ã€ŠThe Wandering Spireã€‹


 A Brothers Footsteps

    In the countryside of Narcadia, a province within the Golden Empire, there was a modest Wizardry School. It was not famous, and the only people who knew it existed lived in the scattered farming villages surrounding it. Every year, the villagers would send their wisest teenagers to apply. The three Old Crones that ran the school were picky on who they allowed to study within the chipped stoned walls of their campus. Most applicants were rejected and sent packing back to their homes.

    Only those who were invited by the Old Crones could enter the school, and the campus was protected by layers of runic enchantments. Unwelcomed guests were afflicted with a curse that turned them to stone. It was rumored that the Old Crones adorned their hallways with the statues of would-be intruders. None but the selected students dared to enter except Jeze.

    Jeze was the whip-smart, twelve-year-old daughter of farmers. Unfortunately, she was too young to apply to the Old Crones'' school. Her older brother, Daverius, was an accepted student. He was four years her senior, and before his acceptance, every night, Daverius read tomes on magical theory in his room after he completed his chores on the farm. Jeze studied with him, and he instructed her on what he knew.

    "The basics to magic are the Runes. You must learn to read and write them, and to write them is a form of art. It takes daily practice," Daverius told his younger sister in his gentle voice. He was a kind older brother.

    Jeze had dark, unkempt hair and a small, wiry body that was corded with muscle from working on the farm and training with her older brother. Daverius studied with the Old Crones during the day and exercised with Jeze in the evenings. She had completed her chores and ran to the Wizardry School and was earlier than usual. The sun slowly began its descent and cast an orange-red glow over the golden rolling hills of Narcadia.

    Jeze crouched by the chipped stone wall and bit her lip as she searched for the Runes in the dim light her brother had instructed her about. She gave a cheer of glee when she discovered them. Jeze reached into her pocket and took out a burnt stick from an old Ash tree. Earlier, she had whittled the stick so that it had a sharp point. From her other pocket, she retrieved a small jar filled with amber resin mixed with honey. Jeze had worked weeks to gather the materials to craft the resin in a ceramic crucible just as it was instructed in the ancient tomes her brother read. The resin allowed her to manipulate the magical glyphs.

    Jeze dipped the pointed stick into her jar and carefully altered a single Rune. She felt the energy tingle up her arm, and if she made a mistake, she would be cursed into stone. Jeze was deliberate and careful, and in moments, she felt the magic snap shut. She was free to pass through! Jeze scaled the stone wall and into the courtyard, where she crept through the shadows toward her brother''s room. She wore a clever grin as she anticipated the surprise on her brother''s face. This was her first time entering the compound without his aid.

    Daverius stayed in a tower on the third floor. The building was made of gray worked stone with shaped holes that were its windows. The stone was chipped and worn from age and made for easy handholds that Jeze used to climb up. She parted the heavy curtain and entered Daverius''s room. She was surprised at what she saw.

    Daverius was of average height with broad shoulders from exercise and years working on a farm. He had the same dark eyes as Jeze, and his hair was cropped short. He wore a dark blue traveling cloak and was strapping on a belt that held a sheathed sword with a worn handle. It was an old blade that her brother had purchased from a retired soldier. It was no secret that Daverius dreamed of entering the Wandering Spire and trained with magic and sword for that purpose.

    The Spire was a tower that appeared every five and a half years where the gift of immortality resided at the very top. Adventurers, treasure hunters, and mercenaries from all around the world attempted to scale its treacherous floors filled with monsters and traps. Daverius appeared shocked when he saw his sister.

    "I was coming to see you," He said as he returned to packing.

    "You, you are leaving?" Jeze stammered.

    Daveirus nodded and tapped his journal. "I know the location of the Wandering Spire! It will appear during the next full moon in the lands of the Tribal Council. It is far, and I have to travel now if I wish to make it in time for the Trials."

    The Wandering Spire materialized in a different area and never in the same spot twice. Jeze heard that the tower was so immense that it was impossible to restrict all the entrances to the first floor.To avoid unnecessary conflict, all the nations, clans, and kingdoms have agreed to mark its location, wherever it appeared, as a neutral territory. Each floor of the Wandering Spire was rumored to be more treacherous than the previous floor and it was impossible to venture it alone. Having a team was necessary, and in an attempt to find suitable team members the Adventurer''s Guild created the Trials as a way to gauge each applicant''s level and abilities.

    "But, what of your studies here at the school?" Jeze asked, her voice cracked.

    "I have learned all that I could from the Old Crones."

    Jeze''s eyes began to water as the realization set in. Her brother was leaving her, and it may be years before she saw him again.

    "I don''t want you to go!" She cried.

    Daverius smiled gently as he walked over to her. He was a good head taller and crouched so that he could look up into her eyes.

    "I will explore the Wandering Spire! I may not make it to the top where the gift of immortality resides, but it is rumored that even the lower levels are filled with treasures beyond imagination," he explained.

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    "But it''s dangerous. You could die!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "I have trained for this. I am prepared," Daverius responded as he stood and hoisted his heavy traveling pack.

    "Did you talk to Mom and Dad?" Jeze asked quietly.

    "They know. Think Jeze, what we can do with that treasure! You can attend a real Wizardry school in the capital! Mom and Dad can work less and hire help. It is worth the risk," Daverius replied and ruffled her hair.

    Jeze reflected on how her brother was always thinking about her and the family. He attempted the Wandering Spire for reasons other than for himself. They hugged, and that was the last time Jeze saw her brother.

    5 years later

    Jeze stood in the same room in the tower within the Old Crone''s Wizardry school where her brother had lived. She was an accepted student and maintained the disciplined routine her brother had. During the day, Jeze studied Runes under the Old Crone''s strict tutelage, and in the evenings, she trained with weapons and worked on her fitness.

    She was a little taller but still considered small, with a strong athletic body that was forged from working on a farm and climbing walls. She did not train in the sword, like her brother, but instead opted for the smaller hand ax, which she had two resting at her hips and a long knife sheathed at her back. The ax served as a tool, as a weapon, and it can be thrown. She appreciated the additional utility the ax had to offer over the sword. She was all about utility.

    In the late afternoon, she completed her Runic studies and prepared to scale down the side of the tower. In the evenings she trained with Raynor the Old Hunter. The grizzled elder showed her how to throw the hand ax and use it alongside the dagger in combat. In exchange, Jeze instructed Raynor on how to scribe Runes. Her physical exercise was climbing and jogging to where Raynor lived in a nearby wooded grove.

    "I am starting to feel like you''re cheating me," Raynor grumbled later that day.

    Jeze had struck the center of the target with ease several times in a row. All the while, the Old Hunter was unable to cast a simple cantrip to start a fire. The two were outside in a glade that was in front of the hunter''s small wooden cabin. The sun was setting, and dusk was rapidly approaching. Jeze was throwing axes that thudded into a log target with a red-painted bullseye. Raynor knelt by the fire pit that was beside her. On a long stick, he had meticulously carved runes into it and was attempting to complete the incantation by shaping the final glyph in the air.

    Jeze nodded in understanding. There was a significant difference in the learning curve for throwing axes versus Rune writing. She paused her training to examine Raynor''s work. It was crude and almost right. She unsheathed her knife and gently corrected the markings with the blade''s sharp point. Magic was a fickle force that required perfection. She was about to complete the final glyph by shaping it in the air, but paused. It would be best if Raynor did it, she reflected and handed the hunter the stick.

    "Try now," she said.

    Raynor''s bushy eyebrows bunched in skepticism, but the Old Hunter grumbled and gave an attempt. The tip of the stick brightly sparked and ignited the kindling within the fire pit.

    "By the Night''s Eye!" Raynor exclaimed with excitement.

    "Very good!" Jeze cried and clapped her hands.

    "This makes no bloody sense! But it worked! By the heavens, girlie, this will make the cold nights easier on my old bones," Raynor said.

    The Old Hunter paused to study his work and the corrections Jeze had made. "Hmpf, where did I go wrong?"

    Jeze leaned over and pointed out the slight errors he made with the markings.

    "That''s it? Bloody eye! Magic is a fickle lass," Raynor growled as he glared up at the moon.

    In Narcadia, the Moon was often referred to as the Night''s Eye and was worshiped by hunters and woodsfolk.

    Jeze grinned and slapped Raynor on the shoulder. "That it is, but lucky for you, you old goat. The rune writing is the easy part. Channeling the energy is the hardest, but you are plenty stubborn."

    "Watch your tongue girlie. Speak with respect to your elders," Raynor said, but mirth gleamed in his squinty eyes.

    Jeze laughed that sounded like songbirds chirping in spring. Raynor had strong willpower, and she suspected it was needed to survive in the harsh wilderness. That was what made him able to complete the incantation.

    "So, with the Runes you taught me. Anything else I can do with them?" Raynor asked.

    "Like what?"

    Raynor sighed. "I''m not young anymore. I can''t carry a full deer back as quickly as I used to. Is there a way I can preserve the meat a little longer?"

    Jeze tapped her chin and pondered. She studied the Runes she had shown the Old Hunter. He struggled with learning the dozen required for the Spark cantrip. The amount of Runes that existed was nearly endless, and not even the Old Crones knew them all. New spells and energies were constantly being discovered. But there had to be a pattern with the twelve Raynor learned that could lead to a spell that preserved meat. Jeze dreaded having to teach him to draw new ones. Each glyph was a complex pattern of lines, swirls, and dots.

    "I will have to look through the tomes to find out, but in the meantime, keep practicing the ones I showed you, and do not lose this stick!" Jeze ordered with a firm waggle of her finger.

    "No need to trouble yourself, girlie. You showed this old goat plenty as it is. I know you plan to follow your hard-headed brother''s footsteps. Don''t waste your time on my account," Raynor said. His knees cracked and popped as he rose up.

    Jeze''s smile and mirth faded away like ice before the heat. She still didn''t know where the Wandering Spire would appear this time, and she only had a few months to find out, if she wanted to make the Trials.

    "I will be spending the next few nights researching in the library. If I come across anything that helps you, I will show you," she quietly promised.

    Raynor studied the young woman for a moment and nodded. "Aye, I suppose I can ask around when I trade furs in the city. Mayhaps I''ll encounter an Adventurer that can point the way."

    Jeze bowed and replied, "I appreciate that. You have done more than enough for me."

    The Old Hunter had taught her to wrestle like a bear and how to use the ax and dagger to weave and bite like the wolf. Also, how to throw an ax to hunt small game and to kill a foe. To prove her point, she pulled out an ax and threw it in one smooth motion with a perfect step and forward swing of her arm. The blade thudded the dead center of the target.

    "Not bad, girlie. I wish I worked runes as good as you can throw," Raynor observed.

 Chapter 2: Goblin

    ¡°Magic Users are artists,¡± Number One sister stated.

    The Old Crones were named in numerical order from One to Three. Jeze felt that was odd but also appreciated the simplicity. The teenager was painstakingly drawing a circle of Runes on the stone floor in the middle of the room.

    ¡°But not all artists are Magic Users,¡± Number Two added.

    The Old Crones would often speak in order and after each other. Again, Jeze found that odd but appreciated the consistency. With deliberation and detailed effort, she marked another Rune on the floor.

    ¡°Because Magic demands perfection in form and in Will,¡± Number Three said.

    ¡°Do not let your mind wander, girl!¡± Number One snapped.

    ¡°This is a summoning circle. Simply drawing perfect Runes is not enough,¡± Number Two added.

    Jeze blew a loose bang from her face and growled, ¡°I know!¡±

    Sweat was dripping down her face as Jeze drew the next Rune while keeping her mind focused. It was a strain on her arms to ensure the perfect lines and on her mind as she maintained her Will. The Old Crones nagging her did not make it any easier.

    ¡°Then focus!¡± Number Three said and made a loud crack as she rapped her cane on the floor.

    Jeze flinched and scowled. Luckily, she didn¡¯t jerk her hand to make a mistake. Jeze inhaled deeply to steady her mind because it could not wander when working with Runes. The Will needed to stay focused on the task. If her thoughts strayed, Jeze needed to quickly return them to the effort of scribing the Rune; otherwise, the Magic would fail.

    As if reading her thoughts, Number One interjected, ¡°With summoning circles, failure does not simply mean they will not work. You may summon a loose being into this realm, one that may eat you. Your Will is what binds them to behave properly.¡±

    Jeze wanted to scream but quickly returned her mind back to the task at hand. With controlled relief, she completed the last Rune and felt the energy tensed and readied in the air. As with all Magic, the summoning spell was not complete until she gestured the final glyph. That required perfect grace, and some glyphs had full body movements. For this summoning spell, it only required finger and wrist movements. Simple enough, but the summoning also demanded that Jeze craft a gift for the invited being.

    ¡°Do not complete the incantation just yet,¡± Number One said.

    It took all of Jeze¡¯s self-control to avoid shouting that she knew that.

    ¡°You will need to prepare your offering,¡± Number Two added.

    Of course, Jeze knew this. She had spent nearly a week preparing for this summoning. Old Raynor was not able to find an Adventurer to tell her where the Wandering Spire was expected to appear next. However, the old goat did encounter a scribe who said it was rumored that the Wandering Spire had an Abyssal origin.

    The Old Crones instructed that Magic was a power that connected all the realms like the threads in a tapestry. It also held many aspects, such as Life, Death, Fire, Water, and Earth. The list included many more, and Jeze didn¡¯t specialize in any one. The benefit of specialization was to unlock greater power, but Jeze was more interested in utility. Every aspect offered different possibilities, and she didn¡¯t care for mastery because the more complex the spell, the longer it took to cast and the greater the probability that it could fail. Like the summoning spell she just prepared.

    The tip from Raynor guided Jeze to research Abyssal topics, and she confirmed that the rumor was true. She decided the best way to find the Wandering Spire¡¯s next location was to summon a Goblin from the Abyssal planes. Despite Goblins being just a minor demon, this was the most challenging and dangerous incantation she ever attempted. As a result, all three Crones oversaw her efforts.

    ¡°Demons and Devils all love sour and spicy offerings,¡± Number Three said.

    ¡°We see that you prepared that. That is good.¡± Number One observed.

    Jeze wondered if she was better off if they were not included. Especially if they stated the obvious. Raynor had helped her to gather ingredients from the marketplaces he traded in. She made a paste out of lemons and peppers and filled several jars with it.

    ¡°Place a small amount in the center of the circle,¡± Number Two ordered.

    ¡°Be careful to not disrupt your Runes,¡± Number Three cautioned.

    ¡°You do not want to give away too much. Goblins are clever bargainers,¡± Number One added.

    Jeze closed her eyes to sigh, ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t assume you know everything, girl!¡± Number Two snapped and cracked her cane on the hard stone floor.

    Jeze flinched and did as instructed. She placed a small amount of paste onto the floor and kept her Will focused on forming the final Rune in the air. If her mind wandered too far, then the spell would fizzle out, or worse, she summoned a Goblin that was free to leave. Beings from the Abyssal planes were, at the very least, treacherous. At the very worst, they were destructively ravenous. Jeze made the final gesture and felt the Magic snap into place.

    The circular room buzzed with the energy from the aspects of Darkness, Affliction, Fire, and Earth. Those were common in the Abyssal planes. The light in the room dimmed, the air felt sinister and filled with smoke, and dirt and rock rose from the stone floor into the shape of a balled-up creature that looked like a tiny child in the fetal position. The rock and soil crumbled away into the ether, leaving a creature with dark green skin and sinewy limbs that ended in sharp claws.

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    The Goblin¡¯s nose and ears were sharp and pointy. It opened its red eyes and stood up. Jeze was glad that the creature was small, about the size of a house cat. It wore a black leather jerkin and grinned, showing jagged, sharp teeth. With a long curved fingernail, it scooped up the paste from the floor and licked it.

    ¡°This is good. Give me more,¡± It demanded in a high-pitched voice.

    The Goblin knew that Jeze was the summoner and looked directly at her.

    ¡°I have a question,¡± Jeze said, and the Crones nodded in approval that she was controlling the conversation.

    ¡°Give me more!¡± The minor demon shrieked.

    Jeze presented a small jar filled with spicy, sour paste. The creature reached hungrily, but Jeze kept it just out of reach.

    ¡°What is your name?¡± The teenager asked.

    ¡°Very wise,¡± Number One observed.

    ¡°Our pupil did her research,¡± Number Two added.

    ¡°We trained her well,¡± Number Three stated.

    Jeze had read that getting a Demon¡¯s name makes it easier to negotiate with them. Names had power.

    The Goblin licked its lips and fidgeted. It clearly wanted more paste. After a moment of hesitation, it answered, ¡°Ziplocke, now give me more!¡±

    Jeze complied, and the Goblin greedily licked the paste clean from the jar. Jeze produced another one and kept it just out of reach.

    The minor demon nodded in understanding. ¡°Ask and then give me!¡± The Goblin commanded.

    ¡°Ziplocke, where will the Wandering Spire appear next?¡± Jeze asked.

    The Goblin grinned, and it felt sinister. ¡°Outside Mount Dragon, in the realm you call the Ironfist Kingdom.¡±

    Jeze nodded. That was not too far, and she could get there in a week¡¯s travel. This was good timing for her, and she was about to give the Goblin the paste but was interrupted by the Old Crones.

    ¡°Do not give the offering. You do not know when the Wandering Spire will appear,¡± Number One said.

    Jeze held the jar just out of reach from the Goblin¡¯s grasping fingers.

    ¡°Ziplocke, when will it appear?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Not fair! I answered your question. Make the trade!¡± Ziplocke snapped.

    Jeze lifted her chin. She was afraid, but she did not give in.

    ¡°Knowing where does not serve my purpose if I do not know when,¡± she stated.

    The minor demon growled and hissed, ¡°Give me.¡±

    ¡°I will, Ziplocke. All you need to do is tell me when the Wandering Spire will appear,¡± Jeze answered and held the jar just out of reach.

    The Goblin pulled its hands back and grinned. It sniffed the air, and for a moment, Jeze worried that she had pushed too hard. That she broke some sort of rule and that Ziplocke would depart without telling her the information she needed. Already, she made plans for such an occasion. She knew where the Wandering Spire would appear, and that was enough for her to find the other information. She could travel and ask people in the Ironfist Kingdom. She could even attempt another summoning.

    ¡°What is your name?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    Jeze heard the Old Crones gasp, and she looked at them. They were talking amongst themselves.

    ¡°That is fair. You answer my question, and the scales will be balanced,¡± the Goblin stated.

    Jeze held up a finger toward the Goblin and walked closer to her teachers.

    ¡°It wants to form a contract with you,¡± Number Two said.

    ¡°I am not sure. Giving a Demon your name could only be bad,¡± Number Three said with a shake of her white-haired head.

    ¡°Having a contract with a Goblin could be very beneficial,¡± Number One observed.

    Number Two nodded and added, ¡°Agreed. Do not give your name unless it will form a contract with you.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what does a contract even mean?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°It will become your Familiar,¡± Number Three answered.

    Familiar? Jeze wondered. She read how Magic Users summoned spirit creatures to act as companions to them. She pictured having a cat or a dog. But a Goblin? She shuddered at the thought of having Ziplocke follow her around.

    ¡°They would be able to guide you through the Wandering Spire,¡± Number One said.

    ¡°Ask for a contract,¡± Number Two urged again.

    Jeze was not sure. She turned and saw the ugly creature looking at her with an evil grin. She thought of her brother. What would he do? If the Crones believe the contract would help her succeed, then she must set aside her feelings.

    ¡°I will give you my name if we form a contract,¡± Jeze said.

    Ziplocke laughed with the sound that reminded her of a pig squealing.

    ¡°You want two things, and I only get one. Give me another jar, your name, and we have a deal,¡± the Goblin said.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes. She read how Goblins can be tricky and how one should not assume what is meant. Things needed to be made clear.

    ¡°I give you one more jar and my name. In return, you tell me when the Wandering Spire will appear, and we form a contract. Do we have a deal?¡± Jeze stated.

    ¡°What are your terms?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    Jeze looked to the Old Crones for advice.

    ¡°Standard contract terms,¡± Number Three said.

    ¡°The Goblin can not harm you or cause any action that would lead to your harm,¡± Number One said.

    ¡°The Goblin must serve you within reason and perform all actions that do not cause it harm or cause it to act against its demonic nature,¡± Number Two included.

    ¡°The Contract will terminate in one year unless renegotiated,¡± Number Three said.

    Jeze nodded.

    ¡°You must voice the contract,¡± Number Two urged.

    Jeze repeated the contract terms.

    ¡°Very well. My terms. You must provide me with something Spicy and Sour or something appropriately similar that I agree to for any services I am to render. You can not harm me or cause any action that will lead to my harm.  And Finally, I want the contract to last for two years,¡± Ziplocke replied.

    ¡°Two years?¡± Jeze asked and looked to her teachers.

    ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m bored of the Abyssal planes.¡± Ziplocke answered.

    The Crones consulted one another, and then all three nodded to Jeze.

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°Agreed, now your name and the jar,¡± Ziplocke replied.

    Jeze answered and handed over a jar.

    ¡°The Wandering Spire will appear at the first sunrise after the sixth full moon,¡± the Goblin said.

    In the air between the two, a scroll made out of red flames appeared with the words to their terms written on it. It flared once before disappearing, and Jeze felt a tingle of Magic through her body, completing the bond. The Runes she formed into a circle turned to smoke and drifted away, leaving Ziplocke free.

    ¡°This should be fun!¡± The Goblin hissed with a grin while rubbing his small hands together.

 Chapter 3: The Contract

    The next day was difficult for Jeze. Ziplocke was disgusting. He slurped and munched loudly whenever he ate. She was in disbelief at how much food the small creature could consume. Jeze couldn¡¯t stand the Goblin¡¯s stench of smoke and ash, and he constantly teased her, which made her studies more difficult. Worst of all, it seemed the Old Crones did not mind the beast at all. The normally stoic old ladies laughed at Ziplocke¡¯s childish antics. But they remained harsh as ever on Jeze.

    ¡°Focus!¡± Number One snapped and struck the table with her cane with a loud crack.

    Jeze flinched and returned to reading the tome. She was with Number One in the school¡¯s library. The other two Crones were working with the other students. Yesterday, during the summoning ritual, was a rare occasion where all three provided instruction. When Jeze fell back into her book, Ziplocke struck her in the head with a thrown ball of paper. Both the Crone and Goblin squealed with delight.

    ¡°What have you learned, girl?¡± Number One hissed.

    Her transformation from jovial to stern was remarkable. Jeze was reading a tome on Earth Magic. The aspect that her brother specialized in.

    ¡°There are Rune patterns that would allow me to link two stone objects together,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°Which focus of magic is that? Summoning, Shaping, or Controlling?¡± Number One asked.

    Jeze sighed. The Crones always mentioned the three focuses of magic, like she was a new student. But the young girl paused to think. Linking does not appear to be summoning. She was not bringing the Earth aspect into this realm. Shaping? Was she altering the element? Control was the closet, but Control was mostly moving objects. But that made the most sense.

    ¡°Control,¡± Jeze said in a soft voice.

    Whack! Number One slapped the table, and Jeze flinched while Ziplocke squealed with delight.

    ¡°Shaping!¡± Jeze cried.

    ¡°Wrong!¡± Number One growled and slapped the table again with her cane.

    ¡°Linking can not be involved with summoning!¡± Jeze shot back.

    ¡°You were partially correct, and do not raise your voice at me, girl!¡± Number One growled.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand!¡± Jeze said quietly.

    Ziplocke sang, ¡°You are a knucklehead!¡±

    Number One grinned while patting the Goblin¡¯s bald greenhead. Ziplocke purred, and it made Jeze think of a mutated cat.

    ¡°You lack true understanding. Read again and think!¡± Number One ordered.

    ¡°Knucklehead!¡± The Goblin teased.

    Jeze scowled at the diminutive creature and returned back to the tome. The Old Crone said that she was partially correct. What did that mean? Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide with understanding. She recalled from an earlier tome that more advanced magic required merging the three focuses.

    ¡°It is Control and Shaping!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    Ziplocke cheered and applauded.

    Number One nodded and demanded, ¡°Explain why.¡±

    ¡°Uh,¡± Jeze began.

    Whack! ¡°Keep reading!¡±

    Ziplocke stuck his tongue out at Jeze as she returned back to her tome. Linking two stones together over a distance was considered Shaping. The Control focus came into effect when the caster enchanted the stones to alert each other. Jeze nodded in understanding. This was a way for two people to communicate with each other over a distance. By interacting with one stone, the caster can cause the other to vibrate. Maybe even make a sound? The Rune patterns were the most complex Jeze had ever seen, but the possibility was there. Jeze looked up when she heard a clatter on the table. Number One had dropped a pouch filled with black rings made out of onyx.

    ¡°Make two rings communicate with each other,¡± Number One ordered, as if she read her mind, and handed Jeze an engraving tool.

    ¡°They are so small!¡± Jeze cried.

    How could she mark them each with the complicated set of runes? She was no artisan.

    ¡°That they are, and it will be difficult. You have until Sunset to complete your task,¡± Number One ordered.

    The old Crone fed Ziplocke a lemon-covered chili and petted the Goblin¡¯s head like a dog. The little green guy cooed with delight and followed Number One out of the room. Jeze was relieved to be alone but wondered why the Goblin would spend most of his time away from her. How would he help her if he was never around? Jeze shook the question out of her mind and saw through the window that she did not have a lot of time. She took a deep breath.

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    ¡°At least I have plenty of rings in case I make a mistake,¡± Jeze said out loud as she poured the rings out from the pouch and onto the table.

    Several hours later, Jeze was hunched over and inscribed painfully slow a Rune onto a tiny ring. A pile of failed attempts stood next to her. When she finished, she held the ring and gestured the final glyph into the air. This was probably her hundredth time, and she was so conditioned to failure that when the other ring chimed, she nearly dismissed it.

    ¡°What?¡± She looked up and asked. Her bangs fell over her exhausted eyes.

    She gestured again and had the same result. The other ring chimed. It was a success! Jeze jumped up into the air and let out a loud whoop of joy. She was so engrossed in her work that she failed to notice that Number Two and Number Three were in the room with her.

    ¡°I did it!¡± She cried.

    ¡°We see that,¡± Number Two acknowledged.

    ¡°We have something important to talk with you about,¡± Number Tree added.

    ¡°It is in regards to your contract with Ziplocke,¡± Number Two stated.

    ¡°Goblins are very tricky. Your contract requires him to hear your request,¡± Number Three said.

    ¡°As it stands, if he is away from you. He can not hear your request and does not need to honor it,¡± Number Two added.

    Jeze rubbed her eyes. She was exhausted from spending hours etching Runes onto rings. What the two Crones were telling her slowly registered in her mind.

    ¡°Did he leave?¡± She asked.

    The Goblin could be anywhere in the world for two years and not be in violation of their contract. Jeze didn¡¯t know! This was her first contract with another being, and she became frustrated with the Crones.

    Before they could respond, Jeze cried, ¡°You didn¡¯t warn me! Can I make another contract? Like with an Owl or a Cat?¡±

    Number Three responded, ¡°Number One has kept the Goblin content with peppers and lemons. He remains on our campus.¡±

    ¡°We did this so that you can have a learning opportunity. For you to see the importance of contracts and how you should word your requests,¡± Number Two said.

    ¡°Every request you ask of Ziplocke will require you to provide him with a treat,¡± Number Three said.

    ¡°It does not need to be a whole jar. It only needs to be something spicy and sour,¡± Number Two added.

    Jeze nodded in understanding. She has been giving Ziplocke full jars. A lick or a spoonful should suffice. Number Three placed a small sack filled with peppers and lemons.

    ¡°We will provide you with enough materials to make the paste for the next several months,¡± Number Three said.

    ¡°You are responsible for obtaining the rest after this supply is exhausted,¡± Number Two added.

    ¡°How can I ensure he does not run away?¡± Jeze asked.

    Number Three motioned to the two rings she enchanted. ¡°You have the means to ensure he hears you.¡±

    ¡°Soon, Number One will come down here with the Goblin following her like a puppy,¡± Number Two said.

    ¡°When she arrives, you are to request that Ziplocke wear the ring at all times,¡± Number Three stated.

    Number Two added, ¡°Request that he can not damage the ring and that he must protect it.¡±

    ¡°Finally, you ask that he respond to your summons through the ring within fifteen minutes,¡± Number Three said.

    ¡°That will ensure that he remains close to you at all times.¡± Number Two observed.

    Jeze nodded and wore one ring. The young girl tapped the ring and completed the final gesture, which caused the other ring to chime.

    ¡°Very good, girl. Now, examine the Runes closely. Is there anything else you notice?¡± Number Three asked.

    Jeze was confused and studied the Runes she just etched on the ring she wore. There were nearly two dozen tiny markings all along the onyx surface.

    ¡°Think, girl!¡± Number Two snapped.

    The old Crone whacked her cane on the table, causing the pile of failed rings to clatter about. Jeze flinched, and something clicked in her mind. She opened the tome she was studying. It was the most advanced reading she had done. For the past five years, she studied the three focuses of Magic: Summoning, Shaping, and Control. Today was the first time that she utilized two Focuses at once when she completed the Linking enchantment. From the tome she realized that the two dozen Runes she etched upon the ring were the beginning for other Earth aspect spells!

    Jeze tapped her onyx ring and completed with her hands the remaining glyphs of an Earth Shaping spell. She felt the magic snap into place, and it pulled the energy from her like a taut rope. It was a minor strain but one that needed release. Jeze glanced at one of the rings and shaped the stone so that the ring shrunk and expanded. It took a great amount of Will, and she released the spell with a gasp. She felt drained.

    ¡°Very good!¡± Number Three applauded.

    ¡°Shaping and Controlling unsummoned objects is much harder than summoned objects,¡± Number Two stated.

    ¡°It is even more difficult if the object is in possession of another individual,¡± Number Three added.

    ¡°The benefit, of course, is that unsummoned objects remain, whereas summoned objects fade away with time,¡± Number Two said.

    Despite her feeling drained, Jeze was excited. She had crafted a ring that allowed her to complete minor Earth aspect spells. She was eager to try them when Number One entered the room, followed by a grinning Ziplocke.

    ¡°Uh oh,¡± the Goblin muttered when the Old Crone closed the door.

    Number Two nodded to Jeze.

    ¡°Ziplocke, I want you to wear this ring. You can not damage the ring or cause any known action that would result in the ring being damaged. When the ring chimes, you are to report to me within fifteen minutes,¡± Jeze said.

    Ziplocke groaned and howled in frustration. The Goblin scratched his head over and over and looked up with red eyes.

    ¡°Per our deal, give me three items that are spicy and sour,¡± he said.

    Jeze opened a jar and used a spoon to pull out some paste.

    ¡°Not the whole jar?¡± Ziplocke whined.

    Jeze shook her head and offered the spoon. The Goblin groaned but accepted the three servings of paste.

    ¡°Too bad, the ring is too big. I can not comply with your request,¡± he said with a giggle.

    Jeze grinned with excitement. Here was an opportunity for her to practice her Shaping. The young girl completed the glyphs to cast a spell that shrank the onyx ring to snuggly fit the Goblin¡¯s finger.

    ¡°I bow to your cleverness,¡± Ziplocke said.

    The Goblin¡¯s voice lacked the usual shrill. Jeze was proud of herself but concerned about Ziplocke¡¯s change in demeanor.

 Chapter 4: Immortality is a Myth

    Yesterday was a breakthrough for Jeze. During her entire time at the school, she only performed one minor focus of magic at a time. The old Crones ruthlessly drilled her with writing Runes and maintaining her Will. Magic demanded perfection. The Runes, a complex set of patterns, needed to be crafted perfectly and without flaws, and they could be written, painted, etched, and formed through precise body movements.

    "The amount of Runes needed can be enormous even for the simplest of focuses. That is why it is important to have a tool etched with a basic pattern, and all you need is to complete the final piece with your movements and focused Will to release the energy," Number One instructed.

    The two were in a classroom on the campus. Jeze was the only student so far who was able to utilize more than one focus at a time. The young caster used her ring and completed the necessary glyphs in the air to shape and control the Earth aspect. With extreme effort in Will, she made a pile of dirt form into a fist-sized rock and flung it across the room. Jeze wobbled and almost fell over from the exertion.

    "Careful, girl. Controlling unsummoned objects demands more," Number One cautioned.

    Jeze recovered and asked, "What happens if I use too much Will?"

    Number One scowled, "You just experienced that! Will is your energy that stems from your soul and your mind. Without it, you will faint or die!"

    Jeze nodded, "Is it possible to hurt myself if I go too far?"

    "Of course you can! Did you not hear me say, die? I have other students that need me, and I have no time for silly questions. You continue to study on your own," Number One snapped and departed the room.

    Jeze sat at a desk and casually flipped through a tome on the Earth aspect, the one her brother had specialized in. It was pages filled with Runes and theories, and Jeze searched for basic focuses that would link with what she had etched upon her onyx ring. She had an idea and completed a glyph in the air. Her ring chimed as she summoned Ziplocke with a grin. She loved to annoy the tiny Goblin.

    "Yes, master," Ziplocke squeaked next to Jeze''s ear.

    The young caster nearly jumped out of her seat to the Goblin''s mischievous delight. Jeze turned and saw that Ziplocke was shrouded in shadows that dripped off him like water to fade away like mist.

    "Is that the Darkness aspect?" She asked.

    Ziplocke crossed his arms and tapped his tiny clawed foot on the floor. Jeze sighed and withdrew two spoonfuls of paste, which the Goblin licked up enthusiastically.

    "Aww, that is the stuff. Yes, that was the Darkness aspect," Ziplocke said.

    Jeze pulled out a jar of paste and prepared a spoon. "Can I just give you a jar for the day? Instead of giving you a spoonful for every question I ask?"

    "Are you offering that? That is something I might agree to," Ziplocke replied.

    "Yes," Jeze said and handed the jar.

    The Goblin made loud slurping sounds as he licked it up.

    "Show me the Darkness focus you used," Jeze said.

    Ziplocke crossed his arms and tapped his foot.

    "I gave you the jar; you agreed to that!" She exclaimed.

    "I said I might agree," the Goblin retorted.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes and gave a tiny spoonful. She was running out of jars. Ziplocke cackled with glee. Bargaining with the Goblin was going to be exhausting, Jeze thought to herself.

    But, the Goblin did show Jeze a set of Runes that were simple to engrave and gesture. Jeze used her Earth aspect to change the color of one of the rings. It exhausted her, and she engraved the Runes Ziplocke had instructed her on. It took only a dozen tries, and Jeze used the last of the rings the Crones provided. In the end, she was able to cast two Darkness foci that summoned shadows and molded them around her to make her less visible.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "You are too slow! You need to mesh the two foci seemingly, like this," Ziplocke said.

    The Goblin demonstrated the glyphs in the air, and in one fluid motion, the Goblin summoned and shaped the shadows. Jeze nodded and kept practicing. The Old Crones were correct; shaping and controlling summoned aspects was much easier than pulling from existing sources.

    "Yes, very good! You are a fast learner. You see, when you summon an aspect, you are pulling from its realm. In this case, you are pulling from the realm of Darkness or from my home, the Abyassl plane. Both are rich with the Darkness aspect," Ziplocke explained eagerly.

    Jeze arched an eyebrow. The Goblin was not demanding constant paste for each instruction. In fact, he seemed eager to teach her. She tapped her chin and decided it best to reward him. She handed him a full jar of paste. The Goblin''s red eyes went wide.

    "Thank you," Jeze said.

    The Goblin snickered and took the jar immediately. "Fool," he said but had a small smile.

    Jeze was thinking about Will and asked, "Can I strengthen my Will like the way I can strengthen my body?"

    Ziplocke paused, licking the jar, and asked, "How do you mean?"

    "If I push my body hard, I will become stronger. If I focus on controlling real shadows and not summoned shadows, I can strain myself. Would that make my Will stronger?" Jeze asked.

    The Goblin snickered. "It would¡­"

    Jeze nodded and missed the implication. She tapped her ring and attempted to shape an actual shadow. She barely nudged it, but she felt an immense pressure on her head as if a mountain fell on it. Jeze blacked out, and Ziplocke cackled with glee.

    "Stupid girl," Number One said when she found Jeze lying unconscious on the floor.

    Later

    Jeze woke up in her bed. Ziplocke was nowhere to be found, and her room was dark. It was nighttime, and she was unconscious for several hours. Note to self: do not attempt to shape shadows, she reflected. Also, she will strangle that Goblin.

    Next to her bed was a nightstand with a stick engraved with Fire aspect runes. The very same ones she instructed Raynor the Old Hunter to use. Using the stick, she completed the final glyph, lit her candle, and got out of bed. She felt dizzy but well-rested. Rested enough to summon Ziplocke in order to kick him. She tapped the onyx ring and completed the glyphs. She heard a chime coming from the wall behind her bed.

    Jeze tilted her head. Was the Goblin hiding? She moved the bed and studied the shadowy corner, half expecting the Goblin to leap out at any moment.

    "What are you looking at?" Ziplocke asked from behind her.

    Jeze leaped with a yelp of fright. This amused the Goblin tremendously. Confused, Jeze completed the glyph again, and this time, there were two chimes in the room. One from Ziplocke''s ring, and the other from the wall.

    Ziplocke stopped laughing and said, "That is strange."

    The Goblin crept over to the wall and sniffed. "Try it again," he ordered.

    Jeze completed the glyph again, and the two chimes echoed in the small room.

    "This one!" Ziplocke exclaimed and tapped a stone.

    The two tried to remove it, but it was stuck in place.

    "You must control it," the Goblin said.

    Jeze sighed. Moving a non-summoned rock was going to be difficult. Not as much as a Shadow, she will never do that again, but difficult nevertheless, and she was still recovering from her blacking out earlier. Gritting her teeth, she Shaped the block of stone to shrink and then Controlled it to move out. She gasped in exhaustion and decided how she would train her Will. It will be on the Earth aspect.

    "Ooh, a book!" Ziplocke cried and pointed.

    Behind the stone was a small alcove where a leather-bound book rested with a note on top. Jeze recognized it immediately as her brother''s journal. Gingerly, she retrieved it and unfolded the note. Tears welled up in her eyes. The emotion was so strong on her face that even Ziplocke was subdued. The Goblin, in a surprise show of affection, rubbed Jeze''s shoulder. She nodded at Ziplocke and read the note.

    Dear Jeze,

    If you are reading this, then I am so proud of you! You have made it to the school and mastered the Linking Spell! But also, that means I have failed the Spire. I am sorry if my death caused you grief.

    I am leaving you my journal. You were always smarter than me, but I hope you will find the tricks I discovered and written on these pages useful. Knowing you, you probably won''t specialize in any aspect, and I primarily focused on Earth. But I did study different focuses and enchantments using a variety of aspects. You are all about utility over flashy power!

    Jeze, I know if you are reading this that you are set to enter the Wandering Spire. I know that I probably couldn''t stop you if I were alive and probably have even less chance in death. So I won''t try to dissuade you. Please keep my journal as it has my research and notes. I will give you this caution. I have it on good authority that the promise of Immortality at the top of the Spire is a lie. It is a myth to attract powerful adventurers, and as I write this, I do not know why. But I will find out. Err, if you are reading this and we are not talking in person, then I tried to find out and failed. Well, let''s hope we are reading this together. If we are not. Be careful. Don''t trust the Emperor nor his agents. They are hiding something, and do not, I repeat, do not go through the final door of the tower.

    With Love,

    Daverius

 Chapter 5: Party Roles and Rankings

    "What does he mean that the gift of Immortality is a myth?" Jeze asked after she recovered from her bout of grief.

    Ziplocke shrugged as he licked pepper lemon paste from his green knobbly fingers.

    "Daverius wrote that he had it on good authority. Do you know anything about the Wandering Spire and the final door?"

    "How would I know?" Ziplocke asked, and he eagerly accepted another spoonful of spicy paste.

    "It is Abyssal in origin," Jeze pointed out.

    "Oh, so you think that because I live on that plane, I should know everything? Do you know everything that happens in this world? Where does the Emperor like to take a dump? Hmm?" Ziplocke retorted.

    Jeze wanted to strangle the Goblin. The other warning her brother gave her was to not trust the kings and emperors. She doubted Ziplocke would know anything about that, and she filed it away for later research along with his sources. He said on good authority, what did he mean by that? Jeze wondered.

    "Okay, fine. Tell me why you think the Wandering Spire appears?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke tapped his green, warty chin. "It is not from Goblins. We, well, we don''t have that kind of power."

    The Goblin sulked for a moment. Jeze read that Goblins and Imps were the lowest of demons and were often treated poorly. They did live in the demonic Abyssal plane, after all. No wonder Ziplocke wanted a two-year contract, Jeze reflected.

    "It is very powerful and very complex magic, so I would bet my beautiful nose that it is the Lords of Anguish. They are the meanest and baddest of the Abyssal plane," Ziplocke answered.

    "What motivates them?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke cackled, "Nothing good for mortals. Did you not hear their title? Lords of Anguish."

    "Yeah, but what would they gain from having the Wandering Spire appear every five years?"

    "A lot of sacrifices. How many stupid adventurers go there to die?" Ziplocke said and then regretted his statement when he saw Jeze''s face drop. One of those "stupid adventures" was her brother.

    "They get to keep the souls if an adventurer dies in the tower?" Jeze asked quietly.

    Ziplocke sputtered a moment and sighed, "The inside is a direct link to the Abyssal plane. A soul will be trapped there."

    "Then I have another reason to go, and that is to free my brother," Jeze said, her chin sticking out with determination.

    "I''m here to serve," Ziplocke said with a bow.

    "Thank you. I will need to prepare," Jeze said and flipped through her brother''s journal.

    In it, most of the Rune patterns were for Earth aspect foci, and one interested her. The Rune structure was different from the one she had on her ring, so she would need to create another channeling tool. This pattern allowed the caster to control metal, to shape earth into metal, and Daverius wrote notes how he used it to summon earth, shape it into steel, and fling it at targets.

    "Seems overly complicated," Jeze muttered.

    Ziplocke, who stood on her shoulder, was nodding his head. Jeze handed him a spoonful of paste, and the Goblin slurped it up.

    "Talented magic users, like yours truly, are able to string multiple foci so fast it looks like they are completing a single Rune pattern," Ziplocke boasted.

    That was not important to Jeze. What interested her was the ability to shape metal and stone. She felt this could be useful when disarming traps or picking locks. Jeze copied the Rune Pattern and decided it needed to go on a bracelet because it was a longer chain than the one on her ring. She flipped through the pages to see if the pattern was a base for another spell and was delighted to discover that it was the base for an Earth aspect summoning focus. It would summon a wall of dirt, which she could shape into stone. A string of patterns that had good defensive capabilities. She preferred to cast a single focus, but stringing foci together had its benefits. The risk was greater when the Rune chains were longer.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    "I feel that is too risky. Depends on too many variables and is not realistic on an adventure. What if my channeling tools become damaged? Then I would have wasted the effort and energy on nothing," Jeze reflected out loud.

    Ziplocke nodded in agreement and giggled as if he recalled a memory. "That is the bane of many casters. The look of surprise on their faces as their magic failed right before they were eaten is absolutely priceless."

    Jeze paused her studying and glanced up at the Goblin.

    "Have you traveled the Spire?" She asked.

    Ziplocke squirmed, and Jeze found it odd that the diminutive creature became nervous. She gave him a spoon of paste to ensure he did not avoid the question.

    "Yes," he answered.

    "On a contract?" Jeze said.

    The Goblin squirmed some more, and now Jeze was giving him her full attention. She had a jar of paste and a spoon ready. This was not going to be avoided.

    "Yes, and before you ask. Half a dozen times," he said.

    Six? How old was the Goblin? She wondered as she fed him paste. She needed to think about how to best ask her next question.

    "Did you make it to the final door?"

    Ziplocke squealed with a laugh. "By the Hells no."

    Jeze narrowed her eyes. "What happened to your contracts?"

    "They died," the Goblin answered with a casual shrug.

    "You are not very good with your contracts!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "Hey now! The Wandering Spire is very dangerous, as you are aware. Besides, they were dumb as coal."

    "Where did they go wrong?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke hopped off her shoulder onto the desk next to Daverius''s journal. He casually skimmed its pages before answering.

    "You and your brother have the right idea. You must be prepared. You can''t expect to muscle through the floors. You need to find a balanced party," Ziplocke replied.

    Jeze nodded and fed the Goblin some paste. She needed to make more if she continued to have conversations like this. But that didn''t concern her at the moment. She was more interested in what Ziplocke said and what her brother had written. Daverius wrote about the Adventurer Guild and their role classifications and rankings. But something caught her eye, and she wondered about it.

    "Is it true that only a team of five can advance to the second floor?" She asked.

    "Technically, the first floor is considered floor zero. It is a free-for-all. Filled with a horde of monsters. Your realm''s kings and emperors initially believed that the Spire was an invasion force because of the amount of baddies that swarmed out when the Spire first arrived. Once you make it to the center, there is a portal. It only allows five people to travel together to the same destination. Any more will be separated and sent to a different spot."

    Jeze looped back to Ziplocke''s statement and asked about a balanced party. She gave him a spoonful of paste.

    "My previous contracts made their team only Strikers. They wanted to kill things fast, but the Spire has more challenges than just monsters. It is filled with locked doors, puzzles, and traps," Ziplocke answered.

    Jeze turned back to her brother''s journal. Daverius wrote about the role designations the Adventurer''s Guild had put together. This was to aid in proper team formation. Strikers were anyone who could do a lot of damage. It could be Runic Magic or if a strong fighter wielded an enormous poleaxe. Her brother wrote the following on the roles:

    Strikers are important because the Wandering Spire has large monsters that are heavily protected and durable. A team needs to be able to kill them. Especially the Floor Guardians.

    Hmm, Jeze wanted to ask about the Floor Guardians but continued reading her brother''s passage.

    Protectors are those that can stand in the front and withstand damage. This can be through skill of arms like with armor and shield. Or through Runic Magic. The Earth Aspect is very good for protection.

    Healers are necessary to keep the party alive. They are physicians, herbalists, and often Life aspect masters.

    Scouts can utilize stealth, pick locks, and find traps. They are often the most agile and able to get to the hard-to-reach areas. They offer the most utility.

    Leaders make the plans. A good leader should be able to fill in at least two other role designations. They need to be charismatic because the Spire will test the team''s resolve.

    "What do you know about the Floor Guardians?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke shuddered. "Each Floor has a portal that will teleport a team of five to the next floor. It is guarded by a Floor Guardian. They are typically large demons with anger issues."

    "How many floors does the Wandering Spire have?" Jeze wondered.

    "It is rumored to have ten. The highest I have gone was the sixth," Ziplocke answered.

    "Only ten? How can that be? I read that the Wandering Spire''s top is beyond the clouds," Jeze stated.

    "Remember, I told you that the Spire is a direct link to the Abyssal plane. The physics are different than here, the material plane. Plus, the ceilings can be very high on each floor," the Goblin answered.

    "Tell me more."

    "Each floor is completely different. It could look like a dungeon, a forest, or a frozen tundra. Each Spire is different, so I can''t help you prepare ahead of time. When you go through a portal, it takes you to a random location on the next floor," Ziplocke said and then licked a spoonful of paste.

    Jeze finished scribing the Rune patterns that interested her and closed her brother''s journal. The Wandering Spire was set to appear in about five months near Mount Dragon. Enough talking and reading, she had work to do.

 Chapter 6: Initiate Rank

    Jeze sat alone in her room with all her notes from her studies arrayed before her. In addition, on her desk were engraving tools, bracelets, rings, and other potential channeling tools such as rods and staves. The Old Crones had instructed Jeze well on the basics of Rune scribing and Will control. They were harsh, and Jeze appreciated their instruction as she was able to transcribe Runes with ease from different aspects onto the channeling tools.

    For the past two weeks, Jeze focused on preparing to travel to Mount Dragon and take the Trials. The Adventurer''s Guild administered the tests and compiled enough data to rank potential candidates as well as a bestiary guide and their levels of difficulty. Ziplocke cautioned that the Wandering Spire was different each time, and each floor was never the same.

    Daverius wrote down the rankings:

    Prospect: These are applicants into the Guild and represent the ordinary person. Prospect-level monsters include anything an average individual can defeat. House cats, squirrels, and crippled foxes.

    Initiate: These are members that met the lowest standards necessary to be accepted into the Guild. Weekend warriors where adventuring is not their whole life. People with careers and lives and step up as necessary to defend their towns against monster incursions. They may be called on to help clear out a crypt or dungeon as needed.

    Jeze was familiar with Initiates. Both her parents were Initiates and would assist when monsters attacked the village. They gave up the adventuring life and chose to own a farm. They inspired her and Daverius to take on this path. Jeze reflected on how monsters had not attacked in a long while. Hmm, I wonder why? She briefly thought and then continued to read.

    Adventurer: Full-time guild members that have above-average physical strength and capability. Adventurers are always called to help clear the floors of the Wandering Spire.

    Adept: These are adventurers who represent the peak of human ability. They are able to pass through the lower levels of the Wandering Spire with ease. They are called to lead teams of Initiates and Adventurers to clear monster invasions and dangerous dungeons.

    Elite: Members that have surpassed the limits of human biology. They have enhanced bodies from sacred gifts, magical infusions, and rare blessings from deities. Elites are very rare and are often able to make it to the highest levels of the Wandering Spire.

    Hero: Hero: Demigods. Only one person in recorded history defeated the Wandering Spire and received the gift of Immortality. That was the now Emperor of the Golden Empire, and he was Hero level. There are only a handful of known Heroes in the world.

    It was recommended that a party of at least Adventurer rank was needed to face a Floor Guardian. The party should be at Adept rank to go beyond floor five. Jeze felt that if she were to take the Trials, she would at least be an Initiate or maybe even an Adventurer. Jeze continued to train nights and focused on her athletic ability and combat ability with Raynor, and enhanced her Will by trying to Shape Shadows. She was at the point where she didn''t pass out anymore, but she was able to move a shadow an inch. It was like trying to bend bamboo and it would snap back.

    "That is impressive, but not as funny as you collapsing," Ziplocke observed one night.

    Jeze wanted to strangle the Goblin. With regards to tools, Jeze wore two rings. One ring was inscribed with minor Earth foci. It allowed her to chime for Ziplocke and to shape and control soil and rock. Jeze had a bracelet that allowed her to shape soil to stone and stone to metal and summon a moderate amount of earth. It allowed her to pick locks and disarm traps, though she needed more practice in that area.

    Jeze''s second ring allowed her to summon, shape, and control minor shadows. This was what Ziplocke had instructed her, and it had multiple uses, from stealth to simple illusions.

    "Tricks of the eye," Ziplocke had told Jeze.

    With her minor Earth ring, she could create simple sounds and enhance her shadow illusions. She knew that could come in handy and was getting good at stringing those foci together. But could she do it under pressure? Her brother recommended meditations every night. A mindful mind was able to locate and remove distractions. A focused mind was necessary for magic.

    The final channeling tool that Jeze created was a rod with Runes from the Life aspect inscribed upon it. Jeze¡¯s mother was an Initiate ranked adventurer and a specialist in the Life aspect. It could be argued that it was their mother¡¯s skill in magic that set Daverius and Jeze on the path to the Old Crone¡¯s school. With the rod Jeze would, in theory, be able to shape flesh to close wounds. She imagined that would be extremely difficult, and she was only able to test it on herself. She was not sure if she could mend another person¡¯s flesh. In either case, Jeze felt it was important to have an ability to heal. Even if it was only minor, and the rod was small enough to not weigh her down. She was all about utility.

    A blur of movement in a shadowy corner of her room caught her attention. Jeze closed her eyes, tapped her Darkness ring, and traced a glyph in the air in order to shape the shadows. It was an extreme strain on her Will, and the shadows moved to reveal a crouched Ziplocke.

    "Got you!" Jeze exclaimed before her eyes rolled up, and she fell over.

    The Goblin cackled, "That never gets old!"

    Jeze recovered a moment later and slowly sat up. Her head hurt, but she was able to shape Ziplocke''s summoned shadows. Her Will was getting stronger, and her awareness also improved from the mischievous Goblin''s efforts to surprise her.

    "I removed your focus," Jeze weakly observed.

    Ziplocke nodded and replied, "That you did. But I really was not holding on to it."

    Jeze had an idea she wanted to run by the Goblin, and so far, he has not requested any paste. She was running low and didn''t want to trigger him to request it.

    She asked Ziplocke anyway, "If I get my Will strong enough, I can Shape another caster''s channeling tool to disrupt their runes?"

    The Goblin snickered, "Very clever! Risky but clever. Your Will needs to be stronger than the other."

    "I removed your Shadows. Does that mean my Will is stronger than yours?"

    "Let''s not get ahead of ourselves, child. It is more complicated than that," Ziplocke snorted in response.

    Jeze scowled at being called a child but nodded and laid back down on the stone floor. Her head hurt, but this was useful information. She came upon this idea when she shaped the failed rings she worked on to smooth out the etches so that they could be inscribed again. It was extremely difficult, but a good workout for her Will. She rose up when she was able to and felt anxious. There was still plenty of daylight left, and she wanted to visit Raynor. Daverius was the one to introduce her to the Old Hunter, and she wondered if Raynor would know about Daverius''s cryptic note and "good authority" on why the gift of Immortality at the top of the Wandering Spire was a myth. Or, at the very least, he had some clues and insight to point her in the right direction.

    "I''m going out," she told Ziplocke.

    For Jeze, it was a twenty-minute light jog for her to reach Raynor''s cabin in the woods. Ziplocke complained incessantly for the first five minutes, to the point that Jeze offered to carry the Goblin on her back. In addition to Ziplocke, Jeze wore her minor Earth and Darkness rings, her bracelet, and a sack containing food and other channeling tools. Strapped to her hips were two hand axes and a sheathed knife at the back of her waist. Narcadia was relatively safe, but there were instances of bandits and wild animals. It has been a while since a monster was sighted.

    Up ahead was the copse of trees that marked the Deep Forest boundary. A billowing cloud of black smoke rose up from the trees, which Jeze recognized as a smoke signal. Raynor''s cabin was a short trek inside, where they heard a distinctive shriek echo outwards. It was not like any animal sound Jeze had ever heard.

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    "Howlers," Ziplocke said quietly.

    Howlers? Jeze wondered as she stopped running. She was certain this was a monster, and she had never learned the names of the beasts that were sighted in the past. When she was younger, her parents made her hide in the cellar while her brother and they took care of the creatures. In all her life, she never saw an actual monster. This alarm was not a total surprise because monsters were known to attack the villages around the time the Wandering Spire was set to appear. She readied her ax and dagger.

    "You can''t be serious?" Ziplocke cried.

    "Raynor might be in danger," she said, her jaw stiff with determination.

    "Only if he is an idiot. No fool would stay around when Howlers are present. They hunt in packs!" The Goblin shrieked.

    "How do you know about them?" Jeze asked.

    "They are from my plane, and they love tearing Goblins apart," Ziplocke whimpered.

    They heard another howl that gave the monster their name. Jeze was afraid, but she needed to go in and face them. If she can''t handle Howlers, then she had no business attempting the Wandering Spire. But she can''t rush in. She needed to be smart, and she activated her Darkness ring and cloaked her body in misty shadows. This allowed her to blend into the dim light of the forest canopy. Ziplocke scampered beside her, also cloaked with shadows. He muttered a few complaints but became quiet when they entered the woods.

    Jeze stopped at the edge of the clearing where Raynor''s cabin resided. The Old Hunter stood by his fire pit that emitted the black smoke that rose into the air. Next to Raynor was a long-hafted ax embedded on the log Jeze practiced throwing on, and the Old Hunter held his bow taut and readied. The Howlers emerged from the trees across the clearing from Jeze. Three of the monsters writhed on the floor. Arrows protruded from their grotesque bodies. The Howler reminded Jeze of a rat that was the size of a wolf. A rat that loped on four legs but fought standing on two. They held crude spears in their claw-like hands. Their heads were shaped like a rats but were filled with sharp canines, and their gray fur was dotted with oily scales.

    The monsters decided to charge the Old Hunter in mass and swarmed from the trees. Raynor shot two, dropped his bow, and yanked his two-handed ax free. He roared a guttural challenge, but he would not be able to fight them all. From the shadows, Jeze lined up an ax throw and caught a Howler in the head as it tried to flank the Old Hunter. Raynor chopped two down with one mighty swing from the long-hafted ax in his gnarled arms. Jeze''s appearance caused the Howlers to pause. Raynor glanced once at the young woman and nodded.

    A trio of Howlers broke off from the swarm to engage Jeze. Ziplocke was nowhere to be found. Jeze used her Darkness focus to blend into the shadows of the trees. The monsters dashed in, sniffing and gnashing their teeth. They stabbed the shadows and howled.

    Jeze had her second ax in her right hand, along with her long knife in her left. Raynor had trained her to fight like a wolf, to strike when an opportunity presented itself, and to rapidly retreat. She stabbed her knife from the shadows and hacked with her ax. One Howler collapsed in a bloody heap as the others turned on her. Jeze retreated, but even with her Darkness focus, they were too close for her to hide. She had to fight them, but the shadows made it harder for them to hit her.

    The Howlers rushed in at the same time and Jeze darted to the side just like how Raynor trained her. She never retreated in a straight line and moved in angles that allowed her to deliver effective counterattacks. She was never in between them, and in one assault, Jeze positioned herself where the Howlers were lined up in front of her.

    Jeze deflected a spear thrust with her ax and drove her long knife into the monster''s throat. It gurgled out black blood that spilled over its hanging tongue. Jeze retreated before the other Howler could retaliate. The monster stabbed, and its spear got stuck in a tree. As it struggled to pull out its weapon, Jeze planted her handax in between its red eyes.

    In the clearing, Raynor was bloodied and moved slower. He bled from a gash to his thigh, but the Old Hunter growled and gnashed his teeth like a bear. Additional bodies littered the ground around him, but more Howlers emerged from the forest.

    Jeze summoned up her shadows and crept unseen into the clearing. She retrieved the ax she had thrown earlier and sheathed her knife. There were six monsters remaining and they howled as they stabbed with their spears. Raynor parried two attacks with his long-hafted ax and dodged a third, but three scored more wounds on the Old Hunter.

    Two Howlers shrieked and collapsed to the ground as hand axes thudded into the back of their skulls. Four remained, and they split evenly between the Old Hunter and Jeze. Armed only with a long knife, Jeze completed a glyph from her Earth bracelet. Nothing happened. The Howlers charged her. Raynor stumbled to one knee from his injuries.

    Jeze steadied and focused her mind. Magic demanded perfection of Will and art. Jeze masterfully completed the final gesture, and the magic snapped into place. A row of dirt two meters high sprung into existence and blocked the Howlers from herself and Raynor. The monsters were able to claw through the dirt, but the distraction gave Jeze the time she needed. She molded shadows around her and dashed soundlessly to flank the monsters nearest the Old Hunter. Raynor rose painfully back to his feet and prepared himself as the Howlers broke through the dirt wall.

    The Howlers didn''t notice Jeze as she stabbed one in its back. Raynor deflected a spear thrust and returned with an overhand chop that split the monster down the middle. Two Howlers remained, and they charged. Their simple minds failed to notice the danger they were in. Raynor hefted his ax over his head and flung it forward, catching one square in the head. Jeze released her knife to complete a series of gestures. First, she shaped a portion of her summoned earth into a fist-sized stone, then she controlled it to fly and crack the side of the final Howler''s head.

    "Now that was smooth!" Ziplocke exclaimed.

    The Goblin materialized from shadows in the center of the clearing.

    "Aaargh!" Raynor howled as he yanked his ax free from the bloody Howler''s corpse.

    "Wait! He is with me!" Jeze cried and interposed herself between the Old Hunter and her familiar.

    "You sure girlie? Do you know what that is?" Raynor asked.

    The ax slipped from his weak hands as his wounds began to take their effect upon the Old Hunter.

    "Excuse me? I am not an it," Ziplocke cried.

    "Raynor, this is my Familiar," Jeze explained.

    "Sure has an annoying voice," Raynor huffed as he sat on a log by his fire pit.

    The Old Hunter was bleeding quite a bit, and Jeze saw the life slowly begin to fade from his eyes as his breathing came in gasps. In her pack, she had a channeling rod for the Life aspect. She could use it to shape flesh. This would be her first time, and fear crept up like a ball of ice in her chest that she failed to inscribe the runes correctly. She used her mindfulness to set aside her fear and replace it with an iron Will. She reminded herself that it had worked on her and gripped the rod. Jeze completed the final glyphs in the air. This required precise movements of her arms and legs. She felt the magic taut and pulled upon her Will. It needed direction, and she focused it on Raynor''s wounds. An immense pressure weighed down on her as if she was under an ocean of water. It sapped all her strength, but she managed to close the largest of Raynor''s wounds before she collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

    The Old Hunter let out a yelp of pain and fainted. Rustling could be heard coming from the trees. No! Jeze thought. Ziplocke melted into the shadows. She was in no condition to fight but still struggled to her feet. The channeling rod slipped from her weak fingers, and she groped around for her weapons. Her head spun, and her body twitched with exhaustion.

    "Easy now. We came as fast as we could," a deep voice said.

    Jeze saw through blurred vision a powerfully built man in jingling mail armor. He had dark skin, and a steel cap covered his head. He carried a sword and shield, and behind him were four more people in thick padded armor armed with poleaxes. The man in the mail armor sheathed his sword and appraised the situation in the clearing.

    "Not bad," he said with a whistle.

    He extended a callous hand and helped Jeze to her feet. He studied her.

    "My name is Drake, and I''m with the Adventurer''s Guild," the dark-skinned man said after a pause.

    The other four rushed over to Raynor and began to treat his wounds.

    "Captain, he will be alright," one said. She was a stout woman with blond curly hair.

    Captain? Jeze wondered and was confused. Could the Legion also be a part of the Adventurer¡¯s guild? Beware the Emperor¡¯s agents¡­.She was too exhausted to speak.

    Jeze observed that Drake''s actions were deliberate and precise. He walked past Jeze and studied the bodies of the Howlers and Raynor''s injuries. He watched as the dirt that Jeze summoned faded away. He returned back to the wobbling teenage girl.

    "You and the Old Hunter fought a dozen Howlers, an Initiate class monster. I deduced that you successfully utilized the Summoning and Shaping foci with the Earth aspect and defeated the monsters in weapons combat using an ax and dagger," Drake said.

    The Adventurer tapped his chin and continued, "Based upon Raynor''s skin, you also successfully utilized the Shaping focus with the Life Aspect. Overall, very impressive. But no surprise to me because it is no mistake you have his features. You are the sister of Daverius."

    Jeze was shocked by this, and her head snapped up to look at the dark-skinned man. She began to distrust this Captain and his interest in her and her brother. Fortunately she was legitimately tired and didn¡¯t need to speak due to her exhaustion.

    "As a respected Adventurer rank and Trial observer of the Guild. I hereby promote you, uh, what is your name?" Drake asked.

    "Jeze," the teenage girl muttered. She was still in shock.

    Drake nodded and continued, "Right, it''s a pleasure to meet you, Jeze. I hereby promote you to Initiate rank. Congratulations!"

    The other four Guild members/legionnaires cheered and clapped. Jeze fainted.

 Chapter 7: Family

    Jeze woke to the sound of bustling people. It was a moment before she realized she was not in the Old Crone¡¯s tower, but rather she was in some sort of infirmary. She was lying in the corner and was able to see the whole room laid out before her. It had a dozen other cots and some were filled with moaning people that wore bandages. Medical staff and caretakers walked amongst the rows and checked on their patients. The teenager recognized one of the caretakers.

    ¡°Mom?¡± Jeze asked.

    The caretaker looked up. She had loose dark hair, like Jeze, streaked with gray that fell on muscular shoulders. Jeze¡¯s mom was named Jin, and she wore a tanned tunic and pants with thick leather vambraces over her forearms. Jeze recognized that this was her mother¡¯s undergarments when she wore armor. Jin must have removed her gear to aid in the caretaking.

    Jin perked up at Jeze¡¯s voice and responded, ¡°Oh, hi sweetie!¡±

    She came over and embraced Jeze and added, ¡°I¡¯m glad you are well. We were worried.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± Asked Jeze.

    ¡°You blacked out again, knucklehead,¡± Ziplocke said as the Goblin materialized from the shadowy corner.

    Jin¡¯s face scrunched and she wagged a finger at Jeze. ¡°We met your familiar, could you have picked something more pleasant?¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    Jeze¡¯s head was still spinning, and her mother gave her a small cup of water. ¡°Easy, straining the Will can take longer to recover than the body,¡± Jin said.

    ¡°Where¡¯s dad?¡± Jeze asked.

    Jin smiled gently with moist eyes. ¡°He is out helping the others fight off the monsters. I heard you performed well and made it to Initiate. You father and I are proud.¡±

    Jeze¡¯s heart ached at her mother¡¯s strained voice. It had been weeks since she last spoke with her parents and it had ended in an argument. They lost a son, and demanded that Jeze throw away the idea of becoming an Adventurer. Her father had pleaded that she could join the military instead. Jin suggested that Jeze use her Runic skills to find a promising career in Capitol City. But in the end, Jeze¡¯s mind was set. The young woman could not see herself doing anything other than to defeat the Wandering Spire. Especially now with the possibility that Daverius¡¯s soul was trapped in there.

    Jin placed a hand on Jeze¡¯s cheek with a sad smile.

    ¡°We raised such wonderful and capable children. I¡¯m so proud,¡± her mom said with a choked voice.

    The ache in Jeze¡¯s chest grew, but she pushed it down with cold determination. There was no life for her other than to be an Adventurer. There was a passion in her that raged like a fire, and her fight with the Howlers further proved to her that she was on the right path. The Adventurer life was one that she was meant to live, or to die by. Jeze reflected darkly.

    ¡°How¡¯s the farm?¡± Jeze asked and wiped her eyes.

    The young Initiate recognized that she was in the main town of Narcadia. No more than a mile from where she grew up, from where Raynor¡¯s cabin was, and from where the Old Crone¡¯s school was located. Jeze was not concerned for the school, the Runic protections were more than enough for the Howlers.

    ¡°It''s fine. We got everyone in the cellar and only had to fight off a few monsters. We saw Raynor¡¯s smoke signal and rushed to join the defense effort as soon as we could,¡± Jin answered.

    Jeze studied the room they were in. It was the town hall converted into an infirmary. Narcadia had mobilized its defenders to respond to the Howler attacks. This was common around the pending appearance of the Wandering Spire. Judging from the amount of people coming in injured, there was a lot of fighting going on that Jeze was missing. She rose up and scanned the room.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Raynor?¡± Jeze asked, her voice cracked.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, girlie,¡± the Old Hunter appeared in the door.

    Raynor limped inside and was followed by a large muscular man with dark skin, dark hair, narrow eyes and a gray speckled bear.

    ¡°Dad,¡± Jeze said quietly.

    Her father was named Guo and he wore a heavy mail shirt over a thick padded jacket. Guo set his polearm to the side and strode across the room as he removed his leather gauntlets. Guo hugged his daughter with the smell of sweat and steel.

    ¡°We are proud of you,¡± he said in a strained voice.

    Raynor settled with a grimace on the empty cot in front of them.

    ¡°I owe this girl my life,¡± the Old Hunter said.

    ¡°Did Howlers always attack with this many numbers?¡± Jez asked.

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    She recalled monster attacks in the past being much smaller and never on this scale. Jeze glanced around the room at the number of wounded. Out the window she watched villagers, like her parents, mobilizing and marching through the streets.

    ¡°Eh, we have not had Howlers in some time.¡± Raynor muttered.

    Guo looked up and scratched his thick black hair. ¡°Eight or ten years, maybe?¡±

    ¡°Never this many monsters. All the Initiates were called in from the surrounding farms and villages,¡± Jin said, and rubbed Jeze¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Aye, that is true. A handful here and there. I always figured it was your brother that kept the numbers low,¡± Raynor said.

    Jeze noticed the slight flinch of pain on her parents¡¯ faces. They recovered. Guo¡¯s face remained stoic, and Jin smiled softly as she wiped her eyes. Raynor¡¯s sharp eyes saw this.

    ¡°He was a good lad. Strong, and brave,¡± the Old Hunter added.

    Guo nodded with a firm jaw and looked out the window. Jeze felt the sadness well up in her chest and the pressure of tears formed behind her eyes.

    ¡°He fought them all?¡± The teenager asked.

    Raynor rubbed his leg and replied, ¡°He did something. He would travel into the Deep Wood, further than I felt comfortable going.¡±

    Jeze¡¯s parents remained quiet. She needed to learn more. Did he find something in the forest? Was that his ¡°Good Authority?¡±

    ¡°Did he find the source of the monsters?¡± The teenager asked.

    Raynor shrugged. Jeze wanted to scream. Sometimes the Old Hunter was difficult to talk to.

    ¡°Anything else you can tell us?¡± Jeze demanded.

    The others looked at her. Jin rubbed her shoulder, and Guo turned his gaze to the floor. Raynor arched a bushy eyebrow and looked at her with his squinty eyes. He sighed.

    ¡°Daverius would come back banged up. I figured he was training to prepare for the Wandering Spire. That boy always trained hard like you do now, girl. He didn¡¯t say anything to me, and I didn¡¯t ask,¡± the Old Hunter answered.

    Ziplocke was nowhere to be found. Jeze suspected the Goblin watched from the dark shadows in the corners of the room. She wanted to ask more questions, but held off. She saw that the talk of her brother made her parents sad, as if she picked at an old wound. Jeze changed the subject.

    ¡°Dad, can a Captain of the Legion also be an official with the Adventurer Guild?¡± She asked.

    Guo looked up from the floor and nodded. ¡°The Guild takes all the resources it can get. As long as there are no conflicts of interests or duty.¡±

    Jin added, ¡°Every Nation sends military units to attempt the Wandering Spire. Specially trained units.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Jeze asked.

    Guo took a deep breath and answered, ¡°Every king wants to be immortal like our Emperor.¡±

    Raynor huffed, ¡°Plus there be plenty of treasure even in the lower levels, and a good way for a young person to make a name for themselves.¡±

    Jin smiled and added, ¡°Our Emperor is rumored to want an immortal wife. He has offered a very generous reward to any soldier that is able to return with the gift of Immortality.¡±

    Jeze recalled her brother¡¯s words, ¡°...the promise of Immortality at the top of the Spire is a lie.¡± She shook them out of her head.

    ¡°So a Legionnaire that serves in the guild would come from a highly trained unit?¡± Jeze asked.

    Raynor chuckled, ¡°Aye, that be true. The Wandering Spire is no joke, girl. Your parents and I never had the skill to even attempt it.¡±

    Special training? Like an agent? Jeze reflected. She would have to be careful around Captain Drake.

    Guo slapped his thighs and glanced up. Jeze recognized the look in his eyes and she steadied herself for another argument.

    ¡°If you are going to the Wandering Spire, promise us this. You will back out when it gets too difficult. You promise?¡± He asked softly.

    Jin rubbed her husband¡¯s broad shoulders and smiled at Jeze. Raynor sat back and remained quiet.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be careful,¡± Jeze responded.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like your hard headed brother¡­¡± Guo said angrily and gasped with tears in his eyes.

    The large man shook off Jin¡¯s comforting hands and walked away. For Jeze, this was much worse than an argument. She considered for a brief moment to not attempt the Spire. To leave this mess of conspiracies, and agents of the Empire behind. To take her parent¡¯s suggestion. Maybe join the military? No, not the military. The Empire is up to something no good. But perhaps she could work a career as a Rune Master. Jeze was talented and could live comfortably. The more she thought about it, the less she wanted it. She would hate herself. Besides, Daverius¡¯s soul may be trapped in the Wandering Spire. Jeze¡¯s passion for adventure blossomed in her chest and pushed all other thoughts from her mind like an erupting volcano. She gritted her teeth with steely determination.

    ¡°Jeze, listen honey. There are plenty of unexplored parts to this world for an Adventurer. Please consider them, instead of the Spire. Your father and I traveled to many places filled with wonder and danger. That was when we discovered we didn¡¯t need to go to the Spire. We had our fill and started a life here in Narcadia,¡± Jin said.

    ¡°That was your life. Not mine,¡± Jeze stated.

    Jin saw the look in her daughter¡¯s face and didn¡¯t push further. Instead she rose up and wiped her eyes.

    ¡°Let me check on your father,¡± Jin said and left.

    Jeze felt horrible, but with her parents gone she had an opportunity to talk with Raynor. If what Daverius had shared in his note was true, the less they knew the less danger they were in.

    ¡°Can you take me to where my brother went in the Deep Wood?¡± She asked.

    Raynor looked at Jeze for a moment with his squinty eyes under his thick gray eyebrows.

    ¡°Aye, but just like what I told your brother. I won¡¯t go any deeper. I¡¯m too old for that nonsense. You will be on your own,¡± Raynor responded.

    Soldiers entered the infirmary.

    ¡°Aww there is my new Initiate! I see that you are well. Come and let us meet in my office to finalize your Guild Application,¡± Drake boomed from the doorway.

    The Guild Trial Observer was flanked by two legionnaires armed with spears. Why did he come with soldiers? Jeze wondered and was a little afraid.

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it, girl. You know where to find me,¡± Raynor said and rose with a grunt of pain.

    The Old Hunter never had much care for the Empire.

    ¡°Be careful with what you say,¡± Ziplocke whispered from the shadows.

    Jeze nodded and put on a fake smile for Drake. She got up and followed the Captain out of the building.

 Chapter 8: Scout and Protector

    Drake showed really white teeth when he smiled. Jeze thought as she sat in front of the dark-skinned man in armor. The two were in another room of the Town Hall. This one was smaller and looked to be an office. Was it the Mayor¡¯s office? Jeze wondered. Did Drake use his authority as an agent of the Emperor to take control of the local government? Jeze was shaken out of her thoughts.

    ¡°Excuse the dust. The Guild rarely uses this field office,¡± Drake said.

    Jeze glanced around the room and decided this was not the Mayor¡¯s office after all. It did seem a bit small, more like a closet. She nodded politely. Drake settled into his desk and cleared away boxes. The powerfully built man leaned forward with a quill and parchment.

    ¡°We just need to finalize a few details of your abilities so that we can assess your role designation. You are familiar with the role designations?¡± Drake asked.

    ¡°What is yours?¡± Jeze asked.

    She figured that she should gather information as well.

    Drake appeared startled by her question and stammered, ¡°Protector, and I second as a Striker.¡±

    Jeze nodded and glanced at Drake¡¯s sword and Shield that rested against the wall. The Shield was made of steel and wood with the rising sun emblem etched upon its silver surface. The insignia of the Emperor. She didn¡¯t catch that the first time they met. Her mind was scattered.

    ¡°Did we find the source of the Howlers?¡± Jeze asked before Drake could continue.

    Drake sat up, and the smile left his face. ¡°No, not yet.¡±

    ¡°Are you looking?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°What are you implying? That I¡¯m not doing my job?¡± Drake growled, all kindness left his face.

    Jeze smiled. She saw the limit to Drake¡¯s patience. It didn¡¯t appear to be very far.

    ¡°Not at all. The Old Crones encourage us to ask questions. I¡¯m sorry. Please continue,¡± Jeze said.

    Drake glared at her for a moment. The anger melted away like snowfall in the spring, and the Trial Observer resumed with his questions.

    ¡°As I was saying. We want to get an assessment of your skills and abilities so that we can assign you an appropriate designation. This is normally done in the Trials, but we can do field assessments. I noted you are proficient with Runes, specifically the Earth aspect. Your brother used the Earth aspect, correct?¡±

    Jeze nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t see how that is relevant to me.¡±

    ¡°Your brother was a respected Guild member. Did he teach you anything? Perhaps he left you some notes?¡± Drake asked. He ignored her comment.

    ¡°He showed me how to read Runes when we were younger, but I got most of my training from the Old Crones,¡± Jez answered. Suspicion grew in her chest.

    ¡°You two were close. You have my condolences, of course. Your brother was a great man,¡± Drake said and scribbled on his parchment.

    ¡°Is that all?¡± Jeze asked.

    Drake glanced up from the parchment with one arched eyebrow and asked, ¡°Are there any other skills? Anything else your brother taught you, perhaps?¡±

    ¡°No, like I said, he only showed me the basics. The Old Crones instructed me on Runes. I also trained with Raynor on the ax and dagger.¡±

    ¡°Your brother preferred the sword and the Earth aspect. Did you know he impressed everyone at the trials by throwing a boulder at the test dummy? He was one of the few members of the Guild that had three primary functions. Striker, Protector, and Leader. He was equally good at all three. A real gem for any adventurer group,¡± Drake reminisced.

    Jeze felt that there was something odd about Drake. He shifted from anger to jovial too easily for her tastes. But she did have questions.

    ¡°How did you know my brother?¡± She asked, her voice cracked. The memories and emotions around her brother bubbled up from her chest.

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    ¡°Daverius? Like I said, he impressed us all at the Trials. He was sought after by many teams. That might not be the case for you since you are a girl. But I think you will find a team,¡± Drake said.

    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Jeze growled.

    ¡°It is no secret. Women are smaller and weaker than men. Honey, the Wandering Spire demands full physical ability and attention,¡± the dark-skinned man replied.

    Honey? Rage boiled in Jeze¡¯s chest, and it pushed out her earlier sadness.

    ¡°It takes more than physical ability to defeat the Spire,¡± she stated.

    Drake chuckled deeply. His chest and shoulders rumbled with his laugh.

    ¡°That¡¯s rich, girl. You fight a handful of Howlers, and now you are an expert,¡± he observed.

    ¡°The Spire is more than just monsters! There are traps and puzzles!¡± Jeze cried.

    ¡°Nothing that strength and determination can not beat,¡± Drake snorted and flexed a large bicep. It showed even through his mail armor.

    ¡°How does that work against traps and locks?¡± Jeze demanded.

    ¡°Hmm, okay, you tell me then,¡± Drake said.

    ¡°You need utility and flexibility to handle any occasion,¡± Jeze said proudly.

    ¡°And you offer that with your axes and daggers and minor Rune ability?¡± Drake sat back and asked with a huff.

    ¡°Yes, and I can pick locks!¡±

    ¡°Oh, how?¡±

    ¡°With the Earth aspect!¡± Jeze exclaimed and shook her bracelet.

    ¡°Where did you learn that?¡± Drake asked.

    ¡°My brother¡¯s journal¡­¡± Jeze said and immediately regretted it.

    She could have sworn she heard Ziplocke slap his forehead from the shadows. Drake crossed his thick arms and gave Jeze a stern look. The dark-skinned man leaned forward and interlocked his fingers.

    ¡°You do not need to keep secrets from me. I am merely trying to assess your party designation accurately. But if you wish to keep your brother¡¯s journal a secret. That is fine by me,¡± Drake said softly.

    The teenage girl felt bad. She had no proof that Drake was an agent of the Emperor. By the Night¡¯s Eye! Jeze thought to herself. She didn¡¯t even have proof that Daverius was correct in believing there to be a conspiracy. But, she continued to keep her brother¡¯s note to herself, and did not share about Ziplocke. In the meantime, she needed to say something to Drake if she wanted to continue to the Wandering Spire. She needed a designation.

    She sighed deeply and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just have not fully gotten over losing my brother. The journal is something I keep to myself. The Rune patterns he writes about are all Earth aspect related. He specialized in it, and I didn¡¯t. Much of what he wrote does not relate to my skill set.¡±

    Drake nodded and wrote on his parchment. ¡°Do you know any other aspects?¡±

    Jeze hesitated and answered, ¡°I know some of the Darkness aspect.¡±

    The dark-skinned man arched an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Oh, how did you come to learn that?¡±

    Why was everything like an interrogation? Jeze wondered to herself.

    ¡°I came across a tome in the Old Crone¡¯s school,¡± she lied.

    Drake nodded but continued to look at her. Jeze fought the urge to fidget. The muscular man wrote on the parchment and read through his notes. He pulled out another parchment and talked as he wrote.

    ¡°Based upon your fight with the Howlers, as detailed by a respected Initiate of the Guild, Raynor. In addition to our pleasant chat today, I have ascertained that your primary designation is a Scout, with a secondary designation as a Protector. You offer stealth and the ability to manipulate traps and locks. In addition, you are skilled with the ax and dagger and can fight proficiently in melee. You can fill in, but it is not recommended you act as a primary for the following designations: Healer and Striker,¡± Drake said.

    The Trial Observer wrote on his parchment and stamped it with a red seal. He looked up at Jeze and held on to the certificate.

    ¡°I have ranked you Initiate level in scout based mainly upon your combat ability. I lack sufficient evidence, other than what you shared, around your stealth, lockpicking, and trapfinding skills. I recommend you polish those if you are serious about entering the Wandering Spire,¡± Drake said and then handed over the certificate.

    Jeze nodded and looked at the parchment she was handed. It had her name and listed in crisp penmanship the details he outlined. It had his signature and seal on the lower left-hand side and space for another Trial Observer¡¯s signature and seal.

    ¡°Before it is official, you will need to complete a physical test. It is a challenging obstacle course that will test your athletic ability and fitness,¡± Drake answered her unspoken question.

    ¡°Where can I take that?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°There is a course in Capitol City. Also, there will be a course erected near the Wandering Spire¡¯s next location. Before you ask, I do not know where it will appear,¡± Drake said.

    ¡°Have you ventured the Spire?¡± Jeze said.

    Drake glanced up and answered, ¡°Every time it appears I have been assigned to enter with a squad. You are dismissed.¡±

    Without further discussion, Jeze left the office. Jeze jogged the road back to the Old Crone¡¯s school. Ziplocke materialized from the shadows on the side of the road when she was alone.

    ¡°Must you always run!¡± He cried.

    In truth, Jeze was jogging slowly to allow her Familiar to catch up. Ziplocke appeared out of breath, and Jeze paused to allow the creature to scramble up to her back. She readied a spoonful of paste.

    ¡°Do you know anything about lockpicking and trapfinding?¡± She asked.

    Ziplocke slurped the paste and answered, ¡°I can teach you.¡±

 Chapter 9: Attacking From Outside the Box

    Jeze focused on the locked door in the Crone''s school. She heard the metal pilings turn through the power of her runes and Will. Sweat dripped down her brow as the pressure built up in her chest and head as if she was squeezed by a giant hand.

    "That''s right! Find the order the pilings need to be in as if you were using a key," Ziplocke instructed.

    Jeze manipulated the tiny rods. She could feel them and searched for the order in which the door could be unlocked. The effort felt like sprinting up a steep hill. It exhausted her.

    "You can do this," Ziplocke shrieked.

    Jeze''s eyes rolled up in her head, and she collapsed. Ziplocke tested the door, it remained locked.

    "I guess not," Ziplocke said softly as he watched Jeze lying on the floor.

    A moment later, Jeze slowly rose up. She held her head, looked to the locked door, and sighed. She tapped her bracelet and completed the glyph. She felt the energy taut within her like a pulled bowstring ready to be released. Jeze directed the power to the metal pilings within the lock, and she felt the giant''s hand squeeze her body once again. A minute later, Jeze was back on the floor, and the door remained locked.

    "Maybe you should summon dirt, shape it to stone, and then shape it to metal. That would be easier for you to manipulate and attempt to create a key," Ziplocke suggested. His arms crossed, and his pointed chin rested on a green hand.

    Jeze''s head wheeled with the idea. She never shaped that deep into an aspect before. The stone to metal would be tricky, but she did read about it somewhere. The idea was sound, though, she reflected. It would be easier to shape the summoned metal to push the pilings than shaping the pilings themselves.

    The teenager slowly rose up and searched her pack for a flask. In it was an amber liquid that Jeze drank. The thick, warm concoction soothed her body as it went down. A minor skill she learned from the Crones was alchemy. It was one her brother completely ignored, but she took an interest. She was a dabbler at best in the field, and the amber potion she made helped to recover one''s Will. It was infused with herbs, spices, and crushed chicken bones. Jeze felt it was more of a broth than a potion, and it helped with her recovery from her training.

    With Jeze''s trial paperwork mostly completed and her knowledge of the next Wandering Spire''s location, Jeze used her remaining time to train and prepare. For the past week, Jeze spent her mornings trying to pick locks using the focus she pulled from her brother''s journal; in the afternoons, she crafted nourishment potions in the Crone''s alchemy lab, and in the evenings, she explored the Deep Wood with Raynor. Traveling the Deep Wood at night was dangerous, and she was getting proficient with killing the occasional pack of roaming Howlers.

    The demons did not come in a large force as before but in trickles, and she was curious to find their source. What did Daverius discover? She wondered. While exploring the Deep Wood with Raynor, the Old Hunter instructed her on how to track. Raynor told Jeze that he didn''t need anything in return due to the fact that she saved his life. But the teenage girl asked Ziplocke for help, and a few nights out of the week, the Goblin instructed them on how to shape and control the Fire aspect.

    "Let''s go," Jeze said, and the two left the Old Crone''s school and traveled to Raynor''s cabin in the Deep Wood.

    At Raynor''s cabin, Jeze was much further along with Runes. While the Old Hunter struggled with the patterns, Jeze practiced range attacks with the Fire and Earth aspects in addition to her ax throwing.

    "Gonna need to split me more logs," Raynor grumbled, as the current target was about to fall to pieces from being struck with darts of flame and fists of stone.

    The Old Hunter struggled with the lesson. He was able to create a spark, but it didn''t last long enough for him to complete the next pattern in order to shape it. Raynor roared with frustration.

    Ziplocke cackled with glee. The Goblin took pleasure in seeing the Old Hunter become enraged. Jeze wondered if Ziplocke was a little bit of a sociopath.

    "The Fire aspect is one of the harder aspects to shape and control. When summoned, it needs fuel to stay in this plane, but when it consumes, it creates more Fire, which is born here and then harder to shape and control!" Ziplocke cried with glee and hopped up and down.

    Jeze wondered who was a tougher instructor. The harshness of the Crones when they scolded and whacked their canes. Or, Ziplocke''s annoying glee and taunting when the student failed. Raynor looked like he was about to skin the Goblin to make boots.

    "How are you doing, little girl? You appear too slow with the movements," Ziplocke observed.

    Jeze growled, she was like five times the Goblin''s size. Jeze demonstrated her stringing of the foci. She etched the Fire aspect runes onto a small wand and completed the final gesture to summon a spark. Jeze gestured quickly to complete another glyph in order to shape the spark into a dart. Finally, she completed the final glyph to control the dart, and it launched into the log. It sizzled a hole into the target.

    "Still too slow. A monster in the Spire will be gnawing on your bones by the time you launch your attack!" Ziplocke cried in a high-pitched voice.

    The Goblin took Jeze''s stick, and in one fluid motion, he launched a Fire dart into the log.

    "Fire is one of the harder aspects to control. It requires speed and grace, which you two oafs lack," Ziplocke observed.

    Jeze continued to practice. She was better with the Earth aspect as it lasted longer on this plane. It didn''t require fuel to remain. The challenge with Fire was that once it consumed, it spawned new flames that were native and harder to manipulate, like when Jeze tried to shape an unsummoned shadow. With the Earth aspect, Jeze was able to summon a pile of dirt up to fifteen meters from her. Further, and her glyphs failed. She made a discovery when launching stones at the log.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    "I don''t need to have the summoned aspect in front of me to strike my target," Jeze observed.

    "How do you mean?" Ziplocke asked.

    Raynor cursed and grumbled as he failed in his attempt to shape another summoned flame.

    Jeze summoned two mounds of dirt. One was in front of her, and one was on the other side of the charred log target. She focused on the opposite mound and caused a ball of dirt to be shaped into a fist-sized stone. Jeze gritted her teeth as she controlled the stone fist and hurled it at the log. It missed and nearly took off Ziplocke''s head.

    "Hey!" The Goblin cried.

    "Sorry! I am still getting the hang of this, but I don''t need to have the soil close to me or even front of me," Jeze said.

    "Yes, but it would be much easier for you to target from the front. But there are advantages to attacking your foes from behind!" Ziplocke said with a sharp-toothed grin.

    Jeze liked that idea and focused more on hitting the target from different angles of attack. That had much more utility. Raynor paused to watch the young girl practice.

    "You need to be careful with that, girl. You might hit one of your teammates instead," the Old Hunter observed.

    That was true, Jeze reflected. She trusted the Old Hunter''s judgment as he was more experienced than her, and she suspected Raynor to be Adventurer rank. The old goat was not one to brag. Up until this comment, she had not taken her teammates into consideration. Doubt crept into her chest. Was she prepared to work with a team? Jeze wondered. Thoughts flooded in through the cracks that her doubt had made. Maybe her mom was right, and she could find adventure in other places?

    "Less daydreaming and more training!" Ziplocke squealed.

    This snapped Jeze out of her negative thoughts. Her annoyance with the Goblin replaced her concerns, and with gritted teeth, she resumed hitting the target from different angles.

    "Much better," Raynor observed.

    The Old Hunter attempted a few more tries, and each one failed. He howled to the moon like a furious wolf. Ziplocke cackled and rubbed his tiny hands together with spiteful pleasure.

    "Enough of this. Let''s travel the Deep Wood. I hope we run into demons so I can vent my frustration," Raynor grumbled as he glared at the Goblin.

    Ziplocke shrieked and hid behind Jeze''s knees. The teenager nodded in agreement. She was eager to learn more about what her brother discovered within the Deep Wood. Jeze gave spicy paste to Ziplocke and poured two bowls of recovery broth for herself and Raynor. Afterward, she wiped her mouth and gathered up her sack with all of her weapons, potions, and channeling tools.

    "Let''s go," Raynor rumbled and hefted his ax and bow.

    For an hour, they hiked in silence through the Deep Wood with Ziplocke on Jeze''s shoulder. Raynor pointed out markers and whispered to Jeze on how to find the game trails through the undergrowth. The teenage girl nodded studiously and soaked up the knowledge in her sharp mind. She held up a hand and paused.

    "You hear that, girlie?" Raynor asked.

    "Movement in the forest that is not a person or an animal," Jeze observed.

    Faintly, in the distance, the sounds of movement through the undergrowth could be detected by those who could listen. In Jeze''s mind, the noise came from a creature that loped on all fours but could also stand on two. Sounds that could only be made from Howlers. A bunch of them.

    Raynor nodded, a glint of pride in his eye. "You learn fast. Are you ready?" He asked.

    "No," Ziplocke squeaked, a sound that reminded Jeze of a mouse.

    She nodded as she readied a single-hand ax in her right hand with her left hand readied to tap her rings. They ignored the Goblin and hugged the shadows created by the dance between the full moon''s light and the trees of the Deep Wood.

    The Howlers had demon senses and were better equipped than the humans in the darkness. But Raynor and Jeze were prepared, and the Old Hunter knew the Deep Wood like the back of his hand. In the dim light, they fought, with the Howlers on the losing end. The demons shrieked and yelped as they desperately searched the trees for their foes. Arrows zipped and struck them from the darkness, and a hunter stalked them with ax and dagger like a fierce wolf.

    Jeze took the time to train her control over the Earth aspect and struck the remaining Howlers from all angles with fist-sized stones. The creatures spun with confusion as they were bombarded and torn apart from all around. In less than five minutes, a dozen Howlers lay dead on the ground.

    "Good work! That was fantastic! Oh, how I wish I could take you two back home with me!" Ziplocke cried in a high-pitched voice.

    "Hush or I will flay your hide for a dishrag," Raynor threatened in a low voice.

    Ziplocke quieted and crawled up to Jeze''s shoulder. The teenager patted the Goblin on his bald head and crouched to study the tracks the creature made. She was confident she could follow them back to their source. She lit a torch.

    "Careful, girlie. The Night Eye can not protect you with that," Raynor cautioned.

    Jeze nodded. She did not need the Night Eye. She needed answers.

    "Suit yourself," Raynor whispered, but the Old Hunter followed her.

    They followed the tracks under the flickering torchlight that created eerie shadows amongst the trees that even gave Ziplocke the chills.

    "You missed this," Raynor corrected Jeze when she was stuck.

    The Old Hunter pointed to a cracked branch and crushed twigs made by the loping gait of Howlers.

    "Thank you," Jeze whispered, and the two followed the trail with the teenager in the lead.

    After thirty minutes, Raynor ordered Jeze to put out the torch. This plunged the trio into pure darkness, and Jeze waited for her eyes to adjust to the full moon''s silver light. The Night Eye resumed guiding them.

    "What do you see?" Jeze asked.

    "Look up ahead," Raynor replied.

    Jeze focused, and in the distance, she saw a faint blue light. It was so faint it was easy to miss. This was it! She thought. Raynor placed a strong hand on her shoulder.

    "Easy, girlie. Daverius was something special. What he can face, I''m not sure I could handle," Raynor cautioned.

    Jeze scowled but agreed. She summoned up shadows to hide her and crept forward. Raynor used his hunter instincts and was silent as a fox. The two moved more quietly than a breeze and came upon a clearing where the source of the pale blue light came from its center.

    "This has to be what Daverius found," Jeze observed.

    Raynor and Ziplocke agreed with silent awe. In the middle was a large pile of rock and earth with a cave opening large enough for a bear. The pale light came from the small cracks under the dirt on the sides.

    "You are on your own. I will not venture there. But I will wait for you here," Raynor stated.

 Chapter 10: The Pyramid

    Jeze crept forward into the clearing. The area was bathed in a mixture of pale silver light from the full moon and the odd blue glow from the sides of the cave. The entrance was jagged and filled with ominous shadows where any number of beasts lurked.

    "We can turn back," Ziplocke suggested in a high-pitched whisper.

    The Goblin was wrapped in shadows and nearly invisible. Jeze took the reminder and tapped her ring to summon shadows around her from the Darkness aspect. She studied the ground and recognized Howler tracks that exited the cave mouth. Without a doubt, this was the source, but what was inside? Jeze wondered. The teenager circled to avoid being directly in front of the entrance and arrived at its sides.

    "It''s a building?" Jeze realized.

    "Old, and this can''t be good," Ziplocke observed.

    What she initially thought to be a cave was actually an old building covered in dirt and roots. A remnant from an ancient time that was forgotten by humanity and swallowed by nature. Jeze scraped away some of the dirt and saw that the stone was pale blue and unlike anything she had seen before. It gave off a faint pulsing glow as if it were alive and breathed.

    "Should we go inside, then?" Jeze asked.

    "No," Ziplocke replied.

    The Goblin was ignored, and the teenager crept closer to peek inside the gaping maw. She discovered that it was a cracked side of the building, an unnatural entrance, with the floor littered with rubble as if the wall was struck by a hammer from the gods. It was dark deeper inside, with the moonlight only going halfway in.

    From the limited illumination, Jeze could make out several details. The inside walls were angular, which gave Jeze the impression that the building was a pyramid and the ground was littered with the skeletal remains of Howlers. She counted ten, and several of the remains were bones crushed to powder, and others appeared to be cut to pieces. This had the clear markings of a sword and Earth aspect specialist, and Jeze envisioned that this was her brother''s doing. She was on the right path! But where did he go?

    From what Jeze could see, there were no obvious exits from within the triangular chamber. She needed more light but was afraid of springing an ambush. One thing Jeze learned from traveling the Deep Wood with Raynor was that light gave away your presence. From their talks, Jeze learned that the Old Hunter was designated as an Adventurer-ranked Scout with the secondary role of Striker. That was before his retirement. She had asked Raynor why he never attempted the Spire, and he answered that he never got around to it.

    "There are buried ruins and dungeons a plenty in this world, why bother with one that just appears out of nowhere? If you want to be a scout, you have to be comfortable in the dark," the Old Hunter told her one evening.

    Jeze recalled Raynor''s words and sensed his presence in the trees behind her. He would help her if she was in trouble. But, eventually, she will need to step into the dark, dangerous places of the world if she was committed to this path. Daverius did it, she reminded herself. Gathering her courage, Jeze crept into the chamber, and a detail that she hadn''t noticed before came into focus. Embedded in the centers of the three remaining walls that slanted upwards several meters to meet at the point of the pyramid were three sconces. Two sconces held globes of what Jeze guessed to be made out of polished stone. The sconce closest to the cracked wall she entered through was empty.

    "Ziplocke, can you grab one of the globes?" Jeze asked, and she readied a spoon of paste.

    The Goblin snorted his reply. "I strictly serve as a consultant."

    "What do you advise then?"

    "Go back out," Ziplocke answered with a nervous giggle that sounded like a calf calling for milk.

    Well, it was worth a try. Jeze thought to herself as she crept over to one of the globes that rested in a metal sconce. It was above her head, and she stood on her toes and studied the area around the globe. It was difficult with only the faint moonlight that came through the large cracked wall. This was it, she decided. Her brother took one of the globes, so it had to be safe. Ziplocke scampered off of Jeze''s shoulder as she reached for one of the spheres. When she touched it, nothing happened. She was able to remove it from the sconce.

    "You were lucky it was not trapped," Ziplocke observed.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    "What does it do?" Jeze asked. She could feel runes engraved into its glossy surface. From her touch, she felt she recognized them.

    "Feels like the Fire aspect," Ziplocke said as he ran his tiny hand across the surface.

    Jeze agreed and she needed more light to confirm. The Initiate removed her pack and retrieved her wand for the Fire aspect. With it, she summoned and quickly shaped a small flame that produced enough light for Jeze to see the strange glyphs. Ziplocke wrinkled his nose as if he smelt something terrible.

    "Holy and Light aspects," the Goblin said and backed away.

    The polar opposites of the Abyssal aspects.

    "Was this a temple?" Jeze wondered.

    Ziplocke gagged with disgust. That made sense for the minor Demon to dislike this place.

    Jeze had not trained with the Holy and Light aspects. Those were primarily studied by priests, but she saw clearly that it had the Fire aspect as well. Those Runes began to glow when she held her flame near them. She had an idea and tapped the summoned flame to the Fire aspect. The small sphere emitted a yellow light brighter than any torch. The sudden glare blinded her momentarily, but now she was able to see the room more clearly, and she put away her wand.

    "How do I turn it off?" She wondered.

    "Try tapping it?" Ziplocke suggested.

    The Goblin''s curiosity overcame his disgust as he climbed back onto Jeze''s shoulder and looked with interest at the globe. Jeze tapped the orb once, and the light dimmed. She tapped it twice, and they were plunged into darkness. Jeze tapped it again, and the bright light came back on, and the globe gave off no heat.

    "This is fascinating! Where is it getting the energy from?" Jeze wondered.

    "It was powered by your flame. Advanced Magic items can be charged with summoned aspects," Ziplocke commented.

    Channeling tools, like her rods and rings, were etched with Runes and required both Will and precise shaping of the final glyphs. Magic items like the globe were more complex and didn''t require Will or movements, but for one to last this long was unheard of. This was the most advanced magic item Jeze had seen. The teenage Initiate figured that Daverius discovered this pyramid before he set out for the Wandering Spire. Why didn''t he show her the globe he took? What else did he discover in this small ruin? What other secrets he hid from her?

    "How old is this place?" Jeze wondered.

    Ziplocke sniffed the air and looked around with red eyes.

    "A thousand years old. Oh, look at that," Ziplocke guessed and pointed up.

    Jeze glanced up and saw a globe similar to the one in her hand but massive. It fitted in the peak of the pyramid and probably continued outside. She considered how bright her small globe was and reflected that the larger one would make her go completely blind. If it was turned on, the light could be seen for miles around.

    "Is that a beacon?" Jeze wondered.

    "No, it''s a weapon. We were lucky your summoned flame was not close enough, or we both would have been toast," Ziplocke said softly.

    Jeze used the light to study the giant globe. She couldn''t tell what the Holy aspect Runes did, but the Fire ones were for Summoning, Shaping and Controlling. She nodded and appreciated her luck. If that globe activated, it would have filled the room with roaring flames and beyond. Why was there a weapon in such a small edifice? She wondered.

    "What did my brother find here?" Jeze mumbled out loud as she crouched to study the dust-covered floor.

    "Who knows?" Ziplocke stated.

    Jeze used the skills Raynor had taught her about tracking. It was clear that there was a fight here years ago based on the skeletal remains. But there were tracks leading outside. A flurry of clawed feet that disrupted the dusty surface of the floor indicated dozens, if not hundreds, of Howlers.

    "The Howlers attacked the villages from here, but where did they come from?" Jeze asked.

    "A portal?" Ziplocke wondered.

    Jeze shook her head. She didn''t see any Runes on the floor, plus the amount of Will needed to summon this many demons would be enormous. A thought occurred to her.

    "There has to be a hidden door!" She cried.

    Ziplocke grumbled, "There are always hidden doors and bigger dungeons."

    "This is what you signed up for when you agreed to the contract," Jeze admonished.

    "Truthfully, I was hoping to run away from you and live free on this plane for two years," Ziplocke said softly.

    Jeze chuckled and patted his head. She handed him a jar of paste, and the Goblin perked up. The teenage Initiate searched the floor and discovered that the tracks originated from the center. That was odd, she thought.

    "There must be a trap door here," she concluded.

    "Look for a lever. It''s always a lever or a button," Ziplocke replied with his mouth full of chili paste.

    Jeze scanned the room and didn''t see any stones that could be pushed in. In fact, the walls and floor were all solid smooth stone. For it to remain unblemished, this long spoke to the advanced skill of the builders, especially for the magic glow stones to still work. That was assuming that Ziplocke was correct that this ruin was a thousand years old. She suspected the Goblin guessed the number. Maybe a lever? She wondered, and the only things that fit that description were the steel sconces. The first one she tested moved down, and the chamber rumbled. The center of the floor twirled opened like a whirlpool and revealed a spiral set of smooth steps going down several meters into darkness that was beyond the glow of Jeze''s globe.

    "Great, more danger awaits us," Ziplocke moaned.

 Chapter 11: Traps and Locks

    From the top of the stairwell, Jeze extended her light, and she was able to make out clawed tracks that scurried up the steps in the dozens. The teenage Initiate readied a hand ax and crept down the staircase and it ended in a more expansive chamber similar in shape to the one above. This room had four exits, one was filled with rubble, two were closed with steel doors, and the fourth was opened and led to a wide, dark stairwell going down. The Howler tracks came from the ominous stairwell.

    "What would cause this damage?" Jeze wondered as she studied the rubble.

    "Time? This place is old, and I do not like it. It makes me feel ill," Ziplocke groaned.

    ''You''ll be alright," Jeze said and patted his head.

    Ziplocke looked nervously around the chamber as he licked up paste from the jar. The Goblin stayed close to Jeze''s legs as she explored the room. Both doors were locked, which meant her brother probably didn''t even bother with them. She snorted at the thought of Daverius marching down the stairwell with sword and Earth magic in hand. He didn''t bother with exploring and just muscled through hordes of Howlers. She was different, and she examined the closed doors.

    "Locked doors are locked for a reason," Ziplocke said as Jeze tried to open one.

    "Like protecting treasure," she added.

    "Not what I was going for," muttered the Goblin.

    Jeze studied the door for any hidden protective Runes. Her eyes widened when she discovered a thin line of glyphs that ran along the edges of the doorframe. They were faintly etched into the steel.

    "Keep a lookout," she told Ziplocke as she sat before the door and studied the Runes under the glow of her magic item.

    The Runes reminded Jeze of the protections the Old Crones had around their campus. They were equally complex, so she was confident she could disarm this set.

    "I just need to figure out what these Runes do so I can negate them," she wondered out loud.

    "Affliction aspect. They will make your skin boil. Nasty stuff," Ziplocke said from over Jeze''s shoulder.

    "You were supposed to be on the lookout," the teenager scolded.

    "And you want to have your skin boiled?"

    "How do you know?" Jeze asked.

    "I''m a Goblin from the Abyssal plane. Affliction is one of the aspects native to my kind," Ziplocke stated.

    "You never told me this!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "Well, you never asked!" Ziplocke retorted.

    Jeze thought about that for a moment. Having a Goblin Familiar could be more beneficial than she imagined. Ziplocke taught her the Darkness aspect, and Jeze wondered if she could learn Affliction as well. Placing curses on enemies had a lot of utility, she thought. But that was for later.

    "Boiling skin is a Shaping and Control foci," Jeze muttered out loud as she placed the globe on the ground and retrieved the jar of resin and the pointed stick from her backpack.

    Knowing the focus of the Runes allowed her to disarm them. Jeze altered a line of Runes using the resin and channeled her Will. Ziplocke backed away from her. The Goblin did not fancy the idea of having his skin boiled. The Runes flashed, the Goblin yelped, and Jeze celebrated with a whoop.

    "The door is still locked," Ziplocke observed.

    "I get to test my lockpicking! This is great!" Jeze exclaimed.

    She was having a lot of fun. This was what she lived for. This was her calling. She used her bracelet channeling tool to summon dirt, which she shaped into stone and shaped again into a thin steel pin. Jeze inserted the pin into the keyhole and shaped it to push the pilings in the right order. Ziplocke was right! This was much easier than trying to shape the pilings themselves. Initially, Jeze felt that this process would take too long, but it was significantly more effective. It took thirty minutes for Jeze to pick the lock, and her brow was covered with sweat.

    "I did it!" She said in a tired voice that came out more of an exhale than a cheer.

    "Yay, more dungeon to explore!" Ziplocke said with as much enthusiasm as a rotted log.

    The door Jeze picked opened and led to a hallway that traveled left and right, with a second door visible on the left. Across from her was a human skeleton in rusted metal armor that sat with its back against the wall and its legs splayed out in front. A rotted spear rested across its lap, and a gaping hole marked its breastplate where cracked ribs were visible.

    "I''ll bet you a jar paste that I know how he died," Ziplocke said with a giggle.

    To their right, the passage turned and continued out of sight. Here, the walls were marked with gauges and scorch marks. Some sort of battle, perhaps? Jeze wondered.

    "What could be strong enough to leave such rents?" Jeze asked.

    "Nothing we want to meet," Ziplocke muttered over her shoulder.

    A large iron helmet rested on the floor to her right. One that would fit a giant, but there were no skeletal remains. It was as if the owner had removed and dropped it. Jeze moved toward the helmet in order to see what was around the corner. Ziplocke yanked at her pants.

    "Wait, maybe we are out of our league here, don''t you think? Maybe you go back to town and return with a team?" The Goblin suggested.

    Jeze paused for a moment. That would be the smart thing to do. But she was having too much fun!

    "We will be alright," she said and continued on.

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    Jeze peeked around the corner and saw that it opened into a wider room. The walls here were darkened with scorch marks, and charred skeletal remains littered the floor. Some remains had the tell-tale claws of Howlers or other such demons. The other bones appeared human. Jeze guessed that the room was at one time a barracks, for it had rotted cots and steel racks that held a few rusted spears. A weird iron cage-like contraption was against the wall. The door was opened, but it was empty inside. It was enormous and had the same color as the giant helm on the floor. Jeze wondered if there was a connection. There was nothing else to see in this room, so she backtracked to the closed door.

    "No traps," Jeze said after she studied the frames.

    "No magic traps. You don''t know how to find regular traps," Ziplocke pointed out.

    The teenage Initiate tapped her chin and shrugged. "I have good reflexes," she said as she attempted to open the door.

    Ziplocke scurried down the hall, but nothing happened. Jeze clapped her hands together. The door was locked. This was so much fun!

    "I think I am getting better at this," Jeze observed after she picked up and opened the door.

    The door led to a small room with a curving stairwell that climbed down. It was littered with rubble, and the wall was partially collapsed.

    "That looks unstable," Ziplocke warned.

    It was no less risky than scaling the towers in the Old Crone''s school, Jeze reflected. She handed Ziplocke the globe and climbed down. The Goblin hurried to latch on to her back, and there was one moment of panic when a pile of rubble slipped out from under Jeze''s feet, but the young Initiate quickly recovered and avoided falling. In moments, she dropped lightly to the bottom of the stairwell.

    "We can''t go back up," Ziplocke said forlornly.

    The pile of rubble that slipped away created too large of a gap for them to scale.

    "I need to pack rope," Jeze commented as if she had forgotten the cake for a picnic.

    "We could die here!" Ziplocke exclaimed.

    "I''m not worried. We can find another way out. Or I may be able to climb this. Come, we have more to explore," Jeze stated.

    They were in a small room filled with rubble and a single closed door. It was identical to the room above, and Jeze checked the frame for traps. When she found none, she reached for the handle.

    "Wait!" Cried Ziplocke.

    "What?"

    "What if the trap Runes are on the other side?" Ziplocke asked.

    "Well, nothing. It should be written into the Rune structure to only be triggered from one side," Jeze responded.

    "And what if they are not? Wouldn''t opening the door from this side trigger them?" Ziplocke asked in a squeaky voice.

    Jeze shook her head, "that would be a poorly designed trap. It would go off on the other side."

    "What if it is an alarm?" Ziplocke asked.

    Jeze paused. She didn''t think about that, and she glanced up at the crumbled stairwell. She should have explored the other floor more instead of climbing down. Maybe she could have found a ward key that allowed her to travel through the trapped doors.

    "Oh well," she said with a shrug and opened the door before Ziplocke could further protest.

    She found herself in a hallway with the sloped pyramid wall to her left, and in the middle was a door on the right wall. This passageway was identical to the one above except longer with the end turning a corner and continued out of sight. The steel door was smashed open, and more skeletal bodies that were a mixture of humans in rusted armor and the bones of demons littered the ground. She wondered if they were Howlers, but they looked larger and were better equipped.

    "Did the demons invade this temple? If so, from where?" Jeze wondered.

    Ziplocke shrugged and said, "It is ancient, and remember it was not underground when the fighting occurred. The temple was buried with time."

    Jeze nodded in understanding. She kept thinking that she was going underground into the basement levels, but in reality, she was working her way back to the ground level. What she witnessed was an invasion force working their way up to the top, and then it dawned on her.

    "The demons were trying to shut down the weapon at the top?" Jeze asked.

    "That could be true. But where are they coming from now?" The Goblin wondered.

    "The only way to find out is that we keep exploring!" Jeze exclaimed.

    Ziplocke groaned and followed the teenage Initiate as she traveled down the hallway toward the ripped door. Jeze dimmed the globe, peeked through the cracked steel door frame, and saw an enormous rectangular chamber littered with rubble and the remains of humans and demons alike. Across from her was another door, and the wide stairwell was to her left. On the right was a collapsed wall filled with dirt and roots, as if nature was the final invader. Faint noises from Howlers could be heard coming from the depths of the stairwell.

    "We should not go down there," Ziplocke observed with a shudder.

    "Not yet, at least," Jeze replied with a wink. The Goblin groaned.

    "Relax, I learned my lesson," Jeze said.

    "Thank the Night Eye!" Ziplocke replied.

    "We need to explore everything first before moving on."

    Ziplocke groaned and followed Jeze down the hallway toward the corner. It turned into another barracks, this one larger than the one upstairs, and it was empty of bodies and weapons. Jeze guessed the soldiers marshaled and fought in the wide chamber outside the hallway. Again, she saw the large empty cage, and this barracks held two.

    "What did the cages hold?" She wondered.

    Ziplocke sniffed the cages and hissed with disgust. "Something Holy."

    Jeze held her glowing globe near the cage and examined it. She let out a gasp as Runes began to glow red along the steel. She moved in to look inside.

    "Be careful," Ziplocke warned.

    Inside, the cage was empty, and she stepped back out. When she closed the door, she noticed a sconce behind it.

    "Huh? Wonder what that is for," she said.

    "Nothing good. Let''s go," Ziplocke urged.

    Jeze ignored the Goblin and placed the globe in the sconce. The sphere and the Runes along the cage both flared a moment before they dimmed. Jeze retrieved her wand and completed the movements to Summon and Shape fire.

    "What are you doing!?! You shouldn''t play with magic you do not understand!" Ziplocke cried.

    It was too late. Jeze shot the fire at the Globe, and it flared with power. The cage rattled and sparked, but nothing happened.

    "I wonder if we need the helmet inside," Jeze reflected.

    "What are you talking about?" Ziplcoke snarled.

    "The helmet we found upstairs. I guess we could take the stairwell¡­" Jeze said and planned.

    "No! That is where the Howlers go! We should just continue exploring in the hidden hallways where we are safe," Ziplocke said.

    The Goblin couldn''t believe he suggested that. But he much preferred to not be eaten and ripped apart by the rat-like demons.

    "Why are you worried? If you die, you go back to the Abyssal plane," Jeze observed.

    "No, I can die here. I only return back if you die first," Ziplocke said with crossed arms.

    "Really? Interesting," Jeze replied.

    She retrieved her orb and packed away her wand. The sphere continued to glow, and she exited the barracks. She dimmed her light and summoned Shadows to surround her.

    "Are you ready?" She asked.

    Of course, the Goblin shook his head. But where else would they go? The stairs they used fell apart, and their only options were the other door and the large stairwell that had the sounds of Howlers coming from below. The monsters could swarm up at any moment. It was a long way to the other side of the chamber with very few hiding spaces in between. If anything were waiting in the stairwell, they would be easily spotted. But what other choice did they have?

    "Let''s go," Ziplocke groaned.

    Jeze dimmed the light and dashed across as silently as she could.

 Chapter 12: The Ones from Before

    Jeze made it across the wide chamber to the opposite door. The stairwell was to her left, where she heard the Howlers coming from below. To her right were piles of rubble from an ancient collapse. Jeze stopped by the door and found the Rune trap. It was the same as the floor below, and she retrieved her stick and resin.

    "Hurry up!" Ziplocke exclaimed.

    "Don''t rush me," Jeze replied.

    If she made a mistake, that would trigger the trap. She needed complete focus in order to insert her Will and disrupt the Rune pattern. It took her twenty minutes, but for the Goblin, it felt like hours. Ziplocke chewed his nails as he started nervously at the stairwell.

    "Yes! Now to pick the lock," Jeze said.

    The Goblin ducked behind her leg when he heard a loud shriek from the stairwell.

    Were they coming up now? Jeze wondered and paused to listen. Clawed feet scraped the steps and grew louder. Ziplocke shivered from the impending doom. Jeze had to decide whether to continue with the lock or run back and hide. It was the danger that thrilled her.

    "We are going to die," Ziplocke muttered.

    Click! Jeze unlocked the door as they heard the Howlers clambering up the flight of stairs. The two hurried inside, closed the door, and slumped against the wall as their hearts raced. They heard no sounds and found themselves in another hallway with a slanted wall. One end was filled with rubble, and the other was a door.

    "That''s easy," Jeze said and made her way toward the only visible exit.

    "We can''t just take a moment to rest?" Ziplocke gasped.

    Jeze studied the door for traps.

    "We almost died," the Goblin added.

    "You don''t know that," Jeze replied as she Summoned dirt.

    "If they entered the chamber, we would have been outnumbered with no escape!" Ziplocke cried.

    Jeze Shaped the dirt to stone and paused. "How did you manage the Spire?"

    Ziplocke appeared too cowardly for one to have attempted a quest that required, at minimum, an Adventurer rank to enter. Her brother wrote that one should be at the Adept level to pass the fifth floor, and the only known person to have defeated the tower was Hero ranked. It was Jeze''s rookie estimation that the pyramid they explored was Initiate rank at best. Unless the monsters down the stairs were anything greater than Howlers. That should be fun! She thought.

    Ziplocke slumped his tiny frame against the wall beside Jeze. "Why did I agree to this?" He muttered.

    Jeze Shaped the stone into a thin steel pin and worked on the lock. She chewed her lip as she worked with focus.

    "I suppose I have what human healers call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," Ziplocke finally answered.

    "Then why accept the summons?" Jeze asked when she unlocked the door.

    "On the Abyssal plane, us Goblins are constantly running and hiding to survive," the Goblin explained.

    "So, this should be nothing for you," Jeze observed as she picked up the glowing globe from the floor.

    "Not exactly," Ziplocke stated.

    Jeze paused her hand from opening the door. "Huh?"

    "Look, Jeze. I am typically summoned by an experienced Adventurer with a team."

    "We will find one when we head to the Iron Fist Kingdom."

    "I''m not so sure," Ziplocke said quietly.

    "Then why did you agree to our contract?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke scratched his bald green head. "I honestly thought I could run away and live free on this plane."

    "You were telling the truth about that!" Jeze exclaimed, her eyes wide.

    Ziplocke shrugged his small shoulders.

    "That is too funny!" Jeze said with rich laughter.

    "Not really," Ziplocke muttered.

    The Goblin perked up when he was given a spoonful of paste. Jeze was confident that her skills would get her noticed and invited to an elite team. She opened the door, and excitement bubbled up in her chest. They found a workshop!

    "Now we can get some answers! Hah! I bet Daverius missed this room. I bet that meathead just stormed down the stairs to fight whatever is down there," Jeze exclaimed.

    The young teenager grabbed Ziplocke, who gave a yelp, and spun him around as if they were at a royal dance.

    "Put me down, you knucklehead!" The Goblin snapped.

    The workshop was a rectangular room about the size of the barracks they encountered earlier. Instead of weapon racks and cots, this room consisted of workbenches and bookshelves. The tables held tools and dismantled globes, and the whole room was covered in dust and cobwebs.

    "I knew it!" Jeze exclaimed.

    The teenage Initiate pointed to an iron cage in the corner with an iron helm suspended in the air inside. Jeze suspected that there was a connection between the two. The cage door was closed with a sconce in front. Jeze retrieved her globe.

    "Hold up!" Ziplocke cautioned.

    "What? We have a working cage now. Let''s see what it Summons," Jeze said as she walked over.

    "Are you mad?!? There are so many things that could go wrong. One that is our only light source." Ziplocke pointed out.

    "Oh," Jeze replied and tapped her chin.

    She looked at the workbenches with dismantled spheres. She found one that was fully intact and used her Fire channeling tool to activate it.

    "Now we have two light sources," she said.

    "Okay, but whatever comes out of that cage may not be friendly to us," Ziplocke added.

    "It is clearly a guardian of the pyramid. It could help us clear out the Howlers downstairs," Jeze observed.

    "It could also view us as intruders and ''clear'' us," Ziplocke said and made air quotes with his fingers.

    "I think it would help us since we will be activating it, and we can not clear the lower floor by ourselves."

    "Why do we even need to clear the lower floor?"

    "To find out what my brother discovered. He said he had it on ''good authority'' that the prize of immortality was a lie. A myth, and I think he found that downstairs," Jeze answered.

    "Maybe you can find that here, where we do not need to fight a horde of demons," Ziplocke suggested.

    The Goblin gestured toward the tables and shelves. Jeze glanced around the room and saw the piles of scrolls and tomes. Her eyes went wide. Ziplocke may be right. This was a massive treasure trove of information and knowledge. Whoever built this pyramid was advanced in magic and here could lie all the potential secrets they held. The scholar inside her was ecstatic, and she went to research like a redirected puppy.

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    "I will never accept a contract with a teenager again," Ziplocke muttered.

    The two leaned over a table and poured through the tomes and scrolls. To Jeze''s dismay, many of the parchments were rotted and illegible. Even the pages that she was able to read were written in an old language and were hard to understand. Some of the letters were familiar, but others were not.

    "Do you understand this?" Jeze asked and slapped her hand on the table in frustration.

    "A little. Some of the letters are used in Abyssal, but their meanings are different," Ziplocke said.

    The Goblin''s eyes went wide as he realized something, and he hopped off the table and began to retch.

    "What? What is it?" Jeze asked and rushed over to her tiny companion''s side.

    "It''s Celestial!" Ziplocke explained.

    "How do you know?"

    "The two alphabets are similar but used differently! Oh, I can''t believe I touched the pages. Is it on me? Do I smell differently?" Ziplocke cried as he tried to scrub his hands clean.

    Jeze''s face scrunched with confusion and then relaxed with realization. That explained the Holy aspect etched upon the globes. Also, why was the floor littered with the skeletal remains of demons and humans? Her guess was correct. This was a temple!

    "Relax, you will be fine," Jeze stated.

    "They are supposed to be my mortal enemies!" Ziplocke screeched.

    "How? Excuse me, but didn''t you say you have to run and hide from the other demons for survival?"

    "What does that have to do with the putrid Celestials!?" Ziplocke demanded.

    "An enemy of an enemy is a friend?" Jeze suggested.

    Ziplocke gagged.

    Jeze sighed and searched her pack. She was down to three jars of paste, and she retrieved one to place on the table. Ziplocke stopped gagging, and his pointed ears perked up.

    "Tell me what you can translate," she asked and held up a spoon.

    Ziplocke''s lips smacked as he sucked on the spicy and sour paste. His previous disgust was forgotten as he read alongside Jeze.

    "Does this say, Archon?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke nodded and answered, "It does! Those are celestial beings made with one purpose, and that is to destroy. They are pure rage and made from the Fire and Holy aspects."

    "Like the globes," Jeze pointed out.

    Ziplocke nodded.

    Jeze felt like she was putting the pieces of a large puzzle together. She tapped Ziplocke''s shoulder and read a passage.

    "...the hot surge waiting at the Threshold with furious flame."

    "What do you think that means?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke tapped his chin and replied, "In the Abyssal plane, some of the demons refer to Thresholds as portals."

    Jeze nodded and wondered, "Is that what you think is down the stairwell? A Threshold where the Howlers can enter?"

    Ziplocke shrugged and suggested, "Let''s keep reading."

    The Goblin accepted a spoonful of paste, and the two went back to researching.

    Jeze found a manual that had images of the spheres and listed a long Rune pattern. This book interested her, even if it was hard to understand the writing. But she could transcribe and use the Runes. When she figured out what they did. If they will be fighting demons in the Spire, then having some Holy magic could be useful. She flipped a page, and her eyes went wide.

    "Look!" Jeze exclaimed and pointed.

    Ziplocke glanced over and saw on the page a picture of a hulking creature with a body of pure energy and an iron helm for a head. The word written underneath was "Archon."

    "If I understand what this says, the Archon won''t attack us because we are not demons. They only fight demons and for self-defense. So as long as we don''t attack it, we will be fine," Jeze said.

    The Goblin cleared his throat and said, "Are you forgetting something? I''m a demon."

    "No, you are not. You are my Familiar."

    Jeze packed the tome away into her backpack. She regretted not having unlimited storage space because she would take everything in the room. After careful consideration, the tome was the best bet for her. It had info that she could realistically use down the road. Jeze rose with the glowing globe in hand. Ziplocke hopped off the table to block her with zero success.

    "Please think about this," he pleaded.

    "We are running out of time, and as much as I enjoy research. I''m done with reading old tomes. Let''s summon this Archon, and maybe we can get some answers. Or get into a fight with Howlers!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "Oh, by the Infernal fires," Ziplocke swore, and he wrapped himself in shadows and hid in the corner.

    "You are breaking our contract! By doing something that can cause me harm," he screeched.

    "I don''t believe that," she replied and placed the globe in the sconce on the cage.

    Ziplocke closed his eyes. Jeze completed the glyphs for the Fire aspect with her wand. She Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled the fire toward the globe. The cage rattled and filled the room with an intense silver light that blinded Jeze. She heard the cage creak open, and when the light dimmed, a hulking humanoid-shaped creature emerged. Its feet thumped the ground as if it was made out of heavy iron, and it towered over Jeze by a good meter. Its body rippled and flickered as if it were made out of white flame that gave off a comforting warmth instead of the blistering heat one would expect. The eye slits in the helm glowed a bright blue like tiny stars. Jeze gulped and took a step back.

    "Do not fear me, mortal," the Archon boomed.

    It dragged each word out slowly, and its voice was so deep it reverberated in Jeze''s chest. The teenage Initiate imagined that this would be how a mountain would talk. Slow and deliberate.

    "My name is Jeze. What should I call you?"

    The Archon''s helm turned to scan the room, and then it looked down at Jeze.

    "My name would be impossible for you to speak. You may call me Archon," it rumbled deeply.

    "May I ask questions?"

    "You already asked a question," the Archon observed. It turned its helm to sweep the room as if it was searching for something.

    "Are you a protector of this temple?" Jeze asked.

    "This is not a temple, though the Ones from Before worshiped us like gods. I do not care to protect. My purpose is to destroy fiends. I hate them with every fiber of my being."

    "If this is not a temple, then what is this place?" Jeze asked.

    The Archon continued to glance around, though the rest of its body stood in one place like a towering campfire.

    "This is an outpost meant to seal the Threshold to keep the fiends from entering this realm. We care not for the mortals here, but we do not want the fiends to have this realm that is all we care about," the Archon intoned deeply.

    "How old is this place?" Jeze wondered out loud.

    The Archon heard her and answered, "I sense that I was asleep for thousands of years."

    Jeze chuckled. Ziplocke was right.

    "I also sense that the magic we used to seal away the fiends is fading. It will only be a matter of time before the fiends take this realm back. I feel I am the last of my kind here," it rumbled, and Jeze sensed a bit of sadness in the Archon''s grating voice.

    The celestial being studied the walls and shook its giant helmed head.

    "It appears that the Ones from Before are long forgotten as this outpost was neglected," the Archon observed.

    "Who were the Ones from Before?" Jeze asked.

    "Your ancestors, mortal. How quickly your kind forgets."

    "What do you know of the Wandering Spire?" Jeze asked.

    "I have heard of no such thing," the Archon replied as it continued to scan the room like a fiery sentinel.

    Jeze wracked her brain. Maybe it knew of the Spire by a different name? It was Abyssal in origin, so the Archon had to know what it was.

    "Are you sure? It is a large tower that appears randomly every five years. It is so tall that it passes the clouds," Jeze stated.

    "You speak of the Stronghold," the Archon replied simply.

    "Okay, what is the Stronghold''s purpose?"

    "To invade. This realm was under the control of the fiends. The Ones from Before knew of the Endless Feud between our realms. They summoned us, and together, we weakened the Stronghold. This allowed a small group to infiltrate its defenses and challenge the Fiendish Lord at the top. I sense that our magic that held the fiends away is weakening, and they will return," the Archon said.

    Whoa! Jeze thought to herself. This was deep! What the Empire, the kingdoms, and the Guild thought about the tower was wrong. Dangerously wrong! She needed to get the Archon out to share the news. They needed to know what the real purpose of the Spire was! Another question came to her mind.

    "Is there a gift of immortality at the top of the Stronghold?" She asked.

    "No. We sealed the Fiendish Lord at the top to prevent it from controlling this realm. The Seals are likely weakening, and soon it will be free to return this plane of existence back to despair and anguish."

    "Why would we think there is a gift of immortality?" Jeze wondered out loud.

    "Fiends lie," the Archon stated.

    If this was true and the Emperor was not immortal, then who was ruling the Empire? Jeze wondered. Was this some manipulative conspiracy to keep the ruling family in power? That made sense since the Emperor''s clan had ruled with an iron fist for centuries. That was a major revelation but was dwarfed when compared to the real purpose of the Wandering Spire. Jeze felt an immense weight fall on her young shoulders. The fate of this realm was on the line. Was this what her brother discovered? No, it couldn''t be. He never found this room. Unless¡­

    "What is on the lower level?" She asked.

    "A Threshold."

    She knew it!

    The Archon''s head snapped to glare with fiery blue eyes at the corner.

    "I sense you, fiend!" It roared.

    The shadows around Ziplocke faded away.

    On instinct and without thinking, Jeze placed herself in between the Archon and her familiar.

    "He is helping me! Helping us!" She cried.

    "Goblin! I despise you, but I do not hate you. You suffer more at the hands of the greater fiends. I pity you and will not waste my energy on your existence," the Archon growled.

    "Hey!" Ziplocke said, with tiny fists at his hips.

    "I told you that you would be safe," Jeze said and patted the Goblin on the head.

    The Archon turned toward the door, and the room shook as it moved.

    "Where are you going?" Jeze asked.

    "To the Threshold. I sense that the Seals have weakened. I will slaughter the fiends that come through," the Archon intoned deeply.

    "Oooh, this is going to be good!" Ziplocke exclaimed and rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

 Chapter 13: On Good Authority

    The Archon stomped out of the hallway and into the central chamber. It appeared to be a living flame, but when it moved, it sounded like it was made of iron. It was not stealthy at all, Jeze reflected. They heard Howlers shriek from the stairwell and saw dozens of rat-like demons. The Archon raised both arms back and slammed them forward. An inferno of pure white flame washed down the stairwell and turned the demons to ash.

    ¡°Probably best that we stay further back,¡± Jeze said when she felt the intense heat.

    ¡°Good idea,¡± Ziplocke agreed.

    They retreated to the doorway as the Archon continued down the steps. From their vantage point, they saw another flash of silver light and heard the dying sounds from the Howlers below. The rat-like demons were running up the stairs before the Archon appeared, probably to attack the villages and farmsteads. Five were already upstairs and returned when they heard the Archon fry their colleagues. The Howlers came face to face with Jeze and Ziplocke.

    ¡°Good luck,¡± Ziplocke said and faded into the shadows.

    The demons charged, and one collapsed with an ax stuck into its scaly head. Jeze drew her second ax in her right hand and completed the glyph to summon piles of dirt with her left. She parried a spear thrust, ducked a second attack, and circled away to keep the Howlers in a straight line. She flung her ax and caught a Howler in the chest. It fell and squirmed on the floor as its three remaining companions charged. Jeze drew her knife and shaped the pile of dirt into fist-sized stones. She was careless and wasted too much attention on her Shaping. She missed a parry and took a spear to her shoulder. She screamed in a mixture of pain and frustration and Controlled a fist-shaped stone to smash into the back of her attacker¡¯s head. The Howler pitched forward, and its brains leaked onto the floor.

    Jeze parried a thrust and jabbed her blade into the monster¡¯s throat. The last Howler attacked, and Jeze ducked and countered with a slash to the creature¡¯s thigh. It hissed and slammed Jeze in the fast with the butt end of its spear. Jeze felt her nose crack, and blood dripped down her face. She stumbled back, and with extreme focus and skill that she honed through hours of practice, she Controlled a stone and slammed it into her attacker¡¯s side. The impact cracked ribs, and the Howler fell to its claws and knees. She stabbed it in the back of the neck, and the fight was over.

    ¡°You look horrible,¡± Ziplocke said as his shadows fell away.

    Bright flashes could be seen from the stairwell, and howling could be heard from below. From her pack, Jeze gingerly pulled out a poultice she had crafted and applied it to her wounds. She asked Ziplocke to get her Life aspect Channeling rod. The Goblin compiled, and Jeze used it to stitch up her wounds on her side and shoulder. She gritted her teeth in pain and collapsed to the floor. Her nose continued to bleed, and her face was swollen.

    ¡°You will live,¡± Ziplocke said as he studied her closed wounds.

    ¡°Yeah, and thank you for your help, by the way,¡± she gasped.

    ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m strictly a consultant, and I consulted you to leave this place on several occasions. Not my fault if you didn¡¯t listen,¡± the Goblin chided.

    Jeze laughed and then moaned from the pain it caused her face. She needed to recover from her wounds, and mostly from the exertion of Will required to Shape her flesh closed. Could she Summon flesh, and what would that look like? She wondered, her head in a daze.

    ¡°Archon really does not like demons,¡± Ziplocke observed.

    Flashes and screams of battle could be heard from below. Jeze slowly rose up to a seated position. Even though she knitted her wounds closed, her skin still felt tender to the touch and likely to reopen from any sudden movement.

    ¡°Here, let me help,¡± Ziplocke said and wrapped her wounds with bandages from Jeze¡¯s pack.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered.

    ¡°Yea, well, if you die, I go back to hell,¡± Ziplocke said and wiped the blood from her swollen face.

    Jeze chuckled and glanced at the stairwell with a tilted head. The flashes and sounds of the massacre had subsided.

    ¡°Should we head down?¡± She asked.

    Ziplocke¡¯s pointed ears folded back, and he wrangled his tiny hands. ¡°We could take the stairwell up and leave,¡± he suggested.

    Jeze rolled her eyes, and with a grimace, she stood up. She grabbed the glowing orb and said, ¡°Come on, let''s go.¡±

    Ziplocke sighed, and the two carefully made their way down the wide steps. The Goblin glanced up forlornly. The stairs ended in the largest chamber the two have seen so far. This was the base of the pyramid, and it was littered with skeletons and bodies. It appeared exactly as Jeze imagined a space that had two major battles would look like. Three, if she included her brother¡¯s visit. The space was brightly lit by the Archon¡¯s flickering silver flames, the orb Jeze held, and a sliver of purple light in the center of the chamber.

    ¡°That the Threshold?¡± Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke nodded, ¡°Looks like.¡±

    It reminded Jeze of a crack in a mirror. With careful examination, Jeze could make out the remains from the three different battles. The oldest remains were in armor, and both humans and demons were entangled in their dance of death. Daverius left corpses that were partly crushed and partly sliced. The Archon left piles of dust and ash. There were many piles. Jeze readied her ax and dagger and limped across the chamber. Ziplocke hugged her knee and followed.

    ¡°The seals were damaged,¡± Archon rasped.

    That was when Jeze realized the Celestial being was injured. She was shocked to see several spears sticking out of its flaming body. From the spear wounds, the Archon dripped drops of fire that splashed like liquid to the ground. That explained why Archon¡¯s body didn¡¯t give off much heat, except when he attacked. It looked like it was made from flames, but it was not. It was something of substance.

    ¡°Can I help you?¡± She asked.

    The Archon looked at her with its blue stars for eyes and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Be careful,¡± Ziplocke cautioned.

    Jeze went up to the giant Archon and did not feel an intense heat from its flickering flames. They felt like silk as they brushed up against her hand when she reached for a spear. She pulled the weapon out, and the Archon flinched. She removed the remaining weapons.

    ¡°Is there a way I can treat your wounds?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°The orb,¡± the Archon answered.

    Jeze motioned for Ziplocke to bring the glowing orb over. After some coaxing, the Goblin complied. Archon held the small globe in its massive hands as Jeze got her wand and Summoned fire. The dripping flames stopped, and Archon¡¯s health appeared to improve.

    ¡°The Seals were damaged and improperly repaired,¡± the Archon intoned deeply.

    ¡°You are welcome,¡± Ziplocke snarled.

    Jeze studied the Runes around the crack in space. She saw where they were marred and a clumsy attempt to repair them. With a pang of sadness, she guessed that was her brother¡¯s work from years ago.

    ¡°You never took your Rune work seriously,¡± she chided.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Jeze said and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

    ¡°You will need to repair them,¡± the Archon ordered.

    ¡°Hold your horses!¡± Snapped Ziplocke.

    The Goblin squeaked and hid behind Jeze¡¯s knees when Archon turned to face him. Jeze knelt beside the circle of Runes and found several areas where someone had scratched them. Who? She wondered. She also saw how her brother attempted to repair them. He used a clumsily made resin mixture that cracked and faded over time. About five years his patchwork held, Jeze reflected. Sadness gripped her chest like a grasping hand from beyond. She pushed it back.

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    ¡°Tools!¡± She exclaimed.

    Archon glanced at her with his great helm for a head.

    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Ziplocke responded and was clueless.

    ¡°The workshop has tools. Let''s go get them,¡± Jeze answered.

    Ziplocke¡¯s face scrunched, and then his eyes went wide with realization.

    ¡°I will remain here. Hurry,¡± Archon growled.

    Jeze climbed the stairs and said, ¡°Someone sabotaged the runes.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure it''s not from natural causes?¡± Ziplocke stated.

    Jeze shook her head. The Seal was engraved into the stone. The two gathered mallets and chisels and returned just as Archon vaporized a pair of Howlers.

    ¡°A lot has been coming through lately. I wonder why,¡± Ziplocke observed.

    ¡°The Seals are weakening. This is just the beginning. You must hurry,¡± Archon said.

    Jeze saw that her brother did guesswork, but he didn¡¯t explore the pyramid. She did, and Jeze pulled out the tome she took from the workshop. She was so engrossed in her research that the sudden flash of Holy flame startled her as Archon dusted a few more Howlers.

    ¡°You must hurry,¡± Archon said.

    ¡°Does he know how to say anything else?¡± Ziplocke hissed.

    ¡°I found the Runes. Can you take a look and confirm?¡± Jeze asked and turned the tome to face the Goblin.

    Ziplocke scowled but studied the Holy runes and compared them to the ones on the floor.

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty certain these are them,¡± he said.

    Howls echoed through the chamber as half a dozen demons rushed through. Archon vaporized them, but not before one stuck it with a spear. With renewed motivation, Jeze went to work. She used the hammer and chisel, and with deliberate focus, she etched the repairs. It was slow going as mistakes could not be undone. Well, they could if I shaped the stone, she reflected. Jeze shook her head and returned to work with a focused mind. Jeze was so engrossed in the Runework that she lost track of time and was oblivious to her surroundings. Archon fought a steady trickle of Howlers, and Jeze slowly repaired the Seal. With the final whack of her hammer, she felt the satisfying taut of energy that marked her success.

    ¡°Yes!¡± The teenage Initiate exclaimed.

    ¡°Uh, Jeze¡­¡± Ziplocke warned.

    What was he talking about? She wondered as her surroundings came into focus. A giant two-headed Howler was battling Archon! The large fiend was the same size as the celestial, and it wore black plate armor on its hunched-over body. Both of its rat-like heads had helmets and in its arms the monster wielded a heavy spiked morningstar and a long kite shield that protected it¡¯s large body from Archon¡¯s flames.

    ¡°Close the Threshold before more come through!¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    Jeze was worried. The two-headed Howler was able to defend against Archon¡¯s primary attack and hurt the celestial with heavy hits from its morningstar. The heavy, blunt weapon thudded into Archon¡¯s body and caused fire and flame to leak out. It was only a matter of time before Archon was defeated. If Jeze closed the Seal, she would be drained and unable to fight. However, the longer the Threshold remained open, the greater the likelihood that another two-headed Howler would emerge. With a sigh, she focused on her Will and completed the full body pattern. A pack of Howlers peeked their heads through the portal just as Jeze finished her movements. With a loud crack, the Seal was snapped into place. The tear closed and left half of the Howlers'' bodies to fall to the ground in a bloody mess.

    ¡°That was wonderful!¡± Ziplocke cackled.

    Jeze slumped to the floor. The two-headed Howler hammered its morningstar over and over into Archon¡¯s body. The Celestial was unable to get past the giant fiend¡¯s shield.

    ¡°Ziplocke, you have to help him,¡± she said in a voice that was barely a whisper.

    ¡°What? Are you mad? How?¡± The Goblin shrieked.

    ¡°Use an Affliction to get the fiend to lower its shield. Any advantage could help Archon,¡± Jeze said. Slowly, her strength was returning, but she was still very weak.

    Jeze watched Ziplocke with tired eyes. She was curious to see the Rune patterns for the Affliction aspect. Jeze never saw the Goblin use a channeling tool and now realized why. The Goblin had the Runes etched onto its body. She saw the Runes glow faintly along the Goblin¡¯s green arms before disappearing. Ziplocke completed a series of gestures with his fingers and body. There was a flash of red on his hands, and another flash appeared over the two-headed Howler¡¯s heads. The demon stumbled as if it had a headache, and Archon was able to strike it with a blast of flame. It scorched through the large fiend¡¯s armor and burnt flesh, but the demon was able to fight still.

    ¡°Oh great, now it knows about us,¡± Ziplocke whined as one of the Howler heads glared at him.

    Jeze noticed that the two-headed Howler moved a little slower, but it guided the fight with Archon closer to them.

    ¡°We better move,¡± she said and grabbed Ziplocke to run.

    A moment later, a giant morningstar smashed into the ground where they were moments earlier. Luckily, the weapon missed the Seal. That could be a problem, Jeze thought. They would need to defeat this monster quickly. Jeze Summoned piles of dirt and Shaped them into stones. Archon launched Holy flame attacks that were deflected by the fiend¡¯s shield. The fight returned to the demon¡¯s favor, and Archon was leaking flame from multiple wounds. But that changed.

    Jeze pelted the two-headed Howler with Controlled stones from all angles. Ziplocke danced and gestured, and one of the heads sneezed. From the distraction, the fiend was slow to raise its shield and was blasted by Archon.

    ¡°This is fun! I never had a chance to torture a greater fiend before! How do you like that? Huh?¡± Ziplocke squealed.

    The Goblin danced and gestured again, and this time, the two-headed Howler looked dizzy as if it were drunk. It was just a moment, but that was all that was needed for Jeze to strike it in the back of the knee with a stone. That imbalanced the demon to one side, and Archon engulfed it in flames. The two-headed Howler swung and missed. Ziplocke laughed maniacally and gestured again. One of the heads burped, and Jeze struck it in the back with a stone that caused the fiend to stumble forward. Archon vaporized both of the monster¡¯s heads in a single blast.

    ¡°It is done,¡± Archon said, flames dripped like silver liquid off its giant body.

    Jeze helped heal Archon with the magic globe.

    ¡°Can you come with me to let the others know the real purpose of the Stronghold?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°I care not for mortals. My only purpose is to kill fiends and to stop them from taking over this realm,¡± Archon intoned.

    ¡°We helped you! It is only fair that you help us,¡± Jeze pointed out.

    ¡°Your concept of fairness means nothing to me.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t really sound angry,¡± Ziplocke muttered.

    Archon stood still in the center of the chamber.

    ¡°Then, what will you do now?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°I will ensure that this Threshold remains closed.¡±

    ¡°The best way to stop the fiends is to help us defeat the Stronghold,¡± Jeze reasoned.

    ¡°I will think on this.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Jeze cried.

    ¡°I will ensure that this Threshold remains closed. If the Stronghold appears, I will kill the demons that emerge from it,¡± Archon replied.

    Jeze screamed at the top of her lungs in frustration. Ziplocke giggled. He found her anger amusing. Archon stood motionless, the fire from its body flickering.

    ¡°Fine! We don¡¯t need you,¡± Jeze said.

    Archon remained quiet.

    Ziplocke cleared his throat.

    ¡°What?¡± Jeze snapped.

    ¡°Maybe this was what your brother discovered,¡± the Goblin said and pointed to the walls of the chamber.

    This was the first time Jeze noticed the murals that encircled the room. They told a story of a time when the world was peaceful until the Spire appeared. From it, hordes of demons swarmed out, and the world was transformed into a blasted wasteland.

    ¡°Is that what the Abyssal plane looks like?¡± Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke tapped his chin. ¡°Pretty much. This is good artwork. You can really see the misery and fear of the place. It''s like you can feel it, you know?¡±

    Jeze nodded and continued her walk around the chamber. She knelt and touched the floor. These were the same steps her brother took. A group of warriors and mages gathered and opened a portal to the celestial realm.

    ¡°These are the Ones from Before,¡± Ziplocke attempted to say deeply in a poor imitation of Archon.

    Archons and Angels fought against fierce-looking demons in front of the Spire. It appeared futile as the Spire¡¯s defenses were impregnable. The Ones from Before and their angelic allies retreated, and the fiends reigned supreme.

    ¡°This is really depressing, such great art!¡± Ziplocke cried. Tears were in his eyes.

    The Ones from Before devised powerful magics that cursed the Spire and created a hole in its defenses. Five heroes were able to enter the hole or portal. They battled up the floors of the Spire, fighting monsters that became fiercer with each floor until, finally, the five heroes made it to the top.

    ¡°Yes! I hope they win!¡± Ziplocke exclaimed.

    At the top floor, the five heroes faced a most fearsome-looking Fiendish Lord who stood tall with bat-like wings and large horns.

    ¡°That is pretty accurate. The artist really captured the glint of the horns, you know?¡± Ziplocke pointed out.

    The Ones from Before were able to defeat the Fiendish Lord and lock him away behind the final door of the Spire. The mural showed the world returning back to normal and the Spire banished back to the Abyssal plane where the Fiendish Lord remains locked away.

    The next murals showed locations where Thresholds remain. Places where the fiends were able to trickle in and the Ones from Before built pyramids over such places to seal off the Threshold. Evil looking people were shown to enter the pyramids to disrupt the Seals and hordes of demons would emerge from the Threshold. These monsters would escape out but were then turned to ash from the weapon at the top of the pyramid.

    ¡°Told you, that was a weapon. We were lucky we didn¡¯t ignite it with fire,¡± Ziplocke said.

    Archon startled the two when it spoke from behind them. How could something so big and heavy move so quietly? Jeze wondered.

    ¡°The Seals that lock the Fiendish Lord are failing. That is why the Stronghold is appearing in this realm. If you were to defeat them, you would need to repair the Seals like you did here,¡± Archon said.

    ¡°Will you help?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Archon said and walked back to the center of the chamber.

    Jeze yelled curses at the Celestial back.

    ¡°Those were some impressive insults. I didn¡¯t think you had it in you!¡± Ziplocke cackled.

 Chapter 14: Sacrifice

    Jeze and Ziplocke exited the pyramid into the clearing, where several Howlers lay dead with arrows protruding from their bodies. It was twilight, and the area was awash in an orange and blue glow from the rising sun. Was I inside that long? Jeze wondered. She lost track of time because of all the excitement and fun she had. She couldn''t wait to do it again, and she hungered for the Wandering Spire.

    "Raynor was busy," Ziplocke observed.

    Jeze nodded in agreement and loudly whispered into the treeline, "Don''t shoot me, you old goat."

    She couldn''t wait to share what she had learned with her friend and mentor.

    "He may shoot you for that," the Goblin muttered.

    The two waited in silence. Jeze was worried that Raynor might accidentally mistake them for demons. Well, he wouldn''t be wrong about Ziplocke. Jeze was full of excited energy, but she didn''t want to make careless mistakes. That was all she needed was to survive the pyramid only to be shot by accident by a fellow guild member.

    "Raynor?" She whispered a little louder than before.

    "I and everything else in the Deep Wood could hear you," Raynor growled back from the tree line.

    Jeze smiled so wide it hurt her face. Without further delay, she ran across the clearing toward the Old Hunter''s voice. The Deep Wood was filled with shadows as the sun rose, and it took a moment for Jeze''s eyes to spot the Old Hunter. Raynor was resting on a log with his bow on his lap, and his Dane ax leaned on a tree next to him.

    "Took you long enough," he muttered with a twinkle in his squinty eyes.

    Raynor let out a groan as Jeze hugged him.

    Concern appeared on the Old Hunter''s face. "By the Night Eye, girlie. You got into a few scraps. Let me take a look at your face."

    Jeze shook off his hand and said without taking a breath, "There is so much I learned inside. The Wandering Spire is actually called the Stronghold. It does not have the gift of Immortality at the top. It is part of an invasion force from the Abyssal plane, and the Seals that were holding them back are weakening, and we need to tell everyone¡­"

    "Easy, girlie. Slow down. This old goat can only hear so many words at a time. Is your face alright? Are you hurt anywhere else?" Raynor said.

    Jeze took a deep breath. Ziplocke hopped off her shoulder to sniff around the trees. The Goblin melted into the shadows. Jeze exhaled and spoke more slowly. Only slightly slower. Her words still came out like rushing water from a crack in a dam.

    "My face is fine. I''m fine. Now listen, there is a war between Celestials and Fiends. The Fiends used to control this world but were forced out by the Ones from Before. The Spire is actually a Stronghold which the fiends use to invade planes of existence. The Seals that banished them are weakening, and I have to make it to the top floor to repair them to seal the Fiendish Lord behind the final door," Jeze explained.

    "What are you blabbering about, girl? What does this have to do with the cave?" Raynor asked, scratching his thick mop of gray hair.

    Jeze inhaled and spoke again, "It''s not a cave. It''s a pyramid that was lost in time and is buried under the earth. It is actually an outpost made from the Ones from Before to guard the Threshold where the fiends can enter. Actually, it is a weapon! See the top? The top is a giant sphere that, when you ignite it with fire it, will unleash Holy and Fire magic to destroy armies of demons!"

    "Any fire will cause it to explode?" Raynor asked, concerned in his voice.

    "Well, I suppose magic fire."

    "That don''t seem safe for the Deep Wood. Is there a way to deactivate it?" Raynor asked.

    Jeze slapped her forehead. "Are you listening to me? That is the least of our concerns!"

    "Girlie, I''ve been at this a long time. You handle the things you can manage, you hear me? You are yapping so much about an invasion, demons, that my head is spinning," Raynor mumbled.

    "We need to tell the guild. The Wandering Spire is not just a magically appearing dungeon filled with treasure. It is more than that and very dangerous. The kingdoms and clans need to take it more seriously instead of using it as a competition for glory," Jeze said.

    Raynor gripped Jeze firmly by her shoulders and looked at her with serious eyes. "You listen to me now. You need to be careful, girlie. You can''t be spouting these things to just anyone. Especially here in the Empire."

    "Who cares if the Emperor is immortal or not. We are talking about the entire world! Are you listening to me?" Jeze demanded.

    "Many cared and died, girlie. This is a lot of information. Dangerous information. I don''t want to see you getting hurt," Raynor stated.

    "Hurt? The entire world is in danger!" Jeze exclaimed.

    Ziplocke giggled from the shadows. This was way more fun than fleeing for his life from packs of Howlers in the Abyssal plane. He was glad he took this contract.

    "Aaagh! The world is always in danger. It''s either this Fiendish Lord you are blabbering about, or an ancient lich, or a powerful vampire clan wanting to block out the sun forever. When you lived as long as I have, and I hope you do, girlie, then you have seen it all. These things take a measured approach, and you handle what you can," Raynor said.

    "So wise," Ziplocke commented.

    "Hush you," Raynor snapped.

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    Jeze was breathing fast. She was annoyed, but what Raynor said made some sense. But why was he not taking this seriously? Maybe he needs to meet Archon? Jeze''s eyes went wide.

    "Why don''t you come inside with me? You can see for yourself," Jeze suggested.

    "Inside an exploding death weapon? No, thank you, girlie."

    "It will only explode if you summon a flame near it," Ziplocke explained.

    "He''s right," Jeze added.

    Raynor''s head perked up, and he held up a finger that demanded silence.

    "What is it?" Jeze whispered.

    "We are not alone," Raynor answered quietly, and the Old Hunter reached for his long hafted ax.

    Jeze pulled out her own weapon and readied her Earth aspect bracelet.

    "I don''t hear anything," Ziplocke whispered.

    "Because you are a fool," Raynor retorted and scanned the trees.

    The Goblin grumbled but remained quiet and melted back into the shadows.

    "Show yourself! We know you are there," Raynor called out in a voice loud like a grizzly bear.

    The air shimmered from among the trees, and several figures emerged. One was a thin man armed with a crossbow. Jeze recognized the Runes etched into the leather of his belt. This was a caster and probably the one that shaped the Light aspect illusion. Three others, who were in light armor and armed with spears, stepped out, and Jeze''s heart sank. The last figure to appear was Drake.

    "Girl, I really wished you told me the truth instead of lies," the powerfully built, dark-skinned man said. There was no charming smile on his face.

    "What do you want, and why are you sneaking around like snakes?" Raynor demanded.

    The Old Hunter gripped his ax and moved protectively in front of Jeze. She also readied herself.

    A weak smile appeared on Drake''s face, one that lacked mirth, and he said, "I did not want to involve you in this, Old Hunter."

    "Yeah? Well then, don''t," Raynor simply replied.

    Drake chuckled and rubbed his head. Jeze saw a ruthless cruelty in the dark-skinned man''s face. Fear gripped her chest as hard as she gripped her weapon.

    "If there is any consolation, I wish I could," the Emperor''s agent said.

    "Stop your nonsense. You know there is no need for trouble," Raynor growled.

    "Ah, but you see, there is. I must preserve the stability of the Empire. What she has told you is dangerous and must be put down," Drake said.

    "She is just a child with big ideas in her head. Nothing to concern you or your Empire," Raynor growled.

    "You mean our Empire? I am sorry, Old Hunter," Drake replied and made a motion with his wrist.

    The thin man fired his crossbow. The bolt struck Raynor in the chest.

    "No!" Jeze screamed as the three spearmen charged forward.

    Raynor roared like a raging bear and knocked aside two spear thrusts with a mighty swing. Jeze hurled her ax and struck the crossbowman in the head. The thin man collapsed to the ground by Drake''s feet.

    "Not bad," the Captain said with a shrug and readied his sword and shield.

    Raynor lopped off the head of one of his attackers and took a spear to his leg. The Old Hunter roared furiously with wild swings to keep the remaining two spearmen at bay. But it was only a matter of time.

    Jeze Summoned piles of dirt in different spots as Drake marched toward her with cold eyes. She Shaped the dirt to stone and launched them. Drake casually blocked a rock with his shield. One of the spearmen grunted in pain as they were struck on their side. The two remaining soldiers retreated cautiously. They were made nervous over the quick deaths of two of their colleagues.

    "What are you doing? It''s just an old man and a girl!" Drake roared.

    The Captain moved fast. He lunged with his sword and caused Jeze to stumble back with a clumsy parry. Drake''s swordsmanship made his blade appear alive as it changed direction and slashed out again with deadly accuracy. The tip of his sword cut a deep gash on Jeze''s face. She fell on her back and brought her weapon up just in time to intercept another attack. Drake disarmed Jeze of her ax with a casual flick of his wrist that sent the weapon into the air. She scrambled for her remaining weapons, but Drake moved too fast, and his blade was posed for a killing blow. Then he sneezed. A violent sneeze that racked his entire body.

    "An old man, a girl, and a Goblin!" Ziplocke squealed from out of hiding, his hands glowing red with the Affliction aspect.

    Jeze used the distraction to Control a Stone Fist and whacked Drake in the back of the head. The blow knocked his helmet off, and he looked up with fury in his eyes.

    "Enough!" He roared.

    He was in the fight for real now, but alone. His two soldiers remained reluctant to engage, and that left him standing in front of Raynor. The Old Hunter''s breath came out, and he wheezed as he wobbled on his feet from his wounds. Drake attacked, and the two exchanged a short flurry of blows that resulted in Raynor getting cut twice along his arm and face. The Old Hunter roared with surprising power and struck a heavy blow against Drake''s shield, which caused the Captain to stumble back. Drake and his two spearmen were engulfed in a globe of darkness.

    "Hurry!" Ziplocke cried and clambered up the teenager''s shoulder.

    Jeze helped Raynor, and the three ran toward the pyramid entrance. Behind them, Drake emerged from the darkness with sword and shield by his sides and walked with an inevitability that frightened Jeze. She dragged the Old Hunter inside and pulled the lever that opened the stairs.

    "Come, we can hide inside," Jeze said.

    Raynor was breathing hard and nodded. When Jeze was by the stairs, he shoved her. Jeze and Ziplocke tumbled down and looked up in time as Raynor sealed the stairwell that plunged the two into darkness.

    "No!" Jeze cried.

    She banged her elbow and was injured from the fall, and she struggled to search her pack for the magic sphere.

    "I respect you, Old Hunter," Drake said from the cracked entrance.

    "Shut up," Raynor spat back.

    "Come, pick up your ax. I will provide you with a warrior''s death," Drake said and pointed with his sword to the Old Hunter''s weapon that lay on the ground.

    "How about you turn back, and we forget this nonsense," Raynor suggested, blood stained his lips and teeth.

    Drake chuckled and replied, "If only I can. I have a duty, you see. I believe that the Empire is needed for stability, and without it, there will only be chaos."

    "Great! I''m dealing with a zealot," Raynor spat.

    "Call me what you wish. I am honor-bound, but that does not mean I can not grant you the death that you deserve. The mighty Raynor!" Drake said with a flourishing bow.

    "You mock me, boy?"

    "No, I am sincere. I am truly sorry it had to come this," Drake replied and took a step inside.

    "You and me both," Raynor said.

    The Old Hunter held the rune stick he crafted with Jeze''s instruction. He looked up and saw the giant sphere on the ceiling. Raynor completed the final glyph that sparked a flame, and he held it toward the weapon above. Red Runes appeared on its surface, and it began to glow.

    "What are you doing?" Drake demanded.

    The Captain was uncertain if he should impale the Old Hunter or flee. It was that hesitation that cost him everything. The chamber erupted in white holy flame. From underneath, Jeze and Ziplocke felt the pyramid quake, and the intense heat washed over them even through the thick stones.

    "No!" Jeze shouted with tears in her eyes.

 Chapter 15: The Affliction Aspect

    Jeze scrambled up the steps as fast as she could. The stone floor was hot, and smoke filled the room. Jeze had tears streaming down her face.

    "You stupid Old Goat! Why?" She cried.

    Through the thick smoke and remaining fires, she saw Raynor''s ax and a charred arm. That was too much for her to take in, and she ran. Jeze ran so fast that Ziplocke barely held on, his legs flailing like a cape behind her. Where could she go? Jeze wondered as she ran. She just kept running. Not only was she in danger, but anybody else she talked to. Like Raynor, she reflected with anguish. Jeze wiped the tears from her eyes with steely determination and continued on at a fast pace. Was her brother murdered? What did Daverius stir up that would make the Emperor send someone all the way to the outskirts of the Golden Empire to question his teenage sister?

    "Where are you going?" Ziplocke shrieked.

    Jeze headed southwest toward the Iron Kingdom, where the Wandering Spire was set to appear in two months. Luckily, it was only a week''s travel by foot for someone in shape. This was it, and Jeze had trained hard for years for his moment.

    "To the Iron Fist Kingdom for the next Spire," Jeze replied.

    "What about food? My paste?" The Goblin whined.

    "I can hunt, and I''m sure there are villages along the way," Jeze said.

    She had never traveled outside of Narcadia, and she heard stories about how it was so distant from the core of the Golden Empire that it was almost like a different kingdom.

    "You have money?" Ziplocke asked.

    Jeze kept a steady pace, but she hadn''t planned this far. She figured she would have more time to prepare. To get a map and stock up on supplies. Her calculations did not factor in an attempted assassination.

    "I can''t go back to the Old Crones school. It''s too risky," Jeze stated.

    Ziplocke pondered and agreed. "When Drake does not report back in time, the Empire will send another, and they will question everyone. Anyone who has seen you recently will be in danger."

    The Goblin cackled with glee over Jeze''s predicament. She wondered if she could break their Contract and summon someone kinder, like a fairy dragon. Jeze shook that thought out of her head. Getting a contract with a Goblin was a rare occurrence, and she was fortunate.

    "There! Follow the main road. It should lead to a village," Ziplocke exclaimed and pointed.

    Through the tree line, they saw a traveled dirt road. Jeze recognized this road. It was the one that led to Narcadia to the Northeast and the one that Raynor took to trade his furs. What was the name of the town he would go to? Angston was a town larger than Narcidia, she recalled as anguish gripped her heart when she thought about the Old Hunter. She should have listened to him more, she reflected.

    "For money, you can work Rune magic and make potions. Those always sell in towns," Ziplocke stated.

    "How do you know this?" Jeze asked, glad to have something to keep her mind away from her grief.

    "You are not my first contract, knucklehead," Ziplocke teased.

    Jeze ran faster, and the Goblin yelped as he held on tighter or fell off. She wondered after she took the physical test if they would promote her to Adventurer rank. Jeze heard that Adventurer Ranks could run for days for dozens of miles while carrying a full pack. Adepts could go for hundreds of miles. She couldn''t imagine what an Elite or Hero could accomplish.

    "I have traveled with teams before, and they often would work in towns for money when they ran low on funds," Ziplocke said.

    "What type of jobs?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke smirked, "Mercenary work, thievery, one lady sang at taverns. If the town has a cemetery, a priest is always willing to spend gold to end an undead problem."

    "That''s a thing?" Jeze asked. She heard her parents talk about fighting zombies and skeletons, and she always thought they were just sharing tall tales.

    "Yep."

    After several hours, Jeze slowed down to a brisk walk just outside a patch of woods. The Farmsteads appeared less, and she knew she needed to be more cautious as she entered the less inhabited areas between the Deep Wood and Angston. Bandits and criminals were known to hide in such areas, and they preyed upon unsuspecting travelers. Plus, she was getting hungry and needed to find water.

    For the next hour, she stalked the woods as Raynor had trained her. Her sharp ears picked up the sound of a creek, and she discovered a small game trail. If she was lucky, she would be able to make some rabbit stew. After she filled her waterskin, Jeze waited, silent like night, and hid amongst the bushes by the game trail. Ziplocke fidgeted, and she elbowed the demon.

    "Be still," she hissed.

    The Goblin growled and summoned shadows around him to disappear into. Despite his lack of patience, Ziplocke was extremely stealthy. Jeze figured he had to be in order to survive in the Abyssal plane. With patience that rivaled an ancient tree, Jeze waited and eventually saw a rabbit hop over to the stream for a drink. With a well-aimed throw, she was successful with her hunt.

    Later, Jeze and Ziplocke sat by a small campfire with a small pot of stew boiling over it. Jeze foraged for herbs and mixed in some of the spicy paste. The stew smelled good, and Ziplocke agreed that it met the terms of their Contract. They had enough to satiate their hunger, and with the extra, she brewed more of her recovery potion with the necessary herbs she foraged.

    "Can we make camp?" Ziplocke suggested.

    Jeze nodded, they had ran for hours and never had a moment''s rest since before they explored the pyramid. Exhaustion had caught up to her. The Goblin was reaching for the pot for a second serving when Jeze slapped his wrist.

    "Hey!" The Goblin exclaimed.

    "You can have more, but first you must teach me some of the Affliction aspect," Jeze stated.

    Ziplocke scowled but agreed to the terms. "What would you like to learn, Master?"

    Jeze rolled her eyes and said, "I want to set a protective script around us. I''ve seen you make Drake sneeze and the two-headed Howler cough."

    The Goblin cackled and clapped his tiny hands. "Those are fun!"

    Ziplocke instructed Jeze on the Affliction aspect and the teenager''s solid base knowledge of Runes allowed for her to quickly learn them. It was after a dozen tries that she was able to etch the glyphs onto another ring and Summon curses from the dark planes. A malevolent red energy formed around her hands.

    "You have to be careful with Affliction. If you do not shape it, it will stay with you," Ziplocke said with glee.

    "What? How do I shape it?" Jeze cried.

    "I will teach you that next," Ziplocke replied as he took his stew.

    Jeze felt the energy grow heavier, and it itched. It felt oily, like a stained rag, and it repulsed her. In moments, it faded, and she sneezed uncontrollably. They were loud sneezes that wracked her chest and caused her nose to itch. After a moment, they subsided, and Jeze glared at the Goblin.

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    Ziplocke rolled on his back and laughed hard with his feet up in the air. "The look on your face!" He exclaimed.

    Jeze fought back the urge to strangle her familiar. She served the Goblin a spoonful of stew, per their Contract, and waited for Ziplocke to teach her how to Shape the Affliction aspect. The Goblin showed her the necessary Runes for one to take control of the Summoned negative energy.

    "Anything else I should know before I attempt this?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke fidgeted as if ants had swarmed up his body. He squeaked, giggled, and danced about. Finally, he answered as if he was coming up for air.

    "You still need to Control it!" Ziplocke gasped and then scowled.

    "What happens if I don''t Control it?" Jeze asked with an arch eyebrow and gave the Goblin a spoonful of broth.

    "It would have afflicted you again!" Ziplocke said with a cackle.

    Jeze handed the Goblin another spoonful of broth and growled, "Show me how to Control the Affliction aspect."

    The Goblin sulked and looked disappointed. He instructed, with minimal enthusiasm, on how to Control the negative energy. Jeze tapped an Onyx ring that she had Summoned to be red and summoned the Affliction aspect. Her hands glowed red with the oily and repulsive energy. She shaped it with the next set of glyphs, and the energy formed into a rippling ball. Jeze shaped the glyphs to Control the spell, and she felt the energy grow taut. She looked at Ziplocke.

    "Oh no," the Goblin said and frantically tried to flee.

    Jeze had lots of practice with aiming her spells, and she easily struck the Goblin with the ball of Affliction energy in his back. She saw a faint twitch from the Goblin, but nothing happened.

    "Where did I go wrong?" Jeze asked.

    "You didn''t. My Will resisted the curse," Ziplocke hissed, a scowl on his face.

    Ideas sprung up in Jeze''s mind. So many that she sat down and pondered them. For one thing, Controlling the Affliction spells were nearly identical to the Earth and Fire aspects. She could practice her aim on Ziplocke, and the fact that she was able to cast that spell on him meant that it did not breach their Contract to not harm each other. The other tidbit of information was that Will could be used to resist Affliction spells and curses. She could train her Will by having Ziplocke target her. The utility of this information was enormous for Jeze. She could enhance her Will to improve her Rune magic and strengthen her ability to resist being cursed. Jeze recalled hearing about the downfall of many adventurer groups due to not being able to withstand curses and Afflictions.

    "Hit me with the coughing curse," Jeze said.

    Ziplocke did not hesitate and flung a ball of red negative energy to strike Jeze in the chest. She belched so loud that she wondered if her parents heard her back in Narcadia. Ziplocke laughed maniacally. Jeze scowled at the Goblin but was not surprised that he would hit her with a different Affliction.

    "Again," she said.

    Ziplocke happily complied, and this time, she felt that the Affliction took hold but was still not able to resist. She coughed so hard that it pained her chest. The Goblin cackled with mischievous glee. Jeze summoned up a ball of Affliction energy and struck Ziplocke in the chest.

    "Achoo!" The Goblin sneezed.

    Ziplocke growled, "That''s not fair."

    Jeze''s eyes went wide, and she dove behind a tree as a ball of negative energy flew toward her. The two battled each other, with Jeze taking more hits than Ziplocke. She was frustrated but felt that this was excellent practice. The Goblin was a harder target to hit due to his size, but also he was much better at hiding and using the Darkness aspect. Their magical sparring session honed Jeze''s reflexes, spell aiming, and skill with the Affliction and Darkness aspects.

    "That''s enough," Jeze said after a bout of coughing that wracked her chest.

    She was happy to see that Ziplcoke was also exhausted from the expenditure of Will and mental fatigue from focusing on Runes. This exercise also helped Jeze to get better at casting while under pressure.

    "It''s getting late. I want to create a protective Rune circle. Can you show me?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke cleared his throat and nodded toward the stew. A small amount remained. The teenager rolled her eyes and allowed the Goblin to have a serving.

    "No. I don''t know how to create magical traps. I wish I learned!" Ziplocke answered while slurping the broth.

    Jeze wanted to scream and throttle the Goblin. But reminded herself that it was in Ziplocke''s nature to be deceptive.

    "I could suggest that you look at the tomes you found from the pyramid. Especially around the workings of the globes," Ziplocke stated with a twinkle in his eye.

    Jeze perked up. That was a good idea. She knew how to create Channeling tools, which allowed her to complete the long Rune chains needed to cast spells. What Jeze didn''t know was how to make self-powered Rune chains. The Channeling tool required the caster to complete the final glyph and insert their Will into it. The Runic protections, like the ones in the pyramid and at the Old Crone''s school, were self-powered and self-activated. The same for the globe she took. The magical sphere needed to be charged with the Fire aspect but was able to produce light without Will and the final activation glyphs.

    "Rune Traps probably operate under the same principles as Magic items!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "Bravo! Took you long enough, knucklehead," Ziplocke teased.

    Under the light from her globe, Jeze studied the tome she took and fed Ziplocke the rest of their stew so that he would help translate. There were interlocking Runes from different aspects that created the ability for magic items and traps to self-activate. For the globe, it was the merging of Light and Fire aspects. Jeze recalled that the aspects can work together, and high-level magic users often did that. Like, in theory, Jeze could create stone fists that exploded in fire upon contact. Or a stone fist that damages and inflicts a coughing curse. Or an exploding stone fist that also cursed the targets in an area of effect. Jeze shook her head at the possibilities so that she remained focused on what she needed now. That was to create a protection script around her camp so that she could sleep without fear of being ambushed by brigands.

    "You really think there are bandits in these woods?" Ziplocke asked and looked around nervously.

    "I''m sure of it," Jeze replied.

    Her nose was still in the tome as she read and looked over the possibilities. What other aspect could she overlap with Affliction to create the Rune Trap? Jeze tapped her chin and thought about how she was able to disarm the traps in the pyramid and at the Old Crone''s school. In both cases, they were engraved into stone.

    "That''s right!" She exclaimed with realization.

    "By the hells, knucklehead. You gave me a fright," Ziplocke whined.

    "The Rune traps mixed Affliction and Earth because they were etched in stone!" Jeze continued.

    "Okay, you have no stone here," Ziplocke pointed out.

    Jeze''s excitement drained out like water through a crack at the bottom of a bucket. What did she have to work with? Jeze wondered as she scanned her surroundings. There were trees, so she could merge the Affliction aspect with the Life aspect? No, that won''t work. She decided that as she was not very good with the Life Aspect, and all she knew was how to mend flesh. She did not know the Runes to work on plants or trees. But, she imagined that the Rune patterns were similar, and she was confident she could learn.

    "Focus!" Ziplocke snapped.

    Jeze scowled at the Goblin. But she was glad that he recognized her when she was daydreaming. He was almost as good as the Old Crones. Then the idea came to her.

    "I overlap Affliction with Fire!" She exclaimed.

    "Yes, that is a good idea. If you expect the bandits to jump into the fire pit before murdering us in our sleep," Ziplocke muttered.

    "Oh, good point," Jeze stated and sat back down to think.

    "The Darkness aspect!" She rose back up and exclaimed.

    "Ahh, now you are on to something." Ziplocke agreed.

    It was late by the time Jeze felt comfortable with the protection script she crafted. She merged the Affliction curses into the Darkness aspect of the shadows that surrounded her campsite.

    "Shadows tend to move, especially with light. The traps will disarm themselves when the sun rises," Ziplocke pointed out.

    "That''s fine. I just need the protection when I''m asleep in the middle of the night," Jeze said.

    Using the knowledge she obtained from the tome, she charged the Rune Trap by Summoning a shadow from the Darkness aspect. She felt the energy snap into place and found it ironic how the feeling was the same as when she disarmed a Runic Trap. This was genius, Jeze reflected.

    "It will be impossible to discover," she observed.

    With the Runic Traps at the Old Crone''s school and within the pyramid, she was able to find the traps because the Runes were etched into stone. In this case, they were hidden within the Darkness aspect.

    "But very unstable," Ziplocke said.

    The Goblin giggled to himself because he didn''t tell Jeze that if the Shadows shifted and covered her, it might trigger the trap in theory. Jeze felt uncomfortable with the Goblin''s snickering, but she was too tired to question him. She curled up in her bedroll and fell fast asleep.

    In the twilight of the evening, when the sun was about to rise, Jeze was snapped out of her sleep by a loud sneeze. The teenage Initiate readied her ax in her right hand, and her left was prepared to complete Glyphs from her bracelet and rings. The sneeze came from a rugged-looking man dressed in dark clothes and armed with a wickedly curved knife. Jeze heard two more loud sneezes as more figures emerged from the shadows made by the rising sun.

    "Yes! It worked!" Jeze exclaimed.

    Her excitement overshadowed the fact that she and Ziplocke were surrounded by three armed bandits with bad intentions.

 Chapter 16: Bandits

    "A little girl alone in the woods ain''t dis our lucky day lads!" One of the bandits said after he finished sneezing.

    He wore a stained leather cap over his oily brown hair. A second bandit chuckled, showing crooked teeth and a face smudged with dirt as if the man was allergic to bathing.

    "She pretty," the second goon said while licking his chapped lips.

    "Gross!" Jeze said and rolled her eyes. Did all brigands and bandits use the same lines? She wondered.

    "Don''t worry, sweetie. You will find that we are an acquired taste," the third bandit said.

    He was bigger than the others and relatively cleaner looking. He had a few less smudges of dirt on his square-jawed face.

    "Now be a good little lass and put down that ax before someone gets hurt," the first bandit in the leather cap said.

    Jeze eyed his protective headgear and pegged him to be a conscripted soldier and possibly a deserter. Raynor had mentioned once that after the war with the Ironfist Kingdom, many conscripted soldiers deserted the front lines and turned to banditry in the countryside. That matched the man as she noticed some streaks of gray on his scruffy beard. He looked old enough to have been in that short border dispute that was over a decade ago. Out of the three, she wondered if he was the biggest threat based on the way he held his blade.

