The Ruby Magician

John barreled across the room, his boots leaving splintered stone with each step. He looked like a charging bull, rushing the enemies with his sword held in front of him at a frightening speed.

Wyn began to race forward as well, unsure how this would play out. He didn't know if that was Lionel standing there with two giant monsters, though the person's build easily could've been him. The sword they carried certainly looked like John's sword, though it also could be a similar sword or exact copy since it was a magical item from the tower. Regardless, his friend was blindly rushing to a fight, and he wanted to be close to help if needed.

The masked figure still stood by the portal, not bothering to move. They raised a pointed finger at John, which was an unspoken command to attack. Both of the giant Lamierts rushed forward, readying their weapons for an attack. The monster with the hammer broke off to one side while the other brought its halberd down to attempt to slice John before he came any closer. John skipped to the left, opposite the side of the other monster, avoiding the large weapon and lunging for a quick stab.

His purple hued sword dug several inches into the tough Lamiert's hide, and it bellowed in rage before slithering out of reach, lugging its massive weapon with it. John continued his relentless assault, putting the monster on the defensive as blood started to run down its side.

Wyn stopped moving forward as the second giant switched its focus to him. The creature was surprisingly fast for its size, and the hammer could pose a major problem as Wyn didn't have a good means of defense. He knew he still had about half of his mana, and needed to conserve it as well as he could. The monster immediately swung down with its hammer, and Wyn back stepped to avoid it.

The wind from the strike blew his hair back, and the stone floor crumbled from the blow, cracks splintering a foot away. If he was caught by that weapon with that force, there'd be nothing to heal - he'd just be dead.

He raised his palm, casting his spell - "Feeble," he said quickly. The black runes again formed in the air, and a skull appeared above the monster along with a faint black aura. It visibly shrank a bit, and Wyn had a pang of relief as the fight was now a bit more even.

Wyn moved forward to stab it when he stopped suddenly, interrupted by an arrow flying by him. It stuck the Lamiert in the chest, and the impact threw off the monster’s follow-up attack. Another arrow stuck it in the neck, then another in its chest again.

The monster fell to its knee, blood tricking down the arrow shafts. Wyn took the opportunity by stabbing it through its chest between the arrows, and kicked its lifeless body to the ground while simultaneously freeing his spear.

He turned his attention to John, though was relieved to see the Fighter standing over the smoldering corpse of the other giant monster. Surges of lightning crackled around its still body before it began to dissolve back into the tower.

The Climbers gathered together not twenty feet from the mysterious person still standing and unmoving, as though their plan was for the monsters to be slain all along. It was impossible to determine any expression or features due to their plain white mask and statue-like posture.

"Lionel?" Wyn asked. "Is that you?"

The figure drew their sword and held it with both hands in front of them. The runes began to glow on the blade, and flames licked the edge.

“You bastard!” John yelled, and stomped forward.

The cloaked figure quickly swiped the sword sideways, lashing out magical flames like a whip. John stopped abruptly and raised his shield, deflecting the magical attack and grunting in frustration. Wyn and Tasha simultaneously cast Shield, forming enough of a barrier to hold the flames at bay from the rest of the group.

When the flames died, the figure and black portal was gone. Silence filled the stone chamber, save for John’s ragged breathing.

The Fighter roared in anger, causing Tasha to jump. He stomped over to the portal and frantically looked around like a crazed man. He stopped when he saw the portal to the next floor turn clear, proving that they had completed the third floor.

John sunk to his knees, still taking deep breaths. His shield and sword clanged against the stone floor, and he hugged himself, an uncontrollable chill forming in his back.

*****

Wyn took a large swig from his drink, nearly downing it in one gulp. The pitcher was almost empty of water, but he filled his cup back up anyway. He had no idea how thirsty he was until they left the tower, and it felt like he hadn’t drank in days. They were so caught up in the newness of the third floor and the hidden secrets it contained that he completely forgot about his water skin.

That, and discovering both Lionel was still alive and somehow working with the tower.

The coin purse on Wyn’s belt was fuller now, too, and he was shocked at the haul from the second and third floors. He made over 200 gold crowns, and even more when he tallied up the lesser coins. Not to mention some of the items they found in the floors themselves from the various groups or boss drops helped add to their total.

Wyn breathed a sigh of relief after taking another drink. He could see the potential to earn the gold his family needed, though it would never be enough on the lower floors. This was a good start, though, if Lionel showing up hadn’t put everyone in a foul mood.

Wendy sat down a large tray on their table with ease, then quickly passed out plates of food. Wyn could heel himself salivate at the spread - roasted duck, grilled fish with wild berries, potatoes, bread with cheese and honey, corn, and leeks filled the empty space on the table. It was a feast fit for the highest of nobility, and he was still amazed it was the standard here in Alestead.

A quick thought entered his mind about how they procured and afforded such delectable food, but then he realized the tax for Climbers and the massive economic exchange in the city likely more than made up for it. It was no secret that the cities that held towers were both revered and feared, along with being huge sources of magical and non-magical items.

