closed, and as she drifted off to sleep... she made her decision.

    ***

    I smiled warmly as I looked at each of my guests who had joined me in the living area. David floated upside down, poking his fingers at the carapace of the unnamed Beetle and giggling when the creature raised its shell and pped its nearly useless wings.

    My Pixie restedfortably on my shoulder, watching the two and smiling in amusement while the shoulder-height Golem stood to the side with little expression, asionally scratching at its head with a stone finger. Each of these beings was a part of me, and I could feel their delight at being out in the open.

    Before calling on them, I spent 21,000 of my remaining Essence to Level both David and the Beetle to Level 3 so they would eachst a couple of hours. With all of my Summons at the same Level, I felt much morefortable relying on them for different tasks. In addition, both of them gained some unique Skills.

    [Card Name: Beetle, Rhinoceros]

    [ss: Summon]<novelnext></novelnext>

    [Rank: Pure]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: The Wielder Summons a Beetlepanion. All mental Foundations must be of an equivalent Level or higher than the Level of the Summon]

    [Duration: 1 hour]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    [Skill 1: Reinforce. The Beetle hardens its shell, bing tougher to injure for a brief time]

    [Skill 2: Crunch. During its next attack, the Beetle''s horns gain additional crushing power]

    [Skill 3: Flutter. For a short period, the Beetle ps its wings, allowing it to hover over a short distance]

    The Beetle''s new Flutter Skill allowed it to p the wings on its back and hover for a short time. At the moment, I didn''t see how that could be useful... but I couldn''t help but wonder what would happen if I Promoted the creature. That was a decision forter, but it was on the table.

    [Card Name: Spirit, cial]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Sacred]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Name: David]

    [Description: The Wielder Summons a Spiritpanion. All mental Foundations must be of an equivalent Level or higher than the Level of the Summon]

    [Sacred Effect: As a Sacred Summon, the Spirit, David, has been blessed with natural awareness. Will not required for this Summon, but be warned, this Summon has a Will of its own]

    [Duration: 1 hour]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    [Skill 1: Minor Fear. The Spirit instils a feeling of dread into its target]

    [Skill 2: Spectral Connection. The Spirit forms a link with its Summoner and other Summons, allowing them tomunicate through thought]

    [Skill 3: Frost Field. A domain of frost spreads around the Spirit, chilling and slowing enemies within its range]

    David''s new Skills would both be valuable in most situations. Between his Minor Fear and his Frost Field, he could handle a good deal of crowd control. As for Spectral Connections, it was a Skill that allowed him tomunicate with any entity he chose as long as he formed some kind of bond with them. With his naturally intangible body, he could be a master informant.

    Of course... that''s only if he can control himself.

    I chuckled again as David flew through the different objects in the room, shifting between his invisible and visible forms, which it seemed he didn''t need a specific Skill to do. It was interesting to see what he could do naturally, and in addition to his Skills and awareness, I could certainly see what made him a Sacred Summon.

    At Level 3, the Holy Ranked Pixie that sat on my shoulder enjoying the show couldn''t yet speak, though she could vaguelymunicate with gestures and was intelligent enough to follow more than just basic orders. The Blessed Ranked Golem, on the other hand, could only follow the most fundamental ofmands, even at Level 3. Stay. Attack. Lift. ce. Throw. Use Skill.

    Then there was the Pure Ranked Beetle... It couldn''t do much. At the moment, it would act on instinct to protect me, the other Summons, or itself, but it couldn''t understandmands. That was apparent by the few minutes I spent conveying to the creature that I needed it to stay put... not attempt to devour my furniture.

    Yeah... I''ll probably definitely end up promoting it.

    "Rowan! Watch this!"

    David swooped to the floor and angled his body straight, shooting up into the ceiling. I watched for a while, but there was no change. Something pulled at my ear, and I nced at the Pixie, who was pointing at the floor below me.

    "Boo!"

    David''s head was poking out through the floorboards staring up at me. Iughed heartily and patted the cushion next to me, "Come have a seat and talk to me,d. I''d like to know why you decided toe with me."

    "Hmm?" David floated up from the floor and came to rest on the couch, "You were funny, and... well..."

    The boy looked down at his feet, "I''ve spoken to a bunch of people over the centuries... and tried to talk to more. When I showed up, some would run... others would talk but kept their distance. After a time, I learned it was best to not show myself often. You were the first person who ever treated me like a real person."

    "Well..." he looked at me thoughtfully, "There was another who treated me well a very, very long time ago, but his Deck was already full. He was kind, but there was no room, so I didn''t ask."

    I raised an eyebrow, "Is that so? I''m delighted you decided toe with me. I''m assuming you''ve never left the First Floor?"

    "No," David shook his head excitedly. "This is the first time I''ve been on the Origin Floor since... well, you saw. Anyway, I''ve been trapped by the stairs all these years and could only venture so far from that point. Life was boring before the Academy came along, and even then, all I could do was try to y with others or sit in on the lectures."

    "You sat in on lectures... for over six thousand years?" my shoulders stiffened. I was disheartened to have to relive myst few days at the ce... but thousands of years? That must have been torture.

    The young boy nodded, "That''s right. I watched them build it, and I sat in on so many lessons that I memorized them centuries ago. You wouldn''t believe how long they''ve used the same material, though they do update information here and there as they learn more on higher Floors."

    "How did you be a Spirit?" I asked, pulling my timepiece from its pocket and ncing at the time. We still had another half hour before David would fade into the Card. The Pixie flew off my shoulder and sat beside the young boy, patting his hand even though her own kept phasing through.

    "I don''t really know," he scrunched up his face and squinted his eyes toward the ceiling. "I remember dying... and let me tell you, that was not pleasant. After that, I simply woke up above my own body. Cain was barking orders at a small group of my tribemates he''d brought up the stairs after using that boar''s tusks to cover up the wounds he''d caused Abel and me."

    "After that, they travelled into the woods, and I couldn''t follow. The few who stayed behind became deathly sick after eating the boar," David sighed. "Of course, you learned in the Academy that the meat of gued Beasts is poisonous, and there aren''t many who can safely consume it without an Endurance Foundation."

    So I guess most of them died.

    "What about the other tribes?" I asked curiously.

    "By the time others showed up on the First Floor, Cain and the survivors were gone," David shrugged. "There were conflicts as a town was built around the stairs, but I couldn''t see much of it. The distance I could travel was minimal at first. It took years to get used to my body and expand my range."

    "I see."

    "By the way, Rowan," David pointed to himself. "Do you think you can show me around town soon? I would like to see everything I heard about in the Academy. Just look at this!"

    David flew up and pointed to the light, tracing the circuits on the ceiling, "This is amazing! How did they figure this out? I spent hundreds of years examining the markings around the stairs, and there is no way I could do something like this!"

    "What?" I was taken aback by the thought of a child analyzing the Tower''s secrets... though, after a moment, I felt I was being foolish. David had lived and learned for thousands of years. Even if his form was that of a child and it affected his personality, he would still have a vast amount of knowledge.

    "Yeah," the boy grinned broadly. "I think I learned a few tricks, but I''ve never been able to try them. Obviously..."

    David waved his hands through the table, and Iughed, "I suppose that would be a problem. You''re wee to look over the ones in the house while you''re out."

    I stood and headed toward the door, "I''ll be outside if you need me."

    David flew into the floor while the Beetle scampered around the Golem''s feet. The Pixie flew back onto my shoulder and ced her hand on my neck. I smiled down at her.

    I need toe up with names for all of them.

    Naming a Summon was something any Wielder could do, and it would reset if added to another Wielder''s Deck. I wondered what my father''s name was for the Pixie.

    Names helped when issuingmands, and I''d even heard that it helped them be more aware... though that had never been confirmed. In my previous life, I''d named the Pixie Lana after my mother.

    After ambling through the flowers to the back of the house, I walked until I came to a short fence surrounding a tall oak. The moon was bright tonight, and I had no issues seeing therge stone thaty beneath the tree.

    John Wilder

    May Tara forever guide his path.

    "Hey, pops," I sat on the grass, and the Pixie flew to the top of the stone and sat. "It''s been a while. I... just wanted you to know that I''m doing all right. I recently found some notes from grandpa, and I did well on the First Floor. This life... well, things are going to be different. I only wish I could havee back earlier."

    I breathed out slowly and leaned against one of the fence posts, staring up at the sky, "I''ll be sure to make you proud, pops."

 Chapter 28 Wielders Wonders

    I whistled a tune and twirled my cane while strolling down the paved walk. On one shoulder, I carried a small wooden trunk, weighed down with the goods I''d acquired on the First Floor. It was a fine day. The cool, early morning air teased my skin as it blew, and the streets were nearly empty.

    Grandhardt was quiet in the mornings, one of my favourite things about the ce. With the poption consisting heavily of Guilders, revelries usually proceededte into the night, and the streets wouldn''t start to crowd until close to noon.

    I turned onto Devonshire Ave, finding it slightly more popted than the prior street. A few dozen would-be consumers gazed into the many shop windows, pointing and chatting as they browsed the wares from a distance the shopkeeps couldn''t hound them.

    My eyes moved away from the patrons. ncing over the tops of the buildings at the massive wall acting as a backdrop to the beautiful morning, I shivered. Knowing whaty in wait on the other side gued my memory, even if I hid it well.

    One day. Once I''m strong enough to bear the consequences, I''ll warn everyone... but what then?

    Frowning, I stopped twirling my cane and allowed the butt to fall to the stone. Would knowing do anything more than cause people to anguish and brood for the rest of their lives? Would it cause chaos and have the opposite effect of what I intended?

    I shook my head. There would be time to think over my options. It would likely be years before I could contend with the top Wielders, assuming I could reach those heights.

    Well, it''s possible. I just need to push the limits of Summoner''s Blessing to see what it''s truly capable of. Oh, I''m here.

    15 Devonshire Ave.

    Before I knew it, I stood at the bottommost steps of a white-bricked storefront. The colour of the brick was the same as the other shops lining each side of the street, each only entuated by the different colour awnings, doorways, ss windows, or grandiloquent luminous signage that adorned the fronts.

    As for this facade, the colours were maintained, but besides the nk of metal marking the address, there was no signage disying a store name. I rummaged through one of the deeper pockets in my vest and drew a set of keys before climbing the steps to open the front door.

    The keys had hardly rattled in the lock when the door was pushed gently open, and Crook poked his head out with a giant grin. I pocketed my keys and raised my cane in greeting.

    "Ahh, if it isn''t Mr Crook. Can''t say seeing your face is the most pleasant of the morning''s views."

    "Oi!" he feigned offence and took a step back, clutching his chest. "I''ll have you know that thedies can''t help but press themselves to the ss in a bid to get a look at me. It''s a wonder I''ve been able to keep it clean."

    Heughed raucously and stepped aside, giving me space to enter the exhibition floor. My brows shot up, and for the first time since I''d awoken in my youthful figure, I was genuinely surprised by something unrted to my growth.

    Bloody hell...

    It had only been two days, yet Crook had utterly transformed the shop''s interior. In my prior life, I''d had the ce renovated to sell the goods I acquired on the Tenth Floor. After all, one of the perks of tutoring the up-anding Wielders on defeating their first Fiend was that I was entitled to a percentage of the loot week after week. Unable to use most of it for myself, as strengthening my Cards caused my old Origin Card to drain more life from me when using abilities, I hired one of Crole''s nephews to sell the items here part-time.

    Over the years, I''d made quite a fortune... Easily five times what Luxton was asked to offer for the estate by the mysterious buyer. Yet what good had it done me? None.

    Before, I''d simply set the shop up with a few shelves to disy the Cards and Relics farmed. The young man who watched the shop sat at a wooden table near the entrance, checking customers out as they came and went.

    Now, however... beautiful ss disys lined the outer walls, each crafted to hold particr types of items. Each cab and shelf was lined with Circuits that would be powered by the shop once the hub was activated.

    To the left were locked ss shelves explicitly built for unting Cards, while a simr set-up crossed the rightmost wall, though the stands were spaced out further, obviously meant for holding various Relics.

    Two long sections meant for armour, clothing, and other assorted gear lined the centre, while a final location in the back corner opposite an ornate desk held misceneous material anyone would need to ascend. Packs, tents, climbing gear, and many other items were disyed neatly on brand-new shelves and tables.

    "I''ll withdraw my prior statement," I muttered, turning to the still-grinning merchant. "This may be the most pleasant view I''ve seen this morning, after all. Was all of this really in your old shop?"

    "Most of it was packed away in the back," Crook stroked his chin and looked about. "That small area up front couldn''t hold it. But this... This is a beauty of a location. I can already smell the Essence! What was our deal again? Forty per cent to you?"

    I could hardly hold back augh at that, "That was a praise-worthy attempt, but I''m afraid not. Per our agreement, you can operate here as long as you agree to sell my wares. Fifty per cent of all sales, be they your goods or mine, go into the shop''s operation. As for items provided by me, you shall be paid a twenty per centmission on profit, while the remaining profit you will store for when I return. Your own stock will be the opposite."

    "And what''s to stop me from only promoting my own wares?" Crook asked.

    I stared into his eyes for a moment, waiting. Threat Acuity didn''t pick up any malicious intent, and it looked as if he were just curious, "You''ve seen the door to the hub, I assume?"

    "That I have," the merchant nodded.

    "Good," I pulled a hefty key from my pocket. "This opens the door. Within, you will find that this shop is equipped with circuits for defences and monitoring. I''ll set the parameters based on our agreement. You''ll need to move your booth to the left, where you can use the Circuits to ess the shop registry."

    "I see," Crook walked to the back wall and ran his hands along the etched carvings to the left of where he''d ced his chair. "If I don''t store the expected amount of Essence at the allotted time, the Circuits will shut me in and alert the authorities. Clever."

    He turned back to me and smirked, "There''s a lot more to you than you let on, boy."

    At this, I shrugged, "Standard settings for the entire street, nothing too extraordinary. This, on the other hand..."

    I toted the crate to the desk and slid it to him, "Take a look."

    Crook opened the top of the crate, almost bored... and then gasped when he saw the contents thaty within. He pulled stack after stack of Cards out, spreading them neatly on the counter as his eyes grew wider.

    "Wilder... Did all of thise from the Skull?" he asked incredulously.

    "It did," I chuckled and looked at the impressive pile. "Based on the Ranks and rarities of the Cards, there should be more than 600,000 Essence there. I''m not considering the Essence invested."

    "Easily," Crook agreed. "And you want to sell all of this?"

    I nodded, "Store a few of each Foundation to help secure employees in the future. Otherwise, yes. Sell them all."

    "Very well," the merchant shook his head and began to neatly sort the Cards again. "With the number of Guilders passing by every day, this will go fast. You''ll be hard-pressed to keep a supply with the more experienced ones snapping these up for recruits."

    "It won''t be so bad once I begin my ascent," though I did acknowledge his words. He was right. A couple hundred Cards was nothing for a shop. "And maybe we can hire a farming team in the future. For now, I have another issue I''d like you to look into. I need you to find your source and open an investigation."

    Crook raised a brow, "I hope you aren''t going to ask me to learn more about the dimirs. Those Recording Pearls I gave you were the best my source could find. It wasn''t much... but digging more could get him in a bind."

    "Actually... I haven''t even had the opportunity to listen to them yet," I admitted sheepishly, thinking of the small bag Crook handed me at the station. "When I arrived at the manor, a visitor was waiting for me. They were a bit taller than you, fast, and had a rtively high Will. They were searching for something. I''d like you to see if your source can link the intruder to any known faction."

    The merchant fiddled with the edge of one of the Cards, staring at it thoughtfully, "For something like that, I won''t make any promises. It''s too vague... but I''ll ask around."

    "That would be much appreciated," I inclined my head in thanks. "Now, it''s a bit dark in here. Why don''t we head down and take care of that so you can link your disys."

    ***

    For the next few hours, Crook and I worked together to adjust the shelving and disys to link suitably with the shop''s circuits. By the time we were done, every case and item was lit with a dim purple glow and descriptions of the items within shone in translucent gold lettering for all to see on the ss surface.

    These cases would have cost a small fortune, a fact which had prompted me to inquire more about Crook''s past between our usual lines of banter. It turned out the man had once owned a luxurious shop in O'' Connel but had fallen on hard times when he was offered a way into the High Society.

    He''d clutched at the straw, selling his shop to repay some debts but keeping most of its contents for expansion on the First Floor. Unfortunately, the wooden building on Main Street had been nothing like what was promised, so most of his belongings were ced in storage. When we''d gone to the back room, I was once again astounded by the number of crates he''d had brought up from O'' Connel the days prior.

    At this rate, the shop will be operational before I leave the Origin Floor... What a pleasant development.

    "Crook, have you thought of a name for the ce yet?" I asked curiously.

    He jerked his head in surprise, looking away from the Card he was adjusting on one of the many mounts, "Me? You would let me name it?"

    "We''re business partners, aren''t we?" shrugging my shoulders and gesturing to the well-decorated interior of the store. "This is just as much your doing as it is mine at this point."

    "I..." he hesitated, then looked around. "Well... my stock will onlyst so long, and the Cards you brought in will go quickly. What will be our main product? Just the Cards you loot as you ascend?"

    I thought about that for a moment, then scrunched my eyes, "Crook, do you think you can get your hands on a Tame Creature Card?"

    "That''s not exactly a rare drop, you know? I actually have a few copies in the back, but why do you..." his voice trailed off, and he looked at me in confusion. "You don''t n for this to be a speciality shop, do you? I only know of three shops that sell Summons, and their expenses are phenomenal!"

    "You can''t have that kind of Essence," Crook shook his head. "Those proprietors pay exceptionally high bounties and have their own teams of Tamers they pay to live on and farm Floors for particr creatures. Even with five such teams per Floor, the number of Summons they can sell per month only numbers in the dozens, and they get snatched up swiftly."

    I grinned, not missing the first part of his statement, "Humor me,d. Let me have one of those Cards."

    Crook scrunched up his face, sighed, and retreated through one of the back two doors. One headed to a smaller second floor, where speciality items could be disyed, and the other to arge shelved room in the back. The merchant would live on the third floor, where a suite only slightly smaller than the second floor could be found.

    Ahh, I did it again, didn''t I?

    Crook was over twice my age... well, my physical age. Not that it would in most situations. Several men and women two or three times my mental age looked to be in their twenties, so the average person would assume that I''m a Wielder from one of the Upper Floors.

    I looked at my reflection in the nearest disy and chuckled, thinking of how I would react if one of the youngsters crossing the Tenth Floor spoke to me in a simr fashion. Eventually, I merely chalked it up to one more of the entricities I needed to work on.

    Crook made his way out of the back room, and I heard him muttering something under his breath about children and their oundish dreams. He stopped in front of me and presented me with a Card.

    "Here. I traded for four of them in what I thought was a good deal nearly a decade ago, and I''ve only managed to sell one since," the merchant shook his head. "These Cards are nearly useless, and most folks won''t waste a slot in their Deck for the abysmal chance it gives at receiving a Summon."

    On the face of the Card was a young, raven-haired woman with a hand outstretched toward a small, blue slimy creature which was timidly reaching out with a drooping arm to touch her fingers. The woman was smiling brightly, and I could almost hear herughter by simply looking at the image.

    "Appraisal."

    [Card Name: Tame Creature]<novelnext></novelnext>

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Pure]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1,000]

    [Description: The Wielder attempts to cleanse a gued Beast of its affliction in an attempt to befriend or capture it]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder casts Tame Creature before injuring the target. If sessful, the target creature is cleansed of its gue and bes a Summon. The Summon dropped can not be of a higher Rank than the equivalent Rank of the targeted creature, but it can be lower. Chances of sess follow this Effect. The probability listed is applied after the likelihood of whether or not the targeted Beast will drop a Card]

    [Pure: 1%]

    [Blessed: 0.1%]

    [Holy: 0.001%]

    [Cooldown: 24 hours]

    I looked over the information for a long while. Crook was right... those stats were abysmal. And the bonus from Summoner''s Blessing hardly helped, adding just 10% to the original figure. Though, the Cooldown being cut in half from the typical 24 hours was indeed worthwhile.

    An eleven in... one million chance for a Pure Summon to drop from a simple Crazed Beast?!

    That number was just ludicrous. Summons were rare, sure, but not that rare. I didn''t even want to calcte the drop rate of a Holy Summon, seeing that it should be a chance somewhere in the tens or hundreds of billions at a nce.

    Crook chuckled, likely having seen my expression, "I told you, runt. One in a hundred thousand. Not worth it. Of course, the wealthy aren''t supplying their groups with Level 1 Tame Creature Cards, but even with multiple Wielders casting in each group, it isn''t like the odds improve by much."

    "And that''s only a Pure Tame Creature Card. I''ve heard that Blessed versions can be found above the Fiftieth Floor, which is why Summon builds didn''t even begin to be favoured until the first groups of Wielders reached the Floor a few centuries ago," the merchant continued with a smirk. "I saw one of the Blessed Cards during my time in Origin City, and even then, Level 1 is hardly an improvement, sitting at one in ten thousand for a mere Pure Summon from a Crazed Beast."

    He shook his head as he fiddled with another disy, "You''re wee to try your luck but don''t me me for being sceptical. Still, if you intend to bring Cards back rather than material, we can use the name of my old shop. Wielder''s Wonders."

    I nodded absently and pocketed the Card, "Sounds good, Crook. If you''ll excuse me, I''ll double-check the hub and get going. There are still a few matters I must tend to while the day is young."

    "No need to hold back because of me," the merchant waved me away. "This shop can''t make a shard without your ascension, so do what you must to prepare. I appreciate your assistance, and while you''re down at the hub, insert the name, so folks know we''re open, would ya?"

    "I''ll handle it," I called back, already at the door to the back room. Holding the Card firmly in my grasp, I rushed to the stairs and into the basement, where I closed and locked the door before sitting at a nearby table.

    My hands moved on their own, pulling the Promotion Relic from my pocket and dumping a small pile of Essence on the table. The Relic pressed against the Tame Creature Card twice, each touch releasing a bright silver glow as the Card was promoted from Pure... all the way to Holy.

    [Card Name: Tame Creature]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1,000]

    [Description: The Wielder attempts to cleanse a gued Beast of its affliction in an attempt to befriend or capture it]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder casts Tame Creature before injuring the target. If sessful, the target creature is cleansed of its gue and bes a Summon. The Summon dropped can not be of a higher Rank than the equivalent Rank of the targeted creature, but it can be lower. Chances of sess follow this Effect. The probability listed is applied after the likelihood of whether or not the targeted Beast will drop a Card]

    [Pure: 50%]

    [Blessed: 10%]

    [Holy: 1%]

    [Sacred: 0.1%]

    [Angelic: 0.001%]

    [Cooldown: 24 hours]

    Before I''d even finished reading, 1000 Essence had already found their way onto the Card. The brilliant shards turned to dark husks as the Card reached Level 2. Once again, I read over the probabilities.

    [Pure: 50%]

    [Blessed: 11%]

    [Holy: 1.1%]

    [Sacred: 0.11%]

    [Angelic: 0.0011%]

    [Cooldown: 23 hours]

    The Cooldown dropped by an hour, and each base figure rose slightly, though it seemed 50 per cent was the limit. Without a thought for the Cards I nned to purchase over theing days, I summoned my Origin Card and invested another 1000 Essence in bringing it to Level 2. Once again, I nced at the stats of the Tame Creature Card, this time willing the increases from my Origin Card to show.

    [Pure: 50%]

    [Blessed: 16.5%]

    [Holy: 1.65%]

    [Sacred: 0.165%]

    [Angelic: 0.00165%]

    [Cooldown: 11 hours 30 minutes]

    I gasped. The jump was enormous. My hands shook as I slid the Card into my Deck Box.

    If I Level up this Card in conjunction with my Origin Card... And then there are the possibilities of both gaining additional or strengthened properties at Level 5...

    My excitement grew. Hesitantly, I looked at the pile of shards beside the two Cards, sighed, and scooped the rest into my pouch. I couldn''t continue spending so frivolously until I had the Cards I needed. What was the point in being able to sessfully gain Summons if I couldn''t survive long enough to kill the Beast I was attempting to Tame?

    When the Essence was once more secure on my hip, and the Tame Creature Card was ced in my Deck Box, I looked over the improvements to my Origin Card. The upgrades were... nonexistent. Other than the increase in Taming probability, nothing had changed.

    [Card Name: Summoner''s Blessing]

    [ss: Origin]

    [Rank: Origin]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 0/10,000]

    [Description: The Wielder gains an increased affinity for Summoning]

    [Effect 1: Summons'' cooldowns are halved]

    [Effect 2: Summons'' durations are doubled]

    [Effect 3: Requirements to use Summons are reduced by 1 Level]

    [Effect 4: The Effects of Tame Creature are increased by 50%]

    Well, I''ll see what happens at Level 5. Oh, in all the excitement, I almost neglected to name the store. What had he said again..? Oh, right. Wielder''s Wonders.

 Chapter 29 Mask

    "This��isn''t right��"

    Tears formed under the eyes of a young woman as she looked down at the apathetic child before her. Her own visage was torn between sorrow and anger as she turned to face the blond man beside her.

    "Something has to be wrong with him, Aldis!" she hissed, still keeping her voice down, though she wasn''t careful enough to keep the others present from hearing. Blinking away the forming tears, she choked out, "This child��our��child. He isn''t normal."

    The child in question didn''t flinch at the usation, though he didn''t miss a word. He looked between the stern face of his father and the furious, disgusted face of his mother before turning to his older brother, who looked at him with concern. In a back corner, his older sister rolled her eyes and scoffed before turning back to the book she was reading.

    He took all of this in stride. This hadn''t been the first time the woman he called mother treated him with such revulsion, and he knew it wouldn''t be thest. Even after so many of these discussions, he still struggled to see where he''d gone wrong��not that he was especially concerned.

    Among his siblings, he was unique. His older brother was kind and caring��or at least appeared to be, though the boy knew better. His sister was arrogant, pushy, and exceptionally driven when the subject interested her. They were all three incredibly bright, but him��

    "Even now! Look at him!" Margeret raised her voice and pointed at the boy, no longer caring who heard. "Even standing there being admonished, he looks at us with those same dead eyes. If you don''t do something about this, Aldis, I will!"

    That was how the boy differed from his brother and sister��and anyone else he''d met. As a babe, he didn''t cry. Nor as a toddler. And even at seven years old, he hadn''t changed. No matter the situation, his face remained cold and distant, as did his mind.

    Even at this age, he knew this was a problem for his mother, but he couldn''t force himself to change. He didn''t understand why his being as he was��was such a problem. They never seemed to understand his reasoning, as he never understood theirs. Their existence was meaningless to him, as was his to them.

    "Mother, please��lower your voice." Jason, the boy''s older brother, spoke calmly. "He''s never going to understand through your constant belittling. Take the time to train him. You''ll find he''spetent, even if he doesn''t think the way we do."

    As the trio talked, he looked around the high-ceilinged room. The dark wood floors contrasted greatly with the off-white walls, though the trim tied the two together nicely. Purple Circuits traced their way around the room, powering the gold-ted chandelier andmps, which cast their light upon the many portraits and statuettes adorning the walls.

    He didn''t understand any of this, particrly the white furniture with patterned rose petals sewn into the cushions. He may have been young, but he still understood the expense that went into the room. All of this, his mother said, was to improve their standing��but it was all a sham.

    The chandelier andmps were simply painted to appear gold, while the furniture was reupholstered from some older worn-down couches she''d bought from a second-hand shop. Even the statues and paintings were cheap items she''d purchased from peddlers on the street.

    "Oh? And you know best, do you?" Margeret practically shouted at her eldest son. "This is the second time he''s killed one of the family hounds! And don''t even mention what he did to the cat. News travels fast in this heap of a town. By now, half of the High Society will have heard about this. All of your father''s hard work will be for naught at this point!"

    "Calm down, Margeret." Aldis finally spoke, his naturally stern face showing neither anger nor concern. He ced a hand gently over the woman''s bulging stomach and looked her in the eye. "You know they say rage isn''t good for any child."

    He stared at her until she nodded, then turned to his youngest son. "Son. Why did you kill our dog this time?"

    His voice wasn''t filled with malice or disappointment, more a genuine curiosity. Aldis wasn''t arge man. He wasn''t marred by the many scars and marks of battle, and he didn''t dress in overly gaudy clothes like that of his wife or superiors. Yet when he spoke, his tone was one of authority.

    The boy looked his father in the eye and saw his reflection mirrored in those deep pools of ck. After studying himself in those bottomless eyes, he answered tly.

    "It was being loud, Father. Mother told me to go to sleep, but Brute wouldn''t stop barking." He scrunched his eyebrows. "I asked Brute to stop, but he wouldn''t, and you told me not to disobey Mother. When I killed him, I went straight to bed and fell asleep, just as instructed."

    His tonecked remorse but held an honest curiosity. It was almost as if the boy didn''t understand why he was in trouble when he simply did as he was told. And indeed, he couldn''tprehend their reactions.

    For the boy, killing Brute was the natural thing to do. When someone was dirty, they washed away the dirt. If one were hungry, one would search for something to eat. When you left a room, you were supposed to turn out the light so as not to waste Essence. And when there was a noise keeping you awake��you silenced it.

    Aldis'' expression changed slightly, his curiosity showing concern for once but not anger. For his part, the boy noticed this subtle change and connected it with the visage his brother wore, though it didn''t look right on his usually gruff father.

    "What''s wrong, Father?" The boy''s tone was still nd, but his face was full of uncertainty. "Was there something wrong with my actions?"

    He truly did not understand. His parents'' responses were hard to fathom, and he felt that he''dmitted no egregious offenses. For every action, there was a corresponding reaction��and he''d simply eliminated the source of the noise preventing him from following his given directives.

    It was true that this was the third time he''d killed a creature. Was that why they were so upset? But that didn''t make sense. He''d witnessed his father return home with the bodies of many beasts, boasting about how he''d in them to provide for the family. How were the boy''s actions any different?

    "I��I can''t do this��" The words were soft, and he barely heard them. He shifted his gaze from his father to his mother, whose back was now facing them as she walked out of the room. "I refuse to be part of this. Aldis, you do something with him before I do."

