The Ruby Magician

Wyn expected the transition through the bridge portal to be extreme. It was carrying him forward directly to the pinnacle, after all, past an entire section of floors that he had never reached, and despite growing accustomed to the sensation of portal travel he was still affected each time.

But this movement was… different. It wasn't harsh or abrupt, it didn't affect his head or his stomach. He was pulled through a white void instead of a black one, and his body felt like it was being carried on a soft cloud rather than pulled forcefully through space.

It was serene. It was relieving and comforting, as though he was being welcomed into the embrace of a divine being and invited to enter their home.

Which, for all intents and purposes, was exactly what was happening.

As his feet felt solid ground, he blinked rapidly to try and process his surroundings. He was in a massive expanse of endless white, with the only separation his mind could see was perfectly square white marble sections at his feet making up a floor. There were no walls, no ceiling, and no other feature outside the exact white makeup.

The first thing Wyn thought of was the path and the portal room at the base of Alistair. That pristine area looked similar, except here it was even more perfect.

Despite being alone, Wyn didn't feel anxious or afraid. In fact, he felt as though some kind of blanket was covering him that suppressed all of his negative emotions. Where he was angry at the Faceless Four, confused at the Avatar, and heartbroken for his friends, those emotions were dwarfed while in the area. It was as though there was no room for negativity.

"I've been looking forward to meeting you, Ardwyn," a voice said.

At first Wyn didn't move. He tried to process what he heard before he could allow his eyes to fall on the speaker. The voice came from behind him, and it was unlike anything he had ever heard. It was smooth, deep, exacting and friendly. It was… the voice of divinity.

Knowing who it was but not what he was going to see, Wyn turned to see a man. A regular, average looking man, wearing simple clothes and a smile that made Wyn feel assured and protected though slightly confused in his admiration. He had well-kept brown hair and a matching trimmed beard, while he wore a bleached white fitted tunic with matching boots, all adorned with silver and gold, completely spotless and without blemish. He was a little taller than Wyn, but otherwise looked similar to a merchant dressed for a nice dinner. There were minor nobles who wore more elaborate clothes for daily meetings.

"It's really you," Wyn said, mystified. "By the gods."

The man chuckled, his hands disappearing in pockets at his hips. "Well, by me, you mean. But, yes. I am Aliyar. Or, to be more precise, an aspect of my godly self. If I came here completely you'd be far too overwhelmed, but I'm getting off topic. Welcome, Climber, to the 20th floor."

"It's…" Wyn looked around, then gently waved a hand in the air. "Nice."

Instead of chuckling, Aliyar laughed. It was hearty and full, and he bent back at the waist as he tried to cover his mouth. "Of all the Climbers throughout history who've made it here, you're the first one to call it 'nice'!"

Wyn smirked. "There's not much decoration, truth be told."

Aliyar snapped his fingers, and the room suddenly shifted to an elaborate, huge foyer that was easily the size of his guild house. Wyn was suddenly sitting in a grand cushioned chair, directly next to Aliyar who sat in a matching one. There was a small table between them that held a teapot, cups, and saucers, all golden and sparkling. In front of the pair was a hearth made up of white and silver marble with an immaculate stack of firewood that was burning. No smoke drifted from the fire, and the firewood didn't appear to burn away, but heat still emanated from the hearth that warmed Wyn to his very soul.

"Is this more comforting?" Aliyar asked. "I know that you and Daniel have chosen this setup on numerous occasions during your discussions."

Wyn nodded in amazement. The arrangement was exactly like the same as when he and Daniel would talk, right down to the placement of the tea on the table. The only differences were the appearance of the objects and the place, but otherwise the feel was… familiar. Homey.

"This is perfect," Wyn said, subconsciously picking up the teacup resting on the table. When he took a sip, it was the exact temperature he preferred it, and with the right amount of sugar added.

"Good," Aliyar said, grabbing the other teacup. "I want you comfortable for our own discussion."

Wyn closed his eyes while he took another sip. Blinking away the amazement, he finally processed what the god said. "Discussion?"

"Of course. There's an important conversation to be had. Every Climber that has reached this place undergoes the same conversation that ends with the same offer. Despite being the first Ruby Magician to make it here - albeit with a little help - you must hear the same offer. Eventually." He took a sip from the cup as he crossed his legs, leaning back into the cushion to relax.

"I did make it here with help," Wyn said. "I'm not quite sure I've earned this."

