Chapter 23: Gravedigger''s Task


    Two days had passed, and Abel had settled into a familiar routine that brought a sense of stability in the otherwise unpredictable life at the Stone Tower. He would wake up early, often before the first light broke through the sky, spending his mornings in the vast, silent library. Organizing shelves, categorizing texts, and ensuring everything was in its rightful place became his daily duties. The musty scent of ancient paper and ink grew to be a comfort rather than a nuisance, and the rhythmic sounds of his footsteps echoing in the otherwise quiet library offered a strange solace. The place had its own life, its own pulse, and Abel had come to feel like he was part of it.


    After finishing his morning shift, he would retreat to his room for a moment of peace or spend time with the members of Room Eighty. Their afternoons were often filled with stories, mostly shared in the small rooms of the members of room eighty. The sounds of recruits at this point were soothing as they told tales of myths and legends from their various homelands. Sometimes, the conversation shifted to rumors that swirled around the Tower—dark whispers of creatures lurking in the shadows, of recruits who had disappeared, and the ever-present danger that seemed to hum beneath the surface of the Tower’s routine.


    Marcella, the overseer of the library, had been pleased with Abel’s meticulous work. She hadn’t been shy in her praise. "You’ve done good work," she had told him that morning, her voice soft yet firm, as though her approval was both a gift and a responsibility. Her motherly tone made him feel at ease like he was finally finding his place within the Tower’s structure. "I’m happy to let you take on other tasks, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your time here." She had even offered him the option to work another week in the library. Abel eagerly accepted, the idea of being surrounded by the endless tomes of knowledge growing on him. Marcella had also begun to let him read one book of his choice after each shift—a privilege Abel did not take lightly.


    There was something comforting about the routine, about being surrounded by the quiet energy of the library. Still, the silence was occasionally unsettling. Since his eerie encounter with the constellation book—a book that seemed to have a life of its own—there had been no other strange occurrences. No more books sliding out of place on their own, no strange thuds or whispers in the dark corners. The library had returned to its usual quiet, and with that, a sense of calm settled over Abel.


    But routine could only sustain his curiosity for so long. He wanted more, craved the thrill of something beyond the library’s safe walls. That afternoon, after finishing his work, Abel decided to head to the task office. It was time to find something that would take him outside the Tower’s confines, something that would challenge him. The office, as always, was alive with recruits going about their business—some milling around with task slips in hand, others poring over the large board of available missions that dominated the far wall. The board listed tasks based on difficulty, danger, and reward, each one calling to a different type of recruit.


    Abel scanned the board, his eyes flicking over various postings, most of which seemed tedious or too dangerous for his liking. His gaze stopped at one task that seemed to offer a decent balance: it promised a reasonable ten contribution points and was rated as relatively low-danger. He leaned in to read the details more closely.


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    Task: Assist Recruit Gravedigger


    The name "Gravedigger" gave Abel pause. He wasn’t one of the Tower’s more famous recruits, certainly not as well-known as some of the higher-ranked individuals. Gravedigger had returned to the Tower under much less fanfare, but this task seemed straightforward enough. Abel had no personal knowledge of him, but the ten points were hard to ignore, especially for a task set within the Inner Perimeter, a protected area under the Tower’s influence. There were also several task notes attached, indicating that more recruits were likely taking on this task as well—a reassuring detail that made Abel feel a bit more confident.


    He spotted Glandel standing nearby, observing the hustle of the task office with his usual stern expression. Abel approached him with the task slip in hand.


    “I’ll take this one,” Abel said, pointing at the task on the board.


    Glandel raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “Gravedigger, huh? He’s not exactly in the limelight.”


    “I’m intrigued,” Abel replied with a shrug. “And ten points is a good incentive.”


    Glandel gave a small nod, his rough features unreadable as he scribbled down the necessary notes on a parchment. “You’ll meet him tomorrow at sundown on the first floor. He’ll brief you on the task then. Just be cautious—Gravedigger might not be famous, but he takes his work seriously. Don’t underestimate the task.”


    Abel nodded, thanking Glandel, but there was a growing excitement bubbling up inside him. For days, he had been within the safety of the Tower, organizing books and navigating the hidden nuances of the library. Now, the thought of venturing out, even if just within the Tower’s protective perimeter, brought an intoxicating mix of excitement and nerves.


    That evening, Abel found himself in the common room with the other members of Room Eighty. The fire crackled warmly in the hearth, casting a soft glow across their faces as they sat together, sharing stories about the day’s events.


    “So, what’d you pick up today?” Sena asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she leaned back in her chair.


    “I’ll be helping a recruit named Gravedigger,” Abel said casually, though the name seemed to catch the attention of his friends.


    “Gravedigger?” Isabella repeated, her brow furrowing slightly. “I’ve heard of him. Not a big name, but he’s… persistent.”


    “What kind of task is it?” Nando chimed in, twirling a silver ring on his finger, a habit Abel had come to recognize after a while.


    Abel shrugged. “Not entirely sure yet. We’re meeting tomorrow at sundown for a briefing. Seems low-risk, though. It’s all within the Inner Perimeter, so nothing too dangerous.”


    Sena groaned. “Lucky you. I got stuck with herb gathering again.”


    “I’d take herbs over running into another Tomb Walker,” Isabella muttered darkly, her voice tinged with the weight of a past encounter. “You’ll be fine, Abel. Just keep your guard up. The Inner Perimeter might be safer, but that doesn’t mean it’s without danger.”


    They spent the next hour exchanging stories, rumors, and gossip about the Tower, their voices mingling with the steady crackle of the fire. Despite the occasional humor, there was always a palpable tension—an understanding that in the Tower, any task could be a matter of life and death. Abel felt a deepening sense of camaraderie with the group, but the thought of his upcoming task lingered in his mind. Gravedigger, who was this recruit, and what did he have in store for those who joined him?


    As the night grew late, the group slowly disbanded, heading off to their rooms for the night. Abel lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling as shadows from the window danced across the stone walls. His thoughts turned back to the task ahead, his mind racing with curiosity and apprehension. The Inner Perimeter, while protected, held its own mysteries. What awaited him out there?


    Sleep came eventually, but not before Abel’s mind wandered one last time to the dark, winding paths outside the Tower.