    Aldis sighed and stood tall, squeezing the boy''s shoulder as he did so. After looking at his youngest son for a few seconds, he turned to Jason and gestured to the door.

    "I''ll try to handle this," he muttered. "Jason, you look after your brother."

    "Wait! Fath��" His older brother tried to reach out, but there was a loud thud, and their father was gone. Jason sighed and sauntered over to copse tiredly on one of the white sofas speaking to the boy. "Come sit with me for a minute."

    After a few moments of silence, Jason asked, "Why did you do it?"

    "Bec��"

    "Don''t give me the same answer as you gave Father." Jason shook his head. "I know that what you told Father was the truth. What I''m asking is why you didn''t think of the responses your actions would cause first. You''re smart enough to have done that."

    The boy looked up at his older brother, wondering why he was saying this. What good would it do to answer? Not that he had any additional answer in the first ce.

    "I want to help you," Jason said after looking around, likely trying to find their sister, who the boy had seen creep out of the room before Mother left. "You''re pragmatic. You have little emotion, and because of this, you don''t view the world as others do."

    The boy looked toward one of the nearby portraits. It depicted a powerful man fighting a giant beast. A massive spear ruptured the creature''s gut, and crimson liquid poured from the wound. The boy wasn''t attracted to the scene, but that color��

    "Do you think I should change?" he asked, not looking away from the shimmering, dark-red paint on the portrait. He could feel his brother''s gaze bearing down on him. After a moment, he peeled his eyes away from the painting and turned to find his brother shaking his head.

    "No. You don''t need to change." Jason smiled sadly and put his hand on the boy''s shoulder. "You''re different, yes, but that isn''t always bad. In fact, you may be one of the best Wielders in the Tower simply because of your differences."

    The young man looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing, "You just need to learn to blend in. I''m not saying you have to change your beliefs or even hide who you are, but all of us��myself, Mother, Father��every person in existence, for that matter. We all put on a front to appease others. We do things we don''t like to make othersfortable or to be sessful��"

    Trailing off, Jason looked over the boy again, waiting for a nod or some semnce of understanding. As quiet and inexpressive as his little brother was, he''d almost forgotten that he was talking to someone scarcely old enough to join the Academy. Eventually, the boy nodded, so he continued.

    "I suggest that you observe others more carefully. Not just watch them, but study them. See how your peers react to certain situations and how people of different ages react to those same situations. Of course, I don''t expect you to understand their feelings, but you are intelligent enough to piece together what makes people tick��" Jason rubbed his chin. "You should certainly spend more time around others and not hidden within these walls. I can help with that as long as you''re willing to ept it. Maybe we can scrounge up a few Cards that will help you out. What do you think?"

    The boy looked away, his eyes wandering back to the brave warrior ying the gigantic beast. Rather than focusing on the crimson trail of liquid, he focused on the mask the character wore. Every time Mother and Father hosted one of their get-togethers, they and their guests would wear masks. Though he hadn''t been outside often, he also noticed that most individuals walking the street wore them as well, hiding their expressions from the world.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "So��I should wear a mask?" the boy asked, turning to Jason, studying his brother''s reaction as suggested. It wasn''t a waste of time, as Jason smiled. That meant he was happy with the boy''s question, right?

    "In a sense, yes." Jason nodded and exined further. "Though I don''t agree with everything Mother and Father do, if I were to show my displeasure openly, it''s likely that I would get a smack for my boldness. So, I smile and nod, even if I''m not content."

    "I see��" The boy''s lips twitched, and he forced himself to smile��awkwardly. Jason almostughed but kept hisposure to avoid disparaging his brother''s attempt.

    "It will be a hard road, but I''m here for you." Jason ced his hand gently on the boy''s head, tussling his hair. He sighed when the boy kept the stiff smile rather than frowning or squirming away. This wouldn''t be a quick lesson. "This will be better for you in the long run. Do you understand��Zachary?"

    Zachary''s expression shifted back to that of indifference, and he ced his hand to his chin as Jason had done, showing that he was thinking. After a brief moment, he nodded.

    "Yes��I think I understand."

    ***

    Zachary looked on in wonder. The reflections of faint orange and red lights dancing in his eyes grew brighter every second. A pungent, acrid odor invaded the space around him, but he didn''t move. The crackling wood and the roar of the heat in the air formed a symphony in his ear, and he didn''t want it to end.

    A wave of heat washed over him, and he could feel something warm and wet trickling down his cheek. It irritated him. His own body dared to ruin this moment, but he didn''t move, even as the heat caused more tears to form.

    "Beautiful��" His long, blond hair buffeted his face as another hot burst reached out. Zachary envisioned the portrait he''d studied those few years ago. The crimson river came to his mind as the dark red me licked out to grab him.

    "Zachary!" A faint call sounded somewhere behind him, almost drowned by the roar of the ze. His eye twitched, a hint of irritation creeping forth as the moment was ruined. The mes licked toward him again, his pores stinging from the heat, but he stood still, trying to recover the lost feeling.

    "Zachary!"

    The voice was louder this time, and Zachary sighed as the sensation vanished. A fit of coughing racked him from the deep breath, and he turned to face the voice he could hear closing in.

    "Zachary!" Jason crashed through a partially copsed wall and rushed toward him, his pale face tinged with an apprehension bordering fear. "Zachary, get a hold of yourself! The roof can copse at any second. We need to leave!"

    Jason grabbed Zachary''s wrist and pulled him away from the now-raging inferno. Even if he wanted, Zachary wouldn''t be able to fight his brother''s strength, so he followed along as they made their way out of the copsing building. Once they were far out in the yard, Jason let go and copsed to his knees, retching the contents of his stomach onto the cold ground.

    Zachary turned back to his childhood home as another beam copsed, taking arge section of the roof with it. Even this far out, the crackle of mes reached his ears, and he could feel small waves of heat washing over him. It was even more beautiful than before, the bright light of the congration contrasting remarkably against the darkened night sky.

    "Are��you okay?" He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned back to look at his brother, who was wiping his mouth with his other sleeve. Zachary thought to take stock of himself and noticed that his skin was charred in many ces and most of his hair was missing. His clothing, too, had hardly survived.

    He nodded in response and studied his brother''s features, trying to gauge his reactions and understand his feelings. Jason''s face was twisted in agony, tears streaming down his reddened face. His shoulders shivered violently, and Zachary could feel his fingers clenching and unclenching on his shoulder.

    "Cami��" his brother whispered, another shiver running through his body as he fell to his knees again. Jason''s eyes strayed slowly back to the fire. "Cami is�� I�� I didn''t��make it in time. Damn it."

    Jason pounded the ground, the impact so strong that Zachary could feel it reverberate through his boots and up to his thighs. As he listened to his brother muttering the girl''s name, he looked back to ze, picturing his baby sister, who he''dst seen asleep in her cradle. For the second time that evening, he felt something wet sliding down his cheek.

    "How? How could this have happened? Why did this have to happen while Mother and Father were away? Wh��what am I supposed to tell them?" Jason slowly stood, shuffling over to Zachary''s side. "I tried�� It came too fast�� I didn''t have time to�� I''m sorry. I''m so sorry��"

    Zachary felt his cheeks cool further as more moisture collected on them, brought on by the surges of heat drying his eyes. He watched his brother, whose face was twisted in sorrow and rage, both of which were very unbefitting of his character. As he looked on, the words his brother had told him those years ago yed in his mind.

    I suggest that you observe others more carefully. Not just watch them, but study them. See how your peers react to certain situations and how people of different ages react to those same situations. Of course, I don''t expect you to understand their feelings, but you are intelligent enough to piece together what makes people tick��

    The words came crashing toward him as if they were being shouted from every direction. Zachary stumbled slightly. He looked back at his brother��and clenched his fists. A matching fury and sorrow showed on his usually dull visage. His body trembled, and he wailed, howling at the mes which reflected on the torrent of tears that burst forth.

    "Aaaaagghhhhh!" His body trembled as he yelled to the glowing sky.

    ***

    Zachary blinked rapidly, looking away from the burning hearth and back to the mirror beside him. Late morning light filtered in through therge stained windows of the lodge in which he was staying. The memories hade unbidden and unwee as he warmed himself by the fire, but they had passed, and he had ces to be.

    He strolled to the washroom, tossing a few Essence into the cubby by the door to power the lights and other apparatuses. Warm water soon flowed over his skin, washing away the oils he''d applied the night before. Though he had been healed quickly, the pain still lingered years after the fire.

    Casting Cleanse would do away with the morning routine, but Zachary loved the warmth. He nced at the mirror, looking over his toned figure briefly before donning the white, buttoned shirt he''did out the night before.

    One''s image was crucial in conforming to society, a lesson he''d never forgotten. Jason had spent the better part of three years with him before joining the Church of Liberation, at which point his mother sent Zachary off to the Academy, not wanting to deal with him on her own. His father was too busy pushing his way into the good graces of the High Society to even notice his absence.

    He slipped into a pair of gray cks, followed by a ck vest and dark gray waistcoat. A golden timepiece hung from the inner pocket of his coat, which he opened briefly to show an image��the same one he''d stared at in the family home many years before. He snapped the piece closed and tucked it into his pocket.

    Looking into the mirror, he felt that something was missing. The ensemble was admirable, but it wasn''t very eye-catching. In fact, it was nd overall, and he thought it needed something more��

    "Ahh�� You could use a bit of color." Zachary pulled open the top drawer on a nearby dresser, retrieving from it a beautiful crimson handkerchief. It was a gorgeous piece and something he''d only recently acquired.

    With careful movements, he creased it in a few ces and tucked it neatly into his chest pocket before turning back to the mirror. It was a nice piece, and it had indeed been worth the hassle. His nk face shifted, showing a genuine smile as he admired how the kerchief fit with his suit.

    "Perfect."

    Zachary strolled outside, looking over the few people who moved about on the almost empty street. Some masked figures nodded their heads toward them as they passed, and he returned the gesture.

    It was then that a lone but familiar figure across the road caught his eye. Long dark hair whipped about in the morning breeze, bright green eyes darting about. He tilted his head and watched the young woman stumble before running into a nearby alley.

    "Hmm��" Zachary stared at where the girl had disappeared for a long while. He recognized the fear on her face��not just fear, but terror, not far from how his brother had looked when his mother and father returned. His interest piqued.

    Curious, he nced both ways before crossing the street, stepping into the path the girl had taken. He wondered what could cause someone such terror and what new information he could glean if he found out. It seemeding to this city would provide more than he had bargained.

    "How fascinating��"

 Chapter 30 Preparations

    "Oi,d!" My hand was on the door, ready to leave, but I heard Crook calling me back. I turned and gestured to him to continue. "Don''t you forget about those Pearls. Wasted a favor on them, so make sure to put ''em to good use."

    "Noted. Thank you for reminding me." I nodded in appreciation and stepped out of the store, admonishing myself for my forgetfulness. I''d meant to listen to the Pearls while in the hub.

    It seems I let my excitement get to me. It''s already early afternoon, and I still have preparations to make. I''ll need to find some time this evening to give them a listen.

    The shops set up by the Church of Liberation only stayed open a few hours on either side of noon. If I waited any longer, it would be tomorrow before I could pay them a visit.

    I nced back above the shop, where the moniker Wielder''s Wonders was now shown in broad letters above the entryway. It was a nifty name, one that I was sure would draw the interest of many Guilds in the future.

    He may be shady sometimes, but I must hand it to him. Crook has a knack for this, even when he''s not selling garbage. The witty name and how he set up the disys so that each item gets slightly more interesting to draw clients further in�� I suspect I''ll have trouble keeping him stocked.

    Taking the alley between my building and the next, I crossed over to Baker Street, where most of the city''s eateries were located. The aroma made my mouth water and reminded me that I hadn''t eaten.

    The cafes were already bursting with activity as many of the Guilders had woken and were stuffing their bellies in preparation for another night of festivities. Unfortunately, I didn''t have the time. Waiting in line wasn''t a high priority on my to-do list.

    Baker would dump me onto Wisk Lane, which formed a neat ring throughout the center of Grandhardt and would ultimately take me to my first destination, the Church of Liberation''s Grandhardt branch. Every branch consisted of three buildings, one for worship, one for application and testing, and one for profit. I''d be heading to the third.

    Nonbelievers weren''t allowed to enter the Liberation Exchange, where supporters or members of the Church could trade material or Essence farmed on the various Floors for goods. The Church offered exemry rates for the blood of gued Beasts and even handed out Relics for storing the valuable liquid to its members. Without the blood brought in by lower-ranking supporters, much of their revenue from crafting and maintaining the various Circuits throughout the Tower would vanish.

    Though I wasn''t personally a member, I had a trick up my sleeve��literally. Pausing my stroll for a brief moment and ensuring I wasn''t being watched, I focused on my cane, using the connection formed by the familial bond to activate its first Effect. Momentster, I felt something cool press against my wrist and opened my eyes.

    The bracelet I''d acquired from the Skull''s lockbox glinted in the sunlight, the bronze chain dangling loosely from my arm. On the bracelet were two charms. One universal charm that every supporter of the Church received and one that marked the bearer as a first-stage Deacon, the lowest rank a member could be.

    Between this show of status and the fact that my mother had been a first-stage Priest with the Church before she passed, I didn''t feel I''d be given any trouble. It wasmon for youngsters to take after their parents, after all, and the members of the Church of Liberation were sticklers for superiors passing knowledge to their children and pupils.

    My cane tapped lightly against the walk as I proceeded up Wisk Lane and took the northernmost street of Grandhardt''s central district. At the head of the cul-de-sac, at the very end of the street, stood an exquisite temple, visible even over the pitched rooftops of the many surrounding buildings.

    The pure white structure and golden iys stood out from the city''s many off-white, gray, and dark buildings. Only the purple Circuits running along the building''s side gave some semnce that the structure belonged, though they were much more intricate than the surrounding area.

    To the left and right of this building stood two simrly colored structures, though they were smaller and not so ornately decorated. The one to the left was my destination.

    Liberation Exchange

    3 Hallowed Ave, Grandhardt

    All right.

    I put on a smile. My story was concrete, and my mother had actually been a member, even if I hadn''t. Though she''d had me study many of the texts, I hadn''t been of age and couldn''t join in her visits to the Church, something that I hoped would help me sell my case if needed.

    Impersonating a member of the Church was dangerous, though the punishment likely wouldn''t be too hefty for masquerading as a lowly Deacon. There was one instance in my previous life that became well-known, one that provided a lesson. Anything could be achieved with enough confidence.

    Approximately thirty years from now, there would be a significant gathering of the most prominent members of the Church, all in the third stage of Priest or higher. One of the rarely seen Arch-Bishops was to attend and, for whatever reason, wouldn''t make it on time.

    How this trickster gathered his information was never shared, but he knew the Arch-Bishop would bete and nned ordingly. He showed up in the proper garbs and knew just what to say to worm his way onto the dais.

    Everyone believed he was indeed one of the Arch-Bishops��until his speech about the indecencies of themon folk turned into the story of a woman with a third leg. He managed to hold the tform for half an hour, reaching the crescendo as the genuine Arch-Bishop arrived��just in time to see the trickster hike up his robes to reveal his own third leg.

    There was an uproar, and the Church couldn''t keep it under wraps. The fool who gave what became known as The Three-Legged Speech was slowly stripped of his Cards and hanged in the Church''s holy city. Even when he was gone, his tale lived on in the taverns for years.

    Someer let slip that the man had performed that stunt over a bet after swearing that anything could be done with proper nning and enough confidence. I chuckled and threw a nce toward the temple before proceeding up the Exchange''s steps.

    If I can properly pull off my own ruse, I may see that historical event for myself.

    I straightened my cor and pushed open the beautifully crafted double doors to the building. When I did so, I was almost taken aback. The interior of the Exchange was mesmerizing. Waist-high disys lined the expansive chamber from wall to wall, arranged like shelves in a library. There were a few men and women present, perusing the different aisles.

    "First time?" a high-pitched, amused voice asked from my right. I turned and found an elderly man sitting in afortable chair behind an almost ordinary-looking desk. He was dangerously thin, like he hadn''t eaten in months. The smile on his face was warm and inviting, but I could see an inquisitive look in his eye.

    "Indeed, sir." I tilted my head in respect, ncing at his silver bracelet and noting that the man was a stage two Priest by his charm. Holding out my bracelet so he could clearly see the charm, I continued, "I''ve only just be of age and supposed I would pay a visit before my ascent. My mother always thought it prudent to remind me that the Tower''s light shines upon those who invest in the Church."

    "A wise woman." The doubt in his eyes almost entirely faded, and his smile somehow looked more hospitable than before. "Can you provide verification that she serves as your master, young man?"

    "She did until the day she died, sir," I replied honestly. "Though she was not as esteemed as yourself, being only a stage one Priest, she was able to provide me with two of her Cards. The rest were returned to the Church upon her passing, as is custom."

    The remaining suspicion in the man''s gaze was snuffed as he heard my story, and I cast both Greater Healing and Radiance. He stood and stepped around his desk to ce a hand on my shoulder.

    "My child, I am sorry for your loss." He inclined his head. "For my discourtesy, please allow me to assist you. Have you resolved to build your Deck in any specific fashion? If not, I can provide you with the most recent scroll we''ve received from the Bishops noting what the Church currentlycks."

    I politely declined. "Though I appreciate the offer, my mind is set on conveying the Tower''s light through action. Cleanse and Healing Wave will be necessary for my build if you could point me to the appropriate aisles."

    "I see." His smile returned. "Oh, to be young and driven again. If you genuinely wish to ascend and cleanse the Tower, I can find no fault in your actions. Both Cards you seek are in aisle four, though on opposite ends."

    Almost as an afterthought, he added, "You are wee to browse the rest of the wares on that aisle, but don''t try to pass beyond. With only the charm of a stage one Deacon, anything beyond will cause you pain. Still, you will not be left wanting. I wouldn''t bother with the first three aisles unless you are simply curious, as they are all Pure Cards meant for supporters, not members."

    "Your aid has been appreciated, Priest." I lowered my head and moved toward the first aisle, casting Appraisal on the way, though pulling out my shard of Demon ss so as not to alert the man. It only took a few moments to locate the first of the Cards.

    [Card Name: Cleanse]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1,000]

    [Description: Washes away impurities affecting the target over time]

    [Effect 1: Purges all non-magical contaminants affecting the target. This Effect extends to any clothing or essories donned by the target.]

    [Effect 2: Over time, weakens or nullifies the adverse effects caused by harmful Spells or Abilities. Cleansing persists for 10 seconds times the Level of Intelligence.]

    [Effect 3: Can be cast on a number of targets equal to the caster''s Wisdom.]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    Ahh��no more Infernal Wash. I''ll still keep a few vials for when this is on Cooldown.

    I''d received one of these as a gift in my previous life, and I''d been missing it. The Infernal Wash was excellent, but it was a burden to tote around so many vials. I moved along the case, ncing at the different Cards to see if any others piqued my interest. Eventually, one did.

    [Card Name: Condense]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1,000]

    [Description: Reduces the Cooldown of all skills]

    [Effect 1: All skills experience a Cooldown reduction of 3%.]

    Three percent wasn''t a lot��but how much could it increase? If I could Level this alongside my Tame Creature Card, it could be theoretically possible to cast a considerable number of times per day.

    There aren''t price tags on any of these��

    Deciding not to skim the rest, I walked straight to the end and found the second Card I was looking for. On the face was a white-robed woman with her hands spread. A golden aura spread from her body, and several wounded men on the ground showed relieved looks.

    [Card Name: Healing Wave]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: For up to 5 minutes, the area around the Wielder bes a ce of restoration. This Spell cannot be used while moving.]

    [Effect 1: A healing aura surrounds the Wielder. The range of this aura is three yards times the Level of the caster''s Wisdom.]

    [Effect 2: For all non-hostile entities within this aura, the Effects of Vitality are increased by 10% times the Level of the caster''s Intelligence.]

    [Cooldown: 1 hour]

    This Card was a bit vague on precisely how much it could heal, but from experience, I knew it to be a little weaker than my old Heal Spell on impact��though the effects would be more significant than Heal if one were to stand within its range for the full five minutes.

    Satisfied, I decided to make my way back to the counter where the Priest was aiding another customer with their purchase. I took the scenic route, snaking my way through the first three rows of Pure Cards��and was stopped short on the second row.

    There was a single Card sitting inconspicuously on a small white pillow. I walked by it at first, but my enhanced Wisdom categorized the name and description before I''d made it two steps.

    [Card Name: Luck]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Pure]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1,000]

    [Description: Increases the drop rate of all Cards within the Tower. The Wielder must deal the final blow.]

    [Effect: Drop rate increased by 1% of existing rate]

    Trying not to show my excitement, I plucked the Card from the open case and added it to the small stack I carried. By the time I finished walking thest disy and reached the Priest acting as the Exchange''s clerk, the previous customer had left, and I ced each of the Cards on the desk facing him.

    "I noticed that there weren''t prices on the disys. Would you mind informing me of the cost for these four?" I untied my pouch and prepared to count out the Essence.

    "Oho! Another young man hoping to get lucky." The Priestughed and pointed toward the Luck Enhancement. "We sell at least one of those a week, all to young men such as yourself, though most go to our farming parties, of course.

    "I''ll inform you so that you''ll be aware on your next visit." The Priest gestured to the rows. "The Cards on the first through third rows cost one thousand, two thousand, and three thousand Essence, respectively. Where the Blessed Cards begin on the fourth row, the cost increases to five thousand Essence. If you reach stage two in the near future, the Cards on the fifth row cost seven thousand five hundred Essence."

    I nodded and counted out seventeen thousand Essence, thankful that I''d asked the clerk at the Luxton to exchange my smaller shards forrger ones. Otherwise, this purchase would have been quite a hassle.

    "Thank you, Priest." I tucked the Cards into my pouch for now, then bowed slightly as a show of respect, using my pointer to draw a six-pointed star on my chest. The Priest beamed and repeated the gesture, though without the bow, as his standing was far above mine.

    "May the Tower''s light shine brightly upon you, young Deacon." He slid the Essence toward arge crate as I strode from the building. Confidence and nning. My gambit paid off.

    Still have some time��I should crack those Pearls before Crook gives me an earful.

    Though the sun was receding along the western wall of the Tower, it wasn''t dark yet. The Church of Damnation''s doors wouldn''t open untilte evening.

    I turned into one of the smaller alleys branching off of Hallowed Avenue and used Dash and a few windowsills to make my way to one of the rooftops overlooking Wisk Lane. Though the city''s lights were springing to life, the street was less packed than before, most of the Guilders having made their way into one of the numerous pubs within the alleys.

    Dashing across the pitched surfaces of the tiled and shingled roofs, I made my way to the southern side of Wisk and found a cozy spot between two chimneys. Below me and just a short way down the streety my final destination for the evening.

    That Damned Bazaar

    13 Sinner''s Square

    Shaking my head at the moniker, I settled between the two chimneys and checked the street below. Unlike Hallowed Ave, where the Church of Liberation held im to the entire cul-de-sac, Sinner''s Square shared the space with a few other buildings. Of course, these were the dwellings of either the Church''s members or Guilds that followed the Church and donated regrly.

    Masked figures strolled about between all but the three very peculiar buildings lining the square''s far end. In the center stood a dark cathedral. It didn''t have the monumental size of the temple of the Church of Liberation, but it was just as well designed. Sharp spires protruded from the tops of the three buildings with gargoyles and other beasts carved out of the ebony stone.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I knew that each of these carvings was a Relic that would spring to life the moment someone attempted to trespass or break one of the Church of Damnation''s few rules. The Church of Liberation extended little charity to their counterpart, so scant few purple etchings were lining the square. Still, the Relics were more than enough to handle any individual brash enough to overstep the Church''s limitations.

    I watched the masked figures for a moment before settling in and pulling my pack around. There was no reason to be concerned with eavesdroppers as the Pearls could only be heard by the one who shattered them. Even if that weren''t the case, these people wore masks for a reason. They preferred to keep to themselves.

    Pulling loose the thin, unopened pouch I''d received from Crook on my arrival to Grandhardt, I dumped the contents into my palm. Three pea-size silver pearls fell out��and I grimaced.

    These Recording Pearls weren''t the mostmon Relic but also weren''t particrly scarce. The size of the Pearl determined how much information it could hold��and all three of these weren''t worth more than a few paragraphs.

    Well, maybe the information is valuable.

    mping one of the Pearls between my thumb and forefinger, I squeezed until it shattered, and a gravelly voice spoke as if from right beside me, though I knew it was only in my mind.

    "Basic Packet on the dimir Family. The Family''s city is situated on the southeastern border of the Tower''s Origin Floor, between the City of Windawn and the Citadel of Damnation. If you wished to visit, you would take railway nine leaving Origin City.

    The dimir Municipality is perched atop the southernmost mountains. Many of its residences and establishments are carved into the rockface, a stark contrast to the City of York, which is located within an ever-expanding cave in the northernmost mountains. One can only safely enter or leave either of these cities by using the lotive.

    Conrad and Lucinda dimir are the current Elders of the dimir Family, and though their exact age isn''t known, both are believed to be over the age of 1,000. The Family''s standing is ninth amongst the Ten Great Families, despite having the least members. Regardless of the Family''s present state, there have been no actions to dethrone the current Elders."

    I looked at the dust lining my palm in disbelief. That was it? Sure, the dimirs were one of the more secretive Families, but most of that wasmon knowledge.

    I''d had the chance to visit the dimir Municipality on government business in my past life, so I may have seen more than most, but I expected an information broker to have more than that. With a sigh, I cracked the next one.

    "Basic Packet on the Kasamira dimir. Kasamira is a direct Descendant of the current Elders, believed to have been born between the thirty-second and thirty-fourth generation approximately thirty to fifty years ago. There are no other living Descendants from her generation.

    She has one surviving brother from close to three generations prior, who has been spotted on one of the upper Floors. The dimirs are unique in that there is only one scion born per generation, though not all are directly descended from the current Elders.

    Like her brother, parents, grandparents, and the current Elders, she has the trademark pale skin, white hair, and red eyes of the dimirs. The surviving extended family will sometimes have one or both of these traits."

    I stroked the grip of my cane while I processed the information. It wasn''t much to go on, but I''d at least learned something here. What had the young woman said? She was also older than she appeared?

    Unconsciously, I touched the back of my neck where she''d drawn blood. It was only a thin cut, but it had bled for most of my trip back to the dorms. And her Spells were powerful. To have put me and almost every Descendant present in a trance as she''d done, brief as it was, she couldn''t have a weak Will Foundation.

    Still, I couldn''t picture that girl as the vicious woman that I''d seen pictures of through the Network. The woman I''d encountered seemed more curious and yful than vile, even if she did have a screw loose.

    Sure, she had nicked me with her nails and dragged me under her Spell, but she hadn''t started that brawl. That was just some hormonal teenager wanting to measure sticks in front of a famousdy.

    I''d hoped this information would give some insight into why she''ll go insane in a few years, but no luck. Stopping her would save many lives��but assassination wasn''t the only method to change the future. With low expectations, I shattered thest of the Pearls, and the husky voice returned.

    "I owe Crook a debt, and if it weren''t for that, I wouldn''t have included this information. I would be grateful if you would pass on that I''ve included this. It wasn''t easy toe by, even if it was only a rumor.

    Advanced Packet on the dimir Family. A rumor has been spreading through the underground for several years, though it only recently became a hot topic. Supposedly, the dimir Family has found a way to circumvent the Tower''s rules and has found a way to send a Wielder to a lower Floor.

    I know this is unlikely to be urate, but I trust my source. As I expect you know, those born on a higher Floor have no way to receive an Origin Card, as they are already bound to that Floor and have already received the benefits of longevity. Those born in this way usually have more substantial control over their Cards.

    It is known that the dimirs operate the Fortieth Floor, and most of their scions are born there. If they''ve found a way to benefit from the higher control while also receiving an Origin Card��Tara, help us all. You may choose not to believe this, but I trust my source, and he said he''s seen it with his own two eyes."

    A strong gust of wind blew across the rooftops, wiping the dust of the Pearl clean from my hand. I stared at my open palm for several minutes before casting Cleanse to wipe away any remaining debris.

    They''ve found a way to travel to Floors they''ve already visited? That''s ludicrous. I''ve never heard of such a thing��but if it''s true�� No. A secret like that couldn''t be held so well. These are likely baseless rumors.

    Yet��hadn''t I returned to the First Floor after having already ascended? Sure, the circumstances were different, but there were obviously many truths that I wasn''t privy to.

    Could that have something to do with her going insane?

    I shook my head. For now, I''d treat it as the rumor it was, but I wouldn''t ignore it. For now, it was getting dark, and I had other matters to attend to.

    cing one hand on the shaft of my cane, I felt the connections between myself and the bond. A strange chill enveloped me, and the weight on my shoulders and head increased. I opened my eyes to see the light brown of my prior suit had been reced by sleeves of pitch-ck material.

    My peripherals were slightly obscured, yet the world around me looked clear as day. A long, ck brim stretched out beneath my eyes, assuring me that I''d donned the mask my grandfather had left when I used the cane''s storage space.

    ncing at the reflection of a nearby attic window, I looked over the ensemble. A raven''s face stared back at me, though its body was d in ck attire. ck coat. ck suit. The only bits that stood out were the purple-and-gold trim that took the form of Circuits on the cuffs, cor, and mask��and the purple tie bringing the look together.

    "Not bad." I smiled and returned my cane to its former ck-and-silver grandeur, removing the effects of the ring that left the shaft looking like it was carved from a Blood Oak.

    When satisfied, I leaped from the rooftop, activating Featherfall so that I unhurriedly floated to the stone below, my cloak billowing up above me. This��was nice.

    My feet hit the pavement with a soft thud. A few looks were cast in my direction, though most of the cloaked and masked figures simply hurried about their business. As for me, I did the same, heading for That Damned Bazaar and smiling beneath my mask as I read the name up close.

    There really is a night-and-day difference between the two Churches.

    I walked briskly up the steps, opening the door with a flourish��and received a vastly different wee from what I''d expected. Several heads snapped up, and the moment they noticed me, they gave either half or full bows while pressing their pointer and thumb to their chests in the shape of a crescent moon.