Aliyar smiled. "I can assure you that sitting here means you've earned entry, one way or another. It's not you that I feel hasn't earned this chair, but that's neither here nor there. I do admit that the tablets were a bit… unique, but there are many items that are uniquely gifted with magic. It just so happens that that set came from one of my brethren, but I don't have total mastery over what is presented inside Alistair. Influence, yes, but not complete control."

"Why not?"

"Alistair is a magical construct. As each of the towers are. I have a degree of influence after I set about its creation but its by design I don't have omnipotence. I wanted Climbers to have some autonomy. Some freedoms."

Wyn nodded. That made some sense, though he didn't believe for a second he could understand the ways of gods. He was still having trouble even believing where he was.

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"So you watch from above and see what happens?"

Aliyar tilted his head side to side. "In a way. I've been known to make sure the respect of Alistair and the city remains intact, which has required some visits here and there. But I tend to leave the challenges to my chosen."

"Chosen? Like the Avatar?"

"That's right. Elik'yar is particularly special to me. Calling them my right hand would be the closest description you'd understand. In some aspects they even have more influence inside Alistair than I do."

Wyn laughed. "I take it the visit in the cabin was by the Avatar's own accord, then. That was a particularly…interesting experience."

Aliyar laughed, again. "I planted a seed in Elik'yar's mind about you when you received your class, and they took some liberties with your first climb. A very interesting first climb, I might add."

"It was certainly memorable." Wyn took another sip of his tea, noting that the temperature hadn't changed. "Why was I chosen to be a Ruby Magician, anyway?"

"Now that's a good question. One that I will only partially answer. Alistair helps decide who shares in its magic, so I don't have full control over the process. But something about you was special, and Alistair noticed it then acted on it. All Ruby Magicians have great potential, after all. There's uniqueness in your class makeup. Some of that outlook has been lost overtime, but the point has always been that those selected are chosen because Alistair knows you'll be able to handle the features of the class, whether viewed as boons or curses."

"Which means all those Climbers who changed their class were wrong."

Aliyar shrugged. "Everyone's climbing journey is different, but their mindset for Alistair's challenge was corrupted from the start changing away from Ruby Magician. Now changing into the class is different entirely, but that's another conversation." Aliyar carefully took a sip of his tea while trying - and failing - to hide a smile.

Wyn didn't bother hiding his smile. Maybe Arabelle was noted to be special, too. He certainly thought she was. Aliyar might believe the same.

"But that leads us to the actual conversation we need to be having, Ardwyn. What everyone who reaches this floor needs to hear."

Wyn took a deep breath. "Okay. I'm ready."

"It's a simple choice, though the decision is anything but. And the outcome has the potential to change everything."

*****

"Yes!" Landon said, nearly yelling the word. "Absolutely yes, I agree!"

Aliyar furrowed his eyebrows. "Don't you want time to think about it? It's not a decision to take lightly."

Landon couldn't hold back the grin forming on his face. Ever since stepping foot into the immaculate room, he had been on edge. There was just something about how white and perfect the area was for him to feel comfortable. He was sitting in a warlord's chair that was large, menacing, and black as though carved from onyx. Aliyar sat opposite him in a similar chair made of white ivory, with a war table set between them. The set up made Landon feel a bit better as it reminded him of the times he and his team would plan out their climbs, but he was still uncomfortable.

That was the case until Aliyar had explained the choice he earned by entering the bridge portal. Now, he only felt excitement. He knew exactly what he was going to choose, even before Aliyar finished explaining the choices.

"There is no need to think on it now when I've been thinking on it for months," Landon said.

Aliyar slowly nodded his head, then sighed. "I see. Don't forget about your teammates who helped you reach this pinnacle. They're still back on the fourteenth floor, you know, in quite a difficult position."

Landon shrugged. "They understood the risks, just like I did. I figured we all wouldn't make it here, but at least I was the one who did. As it should have been."

Aliyar stood from his chair and leaned on the table between them. "Since you have made your decision I won't delay further. You have chosen to obtain power and prestige. Though your choice comes at a cost, as all choices do."

Landon abruptly stood up. "At a cost? I earned a place, here! I earned that power! There shouldn't be a cost!"

Aliyar's eyes narrowed. "Did you truly earn it? You came here by relying on a god relic. A cursed object! A cursed object that never should have been revealed. Alistair doesn't often make mistakes, but that one was almost catastrophic."