He took one bite of his duck and quickly forgot about any musings related to the local economy. All he could focus on was what bite he’d have next, relishing one flavorful mouthful after another. Obviously the others felt the same way, too, because they began grabbing and shoveling food left and right. Their plates filled nearly as fast as their mouths.

“I hope you all enjoy it,” Wendy said, winking at the same time. “The Gods know you all deserve it.”

Wyn swallowed a bite of potatoes with a confused expression. “What do you mean?”

Wendy put the tray under her arm and looked around the room before lowering her voice. “You haven’t heard? Maybe you’ve been too busy in the tower. A new group was almost completely wiped out on the third floor. Only two members survived, and they’re in the infirmary. The rest were killed.”

Tasha gasped while everyone looked at each other, various expressions on their faces. John nearly choked on his mouthful of food.

“We just finished the third floor,” Wyn said. “And it was… unusual.”

“Well I’m glad it wasn’t all of you, but I don’t wish that for anyone,” Wendy said. “The Tower Master is giving a small reward for anyone who’s had similar climbs. It’d be good to go see him - if it could save another Climber from dying, I say it’s worth it.”

A voice from the kitchen pulled Wendy away, and she quickly stepped around the busy dining hall to return back to work.

The mood at the table shifted from one of excitement and leisure to anxiety and anger. The food, despite smelling heavenly and tasting even better, suddenly didn’t seem as appetizing.

“What is going on, here,” Tasha said. “Do you think it has something to do with Lionel?”

“He’s likely caught up in it, yea,” Wyn said. “Though I think there’s much more at play than just him.”

John pushed his nearly full plate away and rested his arms on the table. “I’m sure it has to do with the witch you met, too, right?”

Wyn gulped down his drink of water far too fast than he wanted and it stung his throat. John wasn’t exactly subtle. Wyn hadn’t forgotten about the witch, but he certainly didn’t want to be reminded of her. “I’d imagine so. I don’t know all the ins and outs of the tower, but that encounter didn’t feel normal.”

“It absolutely wasn’t,” Marcy said. “We fight monsters, not each other. Something is happening. You got a peek behind the curtain in the caves, and now the rest of us got one, too.”

“Wyn, I think it’s time we discussed exactly what happened with… the witch,” Cedric said, his voice lowering almost to a whisper. He looked around to see if anyone was eyeing them, but everyone in the busy dining area seemed to be focused on their conversations.

“I think you’re right,” Wyn said. “We did say we’d get together tonight, anyway. Maybe we should go to the Tower Master tomorrow before we climb.”

“And did we decide on what we’d do from now on?” John asked. “It’s only the second week and we’ve already finished three floors. I’m not complaining, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t want to be going too fast, either.”

Marcy bumped John’s shoulder with her own. “Look at you, being all cautious.”

John steeled his gaze and furrowed his eyebrows. “After what I just saw - who I just saw - I won’t be rushing into danger anymore. That bastard stabbed me in the back and left me to die. And stole my sword. I don’t know what in the hells is going on, but I don’t want to be caught in something that kills me.”

Marcy took a deep breath and nodded her head. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

The Fighter handed her a piece of bread. She calmly took it.

Wyn looked down at his food and grimaced. While the spread was incredible, at the end of the day, they were in a place where death lurked around every corner. It was easy to forget when the amenities were better than most would likely ever experience, though it came at the price of safety and longevity. Climbing meant risking your life, similar to going to war. The guild helped sugarcoat that reality, but it could only go so far.

He looked around the room after taking a bite from his plate. All of the Climbers seemed to be on edge. Most were hunched over and whispering to each other or eyeing everyone else in the room like Wyn. Now that he noticed it, he realized his table was acting the same way.

News obviously traveled fast in Alestead. If everyone else heard about the group that was almost completely killed, they were probably questioning their own abilities to keep climbing given the circumstances. If nefarious activities were happening outside of the tower’s already present difficulties, it only made climbing that much more dire.

Unfortunately for Wyn, he couldn’t afford to wait around for someone else to solve the problem. Not that he wanted to, either, as he was used to action rather than letting someone else handle things. Knowing that his group had been directly influenced only fortified his decision to keep pushing to find out what’s going on and make a change.

If nothing else, Wyn would protect his group and help take Lionel down. And he knew his friends felt the same way. The danger of it was an unspoken reality that none of them wanted to speak into existence.

He took another bite of his meal, savoring the flavor of the potatoes. The feeling of warmth and vigor returned, the food centering him back to his goals. Hope seemed to be a better seasoning than anything else.

*****

Cedric leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath, not taking his eyes off Wyn. Then he took another. “That’s… quite the tale.”

Wyn shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

“It’s even crazier hearing it the second time,” John said.

“How come you heard it before the rest of us?” Tasha asked.

John scoffed. “I was on my deathbed, it didn’t take a lot to convince him to tell me.”

“If I recall, the bed seemed pretty cozy,” Wyn said with a smirk. “And I believe at that point you were completely healed.”

John smiled wide while Tasha just sighed.