    "Sir Legionnaire!" As I returned the gesture, a gruff voice to my left called out. I turned my gaze, finding a tall, broad-shouldered gentleman with a ck mask that covered all but his mouth. Unlike my own, with the long beak and bva that ran down the neck, his was angr and shaped like the face of a golem.

    "Disciple." I spoke sternly, though I did my best not to sound harsh. The Legionnaires were the Church of Damnation''s equivalent to the Church of Liberation''s Inquisitor. As for the ranks, they were simr. Where they differed was that the Church of Damnation had five stages per rank instead of three, and I had no idea how to differentiate between them.

    ncing around the bazaar, I saw that, of the other patrons, there was one other Disciple, six Acolytes, and two supporters. The Acolytes wore ck half masks with no specific design, while the supporters'' faces were only hidden by the hoods of their cloaks.

    I have to be dominant. Legionnaires are Damnation''s front line. They don''t wait.

    "Is there any particr reason you haven''t offered your services?" I asked, trying to add a hint of impatience. It came out rather t but still seemed to have done the job as each of the room''s upants moved to an outer wall.

    "Ahh! No, sir." The bulky man gestured to the now cleared-out aisles of the bazaar. "Right this way. Is there anything specific you''re looking for?"

    "Affliction. Shadow or Cold is fine. I''ll also require Amalgamate Agility and Amalgamate Intelligence," I responded quickly. "I''ll be done here in ten minutes."

    The clerk nodded and hurriedly set about his task. I scrunched my nose ufortably, d that a mask hid my features. Acting confidently was fine, but I didn''t care for such rude behavior.

    Grandpa Charles'' note had said that a member of the Order would be present in the facility and that I would know them when I saw them, yet no one here stood out. I was moderately disappointed, as I wanted to learn more about this mysterious Order.

    "As you were." I waved my hand to the patrons who stood patiently against the walls, motioning for them to resume their browsing. There was only so much I could handle.

    As for me, I proceeded to the furthest set of racks, where the higher-Ranked Cards were disyed. Unlike the Exchange, this Bazaar only restricted its Patrons by cost rather than rank in the Church. They believed that if you yed enough Beasts, you deserved what you could afford.

    My eyes bulged when I saw the small section of Sacred Cards chained to a case in the very back��and I began to sweat when I looked at the prices. There was even a small selection of Summons in the group, though they were only Pure despite their location.

    Seeing that these would be far out of my budget, I moved along the wall to the halfway point of the Holy section, where the prices became more affordable. Though these were moremonly found than the Holy Cards closer to the Sacred section, I found something worth purchasing.

    [Card Name: Integrate, Shade]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1,000]

    [Description: The Wielder is one with the shade]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder merges into the shadows, making them 10% harder to detect.]

    [Effect 2: While in a shaded area, the Wielder''s movements are muffled by 10%.]

    [Effect 3: While in a shaded area, the Wielder''s movement speed is increased by 3%.]

    This��I have to have it. And maybe��

    Going through the list of Cards I''d memorized over many years, I recalled a few Cards that wouldplement it. Looking around the shop, I realized that I could search for hours without knowing if they had one in stock.

    I''ll have to wait for the clerk to re��

    "Excuse me, sir. May I be of assistance?"

    ncing toward the soft voice, I realized it was one of the cloaked figures. She was young. Based on her attire, she was only a supporter of the Church. She was likely training to be a member if she was toiling here.

    "Are you currently carrying either Twilight or Overcast?" As I asked this, I plucked Integrate from the shelf. The girl scrunched her brow and pointed toward a rack in the center of the room.

    "I think we have a few copies of Overcast. I can bring one to the front if you''d like, sir Legionnaire?" She turned, and I could see the admiration in her eyes.

    Beneath my mask, I smiled. It was the same look many of the children who''d ascended without support when I offered to train them in exchange for a portion of the Fiend''s loot on the Tenth Floor rather than charging arge sum of Essence up front.

    "I would appreciate that."

    My cane tapped against the tile floor as I returned to the clerk, who had just returned to the front desk after visiting a few different shelves. Though it was hard to see beneath his mask, I felt that the oversize man had the same look as the young girl.

    "I hope you found everything satisfactory, sir Legionnaire, and I hope my Luna didn''t disturb your browsing." He nodded toward the young girl who was running her pointer along the shelf she''d pointed out.

    "She was of great assistance." I spoke dully, but the man still smiled upon hearing that. Even behind his mask, I could see that it reached his eyes. "Now��my Cards?"

    "Ahh, yes. I apologize!" He produced the three Cards I''d requested and pushed them toward me.

    Amalgamate Agility was at the top of the pile, an Enhancement that would increase my Agility by a certain percent based on the number of allies within a specific range. Amalgamate Intelligence was second and had a simr effect, though for Intelligence. As for Affliction��

    [Card Name: Affliction, Shadow]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 1]

    [Essence: 0/1,000]

    [Description: For one minute, the Wielder''s weapon gains an aura of shadow.]

    [Effect 1: With each wounding strike, debilitating shadows flow into the target''s wound. One target can be afflicted with up to ten shadows, each reducing the effectiveness of the target''s Agility by .5% times the Wielder''s Level of Intelligence.]

    [Effect 2: With each sessful strike on a target, the duration of the de''s aura is reset. If the target is already suffering from full stacks of Affliction, the duration is not reset.]

    [Effect 3: The target''s Affliction persists for one minute, resetting with each additional Afflicting blow until the target has reached full stacks. Once the Affliction has worn off, the target is immune for one hour.]

    [Cooldown: 1 hour]

    "Price?" I asked sternly, pulling my pouch from my hip.

    "That will be neen thousand five hundred Essence for you, sir Legionnaire." At that moment, Luna showed up with another Card, which she handed to the clerk. "Ahh, my apologies. That will be twenty-three thousand Essence with this addition."

    If it weren''t for my mask, I would have been exposed as a fraud right then. No Legionnaire would have winced over such a paltry sum. I knew I had more than that in assets, but this purchase would nearly empty my pouch until I paid Crook another visit.

    Begrudgingly, I counted out the Essence and ced it on the desk, though I did so in a manner that I felt would fit someone of my supposed standing. The clerk passed over the Cards with another bow and pressed his hand to his chest, as did the girl beside him.

    "Thank you for your donation and everything you do for the people." He bowed lower. "May Tara forever guide your path!"

    I returned the gesture and turned to leave the bazaar. Before I returned, I would have to look further into the workings of the Church. Maybe next time, someone from the Order would be present��or maybe they were this time, and I didn''t know what to look for.

    "Umm, excuse me, sir!" the young girl called out quickly, and I paused for a moment with my hand on the door.

    "Yes?" ncing back, I found that the clerk''s head was bowed, along with every other patron''s. My eyes widened. Where the girl''s fingers were arranged in the shape of a moon like everyone else��she held a small pendant between her fingers. It was the exact same as I''d found in Grandpa''s chest.

    "What is your name, sir Legionnaire?" she asked. As she spoke, she flicked her wrist, and the pendant vanished. My heartbeat quickened��but I couldn''t react. If I did, one of the Disciples might notice.

    "My name?" I murmured while pushing open the door. An image from my previous life shed in my mind. A man dressed in ck, famous for ying thousands of Beasts without a party. I wasn''t sure why I said it��but as I strode out of the bazaar, I did.

    "Call me Ravan."

 Chapter 31 Lost

    Breathing heavily, Aurora jumped into the next alley and turned to look behind her. Nothing. Again. Ever since she''d first followed the whim of Precognition into the back alleys of Grandhardt, she''d felt as if someone were following her. Yet the streets were empty no matter how often she turned back.

    The wound she''d scratched into her neck still hadn''tpletely healed, though it was scabbed over and no longer bleeding. Now, there were several such injuries across her body. She was tired��no, exhausted. Every time she tried to stop and rest, the insatiable itch would begin again. It had moved from her neck to her side, from her side to her arms, and so on, driving her forward and never letting her sleep.

    Her shoulders sagged as the itch began again, and she once again proceeded down the dimly lit and cramped passage. For the dozenth time since her arrival, she wished she''d never gotten off the train at Grandhardt Station 3��and even more so wished she hadn''t spent so much Essence Leveling Precognition after receiving it. It was now at Level 4, too far past the point where she could safely remove it.

    After the vision in her bedroom, she''d felt drawn to this ce. With every step in the right direction, Aurora felt a warmth wash over her, relieving the irritations that constantly gued her otherwise. She cherished this feeling. Even though she knew that the Card was stringing her along like a puppet��attending to its needs was the only manner in which she could find a release.

    Some of the broader alleys were much more manageable, where the mid-afternoon sun zed clearly over the rooftops. Like this one, though, most others hadn''t been so amicable. Aurora squinted as the path darkened again, the purple Circuits running along the walls and powering the buildings scarcely giving off enough light for her to see.

    She stumbled forward, her boot catching one of the many water-filled potholes in the poorly maintained pavement. Cold, foul-smelling liquid sshed onto her trousers, and she almost retched as she reached out to brace herself on a nearby crate.

    A single tear threatened to leave her eye, but she blinked it away and shuffled forward before the Card could punish her again. She didn''t have time to brood about her current predicament when she could be doing something about it. Soon, she came to a tee in the path and nced in each direction.

    The way to her right widened out, and she could make out lights and a bit of ruckus toward the end, while the left led into another dark alley, without even thefort of the purple Circuits to light her path. Aurora took a right, wanting nothing more than to find a nearby inn where she could copse��but her Card had other ns.

    Within three steps, the sheer agony of the prickling that crept up her legs almost forced her to her knees. She turned back and limped ufortably into the opposite path, where a brilliant warmth doused the sensation and flooded her with reassurance.

    Aurora smiled briefly, trying to soak in the feeling, but a crackling sound brought the young woman to her senses. She whipped her head around but, like always, found nothing. A shiver ran down her spine, though not from her Precognition.

    The tingling in her legs began again, so she hurried off toward the next bend in the darkened alley, not having time to investigate, or the Card would assault her until she couldn''t move. Fear began to invade her mind as she continued forward, but something told her that this would all end if she could just make it to whatever destination the Card had in store.

    Aurora rounded the next bend��and stopped short. Her eyes were bleary and hot fromck of sleep, and she had to wipe them several times to clear her sight, but once it was clear, she knew she''d seen this ce before. This long, unlit alley had been the one in her vision.

    She recognized the doors and windows against either wall, though they were all boarded up or broken rather than warm and inviting as they had been in her dream. Many of the signs were busted, and not a single Circuit on the street was powered. The several water-filled divots were dried up and deeper than she remembered, and scorch marks could be seen up and down the alley.

    A fowl stench wafted from the passage, making her eyes water further, the scents of garbage, refuse, and ash mixing in the atmosphere. Aurora wanted to turn back, but the warmth that pervaded her being let her know that she was heading in the right direction.

    Thinking again about the description of her Card, she couldn''t understand how proceeding this way could bring her fortune while turning back would cause her pain. She shook her head. She was too tired to think. All she could do was move and avoid the pain and difort that awaited her in the other direction.

    Aurora found some semnce of resolve in her belief that she would return to normal once she reached her destination. Trudging forward and wiping her bleary eyes, she did her best to observe her surroundings. Her Card had to have a reason for bringing her to this ce.

    Around halfway down the passage, another stench became mingled with the others, and toward the end, it was unbearable. Charred debris and broken ss littered the area, making it more challenging to navigate with her focus waning. A strong, chilling wind blew through the narrow street, causing her to tremble. She looked down to avoid the wind, and that was when she saw it.

    Grandhardt''s Sour Skies

    It was the same sign from her dream, though it was now lying on the cobblestone. Everything was so much different from her vision��but it seemed the ce had existed. And if the ce existed, did that mean that the rest was��

    There was a soft scraping somewhere behind her. She snapped her head around and cast Psionic Wave back the way she came. Every bottle, rock, and piece of rubble in the space around her lifted and flew toward the far wall at tremendous speeds.

    In Aurora''s fatigued and flustered state, the force of the st sent her tumbling back. The air left her lungs as her back mmed into the ground. Hurriedly, she tried to recover, lifting her head to find��nothing.

    The debris crashed harmlessly into the brickwork, throwing dust in the air but hitting nothing else. Aurora was alone. Her head fell back to the pavement. She closed her eyes and forced herself to breathe evenly, and as her adrenaline receded, a putrid stench assaulted her.

    Her thigh began to sting, the telltale sign that Precognition wanted her to do something. She opened her eyes��and pushed herself back to escape the rotten corpse thaty before her. Before she could stand, an intense andforting warmth permeated her being, much more potent than anything she''d felt before.

    Then it was over. Aurora no longer felt the warmth or irritation that Precognition had been causing her over the past days, and she sighed in relief. For the umpteenth time that day, she recalled the Card''s description.

    The Wielder has a sixth sense that steers them in the correct direction to keep them out of harm''s way or lead them to great prosperity.

    Aurora held her breath and forced herself to examine the body. As disgusting as it was, the dead couldn''t harm her��so had the Card been leading her to prosperity?

    The corpse was severely charred, much like the debris in this section of the alley. Its skin was so distorted that she couldn''t make out many features, only that the person had been short and wore a lot of jewelery.

    Aurora squinted her eyes at that, recalling the shadowy man and bag from her vision. Why would someone murder this person and not remove their Relics or��her eyes traveled down to the man''s waist and widened��their Deck Box?

    Tentatively, she reached for the item, still undamaged even after the hell this person had been through. She frowned slightly. Should she really take something that didn''t belong to her? Well��this person couldn''t use it, and if Precognition could really lead her to prosperity, then this must have been why she was brought here.

    Steeling her resolve, Aurora peeled the Deck Box away from the burned skin, where it tried to cling to its original owner. One by one, she simrly removed the Relics, feeling like some kind of rogue as she plundered the items. She didn''t want the wealth for herself, but if it could ease her parents'' struggles��

    A full Deck Box and this many Relics�� Even without knowing the value or the Level of the Cards, this would be enough to pay back at least two years'' worth of her ten-year tuition. Regardless of the circumstances in which she found it, Aurora couldn''t pass up this small fortune.

    The loot had already been pocketed before she could finish her thought. She simply needed to take these items back to her parents'' shop in York and��

    There was another noise behind her. She gritted her teeth in annoyance at her paranoia and turned to look down the passage. This time, she thought she actually saw movement and Psionic Wave was on cooldown.

    Aurora raised her hand swiftly and cast sh, causing a bright light to ripple from her palm and illuminate the heavily shadowed alley. Though she was almost blinded by the sudden burst, she caught sight of something that made her blood run cold. A body of ck and a hint of crimson, just like the figure in her vision.

    Precognition sent a ripple through her body, but she didn''t need to be warned. She had already fled.

    ***<novelnext></novelnext>

    Nathaniel frowned and looked down at the map in his hands. He''d been traveling for at least two or three hours after having snuck out of the manor at midnight, yet he became lost at some point. Carefully setting down the massive trunk he had lifted over his shoulder, he stopped and studied the map.

    Currently, he was standing in Grandhardt��somewhere. He''d turned off Wisk and took a side street, thinking it looked like a shortcut. After that, nothing seemed to go right. The number of dead ends he''de to couldn''t even be counted on both hands.

    "Whoever designed this mess should be canned," he grumbled and looked around for andmark or street name. This whole adventure had been ridiculous. Syward was nothing like this, as it was built in a grid pattern, and every structure matched.

    He would have asked for directions, but it was sote into the night that even most of the bars had closed down an hour ago. With a sigh, he noted a broken signpost on the corner of a building and walked over, finding the rest on the ground. All of these buildings and no one using them. What a waste.

    Clydesdale Ave

    After piecing together the three nks of wood, Nathaniel lifted the map and looked it over again. He unfolded another panel, then pressed his palm to his forehead.

    "Oh. Huh��"

    Nathaniel felt his cheeks burn for a moment and was suddenly d no one was around to chastise him. Carefully, he turned the map over and swiftly found the corner he was standing on. The map was marked with colors, and unfolding thatst panel had revealed a legend he hadn''t known was there.

    That made things more straightforward, and he also came to realize that he was on the wrong side of the city. Even having a proper route now, it would take him until morning to reach his destination, and the stations were closed at this hour. Smiling slightly at his mistake, he tucked the map into his coat and turned to fetch his trunks.

    Before he''d taken two steps, he heard the sound of footsteps echoing in the distance. Whoever it was, they were running his way��and fast. Thinking he''d been found out already and his family hade to pester him into joining one of their parties to ascend, he pressed himself against the wall and activated one of his many Relics, which helped him meld into the darkness.

    The footsteps became louder, and he could hear them drag across the broken pavement as if the person were hurt or not looking where they were going. Whoever it was, it certainly wasn''t a Syward. A bright sh lit the night, nullifying his Relic''s properties. With the footsteps almost upon him and worried that this was the beginning of an assault, he stepped away from the structure��and a young woman crashed into him.

    Nathaniel looked down at where the woman had fallen before ncing back along the street she''de from. It was empty. Once he was confident that there were no threats, he turned his attention back to the youngdy. She''d ploughed right into him, and with his Levels, he knew she probably felt like she''d rebounded off a brick wall.

    "Are you all right, miss?" he asked, crouching slightly and offering a hand��then pausing when he found he recognized the woman. "Aurora Price?"

    He''d hardly recognized her until he''d looked at her for more than a few seconds. This was indeed the pretty young woman that Rowan had introduced him to a few days prior as well as the top student in the Academy. Though��she looked terrible. Her eyes were bloodshot with dark bags beneath them, she was scraped and bruised, and she even looked up at him with fear and anger.

    The harsh emotions subsided swiftly after he spoke her name. He watched incredulously as her intensity calmed, and she revealed a look of relief and hope.

    "The Card��it led me��" She looked back down the street and then to him again. "You''reNathaniel?"

    "Yes, I��"

    Before he could finish, the girl slumped to the ground, unconscious. Nathaniel scratched at the back of his neck and shook his head, but he still smiled. This was why he''d left his family. He wanted his own adventure, after all.

    Shrugging, he lifted Aurora''s senseless body and threw her over one shoulder, hoping she wouldn''t be offended when she woke. With his other arm, he carefully stacked his two overlyrge suitcases and knelt awkwardly, hoisting them onto his opposite shoulder.

    Looking around, Nathaniel frowned. He''d forgotten which direction he needed to travel. With a sigh, he dropped the suitcases and pulled out the map.

    It was going to be a long morning.

    ***

    Zachary watched from atop a crumbling building as Nathaniel tossed Aurora over his shoulder. It was strange. What was the Syward scion doing in Grandhardt? And was it merely a coincidence that Aurora turned into him?

    He watched their figures grow smaller, not giving up his pursuit but wanting them to gain some distance. It was well-known that Nathaniel had many mysterious techniques, and it wouldn''t do Zachary any good to be caught if the man happened to have a Card tailored for detection.

    Leaning back against a crumbling wall, he pulled a fresh paper from his pocket and sprinkled a dash of tobo before rolling it and cing it between his lips. A me lit above his thumb, and he breathed deeply, lighting the tip and inhaling a lungful of the intoxicating fumes. This batch had been grown on the Twenty-Fifth Floor and hit much harder than most of what could be found in standard shops.

    Smoke left his lips in the shape of an O when he breathed out. He watched it rise into the night and merge with the dense fog that hung over the city. Something about smoking��no, the sensation it gave��made him feel alive.

    He watched the cherry burn as he pulled down another lungful, its light reminding him of that night so long ago. Zachary smiled slightly. The fire, the smoke, how it moved with the wind��even the pungent odor. It was beautiful.

    Only a minute or two had passed when the blue footprints Nathaniel had left behind started to fade. He raised a brow slightly. That man would be a problem.

    Zachary had expected Nathaniel''s Cards to be well Leveled, but if Tracking could only keep up with him for this long��it didn''t bode well for his ns. He wouldn''t be able to confront Aurora unless the two were separated.

    The cherry reached his fingertips, and he took one more hard drag before flicking the end into the distance. Leaping quietly to the next rooftop, he followed slowly, keeping thest of the fading footsteps in the edge of his vision.

    Zachary thought about what he''d witnessed. The woman had somehow stumbled across the corpse around noon. He''d hardly turned the corner when she began to run in the opposite direction and had no chance to ask her what it was that had her so riled up all morning.

    That wasn''t to say that he hadn''t tried. Every time he closed the distance keeping them apart, she moved in some way that caused him to lose sight of her briefly in the moments his Tracking Ability was on cooldown. From his past observations, he knew that any average person would be quite frustrated by this, but he persevered.

    Then, after she had run into Nathaniel, he heard it. Had he been any further from the girl, he wouldn''t have heard herst words before she fell unconscious, but he had. And now he was more sure than ever that Aurora held something he had to have.

    It was a Card that was causing her to feel such strong emotions. Which one, he didn''t know, but he nned to ask. Zachary''s steps hastened as the footprints he followed turned a corner. He wasn''t sure where Nathaniel was headed, and he wasn''t sure how long it would take for the man to release Aurora. But��he would wait.

    He was a patient man, after all.

 Chapter 32 Culprit

    As I sipped from a cup of freshly brewed tea, I reached for the morning paper I''d snagged from the post box. Now that the manor and grounds were wholly energized, the post would materialize in the box around six hours to noon. For the first time since my arrival, I had a day to myself, with no major ns other than rxing and maybe paying a visit to the shop.

    David floated in the air beside me, imitating the sips I took while Rosie tried to shoo him away. Thed had taken the liberty of naming the other Summons for me. He gave the Beetle the name Francis and had taken to calling the Golem Larry for some unknown reason. As for Rosie, I''d given the Nature Pixie the same name I''d called her in my prior life.

    Seeing as how none of my Summons acted negatively to their new monikers, I officially named them, which updated their Cards in my Deck Box. The Cards would keep their newbels until they were unequipped or I passed away.

    "All right, you two. Knock it off." I chuckled at David and Rosie''s antics before unfurling the morning paper. Rosie huffed and flew over to the tea I''d sat down, where she proceeded to dunk her head and drain the contents. On the other hand, David changed targets and began to pester Larry.

    My brow furrowed as I looked over the front page. The image of a partially burned corpse rotting in an alley sat in the front middle. A member of the Grandhardt Family was casting Spells and looking over the body with a worried countenance. After taking in the scene, I read the headline.

    Corpse Found: Is the Grandhardt Family''s Iron Fist Growing Soft?

    "Yesterday, around mid-afternoon, rumors of a body being found in one of the abandoned alleys started to spread around the city. Journalists rushed to the scene, arriving moments before Rodrick Grandhardt, who then herded back the growing crowd. Rodrick blocked the area from view while conducting his investigation.

    After a brief statement from Rodrick, we found that the corpse belonged to Mister Dominick Marcus, a man who had lived in Grandhardt for almost a decade managing the prestigious Luxton Bank. There were no statements made about potential suspects. As one of the first on the scene, I can confirm that Mister Marcus'' Deck Box and all of his valuables were missing.

    There hasn''t been a single violent crime in Grandhardt in over twenty years��since the beginning of Elder Wayne''s hiatus. Now, abruptly after his departure to resume his ascension, an elevated figure in themunity is found dead? That''s not to mention the infestation of Rodents that have recently taken residence in the city''s unupied outskirts. Are Elder Wayne''s heirs so aloof that they would allow��"

    The article went on to further nder the Grandhardts and induce fear amongst the popce. I wasn''t familiar with the author, but she was clearly pursuing her own agenda.

    Though I had to admit that she was right about the city''s state. The Grandhardts constantly built and expanded while disregarding the ageing structures closer to the Tower''s walls. Aside from the area surrounding Station 4, the old buildings between my home and the inner city were in a poor state and primarily unupied.

    "What is it,d?" A chill on my shoulder alerted me to the boy''s presence, and I nced up to see him staring at the paper while picking his nose.

    "Did you know him?" David asked, wiping his hand on his trousers before pointing at the corpse. "After you looked at the picture, you felt guilty for a second."

    Did I?

    It was strange to speak with one of my Summons so openly. They were able to feel what I felt, even when they weren''t active, something I''d learned through Rosie long ago. Though she could only evermunicate through hand gestures since I never risked Leveling her or my Foundations further to increase her cognition.

    Sighing, I looked back at the young boy. "If I did, it was because I didn''t do anything about this."

    "Why would that make you feel guilty?" David asked, confused. "It''s not like you knew it was going to happen."

    "Hmm." I nced back at the paper.

    I did know that this was going to happen. It just slipped my mind with everything that''s been happening. There''s no reason I couldn''t have warned the man��and told him what, exactly?

    It wasn''t like I could say who was after him since his killer was never found. At the time of the banker''s death in my past life, I''d been struggling just outside the city''s walls on the Second Floor. I hadn''t heard about it until it was time to make another payment on the estate, and by then, there had been three more murders in Grandhardt, but the details were kept from the journalists.

    Maybe David was right, and I did feel a bit guilty. I had to remind myself that I couldn''t help everyone. The man had gone through the effort of ensuring I received one of the Luxton''s favored member Relics, but I still wasn''t ready to expose myself��at least not to people I didn''t know.

    While I thought about talking to David about my situation, I noticed a shing light in the corner of my vision. Turning, I found it to be one of the many bulbs spread throughout the home that would sh green when visitors were standing at the gate. The color would change to yellow if the guests waited long and red if they attempted to force themselves in.

    "All right. It''s time for you lot to take a break." I looked around at the despondent faces of my Summons. Even Larry the Golem''s shoulders had sagged. I chuckled and waved them down. "Don''t worry. I''ll call you back as soon as I feel it''s safe."

    With a wave, my Summons vanished, and I swallowed down thest of my tea and grabbed my cane before venturing toward the door. I had no idea who it could be at this hour and felt I ought to be prepared, just in case.

    I''ll need to invest in the ocr home security Relics in the future.

    I opened the front door and peered across the nted fields toward the front gate. With my enhanced Perception, I could scarcely make out two massive boxes with a pair of legs underneath.

    A parcel? I didn''t send for anything. Maybe it''s something from Crook?

    The crates looked heavy, and not wishing to make the courier wait any longer, I used Dash to swiftly close the distance. My body flew through the air, eating up nearly eight yards in a single bound. Using the Ability another three times as the cooldowns ended, I quickly reached the front gate to find��

    "Nathaniel?" I stopped almost a foot shy of the gate and looked at the young man for a moment. Two ludicrously sized chests were bnced precariously on one shoulder, but as odd as that was, they weren''t what I was looking at. What grabbed my attention was the pair of legs dangling from his other shoulder.

    "Rowan." Nathaniel nodded in greeting and even offered a slight bow, which was impressive with all the weight he was carrying. "I packed up my things like you said. Thank you for your invitation to stay here."

    "Ahh��" My mind worked quickly as I recalled ourst conversation. I supposed I had invited him to live with me. "And��am I to assume that you''ll need a room for two?"

    I gestured to the pair of legs dangling from his shoulder, finding it strange that the young man could hold such a seemingly normal conversation while carrying a person. Nathaniel turned slightly so that I could see the upper half and��

    "Aurora?" Several cuts and bruisesyered her arms and face, and I could see a nasty burn on one of her shoulders. Nathaniel nodded in confirmation while I set to open up the gate.

    "She ran into me on my way here and lost consciousness almost immediately," Nathaniel said and waited patiently for the entrance to open fully. "It didn''t seem right to leave her there, so I brought her along. I hope I didn''t overstep my boundaries in doing so?"

    He posed thest bit as a question, and I shook my head swiftly. "No, no. You did the right thing, boy. Quickly, let''s get her inside and see what we can do about those wounds."

    I shut the gate behind him and looked briefly around the empty street. Something felt off about this, and the timing was��strange, to say the least. The burn on Aurora''s shoulder and the corpse in the paper��

    Was this how she went missing the first time? The other corpses were burned so badly that they couldn''t be identified. But what is she doing in Grandhardt? And she just happened to bump into Nathaniel?

    "I wonder what will change next��" Breathing out the words, Itched the gate and jogged up the walk, hardly beating Nathaniel to the front door.

    His Foundations have to have reached Level 5.

    "I''ll gather some warm towels and nkets if you''ll sit her somewherefortable. You''ll find themon room in the first entrance to the left." I opened the door and gestured for Nathaniel to go through. He knelt and casually ced his luggage on the ground before proceeding inside, and I couldn''t help but marvel at his Strength and Dexterity.

    By the time I''d returned, Nathaniel''s trunks were already resting in the foyer, and the door was closed. I found him standing in the center of themon area, looking around with an appraising eye.

    "This is a beautiful home, Rowan." He turned in my direction and raised an eyebrow. "You know��I asked around the Academy, and this wasn''t what I expected."

    "People like to presume." I shrugged and gently lifted Aurora''s head, sliding a pillow beneath her. "Do you have any preferences on where you sleep? There are several rooms on the third floor, but if you prefer something on therger side, there are a few at the end of the hall on the second floor."

    "Thank you, I''ll have a look. Should I make a trip to the Church to secure a healer?" Nathaniel paused and gestured to Aurora before leaving the room.

    "I think we''ll be okay." My hands glistened with a faint light as I lifted them over the girl''s body. Nathaniel nodded, and within seconds, I could hear his heavy steps as he ascended the stairs.

    He seems satisfied. Now��

    Greater Heal acted swiftly. Aurora''s more minor wounds closed up almost immediately, the bruises turning from deep blue to pale skin in seconds. The only injury that didn''t heal instantly was the burn on her shoulder, which revealed that it was indeed an attack made by another Wielder.

    Using the damp towels, I sponged the blood and grime from her face and arms before casting Cleanse and leaving her to rest. It would take another cast of Greater Heal topletely heal the burn, and I could hear Nathanieling down the stairs.

    "Is she all right?" he asked, stepping into the room.

    "She''ll be fine." I nodded and stood, bringing the bowl and dirty towels with me. "How about I make us some tea? She should wake up soon."

    "That sounds delightful."

    ***

    "Mmmh��"

    Aurora groaned and ced her arm over her eyes. Her thoughts were sluggish, and the nightmare she had was fresh in her mind. It was cold and dark out. A ck-d figure chased her through countless alleys. When it came close, she could see the crimson red of��a handkerchief?

