The Ruby Magician

Aliyar watched the rest of Ardwyn's group disappear, transported to the rest room at Alistair's base. Wyn was glowing and about to leave himself. He needed to reconnect with them and be briefed on his success now that he had completed the final challenge and made his choice.

Standing in the area of carnage on the fourteenth floor, Aliyar sighed. This wasn't exactly how he imagined the season to go, but once the bridge tablets were discovered, it was inevitable. There was a reason he banned them from his tower but the merging of the other towers unfortunately forced them back into play.

And, of course it was the climbing group known as the Faceless Four who discovered at least one, making them eligible to participate in the intended challenge to cross the bridge. He was glad Elik'yar, the tower's Avatar, gave Ardwyn the lantern so he could find the pieces, too. He was far more worthy of the prize than the new wielders of the masks.

A magical presence stirred beside him, and he urged it to hasten. A swirling vortex of energy coalesced into a form, shaping into a figure. A tall figure wearing a simple but elegant robe. After the light dimmed to nothing in a matter of seconds, the figure bent to one knee.

"Lord Creator," Elik'yar said.

Aliyar looked at the remaining figures on the black floor. "Welcome back, Elik'yar. I hope your transition wasn't unpleasant."

"Thank you for your concern, but it was not."

Aliyar nodded, about to speak but then stopped. He focused on a breath, a small hitch of unexpected life. Looking further, he realized that one of the masked members still lived.

Walking closer, Aliyar took silent steps while the Avatar followed. "Interesting."

Elik'yar continued forward, kneeling down to examine the body.

Octavius took a sharp, ragged breath as he lifted his head. His body was splayed out on the ground, and his mask still rested on his face. His legs and left arm were completely gone while his body was a charred husk. Only his mask remained pristine, undamaged despite the rest of his extensive physical injuries.

"So you live," Elik'yar said, holding up Octavius's head with a careful hand. "Though not for long."

Octavius turned his masked head towards Aliyar, then his breath caught under the mask.

"Yes, Climber, I am who you believe I am," Aliyar said. "While you do not have long, you are fortunate to have been able to witness one of my physical forms."

Octavius turned his head towards the ceiling, then slowly rose his shaking right arm. He lifted it to his mask, then tried and failed to remove it.

"You chose poorly by wearing the masks," Aliyar continued. "Those who are given immense power have their characteristics heightened and warped. Your leader abandoned you and your team and you are here to suffer for it. For what it's worth, I am sorry."

Octavius didn't respond, but instead continued to try and remove the mask. The Avatar sat his head back down on the ground before grasping the mask with its hands.

"Go on," Aliyar breathed, his words barely audible.

The Avatar lifted the mask easily, and it shone briefly with a pulse of golden light. Octavius's face was unblemished, protected by the mask. He was smiling as tears fell from his eyes and one final ragged breath left him.

Elik'yar stared at the mask they held. "I don't understand why these would be offered to Climbers when they provide such a risk."

"They once were a great tool to measure someone's worth," Aliyar said. "Many years ago they provided the means for Climbers to push past their own shortcomings and advance when there weren't many opportunities to do so. But they twisted and warped their wielders more often than not. I removed them from Alistair's challenge as they caused more harm than good."

"And when the towers began sharing their magic they returned."

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"I believe it happened before that event, but that will need to be confirmed when the others join me in our council. Though what's done is done, and now the masks will be under my control once again."

The Avatar stood, not taking their eyes off the Climber's bodies. "It's a shame. They seemed promising."

"They did. All Climbers do, at one point or another. But their path deviated like many others before them, and sadly like many others will to come."

Elik'yar nodded in grave understanding. "And now they have paid the price."

Aliyar raised his hand, and the Mask of the Sphinx flew to him without effort. "Landon's choice was a typical, if not pitiful one. He chose power and will have it. But I believe as a punishment for his behavior I'll be adding his team as generals for him, and they'll continue to wear the masks."

Elik'yar snapped their head towards the god. "You mean to keep their souls, too?"

"I do. They showed strength and prowess, and having more spirits to guide future Climbers would be a more worthy cause for their souls. They'll be floor bosses while wearing their masks as Landon will be the tier boss."

"I imagine that will require a fair amount of power to be displayed. Would they guard the final tier of Alistair?"

"No, that will remain your place. I'll temper the power in the masks and have them guard the third tier, but not for some time. They need to rest until the appropriate season is chosen for them to appear."

