The Ruby Magician

The wooden door creaked open, and Wyn snapped his head to attention. Seeing who it was, he relaxed. But only a little.

The leaders of the Order of the Scaled Dragons, the previously strongest guild in the city, walked in behind the familiar female mage Karla. Wyn and his group met her when they first entered the sixth floor, and they were cordial and respectful.

Now, they walked in to the guild meeting with their heads high and outfits pristine. But everyone knew they were putting on a front, Wyn included. They had taken a massive loss at the end of last month when their top team fell inside Alistair. From what Wyn had seen and heard, they were being more conservative with their climbing and not pushing themselves.

That meant there was a strong chance they weren't the top guild anymore if they weren't trying to climb the tower quickly to make it to the third or fourth tier. Not that Wyn was competing with his own guild, but instead was considering the cost of progressing so far. It was another mark against trying to clear the tower and reaffirmed his desire to be consistent rather than climb as high as possible.

As they walked in, Karla looked around the room. Her gaze settled on Wyn and she paused at him, then nodded. Wyn returned it before she took her team to an empty table to wait.

Tower Master Aureus was already at the head table with a full stack of papers sitting in front of him. He was mostly reviewing paperwork with an assistant beside him while the guild leaders were filling the war room. Nigel and Faye sat beside Wyn, glancing around and commenting on the others in the room periodically. There were at least three dozen people in the room all spread out sitting at tables, not cramped but not empty, either.

"You know, you really should make some connections with the Alistair Junkies and the Defenders," Faye said, sitting back to relax in her chair similar to how Marcy would sit. "They've already talked about what a good idea it was to hold training sessions with unaffiliated Climbers as another source of income."

"Of course it's a good idea," Nigel said. He sat appropriately in his chair with the posture of a court knight. "It's something new and unique that still benefits the city. They're just upset they didn't think of it first."

"I'm not against more opportunities for newer Climbers to be better," Wyn said. "Maybe we could discuss some kind of rotation on what we teach. Different perspectives would be helpful."

Nigel shook his head. "They'd just turn it into another guild audition. Which defeats the point."

"Or maybe we should make the next guild tournament more enticing for more Climbers, like demonstrations by the guild members instead of just the ones looking to join. That way they can see firsthand the strength of growing in a guild. Or put up magical items as rewards to be incentives to participate."

Both Nigel and Faye looked at him with shocked faces.

"What?" Wyn asked.

"That's… actually a brilliant idea," Faye said. She chuckled. "I can't believe we never thought about it before!"

"It would definitely get more eyes on the guilds," Nigel agreed. "What if we…"

As Nigel continued the conversation with Faye, Wyn instead focused on Aureus. The man appeared busy with his papers at first glance, but was actually tuned in to the guild leaders in the room. The longer Wyn watched him, the more he noticed the man's eyes glancing up and around, noting the Climbers present. It almost looked as though he was making notes on the room instead of doing administrative work.

What was so important for him to note? Wyn didn't know. And despite being curious he really didn't care.

The people he was actually interested in weren't even there. The ones who have been harassing him and his family, then actually assaulted his friends. They were the people he wanted to confront.

Aureus stood from his seat and the room quieted. He smiled as he shuffled some papers together. "Everyone, thank you all for coming. It's another season and another guild meeting for us to discuss the challenges you all face inside Alistair." He handed a stack of papers to his assistant. "If you don't mind, I have some papers for you all to -"

The door creaked open, and Wyn nearly wanted to jump out of his seat. The only thing he heard was his heartbeat in his head. The entire room silenced as everyone's heads turned to see who walked in.

All four members of the Faceless Four slowly walked inside and stood against the wall. It was impossible to tell where they were looking, and three of them stood still facing straight ahead at Aureus. Except for Landon, their leader in the jackal mask, who slowly canvassed the room with his masked face.

When he got to Wyn he paused and tilted his head to the side. Wyn hardened his gaze and didn't bother hiding his emotions. If Landon sensed something, he wasn't being obvious about it.

Aureus cleared his throat, grabbing everyone's attention again. He stared at the guild with a surprisingly similar intensity as Wyn. "As I was saying, I have some papers for you all to review, and some to add to for the unaffiliated Climbers. Before we start, though, we should welcome the newly established guild Dawn's Light. You all will recognize them from their previous guild though they are now under new leadership."

The people softly clapped for them, Aureus included, and Wyn just nodded his head in thanks. Glancing over to the Faceless Four, none of them moved. Wyn's smile vanished.

"Now to business," Aureus continued. "First is the general progression so far for the first two weeks. The consensus for this season of undead challenges is typical, in which the enemies are more powerful but easier to damage and kill, though their rewards are meager at best. We're seeing an increase in the clear rate of the first tier due to this but also due to the unexpected makeup of the sixth floor. Unfortunately this secondary quest is stonewalling the non-guild members, and they're having trouble clearing it due to needing to cooperate with other teams."