    The other two were younger and just as ugly, carried themselves with the false bravado of ones that were never challenged. These were bullies and cowards that preyed upon the weak. Jeze rose to her feet and cracked her neck and shoulders, which were sore from sleeping on the cold, hard earth.

    "You can''t be serious? You wish to dance with us?" The crooked tooth bandit asked. Jeze saw doubt creep into his bloodshot eyes.

    She glanced at the three before her. Behind her was the creek, and trees were all around. Jeze saw no ranged weapons, only long knives. They also didn''t wear much in the way of armor, but then again, neither did she. Mental note, I need to buy a decent set of armor, Jeze told herself. All in all, she assessed these three to be less of a threat than the Howlers. She tapped her Earth bracelet, completed a glyph with her left hand, and Summoned a pile of dirt behind them.

    "What''s this? A witch?" The large one asked and took a step back.

    "Yer Runes won''t work on me," Gap-tooth growled, and he pulled out a wooden charm that he hung around his neck.

    "Hit him first! I want to see the look on his face!" Ziplocke squeaked with sadistic delight from the shadows.

    The three bandits spun around and searched for the Goblin. Jeze nodded and obliged. She Shaped dirt into Stone and Controlled it to strike a Gap-tooth square in the chest. She didn''t put a lot of Will behind her spell, just enough to cause the man to crumple over in pain with a fractured rib.

    Goon number three, the large one, roared and rushed forward with a wild slash of his blade. He clearly wanted to overpower Jeze, and he easily could have if she stayed in one spot. The teenage Initiate deftly sidestepped the clumsy attack and struck the bandit on the side of his temple with the back of her ax. The large man collapsed in a heap.

    The thug in the cap assessed how quickly Jeze dispatched his colleagues and fled. I guess he truly was a deserter, Jeze reflected.

    "Cut off their heads. They probably have bounties," Ziplocke suggested.

    "What? No way!" Jeze responded.

    "Fine, at least loot them of their coin!" Ziplocke squeaked.

    With a shudder, Jeze searched their unwashed bodies. She found a handful of coins, not enough for decent gear, but enough for a meal and a warm bed. Jeze confiscated their knives, but the blades were dulled and poorly maintained. She really needed another hand ax.

    "What a pathetic group of bandits. Maybe you can follow the coward back to his camp? There should be plenty of coin there for your needs," Ziplocke said.

    That was a good plan, Jeze thought. She Summoned and Shaped shadows around her, grabbed her pack and gave chase. The bandit ran through the undergrowth as one that was familiar with the woods. But, he was not one who kept up a daily training regime, and shortly, he slowed down to catch his breath. Sweat dripped down his face as his breathing came in gasps. He looked back and relaxed when he did not detect any signs of pursuit.

    Jeze stalked him through the shadows like a wolf, the way Raynor had instructed her. She maintained a safe distance and observed him through the trees.

    "For a bandit, he is out of shape," Ziplocke whispered.

    The man they chased was leaning against a tree and occasionally looked up to see if he was being followed. He grimaced as he breathed hard. Jeze had to agree with the Goblin and wondered if he would lead them to a camp.

    "Do you think there are others?" She wondered.

    "Who knows? If they were anything like the two oafs you dispatched, I wouldn''t worry," Ziplocke answered.

    The bandit they stalked resumed walking with an occasional glance back. After a few moments, he felt safe and walked normally.

    "He didn''t care about his mates at all," Jeze whispered.

    Ziplcoke nodded in agreement and added, "Not going to find much loyalty among thieves."

    Jeze began to worry that this man was not very good at his profession. Was it even worth it to trail him? How much loot could they find? Then, another thought occurred to her.

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    "Is it wrong to steal from bandits? Shouldn''t we return the gold to their rightful owners?" She asked.

    "Are you kidding me?" Ziplocke asked with an arched eyebrow.

    Jeze shook her head. Why did she ask a demon for moral advice? In either case, she was broke and needed money to get started. Anything they had was better than nothing, and she could figure out a way to deal with the bandits to ensure that they wouldn''t harm anyone else. Her main priority was to defeat the Stronghold, save her brother, and save the world. She owed it to Raynor, she vowed, and her heart ached at the memory of her friend.

    Another thought occurred to her. Jeze had killed the man with the crossbow. She threw her ax on instinct, the way she practiced, and ended his life so easily. Jeze didn''t feel anything for that and was more concerned by the fact that she didn''t feel anything. Her grief over Raynor and the impending demonic invasion has taken up most of her emotions. A lot has happened in a short amount of time. Was she losing her humanity?

    "Hey! Snap out of it. Our guy is moving," Ziplocke hissed in her ear.

    Jeze shook her head and returned to stalking the bandit. She missed Raynor, and she missed her brother. Jeze also came to grips that she does not want to kill needlessly, but the life of an adventurer is one that involves violence. She vowed that she would avoid killing, if possible, except monsters and demons. Or do Howlers have emotions and feelings like Ziplocke? She killed them without a thought, but then again, they attempted to kill her and her family.

    "Hey kid, is everything alright?" Ziplocke said and snapped a finger in front of Jeze''s face.

    The teenage Initiate shook her head and realized that the bandit was out of sight!

    "I was just thinking. I''m fine," Jeze answered.

    "Listen, I get it. A lot has happened. This is the life you chose. Now, if you can''t handle this¡­" Ziplocke said but was cut off.

    "I said I was fine!" Jeze snapped.

    After a moment, she added in a calmer voice, "Truthfully, I''m good. This is the life I want."

    "Well, if that''s the case, then you can''t daydream, kid. That could mean your death, and by death, I mean being horribly eaten and mangled," Ziplocke pointed out.

    Jeze grinned and moved silently ahead to follow their quarry''s tracks. It was not easy, as the bandit knew how to travel through the woods, but she managed. After a few short moments, the two spotted the man in the cap as he didn''t move very fast.

    "He really does not care about his mates," Jeze observed again.

    The bandit moved as one that had no worry in the world. Jeze even heard him faintly whistle.

    "Could this be a trap?" She wondered.

    Ziplocke tapped his green chin and responded, "Could be, or he is truly an idiot."

    Thirty minutes later, they followed the bandit to a seedy roadside tavern that was nestled deep within the woods and connected to a dirt path that could barely be considered a road. The tavern, if it could be called that, was a small wooden cabin that lacked the front wall where Jeze could see stacked barrels of ale inside. Beside the barrels was a stone oven that spewed smoke through a dirt-covered chimney. The tavern had outdoor seating made up of stained wooden benches and tables. A few others were present, and they were men with disreputable appearances with scars, scowls, tattoos, and visible weapons that ranged from spiked clubs to curved knives. Cap man ordered a drink and sat down.

    "He''s an idiot," Ziplocke stated.

    ***

    Conan scowled at the patrons around him, and they scowled back. He removed his heavy cap to wipe the sweat from his oily brown hair and snorted as he glanced at it. The cap was the only thing he kept from his time in service before he deserted.

    "Here ya go. That will be a silver piece," the rotund waitress said as she plopped a tankard of ale that sloshed over the stained table.

    "Bloody hell! A silver piece for a drink! Now that is a crime," Conan cried.

    "Pay up if you want yer drink. Otherwise, scram!" The waitress snarled.

    "Alright, hold your horses. What''s the occasion anyways?" Conan asked as he nodded with his head to the other patrons. In his reckoning, this dump was much busier than usual.

    "What do you mean? People love my charming personality," the waitress responded as she bit into the coin Conan gave her. She tucked it into her bosom.

    "That''s rich! But really, why so many people here?" The man asked as he drank his bitter ale and grimaced.

    "The Legion''s in town. Got Angston up in martial law. Every penny snatcher, cutpurse, beggar, and alley ruffian is either hanging from the gallows or flocking to old Maddie''s joint," the waitress responded and walked off.

    "What for?" Conan called out but was ignored.

    He put his cap back on his head, took another swig from his tankard, and then wiped his mouth on a dirty sleeve. The Legion? In town? That was bad for business, he figured. A group of ruffians sat at his table without asking. He scowled and leaned toward them.

    "Do any of you blokes know why the Legion is here?" Conan asked.

    The three men were burly and sour-looking.

    "What''s it worth to ya?" One asked.

    "Aww, come on now. Just a simple question. No need to shake up a fellow tradesman," Conan responded.

    The three goons glowered and turned to talk to each other. Conan scowled and slapped a silver piece onto the table.

    "A free drink, on me, for the first one to answer my query." He said.

    The quickest of the three scooped up the coin before his fellows and answered, "Rumor has it that the Wandering Spire is set to appear near Mount Dragon."

    Conan''s eyes went wide, and he asked, "In the Iron Fist Kingdom?"

    "You gonna buy us another drink?" One ruffian asked with a grin that showed missing teeth.

    "Crimey! Sog off, you weasels," Conan snapped and returned to his tankard and thoughts.

    Is The Spire appearing now? He thought and counted on his fingers the number of years since the last one, but he couldn''t recall. That explains a lot, he figured. He slapped his forehead. A young girl alone in the woods? That was not luck for him and his fellows. That was a curse! Conan thought as he recalled the recent encounter that cost him two of his men. He rebuked himself for not seeing the signs. She was well built with a scar on her face and armed. Of course, she was an adventurer! Probably making her way to Mount Dragon. Would she pass through Maddies? Conan glanced around nervously.

    "Hey," he whispered to the three ruffians next to him.

    They glanced at him from over their mugs. Conan slapped another silverpiece on the table.

    "Any sightings of adventurers coming here?" He asked.

    "To Maddies?" One of the men said as he quickly scooped up the coin to the grumbling of his colleagues.

    "No, to your grandma''s place. Of course, here!" Conan snapped.

    The ruffian snorted as he pocketed the coin. "Why would they come to this dung hole? They have money enough for a real tavern."

    "Watch yer tongue!" Scolded the waitress as she plopped down another round of tankards at a neighboring table.

    Conan nervously scanned the encircling trees of the clearing Maddies was in and then relaxed. His bloodshot eyes failed to notice the shadow that slipped under and merged with the darkness under his table. Or the figure that crept up behind him.

    A strong, calloused hand latched onto the back of Conan''s neck, and the newcomer thudded an ax on the table in front of him. The bandit gave out a startled yelp but froze when he saw a familiar scarred face.

 Chapter 17: Fugitives

    "Now be a good lad and keep your hand away from your knife before someone gets hurt," Jeze said and freed her ax from the table as she slid onto the bench beside the bandit with the cap.

    A giggle could be heard from under the table, where Conan saw a pair of glowing red eyes.

    "Aah! What devilry is this!" He cried.

    The ruffians next to him glanced over once. Upon seeing a young girl with a flat nose, a scarred face, and armed with an ax that she clearly knew how to use, they moved to another table.

    "Did you just wet yourself? It''s sour!" The red-eyed monster squealed from under the table.

    "Ziplocke! That''s gross," the teenage girl said, but she maintained a firm grip on Conan''s neck, and her ax was readied for violence.

    "Okay! I''ll be good. I''m sorry about before. Can ye consider it a misunderstanding among professionals?" Conan stammered.

    Jeze grinned and replied, "That depends. How much coin do you have?"

    Conan''s face scrunched up, and Jeze heard Ziplocke slap his forehead from the shadows beneath the table.

    "Honey, if you are going to shake people up, you need to work on your delivery," Conan criticized.

    Jeze squeezed the back of his neck harder. Her hands were calloused and strong from years of climbing, ax throwing, and farm labor.

    "Alright! I''m sure we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement," Conan muttered.

    "We have company," Ziplocke whispered a warning.

    Jeze glanced up as Conan whimpered in her vice-like grip. Two men in crisp, dark blue uniforms materialized into view along the path. She recognized the Light aspect illusion she witnessed from Drake''s rune caster. The first person I killed, Jeze, reflected and pushed that thought aside in order to focus on the situation at hand.

    Both men wore heavy, long coats that were opened where Jeze could see the Emperor''s insignia, an image of the rising sun, emblazoned upon the chests of their collared white shirts. One of the men stepped forward with his hands clasped behind him. On his head was an officer''s hat with a roaring Silver Dragon stitched into the front. Jeze recognized the second man to be a Rune caster as he held a golden rod with intricately carved Runes along its polished service. He had high cheekbones and short gray hair and appeared older than the man in the officer''s hat. Both men maintained their uniforms in immaculate condition that reflected their rigid military personalities that could be seen in their posture and their eyes.

    "On order of our Immortal Emperor I, Janus Clemens Flavius, I am here to arrest wanted fugitives that are believed to be among you," the officer in the cap declared loudly in a voice that pierced through the clearing like the cry of a hawk.

    The small crowd of patrons remained quiet for a moment, and the ruffians glanced at each other with uncertainty. The rotund waitress was the first to respond.

    "Ain''t no fugitives here. Now, unless you want a drink, you best sod off," she barked.

    Her comment broke the tension in the crowd like a rock thrown through a glass window. The rough-looking group of men chuckled and returned to their drinking and conversations.

    The officer took off his hat and nodded. A twang could be heard from the trees, and a split second later, the waitress collapsed to the ground with a cross bolt sticking out of her chest. This shocked the crowd back into silence, and many of the patrons reached for their weapons with fierce scowls on their stained faces.

    "Before you all do anything rash. I must warn you, I have the area surrounded." Janus said and nodded to his colleague.

    The older man with the rod completed a gesture, and the shimmering veil faded away to reveal a dozen armed legionnaires like the ones Jeze had faced earlier. They wore heavy padded armor coats with hard leather caps over their heads. Each soldier pointed their spears toward the tavern patrons.

    "There is no need for further bloodshed, though I am prepared for it. Turn over the fugitives, and you all can carry on your day with the blessing from our glorious Emperor," the officer barked.

    The tavern patrons remained quiet, and their fear was palpable in the air like a heavy fog. They glanced amongst each other and murmured.

    "How did they find us so quickly?" Jeze whispered to Ziplocke.

    In the shadows under the table, the Goblin''s glowing red eyes moved as he shrugged his tiny shoulders. "It might not be you they are looking for," he suggested.

    Jeze glanced around the area at the other patrons. There were over a dozen that sat amongst eight tables lined with benches. None really stood out to her as being any more dangerous than the bandit in the cap she followed here. They appeared rough, and some were beefy with muscle, but to Jeze, they all had the softness of one that didn''t train hard every day like she had. Except for a pair in the far corner that continued to drink and talk quietly to each other as if nothing had happened. It was a man and a woman, and they had an edge to them, but before Jeze could study them further, the bandit she followed rose up from his chair.

    "Here''s your fugitive!" Conan declared and pointed at Jeze.

    The teenager was shocked and then scolded herself for talking out loud to Ziplocke. She had forgotten the man she followed, and this was a harsh reminder that she needed to remain focused if she were to continue on this path as an adventurer.

    Cap man walked away from the table and continued, "She''s a witch and has a bloody demon, I tell you, that follows her!"

    Jeze froze in place as she felt the eyes of Janus and his legionnaires lock on her. The officer unrolled a scroll and studied it as he glanced at her. Did Drake somehow get a message to the legion before he tracked her in the Deep Wood? Jeze wondered. She didn''t care for the royal politics and the fact that the Emperor was not immortal, but would it have such a destabilizing effect as to warrant them sending agents after her to the far reaches of the empire?

    "Since I obliged your request, can I leave?" Conan asked.

    Janus scowled at the bandit and talked quietly to the older Rune caster. Conan continued to walk slowly out of the clearing toward the ring of tense legionnaires. Janus shook his head to one of them, and the soldier struck Conan in the head with the butt end of his spear. The bandit collapsed to the ground like a dropped sack of flour. The tavern patrons began to rise from the benches as it became clear that the legionnaires had no intention of letting them free.

    "What''s your name, girl?" Janus asked, ignoring the commotion that was brewing like a coming storm around him.

    Jeze glanced around her as the patrons gripped their weapons and the legionnaires tensed with their spear tips moving closer. Now was as good of a time as any for her to make her escape. Jeze gestured to Summon shadows around her.

    "Stop her!" Janus cried.

    Jeze gestured and Shaped the shadows into a sphere of pure darkness that engulfed her and several tables and hid them from view. Her casting was the catalyst that sparked everyone into action. Patrons fled blindly, and fighting and screams could be heard as some clashed with the legionnaires. Jeze had mapped out her escape before she Shaped the sphere and crept along the ground when, in the blink of an eye, the Darkness was gone. The military Rune caster had used the Light aspect to dispel her incantation, and the two locked eyes.

    All around Jeze, fighting had erupted between the criminal patrons and the legionnaires. Her Darkness spell was a major disruption as the soldiers were forced to split their attention between chasing after fleeing fugitives and fighting the ones that remained. The military Rune stuck his chin out in determination and gestured glyphs that Summoned moisture in the air. The Water Aspect, Jeze recognized.

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    "A magic duel!" Shrieked Ziplocke from the shadows.

    Jeze Summoned a curse and felt the affliction energy taut and ready. The military caster Shaped the water into frigid ice. He needed to then Control the ice in order to attack Jeze and his spell was more complicated than her''s. It took longer as she only needed two Foci for her curse spell, and she launched the small ball of red affliction energy at her opponent. Jeze had put a good amount of her Will into the spell, and the old Rune caster sneezed. His Shaped ice shattered and spilled to the ground as water droplets. He glared at Jeze and began to Shape the water back to ice. She ran at him. He weaved his arms to Control the ice, and they rose into the air as frozen spears. Jeze punched the older man in the face, and the spears fell apart in a splash of water. The military Rune caster fell to the ground unconscious.

    Half of the patrons attempted to flee and encountered more legionnaires in the forest. The other half roared and fought like cornered raccoons. At some point in the commotion, the officer had equipped a curved saber and a round buckler in his hands. He stood back and barked orders. His eyes landed on the unconscious Rune caster and immediately swept over to glare at Jeze.

    "Seize her!" He roared.

    "Crap!" Jeze cursed as two spearmen broke away from the perimeter and charged her.

    She crouched and readied her ax and long knife as the closest legionnaire thrust his spear at her. Jeze blocked the weapon''s tip and hooked it to the side with her ax. The spearman was stronger and continued forward, which allowed Jeze to circle and slash his hand with her knife. The legionnaire fell back, nursing his deep wound as his colleague attacked. Jeze dodged, moved, and created distance. The second legionnaire snarled as he stalked and prodded with his spear. Jeze threw her ax, and the soldier''s eyes went wide as they tried to knock the projectile out of the air and missed. The ax thudded painfully through his armor and into his shoulder. The legionnaire collapsed in pain.

    This was her chance to escape! Jeze thought, and she made a run for it but was cordoned off by more spears. She skidded to a halt, and a bolt thudded into a table next to her. She had forgotten about the crossbowmen! Two more spearmen broke off and advanced on her as Jeze reached for her hand ax, only to discover that she was all out. One ax was in a soldier''s shoulder, and the other was back at the pyramid in another soldier''s head, she remembered darkly.

    Armed only with a long knife against spears was a losing proposition. She attempted to Summon soil, but her concentration broke as she was forced to dodge a spear thrust. They came at her, and she ducked and rolled out of the way of each of the attacks. Jeze was off balance, landed on a table, and spilled a tankard of ale. This was the corner table where the mysterious pair she saw earlier were drinking. One, the man, looked at her with wide eyes as if she ruined their quiet evening. As if there was not a full-fledged battle happening around them.

    "My ale!" The man roared and rose from his seat.

    He had long dark hair that was tied back into a bun at the back of his head, and the rest of his hair fell down to his shoulders. His body was draped in a dark cloak that matched his dark loose pants, and Jeze saw the handles of two swords sticking out from underneath. His colleague was a young woman that Jeze guessed to be in her mid-twenties with strange multi-colored hair that was pulled back into a ponytail. The bottom half of her face was obscured by the high collar of her thick black and purple jacket, and only her piercing dark eyes were visible to Jeze.

    The legionnaires paused a moment before they resumed their attacks. One went after Jeze, and the other tried to stab the man. Jeze rolled off the table, and the man deftly caught the spear below the tip. In a flurry of acrobatic movements, he kicked both legionnaires to the ground.

    The man stepped away from the table and shrugged off his cloak to reveal bare arms that were lean and rippled with muscle. He crossed his arms to grip each handle of his swords and drew them in a flourish out to his sides. The blades were long and single-edged with a sharp silver sheen that represented hours of polishing and care. By this time, a half dozen spearmen formed a semi-circle before Jeze and the two strangers. The teenager crouched low and was worried about the crossbowmen in the woods. But they never fired, and she wondered why.

    The swordsman held one blade over his head, and the other he pointed to the collective legionnaires before him.

    "You all have the privilege and the honor of facing me, Swordslayer!" the man boomed.

    Swordslayer? Jeze wondered, what kind of name was that?

    As if reading her thoughts, the woman with the multi-colored hair said, "He is a bit eccentric." She tapped the bench and added, "Have a seat. This will be over soon."

    "There are crossbowmen in the woods," Jeze cautioned.

    "Don''t worry about them," the stranger answered.

    That was when Jeze recognized the assorted wooden rings and leather bands that adorned the woman''s hands and wrists. They were lined with intricate Runes that Jeze guessed to be the Nature and Life aspects. Jeze looked to the woods to see several men entangled by thick green vines that were lined with vicious thorns. The soldiers squirmed and twitched as if they were having seizures.

    "Poison," the rainbow-haired woman said and shrugged, "some should recover, I think."

    "We have been looking for you!" Janus, the man in the officer''s cap, declared.

    He joined the legionnaires armed with his saber and buckler. Of course, they were after the duo! Jeze realized and felt ridiculous, thinking she was the one that they were looking for. It was a dark reminder that she was just a teenage girl from the edge of nowhere. Swordslayer grinned and launched himself toward his opponents in a swirl of sharp steel.

    "You were impressive," the woman said to Jeze and extended her hand to introduce herself, "I''m Rainbow."

    "Jeze," the teenager responded. What was with the odd names? She wondered and was enthralled with how easily Swordslayer weaved in between his opponents with a skill that reminded Jeze of art.

    Rainbow took a sip of her ale and shuddered. "This stuff is horrible. I don''t get why he likes it so much."

    Swordslayer parried a spear thrust and countered in one smooth motion that caused the legionnaire to drop to their knees in pain. The swordsman ducked, weaved, and sliced two more attackers. They stumbled away with injuries. The officer moved in and out, searching for an opportunity to strike, but his saber was unable to connect the elusive Swordslayer. In moments, he had no more legionnaires to hide behind and stood alone across from the deadly swordsman. Fear passed for a brief moment along the officer''s stony face.

    "For our Immortal Emperor," he declared with resolve.

    The officer slashed and missed. He intercepted an attack with his buckler and lunged with a counter that failed to connect. Jeze had trained and fought enough to admire the two highly skilled combatants. On their fifth exchange, Swordslayer landed a deep gash on his opponent''s hand, which caused the officer to drop his saber.

    Janus blocked the next two attacks with his buckler but stumbled. His hand was bleeding, and his death was inevitable. If he stayed. The officer turned and fled at the first opportunity.

    "Huh? I thought he would have died with honor," Swordslayer said with a shrug and did not pursue.

    Maddie''s outdoor tavern was littered with squirming bodies. Some were unmoving, and others, legionnaires and bandits alike, groaned and limped away. Aside from the moans, the clearing was quiet.

    "More will be returning," Rainbow said.

    The multi-colored-haired lady searched the bodies, both moving and unmoving, and seized their coins and other valuables.

    "No, no, no. If you resist, I will have to kill you," Rainbow cautioned one beefy bandit.

    Swordslayer was cleaning his two swords before putting them back into his sheaths. He went over to the table and gathered his cloak. Jeze was enthralled by these two. They were clearly real adventurers. Probably Adventurer ranked! They had to be based on their skill. Real career adventurers and fugitives! She could learn so much from them.

    "Are you two heading to the Spire?" Jeze asked.

    Her question caused Swordslayer and Rainbow to stop and look at her. It was as if they had forgotten she existed until she spoke. They glanced at each other, and Jeze saw the familiarity the two fugitives had and their ability to communicate sentences with just facial expressions. Rainbow tilted her, and Swordslayer shrugged.

    "Yeah," Rainbow answered and tossed Jeze her hand ax.

    "Me too!" The teenager answered as she deftly caught her weapon.

    "She''s too young," Swordslayer observed.

    "We are short team members," Rainbow replied.

    The swordsmen nodded and added, "But she can fight."

    "Pretty decent Rune caster," the multi-colored-haired lady said.

    "She''s right here," Jeze growled. Her fists were at her sides.

    Swordslayer and Rainbow quickly looted the conscious and unconscious bandits and legionnaires. Rainbow walked over to Jeze with the channeling rod from the military Rune caster.

    "She needs to learn how to scavenge after a battle," the multi-colored-haired lady said and handed Jeze the rod.

    Swordslayer also approached Jeze with a long knife with a sharp curved blade and brass-colored handguard. He handed it to her, and she accepted both items from the two. For the channeling rod, she would need to learn the Light and Water aspects, and Jeze recognized their utility. The blade was well-balanced and an upgrade from the one she currently had.

    "Thank you," she said.

    "Let''s go," Rainbow said without looking back. The lady was already running off.

    "You owe me an ale," Swordslayer growled and ran off.

    "I''m on a team!" Jeze exclaimed to Ziplocke as the Goblin scampered up her shoulder.

    "Yeah, they seem like a good bunch of wanted fugitives. Good crowd you are joining," the small demon muttered.

    "Did you not see how good they fought?" Jeze asked excitedly.

    "We can talk about it, or you can run after them!" Ziplocke observed.

    Jeze nodded and ran off after the two. She found a team!

 Chapter 18: Angston

    Jeze and her new companions stopped at the edge of the forest that overlooked a wide plain where, in the distance, the city of Angston sat. It was rows upon rows of squat brown buildings that were intersected by paved streets that bustled with people and surrounded by a tall wall. From Jeze''s vantage point, they looked like tiny ants.

    In Angston''s center were tall towers made of polished stone and glass that reflected sunlight in a dazzling display of color. A wide river meandered through the plains and ran alongside the city. Jeze''s eyes followed the rippling silver water to the Southwest and saw that it linked up with a range of snow-capped mountains. Among them was Mount Dragon, where the Wandering Spire was set to appear.

    The three traveled through the woods and avoided the main road that trickled with light traffic toward the city. The open plains between the forest and Angston were dotted with small hamlets and farmsteads that bustled with activity in the mid-afternoon.

    "It smells," Jeze observed and crinkled her face.

    "It will be worse when we get closer," Swordslayer commented.

    "First time near a big city? You''ll get used to it," Rainbow added.

    "Can we go around it?" Jeze asked.

    Her two companions shook their heads. "That will take too much time," Rainbow answered.

    "And we need supplies," Swordslayer said.

    "Plus, we still need to recruit two more people for our team," Rainbow said.

    Jeze''s eyes lit up. Only five can enter the Spire, and they included her in their calculations!

    "Maybe three more. I''m still not sure about her," muttered Swordslayer.

    "Don''t listen to him. He is still sour about his spilled ale," Rainbow told Jeze.

    "That was my favorite drinking spot!" Swordslayer exclaimed.

    Rainbow rubbed her multi-colored hair and crinkled her face. "That ale was horrible," she observed.

    "What do you know," muttered Swordslayer.

    "We can''t find supplies and teammates in the Ironfist Kingdom?" Jeze asked and added, "It seems risky for us to remain in the Empire."

    "Most teams are fully formed by the time you get the Spire," Rainbow answered.

    "Stop talking like you are with us," Swordslayer grumbled at Jeze.

    Jeze sulked and Rainbow sighed.

    "Let''s make an official decision. I vote we invite Jeze to the team," the multi-colored-haired lady said.

    "She''s young and inexperienced," Swordslayer countered.

    "But talented. We watched her fight¡­" Rainbow started.

    "Her fighting was meh at best," the swordsmen interrupted.

    "You said I could fight!" Jeze reminded him.

    "I was being polite," he responded.

    "She is advanced in Rune casting," Rainbow added.

    "What? I saw her cast two spells before she spilled my ale!" Swordslayer cried.

    "She has a Goblin familiar," Rainbow pointed out.

    Jeze looked up, surprised. She knew about Ziplocke? Jeze wondered and wanted to find a way to introduce the Goblin. In a way, this was a relief that they knew.

    "A Goblin? Where?" Swordslayer asked, his hands reached for his blades.

    Rainbow nodded to the shadows made by the trees. Ziplocke materialized and scampered to hide behind Jeze''s knee.

    "Oh well, that settles it! There is no way she can come with us!" Swordslayer cried.

    "Why not? I am a valuable asset." Ziplocke asked.

    Swordslayer laughed. "An asset? That''s rich!"

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    "It is no easy feat to make a contract with a demon. This only speaks to her talent," Rainbow said.

    "Does the Goblin count as a teammate?" Swordslayer asked, he was concerned about losing a slot.

    "No, they are bonded. We get two members for the price of one," Rainbow stated.

    "Just to be clear, I strictly operate in a consulting capacity," Ziplocke explained.

    "Sounds useless to me," Swordslayer grunted.

    Jeze scowled at the man and was getting annoyed. "Well, maybe I don''t want to join your team. I''m sure I can find better companions in Angston," she said.

    Swordslayer''s eyes went wide. "Yeah, right! No one is better than us. If you think otherwise, you are crazy!" he roared.

    "So, are we settled then? We welcome Jeze in our group?" Rainbow asked.

    "No!" Both Jeze and Swordslayer answered at the same time.

    Rainbow shook her head. "Fine, let''s work together to figure out how to get into the city without getting arrested," she said.

    The three studied the situation before them. Swordslayer pointed out a fast-moving rider with a familiar dark blue jacket and said, "That''s our officer."

    "He had a horse?" Jeze asked. The three ran fast enough to catch up to the rider.

    Rainbow shrugged and answered, "We should have followed him."

    "I didn''t see that they had horses!" Jeze exclaimed.

    Swordslayer shook his head and said to Rainbow, "See? This is why we can''t have her. She is such a rookie."

    Jeze snarled at the man like an angry dog. Ziplocke hissed from behind her knee.

    Rainbow explained to the young girl. "The legionnaires dismounted from their horses up the road so that they could sneak up on foot to Maddies. After our fight, we didn''t consider that and left through the forest."

    "We could have had horses," Swordslayer added.

    Rainbow shook her head and replied, "The roads would be too risky. We chose the woods to stay out of sight."

    "I never rode a horse," Jeze stated.

    The sword fighter slapped his forehead and gave Rainbow a knowing glance. "An inexperienced country girl is what she is," he said.

    Jeze curled her hands into fists, and Rainbow stepped in between the two. "We don''t have horses, so that is not an issue. Now, let''s focus on how we can enter the city," she said.

    "We can''t go through the front gates. They will be looking for us," Swordslayer said.

    "Great observation, genius." Jeze snorted, and Swordslayer glowered at her.

    "We also can''t stay here. They will be sending out more legionnaires to look for us," Rainbow added.

    "Let them come! We will slaughter them all," Swordslayer stated with his fists raised into the air.

    "If they are looking for us, how can we be safe in the city?" Jeze asked.

    "Rookie," Swordslayer snorted.

    The other two ignored him, and Rainbow answered, "See the large tower? That is the Adventurer''s Guild branch office here in Angston. The Guild has offices in every large city, and during the time of the Wandering Spire, the office locations become neutral ground."

    "We will be safe in there?" Jeze asked.

    Swordslayer laughed and shook his head. "So clueless," he said.

    Rainbow smiled gently and explained, "The Golden Empire can not arrest us there. We will be protected by the Guild and the other nations as it is neutral territory. But the Empire could still send bounty hunters and assassins, so we will still have to be careful."

    "Only guild members will be allowed in," Swordslayer added.

    "I''m a member!" Jeze replied and showed them the certificate she received from Drake. This brought back dark memories that she quickly shoved aside.

    The two looked at it. "We could use a scout," Rainbow observed.

    "She hasn''t even completed the physical yet!" Swordslayer cried.

    "I need to find a test site," Jeze explained.

    "What backward town did you grow up in where there was not even an examination course?" The man asked.

    Rainbow placed a gentle hand on each of their shoulders. "There will be a course in Angston, and her certificate is enough to let her in. It is impressive that you made Initiate Rank at such a young age," she said.

    Swordslayer snorted and said, "It''s not official until she passes the physical."

    "Which, I have no doubt she can. You saw how she kept up with us through the forest, and we were running pretty fast," Rainbow observed.

    The sword fighter snorted but conceded the point.

    "What are your role classifications?" Jeze asked.

    "Striker and Protector," Swordslayer grunted.

    "Leader and Healer," Rainbow responded.

    "Enough of this! How do we get to the branch office? This forest will be swarming with the legion soon enough," Swordslayer said.

    "I thought you said you would ''slaughter'' them," Jeze said and imitated the man by making her voice deeper.

    Swordslayer scowled at her. "I could, but I wouldn''t be able to protect you two," he said, his bravado more subdued.

    "We will have to sneak around and climb the outer wall," Rainbow said.

    Swordslayer squinted and pointed to a section of the city. "That is Ratstown. I know that neighborhood and can lead us to the Guild office from there," he said.

    Ratstown looked like it was strung together with sticks and rocks by a giant child. Its streets appeared like a maze, and the shantytown looked like it would collapse into rubble at any moment. Or did it already collapse? Jeze thought. It was such a contrast to the rest of Angston, with pristine stone buildings and avenues.

    "We won''t have to worry about the legion, but we will have to worry about cutthroats and murderers," Rainbow stated.

    "Fun people!" Swordslayer said with an evil grin.

    Jeze looked up at the sky and saw that dusk was approaching. "If we wait a little longer, we can sneak through the shadows," she said.

    Rainbow nodded and recalled, "You know the Darkness aspect."

    "I suppose that could be helpful," Swordslayer grudgingly stated.

 Chapter 19: Freedom Fighters

    Dusk was approaching and the three hid amongst the trees and watched as hundreds of legionnaires mobilized in front of the city gates. All of this for two fugitives? Jeze wondered and glanced at her companions.

    "What did you two do?" She asked.

    The two Adventures looked at the teenager for a moment. Swordslayer was the one who broke the silence.

    "We didn''t do anything. It''s the Empire that is doing stuff."

    "Like what?" Jeze wondered.

    Her parents didn''t care for the Empire, even though her father had served in the Legion. They would grumble, especially Raynor, about the taxes and stupid laws. But for the most part the inhabitants of Narcadia had little contact with the Empire. Except when Drake showed up, Jeze darkly reflected.

    "Like what she asks," Snorted the sword fighter.

    "Tyranny and oppressing the people," Rainbow answered.

    "Something a country girl like you probably never experienced," Swordslayer observed.

    "Stop calling me that."

    "Make me."

    Jeze gripped her ax and knife. Rainbow stood between the two and cried, "Stand down, you two! We have enough problems and shouldn''t be at each other''s throats. We need to be united if we are ever going to make it to the Guild Office."

    The teenager relaxed and perked up. "Are you two like freedom fighters? Did you fight in the Rebellion?"

    Swordslayer laughed, "Do we look that old to you?"

    "Not us. Our parents did," Rainbow answered.

    "My father served in the Legion during that conflict. He does not talk about it," Jeze observed in a soft voice.

    "Because he was probably ashamed of what he and the empire had done to thousands of innocents," Swordslayer growled.

    Jeze couldn''t argue against that. She always sensed a deep sadness and regret from her father. She suspected it was why he left the service to live a life as an Adventurer. But why did he want me to enlist? She wondered but knew the answer. The loss of her brother was so much that her father preferred that she served safely in the military. Rune casters were rare and well-protected.

    "Enough about us! What are we waiting for?" Demanded Swordslayer.

    "We are waiting for more shadows," Rainbow answered for Jeze.

    The teenager was tired of explaining herself to the man and ignored him. Swordslayer growled and paced back and forth like a hungry tiger. Ziplocke perched himself on Jeze''s shoulder and accepted some of the recovery potions she made. The young Initiate ran out of paste and hoped that the city sold peppers and lemons. In the meantime, the Goblin slurped up her concoction and agreed to support her. Riders began to fan out and were followed by the footsoldiers, and soon, all of the hamlets and farmsteads would be occupied by the Legion.

    "How about now! They will be here any moment," Swordslayer cried.

    "We still have time. Rainbow had Shaped the forest behind us to cover our tracks. It could be hours, possibly days, for them to find us here," Jeze said.

    The multi-colored-haired Adventurer looked up and was impressed with the teenager. "You noticed?"

    Jeze nodded.

    "You know how to track?" Rainbow asked.

    Jeze nodded again. Swordslayer snorted. He wanted to scream but fumed in silence. The sword fighter was a man of action, and waiting as their enemy mobilized was incredibly difficult for him.

    "Where did you learn that?" Rainbow leaned against a tree. Unlike her companion, she knew how to kill time when they had to wait. Also, this young girl intrigued her.

    "An Old Hunter," Jeze said, her voice nearly choking at the memory of her friend and mentor.

    "Wait, the Old Hunter? Raynor?" Swordslayer stopped his pacing and faced Jeze.

    "You know him?" She asked.

    Rainbow nodded. "Raynor is a bit of a legend in the Guild. How is the old man?"

    Jeze looked away to wipe the tears from her eyes. Swordslayer''s thick jaw softened, and he tentatively patted the young girl''s shoulder.

    "Did he die with honor?" He asked after clearing his throat.

    "He would say that he would rather die happy," Jeze said with a weak laugh.

    "Aye, that is something he would say." Swordslayer gave a boastful laugh.

    Rainbow narrowed her eyes. "He was no fan of the Empire, but he also didn''t want to get involved with us. Is his death the reason why you believed the soldiers were looking for you?"

    Jeze hugged her arms to her chest and trembled. The memory and the experience were still too painful. Rainbow''s face softened.

    "It''s alright," she said and rubbed Jeze''s shoulders. "Tell us when you are ready."

    The teenager wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up. "Did you adventure with him?"

    Swordslayer gave a hardy laugh. "Yes, he trained us. He was still called the Old Hunter even then."

    "Come to think of it. We see some of his fighting style in you. The way you move in and out like a wolf," Rainbow observed.

    Jeze nodded with pride in her moist eyes.

    "I can see that. Your fighting is still meh, though." Swordslayer slapped his thigh.

    Jeze scowled at the man. The three returned to their own thoughts and waited as dusk approached. The shadows grew, and they could hear sounds as the legionnaires forced their way into the hamlets and houses below. Jeze began to see the tyranny that her companions talked about. The folks there were innocent, and they were treated as if they were criminals. The teenager felt bad that it was because of them that they were being abused by the soldiers.

    "Don''t blame yourself," Rainbow said as if reading her mind. "The Empire abuses its citizens regardless of us. We are just another excuse in a long line of excuses for them to treat people badly."

    Swordslayer nodded and then asked, "Should we go now?"

    Rainbow sighed and glanced at Jeze, and in turn, the teenager glanced at the Goblin. Ziplocke looked up at the setting sun as it bathed the land in shadows. He bobbed his head as if listening to music.

    "Now is a good time. Summon and Shape the Darkness aspect," Ziplocke whispered into Jeze''s ear.

    "Finally!" Exclaimed Swordslayer.

    The muscular man was elbowed in the ribs by his multi-colored-haired companion. It was time for stealth, and the two watched as their young companion summoned dark tendrils of shadows and shaped them.

    "Not too thick. That will draw attention. Easy, yes, like that. Many confuse the Darkness aspect for malevolence and aggression. Because it represents the unknown, the unseen, but in reality, it is gentle and subtle. My people have mastered this balance," Ziplocke explained.

    Under the Goblin''s instruction, Jeze Shaped shadows that hid the three as they moved across the wide field.

    "There by the barn. See how the shadows gather at its side? That is a good spot to make it darker for us to hide," Ziplocke instructed.

    Jeze gestured and shaped the final glyphs from her Darkness channeling ring. The three blended into the shadows and were out of sight. The soldiers had already searched the small hamlet, and most moved on to the forest. A few remained and patrolled the single road with torches and lamps. The light shone across their barn, but Jeze''s Darkness spell kept them out of view.

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    Swordslayer and Rainbow stood still as death, and the teenager was impressed with their skill. She didn''t think Swordslayer could be quiet, but the freedom fighter was stealthy. Rainbow moved as quietly as one that was a part of nature, and that was no surprise to Jeze.

    "Move now," Ziplocke instructor.

    Jeze led her companions through the Shadows she Summoned and Shaped around them like a gentle blanket. They passed several patrols unnoticed and eventually made it to the tall outer wall of the city of Angston. The wall was nearly double the height of the tower Jeze had climbed at the Old Crone''s school. The surface was marred with chips and cracks from poor maintenance. Swordslayer ran a hand along the rugged wall.

    "Ever since the Golden Empire took this city from the Iron Fist Kingdom, they didn''t need to maintain the wall on this side. That works in our favor," the lean, muscular man observed.

    The Ironfist Kingdom stood on the other side of the river.

    "The amount of legionnaires stationed here is not just for us and not just for the upcoming arrival of the Wandering Spire. The Immortal Emperor seeks more conquest," Rainbow added.

    Jeze nodded, but she did not fully understand what the two talked about. In Narcadia, she was distant from the politics of the nations. Until Drake showed up, she reflected with pangs of rage and grief.

    "Well, no time like the present. Let us climb this wall," Swordslayer said.

    The night sky was clear with sparkling stars and the moon in a waxing gibbous. Not quite full, but it provided faint illumination to make the climb less treacherous. Jeze gulped as she glanced up. This would be the highest wall she had ever scaled. Her companions adjusted the straps to their packs with the quickness of seasoned adventurers. They found purchases with their hands and feet and climbed up the wall.

    "You better hurry," Ziplocke urged.

    Jeze nodded and felt for holds.

    "Maybe adjust your pack," ZIplocke reminded her.

    Oh, right." Jeze had forgotten that she had left the pack open so that she could retrieve her tools with ease.

    It would have been a bad thing if some of the contents fell out mid-climb. The teenager tightened the straps and quickly followed her two companions.

    "Don''t look down," Ziplocke snickered.

    Jeze glanced down on reflex and froze in fear. This was the highest she had ever been, and the ground was blurry due to a mixture of dim lighting and vertigo. Ziplocke, the mischievous prankster, giggled with amusement from her shoulder.

    "If I fall, you fall too!" Jeze reminded the demon with a hiss.

    Ziplocke''s smile faded away as he clung tighter to Jeze''s shoulder. "Stay focused then!" He growled.

    Jeze looked up and saw Swordslayer and Rainbow making progress. She was not that far behind and continued with her effort. Her fear reminded her that her arms and legs were straining from the climb. But, she trained enough that she had plenty of strength left to continue. This was not out of her league, she noted. Confidence blossomed in her chest and pushed away the vertigo and fear like a burning fire. In moments, she caught up with the other two, only to realize that she had to climb down into the crumbling depths of Ratstown.

    "Oh, the look on your face is priceless!" Ziplocke couldn''t help himself and giggled with glee.

    Swordslayer and Rainbow took a breath as they straddled the top of the high wall. They nodded to Jeze.

    "Good job," Swordslayer quietly approved.

    That small complement fueled Jeze''s soul and removed her fear. Her companions swung their legs over and began their descent. Jeze followed, and she discovered that the climb down was quicker, and she was at the bottom in no time.

    Swordslayer was right. The stench was much worse inside the city, especially in Ratstown. The smell was a mixture of urine, mold, and wet dogs. The ground was littered with debris as if a great wooden tower had collapsed, sending its timbers and splinters all over. From the rubble, people had made makeshift homes and used rags for doorways. All around, there were faint flickering lights from candles and makeshift torches. People covered in filth and rats alike scurried away and disappeared among the shadows.

    "We made it," Rainbow commented.

    "Now, the hard part," Swordslayer added.

    "Hard part?" Jeze asked. She felt it would be easier once they made it inside the walls.

    "Aye, we have to move before we are spotted." Swordslayer scanned the area.

    "Move where?" Demanded Rainbow.

    "Hmm, I just need to get my bearings. Give me a moment," the man replied.

    "Spotted? Who will spot us?" Jeze asked.

    She didn''t like being here. It was filthy, it smelled, and there were things scuttering in the shadows that she felt were watching her. She was not afraid of the dark. Raynor had trained her to be comfortable in the shadows of the forest, but this was different. The forest had life, and this place was decaying.

    "Be silent and follow me," Swordslayer hissed.

    "Stay alert," Rainbow ordered.

    Jeze had so many questions, but the two ran off silently among the rubble through the flickering shadows made by the candles and the torches that unknown inhabitants used from within their crooked dwellings made of torn cloth and rotted wood.

    "Best hurry and follow them," Ziplocke advised from her shoulder.

    Jeze ran after her companions and was careful to avoid debris. She jumped over a pile of trash and discovered with a shock that the pile was an old lady covered in filthy rags.

    "Stranger!" The hag shrieked and pointed at Jeze with a claw-like hand covered in waste.

    Jeze stumbled back into a rickety fence cobbled together from random pieces of moldy wood. Through the gaps, filthy hands reached out and grabbed for her.

    "Get away from me!" Jeze cried and broke free and came face to face with the hideously pocked-marked face of the lady in rags.

    "She will get you!" The hag cackled and showed a mouth filled with putrid gums and teeth.

    A strong arm yanked Jeze away, and it took the teenager a moment to realize it was Swordslayer.

    "Stop riling up the locals," the man growled.

    "People are surrounding us," Rainbow whispered.

    "Great! See? This is why we can''t have a rookie. I was hoping to avoid this," Swordslayer complained.

    "Avoid what? Where are you taking us? What is going on?" Jeze demanded in a fury.

    "You need to stay calm," Rainbow ordered icily.

    The look in the multi-colored-haired lady''s eyes and the edge in her voice caused Jeze to quiet down.

    "Start explaining," Rainbow said to Swordslayer.

    The man scanned the area. In the flickering shadows, Jeze saw figures moving, and she thought she heard whispering. She placed one hand on her ax, and she readied her other to shape Glyphs from her Channeling tools.

    Swordslayer sighed and answered, "Years ago, I did a quest here. There are sewers under the city and something older."

    "Older?" Rainbow asked, her voice calm.

    It was the calmness that made her more terrifying, Jeze thought.

    "Yes, catacombs that were built before the city. Heck, probably before the IronFist kingdom," Swordslayer answered.

    Rainbow nodded in understanding. "They can lead us to the Adventurer Guild."

    "Exactly, but the rookie here got us noticed," Swordslayer replied with a glare aimed at Jeze.

    "Noticed by who?" Jeze growled with her hands balled into fists.

    Rainbow hushed her, and Swordslayer answered, "The Fleas."

    "The Fleas?" Jeze asked, fear creeping into her chest.

    Being in the woods and fighting Howlers was one thing. Being in the slums of Ratstown was another experience entirely, and she felt her neck and arms itch from imaginary bites. On instinct, Jeze Summoned and Shaped shadows to hide them.

    "That won''t work," Swordslayer said and turned to Rainbow. "When they come for us, ask that they take us to the Night Mistress."

    "Why me?" Rainbow demanded.

    "Because you are better at talking than me! If I talk, we will end up in a fight," the man responded.

    "I''m okay with fighting." Jeze scowled as she gripped her ax. She hated being afraid, and the best way to conquer one''s fears was to plant an ax in it.

    "Night Mistress? What will I be getting myself into if I mention that name?" Rainbow asked with concern in her voice.

    "Sounds like a kind person that won''t kill us," Ziplocke muttered.

    "She''s the supernatural being that lives underground and can allow us to pass through her realm to where we need to go," Swordslayer said.

    "Supernatural? I think I''m with Jeze on this. Let''s fight our way out of here," Rainbow responded and prepared her hands to shape Glyphs.

    "Sure, we can probably slaughter everyone here, but that won''t make what we need to do any easier. At some point, we will need to travel underground if we have any hope of getting past the Legion," Swordslayer stated.

    "I''d rather take my chances with the Legionnaires than this Night Mistress," Jeze stated.

    Ziplocke nodded in agreement from her shoulder.

    Rainbow''s face showed that she was calculating, and she sighed. "Swordslayer is right. There are too many blocks for us to travel through to get to the Guild Office."

    "Good, before they attack us. Tell them you want an audience with the Night Mistress," Swordslayer stated. His hands on his blades.

    The three stood back to back, with their hands within reach of their weapons and Channeling tools. Rainbow made the announcement into the filth-filled shadows. Howls and shrieks came from all around them. The wooden shanties rattled, and Jeze feared that a swarm of rats and people would engulf them at any moment.

    "I''m starting to regret your idea." Rainbow readied her hands before her to shape Glyphs.

    "Relax. Compared to what you and I have faced before, these people are harmless," Swordslayer responded.

    Ziplocke gripped Jeze''s shoulder even tighter. "I''m from hell, and this unnerves me," he said.

    Swordslayer snorted at the Goblin. "Coward."

    The rattling subsided, and a soft voice spoke from the shadows. "You dare invoke her name? We are her Fleas and we have killed for less."

    "You see us. You know us! We are the ones who delve into the dark places of this world. We are the ones who fight the monsters and face down nightmares. Do not believe you can kill us like a mere lost citizen that wanders into your realm. Out of courtesy, I will say this one last time. We seek an audience with the Night Mistress," Rainbow called out.

    The howls, shrieks, and rattling intensified. Even Swordslayer drew his weapons and anticipated an attack. Then, it stopped just as suddenly as it started. To Jeze, the silence was more ominous.

    "She welcomes you back, Swordslayer. She has allowed you to enter her realm where she awaits you," the shadowy voice said and then snickered.

    "I don''t think she is going to offer us milk and cookies," Ziplocke observed.

 Chapter 20: The Jade Ruins

    The rattling of the shanty houses that surrounded them marked the exit of the Fleas. In moments, the three were left alone, but Jeze couldn''t shake the feeling of being watched from the decaying shadows. This place of filth and human suffering unnerved her. She decided she hated cities.

    "How do we meet with your Night Mistress?" Rainbow asked.

    Swordslayer snorted. "Nothing happened between us."

    Rainbow raised an eyebrow, and Jeze teased, "Was she your girlfriend?"

    The man scowled at the teenager and said, "Seriously, we fought, and I let her live. It was a mutual understanding."

    "Uh-huh." Jeze nodded and made smooching sounds with her lips.

    Swordslayer growled and moved toward the mocking girl but was stopped by Rainbow. "Focus! How do we get to the tunnels?"

    The man growled, and the young girl laughed. "See, this is why we can''t have her join. She''s immature," Swordslayer hissed and then motioned for them to follow him.

    The three traveled on the closest thing that could resemble a street within Ratstown. It was a dusty dirt road wide enough for three people to stand shoulder to shoulder. The sides were lined with tightly packed shanty houses made from filth and rotted wood. The way was dark and shadowy, and the only light to guide them came from the pale glow of the moon and the occasional flickering candle from within the darkness of the tiny homes. They were tense and prepared for an ambush that could happen at any moment from the thousands of dark crevices that lined their path.

    "Are we almost there?" Jeze muttered after what she felt like was an hour of walking through the windy street.

    All humor was lost from her voice, and Swordslayer responded with a nod. His thick jaw was firm, and his body was tense and ready for action. Rainbow walked beside the swordsman with her hands prepared to shape Glyphs. The fatigue of remaining alert for so long was etched upon all of their faces. Even Ziplocke was subdued, and Jeze felt the Goblin''s head dart back and forth, scanning for threats. Jeze was tempted to retrieve her glow globe but knew it would draw unwanted attention to them. It was better to walk among the shadows and remain as unseen as possible.

    "We are here," Swordslayer said.

    Before them, on the ground, was a heavy steel grate covered in filth with rivulets of putrid water draining into it. The smell nearly caused Jeze to retch.

    "No way are we going in there," she stated.

    Swordslayer nodded silently. The muscles in his neck bulged as he lifted the iron grate and moved it to the side with a loud clatter. Hundreds of roaches and flies swarmed out in all directions from the menacing opening. His demonstration of strength impressed Jeze despite her misgivings about going into the sewers.

    "Welcome to the life of an adventurer." Rainbow slapped the teenager''s back.

    "It''s not so bad. I kind of like the smell," Ziplocke said, sniffing the air.

    The Goblin was munching on a squirming insect that was nearly the size of his fist. Jeze retched. Rainbow completed a gesture and Summoned a small globe of light that hovered in the air. The illumination melted away the shadows around them as if they were waking up from a dream, and the area looked a lot less menacing under its glow. The jagged shadows became simple, tiny wooden homes.

    Rainbow Controlled the sphere to go into the hole, illuminating the sewer beneath them. Jeze saw that it was a short distance down onto the murky brownish sludge that ran below. Swordslayer readied himself and dropped down with a splash. Jeze shivered with disgust.

    "Come, I know a Water Aspect pattern that can clean us afterwards," Rainbow said before she dropped down into the hole.

    Ziplocke followed with delight and called back, "Hurry up! It''s wonderful down here."

    Jeze shuddered and then gagged as the smell pierced her nostrils like a huntsman spear. Rainbow''s light traveled further into the depths and left the teenager alone outside in the dark. Jeze sighed and dropped in to follow and discovered that the muck was not deep. She was able to easily traverse on dry patches and the smell was still horrendous but had less impact upon her as she rushed to catch up with the others.

    "See? Not so bad," Ziplocke observed. The Goblin was munching on something that sounded crunchy, and Jeze saw a squirming roach leg get slurped up into his mouth. She suppressed a shudder and instead smiled gently at her companion.

    Swordslayer was in front, and the top of his bun was just shy of touching the slick ceiling of the tunnel. The sewer was wet, grimy, and smelly. Overall, it was a horrible experience that made Jeze reconsider the life of an adventurer. They traveled deeper, and Jeze''s reconsideration grew stronger with each sloshing step. After a while, they came upon a turn where the sewer curved to their left, and a crumbling gap appeared in the square-cut stone walls in the corner. Jeze peered through the opening, and the contrast on the other side was like it had led to another dimension. She grinned. Her passion for adventure was reignited!

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    "We are here," Swordslayer said.

    Through the crumbling gap was a tunnel that went further underground and was surrounded by dirt and roots. Rainbow''s light showed what lay on the other side, and it was a chamber of worked jade-colored stone that seemed ancient. The swordsman went down the passage, and his companions followed. Jeze''s eyes widened when she exited.

    "Who built this?" She wondered.

    They were in a chamber that miraculously had not collapsed. The ceiling was heavily packed earth, and the ground was worked green stone. Several meters ahead of them was a wide building made of the same stone as the floor. It had an arched way with a heavy metal and wooden door that was slightly ajar and showed darkness beyond.

    Swordslayer shrugged. "People that lived here long before the Ironfist Kingdom," he replied.

    "The Ones from Before," Jeze mumbled.

    Rainbow turned on Jeze so suddenly that the young girl was taken aback. "Where did you hear that?" The multi-haired lady demanded.

    Jeze answered, "From a buried pyramid within the Deep Wood. Why?"

    Rainbow relaxed and apologized, "I''m sorry. It''s just my mom used to tell me stories of the Ones from Before. To this day, I have never heard that expression from anyone else until you."

    "Oh, well, I found this!" Jeze excitedly began, and she unshouldered her pack to retrieve the tome she had taken from the Pyramid. But stopped when a gentle woman''s voice came from the doorway and echoed throughout the chamber.

    "Welcome back, Swordslayer. I have redecorated since your last visit. I hope you find it entertaining," the ghostly voice said and ended with a seductive laugh.

    Jeze and Rainbow both glanced at the man with arched eyebrows. Swordslayer refused to meet their eyes.

    "We should go," he muttered.

    Ziplocke cackled with glee and made smooching sounds. The Goblin stopped when Swordslayer glared at him. Ziplocke scurried to hide behind Jeze''s knee. She patted his head.

    Rainbow did not move. "You need to explain to us what we are walking into," She insisted.

    "What''s there to explain? It''s an ancient ruin. We have gone through similar ones dozens of times before. I don''t know about the girl," the man answered with a wave toward Jeze.

    "I''ve done one!" The teenager stated proudly.

    Swordslayer and Rainbow arched their eyes at her. "Really?" The man asked.

    "Yes!" Jeze snapped. She didn''t like that they doubted her and was tired of being underestimated.

    Rainbow stepped between the two. "Answers, now." She demanded of Swordslayer.

    The muscular warrior sighed and said, "A decade ago, I took the assignment to investigate strange incidents in Ratstown. This was before the Empire invaded Angston, and this city was ruled by the Ironfist Kingdom."

    "By yourself?" Rainbow asked.

    "No, I had two others," Swordslayer responded, and he looked at the building as if it could help with his memory.

    "What happened to your colleagues?" Jeze asked.

    "Tell me about the incidents," Rainbow said. The two nearly spoke in the same instance.

    "One at a time!" Snapped Swordslayer. He ignored Jeze and answered Rainbow, "There were complaints of undead coming from the sewers."

    Rainbow nodded and unslung her pack. "So we are facing the undead. What type? Incorporeal? Zombies?"

    Swordslayer tapped his chin. "I think both."

    "You don''t remember!" Demanded Jeze.

    "Do you know how many ruins and dungeons I have conquered since then?" The man asked.

    "Have you done the Spire?" Jeze wondered.

    "Have I done the Spire? Sheesh! I''m the great Swordslayer! This will be my second time," he nearly shouted.

    Rainbow was laying out items from her pack along the floor included vials of clear liquid, various Channeling tools that ranged from rods to wands, and one silver dagger.

    "Is your name really Swordslayer?" Jeze asked.

    "Yes."

    Rainbow took the wand and silver dagger and tucked them into her belt by her waist. She gathered up the silver vials.

    "Really? Why Swordslayer? Such an odd name," Jeze asked.

    "Because I use swords, and I slay!" The fighter exclaimed.

    "That''s not your real name," Jeze observed.

    "Is Jeze even your real name?" Wondered Swordslayer.

    "Why wouldn''t it be?"

    "It sounds odd," Swordslayer teased.

    Jeze placed her fists at her sides and stomped the ground. "It does not! Aaargh! You are so frustrating!"

    Rainbow handed each of them a vial of clear liquid. Swordslayer nodded his thanks and placed it in the pockets of his baggy black pants.

    "What''s this?" Jeze asked.

    "It''s water infused with the Life aspect. It is not cheap to make, so only drink it if you get hit by a wraith or other ghost-like undead," Rainbow explained.

    "Those beings are from the realm of Death. They will cause your flesh and bones to rot," Ziplocke explained with glee.

    Jeze eyed the vial in wonder, "Did you make this?"

    Rainbow nodded.

    "Can you teach me?" Jeze asked.

    "Enough! Let''s go in and get this over with," Swordslayer demanded.

    "Someone can''t wait to see their girlfriend," Jeze teased.

    Swordslayer faced the young girl with a stony face. "You should not make jokes at this time. The Night Mistress sounds like she is in a playful mood, and that is dangerous enough for us. We do not want to anger her."

    Rainbow nodded toward the door that was the entrance to the ancient ruins. "The two that you traveled with, where are they now?"

    "They didn''t make it out," Swordslayer solemnly answered.

    Jeze''s smile and mirth left her face. This became real.

 Chapter 21: Shortcuts

    "She did redecorate," Swordslayer observed.

    The three entered through the arched door leading to a chamber with a high ceiling that was beyond the reach of Rainbow''s light globe and was shrouded in darkness. In front of them was a makeshift labyrinth made out of wooden planks and rusty nails that filled up the entirety of the wide chamber. They would have to traverse through it in a single file in order to squeeze through the narrow passageways. At the entrance was a ghoulish sight.

    "I hope those two were not your colleagues," Rainbow quietly said.

    Two corpses with rotting flesh and moldy armor stood on either side of the entrance. They were set in a pose as if they were waving to greet guests. Swordslayer squinted as he studied the cadavers.

    "Yeah, that''s them. I have to hand it to her. She is patient." The sword fighter said with a shrug.

    "You got to be kidding me! Ten years! Shouldn''t they just be bones?" Demanded Jeze.

    "Death aspect. She preserved them," Rainbow commented. "I hate going against necromancers," she muttered.

    Swordslayer nodded in agreement and studied the situation before them.

    "Doesn''t this upset you?" Jeze asked and motioned to the corpses.

    "I mourned them ten years ago," Swordslayer answered matter of factly.

    Rainbow nodded and added, "It''s the life we live."

    "But, weren''t they your friends?" The teenager couldn''t believe how callous they were over the loss of their companions.

    "I didn''t particularly like them, if I were to be honest." Swordslayer shrugged.

    "We are not going through there," Rainbow pointed out and brought the group back to the problem at hand.

    Jeze agreed and felt that going through the tight spaces of the makeshift labyrinth would be a sure way to get killed. There would be no room to fight, and what''s to stop the Night Mistress from activating a trap to crush them? She reflected.

    "Jeze, send your Goblin to climb up the walls to see how we can navigate in there," Rainbow ordered.

    "No thank you," Ziplocke answered.

    "I can do it," Jeze said.

    "No need," Swordslayer responded.

    Jeze and Rainbow looked at the Swordfighter. The man was testing out the jade-colored stone walls to their sides. The stone was rough to the touch and chiseled to have patterns and ridges, which could be decent enough hand holds for climbing.

    "I remember a balcony up there and a second floor. The stairs are on the other side of this mess," Swordslayer pointed at the wooden labyrinth that took up the whole of the chamber.

    "What was this place?" Jeze asked.

    "A temple," Swordslayer grunted.

    Rainbow nodded in agreement.

    "To who?" Jeze asked.

    "The Night Mistress. Stop asking stupid questions and help us figure out how to get up there!" Swordslayer snapped.

    "She''s a goddess!?!" Jeze cried but was ignored by her colleagues. What were they thinking? How was this easier than going up against flesh and blood Legionnaires? The teenager wondered to herself.

    Rainbow and Swordslayer were testing out the handholds through the ridges in the stone. They were decorative and not meant for climbing. Above them was ink-black darkness and the unknown. Climbing may not be a viable option if the risk of falling was great, especially if they had to climb high. How high? Jeze wondered as she stared up into the abyss above.

    "Notice anything familiar?" Ziplocke said from her shoulder.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes to study the shadows more closely. They did appear to be unnaturally thick, and why was Rainbow''s light not penetrating them? The teenager wondered as her colleagues climbed.

    "Wait!" Jeze called out.

    Swordslayer paused his hand just at the edge of the shadows. He turned to glare at her.

    "Come back down," Jeze ordered.

    The two adventurers came back down and faced her. "This better be good," Swordslayer growled.

    "Rainbow, raise your light," Jeze ordered.

    The lady complied. The glowing orb rose, and the shadows moved back, but it was still unclear to see what was up there. The area was illuminated but unfocused. The shadows somehow still got in the way of their line of sight.

    "That is brilliant work," Ziplocke commented.

    "What the hell are you talking about?" Demanded Swordslayer.

    Rainbow tapped her chin as she studied alongside Jeze and Ziplocke. "I see it now. The Darkness aspect is used here," she said.

    "Exactly! I need to see something," Jeze exclaimed and climbed up the wall just to the edge of the faint shadows.

    It was as she expected. She wouldn''t have been able to notice the faint Runes that were made out of darker shadows within the existing shadows if she hadn''t tried this herself when she was camping.

    "It''s a Rune trap. I can''t decipher what type," Jeze observed.

    "Death aspect," Ziplocke stated.

    "Oh, that''s pretty serious." Jeze made sure she did not touch the shadows.

    "Can you disarm it?" Rainbow asked.

    Jeze pondered the question. With a strong grip and sturdy leg muscles, she was able to hold herself in place with one hand as she activated the final Glyphs attached to her Shadow ring.

    "I think so," she replied.

    "Be careful," Swordslayer cautioned.

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    Jeze and Rainbow glanced at him.

    "What? So, I don''t want to see you get hurt. Get over yourself!" The sword fighter snapped.

    "He is right. Be careful," Ziplocke said and scampered down the wall to join the other two.

    Jeze snorted, "Coward."

    "I prefer the term, Self-preservationist." The Goblin called back.

    The teenager shook her head and returned to the task at hand. She wanted to Shape the existing shadows. Since they were Summoned, it should be easier in theory. However, they were Summoned by the Night Mistress and it depended upon how much Will she had put into them. If it was a lot, then Jeze may faint from the effort.

    "You two might want to be ready to catch her," Ziplocke suggested.

    Rainbow and Swordslayer prepared themselves. It wouldn''t be a high fall, but the hard stone would make it very painful.

    "Here goes," Jeze said and inserted her Will to Shape the Summoned shadows.

    The teenager gritted her teeth as she came upon resistance, but it was nowhere near the difficulty of Shaping a non Summoned shadow. This Night Mistress did not anticipate anyone messing with her traps and exerted the minimum amount of Will to create them. With intense focus, Jeze altered the shadow Runes and inserted her energy into them. She felt a comforting snap that indicated the Rune trap was disarmed.

    "She did it," Rainbow observed.

    "I didn''t see anything," Swordslayer stated.

    "Of course you didn''t, you oaf." Ziplocke teased.

    "Watch yourself," the sword fighter growled.

    Ziplocke yelped in fright and scampered up the wall to Jeze. From her perch, Jeze looked up and still couldn''t see through the mass of shadows. Her efforts before had strained her, but she still had plenty of energy left. Jeze gritted her teeth and completed the Rune pattern attached to her Shadow ring. She shaped the Summoned shadows. It took a lot of effort, and she was only able to part a narrow path through the thick shadows, but it was enough. The balcony Swordslayer had talked about became visible.

    "Nice work!" The man exclaimed.

    Jeze was too tired and only nodded her thanks. With shaking arms and legs, she climbed the rest of the way up and collapsed in the darkness of the second floor. Her colleagues joined her moments later.

    "Let her rest," Rainbow said.

    "She earned it," Swordslayer agreed.

    Rainbow moved her light spell so that they could look down into the labyrinth. It was lined with all manner of spikes and salivating zombies that were packed so tight it would have been impossible to fight them off.

    "Good thing we avoided that," Swordslayer observed.

    The three tensed as a wailing shriek tore through the temple. The zombies collapsed as the Night Mistress released her Will over them. Swordslayer grinned.

    "She put all of her eggs in that basket. Best we move now before she recovers," the muscular swordsman stated and drew his two blades.

    Rainbow nodded, and Jeze rose on trembling legs. The Will that the Night Mistress had was substantial for her to Summon and Shape so many shadows and undead. Jeze brushed against it earlier, and it nearly exhausted her. The teenager recognized that there were levels in this world.

    "Stay behind us. It is our time to put some work in," Rainbow told Jeze.

    Without further delay, the two seasoned adventures advanced down the corridor. Swordslayer was in the lead with his blades at the ready. Rainbow was close behind him with her Channeling tools prepared to unleash magical destruction. Jeze wondered at what spells Rainbow would use. She saw the multi-colored-haired adventurer use the Light, Life, Nature, and Water aspects. What other tricks did Rainbow have? Would she teach me some? Jeze wondered.

    "Stop daydreaming," Ziplocke hissed.

    Jeze snapped out of it and saw that she was being left in the dark as her companions moved ahead with Rainbow''s glowing globe illuminating the way.

    "Fire aspect would be best against the undead," Ziplocke advised.

    "Why is that?" Jeze asked as she retrieved her fire Aspect Channeling tool and hurried after the others.

    "It has a strong affinity to light and purification. The Death aspect is linked to decay and taint. Fire is a cleansing force," the Goblin instructed.

    That made sense to Jeze. She hurried after the others, and along the way, she saw several chambers with their doors opened and furniture scattered about.

    "They were looted," Ziplocke observed.

    "By Swordslayer and his team?" Jeze asked. Could there have been others that came after the sword fighter?

    "Based upon the number of zombies that were down there, I guess most do not survive their visit," Ziplocke stated.

    The corridor Jeze ran along curved to the right. Ahead of her was a winding stone staircase that climbed downward. A stone banister was on her right, and over it, she saw the wooden labyrinth cover the entire massive chamber below. She turned the corner and found Swordslayer and Rainbow standing back to back.

    "Be careful," Rainbow cautioned.

    "Ghosts," Swordslayer said without glancing at Jeze.

    The man held his blades out to his sides and was posed to attack. Rainbow had Summoned vines that coiled at her sides like obedient serpents ready to strike. The two stood still, and there was a silence that unnerved Jeze. Ziplocke had scampered off her shoulder and was out of sight, and Jeze hurried over to take up position.

    "You can only hit them when they manifest to attack," Rainbow explained.

    "And don''t let them hit you. Their touch is one of death from the grave," Swordslayer added.

    "Where are they?" Jeze asked, her voice squeaked from her rising panic.

    "All around us," Swordslayer answered quietly.

    Jeze saw the ghosts in the glow from Rainbow''s Summoned Light aspect. They looked like faintly illuminated clouds that fluttered through the air. The ghosts passed through the ground and the walls like a fish splashing through water. They moved fast, but no faster than a sprinting howler through the Deep Wood. Jeze reflected to herself and gritted her teeth with determination. Jeze slashed a ghost that flew close by, and her blade passed through it harmlessly.

    "Only when they manifest," Swordslayer growled.

    "What does that look like!" Jeze demanded.

    "You''ll know," Rainbow said.

    More ghosts came through the walls, floors, and ceilings to spin around the trio. With horror, Jeze saw what her companions had meant. Initially, the ghosts were like shapeless clouds shifting and gliding. Jeze saw faces soundlessly screaming in anguish from within the floating forms. Some had bodies with skeletal claws-like hands that reached for her. The air grew colder.

    "Get ready," Swordslayer said.

    A ghost flew out of the wall in front of Jeze. It''s shape manifested into a gaunt-faced woman with tangled hair and long sharp nails that reached for the teenager. Jeze Summoned and Shaped a dart of fire, but the ghost let out a screech that broke the silence like a crack of thunder. The sound startled the young girl and threw off her aim. Her fire magic splashed against the stone wall as the ghost grabbed her arm. Jeze watched in horror as her skin turned black with decay. It burned, and the pain washed over her body like a tidal wave. The ghost sneered and squeezed, but a sword sliced its head off, and the apparition faded away like steam rising from a cup of tea. Jeze collapsed to the ground, shivering. Her arm burned, and terror gripped her heart. She had touched the other side, and she knew she was dying.

    "Ziplocke! Feed her the silver vial," Rainbow cried.

    Jeze''s curled into a fetal position. From her vantage point, she watched Rainbow and Swordslayer time each of their attacks perfectly to send ghosts back to the realm of the dead. Rainbow gestured and moved with the grace of a dancer to Control her Summoned nature aspects. One of the vines whipped and thudded soundly into a manifested ghost. The specter howled and faded away. Another vine ensnared a ghost that materialized behind Rainbow and squeezed it so hard that the apparition popped out of existence.

    "Sip this!" Ziplocke placed the vial on Jeze''s lips.

    She didn''t even realize the Goblin had arrived as she was so occupied with dying and enthralled at how well her companions fought. Jeze drank the offered potion, but her eyes never left the battle before her. Swordslayer stood with his head down. His face was obscured by his hair, and his swords readied at his sides. In the blink of an eye, his swords blurred as fast as a darting mouse and sent several ghosts back to oblivion. With that, the fight was over. Jeze grimaced and shivered as she sat up.

    "You need to rest, Jeze," Rainbow said as her Summoned vines faded away.

    "Aye, the first time experiencing a Grave touch is enough to never want to do it again," Swordslayer chuckled, and he sheathed his swords.

    Jeze gritted her teeth and rose to her feet. She didn''t even kill one! Her companions nodded in silent approval of her resolve.

    "We must hurry before the Night Mistress recovers enough power to Summon more undead," Swordslayer said.

    He and Rainbow ran off down the corridor toward another stairwell that winded upwards. Jeze was left in the dark again, and she chased after. Ziplocke snickered from her shoulder.

    "What''s so funny?" Jeze growled as she clambered up the steps.

    "I saved your life. You owe me," Ziplocke said with an evil grin.

    Jeze didn''t know what was more horrifying, the Grave touch or the knowledge that she was in the Goblin''s debt.

 Chapter 22: The Night Mistress

    Jeze and Rainbow followed Swordslayer as he ran through the temple. They trusted that he knew where he was going as he had done this before. Despite being annoying, Swordslayer was really skilled. Jeze reflected as she observed him spin like a whirlwind of steel that left behind dismembered zombies in its wake. Other than that, they met little resistance.

    ¡°Hey! Leave some for us!¡± She called out. Jeze figured she could use the practice.

    Swordslayer continued on. ¡°We must get to her while she is tired,¡± he called back without looking.

    Each floor was similar with two sets of winding stairwells located on opposite ends. One stairwell leading down, and the other leading up. Each floor was square in shape with an open middle that looked down into the main chamber where the wooden labyrinth was constructed. Jeze paused and noticed that the rooms were less in number but were larger and more lavished the higher they went. Were they looted as well? She wondered what treasure could be hidden in there that they were missing.

    ¡°You are falling behind again, knucklehead.¡± Ziplocke hissed.

    Jeze snapped out of her thoughts and ran after her colleagues. The fourth floor was the last, and there was only a single door that Jeze imagined led to the only room on this level. Swordslayer and Rainbow stopped before it. It was a heavy steel door set into the green stone.

    ¡°You think it is trapped?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we are waiting on you, scout.¡± The man replied.

    Jeze beamed for being recognized and studied the door. She was getting good at spotting and disabling Rune traps. In moments, she felt the energy snap shut and the magical traps removed.

    ¡°I would stand back. She still has not learned how to disable mechanical traps,¡± Ziplocke cautioned.

    ¡°What?¡± Both Rainbow and Swordslayer asked.

    ¡°I need a teacher,¡± Jeze stated.

    Swordslayer shook his head and muttered, ¡°Country kid, rookie.¡±

    ¡°I saved your life downstairs!¡± Jeze cried.

    ¡°What¡¯s the point if we die in an arrow trap here?¡± The man retorted.

    Rainbow shook her head. She was getting annoyed with their bickering. The multi-colored haired adventurer Summoned and Shaped vines to open the door. No traps were triggered. Swordslayer nodded his thanks and rushed into the next room and the others followed. Inside the Night Mistress waited for them.

    ¡°Whoa,¡± Jeze breathed out.

    The chamber had four stone columns that held scones with green flames that illuminated the green-stoned room. Shadows flickered ominously in the corners. A single red carpet ran along the center and ended with a throne that appeared to be made out of green crystal. Their adversary stood before the throne.

    ¡°I see why you spared her,¡± Rainbow muttered at Swordslayer.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± he responded.

    ¡°Her outfit does not seem practical for combat,¡± Jeze observed.

    The Night Mistress was a tall woman with high cheekbones, snow-pale skin, and midnight black hair that fell down to her shoulders. She wore a black dress that clung to her body with slits along its sides that showed pale shapely legs. The material of her dress reflected the green light as if it were made out of onyx. The Night Mistress¡¯s bare arms were well-muscled as she easily held a long spear with a wicked dark blade at its end. What stood out to Jeze were her inhuman eyes, which were black pools with red sparks in the middle.

    ¡°You cheated,¡± the Night Mistress snarled.

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    Her voice reminded Jeze of a snake slithering through dried leaves.

    ¡°No, I won again,¡± Swordslayer responded. ¡°Now, let us pass through.¡±

    The bravado that Jeze found annoying was rich in his voice, and it echoed throughout the chamber.

    ¡°But, we have not had our dance,¡± the Night Mistress purred as she effortlessly twirled her spear and strode forward on bare feet.

    Swordslayer cracked his neck and loosened his shoulders as he moved forward to meet her. Rainbow nodded to Jeze and two ladies fanned out behind the sword fighter.

    ¡°Not fair, you brought friends.¡± The Night Mistress pouted.

    ¡°Well, aside from the fact that you are a demigod, we are in a bit of a rush, you see. So I need to make this quick,¡± Swordslayer replied.

    Demigod? Jeze thought. She must be very old and very dangerous. The teenager Summoned piles of Dirt and readied her hand ax.

    ¡°Where are you going, I wonder,¡± The Night Mistress purred.

    ¡°That is our business,¡± Rainbow answered.

    The Night Mistress scowled at her and turned her attention to Swordslayer with a coy smile. ¡°Why do you need to pass through my realm? Are you hunted by Legion? What favor would the Immortal Emperor bestow upon me if I were to turn you in?¡±

    Swordslayer growled he was done talking, and he lunged forward with trust from one sword and a slice with the other. His opponent lazily parried both attacks and danced away.

    The Night Mistress chuckled and continued, ¡°What could be in Angston? Aww, the Guild. Of course! You want to brave the Spire!¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Jeze called out. Everyone turned to look at her as if she just magically appeared. ¡°We want to challenge the Stronghold,¡± the teenager explained.

    The Night Mistress laughed, her bosomed chest heaving from the effort. The sound echoed throughout the chamber and was sharp on the ears. Rainbow Summoned vines that ensared the Night Mistress but for a moment. The demigod completed a gesture, and the vines withered away before Swordslayer could take advantage. His sword strikes fell on empty air as their opponent danced and laughed away.

    ¡°You are keeping a well-informed company, Swordslayer.¡± The onyx-haired lady observed.

    Swordslayer and Rainbow glanced at the teenager for a moment before returning their attention to the Night Mistress.

    ¡°Tell me, young girl, how did you come to have such secrets?¡± The Night Mistress asked her attention no longer on Swordslayer.

    ¡°Enough! You owe me. I let you live,¡± Swordslayer roared.

    ¡°You left me to die!¡± The Night Mistress cried back, her attention back to the swordfighter.

    Seeing the opportunity, Jeze completed the Earth aspect Glyphs. A fist-sized stone struck the Night Mistress in the back of the head. She recovered fast and deflected one of Swordslayer¡¯s attacks but took a slash to her bare leg from his other sword. The Night Mistress countered with a spear thrust but missed and took another slash to her arm. A vine rose up from the ground and, wrapped around the Night Mistress¡¯s waist and trapped her. She attempted a wild attack but missed as Swordslayer ducked and weaved close enough to hold the edge of his sword to her pale throat. His face was close to hers.

    ¡°It is good to see you again,¡± the Night Mistress said. She was breathing hard.

    Jeze noticed that her wounds healed, but her skin turned gray, and her body appeared more gaunt.

    Swordslayer nodded.

    ¡°Will you stay with me?¡± The Night Mistress asked.

    Swordslayer shook his head.

    ¡°At least this time you will say goodbye?¡± She asked.

    Swordslayer nodded.

    ¡°A proper goodbye,¡± the Night Mistress insisted, as she placed a gentle finger to lower Swordslayer¡¯s blade.

    ¡°Be careful!¡± Rainbow cried.

    The Night Mistress grabbed the back of Swordslayer¡¯s head and pulled him into a kiss.

    ¡°Gross!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    Ziplocke appeared out of the shadows to dance and cackle. The Night Mistress stepped away and walked back to slump on her throne. With a lazy gesture of her hand, the chamber shook and rumbled.

    ¡°What is happening?¡± Rainbow demanded.

    ¡°She is letting me go,¡± Swordslayer said, his eyes on the Night Mistress.

    The rumbling was due to the grinding of stone as a passageway opened up at the end of the room behind the Night Mistress¡¯s throne.

    ¡°Until we meet again,¡± she purred as they walked past.

    ¡°No, this is the last we will see of each other,¡± Swordslayer replied.

    The Night Mistress chuckled. ¡°Oh, you will seek me out when you want to advance beyond Adept.¡±

    ¡°What did she mean by that?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Not now,¡± Rainbow replied and urged the teenager through the passageway.

    They entered an old tunnel when the stone rumbled, and the way back into the temple was closed off. Rainbow Summoned a ball of light, and they marched on. Swordslayer did not say a word. He marched ahead of the others, and when they were not looking, he wiped tears from his eyes.

 Chapter 23: Questions

    ¡°You and I need to have a chat,¡± Rainbow told Jeze.

    The teenager nodded eagerly. ¡°I have so many questions, and I want to talk more with you about the Ones from Before!¡±

    Rainbow appeared surprised. ¡°Okay, but you may want to be more guarded with your knowledge. Not with me! But in general.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± The teenager asked.

    ¡°You can¡¯t trust everyone, Jeze. With adventuring, knowledge is everything. Knowing the location of an ancient ruin. Knowing the secret phrase to deactivate a guardian golem. All of that goes a long way and there are those that will take what they can from you for their greedy purposes,¡± Rainbow explained.

    ¡°So, I shouldn¡¯t share with you what I discovered?¡±

    ¡°No, you can with me.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    Rainbow was stumped. Ahead of them, they heard Swordslayer laugh.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Jeze demanded.

    ¡°Nothing, kid. To your question. You shouldn¡¯t trust us either,¡± the man answered darkly.

    ¡°What Swordslayer is trying to say is that you just met us. So, you may want to vet us more before sharing. That is a good practice,¡± Rainbow added.

    Jeze nodded and remained in thought. She was learning so much from the two seasoned adventurers. Rainbow excused herself and walked up to place a gentle hand on Swordslayer¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°How are you?¡± She asked softly.

    ¡°Fine, why do you ask?¡± Swordslayer responded gruffly.

    ¡°Back there must have been hard for you,¡± Rainbow said and motioned toward the direction of the temple of the Night Mistress.

    Swordslayer snorted and wiped his eyes. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t. We won, didn¡¯t we? That¡¯s always good.¡±

    Rainbow gripped his shoulder, and Jeze came up to give the man a hug.

    ¡°Alright! That¡¯s enough. Get off of me!¡± Swordslayer demanded.

    The two ladies gave him space as he shook himself free. He scowled at the two, but Jeze felt his demeanor was lighter. As if a ray of sunshine pierced through the dark clouds of his emotions.

    ¡°I¡¯m still not convinced you should be on our team,¡± he said.

    ¡°Maybe I don¡¯t want to be on your team!¡± Jeze snapped back.

    Swordslayer laughed. ¡°Of course you do! We are the best there is!¡±

    They continued to follow Swordslayer through the long tunnel. It eventually opened up to multiple passageways, and Swordslayer continued through the middle one without a word.

    ¡°Does he know where we are going?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°I hope so,¡± Jeze replied.

    ¡°I trust him,¡± Rainbow stated.

    ¡°I can hear you,¡± Swordslayer growled, ¡°and yes, I do.¡±

    ¡°What are all these tunnels for?¡± Jeze wondered.

    ¡°I believe we are traveling the streets of a city that was buried long ago,¡± Rainbow answered.

    ¡°The Ones from Before?¡± Jeze said.

    Rainbow shrugged. ¡°Could be, I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Swordslayer snorted and shook his head. He cared not for histories and tomes.

    ¡°Wait, if this was a city. Where are the buildings?¡± Jeze asked.

    As far as she could tell, they were traveling through a tunnel with the walls showing no indication of doors or archways. The passage branched off into smaller tunnels. Maybe they were like side streets? Jeze wondered.

    Ziplocke sniffed the air and answered, ¡°I smell the Fire aspect. This place was burned! Melted by a tremendous Hellfire!¡± The Goblin gave off a squeal of delight over the destruction.

    ¡°Who cares about that? This is a good way for us to get to the Guild office and avoid the blasted Legion,¡± Swordslayer responded.

    ¡°Who cares? There could be hidden treasures or books with information on how to defeat the Stronghold!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    ¡°You said that earlier. What is that about?¡± Rainbow asked.

    Jeze became tight-lipped. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Can I trust you?¡±

    Swordslayer laughed.

    ¡°See what you did?¡± Rainbow chided the man and turned to Jeze. ¡°Tell you what, kid. Ask me something, and in turn, I can ask you. Deal?¡±

    Jeze nodded, and the two shook hands. The teenager tapped her chin and asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be exploring these tunnels more?¡±

    ¡°Nah, if anything of value was down here, it would have been picked clean long ago,¡± Swordslayer muttered.

    ¡°Who else knows about these tunnels?¡± Jeze asked.

    Rainbow shrugged, ¡°Thieves, assassins, and bounty hunters. The kind of folks that need to travel in secret.¡±

    ¡°Outlaws and freedom fighters,¡± Swordslayer added.

    Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide, and her hands went to her weapons. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be more careful?¡±

    ¡°Little girl, we fight monsters and demigods. They need to be careful of us,¡± Swordslayer boasted.

    Jeze glared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that,¡± she growled.

    Rainbow placed a restraining hand on Swordslayer and asked Jeze, ¡°Any other questions?¡±

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    Jeze streamed questions as fast as a raging river in a storm. ¡°Why are you called Rainbow? Is it because your hair has different colors? How did that happen?¡±

    Swordslayer roared with laughter. ¡°See? This is why we don¡¯t travel with rookies.¡±

    Jeze scowled at him. ¡°You are mean because you just broke up with your evil girlfriend.¡±

    Swordslayer¡¯s laughter and smile faded away from his face as fast as it had appeared. He shrugged and muttered, ¡°It was not like that, and she¡¯s not evil. She is just misunderstood.¡±

    Jeze was about to make a retort but Rainbow intervened and answered, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m called Rainbow for my hair and it is like this because I channeled the wrong aspect trying to make an Insight potion.¡±

    Ziplocke cackled with glee. ¡°That¡¯s so funny! I wish I could have been there to see your face!¡±

    Rainbow shook her head at him.

    ¡°That can happen with potions?¡± Jeze asked.

    She didn¡¯t realize there were drawbacks with alchemy. Then again, she was only making Recovery potions. Nothing that required the infusion of aspects, she reflected. Jeze perked up.

    ¡°Can you teach me how to infuse aspects into potions?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Did you not see what happened to her hair? Why would you want to learn that?¡± Swordslayer asked. He was walking alongside them now.

    ¡°Because not everything can be solved with a sword, you brainless oaf,¡± Jeze snapped.

    Swordslayer shrugged and replied, ¡°It works for me, and I¡¯m one of the best Adventurers out there!¡±

    ¡°Says who?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Says him,¡± Rainbow replied and jerked her thumb at the sword fighter.

    Swordslayer gave his multi-colored-haired colleague a hurt look. Ziplocke giggled.

    ¡°Why did you call the Spire the Stronghold?¡± Rainbow asked Jeze.

    Jeze started to answer and then stopped. She glanced at Ziplocke, and the Goblin shrugged.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care what you tell them. I would love to see the look on your face when they betray you and run off with your knowledge for their own gains!¡± The Goblin said and rubbed his hands together in glee.

    Jeze scowled at her bonded companion.

    ¡°What is that creature¡¯s deal?¡± Swordslayer demanded.

    ¡°He is a demon. It is in their nature to enjoy human suffering. For Goblins, they especially enjoy bad surprises,¡± Rainbow explained.

    ¡°Not just human suffering. Basically, all suffering. Oh, the look on their faces!¡± Ziplocke replied and giggled as if he recalled a particular unfortunate memory.

    Swordslayer shook his head and then reflected, ¡°I suppose the look on a Rune Caster¡¯s face when their magic fails them is kind of funny.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Ziplocke squealed.

    ¡°That is what happens when you rely on external forces and not your own ability,¡± Swordslayer added with a flex of his muscles.

    Jeze snorted, ¡°What do you know?¡±

    ¡°More than you,¡± Swordslayer replied.

    ¡°Yeah, right,¡± the teenager retorted.

    ¡°Tell us why you called the Spire the Stronghold,¡± Rainbow firmly repeated her question.

    Jeze was tight-lipped for a moment but then shared her entire experience with the Pyramid in the Deep Wood. The story burst from her like a swarm of bats flying out of the caves to go hunting at night. She shared every detail, including her encounter with Drake and the loss of Raynor. In the end, she was sobbing with tears in her eyes. Swordslayer stood with his mouth agape. Jeze talked so much and so fast that he didn¡¯t have time to interject a witty insult. Rainbow listened with intensity, and when Jeze stopped talking, the multi-colored-haired lady hugged the teenager.

    Swordslayer hesitated a moment and he conceded, ¡°You are an outlaw like us, kid. I suppose it makes sense that we allow you to join our team.¡±

    Jeze wiped the tears from her eyes and laughed. ¡°Thanks, I so much want to travel with you two! You two are great!¡±

    The teenager slammed into Swordslayer with a hug. The man was visibly uncomfortable, and he simply patted her shoulder.

    ¡°It is true, we are great,¡± he replied.

    Ziplocke retched. ¡°This is so gross! Go back to insulting each other!¡±

    The tunnels still appeared to be tunnels and not the streets from some ancient city. Still, Jeze scanned the walls for any hints of a door that could lead to treasure. They traveled on in relative silence mixed in with some discussion. Jeze had asked Rainbow about her thick black Jacket with purple orchids stitched along its sleeves and the high collar that covered the face.

    ¡°No, it''s not magical, and yes, it offers some protection. See? Feel the material,¡± she said and invited Jeze to touch it.

    The Jacket was made from thick padding and offered solid protection. It reminded Jeze that she needed armor.

    ¡°How did you get it? Do the flowers and colors mean anything?¡± The teenager asked.

    ¡°It was my family crest. The Purple Orchids,¡± Rainbow asked quietly.

    ¡°Your real name is not Rainbow, right? And your real name is not Swordslayer?¡± Jeze asked the two.

    The two were quiet until Swordslayer spoke up. ¡°Our real names died with our families. We are on a path of vengeance!¡±

    Rainbow perked up and added, ¡°And we have a real chance now with what you discovered, Jeze. Once the nobles and ruling families discover the real purpose of the Spire and that the Immortal Emperor is a sham, a true revolution will happen.¡±

    ¡°That was what Raynor wanted me to avoid,¡± Jeze said quietly.

    ¡°And look what happened? The Empire took from you like they did from us. Like they do for all of us!¡± Swordslayer cried.

    ¡°But you two are still alive. I think you should still carry on your name,¡± Jeze observed.

    ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous. Our families were influential and led the rebellion. The Empire has agents looking for us,¡± Rainbow stated.

    ¡°Aww, so you don¡¯t trust me with your names?¡± Jeze asked.

    The two glanced at each other and remained silent.

    ¡°Well, I have nothing to hide. My family name is Zanchi,¡± the teenager proudly proclaimed.

    ¡°Why does that name sound familiar?¡± Rainbow asked.

    ¡°I have a brother! He was an adventurer, did you know him?¡± Jeze said, her voice raised in excitement.

    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± Swordslayer asked.

    ¡°Daverius,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°Nope,¡± The man replied.

    Rainbow continued to squint as she tried to recall why the name sounded familiar.

    ¡°He preferred to use swords,¡± Jeze provided additional information.

    Swordslayer snorted, ¡°Unless he owned a prestigious sword fighting school or won over fifty duels to the death, I would not have wasted my time knowing him.¡±

    Jeze growled, ¡°Like you did those?¡±

    Swordslayer came up speechless. He didn¡¯t.

    Rainbow perked up. ¡°Yes! I know now. He was a Rune caster like yourself?¡±

    ¡°You met him?!?¡± Jeze cried.

    ¡°No, but five years ago, he impressed everyone at the trials by dropping a boulder on the target dummy,¡± Rainbow recalled.

    Jeze laughed, and Swordslayer rolled his eyes.

    ¡°Wooden dummies do not hit back,¡± the sword fighter stated.

    ¡°I remember him now. He was a rising prospect. He impressed a lot of teams that day. Is he going back to the Spire this time?¡± Rainbow asked.

    Jeze looked at the floor and quietly answered, ¡°He never made it out of the last one.¡±

    Swordslayer and Rainbow bowed their heads in respect. ¡°It''s the life we live,¡± the man said.

    ¡°Was his death confirmed?¡± Rainbow asked.

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Jeze said, looking up.

    ¡°The Guild has recovery teams whose purpose is to help lost adventurers. They also reclaim,¡± Rainbow cleared her throat and continued, ¡°the bodies of the fallen.¡±

    ¡°No, he never came out.¡±

    ¡°Still could be alive,¡± Swordslayer stated.

    Jeze perked up. ¡°Really?¡±

    Rainbow elbowed him, and he yelped, ¡°Ouch! What? It¡¯s true! I heard stories of teams going in and finding adventurers from previous Spires that were trapped inside for the past five years.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t fill her with false hopes,¡± Rainbow growled.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, really I am. I hope to find him, but mainly now I want to stop the demonic invasion,¡± Jeze solemnly said.

    Swordslayer suppressed a snort and ended up coughing. He admired her conviction as it was something he could relate to. He glanced around and stopped.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Rainbow asked.

    ¡°We are here,¡± Swordslayer answered and nodded upwards.

    Above the group was a steel trap door.

    ¡°That leads to the guild office?¡± Jeze asked.

    Swordslayer shook his head, ¡°No, that leads to sewers beneath the Guild office.¡±

    Jeze sulked. ¡°More sewers,¡± she grumbled.

    Rainbow rubbed her shoulders. ¡°It''s the life we live,¡± she stated again.

 Chapter 24: The Trials

    The three climbed out of the sewers without fanfare into the middle of a crowded plaza. Passerbys stepped to avoid them, but for the most part, no one paid them any attention. As if it was a common sight to see filthy people climbing out of the sewers. Jeze marveled as she looked around and up at the two tall towers. They were impressive from a distance, but up close, she never saw anything like them. Each tower stood at opposite ends of the circular plaza made from polished stones that was ringed with shops and merchants. The towers were made of dark brown stone and appeared as giant bricks placed upright by the gods. Rainbow informed Jeze that the closest one was the Guild office, and the other tower that was east across the plaza was the Golden Empire¡¯s governor¡¯s building. The plaza represented the Guild office and was filled with adventurers, Jeze realized with excitement. They were people in armor and shouldered heavy packs with weapons at their sides.

    ¡°Who built the towers? The Empire?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°The Empire only takes and destroys,¡± Swordslayer growled.

    Rainbow answered, ¡°It has been written that the towers were here before the Ironfist Kingdom ruled Angston. No one knows who built them.¡±

    ¡°The Ones from Before,¡± Jeze marveled.

    ¡°Papers?¡± A gravely voice asked.

    The speaker was a staunch-looking older man with a bald head and broad shoulders. He wore a silver breastplate over a bright blue shirt and deep red pants.

    ¡°A moment please. As you can see, we arrived by the sewers,¡± Swordslayer responded.

    The bald man squinted and exclaimed, ¡°Oi! As I live and breathe! I thought you two were hanging from the gallows by now for treason against the Immortal Emperor! You two look like shat!¡±

    ¡°Hello, Irvin,¡± Rainbow said as she completed the Water pattern glyphs.

    The muti-colored haired lady Summoned water that floated in the air like suspended rain drops. Rainbow Shaped and Controlled the aspect to soak her companions. Jeze felt the Summoned fluid absorb the sewage filth from her clothes. Rainbow Controlled the water away from their bodies and formed a round sphere of filthy liquid to hover over the sewage entrance and she released the spell. The sewage sludge splashed down through the opened grate. Jeze marveled at how clean and dry she was.

    ¡°You know each other?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Like I told you, we are famous adventurers,¡± Swordslayer responded as he presented his certificate.

    ¡°Famous alright! But not in the way you think,¡± Irvin said and waved away Swordslayer and Rainbow¡¯s papers. ¡°Put that away. I know who you two are; I need the young girl¡¯s.¡±

    Jeze presented her certificate, which Drake had signed with his seal. Irvin squirted as he studied it.

    ¡°Scout,¡± the bald man muttered and added, ¡°This ain¡¯t complete. You need to do the obstacle course. There was not one by you? Ahh, I see you are from the fringes. Welcome to civilization, girl.¡±

    ¡°It smells,¡± Jeze grumbled.

    Irvin laughed. ¡°Aye, it does!¡±

    ¡°Is there a course here?¡± Rainbow asked.

    ¡°Yes, you two are free to carry on with your business. Young lady, you must come with me,¡± Irvin ordered.

    Jeze looked to her companions with uncertainty in her eyes.

    ¡°You will be fine. Old Irvin here is a stand-up guy,¡± Swordslayer stated.

    ¡°Meet us at the Diamond Bank,¡± Rainbow added.

    ¡°Where is that?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s in the main hall, you can¡¯t miss it. Now come with me,¡± Irvin answered and led her away.

    Jeze followed the staunch man through the plaza with wide eyes. She smelled spices and foods that she could never have imagined existed, and she remembered she needed to buy peppers and lemons.

    ¡°Can I make a quick purchase?¡± She asked.

    Irvin frowned. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t even be allowed in here unless you are a full-fledged member.¡±

    ¡°But I have a certificate,¡± she said and raised her paper.

    ¡°It¡¯s incomplete. Hurry up, then! We don¡¯t have all day,¡± Irvin grumbled.

    She was able to find a stall that sold what she needed, and she purchased the goods from the coins she had taken from the bandits. She was left with very little.

    ¡°Hey, young adventurer! If you are going to brave the Spire, you will need some armor! Lucky for you, Hannah here makes the best armor at affordable prices!¡± A thick woman with curly black hair barked.

    ¡°She needs to complete the trials first,¡± Irvin grumbled as he escorted Jeze away.

    ¡°Well, come look up, Hannah, when you pass them!¡± The vendor cried as they walked away.

    Jeze stopped to watch a group of warriors, a little older than her, with tanned sun, kissed skin dressed in furs. They kept their hair long and braided with feathers. Each warrior had tribal tattoos along their muscled arms and faintly glowing beasts that followed them. One had a coyote, another a falcon, and a third had a lynx.

    ¡°Shamans from the Tribal Council. When they come of age, they bond themselves with a spirit companion,¡± Irvin explained and ushered the girl to continue with him.

    Jeze nodded and asked, ¡°Where can I learn the Rune circle they used?¡±

    ¡°You are a Rune caster?¡± Irvin asked with an arched eyebrow.

    Jeze nodded.

    ¡°Your town taught Runes but didn¡¯t have a Trial course?¡± Irvin muttered and added, ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know much about Runes, but I can tell you this. The Tribal Council keeps their secrets tightly guarded, and each Shaman must pass their own deadly trials to earn the right to learn the secrets,¡± Irvin explained.

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    Jeze wondered how she would match up against the fierce-looking warriors with stoic faces and asked, ¡°Are the Guild trials deadly?¡±

    Irvin arched a bushy eyebrow in her direction. ¡°According to your papers, you fought off a pack of Howlers? That was deadly enough.¡±

    Jeze beamed with pride.

    ¡°But ye can still fail the physical, and then we have to kick you out. May the Night Eye have mercy on your soul, girl, because the Legion is in full force out there,¡± Irvin added.

    ¡°Why should I be concerned with the Legion?¡± Jeze scoffed, but the worry was written on her face as clear as a sunrise.

    ¡°You are young, girl. Don¡¯t try to lie to ole Irvin. Besides, why else would you climb through the sewers unless you are avoiding attention?¡±

    Jeze stuttered and failed to come up with a response.

    ¡°Relax, I care not for the laws of the Empire or any kingdom for that matter. This here is Guild territory and where my loyalty lies. That means only approved members are allowed here, you understand me, girl?¡± Irvin asked.

    Jeze nodded.

    They passed another group of tall fighters with pale blonde hair and skin as white as snow. They wore furs, and they glared at Jeze as they lumbered by with icy blue eyes.

    Jeze glared back and Irvin cautioned, ¡°Careful girl. Those are the Frostsworn that traveled the frigid seas in the deep north. They come from hard lands and have no qualms with killing or death.¡±

    The young girl nodded. She knew of the Frostsworn as Raynor had hailed from those lands, she recalled her friend and teacher with sorrow.

    ¡°We are here,¡± Irvin stated.

    The staunch guild official led Jeze through the plaza and around the giant tower. On the other side was a site that nearly took the teenager¡¯s breath away. It was a sprawling course from swinging ropes, wooden target dummies, ladders, balance beams, and more. None of that caught Jeze¡¯s attention. What interested her were the intricate layers of Runes! The course was powered by multiple aspects that allowed the obstacles to move and the wooden dummies to fight back. Dozens of Prospects were waiting in line to attempt the course.

    Jeze measured herself up to those waiting in line. They varied in appearance. Some were Rune casters like herself with heavy robes lined with Glyphs and Channeling tools that hung from leather belts. Others were warriors in heavy armor. A few appeared like her, lean and lightly equipped. They hailed from all over and from places she didn¡¯t recognize. Jeze realized she truly did come from the fringes. The crowd watched a poor man get knocked off a high balance beam from a swinging ball. He crashed with a painful thud to the hard ground below to the shaking heads of the Trial Observers.

    ¡°This course is dangerous, girl. There is no shame in backing out,¡± Irvin said.

    Jeze jutted her chin forward. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid!¡±

    Irvin chuckled. ¡°Oh, the confidence of youth,¡± he muttered.

    The guild official led Jeze to the line where a half dozen other officials sat and registered Prospects at a wooden table.

    ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll get you situated,¡± Irvin said and left her.

    She watched the staunch man go over to talk to one of the officials at the table. She was a stern-looking woman in loose red robes with short hair and high cheekbones. They both looked at her, and Jeze¡¯s heart sank. What if they were agents of the Empire? She wondered in fear, but where would she run to? The stern lady nodded, and Irvin returned to Jeze.

    ¡°Come on, girl,¡± he said and took her out of the line.

    The others in line looked with suspicion, envy, and jealousy. Jeze heard a few grumble about how a young girl was able to get ahead of them. One person, a tall, lean woman who appeared in her twenties, guessed that she had a powerful family member.

    ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± She snapped at them.

    ¡°Pay them no mind,¡± Irvin said and urged her to the table. ¡°This is Lady Kalina. Since you already passed the field observation, which usually occurs after the physical, we can move you ahead to the trial.¡±

    ¡°Let me see your papers,¡± Kalina said without greeting. Her voice was sharp like a sword¡¯s edge.

    Jeze handed them over, and Kalina looked up with narrow eyes, ¡°The Old Hunter trained you?¡±

    The young girl nodded. Her nervousness had swallowed her voice. Jeze noticed Rune tattoos along Kalina¡¯s lean neck and arms. She recalled from her brother¡¯s journal that Rune casters tattooed spell chains on their bodies in the Ironfist Kingdom and that their highest technique was the Iron body. This gave Jeze some comfort in knowing that Kalina could not be with the Empire. In fact, Kalina could be a potential ally as the two nations were rivals.

    ¡°I never heard of Narcadia or this official named Drake,¡± the stern woman hissed.

    ¡°It has a legit seal,¡± Irvin pointed out.

    Kalina rose from her seat, her posture stiff like a spear. The lady walked around to an open space and beckoned Jeze to follow. The teenager glanced around and saw hundreds of eyes were on her. Fear gripped her heart, but she followed. Irvin grumbled and shook his head as he stepped back. What was happening? Jeze wondered.

    ¡°You say the Old Hunter trained you?¡± Kalina asked again, her back toward Jeze.

    ¡°Yes,¡± the young girl stuttered.

    ¡°Show me.¡± In a blink of an eye, Kalina spun and swung a back fist toward Jeze¡¯s head.

    Shocked, the young girl brought her arms up to block the blow. Kalina followed up with a kick to Jeze¡¯s chest that sent the teenager flying onto her back. On reflex from many hours of sparring with Raynor, Jeze quickly rolled to her feet. She unshouldered her pack and growled. Rage consumed her initial nervousness like fire through a dry brush. Raynor instructed Jeze to balance the anger of the bear with the cunning of the wolf. With a roar she charged Kalina. The guild official¡¯s face remained stoic, but Jeze saw Kalina¡¯s body tense ever so slightly on the balls of her feet, indicating that the stern woman was preparing to spring an attack.

    Jeze¡¯s charge was a feint, and she stopped midway just as Kalina leaped with a flying knee. Like the wolf, Jeze circled her opponent, and like the bear, she rushed in with ferocious swings that put Kalina on her back foot. The aggressive attacks shifted Kalina¡¯s attention to blocking her face, and with the cunning of the wolf, Jeze dove low to tackle the guild official¡¯s legs. The crowd let out a collective gasp as Jeze took Kalina down!

    But Jeze had a hard time keeping the woman on the ground. Kalina squirmed and slithered free back to her feet like a snake. Jeze pursued, but the woman leaped and back flipped out of range. When Kalina landed she had her sword in hand. It was a long double edge blade with a red tassel hanging from the pommel. The sun glinted off the steel.

    ¡°Draw your weapon,¡± Kalina hissed.

    ¡°I think that is enough,¡± Irvin said.

    Kalina glared at the staunch man, and he backed away. Jeze snarled and drew her long knife and ax. In the corner of her eye, she saw the Frostsworn had paused to watch. One, a thickly bearded man, nodded in approval. Kalina leaped forward with a quick sword thrust. Jeze swatted and hooked the blade away with her ax and slashed with her knife, but Kalina twirled her sword free and parried the knife attack in a loud clang of steel.

    The stern woman pressed forward with rapid slashes that forced Jeze to stumble away. A bear never retreats, and a wolf never moves backward. The teenager recalled Raynor¡¯s teachings. Jeze recovered her balance, and like the wolf, she circled off Kalina¡¯s line of attack in search of a better opening. When she found one, Jeze rushed in with the savage roar of the bear. Kalina spun and evaded Jeze¡¯s attacks, but the young girl was not finished. She threw her ax. Irvin gasped. Kalina made a quick gesture with her hand, and her skin turned to gray stone. Jeze¡¯s ax bounced off Kalina¡¯s rock-form body and fell to the ground.

    ¡°I consent to your passing of the field assessment,¡± Kalina said with the stone falling off her body like sand.

    The audience gave a cheer at the excellent showing of combat. Irvin made his way over to Jeze.

    ¡°Right, so let''s get her on the obstacle course.¡± The staunch man ushered Jeze away.

    ¡°Where did you learn to fight like the wolf and the bear?¡± The bearded Frostsworn boomed.

    ¡°From an Old Hunter,¡± Jeze replied as she gathered up her pack.

    The Frostsworn warrior nodded. ¡°This Old Hunter taught you well in the fighting ways of our people.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Jeze said.

    Silently and to herself, Jeze asked the Night Eye to pass along her gratitude and accomplishment to Raynor.

 Chapter 25: The Proven

    Jeze hopped off the last platform of the obstacle course and passed the finish line. There was a sheen of sweat along her lean, muscular arms. She recovered her breath as she looked back at the course. It was high up with ropes, walls, beams, gnashing wooden dummies, and swinging balls to knock testers off. She conquered it and sauntered over toward the wooden table where the Trial Observers sat.

    Jeze was a sight to behold. A small wiry teenage girl with a mop of dark disheveled hair, a wicked scar on her cheek and a flat nose with a slight crookedness to it.

    "How''d I do?" She asked.

    The three officials glanced up at her from over the stack of applicant papers. Why were they not impressed? Jeze wondered. They were stern-looking old men and women who reminded Jeze of the Old Crones. I never realized I would ever miss them, she reflected.

    "You passed," one answered, a man with close-cropped white hair and piercing green eyes.

    He stamped her certificate and handed it to her. Jeze read it and asked, "What''s my rank?"

    "It says it there, Initiate." The observer logged her name into a large Rune-covered tome.

    Jeze leaned over the table to study markings on the massive ledger. "Knowledge aspect? Or are you using the Water aspect for the ink so that what you write here goes to other books? Is that how you track all the members?" She asked.

    The old man paused in his writing and rubbed his face. "There are several aspects, and we are very busy today. Please move along."

    Jeze snorted as there was no one else behind her. Very few Prospects made it to the end of the course. "How do I get to Adventurer rank?" Jeze asked. She was certain she broke some record going through the course plus her sparring match with Kalina.

    The white-haired man looked up at her and barked, "By proving yourself, now move along!"

    Jeze flinched at the suddenness of his shout and on reflex moved to the side. "What do they know?" She grumbled as she gathered up her pack.

    Irvin walked up to Jeze. "Congratulations! You are an official member of the Adventurers Guild! Less than 10% complete the full trials. This is a big honor." The stalwart warrior beamed at her.

    That warmed Jeze''s heart. Her brother would be proud. Even her parents, she reflected with a drop of sour sadness that mixed into the stew of her excited emotions. Jeze smiled widely at Irvin. She glanced back at the obstacle course. Only a few made it to the table where their names were entered into the enormous ledger book, and that was just half of the trial examinations.

    "Allow me to give you the formal introduction," Irvin said and cleared his throat.

    Clearly, this was something the man lived for. Jeze admired his passion and walked alongside him. She retrieved her last recovery potion from her pack next to her recently purchased lemons and peppers. Hmm, where is Ziplocke? She wondered. She considered summoning the Goblin with her ring, but Irvin began to speak. Besides, she could use a break from the mischievous prankster.

    "For as long as people can remember, there were always those among us that would face the dark. Warriors, hunters, and soldiers that would rise above the rest and be the shield that protects against beasts, monsters and even more foul horrors," Irvin said and with his bushy eyebrows squinting he added, "Such as demons, girl."

    He expected her to gasp, but Irvin didn''t know that Jeze had already faced Howlers and that she even had a Goblin as a familiar. The guild official looked disappointed and cleared his throat before continuing.

    "Our world is large with deep, dark histories and ancient ruins that are buried and long forgotten. From such depts, foul creatures can emerge and plague peaceful villages and towns. Militias and soldiers are not enough to defend against such scourges. Four hundred years ago was when the Adventurer''s Guild was first formed. Even then, before the arrival of the Wandering Spire a 150 years later, it was known that a global organization was needed that rose above the petty politics of kingdoms and empires. A place where the best among us can work together regardless of nationalities and laws. Only a few of us have what it takes to brave the dark places."

    Irvin paused to clear his throat. The official beamed with pride when he saw the apt look of attention from his young listener.

    "In the early years, kings and emperors tried to take control of the Guild or even eliminate it entirely. They feared that a group that consisted of the best of the best would be a threat to their petty games for power and influence. The Guild was even outlawed in many places, but despite the best efforts of kings, queens, and so called emperors, the people loved the Guild for it is the Guild that protects them. The Guild is the one to stop monster incursions, zombie outbreaks, and the rampaging dragon."

    Irvin led Jeze to the front of the Guild office tower which consisted of a massive arched entrance way. It could probably fit a dragon! Jeze marveled. The area bustled with heavy traffic as carts and wagons entered and exited. The enormous archway had room to spare despite the thick throng of people. He turned to face Jeze with a solemn look on his bushy haired face.

    "You are representing the next generation of Adventurers. Like it or not, you are the future, girl. It is imperative for the safety of our world that the Guild remains neutral. The kingdoms and empires are trying their best to subvert the Guild for their own political gains. We must hold steady against that! In much the way that we hold steady against the tide of darkness that threatens to sweep this world, we must also keep firm in our neutrality," Irvin said with such conviction that Jeze imagined that she was in a church listening to the sermon from a cleric.

    And like the changing of the seasons, Irvin''s face softened as he beckoned the teenage girl to follow him through the massive archway. Again, Jeze marveled at the number of people she saw, who ranged from accountants carrying tomes and scrolls to laborers with dusty tool belts. Sprinkled among the crowd were fellow adventurers carrying heavy packs, in armor, and with weapons at their sides. I really need armor, she reminded herself. Another thought occurred to her, and she turned toward Irvin.

    "The Guild has this many members?" Jeze wondered.

    "The majority are Prospects. They won''t get field assignments until they pass the trials, but they are allowed to enter Guild offices and mostly serve as support. They are our laborers, merchants, guards, and clerks," Irvin replied.

    Jeze stopped walking. "So you wouldn''t have kicked me out if I failed? I could have remained as a Prospect," Jeze stated.

    Irvin grinned with a twinkle in his eyes. "That''s true, I thought I''d light a fire under you. A little motivation is all."

    The teenager stuck her tongue out at the white haired man and followed him as they made their way in between wagons and carts being pulled by mules and some were moved by magic. Jeze stopped to study the inscribed Runes.

    "No time to gawk! Let''s go to the Hall of Heroes," Irvin ordered.

    "Hall of Heroes?" Jeze mumbled and then remembered something, "I need to meet up with Rainbow and Swordslayer at the Diamond Bank."

    Irvin turned and placed his hands on the teenager''s shoulders. "Listen here, girl, Rainbow, and Swordslayer are damn good adventurers. Now, I don''t know the circumstances on how you got caught up with them, and it''s not my business either. But they are dangerous. They are fugitives with powerful enemies, and I think it''s best that a young talent such as yourself join a more suitable team."

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    Jeze scowled and was getting angry. But, could she share with Irvin that she was also a fugitive? That she had an agent of the Empire hunting her? Ivin saw the emotions on Jeze''s face as clearly as one would see a brewing storm forming in the horizon.

    The staunch official bushy eyebrows relaxed. "You had a long day, and all newly ranked Initiates are given a free meal," Irvin responded.

    "A free meal?" Jeze perked up as her stomach rumbled, and her brewing anger was forgotten. She had to hurry after the staunch official as he made his way through the gigantic arch.

    They were on the shaded first floor of the giant tower, and the dark stones felt slick and cool. There was a pleasant cross breeze between the two massive archways on opposite ends despite the loose crowd of people, and it created a contrast from the early afternoon heat outside. An entire army could fit in this chamber alone, Jeze imagined as she glanced up.

    "The Guild has grown much in the past four hundred years. This tower is one of the main branch offices that manage all the administrative functions. It is also where the Diamond Bank is housed as well as numerous other services to meet the needs of the busy adventurer," Irvin explained.

    "Is this as big as the Spire?" Jeze wondered.

    Irvin let out a short laugh. "No, girl, this is nothing compared to the Spire. The base alone is bigger than Angston."

    Jeze''s mind froze as she tried to imagine what the Spire would look like. How could something be that big? The information and the surrounding sights shattered all that she knew and experienced from growing up in Narcadia. It was shocking and liberating at the same time. Jeze always had an itch, like her brother, to see more of the world. This legitimized her aspirations. But, there was a knot of fear in her gut. If the Stronghold was that enormous, how could she possibly defeat it to save the world? The cacophony of her surroundings shook her out of her dark thoughts.

    All around her were shops and vendors selling goods specific for adventuring, such as channeling tools, weapons, armor, Rune tomes, potions, and more! She saw a merchant selling a sword that would ignite in flame on command. That alone exceeded all of her knowledge of Rune casting. Or did it? Jeze reflected. With the tome she took from the Pyramid, she was confident she could learn to craft that flame enchantment by layering Rune aspects upon each other. It was similar to how she layered the Affliction aspect onto the Darkness aspect. Jeze noticed that she was about to lose Irvin in the crowd and hurried after the staunch official.

    Another merchant was selling a box that could transform into a small wooden cabin. The intricate layers of Rune smithing needed for such a feat nearly broke Jeze''s mind. Until today, the glowing globe she retrieved from the Pyramid was the most advanced Rune crafting she had ever seen. The most basic merchant stall sold more advanced tools! The wonder of it all caused a tightness in Jeze''s chest. Was she out of her league? She was worried.

    "We are here," Irvin stated and brought Jeze back to the present. The smell of food wiped away all of her concerns like a cleansing tide of fresh water.

    A wide entrance led into another chamber that was smaller than the one they had exited, but still expansive in size. It was a crowded mess hall with dozens of long wooden tables set with benches. Raucous laughter and the buzz of hundreds of conversations filled Jeze''s ears and the smell of meats and warm bread teased her nostrils.

    For the past couple of days, she ate nothing but her recovery potions, and this new smell was like a discovered oasis for a thirsty traveler. She discovered much more in the hall as Irvin led her through. They passed wrestling circles filled with sand, where young warriors tested each other in feats of strength and skill. Adorning the walls were the teeth-filled maws of the skulls of giant, terrifying beasts and ancient weapons. Set on the opposite end was a massive fire pit where a small army of chefs worked tirelessly preparing meals for the enormous appetites of hungry adventurers.

    "Have a seat. I''ll get you a plate," Irvin said and pointed to an available corner of a bench set next to a table where a group of big-boned warriors sat. They were dressed in dark brown traveling clothes and had pale skin and blond hair.

    "Hail to the one that wrestled Kalina to the ground!" One roared.

    He was a young man, no more than a few years older than Jeze. He had skin the color of snow and blue eyes that sparkled like a frozen lake. Swirling tattoos covered his well-muscled arms, and a thick neck rested above his broad shoulders. He held up a wooden tankard that sloshed with golden ale. The others cheered, and Jeze recognized that they were the Frostsworn she saw earlier. Among them was the older bearded man she had spoken with. He nodded in greeting to her. Irvin had left her, and Jeze was nervous from all the attention, especially from the handsome young man, that all she could do was simply nod.

    "Congratulations, here drink!" Another Frostsworn roared and handed Jeze a tankard. This one was a thick stocky woman with braided hair.

    Jeze never had ale before and she grimaced at the bitter taste. When she glanced up from her tankard, she saw that the tall warriors were still drinking, so she continued with them. Her stomach felt full, and her nervousness was replaced with a dizzying giddiness. She felt wobbly, but at the same time, the entire room swirled into perspective. She was no longer nervous but felt the joy of the others in the hall and was able to join the laughter as a leaf on a breeze.

    A plate filled to the edges with food plopped down in front of her, and her stomach rumbled at the delicious scents of roasted chicken and seasoned vegetables. Jeze glanced up and saw Irvin talking to the bearded Frostsworn. He had motioned toward her, and she wondered what they were discussing, but her attention turned back to the food in front of her. She had not had a real meal in days!

    "She looks like a hungry wolf that came across their first kill of the week," one of the Frostsworn joked.

    Jeze''s mouth was full as she continued to clear her plate. Another tankard of ale was placed before her. She didn''t know who put it there, and she mumbled her thanks before washing down her meal with a swig.

    "Such a small thing, where does she put it all?" The stocky lady with the braided hair questioned. The other young Frostsworn shrugged.

    "Jeze?" A deep voice called.

    The teenager wiped her mouth on her forearm and glanced up to see that it was the large bearded man who had spoken. Irvin was standing beside him.

    "I am Carl Jorgenson," the bearded man greeted and extended his hand.

    Jeze knew to clasp his forearm in greeting from her teacher and mentor, Raynor. Her hand was barely able to grip Jorgenson''s thickly muscled arm.

    "We hear that you are looking for a team," the Carl stated.

    Jeze glared at Irvin and responded, "I have a team."

    The bearded man nodded slowly and continued as if her answer was nothing more than a swift breeze. "Here at this table is our Proven. That is what we Frostsworn call the Initiate rank. Young warriors that have passed the trials and ready to prove themselves. We made the long journey from the north to brave the Spire. As you can see, there are only four, and we have room for one more."

    Jeze opened her mouth to repeat that she already had a team, but Irvin intervened. "She will think about it," the staunch official said.

    Jeze glowered at him. Why was he meddling in her affairs? She wondered.

    Jorgenson nodded slowly. He was a man of precise and deliberate movements. He turned to the Proven at the table.

    "This is Rolfe," the Carl introduced the young muscular man that first greeted Jeze.

    "Helga," Jorgenson motioned to the stocky braided hair lady.

    "Mikal," he nodded to a quiet, thin man whom Jeze had not noticed until now. Mikal was still taller than Jeze but smaller than the others.

    "And Dunar," Jorgenson introduced the final member. Dunar was a young man with dark hair who just arrived at the table with his hands filled with tankards. The others cheered widely, and each grabbed a drink. Dunar was left with one.

    ¡°Dunar, this is Jeze. She may join your team," the Carl introduced.

    Jeze wanted to retort that she had a team but was shy in front of the serious-looking Dunar. He was handsome and well-built but not as muscular as Rolfe. Rolfe was built like a bear.

    "Well met," Dunar greeted and gave his tankard to Jeze. "Please drink with us."

    A loud commotion drew their attention to the a few tables away where a robed woman in gray hair was holding up a squirming Goblin in her hand.

    "Who is this creature Bonded to?" She demanded in a booming voice that belied her thin frame.

    All around, adventurers mumbled to each other, and Jeze overheard some of the comments.

    "I sure hope we don''t have a Goblin infestation." "

    That would be a nightmare."

    "By the Gods, that thing is hideous to look at."

    "I think it is cute looking."

    "Gross!"

    "Who would willingly bond with that?" Rolfe growled.

    Jeze''s heart sank, and she tried to hide.

    "If this creature is not claimed, we will be forced to put it down!" The woman shouted.

    With reluctance, Jeze raised her hand. Ziplocke''s ears were pulled back, and he looked as happy as a wet kitten. It was a quick glance at the shocked expressions of the Proven that sat next to her that caused Jeze''s soul to crack.

 Chapter 26: Rune Casters

    Jeze walked across the crowded Hall to retrieve Ziplocke from the robed Guild official. She faced down demons, scaled towering city walls, conquered the trial course, and fought legionnaires. Being the focus of scrutiny from her fellow adventurers as she made her way through the narrow spaces in between the rows of tables was the hardest thing she had ever done. The recent image of the shocked looks from Dunar, Helga, Rolfe, and Mikal sat in her chest like a seething pit.

    The Guild official holding Ziplocke had shoulder-length gray hair and wore dark red robes that were parted down the middle with golden thread along its edges. Underneath, she wore tanned traveling pants and a dark shirt. Upon approach, Jeze saw gentle Runes etched along the edges of the robes and on the thin bracelets the official wore. A Rune caster, the teenager recognized.

    "Are you aware that Bonded companions need to be registered?" The Guild official asked in a booming voice.

    Jeze flinched from the question and avoided looking back at the Frostsworn. How could a thin woman just a little taller than her speak so loudly? Jeze wondered. She simply shook her head in response.

    "Show me your papers," the official demanded.

    With horror, Jeze realized that her certificate was in her pack at the table she just left. She would have to go back to retrieve it! Her body trembled with anxiety. Everyone was looking at her! Did someone snicker? She scowled, the anger helped reduce some of her embarrassment, but was not enough to empower her to walk back.

    "Miss Heng, she was with me," Irvin stated.

    Relief flooded through Jeze''s body like a refreshing breeze. The staunch official handed her pack to her and the teenager noticed the look of worry etched clearly on Irvin''s face. What was happening? Jeze wondered, and with trembling hands, she retrieved the certificate. Miss Heng studied it with dark, narrow eyes.

    "It is not listed here that you have a Bonded companion,'' Miss Heng observed.

    To Jeze, it felt like an accusation. The thin woman continued to study Jeze''s Guild papers. She glanced once at Jeze before turning to leave.

    "Come with me," Miss Heng ordered.

    The teenager was so embarrassed that she failed to notice that the crowd in the Hall of Heroes had returned back to their conversations, games, drinking, and eating. That it was only a moment that they had paused to pay attention to her. But to Jeze, she felt like everyone was looking at her. The embarrassment turned to frustration and then anger toward this official named Heng for putting her through this. Jeze stood firm and resolute.

    "Why?" The young girl demanded.

    Miss Heng arched an eyebrow in surprise. In that moment, Ziplocke escaped and scurried up to Jeze''s shoulder.

    Irvin gave the young girl a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. "You are not in trouble, Jeze." He said and glanced at Miss Heng.

    The staunch official''s voice lacked the confidence and vigor from his earlier discussions, and this gave Jeze little comfort.

    "We can run," Ziplocke whispered in her ear.

    Where? Jeze glanced around the tightly packed room.

    "Why did she lie to you about her Rune casting ability? Her papers only list Darkness, Life, and Earth aspects. Nothing about a Bonded Demon," Heng asked, ignoring that the Goblin escaped her grasp.

    "I was not the official that gave her the field assessment," Irvin replied.

    Heng studied Jeze¡¯s papers. "You must come with me," she directed.

    "No," Jeze growled.

    The gray-haired official sighed and glanced at Irvin. "Can you explain to her what I represent?"

    "You best go with her," Irvin gently stated to Jeze.

    "I ask again. Why?" The teenager growled.

    "Miss Heng represents the Amber Guard," Irvin answered.

    "So?"

    Miss Heng stated, "I''m losing patience."

    "A moment please, she is from the fringes of civilization and unaware of many things," Irvin pleaded.

    Irvin turned back to Jeze and hurriedly explained, "The Guild has many thousands of members across all the nations. Every member is truly exceptional, like I told you earlier, we represent the best of the best. But even the best can be lawless, so the Guild created the Amber Guard to keep the peace."

    "I did nothing wrong," Jeze snapped.

    "You lied on your registration," Irvin explained.

    "I did not!"

    "You were asked to list your abilities, and you failed to mention that you had a Bonded Demon," Miss Heng hissed through clenched teeth.

    "That''s not lying!" Jeze shot back.

    Miss Heng made a single hand gesture that was so precise and quick that Jeze was impressed. Heng was a highly talented Rune caster, and Jeze felt her body stiffened. Jeze pushed back with her Will, but it was like pushing up against a solid mountain. Like pushing up against the Night Mistress''s Summoned shadows! Jeze reflected.

    "What aspect is that?" Jeze asked through gritted teeth.

    "Mind, she Summoned thoughts and is shaping them in your head," Ziplocke whimpered.

    Jeze was able to slightly nod. If she discovered these Shaped thoughts then she could untangle them? This was the first she ever heard of the Mind aspect, but all aspects were similar in the sense that you needed to Summon, Shape, and Control them.

    "That won''t be necessary," Irvin started.

    Miss Heng ignored the staunch man and ordered, "Come with me."

    Jeze felt her body move on its own, and she followed the Amber Guard out of the Hall. The teenage girl pushed her Will against Heng''s Mind aspect every step of the way. To Jeze it felt like trying to Shape a real shadow, but she kept it at with the pure stubbornness of a bear. Eventually, her vision went white, and she collapsed.

    Miss Heng''s face softened ever so slightly, "You truly are a disciple of the Old Hunter."

    Jeze was dizzy as Irvin and Miss Heng helped the teenage girl back to her feet. Jeze wobbled and the two steadied her to prevent her from falling again.

    "You knew Raynor?" Jeze mumbled. How did everyone know the old man? She wondered.

    "Yes, he was famous in his youth," Miss Heng replied.

    "Why are you arresting me?" Jeze asked.

    Miss Heng chuckled. "I''m not. I''m taking you to be assessed. You see, Rune casters that are worth their salt are very rare. Summoning and Bonding to a Demon is a demonstration of talent, and we could use someone like you for the upcoming Spire."

    "Why didn''t you just say so from the beginning!" Jeze cried.

    "You lied on your application," Heng snapped.

    "I agree with the young girl on this one," Irvin added.

    "No one asked," growled Heng.

    The official led Jeze out of the crowded central chamber and down a narrow passage that was illuminated by magical torches. One that Jeze failed to notice when she first came in. They entered a stairwell and climbed up two floors. The sounds of the central chamber turned into a distant hum. They encountered other officials, like Irvin, who nodded in passing. Everyone was so busy! Jeze reflected and imagined that the Guild was such a massive operation that it required hundreds of clerks, laborers, and the Amber Guard to maintain its daily operation. This made her feel small. The sound of gears turning caught Jeze''s attention and pulled her out of her brief malaise. Miss Heng had led them to a corner where people stepped onto caged platforms that lifted them up!

    "What is that?" Jeze cried.

    "We call them Lifts," Irvin replied.

    "How do they work?" The teenager marveled.

    She spotted the Runes etched along the edges, but was gently pushed aside as an official step inside the cage. A safety banister closed and the official shot up to the higher floors.

    "You tell me," Miss Heng said while crossing her arms. The Amber Guard directed the line of officials to wait for another carriage. They grumbled complaints but complied.

    "This a quiz?" Jeze asked.

    Heng shrugged and remained where she stood.

    A part of the teenager wanted to refuse, but the other part wanted to study this interesting use of Rune magic. The latter won, and Jeze examined the next carriage to arrive. There were two in total, and the line of officials filed into the next carriage, which allowed Jeze to study the other. There were so many interlocking Runes that it nearly caused Jeze''s head to spin. They were engraved along the cage, the ropes, and among the gears. Within the jumbled patterns Jeze was able to recognize the Earth aspect along the metal gears. Something caught her attention, something that seemed familiar, and the teenager withdrew the tome from her pack.

    Miss Heng arched an eyebrow and unfolded her arms as she leaned in. "Where did she get that?" The Amber Guard asked.

    Irvin shrugged, and Jeze answered without looking up. "From the Pyramid."

    "Where?" Heng inquired.

    Jeze shushed her as she tried to locate the similar pattern. It was difficult due to the old language in which the book was written. In moments, with Ziplocke''s aid, she spotted it. The Goblin rested on her shoulders and pointed with a thin finger. The tome spoke about the construction of the glowing globes that mixed Light and Fire aspects. The Fire aspect was used to power up the Light runes. The Lift had a similar relationship where the Fire aspect was used to power up the Earth aspect, which was embedded into the steel gears. There were other aspects she didn''t recognize, and Jeze explained her findings.

    Heng nodded, and a slight smile appeared on her stern face. "Very good. You are full of mysteries, child. You come from the fringes of civilization, yet you understand advanced Rune mechanics. Who trained you?"

    "The Old Crones."

    Miss Heng tapped her chin. "They sound familiar. Why is that?"

    Irvin shrugged his broad shoulders.

    "I''ve answered your questions. Now it''s your turn. What do you want from me?" Jeze demanded.

    The teenager remembered she was to meet up with Rainbow and Swordslayer and was becoming anxious that they may think she left them and find a replacement member. At the same time, she also had other options. She could travel with the Frostsworn, if they would still have her knowing that she had a Bonded Demon. These thoughts swirled like a maelstrom in Jeze''s mind and Miss Heng''s response snapped her out of it.

    "Come with me, and I will explain," the Amber Guard said and entered the carriage.

    Irvin, Jeze, and Ziplocke, who remained on the teenager''s shoulder, followed Heng inside. The gray-haired lady waved her hands over a pair of Fire Runes, and the Lift rattled before shooting upwards. Jeze nervously grasped the banister. They were in some sort of vertical shaft that went up hundreds of feet before stopping at another floor. The cage opened into a wide chamber that was brightly lit from the sunlight that streamed through tall glass windows. The room was packed with people and all manner of mechanical contraptions. Jeze paused to marvel at her surroundings as Miss Heng continued walking without a word.

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    "You are fortunate, Jeze. It could take the average Initiate months, even years, of completing assignments before they are allowed into the Training Facility," Irvin said.

    "What are they training here?" Jeze wondered.

    "To disarm traps, of course," Irvin replied and scrunched his bushy eyebrows at Jeze. "It says you are a Scout," he recalled from Jeze''s certificate.

    "I can disarm Rune Traps. I have little experience with mechanical ones," the teenager replied.

    "By little, she means none," Ziplocke retorted.

    Irvin grumbled and shook his head that marked his disapproval. "Can you at least spot a trap?"

    "A Rune trap, I can."

    Irvin wiped a hand over his face. "A Scout that can''t spot traps is a dead scout or a dead team."

    Ziplocke snickered as the Demon imagined the looks of surprise from a team as a lethal trap exploded.

    "Hey! I can pick locks!" Jeze countered.

    Miss Heng returned and the teenager was surprised to see the Amber Guard''s face turn red that nearly matched her robes. "Please, follow me," Heng said through gritted teeth.

    "You best go," Irvin urged.

    They followed the Amber Guard through the long, brightly lit chamber and passed trainees tinkering with blocked-shaped machines filled with pulleys, gears, and cogs. They passed another group that were working on several different types of doors with intricate locks. Jeze wanted to try her skill on those!

    "You wouldn''t be able to pick any of them," Ziplocke snickered.

    Jeze stuck her tongue out at the Goblin in response. She fed him a chili pepper, and the Demon eagerly slurped it up. Eventually, they left the chamber and entered a hallway with the tall windows to their left. Jeze glanced out and saw the city of Angston splayed out before her where the people appeared as ants. What she saw made her stop. Ringing the Guild courtyard were hundreds of legionnaires that blocked off all the roads and avenues leading in. They were uniformed soldiers armed with shields and spears with the Empire¡¯s Rising Sun emblem on their chests. About twenty yards across from them was a complete contrast. A line of Guild guards armed and armored in a wide assortment of gear ranging from heavy mailed knights to leather armored spearmen. The Legion outnumbered the Guild nearly five to one! Jeze thought.

    "Are they going to fight?" She exclaimed.

    "No, this is standard practice during any Wandering Spire event," Irvin answered.

    The legionnaires stood at stiff attention. Each soldier was fearful of being punished by their captains. Across from them were the louginging Guild guards. Season adventurers that were confident in their abilities. They joked and laughed with each other as if they were on a holiday.

    "This is necessary to maintain law and order during such a chaotic event," Miss Heng added.

    "It seems like the Empire is trying to bully the Guild," Jeze observed.

    Irvin nodded in agreement, and Miss Heng arched an eyebrow.

    "The Empire brings stability. They support the Guild by ensuring that the riff-raff does not enter our compound," Heng stated.

    Jeze snorted. She recalled how the soldiers mistreated the farmsteads earlier. Also, how Drake and his men attacked her and Raynor unprovoked all to protect the Emperor''s secret that he was not immortal.

    Miss Heng''s already stern face hardened. "This is not a joke, child. The Wandering Spire is a global problem where thousands of monsters are unleashed into our world. It is necessary that we are prepared and organized to prevent that. Otherwise, small villages and towns all around will suffer at the claws of bloodthirsty beasts."

    Irvin stepped in between the two and rested a gentle hand on the Amber Guard''s shoulder. "She does not know," he said.

    "Know what?" Jeze demanded.

    "You know nothing!" Heng snapped.

    This caused Ziplocke to cower and hide behind Jeze''s head.

    "When the Spire appears, it is like a war. The Guild, in partnership with the nations, must form battle lines to stop the incursion of monsters. It is usually a week of fighting before the teams can attempt entering the levels," Irvin explained.

    Jeze did not know this. She wondered why her brother didn''t write that. Maybe he didn''t know either? Did he even make it inside the tower? Jeze wondered with a pang in her heart.

    "How many people survive?" She asked.

    Irvin''s eyes were moist. "There are often many losses."

    "That is why we need to ensure the best are among us. The most qualified and the Empire supports that cause," Miss Heng stated, passion in her voice. The Amber guard spun around. "Enough talk, we have work to do."

    The next chamber the group entered was the same size as the previous one. Instead of dozens of mechanical contraptions, this one was filled with glowing Rune patterns and shimmering portal arches. Thresholds, Jeze recalled the term from Archon. Dozens of Rune casters milled about scribing and completing gestures that caused portals to shimmer or blink out of existence. Others studiously wrote down notes in large ledgers and tomes. Miss Heng led them to a table where a short man with a thin goatee and leather goggles sat behind. The goggles magnified the man''s eyes into giant orbs and he looked up upon their approach.

    "We need to register this girl''s Bonded Demon," Heng stated.

    "I have a name!" Ziplocke hissed but was ignored.

    "Don''t you have your own offices to handle this?" The man with the goggles responded. His black hair was incredibly spiky, Jeze thought.

    Miss Heng sighed and rubbed her temples. "I repeat, she has a Bonded Demon."

    The man raised his goggles to rest on his head. "It is the Amber Guard''s job to process unregistered Bonded companions, not ours."

    "What is this place?" Jeze asked.

    The man turned to look at her as if noticing her for the first time. He turned back to Miss Heng. "We are very busy," he stated and lowered his goggles to return to work on his ledger.

    The Amber Guard closed the tome, and the man removed his goggles again.

    "This is highly irregular," he grumbled.

    Heng leaned over the table and explained, "She is a new Initiate with the skill to Summon and Bond with a Goblin."

    The spiky haired man''s eyes glanced back and forth as he processed the information and then his face lit up. "Oh, we could use her!"

    Miss Heng nodded with a scowl on her face.

    Before Jeze could object, the man was talking and moving rapidly at the same time. He paused and extended a small hand to Jeze.

    "Sorry, I should introduce myself. We have so much to do in a short amount of time. I am Seb, with the Runic Research Division. RRD."

    "Jeze," the teenager replied. He talked and moved so quickly that she felt a nervousness in her chest. Irvin and Miss Heng were forgotten as Seb whisked Jeze away. He thumped his head and returned back to the table.

    "Are you registered?" He asked

    "Yes," Irvin answered.

    "Of course, she is silly me. Let me look you up real quick," Seb said and rummaged around his cluttered desk for a ledger. He skimmed through it.

    "Name?" He asked.

    "Jeze Zanchi," she answered.

    "You have a brother named Daverius?" He asked.

    "You knew him!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "No, I just saw the two most recent Zanchi entries. Okay, I have your information; allow me to add that you have a bonded Goblin. Very impressive by the way for one so young," Seb rapidly said and jotted the information that was magically shared across all the Guild ledgers.

    The spiky haired man escorted Jeze away so rapidly that she had lost sight of Miss Heng and Irvin. Did she have time for this? She wondered. She needed to meet up with Rainbow and Swordslayer at the Diamond bank. What about the Frostsworn? Things were happening so quickly that she stopped and stood firm. Seb realized she was not following and turned around to face her.

    "I have to meet up with my team," Jeze stated.

    "Aww, I see. Well, normally we are pretty flexible with allowing Guild Members to choose their assignments. However for Initiates we do reserve the right to assign you to an important task," he explained.

    "You can''t force me," Jeze said and folded her arms. A part of her was interested in learning more about what they were working on here, but she also didn''t want Rainbow and Swordslayer to think that she left them. Too much was happening too fast.

    "The punishment for lying on your application could be immediate expulsion from the Guild," Heng stated. Her sudden appearance surprised Jeze. She was still here? The teenager wondered.

    "I didn''t lie," Jeze growled.

    "But you also did not register your Bonded Companion," Seb added.

    "I didn''t know I needed to!" Jeze cried.

    "Was she given the bylaws?" Seb asked Heng.

    Heng, in turn, looked to Irvin. The staunch man shrugged.

    "I was going to give them to her. The circumstances of her arrival were unique. She had passed the Field assessment before the Physical test. Plus, she arrived through the sewers under unusual circumstances," Irvin explained.

    "She what?" Miss Heng growled.

    Irvin blushed and shrugged. He probably should not have mentioned that to an Amber Guard.

    Seb waved his hands rapidly. "Okay, none of that matters now. We have a talented Rune caster and much work to do." The small man dug around his numerous pockets and produced a small booklet that was as thick as Jeze''s fist. He gave it to her.

    "What is this?" She asked.

    "The Guild Bylaws. You are responsible for knowing them," Heng answered. She glared at Irvin, and the staunch man tried to make himself invisible. He didn''t succeed.

    "Come, we have much to do," Seb said and waved for Jeze to follow.

    The short man led her to a table where other Rune Casters were reading tomes and inscribing Runes with chalk on the smooth sandstone floor. He grabbed a tome and placed it before Jeze.

    "You need to familiarize yourself with these Portal aspect Runes. Years ago we discovered how to manipulate the portals within the Spire. This allows us to anchor portals to Safe Spaces on each of the Floors. We can evacuate wounded Adventurers and transport in needed supplies so that the teams can continue up without the need of traveling on foot all the way down." Seb rapidly explained.

    Jeze nodded, but before she could ask questions. The man continued.

    "Your job will be assigned to a team that will need to maintain the Runes so that our portals remain operational. The levels of the Spire are filled with monsters and the Runes can get damaged and the portals will fail. We can''t have that. Study these Runes so that you are able to repair them when needed. In any given floor we can have over a dozen Safe Spaces that need supplies and transport for rescue missions. What you will be doing is very important work," Seb explained.

    Jeze was about to object, but she recognized the Runes. She had worked on similar ones in the Pyramid. But for a different purpose. When Jeze worked on them, it was to seal a Threshold to prevent Demons from entering this realm. What the Guild wanted to achieve was the opposite. They wanted to open portals. Jeze removed her tome and turned to the pages her Ziplocke used to seal the Threshold.

    "Where did you get that?" Seb asked, and he put on his goggles to stand beside the teenager.

    Jeze shared her story about the Pyramid. She omitted the part about Drake. Jeze didn''t know who she could trust, and she suspected several Guild members were loyal to the Empire. Like Heng.

    "The Deep Wood, you say? Where is that?" Seb asked.

    "Narcadia," Jeze answered.

    "Too bad the Spire is about to appear, I doubt I can organize an expedition to head over there," Seb said.

    ¡°No need, I got this tome,¡± Jeze said.

    Her and Ziplocke found the Runes and with effort she was able to repair the Rune circle and a portal snapped into place. The other Rune artists looked up in shock.

    "That was impressive!" Seb applauded and added, "You are definitely hired!"

    "I told you, I have a team," Jeze stated.

    Seb tapped his chin. "This is your first time attempting the Spire? Of course, it is! You are too young to have done the previous ones. Let me explain something to you. The Spire lasts for many months, as long as two years. No one knows for certain why, but the only way to advance to the next floor is to go through portals, and only five will be allowed to travel together. Any more and the sixth person will be teleported to a different area. Which is very dangerous! Anyways, each of the floors are enormous and teams work to find the portal to the next level. This is often guarded by a Floor Guardian. Those are nasty things."

    "Have you traveled the Spire?" Jeze asked.

    "Of course! This will be my third time."

    "Have you fought a Floor Guardian?" The teenager''s eyes were wide.

    "Heavens, no! This is what I''m trying to explain to you. Once a Floor Guardian is defeated, teams can advance through the portal that leads to the next level. Remember, each level is enormous, and oftentimes, the previous level is still filled with monsters and undiscovered treasure. That is where we come in! We establish safe zones within the floors so that Adventurers can rest and portal out as needed to resupply or to find new teammates," Seb answered.

    "New teammates?" Jeze asked.

    "Because their previous ones have died!" Ziplocke cackled with glee.

    Seb nodded, "Bingo! Your morbid companion is correct."

    "What does this have to do with me?" Jeze asked. The fast-talking man was confusing her.

    "Your team can help you with your assignments by establishing and maintaining Safe Zone portals. Once you complete your weekly quota of assignments, you are free to explore and loot the Spire as you please. Until the next week, that is," Seb replied and scribbled a bunch of things down on a piece of parchment. He handed it to her.

    "What is this?" Jeze asked.

    "Your assignments!" The spiky-haired man answered.

    Jeze''s eyes went wide. The Spire didn''t arrive yet and she had a lot of logistical tasks such as creating Channeling tools for easy management of the Portal aspect.

    "Before you complain, there are perks for working with our Safe Zone Squads," Seb said.

    "Oh yeah?" Jeze asked. She was not sure about all of this.

    "You get access to our amazing Training Facility! Normally, there is a waitlist, especially now with the upcoming Spire. Many will not even be allowed in until after it leaves. But you get automatic access!"

    This interested Jeze. She tapped the paper. The first thing on her assignment list was to become familiar with the Rune patterns. She already demonstrated that.

    "Since I can repair the Rune circle, can I take the rest of today off?" Jeze asked.

    Seb looked at the paper and nodded in agreement. "We will see you tomorrow!"

    The small man was off to work. Talk about being passionate about his duties! Jeze reflected. She searched the room to find Irvin and was glad to see that Miss Heng had left. He was across the room waiting and waved at her.

    As Jeze made her way over, a commotion from below caught her attention. From her high vantage point, Jeze looked out through the windows, and it appeared that the Legion was about to get into a scuffle with the Guild Guards. Curious, she went over to the window along with others.

    The situation appeared tense, with obvious shouting from the Legion and taunts from the Guild adventurers. Irvin did say that the Guild represented the best of the best, and even though the guards were outnumbered, they were very confident. Jeze herself had faced off against legionnaires without much trouble, and she was small! The adventures below appeared quite formidable in their expensive armor and magical weapons.

    "What is happening?" Jeze asked another observer, a young woman in her mid twenties.

    "It looks like a Legion captain is trying to enter the compound with his soldiers. But only Guild members are allowed in," the lady answered.

    Jeze saw the armored figure of the Legionnaire, and her heart froze. The man was allowed to enter alone and left his soldiers behind. Even from a distance and with the burn scars on his face, Jeze recognized the Emperor''s agent, Drake.

 Chapter 27: The Diamond Bank

    ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± Jeze cried to Irvin.

    ¡°Who?¡± The staunch Guild official asked.

    ¡°Drake!¡±

    Irvin squinted his eyes and asked, ¡°The Official that completed your field assessment?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°Well that is splendid news. I¡¯m sure he will be happy to hear that you passed the obstacle course,¡± Irvin said and clapped his hands.

    ¡°He does not know what Drake did, and remember, trust no one,¡± Ziplocke whispered into Jeze¡¯s ear.

    Jeze wanted to scream in frustration. The Goblin was right of course, though Irvin did express a distrust over the Empire, right? She wondered to herself as she paced back and forth with her fist clenched by her sides. Could she tell Irvin what happened? Will he believe her? Would the Guild believe her, a newly promoted Initiate over Drake, a Guild Tester in good standing? Jeze felt her chest tightened.

    ¡°Jeze, are you alright?¡± Irvin asked, concern clear on his face. Others in the room started to notice as well.

    Are any of them agents of the Empire? Jeze wondered and looked around with wide eyes.

    ¡°You need to calm down,¡± Ziplocke hissed.

    ¡°Right,¡± Jeze said back and took a deep breath. She utilized the deep breathing techniques the Old Crones instructed her on in order to clear her mind and free her Will.

    Rune casters needed a pristine mind in order to channel energy into their glyphs. In seconds, Jeze was calm and she turned to Irvin.

    ¡°Can you take me to the Diamond Bank?¡± She asked. Hopefully, Swordslayer and Rainbow were still there. They would know what to do, Jeze thought to herself.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you need to do work here?¡± Irvin said.

    ¡°I¡¯m finished. Seb said I can take the rest of the day off,¡± Jeze replied. A part of her was irritated, but she was in a calm state now. Jeze kept her breaths even and measured.

    Irvin appeared to think about it, and Jeze realized she was not trapped there. Seb did, in fact, give her the day off, so she was free to find the Bank on her own.

    ¡°Never mind, I can find it myself,¡± she said.

    I just need to make sure I don¡¯t run into Drake, she thought to herself. Jeze needed to be careful now that the agent was in the Guild compound.

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you, but I really wish you would consider what I told you. Rainbow and Swordslayer are trouble, and you¡¯ll be better off with the Frostsworn or working with the Safe Zone Squad,¡± Irvin said and wagged his finger.

    Jeze¡¯s breathing had placed her in a state of calm; otherwise, she would have snapped at the staunch official. Instead, she simply nodded and kept her razor-sharp retorts to herself. Irvin sighed and led her out of the Training Facility and back to the lift line, where they waited to file in with dozens of others. Irvin swiped the Runes and they traveled down to a different floor, one that was above the main chamber. Jeze studied where they went and was confident she could find her way back on her own.

    The lift opened into another wide chamber. It was so crowded! Jeze reflected. The massive space was teaming with adventurers coming and going. There were dozens of wooden stations scattered all about that were operated by clerks and ledgers. The room was filled with the sounds of quills scribbling onto parchment, the clicking of coins, and the thud of heavy tomes being opened and closed. People pushed past her to enter the lift, and she was forced to find a small open space where there were no jostling bodies. At the far end was an enormous steel vault guarded by a small army. The guards wore bright blue padded armor under silver cuirasses and were armed with heavy poleaxes. They wore brilliant yellow pantalones, and what caught Jeze¡¯s attention were their golden helms with faceplates that looked like grinning skulls.

    ¡°Best behave yourself here, Jeze. That is the Grinning Death Guard. Each one is at least Adventurer Rank,¡± Irvin said.

    Jeze nodded and wondered, ¡°Why are there so many people?¡±

    ¡°The Wandering Spire is good business. Lots of treasure and coin to be made, that is why so many Guild members are willing to risk it. The Diamond Bank is a trusted source for guild members to deposit and invest their money,¡± Irvin explained.

    Jeze nodded in understanding. Hundreds of adventurers came in to withdraw from their savings in order to purchase gear in the markets downstairs to prepare for the upcoming Spire. This reminded Jeze that she also needed to get gear, especially some armor. Daverius failed to mention in his journal how expensive adventuring could be!

    ¡°This is where I depart from you. You are settled and know the Bylaws. Jeze, I implore you to please consider traveling with a different team. The Frostsworn are a solid group,¡± Irvin stated.

    Jeze scowled with annoyance, clearly written on her face. Irvin sighed and raised up a hand to keep the young girl from snapping at him.

    ¡°I lost a daughter to the Spire. She chose to travel with an ambitious team and paid with her life,¡± the staunch official explained.

    Jeze¡¯s face softened, but her will remained as hard as steel. ¡°Thank you for everything,¡± she said.

    Irvin nodded, his eyes moist, and the two shook hands. He turned and left without another word.

    Jeze searched the crowd for the familiar faces of Swordslayer and Rainbow. Jeze made her way through the jostling bodies and began to feel a panic rise in her chest. What if they had already left? How would she find them in the Guild compound? Especially as more and more adventurers arrive by the day for the upcoming Wandering Spire? Ziplocke was useless as the Goblin clamped onto her back like a cat to a log in a river. There were too many people for him to hide, and what surprised Jeze was how little everyone cared that she had a Demon familiar.

    ¡°Are you lost, country girl?¡± A familiar voice boomed behind her.

    Jeze spun and gave Swordslayer a fierce hug. Next to the scarred muscular warrior was Rainbow in her deep purple jacket with the high collar that covered her face.

    ¡°I passed the field test!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    ¡°That does not surprise me. You ran with us through the forest and scaled the high wall. The field test must have been easy for you,¡± Rainbow said.

    ¡°They ranked me as Initiate,¡± Jeze responded with disappointment on her face.

    ¡°That is what you are, little girl,¡± Swordslayer replied.

    Jeze scowled at the swordsman and asked, ¡°What are your ranks?¡±

    The warrior snorted, and Rainbow answered, ¡°We are Adventurer ranked.¡±

    ¡°How do I become Adventurer Rank?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°You prove yourself. Show that you can run many miles without stopping, scale frigid mountain peaks, and face horrors with a grin on your face that shows no fear,¡± Swordslayer answered.

    ¡°I can do those things,¡± Jeze stated.

    ¡°Sure you can,¡± Swordslayer said and rolled his eyes.

    ¡°Many do not make it to Initiate. The majority of the members are Prospects and remain Prospects their entire careers. Ole Irvin was a Prospect,¡± Rainbow said

    Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide, ¡°Really?¡±

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    Rainbow nodded, ¡°The Ranking determines what teams you can join and what missions you can take. Irvin started as a Guild Guard and worked his way up to an official, but he never passed the trials. You should be proud.¡±

    Another thought occurred to Jeze. ¡°Why are you two still here?¡±

    ¡°We are having issues with accessing our funds,¡± Rainbow answered.

    Swordslayer slammed a strong fist into the wooden table they stood at. This caused the tome to rattled and inkwells to spill over. The Grinning Death Guards tense and Swordslayer scowled at them.

    ¡°Master Swordslayer, please do not cause another scene, or we will have to ask you to leave,¡± a man with a nasal voice said as he approached the table with a roll of scrolls tucked under his thin arms.

    ¡°Well, maybe if the Diamond Bank honors their end and gives us our coin. The very coins we entrusted the Bank to hold for us,¡± Swordslayer growled.

    ¡°As I have said, it is not that simple. The Golden Empire seized our caravans and accused us of working with criminals. Our lawyers are working hard, and we trust that this will be resolved, I assure you.¡± The Banker, with a nasal voice, explained.

    ¡°When?¡± Swordslayer boomed.

    Rainbow rested a hand on her companion¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We need the money to gear up for the Wandering Spire,¡± she said.

    The Banker nodded with an apologetic look. ¡°The arrival of the Spire does complicate things and I¡¯m afraid that we won¡¯t be able to get you your funds in time.¡±

    Swordslayer¡¯s face turned red with rage.

    ¡°But,¡± the Banker said as he laid the scrolls on the table and continued, ¡°You have options.¡±

    ¡°Go on,¡± Rainbow said.

    ¡°I am authorized to provide you with 500 ducats.¡±

    ¡°What?!?!¡± Swordslayer roared.

    Two Grinning Death Guards approached, and before they could react, Swordslayer drew his blades and pointed their tips at their throats. Startled, the guards stumbled back to bring up their weapons. Jeze herself was impressed with how fast Swordslayer moved. She wondered if he was a higher rank than Adventurer.

    Rainbow turned to the Banker and explained, ¡°We had much more than 500 ducats with the bank.¡±

    ¡°I understand that Miss Rainbow, but that is all I can authorize. However, I can arrange for a low interest loan that you can pay back when your funds arrive.¡±

    ¡°You are kidding me!¡± Swordslayer cried. More Grinning Death Guards arrived to surround them.

    Jeze began to understand why Irvin called Rainbow and Swordslayer dangerous. If a fight broke out the Grinning Death Guards saw that she was with them and she had nowhere to go. How would she fare against a fully armed and armored Adventurer-ranked fighter? She briefly faced off against Drake, Jeze reflected grimly.

    ¡°I agree with my friend here. You expect us to pay for the use of our money?¡± Rainbow asked.

    ¡°You must understand our circumstances. There are risks the Diamond Bank takes when doing business with you two,¡± the Banker hurriedly explained.

    ¡°What does that supposed to mean?¡± Swordslayer growled, his eyes narrowed.

    Jeze was beginning to get scared that the situation would turn violent. All around the group, others paused to watch. More Grinning Death Guards moved closer.

    Rainbow calmly stated, ¡°We have kept substantial sums of money with the Diamond Bank. Money earned from respectable Adventurer contracts, and we know the Bank has profited off of our business.¡±

    ¡°Yes, and your Guild contracts are not in question. It is your other dealings that have given the Empire cause to seize our assets. Not just your money, but others in this very room.¡±

    Rainbow and Swordslayer opened their mouths to respond, but the Banker held up a thin finger and continued, ¡°Let me remind you that the Bank¡¯s purpose is to make a profit. Allow me to be truthful. You two pose a risk to the Diamond¡¯s Bank¡¯s interests, and this trouble with the Golden Empire is costly. The Bank intends to recoup its costs, and that is why we are willing to offer a low-interest loan.¡±

    Swordslayer growled. The Grinning Death Guards tensed with their poleaxes at the ready.

    The Banker added, ¡°The Wandering Spire is a lucrative endeavor for capable adventurers such as you two. One is where a low-interest loan can serve your needs. Let us not ruin a partnership over an unfortunate situation that is neither of our faults.¡±

    Swordslayer glanced at Rainbow and she nodded. The warrior sheathed his blades as fast as he had drawn them. The Grinning Death Guards retreated slowly. The Banker wiped the sweat from his brow.

    ¡°Let us discuss terms,¡± Rainbow stated.

    Swordslayer growled and paced back and forth like an angry lion. He cared not for negotiation and left that with Rainbow. Jeze walked over to the warrior.

    ¡°Drake is here,¡± she whispered.

    Swordslayer paused and glanced down at the young girl. ¡°Who?¡±

    Standing on her toes, Jeze whispered into his ear and explained who Drake was.

    The dark-haired warrior nodded and said, ¡°When we get some coin, we should buy a cloak.¡±

    ¡°A cloak?¡±

    ¡°Yes, so you won¡¯t be recognized. Rainbow and I will also get one. We probably have dozens of agents looking for us,¡± Swordslayer replied.

    ¡°You just made a scene here!¡± Jeze cried.

    Swordslayer chuckled. ¡°You saw how they feared me? The famous Grinning Death Guard.¡±

    ¡°But if anyone was looking for you, they surely would know where you are now,¡± Jeze said.

    The swordsman nodded and said, ¡°You are wise, Jeze.¡±

    Rainbow and the Banker finished their negotiations and shook hands. The multi-colored haired Adventurer came over with a heavy pouch filled with coins.

    ¡°How did we fare?¡± Swordslayer asked.

    ¡°I managed to get us a 1000 ducats, and dropped the interest rate down to 10%,¡± Rainbow answered.

    A huge grin appeared on Swordslayer¡¯s scarred face. ¡°You are skilled at your craft!¡± He boomed.

    The sword fighter filled Rainbow in on Jeze¡¯s situation with Drake. The multi-colored haired Adventurer had a grave expression on her face and said, ¡°We need to get you a cloak.¡±

    ¡°I need armor and better gear,¡± Jeze said.

    Rainbow¡¯s face softened. ¡°Sorry, but we can not help you. We have limited funds and a loan to pay off.¡±

    ¡°You can sell off the weapons we took from the legionnares,¡± Swordslayer added.

    ¡°Speaking of which. Here is your share of coins from that fight,¡± Rainbow said and gave Jeze a small pile of coin. ¡°It¡¯s not much.¡±

    Jeze nodded her gratitude and she didn¡¯t expect the two to buy her gear. ¡°How much is a good set of armor?¡±

    ¡°You should get mail. That could cost you several hundred for a decent shirt,¡± Swordslayer said.

    ¡°Several hundred!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    ¡°A thousand for a flexible set,¡± the Swordfighter added.

    ¡°You can get padded armor for cheaper, but a good set is still going to run you at least two to three hundred,¡± Rainbow said.

    ¡°Lucky for you, the Guild Compound is flooded with merchants from all over the world. The Wandering Spire is a lucrative time for them, so prices should remain fair,¡± the multi-colored haired lady added.

    ¡°Rainbow can help you get a loan!¡± Swordslayer stated.

    ¡°A loan?¡± Jeze asked. Her brother had suggested that new adventurers avoid putting themselves in debt with the Diamond Bank. She glanced at the Grinning Death Guards and wondered if they were adventurers paying off their debt with service.

    Rainbow shook her head. ¡°Jeze is a skilled Rune Caster and can find work to make coin.¡±

    ¡°How do I do that?¡± Jeze wondered.

    ¡°What I used to do. Find a merchant and offer to enchant their items. You split the cost with them. When you make enough money, you can file for a permit and open your own stall,¡± Rainbow answered.

    ¡°We only have a few weeks before we have to set out for Mount Dragon,¡± Swordslayer reminded them.

    The multi-colored haired lady nodded, ¡°Right. You earn as much as you can. You will want to get armor, backup weapons, rope, and stock up on potions.¡±

    Swordslayer added, ¡°Antidotes, recovery, and water purification.¡±

    ¡°I know some alchemy,¡± Jeze offered.

    ¡°Good, you can craft potions and sell them for a merchant,¡± Rainbow answered.

    ¡°What if I sold them on my own?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Without a permit? The Amber Guard will find you, and you do not want to tangle with them,¡± Rainbow replied.

    ¡°Unless you are me,¡± Swordslayer boasted.

    Jeze had a thought. ¡°Am I traveling with you?¡±

    Swordslayer glanced at his companion, and Rainbow said, ¡°If you gear up like we suggested, you can team up with us.¡±

    ¡°Move quickly, we are going to entertain recruits,¡± Swordslayer added.

    Jeze felt the need to let them know that she was assigned to the Safe Zone Squad. Swordslayer boomed with laughter.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Jeze growled.

    ¡°You got in trouble on your first day,¡± the man replied.

    Rainbow tapped her chin. ¡°It might be good to do a few assignments with her. We can earn some coin, and we will have access to the Safe Zone locations.¡±

    Swordslayer snorted. ¡°Only rookies need them.¡±

    ¡°Will allow us to get rest and preserve some of our gear,¡± Rainbow stated.

    Jeze was confused over what they were talking about, but she was hopeful that she would travel with them. Despite the danger, they were highly skilled, and she could learn a lot from them. But, with a sinking heart, Jeze recalled Drake and the danger she was in. What was she to do? She wondered. Jeze remembered Swordslayer¡¯s suggestion to get a cloak and that she needed to be vigilant while she was in the compound. The Guild Ledgers! Jeze recalled with horror. Drake, being an official, will have access to them. He could easily find out that she is here! Jeze began to feel stress build up in her chest.

    ¡°They are leaving,¡± Ziplocke said and snapped Jeze out of her thoughts.

    The young girl hurried after the other two. Jeze had a plan. She would get a cloak, find a merchant where she can enchant gear to earn coin, and do work for the Safe Zone Squad. The teenager had plenty to keep herself busy and as long as she remained alert she should be fine. Jeze hoped to herself.

 Chapter 28: Earning Coin

    With the coins from the Diamond Bank loan, Swordslayer and Rainbow went shopping. Jeze chased after them as they exited the lift onto another floor. Was this the fourth? Jeze, in her rush, failed to pay attention. Like everywhere else in the Guild compound, this level was bustling with people. It was lined with extravagant merchant stalls selling the finest weapons, armor, and adventuring gear. She saw adventurers from all around the world with Rune covered armor, and weapons that channeled with sparkling power. She saw other familiars as well, from giant hunting cats to fluttering fairies. Ziplocke had nowhere to hide and hugged close to her on her shoulders.

    "It would be useful if you had sparkling wings," Jeze teased her bonded companion.

    "Oh yeah? Well, it would be useful if you were not a knucklehead," Ziplocke snapped back.

    Jeze laughed and fed the Goblin a pepper with a slice of lemon.

    "When are you going to make the paste?" Ziplocke asked as he munched on his snack.

    The teenager rolled her eyes. She will have to add that to her growing list of responsibilities. Jeze needed to find a job, to find time to train, to equip herself, and to also report to Seb. Why didn''t Daverius write about these tedious aspects of adventuring? She wondered.

    "Take this," Rainbow said and handed her a dark blue cloak. She also handed one to Swordslayer, who grunted a thank you.

    The cloaks were simple, but Jeze could tell they were well made and would keep her warm and dry as well as hide her features. Inside, the cloak was lined with secure pockets and thin inserts where she can add Runic enchantments. Her brother had told her that not all Rune Casters were able to stitch and tailors have created such linings within their clothing that can fit thin wooden or steel plates that could be engraved with Runic enchantments.

    "Thank you," Jeze replied as she removed her pack to put on the cloak. The cloth was comfortable against her skin.

    She raised her hood and shouldered her worn traveling pack. Rainbow and Swordslayer nodded to her.

    "We go our separate ways here. If you want to find us, we are staying at the Silver Chalice," Rainbow said.

    "Silver Chalice?" Jeze asked. The teenager just realized that she didn''t have a place to stay herself.

    "It''s an Inn, and it''s famous for recognized Adventurers," Swordslayer boasted.

    Rainbow tilted her head and grabbed Jeze by the shoulders. "Good luck, and I''m sorry things didn''t work out as we had planned."

    Jeze''s lip quivered. She realized that they didn''t invite her to stay with them and that she was on her own.

    "If you figure this out, you can still adventure with us," Swordslayer said with a slap to Jeze''s back.

    "We can not help much more since we are struggling with our own circumstances, but this would be a good experience for you. Jeze, you are skilled and already assigned to a team with the Safe Zone Squad. Our paths will cross again," Rainbow promised.

    Swordslayer nodded and added, "A word of advice. Do not get comfortable, especially with this Drake fellow around. It is unlikely that he has forgotten about you and the secret you hold. Be careful who you talk to."

    "Trust no one," Rainbow added.

    With a final wave, the two lost themselves in the bustling market crowd and left Jeze. She stood there a moment amongst the crowded merchant hall. Ziplocke smacked her on her head.

    "What are you doing, knucklehead? We have work to do. You need to earn coin, buy gear, and most importantly, make my paste!" The Goblin hissed in her ear.

    Jeze scowled at her bonded companion but inwardly she smiled. She needed that reminder to put her back on track. For thirty minutes, she squeezed her way to speak with merchants and craftsmen alike. In that time she discovered that none on this level would risk their top quality gear to be damaged by an unproven Rune caster such as herself. All the trades people were highly skilled artisans, and much of the items were already enchanted. One merchant suggested she go to the lower markets.

    An hour later, Jeze found herself back outside in the courtyard she had entered when she first arrived. The merchant tents here were of much lower quality than the floors she had visited earlier. Jeze also realized that the adventurers here were all like her. Just newly starting out with limited funds.

    "Beggars can''t be choosers," Ziplocke said from her shoulder.

    Jeze nodded and chided herself. She actually believed that she would be traveling with Swordslayer and Rainbow and would be equipped with the best gear. Was this how Daverius felt when he first started? Jeze wondered. A familiar merchant''s voice snapped her back to reality.

    "Come to Hannah''s for the best armor at affordable prices!" The thick merchant with curly hair barked into the crowd.

    The very same whom Jeze had talked with briefly on her arrival. The teenager approached the stall.

    "Hey, young adventurer! I see that you have returned and in need of some protection. Please take a look at my wares!" Hannah greeted.

    "Actually, I am looking for work," Jeze replied.

    Hannah''s smile faded somewhat, but she was an experienced businesswoman and replied, "Oh yeah? Well, what can you offer?"

    "I''m an accomplished Rune caster. As you can see, I have a Summoned and Bonded Familiar," Jeze said and motioned to Ziplocke.

    The Goblin sneered, and Hannah did not look impressed with the tiny Demon.

    "Can you enchant armor?" The merchant asked.

    "Yes!" Jeze said. But inwardly, she was not so confident.

    From reading the tome she took from the Pyramid on the crafting of the globes, and what she discovered from creating magical traps, she was fairly confident she could overlay two aspects to power enchantments on armor. Hannah, being a skilled trader that haggled with customers for years, was able to read the look of doubt on Jeze''s face.

    The stout merchant thought for a moment and said, "I think I got work for you. Follow me."

    Jeze followed Hannah through a tarp into the back of the tent. On the ground were piles of used and damaged armor. Jeze wrinkled her nose as she saw some of the leather breastplates were stained with blood that made it clear that the previous owners may have died in them.

    "I buy used gear," Hannah explained and waved her arm to the pile, "If you can make this sellable, I''ll let you keep 10% of the profit. Whatta say?"

    "Who would buy this?" Jeze wondered.

    "New and broke adventurers, such as yourself."

    Jeze looked uncertain.

    "Listen, girl, the Spire is dangerous. Having used armor is better than dying," Hannah explained.

    "Don''t accept the first offer," Ziplocke whispered into her ear.

    ¡°50%,¡± Jeze countered.

    Hannah laughed loudly, which pierced Jeze''s eardrums.

    "I like you, and because of that, I''m willing to let you have 20% of the profits," the merchant said and extended a callous hand.

    On reflex, Jeze shook the extended hand and Ziplocke slapped his forehead. Jeze didn''t think about the deal she agreed to, but rather she wondered why Hannah''s hands were calloused.

    "Are you an adventurer?" The teenager asked.

    Hannah chuckled. "That was a dream that died long ago. You see, I was not able to pass the trials. You need at least an Initiate rank to get the good assignments. As a Prospect, the best I could do was to scavenge for pickings the real adventurers left behind or work as a guard. What I learned was that I got pretty good at stitching and repairing armor. I then learned how to make a decent set, and here you see me now. A highly successful merchant!"

    Ziplocke snickered, "That''s why she has to sell outside."

    Jeze was embarrassed at her companion''s remark. Hannah''s wide grin faded. Thinking quickly, Jeze told the merchant that she would get to work right away.

    "Right then. You have tools?" The Merchant asked.

    Jeze nodded. She had engraving tools in her pack. The teenager knelt beside a pile. The armor was used and damaged gambesons. These were quilted and woven linen tightly stuffed with various materials that ranged from scrapped cloth and horse hair. The armor fascinated Jeze because each one told a story that she imagined based on the damage received.

    One piece of armor had a puncture mark that Jeze envisioned came from spears. A battle? Maybe this armor belonged to a soldier or mercenary. She studied it for any insignias before another set caught her attention. This armor had deep slash marks.

    "What manner of beast did this?" Jeze wondered.

    "A big one, a bear? Or maybe a Hellhound?" Ziplocke was hopping up and down with delight. Each armor told an unfortunate tale that he absolutely loved.

    Hannah arched an eyebrow at the Goblin''s mischievous delight. "Aye, there are all manner of beasts that roam the dark places of this world."

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    Other armor was a mixture of cloth and hardened animal hides. Some armor had metal rivets sewn in with the cloth. Jeze recalled that the hide and reinforced armors were more expensive, based on the prices she had seen outside.

    "Not that pile," Hannah said and added, "I need to repair those."

    The stocky merchant motioned to a second pile of armor that had patchwork repairs. "Clean and enchant these," Hannah said and showed Jeze a wooden wash bin.

    "You''ll need to heat the water, but you being a Rune Caster and all, that shouldn''t be a problem. Call me when you are finished." Hannah explained and left to help customers.

    Jeze and Ziplocke were alone in the back of the tent. The front was where Hannah did her business, and the two overheard her hawking her wares, and occasionally, she made a sale. Hannah was open to taking trades and added the worn and damaged armor to the pile by Jeze. The merchant also had a work table with tools that allowed the craftswoman to create and repair the padded armor from the scrapped material from the damaged sets. She worked alone, and from the sounds of it, Hannah made a decent living. Jeze reflected.

    "Best get to work so you can make me more paste," Ziplocke stated.

    Jeze bopped the Goblin on the head. Using her Fire aspect channeling rod, she Summoned and Shaped flames to heat the water. She selected a set of armor reinforced with metal rivets and began to wash it.

    "This one received a mortal wound to the liver!" Ziplocke screeched with delight.

    A hand-sized patch was sewn over the spot in the armor that would have covered the vital organ. The work appeared to be well done, even though no efforts were made for cosmetics. It was an evident patchwork repair as the material and color did not match the original.

    Jeze observed Hannah work as she cleaned the reinforced gambeson. The merchant created and sold new armor and took in used armor to repair and resell. Hannah''s customers ranged from newly minted adventurers to more experienced ones who were down on their luck. Jeze saw and heard it all and was surprised at how busy it was! Even though there were hundreds of other stalls selling armor. When no customers were present, Hannah worked at her table to create or repair another set.

    "The Wandering Spire is good for business. Normally, you would be hard-pressed to find an adventurer as they are scattered throughout the realm. But when the Spire is set to appear, adventurers from all over come to it. Heck, I wager many of the more expensive and talented craftsmen only work once every five years," Hannah explained.

    Jeze finished washing the armor and hung it over a small flame to dry. She wished that Rainbow had shown her the Water aspect spell. That would have made drying the armor much easier. While it dried, Jeze pulled out her brother''s journal and the tome she carried from the Pyramid. Hannah had returned to the front to help more customers. Jeze''s brother, Daverius, specialized in the Earth aspect, and he wrote down dozens of Rune patterns in his journal. One caught Jeze''s attention; it was a spell that would harden the metal. Daverious wrote:

    I have heard from veteran soldiers that It is common for a sword to break or a spear shaft to snap in combat. They say that it is imperative to carry a backup weapon unless you want to find yourself unarmed and dead. I made some adjustments to an Earth Shaping pattern so that it will harden steel. It is immensely difficult to Shape existing metal, and I practiced this pattern daily to strengthen my Will. After several weeks, I discovered that I could harden my sword for up to an hour. That is plenty of time for most combat situations and an extremely useful Rune pattern that will increase the longevity of my weapons¡­

    Jeze studied the Runes and saw that she was familiar with them. They were similar to the pattern she used to Shape dirt into the stone fists. Daverius was always clever when it came to making adjustments to the Earth aspect, Jeze reflected with a pang of sadness. Jeze removed a narrow metal plate from the reinforced armor she cleaned. She could engrave Daverius''s pattern into the steel using her tools. It wouldn''t be easy, but Jeze felt confident that she could accomplish this.

    Curious, she didn''t engrave the final Rune and attempted the spell herself. Jeze completed the glyph and directed the energy toward the steel plates sewn into the reinforced gambeson. She gritted her teeth from the pressure on her Will as she Shaped the non-summoned steel and was relieved when she felt the energy snap into place. She was breathing hard, and sweat coated her forehead.

    "Aww, I was hoping to see you pass out!" Ziplocke cried.

    Jeze rolled her eyes at the Demon, and that minor effort was difficult. When she felt recovered, she tested the steel she hardened. Jeze let out a cheer when she discovered that she could not engrave on the plate. It was much more durable.

    "Everything okay?" Hannah peeked her head inside and asked.

    "It worked!" Jeze cried.

    Hannah arched an eyebrow. "Was there any doubt? Can we sell the armor?"

    Jeze shook her head. "No, I didn''t enchant the armor yet, but the Rune pattern to harden the steel worked!"

    "Well, if the armor is not enchanted, then to me, it is nothing to boast about," Hannah grumbled and returned to helping customers.

    Jeze scowled at the departing merchant and muttered, "Now to the hard part."