"I see."

Aliyar smirked. "And don't think I'm not grateful for you stepping down from your place to meet them on the fourteenth floor, Elik'yar. You served your role well."

Elik'yar's eyes widened a hair before they bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lord."

Aliyar was about to respond when the mask he held started to glow. Looking around, he noticed the other two were glowing as well. "More suprises await, it seems."

"What is it?" Elik'yar asked, curiosity obvious on their face. "All of the wielders of the masks are dead."

Aliyar didn't answer, instead focusing on the other two masks. The Mask of the Minotaur rose off the large dead Climber's body, floating in the air, while the Mask of the Phoenix glowed and remained on the woman's body.

Then, the woman's entire body gently levitated a few feet off the ground, her body still slack.

Elik'yar stood and watched with careful eyes. They didn't feel afraid, not with human corpses around and the very Creator in their presence. But they were curious. These were god level masks, so there had to be some kind of secret function that even they were unaware of.

The woman's body started to glow from the mask, then righted as her feet hovered inches above the ground. The large phoenix feathers all puffed then slowly shimmered away, disappearing similar to defeated monsters. It was only at that moment that the mask dislodged itself from the woman, flying towards Aliyar along with the minotaur mask as the god held all three.

The woman's head jerked up as she took a heavy inhale, then plopped to the ground. Alive.

"How?" Elik'yar asked, stunned.

Aliyar smiled as the three masks slowly disappeared, stored away in their rightful place. "How very interesting."

The woman kept taking deep breaths, not settling around as she looked at the dead bodies around her. Her brow furrowed in obvious confusion, but she didn't seem upset. Not until she looked up at both the Avatar and god, then stumbled back, falling onto the ground as she tripped.

"What is your name?" Aliyar asked.

The woman opened her mouth to speak, but stopped. "I…don't know."

"Do you know where you are?" Elik'yar asked.

The woman slowly shook her head. "This place is…frightening. Who are you? And why are these two dead?" She pointed with a shaky hand at the corpses near her.

"I see why this is interesting," Elik'yar said. "But I don't understand what is happening."

Aliyar sighed and shook his head as he glanced at the Mask of the Phoenix. "It seems as though my sister Karvian put in a secret ability in her mask. Fitting, it would appear, as she once rose from the ashes. Now Jane has also rose again after death, though on a far more limited scale."

"What?" Jane asked. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry, but your mortal form was not strong enough for that contingency. It seems that while your body has been resurrected your memories remain dead and gone."

"Do you know what happened to me?" Jane asked. "Can you not help me?"

"Curses are curses for a reason," Aliyar said, his voice serious. "What a shame." Aliyar then casually waved his hand, as though dismissing a servant. Jane vanished in the blink of an eye. "The Tower Master will ensure she's safe. And we must ensure that future Climbers are safe by never allowing those masks to be revealed again."

The Avatar straightened immediately, then bowed at the waist. "Of course, Lord Creator."

Another wave of his hand caused the two bodies to dissipate, leaving behind swirling orbs of black, red, and golden lights. Aliyar embraced them, absorbing them into his own self.

"You are kind, my Lord," Elik'yar said. "I hope the other tower Creators share the same sentiment for their own creations."

"Their decisions may be influenced during our council, but their reasonings and ultimate means of carrying them out are their own. I, too, hope they have mercy and justice for their Climbers."

"But each of the towers will have some form of connection, now, since the convergence. So their methods will have at least some influence on Alistair, as evidenced by the masks."

Aliyar thought for a moment. "It seems as though you're correct. Climbers have changed, the climb itself has changed, and more change is upon us. My assumption is that the other Creators will have changed, too, though I will make sure it is for the better."

"For the better of the challengers," Elik'yar said with a small bow.

"Yes. A new age is upon us, Elik'yar. We must prepare and welcome those who come next."

The Avatar bowed deeper, before waiting for the god to make his leave. In a flash of divine light, the god exited the tower, returning to his duties.

Alistair would not stop producing new challenges. The change of the seasons, the environments, the items produced and the monsters placed all would continue without ceasing. It was the will of the gods, after all, and with the Avatar being a personification of a portion of that will, they would continue their never-ending efforts to help new Climbers prove themselves worthy.

Taking one last look at the floor before leaving, Elik'yar bowed in respect. To the tower, to the Climbers, and to the very climb itself.