"An assessment?" Rainia asked.


    Jeze glanced around and saw that several Amber Guards had appeared, and among them were Miss Heng and Lady Kalina. Just like when the Proven had their assessment, each Spirit Walker was taken aside by an Adept Ranked adventurer. Irvin approached and gripped Jeze''s shoulder.


    "How are you?" The old man asked.


    Jeze shrugged and gave her friend a gentle hug. Rolfe and Helga clapped their hands loudly and cheered. Mikal smiled. On his face, it was a soft expression. The Healer joined in the cheering, and Jeze was not sure she would get used to this different version of Mikal. How long will he remain like this before he reverts to his cynical self? Jeze wondered.


    "We will have a meeting after the ceremonies," Irvin said.


    "Ceremonies?" Jeze asked.


    "For the Spirit Walkers. I am pretty certain they will be promoted to Adventurer Rank, and we will also honor their fallen teammate. I will talk more with you after," Irvin replied and departed.


    Jeze returned to her camp to finish brewing more Recovery Broths. Rolfe and Helga were showing Dunar the Life aspect Rune pattern they just learned. Dunar smiled and showed him a Rune-covered rod with the very same pattern.


    "Mikal showed me that pattern last week. I etched it upon this Channeling tool," Dunar explained.


    Helga and Rolfe shared a look and then asked, "Has it worked for you?"


    Dunar nodded and answered, "Yes, I have been practicing every evening to hasten the healing on my arm."


    Curious, Jeze came over to appraise the Leader''s work. The Runes were perfect! Jeze nodded in approval and handed the Channeling tool back to Dunar.


    "You can show us, ya?" Helga asked.


    Dunar tapped his tool and completed in the air the final glyphs with precise movements. He was a natural! Jeze reflected, and her eyes went wide. Not only did Dunar Summon the Life aspect, but he also Shaped and Controlled it to apply to his arm.


    "Did you cast a spell? I didn''t see anything," Rolfe said.


    Dunar smiled, "Aye, I did. I can feel the warmth in my arm and the tingling that tells me that my flesh and bone are mending."


    "I give you another week, and your arm will be fully recovered," Mikal stated.


    Was that pride in his eyes? Was Mikal proud of his pupil? Of course, he would be! Any teacher would be proud to have a perfect student like Dunar. Jeze felt a slight pang of jealousy. Dunar picked up the Runes very quickly. In a few months'' time, he might even be able to cast spells in the heat of combat. Jeze shook that thought out of her head, and in the end, she was happy for him. This was beneficial for the team to have another person capable of healing.


    Rolfe nodded and vocalized Jeze''s thoughts out loud. "You keep this up, Dunar, and you will pass us all. Surely, you will become a Berserker."


    Dunar chuckled, "Learning a few minor spells does not qualify one for that rank. I do not recall Berserker Orn learning Rune spells."


    He was being modest. Mikal shook his head and explained, "Berserker Orn trains his Will through deep meditation. You can achieve the same thing through Rune casting. Soon, you will hit the limits of the mind and body."


    "Oh, ho! What did Zippy tell us? Then you will need to work on your Spirit if you wish to become a Druid!"


    Jeze grinned, but sadness swelled in her heart. This was followed by a spark of rage. She was still angry at the Goblin''s betrayal. Jeze pushed her thoughts to the side. There were more important things to think about and do than to dwell on the past. She was not alone as the team became quiet. Each reflected on what had happened. After a moment, everyone returned to what they were doing. Rolfe, Helga, and Dunar worked on their Rune magic, and Mikal provided guidance. It was said that teaching was how one can master any skill or technique. Good for Mikal, Jeze reflected, and she returned to her potion-making. Couzart and the others returned from the assessment. The Elite-ranked Guild member stepped forward to address the gathered crowd.


    "Guild mates! We have suffered a lot these past few days. We have heard dire news of a group that opposes us. Cultists that wish to work with the Fiends that control the Wandering Spire, and they are winning!" Couzart said. His raspy voice was low, but everyone heard it.


    The tall, Elite-ranked Adventurer turned in a slow circle as he continued to speak to the gathered mass of adventurers. "Hard times create opportunities, and for that, I wish to announce that the Spirit Walkers have been promoted to Adventurer Rank!"


    Jeze and the Proven applauded along with the crowd. Couzart spoke about each of the Spirit Walkers and awarded them the golden scroll that was attuned to each of them. Proof that they have not entered the esteemed rank of Adventurer. The heart and soul of the Guild. The base. Couzart''s smile faded away, and he announced.


    "With this celebration, we must take a moment to honor the fallen. Many brave Guild members have lost their lives in the pursuit of protecting our realm. Monsters all across this world have started to rise up. The Guild acts as a shield against the darkness. One brave member will be honored today, and I will allow her teammates to speak," Couzart said and bowed before the Spirit Walkers.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Rainia stepped forward as the Leader of the team. Her eyes were moist from crying, but her voice was firm when she spoke. "Tallulah! everyone, say her name."


    "Tallulah!" The crowd chanted back.


    "She was a mentor, a protector, and an Adventurer," Rainia said and paused.


    "Tallulah!" The crowd chanted.


    Rainia continued, "She protected our lands and ventured bravely into the darkness. She died as she lived."


    "Tallulah!" The crowd chanted.