    Ziplocke assisted her with opening the tome to the page, which talked about enchanting the glow globes. While munching on peppers and lemons, the Goblin translated the writing. Enchanted items were self-powered and did not require the user to channel their Will. Jeze discovered how to do this by overlaying two Rune aspects over each other. The Globes used the Fire and Light aspects, with Fire being the energy source and the result coming from a Summoned Light aspect spell.

    Jeze figured this out when she created the Affliction Aspect trap in the forest. She had overlaid the Darkness and Affliction aspects. In that case, the Darkness aspect was the power source, and the Affliction aspect was the outcome. With the armor, she wanted to harden the steel so that it would provide more protection. The outcome aspect was Earth.

    "How can I power the Shaped Earth aspect?" Jeze asked, and she handed Ziplocke slices of lemon and pepper.

    "Fire," Ziplocke answered.

    Jeze nodded and asked, "Why not Darkness? Or Life?"

    "Several reasons, knucklehead. One, Fire is a very common Aspect. It would be easier for the user to find someone to charge this enchantment. Two, Earth and Fire go well together since they are used to create steel. And it is steel that you are trying to enhance!" Ziplocke explained, his voice shrieking with excitement. The Goblin added, "They are all very compatible, and this enchantment will last longer as a result."

    Jeze nodded and said, "Thank you."

    Ziplocke snickered while rubbing his hands together. "Overlapping the two Rune aspects will be very difficult for a knucklehead such as yourself. I will find enjoyment with watching you fail."

    And Jeze did fail over the course of the next four hours. In many instances, after painfully engraving the intricate Runes onto the steel plates, nothing happened. One time the armor caught on fire when Jeze tried to empower the Earth aspect. Another time, the pressure was so immense that Jeze blanked out. That was Ziplocke''s favorite outcome, and the Goblin danced with joy.

    "Are you alright, girl? Are you sure you can do this?" Hannah asked with concern on her face. The merchant gave Jeze a cup of water.

    Jeze scowled at the dancing Goblin and answered, "Yes. I almost had it."

    It was getting late, and the crowds were shrinking with the setting sun. The merchant examined Jeze''s work.

    "Fire and Earth aspects? Are you trying to harden the steel plates?" Hannah asked.

    "Are you a Rune caster?" Jeze asked, perking up.

    Hannah shook her head with a chuckle. "No, girl. But when you have been around adventurers and crafting for as long as I have. You see things. Now, I couldn''t complete a Rune pattern if my life depended upon it. But I know some stuff."

    Jeze nodded with a little disappointment. The teenager glanced outside and said, "I can finish this one armor. Sorry, I am taking so long."

    "Don''t apologize, I know you are learning. Besides, this is costing me nothing, and I only have to gain if you succeed. Do you know the Life aspect?" Hannah asked.

    Jeze nodded and was perplexed by the question.

    Hannah rummaged through the pile of dirty armor that she had repaired and pulled out a breastplate made out of hides. "You could use the Life aspect to harden this armor. It is made out of animal skins. I suppose you could power it with the Earth aspect. Those two are similar enough for it to work."

    Jeze wanted to slap her forehead. That made much more sense!

    Ziplocke fell over laughing. "The look on your face!" He squeaked out.

    "He ain''t right in the head, huh?" Hannah commented.

    Jeze agreed and looked at the work she had done. "Was this a waste of time?" She wondered.

    "No, girl. What you are trying to do will work just fine. This steel-reinforced gambeson has enough plates where your enchantment will provide effective protection. Actually, this might be better," Hannah said.

    Jeze was not sure if the merchant was just trying to be nice. "Really?" She asked.

    "Yeah, because your enchantment will not harden the cloth, so that will still allow the user some maneuverability. If you use my suggestion, the protection will be more spread out, but the hide will become more rigid," Hannah answered.

    Jeze sighed with relief.

    "Some people like to dance around in a fight, and others like to plow through. I recommend you finish what you started, and if you can, reinforce this hide armor with my suggestion," Hannah said and left to help another customer.

    "I''m so close. I can do this," Jeze said and with gritted teeth she returned to work.

    "No, you are not. You will fail again! Oh, I hope you pass out. That never gets old for me!" Ziplocke cried.

    Jeze growled, "Help me. Tell me what I need to do." She dug into her pack to offer the Goblin his snack.

    Ziplocke munched on his treats and pointed out to Jeze. "The Fire aspect needs to be performed fast, and your Runes need to be closer together, almost as if they are blended into one giant pattern. You need to link them like this." The Goblin demonstrated this by engraving the swirling patterns.

    "I never needed to engrave them like that before," Jeze commented

    Ziplocke scowled. "Yes, you have! You needed to perform the motions quickly when trying to Shape and Control the flames. When you are slow, the Fire fades away," the Goblin snapped.

    Jeze nodded in understanding. The Fire Runes she had inscribed earlier to create her Channeling tool were to Summon flames. She Shaped and Controlled them through movement and gestures. For it to empower the Earth Aspect spell, she would need the inscribed Runes to Summon and Shape the fire. Just like how her movements were quick and precise, so will the Runes she engraved on the steel would need to blend and be close to each other.

    With gritted teeth, she Shaped the steel to remove the Runes she had engraved. This required an immense amount of Will, and after, she needed to rest to recover. She meditated and drank water. When she felt restored, she set out to engrave the Fire Runes in the way that Ziplocke had shown her. It was tricky because they needed to overlay the Earth Runes. It required patience and determination to engrave the Runes correctly onto the steel plates. With a tired smile, she felt the energy snap into place. The enchantment was ready to be empowered. She reinserted the steel plates into the gambeson. The plate with the Fire Runes needed to be strapped tight in order to activate the Fire aspect so that it charged the Earth aspect hardening spell.

    "Now we need to test it," Hannah said from behind her.

    Jeze didn''t realize that it was dark outside and all of the other shops had closed. What time was it? She wondered. The teenager was exhausted.

    Hannah placed Jeze''s enchanted reinforced gambeson onto a wooden display dummy. Jeze tied the strap holding the Fire Aspect plate and felt the energy snap into place. Hannah stepped back and loaded a crossbow with a winch.

    "Normally, this bolt would pierce the cloth and steel plates with ease," Hannah explained.

    Jeze watched with nervousness mixed with exhaustion. If this failed, she would have to start all over again. The teenager reflected with dread. Hannah aimed and pulled the trigger. The crossbow twanged, and the bolt launched forward faster than the blink of an eye. Jeze let out a roar in celebration when the missile bounced off the armor.

    "Not bad, kid," Hannah said.

    Jeze fell to her knees, her body shaking. "I did it," she whispered.

    The merchant inspected the armor. "Not even a scratch!"

    "That enchantment should last for an hour. The user just needs to strap in the plate on their left shoulder to activate it," Jeze explained.

    "Will they know when it runs out of charge?" Hannah asked.

    Jeze nodded. She felt sleepy, and it was a chore to keep her eyes open. This had been a very long day! "Try it. You will feel the energy snap into place."

    Hannah did that and nodded. "It is warm," she observed.

    Jeze had fallen asleep on the floor.

    "Can she stay here? She has nowhere to go," Ziplocke said with an unusual quietness to his voice.

    Hannah nodded and observed, "You care about her."

    Ziplocke snorted and replied, "Don''t tell her that. It will just go to her head."

 Chapter 29: The Frostsworn

    Jeze woke the next morning spitting out dirt from laying on the floor. It was cold, but that didn''t bother her as she was used to sleeping outside. Plus, her new fancy cloak kept her warm enough.

    "Good morning, princess," Ziplocke greeted from the shadows in a corner.

    Jeze wiped her tangled bangs from out of her face and rose to her feet. "I have to report to Seb," she mumbled.

    Jeze moved through the tarp and entered the front portion of the tent where she saw the armor she enchanted on display. Hannah was having breakfast that consisted of tea, bacon, and bread. The smell caused Jeze''s stomach to rumble.

    "Thank you for letting me stay here," Jeze said with a bow.

    "Don''t mention it. Are you able to do more enchanting things? I feel I can sell this puppy pretty quickly," Hannah responded and motioned toward the armor on display.

    "Yes, but first, I have to report to the Guild Safety Zone Squad," Jeze replied.

    Hannah''s eyes narrowed, and she asked, "That''s with them, portals?"

    Jeze nodded as she shouldered her heavy pack.

    "You think you can help me set up in a Safe Zone? I could earn good coin there from the folks that will need new armor or repairs," Hannah said as she rose from her seat.

    "What will you pay?" Ziplocke asked and rubbed his tiny hands together.

    Jeze rolled her eyes and responded, "I will see what I can do."

    "Thank you, Luv!" Hannah exclaimed.

    Jeze ran off through the gathering morning crowd. The sun rose and was slowly pushing away the dawn shadows as Jeze made her way through the central chamber toward the lifts. She paused at the smell of food that came from the Hall of Heroes, where other early-rising adventurers were gathering. The lines for food were still short, and Jeze decided to grab a bite to eat before meeting with Seb. The teenager was disappointed to discover that only the first meal was free. Luckily, they were affordable, and the coins she had taken from the bandits were sufficient. She sat at a table with a plate filled with eggs, sausage, and bread. Ziplocke had scampered off, and occasionally, Jeze would catch a glimpse of a moving shadow that assured her that he remained near.

    "So, the demon summoner was set free?" A familiar voice to Jeze''s right said.

    The teenager glanced up and saw Dunar, the dark haired Frostsworn she met yesterday, and scowled. The young man had a warm smile as he was setting plates filled with steaming food on a nearby long table. He is always bringing food or drink for the others, Jeze reflected as the last time they met he was bringing tankards of ale.

    "I jest. Would you care to join us?" Dunar invited her.

    Jeze glanced around, uncertain. She feared that she would be shunned from how things went down the other day. Was he teasing her? She wondered.

    "We run with the Dire Wolves, but we do not bite," Dunar added, his warm smile still present.

    Raynor had talked about the giant wolves. "Are they as big as they say?" She asked.

    "Oh yes, they are very big and fierce. To be a Proven, one must be brave and not show fear because they will tear you limb from limb. Also, one must be able to run through the heavy snow alongside the pack," Dunar explained.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes, and finally, she scooted over to his table. "Where is everyone else?" She asked.

    "Slowly waking up," Dunar replied.

    "Why did you get food for them?"

    "Because they are my team, and a well-fed team is a happy team. A happy team performs well. We have a big day of training today," Dunar answered, and he took a measured bite of eggs.

    "Training?" Jeze asked. There was more to the Guild compound that she had not visited yet, and she wondered where people could go to train.

    "Yes, training. This thing, you may have heard of it, called the Wandering Spire. It is set to appear in just two months. We must prepare for it," Dunar teased.

    Jeze scowled. "I know about that, but where do you train?"

    "In the courtyard. You should join us," Dunar replied.

    "I''m busy," Jeze stated.

    Dunar leaned toward her and said, "We still could use a Scout."

    "I already have a team."

    "Oh? Where are they now?" Dunar made a show of looking around.

    "You think you are funny? Where is your team, huh?" Jeze snapped back.

    Dunar shrugged his broad shoulders and replied, "Still sleeping. But you have met them. We have traveled far to prove ourselves against the Spire, and unfortunately, we lack a Scout."

    Jeze waved around the room and observed, "You have two months to find one."

    Dunar smiled with a twinkle in his eye. He rested a thick arm on the table and said, "Like I was saying. We traveled far and fortunately for us we found a Scout that fights in the ways of our people. I believe that is a sign from the Gods."

    "Do you believe the Gods talk to you?" Jeze asked with an arched eyebrow.

    "I do, and I also believe it is best not to ignore them."

    "You are crazy," Jeze laughed.

    "Come train with us today. You will see that we are very skilled," Dunar said.

    The Frostsworn, even Raynor, spoke in measured tones. As if they weighed each of their words, Jeze respected that.

    "The Demoness blesses our company this fine morning!" A loud voice boomed.

    Jeze turned and saw Dunar''s team had approached. The speaker was Helga, the muscular young lady with blonde braided hair that fell to the sides of her shoulders.

    "Good morning!" Rolfe, the other giant Frostsworn, greeted.

    He and Helga towered over Jeze as she sat. They would have still been taller than me even if I stood on top of the bench, Jeze thought to herself.

    "Dunar got us food! To our great leader!" Rolfe cheered, and he settled his heavy frame onto the bench to eat his breakfast.

    "Thank you, Dunar," Mikal, the thin Frostsworn, quietly said.

    He had a mop of dark hair and simply nodded to Jeze with his serious eyes. Where the others appeared boastful and friendly, Mikal was quiet and brooding.

    "Where is your pet?" Helga asked as she chewed her breakfast.

    "By the Frozen All Father, that foul beast was hideous," Mikal muttered.

    "Hey!" Ziplocke cried from the shadows beneath the table.

    "Oh, ho! The creature gave me a fright!" Helga exclaimed.

    With a speed that belied her large frame, the Frostsworn maiden snatched the squirming Ziplocke out from under the table.

    "Hey, put me down!" The Demon shrieked.

    ¡°Helga!¡± Dunar barked.

    The large woman looked sheepishly over toward Jeze. "I''m sorry, but may I hold your pet?"

    Jeze was enjoying the look of misery on Ziplocke''s face. "He is not my¡­actually. Yes, you can hold him, and he especially enjoys hugs," the teenager replied.

    "Oh goodie! I love giving hugs!" Helga exclaimed and she crushed Ziplocke to her large bosom.

    "Ow! She is so strong! Put me down, you troll!!!" The Goblin squealed.

    "Helga, that is enough," Dunar ordered.

    "Okay. Off you go, little one." The large woman released the Demon.

    "I will place hexes upon you!" Ziplocke promised as he scampered in between Jeze''s legs.

    "So cute! Even when he is angry!" Helga beamed. She turned to Jeze and asked, "Please summon one for me."

    "That is a long and arduous process. It is not a guarantee that the Goblin will want to bond with you. It is also not certain if we Summon a Goblin. It could be an Imp or something much worse¡­" Jeze started to explain before realizing that she had lost her audience. The Frostsworn, except for Dunar, returned to eating.

    "Will she be joining us today?" Rolfe asked. He was on his second plate.

    Dunar glanced at Jeze with an arched eyebrow.

    "I can''t, I have to work on the Safe Portal Squad," Jeze replied.

    Helga''s eyes went wide, and she smacked Mikal on the shoulder with a beefy hand that nearly sent the smaller man over the table. "You see that, Micky? She made it to the Runic Research Division. Are you jealous?" The warrior woman teased.

    "I thought she was a Scout," Mikal grumbled as he wiped food off his chest.

    "A Scout and a Rune caster," Dunar added.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    "Perhaps the Guild would be impressed with me if I chose to sell my soul to the Abyssal Plane," Mikal muttered.

    "I did no such thing!" Jeze cried.

    "Perhaps," Mikal said with a scowl.

    "Ignore him. He is jealous," Dunar said.

    "What are your roles?" Jeze asked the group.

    Helga was the first and thumped her chest to announce, "Striker!"

    Rolfe rose and bowed. "Protector!"

    Mikal rolled his eyes and raised a hand, "Rune caster and Healer."

    Jeze looked to Dunar. The other three Frostsworn bowed to the dark-haired man. Helga and Rolfe snickered.

    Dunar rubbed his face and replied, "Okay, you can all stop that." He turned to Jeze and, with a nod, added, "I have the privilege of being the Leader."

    "What does the Safe Zone Squad do?" Rolfe asked.

    The Frostsworn looked to Jeze. Ziplocke was back on Jeze''s shoulders, and he glared at Helga.

    "Right now, they have me working on repairing the Portals. I think we also make sure the area is cleared of monsters," Jeze answered.

    "Portals to where?" Rolfe asked.

    Mikal scowled and replied, "To allow adventurers to enter and leave the Spire."

    "We can do that?" Rolfe asked, amazed.

    "Where have you been? That has been a thing now for the last three occurrences," Mikal snorted.

    "Ya, we can do the Safe Zone portal assignments," Helga added.

    "I didn''t say I would join your team," Jeze reminded them.

    "What? There is no glory in guarding Safe Zones. I thought we agreed to defeat the Spire and bring honor to our names," Rolfe said and shook the table when he pounded a heavy fist to it. It spilled Mikal''s drink on him and the thin man sighed and cleaned himself a second time this morning.

    "We never agreed to scale the top. These assignments would be a great way for us to demonstrate our skill to the Guild and to Carl Jorgenson," Dunar said.

    "I did not agree to joining your team!" Jeze yelled.

    She was getting tired of people ignoring her, and the emotions built up within her. Ever since Jeze arrived at the Guild Compound, no one took her seriously and just pushed her along without hearing what she needed or thought. Swordslayer and Rainbow had abandoned her. She was assigned to the Safe Zone Squad. Irvin pushed her to the Frostsworn. Enough was enough! Jeze heaved in fury before the Frostsworn.

    "She has the rage of a Berserker," Helga observed quietly. The large woman was more subdued than usual.

    Jeze stormed off before tears formed in her eyes. She exited the Hall of Heroes into the main chamber and walked her way to the lifts.

    ¡°Jeze!¡± Dunar called out.

    ¡°What?¡± Jeze demanded.

    The Frostsworn team leader caught up to her. "I''m sorry."

    The words deflated Jeze''s anger like a punctured waterskin.

    "If you do not have a team. We would be honored for you to join us," Dunar said, his dark eyes soft.

    "Why?" Jeze asked. More to herself than to the young man. Swordslayer and Rainbow leaving her had spawned lingering self doubt.

    "We have seen you fight. You were selected by the Runic Research Division, and the Gods have willed it," the tall Frostsworn said with a grin.

    "You are crazy. I have to go," Jeze replied.

    "If you are free, join us in the compound. We will be training all day," Dunar added and departed.

    "You are not special. They suck, especially that blonde troll, and nobody wants to join them," Ziplocke hissed into her ear.

    Jeze bopped the Goblin on the head. "Hush you or I''ll give you over to Helga."

    Ziplocke shivered and remained quiet as Jeze took the lift up.

    "You are late," Seb admonished and handed her a task list.

    Jeze read the paper and said, "I''m not a teacher."

    Seb glanced at her over his wire framed glasses. "All you need to do is demonstrate what you did yesterday. Based upon recent reports, the location where you found the tome was destroyed. You are now one of our leading experts."

    Reports? Destroyed? This sent a chill down Jeze''s spine.

    "What are you talking about?" She growled.

    Seb paused and sighed. "Please excuse me. I''m not good with people. I heard what happened at the Pyramid, and you have my condolences for the loss of your friend. By all accounts, he was a great asset to the Guild as well. If it were not for the coming Spire, he would be properly mourned."

    He was talking about Raynor! Jeze realized and fought back the tears that threatened to form in her eyes.

    "Who wrote the report?" Jeze asked.

    "Adventurer Drake, the Field Tester that graded you," Seb answered.

    Jeze''s heart sank.

    "Initiate Jeze," a voice called out.

    The teenager turned slowly. To her the world was spinning. How could she be so stupid? She saw Drake enter the compound! Of course he would know where she was! Jeze''s name was written in the magically connected ledgers, and she believed all she needed was a stupid cloak to be safe? Jeze cursed herself. The speaker was Miss Heng, and standing next to her was Drake. Half of the dark skinned agent''s face was covered in wrinkled burn scars. He smiled warmly at her.

    "I am glad to see you were able to make it here," Drake said in a voice that was full of warmth.

    It was all a lie! A deep growl rumbled in Jeze''s throat, and her hands itched to grab her weapons.

    "Please come with us," Miss Heng ordered.

    "No. Not with him!" Jeze snapped.

    Drake''s head tilted to the side with mock understanding. "She still mourns the loss of her mentor and blames me," he explained to Heng.

    "You attacked us!" Jeze screamed.

    "Initiate Jeze! That is enough!" Miss Heng snapped.

    Jeze was trembling with fury. The world was turning red.

    "The Pyramid was her first dungeon. I thought she would be ready for it, and she performed well, as I stated in my field report. Her running away when the traps went off is understandable due to her lack of experience," Drake explained to Miss Heng.

    The Amber Guard nodded, and she said to Jeze, "Leaving a fellow Guild Member while they are in danger, especially your field leader, is reason enough to have your membership revoked."

    Drake chuckled softly and said, "Now, let us not be too hasty, Miss Heng. She is new, and it is understandable."

    "Shut your mouth, you liar!" Jeze screamed.

    "Initiate Jeze!" Miss Heng barked.

    "He attacked us! All because we discovered that the Emperor is not Immortal!" Jeze cried.

    Her statement caused a hushed silence to cover the room. Drake smirked, and Miss Heng nearly boiled in fury.

    "That is a treasonous statement," Miss Heng said quietly.

    Seb cleared his throat and interjected, "Only in the Golden Empire. We are technically not in the Empire. We are in the Guild."

    "The politics of the nations hold no sway here," another voice added.

    Everyone turned to look and saw that it was Irvin who had spoken. He was followed by Lady Kalina. The sight of the stocky guild official brought a calming warmth to Jeze''s rapidly beating heart. She also felt bad for the way she had treated him earlier. For Irvin to come and bring Lady Kalina meant he truly cared about her. The older guild official came over to Jeze.

    "I figured you had some bad feelings with Guild Tester Drake. I came as soon as I heard he was looking for you," Irvin whispered into Jeze''s ear.

    Seb clapped his hands and loudly proclaimed, "Okay! There are too many different officials here in my work area! I don''t care what is going on. I need this young lady to show my Safe Squad Rune Casters how to work the portals."

    "We need a trial. Initiate Jeze has broken several¡­" Miss Heng started to speak.

    Seb cut the Amber Guard off and said, "Let me remind everyone that the Spire is set to arrive, and the Portals are how we save lives. I ask you all to leave so that we can return to our important work."

    "No! She has demonstrated gross neglect in the field by abandoning her team. In addition, she has made a vile accusation to a Guild Tester in high standing," Miss Heng barked.

    "So we keep her away from field assignments. She can still help train our Save Zone Squad," Seb responded.

    "Those are lies! I did no such things!" Jeze roared. Irvin gently gripped her shoulder.

    Drake stepped forward and held up his hands. "I have a solution. Have Jeze assigned to me, and I can complete her training and monitor her progress."

    Miss Heng nodded, "That is acceptable."

    "I already have a team," Jeze growled. Her body trembled with rage.

    "What team?" Lady Kalina asked.

    This was the first time the warrior from the Ironfist kingdom had spoken, and there was tension between her and the other two officials. Even though the Guild stated that it was free from politics, it was deeply entrenched with it. Jeze recognized that a standoff was happening, and on its surface, it was over the Guild bylaws. However, underneath, there was a political fight between the Golden Empire and the Ironfist Kingdom. Irvin was clever to bring in Lady Kalina.

    "The Frostsworn," Jeze answered.

    Lady Kalina sighed, "We have many Frostsworn Guild Members. We need a name."

    "Carl Jorgensen," Irvin said.

    "Is that true?" Lady Kalina asked Jeze, and the teenager nodded.

    "There we have it. She is assigned to a respected team," Lady Kalina stated.

    "But she is a citizen of the Empire," Drake observed.

    "It makes sense for her to be assigned to a representative of her nation," Miss Heng added.

    "Nationalities have no bearing on team assignments within the Guild," Kalina said.

    Drake''s eyes narrowed at the tattooed Ironfist warrior. For a brief moment, his facade slipped, and his true intentions were revealed, but then he smiled warmly.

    "As long as she is with a respected team. I am fine," Drake said.

    "What about her accusations? Did you attack her and Raynor?" Lady Kalina demanded.

    Miss Heng snapped, "She has no evidence and the burden of proof falls on her. Adventurer Drake is a respected member of the Guild with a proven track record, and with plenty of witnesses to corroborate his report. She is just an Initiate."

    Drake''s face softened, and Jeze wanted to punch it. He said, "Adventuring is hard, and she is probably ashamed of her fear. She fled the Pyramid when the trap exploded. One that she failed to disarm as the Scout. In her mind, the only way she could live with her failure is to assign the blame to me."

    ¡°You lie!¡± Jeze roared.

    "That is enough!" Miss Heng barked.

    "She demonstrated prowess and bravery when she accepted my challenge in the courtyard. I believe what she says has merit," Lady Kalina proclaimed.

    "It appears that it is you who are putting your kingdom''s needs over the Guild," Drake said through narrow eyes.

    Seb loudly cleared his throat, which was impressive due to his small stature, it managed to capture everyone''s attention.

    "I have heard enough. I propose that Jeze, being one of our few experts on the portals, work with the Safe Zone Squad and remain with the Frostsworn team. We end this discussion here and return to our work to prepare for the upcoming Spire. Which, I may add, is set to appear in a few weeks time," Seb stated.

    "Agreed," Irvin boomed.

    Miss Heng and Drake''s eyes narrowed, but they nodded.

    "This is not finished. We will continue this discussion at a later and more suitable time," Miss Heng promised.

    With that, Drake, Miss Heng, and Lady Kalina departed in separate directions.

    "I''m glad you agreed to team up with the Frostsworn. You will grow well with them," Irvin said.

    Jeze nodded and hoped that Dunar didn''t find another Scout. She hurried from the chamber but was stopped by Seb.

    "You need to train the others," the small man reminded her.

    Jeze pulled out her tome and handed it to Seb. "It really comes down to these dozen Runes," she said, pointing to them.

    "Excellent, show them those," the small man responded.

    Jeze was introduced to one of Seb''s assistants, a young woman with short blonde hair and green eyes.

    "This is Val, my assistant in charge of repairing the Portal Runes. She will show you to the others," Seb said.

    "Nice to meet you," Val said with a smile that appeared forced on the young lady''s delicate face.

    For some reason, that annoyed Jeze, and even Ziplocke scowled at her. Jeze ignored Val and hurried after Seb. She tapped the man on the shoulder.

    "The Wandering Spire is set to appear, and I am very busy!" Seb snapped.

    "Can I inform my team that we will be taking Safe Zone assignments?" Jeze asked.

    Seb sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Yes, but be quick about it."

    Jeze rushed out of the chamber to find Dunar and the others. She ran so fast that Ziplocke nearly fell off her shoulders.

    "No matter what, you seem to be forced into situations against your will," Ziplocke pointed out.

    Jeze disagreed. "I have decided I want to team up with the Frostsworn."

    "Oh, and what about Rainbow and Swordslayer?" The Goblin inquired.

    "They demonstrated that they only serve themselves. I have seen Dunar work to serve his team. Irvin was right. This is the better choice for me," Jeze responded.

    "Hmm, that is good," Ziplocke said.

    "Even though we will be with Helga?" Jeze asked.

    The Goblin moaned.

 Chapter 30: The Proven

    Jeze exited the tower and entered the large Guild compound courtyard. The crowds were forming with merchants setting up their stalls. Jeze circled the tower and entered the side where the obstacle course was stationed. A line of Prospects were waiting to be tested, and a few were inside the course.

    "Hurry and continue on! If the Frostsworn found a Scout, then you will have to team with Drake. He will surely find ways to kill you," Ziplocke said.

    "Right," Jeze replied.

    She continued and ran past the obstacle course and came to an open space within the compound that she had never visited before. Jeze''s eyes went wide at what she saw. The entire area was filled with groups of teams as they trained. Dotted across the flat plaza were merchant stalls that were different from the ones Jeze had seen. These sold padded training gear, dummies, weights, and recovery potions. All around, Jeze adventurers trained their bodies and skills. Men and women lifted and ran with heavy stones. People practiced their archery and Rune casting on wooden targets. Others sparred in large round circles. People ran, jumped, and climbed through various miniature obstacle courses. Adventurers of all ranks sweated, trained, and bled in this courtyard. Her last physical activity was the obstacle course she completed yesterday and Jeze felt her body becoming soft. She itched to train with the others.

    "There they are!" Ziplocke pointed out the tall pale bodies of the Frostsworn. The Goblin muttered, "I can''t believe I am helping you with this."

    Jeze patted her companion on his small head and fed him a pepper. Ziplocke chewed on it enthusiastically like a chipmunk eating an acorn.

    "I still want you to make the paste!" The Goblin snarled in between bites.

    Jeze rolled her eyes. Her never-ending to-do list. She sprinted to the group of dozens of Frostsworn as they trained with each other as well as with Adventurers from other nations. Jeze ran past a giant bearded warrior from the cold north, wrestling with a full-bodied tattooed warrior from the Ironfist kingdom. The crowd consisted of adventurers from all nations who cheered the two combatants. Jeze located Carl Jorgenson as he coached warriors on the use of the ax and shield. The methods he instructed were similar to how Raynor had trained Jeze. Her eyes felt moist as she recalled her mentor and friend.

    "Hello, Jeze," Jorgenson greeted without turning. The tall Frostsworn''s focus was on his students.

    "I''m here to train with Dunar and his team," Jeze said. She scanned the area and was unable to locate the familiar faces of the Frostsworn she ate with earlier.

    "You wish to join as their Scout?" The Carl turned to face her.

    "I do."

    "You are too late."

    "What?!?" Jeze''s fears were realized, and her heart sank.

    "As you told Dunar. There are many potential Scouts for them to choose from."

    "But I fight in the ways of the Frostsworn," Jeze countered.

    "That is true. Perhaps you can earn your way back?"

    Jeze narrowed her eyes. "How?"

    Jorgenson pointed ahead and said, "Dunar and team are running the perimeter of the compound and have a large head start over you. From here, you must go to the gate and follow the path of the setting sun to the west. Stick to the perimeter and do not deviate. My eyes are sharp, and I will know. If you beat them to me, then we will consider you¡­"

    Jeze shot off like an arrow before the tall Frostsworn could finish. She ran so fast that Ziplocke fell off with a yelp. Carl grinned.

    "You can wait safely with me, Demonling," the Carl said.

    The Goblin snarled and wrapped himself in darkness and faded from view in the nearby shadows. Jorgenson returned to coaching the warriors.

    Jeze followed the perimeter that the Carl had shown her. She was no stranger to running, and sprinted as fast as her legs could go. All of her concerns from the past day that weighed heavy on her melted away from the exertion in her legs and chest as she ran. The perimeter of the Guild compound consisted of a wall and buildings. Wherever an avenue appeared it was blocked off by a line of armored Legionaries. She darted past them in a blur.

    Jeze ran as if her life depended upon it. In some ways, her life did depend upon it. Who knew what treachery Drake would commit if she was assigned to his team. This fueled her, and she ran faster. Jeze passed other running adventurers who were shocked at her speed and endurance. The teenager was no stranger to running. She ran like a wolf through the Deep Wood with Raynor. She ran to the Old Crone''s school from her parent''s farm through the rolling hills of Narcadia. Every day she ran with her brother. In the distance, she recognized the wide shapes of Helga and Rolfe, and they were nearing the Carl. Jeze ran faster, and as she got closer, the shapes of Mikal and Dunar came into view.

    The endpoint and Jorgenson were only several hundred meters away. Jeze pumped her legs to their limit. Rolfe and Helga turned at the sound of her pounding footsteps.

    "Oh, ho! Look at her run!" Helga roared.

    "Does she want to race us? Come, little mouse!" Rolfe cheered.

    The two large Frostsworn picked up their pace, but their bulky bodies were unable to match Jeze''s lithe form. Jeze ran past them and caught sight of Mikal.

    "Oh, it is you," the thin Frostsworn muttered as Jeze blurred by.

    Dunar glanced back and picked up his pace. "I won''t make this easy," he huffed.

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    The dark-haired leader was ahead and ran fast. The tall form of Jorgenson came into view. The Carl stood with his thick arms crossed. Jeze roared as she forced more energy into her legs and ran faster. Possibly the fastest she had ever ran in her life. Dunar was a few meters away from the goal. He was breathing hard and stumbled from the exertion. That was all Jeze needed to blur past and reached the Carl before him.

    "Very good. The Scout should be the fastest," Jorgenson observed.

    Jeze and Dunar were bent over, panting as the others arrived a few moments later. The teenager looked among them and did not see a fifth. Where was the Scout that the Carl talked about? Before she could ask, Jorgenson had handed her a set of wooden sparring weapons. A hand ax, and a long knife.

    "You face against Helga. If you want to join our team, you must score three touches against her," the Carl said.

    Dunar handed Jeze a sweat-stained set of padded armor. "A touch is when you land a significant strike on your opponent, and they were unable to land one on you," he explained.

    Jeze nodded, familiar with the rules. She sparred with the Old Hunter many times.

    Helga strapped on her sparring armor and was handed a two handed padded ax. "She is so small, I do not want to hurt her," The braided haired woman said and stopped when a hand axe thudded against her chest.

    "That is one touch," Jeze said with a grin.

    "Not fair! We didn''t start yet!" Helga exclaimed.

    "Nothing was said about starting, only that I needed three touches," Jeze proclaimed as she snatched up the wooden hand ax.

    The others, including the Carl, laughed in agreement. Helga''s face hardened.

    "Mikal can mend broken bones," the muscular woman stated. Jeze was terrified.

    Ten minutes later, Jeze sat on the ground, bloodied. Her left arm hung limp by her side. Mikal Shaped her bones, and Jeze gritted her teeth in pain as her arm was mended.

    "You should quit. This is too hard for you," Jorgenson stated. His face was impassive and uncaring.

    Helga stood across from Jeze in the sparring circle. The large warrior''s forehead glistened with sweat. Helga had scored a dozen touches on Jeze, and the teenager was battered. The cheerful Frostsworn maiden was cold-hearted and remorseless in combat.

    "You just need one more touch," Dunar encouraged her.

    Jeze scowled and stood up. Her left arm ached.

    "That is all I could do for her. She will need to rest for it to fully heal," Mikal stated.

    Jeze was barely able to hold her dagger in her left hand, and she readied the hatchet in her right. Helga did not wait and charged forward with a downward chop with her two-handed axe. Her speed belied her immense size. Jeze rolled on her good shoulder and avoided the attack. Helga''s movements were seamless and fluid as the warrior maiden continued her assault with a follow-up slash. Jeze slid under the wooden ax and stabbed at Helga''s midsection with her dagger. The teenager felt certain she would score a touch, but Helga intercepted the attack with the haft of her weapon. The parry painfully jolted Jeze''s arm, and she nearly dropped her long knife.

    The teenager scrambled away and avoided Helga''s counterattack. The warrior maiden pressed forward as relentlessly as a winter storm. Jeze was faster and more nimble, despite her injuries, and avoided Helga''s attacks. But she wouldn''t be able to keep it up, and as their previous bouts have demonstrated, eventually, Helga would score a brutal blow. Jeze needed to do something different. Her two touches came from axe throws, but Helga became savvy to them and was able to dodge. The circle they sparred in was ringed by the thick bodies of cheering Frostsworn, so running in hopes of tiring her opponent out was not an option. Besides, Helga was an Initiate-ranked adventurer, and despite her bulky size, the Frostsworn maiden had incredible stamina.

    Helga swung her weapon with skill and fluidity, and Jeze was unable to find a proper opening. The teenager continued to strafe, circle, and dodge. More importantly, she waited for the right moment. Helga was skilled, but eventually, she fell into the pattern of attacking. The warrior maiden became complacent to the routine and neglected her defense. Helga had over-committed on a downward chop, and Jeze sprung into action. In a surprise move, the teenager charged forward.

    Caught off guard, Helga lost her balance as she brought up her weapon to intercept a downward chop from Jeze''s hand axe. The advantage Helga had was her size and reach. This was multiplied by her choice to fight with the Dane axe. A two-handed weapon with a wide blade at the end. Jeze''s choice of weapons was more suited for close range. Jeze''s hand axe hooked onto Helga''s weapon and forced it down, and created an opening for Jeze to strike with her knife. Jeze closed the distance where Helga''s weapon lost its effectiveness. Jeze stabbed forward. Helga released her weapon and demonstrated impressive agility, caught Jeze''s wrist, and stopped the thrust before it could touch.

    The two were entangled in a grapple, and Helga snarled into Jeze''s face as the large maiden had a significant size advantage. Jeze was unable to break free from Helga''s powerful grip, so she chopped with her axe. Helga''s body was too close for Jeze to deliver a suitable strike, and her blow was not considered a touch.

    Jeze stomped on Helga¡¯s knee. The Frostsworn maiden grunted and head-butted Jeze in her face. Blood flowed down from Jeze''s nose, and the two continued to struggle, with Helga gaining the upper hand due to her significant strength advantage. Jeze kneed Helga and created space enough to chop with her hand axe. Helga caught the weapon just beneath the blade and yanked it free. In that moment, Helga trapped Jeze''s left wrist and dagger and readied the hand ax in her free hand for the final blow.

    Jeze punched and stomped in a futile struggle against her much larger opponent. But she had one move left. Helga raised the hand ax, and Jeze flicked her wrist to release her knife to fall between the two. Helga swung, and Jeze caught the knife in her free hand. To win this bout, Jeze needed an uncontested touch. If she stabbed Helga and still got hit with the axe, it would not count. In one fluid motion, Jeze sliced Helga''s wrist to stop the axe from striking and twisted the blade inwards to stab the Frostsworn maiden''s neck. Helga gurgled in pain.

    "Touch!" Carl Jorgenson called out.

    Helga released Jeze, and her face transformed from a snarl to a wide grin.

    "Very good!" The Frostsworn maiden exclaimed while rubbing her neck, where a welt had formed from Jeze''s blow.

    It was as if the dulled wooden blade did nothing to Helga''s throat. What was she made out of? Jeze wondered. The teenager had feared for a moment that she had struck Helga too hard in the neck. But, the Frostsworn maiden acted as if they were best friends and were not trying to kill each other moments earlier. Jeze really liked the Frostsworn!

    Dunar, Rolfe, and even Mikal patted Jeze on the back in celebration. Even though Helga won the vast majority of bouts, Jeze only needed to demonstrate three touches against the skilled warrior.

    Jorgenson''s rumbling voice stopped the celebration. "One more test to prove your worth."

    Jeze was battered and bloodied from going toe to toe with the team''s Striker. But she growled, "I''m ready."

    "Vote, does Jeze join the Proven to be the team''s scout?" Jorgenson ordered.

    "Aye," Dunar said.

    "Aye," Helga beamed and rubbed Jeze''s wild dark hair.

    "Of course, she could fight!" Boomed Rolfe.

    Mikal sighed. "It''s not like we have many options. She has my vote."

    "Jeze, welcome to the Proven!" Jorgenson proclaimed.

    Ziplocke scampered up to Jeze''s shoulder. The Goblin was sure to avoid Helga.

    "You are still a knucklehead," he snickered into her ear.

 Chapter 31: Tactics and Training

    Jeze¡¯s schedule was packed. In the early mornings, she trained with the Frostsworn. Mikal, as the team¡¯s healer, forbade Jeze from strength training and sparring until her arm was fully healed. Jeze instead ran with the team and drilled techniques and group tactics. Working as a part of a team was an area she lacked experience in. Jorgenson coached them over the different types of encounters they may face and the general tactics they should employ.

    ¡°You will face swarms of beasts that attack with little to no coordination. They will be fierce. They may appear fearless, but they feel pain. You stick together, you can outsmart them and break them. Then there are the undead. They feel no pain nor fear. What is worse is that many can harm you with a touch,¡± the Carl explained.

    Jeze shuddered at the memory of when the ghost had touched her. The pain was unlike anything she had ever felt. Jeze would rather take a blow from Helga than the chill touch of the grave.

    Jorgenson continued, ¡°And finally, you will face hordes that are intelligent and utilize tactics. Always, as a team, you want to,¡± the Carl paused and looked each Proven in the eye as he held up his thick fingers to count off each rule.

    ¡°Protect your flanks. Stay Coordinated. Watch your surroundings. Attach ruthlessly, and be mobile,¡± the Carl stated and held up five fingers. Jorgenson added, ¡°In the Spire you will always be outnumbered. Until you are able to link up with the other teams, it will be just you five verse insurmountable odds. You will need to run and find ideal positions to face your enemies. That is how you will survive.¡±

    Jeze and the others nodded solemnly. Dunar stepped forward and clasped Jorgenson¡¯s forearm. The Carl departed to work with the other groups of Frostsworn. Dunar turned to face Jeze and the others.

    ¡°Today, we will learn about Jeze¡¯s abilities and how we can stay within range of each other. We will go over mock scenarios and train Jeze on our tactics,¡± Dunar spoke in a loud, clear voice.

    The Proven turned to look at Jeze. Dunar asked, ¡°What are your Rune abilities?¡±

    Jeze counted on her hand and answered, ¡°Fire, Earth, Darkness, Affliction, and Life aspects.¡±

    ¡°By the Frozen All Father!¡± Mikal exclaimed.

    ¡°Maybe you should study more like our little friend here, yeah?¡± Helga teased.

    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? How many aspects do you study?¡± Jeze asked.

    Rolfe and Helga snorted.

    ¡°Water and Life. But I can perform advanced Rune Magic,¡± Mikal snapped with a glare at his colleagues.

    ¡°Like what?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need to prove myself to you. Everyone knows what I am capable of. You need to show us,¡± Mikal responded.

    Dunar stepped forward and stated, ¡°Mikal can mend flesh and bone. He can also remove poison from our bodies and make us more resistant to disease. For combat, he fights with the spear and can freeze our enemies. He is very talented.¡±

    Mikal nodded smugly. ¡°Now, little mouse, what can you do?¡±

    ¡°Show him your Affliction spells,¡± Ziplocke whispered in her ear with a snicker.

    Jeze scowled and Summoned the red Affliction energy and Shaped it into a curse. She figured Mikal would have a strong resistance, so she channeled a good amount of her Will into the spell and flicked it at the thin man. Mikal¡¯s eyes went wide as he couldn¡¯t avoid the fast moving ball of red energy as it struck him in his chest. The Frostsworn Healer grimaced and for a moment Jeze feared that he would resist her spell. Mikal¡¯s body shook as he sneezed loudly.

    The Frostsworn Healer glared at Jeze. Mikal tapped a Rune-covered vambrace and Summoned a ball of water that he splashed on the young girl. Jeze was soaked and before she could respond, Mikal Shaped the water to freeze that caused her to shiver with rage.

    ¡°Oh, ho! She looks like a Snow Angel!¡± Helga clapped her hands.

    Jeze growled and began to Summon another Affliction spell, but Dunar stepped in between the two Rune casters.

    ¡°Enough!¡± He barked. His voice was so penetrating that it caused Jeze to stop her gestures.

    ¡°Aww, you are no fun Dunar. Let the two go at it,¡± Rolfe groaned.

    The dark-haired Leader ignored the giant Protector and turned to Jeze. ¡°What offensive capabilities do you have aside from your axe and knife?¡±

    ¡°My Rune abilities?¡± Jeze asked.

    Dunar nodded.

    Jeze explained to the group how she could attack with Fire and Earth.

    ¡°Show us,¡± Dunar ordered and tapped a heavy wooden dummy. The team Leader stepped back.

    Jeze Summoned piles of Earth and Shaped them into stone fists that she used to strike the dummy from different angles.

    ¡°Oh, ho! Look how accurate she is!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    Rolfe agreed and added, ¡°That could come in handy for us.¡±

    ¡°What is the furthest you can attack?¡± Dunar asked.

    Jeze thought about it and answered, ¡°Maybe thirty meters.¡±

    Dunar tapped his chin and said, ¡°You need to practice further. We need greater range capability. Can you do this with Fire?¡±

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    Jeze demonstrated striking the dummy with flaming darts, and explained she can only attack from one direction with the Fire aspect. Over the next ten minutes Dunar questioned Jeze and she demonstrated her skills with the Darkness aspects. The team leader said he would explore more the stealth possibilities for the team.

    ¡°And you said you knew the Life aspect?¡± Dunar asked.

    Jeze explained how she was able to close wounds but was not very good at it. Mikal asked to see her Channeling tool.

    ¡°This is adequate. Crude, but adequate,¡± he observed.

    Jeze rolled her eyes.

    ¡°You must be happy to have someone that can heal you, no?¡± Rolfe asked.

    Mikal scowled and simply nodded.

    ¡°How good are you at disarming traps?¡± Dunar asked Jeze.

    Ziplocke cackled so hard that he nearly fell off Jeze¡¯s shoulder. The others cocked their heads.

    ¡°I can disarm Rune traps,¡± Jeze stated.

    ¡°And? What else?¡± Mikal asked.

    ¡°I can pick locks,¡± Jeze offered.

    ¡°By the Gods, we are doomed,¡± Mikal said and waved both hands up in the air.

    ¡°You can at least spot mechanical traps, no?¡± Helga asked.

    Jeze shrugged.

    ¡°This could still work for us. You have access to the Guild¡¯s training facility, correct?¡± Dunar asked.

    Jeze nodded. Since she was assigned to the Safe Zone Squad, Seb had told her that one of the perks was preferential access.

    ¡°Okay, you are to spend three hours a day learning as much as you can on traps,¡± Dunar ordered.

    ¡°Are you all mad? We can¡¯t have a Scout that does not know how to spot traps!¡± Mikal cried.

    ¡°It is what it is,¡± Helga said with a solemn nod of her braided head.

    Jeze excused herself. She had to report to Seb.

    ¡°Remember to learn trap finding, and tomorrow we will show you our tactics,¡± Dunar said.

    Jeze headed toward the Guild¡¯s training facility after she grabbed a bite to eat. This was her least favorite part of her busy day. She had to work with Seb¡¯s blonde assistant, Val. She was maybe ten years older than Jeze, and Jeze did not like her. Val lacked warmth, and Jeze was not sure if the assistant was jealous. The teenager felt that Val had a hidden rage behind her fake smile.

    Val was unable to pass the Trials and remained a Prospect. However, because she was skilled with Rune casting, the Guild had assigned her to the Safe Zone squad. Val would only enter the Spire when the floors were mostly cleared and as needed to repair the portals. Her primary role was to craft Channeling tools to assist the Initiate ranked Safe Zone Squad members with Shaping the Portal aspect. Since Jeze had the most knowledge on how to operate the portals, Jeze was to teach Val about the Rune patterns.

    ¡°This is simple enough. I¡¯m not sure why Seb made such a big deal over the book you discovered,¡± Val said after she inscribed in detail the Runes necessary to operate the portals onto a rod. Her work was very good, Jeze had to admit.

    ¡°I had to fight for my life against Demons to get this book,¡± Jeze growled.

    Val tilted her with a smile that lacked warmth. ¡°Oh, that must have been hard for you. In either case, let us experts take it from here.¡±

    Jeze fumed, and she wanted to point out to this smug blonde snob that she was a higher rank than her, but she stopped. Jeze asked, ¡°I can go?¡±

    ¡°Yes, bye.¡± Val waved without looking at her.

    Jeze shrugged, as long as she had some of her day back. She had plenty to do, and she wanted to head over to the Trap Training Chamber. Jeze was about to leave when Seb approached.

    Val perked up upon the senior Guild official¡¯s arrival, ¡°Hi Seb! You need anything?¡±

    The small, spikey-haired man nodded to Val and turned toward Jeze. ¡°Do you have a moment?¡±

    Ziplocke giggled at the look of disappointment on the blonde assistant¡¯s face. ¡°Aww the poor thing,¡± he teased into Jeze¡¯s ear.

    Jeze suppressed a laugh and asked, ¡°What do you need, Seb?¡±

    ¡°Walk with me a moment,¡± the Guild official responded.

    The two walked through the chamber where dozens of Rune casters practiced the Portal aspect. Jeze swore she could feel Val¡¯s glare at the back of her head.

    ¡°Can you share with me, again, what you learned from the Pyramid?¡± Seb asked.

    Jeze nodded and retold her experience, including the Archon and the Ones from Before.

    Seb tapped his chin. ¡°What you learned answers a lot of our questions. It makes sense why the portals only allow five people to enter at a time. It was a corruption of the Spire¡¯s magical defenses.¡±

    ¡°They call it the Stronghold,¡± Jeze corrected.

    ¡°What? Oh right. I suppose we will remain calling it the Spire to avoid confusion. So every five years, this Stronghold tries to invade our realm, but the magic is still broken from the efforts of the Ones from Before?¡± The Guild official asked.

    Jeze shrugged, ¡°I suppose. What do you know about the Ones from Before?¡±

    ¡°Not much. Most believe they are only children¡¯s tales. But what you shared opens up more questions than answers.¡±

    ¡°Our realm is in danger. The defenses are weakening. Also, I think someone is tampering with the Thresholds,¡± Jeze cautioned.

    Seb¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°How so?¡±

    Jeze told him how she felt the Portal Runes were damaged from within the Pyramid.

    ¡°That is not evidence of tampering. The energies can often cause the Runes to degrade,¡± Seb explained.

    ¡°But the Empire wishes to keep this knowledge a secret,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°Again, no evidence of that.¡±

    ¡°What? They tried to silence me to keep the secret that the Emperor is not Immortal. If word gets out, there will be another uprising,¡± Jeze nearly cried.

    Seb glanced at Jeze over the rim of his spectacles. ¡°I¡¯m from a small nation across the sea. I care not for the Empire, but an uprising is no good for anyone, especially for the Guild during a Wandering Spire event. What you are sharing can cause chaos. I suggest you keep your wild theories to yourself.¡±

    Jeze placed her fists on her hips. ¡°They are not theories. They are facts. The Emperor is not immortal, and the Empire is ruled by a corrupt family.¡±

    ¡°There is no evidence that the treasure of Immortality does not also reside at the top of the Spire,¡± Seb pointed out.

    Jeze growled in frustration.

    Seb rubbed the bridge of his nose. ¡°I will add what you shared to my report. It is useful.¡±

    Jeze let her anger subside and asked, ¡°Can you teach me how to disarm mechanical traps?¡±

    The question caught Seb off guard, and he stuttered. ¡°I¡¯m very busy working on saving lives. Go ahead and train in the practice facility. Someone else can work with you.¡± With that, the small man excused himself and went back to work.

    ¡°At least you have time to learn traps,¡± Ziplocke observed.

    Jeze nodded in agreement and made her way over to the Trap Training facility.

    Later that evening, Jeze worked on enchanting armor in Hannah¡¯s tent. She was getting better and honing her Rune skills. Hannah was able to sell the armor and Jeze was earning decent coin.

    ¡°I wonder how Swordslayer and Rainbow are doing and if they formed a team,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. You have enough concerns for yourself,¡± Ziplocke snapped.

    Jeze shrugged as she engraved the finishing Runes to a set of leather armor. She stretched and cracked her back. She will be very busy the next couple of weeks before the Wandering Spire appears.

 Chapter 32: Grinding

    For weeks, Jeze maintained a busy routine. Every morning, she trained with the Frostsworn. With her arm improved, she could participate in the team''s strength exercises, where they carried heavy rocks around the compound.

    "It is said that a Berserker can climb the sheer side of a mountain while holding a hundred-pound stone in one arm," Dunar explained.

    ¡°Berserker?¡± Jeze asked.

    "That is what we call the Adept Rank in our homeland," Helga replied and promised, "I will achieve that rank by my 28th year."

    Jeze recalled the rankings from her brother''s journal: Prospect, Initiate, Adventurer, Adept, Elite, and Hero. In addition to strength training, she maintained her running, climbing, and jumping routines. Her brother wrote that an Adventurer rank could run a hundred miles while wearing a heavy pack in four days and fight at the level of a master warrior. Jeze''s goal was to achieve Adventurer rank within the year.

    After the physical training exercises, the group practiced their formations. Jeze learned the capabilities of the others and their fighting styles. The giant Rolfe was the team''s Protector. He fought with the spear and shield or sword and shield. He held the front, and beside him was Helga, the team''s Striker. Her primary weapon was the two-handed Dane axe, and her backup was a side sword and shield. Helga would remain close to Rolfe. The warrior maiden could launch forward to deliver powerful attacks and retreat to safety. Dunar made up the final addition of the front line. He fought with sword and battle axe or sword and shield. He assisted Rolfe with creating a shield wall or skirmished alongside Helga, depending on the team''s needs.

    Mikal stood behind the three, armed with a spear, where he guarded the flanks and provided healing support. Jeze was placed alongside Mikal, guarding the flanks and rear, where she utilized her speed and range attacks. In their standard formation, Rolfe stood front and center with Helga to his right and Dunar to his left. Jeze and Mikal stood behind the two. Dunar coached them on tactics and formations. They practiced how they would advance and retreat and made adjustments to attacks from the rear or flank. The team stood in front of an array of wooden sparring dummies.

    "A larger force is attacking our front!" Dunar called out, and the team sprung into action.

    Helga launched ahead and swung her two handed axe in wide arcs and struck multiple targets before she retreated back to Rolf''s side. Mikal moved to behind Helga to protect the right flank. Jeze Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled the Earth aspect and bombarded the targets with stone fists as she covered the left flank.

    "Good!" Dunar complimented and shouted another scenario, "Archers!"

    Helga unslung her shield and interlocked it alongside Dunar and Rolf to form a shield wall. Mikal crouched behind the three, and Jeze Summoned and Shaped a wall of stone in front of the team. She sweated from the exertion as they continuously drilled the movements.

    "Retreat!" Dunar barked.

    Mikal Summoned water and Splashed it onto the dummies in front of them. He completed the glyphs in the air with fluid motions of his hands and Shaped the water into frost. Jeze sprinted back and Summoned and Shaped Earth to form two stone walls with a gap wide enough for one person in between. Mikal ran back to join her. Helga slapped Rolf''s shoulder, and she retreated. Dunar was next and Rolfe came in last through the gap. Jeze Shaped the Earth and closed the opening. The team reformed behind the stone wall and marched backward.

    "Good!" Dunar cheered and added, "But we need to be faster."

    The team relaxed, and Jeze looked up at the sun to gauge the time. "I have to head out," she said.

    "You hear that team? Let''s run with Jeze around the compound before she leaves us," Dunar commanded.

    The others groaned and took off into a jog while carrying their heavy packs and weapons. They ran in formation around the perimeter of the expansive Guild compound. Jeze said her farewells at the end of the run and headed to have lunch with Irvin in the Hall of Heroes. The buzz of Guild activities increased as the Wandering Spire event approached, and the Guild Official talked with Jeze about the organizing efforts.

    "I just got assigned to act as a liaison with the Golden Empire and the Ironfist Kingdom," Irvin explained as the two ate.

    "How is that going?" Jeze asked.

    "The two nations are reluctant to work together since they have been at war on and off for the past decade. They can''t put aside their petty differences," Irvin said with a scowl and added, "It''s like working with children!"

    "Are there enough troops in place to manage the Spire?" Jeze asked.

    Irvin shook his head, flustered. "Many monsters will escape, and many villages will suffer the brunt of the calamities."

    "What will the Guild do?" Jeze asked.

    "Typically during the arrival of the Wandering Spire. The nations fight the bulk of the monster hordes, which are tier one," Irvin replied.

    "Tier one?" Jeze asked.

    Irving narrowed his bushy eyebrows at Jeze and rubbed his face. "Jeze, did you read the bylaws?"

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "I''ve been busy!" The teenager snapped.

    "That''s a no," Ziplocke''s voice snickered from under the table.

    Irvin flinched. The small Demon unnerved the Guild official, and Ziplocke enjoyed that.

    The rotund Guild official cleared his throat and recited, "There are eleven tiers. One being the weakest and eleven being the strongest. Tiers one and two can be managed by Prospect ranked and non-Guild combatants. Most armies and militias should be capable of managing those tiers. Examples include low undead, such as skeletons and unequipped Howlers. Tiers three and four are too challenging for Prospect and regular military units. They can fight them but will suffer losses. Initiate ranked teams should be able to manage them. Tiers five and six are for Adventurer ranked. Seven and Eight are for Adepts. Nine and ten are for elites. Anything greater than ten, it is recommended that we call in a Hero ranker."

    "What are Floor Guardians considered?" Jeze asked.

    "That varies, but they are at least tier five," Irvin answered.

    Jeze was concerned and stated, "I was ranked to Initiate for fighting Howlers, and you placed them in the first two tiers."

    Irvin nodded and responded, "Yes, you fought armed Howlers, and you were outnumbered. Those factors were taken into account when rating your fight. That was why the Observer ranked you at Initiate."

    A pit formed in Jeze''s stomach, and she quietly asked, "Any word on Drake?"

    Irvin wiped his mouth and answered, "He tried to request to oversee the Frostsworn. I felt it was suspicious, but we managed to assign the Frostsworn to Lady Kalina."

    Jeze bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Irvin."

    The older official waved his hand. "Don''t mention it. You best get going, no?"

    Jeze stuffed her mouth with the remainder of her food and waved goodbye. She ran up the stairs toward Seb''s chamber. She used any excuse to get additional training in and avoided the Lifts.

    "You are late," Val commented in her annoyingly nasally voice. Jeze couldn''t tell if Val naturally looked like she scowled, or that she was actually scowling.

    The teenager ignored the blonde lady and went to work creating Channeling tools. Her assignments consisted of crafting the Channeling tools and showing other Initiate ranked Rune casters how to complete the final glyph to activate the portals. The other Rune casters were nowhere near Jeze''s or even Val''s level in casting. As a result, it took a lot of Jeze''s time to train them. It reminded her of when she worked with Raynor, she recalled with a pang of sadness.

    Despite her low opinion of Val, the blonde lady was a highly skilled Rune caster. Jeze thought that Val was probably on the level of Adventurer ranked in terms of Rune casting. However, the guild required athleticism and combat ability for those to be ranked. Val was university-trained and looked too soft. Jeze doubted that the blonde lady would be able to cast under pressure.

    "You will regret this!" Miss Heng proclaimed as she stormed out of Seb''s office along with a few other guild members that Jeze didn''t recognize.

    The Amber Guard paused when she spotted Jeze. The teenager felt some fear in her chest but managed to return a glare. Miss Heng shook her head and walked away, followed by her small entourage. Jeze hurried over to Seb''s office.

    "What was that about?" She asked the small man as he sat behind his cluttered desk.

    Seb looked perplexed. "What are you talking about?"

    "Miss Heng storming out of here," Jeze responded.

    "Oh, that is nothing."

    "I think it is more than that. Why was she angry?"

    "I put your statement about the pyramid in my report," Seb answered.

    "About the Emperor not being immortal?" Jez asked.

    Seb snorted, "No, we have no proof of that. About the Fiendish Lord and how the Wandering Spire is called the Stronghold and it is an invasion force."

    "And Heng was still angry?" Jeze couldn''t believe that.

    The spikey haired official shrugged and concluded, "I suppose she feels any information that could potentially raise questions on the status of the Emperor''s immortality as an insult to her Empire."

    "They just want to keep power to themselves," Jeze growled.

    Seb glanced at the teenager and shrugged. "Like I said before. I do agree with Heng that instability in the Empire would be bad for everyone."

    "That would be amazing!" Ziplocke shrieked while rubbing his hands together.

    "Right, okay go back to work. I have no time to talk with you," Seb shooed the two out of his office.

    When Jeze completed crafting her assigned amount of Channeling tools, she headed over to the chamber with the traps. Per Dunar''s request, she spent several hours learning the mechanics of various traps and how to disarm them. Unlike the Runic studies chamber, the individuals within the traps chamber were more than delighted to coach her. They were impressed by her Rune magic for lockpicking, and several practitioners asked her to craft the Channeling tools.

    "You have more things to do!" Ziplocke teased with mischievous delight.

    It was early evening by the time Jeze arrived at Hannah''s tent. The stocky craftswomen handed her a pouch filled with coins. The teenager''s eyes went wide.

    "That''s right, we sold all your enchanted sets of armor. I added a little bonus in there for you!" Hannah exclaimed.

    Jeze opened the pouch and marveled at her earnings. She was finally able to afford some gear.

    "I''ve decided it is time for you to work on a better quality suit of armor. Here is your next set, one I personally crafted myself," Hannah showed Jeze a finely stitched dark colored breastplate with accompanying vambraces and greaves. The material was a mixture of heavy cloth and leather with metal plates interwoven in to offer greater protection.

    "What enchantments do you want?" Jeze asked, her voice in awe over the craftsmanship. Up until this point, she only worked on used gear. What she saw before her outclassed everything else she had seen on thus far.

    "You are the expert. What do you suggest?" Hannah asked, her eyes twinkling.

    Jeze tapped her chin. "The black color makes it perfect for the Darkness aspect for better stealth options. We can reinforce it with the Earth aspects for greater protection and overlay it with the Life aspect to self-repair damage. I can infuse it with the Fire aspect to power the magic!" She said with excitement.

    "Whatever, sounds great!" Hannah said and left Jeze to her work.

    Jeze pulled out her tome and Daverius''s journal to look for the proper Runes. Ziplocke moaned.

    "What''s the matter?" Jeze asked.

    "When will you have time to make my paste?" The Goblin whined.

    Jeze patted Ziplocke''s head. "I''ll get to it," she said, but inwardly, she didn''t know how she would find the time. The Wandering Spire was set to appear in just two more weeks and she had a lot to do!

 Chapter 33: Ranks and Levels

    Jeze had stayed up late working on the suit of armor. She etched and overlaid the Darkness, Earth, Life, and Fire aspects onto the metal plates with precision and focus. It was her best Rune work yet. She was exhausted from the exertion of Will she used with each inscription and fell asleep on the floor. The next morning she was awakened by Ziplocke.

    ¡°Wake up knucklehead!¡± The Goblin cried. He took pleasure in seeing the look of misery on the teenager¡¯s face when she woke up.

    Jeze sat up and rubbed her eyes. She stretched and listened. She guessed the time of day based upon the rumblings of the market outside.

    ¡°Is it finished?¡± Hannah asked as she came inside the back area of the tent.

    Jeze nodded and yawned. A part of her would be sad to see this armor sold. It was her best work yet, but the coin would be substantial. This was a newly made and enchanted set, unlike her previous work, which consisted of used armor with the clear, unfortunate stories of the previous owners marked with stitches and patches.

    ¡°Good! Is it alright if I make some final touches before we sell it?¡± Hannah asked.

    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t tamper with the Rune-covered plates, you should be fine,¡± Jeze answered as she rose to her feet.

    The plates were under the armor and were in areas least likely to get hit to avoid getting damaged. That was another reason why enchanted weapons were so difficult to make. Any marring of the Rune patterns, no matter how minor, would end the enchantment. Hannah nodded and returned to work. Jeze bid the merchant farewell and left to train with her team. The Frostsworn were disciplined. They woke up early and entered into a hard training routine every day and did it like they loved it. In many ways, they reminded Jeze of her brother.

    ¡°Oh, ho! Here she is, our Scout,¡± Helga greeted with a firm handshake.

    ¡°Healthy morning to you!¡± Rolfe cheered.

    The two large team members always seemed happy, Jeze reflected. Unless they were fighting you, then they were absolutely ruthless. Jeze recalled her bout with Helga and how the warrior maiden broke her arm. Mikal nodded in greeting.

    ¡°Welcome, Jeze, we are all here. Let¡¯s get started!¡± Dunar barked.

    The others grumbled as they hefted their heavy packs and weapons. For the past week, Dunar had them running with full gear to prepare for the Wandering Spire. Helga and Rolf wore jingling lamellar armor that consisted of iron plates laced together and interwoven into a heavy jacket. Dunar and Mikal wore chainmail hauberks that came below their waist. Jeze still did not have armor yet, and Dunar provided her with a stained quilted gambeson and an iron helm. It was heavy and uncomfortable and served its purpose to strengthen her body. She shouldered her pack along with the others.

    ¡°The Carls will be joining us,¡± Dunar said.

    Carl was the Frostsworn term for an Adventurer rank. Jeze learned that they were respected positions and often served as knights or lords. Just like the Guild, one must earn the rank of Carl through strength and skill. Jorgenson and four other Carls jogged alongside the Proven. They wore furs, helms, and gleaming steel armor along with their heavy packs. The ¡°friendly¡± jog quickly turned into a race to see who could cover a dozen laps, which came to fifteen miles, around the expansive courtyard. Jeze tried her best and was the last of her team to fall behind the fast, steady pace of the Carls. She watched through her exhausted body as the large Frostsworn grew smaller and smaller ahead of her.

    ¡°That was a good effort!¡± One of the Carls cheered, when Jeze caught up to them.

    ¡°Hmmpf, you have a fire in you, child.¡± Jorgenson slapped a heavy hand on Jeze¡¯s shoulder.

    She was panting at the end of their run, while the Carls looked like they just returned from a leisurely stroll. It was several moments before Dunar and Mikal arrived, and later, they were joined by Helga and Rolfe. The Proven collapsed in exhaustion.

    ¡°Still pups,¡± another Carl joked. This one, a woman with swirling facial tattoos and short black hair.

    Jorgenson studied Jeze and observed, ¡°You need armor. You can not venture into the Spire with what you have.¡±

    ¡°I am earning coin,¡± was all Jeze could rasp out.

    The Carl pulled out and deftly flipped a battle axe and gave it hilt first to Jeze. It had a smooth wooden handle with a curved, shiny steel axe head.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°A gift. You need a proper weapon. Your axes are good for throwing. This one is for fighting.¡± Jorgenson explained.

    Stolen story; please report.

    The look on the Carl¡¯s face made it clear to Jeze that she should not turn it down. She accepted the weapon with a nod of gratitude.

    ¡°You will find that it swings like what you are used to, but it will hit much harder. The beasts of the Spire are hard to kill. This will serve you well,¡± Jorgenson explained.

    Jeze thanked the Carl again and tried a few practice swings. Jorgenson was correct. It had the same balance and weight distribution as her hand axe but was heavier and had more reach. The swings would tire her out faster, but she developed the capacity from years of training to adjust. Jeze was confident she could fight with the battle axe as well as she had fought with her hand axes, minus the option to throw. Jeze liked utility, and the switch to the larger weapon gave her some concern. In the end, the increased damage and reach balanced out the need for throwing. Besides, I have my Rune magic for range attacks, Jeze thought to herself.

    Jeze and her team were exhausted from the sprinting and were just barely recovering. The Carls, however, were wrestling and challenging each other to feats of strength that ranged from stacking large stones to raising up logs.

    ¡°How are they not tired?¡± Jeze asked.

    Helga and Rolfe shrugged. The two were still out of breath. Mikal was leaning against a tent pole, and Dunar was starting to stand straight. Jorgenson turned back to Jeze.

    ¡°You must embrace pain and discomfort. Only find joy with achievement and never rest,¡± the large warrior explained.

    The female Carl with the facial tattoos joked, ¡°We will get plenty of rest when we are dead!¡±

    The others cheered in agreement with deep, rumbling voices that shook the air like an approaching thunderstorm.

    Jorgenson turned steely eyes toward Jeze and the other Proven. ¡°You think we are strong, but our journey for advancement is nowhere near the end.¡± The Carl motioned to a wiry, thin Frostsworn with a scraggly gray beard and piercing ice-blue eyes that looked like they glowed.

    At first, Jeze thought the man was a servant as he carried a huge pack that was nearly as tall as he was. She figured he carried the supplies for the Carls, but she learned the truth when the man took off the pack and placed it on the ground. The earth shook, and that¡¯s when she realized that the pack was filled with large stones, each the size of Jeze¡¯s chest. He ran with that?!? Jeze couldn¡¯t believe it. She also recalled that he was one of the first to finish.

    ¡°That¡¯s Berserker Orn,¡± Dunar said quietly, awe on his face as clear as the rising sun.

    Berserker was the Frostsworn rank for an Adept. Jeze had never seen an Adept before. Her brother wrote that Adepts have achieved the pinnacle of strength, speed, and discipline that mortals can obtain. Jeze believed that after she saw what the Berserker accomplished. Orn ran fifteen miles with a pack full of stones that weighed several hundred pounds, and he looked fresh as if he just woke up.

    Orn removed his armor and showed a body that rippled with sinewy muscle and riddled with scars. Scars that came from claws, fangs, blades, and arrows. It was clear that the man had been in hundreds of battles. Orn started to slap his body, which resonated loudly.

    ¡°I miss the ice waters of the Dragon Sea,¡± Orn intoned deeply. The gathered Frostsworn stopped what they were doing and listened.

    ¡°I hunger for battle. Hunger for pain. I hunger for a real challenge. I want to dance alongside death to feel alive,¡± the Berserker stated and spoke to the surrounding Frostsworn, ¡°Pups if you wish to grow. You need this hunger. You need to only feel comfort when you are challenged and willingly face death. You need to crave this constant struggle of pain and glory. Without that hunger, you are nothing.¡±

    Jeze felt that passion inside her. She will never be content and will always strive to push her body to its limits. Orn¡¯s voice and message inspired her. She was eager to face the Spire and test her limits.

    ¡°Berserker Orn,¡± A loud familiar voice called out and Jeze¡¯s heart sank. It was Miss Heng.

    ¡°We are honored and fortunate that you will be among us when we face the Spire,¡± the Amber Guard continued.

    ¡°Miss Heng, you honor me with your kind words,¡± Orn responded back with a bow.

    Do they know each other? Jeze couldn¡¯t believe it. The teenager scowled when Miss Heng¡¯s eyes fell on her.

    ¡°I plan to rid this curse of mortality from my body and claim the prize at the top of the Spire!¡± Orn loudly proclaimed to the cheers of his fellow Frostsworn.

    Miss Heng applauded the Berserker. ¡°I wish you luck in that endeavor. You most certainly have a formidable team.¡±

    Orn bowed and asked, ¡°And to what do we owe this pleasure?¡±

    ¡°I bring a message to one of your Proven. May she come with me?¡± Miss Heng asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Jeze snapped.

    The gathered Frostsworn chuckled. Orn¡¯s blue eyes twinkled, and he said, ¡°It seems she does not wish to join you.¡±

    Miss Heng¡¯s stony face hid her rage. She glanced at Jeze and said, ¡°I was bringing you a message that there was an accident last night with the Portals, an explosion.¡±

    Jeze tilted her head. What did that mean? She wondered.

    ¡°Seb was caught in it and I regret to say that he is no longer with us,¡± Miss Heng continued, her voice faltered briefly.

    ¡°Where did he teleport to?¡± Jeze asked.

    Miss Heng shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry child. You misunderstood. Seb was caught in the explosion and died from his injuries.¡±

    This hit Jeze like a swing from Helga¡¯s weapon. All she could do was stutter, ¡°How did that happen?¡±

    ¡°He worked too late and too hard and made a careless mistake. It was most unfortunate, and he will be missed. He was,¡± Miss Heng wiped her eyes and finished, ¡°a friend.¡±

    Jeze had to sit down, and Dunar rubbed her shoulders.

    ¡°Please, take the time you need to process this news. You are to still to report to the Safe Zone Squad. I will be taking over Seb¡¯s duties until further notice,¡± Miss Heng said.

    With that, the Amber Guard departed. It was several moments before the news registered in Jeze¡¯s mind. She will be working with Miss Heng. She will be under the influence of the Empire.

    ¡°You will need to be extra careful now,¡± Ziplocke hissed into her ear.

 Chapter 34: The Wisdom from Axes

    After hearing the news about Seb¡¯s death, Jeze remained with the Frostsworn, but her mind was distant. She and the other Proven trained alongside the Carls, which consisted of strength exercises and drills. Jeze moved heavy stones and climbed poles, and the exertions kept her mind from falling into the ever-present pit of despair that loomed beneath her thoughts. The Carls barked orders, and the Proven partnered up to drill combat simulations that involved parries, dodges, counters, and footwork placements.

    Jeze was given a break, and she sat against a pole and drank from her waterskin. Ziplocke was off somewhere and she was alone with her thoughts. They crept up like lurking shadows from the recesses of her mind. How did Seb die? Was he murdered because of the report he wrote based on the information she shared? Was she responsible for his death like Raynor¡¯s? This last thought fueled a rage in her. No! It was Drake and the Empire and their stupid lie. Jeze seethed and vowed that she would make them pay. A shadow fell over her, and she looked up with shock to notice that Berserker Orn had approached her.

    ¡°You are distracted over your loss,¡± the thin bearded man observed.

    Jeze quickly jumped to her feet and apologized. ¡°Yes, but I will stay focused! I promise,¡± she said.

    Orn shook his head and replied, ¡°Emotions are like fire and water. We need them to survive. If we repress them, we die. But, if we let them overcome us we will be burned and drowned. It is a difficult balance that can not be taught. Only experienced.¡±

    Jeze nodded and gritted her teeth, ¡°I will use this to strengthen me.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± the Berserker said and beckoned Jeze to hand over her battle axe.

    She complied and Orn took a few measured practice swings emphasizing the rotation of his hips, his shoulder, and his wrist. His movements were precise as if the axe was an extension of his body. He smoothly switched between one handed and two handed grips like the changing of the seasons.

    ¡°It is said that the sword is the elegant weapon. I see the beauty in the axe,¡± Orn said and demonstrated forward and backward swings with fluidity and grace.

    The Berserker continued, ¡°The sword¡¯s weight is in the hilt. This allows the blade to quickly maneuver to stab, to slice, and to deflect. With the sword, no movement is final, and with mastery, all attacks can be switched and changed with ease.¡±

    Orn stopped his practice swings and looked at Jeze with his deep, icy blue eyes. She felt that he could see into her soul.

    ¡°You fight with the axe and the dagger in the old ways of our people. You move like the Wolf and the Bear,¡± The Berserker observed and tapped the axe.

    ¡°The axe¡¯s weight is in the head. This creates power,¡± Orn said and demonstrated a slow, precise swing. He explained, ¡°Start with the hip, then the shoulder, then the arm, and finally the wrist. All come together to channel into the axe head. Like with speaking, once you swing the axe, it can not be taken back.¡±

    All Jeze could do was nod. Orn¡¯s presence was all-encompassing, and she strained to catch the meaning behind his words. She recognized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to speak with an Adept-ranked adventurer. She feared if she misspoke, or failed to answer, that he would leave and the lesson and meaning would be lost to her forever.

    Orn said, ¡°You can not be careful with the axe like you can with the sword. It requires commitment, and it will punish hesitation. When you learn to control the axe, you will be able to deliver a powerful blow that will bring with it the end to your enemies and glory to you. But, if you let it control you, it will throw off your balance and make you vulnerable to your enemies.¡±

    He completed a pattern of downward chops and upward slices that utilized his full body. Each movement was precise and full of contained power. Orn flipped the axe over to hand the weapon, handle first, back to Jeze.

    ¡°The discipline you develop to control the axe will serve you well to control your emotions. You will learn to direct them and not let them throw you off balance. The wise among us understand that everything we do is connected. Be well, Jeze, and may you find your glory!¡± Orn said with such intensity that Jeze felt a fire grow in her chest.

    She returned back to training with a fiery passion, and her dark thoughts were no longer a deep pit, but rather, they became a rugged path with a purpose.

    Later

    In the afternoon, Jeze had lunch with Irvin in the Hall of Heroes. The older Guild Official nodded his head with a crease of his bushy white eyebrows.

    ¡°That is troubling news,¡± he replied after hearing about Seb¡¯s passing.

    ¡°I think it was Drake,¡± Jeze growled.

    Irvin stopped eating and placed a firm hand over Jeze¡¯s hand. ¡°Be careful with what you say. That is a dangerous accusation, and without proof, it can make things harder for you. Much harder.¡±

    Jeze scowled and rage filled her chest. She had words she wanted to express but she recalled Orn¡¯s wisdom, ¡°Like with speaking, once you swing the axe, it can not be taken back.¡± Jeze realized she needed to heed Irvin¡¯s advice and proceed with caution. Fighting with the axe was about timing in order to deliver the optimal blow. Attacking at the wrong moment could lead to imbalance. Irvin¡¯s face softened upon Jeze¡¯s silence.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I will keep an eye on things from my end. I will know if there are any plans for the Guild to assign the Safe Zone Squads with Empire troops. Now, I¡¯m not saying I agree with your theories. But I do think you would be better off with the Frostsworn or even under Lady Kalina¡¯s leadership. The Empire tends to protect their own interests more,¡± Irvin said.

    Jeze smiled. Orn¡¯s words rang true! Just by being silent she didn¡¯t have to argue with Irvin. He willingly offered to aid her. Is this what it meant to achieve the higher ranks? To overcome one¡¯s physical limits in combination with wisdom? Jeze briefly entertained the idea if she would hit Advenuturer rank soon if she kept this up. All from one talk with an Adept.

    ¡°Stop daydreaming, knucklehead!¡± Ziplocke snapped. The Goblin appeared on the bench next to Jeze.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Irvin asked.

    Jeze nodded and felt like she actually didn¡¯t heed Orn¡¯s full wisdom after all. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. I have a lot on my mind is all,¡± she replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I do not know how this will change things. I know the Frostsworn were to report to Lady Kalina, but with you being a part of the Safe Zone Squad, your team may report to Miss Heng,¡± Irvin said softly.

    Jeze sighed deeply and nodded. ¡°Thank you, I best head over now to find out.¡±

    The two finished their lunch and returned to their busy schedules. Activity and preparations buzzed throughout the enormous Guild compound. Merchant stalls were packing up, and Adventurers were getting ready for the trek to Mount Dragon. Irvin had said that the armies were already marching, but they were behind schedule. The chatter Jeze overheard from various Guild officials on her way to the Runic Research Division was that everyone was nervous that they were behind schedule for this upcoming Wandering Spire. The anticipation was that the monster hordes being unleashed would be the most devastating to the surrounding villages and countryside. There was even talk of assigning unbattle-tested Prospects to be stationed throughout the villages and towns of the Ironfist kingdom to aid in curtailing the monster incursions.

    Jeze arrived on the Runic Research Division floor and it was cordoned off by guards. They recognized her and allowed her to pass. It was sobering for Jeze to see the normally packed chamber be empty and quiet. With dread, she came upon the area where Seb worked. Scorch marks marred dark stone floors and walls. Val was on her knees and cried hysterically. Through tear-filled eyes, the blonde assistant glared briefly at Jeze before returning to her theatrics. Jeze scowled, even while she cried she felt that Val was being fake.

    The other Safe Zone Squad members stood in solemn silence. Jeze realized she never got to know them. She instructed them on the Portal Runes and created Channeling tools alongside them, but she never had long conversations with them. She was always so busy that her work with the Runic Research Division went by quickly before she headed to practice disarming traps, and afterward, she finished her day enchanting armor in the back of Hannah¡¯s tent.

    ¡°What happened?¡± She asked a familiar young adventurer. He had curly dark hair, and Rune tattoos along his arms and neck. Jeze recognized the glyphs as being from the Iron Fist Kingdom. He was on the path to achieve the Iron Body, like Lady Kalina.

    ¡°They say that Seb inscribed the incorrect Rune and triggered an explosion. You know more on the patterns than I,¡± the young man replied.

    ¡°What?¡± Jeze asked. That seemed unlike Seb.

    The young adventurer shrugged and answered, ¡°He was working so much. He could have been tired and made a careless mistake. It is a reminder that Rune magic can be dangerous.¡±

    Jeze thought otherwise and scanned the small crowd for Drake and Miss Heng. She found Miss Heng right away, but the dark skinned agent was no where to be seen. What was he up to? She wondered. Ziplocke scampered up onto her shoulder.

    ¡°How unfortunate. I liked Seb. I wager he made a very good shocked face upon his death,¡± the Goblin snickered quietly into Jeze¡¯s ear.

    The teenager glared so fiercely at her bonded companion that the Goblin cowed.

    ¡°Too soon?¡± Ziplocke whimpered and climbed down to hide behind her knees.

    Miss Heng saw Jeze and nodded. The Amber Guard spoke to the gathered Safe Zone Squad.

    ¡°Seb will be missed. He was an extremely valued member of the Guild. But, even he would not want us to waste precious time mourning his passing. There is much work to be done as the Wandering Spire is set to appear in just two weeks. I will be taking over his duties until further notice.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± Jeze asked. She tried her best to keep her voice neutral but couldn¡¯t help that it came out as a demand.

    Miss Heng¡¯s dark eyes narrowed before she answered, ¡°That is a good question. Let this be a lesson to everyone. Rune Magic must not be taken lightly. As the Safe Zone Squad, it is imperative that you examine the Rune circles before channeling any of your Will into them. Seb was testing the Channeling tools and made the careless mistake of not inspecting the circle. It cost him his life. It is common for the glyphs to become marred through use. In most cases, this would simply cause the magic to fail. In others, it can cause a dangerous backlash of energies. That is what we believe to have happened to Seb.¡±

    Jeze wanted to shout. Seb was too careful, but she held her words in check. Like the battle axe, one must control one''s emotions and commit to them only when the time was right. Jeze heeded Orn¡¯s words of wisdom.

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Val asked. Her question came out as a near screech.

    ¡°You need to keep yourself composed,¡± Heng growled, and the blonde assistant whimpered for a moment before subsiding.

    The Amber guard continued, ¡°I have written everyone¡¯s assignments on this board. We will finish testing the remaining Channeling tools and craft a few more. Once those objectives are met, we will begin packing up and preparing to head out.¡±

    ¡°How will we be assigned?¡± Jeze asked.

    Miss Heng glanced at the teenager and responded, ¡°You all are to report here as usual and check the board to know your assignments. Plans are still being made.¡±

    ¡°I request that I remain with the Frostsworn,¡± Jeze stated.

    ¡°Not everything is about you,¡± Miss Heng snapped with a glare toward the teenager. ¡°You are all dismissed,¡± she announced and departed.

    Everyone milled about before Val barked, ¡°You all heard her. We have work to do! All of you, get busy!¡±

    ¡°Too bad she didn¡¯t get blown up. The look on that smug face, before she realizes the end is near, would be something I would treasure for all eternity,¡± Ziplocke snickered.

    Jeze glanced at the Goblin and, for once, agreed with his morbid thinking.

 Chapter 35: Packing and Gear

    Jeze arrived at Hannah''s tent in the evening. Miss Heng was a much harsher taskmaster than Seb, but the teenager recognized the urgency due to the pending arrival of the Spire. However, Jeze''s hands shook with the exhaustion from creating Channeling tools, and she was not sure if she would be able to do enchanting tonight. Time was running out, and she still needed to get armor and supplies. Ziplocke scurried up her shoulder, and Jeze also remembered that she needed to do craft paste for him and more recovery potions. It was getting dark, and most of the merchants had packed up. Hannah was waiting for Jeze.

    "I''m sorry, I don''t think I can work on armor tonight," the teenager said.

    "That is alright, Luv. You look beat, but I wanted to show you something," Hannah replied.

    Jeze followed the merchant inside where Hannah showed her the armor she had enchanted earlier. The stocky merchant had made some additional final touches by adding some pockets, and she made a matching leather cap. It was now a full suit of armor with body protection, greaves for the legs, and vambraces for the arms.

    "Whaddya think?" Hannah asked.

    Jeze studied the dark-colored armor and reflected on the hours of work she had put into it with enchantments. "It looks amazing."

    "Ooh, yeah? Look here, I had a Rune caster buddy add this," Hannah said, lifting a small flap on the side of the armor that Jeze originally thought was a pocket.

    Metal runes were stitched into the thick padding that faintly glowed. Jeze leaned in closer and realized that the Runes told the wearer if the armor was charged or not.

    "Nifty, right? You can know if the armor has power for the enchantments you put on it," Hannah explained.

    "That''s brilliant!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "Yeah, it was something I thought up. Most adventurers never took the time to learn Runes. Plus, it''s a bloody difficult skill to pick up. I remembered the only way folks would find out if their gear had magic or not was when it failed. That was awful!" Hannah said.

    "I love it! I can picture the look on their faces!" Ziplocke squealed in delight.

    "You are a strange one," Hannah observed with a shake of her head.

    Jeze examined the armor. It was lightweight and expertly crafted to offer good protection against slashes and bludgeon attacks. Hannah had sewn in plates over the vital areas to provide some resistance against piercing weapons such as spears or fangs. Jeze inspected the Rune plats she engraved. They were meshed in perfectly along the waist and sides, and through her Will, she could sense their energy.

    "What are you waiting for? Try it on!" Hannah said.

    Jeze blinked her eyes and shook her head. "I can''t afford this."

    "Oh hell, girl. It''s yours. My gift to you, besides you did the hard part. I just sewed it together from leftover materials," Hannah replied.

    Tears formed in Jeze''s eyes, and she shook her head. "This is too much," she observed.

    "Honey, don''t make this difficult. Besides, think of it as an investment on my part. You will set me up in the Safe Zones where I can make a pretty amount of coin."

    "I''m not sure how safe the zones will be this time. Word has it that the armies have not mobilized as they have in the past. The Spire will be filled with more monsters than usual," Jeze cautioned.

    "Honey, I''m no stranger to danger. I may not have passed the trials, but I have had plenty of experience in the field," Hannah said and motioned to a table.

    Jeze saw a crossbow, a round shield, a heavy gambeson worn from use, and a mace.

    "I prepared my gear, and I''m ready. So try to get Hannah inside and consider that payment for the armor. Now, for bloody sake, please put it on! I did the measurements by eye, and I want to know if it fits!"

    Jeze complied, and in moments, she was in the full set of armor. It felt perfect!

    "See that? Old Hannah knows her stuff."

    "You are an expert!" Jeze exclaimed. The armor felt almost like clothes, and she was confident she could run, climb, and fight without any restrictions.

    "Bah, what does Jeze know about a good fit? The only other armor she wore was a crappy sweat-stained set the Frostsworn gave her," Ziplocke growled.

    "Well, ain''t somebody a Mr. Grumpy pants," Hannah teased, and Jeze laughed.

    Ziplocke scowled and scampered up to Jeze''s shoulder. The shoulder pad did create a good space for him to rest, he admitted to himself with a shrug.

    "What else did you need? Do you have everything? Allow ole Hannah here to help you get ready," the merchant offered.

    Jeze nodded and unshouldered her heavy pack. First, she laid out her weapons. She had one hand axe, one battle axe, and the long knife she got from her fight with the Legionnaires at the outdoor tavern. In addition, she still had her old dagger.

    "I should get another throwing axe," Jeze reflected.

    Hannah crinkled her face and asked, "What for? You are a Rune caster, huh? Can''t you just sling spells at things? Throwing axes are not the best for range. Sure, they are good in a pinch, but they will bounce off most armor or the thick hides of the beasties."

    "I suppose, should I just keep the battle axe then?"

    Hannah snorted, "You are so green! Keep the hand axe as you will want a back up, and by the holies of holies, do you take care of your weapons?"

    Jeze''s hand axe and dagger were starting to look worn. She only kept the weapons wiped down and dry and provided no other maintenance.

    "Honey, tomorrow we are going to do some shopping before all the merchants pack up. You are gonna need some oils and a grindstone to keep your weapons clean and sharp. Like this beauty, whoever gave this to you knew how to maintain it," Hannah said as she held up the battle axe that Carl Jorgenson had given Jeze.

    The teenager was starting to realize she had a lot to learn, and she kept her mouth shut as Hannah rummaged through her pack. The merchanted nodded in approval for the silver vials that Rainbow had given Jeze.

    "These come in handy, especially if you are beset by ghosts," Hannah observed.

    "I know that all too well," Jeze recalled the memory of her ghost attack with a shudder.

    The merchant arched an eyebrow and nodded, "Alright, it looks like you''ve seen some stuff. There is hope for you, yet."

    Hannah emptied the remainder of Jeze''s pack and shook her head, "You are going to need to fold your stuff better. Traveling the Spire is not like traveling through the countryside, where you have the opportunity to hunt and find water. You may go weeks without finding food. You''ll need space for provisions."

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    The merchant questioned the purpose of the tome and Daverius''s journal as they took up important space.

    "I need them to disarm Rune traps. They help me identify the different patterns," Jeze explained.

    Hannah shrugged and placed them aside. The merchant continued, "You got a good cloak. That can also serve as a comfortable blanket. Where are your tools? Ain''t you a scout?"

    "I need to buy a set," Jeze said and thumped her head. She had forgotten about that. In the training facility she worked with a set of tools they provided to disarm the various practice mechanisms. Could she afford a set? Jeze wondered.

    "Don''t you worry, hon. Hannah here knows some people. First thing tomorrow, we will get you a set that can fit nicely in this pack."

    The merchant showed Jeze how to make use of the straps on the side of the pack to hold back up weapons and her Channeling tools for quick access. Hannah also explained how Jeze will want to keep stuff that she will use often at the top of the pack, like the tomes and tools for disarming traps. After several moments of showing Jeze how to best fold and place things the pack, Hannah stood up with a proud smile.

    "There you have it! A properly packed backpack. Now we just gotta get you the stuff you need and place them in. I trust you know how to do this on your own," Hannah proclaimed with a proud smile.

    Jeze nodded. She could pick up new Runes, learning how to place items in a pack was easy enough for her to figure out. With that the two called it a night and went to sleep. The next morning Hannah took Jeze to visit with a few merchants.

    "I don''t want to take you away from your business," Jeze said.

    "Nonsense! How will I get a spot in the Safe Zone if you get killed, huh? Here we are. This weasel here is Von," Hannah introduced Jeze to a thin man with a pointed, narrow nose.

    Von snorted, "Half of the armor Hannah buys back was the same that she had sold!"

    Hannah and Von glared at each other before they both erupted into laughter and hugged each other.

    "What do I owe this pleasure?" Von asked.

    "This here is an Initiate ranked Scout in need of tools," Hannah said and added, "At a fair price."

    Von grumbled, "All my prices are fair." The thin man searched his inventory and came back with a leather-wrapped tool set that unfolded to show neatly lined tools.

    To Jeze''s eye they looked worn, but well kept. This was a used tool set, she realized. It a sense, it made her sad. She wanted something new, but beggars can''t be choosers, she decided.

    "You have everything you need here," Von stated and began to list the items that were within, "A small hammer, wrenches, lockpicks, a filing tool, some scissors, a dropper with a supply of oil, a magnifying glass, and a mirror."

    Jeze nodded. She was familiar with the tools from her training at the facility. "How much," the teenager asked.

    Von offered a price, and Hannah let loose a string of curses. The two went back and forth and Jeze felt that it was best that she stayed out of it. To the teenager, it reminded her of a duel between two skilled fighters. Instead of a sword and shield, Hannah and Von were equipped with witty barbs and extravagant tales.

    "Come on, Hannah! You know, after last year''s drought, times are hard for me, my wife, and six kids," Von exclaimed.

    "Kids? They are all grown adults!" Hannah exclaimed.

    Von snorted, "Useless good-for-nothings. But I love them, and they still need to be fed," Von returned.

    And so they went until finally they agreed to a price. "Gonna make me go broke," Von grumbled.

    Jeze looked to Hannah, and the stocky merchant nodded. Jeze paid Von, and the thin man smiled warmly, "May these serve you well. Without the Scout, no team can adventure through the Spire. Remember your value."

    Jeze politely smiled and felt that was an odd statement. She figured Von had said it from experience. Typically, everyone celebrates the Strikers and the Leaders of the teams as they were the ones who took down the giant monsters. Jeze didn''t care about that. She was more interested in the adventure itself. The challenge and the thrill of success. Next Hannah took Jeze to get a grindstone, oil and cloth to maintain her weapons.

    "You keep the edges wrapped and oil them after every use," Hannah explained.

    Jeze nodded and folded the new items neatly into her backpack.

    "What else do you need?" Hannah asked.

    "To make my paste!" Ziplocke shrieked in delight. The Goblin danced on Jeze''s shoulder.

    Hannah arched an eyebrow.

    "Yes, and I want to make potions," Jeze added.

    "Ahh, let me introduce you to Flora," Hannah responded.

    Flora was a plump elderly looking woman who operated a stand that smelled of nature. It was lined with dozens of plants in pots. On the shelves were jars filled with crushed herbs and roots that offered various medicinal and arcane functions. Flora spoke gently and was patient. If Jeze had more time, she could probably spend hours with the elderly woman to learn more of the potion making craft.

    "This is the Yelith root. It is good for healing injuries. It grows in the Plains of Liawpia and is harvested by their Spirit Walkers for its connection to the spirit realm. It is for that purpose that the Yelith root is great for healing elixirs," Flora explained.

    "Do you have the Rune patterns to make the potion?" Jeze asked.

    Flora nodded with a soft smile and produced a folded white scroll. Jeze thanked her for it but then discovered that it was not for free. Everything in the gentle old lady''s stall had a price.

    "Don''t let the nice grandmother look fool you. Flora will take all of your coin if you are not careful," Hannah cautioned with a twinkle in her eye.

    Flora nodded gently. In the end, Jeze spent most of her remaining coin in Flora''s shop for the Yelith root, a dozen empty potion jars, and the scroll.

    "Don''t fret about the loss of money. Being able to stay healthy is worth much more," Hannah explained.

    The merchant bid Jeze farewell and returned to her tent, where the teenager met up with Frostsworn.

    "Oh, ho! Look at that armor!" Helga exclaimed.

    "Now you look like a proper Proven," Rolfe added with a pat to Jeze''s shoulder with his large hand. It nearly knocked her over.

    Dunar told the team that they will ease up on the training in order to keep their bodies healthy for when the Wandering Spire arrives. They jogged in full gear around the courtyard and practiced drilling. Most of their time was spent on packing and preparing.

    "Can you make these patterns?" Jeze asked Mikal and showed him the scroll she purchased from Flora.

    The serious, dark-haired Frostsworn studied the markings and nodded. "Yes, I am familiar with them. Just not this pattern. What is it for?"

    "To make healing potions," Jeze answered.

    "You are an alchemist?" Dunar asked.

    "I have some skill," Jeze replied.

    Mikal narrowed his eyes and asked, "Will your potions help us or poison us?"

    Jeze grinned and replied, "I guess we will find out."

    Ziplocke cackled with evil glee.

    "You two get to work on that. Helga and Rolfe go to the market and start buying provisions," Dunar ordered.

    They were able to make a dozen healing potions to fill the jars. Mikal examined them with his Will and nodded in approval.

    "These should work," he commented.

    "Of course they will!" Jeze stated with confidence.

    It was time for her to head over to the Runic Research Division. The Safe Zone Squads were wrapping up the final preparations. Everyone was given a Channeling tool and a scroll on how to repair the Portal Runes as needed. Most of the members, like Jeze, had teams they could work with. Miss Heng asked Jeze to spend the time going over how to properly inspect the Runes before Channeling the final glyphs to activate them. Jeze instructed the group for over an hour, and when she finished, her heart dropped in her chest. Standing beside Miss Heng was Drake. The dark-skinned man had a warm smile on his face. Jeze knew the rage that smile hid.

    "I''m excited to work with you again," Drake said.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes and replied, "We are not working together. I will never work with you."

    Drake''s face had a quizzical expression, and he asked, "You have not heard?"

    ¡°What?¡± Jeze demanded.

    "The Safe Zone Squads will be embedded with the Legion," the man with the burn scars answered.

    "No!" Jeze cried.

    Miss Heng nodded and replied, "With Seb''s passing and the extensive resources the Empire can provide, it was decided that it would be best that each Safe Zone Squad be assigned to a contingent of Legionnaires."

    Jeze felt a ball of rage build up in her stomach, and her lips quivered. But she checked herself. Orn''s words echoed in her mind, "The wise among us understand that everything we do is connected."

    Jeze utilized the Will she forged within herself through hours of Rune casting to steady her rage. She nodded to Miss Heng and Drake and excused herself without another word. Training with the axe has shown Jeze the importance of timing. Striking at the wrong moment could throw one off balance. This was not the time, but Jeze would wait. As the Berserker had instructed her. Words, like with an axe swing, once said, can not be taken back. The same could be true with actions. Jeze had options, and it would not serve her purpose if she had revealed them now.

    ¡°Very wise. Just like the Darkness aspect, keep your thoughts hidden and your enemies guessing,¡± Ziplocke whispered into Jeze¡¯s ear.

    The teenager nodded. She was tired of being pushed around and discovered that fighting back didn¡¯t work for her. Instead, Jeze will bide her time and she vowed she will not be forced into things. Not this time and not ever again.

 Chapter 36: Miscreants

    It was mid afternoon when Jeze left the Runic Research Division Chamber and headed to the lifts. She asked people where the Silver Chalice Inn was and they directed her to the sixth floor. She was in line at the Lifts.

    "Jeze!" Irvin called out.

    The teenager turned and saw the stocky Guild official hurry over toward her.

    "I came looking for you as soon as I heard that the Safe Zone Squads will be assigned to the Legion," Irvin panted.

    "They just told me," Jeze replied and entered the Lift.

    "What are you going to do?" Irvin asked as he followed her inside.

    "I''m going to see Rainbow and Swordslayer," Jeze stated. She was working to remain calm and focused. She will not be trapped.

    Irvin narrowed his eyes and said, "Now, just think a moment. You are a part of a respected team. We can get Carl Jorgenson¡­"

    Jeze cut the older man off. "I''m going to them for advice. I plan to stay with the Frostsworn."

    Irvin looked relieved, and he said, "I think we can have the Frostsworn make the case for you to stay with them."

    Jeze narrowed her eyes and responded, "And if they can''t?"

    Irvin sighed and replied, "Worse case, Jeze. You don''t fight alongside them when the monsters and the Spire arrive. I am sure that you will be allowed to link back up with them when the teams are able to enter."

    "I''ll be dead by then," Jeze muttered.

    Ziplocke found that funny, and he snickered from her shoulder.

    "Now, hold up there, Jeze. We don''t have proof that is what they are planning. Now, I agree that it is suspicious these efforts this Drake fellow is making to get you to work under him, but I wouldn''t believe it would be for murder," Irvin responded.

    Jeze fumed and gnashed her teeth. "He tried to kill me! You don''t believe me, huh?"

    The Lift stopped, and Jeze stormed out. Irvin rubbed his face and hurried after. This floor was a circular chamber, smaller than the Runic Research Division and the Training Facility, but it was still quite spacious. Ringing the chamber were doors to various inns and taverns. Jeze found the Silver Chalice right away. It was the more extravagant looking of the encircling taverns with a large sign depicting a Silver Chalice. The taverns had open doors where raucous laughter could be heard coming from within. The Silver Chalice''s door was closed and guarded by two large bouncers. They stood in heavy mail with their burly arms crossed and two-handed longswords sheathed at their hips.

    "Jeze, wait up," Irvin called out.

    The teenager continued on and Irvin reached out and grabbed her shoulder. She spun to face him with fury clear in her eyes. The older man held up his hands.

    "I''m sorry. It is just hard for me to believe that someone in the Guild would try to kill another member in service to the Empire. It''s not that I don''t believe you. It is that I don''t want to believe you. Everything I have worked for and believed in is now being questioned," Irvin explained.

    Jeze''s face softened just a little bit.

    "Fool!" Ziplocke snickered.

    Irvin glared at the Goblin with bushy eyes.

    "I understand," Jeze said and added, "And I appreciate all of your help. I do, but it serves me no good if you refuse to believe that there is corruption in the Guild. And that the Empire has a far reach."

    Irvin glanced at the ground, and his chest trembled. After a moment, he looked up and said, "Let me come with you, at least. I know Swordslayer and Rainbow very well. I can at least make sure you are careful."

    Jeze''s eyes narrowed, and she was about to tell Irvin that she didn''t need help. But that was not true. If she was wise, any help would be welcomed. Jeze had to accept that she was a young Initiate ranked adventurer from the country and was tangled up in a mess that was way beyond her ability. Unless she made use of all her resources. Irvin had demonstrated that he was sincere and, at the very least, not involved with the Golden Empire. His actions were for the betterment of the Guild, and his intentions were good toward Jeze. She simply nodded and continued on toward the Silver Chalice, where she was barred entry by the guards.

    "I''m here to see Swordslayer and Rainbow," Jeze stated.

    "Wait here," one of the guards rumbled in a deep voice.

    The other large man entered the tavern and closed the door. After a moment, he returned.

    "They can enter," he said in an equally deep voice.

    Inside was dimly lit and much larger than what Jeze would have imagined from the outside appearance. Dark mahogany tables that were surrounded by chairs with plush dark velvet cushions were scattered throughout the room. A well-stocked bar stood across from Jeze and Irvin. It was made out of the same dark wood as the tables, and behind it was a bartender dressed in a fluffy cotton shirt and black bow tie. The conversations in the room were subdued, and the patrons wore expensive outfits. Jeze recognized many complex Rune patterns on the jewelry and clothes. She could practically feel the energy and guessed that every person in here was at least Adventurer ranked except for her and Irvin.

    "There she is! Look at you! With armor and is that a new axe?" Swordslayer boomed.

    The warrior lounged with his shiny black boots resting on the table and a golden medallion twirling in his hands. He wore a white silk shirt and baggy dark pants. What''s with the boots! Jeze didn''t think the sword fighter would wear shoes and he looked so different from when they traveled together. His two swords were sheathed and rested on the table within easy reach.

    "I knew you would be alright," Rainbow added.

    The multi-colored haired lady rose from her seat that was beside Swordslayer. She looked the same with her thick dark jacket with purple orchids and a high collar that obscured the lower part of her face. Jeze noticed that Rainbow wore a new padded gambeson under the jacket along with a fresh set of dark brown traveling trousers. Where Rainbow looked like she was prepared to travel, Swordslayer looked like he was about to attend a party at a royal court.

    "And you brought our old friend, Irvin!" Swordslayer exclaimed and sat up. "Bartender, please give us a round of ales!"

    "No, thank you. I have lots of work to attend to today," Irvin grumbled. He appeared flustered.

    "Nonsense! Hey Jeze, did you know that Irvin and us go way back?" Swordslayer said and he motioned toward Rainbow and himself with his hands.

    Jeze shook her head, and Irvin emitted a low grumble from his chest.

    "He gave us the orientation when we first became Initiates," Rainbow added and patted Irvin''s hand.

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    "But, what was it he called us?" Swordslayer asked as he tapped his chin.

    Rainbow grinned and answered, "Miscreants."

    Swordslayer''s face beamed. "That''s right!" The sword fighter slapped the table, causing the round of ales to jostle and spill some liquid.

    Irvin took up his ale and drank. He wiped his mouth and grumbled, "It was bloody miscreants, and I see nothing has changed."

    Both Swordslayer and Rainbow boomed with laughter. When they subsided, Jeze leaned forward.

    "I need advice," she stated.

    Irvin grumbled and the other two stopped their laughter to listen. Jeze explained her situation to them with Miss Heng, the Frostsworn, Seb''s death, and the Safe Zone Squad being assigned to Drake and the Legion.

    "Hold up, you found a team? Our little Jeze is growing up so fast!" Swordslayer ruffled her short, dark hair.

    Jeze scowled and slapped his hand away. Ziplocke enjoyed the look on her face and snickered while rubbing his hands together.

    "Have you talked with the Frostsworn leader?" Rainbow asked.

    "Not yet," Jeze answered.

    "It is not certain if they can override Miss Heng''s order," Irvin explained.

    "You need to rank up to Adventurer. At that stage, the Guild can''t tell you want to do," Swordslayer said with a sage nod.

    Irvin grumbled and took another swig of his ale. He muttered, "Still supposed to follow the bylaws. Bloody miscreants."

    Swordslayer laughed and slapped the old man on the back. "Ole Irvin, you have not changed!"

    "The Frostsworn can stay with you. At least you will have protection in case Drake and the Legion want to make a move against you," Rainbow suggested.

    "What? To stay in the back when the Spire arrives and miss the fighting? Not the Frostsworn! They love to fight!" Swordslayer stated with a slap to the table.

    Jeze agreed. "They wouldn''t stay behind. They would want to be on the front lines. We have been preparing for that, in fact."

    "It is a pickle," Irvin muttered.

    "No, it''s not. Join the Frostsworn," Rainbow said.

    "What about Drake and the Legion?" Jeze asked.

    "Sneak away. You know the Darkness aspect, and we have seen your stealth ability. Play along and when you can sneak away from them," Rainbow stated matter of factly.

    "And disobey a directive from the Guild?!? Are you mad?" Irvin growled.

    Swordslayer laughed again. "What''s the worst that can happen?"

    "They expel her! Jeze, you have to find another way," Irvin pleaded.

    "During the arrival of the Wandering Spire? It will be chaos, and they can''t do anything. Jeze, Rainbow is right. Sneak away and join your team. The Frostsworn would understand. They prefer glory over the stupid Bylaws," Swordslayer added.

    "After the Spire, they can punish Jeze for disobeying the directive," Irvin stated.

    "In two years! Let''s be honest, she may be dead by then so it''s not an issue. Dead or rich, and in which case, it does not matter what the Guild does," Swordslayer exclaimed.

    Irvin grumbled.

    "Or," Rainbow interjected, "Do well in the Spire, where the Guild will recognize your value. Look at Swordslayer and I. We don''t play by the rules, but we perform well and are renowned members of the Guild."

    Irvin grumbled and drank the rest of his ale. "This was a mistake coming here. They are corrupting a young, talented girl."

    Rainbow and Swordslayer chuckled and looked to Jeze. "What do you think?" Rainbow asked.

    "I can sneak away," Jeze said with confidence in her voice.

    "That a girl!" Exclaimed Swordslayer.

    "I''m gonna need another drink," Irvin said and raised his hand to get the bartender''s attention.

    "Do you two have a team yet?" Jeze asked.

    Rainbow nodded and replied, "We are getting there. We still have one spot open."

    "By the Gods, no! Jeze, do not even think about it," Irvin growled.

    Rainbow held a hand to her chest and batted her eyelashes. "Are we that bad, Irvin?"

    Irvin grumbled and drank from his second ale that the Bartender had placed before him. Jeze laughed. She had a path forward, and she felt confident. In addition, she felt good that Rainbow and Swordslayer would still consider her as a team member. Jeze had met their expectations and she forgot how fun it was to hang with them. That came to halt when a commotion occurred by the entrance to the bar.

    "Swordslayer!" A deep voice boomed.

    Three heavily armed and armored men had entered the lounge. The speaker was the one in the middle, and the largest. He had brown curly hair, a thick beard and was thickly muscled under his dark plate mail armor. Slung across his broad back was a menacing two handed hammer.

    Swordslayer was still lounging with his legs up when he asked, "Hello, and who do I owe the pleasure of meeting?"

    "I am Alcard, the younger brother to Egan," the man boomed.

    "Egan? Why does that name sound familiar?" Swordslayer asked Rainbow.

    "Because you took his boots, his medallion, and all of his coin," she answered.

    Swordslayer smiled. "Oh, that''s right, he was the bloke that lost the bet."

    Irvin leaned in toward Jeze and whispered, "We best leave, girl. These two are nothing but trouble."

    Jeze shook her head. They were her friends and they might need her as it was the three newcomers versus them two.

    "You don''t possibly think you can help? That man there is a Templar to the One Goddess," Irvin muttered.

    Jeze didn''t know what that meant and glared at the old Guild official. Ziplocke snickered, he was anticipating trouble and misery. Jeze turned to look at the Templar and noticed the Runes that were etched onto the man''s belt. He was a Rune caster!

    "You cheated my brother!" Alcard accused loudly.

    "That''s not true. I did not cheat," Swordslayer responded. He remained seated with his legs up.

    "You gave him a beating and took his boots and personal belongings," Alcard growled.

    Swordslayer raised a hand and paused a moment before responding, "Now that is true. But you are leaving out an important detail. He lost a bet and refused to pay. It was only natural that I take what was owed."

    "You took advantage of him," Alcard insisted.

    "That I did, and that is the nature of gambling," Swordslayer agreed.

    "My brother is a fool. You can keep his belongings and coin, but I demand that you hand over the medallion," Alcard ordered.

    Swordslayer tapped his chin and replied, "No."

    Alcard rubbed his face and sighed. "That medallion has been in my family for generations. Please, I implore you to return it."

    Swordslayer responded, "Aww, see? You should have opened with that. But you were rude, and I don''t like you. So my answer remains the same, no."

    Alcard approached menacingly and Swordslayer was on his feet in an instant. Jeze had forgotten how deceptively fast the fighter could move.

    "No need to come any closer. Our conversation is finished," Swordslayer hissed. The sheathed swords were in his hand.

    The room quieted and the patrons that were seated between the two moved back. Jeze heard mumblings and whispers among the small crowd. She heard one patron express that they were excited to see the Sanguine Blades style.

    "What''s that?" She whispered to Rainbow, but the multi-colored haired lady shook her head and was focused on Alcard and his friends.

    "We want no trouble here," the bartender boomed.

    The two bouncers from outside entered. Jeze saw another pair approach from the corners.

    Alcard and his two companions tensed. The larger bearded man glanced around and then looked at Swordslayer. "Perhaps we settle this with arms? Outside?"

    All mirth was gone from Swordslayer''s scarred face. A coldness was there that even made Jeze nervous. She saw that look once before when they fought against the Night Mistress. Even Rainbow remained silent.

    "I understand that you are distraught. I will allow you to take back your challenge," Swordslayer said quietly.

    Alcard chuckled deeply. "The infamous Swordslayer. I''m not afraid of you."

    "That is your mistake," Swordslayer responded.

    "I will see you outside, or you are a coward," Alcard stated and departed with his colleagues.

    Swordslayer''s face was stone cold. "Rainbow, I need you to second me. Jeze, I can''t ask you to help."

    "I''m here," Jeze said, despite Irvin''s grumbling misgivings.

    "This is madness! Rainbow talk reason to him. Hand over the medallion and avoid this unnecessary bloodshed," Irvin pleaded.

    The multi-colored haired adventurer shook her head. "You said it yourself, old friend. We are miscreants with lots of enemies. The reason why they don''t come after us is our reputation. It is our shield that protects us."

    "I''m going to call the Amber guard," the old man said and rose.

    "No, you won''t," Swordslayer hissed, and his glare caused Irvin to pause.

    "He is your friend," Jeze stated. She was shocked at the sword fighter''s coldness.

    Swordslayer''s impassive face shifted to a grin. "It won''t matter because the fight would be over by the time they arrive." With that the fighter headed toward the exit.

 Chapter 37: The Style of the Sanguine Blades

    Alcard''s companions Summoned and Shaped the Earth aspect to form a large ring in the center of the chamber. A crowd of curious onlookers was forming when Jeze arrived. Alcard stood across from them inside the ring with his two handed hammer gripped in his hands.

    "What''s a Templar?" Jeze asked.

    "A priest to the One Goddess," Irvin answered.

    "She also goes by the Earth Mother and has a lot of worshipers in the Ironfist kingdom," Rainbow added.

    Jeze nodded and told Swordslayer, "Be careful. He is a Rune Caster."

    Swordslayer stretched his neck and shoulders and snorted, "Good, that means he is dependent upon his tricks and not his skill."

    "Templars are known for their fighting ability and Rune magic," Irvin stated.

    "Well, I do enjoy a challenge," Swordslayer responded. He kicked off his boots and unsheathed his swords.

    "You can go and get your armor. I will wait," Alcard shouted from the other side of the circle.

    "Not needed," Swordslayer responded and was stopped by Rainbow from entering the ring.

    The multi-colored haired adventurer called out to Alcard, "Swear upon the Earth Mother that your colleagues will not aid you during or after this fight."

    Alcard smirked and responded, "They won''t be needed at all."

    "Then swear," Rainbow called back.

    Alcard sighed and stated, "I swear upon my goddess that my friends will not intervene." The two that were with him nodded in agreement.

    "That works for me," Swordslayer said and hopped inside.

    People recognized the sword fighter, and a large crowd formed along the perimeter of the stone ring. Jeze heard mutterings of anticipation to see the fight, and a few times, she heard the Sanguine Blades being mentioned. She asked Rainbow what that meant a second time but was ignored. Irvin''s eyes narrowed, and he snorted at the multi-colored haired adventurer.

    "You can''t keep this secret from her. She will learn soon enough," the official grunted.

    "Then you tell her," Rainbow snapped without taking her eyes off Swordslayer and Alcard.

    The Templar completed a series of gestures, and piles of Earth formed in front of him. Swordslayer completed a few practice swings with his blades.

    "Attack now before he finishes his Shaping!" Jeze cried.

    "You fight your duels your way. I will fight them my way," Swordslayer responded without glancing back.

    Jeze wanted to scream in frustration. Why was he being so stupid! Alcard Shaped the mounds of Earth into two giant hands that rushed toward Swordslayer like giant tidal waves made of rock. The sword fighter casually weaved and dodged the attacks but didn''t advance further. Alcard Controlled the stone hands and attempted to entrap Swordslayer, but they missed the elusive fighters. The giant hands collided with each other in a thunderous crash and collapsed to rubble that faded into the ether.

    "Come on, you coward!" Alcard roared.

    "You are the one throwing rocks at me," Swordslayer countered. He remained where he stood with his swords by his sides and a smirk on his scarred face.

    "What are the Sanguine Blades?" Jeze asked Irvin in a whisper as she kept her eyes on the duel.

    Irvin was looking at Rainbow, but she did not glance back at him. The Guild official answered Jeze, "It is a forbidden sword style rumored to have been founded by the Vampire Lord Vornicius."

    Rainbow snorted, "It is not forbidden."

    "It is a dark path!" Irvin snapped.

    Rainbow shook her head and glanced at Jeze. "Great warriors seek out Vornicus in order to learn the Sanguine Blades. It is an extremely difficult style that utilizes two swords. It is said that the Vampire Lord spent a lifetime of combat to perfect this style. In order to be his pupil, one must impress him in combat."

    "What happens if they fail?" Jeze asked.

    "They are killed. Vornicus is a Vampire and needs blood to live. It is said that he only drinks the blood from those he defeats in battle," answered Rainbow.

    Alcard launched giant boulders that arced in the air and crashed down toward Swordslayer. The fighter sidestepped each attack, and the rocks shattered on the stone floor of the Guild Tower. Jeze didn''t see a mark or a scratch on the dark surface. The craftsmanship was unparalleled! Alcard screamed in frustration.

    "Swordslayer was Vornicus''s pupil?" Jeze asked.

    "So it is rumored," Rainbow stated.

    "You know damn well he was," Irvin snapped.

    "Why is that so bad?" Jeze asked.

    Irvin looked at the teenager with sadness in his eyes and answered, "Facing Vornicus in battle is hard enough, but to train under him is even worse, for he is a punishing teacher. Anyone who survives comes out forever changed. There is an evil planted in their souls. Vornicus invites them to seek him out again once they reach the peak of human ability. It is said that he will then grant them the power to advance to the Elite rank."

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    Jeze nodded and observed, "That does not seem so bad, aside from the evil thing. We are all trying to get stronger."

    "No, girl, this is different. The Sanguine Blades is the start of a dark and evil road that one may never return from," Irvin answered.

    "Jeze, you should learn that style!" Ziplocke screeched.

    The teenager was in further awe of Swordslayer over the fact that he trained under a Vampire Lord and learned the Sanguine Blades style His skill was evident in his fight against the Templar. Swordslayer gracefully dodged each attack, and this time, he advanced forward. Alcard was prepared and attacked with his hammer. Swordslayer sidestepped, and the metal head slammed into the stone surface, leaving not a mark. Alcard demonstrated impressive strength as he quickly redirected his maul for a second swing. Swordslayer spun away from the attack and slashed with both his blades, which were parallel to each other. One came in high, and the other came in low.

    Alcard had to make a single choice on which blade to block and the Templar chose the higher sword. Swordslayer''s second weapon sparked loudly off the chain mail that protected Alcard''s knee. The blade did not penetrate the armor but struck the joint hard enough to cause the Templar to grunt in pain. Swordslayer continued moving and ducked the Templar''s hammer swing. The sword fighter was a step ahead of Alcard''s defenses and scored two more precision hits to the Templar''s less protected elbows and wrists. Sparks flew as the blades slapped painfully across the mail. However, the attack cost Swordslayer as Alcard made a quick adjustment and caught the sword fighter with a glancing blow.

    Jeze gasped, her hands covered her mouth. Rainbow and Irvin shook their heads as they watched Swordslayer stumble to the ground. Alcard, remorseless, followed up with an attack, and his hammer slammed loudly onto the dark stone floor where Swordslayer had laid just mere moments earlier. The sword fighter had dove quickly out of the way, but not before stabbing the back of Alcard''s knee. Mail was good against slashing attacks but not piercing, and he left a shallow cut. Even though it was a small wound, it was one that bled enough to slow the Templar down a little. Both combatants turned to face each other, and both were hurt. Alcard was breathing harder, and Swordslayer grimaced from the blow he took to his ribs. The Templar began to shape Glyphs.

    "Attack now!" Jeze cried, but Swordslayer remained where he stood.

    The pause allowed Alcard to complete the Rune pattern and everyone watched as the Templar''s visible skin not encased in armor turned to rock. It was the same as Lady Kalina''s rock form body, a technique practiced by the warriors from the Ironfist Kingdom.

    "He was too late," Jeze said.

    "I like Swordslayer, but I will enjoy the look on his face when he gets hit by that hammer for a final time!" Ziplocke said with mischievous delight.

    Alcard rushed in fast and recklessly swung his heavy weapon. Swordslayer dodged and twirled while delivering a flurry of slashes from both his swords. The blades sparked off the Templar''s armor and rock-enhanced skin. Jeze shook her head. Alcard was stronger and more protected, and it was only a matter of time before he landed a solid hit that would end Swordslayer.

    "Just watch and pay attention," Rainbow insisted.

    Jeze watched the fight with more focus. Her knowledge of Rune magic made her realize that Alcard''s power was diminishing. The Templar was actually fighting with a frantic desperation to end the bout because time was against him. But, all Alcard needed was one hit, and Swordslayer danced along the fine line between life and death.

    The Templar feinted, and Swordslayer reacted to it. Alcard reversed his grip and swung an attack that forced the sword fighter to bring up both his blades to defend. The hammer overpowered the two weapons and knocked Swordslayer onto the ground. Jeze couldn''t watch and she covered her eyes as Alcard barreled forward. Swordslayer rolled to his feet and thrusted with both blades.

    "Gah¡­" was all Alcard could gurgle.

    His hammer dropped from weak fingers. The Rock-Body spell had expired, and two swords had pierced through the mail that protected Alcard''s neck. Swordslayer yanked his swords free and sent a geyser of Alcard''s blood to spray outwards, and the Templar fell to his knees. Alcard¡¯s eyes were wide as he frantically held his neck, where blood flowed freely through the torn mail armor. The Templar fell to his side and gurgled for air.

    "We have to do something!" Jeze exclaimed.

    Rainbow shook her head, and Irvin rubbed his face.

    "Unnecessary bloodshed," the Guild official muttered.

    "Priceless! That look was priceless!" Ziplocke cheered and clapped.

    Jeze opened her pack and grabbed her Life aspect channeling tool and rushed to treat Alcard''s wounds. She did her best and Summoned and Shaped the flesh to close. The pressure on her Will was so enormous that she almost fainted. Alcard closed his eyes and barely breathed. But, he was breathing.

    "Can someone help him!" Jeze cried. She did all that she could.

    "You should not have done that. He will just come after us again," Swordslayer said as he shook the blood from his blades and sheathed them.

    His voice and face were remorseless and it shocked Jeze. Her earlier feelings of awe were gone. Who was this monster? She wondered.

    "Rainbow! Can you do something?" Jeze asked.

    The multi-colored haired adventurer shook her head. "He knew what he was getting into when he challenged us."

    ¡°What?¡± Jeze gasped, she couldn¡¯t believe that the two that she adventured with were so dispassionate. To think that she wanted to be a part of their team.

    Irvin had his face in his hands. Jeze looked around for anyone to help. How could there not be a healer among all of these adventurers? Alcard''s two companions looked helpless and angry. Their oaths prevented them from attacking Swordslayer. Finally, a stranger came and knelt beside Jeze.

    "You stopped the bleeding. I can do the rest," they said.

    Jeze thanked them and she stepped away as Alcard''s companions replaced her by his side. When she looked up she saw that Lady Kalina had arrived. The Amber Guard rested a gentle hand on Alcard''s shoulder and glared at Swordslayer. Were Lady Kalina and Alcard friends? Jeze wondered and she recalled that Lady Kalina was from the Ironfist kingdom. Was she also a Templar? Did she worship the One Goddess?

    "This will not go unpunished. This reckless behavior will not be ignored," Lady Kalina said.

    "Oh, is that right? Does the Lady wish to test her steel against mine?" Swordslayer said, his eyes distant and wild.

    What was wrong with him? Jeze narrowed her eyes. Swordslayer looked crazed with a wide grin on his face. Lady Kalina¡¯s eyes narrowed, and her hand went to the hilt of her sword.

    "We had enough bloodshed for today," Irvin said upon approach.

    The two sword fighters turned to look at the staunch official with bushy eyebrows. Irvin spoke up.

    "Swordslayer, return the medallion to Alcard." To Lady Kalina, the official added, "That was the reason for the duel."

    Swordslayer hesitated, and Irvin barked, "Do it now! Let us be done with this nonsense."

    The sword fighter with the scarred face scowled but withdrew the medallion and handed it to one of Alcard''s companions. They wordlessly accepted.

    "There, are you happy now?" Swordslayer growled.

    Irvin turned to Lady Kalina and said, "Alcard still lives, and the family treasure has been returned. This matter is now put to rest."

    Lady Kalina took a deep breath and replied, "One of these days, your actions will catch up to you, Swordslayer."

    The Amber Guard departed, but not before looking at Jeze. Lady Kalina shook her head and disappeared into the dispersing crowd.

    "Looks like you may have lost an important ally," Ziplocke snickered into her ear.

 Chapter 38: Preparations

    The final week before the arrival of the Wandering Spire was spent in preparation. All the merchants packed up their stalls. Some, like Hannah, would march with the adventurers toward Mount Dragon, while others returned home. The Legion filed into long lines of soldiers in preparation for the two-day trek. It was said that the bulk of the armies from the nations were already encamped outside of the expected Wandering Spire site. Jeze ignored Drake''s order to report to him and spent these days with the Frostsworn.

    "So, you won''t be with us when the fighting starts?" Dunar asked.

    "I will try," Jeze promised.

    "Miss Heng said that the Safe Zone Squads were assigned to the rear guard with the Legion. To keep you protected from the fighting," Carl Jorgenson stated. His dark eyes were serious.

    Jeze sighed and debated what to say next. She decided it wouldn''t do any good to lie, and she replied, "There is no glory in hiding. I want to fight alongside the Proven."

    This appeared to please the Carl and he nodded approvingly. Dunar and the others stepped forward to say their farewells to Jeze.

    "May we see you soon," Rolfe said.

    "Good luck, little one! If you want, I can take care of your Goblin, no?" Helga stated.

    Ziplocke shrieked in fright and faded away into the shadows.

    "So cute!" Helga exclaimed.

    Mikal rolled his eyes and simply waved goodbye to Jeze. Dunar was the last to step forward.

    "Good luck, and I hope you can find us. Be safe, and may you find glory," the team leader said.

    The two shook in the way of the Frostsworn and clasped each other''s forearms. The Proven gathered up their heavy packs filled with weapons and supplies and joined the march out of Angston. Jeze sighed as she was alone. Irvin had left the day before to help with the organization''s efforts.

    "Now is not the time to daydream, knucklehead. You need to stay focused and pay attention!" Ziplocke snapped as he clambered up to her shoulder.

    Jeze scratched his head and fed him some paste. The Goblin''s eyes went wide with pleasure. She realized she was not alone.

    "I would hate for you to die," Ziplocke said as he slurped the delicious treat.

    "Do you have any advice?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke pondered as he licked the remaining paste from his fingers. "Stick to the shadows and remain unseen. Don''t daydream! Avoid being alone with Drake and his men. Lastly, be unpredictable."

    Jeze absorbed the advice like a sponge to water. She had planned to head over to the Runic Research Division as she was instructed. However, that would be predictable. They were expecting her. Jeze decided she would not show up on time. With a sigh, she ran up the stairs to the sixth floor. She would say farewell to Swordslayer and Rainbow.

    Jeze found them in the Silver Chalice Inn as they were making their final preparations. Swordslayer wore blood-red armor, which consisted of overlapping hardened leather and steel scales connected by silk. The cuirass covered his shoulders, chest, and thighs, while his arms and legs were protected by thick padded black sleeves and pants. This afforded the sword fighter less protection but greater maneuverability. He wore a matching blood-red steel helmet that hung low to protect the back of his neck and a grinning demon face mask. Jeze found that fitting based on his wild and violent behavior from the other day.

    Rainbow wore her usual heavy dark jacket with purple orchids and a silk gambeson underneath. She was strapping a rune-covered spear to her pack when Jeze arrived.

    Rainbow smiled and said, "Good luck."

    "You two as well," Jeze replied.

    Swordslayer removed his helmet and mask. "Bah, you know we don''t need it," he boasted.

    "I could never picture you in armor," Jeze joked with an elbow. Their humor melted the awkwardness away like candle wax.

    "Well, it comes in handy when we face the swarms of monsters," Swordslayer replied with a wink.

    They haven''t seen each other since the night of the duel, and they haven''t discussed it.

    "What will you do?" Rainbow asked.

    "I will travel with the Legion for now," Jeze said and looked around.

    "You can speak freely here," Rainbow stated with confidence.

    Jeze continued, "And I will try to link up with the Frostsworn when I can."

    "Be careful. It will be madness. Monsters and fighting everywhere. Blood, screams, and death. It is a fun time," Swordslayer explained.

    "Sounds amazing!" Ziplocke snickered.

    "You know we will be running through that," Jeze said.

    Ziplocke sulked and whimpered, "Oh yeah, I forgot that part. It''s only fun to watch from a distance."

    Jeze remembered something and asked, "Where is your team?"

    "Still sleeping," Rainbow replied.

    "Don''t they need to get ready?" Jeze asked, alarmed.

    "It would be a good idea," Rainbow stated.

    "I bet you two regret not keeping Jeze on the team," Ziplocke joked.

    Swordslayer laughed and explained, "The armies and Initiate ranks will do the fighting in the beginning. We are Adventurer Ranked and get called in when the bigger baddies start to arrive. You know, we take on the real challenges while you noobs fight the small ones."

    Jeze arched an eyebrow and stated, "Carl Jorgenson and the other Adventurer ranked Frostsworn had already marched out."

    Swordslayer snorted, "That is because the Frostsworn love to fight for the sake of fighting. Gotta hand it to them. Me? I prefer real challenges."

    "Or, you are lazy," Jeze teased.

    Rainbow chuckled, and then her face became serious. "You be careful, Jeze. Pay attention to your surroundings, and don''t be trapped into things. You can use your words to avoid being alone with your enemies," the multi-colored haired lady said.

    Jeze nodded and put the advice into her memory.

    "That''s kind of what I said," Ziplocke added.

    "Well, you are wise, little Demon!" Swordslayer exclaimed.

    "Maybe I''ll see you two in the Spire?" Jeze asked.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Swordslayer snorted, "Kid, you are not at our level." He couldn''t ruffle her hair due to her helm, so he just bopped her on her head.

    "Perhaps," Rainbow said.

    The three stood in silence a moment before Jeze said farewell. They hugged and Jeze departed to the Runic Research Division where she faced potential danger. The stairwells and lifts were crowded with people as everyone was mobilizing. After some time she made it to the Portal chamber.

    "You are late," Val snapped.

    "I was making preparations," Jeze replied with a scowl.

    Val rolled her eyes and said, "Whatever. Help with gathering all the Channeling tools and make sure all the Squads have clear instructions on how to activate the Runes."

    The blonde Rune caster walked away before Jeze could retort. Actually, the teenager didn''t mind taking on the assignment. That would keep her busy and among a crowd so she wouldn''t be alone with Drake. Where was the agent? Jeze wondered as she looked around the crowded chamber. She got to work and connected with the Initiate ranked Rune casters that were assigned to the Safe Zone Squad. Jeze was relieved to discover that there were about two dozen members, which was plenty to hide among until she made her escape to join the Frostsworn. Her confidence melted away at the sight of Drake. The agent appeared in his full plate armor, armed with his sword at his hip and shield strapped to his back.

    "Miss Heng has gone ahead to Mount Dragon. I am left in charge. Once we are packed up, we will link up with the Legion for further instructions. Get moving, everyone! We leave at noon!" Drake loudly said to the assembled crowd.

    Jeze slinked into the crowd and avoided eye contact with the captain. She talked with the other Safe Zone Squad members and learned some things.

    "This is unusual," a man in his thirties said and added, "the last Spire we were allowed to be with our teams to fight the hordes. After the monsters were cleared, we activated the portals to the Safe Zones."

    "Where is your team now?" Jeze asked. She recalled that his name was Jonah.

    "They are downstairs, annoyed to miss the fighting. But I am their Healer, so they don''t have much choice," Jonah replied.

    "They will travel with us?"

    Jonah nodded. Jeze left him to finish his work and checked on another group to ensure that they had what they needed. She discovered that Jonah was not the only one whose team would be accompanying them. There were at least six others, which increased the crowd for Jeze to hide in.

    "The bigger the crowd, the easier it is to hide and escape," Ziplocke whispered into Jeze''s ear.

    At noon, the entire group filed out of the Guild Tower and marshaled in the square outside. Drake barked orders like they were soldiers, but they weren''t, and they marched in a haphazard formation. The dark-skinned captain tried to create some order and gave up after several attempts. Outside of Angston, they linked up with a Company of one hundred Legionnaires. Jeze''s heart sank. Drake was the commander for all of them.

    "This complicates things," Ziplocke stated.

    Adventurers were different from the soldiers. Where the Legionnaires marched in perfect formation with stiff backs and well-measured steps, the adventurers walked in random groups and at faster speeds. The legionnaires wore the same uniformed gear and armed with the same weapons. The adventurers had a hodgepodge of equipment. Some wore expensive armor, and others wore scavenged gear. One thing was for sure, the adventurers had better stamina and were able to march tirelessly. The reason why they stopped at all was so that the soldiers could get rest. The two groups remained separate from each other with Drake being the glue between the two. Jeze remained among the adventurers, and she studied the Legionnaires, whom Drake talked with the most. She saw at least half a dozen that had the rough looks of those willing to do disreputable things. They never glanced at her, but she suspected they were scheming.

    "Remember those faces," Jeze told Ziplocke.

    "You got it boss," the Goblin replied and squinted his eyes with focused determination.

    Jeze rolled her eyes. They continued to march on through the Ironfist kingdom, which was mountainous and dotted with thick forests filled with tall pine trees. Occasionally, the group would pass small towns where the people were hunters, trappers, and lumberjacks. The ground was churned from the armies that had marched ahead of them. Irvin had told Jeze that all the nations had signed a pact to ensure all the armies left after the monster phase of the Wandering Spire''s arrival. If the Golden Empire decided to take advantage of the situation and use its forces to invade the Ironfist Kingdom, then the Empire would have to contend with the other nations as well as the Guild. So far, Jeze had only seen the Legion and no other armies. The next largest force she saw was the Guild. Until they came upon a ridge that overlooked a valley surrounded by the mountains and in the distance was the looming presence of Mount Dragon.

    "Whoa," Jeze said in awe.

    "The last Spire event had more," Ziplocke stated.

    Below them were thousands of soldiers and adventurers camped out across the entire valley. Jeze squinted and tried as hard as possible to see if she could spot the Frostsworn, but it was like trying to look for a single blade of grass in a wide field.

    "We set up here, and this is where we will remain until after the beast hordes are cleared," Drake''s voice boomed to the entire group.

    As one, the Legionnaires began to make camp, with each following a set procedure. The adventurers each had their own methodology.

    "The Wandering Spire will appear there?" Jeze asked Val.

    The blonde rune caster scoffed, "How did you ever get to your rank?"

    Jeze glared at the blonde lady.

    Val rolled her eyes and explained, "Predicting where the Spire will appear is never accurate. The Seers can detect the build of energy and guess within a certain range. As the day of its arrival draws near, the energy increases, and we can get a more accurate prediction. The Spire is expected to arrive somewhere in this entire region. Miles in either direction."

    "Do you know how to use the Seer aspect?" Jeze asked, playing dumb.

    Val slapped her forehead. "There is no such thing. Seers use the Spirit aspect. They Summon and Control Spirits to ascertain the location."

    "Thank you," Jeze said.

    Val scowled and walked away, muttering.

    "So clever! You pretended to know nothing and struck her with kindness! I never would have guessed that being polite could be more offensive than insults!" Ziplocke cheered.

    "I was not trying to be mean. I genuinely wanted to thank her," Jeze replied.

    Ziplocke snorted, "Whatever."

    "Jeze!" Drake called out.

    "What?" She called back.

    "Come here," he replied.

    "Why?" Jeze asked.

    "That was an order," Drake stated.

    "I''m not a soldier in your command," Jeze returned.

    Their exchange drew looks from both adventurers and Legionnaires. Both sides tensed. Drake marched over.

    "You forget that I am also the ranking Guild member here," Drake said. His voice was calm, but Jeze knew he was angry.

    "Yes sir!" Jeze stood straight and performed a clumsy salute. This elicited chuckles from the other adventurers, and glares from the soldiers.

    Drake sighed and said, "We need a scout."

    "Why?"

    "To secure the area. It is common for monsters to appear even before the Spire arrives," Drake answered.

    Jeze looked around and replied, "Looks safe to me."

    Drake rubbed the bridge of his nose and said, "I am assigning you to a squad. It is standard protocol to survey the area before we set up camp."

    "You don''t have a scout in your Company?"

    "No, that is why I''m asking you," Drake answered. His face looked calm, but his eyes were menacing.

    "Be careful," Ziplocke whispered into her ear.

    Jeze nodded and took two steps before collapsing to the ground and moaned loudly.

    Drake took a deep breath in and asked, "What is the matter?"

    "Cramps," Jeze groaned.

    "Don''t be ridiculous, stand up!" Drake commanded.

    "I can''t. It''s a woman thing," Jeze replied.

    Drake put his hands on his hips. The captain was getting agitated by the attention this was drawing. "Jeze, I am giving you a direct order to join the troops and scout the area."

    "I am unable to. I don''t feel well. Besides, it is not my job to scout for the Legion," Jeze replied.

    Drake growled.

    "She is correct. We are here as a part of the Safe Zone Squad," Jonah spoke up. His team approached. They were Initiate ranked adventurers that were able bodied and well armed.

    Jeze looked around and saw that the other adventurers were preparing themselves. The Legionnaires outnumbered them, but there was a giant skill difference and fitness level. Jeze knew that a fight would not go well for the Legion. She grinned. The weeks of working with the Safe Zone Squad have made her well-known among the group.

    Drake smiled and replied, "Of course. My apologies. I forgot myself. I will have my troops secure the area."

    When the captain left, Ziplocke whispered in Jeze''s ear, "That was not a subtle attempt at your life."

    Jeze agreed. She didn''t think Drake would take such a direct approach. I would need to make plans to leave as soon as possible, maybe this night? Jeze thought to herself.

    A female adventurer knelt down beside the teenager and offered her a potion.

    "This will ease your cramps," she said.

    "Thank you," Jeze accepted the drink and recalled the adventurer''s name as Rainia.

    Rainia nodded. She was well built and the same age Daverius would be if he was still alive. Jeze perked up with a thought.

    "You know how to make potions using a Yelith root?" She asked.

    Rainia nodded with a smile. "Want me to show you some recipes?"

    "Yes, please!" Jeze responded.

 Chapter 39: Words

    "Night is coming. There will be plenty of shadows," Ziplocke whispered.

    Jeze tapped her chin and said, "I don''t think I will sneak away tonight."

    "What?!?" Ziplocke screeched. He scurried up her shoulder to speak into her ear, "Did you not forget that Drake just blatantly tried to have you killed? And this was his second time!"

    Jeze smiled and replied, "I think we have a better option."

    Ziplocke crossed his arms and asked, "And what is that, Knucklehead?"

    The teenager waved her arms around her. The two sat surrounded by the other adventurers. Ringing them was the Company of Legionnaires. Jeze''s act of defiance earlier had sparked something. It reminded the Safe Zone Squad members that they were not soldiers who had to follow orders. They were adventurers, and there were grumblings among them, especially from Jonah and his team. They were not happy with being held back.

    Ziplocke looked around and shrugged, "I don''t see anything."

    "All the adventurers here want to join their teams and fight when the Spire arrives!" Jeze exclaimed.

    The Goblin slapped his forehead, and his small hand traveled down his face. "Your plan is to start a revolt?" He asked.

    Jeze didn''t think of it that way, but yes! The Goblin had it right. She said, "Just like what Rainbow suggested. I use my words. I can get this group riled up."

    "Then what? You will fight an entire company of Legionnaires?" Ziplocke pointed out.

    Jeze''s face crinkled in thought. "I was thinking we just leave. You think Drake will attack all of us? I mean him attacking me was one thing, but the entire group?"

    "You''d have to consider the worst case scenario. Now if you sneak out, that is the easiest way to do this," Ziplocke said.

    "But, the friends I made here will worry about me. I can''t just leave them," Jeze explained.

    Ziplocke snapped, "Don''t be a knucklehead! You don''t owe them anything."

    "What if I tell them I am leaving?" Jeze suggested

    "So that they can alert Drake?"

    Jeze shook her head. "They wouldn''t do that to me."

    "You don''t know that! Don''t you remember the first advice Rainbow gave you? Don''t trust anyone," Ziplocke reminded her.

    Jeze did remember that, but she also saw a side to Rainbow and Swordslayer that she didn''t agree with. When she first met them, she was in awe of their wisdom and skill. But now that she had gained some experience, she started to see that they were not perfect. Her last meeting with them was nice, though. She conceded that to herself.

    "I''m going to need allies," Jeze decided. She wanted to speak to the group to learn more about them and to see where that information took her.

    Jeze approached Jonah and his team as they were about to settle for dinner. She chose them because they appeared to be the most likely ones to support her cause. Jonah was the squad''s Healer, and he was a small man with a pale bald head and hazel eyes. Despite his size and appearance, Jeze knew he was strong and a highly skilled Rune caster. She judged this based upon watching him hike a full day in mail armor and a heavy pack without tiring and the quality of his Channeling tools. Jonah wore Rune-covered bracelets and a necklace and carried a Rune-covered walking stick.

    "May I join you?" Jeze asked and held up a loaf of bread and cheese.

    "Aye, have a seat," Jonah replied and he introduced his four teammates.

    Jeze saw that this team was older, in their thirties, and looked like seasoned adventurers. The team was mostly hybrid Scout/Strikers, with Jonah being the Healer/Leader. The fact that they were Initiate rank reminded Jeze of the difficulty of advancing to Adventurer rank. It made what Rainbow and Swordslayer achieved that much more impressive to be at that rank at a young age. Jeze learned the reason for the team''s frustration with being held back from the upcoming monster waves.

    "We are all trappers and hunters, and the wave of monsters is a good time for us to collect exotic hides and fur," Jonah explained.

    "Aye," his team members agreed. Each member wore tanned leather armor mixed with mail and they were armed with bows, spears, and long knives. They each had the look of a rugged woodsman with thick beards.

    Except for Jonah, he looked like a monk from a monastery with his walking stick and bald head. How did he link up with them? Jeze wondered to herself.

    "I want to test myself and fight alongside my team. We have been training for weeks. They are down below in the valley while I am forced to stay here," Jeze shared.

    Jonah and his team shook their heads. "Does not seem right for them to reassign us like this."

    Jeze glanced around and leaned in to speak in a low voice, "I''m thinking of leaving."

    The others did not react, and Jeze was nervous that she had gotten herself into trouble.

    Finally, Jonah asked, "Can we do that?"

    "What can go wrong?" One of the teammates muttered in a deep voice through his beard.

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    There was a collective shrug from the group. Another team member pointed out, "Would they try to stop us?"

    "Who? The soldiers? Look at them, they are practically pissing in their pants, and we are not even in the front lines," another hunter responded.

    "We be lucky to get maybe a dozen monsters at this distance," Another added.

    "Not worth our time," Jonah grumbled.

    "Yeah, but we could lose our guild membership," another team member added.

    "What if we all leave? They can''t punish all of us," Jeze offered.

    She was happy to see that they all appeared to agree with her.

    One of them said, "I know Rainia and the Spirit Walkers would join us." The man nodded toward the young lady that gave Jeze the potion earlier.

    "Yeah, that''s right. It is a part of their spiritual journey, and they harvest the organs of the beasts for medicines and potions. Being stuck here hurts them too," another chimed in.

    Jonah tapped his chin, "We lose a lot of profits from the skinning we get from the beast waves. But we still could recoup our losses from within the Spire. Especially if we are able to secure the Safe Zones."

    "Aye, good point. Not worth it for us to lose our guild status and access to the Safe Zones," Another member stated.

    Jeze felt her support slipping. She perked up and stated, "They can''t remove us! We are the only ones that know how to activate the portals."

    Jonah nodded and replied, "That is true."

    The bearded team member scratched his thick, curly brown hair and said, "It seems risky. We make a good profit in the Safe Rooms."

    "But, we are also losing out if we are here when the monster waves hit. All them lucky bastards down there will get all the prime skinnings," another stated, nodding toward the encampments far below.

    Jeze saw Drake walk over to them. "Great," she muttered to herself.

    "How is everyone doing?" The captain asked. A half a dozen Legionnaires trailed behind him.

    "Like horseshit," Jonah spat.

    Drake held up two hands and replied, "Now I know this is an inconvenience¡­"

    "Damn, more than that! This is our livelihood," one of Jonah''s teams cut the captain off.

    Actually, this was not so bad. Jeze thought to herself.

    "The look of frustration and hidden rage is the best!" Ziplocke snickered. Jeze had to agree. Drake''s smile looked so fragile and about to explode at any moment. All it needed was a little push.

    "Why are you holding us here?" The teenager demanded.

    Drake replied to her with his weak grin, "For your protection. With Seb gone, we can''t have the Safe Zone Squads get hurt before we can enter the Spire."

    Jonah snorted, "For our protection? We are adventurers! Our lives are dangerous all the time."

    "But this is different!" Drake snapped.

    Jeze smiled to herself. This was working out perfectly. Jonah and his team tilted their heads. They did not like being spoken to like children. The other adventurer groups turned to pay attention, and Jeze saw her opportunity. She motioned for Rainia to join them.

    "What is this about?" The Spirit Walker asked.

    Jeze filled her in, and Rainia nodded.

    "This is an important moment for my people, and being here is hurtful," Rainia said.

    "I understand your concerns," Drake began.

    Jeze saw another opportunity and interrupted, "I don''t think you do."

    There were nods of agreement. More of the adventurers joined the conversation. But so were the Legionnaires. Jeze worried that things could get violent. Drake glared at her.

    "Seb is gone! Okay? And this has put all the Safe Zones in jeopardy. Frankly, we can''t afford to lose any of you. Think about the lives that are saved when the portals are active," Drake explained.

    "None of us became adventurers to be safe," Jonah retorted.

    "We did it to be rich!" Another added.

    "In the past Spires, we participated in the waves and were still able to operate the Safe Zone portals," Rainia said.

    "But Seb is gone," Drake retorted.

    "You have Val," Jeze said and pointed to the blonde lady, who visibly shrank from the attention.

    "That''s right!" Jonah exclaimed.

    Jeze took a chance and announced, "I believe it is decided. We should go down and prepare for the beast waves now that we have time. Many of us can join our teams."

    "No," Drake barked but saw the negative reactions from the adventurers arrayed before him. The captain put on his best smile and said, "Please consider the ramifications."

    "Consider it considered," Jonah replied and hefted his pack.

    His team and the others followed suit. In mere moments, the experienced adventurers were packed and ready to go. The Legionnaires blocked their way.

    Jonah chuckled ominously, "Drake, you better have your lads move, or I promise you this. They will not like how this plays out."

    The soldiers looked nervous. As they should be, Jeze reflected. They were standing before three dozen armed and seasoned adventurers. Most of the soldiers looked like they had not experienced their first fight. Each adventurer was experienced and bloodied from combat, including Jeze. Drake glared hard at them and for a moment, it looked like they would have to fight.

    "Let them pass," Drake finally gave in.

    Jeze and the adventurers marched on down to the valley below. She was excited that her idea worked! She used her words, and she beat Drake in his own game. Jeze had a smug smile on her face.

    "Don''t get too cocky. You are now becoming more dangerous to Drake''s Empire, which means he will go to greater lengths to have you killed," Ziplocke cautioned.

    "How so?" Jeze asked.

    "Before he thought he could make you disappear. You have secret knowledge, you shared it to Seb. That was a problem, but now you have recognition. You are becoming known and as a result a greater threat," explained Ziplocke.

    Jeze''s smug smile faded away into a scowl of determination. "I will be ready," she growled.

    "It won''t be easy, especially with the Spire arriving. For about a week, waves of monsters will pour out. It will be pure chaos and plenty of opportunities for an assassin''s blade to find its way into your back," Ziplocke said with a snicker.

    "You seem to know a lot about this sort of stuff," Jeze replied.

    "Do not forget that I am a Goblin, and I am typically bonded to the more unsavory type of individual."

    "Why did you choose to bond with me?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke tapped his chin and responded, "Truthfully? I thought I could trick you and escape. To have two years to myself on the material plane! That would have been fantastic. But your teachers, the Old Crones, they are crafty. They are definitely more than they seem."

    Jeze considered what he said and fed him a small amount of paste. She always wondered why they opened up a Wizardry school in the middle of nowhere. Jeze and the others made it down the rocky mountain side and into the valley after nearly three hours of hiking. At the bottom the earth was churned from thousands of tracks.

    "Now I just need to find the Frostsworn before the Spire appears," Jeze said.

    Ziplocke snickered, "You are going to fail!"

 Chapter 40: Monsters

    "Good luck," Rainia said. The Spirit Walker gave Jeze a necklace and added, "Please take this. It has the Spirit aspect inscribed along the beads. It is a simple spell, and once you learn it, it can give you guidance."

    Jeze was speechless. This was a valuable gift, and when the teenager was able to find her voice, she said, "Thank you, but I have nothing to give you of equal value."

    Rainia smiled gently as she replied, "Sometimes, when we awake, we forget to open our eyes. You reminded us to open our eyes, and for that, we are grateful."

    "What in the Hells does that supposed to mean?" Ziplocke snarled when the dark-haired Spirit Walker departed to join her team.

    Jeze pondered a moment and replied, "That sometimes we limit ourselves to what is in front of us instead of opening up to the possibilities that are around us."

    Ziplocke slapped his forehead. "Knucklehead, don''t let the Spirit Walkers get to you with their nonsense."

    "Thank you, young lady, and be safe," Jonah said as he approached with his heavy pack.

    "You too!" Jeze exclaimed and shook his hand. The team of hunters and trappers each came to pat the teenager on the back.

    "We will see you when the waves clear," Jonah shouted as he and his team went in search of an ideal spot to harvest the pending surge of beasts.

    She and Ziplocke were surrounded by thousands of adventuring teams and squads of soldiers as they prepared for the pending arrival of the Wandering Spire. The valley and mountainside went on for miles in all directions, and it appeared to Jeze that the encampments covered each inch. Jeze saw a contingent of Ironfist soldiers in steel breastplates over dark green gambesons and pants march past her. She ducked into the crowds to avoid a company of Golden Empire soldiers in tanned armor as they erected giant ballistas and catapults. As she moved on, she had to step aside to make way for a unit of mounted cavalry archers that rode past on their dark horses from the Tribal Council. She even saw pikemen in multi-colored outfits from a kingdom that she did not know of. Everywhere bustled with activity. It was both exciting and hopeless. How would she find her team?

    "The Adventurer Guild should know," Ziplocke suggested and pointed with a thin green finger.

    Jeze looked up and saw a pavilion where the the people wore a collection of different armor and weapons. These were adventurers, because they lacked the uniformity of the armies. The Goblin was correct, they may know where the Frostworn were camped. Jeze made her way over, and her heart sank when she saw stationed around the tent were several adventurers in the red robes of the Amber Guard.

    "What if Miss Heng is there?" Jeze said in worry.

    "You are Scout, right? Well, then go and Scout! Knucklehead," Ziplocke snapped.

    Jeze put up her hood and did a casual walk of the perimeter. She felt she was being stealthy until a firm hand gripped her shoulder.

    "What are you up to?" One of the Amber Guards had snuck up on Jeze.

    He was a broad-shouldered man with close-crop dark hair and a clean-shaven face. The Amber Guard carried an assortment of weapons, from a sword, a mace, and a stiletto dagger, all hung from his hips. Jeze also saw a crossbow slung over his shoulders. Daverius described such warriors in his journal. They were called Man-at-arms. Fighters that trained in multiple weapons in order to handle any occasion.

    "I''m looking for my team," Jeze stammered.

    "Oh really? You sure you are not up to any trouble?" The Man-at-arms asked.

    "Yes, I''m lost, that is all."

    "Then why are you slinking around?"

    "I was not. I didn''t want to trouble anyone. This is my first Spire event," Jeze said.

    "Come with me," the man ordered.

    Jeze followed the Amber Guard into the pavilion. There was an enormous table that held an exact replica of the valley they were in. The replica was finely crafted to include mountains, rivers, and small miniatures that represented the different armies and teams that formed a ring around the high peak of Mount Dragon. The story it told was enlightening to Jeze. Despite the massive numbers of soldiers and adventurers, the situation appeared grim. All the forces they had were only able to create a thin line around the expected Wandering Spire event. Monsters will most definitely breakthrough.

    "What is your name?" The Amber Guard asked. He held a magical tome.

    "Jeze Zanchi," she answered.

    The man found her in the tome and looked up with narrow eyes. "You were supposed to be with the Safe Zone Squad up on the ridge."

    Thinking quickly, Jeze responded, "Yes, but the plans changed. We were asked to join our teams in the valley to bolster the forces. We were told that there were going to be too many gaps."

    Inwardly, she prayed that this ruse would work. The Amber guard nodded, his face unreadable. Finally, he asked, "Who is in charge of your team?"

    Jeze answered, "I''m with the Frostsworn. Uh, Carl Jorgenson."

    The man scanned the journal and nodded. "Right. You best hurry, your team is on the other side of the valley. Head west until you find Station 28. This here is Station 5. At station 28 they should be able to direct you to the Frostsworn." With that the man left to return to his duties.

    "That was easy," Jeze said.

    "Too easy. You should be worried," Ziplocke whispered into her ear.

    Jeze jogged and weaved through the thick crowds of soldiers, adventurers, and wagons. The encampments were pretty organized despite the apparent chaos of hundreds of different teams and multiple armies operating independently. The Guild had perfected the Wandering Spire event with the Stations.

    "So, our little mouse was able to escape!" Helga boomed.

    Ziplocke squealed and melted into the neighboring shadows. Jeze didn''t realize how happy she would be when she found her team. She groaned when the large warrior maiden embraced her in a fierce hug.

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    "You did. We are happy to see," Jorgenson stated.

    Dunar, Rolfe, and Mikal each came to embrace Jeze.

    "We were worried we would have to fight without you watching our left flank," Dunar said.

    "Is that all?" Jeze asked, her eyes narrowed.

    Dunar blushed and scratched his head. "We are glad to have you."

    They embraced.

    "Okay, enough greeting. We have much to discuss," Jorgeson stated.

    "Right, come Jeze, let me show you where you can put your pack," Dunar said.

    The Frostsworn leader showed Jeze to their small camp. She recognized the packs for the others and smiled. They had prepared a space for her around the campfire. She deposited her heavy pack and hurried with Dunar to Jorgenson, where all the Frostsworn adventurers gathered. The giant warriors formed a ring around Jorgenson and Orn.

    "Gather around. The Wandering Spire will be appearing any moment now. We must be ready," Jorgenson said.

    The Carl stepped back to allow Berserker Orn space to speak.

    "Carls! You have been here before. You are all tasked to guide the Proven. Now, to you pups, this is an opportunity to find glory. It will be dangerous and difficult, but if you find the strength of Winter within you, you can overcome all obstacles. When the Spire appears, the sky will darken, and a thick fog will billow out. From the fog, all manner of beasts will emerge. They will be fierce and filled with a ravenous hunger. We must not let them escape! The world depends upon us to stop them here!" Orn boomed and stepped back.

    Jorgenson stepped up and explained, "The armies will fight the weaker beasts. We will be tasked with taking on the more challenging tasks. Proven, you will be called in to strengthen the weakening lines of the armies. You will be tasked with special missions. Each team leader has a Communication Scroll where your orders will be written. Follow them and find your glory!"

    Jeze and the collected Frostsworn let out a cheer, and they were all dismissed to make their final preparations. Dunar gathered the team, and they walked through the packed field.

    "See those markers?" Dunar asked and pointed.

    Ahead of them were 15 feet tall rune-covered poles that were evenly spaced from each other and formed a perimeter. Jeze looked and saw that they traveled as far as she could see and she guessed that there were hundreds of them.

    Dunar explained, "That marks the boundary of where the Seers believe the Spire will appear."

    "The Spire will slowly materialize over the course of seven days. You do not want to be inside there when it forms. It won''t be pleasant!" Ziplocke said with a snicker.

    "Aww, the little one is so cute when he is telling us wise things!" Helga said and beamed.

    Ziplocke screeched and hid behind Jeze''s head.

    "Tell us more, little one," Dunar encouraged.

    "It will be a thick cloud that will form a bridge between your reality and the Abyssal plane. Once the way is opened, the Demons will rush through, mad with hunger. You see, they savor the taste of mortal flesh," Ziplocke explained and giggled with delight.

    "Oh, do you have such tastes?" Rolfe asked.

    Ziplocke hissed and bared his teeth at the large warrior. Rolfe took a step back, and Ziplocke nearly fell over from laughing so hard.

    Jeze rolled her eyes and replied, "No, Goblins prefer spicy and sour things to eat. What Goblins enjoy most is the unfortunate misery from mortals."

    "So true! The look of dismay on your faces is such a treat! I swear, you can''t find such things in the Abyssal plane," Ziplocke shrieked.

    Mikal shook his head and stated, "I still do not understand why we allow such a creature to travel with us."

    Ziplocke hissed at the dark-haired Healer.

    "I do not mind, little one. I find you very cute and huggable," Helga stated.

    The Goblin screeched and jumped off Jeze''s shoulder''s to disappear into the shadows.

    "How does he do that?" Rolfe asked.

    "Goblins are innately connected to the Darkness aspect. If you watch closely you can see the Runes appear along his body when he Summons and Shapes the shadows," Jeze answered and stopped when she realized the large warrior was no longer paying attention.

    "I did not know that. Can you show me the Darkness aspect?" Mikal asked.

    At first, Jeze thought the cynical Healer was being sarcastic but was relieved to discover that he was actually interested. She showed him her Darkness aspect ring.

    "This is good work," He said as he examined the intricately carved Runes.

    "Okay, let''s talk with the Goblin some more to learn about the beasts that we can expect," Dunar called out.

    Jeze coaxed the Goblin to come out with some paste. He eagerly slurped up the stuff.

    "The first to most likely come through will be the Bloodlings. They are everywhere back where I come from. They are ravenous and eat anything, even each other. But I have seen adventurers kill them easily enough. Ooh! Except when one gets swarmed, they will chew you fast to the bone!" Ziplocke cackled and hopped around in delight.

    "He is not right," Mikal observed.

    "I have read about Bloodlings. Many hunters come to the Spire to skin them for their hides, which have many uses," Dunar stated.

    Jeze thought about Jonah and his team.

    "Tell me, little Demon, about the Goreraptors," Mikal requested.

    Ziplocke let out a shrill sound as he laughed. He quieted when Jeze fed him paste.

    "What is so funny?" Asked Mikal.

    "Nothing, I just imagined the look on your face when a Goreraptor impales you with its spike," Ziplocke screeched out and laughed some more.

    "I have read that their horns can be grounded and used for many potions and magical purposes. Especially with the Life aspect," Mikal said.

    Ziplocke nodded, "That is true. But they are very dangerous. The size of a horse."

    "Tier 4, at least," Rolfe said and rubbed his hands together.

    "I can''t wait for the Spire to appear!" Helga boomed.

    "Will they appear?" Mikal asked.

    "Most certainly, not in as many numbers as the Bloodlings, but they will arrive shortly after. They are also prevalent in the Abyssal plane, and they particularly enjoy the feel of mortal blood on their spikes," Ziplocke said, snickering.

    "What else can we expect?" Dunar asked.

    "How am I supposed to know?" Ziplocke snapped.

    "You are a Demon! This is your realm," Dunar countered.

    "Oh, so you can tell me about every creature that lives here on the mortal plane?"

    Dunar paused and scratched his head.

    "I didn''t think so!" Ziplocke growled.

    Jeze fed him some more paste and requested, "Tell us what you do know."

    Ziplocke slurped up the yummy treat and smacked his lips. "Well, you have Hellbats; they are large and fly and will tear you limb from limb if they get a hold of you," the Goblin had a bout of laughter.

    When he subsided, the Goblin continued, "There are also Howlers. Lots of Howlers, and they will come after the beasts. They will be organized and well-armed. You must be careful with them."

    "Thank you, Goblin. This is helpful. Anything else you can share?" Dunar asked.

    Ziplocke tapped his chin and then let loose another shriek. He was rolling on his back and kicking up his legs.

    "What is it?" Jeze knelt beside her companion.

    "I was thinking about the Rovers! Oh, how they will snatch unsuspecting adventurers up and devour them as they scream helplessly while entangled among the Rover''s tentacles," Ziplocke answered.

    "I have never heard of such a beast," Mikal stated.

    Rolfe and Helga were subdued and looked less eager. Everyone heard a ringing sound. It reminded Jeze of the Earth aspect ring she used to summon Ziplocke. The noise came from Dunar''s pocket. The leader withdrew the Communication Scroll and read it.

    "Well?" Mikal asked.

    "The Spire will appear within the hour. We are asked to immediately mobilize to the front lines," Dunar answered.

    This was it. The time has come for them to test their mettle.

 Chapter 41: Monster Waves

    The team gathered their weapons, Channeling tools and double-checked their armor. They were as ready as they ever could be, and they headed off toward the battle lines. Beside them, a row of soldiers from various nations formed. Jeze saw on their right the golden uniformed Legionnaires of the Empire, and on their left were the soldiers in silver breastplates and green tabards of the Ironfist Kingdom. Adventurers were dotted among the armies in their assortment of armor and weapons. A hundred meters ahead of them was the ring of poles that marked the boundary of where the Spire was expected to form.

    The Frostsworn did not send an army, but they had sent their Proven, Berserker Orn, and half a dozen Carls. The large northern warriors were scattered among the armies along with the other adventurers. Jeze could hear Orn''s deep rumbling war chant ripple through the air and it lit a fire in her chest.

    "This is a good day for a fight!" Helga boasted.

    Rolfe banged his spear against his shield in agreement. Even Mikal joined in and raised his spear.

    "Aye! We have trained for this moment. Let us reap the rewards of our hard work. For Glory!" Dunar cheered.

    Jeze howled to the sky like a wild wolf. The Legionnaires and Ironfist kingdom soldiers glanced at them. They were clearly nervous, but all of the adventurers were excited.

    "Good luck, and don''t die," Ziplocke told Jeze.

    "He won''t be with us?" Dunar asked.

    "I strictly serve as a consultant," the Goblin hissed.

    "He has to respond to my summons within fifteen minutes," Jeze said and added, "In case we need him."

    Ziplocke scowled and spat, "I can''t fight!"

    "But you have information," Dunar responded.

    "Whatever," the Goblin faded into the shadows.

    There were plenty of shadows now as the sky darkened to a deep purple, and the landscape flashed from the occasional lightning. The wind picked up, and above them, a swirling mass of purple clouds billowed down to the Earth to create an enormous column that grew thicker and more substantial. The fog rolled and rumbled toward them with sparks of lightning that danced from within. For a moment, Jeze feared that the thick, dark purple mass would pass the boundary markers and engulf them. She and the Frostsworn whooped and howled with excitement. They were eager for combat.

    The soldiers at their sides, however, trembled with fear. A few turned to flee, only to be forced back into line by their commanders. Jeze recalled Irvin''s words and wondered how the official was doing. Adventurers were a different breed. They were the best of the best, and where others would hide from the horrors, an adventurer rushed toward it. Jeze and her team felt a blast of hot, dry air coming from the billowing fog, which rumbled to a halt at the boundary markers. The Seers had predicted correctly, Jeze thought.

    "The Threshold has opened!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    A cacophony of scratches could be heard coming from within the thick purple mass. It sounded like running claws along gravel. Thousands of claws. The Earth shook as if a stampede was coming toward them.

    "For Glory!" Dunar boomed in a deep, rumbling voice.

    "For Glory!" Jeze and her team roared back.

    They stood in formation with Rolfe and Dunar holding shields and Helga prepared with her Dane axe. Jeze Summoned Earth and Shaped it into stone fists and covered the left flank while Mikal covered the right flank with his spear. The sounds grew louder, and the ground violently shook. Like the bursting of a dam, hundreds of monsters spewed forth out of the thick, billowing purple fog. The beasts loped on four legs that ended in sharp claws. They had four dark insectoid-like eyes and wicked scorpion-like mandibles.

    "Bloodlings!" Dunar called out.

    Each Bloodling was the size of a wolf, and they rapidly approached on their fast-pumping legs. Jeze joined the hundreds of archers and Controlled the stone fists to launch out toward the oncoming horde. Dozens of Bloodlings fell dead by the second as they were struck with arrows, crossbolts, and an assortment of magical attacks, including Jeze''s Earth aspect bombardment. Ballista and catapults wreaked even greater havoc, but it did little to quell the raging swarm.

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    Jeze rapidly finished each glyph to strike a monster with bone-crushing impacts from her soaring stone fists. The Bloodlings neared, and Helga let loose. The warrior maiden leaped forward with a mighty swing, and she sliced a swath of death. Helga shifted her axe and hips and wound up for a second swing. With the perfect timing that could have only been developed through countless hours of training, Rolfe covered Helga''s exposed flank and rammed his shield into the Bloodlings while impaling a few more with his spear. The large warrior stepped back just as Helga swung her axe again and delivered a second lethal stroke of death to a line of monsters. The ones that were able to circle past Helga''s right were impaled upon Mikal''s spear. Dunar bashed with his shield and stabbed with his sword on their left. All the while, Jeze kept a continuous stonefist bombardment and trimmed down the numbers of Bloodlings before they arrived.

    This pattern went on for many minutes as the horde of beasts seemed endless. Shield bash, sword stab, spear thrust, Rune magic attack, and axe swing. The ground soon became littered with the bodies of dead and dying Bloodlings. But the monsters kept coming. Jeze was starting to feel the strain on her Will as she continued to Summon, Shape, and Control the Earth aspect spell. But, she and the Frostsworn kept fighting at a consistent pace like a fire through a field of kindling.

    Then, the soldiers began to fall, and the battle line started to crumble. From the corner of Jeze''s eye she saw a hapless soldier get dragged off his feet and disappeared under the bloody claws and mandibles of the Bloodlings. The gurgling death cries unnerved Jeze, and her Will faltered.

    "Crush our enemies!" Dunar cried, his voice deep like rumbling thunder.

    "For Glory!" Jeze and the others roared back.

    This inspired her, and her Will snapped back into a strong resolve. The magic flowed through Jeze as free as a spring stream. She Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled the Earth aspect with ease. Her aim and mastery of the Runic arts improved as she entered a flow state. The same was true for her teammates. They moved with a rhythm and delivered fatal blows with each swing. Rolfe and Dunar blocked and bashed with their shields in fluid motions. Mikal switched between spear thrusts to Summoning, Shaping, and Controlling the Water aspect to freeze and slow down the horde of onrushing Bloodlings. The soldiers to Jeze''s left were not doing well, and the line faltered from the continued assault, and soon they would break.

    "Jeze, aid them!" Dunar commanded.

    The teenager tapped her Earth aspect bracelet and completed the gestures that Summoned a wall of Earth that was two meters high and several meters long. Tapping her bracelet a second time, she completed a different set of glyphs and Shaped the Earth wall into stone. The Bloodlings were able to scale the wall, and a few did, but most changed direction and rushed toward Jeze and her team. Let them come! Jeze thought as she stopped her Runic casting and drew forth her battleaxe and long knife.

    A Bloodling leaped with vicious claws extended. Jeze stepped back and planted her axe in its skull. She dodged a second monster and sliced it across its throat with her long knife. A third slashed a glancing blow on her armored shoulder. Jeze stumbled and severed the Bloodlings spine with her battleaxe. She was off balance when the fourth attacked but was slammed by Dunar''s shield. Jeze stabbed the dazed monster in between its pitch-black eyes. In moments, the team was surrounded, and they maintained their formation through Dunar''s deep voice.

    "Regroup!" The team leader roared.

    "For Glory!" They responded as one.

    They remained close through the sound of their voices as a sea of claws and monsters blurred their vision.

    "Crush our enemies!" Dunar shouted.

    "For Glory!" They roared back.

    And so they fought. Each one was bloodied from numerous gashes from claws and mandibles, but they continued on. Each in their own flow state. Attack, parry, block, dodge, and attack. Jeze felt the warmth of Mikal''s Life aspect magic flow through her and her bleeding stopped while her vitality remained. Jeze lost track of time, and the stream of monsters stopped. To her, it felt like waking up from a deep sleep as peace settled around them.

    The soldiers to their left and right fell to their knees, trembling from the horrors they just experienced. Jeze and the Frostsworn had a different feeling. They were elated. They were victorious!

    "For Glory!" Jeze howled like a wolf to the full moon.

    "For Glory!" Her teammates responded.

    "I''m ready for more!" Helga shouted.

    "Aye, we shall crush our enemies and grind their bones to dust!" Rolfe cried.

    Mikal raised his spear and whooped. They had changed the tide of battle and allowed the armies to their sides to regroup. Dunar''s Communication Scroll pinged, and the leader unrolled and read it.

    "What does it say?" Jeze asked.

    Dunar scanned the valley of war with his dark eyes. Somewhere, a Guild official was monitoring the battlefield and giving orders to the teams. Jeze wondered if it was Irvin.

    "This area is secure for now. We are needed to the east," Dunar answered and pointed.

    They could see hundreds of Bloodlings clash against the faltering lines of soldiers.

    "Form up!" Dunar barked.

    Jeze and the others moved quickly into formation, and as one, they charged again into battle.

 Chapter 42: Tier Four

    The beasts kept coming through the thick purple fog in hordes and swarmed the lines of soldiers. The valley was pure madness and filled with screams and fighting all around as Jeze and her team ran from one fight to the next. Dunar''s scroll directed them to where the lines were faltering and their job was to reinforce the soldiers long enough until reinforcements arrived.

    "Help us!" A bloodied Legionnaire cried.

    The unit was in shambles as the Bloodlings ran through it and picked off soldiers one at a time and dragged them kicking and screaming to a horrible fate. More beasts were coming, and soon, the entire squad would be wiped out. But Jeze and the Proven had arrived.

    "Jeze, you know what to do," Dunar stated.

    The teenager nodded and Summoned and Shaped a wall of stone like she had done earlier. This directed the swarm of Bloodlings away from the Legionnaires and toward the Proven''s eager weapons. As one, they fought in the fluid pattern of an experienced team that trained and drilled for many hours. Dunar had lost his shield a while ago and fought with an axe and sword. Rolfe held the front with the team''s only remaining shield, while Helga created a swath of death with each mighty swing of her Dane axe. Jeze fought by Dunar''s side with her long knife and battle axe, and Mikal held the rear to impale the errant Bloodling with his spear. Whenever there was space, Jeze and Mikal would switch to Rune magic to bombard the Bloodlings with missiles made from Ice and Stone.

    The Proven fought tirelessly as the wounded Legionnaires were dragged out of the field, and the battle line was reinforced with new soldiers. A squad of archers fell into place in the rear line and let loose a barrage of arrows that gave Jeze and her team the time needed to fall back.

    "You have our thanks, Adventurers! You saved many lives today!" An Empire sergeant shouted with a salute. She was a serious soldier, and her stoic face was honest and grateful.

    Not all Legionnaires were bad, Jeze thought to herself and nodded back. Over a dozen times, they received gratitude from a bloodied sergeant from one nation or another. It never got old to Jeze. Dunar''s scroll pinged, and he read it.

    "Looks like we get a break," he said.

    They were exhausted and even Helga did not argue against that. They had traveled up and down the line and assisted soldiers from all the different nations for nearly half a day. The team moved away from the battle and back toward their camp by Station 28. It was far enough away from the battle that the sounds were distant and felt like a dream.

    Helga and Rolfe slumped to the ground. Jeze used her ring to Summon Ziplocke and carefully searched the Station tent for Drake or Miss Heng. She was relieved that they were not there but neither was Irvin. She had hoped to see her friend.

    Inside the tent, the Guild officials used complex Rune magic to update the replica of the Valley, which rested on a massive table like a war map. Jeze watched the miniatures that represented armies and adventurer teams fade away and reform on the table to update the actions that were reported from the battle lines in real-time. Jeze saw teams of adventurers assigned to fill in the gaps. The Rune patterns intrigued Jeze, and she wondered if someone would show her how they worked. Probably not until after the beast waves, Jeze thought to herself.

    "Do we have an Adventurer Ranked team in the area? Rovers have been spotted in the vicinity," An official asked a group of scribes that operated the Communication Scrolls. They furiously wrote and transcribed information.

    Jeze was not able to hear the answer because outside Dunar barked, "Do not rest yet! Take care of your weapons. Check your armor for repairs, and we need to have lunch."

    She heard her teammates groan, but Dunar was right. Jeze returned to their camp and wiped down her axe blade and long knife with the oils in the way Hannah had instructed her. She wrapped up her weapons and folded them neatly into her pack. Jeze inspected her armor and saw that none of the plates were damaged. She had dozens of gashes that needed sewing. They would need to visit a craftsman. Jeze remembered something.

    "You need a new shield, oh wise leader," She reminded Dunar.

    Mikal snickered at the joke. Ziplocke arrived and scampered up Jeze''s shoulder.

    "I do. Thank you," Dunar said with a nod.

    "Aww, why did you remind him? The look on his face when arrows come raining down and he realizes he has no shield would have been epic to see!" The Goblin cackled with glee.

    Mikal shook his head as he wrapped his spearhead in an oilcloth.

    Rolfe stood up and sniffed the air. "I smell food!"

    The smell of roast meat filled their nostrils. Before Dunar could say anything, his teammates ran off like hunting dogs on the scent. Very few adventuring teams got a break, and most were out on the field fighting. The crowds this far back from the battle lines consisted of Prospect-ranked officials and merchants. In addition, there were noncombat troops for the armies of the various nations. Logistics, physicians, and laborers maintained the camps. There were dozens of wagons pulled by horses that came and went with supplies and transported the wounded or the dead. The cooking smells grew stronger, and Jeze saw a familiar face.

    "Jonah!" She cried.

    The bald adventurer looked up and smiled. "Hey! How''s your first beast wave going?"

    Jonah and his team were sitting around several barbecue pits where they were cooking Bloodlings. They also had piles of skins from the demons. Judging from the amount, they did pretty good for themselves.

    "I''m glad that I was able to join my team. I have perfected my axe swings," Jeze replied.

    "Perfection is the journey, not a destination," Jonah wisely stated, and the teenager wondered if he really was a monk after all.

    "We can eat the Bloodlings?" She asked and wrinkled her nose.

    "Oh yes! Normally, predators like wolves make for terrible eating. The meat is real gamey. But, not Bloodlings. Their chitinous skins are filled with fats and oils that make the meat tender and juicy. We have perfected the best way to cook them," Jonah answered.

    "I thought perfection was the journey," Jeze teased.

    Jonah laughed.

    "The food smells delicious!" Helga cried.

    "Aye, may we join you?" Rolfe asked. The large man pulled out his coin pouch.

    Jeze introduced her teammates.

    "Friends of Jeze are friends of ours," Jonah replied and added, "Please put your coins away. There are plenty of Bloodlings to eat."

    "You have our thanks," Dunar said and shook the bald adventurer''s hand.

    "Any news?" One of Jonah''s teammates asked as they sat around the cooking fires.

    "Rovers were spotted," Jeze repeated what she heard from the tent as she munched on a Bloodling steak. It was delicious.

    "Nasty things with tentacles that lash out as fast as your eye can blink and a''fore you know it, you are being dragged toward their maws filled with razor sharp teeth," a hunter from Jonah''s team replied.

    Ziplocke cackled. "You all are in trouble now!"

    "Why do we have him again?" Mikal said and pointed at the Goblin.

    Ziplocke hissed.

    "He is so adorable! I could squeeze him to death!" Helga beckoned the tiny Demon to come to her.

