Chapter 88: The Path of Apostleship


    The chamber was immense, bathed in an eerie, mystical glow that pulsed in time with the ancient magic woven into the very stone of the Tower. The light came not from any visible source but seemed to seep from the walls themselves, casting long shadows that flickered and danced across the room. Abel stood among the newly promoted apostles, each adorned in sleek black robes, their silver badges catching the dim light, glinting with a faint glow of their own. On the back of each badge, their new titles were engraved—simple, elegant, yet weighty.


    Abel’s hand brushed over the smooth surface of his badge, the etching of his name “Stargazer” deep and precise. It wasn’t just a symbol of his rank, but a mark of everything he had endured. The sleek black robes clung to his form, a far cry from the attire he had worn as a mere recruit. On Top of the self-cleaning magic, it had some minor defense against magical spells. Now, standing in the Tower’s most sacred hall, Abel felt both pride and a strange sense of isolation, as if his journey had only just begun. He glanced around at his fellow apostles. Tina, Edmund, Nando, and the others from Room Eighty were all there, their expressions a mix of awe, exhaustion, and anticipation.


    Above them, vast murals painted the ceiling, telling the stories of long-forgotten battles, epic struggles against evil forces, and humanity’s rise to claim its own power in a world that often seemed indifferent to its fate. These images weren’t just for decoration; they were reminders—lessons etched in the stone for future generations to learn from. Abel found his eyes drawn to a scene where warriors clashed with monstrous beings under a blood-red sky, their weapons glowing with an ethereal light, much like the one pulsing in the room now, the area felt truly magical.


    At the far end of the hall, the Tower Master stood like a sentinel, his figure shrouded in a robe of dark gray, trimmed with intricate gold patterns that pulsated a magical aura. His presence was heavy, the kind that demanded attention without saying a word, however just gazing towards him made their eyes sting and water. In addition, his face was hidden deep within the folds of his hood, but the weight of his gaze was unmistakable. Each apostle could feel it. It was as though the air thickened around them, pushing down on their shoulders, making even breathing a task of focus.


    But Abel didn’t yield. Despite the immense pressure, despite the oppressive atmosphere, he stood tall. The energy around him was his own, the starlight-infused power swirling gently within his chest, his ethereal star hovering just behind his thoughts. The other apostles, too, stood firm, each of them drawing on the strength they had earned through trials, battles, and suffering.


    “You are apostles now,” the Tower Master’s voice echoed through the vast space. It was deep, resonant, and carried a weight that made the air tremble. “No longer recruits, no longer children of the unknown.”


    His words hung in the air, heavy with the unspoken challenges that lay ahead. Abel’s heart pounded in his chest as the Tower Master continued, the words slicing through the silence like a blade.


    “This is but the beginning. Your journey from this point will define more than just yourselves—it will define the fate of those you protect, and the very balance of the world as you know it.”


    Abel glanced at his comrades—at Tina, standing tall and unflinching; at Ronald, whose sharp eyes missed nothing. They had all come so far. The weight of their responsibility was not lost on them. Yet, there was no fear in their eyes—only determination, the quiet kind that comes from having survived what others could not.


    The Tower Master’s voice softened, yet the power in it lingered like a quiet storm. “Your power is your own, but you must wield it wisely. The path ahead is fraught with dangers, both seen and unseen. Remember this—what you choose to protect will also define who you are.”


    The hall fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air, reverberating with an ancient authority. Abel stood motionless, feeling the warmth of his badge as his heart thrummed with unspoken purpose. The ethereal star within him pulsed faintly, as though stirred by the Tower Master’s command. His thoughts briefly drifted to the quiet village he had left behind—the faces of his family, his home. It was for them that he stood here now, seeking not just power but answers. Yet, in the vastness of the Tower, those answers seemed more elusive than ever.


    “As apostles,” the Tower Master continued, his voice weaving through the air like a spell, “you are not just warriors. You are a special group of selected few in the human race. The selected few aware of more than just the magical world around you. The dungeons—the cursed remnants of enemies long forgotten—threaten our very existence. They drain mana from the land, they sap our strength, and they linger like poison in the veins of our world.” His tone darkened, a shadow passing over the room. "Your duty, from this moment onward, is to combat this great evil."


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The mention of the dungeons sent an almost palpable wave of unease through the apostles. Even after all their experiences, the thought of entering those legendary labyrinths—said to stretch endlessly beneath the earth, or perhaps even pierce the sky—filled them with dread.