    Rainia, tears streaming down her face, concluded, "She is now joined with the Great Spirit Collective. I know in my heart that she will still provide guidance."


    "Tallulah!" The crowd chanted.


    Rainia and the other Spirit Walkers bowed their heads in silence. The gathered crowd did the same.


    "Thank you. Go in peace," Rainia said, and the ceremony ended.


    Jeze and Proven came to the team to show their respect and congratulations. Helga brought a keg of ale and horns to drink from. Ahanu grinned widely at that, but the knight bowed his head when Rolfe approached.


    "I lost your spear," Ahanu said.


    Rolfe''s jaw was hard and his eyes gleamed like a hunting Dire Wolf. "You did," he stated.


    Ahnau bowed, "I am sorry."


    "Oh, stop it, you big oaf!" Helga cried and thumped Rolfe over the head.


    The large Protector flinched and grinned. "They honored the spear and me with how you lost it."


    Ahanu smiled.


    "Oh ya! That was epic!" Helga cheered.


    "Come, we will drink. After, I will take you to the Frostsworn market, and we will buy you another proper spear," Rolfe said and handed the dark-skinned man a horn full of ale.


    Dunar approached Jeze and said, "You and I are to meet with the Guild leaders."


    She had a horn of ale in her hand and looked at it forlornly. Jeze had wanted to celebrate with her friends.


    "They are waiting," Dunar added.


    With a sigh, Jeze returned the horn to Helga, who drank it enthusiastically. Jeze rose up and followed Dunar and Rainia to a large Guild tent. Inside was a small group of people, which felt odd in the open space. There was Irvin, Miss Heng, Lady Kalina, and Couzart. The group stood around a large table in the center filled with tomes and scrolls. Jeze saw that they were the books retrieved from the Core Tunnels.


    Couzart nodded at them when they entered and made a series of gestures in the air. Jeze felt the tent seal off from the rest of the world and she knew that their discussion would be private. She marveled at the number of aspects interwoven into that spell. This is what an Elite can do? Jeze wondered. She had so many questions, but knew that this was not the time nor the place to ask.


    Couzart started with a bow to Rainia. "You have my condolences for your loss. Your speech honored Tallulah. She would have been proud."


    The dark-haired spirit walker nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. Couzart faced the others.


    "Now, to business. We believe that the Cultists have spies within our ranks. This is why there is only a small group of us for now. Until we are able to vet more teams, this is who we will be working with. As you know, our first objective is to reclaim the fourth floor. We will need to reestablish Safe Zones," Couzart said and nodded to Miss Heng.


    "I will join as your fifth team member," the Amber Guard said to Rainia.


    Jeze saw Rainia flinch at the news, and Miss Heng''s face softened. "I will do my best to honor Tallulah''s role and serve you well." Miss Heng said.


    Rainia bowed in response. This surprised Jeze. It''s been her experience that the Amber Guard cared little for feelings or emotions. Hard times have caused everyone to mature and grow, it seems. Jeze reflected.


    "Excuse me, may I ask questions?" Dunar said.


    "Of course," Couzart replied. His pupil less yellow eyes still unnerved Jeze. It was hard to read if the Elite was angry, or not.


    "Do we have news of Berserker Orn? Or the other teams? What floor are we on now?" Dunar asked.


    "We know that Orn and his team cleared the Guardian on the fourth floor and that they are somewhere on the fifth," Couzart answered.


    Jeze perked up. That means there was a fifth floor portal. "Shouldn''t we proceed to the fifth floor?" She asked.


    Miss  Heng scowled, but Couzart held up a calming hand. "The Cultists want something with the fourth floor. That is what we need you to find out. We need to reclaim it."


    "There are no Safe Zones, so each of us will be transported to a random location. It will not be easy, as we do not know what level of opposition we will face," Lady Kalina added.


    "We will be ready," Dunar promised."


    "Good," Couzart stated.


    "Should we establish a Safe Zone on the fifth?" Jeze asked.


    "We will. It is time that I enter the Spire," Couzart said.


    This caused a collective gasp. Typically, Elites and higher ranked did not enter until much later. This must be challenging times indeed, Jeze reflected.


    As if hearing her thoughts, Irvin explained, "Monsters have been appearing all across the globe, and Guild Resources are stretched thin. The Pyramid Jeze discovered is one of many locations where the barriers between realms are weakest. Monsters have been appearing everywhere."


    "They are called Thresholds," Jeze said.


    Irvin nodded at her and continued, "We believe that the Cultists are trying to distract us from the Spire. They have planned something and it has been set into motion. We do not know what, but we need to stop them. We are summoning all the Elites to help with this matter. We even requested the Immortal Emperor."


    Jeze gasped. This was really serious!


    "But, he has not responded. It may be some time before we have more Elites joining us. They are, uh, a fickle bunch," Couzart said with a gentle cough. The Elite continued, "Lady Kalina and my teams will enter the fifth. We hope to find Berserker Orn and the other high-ranked guild members in order to unite everyone. We will establish a safe zone and return back at once. We need to plan on how we are to tackle this Spire."


    "Are there any questions?" Miss Heng asked. Her scowl indicated that she was not interested in hearing any.


    "Good, you know what you must do. Be safe and be successful," Miss Heng stated.


    With that, the meeting was adjourned.