    Ziplocke shrieked and ran to hide on Jeze''s shoulder. Dunar and Jonah''s Communication Scrolls pinged at the same time. The two unfurled and read the notes.

    "Break time''s over," Dunar said.

    Jonah sighed and rose to his feet, and told Jeze, "You be safe now."

    "Same to you," the teenager replied.

    On the way back to their camp Dunar purchased from a merchant a large round shield with a metal boss in it''s center used by the Frostsworn.

    "How is everyone''s armor?" The Team leader asked.

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    "Functioning," Jeze answered, and the others agreed.

    "Good, let''s head out!" Dunar barked.

    "For Glory!" The others responded.

    Ziplocke snorted and faded from view. The cheer always inspired Jeze to fight hard. They jogged toward the battle lines. Dunar explained that a Ballista Unit was under attack and that they were tasked to defend it. The sounds of battle grew louder upon their approach. The large bolt-throwers were stationed up on a low ridge that overlooked the valley. They were a part of the second line of defense where the reserve soldiers were stationed. The front lines were dozens of meters ahead of them.

    When Jeze and the Proven arrived, they were confronted with fleeing Legionnaires that were chased by fast-moving Bloodlings. An officer was wildly screaming for the soldiers to remain to no avail and was silenced when a Bloodling pounced and ripped his throat out. The Demon began to eat his face. The gruesome sight used to disturb Jeze, but she had seen it too often that she became desensitized to it. They arrived to the party late, and they had work to do.

    "Do not let any of the Bloodlings get past us!" Dunar barked.

    Jeze and Mikal switched to their Runic magic. Jeze decided to use the Fire aspect as it was faster, and the two launched missiles of flame and ice at the scattered Bloodlings that broke past the front line. Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga cleared the area around the Ballista Unit, and the deadly bolt throwers were now operational.

    Ahead of them, the field was littered with bodies of both Bloodlings and Legionnaires. Some of the soldiers died trying to flee, and others died trying to reinforce the front line. There was a breach in the line of soldiers that allowed a swarm of Bloodlings to rush forward uncontested.

    "We must hurry! Let us make these Demons wish they never entered our realm!" Dunar''s deep voice roared.

    "For Glory!" His team shouted back.

    Jeze and the Proven charged forward, with Rolfe being front and center. Dunar was on the large man''s left, and Helga was on the right. Behind the three were Jeze and Mikal. Jeze Summoned and Shaped Stone walls to protect the flanks of the soldiers on either side and create a funnel for the Bloodings to meet with Rolfe''s spear and Helga''s deadly axe. Mikal Summoned water and Shaped it to frost to slow the approaching horde.

    In an instant, they were back into the thick of battle as the Bloodlings surrounded them with slashing talons and snapping manibiles. Dunar and Rolfe bashed with their shields and stabbed with spear and sword. Helga swung her axe in mighty arcs that sent bits of Demons soaring into the air. Jeze and Mikal protected the flanks with stabbing, chopping, and slashing. As a team, they improved their reflexes and timing. They honed their techniques to peak efficiency of energy and force. They became very good at killing, and their arrival brought precious time for the soldiers up on the low ridge to regroup. In moments, the Ballistas were back in operation and rained death down upon the approaching Bloodings. The tide of Demons dwindled, and reinforcements were on their way to fill the breach.

    "You have our thanks," a Legionnaire officer said with a salute.

    Dunar nodded and turned toward his team with a shout, "Glory is ours!"

    Jeze and the Proven howled like a pack of Dire wolves. The energy was so intense that even the Legionnaires joined in. The team would remain on the front line until they were dismissed. Bodies littered the ground all around them, indicating that this area had experienced hard-fought battles. More archers arrived on the low ridge and joined the Balistas in bombarding the horde of Bloodlings. Jeze saw the arc of hundreds of arrows and bolts soar above her and rained death on the monsters that emerged from the thick purple fog. This gave the soldiers a much-needed reprieve as the number of Bloodlings that made it to the front lines dwindled down to a trickle.

    "What''s next?" Helga asked.

    Dunar checked the Communication Scroll and answered, "Nothing new. We remain here for now."

    Rolfe''s eyes narrowed as he looked up at the ridge. Jeze wondered what the large man saw and turned to see what looked like a pair of Legionnaires aiming their crossbows at her. That can''t be right, she thought. Twang! The crossbows fired, and the bolts flew at frightening speeds toward her. Jeze couldn''t do anything. It happened so fast. Luckily, Rolfe''s large round shield appeared in front of her vision and blocked the bolts with a pair of reverberating thuds.

    "By the hells!" The giant Frostsworn roared.

    "What happened?" Dunar asked. The team prepared for combat.

    "Those two shot at Jeze!" Helga cried.

    The Legionnaires turned to flee, and the warrior Maiden gave chase, her powerful legs pumping.

    "Can you hit them from here?" Dunar asked the teenager.

    Jeze growled. It just dawned on her what had happened. Drake''s men just tried to assassinate her! With rage-filled focus, she Summoned earth. She shaped it into a Stone fist and Controlled it to strike one of the fleeing would-be assassins in the back of his head. The blow knocked his helmet off, and the soldier fell to the ground. Dunar, Jeze, Rolfe, and Mikal rushed to interrogate the fallen soldier as Helga was gaining on the second assassin.

    The area was littered with bodies, and the assassin stumbled to his feet and continued to flee. Jeze and her team were nearly upon him when a pile of bodies erupted in a mass of rippling tentacles. Several speared out and entangled the assassin. A Rover was hiding among the bodies! Jeze realized.

    "By the Frozen All Father!" Mikal gasped.

    They watched in horror as the screaming assassin was engulfed in spiked tentacles and dragged into a giant maw filled with razor teeth. They heard bone, armor, and flesh snapped, and the horrible screaming was silenced. The Rover was a mass of writhing tentacles that changed colors that matched its surroundings. Rows of needles adorned the ends of the tentacles, and it was difficult to gauge its size as it was partially buried still under the bodies. But Jeze guessed it to be as big as a large horse. This was a Tier Four monster, one that a team of Initiates was supposed to fight.

    "Let''s show this aberration the might of the Proven!" Rolfe roared and rushed forward to stab the Rover with his spear.

    Tentacles lashed out in a blur and slapped loudly against the large Frostsworn''s shield. Another tentacle wrapped around Rolfe''s leg but the powerful Frostsworn would not be dragged as he stabbed the beast over and over. The Rover''s rubbery skin made it difficult for the spear to penetrate. Mikal gave a shout as a tentacle snatched him off his feet and dragged him along the churned and bloodied ground. The Healer frantically tried to kick himself free, but more tentacles lashed on to him. Jeze swung her axe, and with several swings, she chopped Mikal free.

    "Rolfe, use your sword!" Dunar barked.

    The team leader rushed forward with his axe and blade and sliced tentacles off with each attack. Rolfe growled and dropped his spear to draw his sword. The giant Protector smashed the Rover with his shield and chopped with his sword. Mikal encased the monster in frost, and Jeze joined the other two and hacked and slashed. They whittled away the tentacles and saw what they guessed to be the main body of the aberration. As one, they hacked and stabbed until the beast stopped moving.

    Jeze was about to let loose a shrill howl but was cut off as a spiked tentacle wrapped itself around her armored legs and dragged her off her feet.

    "Jeze!" Dunar cried as she was dragged by a second Rover.

    The teenager spun around and slashed with her knife. It took two swings to cut herself free, but she was now closer to the monster that was hidden among the corpses. More camouflaged tentacles snaked out and entangled her. Jeze gave a shout of pain as the spikes penetrated her armor and pierced her flesh. She squirmed and fought to free herself but the Rover was too strong and had too many tentacles on her. Jeze used her knife to cut her arm free but then her knife arm would be wrapped up, and she would chop with her axe only for more tentacles to ensare her and she was unable to generate momentum with her swings and was slowly becoming trapped and dragged toward the giant tooth filled maw. She saw her death there.

    Her team rushed to her rescue. She felt the healing magic of Mikal ease the pain of her numerous wounds and Rolfe attempted to grab her, but the large warrior was pushed back by more tentacles. Dunar was also hard pressed to get near as the Team leader hacked and slashed his way near. How could there be so many tentacles? Jeze wondered and with horror, she realized there was another Rover!

    But she would not give up. With a roar, she fought with all her might to free her knife arm so that she could cut herself free. It was futile, but she fought with everything she had. Mikal assisted by freezing the Rover to slow it down. To her side, Dunar and Rolfe were in a life-and-death struggle against the other aberration, and with a sinking feeling, Jeze realized that they would not get to her in time. She was just inches away from the Rover''s giant maw, and she kicked and squirmed but continued to be pulled toward the horrible gnashing teeth.

    That was when flames struck it, and the monster let loose a shrill shriek as it''s rubbery flesh burned from the magical fire attacks. Ziplocke had arrived and Jeze saw the faint red Fire aspect Runes alight on his body as he completed in rapid succession the glyphs that Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled Fire. He was graceful as he hurled fiery dart after fiery dart. The tentacles around Jeze loosened enough for her to free her battleaxe and long knife. She was able to slice and chop her way back to her feet and retreat. The Rover was no longer paying attention to her. It lashed out and snatched Ziplocke!

    "No!" Jeze roared and threw herself to save her bonded companion.

    The spiked filled tentacle squeezed the limp form of Ziplocke and dragged it rapidly to its churning maw of razor sharp teeth. The tiny Goblin weighed nothing, and the Rover dragged it quickly.

    "Ziplocke!" Jeze cried. She would not save him in time.

    A shadow appeared over Jeze and she glanced up to see the giant hurling form of Helga. The Frostsworn warrior maiden had returned and slammed her two handed Dane axe with tremendous force into the center of the writhing tentacles. Blood and tentacles erupted out of the monster, and it flopped dead. Ziplocke was mere inches from being devoured.

    "I am sorry Jeze. I did not catch that soldier, I rushed back as soon as I saw you fighting," Helga apolgoized.

    Jeze rushed forward and hugged the warrior maiden. "Thank you! You saved us!"

    Dunar, Rolfe, and Mikal had killed the other Rover. There were no more that they could see, for now. The team regrouped.

    "Will he be alright?" Helga asked about Ziplocke, her voice unusually soft.

    The Goblin whimpered and rose to his feet. His body was bleeding with puncture wounds from the Rover''s spiked tentacles.

    "I can''t believe I''m doing this," Mikal sighed. The Healer completed the Life aspect Glyphs to close the Goblin''s wounds.

    "Thank you Ziplocke! You saved my life!" Jeze cheered.

    The Goblin scowled and hissed.

    "I guess you are more than a consultant," Dunar teased.

    "It won''t happen again," Ziplocke snapped.

    Shouting could be heard from the battle lines to their left. The number of Bloodlings was reduced to a trickle, but now Rovers were attacking the soldiers.

    Ziplocke scurried up to Helga''s shoulder. This surprised Jeze.

    "Really?" The teenager asked.

    The Goblin snuggled up against the warrior maiden''s helmeted head.

    "Aww, so cute! You will join me in battle, little one?" Helga asked.

    Ziplocke replied, "Nope, never again." The Goblin hopped off and faded into the shadows.

    Jeze heard the Goblin add from hiding, "Knucklehead."

    "Break time is over. We have work to do," Dunar said and hefted his sword and axe.

    The team charged the attacking Rovers as the line of soldiers broke and fled.

    "We attack with the Strength of Winter!" Dunar roared.

    "For Glory!" The others shouted back.

    "Knuckleheads," Ziplocke said from the shadows further back from the fighting.

 Chapter 43: Harder Waves

    Jorgenson and the other Carls arrived at Jeze''s and the Proven''s camp to congratulate them on their victory over the Rovers.

    "You pups did well," one of the Carls stated.

    "Aye, a single Rover is considered Tier 4. By the accounts, your team defeated Five of them. That is considered a Tier 5 battle," Jorgenson added.

    "Does that make us Adventurer Rank?" Jeze perked up and asked.

    The Carls rumbled with deep laughter. "No, child. But it was an impressive feat and demonstrates that you all are on your way to achieving the next rank," Jorgenson replied.

    Dunar rose, his face serious, and he said, "Carl, we have disturbing news to share."

    Jorgenson and the Carls listened with stern faces as they were told about the assassination attempt on Jeze''s life.

    "The girl has much to share with us," Jorgenson stated.

    Jeze shrank from his icy gaze. She hesitated.

    "I don''t mind you having secrets. Unless they put our people in jeopardy," Jorgenson stated.

    "Out with it, girl!" Another Carl barked. This was the lady with the tattooed face.

    Jeze was startled out of her nervousness and she shared her story about Raynor''s death, and Drake''s treachery. She also shared with them the knowledge she gained from Archon regarding the Spire being called the Stronghold and what laid at the top.

    "We care not about the politics of the Empire," Jorgenson stated and added, "But this is troubling news that puts the Proven in danger."

    "Why didn''t you tell us sooner?" Dunar asked.

    Jeze''s heart broke at the concerned look from her Team Leader. She stammered, "I didn''t want to put your lives in danger with the knowledge."

    Mikal scoffed, "Or, you didn''t want to jeopardize joining our team."

    "I originally didn''t want to join your team, remember?" Jeze snapped back and immediately regretted her outburst.

    "I don''t see the big deal. She fights well. So what if some stupid Empire agent is after her?" Helga pointed out, and she fed Ziplocke a treat.

    Rolfe nodded in agreement and added, "Raynor was a fellow Frostsworn and adventurer. It is our duty to aid Jeze to right this wrong."

    The Carls nodded silently, but Dunar''s face remained expressionless. Jeze''s heart sank. He hates me! She worried to herself.

    "The big deal, you two ask? We now have to worry about assassins coming after us. We have no quarrel with the Empire, and she dragged us into it!" Mikal shouted. The Healer rose to his feet.

    "All good points," Jorgenson stated.

    Dunar finally spoke, "We have to alert the Guild of this treachery. I do not like that Jeze kept secrets from us, but as far as I can tell, she did nothing wrong. It is Drake and the Empire who are in the wrong."

    Jeze''s heart lifted, but Dunar was not smiling. His face remained impassive.

    Jorgenson nodded slowly and replied, "But Drake is a respected Adventurer Rank within the Guild. By Jeze''s account, he has support from Miss Heng. Such accusations will only embolden them."

    "What of Seb? If they murdered him, a high-ranked Guild official, then they will have no qualms to do the same to us, the Frostsworn!" Mikal cried.

    Jeze flinched when Mikal identified themselves as if they were separate from her.

    "The unfortunate accident that took Seb''s life could have been just that. An accident," Dunar said.

    Jorgenson nodded in agreement, "The clumsy attempt on Jeze''s life indicates that the would-be killers lack the skill to pull off such an elaborate plan."

    Mikal scowled and sat back down. "I vote that Jeze leaves our team," the Healer said.

    The words struck Jeze harder than a pack of Bloodlings. But Mikal was right. She should not have put the Proven in danger. She gathered her belongings.

    "I will go," she said.

    Dunar placed a firm hand on her shoulder and stopped her. "We are your team," he stated.

    Mikal grumbled.

    "Oh hush, Micky," Helga boomed. "You know that she covered our flanks today. Without her, we would have been overrun."

    "Aye, she fights well with us. I would not have no other on our team," Rolfe added.

    Tears filled Jeze''s eyes. Ziplocke snickered. He found enjoyment from the look on her face.

    "I say the same," Dunar added, and the Proven glanced at Mikal.

    The Healer rolled his eyes and responded, "Fine! You are right. She fights well with us. I won''t say I told you so when we all find knives in our backs."

    Jeze smiled and hugged her teammates, even Mikal.

    "Okay, get off of me!" The Healer snapped.

    "Good, it is decided. You all must rest. We have another big day ahead of us. The monsters coming now will be stronger," Jorgenson stated, and with that, the Carls departed.

    Before they turned in for the night, Mikal reminded the others, "One assassin got away. Let''s hope he does not return to slit our throats while we sleep."

    "We are safe here," Dunar confirmed.

    Jeze nodded as she laid back on her bed roll. There were dozens of Prospect ranked guards that kept watch over the camp while the higher ranked Adventurers rested.

    "Ziplocke, can you keep watch?" She asked.

    The Goblin snickered with glee and answered, "Sure."

    That did not make Jeze feel any safer. She was up for many hours and worried about what Drake would try next. Did the failed assassin report back? Or will they try again? How did failed assassinations work? Do they get a second chance? All those questions ran through Jeze''s mind before sleep claimed her.

    For the next few days, the team entered into a routine. The number of Bloodlings dwindled, but more Rovers appeared. Jeze and the Proven were tasked with fighting the tentacled aberrations as they were too difficult for the armies to manage. Jeze became more proficient with being able to spot them and the Rovers were slightly easier to deal with when they were unable to strike from an ambush.

    Even though the Rovers were much more dangerous than the Bloodlings, the pace at which Jeze and the Frostsworn were fighting had lessened. The team discovered that they had more downtime to spend in camp, where they were able to talk with other adventurers. They learned that there were alchemists that would purchase Rover organs that were used for potion-making and crafting. This made fighting Rovers a lucrative practice. In fact, adventuring teams would compete with each other in finding and slaying the horrid monsters. No wonder Jonah and the other adventurers were upset to be asked to stay out of the monster waves. Jeze also wondered if Rainia was able to harvest the necessary monster parts to complete her Spirit Quest and if the Rover organs were a part of it.

    Ziplocke had explained to her and the Frostsworn that when the Wandering Spire appeared, a big chunk of the Abyssal plane merged with their realm and turned the area into a giant wasteland, and in its center would be the enormous Spire. It took several days for the merging to be completed. During the event, Demons would rush forth. Early on, only smaller Demons, such as the Bloodlings, could fit through the Thresholds, and as the merger neared completion, larger Demons could pass through until the Threshold closed completely and only the Spire and surrounding Abyssal plane remained. As the days passed, higher-ranked adventurers arrived, and the more dangerous Demons began appearing.

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    "Toward the end, organized Howlers will emerge and they will be led by Demonic commanders. The higher ranked adventurers will want to test themselves against these mighty foes as they often carry with them great treasure!" Ziplocke explained. Jeze fed him paste and the Goblin smacked his lips.

    That was what Rainbow and Swordslayer had told Jeze and turned out to be true as she spotted more Adventurer ranked members in the camp. But it was still not enough, as she and the Frostsworn were often summoned back to the front lines. Dunar''s Communication Scroll pinged, and after reading it, his face darkened.

    "What is it?" Rolfe asked.

    "We are called back to action," Dunar answered.

    "Rovers?" Jeze asked, eager to earn more coin.

    Dunar shrugged and replied, "I don''t think so. We are ordered to hold out until an Adventurer-ranked team can arrive."

    Mikal arched an eyebrow and observed, "That sounds like a lot of risk and no reward."

    Helga hefted her Dane axe onto her broad shoulder and announced, "I hope it is a real challenge! One that we best kill before the higher rankers claim the reward."

    Rolfe banged his spear against his shield and cried, "Aye! For Glory!"

    Jeze howled, and Ziplocke covered his ears and jumped off her shoulder.

    "Warn me next time you do that!" He snapped.

    "I am traveling with fools," Mikal snorted.

    "It could be a Goreraptors," Dunar pointed out.

    The Healer''s eyes went wide, and he said, "Those are Tier 5. We can''t possibly defeat them. But if we can, their horns are worth a fortune!"

    "Hah! Even noble and pure Micky has some greed in his heart!" Helga said with a loud laugh.

    The team jogged through the woods and onto the low ridge that overlooked the open valley where the Wandering Spire was amassing. The thick purple fog remained, but Jeze felt that she was able to make out shapes from within the opaque mass. It reminded her of what a desert would look like, even though she never visited one. She based it upon the images and descriptions she found in books. The battle lines of the armies held strong against the trickle of Bloodlings. The ballista units and archers often killed off the advancing monsters before they could clash against the soldiers. In the distance, they saw small teams of Initiate-ranked adventurers clash against Rovers.

    Mikal scanned the area and said, "I don''t see where we are needed. Dunar, did you misread the scroll?"

    The team Leader replied, "I did, and we wait."

    They linked up with the soldiers on the front line. The armies rotated the soldiers so often that Jeze did not recognize any of them despite fighting alongside them for almost a week. Helga and Rolfe began to fidget and look over to their right, where there was some fighting.

    "Can''t we head over there?" Helga offered.

    Dunar shook his head and answered, "We remain here where we are ordered to."

    The warrior maiden snorted and crossed her thick arms.

    "Look!" Rolfe exclaimed and pointed. Emerging from the thick fog was an enormous monster the size of a small house. It stood upright on two powerful hind legs and had two vicious clawed hands. A long spiked tail trailed behind it and hovered above the ground. The monster opened its long mouth and let loose a roar that shook Jeze''s bones. The distinguishing feature was the spear-like horn that stood out on the top of its thick skull.

    "By The Frozen All Father! A Goreraptor!¡± Mikal gasped.

    "Yes!" Exclaimed Helga.

    "A chance to prove ourselves," Rolfe stated, and the giant man banged his shield.

    A horde of Bloodlings swarmed out and charged forward. Behind Jeze and her team, they could hear the sergeants shouting orders. This was followed by the twangs of bows and the launching of catapults. The ranged attacks decimated the Bloodling numbers, but the Goreaptor continued undeterred.

    "We can''t fight that!" A soldier to their left cried.

    In moments, the line broke, and the soldiers fled up the ridge despite the threats from their commanders.

    "Team! It is up to us. We will hold. We will be victorious! Are you with me!" Dunar roared.

    Jeze and the others roared their affirmation.

    "For Glory!" Dunar cried.

    "For Glory!" They responded.

    "Form up!" Dunar ordered.

    Rolfe marched front and center, and Dunar stood beside him. The two banged their shields in unison while Helga marched to their side. The warrior maiden hummed a loud war chant that lit a fire in Jeze''s soul. As the soldiers on their sides quaked and fled, Jeze and the Frostsworn marched ahead.

    "Jeze and Mikal, attack the Bloodlings," Dunar ordered.

    The two Rune casters tapped their Channeling tools and completed the Glyphs. A hail of Stone fists and Ice arrows rained death upon the charging Bloodlings. But the Goreraptor paid them no attention. The large monster''s attention was drawn to the ballistas as the giant bolts snapped against its thickly armored head. The Goreraptor charged the line of soldiers that stood in front of the ballista unit.

    "Face us!" Dunar called out, but the monster paid them no heed as it lumbered past the adventurers.

    The line of soldiers broke, and the ones that stayed were flung into the air as the massive monster crashed into them. Jeze watched one soldier get snatched up in the Goreraptor''s razor tooth mouth. The sound of screams and crunching bones haunted her soul. The giant monster was held in place by the line of soldiers as they stabbed it with their spears to little effect. A contingent of men were flung into the air by a swing of the Goreraptor''s spiked tail. Some soldiers were impaled and stuck on its barbs. Another soldier was gored on the creature''s massive horn. Jeze''s team was able to come into striking distance.

    "Hit it with everything we have!" Dunar shouted.

    Jeze and Mikal pelted the beast with their Runic magic of Stone and Ice. Helga launched forward and buried her axe into one of the hind legs. She retreated just as the Goreraptor swung its tail. They captured the monster''s attention, and it loomed over them. Blood and gore dripped from its mouth, and it crashed down upon Dunar and Rolfe''s shields and scattered the large men to the sides. Helga lunged forward and chopped down with her axe, and it clanged loudly on the creature''s impossibly hard head. The blow nearly knocked the weapon out of the warrior maiden''s hands. Faster than what Jeze would believe possible, the creature swung and struck Helga with its tail and sent the large warrior soaring. Mikal rushed to aid her with his Healing magic as Jeze unleashed flaming missiles at the beast.

    The Goreraptor snapped down with its wide maw and Jeze nimbly rolled out of the way. The teenager continued to Summon, Shape, and Control the Fire aspect to strike the beast in its eyes and snout. The Goreraptor roared in pain and charged at Jeze. Thicking quickly, Jeze switched aspects and Summoned a mound of earth and Shaped it to stone to trip the large beast. It stumbled and crashed to the ground. This gave time for Jeze to run further away.

    "For Glory!" Rolfe roared, and with two hands, he buried his spear into the grounded Goreraptor.

    The large warrior''s shield was lost somewhere on the battlefield, and his spear was now stuck in the beast. The creature swung its head, and Rolfe gasped as the monster''s sharp horn penetrated his lamellar armor. The large warrior stumbled back and was bleeding profusely from a deep wound on his chest. Dunar attacked with axe and blade to draw the monster''s attention away. Jeze rushed over and used her Life aspect Channeling rod to close Rolfe''s wounds. The warrior was stabilized but no longer able to fight in this battle.

    "Face me, beast!" Dunar roared, and the Goreraptor rose to its feet to give chase.

    "Jeze, we have to drag Rolfe to safety," Mikal said as he appeared beside the teenager.

    "What about Dunar?" Jeze asked.

    The warrior danced around the Goreraptor, but it was only a matter of moments before his luck would run out. Mikal shook his head and lifted one of Rolfe''s heavy arms to drag the warrior away from the battle. Behind them, Helga rose on unsteady legs.

    "What happened?" She asked in a daze.

    "We have to get out of here," Mikal said. The Healer added, "Help me with Rolfe."

    Dumbfounded, Helga was able to drag Rolfe on her own.

    "I''m going to aid Dunar," Jeze stated.

    Dunar dodged and circled the beast while striking with his axe and sword. He barely left tiny wounds on the creature. Jeze used her Earth aspect Channeling tools to bombard the Goreraptor with Stone fists. This distracted the monster enough to keep Dunar safe, but for how long? Jeze wondered. It appeared helpless. Mikal was using his Life magic to heal the grievous wounds that Helga and Rolfe sustained.

    The line of soldiers had broken and were overrun by Bloodlings. In moments, the ballista and archers would be overtaken next. What could she do? Her magic had little effect and there was no way she could injure the Goreraptor with her axe and long knife. Despair grew in the pit of her stomach and threatened to overtake her. It convinced her that she would die here on the field of battle. Or, she could flee. That would be the sensible thing to do, a small part of her mind informed her. Jeze crushed that part. She would have never gotten to where she was now if she listened to it, and she never did. She drew her axe and long knife and was determined to fight. Determined to die.

    The Goreraptor knocked Dunar to the ground, and the Frostsworn warrior frantically tried to scramble away. Jeze charged ahead and watched in horror as the monster stabbed forward with its horn. There was nothing that could be done. Dunar had no shield and no method to defend himself.

    Familiar green vines erupted from the ground and ensnared the Goreraptor as it stabbed Dunar in the chest. The Nature aspect held back the monster enough to save the Frostsworn, but he was still seriously wounded. Jeze frantically looked around and recognized Rainbow''s thick purple jacket in the distance up on the low ridge.

    "Not bad, kid, but let us real adventurers take it from here," Swordslayer said beside her.

    He was in his full blood red armor and the grinning Demon mask covered his face. She wanted to punch and hug the sword fighter at the same time. Without another word, Swordslayer ran fast toward the Goreraptor. Jeze was impressed but she couldn''t spend too much time watching the battle as she needed to aid Dunar as the Frostsworn team Leader was bleeding to death.

    "I''m here," she told Dunar. He was gasping and had a gaping hole in his chest armor. She dragged him away from the monster as it turned to engage Swordslayer and Rainbow.

    Jeze Channeled the Life aspect. It took a lot of her Will, but she managed to close Dunar''s wounds. The Frostsworn passed out, and she nearly joined him. Through sheer willpower she remained conscious to watch Swordslayer in action. Where was the rest of their team? She wondered. She only saw the two.

    The Goreraptor broke free from Rainbow''s vines and snapped its jaws at Swordslayer. The sword fighter dodged to the side and stabbed the creature in the eye. It roared and swung its tail in response. Swordslayer leaped and twisted acrobatically in the air as the viciously spiked tail soared just inches beneath him. When he landed, he quickly lunged forward and sliced the small, vulnerable part behind the Goreraptor''s heels. The monster howled and stumbled upon its weak leg to crash to the ground. It swung its head in an attempt to impale Swordslayer but missed as the sword fighter dodged out of the way.

    Rainbow Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled the vines to hold the Goreraptor to the ground. Swordslayer circled the thrashing beast and with a double slice of his swords he slashed the creature''s throat. Blood spurted outwards and in moments the Goreraptor was dead.

    Swordslayer removed his mask and turned to face Jeze. "That is how it is done," he said.

    But Jeze didn''t hear him. She had passed out beside Dunar.

 Chapter 44: Good for Business

    Jeze awoke back at her camp. She saw Mikal checking on the sleeping forms of Rolfe, Helga, and Dunar. The dark-haired Frostsworn looked haggard and more pale. Did he get any sleep? Jeze wondered. Her body ached, but her exhaustion was from Channeling her Will into the Life aspect. She came out healthy from the fight with the Goreraptor.

    "How are they?" Jeze asked.

    Mikal looked up at her, and she saw bags under his eyes. He answered, "They have stabilized. Dunar and Rolfe suffered grievous wounds and lost a lot of blood. Helga has several broken ribs. I have mended them, and she should be fine by tomorrow morning."

    ¡°And Dunar and Rolfe?¡± Jeze said, and she rose to check on the two warriors.

    "I will say at least a week or more. I did what I could to repair the damage to their flesh. The organs are a little more challenging, but their bodies are strong. We just have to monitor for fever and infection," the Healer answered.

    Rolfe and Dunar laid with their eyes closed and they looked calm. Jeze touched their foreheads, and they were warm to the touch. She determined that they were recovering and needed more rest.

    "They look peaceful," Ziplocke said from the shadows beside Jeze and sighed. "So boring!"

    Jeze patted the Goblin''s head and asked, "What are we to do?"

    "We? I will care for my teammates until they are fully recovered. I do not care what you do," Mikal snapped.

    Jeze held her anger in check. The Healer was tired and had not slept. Even when rested, Mikal was cranky, but she recognized that he had worked hard to keep their teammates alive.

    The Healer''s face softened, and he added, "You did good work with the Life aspect. Without your aid, Rolfe and Dunar would have died on the field yesterday. I have known them since I was a child. They are my close friends, and I thank you."

    That was kind of Mikal, Jeze reflected, and she was glad that she didn''t snap at him. Words, once spoken, can not be taken back. She recalled Berserker Orn''s wisdom. When she was able to manage her emotions, it had served her well. Jeze came over and hugged Mikal. The dark-haired Healer was shocked in the moment and then gently patted her back.

    "Get some rest. I can watch over them," Jeze offered.

    Mikal nodded and laid down on his bedroll. In seconds, she heard the Healer snoring. Jeze felt it was proper that she offered to help, but in reality, she didn''t know what to do. All she knew was how to Shape flesh with the Life aspect. Jeze knew nothing of fevers or mending bones. Among her teammates, Helga looked the most healthy and rested. The warrior maiden slept soundly and looked so comfortable that Jeze envied her.

    "Irvin came to check on you," Ziplocke stated.

    "Really?" Jeze perked up. She was excited to hear from her friend.

    "You were asleep. Can I have some paste?" The Goblin asked.

    Jeze chuckled and fed him his favorite snack. She checked her teammates one last time and then went the short distance to the large tent that was Station 28. Her camp was in a clearing surrounded by Pine trees. The area around Station 28 was bustling with activity, which surprised Jeze. She figured everyone would be on the battle lines to prepare for the Spire''s arrival.

    "Has the Spire arrived yet?" She asked Ziplocke.

    "How should I know? I''ve been here with you!" The Goblin snapped.

    Fair enough, Jeze thought and patted Ziplocke on his bald green head. Around the tent, Wagons arrived in the dozens. Merchants began to set up stalls that sold all manner of adventuring gear and food. Her stomach rumbled at the delicious scents, and Jeze decided she would eat first. Between enchanting armor for Hannah and selling Rover parts, Jeze had plenty of coin in her purse, and she treated herself to a bowl of noodles and meat. She slurped them up as she returned to the Station 28 tent.

    The Spire''s arrival was a huge economic draw for many traders and merchants. An entire city was being built before Jeze''s eyes. Bankers and craftsmen arrived to manage the flow of resources, money, and merchandise. Adventurers were rich and needed to purchase expensive enchanted gear. In addition, they had many resources to sell, such as the monster''s skins and parts that could be used for crafting and potion-making. In addition, the more advanced Demons held treasure and enchanted weapons. It was also rumored that the Wandering Spire had rooms for full precious gems if a brave adventurer could find them and survive the traps. These were goods that needed buyers, and so the Spire economy was formed. Jeze''s heart began to beat faster, and she was eager to enter the Spire. There was so much opportunity!

    Jeze entered the Station 28 tent and it was crowded. The replica that served as a map and provided real-time updates hummed with constant activity. The scribes were frantically reading the scrolls, updating the replica, and writing out messages to the teams. Jeze''s face lit up when she spotted Irvin. The staunch official with white hair was working hard and gave orders to the scribes. Jeze had so many questions, but everyone was too busy to even notice her. She found a corner to stand in and watched.

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    "We have a squad of Ogres on the field! Do the other Stations have any Adept ranked teams?" Irvin demanded.

    Scribes scribbled notes onto the enchanted Communication Scrolls and read the responses.

    "Station 25 states that you have the Frostsworn and Berserker Orn," A scribe responded.

    "That is not enough for a squad of Ogres!" Irvin cried.

    "What are Ogres?" Jeze whispered to Ziplocke.

    The Goblin scowled and answered, "They are the commanders for the Fiendish Lord''s armies. They are giant brutes, powerfully built and have a natural affinity with the Affliction and Fire aspects. Despite their brutish nature, they are clever and are noted for their skill in combat."

    Jeze nodded.

    Ziplocke continued, "They are also known to carry valuable gems and own well-crafted weapons and armor made from the most precious metals that could only be found within the Abyssal plane. That is why the higher-ranked adventurers wish to fight them."

    Jeze pictured the excitement on Orn''s face to have a squad all to himself to fight. Based upon the urgency in Irvin''s voice, Jeze was a little worried for the Berserker and the Carls. This might be a battle that was too difficult for them.

    "Orn and his team have engaged with the Ogres," one of the Scribes read from a Communication scroll.

    The tension in the room could be felt like an oppressive heat from a hot oven. Jeze didn''t know much, but she had enough experience on the battle lines to know that if Orn and the Carls failed, the Ogres would smash through the armies. In the distance, she heard the faint, familiar howls from the Howlers. Ziplocke had told her that during the final days of the Wandering Spire''s arrival, armed units of Howlers emerged. Her hands itched toward her weapons, and she craved to be in the battle. Could she join up with another team and aid the soldiers against the Howlers?

    "Irvin," Jeze called out.

    The older man immediately came to her and asked, "Jeze, how are you feeling?"

    "I''m healthy and can fight!" She replied, eager to join the battle lines.

    Irvin glanced around and hurried Jeze out of the tent. "I know you can fight and would be useful on the frontlines, but I think it is best for you to stay here," he told her.

    "Why?" Jeze demanded.

    "Jorgeson told me about the attempt on your life. It would be too risky if you were to go into the field without your team. The assassin is still out there," Irvin replied.

    Jeze was about to say something when Ziplocke interjected, "He is right."

    The calmness in Ziplocke''s voice surprised Jeze.

    "What can I do?" She asked, wanting to be useful.

    Irvin gripped her shoulders and sighed. "Stay with your team while they recover. The Wandering Spire will appear at any moment and teams will be soon heading in. Once that happens, you will be plenty busy with establishing the Safe Zones."

    "I''m to just sit on my hands and do nothing?" Jeze growled.

    Irvin tapped his chin in thought, and his eyes twinkled. "How quickly can you learn the Runes to operate the Communication Scrolls?"

    The scowl on Jeze''s face vanished in an instant. "I am a fast learner," she promised.

    Jeze became extremely busy over the next few days and she learned quite a bit. Jeze learned that the Communication Scrolls were actually crafted using the rubbery skin from a Rover for its affinity to Rune magic and durability. The words that appeared on the scrolls were not from ink, but from the Rover''s innate camouflage ability. This fascinated Jeze, but she was not able to ask further questions due the urgency of the fighting outside.

    The Communication Scrolls were powered by the Life aspect and overlaid with the Nature, Light, and Water aspects. It was very complicated, and Jeze didn''t need to understand the details. Her role was to repair the Scrolls as the Runes would become damaged from use. There were piles of inoperable Communication Scrolls where she needed to correct the Glyphs with precise adjustments so that the magic would snap into place. The next step was for Jeze to power the scrolls with the Life aspect, which was not her strongest ability. It quickly taxed her Will, but Jeze felt it was good training. Ultimately, this would make her better at healing her teammates on the field of battle.

    Being in the Station 28 tent, Jeze received firsthand the updates from the field and got a pretty good idea on what happened. Orn and the Carls were victorious, but the armies struggled against the organized Howler onslaught. Plus, Hellbats were seen on the field, and they threatened to pass the Battle lines. There was a moment of panic that the flying Demons would be arriving at their camp. Jeze and other Initiate-ranked adventurers were quickly organized into a hasty defense. But what could they do against the flying Demons that were reported to have the ability to breathe fire? Luckily, the Hellbats were taken down by some Adventurer-ranked teams. Everyone in the Station 28 tent cheered when that was discovered.

    So it went on, and Jeze repaired Scrolls, and she listened as the updates came in through the Scribes. Irvin acted as a liaison between the Guild teams and the Iron Fist and Golden Empire armies. A scribe reported a potential breach in the Battlelines.

    "By what?" Irvin asked, and the Scribes scribbled the question on the Communication Scrolls.

    "Howlers," another Scribe answered.

    "Alert the available Initiate team, Iron Defenders, and send them out," Irvin commanded.

    Jeze discovered that each team had a name. Her team was known as the Proven. Or the Frostsworn. All the Initiate teams reported to an Adventurer ranked member. In her case, the Proven reported to Carl Jorgenson. Before being in the tent, Jeze knew none of this, and having spent several hours in Station 28, she quickly became impressed with the level of organization. She got to see how the assignments were distributed.

    "How are we doing with the scrolls?" Irvin asked.

    This snapped Jeze out of her daydreaming. "Almost done," she replied.

    "Knucklehead," Ziplocke hissed with a shake of his head.

    A scribe, an older woman with gray hair, next to Jeze gasped as she read an incoming alert from one of the scrolls. The older lady rushed over to Irvin to share the report. He listened, and his face became grave.

    "Attention everyone!" He barked loudly. The scribes and officials in the tent paused to listen.

    "Station 27 is being overrun. We anticipate the enemy forces to be here within the hour," Irvin said.

    There was a shocked silence.

    "Alert every available fighter. We must prepare for battle," Irvin stated.

 Chapter 45: Holding Out

    Irvin mobilized a fighting force that was quite limited. All the Initiate ranked and higher adventurers were away on the battle lines. Most of the members that managed the camp were either Prospect ranked or noncombat officials. The best combatants were Helga, Mikal, and Jeze. Helga was still wounded, but she insisted that she would aid in the camp''s defense. If for no other reason but to ensure that Rolfe and Dunar remained safe.

    The primary defenders consisted of the merchants and bankers who had hired guards with them, and they would take too much of a loss if they fled as they wouldn''t be able to pack up in time. Those that were able to relocate did so. Overall, evacuation was not an option for Jeze and her team, as there were not enough wagons to transport all the wounded. If they did have space, speed was the other issue. It would be a matter of moments before they were overrun by the advancing Howlers.

    "We will stay and fight!" Helga announced.

    There was a nervous cheer from the collective gathering. No where near the inspiration level Jeze was used to from working with the Frostsworn.

    "We have less than an hour before they arrive," Irvin stated. The official was taking stock of his fighting force.

    Jeze had a thought and shared it with the assembled gathering, "We may not have a lot of fighters, but we do have a lot of Rune casters."

    "They are noncombat casters," Irvin pointed out.

    Jeze nodded and asked the gathered crowd, "How many of you are familiar with the Earth and Fire aspects?"

    Those were common aspects, and every Rune caster raised their hand.

    "What''s your plan?" Irvin asked.

    "I can train them to create Fire traps," Jeze said.

    Irvin narrowed his eyes. He didn''t have many options, and he shrugged. Either they will succeed, or they will all die.

    "Okay, teach them. I''ll organize the fighters," Irvin said and ordered all the guards to follow him.

    Jeze showed the group how to overlay the two aspects. It was a variation of the trap she designed using the Darkness and Affliction aspects. In this case the Earth aspect was the trigger and the Fire aspect was the result. Because they were all proficient and competent Rune artists, it only took twenty minutes for them to learn the trap design. Irvin returned.

    "How are we looking?" He asked.

    "They are ready. We just need to know the best places to lay the traps," Jeze answered.

    Irvin nodded. He already had the wagons drawn in a circle to create a defensive position and stationed the guards at vulnerable points. He stationed Archers in the back and melee fighters in the front. He knew exactly where the traps should be laid, and he directed Jeze''s team of Rune trap artists.

    "I will scout ahead and see if I can lure them onto the traps," Jeze said.

    Irvin narrowed his eyes. He didn''t like that idea, but he also didn''t have a lot of fighters. If Jeze could disrupt the enemy and lure them into the traps, then that would give him and his ragtag group of defenders a fighting chance. "Take a Communications Scroll," he told her.

    Jeze Summoned and Shaped shadows to help hide her and she was off running through the Pine tree forest. It had been months since she ran through the woods, and it felt great. Jeze had spent a lot of time training Runes, finding traps, and melee combat, that she neglected her stealth and outdoor skills. To her it was like putting on a well worn glove. It felt right and it was like she had never taken it off in the first place.

    Jeze traveled through the woods at a rapid pace. She felt confident in the environment and with her perception skills. That was why she was utterly surprised when she ran into the Howler ambush. The demonic rat-like creatures attacked her from all sides. She was lucky she was not hit, and she attributed that to the shadows she had wrapped around her that distorted her appearance. The Howlers attacked with wicked barbed spears and shot arrows at Jeze. The weapons thudded into the surrounding trees as she skidded to a halt. Jeze twisted, spun, and dodged the incoming attacks. She ran back the way she came, and the Howlers gave chase.

    The rat-like Demons moved fast as they loped on all fours. There was no chance she could outrun them, and they were everywhere. Jeze deflected a spear thrust with her long knife and planted her axe in the Howler''s collarbone just above the protection of its black mail armor. She spun and stabbed a second in the eye before she continued her escape. Jeze''s reflexes were highly tuned from many hours fighting swarms of Bloodlings. But then, she had a team, and Howlers were more intelligent than Bloodlings. They had tactics; they attempted to encircle her, and they worked together. This was a bad situation for her.

    Jeze weaved in and out through the trees to create distance, but it was only for a moment, as the Howlers were quick on their clawed feet and were able to cut corners without losing traction. Jeze tapped her Darkness ring and Summoned and Shaped shadows to an opaque darkness. She poured her will into her spell and Controlled the shadows to form a wide sphere of inky black. Before releasing the energies, she memorized her surroundings. Specifically the tree ahead of her. She dropped the spell and plunged the area into complete darkness. Jeze heard the Howlers collide into trees and into each other as they were thrown into confusion. Jeze climbed the tree she had put into her memory.

    She had Shaped the spell to be at a certain height, and she climbed out of it and back into visibility. Below her was the inky black carpet of her spell, and the Howlers were in turmoil as they tried to scramble out of opaque darkness. She looked up, and her heart sank. Outside of her summoned sphere were hundreds of Howlers in the forest, including a few of the giant two-headed elites she encountered back in the pyramid. Irvin and the camp did not have an Archon to assist them with the giant brutes.

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    Things looked grim, and despair was forming in Jeze''s chest. For now, she was trapped but hidden among the leaves of the Pine tree. She Summoned some shadows to reinforce her hiding spot. So far, she had brought some time for the camp as the Howlers were in disarray. She used her Communication Scroll to update Irvin of the numbers and she mentioned the two-headed giant elites.

    "A company from the Ironfist Kingdom is on the way. We just need to hold them off for an hour," Irvin replied back through the scroll.

    Jeze nodded, and she pushed the despair out of her chest. She was an active member of the Adventurer''s Guild, she reminded herself. Jeze has been in tough situations before, but she overcame them. She can do the same now! All she needed to do was to think and buy some time. Her distraction wouldn''t last an hour unless she sowed further chaos. Jeze grinned. She had a plan that was so crazy that it might work. One thing that was going for her was that there were no Rune casters among the Howlers. If there were, then she would be in trouble. But, since there wasn''t, she was still in trouble but less so, and her wild idea could work.

    Jeze Summoned piles of Earth some distance away from the Howlers and in a different direction from where the camp was located. Below her, her Darkness spell expired, and the Howlers began to track and sniff the ground. Jeze had to work fast before they discovered that she had climbed the tree! She Shaped the dirt into Stone and Controlled it to launch at the Howlers.

    The attacks caused the Howlers to stop tracking and duck for cover. Jeze gritted her teeth and continued to complete the Glyphs to Control stone fists to launch at the Demons. It was very difficult to aim and launch the spell attacks from her position, and Jeze was shocked to discover that a few of her stone fists had struck true. She grinned when the Howlers returned fire with their crossbows in the direction of the mounds of dirt she created.

    The ruse worked! She thought to herself. Now, she just needed to further sell her deception. Jeze tapped her Darkness ring and Summoned and Controlled shadows to flit through the trees to make the appearance that someone was running and hiding. Jeze didn''t understand the gibbering language of the Howlers, but she guessed from their wild gestures that they had fallen for her trick. In moments, the Howlers charged through the woods toward her deception. Even the two-headed brutes! Things were looking a little better.

    Most of the Howler force held their position while dozens ran off in the direction of Jeze''s Earth aspect attacks. Jeze wrapped shadows around herself and stealthily climbed down the tree. She ran back toward the camp. It was not long after when she heard the twigs snapping, which indicated that the Howlers had returned to their march on Station 28. Jeze didn''t want to shout, so she hurriedly scribbled on her scroll that she was on her way to the camp and asked Irvin not to shoot her full of arrows.

    Irvin had arranged the wagons into a mini fortress with archers and spearmen for defense. They waved when they saw Jeze''s approach.

    "They are right behind me!" She said.

    Irvin nodded. He wore his breastplate and armed himself with a shield and sword. The guild official beckoned for Jeze to join them behind the wagons. She shook her head.

    "I will lure them into the traps," she whispered loudly before disappearing among the trees.

    "What is she doing?" Mikal asked.

    "Being a damn fool!" Irvin snapped.

    ¡°That is our Jeze!¡± Helga beamed.

    Ziplocke shook his head and said, "I did enjoy my time here, but if she goes and gets herself killed, I will return back to my home."

    "That will be one positive," Mikal stated.

    Ziplocke hissed at the Healer. A barrage of crossbow bolts thudded into the wagons and brought everyone''s attention back to their dire situation.

    "I will grind their bones and¡­" Helga began and grimaced as her ribs hurt.

    "Stay here, and we''ll hold until help arrives," Mikal said through gritted teeth.

    In the forest, Jeze Summoned shadows to hide her among the pine trees as the Howlers advanced past her toward Station 28. Jeze snuck out and cut down two Howlers with her battleaxe and long knife before she was spotted. She ran and was trailed by crossbow bolts and screaming Howlers. Jeze weaved in and out of the trees in order to gather more Demons to chase her. They were getting close to her, and she led them to the first Rune trap. Jeze jumped over it and continued on. A moment later, the Firetrap exploded, sending bits of Howler pieces in all directions.

    Fighting erupted at the wagons. Irvin''s defenders exchanged bow fire with the Howlers, and Mikal assisted with launching ice daggers. Howlers that scaled the wagons were met by Helga''s axe. They could have held out if this was it, but the Howler Elites changed everything. The giant armored brutes rushed forward as arrows bounced off their shields and plated armor. Helga rushed in and swung her axe, which struck the heavy shield with a loud clang. The Howler elite returned a swing, and Helga dodged out of the way. The giant monster gave chase, and the Frostsworn warrior maiden lured it into a fire trap. The explosion knocked it off its feet, and it struggled to stand back up. Helga split the Howler Elite''s helmet and skull with her Dane axe. Three arrows thudded into Helga''s lamellar armor, and she stumbled to one. Mikal and Irvin dragged her to safety as more bolts rained down.

    A second Howler Elite charged through and flipped one of the wagons over creating a wide open breach for the Howlers to swarm through. The Rune casters frantically Summoned and Shaped Stone walls to cover the gap, but they were shattered to dust by the heavy spiked mace of the two headed Howler giant.

    Helga and Mikal stood in front of the Rune casters. Standing over them was the giant two headed Howler and dozens of the rat-like demons were scrambling toward them. Jeze did her best to trim the numbers with her Fire magic, but there were too many. This was it, she thought grimly. A giant boulder slammed into the Howler Elite. Jeze looked up and saw a company of Ironfist Kingdom soldiers cresting the hill and they were led by Lady Kalina.

    With the help from the Amber guard and the soldiers, the Howlers were routed and defeated. Station 28 suffered losses and plenty of damage, but in the end Jeze and her team survived along with Irvin.

    "Thank you," Jeze said to Lady Kalina.

    The amber guard nodded and said, "We need to talk."

    Irvin and Jeze followed Lady Kalina into the tent, where they were alone. The Amber Guard looked around and leaned in close.

    "Treachery is afoot," She said.

    "What do you mean?" Irvin asked.

    "The Howlers did not fight through the battle lines. They were allowed through," Lady Kalina answered.

    "What? How?" Jeze asked.

    "The troops were not there."

    "Could it have been an error?" Irvin asked.

    Lady Kalina shook her head. "My sources say that the troops were intentionally ordered to away."

    Jeze narrowed her eyes and asked, "Which army?"

    Lady Kalina lifted her chin and answered, "The Golden Empire.

 Chapter 46: Rebuilding

    Station 28 slowly returned back to normal after the Howler attack. The merchants rebuilt their stalls and market stands. Wagons that left earlier were now coming back. It was reported that the Wandering Spire had materialized and the monster waves were ending. That meant the adventurers in the field had defeated monsters and earned treasure to sell. They needed a place to do their transactions. Dunar and Rolfe were awake and slowly moving.

    "Be careful, you do not want to reopen your wounds. If you do, I will not close them," Mikal stated.

    "I couldn''t move fast even if I tried," Rolfe responded with a grimace.

    "Aye," Dunar agreed.

    Jeze supplied them with a recovery broth that she had infused with the Yelith root. Mikal nodded in approval.

    "Eat that. It will help with your recuperation," the Healer commanded.

    "I want a real meal!" Rolfe grumbled.

    Dunar accepted the potion without complaint and drank from the bowl. Rolfe sighed and did the same. The large man smacked his lips.

    "This is not bad! Can I have more?" He asked.

    Jeze smiled and poured him another bowl from the boiling pot over the campfire.

    "I hear we owe Jeze our life," Dunar stated.

    "Yes, yes you do," the teenager replied.

    "Except she was supposed to be watching over us when we were recovering, and instead, she wandered off," Mikal snorted.

    Jeze placed her fists on her hips and stated, "I saved your lives!"

    "It was a group effort," Helga said.

    The warrior maiden hefted the spiked mace she took from the Howler Elite. It was made out of blackened steel, and the handle was as long as her Dane axe. To Helga, it had a similar weight distribution.

    "Your new toy?" Dunar asked.

    Helga nodded and explained, "I think this will do nicely against armor, no?"

    "They call that Devil''s Steel," Irvin said when he and Lady Kalina arrived.

    The Amber Guard nodded silently to the others.

    Ziplocke snickered and added, "You won''t be able to find that here. The iron was smelted in Hellfire!"

    Dunar squinted at the blackened steel ball on Helga''s weapon. He rubbed a hand over it and observed, "I feel no difference. It is like regular steel."

    "It looks more ominous," Mikal pointed out.

    "Oh, ho! That is true! I like it! Strike fear and break bones!" Helga exclaimed.

    "Any news?" Dunar asked Irvin and Lady Kalina.

    "Preparations are being made to start the next phase," Irvin said.

    "Phase?" Jeze asked.

    "The first phase was the monster waves. They end when the Spire fully materializes. The next phase is to travel through the Wasteland that accompanies the Spire. Phase three will be adventuring within the Spire. Phase four is evacuation for when the Spire returns to the Abyssal plane," Irvin responded.

    Dunar turned to Jeze, "That is where the Carls are now. They want to be the first to venture through the Wasteland. It is said that there are many crypts and hidden dungeons that are often rich with treasure."

    "And danger!" Ziplocke shrieked with a wide grin on his small green face.

    "Many teams do not enter the Spire and mainly spend the time exploring the Wasteland," Lady Kalina explained.

    "Not us. We will venture into the Spire!" Rolfe declared.

    "Oh, ho! We will make it to the top!" Helga added.

    Irvin and Lady Kalina gave each other a silent look and nodded.

    "Oh, to be young again," Irvin observed.

    "Young and misguided," Lady Kalina added.

    Mikal nodded to the Amber Guard and said, "Welcome to my life."

    "Any word on the Empire''s treachery?" Jeze asked.

    "The official statement was a miscommunication from command, and the appropriate leaders have been disciplined," Irvin replied.

    "I still feel it was something else," Lady Kalina said and looked at Jeze. "Irvin told me about the attempt on your life. The Empire is up to something. I just don''t know what."

    "The gift of Immortality is a myth. The Empire wants to keep that a secret," Jeze responded.

    "To what end? No one outside the Empire cares. I''m sorry, Jeze. You and your secret are not that special," Mikal snorted.

    "They did make an attempt on her life," Rolfe interjected.

    The others nodded in agreement. That meant what she knew was important enough for someone to want her dead.

    "Are we not sure it is because she is annoying?" Mikal asked and exclaimed, "Oh!" When Jeze punched his arm.

    Ziplcoke cackled with joy.

    "None of that matters. The Spire''s true purpose is to invade our realm, and we must make it to the top floor to repair the Seals and lock away the Fiendish Lord. Otherwise, they will claim this realm as their own," Jeze stated.

    "The Empire is trying to sabotage this event. With Seb''s death, the attempt on Jeze''s life, and the recent allowance of the Howler to destroy two Stations. We need to stop them!" Lady Kalina exclaimed. It was a shock to everyone to see so much emotion come out of the normally impassive woman.

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    Irvin shook his head and said, "I feel I am obligated to say that I believe your judgment is impaired regarding the Empire, due to you being from the Iron Kingdom."

    Lady Kalina glared at him but crossed her arms to listen.

    Irvin held up his hands and continued, "Now, I am not saying they are innocent, but I think we might be putting more on them. Seb''s death was very likely an accident, and the recent events with Howlers could be due to military incompetence. The Legion is very large, and these types of mistakes do happen."

    "What about the attempt on my life? The murder of Raynor?" Jeze cried. Tears formed in her eyes.

    "I believe that was to keep the secret that the Emperor may not be immortal. Seb''s death or the recent Howler incident does not add up. The Wandering Spire is a lucrative time for all the nations. The Empire stands to lose a lot of profits by sabotaging the efforts of the Guild," Irvin answered.

    "Because the Spire arrived within the Ironfist Kingdom''s borders, the Kingdom is expected to make the most profits. The Empire''s sabotage is to limit their rivals," Lady Kalina added.

    Irvin nodded and conceded that possibility.

    Dunar rose slowly to his feet and said, "We need to plan for the Wasteland and eventually the Spire."

    Rolfe clapped his hands, "Yes! I am eager to test myself."

    Mikal snapped, "Not until you two are fully healed! I swear to the Frozen All Father, I will not aid you if you do something stupid."

    Helga laughed and then grimaced as she clutched her ribs in pain.

    "Yes, I agree. That is what you young adventurers should be doing. Do not let us old timers bog you down with our silly politics," Lady Kalina said and turned to look at Jeze, "I promise I will keep investigating. I will warn you if I find anything."

    "Thank you," Jeze said and bowed.

    Lady Kalina excused herself.

    "I understand you all made some good coin from the Rover parts. I suggest not only do you buy provisions, but you should consider upgrading your weapons. Or maybe invest in more magical equipment," Irvin said.

    "Like what?" Jeze asked.

    Irvin shrugged and waved his arms around. "Shop around! There will be no shortage of merchants."

    "We are in no condition to train, so we might as well walk around," Dunar said.

    The team walked together through the numerous merchant stalls that offered a variety of goods.

    "Any idea how far the Wandering Spire is from the Wasteland?" Jeze asked.

    "Berserker Orn says two days travel," Rolfe answered.

    Mikal rolled his eyes. "That means about a week for the rest of us."

    "Safe Zones and Merchants will be stationed through the Wasteland," Dunar said.

    "I wouldn''t count on that," Ziplocke muttered.

    "Would we be able to find food and water? It is still our realm, right?" Jeze asked the Goblin.

    "No. Think about how your Summoning of an aspect works. When you Summon Earth, you bring dirt from another realm. After a while, when the magic wears off, the dirt will vanish. The Wandering Spire is an extremely powerful and complex Summoning where it brings a portion of the Abyssal plane to this realm," Ziplocke answered.

    "What type of food can we eat from the Abyssal plane?" Rolfe asked.

    The Goblin snickered and replied, "I can show you."

    Rolfe shook his head. "No, thank you. I''d rather we purchase provisions."

    "We know we can eat Bloodlings," Helga offered.

    Rolfe perked up and said, "They were delicious!"

    Mikal stopped a stall and talked with the merchant, who had a round body and a bald head. The Healer returned and said, "We should buy these blocks of water."

    "Buy ice?" Jeze asked.

    "No, they are disposable Rune blocks that, when activated, will Summon water," Mikal said.

    "I have heard of those," Jeze added as she walked over to examine the gray bricks.

    "They cost a fortune! Can''t you Summon water?" Dunar asked.

    Mikal rubbed his face and answered, "I can only Summon water for a few minutes before it disappears."

    "That is plenty of time for us to drink it," Rolfe said. He did the math in his head and was fairly confident that he was correct.

    "The body needs at least four hours for the water to be absorbed and turned into waste," Mikal replied.

    "You mean when we pee?" Helga asked.

    "Yes! And It won''t provide any nourishment. These bricks have a strong enchantment that can last for a few days, more than enough time to be absorbed and used by our bodies," Mikal answered.

    "How are they made?" Jeze wondered. She saw the Rune patterns, and she figured it was the materials that gave it the extra lasting power.

    "We take the bones from Bloodlings and other Demons and grind them into a fine powder. Afterward, we mix it with water, and it turns into clay. We overlay it with several Rune patterns that have been in my family for generations and bake the clay into bricks. All you need is a drop of water, it could be Summoned water to activate the enchantment, and each block will generate five gallons of water that can last up to three days. We sell the buckets as well," the chubby merchant explained.

    "It''s totally worth it!" Jeze explained.

    "If you buy four, you get the fifth one free," the merchant offered.

    "Why can''t we just carry water in waterskins?" Dunar suggested.

    "Those are heavy! These are lightweight, see?" Mikal said. He couldn''t believe he was in agreement with Jeze.

    "Dunar, we can get these and save money on food as I can buy the raw ingredients and craft Recovery broths using these bricks for water," Jeze explained.

    "Those were delicious!" Rolfe exclaimed.

    "Ya, but at some point, I would like a steak," Helga said.

    "I suppose you would also like us to pack ale while we are at it," Mikal muttered.

    "Oh, Micky! You know me so well!" Helga beamed at the Healer.

    "They are easy to stack in our packs," Dunar agreed.

    "Oh, I''m gonna need a new pack, too," Helga stated.

    "Why?" Dunar asked, his eyes narrowed.

    "I need one that can hold my new Devil Mace," Helga said.

    Jeze and Mikal went ahead and ordered the Water Bricks.

    Dunar scratched his head and asked Helga, "How many weapons are you planning to carry?"

    "Are you counting my shield?" The Warrior Maiden asked.

    "Yes."

    "Well, my shield, my sword, my axe, and my Devil mace," Helga answered, holding up her fingers.

    "Can I get a Devil mace?" Rolfe asked.

    "Why do you need so many weapons?" Dunar asked.

    "I love my axe. And, I love the idea of crushing things with the Devil mace. Especially things in heavy armor. My axe did no good against the Goreraptor," Helga answered.

    "She wants utility. I can respect that," Jeze said.

    "Yes! Like we face Rovers, I chop them up with my axe. If we encounter a Goreaptor, I crush their hard skull with my Devil mace," Helga explained.

    "Okay, fine. We can shop for a new pack for Helga, but remember we still need provisions," Dunar said. He was doing the calculations in his head.

    "Ooh! We need this!" Jeze cried and pointed to a self-heating cooking pot.

    "We have a pot, and you can Summon fire," Dunar said.

    "But what if she gets killed? We still need to eat," Mikal teased.

    Jeze stuck her tongue out at the Healer. She turned to Dunar and said, "Fire creates light and draws attention. We may want to remain hidden."

    Rolfe perked up and added, "If we are inside a dungeon, fire makes smoke. That is not good for our lungs."

    Mikal laughed, "You charge Goreraptors, and you are worried about smoke?"

    Rolfe''s face hardened. He was a very large and muscular man. Mikal coughed and added, "But he is right. Good lung health is crucial for adventuring."

    "Okay, fine! We will get the pot and then provisions and no more!" Dunar said.

    They nodded and purchased a Rune-powered self-heating pot. They walked on in search of provisions.

    "How did they discover that crushed Demon bones will allow for water Summoning?" Rolfe asked.

    Mikal slapped his forehead and said, "This is my life."

 Chapter 47: The Wastelands

    The next week, in the early morning, Jeze and her team gathered their packs, weapons, and armor and headed out toward the battle lines. Jeze was surprised at how empty it all felt. It seemed like they marched alone, and they only saw people when they arrived in the valley, and they were carpenters.

    "What are they building?" Jeze wondered.

    "An obstacle course. Mainly in case there were any soldiers that wanted to become guild members," answered Dunar.

    Jeze nodded.

    "Oh, ho! Look at that!" Helga exclaimed and pointed.

    Ahead of them, in the distance where the boundary markers were, was a vast plane of red sand and obsidian black rocks. They felt a dry heat emanate outwards from the hellish landscape.

    "Home," Ziplocke said.

    What they saw before them was the Abyssal plane. The Wandering Spire had finally arrived.

    "Is that it?" Rolfe asked, his eyes squinting.

    What Jeze had originally thought was a dark cloud formation in the far distance turned out to be something different when she looked at it again. She took a sharp intake of breath.

    "The Wandering Spire," Helga responded.

    "It is so much bigger than I imagined," Dunar observed.

    Ziplocke snickered and stated, "You all are in for a treat."

    Mikal snapped, "Enough gawking! We are already late. All the other teams have entered, and the armies have marched home."

    Jeze glanced around and saw other teams entering the valley. They were not the last, but they were behind schedule. That couldn''t be helped as their teammates suffered grievous injuries.

    "Mikal is right, let''s march!" Dunar ordered.

    They walked toward the Wasteland and as they neared the Boundary markers, they were stopped by a group of soldiers and Guild officials.

    "Papers? You need to be a Guild member of at least Initiate Rank to enter," the official stated. He wore mail armor with the green colors of the Ironfist Kingdom.

    The soldiers were also from the Ironfist Kingdom, and Jeze guessed that they had taken over the security of the Wandering Spire event as the other armies were no longer needed. She looked back and saw the long advancing lines of the Legion as they marched up the mountainside and out of the Valley to return home. Could she be so lucky that Drake was among them? She wondered.

    "Jeze, your papers?" Dunar asked.

    The others had presented their documents to the official and waited on her.

    "Knucklehead," Ziplocke hissed from her shoulder.

    Jeze produced her certificate, and the official nodded. They were allowed to continue. Passing the boundary marker was a surreal experience. They left the churned grass and dirt of the valley and stepped on the hard gravel like sand of the Wasteland. The air was hot, and had a faint smell of sulfur in the air.

    "So this is the Abyssal plane?" Mikal asked.

    "Pretty much, minus the blue sky," Ziplocke answered.

    Jeze fed the Goblin some paste. He slurped it up and licked his fingers from her shoulder.

    "What happened to the land that was here before?" Dunar wondered.

    "I have read that when the Spire vanishes, the area will appear ravaged as if by a thousand tornados and hurricanes. But it will regrow like it does from those natural disasters," Mikal answered.

    "But the animals? The people that were here? What about them?" Rolfe wondered.

    "Dead!" Ziplocke shrieked with glee.

    Mikal shook his head. "The Goblin is not right in the head," he muttered.

    "I imagine the people and the animals would flee like they would from an approaching blizzard," Dunar answered.

    "The guild and Ironfist kingdom did their best to evacuate the towns and villages in the area. Luckily, this region was largely isolated with no major towns," Jeze said. She recalled hearing that from her many lunches with Irvin.

    "That''s because of the Dragon," Rolfe stated sagely.

    Mikal scowled and muttered, "Fool, that is just a child''s tale."

    "Is it?" Rolfe turned on the Healer. "Then explain why a rich valley was isolated?"

    Helga nodded, "Back home, wars would be fought over a valley such as this."

    "What are you all talking about?" Jeze asked.

    "It is told in myths that a mighty dragon resides in Mount Dragon. A dragon with scales as black as onyx and a soul that is equally dark. None dare even whisper his name," Dunar said.

    "Where did you hear this?" Asked Jeze. They were from the Frozen north, how would they know about legends in the Ironfist Kingdom?

    "From drinking with the locals," Rolfe said with a crooked grin.

    "My point exactly. Those are tales told over drinks. Nothing more," Mikal stated.

    Dunar recited, "It is said that the dragon was cursed by the gods to live in this mortal realm. His power weakened to the point where he was forced to sleep for centuries at a time. But when he awakes, he is reminded of his plight and becomes enraged. He ravishes the land all around until he is exhausted and falls back into his deep slumber. It is said that he sleeps in the mountain, and his dreams give nightmares to anyone who lives in this Valley. That is why no one lives here."

    Their feet crunched on the hard, sharp sands of the Wasteland as they made their way toward the Spire. It was desolate around them, and in the distance, they could see the faint shapes of other teams exploring the area. They passed large boulders made out of black obsidian, and ahead of them, they could see the rolling dunes, with the Spire being a faint silhouette that grew larger with each step.

    "Does nothing live here?" Rolfe wondered.

    "What could live here?" Mikal asked.

    "Bloodlings, Ogres, Howlers, and Rovers. You know? All the things you killed?" Ziplocke said.

    Jeze nodded as she glanced around. Did this area team with the Demons Ziplocke mentioned? What secrets would they find lurking under the dunes if they stopped to search for them? Jeze shook those thoughts out of her head. She had a singular purpose, and that was to save the realm and seal the Fiendish Lord at the top of the Spire. How far did Daverius make it? Jeze wondered with a sharp pang of grief in her chest. Ziplocke recognized when Jeze was lost in her thoughts, and he bopped her on her head to snap her out.

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    "Jeze? The Safe Zones? When will they be working?" Dunar asked a second time.

    The Scout returned from her thoughts and blinked her eyes. This was a long answer and she took a breath.

    "We can only enter the Spire through a portal that will transport you to a random location on the next floor. Only five people will be allowed to arrive in the same spot," Jeze began.

    "We know that already!" Mikal snapped.

    Jeze scowled at the Healer and continued, "Each floor has more portals from within where monsters and Demons will spawn from. When they are discovered, I can repurpose the portal to link outside. This will allow adventurers to leave to resupply or evacuate wounded teammates."

    "Or dead ones!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    The team nodded quietly. The Goblin reminded them of the hard reality they will experience when they enter the Spire.

    "Demons will be spawning on the floors?" Dunar asked.

    "Yes, until all the portals are discovered and repurposed, no level will be safe, even after the Floor Guardian is defeated and the next level becomes available," Jeze answered.

    "I heard that some teams purposely keep the portals open so that they can harvest the Demons that come through," Mikal stated.

    Jeze nodded. That made sense, even though it sounded horrible. She learned that the more powerful enchanted items, such as the Water Bricks they purchased, could only function when using the rare materials discovered from Demon parts. Otherwise, enchanted items would operate like the armor she wore. The enchantments were only good for an hour or so before the magic ran out and needed to be recharged.

    They traveled on through the desolate landscape, and Jeze saw something in the distance. She held up her hand.

    "What is it?" Dunar asked.

    Jeze pointed. Ahead, there were faint figures on the ground.

    "Monsters?" Rolfe asked eagerness in his voice.

    "I hope so! I''m tired of just walking. I want to fight!" Helga added.

    Dunar and Mikal shushed the two large warriors.

    "There is no movement," Jeze observed.

    "Are they bodies?" Dunar asked.

    "Only one way to find out," Helga responded as she hefted her Dane axe. The warrior maiden was not sure which weapon to prepare first, and decided to go with the one she was most familiar with.

    "That is a fair point," Jeze acknowledged. She wrapped herself up in Shadows and blended into the bleak landscape.

    The Scout crept forward as the others waited in formation and were ready to respond at a moment''s notice. Just like they had drilled for countless hours during the months before the Spire''s arrival. Jeze crouched behind an obsidian boulder and peeked around. It was human-shaped bodies that lay twisted and gnarled on the ground. They had gray leathery skin, and their hands were curled into claw-like shapes. Jeze studied them and saw that they had wounds that came from weapons on their grotesque bodies.

    Using the skills that Raynor had taught her, Jeze studied the ground and saw tracks that passed through the area. She counted five sets of tracks, including several wagons, and deduced that a team had escorted a merchant caravan. They passed through here and fought the monstrosities that lay on the ground. Was it an ambush? Jeze was not sure and needed to get closer to inspect. Tentatively and stealthily, she crept out from behind the black boulder. The bodies were even more horrid up close and gave off a stench that reminded Jeze of the Zombies in the Night Mistress''s Jade palace back in the sewers of Angston. Nearly a dozen corpses littered the ground with scuff marks along the gravel that indicated a fight. Jeze kicked a body with her foot and jumped back when it moved. Noxious fumes burst from the corpse as it deflated and became inert. Jeze relaxed and returned to her team.

    "Well?" Dunar asked.

    "A fight happened. It is safe for us to go through," Jeze answered.

    "Are you sure?" Mikal asked, skepticism clear on his face.

    Ziplocke snickered and replied, "I''m with the Healer on this one. Jeze is a terrible scout. You all are doomed!"

    Jeze scowled at the two and motioned for the others to follow her. They arrived where the bodies were. Helga and Rolfe covered their noses.

    "Oh, that smell!" Helga nearly retched.

    "It smells worse than a corpse," Rolfe added.

    Mikal, untroubled by the stench, knelt and examined the bodies. He rose and answered, "Undead. I''m guessing these poor souls did not evacuate in time."

    "Is that what happens if you are stuck in a Wandering Spire event?" Rolfe asked.

    Mikal shrugged, "That is my guess."

    "They went mad!" Ziplocke exclaimed.

    "Necromancy is not native to the Abyssal plane," Jeze explained.

    "But the Affliction aspect is! And Affliction can cause madness, especially to mortals!" Ziplocke danced with delight.

    "You are a troubling beast," Mikal hissed at the Goblin.

    This elicited more snickering and laughter from Ziplocke.

    "The adventurers that came before us put these poor souls out of their misery," Dunar stated.

    "Aye, gave them a proper Warrior''s death," Helga added.

    Mikal shook his head. "But not a proper burial, their souls will remain restless."

    The Healer gathered large rocks from the surrounding area.

    "Do we have time for this?" Jeze asked.

    "We make time, especially when we can. We must aid these poor souls to travel to the Frozen Halls," Mikal said.

    Jeze nodded. This was a side of Mikal that she had not seen. She respected it. As a team they helped their Healer bury the bodies under a cairn of jagged stones. When they moved on, Jeze pointed out the wagon trails.

    Dunar shook his head and apologized. "I''m sorry for my injuries. We are way behind schedule if they are setting up a camp outside the Spire."

    Rolfe snorted and said, "You forget we were also injured. Don''t take the blame upon yourself." The large warrior motioned to himself and Helga.

    "Aye and as I like to say. Better late than never!" The warrior maiden chimed in.

    They traveled further on and made camp for the night. Ziplocke explained, "You do not see stars in the sky in the Abyssal plane, just red and darker red."

    "That is horrible! I always find peace in the stars," Helga stated. She fed Ziplocke a treat.

    "One of the things I love about this realm. Is to see the sky like this," the Goblin said as he munched.

    Jeze wondered what Helga gave the Goblin but didn''t ask. She was happy that Ziplocke was getting along with her teammates. She joined Helga and looked up at the sky.

    Dunar organized a watch schedule and ordered, "Get some rest. We should be at the Spire by tomorrow."

    "You hear that, Micky? We travel as fast as Orn!" Helga boasted.

    The Healer was fast asleep or pretended to be to avoid talking with his teammates. The night went by without incident, and the team packed up and traveled early the next morning. The Wandering Spire loomed impossibly large before them. Its presence looked surreal, and each of the Proven trembled as they approached.

    "It is so large," Helga stated and squinted up.

    The area around the base of the enormous Spire bustled with activity. Dozens of wagons were parked and merchants began to set up the stalls. Hundreds of adventurers formed camps. A large shimmering purple portal could be seen from the distance where groups of five entered at a time.

    "This is it," Dunar said.

    "We made it!" Helga added.

    "I''m ready to test myself for Glory!" Rolfe stated.

    "Same," Mikal said with a nod.

    Jeze howled like a wolf to vent her excitement.

    "Knuckleheads!" Ziplocke snapped because she screamed near his ear.

    The group paused in shock when they saw a neat row of covered bodies.

    "Those are the fallen?" Rolfe asked.

    "Told you! The Spire is dangerous!" Ziplocke replied.

    There was activity upon their arrival and a group approached them. Jeze''s heart sank when she saw Drake and Miss Heng at the front. Miss Heng''s face was a mask of barely contained fury.

    "You!" Miss Heng said and pointed at Jeze.

    "Uh oh, someone is in trouble," Ziplocke snickered.

    "Hush! Now is not the time!" Jeze snapped at the Goblin.

    Ziplocke cowed and scampered off her shoulder to climb up Helga''s.

    Drake shook his head as if he was sad. But Jeze knew it was a deception. The Empire Agent was scheming something.

    "We have not established any Safe Zones. We can''t because of your insubordination! These deaths," Miss Heng cried and motioned to the bodies, "are on your hands."

    "Seize her," Drake ordered.

    A team of Legionnaires approached. These were different from the ones Jeze had seen earlier. These were the special forces for the Empire. The ones that completed the trials and became official members of the Guild. Dunar and the others drew their weapons and moved into formation.

    "Proven! Stand down," Miss Heng ordered.

    "No," Dunar replied on behalf of his team.

    None objected, not even Mikal. The Healer, despite all of his grumblings, stood readied with his spear. This warmed Jeze''s heart but also saddened that they may lose their lives before entering the Spire. The Legionnaires readied their spears, and crossbows. They outnumbered the Proven, and appeared to be highly trained. She would have to think of something, and fast.

 Chapter 48: (Part One Epilogue) For Glory

    Jeze lowered her weapons and walked in between Rolfe and Helga. Her teammates watched her with shocked silence as she broke their formation. In front of her were the pointed spears of the elite Legionnaires, the angry glare from Miss Heng, and Drake with his smug smile.

    "I can fix this. Allow me and my team to enter and we will repurpose the Portals and establish the Safe Zones," Jeze announced.

    Miss Heng''s eyes narrowed with barely contained fury. The Amber guard hissed, "Even now, you still know nothing. You know nothing of what you have done. We have teams helplessly struggling to find their way out. They have no safe zone, no portals back, no way to resupply or to pull out their wounded."

    "Then let me fix it. Let us enter the Spire," Jeze demanded.

    "For Glory!" Dunar roared in his deep voice.

    "Hurrah!" The Proven shouted back.

    This drew the attention of the other Frostsworn, and Jeze saw the large forms of the Carls jog toward them. Unfortunately, more elite Legionaries marched forward in a uniformed battle formation. The sound of their heavy armor and weapons echoed ominously as they approached like the drum beats to an impending doom.

    "You have demonstrated that you can not be trusted," Drake said.

    That snake! Jeze thought.

    Miss Heng nodded and stated, "You need to be held accountable for failing to perform your duties as directed as an Initiate ranked member of the Guild."

    The Carls arrived and joined the ranks of Dunar and the Proven. Across from them were the battle-ready lines of the Legion, with Drake and Miss Heng at the forefront.

    "I can not be held responsible for an entire program. Where are the other Safe Squad Members?" Jeze asked.

    "They are not here!" Miss Heng cried and waved her arm, "Due to your defiance! They could have been killed in the Waves. Or putting their own interests above the Guild''s needs."

    "There is no proof of that! And yet, here I am, ready to do my duty, and you want to punish me for the actions of others with or without proof," Jeze snapped back.

    The teenager was happy to see nods of approval outside the Legionnaires and the Frostsworn. The people were supporting her. Miss Heng even appeared to consider her words, but Drake whispered something in her ear, and the Amber Guard''s face hardened.

    "I say this one last time. Turn yourself in and have the Frostsworn stand down, or suffer the consequences," Miss Heng ordered.

    Jeze turned her words to the collective crowd of adventurers that have gathered. She spoke out, "Fellow Guild members, I am speaking to you. Many of you know of me and of the Frostsworn. Have we not performed bravely?"

    "I will give you a count of three," Miss Heng growled but was cut off as the crowd responded.

    "Aye, we heard how you saved Station 28," someone shouted.

    Jeze was emboldened, and she continued, "They would have had me sit out of the Monster Waves. Why? To keep me safe. As adventurers, do we seek out safety?"

    There was a collective laugh among the crowd of hardened Guild members.

    "Did we join the guild instead of the army to follow orders?" She asked.

    "No! We joined for Glory!" Helga roared.

    "Stop what you are doing," Miss Heng hissed, but Jeze felt that the power behind her words had faltered.

    "I ask you, fellow adventurers, should the Proven be allowed to challenge the Spire? Should I be allowed to establish a Safe Zone on the first floor?" Jeze spoke out to the crowd and ignored Miss Heng.

    Jeze was relieved when she heard a collective "yes" from the gathered adventurers. Miss Heng appeared conflicted over what to do next. Drake whispered in her ear again, and the Amber Guard nodded.

    ¡°Sieze her,¡± Miss Heng ordered.

    The Legionnaires advanced forward.

    "Hold!" A powerful voice boomed from the Carls.

    The Legionnaires and Miss Heng paused. Stepping forth was Berserker Orn.

    "Miss Heng, I believe you and I can speak on this with civility and come to an understanding, no?" Orn asked.

    Miss Heng nodded to acknowledge the Berserker and stated, "We can. Your adventurer disobeyed a direct order and, as a result, has placed many lives, including the Frostsworn, in danger."

    Orn''s eyes twinkled as he responded, "You know the ways of our people well enough to know that we do not fault her for seeking Glory over following orders. By all accounts, she fought bravely with the Proven."

    "Berserker Orn, though I appreciate the customs of the Frostsworn, I know that even you must acknowledge the need for order, for Glory can not be achieved without discipline," Miss Heng said.

    Orn nodded his bearded head and offered, "I hear you, Miss Heng. Your words are true. Here is what I propose. We allow the Proven to enter the Spire and for Jeze to establish a Safe Zone. That will benefit all of us. I do not disagree with you about punishment, just the severity of it."

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    Miss Heng crossed her arms and asked, "What do you propose?"

    "She was not alone in her infraction and it is not fair for her to suffer it alone. I propose a simple payment should suffice," Orn offered.

    "What?" Jeze demanded but was silenced by a cold look from the Berserker.

    Words, once spoken, can not be taken back. Jeze recalled his wisdom and closed her mouth from speaking further.

    Drake whispered into Miss Heng''s ear, but she waved him off. That gave Jeze some hope.

    Miss Heng replied, "Berserker Orn, your wisdom and words are much appreciated. I believe an arrangement could be made that benefits the Guild and will put this matter to rest. Here is what I propose," the Amber Guard turned toward Jeze and said, "You have one week to establish a Safe Zone. Or die trying. If you fail, then you will be fined one hundred gold ducats each day this is delayed."

    "100 hundred gold ducats!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "That seems fair," Orn said.

    "We are in agreement," Miss Heng acknowledged.

    ¡°No we are not!¡± Jeze snapped.

    Orn narrowed his eyes and asked, "You do not think you are capable of this request? You are a part of the Proven. Your team have ran with the Dire Wolves through the Deep snow. You think this is above your abilities?"

    The Berserker aimed his question at Jeze''s team.

    "We will do this!" Dunar exclaimed.

    "For Glory!" Helga roared.

    "Hurrah!" Jeze and the others shouted back. She couldn''t help herself.

    Orn, a twinkle in his piercing blue eyes, nodded with a smile on his bearded face. Jeze had watched a master use words and emotions with skill and ease as if he had swung his axe to split a Dragon''s skull. She had one week to find and repurpose a portal in order to establish a Safe Zone. Or go broke.

    "Looks like we have an agreement," Orn stated.

    Miss Heng smiled, which appeared unnatural on the stern woman''s face. The two Adept ranked adventures shook hands. Drake looked furious, and that gave Jeze some joy. On command, the Legionnaires departed. Dunar and the Proven visibility relaxed from the tense situation.

    "You were lucky!" Rolfe boomed after the departing soldiers.

    Helga barred her teeth and roared after them. Mikal shook his head and rubbed his temples. Orn and the Carls approached.

    "You have my thanks, Berserker Orn," Jeze said with a bow.

    "Nonsense, I see you headed my advice well. You controlled your emotions and timed your words wisely," the Berserker observed.

    Jorgenson placed a firm grip on Dunar''s shoulder. "You have a big task ahead of you. One I am sure you could succeed in. May you find your Glory!"

    "You have my thanks. I am honored to have trained under you. We will not let you down," Dunar replied.

    "All of this talk but no action! We have a week, and Jeze could lose a lot of money. Money that she would otherwise use to buy me my paste! So lets move people!" Ziplocke roared.

    "Aww, he is so cute!" Helga beamed.

    "He is hideous," Mikal muttered.

    "So is your face!" Ziplocke snapped back.

    Dunar cleared his throat and stated, "We need a plan." The Proven team leader turned toward Jorgenson and asked, "Have you been inside?"

    The Carl nodded and answered, ¡°On each level there is a chamber with the Floor Guardian. In that room there are two portals. One portal leads to a random location on the next floor, and the other portal leads to the previous level¡¯s Guardian¡¯s chamber. For the first floor the portal is the exit from the Spire.¡±

    "Do you have a map?" Dunar asked.

    "We did our best. As you know, inside the Spire covers many miles. What we have, maybe, but a snowflake in a snowstorm," Jorgenson responded.

    "We will take it and ask the other teams," Jeze said.

    "That is wise," Jorgenson nodded, and he handed Dunar a piece of folded parchment that was an incomplete map.

    For the next hour Jeze and the Proven traveled around the growing camp to ask the other teams that had braved the first floor. What they heard was disturbing with regards to the dangers that lay within.

    "It is an endless maze of hallways and intersections lined with traps and guarded fiercely by the trapped souls of adventurers who have lost their lives before us," one woman described.

    "We will be facing the undead?" Dunar asked.

    "Aye, and angry spirits. I can not tell you which is worse, the traps or the spirits," the adventurer replied.

    From a team of Shamans from the Tribal Council, they received another map. It did not connect with the maps they have received thus far and it was starting to appear that they have puzzle pieces from different parts of the puzzle that do not connect with each other.

    "It may take a week alone just to get information out here. Sorry, Jeze. Looks like you are going to be broke," Mikal observed.

    Jeze was getting nervous about losing all of her hard-earned money. "Do we have enough to go on?" She asked.

    Dunar shook his head and replied, "No, not yet. There are more groups we can ask."

    What they discovered was that there were over a dozen teams that have not returned yet. It is certain that some teams are on the second floor or higher.

    "The good news is that the Floor Guardian was defeated already. That is one less thing for us to worry about," Jeze observed.

    "What? That means someone else stole our chance at Glory!" Rolfe whined.

    Helga nodded in agreement.

    "This is no time to jest. By all accounts, the first Floor is dangerous. We will need supplies to manage the undead, especially the ghosts," Mikal said.

    "We were not jesting!" Helga complained.

    Dunar was writing a list of supplies that they should get. "Holy water and silver weapons for the undead. Anything else we need?"

    "Any magic that can detect traps?" Mikal suggested.

    "We will need to rely on Jeze''s skill for that one," Dunar replied.

    "Doomed! You are all doomed!" Ziplocke cried.

    Jeze bopped the Goblin gently on his head.

    They completed a few more purchases and talked with a few more teams. Dunar checked off the list he created on a piece of parchment. He studied it for a moment and then turned to his team.

    "I believe we have done all that we could. It is time for us to enter the Spire," He said.

    "About time!" Helga cried.

    "Agreed! I have never been more ready in my life," Rolfe stated.

    Jeze nodded, and they made their way over to the shimmering portal. No teams were coming out or entering at the moment. All eyes were upon them as they stood just outside the Threshold. This was it, Jeze thought. She was about to enter the Spire like her brother so many years earlier that it felt like another lifetime. She trained hard for this and overcame many challenges, and here she was. At this moment, she was about to embark on the journey she had started five years earlier when she trained with Daverius in the courtyard of the Old Crone''s school.

    Jeze and the Proven knowingly approached danger. They did this because they were adventurers. When others flee from the horrors of the world, Jeze and the Proven run toward it, because they are never content with where they are in life. For they need to seek new challenges as that is the food that nourishes them.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Jeze roared.

    "Hurrah!" Her teammates shouted back.

    As one, they entered the Wandering Spire.

 Chapter 49: The First Floor

    This was exciting! Jeze thought to herself as the teenager scaled a jagged wall high above the chamber below. Her strong, wiry arms and legs held her small frame against the stone as she climbed up inch by inch. Jeze had left her dark reinforced padded armor and heavy pack below in order to make the treacherous ascent. Her Team looked up in dreaded anticipation.

    "Are we sure there was no other way?" Mikal, the skinny dark-haired Healer, asked.

    The other shushed him as this topic was already discussed. The decision was made, and Jeze was high above them, and it didn''t make sense for her to climb down without first completing her task.

    "She is a Knucklehead," Ziplcoke observed and shook his tiny green bald head.

    It was odd that the two occasionally agreed, considering that they both vehemently disliked each other. Jeze reflected and blew a stray dark bang from her face and returned her attention back to the mechanism above her. For the past several hours, Jeze and her Team traveled through the twisting corridors and hallways of the first level of the Wandering Spire. The passageways were sometimes narrow, where they had to walk in a single file, and other times, they were wide enough for everyone to be at arm''s length from each other with room to spare. On occasion, they would pass through rooms that were circular with high ceilings, and other times, the rooms would be square with jagged walls. In some parts, the ground was made out of polished brick, and at other times, it was rugged dirt. There was no rhyme or reason to the level''s design.

    "Do you have enough light?" Dunar called out.

    The broad-shouldered Team Leader was holding up Jeze''s glowing globe that illuminated the long chamber they were in. His heavy armor jingled as he shifted his weight nervously and he made sure to not step on the pressure plates that Jeze discovered earlier. The Team was located at one end of the chamber and the other end was shrouded in darkness outside the radius of the magical globe.

    "I''m fine," Jeze called back.

    She was hanging precariously from the small hand and footholds made from the uneven, jagged surface of the wall. Just above her was a chain connected in between two winches. The only part of the trap''s mechanism that was visible, and Jeze felt she was lucky to have spotted it from below. It had been a painstakingly slow trot through the tunnels, caverns, and passageways. So far, Jeze successfully disabled two Rune traps and one mechanical trap. She triggered one bolt trap and was lucky to have dodged the deadly missile. However, despite that one mishap, she was confident in her ability to spot and disarm mechanical traps. Ziplocke, however, was not amused as the bolt almost struck him. The small Goblin Familiar was now on Helga''s muscular shoulder and clung to the Striker''s braided blonde hair next to her visored helm.

    Jeze carefully retrieved her wrapped toolset and placed it on a small ledge just beneath the chain and two winches. She moved her body so that her weight rested firmly on her legs. It was precarious, but it allowed her to use her hands. Jeze studied the mechanism in front of her. Earlier, she discovered several pressure plates on the ground below and cautioned the group from going further. Jeze was not sure if she would be able to spot all of the cleverly concealed plates. So she searched around, and that was when she discovered the chain and winches. Jeze deduced that when the pressure plates were pushed down, it would trigger a series of mechanisms that ultimately resulted in the chain being pulled to open up the ceiling and drop boulders on the unsuspecting adventurers below. That was her best guess, at least, and they didn''t have any other option.

    Going through this chamber was the only way forward for them. Unless there were some hidden doors that they missed along the way. Jeze shook that thought out of her head. She needed to be focused on the task at hand. With steady hands, she used her tools to dismantle the winch that was connected to the ceiling. After several moments, Jeze was able to disconnect the piece, and it hung loosely from the short chain. Jeze looked around and decided there was nothing else that could be done. The trap door above the chamber was disconnected and wouldn''t open. So she hoped. Jeze climbed down to join her Team.

    "Well? Is that it?" Dunar asked.

    Jeze could see the concern in his dark eyes through his visored Frostsworn helm that protected the top half of his face while leaving his clean-shaven jaw and mouth visible. She nodded. The Team moved back while Rolfe and Helga stepped forward. The two powerfully built warriors were holding heavy stones that they had retrieved from an earlier passageway. They threw them onto the pressure plates. The bricks sunk to the ground with a click. There were several more rumblings under the ground, and the Team flinched as the chain above them snapped against the stone wall. Because Jeze had disconnected it from the ceiling, nothing happened. She grinned at her Team.

    "The way is clear," Jeze announced with a bow.

    "Ya! Very good!" Helga exclaimed as she ruffled the Scout''s hair.

    Jeze donned her armor and pack, and the Team continued down the chamber. They stepped on several more pressure plates that made no sound as the mechanism was already triggered. That was until they were at the end of the chamber. Jeze felt the stone sink beneath her and heard the horrifying series of clicks.

    "Run!" She roared.

    The Proven ran ahead toward the exit as the ceiling above them gave way to an avalanche of heavy stones that tumbled and crashed to the ground behind them. A cloud of dust engulfed them, and they turned to see a rubble-strewn chamber.

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    "Well, that was fun!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "Knucklehead," Ziplocke hissed.

    "By the grace of the Frozen all Father, we are still alive," Mikal muttered.

    "We are here, and that is all that matters. Good job, Scout!" Helga exclaimed.

    "Aye!" Rolfe echoed as he thumped his spear against his round shield.

    Dunar updated the map he was making and he studied it. The Team made slow progress as the team Leader often stopped to document their travels. He compared his findings with the drawings they collected from the adventurers that ventured the first level before them. The Team Leader shook his head.

    "I do not believe we have traveled the paths of the others," he observed.

    "How big is this place?" Helga demanded. The warrior maiden was itching for a fight.

    Rolfe, the Team''s giant Protector, nodded his helm-covered head in agreement. They were constantly on edge for an ambush or a trap that weighed heavy on their psyche. Jeze resumed scouting ahead of the group. They traveled through several more chambers, some of which were illuminated with red torches that gave off no heat. Jeze had tried to collect them, but the flames went out when they were removed. Jeze shrugged at that, but it was not a worry since the Team had enough magical illumination to meet their needs. They entered a twisting corridor when Jeze heard a sound that sent shivers down her spine.

    "Hold up," she cautioned.

    Her teammates paused and cocked their heads to listen.

    "What is that noise?" Dunar whispered.

    "Is that laughter?" Rolfe asked.

    Ziplocke snickered. "It is madness!" The Goblin shrieked with glee.

    The laughing echoed from the corridors ahead of them, and it lacked mirth or joy. It went at reverberating intervals from giggles to loud outbursts as if the individuals had no control over it. Jeze nodded and understood what Ziplocke had meant. What they heard were people afflicted with madness.

    "Could those be the missing adventurers?" Mikal asked.

    Ziplocke giggled and responded, "Could be!"

    "This is not funny, Demon!" Mikal snapped and turned to his teammates, "We need to help them."

    "Aye," Dunar replied with a nod.

    "How? Hmm? How can you help them?" Ziplocke asked.

    "You know the Affliction aspect. Tell us how to undo the curse," Jeze stated.

    The Goblin crossed his thin arms and huffed. Jeze sighed and dug into her pack for his paste.

    "Really? Have you no compassion?" Mikal asked.

    Ziplocke hissed at the Healer and observed, "One drawback from you mortals is that you have a few that are pure and holy. So gross!"

    The Goblin perked up when Jeze offered him a spoonful of paste. He loudly slurped it up.

    Ziplocke''s ears pulled back against his head and he said with a sulk, "I am sorry I can not help you. Us Goblins specialize in pranks and jokes. Not madness. That is the realm of Imps or even worse beings that you better pray are not here."

    "You can''t or you won''t help us?" Mikal growled.

    "I will not lie to you, human," Ziplocke snapped.

    "He can''t. It is against our bond," Jeze stated.

    "Then we best find a portal so that Jeze can turn it into a Safe Zone. After that, we can lead the poor souls outside where I''m sure they can find help," Dunar stated.

    The others agreed, except Ziplocke. The Goblin shook his head and cautioned, "I would be careful if I were you. Those afflicted with Madness can be very dangerous."

    "Nothing more can be achieved from talking, correct? Let us keep moving and face the challenges with bravery," Helga boasted.

    "Hurrah!" Rolfe exclaimed and thumped his shield.

    The others nodded and echoed, "Hurrah!" The cheer dispelled their fears.

    Ziplocke rubbed his face and muttered, "Knuckleheads."

    Jeze went ahead and resumed scouting. She turned a corner and stopped with a gasp. Jeze covered her eyes and turned back to the others.

    "What is it?" Dunar asked.

    The large leader readied his axe and sword. He slowly lowered his weapons with numb hands at what he saw.

    "By the Frozen all Father," Mikal said softly. The Healer made a gesture to ward off evil spirits.

    "I count three bodies. That means two might still be alive," Dunar observed.

    The room was a small circular chamber with two other exits that branched off into adjacent tunnels shrouded in darkness. There was a cooking fire still going with a pot, and it appeared that a team was about to eat before the massacre occurred. Three mutilated corpses were strewn across the floor with their innards and limbs scattered about. Rolfe, with a determined look on his face, entered the chamber. The giant man knelt before one of the bodies.

    "The blood is still fresh," he observed.

    "Be on the lookout," Dunar ordered.

    Helga hefted her Dane axe in two hands and surveyed the room. "Look at that!" She exclaimed.

    On one of the walls, words were written in blood. "What does that mean?" Rolfe asked with horror etched upon his face.

    The words were scrawled haphazardly and read: "I must kill everyone to settle the echoing drums that beats in my ears. Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP!!!!"

    "It is evil magic," Mikal answered quietly.

    Even Ziplocke was subdued by the message. Laughter echoed from the tunnels, its location indeterminable. With the ease of a well-practiced team, they gathered into formation with Rolfe in the front and center. The giant Protector held his spear and shield, and Helga stood to his right with her Dane axe ready. Dunar was on Rolfe''s left with axe and sword. Behind the three was Mikal with his spear and Jeze with her battle axe and long knife. The laughter grew louder, but it was unclear from which tunnel it came from.

    "We will face and defeat this evil," Dunar promised.

    "Hurrah!" The others cheered.

    Rolfe thumped his spear against his shield. Despite the maniacal laughter and the fear in their hearts, the Proven were excited to face this challenge.

 Chapter 50: Madness

    Jeze and the Proven stood in formation before the two open tunnels as the ominous laughter echoed and grew louder. It was hard to determine which corridor the sound came from and if it was getting nearer or not. Rolfe flinched and raised his shield to swat at something.

    ¡°Where did these blasted flies come from?¡± The giant protector grumbled.

    Jeze did not see any flies, but instead, she heard a whispering voice to her left. She turned and only saw the bloodied walls with flickering shadows created by the campfire and nothing more. What¡¯s going on? She wondered.

    ¡°Adjust formation! We are surrounded!¡± Dunar exclaimed.

    The team immediately reacted and formed a ring with their weapons facing outwards. Jeze and Mikal glanced at each other. They did not see or hear anything coming from the back tunnel they just traveled from.

    ¡°I see them!¡± Helga cried and then cocked her braided head. ¡°Oh ho, that was odd. I thought I saw something.¡±

    ¡°Evil magic is at play here,¡± Mikal hissed and took a deep breath.

    Jeze recognized that the dark-haired Rune caster was centering his Will. Where was Ziplocke? She wondered.

    ¡°You will die here!¡± A voice to her right whispered.

    Jeze snapped her head immediately in the direction. Nothing, just flickering shadows from the campfire. Jeze followed Mikal and steadied her breath to center her Will.

    ¡°By the Gods! I think they got into my armor!¡± Rolfe exclaimed as he twitched and scratched.

    ¡°Stay focused! The enemy will be here at any moment!¡± Dunar Barked.

    ¡°Anyone see that? It¡¯s so pretty!¡± Helga observed. The Striker was studying the bloodstained walls.

    ¡°Helga! Focus and ready your weapon!¡± Dunar ordered.

    The laughter continued and echoed from the hallways. Oddly, to Jeze, that was the only thing that made sense. The whispering, the imaginary flies, the pretty walls, and the sound of footsteps from the back corridor were all not right. Jeze focused her Will inwards and just like when Miss Heng used the Mind aspect on her, Jeze was able to locate something within her.

    ¡°You feel it, too?¡± Mikal asked.

    Jeze nodded. It was not something she could see, but it was something she felt and sensed. Miss Heng had Shaped Jeze¡¯s thoughts. That was different. This, from within Jeze, was a different energy, and she recognized it immediately!

    ¡°It¡¯s the Affliction aspect! Mikal, can you sense it?¡± Jeze said.

    Rolfe, Dunar, and Helga glanced at her.

    The Healer nodded with his eyes closed, and his breathing increased.

    ¡°Stay focused! We are about to be attacked!¡± Dunar roared.

    Jeze ignored her team Leader and told Mikal, ¡°Push it out.¡±

    The dark-haired Healer exhaled loudly and visibly relaxed. He opened his eyes and told Dunar, ¡°We are being cursed.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°How are they getting inside?¡± Rolfe demanded. The large protector had lowered his shield and weapons in order to rub and scratch uselessly through the overlapping steel plates of his lamellar armor.

    ¡°So pretty,¡± Helga murmured. She was staring at the wall again with her two-handed axe down by her side.

    ¡°Someone or something has cursed us with foul magic,¡± Mikal answered.

    Dunar glanced nervously all around and then focused on Mikal and Jeze. With gritted teeth, he asked, ¡°How do I stop this?¡±

    ¡°Breathe deeply in and out as if you are in the Frozen Sea,¡± Mikal said.

    Jeze wondered what that meant and watched Dunar rapidly inhale and exhale. His broad chest heaved in and out.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Mikal said and coached Dunar, ¡°In with peace and out with stress. Go with the flow and be in this moment.¡±

    Dunar looked back at the opposite corridor and nodded. He recognized that nothing was there, and the real threat was in front of them. The laughter was nearly in the chamber now.

    ¡°Formation!¡± Dunar barked.

    Despite being afflicted with a curse, Helga and Rolfe responded to the command on instinct. Jeze and the Proven held ready until they each started to get distracted again. Helga glanced at the walls, and Rolfe began to swat at flies. Dunar nervously looked over his shoulder, and Jeze heard the whispering again. Mikal closed his eyes and focused on his Will. They were not prepared when the two mad adventurers bursted into the chamber.

    Dunar was the first to spot the attackers, and he shouted, ¡°Prepare yourselves!¡±

    Rolfe barely raised his large round shield in time to intercept a blow from a long two-handed sword. The second mad warrior furiously attacked Dunar with blade and shield and the team Leader responded in kind with his axe and sword. The two engaged in a furious exchange.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    The whispering voices were in Jeze¡¯s head and they distracted her with her own random thoughts. ¡°Notice how odd these two look? What caused them to scar themselves in such a way? You will die here!¡± They whispered ominously in her mind.

    The two mad adventurers were well-muscled fighters, and Jeze guessed them to be either Strikers or Protectors. They wore plate armor that was heavily stained with dirt and blood. The two men had mutilated their faces with gashes and piercings. They wore necklaces made out of bloody bone bits that probably came from their deceased teammates. Did they murder them? Jeze wondered.

    Rolfe, unfocused, attacked with an ineffective spear thrust that glanced off his attackers'' stained plate armor. Helga snapped out of her reverie and swung her axe. Despite being consumed with madness, the two attackers were highly skilled fighters. Helga¡¯s axe was redirected and countered in one seamless motion. The mad adventurer¡¯s two-handed sword rang loudly as it struck Helga¡¯s helmet and dazed her. Mikal, who was refocused, stabbed the attacker through the mail that was under the steel breastplate. The injury did little to faze the mad adventurer, and they slashed Mikal across his face. The Healer stumbled, bleeding, onto his back. Helga and Rolfe moved in to protect their teammate.

    Dunar was struck in the helmet by the edge of his attacker¡¯s shield, and he barely parried a sword thrust. The team Leader was off balance and ill-prepared to defend against further attacks. Jeze snapped out of the Affliction spell that enthralled her and rushed forward to aid Dunar. She trusted with her long knife and chopped high with her battleaxe. Jeze¡¯s knife stabbed a shallow cut through the mad adventurer¡¯s mail armor, and her axe blade was met with his shield. Jeze dodged a sword slice and returned a slash of her own that glanced uselessly off a shoulder pauldron. The mad adventurer bashed Jeze with his shield, and she barely deflected a sword thrust as she stumbled back onto her knees, dazed.

    ¡°Die!¡± The crazed adventurer screamed with spittle flying from his lips. Jeze was not able to defend herself from the incoming sword slice.

    Dunar recovered and deftly intercepted the attack with a chop of his axe that nearly severed the mad adventurer¡¯s sword arm. The crazed warrior howled as blood flowed freely from the grievous wound but was unfazed as he spun and struck Dunar with his shield edge. Jeze lunged forward and stabbed with her long knife. The blade pierced the mail on the mad adventure¡¯s side and went all the way to its hilt. Jeze watched the life and madness fade from the crazed man¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said quietly before he collapsed in a heap.

    The second-crazed warrior swung his two-handed sword with a wild grace that bypassed Helga¡¯s defenses. The warrior maiden grunted in pain as the blade sliced through the mail that protected her thigh and left a gash. Rolfe slammed his shield and knocked the mad adventurer off his feet. Helga roared and delivered a mighty chop of her Dane axe to her grounded opponent that, ended the fight in a geyser of blood and bone.

    ¡°Regroup!¡± Dunar barked.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The team responded as they returned into formation. Rolfe thumped his shield loudly.

    Despite being bloodied and tired, they maintained their discipline. When it was clear that there were no more threats, they relaxed their weapons.

    ¡°Where is Ziplocke?¡± Jeze wondered.

    The small Goblin was absent the entire fight. She scanned the flickering shadows and noticed movement. There were more shadows in the room than possible from the flickering campfire. Jeze tapped into her Shadow aspect ring and Shaped the shadows and, revealed a horrid-looking creature with deep red skin.

    ¡°Foul creature!¡± Mikal shouted and hurled his spear.

    ¡°Skibidi!¡± The monster shrieked as it dodged the thrown weapon.

    It was small, just a little bigger than Ziplocke. It floated on fluttering bat-like wings, and it had a large round head with tiny horns and yellow eyes over a sinewy red body with gnarled arms and legs. With a hiss, it flew out of the chamber like a shot arrow.

    ¡°There¡¯s more!¡± Ziplocke screeched.

    The Goblin emerged from the shadows of the back corner and weaved the Fire aspect in his tiny green hands to shoot at another clump of shadows where a second red-skinned Demon materialized. The Fire magic splashed over the creature, and it let loose a horrid howl of pain. It rapidly fled toward the chamber¡¯s exit, where it was struck down by Jeze¡¯s thrown hand axe.

    ¡°Are there any more!¡± Mikal cried.

    Ziplocke shook his head and inspected the fallen red Demon. The Goblin shook his head and sighed, ¡°You killed it, knucklehead. We could have questioned it to find the others.¡±

    ¡°What were those things?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°Imps,¡± Ziplocke answered as he scurried back to Jeze¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°You could have warned us,¡± Mikal growled.

    ¡°I did! I told you that it could have been Imps or something much worse! You fools are lucky. It is just Imps!¡± Ziplocke squealed in response.

    ¡°You are not mad that we killed your kind?¡± Rolfe wondered.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Ziplocke snapped and motioned toward the dead Imp. ¡°These things are disgusting and nowhere near as noble as us Goblins!¡±

    Jeze used her Life Channeling tool to close Mikal¡¯s wounded face. It took all of her Will, and she had to sit when she was finished.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± the Healer responded.

    It would have been extra difficult for him to heal himself through the pain and not being able to see his wounded face. He treated the others with his magic.

    ¡°They fought well. Do you suppose they were Adventurer ranked?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°Oh ya. The two of them gave us a challenge, no?¡± Helga responded.

    ¡°It¡¯s from the madness. It can inflict Rage on some people. Makes them more dangerous,¡± Ziplocke explained.

    ¡°Why is your Affliction aspect different than theirs? Can you make people go mad?¡± Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke scowled at her. ¡°No, I enjoy misery. Madness can only lead to death.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so we are to believe you are a kind Demon?¡± Mikal snorted.

    ¡°Not at all! Imps enjoy madness and death. Us Goblins like to watch misery, especially from pranks, which makes it funny!¡± Ziplocke said with a giggle. He added, ¡°Death puts an end to it. So boring!¡±

    ¡°We should get the rocks from the other room and provide a proper burial for these poor souls,¡± Mikal observed.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for that,¡± Jeze said, especially for her situation. If they don¡¯t activate a Safe Zone Portal within the week, she will lose a lot of money to Miss Heng and the Amber Guard. Speaking of money, she retrieved her hand axe and searched the body of the dead Imp.

    ¡°Have you no decency?¡± Mikal snapped.

    Jeze answered, ¡°The Safe Zone is our main priority.¡±

    Among the remains of the Imp she found a pouch filled with gemstones and Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide. Among the spoils were a few Mana stones. These were rare and were primarily collected when the Spire appeared.

    ¡°Imps like to covet gems and crystals,¡± Ziplocke observed.

    ¡°Oh ya? What do Goblins like to collect?¡± Helga asked with a wicked grin.

    Ziplocke shrieked, ¡°You won¡¯t find my kind in the Spire!¡± He scampered up Jeze¡¯s shoulder.

    Dunar knelt beside the bodies and covered them with their cloaks and sleeping rolls. He rose up and stated, ¡°Jeze is right. We need to establish a Safe Zone so that this won¡¯t happen again. Let us not forget that one Imp got away. We must be careful.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I am sure there are more than one. Much more,¡± Ziplocke said and cackled with glee.

 Chapter 51: Lost Souls

    After everyone was rested and healed, the team voted on which tunnel to take. This was the first time they encountered a fork that opened up into different corridors. Unless they missed some secret doors, Jeze thought to herself.

    "Can you determine which direction they came from before they made camp here?" Dunar asked Jeze. He was referring to the deceased team.

    The Scout nodded and studied the floor for tracks. There were many bloodied footprints that came and went. It appeared as if the two adventurers that went mad had roamed back and forth between the two tunnels. It was strange that they did not wander down the third exit, which led to the tunnels from which Jeze and her team came.

    Jeze pondered this when Ziplocke explained, "They were waiting to ambush you."

    "The Imps knew we were coming?" She asked.

    "I would bet on it!" The Goblin squealed with a clap of his hands.

    "How can we be certain they are not watching us now?" Jeze wondered as she looked ahead with suspicion into the deepening darkness of the passageway.

    "They can be!" Ziplcoke snickered with delight.

    Jeze returned to the Proven and explained that it was her best guess that the deceased team came from the left tunnel.

    "Before their demise!" Ziplocke added.

    Mikal shook his head.

    "We are to assume where they came from was not where we want to go, no?" Helga asked.

    "Aye, they would not walk away from the portal that would have taken them to the next level," Dunar agreed.

    Rolfe removed his helm to scratch his blonde hair. "We know the portal is not from where we came from nor from where they arrived from. So we take this last one?" He pointed down the right corridor.

    "Very good, Rolfe!" Mikal exclaimed.

    "I think you are mocking me," the large Protector growled.

    "Ya!" Helga said with a boastful laugh.

    Jeze was impressed with how quickly the team recovered from having their minds tampered with. She was also eager to move on and realized what Irvin meant was that only a few people have what it takes to be an adventurer. Jeze reflected on how her parents made the decision to settle and live a calmer life. That was not for her. She was hungry for more adventure.

    "Is it agreed?" Dunar asked and motioned to the opening on their right.

    The others nodded, and Ziplocke shrieked, "Very good! That was the one the Imp escaped through. We will be walking into an ambush!" He hopped around with glee.

    "That Demon is not right in the head," Mikal muttered.

    Ziplocke hissed at the Healer.

    "Form up!" Dunar barked.

    Jeze took the lead to scout ahead as the others marched close behind her in formation. She studied the ground for traps and the darkness ahead for ambushes. They traveled down corridors made from shaped stone until Jeze heard the fluttering sounds of the Imp''s wings echo off the walls. Was this a trick? Jeze wondered and paused to center her Will. Dunar ordered the others to do the same. Helga and Rolfe grumbled but complied. Mikal took them through the breathing exercises that helped them focus their minds.

    "Wait here," Jeze said to the team as she snuffed out the light from her Globe.

    Ahead, in the distance, they saw a faint reddish light that came from a rectangular chamber. Jeze tapped into her Darkness ring and wrapped shadows around her and faded from view. She crept forward. The corridor opened into a long chamber, this one much larger than the one they just fought in.

    Along the walls were torches that flickered with red flame, giving the room a sinister feeling. Jeze studied the numerous shadows that gathered and danced with the flames'' light along the walls and corners. Across from Jeze, there were three exits evenly spaced out from each other and a fourth along the far left wall. The right wall had none and was lined with torches. Other than that, the room appeared empty. But Jeze knew otherwise, and she focused her attention and awareness within the room. She listened and watched.

    Jeze heard noises coming from the openings across from her. She cocked her head to listen as the sounds grew louder. No, not louder, closer! Jeze realized. What she heard were frantic running footsteps that were followed by howls of madness that were running toward her! Jeze turned and ran toward her team just as the first hunched-over forms erupted into the chamber.

    "Prepare yourselves!" Jeze cried as she sprinted down the hallway.

    Without hesitation, the Proven moved into action. They opened up ranks to allow Jeze to pass through before closing up. Dunar and Rolfe equipped their shields to form a shield wall. Helga was beside them and readied her Dane axe. Mikal placed magical glowing light rods along the walls to give the team illumination for the pending battle. Jeze slid into place next to him and she retrieved her Fire aspect channeling tool to Summon, Shape, and Control Fire to launch down the hallway at their screaming attackers.

    The flaming darts illuminated the hallway as they zipped down to strike the rushing horde of attackers. What the Proven saw surprised them. Their enemies were twisted people with gray skin, drooling mouths, and armed with weapons that were just as distorted as they were. They waved swords with jagged edges and warped axes and clubs lined with vicious spikes. Jeze realized the two mad adventurers they had fought earlier were in the early stages of their madness. What she saw before her were people who lived years with the condition. Their bodies were thin and twisted with their affliction. But how? Jeze wondered did they live this way? Where did they come from?

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "Focus!" Ziplocke hissed and added, "Knucklehead."

    "What are they?" Jeze asked.

    "Thralls. Mortals afflicted with Madness. They are slaves and serve as fodder to the armies of the Abyssal plane," Ziplocke answered.

    "These are the poor adventurers taken from the previous Spires," Mikal observed.

    "So sad!" Helga exclaimed.

    "We will put them to rest," Rolfe promised.

    Jeze continued her fire bombardment and whittled the attackers down as they made their mad dash across the hallway.

    "Mikal, narrow the sides so that they do not surround us," Dunar ordered.

    For the moment, Jeze''s Fire attacks splashed into the surging Thralls and slowed them down, but the numbers were too great, and she was not able to stop every one of them. The hallway was wide enough for the Thralls to engulf and surround the team. The Healer tapped his Water aspect, channeling wristguard, and Summoned moisture as Jeze launched Fire beside him. Mikal weaved and Controlled the water to ring the walls, floor, and ceiling. When the mad warriors rushed forward in a screaming tide, Mikal completed the final gestures and Shaped the water into jagged spikes of ice. Some Thralls were impaled by ice, and others were frozen in place. Before the screaming horde threatened to push through the ice blockade, Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga rushed forward and attacked.

    The Thralls slammed their warped weapons onto the shields as Rolfe and Dunar stabbed with their swords. Helga tapped Rolfe''s shoulder, and the large Protector stepped back to allow the warrior maiden to deliver a powerful slice of her axe. Helga created a swath of death before she retreated behind the shield wall. Jeze Summoned and Shaped Earth into stone walls to further impede their insane attackers. Mikal healed the numerous cuts and scratches his teammates received from the Thralls, and the team fought like this until the bodies of their enemies filled the corridor.

    The Proven defeated the first wave of Thralls, but they could hear more cries coming from down the hallway. Jeze began to hear whispers. Helga started to stare off into the space with a glaze over her eyes, and Rolfe twitched and scratched.

    "Jeze, block off the hallway!" Dunar barked.

    The Scout Summoned and Shaped the Earth aspect to form a wall that sealed the area in front of them. This blocked off the line of sight from the Imps at the end and ended the Affliction spell that was on them.

    "The wall will not hold long," Jeze said.

    Dunar nodded and already they heard the Thralls slamming into the Summoned wall. The team caught their breath as Dunar studied the situation they were in.

    "These are much easier to kill than the two we fought earlier," Helga observed.

    "The poor souls were malnourished from a life of slavery and madness," Mikal said quietly.

    "Do we keep fighting? I can do this all day," Rolfe boasted. The giant Protector thumped his shield.

    Dunar gripped Rolfe''s shoulder and replied, "I know that. I''m not concerned about the fighting. I''m concerned about the Imps'' foul magic."

    Jeze''s Summoned wall began to chip and crack. "We haven''t much time," she observed.

    Dunar was thinking out loud, "The Imps need to see us for their magic to take effect. Come with me."

    The Leader led the group back into the circular chamber and picked a spot that was off to the side. "The Imps cant see us if we fight here," Dunar observed.

    "We will be surrounded!" Mikal cried.

    "Good! A chance for me to let loose," Helga stated as she hefted and swung her axe in a slow circle around her head.

    "Yes! You will now see what I am capable of!" Rolfe roared as he thumped his sword against his shield.

    Dunar replaced his shield with his axe, as their goal was to fight offensively. The Leader turned to Jeze, "You will hide and wait until the Imps enter the room. Demon, you will assist us by revealing them so that Jeze can kill them."

    "I merely serve as a consultant," Ziplocke replied with his chin up in the air.

    "I think I can spot them," Jeze said.

    The Goblin knew that would be hard for her and with his ears back against his head he added, "For a full jar of a paste, I will aide you."

    "Shameless!" Mikal snapped.

    "We must hurry," Helga stated as a big chunk of Jeze''s Summoned wall crumbled off.

    The screams from the Thralls grew louder. Any moment now and the chamber will be flooded with mad attackers.

    In a hurry, Jeze responded, "Deal."

    "Fool!" The Goblin snickered. The young girl didn''t bother to negotiate.

    "Proven! Prepare for battle!" Dunar roared.

    "For Glory!" Helga shouted.

    "Hurrah!" The others cried before getting into position.

    Jeze Summoned and wrapped Shadows around her to hide. In addition, she prepared Summoned Mounds of Earth in the room so that she would have different options for attack angles. The Proven placed themselves off the side of the entrance, and Mikal readied Summoned Water along the floors, which was to be Shaped into Ice to freeze the pending rush of Thralls.

    The Thralls broke free, and with howls of crazed laughter, they charged down the hallway. A mere moment later, they erupted into the room like a tidal wave and immediately swarmed the Proven. It was pure chaos, but the Frostsworn fought with brutal skill. Helga and Rolfe were not lying, and the two giant warriors let loose to create a swath of carnage in the likes that Jeze had never seen before. Dunar weaved about and swung his axe and sword. Each blow delivered death.

    The three warriors formed a semi-circle around Mikal with the curved wall of the circular chamber to their backs. The Healer Shaped Ice to freeze groups of Thralls, and he tapped into the Life aspect to heal the numerous gashes and cuts his teammates received from the mad Thralls. Jeze hungered to join them, but like a hunting Wolf, she waited in the shadows. She had an important role because if the Imps were allowed to let loose their Affliction spells, then the Proven would be in dire trouble. So Jeze waited with her body wrapped in Summoned shadows.

    The fighting raged on as Thralls continued to flood into the chamber to die in piles before the mighty Proven. Jeze waited, observed, and hunted. She vowed that she would not fail her team and she would kill the Imps when they appeared.

    Something odd happened. Helga stumbled and took a hard blow from a wicked spiked mace. Rolfe was delayed in his response, and Dunar barked orders as he tried to keep the team together. Jeze recognized the symptoms of the madness Affliction! With narrowed eyes and determination, she scanned the shadows of the room through the throng of Thralls.

    "Ziplocke!" She dared to hiss.

    "A moment more. We will get them all," the Goblin responded with a snicker.

    Can she spare a moment? Jeze wondered as she watched her team slowly get overwhelmed. Their fighting ability was hampered by the madness creeping into their minds. Rolfe not only attacked the Thralls, but he also swung at imaginary foes. Helga glanced at the walls every now and then, and Dunar''s was distracted. Mikal did his best to remain calm, but the situation was turning dire by the moment. She had to do something!

    "There!" Ziplocke squealed. The Goblin materialized and weaved his tiny hands. Shadows parted to reveal the two bloated forms of the Imps with their oversized heads and glowing eyes. Jeze reacted immediately before the Demons could escape. She struck them down with a hail of Stonefists. Their magic broken, the Proven resumed fighting with top efficiency. Jeze howled and joined them with her axe and long knife.

 Chapter 52: Bloodlust

    The Thralls lacked skill and physical strength. What made them dangerous was that they had numbers and an unrelenting ferocity. Jeze concluded that the longer they were afflicted with madness, the weaker they became. In contrast, the two mad adventures they encountered earlier were recently afflicted, and they exhibited strength, fearlessness, and skill. The Thralls they fought now only knew to swing their weapons and lacked any resemblance of coordination or defense. But there were a lot of them.

    Jeze stabbed a Thrall through the neck and dodged a wild swing from a second that caused the attacker to lose balance and collide with a third. A fourth Thrall rushed in with their weapon poised high, and Jeze chopped off their arm with her battle axe before they could swing. The Thrall looked confused at its missing limb while Jeze deflected with her long knife another Thrall''s clumsy thrust and weaved to avoid grasping hands. She spun and planted her battle axe on another''s forehead. The one-armed Thrall picked up another weapon with their remaining hand, and before they could attack, Jeze sliced their throat as she ran past.

    "Form up!" Dunar roared. The team Leader recognized that they were drifting apart and individually, they could be overwhelmed.

    "Hurrah!" The Proven responded.

    Helga and Rolfe fought their way closer to each other and near Dunar. Mikal covered Helga''s flank and kept his back toward the curved wall of the chamber. Jeze danced and weaved in between the cluttered mass of Thralls, and she arrived by her team''s side. With discipline and precision, they eliminated the small horde of Thralls. Twitching bodies littered the hallway and chamber.

    "For Glory!" Helga cried.

    "Hurrah!" The others responded, and Rolfe banged his shield with his sword.

    Mikal knelt and prayed for the souls. Jeze saw tears on the dark-haired man''s face. The Healer rose after wiping his eyes.

    "May these poor souls find their eternal rest behind the gates of the Frozen All Father," Mikal quietly said.

    The others nodded. Jeze came over and squeezed his shoulder.

    "Once we establish the Safe Zone. The Guild will send teams of Prospects to collect the fallen for proper burial services," Jeze promised.

    Mikal gripped her hand and nodded his gratitude. It was a rare moment the two shared and ended when Ziplcoke began to retch.

    "Okay! Enough of the soppiness. Time for you to collect all of the loot! Jeze needs the money to buy me paste!" The Goblin squealed.

    "Loot? What can these poor souls have that could be of value to us, huh?" Rolfe asked.

    Helga wrinkled her nose as she scanned the bodies and agreed, "Aye, they look worse than beggars."

    "Noobs!" Ziplocke squealed and added, "But no worry. You are all fortunate to have Ziplocke here to guide you."

    "What is he talking about?" Mikal snapped.

    "Their weapons!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    Dunar arched an eyebrow. "They are not even proper weapons," the Leader observed.

    The assorted armaments from the Thralls consisted of swords with jagged blades and a variety of warped axes and spiked maces and clubs.

    "Fools! The weapons are made of Devil''s Steel! You can''t find that in this realm, and merchants would pay a nice sum to melt down this junk," Ziplocke cried.

    "That is a lot for us to carry. I don''t think it would be wise to burden us in such a way," Helga observed.

    "Once we map out this floor and Jeze repurposes the floor portal, we can sell this location to a scavenger group," Dunar replied.

    Jeze heard about that from working with Hannah. Scavenger teams were typically composed of merchants and Prospect level adventurers. Once a floor was fully cleared, meaning it was mapped out and the portals were all linked to Safe Rooms and the outside, then scavenger teams could enter the level and collect piles of loot. Piles such as the one that filled the chamber they were in. The scavengers will buy, at a much-reduced cost, the loot.

    "How do we know that they won''t cheat us with the price?" Rolfe asked.

    "Oh, they will cheat you! It''s part of doing business unless you want to carry everything out on your own!" Ziplocke shrieked in reply.

    "Let''s collect all the weapons and make a pile. We can mark it as ours," Dunar said.

    "Oh, ho! Won''t another team just steal it?" Helga asked.

    Dunar shrugged his broad shoulders. "It''s the only option we have. Honor among adventures."

    They piled the twisted weapons in the corner of the chamber. Thinking about the Devil''s Steel, Jeze realized that Hannah might be interested in this. The metal had properties that were better suited for enchanting and offered better heat resistance.

    "I know a merchant. Her name is Hannah, and she will give us a fair price," Jeze announced.

    "Good," Dunar replied.

    "Do we take the coins from the fallen team?" Rolfe asked.

    "No!" Mikal snapped.

    The large Protector backed away.

    "Leave that for the families," Dunar stated.

    They marked "Proven" on the wall beside the pile of weapons and continued on through the dark corridor to the long rectangular chamber Jeze scouted earlier with the red torches.

    "They came from those entrances," Jeze said, pointing.

    "Not that one?" Dunar asked.

    The Leader motioned to the single entrance on the far left end of the chamber. Jeze shook her head, but she was not certain. At the time, she was being chased by a small horde. The Scout entered the room and studied the floors. It was difficult to find tracks on the stone floor, but with careful inspection, she was able to make out the scuff marks and scratches made from the crude weapons the Thralls dragged and carried. The Frozen followed her into the chamber as she inspected the four entrances and confirmed her original observations.

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    "I don''t see any indication that the Thralls came from that direction," Jeze explained regarding the far exit.

    "How do you mean? There is no dust or markings on the floor," Mikal asked.

    "Micky! Why are you so difficult? Just trust our scout," Helga snorted.

    The Healer huffed and crossed his arms to look away.

    Jeze rolled her eyes and explained, "A large number of mad Thralls carrying edged weapons leave scuff marks along the walls and, in some cases, on the floor. From the three entrances I saw them come through, there is numerous evidence and markings along the walls. The fourth one over there has none. But I could go further in to search more if you want."

    "No. We follow where they came from. It may lead us to a monster Portal, and it is our duty to shut it down," Dunar said.

    "Oh ya? Then we can complete Jeze''s mission?" Helga perked up.

    Jeze shook her head and answered, "Unfortunately, no. All I can do is deactivate the monster portal. In order for me to turn it into an exit portal, we first need to repurpose a floor portal. The easiest floor portal to repurpose is the one on the first level. Once I do that, then every monster portal can be repurposed moving forward."

    "Why is that?" Mikal asked.

    Jeze scowled. Why did he always seem to mistrust her? "No one knows for sure. The theory that Seb had was that all the portals are linked to the master portals that lead out of the levels." She had a small pang of sadness at the memory of the dead Guild official.

    ¡°So all the others that have traveled before us are trapped with no way out?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°They can backtrack through the floor portals, but yes. Once they go through the next level they can not leave until they defeat the Floor Guardian,¡± Jeze answered.

    Dunar¡¯s jaw stiffened. ¡°They have no access to supplies. We must get Jeze to the Floor Portal.¡±

    They explored one of the exits the Thralls had entered from. It was a narrow corridor where they found three dead thralls.

    "What happened?" Helga wondered.

    "Bolt trap," Jeze answered.

    "They are useful for triggering traps!" Ziplocke squealed

    Protruding from the corpses were the bolts, and along the opposite wall were three holes. Eventually, the narrow corridor led to another block-shaped chamber. After some inspection, the team discovered that all three exits were linked to the same destination. Each corridor had a nasty trap that claimed a group of Thralls. Jeze studied the mechanisms and was impressed with the different triggers. Two were from pressure plates, and the third was a tripwire that caused a scythe blade to slice out from the wall, cutting the victims in half. They paused as Dunar updated his map.

    The broad-shouldered man shook his head. "I do not believe we have linked up with what the other adventurers discovered."

    "How big is this level?" Rolfe wondered. He was amazed at how far they have traveled and yet they still have not crossed the same corridors as the previous teams.

    "Well, at least where we go next is easy to figure out," Helga joked.

    There was only one unexplored exit in the room, and it was directly across from them.

    "Why do the torches give off different color light? This room is blue, and the other was red, and earlier, we saw green torches," Mikal wondered.

    Ziplocke snickered. "There is no reason in the Abyssal plane. Things are just as they are."

    Helga gave him a treat, and he snuggled up to the large warrior maiden. Mikal shuddered. Jeze studied the room they were in.

    "I think the Imps gathered the Thralls here," she explained. The room was filled with scratches and scuff marks that adorned the floors and walls.

    In her mind''s eye, she pictured the cluttered shuffling mass of Thralls waiting in this room.

    Rolfe wrinkled his nose. "It smells like it," the giant Protector observed.

    The room did have an odor from tightly packed bodies that had not been washed in ages.

    "Be ready Proven. I suspect the monster portal is nearby," Dunar stated.

    Jeze scouted the next passageway and the Proven followed in battle formation. They entered another wide square chamber with the floors and walls made out of sandstone and illuminated with normal colored torches. There were three other exits on each side and the chamber was littered with a dozen bodies of dead Thralls.

    "Another adventurer team came through here?" Dunar wondered.

    The team searched the chamber. Jeze noticed that the wounds on the Thralls were made by parallel blade slashes.

    "Two swords!" Jeze announced.

    "What are you talking about?" Mikal snapped.

    "These Thralls were killed by a sword fighter that used two swords!" Jeze exclaimed.

    "Ah, you think this was your friends?" Helga asked and added, "The guy was kind of cute."

    Jeze rolled her eyes, "You have bad taste."

    Helga laughed loudly. Her big bosom chest heaved with the effort. "You won''t be the first to make that claim. I like the bad boys."

    Mikal shook his head and rubbed his head. "Dunar, can you get your team to focus."

    Dunar nodded and scolded Helga, "No flirting with adventurers until we get outside,"

    Rolfe and Jeze chuckled while Mikal scowled.

    "You got it, boss!" Helga replied.

    "This is not funny! Jeze could stand to lose a lot of coin! Who will buy my paste!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    Again, it was odd that the Goblin and Mikal were in agreement.

    "Which way did your friends go?" Dunar asked, and he added, "It would be good to link up with another team so we can compare maps."

    Jeze agreed and returned to tracking and was able to find bloodied footprints that led out the far exit. It was strange. She only found one set of tracks. The only explanation that made sense to Jeze was that Rainbow wouldn''t leave tracks. The multi-colored haired adventurer was always careful to not be discovered. Swordslayer, on the other hand, didn''t care. But what about the other team members? Were they all Scouts? The teenager wondered.

    Near the exit Jeze discovered blood splotches along the walls. In her mind she pictured Swordslayer flicking the blood off his blades before sheathing them. For Jeze, this confirmed that her friends did pass through here.

    "This way," she told her team and led them down a corridor where they encountered more dead Thralls. Each one killed with the same parallel sword slices.

    Ahead, Jeze heard the sounds of fighting, and she hurried down the passageway and ignored the pleas for caution from her teammates. The corridor opened into another long chamber that was illuminated by green flames that created sinister shadows along the dark stone walls and dirt floor. Jeze saw the chamber littered with more dead thralls, and she spotted dead Imps among the bodies. In the center, she saw the familiar armored cuirass of overlapping hardened leather and steel scales. But the color seemed off, and Jeze was not certain if it was due to the strange green flames. Swordslayer stood with his back toward Jeze, holding his two single-edged swords in each hand. Two adventures faced him. One with a spear and the other armed with a sword and shield.

    "No, please! The Imps are dead, and their curse lifted!" The one with the sword and shield pleaded.

    Jeze watched in horror as Swordslayer attacked anyway, despite the pleas for mercy. The two adventurers were no match for the swordsman, and after a flurry of attacks, the one with the sword and shield fell to the ground with blood squirting from his neck.

    "You monster!" The spearman roared and attacked with such fury.

    The armored swordsman dodged and parried his opponent''s longer reach weapon. With a grace that demonstrated the beauty of the Sanguine Blades style, the sword fighter weaved in and delivered a double parallel slash that ended with the spear fighting collapsing to the ground dead.

    "Swordslayer!" Jeze cried.

    She knew he had a dark side to him, but she couldn''t believe he would kill two innocents. Two fellow adventurers! How could he do such a thing? And where was Rainbow? The Swordfighter spun to face her, and his face was covered with the grinning demon mask. Something was different about him. It was not due to green flames, but the armor was darker. It was black, where Jeze recalled that Swordslayer wore red armor. The eyes were different, and Jeze saw an energy within them. She almost felt an aura.

    "Jeze, get back," Dunar called out.

    Her team had arrived behind her. In front of Jeze, the sword fighter tilted his head and let out a deep chuckle. This was not Swordslayer but someone else who had studied the Sanguine Blades style.

    "Is he afflicted with madness?" Helga asked.

    "No, I have read about this," Mikal answered and added, "He has the Bloodlust."

    "Who are you? And why did you kill those two?" Jeze demanded.

    The man did not answer but lunged forward with incredible speed. Jeze, shocked, stumbled back to retrieve her battle axe and long knife. The swordsman was moving too fast as he spun and chopped downwards with his two blades in a parallel attack. Jeze was not going to be able to defend herself.

 Chapter 53: Ozun

    Jeze tensed her leg muscles and readied her weapons as the sword fighter swung his blades at her. The large form of Rolfe interposed himself in between Jeze and her assailant. The twin blades cracked loudly against the Protector¡¯s shield as he bashed forward with it. The shield¡¯s edge landed a glancing blow as the Sanguine artist gracefully danced away. Rolfe followed up with spear thrusts and forced the swordfighter back.

    Only for a moment, Rolfe lunged with a spear thrust, and the sword fighter parried aside the weapon, twirled gracefully to close the distance, and sliced with his other sword. The blade was met by Rolfe¡¯s shield as the Protector took a step back. Helga rushed in with a fearsome roar and struck the swordfighter on the helmet with her Dane axe. The blow shattered the mask and knocked the headpiece off to reveal the attacker¡¯s face. His skin was as dark as onyx as the people that came from the Great Desert. His hair fell to his sides in dreadlocks, and blood flowed freely from his mouth and nose.

    ¡°Very good,¡± he said with a grin.

    Helga responded with more mighty attacks with her axe. Jeze got back to her feet, and Rolfe and Dunar circled the fighter as Helga engaged. With astonishing accuracy, the sword fighter scored a deep gash on the least protected part of Helga¡¯s glove. The injury caused the warrior maiden to yelp in pain, and she dropped her axe. Rolfe slammed his shield into the sword fighter¡¯s armored chest and followed up with a spear thrust that missed. The swordsman fell to his back and rolled quickly to his feet while thrusting with both blades.

    The sudden attack caused Rolfe to retreat, and before the sword fighter could recover, Dunar charged in with an axe and sword. The two fought in a furious exchange of parries, dodges, and counters that resulted in Dunar stumbling back. The muscular team Leader was holding his neck where blood flowed from a slash that sliced through the mail armor. The sword fighter was peppered with a hail of stone fists that clanged loudly off his armor, and he was forced back. Rolfe and Jeze followed up with furious howls. The Protector slammed with his shield and stabbed with his spear as Jeze slid to the side and hooked their opponent in the back of his armored ankle with her axe and yanked the man to the ground. With incredible speed and agility, the swordfighter rolled to his feet just as Rolfe slammed the ground with his shield edge.

    ¡°Very good! You all are clearly not afflicted with Madness,¡± the man said in a deep voice.

    Jeze noticed that a glow faded from his eyes, and his face relaxed. The transformation was subtle and surreal. In one moment, the man¡¯s eyes spoke of murder, and the next, they were almost jovial. But Jeze was not fooled. Deep down, it reminded her of how Swordslayer behaved. The darkness that Irvin spoke about the Sanguine Blades style rang true. Painfully true. Mikal finished healing Dunar and Helga, and the entire team was ready to fight.

    ¡°You must answer for your crimes,¡± Dunar stated.

    ¡°Oh? And what crimes did I commit?¡± The dark-skinned man asked.

    ¡°Murder!¡± Jeze cried.

    ¡°Them? They were afflicted with madness.¡±

    ¡°They were free from it,¡± Mikal stated. The dark-haired Healer held his spear at the ready.

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    ¡°Are you sure? Those afflicted with madness can be deceitful. One can not be too careful. That was why I fought you,¡± the swordfighter replied.

    Dunar shook his head, and his jaw was set. ¡°Proven, form up!¡± He barked.

    Rolfe banged his shield and the Frostworn moved into position with a ¡°Hurrah!¡±

    The onyx-skinned sword fighter tilted his head and asked, ¡°Are you sure you want to continue this dance? I held back earlier.¡±

    ¡°People like you who hunt other adventures should not be allowed to roam free,¡± Dunar growled.

    ¡°They were weak! They allowed the minor Demons to corrupt their minds. I did the Guild a favor. You, on the other hand, are strong. I can tell,¡± the swordfighter said.

    ¡°What is your name?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Why should I tell you that?¡±

    ¡°So we can give you a proper burial so that your soul may find rest,¡± Mikal answered.

    The sword fighter laughed so loudly it echoed off the walls. He glanced at them, and the strange color appeared in his eyes again.

    ¡°Be careful,¡± Mikal warned.

    ¡°Remember my name. I am called Ozun,¡± the sword fighter said in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

    Ozun attacked the Proven with fearsome speed and ferocity. The battle spanned the entire chamber with a flurry of attacks, counters, parries, and evasions. Mikal and Jeze launched Rune magics as Helga charged in with devastating attacks. Rolfe protected and forced Ozun back at times with his spear. Dunar attacked from the flanks and had fearsome exchanges that displayed incredible martial prowess. But, one by one, each Proven was wounded and blooded while Ozun received glancing injuries. Only Jeze remained standing before Ozun. Her left arm hung limply by her side as she held her battle axe in front of her with her chest heaving.

    ¡°How do you know Swordslayer?¡± Ozun asked.

    Jeze blinked, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Earlier, you called me Swordslayer. How do you know him?¡± Ozun asked again.

    Jeze was thrown off guard by his question. Of course he would know Swordslayer, only a few were capable to learn the Sanguine Blades and survive. Were they friends? Or enemies? If she answered, would she be betraying her friend?

    Ozun flicked the blood off his blades and sheathed them. ¡°If you see Swordslayer, tell him how strong I am. In the meantime, you have the potential to face me as an equal. But not now. We will meet again,¡± Ozun said and departed the chamber.

    Jeze fumbled through her pack for her Life aspect Channeling tool and with what little energy she had, she healed Mikal. The Healer gasped in pain and gathered his Channeling tools. After several moments, the two were able to stabilize the others. They were exhausted.

    ¡°That was fun to watch!¡± Ziplocke announced as he emerged from the shadows.

    Jeze scowled at the Goblin and threw a jar of paste at him. A full jar. The Goblin snatched it and narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Keep watch and wake us if we are in danger,¡± Jeze replied as she slumped to the ground.

    ¡°Danger?!? We are in the Spire!¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    But his words fell on deaf ears as the Proven were all fast asleep. The Life aspect recovers the body but also takes a toll that demands rest. Mikal was snoring lightly, and Ziplocke debated whether to drop a bug down the Healer¡¯s mouth. The Goblin scowled and sat with his small back against the wall. He opened the jar and started to slurp up the paste. The team traveled the corridors for a full day and engaged in some tough fights. They deserved a peaceful rest.

    ¡°Even me, a spiteful Goblin, can not deny that they earned some peace,¡± Ziplocke said out loud to himself.

 Chapter 54: Getting Stronger

    The Proven were solemn when they awoke. Mikal even ignored Ziplocke¡¯s mischievous teasing over their recent loss. Despite their low mood, the team still checked their weapons and gear. Each needed to adjust their armor in order to accommodate the tears and slices from their recent battles. Jeze was able to stitch the fabric and hard leather parts of their armor. Rolfe hammered the chainmail back into place for a quick fix. The chamber had only one other exit, which was at the far end.

    ¡°Proven! Let¡¯s move out!¡± Dunar barked.

    Helga attempted a boastful ¡°Hurrah,¡± but it lacked the usual mirth.

    ¡°Jeze, scout ahead,¡± Dunar ordered.

    ¡°I know,¡± the teenager snapped.

    Dunar¡¯s face hardened, but he remained quiet. He simply nodded as Jeze went ahead to check the corridor for traps, where she found none. However, the walls and floor had hundreds of tell-tale tracks that marked the passage of the Thralls. All of them were killed in the next chambers and tunnels.

    ¡°Be prepared. There may be a monster portal nearby,¡± Jeze cautioned over her shoulder.

    The Frostsworn nodded and marched in formation. In the tighter spaces, Rolfe switched out his spear for his sword. When the passageway opened up, the large Protector switched back to his longer-reached weapon. Dunar opted for his sword and shield, while Helga remained with her Dane axe. Mikal took up the rear with one hand holding his spear and his other near his channeling tools. They marched on, and Dunar wrote down their progress on his map.

    They found a smaller circular chamber that was dark. The only illumination came from the shimmering purple Portal in the center. Jeze recognized the Threshold Runes that surrounded the Portal.

    ¡°Will anything come through?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°A lot has already come through, but Jeze will need to hurry up!¡± Mikal snapped.

    Jeze scowled at the Healer, but she knelt by the Runes and got to work. They were the same Runes she saw in the Pyramid and the ones she practiced on in the Runic Research Division. Dunar suddenly lashed out with his sword and struck down an Imp that was hiding in the shadows. The bloated red creature let loose a squeal before plopping dead on the ground.

    ¡°Nice work!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    She was impressed that Dunar was able to sense the Demon without being attuned to the Darkness aspect. Jeze teased Ziplocke, ¡°How come you didn¡¯t spot the Imp? Are you not the Darkness expert?¡±

    ¡°Focus on your job, knucklehead!¡± The Goblin spat back. His ears were curled back on his small green head.

    In a rare moment, the normally humble Leader looked proud of himself. ¡°I am learning to pay attention to the Shadows and to when my mind is being tampered with.¡±

    The Proven returned to being vigilant as Jeze worked on the Runes. She used the channeling tools she created for this purpose and focused her Will through them. Jeze completed the final glyph in the air, and she felt the energy snap into place. The Threshold dimmed, went inert, and plunged the chamber into darkness. Mikal activated the magical glowing rods.

    ¡°When you repurpose the Floor portal, this portal can be used to exit the Spire?¡± Rolfe asked.

    Jeze nodded and answered, ¡°Yes, this will turn into a Safe Zone.¡±

    Dunar updated his map and looked around with a nod. ¡°A good defensive position.¡±

    ¡°It will be used mainly to retrieve the fallen. Let us not forget the many that lost their lives on this floor due to madness,¡± Mikal stated.

    The others bowed their heads. Jeze perked up and remembered to search the Imp. As usual, she found another pouch of gems. ¡°Killing these things can be profitable!¡± She observed.

    ¡°Ya! And these portals can be used by scavenger teams so we can earn extra coin. Maybe this gal can get a flaming axe?¡± Helga stated.

    ¡°You would do great with a flaming axe,¡± Rolfe said, and the large warrior maiden beamed back at him.

    ¡°How many monster portals do you suppose are left?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°Many more! You may think you are safe, but you are not!¡± Ziplocke squealed.

    The Proven gripped their weapons and looked around.

    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Mikal asked.

    Dunar looked at his map and answered, ¡°There is one exit that we have not explored yet. It was in the large room after the one where we discovered the deceased team. Form up!¡±

    They marched out and returned to the previous chamber. Along the way, the team became somber again as they passed the area where they fought Ozun.

    ¡°How can we expect to defeat this Spire if we could not even defeat one man?¡± Rolfe finally asked. He was no longer able to contain his poor mood.

    Dunar called for a halt, and the Leader looked at the giant Protector. Jeze returned from her scouting. Helga rested her axe on her shoulder. Ziplocke and Mikal scowled at the delay. The Goblin was annoyed over the risk of Jeze losing money and never again seeing good-quality paste. Mikal was eager to get the Safe Zone up and running so that the dead adventurers could receive a proper burial. Again, Jeze found it odd how the two could be similar in their impatience.

    ¡°It is not winning or losing that makes us stronger. It is much more than that. It is us willing to take the risk and face insurmountable challenges,¡± Dunar began.

    ¡°Insurmountable challenge? Yeah? Like the five of you versus just one man?¡± Ziplocke snickered and reminded the team.

    Dunar ignored the Goblin and continued, ¡°We get stronger by getting back up from our losses. Learning from them and using them as a foothold so that we can climb higher in our quest for strength.¡±

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    ¡°Hurrah!¡± Jeze cheered.

    The other echoed, ¡°Hurrah!¡±

    ¡°Geez!¡± Ziplocke muttered with a shake of his tiny head.

    ¡°Jeze, you talked with Ozun. What magic did he use?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°I did not see that he used Runes or Glyphs. I know he is a disciple of the Sanguine Blades,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°Aww,¡± Rolfe replied with a nod of his head.

    ¡°You don¡¯t even know what that is!¡± Mikal snapped.

    The large man scowled back at the Healer.

    ¡°Your Adventurer Ranked friend fights in a similar way?¡± Dunar asked.

    Jeze bowed her head and answered, ¡°The two studied the same style.¡±

    ¡°It is graceful and brutal,¡± Helga observed.

    ¡°Brutal? You swing a giant axe!¡± Ziplocke screeched.

    ¡°Oh, ya! I do! Maybe I¡¯m more brutal than this Ozun, no?¡± The warrior maiden asked.

    ¡°Did you see his eyes glow?¡± Jeze asked.

    The others turned solemn again and nodded.

    ¡°What was that about? Mikal, you mentioned the Blood Lust,¡± She asked the Healer.

    The dark-haired man nodded and explained, ¡°We have stories of terrible warriors that can trigger an inner power of rage within themselves. This is through meditation and certain movements. It is called the Bloodlust. In all the tales I¡¯ve read, it never bodes well for the warrior as it eventually will consume them like a fire. In the end all they have left is fighting and killing.¡±

    Jeze recalled how Swordslayer became different. He was meaner and more coldblooded after his duel with the Templar. She asked, ¡°Movements? Like in Rune casting?¡±

    ¡°Our bodies and mind are connected. Movements and meditation can be one and the same. It is not just for us to focus our Will to unlock Rune magic. It can also be used to unlock greater powers of the body,¡± Mikal answered.

    Jeze began to worry for Swordslayer. When he fought, he utilized the same style of movement as Ozun. Fluid, loose, graceful, and deadly. What dark future awaited him? Jeze told the others about what she learned from Irvin regarding the Sanguine Blades style and Vornicus, the vampire lord that created it.

    ¡°What some will do for their quest to get stronger,¡± Dunar stated.

    ¡°Us Frostsworn, we gain strength through the cold. Running in the deep snow and swimming in the frozen waters,¡± Rolfe stated.

    ¡°We also carry big stones, ya?¡± Helga added.

    ¡°You two still neglect your breathing and meditation,¡± Mikal admonished.

    Rolfe ruffled Mikal¡¯s hair, ¡°And you neglect to carry stones.¡±

    Helga turned to Jeze and asked, ¡°This Ozun, he was traveling alone, no? Or did he kill his teammates?¡±

    ¡°He was alone. The adventurers he killed were a part of another team,¡± Jeze answered. She recalled this from her scouting of the chambers. There were five dead adventurers, along with dozens of Thralls and a couple of Imps.

    ¡°Perhaps they were afflicted with madness like he claimed?¡± Rolfe suggested.

    Dunar shook his head. ¡°Ozun enjoys killing, and I believe he especially enjoys it when he can get away with it. He is dangerous, and I have heard of people like him. They use the Wandering Spire as a way to hunt other adventurers.¡±

    ¡°He allowed us to live,¡± Jeze reminded them. The Proven remained quiet as they mulled over what was just shared.

    ¡°Why? I wonder,¡± Dunar finally expressed.

    ¡°He wanted me to tell Swordslayer that he was strong. Also, he wanted us to fight him again when we can give him a worthy challenge,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°Oh, ya? You think the two are rivals?¡± Helga asked and added, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind seeing them two go at it.¡±

    ¡°Jeze¡¯s friend would win. You all saw how he took down the Goreraptor!¡± Rolfe exclaimed.

    It was another reminder of how far the team needed to go if they wished to go further within the Wandering Spire. Dunar banged his sword against his shield.

    ¡°Enough talking! Let¡¯s continue moving to find the floor portal,¡± He barked.

    They traveled the unexplored corridor, which led them to a maze of square chambers linked by narrow passageways. As they moved further on they saw more evidence of other adventures that ranged from the remains of campfires to piles of Devil¡¯s Steel weapons and other treasures to be claimed by the scavenger teams. This excited the Proven as they knew they were near their goal. However, they also discovered the cairns that covered remains of those that fell to be collected later when the Safe Zones were established.

    ¡°Was this a monster portal?¡± Dunar asked.

    They arrived in a chamber that differed from the others. Most of the chambers were empty except for various glowing torches. Every chamber differed slightly with the shape of the stones, the color of the walls, and some had a dirt floor while in others, the ground was made of worked stone. It truly was a chaotic experience to traverse the Wandering Spire. The chamber they were in had a circle of Runes that were scratched and marred.

    ¡°Yes, a team came through here that didn¡¯t know how to repurpose this portal, so they destroyed it,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°Can you repair it?¡± The Team leader asked.

    Jeze studied the Runes and nodded. ¡°Yes, but it will take time.¡±

    ¡°Time we don¡¯t have!¡± Ziplocke spat.

    ¡°I agree with the Goblin. We should focus on finding the Floor Portal,¡± Mikal said.

    ¡°We can always come back after, no?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°Agreed, okay. Proven form up!¡± Dunar barked.

    The team Leader continued to map their progress but still had not found the rooms that were traveled by the teams that were able to exit. They had traveled for nearly two full days, and it amazed Jeze at how large the Wandering Spire was.

    ¡°Maybe you are reading their drawings wrong?¡± Mikal asked.

    Dunar rubbed his face. This was a criticism that the Healer has made on numerous occasions already. It was possible, but Dunar was fairly confident that he was reading the other maps correctly. He had trained under the best cartographers to prepare for his role as Leader.

    The Leader steadied his breathing and replied, ¡°That could be. It does not change the fact that we have not discovered the Floor Portal.¡±

    After another hour of traveling, Dunar called for a halt. He studiously compared what he had mapped out with the other drawings he received. Dunar removed his helm and looked up at the others with a wide grin.

    ¡°Good news?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°I would say so!¡± Dunar invited the others to kneel down with him as he laid out the maps on the floor. One map looked like it linked up with the map he was drawing. Dunar explained, ¡°If we continue this way, we can reach the floor Portal.¡±

    The four other maps that Dunar was able to collect all appeared to link up to a large circular chamber where the floor Portal was located. They finally found it!

    ¡°There may be other undiscovered monster portals. Form up and be alert!¡± Dunar barked as he strapped his helm back on.

    They followed the maps and moved toward the Floor Portal chamber. On the way, they encountered passageways littered with dead Thralls mixed in with the occasional looted dead Imp. There were many piles of Devil¡¯s Steel weapons to be collected by the scavengers.

    ¡°The price is going to drop on Devil¡¯s Steel! We came too late!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    The Proven ignored the Goblin as they focused on their surroundings for an ambush. They also kept their minds alert for any Affliction spells that may be casted upon them. One passageway had a triggered scythe trap. The wall and blade were stained with blood that could have resulted in another fallen adventurer. The Proven passed it with a solemn nod. Eventually, they arrived in the Portal Room. It was a wide circular chamber that spanned many meters across. Two shimmering portals stood on each end. One was a deep indigo that led to the next level, and the other a glowing green that led to the outside.

    ¡°No!¡± Jeze cried.

    Around the exit portal were bodies of adventurers. People Jeze knew and traveled with. Adventures that the Proven have fought alongside during the monster waves. It was Jonah and his team of hunters. They laid dead and covered with burn marks.

 Chapter 55: Saboteurs

    The Floor Portal was repurposed for the first level of the Spire. This allowed adventurers to enter directly to the Floor Portal chamber and exit to the outside. In addition, they could convert monster portals to do the same function. The Adventurer''s Guild worked quickly to establish Safe Zones in those areas. The portal to the Second Floor was available, but much of the First Floor was still unexplored. Prospect-ranked adventurers worked as scavenger teams to collect the pre-purchased piles of loot for merchants. They also operated as map teams and used Communication Scrolls to map out the entire level. Lastly, they collected the bodies of the fallen for proper burial.

    In addition, many Prospect-ranked adventurers used the first Floor to complete their field assessment in order to be promoted to Initiate Rank. The first level offered a great opportunity to earn wealth from the lower-tiered monsters that continued to enter the level through the various monster portals. The level was less dangerous with the established Safe Zones and the knowledge of the capabilities of the monsters. The encounters on the first floor consisted primarily of Imps, Thralls, and, it was later discovered, Bloodlings. The Imps were the deadliest challenge.

    This happened very quickly as soon as Jeze repurposed the first level Floor Portal. She sat in the corner of the Safe Zone, away from the bustle of activity, and hugged her knees. Her team assisted with establishing a defensive perimeter for the Safe Zone and worked with merchants to organize scavenger teams. Mikal coordinated with the collection teams to retrieve the bodies of the fallen for proper burial. Ziplocke was hiding in the shadows somewhere, and Jeze sat alone with her thoughts.

    She believed someone had sabotaged the Floor Portal. They tried to shut it down for some nefarious purpose. The questions that raged in Jeze''s mind were: who and why? Also, are these the same individuals who murdered Seb? Was it Drake and the Golden Empire? Ozun? It all didn''t make sense to Jeze. The only reason why the Floor Portal was repurposed was because Jeze had the tome she retrieved from the Pyramid. With it''s knowledge, she was able to repair the damage. Otherwise, the portal would have remained closed, and the only way to exit the Spire would have been to repurpose the second level''s Floor Portal.

    Jeze told Miss Heng and the Amber Guard all of this. But they didn''t agree with her. They investigated the scene of the explosion that took the lives of Jonah and his team, and they concluded that he had used a faulty Channeling Tool. Jeze screamed and argued with them to no avail. The Amber Guard countered that there was not enough evidence to expend precious resources to investigate a wild claim. Jeze was certain that someone or some group was working against the Guild''s interest. Was it the Golden Empire? Would they go to these horrific lengths in order to keep the secret that the Emperor was not immortal?

    "Watch your tongue, girl!" Miss Heng had hissed when Jeze made that suggestion.

    The Amber Guard''s face softened a little, and she added, "This is hard for you. You did good work in repurposing the Floor Portal. It was troubling to have Imps so early on, and this Wandering Spire is already more challenging than the others. You are relieved of your obligation, and you will not be fined. The Guild thanks you for your service."

    With that, Miss Heng had dismissed Jeze and ended the discussion. Ziplocke was happy that Jeze wouldn''t be fined but it infuriated the teenager. Because she was also filled with grief, Jeze did not press the matter further. The Proven did their best to console her and in the end, Dunar decided it best to allow Jeze to be alone.

    "If you need anything, all you need to do is call us," the Team Leader said.

    Jeze realized he had kind eyes in addition to a handsome face. This confused her further, and all she could do was to thank him. Grief filled Jeze''s heart. In the short time she was an adventurer, she had already experienced so much loss. She only knew Jonah and his team for a short time, but they treated her well. Jonah respected her and followed her when she fought against the restrictions that Drake and the Empire put on them. What happened to him was unfair and he and his team did not deserve that! Jeze rose to her feet with rage building in her heart. She was prepared to confront Miss Heng again, but luckily, she spotted Irvin and Lady Kalina as they emerged through the portal. Jeze rushed over toward them and explained everything.

    "Slow down," Irvin said.

    "This is a lot for us to process," Lady Kalina added in agreement.

    "All I am saying is this. There was nothing wrong with the Channeling Tools. I tested them myself," Jeze stated.

    "But they could have been damaged from any number of sources afterward," Irvin pointed out.

    "The fact that there are Imps makes matters worse. They are known to stalk a team and slowly drive them mad with their Afflictions. It is possible that Jonah fell victim to this, and as a result, he neglected to take care of his tools," Lady Kalina pointed out.

    "He was a seasoned adventurer and rune caster. That can not be possible!" Jeze exclaimed.

    The two were motioned over by Miss Heng.

    "We will talk more, I promise," Lady Kalina said.

    Irvin squeezed her shoulder and stated, "You did good work, Jeze. Your efforts will be recognized, I promise you."

    "I don''t care about that!" Jeze snapped back.

    Irvin nodded, his eyes soft, and he followed Lady Kalina as they walked toward Miss Heng and the Amber Guard. Jeze had half a mind to head over and argue her case again but decided against that. She remembered that she wanted to help Hannah set up in a Safe Zone. That would keep her busy and away from this business of saboteurs and murders. Jeze told Dunar that she planned to bring Hannah into a Safe Zone.

    "That is good, we will come with you. You are certain she will give us a good price?" Dunar said.

    Jeze shrugged and responded, "I think so."

    Dunar gathered the Proven, and they waited before the only portal in and out of the Spire. There was a lot of traffic as numerous people entered through the main portal. There was a small line to exit, but the wait time was still high due to the enormous amount of people coming in. Across from the exit portal, a line of Initiate-ranked and higher adventurers was already forming to head through the portal to the second floor. It would be some time before they could leave the Spire and even longer time for them to return.

    "Is this worth it? We should proceed to the second floor," Rolfe suggested.

    "Ya! Let''s go now while the line is still short," Helga agreed.

    "We need supplies," Dunar said, but he was also concerned about the lost time.

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    Jeze perked up. "I have an idea. Let me repurpose the monster portal we discovered."

    Dunar nodded in agreement and the team traveled back through the corridors and chambers. This time they met with other adventurer teams instead of Thralls and Imps. Though, they did hear sounds of fighting that echoed through the tunnels as there were active monster portals tucked away somewhere among the maze of square chambers. They came to the portal that Jeze had closed.

    "Here''s the plan. Once I open the portal, Rolfe and Helga should go first and guard it from the other side. Because, before we know it, there will be a large rush of people that will try to use this portal," Jeze stated.

    Dunar''s eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Can we stop people from using it? Isn''t it your job to repurpose the portals for everyone''s benefit?"

    Jeze rubbed her face, and Ziplocke slapped his forehead. The Proven Team Leader was too honest for his own good.

    "Yes, but we will need to first ensure that this area is clear before we can allow free access," Jeze replied.

    Dunar nodded, and he asked, "How long does that take?"

    "She''s just going to get her merchant friend, no? Once we are all set up in here, then we can allow the others to use it, right?" Helga asked.

    "Exactly," Jeze responded.

    "We can guard it," Rolfe promised.

    "I feel this is dishonest. We will be using this for our own purposes and not for the best for all," Dunar stated.

    The muscular Leader was shaking his head with his arms crossed.

    "Think of it as a slight reward for us for opening the portal in the first place. We are entitled to a little compensation. Besides, how long will it take for Jeze to find her merchant friend?" Mikal asked.

    The question and statement from the dark-haired team Healer caught Jeze by surprise. Was Mikal in agreement with her?

    "Not long at all," Jeze stammered a response.

    "Good, we are in agreement then. Rolfe and Helga will guard the portal. Dunar and I will restock on our supplies," Mikal said.

    Am I going to agree with him? Jeze wondered to herself. She couldn''t believe it, but the Healer was making sense.

    "Aye! Okay, then let''s go! Get to work, little Scout," Helga said.

    "Right!" Jeze replied after she snapped out of her initial dumbstruck awe. Her mind still couldn''t wrap around what just happened. Did Mikal argue on her behalf?

    Using the Channeling tools she created, Jeze completed the final glyph and poured her Will into the Runes. The energy snapped into place, and a shimmering portal appeared. Rolfe and Helga went through first, and the rest of the team followed. What they saw shocked them. In the span of three days that they traveled the Spire, the encampment outside had quadrupled in size! It was nearly as big as a small city. They could see a seemingly endless line that waited outside the entrance portal. It was filled with adventurers and wagons. Dozens of heads snapped at the appearance of their portal, and immediately, many adventures rushed over.

    "Halt!" Rolfe commanded.

    "This portal is not ready yet, so why don''t you just form a line and wait, ya?" Helga added.

    Jeze was worried that she now had less time than she originally thought. Before she could go find Hannah, she needed to first inscribe a set of Runes on this side to stabilize the Threshold. Jeze took out her tools and began to etch Runes along the wall of the Spire that was just behind the portal.

    "Hurry up!" Ziplocke hissed.

    "Don''t rush me! You know what happens if we do this incorrectly," Jeze snapped back.

    It was not long until she was finished.

    "Can we enter now?" An adventurer who waited in line asked.

    "No," Rolfe answered. He and Helga made an imposing pair of guardians.

    Jeze ran off through the dozens of tents and stalls that comprised the encampment in search of Hannah. It was nearly thirty minutes before she discovered the dark-haired merchant.

    "Jeze! I hear you were able to get the Floor Portal up and running," Hannah said in greeting.

    "I did, and we got a Safe Zone portal up and running. Do you want to go in first?" The teenager asked.

    Hannah''s eyes went wide and without delay the merchant began to gather up her gear. "Just give me two shakes!"

    A short time later, Hannah returned with four others. They all looked like adventures as they were dressed in armor and armed with weapons.

    "Jeze, this is my scavenger team," Hannah explained and made introductions.

    The teenager was in such a hurry that all the names and introductions were a blur to her as she led them back to the portal where a crowd formed before the Proven. Dunar and Mikal finished their supply run and they were helping Helga and Rolfe with guard duty. At this point a guild perfunctory was arguing with Dunar.

    "By what authority do you have to prevent others from entering through this portal?" The official asked in a nasal voice.

    "Uh, her authority," Dunar answered and pointed to Jeze.

    "Hi, I''m with the Safe Zone squad. We need to ensure that the area is safe before we can allow others to enter," Jeze replied.

    The teenager motioned for Hannah and her squad to enter the portal quickly before those in line had a chance to get upset.

    "I have never heard of this process," the perfunctory challenged.

    "It is unusual circumstances. Just give us a moment," Jeze answered, and she entered behind Hannah and her team.

    Dunar and Mikal followed after. Rolfe and Helga continued to block the way.

    "You don''t have much time to set up your stall," Jeze said.

    "I can do that fast, but your gear took a beating. Who did the repairs? Your Goblin?" Hannah asked with narrowed eyes at the damage done to Jeze''s armor.

    "Hey!" Ziplocke cried.

    Dunar exited to retrieve his two large team members. "We are good. You can take it from here," he told the guild official before the Proven entered through the portal.

    When Helga and Rolfe left their posts, it was like a dam that had burst. A flood of adventurers streamed in. Some asked the Proven where the floor portal was, and others activated their Communication Scrolls. Dunar just pointed, and the adventurers went on their way. Others, who were merchants like Hannah, stayed behind to set up shop.

    "My team will collect your loot, and I will give ya a fair price," Hannah said.

    "Are you sure? There is a lot of Devil''s Steele, I''m not sure it would be worth it for you," Jeze explained.

    Ziplocke slapped his forehead. "Knucklehead!"

    Hannah laughed and said, "I appreciate you, girlie. I don''t think you should be that honest next time. But no worries, I''ll give you the fair rate. Now, let me repair your armor! All of you! I couldn''t in good conscience allow you to travel like that. You will surely die."

    "We thank you. We can pay for the repairs," Dunar said.

    "Don''t mention it. Consider it a fair trade-off for getting me inside. I doubt I would have gotten in on my own," Hannah replied.

    Later, Hannah''s team collected the pile of Devil Steel weapons that the Proven had obtained. The merchant paid them in coins and repaired their armor. Jeze and her team were ready to continue on to the second floor. Dunar called a meeting.

    "We have supplies. Our weapons and armor are repaired. Are we ready to enter the second level?" The team Leader asked.

    "For Glory!" Helga roared.

    "It will be treacherous. We have no idea what challenges we will face. As far as we can tell, all that have entered so far have not defeated the Floor Guardian," Dunar added.

    "Aye, I have not been more sure about anything else in my life," Rolfe declared.

    "There are no repurposed exit portals. We will have no way to return or exit," Dunar continued.

    "Not to mention dangerous adventurers like Ozun and this mysterious group that sabotaged the Floor Portal," Mikal added.

    The Frostsworn nodded solemnly.

    "Oh, will you all stop already?" Jeze snapped. "Let us go before the line gets too long!" In reality, she didn''t want the grief over the loss of Jonah and his team to catch up with her again.

 Chapter 55: The Second Level

    The Proven entered the portal, and they were transported to a random location on the second level. Upon arrival, they were confronted with an intense, dry heat. Jeze recalled that each level of the Wandering Spire was different, but she didn''t realize that it would be so much different. The second level was cavernous with flowing lava streams as if they were in the belly of a volcano. In contrast, the first level was corridors and chambers that looked very much like a dungeon.

    High above them and to their sides were the jagged walls and ceiling of a vast cavern. Below them was a river made out of bubbling magma that gave off an orange illumination with flickering shadows. Jeze and her team found themselves on a tall outcropping of blackened stone. Behind them was a sheer, jagged rock face, and ahead, they overlooked the expansive underground chamber. Dunar scanned the area and did not see other teams or threats. The only way for them to go was down.

    "Check your gear and prepare for a climb," the Leader ordered.

    Ziplocke snickered and said, "Yes, be prepared! Because if you fall, you will burn!"

    The Proven ignored the Goblin and have become accustomed to his antics. However, they each glanced below with some trepidation, and if they were to fall, they would either smash against the jagged rocks or fall into burning magma. They double-checked the straps to their packs, and Rolfe readied a coiled rope. Jeze removed her heavy pack and scaled down the jagged outcropping. When she got to the bottom, Rolfe lowered everyone''s packs using the rope. Jeze piled them to the side and tapped into her Earth aspect bracelet to prepare range attacks in case the team was attacked. Dunar, Helga and Rolfe climbed down next while Mikal remained and was prepared to guard the top with his Water aspect spells. Finally, the Healer climbed down.

    "Goblin, what monsters can we expect to face on this level?" Dunar asked.

    Jeze handed the Demon some paste, and Ziplocke slurped it up.

    "Us Goblins tend to avoid the lava pits of the Abyssal plane. But I do know this. You will find Hellhounds and Hellbats, and if you are truly unlucky, Helldrakes! You are all in for a treat!" The bonded Demon snickered.

    Jeze fed the Goblin another spoonful of paste and asked, "What can you tell us about them?"

    "Well, you should have armed yourselves with Devil Steel weapons! Your current gear will burn and melt!" Ziplocke responded with a cackle.

    Dunar shook his head and replied, "We have Frostsworn forged weapons and armor. We should be fine. But Proven, let us be careful."

    They were on an island of rock that was surrounded by bubbling lava. The team started to sweat in their armor, and this was especially difficult for the Frostsworn, who were used to the frigid cold. Jeze searched the ground and informed the team that she found clawed tracks that she guessed were probably Hellhounds.

    "They appear to be a little bigger than Bloodlings," she observed.

    "But they are much worse!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    "How many?" Dunar asked.

    Jeze shrugged and guessed, "It is hard to tell. I see maybe one or two that passed through here. I do not know how old these tracks are. The Hellhounds have flaming paws that scorched the stone."

    "They also can spit fire!" Ziplocke added.

    "Be alert! Let''s head that way," Dunar said and pointed.

    Boulders and flat rocks protruded from the magma river and across from them they could make out an opening that appeared to lead to a tunnel. The Proven hopped to a dozen protruding boulders and made it across with Helga slipping one time. She was caught by Rolfe.

    "Oh, ho! That gave me a fright, thank you!" The warrior maiden exclaimed.

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    The team stood on a large flat rock that was fifty meters across with the flowing lava river curved behind them. To their front was a tall and wide tunnel opening. The light from the lava did not reach into its dark depths. Jeze scouted ahead as the Proven formed into a defensive position. Her eyes went wide at what she discovered on the ground. Dozens of tracks! Jeze looked up and saw from within the dark tunnel numerous pairs of glowing red orbs appear.

    "Prepare yourselves!" She managed to cry as a barrage of flaming darts shot out from the opening.

    "Shield wall!" Dunar roared.

    He, Helga, and Rolfe readied and locked their shields, and Mikal crouched behind them. Jeze ran and slid as the flaming orbs splashed against the ground and shields.

    "Jeze, summon a rock wall!" Dunar ordered.

    The Scout Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled the Earth aspect to create rock walls that protected their flanks. With yips and howls, a swarm of Hellhounds erupted from the tunnel. They looked like large dogs with coal block fur and thick canine-shaped heads. Flames danced along their paws, mouths, and tails. From their mouths, they spitted darts of fire that whizzed and hissed at the Proven. The flames crackled and danced along the Frostsworn''s shield wall and chipped and marred Jeze''s Summoned stone barricade.

    "For Glory!" Dunar roared.

    "Hurrah!" The Proven shouted back.

    Helga and Rolfe banged their shields just as the Bloodhounds crested Jeze''s wall.

    ¡°Mikal, frost them!¡± Dunar ordered.

    A half dozen Hellhounds ran around or over the stone wall and engaged the Proven. Mikal tapped the Channeling tools on his wrists and completed the gestures with his hands. He swung his arms in a wide arc and sprayed the area with a fine mist. Mikal tapped another Channeling tool and completed the final gesture, which ended with his hands closing into fists. The mist flash froze into an area of ice that snuffed out the flames of the attacking Hellhounds as the beasts slammed against the shield wall.

    Mikal''s enchantment reduced the monster''s attack capabilities and slowed them down enough for Rolfe, Helga, and Dunar to finish them with spear, axe, and sword. Jeze peppered the incoming Hellhounds that were beyond the wall, and the beasts spat more flame darts, which rained down on the Proven. Jeze gritted her teeth as she was scorched by the flaming barrage.

    The Hellhounds took more damage to kill than the Bloodlings. Their thick hides resisted Jeze''s stone fists, and the Rune caster needed to pour more of her Will into her magic in order to hurt the Hellhounds. The next wave of Hellhounds never came as the beasts were content to attack from range.

    "We are sitting ducks here!" Mikal cried.

    The walls that Jeze had Shaped had blasted apart from the Hellhounds'' fire attacks. The Proven had no protection other than their shields and armor. There was no escape. They were trapped.

    "Jeze, place a Darkness spell over the entrance and blind them!" Dunar barked.

    The Scout nodded. That was a good idea. Jeze tapped her Darkness ring and Summoned Shadows. A fiery dart burned her shoulder, and she yelped in pain. The shadows dissipated.

    "Focus!" Mikal barked.

    Jeze scowled at the Healer, and she was angry. She used that emotion to fuel her Rune casting. Despite being bombarded by a hail of flaming darts, Jeze was able to Summon, Shape, and Control an inky ball of Darkness to cover the tunnel entrance and effectively blinded the Hellhounds. Their attacks were more scattered and less accurate.

    "Move!" Dunar ordered.

    The Leader directed the team to march to the side of the tunnel entrance, and they avoided the blind attacks. Mikal and Jeze attacked with their Rune magic, the occasional Hellhound that crept out of the Darkness. The beasts collapsed to the ground from being struck with stone fists and ice spears.

    "The Darkness won''t hold much longer," Jeze stated.

    Dunar assessed their situation. Going back was not an option. They would be more vulnerable standing on boulders over the lava streams. If they stayed put it would only be a matter of time that they would fall from the barrage of range attacks. That left attacking the tunnel.

    "Proven, let us bring the fight to them! Let us show them our might!" Dunar roared.

    "Hurrah!" The team shouted back, and as one, they charged toward the tunnel entrance.

    Jeze reflected on what Carl Jorgenson had said. They would never have a fair fight, and they would always be up against insurmountable odds. They could be either rushing toward their deaths or toward glory. All they could rely on was their discipline, their teammates, and their training. There will always be moments where one can despair. Where one can feel hopeless and accept defeat. In the end, that is the choice that the adventurer makes. There was a reason why the Proven always cheered before battle. It was to remind them that no matter what, it was their choice to accept death or to accept glory. This sparked a passion in Jeze''s heart, and she allowed it to erupt outwards.

    "For Glory!" She cried.

    "For Glory!" The Proven shouted back as they charged through the tunnel entrance.

 Chapter 56: The First Kings

    The fight with the Hellhounds was brutal. Mikal was only able to heal everyone''s burns and injuries just enough so that they wouldn''t die or get infected. The Healer collapsed to his knees, completely exhausted, and his Will fully spent. Jeze assisted and was panting beside him. She looked around at the tunnel littered with the corpses of Hellhounds. A smile formed on her face.

    "Frostsworn!" Dunar cried.

    "Hurrah!" The others cheered back.

    "Death called for us, and how did we answer?" The Leader roared.

    "Oh, ho! Not today!" Helga shouted.

    "Hurrah!" The Proven cheered.

    "This type of achievement, where we push ourselves to our limits and succeed, leaves a mark upon our souls. It provides us with a key that will allow us to unlock even greater challenges!" Dunar stated.

    "For Glory!" Rolfe roared.

    "Hurrah!" The others cheered.

    They each grimaced in pain from the injuries and burns along their bodies. Ziplocke enjoyed watching that.

    "Knuckleheads!" The Goblin screeched.

    Scorch marks lined the walls and their armor. Helga, Dunar, and Rolfe''s shields were heavily damaged from fiery claw and bite attacks. Jeze''s armor, even with her enchantment activated, was torn with reduced effectiveness. In addition, her long knife was warped from the flaming blood of the Hellhounds. True to Dunar''s claim, only the Frostsworn weapons held up without damage. The battleaxe that Carl Jorgenson had gifted Jeze was unblemished.

    "We rest here. Jeze scout ahead to make sure we won''t have any trouble. Rolfe, watch the entrance, Helga, stay close to Jeze," Dunar ordered. When he saw that the Healer was asleep, he added, "Mikal, get some rest."

    Jeze traveled down the tunnel with Helga close behind. The Scout saw no traps, and she dared not activate her glow globe in the darkness for fear of attracting attention.

    "Oh, ho! It is dark," Helga whispered.

    Jeze nodded and squinted into the inky black. She thought she saw something.

    "Wait here," the Scout said.

    Jeze proceeded quietly as a stalking wolf through the darkness, and she confirmed what she saw. A faint light was ahead and grew as she neared it. The tunnel opened into another cavern, and the light was coming from the flowing lava. Jeze crouched in the shadows and listened. She heard nothing but the hiss of the magma streams. The tunnel was not an ideal place to camp, but for now, it should be fine. Besides, they didn''t have a choice. The team needed to rest and recover. Jeze and Helga returned and reported their findings to the others.