He grabbed two papers that both looked like identical flyers. Wyn couldn't see what they said from his distance to the Tower Master. "A solution to the known sixth and seventh floor raids has been approved. Both the Defenders and Dawn's Light have agreed to provide supplementary services to groups looking to advance, either by joining them directly or helping them find another compatible group. Both options require a small fee that is nearly negligible in the grand scheme of progressing past the raid requirement for those able to advance."

Some murmuring picked up by the group. Wyn expected it. Since Cedric and Daniel told him about their plan to help other Climbers not in guilds get past the raid floors, Wyn thought it was a great idea. When Faye pitched it to other guilds, none were really interested except for the Defenders, who likely saw an opportunity that Wyn wasn't exactly able to see. He admittedly wasn't the best in politics, and didn't know their guild well enough to know if it was a genuine offer to help Climbers for the good of the city or to earn some favor in their and Aureus's eye.

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At the end of the day, it didn't really matter. Climbers were still going to benefit and that was good enough for Wyn.

"Now for the second part of the meeting," Aureus said, commanding the crowd again. "We know information through the second tier and that the ninth floor boss is incredibly intelligent, deceptive, and powerful. There have already been cases of groups using portal keys to leave the fight being too injured to continue, though thankfully none have suffered serious injury or death. If you all could provide any insight for the information brokers about additional tier two information or even tier three information, it would be greatly appreciated."

The assistant finally made it over to Wyn's table, and he and his companions took their stacks of blank papers. As Aureus finished, though, there was a lull, and Wyn noticed everyone turn their attention to Karla and her group. She recognized the attention being the reigning top guild, and stood up from her chair.

"The Order of the Scaled Dragons can provide a fair amount of insight to the first and second tier challenges," Karla said, her voice firm. "We've been running them consistently and thoroughly and have gathered enough information that should satisfy even all of your missing pieces."

Wyn furrowed his eyebrows. That was odd she said only the first and second tiers. They were known for being able to clear the third tier and even the first couple of floors of the fourth.

Realization dawned on him quicker than others in the room, based on the lack of reactions. Wyn nudged Faye, then whispered to her. "Is she insinuating what I think she is?"

Faye opened her mouth to speak but paused. "Well, fuck me sideways."

"First and second tier," Aureus said. "Am I correct in assuming that that is all your guild has cleared?"

Karla gave a small bow to Aureus. It wasn't anything strange, but it was a rare display of supplication Wyn didn't often see in the city. "You are correct, Tower Master," Karla said. "Since our guild members were taken from us, we have decided to climb no higher than the second tier for the time being."

The murmurs in the group grew to loud chattering as everyone started guessing or gossiping at their tables.

"I can't believe the top guild has pulled back the reigns that much," Nigel said, his voice slightly above a whisper.

"Not the top guild anymore, it would seem," Faye said.

Wyn didn't respond. He didn't feel like adding to the murmurs. How could anyone blame them after losing an entire climbing team? If that was his group or guild, he wouldn't even be back in the tower. He had no obligations, now. No expectations of him outside of managing the guild. If they took time off from climbing, people would understand.

In Wyn's mind, it was impressive they were even going back into the tower at all.

A man stood up across the room, effectively quieting the crowd. He was large like Cal but had a full beard that matched his brown hair. Wyn recognized him as the guild leader of the Alistair Junkies. "We have just made it past the raid floors ourselves. If the Order of the Scaled Dragons are staying in the first two tiers, then I'm afraid we won't have much else to contribute. I was going to offer some monster strategies and special traps our scouts have information about, but I have a feeling they will be lesser in quality than what Karla could provide."

Karla turned and gave the man a bow just like how she bowed to Aureus. The Alistair Junkies guild leader went wide eyed in shocked surprise, but the response lasted only for a moment. He quickly smiled and returned the bow before sitting down.

"We in the Defenders are in the same boat, I'm afraid," a woman said, not even bothering to stand up. "We are on the cusp of the third tier but the raids slowed us down."

Voices agreeing with her echoed through the room. Wyn understood their response as the season had a difficult start to the second tier. But he would have thought that the largest guild in the city would have had an easier time. They had plenty of groups able to work together, so why would they had been slowed down?

Faye nudged Wyn. "We're doing far better than they are. Congrats."

"Are none of the guilds into the third tier, yet?" Nigel asked, his voice low. "I know we aren't as far as you, Wyn, but we are so close to finishing the eleventh floor."

Faye sat up straighter in her chair. "Wyn, this is an opportunity. You should share what we know about the first couple of floors in the third tier and we might be able to establish ourselves as the new top guild!"