    The Tower Master seemed to sense the tension building in the room, his eyes glimmering beneath the heavy hood of his robe. His robed arms rose slowly, the gold threads of his garment shimmering in the dim light of the hall. “The time will come when each of you will face the dungeons, and maybe we''ll even work together one day. But for now, the Vice Tower Master should shine a light on a few things…”


    His voice trailed off as his towering figure stepped back, allowing himself to fall backward, and as he was about to hit the ground, he simply fell into it, his presence becoming more of an echo, like a fading whisper of power. Abel exhaled softly, tension unraveling slightly within him, but he couldn’t shake the ominous weight of the Tower Master’s words.


    In the silence that followed, A golden door materialized where the Tower Master once stood. The door was oval with many intricate shapes and geometric designs. The door opened slowly as a dazzling golden light was emitted from the other side of the door. From within that light, the Vice Tower Master stepped out and towards the hall, causing the oval door to disappear with a last flash of light. The Vice Tower Master. Dressed in gray and gold robes almost similar to the Tower Masters bar the aura that gleamed with a faint light, he was a striking figure with his sleek, blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Unlike the distant, almost overwhelming presence of the Tower Master, the Vice Tower Master’s smile was disarming, friendly even, but there was no denying the sharpness in his gaze or the hidden strength beneath his pleasant exterior.


    “Now, new apostles,” he said, his voice smooth and authoritative, “let’s speak of what comes next.” He paced slowly in front of them, his robes swaying lightly with each step. “Your trials may be over, but your real journey is only beginning. And as you’ve heard, the dungeons will be a part of that journey. Each one more dangerous than the last.”


    The Vice Tower Master’s voice carried a warmth that filled the room, distinctly different from the oppressive aura of the Tower Master. “You’ve taken your first steps into a larger world,” he said, his tone rich with pride. “As apostles, you are the hope of the Stone Tower. Here in the Bask region, we stand alongside Verdant Sanctuary and Duskfang Bastion, guarding the southern reaches of the Rollan Kingdom. Together, we will conquer the dungeons that drain our lands of mana and secure this continent for humanity.”


    The apostles shifted, some puffing up with pride, while others like Abel felt a mix of awe and anticipation. The Vice Tower Master continued, his voice taking on a weightier tone. “These dungeons... they are not mere ruins. As you’ve heard from the Tower Master, they are the remnants of cursed powers left by the strange races that once threatened humanity. These places siphon mana from the land, weakening it, and within them lurk creatures that defy reason. But with that danger, there are many rewards, such as Magical Runes.”


    Abel’s pulse quickened at the mention of runes, a fragment of the arcane knowledge he had been eager to learn more about. The Vice Tower Master’s eyes scanned the crowd, sensing their heightened curiosity. “Runes,” he explained, “are pieces of the world’s natural laws, crystallized in these cursed towers or strange places around the world. They hold the power to transform your mana pool, strengthening it, evolving it, and giving you a perspective of the world unique to the rune you''ve acquired. With each rune you absorb, you grow not just in power but in your connection to the magic that flows through our world. Those who master five runes can ascend to Rank Five apostles, well on their way to becoming Magians.”


    He paused, allowing the weight of this knowledge to sink in, before continuing. “But,” the Vice Tower Master’s voice grew more serious, “it is not so simple for all of you. Those of you with unique affinities will find that not every rune will align with your powers. Some of you, the non-gifted especially, may struggle to find runes that resonate. But don’t lose hope. Rare as they may be, some runes will call to you, and you must seek them out. There are many strange runes in this world, each holding secrets of powers beyond reason, through hard work, knowledge, and research anything is possible.”


    Abel’s heart thudded as the gravity of the Vice Tower Master’s words took hold. His thoughts flicked back to the starry mana pool within him. Would there be a rune that aligned with something as otherworldly as the stars? He knew his path would be fraught with challenges, but there was something else—an electric thrill at the idea of discovering something that could elevate his power, something that could truly make him understand his strange affinity.


    The Vice Tower Master’s gaze lingered for a moment longer on the non-gifted apostles before stepping back, his presence commanding without being overbearing. “You are apostles of the Stone Tower now. Seek your path, strengthen your powers, and know this: every challenge you face will mold you into something greater.”


    The Vice Tower Master’s face softened, his tone growing lighter. “Your task is not just to conquer the dungeons, though that is your primary duty. Despite your advancement to a Rank One Apostle, your power will not be enough to help you survive within these dungeons, therefore, there is another duty that is just as important.  As apostles, you will serve as protectors of humanity—guardians of the mundane lands. You will receive missions through your badges while you are overseeing these locations, and in time, you may establish your own quarters within our territory, making your discoveries with hopes of growing your strength to further prepare you for these dungeons. But for now, follow me, I''ll show you around the new environment.”


    With that, the Vice Tower Master stepped to the side and then towards the door, gesturing for the apostles to follow him through the halls of the upper floors.