    Rolfe was using spare hides and glue to repair the shields while Dunar hammered away at the torn and bent steel plates on their armor. Mikal napped and Ziplocke was about to throw a pebble at the Healer. Jeze glared at her familiar, and the Goblin stopped mid-throw.

    "No fun," Ziplocke groaned as he sulked and disappeared into the shadows.

    Jeze handed out recovery potions. She even nudged Mikal awake. The Healer scowled at her, and Jeze shoved the broth into his hands. Mikal slurped it up without further complaint.

    "Jeze, since we repurposed the Floor Portal on the first level, will the Communication Scrolls work?" Dunar asked. The Leader retrieved his Scroll.

    "No, I don''t think so. We will need to establish an exit portal first. Give it a try, though," Jeze said.

    Dunar shook his head. "The Scroll was burned."

    "Along with everything else!" Mikal snapped. He was cranky.

    Jeze motioned for the scroll and Dunar handed it to her. "I can repair this," she said and opened her pack to take out her Runic tools.

    "I do not know if our armor will hold up after another encounter like this one," Rolfe stated as he handed Helga back her shield.

    "This is fine work!" Helga exclaimed as she tested it out.

    "Rolfe is right. We will need to purchase Devil Steel equipment," Dunar said.

    Jeze repaired the Communication Scroll and gave it a try. Nothing. "No luck, team. There is no established Safe Zone yet on this level."

    "Or maybe you didn''t repair it correctly?" Mikal said.

    Jeze glared at the Healer. Her hands balled into fists at her side. Dunar stepped in between the two and gently took the scroll from Jeze''s hands.

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    "Then we have no choice but to continue moving. Let us drink the recovery potions and rest. On the bright side, our weapons work, and our armor is repaired. We can fight!" The Leader said.

    "Yes!" Helga cheered.

    Rolfe banged his shield. Jeze let out a whoop.

    "You three will alert every Hellhound and beast to our location," Mikal snapped.

    "Knuckleheads!" Ziplocke spat.

    "Relax, Micky. That would make our jobs easier, no?" Helga said and tussled the Healer''s dark, curly hair.

    "It is so hot in here! Never mind our gear. We may run out of water soon!" Rolfe said as he took a deep swig from his water skin.

    The giant Protector removed his helm and wiped his sweaty blonde hair. Mikal activated an enchanted water brick they purchased earlier and filled up a bucket. The Proven each refilled their waterskins.

    "At this rate, we have enough water for three days tops," the Healer observed.

    Dunar nodded and said, "The plan remains the same. We rest, and when we are recovered we will continue on. Jeze, can you track where these Hellhounds came from? Perhaps it will lead us to a monster portal."

    Jeze agreed. That was a good plan. Helga removed her helmet to wipe her sweaty brow. The warrior maiden looked around at the pile of dead Hellhounds.

    "Oh, ho! Too bad none of us know how to skin these beasties. I wager we can fetch a pretty coin, no?" The Frostsworn Maiden observed.

    "Typically, it is the Scout that does that," Mikal grumbled.

    "Oh yeah? Well, let me see if I can add that to the list of skills that I already bring," Jeze snapped.

    "That''s enough, you two!" Dunar barked.

    "A scavenger team will pay us for this, I''m sure," Helga said with a shrug of her broad shoulders.

    "I wonder what can be done with Hellhounds?" Rolfe pondered.

    "Many things! Their organs and hides are used for many enchantments! Their meat is supposedly very toxic unless prepared correctly. Then it can provide valuable nutritional benefits!" Ziplocke screeched.

    The others arched their eyebrows. The Goblin gave information without receiving paste. That was rare. Jonah would have known what to do, Jeze reflected with sadness as she recalled her deceased friend. The Proven returned to resting. They finished their recovery broths, and Mikal checked on their injuries.

    "Between my Life magic and Jeze''s potions, we should be good enough to continue in an hour," Mikal noted.

    "We will get a half-hour break, then," Dunar responded.

    The Healer scowled and sat back down to sip on his recovery potion. Rolfe scratched his head.

    "Jeze, you can create an exit portal from a monster portal? In the last level, you said you had to do the Floor Portal first. Why is that?" Rolfe asked.

    "Like you would understand. Stick with being the Protector," Mikal muttered.

    Rolfe looked at the floor. Jeze glared at Mikal as she rubbed the large man''s shoulder.

    "I traveled a dungeon before the Spire," Jeze said.

    "Oh ya?" Helga asked, her attention captured.

    "In it I discovered this tome," Jeze replied and pulled out the book she retrieved from the Pyramid.

    "What does it say?" Dunar asked.

    Mikal snorted, "Like any of you would know the intricacies of Rune magic."

    "I bet you can''t read it," Jeze wagered.

    Mikal came over and flipped through the book. "I can read in three languages, but I can not read this. Is it written in gibberish? Wait,  I recognize some of the Rune patterns. Is that the Light aspect? Fire?" The Healer looked up, his finger still on a page, and he asked, "Is this a holy book?"

    "Sort of," Jeze said and shared with the Proven her encounter with Archon and her adventurers in the Pyramid.

    Rolfe scrunched his eyebrows and scratched his head. "Does that mean there is no gift of immortality at the top?"

    "There is no proof that there isn''t," Mikal said.

    Jeze rolled her eyes. She didn''t want to have that argument again. Jeze also gave a silent prayer for Seb''s soul, wherever it may be.

    "These ancient Rune casters, the Ones from Before, they wrote this tome? Created the Rune patterns to corrupt the magical defenses of this Spire?" Dunar asked.

    "Yes, that is why it is important that we get stronger so that we can finish what they started before it''s too late. We need to make it all the way to the top! The fate of the world depends upon it," Jeze replied.

    "Yes!" Helga roared, her eyes wide.

    "We will be victorious!" Rolfe cried.

    Mikal shook his head, dismayed. The Healer turned to Jeze and said, "Us Frostsworn also have similar stories. What you call the Ones from Before are known as the First Kings. The Frozen All Father''s first sons. They were our ancestors, and they protected our realm."

    "Frozen All Father? First Sons? Kings? Are there no women in your tales? Jeze asked.

    Helga laughed out loud.

    Mikal blinked and replied, "There are queens, and the All-Father had daughters that help with fertility and farming."

    "Would be nice to have a tale about a warrior queen. Oh ho! Maybe I will become a legend, and stories can be written about me!" Helga boasted.

    "I would enjoy such a tale," Rolfe added softly.

    Helga punched him gently on his broad chest.

    "I can''t picture Helga farming or having kids," Mikal joked.

    Helga''s face became serious and she growled, "My kids would be strong as oxes."

    "Proud warriors too, I wager," Rolfe added. "One that their father would be proud of."

    Mikal''s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the two. Helga blushed, and Rolfe coughed to clear his throat.

    Ziplocke snickered, "Such fools you mortals can be!"

    "Break time is over! Proven, form up!" Dunar barked.

    The combination of discipline and a strong passion to succeed the team was able to quickly gather their gear and were prepared to leave without a single grumble or word of complaint. They had roughly three days to find and secure a Safe Zone before they ran out of water. Three days on the treacherous second level that was filled with lava and dangerous monsters.

    "We move!" Dunar ordered.

    The Proven marched down the tunnel toward the next cavern and toward untold danger.

 Chapter 57: Necessity and Learning

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone pack a bow?¡± Mikal cried.

    The Proven ran for their life and huffed and puffed as they navigated treacherous paths where a single misstep could result in a fall into the lava. Above them, in the wide cavernous chamber, were giant bat-like monsters the size of a grown man with bloated bellies and wide toothy mouths. The creatures had bulging red eyes and made a gurgling sound when they spat goblets of fire that exploded on impact.

    ¡°Now is not the time to discuss this!¡± Dunar replied with gritted teeth.

    The Leader was at the rear and he heard the familiar sound from above and raised his shield in time to deflect an incoming ball of flame that splashed fire to the sides. Half of his battered shield crumbled away, and with a sigh, Dunar tossed it away.

    ¡°That was our last shield,¡± he informed the team.

    ¡°We are doomed!¡± Mikal cried.

    Ziplocke cackled with glee.

    ¡°Stop being so dramatic, Micky. It is not much further,¡± Helga said.

    The team ran most of the day under constant bombardment from the Hellbats. They traversed narrow walkways and wide flats. The cavern was enormous, and ahead of them was a large stalagmite that rose high from the ground. Jeze was the first to make it behind cover, where she launched stone fists at the bloated monsters. She gritted her teeth as she poured her Will into each gesture to have enough power to knock two Hellbats out of the air. There were still plenty more, but her attacks caused the monsters to pause and gave enough time for the others to make it behind cover.

    ¡°They will circle us,¡± Mikal said.

    Helga and Rolfe were sweaty and breathing hard. Dunar assessed the situation and spotted a tunnel opening. That was their ticket out of here!

    ¡°We need to get there,¡± the Leader said and pointed.

    ¡°Are you mad?!?¡± Mikal cried.

    The tunnel opening was up a rock face that was a dozen meters across an open stretch of rock and lava streams. The team would need to run, jump over lava streams, and then climb in order to get to safety. They would have to do all of that while being constantly attacked from above.

    ¡°Will you shut your trap and start slinging ice spears?¡± Jeze growled through gritted teeth.

    She had maintained her constant stone fist assault and managed to drop one more Hellbat. The monsters were steadily coming closer and over a dozen remained.

    Mikal wiped back his sweaty, curly hair and said quietly, ¡°I am the Healer. If I do this, I won¡¯t have the energy to heal you.¡±

    ¡°Then you find it!¡± Jeze snapped.

    ¡°Micky does have a point. We really need bows,¡± Helga said.

    ¡°Ya, why didn¡¯t we have one?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°Typically, it is the Scout that has the bow,¡± Mikal said with a glare to Jeze.

    Dunar nodded. That was true, but he didn¡¯t voice that out loud. At the time of the team formation, they were all already over-packed with armor, supplies, extra weapons, and materials to repair their gear. When Dunar was planning for his team, he anticipated their Scout would bring the bow.

    ¡°I will purchase one at the next Safe Zone. In the meantime, stop your complaining and show those blasted beasts what it means to go up against the Proven,¡± Dunar loudly stated.

    Jeze Summoned and Shaped a large pile of stone fists. Her plan was to attack more aggressively. She took a deep breath, gathered her Will, and Controlled the fists to launch a heavy assault on the Hellbats. She was able to strike down three! But, she was exposed out in the open when a fireball exploded on her.

    ¡°Jeze!¡± Dunar cried.

    ¡°She¡¯s alive!¡± Rolfe shouted as he dragged the inert form of their Scout back behind the stalagmite.

    ¡°Knucklehead,¡± Ziplocke growled.

    Mikal rushed in and Summoned his Life aspect to begin healing Jeze¡¯s burned flesh.

    ¡°Oh, ho! They are coming! Prepare yourselves!¡± Helga said as she readied her Dane axe.

    ¡°They go crazy at the scent of burned flesh. That is how they prefer to eat!¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    ¡°They want to fight! Let¡¯s give them one!¡± Dunar roared.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± Helga and Rolfe cheered back.

    Mikal¡¯s eyes were closed as he poured his Will into his glyphs in order to repair Jeze¡¯s damaged body.

    Seven Hellbats remained as they crashed down upon the three Frostsworn with snapping teeth and slashing claws. Rolfe, without his shield, jabbed his spear with his two powerful arms. His attacks were fast, and the spear¡¯s blade stabbed three Hellbats in rapid succession before they could slash him with their talons. The Hellbats tried to grab and knock Rolfe over, but the large Protector stood his ground and grunted from their blows. Helga split one Demon in half with a mighty downward chop of her Dane axe while Dunar twirled into the fray like a dangerous tornado of steel. The Leader was battered from all around as the Hellbats slashed and grabbed at him, but not without a price. One Demon howled as they lost a limb, and another fell to the rocky ground, gurgling with their throat sliced open.

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    The final Hellbat hovered above the Proven and opened its mouth, where a fireball formed that would engulf the entire team. A thrown hand axe thunked into the monster¡¯s lower jaw, slammed its mouth shut and caused the head to explode into fiery bits. The Proven turned and saw Jeze on her knees with her right arm extended.

    ¡°Nice shot!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    ¡°Glad to see you are well,¡± Dunar said.

    Jeze grimaced in pain. She was still badly wounded.

    ¡°She is not well! Her stupid throw reopened all the wounds I just closed,¡± Mikal muttered.

    ¡°The throw did save our lives,¡± Rolfe pointed out.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Helga said and bowed her head to Jeze.

    ¡°You are welcome,¡± the Scout replied.

    ¡°What?¡± Mikal asked, his jaw opened. ¡°I save your lives every day with healing!¡±

    ¡°But you are a grump,¡± Helga said and stuck her tongue out.

    More Hellbats were unfurling from the high ceiling.

    ¡°We need to move. Jeze, can you climb?¡± Dunar asked as he extended his arm to assist.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Jeze snarled and rose with a grimace to her feet on her own.

    ¡°Not like she has a choice!¡± Ziplocke screeched.

    The Proven ran and climbed up to the tunnel as fireballs splashed and exploded around them. The Hellbats were still too far to be accurate but rapidly closed the distance. The team made it inside the tunnel, and it curved to the right. Rolfe took the lead, his spear ready before him, and Helga was by his side with a glow stick. Dunar took up the rear and was prepared to fight the Hellbats if the beasts gave chase. Mikal and Jeze ran in between.

    ¡°It¡¯s clear!¡± Rolfe said.

    Dunar saw that the tunnel continued on, but at the moment there were no active threats. Their major problem came from the Hellbats.

    ¡°Form up! Mikal and Jeze, keep an eye on the tunnel and prepare your spells,¡± the Leader ordered.

    Fortunately, the Hellbats did not prefer to fight in closed spaces and did not choose to follow the Proven into the tunnel. The team removed their heavy packs and slumped to the ground in exhaustion. Mikal focused on healing Jeze as she passed out the healing broth.

    ¡°Check your gear,¡± Dunar ordered.

    ¡°It¡¯s trashed,¡± Rolfe answered.

    ¡°Oh ya, my armor has seen better days. We will need to see a blacksmith,¡± Helga added.

    Dunar was too exhausted to order them to do the repairs as best they could. His own armor had gaps and tears in it.

    ¡°The Frozen All Father has to give us a break at some point,¡± Mikal muttered.

    The Healer sat down with his hair and brow covered in sweat from the exertions of his Will to close Jeze¡¯s burns.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Jeze said.

    Mikal¡¯s face hesitated between a scowl and a smile. Exhausted, the Healer smiled and patted Jeze on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s my honor to serve.¡±

    Ziplocke choked at the show of affection. Helga passed out dried meat, cheese, and hard bread from her pack. Dunar nodded but eyed the darkening tunnel passage with concern. Jeze saw the look on the Leader¡¯s face and slowly rose to her feet.

    ¡°I will Scout ahead,¡± she offered.

    Dunar bit his lip. On one hand, Jeze needed to recover from her wounds. On the other hand, if they are to rest, they need to ensure that the area is secure. The Leader simply nodded.

    ¡°Rolfe and Helga, you two stay close to Jeze,¡± Dunar said.

    The Leader prepared his weapons and guarded the tunnel entrance. Mikal grinned and rested on his hands by the wall. Dunar kicked his spear to him.

    ¡°Stay ready,¡± the Leader growled at the Healer.

    Mikal scowled but picked up his spear and stood guard with Dunar. Jeze took out her glow globe and set it to low light as she hurried ahead down the tunnel. She searched the floors and scouted the area ahead. The tunnel was made out of jagged rocks, and she guessed they were naturally made from lava streams. She touched the walls; they were dry and cool, and she guessed that the magma had not passed through there in some time.

    Eventually, she came to a fork where the tunnels branched off in multiple directions. Here, she knelt and listened. She only heard the jingling of Rolfe and Helga¡¯s armor a short distance behind her. She saw no evidence of tracks on the floor. But tracks would be difficult to find on the hard, dried lava rock. Plus, she was exhausted and in pain. There could be many details that she missed because of that.

    ¡°Wait here,¡± she whispered to her two teammates.

    Jeze picked the left tunnel and crept down it. It curved and winded a bit before she came to another intersection, where it branched off into three other directions. She suspected the entire area to be a maze. Jeze returned back to Helga and Rolfe and shared her findings.

    ¡°Sounds like we will be busy exploring tomorrow!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    ¡°I would like to have a shield,¡± Rolfe grumbled.

    The three returned, and Jeze reported her findings to Dunar.

    ¡°We will have to travel through a lot of dark tunnels tomorrow. I do not want us to be completely blind, but I also do not want to give away our presence,¡± the Leader thought out loud. He turned to Mikal and Jeze and asked, ¡°Can you make the glow sticks dimmer?¡±

    The glow sticks only had one setting for illumination and they were as bright as two torches. Jeze¡¯s glow globe that she retrieved from the Pyramid allowed the light to be dim and extremely bright.

    ¡°I do not know about enchanting,¡± Mikal said and shook his head.

    Jeze tapped her chin and retrieved the tome she had taken from the Pyramid. ¡°I can try, but it will take some time.¡±

    ¡°We will rest here for the night or whatever time it is in the outside world,¡± Dunar replied.

    The Proven slept in shifts. When it was Jeze¡¯s turn to watch, she worked on the glow sticks and was able to tinker with them to allow them to dim and brighten. She marveled at her improvement with enchanting in such a short amount of time. There are Rune casters that spend years in university to learn what she discovered in several months. There was a major difference between learning in safety and learning out of necessity for survival. Jeze attributed her rapid growth to the fact that she had no choice but to learn these skills. It was either that or failure, and failure for an adventurer could mean serious injury or death.

    The Proven were able to sleep during shifts, and when it was time, Dunar awakened them. The only rumblings came from Ziplocke as the rest got up and gathered their things. The team double-checked armor and weapons, and Jeze handed out broth that she heated in her enchanted pot. Dunar¡¯s Communication Scroll gently pinged. All eyes turned on the team Leader as he unfurled the scroll.

    ¡°A Safe Zone has been established,¡± Dunar said.

    The others were elated. They could restock on supplies and get new shields.

    ¡°They are asking for help as they are currently being overrun by monsters,¡± the Leader added.

    ¡°We will aid them,¡± Rolfe promised.

    Helga gripped his shoulder and her axe. Mikal and Jeze shouldered their packs. Dunar unfurled the communication scroll and compared the information it shared to the map he was sketching.

    ¡°Can we make it time?¡± Mikal asked.

    Dunar glanced at the map and looked up down the dark tunnel. Jeze saw that his dark eyes were calculating.

    Finally, Dunar nodded and replied, ¡°Aye, but we must hurry. We have a lot of tunnels to cover, but I think the Safe Zone is in that direction.¡±

    The team shouldered their packs and readied their weapons. They were prepared for another day of running and fighting.

    ¡°Proven, let¡¯s roll out!¡± Dunar barked.

 Chapter 58: The Spirit Walkers

    The Proven ran through the tunnels with Dunar, frantically mapping their progress. With every few twists and turns, he would call for a halt so he could compare his findings to those shared on the Communication Scroll. The team exited the tunnel and entered another open cavern. Dunar shook his head.

    "People say the Safe Zone is in a cave. Let''s backtrack and try a different passage," he said.

    "Oh, ho! That''s good. I did not want to risk running into them Hellbats again," Helga observed.

    "You won''t make it in time!" Ziplocke screeched from Jeze''s shoulder.

    The Goblin was ignored and the team went back into the tunnels to try a different way. They moved fast and with less caution than usual. The communication scroll kept pinging with updates from other teams that were sharing their progress. Dunar did the same. Again, they ended up overlooking another cavern.

    "Maybe we are in the wrong spot?" Mikal wondered.

    Dunar''s eyes narrowed as he scanned the lava-filled cavern. He shook his head.

    "This tunnel system we are in is the largest. There are no others that match it, the Safe Zone has to be in there. We back track again!" The Leader replied.

    Jeze perked up. "I have a thought, if you would give me a moment," she said.

    Mikal snapped, "We don''t have a moment."

    Dunar nodded for her to continue. Jeze removed the beaded necklace she received from Raina from the Safe Zone Squad. Mikal''s eyes narrowed as he studied the Runes.

    "Spirit aspect?" He asked with a deepening scowl on his face.

    "What''s wrong with that?" Jeze wondered.

    "Spirits are meant to be at rest. This aspect is no worse than Necromancy," Mikal spat.

    "How can it help us?" Dunar asked.

    "You can''t be serious, Dunar?" Mikal asked.

    The Healer was ignored as he looked at Jeze. They were desperate.

    "I have been practicing the Runes on this necklace ever since it was given to me. We can summon a guide to at least let us know if we are going the right way. If we should remain in these tunnels or enter the cavern," Jeze stated.

    Mikal crossed his arms and turned away. Dunar nodded.

    "Do it," he said.

    Jeze focused her Will and completed the gesture to Summon a spirit. To the others, it appeared like nothing happened. For Jeze, she felt the energies snapped into place. A gentle presence was near.

    "It didn''t work," Mikal hissed.

    Dunar shushed him. Helga and Rolfe looked around and wondered what Jeze was doing. Ziplocke sulked with his ears pulled back. The Goblin was shivering.

    "Which way should we go? The Tunnels or the Cavern?" Jeze asked out loud.

    There was no response, but Jeze caught movement in her peripheral. It looked like a fluttering of silver light. Like a curtain flowing in a breeze. When she turned to look it was gone but to Jeze the message was clear.

    "We are to head into the tunnels," she said.

    And so they did. They rushed through many different corridors, tunnels, and passages. On their sixth backtrack, they heard the sounds of fighting.

    "We are near!" Dunar exclaimed.

    "About time," Rolfe growled. The large Protector was sad to not have a shield to thump.

    The Proven rushed toward the sounds of combat and turned a corner at a sight that caused them to pause in shock. A stream of Hellhounds was rushing down the tunnel like a river of beasts. The sounds of fighting rang ahead of them. Several Hellhounds broke off the main group to attack the Proven.

    "Form up!" Dunar barked.

    The Proven formed their battle lines to engage the howling beasts. More and more Hellhounds broke away from the main horde to attack them. Dunar chopped one Hellhound in half with his axe and stabbed a second through its open maw. The Leader glanced around and saw that his team was about to be overrun.

    "Mikal, slow them down. Jeze, give us a wall," Dunar ordered.

    The two Rune casters, familiar with the tactics, immediately responded. Helga and Rolfe also reacted and interposed themselves to block the Hellhounds. Mikal Summoned and Shaped water to freeze the Hellhounds in front of them, while Jeze Summoned and Shaped Earth to form a stone wall. This gave the Proven space to retreat. Dunar glanced around and nodded.

    "This is a more defensible position," he observed.

    The Proven retreated down a winding tunnel passage and found a narrow enough space that allowed them to fight and not get surrounded. In addition, they were located at a bend, so the Hellhounds needed to go to them to fight. This prevented the Proven from being bombarded with range attacks.

    "Oh, ho! What have gotten into these beasties? They are going berserk!" Helga observed.

    Jeze agreed with the warrior maiden. In their last encounter with Hellhounds, the beasts exhibited more intelligence and utilized their range attacks and rudimentary tactics. What has driven them into a frenzy? Jeze wondered. Dozens of Hellhounds broke away from the main force to attack the Proven, and the team intensely fought for several minutes. Without shields, the front-line fighters took on more burns and wounds, with Mikal working extra to keep the team from bleeding to death. The number of Hellhounds that attacked them dwindled to a trickle.

    "Proven, push forward!" Dunar roared.

    "Hurrah!" The others cheered, and the team rushed forward into the hallway.

    They fought their way down the tunnel and eventually came to a wide cavelike chamber where other two adventurer teams fought. The site of the Proven reinvigorated the teams and in moments the final Hellhounds were routed and eliminated. Jeze saw the shimmering repurposed portal and sighed with relief. They found the Safe Zone and it appeared to be in a centralized hub with nearly a dozen interconnecting tunnels. It was an ideal space for monsters to branch off and attack adventurers.

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    "This will be a hard position to secure without a significant sized force," Dunar observed.

    "Jeze! It is so good to see you!" A gentle voice called out.

    An athletically built young woman with short dark hair approached. She wore tanned leather armor and her bare arms were lined with Runic tattoos. A beaded necklace was around her neck along with feathers in her hair.

    "Raina!" Jeze called back.

    The two embraced, and Jeze showed Raina the beaded necklace.

    "I used the gift you gave me. That was how we knew to head here!" Jeze exclaimed.

    Rainia smiled gently and replied, "The spirits are good guides to those who can listen."

    Rolfe cleared his throat. "Jeze, are you going to introduce us?" The large Protector asked.

    Mikal came forward and was fixing his hair. Helga shook her head.

    "Knuckleheads," Ziplocke muttered. The warrior maiden nodded in agreement.

    Jeze introduced Raina to her teammates. Rolfe was flexing more than usual, and Mikal smiled more than usual.

    "I see you are a Spirit Walker. That is a noble profession," Mikal stated.

    "What?!? You said it was no worse than Necromancy," Jeze pointed out.

    Raina gasped with a hand to her chest.

    Mikal smiled at her and said to Jeze, "You misheard me for sure."

    "No, that was what you said, Micky," Helga added.

    The Healer scratched his head and told Rainia, "Sometimes words can be misunderstood when we are on an adventure. I said no such thing."

    Jeze glanced over and saw that Dunar was talking with the other Team Leaders. The Frostsworn was pointing at the many entrances, and the other leaders nodded. Merchants and their guards were already entering through the portal to set up shops. Jeze nodded. They could restock and repair their equipment. She wondered if Hannah would come this far into the Spire? Or would the merchant remain on the first floor? The conversation brought Jeze back to the moment.

    "I fought bravely and defeated many monsters," Rolfe boasted.

    "That is nice," Rainia said.

    "What is wrong with them?" Jeze asked Helga.

    "Men!" The warrior maiden snorted.

    "Knuckleheads," Ziplocke added.

    Raina''s other teammates approached, and Jeze greeted them. The Spirit Walker team consisted of Raina, three other young women, and one man. They all wore light-padded armor, while the man wore mail armor. Jeze spotted Channeling tools on the women from rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Like Raina, they were all Rune casters armed with knives and staves. Jeze suspected that each utilized Aspects that allowed them to operate as a Striker, and Healer. After using Raina''s Spirit spell, she guessed that they could also operate as Scouts. It was clear that the man was the Protector as he wore heavy armor with a long kite shield strapped to his back that came down to below his knees. On the man''s hips were a sword and mace.

    Rolfe and Mikal acted even more strangely when the other women appeared. Jeze shook her head, but she had a thought.

    "What can be done with the Hellhound bodies?" She asked Raina.

    The Spirit Walker was smiling politely at what Mikal and Rolfe were saying. Jeze was pretty certain it was rubbish. Upon hearing the question, the Spirit Walker gently excused herself from the two Frostsworn men. They continued to talk enthusiastically with the three ladies.

    "Many things! The most common is that their hides make excellent armor," Raina answered.

    Jeze glanced down at her own torn gambeson and wondered if she was already due for a new set. They should visit Hannah before adventuring further into the second level.

    "But, the most interesting thing that can be done with Hellhounds is to use their Fire organ," Rainia continued.

    "Fire organ?" Jeze asked.

    "It is how the beasts spit fire. It is located just below their throats. The organ can be repurposed to fit a Wand," Raina asked.

    "Wand? Is that like a Channeling tool?" Jeze asked

    "Exactly! Except it does not require any Rune skills or Will to activate," Raina answered.

    The Protector on the Spirit Walker team turned toward them. He was the man in the group, in heavy mail armor, equipped with a sword and shield. He was clean-shaven, a little taller than Jeze, broad-shouldered, and had a lighter complexion than Raina and the others.

    "I like to use the term gun," he said.

    "Gun? Did you make that word up?" Jeze asked with an arched eyebrow.

    The Protector laughed and said, "Yes, I did. It has a nice ring to it, don''t you think?"

    "Jeze, this is my brother, Ahanu," Raina introduced the two.

    "Nice to meet you," Jeze said and shook hands with the man and she asked, "Why are you dressed so differently than your team?"

    Ahanu narrowed his dark eyes and asked, "How do you mean?"

    Jeze pointed out that the others wore leather and were equipped with Channeling tools. He wore metal armor.

    "My armor? Steel armor makes more sense for the team''s Protector," Ahanu said, his face stoic.

    Raina laughed and nudged her brother. "He is my half-brother. We have the same mother and different fathers. His father hails from the lands north of the Plains of Liawpia, where we Spirit Walkers come from."

    Ahanu''s stoic face cracked into a wide grin that also made his eyes sparkle. "A kingdom called Pana where there are knights and nobles."

    "My brother dreams of becoming a knight," Rainia stated.

    Ahanu shook his head and corrected, "I used to dream of becoming a knight. Now, I am an Adventurer. That is much more exciting than serving some pompous lord. However, the armor and weapons I still prefer to use."

    Dunar arrived. He had just purchased three round center-gripped shields from a merchant and handed one each to Helga and Rolfe. The Team leader hung the final around over his shoulder.

    "What type of shield is that?" He asked Ahanu.

    Dunar stood a head taller than the Spirit Walker Protector.

    "It is called a Kite shield," Rainia''s half-brother answered. He unslung the shield and handed it to Dunar.

    "It is lighter than I would have expected," the Proven Leader observed.

    "Still pretty heavy. I purchased one reinforced with steel plates for more durability. I see you use the Frostsworn round shield with a center grip. Those are very versatile shields, but I imagine they break often," Ahanu said.

    Dunar chuckled, "Aye, that they do. Especially against all the beasts on this level with their blasted fire attacks."

    "You should have a tanner reinforce your shields with Hellhound hides," Rainia suggested.

    Jeze perked up. "We can have Hannah do that for us."

    "I plan to do that. Do you think your friend can work on my shield as well?" Ahanu asked.

    "For a price," Jeze replied with a grin.

    The Spirit Walker protector nodded.

    "You can adjust the straps to this shield for different grips?" Dunar asked as he motioned to the inside of Ahanu''s kite shield.

    "Yes, though I mainly hold it like this," the Pana warrior said and showed how he held the kite shield.

    The top part of the shield protected Ahanu''s shoulder and chest. The shield narrowed as it went down with the lower tip protecting his legs and ankles. It was only a matter of lower his shoulder to protect his feet if needed.

    "Seems pretty rigid. The Frostsworn round shield is more maneuverable," Dunar commented as he unslung his own shield. The Proven Leader demonstrated how he could swing the shield around easily from the center grip.

    Ahanu smiled. "That is true. I mainly turtle up as the rest of my team dispatches our enemies with their Rune casting. Occasionally, I will stab or bash things, depending on the best way to kill."

    "Perhaps we can have a friendly sparring match to demonstrate each other''s shield capabilities?" Dunar asked. To Jeze, his smile looked predatory.

    Ahanu had the same grin as his eyes narrowed. "I would like that."

    "Not now, brother. Let us restock," Rainia said.

    "True, I need a new long knife and armor," Jeze added.

    Dunar''s face softened as he noticed his own damaged gear. "I think we will need to get Devil Steel armor."

    "We can take the portal and head to Hannah''s location. Hopefully, she is there. Plus, we can ask her team to collect the Hellhounds we defeated," Jeze suggested.

    "We will come with you," Ahanu said.

    "Yes, we can take a break from this blasted heat!" Rainia exclaimed.

    Rolfe and Mikal appeared happy to continue talking with the Spirit Walkers. Helga rolled her eyes. The teams headed toward the portal that would take them outside. From there they will enter the portal that will lead them to the Safe Zone where Hannah was located.

 Chapter 59: Skills Training

    The Proven were in the Safe Zone on the first level, where Hannah stationed her tent. The Spirit Walkers accompanied them and negotiated with the curly-haired merchant to upgrade their equipment. Hannah''s scavenger team had set off with a wagon to gather the Hellhound hides. Unlike the Proven, the Spirit Walkers knew how to harvest the Hellhound corpses and had skinned hides for Hannah to work with. After they discussed prices and timeframe, Hannah began her work.

    "She is very skilled," Rainia observed.

    Jeze nodded in agreement.

    "Thank you for introducing us," The Spirit Walker Leader added.

    "Agreed, it is important to find quality craftsmen," Ahanu said.

    The stocky merchant was happy to receive so many commissions and she promised everyone that she can have their equipment enhanced with the Hellhound Hides by the end of the next day. This elicited grumbles from Rolfe and Helga.

    "We will lose so much time!" Rolfe whined.

    "That is good. Your burns need time to heal. We will be in top shape to fight some more," Mikal stated. The Healer was happy that the team was forced to comply with his medical recommendations.

    "Ya, and you two can talk to your lady friends some more, no?" Helga teased

    Rolfe sulked, and he responded, "I''d rather be fighting."

    "Oh ya? Well, we can always spar," Helga added.

    "We will be using this downtime to train," Dunar promised.

    Hannah had already melted down the Devil Steel she had collected from them and told them that she was able to reinforce their existing lamellar armor with interlocking Devil Steel plates.

    "The beauty about this ore is that it absorbs heat and remains cool. We do not need to replace all of your plates with it. I can replace a few and spread them out in the areas where you will most likely be attacked. This will increase your armor''s overall heat resistance," Hanna explained.

    She also could reinforce their Frostsworn round shields with metal plates to protect the edges and she will replace the center boss with the Abyssal ore.

    "These round shields are not as durable as Heaters or Tower Shields, but with my upgrades, they will be darn near close!" Hannah promised.

    The Frostsworn accepted that. They were not willing to replace their shields with the other heavier and less mobile options. For them, they preferred a shield that allowed for maneuverability in combat, even though it resulted in a shield that would be damaged more easily. Dunar had shown Ahanu how the Frostsworn round shield could deflect blows with the flat end or the edge. With a center grip, the defender could rotate and twist the shield to offer different angles of protection. It could also be punched forward with the edge with similar reach as a sword.

    "That is very impressive. I agree it opens up more options in combat. However, it is tiring on your arm to grip the shield in your hand. For me, I have it strapped. I don''t have many movement options, but I can keep the shield close to me and easily brace against attacks. Plus, my kite shield covers a large area and reduces my opponents'' attack options," the Spirit Walker protector replied.

    Helga and Rolfe joined the conversation. They were fascinated with Ahanu''s kite shield. The warriors engaged in friendly sparring bouts to demonstrate each shield''s capabilities. They also discovered new combinations and learned from each other. Until Hannah collected the shields so that she could add the Hellhound hides.

    The Safe Zone chamber they were in was quite large and filled with activity. There were a dozen other stalls set up that sold weapons, armor, equipment, and food. In addition, the entrances were guarded by prospect-ranked adventurers. Despite being in the Wandering Spire, the area was secured. Which was why the teams did not mind being in there without their armor. Without shields, the warriors turned to sword fighting. Ahanu demonstrated the style of blade fighting favored by the knights in Pana. Due to the warrior using a strapped-on shield, his style incorporated low stances and deep lunges. Because Ahanu also used a mace, he and Helga shared techniques and tactics.

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    "Speaking of swords. Jeze, it is time for you to fight like a Dire Wolf. Carl Jorgenson has already provided you with the Battle axe. Now you need to replace your knife with a sword," Dunar stated.

    The Proven Leader presented Jeze with a sword made out of Devil Steel. The long knife she took from the Legionnaire was warped from Hellhound fire. Just like when she switched from the handaxe to the battleaxe, the balance and feel between the long knife and the sword was the same. The sword was a little heavier and was able to generate more momentum. Jeze attempted a few practice swings with the two weapons and noticed a major difference between the sword and the long knife when it came to fighting with her battleaxe. The sword was longer.

    "I feel my two weapons will get tangled together," she stated.

    Dunar nodded and replied, "They will if you rely on swinging your sword. A sword is effective with slicing but also with thrusts. When used with the battle axe, you should focus more on thrusting."

    The Frostsworn warrior demonstrated the smooth circular attacks with the battleaxe and how he weaved in thrusts and stabs with his longsword. The two weapons never entangled, and one always guarded while the other attacked.

    Jeze agreed that the sword was better than the long knife as it offered more reach, which was where she lacked in melee combat due to her small size. Dunar even showed her how she could greatly extend her reach with a sideways fencer''s lunge. That was a brand new technique for her and the one she focused on the most as she saw many applications. Jeze was always smaller than her opponent, and they tended to be more aggressive against her. If she was clever, she could bait an enemy to over-commit and surprise them with a fencer''s lunge where their own momentum would be used against them as they ran into her blade. She practiced a combination where she ended with a fencer''s lunge.

    "Very good! That would be most effective, especially if you land the tip to the throat or armpit where your blade can penetrate the weaker part of the armor," Dunar exclaimed.

    Ahanu, Helga, Rolfe, Dunar, and Jeze lightly trained and discussed tactics with their weapons. Mikal went with Rainia and the other Rune casters to restock their food and medical supplies. Mikal showed them where to buy the Water Bricks.

    "These are amazing!" Rainia exclaimed.

    Later in the day, Helga and Rolfe assisted Hannah with the armor repairs. The merchant showed them what to do and how to make quick modifications in the field. Dunar and Ahanu took the portal out of the Wandering Spire to see what information they could gather from the large camp. Mikal and Jeze talked with Rainia and the other Rune casters about the aspects they used and the Rune patterns they employed.

    "If you overlay the Spirit aspect with the Life aspect, you can create a Vitality Spring," Rainia said.

    "Vitality Spring?" Mikal asked.

    "It''s best if I show you," the Spirit Walker suggested.

    "Oh, I''m pretty academic. I think if you explain it to me, I can understand," Mikal said.

    Rainia arched an eyebrow.

    "He is scared of the Spirit aspect," Jeze explained.

    "I am not!" Mikal cried.

    "Then let me show you," Rainia said as she held her hands to prepare the gestures.

    The dark-haired Healer sputtered but offered no objection. With a nod Rainia began to move her hands and arms to complete a series of complex glyphs in the air. This was one of the most advanced Rune magic that Jeze has ever witnessed. They all felt the energy snap into place and gentle soothing filled their bodies.

    "That feels nice," Mikal explained.

    "It enhances the healing of your body, mind, and soul," Rainia explained.

    Jeze felt her mind at ease, her Will restored, and all her injuries faded away.

    "Are you Summoning spirits?" Mikal asked with narrowed eyes.

    Rainia chuckled and replied, "No. Spirits are a form of Spiritual energy, but not the only type. I am Summoning Mana.¡±

    "Mana?" Jeze asked.

    "It''s another form of Spiritual energy. Raw energy that comes straight from the Spirit realm," Rainia answered.

    Mikal tapped his chin. The Vitality Spring felt good, and it was a very potent healing spell.

    "Can you teach me?" He asked.

    Rainia smiled and replied, "I thought you felt the Spirit aspect was no different than Necromancy."

    "I was wrong," Mikal said and bowed his head.

    Jeze nearly fainted from shock. Was he just humble at this moment? Rainia nodded and began to teach Mikal the Life aspect part of the spell. It was already more advanced for Jeze, so she left them. She had her brother''s journal to review, and Jeze knew that she needed to get a stronger attack spell. The Stone fists were losing their potency. But Jeze was getting more proficient with the Earth aspect, and her Will was strengthened considerably from the past few months battling monster waves and traveling the first two floors of the Spire. Jeze was ready to learn a more advanced spell. She needed to learn how to fling boulders!

 Chapter 60: Higher Tiered Monsters

    Dunar and Ahanu had returned from the outside the night before. The two wobbled on their feet and laughed a lot at each other''s jokes. Rainia shook her head and muttered something about her brother''s antics. Dunar explained to the Proven that he and Ahanu had visited several taverns and learned that it may be possible that adventurers are as high as floor 5 of the Wandering Spire. He didn''t give more information when he found his bed roll.

    The next day, Hannah promised the teams that their armor and shields were almost ready.

    "By lunchtime! You are gonna love it! Trust me," the stocky merchant said.

    The Proven and The Spirit Walkers had made separate camps. Habits were engrained, and adventurers typically camped within their groups. The two teams prepared breakfast and talked amongst themselves. Jeze and the Proven sat in a circle, ate hard cheese with bread, and drank Jeze''s recovery potion. Mikal examined each of their wounds and nodded with approval.

    "Berserker Orn and the Carls were not at the camp outside," Dunar said.

    "What does that mean?" Rolfe asked.

    Dunar pointed up.

    "They are on the second floor, ya?" Helga inquired.

    Dunar shook his head and replied, "Higher."

    Rolfe and Helga''s eyes went wide as they glanced at each other.

    Mikal leaned over and asked, "Did you get a bow?" The Healer always remembered the practical things.

    Ziplocke snickered as the mirth from Dunar''s face washed away, and the Leader nodded. He purchased two, one for himself and one for Helga.

    "I need to dust off my archery skills," the warrior maiden observed.

    "We have time today to practice," Dunar replied.

    Ahanu approached their camp. The dark-haired warrior with a caramel complexion wore a wide grin on his face.

    "Greetings, my Frostsworn friends!" He said.

    The Proven rose upon his approach with equally wide grins and warmth.

    "Oh? What''s this?" Helga asked.

    Ahanu produced from his weapons belt a Frostsworn battle axe with its curved blade and twine-wrapped handle.

    "I showed him the Frostsworn merchant," Dunar explained.

    "How many weapons do you carry?" Rolfe asked.

    "I like to have one for every occasion," Ahanu replied.

    "Do you know how to use that?" Helga asked.

    "I was hoping to find a teacher," Ahanu responded.

    All eyes turned to Jeze. She glared back and snapped, "Any of you can use battle axes!"

    Ahanu pouted, but there was a twinkle in his eye.

    Rolfe looked over the Spirit Walker Protector. He towered over the smaller man and asked, "You don''t have a spear."

    "I lost it when I threw it at a Hellbat. I killed it! But the body fell into lava along with my spear," Ahanu explained.

    Rolfe winced and rubbed the other man''s shoulder in understanding. Ahanu wiped his eyes.

    "I just haven''t gotten around to replacing my spear. I don''t think I''m ready to commit to a new one."

    "A good weapon is like a close friend. You both know each other well, but you will need to move on, ya?" Helga added.

    Ahanu looked up with a smile. "I am! With this," he replied and held up the Frostsworn battle axe.

    "Jeze, you have to show our new friend here how to fight with that," Helga ordered.

    The Scout glared at the others. She had plans for herself, but they did not include being a teacher.

    "I promise I won''t go too hard if we spar," Ahanu teased.

    That settled it for Jeze. She grabbed her axe and headed toward the Portal that led outside.

    "Where are you going?"

    "To purchase sparring gear. I will make you wish you never picked up a Frostsworn axe," Jeze promised.

    "Oooh!" Both Helga and Rolfe exclaimed.

    For the next few hours, everyone filled their downtime with skills training. Jeze beat Ahanu as if he owed her money. Helga and Dunar were also outside, and they dusted off their archery skills at a target range. Mikal exchanged Rune patterns with the Spirit Walker Rune casters. He was eager to learn the Vitality Spring spell. In exchange, he shared his advanced Life and Water aspect patterns with the other team.

    Helga and Rolfe exercised and lifted Stones for the first hour. The rest of their downtime they learned armorsmithing from Hannah. She improved their stitching and armor-repairing skills. In addition, she showed them how to tan hides. As promised, Hannah completed the work on their gear in four hours. For the Frostsworn round shields, she riveted the wood with the dark Hellhound hides. Hannah also replaced the central boss with Devil Steel, and she reinforced the edges of the shields with the metal.

    "These look fantastic!" Dunar observed.

    "Aye, and the weight feels the same," Ahanu said.

    The Spirit Walker Protector tested out his kite shield. Hannah had done the same thing for him as she did for the Proven.

    "I know my craft, and now to yer armor!" The merchant replied.

    Everyone tried on their armor and with a few adjustments with the straps, the armor fitted well. Helga held out her arms and spun around to show off the lamellar plates. She jingled as she moved.

    "Oh, ho! It feels great to be in full armor again!" Helga beamed.

    All the tears, rents, dents, and scratches were repaired. Jeze continued to be surprised at how well Hannah worked. Dunar paid the merchant, and after several hugs, the Proven and Spirit Walkers bid Hannah farewell.

    "Check your supplies and weapons. Proven! We march out in five," Dunar barked.

    Jeze and her team exited the portal to the outside and made their way through the enormous base camp. The sky was red, and the air was dry. Hundreds of merchants and adventurers roamed about the base of the enormous Wandering Spire. With the repurposed portals, a steady stream of goods came out of the tower that included monster hides, precious metals, and gems. Merchants from all over the world arrived at the camp to purchase the rare materials that had many applications, from crafting to enchanting.

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    Dunar led the team to a Diamond Bank branch. There were several scattered throughout the camp. Jeze heard that they were going to set up branches in the Safe Zones. The Proven deposited the money they earned from the Hellhound, and Hellbat hides. This included the gems they gathered from the Imps. Rainia and her team did the same. It only made sense to carry what was needed into the Wandering Spire. The Diamond Bank also provided papers of credit for adventurers to make transactions easier inside the Spire because carrying golden ducats could be cumbersome.

    After their business was completed the teams discovered that two more portals on the second level were repurposed. There were small lines to enter them at this time and Dunar wanted to review the updated maps before deciding which portal they should enter through.

    "Do we know where the Floor Portal is?" Jeze asked.

    Dunar shook his head. That has not yet been mapped out yet.

    "Was the Floor Guardian defeated?" Rolfe asked.

    "It is believed that teams of Adventurer-rank have already cleared the floor and are on the fourth and possibly fifth floors," Dunar answered.

    "Oh, ho! I wonder if it was Berserker Orn that cleared them," Helga chimed in.

    Ahanu and Rainia approached the Proven. The dark-haired man was holding a Communications Scroll.

    "We decided on where we are going. Perhaps our paths will cross again," Rainia said.

    "Aye," Dunar replied.

    Jeze and Rainia embraced while Ahanu shook hands with the others. Without wasting further time, the Spirit Walkers departed through the portal and returned to the second floor, where they fought off the swarm of Hellhounds. Dunar turned to his team.

    "Do we want to go back from where we came from? Or do we want to try the new portal?" He asked.

    "Which is the least explored?" Jeze asked.

    "The new ones," he answered.

    "I vote we take a new one," Rolfe said.

    "Aye, same here!" Helga exclaimed.

    Mikal crossed his arms and remained quiet. Dunar looked at Jeze.

    "Whichever one takes us closer to the third floor," the Scout replied.

    "Oh, ho! Three votes settles it. Let''s see where these new portals take us!" Helga cried.

    "Yay! Back into danger!" Ziplocke cheered.

    Dunar picked one of the two new portals that he felt would give them the best chances of finding the Floor Portal. The Proven waited as a stream of adventures exited the portal that was managed by a Guild perfunctory. To ensure that adventurers did not bump into each other through the portals, the official tossed a wooden card through the portal that indicated to the official on the opposite end that people were coming through or that the line ended. A wooden card thumped on the floor after the last group of adventurers ladened with monster hides came through.

    "Go through," the guild official said after he picked up the card.

    The Proven went through the portal and found themselves in another Safe Zone that was similar to the ones they were in before. It was a wide cavern with a high ceiling, jagged walls, and several exits that were guarded by a small army of Prospect-ranked adventurers. There were dozens of merchant stalls that provided much-needed services, from armor repair to medical supplies. In addition, there were many adventurer teams camped about the space, and more adventurer teams exited the Safe Zone through the many exits. Dunar studied his makeshift map and the long Communication Scroll that provided map updates of the second floor. Not every team had a cartographer, so the Communication Scroll was not updated accurately. However, Dunar selected a path that has not yet been mapped out. The team Leader rolled up his scrolls and ordered the team to move forward in formation toward one of the exits.

    To illuminate the dark tunnels, Jeze held her globe, and Helga and Mikal held glow sticks. The Proven traveled for hours through the winding tunnels that would occasionally pass through a wide-open cavern. They encountered other groups of adventurers and scavenger teams when they were near the Safe Zone, and that happened less often the further they traveled. In one cavern, a scavenger team was beset by Hellbats. The team appeared to be Prospect-ranked, and they were in trouble with two wounded and the other three desperately trying to fend off the frenzied Demons that smelled burnt flesh.

    "Do you want aid?" Dunar called out.

    "Yes!" One of the adventurers called back.

    "Of course we bloody do!" Another shouted.

    "Rude," Jeze muttered.

    The Proven quickly but carefully made their way through the winding lava streams and helped the team fight off the Hellbats. With their new fire-resistant equipment, the Proven made short work of the beasts. More were coming from above, and Fireballs splashed around them. Rolfe deflected a few with his reinforced shield.

    "I like Hannah''s work!" Rolfe roared.

    His arms were not burnt whenever he deflected a fireball attack. Helga and Dunar shot their bows. Their first shots were wide, but with practice, they were able to shoot down several Hellbats.

    "These are harder to hit than the targets," Dunar muttered.

    "I prefer to chop them up with my axe," Helga added.

    Mikal started to heal the wounded Scavenger team members and Jeze aided with the range attacks. The Scout had a grin on her face. She wanted to show off her new Rune ability, but it required focus, Will, and timing.

    When Jeze was confident, she said, "Watch this."

    The others glanced at her but returned their focus to the battle at hand. Helga and Dunar fired arrows, and Rolfe protected them from fireball attacks with his shield. Circling above them were six Hellbats. Dunar and Helga managed to strike one with arrows, and it flopped to the ground with a squishy thud. A large boulder whooshed overhead and splattered a Demon. The force of the attack was so fierce that the remaining Hellbats fled.

    Rolfe and Helga turned to Jeze with wide eyes.

    "That was incredible! Did you see that?" Rolfe exclaimed.

    "Oh, ho! Our little scout can do something big!" Helga cried.

    Jeze had to kneel from the exertion of the Rune spell, but she had a wide grin on her face. Mikal shook his head.

    "That is not sustainable," the Healer observed.

    "Knucklehead," Ziplocke snickered.

    Jeze scowled back at the two. She was happy with her performance. But, she had to reluctantly agree. The Boulder spell was still too difficult for her. It might be better that she practiced the spell more before using it in the field. Jeze conceded to herself, but she would never say that to Ziplocke and Mikal. Instead, she glared at them.

    "You have our thanks," the Leader of the Scavenger team said and offered a pouch of coins.

    Dunar waved it back and replied, "It is our duty, as Guild members, to support each other."

    "Fool!" Ziplocke hissed.

    The Proven continued on through the lava-filled cavern and needed to climb up a jagged rock face to exit through another tunnel that led to another maze of twisting passageways. The second level consisted of lava-filled caverns and twisting mazes of tunnels. For two days, the Proven marched on through, and they only encountered one other team. Only Initiate-ranked teams or higher would dare travel this far away from the Safe Zones. At noon on the second day they entered a large cavern where the walls were a deep indigo instead of the usual coal black.

    "This is odd," Mikal observed as he ran a hand along the stone.

    The others nodded in agreement. Jeze''s eyes widened, and she pointed.

    "The Floor Portal!" She cried.

    In the circular chamber, there were two portals that stood adjacent to each other. One was a deep indigo that led to the next level, and the other was green that led outside. In the center was the giant body of what appeared to be a winged lizard. Jeze paused when she saw a figure of a person who was kneeling by the indigo portal.

    "Hail adventurer!" Dunar called out.

    The stranger''s head snapped up. They wore a dark hood that obscured their face. They quickly returned to their work.

    "What are they doing?" Mikal wondered.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes and exclaimed, "They are working on the runes to the portal!"

    "To create a safe zone?" Helga said.

    Jeze had a bad feeling about this, and she shook her head. Before they could figure out what to do next, the stranger dove through the portal.

    "That was rude," Rolfe said.

    "Ya," Helga agreed.

    "Let''s be careful," Dunar ordered.

    The Proven made their way into the chamber and neared the giant corpse. It had a serpentine neck, wings, and clawed legs. The creature''s coal black eyes stared blankly and its tongue lolled out of its toothy maw.

    "Helldrake! You were fortunate it is dead!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    "That''s Berserker Orn''s symbol!" Rolfe exclaimed.

    A rune was etched into the creature''s scaled flesh. The Proven marveled at the wondrous beast that was larger than a grizzly bear. Jeze approached the shimmering Floor Portal. What did that stranger do? She wondered as she studied the Runes of the Threshold. They were clearly tampered with. Jeze froze as a head the size of her torso emerged from the portal. Its eyes glared at her, and its wide mouth opened to let loose a fearsome roar. It was a Helldrake. One that was alive, and the team had nowhere to run.

    "Proven!" Dunar called out. "Form up!"

 Chapter 61: Advancement

    The Helldrake looked like a dragon. Jeze had never seen a dragon in real life, only in pictures. The beast loomed before her with coal-black scales and a horned head. Its red eyes glared hungrily at her, and the Helldrake lunged forward as fast as a striking snake. Jeze rolled out of the way, and the beast''s jaws snapped shut, creating a sound like thunder that echoed throughout the chamber. An arrow snapped off the Helldrake''s cheek. The scales were hard like steel! For a moment, the monster''s attention was diverted away from Jeze, and she turned and ran.

    "Proven! We will show this beast what we are made of!" Dunar barked.

    "Hurrah!" The others shouted back.

    "For Glory!" Rolfe roared and banged his spear against his shield.

    Helga fired another arrow but missed it as the Helldrake completely exited the portal. It loped forward on all fours. Its front limbs had bat-like wings curled to its sides as it ran with shocking speed. Jeze saw that beyond its hind legs was a long tail that ended with a barbed tip, like a scorpion. The monster was bigger than Rolfe and Helga combined! Jeze thought.

    "Levitation formation!" Dunar barked. Jeze was impressed with his coolness under pressure.

    "Are monsters able to come through Floor Portals?" Mikal asked.

    "I don''t know Micky, maybe we can ask the beastie nicely?" Helga responded.

    Mikal scowled at her, and Ziplocke snickered from the shadows.

    "Focus!" Dunar snapped.

    The ground shook, and the stones chipped under the Helldrake''s powerful frame as it rushed toward the Proven. With the Levitation formation, Jeze was supposed to be on the outer left flank near Dunar. Due to the Helldrake being able to breathe fire, the formation was more spread out with each member close to another with a shield. Rolfe and Dunar stood up front and apart from each other with their shields readied. Helga stood behind the Protector and off to the side, prepared to flank the beast. The warrior maiden held the two-handed mace she took from the Howler Elite as the blunt weapon was more effective against the thick scales of the Helldrake. Behind her was Mikal, who was completing full body gestures and glyphs as he Summoned and Shaped the Water aspect. Jeze Shaped and Controlled the Earth aspect to strike the Helldrake''s hind legs with stone fists. Jeze wanted to cripple the beast, and she poured enough Will into her spells to take down a Hellbat. But even that much power had no effect on the large monster.

    The Proven learned a lot from their battle with the Goreraptor. From what they experienced in that fight and what they read about Helldrakes, they had two different formations for those two types of large beasts. For the Goreraptor, which was able to deliver a more powerful charge, the Proven prepared the Titan formation, where they locked three shields together in order to halt the beast''s charge. In that formation, Mikal and Jeze would circle to flank and aim to cripple the beast''s hind legs with magical attacks.

    From what they knew about Helldrakes, they did not anticipate the creature as having the charging power as the Goreraptor. Rolfe was confident he could halt the large monster on his own. However, the Helldrake could leap high into the air and glide as well as breathe fire. In addition, it had a poison stinger at the end of its tail. Jeze''s role was to try to cripple the beast by striking at the joints in its hind legs and tail. Currently, her attacks had no effect, and she needed to do something more. Both formations involved Mikal casting his Flash Freeze spell.

    Water moisture formed in the area in front of Rolfe, and when the Helldrake''s charge entered the mist, Mikal closed his fists to complete the final Glyph of his spell. The mist froze instantly to ice and slowed the beast as it rammed its maw into Rolfe''s shield. The Protector was pushed back a few steps, and he jabbed his spear repeatedly into the creature''s chest, which caused sparks to fly off the heavy scales. Dunar attacked next, and he slashed his axe into the beast, unable to penetrate the armor-like scales. The Helldrake swiveled its neck to snap its jaws onto Dunar, but the Leader caught the toothy attack with the edge of his shield. The two warriors bashed with their shields and attacked with axe and spear as Helga circled to the monster''s left. The Striker''s mighty blow nearly knocked the creature to its side! Helga''s chest heaved as she swung the heavy mace again and again. The round metal head of her weapon clanged loudly against the creature''s thick scales.

    The Helldrake recovered and spun so fast its movements appeared as a blur. It''s tail spike struck Helga and the Striker yelped in pain as she fell to the ground. The monster used its powerful hind legs to leap high into the air where it unfurled its wing to propel itself higher.

    ¡°Mikal check on Helga! Jeze, do something that will hurt it! Rolfe to me!" Dunar barked as the Helldrake circled and gilded back around toward them.

    Jeze nodded and used the Darkness aspect to fade into the shadows, where she was able to focus her Will without being spotted. The Scout began to Summon the Earth aspect.

    "She''s been poisoned," Mikal stated.

    "I''ll be fine, Mikal. Worry about the Helldrake!" Helga growled as she pushed herself back to her feet and unslung her shield.

    Her face was pale, and she grimaced in pain from the wound to her side where the stinger pierced her armor. But she was right; Mikal had no time to heal her as the Helldrake prepared to engulf them in flame. Helga rushed forward and locked shields with Rolfe and Dunar. Mikal Summoned the Water aspect and Shaped it to form a curved wall of ice in front of them just as the Helldrake breathed a massive cone of fire. The chamber erupted with steam as the blast tore through Mikal''s spell and splashed onto the shields. The Frostsworn warriors gritted their teeth through the intense heat and pressure, but their new shields withstood the attack! But the Proven were not given a break. After the fire blast, the Helldrake slammed into them with tremendous force. Dunar, Mikal, and Helga were thrown to the sides, and Rolfe was pinned under the beast.

    "For Glory!" Rolfe roared as he pushed up with his shield and slowly got to his knees.

    The Helldrake chomped and slashed the armored Protector, and its deadly tail slapped Dunar away like he weighed nothing. The Leader was thrown across the chamber, and he landed in a heap. Rolfe bled from dozens of gashes and cuts as the Helldrake knocked around his shield and bit deeply into his side. The Frostsworn screamed in pain, and Jeze watched in horror as Rolfe fought back less and less. He was trapped in the beast''s maw.

    Mikal was a short distance away with his eyes closed. He was completing precise gestures and Summoned the Life and Spirit aspects. He was attempting the Vitality Spring! Jeze thought and blocked out the crunching sounds as the beast chewed and slammed Rolfe to the ground like a rag doll. The Helldrake dropped Rolfe and turned its attention to the Healer as if it sensed a powerful spell coming. Jeze needed to do this right as the beast moved to attack the distracted Mikal. She Shaped the earth into a boulder and Controlled it with a tremendous amount of her will. The Helldrake prepared to leap when she launched the giant rock that slammed into the Helldrake''s side. She missed the knee joint but was still able to knock the beast to the ground, with her boulder exploding into bits.

    The Healer opened his eyes and held his hands up in the air. A golden glow emitted from his body, and Jeze looked down at herself and saw a similar glow form. The same aura surrounded Dunar, Rolfe, Helga, and Jeze, and they felt a spiritual connection to her team. She felt her Will replenish, and a rush of vitality infused her system. Helga stirred, but Rolfe remained inert. Mikal fell to his knees, his arms limp by his sides, but a smile was on his face.

    "You did it! You cast the Vitality Spring!" Jeze cried.

    With gritted teeth, Dunar stood to his feet and charged the Helldrake as it also rose from the ground. The beast responded in a blur of speed as it slashed its tail at Dunar. The Leader slid under the attack and continued toward the Helldrake. The monster brought its tail back, and this time, Dunar caught it against his shield. In a fluid motion, Dunar used his shield to redirect the tail attack to the side, where he chopped off the Helldrake''s stinger with his axe.

    "We will crush your bones to powder! We will defeat you! We ran with the Dire Wolves through the Deep Snow! We are the Proven!" Dunar chanted loudly as he advanced upon the howling Helldrake.

    Blood spurted from its wounded tail, and it took to the air again. Before it could spread its wings, it was knocked down by a boulder that slammed into it. It turned with rage-filled eyes on Jeze. With surprising speed, it pounced toward her! Jeze dove out of the way just in time as the beast slammed into the ground with clawed feet. It moved too fast, and it was too close for Jeze to do anything. She needed to buy time, and the boulder spell took too long to cast.

    The Helldrake whirled on Jeze with snapping jaws, and the Scout barely dodged the attacks. Her teammates were too far away! Jeze was on her own at this moment. Her mind scrambled with options, and she found peace in them. Clarity came to her. Was it because of Mikal''s spell? Or her training? Jeze did not know, but she had drilled hard on many Aspects and skills for their utility. She had a tool for every occasion, and even though death loomed before her in the form of a giant monster, she was calm. Jeze tapped her Affliction channeling tool and completed the quick gestures to Summon, and Shape a curse. With a smoothness that came from hours of training, she Controlled the spell to strike the charging Helldrake. It sneezed and shot puffs of flame from its nostrils. This brought Jeze enough time to sprint away as fast as her legs could carry her. Behind her she heard the Helldrake take a deep intake of breath, and she rapidly changed direction as a blast of flame struck the stone floor. The cone of fire followed her, and she felt the intense heat on her back. Jeze activated the enchantments on her armor but feared it would not be enough if the flame caught her. She was so focused on sprinting for her life that she didn''t realize that she was near Dunar. The large warrior stepped forward and caught the cone of fire on his shield, and Jeze let out a sigh of relief.

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    "The beast cowers before our might. Who are we?!?" Dunar roared.

    "The Proven!" The others shouted back.

    Jeze was relieved to see Rolfe had risen. His body looked battered, but there was a fire in his eyes. Helga also rose shakily to her feet. Her face was pale from the Helldrake''s poison, but the warrior maiden hefted her two-handed mace and howled in response to Dunar''s chant. The Helldrake took a deep intake of breath and a red ball of Affliction energy struck it. Instead of shooting flames, the monster was wracked with a coughing fit. Jeze''s eyes were wide as she saw that Ziplocke had cursed the monster.

    "Knuckleheads! Stop your cheering and slay the beast!" The Goblin shrieked.

    The Helldrake took to the air but was knocked back down by Jeze''s boulder spell. Dunar slashed the creature''s eyes and nostrils with his axe. The Helldrake snapped forward with its head, and Dunar caught its teeth on his shield. The monster still moved incredibly fast and dodged a boulder attack. In a flash, it pounced on Dunar and pinned him to the ground. Despite Mikal''s Vitality Spring, Jeze was feeling depleted and could not summon the Will for another boulder spell. With gritted teeth, she drew her sword and battle axe and charged into the fight.

    Mikal healed Dunar''s wounds as the Leader struggled in vain against the monster that was on top of him. Jeze slashed her axe and stabbed with her sword at the Helldrake''s eyes and face. The monster responded with a swipe of its tail. Jeze jumped and flipped over the attack and continued her assault, but her weapons barely scratched the creature''s scales. Helga slammed her mace into the creature''s back knee and cracked bone. This wounded the Helldrake and slowed it down, as now it could only limp. Dunar fought his way back to his feet, and the three pounced on the Helldrake with renewed fury. They all felt victory was near. Even Mikal joined in and stabbed with his spear. The beast was hurt and overwhelmed, but it furiously snapped out with its powerful jaws and slashed with its forelegs. This kept the Proven at bay until Helga landed a devastating blow to the creature''s head with her two-handed mace. The beast stumbled to its side. For a moment, its underbelly was exposed, and they heard a fierce, deep roar. Rolfe had ditched his shield and charged forward with his spear in two hands and plunged his weapon into the creature''s chest! The Helldrake spasmed and fought a few moments longer before collapsing with its tongue hanging from its open mouth. The battle was won.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Dunar roared.

    "Hurrah!" The others shouted back.

    The Helldrake was defeated, but the Proven still had work to do. They looked at the Floor Portal. It glowed ominously and filled the chamber with the threat of another Helldrake emerging.

    "Jeze, can you repurpose the Portal?" Dunar asked.

    She scowled at the Leader. "Of course I can, but first, I need to see what the stranger did to it."

    "Are you mad?!? We will not survive another attack!" Mikal cried.

    With determination, Jeze went over to study the Runes that encircled the Threshold of the Floor Portal. Rolfe inscribed the Proven runes beside the Helldrake they defeated and puffed out his chest in pride. Dunar ordered the others to gather their healing potions and recovery broths.

    "Bring me my pack," Jeze asked her teammates.

    "You can''t be serious? Dunar, we must repair this portal immediately and then repurpose the exit portal. This has to be turned into a Safe Zone. Our survival depends upon it," Mikal pleaded.

    "Jeze, you need to hurry," Dunar said.

    "I know that!" She snapped back. Jeze nodded in thanks as Helga delivered her pack.

    "This is no time for research," Mikal said.

    "You want to work these Runes? Be my guest, but know this. If you make a mistake, you may invite an even stronger beast to come through or worse. You may cause this entire chamber to explode," Jeze screamed at the Healer.

    Mikal backed away. Helga looked more pale than usual.

    "Micky, I don''t feel so well," the Striker said and collapsed to her knee. She was still poisoned from the Helldrake!

    Mikal immediately rushed to her aid and started to tap into the Life aspect. Jeze returned to copying the Runes that the mysterious saboteur had inscribed into her journal. She squinted and studied the scratches the stranger made and it reminded her of the same scratches she found in the Pyramid. Someone was intentionally damaging the Thresholds!

    "Could they be related?" She asked out loud.

    "What do you mean, knucklehead?" Ziplocke asked.

    The Goblin was beside her and studied the Threshold along with her. Jeze explained her theory that the same people who sabotaged this portal also did the same at the Pyramid. Ziplocke tapped his pointed chin.

    "Like a secret cult that wants to free the Fiendish Lord?" He asked.

    That thought horrified Jeze, and she added, "And they are hidden among the Guild with no one the wiser!"

    Ziplocke cackled. "That would be delightful!"

    Jeze glanced at him sideways, and the Goblin cleared his throat. "And horrible as well. Us Goblins know how bad the Fiendish Lords can be. They have oppressed my people for as long as we can remember." But he couldn''t help himself and snickered as he imagined the looks of horror on all the mortals'' faces when the Demons conquered the realm. But then, he would have no place to play. That final thought caused the Goblin to become serious.

    "You must fix this!" He shrieked.

    That was not difficult for Jeze. She had done this before at the Pyramid and practiced many hours under Seb on how to manage the Portal aspect. The difference here was that the mysterious stranger not only sabotaged the portal, but they repurposed it as well to allow the Helldrake to emerge. Jeze guessed that Helldrakes are more prevalent higher in the Spire and that if they were to enter this portal, they would be taken there. She shuddered at that thought but paused.

    This was just a theory, and she asked Ziplocke, "What if they could bypass all the levels and go right to the top?"

    Ziplocke laughed and then quieted. "You are serious?" He stated.

    "I''m thinking this could save us so much trouble," Jeze replied.

    "Knucklehead! What if you are wrong and you are taken straight to the Abyssal plane? You do not know where a tampered Portal will take you!" Ziplocke nearly shouted. His outburst drew the attention of the others.

    "Jeze? Everything alright?" Dunar asked.

    "Yes, we are good. I can fix this," she replied.

    Ziplocke was right. It was best that she repaired the tampering and revert the Portal to its original purpose and that was to transport a party of five randomly to the next level. The Floor Portals were connected somehow and she was not sure if her tampering would cause irreversible harm, especially since it was believed that adventurers were at the higher levels. Using her amber resin and the Portal Channeling tools, she felt the energies snap into place.

    "It''s done," Jeze said.

    "How do we know if you did it correctly?" Mikal asked.

    "Be my guest and go through it," Jeze motioned to the shimmering Threshold.

    Mikal remained quiet. Rolfe and Helga laughed.

    "Go on, Micky! All you need to do is find the next level''s Exit Portal. We will wait for you at the base," Helga said.

    Mikal glared at her, crossed his arms, and turned away from them.

    Dunar barked, "That''s enough!" The others quieted, and the Leader continued in a calm voice, "Jeze, please establish a Safe Zone. We are still injured; we need to resupply, and the Guild needs to hear of this treachery."

    Jeze respected Dunar''s rationality and ability to lead, and she got to work. In moments, the Exit Portal was repurposed to operate in two directions. Those on the outside can now directly enter this chamber.

    "I wonder how much gold we can make from this Helldrake," Rolfe said and rubbed his hands eagerly.

    Dunar used the Communication Scroll to inform the Guild that the Floor Portal room is now a Safe Zone. "Let''s leave now before we are beset by more monsters," he ordered.

    Outside, the Proven were greeted with cheers. To their surprise, they saw Carl Jorgenson and Berserker Orn among the small crowd.

    "We are proud of you," Carl Jorgenson stated.

    "I am glad to see you are well. We heard rumors that you made it to floor five," Dunar replied.

    "Aye, we did. It took great wisdom for us to decide to exit," the Carl replied.

    "We ran out of food!" One of the other Carls stated with a piercing laugh.

    Berserker Orn approached and looked at each of the Proven with his piercing blue eyes. He stared at them long and hard, and Jeze felt he was looking into her soul.

    "The pups have grown," the Adept-ranked adventurer observed.

    "What do you see?" Jorgenson asked.

    Orn nodded his head slowly and smiled widely. "I see growth!"

    Rolfe and Helga glanced at each other with anticipation. Jeze was also excited, but there were more important things to discuss.

    "We bring news of treachery," she stated.

    The Carls'' and Berserker Orn''s faces turned serious. Dunar nodded to Jeze and explained how they saw a stranger sabotage the second-level Floor Portal.

    "Is this true?" Lady Kalina arrived and asked. Beside her was Miss Heng.

    "It is," Jeze replied.

    "Do you have proof?" Miss Heng demanded.

    Jeze scowled at her. Nearby, Jeze spotted Drake and his team of Elite Legionnaires. Were they the ones responsible for the sabotage? Jeze did not trust them, nor did she trust Miss Heng''s judgment and loyalties.

    "Be careful," Ziplocke whispered into her ear.

    Jeze nodded in agreement and did not respond to the Amber Guard.

    "Speak girl! You make wild claims without proof," Miss Heng hissed.

    Orn clapped his hands, which made a thunderous sound that caught everyone''s attention.

    "Let us all go to the Second Level Floor Portal and see for ourselves, no? The Proven have changed, I can feel it in my bones," the Berserker loudly stated.

    Lady Kalina crossed her arms and asked, "What type of change?"

    There was a twinkle in Orn''s bright blue eyes. "A change that needs to be assessed. Let us go and see what they have accomplished."

    "Assessed? Is that what I think it means?" Rolfe asked. Eagerness was in his voice despite the beating his body had recently taken.

    "That is a bold claim, Berserker Orn. But I agree. Talking is pointless. Let us see the evidence and decide from there," Miss Heng stated.

    It always surprised Jeze the level of respect the two showed each other. It made her wonder if maybe Miss Heng was not all that bad. Drake continued to watch, and his face reminded Jeze of a scheming serpent. Helga gripped Jeze by her shoulders in her powerful hands.

    "Don''t look so gloomy, little Scout! We are about to be assessed! We defeated a Helldrake, you know what that means, ya?" The Striker said.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes and asked, "What?"

    "Oh, ho! You are clueless!" Helga exclaimed and leaned close to Jeze. "We will become Carls! Or, as you would call it, Adventurer-ranked!"

 Chapter 62: The Assessment

    Lady Kalina and Miss Heng cordoned off the second-level Floor Portal room. The two only allowed a handful of the Amber Guard to investigate, the Carls, Orn, and the Proven to enter the chamber. Orn had a twinkle in his blue eyes as he studied the Helldrake the team just defeated.

    ¡°Most impressive,¡± he said.

    The Carls also nodded. One of them looked at the wound in the chest that killed the beast.

    ¡°A strong spear thrust,¡± the Carl said. She was a sturdy warrior woman with tightly braided blond hair and swirling facial tattoos that ran along her cheeks and down her neck to disappear under her mail armor. She turned to look at the Proven.

    ¡°You, big boy, did this?¡± The Carl asked, as she pointed at Rolfe.

    The large Protector puffed out his chest and said, ¡°Aye, but it was a team effort.¡±

    The lady Carl nodded and said to Jorgenson, ¡°A spear thrust like this requires tremendous strength to penetrate the scales of a Helldrake.¡±

    Jorgenson nodded quietly. Rolfe beamed with pride but grimaced from his numerous injuries. The Proven took a severe beating from the Helldrake and were still recovering. Mikal¡¯s Vitality Spring helped a lot, and now Jeze¡¯s recovery potions were taking effect. It would be a week before the team was fully recovered. Rolfe alone sustained several fractured ribs. Helga received a deep puncture wound to her side as well as a dose of deadly poison. Jeze saw the Striker remained pale and occasionally shivered. Mikal and Jeze received little in the way of physical injuries, but the two Rune casters had over-taxed their Will. It would be risky if they attempted any strenuous Summoning, Shaping, or Controlling.

    The Amber guard stood at the Threshold of the indigo Floor Portal. They were studying the Runes. Miss Heng barked, ¡°Jeze, come here!¡±

    The teenage girl did not budge and hissed, ¡°I do not take orders from you.¡±

    Miss Heng sighed and asked again in a gentler voice. Instead of barking the command, the Amber Guard growled, ¡°Jeze, please come here and show us how the Floor Portal was sabotaged.¡±

    Jeze gritted her teeth, and she balled two fists by her sides. Lady Kalina approached.

    ¡°A second Guardian coming through the Floor Portal is a serious matter. This would put all the Safe Zone squads in danger. Please help us prevent this from happening again,¡± the Ironfist Kingdom warrior gently said.

    Jeze relaxed and sighed. She retrieved her journal and showed the Amber Guard the Runes that the stranger had inscribed. Lady Kalina and Miss Heng, both skilled Rune casters, studied the markings.

    ¡°Give me the book,¡± Miss Heng demanded.

    Jeze refused.

    ¡°We do not have time for being pleasant. These patterns need to be studied and investigated so that we can find out who is behind this,¡± Miss Heng growled.

    ¡°I am not giving up my journal,¡± Jeze stated plainly.

    ¡°Can we copy the Runes?¡± Lady Kalina asked, her hands extended.

    Jeze glared at Miss Heng as she answered the other Amber Guard¡¯s question. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lady Kalina replied, and Miss Heng snorted with a shake of her head.

    ¡°Were there any other Rune patterns?¡± The Ironfist Kingdom Guild official asked.

    Jeze shook her head and replied, ¡°No, this was all. And they marred the Runes around the Threshold.¡±

    ¡°Threshold?¡±

    ¡°That is what the Ones from Before had called the portals,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°Children¡¯s tales!¡± Miss Heng snorted.

    ¡°It is not! Look here!¡± Jeze retrieved the tome she took from the Pyramid.

    Miss Heng studied the pages, and her face softened slightly. It went from scowling to being impassive.

    ¡°Seb has extensive notes from this. You can have your book back.¡± Miss Heng returned the book.

    Jeze snatched it from her hands and gave a mock bow. ¡°Thank you for your boundless generosity.¡±

    Miss Heng growled, ¡°Watch yourself, girl.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Lady Kalina interjected before Jeze could retort. The Ironfist Kingdom Guild official added, ¡°I¡¯ve called for Irvin to help with this matter. We must alert the Guild members that there is evil among our ranks.¡±

    As if on cue, the stocky official, with gray hair and in his silver breastplate, emerged through the portal. He was followed by a team of what Jeze guessed to be Initiate-ranked members based on the way they carried themselves and their gear. They were well-armed and carried themselves with the confident swagger of one that passed the Trials. The team assisted the Carls and the Amber Guard with setting up a defensive perimeter around the wide cavern.

    ¡°Jeze!¡± Irvin called out when he spotted the teenager.

    The two embraced in a hug. Jeze filled Irvin in on what happened with the stranger and their fight with the Helldrake. The older official¡¯s eyes went wide.

    ¡°You and the Proven bested a Helldrake? That¡¯s a Tier five monster!¡± Irvin sputtered.

    Jeze grinned and replied, ¡°It was a piece of cake.¡±

    Irvin arched an eyebrow and looked at her team. Rolfe shuffled and walked like an old man, and Helga looked pale as death. Mikal sat against the wall with his eyes closed. The Healer looked exhausted. Dunar talked with the Carls and walked with a limp. Jeze had bags under her eyes and was covered in soot.

    ¡°It was a hard-fought battle, but we won!¡± Jeze explained.

    ¡°Incredible,¡± Irvin replied.

    Orn clapped his hands. The sound reverberated across the chamber like a roll of thunder before a brewing storm. It caught everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Carls, Frostsworn warriors, and our Proven. Let us leave this matter in the Guild¡¯s hands. We must begin our assessment!¡± The Berserker boomed.

    Jeze and her team were interviewed extensively as a group and as individuals. To Jeze¡¯s dismay, Lady Kalina and Miss Heng were a part of the assessment team along with the Carls and Berserker Orn. Irvin was not involved as he was only Prospect Ranked. Instead, he led the investigation and the efforts to further secure the Floor Portal chamber.

    ¡°Show me where you entered the second level,¡± Lady Kalina asked. She held up a map.

    Dunar answered and explained how they created the first Safe Zone. The Leader went on to describe their journey from the second Safe Zone to the Floor Portal room.

    ¡°Tell us about the First Floor,¡± Miss Heng demanded.

    Why does she always demand? Jeze reflected with a scowl. She really did not like the Amber Guard. The Proven, including Jeze, took turns describing their adventurers on the first floor. Their fight with the Imps and the Thralls.

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    ¡°Which Scavenger team did you use?¡± Carl Jorgenson asked.

    ¡°Jeze¡¯s merchant friend, Hannah,¡± Dunar answered.

    ¡°Find her,¡± Orn ordered another Carl. The warrior departed through the exit portal.

    Miss Heng nodded and looked over the Proven with her narrow dark eyes. ¡°This is to corroborate your tale,¡± she explained.

    As if we would lie to you! Jeze thought to herself. It was through an immense amount of self-control that she did not say her feelings out loud.

    ¡°Now we will see your capabilities. We know that you are injured, and it is up to you to pass up on this opportunity. Or you can try your best,¡± Orn explained. There was a twinkle in his blue eyes.

    Jeze was worried about Rolfe, Dunar, and Helga. They suffered the most serious of injuries. Especially Rolfe. He nearly died! The big oaf would not back down, and Jeze was worried that he would aggregate his extensive wounds. She looked to Mikal, but the normally outspoken Healer remained quiet. In fact, he looked eager to participate! That was odd to Jeze. Mikal had said that with his Life aspect healing and Jeze¡¯s recovery broth, it would take at least a week for Rolfe and Helga to recover from their injuries. A little less for Dunar, and he also advised that he and Jeze avoid using Rune magic. They pushed their Will to the limit and needed to rest.

    ¡°I will be your field assessor, girl,¡± Miss Heng said.

    Jeze inwardly groaned. Her concerns vanished and were replaced by a mountain of stubbornness. Jeze would not fail in front of Miss Heng!

    ¡°It was reported that you are skilled with the Earth aspect and that you were able to knock a Helldrake out of the air. Show me,¡± the high-ranking Guild official ordered.

    ¡°I was told that I needed to rest my Will,¡± Jeze replied.

    Miss Heng arched an eyebrow and scribbled notes down on her scroll. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± she said.

    Jeze growled and rapidly Summoned and Shaped a boulder that was as big as her and Controlled it to slam against the wall. The sound resonated across the entire chamber and caused everyone to look up with alarm. Miss Heng didn¡¯t even flinch and just scribbled more notes onto her scroll without even looking up. Jeze¡¯s body trembled from the exertion, and her head throbbed with pain, but she ignored it through pure stubbornness.

    ¡°You know the Fire, Shadow, and Affliction aspects. Show me how you used them in combat,¡± Miss Heng ordered.

    ¡°At you?¡± Jeze said with a grin.

    Miss Heng glanced up at this question from the scroll. The Amber guard grinned, and it reminded Jeze of when she saw a cat spot a cornered mouse. Miss Heng put away her scroll and removed her robe. Under, she wore a grey form-fitted suit of padded armor that showed off a toned and muscular body. Black leather vambraces that were adorned with intricate runes covered her forearms. Jeze recognized other channeling tools on the Amber Guard¡¯s body, such as rings wrapped around with etched Rune chains. Miss Heng was a pure Rune caster. What were her capabilities? Jeze wondered and regretted her comment. Were they to spar? Was she even in any condition to spar?

    ¡°I have not trained today. So give me your best, and I promise you it will be inadequate,¡± Miss Heng challenged.

    All doubts and concerns were wiped away by a tide of rage within Jeze. Without any hesitation, she tapped her Darkness ring and Summoned a ball of inky black that covered Miss Heng¡¯s head. Next, she completed a series of fluid gestures in rapid succession. A feat that Jeze developed through countless hours of training. She Summoned and Shaped shadows and faded from view within them.

    Miss Heng calmly walked out of the ball of Darkness and completed glyphs with her fingers. Jeze did not recognize what patterns they were, but she was confident that Miss Heng would not spot her.

    ¡°Clever,¡± the Guild official observed as she scanned the chamber. Her narrow, dark eyes glanced over Jeze, who was crouched within the Shadows of the room a short distance away.

    Miss Heng snapped her finger and completed the final glyph to her spell. A silver light emitted outwards, and it melted away all the Summoned Shadows and exposed Jeze. It was the Light aspect! The Amber Guard had a smirk on her face that infuriated Jeze. She pulled out her Fire Channeling tool from her belt and launched a barrage of Fire Darts at the Guild Official.

    Miss Heng calmly tapped a ring on her finger and completed a gentle gesture with her fingers. A shield of Water mist formed in front of her that negated the Fire Darts. Jeze tapped her Earth bracelet and Summoned a mound of dirt behind Miss Heng. Jeze Shaped it into two boulders and Controlled them to launch with tremendous speed at Miss Heng¡¯s back. Jeze was certain she would win with this attack, but at the last moment, the Guild Official dodged the attacks with the grace of an acrobat. One boulder slammed into the wall, and the other Miss Heng stopped in mid-flight with an aspect that Jeze did not recognize.

    ¡°Force aspect,¡± Ziplocke said from the shadows.

    Miss Heng¡¯s smirk remained on her face as she twitched her fingers and overpowered the Will that Jeze poured into her spell. The boulder soared at Jeze, and she rolled out of the way. In a fluid motion, Jeze threw her hand axe at Miss Heng, tapped into her Affliction channeling tool, and Summoned a curse. With surprising dexterity, Miss Heng deftly caught the axe. Jeze Shaped and Controlled a curse to strike her opponent in the chest with a ball of red energy and continued her charge with her battle axe and sword in each hand.

    Miss Heng¡¯s lip twitched as she rebuked Jeze¡¯s curse. ¡°Decent, but not adequate,¡± the Amber Guard observed.

    Jeze responded with an overhand chop of her axe and a thrust of her sword. Miss Heng sidestepped the axe and ducked the thrust. The Amber guard twirled away from Jeze¡¯s follow-up axe slash. Miss Heng tapped into another aspect, and Jeze felt a powerful presence in her mind. She couldn¡¯t move!

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough, girl,¡± Miss Heng said as Jeze strained against her powerful Will.

    The Guild official pulled out her scroll and started to write down some notes. This was like the Imp¡¯s affliction magic! Jeze thought as she controlled her breathing and focused her Will into a fine edge. She broke free of the Mind aspect spell and attacked with her axe! Miss Heng was caught off guard and barely dodged the chop, and Jeze followed up with a sword thrust toward the throat. The tip of Jeze¡¯s blade drew a thin line of blood from Miss Heng¡¯s chin as the Official scrambled out of the way. Miss Heng completed a series of gestures so quickly that Jeze was instantly encased in ice. She screamed and howled like a wild bear as she chopped with her axe to break free.

    ¡°Jeze, that is enough!¡± Orn¡¯s voice boomed.

    The teenager relaxed and panted with exhaustion. The Berserker had a grin on his face and his blue eyes twinkled with mirth.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always told you, Miss Heng, that you should get a weapon,¡± Orn said.

    Miss Heng looked furious, but the guild official calmed with a nod. ¡°Perhaps you are right,¡± she replied and returned to write on the scroll.

    Orn did not say more. But much was expressed in that silence. The adrenaline wore off, and Jeze slumped over, her legs still encased with ice. Her head throbbed with pain.

    Miss Heng glanced down and snorted, ¡°You overdid yourself, girl.¡± She released the Water aspect, and Jeze sat on the ground crossed-legged.

    ¡°I made you bleed,¡± the teenager snapped back.

    In a rare moment in history, the Amber Guard smiled. ¡°That you did. Pushing yourself this hard is the only way you can improve, but it is a fine line we dance. You must know when to rest and when to keep your mouth shut,¡± Miss Heng replied.

    Jeze¡¯s head hurt too much from the strain on her Will to give a remark. Miss Heng placed a blue teardrop-shaped vial on Jeze¡¯s lap.

    ¡°Drink that. It will help with your recovery,¡± she said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need your help,¡± Jeze growled.

    ¡°It will also prevent your Will from being damaged beyond repair. I advise you to drink it or risk losing the ability to use Rune magic. It is up to you,¡± Miss Heng replied and walked away without another word.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Jeze called out.

    Miss Heng paused without turning around.

    ¡°How many Aspects do you practice?¡± Jeze asked. She recalled Miss Heng utilizing the Mind, Light, Force, and Water.

    The Amber Guard glanced over her shoulder and replied, ¡°You are like me. We do not restrict ourselves to a few Aspects. All Rune magic has uses.¡±

    ¡°How are you able to master so many aspects?¡± Jeze asked.

    Miss Heng appeared to be thrown off guard with the questions and her eyes looked off to the side as she reflected. After a moment she returned her gaze to Jeze.

    ¡°I am a Rune artist, and I study the craft in its entirety. As an Adventurer, I train my mind and body and push myself to reach my limits. If you wish to be like me, I suggest that you do not dilute your time with other pursuits and focus only on the Runic arts and your physical fitness,¡± Miss Heng answered.

    Jeze smirked. ¡°And yet you were cut by an Initiate rank.¡±

    Miss Heng¡¯s face darkened into a scowl. The Amber Guard nodded once and walked toward Berserker Orn. She handed the Frostsworn the scroll, and the two shared quiet words that Jeze could not hear. With that, Miss Heng went through the exit portal. Her departure was like a door opening, and Jeze¡¯s teammates flooded her with cheers. They were so excited that Helga and Rolfe grimaced in pain and needed to kneel on the ground to recover. Orn clapped his hands loudly and caught everyone¡¯s attention. How does he do that? Jeze wondered.

    ¡°Our assessment has concluded. We will discuss our findings and will return with our decisions. Proven, good luck to you,¡± the Berserker stated.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure Jeze will become an Adventurer Rank!¡± Rolfe cheered and then sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t think I passed.¡±

    ¡°What? You slayed the Helldrake! You heard what the Carls said. It takes tremendous strength to pierce the scales of Helldrake,¡± Jeze countered.

    Rolfe smiled widely. ¡°I am very strong,¡± he said while he flexed his impressive muscles.

    ¡°Regardless if we pass or not. I am proud of each of you. We have grown much since the monster waves, and I see us continuing our improvement,¡± Dunar stated.

    Mikal snorted and replied, ¡°Sure, that is nice. But you know what would be even nicer? Becoming Adventurer rank!¡±

    ¡°Oh, ho! I agree with Micky!¡± Helga boomed.

    ¡°You are all Knuckleheads! Ooh, I can¡¯t wait to see the disappointment on your faces when you are told that you have failed!¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    The Goblin was upset when the others laughed at his remark. He pulled his ears back and scowled at them.

    ¡°Knuckleheads,¡± he muttered.

 Chapter 63: The Jade Principality

    The Proven and Irvin set up camp in the Floor Portal Chamber of the second level. A steady stream of merchants, adventurers, and scavenger teams emerged through the Threshold and filled up the chamber. Hannah and her team arrived, and the merchant¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of the Helldrake.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need any other customers. You five provide me with enough business!¡± She exclaimed and added a ¡°tsk, tsk,¡± when she saw the state of their armor.

    ¡°How much for the Helldrake? And don¡¯t try to cheat us,¡± Mikal stated.

    Hannah¡¯s smile faded. Jeze rolled her eyes, and Helga ruffled Mikal¡¯s hair.

    ¡°Micky! Be nice to our friend,¡± the warrior maiden teased.

    Hannah tapped her chin and consulted her team. Through all the happenings and her near-death experiences, Jeze never learned the names of Hannah¡¯s scavenger team members. The merchant talked with a man with dark hair that was tied back into a ponytail. He had a jagged scar across his left cheek and a stubble of a beard. He wore a mixture of leather and mail armor, and Jeze guessed the man to be in his mid to late thirties. A seasoned adventurer. Hannah nodded and returned to the Proven.

    ¡°I would never cheat you,¡± she said with a pointed look at Mikal and continued, ¡°The truth is. I can¡¯t afford to pay you for the Helldrake.¡±

    ¡°That is unfortunate,¡± Dunar replied.

    ¡°How much is the Helldrake worth?¡± Mikal asked, greed clear in his dark eyes.

    ¡°There are many uses for a Helldrake body. The organs alone are highly sought after by enchanters, rune casters, and the like. I could make a dozen nice suits of armor that would put me closer to fancy rich,¡± Hannah answered.

    ¡°How much?¡± Mikal asked again. He was persistent, Jeze reflected, but she was surprised at how greedy the supposed holy man was.

    Hannah glanced at her teammate with the ponytail, and the man shrugged. She turned back to the Proven. ¡°Like I said, I won¡¯t cheat you. The body could go for fifteen, maybe twenty thousand golden ducats.¡±

    ¡°What?!?¡± Both Helga and Rolfe exclaimed. The two then grimaced and gripped their wounded sides.

    ¡°That sounds about right,¡± Irvin observed with a nod of his gray-haired head.

    ¡°Now, folks out there will try to cheat you. So I propose we work together,¡± Hannah said.

    ¡°You said you can¡¯t afford it,¡± Mikal responded.

    Jeze shushed the Healer and nodded for Hannah to continue. The merchant and her scavenger team appeared excited that the Proven were going to entertain their proposal. They talked eagerly with each other.

    Hannah pitched her deal, ¡°So, here is what we propose. You allow us to scavenge the Helldrake¡¯s parts, and we will get you eighteen thousand ducats in addition to me upgrading your armor at no extra cost. You five seem to not understand the meaning of caution, and with the scales here I can make you each a set of armor that would last longer than a week, which says alot for you crazy bastards.¡±

    ¡°I like the sound of that!¡± Rolfe boomed. His armor got shredded when the Helldrake chewed on him.

    ¡°Oh, ho! Me too!¡± Helga added in a loud voice.

    ¡°Fools! I think we should see if we can get a better deal. This is a Helldrake!¡± Mikal cried.

    Irvin leaned in toward Jeze and said, ¡°I would take Hannah¡¯s offer if I were you.¡±

    Jeze wanted to do business with Hannah because of their friendship. However, she recalled the richer merchants and craftsmen who wouldn¡¯t hire her back in Angston. Hannah was a courtyard merchant meant for novice adventurers. Her and the Proven might be promoted to Adventurer rank! Jeze wondered if it was time for her to move beyond Hannah.

    She quietly asked Irvin, ¡°You don¡¯t think we can get a better offer?¡±

    Hannah studied Jeze with narrowed eyes. Irvin shook his head and replied, ¡°Perhaps, but there are a lot of snakes out there. It is always best to do business with those you know. Besides, she is including sets of Helldrake Scale armor. I say, take her deal.¡±

    Jeze nodded and told her team, ¡°I vote that we work with Hannah.¡±

    Mikal sputtered in protest.

    ¡°You are outvoted, Micky. Besides, we did all the work,¡± Helga teased.

    The Healer¡¯s dark eyes went wide. ¡°What?!? You all would be dead if not for me and the Vitality Spring!¡±

    Jeze had a mischievous grin on her face as she replied, ¡°Hmm, about that. That spell uses the Spirit aspect, if I recall. Did you just admit to casting magic akin to Necromancy? I wonder if the Frozen All Father would approve.¡±

    Helga and Rolfe laughed loudly. Even Dunar chuckled at the joke. Mikal fumed and glared at Jeze.

    ¡°Do not speak of the All-Father with ignorance. He helps those who help themselves,¡± Mikal preached.

    ¡°That is convenient. Forget morals, just do stuff for yourself, and everything will be fine,¡± Helga observed.

    Mikal muttered, ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. Besides, I was wrong about the Spirit aspect.¡±

    Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide, and she exclaimed, ¡°What was that? Can you repeat that? Did you just admit you were wrong?¡±

    Ziplocke cackled with glee from the look that Mikal gave Jeze. The tiny Goblin fell over laughing.

    ¡°Do we have a deal?¡± Hannah asked.

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Can you upgrade our armor right away?¡± Jeze inquired.

    Hannah tapped her chin and said, ¡°When do you need it?¡±

    ¡°One week. These fools should rest one week before adventuring again,¡± Mikal answered.

    Rolfe and Helga groaned. ¡°We are fine!¡± Helga exclaimed before coughing.

    ¡°I agree with Mikal. We should use this time to recover,¡± Dunar said.

    Hannah stretched her back and answered, ¡°I might need a few more days than a week, but I will work as fast as I can.¡±

    Dunar grimaced and rubbed his side. The residual effects from their fight with the Helldrake. The Leader nodded and shook Hannah¡¯s hand. ¡°We have a deal.¡±

    ¡°Excellent!¡± The merchant replied.

    The scavenger team worked on the Helldrake¡¯s body. Hannah finalized the final details with the Proven, and they agreed to meet her at her camp on the first floor. Without armor, the team packed up their camp and went through the exit portal to the outside.

    ¡°What about Orn?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°They can find you,¡± Irvin replied.

    ¡°Do you think we will advance to Adventurer rank?¡± Rolfe asked.

    Dunar shrugged his broad shoulders. ¡°It is no use worrying about what we can not control. We did our best, and now we should focus on the present.¡±

    ¡°That is true. From what I have seen, you five have improved tremendously in the weeks since Angston,¡± Irvin said.

    The outside camp was enormous and sprawled like a tent city before the team. Jeze noticed at least a dozen more portals, which meant that more Safe Zones were established on the first two floors. The economy was bustling as more and more goods were transported out of the Spire and sold to merchants. Jeze saw a steady line of wagons ladened with raw materials exit the Wasteland while fresh, empty ones entered. In addition to the buyers and sellers, many merchants sold goods and services to the newly made wealthy adventurers. It was a bustling economy that had people from all over the world.

    ¡°We have money now. Let¡¯s eat some delicious food!¡± Rolfe said while rubbing his large hands together.

    ¡°Oh, ho! I agree!¡± Helga boomed.

    ¡°It is a wonder if you two have brains in your heads or in your stomachs,¡± Mikal observed.

    The two large warriors laughed and then grimaced in pain. Dunar turned to Irvin.

    ¡°Friend Irvin, do you have any suggestions?¡± The Leader asked.

    The gray-haired Guild official scanned the camp and answered, ¡°I know a good place.¡±

    ¡°Lead the way and be quick about it! Our stomachs need filling from our epic battle with the fearsome Helldrake!¡± Rolfe boomed. The giant Protector held his chest again in pain.

    ¡°Easy, Rolfie, you are going to burst your ribs again,¡± Helga admonished.

    Irvin shook his head and muttered, ¡°The enthusiasm of youth.¡±

    The Guild official led the Proven through the sprawling tent city. They passed merchants selling enchanted armor, weapons, and other adventuring tools, from expanding ropes to Rune-powered wagons. Jeze¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity.

    ¡°Move along, Jezie, we are hungry,¡± Helga said and lifted the Scout easily away from the Rune-powered contraptions.

    Irvin led the team to an area with dozens of food pavilions. Each one was more extravagant than the other, with thick carpets and plush seating arrangements. The aromas of meats, spices, and seasoned vegetables floated through the air like gentle, captivating music. Rolfe and Helga were enthralled, and their mouths watered.

    ¡°Can we eat here?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°I will show you a place,¡± Irvin stated.

    Helga rubbed her hands in anticipation as she followed the Guild official and walked past cookfires and outdoor dining areas. They came to a smaller tent, but still large enough to seat a dozen people, with low wooden tables that were surrounded by seating pillows.

    ¡°A noodle shop?¡± Jeze asked. The familiar smell tickled her nose.

    Irvin nodded. The spiced noodles cooked in a thick meat broth and served with diced mushrooms was a dish that came from her parent¡¯s homeland. Jeze studied Irvin with her narrow eyes. Irvin smiled back at her.

    ¡°How did you know this was the food I grew up eating?¡± She asked

    ¡°Your last name,¡± Irvin answered.

    ¡°This is a cuisine from the Golden Empire?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°My parents were adventurers from the Jade Principality and traveled far and wide before settling in the province of Narcadia within the Golden Empire,¡± Jeze explained.

    ¡°Jade Principality? I never heard of that kingdom,¡± Dunar said.

    ¡°It is far to the east,¡± Jade replied.

    ¡°The food smells delicious!¡± Rolfe exclaimed, and the giant Protector immediately ordered the largest bowl.

    The Proven wasted no time and sat on the floor mats. In moments they ate and drank to fill the long weeks they traveled without real food. The proprietor was a small bald man with narrow dark eyes and weather beaten skin tanned from the sun. He smiled and bowed to the Proven as he delivered their food. He stopped to study Jeze for a long moment.

    ¡°Can I help you?¡± Jeze growled. She didn¡¯t much like the scrutiny.

    The old man smiled with a nod and replied, ¡°Apologies, young sister. It is rare that I see those from the East, and it brings me joy to see a reminder of my home. Did you enjoy the noodles?¡±

    Jeze¡¯s face softened and she answered with a bow, ¡°I did, they were almost as good as how my mom prepared them.¡±

    The proprietor grinned and said, ¡°One who shares your resemblance said the same thing to me during the last Wandering Spire.¡±

    Jeze perked up and asked, ¡°Do you remember their name?¡±

    The small man nodded. ¡°Of course. I can count the number of times on my fingers that I have seen a fellow from the Far East. He had a Golden Empire name. Give me a moment,¡± the bald man tapped his chin and then perked up. ¡°Ah yes, I do recall it now. His name was Daverius!¡±

    Jeze sat up and exclaimed, ¡°That was my brother! What can you tell me of him?¡±

    The old man studied Jeze¡¯s face for a moment and then bowed his head in understanding. ¡°Your question saddens my heart. You have my condolences.¡±

    Jeze nodded and tears formed in her eyes. It has been a while since she thought about her brother.

    The proprietor continued, ¡°He was a fine young man. Strong and very polite. Whenever he was able to exit the Spire, he would always seek out my humble shop and share his tales with me. It was clear from the respect his teammates showed him that he was a good Leader.¡±

    ¡°Do you know any other information?¡± Jeze asked.

    The old man smiled gently. ¡°He was very brave and capable. The last time I saw him, he said he was about to enter the 10th level.¡±

    Everyone¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°What was his rank?¡± Rolfe stopped eating to ask.

    Irvin pulled out the Guild ledger to look up the answer. Jeze was surprised that she had never thought to ask that question! How far did her brother go?

    Irvin¡¯s eyes went wide, and he replied, ¡°He made the Adept rank.¡±

    Helga rubbed Jeze¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I never met your brother, but this confirms to me what I already knew. It is in your blood to go far!¡± The warrior maiden cheered.

    Daverius made Adept rank? Jeze wondered. That was impressive, and it made her both proud and sad. She knew he was destined for greatness and regretted she would not see him again. What great advice would he be able to share! Jeze wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at the old man.

    ¡°Thank you for that,¡± she said and quietly excused herself.

    Her team, even Mikal, rubbed her shoulders to offer support. Ziplocke was unusually subdued. Even the Goblin recognized the importance of this moment to her and restrained himself from saying any witty barbs. Jeze did not go far, just a few steps away from the low table, before she walked into Orn and the Carls. Behind them were Lady Kalina, Miss Heng, and a small crowd of seasoned-looking adventurers. Jeze immediately spotted Swordslayer and Rainbow among them!

    ¡°It is time for you to hear our decision,¡± Orn boomed.

 Chapter 64: The Ceremony

    Jeze''s thoughts were scattered when she ran into Orn and the others. The large Frostsworn warriors had solemn faces, and it was hard for her to tell if they were here to admonish the Proven or celebrate them. A part of Jeze was eager to learn if they would promote her, but another part wanted to learn more about her brother and his team. Were his teammates still alive? Could she find them here at this Wandering Spire event?

    "Friends, merchants, and fellow guild mates!" Orn boomed in a loud voice that gathered everyone''s attention.

    Miss Heng stepped forth. Her eyes never met with Jeze''s. The Amber Guard announced, "We have an important occasion to share. A milestone has been met."

    Irvin gently guided Jeze back to her teammates. She didn''t realize she was standing still with her mouth agape like a lost fool. Jeze had a lot on her mind, and emotions had built up within her chest, but she pushed them aside for now. Orn and Miss Heng were both high-ranked Guild members, both of whom were Adepts. Were they going to promote her and the Proven? Jeze wondered. Excitement washed away the previous emotions within her. She scanned the crowd that had amassed and could not spot Rainbow and Swordslayer. But, Jeze saw an odd figure in a blood-red hooded cloak who stood just behind Orn and Miss Heng. He was an Amber Guard who wore a two-handed scythe with an onyx-colored blade on his back. The hooded cloak obscured most of his face, and Jeze could only see his pale chin and lips. Who was he? She wondered, and something about him gave Jeze pause. The other Amber Guard stood a distance away, but this one stood as if he was equal to the two Adept rank members.

    Orn continued, "Very few are able to join our ranks. In my homeland, in the Frozen North, we call those who wish to become adventurers Pledglings. What you call Prospects. We have our own trials, and in order for a Pledgling to advance, they must run through the deep snow with the Dire Wolves. No easy feat, and most fail. Some even die in their pursuit of Glory."

    The gathered Frostsworn let out a deep "Hurrah!" The sound reverberated outwards and Jeze imagined in times of war how it would inspire fear in the opposing army''s hearts. The Frostsworn were mighty and proud warriors. She knew from firsthand experience and pride swelled in her chest.

    "I present to you our Proven!" Orn waved his hand over toward Jeze and her team.

    Miss Heng looked over at the gathered crowd with her dark, narrow eyes. Where Orn had passion clear on his face, Miss Heng''s appearance was hard like a stone. Orn''s voice was deep and filled with fire. Miss Heng''s voice was sharp and cracked like a whip.

    The Amber Guard spoke, "To be Initiated into the Guild one must not only demonstrate intense physical capability, they must also demonstrate significant skill. Our life is not an easy one. It is fraught with danger. There is a darkness that roams our world and only the most capable can defend against it." Miss Heng nodded toward the enormous Wandering Spire that loomed high into the red sky.

    Orn continued seamlessly as if the two had rehearsed. "Even fewer achieve the next rank, where in the Frozen North we call Carl. A noble warrior and Protector of the people. In the Guild, the Adventurer ranked members represent its core and its strength. They are the foundation."

    "It is no easy feat to achieve Adventurer rank. One must be able to scale high mountains and run fast for days through treacherous terrain. But that is not enough. They also need to demonstrate feats of heroism that are unmatched. Face challenges that dance on the sword''s edge between life and death," Miss Heng added.

    Orn spoke next, "That is the key to advancement. To all the Prospects and Initiates listening, if you wish to progress and grow stronger you need to push yourself to your limit where you face death with a grin. Us Frostsworn have a chant that we use to drive us forward. For Glory!"

    "Hurrah!" The tall warriors from the Frozen North chanted back. A deep sound that resonated outwards like the thunder before a raging storm.

    Orn roared louder, "For Glory!"

    "Hurrah!" The Frostsworn responded louder. Jeze chanted back with the group, and a fire burned in her chest. Despite her battered Will and body, she was prepared to face ten Helldrakes!

    Miss Heng opened her mouth to speak but stopped when the mysterious hooded man placed a pale hand on her shoulder. Miss Heng and Orn bowed and took a step back! Who was this mysterious man? Jeze wondered.

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    "I will say a few words," the pale man said softly. Though he was some distance from Jeze, his soft voice felt close to her. As if he was speaking directly in front of her. It gave Jeze the chills.

    "Who is he?" She whispered to Irvin.

    Jeze was shocked to see Irvin''s lip quivering. The older man turned toward her with excitement in his wide eyes.

    "That is Master Couzart! The Shadow Reaper! He is an Elite rank adventurer and head of the Amber Guard. Him being here is a major honor!" Irvin nearly cried.

    Elite rank? Jeze wondered. She recalled from her brother''s journal that in order to become an Elite, one must surpass the limits of the mortal body. There were only maybe two dozen Elites in the entire world, as it was close to impossible to achieve. Her brother wrote that It took secret knowledge and dark sacrifices in order for one to break out of their mortal limitations. Couzart''s voice was soft and raspy, yet everyone was able to hear him clearly. How? Jeze wondered. Was it him using the Mind aspect? Or was this one of the supernatural abilities of an Elite?

    Couzart removed his hood and showed a gaunt pale face with high cheekbones set above his narrow chin. His skin was pale and flawless like chiseled marble and his characteristic that drew the most attention were his pure yellow eyes that lacked pupils. They were such a color contrast to his pale skin that they nearly glowed.

    The Elite spoke, "Initiate level allows you to join our ranks and partake in quests. It sets you on the path toward advancement by allowing you the opportunity to test your limits.  Achieving Adventurer rank marks the first step toward passing our mortal limits. From here, the journey toward self-improvement gets exponentially harder, with each rank being magnitudes more difficult than the one prior. Adept rank adventurers are at the peak of mortal ability, and the Elite rank breaks those limits."

    Couzart placed a pale hand on his chest and continued, "Even I share your journey and strive to break to the Hero rank." The Pale man looked at Jeze and her team with his yellow eyes and said, "Though we are at different levels, we are the same."

    The Elite allowed his words to settle before he continued. "I have listened to and reviewed your achievements. As Miss Heng and Berserker Orn have shared. It takes tremendous skill and ability to be among our ranks within the Guild. I have heard tales of your willingness to face impossible odds. In the short time of this Wandering Spire Event, you, the Proven, have demonstrated courage, perseverance, and talent that was forged through discipline. You have established the first Safe Zone. You traversed the lava Chambers and battled a Floor Guardian. Such are the criteria needed to be among the Adventurer ranked."

    Couzart moved closer to the Proven, and Jeze''s heart stopped in her chest. The Elite stood before Dunar and was just a little taller. The Frostsworn stood proud.

    "Dunar, the brave Leader. Skilled cartographer and a quick thinker under pressure. Brave warrior able to face a Goreraptor and live to tell about it," Couzart said and moved on to stand before Rolfe. The Elite was as tall as the giant Protector.

    "Rolfe, the Protector and shield bearer. Fearless and dutiful. He is willing to take any blow for his team and is strong. Very strong, with power enough to pierce the thick scales of a Helldrake."

    Rolfe beamed with pride. The Elite moved on next to Helga.

    "Now to the team''s Striker, Helga. Fierce and powerful! Able to deliver a single killing blow to a Rover and always eager to rush to the front line to face down any foe no matter the number or the size."

    "Oh ya!" Helga loudly agreed.

    Couzart next studied Mikal with his yellow eyes. "The Healer, extremely skilled and diligent. Mikal watches over his team and ensures that they are safe, but he is also willing to enter battle with his spear in hand."

    Mikal bowed. Couzart moved on last to Jeze, towering over the small teenager.

    "Last but not least. Jeze, the team''s Scout. Skilled Rune caster and trap breaker. Trained by Raynor the Hunter in the way of the Wolf and the Bear. Resourceful and determined."

    Jeze was dumbfounded, and all she could do was nod in agreement. Couzart nodded to the Proven and turned to the crowd.

    "We are entering dark times. This Wandering Spire is looking to be more dangerous than the ones before it. Many brave Guild members have lost their lives, but do not despair. With great challenges come great opportunities for you to rise up to like the Proven. This team worked hard and distinguished themselves in Glory. That is why I have decided to promote the entire team to the rank of Adventurer!" Couzart exclaimed.

    It took a moment for the news to hit the team, and they glanced at each other with wide eyes. The Elite turned to face them and in his hands were five golden certificates with their names on it. Jeze recognized the intricate Rune patterns along the documents that would protect them and prove without a doubt that they were authentic. Courzart handed each of them their document and directed them to place their thumb along the lower circular seal. When Jeze touched it the document glowed a golden light.

    "This important document is attuned only to you and will prove without a doubt that you are at Adventurer rank," Couzart explained and turned once again to face the collective crowd. "Now join me in congratulating these fine young members on their advancement and their continued journey toward greatness!" The Elite announced in his loud, raspy voice.

 Chapter 65: Relationships

    Couzart, the Shadow Reaper, did not stay longer after he officially promoted the Proven. He gave a few words of encouragement and disappeared within a swirling vortex of shadows.

    ¡°He is good,¡±  Ziplocke observed.

    Jeze agreed. She did not see the Elite use glyphs or a Channeling tool. He tapped into the Darkness aspect innately, like a Goblin. After Couzart¡¯s departure, the Proven was congratulated by a wave of guild members. Some were fellow Adventurer ranks that welcomed them into the fold. This included Swordslayer and Rainbow. Jeze talked with her friends while the rest of her team celebrated with the other Frostsworn. The tall warriors were loud and drank from horns. Jeze wondered if Helga¡¯s laughter alone could be heard all the way on the 10th floor of the Spire.

    ¡°I¡¯m impressed, kid. You advanced pretty fast. Not as fast as me, but still pretty fast,¡± Swordslayer stated.

    The Sanguine Arts fighter wore his blood-red armor with his swords hanging at his hips. Jeze scowled at him and retorted, ¡°Yeah, right. You are way older than me!¡±

    Swordslayer huffed and responded, ¡°No, I¡¯m not!¡±

    Rainbow leaned close and added, ¡°We are at least 10 years older than you.¡± The multi-colored haired adventurer added with a gentle smile, ¡°I¡¯m proud of you.¡±

    The two ladies hugged while Swordslayer scoffed. Jeze¡¯s face became serious, and she turned toward the sword fighter.

    ¡°We met Ozun.¡±

    Swordslayer¡¯s smile disappeared. ¡°You did?¡±

    Jeze nodded and continued, ¡°We witnessed him murder two Guild members.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure they deserved it,¡± Swordslayer responded and crossed his arms.

    The teenager shook her head. ¡°They pleaded for mercy and were ignored.¡±

    ¡°Where was this?¡± Rainbow asked.

    ¡°The first floor,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°With the Imps?¡±

    Jeze saw where Rainbow¡¯s line of questioning was going, and she shook her head. ¡°The adventurers were not Afflicted.¡±

    ¡°How do you know? Newly made Thralls can be very deceptive,¡± Swordslayer asked.

    ¡°They weren¡¯t!¡± Jeze snapped. Tears were forming in her eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Swordslayer asked.

    Rainbow rubbed the young girl¡¯s shoulders.

    Jeze went to the point. ¡°You both practice the same style. What if you are consumed by the Bloodlust? Like Ozun?¡±

    Swordslayer looked at her with his dark, narrow eyes. His face was unreadable. Emotionless. Finally, he scoffed. ¡°Ozun is weak. He won¡¯t make it past Adventurer Rank.¡±

    ¡°He defeated me and my team,¡± Jeze said quietly.

    Swordslayer laughed, ¡°Of course. You are pups. Just because you made it to Adventurer rank does not make you seasoned. You are still noobs!¡±

    ¡°He wanted me to tell you that he was stronger,¡± Jeze said.

    Swordslayer¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he asked, ¡°How did he know we knew each other?¡±

    ¡°I thought he was you! You two wear the same armor!¡± Jeze cried.

    ¡°He wants to be like me,¡± Swordslayer stated with a huff.

    ¡°I¡¯m worried about you and this style you practice. Ozun was consumed by a Bloodlust and murdered two guild members!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    ¡°He didn¡¯t kill you,¡± Rainbow pointed out.

    Swordslayer nodded in agreement and repeated, ¡°I¡¯m sure the ones he killed deserved it. Him sparing you and your team proves it.¡±

    ¡°How do you two know each other?¡± Jeze asked.

    Swordslayer looked away. After a moment, he removed his helmet and shook out his long, dark hair. Finally, he answered with a shrug, ¡°You know the style we trained in. Not many practice it.¡±

    ¡°Because the students are killed,¡± Jeze stated.

    ¡°Because they were weak!¡± Swordslayer snapped. It was so sudden that Jeze flinched.

    Rainbow placed a gentle hand on Swordslayer¡¯s chest and one on Jeze¡¯s shoulder and changed the subject. ¡°Adventurer rank is very deep. It takes a long while to make it to Adept.¡±

    ¡°We would be promoted if not for the politics of the Guild,¡± Swordslayer said with a snort. It was as if his previous outburst didn¡¯t happen. This confused Jeze.

    Rainbow shook her head. ¡°We have a ways to go.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t like that we are freedom fighters, and if we get promoted, it will give the Guild more headaches with the Empire,¡± Swordslayer retorted.

    Jeze had more questions but decided not to press the matter of the Sanguine Blades. She had enough on her plate to worry about, and with a sad heart, she decided to heed Irvin¡¯s advice. She most likely won¡¯t travel with Swordslayer and Rainbow again. Swordslayer was on a dangerous path and Rainbow went along with him. But she can still talk with them from time to time. Unless Swordslayer is consumed by the Bloodlust. Jeze pushed that thought out of her mind, and she remembered something.

    ¡°Where is your team?¡± She asked.

    Rainbow and Swordslayer glanced at each other. After a pause, Rainbow answered, ¡°Just us two.¡±

    ¡°What? How far did you go?¡± Jeze asked, shocked. She traveled with a full team, and they struggled! Jeze realized that Rainbow was correct. The Adventurer rank was deep when comparing the skill levels between the Proven and the two before her now.

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    ¡°Floor six?¡± Swordslayer asked his colleague.

    Rainbow snorted and rolled her eyes. ¡°We made it to the fourth floor and were lucky enough to find the Exit portal. We decided to come back to camp to restock.¡±

    ¡°What are the next floors like?¡± Jeze asked. Any information she could get would be a tremendous help.

    ¡°The Fourth floor is cold!¡± Swordslayer exclaimed.

    ¡°That is why we had to return. We were not properly prepared,¡± Rainbow added.

    There was no Safe Zone established on the fourth floor. So Jeze and her team would need to travel through the Third floor. ¡°What about the Third floor?¡± She asked

    ¡°It¡¯s a swamp,¡± Swordslayer replied.

    ¡°And?¡± Jeze inquired.

    ¡°And what? That is all to it. It¡¯s a dirty, stinky swamp,¡± the sword fighter growled.

    Rainbow rolled her eyes and answered Jeze, ¡°It¡¯s a marshland with bogs and trees. The thing you have to be concerned about is the Mist. It can make you go mad.¡±

    ¡°Like with the Imps and the Affliction aspect?¡± Jeze asked.

    Rainbow nodded and said, ¡°The Imps create the Mist.¡±

    ¡°It is strange how the Imps appeared on the first level when the third is their actual home,¡± Swordslayer said.

    Jeze leaned close to her friends and quietly said, ¡°There are people that are sabotaging the portals. They caused one to explode and killed one Safe Zone squad already, and they sabotaged the Second Level Floor portal to allow a Helldrake to come through.¡±

    Tears welled in her eyes at the memory of seeing Jonah and his team dead.

    ¡°That will make things harder,¡± Swordslayer observed.

    ¡°Do you think it is Drake and the Empire tampering with the Floor portals? To keep the secret that the Emperor is not immortal?¡± Rainbow asked.

    Jeze shrugged her shoulders and realized that she has not seen Drake in a while. He was not at the ceremony. Jeze replied, ¡°It seems very risky for them to do this. The Spire is a big financial boom for the world economy, especially for the Empire.¡±

    ¡°Making it harder for Guild members to get to the top does not affect the flow of money. Plenty is earned from the lower levels,¡± Swordslayer observed. A rare moment of insight for the normally brash sword fighter.

    ¡°Speaking of money. Were you two able to access your funds from the Diamond Bank?¡± Jeze asked.

    Swordslayer snorted and answered, ¡°No, the blasted Empire is still holding on to it. It is a battle for the lawyers.¡±

    ¡°One of the reasons why we don¡¯t have a full team. We are trying to earn as much coin as possible, and we earn more by splitting it two ways instead of five,¡± Rainbow added.

    ¡°Are the other reasons because no one can get along with Swordslayer?¡± Jeze joked with a playful elbow to the man¡¯s side.

    ¡°That was funny. Almost as funny as your face,¡± Swordslayer teased back.

    ¡°Rumor had it that Miss Heng was a part of the assessment committee for your Adventurer Rank trial and that you and she went at it,¡± Rainbow said.

    Jeze arched an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Where did you hear that?¡±

    ¡°We have our ways,¡± Swordslayer responded.

    ¡°Are you spying on me?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourself!¡± The man shot back.

    ¡°In our line of work, information is important. We keep our ears open and the big news of the day was that the Proven was being tested for Adventurer rank. That included the infamous Jeze Zanchi,¡± Rainbow explained.

    Jeze snorted, ¡°Yeah, right. I¡¯m a nobody.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that. You traveled with us, and now people notice you,¡± Swordslayer said and slapped Jeze¡¯s shoulder.

    Rainbow chuckled and added, ¡°You have accomplished a lot and have a lot of talent. That is why you are receiving the scrutiny.¡±

    ¡°I thought Miss Heng was going to fail me,¡± Jeze muttered. The praise made her uncomfortable, and she wanted to change the subject.

    ¡°Nah, Miss Heng, despite having a giant stick up her butt, is extremely by the book, almost like ole Irvin. She wouldn¡¯t let personal feelings cloud her judgment,¡± Swordslayer said.

    ¡°But she is loyal to the Empire,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°It is true that she was born in the Empire and proud of her nation. But, as far as we can tell, she does not work for the Emperor. Miss Heng is a pure Guild Official,¡± Rainbow explained.

    ¡°Not like Drake. That man is trouble. You be careful in the Spire. If you cross paths, he may make another move on you,¡± Swordslayer added.

    The three remained quiet and lost in their thoughts for a moment. Jeze wondered if Drake still cared about her. Why would he? The information she took from the Pyramid was already shared by the Runic Research Division, and it didn¡¯t cause a political upheaval. Unless Seb¡¯s death was not an accident and the Guild Official was murdered. For a moment, fear gripped Jeze¡¯s heart in a vice. The last couple of weeks were so frantically busy that she had forgotten the three attempts on her life. The first was at the Pyramid, where Raynor sacrificed himself. Jeze felt a sharp pang of sadness with that memory. The second was when Drake tried to lure her into the woods before the Monster Waves. The third was the crossbow attack on her during the Monster Waves.

    Jeze shook those thoughts out of her head. She had more pressing things to worry about, such as the true purpose of the Spire. The Fiendish Lord was still at the top, and if he got free, the entire world would be in danger. Jeze needed to keep advancing in order to make it to the tenth floor where she could reinforce the Seals that the Ones from Before had put in place. The world depended upon it.

    ¡°What else can I expect from the Third Floor?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Mainly Rovers that hide in the bog. Rovers and Madness is what you will have to contend with,¡± Rainbow answered.

    ¡°And those lizard monsters,¡± Swordslayer added.

    ¡°Oh right,¡± Rainbow said.

    ¡°Lizard monsters?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°They are Swamp Demons. They stand on two legs, armed with spears. Great at ambushes. Nothing your team can¡¯t handle,¡± Swordslayer answered.

    Rainbow interjected, ¡°They are little more than that. They use tactics and can cast Rune magic. They operate like an adventuring team.¡±

    Swordslayer batted his hand in the air, ¡°Bah, we cut through them easy enough. Just the two of us.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because my Nature aspect is strong in the swamp. Jeze, I suggest you and your team proceed carefully,¡± Rainbow stated.

    ¡°Did you two defeat the Floor Guardian?¡± Jeze asked.

    Swordslayer shook his head. ¡°No, we didn¡¯t make it in time.¡±

    ¡°We really need a full team,¡± Rainbow added.

    ¡°Who defeated the Floor Guardian?¡± She asked.

    Rainbow shrugged. ¡°One of the adept teams, I suppose.¡±

    ¡°Probably Berserker Orn. I wonder how I would fare if we were to touch steel,¡± Swordslayer stated.

    ¡°There is no mystery there. You would be crushed,¡± Rainbow said.

    Swordslayer snorted and crossed his arms.

    ¡°How come Couzart does not go in and clear out the floors?¡± Jeze wondered.

    Swordslayer laughed.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Jeze growled.

    Swordslayer replied, ¡°He has money, so he does not need to grind like us plebs. Once you hit Elite, you do not need to push your body to the limit anymore. So why risk the lower levels?¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡± Jeze wondered.

    ¡°Their bodies become magical. They are basically no longer human,¡± Rainbow replied and explained, ¡°Elites often wait until Floor eight before going in, and the only reason why is they hope to find rare mystical treasures that will help them gain power. Also, they believe if they defeat Floor Ten, they can break through to Hero rank.¡±

    The gift of Immortality was a myth. Jeze recalled her brother¡¯s words and the knowledge she gained from the Pyramid. Not even the Elites know this? How is that possible? Or maybe they know more? It was all a mystery to her.

    ¡°Now that you are Adventurer ranked, want to join us, kid?¡± Swordslayer asked.

    Jeze gave a sad smile. ¡°It was good seeing you two. I must return to my team.¡±

    Swordslayer¡¯s face turned impassive, and Rainbow gave a gentle smile.

    ¡°Be careful, now that you are a higher rank you will be allowed to access the 4th floor and higher. The Floor Portals and Exit Portals will be further apart, sometimes miles apart, and the monsters will be stronger,¡± the multi-colored haired adventurer stated.

    Jeze nodded her thanks and left to join her team.

 Chapter 66: The Quest Board

    The next morning, Lady Kalina and Irvin visited Jeze. The rest of the Proven were sprawled along the floor with empty drinking horns scattered among them. Ziplocke enjoyed himself as he tried to throw pebbles into their opened mouths as they snored.

    "Stop that!" Jeze snapped.

    The Goblin sulked with his ears pulled back. He scowled at the two approaching Guild officials and faded into the early morning shadows.

    "Good morning, Jeze," Irvin greeted.

    "Do you have a moment?" Asked Lady Kalina.

    "You buying breakfast?" Jeze responded.

    Irvin chuckled, and Lady Kalina simply nodded. Jeze followed them to a comfortable pavilion that served eggs and smoked bacon. She helped herself to a heaping plate along with a warm cup of honeyed tea. Irvin had toast and coffee while Lady Kalina ate nothing. The Guild officials sat before Jeze across the small table. Around them, the morning crowds started to arrive. This included laborers, merchants, mercenaries, and teams preparing to enter the Spire.

    "You two look serious," Jeze observed.

    "We need you to train more Safe Zone Squads," Lady Kalina stated without preamble.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes and set her fork down. "I''m Adventurer ranked now. You can''t order me like when I was an Initiate," she growled.

    "This is serious, Jeze," Irvin stated.

    "Have the other teams do it."

    Lady Kalina shook her head. "The number of Safe Zone squads has dwindled. We are down to yours and the Spirit Walkers."

    The news hit Jeze like a dumped bucket of cold water. How was that possible? There were at least eight Safe Zone squads. That was forty adventurers! Jeze''s lips trembled, but no words came out.

    "I know many were your friends," Irvin said and clasped her hands.

    Jeze couldn''t recall their names, and she was barely able to remember their faces. But she spent a lot of time training many of them. The dangers of being an adventurer turned into a stark reality. Jeze didn''t mind her own life being risked, but the idea of so many people dying was hard for her to come to grips with.

    "What about Val?" Jeze stammered. "Val is more than capable of training. Heck, I hate to say this, but she is better skilled than me."

    Irvin and Lady Kalina exchanged a glance. Irvin spoke, "Val is missing."

    "What?!?!"

    Lady Kalina answered, "We needed a Safe Zone established. We sent her in with a team. Later, we discovered the bodies of her teammates, and she was missing."

    "Listen, we do not know if there are agents working against us hidden among our ranks. Or, if this Spire Event is different from the others where the Demons can travel freely through the levels and are specifically targeting Safe Zone Squads. The point is, the Guild needs your help," Irvin stated.

    Jeze was Adventurer ranked now. It could even be argued that she was experienced. Jeze had faced death multiple times and suffered insurmountable hardships. As a result, the shocking news did not phase her. It was like another challenge set before her. It was no different than being trapped in a hallway with an army of raging Thralls.

    "My team is recovering for one week. I will help you in that time when I can," Jeze stated.

    Lady Kalina nodded, and Irvin expressed his gratitude.

    "I will go back in with my team when they are recovered," Jeze added.

    "Understood," Lady Kalina said.

    "So, who am I training?" Jeze asked.

    "Me," The Ironfist Kingdom warrior responded.

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    During the time of their recovery the Proven increased their training by small margins each day to accommodate their health. At the beginning the days consisted of running, lifting stones, and skills training. Toward the end they sparred and ran with heavy stones. Everyday, Dunar relentlessly drilled them through formations.

    Jeze had a routine like she had when she was in Angston. After she completed training with the Proven, she would grab a quick bite to eat and then meet with Lady Kalina to train her on the Portal aspect. Afterward, they created Channeling Tools and trained others. Jeze fell asleep exhausted every evening, only to wake up early to start the whole routine again.

    Hannah was true to her word and completed the work on the sets of armor in a little over a week. The merchant sent a runner to inform the Proven. Dunar, Helga, and Rolfe were fully healed. Jeze and Mikal''s Will were refreshed, and the Adventurer-ranked team was eager to reenter the Spire.

    "I can''t wait to go back in!" Rolfe roared.

    "Oh, ho! Same for me!" Helga cheered back.

    "Carls! Adventurers! Form up!" Dunar barked.

    "Hurrah!" Jeze and the others loudly chanted.

    "Let''s not burn all of our enthusiasm. We are just heading to Hannah''s to collect our gear," Mikal muttered.

    Ziplocke snickered at the Healer''s comment. "Knuckleheads!" He shrieked.

    Heedless of the jokes, Dunar had them jog in formation to the Safe Zone portal that led to Hannah''s tent. The First Floor was a great source of Devil Steel and rare gems, and the team had to wait several minutes in line before the Guild perfunctory allowed them to enter.

    "Oh, ho! These look marvelous!" Helga observed.

    Hannah had their gear fully repaired. For Helga, Dunar, and Rolfe, she had reinforced their lamellar armor with Helldrake Scales. The shiny dark scales were interwoven seamlessly within the mail and Devil Steel plates to form a thick layer of protection. The three warriors immediately donned their heavy armor. For Jeze and Mikal, the merchant reinforced their gambesons with the onyx-colored Helldrake scales interwoven to protect their chests, shoulders, forearms, thighs, and shins.

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    "I feel no difference in weight!" Mikal exclaimed.

    "I know my craft," Hannah replied with a smile that showed white teeth.

    "Thank you," Jeze said and hugged her friend.

    "Don''t mention it. Besides, you are making me rich after all," Hannah said. The merchant narrowed her eyes and added, "Try not to break this set, okay?"

    "No promises," Rolfe joked back.

    Hannah helped the team with tightening straps and other minor adjustments to ensure that the armor fitted perfectly. Afterwards, they bid the merchant farewell and exited through the portal. Outside they were greeted by Lady Kalina and Irvin. The Ironfist Kingdom warrior held a new spear in her hand with a dark shiny blade. Jeze recognized that the weapon was well crafted.

    "A gift to you, Protector Rolfe," Lady Kalina said and presented the spear. She added, "Berserker Orn and the Carls had commissioned this weapon for you. Its blade is made out of the scales from the Helldrake you slain."

    "Helldrake scales are said to be stronger than the finest steel. This is a worthy gift indeed," Irvin stated.

    Rolfe''s eyes lit up as he accepted the weapon. The large warrior had an observable dilemma as he tried to figure out how to hoist two spears over his shoulders in addition to his heavy pack and shield.

    Mikal shook his head and snapped, "You have to pick one."

    Rolfe looked up and replied, "But my current spear is still very good!"

    Dunar placed a strong hand on Rolfe''s shoulder and added, "You must choose, friend."

    The joy that was in Rolfe''s eyes dimmed as the realization kicked in that he would have to replace his old spear with the new one. In a last-ditch effort, he tried to wrap the two spears together so that they could both be hoisted over his broad shoulder.

    Dunar shook his head with understanding in his eyes. "You won''t be able to draw your spear in time for combat."

    Rolfe took a deep breath and removed his old spear. He hugged it to his broad chest. Helga and Dunar supported him and rubbed his shoulders.

    "Unbelievable! It is just a tool!" Mikal cried.

    Jeze scowled at the Healer and joined the others to assist Rolfe with saying goodbye to his old weapon.

    "Micky, do you want to take my spear?" Rolfe offered.

    "No! The one I have is fine," Mikal responded and held his spear tightly to his chest.

    "I think Rolfe''s spear is more durable," Dunar observed.

    "How dare you," Mikal growled.

    "It''s a better tool. Makes sense for you to switch," Jeze said.

    "What? No way. Mine is of the proper weight, and I have etched Runes into the haft," the Healer explained.

    Jeze''s narrow eyes studied the Healer''s weapon, and she shook her head. "No, you didn''t."

    "Well, I plan to," Mikal responded with his chin up.

    "But you can etch Runes on this spear," Rolfe said.

    "I don''t want to! I will keep my weapon," Mikal snapped.

    Helga laughed and tussled the Healer''s dark hair. Rolfe continued to sulk. The Protector was happy with his new weapon. It was a mark of honor, but he had traveled long and far with his old spear. The weapon had served him well.

    "Lady Kalina and friend Irvin, I have a request," Rolfe started.

    "What is it?" Irvin asked.

    "Can you deliver my old spear to Ahanu? He lost his on the second floor," Rolfe said.

    "The Spirit Walker Protector? From the Kingdom of Pana?" Irvin asked.

    Rolfe nodded.

    "I will see to it," the gray-haired guild official promised.

    "Thank you," Rolfe said. He hugged his old spear one last time before he handed it slowly to Irvin.

    "What are your plans?" Lady Kalina asked.

    Dunar glanced at his team. The others nodded back to him. Earlier, they had discussed that they would travel through the Third floor and continue on to the Fourth. Ultimately, their goal was to make it to the tenth floor in order for Jeze to repair the Seals put in place by the Ones From Before and prevent the Fiendish Lord from becoming free.

    "We will continue upwards through the levels," the Leader answered.

    "As I am sure you two are aware. The Exit Portal and the Floor Portal are no longer in the same room," Irvin stated.

    Jeze and her team nodded.

    Lady Kalina explained, "The Exit Portal for the third floor has been repurposed. It is now a Safe Zone. Other teams have mapped out how to get to the Floor Portal from there. It is a two-day treacherous hike."

    Two-day hike? How big was the Third Floor? Jeze wondered. Dunar hooked his thumbs to the straps of his heavy pack and nodded. They were well-provisioned and prepared for the hike.

    "Any word on the Fourth Floor? Any Safe Zones established?" The Leader asked.

    Irvin shook his head. "We have no information beyond the Third Floor. We don''t know if teams have moved on to the fifth or not."

    "We will try to establish a Safe Zone on the Fourth Floor," Dunar said.

    "Actually, we have assignments that need to be completed on the third floor," Lady Kalina said.

    "We are Adventurer Ranked now. You can''t tell us what to do," Jeze reminded the Guild official with a growl.

    Lady Kalina glared back at the Scout while Irvin held up his two hands.

    "We are not ordering you. We wanted to inform you of the Quest Board," Irvin calmly said.

    "I''ve heard of that! It is something that Carls have access to. There are substantial rewards," Mikal explained with greed clearly expressed in his eyes.

    "Why didn''t you just say so!" Jeze exclaimed. She was tired of being ordered around. Jeze and her team paid their dues and were now in positions of respect.

    "Where can we find this board?" Dunar asked.

    Irvin produced a new Communications Scroll and replied, "In the old days, we had a board, but now, with more advanced Rune Magic, we have created a new set of Scrolls. This is for Adventurer ranked and higher teams." He handed the scroll to Dunar.

    Jeze peeked over to look at the scroll and marveled at its craftsmanship as Dunar unrolled it. The Runes sparkled to life and glowed silver, and information appeared.

    "How do I use this?" Dunar asked.

    Irvin showed him which Runes to tap and how to adjust the information. Dunar nodded. It was similar but different from the Communication Scroll he had used before.

    "I use the same quill?" Dunar asked as he produced the tool he used to write on the previous scroll.

    The Guild Officials nodded.

    "Which quest pays the most?" Mikal asked.

    "To find and eliminate the source of the Mist," Lady Kalina answered.

    "What about going to the Fourth Floor?" Rolfe asked.

    "I think this quest is important," Dunar stated.

    "I concur," Mikal said with a raise of his hand. The Healer was interested in the reward.

    Helga removed her helm and scratched her blonde hair. "This will take time, no? We have lost time recovering already. Don''t we want to make it to the Tenth floor?"

    Jeze nodded in agreement. Ziplocke snickered from her shoulder.

    "You speak like you all are even capable of making it past the Third Floor, let alone the Tenth!" The Goblin hissed.

    Dunar ignored the Goblin and addressed his team. "We were out for a week. I think it is the wise choice for us to take this quest. It will allow us to build up our strength so that we can face the higher floors."

    "He is right, you know. The running and training we did just maintained our bodies. It did not prepare us for real hardship," Mikal added.

    Jeze inwardly cursed. The logic made sense, but she hated the idea of agreeing with the Healer.

    Irvin had a twinkle in his eye as he said, "There would be great Glory if you can defeat the evil behind the Mists."

    Helga and Rolfe perked up at that. "Really?" They asked.

    Lady Kalina nodded, "Yes. Many teams have tried and failed. But, maybe this is too much for you."

    "Oh, ho! Watch your tongue!" Helga roared.

    "Aye! This Challenge we will face and be victorious!" Rolfe added.

    Mikal grinned and rubbed his hands together. It was as if the Healer could feel the reward.

    "It settled! We will complete this task," Dunar stated.

    "For Glory!" Helga roared.

    "Hurrah!" Jeze and the others responded back.

 Chapter 67: The Mists

    ¡°Swordslayer and Rainbow didn¡¯t mention giant man-eating weeds,¡± Jeze muttered to herself.

    She was covered in slime from when she was pulled out of a tube-shaped monstrous plant that was hidden under the mud. Mud! There was mud everywhere! Jeze inwardly groaned. Upon reflection, she realized she needed to pay more attention.

    ¡°You need to pay more attention,¡± Mikal said. The Healer slapped a bug that landed on his neck.

    Jeze glared at him and wanted to punch him in his smug face. But he was right. She will give him that. Her misstep nearly cost her her life. The Third Level was filled with all manner of things that wanted to kill them. Even the vegetation! Jeze was scouting and stepped on what she assumed was mud. Turned out to be a sinkhole where a Demonic plant waited. Fortunately, Ziplocke was on Jeze¡¯s shoulder and leaped off just before she was pulled under. The Goblin alerted the others in the nick of time.

    Rolfe pulled Jeze out while Helga and Dunar made short work of the monster. Otherwise, Jeze shuddered at the thought of being dragged further into the muck. Unable to breathe and digested alive from within a Demon plant. The slime from the evil weed sizzled and burned whenever it touched her flesh. Hannah¡¯s armor handled it well with hardly any signs of damage, Jeze thought with a shrug.

    ¡°You are our Scout, Jeze. We depend upon you to guide us. That means not getting eaten,¡± Mikal continued to admonish her.

    ¡°That is enough, Mikal. Heal her up so that we can move out,¡± Dunar ordered.

    In addition to dissolving flesh, the Demon weed¡¯s slime also acted as a neural toxin. It was very difficult for Jeze to move, and all she could do was glare. And she glared hard enough to start a fire. Or Jeze tried, at least.

    ¡°Very well. But this should be a lesson for her,¡± Mikal replied, and he turned to Jeze, ¡°You need to be more careful.¡±

    Jeze glared. Ziplocke cackled with joy. The Demon found this most enjoyable. Jeze inwardly fumed, and on the outside, she drooled and shook. Mikal sighed and tapped his Channeling tool, which was a leather vambrace etched with lines of Runes. The Healer completed a series of precise movements with his hands and arms. Despite being a complete wise ass, he was very skilled. Jeze admitted to herself. Of course, she would not tell him that.

    Mikal Summoned the Life aspect that appeared as a red energy that Jeze knew was associated with blood. Jeze read from her brother¡¯s journal that some cultures named it the Blood aspect, and people feared the mysterious practitioners. Mikal Shaped the blood to match Jeze¡¯s type and Controlled it to enter her body through the opened gashes on her arms. Internally, Jeze felt Mikal¡¯s summoned Life aspect absorb the poison, and in moments, she was released from its hold. She exhaled loudly. Mikal released the spell and tapped another Channeling tool, this one a wooden necklace etched with runes around his neck. The Healer gritted his teeth and as he Controlled Jeze¡¯s flesh to mend and heal. It was harder to Control an Aspect in the material plane, and Jeze recognized the strain on Mikal¡¯s Will as he healed her burns.

    With effort, Jeze said, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Mikal grinned back. Jeze knew another remark was coming and braced herself so that she wouldn¡¯t sock him in his face. He healed her, after all. Instead, Mikal gripped her shoulder.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s my job.¡± The Healer rose to his feet to join the others.

    Ziplocke watched the whole interaction with wide eyes. Even Jeze appeared shocked. Finally, the Goblin let loose a howl of laughter that caused him to double over.

    ¡°That was genius!!!¡± Ziplocke shrieked. ¡°The look of surprise on your face! Oh, he is a genius!¡±

    Mikal paused and looked over his shoulder to wink at them. Jeze fumed and balled her hands into fists as she rose up. She much preferred the Healer to make witty comments than kindness.

    ¡°Jeze, are you able to continue?¡± Dunar asked.

    She nodded, though she still suffered from the residual effects of the poison. Nearly getting eaten alive can be a challenge to recover from. Dunar¡¯s sharp eyes recognized the strain on her face, and he nodded.

    ¡°We will rest for fifteen more minutes. Be alert, everyone!¡± He barked.

    The Proven gathered around on the somewhat less muddied patch of mud and dirt in an otherwise area filled with squelching mud. Rolfe, Helga, and Dunar sweated in their heavy armor. Mikal broke a brick of magically contained water and encouraged everyone to drink.

    After exactly fifteen minutes, Dunar ordered, ¡°Let¡¯s move out.¡±

    The Third Floor was bog, marsh, and mud. The team marched for several more hours and the further they traveled from the Portal, the less they saw other adventuring teams. They occasionally walked in mud and sometimes waded through water that was ankle-deep. The deepest they encountered was up to Jeze¡¯s thighs, which came up to Rolfe¡¯s knees. The sky, or ceiling since they were in the Wandering Spire, was heavily overcast with thick impenetrable looking gray clouds. Jeze had wondered where the light source came from.

    ¡°Where is the Mist?¡± Rolfe asked as he removed his helm to wipe his long blond hair back, which was slick with sweat.

    Dunar studied the new Communication Scroll he received from Irvin and responded, ¡°Adventurers report that it moves.¡±

    ¡°Why is each level so different?¡± Helga wondered as she passed her waterskin over to Dunar. The Leader and Rolfe shrugged their broad shoulders. Mikal scratched his head.

    Jeze answered, ¡°The Wandering Spire¡¯s real name is the Stronghold. It is an invasion tool used by the Fiendish Lord to conquer other realms. Each level represents a version of the Abyssal plane.¡±

    She fed Ziplocke some paste as he rested on her shoulders, and the Goblin smacked his lips. ¡°This is known as the Marsh of Despair. Us Demons live off of every type of mortal suffering.¡±

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    ¡°What manner of Demons exist here?¡± Dunar asked.

    Jeze fed Ziplocke another spoonful of paste.

    ¡°Imps, Rovers, and Swamp Demons,¡± the Goblin answered.

    Jeze recalled that Rainbow and Swordslayer had said the same thing. She wondered what additional information she could get from her Goblin Familiar.

    ¡°What can you tell us of the Swamp Demons?¡± Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke carefully scanned his surroundings before he answered, ¡°It is said that the Swamp Demons were native to this realm before it was conquered by the Fiendish Lords of Anguish many thousands of years ago. When they conquer your realm, you will all be folded into the Abyssal plane, like us Goblins. We will be cousins!¡± The little Demon snickered.

    ¡°That¡¯s not gonna happen,¡± Rolfe growled. He thumped his new spear against his round shield.

    ¡°Oh ho! I agree, we will help Jeze to the top and seal away this evil forever,¡± Helga cheered and raised her two handed axe into the air.

    They continued on with Jeze in the lead. She carefully observed the surroundings in front of her and paused. She recognized a subtle difference from within the twisted vegetation. Jeze threw her hand axe at the base of a gnarled tree with thick roots. The roots unfolded in anger, and the tentacles of the Rover lashed out. Before the needled-filled appendage could land, Jeze timed a perfect sword slice that severed the monstrous limb.

    ¡°Nice one!¡± Helga complimented.

    The Rover howled and quickly untangled itself to roll in a ball of twisting tentacles. Jeze took a step back as Rolfe and Helga moved forward. Tentacles slammed against the Protector¡¯s shield. Helga stepped out from behind Rolfe, twirled her axe over her head, and chopped down with tremendous force that splattered the central mass of the Rover. It squealed and twitched violently before going dead still.

    Jeze patted Helga¡¯s broad shoulder and returned the compliment, ¡°Good hit.¡±

    ¡°Ya, it was! Thank you!¡± The Striker proclaimed.

    Mud and water erupted from their left as another Rover lashed out to attack. Jeze and Helga were surprised and had no time to raise a proper defense. Tentacles painfully slapped into them, but their armor absorbed the brunt of the blows. In the next instant, the air became frigid cold as the creature was encased in ice. Jeze and Helga broke free as Dunar and Rolfe made short work of the monster. It was amazing how the team improved in the weeks since the monster Waves. Rovers were a Tier 4 monster, and they were barely able to kill one during the Waves. Now, the team dispatched the Demons with ease.

    Mikal approached the two ladies and shook his head. ¡°Tsk, tsk. I have told you over and over that you need to be more careful. Ole Mikal here can¡¯t keep coming to your rescue.¡±

    Jeze glowered at the Healer while Helga laughed in good cheer.

    ¡°Thank you, Micky! You are my hero!¡± The warrior maiden exclaimed as she crushed Mikal in a fierce hug against her ample bosom.

    The Healer whimpered under the intense pressure until Helga released him. She ruffled his dark, curly hair as Mikal stumbled to regain his composure. Rolfe pulled out a sharp knife and skinned the Rover. Hegla worked on the other.

    ¡°You are getting at that,¡± Jeze observed. She recalled that Helga and Rolfe learned how to skin the beasts from Hannah and her crew.

    Dunar remained alert of their surroundings while Mikal rested on his spear. Jeze scouted the trail ahead while the two worked. She returned when they finished. They wrapped up the skins and placed them into their packs.

    ¡°That will fetch some good coin!¡± Mikal observed.

    Rover skins had properties that were good for magical scrolls, such as their Communication scrolls. They continued on through the twisted marshland, with Dunar mapping their progress. It was much harder on this level due to the expansiveness of it. They could travel in any direction with very few landmarks to help guide them. The fog was ahead of them, and Jeze found it odd that no matter how far they walked, the fog was always just in the distance, obscuring their view. Eventually, they came across the Mist.

    ¡°This is it?¡± Rolfe asked.

    A swirling Mist twirled like tendrils from a spider¡¯s web. It weaved slowly and rolled through trees, over reeds, and expanded tentatively outwards like a shy creature.

    ¡°Remember to focus on your breath and center your thoughts,¡± Mikal reminded them.

    ¡°We know Micky,¡± Helga responded.

    Rolfe breathed in deeply and exhaled loudly. His broad chest rose and fell.

    ¡°We stick together as we planned. Jeze, you can get started now,¡± Dunar said.

    ¡°Wait, I see something!¡± Rolfe exclaimed.

    The Proven readied their weapons as three shadowy figures materialized from deeper within the Mist. The figures were shaped like a person and they appeared to be frantically running toward them. In moments the people exited the Mist. They were two women and a man. They wore heavy padded armor jackets and two carried spears, and one weilded a sword.

    ¡°Hail friends!¡± Dunar called out.

    The three adventurers looked pale and bloodied. Their armor was caked in blood, and they were missing their packs. They appeared like they had been through hell. Only three? Was this a team of five? What happened to the other two? Jeze wondered.

    ¡°Thank the Blessed Mother! We made it out!¡± The man exclaimed.

    The two women sobbed as they stumbled to their knees into the muck.

    ¡°We thought we would be lost in there!¡± One of them cried.

    ¡°Behind you!¡± Jeze shouted.

    A sinewy figure emerged from the fog as silent as death. It reminded Jeze of a Howler, except it was covered in scales instead of oily fur, and it was taller. It had a snout where a forked tongue flicked out and in like a snake. The thing was armed with a wicked-looking knife, and It moved so fast that the poor adventurer didn¡¯t stand a chance. The lizard creature slit the man¡¯s throat from behind. He gurgled and fell to his knees, clasping his neck as blood streamed down.

    Jeze quickly Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled a Stone fist but was too late. The Swamp Demon faded back into the mists with a sinister grin that showed off its sharp teeth. Mikal reacted next and ran to aid the man. The two other adventurers wailed in anguish.

    ¡°Get away from the Mists!¡± Dunar barked, and he directed Helga and Rolfe to drag the fallen.

    The three large Frostsworn formed a shield wall as Mikal attempted to aid the man. Jeze readied ranged attack spells, and the two women held their spears in shaking hands.

    Mikal was able to close the neck wound, but the man began to spasm with a white froth billowing from his mouth. Mikal rapidly shaped Glyphs but was too late. The adventurer gave a final wheeze before his eyes rolled up into the back of his head, and he went still. Mikal shook his head.

    ¡°I was able to close the wound, but he was also poisoned,¡± the Healer said quietly.

    The two women sobbed but continued to hold their shaking spears. Their armor was ripped in many places, and they each suffered from dozens of cuts and injuries.

    ¡°Let me see to your wounds,¡± Mikal offered.

    Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga moved their shield wall to protect them. Jeze remained vigilant.

    ¡°We will escort you to the Safe Zone,¡± Dunar said.

    ¡°Do we have time for that?¡± Jeze asked.

    She regretted the question from the looks her team gave her.

    Ziplocke snickered at Jeze, ¡°You have grown callous. Good!¡±

    The two women visibly shook and simply nodded their gratitude. Then suddenly, one grabbed Jeze by the shoulders and looked at her with intense eyes.

    ¡°Do not go in there! Only death and madness await you!¡± She wailed, and her spittle flew into Jeze¡¯s face.

 Chapter 68: Dragons

    The Proven escorted the two adventurers to the Safe Zone as well as delivered the body of their fallen teammate. After restocking their provisions the team returned back to the site of the Mists. They stood on the muddy embankment with the ominous pale white tendrils floating before them.

    ¡°I have a thought. This is not going to be popular, but maybe we should not go through with this,¡± Mikal stated.

    Ziplocke snickered and cried, ¡°The first rational idea I have heard from you fools!¡±

    ¡°I believe we are prepared to conquer this challenge,¡± Dunar replied and turned to the others, ¡°But the choice belongs to the group. What say you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m eager to kill those Swamp Demons and rid this place of their evil,¡± Rolfe growled. He thumped his spear against his shield.

    ¡°Oh, ho! Same here! Let us go and test ourselves!¡± Helga cheered. She gripped her two-handed axe tightly.

    ¡°I am confident my Spirit Spell can guide us through the mist,¡± Jeze said. That was her role, to use the Aspect that Rainia had provided her. Jeze had practiced the pattern many times and was prepared.

    ¡°Lastly, we have experienced the Affliction aspect on the first level. We won¡¯t be caught off guard this time. Our minds are strong,¡± Dunar added.

    Mikal shook his head and replied, ¡°Fine! You have convinced me. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±

    ¡°Fools!¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    ¡°Form up!¡± Dunar barked.

    Jeze Summoned and Shaped the Spirit aspect. A golden flicker of light guided her into the Mist.

    ¡°This way,¡± she said and entered through the white curtain of fog.

    Dunar and Rolfe marched next with their shields readied. Helga and Mikal followed with the Healer, who occasionally scanned the rear. Each team member started to feel the effects of the Affliction aspect. It was the same as the first floor. Jeze heard voices talking down to her. They were constant, and they insulted her. Helga saw pretty images, and Rolfe felt bugs crawling under his armor. For Dunar, he sensed that the team was about to be ambushed and had an urge to change formation. Mikal felt a frustration in his chest over the inadequacies of his colleagues. If left unchecked, the distractions would blossom into madness, but the Proven steadied their breathing and utilized their Will to negate the Affliction aspect.

    ¡°This way,¡± Jeze said as she followed her Spirit spell.

    She led them through the thick fog and over mud and dirt. They passed twisted trees, and through marsh and bog.

    ¡°How is this Mist formed? There was no mist on the first floor,¡± Mikal wondered.

    ¡°That is what we are here to find out,¡± Dunar answered.

    ¡°What can you tell us about the Mist?¡± Jeze fed Ziplocke some paste. The Goblin rested on her shoulder, and he slurped it up.

    The Goblin sniffed the air and answered, ¡°It is a mixture of the Affliction and Water aspects.¡±

    ¡°That is helpful information. Thank you, Demon. Mikal, can you control the Mist by using your Water magic?¡± Dunar asked.

    The Healer replied, ¡°It depends on how much power the creator put into the Mist. I can try.¡±

    Mikal tapped into his Channeling tools and shaped Glyphs in the air with his hands. The Healer gritted his teeth and attempted to Shape the silky white tendrils. His Will battled with the Will that Summoned the Mist, and he prevailed. The fog parted before them for several meters before Mikal let out a gasp of air.

    The Healer said, ¡°That is all I can do. My apologies, but we will need to find and destroy the source of this spell to end it.¡±

    ¡°You did good, Micky!¡± Helga said and squeezed the dark-haired man¡¯s shoulders. Mikal flinched under her powerful grip but nodded in gratitude.

    Slowly, the tendrils returned along with the voices. Dunar ordered the Proven to be alert and to take a moment to steady their breath. Mikal chanted for them.

    ¡°In with peace, out with stress. Go with the flow and be in this moment,¡± the Healer guided them.

    ¡°Do not let up, and keep your minds sharp! Not only will this keep us alive, but this will make our Will stronger!¡± Dunar stated.

    Jeze reconnected with her Summoned Spirit aspect and saw the flickering golden light in between the gnarled trees.

    ¡°This way,¡± she said, and the others followed her.

    It was not long before they encountered the notorious inhabitants of the Marsh of Despair. It was Ziplocke who first noticed them. The Demon was perched upon Jeze¡¯s shoulder as she led the others. Behind her were the protective shields of Dunar and Rolfe. Helga¡¯s deadly axe was prepared to deliver destruction, and Mikal was close enough to provide healing.

    ¡°Pay attention to the shadows, my disciple,¡± Ziplocke whispered into Jeze¡¯s ear.

    Disciple? She scowled at the Goblin, but his small green face was serious and lacked the normal mischievousness glint behind his eyes. Jeze felt a twinge of fear in her chest. For Ziplocke to be this earnest meant it was something of consequence. She heeded his words and focused on the shadows. Her hours of tapping into the Darkness aspect have given her something of an affinity for it. Darkness was the absence of light. That¡¯s right! It was overcast above, and the entire level was bathed in a muted white glow. The trees were gnarled and spread out and created small pockets of shadows.

    ¡°Why have we stopped?¡± Dunar whispered.

    Jeze held up her hand for silence, and the others tensed and readied their weapons.

    ¡°I see it,¡± Jeze acknowledged.

    ¡°What do you see?¡± Ziplocke asked. It was the rare moment where he acted as her teacher.

    ¡°The Darkness aspect is subtle. The shadows under those trees are just a little thicker,¡± Jeze answered. They were unnaturally thicker, and only a trained eye could have spotted the difference.

    He asked, ¡°What could that mean?¡±

    ¡°An ambush,¡± Jeze concluded. The knot in her chest tightened. She slinked back to inform Dunar.

    ¡°Where?¡± The Leader asked. He squinted into the Mist.

    Careful to not alert their would be ambushers, Jeze described without pointing to Dunar where she believed the enemy was hidden. Mikal moved to the front.

    ¡°I saw movement in the mists to our left flank,¡± the Healer said.

    ¡°Oh ho, and to our right,¡± Helga added.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything,¡± Rolfe observed. Jeze detected a small tinge of panic in the large Protector¡¯s deep voice.

    ¡°This could be a trick of the Affliction magic,¡± Mikal pointed out.

    Dunar shook his head. The Leader was confident in his Will and separated the Affliction from reality. Dunar believed that this was the real threat, and they were about to engage with the enemy. He scanned the area and saw that they were being encircled. Jeze pointed to where the enemies were hidden in front of them, and the fleeting shadows through the Mist showed that they were flanked on the left and right. They still had an open avenue for retreat behind them, but it was about to be cut off.

    ¡°Jeze get behind us. Shield formation and retreat!¡± Dunar ordered.

    Helga unslung her shield and moved to Rolfe¡¯s right. She shifted her grip higher on the haft of her Dane axe, which allowed her to use it one-handed, but with reduced power. Dunar was on the Protector¡¯s left, and the three formed a shield wall. Jeze moved behind them and beside Mikal. The team retreated. From the Mist, the team heard the twang of bowstrings that were followed by the hiss of arrows. Some of the missiles thudded into the shields, while others shot past and into the trees.

    ¡°Dunar, we are sitting ducks here,¡± Mikal growled.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking,¡± the Leader calmly responded.

    Dunar¡¯s mind quickly compiled all the information they gathered on the Swamp Demons from the adventurers they rescued and combined with what he learned from Ziplocke and Jeze. The Swamp Demons were lightly armored skirmishers. They also had Rune casters who used the Darkness and Nature aspects to confuse, entangle, and poison their foes.

    ¡°Jeze, which direction do we need to go?¡± Dunar asked.

    She closed her eyes to tap into the Spirit Aspect and pointed straight ahead. Dunar nodded. If they were to attack the middle group, they ran the risk of being surrounded by the two groups on their flanks. That was not a good option. The Swamp Demons were known to be quick, so chasing them would not work as well.

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    ¡°Keep retreating, but slow and steady,¡± He ordered. He wanted the Demons to gain confidence and he baited them to come closer.

    Mikal flinched as an arrow flew dangerously near him. ¡°We need to act fast. We can¡¯t stay here,¡± he hissed.

    Dunar nodded as he looked over his shield. An arrow thudded into it. He explained, ¡°On my command. Jeze, place an orb of Darkness to our front and right. Mikal, Summon Frost to our left. I want the Demons slowed. Helga, Rolfe, and I will charge right after. We will attack the left group hard and fast.¡±

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The others chanted back, even Mikal. The Healer agreed with the plan.

    They continued their slow retreat, and even Rolfe was able to see the shadowy figures of their attackers as they came closer. There were many! Maybe a dozen or more, and the rain of arrows intensified. Jeze felt the Affliction aspect grew stronger and it touched her mind. The negative voices intensified. It was distracting and she figured that there were Rune casters among their enemies.

    ¡°Stay focused,¡± she reminded the others.

    Mikal nodded and chanted, ¡°Breathe in and Breathe out. In with peace, out with stress. Go with the flow and be in this moment.¡±

    Rolfe, Dunar, and Helga kept their shields up and breathed deeply per Mikal¡¯s instructions. It was hard for them, but the distractions from the curse magic faded out of their thoughts. It was easier for Jeze because she knew the Affliction aspect. For Mikal, his Will was impressive, and he was able to maintain focus. Jeze had to give him that. But he was still annoying.

    Ahead of them, the Demons became more aggressive and moved closer. Jeze was even able to make out their leathery scaled features and red eyes through the dense Mist. The arrows increased, and Helga flinched as an arrow thudded into her thigh. The tip went in between the lamellar plates of her armor and pierced the mail. It was a shallow injury and would have been harmless if not for the poison.

    ¡°I¡¯m alright. This is nothing compared to the Helldrake¡¯s poison,¡± Helga boasted, but Jeze saw the warrior maiden¡¯s face begin to pale. She felt the same sense of urgency as Mikal and itched to unleash her Rune magic.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Dunar roared.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The team shouted back.

    As one, they acted. Jeze released an orb of pitch black Darkness that hid them from their attackers. Mikal Summoned water vapor to cover the shadowy figures of their attackers to their left. The Healer closed his fist to complete the gesture to Shape the water aspect to flash freeze their enemies. Dunar, Rolfe and Helga charged forth and rammed their shields into their surprised enemies. The arrows intensified but the attacks were blind and erratic.

    Dunar hacked a Swamp Demon through its skull with his axe, as Rolfe impaled another. Helga split a third nearly in half with a powerful chop. The remaining Demons fled and disappeared through the thick fog. Arrows thudded all around them as the Proven repositioned their shield wall. They were attacked from two angles. An arrow snapped in half off of Dunar¡¯s shoulder pauldron.

    ¡°Jeze, I need a wall here,¡± the Leader ordered.

    She complied and tapped into her Earth aspect Channeling tool. She poured her Will into her spell and Summoned a huge mound of dirt. Jeze completed the next glyphs and Shaped the dirt into stone that protected their left flank.

    ¡°We will attack the next group. We will hit them hard and fast like the last one. On my command, we will charge forward. Jeze drop the Darkness spell, and Mikal flash freeze our enemies. Are we ready?¡± Dunar barked.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The others responded.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± The Leader roared.

    The team charged ahead. Jeze dropped the orb of Darkness and revealed another group of shocked Swamp Demons. Before they could turn to flee, Mikal encased them in ice and slowed their movements. The scaled enemy dropped their bows and drew wicked curved swords and daggers. But they were no match for the Proven, and in moments, four more Swamp Demons were killed while the rest fled.

    ¡°They flee before us! We should chase and route them!¡± Helga shouted.

    ¡°No, that is not our objective. Quickly, let us follow Jeze¡¯s Spirit aspect and find the source of this Mist,¡± Dunar responded.

    Mikal stopped to treat Helga. He removed the arrow and Summoned his Life aspect to remove the poison.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Micky! We need to move on,¡± Helga said, but the Healer gave her a stern glare that stopped her from arguing further.

    In moments the Healer was finished and the continued on. Their minds and Wills were getting fatigued from the constant struggle against the Affliction aspect. The sooner they eliminate the source of the Mist, the better they will be. Jeze tapped into her Spirit aspect and was shown a golden glow.

    ¡°This way!¡± She said, and the team rushed forward through the dense fog.

    ¡°How much further?¡± Dunar asked as they jogged in formation. They didn¡¯t have much time before the Swamp Demons regrouped and organized a counterattack.

    Jeze concentrated on the Spirit spell. It was difficult as she was also combating the Affliction aspect housed within the Mist. She needed to separate the curse magic from reality. Her Summoned Spirit aspect was trying to communicate with her. It was not through words but through feelings and faint thoughts that were easily lost like a leaf in the wind. There! She felt a tug and a faint feeling, but it was no mistake.

    ¡°We are close, just a little further!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    The Proven pushed forward with renewed vigor and enthusiasm. Jeze told the group to pause as she reconnected with the Spirit aspect. She received no glowing light to guide her but a sense that they needed to go down.

    ¡°We are here, and it is below us,¡± she said.

    ¡°Below us? Are we looking for stairs or a hole?¡± Dunar asked.

    Jeze didn¡¯t know. It was hard to see as the Mist was extremely thick around them.

    ¡°The Affliction magic is stronger here. Be more focused,¡± Mikal cautioned.

    Rolfe was beginning to scratch at the imaginary bugs, but he stopped himself. His broad chest heaved in and out as he focused his mind on warding off the curse magic. Helga nearly wandered off but also stopped herself. She did the same as the Protector.

    ¡°We need an answer, Jeze!¡± Dunar exclaimed. He started to get anxious from the Affliction magic.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying. It¡¯s hard to see anything!¡± Jeze responded, but she remembered something. ¡°Mikal, Control the Mist like you did before.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do my best,¡± the Healer responded. It was strange for Jeze when he was not being sarcastic.

    ¡°You are not strong enough!¡± Ziplocke teased. The Demon couldn¡¯t help himself sometimes.

    Mikal scowled at the Goblin and used his annoyance to fuel his Will as he tapped into his Water aspect Channeling tools. With gritted teeth, he parted the Mist like he did earlier, and the team stumbled back in shock at what was exposed. The giant maw of an enormous beast. It took a moment before everyone¡¯s brains registered that it was the skeletal remains of a giant monster. The mouth was so large that Jeze could fit inside of it. The skull was shaped like a Helldrake and was three times bigger.

    ¡°Is that a Dragon?¡± Helga wondered.

    ¡°The same from Mount Dragon?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°Fool! How could this be that very same Dragon? Besides, that is a child¡¯s tale! Come on, Rolfe, grow up!¡± Mikal snapped.

    The large Protector rose to his full height and approached the Healer. Mikal raised his hands and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I spoke out of line.¡±

    Rolfe growled, and Jeze never saw the Protector so angry before. She also never heard Mikal snap that viciously either. Something was wrong.

    ¡°The Mist is stronger here,¡± Jeze cautioned.

    ¡°This Dragon skull is real, ya?¡± Helga asked. She touched the hard bones.

    ¡°What is it doing here?¡± Dunar wondered.

    ¡°Even mighty Dragons fall to the Spire!¡± Ziplocke cackled.

    ¡°On the Third floor? I would think a Dragon could climb higher. Much higher, especially one this large,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°But, how would the Dragon fit in the tunnels of the first level?¡± Helga said.

    ¡°The Spire changes each time. The floors are never the same,¡± Mikal reminded them.

    ¡°Ya, that may be true. But this large beast couldn¡¯t fit in some levels, no?¡± Helga responded.

    ¡°The tales from the Ironfist Kingdom say that the Dragon there could change form and would walk the world as a man,¡± Rolfe said.

    ¡°Bah,¡± Mikal started his retort but stopped when he received an angry glare from his teammates. ¡°Perhaps,¡± he said.

    Dunar rubbed his temples. The Affliction magic was constantly attacking their thoughts. ¡°Focus team! This is a distraction. Jeze, where is the source of the Mist? You said it was near,¡± he barked.

    The Scout nodded and tapped the Rune-covered necklace that Rainia gave her with the Spirit Aspect. With extreme effort, she listened to the Spirit and looked up with understanding.

    ¡°There,¡± Jeze said and pointed to the mouth of the Dragon Skull.

    The Mist leaked out from the Dragon¡¯s maw. With trepidation, the team inched closer to the massive mouth lined with sharp fangs. The feeling that the mouth would snap shut on them was strong, but they overcame their fear.

    ¡°A staircase?¡± Dunar said.

    A crafted stone stairwell was at the base of the throat of the Dragon skeleton. The Mist was so thick that it nearly suffocated them.

    ¡°Mikal, you need to clear this fog,¡± Dunar ordered.

    The Healer nodded, and with gritted teeth, he Controlled the Mist to disperse. It was painfully slow, as if the fog fought back against him. Finally, it parted, and Mikal fell to his knees in exhaustion. A short distance down the stone steps revealed a heavy iron cauldron that hung over a fire pit. Hovering around the pot were three Imps. The Demons shrieked and fled like roaches down the adjacent dark corridors.

    The Mist was slowly returning, and Dunar ordered, ¡°Jeze, destroy the pot! That has to be the source!¡±

    Jeze nodded. She Summoned, and Shaped the Earth aspect into a large boulder. Jeze Controlled it to smash the black iron cauldron and spilled its steaming contents all over the floor. Shortly after the team felt the curse magic abate from their minds. It was a relief, like pressure was removed from their skulls.

    ¡°I feel like I can think clearly now!¡± Rolfe cheered.

    ¡°We did it!¡± Helga roared.

    All around them, the Mist sank to the ground and revealed the Swamp Demons gathering in the distance.

    ¡°Oh ho, they look angry!¡± Helga observed.

    ¡°Proven, form up!¡± Dunar barked.

    The team rushed into formation with their backs to the stairwell. They had a decision to make.

    ¡°Do we fight our way out of here, or do we explore below?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°We don¡¯t know what is down there,¡± Mikal replied.

    ¡°It has to be something important!¡± Rolfe added.

    ¡°What makes you think that?¡± Mikal snapped.

    ¡°A staircase in a Dragon¡¯s mouth? That is a clear path to Glory!¡± Helga answered.

    Rolfe agreed with a loud ¡°Hurrah!¡±

    Arrows began to whizz at them from the gathering of Swamp Demons. The numbers were greater than before. Dunar glanced down the stairs.

    ¡°We have a more defensible position below,¡± he observed.

    An arrow thudded into Rolfe¡¯s shield.

    ¡°There is a reason why the Swamp Demons are out there and not below. It could be something much more dangerous down there,¡± Mikal stated.

    ¡°Berserker Orn says that we must push ourselves if we wish to advance,¡± Jeze replied.

    Mikal rolled his eyes.

    ¡°We go below?¡± Dunar asked his team.

    ¡°Aye!¡± Both Helga and Rolfe replied.

    ¡°Fools!¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    ¡°I say we use the tactics we did earlier and push our way back to the Safe Zone, where we can gather more adventurers to raid this dungeon,¡± Mikal said.

    The Proven turned to look at their last team member to speak up. Jeze grinned at Mikal, and the Healer shook his head. He knew her answer before she said it.

    ¡°I vote we go below,¡± Jeze replied.

 Chapter 69: The Hooded Strangers

    Larger Swamp Demons in heavier armor that was made out of dense bone and armed with spears rushed the Proven. Jeze found it strange that these Lizard Demons fought so aggressively and in such a contrast to the skirmishing tactics the Proven had experienced earlier from the fiends. Even though these attackers were larger, they were still smaller than the frontline Frostsworn fighters, and their weapons and armor were no match in melee against the heavily armored Proven. The first wave of attackers were efficiently and brutally dispatched by Rolfe¡¯s spear thrusts, Helga¡¯s mighty axe swings, and Dunar¡¯s tactical counterattacks.

    ¡°Now we have no choice but to go down,¡± Mikal muttered.

    They were surrounded by a small army of Swamp Demons that peppered them with range attacks. The arrows snapped in half off the thick Dragon skull, the Frostsworn shields, and the metal plates of their armor.

    ¡°Well, at least we know they are not afraid of going inside,¡± Rolfe pointed out as they were rushed by another wave of larger spear-wielding foes.

    The fight was brutal. Dunar knocked aside a spear thrust with his axe and sliced the Swamp Demon across the throat with his sword. Rolfe blocked attacks with his shield and impaled another attacker with his Helldrake-bladed polearm. Helga deflected a spear attack, spun and killed the attacking Demon with a downward slash. The Warrior maiden kept her momentum and reversed her axe swing to catch another under its jaw that split the Demon¡¯s head in half. Helga would have continued on with her slaughter but was entangled in massive green vines that sprung from the ground and wrapped around her waist and legs. Arrows rained down and struck Helga as she chopped herself free and was forced to retreat. The vines fell to the ground and dissipated into the ether as the Summoning wore off.

    ¡°I need some help, Micky,¡± she gasped in pain.

    Jeze rushed in to fill Helga¡¯s spot as Mikal Summoned his Life aspect for healing. The bone-armored Swamp Demons were bigger than the Scout, and they aggressively took advantage of their size. One rushed in and swung a club that smashed the ground as Jeze dove out of the way. She deflected a second¡¯s spear thrust with her axe and slashed her attacker¡¯s hand with her sword. The Swamp Demon howled in pain and dropped the spear. The club-wielding Demon charged Jeze, and she nimbly dodged as it crashed into the Dragon Skull. Jeze chopped with her axe, and the Demon batted the attack aside. It rushed forward, bringing its massive club back around for a devastating swing, but Jeze crouched and extended her sword. The Swamp Demon impaled itself in its throat. It let out a raspy gasp before it fell dead to the muddy ground. The first Demon she injured rushed in, clawing with its remaining hand and snapping its jaws at her. Jeze gracefully slipped and circled out of the way, and in one fluid motion, she brought her axe down to remove the Demon¡¯s head as it stumbled past her. Summoned thorny vines unfurled from the ground and lashed at Jeze. She dodged, sliced, and hacked with her axe to break free.

    A half dozen of the attackers were slain before the rest retreated. The arrow bombardment resumed. Dunar blocked an arrow with his shield and studied the situation.

    ¡°Jeze, place an orb of Darkness in front of us. We are going down,¡± he ordered.

    She complied and tapped her Onyx-colored ring. With her hands, she completed the remaining Glyphs in the air and poured her remaining Will into the spell. In moments, a pitch-black orb of Darkness blotted out their vision in front of them. Arrows continued to zip through, but the aim was way off.

    ¡°Rolfe, cover our rear. Helga with me,¡± Dunar said as he led the way into the depths below.

    Jeze withdrew her globe and illuminated the passage as she and Mikal followed. Rolfe covered the rear and retreated backward down the steps. From Jeze¡¯s globe the team saw at the base of the stairs was a wide room made out of worked stone. In the center were the dimming embers of the fire and the spilled iron cauldron. Three corridors branched off from the chamber in addition to the stairwell. This was not a tactically sound position for them as they could be attacked from four sides. So far, the Swamp Demons above did not pursue, but they could still hear the clatter of arrows against the Dragon skull, and a few tumbled harmlessly down the steps.

    ¡°The Darkness spell will end soon. We can not stay here,¡± Mikal pointed out.

    ¡°I know,¡± Dunar replied.

    The Leader studied their situation. On one hand, they were out of immediate danger, but they were now in an unknown area. Any corridor they take could potentially place them in greater harm. Or, to a more secure location.

    ¡°Jeze, scout the right corridor, and Helga, stay close to her. Rolfe, watch the stairs. Mikal and I will guard the other two corridors,¡± Dunar said as he pulled out glow sticks.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The team responded, and Rolfe thumped his shield.

    Jeze dimmed her glow globe and proceeded down the right corridor. She paused; there was light ahead, and she deactivated her own light. Behind her, Helga¡¯s armor jingled.

    ¡°Stay here,¡± Jeze told the warrior maiden.

    ¡°Ya? You sure?¡± Helga asked.

    Jeze nodded and tapped her Darkness ring to Summon and Shape shadows around her like a cloak. She crept down the hallway toward the light, and as she neared, she heard the gibbering sounds of Thralls. Sticking to the walls and hiding in her Summoned shadow cloak, Jeze crept closer. The tunnel led to a chamber, and Jeze peeked around the corner while she hugged the shadows. The circular room was vast, similar to the one they entered but much larger, and it was illuminated by a shimmering red portal. There were no other exits! Jeze could convert this chamber into a Safe Zone and, which would be an ideal defensible position. Except there were currently a dozen Thralls, with more exiting the Portal. Plus, an Imp that was hidden somewhere.

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    Jeze recognized that her team needed to move fast before the Swamp Demons rushed them from the stairwell. They would have enemies on two flanks! As silent as a night breeze, Jeze hurried back to Helga and the others.

    In the entrance chamber, Dunar had his bow out, and he shot a Swamp Demon that peeked through the globe of Darkness. The monster clutched its throat and tumbled down the steps. Another Swamp Demon appeared, and Dunar fired an arrow at it. It hissed and fell back out of sight.

    ¡°They will rush the stairwell,¡± Mikal observed.