    When she recalled that, the memories began flooding back. She remembered her body attacking her, forcing her to turn this way and that as she reached the end of every passage. Precognition had truly treated her as a puppet, causing immense difort at times when she tried to cast a Spell and then again when she didn''t cast fast enough.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The one time she tried to fight the demands of Precognition to run toward a crowded part of town, a searing pain tore through her shoulder, and she stopped questioning its decisions when she saw the me whip past her head. Thinking up to this point��Aurora frowned.

    She hadn''t noticed it at first, but none of the Card''s difort was currently affecting her. Instead, she felt��warm. The immense sense of relief she''d felt from the Card after finding the corpse enveloped her, but on an entirely different level. For the first time in days, she felt safe.

    Taking a deep breath, Aurora opened her eyes and found a gorgeous silver-haired man sitting across from her, looking around the room with interest. She recognized the man almost instantly.

    "N-Nathaniel Syward?"

    "Oh? You''re awake." The young man turned toward her, his expression stern. "How are you feeling?"

    Aurora sat up slowly, surprised that her only pain was a dull ache in her shoulder. She looked over her body to find that, though her clothes were torn and ragged, she was spotless. There wasn''t a speck of dirt to be found, and almost all of her injuries were healed.

    She scrunched her face and began to look around the room curiously. It was arge sitting room with ornate trim andplex Circuits scaling the walls and firece. A home deserving of one of the great Families, she guessed. Though it was odd that there were no portraits.

    Had Nathaniel brought her to his home and��called a Deacon? No, even her muscles weren''t sore from all the running she''d done. It would have taken a Priest to have done such a thorough job. And they were expensive��

    "I''m sorry for all the trouble!" She pushed the nket away and knelt beside Nathaniel''s armchair. "Whatever the cost of the Priest, I''ll pay over time if you allow it. Just don''t ce the burden on my parents or their business."

    "Ah��" Nathaniel looked at the girl with a slight frown. "I''m afraid you''ve misunderstood��"

    "Tea''s ready." Aurora turned toward the new voice and was shocked to see another young man stepping through the smaller entrance to the room. "Oh? It seems our patient has woken up. Any particr reason you''re down on your knees?"

    "Rowan?" Aurora stood up and looked at her former ssmate. "What are you doing here?"

    Rowan slightly lifted the tray he was toting. "Carrying tea. I find that''s the proper way to treat guests, and who doesn''t love a fresh brew?"

    "Guests?" Aurora turned to Nathaniel. "This isn''t your house?"

    Nathaniel shook his head.

    "Nonsense." Rowan sat the tray on the small table between them. "As long as you''re staying here, you may treat my manor as your own. Of course, I don''t expect we will be spending an abundance of time on the Origin Floor once we begin our ascent."

    "Your ascent?" Aurora couldn''t believe what she was hearing. "You two? You''re going to��?"

    "Why yes, Miss Price, we will be ascending the Tower together in��" Rowan pulled a timepiece from the pocket of his jacket. "Three days or so. Now, why don''t you let me have a look at your shoulder? The cooldown on my heal ended just a moment ago."

    Aurora slowly walked back to the couch and plopped down, epting the cup that Rowan offered her as she did. With everything that happened over thest few days, she was almost embarrassed that it was this that sent her over the edge.

    "So, do you mind telling us what happened?" Nathaniel asked as a dull light began to spread from Rowan''s fingertips. She gasped as the pain swiftly receded andpletely vanished in seconds.

    "Sorry that I couldn''t handle that in one shot." Rowan poured himself another cup of tea and took a sip. "Whoever caused that injury must have had Foundations equal to or slightly higher than mine. Now, if you don''t mind, I would also like to hear the answer to Nathaniel''s query."

    "Ahh��" Aurora nced between the two young men, unsure how to proceed. Since when could Rowan cast a healing Spell? Had he been training under a Priest during his time at the Academy? And Nathaniel, why would he bring her there? More surprisingly, why would he be living there?

    "May I have a moment?" she asked softly.

    Rowan nodded. "Nathaniel, let''s leave Miss Price to her thoughts for a moment. I''m sure she''s had a rough go of it."

    Aurora watched the two as they stepped into the next room, surprised that Nathaniel would so willingly do as Rowan suggested. She waited until their voices faded to nothing more than a whisper before standing and walking toward the nearest window.

    Whatever Spell Rowan had used, she felt refreshed, and until she knew where she was, it wouldn''t be wise to make a decision. She moved to open the drapes��and the moment she did, a familiar difort started creeping up her arm.

    She stepped back quickly. That person��the one who''d been chasing her��he was out there. Aurora''s body experienced numerous changes in quick session as she considered what to do, but Precognition only seemed satisfied by one thought.

    She had to tell them.

    Unwilling to suffer anymore, she quickly found them in the next room and began conveying her story. The warmth she felt upon doing so gave her the resolve to tell it without holding back��even going so far as to show the pair the Deck Box and Relics she pulled from the corpse.

    ***

    I studied the young woman for some time after she''d finished speaking. Her story was very eventful��yet obscenely unhelpful. Learning the circumstances of her arrival and how she found the corpse didn''t assist in uncovering the identity of the would-be mass murderer.

    "I''m assuming this was the body that you found?" I asked, showing her the morning''s paper.

    "That''s him!" she gasped and stopped pulling items from her pockets. "What will happen next? Do you think they''ll track me down and me me? I did��you know��"

    "No." I shook my head, responding almost instantly as she gestured to the table. Though time had been altered, I suspected that nothing between the murder and Aurora''s bumping into Nathaniel had varied from before. That being the case, they wouldn''t find the killer, and if my suspicions were correct, they wouldn''t find Aurora''s charred and unrecognizable body in another alley two days from now.

    Nathaniel sat in the armchair beside mine with his chin on his hands, listening calmly. I used Appraisal to carefully look over the Relics disyed on the center table, my eyes catching one in particr, aside from the borately carved Deck Box.

    "May I?" I gestured to a golden cufflink lying in the center of the growing pile. Aurora nodded and pulled another object from her pocket.

    [Name: Ledger]

    [ss: Bound Relic]

    [Rank: 2]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder can use this Relic to store notes and view them at will. The information contained decays after one month. Currently Unbound]

    I scoured through the notes, looking for anything that may have been useful. The banker was bright, not using a single name in the Ledger, though there were enough details to find what I was looking for in thest few entries.

    "Youngsters these days sure know how to woo an old man. To think I''m venturing to the Shurbery for such a young man to make a business proposal. It''s hard to believe I''ve given out two of our Favored Emblems in such a short time, and to children, nheless. I''m eager to see how far this generation will go."

    It seemed the banker had only used the Relic every half hour to take notes, but he was consistent. It didn''t take long to reach the section where I''d been present.

    "Another young man from the Academy has caught my attention today. Turning down such arge sum of Essence just before his ascent and even earning enough to pay off his debt while graduating in the top ten of his ss�� It''s remarkable. It''s a shame that the other student will be here shortly, or I''d request him for a chat. I''ll work with him directly if he uses the Favored Emblem on his next visit."

    After finding nothing else of interest in the following few notes, I sat the pin down and shook my head. I knew who the killer was. There were too many coincidences.

    It makes sense. He experienced explosive growth and multiple fortunate encounters shortly after graduating from the Academy, making several headlines for how swiftly he climbed the lower Floors.

    The man even became a hero for a short time. A ming beacon of hope, they called him. At least those who didn''t have to work beneath him. After his early demise, the truth came out about how he used his followers for strange and sometimes deadly experiments.

    Maybe it''s only spection, but if he stole the Precognition Enhancement from Aurora, it likely led him to the other two victims if they carried something that would be useful to him. I can take care of the problem, but��he''s so young.

    I frowned and mulled it over. The boy had already killed and would have killed again if it weren''t for Aurora running into Nathaniel. Killing for one''s needs wasmonce in the Tower, but based on Aurora''s experience when she tried to open the drapes, this murderer had been brought to my doorstep.

    The Ledger didn''t paint the banker negatively, and Aurora certainly didn''t wrong the boy in any meaningful way. In short, he isn''t innocent. I''ll��have to y it by ear.

    I sighed and looked at Aurora. "I know who killed you."

    Aurora and Nathaniel both snapped their heads in my direction. Nathaniel showed a surprising amount of interest for someone usually so stoic.

    "You��what��?" Aurora asked quietly.

    "The man in the alley." I traced my thumb along the edge of my cane. "You know him as well. Zachary Gray is the culprit."

 Chapter 33 Pity

    "I''ll returnte this evening." I looked back at Nathaniel, who stood stalwart by the staircase. Making a gesture to the second floor, I added, "Keep an eye on her, all right?"

    He nodded. "And who''s going to keep an eye on you?"

    "Hoho. No one needs to keep an eye on me." I chuckled at his hesitant look as I opened the door. "Anything else?"

    "What you said to Aurora��" He shook his head. "Never mind, it''s not important."

    Iughed again. "You''re a sharpd, Nathaniel. You''ll figure it out."

    With that, I stepped out of the manor and shut the door. Teasing the youngsters was entertaining, but there was too much to do for me to spend my day indoors.

    After the revtion, Aurora was peeved at our former ssmate for a time before her exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep. She''d had a rough time of it and would likely sleep for the next several hours��possibly even until the following morning. As for Nathaniel, he''d been giving me the side-eye ever since.

    As far as youngsters go, he''s a good one. He''ll be a reliablepanion in the days toe, something to treasure in the Tower. I''ll pose the question to Aurora when I return, supposing she''ll be awake. With a bit of polishing, she''ll be another gem.

    It waste morning by the time I left. The sun was high and to the east, casting the manor''s shadow over the garden, still covered in a thinyer of morning frost. My cane tapped gently against the cobbled path as I strolled toward the outer gate.

    My fellow Crook should have made a few Essence yesterday. Before ascending, I''ll need to refill my coffers and Level a few Cards. Aside from that, there''s only one issue to sort out.

    The hairs on the back of my neck were raised, and my Level 3 Perception was pushed to its limits as I casually scanned the buildings in the distance. This was a feeling I knew well. I was being watched.

    Nathaniel''s people or Aurora''s would-be assassin? One of them was tailed.

    I wouldn''t jump to conclusions. Nathaniel''s people weren''t to be trifled with if it were one of them, though I doubted they would force him to return. Per our conversations, the Grand Elder may have cared for him, but the rest of his family wanted nothing more than for him to leave. Still, it was feasible that they would like to keep tabs on his movement.

    There were other possibilities, though less likely. For now, I''d y it by ear and stay in the open until I had more information. There was little reason to fret. I didn''t just fall off the turnip wagon, after all.

    As I walked through the streets, the feeling of being observed faded in and out, bing nearly indiscernible when I reached the crowded Devonshire Avenue. Whoever it was decided to pursue me rather than watch the manor.

    Odd.

    Shrugging it off, I stepped onto the walk and felt my speed decline as the Circuits beneath my feet lit up. Whoever it was, there was little they could aplish in this section of the city. The Circuits would see to that.

    Wielder''s Wonders

    I looked proudly at the phrase briefly. Masked and unmasked patrons alike climbed up and down the wide stairwell, nodding and chatting as they came and went. It was much busier than I anticipated.

    "First visit?"

    ncing to my right, I found a woman looking at the sign alongside me. She had a somewhat youthful appearance, but I could tell she was older than she appeared. A broadsword that nearly scraped the ground was strapped to her back, and a few long scars ran along her exposed forearms. Neitherplemented the dark blue dress that she wore.

    "Something like that." I offered my arm and gestured toward the door. "May I?"

    The woman''s eyes twinkled, and she wrapped her arm through mine. "You may. I suppose this trip has been fruitful even if the Card I desire has been sold."

    "Oh? Are you looking for something in particr?" I asked curiously, leading her forward and noting how her steps hardly made a sound. It was as if her feet weren''t touching the ground.

    "This venue has only just opened," she nodded toward my store and lowered her tone, "yet they have several already Leveled Cards in stock. It didn''t take long for word to get out, and I caught wind of a few Blessed and Holy Earthen Spells and Abilities. Those are hard toe by after the Fortieth Floor. If I''d been wise, I would have spent a few more years farming rather than rushing through."

    She grinned andughed, the sound attracting a few passersby who shot the two of us knowing looks. I couldn''t help but smile and recall my younger days before my body had begun to crumble.

    ? "Don''t take that with a grain of salt, young man." She gently squeezed my arm as we reached the door. "Be sure you have everything you need before clearing a Floor. It isn''t every day that someonees along offering what you desire. When they do, it''s usually snapped up by the time you arrive. I hope Tara decided to smile in my direction this morning."

    I chuckled and pulled open the ss door. "After you."

    She turned her gaze on me��and I froze. It was only for an instant, but I felt as if I''d been undressed and all of my secrets had been exposed.

    The woman removed her arm, patted my cheek with one hand, and slipped something into my jacket pocket with the other. "Don''t let the climb change you. We could use more good men at the top. Stop by the Horde''s Guild Hall before you leave Grandhardt and tell them Melonie sent you. You''re not bad for a fledgling."

    With that, she stepped into the store, leaving me standing dumbfounded with the door held open. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small Card, not believing what I''d just heard.

    "Horde of Oblivion

    Recruiter, Fighter, Controller

    Melonie Striker"

    Well, I''ll be.

    The Horde of Oblivion was one of the top Guilds, ranking in the top five. Not to mention Melonie Striker. She was part of the first joint effort between the different factions to clear the Fiftieth Floor sessfully.

    As for what she''d done��it was likely that she''d used some form of Appraisal. There were Cards out there that could give information about Wielders, though I''d never seen one in person. Having felt so exposed, I was interested. What would such a skill have revealed about me?

    The next Rank of Appraisal should have some simr effect��but there aren''t many uses left of Promotion. There''s Condense, Luck, Mastery��I need to prioritize.

    Gathering myself, I took a deep breath and stepped into the rackety space. The aisles were packed with armor-d Guilders and well-dressed persons moving around one another to look into the disys. It took a few seconds to find Crook standing at the end of one of the rows, heatedly discussing something with one of the customers.

    "��wouldn''t matter if you were the Wales Grand Elder! One hundred eighty-three thousand Essence is more than a fair deal. You''re wee to shop elsewhere if you don''t find the price agreeable."

    As I approached, I could hear Crook''s voice over some of the chatter. At this distance, the face of the customer became clear. He was an elderly, well-dressed man with a short mustache and a monocle, presumably one with a form of Demon ss embedded. His cheeks were bright red, and I could tell he was gritting his teeth.

    "This is nothing but a Strength Foundation. You''re foolish to think that someone would pay such a price!"

    Crookughed audibly, and even some nearby patrons covered their smiles to avoid further embarrassing this old man. It wasn''t difficult to guess what was going on, and Crook''s following remarks confirmed it.

    "Sir, if you''ll look there." Crook motioned to arge signboard that had been mounted and was glowing behind the distant counter. On it, various prices were listed alongside Ranks and rarity. They were double the prices of the church, where one was required to be a member, but they were rtively cheap whenpared with most other shops.

    Foundations

    Physique - 1,000 Essence

    Capability - 2,500 Essence

    Intellect - 5,000 Essence

    Pure

    Common - 2,000 Essence

    Umon - 4,000 Essence

    Rare - 6,000 Essence

    Blessed

    Common - 10,000 Essence

    Umon - 15,000 Essence

    Rare - 20,000 Essence

    Holy

    Common - 30,000 Essence

    Umon - 40,000 Essence

    Rare - 50,000 Essence

    "We at Wielder''s Wonders offer fair prices for all of our Cards, though our Relics may be a bit pricier due to our inadequate supply. Our base price is nearly twenty percent below ourpetitors, and as with all Cards, you mustpensate for any Essence invested on top of the sale price. One thousand Essence for a Strength Foundation is more than fair. If you can''t afford topensate for the Essence invested, we have Level 1 copies avable."

    The older man clenched his fists and acted as though he were going to respond, though he seemed to change his mind after noticing the nces being thrown his way. He huffed and made his way to the exit without purchasing anything.

    "It seems as though you''re getting on all right." I chuckled and pped my hand on Crook''s shoulder. Startled, he jumped forward and took a defensive stance beforeughing and wiping his brow.

    "Lad, you shouldn''t sneak up on an older man like that." He breathed loudly, and his breath quickly turned into augh as he gestured around the store and answered, "Yes. I''d say we''re getting on well! More than a quarter of our stock was sorted through yesterday. As predicted, the Guilds are tearing through our Foundations. Even those that have already been Leveled."

    "That''s good." I grinned in return. "Have you had any trouble?"

    "Not much. Just the asional poseur thinking they can embarrass me into giving them a discount!" He guffawed and pointed behind him toward the door. "That''s the third one this morning. They''ll stop after hearing we don''t give in to chatans."

    "Are you certain that you aren''t simply looking for an excuse to treat people harshly?" I chuckled. He was right, of course, but I couldn''t resist giving the man a hard time.

    "I��uh��" He floundered for a moment before coughing. "Well. It''s of no importance. There are more pressing matters for us to discuss."

    He gestured toward the stairs that led to the second floor. "Let''s go somece quiet for a moment before we head to lunch. Don''t worry about the shop. It was busy enough yesterday that I hired temporaryborers from the Merchant''s Guild. They can hold the line for an hour or so."

    I nced around the store, eventually spotting two young men wearing the colors of the Merchant Guild. They were scurrying back and forth between different customers as they were called upon. One of them was currently speaking with Miss Striker, who I''d met earlier, and leading her toward one of the more grandiloquent exhibits closer to the counter.

    "All right, then," I strode after the merchant, "lead the way."

    We climbed the stairs, and I was surprised to find he''d already begun designing the second floor. It wasn''t asrge as the first but had ample room to disy more notable pieces. In my previous life, the shopkeep I''d hired used it for storage since I would sell most of the more valuable drops on the Tenth Floor to the teams I was training.

    There were several standalone pedestals with soft pillows sitting atop them spread throughout the room. The surrounding walls were lined with finely carved curio cabs, leaving the floor with no blind spot.

    I whistled. "This is admirable. When did you have the time to do this?"

    "I paid the boys from the Guild to stay overnight and assist me." Crook beamed proudly. "It may be a while yet before we have wonders worthy of being ced on this floor��but I couldn''t help myself."

    I looked over the squat man briefly, mentally patting myself on the back for having recruited him. In truth, I was delighted that he wasn''t the man I''d initially taken him for.

    "You''ve done an outstanding job here." I patted the merchant on the shoulder. "Now, what did you wish to discuss before grabbing lunch?"

    "Ahh!" The man rushed forward and beckoned me to follow, leading us to a broader dais in the chamber''s center. On it sat the crate I''d brought him with all of the Skull''s Cards and Relics. Now��it was filled to the brim with Essence.

    "This is the take from yesterday. Counted up and ready to go." He grinned. "Those Cards you brought in were flying off the shelves. There hadn''t been time to use the store registry until after closing, so I hope you will forgive me. I kept track with the ledger there next to the crate. Don''t worry, I didn''t knick anything."

    I lifted the ledger and began leafing through it. Close to a quarter of the already Leveled Foundations had been purchased. Being I wasn''t the one who invested the Essence in Leveling them, this was an immense profit. There were also sales of other Cards, though not as many.

    "Bloody hell, Crook."

    "I''ve never seen anything like it." The merchant wrung his hands. "Not once in my life have I seen so many sales in such a short time without it being a bulk deal. And this was just opening day."

    In total, the shop had sold nearly seventy Cards, traded another fifteen, and grossed roughly 2.7 million Essence. That was phenomenal. I''d expected most of those Cards to collect dust on the shelves for weeks.

    Ten percent went to the city and another ten to the Merchant Guild for taxes. One percent of the remaining was paid to each temporary employee, as per Guild regtion. After that was earnings.

    Half of the yield was down in the HUB, waiting patiently to energize the shop or be spent on other amenities. That left just over one million Essence sitting in this crate to be split between myself and Crook.

    That should be��211,680 Essence for him, leaving me with 846,720 Essence. Huh, it looks like he''s already marked that down in the ledger as well.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Have you already given the temps their share?" I asked curiously.

    Crook nodded. "I have, and one even asked about being hired on as a full-timer."

    "Oh really?" I chuckled. "It wouldn''t be a bad idea to get some permanent help. Let''s see how the rest of the year goes beforemitting, but I''ll leave the final say up to you since you''re the one that will have to deal with him every day."

    "I appreciate that." Crook stroked his chin. "Now, let''s get this divvied up and find a warm meal. My treat."

    It took nearly half an hour to divide the shares. After securing Crook''s in another crate he''d prepared, he stored most in his room on the third floor before going down to check on the shop. As for me��I opened my Deck Box,id a few Cards on the table, and set to work.

    After some time, I scooped the remaining Essence into my pouch before descending the stairs and joining my partner-in-earning. I had a few questions, and I hoped his contacts would be of use.

    We didn''t venture far, only heading to the next street over. Throughout the entire stroll, I could feel a pair of eyes on me off and on, just as I had in the morning. This time, the feeling brought a smile to my lips.

    "Did you get a look at the paper this morning?" I asked Crook as we were shown to our table.

    "The branch manager of the Luxton?" he asked solemnly. "I did. Nasty business that is. It may bemonce in some other cities, but Grandhardt? Whoever executed that man was either insane or fearless."

    "Likely both," I muttered softly, looking over the street from the veranda on which we sat. "Myst request for information didn''t burn any bridges, did it?"

    Crook squinted his eyes and leaned forward. "No. But it cost me a favor�� Why?"

    "There are a couple of other matters I would like you to look into." We both sat back in our seats as the waitress brought us each a cup of tea. When she walked away, I continued. "First, I would like to know as much as possible about a particr Sacred Enhancement. I can''t find it on the Compendium."

    "That isn''t surprising." Crook scoffed. "Information about any Rank above Holy is well-kept. What''s the name of this Card?"

    "It''s called Precognition," I told him, letting my voice travel further than the situation called for. "For a Sacred Card, it seems to bring just as much trouble as fortune. I''d like to know of known Wielders who have used it, their fates, and which Floor the Card was farmed from."

    "And the other matter?" he asked.

    Before answering, I nced toward the street. The feeling of being intently observed had vanished.

    Hmm. My stalker seems to have ventured elsewhere.

    Coughing, I leaned back and answered the merchant. "I would like you to find out as much as possible about an individual named Zachary Gray. Particrly his family. There isn''t much information I can give you to find them. The boy went to school with me, but other tha��"

    "Zachary Gray?" Crook interrupted, surprising me. "Do you mean the boy who graduated second at the Academy? That Zachary?"

    "Ahh, yes. One and the same," I answered, raising a brow. Crook''s voice had be almost shrill before turning to a whisper.

    "There''ll be no need to fetch an informant for that one, boy." Crook rubbed his temples. "Just tell me you don''t intend to ascend with that young man."

    "No," I answered swiftly. "Not at all. Let''s just say that he''s piqued my interest. What do you know?"

    "I know quite a bit," Crook chortled dryly. "After all, his family is the one you stole me out from under."

    ***

    Zachary ambled along, hugging the raised tforms of the eatery as tightly as he deemed inconspicuous. This ce was well-known, an outdoor diner offering patrons a beautiful view of Devonshire by sitting them on patios that were lifted close to twelve feet from the walk.

    After his second round of circling the patio-style cafe, Zachary heard a voice he recognized. From there, locating the correct veranda was simple, and he leaned casually against the wall as he focused on the above conversation.

    "��like to know as much as possible about a particr Sacred Enhancement. I can''t find it on the Compendium."

    This was it, the Card that Aurora had mentioned to the Syward heir. It had to be. He smiled and rolled an unlit paper between his lips.

    Zachary had been right about Rowan. Though he didn''t understand the exact circumstances, the man had somehow convinced the Syward scion to join his cause��and the two of them had in his quarry. Uneptable.

    "That isn''t surprising," a voice spoke, dragging Zachary from his reverie. It wasn''t one that he recognized. Likely the short, pudgy man Rowan had been traveling with since leaving that shop.

    "Information about any Rank above Holy is well-kept. What''s the name of this Card?"

    "It''s called Precognition." Rowan''s voice spoke again, clearer than before. "For a Sacred Card, it seems to bring just as much trouble as fortune. I''d like��"

    Zachary didn''t stick around. He knew what he needed to know. All that was left was to catch Rowan away from his partner and take back what should have been his.

    He twirled his timepiece around his finger and looked at the foggy sky. It wasn''t so bad here, away from the few Relic nts on the outskirts. Grandhardt was cleanpared to the likes of York or Origin City.

    Watching the swirling haze, he went over what he knew of Rowan Wilder,paring himself to the other and thinking through their interactions over the years. Zachary thought Rowan had been someone like him, someone who struggled with reality, which would have exined his dullness over the years.

    Now, he wasn''t so sure.

    As a boy in the Academy, Rowan had seldom spoken. His actions were almost scripted, and he''d just taken abuse without pushing back. The sudden surge of life over thest few weeks��Zachary wanted that. But��what caused it? Purpose? Sudden ambition? And why did he speak as if he were an elder?

    His mind raced through the possibilities. In the end, there wasn''t much that made sense, but two facts still remained. Rowan had undergone the change that Zachary wanted most in life, and the man also had something that could help him replicate the experience.

    Zachary suddenly stopped and jerked his head around, scanning his reflection in a nearby shop window. There had been��something, just behind him. It was fleeting, but he could almost swear he''d seen a child following him.

    He looked around for several seconds before deciding it must have been his imagination. Children weren''t often seen outside the numerous training facilities built to house them as their parents faced the gued Beasts on the upper Floors. As for those whose parents weren''t Climbers, they wouldn''t leave the slums or factory districts.

    Zachary stepped into a nearby alley, flicking his thumb and lighting the smoke still sitting loosely between his lips. He blended into the darkness, only the burning cherry remaining visible until he vanished around the bend.

    ***

    "Everything all right, Rowan?" Crook asked. "You seem a bit distracted."

    "Oh, my apologies." I turned my attention from a distant storefront and back to the merchant. "You were saying?"

    "You should take this seriously. That boy is bad news," Crook reprimanded. The server had just brought our lunch, a warm soup followed by a thinly cut roast. He took a bite and chewed it behind his napkin before continuing.

    "Aldis and his wife, Margeret, are both Wielders who reached the Fifteenth Floor in their days as Climbers before settling down. Aldis invested in property on the Fifteenth, a cave system that produces tons of Demon ss, and has used his wealth to swiftly climb the ranks of the Society." Crook paused and slurped at his soup, then thoughtfully looked at the table between them.

    "The speed of his rise was unprecedented," the man continued. "It was one of the reasons I didn''t fight his forced recruitment. Despite his less desirable qualities, the man is going ces. Even if I''d had a choice, I likely wouldn''t have refused the opportunity��at least before I got to know him."

    "Do you regret havinge with me?" I asked. "You could have ratted me out."

    "No." Crook shook his head. "After learning more about the family, I wanted out. Besides, even if his growth was impressive, yours is nothing short of meteoric. You went from an orphaned brat to a sessful business owner. Tearing apart those damned Skull and profiting so much from the gains in such a short time��I think I like my odds here."

    I chuckled. "Enough of that. Why is Zachary so awful?"

    "Well, the Grays have three living children." Crook held up three fingers. "Zachary, who recently graduated from the Academy. Their daughter, Veronica, runs the caravan delivering shipments of Demon ss between the cave and the stairs. Lastly, there''s Jason, who essentially renounced the family to join the Church of Liberation, though he is still known to dote on his younger brother."

    Crook sighed heavily. "They had another daughter who would be around ten now if she were still alive. She died tragically, burned alive in the Grays'' manor before she could learn to crawl."

    "What?" I scrunched my brow. "That doesn''t make sense. Even the homes in the outer city are equipped with Circuits that prevent such tragedy. The only way that could happen��"

    I trailed off, looking sternly at the cup in my hand, and Crook finished my thought. "Would be if someone removed the Essence powering the Circuits.

    "Jason swore that he''d seen men running away from the mes that night, but I don''t buy it." Crook shook his head. "See, those of us who worked for Aldis regrly had to meet with the man, and after, we would gather in one of the taverns. After all, the O''Connel Municipality crafts some of the best brew.

    "Those who were around before me would get to talkin'' after a few drinks, and some of what they said��" Crook shuddered. "Apparently, Zachary regrly tormented the family''s pets��and even some of the servants as he got older. Rumor has it he''s the one who started the fire. I met him once before he was sent away to the Academy��and I wouldn''t doubt it. That look in his eyes��he wasn''t normal."

    Crook went on to talk about what else he''d heard through the rumor mill. Jason was already a Priest on the Tenth Floor, and Veronica had started rebelling, slowly recruiting the caravan''s protection team for her own purposes. I listened enough to process the information, but my mind was elsewhere.

    What would someone that young have to go through to turn out like that? It seems the boy may be too far gone already��

    We finished lunch and returned to the shop, where I spent the afternoon assisting customers and rummaging through our stock, selecting a few Cards that would be useful in theing days.

    ***

    "Squeeaaaa��"

    The giant rat was put out of its misery swiftly as a second ball of fire crashed into its side. Zachary frowned at the corpse. It had been the sixth he''d killed in his short stint in this old warehouse.

    Grabbing it by the tail, he tossed it in a pile with the others and continued to examine the abandoned facility. It was a quiet ce. The Circuits in this area had long ceased to be energized, and he could use hisplete skill set.

    It was far enough from even the slums that no one would suspect anything but an unfortunate mishap. Word had already spread about the rodents, and many young men and women were hunting them for their bounties in these forsaken ces.

    Zachary opened arge steel barrel, examining its contents before kicking it over and moving on to the next. He persisted in this way until every cask was upturned before leaving.

    He couldn''t have asked for a better setting.

    ***

    "Well,d. I think that''s it for today." Crook yawned loudly. It was already well past dusk, and the two young men from the Merchant''s Guild left with thest of the customers. I had stayed behind to sort the HUB before leaving.

    "It seems so." I grinned and gestured to the pile of Essence on the counter. It was my cut from the day''s earnings. "Use that to purchase a few Void Pouches. I''ll make do this time around, but that won''t be feasible in the future."

    "Ascending already?" Crook asked, surprised.

    I nodded, looking in one of the disys and using my reflection to smooth out the wrinkles in my suit. "Yes. I''ll be heading for the Second Floor in a couple of days. I''ll return in a month to unload my loot and collect those bags. Purchase thergest you can. It''s all right if it eats into more of my profit."