Landon felt like he had been punched in the face. "What the fuck are you talking about? This mask helped reveal my true power! It should be the stepping stone to me fulfilling my potential! I'm more than a Climber, now! As it should be!"

Aliyar slowly shook his head. "No. The mask revealed your true nature, then amplified it. But you aren't wrong that you are now more than a Climber. As your choice has been secured."

Aliyar waved his hand and the room shifted. The chairs and table disappeared, and Landon felt his body become weightless as he slowly drifted into the air. The Mask of the Jackal suddenly left him, floating out and towards Aliyar as Landon desperately tried to reach for it.

"Wait!" Landon cried. "You can't take that from me!"

Aliyar grabbed the mask and held it casually. "This mask has brought nothing but personal tribulations and devastation. Fitting that its temporary home was with you." He extended his hand and the mask flew back to Landon.

Landon felt calmness flood his body as the mask was replaced on his face. But confusion surged through him as he felt the mask extend, its edges flattening as it didn't stop at settling onto him but somehow merged with him.

"What is happening?" Landon asked, as he tried to claw at the mask but only felt skin on his face instead of the familiar wood.

"That mask is a part of you, now. You will gain power, but you will never leave the confines of Alistair. You have abandoned not only other people, but more importantly your team while on your path to grasp power, choosing to cast them all aside so you could come out victorious. So you will have your lonely power as you become one with the tool you covet."

Landon scrambled as his confidence turned to dread. The very thing he coveted, the power of the mask, was fusing to his face and becoming part of him. That was not the outcome he wanted. He wanted to ascend to godhood, not be cursed.

His body suddenly felt as though it was being pulled through space similar to a portal, and his mind started to close to the area around him. Power was at his fingertips, just within reach, but now it was out of his grasp as he was tricked and betrayed.

"You will be forced to exercise your power as a challenge to those who would face Alistair," Aliyar's voice said, echoing in Landon's head. "As you will be placed at the head of a tier, your masked self will be a final challenge in command of the other masks. But your essence - your very soul - will be placed in dormancy until the time is right for you to be revealed again in a future season that is appropriate."

"What is happening to me?" Landon cried.

"You are being given your decision! You now have power at a price, subject to Alistair's whims as a corrupted monster in eternal servitude. The Mask of the Jackal once was my own tool, but the destruction it has caused was regrettable. Still, you have acted and chosen poorly, Landon. Thus is your reward."

*****

Wyn swallowed hard as for the first time since entering the divine space he felt nervous. "Okay. I'm ready to hear my options."

"You must pick one of the two following choices," Aliyar said, leaning forward in his cushioned chair. "The first option is power. You will have your Ruby Magician class advanced to its final stage and upgrade, which would have happened prior to your entrance on this floor but stepping over the bridge slightly altered that." He chuckled, obviously amused. "In addition, your class will be advanced one stage further into the realm of the gods. It will be weaker than other gods, but still more powerful than nearly all Climbers. You will also be given one minor boon from me to add to your magic. The price of this choice is that you will never be able to leave the confines of the city as your life and soul will be linked to Alistair's magic, as the process will make your very core magical. If you do leave Alestead, your life will be forfeit as the magic intertwined with your very being will dwindle away.

"The second option is the opposite - it's not power, but the freedom from power. The price of this choice is that you will lose your magical abilities and never be able to step foot inside the tower again, as well as being unable to obtain another class as Alistair's magic is stripped from you. But you will be free to leave Alestead as you choose with your possessions, your life, and not a minor boon but instead a granted request from myself. Though me approving some requests are, understandably, limited."

Aliyar settled back into his chair and folded his fingers into a steeple under his head. "Such is the price for completion. The challenge that Alistair provides is difficult to understand for mortals, but reaching the pinnacle is worthy of a god's favor. With the challenge complete, you must choose your outcome."

Wyn carefully sat his cup down on the table beside him. He took a deep breath and smiled. He knew exactly what he was going to pick, including the request.

Aliyar smiled, too. "Your face shows one of accepted conviction. Have you already come to a conclusion?"

Wyn nodded. He wasn't there for more magic or glory, and he had no intention of ascending in power. Being able to leave the city with his sister was a relief, and he already had a specific request in mind.

He hoped the god would approve his request, but Aliyar did say there might be some limitations. Wyn hoped that was just to prevent becoming the richest person in the world or requesting love or something similarly greedy. His request should be well within Aliyar's power to grant. All he ever wanted to do was protect his friends and family, after all.

"Yea," Wyn said. "I'm ready to make my choice."