    ¡°Duh!¡± Ziplocke snapped. He was now on Helga¡¯s broad shoulder.

    Jeze quickly updated Dunar on what she had discovered. The Darkness spell ended, and Dunar shot another Swamp Demon. More were appearing at the top of the stairs. Any moment now, the Proven would be swarmed.

    Dunar decided. ¡°Jeze, place a Darkness orb here. We will go and fight for the Portal.¡±

    From battling the Affliction aspect as they marched through the Mist while Controlling the Spirit aspect and the recent Darkness spell, Jeze¡¯s Will was strained. With gritted teeth, she was unable to Summon her spell.

    ¡°We need you to hurry, Jeze,¡± Mikal stated.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do it,¡± she replied, sweat beading on her forehead.

    Dunar and Helga were firing arrows now. They could hear the gathering forces at the top, and their time was running out.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I am the Prince of Darkness!¡± Ziplocke cackled.

    The others did not question the Goblin for offering aid without a price. Inwardly, Jeze worried what this would cost them later on. The Prince of Darkness? Was that a joke? She had to set aside her thoughts as the Proven hurried down the corridor toward the Portal, and Ziplocke seamlessly weaved an orb of pitch-black Darkness to cover the stairwell.

    The team ditched stealth as the heavily armored Frostsworn rushed down the hallway with the sound of rattling thunder. The noise undoubtedly alerted the Imps, and the Proven were met by the Thralls. It was a short brutal fight as Jeze and the others improved significantly since the first floor. The Thralls were dispatched with ease but the Imps Affliction magic weighed heavily upon the team¡¯s exhausted Wills.

    In the Portal chamber, Helga was distracted by the curse magic and she was struck on the side of her helmeted head by a warped mace. Rolfe impaled the Thrall, and Mikal Summoned his life aspect to aid the warrior maiden. Dunar hesitated and looked over his shoulder with fear of a rear attack, and Jeze threw a hand axe that thudded with a squishy sound into an Imp that was hidden in the shadows. This released Dunar from the Affliction, and the Leader whirled into the room like a deadly cyclone. Jeze killed a second Imp, and in moments, only the shimmering red Portal remained. The team had a rare moment of reprieve, but the sounds of Swamp Demons coming from the corridor reminded them of the imminent danger they were in. In a few moments, they will be engaged by the enemy.

    ¡°Helga and Rolfe guard the entrance. Mikal, guard the flanks and heal. Jeze, get to work on that Portal!¡± Dunar barked.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The team chanted back.

    ¡°We must hold them for as long as possible. They can not flank us!¡± Dunar stated.

    Jeze and the others nodded back. This chamber was big enough for them to be swarmed and surrounded.

    ¡°There is no rest for the wicked!¡± Ziplocke squealed.

    ¡°What does that even mean?¡± Mikal snapped.

    There was no time for discussion as Summoned thorny vines erupted into the chamber. Dunar and Helga expertly sliced the vines into pieces before they could entangle the Proven, and the incoming Swamp Demons were met by Rolfe¡¯s shield and Helldrake spear. Jeze knelt by the Portal and placed her tools on the ground as she started to work on the Portal Runes. An odd thing happened, a human head peeked out of the Portal and came face to face with Jeze. It was the same man that sabotaged the Floor Portal in the lava chamber.

    ¡°You!¡± Jeze cried, and her arm lashed out as fast as a striking snake to grab the stranger by his collar before he could retreat back into the Portal.

    She had so many questions that she ignored the fierce battle that was happening behind her. Jeze wanted to know who this man was. Did he work for the Empire? How was it that he was able to use the Monster Portal? Weren¡¯t they dangerous to humans? Finally, she wondered if this man murdered Seb and Jonah¡¯s team? That last thought fueled an intense rage inside her that caused her to shake.

    But, she forgot herself and overestimated her own strength. The strange hooded man pulled her in! Jeze was quick to release her grip, but not before she was halfway through the red Monster portal. She flinched, thinking that it would evaporate her, but nothing happened. Instead, she felt an intense dry heat hit her face as she found herself looking at a hellish red landscape dotted with onyx rocks. Behind the man were four other hooded figures. Jeze recognized the central one.

    ¡°Seize her!¡± The middle hooded figure cried in a high-pitched voice.

    Jeze scrambled back into the chamber, where her teammates fought for their lives. The hooded man followed her with strong hands and a curved knife, but Jeze was no stranger to wrestling. She sparred with Rolfe and Helga! Even though the hooded man was bigger than Jeze, he was nothing compared to what she was used to. Jeze easily broke free and sliced off the man¡¯s knife hand with her sword. He howled in pain as he retreated.

    ¡°Hurry up Jeze!¡± Dunar roared.

    The Proven were fighting for their lives. Jeze quickly finished the work she started on the Portal. She dug deep within her to gather and infuse her Will through the Channeling tools. Another hooded figure emerged through the Portal. This one was a man with a square jaw and beady eyes. He slashed with his sword just as Jeze¡¯s Will snapped into the Portal Runes. She flinched, and the curved blade missed her throat by mere inches to strike harmlessly off her armored shoulder. The man gasped as the Portal changed from Red to Blue. His torso fell to the ground. He was cut in half! She had repurposed the Portal and could only hope that the Guild would bring reinforcements.

    ¡°Jeze!¡± Dunar roared.

    This snapped her back to their dire situation, and Jeze gathered her axe and sword to take up her role and protect the team¡¯s left flank. Rolfe held the middle with Helga to his right and Dunar to his left. Mikal protected Helga¡¯s right flank, and Jeze took up her position beside Dunar on the left. She parried an attack with her axe and stabbed with her sword. Ducked a spear thrust and countered with an overhand chop of her battleaxe.

    The fight was continuous, with a never-ending sea of Swamp Demons rushing the Proven. As she fiercely fought beside Dunar to ensure that no Demons got past her to attack their flank, she had one thought sit in her mind like a trapped seed. It nagged at her even though she needed her focus to fight for her life. Stab, parry, evade, and chop. It was over and over, and Jeze felt her body become slower and slower as nicks, cuts, and wounds accumulated. She felt her blood dripping down her arms, legs, and face. But Jeze and the Proven continued to fight. They were Adventurer ranked! Their skill far outpaced the horde of Swamp Demons. But through all of that, the one thought remained in the corner of her mind. It was the image of Val, the Leader of the hooded saboteurs. A raging fire surrounded that seed in her head with the realization that Val murdered Seb and Jonah!

 Chapter 70: Evil Cultist

    Adventurers came through the Portal that Jeze had repurposed. The first groups to arrive were Initiate ranked and were shocked to enter a pitched battle. Some immediately came to the Proven¡¯s aid and reinforced the front line to prevent the Swamp Demons from overrunning the chamber. Others, who were Scavenger teams and guards for merchants, retreated back through the Portal.

    The Proven stayed in the fight and were pushed to the limit before the tides of battle shifted in their favor when Drake and the Empire¡¯s Special Forces arrived. These Adventurers were also Legionnaires and trained for large-scale battles. Four teams arrived, and they formed a spear wall with archers in the back. The Legionnaires fought with impeccable discipline, and eventually, they and the Proven pushed the Swamp Demons out of the tunnels. Jeze was not sure if she preferred death than to have fought alongside Drake.

    ¡°Sir! We have secured the perimeter around the stairwell above ground,¡± a soldier in jingling plate armor announced with his right arm to his chest and their posture straight like a pole.

    ¡°Excellent. Have Scout teams survey the bog for hidden Monster Portals. This level is teaming with Swamp Demons,¡± Drake responded.

    Jeze wanted to punch his smug face. She and the Proven refused medical aid from the Legionnaires and relied on Mikal and the Healing Broths to recover. Even though the fighting was long and intense, the Proven suffered minor injuries. Hannah¡¯s new set of armor held up extremely well and offered incredible protection. When the fighting was over, the Proven made camp within the Portal chamber. Rolfe and Helga were stitching minor tears in the team¡¯s armor. Jeze sat on her bedroll in her padded shirt and cloth pants. She groaned when Drake approached them.

    ¡°You should camp at the base while we secure this Dungeon. It is not safe yet, and we do not want anything to happen to you,¡± Drake suggested.

    ¡°Worry about yourself, and we discovered this Dungeon. We will not allow your filthy hands to touch the treasure that is ours by rights,¡± Jeze snapped.

    Drake arched an eyebrow in her direction. ¡°If I recall, it was my troops that rescued you and pushed the Swamp Demons out.¡±

    ¡°Oh ya? Well, you can take your recollections and shove them up your arse!¡± Helga responded.

    Ziplocke and the Proven laughed in glee. Drake shook his head and his Legionnaires glared. Dunar did not laugh and he rose to his full height and turned toward his team. The Proven Leader ignored the Legionnaire Captain.

    ¡°Proven! We rest for thirty more minutes, then gear up! We move out to explore this Dungeon,¡± he barked.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The others cheered back as one.

    Drake nodded and turned to go but paused. The dark-skinned Captain spoke from over his shoulder, ¡°Be careful. Lots of accidents can happen in these types of Dungeons.¡±

    ¡°Is that a threat?¡± Jeze roared as she rose to her feet. Drake¡¯s soldiers leveled their spears, and she was held back by Helga.

    Rolfe and Dunar approached Drake, and the Legionnaires tensed. Drake was a little shorter than Dunar, and Rolfe stood a head taller. The big Frostsworn warriors made a menacing pair even without their armor and weapons.

    Drake, to his credit, did not appear intimidated. He eyed the two and responded, ¡°No, not a threat. It was friendly advice.¡± He gave a smile that showed perfect white teeth and departed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t trust that man,¡± Rolfe said and added, ¡°He is a snake.¡±

    ¡°That he is,¡± Jeze growled.

    ¡°Oh, ho! Look who just arrived,¡± Helga pointed.

    Across the expansive chamber, Irvin, Lady Kalina, and Miss Heng arrived through the repurposed Portal. They were followed by members of the Runic Research Division. No other Amber Guard came with them.

    ¡°I heard that many of the Amber Guard joined teams to enter the Wandering Spire,¡± Rolfe pointed out.

    Mikal nodded. ¡°They say that we may not even get past the sixth floor for this Wandering Spire event.¡±

    Jeze scowled. ¡°We will finish all ten floors and seal away the Fiendish Lord for good,¡± she promised.

    ¡°Aye!¡± Rolfe and Helga cheered.

    Mikal shook his head and asked, ¡°Be reasonable. If the more experienced teams are struggling, how can we expect to succeed where they can¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Have faith, Micky! We gain in strength every day!¡± Hegla cried.

    ¡°That is true. We did well yesterday. Our Will is stronger, our combat skills much improved. Our conditioning allowed us to fight for many hours without fail. It is through our discipline that we are able to advance,¡± Dunar responded.

    Mikal shook his head and muttered, ¡°Fools.¡±

    Ziplocke fell over laughing. ¡°I just pictured the look on your faces when you realize you are in over your heads! Fools!¡±

    Jeze smiled. The Proven were used to Ziplocke¡¯s antics, and she fed him some paste. Irvin, Lady Kalina, and Miss Heng approached them. Jeze sighed. She was in no mood for an interrogation.

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    ¡°Report,¡± Miss Heng ordered. The Amber Guard looked tired, with bags under her eyes.

    Jeze snarled and looked away. But she decided to skip their usual back and forth. Jeze was too tired and battered to play the usual game with the Amber Guard. She described in detail what she saw through the Portal.

    ¡°Val?¡± Irvin asked with an arched bushy eyebrow.

    Jeze nodded.

    ¡°Are you certain?¡± Lady Kalina asked.

    ¡°Yes, I know who I saw,¡± the Scout answered.

    Miss Heng stated with a flat face, ¡°That is a harsh accusation, girl.¡±

    ¡°It is the truth!¡± Jeze snapped back. No matter what, the two will always get into an argument.

    ¡°A group with knowledge on how the portals work and that are actively trying to sabotage the Wandering Spire. To what purpose?¡± Irvin stated.

    Lady Kalina shook her head and responded, ¡°This is very concerning.¡±

    ¡°They want to set the Fiendish Lord free,¡± Jeze quietly said.

    All this time, she thought it was the Emperor trying to keep his family¡¯s secret that he was not immortal. How foolish she was to think that so much effort would be wasted over something so trivial. The real reason for Seb¡¯s murder and the sabotaging of the portals was that this group wanted to make it to the top unhindered. To free the Fiendish Lord! But what was Drake¡¯s role in all of this? Jeze wondered. Was he working with this mysterious group? Why else would he attack her and Raynor at the Pyramid? Jeze remembered that Drake did ask about her brother! What did Daverius discover to warrant an investigation from an Imperial Agent?

    Miss Heng snapped Jeze out of her thoughts and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Jeze looked up. The puzzle pieces were coming together, but much of the puzzle was still a mystery. ¡°At first, I thought the Runes sealing the Threshold in the Pyramid were faded overuse. But no, that was not the case. They were purposely marred to release the Demons.¡±

    ¡°What is she talking about?¡± Miss Heng asked Irvin and Lady Kalina.

    Irvin reminded the Amber Guard of the Pyramid where Jeze found the tome on the Portal Runes and Seb¡¯s report.

    ¡°The Dungeon in Narcadia?¡± Miss Heng asked, and Irvin nodded. ¡°You believe that this is somehow connected to that?¡± She asked.

    Jeze answered, ¡°I believe that Val and this group were the same ones that tampered with the Seals.¡±

    ¡°To what purpose?¡±

    Jeze was getting frustrated. ¡°Have you not been listening? To free the Fiendish Lord!¡±

    Her outburst drew the attention of the Legionnaires and Drake. The Captain came over and bowed before Miss Heng.

    ¡°Is everything alright here?¡± Drake asked.

    ¡°Sod off!¡± Jeze snapped.

    Dunar and the Proven rose up. Helga and Rolfe had just finished donning their armor. If they were intimidating without their gear, they were more so while armed and armored. Jeze could see the look of worry on the special forces Legionnaires.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Miss Heng exclaimed in a sharp voice that cracked the air like a whip. The Amber Guard rubbed her face, and for a moment, Jeze felt sorry for her. Miss Heng had a lot to deal with.

    ¡°The Legion will secure this area. This Dungeon needs to be explored. Lady Kalina and Irvin, gather all the evidence here and take it to the Runic Research Division below,¡± Miss Heng ordered and looked at Jeze.

    The teenager crossed her wiry, muscled arms and was prepared to be defiant. The Amber Guard sighed and departed without another word. She would let Jeze and the Proven do what they want. They were Adventurer Rank, after all, and she had no jurisdiction over them. Jeze grinned at that.

    ¡°It was good to see you again,¡± Irvin said to Jeze. The two hugged.

    ¡°Be careful,¡± the older man added before going with Lady Kalina.

    The Proven were left alone in their corner of the Portal Chamber. Merchants arrived and were setting up shop. However, for the moment no other adventurer teams came through.

    ¡°What now?¡± Jeze asked. She was eager to explore this Dungeon before it became crowded. As it stood now, it was only her team and four teams of Special Forces Legionnaires.

    ¡°We are waiting for you to put on your armor,¡± Mikal said with a scowl.

    Jeze glanced around and noticed that her team had already suited up. ¡°Right!¡± She exclaimed and began to strap on her armor.

    ¡°So, we have Demons, Cultists, and let us not forget that someone in the Empire wants to kill little Jezie here. Looks like we have our hands full!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    Dunar nodded and said, ¡°I think we might need to do some shopping before we head out.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure? If we wait any longer, we will miss this opportunity,¡± Rolfe whined.

    The large Protector looked with worry every time the Portal flashed. He sighed with relief when it was just a merchant squad and not an adventuring team.

    ¡°We have money, and we should invest in more tools. We did well today, but we are lucky to be alive,¡± Dunar said.

    Helga asked, ¡°Lucky? It was our skill and discipline, ya?¡±

    Rolfe agreed wholeheartedly with the Striker, and Mikal rolled his eyes. Ziplocke snickered and reminded everyone of his belief that they would fail no matter what.

    ¡°What did you have in mind?¡± Jeze asked.

    Dunar looked at her and answered, ¡°I was thinking when we came down the stairs, we could have been surrounded by Thralls and Swamp Demons. We were lucky you scouted this chamber first and that they were still mobilizing.¡±

    ¡°We do what Carl Jorgenson and Berserker Orn said. We keep moving and fighting,¡± Rolfe pointed out, and Helga agreed.

    Jeze was on the same page with Dunar and said, ¡°We can buy Runic traps.¡±

    ¡°Yes! Something to help us get into a better position,¡± the Leader agreed.

    ¡°Can you create Rune traps?¡± Mikal asked.

    Jeze snorted and replied, ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°She knows how to trigger them!¡± Ziplocke squeaked.

    Jeze ignored the Goblin and asked, ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°I saw a shop that made pre-made Runic trap patterns. They are like Channeling tools and require the final Glyphs and Will to activate,¡± Mikal replied.

    Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Are they big?¡±

    Mikal shook his head and answered, ¡°They should fit in our packs. Especially with our big ox here.¡± He tapped Rolfe¡¯s broad shoulder.

    ¡°I am strong like ox,¡± the Protector beamed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping,¡± Dunar said.

    ¡°What? We are not exploring this Dungeon?¡± Helga whined.

    ¡°Maybe we can find you something that will allow you to kill more monsters,¡± Jeze suggested.

    Helga¡¯s eyes went wide, ¡°oh ya!¡±

 Chapter 71: Everyday Magic

    The Proven walked through lines of merchants'' stalls hawking all manner of adventuring gear, and Jeze''s eyes went wide at the ingenuity. Just weeks earlier, she had seen many of the same contraptions, but they were way out of her price range. Now, she had money and could afford nearly all of it, from portable cabins that collapsed into a cube and could fit in a traveling pack to throwing axes that exploded upon impact.

    "I think we should spend time thinking about upgrading our equipment," Mikal said.

    "Ya!" Helga exclaimed. She stopped to watch a merchant that held a two handed axe that dripped with frost energy. The merchant placed the axe back on a rack and the steel returned to normal.

    Jeze shook her head and explained, "These weapons require charges and run out of power quickly. Also, see this here?" The Scout pointed to a line of intricately carved Runes along the haft of the axe.

    Helga nodded, and Jeze continued, "If any of these get damaged for any reason, the enchantment is destroyed."

    "No more ice magic?" Helga asked.

    "That''s right. That is the drawback of enchanted weapons. Rune Magic requires perfection, and any deviation from that will end the spell," Jeze answered.

    "But, Jeze, these Runes are etched into the steel," Rolfe pointed out.

    "Still could be scratched. But it does not need to be damaged to lose its enchantment. It could be dirt or blood getting into the ridges," Mikal replied.

    Jeze nodded at what the dark-haired Healer said. "That is correct. Rune magic demands perfection," she mentioned again.

    "Oh ya? Well, then, why do people buy this?" Helga asked.

    "Because hitting something with an ice axe is cool," Jeze answered.

    Dunar approached and studied the weapon and added, "This is good for short excursions. But for longer journeys we need something that is more reliable like our Frostsworn crafted weapons."

    "Nothing beats Frostsworn craftsmanship!" Rolfe boasted.

    Jeze had to agree. The axe that Carl Jorgenson had given her had held up true against Hellhounds, Thralls, and Swamp Demons. Helga was still not convinced and she picked up the ice axe.

    "How do I get the magic to work?" The Warrior maiden asked. The axe was a normal axe in her hands, and of less quality than the one she owned.

    The merchant, a beefy man with a thick red-haired beard, approached. "You tap the haft and make these shapes with your hand," he said and shaped two Glyphs in the air with his fingers.

    The axe head flared with white frost energy, and Jeze felt the cold from where she stood a few feet away. That was impressive magic, she thought. Helga''s eyes went wide.

    "You try," the merchant said. He deactivated the enchantment and handed Helga the axe.

    Helga tried the Glyphs and failed. The red-bearded merchant''s face crunched, and he asked, "Have you worked with Rune magic before?"

    Helga shook her head and a look of surprise showed on the merchant''s face. "How are you able to survive the Spire?" He asked.

    "I have Micky and Jezie here for Rune magic," Helga answered.

    "Not even to use tools?" The merchant wondered.

    "Only priests and sages use Runes in the Frozen North," Dunar explained.

    For Jeze, even in Narcadia, the backwater outskirts of the Empire, the people there used Rune magic in everyday life. The Frostsworn did not use enchantments? To live in the harsh frozen weather without everyday Rune magic? No wonder they were so tough.

    The merchant scoffed, but the sight of the large warriors caused him to reconsider his remarks. "Well, it''s easy enough to learn. This axe will serve you well for a mere three thousand ducats."

    Helga put the axe back on the rack and shook her head. The Proven moved on, and Jeze turned toward the dark-haired Healer.

    "Mikal, you never taught them?" She asked.

    "One can only teach those that want to learn," the Healer answered.

    "I want to learn," Rolfe stated.

    "Oh ya! Me too!" Helga chimed in.

    "Mikal and I will teach you," Jeze promised.

    "What? They wouldn''t be able to understand the complexities and patterns; we have better uses of our time," the Healer replied.

    "Everyone can learn," Jeze said. A gentle memory of how she taught the Old Hunter resurfaced briefly in her mind. It was followed by a brief moment of sadness that was like a soft spring breeze.

    Mikal became serious. "It takes years of training to be able to channel the Will into the Runes. I do not want them to get a false sense of aptitude. It will fail them at the worst moment."

    Ziplcoke laughed, and Jeze knew that the Demon had just pictured the look of shock on their faces when the Rune magic did not work and a monster ate them.

    "I won''t use it in combat, Micky. I do not think we should rely only on you or Jeze to use basic items, like the Water Bricks," Helga said.

    Rolfe agreed with a nod of his blonde head.

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    Mikal crossed his arms and snorted. "When we were younger, you all used to tease me for reading while you practiced axe fighting," he accused and added, "Now you want to learn from me."

    Dunar clasped the Healer''s shoulder in a firm but gentle grip. "We do," and he turned to the others, "But not now. We have wasted enough time already. Let us get what we need."

    The team replenished their Water Bricks and other provisions. Jeze purchased what appeared to be six circular stone tablets covered in Runes with a clear coin-sized crystal in their centers. They were the size of her two hands combined, and she gently wrapped them in a special cloth and placed them in her pack for easy access. The merchant called them Security Discs and the stone was made from the grinded bones of Imps. Jeze understood their complex overlapping Rune patterns, and if she had the proper materials and about three weeks of time, she could probably make one herself.

    "What do they do?" Rolfe asked.

    "They create an enchanted perimeter that is a little bigger than our camp. Anything entering the perimeter would be frozen in ice, like Mikal''s spell," Jeze answered.

    "What about when we are on the ice level?" Helga asked.

    "It should still work on the Demons there. The magic gets really cold, but I also have a Security Disc that generates a wall of fire," Jeze answered.

    That appeased the two Frostsworn warriors. The team debated over buying a Portable Cabin. It was the most expensive item that they had ever looked at, and it was a sizable chunk out of their savings. Jeze had seen these earlier when she was in Angston. The enchanted item was a cube-shaped box the size of her chest. It was layered with Runic enchantments and made from the hide of a Goreraptor. The Runes were infused with the blood of a Rover. This was an extremely complex Runic contraption made from rare and expensive Demon parts. When activated, it will create a small cabin with a firepit.

    "We are from the Frozen North. We can handle the cold," Rolfe argued.

    "Ya, let us save our money for weapons!" Helga added.

    "Fools! We live in longhouses with fire pits. Those who sleep outside end up dead," Mikal stated.

    Rolfe snorted. "Berserker Orn sleeps outside and stays warm with his Deep Breathing."

    "Ya, he once withstood a blizzard with nothing but his pants," Helga said.

    "Those are just tales!" Mikal snapped back.

    "No, they are true. I once saw Orn swim under the frozen ice of Lake Mjorns," Rolfe stated.

    ¡°We are not Berserker Orn!¡± Mikal cried.

    Dunar stepped in between them and stated, "I am with Mikal on this. It is best that we be safe and have this Portable Cabin. We may be injured and need a warm place to heal."

    Jeze nodded in agreement. This was mainly because she wanted to study the complex magic item. Ziplocke snickered from her shoulder. He loved it when the mortals argued. With a vote of three to two, the Proven purchased the Portable Cabin. Jeze was delighted to see that her Heat Box could warm the cabin. The team needed to purchase Mana Crystals to fuel them, just in case Mikal and Jeze were incapacitated.

    "Rolfe, Helga, and I will need to learn how to shape the Runes to activate these tools," Dunar stated.

    The Mana Crystals would fuel the enchantments, but they still needed to complete the Glyph patterns to activate. Jeze recalled from her brother that in the cities in the heart of the Golden Empire, every citizen knew basic Rune patterns to activate all the enchanted items that they used for everyday life. From frozen containers to store food to magic-powered wagons. The Frostsworn chose to live in the old ways. Maybe that was why they were so strong? Jeze wondered. Narcardia had cold winters, but her family used Heating Ovens to warm their homes and dry their clothes. The Proven headed back to the Safe Zone within the Dungeon on the Third Floor.

    "What do you think we will find in the dungeon beneath the Dragon Bones?" Rolfe wondered.

    "I told you! Even mighty Dragons are defeated by the Wandering Spire! You all are walking toward your doom!" Ziplocke shrieked from Jeze''s shoulder. The team ignored the Demon.

    "Did the Dragon die protecting the Dungeon or trying to get into it?" Jeze asked.

    Helga rubbed her hands together with a wide smile on her face. "Oh ya! There has to be something really good in there!" The warrior maiden exclaimed.

    "Anything connected to Dragons will be dangerous and a great opportunity for us. We must be careful and maintain our discipline," Dunar stated as they neared the Portal.,

    Rolfe nodded and said, "I have been thinking about the tales about Mount Dragon. They say the Dragon can walk in the shape of a man. What if it is the other way around?"

    "What are you talking about?" Mikal asked with a scowl.

    "That it is an Elite ranked adventurer with the power to shapeshift into a mighty dragon," Rolfe replied.

    Mikal scoffed. "Don''t be ridiculous. The Dragons were here before man and the Frozen All Father had to battle them in order to pave the era for mankind. That is why we celebrate and give thanks every Solstice. It is to honor the Frozen All-Father and the First Kings for their bravery and sacrifice."

    "What about the Queens? Do women not exist in your religious texts?" Jeze asked.

    Helga laughed out loud. Her bosom heaved with the effort.

    "The Daughters of the All-Father taught us how to prepare meals and create a home," Mikal explained.

    "Figures," Jeze snorted. She preferred Rune magic and fighting.

    The Proven arrived at the Portal and were shocked to see that it was not operated by a Guild perfunctory, but instead, it appeared to be guarded by Legionnaires. There were four soldiers who barred the entrance with spears.

    "This Portal is off limits by order of the Empire," a plate-armored Legionnaire stated when the Proven approached.

    He appeared to be an officer and was equipped with better gear. The other three soldiers wore hardened leather armor and were armed with spears and side swords. Jeze guessed the plate-armored Legionnaire to be Initiate ranked and a member of the Empire''s Special Forces. The other soldiers appeared to be Prospect-ranked and not full-fledged members of the Guild.

    "We are not in the Empire," Dunar responded.

    "Use another Portal," the officer growled.

    The lower-ranked soldiers appeared nervous by the close proximity of the tall and powerfully built Frostsworn. Except for the officer, Jeze admired that man''s bravery, but she wondered if things were so bad for the Guild that the Empire was able to move in and take control over certain Portals. In response to the officer, Dunar simply nodded to Rolfe and Helga, and the two moved into action from the unspoken command. Helga grabbed the officer and easily tossed him to the side as Rolfe shoved the remaining three soldiers. They toppled like dominos to the floor, and the way to the Portal was clear.

    "How dare you!" The officer roared, spittle flying from his lips as he rose to his feet. He was about to draw his two-handed sword when Helga''s axe blade came within inches from his face.

    "No, no. Be nice and don''t move, ya?" She growled.

    Rolfe snarled, and the other three soldiers scrambled away. Two even left their spears behind, and Ziplocke laughed at that. Without further dialogue, the Proven walked through the Portal and into the wide chamber where upon their arrival, dozens of Empire Legionnaires turned to face them.

    "You are not allowed here," another plate armored officer stated.

    The surrounding soldiers leveled their spears. These were the Empire''s Special Forces, and they were all at least Initiate ranked.

    "We should have seen this coming," Mikal muttered.

    "Proven! Form up!" Dunar barked as he unslung his shield and drew his axe.

    The team readied their weapons and moved into position with disciplined ease. Rolfe, Dunar, and Helga stood in front and they thumped their shields, the sound resonating throughout the chamber.

    "Do not be foolish. You are outnumbered!" The armored officer sneered.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Dunar roared.

    "Hurrah!" The team loudly chanted back.

 Chapter 72: Special Forces Legionnaires

    The wise choice would have been for the Proven to retreat back through the Portal. They could have enlisted allies and returned. Or, they could have sought out the Guild officials and had them deal with the Legionnaires and the Empire. Another more rational option was that the Proven could have entered through the other Third Floor portal and found another Dungeon. It was rumored that there were plenty within the Spire.

    But the Frostsworn loved to fight, and as Adventurers, they knew that the only way to get better was through the fire of adversity and facing hard challenges. So the team advanced further into the chamber and were surrounded by the spear tips of Legionnaires. Jeze counted twenty soldiers. Ten formed a spear wall in a semi-circle in front of them. Another five that were armed with crossbows moved to flank them on their left. The flank she was designated to protect. The final five stood guard by the entrance to the corridor that led further into the Dungeon. It was where the Proven wanted to go.

    Luckily, the Legionnaires they bullied outside did not follow them through the Portal; otherwise, they would have been surrounded. But they could be getting reinforcements, and it would only be a matter of time. The Proven had no choice but to quickly make it into the Dungeon. Jeze noted that the five guarding the corridor were the Special Forces Legionnaires. They wore plate armor, and three carried tower shields that glowed with Runic magic. One was armed with a two-handed sword, and the fifth soldier wielded a staff etched with Runes. The rest of the Legionnaires were regular soldiers, most likely Prospect ranked at best. The Empire bringing the Legion into the Spire was a concern.

    "Jeze, take care of the archers," Dunar ordered.

    The command shook her out of her thoughts. "You got it," Jeze replied.

    Dunar stood in front of her, and next to him was the giant Rolfe, who thumped his shield with his spear as they marched. It was like the beating sound of approaching doom. Beside Rolfe was Helga, who held a shield and readied her heavy Devil''s Steel Mace. When the time was right, she could ditch the shield and wreak havoc with her two-handed weapon. Mikal stood behind her with his spear and Channeling tools at the ready. The Legionnaire Archers leveled their crossbows, but before they could fire, they were knocked over and scattered by Jeze''s Boulder spell. The sound of the giant rock striking the ground thundered throughout the chamber. Two archers were knocked out cold, and the remaining three attempted to regroup.

    "Stay down," Jeze warned them and launched another boulder that knocked the remaining archers away from their weapons.

    A bright light appeared above the Legionnaires that blazed like the sun and blinded the Proven. A command was issued in a deep voice and the spearman charged. Jeze immediately Summoned an orb of Darkness to negate the light spell as Mikal completed a series of Glyphs in rapid succession and the charging spearmen slowed as they were encased in chilling frost.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Dunar roared.

    "Hurrah!" The Proven chanted back as they engaged the shocked Legionnaires.

    The spearmen did not stand a chance as the Proven crashed through them like an avalanche. Helga''s mighty swings sent groups of soldiers tumbling to the sides like scattered leaves in a windstorm. Rolfe and Dunar barreled and smashed with their shields that knocked soldiers aside. Jeze, armed with sword and axe, dashed in low to hook the remaining soldiers by the legs to trip them. She took down three Legionnaires in quick succession. In mere moments the ten spearmen were wounded, bleeding, or unconscious.

    "Form up!" Dunar barked.

    Helga retrieved her shield, and the Proven immediately moved into formation. They stood a few short yards away from the five Special Forces Legionnaires.

    "Out of respect to the Guild, we spared the soldiers," Dunar stated.

    "Hurrah!" The rest of the team deeply chanted back, Helga and Rolfe thumping their shields. It made for an intimidating sight.

    "Move aside and allow us to pass," Dunar ordered.

    Jeze knew the Special Forces soldiers would not stand down. She could see it in their eyes. The soldiers they just fought looked like scared deer before the pack of wolves. The five Legionnaires standing before them had a look that was familiar to Jeze. It was one that she and the Proven had. One of anticipation and excitement, and they wanted to be tested! Jeze was confident that she and the Proven were more skilled, and the concern for her was the magical gear the Legionnaires possessed. Plus, the Rune caster. He appeared to be in his thirties, and based on his previous spell, he was quite skilled. Jeze saw him tap his rod and perform gestures. The fight was starting!

    Dunar saw the same thing as Jeze and ordered, "Dire Wolf pattern, Charge!"

    The Proven trained countless hours through dozens of formations. The Dire Wolf pattern was one of their more spread out tactics. It was geared to face Rune magic where they were more vulnerable if they were clustered together. Helga switched to a two-handed grip of her mace as Rolfe and Dunar crashed their shields against the armored Legionaries and exchanged weapon attacks. Jeze circled to the left and Summoned two mounds of dirt. One beside her, and the other behind the Legionnaires.

    The Legionnaire caster completed the final Glyph, and a crack of Thunder resonated throughout the chamber as arcs of lightning zapped Rolfe and Dunar. The Storm aspect, Jeze recognized. If the team maintained their close formation, all of them would have been affected by the magic. The electrical attacks shocked the two Frostsworn warriors, and they gritted their teeth as their bodies spasmed and smoke trailed off their armor. All Rune magic can be resisted through Will, and the two warriors have strengthened their Will tremendously from battling through the Mist. But the Storm spell stunned them long enough to be attacked ruthlessly by the three Shield-bearing Legionnaires. Spear blades snuck past Rolfe and Dunar''s shields to strike their armor plates with some that drew blood.

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    Mikal Summoned his Life aspect and healed the two warriors as Helga launched forward with incredible speed. The powerful warrior maiden slammed her two-handed mace against the Legion''s shields and forced the warriors back. She hammered into them and forced one soldier to fall to their knees. The Legionnaire armed with the two-handed sword saw an opportunity to attack the Proven''s exposed flank. He prepared his large blade for a powerful swing that would have sliced through armor and bone like a hot knife through butter. Before he could attack, he was struck in the chest by a Boulder and knocked off his feet. The two-handed sword Legionnaire rose quickly to his feet with a snarl. Jeze was impressed.

    Rolfe and Dunar recovered from the Storm aspect spell and began to overpower the two shield Legionnaires. The Legion Rune caster began to shape more Glyphs in the air. The third shield warrior was still on their knees and Helga had a clear line to attack the caster! She charged, but the Legionnaire''s shield flashed with silver energy, and a pulse of force emanated outwards to knock Helga backward. The caster completed his spell, and a half dozen copies of the two-handed fighter sprang forth from the large Legionnaire.

    "Illusions!" Jeze cried out. This came from the Light aspect.

    Multiple sword-welding Legionnaires swarmed Dunar and Jeze. The teenager Shaped the mound of dirt that was across the chamber into Stone fists. The Illusions engaged Dunar first, and the Leader blocked several attacks that passed through him. He couldn''t tell which one was real! The Empire Rune caster began to form another spell but was struck in the back of the head by Jeze''s Stone fist. The caster fell face-first to the floor. Dunar hissed in pain as the real sword fighter stabbed him in the side. Dunar swung his axe, but the Legionnaire faded back into the group of illusions and was lost.

    Rolfe barreled into the two shield fighters and protected Dunar''s right flank. The large Protector was taking hits to his armored sides, but he also delivered blows of his own. For the moment, he occupied the two Legionnaires. Mikal healed Dunar, and Helga hammered away at the third Shield warrior. Jeze gritted her teeth as she aimed her attacks at the Illusions. It was challenging to launch attacks from across the room, and she hoped that she wouldn''t strike her teammates. The missiles flew through the air and caused several illusions to shimmer and fade away to reveal the real sword fighter.

    The two Legionnaires activated the force enchantments on their shields, and the combined force nearly knocked the giant Rolfe off his feet. But the Protector maintained his balance and slid backward. The Legionnaire that faced Helga activated his shield, but the warrior maiden barreled through the Force enchantment and knocked the soldier out with a heavy bash of her mace. Helga howled like a Dire wolf and joined Rolfe to face.

    Despite Mikal''s healing, Dunar was still wounded and was restricted in his movements. He faced the sword fighter with a serious handicap. The large Legionnaire activated an enchantment that caused his blade to be laced with electrical energy. When Dunar batted an attack aside with his axe, an arc of lightning sparked up the Leader''s arm, which caused him to drop his weapon. Dunar dodged a second blow and stumbled back with only his shield.

    "Jeze, I need to see to Dunar in order to treat him properly. Please occupy the big sword fighter," Mikal commanded.

    "I''ll do one better. I''ll beat him," Jeze growled as she unhitched one of her hand axes and drew her sword.

    "Yeah, whatever. Now go!" Mikal responded.

    The Legionnaire twirled his electrical sword in the air with masterful grace, and Dunar barely dodged the deadly attacks. The Leader was off balanced and when it looked like had no choice but to block the shocking attack with his shield, Jeze struck the sword fighter in the chest with a hand axe. The weapon bounced off the armor but it was enough to cause a distraction.

    "Be careful of that blade," Dunar cautioned as he stumbled toward Mikal.

    Jeze nodded and readied her battle axe and sword. The Legionnaire chuckled at the sight of a young teenage girl standing before him. He was nearly as big as Dunar and towered over Jeze.

    "You got to be kidding," he stated.

    Jeze charged with a growl, and the Legionnaire quickly brought up his electrical blade. He fought well with the sword, Jeze reflected, but the only reason he was able to beat Dunar was because of the sword''s enchantment and the fact that Dunar was wounded. The illusion tactic the Legion used was effective, but that was negated when their caster was taken out of the fight. Jeze deftly stopped her charge as her opponent lashed out with his blade. The Legionnaire flicked the longsword with ease and skill. Jeze circled to find an opening.

    The Legionnaire had a significant size and reach advantage, and Jeze needed to get past the magically enchanted blade in order to score a hit. Getting close had its own problems, as the Legionnaire was powerfully built and much stronger. If he grabbed her, she could be in trouble. If Jeze was a normal person, she would not take this fight. But she was not normal. She was Adventurer ranked and highly skilled.

    Jeze also had her Rune magic to call upon, but she wanted to test her weapon skills, and she knew that she didn''t need much time because Rolfe and Helga would make short work of the remaining two shield warriors. The Legionnaire was fast and quick with his sword, but Jeze was faster. She danced around him, just staying within range, and she eluded all of his attacks. Then it happened. Jeze saw the shock enchantment wear off. That was the drawback of enchanted weapons. They didn''t last long. But, more importantly, they created a dependency within the wielder. The Legionnaire lunged, and he was not prepared for his blade to be deflected. Jeze redirected the attack with her sword and chopped with her axe at the less protected wrist joints. The Frostsworn blade bit through the mail and cut flesh. The Legionnaire howled in pain but continued his momentum with the hope of tackling his smaller opponent.

    The two collided, and Jeze was prepared. Countless hours were spent wrestling with the enormous Frostsworn, and she knew how to use her speed to redirect and throw off balance a larger opponent. Jeze ducked into the man''s waist and shifted her weight to cause the Legionnaire to stumble past her. He grabbed her, but she twisted and placed her full weight on his chest as he landed on his back. The Legionnaire bucked and tried to throw her off, but Jeze moved too quickly and repositioned herself back on top with her sword gripped in two hands, ready to plunge into the Legionnaire''s throat.

    "I yield," he gasped.

    "Good work, Jezie!" Helga exclaimed.

    Her team had already defeated the remaining Legionnaires and they formed a semi circle to watch Jeze fight. She did not know how long they were watching.

    "Took you long enough. You need to work on your technique," Mikal admonished.

    Jeze scowled at the Healer, and Ziplocke cackled with mischievous joy. The Portal flashed as more soldiers entered. These were not the Special Forces units but regular soldiers in hardened leather armor. The sight of twenty defeated soldiers, including a Special Forces Team, caused the arriving Legionnaires to remain where they stood.

    The armored officer that Helga tossed earlier arrived through the Portal. "Don''t just stand there! Seize them!" He cried.

    None of the soldiers made a move. Rolfe and Helga chuckled at that.

    Dunar was fully recovered with the aid of Mikal''s Life aspect. The Leader glanced at the growing number of Legionnaires that were entering the chamber.

    "Lets go," he ordered and led the Proven out of the chamber and deeper into the Dungeon that rested beneath the bones of a Dragon.

 Chapter 73: Adventurers Honor

    "Why are you standing around?!?! Seize them!" The Legionnaire officer cried.

    The Proven were making their way out of the chamber and Jeze heard the Special Forces soldier that fought with the two-handed sword respond.

    "She had me dead by rights but spared me. By my honor, I will not intervene."

    Jeze smiled at that. She defeated a much larger opponent and she wondered if she had the skill to take on Drake. Jeze''s fighting and Rune casting have improved tremendously since Narcadia. Will she hit Adept rank like her brother? Jeze also wondered.

    "There is fighting up ahead," Dunar observed.

    The comment snapped Jeze out of her daydreaming and she heard the clashing sounds of combat. Steel on steel and the grunts of effort and pain. Up ahead was the entrance chamber where Jeze knocked over the Mist making Cauldron. She recalled that the chamber branched off in two other directions. Did the Swamp Demons make another push to take control of this Dungeon? Jeze wondered.

    "Form up!" Dunar barked.

    The Proven moved into formation and walked steadily down the twisting corridor, and the sounds of fighting grew louder and then stopped. The Proven turned the final corner and saw what had made the commotion. They came upon Lady Kalina and four other adventurers. Jeze recognized the largest of the group, who was a little bigger than Dunar, but smaller than Rolfe and Helga. It was Alcard, the thick bearded Templar that lost the duel to Swordslayer. The one she saved from dying with her Life aspect spell.

    There was another female on the team who had similar features as Lady Kalina, with short dark hair and high cheekbones. Was this her younger sister? Jeze wondered. In contrast to Lady Kalina''s light padded armor, the younger woman wore heavy mail armor and was armed with a rune-covered warhammer and a small circular steel buckler. The remaining two members appeared to be Protectors in heavy armor and armed with swords and shields. They wore the same earth colors as Alcard, and Jeze wondered if they were also Templars, but she did not see any Runes on them. Lady Kalina and her squad just defeated the Legionnaires that were guarding the entrance. The soldiers were moaning on the ground, their lives spared.

    "Lower your weapons," Lady Kalina ordered her team. The Ironfist Kingdom warriors obeyed without hesitation.

    Dunar nodded to the Proven, and they did the same. Jeze saw Alcard staring at her. She scowled at him, and he gave a slight nod.

    "Lady Kalina, it is good to see you," Dunar greeted.

    The Guild Official nodded and said, "This is my team from the Ironfist Kingdom. The Templar is Alcard. This is my younger sister, Mina, and the two men-at-arms are Joff and Cris."

    The Proven introduced themselves and shook hands with the Ironfist Kingdom team.

    "Why has the Empire sent their Legion here? Is that even allowed?" Dunar asked.

    The warriors in Lady Kalina''s group snorted and scowled. Lady Kalina''s younger sister, Mina, spat on the floor. There was no love between the Golden Empire and the Ironfist Kingdom.

    "They want to own everything, including the Spire," Alcard responded in the raspy voice of one that had their throat cut. The "X" shaped scar was deep and visible on his throat. The mark from Swordslayer.

    It was quiet for the moment, but each team knew that more Legionnaires would soon be arriving. The unspoken tension was the current Dungeon. Which team had the right to explore it? There were two unexplored tunnels, so they both could continue, but would the Ironfist team make a claim to all of it?

    "What is your interest here?" Dunar asked.

    Lady Kalina glanced at her colleagues. Mina shook her head, and Alcard shrugged his broad shoulders. Joff and Cris crossed their arms and shook their heads in agreement with Mina.

    "A dungeon underneath the bones of a Dragon is not reason enough to be here?" Lady Kalina responded, the rare twinkle of mirth behind her normally serious eyes.

    "That''s what I said!" Rolfe exclaimed. The large Protector oblivious to the building unease between the two groups.

    Dunar narrowed his gray eyes and said, "I sense you know more. Share with us, and perhaps we could offer assistance?"

    Lady Kalina and her team turned silent. Jeze reflected that they were not very good at controlling their emotions, for it was clear that they were hiding something. Mina scowled, Lady Kalina remained impassive like a stone, and the others shifted their feet uncomfortably as if they stole cookies from grandma''s jar. Alcard sighed and motioned a gauntleted hand toward Jeze.

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    "That one saved my life. I see no reason to keep secrets," He explained.

    Cris and Joff''s faces softened, and they uncrossed their arms. Mina''s scowl deepened.

    "What does that have to do with us?" She demanded.

    Mina was hot-headed! Jeze liked her already.

    "Secrets?" Dunar asked with an arched eyebrow.

    Kalina waved her hand in the air and sighed. "They are being dramatic," she said with a glare that silenced her sister from further objections.

    The Guild official continued, "We in the Ironfist Kingdom have an interest in Dragons."

    "I told you," Rolfe said and nudged Mikal. The Healer nearly toppled over.

    "You can say we have a long history," Alcard added.

    "Are you familiar with the tale of Mount Dragon?" Lady Kalina asked.

    Rolfe perked up and said, "The Dragon Eclipse slumbers at its peak, and you are afraid to awaken him."

    Lady Kalina nodded and replied, "That is the basic tale, but there is more. We believe that Dragons have the ability, like the Spire, to travel in between realms. But, something happened to Eclipse, which has trapped him in our realm."

    "It has weakened him, and so he slumbers. But when he awakens, he remembers his plight and becomes enraged. Every hundred years, Eclipse has ravaged the lands of the Ironfist Kingdom," Alcard stated.

    "You are afraid that he will awaken again? You are hoping to find in this Dungeon a way to either fight him or allow him to leave?" Jeze asked.

    "Very astute," Ziplocke whispered into her ear.

    This startled the teenager, for she had forgotten about the Goblin, and she did not feel him on her shoulder. Jeze assumed he was hiding in the Shadows, but he must have been clinging to her pack. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that her pack was shrouded in the dark recesses of the chamber, and Ziplocke''s red eyes glowed briefly to alert her of his presence. This unnerved her for some reason. She always sensed that there was something more to Ziplocke, and his mischievousness was an act to hide something deeper. The conversation snapped her out of her thoughts.

    "What is the Empire''s interest here?" Dunar wondered.

    Lady Kalina and Alcard shrugged. Helga glanced down at a moaning soldier. The large warrior maiden grabbed the hapless man and slammed him against the wall.

    "Please don''t kill me! I surrender!" The soldier pleaded.

    "Tell us why the Empire is here!" Helga demanded.

    "I don''t know anything! I''m just a lowly soldier!"

    Helga pressed him harder against the wall.

    "We were told that there was treasure and wealth here!" The soldier whimpered.

    Helga pressed him even harder, and Jeze worried that the man would burst.

    "I heard the Legion believes that there is something in here that will allow us to control the Spire! By the Holy Emperor, you are so strong!" The soldier gasped.

    "Oh ya! That is so sweet of you to say that!" Helga beamed and pulled the man into a fierce hug against her ample bosom. In moments, the soldier was unconscious.

    "Oops, sorry, little man," the warrior maiden said as she gently laid the sleeping Legionnaire on the ground.

    Jeze looked up at the sound of movement coming from the Portal chamber down the hallway. "We don''t have much time. More Legionnaires will be here at any moment," she alerted the others.

    Lady Kalina turned to Dunar and said, "There are two tunnels here. Adventurer''s Honor. You pick which one you want, and we will take the other."

    Mina appeared that she was about to protest but was stopped by a fierce glare from her sister. Ziplocke cackled with glee and all eyes turned to the Goblin on Jeze''s shoulder.

    "What is that?!?" Alcard demanded. Mina, Cris, and Joff readied their weapons. It was their first time seeing the Goblin.

    Lady Kalina, who met Ziplocke before, waved them down and Jeze answered, "He is my familiar."

    "You can have him or slay him," Mikal muttered.

    Ziplocke glared at the Healer and continued to snicker. "It''s so funny what happened to that soldier!"

    Dunar shook his head and studied the tunnel options. Ziplocke''s snickering died, and when the others were not paying attention to him, he whispered into Jeze''s ear. "Take the tunnel on the left."

    She glanced at the Goblin, and he appeared more somber than usual. She wanted to ask why, but Dunar would make his decision and if she wanted answers, she would need to act soon.

    "I say we take the left one," Jeze blurted out, and all eyes turned to her. She added, "It is just a hunch."

    Dunar studied Jeze for a moment with his gray eyes and nodded.

    "Very well, we will take the middle. If you discover anything that can help us with Eclipse, please share. We will pay if necessary," Lady Kalina said.

    "Aye, it will be our honor to aid you in your cause," Dunar responded.

    "Thank you, noble Frostsworn," Alcard said. He clasped hands with Dunar, and the Ironfist kingdom team departed down their corridor.

    "Proven, form up!" Dunar ordered.

    Jeze took the lead to scout ahead with the others close behind her. Ziplcoke was full of unusual energy as he hopped along beside her and snickered with joy. Jeze heard the Demon mutter, "It is all coming together."

    "What is?" She asked.

    Ziplocke glanced at her with a glint in his red eyes, and he snickered, "These Dungeons are notoriously difficult. I just pictured the looks on your faces when you fail!" He cackled at his comment.

    Jeze felt that the Goblin was hiding something, but she couldn''t reflect on it for long because her attention was needed at the moment. She returned to studying the tunnel before her as the team marched deeper into the Dungeon under the Dragon bones.

 Chapter 74: Core Tunnels

    Jeze led the Proven down the long tunnel that led to a wide stairwell that sloped downwards. There were lines as thick as Jeze''s arms that ran along the walls and gave off a faint silver glow that illuminated the area. The steps were made out of carved stone that looked familiar. Jeze couldn''t place where she saw similar-shaped steps that were made out of gold sandstone. Then it occurred to her.

    "These are like the steps in the Pyramid!" She exclaimed to Zipocke. The Goblin rested on her shoulder. It seemed like a lifetime ago when she explored the odd ruins by her home. Her first adventure that set her off on becoming a Guild member. Now she was Adventurer ranked! And she was considered by most to be seasoned and experienced.

    "You alright, Jeze?" Dunar asked. The team waited a few meters behind her.

    "I''m fine," she replied back.

    "Can you hurry up? We don''t have all day," Mikal stated.

    Jeze scowled over her shoulder and knelt to retrieve the Pyramid tome from her backpack. She skimmed through it in the hopes of finding any information about other Pyramid locations. From weeks of reading the pages, Jeze learned how to decipher the Runes without Ziplocke''s aid. The Tome was several hundreds of pages long, and Jeze was pressed for time. She closed it without finding any answers. They continued deeper for many more steps until they finally arrived at leveled ground. It was another corridor that was illuminated by the strange glowing lines.

    "This reminds me of the first floor," Rolfe observed.

    "Ya," Helga agreed.

    "Why are we not moving?" Mikal complained.

    Jeze scowled at the Healer from over her shoulder and replied, "I hear something up ahead."

    Dunar approached her as stealthily as a large armored Frostsworn warrior could move. It was not silent at all. His armor rattled, and his heavy boots thudded on the stone floor. Dunar came near Jeze, and he smelled of sweat and jingling steel. He squinted his eyes and held up his glow stick. The Leader carried one just in case the mysterious glow lines turned off.

    "That''s strange," Dunar observed.

    In front of them was a haze of shadowy Darkness that the light from the glow stick could not penetrate. Just beyond, they could hear faint scuffling sounds.

    "Was that groaning?" Jeze asked.

    Dunar nodded and activated a second glow stick from his pack. He tossed it into the haze and it disappeared completely as if it was engulfed in a heavy blanket.

    "What is that?" Rolfe asked. The others moved up to their position.

    "The Darkness aspect. Jeze, you can Shape it away," Mikal said.

    "I know!" She snapped back.

    Jeze actually didn''t think about that because the haze before her was a deep violet. She was not sure if it was connected to the Darkness aspect. But what else could it be? Before she attempted to push her Will into it, she turned to Ziplocke.

    "Is that the Darkness aspect?" Jeze asked quietly.

    The Goblin snickered and replied, "We will see, no?"

    "Great, Jeze can''t Shape it," Mikal muttered.

    Jeze growled and, tapped her onyx ring and completed the final glyphs in the air with her fingers. She reached out with her Will, and with gritted teeth, Jeze Shaped the Darkness. Sweat beaded on her forehead, but her Will was much stronger now from weeks of combat casting, and Jeze parted the thick blanket of Shadows to reveal a circular chamber with a door on the opposite end.

    "Oh my," Helga gasped.

    The moaning came from a horribly burned Legionnaire as he crawled toward them. The Soldier left a streak of his melted flesh and blood on the stone floor as he reached toward them with a mangled hand. Behind the tortured man were four charred corpses that appeared to have stabbed each other with their spears.

    "Mikal?" Dunar asked, though the Leader already knew the answer.

    The Healer shook his head. "There is nothing I can do."

    Dunar stepped forward and ended the severely burned Legionnare''s misery with a swift sword thrust. The Leader wiped his blade clean before he sheathed it. The room still glowed with a reddish hue. That was when Jeze realized that it was the Affliction aspect mixed in with the Darkness aspect!

    "This is like the Mist! But with Shadows!" Jeze explained. The Mist was a mixture of the Affliction and Water aspects. This curse spell was mixed with the Darkness aspect.

    That was why it appeared as a heavy purple curtain, and the answer came to her. The Legionnaires had triggered a Rune trap! Dunar was about to enter the chamber.

    "Stop!" Jeze cried, and the Leader paused. "Let me clear it first," she added.

    She tapped her Affliction ring and shaped the Glyphs in the air. Jeze reached out with her Will and Shaped the Madness spell to disperse. With suppressed horror, she entered the chamber and moved in between the grotesque burned corpses. The smell of burned human flesh was something that she would never get used to, she realized. But Jeze was an Adventurer, and Adventurers go into dark places.

    "Does this look familiar?" Ziplocke hissed.

    Jeze was surprised that he followed her into the chamber. Normally, the Goblin stood back. Something was odd about him, but she nodded. The Rune trap was on the door, and it was exactly like the ones she had disarmed in the Pyramid. It was a mixture of Affliction, Darkness, and Fire. The realization hit Jeze. Those were the aspects that Ziplocke used!

    "Did Goblins make these tunnels?" She asked and added, "Did they make the Pyramid?"

    Ziplocke snickered, "Focus on the Rune trap, or you will end up like these poor fools."

    Jeze did not want to be sidetracked and wanted to push Ziplocke for more answers. But she heard Mikal grumble that they were wasting time. The Healer was right, Jeze admitted to herself. The Golden Empire was interested in this Dungeon, and more Legionnaires could arrive at any moment. Time was of the essence. Jeze used her Amber resin to alter the Runes, and she felt her Will snap into place as the Trap was deactivated. She motioned to her team that it was safe to enter the chamber.

    "What happened here?" Rolfe asked.

    Mikal studied the room and answered, "The Rune trap filled the room with Fire, Madness, and Darkness."

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    Jeze added, "It was triggered when they tried to open the door."

    Helga shook her head, "That is a terrible way to go."

    Mikal took the time to administer final rites to the fallen soldiers. "May the Frozen All-Father guide you to the next life and beyond," he prayed over each body.

    "They were from the Golden Empire and most likely worshiped their immortal Emperor," Jeze pointed out.

    "Their ignorance in life does not mean that their eternal souls should suffer," Mikal responded as he knelt over another body to pray.

    "Jeze, can you open the door?" Dunar asked before she could make a wise retort about religion to the Healer.

    The Scout nodded and pulled out her lockpick set. Jeze went to work on the door and tapped into her Earth aspect ring to shape the steel pylons within the lock. In moments, there was an audible "click."

    "Door is open," she said and backed away.

    Dunar nodded and ordered, "Proven, form up!"

    Rolfe took the lead with Helga and Dunar at his sides. Mikal and Jeze fell in behind them. The giant Protector held his shield in his left hand, reached out with his free right hand to open the door, and paused.

    "Are you sure it''s no longer trapped?" He asked.

    Ziplocke snickered, "Only one way to find out!"

    Jeze arched an eyebrow and asked, "Are you doubting me as well?"

    "He is getting wiser," Mikal joked.

    Jeze stuck her tongue out at the Healer and said, "I can open the door if you like."

    "No, we do not break formation. Go ahead, Rolfe," Dunar stated.

    The Protector opened the door, and it led to another dark corridor. The glow lines along the walls flickered on and showed that it led to another chamber that branched off in three directions. The Proven picked a direction, and Jeze scouted ahead with her team close behind her. Dunar mapped their progress as they trekked along multiple twisting corridors for over an hour. Finally, they arrived at a dead-end chamber with a pile of rubble in its center. The room had the same glowing lines as all the others, except only half worked, which created ominous shadows. When the Proven entered the chamber, they discovered the skeletal remains of long-dead warriors in rusty armor and severely damaged weapons.

    "Was this a Portal?" Dunar asked.

    Jeze studied the rubble and the Runes on the floor. "I think so, but different from the ones we have seen so far," she answered.

    "What does that mean?" Mikal asked.

    "It means I need time to study!" Jeze snapped back.

    Dunar looked over his team. They were tired. They fought hard earlier and ever since they have been marching on edge through corridors and chambers. They were in a single entry and exit chamber which meant they only needed to guard one access point.

    "We won''t be surrounded here," the Leader spoke his thoughts out loud.

    "But we will be trapped with no escape route," Mikal, ever the pessimist, pointed out.

    "Ya! But, it''s not like we will rest here long," Helga added.

    "I could use a moment to take a breath," Rolfe added. It was a significant statement, considering the Protector fought several times on the brink of death.

    "Resting in the Spire! That is when bad things happen! I can''t wait to see the looks on your faces when you get swarmed!" Ziplocke cackled with devious delight.

    The team ignored him and set up camp. Mikal handed out recovery broths as Helga and Rolfe prepared a meal over the magical cooker that Jeze had purchased. It was a good way for them to practice using Glyphs to activate a magical tool. Dunar stood vigilant and guarded the corridor as Jeze studied the Tome she retrieved from the Pyramid. Jeze discovered something.

    "This area is known as a Core Tunnel, and I believe this was a Core Portal," she explained.

    "What does a Core Tunnel and Portal do?" Mikal asked.

    The Healer was not familiar with the Portal aspect but knew enough of Runic magic to understand when given a proper explanation. The others paused as well to listen. Even Dunar glanced over his shoulder to hear what Jeze had to say.

    She looked up from the Tome and replied, "Remember how I told you that the Wandering Spire is an invasion vessel called the Stronghold, and It is used by the Abyssal Fiends to invade other realms?"

    "Yes, and the Ones from Before had found a way to sabotage the magic and Seal away the Fiendish Lord. But now the Seals are wearing off, and the Spire''s erratic magic causes it to appear every five years," Mikal answered.

    "You were listening to me," Jeze observed with a warm smile.

    "Yea, on occasion. Don''t let it go to your head," Mikal admonished back.

    "Are these skeletons the remains of the Ones from Before?" Rolfe asked.

    "I believe so. The Core Tunnels and Portals are where the magic for the Stronghold is housed. The Ones from Before were highly skilled in Rune Magic and figured out how to get here and exploit the magic," Jeze answered.

    Ziplocke snorted, "They were stupid mortals! They had help."

    Everyone turned toward the Goblin. "What do you mean by that?" Mikal asked.

    The Goblin''s eyes went wide at all the attention, and he snapped, "What do I mean? I meant nothing by it! You stupid mortals couldn''t understand the complexities of the magic here."

    "Tell us, Demon, what more do you know?" Dunar asked.

    "I know nothing more! Leave me be," Ziplocke snapped and faded away into the Shadows.

    Why was he acting so erratic? Jeze wondered to herself. Helga moved fast, which defied her bulky size, and snatched Ziplocke from the shadows.

    "Come on, Zippy! Don''t be shy. Talk to us," the warrior maiden said and hugged the Goblin.

    "Unhand me! This is undignified!" Ziplocke squealed.

    Jeze produced the paste and asked, "You have to answer me. What else do you know about this place?"

    Ziplocke grinned and slurped up his favorite treat. He smacked his lips and replied, "To give you an answer. No, I do not need to answer your question."

    "What? How can that be? You are a bonded familiar," Mikal demanded.

    "He''s right," Jeze said, and she tapped her chin. "He can not lie to me, and he can not withhold information from me if it will put me in danger."

    The teenager perked up and began to read the Tome.

    "What are you doing?" Ziplocke hissed.

    Jeze held up a finger and compared the Runes etched into the floor with the ones listed in her Tome. She looked up and asked, "Helga, Rolfe, can you two move these heavy stones."

    "What are you doing?" Ziplocke asked again, this time even louder.

    "I believe the Ones from Before sabotaged this Core Portal. I want to repair the damage they made," Jeze answered.

    "No! You can''t do that!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    Jeze grinned and asked, "Why not?"

    "It will stabilize the Stronghold and weaken the Seals holding the Fiendish lord even more. It will also lead the Fiends to here. You will die!" the Goblin answered and couldn''t help but snicker as he envisioned the look of surprise on their faces.

    Rolfe and Helga snorted and gripped their weapons. "We could take them," they boasted.

    "You believe you can take Fiends? Fools!" Ziplocke snapped.

    "How do you know this?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke grinned and nodded toward the paste. Jeze held it back and narrowed her eyes in thought. The others watched the exchange with interest.

    Except Mikal, he grew impatient and muttered, "Can''t trust Demons. This is a waste of time."

    "I don''t believe we will be in any danger. Unless you tell me more, I will proceed with my plans," Jeze stated.

    "Fool!" Ziplocke cried.

    Rolfe and Helga easily removed the stones, and Jeze began to work on the Runes.

    "You have to stop your madness! This will get you all killed! You can ruin everything!" Ziplocke shouted. Spittle flying from his small mouth.

    "How do you know this?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke''s body shook as he fought against their magical pact. Finally, he gave in. He had to give an answer that would convince Jeze to stop her destructive course of action. "I helped build the Spire. Us Goblins used to rule the Abyssal plane before the Fiends defeated us. To fight for my people''s freedom, I aided the Ones from Before and taught them the Portal aspect and how to sabotage the Stronghold. They won, but it was not enough for my people, and we still remain slaves in the Abyssal plane."

    This information shocked Jeze. Did Ziplocke write the Tome she had? Was this why the Archon didn''t attack him? Jeze had more questions than before! He kept this major secret from her. What else does he know?

    "For years, I continued to find an Adventuring Team that could make it to the final floor to Seal away the Fiendish Lord for good. So far, you have been my best hope since the Ones from Before," the Goblin said in a voice that lacked glee or mischievousness.

    To Jeze, It was as if the real Ziplocke had finally shown himself.

 Chapter 75: Realms

    "Why the secrets? I don''t understand why you would keep that information from me. We want the same thing, and that is to stop the Fiendish Lord," Jeze said.

    Ziplocke looked up with his ears pulled back and replied, "I was afraid if you knew the truth you would break the pact with me."

    Mikal laughed out loud. "That is rich! I say break the pact, and let''s be done with this foul Demon."

    Ziplocke ducked and hid behind Jeze''s legs like a scared kitten. Helga''s face softened.

    "Be nice, Micky!" She scolded.

    Mikal scoffed, "This is unbelievable, he''s a Demon!" The Healer turned to Dunar and Rolfe, "Surely, you two agree with me."

    The Leader''s face remained stoic. Rolfe shrugged his broad shoulders and replied, "He served us well. We all have secrets, Mikal."

    "What? No, we don''t! Not like that!" The Healer cried.

    Ziplocke snickered and tried to stop, but he couldn''t help himself.

    "See? He mocks us even now!" Mikal pointed out.

    "It''s his nature. He enjoys seeing this type of human emotion," Jeze replied.

    Mikal balled his hands into fists, and he asked, "Dunar, you must see the rational choice here."

    "I do, and the Goblin has and can continue to be a great asset for us," the Leader replied.

    Mikal''s eyes went wide, and his mouth opened and closed. He was unable to find words.

    "You made Micky speechless," Helga chuckled.

    "This is not funny," the Healer snapped in a low voice.

    "We are taking this seriously, Mikal," Dunar said and turned toward Jeze, "What are the terms of your pact?"

    She answered, "We can not harm each other or perform any action that will lead to harm. Ziplocke must serve me and perform all actions within his ability that would not lead to harm, and in exchange, I must provide him with something sour and spicy."

    "Those are good terms," Dunar stated. Rolfe and Helga nodded in agreement.

    "Have you not heard what the Demon said?" The Healer asked. He was no longer shouting.

    "We did, Mikal," Helga answered.

    The dark-haired Healer shook his head and continued, "He said he made this Stronghold. Let us assume that we make it to the tenth floor and Seal away this Fiendish Lord. Then what? Will Ziplocke take control of the Spire? What''s to stop him from conquering our Realm? What if we end up trading the Fiendish Lord for a Goblin Lord?"

    "He can not cause any action that will harm me," Jeze answered.

    Mikal turned to Jeze with wide eyes and pointed. "Exactly, that is you! But what about the rest of us?"

    "I didn''t think about that," Rolfe stated.

    Helga nodded, and Dunar crossed his thick arms to contemplate what was being said. Ziplocke scampered up to Jeze''s shoulder.

    "Your Realm is in danger, Mortal. I know you know that," the Demon said. Jeze was not used to the Goblin speaking calmly without a shriek or snicker.

    Mikal narrowed his eyes and snapped, "Do not presume to speak on what I know."

    Ziplocke continued anyway, "You know the true purpose of what you call the Wandering Spire. You see the signs, even in the Frozen North. More monster attacks and a sense of inexplicit unease. Tell me I am wrong."

    Helga, Dunar, and Rolfe nodded in agreement. What the Goblin said was what pushed them to take on the Adventurer life. To protect against the fierce and dark dangers of the world. Mikal scowled but did not object.

    Ziplocke continued, "The tales from your Frozen All-Father speak of this, except you have a different name for the Ones from Before."

    "The First Kings," Mikal said quietly.

    Ziplocke''s lips pulled back into a grin that showed sharp teeth. "Yes! Your tales speak of this very struggle that you are now taking on. I worked with your First Kings. They did not banish me, and nor should you."

    Mikal''s lip quivered, and he shook his head. "I serve the Frozen All Father and do what is good for the world. The Goblin is still a Demon, and by his very nature, he is evil."

    "That is the problem with you mortals. You make everything into two sides. Good and evil, right and wrong. Reality does not work that way. It is twisted and tied like a knot full of agendas. Celestials, Demons, Dragons, and even you mortals all have self-interests. I see it with your Kings and Emperors. Are any of them good or evil? Or both?" Ziplocke answered.

    "What will you do if we succeed?" Dunar asked flatly.

    Ziplocke looked at each of them and placed his small hand on his chest. "I will confess. I have my own agenda. But I am not alone. So does your Frozen All-Father. He is a Celestial Lord who has been at war for centuries with the Fiends. They are fighting over this Realm, the Material Plane of existence. It is rich with delicious soul energy that is necessary for our survival."

    "Soul energy?" Jeze asked.

    Mikal explained, "It is what powers our mortal bodies. The Gods require our faith, and in return, they serve us." The Healer placed a hand over his heart.

    Ziplocke nodded and continued, "The Healer speaks true. The Fiends feed off of fear and misery, whereas the Celestials feed off of faith and love, but it is feeding nevertheless."

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    "Do not place the Frozen All Father in the same category as the Devils," Mikal snapped.

    Ziplocke bowed his small head.

    "What of you, Goblin? What do you feed on?" Dunar asked.

    "You know what I enjoy," Ziplocke answered with a snicker. "The look of shock on mortals due to misfortune."

    "That''s better than misery and fear," Rolfe observed.

    "Ya," Helga agreed.

    Mikal shook his head and appeared unconvinced. Even Jeze appeared to side with the Healer and had her doubts.

    "I don''t know. Your lies have given me so many more questions," Jeze admitted.

    "I never lied," Ziplocke stated.

    "Holding information is a form of lying," Mikal explained.

    The Goblin scowled at the Healer. The Demon looked at Jeze, and his face softened.

    "Ask me anything, and I will do my best to answer."

    "Did you serve my brother?" The teenager asked.

    "No, he refused the pact," Ziplocke answered.

    "He Summoned you?" Jeze asked, her eyes wide.

    "I will speak truthfully to show my sincerity. I do like you, Jeze. You have tremendous potential. All of you do."

    "Flattery will not help you, Demon," Mikal growled.

    "Speak for yourself, Micky. I want to know more about my potential," Helga said.

    "Let the Goblin speak," Dunar interjected.

    "When I aided the Ones from Before with conquering the Stronghold, I believed we had won, only to discover that the Fiends still controlled my home realm, the Abyssal plane. The Celestials had taken control over the mortal Realm, so the Ones from Before would not help me. But, even though the Fiends were still in control, without the Fiendish Lord, their power was severely weakened. So things for us Goblins were not as bad. I decided the fight was over," Ziplocke said and hopped off Jeze''s shoulder to move to stand before the others.

    "It was not what I wanted, but it was something better. Until the Seals started to weaken and the Stronghold was able to travel between Realms. The Fiends were able to gain power, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before the Fiendish Lord was set free. So I came back to this Realm and was reminded of the short lives and memories of you mortals. The Ones from Before were long forgotten and the people here viewed the appearance of the Stronghold as a lucrative economic opportunity, not an invasion force." Ziplocke sighed.

    "You have helped other teams?" Dunar asked.

    Ziplocke glanced at Jeze before answering, "Yes, and that is no secret. I told that to Jeze already."

    "What happened to the other teams?" Mikal asked.

    Ziplocke snickered from the memories of their fates.

    "They died," Jeze answered.

    "What?" Helga and Rolfe asked at the same time.

    "But they were not like you! This team is much more balanced. You have a Striker, a Protector, a Leader, a Healer, and a Scout! Not a very good Scout, but your team is adequate," the Goblin quickly replied.

    "How did you meet my brother?" Jeze asked, bringing the conversation back to the main topic.

    "I have to make a correction. The Ones from Before were mostly forgotten, but not completely. There are those that still remember, such as Mikal and his religion," Ziplocke answered.

    "The Old Crones," Jeze stated.

    "Yes, they remembered the Summoning rituals I instructed the Ones from Before on. Few mortals know it, and that was how I was able to join teams," the Goblin replied.

    "Do you know why Daverious refused your pact?" Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke scratched his small green head and said, "Your brother was very independent and driven. He had his own plans."

    "What of the Golden Empire? What is their role in all of this?" Jeze asked.

    The Goblin shrugged his small shoulders and replied, "There are many moving parts in this game, and I do not even know all the players."

    Rolfe perked up and asked, "You mentioned Dragons earlier. Are Dragons involved?"

    "Yes, you saw the bones above this Dungeon. Ancient Dragons rival the strongest Celestials and Fiends. They also desire conquest. Mainly, they want treasure," Ziplocke answered.

    "I told you! The tales from Mount Dragon were true," Rolfe teased Mikal.

    "That is irrelevant!" The Healer snapped and he turned to the others, "Time is running out and we need to make a decision. I vote that Jeze break the pact and let us be done with this evil."

    Ziplocke''s ears pulled back on his head as he sulked. To Jeze, the Goblin looked tired. It was odd to see that look on the mischievous Demon. She almost felt sorry for him, but she also had her doubts. Jeze may not have agreed with Mikal, but she was still not certain if she could trust Ziplocke.

    "I still do not know what to do," Dunar stated.

    "Ya, same here. This is a pickle, no?" Helga added.

    "I don''t mind the little guy joining us. He has useful information," Rolfe stated.

    Ziplocke looked at Jeze, and she shook her head.

    "I don''t know," the teenager replied softly.

    Ziplocke''s lips quivered, and he shook his small head in dismay. The Demon had another thought, and he scrambled up Rolfe''s shoulder to address the others.

    "I propose another reason for us to work together aside from saving your realm," he said.

    "Saving our Realm? Like I said earlier, even if we succeed against the Fiendish Lord, there is nothing stopping you from seizing power for yourself," Mikal reminded everyone.

    "I have no desire for conquest," Ziplocke replied with a shake of his small head.

    "No? Don''t think that we have forgotten what you said earlier. You designed the Stronghold," Mikal stated.

    The others had forgotten that earlier statement. Further doubt showed clearly on their faces, even for Rolfe.

    Mikal continued, "Why did you create this machine for conquest if not for anything else but to conquer?"

    Ziplocke sighed and replied, "I admit, that was my original purpose. But I have learned much since then. I have experienced being conquered and have no desire to do that to others."

    "We are supposed to believe you, then?" Mikal asked.

    "You don''t need to. But allow me to appeal to you in another way. You all seek Glory, right?" The Demon asked.

    Mikal shook his head when he saw his colleagues perk up.

    "Go on," Helga said, and Rolfe nodded enthusiastically.

    "I can guide you through the Spire. With me, you have the means to survive the dangers ahead of you, and you can achieve Adept rank in no time. Even more, I know the ways Mortals can break into the Elite rank. Maybe even Hero rank," Ziplocke offered.

    Rolfe and Helga nodded their heads enthusiastically. They were in agreement with Ziplocke. Even Jeze and Dunar lowered their arms. They appeared interested.

    "More tricks," Mikal snorted.

    "No tricks, a promise," Ziplocke said.

    Jeze and Dunar glanced at each other. "I can work with that," Jeze said.

    Mikal scoffed. The Healer was speechless again.

    Dunar added, "I agree with Jeze. We can work with that. Remember, Mikal, we are only on level 3. We have plenty of time to revisit this partnership. For now, it is mutually beneficial for all of us."

    The internal conflict was apparent on Mikal''s face. Ziplocke grinned and asked, "Are we in agreement then?"

    "Aye," Helga and Rolfe answered. The idea of breaking into Adept rank and beyond appealed to them.

    A little later, Dunar and Jeze joined in agreement. Mikal was the last one still. Finally, the Healer sighed.

    "I am in," he said.

    "Excellent!" Ziplocke cried.

    "We are fools, and I''m tired of talking about this," Mikal added.

 Chapter 76: Body, Will and Spirit

    Jeze and the team debated if she should set up a Security Disc in the corridor that led to the chamber they were in. On one hand, it would alert them if they were attacked, assuming their attackers were unable to locate and disarm the trap. But on the other hand, Dunar pointed out that the trap may harm other Guild members. Ultimately, it was decided that Jeze should use the Water aspect Security Disc as it was less lethal and loud enough to alert them of a potential attack.

    "Micky can heal them if they are friendly," Helga pointed out.

    "Great," the Healer muttered.

    The Security Disc added an extra layer of protection, which allowed the team to rest, but Dunar still insisted on a light watch schedule. It was Jeze''s turn, and she sat by the entrance looking out into the dark corridor. The others were behind her and further inside the chamber. They sat in a circle with Ziplocke in the center.

    "What advice do you have for us as a team?" Dunar asked. The Leader was interested in tactics and formations. Dunar hoped to learn more from the Goblin, who had hundreds, if not thousands, of years of experience working with Adventuring teams.

    "Your weakness is that you rely too much on Jeze''s versatility," Ziplocke answered.

    Mikal scoffed at that answer. "Of course, the Demon will play favorites. He is bonded to Jeze!"

    "It''s not a contest, Micky," Helga admonished.

    Dunar sat and was thinking. With a nod, he stated, "Ziplocke is right."

    "Of course he is. I am incredible," Jeze called out.

    "Shouldn''t you be further down the corridor on watch?" Mikal snapped.

    Rolfe and Helga chuckled.

    "Let''s be serious a moment," Dunar said, and the laughter died down. The Leader continued, "The Empire''s Special Forces Team we fought earlier. Their tactics relied on their caster."

    "And their gear," Rolfe added.

    Dunar nodded and responded, "Right, and it was used to protect the Rune caster. If you recall, they opened up with the flash spell to blind us. We were fortunate that Jeze knew the Darkness aspect to cancel out that spell."

    "Like I said, I am incredible!" Jeze announced.

    "She learned that aspect from me!" Ziplocke said in his shrill voice.

    "By the Frozen-All-Father, these two are annoying. Can we try another vote?" Mikal grumbled.

    Dunar ignored the comments and continued, "The Empire team''s tactics were built around their Rune Caster. The three Protectors guarded with shields so that the caster could blind, shock, and confuse their opponents. This, in turn, would create an opening for the team''s Striker to inflict significant damage."

    "The enormous sword fighter who, your''s truly, defeated!" Jeze called out.

    "You engaging that fighter without your Rune Magic was reckless and stupid," Ziplocke admonished.

    "But it was glorious!" Helga cheered.

    The Goblin ignored the warrior maiden and added, "Jeze, you are a smaller fighter. You should focus on blending your fighting with your Rune magic. You will only hold yourself back if you continue to focus on them individually."

    "It''s challenging to Shape glyphs with weapons in my hands," Jeze responded.

    "The Goblin is right. That is why you need to practice it more," Dunar stated.

    "Enough about Jeze! How could we have fought differently against the team? Should I have attacked the Rune caster with my ranged spells?" Mikal asked.

    "You actually performed your function perfectly. You kept Helga, Dunar, and Rolfe alive and healed," Ziplocke said.

    Mikal blinked his eyes several times. He opened and closed his mouth with indecision.

    Helga laughed. "You made Micky speechless again!"

    Rolfe was quiet and thinking throughout most of the conversation. Finally, he perked up and exclaimed, "The Runes!"

    "What are you talking about?" Mikal said with a scowl.

    "Their shields had Runes etched along them. When they activated them, the shields gave off a burst of energy. Helga had a clear line of attack on the caster, but she was stopped by the Rune magic," Rolfe explained.

    "So?" Ziplocke asked, but there was a twinkle in his red eyes.

    Rolfe continued, "Jeze said that Rune magic requires perfection. What if Helga and I targeted the Runes on the shields with our weapons? Could we have scratched them enough to disrupt their magic?"

    Mikal snorted but stopped. "That is actually a brilliant idea," the Healer admitted.

    "If we teach the basics of Rune magic, you will be able to easily spot magic Runes and how to disrupt the pattern," Jeze called out from her post.

    "I would like that," Rolfe said.

    "Ya, me too!" Helga added.

    "You could be even more effective if you channeled your Will into the attacks," Ziplocke said.

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    "What?" The others asked in unison. This was the first time Jeze ever heard of channeling Will into something that was not a spell.

    "Don''t look so surprised! You do it with the Resin when you disarm traps," Ziplocke said.

    Jeze was about to retort but paused. The Goblin was right! It was easy to insert her Will into the Resin, but why would it not be possible with her weapons? It would be much harder, but it could be done. She was eager to try this!

    "How do we do that?" Dunar asked.

    Mikal answered, "The same way you warded off the Affliction spells when we entered the Mists. You first locate your Will through mediation. Picture it as a ball of energy that you could move from your mind down to your arms. From your arms, you move it to the tip of your weapon and release it when you strike."

    Rolfe and Helga practiced. The two breathed deep, and their faces consorted from the effort.

    "This is hard," Helga whined.

    "I want to try this. Let''s go back and fight those Legionnaires again!" Rolfe exclaimed.

    Jeze called out from her post, "Did I hear we are going back to fight the Legionnaires?"

    "Fools," Mikal muttered with a shake of his head. He called out to Jeze, "Stay focused on your duties!"

    Helga and Rolfe chuckled and then returned to their breathwork.

    "Should we invest in enchanted weapons of our own?" Dunar wondered.

    Ziplocke shook his head. "You have the right strategy by relying on your skills and wits. Having enchanted weapons will dull your abilities as you will rely on them. Also, enchanted weapons have charges, and they run out. I have seen it happen too often where a team runs out of charges and fails at a critical moment." The Goblin let loose a shrill laugh at the memory and added, "If only you could see the look on their faces when it happened!"

    "Dunar, you should learn and practice this technique. It will take lots of effort, but if what Ziplocke says is true, I believe you will also be able to disrupt Rune casters by striking them with your Will focused attacks," Mikal said.

    "How come you never told us this before, Micky?" Helga asked.

    "I just learned about it now! And it is all theoretical, but it makes sense," the Healer responded.

    "My brother talked about how the Monks from the Jade Principality were able to disrupt their opponents'' Will with focused strikes of their fists and cause them to fall to the ground. I would imagine that would include disrupting Rune casting," Jeze called out.

    "Why have I never heard of this before?" Dunar asked.

    "Because it is incredibly difficult to do," Mikal responded.

    "It''s a pretty common tactic used by skilled warriors. I have an idea! You should practice it on Jeze!" Ziplocke shrieked and laughed at his own joke.

    "Watch yourself, Goblin. They will also want to practice on you to prepare for their fight with Demons," Jeze cautioned.

    Ziplocke''s laughter stopped as suddenly as it started, and the Goblin ran to hide in the Shadows. Helga and Rolfe chuckled.

    "Aww, Come back!" The warrior maiden called out.

    "Yeah, we still have questions!" Rolfe added.

    "Such as?" Ziplocke returned and asked.

    "How close are we to Adept rank?" Helga inquired.

    Mikal snorted and answered, "Not close at all. Did you forget that we were just promoted?"

    "Berserker Orn could run through the deep snow as fast as the Dire wolves without winter clothing and while carrying a sack full of heavy stones," Dunar explained. The Leader then asked, "Could you do that?"

    Helga shook her head and replied, "Not yet."

    "That man is amazing," Rolfe said quietly.

    "And to think that there are two more ranks above his," Helga added.

    "Hey Ziplocke, how does one advance beyond Berserker and become a Druid?" Rolfe asked.

    Jeze recalled that Druid was what the Frostsworn had named the Elite rank. Herald was the highest and what they used for the Hero rank. She only saw one Elite and that was Couzart, the Shadow Reaper. He looked extremely powerful and Jeze wondered what a Hero rank would look like.

    Ziplocke snickered and asked for more paste. Mikal scowled and called out to Jeze to hurry up.

    "But what about my post?" She teased.

    "Just give the Goblin the paste!" Mikal snapped.

    "Now Mikal is eager to learn from ole Ziplocke," the Goblin snickered.

    The Healer took a deep breath and replied calmly, "I now realize the benefits of your wisdom."

    Ziplocke blinked his eyes several times. Helga and Rolfe laughed out loud.

    "Now Zippy is speechless!" The warrior maiden observed.

    Jeze arrived with the paste and offered it to Ziplocke. The Goblin slurped it up eagerly and smacked his lips with pleasure. When he was finished he discovered the Proven were waiting for him to continue. The Goblin''s lips pulled back into a grin.

    "You all are at Adventurer rank. Very few make it there, and most Adventurer ranked finish their careers at that level. Adept rank requires one to be at the peak of human ability. One must have a powerful body and a powerful Will," the Goblin started.

    "We know this already!" Mikal snapped.

    "Patience, Micky," Helga admonished.

    Ziplocke continued, "In order to break the bounds of the Adept rank, one needs to be able to tap into their Spirit."

    "Like our soul?" Mikal asked.

    "Exactly! With a strong body and Will, you can sense your Spirit and bring it forth," Ziplocke said and added, "But it is extremely difficult."

    "Do we achieve this with meditation?" Dunar asked.

    The Goblin responded, "It''s much more than that. In fact, it is nearly impossible without the aid of an Immortal being."

    ¡°Like you?¡± Rolfe asked.

    Ziplocke laughed so hard Jeze worried that the Goblin¡¯s little chest would burst. Finally the Demon calmed down.

    ¡°I¡¯m not an Immortal being,¡± he said.

    ¡°But you lived for thousands of years!¡± Jeze said. Ziplocke told them that he aided the Ones from Before, which was so long ago.

    ¡°Time passes differently in the Abyssal plane.  A decade could be several hundreds of years here on the Material plane,¡± Ziplocke answered.

    ¡°So, you are like middle age then?¡± Helga wondered.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± Ziplocke shrieked. ¡°I don¡¯t look that old,¡± he added.

    ¡°Why do you call us mortals?¡± Mikal asked.

    Ziplocke snickered. ¡°It gives me a sense of superiority.¡±

    The Healer rolled his eyes.

    "How did Couzart achieve the Elite rank?" Jeze wondered.

    "That is a secret that is closely guarded. It can be assumed that Couzart and other Elites made terrible sacrifices," Ziplocke said and let loose a cackle of laughter.

    "Can one achieve Elite rank through effort?" Dunar asked.

    "I''m sure it has been done," the Goblin answered.

    "Are there other ways?" Helga asked.

    "It has been said that one can find special Elixirs that will bring one''s Spirit forth. But you must be careful! If your Will and Body are not strong enough, you will die a terrible death as your soul bursts through your body! Oh, that would be priceless to behold! Imagine that!?! Some fool drinks the potion thinking they will be given immense power, and then at the last moment, boom! They are dead!" The Goblin cried and fell to the floor with laughter.

    "He is not right in the head," Mikal said.

    Helga and Rolfe nodded in agreement.

    Dunar rose and ordered, "Gather your gear. It is time for us to move out."

 Chapter 77: Hold Cores

    ¡°Jeze? We are heading out,¡± Dunar called from the hallway.

    The Scout remained in the chamber and was studying the broken Core Portal. She blinked when her name was called and turned to look at them, but her mind was still elsewhere.

    ¡°Jeze? Are you alright?¡± The Leader asked and approached.

    She blinked and answered, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡±

    ¡°What are you thinking about? Please don¡¯t tell me you are considering to repair the Core Portal,¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°Sounds like that would save us time,¡± Mikal stated.

    ¡°Fool! This is how we trapped the Fiends at the upper levels. We repair these, and then they will be free to invade your realm,¡± Ziplocke responded in a shrill voice.

    Helga removed her helmet to scratch her thick, braided blonde hair. ¡°If the Fiends are trapped, why did you say they still control the Abyssal plane?¡± She asked the Goblin.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Ziplocke snapped.

    ¡°You said that they were still in power after you helped the Ones from Before,¡± Rolfe answered.

    ¡°Who?¡± Ziplocke asked, his red eyes blinking.

    ¡°The Fiends!¡± Both Helga and Rolfe answered at the same time.

    Mikal chuckled and observed, ¡°I now see why the Goblin thinks this is funny. It is enjoyable watching you talk over each other.¡±

    ¡°Hush, Micky!¡± Helga growled.

    ¡°Not all the Fiends are trapped! The ones that were in the Spire are. The others still rule the Abyssal plane,¡± Ziplocke snapped.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Rolfe said.

    Ziplocke rubbed his face and answered, ¡°The Abyssal Plane is a big place. Are all mortals here inside the Spire? Now? Not even the entirety of your Guild is here.¡±

    ¡°Maybe they are dead. We could use the Core Portal and skip to the top and get this business over with,¡± Mikal pointed out.

    ¡°Dead? Are you mad?¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time Zippy. Surely they might have starved by now,¡± Helga said.

    ¡°We found a Core Portal, and we have the knowledge to repair it. This could be an advantage that we should not pass up,¡± Dunar observed.

    Jeze sat on the ground with the tome in front of her. She was studying the Runes and planning on how to repair the Core Portal.

    ¡°Is this some joke? Some scheme to get more information out of me? I told you everything!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°No,¡± Jeze answered from the center of the chamber. She looked up and continued, ¡°Like Dunar said. We have an opportunity to end this. It was good fortune that we discovered this Core Tunnel. If we do not use it, the Cultist will. Don¡¯t forget, they are also here. I saw them earlier.¡±

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    ¡°You repurposed their Portal. They are not returning,¡± Ziplocke pointed out.

    ¡°There may be more Monster Portals here. Or they can simply come here from the outside like we did,¡± Jeze replied.

    ¡°Ya, that is a good point,¡± Helga said.

    ¡°I forgot about the Cultist. There are too many things to remember,¡± Rolfe added.

    ¡°You are not strong enough to face a Fiend,¡± Ziplocke stated.

    Rolfe and Helga stood tall. Rolfe boasted, ¡°We are ready for the challenge.¡±

    ¡°Ya, we can prove you wrong,¡± Helga added.

    ¡°But why? There are plenty of challenges here for you to face. Do not forget there are other floors,¡± Ziplocke said.

    ¡°Perhaps we should tell the Guild. Maybe they can send a stronger team up,¡± Dunar stated.

    ¡°No!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°What are you not telling us?¡± Jeze growled.

    Ziplocke rubbed his face and replied, ¡°You all are thinking of the Stronghold as the Spire. You call it the Spire, but it is an invasion vessel. The reason why you are climbing levels is because the Ones from Before, with my help, sabotaged the magic of the Stronghold by damaging the Core Portals. If you repair them, you return the Stronghold back to its original purpose.¡±

    Dunar nodded in understanding and said, ¡°So, the Fiends are not only trapped they are also prevented from organizing.¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°So why are we wasting time here? We should head toward the fourth floor and continue our way up,¡± Mikal said.

    Rolfe sulked and said, ¡°Because this is a Dungeon under the bones of a Dragon. There has to be an important treasure here.¡±

    ¡°I like treasure!¡± Helga beamed.

    ¡°That is true. There is something we must find here,¡± Ziplocke said.

    ¡°You continue to keep secrets from us!¡± Jeze snapped.

    ¡°I agree with our Scout. This is getting tiresome,¡± Mikal stated.

    Even Dunar growled with frustration. Ziplocke held up his tiny hands.

    ¡°No, let me explain. When the Ones from Before sent adventuring teams into the Stronghold, their goal was to destroy the Core Portals. That was what I guided them to do, and it worked. It divided the Stronghold into ten levels and trapped the armies of the Abyss inside. The final step was to make it to the tenth floor and defeat the Fiendish Lord, who was alone up there and separated from his generals and armies. They couldn¡¯t defeat him, but they managed to trap him and it ended the invasion. But we know that was not enough. Somehow, the Stronghold continues to operate, and I believe we need to remove the Hold Cores.¡±

    ¡°What are those?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°They are the power source for the Stronghold. They are orbs the size of your fist,¡± the Goblin answered.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you remove them the first time?¡± Jeze asked with an arched eyebrow.

    ¡°You have to understand. It was not like this where we climbed to each level. The Stronghold was fully operational with armies of Fiends and Demons. The Ones from Before had the help from the Celestials and Archons. It was an all-out war. Pure chaos,¡± Ziplocke replied.

    Dunar let out a heavy sigh and said, ¡°I am starting not to trust you, Goblin. Tell us, where can we find this Stronghold Core?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s in these Core Tunnels,¡± Ziplocke eagerly answered.

    ¡°Is it safe for us to leave this Portal? Will the Cultist not repair it?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°They do not have your tome, so they do not have the knowledge,¡± Ziplocke replied.

    Jeze froze with a pit in her chest.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°I trained Val on the Portal Aspect. They are aware that I have the tome,¡± Jeze replied.

    Ziplocke¡¯s eyes darted back and forth, and he snickered. ¡°Then they will look for you! We must hurry. If we retrieve the Stronghold Core, this Dungeon will shut down.¡±

    ¡°With the Core, we can end the Spire?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°No, we need to find three more,¡± Ziplocke answered.

    Mikal shook his head. ¡°I do not trust him.¡±

    Dunar clasped the Healer on the shoulder and barked, ¡°Proven, form up!¡±

    The team marched back into the Dungeon.

 Chapter 78: The Rift Aspect

    Jeze heard sounds ahead, and she waved her team to stay put as she crept forward. The Proven were in a sandstone-colored corridor wide enough for three people to be shoulder to shoulder and high enough for Rolfe to stand straight and hold his spear upright. The same silver lines illuminated the passageway for them as it went ahead and curved to the left out of sight. The noise came from just around the corner. It was a faint sound, barely above a whisper, but Jeze''s sharp ears caught it in time.

    "Be careful, or your shadows will alert others of your presence," Ziplocke whispered in her ear like an annoying teacher.

    "I know!" She hissed back.

    Jeze crept forward and tapped her Onyx ring to gently Summon Shadows to cover her approach. This prevented her own shadow from appearing on the far wall as she neared the corner. It was a subtle trick that Ziplocke had instructed her on. The Darkness aspect was not direct but a form of casual trickery. Raynor, the Old Hunter, had taught Jeze to be patient like the wolf, and so she crept forward and waited. Jeze dared not peek around the corner but sat at the edge and listened.

    "I hear nothing," Ziplocke whispered.

    "Be patient," Jeze replied.

    The Goblin sulked on her shoulder and the two waited. The faint sounds she heard earlier had stopped and instead she only heard the jingle of the Proven''s armor. In the absolute silence the slightest movement made by Dunar and the others rang across the corridor like a ringing bell. Jeze sighed. There was no use in trying to be subtle with them, but she continued to wait and listen.

    She heard nothing and decided to take a chance. Jeze Summoned shadows and wrapped them around her like a cloak, and she slid forward to blend in with the natural gloom of the corridor. Jeze had to suppress a gasp of surprise. In front of her were a dozen hooded figures in dark robes armed with bows and curved blades. Their sharp eyes spotted her easily, and Jeze quickly ran back as a hail of arrows snapped against the stone walls. She heard their light footsteps as they chased her.

    "Proven! Form up!" Dunar barked as he recognized the situation Jeze had gotten herself in.

    He, Helga, and Rolfe brought their shields forth as Jeze slid behind them. She was followed by a storm of arrows that thudded into the shields and snapped against the floor and walls around them. One arrow bounced off Rolfe''s helmeted head.

    "How many?" Dunar asked.

    "A dozen or more," Jeze answered.

    The Leader glanced behind them. The corridor they traveled through was long.

    "We can''t retreat. It will be to their advantage," Mikal pointed out.

    Dunar agreed with the Healer. The robed cultists were armed with bows, and they fired them with speed and skill. A near-constant stream of arrows rained around them. Not all the arrows were blocked by the Proven''s large round shields. An occasional arrow snuck past the defenses and bounced painfully off their heavy armor. But a few would land shallow wounds, which in time would accumulate. To make matters worse, the Cultists were Rune casters. Red orbs of Affliction energy launched out along with the arrows to strike the Proven.

    "Pain spells," Jeze said, gritted teeth as an orb struck her.

    "Hah! That will not work on us. Pain is a part of life for us, Frostsworn," Helga boasted.

    "Speak for yourself," Mikal muttered. The dark-haired Healer looked paler than usual as he struggled with the Affliction spells.

    "Proven, attack!" Dunar ordered.

    "For Glory!" Rolfe roared and hurled his spear.

    The Helldrake weapon slammed into a Cultist and knocked the hapless victim off their feet with terrifying power. This had the added effect of causing the remaining Cultist to pause with concern.

    "Hurrah!" The rest of the Proven shouted, and the team charged down the corridor.

    The walls and stone floors reverberated with the heavy boots of the large Frostsworn warriors. Rolfe equipped his sword as Jeze launched stone fists to pepper their opponents. A gout of Flame erupted from the Cultist and threatened to engulf the Proven. What Fire spell was that? Jeze wondered as the intense heat burned her and her team painfully for a moment before Mikal''s Frost spell negated the attack. The heat dissipated just as quickly as it had appeared. The Cultists wore dark robes over blackened studded leather armor, and they dropped their bows to produce wicked curved swords and knives. They didn''t stand a chance as the more heavily armed and armored Proven barreled into them like a fierce winter storm. Rolfe retrieved his spear as the team turned the corner, where they were met with another hail of arrows and flame spells. At this point, the Proven were injured and hurt, and Mikal worked desperately to keep them alive with his Life aspect magic.

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    "Press forward! Let''s crush our enemies'' bones and find Glory in their deaths!" Dunar roared.

    Helga swapped out her shield for her two-handed Dane ax, and she launched forward like a goddess of carnage. Every swing of her ax brought death and destruction as the Cultist desperately shot her full of arrows. Her lamellar armor absorbed most of the impact, and the arrows left mainly shallow wounds to her body, but they gave her a fearsome appearance. Jeze took out the Rune casters in the back with Stone fists as Rolfe and Dunar pushed forward to cover Helga''s flanks. Mikal followed close behind and weaved Healing spell after Healing spell.

    The Proven forced the remaining Cultist to flee and the team pursued them with the fury that Frostsworn warriors were known for. They came upon a circular chamber where in the center was a shimmering red Monster Portal. The handful of remaining Cultists formed a last line of defense in front of the Portal and a lone figure.

    "Val!" Jeze growled. She vowed to herself that she would avenge Seb and Jonah''s deaths today.

    Without preamble or warning, Jeze launched a boulder at the blonde hair cult leader. Val sliced her arm downwards and a tear in reality appeared before her that split the boulder in half. The purple blazing energy appeared like a portal but it was thin and gave off a chill.

    "The Rift aspect!" Ziplocke gasped.

    "What?" Jeze asked.

    But there was no time for an answer as the remaining Cultists were reinvigorated by the dark power of their Leader and they rushed forward. Undeterred, the Proven chopped them down as easy as they had their colleagues in the corridor and all that remained was Val and the strange shimmering Rift she created.

    "Quick, ask her how she learned the Rift aspect before the fighting starts!" Ziplocke cried in a shrill voice into Jeze''s ear from her shoulder.

    Jeze flinched and asked, "What?"

    "The villain always gives a monologue, and this is definitely the moment."

    Jeze sensed that her team was about to attack, and she shouted, "Where did you learn the Rift aspect?"

    Val sneered. She had dark lines under her eyes, and she looked a little different from before. To Jeze, Val still had a prideful arrogance about her, but now she had something sinister as well. If Jeze were to be honest with herself, she also felt a little afraid about the dangerous aura that surrounded her former Runic Research Division colleague.

    "Your puny mind wouldn''t begin to comprehend the knowledge we have discovered!" Val snapped in a voice that dripped with arrogance.

    "Less talk and more fighting," Helga replied.

    Her, Dunar, and Rolfe pushed forward but stopped when Val pushed both her hands outwards. The purple Rift before her opened in synch to her movements and the massive head of a Goreraptor emerged. It''s baleful eyes fell over the Proven.

    "Behold my power and your deaths!" Val cried.

    Rolfe and Helga''s eyes went wide as they looked up at the behemoth that lumbered out of the blazing purple Rift. The Goreraptor let loose a terrifying roar that echoed off the chamber walls. Val had a smug look on her face.

    "Yes!" Helga cheered.

    Val''s smug look faded away and was replaced with confusion.

    "We can now see how much we have improved!" Rolfe cried.

    "Fools! Do not underestimate me!" The Cult leader shouted.

    Dunar ignored her and turned to his team. "Proven! Titan formation! Mikal and Jeze take care of the Rune caster," Dunar barked.

    "With pleasure," Jeze growled. She Summoned piles of dirt throughout the chamber.

    The Goreraptor attacked, and Rolfe stepped forward and intercepted the charge with his shield. The blow caused the large Protector to slide backward, but he held steady. Helga had switched to her two-handed mace, and she struck the side of the Goreraptor''s head, which caused the monstrous-sized beast to stumble. The creature swung its tail, but the blow was intercepted by Dunar''s shield as Helga pressed forward with more mighty swings of her heavy maul. This time, the warrior maiden buckled the monster''s knees with her powerful blows.

    Jeze and Mikal struck Val with ice spears and stone fists. The cult leader''s robe was etched with Runic protections, and they flared to life when struck, but the force still caused her to stumble to one knee. Val glared at Mikal and Jeze but ignored their assault and focused her Will on the Rift.

    "Don''t ignore us!" Jeze cried and hurled a boulder that shattered Val''s magical shimmering shield.

    Val looked up at them with blood trailing from her mouth, and she sneered. "You will have my attention soon enough."

    Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga had the Goreraptor down on its side. The monster was trashing as it struggled back to its feet, but the three Frostsworn bashed, hacked, and stabbed it with relentless brutality. Roars erupted as two more Goreraptors entered through the Portal. Dunar ordered Helga and Rolfe to form up so that they could face the new threat. Doubt clawed its way up into Jeze''s mind. Two Goreraptors? What power did Val discover? Jeze was not sure they could win this fight.

    "Now, where were we?" Val said with an evil grin as she shaped elegant glyphs with her hands and Summoned balls of Flame to float around her.

 Chapter 79: Mastery

    Val pointed, and the orbs of fire launched out toward Jeze and Mikal.

    ¡°Watch out!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    The Goblin dove off Jeze¡¯s shoulder, and she dodged the attack in the opposite direction. The orb exploded when it hit the ground, and the concussive force sent Jeze soaring through the air. Mikal negated the attack toward him with his flash freeze spell, and he shaped glyphs with his hands and arms.

    Demonstrating excellent body control, Jeze twisted in the air to land in a crouch with a snarl on her face. Exploding fire magic? She was both impressed and enraged. Jeze Shaped her Earth aspect into boulders and Controlled them to launch at Val from two directions. The cult leader Summoned the Rift aspect again to cause a tear in reality in front of her that split a boulder in half. Jeze¡¯s second rock spell struck Val and knocked her to her knees. She is tougher than she looks, Jeze admitted. A quick glance to her right showed that her other teammates were in trouble against the two Goreraptors.

    Rolfe had lost his shield and was using his spear in two hands to keep one beast at bay with fierce jabs. The second Goreraptor snatched Helga up in its jaws and tossed her against the wall. Dunar defended Rolfe¡¯s flank with his shield, and it was only a matter of time before they would be overrun. Jeze Shaped her final pile of dirt into a boulder to strike the knee of the Goreraptor that was about to impale the prone Helga. The beast roared in pain as it stumbled to the ground, and this gave Helga a chance to scurry away. An explosion of intense heat sent Jeze onto her back with burns along the exposed parts of her body that were not protected by her armor.

    ¡°Who would have guessed that you, a girl from nowhere, could be such a headache? It ends today. You and your team will die,¡± Val hissed.

    The Cult leader was in bad shape and clung to an injured arm as she rose unsteadily to her feet. She had used the last of her fire orbs, and Jeze doubted that Val could shape another Glyph. Then again, Jeze was injured and wouldn¡¯t be able to tap into the Runic magic either. But, there was one difference between her and the Cult leader, Jeze realized with a grin as she rose to her feet with her battleaxe and sword in her hands. She could fight.

    ¡°Why won¡¯t you just die!¡± Val cried as she limped toward the red Monster Portal.

    Jeze saw that Mikal had joined to aid the others with his healing magic, which allowed her to focus on the Cult leader. ¡°You are not going anywhere,¡± Jeze promised and gave chase.

    She was so close to avenging Seb and Jonah¡¯s team, but the universe had other plans. Jeze slid to a stop as more robed cultists armed with curved swords and bows emerged from the Monster Portal. They formed a protective circle around Val, and the cult leader sneered at Jeze.

    ¡°Kill her! She has the tome we need,¡± Val ordered.

    Jeze saw that there was a golden glow around her. Mikal had cast the Vitality Spring and she felt her Will and body recover. The Cultists charged and shot arrows at her. There were too many, and Jeze ran as the arrows whizzed past her. Despite the renewed energy, her teammates were still in trouble against the two Goreraptors. Jeze knew that the Frostsworn would not retreat, so she needed to think of something.

    ¡°Why are the Goreraptors listening to her?¡± Jeze asked Ziplocke as she ducked an arrow.

    ¡°It¡¯s the Rift aspect! It allows her to tear holes into reality and bring monsters here that will do her bidding,¡± the Goblin answered.

    ¡°How do I stop it?¡±

    Jeze and the Proven were surrounded as the Cultists began to aid the Goreraptors by firing arrows at Dunar, Helga, and Rolfe. Mikal was on one knee with two arrows in his shoulders. The Healer grimaced in pain as he treated his wounds.

    ¡°You had the right idea by trying to take out Val. Without the caster, the Goreraptors will be free to rampage,¡± Ziplocke gleefully answered as they ran.

    Several Cultists were circling around the house-sized Goreraptors in order to find a better shot at the Healer.

    ¡°Jeze, protect Mikal!¡± Dunar ordered.

    ¡°On it,¡± she called back.

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    Jeze ran fast, and before the archers could switch their aim toward her, it was too late. She slammed into them. Jeze hacked and slashed with her axe and sword and left the four Cultists on the floor, bleeding and dying. But, many more Cultists remained. A Goreraptor charged and missed Helga with its horn but still struck the warrior maiden with the side of its hard head, which sent her sprawling to the ground. The warrior maiden struggled to get up as Dunar stood protectively over her. The Leader¡¯s shield blocked the Goreraptor¡¯s horn but broke in half. The team had no more shields as Rolfe kept the other beast at bay with his spear. Dunar grimaced in pain as an arrow thudded into his side. If not for Mikal¡¯s restorative Vitality Spring, the team would have been finished. But the spell would not last forever.

    ¡°You need to take out the Rift caster!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    Jeze leaped and crashed another squad of archers with her axe and sword. Several were able to draw their curved blades but could not match her skill and ferocity. The Goreratpor engaged with Rolfe withdrew and swung its enormous tail at Jeze. The Scout flipped over the attack and continued to run toward Val. More Cultists formed a protective circle around the blonde cult leader. As she ran, Jeze tapped into her Earth aspect bracelet and Summoned several mounds of dirt. Jeze needed to merge her Rune casting with her combat skills. That was the only way for her to succeed, and luckily, her abilities were boosted by the Vitality Spring.

    ¡°Kill her! She is just a girl!¡± Val roared.

    A dozen Cultists and one Goreraptor chased her. Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga now faced only one monster, but they were wounded and were still in serious danger. Mikal had crawled to the edge of the chamber and was healing himself. With a mad grin on her face, Jeze charged the gathered cultists who protected Val.

    Berserker Orn once said, ¡°What separates adventurers from everyone else is the ability to perform under pressure. Gaining a higher rank does not only mean greater strength and skill but also the greater ability to perform well when it is most needed. Where failure is not an option. This is Mastery, and it can only be forged through great adversity.¡±

    Those words rang true in Jeze¡¯s mind as she shaped Glyphs while holding weapons and charged her enemies. The Cultists tried to swarm her, but she weaved too quickly in between them while she swung her weapons with deadly accuracy. With one chop of her axe, she also Shaped her Summoned dirt into a boulder. With a stab of her sword, she Controlled the boulder to smash into a group of Cultists and scattered them like leaves in a windstorm. Jeze dodged curved swords and grasping hands as she tapped her Darkness channeling ring. With a slice of her sword, she also Summoned shadows. With a swing of her axe, she Shaped them into opaque blackness that covered the Goreraptor¡¯s head. The behemoth charged blindly past her and crashed into the wall. Its legs scattered more cultist, and that left Val unprotected. The Cult Leader recognized her plight and scurried toward the portal as fast as her injured body could take her.

    ¡°Die bitch!¡± Jeze cursed and lunged with her sword to close the remaining distance between her and Val.

    The blade pierced through Val, and the Cult leader let out a gasp. Jeze felt the hum of energy in the chamber as the Rifts snapped shut. The Goreraptors appeared to have awakened and showed their true nature. The change was sudden, and they rampaged through the chamber, attacking Cultist and Frostsworn without discrimination. Val glared as she pulled herself free from Jeze¡¯s sword and fell back through the red monster portal.

    ¡°No!¡± Jeze cried. She was distracted by the change in energy and swung her axe too late and missed as the Cult leader escaped.

    The Goreraptors went berserk and attacked everyone in sight. With their magical chains broken, they were much more fierce. Luckily for the Proven, the beasts had plenty more targets that divided their attention. Dunar took advantage of the small window of reprieve.

    ¡°Proven, fall back!¡± He roared.

    Dunar scooped up Mikal as Rolfe helped Helga and the four made their way toward the chamber exit. Jeze dove out of the way as the Goreraptor pounced toward her. The behemoth¡¯s massive hind legs kicked up stones and shook the chamber as it landed. The beast blocked the red Monster portal and forced the cultists to flee toward the same corridor as the Frostsworn. Jeze ran after her teammates. It was pure chaos as the unleashed Goreraptors wreaked furious destruction. Most of the cultists ran for their lives, while a few tried to fight the Frostsworn. They were outclassed by the skilled warriors and easily cut down. The two Goreraptors gave chase.

    ¡°Watch out!¡± Jeze cried and shoved Dunar to the side.

    Rolfe and Helga stumbled in the other direction as a Goreraptor barreled in between them to crash against the wall. The beast had splattered a few helpless cultists. The corridor split into two directions.

    ¡°This way!¡± Ziplocke shouted and pointed down the right corridor.

    The Goreraptor, covered in gore, turned around. Jeze heard the thundering footsteps of the second beast behind them as it charged out of the chamber in their direction. Cultists ran down both corridors. The Proven complied and ran as fast as their injured bodies could go down the corridor, which Ziplocke had suggested. Jeze slid under the Goreraptor to join her team as the beast snatched up another cultist in its massive maw. Jeze flinched as she heard the screams and bones crunching from the victim.

    At the moment, the Goreraptors were occupied with the cultists and did not give chase. The corridor opened up into another square room with three doors. The Proven arrived behind a pair of cultists. In a panic, one of them reached to open a door.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Jeze called out, but it was too late.

    The cultist opened the door, and the magical Rune trap was triggered. The room, with Jeze and the Proven inside, was plunged into Darkness, Fire, and Madness.

 Chapter 80: Alone

    The cultist triggered the Rune trap and the room was plunged into Darkness and erupted with intense heat. Instantly, the heat was gone and Jeze felt her body become frosted. Mikal was clever and countered the Fire trap with his flash freeze spell.

    "Jeze, go through the door!" Ziplocke''s voice said in the Darkness.

    "Now? Shouldn''t we dispel the Darkness?" She asked.

    There was chaos all around her as dozens of voices clambered for her attention. What was going on? I need to Shape the Darkness, Jeze thought. Or should I shape away the Affliction? She was so confused, and for some reason, this made her laugh.

    "What''s so funny?" Mikal''s voice demanded. Or a voice that reminded Jeze of the dark-haired Healer.

    Am I afflicted with Madness? Jeze wondered. It was settled, she needed to Shape the Affliction aspect. The room shook, and she heard the horrific sounds of bones and flesh being broken and torn. The Goreratpors! The giant beasts must have entered the chamber. They needed to escape! But how? We can''t see anything, Jeze reflected.

    "Proven! Fall back out the door!" Jeze heard Dunar''s voice roar.

    "Oh ya!" Helga''s voice cheered.

    But there were other voices as well. Who did they belong to? The cultists? Since when did the Proven choose to retreat over engaging in combat? Jeze was confused. A thunderous bellow from the Goreraptor sent her into motion and she blindly ran out the door. With her hands she felt that she was in another corridor and a heavy armored body knocked her to the ground.

    "Hey! Watch it!" Jeze cried.

    Was that Helga, Dunar, or Rolfe? It couldn''t have been Mikal. He wore padded armor like her and was not as big. Well, he is only a little bigger than me. Jeze reflected.

    "Focus!" She scolded herself.

    Or was that Ziplocke''s voice? The Goblin was always telling her to focus. The roar of the Goreraptor shook Jeze out of her thoughts, and she continued to run blindly down the corridor. She heard the voices of her team ahead and the sounds of their jingling armor. What was the range of this Rune trap? She wondered.

    "Hold up, let me remove this Darkness," Jeze called out.

    She felt that she was far enough away from the dark-robed cultists and the Goreraptor. Jeze giggled at the memory of the giant monster turning on the cultists. She finally understood why Ziplocke found that so funny, the look of shock on their faces as the Goreraptor crushed their bones and shattered their bodies! What was I doing again? Oh, that''s right, I''m about to Shape away the Darkness, Jeze thought to herself. Or should I Shape away the Affliction? Jeze wondered. The sounds of the others grew faint, and she forgot what she was thinking about and continued to run after them. Jeze blindly felt along the walls and ran down several twisting corridors, with the Proven always just ahead of her. Down one passage, there was a dim light. Finally! They were out of the Darkness spell.

    "Jeze! This way!" Rolfe''s voice called out.

    She ran toward it. When did he get so fast? Jeze wondered. She should have caught up to them by now. Jeze stopped as she became aware. I''m under the Affliction spell! She realized.

    "Why did you stop, knucklehead?" Ziplocke''s voice hissed from the shadows.

    Jeze tapped her Affliction ring and began to Shape the curse. It strained her Will and felt like moving a boulder up a mountain. It was even harder with the distractions.

    "Proven, form up!" Dunar''s voice barked down the hallway.

    "For glory!" Rolfe roared.

    "Where''s Jezie?" Helga wondered.

    "I''ve always said we should get another Scout," Mikal stated.

    Jeze ignored the voices and focused on Shaping the Affliction spell. She found it and pulled it into a greasy red ball of glowing energy. Jeze tapped her Affliction channeling tool again and formed a different set of glyphs with her hands in order to Control the energy. She launched it into the wall, where it splashed harmlessly. The voices were gone in an instant. How did this happen? She wondered. Her Will was strong, but she fell to the Affliction spell. This was a harsh reminder that no matter how much she improved, she could still fall victim to enchantments.

    The Rune traps were created by master level casters and despite her training and preparation, those spells still impacted her. Jeze sighed with acceptance and studied her situation. She was alone and she risked pulling out her glow globe. With the light from the orb, Jeze discovered that she was in the middle of a corridor made out of chiseled sandstone.

    "I''m still in the Core Tunnels," Jeze observed to herself and wondered, "How long was I running?

    It was hard to tell, but she attempted to ping Ziplocke by tapping into her Earth aspect ring. Nothing, and she realized that he must be too far away for her to hear the sound. What was the distance on this ring? She wondered and waited for Ziplocke to try to chime her back. Her ring was silent. It''s been so long since she used the spell, and Jeze wondered if she was doing it correctly. She had time, so she pulled out her brother''s journal, where he had meticulously recorded dozens of spells. Jeze was convinced she performed the Glyphs correctly, and she wondered if Ziplocke knew how to activate the Chime spell. Jeze was about to put her brother''s journal away when something caught her attention. Her brother had written about the Core tunnels!

    "Did you find them?" Jeze wondered.

    She then thumped her head. He hid the journal in the Old Crone''s school before he ventured forth to the Spire. Everything he wrote was about his preparation and research. But, his research dug up some things. Daverius wrote.

    The Spire touches many realms. I still do not know its purpose, but it collects treasures from all over. It is said that the inside of the Spire is composed of different landscapes from the different realms it had absorbed over the centuries. Within are hidden dungeons filled with tremendous wealth, but are also filled with traps, Guardians and danger.

    Guardians? That last part made Jeze nervous. She was alone and without her team, and her brother was correct about the traps. That meant there was a good probability that there was a Guardian in this Core Tunnel. One that Ziplocke failed to mention. What will she do with the Goblin? Jeze shook her head, and needed to focus on the task at hand. Jeze took stock of her inventory. She had Recovery broths and two Water Bricks. So she was good for several days for food, and Jeze secretly thanked Dunar''s foresight to ensure that everyone carried at least one Water brick and food in case they were split up. Jeze sat down and breathed deeply and became attuned to her body. She was tired, and her body was battered with scrapes and bruises, but no serious injuries. Her Will was fatigued from the Affliction curse, and Jeze doubted she could do any serious Rune casting. The memory of how she fought with her weapons and magic came to her, along with a grin.

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    "I achieved Mastery," Jeze said to herself, and she was eager to try it out again.

    Despite her circumstances, Jeze rose to her feet and pulled out her weapons. She attempted a series of practice swings and thrusts while she tapped her Channeling tools and Shaped glyphs. Her spells failed, and nothing happened. She tried it again several times and was nowhere close to recreating how she felt in the chamber against Val and the cultists. Why? She wondered with frustration. Can she ever achieve that state again?

    "Must have been the Vitality Spring!" Jeze realized and sat back down.

    Or that she was tired and needed more rest. She broke off a small piece from one of her Water Bricks to create enough water for her drink and opened up a jar of Recovery Broth. Between the water and the nutrients from her potion, her body had enough to replenish itself. Jeze needed to rest, and she glanced up and down the long, dark corridors. Where was her team? Were they alright? What type of magic did Val use that allowed her to summon Tier 5 monsters? Ziplocke had called it the Rift aspect.

    "Stay focused," Jeze admonished herself.

    She was not going to find the answers to her questions by sitting down. But she was not going to do any good without rest. Jeze set up two Security discs some distance down the corridor on opposite ends and rested in the middle. She turned off her glow globe and was plunged into the soft, gentle Darkness where she rested.

    One thing Jeze learned while being an adventurer was how to grab sleep in any situation. Such as lying on the cold stone floor in a dark and dangerous dungeon. Jeze woke up and gripped her weapons. She was still tired with a slight headache, but that was all the rest she could afford. Jeze sat still for a moment and listened. Nothing but oppressive silence. When she was confident that she was alone, she activated the glow globe and it bathed the hallway with a silver light. Again, she listened. Nothing. She disarmed and gathered her security discs and then had a decision to make. To go left or to go right.

    The Affliction spell had messed with Jeze''s memory and she had no idea which direction she came from. She attempted to track her footsteps, but the smooth stone floor and walls offered no hints. Jeze recalled that she knew the Spirit aspect! She tapped the Channeling tool that Raina had given her and briefly wondered how the Spirit Walker and her brother, Ahanu, were doing. Were they safe? Being a Safe Zone Squad, they were targeted by Val and the cultists. Jeze growled in frustration that Val had gotten away. Jeze vowed that she would avenge Seb and Jonah.

    "Stay focused!" She admonished herself again.

    Jeze had the habit of letting her thoughts wander. She tapped the Rune necklace and shaped the final glyphs with her hands and arms to complete the Spirit Summoning. Jeze felt the energy snap into place and the gentle presence of a spirit nearby. Taking a deep breath, she tapped the necklace again and completed the next glyphs to Control the Spirit so that it would offer guidance. Jeze made sure to be gentle with this part, the way Raina instructed her. Spirits are helpful by nature but are not obligated to be truthful. Most of the time, they would leave if they felt insulted. A few may be mischievous and deceitful.

    Raina had instructed Jeze, "You need to have faith and believe that they will help you. That belief is what fuels them. Doubt is like a poison."

    As Jeze completed the final glyphs, she controlled her emotions and focused her Will to set aside doubts and fears. As Raina said, Jeze needed complete confidence that the Spirit would guide her truthfully.

    Jeze recalled the Old Crones with nostalgia. It felt like a lifetime ago when she studied under them. They trained her on how to manage her Will. Jeze remembered their teachings.

    Number One would say, "The mind is an obsessive storyteller."

    Number Two added, "Doubt and fear are stories that it makes up."

    Number Three would hiss, "Stay in the present and do not get stuck in the past, for it is done."

    Number One continued, "Or the future because it is unknown."

    All three concluded in one voice, "Focus only on the now."

    The old instructions calmed Jeze, and she allowed herself to be guided by the Spirit. Jeze felt the urge to head down the right corridor, and when she opened her eyes, she saw the faint flickering light that reminded her of a curtain fluttering in a gentle breeze. Jeze allowed herself to be guided by the Spirit aspect and traveled down the winding corridor. She came upon a three-way intersection, and the faint flickering light directed her to take the middle passage. She obliged and continued on. Jeze continued to stay alert for any danger and for traps. Every now and then, she would pause and attempt the Chime spell. She heard nothing and continued on.

    The spell ended, and the Spirit faded away. Jeze paused at another intersection. Traveling for so long through a labyrinth of tunnels had created a pool of doubt in her chest, and she did not feel prepared to Summon another Spirit. Not yet, at least. Jeze tapped her ring and Shaped the Chime spell. She perked up and heard a faint sound down the corridor illuminated by the glowing lines along the walls.

    Ziplocke did not chime her back, and Jeze controlled the urge to call out. What if Ziplocke was in trouble and he was trying to hide? Jeze Summoned and Shaped shadows to cling to her as she quietly crept along the wall toward where she last heard the sound. The corridor traveled for several meters before it turned, and all visibility was blocked by an opaque blackness. Jeze deduced that a trap was triggered in the room beyond and she Shaped the Darkness aside to reveal a square chamber. Across from Jeze was an opened door where the Rune trap was triggered and the other notable thing in the room was the figure of a man that laid against the wall with his legs splayed out in front. She did not recognize him as he wore a dark gray traveling cloak and black trousers. Jeze noticed that the man had a two-handed sword that rested across his lap. Did the ringing come from him? She wondered. Jeze casted the Chime spell again and confirmed that the noise did come from the man. As far as she could tell, the spell was only known by one other person.

    "Daverius?" Jeze called out her brother''s name and rushed inside with hope in her heart.

    The man''s features were obscured by his gray hooded cloak, but he did carry a sword. It was much bigger than what her brother had when she last saw him. Soot covered the man''s clothes, and the stones were warm from the Fire aspect that was triggered by the Rune trap. When Jeze neared, the man''s hand lashed out and grabbed her wrist. She reacted on instinct and broke free from his strong grip by twisting her wrist and smacking his arm with her free hand in one motion.

    "You''re real," the man said with a deep chuckle. His face was still obscured by the recesses of his hood.

    "Who are you?" Jeze demanded.

    The man groaned as he used his long sword to prop himself off the ground. The weapon was nearly as tall as him from hilt to point. Jeze''s sword and axe were out, and she took a step back. The flesh on the man''s hands were badly burned, but his cloak looked reasonably unscathed. Jeze''s sharp eyes spotted the Rune patterns stitched into the fabric, and she realized his cloak was enchanted. He was tall, nearly as tall as the Frostsworn, with a lean build. He was definitely not Daverius, who was much broader in the shoulders and shorter in height.

    "The name''s Veil," he rasped out and arched to crack his back.

    "Why do you have the Chime ring?" Jeze asked.

    The man glanced down and Jeze saw that he had dark red eyes and sharp features that consisted of high cheekbones, a pointed nose and a narrow chin.

    "The ringing was real, too? Just like you? I thought the Blasted Affliction spell was playing tricks on me," Veil muttered. He had a deep voice, and he looked to be in his mid-thirties.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes. She still held her weapons, and she asked in a low voice, "Where did you get the ring?"

    Veil chuckled deeply and looked up to the ceiling. "This has to be a joke," he said.

    "I will not ask again," Jeze growled.

    Veil returned his gaze to Jeze and asked, "Is that right? What then? You will fight me?"

    Jeze set her jaw and prepared her body to launch an attack.

    "Whoa, calm down, okay?" The man said as he set his blade against the wall and held up his two hands. "See? I''m unarmed?" He added.

    Jeze motioned with her chin to his burned hand. "The ring," she said.

    "Imagine that, Fate has a blasted sense of humor, don''t it?" Veil asked and then sighed deeply. "You know who I got the ring from, and it''s a bloody coincidence that years later, I will run into his little pup of a sister."

    Jeze lowered her weapons. Her lips quivered. This couldn''t be true.

    "The only thing any of us knew about Daverius was that he had a sister who he claimed would be a better adventurer than himself. Nobody could believe that cause your brother was on a whole nother level than the rest of us."

    "You knew him?" Jeze asked, her voice soft.

    "Knew him? I bloody traveled with him for nearly a year. We''ve been through Hell and back!" Veil responded.

 Chapter 81: Hearts

    So many emotions ran through Jeze at the moment. She found someone who traveled and adventured with her brother! But could this be a trick? Was she still under the Madness spell? Jeze wondered. The odds of her running into someone her brother traveled with were, well, impossible. Jeze reflected, and she became suspicious.

    "Hmm, why are you looking at me like that? Like you are about to gut me?" Veil asked.

    "I don''t trust you," Jeze responded flatly.

    The tall, thin man chuckled. "As you shouldn''t," he replied with an arched eyebrow.

    "How do I know you didn''t kill my brother and stole his ring?" She asked.

    Viel laughed so hard and so suddenly that Jeze worried that the man might explode. His laughter subsided after a moment, and Viel wiped a tear from his eye.

    "Oh, that is fresh. Kill yer brother? Do you bloody know who you are talking about? The great Daverius? I couldn''t put a scheme on him no matter how hard I tried, and I''m blasted good with schemes, mind you," Viel said and gave a snort.

    Jeze emitted a low growl, and she gripped her weapons tighter. Viel''s answer did not assuage her concerns.

    "Oi! Aren''t you the suspicious sort? What happened to you to make you so bloody untrusting? Never mind that we don''t have time for long stories, nor do I care. We best get going then, shall we?" The hooded man said and then grimaced in pain as he tried to walk toward the opened door.

    Jeze''s face softened as if she noticed his severe burns for the second time. She had forgotten about them. "You are hurt, and I don''t have the skill to heal you properly. Here, drink this and rest." She dug through her pack to retrieve a recovery potion and handed it to him.

    "Aw, you are an angel!" Viel exclaimed and he hungrily drank the potion. "I hate to ask, but you got any water? My throat is parched like the sands on the Great Desert."

    Jeze hesitated a moment and decided with a shrug to help the man. She didn''t trust him fully, but he did know her brother. Plus, Viel had the Chime ring, and if he didn''t steal it, that meant Daverius created one for him as a way to communicate with each other.

    Jeze activated a piece of the Water Brick and said, "Drink up and let''s find my team. We have a Healer, and¡­" Jeze stammered before she added, "he is very skilled."

    For Jeze, saying the compliment about Mikal felt like sucking on a sour lemon. But it was true, she realized with a shrug.

    "Nae on that girl. I''ve waited five years for this, and I''m so close," Viel replied after he drank all the water she offered in one swig.

    Jeze scoffed and exclaimed, "But your burns? You are seriously injured!"

    "What? These? Bah, it''s just a flesh wound. Come on now, let''s go. The treasure we seek won''t get found by itself," Viel answered and motioned toward the opened door.

    As the tall man moved, Jeze noticed that the burns looked less serious than before. Was the man healing himself? Who was this Viel? She wondered, or maybe her eyes played tricks on her. Wait a minute, she shook her head with another realization.

    "You have no pack," Jeze observed.

    "That''s right. I lost it when I got captured by those bloody Swamp Demons in that cursed fog," Viel answered.

    "You escaped?" Shock was clear on her face.

    "Was not easy! But like I said, I''m bloody good at schemes," the man replied.

    "Why are you traveling alone? Where is the rest of the team?" Jeze asked.

    "What? You mean the team that Daverius and I traveled with years ago? With your brother gone, we split up. He was the Leader and the only reason why we stayed together in the first place," Viel said, impatience clear in his voice.

    Tears threatened to break loose down Jeze''s face. "Did you see him die?" She stammered.

    Viel sighed and removed his hood. He had graying dark hair that was loose and fell just above his shoulders. He scratched his head and replied, "I don''t know. We were on the tenth floor, and we were surrounded. Your brother held the Fiends at bay so that we could escape through an Exit portal. We waited for him on the other side, but the Portal closed with him never coming through. I''m sorry, girl. He was a good man, and I owe him my life."

    Viel placed a scarred hand on Jeze''s shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. "Shall we go through the door?" He asked.

    Jeze pulled herself away from him. It was obvious that Viel was looking for something particular in this dungeon, but what? Did he know about the Hold Core? Or was there something else in the Core Tunnels? Jeze had so many questions and was filled with doubt and mistrust. There were too many things happening that it caused her head to spin. Was this man with the Empire? Maybe he worked with Drake and was the reason that the Empire had such an interest in Daverius and in her.

    "Open your cloak," Jeze asked.

    Viel blinked his eyes. He complied but asked, "What''s the meaning of that?"

    Under his gray cloak was silver-scale armor. No insignia of the Rising sun. Jeze scolded herself; of course, it wouldn''t be that obvious. What was she thinking? This was not proof! Besides, maybe he is not with the Empire, but what if he was with the cultists? What if this was some grand ploy to get her to repair the Hold Portals? Oh, how she missed having Ziplocke around. She was way out of her league here.

    "Jeze, is it? Are you alright?" He asked, and he glanced down at his chest. "What were you expecting to find? You think I am an agent?" Viel gave another laugh.

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    "It''s not funny," Jeze growled.

    "Oh, girl, I''m not laughing at you. Let me guess, the Empire is after you as well! Gods be damned, those fools," Viel shook his head.

    "Tell me more!" Jeze demanded.

    Viel sighed as he glanced forlornly at the opened door. He shook his head and it was clear he decided to talk some more with her. What was he looking for? Jeze wondered. Whatever it was, it was something really important to him based upon the emotions clearly written upon his sharp-featured face.

    "Your brother mostly kept a low profile, but that was hard for him, you know? Because he was so bloody talented. By the gods, I couldn''t understand what drove him to be so damn perfect! We never believed humans could possess such qualities," Viel said and then cleared his throat.

    "Humans?" Jeze asked.

    "People in general," Viel said with a grin and a shrug.

    Jeze arched an eyebrow, and before she could ask more, Viel continued.

    "His talent and ability to lead, as you can imagine, attracted a skilled team. I mean your''s truly even joined him," Viel said with a wave toward himself.

    Jeze crossed her wiry, muscled arms and asked, "What are you?"

    "Just an average scoundrel," Viel replied and continued with his story. "Having such an exceptional team drew attention both good and bad. You see, your brother was humble and competent, but he was also a scholar. That could be his fault, but he refused to tell a lie, even if it meant keeping himself out of trouble."

    "The Emperor is not immortal," Jeze said.

    "Bingo! That is their whole religion, and Daverius challenged that. And the only reason why was because he was so bloody capable. See, if some unknown bloke were to say that it was doubtful that the Gift of Immortality resided at the top. No one would care. But, your fool brother had to say what he believed, and that stirred up all sorts of trouble. Boyo, those Empire blokes sure love their supposed Immortal Emperor," Viel replied.

    Jeze thought about Drake, and then about Raynor and this stirred up even more emotions for her. It was visible on her face like the forming of storm clouds before a hurricane.

    "They came looking for you?" Viel asked quietly.

    The teenage girl nodded and wiped her eyes.

    "Bloody spitful bastards! I should have known. I failed your brother by not coming to look for you," Viel said.

    "What are you looking for in here?" Jeze suddenly asked.

    Viel visibly flinched and then chuckled. "You are your brother''s sister, that is for sure. You both know how to time your questions to keep me unbalanced."

    "You didn''t answer my question," Jeze observed.

    "That''s right I didn''t," Viel replied and rubbed his face that showed he was thinking. He made a decision with a nod.

    "You and I have a lot in common," he said after a moment.

    "Don''t dodge the question," Jeze replied. She was skeptical about where Viel was going.

    The sharp-featured man chuckled. "We are both looking for our older siblings. I am looking for my sister."

    "You believe she is in here?" Jeze asked. There was a spark of hope in her chest. If Viel knew where to find his sister, then maybe she could also find her brother?

    "Oh, I found her remains already and confirmed that she perished in the Spire many years ago. I am looking for her heart," Viel growled. His deep voice changed slightly, and it unnerved Jeze. It now sounded guttural and primal.

    "What?" Jeze cried.

    "The Fiends took it. A heart can be a valuable thing. I wish to reclaim it," Viel stated, his face stern.

    "Why?" Jeze was horrified. A heart? What manner of twisted magic was this? There was something about Viel''s features that became unsettling to her. His red eyes and his demeanor shifted from jovial to serious. Deadly serious.

    "You will help me, just as your brother did," Viel promised.

    Jeze took a step back and gripped her weapons. "Why? If you knew my brother then you know us Zanchi''s don''t like to be told what to do."

    Viel''s face softened just a little. Something that didn''t seem possible with his sharp, angular features. "We will help each other, how about that? You are looking for something within these tunnels. I will help you find that if you help me find my sister''s heart. Do we have a deal?"

    The man extended his hand. Jeze glanced at it and thought for a moment. "I have conditions. You will tell me who you really are, and you will help me find my team," she added.

    "That seems unfair. I could always force you with pain to help me," Viel hissed, his red eyes flashed.

    Jeze''s face hardened, and she growled, "I may be small, but you will discover that I can be fierce. But that is not the reason why you should agree to my terms."

    The man arched his eyebrow and asked, "You got my attention. What is the reason, then?"

    "I am a skilled Scout, and I have the knowledge about the Spire that my brother discovered years ago in the Pyramid back home. Except, I have discovered more than he. Unless you want to trigger every Rune trap, I suggest you agree to my terms," Jeze answered.

    Viel chuckled and responded, "Oh really? Was it not a Rune trap that caused you to get separated from your team?"

    "I did not trigger the trap! A cultist did!" Jeze cried.

    "Cultist?" Viel asked and then shook his head, "Nevermind that. We do not have time for another tale."

    The tall man sighed as he pondered the situation. After a moment, he chuckled deeply and said, "You definitely have your brother''s wits, that is for sure. But Daverius was right about something. You are cunning and have lots of potential."

    "Do we have a deal?" Jeze asked.

    "Aye," Viel replied.

    "Swear on your sister''s heart," Jeze demanded.

    The man flinched and scowled so deeply that Jeze worried she had gone too far. But how else could she get the man to honor their deal?

    "Would you swear on your brother''s?" He asked.

    "I swear on Daverius''s heart," Jeze replied without hesitation.

    Viel shook his head and responded, "Then, so I swear on my sister, Kizzanythanyx''s heart."

    The name sounded so strange to Jeze that it caused her head to spin. Did she just make a serious mistake? What was done was done, and she jutted her chin forward.

    "Now, tell me your name," Jeze stated.

    Viel grinned in a manner that reminded Jeze of a sinister predator. Did she just make a deal with the wrong person?

    The sharp-featured man with red eyes replied, "My true name is Diszanythanyx. But do not try to pronounce it. No mortal can. But, you can call me by the name that humans have given me so many years ago."

    Jeze felt a pit of fear form in her chest.

    "Eclipse," the man said.

    "The Dragon?" Jeze gasped.

    "That''s right, the terror of the Ironfist Kingdom. But I much prefer it if you called me Viel. It would be too much of a bother if everyone else knew who I am," he responded.

    "The bones above," Jeze started.

    "Belong to my sister. She was claimed by the Spire centuries ago. Your brother helped me find the means to locate her within the Spire. We were so close five years ago, and I intend to finish what I started," Viel replied.

    What sort of deal did she just enter into? Jeze wondered with regret.

    "Now, let us get started shall we?" Viel asked and motioned toward the open door that led into a dark corridor deep within the Core Tunnels.

 Chapter 82: Traps and Corridors

    ¡°Do you know where to go?¡± Jeze asked as she disarmed the third Rune trap.

    The two traveled together for over an hour through the Core Tunnels. They encountered dead ends that consisted of hallways that ended, and, other times, they were grand circular chambers that were empty with no exits, no furniture, and no markings. In each case, they backtracked and took another corridor. I¡¯m truly lost, Jeze admitted to herself.

    ¡°Your brother helped me with being able to find these dungeons. What did you call them?¡± Viel responded.

    ¡°The Core Tunnels. Wait, my brother found a way to find them?¡± Jeze asked and rose up. She motioned that Viel could open the door.

    ¡°Sort of, the blasted Spire keeps changing,¡± the tall man answered as he opened the door.

    ¡°Watch out!¡± Jeze warned.

    A gray-skinned Thrall lunged forward with a spear with a wicked barbed tip. Viel grunted as the weapon pierced his side, and the tall man split his attacker¡¯s head in half. Dozens more Thralls surged forward as the chamber ahead was packed. Despite the danger, this was a sort of a relief to Jeze as it broke the monotony of the empty rooms.

    ¡°Should we fall back?¡± Jeze asked.

    As Viel fought the wave of Thralls, she Summoned Dirt and Shaped it into a Stone Wall. Jeze tapped her Earth aspect bracelet and completed a third set of Glyphs in the air with her arms and hands to Control the Stone Wall and push it to block off the entranceway.

    ¡°No, we can take them,¡± the human-shaped dragon responded as he weaved his blade with deadly skill to cut down three Thralls.

    ¡°There are close to fifty in there, maybe a hundred. Are you sure?¡± Jeze asked.

    Her Stone Wall chipped and shook as the Thralls struck it with their twisted weapons. These Thralls were different from the ones she had faced before. Their skin was sinewy and gray as it was stretched tightly against their bodies. She pitied the poor souls as they must have been trapped in the Abyssal plane for a very long time. But what made them different was that they were better equipped and wore golden breastplates, gauntlets, greaves, and helmets. But it seemed like the Demons skimped out on the budget because the Thrall¡¯s joints and throat were only unprotected. Normally, with such armor, there would be mail or thickly padded armor that covered such areas to offer some protection and allow for mobility.

    ¡°Do you recognize this symbol?¡± Jeze asked.

    Etched upon the breastplates of each of the Thralls was a giant blackened blood drop surrounded by red flames. She took out her Brother¡¯s journal and quickly drew the symbol so that she could reference it later.

    ¡°Are you bloody mad? This is not arts and crafts, little girl,¡± Viel growled. He glanced nervously at the Stone Wall she created as it shook and cracked.

    ¡°Relax, I know my craft. But you should get ready. The spell is ending soon,¡± Jeze stated as she tucked away her journal and prepared her battle axe and arming sword.

    As predicted, the Stone Wall crumbled, and the Summoned Earth aspect faded away into the ether as dozens of howling Thralls swarmed into the chamber. Jeze was not fully convinced of Viel¡¯s tale about him being a dragon. She figured you couldn¡¯t believe every person who made such a wild claim. However, Viel fought extremely well against the enormous odds they faced as the chamber they were in filled with a teaming mass of howling and screaming bodies. Viel weaved seamlessly through the crowd with his sword twirling and cutting down foes like some dark god of carnage. Jeze actually believed that they could survive this encounter as she prepared her weapons to engage the dozen or so Thralls that broke away from attacking the tall man and focused their mad, howling rage upon her.

    Three of the fastest Thralls closed in on her at the same time, and Jeze rolled to the side to avoid their attacks. When she popped back up, she slashed the legs of her attackers and parried a spear thrust from a fourth. More kept coming, and Jeze felt that this would be a good time to try to blend magic and combat. None of her spells went off, for the Runes were fickle and required perfection that she was unable to provide. A spiked mace struck her hard on her shoulder pauldron, and Jeze stumbled to one knee. She barely dodged in time to avoid a spear thrust aimed at her chest. Fierce hands grabbed her and threatened to drag her to the ground. Jeze managed to break free and planted her axe through the helmet of a Thrall, and her sword stabbed another through the throat. Her focus was broken when she realized that she was being overwhelmed, and fear bubbled up from her gut like a growing flame. Jeze was starting to panic.

    ¡°Stop messing around,¡± Viel growled.

    The tall man came to her rescue and cut her attackers down with fluid sword slashes. Jeze saw that he was bleeding from numerous cuts and wounds. She was also bruised and battered.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to achieve Mastery,¡± Jeze replied.

    The two stood back to back and fought the rush of Thralls. Jeze parried and countered with deadly accuracy. She tried to find the calm she had when she fought the cultists. But, it was as if a force separated her mind from that perfect state.

    Viel snorted and grunted out, ¡°That only comes through thousands upon thousands of hours of practice. Just focus on surviving for now and be grateful that these rageful brutes have no skill.¡±

    Jeze scowled but focused on the combat. She used her axe to deflect to the side a curved sword slash and countered with her blade to cut across her attacker¡¯s throat. The Thrall fell to the ground, gurgling up dark blood. In a fluid motion, she continued her axe movement to chop upwards and shattered the jaw of the second Thrall while crouching and impaling a third just under the breastplate with her sword. All of that happened in mere seconds, and Jeze realized she had a brief window of reprieve as more Thralls charged across the chamber at them.

    With her weapons in hand she managed to Shape the glyphs correctly and Summoned a mound of dirt. The Thralls moved closer with every breath, and Jeze tried to Shape the dirt to stone, but failed. The rage filled attackers slammed into the two.

    ¡°I told you to focus! Stop playing around,¡± Viel cried.

    Jeze obliged, for now, and focused on the fighting. The two circled and moved to avoid being surrounded as they kept their enemies at bay with their deadly skill. Another small window of calm presented itself, and Jeze took the opportunity to form the Glyphs with weapons in her hands to Shape the dirt into Boulders. Exhilaration filled her heart as she felt the energy snap into place, and the dirt obeyed her. Yes! She thought to herself. The Mastery she experienced earlier was not a one-off but something she could do! With confidence, she engaged the onrushing Thralls with her weapons in hand and formed the Glyphs to Control the boulders. Nothing happened, and a spiked mace struck her hard in her head. Her warm Blood spilled down her face as Jeze fell to the ground.

    ¡°Fool!¡± Veil growled. That was the last thing Jeze heard as she was submerged in the deep pool of unconsciousness.

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    Time was hard to gauge as silence greeted Jeze when she came to. She felt the hard, cold stone floor through her thick, padded armor as she discovered that she was lying on her back. Jeze¡¯s head throbbed with pain, and she tentatively reached up to feel her hair matted with blood. She flinched when she touched the tender wound on her skull, but it felt intact. That was a good sign, right? Jeze wondered. The thought of Summoning the Life aspect to heal herself caused her head to hurt even more. There was no way she would cast spells any time soon. Jeze sat up, and the world spun before her. A tall, blurry figure stood in front of her and slowly came into focus.

    ¡°This is a good helmet. Saved your life,¡± the blurry figure said in Viel¡¯s voice.

    Jeze felt something hard and familiar thump against her chest and fall into her hands. It was her helmet that she purchased from Hannah. For a quick second, Jeze wondered how the merchant was doing. This triggered a chain of thoughts as she also wondered how her team was doing. And Irvin, and then for a moment she wondered about Rainbow and Swordslayer.

    ¡°Can you walk?¡± Viel asked.

    Jeze¡¯s vision came into focus, and she nodded. With a grimace, she rose to her feet. All around them were bodies of dead thralls. The chamber was filled with them. Viel shoved Jeze¡¯s pack into her arms.

    ¡°I took the liberty to use a Water brick and to take one of your recovery potions. They are good. You have skill in alchemy, that is for sure,¡± Viel said.

    Jeze rummaged through her pack and found a potion that was infused with the Life aspect. These were expensive, but it was better to use them than to be dead. She drank from it and the cool liquid felt good as it tingled her stomach. Everything on her body hurt, and she glanced up at Viel. He seemed fine. How was that possible? He was burned, and she watched him get stabbed and cut over a dozen times.

    ¡°How are you not hurt?¡± Jeze blurted out.

    ¡°Told you, I¡¯m a dragon. Are you ready to head out?¡± Viel answered.

    She was groggy from the head wound and found the man¡¯s answer funny. The blow to her skull removed all of her inhibitors, and she said, ¡°You are not a dragon. I don¡¯t believe that.¡±

    Viel snorted and replied, ¡°I care not what you think. But let me remind you. You swore on your Brother''s heart to help me, and breaking such a promise is a serious offense.¡±

    Jeze rubbed her temples. By the Night Eye, did her head hurt! ¡°Hold your horses! I¡¯ll help you, I just need a moment.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have a moment. There is a Monster Portal in there,¡± Viel growled as he cut down two more Thralls that rushed into the chamber.

    The tall man shook his head and went into the next room. Jeze tentatively took a few steps and when the dizziness passed, she followed him. They were in a large rectangular chamber with a shimmering red portal in its center. It was clear that Viel intended to damage the Threshold Runes to shut it down.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Jeze called out and rushed over. She felt like she was going to vomit, but the Life aspect potion was working as she felt her head wound was improving.

    ¡°What?¡± Viel growled.

    ¡°I can repurpose this portal,¡± she said.

    ¡°No, I''d rather not have other adventurers coming in here and stealing my prize,¡± Viel said and raised his sword.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Jeze cried again.

    Viel paused with his sword in the air. ¡°More Thralls will be coming soon, so this better be good.¡±

    ¡°Let me deactivate it, and after we find your Sister¡¯s heart, I can repurpose it. This is the only way I can find my team,¡± Jeze pleaded.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Viel growled. He took a step back.

    A howling Thrall charged out of the portal, and the tall man cut it down with ease. The Thrall fell to the ground in a pool of black blood. Jeze knelt down to work on the Threshold Runes.

    As she worked on altering the patterns, she asked, ¡°Tell me something. Why do you assume a human form? I mean, if you are a Dragon, why not stay as a Dragon?¡±

    Viel sighed and rubbed his face. ¡°My true form requires a lot of energy, much like having a conversation with you.¡±

    Jeze chuckled at the joke as she poured her Will into her work. The Red portal shimmered and blinked out of existence. In order to repurpose the Portal, all she needed to do was to remove the resin and reshape the Runes. Jeze rose to her feet as she wiped her hands.

    ¡°Do you need to sleep for a thousand years?¡± Jeze asked as she recalled the myth from the Ironfist Kingdom.

    Viel laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t need to sleep for that long to regain my power. Several years in this human form should suffice,¡± he answered.

    ¡°But why is everyone afraid of Mount Dragon? If you are not slumbering there,¡± Jeze wondered.

    ¡°I am truly terrifying in my true form that it will keep you humans scared for centuries. You should remember that and maybe give me more respect,¡± Viel growled.

    Jeze shrugged and replied, ¡°Assuming you are a real dragon. I¡¯m still not convinced.¡±

    The tall man shook his head and muttered, ¡°Your brother made for much better company.¡± Viel motioned toward a door at the end of the chamber and asked, ¡°Shall we?¡±

    ¡°So tell me this. Do Dragons normally exist in our realm? Or is it true that you arrived from somewhere else and are trapped after fighting the Gods?¡± Jeze asked as the two crossed the chamber.

    ¡°Oh, this is your realm, is it? You humans can be so arrogant,¡± Viel replied.

    ¡°You are human, and you are very arrogant,¡± Jeze pointed out.

    The tall man snorted and replied, ¡°I have a right to be. I¡¯m a Dragon.¡±

    Jeze shook her head as she knelt to examine the door. ¡°It¡¯s Rune trapped,¡± she observed.

    ¡°Of course it is! Every blasted door in here is trapped,¡± Viel growled.

    Jeze altered the Runes with her amber resin and asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question. Are Dragons native here? Or did you travel between realms as stated in the myths?¡±

    Viel hesitated and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡±

    Jeze poured her Will into her work and felt the energy snap into place. The trap was deactivated. She got up and asked, ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡±

    ¡°You think your sister¡¯s heart will help?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Jeze wondered.

    ¡°I will consume it and learn,¡± Viel stated matter of factly.

    Jeze crunched her face and said, ¡°Gross.¡± After a brief pause she asked, ¡°Is it true then that your kind fought with the Gods?¡±

    ¡°How many times do I have to tell you that I do not remember? Perhaps the Gods came here and fought us?¡± Viel asked.

    Jeze tapped her chin. The history was so complicated. The Fiends ruling the realm, Dragons, and Gods fighting each other. The Ones from Before working with the Goblins to shut down the Stronghold. How did it all fit in together? Clearly, Viel did not know. Would she ever unravel this mystery? Jeze wondered. She decided to ask different questions.

    ¡°How did you team up with my brother?¡±

    ¡°Were you always so bloody annoying? I told you already. He was very capable, and I needed that for the Spire,¡± Viel snapped.

    ¡°You were searching for a team?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Viel growled.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Are you deaf, girl? I told you to find my Sister,¡± Viel responded.

    ¡°She turned into her real form and was still defeated. Are you not afraid of what killed her?¡± Jeze asked.

    Viel sighed and replied, ¡°Are you not afraid of the dangers here in the Spire? We either stay safe and stangante or rise up to the challenges that life offers in order to get stronger.¡±

    Jeze nodded in agreement.

    ¡°Can I open the bloody door?¡± Viel asked.

    ¡°Yes, I removed the trap,¡± Jeze said and added, ¡°I think.¡±

    ¡°You think? Unbelievable!¡± Viel snorted in exasperation.

    The tall man reached out and opened the door. Nothing happened, and it led to another chamber. This one was square shaped and unlike the others it had markings and distinguishing features such as three stone pillars. In addition, across from them was a large double steel door that was closed with no discernible means to open. The three pillars were cylinder in shape and marked with several different images that could be spun. In front of the door and beyond the pillars, a large stone pressure plate.

    ¡°Oh, bloody hell. I hate puzzles,¡± Viel stated.

 Chapter 83: Ogre

    "My sister''s heart is just beyond this door. I can feel it," Viel said.

    The tall man touched the double steel doors at the opposite end of the chamber as Jeze studied the pillars. Each pillar could be rotated. The first and third pillars were images, and the middle pillar was colors. Jeze had searched the room for traps.

    "We choose a combination and press the pressure plate. Something nasty comes out of those pipes if we choose the wrong combination," she surmised.

    "And if we choose the right one?" Viel asked.

    Jeze arched an eyebrow and answered, "Isn''t it obvious? The door opens."

    The tall man nodded. He sniffed the door, and after a moment, he turned around to study the room.

    "Alright then. Where should we start?" Viel asked.

    "Search the room for clues," Jeze replied.

    The two walked the chamber and discovered nothing along the walls and corners. The only things were the three pillars, the pressure plate, and the giant metal door. They returned to the center and examined the pillars.

    "Why don''t you have a team now?" Jeze asked.

    Viel glanced up from studying the pillars and asked, "What?"

    "Why are you traveling alone?"

    The tall man scowled and mumbled, "More bloody questions." He looked up, "Because I know where to go now, and I can''t be bothered with a team."

    "How? The Spire always changes," Jeze replied.

    "Yes, but some things don''t. Like these tunnels, what did you call em again? The Core Tunnels? The last time, with your brother, we found one of these, and it had a library that talked about a Dragon in the Swamp. When I heard that the third floor was a Swamp, I came here and knocked around some of em Demons and found this place.

    "You talked with the Swamp Demons?" Jeze asked, her voice incredulous.

    "It was not pleasant, but yeah, I did," Viel answered.

    Jeze didn''t think that they could talk with the Demons. That made sense though, Ziplocke could talk. Probably not the Thralls, but the Imps?

    "Where did you find the library?" Jeze asked.

    Viel shrugged, "I couldn''t tell you. I don''t remember."

    "What did the floor look like?" Jeze said.

    "A volcano. No more questions!" Viel stated.

    Jeze made a mental note to see if they could explore the lava floor some more. Assuming she was able to survive and find her team. The two returned to examine the pillars. The middle of each one rotated with an audible click. The one on the left had dozens of symbols that Viel did not recognize. The middle were all colors, and the third had images of beasts and animals.

    "Why do the Fiends want your sister''s heart?" Jeze asked.

    Viel looked up and rubbed his face. "You are an endless pit of questions! Your brother believed it was used to create a core or something."

    Jeze''s heart sank, and she asked, "A Hold Core?"

    "Yeah, whatever that is," Viel replied and returned to spinning the pillar in front of him.

    She walked over to Viel and asked, "Why do you want to eat your sister''s heart?"

    Viel stood up from kneeling and towered over the young girl. "I hope to get her memories."

    Jeze crossed her arms and asked, "Why?"

    Viel snorted and shook his head. He looked tired. After a moment, he answered, "I don''t know why I have to be in human form. Something happened to me and my sister a long time ago that restricted us from using our true forms. Maybe she might have known."

    Jeze''s face scrunched up, and she asked, "How would eating her heart give you that? That does not make any sense!"

    She really didn''t want to give up the Hold Core, but a promise was a promise. She reflected to herself. Assuming they would be able to find it. Oh, and not to mention that they survive the Guardian. This was a lesson, really, Jeze figured to herself. To not make promises without knowing as much as possible. In the end, she did not want to be one that betrayed others and besides, she kind of liked Viel. He was like a grumpy uncle, a grumpy uncle that could transform into a terrifying Dragon¡­What mess did I get myself into? Jeze wondered.

    "Did you hear me?" Viel asked and snapped Jeze out of her internal thoughts.

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    She blinked and said, "Oh, uh, what did you say?"

    "You alright girl?"

    "I''m fine. Why does eating her heart give you back memories?" Jeze asked.

    Viel arched an eyebrow and shrugged. "I don''t know for certain, but hearts are magical things. Especially Dragon Hearts. They are powerful enough to break curses."

    Jeze blinked and asked, "Wait, you are cursed?"

    "I''m stuck in this weak form!" Viel cried.

    "I thought shape-shifting was a power that Dragons have," Jeze stated.

    Viel blinked, "Bloody hell! Why would we want to assume this puny form?" After a moment, the tall man quietly added, "No offense, of course."

    "Wait, can you turn into your true form? Your sister did," Jeze asked.

    "Of course, I can, but like I told you, it consumes a lot of energy. I can maintain my form for maybe an hour before I''m completely exhausted," Viel growled.

    "And you need to sleep for a thousand years," Jeze recalled.

    Viel snorted and muttered, "Not that long, but a few years for sure. I tell you this, I don''t want to do that again. I was fortunate I was not killed in my sleep."

    They returned to studying the pillars, and Jeze wondered, "What are these symbols?"

    Viel shrugged and replied, "Maybe one of them matches the symbol you drew from the Thralls."

    Jeze''s head snapped up, and her eyes widened. "That''s right!"

    She rummaged through her pack for the journal. In moments she saw that one of the symbols matched the one that she drew. Jeze aligned the spinning pillar to the image with a click.

    "What do these mean?" She asked.

    "If I were to guess. I would say each one represents a clan, for one of them blasted Fiends," Viel replied.

    "They have clans?"

    Viel nodded.

    "How do you know this?" Jeze asked.

    The tall man blinked several times and then shrugged. "Not sure. That''s why I need to eat my sister''s heart. I got these memories like loose puzzle pieces floating around in my head."

    "What color?" Viel asked.

    ¡°Gold,¡± Jeze answered.

    "Why is that?"

    "It was the color of the breastplates on the Thralls we fought," Jeze replied.

    Viel shrugged and turned the pillar to click on the golden color. The two studied the final pillar. It was images of beasts.

    "The dragon," Jeze pointed.

    Viel snorted, "We don''t look like that."

    The two spun the pillar so that the dragon image clicked into place. They both turned to look at the pressure plate. The tubes of the trap loomed ominously overhead.

    Viel scratched his head and said, "That seemed too bloody simple. Are you sure we got it right?"

    "What else could it be?" Jeze responded.

    "Why even bother with a door mechanism?" Viel wondered.

    "Maybe it was made simple so that even the Thralls could open the door?" Jeze said.

    "Again, why even bother?" Viel asked.

    Jeze couldn''t think of a reason, so she just shrugged.

    Viel''s amber eyes glanced around the chamber, and he observed, "Nothing about this place makes a lick of sense."

    "The Core Tunnels?" Jeze asked.

    "Everything, the whole blasted Spire," Viel responded.

    "Its real name is the Stronghold. The Fiends used it to invade different realms," Jeze said.

    Viel nodded and then shrugged. "That could be. But why levels? Why these stupid puzzles?"

    Jeze tapped her chin and explained how a long time ago, the Ones from Before, with the aid of the Celestials, sabotaged the Spire so that it was trapped in levels and that it allowed it to be infiltrated by small teams of Adventurers.

    "And you believe that?" Viel asked with an arched eyebrow.

    "Makes sense to me," she replied.

    "No, it bloody doesn''t! Girl, have you ever been in a war?" The tall man asked.

    Jeze shook her head.

    "War is all about terrain, supply lines, and troop movements. You don''t create a tower for it! Unless it''s a siege tower," Viel answered.

    "Maybe that is for the mortal realms. Wars in between realms could be different," Jeze pointed out.

    "Perhaps, but I''m not convinced. I think it is something else," Viel said.

    Jeze snorted and waved at the chamber that they were in. "So, what do we do now?"

    "I''m not stepping on that plate. I don''t trust any of this," Viel said.

    "I''m not either," Jeze replied.

    "Okay, then what?"

    Jeze had an idea, and she Summoned Dirt and Shaped it into a boulder. She was getting good at the movements. Finally, she Controlled the large rock to launch in an arc, and it landed on the pressure plate with an echoing crash that resonated throughout the chamber. They heard the pressure plate click into place, and this was followed by a rumbling sound. The large metal door parted to the sides as it opened.

    "Yes!" Viel exclaimed.

    But the door they came in through slammed shut. They were trapped!

    ¡°Oh, that can¡¯t be good,¡± the tall man stated.

    The opening in front of them revealed a dimly lit circular chamber with a pedestal in its center. Floating just above the pedestal in a tube of pale silver light was a dark sphere the size of a fist. That has to be the Dungeon Core, Jeze thought to herself.

    "What about the Guardian?" She wondered out loud.

    Emerging from the shadows from within the chamber was an enormous figure. It was shaped like a man and nearly double Viel''s height. Clutched in its dark blue hands was a heavy club lined with dark steel studs.

    "You had to ask," Viel muttered.

    "What is that?" Jeze exclaimed. It looked familiar, like something written in her brother''s journal.

    "That''s an Ogre. Hope you are ready to fight a tier 6 monster," Viel said.

    The Ogre let loose a roar from a mouth that had sharp incisors. Runes flared along the creature''s arms as it formed glyphs with a giant hand, and the Ogre launched a ball of flame toward the two. Jeze and Viel dodged out of the way as the fireball exploded in between them. Jeze felt the intense heat wash over her boy as the fires subsided.

    "They are big. Strong, skilled fighters, and also can cast Rune Magic," Viel said as he readied his blade.

    There was no escape and they were forced to fight a formidable opponent. This was going to be very challenging, Jeze realized as she pulled out her axe and sword. A grin appeared upon her face. She was eager to test her abilities.

 Chapter 84: The Price of a Promise

    Tier 6 monsters were meant to be battled by a team of five Adventurer-ranked Guild members. Not two, unless Viel was a higher rank. Jeze reflected to herself. He is a Dragon, she added with some hope as the two fled the furious, fiery onslaught from the menacing Ogre. She and Viel tried to lure the Demon out into the chamber where they could properly flank it, but the Ogre was too clever for that. It knew its advantage and stayed in the doorway where it could lob fireballs at them until they decided to rush in and engage. If they fought the Ogre head-on, the Demon would have a massive advantage due to its size. Their advantage of speed would be negated due to the creature standing in the door frame.

    "We have to lure it out," Viel rasped as the two ducked behind one of the pillars.

    The heat from the flames blasted them from the sides as another fireball exploded. They would have to move soon to avoid getting burned.

    "How do we do that?" Jeze cried as the two ran in opposite directions. The area they just fled became engulfed in flames.

    "Aren''t you a Rune caster? Do something magical!" Viel exclaimed.

    Jeze snorted in frustration. She had tried lobbing boulders at the Ogre, but the Demon had batted them to the side with his massive club. It was perfectly content to stay where it was to guard the Hold Core, and the Demon didn''t appear to be running out of Will, for it lobbed Fireballs with causal ease. She had an idea and tapped her Affliction aspect ring.

    Jeze Summoned and Shaped a ball of curse energy and launched it at the Ogre in the hopes of enraging it. The greasy red energy struck the Demon in the chest, and the monster blinked twice and snarled. I needed to pour more, Will. Jeze reflected, and then her eyes widened. The Ogre Summoned its own curse magic and Shaped it into a red sparkling mist. How could I dodge that? She thought in a panic. The Ogre Controlled the Affliction mist to rapidly spew forth. Jeze tried to outrun the area of effect but was engulfed by the curse magic. The spell afflicted her with nausea, and she focused her Will to resist it. In the end, Jeze had no choice but to retch and vomit. The Ogre laughed. Its voice resonated deeply against the walls like malicious thunder.

    "You''re lucky the spell didn''t make you poop your pants. I''ve seen that happen one time. Nasty business," Viel observed.

    "Don''t give it ideas," Jeze growled after she finished retching.

    The Ogre''s laughter subsided and it returned to launching Fireballs and soon the two were running from the fiery blasts. The two weaved throughout the chamber and found themselves back behind the pillars.

    "I will throw another boulder at it and when its distracted, I need you to attack right away before it could recover to Shape runes," Jeze quickly said.

    "Then what? I can''t go toe to toe with that thing!" Viel cried.

    "We keep the pressure on so that it can''t shape the glyphs," Jeze responded as the two parted ways to avoid being burned.

    They ran across the chamber, avoiding fireballs, and returned back again behind the pillars.

    "That''s not a good plan," Viel rasped out. He was getting tired from running.

    Jeze peeked around the pillar and quickly ducked back as a ball of Fire whooshed past her to explode against the far wall. The heat was intense.

    "If you distract it enough, I could squeeze past and then we will be flanking it from the front and back," Jeze said.

    Viel nodded, "The Ogre will have no choice but to move toward one of us, and then we will have space to fight it!"

    The two separated again as the Ogre lobbed fireballs to engulf the area behind the pillars in flames. Without further discussion, the two initiated their plan. As she ran, with exploding fireballs licking her heels, Jeze Summoned two piles of dirt and Shaped them into boulders. Viel circled dangerously closer toward the Ogre and its fire magic and massive club. Jeze launched one boulder at the Demon, and it responded by bashing the rock to pieces with its mighty club. Viel howled and charged. The tall man managed to land a gash across the Ogre''s arm. The Demon moved fast, and Viel barely dodged being crushed by the massive club.

    "It''s now or never," Jeze said to herself as she sprinted as hard as her legs could move her.

    The Ogre was too fast and there was no chance for Jeze to dodge past. But she had one more boulder, and demonstrating Mastery, Jeze shaped the glyphs as she ran and Controlled the Boulder to fly toward the Ogre. The Demon smashed the attack as Jeze slid in between its legs and into the chamber beyond.

    "Yes!" Viel howled as he landed a second gash on the Ogre, this time behind its less-protected knees.

    All mirth faded from the large Demon''s tusked face as it howled with rage. The Ogre charged Viel while furiously swinging its two-handed club. The tall man dodged and barely escaped being turned into pulp. Jeze quickly glanced around the circular room she was in. It was dimly lit, and the only source of light came from the pale pillar where the Hold Core floated from within. She knew it would be dangerous to reach for it now as the pale light was made out of pure Rune energy. Jeze guessed a combination of the Light and Fire aspects, much like the beam weapon from the Pyramid or her Glow Orb. The room was filled with other treasures from books and gems, lots of gems. She recalled from her Brother''s journal that Ogres coveted gems.

    "A little help here!" Viel cried and snapped Jeze back into the present.

    The Ogre was completely enraged as it chased after the tall man. The Demon''s attacks were getting closer, but Viel demonstrated excellent swordsmanship as he was able to dart in with counterattacks that left small nicks along the Ogre''s unprotected knees and arms. However, it was only a matter of time before the much stronger Demon would win. It only needed one hit to end the fight, and Jeze wouldn''t stand a chance against the Ogre alone. She marveled at the speed at which the two fought and the skill that Viel demonstrated. Jeze wondered if he was Adept ranked. Viel''s speed and grace reminded her of Berserker Orn.

    For the moment, the Ogre was focused on the tall man, and its back was toward Jeze. She struck it hard with a boulder and knocked the Demon down on one knee. Viel lunged forward, and the Ogre batted the sword to the side with its heavy club. Jeze charged ahead and buried her axe into the Ogre''s arm. The beast howled and spun to strike her, but Jeze backflipped out of the way. The Ogre rose, and Viel sliced the back of its knees, and the monster stumbled back to the ground. Jeze leaped into the air with her back arched as she delivered a mighty chop with her axe. The Ogre blocked the attack with this club that sent sparks flying. Viel came right behind Jeze and stabbed the Ogre through its neck. The Tier 6 monster dropped its club to clutch its throat. It gurgled as it fell to the ground, and the fight ended.

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    "That was quick," Jeze said. She was surprised.

    "Most fights are," Viel replied as he wiped the blood from his sword. "But it was not easy," he added.

    The two entered the chamber with the pillar of light and the Hold Core. Viel''s eyes lit up at the piles of gems, and his mouth dropped as he neared the floating orb.

    "Wait!" Jeze warned, but she was too late.

    The tall man reached for the Hold Core and cursed as his hand sizzled and burned from the magical energies. Viel stumbled back and nursed his injury. Jeze watched as the burnt flesh rapidly healed and wondered at this strange man''s power. She handed Viel a recovery broth, and he hungrily drank it, some of the thick liquid spilling down his chin.

    "Thank you," Viel said and then asked, "Can you disarm this trap?"

    "I don''t think it''s a trap," Jeze replied.

    "Oh? Then what is it?"

    Jeze studied the pillar of light. Golden motes of light drifted from the orb and floated upwards, and disappeared into the dark hole in the ceiling.

    "I think it''s a power source," Jeze observed and then asked, "Are you sure this is your sister''s heart?"

    Viel nodded.

    "So dragon hearts are shaped like an orb?" Jeze said.

    The tall man grumbled and replied, "The orb is made out of a dragon''s heart. The Fiends hunted my kind for this very purpose."

    "To make Hold Cores?" Jeze asked.

    Viel nodded quietly.

    "Were you and your sister hiding from the Fiends? Why would she be in the Spire?" Jeze wondered.

    Viel stammered, "I, I don''t know."

    Jeze reached up and rubbed his shoulder. "I will figure out how to get the orb out."

    The tall man smiled warmly at her and replied, "You and your brother have done so much for me. I can''t find the words to thank you."

    "Just hold up your end of the promise," Jeze reminded him.

    "You got it," Viel said and extended his hands. The two shook. He glanced at the pillar of light and asked, "So what now?"

    Jeze grinned and waved at the tomes. "We read."

    Viel groaned, and the two explored the tomes. They were written in the same language as the Pyramid, and Jeze was able to do her research. Viel quickly gave up.

    "I''ll gather the gems," he muttered as he searched for a way to scoop up the treasures.

    "We split them," Jeze stated.

    Viel grinned and replied, "Of course."

    The tall man''s eyes went wide as he pulled out a sword from the piles. It had a golden handle and hilt with a shiny silver blade.

    "I prefer bigger swords. Here, for you," he said as he presented the sword, handle first, to her.

    Jeze put down the tome she was reading and accepted the sword. It was straight bladed and double edged with a similar weight and feel as the Devil Steel weapon she owned. Most important was that the sword had a sharp point for thrusting, which was how she primarily used swords with her fighting style. Jeze used her axe for chopping and slashing.

    "That''s a real magic blade. Not an enchanted one," Viel observed.

    "What''s the difference?" Jeze wondered.

    The tall man snorted and joked, "You call yourself a Rune caster? An enchanted blade is a normal sword with magical charges. A magic sword does not need to be powered. I would be careful with that edge. It is probably very sharp."

    Jeze tested the blade on the wall and was surprised to see the steel cut a line through the stone. It was not a deep cut, and the sword would not be able to cut a rock in half, but it was a deeper scratch than what a normal blade could achieve.

    "Hey, don''t ruin the blade! You just got it!" Viel cautioned.

    Jeze nodded and replaced her Devil Steel blade at her hip with her new sword. She packed the other sword away in her pack. It was still worth something. Jeze returned to her research.

    "Fascinating!" Jeze exclaimed.

    Viel looked up from his work on collecting gems and asked, "You can disarm the magic?"

    "No, but this tome talked about the Core Tunnels and how to maintain them," Jeze replied.

    Viel sulked as she opened another book. There were dozens of tomes, and this could take awhile. Jeze found a book on the Light aspect. She tucked it away for later. Another tome was on how to use the parts from various Demons and beasts for enchanting. That also interested her. She pulled another book from the pile.

    "Found it!" She exclaimed.

    "Really?" Viel perked up.

    "Yes, but I want to collect these other books for later research," Jeze said.

    "I will get them. Please work on getting my sister''s heart out. I''ve waited too long," Viel pleaded.

    The tome that Jeze discovered was on the maintenance of the Hold Core. She followed the diagrams and walked over to the pedestal. Jeze ran her fingers along the pages of Runes and shaped the final Glyphs in the air. Nothing happened. Her face scrunched up.

    "What''s the matter?" Viel asked, worry written on his face as clear as a sunrise.

    "I am not familiar with the Light aspect," Jeze replied.

    She tried to shape the Glyphs several times, and after fifteen minutes, she succeeded. Silver glowing Runes appeared along the pedestal. Jeze smiled. Now, all she needed to do was infuse the pedestal with the Fire aspect. It only took her three tries as she was more familiar with the Fire runes, and the pale pillar of light flickered briefly before disappearing. The orb slowly sank, as if it was in water, down to settle on the stone pedestal. The Core Tunnels hummed around them before going silent. The room grew dark as the lights along the walls dimmed and turned off. Jeze glanced around.

    "I think we powered down the Core Tunnel," she observed.

    Jeze activated her Glow Globe and discovered that Viel had taken the Hold Core. He opened his mouth, inhumanly wide, and consumed it before Jeze could say anything. Viel''s body tensed as if it were struck by lightning.

    "Viel?" Jeze called out in concern.

    The tall man began to convulse so violently that Jeze took a step back in trepidation. She feared getting struck by one of his flailing limbs. He moved so rapidly that it appeared as a blur. Jeze began to skim through her tome for any information.

    "Hold on!" Jeze cried out as she scanned the pages. She wondered if she should use her Life aspect.

    Viel continued to shake and twist and turn. He moved so fast and hard that Jeze worried that the man''s bones would break. Then they did.

    "By the Night Eye! I don''t know what to do!" Jeze cried.

    Viel crumbled to the ground, his body shaking so violently with the sounds of his bones gnashing and crunching. Red energy erupted from his body and began to dance around him like fire. The Affliction aspect! It was the curse being removed when he consumed the dragon''s heart! Jeze realized and rushed over while she prepared her Affliction ring. Viel rose up and expanded so fast that it knocked her off her feet. He was growing! No, Jeze realized in horror he was changing shape. Dark leathery wings ripped outwards from his back. His arms grew thicker, and dark scales sprouted from his flesh as he howled in agony. Viel fell on all fours, and his neck and face elongated. Sharp fangs sprang from his gums, and his screams turned into a primal roar that thundered through the chamber. He tripled in size and towered above Jeze. He expanded his wings, and his entire body encompassed the circular chamber. He was no longer Viel. He was Eclipse. Red curse magic shimmered angrily around his enormous form. Jeze scrambled to her feet, and a giant clawed paw pinned her to the ground. Jeze gritted her teeth as fear bubbled up in her chest. Why was he doing this to her?

    "I now know the truth of what your kind did to us," the dragon growled as it lowered its head down to glare at Jeze with rage filled red eyes.

    "Viel! You are hurting me," she cried.

    "Puny humans! You feared us, and then you cursed us! But now I am free!" Eclipse roared.

    Viel was gone. She didn''t recognize him in this new form, and instead what she saw was the horror told in the tales from the Ironfist Kingdom. Were they true? What have I done? Jeze thought to herself as fear and panic threatened to consume her. But then she realized something. The curse energy remained floating in the room that gave Jeze a slim chance at survival.

 Chapter 85: Fury

    Jeze feared that Eclipse would kill her, and her only hope was to keep the dragon talking. She felt so much rage coming from the beast. Would he even listen to me? Jeze wondered as she frantically searched for something to say.

    "You made a promise," Jeze gasped out.

    Eclipse chuckled. It sounded like the rumbling thunder of an approaching storm. His head snaked down to come within a few feet from Jeze''s face. His lips pulled back into a snarl.

    "Promise? Why would a dragon keep a promise to you? A human? You are insignificant," Eclipse hissed.

    "What of my brother?" Jeze asked.

    She needed to keep the dragon talking as she focused on the Affliction energy that filled the chamber with its red, greasy light and hovered above and around Eclipse. Ziplocke instructed her that the Affliction aspect, once Summoned, needed to be Shaped or Controlled, or it would inflict a curse on whoever was in contact with it. But why was the energy not dissipating? Jeze''s eyes went wide with realization. It was Affliction energy native to this realm! It was much harder to Shape and control an Aspect that was not Summoned from another plane of existence. Native Aspects of the material plane were almost impossible to Control. That was how the curse was able to last for thousands of years! The ones who placed the curse on the dragons used a native Affliction aspect! What did that even look like? Jeze wondered as her heart sank. It would require a tremendous amount of Will to Shape, and that was not an option for survival. Jeze needed to buy more time as she searched for another way to escape this situation. Her question about Daverius gave the dragon a moment of pause.

    "You respected him! I know it!" Jeze probed further.