Cedric stood up and began to pace around the room. “So she gave you that lantern and a skill, which is completely unheard of. Only in the most rarest of circumstances can a person obtain an extra skill outside their class progression, and usually bonus abilities come from items.”

“I figured that,” Wyn said. “But you can look at my parchment, if you want. It’s how I got the Feeble spell, which normally isn’t something a Ruby Magician can learn. According to Daniel, at least.”

“I believe you,” Cedric said. “I don’t need to look at your parchment. It’s just…”

“Unbelievable?” Marcy said.

“Exactly,” Cedric said with a nod. “Why now? Why you?”

“Ouch,” John whispered.

“I’ve been wondering that myself,” Wyn said. “I’m no one special. In fact, that’s the exact thing I told the witch. She just said the tower had an interest in me. Which didn’t exactly give me any relief.”

“I’ll say,” John said. “And that raises so many more questions! Like the tower has thoughts and emotions? Can make decisions and order people - or, monsters - around?”

“Sentient,” Cedric said.

“Huh?” John asked.

“That’s the word you’re thinking of. The witch implied the tower is a sentient being, alive with a conscious.”

“Ahh,” John said, nodding. “That makes sense. I think.”

Cedric sighed.

“It is what it is,” Marcy said. “The real point is that it doesn’t make sense.”

“None of this makes sense,” Wyn said. “I’ve been here less than a week and it’s far more complicated than I ever imagined.”

Marcy shook her head. “What I mean, is that it doesn’t make sense why Lionel wanted to protect the tower but the witch said that they were handling it, as though the tower was opposing Lionel and whatever group he’s a part of.”

Cedric snapped his fingers as more information was being processed in his brain. “Yes! Lionel said he wanted to go against the Climbers, but the witch supported you - a Climber - and said that Alistair was watching you with earnest. Lionel was directing those monsters, showing some semblance of control and alliance with the tower.”

“Now that doesn’t make sense,” Tasha said. “It’s like the witch lied, then.”

“Not exactly,” Marcy said. “I think I know where you’re going with this, Cedric. Lionel has gained some ability to move freely and control at least a portion of the tower.”

“And the witch said it was a matter we should stay out of,” Cedric finished. “She never said anything about disagreeing with Lionel, only that it was unexpected situation.”

Wyn felt his heart race. Cedric was right, of course. The witch never mentioned killing or removing Lionel and the people he’s working with. She was obviously vague for a reason.

“So one possibility is that they are at least familiar with each other,” Wyn said. “Only the tower didn’t expect what happened with Lionel, and is either trying to correct it or change tactics now that it’s known.”

Cedric stopped pacing and rubbed his chin. “I think that’s the stronger theory, and the one I agree with. Obviously we don’t have all the answers, but that seems the likeliest scenario.”

“What does that mean for us, then?” John asked. “If the tower is welcoming whatever this damned group is, what is the goal? How do we play into it?”

“That’s the main question,” Wyn said. “How do we fit? She told me to stay out of it but keep climbing, as though the two situations wouldn’t clash or interact.”

“We’ll get migraines if we keep trying to reason through this,” Marcy said with a sigh. “Bottom line is we keep doing what we’re doing. We climb, we get stronger, we make money. Period.”

“I want that bastard, Marcy,” John said, clenching his fists. “I want him to pay for what he did.”

“And he will,” Marcy said. “It’s pointless to chase after him if he can teleport around the tower at will. We just also have to be prepared to face him or the people he’s working with at any moment.”

“I have a feeling he’ll show up again,” Wyn said. “He showed himself this time, for some reason. He knows we’re together and that we know it’s him. It’s only a matter of time before he’ll likely strike again.”

“Do you think they have something to do with the group dying today?” Tasha asked. “Wendy said a group was nearly completely killed. I wonder if it has something to do with these people.”

The others looked at each other thoughtfully, concern obvious on their faces.

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Wyn said. “She didn’t mention anything else, though.”

“It’s not that unheard of for a new group to fail to that degree,” Marcy said.

“But it is suspicious since it’s around the same time,” Cedric said. “And that the Tower Master is asking for information about what happened.”

Marcy reluctantly nodded her agreement.

Wyn clapped his hands on his knees and sat up straight on Cedric’s couch. “Alright, here’s how we move forward. Tomorrow morning I’ll go to the Tower Master and tell him what happened. Maybe I can get some information back from him. After, we’ll climb again, and stick to either the second or third floors for this week. John was right at dinner - we still have four more weeks including the rest of this week to climb for the season. We’re making great progress but we can slow down a bit. We’ll see about gaining more items, some more wealth, and hopefully that sixth member we really need.”

“That sounds as good a plan as any,” Marcy said. “So now we get some rest. We deserve it.”

“And we’ll need our energy for what’s to come,” Wyn said. “Lionel made his move and caught us off guard. We have to be ready for the next one.”

“We will be,” John said.

The group said their goodbyes shortly after, preparing for a long day ahead. A long season ahead. Wyn knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it would be necessary. Their lives depended on it.