    "I''ll see what I can do." The merchant nodded. "And Rowan, do be careful. You''re my ticket to the good life."

    Weughed together, and I patted the shorter man on the shoulder before grabbing my cane and walking out the front door. My smile faded swiftly as that prickling sensation of being watched returned.

    It was expected.

    My coat pped in the chill evening breeze, and I was surprised to find that snow was beginning to fall. I lifted a hand, watching as a few kesnded neatly on my palm. As I stood there, the smell of burning tobo drifted toward me on the breeze, and I turned, smiling at the young man who leaned against my shop wall.

    "Good evening, Zachary." The paper lit brighter as he took a deep breath, then exhaled the smoke in a perfect O. He was wearing an all-ck suit with a knee-length ck coat, only a crimson kerchief standing out in his breast pocket.

    "Rowan." He pulled a small can from one pocket and a thin brown paper from the other. "Care for a smoke? Helps beat away the chill."

    "I appreciate the offer, but I''ll have to pass." I waved away the offer, keeping an eye on the young man. "Not good on the body after a few years."

    "I see."

    Zachary stared at me for a long moment before tucking the items back into his pockets. He flicked the remainder of his burning smoke onto the ground between his feet.

    "Care to take a walk with me?" he asked casually. "I''m off to collect the bounty on some of those damned Rodents that have been guing the Origin Floor and don''t know anyone else in the city. They aren''t usually dangerous, but I discovered a small horde in my travels. Besides, your sudden leap in ranks at the Academy intrigued me. I''ve been meaning to reach out."

    "I''ll bite." I chuckled and motioned for him to lead the way. "I heard they were offering decent rewards. A horde is too good to pass up if you''re willing to split the tails evenly."

    "Sure." Zachary smiled brightly and turned to walk away.

    "He made no other stops?" I thought, ncing toward the ground.

    A young, semi-transparent face stuck up between my feet. "No, Boss. He walked around for some time before finding the old warehouse. After that, he returned here and waited outside."

    "A pity." I sighed sadly and followed after the young man.

    A real pity.

 Chapter 34 Crimson

    We walked silently at this point, every step carrying us closer to the ambush that Zachary had set. I''d hoped that he would reconsider and change directions after a bit of conversation, but my hope seemed wasted on this young man. My few early attempts to steer the discussion toward understanding his reasons were met with a solid wall.

    Our pace quickened as we left the powered Circuits of the central city, allowing us full ess to our Cards, and we reached the deathtrap in under an hour. I wasn''t opposed to being led from the city or into the waiting maw of thebustible warehouse.

    At this point, I was confident that the figure before me was the cause of Aurora''s would-be disappearance. Not to mention the other atrocities that were sure to follow him in the future.

    Still��I would like to attempt to persuade him. He''s young, and his life doesn''t have to go the way it did before.

    "How far are we?" I asked David through our mental connection. There were at least a dozen abandoned factories in view.

    David glided calmly by my side. "It''s just there. We''ll reach it in a few more seconds�� Are you sure you want to go in?"

    "Yes." Zachary took a turn, leading us to the closest of the structures and lighting another smoke. "This will likely go south quickly, and I don''t intend to conceal it from the Grandhardts for it to nip me in the rearter. He''s already taken steps to make this look like an ident, so I might as well use it to my advantage."

    I sighed audibly, causing Zachary to cast a nce over his shoulder. He didn''t look angry, hateful, or even amused. Merely��inquisitive. Even so, his curious expression starkly contrasted with the warning bells that Threat Acuity was firing off within me as he opened therge rolling door to one of the abandoned facilities.

    I nced around the spacious wooden warehouse, taking note of the giant basins spread throughout. Likely they were once used to mix the liquids held in the upturned barrels. Chains hung from the rafters, rattling as freezing currents and wisps of snow drifted through the decaying wood. Metal stairs in multiple sections of the old factory led up to the walkways above the basins.

    "Cozy ce." I chuckled and observed the area, then frowned as I looked at the youngster now standing several yards away.

    Now that''s a look I haven''t seen before.

    "If you have something to say, Rowan, I''m all ears." He removed his coat and hat, hanging themzily from a nearby hook. His expression was strange. Gone was the curiosity and false smile from before. Now there was just��nothing. It was rather unsettling.

    I raised a brow, and he continued. "I could sense the changes to your demeanor during our stroll. It seems you know precisely what this is��so why did you continue to follow me all this way? Surely, you can''t be so confident?"

    Perhaps a Card that picks up on other''s emotions? He should also have a copy of Threat Acuity from the Academy�� My intent has likely been leaking off and on with my indecisiveness. Well, he''s admitted it now. Maybe he''ll be open to talking.

    "Have you suddenly found yourself concerned for my safety?" I chuckled, though his expression didn''t change from my little joke. Shaking my head at theck of response, I unbuttoned and rolled up my sleeves, not taking my eyes off him. "Would you at least care to tell me why?"

    "Keep away from the southern corner if you can," David''s voice sounded in my mind. "There are barrels he didn''t dump stored there in a locked room."

    "Got it. Thank you for being so thorough." I expressed my gratitude, realizing just how great a boon it was that the childish specter decided to travel with me. "Would you like to be recalled?"

    "Hahah!" David''sughter echoed in my mind. "There''s no way I''m missing my first fight!"

    Leveling David was the correct move. Had his duration not been extended to four hours, he would have been recalled before discovering this nasty surprise. Am I confident? Of course I am. There was time to prepare.

    Every Card in my Deck that I intended to wield permanently had been Leveled to 3, with a few reaching 4. Between those and the temporary additions, I was assured of my victory, though I didn''t expect it toe without effort. With his family''s wealth, it was likely that my opponent''s Cards were mostly Level 4, with at least one or two Level 5s. I would need to be prudent.

    Zachary stared at me with those dull eyes, and after blowing another lungful of smoke, he answered. That was something I hadn''t been expecting.

    "I don''t understand you," he answered lethargically. "You can take that personally if you wish, but it isn''t just you. I don''t understand anyone. But you��there was a time I thought you were like me. Not anymore. You somehow attained something that I''ve been seeking for a long time. Perhaps I''ll be done searching after today��"

    Without warning, Zachary flicked his still-burning cig toward the ground. The calm rattling of chains and whistle of the biting wind was reced by a deafening roar as mes erupted from the soil between us. I''d lost sight of my adversary in less than a second, and the tongues of me licked hungrily at my boots.

    "Spritz!" As the ze fanned out, I shouted out one of the Spells I''d borrowed from Crook, making sure it was enhanced by Incantation. A downpour of water fell from the air just above me, drenching my hair and clothing while washing away the mes beneath my feet.

    Click.

    With one hand, I drew the de of my cane while Dashing into the air. With my other, I motioned toward one of therge basins as Inded gently on one of the metal walks. From this vantage point, I could get a better look at my surroundings.

    The congration spread rapidly and had already covered a third of the warehouse. Whatever fluid they''d been crafting in this ce, not only was it highly mmable, but it didn''t show any signs of petering out, even along the dirt floor.

    Water dripped slowly from my clothing,nding on the metal tform and sizzling as it evaporated. The heat was rising quickly. The second Card I''d appropriated from the shop, Heat Resistance, was already proving its worth.

    I nced around the warehouse floor, searching for my foe. It didn''t take long to spot him. Zachary was standing in the same position as when he''d started the ze, and he was��smiling? The mes danced wildly around him, obscuring most of his person, yet that smile was something I couldn''t miss.

    It wasn''t the same false smile that he''d kept up on our journey here. Instead, even with his clothing catching fire, he looked��peaceful.

    Eyes closed, he stretched out both arms, ignoring the hazardous environment. The mes that threatened to consume him suddenly stilled before being drawn from the earth. They snaked up his leg and wound around his outstretched arms, only stopping when his body was mostly covered.

    "Bullocks��" I muttered.

    His eyes snapped open, and he looked directly at me. The mes on his body began to writhe, and the fire on his arms turned brighter before firing in my direction.

    I leaped to the right, narrowly avoiding one of the projectiles as the other collided with one of the tform''s supports. It wasn''t enough to destroy it, but the metal was warped, and the walkway began to sag slightly in that direction.

    How did he spot me so quickly? And the control he has at his age�� Fire Attunement?

    Attunements were elemental-based Holy Cards, ones that weren''t easy toe by, that allowed their Wielder to form a connection with the element. In this case, Zachary could detect me anywhere within the confines of the burning building.

    What a wellid trap.

    I dodged another serpent-like st and ran toward the center of the warehouse, where the mes were only just beginning to spread. Zachary shadowed my movements from the ground, following below and continuously firing bolts toward the tform. I smiled.

    "What an energetic young man!" Iughed and internally added, "Having fun yet, David? Larry, how are things going on your end?"

    "Ungh!"

    "Look at him go!" I could somewhat make out David''s form floating in the rafters, watching the goings-on with intent curiosity. "Oh, and Larry said he''s working on it."

    You got that from ungh?

    I leaped over the banister when Dash came off Cooldown, throwing myself toward an adjacent walkway just as two more ming bolts exploded where I''d just been. With Dash still active, I snatched one of the chains and held on tight as it swung me around one of therge basins, where Inded directly behind Zachary.

    "Affliction!"

    My deshed out several times, striking the exposed skin of the boy''s arms and legs. A dark mist loomed over the sword''s edge, and with each impact, the haze would seep into the superficial wounds. I managed to inflict all ten stacks of Affliction before he could react, reducing the effectiveness of his Agility by twenty-seven percent.

    Damn it, Rowan. You know what you have to do. Why are you hesitating?

    Zachary spun swiftly, one arm raised in preparation to cast another of the ming bolts. Before he could, I struck his chest with my darkness-covered palm, knocking thed off his feet as his skin turned pale.

    "Hex!"

    Between that and Affliction, his Agility would be reduced by over fifty percent, and his other Foundations should be reduced by twenty-five percent. I rushed forward before he could gain his bearings, Pulling the nearby shaft of my cane toward me and mming it into the boy''s gut, sending him sprawling to the floor once more.

    The intensity of his mes increased, and I had to step back from the sudden rush of heat. He didn''t move, only held his stomach and coughed, looking at me.

    "Phew! You sure know how to give an old man a hard time!" I chuckled and took a deep breath, casting Spritz above me to cool my body and weaken the mes in the immediate area. My suit was fine, if not ashy, but my hands were red, and I was beginning to feel parched.

    "What''s with all of this hogwash?" I called while keeping my distance and gesturing around. "How about you tell me what it is you want, and we put an end to this?"

    "An end?" Zachary coughed and spluttered momentarily before spitting out a wad of blood. Though his eyes retained that same dead look, he looked toward the nearby me and smiled. "I suppose that would be one way to solve my dilemma."

    "Boss! You need to move!"

    "What?"

    "That basin is filled with��"

    Before David could finish, a massive ring of fire burst from around Zachary. I dove beneath the mes and watched as they mmed into the side of the container next to us. The side cracked, and light brown liquid came flooding out.

    ming liquid came rushing at me, and I Dashed into the air, barely avoiding the wave and grabbing onto the rail. I watched as the tide of fire swelled slowly outward��and directly toward the southern corner.

    "Larry! Get ready!" I cried internally, hauling myself onto the tform and looking around for both the Golem and Zachary. Beads of sweat rolled down my forehead, filling my eyes and blurring my vision.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The facility''s wooden tforms, desks, and other garbage had caught fire, and the rafters were filled with smoke. I was already holding my breath. The walkways were no longer navigable.

    I need to finish this quickly and get us out of here. Where the hell did that boy go?

    "Cough�� Cough��"

    I cast Cleanse, evaporating the smoke in my lungs and clearing the area around me long enough to take a deep breath. Lungs full of fresh air, I rushed forward, casting Spritz and Dash each time either came off of Cooldown.

    The light and dark of the shadows caused my movement speed to constantly wax and wane from Integrate, and I had to pause briefly to control my connection with the Enhancement. mes crackled around me as I concentrated, only just managing to suppress its effects when I heard a cracking noise behind me.

    I turned just in time to see a pir of me rushing toward me. There was no time to dodge, so I braced for impact, shielding myself with both arms and casting Spritz to help nullify the damage. Luckily, it was weak.

    The impact pushed me back a few steps, but the attack didn''t harm me. I looked up to see Zachary standing on another tform just a few yards away, both hands pointed toward me. The dark mist surrounding him was fading from existence, and his skin was returning to its usual pte. My Spells had timed out.

    Another pir of me raced toward me, this one much wider. I dodged to the side and pulled a throwing knife from my coat, flinging it toward the caster. He was gone.

    "On your right!"

    David''s warning came just in time. I Dashed back andunched another knife without looking. Two ming spears whizzed by, one catching the edge of my jacket, which instantly began to mend itself.

    "Urgh!" I nced over to find Zachary clutching the upper part of his stomach with one hand. The knife had found its target.

    "Boy, listen to me!" I tried once more. It looked like the knife had found his liver, and the wound was bleeding heavily. "Stop this madness!"

    Just try to see reason.

    Zachary raised his free arm toward me, the me beginning to snake toward his hand. I sighed. "All right, Larry. It''s time."

    The young man finally noticed that something was wrong. He stopped casting and looked over the tform''s edge to find the area around us devoid of me. Larry stood tall below us, a massive boulder in one hand and a cascade of mud flying from the other.

    Surprise flickered across Zachary''s face��and then his body became wreathed in fire. Before I could stop my Summon, Larry chunked the boulder toward the bottom of the tform, knocking the walkway back like a teeter-totter and sending the young man away and toward the southern side of the building.

    My jaw dropped as the tform''s remains ttered to the ground. I turned to look at the Golem disapprovingly.

    "Ungh?"

    "It''s all right, Larry." I sighed and shook my head. "You did the right thing. He made his choice. David, let''s at least try to find him."

    I leaped off the tform, using Featherfall to gently float to the damp soil. The fire still raged around us, but Larry had been hard at work putting out the fire in the center of the building, away from Zachary''s view.

    By the time his me Attunement warned him, it was toote. One of the problems with building so heavily around an element��once it''s gone, you forfeit your advantage. To be fair, he''d nned ahead, but he couldn''t ount for David and Larry.

    "Rowan, he''s at the southern corner!"

    "Thanks, David."

    We swiftly followed David''s directions and used Larry''s Skills to clear a safe path. The southern section of the warehouse hadn''t caught fire yet, but the mes were approaching rapidly.

    When I saw Zachary again, he was leaning against the storage room wall where David said he''d found the remaining barrels of incendiary liquid. Both of his legs were contorted in ways they weren''t meant to be. One of his arms was missing, and he struggled with the other to tap tobo from his tin into an unrolled paper on hisp.

    Larry stood behind me, keeping the fire at bay as I approached, frowning at the broken young man before me. Holding my de in one hand, I pointed it toward his throat.

    "Are you done fighting?" I asked.

    Zachary didn''t answer. Instead, he tossed his Deck Box toward my feet with his good arm before rolling his smoke. I blinked in surprise.

    "I don''t need that anymore," he mumbled, lifting the rolled paper and cing it between his blood-stained lips.

    I nodded and picked up the metal box, clipping it to my belt. "Would you like me to light that for you?"

    "Cough�� It''ll�� Cough��" He moved the cig to the side and spat a mouthful of blood. "It''ll light itself."

    "David. Could your new Skill ease his passing?" I asked as I bent down and pulled my knife from Zachary''s stomach.

    "I can try."

    David flickered into existence, yet Zachary didn''t flinch. He simply stared beyond me at the approaching me. The specter ced his tiny hands on Zachary''s temples, and I watched as the young man''s blue eyes became hazy.

    "That''s the best I can do." David spoke this time, not using our mental link. I nodded and gestured to the Golem that it was time to go. The liquid had slowed, but it still crawled forward faster than Larry could handle.

    Looking at the sleeping Zachary, I gave him a light pat on the shoulder and left the fellow to his dreams. There was nothing more to say. I just hoped he''d find peace in his final moments.

    Larry paved our way forward, and I left all thoughts of regret behind me. Zachary walked down the path he''d chosen. Now, it was time for me to walk mine.

    ***

    Zachary took note of the ghostly figure but didn''t turn away from the me. He recognized it. It was the same boy he thought he saw following him in the storefront window. Rowan had always been multiple steps ahead of him.

    A cool sensation spread through his body as the specter touched him, and the pain vanished. Something tried to pull him away from his body, but he fought it, watching as the three figures turned to leave.

    The heat intensified as Zachary gazed at Rowan Wilder, who seemed to vanish and reappear every time the me''s shadows covered him. Forcing himself away from the pull, Zachary studied the young man when he was visible, his eyes tracing over the unsoiled brown suit and wlessly styled hair that never fell out of ce.

    There wasn''t a scratch on him. Zachary hadn''t stood a chance.

    Leaning his head against the wall to the supply room, Zachary chuckled and shifted his gaze back toward the swiftly spreading me, admiring how it moved as it closed in. In moments, his legs were burning, and he could feel his skin bubbling beneath the heat, yet he couldn''t feel it. The pull was getting stronger.

    By now, the paper between his lips had ignited, and he inhaled deeply, a smile forming as he did so. Zachary spat the tobo from his dried lips and looked toward the ceiling, blowing a perfect smoke ring, which instantly merged with the ck smoke of the raging fire.

    There was another pull, and this time, he was too tired to resist. He followed the smoke ring into the dense fog, where he heardughter in the distance. Looking down, he was stunned. He waspletely uninjured and standing in a beautiful field of crimson flowers.

    Theughter came again, and he looked up to see a young girl running toward him. She couldn''t have been more than ten, with curly ck hair and blue eyes. Her crimson dress was blown by the wind as she rushed forward and took Zachary''s hand.

    "Big brother!" She smiled and pressed her cheek against his hand, tears running down her face. "I''ve been waiting for you for so long. I''m so sorry that I couldn''t help you, brother."

    Zachary felt something wet against his cheek and raised his hand to wipe it away. But there was another��and then another. The tears wouldn''t stop. And then, he knelt down and embraced the girl, a genuine smile forming as he did.

    "Cami��"

    In the warehouse, his eyes became ssy as the mes overtook him, yet his smile never faded. The liquid continued to push past until the mes crept beneath the door and reached the remaining barrels��

    ***

    Larry burst through one of the burning walls, and I recalled him as I Dashed away, putting as much distance between myself and that room as possible. The explosion that followed shook the earth, toppling two of the nearby buildings and shattering the windows in those several hundreds of yards away.

    My ears rang, and I could feel the wave of heat as it washed over me. Looking back at the carnage caused, I revised my ns to stay and exin the situation to the Grandhardts. Nope. It was time to go.

    "Condition met. Effect 7."

    My Dash was involuntarily cancelled, and I stumbled forward as I looked around frantically. A booming voice sounded in my mind, much like David''s link when he spoke with me, but louder.

    What the hell was that? Wait��is that the same as��

    Before I could finish that thought, the space before me rippled, and a radiant, silver light materialized. I watched in awe and confusion as the light began to shift, and a silver Card emerged, and at the same time��I had an epiphany�� No, it wasn''t so bold. It was as if I suddenly remembered something that I''d long forgotten.

    [Effect 7: The Wielder has killed an Anchor. For each Anchor in by an action of the Wielder, the Wielder will receive one Promotion Relic to support them in their endeavors. Each additional Anchor in increases the quality of the Relic.]

 Chapter 35 Party

    "It''s almost morning," Nathaniel muttered, peeking through the heavy drapes of themon room. It was still dark, but a bit of orange was beginning to show in the sky. Beyond the iron gates, he could see the dull lights of the streemps in the distance.

    His eyes weren''t on the beautiful sunrise or the intricate purple circuits asionally pulsing along the walk. No, his focus was on the animated orange and red hovering, flickering only a handful of miles away.

    A deep sigh sounded behind him, and he turned to scrutinize Aurora''s sleeping figure. She hadn''t wanted to be left alone, so she moved from her room to the sofa, and Nathaniel agreed to stay nearby as she slept.

    The woman had tossed and turned in her sleep, waking often��but that all stopped about an hour earlier. Now, her peaceful breaths were the only sound within the manor that didn''te from the wind or Nathaniel''s periodic musings.

    He turned back to the window and looked toward the mes. They were spreading fast, and with his enhanced Perception, he could faintly see a few colors shing where, presumably, some locals were using their skills to fight down the ze.

    Where was Rowan? He''d mentioned heading back to Origin City today, yet here it was, almost morning. Nathaniel frowned. He wouldn''t have uprooted and brought his belongings here if he doubted his soon-to-bepanion. Still, Nathaniel felt it unusual that he wouldn''t be home resting when they nned to begin their ascent in less than forty-eight hours.

    There was movement in the distance. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes, unable to detect what lurked beyond the gates. Remembering Rowan''s warning, he flicked his wrist, and a long, silver ive appeared in his left hand.

    The ive vibrated in his hand, its intricately carved circuits seeming to move while emitting a dim purple glow. A Relic purchased from York, crafted by one of the best craftsmen in the city, Greybeard. It wasn''t his real name, and no one knew his association with the Yorks, but they regrly conducted business with the man.

    Nathaniel noticed the movement again, closer to the gate now. He gripped his weapon tighter, feeling its response as the vibrations intensified. This Relic was unique, somethingmonly referred to as a living weapon, though that wasn''t the term the Yorks used. It could Level like a Card, though it came at a cost. Half of the Essence contained in any monster would be absorbed into the weapon if it delivered the final blow, causing the crystals found within to be less valuable.

    At that moment, the gates slowly swung open, and in the light caused by the energy used, Nathaniel could see Rowan casually strolling through. The walk lit up to guide the man, his cane tapping methodically against the stone.

    Nathaniel sighed in relief. He released his ive, but rather than fall to the floor, it simply vanished. Quietly opening and closing the front door, he moved to meet hispanion on the veranda.

    "Nathaniel." Rowan nodded as he approached.

    "Rowan," the young man responded in kind, though quietly. He tapped a finger to his lip. "Aurora is sleeping in themon room. Said she felt uneasy."

    "Thank you for informing me," Rowan whispered. "She''s had a turbulent few days. It''s best to let her rest. Anyway, I''m d you''re up. Care to join me for tea?"

    "Sure thing." Nathaniel chuckled.

    ***

    I prepared the tea before joining Nathaniel on the back patio, where I''d sent him so our conversation wouldn''t disturb our slumbering guest. Nathaniel took his cup gratefully, and I could see the bags forming under his eyes.

    "Just how long have you been up?" I asked.

    "A while, but it''s nothing to be concerned with." He waved it off. "A few hours'' rest on the lotive, and I''ll be good as new."

    "d to hear it." Motioning back toward the manor, I asked, "How is she holding up? Did she talk much before falling asleep again?"

    "She''s better, I think." He went on to tell me about her breathing patterns, describing how just an hour or so earlier, she had be peaceful.

    Right after Zachary''s death�� Does that imply that she was still on his mind during our battle? Or maybe it simply meant that he was still a danger to her in the short term if left alive. I never did find out what it was Zachary wanted.

    Initially, I''d assumed he was just after her Sacred Enhancement, which was why I asked Crook questions about it to lure him out. I still felt that was part of it, but his motivations seemed to lean toward something more profound than simply coveting a Card��

    And his status as an Anchor�� What in Tara''s name is an Anchor?

    I grimaced as I thought of the reward I''d received. A Promotion Relic simr to that I''d received from the final Achievement, though it only held five charges.

    I wasn''tining about thepensation, but it felt wrong to be rewarded so greatly for killing a child, regardless of the suffering he''d cause in the future. There were already so many differences between this life and myst�� Couldn''t I have changed him, too?

    Sighing, I looked toward the nearby wall, recalling the devastation that would burst in from the other side. I did what I had to do to pursue a better future, but I couldn''t keep myself from wondering if there was more than one way to go about it.

    Thinking of Aurora, I smiled sadly. Maybe there had been another way if I''d acted sooner, but it was toote. I was sure he''d killed the banker and had already targeted Aurora, who was perfectly innocent.

    As for the rumors about him murdering his sister��I had a hunch that they weren''t true. David said that he''d been witness to Zachary''s final moments, but he wouldn''t share the details. Still, the look on the young spirit''s face gave it away.

    "Rowan!"

    I looked to my right, shocked to find Nathaniel waving his hand right next to my face. He frowned and sat back in his chair.

    "I''ve called your name nearly a dozen times," Nathaniel stated, seeming neither annoyed nor bitter at my ignoring him. "Did something happen in the slums to have you worried? I can smell the smoke on you."

    Wow. Such high Perception�� Maybe Enhancements thatpliment it?

    I nced at my new suit, not finding a speck of dirt or ash. Throughout my walk, I''d cast Cleanse several times to wash away the bits of blood and grime that had umted during the fight. It seemed keeping a vial of Infernal Wash around would be necessary until I''d Leveled Cleanse some more.

    "Everything is fine." I circled my thumb around the knob of my cane, tracing the intricate design. "Aurora''s problem has been dealt with, and we are free to move from here."

    "I see." Surprisingly, Nathaniel didn''t seem taken aback by this news. "Speaking of Aurora, do you n to invite her to our party? I believe she would be a dependable addition. Having that Card alone would make her a great asset."

    So, he''s not going to probe further? As for his question��

    He was right. Aurora wasn''t top of the ss for nothing, but she sorelycked proficiency in controlling her Cards. That wasn''t something taught in the Academy, seeing as the gued Energy on the First Floor was low, and interacting with that energy was the first step in learning to do so.

    One of the sses I offered on the Tenth Floor covered that subject, so it wouldn''t be hard to teach her during our ascent. As for Nathaniel, I found it unlikely that he hadn''t been trained with a Relic or in an appropriately Circuited room from a young age.

    Well, I wanted to build a team that would have the most negligible impact on the future. Nathaniel was held back for years by his family, meaning pushing him forward would only benefit humanity. As for Aurora, she had been deceased, so I wouldn''t be stealing a great hero from a top Guild or some renowned political figure.

    "Okay. Let''s wake her when the sun finishes rising and make our proposal," I decided, patting Nathaniel on the shoulder.

    He nodded in agreement, and we sat back, sipping our tea in silence and watching the dawn form an assortment of colors on the rolling hills between us and the Tower''s wall. It was peaceful, reminding me of my early days before I''dmitted myself to instructing humanity''s future.

    When the show was over, we proceeded to themon room, where Aurora was still fast asleep. One of her arms hung limply off the sofa while the other was tossed over her head. Her mouth was wide open, and a bit of drool ran down her cheek.

    I couldn''t help butugh. She reminded me a lot of L, my friend Crole''s youngest daughter. Briefly, I mulled over whether the changes I made would keep Crole from meeting his wife. I''d introduced the pair, so I noted that I would need to make that happen again in a few decades.

    Gently, I shook Aurora''s shoulder for more than a minute, trying to stir her awake. It didn''t work, so I eventually cast Cleanse on her, which certainly got her attention. She jumped involuntarily, turning this way and that, but rxed when she realized where she was.

    "Rowan?" she questioned, yawning heavily. She rubbed her eyes, then turned to find Nathaniel sitting quietly in the chair across from her. Her eyes widened, and she quickly wiped the drool from the corner of her lips and attempted to rake out her disheveled hair.

    Nathaniel looked away rather than stare at her, and I couldn''t help but chuckle, earning a sharp re from the young woman. Aurora stopped fussing about her appearance after that and scrunched her brow. After a moment, she closed her eyes and frowned.

    "That feeling��" she muttered, not opening her eyes.

    I sat in the chair beside Nathaniel and waited patiently. For a young woman who''d never left her home or the Academy, I could only imagine what she''d been through. The abrupt return to normalcy now that no one nned to kill her was likely a shock.

    Feeling it would help, I stood and drew back the curtain, drowning the room in the dim light of the early morning sun. Her eyes opened, and she shifted from confused to stunned.

    "But��Precognition��it''s not��" Her eyes darted between Nathaniel and me as I reimed my seat.

    "Not to worry, child." I smiled warmly. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Nathaniel looking at me with a raised brow and a sly smile. That seemed a bit out of character, but I was still learning about the young man. There was much more to him than just a stony visage.

    "But��" Aurora started again, but I held up a hand.

    "You''re safe. From here, you can do as you wish."

    She looked to Nathaniel for confirmation, and though I hadn''t told him what had happened, he nodded in agreement. Aurora''s eyes started to tear up, though, unlike when she was under duress, not a tear fell. The woman wiped at her eyes and nodded, seeming to resolve herself not to ask any questions.

    She took a deep breath before speaking. "So��what now?"

    "Nathaniel and I will be making our final preparations here in the manor, and then we will be heading to the Second Floor," I answered.

    She raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Isn''t it a bit early? Most graduates take the time to apply to Guilds before ascending."

    "Is that what you n to do?" I asked.

    "I''m��not sure��" She spoke reluctantly, her voice gaining pitch as she went. "There would be less risk in ascending, but the contracts can be strict. I might not be able to��"

    Aurora''s voice caught. Whatever she was going to say seemed to make her ufortable. Before I could stop her from forcing herself, she blurted, "��find out what happened to my father! He disappeared��during his ascent. I just��need to know."

    So��that''s what drives her. If that man hadn''t brought the news of my father''s death back to me��

    There wasn''t a need for me to consider. I nced at the young man to my right to ensure we were on the same page. He nodded almost imperceptibly.

    "Aurora��Nathaniel and I spoke earlier this morning��" I said slowly. "Would you like to join our party as an official member? For now, it''s just the two of us. We can''t promise the safety of a Guild, but you''ll have the freedom to do as you please, providing it doesn''t put anyone in danger. If you need help in your search, we would be d to dedicate some of the party''s resources toward that goal."

    She inhaled sharply. Forming a group wasmonce, and most Climbers would do so since there was safety in numbers. They would usually disband before moving to the next Floor or backstab each other before making it to the stairs.

    Being asked to be an official party member was much more significant. Much like a Guild, it entailed signing a binding contract through a Relic that would mark each party member. It allowed Cards like my Amalgamate Agility to register the members, provided some light protection from betrayal, and stipted loot division or other terms.

    "I��ept your offer," Aurora breathed out.

    "You don''t care to hear the terms first?" I asked.

    She shook her head and clenched her fists. "If you are willing to help me��the terms don''t matter."