    ¡°Respect?¡± Eclipse roared.

    He pushed more weight on her, and Jeze grimaced with pain. Deep within her chest, her anger blossomed, and it started to burn away her fear. Viel betrayed her! Jeze glanced around the chamber and found another way she could survive. If only she could escape out the metal doors and into the Core Tunnels! Eclipse was too large and would be trapped within these two chambers.

    "Your kind feared us! As you should, you puny, pathetic creatures! You trapped us in your pathetic forms with all of your emotions and feelings. You would never comprehend what it feels like to be a dragon trapped in such a weak body for thousands of years! Now that I''m free, I will take my revenge upon the humans!" Eclipse cried and he snaked his head closer to Jeze and hissed, "I will start with you."

    The rage within Jeze''s chest burst out. "You are a coward!" She cried.

    Eclipse tilted his head and she felt the pressure release somewhat. Jeze took the moment to breathe but she was still trapped. The dragon chuckled.

    "Coward?" He asked.

    "I was coming to help you! Because I thought we were friends and instead you ambushed me," Jeze growled with fury in her eyes. The anger was real and she added, "That makes you a coward."

    "Friends? How arrogant of you to think that you, you insignificant bug, could be friends with a dragon?" The chamber echoed with Eclipse''s laughter.

    "If I''m so insignificant, then why ambush me? Why betray me? Is it because you are afraid to fight me?" Jeze demanded. She would only get one chance at this.

    The dragon''s laughter subsided, and the beast glanced down at Jeze. A snarl appeared upon his reptilian lips, and his eyes narrowed.

    "You dare insult me, so?" Eclipse hissed and he snaked his head higher. "Such arrogance to think that you can demand a duel? Very well, then. I was going to give you a quick death, but not now. You will suffer, Jeze Zanchi, for your insults," the dragon promised.

    The dragon lifted his claw off Jeze''s chest. This was it! She thought and sprung into action. Jeze drew her enchanted sword and plunged it into the palm of the dragon''s rising hand. The sharp, magical blade pierced the scales easily as if they were flesh, and Eclipse roared in pain. Even as Jeze turned to sprint out of the chamber into the darkness beyond the steel doors, she saw the dragon''s wound smoke and heal itself. There was no way she could ever hope to defeat Eclipse! But she didn''t need to. The dragon couldn''t fit through the large steel doors. Even if it could, it wouldn''t fit into the corridors. Eclipse would be trapped inside the Core Tunnels forever.

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    "I should have known! Your kind are crafty and full of lies!" Eclipse roared.

    The dragon slammed his claws to the ground in hopes of crushing Jeze, but she ran fast and dodged in between the attacks. Jeze barely escaped through the double steel doors just as Eclipse''s giant maw snapped shut and missed her by inches. Without the Core, the dungeon was no longer powered, and Jeze found herself in darkness. With her hands, she scrambled into the chamber, felt the pillars, and hid behind them. The only light came from the greasy Affliction energy that still hovered in the other chamber. From beyond the doors she could make out the shadowy form of the immense dragon and its glowing red eyes as it glared out at her. She heard Eclipse chuckle.

    "You think you have escaped me?" The dragon asked.

    The red eyes disappeared, and a shadowy human form exited the chamber. Eclipse shaped shifted back into a human! But how? The curse was removed! Jeze frantically thought to herself.

    "Surprised? The irony, right? The curse your kind bestowed upon me is now a blessing. You see, with my sister''s heart, I can change shapes between both forms without restriction. Imagine that? I can blend in within your human cities and revert to my true form at will to wreak death and destruction!" Viel growled.

    This was not him! Jeze realized. He didn''t sound like Viel, or was it all an act? No, this had to be his sister''s heart. The Hold Core! When Viel consumed it it must have filled him full of his sister''s fury. Jeze couldn''t believe that Viel could betray her in such a way. They adventurered for a short time, but they became friends. He was friends with Daveirus! Jeze couldn''t believe any of this, but she needed to focus. Eclipse in human form was a more realistic fight for her, but still one she could not possibly win.

    "Come out, Jeze, and face me! Isn''t that what you wanted? I will fight you in human form, but I promise you this. Your death will be filled with pain!" Viel hissed in the darkness.

    Jeze only had one hope to win this and that was with the red glowing Affliction energy within the other chamber. As Viel talked, Jeze wasted no time and tapped her Channeling tool. She shaped the Runes in the air with her fingers to Control the Affliction aspect.

    "I can smell your fear!" Viel stated and added, "You can only hide for so long, but I will find you. I will also find your teammates. Maybe I might even pay a visit to your family. Where were they? Narcardia was it?"

    Jeze ignored his taunts and gritted her teeth as she prepared her Will to touch the shimmering Affliction aspect. The strain she felt was enormous, and she nearly fell unconscious from the pain in her temples. Her nose bled, and her head throbbed. She felt like she was being crushed by a mountain as she tried to Control the native Affliction energy.

    "I found you," Viel said as he drew his two-handed sword.

    Jeze got a hold of the Affliction aspect and with shaking hands she formed the final glyphs in the air. A tendril of the red energy moved down and out through the double steel doors.

    "What did you hope to achieve?" Viel asked.

    He suddenly loomed before her. Jeze forgot how fast the man could move, but it didn''t matter. With a flick of her finger, the red energy snaked its way into Viel''s back. In the dim red glow from the Affliction energy, Jeze saw the man''s eyes go wide.

    "What?" Viel gasped as his body tensed as if he was shocked with immense electrical energy.

    A cascade effect followed as all the red tendrils in the other chamber poured into Viel. The tall man spasmed and gagged. He fell to his knees and vomited up the Hold Core, and it rolled over toward Jeze. Viel continued to shake, and he fell to his side in a fetal position as his body was wracked with pain as more and more of the red energy entered his body. It was all one curse! Jeze realized.

    "I just defeated a dragon," she said quietly to herself.

    Jeze picked up the Hold Core and placed it in her pack. Viel stopped trembling and laid still. But he was still alive. How do I kill a dragon? Jeze wondered. I could stab him through the heart with my sword, she reflected. Or, I can chop off his head with my axe, Jeze thought. She readied her weapons and took one step before her body gave out, and she collapsed from exhaustion.

    "Or, I could fall flat on my face," Jeze mumbled. She felt the cold stone of the floor pressed against her cheek.

    Jeze had pushed her Will too far, and her body was shutting down. She tried hard to stay conscious, but it was a losing battle. Blackness consumed her, and she was drifting to sleep. Jeze was barely able to arch her neck slightly to see that Viel remained unmoving. The chamber was growing darker as the red, greasy energy continued to pour into the tall man''s body. Maybe I didn''t win, Jeze thought as the inky waters of unconsciousness consumed her. Especially if Viel wakes up first and kills me. That thought horrified her, and it was enough to hold back the dark waves of sleep.

    ¡°Jeze,¡± Viel rasped out. The chamber was now completely dark.

    "Bugger off and die," was all she could mumble.

    The tall man tiredly chuckled. "I''m sorry. I''m bloody sorry for that." Viel apologized.

    Jeze couldn''t hold back the rising tides any longer, and as she drifted off into unconsciousness, she briefly imagined Ziplocke laughing at her when she fell on her face. Jeze wondered how the Goblin and her teammates were doing.

 Chapter 86: Ziplocke

    Ziplocke couldn''t believe it. The Goblin fell victim to an Affliction spell, one of his main aspects! Like a Prospect-ranked adventurer, he succumbed to its effects. Ziplocke Shaped the curse out of him and shook his head.

    "How long was I running?" He wondered.

    Ziplocke snickered as he imagined the look on his face as he ran madly through the corridors. The little Demon was in a hallway illuminated by the pale silver lines along the walls. There was nothing else of importance in his surroundings. Ziplocke could continue going straight or turn back.

    "Which way was I going in?" Ziplocke asked himself.

    Okay, correction. He could go left or right because he was not sure which direction he was heading in the first place. The Goblin snickered again as he admired the Affliction spell on the trap.

    "That was a good one!" He shrieked.

    Then he hushed himself with his ears pulled back along his head as he crouched and skulked toward the shadows. He mustn''t make any noise unless he wanted to draw attention to himself. Ziplocke had no meat shields, err, teammates to protect him. The Goblin paused to think. He might have over-exaggerated his role in making the Core Tunnels to the humans he traveled with. Ziplocke and his kind did work on the Stronghold, but if he were honest, his contribution was less in the design department and more of a labor role.

    "I moved dirt!" He admitted to himself in his shrill voice.

    Ziplocke carried tools and removed debris all those many years ago when they built the Stronghold. Why did they make the tunnels so twisty? The small Goblin wondered. Who built the Rune traps? They were a piece of work! Ziplocke acknowledged.

    The Goblin thumped his head. "Focus!" He scolded himself.

    Ziplocke loped on all fours down the tunnel, his ears raised and alert for danger. The Demon came upon another intersection that branched off into three directions.

    "By the Hells!" Ziplocke cursed.

    Why did they build so many passageways?!?! The Goblin cursed his kind for being so mischievous. Ziplocke snickered nervously to himself and admitted that it was very confusing. He imagined the looks on his teammates'' faces as they wandered aimlessly.

    "That''s rich!" he squealed with delight.

    But, he realized he was in the same predicament and his snickering died down like the embers of a spent candle. It was not as funny when it involved him.

    "Where was the knucklehead?" Ziplocke wondered about Jeze.

    As if he called her, his ring chimed. The Goblin''s ears perked up.

    "She''s near!" He squealed.

    Then his ears pulled back along his head with the realization that he was lost. Plus, he forgot how to use the stupid chime ring in the first place.

    "At least the knucklehead is alive," he muttered to himself as he picked a random corridor to go down.

    The sound of a man giggling and mumbling to himself could be heard up ahead. Ziplocke hugged the shadows as he traveled closer. The Goblin came upon a sight that was even disturbing for him. One of the cultists, completely mad from the Affliction, was carving up another dead cultist. Ziplocke did not find this funny, and he snuck past the macabre scene.

    "That was one helluva spell!" The Goblin acknowledged when he was some distance away.

    Ziplocke traveled down the corridor, and he took several more turns. It didn''t matter which passageway he took because he was completely lost anyway, he figured to himself. The Goblin paused and Shaped shadows to hide in when he heard a huffing and hissing sound.

    "What could that be?" He wondered.

    The noise came from just ahead and around a bend in the corridor. Ziplocke hugged the shadows, snuck closer, and peeked around the corner. In the distance, he saw a man sitting cross-legged. The huffing and hissing sound came from the stranger''s deep breathing. Ziplocke tilted his head in curiosity. The corridor was long and dimly lit, and the faint details that Ziplocke could make about the man was that he wore thick padded armor and had dark hair. The passage was very wide with a high ceiling, and the man''s back was toward Ziplocke, so the Demon decided to creep closer from the opposite wall. The glowing white lines along the walls were dim and staggered. Some walls were illuminated, and others were not. As he got closer, the Goblin saw that the man had set aside a heavy pack, and a Rune-covered spear leaned against the wall.

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    "By the Burning Hells! That''s just my luck," Ziplocke hissed to himself as he neared.

    When he was close enough, the Goblin confirmed that the man was no other than Mikal. Of all the teammates that Ziplocke could have encountered, he had to run into the most annoying one. Ziplocke grumbled and considered sneaking past. He paused, though, with curiosity. What was Mikal doing? The Healer drew a Rune circle, and he sat in the middle crossed-legged with his eyes closed, and his chest heaved with deep breaths.

    "Is that a Purification Ritual?" Ziplocke wondered and then snorted, "Of course, the holier-than-thou snobbish Healer would know a Purification Ritual!"

    Mikal was clever, though, the Goblin had to admit. If one did not know how to work the Affliction aspect, then they were left with two choices when confronted with a curse. They could rely on their Will to resist it, or they could perform a Purification Ritual. Ziplocke never really saw one done and he moved closer to inspect the Runes on the floor. They did not represent any Aspect that he was aware of, but from what Ziplocke knew about Purification Rituals, they worked mostly on holy symbols and faith.

    "Pure gibberish and nonsense," The Goblin muttered to himself.

    It was not real magic, but it could strengthen one''s Will. Red tendrils of Affliction energy began to rise out of Mikal''s body and hovered above him.

    Ziplocke shrugged with acknowledgment. "Even if it was silly mumble jumbo, it worked," he stated to himself.

    The Goblin paused and considered disfiguring the crude glyphs on the ground. His lips pulled back into a mischievous grin. What would happen? Ziplocke rubbed his hands together and let loose a giggle.

    "The look on his face!" He wondered.

    It wouldn''t harm the Healer. The worst thing that could happen was that the Affliction reentered his body, and Ziplocke could Shape it out in a pinch.

    "I smell you, Demon," Mikal growled with his eyes still closed.

    Ziplocke paused and sniffed himself.

    "Your stench of sulfur and sweat is unmistakable. Leave me be," Mikal stated.

    The Goblin scowled and snapped, "You smell worse! Besides, I could help you, you know?"

    Mikal opened his eyes, looked away from Ziplocke, and responded, "I swear Demon! If you interfere, I will flay the skin from your bones. I will then use your skin to make mittens. Cute mittens! I will bake delicious pies and use your mittens to serve the pies to people. To children even! Think about that? For all eternity, you will be mittens that bring joy to others!"

    Ziplocke gasped with a hand over his tiny black heart. That was the meanest thing anyone had ever said to him! Mikal could be cruel! The Goblin relaxed as he realized that the Healer was still afflicted with Madness as he was talking to the wall.

    "I''m over here, you numbskull," Ziplocke grumbled.

    Mikal''s head snapped toward him and the Healer muttered something incomprehensible to himself. Yep, Ziplocke thought to himself, the Healer was still under the Affliction spell.

    "Leave me be," Mikal ordered.

    The Healer closed his eyes and resumed his deep breathing. More red tendrils rose from his body as the Affliction aspect left his body. Ziplocke tilted his head as he studied the energy. He removed the same curse from himself earlier, but it just occurred to him.

    "This was a really powerful spell," the Goblin observed.

    Normally, an Affliction spell would dissipate and fade away like any other Rune aspect, but yet this one still lingered. Ziplocke had Shaped the curse out of him, it was not easy, but it was manageable. That confirmed to the Demon that the Affliction was Summoned and not native. But still, for it to last this long meant that the original caster was extremely skilled. The red energy left Mikal completely and hovered just above the Healer. The curse was broken, but the raw Affliction energy remained. It was slowly dissipating, but it still was potent. Mikal opened his eyes and they did not show any signs of Madness.

    "I am done," he stated.

    "Be careful," Ziplocke warned and then suppressed a giggle.

    Mikal turned to scowl at the Demon, "Of what? I have defeated this curse."

    Ziplocke was about to point out the red energy that was still active above the Healer but stopped himself.

    "Yes, you did. That was most impressive," the Goblin said with a bow and a snicker.

    Mikal tilted his head and demanded, "What is so funny?"

    "Nothing," Ziplocke responded, and then giggled some more.

    "You are a foul beast. I do not have time to waste on you. I need to find the others," Mikal growled.

    Ziplocke was not insulted at all as he watched with much anticipation as the Healer rose up from the ground. Mikal''s head brushed the edge of the residual Affliction energy. Ziplocke nearly shook with eagerness to see what would happen. The Healer''s eyes went wide. The Goblin clapped his tiny hands and squealed in delight.

    "Uh oh," Mikal muttered as his stomach growled.

    The Healer tried to resist the curse, but his Will was weakened from his recent ordeal. Mikal doubled over while holding onto his stomach. It growled louder.

    "Oh no!" Mikal rushed to the corner and quickly pulled down his pants to squat in the shadows.

    Raw Affliction energy can take on any curse that, includes Madness to other uncomfortable maladies.

    Ziplocke squealed in delight, "I can''t believe it! It turned into the Poop curse!"

 Chapter 87: Odd Couple

    "Where are you going?" Ziplocke asked.

    The Goblin was loping alongside the much taller Frostsworn Healer. Mikal was marching down the corridor until they came to an intersection where they had two options. There was no sound and no visible signs to assist them in choosing which way to go. Nothing but sandstone-colored corridors with lines of pale light along the walls.

    "Do not climb on my shoulder," Mikal growled.

    The Healer pushed the Goblin off of him. Ziplocke sulked with his ears pulled back.

    "You walk much faster than me!" He whined.

    Mikal ignored the Demon and decided to go down the right passage. Ziplocke hurried after him. A sheen of sweat began to form on his green skin as he tried to keep pace.

    "Do you have any idea where you are going?" Ziplocke asked.

    Mikal answered, "No, I just want to find my team."

    "We should have a plan," Ziplocke offered.

    "There is no ''we,''" Mikal growled.

    Ziplocke hissed back and stated, "You need me."

    This caused the dark-haired Frostsworn to stop. "No, I don''t."

    "Yes, you do. I know these Tunnels," Ziplocke replied.

    Mikal''s face scrunched up, and he exclaimed, "You are lost as well! I am on to your lies. The others were not, but they will soon find out what I already know. You are a liar and cannot be trusted!"

    Ziplocke gasped with a hand over his chest. "Why, I''ve never been so insulted in my life."

    Mikal shook his head and continued walking.

    "Without me, you will regret this!" Ziplocke cautioned.

    Mikal waved without looking back, and the Healer grew smaller as he walked down the corridor.

    Ziplocke sputtered Abyssal curses, and after a brief moment, he scampered after Mikal.

    "You are a fool! But, I''ve grown fond of you and the others. I will help you," Ziplocke stated when he caught up.

    The Healer did not respond and continued down the dimly lit passageway. Ziplocke hurried after, and the two marched down the twists and turns of the single tunnel. Mikal paused.

    "Why is it twisting and turning? To what purpose?" The Healer wondered.

    Ziplocke cackled and exclaimed, "I know why!"

    Mikal crossed his arms and looked at the Goblin.

    "Say that you need me," Ziplocke said.

    The Healer rubbed his face and sighed. Ziplocke crossed his small arms and tapped a foot to the floor.

    "Well?" Ziplocke asked.

    "I''m thinking about it," Mikal responded.

    Ziplocke swung his arms in the air and exclaimed, "You are so stubborn!"

    Mikal remained silent. He crossed his arms, tapped his chin, and appeared lost in thought.

    The Goblin shook as he was unable to remain silent. Ziplocke had to talk and brag about his knowledge, If only to prove his worth to the Healer. Finally, he couldn''t hold out any longer.

    "They shaped the Core Tunnels to form a giant Glyph," Ziplocke stated.

    Mikal''s eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Why? Like to form a massive channeling tool?"

    "Exactly!"

    Rune magic requires Glyphs and Will activate. It would take a caster an exorbitant amount of time to shape with their body the glyphs in order to cast a single spell. Rune casters make use of Channeling tools where Rune chains are etched upon the surface. In order to cast a spell, the Rune Caster taps the tool and finishes the final series of glyphs. This saves time.

    Ziplocke explained, "There is a focus point where it is tapped to activate this massive Glyph chain."

    "The caster then completes the final glyph. What spell requires such an enormous Channeling Tool?" Mikal wondered.

    "With the energy from the Hold Core, this is how all the Portals are powered," Zipolocke explained.

    Mikal uncrossed his arms, and he knelt down to be at the same level as the Goblin. "Earlier, you told Jeze there were four Hold Cores all together."

    "That''s correct," Ziplocke said, letting loose a nervous snicker.

    "Without the Cores, then what happens?" Mikal asked.

    "The Stronghold will turn into a massive Tower!" Ziplocke answered as he hopped up and down.

    "Will people be trapped if the Portals shut down?" Mikal asked.

    Ziplocke gleefully replied, "No! You see, the Stronghold''s defenses will also shut down, and stairwells will appear. One can travel the Spire as normal! Or, they can power the Portals with their own energy!"

    Mikal nodded in understanding. "We will be free to travel the entirety of the Wandering Spire," he observed.

    "Yes!" Ziplocke squeaked.

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    "All the treasures the Fiends have stolen from countless dimensions¡­" Mikal said with greed clearly written in his eyes.

    The Goblin finished the Healer''s sentence, "...Will be free for the taking."

    "Gems and coins?" Mikal asked.

    "Piles so deep that they go beyond what you can imagine," Ziplocke answered.

    "Magical knowledge?" Mikal asked.

    "Tomes filled with Rune patterns so advanced it will make what you know appear like children''s tricks," Ziplocke said.

    The Healer rubbed his hands together, and he motioned for the Goblin to hop on his shoulder. "Come, we have to find the others."

    Ziplocke scampered up the frostsworn''s body to rest on his shoulders. "Exactly! We need meat shields."

    Mikal grinned over his shoulder, and the two continued down the twisting corridors. But alas, their positive relationship was not meant to last. After a few short moments, Ziplocke complained that Mikal made too much noise.

    "What are you talking about?" The Healer growled.

    "You make as much noise as a lost Yeti!" Ziplocke snapped.

    "I do not!" Mikal responded.

    The Goblin continued, "And your spear is constantly hitting the walls and floor. Honestly, I''m surprised we have not alerted the whole Stronghold yet of our presence," and then the Goblin muttered, "At least Jeze knew how to move silently."

    Mikal stopped moving and glared at the Demon on his shoulder. "Do not compare me to her," he growled.

    Ziplocke recognized that he may be kicked off the Healer''s shoulder and forced to run on his own. He changed his tone.

    "I''m sorry. You are clearly more talented than her," the Goblin stated with his lips curled back into a grin.

    Mikal snorted, and the two continued down the corridors. They came upon an intersection with a closed door in the middle. Two other passageways branched off to their left and right.

    "We should avoid the door," Mikal said.

    Ziplocke agreed, and the two went down the left corridor. This one ran for a while with a few twists and sharp turns. After about fifteen minutes, Ziplocke called for a halt.

    "Are you deaf?" The Goblin asked.

    Mikal glared at the Demon from over his shoulder. "Why would you ask that?"

    "Do you not hear that sound up ahead?" Ziplocke whispered.

    Mikal paused to listen. There was the sound of chanting that echoed faintly off the walls. It was nearly indiscernible, and Mikal wondered how the Goblin heard it.

    "Stick to the Shadows and lets creep closer," Ziplocke whispered.

    "Is this worth it?" Mikal asked.

    The Goblin''s lips pulled back, and he responded, "It could be an old cultist and a room full of treasure."

    Mikal paused. The Frozen All Father does not approve of banditry or robbery. However, the Healer rationalized that they were dealing with Demon worshiping cultists. Mikal was certain that the All Father would make an exception in this case. The two crept forward from within Ziplocke''s Summoned Shadows.

    "Be careful. The noise is coming from just around that bend," Ziplocke cautioned.

    Mikal, with the Goblin on his shoulder, crept closer to peek around and they saw an expansive circular chamber with a hellish altar with a giant statue in its center.

    "Is that a Fiend?" Mikal whispered.

    The statue was of a giant creature that stood on two goat like legs. It had a muscular torso, a horned head, and giant bat-like wings that were spread out behind it.

    Ziplocke tilted his head and replied, "It is a little small, but yeah, that is what a Fiend looks like."

    "Small?" Mikal gasped. The statue was nearly twice his height and double the width of Rolfe!

    Ziplocke cocked his head and stated, "Yeah. A real Fiend is bigger, now shush!"

    Mikal shook his head. There were levels to Adventuring. The Fiend looked extremely formidable, and he doubted that his team could handle such an encounter. The circular chamber appeared to be a temple of sorts with multiple entrances and exits evenly spaced around it. Nearly two dozen dark-robed cultists entered and milled about the chamber that echoed with their whispered conversations. Mikal''s eyes lit up at the pile of treasure placed at the foot of the statue as the cultists each made an offering. The treasure glittered from gems, coins, and even a Rune-covered spear! I could use that, Mikal thought to himself as he wondered what the Rune patterns offered. A pair of cultists entered the chamber, dragging a third person. Mikal''s eyes narrowed. The third person appeared to be a malnourished man in the padded undergarments one wore with heavy armor. The clothes hung loosely over his famished frame. The man pleaded helplessly.

    "We have to do something," Mikal said. His face hardened, and all thoughts of treasure were forgotten.

    "Like what? By ourselves? Are you mad?" Ziplocke snapped.

    The prisoner was forced to his knees before the altar, and another cultist approached. This one wore an elaborate skull mask and had golden threads that ran along the hems of their brown robe. The robe was similar to the one Val wore, but this cultist was clearly not Val. They appeared taller and more masculine with broad shoulders. The cult leader drew a long, wicked knife, and without any preamble or ceremony, they sliced the prisoner across the throat. Mikal gasped.

    "We need to find our team and end this," the Healer said and made to turn back.

    "No, we watch and we learn what they are up to," Ziplocke insisted.

    "I can''t watch this," Mikal growled.

    "But we must. This is a rare opportunity for us to learn what our enemy is up to," Ziplocke added.

    Mikal couldn''t disagree with that logic. The masked cultist performed tapped the channeling tool he wore around his neck and completed a series of Glyphs that the Healer did not recognize.

    "What aspect is that?" Mikal wondered.

    "The Rift aspect. Mortals can not use the aspect unless they are gifted it from a Fiend. Even then, their Will and Soul can not manage the chaotic energies. That is why they needed a sacrifice. The violent death releases an energy that allows the cultist the power to control the Rift aspect," Ziplocke explained.

    It was unusual, but sometimes the Goblin could be very informative. Mikal nodded and forced himself to watch the cult leader make a familiar purple tear in reality. The huge statue shook, and its horned head turned to look down upon the gathered cultist.

    "Where is the one I usually speak with?" The statue intoned in a deep, rumbling voice that vibrated throughout the chamber.

    "My Dark Lord, she is indisposed at the moment. My name is Rodrick, and I have made offerings to you," the masked man said, and he and the gathered cultist knelt before the altar.

    Mikal watched with regret as the pile of treasure was sucked up into the shimmering purple rift. It would have been nice to have that coin and the spear, he forlornly thought to himself.

    "This is adequate. But you have failed me. I sense one has made it to our Hold Core," the Demon intoned.

    Its rage was palpable and caused even Mikal to shiver. Several cultists fell over with convulsions, and the masked man visibly shook.

    "Please, Dark Lord. Grant me the gift, and I will seek out this defiler at once!" The masked cult leader cried.

    "You are willing to pay the price?" The Fiend asked.

    "Yes!"

    "Very well," the statue resumed its original posture.

    The shimmering purple rift flared as a vortex of purple flames shot out and engulfed the masked man. He screamed as if he was being burned, but the flames gave off no smoke. It appeared that they extracted a silver essence from the man and the flames returned through the purple rift before it snapped shut. The masked man fell to the ground. Ziplocke shook his head.

    "He will regret that," the Goblin muttered.

    "What happened?" Mikal asked, horror on his face.

    "Never make deals with Fiends. He traded his soul for power over the Rift aspect," Ziplocke answered.

    "We should go and find the others," Mikal stated.

    "Especially Jeze. I believe she found the Hold Core. They will be after her," Ziplocke stated.

    Mikal rose, and the tip of his spear hit the wall. The sound echoed throughout the chamber, and a dozen robed heads turned in their direction.

    "Perhaps you are right about my spear making too much noise," Mikal admitted.

    "Run, fool!" Ziplocke cried.

 Chapter 88: Artistry

    Unlike Mikal, Dunar didn¡¯t know a purification ritual. The Leader relied on his awareness to recognize that he was Afflicted and his pure stubbornness to ignore the voices and false images. He found that talking to himself helped.

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to them,¡± Dunar told himself.

    The muscular Frostsworn stopped running and tried to assess his surroundings. Phantoms of his teammates pleaded with him that they were in danger. Flickering images of an ambush danced along his peripheral. Dunar shook his head.

    ¡°Go away!¡± He ordered.

    With closed eyes, which stopped the images but not the whispering, he opened his pack. Dunar inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.

    ¡°Be in this moment,¡± he told himself.

    The phantoms and voices remained but were less distracting. Dunar opened his eyes and searched his pack for the map he was drawing before he and his team encountered the cultists.

    ¡°This was where we fought the Cult Leader and her Goreraptors,¡± Dunar said and tapped a circular chamber that was drawn on his map.

    His finger followed the path they escaped and then the map ended. ¡°The Rune trap was around here,¡± he stated.

    The voices and phantoms continued to harangue him for ignoring them. They told him he was in danger! Dunar shook his head.

    ¡°I am not,¡± he responded. He was in a quiet hallway made out of cold stone and dimly lit from the odd pale glowing lines.

    Dunar dug out a blank parchment to copy his current map. He planned to make educated guesses, but he didn¡¯t want to ruin the original. With steady hands, he drew the precise lines as he transcribed the map. Dunar enjoyed map-making and drawing in general. It calmed him, and while he was focused on the exact details, the Affliction faded to the background of his mind.

    Memories replaced the voices. Dunar thought about his parents. His father was a renowned warrior and clan leader. His mother wanted a fierce son who could lead their people. Dunar glanced off to the side as he thought about his father. The man was mostly into himself, and the only time he paid Dunar attention was when Dunar won his first Winter Tourney. Both father and son were fearsome warriors!

    ¡°But they were always ashamed of you,¡± the voices had returned.

    Unperturbed, Dunar recognized that the curse magic responded to negative emotion. Like a parasite within him it latched onto feelings of inadequacy, fear, and self doubt.

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    ¡°You gave up your dreams in order to make Mommy and Daddy happy,¡± a condescending voice wailed into his ears.

    Instead of upsetting him, the voices gave Dunar insight. He was always fascinated with art, and later Rune drawing. But, he steered clear from those pursuits because he did want to make his parents happy.

    ¡°It is natural for a son to want the love from his parents,¡± Dunar reasoned.

    ¡°You envied and hated Mikal for having the freedom to study Runes with the Cold Priests of the Frozen All-Father,¡± a voice taunted.

    ¡°That was why you bullied him!¡± Another accused.

    Dunar shook his head. It is true; he felt bad for bullying Mikal. But in all honesty, the dark-haired Healer was an oddity. He was skinny, whereas most Frostsworn were muscular and stocky. Mikal preferred books to hunting and fighting.

    ¡°Just like you!¡± A voice screeched.

    Despair and self-loathing formed in his chest and threatened to consume Dunar. But, the Leader recognized that it was the Affliction spell that was stirring up the negative emotions. They were not lies, as they were his feelings. But, there was more to Dunar than regret. There was perseverance. He and Mikal were friends. Almost brothers, really. Like any family, they have had their disagreements. In the end, Dunar knew that they would gladly lay down their lives for each other. The Affliction was pushed back and turned into a mere annoyance. Dunar was free to focus back on the map. Something about it caught his attention. There was a pattern to the twisting and turning corridors and passageways.

    ¡°A symmetry, like Rune chains,¡± Dunar said out loud.

    Even though he spent most of his time studying tactics and combat, Dunar didn¡¯t know Rune magic, but he recognized that the Core Tunnels were shaped in a similar fashion. If he was honest with himself, and if his parents allowed him to pursue his passions, he would be a Rune caster. The voices returned.

    ¡°You are living a lie!¡± They accused.

    Dunar shook his head. ¡°No, that is not true. There is beauty to combat. I am still an artist.¡±

    The Frostsworn returned to looking at the map. ¡°If I start a new map, I can make a guess on how to backtrack,¡± Dunar observed.

    The Leader dug through his pack for a blank parchment. The plan was to walk the hallways and map his progress. Dunar¡¯s hypnotized that he can guess a way back to the door where the Rune trap was triggered. With his battleax in hand, Dunar walked the twisting corridors with multiple passageways and stopped every few paces to map his progress. After a half dozen guesses, Dunar was finally able to link his two maps!

    The Leader stood at the edge of the tunnel and peeked down the corner where they had triggered the Rune trap. Through the doorway, he saw that the room was covered in blood and gruesome body parts. Lying among the macabre scene were two sleeping Goreraptors. Dunar was relieved to see that there were tattered robes among the ripped body parts. The bloody remains belonged to the cultists and were not from his teammates. They managed to escape down one of the dozen passageways.

    ¡°Nothing left to do but to move forward,¡± Dunar quoted a Frostsworn proverb.

    The Leader picked a passageway and walked down it. Dunar continued to focus on his map-making, and the Affliction curse faded further into the background of his mind. There were sounds of fighting up ahead. Dunar needed to breathe deeply in and out to assure himself that the noise he heard was real and not a part of the curse.

    ¡°You are in trouble now!¡± A voice said.

    The curse exposed itself, which led Dunar to conclude that the sounds of fighting were real. The Frostsworn warrior packed away his maps and readied his sword and axe as he crept toward the sounds of battle.

 Chapter 89: Focus

    Rolfe panicked. First, he was on fire. Then, he realized that the fire was in actuality bugs that were crawling all over him. Biting him. It was driving him mad.

    ¡°Get off me!¡± He roared.

    Phantom monsters laughed at him. Rolfe tried his best to ignore them since their attacks were harmless. Unfortunately, he also couldn¡¯t harm them. Rolfe tried with his spear, and he tried to grab them, but his attacks passed through them as if they were never there. Never there?

    ¡°The Affliction curse!¡± Rolfe realized.

    But the bugs still crawled all over his body and bit him. A figure materialized out of the darkness in front of him as it entered the sphere of pale light. Another phantom? Rolfe couldn¡¯t be bothered.

    ¡°Go away!¡± the Protector cried.

    ¡°Rolfe? Is that you?¡± A deep feminine voice asked.

    It was familiar. Who was that? Pieces began to gather within Rolfe¡¯s scattered thoughts. He recalled traveling with others. The Protector wondered where he was as he looked around at the sandstone-colored walls and floor.

    ¡°It¡¯s me, Helga,¡± the newcomer said.

    ¡°Helga?¡± Rolfe¡¯s attention snapped back. The phantoms faded away, and Helga came into sharper focus.

    ¡°Don¡¯t give in to the madness. You must focus,¡± Helga stated.

    She also struggled with discerning reality from the Affliction spell. Helga was drawn toward Rolfe¡¯s voice. It had centered her and gave her a focus to battle the curse.

    ¡°Madness?¡± Rolfe asked.

    Something about that was familiar. Right, the Rune trap! They were fleeing the Goreraptors. Rolfe recalled that he lost his shield. The phantoms were nearly gone now. The number of bugs dwindled. But was this just another phantom? Rolfe wondered and smacked Helga upside her head. She was real! Rolfe realized just as he felt Helga¡¯s calloused hand slap him so hard that he was nearly knocked off his feet. Helga and Rolfe did not know how to Control the Affliction aspect or the purification ritual. The only way they were able to defeat the madness was to focus on something else. For them, that was fighting.

    Rolfe recovered from the slap, dropped his spear, and growled before he rushed forward. The two powerful Frostsworn warriors slammed into each other. Each fought for grips and holds in order to set up a takedown or a throw. Both Helga and Rolfe were expert wrestlers with neither able to maintain the upper hand. If one was thrown off balance, they quickly recovered and countered by throwing the other off balance. By focusing on each other, they were able to defeat the Madness curse.

    The two large warriors in heavy armor made a huge ruckus as they battled each other for dominant position. Their powerful frames slammed against the walls as they twisted and turned each other. Their arms pummeled as they searched for ways to throw each other to the ground. Dunar was drawn to the sounds and was surprised to see his teammates fighting when he turned a corner.

    ¡°Proven! What are you two doing?¡± Dunar demanded.

    Rolfe looked up and was distracted. Helga took advantage of the opening and ducked under her opponent to lift him into the air. The warrior maiden slammed Rolfe to the ground.

    ¡°Hi, Dunar,¡± Rolfe gasped as the wind was knocked out of him.

    Helga spun to pin her teammate and looked up. ¡°Hiya!¡± She exclaimed.

    ¡°Are you two crazy? You are unarmed and making enough noise to draw trouble!¡± Dunar snapped.

    Helga and Rolfe separated and stood up. The two large Frostsworn scratched their heads and glanced around.

    ¡°The voices and bugs are gone,¡± Rolfe observed.

    ¡°Ya, same with the dancing paintings,¡± Helga agreed.

    ¡°Gather your weapons!¡± Dunar barked.

    The two jumped into action. Rolfe picked up his spear, and Helga readied her Dane ax.

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    ¡°That was foolish! You two should know better,¡± Dunar chastised them.

    ¡°But we broke the curse,¡± Rolfe observed.

    ¡°Ya, we did!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    Dunar shushed them. When it was quiet they heard the familiar shuffling sounds of people scrambling toward them. The type of walk that only a mad person would make. A sharp reminder of what could have happened to them if they took the easy way and gave into the Affliction madness.

    ¡°Thralls,¡± Rolfe said. Their ruckus did draw attention to themselves.

    Helga grinned widely and exclaimed, ¡°Sounds like a lot of them!¡±

    In the distance, the Thralls came into view from within the faint pale light. They howled and lumbered en masse toward the Proven. Dunar quickly assessed their situation and concluded that they would hold their position.

    ¡°Stay shoulder to shoulder. Rolfe in the middle,¡± the Leader barked.

    Rolfe nodded and grumbled, ¡°For Glory!¡±

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± Helga and Dunar chanted back.

    Dozens of Thralls rushed them. These were armored and wore golden tabards with an odd symbol on their chest. The extra protection made the Thralls harder to kill. Rolfe needed to aim his spear thrusts toward the neck or put more muscle behind his attacks in order to penetrate the bronze armor. Helga and Dunar needed to focus their attacks on the joints in order to incapacitate the mad attackers. However, the Thralls would continue to crawl and try to bite them even if they had no limbs.

    ¡°Steady, retreat as one,¡± Dunar ordered.

    They slowly moved back and prevented their attackers from surrounding them. Stab, hack, and slash. The Proven kept a steady rhythm. In one fluid motion, Rolfe knocked aside a clumsy mace attack and returned a thrust to the face. The Protector quickly retracted his spear to thrust at another thrall through the throat and killed a third with a powerful stab through the chest plate and heart. Helga and Dunar culled the Thralls to the flanks. The warrior maiden performed powerful swings that were in sync with her opponent¡¯s attacks. Helga stepped back and avoided an axe aimed at her head. She stepped forward to split the Thrall¡¯s head, twisted her hips to catch a sword slash to her shoulder pauldron, and spun back to cut another attacker in half. Dunar deflected a thrust with his sword and countered with a chop of his axe that removed the Thrall¡¯s arm. The Leader would intercept a slash with his axe and returned with a thrust of his sword through the throat. And so forth, the trio kept a tireless pace that only an Adventurer ranked could achieve. After many minutes, the hallway was littered with Thrall corpses, and the Proven were victorious.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Dunar roared.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± his teammates chanted back.

    ¡°What now?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°I created an accurate map,¡± Dunar replied.

    ¡°Oh, ya?¡± Helga exclaimed.

    The Leader invited them to study the map he had drawn. It was filled with branching corridors and hallways that had evenly spaced square and circular chambers. Despite it¡¯s apparent complexity, there were very few dead ends and it was possible for one to travel in a steady direction from one side to the other.

    ¡°You visited all of this?¡± Rolfe asked.

    Dunar shook his head and replied, ¡°I made a guess based on the patterns.¡± Dunar explained his theory as he pointed to where they started and where he found himself after the Affliction curse. Dunar had visited where they triggered the Rune Trap.

    ¡°Oh, ho! Great work! Is it accurate?¡± Helga chimed.

    ¡°These corridors, I guessed correctly and was able to find you. You see, we all branched off down different corridors. I went this way, and you went that way,¡± Dunar explained while he pointed at his map.

    Helga squinted and observed, ¡°We passed through two doors. Each door leads to a large circular chamber and a portal room?¡±

    Dunar nodded and stated, ¡°Very good. The first door we passed led to the chamber where we encountered the cultist. There was also a portal chamber that was deactivated. If you look, follow the corridor we are in,¡± the Leader pointed at the map.

    ¡°Another portal room! That is where the Thralls came from,¡± Rolfe stated.

    ¡°Exactly! And if my theory is correct,¡± The Leader explained and drew a path with his finger along the map.

    ¡°We should find something important in this big chamber?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°The rest of our team?¡± Rolfe added.

    ¡°I think so,¡± Dunar responded.

    ¡°What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go, ya?¡± Helga exclaimed.

    ¡°We must be quiet,¡± Dunar stated.

    The two giant warriors nodded, and it became evident that ¡°quiet¡± was relative. The two lumbered and clanked down the hallway. Dunar cringed at the sound they made. He was more skilled at stealth, probably the second best next to Jeze. Dunar approached every endeavor, from fighting and even stealth, with an artist¡¯s eye for detail. He took the lead and motioned the other two to follow him. They followed his map down the twisting corridors where, if Dunar predicted correctly, up ahead should be a large circular chamber.

    ¡°Wait here,¡± Dunar ordered the other two.

    The Leader crept down the corridor, as silent as a mouse, and stuck to the shadows. He turned a corner and saw a wide chamber with a large Demonic statue in its center. With horror, Dunar watched the cultist sacrifice a hapless adventurer before the Fiend. With determination, he vowed to defeat this evil, but he, Helga, and Rolfe were not enough. There were too many cultists in the chamber. But Dunar had an idea! He crept back toward his companions.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± he said and led the two back in the direction they came from.

    If Dunar stayed just a little longer, he would have heard the commotion from Mikal¡¯s spear. What he had planned would cause mayhem and could possibly wipe out the remaining cultists.

 Chapter 90: Revelations

    "Run, fool!" Ziplocke cried.

    Mikal turned and ran as the corner they were hiding behind became awash with Fire and Affliction magic. The Healer''s legs pumped as he ran down the corridor while a small army of cultists gave chase. Mikal tapped his channeling tool and spun around while he shaped glyphs in the air with his fingers. Cultists entered the hallway, and they launched Fire darts that hissed past, barely missing them. The Healer Summoned forth a mist, and he completed a second series of Glyphs that Shaped the water into a thick wall of ice just as a pair of cultists armed with curved swords ran through. The Ice wall flared as Fire magic bombarded it, but it held firm. The two cultists shivered as they were covered in frost, and Mikal easily dispatched them with two quick thrusts from his spear.

    "Flee!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    Mikal didn''t need to be told twice, and the Healer turned and ran. It was mere moments later that his Ice wall blasted apart, and from over his shoulder, he saw the masked Cult leader cut a purple tear into reality. Fire darts struck the floors and walls around them as Mikal ran down the long corridor, and before he turned a corner, he saw a swarm of Bloodlings burst forth from the rift.

    "We can''t outrun them!" Ziplocke cried.

    "Then do something!" Mikal snapped back.

    The two ran down the next corridor, but they could hear the Bloodlings gain on them, and the scraping sounds of their clawed feet grew louder. Mikal, with his spear and Ice magic, could have probably defeated the Bloodlings by himself. But it would have delayed him long enough for the cultist to arrive, and Mikal did not want to test himself against those odds. Especially with the cult leader. If he had his team, he was confident that they could overcome these odds. The entire corridor was plunged into darkness.

    "I think you overdid it," Mikal admonished the Goblin as he slid to a halt. There was no way he would run while being completely blind.

    "That was not me," Ziplocke responded.

    From down the corridor, they could hear the cult leader scream, "They have the Hold Core! We must get it back!"

    "That could be bad news," Ziplocke muttered.

    "What do you mean?" Mikal continued to grope in the dark.

    Sniffing sounds could be heard behind them. The Bloodlings were still on the hunt!

    "The Hold Core is extremely powerful and if it is in the wrong hands, it could spell doom for us all," Ziplocke replied.

    "We know the cultists don''t have it," Mikal responded as he prepared for a Bloodling attack.

    "That is true. Maybe the knucklehead found it," Ziplocke responded.

    The scraping sounds of claws on stone were louder. The Bloodlings were near. Mikal had an idea.

    "Can you prepare the Darkness aspect down the hall?" He asked.

    "What''s it worth to you?" Ziplocke asked.

    "How about I don''t toss you to the Bloodlings?" Mikal threatened.

    "Good point. I can do it," the Goblin said, he was still on the Healer''s shoulder.

    "Smart, on the count of three," Mikal said and counted.

    Light flared from Mikal''s magic torch, and Ziplocke Summoned and Shaped shadows to coalesce into opaque darkness just beyond the six Bloodlings. The monsters flinched at the sudden appearance of light, and their drool dripped from their terrible mandible jaws. Mikal immediately impaled the closest Bloodling through its multifaceted eyes. The other five surged forward. Mikal stabbed a second and encased the other four in ice that slowed them down. The Healer rapidly finished the remaining Bloodlings with savage spear thrusts. Ziplocke held the magic torch, and the two ran down the corridor. Four more Bloodlings emerged through Ziplocke''s Darkness spell. The monsters gave chase.

    "Same tactic," Mikal ordered Ziplocke.

    "You can''t tell me what to do," the Goblin snapped.

    Mikal grabbed him and prepared to toss the Goblin.

    "Okay! No need to be mean!" Ziplocke growled.

    The Goblin''s fingers twitched as he Summoned and Shaped shadows to plunge the end of the passageway into darkness. This was to keep the cultist in the dark so that Mikal could kill the Bloodlings. The four monsters leaped forward, and three were impaled by ice spears that had materialized from mist. Mikal batted the fourth one with his spear out of the air, and it slammed against the stone wall. The Bloodling rose, dazed, and the Healer plunged his spear through its insect-shaped head before it recovered.

    "Do you hear that?" Ziplocke asked.

    Mikal paused to listen and responded, "I hear nothing."

    "Exactly! They are no longer chasing us," the Goblin observed.

    "Why?"

    "Because they are going the other way, we need to go after them!" Ziplocke cried.

    "Are you mad? This is good news for us," Mikal snapped.

    "But they are going after the Hold Core. We can''t let them have it! It powers the Spire," Ziplocke stated.

    "That is a suicide mission. Let''s find the others first," Mikal reasoned.

    "Jeze could be in danger!" Ziplocke cried.

    Mikal hesitated. Despite his misgivings, he considered Jeze, a part of his team, and he did not want her to be in danger. However, he didn''t know where to go. For all he knew, Dunar and the others could be in the opposite direction. Following a small army of cultists did not seem like a wise choice. The Healer shook his head.

    "I''m sorry, it is too risky. Let''s continue our direction and hope to find the others," Mikal said.

    When they turned around, they saw that the corridor was illuminated by more magical torches.

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    "Oh, no," Ziplocke muttered.

    The torches were held by Legionnaires. The captain pointed and shouted, "He is with a Demon! Attack the cultist!"

    "Wait, what? No!" Mikal sputtered as a flurry of crossbow bolts and Ice magic launched at him and Ziplocke.

    *****

    Jeze came to and the first thing she discovered was that she was in a lit chamber. Didn''t the lights go out? She wondered. With a groan she sat up and saw Viel studying her glowing Globe. The one that was supposed to be in Jeze''s pack! She reached for her weapons.

    Viel stated, "Where did you get this? It is an amazing device. It can be activated without shaping Runes. It is incredibly efficient with its energy, and the amount of Runes engraved along its surface leads me to suspect it can do more than just provide illumination."

    "Give it back," Jeze growled.

    "Relax, if I wanted you dead. You would be dead by now," the tall man responded and returned his attention back to the Globe. "I wonder what else it could do."

    Jeze rose to her feet and her body tensed with her weapons at her sides. Her intention toward violence was as clear as the morning sunrise.

    "Here," Viel rolled the Globe over toward Jeze. "And in good faith. I will also give this back to you," the tall man offered up the Hold Core

    Jeze carefully accepted the Core and when she safely had it in hand she asked, "What is the meaning of this?"

    Viel sighed. He looked tired. "I am sorry for my behavior earlier. That was a bloody catastrophe, am I right?"

    Jeze put the Hold Core back into her back but kept her weapons in her hands.

    "The Core was made out of my sister''s heart and all of her rage. But I know what happened now," Viel replied.

    "You said we betrayed you," Jeze said.

    "Everyone betrays dragons because they fear us. The Fiends discovered that our hearts could power this Stronghold. So they hunted us. My kind found allies with your ancestors, the Ones from Before," Viel explained. His eyes looked off into the distance as he recalled his sister''s memories.

    "I don''t know if they were my ancestors," Jeze pointed out.

    Viel chuckled and shook his head. "How you humans quickly forget the past." The tall man continued, "Together, we defeated the Fiends and corrupted the Stronghold. But, the Ones from Before placed a powerful curse on us and forced us into human form."

    "Why?" Jeze asked. "You were allies."

    Viel replied, "Because they feared us, and if I were honest, they were wise too. Us dragons are extremely destructive and arrogant. My sister and I do not know how many of our kind came to this plane or how many accepted the curse."

    "There are more like you?" Jeze asked.

    Viel nodded, "But I do not know how many. I chose to fight back, or tried to, at least. Do you recall how I told you it was exhausting to revert to our true form under the curse? I was Eclipse! The terror of the Iron Fist Kingdom and hidden away in Mount Dragon. Left alone for centuries. My sister also rampaged, but eventually, she also needed to rest. The curse was too strong for us. While I fumed alone in my mountain, she plane-shifted to other realms in order to find answers."

    "You can do that?" Viel asked and added, "Plane-shift?"

    Viel grinned, and his red eyes sparkled. "We are truly amazing beasts. But alas, you know how her story ended."

    "The Fiends killed her?"

    Viel nodded sadly and replied, "Yes, they took her heart to power this contraption. Maybe that is why the rifts are happening again and why the Stronghold is appearing in your realm."

    Despite the fact that Viel tried to murder her when he was in dragon form, Jeze hugged him in a warm embrace.

    "You and I have both lost a sibling to them," she said.

    Viel hugged her back, and tears formed in his eyes. "I have been among your kind for hundreds of years. I forgot what it was like to be a dragon. I wanted answers, and I found them."

    "What now?" Jeze asked.

    "Your brother aided me, and so did you. A promise is a promise. I will now do my best to help you find your team," Viel answered.

    Jeze''s head snapped up as her sharp ears picked up a sound. "We are not alone," she whispered.

    Viel''s face became serious and he drew his two handed sword. He whispered, "Our fight must have drawn attention."

    Jeze spotted the familiar shimmering appear through the doorway. Her eyes went wide, and she shoved Viel behind one of the columns just as a twang from a crossbow could be heard, and a bolt snapped against the far wall.

    "A Light aspect illusion spell!" Viel exclaimed.

    "The Empire found us," Jeze replied.

    Thinking fast, she turned the column and the tall man nodded in understanding. Jeze resetted the pressure plate trap that led to the Core chamber behind them. Jeze deactivated her light Globe and plunged the room into darkness.

    "Clever," a familiar voice said.

    A bright light illuminated the chamber, and the darkness was pushed away. Jeze peeked around the column and saw Drake along with four Elite Legionnaires. The Imperial captain, with his half-burned face, was equipped in his familiar gear. Silver plate armor with a sword and shield. Two Legionnaires wore thick, dark navy padded coats with golden buttons. One was armed with a crossbow, and a side sword sheathed at her hip. The other was an older man with gray hair, and he carried a rune-covered rod. Jeze recognized other channeling tools on his body. He was the Rune caster. The final two Legionnaires wore plated armor from head to toe and were armed with a poleaxes. Their faces and features were obscured under visored helmets.

    "Drake?" Viel asked.

    Jeze and Drake blinked in shock.

    "Viel, hello old friend," the Imperial Agent greeted with a wide smile that showed perfect teeth.

    "You two know each other?" Jeze asked, surprised.

    "Yes, we both were on your brother''s team. But, how do you know each other?" Viel shot back.

    "What?!?" Jeze was surprised to hear that, and she added, "He tried to kill me!" Jeze exclaimed and glared at the Imperial agent.

    Viel''s eyes went back and forth as if he was trying to solve a riddle. After a moment, he turned to Drake and said, "You scoundrel! You sought Daverius''s sister in hopes that he shared his knowledge with her!"

    This was a lot for Jeze to grasp. All this time that Drake was after her, it was not because she discovered the true purpose of the Wandering Spire. It had nothing to do with the secret that the Emperor was not immortal. That was a ruse for Drake to access Imperial resources. It was plain greed! Daverius discovered how to find the Core Tunnels and, with them, untold treasures and powerful artifacts.

    "Oh, I''m the scoundrel? Look who''s talking?" Drake accused back.

    Viel shook his head and replied, "My running into her was pure luck. I came here on my own."

    Drake looked around the chamber and stated with a smirk on his face, "Daverius, that bastard was right about the Wandering Spire after all. I considered him mad, but in the end, I was wrong."

    Viel glanced at Jeze and responded, "That he was. And look, we found it! The Core Tunnels, but he didn''t share his knowledge with his sister. Through the doors behind us is a chamber filled with treasure. It is yours, Drake."

    Drake narrowed his eyes with distrust. "What else does she know?" He asked.

    "Nothing, but we can all leave here without any bloodshed," Viel responded.

    Jeze growled with anger, and the Legionnaires tensed with their weapons at the ready.

    "Orders, sir?" The gray-haired Rune caster asked.

    Drake''s face and voice shifted like a chameleon back to that of a loyal agent of the Empire. His true nature was revealed and now it was hidden again. He is such a snake! Jeze thought.

    "These are fugitives wanted by the Guild and the Empire. Seize them!" Drake ordered.

    "He lies!" Jeze cried.

    But her plea fell on deaf ears. The Legionnaires resolutely followed orders and marched forward. The Rune caster began to shape glyphs.

    "This is a big mistake," Viel growled.

    "Fall back into the chamber," Jeze said.

    She was the faster Rune caster, and she Summoned heavy shadows to obscure visibility. Her and Viel retreated and they were pursued by the Legionnaires. They adapted the formation with the heavily armored soldiers in front with the Rune caster and archer just behind and Drake at the end.

    Click!

    One armored Legionnaire stepped on the pressure plate just as Jeze and Viel entered the circular chamber where the Hold Core was contained. The traps ignited, and all hell broke loose.

 Chapter 92

    Mikal was running with Ziplocke on his shoulders. The Goblin launched Fire darts at the chasing Imperial soldiers. Crossbolts and ice spears clattered and shattered along the walls and floors as he ran. The Healer winced from the pain in his shoulder where a crossbow bolt stuck out. He was bleeding, and he knew that as soon as his adrenaline wore off, he would be in trouble. Plus, he was fleeing Imperial soldiers and was running toward an army of fanatical devil-worshipping cultists. Mikal chuckled. That''s just my luck! He thought.

    "This is not funny!" Ziplocke shrieked. A crossbolt whizzed passed his green head. "Run faster!" The Goblin cried.

    Mikal briefly fantasized about tossing the Goblin back at the soldiers. This brought a grin to his face, but the Goblin was right. They had more pressing matters. With a grimace, the Healer shaped Runes with his good arm as he ran. He poured his Will into the Rune spell and Summoned up a mist ahead of him. As they ran through the mists, Mikal Shaped it into ice to form a solid wall that gave the two a slight reprieve from the chasing Legionnaires.

    "Why are you stopping?" Ziplocke wailed.

    Mikal ignored the Goblin and winced in pain as he yanked the crossbow bolt out of his shoulder. Blood poured freely, and he leaned in pain against the wall. The Healer had to admire Hannah''s craftsmanship. His armor held up splendidly! His wound was shallow and easy enough to heal. Mikal tapped his Life aspect Channeling tool and Shaped his flesh closed. He had mastered the healing arts, and mending wounds was easy for him, but it still drained his Will. However, he did get a lot of practice from his team. They couldn''t keep their flesh together even if their life depended on it! Mikal thought to himself with a chuckle. He missed his team.

    "Okay, you are healed. Get a move on!" Ziplocke ordered.

    The Legionnaire Rune casters were Shaping Mikal''s ice wall away. The Healer scowled at the Goblin and grunted as he shoved himself off the wall and continued to run down the corridor. They were nearing the chamber where the altar and the small army of cultists were. Just my luck! Mikal thought. He happened to be in the only part of the labyrinth where he had only two options to travel. One was occupied by homicidal Legionnaires, and the other direction led toward homicidal demon-worshiping cultists. The two groups should meet, Mikal thought to himself.

    "Get ready with your Shadows, demon," he told Ziplocke. He added, "And don''t ask for something in return! I swear by the Frozen All-Father, I will toss you for real into a Goreratpor''s maw!" Mikal exclaimed.

    Ziplocke had readied a retort but snapped his mouth shut after the Healer''s threat. Instead, he replied, "You got it!"

    This is going to be challenging, Mikal thought as he came upon the turn that led to the final stretch. He knew that his running would have alerted the cultists and shaped the Water aspect Glyphs to prepare mist. They turned the corner, and at the end of the long corridor were a dozen armed cultists. Their eyes went wide when they saw Mikal leading a charge against them with a small army of Legionnaires behind him.

    "Attack them for the honor of our Immortal Emperor!" The Legion captain cried.

    Mikal rolled his eyes as he shaped the mist to form an ice shield that he Controlled to remain in front as the cultist unleashed a flurry of Fire darts. His magic held against the onslaught as he continued his charge. The Legionnaires behind him returned fire.

    ¡°Now!¡± Mikal ordered.

    Ziplocke released his Darkness magic, and the area was engulfed in Shadows. Mikal used his ice shield and forced his way past the defenders and into the circular chamber. Behind him, the Legionnaires and cultists clashed in fierce combat. The Healer''s heart sank when he saw that the masked cult leader remained in the chamber. With curiosity, he wondered what they were doing. Were they mobilizing to go after Jeze? He saw dozens of cultists form up on the opposite end of the chamber on the other side of the enormous Fiend statue. The cultists began fighting and were forced back inside as three large and heavily armored warriors charged in. Mikal''s heart lifted when he saw that it was Dunar, Helga, and Rolfe! But were they mad? To attack such a large force on their own? The chamber shook, and the three Frostsworn quickly moved to the side.

    "Oh, no," Mikal stated as he also moved toward the walls.

    He was grateful to be able to hide within Ziplocke''s Summoned shadows. Dunar, Helga, and Rolfe were not mad. They were insane! Mikal thought to himself. A terrible roar echoed through the chamber as two lumbering Goreraptors charged in. Legionnaires, cultists, the Proven, and two huge monsters were all fighting inside the chamber. Carnage and mayhem ensued.

    *****

    Click! One of the fully armored Legionaries with Drake stepped on the pressure plate. In front of Jeze and Viel and through the double steel doors, the chamber became awash in Darkness, Flame, and red Affliction magic.

    In the pitch black, Jeze heard Viel point out, "Gotta hand it to the builders. They remained consistent with their traps."

    Jeze groped in the dark and retrieved her glow globe. She activated it and the two saw that there was a wall of inky blackness in front of them. Screams of pain could be heard from within.

    "I suppose we wait it out, then?" Viel said.

    Jeze nodded, but she felt sorry for the Legionnaires.

    Viel rubbed her shoulders. "Don''t feel bad. You and I experienced this trap before and we survived, barely."

    The screams died down and they could hear Drake''s muffled voice bark commands. He sounded stressed, and this brought a grin to Jeze''s face. If anything, at least he suffered. She reflected. Jeze turned to Viel.

    "Who else did you and my brother travel with?" Jeze asked as she kept an eye in front.

    Viel scratched his dark curly hair and answered, "Let''s see. You got Daverius, who was our leader. I was the Striker, and Drake was our Protector. Ahh, there was Lydia, our Healer, and Selene was, our Scout."

    "Do you talk to them?"

    Viel shook his head. "No, your brother was why we all traveled together. I mean, we made efforts, but each of our lives took over."

    "Was Drake always with the Empire?" Jeze asked.

    Viel tapped his chin and responded, "I recall he served in the Legion, but I don''t know much else."

    It quieted down in the other chamber. Viel and Jeze gripped their weapons.

    "Get ready," Viel whispered.

    Jeze Summoned piles of dirt in different locations throughout the chamber and activated the Runic protections on her armor. She closed her eyes and prepared herself mentally. Jeze hoped to achieve Mastery again. The Darkness faded away as the Legion''s Rune caster dispelled it with the Light aspect. One of the armored Strikers lay unmoving on the ground, with smoke trailing off their burned armor. The old Rune caster was kneeling beside the fallen warrior. Drake glared at Jeze and Viel. His chest heaving with rage.

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    "One down. Let''s hope the Rune caster tries to save his mate. That leaves Drake and the other two. That''s fair odds," Viel stated and cracked his neck.

    "That is cold-hearted," Jeze replied. She felt bad about the Legionnaires. They were just following orders.

    "Eh, you are still young. So, you take the two, and I dance with Drake?" Viel said.

    The two Legionnaires consisted of the woman in the heavy padded jacket armed with a crossbow. A sword hung at her hip. The other was a Striker in heavy plate armor from head to toe and armed with a halberd. Jeze saw Runes etched along the plate armor and weapon. However, the armor was singed, and she suspected some of the Rune chains were marred. All three showed signs of struggling against the Affliction spell. The woman with the crossbow had a twitch in her eye and lips. The halberd fighter''s helmeted head glanced around. Drake''s method of managing the Affliction was interesting. He used his rage to focus his mind, and he seethed with it.

    "No," Jeze growled as she recalled memories of the Old Hunter and Drake''s betrayal. "I have a score to settle with him."

    Viel appeared to hesitate a moment before shrugging. "Suit yourself," he said.

    No further words were shared, and it was as if a universal unspoken command was given, and the fighting erupted. Viel launched himself toward the two Legionnaires and took a crossbow bolt to his chest that did not seem to faze him. He still had some lingering power from his sister''s heart, and Jeze wondered how long that would last. She was snapped out of her thoughts as Drake rushed her with his sword flashing. Jeze recalled how fluid the Imperial agent fought as she quickly dodged out of the way. Despite being under the Affliction spell, Drake managed to land a glancing blow with his shield that threw Jeze off balance. She rolled out of the way from Drake''s follow-up sword chop. His blade shot up sparks as it clanged against the stone floor. Jeze felt peace as her mind touched the flow state. This was Mastery. With her fingers and weapons, she weaved the final glyphs into the air and Shaped a pile of dirt into a boulder. Drake was relentless as he hacked and slashed with his sword. Jeze deflected an attack with her axe and countered with a thrust of her blade. It glanced harmlessly off his shield as he bashed it against her. Jeze fell onto her back, but it did not disrupt her Will. She Controlled the boulder with precise gestures of her hands to slam into the Imperial agent. The blow sent him crashing to the ground.

    "Curse you!" Drake cried as he struggled to rise to his feet.

    With a cold focus, Jeze Shaped another boulder and Controlled it to slam into the imperial agent.

    "This is for Raynor," she growled.

    Drake was knocked onto his back as his helmet flew off to rattle along the floor. His thick hair and eyes were wild as he sprung to his feet and deflected Jeze''s third boulder with his shield. The rock shattered with a thunderous clamor against the wall. Jeze launched another one at him. Drake dodged it as he rushed toward her, and the two engaged in a rapid exchange of steel. Jeze recognized that Drake was stronger, more armored, and better suited for melee combat than her. A slight panic rose in her chest, but she remained calm. Jeze was focused as her mind searched for solutions. To create space, she flung another boulder at her opponent. Drake deflected it with his shield and countered with his sword, but the brief distraction allowed Jeze to move away. Like the wolf, she never moved backward but in angles, and she was safely off Drake''s line of attack as his blade sliced the air. Drake spun to face her just as she placed an orb of pure Darkness around his head.

    "Aaagrrh!!" Drake roared in frustration as he blindly swung his sword and shield.

    Jeze silently circled around him as she Summoned more of the Earth aspect. Drake charged her from out of the sphere of Darkness. How did he sense me? Jeze wondered. She was surprised and barely avoided his sword slash. Drake''s shield flared with Runic magic and shot out a pulse of Force that struck Jeze hard, and she crashed onto her back. Blood dripped from her nose, and she was dazed as she struggled to get to her feet, but Drake was moving too fast. Jeze knew this was the end, and she cursed herself for her stupidity. Jeze had touched Mastery, but it blinded her and made her overconfident.

    Drake stabbed with his sword, and Jeze parried it to the side as she scrambled to her feet. The Legion Captain knocked her back down with his magic shield and used deft blade work to disarm Jeze of her battleaxe. With only her sword, she desperately tried to defend herself, but Jeze''s blade struck harmlessly against Drake''s shield, and he countered and slashed her sword arm. The sharp edge sliced through the thin padding that protected her elbow, and Jeze cried in pain as her weapon slipped out from weak fingers.

    "You should have given me what I sought!" Drake growled.

    This enraged Jeze, and she cried, "I don''t know what you are talking about!"

    "The secrets Daverius shared with you!" Drake howled back with spittle flying from his mouth.

    Jeze, seeing an opportunity to escape, continued the conversation. "There were no secrets!" It was true. She had no idea what he wanted.

    "You lie!" Drake roared.

    He was deep within the Affliction spell, but there was some truth to his words. All this time, he believed that Jeze was hiding something from him. But why did he care so much? Was it all just greed? Jeze didn''t believe that greed alone would make someone go to such lengths.

    "Why do you care so much?" Jeze asked. If she was going to die, at least she would know the cause.

    "For love," Drake said and added, "for Yasmine."

    The Legion Captain glanced off in the distance as if the woman he mentioned was in the chamber with them. This was Jeze¡¯s chance! She kicked him off and scrambled to her feet. Drake''s fury returned in an instant, and his sword lashed out as fast as a striking snake. Jeze closed her eyes, but the blade never struck her. A dark blur appeared in between them that knocked the attack to the side with a clang of steel. It was Viel!

    "We have to go," Viel said without turning to face her. The dragon man''s eyes were locked onto Drake.

    Jeze didn''t need any more prodding. She grabbed her weapons with her good arm and surveyed the room. Viel had defeated his two opponents, but the Legion''s Rune caster was healing them. Both Strikers were slowly rising to their feet, and they shook their heads. In moments, the entire team would be in the fight! Jeze Shaped dirt into a boulder and Controlled it to strike the Healer. The old man activated the defensive enchantments that were etched into his robe, and a shimmering field of Force surrounded him. But Jeze''s boulder smashed it apart as if it were made out of glass, and the Healer was knocked out for the moment. Jeze used the remaining piles of dirt to bombard the two recovering Strikers with boulders, and the large rocks clanged loudly against their plate armor as they were forced back down.

    Viel and Drake put on an impressive display of advanced swordsmanship. They gracefully weaved back and forth in a continuous flow of attacks and counters. Viel stabbed with his longer blade at Drake''s face. Drake raised his shield and countered with his sword in one fluid motion. Viel immediately reversed his attack to parry Drake''s blade and shifted his hips to swing his sword around for another strike, which bounced off Drake''s raised shield. And so forth, the two went back and forth. Jeze was mesmerized by their artistry, but time was not on their side. The Legionnaires were recovering, and the Affliction curse was wearing off. Their slim advantage was becoming slimmer by the moment!

    With sword and battleaxe, Jeze joined the fray. She timed her entrance at the exact moment when Drake was on the offensive. Gritting through the pain in her arm, Jeze lunged with her sword toward the Legion Captain''s face. Drake spotted the danger, raised his shield, and deflected Jeze''s sword. The Captain needed to step back to give himself distance from Viel and it was that step that Jeze counted on! She attacked low and hooked the back of Drake''s foot with her curved axe blade and yanked the man onto his back. As Drake rolled to recover, Jeze rapidly Summoned and Shaped shadows to coalesce into pure Darkness.

    "Let''s go!" She said to Viel, and the two fled.

    By the time Drake and his team made their way out of Jeze''s Darkness spell, the two were closing the door to the corridor.

    ¡°After them!¡± Drake roared.

    Using the illumination from her globe, Jeze tapped her Earth aspect bracelet and shaped the Glyphs with her hands in order to Shape the steel in the door. She was trying to Shape something native to this realm and Jeze felt the immense pressure upon her Will. Viel held the door closed as Drake and his team slammed against it.

    ¡°Hurry up!¡± Viel cried.

    Even with his strength, he would not be able to hold out for much longer. Jeze pushed her Will so hard that blood dripped out of her ears and nose as she Shaped the steel within the door to lock it. Jeze collapsed from the effort. Drake and his team slammed against the door to no avail. Viel scooped up Jeze and the glowing globe and ran off down the corridor.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jeze mumbled.

    She was in and of consciousness. Jeze briefly imagined the joy Ziplocke would have had at seeing her pass out. She missed the Demon.

    ¡°I still have my sister¡¯s memories and know how to navigate these Core Tunnels,¡± Viel answered.

    ¡°My team¡­¡± Jeze blurted out before passing out.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will keep my promise,¡± Viel answered, even though she couldn¡¯t hear him as sleep took a hold of her.

 Chapter 93: Good, Evil, and Love

    The Goreraptors in the chamber changed everything. It changed several cultists that believed that they were loyal to the Fiends into realizing that they were more loyal to being alive. Mikal ran alongside several of the demon worshipers as they fled the chamber. The Healer was trying to work his way around toward his team. The mayhem happened in the center of the chamber where the beasts ran rampant. However, being along the edges of the chamber did not make one safe, as Mikal learned. He watched one Goreraptor charge across the room to smash several legionnaires and cultists alike into a mushy pulp against the wall.

    "See? You are lucky to have me!" Ziplocke whispered into his ear from his shoulder.

    The Goblin had hidden the two within the shadows using the Darkness aspect. Mikal couldn''t come up with a witty retort. Too much was going on, and all he wanted to do was to link up with his teammates. The Goblin laughed with glee.

    "Did you see the looks on their faces before they went splat!?!?!" The Goblin cried.

    "Hush you! You want to join them?" Mikal admonished.

    The enormous monster was just a few meters ahead of them. It was rubbing its head against the gore along the walls, like a mockery of a cat. The other Goreraptor chased several legionnaires out of the chamber. The monster had one hapless soldier impaled and dangling upon its horn. The rumbling of its footsteps and panic screams echoed from the corridor. This is terrible! Mikal thought in horror.

    "You can move now," Ziplocke said.

    The Goreraptor that was in front of them charged another group of cultists. The masked leader was trying desperately to keep his subordinates in order. He was fighting a losing battle. The Legion had retreated into the corridors, and at least one squad was being chased by a Goreraptor. Mikal spotted Dunar, Helga, and Rolfe. The three Frostsworn had just dispatched a group of cultists and were now sticking to the shadows to avoid the attention of the giant monsters. Helga excitedly waved at the Healer and jumped up and down in glee. Mikal was so overjoyed to see his team that he didn''t even scowl at the muscular warrior maiden''s antics. Mikal ran toward his team, and they embraced.

    "Are you mad? To lure the Goreraptors here!" Mikal admonished.

    Helga and Rolfe grinned. They were not afraid that the giant monster was just a few meters away from them, goring and mauling people.

    "They are Demons, and they are attracted to fear. I knew if we brought them here, they would ignore us," Dunar stated.

    "Because we do not fear them," Rolfe added.

    "I get it," Mikal replied.

    "They are not attracted to us because we are brave," Helga stated.

    "I know," the Healer said.

    "We seek Glory¡­" Rolfe started.

    "I get it! That''s enough!" Mikal snapped.

    Dunar looked around Mikal and observed, "You have Ziplocke."

    The Goblin materialized from the shadows and responded, "Your eyes are getting good!"

    "Where is Jezie?" Helga asked.

    "We were hoping you would know where she was," Mikal responded.

    The second Goreraptor discovered more legionnaires in the corridor and charged out of the chamber. What was left in the room was gore and mutilated bodies. The monsters were masters of destruction and carnage. Only the cult leader remained.

    "You!" The masked man cried. His body trembled with rage.

    "Does not seem fair, five against one. What should we do?" Helga asked.

    "We can draw straws to see who gets to fight him?" Rolfe suggested.

    Helga''s face lit up, and she exclaimed, "Good idea!"

    "Fools! He has the Rift aspect!" Ziplocke cried.

    The cult leader chopped the air with his hand, and a shimmering purple tear appeared.

    "You will pay for your sacrilege!" The cult leader screamed.

    From the tear, in reality, dozens of armored Howlers emerged, and they filled the chamber with their discordant cries.

    "We don''t need to draw straws," Rolfe observed.

    "Ya, that''s true," Helga responded.

    Mikal shook his head. "I was better off alone," he muttered.

    "Kill them!" The masked leader hissed.

    "Proven! Form up!" Dunar barked.

    The four moved into formation but lacked their shields. They will have to let loose and go all out on offense.

    "Micky, do the honors," Helga said.

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    The Healer rolled his eyes. He did not feel particularly confident. "For Glory!" He shouted as best as he could.

    "Hurrah!" The others cheered back.

    The Howlers charged them.

    *****

    "I can walk," Jeze mumbled.

    Viel stopped carrying her and placed her back on the ground. Jeze adjusted her armor and pack, and the two resumed walking down the dark corridor with only the light from her globe. Viel confidently led them down the different passageways.

    "Do you know who Yasmine is?" Jeze asked.

    "Huh? Why do you ask that?" Viel responded.

    "Drake mentioned her name. While he was under the Affliction curse, he said he was doing this for love. For her, I suppose," Jeze replied.

    Viel nodded in thought as the two walked. The tall man shook his head and laughed.

    "Drake, that poor bloody fool!" He exclaimed.

    "What? Who is she?" Jeze asked.

    "Yasmine, one of the daughters of the Immortal Emperor. Drake fancies himself a chance of marrying into the Imperial Dynasty," Viel snorted.

    There were too many families and clans associated with the Imperial Dynasty. The Immortal Emperor, though Jeze doubted he was immortal, had solidified a solid network among the numerous noble families through the marriage arrangements of his many offspring.

    "How did Drake even get connected with the Immortal Dynasty?" Jeze wondered.

    Viel smirked and replied, "We can say many bad things about the bloke, but one thing is for sure. He is very ambitious and talented."

    Jeze scowled. "There is nothing good about that man. He is a snake and a coward!"

    "He could be that and skillful," Viel said with a knowing nod.

    "How did he even link up with you and my brother?" Jeze asked.

    Viel shrugged and said, "Like I told you. He is talented. Your brother was looking for a decent Protector. Drake fit the bill."

    "While being a Captain of the Legion? How was he able to do both?"

    Viel tapped his chin and said, "I recall Drake mentioned that he was on a special assignment. Look, now the Empire has highly trained teams entering the Spire. Maybe he started that program?"

    Jeze stopped walking and balled her hands into fists. "So he chased after my brother''s secrets all for an Imperial Princess? He even murdered Raynor, the Old Hunter! I don''t see the connection."

    The memory of the death of her friend and teacher still brought tears to her eyes. Viel squeezed her shoulders and then nodded with understanding. The tall man shook his head with a gentle chuckle.

    ¡°What?¡± Jeze demanded.

    "I think I figured it out. You see, our team was different from other teams. Then your team even," Viel stated.

    "How so?"

    "I imagine your teammates are close and you all talk to each other, am I right?" Viel asked.

    Jeze nodded. She missed the Proven, and she worried for them.

    "Our team was made up of talented people that were plagued with dark secrets. You know mine, right?" Viel explained.

    Jeze nodded. A dragon cursed to be in human form and with amnesia.

    "This is what I think happened to Drake. He was a young man from a poor family with lofty aspirations. The only way for him to climb out was through the military. So he works hard and reaches the rank of captain, but he can''t go much further," Viel said.

    "Unless he marries into a noble family?" Jeze asked, her eyes widened with understanding.

    "Yes!" Viel exclaimed, continuing, "But not just any noble family. The Imperial Dynasty."

    Jeze shook her head and stated, "That poor fool."

    Viel chuckled and continued, "I bet he charmed Yasmine, but because of his low station, he was forbidden to see her. Maybe, even threatened with execution for his insolence."

    "So, the only way that he has a chance to marry Princess Yasmine is through wealth and fame?" Jeze asked.

    "Exactly! And the Wandering Spire offered both. If he was a part of the team that defeated the Spire, maybe even if he got the gift of Immortality, then he could marry into the Imperial Dynasty," Viel added.

    Jeze recalled something and asked, "What secrets did Daverius keep?"

    "Excuse me?"

    "You said your teammates were all plagued with secrets. What were my brother''s secrets?" Jeze said.

    Viel sighed and explained, "Your brother was a very good leader, but he only told us what we needed to know to succeed on a given mission. He was very guarded with his knowledge and it frustrated all of us. Especially, Drake."

    "Then why did you adventure with Daverius?" Jeze asked. She couldn''t imagine herself continuing on with the Proven if Dunar was not transparent and open with them.

    "Because he was bloody effective! Every assignment we took, we succeeded. He found the floor portals and the secrets on how to find the hidden tunnels. Look! Both Drake and I found this tunnel! With the little knowledge we were able to glean from your brother," Viel exclaimed.

    "Where did he learn this stuff?" Jeze wondered.

    "He was always reading tomes and books. Talking to people and writing in his journal, but never sharing his thoughts," Viel answered.

    Jeze laughed. "That I can''t imagine! Daverius always took the direct approach," she said as she recalled how he closed the Threshold from within the Pyramid. Daverius didn''t bother with exploring. He just marched down the stairs and slaughtered all the Howlers in his path.

    Viel shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Maybe he matured in the time he was away from you."

    Jeze wiped her moist eyes. The talk about her brother and the Old Hunter dug up emotions from within her heart. Jeze stopped and held up a hand. Viel followed suit and readied his two-handed sword.

    "What is it?" He whispered.

    "I hear footsteps," Jeze replied.

    She deactivated her globe and plunged the two into darkness. Up ahead and around the next corner, they saw the faint illumination of light. In the silence, Viel could hear the footsteps, and he marveled at Jeze''s sharp perception.

    "Do you think it''s the Legion?" Viel wondered.

    Jeze cocked her head and heard the faint metal sounds of heavy armor. She didn''t think so. Most Legionnaires wore heavy padded armor, with only a few in platemail. What she heard down the corridor was a team in full steel armor. Could it be the Proven? Her spirits lifted. The footsteps stopped walking, and the other team''s light went out.

    "They detected us," Viel observed.

    Jeze agreed. This was a pickle. What should they do?

    "Do we go back?" Viel asked.

    "I''m not sure," Jeze whispered back.

    She heard the sound of gentle footsteps just up ahead.

    "I hear you! Announce yourself!" Jeze demanded.

    A dozen meters in front of them a light appeared to show a lady with short hair and high cheekbones and tattoos that ran down along her neck.

    "Lady Kalina!" Jeze exclaimed.

    The Guild official nodded and announced down the corridor, "It''s clear. It''s Jeze and," Lady Kalina''s eyes narrowed. "A stranger," she added.

 Chapter 94: The Eye of Azsith

    Without shields, the Frostsworn and their armor took a beating, and Mikal had to work overtime to keep his teammates alive. The four warriors fought tirelessly against the swarm of Howlers that emerged from the shimmering purple rift. Dunar twirled his axe and sword like a tornado of steel and death. He knocked aside a spear thrust with his sword and planted his battleaxe in the Howler¡¯s head. Dunar stabbed another through the throat as a mace thudded painfully against his back armor. The Leader turned, deflected the second attack, and sliced the demon¡¯s arm off.

    ¡°Helga, stay close!¡± Dunar barked.

    To his right, the warrior maiden was in a raging battle trance. She swung her Dane axe in wide arcs that left a trail of carnage in its wake. Howlers stabbed and slashed at her but could not stop her momentum as Helga swung her axe and sliced the demons to pieces.

    ¡°Helga!¡± Dunar roared.

    ¡°Oh, ya,¡± Helga responded.

    She was getting out of range of Mikal¡¯s healing magic and risked exposing the Rune caster to more attacks. The reason the Proven survived this long against the incredible odds was that they worked together. Dunar covered the left, Rolfe held the center, and Helga protected the right. Mikal stood behind them and provided healing support. But the Healer still needed to fight the occasional Howlers that slipped past his teammates, and it was not a problem for Mikal. The dark-haired Frostsworn weaved spear and Rune magic with flowing ease. The Healer stabbed an attacker and stepped back to seamlessly shape Glyphs that Summoned the Life aspect that reinvigorated his teammates. Mikal switched to the Water aspect and launched ice spears that trimmed the number of charging Howlers before they engaged his teammates. Ziplocke was perched on his shoulder and launched darts of Fire. The Goblin laughed with glee.

    ¡°This is so much fun!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    Front and center was Rolfe. The massive blonde warrior armed with a Helldrake spear was an absolute terror on the field of battle. Rolfe delivered powerful spear thrusts in rapid succession that attacked different angles. The Protector stabbed one Howler through the face, twirled the spearhead to move around the defenses of another, and struck a second Howler through its knee. Before a third could land a blow on the tall Frostsworn, Rolfe¡¯s spear whipped back to deflect the attack and countered with a devastating thrust through the Howler¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Why won¡¯t you die!¡± The masked cult leader cried.

    He was slumped over with his chest heaving from the exertion of Summoning rifts. The purple tears, in reality, shimmered and faded from view. The man¡¯s eyes were wild behind the pale mask.

    ¡°He is going mad! The Rift aspect was too much for him!¡± Ziplocke cheered.

    The cult leader sliced one more tear in reality and rasped, ¡°I will end this now.¡± He reached his arm into the shimmering rift and screamed in agony.

    Ziplocke¡¯s laughter died. ¡°Uh oh,¡± he stated.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Mikal snapped.

    ¡°This is not good,¡± the Goblin replied.

    ¡°We need more information,¡± Dunar growled.

    ¡°Should we attack?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°Ya, I will do this. For Glory!¡± Helga cried.

    ¡°No, wait!¡± Zipolocke shrieked.

    ¡°Helga!¡± Dunar shouted, but he was ignored.

    The warrior maiden charged across the circular chamber as the masked cult leader retracted his arm from the rift. The skin on his limb was flayed off, and his muscles, sinews, and bone were visible. In his hand, he pulled forth a dark purple-bladed sword with a single demonic eye at its crossguard. Helga swung her axe to deliver a powerful blow. Lightning-fast, the cult leader swung the sword to intercept the attack. The purple blade had a glowing sheen along its edge, and it sliced through Helga¡¯s axe as if it were made of paper.

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    With wide eyes, the warrior maiden bemoaned, ¡°My axe!¡±

    ¡°Helga!¡± Dunar cried.

    The cult leader slashed out with his sword, and Helga ducked the attack. She used the long handle of her axe like a cudgel and shattered the man¡¯s mask. It revealed the emotionless face of a corpse, and the hard blow had little effect as the deadly blade came back around for another attack. Helga stumbled and barely dodged as the tip of the sinister blade sliced through her armor and flesh as if it were made out of butter. Helga did not scream as her blood flowed freely from the grievous wound across her chest. She fell to the ground and desperately scrambled to get away. The cult leader shambled awkwardly after Helga and swung the blade with terrifying speed. Helga raised her arms as the blade came crashing down, but it never struck. The cult leader was slammed back as Rolfe impaled him through the heart with his spear. The cult leader¡¯s eyes were glazed over as his head wobbled to the side. A deep laughter emanated from the sword. Helga rose to her feet and dragged Rolfe back with her.

    ¡°Fools,¡± a raspy voice hissed out from the sword with the eye.

    ¡°The cult leader is dead. We face Azsith¡¯s Eye,¡± Ziplocke explained.

    ¡°The what?¡± Mikal asked.

    The Healer shaped glyphs with his fingers and Summoned water vapor in the air. He then closed his hands, and the vapor was Shaped into ice spears that were launched at the crooked swordsman. The cult leader¡¯s body trembled and stumbled back upon the impacts but remained standing.

    ¡°The Wizard King Orisz defeated Azsith, the Demon Lord. Orisz took his eye and forged this sword. It is a Rift Blade that can cut through anything. You must be careful!¡± Ziplocke replied.

    The sword laughed. Its deep voice echoed off the chamber¡¯s walls.

    ¡°It mocks us!¡± Helga cried. She retrieved her two-handed mace.

    ¡°Spread out,¡± Dunar ordered and added, ¡°Rolfe, use your reach to keep this creature back.¡±

    The cult leader wobbled and sprang toward the Proven with incredible speed. The Frostsworn dove out of the deadly Rift blade¡¯s reach. The sharp edge appeared to slice cracks into reality, leaving shimmering flashes of dark lightning in its wake.

    ¡°It is futile. It is helpless. Give into despair so that I may feast upon it!¡± The blade howled.

    ¡°How do we kill this?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°Attacking the body is not working,¡± Rolfe pointed out.

    The cult leader had many grievous wounds from Rolfe¡¯s spear and Mikal¡¯s ice magic. But, the twisted swordsman continued to move as if they were unscathed. Dunar studied the man¡¯s erratic movements and nodded with understanding.

    ¡°I know what must be done,¡± the Leader said and charged.

    ¡°He is mad!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    Dunar hurled his battle ax, and it soared through the air blade over the shaft. It embedded itself between the cult leader¡¯s blank eyes. The vile swordsman spun off balance as Dunar gripped his sword in two hands and rapidly closed the distance. Through erratic movements that no human body could make, the cult leader lashed the demonic blade outwards with blindingly fast speed. Dunar chopped with his blade. Ziplocke cackled with glee as the Goblin anticipated the look of shock on the Leader¡¯s face. Mikal, Rolfe, and Helga held their breaths, and it was hard for them to watch. Time seemed to have slowed down, though in reality, it all happened in a blink of an eye. Dunar aimed his attack toward the wrist and severed the limb before the Rift blade could come around. The chopped-off arm flew toward Dunar and landed a glancing blow on the Leader¡¯s forearm. A normal sword would have bounced off, but the Rift blade sliced Dunar¡¯s arm off at the elbow. Without the Eye of Azsith, the cult leader¡¯s corpse collapsed to the ground.

    ¡°Dunar!¡± Mikal shouted and ran to his friend¡¯s aid.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Dunar grimaced as he gripped his bleeding arm.

    ¡°Fool! You lost a limb!¡± Ziplocke shrieked and added, ¡°And that was amazing! You defeated a Demon Lord! Granted, it was just his eye, but that is incredible!¡±

    ¡°Rolfe, hold him,¡± Mikal ordered as he picked up Dunar¡¯s severed arm. The Healer turned toward Helga, ¡°hold this steady,¡± he told her.

    The Warrior maiden nodded and held Dunar¡¯s armor in place by his elbow.

    ¡°This is going to be painful,¡± Mikal said.

    ¡°I can handle pain,¡± Dunar replied.

    ¡°You can reattach his arm?!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°In theory,¡± Mikal responded as he closed his eyes to focus.

    The Healer shaped glyphs and Summoned flesh to form around the wound. At first, Dunar gritted his teeth, but then he began to howl with pain. Rolfe¡¯s strong arms restrained him.

    ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± Helga observed.

    The Summoned flesh and bone held the limb in place. Mikal continued to Shape more glyphs as he Shaped and Controlled the Life aspect. The Healer¡¯s brows furrowed as he poured all of his Will into the spell. Mikal¡¯s eyes rolled up into the back of his head, and he fainted. Dunar had also passed out from the pain.

    Rolfe and Helga looked at each other and turned toward the Goblin. ¡°What do we do now?¡± they asked.

    ¡°How am I supposed to know!¡± Ziplocke cried.

 Chapter 95: The Sword of Kings

    ¡°Any luck finding a weapon to defeat Eclipse?¡± Jeze asked Lady Kalina and her team.

    The last time they met, which was probably less than a day ago but felt like a lifetime, the Ironfist team mentioned that they were in search of a weapon to defeat the dragon. Viel let out an exclamation. When all eyes turned to him, he started coughing.

    ¡°Excuse me. The blasted dust in here sometimes gets to me,¡± the tall man explained. Viel arched an eye at Jeze.

    The teenager inwardly chuckled. Maybe a little of Ziplocke¡¯s perchance for pranks had rubbed off on her.

    ¡°We had no luck,¡± Lady Kalina answered.

    ¡°But, it was not a total loss. We found plenty of gems,¡± Alcard added with his raspy voice.

    ¡°Gems will not stop Eclipse if he were to awaken again,¡± Mina, Lady Kalina¡¯s sister, growled.

    Viel scratched his dark curly hair and asked, ¡°Maybe Eclipse will be content to remain in his mountain home?¡±

    Lady Kalina narrowed her eyes at the tall man. ¡°We can not take that chance. The last time Eclipse woke, he nearly destroyed our Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°That was a long time ago, right? I¡¯m just saying, maybe the dragon got it out of his system and is no longer angry?¡± Viel replied.

    ¡°Who are you again? Why do you look familiar?¡± Lady Kalina asked.

    Viel coughed again. Jeze enjoyed watching him struggle. I get what Ziplocke sees now! She thought to herself. This is hilarious!

    ¡°I¡¯ve been around. I was at the Last Wandering Spire,¡± Viel answered.

    ¡°Viel is not your only name?¡± Lady Kalina asked. Interrogation came naturally to the Amber Guard.

    Viel¡¯s scratched his neck. ¡°No.¡±

    Alcard and the others began to scrutinize the tall man in the dark cloak some more. Viel fidgeted at the unwanted scrutiny that he had placed upon himself. Jeze was enjoying this and the dragon did try to kill her so she did not feel bad.

    ¡°You had other nicknames, right?¡± She asked.

    Viel¡¯s eyes went so wide that Jeze worried for a moment that they would have popped out of his head.

    ¡°The Silent Swordsman!¡± Alcard exclaimed in a loud, raspy voice.

    Cris and Joff, the other two armored teammates, nodded. Lady Kalina¡¯s stern face softened. ¡°You also went by the Dark Swordsman, correct?¡±

    ¡°Silent and Dark Swordsman? Really?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°They were phases,¡± Viel explained.

    ¡°More than that. Many aspire to your skill,¡± Lady Kalina said, her gaze intense.

    For a moment, Jeze worried that the Amber Guard would challenge Viel to a duel. Jeze cleared her throat.

    ¡°Did you have to fight an Ogre for the gems?¡± She asked.

    Alcard and the others shook their heads. Mina exclaimed, ¡°I wish!¡±

    ¡°Nae, we found a monster portal and fought a bunch of Thralls and Imps,¡± Cris replied.

    Jeze perked up, and she asked, ¡°Where? Were you able to repurpose it?¡±

    Lady Kalina nodded and answered, ¡°It is back aways from where we came. Guild members are securing the area as we speak. Do you know why the power went out?¡±

    Viel and Jeze glanced at each other. The teenager did not see a reason to keep things from Lady Kalina. She was an ally, and besides, the Amber Guard would see through Jeze¡¯s lies.

    ¡°We found the Hold Core,¡± Jeze answered.

    Viel nearly stumbled into a wall from the shock of her honesty.

    ¡°Oh, and what do you plan to do with it?¡± Lady Kalina wondered.

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    Jeze shrugged. ¡°I do not know yet.¡±

    ¡°I know little of them, but what I do know is that they are very powerful. You be careful, Jeze Zanchi,¡± Lady Kalina cautioned.

    ¡°Did you fight an Ogre?¡± Mina asked.

    Jeze grinned at her and nodded.

    ¡°You truly are Adventurer ranked,¡± Mina said with an approving nod.

    Lady Kalina arched an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Just the two of you?¡±

    Jeze nodded.

    ¡°Against an Ogre?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Jeze answered.

    Lady Kalina studied Viel some more. The tall man fidgeted under her gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Jeze is very capable, but two against an Ogre? You live up to your legend, Dark Swordsman.¡±

    ¡°Just call me Viel.¡±

    ¡°What treasure did you find? I imagine something spectacular if you had to face an Ogre,¡± Mina said.

    Cris and Joff nodded in agreement. At first, Jeze felt like she should not give too much information, but their friendly faces and her desire to show off changed her mind.

    ¡°A room full of books and gems. But I got this sword!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    Lady Kalina and the Ironfist Kingdom teammates stopped.

    ¡°May I see it?¡± the Amber Guard asked.

    Viel shook his head and his hand inched closer to his sword. Jeze thought to herself, she could trust them right? She wondered why things got quiet.

    ¡°Sure,¡± and the teenager handed the sword, pommel first, to Lady Kalina.

    ¡°This is what we sought,¡± Alcard said, his voice just above a whisper.

    ¡°Jeze, the history of this sword¡¯s making is unknown, but it was used by the early Ironfist Kings and Queens,¡± Lady Kalina explained.

    ¡°Until it was lost hundreds of years ago,¡± Mina added.

    ¡°The sword is really sharp,¡± was all Jeze could say.

    ¡°That it is. Look, do you see the Runes?¡± Lady Kalina said.

    Jeze shook her head. That was what was odd about the sword. There were no engraved Runes, but it was clearly enchanted.

    ¡°They are there. Watch,¡± Lady Kalina shaped Glyphs with her free hand and flicked the sword with her finger. It rang, and shimmering red Runes appeared along the blade.

    Just like when Ziplocke shaped spells! Jeze marveled. The magic was innate within the sword. The teenager narrowed her eyes.

    ¡°How?¡± Jeze asked as she stood closer to study the glowing Runes that began to fade away.

    ¡°That is the mystery. A skill that was lost,¡± the Amber Guard replied.

    ¡°Jeze, we need this sword,¡± Mina stated.

    ¡°It is hers by right,¡± Viel growled.

    Alcard held up his hands, ¡°Yes, we know that. All we wish is to barter for it.¡±

    Lady Kalina looked at Jeze and asked, ¡°We can give you riches.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need coin. I would use it to buy a sword like this,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°It belongs with the Ironfist Kingdom!¡± Mina snapped.

    Viel stepped forward and stated again, ¡°She earned it. Adventurer¡¯s code, it is hers.¡±

    Lady Kalina, calmer than her sister, explained, ¡°We know that. Jeze, please consider what we asked. Imagine, an entire Kingdom would be in your debt.¡± The Amber guard returned the sword back to the teenager.

    ¡°We need it! What if Eclipse awakens! We need it to slay him,¡± Mina cried.

    Viel laughed. The sound came from his chest as suddenly as a crack of thunder.

    ¡°A bloody sword? Against a dragon? Are you mad?¡± The tall swordsman asked.

    ¡°To be honest, when you said you were searching for a weapon for Eclipse. I pictured a spear at the very least,¡± Jeze added.

    ¡°Or a ballista!¡± Viel cried.

    ¡°This sword is very sharp and can slice through stone,¡± Lady Kalina said.

    ¡°Barely,¡± Jeze muttered. She tried the sword against the stone wall, and it left a gash. That was impressive, but hardly ¡°slicing through stone.¡±

    ¡°That would be no threat against me,¡± Viel stated.

    When all the eyes of the Ironfist team turned on him, the tall swordsman cleared his throat. ¡°Imagine if it were used against a dragon. I¡¯m not a dragon. I was trying to make the point that it would not be dangerous to me.¡±

    Jeze rolled her eyes.

    ¡°It could be dangerous if in the hands of a proper swordswoman,¡± Mina said. The unspoken challenge dripped from her words like venom from a snake¡¯s fang.

    Viel smirked and asked, ¡°Oh really? Like whom?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Lady Kalina said. Her gaze was on her sister.

    ¡°The sword is an important part of our history,¡± Alcard rasped.

    Jeze nodded and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not against bartering. I do not need coin.¡±

    She tapped her chin to think. Using a sword did make up a part of her fighting style, but it was not an integral part. Neither was it for her teammates. Dunar, maybe, but the Frostsworn was proud of having weapons forged by his people. Besides, the Leader was versatile and would switch between  axe and shield as well as an axe and sword. Rolfe relied more on his shield and his spear, and Mikal relied on Rune casting. Helga, Jeze chuckled. The sword would be too small for the giant warrior maiden. In all honesty, the sword could be bartered. However, it was neat to have a magically sharp blade if only to study how the Runes were forged into the steel.

    ¡°I need to think on this,¡± Jeze replied.

    Mina glowered at her. Alacard and the others looked upset, but Lady Kalina simply nodded. ¡°We can revisit this at a later time,¡± the Amber Guard stated.

    Screams and sounds of fighting could be heard further down the corridor they were traveling. Viel¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his hand went to his sword. Among the screams was a familiar roar.

    ¡°Goreratpors,¡± Jeze said.

    Mina¡¯s eyes went wide, and the Ironfist warrior drew her buckler and curved sword. The others on her team looked eager. They traveled together toward the sounds of danger.

 Chapter 96: Unusual Allies

    The sounds of battle came from a squad of Legionnaires battling the two Goreraptors. Jeze hoped that she would see the Proven when she and the Ironfist Kingdom team turned the corner and encountered the enormous beasts. The Legionnaires were desperately trying to keep the Goreraptors at bay with spears and shields, but the giant monsters rampaged through them like children through a pile of leaves.

    "Mina with me, Cris and Joff up front. Alcard, take the middle. You all know what to do!" Lady Kalina barked.

    The Ironfist team sprang into action. Viel sighed and leaned against the wall, and Jeze blinked at him.

    "What are you doing?" She asked.

    "Resting. What does it look like I am doing?" The tall man answered.

    Jeze motioned to the chaos in the hallway just a few meters from them. "There are Goreraptors!"

    Viel casually glanced and shrugged. "You heard that Kalina lady. She gave the orders and it looks like they can manage it. Besides, I have to conserve my energy. My promise is to aid you, not them."

    Jeze realized how tired she was and that she had not recovered from their ordeals. Lady Kalina and Mina were a sight to behold! They gracefully weaved in and around the giant beasts like hunting cats. For Jeze, it was fascinating to watch the two as they danced along the thin line between life and death. The two sisters looked small and delicate next to the enormous monsters. The Goreraptors charged with their horns, snapped with their jaws, and swung their thick tails at the two sisters and barely missed each time. In return, Mina and Kalina sliced and slashed with their swords and left tiny gashes.

    "They are such a contrast to each other. Hey, do you have any more of those potions?" Viel asked.

    "How do you mean?" Jeze responded and handed Viel a recovery broth without taking her eyes off the battle in front of them.

    "Lady Kalina weaves Rune magic into her swordplay. Mina relies on her armor, buckler, and raw skill," Viel observed.

    Jeze arched an eyebrow. "Lady Kalina has tremendous skill."

    "Of course, you would say that. Her fighting style is similar to yours," Viel retorted.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes at the man and returned to watch the fight. A part of her felt bad that they were not helping. Another part acknowledged that they might not be needed. Between the five Adventurer-ranked Ironfist team members and the remaining dozen or so Legionnaires, the two Goreraptors should be handled in time.

    Was Lady Kalina an Adept rank? Jeze wondered and watched the Amber Guard tap into her Channeling Tools and Summoned piles of dirt. Lady Kalina gracefully weaved the Runes into the air as she Shaped the Dirt into stone walls that forced the Goreraptors to move or retreat. Kalina Shaped and Controlled giant stone hands that formed out of the dirt and grabbed the Goreraptors. The giant beasts were able to break free but were held long enough for Lady Kalina to evade or slash them with her sword. Jeze was in awe as she watched the Amber Guard seamlessly weave swordplay and Rune magic as if they were one and the same.

    Mina, on the other hand, hacked and slashed with her sword and remained dangerously close to the Demons. Jeze understood what Viel meant by raw skill. Mina did not Summon, Shape, or Control any Runes. Instead, the Ironfist warrior dodged, deflected with sword and buckler, and countered with sharp slices of her curved blade. Jeze observed as Mina relied on her armor. One Goreraptor charged with its horn, and the Ironfist fighter deflected with her buckler and evaded at the same time. The beast landed a glancing blow to Mina''s steel shoulder pauldron, but instead of being thrown off balance, she rolled with the attack and countered with an overhand chop of her blade that slashed the Demon in its eye.

    "That''s a good hit. A game changer," Viel observed.

    Whenever Mina was in trouble, Alcard, Joff, and Cris were there to aid her. The three thickly armored Ironfist Templars engaged the Goreraptors head-on. They blocked snapping jaws with their heavy shields and smashed with their axes and hammers. They rolled out of the way whenever the giant beats tried to stomp them or impale them with their horns. They had a grace that belied their bulky bodies. But, the fight was not without incident. One Goreraptor caught Jof in its jaws and slammed the Ironfist fighter to the ground. Alcard healed him as Cris and Mina furiously attacked the Demon to draw it away. The Legionnaires provided assistance with their spears and, with an occasional crossbow, fired at the Demons. Jeze felt it was feeble at best and figured the Legionnaries to be Prospect ranked, maybe with one or two Initiates. Viel snored gently to her side.

    "Are you sleeping?" Jeze asked.

    Viel sputtered awake and blinked his eyes. "I was. Not anymore, thanks to you."

    "How could you sleep in a time like this?" Jeze demanded.

    Viel scowled at her and snapped, "Don''t judge me. Us Dragons have tremendous power, but we need to sleep and eat a lot. Can I have another recovery broth?"

    Jeze''s eyes went wide. Did she have enough? With a shrug, she gave him her last jar.

    "You have my thanks," Viel muttered.

    "Even in your human form you need to sleep?" Jeze asked.

    Viel nodded. "Not as much. Bloody ironic, huh? This blasted curse the Ones from Before put on me allows me to be awake for much longer. I suppose this small body uses less energy. But all that healing you saw me do comes with a price."

    "How long do you need to sleep?" Jeze wondered.

    Viel slurped up the potion and glanced back at her. "A few months."

    "What?!?!" Jeze exclaimed. "You will miss the Spire!" She observed.

    "It may still be around. The last one lasted over a year," Viel replied.

    Jeze blinked and asked, "How did you travel with my brother?"

    "With Daverious, I was with a team. I didn''t run into a blasted curse and fire Rune trap by myself. I didn''t take crossbolts to my chest, fight Swamp Demons, or have a scrap with an annoying girl!" Viel growled.

    Jeze nodded. Viel had been through a lot even before they met. "After we find my team, will I see you again?"

    The man with the red eyes shrugged. "Perhaps two incredible people like ourselves will surely run into each other again."

    Lady Kalina gracefully weaved her Rune magic into her swordplay. The Amber Guard stood in front of the massive Goreraptor and weaved a Boulder to strike it in its horned head. The beast roared as it stumbled to one side. Lady Kalina slid underneath it and sliced the back of its legs with two sharp strokes of her sword. She flipped out of the way as the creature attempted to slam its tail on her. As Lady Kalina spun back to face the beast she had weaved Glyphs to Control another Boulder to smash into the Goreraptor. With its wounded legs, the blow knocked the beast down onto its side, where Alcard crushed its head with a powerful chop of his two-handed hammer.

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    "One down," Viel observed.

    Jeze turned her attention to Mina, Joff, and Cris as the trio fought the second Goreraptor. Mina faced the monster head-on as it tried to impale her with its deadly horn. The Ironfist warrior deflected with her buckler and dodged while countering with her sword. The creature was blind in its wounded eye and was unable to notice Joff and Cris flanking it. The two templars slammed their heavy hammers into the beast''s knees and crippled it. It howled as it stumbled, but not before it struck Joff hard with its tail. The Templar was sent crashing against the wall, and he landed in a heap that sounded like folding metal. Alcard was there in an instant to heal his colleague. It was just a few short, bloody moments before the second Goreraptor was put down.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Jeze roared.

    The others looked at her. Viel snickered.

    "They are not your team," he observed.

    Jeze sighed and imagined Ziplocke would have enjoyed this moment.

    "You have our thanks," a senior Legionnaire stated in a deep voice that reminded Jeze of rolling rocks.

    The man saluted with a fist to his golden armored chest. Lady Kalina nodded and surveyed the troops.

    "What is the situation?" the ranking Guild member barked.

    The Legionnaires looked amongst each other, confused. On one hand, they served the Immortal Emperor and were soldiers of the Empire. On the other hand, they were also Guild members. The confusion was clear on their battered faces.

    Finally, the senior looking soldier with the deep voice answered, "We encountered Demon worshipers up ahead, and were forced to flee as the two Goreraptors gave chase. We lost a lot of men."

    The Ironfist team struggled between empathy and scorn. Their kingdom had long standing disputes with the Empire. But, these Legionnaires were also fellow adventurers. The Guild cared not for empires, kingdoms, and disputes.

    Lady Kalina nodded, "Your losses will not go without purpose. Show us to the chamber, and let us defeat these Demon worshipers."

    The Legionnaires saluted her with their fists to their chests. The officer commanded them into formation, and they marched alongside Jeze and the Ironfist team. They were led into a massive circular chamber with a monstrous statue in its center.

    "Is that a Fiend?" Jeze wondered.

    Viel cocked his head and replied, "Yup. That''s what they look like, but a real one is a little bigger."

    ¡°Bigger?¡± Jeze gawked.

    Viel gripped her shoulder and replied, "Get stronger, kid. The higher you go up, the harder it gets. Remember, this is only floor three."

    Jeze nodded but immediately forgot about the Fiend when her eyes fell upon a group on the other side of the chamber. Dozens of emotions and feelings bubbled up from within her chest. Excitement, worry, concern, and joy. They churned and rolled within her like a hurricane. Jeze found her team! But they were in the middle of a pitched battle against dark-robed cultists!

    "Legionnaires attack!" The commanding officer barked.

    The chamber thundered as the two sides clashed. The cultists were lightly armored and fought with sword, bow, and Rune magic. Skill-wise, they were evenly matched against the Legionnaires. But, with the Proven and the Ironfist Kingdom team, it was only a matter of moments before the cultists were routed and defeated.

    "Jezie!" Helga cried.

    The teenager was lifted in a powerful embrace by the warrior maiden. As Jeze got closer more details began to emerge. They looked battered, especially Dunar. The Leader was pale and had his left arm in a sling.

    "Are you alright?" Jeze asked.

    Dunar smiled weakly. "I''ll be fine."

    "He lost his arm! You should have seen it! It was spectacular!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    The Goblin ran up to Jeze''s shoulder where she patted him on his small green head. She turned toward Dunar with worried eyes.

    "Do not worry about me. Mikal healed me," Dunar said.

    "Only temporarily. My Summoned Life aspect will only last an hour at most before it wears off. Dunar requires more treatment if he wants to keep his arm," Mikal stated. The dark-haired Healer gave Jeze a gentle hug.

    "Move aside Mikal. My turn," Rolfe said. The giant Protector lifted Jeze and twirled her around. "You had us worried! We are now all together!"

    Jeze laughed and cried, "For Glory!"

    "Hurrah!" The team cheered back.

    "Easy, Dunar, you don''t want your arm to fall off again," Mikal admonished.

    Jeze remembered something the Healer said and asked, "You didn''t Shape his flesh together?"

    Mikal scowled at her. The sweet reunion was already over, and the Healer reverted back to being cynical. "His arm was severed. We are talking about Flesh and bone, to Shape that would be impossible."

    "Then how?" Jeze asked and looked again with worry. If Dunar lost his arm, would he still be able to be their Leader? An injury like that could retire any adventurer.

    Mikal rubbed his face and shook his head. "I Summoned Flesh and Bone with the Life aspect," he snapped.

    "Aww," Jeze nodded in understanding.

    She knew that the body wanted to remain together, so Shaping Flesh native to this realm to mend wounds was possible, though difficult. Using the life aspect to rip Flesh can not be done as the body does not want to be apart. Just like it would be extremely difficult to Shape a shadow into the light. Shadows wanted to remain in darkness. One of the reasons why Jeze and her brother preferred the Earth aspect was because a rock did not care where it was. It was still difficult to Shape native rocks, but easier than other elements because the Earth did not have a preference. It was stubborn, but it also did not care. Fire was hard to Control due to its erratic nature, but it was always hungry. It was much easier to Shape fire when it was moved toward a fuel source, and impossible to Shape fire away from something it was consuming. It was best for Rune casters to Summon the Aspects from other realms. Their time was limited in the material plane, but much easier to Shape and Control. That was what Mikal did, but if the spell wore off, would Dunar''s arm fall off?

    "Do you need to keep Summoning the Life aspect? Can''t you stitch his arm together?" Jeze asked.

    Mikal gave Jeze a look that could curdle milk. "I don''t have time to give you a lesson. I need you to find us a portal out of here so we can save Dunar''s arm," he hissed.

    Dunar cleared his throat and said, "Stop the fighting. I will be fine." The Frostsworn Leader nodded in greeting to Lady Kalina and her team.

    The Amber Guard skipped the formalities and simply said, "Let me see your arm."

    Dunar obliged her despite Mikal''s grumbling objections. Lady Kalina motioned for Alcard to look at the arm. The Templar studied the wound.

    "This is good work," he intoned.

    "Anything we can do?" Lady Kalina asked.

    Alcard tapped his chin and said, "I hear the Empire stocks its troops with special bandages."

    Lady Kalina nodded and barked orders to the Legion. After seeing her prowess against the Goreraptors, the Empire soldiers gave no resistance. In moments, a young soldier, just a few years older than Jeze came by.

    "Here," the young man fumbled with bandages that were lined with Runes.

    "This is ingenious. Gotta hand it to Empire," Alcard muttered.

    Mina snorted in disgust while Mikal''s face softened as he studied the bandages.

    "These should extend my spell long enough for Dunar''s body to mend itself," the Frostsworn Healer observed.

    "That''s bloody genius, right?" Viel said.

    The tall swordsman appeared behind Jeze, and she had forgotten about him in all the commotion. The Proven looked at the newcomer with stoic faces. Jeze had traveled so long with the Frostsworn that she had forgotten how intimidating they could appear. Viel grinned and waved. Jeze quickly introduced him, and the tension melted away like ice over a flame. Mikal and Dunar watched as the Legionnaire applied the bandages to Dunar''s arm and completed the Glyphs that snapped the Life magic into place.

    "Keep these on for a few weeks. Be sure to clean and rebandage at least once a day," the soldier said before quickly departing.

    "A few weeks? Maybe for an Empire Soldier, but I give it a few days for a Frostsworn," Rolfe boasted.

    "Oh ya!" Helga exclaimed.

    Viel pulled Jeze to the side and said, "I have completed my promise. You have returned with your team. I still owe you Jeze Zanchi. Trust that I will repay my debt in full to you."

    Jeze smiled and hugged the tall sword fighter. "You don''t owe me anything, but I would like for us to stay in touch."

    Viel wiped his eyes and departed without further words.

    "Where is he going?" Dunar asked.

    Jeze thought for a moment and replied, "He found his answers and is done with the Spire."

    "Ya? We are only on Floor Three!" Helga said.

    "He has no team," Rolfe observed.

    "Why do we care?" Mikal snapped.

    Ziplocke snickered. "You are all fools!"

    Jeze grinned. She was back with her team.

 Chapter 97: Epilogue

    The Proven made camp inside the Safe Zone within the Core Tunnels on the Third Floor. Since Jeze had removed the Hold Core, the area was illuminated by magical torches that the Guild had to bring in. The chamber they were in bustled with activity as the Amber Guard, the Legion, and the Templars from the Ironfist Kingdom organized efforts to learn more about the new threat they all faced. The Demon worshiping Cultists.

    ¡°Dunar, you need to keep your arm still so that your bones and flesh can mend!¡± Mikal cried.

    ¡°I will grow weak if I do not move,¡± the Leader replied.

    ¡°You will grow into a one-armed old fool if you keep this up!¡± Mikal snapped.

    Ziplocke laughed. ¡°That was a good one!¡±

    Jeze shook her head and returned to studying the tomes she and Viel had found. She already missed the Dark Swordsman. Jeze chuckled inwardly at his silly name. She and Lady Kalina were seated at a wooden table laid out with books and candles.

    ¡°I don¡¯t trust the Legion being here,¡± Mina growled.

    Jeze nodded in agreement. It made her uneasy to sit amongst the soldiers that her and her team had beaten up a few days earlier. However, so far the Legion has been nothing but respectful to them.

    ¡°They are up to something,¡± Mina added.

    The Ironfist Kingdom team had made camp beside the Proven. Alcard, Cris, and Joff were resting around a heating pot as they prepared a meal. To Jeze, it smelled delicious, and she learned that the Ironfist Kingdom¡¯s diet consisted mostly of herbs, root vegetables, and mushrooms. They made a lot of stews and would add any meat source they came across. Alcard threw in some smoked Bloodling, and the fats melted into the broth.

    ¡°Hey Jezie, will your new friends share with us?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°Aye, help yourself,¡± Alcard replied.

    Jeze shook her head and said, ¡°You will need to make five more pots.¡±

    Rolfe and Helga eagerly approached with bowls in their hands.

    ¡°Knuckleheads!¡± Ziplocke said in a shrill voice.

    The Goblin rested on Jeze¡¯s shoulder as she and Lady Kalina poured through the tomes for more clues about the locations of the Core Tunnels. One of the tomes confirmed what Jeze had discovered in the Deep Wood.

    ¡°There are more Pyramids and Thresholds in the world. Many of them are still active,¡± the teenager said.

    ¡°And the Cultists know about them. They know more than us at the moment,¡± Lady Kalina observed.

    Jeze glanced around and asked, ¡°What does the Empire know?¡± The Legion tried to claim the tunnels.

    Lady Kalina replied, ¡°Our reports indicate that the Legion knows very little. It was Drake who organized the raid on the Core Tunnels using Legion resources, and he operated under the knowledge he obtained from your brother.¡±

    Jeze and Viel had reported to the Amber Guard what Drake had done. His actions against fellow Guild Members were in violation of the Guild bylaws. In addition, Drake¡¯s own Legionnaires turned him in for abusing his authority and using military resources for his own gains. The Legion Captain was currently being court-martialed. Jeze sighed. She had hoped to have another chance to face him. So far, he proved to be better in the two times they fought.

    ¡°What will happen if it becomes common knowledge about the Demon Cults?¡± Jeze asked.

    Lady Kalina shrugged. ¡°I care not for the politics of the Golden Empire.¡±

    Mina grinned evilly and said, ¡°I imagine the Imperial Family will have some trouble holding on to their lies. Maybe they will leave the Ironfist Kingdom alone.¡±

    Alcard handed Lady Kalina and Jeze a bowl of thick soup. ¡°The more concerning issue is this secret organization that is working with the Demons. This places the realm in great danger,¡± the Templar said in his raspy voice.

    Mina tapped her chin and said, ¡°They are the Anti-Guild?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Kalina asked with a scowl.

    Jeze ate the soup. It was, as she expected, delicious! ¡°The Guild is sworn to protect the world from Monsters. The Cultists wish to free the monsters. The name fits,¡± she observed.

    Mina nodded, and Lady Kalina returned to reading the tomes.

    ¡°That is a disgrace,¡± Dunar observed. The Proven Leader had joined Rolfe and Helga to get some food.

    ¡°Is it common for the Frostsworn to eat the food of others?¡± Mina snapped.

    Rolfe grinned widely. ¡°We eat when we can,¡± the large Protector said.

    ¡°Ya! Especially if the food is good,¡± Helga added.

    ¡°Besides, our efforts have earned us a meal at the very least,¡± Mikal said with a scowl.

    The Healer was on his second bowl, and the Ironfist Kingdom team needed to prepare another pot.

    ¡°It is true, the Frostsworn fought bravely and held against our mutual enemy, the Cultists. Who knows what vile things they would have done if not for their brave actions,¡± Joff cheered.

    ¡°Aye! Well spoken, my friend,¡± Dunar said and raised his bowl.

    ¡°We should get Ale,¡± Rolfe suggested.

    Helga beamed, and the warrior maiden rose to her feet. ¡°I will be right back.¡±

    Dunar slapped Mina on her armored shoulder with his good arm. ¡°There you have it. We will provide drink.¡± The large man nearly knocked over the Ironfist fighter.

    Joff and Cris rose to their feet. ¡°Does she need help?¡± They asked.

    ¡°Nae, I can carry a few kegs of ale. Stay put and keep cooking!¡± Helga replied, and she departed through the Exit Portal.

    ¡°She can?¡± Cris asked.

    Rolfe nodded and thumped his chest. ¡°Us Frostsworn are strong!¡±

    *****

    A dozen Imperial soldiers escorted Drake. The Legion did not want to take any risks with the dangerous captain and had five Initiate-ranked Legionnaires among his escort. The dark-skinned man was stripped of his weapons and armor and wore a simple blue tunic and pants with dark leather boots. In addition to the burns on his face, the captain had bruises on his cheeks and a split lip as proof that his recent apprehension did not go without incident. Drake shrugged his broad shoulders. This was not ideal, but he was still alive.

    ¡°You are a disgrace to the uniform,¡± the old Rune caster in a heavy blue jacket with golden buttons hissed.

    Drake smirked. That was like the dozenth time the old man made that comment. Among his escorts were his former team and an officer. Drake glanced around at his captives. Despite being captured he took pride in the fact that the Legion needed to send their best in order to arrest him. It was dark outside under the red sky and the ominous looming presence of the Spire. He was escorted toward the Legion headquarters, which was stationed just outside and away from the bustling tent city. Drake could make out the huge block-shaped tents in the distance with the Rising Sun insignia emblazoned on the flags. The jingling of heavy armor marked the arrival of a contingent of Ironfist soldiers in dark green tabards that formed a semi-circle and blocked Drake¡¯s escort.

    ¡°The criminal comes with us,¡± a Templar stated. She had a square jaw and a deep voice.

    ¡°It feels good to be wanted,¡± Drake joked.

    The old caster whacked him on the back of his head with a Rune-covered rod. Drake winced in pain and then glared at his former subordinate.

    ¡°He is an Imperial soldier and will be handled as such,¡± the Legion officer in the crisp blue uniform replied.

    ¡°You forget that you are in the Ironfist Kingdom. You have no authority here!¡± The Templar snapped back.

    The soldiers on both sides gripped their weapons. Drake chuckled softly to himself. This was rich, he thought. The mirth faded from his face as he searched for an opportunity. Drake grew up in the slums of Capitol City with nothing. It was his knack to spot opportunities that led to his success as an Adventurer and eventually to the rank of captain. He worked too hard to get to where he was, and his ambitions soared even higher. Being arrested was a minor setback. Nothing he could not overcome.

    ¡°You both are wrong. By the Accords, this is neutral ground where the Guild enforces the laws. Adventurer Drake comes with us,¡± another voice chimed in.

    Legionnaires and Ironfist soldiers turned their heads toward the newcomers. A team of five Amber Guard appeared from out of the shadows. Both Ironfist and Empire soldiers took a step back.

    The Empire officer scowled. ¡°Drake was a Legion soldier and will be dealt with by our Imperial courts.¡±

    ¡°He committed crimes in the Ironfist Kingdom and within our jurisdiction,¡± the Templar retorted.

    The Amber Guard spokesman stepped forth. He was a light skinned man with dark hair and a scarred face. A man who has seen many battles.

    ¡°He is a Guild member who committed crimes against Guild members on Guild territory. I will not repeat myself. He comes with us,¡± the scarred man stated.

    The four other Amber Guard readied their weapons. Drake shook his head and chuckled. It would be very fortuitous for him if they fought. He could escape in the confusion. However, the reputations of the Amber Guard preceded them well, and the soldiers from both nations took a step back. Even the officers appeared hesitant. Drake remained silent. He believed he was lucky to be alive and did not want to risk testing the scarred Amber Guard. That man clearly has killed before and looked willing to do so again.

    ¡°Adventurer Drake, come with me,¡± the Amber Guard ordered.

    Drake glanced around at his captives with a smirk and walked forward. The Legion officer looked like he was about to intervene but stopped himself. That was wise, Drake reflected. When the Amber Guard said they would not repeat themselves, they meant it.

    *****

    Helga had returned with kegs of ale. The Proven and the Ironfist team cheered and in moments they were deep into their cups. The two teams shared tales and songs around their magical campfires. Other teams joined them and the noise grew louder. Jeze, Ziplocke, and Lady Kalina sat at the table off the side. The boastful singing and laughter resonated throughout the chamber.

    ¡°I worry that we can be attacked again,¡± Lady Kalina observed.

    Jeze placed a hand on the Amber Guard¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We are fine,¡± she said.

    They were surrounded by Legionnaires, Ironfist soldiers, and teams of adventurers. There was still plenty of treasure to be found in the Core Tunnels, but many of the teams came here because it was a way to get away from the bustling noise of the tent city outside.

    ¡°As far as Safe Rooms go. This is probably the safest! Since the Hold Core was removed, all the Monster Portals are disabled!¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    Lady Kalina glanced at Jeze.

    ¡°Did you find it?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Jeze exclaimed. Things were so busy that she had forgotten that she had the Core in her pack. She retrieved it.

    ¡°The Guild knows little about them. Was this what the Cultist and Drake were after?¡± Kalina asked.

    Jeze shrugged. ¡°The Cultists, perhaps. Drake only knew that there was an important treasure here.¡± The Legion Captain only knew what Daverius told him, Jeze thought to herself.

    ¡°It is small, but I can feel its power from here,¡± Lady Kalina observed.

    Ziplocke¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his ears curled back. Jeze did not like the look on the Goblin¡¯s face, and she instinctively held the Core closer to herself.

    *****

    The Amber Guard led Drake to a Safe Room within the Spire that was converted into a prison. Rune covered steel doors were installed at the entrances. Escape seemed futile. Drake¡¯s heart raced as they marched him closer and he turned toward his captives.

    ¡°The Bylaws state that I get a fair trial,¡± He said.

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± The scarred Amber Guard snapped and struck Drake as fast as a flash of lightning.

    Drake fell to his knees and grinned as blood dripped from his mouth. Rough hands hoisted him up as the enforced steel door was opened. He was shoved in.

    ¡°A fair trial? You will have one after the Wandering Spire event. Until then, I hope you rot in here,¡± the Amber Guard hissed. The Steel door slammed shut.

    Drake rose to his feet. The chamber was dimly lit with many ominous shadows. Footsteps could be heard around him.

    ¡°Legionnaire scum,¡± a deep voice hissed.

    Drake chuckled. They placed him in a cell with cutthroats, thieves, and murderers. But worst of all, they were all from the Ironfist Kingdom. Six thugs surrounded the former Legion Captain and cracked their knuckles. At least I¡¯m still alive, Drake thought to himself. As long as he was alive, he always had a fighting chance.

    *****

    ¡°How was it made?¡± Lady Kalina wondered about the Hold Core.

    ¡°From a Dragon¡¯s heart,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°How do you know that?¡± Kalina asked.

    This made Jeze nervous even though the Amber Guard was only asking out of curiosity. Jeze did not want to place any more attention on Viel and the teenager was grateful when Ziplocke interjected.

    ¡°That is correct! Oh, the story of how the Hold Cores were discovered is interesting. You see, Dragons are terrifying creatures of immense power. But, like all things, they can die. Their deaths showed us that Gods, and even Fiends, are not invulnerable. None of us are!¡± The Goblin said in his high-pitched voice.

    Kalina¡¯s attention was diverted toward the Goblin, and she narrowed her eyes. ¡°How do you mean?¡±

    ¡°There was once a powerful Dragon who was called Oblivion because death and destruction followed him wherever he went. Like his name, he was believed to be an indestructible force of nature. Something that can not be changed. But, it was discovered that he could bleed. With that question and thought of his death came next. You see, thoughts are the truly most powerful thing in the universe. Once they are planted, they will grow, and grow!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°What happened next?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Oblivion was slain and the fear of Dragons with him. Everyone has secrets and weaknesses. Even Dragons! Even Gods!¡± Ziplocke replied.

    ¡°Watch yourself,¡± Lady Kalina cautioned. Her hand went to the holy symbol of the One Goddess.

    Ziplocke snickered, and he continued, ¡°Dragons are very powerful. They can travel in between realms. They have much magic! But, you see, they also have weaknesses. They need to sleep for decades in order to build their power. They are naturally greedy! Power hungry! Selfish! As a result, they are distrustful and are often alone. Those weaknesses were exploited, and once it was discovered that their hearts could be turned into a valuable power source, they turned into prey and were relentlessly hunted!¡±

    Jeze felt a little bad for Viel. Him being in human form had forced him to be modest. He was a good person. But, Ziplocke¡¯s story still resonated with her. It reminded her that even the impossible can become possible once conquered. It was not easy, but with determination, perseverance, and hard work, all things could be possible.

    *****

    The six thugs lay on the ground before Drake. Two were moaning in pain, and three lay silent. Drake snorted to himself. That was easy. The fight took a few moments. The thugs were strong but lacked skill. Even without his weapons, Drake¡¯s experience in combat was enough to incapacitate his attackers with relative ease.

    ¡°Finally, a real challenge,¡± a voice spoke from within the darkness.

    A man emerged into view with dark skin and braided hair. Drake narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°I know you,¡± the former Legion Captain said.

    The newcomer paused and smiled. ¡°Do you now? How?¡± He asked.

    ¡°You are Ozun, a wanted fugitive known for robbing adventurers in the spire,¡± Drake recalled.

    Ozun smiled, he was pleased to be recognized. ¡°I have killed too. How high was my bounty? Twenty thousand ducats?¡±

    Drake snorted and said, ¡°It was barely ten thousand. You think too highly of yourself.¡±

    Ozun¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he growled, ¡°Watch yourself. I only wanted to play with you. But if you keep that rudeness up, I might want to hurt you instead.¡±

    Drake looked the other man over. Ozun was well built, like the thugs, but he had a sense of danger about him. Ozun¡¯s muscular arms bore faint scars. Drake knew from the reports that this was a man who was trained. Ozun was dangerous, and honestly, Drake was surprised that the Amber guard had captured him alive. This could be an opportunity, he thought to himself. Under different circumstances, Drake might have been interested in a duel to test his skills. But the former captain didn¡¯t have that luxury at the moment. Drake held up his hands in a peace offering.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need to fight. We could work together,¡± he said.

    Ozun scoffed and nodded toward the heavy iron doors. ¡°Sorry, friend. There is no escape from here. Those doors are reinforced with Runic magic. We are at the mercy of the Guild.¡±

    Drake grinned. He was a man who came from nothing. Growing up on the streets of Capitol City, he needed to steal to survive. Skills that are developed for survival never go away. Once a thief, always a thief. Drake held up a small Rune-covered stone, the one he had pickpocketed from the Amber Guard before they struck him.

    Ozun narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°What do you propose?¡±

    ¡°We defeat the Spire.¡±

    ¡°We will need a real team,¡± Ozun observed.

    Drake nodded. ¡°We will.¡±

    ¡°I know some people,¡± the braided-haired man stated.

    ¡°Good, so are you with me?¡± Drake asked.

    Ozun grinned. It reminded Drake of a snake before it struck. ¡°This should be interesting.¡±

    The two fugitives shook hands.

    *****

    ¡°You said this powers the portals?¡± Kalina asked.

    ¡°There are four in total, and according to these tomes, they power the entire Spire,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°What happens if you remove all four?¡± Kalina asked.

    Ziplocke snickered. ¡°The Stronghold turns off!¡± He shrieked.

    ¡°Will people be trapped inside?¡± Lady Kalina asked, worry on her face.

    Ziplocke shook his head. ¡°The Wandering Spire will turn into a giant tower. The floors will become floors and not pocket dimensions.¡±

    ¡°Pocket dimensions?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Each floor is connected to another realm. You knew that!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°All of that is powered by just four of these little Hold Cores?¡± Lady Kalina wondered.

    ¡°Yes! Want me to show you?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°I am curious,¡± Lady Kalina replied.

    ¡°May I have the Core?¡± Ziplocke asked Jeze.

    The Goblin snickered. He always snickered and was mischievous, but for some reason, this concerned Jeze more than normal. She could trust him, right? Ziplocke¡¯s tiny hands were waiting for the orb. Jeze hesitated a moment but decided she could trust him. He had saved her life multiple times.

    Ziplocke grinned, showing sharp teeth, and he hopped off the table with Hold Core in his hands.

    ¡°What is he doing?¡± Lady Kalina asked. Her voice rose in shock.

    ¡°Ziplocke, no!¡± Jeze cried.

    It was too late. The Goblin placed the Hold Core into his mouth.

    *****

    Drake followed Ozun through the makeshift tent city. He scratched under his stolen armor and leather helm, and his eyes searched cautiously for any signs of the Amber Guard. They walked through rows of laughing people, market stalls, and food pavilions. Nobody paid them any attention. They were just another two adventurers passing through.

    ¡°Not much further,¡± Ozun said.

    The dark-skinned, braided-haired man wore a steel helmet with a crooked nose guard. After their escape the two fought several guards before fleeing into the first floor of the Wandering Spire. It was there where they attacked an initiate-ranked team and stole their equipment and supplies. Drake shuddered at the memory as Ozun mercilessly killed them. What have I gotten myself into? Drake thought to himself with worry. He quickly shook the concerns away. He will defeat the Spire, gain immortality, and ask Princess Yasmine¡¯s hand in marriage. Once he is a part of the Imperial Family, his potential can no longer be denied. With immortality, all he needed to do was wait, and maybe one day he will be the next Immortal Emperor. Drake grinned at that. A thought occurred to him.

    ¡°We should buy better equipment,¡± Drake suggested.

    Ozun shook his head and replied, ¡°Too risky.¡±

    Drake scowled and grabbed his colleague¡¯s shoulder to stop him. Ozun turned with a dangerous glint in his dark eyes.

    ¡°If we are serious about defeating the Spire. I need more than this junk,¡± Drake said as he motioned to his cheap shield and sword.

    Ozun scoffed, ¡°The warrior makes the blade, not the other way around. Come, we are close.¡±

    Drake growled, but he agreed. A true fighter did not need fancy gear. His sword and shield were extensions of himself. They will serve, and Drake hurried after Ozun. The two waited in line at a portal before entering. Drake worried that the Amber Guard would be looking for them, but the news had not spread, so they had not yet guarded the portals. Or they are short-handed and can¡¯t. Drake grinned. Once they reenter the Spire and find a team, they would be home free. A concern grew in his chest. What type of people will Ozun introduce him to? Drake shuddered at the thought, but beggars can¡¯t be choosers. Just like his equipment, his potential teammates will have to make do. Nothing will stop him from his destiny!

    *****

    ¡°Ziplocke! What have you done?¡± Jeze screamed.

    The commotion drew the attention of the Proven and the Ironfist Kingdom team. They arrived to see what was happening. Ziplocke shook as red Curse energy exited his body. Was he cursed like Viel? Jeze wondered. Ziplocke Shaped the aspect into a swirling ball of greasy energy.

    ¡°Finally, I am free!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    The Goblin grew larger, and a pair of curved black horns appeared on his forehead.

    ¡°You are still tiny, ya?¡± Helga observed.

    It was true. Ziplocke went from the size of a kitten to maybe the size of a medium-sized dog. The tips of his horns came to Jeze¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Fools! You do not understand! I am the Prince of Darkness!¡± Ziplocke shrieked. His voice was just a tad bit deeper but still very shrill.

    ¡°Jeze, what is going on?¡± Dunar asked, concern on his face.

    ¡°He ate the Hold Core,¡± Jeze said softly. She felt betrayed. She felt hurt and could not form the words to express herself.

    ¡°So? He is still small. Ziplocke, why did you do that?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°To reclaim the Power that was taken from me!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°I knew it. I warned you all,¡± Mikal muttered.

    Helga scoffed. ¡°But he is still the same Zippy, right? Just a little taller and with horns.¡±

    But Jeze and Mikal knew otherwise. They saw the faint glowing Runes that formed along his body. More intricate runes, which meant that Ziplocke had access to more spells. More abilities. He was much more dangerous.

    Jeze finally found her voice and asked, ¡°Why?¡±

    Ziplocke¡¯s red eyes glared with fury. ¡°My kind created the Spire. Controlled the Spire! We were betrayed by the Fiends! Our power is taken away. For centuries, I schemed for revenge. The Ones from Before could not complete what was needed! I have waited too long! Finally, I have found a Hold Core! You fools gave it up so easily!¡±

    The Goblin cackled and howled with laughter.

    ¡°Do we fight him?¡± Mina asked. Her sword and buckler were in hand.

    ¡°You can try!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°What? No, Zippy is our friend. Right?¡± Helga asked.

    Ziplocke¡¯s glee melted from his face, and it became serious. Deadly serious. He turned to Jeze.

    ¡°Release me from our pact,¡± the Goblin hissed.

    ¡°Why?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Because if you don¡¯t, I will release this curse on your team. It will not be pleasant,¡± Ziplocke growled.

    Helga¡¯s face turned hard. The Proven and the Ironfist Kingdom team readied their weapons.

    ¡°Where will you go?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°It does not concern you,¡± Ziplocke growled and demanded, ¡°Release me!¡±

    Jeze crossed her wiry arms and stated, ¡°I have three conditions.¡±

    Ziplocke grinned, showing sharp teeth. ¡°Clever girl. What are they?¡±

    ¡°Jeze, you can¡¯t be serious? He has the Hold Core!¡± Lady Kalina said.

    The teenager shook her head. She knew the power behind that curse energy. ¡°We have no choice.¡±

    ¡°Well? What are these terms?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°That you explain why. That you can not harm me or my friends. And lastly, you owe me a favor of equal magnitude,¡± Jeze stated.

    Ziplocke laughed loud and hard. ¡°I owe you? Are you mad?¡±

    Jeze remained resolute.

    ¡°No,¡± Ziplocke answered.

    ¡°Then I will not release you,¡± Jeze replied.

    Ziplocke growled, ¡°This will hurt your team a lot.¡±

    ¡°We are strong, and we will fight you,¡± Jeze replied.

    Ziplocke¡¯s red eyes scanned back and forth, thinking. Finally, he grinned widely, ¡°I will not owe you a favor. I will agree to your other terms on the condition that you also can not harm me. If you do, then the pact is broken. Do we have a deal?¡±

    ¡°Deal,¡± Jeze replied.

    Their original pact was broken, and a new one was formed.

    ¡°Fools!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°Why?¡± Jeze asked.

    Ziplocke¡¯s ears pulled back. ¡°If the Proven were held captive and enslaved, what would you do?¡±

    ¡°I would free them,¡± Jeze replied, understanding filled her heart. But it could not replace all of her grief.

    With that, the Goblin shaped Glyphs and chopped the air. A shimmering Purple Rift appeared. Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide. He had the Rift Aspect! In a blink, the Goblin disappeared through the Rift with his laughter echoing in the chamber.

    ¡°Did he just threaten to hurt us?¡± Helga asked.

    Dunar nodded, his face impassive.

    ¡°I always said¡­¡± Mikal began.

    ¡°Not now, Mikal!¡± Jeze snapped. Tears formed in her eyes.

    The Healer closed his mouth. Rolfe came over to Jeze and hugged her. Helga was next, and then Dunar. Mikal scratched his head and fidgeted back and forth on his feet. Finally, he joined in the group hug.

    *****

    ¡°We are here,¡± Ozun said.

    Drake looked around. They were in a secluded cave on the second floor with only one exit. Was I just betrayed? Drake worried, and he readied his sword and shield.

    Ozun laughed. ¡°You do not trust me? That¡¯s good. But, they will be here soon.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± Drake asked.

    ¡°You will see,¡± Ozun replied.

    ¡°How do you know them?¡± Drake moved closer to the only exit.

    ¡°When you travel the road toward power, you encounter other travelers with the same goals,¡± Ozun replied and added, ¡°As you and I.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Drake asked.

    ¡°You want to make it to the top? So do I, and so do them,¡± Ozun stated.

    Drake growled, ¡°Who¡¯s them?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±

    Drake readied his sword and shield. Ozun smiled and drew his two swords.

    ¡°I am curious to see how this will play out,¡± the braided-hair fugitive said.

    ¡°It does not need to come to this. Just tell me straight. Are you playing me for a fool?¡± Drake demanded.

    ¡°Just wait. They invited me to join them. I declined, but if I changed my mind they said to meet them here,¡± Ozun said.

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°People like us who seek power at any cost,¡± Ozun answered.

    A purple tear appeared in the middle of the chamber. The sudden light caused Drake to flinch. Three dark-robed figures emerged. Drake arched an eyebrow. He recognized the blonde woman in the middle but couldn¡¯t place where.

    ¡°Ozun, you have changed your mind? And you brought another? That is good, we are now five,¡± the woman said.

    ¡°I have not agreed to anything,¡± Drake stated.

    ¡°Where else can you go, Drake? You want to go to the top, and so do we. You are an outlaw, just like us,¡± the robed woman said.

    Ozun grinned. The other two robed individuals remained quiet. One was a dark haired woman with web tattoos along her neck. The second was a rough looking man with a square jaw and a stocky frame.

    ¡°How do you know me?¡± Drake asked.

    The blonde woman smiled. ¡°I was with the Runic Research Division.¡±

    ¡°Val?¡± Drake asked.

    The blonde woman bowed.

    ¡°You betrayed the Guild,¡± Drake observed.

    Val pretended to flinch but then chuckled. Ozun and the others laughed. Drake¡¯s sharp eyes saw that the stocky robed man casually positioned himself in between him and the exit with his hands tucked under his robe. He most likely had a weapon. Four against one? Drake wondered. He didn¡¯t like those odds, especially with Ozun in the mix. Plus, the Rune magic Val used was something he was not familiar with.

    Drake put on his most charming smile. ¡°I was telling Ozun we will need to upgrade our gear if we are serious about going to the tenth floor.¡±

    ¡°Glad to have you two join us,¡± Val said.

 Chapter 98: Borrowed Power

    Ziplocke exited the Rift Portal onto the barren Abyssal landscape. For as far as the eye could see were rolling hills of red sand dotted with onyx-black rocks and twisted trees made out of dark glass. The sky above was red, and it bathed the area in a perpetual dusk. Ziplocke¡¯s hands glowed with a crackling dark purple energy. He felt great! Finally, he was free from the curse and in his true form. A Goblin Lord and he had additional power. It¡¯s borrowed power, Ziplocke reminded himself, and the Goblin grinned. He was home, and more importantly, he didn¡¯t explode when he consumed the Hold Core, which worked! It was a theory, and, well, he felt great! Ziplocke snickered as he pictured the look on his face if he did explode.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be funny?!?¡± He cried. His shrill voice echoed eerily across the barren landscape, and his ears pulled back.

    What if he attracted Bloodlings? Or Howlers? On instinct, he scrambled to hide under a jagged black rock but then remembered. He was no longer cursed to a weaker form! He emerged to stand out in the open.

    ¡°Let them come!¡± Ziplocke challenged the barren space. ¡°I will show them my might!¡±

    Intricate Rune chains glowed red along his green body. Not only was he back to his true form, but he also had the additional power from the Hold Core! Well, that he should save. Ziplocke would need it for the Goblin uprising!

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± Ziplocke asked himself. His small red eyes darted back and forth.

    Step one, overthrow the Fiends and return the Goblins as the rulers of the Abyssal plane. Step two, use the Rift aspect to return to the Stronghold, and lastly, step three, to reclaim the Stronghold! Ziplocke rubbed his hands together. Delicious soul energy will now belong to him and his brethren! With narrowed red eyes, he scanned his surroundings. For too long, the Fiends stripped this land bare of its resources and left his kind to scavenge.

    Ziplocke scurried through the twisted landscape. The Goblin traveled for many minutes with his small eyes darting back and forth, searching. Ziplocke was patient, but worry began to gnaw at his heart. Was I too late? He wondered. No, time was much slower here in the Abyssal plane. The time Ziplocke was in the material plane would have been a week at the most here. But a lot can happen in a week, Ziplocke reminded himself. Did he portal to the wrong spot? The Goblin began to panic until he saw a familiar copse of glass trees. These glowed with a pale silver light that twirled within like smoke. In the material plane, trees grew fruit. In the Abyssal plane, the Trees of Glass captured and nurtured soul energy. Ziplocke licked his lips. He missed consuming the smokey tendrils within the trees. The spicy paste was delicious! The food in the material plane and observing human misery was something he truly enjoyed! But it was different from absorbing soul energy. Not worst, but different, and Ziplocke missed the feeling. The Goblin Lord¡¯s ears perked up when he heard a familiar sound that instinctively brought dread to his heart.

    ¡°Howlers,¡± Ziplocke hissed.

    A large pack of the rat-like Demons could be seen in the distance, loping on all fours toward the copse of trees. Ziplocke squinted his eyes and saw amongst the rushing monsters a large two-headed Howler. This was an organized raid. The Fiends have sent their minions!

    ¡°No!¡± Ziplocke shrieked. The copse of trees is where his brethren lived, and they were under attack!

    ¡°But they did not account for me!¡± Ziplocke chimed with a mischievous grin. The Runes along his body flared.

    Among the glass trees were the tiny figures of Ziplocke¡¯s tribe. Tendrils of shadows expanded outwards, obscuring the small Goblins as they organized a defense against the rushing horde of Howlers. A hail of flame darts shot out from the shadows and landed in a barrage among the charging Howlers. Some of the rat-like Demons fell to the attacks, but many continued on toward the copse of trees.

    ¡°I have to help them!¡± Ziplocke cried. The Goblin Lord snickered as some of the Howlers convulsed and twitched as they died. He found it funny despite the dire circumstances his brethren faced.

    From his perch on the hill, Ziplocke joined in by launching darts of flame onto the swarm of Howlers. The Goblin Lord stopped. For so long, he was in a reduced form that he had forgotten that he had more power! An evil grin formed on his lips as Ziplocke tapped into the longer Rune chains that glowed along his green skin. With his sharp, nailed hands, he formed greater patterns. Even though it had been decades since he had last tapped into these spells, they came naturally to him. Like a conversation with an old friend.

    ¡°Die!¡± Ziplocke screamed into the air.

    His voice was so loud that it caused the Howlers to pause and glance up at him. Even the two-headed monster took notice. Ziplocke launched a giant ball of flame that hissed through the air and landed with an explosion of scorching heat. The Howlers caught in the blast screamed in agony as their bodies were engulfed with horrific flame. The surviving Howlers paused their assault and hesitated. Ziplocke¡¯s second fireball was all that was needed to convince the monsters to flee. Only the two-headed Howler remained. He glowered at Ziplocke with its beady red eyes.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Come see me?¡± Ziplocke challenged.

    The beast shook its two rat-like heads and joined the other fleeing Howlers. Snickering, cheers, and laughter erupted from the copse of trees. This brought joy to Ziplocke¡¯s small black heart, and he joined his brethren and laughed.

    ¡°Did you see the look on their faces as they burned?¡± A Goblin shrieked.

    ¡°How they ran away? It was hilarious!¡± Another chimed in.

    ¡°Is that Ziplocke?¡± A goblin¡¯s voice asked from the shadows within the trees.

    ¡°Yes, it is! I have returned!¡± Ziplocke cried as he approached.

    ¡°Who¡¯s he again?¡± A tiny Goblin asked.

    ¡°The legendary failure!¡± Another responded.

    This led to a series of snickering and laughter.

    Ziplcoke chuckled nervously and replied, ¡°What? No, I didn¡¯t fail. Well, I was betrayed and cursed, but the important thing was that I didn¡¯t give up, right?¡±

    ¡°You came back!¡± A familiar light-sounding voice exclaimed.

    As the Shadows faded away, a Goblin, slightly taller than the others but smaller than Ziplocke, emerged. She had a slim build and piercing blue eyes. A coy smile was on her lips.

    ¡°Leandra!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    ¡°You came back. Will we see you fail again?¡± Leandra asked with a snarling grin.

    The other Goblins laughed.

    ¡°No! I have come to finish what I started,¡± Ziplocke promised. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh a little as he pictured himself failing a second time. Or was this his third?

    ¡°How? You achieved the Lord Form last time and still failed,¡± another Goblin observed in a deep rumbling voice. This was one of the larger ones with a stocky frame and dark green skin.

    ¡°Graul,¡± Ziplocke hissed in greetings.

    ¡°Ziplocke the amazing failure!¡± The stocky Goblin greeted back.

    One of Graul¡¯s pointy ears was missing, and a jagged scar adorned his cheek next to his pointy nose.

    Leandra and several smaller Goblins snickered.

    ¡°Where are the others?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°Dead!¡± A small Goblin shrieked.

    ¡°What? Yani, and Sneeva?¡± Ziplocke couldn¡¯t believe what he heard.

    Leandra nodded. ¡°They died amazing deaths. Torn apart by an Ogre,¡± she said and giggled.

    Ziplocke¡¯s eyes went wide, and then he also laughed as he pictured the look on his close friend¡¯s faces as they were killed. They must have been shocked! Ziplocke shook his head.

    ¡°Wait, no! How could this be? Who is left?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Just Leandra and I and all these lesser Goblins,¡± Graul answered.

    ¡°We take offense to that term!¡± One of the tiny goblins shrieked.

    ¡°Shut it!¡± Graul roared. The tiny goblins giggled and ran to hide among the glass trees.

    ¡°So what¡¯s different? Your last plan involved you turning into a Goblin Lord and that didn¡¯t go well,¡± Leandra pointed out.

    Graul snickered and added, ¡°That was clever! How you tricked the Fiends and stole enough soul energy to evolve into a Goblin Lord! Only to still get your ass kicked!¡±

    Ziplcoke fidgeted uncomfortably as the other Goblins joined in the laughter. They pointed tiny fingers at him and chanted, ¡°Ziplocke the great failure!¡±

    ¡°It was a little more complicated than that,¡± Ziplocke muttered.

    True, he stole soul energy from the Fiends and evolved into a Goblin Lord. With the new power, he created a Rift to the material plane where he aided the Ones from Before with corrupting the Spire. Then, the Ones from Before cursed him into a lesser Goblin form. Ziplocke chuckled at that memory. He intended to betray them, and take control of the Stronghold and conquer their realm. But who figured that the Humans were capable of greater treachery!?!?

    ¡°Great Failure, please tell us how you failed this time?¡± A tiny Goblin asked.

    This sparked another round of snickering and laughter. Ziplocke joined them, but his green-skinned face was etched with worry. This was the last of his kind. Hidden amongst this small copse of glass trees. Several hundred or so remained, and they were mostly lesser Goblins. Tiny creatures with minimal magic. Leandra and Graul were the only Greater Goblins that remained. Ziplocke glanced around and saw that there was not enough soul energy to help his kindred evolve. Curse the Fiends! He turned to the others.

    ¡°This time is different! I have consumed a Hold Core, and I have so much power!¡± Ziplocke raised two green fists up, and the air darkened and shimmered with crackling purple energy.

    ¡°Oooh!¡± a group of tiny Goblins exclaimed.

    ¡°Awww!¡± Another group chimed in.

    ¡°Imagine the look on his face when he gets his ass kicked again!¡± A tiny voice cried.

    This triggered an avalanche of snickering and chuckles.

    ¡°Right!¡± Leandra and Graul agreed.

    ¡°No! This time will be different,¡± Ziplocke snapped.

    His anger only caused more laughter. Ziplocke¡¯s lips twitched, and eventually, he joined in with their laughter. He couldn¡¯t help it. It was true. It would be hilarious if he failed a third time. Or would this be his fourth?

 Chapter 99: Tundra

    The fourth floor was a vast and seemingly endless frozen wasteland. Jeze felt that there was nothing else but cold white snow for as far as she could see. This was far colder than anything she experienced back home in Narcadia. For the Proven, they acted like it was a normal winter.

    ¡°Come on, Jezie, it is not so bad. You will get used to it, ya?¡± Helga encouraged. The stocky blonde warrior maiden gave the smaller girl a pat on the shoulder that nearly sent Jeze flipping head over heels.

    ¡°This is very bad,¡± Mikal growled. The dark-haired Healer¡¯s teeth chattered. He was taller than the wiry Jeze, but compared to the other Frostsworn, he was small. Where they were thick with muscle, Mikal was lean.

    ¡°Mikal! What would the Frozen All Father say about your complaints?¡± Rolfe admonished. The giant Protector¡¯s voice boomed through the howling winds that buffeted them with every step. Wisps of his blonde hair could be seen under his steel Frostsworn helm that also covered his cheeks and nose. Jeze thought to herself If not for their grins, Rolfe and Helga would be very intimidating.

    ¡°The All Father believes that the cold provides strength and resilience,¡± Dunar, the brown-haired Leader with gray eyes, added.

    Dunar was nearly as tall as Rolfe and equally muscular. He trudged through the snow easily with measured strides alongside Rolfe and Helga. The three appeared unbothered by the cold and difficult terrain. A shield was strapped to Dunar¡¯s left arm, which was wrapped with Runic bandages to aid in its healing. The Leader had lost his arm in a fight against a Cultist armed with a Demon sword on the third floor, but Mikal was able to reattach it through the Life aspect.

    ¡°The All Father also provides hope. His realm is filled with forests, ice lakes, and life! Here? It is nothing but despair. This is Niflheim! The realm of the lost and hopeless,¡± Mikal growled.

    ¡°And Ice giants, ya? I hope we can test ourselves against them!¡± Helga boomed. Her thick hands patted her two-handed Dane axe. The mighty weapon had a new rune-covered haft after it was damaged on the third floor. Helga itched to test her repaired weapon in a real-life and death combat.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Rolfe boomed as he banged his spear against his round shield. He, Dunar, and Helga all had new shields.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The others, even Mikal, chanted back.

    The cheer warmed Jeze¡¯s body like a hot fire. She felt reinvigorated and trudged through the snow like a Dire Wolf alongside her companions. Jeze looked up at her tall companions

    ¡°This realm is within your stories?¡± She asked.

    Dunar glanced around and shrugged his broad shoulders. Rolfe and Helga nodded. Mikal answered, ¡°This is the realm of the Harsh Winter. It is when hope is lost, then all is lost.¡±

    Helga laughed, ¡°Oh ho! Don¡¯t be so gloomy, Mikal.¡±

    ¡°But, it is true. We are in the realm of hopelessness,¡± Mikal responded.

    ¡°Why would the Frozen All Father allow such a realm to exist?¡± Jeze prodded with a smirk on her face.

    The teenager wanted to stir a little trouble with the religious Healer and it worked! Mikal glared at her, and his lips trembled as he prepared a response. With a pang, Jeze missed Ziplocke. The Goblin would have enjoyed the look on Mikal¡¯s face. Before the Healer could retort, Dunar spoke first.

    ¡°It is an important lesson,¡± the Leader said in his deep voice and continued, ¡°The Frozen Palace of the All-Father is as Mikal says. A cold winter but with lush forests and lakes. Here, in Niflheim, there is nothing but frozen tundra. The story goes that even in the coldest of winters, we can survive if we believe we can. We put the work in, and the beauty of the harsh cold will show itself. But, once we lose hope. Then all is lost, and we fail to see the forests and the lakes. We only see the frozen tundra.¡±

    Mikal¡¯s eyes were moist, and he quietly said, ¡°And then we die. Thank you, Dunar, for the reminder. I will not give up. I will see the forests and the lakes.¡±

    Jeze noticed the resolve that formed on the faces of the Frostsworn. They lived hard lives in the Frozen North and needed these stories to keep going. A story and a lesson can go a long way. The team heard a familiar ping that came from Dunar¡¯s scroll case, which hung at his hip.

    ¡°Someone created a Safe room?¡± Jeze asked.

    To her, the forests and lakes were starting to be visible. There was hope! Perseverance and effort were not easy, but with it, all obstacles can be overcome. Even this frozen wasteland! Jeze felt hope and the tale of Niflheim made sense to her.

    Helga moaned. The warrior maiden did not want safety. She craved a fight! Dunar retrieved his Communication Scroll. It was made from the rubberlike skin of a Rover, a multi-tentacle Demon that thrived on ambushes. The scroll incorporated the most advanced Rune magic known and allowed Adventurer teams to communicate with each other. But they only worked when the innate magical defenses of the Wandering Spire were circumvented. This occurred when a team repurposed a portal and created a Safe Room. The repurposed portals led to the outside, and adventurers could use them to return to the Safe Zone.

    Each floor held dozens of Monster Portals, a one-way Exit portal to the outside, and a single Floor Portal to the next level. The innate defenses of the Spire had the Floor portals send adventurers to random locations on the next level. Only teams of five could travel together to a random location. The sixth person will appear somewhere else, and each floor is enormous wit,h many miles of treacherous monster riddled terrain.

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    All monster and exit portals could be repurposed into two-way Exit portals. The Adventurer¡¯s Guild created Safe Zone Squads that consisted of teams trained in the Portal aspect that can adjust the Runes around the Portals, also known as Thresholds, and convert them into Exit Portals. The area around an Exit Portal was called a Safe Zone. Jeze doubted that there would be any rooms here in this frozen tundra. Maybe caves? She acknowledged to herself. She could see what could be considered mountains in the distance. Or were her eyes playing tricks on herself? Jeze shook the thoughts out of her head when she realized that her teammates were having a discussion.

    Dunar studied his scroll as his team hounded him with questions. The Leader looked up and replied, ¡°It¡¯s our friends, the Spirit Walkers.¡±

    ¡°Ya? It would be good to see them again!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    Jeze nodded in agreement. Rolfe thumped his shield.

    Mikal muttered, ¡°I hope it is nearby. I am done with this depressing cold and this, Niflheim.¡±

    Jeze looked to her shoulder and sighed. She still has not gotten used to Ziplocke¡¯s treachery and missed the Goblin¡¯s witty remarks. He would have laughed at the misery on Mikal¡¯s face and teased the Healer. But Jez was eager to see her Spirit Walker friends, Rainia and her brother Ahanu.

    ¡°Proven, be alert!¡± Dunar barked.

    This snapped everyone back to attention.

    ¡°Remember, there are those that are working with the Demons. We must not lose focus,¡± Dunar added.

    ¡°Ya,¡± Helga replied, more subdued.

    ¡°And monsters!¡± Rolfe added.

    Jeze snarled as she scanned the vast white wasteland that surrounded them. Val and the Cultists were somewhere out there. They were scheming and plotting to free the Fiendish Lord trapped at the top of the Spire. Jeze vowed to not let that happen! The Proven trekked through the deep snow over ravines and climbed frozen cliffs. They didn¡¯t encounter any Ice Giants, to the dismay of Rolfe and Helga. But, their travels were not without danger. A rockslide nearly dragged them down into a deep, frozen abyss. Through strength, skill, and determination, they avoided that dark fate, but Rolfe lost their Rune-covered cooking pot. The giant Protector looked forlornly down as their pot disappeared into the depths below.

    ¡°We can purchase another one at the Safe Zone,¡± Dunar assured his friend.

    Mikal snorted. ¡°But, in the meantime, we have nothing to cook our food or heat our water.¡±

    ¡°Hush you!¡± Jeze scolded the Healer and poked him in the ribs.

    ¡°Ow! But it¡¯s true. How much further, Dunar? It could be many more miles, no?¡± Mikal winced and asked.

    Dunar paused to update his maps and compared his findings to what was shared by other teams on the Communication Scroll. The Leader was a skilled cartographer and Jeze was impressed by how he created a map from a seemingly desolate landscape.  Rolfe bowed his head, and Jeze felt that he looked sad. Helga rubbed the large man¡¯s broad shoulders and glared at Mikal.

    ¡°I speak only the truth,¡± the Healer replied.

    Dunar looked around and drew on his maps. Finally, he put the scrolls away and answered, ¡°I do not know. We need to keep traveling.¡±

    Mikal groaned. Jeze had to agree with the Healer. She was cold, hungry, and tired. They have been marching and climbing for nearly a week. It felt like a week at least, Jeze reflected. It was impossible to tell time as there was no sunrise or sunsets. The area was bathed in a continuous pale glow of a perpetually overcast sky. The Proven marched on through snow, and ice.

    In the distance Jeze¡¯ sharp eyes caught something. Something that was different among the seemingly endless frozen white and gray. The scrambling of tiny figures in the distance. Jeze squinted and then her eyes went wide.

    ¡°There¡¯s the Safe Zone, and they are fighting!¡± She cried.

    The others paused to look. Mikal shook his head, ¡°How is that a Safe Zone?¡± The Healer asked.

    ¡°No time to think about that. It is the Spirit Walkers, and they need our help. Proven, form up!¡± Dunar roared as he replaced his Communication Scroll with his sword.

    ¡°Finally,¡± Rolfe said.

    ¡°Ya, about time!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    The Proven ran as fast as they could through the deep snow. For normal people, this would have been exhausting, but for an Adventurer-ranked team, it was as easy as walking on a dirt trail. The much taller Rolfe, Helga, and Dunar made sure to maintain a pace where they would not leave Jeze and Mikal behind. The team rushed down a steep hill as they neared the Safe Zone portal. The shimmering purple Threshold was located in the middle of a flat plane covered in ice. The first thing Jeze thought about was that they were running on a frozen lake.

    ¡°Be careful,¡± Dunar cautioned as Helga nearly slipped and fell.

    One last ridge and they would be in the fight. Being closer, Jeze noticed that the monsters attacking the Safe Zone were large mishappend creatures that hobbled and walked like humans, but had big warty heads and powerful sinewy bodies.

    ¡°Yes! Ice Giants!¡± Rolfe exclaimed.

    The immense humanoids made Rolfe and Helga look like children in comparison. Four Ice Giants fought against the defending adventurers that emerged from the Threshold, and more monsters lumbered through the deep snow to join the battle. Jeze watched as the creatures Summoned and Shaped the water aspect to form ice boulders that they hurled at the defenders.

    ¡°We can cut off the attack,¡± Dunar said and pointed with his sword.

    The arriving Ice Giants were in between the Proven and the Safe Zone.

    ¡°Would that be wise?¡± Mikal cautioned and added, ¡°A single Ice Giants is considered Tier Five.¡±

    The Tiers were a way for the Adventurer Guild to classify challenges. Tier Five was within the realm of the Adventurer Rank, which was the level of the Proven. But, a group of Tier Five monsters could be considered Tier Six or higher.

    ¡°Not wise, but it would be glorious, ya?¡± Helga responded.

    ¡°Jeze got to face an Ogre,¡± Rolfe reminded them. That was a Tier Six monster.

    ¡°I had help,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°It does not matter the danger. We are here, and the Adventurers down there need our help,¡± Dunar replied and then raised his sword. ¡°We will rise to the challenge!¡± The Leader roared.

    Despite the odds they were rushing up against, Dunar¡¯s words inspired Jeze and the Proven. They crested the final ridge and overlooked the Ice Giants.

    Jeze wondered, ¡°Where are the Ice Giants coming from?¡±

    She could not see any tracks in the deep snow and it looked like the Ice Giants just appeared out of thin air. That can¡¯t be right, Jeze thought to herself and squinted to see more. There! Among the approaching Ice Giants was a smaller human sized figure.

    ¡°Cultists,¡± Jeze growled.

    Dunar shouted, ¡°For Glory!¡±

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The rest chanted back, and Rolfe banged his spear against his shield.

    Their booming announcement caused both adventurers and Ice Giants to pause and glance in their direction. The Proven charged into battle.

 Chapter 100: The Anti Guild

    The Spirit Walker team scrambled to defend the Safe Zone. It''s actually a poor defensive position and should be called the Unsafe Zone, Ahanu reflected to himself with an eyeroll. The monster Portal that his half-sister, Rainia, repurposed was located in a wide open space surrounded by frozen tundra. The lightly tanned Protector gritted his teeth as he deflected an incoming ice boulder with his large Kite shield. His arm rattled from the impact, and the boulder was directed harmlessly to the side. In his other hand he wielded a Frostsworn Spear that was gifted to him by the Proven. It was longer than the spears he was used to. But his strong body, forged through combat, was capable of using it one-handed. At his belt was a sword and a mace. Ahanu chose the spear for its longer reach because they were up against the taller Ice Giants.

    "Reinforcements are on the way," Zena, one of his teammates, shouted from beside the shimmering purple Portal.

    She had dark braided hair that was adorned with feathers from Ahanu''s mother''s homeland, the Plains of Liawpia. Zena had sunkissed skin, like the other Spirit Walkers, and wore padded armor. She was a Rune caster who specialized in the Spirit and Fire aspects, which she Shaped onto her arrows. Ahanu knew that Zena could fire exploding arrows of flame or Spirit arrows that ignored armor and attacked the target''s soul. The Protector blocked another boulder, his arm went numb, and he wondered if the cursed Ice Giants even had a soul.

    "We must hold out until they arrive. The Ice Giants can not claim this Safe Zone," Rainia proclaimed.

    Ahanu muttered, "Way to state the obvious, sis."

    Rainia stuck her tongue out at her brother and then Summoned the Life aspect to heal his bruised body. Ahanu has been blocking ice boulders for the past fifteen minutes. The Ice Giants took their time on their approach.

    A stocky woman with the sunkissed skin of the Spirit Walkers and a few years older than the others growled, "Maybe we should take the fight to them."

    "Aye!" Ahanu agreed with a snarling grin. He wanted to bring pain to the Ice Giants.

    Tallulah was the stocky woman''s name. She had silver hair and wore Rune-covered bracelets, rings, and necklaces that were made from wood, bone, and stones. Talluah''s jewelry rattled whenever she moved. Ahanu knew that she mastered the Totem aspect, a subset of the Spirit Aspect. Tallulah could summon Spirit Animals that could aid, fight, and defend.

    "That''s what they want. To draw us to them so that they could surround us," the fifth Spirit Walker, a petite woman named Paca, said.

    Paca was the smallest of the team with short dark hair. She wore padded tanned armor and held a wooden rune covered spear. She was the team''s scout and her sharp eyes caught the hidden forms of the Ice Giants that waited to ambush them.

    "Paca''s right, we need to draw them to us," Rainia stated.

    "And how do we do that?" Ahanu asked. At the moment, he was the one getting banged up. He was the team''s Protector and shielded them from the incoming boulders.

    "Ice Giants hate fire. Paca blind them, and Zena hit them with flame arrows," Rainia ordered.

    The two Spirit Walkers complied. Paca Summoned and Shaped the Sun aspect to cause a blinding light to blaze overhead. Ahanu saw the Ice Giants flinch from the glare. A moment later, a hail of flaming arrows rained down on them. They roared in rage, and the Giants lumbered toward them with thick knobby legs. Ahanu''s eyes went wide as they neared.

    "These are big boys," he said.

    Tallulah replied in her deep voice, "Nothing you can''t handle, Protector."

    "Easy for you to say," Ahanu muttered back.

    But a grin appeared on his face. This was an opportunity to test himself. Ahanu had lived in his father''s homeland of Pana, A place of knights and palaces, where he trained in Shield, spear, mace, and sword. Ahanu excelled in the combat arts and was quickly knighted. But that was not enough for him. When he heard that his half-sister was to become an adventurer, he returned home to the Plains of Liawpia. Prior to becoming an Initiate Ranked Guild member, Ahanu knew just enough Rune magic to activate basic magic tools such as magic torches and cold boxes. As an adventurer, Ahanu learned the slightly more difficult Rune magic to activate enchanted weapons and armor. Because he was traveling with a team full of Medicine Women, Ahanu started to learn more advanced Rune magic. By comparison to his teammates, he was considered less than a novice, but he was now able to Summon, Shape, and Control two aspects. Ahanu chose the Spirit aspect due to his mother''s people and the Force aspect that was common to the wizards in his father''s home of Pana. Ahanu did this so that not only could he activate his enchanted gear, but he could also charge it. Very few people could achieve this, and Ahanu was proud of himself. With a grin, he was eager to test his newfound skills against a Tier Four monster, the Ice Giants.

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    The deep blue-skinned creatures lumbered into view and towered over the Spirit Walkers. The giants were doubled the size of a human with thick muscular limbs and gnashing brown teeth within their large, deformed heads. Ahanu breathed to remain calm. The thing with Rune magic was that it was no harder to learn than the complexities of sword fighting and wrestling. What made it extremely difficult was that it required Will. This was something that Ahanu was weak in and since practicing Runes, he had improved tremendously.

    The Spirit Walker Protector focused his Will and completed the Glyphs to activate the Force enchantments on his Shield. An Ice Giant raised a thick, frozen club and clobbered downward. Ahanu timed the pulse of Force perfectly in line with the Giant''s attack. The huge club bounced off a shimmering field of energy, and it threw the Ice Giant off balance. Ahanu took advantage of the opening and thrust his spear forward. The Protector demonstrated perfect technique that utilized his strong leg muscles and hips in sync with his shoulder and arm as he plunged the spear into the Giant''s throat.

    "That was easy," Ahanu said to himself and immediately deflected a smashing club attack from a second Ice Giant.

    A single blow from the powerful monsters would be enough to flatten the Protector, even if he blocked with his Shield. Ahanu needed to catch and roll with the attack in order to survive. The Ice Giant he stabbed through the throat collapsed to its knees while gurgling, and more Giants lumbered into view.

    "One down, three more to go," Ahanu said as he rolled back to his feet and stabbed one Giant in the knee.

    The tip of his spear landed a deep gauge to the ice-hard skin of the Giant, and it stumbled back. It was a good blow but costly for the Spirit Walker Protector as two Ice Giants smashed downwards with their clubs. Ahanu activated his last Force enchantment to defend himself against the attacks. Despite the protective magic, the powerful blows smashed into his Shield, and his shoulder was dislocated and his ribs bruised. Ahanu limped in retreat.

    "I got you, brother," Rainia said, and he felt her healing magic wash over him.

    Ahanu grimaced as his shoulder popped back into place and his ribs mended. Talluah''s jewelry rattled like the sound of crashing pebbles as she completed a series of full-body gestures. A ball of spiritual energy shot out of her, and it materialized into the form of a charging bear. The spirit animal came to life as it crashed into one of the Ice Giants and mauled the monster to the ground. Zena bombarded the other Ice Giant with shimmering pale arrows that phased through the monster''s ice-hard skin to stab at its soul. The Giant howled in pain, and before it could recover, Ahanu stabbed it through the chest with his spear.

    "Good work team!" Rainia congratulated them. There was only one Ice Giant left and it was injured from Ahnau''s spear thrust to its knee.

    "No time for celebration," Paca warned.

    Ahanu looked up, and his heart sank. More Ice Giants emerged from the frozen tundra as if they materialized from the frozen ground.

    "Where did they come from?" Tallulah wondered.

    "There!" Paca pointed.

    A shimmering purple tear, in reality, could be seen in the distance from where more Ice Giants emerged.

    "It''s the Cultist. They want this Portal," Rainia stated.

    "We should consider retreat," Talluah growled.

    "Not yet, we have help and can still fight," Zena stated as dozens of adventurers arrived.

    Ahanu nodded, but he didn''t feel confident. By all appearances, the newcomers appeared to be Prospect or Initiate Rank. He heard that the Guild was strapped for resources, and this confirmed the rumors. They were in trouble unless stronger help arrived. Ahanu gritted his teeth and Summoned and Shaped the Spirit aspect to recharge the Force enchantments on his Shield. His Will was strained, but he felt the energies snap into place. Several of the adventurers were smashed into bloody pulp from flung ice boulders. The Ice Giants charged.

    "Paca weaken them! Zena burn them, and Talluah, give us some help!" Raina shouted her commands.

    Ahanu didn''t need his orders. He knew what to do and marched in front to intercept the lumbering blue-skinned giants. Paca unleashed the Moon aspect and washed the monsters in the pale light that sapped their Vitality and Will. The Ice Giants slowed somewhat and then were struck by a hail of flaming arrows. Tallulah summoned a pack of Spirit Wolves that swarmed the giants with howls and bites. Some of the Spirit animals were smashed into ether by the heavy ice clubs, and one Giant was dragged down by the pack before the wolves disappeared. FourIce Giants managed to smash their way into the Safe Zone. Ahnau used his Force charges to deflect dangerous blows and he fought until he took a hit from a club. His body was sent soaring to skid along the ice. He was battered and hurt but not broken. Rainia unleashed her Vitality Spring, and Ahanu felt his fractured bones mend and energy infused his limbs. But what gave him greater hope was the familiar chant he heard.

    "For Glory!"

    "Hurrah!" The Proven shouted from a ridge.

    "Yes!" Ahanu shouted back.

    The Frostsworn charged the Ice Giants.

 Chapter 101: Ebb and Flow

    Rolfe and Helga were overjoyed with fighting the Ice Giants. They told Jeze that it was an opportunity to face monsters from the stories of their childhood. The passion can be seen on their helmeted faces as they acted like the ancient heroes that slayed the evil monsters. Despite the significant size, strength, and reach disparities, the two Frostsworn warriors were very successful Giant slayers.

    "Proven, stay close!" Dunar barked.

    The Leader needed to keep the team together to avoid exposing their flanks. They had engaged the charging Ice Giants at the source. Across the flat Tundra was the Safe Zone Portal and other adventuring teams. In between them were the Ice Giants. The Proven took a huge risk on their charge as they were isolated from the Portal and other teams. That did not phase Rolfe and Helga one bit.

    "For Glory!" Helga roared.

    "Hurrah!" Rolfe responded.

    Jeze and Mikal used their Rune magic to keep the team from being overwhelmed, while Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga held the front lines. Mikal negated the Giants'' Ice Boulder attacks and Shaped them into a mist. He proved to be the stronger Rune caster and had a smirk on his face. He also grew up with the tales of the evil Ice Giants. Jeze Summoned and Shaped walls of stone to separate their attackers so that the Proven would not be surrounded. This allowed Helga, Dunar, and Rolfe to face two to three opponents at a time. An Ice giant swung a mighty club, and Rolfe deflected the powerful attack to the side with his shield. Helga circled from behind the Protector and chopped the giant''s leg off with a powerful swing of her axe. The monster collapsed to the ground, where Dunar stabbed his sword through its head.

    "That''s three kills!" Rolfe shouted.

    "Ya!" Helga responded.

    "Stay focused!" Dunar snapped as two more Ice Giants smashed through Jeze''s Summoned Wall.

    Rolfe and Helga rushed to engage the new threat. Mikal approached Dunar and asked, "Can we keep this up?"

    Jeze struck a third Ice Giant with a boulder and forced the monster back. She tapped her Channeling tools and sealed the stone wall. It shook and cracked from the Giants that tried to break it. It would not hold long, and hopefully, it would last long enough for Helga and Rolfe to handle the two that came through.

    Dunar assessed their situation. The adventurers by the Portal were not faring well. Only the Spirit Walkers seemed able to face the Ice Giants. The other teams were not as skilled and were suffering heavy losses.

    "If we join and help them, more Ice Giants will keep coming," Dunar replied.

    "We need to find and kill the Cultist," Jeze growled. She hoped it was Val.

    Mikal casually Shaped three incoming ice boulders into water vapor. "Or we can retreat," he stated.

    "Don''t let Helga and Rolfe hear you say that," Jeze replied.

    Dunar stared at Mikal with his gray eyes. Mikal''s face softened.

    "Look, there are a lot more Ice giants, how much longer can we keep this up? Plus, your arm is not fully healed and we are not at full strength," the Healer explained his position.

    "We have plenty more fight left in us," Dunar growled.

    Mikal nodded and Jeze grinned. They returned to the battle to push forward toward the purple Rift. It was not much further.

    *****

    Back by the Safe Portal, the Spirit Walkers and the lower-ranked adventurers fought a half dozen Ice Giants. Things looked grim, Ahanu reflected. His left shoulder that held his shield was dislocated, and he was pretty certain he had several fractured ribs. Leaning on his spear, he slowly rose from his knees. He killed one Ice Giant, and more kept coming. The arrival of the Proven was a tremendous help, but unless they close the Rift portal, more Ice Giants will keep coming.

    "We can''t keep this up," he rasped.

    "Have hope, brother," Rainia replied.

    Ahanu closed his eyes as he felt his sister''s Vitality Spring spell take effect. His bones mended, and his shoulder popped back into place. Energy filled his exhausted body, but it did little to remove the feeling of hopelessness. Ahanu shook those thoughts out of his head and rushed back into the fight.

    The Spirit Walkers were able to hold their own against the Ice Giants, but the lower-ranked adventurers suffered tremendous losses. The frozen white snow was colored red with blood. Broken bodies of adventurers littered the ground along with the larger blue bodies of the Ice Giants. More of the malformed brutes lumbered toward them. A few of the monsters were held off by the Proven, but enough broke through to put the Safe Zone Portal at risk.

    Ahanu activated the last charge on his shield and deflected an Ice Boulder to the side. He didn''t know when he would have time or even if he had the Will to recharge his enchanted shield. But he didn''t have the luxury to worry about that as one Ice Giant charged him with a knobbed club. Ahanu deftly sidestepped the heavy attack and countered with a spear thrust to the giant''s side. The beast swung his club back around, and Ahanu deflected it with his shield. The force of the blow sent the Spirit Walker Protector sliding back. A flaming arrow struck the giant in the eye, and it dropped its club to hold its burning face with both hands. Ahanu stabbed it through its heart from under the ribcage.