Nigel held out a hand to Faye like he was asking her to quiet down. "Easy, there. Why should we do that? Do you want a target on our back so we can fall so soon after we became established?"

"I'm with Nigel," Wyn said. "I don't care if we're the top guild in the city. I just want us to have success and help others."

Faye grinned. "And that's exactly why we should be considered the top guild!"

Wyn started to respond but was distracted as Landon stepped forward in the room. It was the first time any of the four masked guild members had moved at all. He shrugged dramatically, despite only about half of the room even paying attention. The rest were still talking to themselves.

"We in the Faceless Four don't really care about sharing any information," Landon said, his voice loud enough to easily carry throughout the war room. "I think we may be done, here."

Before anyone could react, Aureus stood up from his seat, effectively stopping anyone who had any plans to respond. "If you have information that could help other Climbers stay safe, you must share it so it can be available."

Landon shook his masked head. "There's no rule that says I have to share it."

"Being in a guild is about responsibility and respect!"

"Then why not make the information free? You know, since you charge the lesser Climbers for it."

Wyn saw Aureus's knuckles go white against the desk. He was angry, and doing his best not to show it on his face.

"Enough," the masked woman said, pushing the larger member of the Faceless Four out the door. "It's time for us to leave, anyway."

"You have not been dismissed," Aureus said, his voice rising to nearly a yell.

Wyn didn't know where their conversation was going, but he knew it wouldn't be good. He hated the Faceless Four but also knew Aureus needed to save some face. They weren't making him look great.

He stood up, scooting his chair purposely against the floor to draw attention to himself. "Dawn's Light has cleared the twelfth floor. I'd happily share the information we have on the first two floors of the third tier, as well as corroborate with the others on the second tier to ensure the most accurate information is released to the public."

Aureus's face visibly softened, though Wyn didn't linger on him. Instead, he looked back at Landon, who was facing him. He hadn't bothered to leave. Looking at his expressionless mask, Wyn felt his emotions stir again. It was infuriating not being able to see his face.

"Well, well, well," Landon said, his words drawn out dramatically. "Look at you finally making it to the higher floors."

He stepped towards Wyn, and Nigel and Faye both abruptly stood up as Wyn readied himself. If Landon was going to be stupid enough to attack him here, he at least wanted to be prepared.

Landon held his gloved hands up pleadingly, then leaned in towards Wyn. "If I were you, though, I'd stick to the lesser floors. Easier to clear, easier to find those precious secret rooms. The rest of the tablets won't find themselves, after all." He took several slow steps back towards the door.

Wyn froze. He never told Landon that he had the stone tablets. That was a large secret he wanted to keep. How did he figure it out? The only other people outside his team or close friends was…

Wyn's heart raced. He told Devon and William about the stone tablets due to Devon's class ability. Then they were beaten shortly after? That was more than enough evidence in Wyn's mind that the Faceless Four were the ones who attacked them. Not only that, but they tortured the two men to reveal that Wyn had more stone tablets.

Wyn must have failed to hide his rage because Landon stopped backing away, and the only other member of their group still in the room stopped and was also staring at him. It was the one with the sphinx mask. Octavius.

"You bastards," Wyn breathed, taking a step forward. "I know it was you!"

Landon stopped retreating. The room was completely silent except for Faye and Nigel who were now beside Wyn holding onto him. And Aureus, who was crossing the room with vigor.

"Give me what you have, and we'll leave you alone," Landon said. "It's really that simple. You're the one overcomplicating this."

"Everyone needs to calm down," Aureus said, approaching the Climbers. Others in the room started to stand or back away to give them space, though everyone was watching.

Landon chuckled. "Maybe I should visit your guild next to see if someone there will help me?"

Wyn saw red. He envisioned what could happen to his teammates. His guild mates. Daniel. Or Arabelle. He quickly lunged forward, rational thought gone. Both Faye and Nigel wrapped arms around him, holding him back.

Several other things happened in the blink of an eye. Landon also stepped forward, intent on meeting Wyn's own advance. Aureus moved between them, holding his surprisingly stout arms between them like iron rods. And then a dense, visible aura like a fog cloud rolled out of the Tower Master like a physically suppressive force.

Wyn felt his body clench and hold as though any movement in the cloud of magic would cause excruciating pain. It was hard to breathe. It was nearly impossible to move.

But Landon didn't seem as affected. He backed away again with surprising speed, escaping out the door with Octavius before the fog could overtake them.

Wyn watched them leave, his mind reeling. The Faceless Four had shown their hand. They knew about him having the stone tablets. And they continued to threaten Wyn and his friends and family.

The time to be passive was over. Wyn prepared himself to take action. He refused to allow any more of his allies be harmed, which meant only one final fact.

The Faceless Four had to be stopped by any means necessary.