    "Well then!" I shot up, startling both of my guests. "That settles that. Aurora. Nathaniel. Pack the essentials, make any final preparations, and let''s leave the Origin Floor!"

    "Right now?" Aurora was taken aback. Nathaniel merely nodded and made his way toward his room.

    "That''s right." I chuckled. "Time is precious. It won''t be long before we''re all old and gray if we don''t clear a few Floors."

    Aurora chewed her lip before nodding. "Just��can I visit home before we leave? I''d like to tell my mom and Raymond goodbye."

    "Raymond?" I asked curiously.

    "He''s my dad��well, stepdad," she exined. "He gave everything to get me into the Academy and always supported my goal to find my father. Even more than Mom did."

    "Raymond sounds like an extraordinary gentleman." I grinned. "We''ll head to York first, then. Now, head on up and get yourself cleaned up. You''ll find my mother''s old wardrobe in thest room to the right on the second floor."

    "I''ll take my leave, then." Aurora walked to the stairs before pausing and looking back. "Thank you, Rowan."

    I smiled and waved her on before heading toward the hub. I still intended to return monthly for the first Ten Floors to dump the loot with Crook and monitor any changes in the timeline. Still, before leaving, I wanted to check the Essence consumption and ensure there would be enough to power the defenses for at least half a year in case the climb dragged on. It was better to be safe than sorry, and Crook still didn''t have any further information on the squatter in the attic.

    I wonder��

    Once I reached the hub and estimated that the Essence on the pedestal would likely be enough for close to eight months, I opened the safe in the corner and pulled out the banker''s Ledger. It was unlikely, but I wanted to read the info from the beginning to see if there were any hints about the offer on my estate. A bid thatrge would have to go through the top brass.

    If they have any connection with the squatter, then there''s a chance the offer was made within thest month. Sometime before my run-in with the burr��but likely after my regression since I hadn''t been given that deal when making this month''s payment in my previous life. There''s a chance it''s there.

    Once I was finished in the hub, I pocketed the Ledger in one of my hidden pockets and returned to the kitchen. The others weren''t down yet, so I pulled the Promotion Relics from my waist and began to think over my options.

    Ten uses��and although I''m not sure what needs to be done to eliminate another Anchor, I know it''s possible to get more.

    There was no longer a reason to be so selective with how I used the Relic. It still wouldn''t do to be wasteful, but I didn''t have to hold back on Cards that I knew would stay in my Deck for the long haul.

    Condense, once. Luck, twice. Amalgamate Agility, twice. Amalgamate Intelligence, twice. Golem once. Appraisal, once��what?

    [Card Name: Appraising Eye]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Observe more than just what''s on the surface.]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder can see information on most items or Relics. The amount of data shown is determined by the Wielder''s Will and Perception versus the Rank of the object.]

    [Effect 2: The Wielder can see the information of any gued Beast. The amount of data shown is determined by the Wielder''s Will and Perception versus the Will and Level of the Beast.]

    [Effect 3: The Wielder can see the information of any other Wielder. The amount of data shown is determined by the Wielder''s Will and Perception versus the Will of the Wielder.]

    A Spell morphing into an Enhancement? That''s news to me. And this��

    The moment the skill was Promoted, I began to see details about everything around me. Tables, chairs, the Relics acting as light fixtures, the Relic I still held in my hand. All of it was avable at a nce.

    Looking at my cane, I found the same description as before, meaning that the Enhancement likely didn''t give more information than its Spell form. Even if that were the case, it was much more convenient and had the added bonus of providing information on other Wielders. Once I was finished admiring the skill, I returned to what I was doing.

    I stared at the final use of Promotion for some time, wondering if I should use it. It may have seemed silly, but I also wanted to Promote Francis, the Beetle. David had grown attached to the little guy, so I didn''t want to let him go.

    "Are you just now using that?" a voice asked somewhere behind me. I turned my head to find Nathaniel standing in the kitchen entryway, purposely looking down so as not to stare at the Card thaty on the table.

    [Name: Nathaniel Syward]

    [ss: Wielder]

    [Deck Count: ???]

    [Total Foundation Level: ???]

    [Skills: ???]

    Well, I guess that I know whose Will is higher.

    He really was a goodd, but damn, were his movements quiet. The only Card on the table currently was my Beetle, and I didn''t feel any need to hide my Summon from Nathaniel. He''d be seeing them for himself soon enough.

    "Something like that." I kicked out the chair next to me. "Have a seat. There''s no reason to be so formal. You''ll see my Cards in use during our ascent, anyway."<novelnext></novelnext>

    He epted my invitation and looked at the Card, his brows raising slightly. "That''s a lucky find. That Relic wouldn''t be wasted on a Summon. You have eight uses, right?"

    "Just one." I flipped the Relic around to show him. "Most of the uses went toward Enhancements or Spells. Better for the party."

    "I see��" Nathaniel fished around in his jacket before pulling out his Promotion Relic. Then��he slid it across the table. "Here. Feel free to use one of these on it."

    "Are��you sure?"

    Nathaniel just nodded. "Of course. It will make the party stronger. Besides, it''s useless on the rest of my Cards."

    I nced at the Relic and saw that it was down to four from what should have been five. After inspecting the Relic, I looked back up at Nathaniel, who gestured to go ahead.

    "How can I refuse?" The Card glowed as I tapped it once with both Relics. My Relic crumbled to dust, and I slid the other back to Nathaniel. "Thank you."

    "No problem." He pocketed the item. "So, where do we go from here?"

    "We head to York this morning. Aurora would like to say her goodbyes before our departure." I thumbed my cane thoughtfully. "Aside from that, we''re ready to go. We can take the overnight train back to Origin City and be on the Second Floor first thing tomorrow morning."

    Nathaniel grunted in eptance just as Aurora walked into the kitchen. She wore a in green dress with white trim and ckce around the sleeves and cor. For it not being sized perfectly for her, it fit her nicely. The flush on Nathaniel''s cheeks told me that he thought so as well.

    [Name: Aurora Price]

    [ss: Wielder]

    [Deck Count: 32]

    [Total Foundation Level: 23]

    [Skills: ???]

    It stood to reason that she would have the exact amount of Cards rmended by the Academy. They regrly reminded the students that they should only equip the necessary Foundations and Enhancements for survival and a few Cards that suited the Wielder. It was advised to leave twenty slots open to build around one''s Origin Card.

    "I''m sorry." Aurora looked at the floor, embarrassed. "I didn''t see any blouses or leathers."

    "My mother wasn''t a Climber." I chuckled. "In any case, the color suits you. Are you ready to go?"

    "I am," she replied quickly. "Other than my bag, nothing made it out of the alley. I can''t even tell you where the luggage is that I arrived with."

    Nathaniel stood, walked to the second entrance, and pulled arge pack from the hallway. It was simr to my own, though his was slightlyrger and appeared to be made of sturdier material.

    "All right then. Meet me on the back patio in five minutes." I jogged through the hallway and up the stairs, grabbing my pack from my room before heading to the attic. There, I looked carefully around the room.

    No more chests appeared. No notes scrawled on the wall or extra Circuits on the floor. Seeing this, I was more convinced that Appraising Eye didn''t lower the requirements needed to view information. I was okay with ying the long game.

    It didn''t take long to join the others in the backyard, where they followed me down the cobbled path to the small fence that housed my parents'' graves. I leaped over the barrier carefully and ced my hands on their headstones.

    "Mom. Dad. I''ll be leaving again. Don''t worry. This time, I''m not alone." I knelt down between the two and sped my hands together before pressing them against my brow. For a few minutes, I sat there, not minding the morning dew that was seeping through my cks. When I stood, I patted my father''s stone again and beamed.

    "I''ll give it my all. I promise."

    ***

    Aurora stood silently beside Nathaniel, her heart weighing heavy in her gut while watching the man kneeling in front of them. She felt ashamed. She''d thought so poorly of Rowan for so many years, yet he still offered to help her achieve her goal.

    Seeing him now, mourning for his absent parents, she wanted to p herself. Not once had she wondered about the weight he carried. It wasn''t just Rowan. She had never once thought about anyone''s hardships but her own.

    Rowan opened his eyes and stood, grinning. At that moment, it felt like she was buffeted by a wave of conviction. Without knowing why she also smiled, and the weight in her heart lifted as she resolved to be a better person.

    Beside her, Nathaniel gripped his fists tightly, determination showing clearly in his eyes. Looking at Rowan, standing tall even with so much weight on his shoulders, the corners of his lips twitched upward. This was the man he''d chosen to follow.

    Rowan stepped out of the small cemetery and ced a hand on both of their shoulders. With a light squeeze, he walked between them, his cane tapping lightly against the cobblestone path.

    ***

    A loud whistle pierced the air, asserting its dominance over the sound of the wheels chugging along the track. I looked out of the window toward the swiftly approaching York.

    From this distance, the ck-and-purple haze above the city was evident. Massive stacks rose into the sky, spewing the fog into the air. I wasn''t particrly fond of the ce. The outskirts smelled of metal, smoke, and decay.

    We didn''t have to wait long for the train to reach the station. Unlike Grandhardt, where there were four stations, each a specific distance into the city, York had one central station. It wasn''t asrge as the central station of Origin City, but it was just as impressive.

    After stepping off the train, the first thing that drew most tourists'' attention was a giant balloon hovering well above the station''s center. Adorning the craft was the unmistakable insignia of the York Family. Simr, smaller balloons were parked along the outskirts of the station, each marked with a number and prepared to transport paying passengers to different areas within York.

    There weren''t many of these creations, each having been crafted from materials found only above the Fiftieth Floor. In total, I could spot six crafts, including thergest on disy in the center.

    "Amazing��" Aurora stared at the contraption with a gleam in her eyes. She turned excitedly toward us and pointed skyward. "Aren''t they incredible?! Sir William came up with the design shortly after the united push past the Fiftieth Floor."

    "They are." Nathaniel chuckled. "I''ve been on board one of them."

    Aurora stepped directly in front of Nathaniel. "How?"

    "One of the Family gatherings was held aboard the big one." Nathaniel frowned. "It''s an extraordinary craft, to be sure, but I prefer to keep my feet on the ground."

    Aurora seemed about to ask another question, but seeing the frown on Nathaniel''s face, I cut in, "We should get moving. Would you mind leading the way, Aurora?"

    "Ah!" she eximed. "My apologies. I let my excitement get the better of me. It''s this way."

    Nathaniel looked at me gratefully as Aurora turned and began to lead us through the crowd. I gave him a sad smile, knowing he didn''t care to talk about his family. Considering that, I decided we would need to discuss boundaries while establishing the terms of the contract.

    We all had skeletons, and it wouldn''t do to go digging them up before we were ready. Aurora walked swiftly and stepped off of the tform onto Tungsten Boulevard. As we walked, I admired the unique structures.

    The buildings weren''t much different from that of Grandhardt, having pitched rooftops and spires jutting out here and there. What made them remarkable were the thousands of tubes and spinning cogs fastening one structure to another.

    Everything was in motion. Rather than Circuits powering every light, bubbling tubes sent liquid Essence back and forth between varying machines. I''d visited a few times in my prior life, but it was still a sight to behold.

    Though the York Family provided the city with lights and other conveniences through Relics and technology, the usual Circuits of the Church of Liberation running along the walks still existed, dampening the powers of the Wielders as they rushed to and fro. My eyes were wide open, observing and memorizing the descriptions of every item I could read.

    Appraising Eye is remarkable. All of these secrets. I wonder if this is what Miss Striker used to read me or if that was something more effective.

    The entricities of the clothing worn by the citizens wereparable to the distinctive style of the city. Hats with glued-on cogs. Bracelets with liquid Essence glowing and bubbling inside of them. Masks with dissimr pieces of metal attached. This ce wasn''t known as the City of Creation for nothing.

    Aurora spoke proudly about the different buildings and Relics we saw, describing their functions in detail as we followed behind. It was clear that she was proud of her city''s culture. I only hoped she didn''t start wearing nking metal contraptions now that she was out of the Academy. If she did, I would have to reconsider my offer.

    Still, she had a right to be proud. The Yorks and the O''Connels were likely the tworgest contributors to humanity aside from the government. I wasn''t the biggest fan of the Families, but those two deserved the credit.

    Before long, we stopped at a gated house. The house stood out from the others on the block, and there was a small but well-kept garden in the front. Aurora took a deep breath before pressing one of her rings to the gate and pushing it open.

    "You shoulde in. My parents will want to meet you." She spoke so softly that I almost couldn''t hear her.

    Aurora opened the door and asked us to make ourselvesfortable in themon room while she went to fetch her parents. I looked around curiously at the pictures that seemed to take up every inch of free wall space.

    Almost every one was of Aurora at a different age. In some, she was a toddler ying in the small field, while in others, she wore her uniform or other simple outfits, looking embarrassed and trying to hide her face.

    Studying these photographs, I quickly found the ones with the rest of her family. In some of her childhood photos, there was a man she bore a striking resemnce to. She clung to him tightly in most while they yed in others.

    Her more recent photos included a different man, though he didn''t look any less caring. He was tussling her hair in one while in another, she and a woman I presumed to be her mother ran from him as he sprayed them with some water Spell.

    I did note the jump. There were hundreds of pictures, but it seemed there were a couple of years missing. If I had to guess, her father went missing while she was a toddler, and her stepfather and mother married when she was around seven.

    My thoughts were interrupted by the sound ofughter. I turned to see Aurora walking in with an embarrassed look. Following her, a beautiful woman with disheveled hair and flushed cheeks stepped into the room. An enormous, bulky man brought up the rear, a broad grin on his face.

    "Oh? You should have mentioned we have guests!" the woman eximed embarrassedly. "Let me put on the kettle. I''ll be right back!"

    She bustled off before Aurora could catch her. The man entered the room, his massive frame touching either side of the doorway. For all the man''s size, it was hard to find him intimidating with the goofy smile he kept on his face.

    "So, which one is nning on courting you?" he asked teasingly.

    "Daaad!"

    "Hey, I''m just looking out for my baby girl. How do I know whose head I have to bash if you don''t tell me?" He scrutinized Nathaniel and then turned to me. "I hope it''s the scrawny one here. I''m not sure if I can push this big fellow around. If it''s both of them, you''re on your own."

    Aurora covered her face with both of her hands, and I busted outughing. Nathaniel sat in his seat, his characteristic solemn expression holding firm.

    I held out a hand. "Rowan Wilder. It''s nice to meet you, Raymond. I''m sorry if we caught you unawares."

    "Raymond Price. And you weren''t interrupting anything we can''t make up forter." The man chuckled and took my hand. Aurora groaned and turned to face the wall.

    While Raymondughed at his own joke, Aurora''s mother walked in, holding a tray with five steaming cups. Her hair had been quickly brushed, and her cheeks weren''t quite as red.

    "Mom. Dad." Aurora gestured to each of us in turn. "This is Rowan, and this is Nathaniel. We''ve decided to form a party for our ascension��"

    Raymond''s smile broke, and his face looked stricken. "You��you''re really going?"

    "I am," Aurora confirmed. "This is what I''ve been working for. You know that."

    "When do you n to leave?" her mom asked. The woman''s lips were quivering, and she was already holding back tears.

    This is��awkward. I didn''t think we would broach the topic so swiftly.

    "You two��" Raymond moved forward in his seat to get a better look. "I trust my girl''s judgment when ites to character. So you get a pass for that, but how do I know that you can keep her safe?"

    Aurora tried to speak, but I held up a hand, cutting her off. Raymond raised a brow and nced at his daughter, then Nathaniel, before settling back on me.

    "Mister Price." I sighed and leaned forward on my cane. "The truth is that I cannot guarantee Aurora''s safety."

    "I see." Raymond sat back and reached for his wife''s hand; the life was returning to his eyes, and he was boasting a half smile. "That''s an eptable answer. Had you promised that you could, I would have had to throw the two of you out.

    "That said," he continued, "I would like to know more about you. Your answer may be correct, but I won''t send my daughter off with a group of weaklings who think she can carry them because of her number one status in the Academy."

    "Dad." It was Aurora''s turn tough. "Both of them also ranked in the top ten. Rowan was the student who received the only perfect score on the written exam, while Nathaniel received full marks on the practical."

    "I see." Raymond looked toward Nathaniel. "I''m sorry, young man. I don''t believe I caught your name."

    "Nathaniel Syward," Nathaniel replied inly, reaching his hand to grasp therge man''s. As for Raymond��he spat out the tea he''d just been sipping.

    "Syward? As in��the Sywards?" he asked.

    Nathaniel gave a forced smile. "Yes, sir. That is correct."

    Aurora''s mom, who''d been silent this entire time, spoke up. "Aurora��do you have to leave so soon?"

    "Mom��" Aurora hesitated, then bent down and wrapped her arms around the older woman. "Don''t worry, Mom. I''ll be safe, and we''ll return at least once every month for Rowan to check on his business."

    "Your business?" Raymond looked in my direction.

    "Yes, sir." I nodded. "Wielder''s Wonders. Just opened up in Grandhardt recently."

    "I''ve heard of it. It was the talk of the local Merchant''s Guild for a couple of days." Raymond nodded approvingly. "All right then. Not that I have much choice, but I''ll trust you boys to take care of our Aurora.

    "If you need Relics for your journey, don''t hesitate to ask. My business may be struggling, but I know every craftsman in the city, including some of the Yorks. We can get anything you need, but it may take some time to craft."

    "Is that so?" I twirled my cane thoughtfully. "I''ve asked my associate to acquire a few items for me. Reach out to the shop and get in touch with Crook. I believe the two of you can help each other out. I''ll write a letter exining the situation before we leave, along with a list of items I''ve asked him to purchase."

    Raymond lit up at that, and we spent the next hour talking business while Aurora and her mother talked and prepared an early dinner. Eventually, time ran short, and it was time for us to return to the station.

    We stood on the small veranda in front of the house, saying our goodbyes. Aurora produced a pouch from her satchel and passed it to Raymond, who looked at her questioningly.

    "Thank you for everything. Just take it and don''t ask." Her eyes started to water, and she wrapped the giant man in a hug, her fingers barely reaching the man''s back. He returned the gesture before handing the pouch off to Aurora''s mom and then looked directly at me.

    "You''re making the decisions, so I''m holding you responsible if something happens to her." Raymond spoke in a not-so-menacing voice. Then, even softer, "Take care of her, will ya?"

    I only nodded. There was nothing else to say.

    With that, we were off. Nathaniel lifted Aurora''s pack before she could protest and carried it alongside his own. Just as we hit the walk, I heard a woman''s gasp of surprise. ncing back, I saw the woman holding the bag out for Raymond to see.

    Iughed as we rounded the corner. "How much of that did you give to them?"

    "Most of it," she responded sullenly. "There were only two Cards I felt I should add."

    "That''s a shame." I gripped her shoulder lightly. "You going to be okay?"

    "Yes��" Aurora wiped at her eyes. "When I left for the Academy, I was so young. Over the past ten years, I spent a lot of time wishing I could see my parents more. Now that I''ve seen them��it''s hard to leave."

    Her words brought back memories. I watched as my old friends said goodbye to their children. It was never easy.

    I patted her head softly, surprising her. She looked up, and I gave her a confident smile. "Don''t you worry. You''ll see your parents again. Nathaniel. You. Me. We''re going to do great things together. When we get back, you''ll have loads of stories to tell them. It all starts on the Second Floor."

    Aurora was stunned for a moment, but my job was done. She stopped sulking and dried her eyes. Nathaniel slowed down to walk beside us just in time to hear my motivational speech.

    "All right��" Aurora took a deep breath. "Let''s get started."

    Nathaniel gave a slight smile, and I grinned broadly.

    "Yes��let''s get started."

 Chapter 36 [Perspectives]

    From his perch in the Origin City trading quarters, a drunken man had a good view of the central bazaar. He took a long drink from an oddly crafted gourd, then mmed it on the table.

    ��Baarkeep!�� he shouted, attracting the disapproving gazes of passersby. ��Gimme anu��er��un!��

    After throwing an Essence on the counter, he turned and took in his surroundings. His crystal-clear eyes caught even the tiniest movements within the crowd. It didn��t seem he��d been noticed. Grumbling, he snatched his now-full gourd up from the counter and swiveled to look at the stairs.

    ��I��m going to die bef���� His voice cut off as he saw a familiar figure walking along the street. On his right was the young man that had followed him down from the Second Floor�� a friend, perhaps?

    To his left was a beautiful young maiden, one that could likely only be found in fairy tales. The drunkard scowled. Some men had all the luck.

    He focused on the trio while taking another swig. ��Aurora. Rowan. Nathaniel. Hmm�� Issa start.��

    Once the group entered a tall building along the main street, he tipped his gourd to the sky and downed the contents a second time. Turning back to the bartender, he once again mmed it on the counter angrily.

    ��Whhyyy din��t you fill ��er up?!��

    ***

    ��Haaah�� Haah����

    Kneeling in the woods with her head in her hands, a young woman breathed heavily and stared wide-eyed at the bloodied ground before her. Her white hair was stained red with the same blood that covered her arms.

    ��Haah���� She pressed her hands forcefully against the sides of her head, trying to remember what had happened. Ever since she��d reached the Second Floor, all of her time had been spent hunting in the woods.

    After leaving the border town, she hadn��t run into a single person, though that was likely because she��d purposely taken the long way around the Floor��s outskirts. Wait�� that wasn��t true.

    ��Haah�� Th�� There was a man, wasn��t there?�� She looked down at her bloodied hands.

    ��What have I done?��

    ***

    A subtle squelching noise sounded in the near-silent room, followed shortly after by another. Aldis looked down at the two freshly pressed wax seals and sighed.

    ��Veronica Gray��

    ��Jason Gray��

    ��Two���� he muttered.

    The Grandhardts had found the corpse as soon as they��d quelled the mes�� but it had still taken them two days to inform Aldis that his youngest child had died.

    ��Two���� He looked up slowly, gazing at the candle flickering on the edge of his desk. This was the second child they��d lost in this way.

    ording to the Grandhardt��s representative, their investigation had shown that Zachary had been hunting the gued Rodents which had been roaming the streets. He appeared to have found a nest in an abandoned factory, holding thousands of gallons ofbustible liquid. Pieces of his corpse that survived the ze were found scattered throughout the factory, along with the remains of hundreds of Rodents .

    Aldis dragged his feet as he walked to the postbox at the front of the office. He looked down at the envelopes in his hand. Only two. He��d worked so diligently all these years to have something worth passing down to his children. But now��

    ��Only two����

    ***

    Looking down on the whole of Origin City from the tallest spire of the highest building, two silver eyes stared at the meandering pedestrians. He watched unsympathetically as a young man was dragged into an alley and beaten.

    ��Contemptible vermin.�� He spat at the floor. Immediately, a servant ran forward to clean it. ��These humans are a waste of space. Why are these people even here?��

    ��Master Wales, even the weak are necessary for supporting the economy,�� a voice said with augh from behind him. ��If it were only the powerful paying their tariffs, we would be doomed. There are more weak individuals than powerful, and their fees alone cover over ny-five percent of the city��s explosive growth.��

    Sighing, Macaiah Wales rubbed his temples with both hands and continued to stare at the man in the alley. The muggers had long vanished, yet he was still writhing like a worm on the ground.

    ��I wasn��t referring to the city, Horace.�� Macaiah gritted his teeth. ��What are they doing in the Tower ? What purpose do they serve?��

    He jutted his chin toward the blubbering man in the street. ��They have no idea what��s out there. How is it that anyone can be satisfied with this? Sitting idly on the Origin Floor, unable to fend for themselves.��

    Horace moved to the immense window and swiftly located the source of his master��s irritation. The man closed his eyes for several seconds, apparently unmoved by the cries of pain that could be heard, even from this distance.

    ��It��s being dealt with.�� Horace opened his eyes and bowed slightly. Before he��d even bent at the waist, four well-dressed men appeared in the alley. A scream reced the weeping, and when Horace returned his gaze a momentter, not even the stains of the man��s blood were left on the pavement.

    ��The problem isn��t dealt with, Horace.�� Massaging his temples, Macaiah moved to sit at his desk. ��Now, wake up Thurman. I��d like to hear about this little�� incident.��

    ��As you wish.�� Horace walked around to the front of the desk, where his usually silent footsteps began to crinkle therge sheets of stic spread across the floor. In the center sat a wooden chair, and on the chair, a man�� If you could still call him that.

    The lower half of the man��s face had been removed, and the half of his tongue still attached was visible through the hanging jaw. Blood ran freely from his missing fingers and toes. Macaiah stared patiently into the empty eye sockets as he waited for Horace to work his magic.

    Horace stepped up to the man and ced a hand over his scalped head. Shimmering green energy flowed from his fingers, wrapping around the disfigured man. The torn flesh on the man��s skin began to writhe�� and then it began to grow back. Slowly, the man became whole.

    ��Aarrggghhh!�� the man screamed as his dangling jaw snapped back into ce. His scream turned to sobbing once his tongue stretched to its original size. ��P-please. Just�� just let me die�� Please!��

    ��Tell me what happened on the First Floor,�� Macaiah said in a soothing voice.

    Thurman��s wailing stopped. When he responded, his voice had lost all of its former angst. ��I dealt with the guards, as instructed, and reced them with the two men sent up with me. I had each of the chosen Descendants step into their rooms. Young Master Kanan performed his task first, then Miss York, and so on until I reached the O��Connels�� boy.��

    ��And then?�� Macaiah prompted.

    ��The boy refused to participate, so I tore the heads off of the men myself,�� he answered.

    ��So you decided it would be in your best interest to steal from the Families?�� Macaiah questioned in a calm voice. ��In an event that I myself orchestrated, no less. That is certainly bold.��

    ��I saw it as taking the unwanted scraps,�� Thurman continued in the same dull, monotonous tone.

    ��Tell me, Thurman. What happened then?��

    ��Nothing.��

    ��Nothing?�� Macaiah repeated.

    ��I received no special reward. When I arrived at the designated meeting ce on the Second Floor, I was informed that only nine rewards were received by the chosen Descendants.��

    Macaiah sat quietly for several minutes before releasing his hold on Thurman, whose face turned white when he realized what he��d said. Before he could beg for forgiveness, Horace ced a finger to the man��s temple, and he froze in ce.

    <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ��Master. Do you wish for me to look into this matter?��

    Macaiah shook his head. ��No. Kanan wasn��t affected. We will let the others deal with their own problems.��

    ��As you wish.�� Horace lowered his head in respect. �� ?��

    ��Slowly.��

    ***

    ��G-Grandpa���� a timid voice squeaked from the open doorway.

    Turning slightly, Arthur O��Connel beamed proudly at his youngest progeny. ��Come in, Carter.��

    The ten-year-old boy shuffled forward, his eyes pointed downward. His shaggy, light-brown hair perfectly resembled how Arthur��s had looked centuries before. He tousled the boy��s hair with his gnarled hand.

    ��You��re not still moping about over that task, are ya, boy?�� Heughed merrily and ced his finger under the boy��s chin, raising it until their gazes met. ��I��ve told you: not wanting to take a life is nothing to be ashamed of.��

    ��But�� the others�� they����

    ��Bah!�� Arthur swiped at the air. ��You ought not to worry what anyone else thinks of ya! You��re the best damn apothecary on this side of the Fiftieth Floor! Well�� aside from me, o�� course,�� he said with a wink.

    Carter smiled a bit at that, his sullen mood taking a turn. Arthur noticed the change and stood, gesturing to the table littered with ss tubes, vials, and containers. Some were filled with different colored liquids while others housed odd-looking items.

    ��Ya showed up just in time.�� He passed a dark purple root down to the boy. ��How about helping this old man crush the bane roots ?��

    ��Okay!��

    ***

    ��Aaaagghhhhh!��

    Two men screamed in unison as they ran through the forests of the Third Floor. Two normal sized ursidae and one massive one trailed closely behind, shaking the ground with their steps.

    ��Why did I let you talk me into this?!�� one of the men yelled. His hair bounced around loosely as he ran. Tattered brown robes dragged the dirt behind him, and one of the ties on his cheap leather jerkin had snapped.

    ��Me?�� Locke shouted back between breaths. ��Ye�� din��t even know�� yer cousin�� ��ad went an���� opened a tavern�� on the�� Fifth Floor! ��ow did ya�� not know that�� Nick?��

    ��He never�� told me!�� Nick responded while pulling up his dragging robe just as one of the bears nipped at it. ��Stopining�� and keep�� running!��

    Locke nced back and picked up his pace. The smaller ursidae were a ways back now, but the big one was still keeping pace, despite Nick��s buffs. Oh ��ell. I wish that fe Rowan was ��ere. ��e��d set these beasties straight.

    ***

    ��Damnit!��

    ��Ooof!��

    There was a loud crash as an armored man mmed into the stone wall of the training grounds. He coughed up a bit of blood andy still, clearly hoping the young man who��d put him there wouldn��t call on him again.

    ��I��m sorry, Seth, but we��ve yet to receive word from the Wales Family.�� The middle-aged woman sighed heavily and shook her head. ��Honestly, is it even that important?

    ��You watch your tone,�� Seth barked. ��It��s not about the damn Relic. Someone took what was meant to be mine, and I want to know who !��

    Without looking, the young man swung his fist outward, stumbling as he hit nothing but air. His cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment, and he snapped his head up to see the armored man still hunched over by the shattered wall.

    ��Oscar! Get over here!��

    ***

    Leaning on the side of a magnificent winged beast, a man gazed off into the distance. He��d glimpsed this small, sleepy town as he and his party had passed overhead. For being as close to the stairs as it was, it had been difficult to spot.

    His long, ck hair whipped in the wind as he focused on the myriad mountains in the distance. Everywhere he looked, peaks jutted up amongst the purple clouds. With his Perception, he could see the ind that harbored the stairs. It was packed with Wielders, all peering over the edge and wondering how they would proceed.

    The Fifty-First Floor was thest stop for a lot of people. Humanity had been stuck here for centuries. Without the ability to fly, there was no way to cross from ind to ind.

    There were stories, centuries old, of fearless men and women who��d attempted to scale down the side of the first mountain in search of the base. Most hadn��t returned, and when one finally had�� the news hadn��t been well received.

    These weren��t mountains��they were inds, hovering hundreds of miles above an expanse of nothing. That had been the story, anyway, but there actually was a bottom.

    The man walked to the edge and peered over. Today, the clouds were too thick to see through , but when they cleared, Wielders with a high-enough Perception could see the millions of colossal tentacles snaking around in the abyss. He was one such Wielder.

    Looking back toward the darkened sky, he let his pitch-ck eyes flick back and forth between the clouds. There were others up there, Wielders who had been lucky enough to obtain a flying Summon or Spell. Only recently had the first group of Wielders pressed into the next Floor, but even now, with the location marked, there were a limited number of ways to cross between the inds.

    ��Zain! How many?��

    Zain stroked the feathers of the white-and-brown Griffin that had served as his mount for thest few years. It nudged his side, trying to shove its beak into his pocket. Heughed and pulled out one of the fruits he��d found on a distant ind, then tossed it in the beast��s open beak.

    ��There are three,�� Zain called to the man in reply. ��Unfortunately, they��re traveling in a small pack. I��ve been waiting hours for one to split off, but�� no luck.��

    The man sighed. ��Well,e on, then , it��s time to rest. We��ll give it another go tomorrow.��

    Their return to the obscure little town was uneventful. Zain let his Griffin run along the grass, nipping at leaves and any smaller Beasts that managed to cross their path.

    When he reached the border, the creature vanished, transported into whatever strange world the Cards housed them in. Zain made a beeline for the local pub. Despite it being such a rural ce , these people made the best liquor he��d ever tasted.

    He paused with his hand on the front door. Stepping back, Zain poked his head around the side of the pub and examined a trio, who were drinking andughing raucously at one of the tables. They were strangely dressed, wearing ck suits with golden trim and matching purple pocket squares.

    The strange attire wasn��t what caught Zain��s attention, however. One of the men, the only one facing him, looked vaguely familiar. Not wanting to stare,

    . There had been a man�� It was around ten years ago now. Zain had found him in the woods, being beaten by three cloaked men.

    Before he could see their faces, they��d fled, but that didn��t keep him from recognizing that they were much too powerful to have been hunting on that Floor. What he��d witnessed wasn��t a mugging, but a hit.

    Unfortunately, he��d been toote to save the man, but Zain had witnessed his dying words: an address and a request. He only asked that the remainder of his items be taken to his son, even going so far as to unequip thest of his Cards, killing himself before Zain could ask any questions.

    He��d heeded the man��s request, delivering the items in person and telling the boy his father had been attacked by bandits. After finding out the kid��s mom was also gone, Zain hadn��t felt right leaving the child stranded with arge debt and no chance in hell. He pulled some strings to give the son a better future, then poured thest of his savings into paying up as much of that debt as he could afford.

    ��That kid should have graduated by now�� I wonder how he��s getting on.��

 Chapter 36.5 [Rowan鈥檚 Build: Book 1]

    The Cards documented below are listed at base value for their Levels and Ranks. All figures are shown without the amplifying Effects of the Origin Card or Enhancements.

    Origin (Prior Life)

    [Card Name: Origin]

    [ss: Origin]

    [Rank: Origin]

    [Level: X]

    [Description: Steals the life energy of the Wielder. This Card Levels based on the Wielder��s Life Score and does not ept Essence. Life Score is rewarded passively, trading the Wielder��s longevity for points toward the Life Score. All acts that benefit humanity reward additional points. With every Level, this Card gains a new Effect. The Wielder will be unaware of this Card��s Effects until specific conditions are met.]

    [Life Score: 121,200,083,654,999]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder has lived for a century, gaining vast wisdom and experience. The Wielder gains a wless memory, allowing them to ess this wealth of knowledge onmand.]

    [Effect 2: ???]

    [Effect 3: ???]

    [Effect 4: ???]

    [Effect 5: ???]

    [Effect 6: ???]

    [Effect 7: The Wielder has removed an Anchor. For each Anchor done away with due to the Wielder��s actions, the Wielder will receive one Promotion Relic to support them in their endeavors. Each additional Anchor removed increases the quality of the Relic.]

    [Effect 8: ???]

    [Effect 9: ???]

    [Effect 10: The Wielder has perished. The Wielder shall be returned to a time before receiving this Card with all memories intact. This is a one-time Effect. This Origin Card cannot be re-obtained, though its Effects shall persist and can still be unsealed, providing conditions are met.]

    [Effect 11: ???]

    Origin (Current)

    [Card Name: Summoner��s Blessing]

    [ss: Origin]

    [Rank: Origin]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: The Wielder gains an increased affinity for Summoning.]

    [Effect 1: Summons�� cooldowns are halved.]

    [Effect 2: Summons�� durations are doubled.]

    [Effect 3: Requirements to use Summons are reduced by 1 Level.]

    [Effect 4: The Effects of Tame Creature are increased by 100%.]

    Foundations

    [Card Name: Strength]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Increases the Wielder��s physical might]

    [Effect 1: Increase of 100% to the amount of force the Wielder can exert]

    [Card Name: Vitality]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 4]

    [Essence: 205,004/1,000,000]

    [Description: Increases the Wielder��s ability to recover]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder��s stamina is recovered 150% faster.]

    [Effect 2: The Wielder��s wounds heal 150% faster.]

    [Card Name: Endurance]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 4]

    [Essence: 0/1,000,000]

    [Description: Enhances the Wielder��s physical form]

    [Effect 1: Increases the Wielder��s physical stamina by 150%]

    [Effect 2: Increases the Wielder��s resistance to physical damage by 150%]

    [Card Name: Agility]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Enhances the Wielder��s physical speed]

    [Effect 1: Increases the Wielder��s speed by 100%]

    [Effect 2: The Wielder��s actions be 100% more instantaneous.]

    [Card Name: Dexterity]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 307/100,000]

    [Description: Enhances the Wielder��s control over their body]

    [Effect 1: Increases the Wielder��s reaction speed by 100%]

    [Effect 2: Increases the Wielder��s coordination by 100%]

    [Effect 3: Increases the Wielder��s flexibility by 100%]

    [Card Name: Perception]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 4,667/100,000]

    [Description: Enhances the Wielder��s ability to perceive the world around them]

    [Effect 1: The sensitivity of each of the Wielder��s five senses increases by 100%.]

    [Effect 2: The Wielder��s uracy is increased by 100%.]

    [Card Name: Intelligence]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 4]

    [Essence: 0/1,000,000]

    [Description: Enhances the mental faculties of the Wielder]

    [Effect 1: Increases the Wielder��sprehension by 150%]

    [Effect 2: Increases the speed at which the Wielder canprehend information by 150%]

    [Card Name: Wisdom]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 4]

    [Essence: 0/1,000,000]

    [Description: Enhances the Wielder��s focus and control over their being]

    [Effect 1: Increases the Wielder��s focus by 150%]

    [Effect 2: Increases the Wielder��s control over their various skills by 150%]

    [Card Name: Will]

    [ss: Foundation]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Enhances the Wielder��s mental endurance and resistance to numerous magics]

    [Effect 1: Increases the Wielder��s resistance to magical illusions and debuffs by 100%]

    [Effect 2: Increases the Wielder��s resolve by 100%]

    Enhancements

    [Card Name: Amalgamate Agility]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Enhances the effects of the Wielder��s Agility based on the number of surrounding allies]

    [Effect 1: Increases the effects of the Wielder��s Agility by 6% for each ally within range, up to 6 allies]

    [Card Name: Amalgamate Intelligence]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Enhances the effects of the Wielder��s Intelligence based on the number of surrounding allies]

    [Effect 1: Increases the effects of the Wielder��s Intelligence by 6% for each ally within range, up to 6 allies]

    [Card Name: Appraising Eye]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Observe more than just what��s on the surface.]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder can see information on most items or Relics. The amount of data shown is determined by the Wielder��s Will and Perception versus the Rank of the object.]

    [Effect 2: The Wielder can see the information of any gued Beast. The amount of data shown is determined by the Wielder��s Will and Perception versus the Will and Level of the Beast.]

    [Effect 3: The Wielder can see the information of any other Wielder. The amount of data shown is determined by the Wielder��s Will and Perception versus the Will of the Wielder.]

    [Card Name: Condense]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Reduces the Cooldown of all skills]

    [Effect 1: All skills experience a Cooldown reduction of 15%.]

    [Card Name: Incantation]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Reciting the name of any Spell while casting enhances its potency]

    [Effect 1: Effects of the recited Spell enhanced by 30%]

    [Effect 2: Duration of the recited Spell increased by 10%]

    [Effect 3: Cooldown of the recited Spell decreased by 10%]

    [Card Name: Integrate, Shade]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: The Wielder is one with the shade]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder merges into the shadows, making them 30% harder to detect.]

    [Effect 2: While in a shaded area, the Wielder��s movements are muffled by 30%.]

    [Effect 3: While in a shaded area, the Wielder��s movement speed is increased by 9%.]

    [Card Name: Luck]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Increases the drop rate of all Cards within the Tower. The Wielder must deal the final blow.]

    [Effect: Drop rate increased by 15% of existing rate]

    [Card Name: Mastery]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Boosts the Effects of all Foundations]

    [Effect: Increases the Effects of all Foundations by 6% of their current value]

    [Card Name: Movement]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Pure]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 0/10,000]

    [Description: The Wielder gains additional movement speed while out ofbat.]

    [Effect 1: Outside ofbat, the speed Effect of Agility is increased by 12%. Upon initiation of battle, whether attacked or attacking, this Effect is neutralized until allbat has ceased for 60 seconds.]

    [Card Name: Threat Acuity]

    [ss: Enhancement]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Gain a sixth sense about those who wish you ill.]

    [Effect 1: While interacting with a living entity, the Wielder will feel a slight difort if the individual harbors malicious intent. Can be thwarted by individuals with a strong Will.]

    [Effect 2: Once the Wielder has determined that another individual bears them ill will, the Wielder��s Will is 20% more effective against said entity.]

    Abilities

    [Card Name: Dash]

    [ss: Ability]

    [Rank: Pure]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 0/10,000]

    [Description: The Wielder springs forward in a chosen direction with no physical initiation.]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder covers a distance of 6 yards in addition to 110% of the Level of the Wielder��s Strength plus Agility.]

    [Cooldown: 20 seconds]

    [Card Name: Featherfall]

    [ss: Ability]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: The Wielder can fall andnd as if they were light as a feather. Drastically reduces fall damage. Once activated, Effects end upon cancetion ornding on any non-gaseous surface.]

    [Effect 1: Reduce the force of impact whennding by 3% times the Level of Dexterity]

    [Effect 2: Reduce the effects of the Wielder��s mass whennding by 3% times the Level of Agility]

    [Cooldown: 3 hours]

    [Card Name: Pierce]

    [ss: Ability]

    [Rank: Pure]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 0/10,000]

    [Description: The Wielder��s weapon gains a pointed aura. While active, the uracy and power of the next attack is increased.]

    [Effect 1: uracy improved by 20% times the Level of Dexterity]

    [Effect 2: Force increased by 20% times the Level of Strength]

    [Cooldown: 10 seconds]

    [Card Name: Rend]

    [ss: Ability]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 0/10,000]

    [Description: The Wielder��s weapon gains the aura of a beast. While active, the Wielder��s strikes will tear flesh rather than cut it clean. Can only be used with ded weapons.]

    [Effect 1: Strikes tear more than cut, increasing the difficulty to heal by 12% times the Level of Dexterity.]

    [Effect 2: Increases the rate of bleeding from wounds made by 12% times the Level of Strength]

    [Duration: 1 minute]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    [Card Name: Tracking]

    [ss: Ability]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 2]

    [Essence: 0/10,000]

    [Description: For ten minutes, the Wielder is able to follow the tracks of any entity without the skill to hide them.]

    [Effect 1: Within 6 yards times the Level of Perception of the Wielder, all tracks or markings left by entities will be revealed as a shimmer. This Effect is dependent upon the entity��s stealth. The luminance is affected by the age and transparency of the tracks.]

    [Effect 2: The obscurity of older or hidden tracks is lessened by 12% times the Level of Perception.]

    [Effect 3: While active, the Wielder can use detection skills on a track as if they were looking directly at the entity.]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    Spells

    [Card Name: Affliction, Shadow]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: For one minute, the Wielder��s weapon gains an aura of shadow.]

    [Effect 1: With each sessful strike, debilitating shadows flow into the target��s wound. One target can be afflicted with up to twelve shadows, each reducing the effectiveness of the target��s Agility by .5% times the Wielder��s Level of Intelligence.]

    [Effect 2: With each sessful strike on a target, the duration of the de��s aura is reset. If the target is already suffering from full stacks of Affliction, the duration is not reset.]

    [Effect 3: The target��s Affliction persists for one minute, resetting with each additional Afflicting blow until the target has reached full stacks. Once the Affliction has worn off, the target is immune to the Effects of this Spell for one hour.]

    [Cooldown: 1 hour]

    [Card Name: Cleanse]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: Washes away impurities affecting the target.]

    [Effect 1: Purges all non-magical contaminants affecting the target. This Effect extends to any clothing or essories worn by the target.]

    [Effect 2: Over time, weakens or nullifies the adverse effects caused by harmful Spells or Abilities. Cleansing persists for 12 seconds times the Level of Intelligence.]

    [Effect 3: Can be cast on a number of targets equal to the caster��s Wisdom]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    [Card Name: Greater Heal]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 29,995/100,000]

    [Description: The Wielder can heal most non-magical wounds. Cannot regrow organs or limbs. Healing wounds uses the nutrients within the target��s body.]

    [Effect 1: Instantly heals superficial or minor wounds. Severe and lethal wounds are healed at an elerated rate. All healing uses the nutrients stored within the target��s body. More nutrients are required to heal the wounds of those with a higher Vitality. The higher the caster��s Intelligence, the fewer the nutrients needed to heal wounds.]

    [Effect 2: Injuries that are suffering from any adverse magical or non-magical Effect are more challenging to heal. Wisdom offsets the difficulty.]

    [Cooldown: 15 minutes]

    [Card Name: Healing Wave]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: For up to 15 minutes, the area around the Wielder bes a ce of restoration. This Spell cannot be used while moving.]

    [Effect 1: A healing aura surrounds the Wielder. The range of this aura is three yards times the Level of the caster��s Wisdom.]

    [Effect 2: For all non-hostile entities within the aura, the Effects of Vitality are increased by 30% times the Level of the caster��s Intelligence.]

    [Cooldown: 1 hour]

    [Card Name: Hex]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: The Wielder can weaken their foes with a touch. These debilitating Effectsst for one minute.]

    [Effect 1: When cast on a living entity, reduce the Effects of each of the target��s Foundations by 14% plus the Level of Wisdom. Effects of the reduction are decreased by 50% if the Level of the target��s Will is the same as the caster��s. For each Level the target��s Will is above the caster��s, reduce the Effect by an additional 25%.]

    [Effect 2: If the target dies while under the Effects of Hex, the Cooldown resets.]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    [Card Name: Overcast]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: A haze descends from above, casting shade over the wide area for five minutes.]

    [Effect 1: A thick mist surrounds the target location. All hostile entities within this mist experience a 30% reduction to the Effects of their Perception.]

    [Cooldown: 2 hours]

    [Card Name: Pull]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Blessed]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: The Wielder extends their reach beyond the physical.]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder can focus on any inanimate object and will it into their grasp. The mass of the object can be no more than 9% of the caster��s times the Level of the Wielder��s Intelligence.]

    [Effect 2: Object does not have to be within direct line of sight to be Pulled but does have to be within a range of 9 yards times the Level of the Wielder��s Wisdom. The caster must be able to clearly picture both the object and the path between them.]

    [Cooldown: 30 seconds]

    [Card Name: Radiance]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: For 15 minutes, bring light where it cannot reach and reveal those who hide within.]

    [Effect 1: Can be cast on any one inanimate object. The target chosen will give off a glow, lighting a 15-yard area times the Level of the Wielder��s Intelligence.]

    [Effect 2: Nullifies or lessens the Effects of any concealment within its range. The Level of the Radiance plus the Level of the Wielder��s Will must be greater than or equal to the entity��s that cast the concealment to cancel its Effects. Concealments that are cast by entities whose added Levels are within two Levels of the Wielder��s shall have their Effects weakened.]

    [Effect 3: Friend or foe, within the confines of Radiance, all darkness-based Effects shall have their potency reduced by 50%.]

    [Cooldown: 15 minutes]

    [Card Name: Shroud]

    [ss: Spell]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: For 14 minutes times the Level of the Wielder��s Wisdom, the caster embraces darkness.]

    [Effect 1: A nket of darkness surrounds the Wielder��s skin, concealing their appearance. It does not extend to clothing or essories.]

    [Effect 2: While active, the Wielder is twice as hard to detect by any form of divination Effect.]

    [Effect 3: Effects are amplified by 30% throughout the night. During the day, Effects are weakened by 70%.]

    [Cooldown: 6 hours]<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Summons

    [Card Name: Tame Creature]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 3]

    [Essence: 0/100,000]

    [Description: The Wielder attempts to cleanse a gued Beast of its affliction in an endeavor to befriend or capture it.]

    [Effect 1: The Wielder casts Tame Creature before injuring the target. If sessful, the target creature is cleansed of its gue and bes a Summon. The Summon dropped cannot be of a higher Rank than the equivalent Rank of the targeted creature, but it can be lower. The probability listed below this Effect is applied after the likelihood of whether or not the targeted Beast will drop a Card.]

    [Pure: 50%]

    [Blessed: 14%]

    [Holy: 1.4%]

    [Sacred: 0.14%]

    [Angelic: 0.0014%]

    [Cooldown: 22 hours]

    [Card Name: Golem, Earth]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 4]

    [Essence: 0/1,000,000]

    [Name: Larry]

    [Description: The Wielder Summons a Golempanion. All mental Foundations must be of an equivalent Level or higher than the Level of the Summon.]

    [Duration: 2 hours]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    [Skill 1: Rock Toss. The Golem pulls a boulder from the earth andunches it toward a target.]

    [Skill 2: Burrow. The Golem swiftly digs into the earth, forming a tunnel or concealing itself.]

    [Skill 3: Stone Maniption. The Golem maniptes the earth from a distance.]

    [Skill 4: Mud Torrent. The Golem siphons the earth through its feet, liquifying it to st out in a stream through its palms.]

    [Card Name: Spirit, cial]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Sacred]

    [Level: 4]

    [Essence: 0/1,000,000]

    [Name: David]

    [Description: The Wielder Summons a Spiritpanion. All mental Foundations must be of an equivalent Level or higher than the Level of the Summon.]

    [Sacred Effect: As a Sacred Summon, the Spirit, David, has been blessed with natural awareness. Will not required for this Summon, but be warned, this Summon has a Will of its own.]

    [Duration: 2 hours]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    [Skill 1: Minor Fear. The Spirit instils a feeling of dread into its target.]

    [Skill 2: Spectral Connection. The Spirit forms a link with its Summoner as well as other Summons, allowing them tomunicate through thought.]

    [Skill 3: Frost Field. A domain of frost spreads around the Spirit, chilling and slowing enemies within its range.]

    [Skill 4: Phantom Evocation. The Spirit calls upon the memories of the departed and forms a link for the living tomune with the deceased.]

    [Card Name: Pixie, Nature]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 4]

    [Essence: 0/1,000,000]

    [Name: Rosie]

    [Description: The Wielder Summons a Pixiepanion. All mental Foundations must be of an equivalent Level or higher than the Level of the Summon.]

    [Duration: 2 hours]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    [Skill 1: Nature��s Restoration. The Pixie casts an aura of healing around the target, which borrows energy from the surrounding wildlife to heal the target��s wounds.]

    [Skill 2: Nature��s Concealment. The Pixie chooses a target area, obscuring it with an illusion that harmonizes with the surrounding wilderness.]

    [Skill 3: Entangle. The Pixie calls upon the power of nature, sending nearby vines or roots from the earth to ensnare their target.]

    [Skill 4: Invigorating Spores. The Pixie nts a seed which swiftly cultivates a young blossom that discharges spores into the air around it. While within the blossom��s range, it doubles the Vitality of those nearby.]

    [Card Name: Beetle, Hercules]

    [ss: Summon]

    [Rank: Holy]

    [Level: 4]

    [Essence: 0/1,000,000]

    [Name: Francis]

    [Description: The Wielder Summons a Beetlepanion. All mental Foundations must be of an equivalent Level or higher than the Level of the Summon.]

    [Duration: 2 hours]

    [Cooldown: 30 minutes]

    [Skill 1: Reinforce. The Beetle hardens its shell, bing tougher to injure for a brief time.]

    [Skill 2: Crunch. During its next attack, the Beetle��s horns gain additional crushing power.]

    [Skill 3: Flutter. For a short period, the Beetle ps its wings, allowing it to hover for a short time.]

    [Skill 4: Gust. The Beetle ps its wings furiously, sending an intense burst of wind toward a target location.]

    asionally missing content, please report errors in time.

 Chapter B2 | 1 [Exercise]

    I shuffled the contents of the ming red Deck Box back and forth as I considered what to do. The metal Cards clinked quietly beneath the wooden table with each motion. Though I''d done what was needed, it was impossible to chase away every shred of misced guilt. Even with his deep-rooted troubles, Zachary had been nothing more than a child who''d hardly taken a step into adulthood.

    Since my regression, I''dmitted a number of offenses for the sake of improving myself. Extorted a small shop owner, who came to be a loyal partner. ughtered a group of mercenaries, though they were crooked and destined to perform a series of heinous acts. Masqueraded as a member of not just one but both of the Churches whose influence spread throughout the Tower.

    I had no issues justifying any of those acts, yet this one... My thumb traced the painting on the Card in my hand. There, a young man stood with a ring of fire erupting around his midriff.

    Perhaps there was another way.

    I cast my eyes up and over the table. Across from me sat a young man and woman, both waiting patiently for the clerk to deliver our Contract. The young man''s cropped silver hair stood out against his fine ck suit. He sat straight-backed, and his piercing, sky-blue eyes stared ahead as if he were a soldier waiting for orders.

    To his right, a beautiful young woman with pale skin and long ck hair studied the Circuits etched into the booth. Her intelligent, emerald green eyes flicked about curiously, likely looking for any connections between the several lines and curves.

    Looking at her now, still alive, I smiled and slid the ming Card back into its box before tucking the Deck away. If not for my actions, she likely wouldn''t be breathing today. There hadn''t been time for any other maneuvers once the past became clear to me, and unlike the young man who''d lost his life, this girl was innocent.

    "So, would either of you care to review the terms again?" I questioned them seriously. "If either of you wishes to make any additions or amendments, now is the time."

    "The current terms are agreeable," Nathaniel continued to look forward, his forever impassive visage not breaking as he spoke.

    Aurora looked thoughtfully at the ceiling, "The terms allow a majority vote to call forth a change, and it even allows for minor revisions in the event of new Party members joining. I''m also in agreement."

    I nodded, not intending to push the matter, and ced a single Essence on the corner of the wooden table. The Essence was drained, and a dim purple light followed one of the many Circuits leading away from the booth. Only secondster, the door separating therge booth from themon space slid back to reveal a short woman with blue hair and a bright smile.

    "Is all well?" she smiled jovially and looked over the three of us.

    "Yes, ma''am. It seems we''re ready to proceed," I pushed a thousand Essence toward the table''s edge.

    "Well! Congrattions, you three," the woman continued to smile warmly as she ced a ck piece of parchment on the counter. Glowing purple script filled out the page. "Be sure to read the Contract thoroughly before you leave your print. Once you do, you''remitted."

    She slid another object across the table before leaving and carefully closing the door behind her. I picked up the Contract to review it. The Network vouched for this establishment, but I still thought it necessary to inspect the Relic.

    [Name: Party Contract]

    [ss: Bound Relic]

    [Rank: 3]

    [Description: This Party Contract can ept up to 6 marks]

    [Effect 1: Binds all who leave their mark to this Relic. Each Bound individual must devote themselves to the agreed-upon terms under threat of penalty]

    [Effect 2: Should any individual break the terms of this Contract without a majority consensus, they shall face a significant bacsh. Furthermore, the individual in question will have to pay remunerations in the form of 50% of all Essence earned while in this Party under threat of losing their registration and right to ascend]

    [Craftsman: Theresa]

    [Note 1: All spoils harvested from gued Beasts shall only be discussed within the Party unless otherwise agreed upon. This also includes the means by which they are obtained]

    [Note 2: No member shall disclose the build or fighting style of any other member unless otherwise agreed upon]

    [Note 3: No member shall disclose the methods in which the Party clears each Floor]

    [Note 4: No member shall disclose the harmful secrets of other members or their families unless otherwise agreed upon]

    [Note 5: All Essence acquired shall be distributed evenly]

    [Note 6: All Cards acquired shall be distributed by the Contract in a roll or pass method. Each pass results in a 10% increase in the value of the next roll for that individual]

    [Note 7: All Cards not desired by any member shall be sold through Wielder''s Wonders, and the profits shall be split evenly between all Party members]

    [Note 8: Each member shall do their best to assist in the goals of the other members, so long as that goal does not impede the Party''s ascent]

    [Note 9: This Contract is amendable. With a majority vote or with the addition of a mark, one Note may be added or altered]

    Appraising Eye allowed me to look directly through the fine print of the borately worded Contract and ensure that no unwanted uses had been added. Satisfied with the terms, I retrieved the object given to us by the registrar.

    The shell reminded me of a pocketwatch, but its innards were entirely dissimr. Inside was a well of purple ink, and below that ink, I knew therey a single sharp needle that would prick the thumbs of all who used the object. I pressed my thumb into the well, staining the tip and pricking my skin before pressing down on the bottom of the Contract.

    Purple lights briefly danced around the booth as each of the words lit up. My mark seemed to catch fire, and I could feel the restriction ced upon my soul. It ended as swiftly as it began, and I passed the paper to Nathaniel.

    The scroll lit two more times as each of mypanions performed the same action. And then, we were done. We were an official Party and would be treated as such by our Cards and the Tower. I pulled out my registration and examined the new addition to the back, where Nathaniel and Aurora''s names were now engraved on the bottom. A separate block on the top remained nk, a space that may one day hold the name of a Guild.

    "I still don''t understand why we need the first rule. Other than that, the rest appear fairly standard," Aurora spoke as she passed the Contract back to me. I tightly rolled the scroll and tucked it into one of the many hidden pockets within my jacket. The Relic was storedfortably beside it. Just enough ink remained to recruit three additional members.

    "Hoho," I chuckled lightly and motioned toward the door. "As time passes, you''lle to understand."

    Nathaniel eyed me suspiciously as we left the booth, and I just gave him a wink. As we departed, we said our goodbyes to the registrar, who gave us a few encouraging words.

    We left the building and entered the busy central market, where thousands of Wielders were already gathered, despite it still being morning. Vendors'' shouts echoed ostensibly over the bustle of the crowds around.

    "We''re going to be standing about for ages," Aurora groaned and pointed ahead as we wriggled through a small group. She was right. It looked like the structure guarding the stairs was the head of a snake, with how long the line was.

    I shook my head, "It''ll move quickly. Just don''t get distracted by the stalls along the way. The ones closer to the stairs have a higher markup. Those hawkers like to prey on the boredom of young Wielders like yourselves while they stand in line."

    Aurora looked like she wanted to say something but shut her mouth when we found ourselves amongst another group. Nathaniel gave me a side eye, and I just shrugged. They''d already made whatever deductions they were going to make about my situation, which was part of why I trusted them. Of course, Threat Acuity helped as well.

    Before long, we''d made it to the structure, shown our registrations, and stepped onto the strange metal stairs. Our footsteps echoed as the darkness drew tighter around us... and suddenly vanished. The darkness was gone, and we found ourselves standing in the boisterous town square of the Second Floor.

    I covered my eyes to block the sudden blinding rays of the sun that I found myself under. The ngorous noise of Guild recruiters and vendors shouting reached my ears. As my sight adjusted, I saw the tents that the noise derived from.

    Unlike the excellent wooden market stalls that could be rented on the Origin Floor, the tents here were pitched with wooden stakes andrge bits of cloth. Men and women of different affiliations manned these tents, calling for neers to join their Guilds or buy their wares.

    Without hesitation, I walked in a specific direction and trusted the others to follow.

    ***

    Nathaniel watched Rowan curiously and checked to ensure Aurora was tagging along before he stepped off the tform. There wouldn''t be another checkpoint until the stairwell heading to the Third Floor, where their registrations would be marked to show their Ascension Rank, and their time would be recorded.

    "Oi! Yer a bigd! Step over here so I can get a look at ya!" a voice called from his right, and he felt a massive handtch onto his shoulder.

    Nathaniel nced over and saw a mountain of a man smiling down at him. This interaction drew the interest of others, and several Guild recruiters began crowding around.

    "Get off ''em, Curly! I saw ''em first!"

    "This one ''ere is gonna bein'' with us! You lot might as well get to steppin''."

    "Look at his size. Boy, if you join the Brutish Brawlers, we''ll give ya enough Essence to get your Strength to Level 4 right off the bat!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Nathaniel looked over the shoulders of the crowd around him and spotted a shining ck ponytail bobbing back and forth, heading west. He walked straight through, almost dragging the man with a firm grip on his shoulder and pushing the others from his path.

    The powerful Guilds didn''t have to set up like this to find potential recruits. Most recruited directly through the Lower Families, the Academy, or raised up the orphans of their fallenrades to fill in essential roles.

    Nathaniel swiftly caught up to Rowan and walked alongside him, taking stock of their current, diminutive Party. Their discussions on the train hadn''t amounted to much. When talks of Party roles came up, usually initiated by Aurora, Rowan would just wave them off and ask about their hobbies, future goals, and even favorite colors.

    It was peculiar.

    For the time being, Nathaniel assumed he would act as the Party''s guardian. Of course, he was optimistic that he could serve in any role for the first several Floors. From birth, he''d been raised a warrior, forced from a young age to develop the boundaries of his soul.

    Aurora, he knew from practicals, would likely be a Spellcaster. Even if she wanted a different role, that would be the best for the time being until they earned more Essence.

    And Rowan... Nathaniel eyed the man up and down. He walked confidently, his light brown suit and red tie perfectly matching the hair tie and wooden cane that tapped along the walk. His eyes stared directly ahead, and he never broke stride, as if he''d been here before. Maps were avable... but Nathaniel had those same maps memorized and couldn''t move about thisfortably.

    This man was an enigma. Nathaniel wasn''t sure what Rowan''s role would be. Perhaps a rogue? Even now, his body seemed to fade from existence with every passing shadow. Yet Nathaniel had also watched him cast Greater Heal on Aurora, meaning he was likely a follower of the Church of Liberation. So possibly a healer? He supposed he''d have to wait and see.

    "Rowan, where are we going?"

    Nathaniel nced over to see Aurora looking about the outdated town with a distasteful gaze. The structures were mostly wooden, and the ce was even less developed than the town on the First Floor. There was likely a time, long ago, when the resources of the Second Floor were vital to human society.

    Now, however, Wielders who wished to safely grind away and build up Essence took up residence here. Cards would drop at a low rate from the Crazed Beasts that wandered this Floor and more often from the Corrupted. The town was clean, despite its simple structures, and simplemposts were connected to Circuits that led off between the buildings.

    Nathaniel took all of this in stride, observing Rowan''s movements as he led them out the front gate.

    ***

    "Alright, here''s the deal, Aurora," Rowan leaned on that strange cane of his and looked Aurora in the eyes. "We''ll be performing a little exercise. I need you to do your best. We will only be on the Second Floor for a few days, so we need to work on our Party''s foundations along the way."

    "What kind of exercise?" Aurora squinted her eyes. That was just a polite way of saying he wanted to observe her skills. She could understand Nathaniel asking something like that, but Rowan? He hadn''t even received that outstanding of a score in his practical.

    Aurora nced at Nathaniel, who simply nodded at Rowan''s suggestion as if he were the boss. For some reason, she felt like she was missing something.

    "You''ll see," Rowan replied. "Would you care to go first?"

    "I can..." Aurora nodded.

    "Then, I''ll be back shortly," he ran off into the woods as Nathaniel leapt onto the lowest branch of a nearby tree.

    Aurora waited...

    And waited...

    And...

    "Squuueeeeaaa!"

    Just as she was going to call out to Nathaniel, she heard a piercing squeal from the woods to her north. She spun around to find Rowan sprinting straight toward her with a massive boar in tow.

    Aurora was stunned. This lunatic''s exercise was to bring a Beast like that charging right at her? Hastily, she cast Examine on the charging boar.

    [Name: Wild Boar]

    [ss: Swine]

    [Rank: Crazed]

    [Level: 2]

    [Description: A simple Wild Boar, which has been heavily infected by the gue]

    [Skills: ???]

    It was much taller than those on the First Floor, easily standing as tall as a man''s chest. Its fur was dark, and purple veins crept from its eyes and snout. A second pair of tusks jutted forward beneath its first, searching to impale the fleeing figure before it.

    Aurora took a deep breath and readied herself. She recalled what her textbooks had said about standing your ground. Rowan suddenly vanished, surprising both her and the boar. The Beast didn''t take long to change targets as soon as it noticed her in the clearing.

    She raised one finger and pointed it toward the charging Beast. The point glowed with a blinding re before a beam of light shot straight forward and into the Beast''s forehead. It crashed into the dirt and slid to a halt several feet in front of her.

    "Squeeeaaa!"

    Another squeal sounded behind her. She turned and found Rowan sprinting toward her again, this time with two of the Beasts. She gaped at the scene, but Rowan vanished again before she could curse his birth.

    Aurora raised her hand, palm out, and a bright sh of light filled the clearing. The Spell would temporarily blind nearby targets who weren''t in her Party and were looking straight toward her. Both of the Beasts slowed and stumbled into one another.

    With a wave of her outstretched hand, she cast Psionic Wave. Several bits of stone and twigs lifted from the clearing and shot at high speeds toward the blinded creatures. Enough of the rocks prated their fur that the two were brought to a stop, bleeding heavily but not dead. That was when she heard the next set of squeals.

    She snapped her head around and found two more boars speeding straight toward her, both from different directions. Her eyes widened... and she froze.

    ***

    I watched from the shade of a nearby tree as Aurora''s wave of debris crashed into them. They were severely injured but not dead. The racket was enough for the next step of the exercise to unfold.

    She''d done well up to this point. Completely textbook. But it was the final exercise that would show how she performed under pressure.

    I''d lured three other Beasts into the vicinity, hoping they would rush toward the sound of fighting. It worked. Two of the Wild Boars were sprinting at Aurora from different directions, and I was looking forward to seeing how she''d handle this development.

    sh has a low Cooldown, so she can blind one while dodging the other. The practicals proved that the dagger at her waist wasn''t just for show, so she could-

    Click

    My thoughts stopped, and I Dashed forward. My de Pierced cleanly through the skull of one of the charging Beasts still several yards from the frozen woman. I turned to deal with the other, but Nathaniel''s ive had already severed its head.

    Well... it seems that we have a lot of ground to cover.

 Chapter B2 | 2 [Rotten Luck]

    Aurora swallowed and focused on the task ahead. She could do it. She had to do it, but... just what had she gotten herself into?

    "Aurora! It''ll die of starvation if it stands there any longer."

    She nced up at the young manzing in a tree beside her before returning her attention to the present threat. A vast shadow surrounded her, and she gulped as she gazed at the cause.

    [Name: Feral ck]

    [ss: Ursidae]

    [Rank: Crazed]

    [Level: 2]

    [Description: A feral ck bear which has been heavily infected by the gue. These creatures typically hunt alone or in small sleuths, relying on their powerful bodies and ws to tear apart their prey. Their bites are also formidable]

    [Skills: ???]

    Her fists trembled, and her knuckles turned white from how tight she clenched them. She''d barely managed to stop the Beast with Prismatic Prison before it ripped her apart.

    Aurora had known that the Second Floor would be much different from the First, and she''d done all she could to prepare... but this? How could anyone be prepared for this? These Beasts were twice the size of their peers on the First Floor and much more savage. The ck pounded on the side of its translucent prison.

    Aurora took a deep breath and studied the creature. If she moved, the prison would copse, and she would be at its mercy. She quelled her apprehension and forced her mind to recall the pages she''d devoured throughout her time in the Academy.

    Ursidae were massive, vicious foes. Each Beast wasparable to the Ursidae species that lived in the mountains and forests of the Origin Floor. Not to say they were the same. These Beasts on the higher Floors were infected by the gue, which altered them both physically and mentally. The illustrations she''d seen of the Ursidae on the higher Floors were so twisted that she couldn''t see the resemnce.

    This one wasn''t so horrendous as those. Its shaggy fur was mostly ck, with some sections of charcoal grey. Curled ws the size of the girl''s arms grew from its massive paws, dragging the ground as it stalked about its tiny cage. The Beast red at her with its dark eyes, where purple and ck veins could be seen reaching for its pupils.

    Combined with its height of just over 10 feet, this Beast was terrifying. And it wasn''t even the worst they''d encountered over thest several hours. A Corrupted Ursidae standing nearly 15 feet tall had burst into their camp that morning, only to be butchered by the strikes of Rowan and Nathaniel.

    When her thoughts shifted to fleeing, an itch formed on her upper thigh. She knew that wasn''t an option. Precognition was pushing her to act, its warmth spreading over her as she envisioned the Spell that would end the Beast.

    Aurora didn''t need its guidance to know how to y the aberration, but it boosted her confidence. Like every Crazed Beast, this creature didn''t have the mental capability to do anything other than charge forward. She nced at the corpse behind it. The Beast had a single, diminutive cavity in the center of its brow. Unfortunately, Radiant Burst had a long Cooldown, and she hadn''t been prepared for the second creature that appeared after its death.

    "I suppose we can sleep in the dirt again tonight. What do you say, Nathaniel?"

    A mocking voice called out to the other man, who she knew was standing patiently somewhere nearby. She clenched her fists tighter when Rowan''sughter reached her ears.

    Aurora dropped the prison and cast sh, blinding the Beast before it could charge forward. Then, she Dashed back and put as much distance between her and her foe as possible. The Beast Roared in its blindness, but she was far enough for its Effects to be minimal.

    Her legs continued to move, carrying her nearly thirty yards up a hill and away from the creature, where she nted her back against the tree at its peak. The monstrous bear shook off the Effects of sh and quickly spotted her.

    It charged.

    "Come on..." her legs were quaking, but taking Rowan''s earlier advice, she focused on the link between herself and Precognition. "Not yet..."

    The Beast plowed up the tall grassy hill, and she could feel the ground shudder slightly from its every step. Closer it came, yet she didn''t move, only bracing herself more firmly against the trunk. It was only two yards away when she felt it. There was a slight change to the usual irritation.

    She raised her hands, and a pearlescent, shimmering wall appeared a foot in front of her. The Beast collided head-first with the translucent Barrier. Her legs buckled under the pressure, and she almost vomited when she heard the sickening crunch.

    The wall rippled, and the bear was sent rocketing back the way it came. It crashed into an enormous tree close to the base of the hill and spun in the air before crashing hard into the dirt. Aurora held her breath, only releasing it when the bear hadn''t moved for several seconds.

    "Passable," she looked up to find Nathaniel and Rowan standing beside her. Rowan stroked his chin while Nathaniel kept his eyes on their surroundings. "Don''t worry. The jitters will pass over time. You''re already doing better than most."

    "You... speak like... you know from... experience..." Aurora huffed, still trying to catch her breath. As usual, Rowan only smiled without giving a response. She sighed in defeat and pulled out her canteen.

    "Alright... If you won''t react to that... At least tell us about this town we''re heading to..."

    ***

    "Hmm..." I tapped my cane gently against my boot. "There''s a particr event in that ce that has garnered my interest."

    I waited patiently for the girl to get to her feet. She''d done well once she overcame her fear, but it wasn''t enough. These Beasts were nothingpared to what woulde starting from the Fifth Floor onward.

    "Now, how about we go over thatst encounter, eh?" I gestured toward the corpses with my cane. "I must say you did better than in our run-in with the wolves this morning. Shall we give it another go?"

    "Another... go?" she asked incredulously. "I suppose you know right where another of the Beasts is wandering about, do you?"

    "How are things going on your end, David?" I focused on a miniature thread extending from the edge of my being. The cord had been moving about for some time, yet it seemed to be closer than before.

    "On my way back, boss!" The thread vibrated, and the voice of a young boy entered my mind. "I found two more. One of them is a big one!"

    I turned back to Aurora with a chuckle, "It just so happens,ss, that I do."

    "What do you-"

    Grrrooaaar!

    A guttural roar shook the air around us. Aurora jumped, and Nathaniel eyed me with a curious suspicion before summoning his ive. I ced a hand on his shoulder and shook my head.

    "I''ll handle the big one," I spoke firmly. "Aurora will take care of the other. And no Radiant Burst. You''re too reliant on it and should start saving it for truly disadvantageous situations. Nathaniel, look out for her."

    "David. I''ll nab the big one. You keep leading the other toward Aurora." I Dashed toward the noise and kept my eyes peeled for signs of the Beasts. The thread connecting me to David gave me a general direction, but I couldn''t focus enough while moving to follow it perfectly.

    "Yes, Sir!"

    Tame Creature just came off its 9-hour and 21-minute Cooldown, and I wanted to get another use in without interference. I still hadn''t used the skill in front of the others. Not that I didn''t trust them, but I wanted to get a feel for it before exining the situation. Nathaniel was fine, but I felt that Aurora needed more confidence before learning about the danger traveling with me would eventually bring.

    Once my sess rate increases...

    I shook my head. For now, I was capable of using the skill nearly three times a day. With around 140,000 Essence left, I was still in debate on what to Level next. Mybination of Condense, Luck, and Summoner''s Blessing significantly augmented my chances of obtaining a Summon. All were Level 3, and I had the Essence to bring any one of them to Level 4.

    Concentrate, Rowan. You can sort out your priorities behind closed doors at the inn. For now, just focus on using Tame Creature every time the Cooldown ends. No sense in wasting opportunities. Ahh, there he is.

    I spotted David''s spectral figure circling above a hill just a short distance ahead. After another Dash, the base of the slope came into view. Atop it were two massive bears swinging their arms into the sky.

    One of the Beasts was simr to the one Aurora had just killed, though perhaps a foot shorter. The other was enormous, easily 16 feet tall, and almost entirely ck. Unlike the matted coat of its smallerpanion, its fur appeared to be made from hardened spikes.

    "Thanks for holding back."

    "No problem, and good luck!" David swooped down and threw a fist at the jaw of the smaller beast. It swiped in retaliation, but its ws phased through the boy''s body. With a roar, it followed him toward my previous location.

    I leaped in front of the other before it could move and cast Tame Creature on the Beast without hesitation. A golden hue briefly surrounded the creature, causing it to stop and look at its paws. Though it was no savant, the intelligence between this Beast and its lower Ranked counterpart was vastly different.

    While the monster was distracted, I firmly pressed the butt of my cane to the ground and focused on the connection between myself and my Deck. A glowing formation of circuits shone on the dying grass, and two massive stone hands reached through the earth.

    The ground shook as the earthen fingers gripped the edge of the formation, and a massive body soon pulled itself from the ground. I looked at the Golem with pride as it turned smartly toward the current threat without so much as a questioning shrug.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Larry, the Earth Golem, had grown in both body and mind after I''d promoted him to the Holy Rank. His head which had once stopped at my shoulders, now towered nearly two feet over my own. Additionally, he''d grown brighter. He wasn''t as quick-witted as David or Rosie, but mymands no longer had to be as precise.

    The bear didn''t take kindly to the arrival of this sudden threat. It howled in defiance and charged toward the hulking figure of stone. Larry rushed up the hill to meet this foe, shoulder down and head tucked. Just before they collided, I felt a ripple of movemente from the thread that tied me to the Golem.

    At that exact moment, the ck fell forward, and I glimpsed two mounds of hardened stone grasping at its rear paws. Larry sped up, leaping beneath the falling titan andunching its fist to meet the Beast in the middle. Fist and jaw collided, and a shower of blood rained from the skies as the bear''s head was torn from its shoulder.

    I looked on in stunned silence. I''d known the Golem would be more powerful, but this...

    I need to take the time to Summon Francis soon...

    An image of the canine-sized Beetle filled my mind. Larry had only been Promoted once. What would have happened to the Beetle after two Promotions?

    "You did good, Larry," I stepped up behind the Golem and patted him on the back. The earthen man looked down at me and gave his best impression of a smile, eliciting a chuckle from me. "Alrighty then. Let''s have a look at what came of this."

    I lifted my palm over the corpse and visualized the Beast''s Essence flying from its chest toward my hand, "Pull."

    There was a squelching sound as the crystal pushed through the bear''s muscle. Its skin and fur stretched toward me a momentter before a tiny purple stone burst through. I caught the Essence and examined it, my Appraising Eye revealing precisely what I wanted to know.

    [Name: Essence]

    [Rank: 15]

    [Description: The umted gued energy of a beingpressed into physical form]

    "Only 15 Essence," my eyes lit up, and I eyed the body greedily. All Beasts on any Floor above the First were the same Level as the number of the Floor. Crazed Rank Beasts dropped their Level in Essence, so a Beast on the Tenth Floor would produce a crystal valued at 10 Essence. Corrupted Beasts, such as this one, would form a crystal valued at their Level times 10. The multiplier increased further with every Rank, with a notable jump between Fallens and Fiends.

    The only time this rule deviated was when some of the Beast''s blood went into forming a Card rather than solely Essence. Meaning...

    "Pull," I pictured a Card as vaguely as possible, doing my utmost to envision it without color or imagery. The cold metal met my palm, and I opened my eyes to find a brown te in my hand. I sighed in disappointment when I looked over the Card.

    A Strength Foundation. 50% chance for this to be a Pure Summon, and it''s a Foundation. What rotten luck.

    I rubbed my temples and turned to leave, recalling Larry as I did so. Standing atop the massive hill, I could see many others in the distance. We''d left the city at the foot of the mountain the previous morning and ventured straight through the territory of the Wild Boars.

    Rather than heading directly west, I was taking us slightly north, where I knew of a small town built on the border between the forest and the hills. Theyout of the Second Floor mirrored the First, as would the Third, Fourth, and Fifth. Each Floor would get progressivelyrger and be harder to cross for reasons other than just stronger Beasts.

    "Boss, I found a group of four smaller ones. Do you think that''s too much?" David''s voice interrupted my study of the scenery.

    "That will be fine. Just make sure to lure them toward Nathaniel. Great job, David."

    I Cleansed myself and then Dashed down the hill with my prize, rushing toward where I''d left mypanions. Nathaniel could handle the group without assistance, but I wanted to see how Aurora would react. She was improving, but until she got used to the anxiety fighting these Beasts brought, I wouldn''t be able to train her properly.

    It didn''t take long to hear the sounds of fighting, and I rushed to the top of the closest hill to get a better view. Nathaniel was casually dodging the strikes of three creatures while Aurora held the fourth in ce with her Prismatic Prison.

    Hmm...

    Nathaniel held his ivefortably behind his back, dancing around the blows of his opponents as he led them toward the base of the nearest hill. His movements were graceful and unfit for his bulky figure. He allowed the Beasts to follow him halfway up the slope before making his move.

    Once Nathaniel had secured the high ground, his height almost matched that of the cks below him. He twirled his ive over his shoulder and drove it into the neck of the first monster. Blood sprayed from the wound when he yanked the de back and danced away from another pair of ws.

    The second ck struck while he was in mid-air, but the butt of his ive speared through the Beast''s palm. It cried in agony and stumbled back, giving Nathaniel time tond and cleave the head off the uninjured adversary. Before the final Beast could recover, the young man leaped forward and nted both feet in its chest.

    The ck wasunched back off the hill and crashed into the earth below. Nathaniel hefted his ive and flung it down the slope, where it shattered Aurora''s captive and split its skull with ease. I looked back to the creature he''d kicked and found it unmoving. Its chest was caved in from the impact.

    Truly a thing of beauty. With the Level of his Cards and training, he could likely take a dozen of those Beasts in simr circumstances.

    That wasn''t to say his style was without fault. His swings were wide, and he liked to keep his distance. In the open, he was a monster. Close-quarters could be another matter. That was a potential problem for another day.

    ***

    Nathaniel scrunched his brows as he picked up his ive. He hadn''t done much killing these past days, and he was just now realizing that he hadn''t told hispanions about his weapon. His ive would drain half of the Essence of any Beast it killed before a crystal formed... So how would that work as far as the division of Essence?

    He didn''t mind relinquishing his own cut of the Essence for now. He couldn''t get a read on Rowan, but his Foundations out-Levelled Aurora''s by nearly double. It would take a lot of time and investment for her to catch up, so he wasn''t worried about bing the weakest leg of the Party anytime soon.

    "Nathaniel..."

    The young man looked over to see Aurora standing nearby, fiddling with the hem of her jacket. He stood and approached, cing a hand on her shoulder like he''d seen Rowan do.

    "You did well, Aurora," Nathaniel praised. "Controlling the crowd is essential. You didn''t hesitate this time, which is good."

    "That''s right," a voice sounded behind him, and Nathaniel nced back to see Rowan approaching. The morning sun was just behind a nearby hill, and Nathaniel had noticed that, in the shadows, Rowan''s footsteps were tough to pick up.

    "Crowd control is crucial in many situations," Rowan continued. "At times, it''s even more vital than ying the Beasts in the first ce. Simply slowing a group can allow your Party to pick apart the stragglers. I know you''ve studied these tactics, but it''s quite different here in the real world. If you wish, it would be my pleasure to assist you in building for crowd control rather than battle. How''s about it?"

    Nathaniel nced at Aurora, who was frowning thoughtfully toward the corpse. Thinking of Rowan''s words, he nodded. With the way Aurora had fought thus far, it was a role that would suit her more than a Spellcaster of destruction.

    But, they were still unaware of each other''s Origin Cards, which could y a significant role in the girl''s decision. Rowan had insisted that they only discuss their builds after experiencing a few challenging fights together.

    "I''ll consider it," Aurora answered finally. Rowan stepped toward the corpse and opened his hand above it.

    "Rowan," Nathaniel grunted. "I''ve not had the chance to tell you, but-"

    "It''s okay, Nathaniel," Rowan chuckled. "We''ll discuss a proper way to handle the split this evening. We''ll vote for a Party treasurer and further discuss our individual situations over a warm meal."

    Nathaniel blinked. Rowan had known about his Munch this entire time? His weapon''s information was only supposed to be visible to himself and its crafter.

    "Don''t look so serious, eh?" Rowanughed again as a small crystalnded in his palm. "I''ve collected the Essence of every Beast we''ve killed. It wasn''t hard to piece the bits together. Oh, by the way..."

    Rowan produced a Card and presented it for all to see, "That Corrupted ck I killed dropped this Strength Foundation. I''ll tuck it in my pouch for now, and we can decide who will carry our bountyter."

    From there, the day proceeded the same as thest. Nathaniel kept his eyes peeled for Corrupted Beasts andrge groups while Aurora handled any singles or pairs that came close. He wasn''t familiar with the Second Floor, but he was confident they shouldn''t have beening across Beasts like this.

    It was too... convenient.

    "Is that the town ahead?" Aurora called.

    "That''s right," Rowan answered. The sun was falling, and Nathaniel eyed Rowan curiously. They happened to reach the ce right as the day was ending? That had to be more than a mere coincidence.

    Nathaniel reached the crest of the hill and saw a small town seated in the valley below. It was built where the rolling hills ttened, and the forest''s edge began. The ce was simple, crafted from wood and stone, and justrge enough to house a few hundred Wielders. A twenty-five-foot wall surrounded the site, built from the thick trees of the surrounding forest.

    "Alright," Rowan rubbed his stomach. "I hope you lot are ready for dinner."

 Chapter B2 | 13 [Not I. We.]

    Chapter 13 [Not I. We.]

    "Oi! This here should be the one!" I called back, then ducked into a fallen, rotting tree that looked to have been carved out by the local fauna. It was dark and damp, and I could hear my boots squelching as they pressed against the wet wood. Ahh, there you are. Patches of lengthy, glowing mushrooms dangled from the ceiling of the massive log, casting a dim purple light throughout the hollow.

    I poked my head around the entrance to check on Aurora and Nathaniel. Aurora stood next to one of the few trees still standing in this area. Her gaze was tense as she studied the lengthy w marks that marred its thick bark. She ran her hand along one of the grooves while Nathaniel stood behind her, ive at the ready.

    While they investigated the area, I sat my bag down, grabbed one of my throwing knives, then reached for the closest of the hanging clusters. Aside from farming Beasts for Essence, I hadn''t intended on harvesting any resources on the lower Floors. In my opinion, the return wasn''t worth the time spent, but since we''d already been this far north due to our impromptu stop, I figured we could make the trip.

    We''d left the cavern the morning prior, after only having stayed the one night. Though the location would eventually be a decent source of ie, the minerals wouldn''t be ready to harvest for another few decades. Even then, gathering it wouldn''t be worth it for their group, as a pound of the same material from the Twenty-Fifth Floor onward would be worth just as much as that entire cave.

    For someone who preferred the rtive peace of the Third Floor, however... Well, information about its location could serve as a valuable asset in the future. Perhaps we can trade its coordinates to an interested party...

    With a gentle tug and a flick of my knife, the luminous mushroom dropped from the dying wood. Careful not to damage the gills, I used my de to remove the cap. Once it was separated, I ced the stalk in one of my empty pouches and tossed the rest out into the midday sun--where it instantly dissolved. My hands moved swiftly, plucking and slicing the nts until the cluster was cleared entirely. Then, before storing thest of the stalks, I called Aurora and Nathaniel over to review its details.

    [Name: Alma Fungi (Stem)]

    [ss: Material]

    [Rank: 1]

    [Description: An alchemical ingredient used primarily in the creation of minor Essence recovery tinctures. The toxic pileus had been removed. This material will quickly dissolve if exposed to direct sunlight.]

    "So this is what they used to create our daily brews in the Academy," Aurora said. "May I?"

    "Go right ahead." I handed her the stalk so she could look over it. "The brew these create won''t be as potent as those provided with our daily meals, but they''ll elerate the healing of the fractures your soul sustained. Better than nothing, yeah?"

    "Certainly," Aurora gingerly ced the herb back in my hand. "But, how did you know where they were? There''s enough here to supply a group of ten for a month!"

    "Ahh," I grinned. "Let''s just say that I''m well-learned. Now, tell me about the marks on the tree. What did the two of you learn?"

    Aurora pursed her lips, and it looked like she wanted to make a fuss, but after a few seconds, she rolled her eyes and sighed. "Alright, Professor Wilder. The gouges were deep, and whatever made them moved up the tree. Since that bark is difficult to damage, we can assume that not only are the Beast''s ws sharp, but it also has an incredible grip. Since we still haven''t advanced past the Fifth Floor, it had to be a member of the Primate ss."

    When she was done, she gave me a smug look, and I nodded. "Well done, well done. Now," I nced to Nathaniel, who stood a few paces behind her, constantly ncing out of the small passage. "Nathaniel, do you have anything to add?"

    "Mmh," he mumbled, then nodded toward Aurora. "She''s right about the ss, the ws, and the grip."

    Aurora looked victorious and was about to say something but stopped short when Nathaniel continued, "But, Aurora kept referring to it. That''s a problem since we aren''t dealing with one enemy but several. Judging by the fact that we didn''te across a single Beast all morning, I''d say that we are in the territory of a Primate troop and that they are away for the day, likely hunting."

    Aurora turned pale, then rushed to the entrance and looked toward the massive tree. I watched as she scanned the clearing, likely noticing for the first time how the felled trees were in a perfect hexagonal shape around the immense tree in the center. Its limbs extended far, reaching the branches of other trees outside of the fortifications, making it easy for any arboreal Beasts to travel back and forth.

    My smile widened, "Very good. What else did you discover?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Nathaniel looked down and used the point on the butt of his ive to scratch a spot on his shin. He seemed to give it some thought before he spoke, "Based on the piles of fruit skins and bones I saw in the bushes on our way in and the number of marks on the tree, I''d say the troop has at least two dozen members. There were a few grooves that were deeper than the others, so it''s likely that a bunch of Crazed Beasts have gathered around one of the Corrupted Rank."

    "That''s right!" I beamed at the man, then gestured to Aurora, who had gonepletely still. "Now, Aurora, based on your and Nathaniel''s observations, what would be the best method to handle this threat? By my estimations, we have approximately four hours before they return. I''d like you to take point on this, and we''ll do whatever you decide."

    "Y-You want me to... What?!" she asked incredulously. She looked to Nathaniel for help, and he simply stared back, waiting patiently. It took her almost a full minute to gain herposure. "Okay... what if I say we should run away?"

    "Then that''s what we''ll do," I replied. Aurora looked at me skeptically, so I walked over, ced a hand on her shoulder, and looked directly into her eyes. "If that''s what you wish to do, then that is what we will do, Aurora. If we didn''t believe in your judgment, we wouldn''t have invited you into our Party. You were the number one student at the Academy and have all the knowledge you need to be an incredible Wielder. You justck the experience."

    "We are a Party," I gestured to Aurora, then Nathaniel, and finally, myself. "If you feel that you''re not ready for this, then that means that we aren''t ready for this. We can walk away, neither of us will hold it against you, and plenty of opportunities will be avable in the future once you feel we are ready."

    ...

    Aurora stared at Rowan for a long time,pletely shocked by what he''d said. Usually, the man would joke and try to get a rise out of her, especially in the heat of battle, but this...

    Does he really mean that? He sounds like some old veteran. Almost like the men that my father used to bring around the house. What in Tara''s name made him like this? Is he actually... No. This can''t be the Rowan that shared my sses in the Academy. But... does that even matter?

    Regardless of who this man was--or wasn''t--he was trying to help her. She could see that. Still, it baffled her. The Rowan she''d known, who''d shared multiple sses with her since her early years, he was quiet and reserved, and he''d never worked very hard. But... Well, that isn''t true, is it?

    Not including the few days on the Origin Floor when he and Nathanial had saved her from Zachary, they''d been traveling together for just over a week, so they''d had plenty of conversations. Rowan wouldn''t say much while they were on the move, but at night, while the stars shined above them, he spoke openly.

    The man refused to reveal his secrets, constantly dodging or redirecting any questions about his knowledge when Aurora tried to catch him unawares. Still, he would talk about almost anything else. They sat around the fire at night, and Rowan would tell them tales about his father, how the man had died, and about some of the things they would do together.

    Every few minutes, he would cast Cleanse, which Aurora didn''t think she would ever get used to, yet she had. One night, after she''d finished describing her time in the Academy and how she''d almost always stayed in the library or her dorm, studying... Rowan had told them about his experience. Her heart clenched as she listened to him, and she couldn''t help but hate herself for all of her initial negative thoughts.

    Rowan had spent the better part of his time in the Academy hunting Boars in the woods. Every day, after sses had ended, he headed out to the forest and farmed the Beasts for Essence, putting aside everything so that he wouldn''t lose the estate his father had left him.

    Unfortunately, the limitations imposed by his age had made it very hard on him. Since he had no one to act as a guardian, he couldn''t temporarily rent the manor or the shop to make ends meet, and it took all of his spare time to make the Essence he needed for the payments.

    No... my assumptions were never true. Rowan has always worked harder than me... probably harder than everyone attending the Academy. And, even after all of that, he still managed to ce fourth overall. That''s nothing short of incredible.

    Aurora clenched her fists, then observed her surroundings again, this time taking into ount the information the others had provided. Every one of the fallen logs was hollowed, likely by the very Primates that had somehow managed to ce them. ording to what little Rowan had told them on the way, each of them had a fair number of fungi clusters.

    She thought of her parents and how they''d given up so much for her. Yet, here, right here, there was enough material to pay back nearly all of her tuition costs after discounting what they could have sold the banker''s Relics and Cards for. Would she really leave it?

    Rowan had said there would be more opportunities, but if she ran from this one, what would stop her from running from the next? You can''t keep running, Aurora. Not if you''re going to find your dad. Not if you want to make your parents proud.

    But, I can''t- She turned to find Nathaniel and Rowan watching her, patiently waiting for her decision. No, not I. We. And we can do this.

    "Alright," Aurora nodded slowly, then beckoned for the two toe closer. "Here''s what we do."

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