    Four more Ice Giants rushed toward the Portal. Tallulah Summoned a pair of spirit bears that tackled two Ice Giants, but Ahanu knew that the stout Rune caster was reaching her limit. Paca blinded the remaining two with a Flare spell from the Sun aspect. Ahanu hefted his spear and hurled a perfect throw that struck one of the blinded Giants in the head. The second thrashed about, unable to see. Fiery arrows thudded into its body from Zena. In moments, the fight was over, and they had a moment of peace.

    "Tell the Guild we need Adventurer ranked or higher to aid us," Ahanu told a young man.

    "We tried! There are none! They are all scattered somewhere on this floor," the man cried back.

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    Ahanu turned toward his sister, and she held up her Communication Scroll.

    "I already put the word out. All we can do is wait," she replied.

    An Ice Boulder crushed the young man Ahanu was just talking to. The Spirit Walker glanced up with horror etched upon his face. Two more Ice Giants were lumbering toward them. Ahanu shook his head. This was too much.

    "They just are two Ice Giants! The Proven have engaged with the source. We can win this! We will win this!" Rainia cried.

    Tallulah gripped Ahanu by his armored shoulders and gently shook him. She was the oldest on the team and had ventured into the Spire before.

    "I have seen much, young warrior, and I know you have more fight left. Let us finish this," the thick Rune caster said.

    Ahanu lifted his chin and stood tall. He steadied his shield and spear and rushed ahead to the front as the team''s Protector. Ahanu hoped in his heart that they were right and that the Proven will be successful.

    *****

    "Our target is just up ahead," Dunar promised.

    The Proven could see the top of the purple Rift portal just beyond a low ridge. Two Ice Giants climbed down toward them as others rushed on toward the Safe Zone Portal. Helga and Rolfe gleefully engaged the monsters.

    "They have become quite good at killing Giants," Mikal acknowledged.

    Jeze had to agree and added, "And they have come a long way with Rune magic."

    Helga activated the Flame enchantment on her axe with ease and chopped off an Ice Giant''s arm. Rolfe tapped his shield to the ground, and vines erupted to entangle the other.

    Mikal glanced at Jeze and reluctantly agreed. "I suppose so. Now, we will need to teach them to charge their equipment, because honestly. I''m getting tired of doing it," The Healer growled.

    "Enough talking, let''s press ahead," Dunar ordered.

    The Proven crested the final ridge and saw the Rift Portal blazing before them. What guarded the Portal caused the team to pause.

    "You!" Jeze hissed.

    Five Cultists stood in front of the Portal. Val sat crossed leg with her eyes closed. She was focusing her Will to maintain the Rift. The other four stood protectively in front of her. One was a dark-skinned man with burn scars on his face. He wore a simple mail shirt with metal greaves and wrist guards. He carried a battered heater shield and a plain sword. The man stepped forward with a grin that showed very white teeth.

    "Hello, Jeze," Drake greeted.

    A second dark-skinned man readied two swords. He also wore simple armor, and Jeze could see the man''s braided hair fall out from beneath an iron helm.

    "I knew we would touch steel again," Ozun stated.

    Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga''s jaws became hard. They have improved much since the last time they faced the Sanguine Blades fighter. The remaining two Cultists looked bored. One had dark hair and pale skin with web tattoos that ran along her face and neck. The other was stocky and reminded Jeze of a rock. He was bald and wore a heavy dark robe with his arms hidden from sight under its folds.

    "We couldn''t defeat Ozun when he was alone," Mikal pointed out.

    Dunar growled, "Not now. You two know what must be done."

    Jeze nodded. Their objective was to close the Rift, and that meant they needed to take out Val. The others were just a distraction.

    "For Glory!" Helga shouted the war cry.

    "Hurrah!"

    Without further discussion, the fighting erupted. Jeze and Mikal Summoned and Shaped fists of stone and spears of ice to attack the seated Val. Before the missiles could strike, they were blocked by a thick wall of brambles that sprung from the ground. The pale lady with the web tattoos had quickly Summoned and Shaped them to protect the cult leader. She did that fast! Jeze reflected with some shock.

    Every fight consists of a series of small victories and defeats. Each victory brings a boost of confidence, while each defeat plants a seed of doubt. The skill and speed the pale lady demonstrated had planted a small seed of doubt within Mikal and Jeze. It harshly demonstrated to them the levels of skill that exist in this world and that the spider web tattooed lady was clearly a highly skilled Rune caster. But, the odds were still in the Proven''s favor. Val was occupied, and that left her four teammates against the five Proven.

    Drake and Ozun wasted no time and surged forward. A combination of factors from the Proven being tired from fighting Ice giants and the sudden aggression from the two swordsmen had caught the Proven off guard. They stumbled back, and their formation cracked. Ozun scored a cut to Helga''s wrist, and Drake smashed his shield into Dunar, which caused the Leader to fall backward. Rolfe barreled forward to break up the advantage. Mikal healed Helga, and Jeze''s sharp eyes spotted the stocky-robed cultist as he tried to sneak around to attack Mikal. She knocked him clean off his feet with a boulder.

    The ebb and flow of combat consisted of tiny wins and losses. Jeze felt good about that small win, but it was immediately followed by a loss as she was encased in sticky webbing. Jeze was trapped, and before she fell to the ground, she saw that it was the pale lady who cast the spell. The Spider aspect? A subset of the Nature aspect? Jeze wondered to herself.

    Helga landed a mighty blow that sent Drake stumbling to the ground with his helmet knocked off. As Jeze struggled to break free from the webbing, she saw the glazed look in the captain''s eyes. Dunar was holding his own against Ozun, and Rolfe charged the Rune caster with the spider tattoos. The pale lady tried to wrap Rolfe with webbing and vines, but the giant Frostsworn was surprisingly agile and avoided all of her attempts. Helga joined Dunar against Ozun, and Jeze was able to cut herself free. They were winning!

    Dunar fell back with a sword gash across his throat, but Mikal immediately healed him as Helga forced Ozun to retreat with aggressive, offensive attacks of her Dane axe. The pale lady dodged Rolfe''s spear thrust but yelped in pain as her face was smashed by his shield. Jeze rose to her feet and saw her opportunity. Val was undefended. Jeze launched a boulder at the seated cult leader. Victory was within their grasp!

    "Fools!" Val cried.

    Her eyes flashed open, and she chopped downwards with her hands. A thin, shimmering line appeared in the air that split Jeze''s boulder in half. They were so close. Val grinned madly as she completed whatever it was she was doing. Ice Giants emerged one after the other from the Rift Portal behind Val. There were too many! Jeze''s heart sank.

    A swarm of silver wolves and a hail of flaming arrows rained down upon the Ice Giants. All eyes turned to see that the Spirit Walker team had arrived! Victory was still within reach! Jeze charged after Val with sword and axe in her hands. As she ran Jeze formed glyphs to Summon and Shape the Earth aspect into stone fists.

    An Ice Giant stomped in front of Jeze and swung a massive club at her. Jeze dodged the attack, and the massive weapon smashed into the ground. Jeze ran up the club, and the Ice Giant tried to grab her, but she jumped over its hand to run up its shoulder and slid down its back. Jeze continued her charge as Val completed glyphs of her own and Summoned flaming spheres to float around her. The two exchanged Rune spells. Jeze launched stone fists, and Val unleashed her exploding fireballs. Jeze weaved in and out of the explosive attacks as her Stone fists thudded painfully into the Cult Leader. Val fell to one knee. Jeze kept her charge and readied to plant her axe into the blonde lady''s head. Drake smashed Jeze from the side with his shield and sent the teenager tumbling along the ground. She rolled quickly to her feet with a snarl. Victory was so close!

    "Behind you," Drake said with a smirk.

    An Ice Giant swung its enormous club at Jeze, and she tried to dodge it but failed. The blow sent her through the air, and she felt her bones crack and break. Her ribs were fractured, and her left arm was shattered, but she still held her weapons! Dizzy, she rose unsteadily to her feet. Mikal could heal her, but she found him some distance away lying on the ground! What? Standing over the Frostsworn Healer was the stocky man in the dark robe. In his beefy hands was a wicked curved blade that dripped with blood.

    "No!" Jeze cried through bloodied lips.

    The pain consumed her, and she stumbled to her knees. Jeze couldn''t move. Her head hurt, and her body was broken. The ebb and flow of battle swayed away from victory.

 Chapter 102: Losses

    "The blonde woman controls the rifts!" Rainia cried.

    Ahanu led the charge up the low ridge and saw his friends, the Proven, fighting a group of five strangers. The source of the Ice Giants was a purple tear in reality that crackled with lightning, and the monsters emerged through the hole. Lots of Ice Giants! To make matters worse, the five strangers, who Ahanu guessed to be cultists, were quite formidable. The situation looked grim, and a reasonable person would consider retreating. Not adventurers. They run toward the dark places.

    Ahanu aided the Proven by engaging the Ice Giants and pointed his spear at the emerging monsters. Tallulah and Zena nodded in an unspoken agreement and unleashed their Runic magic. Paca and Rainia utilized the Sun and Life aspects to provide healing and hope. Ahanu felt their energy course through his bones and was prepared to take on anything! With a roar, he charged, slid to avoid a crushing club from a giant, and rose up to drive his spear into his attacker''s chest. The Ice Giant weakened from the injury, swung the club back. Ahanu deflected the blow with his shield and countered with another spear thrust, this time into the creature''s leg. The Spirit Walker Protector hopped back as the Giant stumbled to their knees in a failed attempt to crush him. Ahanu finished the monster with a final thrust of his weapon into the creature''s head. He felt great!

    "Ahanu!" Paca cried.

    The Protector looked around. The Proven were losing ground to the five strangers, and more Ice Giants kept emerging through the Portal. The cult leader with the blonde hair was awake, and rippling energy danced along her arms like snakes made out of lightning. His teammates were being overrun by Ice Giants! Ahanu rushed back to aid them. With Rune Magic, arrows from Zena, and Ahnau''s spear, they were able to fight the Giants back. Paca was grievously wounded, and the sight of her small, broken body crushed Ahanu''s fighting spirit.

    "We have to fall back," Rainia said, tears in her eyes.

    "What about the Proven?" Ahanu asked.

    They were their friends, and they came to their aid. It would be wrong to leave them! The Protector thought to himself.

    "Go and help them. I will do what I can here," Tallulah said, her determination set like a stone on her face.

    Ahanu nodded and rushed to fight alongside the Proven''s team Leader, Dunar. The Frostsworn warrior fought with a shield and sword against a dark-skinned stranger who wielded two blades. The two combatants weaved back and forth with immense skill, but Ahanu''s trained warrior''s eyes saw the truth of this story. Dunar had accumulated cuts along the gaps of his armor. Puncture wounds through his chainmail and gashes along his cheeks and wrists. His opponent appeared fresh, and this was a fight that Dunar could win. Ahanu searched around and saw that Jeze lay crumpled on the ground. Was she alive? Ahanu hoped she was, and the team''s Healer was also down. Mikal''s attacker, a beefy, dark-robed man armed with a wicked curved blade, was knocked back by a furious Helga. The Warrior maiden wielded her two-handed Dane axe with such fury. Ahanu snapped himself out of his admiration in order to focus on the task at hand. He aided Dunar and attacked the dual-wielding sword fighter. The braided-haired man skillfully avoided Ahanu''s spear thrust and countered with such ferocity that it sent the Spirit Walker Protector back on the defensive. There was a glimmer within the man''s eyes that spoke of fury. It was frightening! With perfect timing, Ahanu ducked behind his large shield and barreled into the sword fighter. This gave him space.

    "We have to retreat," Ahanu told Dunar.

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    The Frostsworn Leader flinched as if he was struck. Retreat was something the Proven never did! But a good Leader knows when the battle is lost. Dunar looked sad, but he nodded in agreement.

    "Proven! To me!" The Frostsworn Leader roared.

    Rolfe scooped up Jeze, and Helga grabbed Mikal. The two deftly weaved through the battlefield that belied their muscular frames. These warriors were indeed Adventurer Ranked! Ahanu thought to himself with awe. He and the Spirit Walkers aided with spear and Rune magic. The two teams stood together as the cultists and Ice Giants amassed before them.

    Helga''s chest heaved, and she growled, "For Glory!"

    Rofle roared, "Hurrah!"

    Dunar looked tired, and he shook his head. "We fall back to the portal."

    Rolfe and Helga blinked their eyes. Their fierce scowls faded away, and Ahanu''s heart broke. This was what true sadness looked like.

    Rolfe glanced at the unconscious Jeze and nodded. "It is for the best."

    "We will return, and we will be victorious, ya?" Helga agreed.

    Even retreat was not without its risks. The two teams were relentlessly pursued by the Ice Giants. The monsters attacked with clubs, and when there was distance, they hurled frozen boulders.

    "We won''t make it," Zena said softly.

    "Then we die with honor!" Rolfe roared. He fought while carrying Jeze on his shoulder as if she weighed as much as a feather.

    "No, I have a way for us to escape," Ahanu said quietly.

    The Spirit Walker Protector tapped the long rune chain on his spear. The one that Rolfe had gifted to him. Ahanu had spent a good amount of money to have the weapon enchanted by a Stormcaster. He had wanted to use it to slay a Fiend or something just as epic. This could have killed a Dragon, Ahanu thought to himself as he completed the final activation glyph with his fingers. Luckily, the Rune chains were undamaged as he felt his Will snap into place, and the spear hummed with powerful magic. Rolfe knew little of Rune''s magic, but he knew that the spear would be thrown.

    "It is the right way," the large Frostsworn said. He placed Jeze onto the ground and added, "I will create the opportunity."

    "Ya, me too," Helga added.

    The two Frostsworn warriors charged to the front and attacked with such ferocity that the much larger Ice Giants were caught off guard. In the chaos of the fight, Ahanu heard Tallulah gasp in pain. The Protector turned and saw the stocky, dark-robed cultist grinning. He had snuck up and stabbed the senior Rune caster and faded back into the chaos of the fight like a cube of ice dropped into a lake. Zena fired arrows, but the man ducked behind the legs of the Ice Giants.

    "No!" Rainia cried.

    She tried to use the Life Aspect, but Ahanu watched in horror as it failed, and Tallulah passed from this life. Rolfe and Helga''s fury had forced the Ice Giants to step back. This created space for the Spirit Walkers and the Frostsworn. Now was the time! Ahanu pushed down his grief over the loss of his friend and threw his spear. It soared over the heads of Rolfe and Helga. It struck a single Ice Giant in the chest. The monster blinked at the shimmering weapon. The spear exploded in a massive thunderous storm. It was an instant hurricane that scattered the surrounding Ice Giants and the five cultists. But, the enemy was not defeated. Only the single Ice Giant that was struck was killed. The Storm spear gave the Spirit Walkers and the Proven the time they needed to retreat through the Safe Zone Portal.

    The Spirit Walkers, the Proven, and the remaining Adventurers exited out of the Spire. They quickly formed up a semi-circle of defense in case the Ice Giants followed. But none of the monsters came through. Instead, the Portal flickered to red and then vanished.

    "Please put me down," Jeze said from Rofle''s shoulder. She saw the whole thing happen.

    Rolfe gently placed the teenager on her feet. Her whole body hurt.

    "They took control of the Portal," Jeze observed.

    "For what purpose?" Rainia asked.

    Jeze shook her head. "I do not know," and she added with a snarl, "But I will find out. They will pay for all the pain they have caused, I swear by it!"

 Chapter 103: Gem of Magnificence

    Ziplocke, Graul, and Leandra hid among the jagged cliffs that rose high above the rolling red plains. Below them, nestled in a valley of onyx rocks and glass trees, was a twisted-looking castle made out of gray and black stone. Packs of Howlers roamed the area. Their discordant cries echoed ominously off the surrounding cliffs. In the air above the stronghold''s crooked ramparts were dozens of Lesser Fiends that flapped around on oversized bat wings like a flock of demonic birds.

    "Are you sure it was wise that we didn''t bring a bunch of the Lesser Goblins?" Graul, the bald Goblin with the jagged scar on his face, muttered.

    "Our invasion force! Our last stand against our oppressors!" Leandra, the slender blue-eyed Goblin, cried.

    "No, we can not lose any more of our kind!" Ziplocke snapped.

    "You are not sure?" Leandra asked.

    "What? No, I mean yes! I am sure," Ziplocke responded.

    Leandra muttered, "He is not sure."

    Graul snickered, "We are doomed."

    Leandra chuckled alongside her companion, and Ziplocke slapped his forehead. Goblins! They are so annoying! The three had followed the pack of Howlers that attacked their grove. The rat-like Demons led them back to their leader''s stronghold, a Greater Fiend named Modok.

    Graul stopped snickering and asked, "Why are we here again?"

    Ziplocke wanted to strangle the Greater Goblin. "We are going to steal the Gem of Magnificence from Modok," the Goblin Lord hissed.

    "Why?" Leandra asked.

    Ziplocke smacked his forehead and then rubbed his face. He has been doing that a lot lately, ever since he returned to the Abyssal plane. The Goblin Lord wondered if he had hand marks on his forehead, in between his two dark horns, from all the times he smacked himself. His companions snickered at his apparent annoyance. Ziplocke took a deep breath.

    "The Gem will allow one of you to evolve into a Goblin Lord," he responded.

    "Why would Modok keep such a gem?" Graul asked.

    Ziplocke''s eyes narrowed. "Did you two injure your heads while I was gone? I told you already! He created it so that he could become a Fiendish Lord."

    "If Modok did that, then why do you suppose he didn''t eat it already?" Leandra wondered.

    "Because I know him. He is fat and lazy," Ziplocke replied.

    "How do you know this?" Graul asked with narrowed eyes.

    Leandra answered, "Ziplocke was his slave."

    "Personal Assistant," the Goblin Lord snapped and added in a calmer voice, "I worked as a Personal Assistant to that Greater Fiend."

    "I bet they must have beaten you!" Graul said.

    "A lot!" Leandra added.

    The two Greater Goblins rolled on the floor, clutching their stomachs with laughter as they pictured a younger Ziplocke being whipped by Fiends. Ziplocke couldn''t help but snicker along with them. It was funny! He thought and then reflected with his ears pulled back. It was not really funny at the time. It was quite horrible, actually.

    "Enough!" Ziplocke snapped.

    His two colleagues listened. Their sudden somberness surprised Ziplocke, and it made him uneasy.

    "Are you sure the Gem of Magnificence will be there?" Leandra asked.

    "And Modok didn''t consume it?" Graul added.

    Ziplocke nodded. "Yes."

    Leandra crossed her arms and asked, "How are you certain?"

    "Modok sent the Howlers to the grove. He needed Soul energy to prepare his body," Ziplocke replied with a soft voice. He was tired.

    "Prepare his body?" Leandra hopped off the rock she was sitting on to stand closer.

    "You must be of sound Mind and Body to evolve to the Lord level. If you are not ready, then the Gem will kill you," Ziplocke explained.

    "You ate one?" Graul asked his question with a growl.

    "Yes," Ziplocke answered.

    "What was it like becoming a Goblin Lord?" Leandra wondered.

    "We don''t have time for this!" Ziplocke snapped. It was excruciatingly painful, but he kept that detail to himself.

    Graul leaned closer to Leandra and whispered loudly, "Someone is cranky."

    Leandra nodded and whispered back, "Maybe from all of his failures."

    The two snickered at the joke.

    "I could hear you," Ziplocke hissed.

    This only caused the other two to laugh more. Ziplocke slapped his forehead and rubbed his face. Goblins! He thought to himself. Was he like this with Jeze? Ziplocke wondered and felt a pang of sadness.

    "I hope she is doing well," He said to himself.

    "Huh?" Leandra and Graul asked.

    Ziplocke cleared his throat. "Nothing."

    "He is losing it," Graul whispered to Leandra.

    Leandra agreed and made swirling motions with her hands around her head and crossed her blue eyes together. Ziplocke scowled at them. Below them, the Howling subsided. The pack had moved to the other side of the Valley.

    "We go now," Ziplocke said.

    The trio Summoned and Shaped shadows around themselves and scampered down the jagged cliff into the Valley. They quickly loped on all fours toward the castle.

    "This way," Ziplocke directed them to splash into the murky waters of a nearby stream.

    The water was cold and oily, but the Goblins did not complain. They were Goblins, after all. The stream led to an iron grate set against the dark stone wall of the castle. The small Goblins were able to fit in between the bars. Ziplocke had some trouble, as he was bigger, but he managed to squeeze through.

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    Graul and Leandra snickered as they imagined if he couldn''t get through.

    "In that case, I would have melted the bars!" Ziplocke hissed.

    "Ooh, so powerful!" Graul stated.

    "Yea, our hero!" Leandra added.

    Ziplocke shushed them. "You will alert the guards," he growled.

    The other two Goblins snickered quietly. Graul Summoned and Shaped a flame to make a torch and the three continued on the damp tunnel. It took tremendous skill to contain the Fire aspect without it running out of control, and Graul did it with apparent ease. Ziplocke traveled this very same tunnel so many years ago but in the other direction. It was how he escaped with the Gem of Magnificence.

    "You sure this Modok made another?" Leandra asked when they stopped at a four-way intersection.

    "Huh?" Ziplocke said. He was distracted as he tried to recall which direction they should go.

    "This will be a waste of our time!" Graul declared.

    Leandra giggled as she imagined the look of shock on their faces when they failed. Or worse, if they were caught, tortured, and killed by the Fiends.

    "I''m sure. Modok is fat and lazy, but he is also very smart. He somehow discovered how to create the Gems. He made them for the other Fiends."

    "He did that?" Leandra asked. It surprised her that Fiends could be generous with each other.

    "Well, the other Fiends stole the Gems from him," Ziplocke explained.

    Graul snickered. "That poor fool! He makes these gems but is too fat and lazy to eat them! So others steal from him, and they become more powerful!"

    Ziplocke nodded. That was the truth. He snickered alongside his companions. Modok was fat and lazy but very crafty. Ziplocke paused. Modok was cunny and also spiteful. More so than other Fiends.

    "Be careful!" Leandra warned.

    Her colleagues froze in place. Graul''s foot was still in the air. Leandra crawled over and pointed. Just beneath the bald Goblin with the scarred face was a thin wire.

    "A trap," Leandra whispered.

    She then snickered as she imagined the look on Graul''s face when he triggered it. Looking up she saw that it would cause the tunnel to collapse on them. This made her laugh more.

    Graul stepped back and crossed his arms, "You didn''t mention anything about traps."

    Ziplocke snickered with glee. "That would have made it easy! Leandra would get the Gem!"

    Graul glared at the Goblin Lord, and then he chuckled as he imagined the look of surprise if Leandra was not ready to consume the gem and died. Leandra joined in with the laughter.

    "Okay, enough!" Ziplocke said and wiped a tear from his eye.

    He didn''t recall laughing so much. Despite being annoying, he had to admit, the Goblins were also quite funny! Ziplocke led them up a rusty ladder that ended with another heavy iron grate.

    "Wait!" Leandra warned.

    The others climbed down, and she climbed up the ladder. The Runes on the slender Goblin''s body lit up as she completed a few gestures. Faint Runes flared along the iron bars of the grate. A Rune trap!

    "That was clever," Leandra observed as she scratched at a rune with a long nail.

    "Modok is a sneaky one," Ziplocke explained.

    Graul picked the lock, and Ziplocke, with his Goblin Lord strength, slowly moved the grate to the side. It was heavy! He thought to himself and then missed Rolfe and Helga. They would have moved the grate with ease. For a second time, he wondered how Jeze and the Proven were doing. Would he see them again? Ziplocke shook his head. He had no time for fond recollections! He had an uprising to attend to! The trio wrapped themselves in Darkness and climbed out of the sewers. It was silent.

    "Should I create another torch?" Graul suggested.

    After a moment of consideration, Ziplocke answered, "Yes."

    Graul Summoned and Shaped a flame and it illuminated the chamber they were in. It was a grand entrance hall with two massive steel doors that were across from a spiraling double staircase with wide steps. Columns of twisted stone held up the high ceiling and their clawed feet touched a moldy gray carpet that might have once been red some time ago.

    "This place seems empty," Graul observed.

    "Was it always like this?" Leandra asked.

    "No," Ziplocke replied. "Something is wrong," he added.

    When he was here last time, the castle bustled with Demonic activity. Thrall servants cleaned the hallways, and Fiends would fly in and out. Even though Modok was not a Lord, he was still a Greater Fiend. He had some authority and wealth. Plus, he was cunning. Other Fiends would consult him for advice and request he craft enchanted items for them.

    "Do you think the Gem of Magnificence is still here?" Leandra asked.

    "Only one way to find out," Ziplocke replied and motioned for them to follow him. "This way."

    The trio climbed the wide steps that led to a balcony and a hallway where they discovered the first clues as to what happened here. Burnt bodies. Ziplocke recognized the remains of the heavy robes.

    "Are these humans?" Grual wondered.

    Ziplocke nodded and quietly said, "Cultists."

    "Fire Rune trap got them," Leandra explained. She pointed to the faint Runes along the dark stone walls. She deactivated the trap.

    "Why would they be killed?" Graul wondered.

    "Unless they were working against Modok," Ziplocke stated.

    Leandra giggled. "The plot thickens!" She rubbed her small hands together.

    "Can the mortals be so brave as to plot against the Fiends?" Graul wondered.

    "They betrayed Ziplocke," Leandra pointed out.

    The two Greater Goblins snickered at the memory of Ziplocke''s failure. "Cursed him to be a lesser Goblin!" Graul cried.

    Ziplocke shushed them a glare. Their laughter lowered to giggles. Ziplocke studied the bodies and it appeared that they were heading down the corridor.

    "Let''s see where they were going," Ziplocke said and then giggled, "Before it got too hot for them!"

    Graul and Leandra shook their heads without laughing. Ziplocke scowled, and they continued past the burnt corpses down the wide hallway made out of jagged stone.

    "You don''t remember this place?" Leandra asked.

    Ziplocke paused to study his surroundings. It was so long ago and the place appeared much different when it was empty. He never really traveled the main hallways. He could lead them through the slave passages. Ziplocke shook his head, he was curious to see what the Cultists were after.

    "I was not allowed to walk these hallways," Ziplocke explained.

    The other two snickered, and they continued on. At the edge of the flickering light from their torches, they saw the faint shapes of more bodies. Cautiously, they approached and discovered that it was a mixture of dead Cultists and Howlers.

    "Looks pretty recent," Graul observed.

    "But not too recent," Leandra added.

    The bodies didn''t smell anymore and the blood had dried. They were interlocked in the final throes of mortal combat.

    "Why were they fighting? The Cultists were supposed to serve the Fiends," Ziplocke wondered.

    "Perhaps another Fiend ordered them to attack Modok?" Leandra suggested.

    Graul snickered. "Good, let them fight amongst themselves."

    Ziplocke shook his head. "That does not add up. Modok was just a Greater Fiend. He posed no threat, and in some cases, he was useful."

    "But, if he were to turn into a Fiendish Lord¡­" Leandra stated.

    Now, that made sense to Ziplocke. They feared his potential growth. However, Modok was very lazy and didn''t put the effort needed to strengthen his Will and Body in order to survive the transformation. Unless, he changed since the last time Ziplocke saw him. Graul thumped him on his head.

    "Snap out of it! We can''t find answers just standing around," Graul said.

    Ziplocke scowled at the beefy Greater Goblin. But, he admitted to himself that his colleague was right. They continued on until they came to a wide set of double doors. Ziplocke knew that beyond was Modok''s throne room. He snickered to himself. Throne room? The fat Greater Fiend fancied himself a lord.

    "You open the door. We will wait here," Leandra said to Ziplocke.

    "What? Why me? You two should do it," he responded.

    Graul growled, "You are the mighty Goblin Lord."

    Ziplocke shot back, "It took lots of work to become a Goblin Lord!"

    "Good, that means you are not afraid of a little more effort, like, let''s say, opening a door?" Leandra retorted.

    Ziplocke glared at her. But he did talk himself into that one. "Fine!" He snapped.

    With trepidation, Ziplocke pushed against the heavy stone doors with his Goblin Lord might. They didn''t budge. He inhaled and pushed even harder. His green face turned red with the exertion. Nothing. Graul and Leandra snickered.

    "Stop laughing and help me!" Ziplocke snapped.

    "Yes, oh mighty Goblin Lord!" Graul replied.

    "We are but your humble servants and will do our best," Leandra added.

    The two laughed as they joined Ziplocke in pushing open the heavy metal doors. It creaked open slowly, and their laughter died upon what they saw. The corpse of a fat Great Fiend splayed out on his pathetic throne and an empty rune-covered pedestal. Surrounding the scene were more dead Howlers and Lesser Fiends. None of that mattered as Ziplocke''s eyes remained on the empty pedestal.

    "The Gem of Magnificence was stolen," he said.

    Leandra and Graul opened their eyes wide and exclaimed, "Our Goblin Lord is so wise!"

    The two laughed at their own joke, and Ziplocke smacked his forehead.

 Chapter 104: Growth

    The Adventurer¡¯s Guild was a buzz with activity over the recent events that occurred on the fourth floor. The Proven made camp just outside the crowded market stalls and food tents. For nearly two days, they were bombarded with questions from Guild officials and the Amber Guard.

    Finally, they were given a little break. Rolfe and Helga wore somber expressions. They were polite with others and nodded in response to questions, but to Jeze, they lacked their usual joviality. She saw no change in Dunar, other than that the Leader was maybe a tad bit more serious. He was currently meeting with Irvin and Miss Heng inside an official Guild tent. Mikal was actually kinder. Jeze supposed that near-death experiences can do that. The Healer approached Rolfe and Helga with a warm smile.

    ¡°Are you two interested in learning a basic Life aspect cantrip?¡± Mikal offered.

    He had a grin on his face that appeared odd. It was his attempt at a warm smile, but to Jeze, it still came across as sardonic. Helga and Rolfe¡¯s somber expressions melted slightly as they perked up with apparent interest. Mikal¡¯s grin widened.

    ¡°Very good, I wrote down the Rune chain here. You two need to study and memorize it,¡± the Healer said and provided the two with a long scroll with nearly two dozen intricate Runes.

    Jeze chuckled. This was not a basic spell. It was one that she learned after studying Runes for over a year under the Old Crones. She winced as she rose up from her bedroll to join the others. Her body was still battered and, with Healing magic, would need another week to recover.

    ¡°I can help,¡± she said cheerfully.

    Mikal nodded and provided ink and parchment. ¡°These are what I like to call the Base Runes. You will find them in most Life aspect spells.¡±

    ¡°These last four are in the Spirit aspect spell that I use,¡± Jeze pointed out.

    ¡°Do not confuse them!¡± Mikal snapped.

    Jeze scowled back at him, then her face softened to a grin. She stuck her tongue out at the Healer. Mikal shook his head and returned to instructing Helga and Rolfe. Mikal sat back as the two large warriors studiously tried to copy the sharp lines and curves of the Runes. He would occasionally step in to make a correction and give encouragement. Jeze helped in the beginning, but it became clear that the two were fine and just needed practice. They were disciplined warriors and accustomed to drilling and repetition. That applied to Runes as well, except it lacked the physical exertions. Jeze smiled at Mikal, who simply nodded back at her. This was wise of him, she thought. Rolfe and Helga¡¯s moods improved as their attention and focus were redirected to something meaningful. Their minds were occupied away from their memory of failure.

    ¡°Micky, what does this Rune chain do?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°Give it a try,¡± Mikal responded.

    ¡°What?¡± Both Helga and Rolfe asked at the same time.

    ¡°Tap the scroll with your Will, and complete the activation Glyph by shaping it in the air,¡± the Healer explained.

    ¡°Like the way we activate our enchanted gear?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°Precisely,¡± Mikal answered.

    Helga and Rolfe¡¯s faces scrunched with skepticism.

    ¡°Well, this would be more delicate, but you two are ready,¡± the Healer encouraged.

    Jeze was impressed with the dark-haired Healer. She had started a fire and was preparing to make more Recovery Broth but stopped to observe the two large warriors. It would mark a significant milestone if they were able to complete the spell. It took many tries, but the two were persistent.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can do this,¡± Helga moaned.

    ¡°Did you feel anything?¡± Mikal asked.

    ¡°I felt some warmth,¡± Rolfe replied, and Helga nodded.

    Mikal beamed, ¡°Good! You have Summoned Life!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure, Micky? I just felt a little warmth. It didn¡¯t seem important,¡± Helga said.

    ¡°Warmth is Life. You Summoned it. Good work! Now, keep practicing,¡± Mikal stated.

    Jeze nodded and added, ¡°It is the same pattern of Runes I use to infuse my Recovery Broth.¡±

    ¡°We can now heal our wounds?¡± Rolfe wondered.

    Mikal shook his head. ¡°No, you just Summoned Life. The next step would be to Shape it. But that is for another day. For now, learn these Runes!¡±

    They, especially Dunar, have come a long way with learning Runes. Jeze thought to herself and then wondered how the Leader was doing. She would have been with him but was in no mood or shape to handle any more questions, especially from Miss Heng. Jeze continued to work on her alchemy and create more potent Recovery Broths. She had money and was able to purchase the proper supplies and recipes. The potion had a different name and still required a bone broth base mixed in with crushed herbs that were infused with Runic magic. Jeze still preferred to call it a Recovery Broth. Everyone was used to that name. Dunar and the Spirit Walkers approached with somber expressions.

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    ¡°How was the interrogation?¡± Jeze teased.

    She regretted her joke when all she got was a polite nod in response. This was a serious matter, and the Spirit Walkers lost a teammate who was also a dear friend and mentor to them. Jeze quickly filled bowls of her broth and offered them to Dunar and the Spirit Walkers. They accepted the warm potion with polite nods.

    Jeze added spices to make the broth have a pleasant flavor and it was better to eat it while it was warm. Typically in the field it was consumed cold from a glass jar. Everyone accepted a bowl as everyone was still in recovery both physically, and emotionally.

    ¡°Proven!¡± Dunar barked, and this got everyone¡¯s attention. The Leader said, ¡°Gather around. We have much to discuss.¡±

    Rolfe and Helga put down their scrolls and Channeling tools to stand near Dunar and the others. Mikal came to stand beside Jeze. Next to Dunar was Rainia, Ahnau, and their two other teammates. Zena and Paca. Each had bags under their eyes that marked their grief over the loss of their teammate. Jeze went over and gently hugged each of them.

    ¡°Here is the situation. The Guild has come to the conclusion that Jeze¡¯s theory was correct. The Cultists wish to make it to the top and free the Fiendish Lord. We do not know what implications that would have, but we can all agree that it will not bode well for our realm,¡± Dunar stated.

    Helga snarled, ¡°We will find them and crush their bones to powder!¡±

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± Rolfe cried and loudly thumped his muscular chest.

    ¡°There will be no Safe Zone or use of the Communication Scrolls. We will be entering the fourth floor in a random location,¡± Dunar stated.

    ¡°Oh, ho! We are not afraid. We are the Frostsworn!¡± Helga boasted.

    ¡°It is believed that the Cultists have established some sort of truce with the Ice Giants. The monsters could be prepared for us,¡± Dunar explained.

    ¡°Then we will show them our might!¡± Rolfe stated and flexed his impressive bicep.

    Rainia stepped forward and added, ¡°Our first objective is to reestablish a Safe Zone, but we will not be using our Communication Scrolls.¡±

    Jeze looked up at that and asked, ¡°Why?¡±

    Dunar answered, ¡°It is believed that the Cultists have spies among the Guild. That was how they knew where to find the Safe Zone the Spirit Walkers established.¡±

    This news made even Helga and Rolfe pause and look somber. Spies among the Guild? Who could they trust? It was as if they were surrounded by enemies. Their camp was no longer considered safe, as a Cultist could knife them while they slept.

    Jeze remembered something and asked, ¡°What of Drake and Ozun? Were they always a part of the Cultists?¡±

    Rainia shook her head. ¡°It is believed they were recruited later. Drake helped Ozun escape from the holding cells. In return, Ozun introduced him to the Cultists. Our sources indicate that the Cultists had tried to recruit Ozun earlier, but he refused.¡±

    Dunar spoke up next, ¡°The Amber Guard has some intelligence on the other Cultists we fought. Since we discovered that Val was one of their leaders, the Guild has sent messengers to the University at Capitol City, where she was trained in Rune magic. As of now, we have little information, but based upon our descriptions, we know of one of Val¡¯s associates.¡±

    Jeze said, ¡°The pale lady with the tattoos.¡±

    Rainia nodded at her and said, ¡°She goes by the name of Web and is an expert on the Nature Aspect, and also practices a rare subset, the Achrane aspect.¡±

    ¡°Not much is known about the one who killed Tallulah,¡± Ahanu growled.

    ¡°We will avenge her,¡± Rolfe promised.

    Ahanu looked down at the ground and wiped a tear from his eye. Helga squeezed his shoulders. Jeze was about to offer comfort, but something strange caught her attention. A glimmering of light, similar to the illusions she witnessed from the Empire Rune casters. But there was something more. The shadows created by their campfires collapsed a little more solidly among them.

    ¡°A spy is among us!¡± Jeze cried and pointed.

    In an instant, the others had their weapons in their hands. A raspy chuckle could be heard from the spot Jeze pointed toward. The air shimmered and a tall figure in dark red robes appeared. He was as tall as Rolfe with a gaunt body and bone white pale skin. The newcomer removed his hood to reveal a bald head and yellow eyes that lacked pupils.

    ¡°Master Couzart!¡± Ahanu exclaimed.

    An Elite rank adventurer and the head of the Amber Guard. What was he doing here? Jeze wondered in shocked silence.

    ¡°Very good. Very few can spot me. You are remarkable, Jeze Zanchi,¡± the Elite said in a voice that was just above a whisper and he added, ¡°Like your brother.¡±

    Couzart, the Shadow Reaper, looked at Jeze, and she shivered in trepidation. What did he know about Daverius? Jeze wondered and wanted to ask more, but other matters were more pressing.

    ¡°Proven, stand down,¡± Dunar ordered and then bowed to the Elite, ¡°Master Couzart, why do you honor us?¡±

    Jeze noticed several Rune aspects that were at play. The Light aspect, and Darkness aspects to create the illusion. But, there was one more that tickled the back of her brain. The Mind aspect! How the Elite was able to weave all three seamlessly showed her that she had a long way to go.

    Couzart chuckled gently and nodded approvingly to the Proven Leader. ¡°I am delighted to see that the Frostsworn still teach proper manners.¡±

    That comment annoyed Jeze, and without thinking, she growled, ¡°And of what you, Master Couzart? Sneaking and eavesdropping on us is considered polite?¡±

    ¡°Jeze!¡± Rainia and Dunar exclaimed at the same time.

    Couzart grinned and waved his hand as if what was said and done was inconsequential. He spoke in a raspy voice, ¡°The final member of the team you encountered is a man by the name of Shiv.¡±

    Ahanu snarled, and he asked, ¡°Can you share more on this, Shiv? I will have my vengeance upon him.¡±

    Couzart studied the Knight from Pana. ¡°That will not be an easy task. Shiv and I have a history. We were brothers in the same Assassins Guild. Granted, that was another life. But, I am certain he remains quite formidable.¡±

    ¡°Then I vow to become stronger so that I can avenge Tallulah¡¯s death,¡± Ahnau promised.

    Couzart chuckled. It was a sound that reminded Jeze of shifting sand.

    ¡°Good,¡± the Elite stated. What Couzart said next shocked everyone. ¡°And that brings me to why I am here. Spirit Walkers, I have come to assess you.¡±

 Chapter 105: Wayfare Market

    ¡°What do we do now, oh wise leader?¡± Graul growled.

    Leandra snickered.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking!¡± Ziplocke snapped.

    ¡°Who would kill the fat-faced Modok? The Greater Fiend was not loved, but he was not hated either. Would the other Fiends fear his accession? Which one?¡± Leandra wondered.

    The blue eyed Goblin skipped about the room studying the jagged black walls and crooked ceiling. Through the warped windows they could hear the cries of the Howlers.

    ¡°We best hurry,¡± Graul stated.

    ¡°If the Howlers find us, it will be quite unpleasant,¡± Leandra added.

    Goblins snickered at the thought. Especially if they were ambushed or surprised by the rat-like Demons.

    ¡°Can a Goblin Lord be torn limb from limb?¡± Graul hissed.

    Leandra studied Ziplocke¡¯s face and snickered as she imagined his look of dismay if such a tragedy occurred.

    ¡°Enough, you two!¡± Ziplocke cried and then giggled as he imagined that horrific fate. The taller Goblin stood straight and composed himself.

    ¡°I¡¯m a Goblin Lord. I can handle a few measly Howlers,¡± he stated with a hand to his chest.

    Leandra and Graul shared a look and laughed. Their small chest heaving up with the effort. Leandra wiped a tear from her eye and Graul¡¯s laughter died down to rasping snickers.

    Ziplocke scowled, shook his head, and threw up his hands. He returned back to examining the room. The other two continued to laugh and share the possibilities of their failures. Ziplocke went over to the pedestal where the Gem of Magnificence once rested. There was an unusual amount of gore surrounding it. Initially, Ziplocke thought it was the normal splatter of bloodshed from a violent fight. Several bodies littered the floor, and all of them leaked fluids from their mortal wounds. But the gore around the pedestal was different. The body exploded, and Ziplocke determined that it belonged to a Cultist! He began snickering, and it grew into all-out raucous laughter.

    ¡°That poor fool!¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    Graul and Leandra stopped their giggling and came over to where Ziplocke was. They studied the pedestal like two curious cats. They sniffed, circled, and examined it.

    ¡°What are you getting at?¡± Graul snapped.

    ¡°This was a human? Yes, it was, but not a Thrall. One of the Cultists,¡± Leandra deduced to herself.

    Graul snickered and asked, ¡°Did the human try to consume the Gem of Magnificence?¡±

    Ziplocke cackled, ¡°Yes!¡±

    Leandra and Graul¡¯s eyes went wide as they imagined the look on the poor human¡¯s face when it tried to absorb power beyond their body¡¯s limits. The gore was evidenced that the poor sap exploded. The look of shock on its face before its very violent death! All three Goblins laughed. It went on for several moments before subsiding.

    ¡°Why would the human try that?¡± Leandra asked.

    Ziplocke answered, ¡°For the very same reason we would. To ascend in power.¡±

    ¡°To become a Lord? Like a Human Lord? Is that possible?¡± Graul rumbled.

    ¡°They don¡¯t call it that. They have a different ranking system, but the idea is the same,¡± Ziplocke replied.

    ¡°So, there are Lesser Humans, Humans, Greater Humans, and Human Lords?¡± Leandra asked.

    She referenced the ranking system among the Demons. Ziplocke rubbed his face.

    ¡°How do I explain this?¡± He wondered and took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s similar for us Demons but also very different.¡±

    ¡°That makes total sense,¡± Graul said with a face that was as plain as a piece of wood. The Goblin with the scar shook his head and indicated that it made no sense.

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    ¡°Humans naturally grow. They do not require a breakthrough until the Greater level,¡± Ziplocke answered.

    Leandra narrowed her blue eyes and asked, ¡°Did you hurt your head in the Material Realm?¡±

    Ziplcoke slapped his forehead. ¡°Look, you just need to visit the Material Realm, okay? Humans digest food for energy and grow naturally as long as they don¡¯t starve.¡±

    ¡°Like Bloodlings and Howlers? How barbaric!¡± Graul hissed.

    Goblins eat for pleasure, but for energy, they absorb essences. Leandra chuckled and then tapped her chin and glanced back at the pedestal.

    ¡°So, to achieve the Greater rank, they need to break through somehow? Develop their body, Will, and Soul? Like Demons?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Precisely!¡± Ziplocke exclaimed.

    ¡°But, they won¡¯t remain as Lesser Humans forever. They naturally turn into regular Humans?¡± Graul added.

    ¡°Yes! You two are not morons after all!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    Leandra stated, ¡°So odd.¡±

    Graul studied the remains of the exploded human and started to laugh again. His colleagues narrowed their eyes and wondered what he thought was so funny.

    ¡°So, these Humans raided Modok¡¯s castle for this gem. This poor bastard tried to steal it from his mates!¡± Graul replied.

    Ziplocke and Leandra snickered.

    ¡°But the fool was not ready,¡± Leandra added.

    ¡°Can¡¯t fault the bastard for trying, though,¡± Graul said after he stopped laughing.

    ¡°The other humans took the gem. Where would they go?¡± Ziplocke wondered.

    ¡°Would they take a portal back?¡± Leandra asked.

    Ziplocke shook his head. ¡°The only portals are through the Stronghold. Or if they have the Rift aspect. But they wouldn¡¯t have that unless they made a Pact. Mortals can¡¯t have it otherwise.¡±

    ¡°If they have a Pact, then they are working for a Demon Lord. Which one? Has to be a Fiendish Lord, right?¡± Graul asked in his deep voice.

    Ziplocke sniffed the air around the throne room and shook his head. ¡°I do not sense the Rift aspect.¡±

    ¡°So they left on foot,¡± Graul added.

    Leandra tapped her delicate-looking chin. ¡°They are not working for a Lord. Are they working for themselves?¡±

    ¡°Escaped Thralls?¡± Graul asked with wide eyes.

    Ziplocke nodded. It was possible that the Human slaves could break free from their magical and physical restraints. Goblins never kept Thralls, so he was not for sure. But, living amongst humans in the Material plane has shown him that they were capable of anything. Even betrayal, as he learned first hand.

    ¡°If they can¡¯t use the Gem of Magnificence, then they would want to try to sell it. They can¡¯t go to a Greater Fiend, they will be killed on sight,¡± Leandra mused and she perked up. ¡°They will go to the Wayfare Market!¡±

    Graul muttered curses and growled, ¡°I hate that place. We best go and hope we find them before they sell it. We can¡¯t afford the Gem otherwise.¡± The scarred Goblin cracked his knuckles.

    The Howlers continued their discordant cries in the valley outside the castle. Ziplocke narrowed his eyes in thought.

    ¡°Modok¡¯s realm is unclaimed. There are a lot of Essence pools here. We can advance all of the Lesser Goblins to Goblins. Maybe a few to Greater,¡± he said.

    ¡°We would have to fight the Lessar Fiends and Howlers,¡± Graul stated.

    Leandra shrugged her shoulders. ¡°If we do this, then the other Greater Fiends will take notice of us. They will decide to wipe us out of existence.¡±

    ¡°Would we be strong enough to fight them?¡± Graul wondered and he cracked his knuckles again. The red runes along his body flared red.

    ¡°The Glass Forest is not enough for our kind to grow. We have to make a decision,¡± Ziplocke said.

    ¡°We find the Gem of Magnificence and create a second Goblin Lord,¡± Leandra replied and snickered to herself. She pictured Graul exploding the poor human.

    As if the laughter was contiguous, the scarred Goblin joined her in laughter. Graul pictured Leandra exploding.

    Ziplocke slapped his forehead and rubbed his face. ¡°Joking aside. Do you two think you have the capacity to grow into a Lord?¡±

    The snickering died down, and the two Greater Goblins shared a look. They shrugged their shoulders.

    ¡°I suppose. But a Fiendish Lord is much stronger than a Goblin Lord. We learned this. Even if we have two, would that be enough?¡± Leandra replied.

    ¡°Well, I never challenged a Fiendish Lord.¡± Ziplocke held up his fists.

    Graul snickered. ¡°No, you tried to take control of the Stronghold. How did that work for you?¡±

    Leandra waved the thought away as if it was a mosquito. ¡°Fiends are bigger and stronger. Let us accept that. But, we are more clever.¡±

    Graul narrowed his eyes and growled, ¡°What are you thinking, Leandra? Spit it out already.¡±

    Leandra pointed at Ziplocke. ¡°We have a Goblin Lord with a Hold Core. What if we had two Goblin Lords, a Greater Goblin, and a Hold Core?¡±

    Ziplocke¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°We take control of the Stronghold!¡±

    Graul laughed loudly. His deep voice echoed off the chambers. ¡°You two are insane! Most likely, one of us will explode trying to absorb the Gem of Magnificence! In either case, count me in!¡±

    Ziplocke narrowed his eyes and rubbed his hands together. The Proven were trying to defeat the Fiendish Lord, who was trapped at the top of the Stronghold. They believed that would save their realm. If they were successful, that would remove one major obstacle for Ziplocke. It would not be an easy task, but with the aid from the Goblins, they could tip the scales enough to succeed.

    ¡°We go to the Wayfare Market. We must make haste!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    Leandra clapped her hands. She loved the idea of shopping! Graul moaned. Ziplocke¡¯s hands crackled with the purple energy from the Rift aspect. He opened a portal. The three exited the chamber through the purple tear in reality.

 Chapter 106: Plans in Motion

    "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.

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    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.

 Chapter 107: New Teammate

    Ahanu woke up and rose slowly from his bedroll. The knight held his head. To him, it felt like a tiny blacksmith had taken up residence inside his skull and worked tirelessly.

    ¡°You should not drink with the Frostsworn. They are much bigger than you,¡± Rainia chided him.

    His sister handed him a bowl of Jeze¡¯s Recovery Broth. ¡°Thank you,¡± Ahanu said as he accepted it.

    ¡°Gear up. We are late,¡± Rainia stated and she stood to her feet.

    Ahanu noticed that she was in her quilted padded armor with overlapping bone and wooden plates for protection of her shoulders and chest. But, Rainia lacked her pack. He deduced that they were not entering the Spire, but rather they were going to train.

    ¡°Where are the others?¡± He asked as he fished around for his padded under armor.

    Ahanu was barely average height but was incredibly fit. He had tanned skin, darker than the lightly skinned people of Pana, but lighter than his mother¡¯s people from the Plains of Liawpia. His bare chest was an indication of his hard earned physique. It was laced with muscle and scars and the fresh bruises from his recent battles.

    ¡°The Frostsworn have gone to stock up on supplies. Our teammates are waiting for us. Hurry up!¡± Rainia said.

    Ahanu sighed. Putting on his armor was not something he could do quickly, but he had lots of practice. He pulled on the thickly quilted shirt, and on top of that, he wore mail. Next, he strapped on his steel breastplate, vambraces, and greaves. Lastly, he put on his helm that covered his head, the sides of his face, and the back of his neck. His face was uncovered, which allowed for maximum visibility but at the expense of protection. He grabbed his kite shield and pondered which weapons he needed to bring.

    ¡°What are we training for?¡± Ahanu asked.

    ¡°Everything! We are meeting Miss Heng, now move it!¡± Rainia snapped.

    Ahanu sighed and gathered up his weapons. Sword, mace, and his newly purchased Frostsworn spear. He wanted to etch the Runes along the spear to enchant it, but his team Leader and sister had other plans. He ran after Rainia.

    ¡°So, is she going to take your place as the team leader?¡± He asked.

    The two jogged through the large encampment. Rainia did not look at him as she answered, ¡°I do not know.¡±

    Ahanu¡¯s head throbbed as he ran. It wouldn¡¯t be his first time training, or fighting for that matter, while in pain. It would be hard reentering the Spire without Tallulah, he thought to himself. Ahanu felt his anguish flooding back like a hurricane storm. He was actually grateful for the headache as it was a way to keep his mind off his sorrow. He swapped anguish for a different pain.

    ¡°She is very powerful. It could be our best chance to avenge Tallulah,¡± Ahanu stated.

    Rainia¡¯s eyes were focused ahead as the two ran and she only nodded in response without looking at him. Ahanu understood, he was not the only one grieving. At least I have this headache for company, Ahanu thought to himself. After nearly twenty minutes of running they arrived at a training ground. It was an opened space dotted with wooden sparring dummies and obstacle courses. Few other teams were present at the moment. Ahanu and Rainia ran toward their gathered teammates.

    ¡°You are late,¡± Miss Heng stated. Her voice was sharp and it reminded Ahanu of a snake bite.

    The Amber Guard wore a fitted suit of padded armor and leggings that were the color of an overcast sky before a thunderstorm. Her dark hair, with some streaks of white, was pulled back into a tight bun. Ahanu¡¯s eyes went wide as he recognized the dozens of Rune-covered Channeling tools that dotted her nicely shaped body. Miss Heng was older than the Spirit Walkers, but it was clear that she remained very active.

    ¡°And you are not our team leader,¡± Zena snapped.

    Ahanu grinned. His sharp-mouth teammate did not care about rankings or authority.

    Miss Heng¡¯s dark, narrow eyes glared at the archer, but she refrained from saying anything further. She simply nodded. Rainia stopped and spoke to the group.

    ¡°Today, we will assess Miss Heng¡¯s abilities. We will learn how to work with her as a team,¡± the Spirit Walker Leader said.

    ¡°What Aspects do you use?¡± Paca asked. The diminutive girl¡¯s voice was so quiet, Ahanu worried that Miss Heng would demand that she repeat her question.

    Miss Heng stood with perfect posture and answered, ¡°I am mastering the Force, Light, Water, and Storm aspects. I am proficient in Life, Spirit, Earth, and Fire aspects.¡±

    Zena perked up and asked, ¡°The Storm aspect?¡±

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    Ahanu found an enchanter that was able to engrave a Storm spell into his previous spear. However, from his limited knowledge of Rune Magic, he had never heard of anyone using that aspect outside of enchanting and in the field.

    ¡°It is an advanced aspect that is comprised of the Force and Water aspects,¡± the Amber Guard stated.

    Paca and Zena whistled in awe. ¡°What can you do with the Storm aspect?¡± Rainia asked.

    Miss Heng turned her narrow eyes toward the Spirit Walker Leader. ¡°I can summon bolts of lightning and tremendous gales.¡±

    ¡°Show us,¡± Ahanu ordered. He immediately averted his gaze when Miss Heng glared at him.

    ¡°We are assessing your skills,¡± Zena reminded the Amber Guard.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Miss Heng said and tapped her Channeling tools.

    The experienced Rune Caster gracefully formed Glyphs in the air as she Summoned Water and Force. Miss Heng used her entire body as if she was performing a dance and she Shaped the two aspects to form a ball of lightning. Miss Heng stomped her foot on the ground and pushed forward with her hands, and in a flash, the bolt of lightning incinerated three wooden dummies. That was impressive! Ahanu thought to himself.

    ¡°That required too much time. I do not see the field application for that attack,¡± Rainia stated.

    ¡°I can do it faster. I performed it slowly for demonstration purposes,¡± Miss Heng replied in a sharp voice that reminded Ahanu of a whip. Miss Heng paused before acknowledging, ¡°But you are right. It is a flashy spell.¡±

    ¡°You mentioned the Life aspect. What can you do with it?¡± Zena asked.

    Miss Heng glared. She always looks like she is glaring, Ahanu thought, and he felt that they were pushing her patience.

    She answered, ¡°I can heal cuts and mend bones. I am learning how to remove poison and disease, though I would not call myself proficient with that yet.¡±

    ¡°What is your primary role?¡± Riania asked.

    ¡°Leader,¡± Miss Heng answered.

    This caused a collective gasp from the Spirit Walkers.

    Miss Heng bowed her head and replied, ¡°But you are the Leader. I do not believe it is wise for me to be in that role. You know your team¡¯s capabilities better than I do. I can serve as a Protector and Striker.¡±

    Ahanu perked up. Another Protector? That would be great! So far, he was the only front-line person, and he was getting tired of being constantly battered. Tallulah, he thought with a surge of sadness, was able to Summon Spirit animals that absorbed damage. But they only last for a minute at most. He was curious how Miss Heng could be a Protector. What he really needed was another front-line fighter.

    ¡°You have no weapon or shield. How can you be a Protector?¡± He asked.

    ¡°One can accomplish anything through the Runic Arts if they are willing to be creative,¡± Miss Heng answered.

    Before he could ask a follow-up question, Miss Heng Summoned and Shaped an immense wall of Ice. With a flick of her wrist, the ice turned to mists and was gone in a blink of an eye. Paca whistled in awe. Zena was also very impressed. Rainia¡¯s face remained stern.

    ¡°Our team is mobile and runs fast. Do you think you can keep up with us?¡± The Spirit Walker leader asked.

    ¡°I know I can,¡± Miss Heng stated. Her confidence was so high it was almost something solid.

    ¡°Our tactics involve us to hit targets hard and for Ahanu to pick off anything that gets through,¡± Paca stated.

    Ahanu stood tall with his chest out.

    ¡°He mainly gets hit a lot, and we mop up afterward,¡± Zena stated.

    Ahanu¡¯s chest deflated.

    ¡°How can you be a Striker?¡± Raina asked the Amber Guard.

    Miss Heng scowled. It was clear that her patience was running thin. ¡°You saw my application of the Storm aspect.¡±

    Zena was unfazed, and she said, ¡°But we noted that was not practical.¡±

    Without taking her eyes off the archer, Miss Heng Summoned and Shaped spears of Ice, and she launched them to strike several targets.

    ¡°That¡¯s adequate,¡± Zena said with a shrug.

    ¡°Do you carry a backup weapon?¡± Ahanu asked.

    ¡°I do not need one,¡± Miss Heng snapped.

    ¡°What if your Will becomes exhausted?¡± The Protector asked again. He was not sure why he was so bold. Maybe it was due to the hangover and grief.

    ¡°My Will will outlast all of you. Do not concern yourself,¡± the Amber Guard replied.

    Her tone was like ice, and Ahanu was tired of her arrogance. He pressed, ¡°And what if your Channeling Tools become damaged? Then what?¡±

    Miss Heng glared at him as she unbuttoned her armored jacket. Ahanu¡¯s jaw dropped as the Amber Guard removed her armor and undergarments to expose her bare chest. Rainia¡¯s hand shot out to cover his eyes, but he moved it aside. Miss Heng¡¯s muscled torso was covered in Runic Tattoos. Zena and Paca whistled softly. It was an impressive sight. Ahanu grinned like a child who found candy.

    ¡°It is known that Rune tattoos fade with use,¡± Rainia said.

    ¡°It is true. That is why I have my tattoos re-inked,¡± Miss Heng stated, looking at Ahanu. ¡°I hear you are becoming skilled with Runes. Perhaps you can help me when my tattoos fade?¡±

    Ahanu¡¯s face blushed red, and he scratched his head.

    ¡°That is all the questions we have for now. Please put your armor back on,¡± Rainia ordered.

    Miss Heng held her gaze at the Spirit Walker Leader for a moment before complying. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± She asked.

    ¡°We run,¡± Rainia replied.

    The Spirit Walkers and Miss Heng spent the next hour running and climbing through the obstacle course. The Amber Guard was true to her word and was able to keep up. Afterward, they drilled formations and despite her arrogance, Miss Heng followed orders well. Rainia had to admit, the Amber Guard was a very strong addition to their team. Several hours later, everyone was tired and sweating.

    ¡°How is this going to work?¡± Rainia asked.

    ¡°You mean you and I?¡± Miss Heng replied.

    Rainia nodded. ¡°Will you follow my orders as the team¡¯s Leader?¡±

    Miss Heng spoke to the entire group. ¡°In combat and while we are traveling the Spire. Rainia will be in charge. However, I will provide the mission objectives. Rainia¡¯s job is to implement them.¡±

    Zena muttered to Ahanu, ¡°That sounds like it will work out just fine.¡± The archer rolled her eyes.

 Chapter 108: Beings of Chaos

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t bring us any closer?¡± Leandra complained

    The three Goblins stood at the edge of a vast plain that was dotted with onyx-colored trees where packs of Bloodlings rested within the meager shade away from the blistering red sun. Behind them were the bubbling waters of a twisted marshland with gnarled vegetation and creatures that hunted and moaned.

    ¡°Come on, Leandra, a little walking won¡¯t hurt you,¡± Graul replied.

    Leandra turned on her colleague with fury in her blue eyes. ¡°A little walking? It has been two days!¡± She cried.

    Graul snickered unperturbed.

    Ziplocke scratched his head and stated, ¡°I¡¯m still learning the Rift aspect.¡±

    Like a hurricane that changes direction, Leandra spun on her other colleague. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that! You are trying to conserve your energy!¡±

    Graul snickered some more. ¡°He is so cheap.¡±

    ¡°He is a Goblin Lord! He has the ability to use the Rift aspect! It is innate within him,¡± Leandra declared.

    Ziplocke scowled and hissed, ¡°We are trying to overthrow the Fiends. I must be wise with my abilities. Not draw attention to us, and conserve my power.¡±

    Leandra crossed her arms and tapped her foot on the red sand. Her light green skin was marred with the bites and gnashes she endured from their travels through the marshland. She pointed her finger at Ziplocke.

    ¡°You also have a Hold Core within you,¡± Leandra observed.

    Graul snickered. ¡°Like I said, he is so cheap.¡±

    ¡°It takes a lot of energy to use the Rift aspect! Even with a Hold Core, I have limits!¡± Ziplocke shot back.

    Leandra scoffed and replied, ¡°It can be recharged.¡±

    Graul nodded and added, ¡°You can¡¯t absorb essences without breaking a few Bloodling eggs.¡±

    Ziplocke waved his arms in the air and exclaimed, ¡°What do you two know? Huh? Nothing!¡±

    Leandra crossed her arms and hissed, ¡°We learned plenty watching you fail.¡±

    Graul laughed, ¡°Ooh, that was a good burn!¡±

    Ziplocke narrowed his eyes and snarled, showing his sharp teeth. Leandra and Graul¡¯s pointed ears pulled back, and they tensed their bodies. They hissed and gnashed teeth at each other as they circled. Then they broke out laughing. Each holding their stomachs as their chests heaved.

    ¡°Imagine that, the fate of Goblins ending here as we killed each other,¡± Graul snickered.

    Ziplocke howled and pointed at the stocky greater Goblin. ¡°You think you two stood a chance against me? Please! It would be your two corpses here.¡±

    Leandra giggled with tears streaming from her blue eyes. ¡°The look of surprise on your face when we gut you!¡±

    ¡°With what? You don¡¯t even have weapons!¡± Ziplocke howled with glee.

    Graul stepped forward in between the two, and he laughed so hard he was barely able to speak. ¡°Imagine the Goblins back at home when they realize we are not coming back and,¡± Graul couldn¡¯t finish as a fit of laughter overtook him.

    ¡°And that will mark the end of Goblins,¡± Ziplocke completed the sentence.

    They stood in silence at the edge of the Marsh.

    ¡°So, where is this Wayfare Market?¡± Leandra asked.

    Ziplocke nodded his head toward the plains. ¡°Just ahead.¡±

    Graul squinted into the distance. ¡°About a half day if we don¡¯t get eaten by Bloodlings.¡±

    Leandra was looking in the opposite direction and into the Marsh. ¡°Ooh!¡± She exclaimed and rushed back in.

    Ziplocke smacked his forehead and rubbed his face. ¡°What are you doing? The Market is the other way!¡±

    Graul sniffed the air, and his red eyes went wide. He ran after Leandra. Ziplocke sulked and shuffled after his colleagues. At this rate, the Goblin uprising will take forever. His eyes went wide at Leandra¡¯s discovery. A Well of Despair nestled in between the gnarled trees and roots. Its dark, putrid waters gave off sinister energy. It was the collection of despair from the souls of the Material realm.

    ¡°This is a good find!¡± Ziplocke exclaimed.

    ¡°Quick, before the Swamp Demons get a whiff of it!¡± Graul insisted.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Leandra snapped, and the other paused. Her sharp blue eyes spotted something, and she pointed out a hidden Rover.

    Graul snickered as he pictured the look of pain and shock on their faces when the Rover snagged them in its barbed tentacles. The scarred Goblin Summoned and Shaped balls of fire that he launched at the hidden demon. The Rover squealed as it unfurled itself from its hiding place among the gnarled trees.

    ¡°Ooh, that is a big one!¡± Leandra exclaimed.

    Ziplocke nodded. ¡°It must have been feeding off the Well of Despair.¡±

    The Rover shambled after the three, and its tentacles lashed out as quick as a darting mosquito. The three Goblins easily dodged the assault. Graul launched globs of burning fire while Leandra struck the Rover with red, putrid Affliction energy. Ziplocke just watched. He had forgotten how formidable the two Greater Goblins were. They had to be, after his most recent failure. They had to survive the aftermath among the Fiends and other denizens of the Abyssal plane.

    ¡°You two are doing a great job,¡± Ziplocke announced.

    Leandra inflicted a variety of curses that caused the monster to move slower and have longer reaction times, while Graul burned the Rover with an impressive display of the Fire aspect. Ziplocke leaped into the air and smashed the vulnerable center of the Rover with a large rock and it twitched a final time before dying.

    ¡°You were a big help,¡± Graul stated in his guttural voice.

    Leandra rolled her eyes and immediately went to absorb the essences from the Well of Despair. All three snickered as the memories of the damned souls entered their bodies.

    ¡°Ahh, that¡¯s the stuff,¡± Ziplocke said as his body took in the energy.

    ¡°What is it like in the Material plane?¡± Graul asked.

    Ziplocke snickered. ¡°We have to eat food to survive.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s barbaric!¡± Leandra exclaimed.

    ¡°But seeing the shocked looks on their faces is pure enjoyment!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    Graul nodded. ¡°I did a stint once on the Material plane. I didn¡¯t like it, but Zippy here is right. Seeing a look of shock on Mortal¡¯s face right before they bite the big one. It is something that I will never forget!¡±

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    ¡°I think I will answer a Summons one of these days,¡± Leandra added.

    Her colleagues laughed. ¡°Imagine the look of disappointment on the poor mortal that would be stuck with her!¡± Ziplocke shrieked.

    Leandra scowled and then giggled along with them. ¡°I would be horrible indeed!¡± She exclaimed.

    The three resumed absorbing the essence from the Well of Despair. Ziplocke felt satiated as the energy fed his Goblin Lord¡¯s body. He was able to drink more to fill the Hold Core within him. It was like an endless pit within his soul, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Graul and Leandra staring at him.

    ¡°You drained the entire Well!¡± Graul exclaimed.

    ¡°Sorry, did you not get enough?¡± Ziplocke asked and then snickered. Imagine if they didn¡¯t and I stole their meal! He thought to himself.

    ¡°We are full,¡± Leandra answered and added as she crossed her arms, ¡°You have enough now to teleport us to the Wayfare Market.¡±

    ¡°He can¡¯t teleport us inside. The Fey Touched won¡¯t allow it,¡± Graul pointed out.

    Ziplocke arched an eyebrow. ¡°Graul here is full of surprises. Have you been to the Wayfare Market before?¡±

    ¡°Once or twice,¡± the stocky Goblin answered with a shrug of his broad shoulders.

    Leandra¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Really? I never been there. I hear they have amazing things!¡±

    ¡°Why were you at the market?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°Some Winter Fey hired me as a guard,¡± Graul replied.

    Leandra and Ziplocke laughed loudly.

    Graul snickered and then asked, ¡°It¡¯s not that funny! I¡¯m a great warrior!¡±

    ¡°Imagine how sad that merchant had to be if the best they could do is hire Graul as a guard,¡± Leandra teased.

    Ziplocke stopped laughing and asked, ¡°Why did they need to hire you? The Fey Touch have the Iron Trolls guarding their markets.¡±

    ¡°The Winter Fey bloke wanted to see the Abyssal plane,¡± Graul answered with a shrug.

    ¡°Oh, you were a guide. Not a guard,¡± Leandra observed.

    Graul scowled and turned to Ziplocke, ¡°What about you? Have you been to the Market?¡±

    Ziplocke nodded. ¡°I ran errands for Modok when I was his assistant.¡±

    ¡°You mean slave!¡± Leandra cried.

    The Goblins laughed. Ziplocke sighed as he recalled the beatings he received from the Greater Fiend and then chuckled.

    ¡°So, take us closer! I want to see this Market! I have heard wonderful things about it,¡± Leandra said with a grin. Her fingers twitched.

    ¡°No stealing!¡± Graul insisted.

    ¡°What? Me? Steal? Never?¡± Leandra replied with a delicate hand over her chest.

    Ziplocke growled. ¡°Seriously, no stealing. The Fey Touch are not ones to trifle with.¡±

    Leandra¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Now, I feel it is a challenge.¡±

    Graul leaned forward. ¡°Think about it, Leandra. How do you think the Fey Touch are allowed to operate a market here in the Abyssal plane?¡±

    The blue-eyed Goblin shrugged her thin shoulders and replied, ¡°Everyone loves to shop?¡±

    Ziplocke agreed. ¡°Commerce is important for the functioning of any society.¡±

    Graul hissed at the two and stated, ¡°It is because they are powerful. Might makes right! Power brings legitimacy. You don¡¯t think the Greater Fiends tried to steal from the Fey Touched?¡±

    Ziplocke nodded, ¡°The Iron Trolls are definitely effective at what they do.¡±

    ¡°Which is mauling and killing,¡± Graul stated, and he started to laugh.

    Ziplocke joined him, and Leandra crossed her arms. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± She asked.

    ¡°The look on your smug face when you are caught and torn to pieces,¡± Graul answered.

    Leandra stuck out her chin. ¡°You underestimate my abilities.¡±

    ¡°The Iron Trolls are strong enough to kill a Greater Fiend, but that is not all. They have incredible senses and are stealthy,¡± Ziplocke explained.

    ¡°Not to mention the Dark Fey Lord that oversees the entire operation,¡± Graul added.

    Ziplocke nodded. That was how the Fey Touch were able to teleport to the Abyssal Plane. It was through the power of the Fey Lord, who became incredibly wealthy from the Market¡¯s business. In other dimensions, the Wayfare Market went by many names. The Under Market and the Night Market, to name a few.

    Leandra grinned and rubbed her hands together. ¡°A gal likes a good challenge.¡±

    Both Graul and Ziplocke thumped their foreheads.

    ¡°Leandra, you are not to steal. We are going to find the Gem of Magnificence so that we can turn one of you into a Goblin Lord. Do you understand? That is an order!¡± Ziplocke commanded.

    Both Graul and Leandra stood at attention and saluted. ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± They exclaimed before giggling.

    Ziplocke sighed, ¡°We are doomed.¡±

    The Goblin Lord Summoned a Rift, and the three entered it. They appeared some distance within the plains, surrounded by gnarled onyx-colored trees. They felt the oppressive heat from the red sun kiss their hides. One hundred strides in front of them was a sprawling marketplace with flashing lights and colorful tents. A complete contrast to the bleakness of the surrounding hellscape. Leandra¡¯s eyes went wide, and she clapped her hands. All around them, beings and creatures approached the Wayfare Market. These included bloated Imps that flapped on bat-like wings and hunched over Swamp Demons that loped on four clawed legs.

    ¡°This place is amazing!¡± Leandra cried.

    They three walked along between market stalls large and small. Merchants hawked out goods that ranged from the mundane to the extraordinary. From beaded shirts to glowing vials of grinded Angel bones. Everything and anything was sold at the Wayfare Market that spanned multiple dimensions.

    ¡°Where are these fearsome Iron Trolls?¡± Leandra asked.

    ¡°They are here,¡± Graul promised.

    ¡°Iron Trolls have the ability to be invisible,¡± Ziplocke whispered.

    Leandra smirked. ¡°How convenient.¡±

    The three Goblins shaped Shadows around themselves to hide among the stalls as a pair of lumbering Fiends marched into view. The giant Demons walked on goat-like legs with their bat-like wings draped over their shoulders like dark cloaks. The Fiends had muscular red-skinned torsos and giant horned heads. Their eyes flared with orange flames as they scanned the market place and their canine shaped heads snarled showing sharp fangs.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Leandra?¡± Ziplocke whispered from the shadows.

    Graul shrugged his stocky shoulders. Ziplocke groaned to himself. When the Fiends walked past, the two scurried out from their hiding spots.

    ¡°If the Fiends see us here, they will know we are up to something,¡± Ziplocke pointed out.

    Graul replied with a sneer, ¡°Thank you, Captain Obvious.¡±

    ¡°Hiya, fellas!¡± Leandra greeted them.

    ¡°What trouble did you get into?¡± Ziplocke snarled.

    Leandra blinked and held a hand to a chest, ¡°What little ole me?¡±

    Graul scanned their crowded surroundings. ¡°Seems clear.¡±

    The three had to move constantly in order to avoid getting stepped on by the much larger denizens that crowded the marketplace. These included indigo-skinned Ogres, onyx-tinged Lava Giants, an occasional Ice Giant, and two-headed Howler Elites. Fiends, significantly smaller than the two Greater Fiends they saw earlier but still much larger than the Goblins, were numerous in the Market. It was much harder to hide from them, but the Goblins did their best to stick to the shadows. They were hiding by a stall that sold weapons. Graul¡¯s eyes went wide.

    ¡°I need a sword and shield,¡± the stocky Goblin stated.

    ¡°I could use a nice blade as well. Since ours were lost during Ziplocke¡¯s last failure,¡± Leandra said with a snicker.

    Ziplocke rolled his eyes. Graul approached the merchant, a warty-skinned Fey with bat-like wings and a frog-like tongue.

    ¡°How much for this sword and shield?¡± Graul asked.

    He pointed to a red-edged scimitar with a golden crossguard and a jagged-edged round shield. The Dark Fey crossed her blubbery arms and glared at the goblins with slitted eyes.

    ¡°I accept essence gems or mana crystals,¡± the merchant said in a raspy voice that reminded Ziplocke of a talking toad.

    Graul glanced at his two colleagues. Leandra shrugged, ¡°I left my purse at home.¡±

    Ziplocke¡¯s eyes went wide when he realized he also didn¡¯t have anything to barter with.

    ¡°Don¡¯t waste my time. This is a business, not a charity! Be gone, or else I summon the Iron Trolls,¡± The Fey merchant snapped.

    The three hurriedly scurried away. They huddled around in the shadows.

    ¡°So, wise leader, what do we do now? We came to a marketplace without money!¡± Leandra snapped.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t plan for this!¡± Ziplocke shot back.

    Graul perked up. ¡°We did leave a castle with a dead Greater Fiend.¡±

    Leandra slapped her forehead. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t think we should loot that place.¡±

    Ziplocke agreed and then paused. ¡°Wait, are you saying we go back to Modok¡¯s place?¡±

    ¡°Duh! Use your Rift aspect!¡± Leandra stated.

    ¡°That¡¯s going to waste a lot of energy,¡± Ziplocke whined.

    Graul crossed his muscular arms. ¡°What do you propose then? How else can we find the Gem of Magnificence if we have nothing to barter with?¡±

    Ziplocke scowled and replied, ¡°Modok¡¯s vaults will be locked and trapped!¡±

    Leandra cackled with glee.

    ¡°What?¡± Her two colleagues snapped.

    ¡°Well, I can disarm traps, and luckily, I have a Bone key,¡± Leandra replied as she produced a white key with a skull handle.

    Graul and Ziplocke looked around nervously and giggled. She had stolen that from the Greater Fiends.

    ¡°We best hurry then!¡± Graul hissed.

    Ziplocke nodded but inwardly groaned. Why did he plan an uprising with Goblins! They were beings of Chaos and not the best planners. He missed Jeze. She always had a plan, and Dunar he was always organized.

 Chapter 109: Keeping Options Opened

    The Bone Key turned out to be useful but redundant. Because the Goblins were able to locate Modok''s Bone Key. In either case, having the key saved the trio a lot of time. Otherwise, they would have had to pick through a complex series of locks.

    "Why do they even bother with locking their vaults if they all can be opened with the same Bone Key?" Graul wondered.

    Ziplocke cackled and shared, "Legend has it that the vaults were designed by a Goblin named Swindle! They were the most secure Vaults the Fiends have ever seen, but there was one catch."

    Leandra said, "Let me guess. He created one set of keys to open them all."

    "Bingo!" Ziplocke cried.

    "That still begs my original question. Why do they even bother with these vaults?" Graul asked again.

    "Perhaps it''s really hard to remove them? Or redesign them? We know Fiends are not the sharpest in terms of intellect," Leandra responded.

    Ziplocke shrugged and added, "The story goes that Swindle''s scheme was uncovered, and the Fiends had him torn apart into a thousand pieces and fed to Bloodlings."

    "But he got the last laugh! Look at us! Robbing the Fiends with his key!" Leandra cheered.

    All three laughed, and the sounds echoed off the empty castle. They each pulled their ears back and crouched.

    "We are making too much noise," Ziplocke hissed.

    "You think the Howlers will come in to investigate? Or have they wondered why they have not seen Modok?" Leandra wondered.

    Graul snickered. "Let''s rob the place."

    Leandra disarmed the traps, both mechanical and Rune-inscribed. She took a step back after she completed her work.

    "After you my liege," she said with a deep bow with her pointy ears nearly touching the floor. Graul giggled.

    Ziplocke scowled but pressed forward. They were running out of time. He opened the large steel doors and sighed.

    "Looks like Modok had financial issues," Leandra stated.

    Graul scowled. "So what do we do now?"

    Ziplocke tapped his chin. "I mean, I wouldn''t call this an empty vault." He kicked an essence gem, and it skittered across the uneven floor.

    "Let''s collect all that we can!" Leandra said and she ran about picking up the silvery fist sized gems.

    "Look at this!" Graul exclaimed and pointed.

    The others came over to see what the stocky Greater Goblin was talking about. Leandra cocked her head.

    "A dead portal," she snorted.

    "Yes, but it''s an anchor! It can allow Ziplocke to conserve energy when teleporting to and from here," Graul pointed out.

    Ziplocke scowled and asked, "Why would we want to come back here? We looted everything."

    Graul opened his mouth to say something but then closed it. He really didn''t know why and replied, "It doesn''t hurt, right? Good to have that option. You never know."

    "Don''t be ridiculous! Stop wasting time on silly ideas, and let''s keep searching for loot," Ziplocke snapped.

    Graul scowled at the Goblin Lord, and the three continued to collect the loose gems they had found along the floor. They managed to gather a nice pile. Not as much as they would have liked, but it was better than nothing.

    "Maybe I can get that sword and shield," Graul said.

    Ziplocke scoffed. "We are not using these gems for that. Pick a blade from one of these dead fighters. Here, take this one." The Goblin Lord snatched up a sword from a Howler''s corpse.

    Graul''s face scrunched up. "That''s a piece of junk! Besides, I prefer curved swords."

    "Like this one?" Leandra said as she picked up a scimitar from a dead cultist.

    "That could work, I suppose." Graul accepted the blade.

    "There are plenty of daggers!" Leandra cheered. She picked up a pair and tucked them away into her dark jerkin.

    "What about you? Will you take a weapon?" Graul asked Ziplocke.

    "I''m not much of a fighter. You two being armed should be enough."

    Leandra snickered. "Famous last words."

    Graul joined in the laughter. "I want that shield we saw at the market," he said, when his laughter subsided.

    "Fine, whatever! Let''s go," Ziplocke snapped.

    "Someone''s cranky," Leandra muttered, and Graul snickered.

    Ziplocke Summoned a shimmering purple Rift, and the three entered it. This time, Ziplcoke was able to get them closer to the Wayfare Market. They appeared just at the outskirts and just a few hundred strides away. They made their way through the bustling Market to the stall that sold weapons.

    "You three again. I told you this was not a charity," the warty Fey hissed.

    Graul swaggered forward and produced a shiny essence gem. "I want to purchase that shield," he said. He pointed to the round shield with the jagged edges.

    The merchant glared and replied, "That will be more than one essence gem. It will cost you forty."

    Graul nodded and produced more gems. "We also want some information. Where can one sell a Gem of Magnificence?"

    The warty Dark Fey placed the shield on the county and arched an eyebrow. "Information costs extra, my little green friend. For an extra twenty gems, I will point you in the right direction."

    "Sod off!" Graul snapped and slammed a fist on the counter.

    Leandra scowled and said, "Let''s find another merchant."

    The three turned to depart and paused when the merchant beckoned them over.

    "Okay, buy the shield, and I will tell you," the Dark Fey said.

    "Tell us first," Ziplocke insisted.

    Graul jingled the gems. The Dark Fey glanced around and leaned close.

    "You will want to see The Winter Sprite. They like to deal in catalysts."

    The Gem of Magnificent acted as a Catalyst that could trigger one''s evolution or destruction if they were not ready.

    "The Winter Sprite? Thank you," Graul replied and turned to depart.

    "Hey! What about the shield?" The merchant asked.

    Graul turned around with a grin. "I''ll take it for thirty gems."

    "You little cheats!" The Dark Fey snapped.

    Ziplocke and Leandra giggled as Graul completed his purchase.

    "I finally feel like a true warrior," the stocky Greater Goblin said. He had a curved sword at his hip and a shield strapped to his back.

    Leandra rolled her eyes. "You are a Goblin! Sheesh!"

    "Better he believes he is a warrior and dies first while we can make our escape," Ziplocke whispered loudly to Leandra.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Graul scowled and puffed out his chest, "I am a respected fighter."

    Leandra and Ziplocke giggled as they imagined Graul being killed for his false belief. The three traveled the Wayfare Market in search of the Winter Sprite. They passed stalls that sold rare metals. Another merchant had a pen full of exotic beasts. They came across a merchant that was a green-skinned Fey with wavy blond hair, pointy ears, and gossamer wings.

    "Is she a Summer Fey?" Leandra asked in awe.

    The merchant heard her and beckoned them over.

    "Great, we don''t have time for this," Ziplocke muttered.

    Leandra ignored him and walked over to the blonde-haired merchant. "I never met a Summer Fey before," Leandra said.

    "Well, we do exist," the merchant replied in a voice that sounded like flutes playing music.

    "Not many are willing to travel to the Abyssal plane," Graul pointed out.

    "You met one, now can we go?" Ziplocke insisted.

    Leandra rolled her eyes and tapped her hand on the counter. "Don''t mind my friend, he is cranky. What do you sell?"

    "Pacts," the Summer Fey said.

    "Pacts?" Graul and Leandra asked.

    "Yes, contracts that bind. These are powerful enchantments that ensure honesty," the Fey said.

    "Can I see that one? This is interesting," Leandra asked and pointed.

    Ziplocke fumed and tapped his foot impatiently. The Summer Fey nodded and turned to gather the scroll that floated in the air. It reminded Ziplocke of the Pact he made with Jeze. This made him sad, and in turn, he became cranky.

    "Let''s go!" He snapped.

    "Sorry! I''ll try to come back," Leandra called back as Ziplocke dragged her away.

    Grual snickered and sauntered after his colleagues. Leandra grinned at them.

    "Why are you smiling?" Ziplocke demanded.

    Leandra answered, "Oh, no reason."

    "Thief!" The Summer Fey called out.

    "Don''t look back," Leandra said through the side of her mouth. "Just keep moving," she added.

    The three hurried a little faster.

    "That Goblin is a Thief!" The merchant cried.

    All eyes turned to the three. They were the only Goblins.

    ¡°Run!¡± Leandra cried.

    The three Summoned and Shape Shadows as they ran. They ducked behind another heavy stall. They were breathing hard.

    "Why did you do that?" Graul hissed.

    "This could come in handy," Leandra replied as she held up a scroll that glowed with golden light.

    "Fools!" Ziplocke said but snickered. They got something for free!

    The Goblin Lord''s delight ended when the air shimmered and a huge creature appeared before them. It''s skin was the color of Iron, it had a large bulbous nose, and enormous hands that ended with sword-like claws. The beast was the size of a Greater Fiend and towered over the three Goblins.

    "Is that an Iron Troll?" Leandra stammered.

    Graul readied his sword and shield.

    "Run fools!" Ziplocke cried.

    He dragged the two away with him before the Troll''s giant fist crashed down on the ground that, shook the earth and sent dirt flying in all directions. They ran for their lives as more Iron Trolls materialized into view. Despite their enormous size, the Trolls moved quickly, and the Goblins had to run as fast as their tiny legs could carry them. They dodged snatching claws and ran under shoppers'' legs. They created Shadows to duck into and hurried through the narrow spaces between stalls. They hopped over piles of trash, and no matter how often they turned, they still ran into another materializing Iron Troll.

    "How are they doing this?" Leandra demanded.

    "We told you not to steal!" Ziplocke snapped back.

    "Now is not the time!" Graul cried.

    The three spun around and dodged the Trolls enormous fist as it crashed into the ground. They regrouped and ran some more. Ahead of them was a Fey merchant covered in thorns who furiously beckoned them to come to his stall.

    "What do we do?" Leandra asked.

    At the moment, there was no Iron Troll in sight. But, the three knew in their dark little hearts that one would appear soon.

    "Go with him!" Ziplocke shouted.

    The three ran and the thorny Fey ushered them inside his tent. The Goblins hid among crates and barrels that smelled of dirt and rot. They felt the ground shake as the Iron Trolls lumbered past. The monsters did not speak and they only had one purpose and that was to pulverize the Goblins into dust.

    "They really take their jobs seriously," Ziplocke observed after it became quiet.

    "Yes. Sticks and splinters. It is the only way to keep the Market going," their savior stated in a voice that sounded like leaves rustling in the wind.

    "Thank you," Leandra said. She shared a glance with her colleagues. They shrugged their shoulders.

    "Do not thank me. Bristles and bushes. This was not free. Brambles and thorns," the Fey hissed.

    "Why do you talk like that?" Leandra wondered.

    "Like what? Snags and snares," the Fey answered.

    Ziplocke glanced toward the exit and saw that it was blocked by thick vines with sharp thorns that glistened with a foul-smelling liquid. Probably poison, Ziplocke decided.

    "What is your name, and are you from the Winter Court?" He asked.

    "My name is Blackthorn, cuts and scrapes. I hail from no court. Itches and scratches," the Fey replied. His dark eyes twitched, and his lips sneered and grinned.

    "You are an odd fellow," Leandra decided.

    "What do you want from us?" Graul demanded. His hand was on his sword handle.

    The vine-colored Fey sneered and hissed, "Your blood, rot, and mold."

    Graul unshouldered his shield and drew his sword. Blackthorn made no move other than his twitching and blinking eyes.

    "I don''t think he is afraid of you," Ziplocke whispered.

    Graul scowled but refrained from attacking. The Goblin warrior held his weapons at the ready.

    "How much blood?" Leandra asked with an arched eyebrow.

    Blackthorn chuckled. It made the sound of twigs breaking. "You are the practical one. Mulch and decay. Not a lot, just a prick. Slash and gash."

    "Why?" Ziplocke wondered.

    "Your kind is rare. You used to rule, but now you are fading. Wash and rain. Blackthorn would like a taste before you rotted and gone."

    "What if we refuse?" Graul asked.

    "I take what I want and turn your bodies over to the Iron Trolls," Blackthorn stated without any twitches on his face or odd expressions.

    Ziplocke felt the tent grow cold, and his throat became dry.

    "We have a Goblin Lord with us," Graul stated.

    Ziplocke gulped.

    "Do we have a deal?" Blackthorn asked Leandra.

    "Just a prick? Sure," she replied with a smile.

    "Sensible," Blackthorn hissed.

    He pricked Leandra with a thorny finger. Her blood soaked into his vine-like skin, and Blackthorn moaned as if he tasted something delicious. The vines that blocked the exit unfurled. Without a word, the three Goblins exited the tent in a hurry.

    "That was odd," Ziplocke said.

    The others nodded in agreement.

    "So, let''s find the Winter Sprite," Leandra stated.

    The Three Goblins stuck to the shadows and searched the Market. When it became evident that the Winter Sprite did not have a sign that announced his or her name, the three asked around. Several hours later, with several essence stones less, the three approached a plain-looking stall where a gaunt Fey with white robes stood behind.

    "Winter Sprite?" Ziplocke asked.

    "Yes?" the gaunt Fey replied with an arched eyebrow. His voice rumbled like the sound of a harsh wind.

    "Do you have a Gem of Magnificence?" Leandra asked.

    "Why do you ask for something so specific?" The Winter Sprite demanded. The air grew cold in an instant.

    The question surprised the three Goblins. "We were told you were the one to buy such a gem," Ziplocke stammered.

    "What else do you know?" The cold blue Fey asked as he leaned forward.

    Ice formed along the floor, and crystals gathered along Ziplocke''s pointed nose. Why did no one respect a Goblin Lord? He wondered, but it was clear why. The Winter Sprite was tall and intimidating! Meanwhile, a Goblin Lord was still a small creature with stubby horns.

    Graul''s hands went to his weapons.

    "We heard that a human had one and was looking to sell it," Leandra stated.

    "Are you involved with this human?" The Winter Sprite demanded. Ice began to form along the Goblins'' bodies.

    "Why would we be involved with them? We are looking for a Gem of Magnificence!" Graul snapped. The Greater Goblin had lost his patience.

    The air returned to normal as the Winter Sprite nodded. "Ah, well, they refused to sell it to me."

    "Why didn''t you kill them?" Leandra asked.

    "It hadn''t occurred to me," the Fey answered.

    "But you nearly killed us!" Ziplocke shrieked.

    "Stop being so dramatic," the Winter Sprite said with a wave of a cold blue hand.

    "I''m confused. So we are not fighting? Whatever," Graul muttered, and he put his weapons away.

    Ziplocke wondered if arming the Greater Goblin was a good idea. Graul appeared to have developed an unsafe level of overconfidence. He shook his head.

    "Do you know where the humans went?" Ziplocke asked.

    "I can do better. I can tell you where they are staying," the Winter Sprite answered.

    "How do you know that?" Leandra asked.

    "I have my ways."

    "Care to tell us?" Graul asked.

    "For a price," the Winter Sprite stated.

    "Of course, there is a price. I am starting to remember why I hated coming here," Ziplocke muttered.

    Leandra crossed her arms and asked, "What''s the price?"

    "The Heart from a Greater Fiend."

    Ziplocke''s eyes went wide. Where are they expected to find that?!? Then it occurred to him, and he groaned. Graul was right. The scarred Goblin snickered.

    "I told you so," he stated.

    The body of Modok was still back at the castle. A dead Greater Fiend with its dark heart still in his chest. Why did the universe hate me? Ziplocke wondered.

    "Wait a minute. How do we know you are telling the truth?" Leandra asked.

    "You don''t," the Winter Sprite said.

    "Use your scroll!" Ziplocke cried.

    Leandra beamed at her colleagues. "Told you this was worth it."

    She held up the scroll she stole. It was a binding scroll to ensure fair business deals. If the Winter Sprite refused the Pact, then they know he was lying. If he agreed, then they would have to travel back to Modok''s castle and cut out the Greater Demon''s heart from his dead chest.

    Graul giggled and said, "It''s always good to keep your options open."

    Ziplocke slapped his forehead and rubbed his face. Why me? He wondered.

 Chapter 110: Winter Wolves

    The Proven trekked through endless ice and snow. Dunar mapped their progress as they scaled cliffs and crossed chasms. They marched tirelessly through the cold without complaint because they knew that they were building up their bodies. Berserker Orn told them that every hardship made them stronger. As the team¡¯s Scout, Jeze marched a few strides ahead of the others. Her sharp eyes caught a detail within the ice and snow, and she called for a halt. The others approached.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Dunar asked.

    Jeze knelt on the snow and replied, ¡°I found tracks.¡±

    ¡°Is it Ice Giants?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°Oh, ho! I could use a good fight,¡± Helga added.

    ¡°I advise that we find a place to rest. We have been marching for hours,¡± Mikal stated.

    Helga and Rolfe grumbled. Dunar nodded. It was impossible to tell time on the fourth floor as there was no sun. There was no day or night. Just endless grey of the overcast sky. Or ceiling, Dunar guessed.

    ¡°Wolves? They look like wolf tracks,¡± Jeze finally answered as she stood up.

    Rolfe grinned. ¡°The spawn of the Winter Wolf.¡±

    ¡°Ya! Just like in the tales. This is truly Niflheim!¡± Helga stated.

    Mikal muttered, ¡°If that is true, then we should not be excited to face the Winter Wolf.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a Winter Wolf?¡± Jeze asked.

    Dunar answered, ¡°A great wolf that is prophesied to kill the Frozen All-Father. Because of that, the gods trapped the beast here in Niflheim.¡±

    ¡°And she has pups?¡± Jeze asked, because she saw several tracks.

    ¡°So it is told,¡± Dunar replied.

    ¡°I wonder what they can do, these Winter Wolf spawn,¡± Rolfe stated.

    Mikal answered, ¡°If the tales are true, they are the howling wind. They move unseen, and their bite brings the cold death.¡±

    Rolfe removed his helm to scratch his blonde head. ¡°If they are like the wind, then how do we kill them?¡±

    ¡°Killing the cold? I believe the moral of the story is that you should find shelter during the freezing nights,¡± Mikal answered.

    ¡°Bah! That¡¯s no fun! Jezie, you have any idea on how to kill this howling wind?¡± Helga asked.

    Jeze took a moment to think, and she remembered the time she had fought the ghosts with Swordslayer and Rainbow. That was so long ago. It was like another lifetime, she reflected to herself.

    ¡°I fought ghosts once in an old temple underneath the city of Angston. When they can hurt you is when you can hurt them,¡± Jeze said and then shuddered. ¡°But don¡¯t let them hurt you,¡± she added.

    ¡°It¡¯s all about timing. Don¡¯t be too eager to attack. You must wait,¡± Dunar stated.

    Mikal rolled his eyes and replied, ¡°Thanks for the sage advice, you two.¡±

    She scowled at him. Mikal was turning back to his normal sarcastic self. Jeze unshouldered her pack to rummage through it. Ever since getting struck by the ghost and experiencing that tremendous pain, she made sure to keep the silver vials that cured the Gravetouch.

    ¡°Here, each of you take one, in case you get bit by these Winter Wolves,¡± Jeze said and offered each a vial. She only had five.

    Mikal studied the vials and reached out with his Will. He could feel the Spirit aspect energy from within. ¡°You think the Winter Wolves are Ghosts?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Sounds like it, or they are similar,¡± Jeze replied.

    Mikal shrugged and tucked away the vial. ¡°It does not hurt to be extra careful.¡±

    ¡°How old are the tracks?¡± Dunar asked Jeze.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say, but I guess they have been here awhile based upon how faint they are,¡± Jeze replied.

    Dunar scanned his surroundings and nodded. ¡°We should rest here.¡±

    Helga rubbed her hands together. ¡°My turn!¡±

    The warrior maiden took out a rune-covered cube and placed it on the snow. She tapped the top and completed a simple series of glyphs in the air with her fingers. Nothing happened.

    ¡°You need to concentrate and pour your Will into the Runes,¡± Mikal said.

    Helga nodded and made a second attempt. This time, she closed her eyes and her face scrunched with effort. The box began to click open.

    ¡°I did it!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    ¡°Good job. You are getting better,¡± Jeze congratulated her.

    Mikal shook his head. Jeze glared at him, and the Healer gave in.

    ¡°Agreed. This is a slightly harder enchanted item to use. Keep up the practice,¡± Mikal said.

    After several minutes of unfolding, the box grew and turned into a cabin. Rolfe opened the door and turned toward Jeze.

    She smiled and handed him the golden heating box. It was another enchanted item they purchased that could generate heat without a fire. It allowed for cooking, and it could also be slotted into the magic cabin to heat it up. Rolfe placed the box in the center of the cabin and activated it with a series of glyphs. It took the Protector three tries. Jeze nodded approvingly. They were dedicated to learning Rune magic as it helped enhance their Will. Something they needed to do if they wished to advance to the Adept rank.

    ¡°Jeze, can you place the Security Discs around the perimeter?¡± Dunar asked.

    ¡°Sure can do!¡± She replied.

    The Security Discs were another magic item the team purchased, and now they could afford such tools since they earned decent money from their adventures. The discs were inscribed Rune traps that the team used when they set up camp. Dunar still demanded a watch schedule, and the discs increased their security.

    ¡°Buying this was the best investment we ever made,¡± Mikal stated in regard to the magic cabin.

    The Healer removed his wet cloak to hang on a rack. The magic inside allowed the Proven to warm their bodies and clothes.

    ¡°Be careful, Mikal, these comforts will make you weak,¡± Rolfe admonished.

    The Healer snorted. ¡°Hardship makes us strong, but stupidity makes us dead.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Jeze asked as she entered the cabin.

    Dunar shook his head and announced, ¡°I will take first watch. You four decide who¡¯s next.¡±

    The Leader stepped outside. Mikal scowled at Jeze.

    ¡°Training our bodies is one thing, but we are in the Spire. It is foolish to keep ourselves unprepared for danger. Us taking this break will keep our bodies fresh for when we do encounter Ice Giants or other such unpleasantries,¡± Mikal stated.

    ¡°No arguments here,¡± Helga stated as she prepared a Water Brick.

    This was another Rune-covered item that was easily packed away. When needed, it could fill a five-gallon bucket full of water. Jeze marveled at how quickly the Proven became adept with Rune casting. Frostsworn society lived in the harsh Frozen North without the aid of enchanted items. Only the Frozen Priests, such as Mikal, learned Rune magic. The way they advanced their Will was through hardship, pain, and meditation. How Berserker Orn achieved the Adept Rank was truly remarkable to Jeze. Dunar took the first watch, and the rest settled into their bedrolls inside the cozy, warm cabin.

    Later, Rolfe shook Jeze awake. It was her turn go on watch. Groggily she rose out of her bedroll and donned her heavy cloak. Rolfe handed her a warm cup of tea, which she drank enthusiastically. This was a routine that they have done hundreds of times already. They were Adventurer ranked and seasoned. In moments, Jeze was outside in the frigid cold and alert.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Jeze¡¯s sharp ears caught a faint sound. It sounded like the wind but different. It had a higher ring to it, like a howl? Jeze cocked her head to listen more carefully. There it was again! She rose up from her perch on top of the cabin to scan her surroundings. This time, she heard the howling again, and it was no mistake. The Winter Wolves were coming. Jeze dropped down to the snow and paused. She saw a blur that could have been her eyes playing tricks. Jeze hurried and pounded on the door to awaken the others. She saw the blur again. Horror sank in her heart. The Winter Wolves were not coming. They were here!

    Jeze readied her axe and sword and tensed her body. Her fingers itched to tap her Channeling tools and to shape Runes as needed. But she didn¡¯t know what to do. Would hiding in the Summoned shadows work? Were Winter Wolves like ghosts and vulnerable to fire? Jeze banged the door again. What was taking them so long?

    Jeze heard the faint crunch of snow. She turned and saw paw prints appear on the ground next to her. Jeze looked up and saw a gaunt-looking wolf with sharp fangs and cold blue eyes glare at her. It leaped at her as fast as a winter breeze. Jeze dodged to the side and chopped with her axe. At first, she didn¡¯t think she would hit anything, but her weapon struck something solid and hard like ice. The monster yelped and faded from view to disappear like a gust of cold wind.

    ¡°Are they here?¡± Rolfe asked.

    The large Protector exited the cabin. He was followed by the others, and they moved into formation. Dunar assessed the situation. His sharp senses also picked up the faint howling that was like the wind but not the wind. He saw the crunch of snow as the wolves materialized into solid form and then faded away like a dream.

    ¡°No shields, we need full visibility, and spread out. This fight will be about timing and quickness,¡± Dunar ordered.

    Rolfe glanced at the Leader and complied. The large man gripped his spear in two hands and stepped forward to give himself room. They remained close but spread apart to allow for full maneuverability of their weapons and dodges. A winter wolf ran through them. Helga chopped her axe, and Rolfe stabbed with his spear. Both attacks missed as the wolf pounced on Mikal and knocked the Healer to the ground. It was as large as a man and heavy as a block of ice. Its fangs were caught on the Healer¡¯s spear before it phased away in a blink of an eye.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to see them!¡± Mikal cried as he scrambled to his feet.

    The crunch of snow alerted them as two more wolves took form and attacked mercilessly like the cold in the night. Dunar and Jeze dodged the charging wolves and chopped with their axes and stabbed with their swords. They missed, but one wolf bit Helga on her forearm before it transformed into the wind and disappeared. The warrior maiden gasped in pain. Jeze sympathized with her as she also experienced the touch from the grave. It was cold and burned like agony.

    ¡°Drink the vial!¡± Dunar ordered, and to the others, he barked, ¡°Protect Helga!¡±

    The Proven formed a circle as Helga unstoppered the silver vial Jeze had given her. She drank the Spirit infused potion and relief showed on her face.

    ¡°Ya, that stings!¡± Helga said.

    ¡°They are too fast, should we go inside?¡± Mikal stated.

    ¡°If they are like ghosts, they can phase through solid objects,¡± Jeze replied.

    ¡°But what if they are not? We can barricade ourselves and wait them out,¡± Mikal pointed out.

    Dunar shook his head. ¡°Too risky. It would be too crowded for us to move, and they can take us out.¡±

    ¡°Besides, they are strong! They could probably break through the cabin, ya?¡± Helga stated. Her eyes were wide as she focused on her surroundings and readied her two-handed axe.

    ¡°There is nothing we can do but to fight better,¡± Dunar stated and continued, ¡°Pay attention and time your attacks well. We have the skill. We are prepared for this.¡±

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Rolfe roared.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The others chanted back.

    Another pair of wolves swarmed through them. This time Dunar was able to land a well timed blow with his axe and it chipped off a huge chunk of the wolf that fell away like ice. The monster squirmed and trashed on the ground before fading into a breeze.

    ¡°Did you kill it?¡± Helga asked.

    Dunar answered, ¡°I hope so.¡±

    Mikal collapsed to his knees in agony. He was bit!

    ¡°Jeze help him!¡± Dunar ordered.

    She rushed over to pour the silver potion down his mouth. Mikal was shaking and he calmed when the liquid took effect.

    ¡°By the Frozen All-Father, I do not want to experience that again,¡± Mikal said.

    The Proven heard an explosion to their left where Jeze had placed one of her Security Discs. This one was a Water aspect Rune trap that flash froze any intruders. It created a dome of frozen Mist and from within the team could see clearly the sinewy forms of the Winter Wolf spawn. The cold magic had little impact on them, but it did make them visible. The wolves faded from view as they rushed toward the Proven.

    ¡°Mikal, create mists around us!¡± Dunar barked.

    The Healer compiled and quickly Summoned the Water aspect. In mere seconds that, demonstrated his high level of skill, Mikal tapped another Channeling tool and Shaped the water aspect into a faint mists. It outlined the Winter Wolf spawn when they attacked making them visible. Rolfe moved fast beli,ed his large frame, and plunged his spear into a charging creature. The spearhead that was made from the scales of a Helldrake pierced the ice hard hide of the wolf as easily as a hot knife through butter.

    Another snarling form of a wolf took shape as it materialized and was outlined by Mikal¡¯s spell. It still moved fast but was easier to spot, and Helga sliced it in half as it pounced. The two parts crashed into the floor like blocks of ice. Jeze bombarded another Winter Wolf spawn with fire darts as soon as it took shape. The monster whined as its face melted into a puddle. Dunar hacked another with his axe. When the beast collapsed to the ground, he stabbed it through its caine-shaped head.

    ¡°For Glory!¡± Rolfe cheered.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± The others cried back.

    ¡°Victory is ours!¡± Helga added.

    The Proven heard the intense howling as a huge storm took shape in the distance. The wind kicked up mists of snow where the outlines of dozens, if not hundreds, of sinewy, gaunt wolves could be seen.

    ¡°You spoke too soon,¡± Mikal muttered.

    ¡°Jeze, grab the heat box and hurry up!¡± Dunar ordered as the storm began its rapid advance toward them.

    The Scout returned in an instant with the heat box tucked away in her pack.

    Dunar stood tall and roared, ¡°Proven, we run!¡±

    And they ran as the storm filled with Winter Wolf spawn chased them.

    ¡°What about the cabin?¡± Mikal asked.

    ¡°No time and no more talking. Only running,¡± Dunar responded.

    The team ran through the thick snow as fast as their strong legs could carry them. The storm was gaining on them. As they ran, Dunar scanned his surroundings for an optimal spot for them to fight.

    ¡°There!¡± He shouted and pointed.

    In the distance, the team could make out caves. He hoped that the additional cover would provide them protection against the mass of howling winds and they would be able to face the Winter Wolf spawn on better terms. The Proven changed direction without hesitation. When they entered the caves, they slid when they realized that it was not made out of rock but pure ice!

    ¡°This is not ideal,¡± Mikal muttered as he struggled to regain his footing.

    ¡°Oh, look at that! They stopped chasing us,¡± Helga pointed out.

    The howling storm appeared to change direction, and it continued away from them.

    ¡°I wonder why?¡± Rolfe said. A part of him wanted to fight.

    ¡°This is why,¡± Jeze said and pointed.

    Inside the walls of thick ice were the frozen forms of people. Their mouths agape showed their final screams of horror.

    ¡°Something lives here that scares them,¡± Jeze added.

    The further the team looked, the more frozen bodies they found. It appeared to go on forever and deeper within the caves made of translucent frozen ice.

    ¡°Are these adventurers from this Spire event?¡± Mikal wondered.

    Dunar shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t think this many had gone missing. This has to be from previous Spires.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we should take our chances against the Winter Wolf spawn?¡± Mikal suggested.

    Rolfe and Helga shook their heads.

    ¡°These poor souls need to be avenged,¡± Rolfe stated.

    ¡°Ya,¡± Helga agreed.

    ¡°We are adventurers. We do not back away from the darkness. We run toward it,¡± Jeze added.

    ¡°That is true. There is an evil here that must be stopped,¡± Dunar added.

    ¡°I miss Ziplocke,¡± Mikal muttered. The Goblin would have been opposed to this.

    The Proven traveled deeper into twisting tunnels of ice caves. They walked down a morbid hallway lined with adventurers frozen within the ice. There were maybe close to a hundred poor souls trapped. Dunar mapped their progress so that they could escape this frozen labyrinth if needed.

    Rolfe perked up. ¡°I know this! This is another tale from our childhood,¡± he said.

    Mikal shook his head and rubbed his face.

    ¡°Ya! This is the realm of the Frost Hag!¡± Helga replied.

    ¡°Enough of your tales. This is reality,¡± Mikal muttered.

    ¡°Why do you say that, Micky? We fought Ice Giants and Winter Wolf Spawn,¡± Helga shot back.

    ¡°You did call this floor Niflheim,¡± Dunar pointed out.

    Mikal sighed. ¡°If what you say is true, then we are all doomed.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Jeze asked.

    Dunar explained, ¡°The Frost Hag is said to be a former lover of the Frozen All-Father. When he did not marry her, she became jealous.¡±

    Mikal continued the story, ¡°And in her jealousy, she lured his mortal sons to her home where she encased them in ice. In his fury, the Frozen All Father banished her to a place without hope. To Niflheim.¡±

    ¡°It is said that she is the mother of the Ice Giants and that she vowed to raise an army to conquer the Frozen Throne,¡± Rolfe added.

    Helga nodded enthusiastically. ¡°We have a chance to fight another mythical monster from our childhood!¡±

    Mikal snorted. ¡°Not a monster. The queen of the monsters. If what you say is true, we should turn back. There is no way we can face a demigod!¡±

    ¡°I fought a demigod once,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°You lie!¡± Mikal shot back.

    Jeze scowled at him and stated, ¡°It¡¯s true. I faced the Night Mistress with Rainbow and Swordslayer.¡±

    ¡°Bah, another tall tale,¡± Mikal muttered.

    Jeze liked him when he was nicer after his near-death experience. Like anything, time allows one to forget. She led the group to scout for traps. Her sharp eyes caught sight of something that made her heart fill with anguish.

    ¡°No!¡± Jeze sobbed.

    Dunar hurried over and asked, ¡°What is it?¡±

    Jeze pointed with a trembling hand. The others looked up and gasped. Frozen within the ice were the forms of Rainbow and Swordslayer. They were the most recent, as no more frozen bodies came after them. A breeze came through the cave with the faint sound of a woman laughing.

    ¡°This is indeed the work of the Frost Hag. All hope is lost. We should turn back,¡± Mikal said.

    Who else could defeat the formidable pair? Jeze shook her head and placed a hand on the cold ice that killed her friends. Tears dripped down her eyes. She would never see them again. Never hear Swordslayer¡¯s boastful laugh or Rainbow¡¯s wise counseling. They were great, yet Jeze was reminded of a harsh truth. Many adventurers die without making the ballads or the stories. They die and are forgotten to disappear within the merciless annals of history.

    ¡°No, we will face this Frost Hag and kill the bitch!¡± Jeze promised.

 Chapter 111: Goblin Uprising

    Ziplocke was not in a good mood. He scowled more than smiled, he growled more than laughed. The three were back at Modok¡¯s crooked stone palace. This was the fifth time Ziplocke used the Rift aspect to teleport to the abandoned castle. The upside, he finally listened to Graul and repaired the broken Threshold, so teleporting here was much cheaper. The downside? Ziplocke felt like he was wasting the Hold Core¡¯s tremendous potential on frivolous things. The Goblin Lord was not in a good mood.

    ¡°Okay, I think we have everything we need,¡± Graul stated.

    Ziplocke looked up and sighed. Tiny Lessar Goblins were all over the chamber. Climbing and falling from the jagged walls. Sniffing and poking at everything. Ziplocke rubbed his face.

    ¡°Aww, do not worry. I am sure we will not need to return back here. At least not right away,¡± Leandra said.

    Ziplocke was tired and realized he missed the Material realm. When they returned to retrieve Modok¡¯s heart they discovered that the Howlers had taken the castle and they were forced to flee. Graul had the bright idea to return with a Goblin force to retake the castle. So, teleportation number three to Modok¡¯s castle consisted of herding Goblins and Lessar Goblins to mount a siege. That didn¡¯t go well as they didn¡¯t have a strong enough force to take the castle. Most of the Lessar Goblins were either slaughtered or fled to hide among the many crevices within the crooked palace. It took Ziplocke two more times to transport enough Goblins to successfully retake the castle. He now had a greater appreciation for Dunar¡¯s tactical mind. He actually missed the Material realm.

    ¡°Can¡¯t have a Goblin uprising without taking a few risks, am I right?¡± Graul asked as he slapped Ziplocke¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°What if the Fiends find out and mount an attack to reclaim Modok¡¯s territory?¡± Leandra wondered.

    It was one thing to fight a pack of Howlers and Lessar Fiends, but against actual Fiends? Could their Goblin force manage? Ziplocke worried that this would mark the end of his kind.

    ¡°Relax, I left Lummox in charge. At any sign of trouble he will lead the Goblins back home and close the Threshold,¡± Graul said.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Lummox? Really?¡± Ziplocke wondered.

    Ziplocke glanced at the Goblin in question. Lummox was a regular Goblin with droopy eyes that made him appear like he was asleep. He was smaller than Leandra and Graul and not one to inspire any type of confidence. Ziplocke sighed. We are doomed.

    ¡°He fell asleep again,¡± Leandra pointed out.

    ¡°What? Hey Lummox, wake up!¡± Graul snapped.

    The smaller Goblin snapped awake and cried, ¡°Retreat!¡±

    About a dozen Lessar Goblins screamed and ran through the portal to return back to the Glass Forest. Before Graul can stop him, Lummox also dove through the portal. In moments the Portal shut down. There were still hundreds of Goblins that remained in the palace with no way to return back to the Glass Forest outside of walking.

    Ziplocke rubbed his face and sighed. ¡°We are doomed.¡±

    ¡°I mean he is learning right? You saw how fast he reacted? That was good, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Graul said.

    Leandra nodded and replied, ¡°It was very impressive. Maybe next time he can at least get a dozen more folks before he flees? You know, to ensure the survival of our species.¡±

    Graul nodded. ¡°I will instruct him on that. Hey Ziplocke, can you create another Threshold to the Glass Forest?¡±

    The Goblin Lord was not in a good mood. He didn¡¯t even argue or complain but tapped into the Rift aspect and created another Threshold using the Portal arch back to the Glass Forest.

    ¡°Die!¡± Lummox charged through with a squad of howling Lessar Goblins. He was holding the spear backwards.

    ¡°Hey! It¡¯s us!¡± Graul cried. He disarmed the smaller Goblin of his weapon.

    ¡°Hi Graul,¡± Lummox greeted with a crooked smile.

    A Lessar Goblin threw a rock and it bounced of Ziplocke¡¯s face. This was followed by a snickering and then dozens more pebbles were flung at the Goblin Lord.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Ziplocke roared.

    Lessar Goblins squealed and fled in all directions to hide among the numerous shadows in the jagged palace.

    ¡°Retreat!¡± Lummox cried and ran through the Threshold.

    Gaul sighed, ¡°Not again.¡±

    The Threshold shut down again.

    ¡°I think he gathered a larger group this time,¡± Leandra poitned out.

    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t,¡± Graul observed and added, ¡°But I still think he has potential.

    ¡°We are doomed,¡± Ziplocke muttered.

 Chapter 112: Know Thy Enemy

    Ever since she found her friends encased in ice, Jeze has become obsessed with vengeance. She searched the area for clues, and she utilized the Spirit aspect for assistance. The Summoned Spirit seemed to be energized by Jeze¡¯s strong emotions. It fluttered about the cavern, always on the periphery, and showed Jeze where to find tracks. With its support and her tracking skills, Jeze was able to piece together what happened. Her friends encountered the Frost Hag in this chamber, and the battle ended with them encased in ice. Jeze knew where the Frost Hag went after the fight and the likely direction that led deeper into the monster¡¯s home.

    ¡°You should have had a full team!¡± Jeze quietly scolded the frozen forms of Rainbow and Swordslayer as anguish squeezed at her chest like a crushing wave. Only if they had a team, they could have beaten the Frost Hag. She knew that in her sad heart.

    ¡°Tell me what you know about the Frost Hag,¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s just stories,¡± Mikal replied.

    ¡°Everything! Tell me it all!¡± Jeze demanded. The Healer flinched at her intensity.

    Helga answered, ¡°Ya, so the stories say that she was a mortal lover to the Frozen All-Father. Her name was Freyja.¡±

    Jeze rolled her eyes at Mikal and said, ¡°Your god sounds like a swell guy.¡±

    ¡°The Frozen All-Father is not perfect, but he cares for us,¡± Mikal stated.

    Jeze arched her eyebrows. ¡°Oh really? Helga, what happened to Freyja? I bet nothing good.¡±

    Helga grinned. ¡°Oh ya, you are right. Nothing good. It is said that the All Father¡¯s wife, the goddess Sifron the High Queen, grew angry at his infidelity and punished Freyja and cursed her into a twisted Hag whose very touch can trap a person in ice.¡±

    ¡°Wonderful! Why punish the poor mortal girl and not the All-Father himself?¡± Jeze wondered.

    Rolfe and Dunar remained quiet and both took one step back. Mikal scratched his head and debated if he should answer the question or not. Finally, his faith won.

    ¡°Because he is the All-Father! The High King, ruler, and Protector of the realm of man,¡± Mikal responded.

    ¡°There you have it, Jeze. Protector of men, but not women,¡± Helga stated.

    ¡°I meant all people. Men and women,¡± Mikal stated.

    Dunar and Rolfe shook their heads but knew not to get involved.

    ¡°We heard what you said,¡± Jeze growled, and she turned to Helga, ¡°Please continue.¡±

    Helga glanced up and tapped her chin. ¡°I¡¯m not good with stories, Jezie. But I think you know what happened. Freyja became enraged with the injustice and used her curse to freeze the All Father¡¯s mortal children.¡±

    ¡°She was then punished to live in eternity within this cursed realm of cold and despair,¡± Mikal said.

    Dunar spoke up, ¡°It is said that before she took her horrible vengeance on the All Father¡¯s children. Freyja studied the dark Runic arts.¡±

    Jeze nodded and said, ¡°Tell me more.¡±

    Dunar cleared his throat and continued, ¡°The All Father¡¯s mortal sons were the First Kings. They were said to be great warriors with many loyal soldiers at their command. Killing them would not have been easy. So Freyja prepared herself. Trained in the spear and the forbidden magic.¡±

    ¡°Only the Frozen Priests were allowed to learn Rune magic,¡± Mikal added.

    ¡°Sounds like a wonderful religion, Mikal,¡± Jeze muttered.

    Mikal scowled at her, but he did not respond. She turned to Dunar.

    ¡°Do we know what type of Rune magic she studied?¡± Jeze asked.

    Dunar shook her head. ¡°The stories just say that she studied the dark arts in order to get her revenge on the Gods. She became so formidable that they could not kill her and had to trap her in Niflheim.¡±

    Mikal said, ¡°I find it interesting about the parts of the story that you chose to remember, Dunar.¡±

    The Leader shrugged and replied, ¡°I admire progression and growth.¡±

    ¡°Even if it led to murder?¡± Mikal asked.

    ¡°Oh, hush, Micky! The Frozen All Father cheated on his wife and abused a mortal girl,¡± Helga admonished.

    Rolfe spoke up, ¡°I liked the story. It says that we can get stronger for good or for evil. We could even threaten the gods if we work hard enough.¡±

    Mikal narrowed his eyes. ¡°That is blasphemous!¡±

    Helga rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh ya? Well, then, why even have it in the tale? That is exactly what Freyja did.¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Jeze shouted.

    The others turned to her. Jeze held a hand to the frozen ice that encased her friends. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks. Jeze wiped them and turned back to the others.

    ¡°This is not going to be easy. This Frost Hag will be patient and, by all accounts, formidable. We have to be smarter than her,¡± Jeze said.

    Mikal spoke softly, ¡°I liked Rainbow and Swordslayer. I will not forget that they saved our lives during the Monster Waves. I have to ask, is taking on this risk worth it for us? Would Swordslayer and Rainbow want you to throw away your life?¡±

    Jeze smirked. ¡°You do not know them. Especially Swordslayer, he would lose respect for me if I turned around. Besides, maybe there is a chance we can save them. By my deductions, they were just recently frozen.¡±

    Rolfe spoke up, ¡°I am with Jeze. This is the type of challenge we need to face if we wish to grow stronger.¡±

    Helga nodded her head enthusiastically and exclaimed, ¡°Ya!¡±

    Mikal glanced at Dunar and gave up. He recognized the determination in the Leader¡¯s gray eyes. He studied the frozen ice and said, ¡°It is not likely that they are alive. But it is possible.¡±

    Jeze beamed. A fire grew in her chest that replaced the anguish with fury. She was ready to face Freyja the Frost Hag!

    Dunar glanced around and asked, ¡°Where are the Ice Giants?¡±

    Jeze studied the floor and replied, ¡°I found some tracks, but they appear to have headed outside the caves.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°That is odd. The stories say that Freyja gave birth to the Ice Giants. She wanted to raise an army to reclaim the Material Realm,¡± Mikal pointed out.

    ¡°Something else was bothering me. Why did the Winter Wolves flee?¡± Rolfe asked.

    Helga raised up her arms in frustration. ¡°So many questions! Can we just go and fight the Frost Hag?¡±

    Jeze squeezed the warrior maiden¡¯s arm with affection. Jeze spoke, ¡°It is important that we figure this out but also make plans to fight Freyja. I don¡¯t think the Winter Wolves fled. They were a storm, and storms are chaotic. I think it was just random luck that they didn¡¯t follow us into the caves. They were not attacking us for any other reason than we were in their way.¡±

    The others agreed. Jeze continued, ¡°The mystery is the Ice Giants. Why are they not here?¡±

    ¡°Maybe they are deeper in?¡± Rolfe said, and he pointed with his spear down the ice-walled corridor.

    Dunar shook his head. ¡°It was said that she was raising an army. We have traveled far enough to have at least encountered a few.¡±

    ¡°Ya, and we fought a small army already, no?¡± Helga reminded everyone.

    Rolfe bowed his head and growled, ¡°Next time we will not fail.¡±

    Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide, and she exclaimed, ¡°You are a genius!¡± The scout leaped up to give Helga a kiss on the cheek.

    The warrior maiden held a hand to where she was kissed and responded, ¡°Oh?¡±

    Mikal¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he asked, ¡°What are you getting at?¡±

    ¡°Val! She took the Ice Giants. I think that happened before Swordslayer and Rainbow came here. So, the Frost Hag is most likely weakened from her recent battles!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    ¡°How is that possible? She is the mother of the monsters,¡± Dunar wondered.

    ¡°You all forget. We are not in Niflheim, and the Fiends must have conquered a portion of that realm and absorbed it into the Stronghold to make this floor,¡± Jeze explained.

    Dunar nodded in understanding. ¡°We know that Val can take control of monsters using the Rift aspect. We saw her do that with the Goreraptors and the cult leader we fought.¡± The Leader absently rubbed at his healed arm where it was cut off in that battle.

    Helga removed her helm to scratch at her blond braided hair. ¡°What if the Frost Hag is working alongside the Fiends?¡±

    ¡°I doubt it. The Fiends are not one to make alliances, and neither is the Frost Hag. They both respect strength and would not serve unless they were defeated,¡± Dunar said.

    ¡°Why keep her alive then?¡± Rolfe wondered.

    Mikal perked up and answered, ¡°Because she is guarding something!¡±

    Helga grinned and slapped Mikal on the shoulder. ¡°Very good! You are with us, ya?¡±

    The Healer rubbed his arm and scowled at the warrior maiden. ¡°Yes, now that there is a useful purpose.¡±

    Rolfe grinned. ¡°What are you thinking? Treasure?¡±

    Mikal nodded.

    ¡°We must hurry. Dunar, can you show me what you have mapped so far?¡± Jeze asked.

    The Leader and Jeze studied the map and the small labyrinth of tunnels they had traveled so far. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Dunar asked.

    Jeze looked around and lowered her voice as she responded, ¡°I have some Security Discs left. I can also inscribe some quick and dirty Rune traps. I¡¯m guessing she is vulnerable to the Fire aspect.¡±

    ¡°You are thinking to ambush her? But she is waiting for us,¡± Mikal stated.

    Jeze grinned and replied, ¡°Then we lure her out. She won¡¯t expect that. This is her home. She will be overconfident. But we will be ready.¡±

    Dunar shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think it will be that easy. If we engage her, she will most likely retreat and lead us into a trap.¡±

    Jeze pointed to Swordslayer and Rainbow. ¡°Not unless she thinks we are just two.¡±

    Rolfe nodded in understanding. ¡°Two go in and instigate a fight while the rest of us hide?¡±

    ¡°Bingo!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    ¡°Ya! Well, who are the lucky ones to go and start this fight with a demigod?¡± Helga wondered.

    Jeze nudged the large warrior maiden with her shoulders like an affectionate cat. ¡°I think your flame axe would come in handy, and we ladies should go and have a nice womanly chat with Freyja. Whattya say?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Helga beamed.

    Rolfe sulked. ¡°I wanted to go have a womanly chat.¡±

    Dunar patted the large Protector¡¯s broad shoulder. ¡°Next time. Come, Mikal, let us find places to hide.¡±

    The Proven spent the next thirty minutes preparing. Jeze, with Dunar¡¯s guidance, strategically placed her security disc traps. She also inscribed and empowered additional Fire Rune traps.

    Dunar looked up from his map and said, ¡°These are good spots that give you plenty of options, depending on how Freyja chases you.¡±

    ¡°You will hide there and there,¡± Jeze pointed.

    Dunar examined her suggestions and shook his head. ¡°I was thinking Rolfe, and I hide here, and Mikal should go over there.¡±

    Jeze nodded. She trusted the Leader¡¯s judgment. He had a very sound tactical mind. Helga put her helm back on and came over to Jeze.

    ¡°Let us go, no?¡± The warrior maiden was eager to fight.

    Jeze nodded, and the women followed the Frost Hag¡¯s tracks deeper into the ice caverns.

    ¡°What if we are walking into a trap?¡± Helga whispered.

    ¡°Then we figure it out. It¡¯s the life we live,¡± Jeze replied.

    Helga widely grinned. ¡°I am glad to have you as a friend.¡±

    As they tracked the Frost Hag deeper through the ice passages, Jeze discovered and disarmed several Rune traps. They were made out of the aspects that she guessed the Frost Hag would use. The monster overlaid the Affliction aspect onto the Ice using the Water aspect. The Will infused into them was quite strong, but nothing that Jeze couldn¡¯t handle. Adventuring has tremendously improved her abilities.

    ¡°It would be a nice run back,¡± Helga observed.

    Jeze nodded. The caverns were bigger than she imagined, but they were still determined to continue with the plan. Eventually, the two arrived at a circular chamber that looked like someone¡¯s living quarters. There was furniture, such as a bed and cabinets against the translucent ice walls. A lush white carpet made from the fur of some beast. Against the back wall was a throne made out of blue ice.

    Sitting on the throne was the Frost Hag. She was as tall as Helga with a slender build. Her bare arms and legs were corded with muscle. The Frost Hag¡¯s white hair fell over her face, but Jeze was able to see a large, pointed nose sticking out of the long hanging bangs. A spear made of smooth ice was held loosely in the Hag¡¯s hand. In a weird way, Freyja reminded Jeze of the Night Mistress. Except, the Night Mistress was beautiful. The Frost Hag was more monstrous in appearance. Jeze wondered if there was a connection between the two.

    ¡°Hello Freyja,¡± Jeze greeted.

    The Frost Hag chuckled. It was an oddly sonorous feminine sound that came from such a monstrous creature. The Hag looked up, and Jeze saw she had a mouth filled with sharp teeth and red eyes that were filled to the brim with rage.

    ¡°You¡¯ve come to join my collection, have you?¡± Freyja asked.

    Helga snorted, ¡°You are very confident in yourself.¡±

    The Frost Hag laughed. The piercing sound echoed across the caves like a maddening wind. The monster was on her feet in a blur of speed. Helga and Jeze stepped back. The Frost Hag attacked with a rapid thrust of her frozen spear. Helga batted the weapon to the side with her axe, and Jeze circled to the left. Freyja cocked her head in curiosity.

    ¡°Not bad. This should be fun, and you will make a fine addition to my collection,¡± the Hag hissed.

    Jeze¡¯s curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, ¡°Do you know the Night Mistress?¡±

    Freyja snarled, ¡°Do I know that bitch? Yes, and for putting me in a foul mood by staining my home with that cursed name. I will freeze your blood and burst your heart!¡±

    Helga smirked. ¡°Good job with getting her mad, ya?¡±

    The Frost Hag lunged at Jeze and the teenager dove out of the way.

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget about me!¡± Helga roared and attacked.

    The warrior maiden and the Frost Hag exchanged blows for a moment before Helga retreated. Jeze struck the monster with Darts of flame, which caused the Frost Hag to howl in pain and rage.

    ¡°Time to go,¡± Jeze said, and she and Helga turned to run out of the chamber.

    ¡°No, you don¡¯t!¡± The Hag screamed and a wall of ice blocked their escape.

    ¡°Helga, do the honors,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°Ya!¡± The warrior maiden exclaimed.

    Hegla tapped the runes on her axe and shaped the activation glyph with her hand while pouring some of her Will into it. The Dane axe flared with flame, and Helga delivered a powerful blow that shattered the wall of ice into steam and chunks of ice. The two ran out of the chamber as the Frost Hag launched ice boulders at them. Jeze dared not look back, but she heard the Frost Hag give chase. In that short fight, Jeze knew that she and Helga would not have been able to win. The Frost Hag was very strong. Worse yet, Freyja was skilled with the spear and Rune magic. Jeze just hoped that her plan would work and that she and the others were enough to defeat this rageful Demigod. She also dared to hope that maybe she could save Rainbow and Swordslayer.

 Chapter 113: Controlling Choices

    Jeze and Helga ran as fast as they could. Barreling down after them was the Frost Hag. The mother of the Ice Giants was going to catch them no matter how hard they pumped their legs. But not much further. The plan will work! Jeze told herself, and she could almost feel the tip of the Frost Hag¡¯s spear. Doubt gnawed at her bones, but she kept running. To Helga¡¯s credit, the warrior maiden did not crack under the pressure and ran as hard as she could despite the closeness of their demigod pursuer.

    ¡°You can not flee from me. I will catch you and freeze your blood!¡± The Frost Hag cried.

    Jeze and Helga kept running.

    ¡°The last thing you will see is your heart bursting from your chest!¡± The monster promised.

    Jeze and Helga turned a corner, which gave them a few seconds more distance from the monster. Their hearts rose up when they saw a thick mist materialize just ahead of them. That was Mikal¡¯s work! They ran through the mist, and out of the corner of her eye, Jeze saw Mikal complete the final Glyph, and the mists flash froze into an opaque wall of ice.

    Mikal¡¯s ice wall parted like a curtain for the Frost Hag. ¡°So you two are not alone. Good, that would be more to my collection!¡±

    Jeze struck the monster with fire darts. The Frost Hag howled in rage and gave chase. Mikal had created two ice walls, and when Freyja ran after Jeze, the second wall melted into the ether. Hidden behind it was Helga and Mikal.

    ¡°You think it worked, ya?¡± Helga asked.

    The Healer shrugged and said, ¡°It has to work. Otherwise, we are all dead.¡±

    Helga slapped the dark-haired man on the shoulder that, nearly sent him stumbling to the floor. ¡°Come on, Micky! Have faith!¡±

    Mikal scowled at the warrior maiden, and the two ran off toward their next designated spot. Jeze and Dunar planned all of this. They were crazy to think they could face a demigod. Mikal thought to himself. With an inward sigh, he realized, we are crazy! He was mixed up in all of this, too.

    Jeze ran and turned down the labyrinth of caves and tunnels with the Frost Hag close on her heels. She experienced a momentary feeling of intense doubt. What if she ran the wrong way? She could end up in a dead end! Fear gripped her heart, but she pushed it down. Jeze needed to trust her abilities and to trust her team. The Frost Hag screamed and yelled threats of painful deaths. The monster was furious! Good! In order for this plan to work, they needed to keep Freyja off balance and enraged. Jeze was now in the translucent ice corridors where the frozen adventurers lined the sides. But something was off. The frozen adventurers were no longer encased! They moved to intercept her. Behind Jeze, the Frost Hag cackled. It was a sinister sound that sent chills up one¡¯s soul.

    ¡°You see how futile it is? This is my realm! You will join my collection!¡± Freyja promised.

    Jeze weaved in between grasping hands and clumsily swung weapons as a dozen zombie adventurers lumbered after her. Of course one of Freyja¡¯s aspects would be Necromancy! The Proven did say she studied the dark arts! Jeze scolded herself for not anticipating this. This could be bad! Jeze readied her battle axe in her right hand and held her Fire aspect channeling rod in her left. She used the rod to deflect a clumsy sword thrust, and with her axe, she removed the zombie adventurer¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Sorry!¡± She said and hoped that they were not alive.

    Then grief squeezed at her heart like a dragon¡¯s grasping claw. What if she had to fight the zombie forms of Rainbow and Swordslayer? Could she even strike them? No, it would be the end of her, Jeze realized with fear and sadness. The zombie adventurers shambled and lacked the skills they had in life. The undead were numerous, and they succeeded in slowing Jeze down enough for the Frost Hag to catch up! In the corner of her eye, Jeze saw the monster come after her.

    ¡°Here is where you die!¡± The Frost Hag cried and lunged with a spear.

    Jeze slid under the attack, the ice covered spear blade was mere inches from her face. So close that Jeze saw her own reflection in it. She ran up a wall and jumped off it to flip away from the Frost Hag. Jeze landed and weaved through the clumsy attacks of a few zombies while she shaped the final glyphs with her Fire rod to Summon and Shape flames. The Frost Hag barreled after her, and Jeze struck the monster with fire. Freyja hissed and flinched back, which gave Jeze enough time to sprint away. A zombie adventurer armed with a short spear stood in front of Jeze and tried to stab her. With her Fire aspect channeling rod, she deflected the spearhead and removed the zombie¡¯s head with her axe.

    ¡°Sorry!¡± she said as she ran past, and the zombie adventurer fell to its knees.

    Jeze was worried that if she continued to use the rod, she would damage the engraved Runes and not be able to Summon the Fire aspect. But she pushed that concern down. Not much further ahead was the first of the traps. Jeze heard the Frost Hag closing the distance between them. Freyja moved fast! Jeze reflected with a quick glance to confirm that the Frost Hag was getting close enough to stab her with the ice spear. Good, Freyja was charging recklessly after her.

    ¡°I hope this works,¡± Jeze mumbled to herself as she leaped to avoid triggering the security disc trap.

    A mere moment later, she felt the intense heat as the Fire Rune trap was triggered, and the hallway was engulfed in flames. Jeze paused to risk a glance back. The Frost Hag howled in pain as she stumbled out of the flames. Jeze noticed that the Hag looked weaker, just like when they had injured the Night Mistress. Wounds and scars appeared along the Frost Hag¡¯s once unblemished blue skin. Jeze recognized the marks of Swordslayer¡¯s parallel blade attacks and the dark spider-like veins that marked Rainbow¡¯s poison attacks. They almost defeated her! Jeze knew it.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°I will make you suffer,¡± the Frost Hag rasped as Runes flared along the monster¡¯s skin.

    Jeze felt the familiar sensation in her head. The monster was using the Mind aspect! Jeze immediately worked to push out the Hag¡¯s magic. But it was too late. The Hag tilted her head and grinned evilly.

    ¡°I sense something familiar in your heart. Vengeance is it? Against me? Why is that? Aww yes, there is someone in my collection that is close to you? I wonder who?¡± The Frost Hag hissed as she twirled her fingers.

    More adventurer zombies shambled out of their imprisonment. Jeze even heard fighting echo off the hallways as her teammates engaged in combat. The Frost Hag cackled as she unleashed her frozen army! Jeze focused her panicked mind back to the task at hand, and she launched a fire dart that struck the monster in its laughing face.

    ¡°You will die!¡± The Frost Hag shrieked and charged.

    Good, let her come after me. Jeze thought to herself as she led the Frost Hag down the ice corridors. Jeze¡¯s mind was zeroed in to complete one task. That was to kill this bitch! She weaved seamlessly through the attacking zombies and fought with axe and fire. Jeze¡¯s emotions and rage allowed her to touch upon Mastery once again. She led the Frost Hag to another Fire Rune trap, and the monster blindly rushed into it. Once again, the hallway was engulfed in flames, and this time, the Hag stumbled to her knees.

    ¡°You will die!¡± The Frost Hag rasped.

    Jeze weaved glyphs into the air and struck the Frost Hag several times with fire darts. The monster rose up and gave chase. One final turn, Jeze thought to herself, and she led the monster into the chamber where the Proven waited. Currently, her teammates were fighting against a small horde of zombie adventurers. The Frost Hag cackled.

    ¡°Good, we are all together now!¡± The monster shrieked. Her voice echoed off the ice walls.

    Jeze turned to face the Hag with sword and axe at the ready. No more running. This was it.

    ¡°You will not flee from me?¡± The Frost Hag hissed.

    Jeze responded by shouting, ¡°For Glory!¡±

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± Her team chanted back.

    Mikal had completed the final glyphs for the Vitality Spring. The whole team glowed faintly with power. All the cards were played. The Proven were going all out! With a howl of fury and grief, Jeze charged the Frost Hag. Freyja was shocked by the sudden ferocity and stumbled back. The Hag jabbed her spear at Jeze, who deflected the thrusts with sword and axe and closed the distance. Dunar and Rolfe held back the wave of zombies with shields and weapons as Helga circled around the Frost Hag.

    Jeze was forced back by the Hag¡¯s deadly spear, but Helga was able to land a devastating blow that buckled the Hag¡¯s legs. Mikal struck the monster with spears of ice. The Frost Hag rose and twirled her weapon, which forced Jeze and Helga to retreat. Wounds slowly closed on the Frost Hag¡¯s skin, but she was weakened.

    ¡°You are dying,¡± Jeze said.

    The Frost Hag glared with red eyes that dripped with fury. She charged Jeze, and the teenager deftly avoided the spear attacks. The Frost Hag¡¯s furious assault left her exposed, and Helga struck again with her Dane axe that chipped deeply into the ice-hard skin. Helga retreated when the Hag faced her, and this allowed Jeze to land a blow of her own. That was the strategy for the two to move in and out, and when they were both away, Mikal struck the Hag with spears of ice.

    Jeze saw that Rainbow and Swordslayer were still frozen in the ice as all the other adventures shambled out. This sparked hope in her chest. A hope that felt like a warm fire during the cold of winter. Maybe they were still a chance to save them!

    The Frost Hag¡¯s ice-hard skin fell off in pieces. Her magic was fading. In the final exchange, the Frost Hag roared and went after Jeze. Helga¡¯s axe removed the monster¡¯s leg, and the creature collapsed to the ground. Jeze pounced and forced the creature onto its back.

    ¡°Release my friends,¡± Jeze demanded.

    The Frost Hag cackled and searched around with her red eyes. ¡°Friends? There are more than one. Ahh, yes, those two.¡±

    ¡°Do it!¡± Jeze demanded again, this time pressing her sword harder into the Hag¡¯s throat.

    Freyja laughed and replied, ¡°I can do that. But you will have to choose. One of your friends can be free, but the other shall remain trapped with me.¡±

    Jeze hesitated. Conflict burned in her heart. Who should she choose? She cared for both.

    Freyja laughed with glee. ¡°I see the pain on your face! You must choose¡±

    Jeze felt bad for the Frost Hag. The monster had so much pain in her heart that she only found joy by spreading more pain. Freyja was lost to rage, and there was no coming back for her. Jeze shook her head.

    ¡°No,¡± she replied, and with a chop of her axe, she removed the Frost Hag¡¯s head while it was still sneering.

    ¡°Jeze! What have you done?¡± Helga demanded.

    ¡°What about your friends?¡± Mikal asked.

    With the Hag¡¯s control gone, the Zombies aimlessly shambled about. Some returned to the walls, and others walked away.

    Jeze shook her head and replied, ¡°If she was able to free one, that means there is a way to free both. I will not be tied down by her terms.¡±

    Dunar nodded and asked Rolfe, ¡°Help me with them.¡±

    The two large Frostsworn warriors gathered the frozen bodies of Swordslayer and Rainbow.

    ¡°What now?¡± Mikal asked.

    ¡°We search her chambers,¡± Jeze said.

    She was tired from the fighting, from running, and from the grief. Jeze was not able to look at the frozen bodies of her friends as Dunar and Rolfe carried them. The next moments were a blur to Jeze. The team went deeper into the ice caves to where Helga and Jeze first encountered the Frost Hag. The team searched the room and found a room behind the throne that was filled with gems and treasure. Mikal¡¯s eyes lit up.

    ¡°There is so much here for us to search through!¡± The Healer exclaimed.

    The others remained somber as they searched. There were tomes and books and a journal beside the Frost Hag¡¯s throne. All of this would have useful information, but Jeze was numb.

    Helga tapped her on the shoulder and said, ¡°Jezie, look at this.¡±

    In another chamber further in was a glimmering Threshold.

    ¡°The exit portal,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°That is what Freyja was guarding,¡± Dunar observed. He turned to Jeze and asked, ¡°Can you repurpose it?¡±

    Jeze was looking at the bodies of Swordslayer and Rainbow. Tears dripped down her cheeks.

    ¡°There is a chance they can be saved. Their bodies and Will were strong,¡± Mikal assured her.

    Jeze nodded and went to work. In moments the Portal was repurposed and allowed for two way travel. Dunar nodded.

    ¡°This would make an ideal Safe Zone,¡± he observed.

    Mikal gripped Jeze by her shoulders. ¡°Have hope. Let us go and see what we can do for your friends. At the very least, they will have a proper burial.¡±

    Jeze hugged the Healer and sobbed into his chest.

 Chapter 114: A New Dimension to Combat

    The Spirit Walkers and Miss Heng found a Monster Portal on the fourth floor where Howling Winter Wolves emerged. Miss Heng timed her attacks perfectly and struck down many Winter Wolves just as they materialized. Ahanu wondered if the Amber Guard had some sort of sixth sense. For the rest of the team, Paca used the Moon aspect to pierce through the monster¡¯s shifting abilities, which slowed them down enough for them to make short work of the beasts. The Protector guarded Rainia as she repurposed the Portal, and soon, the monsters stopped emerging as the area turned into a Safe Zone.

    ¡°That was adequate work,¡± Miss Heng stated. Her voice was flat and her face was stoic like the cold ice they walked on.

    Zena rolled her eyes and muttered quietly to the others, ¡°Gee, thanks for the praise. I¡¯m super motivated now.¡±

    Paca and Rainia giggled while Ahanu worried that Miss Heng would overhear them. Adventurers started to enter through the Portal to set up a safe zone. Miss Heng beckoned the team to follow her.

    ¡°I announced this location through the Communication Scroll. The theory is that the criminals follow the scrolls. Hopefully, this will lure them to ambush us,¡± Miss Heng stated and eyed each of them with her dark narrow eyes. ¡°Be prepared and stay close,¡± she added.

    With that Miss Heng walked off to sit cross legged on top of a low ridge where she meditated. Zena shook her head.

    ¡°No one mentioned that we would be bait,¡± the archer muttered.

    ¡°They already shut down one safe zone portal. Why would they do another?¡± Paca wondered.

    ¡°They want to block us from reaching the 10th floor,¡± Rainia stated.

    Paca tapped her chin and asked, ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t they be defending the Floor Portal?¡±

    Ahanu nodded in agreement. He said, ¡°I don¡¯t think they will show up here. I think they achieved what they wanted and are moving on.¡±

    Zena agreed, ¡°That makes the most sense. But here we are wasting our time.¡± The archer scowled in the direction of Miss Heng. She never got used to the Amber Guard replacing their mentor and friend, Tallulah.

    Rainia held up a calming hand. ¡°We should trust Miss Heng. She has been doing this for a long time, and we are doing our part. Stay close and vigilant.¡±

    Zena¡¯s face softened, and she muttered, ¡°Very well.¡±

    ¡°Merchants are arriving, I¡¯m going shopping!¡± Paca exclaimed.

    ¡°I could restock my arrows,¡± Zena said and hopped to join her colleague.

    When the others departed, Rainia turned to Ahanu and asked, ¡°What do you think, brother?¡±

    He shook his head and replied, ¡°There is a lot we don¡¯t know. From what we do know about the five we fought, they were all power-hungry. They wouldn¡¯t stick around this floor. My bet? They are on the fifth floor.¡±

    ¡°Then why would they attack the Safe Zone?¡± Rainia asked.

    Ahanu shrugged his armor-plated shoulders. ¡°Like I said, there is a lot we don¡¯t know. Maybe they need the portals for their own purposes?¡±

    Rainia nodded and said, ¡°That could be.¡±

    ¡°What about you? What do you think?¡± Ahanu asked.

    Rainia knelt down on the blue ice and scooped some of it up in her hands. ¡°Some of the ice here is rich with spiritual energy. Especially near the portals. As a Spirit Walker, there is a lot we can harvest from this floor. But, as an Adventurer, I want us to reach the 10th floor and end the threat of the Fiendish Lord.¡±

    Ahanu nodded and he glanced up to where Miss Heng meditated. ¡°She could be right and this is a way for us to ambush the ones that killed Talluah.¡± He snarled for a moment as he recalled the man named Shiv. His hands flexed as he itched to avenge his friend.

    Rainia gripped his shoulders and pulled her brother into a warm embrace. ¡°We all miss her, but do not let your vengeance cloud your judgment or change your gentle heart.¡±

    Ahanu sighed. A tear dropped freely down his cheek, and he quickly wiped it away. A knight must never cry, for it is a sign of a lapse in discipline. He cleared his throat.

    ¡°Go, sister, and harvest the magical ice. I will talk with Miss Heng and see if I can change her mind so that we can go to the fifth floor.¡±

    Rainia smiled gently and patted Ahanu¡¯s cheek. She nodded and turned away. Ahanu walked up the low ridge toward the Amber Guard. As he neared he felt a tingling sensation press up against his Will.

    ¡°Hello, Ahanu,¡± Miss Heng greeted without turning to face him or opening her eyes.

    ¡°How did you do that?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Like with anything. With practice,¡± she replied. Her eyes remained closed.

    Ahanu removed his helm to scratch his dark, curly hair. ¡°Can you show me?¡±

    Miss Heng opened her eyes and he couldn¡¯t tell if she was glaring at him or being indifferent. Ahanu cleared his throat.

    ¡°If you are busy, I understand.¡±

    Miss Heng tilted her head and said, ¡°As you can see, I am not busy. Do you still want to learn?¡±

    Ahanu nodded, and Miss Heng patted the spot next to her. ¡°Sit,¡± she ordered.

    He sat crossed legs next to her on the cold, packed ice and snow.

    ¡°Closing your eyes helps, though it is not needed,¡± Miss Heng said.

    Ahanu closed his eyes.

    ¡°Breathe in and focus on your breath,¡± she stated.

    Ahanu peeked at her and replied, ¡°I know how to meditate.¡±

    ¡°Do you want to learn or not?¡± Miss Heng snapped.

    Ahnau closed his eyes and muttered, ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°Through meditation, you are sharpening your focus. Narrowing it to one thing, which is your breath. As you get better, you can expand it to focus on the present,¡± Miss Heng stated.

    Ahanu sharpened his mind to focus solely on his breath. Slowly, he started to expand his awareness to other sensations, including the cold against his body and the faint sounds of the Safe Zone.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    ¡°How do I sense people?¡± Ahanu asked through his closed eyes.

    ¡°Patience!¡± Miss Heng snapped.

    Ahanu flinched. He resumed his breathing and maintained awareness. He lost track of time when Miss Heng spoke again.

    ¡°Take this,¡± she handed him a beaded necklace.

    Ahanu felt Runes etched along its smooth surface. Miss Heng answered before he could ask.

    ¡°It is the Mind aspect. I expect you to study them, but in the meantime learn the final Glyphs.¡±

    Ahanu opened his eyes and nodded. Miss Heng showed him how to shape the Glyphs with his hands. It was hard work as the movements needed to be precise. He failed many times, and even though he expected harsh criticism, none came. Miss Heng was surprisingly patient, but she was also cold, like the ice he sat on. Her stern face showed no emotion.

    ¡°What am I doing?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Completing these Glyphs allows you to manifest your Will outside of your mind,¡± Miss Heng answered.

    Ahnau blinked. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±

    Miss Heng sighed and explained, ¡°To put it simply, you are Summoning pure Will. Unlike the other aspects where they are drawn from other realms, Will comes from within.¡±

    The Spirit Walker Protector did feel a gentle tug. Was it against his Mind? He couldn¡¯t explain it, but there was a tingling that he felt in his perception.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see if you did this correctly. You have to tell me,¡± Miss Heng snapped.

    Ahanu cleared his throat. ¡°Sorry, yes, I felt a tug on my brain.¡±

    Miss Heng smirked. ¡°Good. Now tap the flat side of the beads. There, you should feel a different set of Runes.¡±

    She showed him the activation glyphs that he was to shape with his hands. Again, it took many tries, and she waited. Finally, when he did it correctly, he felt he could Shape his Will. It was like dough, but invisible and only touched with his mind. He told Miss Heng this.

    ¡°Good, you are learning quickly. Flip the beads over, and you will find a final set of Runes,¡± she instructed. Again, she showed him the same pattern he used before.

    Miss Heng continued with her instruction. ¡°Once you finish this final Glyph, you will be able to extend your Will outwards. I like to Shape it as a sphere that expands away from me in all directions.¡±

    Ahnau¡¯s face strained as he molded his Will into a sphere around him. It was hard, like trying to cup water in one¡¯s hands. When he lost it, he needed to start all over again.

    ¡°Do not give up!¡± Miss Heng snapped.

    Ahnau nodded, and he continued. Eventually, he was able to do it. Not very far, but far enough where his Will touched upon Miss Heng. He knew it was her, and it was hard to explain how. The best way he could describe it was as if he smelled her. But without any scent. He just knew it was Miss Heng. Like recognizing her face in a crowd. Ahanu had a thought.

    ¡°Is this how you were able to detect the Winter Wolves when they materialized?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Precisely how,¡± Miss Heng answered, and she continued, ¡°When you reach out with your Will, it connects with other Wills and reports back to you. In a way, you become more sensitive to their intentions.¡±

    Ahnau was already thinking about the combat application. ¡°How long can I hold out my Will?¡±

    Miss Heng smiled. It was a rare sight, and one that Ahanu found pleasing, as he realized that the Amber Guard was beautiful, even though she could be terrifying.

    ¡°That is what makes the Mind aspect unique compared to the others. You are not pulling from another realm but from your own Will. Therefore, you can hold it for as long as you are able to hold it. Unlike, for example, the Water aspect. I Summon water, and I can Shape and Control it, but depending on how much energy I put into the spell, it will fade over time no matter what,¡± Miss Heng explained.

    ¡°Can I Shape another¡¯s Will?¡± Ahanu asked.

    Miss Heng shook her head. ¡°No, that is another major difference between the Mind aspect and the others. It is impossible to Shape or Control another¡¯s Will. However, you can insert your Will into their minds. Like a thought, a feeling, or a command.¡±

    She tapped a bracelet and finalized the Glyphs with her hands. Ahanu was impressed with the smoothness in which she completed the patterns. She did the movements quickly and finished by saying, ¡°Stand.¡±

    Ahanu felt like he wanted to get up. But he didn¡¯t, so he remained seated. It was odd, like a memory of something that he knew not to be true.

    ¡°Very impressive,¡± Miss Heng acknowledged.

    Ahanu scowled. ¡°I don¡¯t like having you throw spells at me like that.¡±

    Miss Heng¡¯s eyes widened, and she smiled. She reached out and ran her fingers gently through his curly hair. He wanted to stop her, but it felt good.

    ¡°I am sorry. Your Will is very strong. Much more than the average warrior. Your work with Runes has truly paid off. Especially if you wish to advance to and beyond the Adept rank,¡± Miss Heng said.

    Ahanu glanced down, and he replied, ¡°I feel like I should have studied Rune magic sooner, and now it will be too late for me to advance further.¡±

    ¡°I agree,¡± Miss Heng stated flatly and added, ¡°But I am a pure Rune caster, and I am biased.¡±

    Ahanu sighed, ¡°Jeze has it right. She trained both her mind and body earlier on.¡±

    Miss Heng scowled and then rubbed the bridge of her nose. ¡°That girl, if she just directed a fraction, a tiny fraction, of her discipline toward her manners, then she would go very far. But do not compare yourself to her. She is a unique individual. Besides, there are many pure fighter Adept ranked adventurers.¡±

    The Protector looked up. ¡°Really?¡±

    Miss Heng answered, ¡°Sure. Look at Berserker Orn, for example. Training one¡¯s body and learning all that there is to combat requires a degree of discipline that will inadvertently strengthen one¡¯s Will. The Frostsworn shun magic, except for their Cold Priests. Yet, they have plenty of Adept-ranked adventurers.¡±

    ¡°What about Elites?¡± Ahanu asked.

    Miss Heng chuckled. ¡°There are not many Elites, period.¡±

    ¡°But, all Elites were Rune casters first, correct? Like Master Couzart,¡± Ahanu pointed out.

    ¡°How should I know? I do not track the Elites or their histories!¡± Miss Heng snapped.

    Ahanu closed his mouth. He saw that he had hit the limit of her patience. Miss Heng glanced and gripped his arm.

    ¡°You are very strong and are nearing your physical peak. Just like there are many ways to train your body, there are many ways to train your Will. You perfecting the Mind aspect will complement your combat ability and enhance your Will,¡± Miss Heng said.

    Ahanu crunched his face. He felt he would be too distracted to fight if he focused on the Mind aspect. Miss Heng saw his doubt. She glanced around and saw that the Safe Zone was fully established.

    ¡°Looks like I was wrong. They will not come to us,¡± she said and rose to her feet. ¡°Come, let us spar.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ahnau asked as he stood up.

    ¡°Summon and Shape your Will. Extend it outwards, and once you are finished. I will punch you in the face,¡± Miss Heng replied.

    Ahanu hesitated, and as fast as a striking snake, Miss Heng struck him in the face. The pain focused him into the moment. Ahanu glared at her.

    ¡°Hurry up. Your opponent will not wait for you. I will give you a moment,¡± Miss Heng said.

    Ahanu followed the routine she had shown him. He struggled with the gestures, and Miss Heng punched his face again, but this time he blocked it. Fluid like a flowing river, she grabbed him and kicked his legs out from underneath. The fall knocked the wind out of him, and he quickly recovered and tackled her. The two wrestled before Miss Heng escaped his hold and disengaged.

    ¡°Try again,¡± she said.

    This time, Ahnau Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled his Will. It added another layer of perception for him. Normally, in a fight, he would study his opponent¡¯s waist and torso. All attacks stemmed from the body and he had developed a unique understanding to spot an incoming attack right away. Unless the opponent was a skilled fighter and used feints. That was the ebb and flow of a fight. There were small wins and losses until it was over.

    But with the Mind aspect, Ahanu was able to detect feints and predict attacks much more clearly. Miss Heng unleashed a barrage of punches, elbows, knees, and kicks. Ahanu dodged, parried, and weaved away from each attack. He felt her Will touch upon his, and when he attacked back, she easily defended. The two went back and forth, and Ahanu didn¡¯t realize it, but he was going hard. He was not holding back. He was heavier and stronger than Miss Heng, but she was more skilled. She not only jabbed with her fists but with Her Will. It disoriented him, and she landed a kick to his body. Ahanu snarled and rushed forward with a combination of punches designed to create an opening for a kick to her body. But she was not there, and instead, he found himself lying on his back. Ahanu quickly scrambled back to his feet, but his teacher was walking away from him.

    ¡°Good, very good. I do not recommend you using this in a real fight, but to continue training it in sparring,¡± Miss Heng said from over her shoulder.

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Out. I suspect our quarry is not on this floor,¡± Miss Heng answered.

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± Ahanu hurried after her.

    ¡°We go to base camp and touch base with the others and prepare ourselves for the fifth floor,¡± Miss Heng answered.

 Chapter 115: Zombies and Princes

    Mikal and Jeze frantically studied the tomes they gathered from the Frost Hag. They were books on Runes and magic, and the two searched for a way to break the spell that was on Rainbow and Swordslayer.

    ¡°They are still alive, right?¡± Jeze asked. This was probably her third time.

    Mikal rubbed the bridge of his nose. He wanted to scold Jeze for asking the same question over and over, but he also recognized how hard this was for her. Mikal took a deep breath.

    ¡°I believe so. They both had strong bodies and Wills. We may be able to save them,¡± he answered.

    Jeze put her face in her hands and sobbed. Mikal gripped her by the shoulders and gently shook her.

    The Healer scolded, ¡°They will not be saved with crying, now help me figure this out!¡±

    Jeze nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. She turned and focused on her two friends that lay before her. They had exited the Spire and were in the camp, where there was a buzz of commotion and activity. Lower-ranked adventurers and soldiers scrambled about to set up the Safe Zone. Rolfe, Helga, and Dunar had rushed off in search of more help. In all the confusion, Jeze did not pay any mind to the Imperial soldiers who were present.

    With trepidation, she extended her Will toward her friends. Jeze didn¡¯t know what to expect and was afraid that she would somehow trigger them to rise up as zombies. Based upon all of her Runic knowledge, that made no sense, but it was hard to remain rational when two close friends were on the brink of death.

    ¡°I sense the Affliction aspect,¡± Jeze said.

    Mikal, while reading the tomes, nodded. ¡°I also detected the Water aspect, but there is more. Maybe one or two other aspects.¡±

    Jeze tried to Shape and pull out the Affliction aspect that was inside Rainbow and Swordslayer. It was really hard and it strained her Will to the limit. It felt like pulling at a string that was wrapped up tightly in a knot with several other strings. Jeze gasped with fatigue. She failed. The Will of the Frost Hag was immense and the evil monster had made this a strong curse.

    ¡°We know two of the aspects, Water and Affliction. Let¡¯s try together,¡± Mikal suggested.

    Jeze took a deep breath to recover her Will and with Mikal, they both tried to Shape the Runic aspects out of Swordslayer and Rainbow. This time Jeze felt like she was able to grasp the Affliction aspect and tug it. But at some point it got stuck and as hard as she strained she could not pull it out. Mikal gasped and gave up.

    ¡°It¡¯s too hard. We need to find out what the other aspects are,¡± Mikal said.

    ¡°What about the purification ritual you did?¡± Jeze suggested.

    Mikal shook his head. ¡°They would need to be conscious to follow my breathing instructions.¡±

    ¡°But what if we inscribed those Runes around them?¡± Jeze asked.

    Mikal nodded gently. ¡°It can¡¯t hurt.¡±

    The Healer inscribed the circle of Runes he used for the Purification Ritual around the two. The two tried again but with little success. They both fell over, panting from their exertions. Despair gnawed at Jeze like a pack of wolves. It was like a physical pain. She felt helpless, and every minute that they failed, her friends were closer to death. Jeze¡¯s hope reignited when she saw Helga, Dunar, and Rolfe return.

    ¡°We found the Spirit Walkers,¡± Dunar stated.

    Helga and Rolfe each hugged and squeezed Jeze¡¯s shoulders.

    ¡°Ya, your friends will be alright. Have hope Jeze!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    Miss Heng approached, and she rolled up her sleeves. ¡°Tell me everything that has happened,¡± she ordered.

    Jeze¡¯s lip trembled. Mikal placed a gentle hand on her arm and answered Miss Heng. He explained their encounter with the Frost Hag and what had happened to the other adventurers.

    ¡°Jeze and I detected the Water and Affliction aspects. We know there are others. We think it is the Necromancy aspect,¡± Mikal answered.

    Miss Heng scoffed, ¡°The Necromancy aspect is the Spirit Aspect, but used in a way to force spirits to do your bidding. Mostly to trap them as an energy source. Spirits may be barely conscious, but they have long memories and hold grudges. It¡¯s nasty business.¡±

    ¡°I sense the Spirit aspect,¡± Rainia said.

    ¡°Let¡¯s all Shape it out of them!¡± Jeze exclaimed.

    ¡°No,¡± Miss Heng said.

    Jeze had hope and a plan of action. She could do something, but the Amber Guard took that away. This caused despair to boil back up within Jeze¡¯s chest. This made her angry.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to help them,¡± Jeze accused.

    Miss Heng looked at Jeze with her dark, narrow eyes and a face like a mask of ice. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play childish games, and neither do your friends.¡± The Amber Guard turned to Mikal, ¡°The books? Where did you get them?¡±

    Mikal jumped into action and gathered the tomes. ¡°From the Frost Hag¡¯s lair.¡±

    ¡°Good, give them to me,¡± Miss Heng motioned for the books to be handed to her.

    Jeze sat down and hugged her knees. She rocked back and forth. Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga patted her shoulders. Mikal studied the tomes with Miss Heng.

    ¡°It will be alright,¡± Rainia promised. ¡°I sense their spirits are weak but still present.¡±

    Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Is there a potion we can brew?¡±

    ¡°I know of a recipe that strengthens the Spirit. Lucky for us, I was able to find crystals from the fourth floor that will help,¡± Rainia said.

    ¡°That is good, you two work on that,¡± Miss Heng ordered and she pointed at Mikal, ¡°You help me find information in these tomes.¡±

    ¡°That was what I was doing,¡± Mikal growled.

    ¡°Work faster!¡± Miss Heng snapped.

    Jeze pulled out her alchemy tools. Dunar helped with creating a fire as Rainia gathered the ingredients. There was a lot of activity and commotion coming from deeper within the tent city. Jeze saw Irvin rush over. The old man with bushy white eyebrows looked sad at Rainbow and Swordslayer.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Damn fools, traveling the fourth floor without a full team,¡± Irvin grumbled.

    Jeze rushed over and embraced her old friend.

    ¡°They will be alright, girl. Don¡¯t you worry,¡± Irvin assured her.

    The Guild Official pushed himself free from Jeze and went over to Miss Heng.

    ¡°We have a problem,¡± he said.

    ¡°What type of problem?¡± Jeze asked.

    Irvin looked at her with his sad, pale eyes and shook his head.

    ¡°Spit it out already. I do not have time to play a guessing game,¡± Miss Heng snapped. She never looked up from the book she was reading.

    Irvin shook his head and decided to answer in front of everyone. ¡°The Imperial Prince has arrived and heard about Rainbow and Swordslayer.¡±

    ¡°Why is he here?¡± Miss Heng asked without looking at Irvin. The Amber Guard directed Mikal to read the pages in the book she had and turned to Jeze and Rainia.

    ¡°Where are we at with the potion?¡± Miss Heng asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s almost finished,¡± Rainia answered.

    Jeze hurried back to work and mashed the ingredients to throw into the boiling pot. Irvin cleared his throat.

    ¡°Master Couzart sent word out to the Elites,¡± the Guild Official answered.

    ¡°So?¡± Miss Heng asked.

    ¡°The Prince wants Rainbow and Swordslayer turned over into Imperial custody,¡± Irvin said.

    ¡°What? On what grounds?¡± Miss Heng demanded.

    ¡°With Couzart in the Tower, the Prince is the ranking Guild member,¡± the white-haired official answered.

    ¡°He has no jurisdiction,¡± Miss Heng answered.

    ¡°Oh, but I do,¡± a deep voice replied.

    Jeze looked up and, for the first time, paid attention to the crowd around them. A small contingent of Imperial Soldiers in heavy armor stood at attention. In the center was a broad-shoulder man with neatly cropped blonde hair in a thick dark navy jacket of the Imperial Legion. He was a little shorter than Dunar and had a square jaw that looked like it was chiseled out of stone by a sculptor. Jeze guessed this man to be the Prince as he had an aura of power about him similar to Master Couzart. This was another Elite!

    Miss Heng stood to face the Prince with narrow eyes. Jeze wanted to scream that they didn¡¯t have time for this! But she could not find her voice. It got lost deep within her chest.

    Miss Heng bowed. ¡°Greetings, my prince.¡±

    The man simply nodded. Jeze felt that his arrogance dripped off him like venom.

    ¡°These two are wanted criminals,¡± he said.

    ¡°In the Golden Empire, and we are not in the Golden Empire,¡± Miss Heng stated.

    ¡°You need me for the Spire. I will refuse to provide aid if the Guild harbors fugitives,¡± the Prince replied.

    Miss Heng scowled. ¡°If matters of the Empire are so important to you. Then you may wish to reconsider since it is a former Captain of your Legion that has been seen supporting our enemy, the Cultist.¡±

    The Prince glowered at the Amber guard, and the situation grew tense. His contingent of soldiers gripped their weapons. Jeze¡¯s hands edged toward her axe and sword, and the Proven stood tall and ready for a fight. The growing crowd of onlookers took an unconscious step back. Jeze saw that the Prince wore a heavy padded jacket with armor plates on the shoulders and the glint of mail underneath. Jeze guessed that he had over a dozen enchantments across all of his Rune-etched gear, but where were his weapons? Jeze searched and saw that a young squire stood just behind the Prince with a massive sheathed sword. The squire was too small to wield such a weapon as it was longer than he was tall! That had to be the Prince¡¯s weapon. For the first time, Jeze doubted that this was a fight that they could win, even with the aid from Miss Heng. Irvin cleared his throat.

    ¡°Couzart and the other Elites should be arriving shortly,¡± the Guild Official reminded everyone and he added, ¡°Perhaps your Highness would like to get settled before the meeting?¡±

    The Prince chuckled, but to Jeze, his eyes showed zero mirth. She sensed that he was calculating the risk involved. In this fight, he could probably win with his power, but at what cost? Also, would the other Elites turn on him?

    ¡°That is an excellent idea, but so you know, this matter is not yet settled, ¡° the Prince said, and with that, he and his entourage departed.

    ¡°Whew,¡± Mikal sighed.

    ¡°No time to rest! We have work to do,¡± Miss Heng snapped.

    Everyone jumped back into action as the Amber Guard snapped out orders as fast and harsh as lightning.

    ¡°You, give me the potion,¡± Miss Heng ordered Jeze and Riania. The dark-haired Adept turned to Mikal, ¡°You, remove their shirts.¡±

    Mikal took off Swordslayer¡¯s shirt but hesitated when he got to Rainbow.

    ¡°By the gods!¡± Miss Heng snapped, and she removed Rainbow¡¯s top clothes.

    The two cursed adventurers were incredibly fit, and their bodies were laced with scars from a hard life of adventuring. Rainbow had Rune chains tattooed on her arms and shoulders, and Swordslayer¡¯s entire chest and arms were riddled with scars from being cut and stabbed hundreds of times. Jeze knew that was from his harsh tutelage under the Vampire Lord, Vornicus. Very few students survive the lessons.

    Miss Heng turned to others and stated, ¡°Based upon what we know, the Frost Hag¡¯s curse is a complex one. It is a mixture of the Water, Spirit, Mind, and Affliction aspects. They are all intertwined, with the base being the Water aspect. Each of us will need to pull out each of the aspects.¡±

    ¡°I thought we couldn¡¯t shape the Mind aspect in others,¡± Mikal pointed out.

    Miss Heng shook her head and snapped, ¡°We can not shape another¡¯s internal Will, but once they Summon it and Shape it into a spell, then we can also manipulate it.¡±

    ¡°Will this work?¡± Jeze asked quietly.

    Miss Heng glared and responded, ¡°Only one way to find out. No more questions! We are running out of time.¡±

    They went to work. Each Rune caster shaped Glyphs to Shape the aspects that were tied into the curse within Swordslayer and Rainbow. Rainia Shaped the Spirit aspect. Mikal Shaped the Water aspect. Jeze Shaped the Affliction aspect, and Miss Heng Shaped the Mind aspect. This time, Jeze felt that she was able to draw out the red, greasy energy. She gritted her teeth, and eventually, she was able to pull out the energy completely. Through the corner of her eyes she saw Mikal do the same with mists, and Rainia pulled out a sliver energy. Miss Heng¡¯s efforts went unseen.

    ¡°It is done,¡± Miss Heng said.

    Mikal checked the pulse for Rainbow and Swordslayer. ¡°They are alive, but there is no way to know if they are full with us.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jeze asked. Her voice tinged with panic.

    ¡°You saw the other adventurers. They were mindless and under the complete control of the Frost Hag. They were alive but no longer who they were,¡± Mikal responded.

    ¡°Like Thralls?¡± Jeze asked.

    Miss Heng shook her head. ¡°For Thralls, the person¡¯s mind is still in there, just buried under the madness. This curse is much more complex and worse. I would be impressed if the two can return to us.¡±

    Rainia gripped Jeze¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your friends are strong. Believe in them!¡±

    Jeze gripped Rainbow and Swordslayer¡¯s hands, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Swordslayer¡¯s eyes snapped open. Mikal gasped. The muscular sword fighter sat up. His expression was blank, like a piece of wood.

    ¡°Swordslayer?¡± Jeze asked.

    The man groaned, and it broke Jeze¡¯s heart.

    ¡°Perhaps they were not strong enough,¡± Miss Heng stated.

    ¡°Swordslayer, stop it!¡± Rainbow growled. She rubbed her head.

    The man chuckled and he winked at Jeze. The teenager was conflicted between wanting to strangle her friend or hug him. Jeze hugged them both.

    ¡°Easy, we almost died. And can I get a shirt? My lady bits are hanging out,¡± Rainbow said.

    Swordslayer¡¯s smile faded, and somberly, he said, ¡°You have my thanks.¡±

    Miss Heng nodded. ¡°You owe me.¡±

    Swordslayer snorted. ¡°That¡¯s a surprise. Just so you know, I would have recovered on my own. But, your help is much appreciated.¡±

    Rainbow rolled her eyes as she put on her shirt. The two slowly stood up.

    ¡°Easy, you need to rest,¡± Rainia said.

    ¡°Bah, we are fine. In fact, we have Frost Bitch to kill,¡± Swordslayer growled. He looked around and added, ¡°Anyone have two swords I can borrow?¡±

    ¡°Jeze killed the Frost Hag,¡± Dunar said.

    Swordslayer blinked, and he said, ¡°Our Jezie? Killed the Frost Hag? Wow, our little girl is all grown up.¡±

    Jeze punched him hard in the arm. Swordslayer chuckled but rubbed his shoulder while muttering, ¡°That hurt.¡±

    Rainbow looked at Jeze with her dark eyes and said, ¡°It is true. You have come a long way since the day we found you at Maddie''s.¡±

    ¡°This does not change anything. You still owe me an ale,¡± Swordslayer stated.

    Jeze laughed, and she hugged her friends a second time.

 Chapter 116: The Elites

    The Elites were coming to the Wandering Spire event. Couzart¡¯s call to them had worked. Jeze and her friends watched in awe as the powerful adventurers arrived. Irvin and other Guild Officials waited to escort the Elites to the meeting site.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t they arrive sooner?¡± Ahnau wondered.

    ¡°They have nothing to gain,¡± Miss Heng replied.

    Rainia tilted her head and asked, ¡°Nothing to gain?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I said,¡± Miss Heng stated. Her eyes observed the massive plush tent where the Elites gathered.

    Jeze explained, ¡°They have broken the bounds of human ability. They have no reason to risk themselves in order to get stronger.¡±

    Ahanu scoffed, ¡°But surely they want to protect the realm from evil?¡±

    Miss Heng turned toward the Spirit Walker Protector and smiled as she gently touched his face. ¡°That is very sweet.¡±

    Jeze shared a look with Rainia, who shrugged. Jeze motioned for them to step back.

    ¡°What was that about?¡± she asked.

    Rainia glanced at her brother and Miss Heng and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know. They have gotten close all of a sudden. Ever since we left the fourth floor.¡±

    ¡°Close? Like they are a couple?¡± Jeze wondered.

    Rainia shrugged. ¡°Miss Heng has been teaching Ahanu the Spirit Aspect, so it can¡¯t be that bad.¡±

    Jeze shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t think she had any feelings.¡±

    In the sky, a hurling boulder soared in an arc like it was flung from a catapult in a siege. Except, everyone was not concerned. Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide as she watched. The boulder crashed into the earth just a few meters in front of everyone and near the plush tent. The landing kicked up dirt and rock and created a small crater from which a large man with a thick beard emerged. Lady Kalina and her Ironfist team bowed.

    ¡°That is Manfeld, the High Templar,¡± Irvin explained in a low voice. The guild official explained, ¡°He is the leader of the Church of the One Goddess. It is said that she awarded him the gift to become an Elite for his everlasting faith.¡±

    ¡°Why did he just arrive now? His kingdom has a heavily contested border with the Golden Empire and a Wandering Spire event,¡± Jeze wondered.

    Irvin shook his head and replied in a whisper, ¡°No, his loyalty to the Kingdom diminished long ago. He is here for his own purposes. My guess is that he does not want the other Elites to discover a secret and get ahead of him.¡±

    The old man was careful to not be overheard from Lady Kalina and the Ironfist team that stood near them. Manfeld stepped out of the crater and iron dripped off his skin like water to disappear into the ether. He was a broad chested man with hard eyes and his thick black hair was tied back into a bun. Jeze saw that he wore full plate mail armor and the only thing he carried was a two handed hammer that hung from his shoulders on his back.

    ¡°That was the Ironskin ability?¡± Jeze asked.

    Lady Kalina nodded, but remained quiet. Jeze had seen her use the Stoneskin ability and she heard that there were those among the Ironfist kingdom that could turn their skin into iron. Manfeld nodded once toward them and marched into the tent.

    ¡°A man of few words,¡± Jeze joked.

    Alcard and the other templars glanced nervously at her. Jeze suddenly felt self conscious and moved away from them to stand near Rainbow and Swordslayer. They would appreciate her jokes. Her two friends had recovered from their ordeal, and had already purchased new equipment. It was of lower quality, but they were no longer unarmed. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Swordslayer wore a lacquered cuirass over a mail shirt that came down to cover the tops of his legs. He had greaves to protect his shins, and two swords were sheathed at his sides. Swordslayer¡¯s long black hair hung loosely down to his shoulders as he looked on at the arriving Elites and was unimpressed. Rainbow wore her signature heavy jacket with a high collar that covered the lower part of her face. She sat on a rock and carefully engraved Runes on her new staff.

    ¡°So, what do you two think?¡± Jeze asked. ¡°Glad that you are no longer in danger from Prince, what¡¯s-his-name?¡±

    ¡°Rodger,¡± Swordslayer growled.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Jeze blinked.

    ¡°His name is Prince Rodger, and no, I am not glad. Nor was I ever concerned,¡± the sword fighter stated.

    Rainbow rolled her eyes and paused from her work. ¡°It is a unique moment for them to arrive this early during a Wandering Sprie event. The concern for the Cultists is real.¡±

    Swordslayer scowled, ¡°Lazy snobs, the whole lot of them. They feel they have achieved power, and then they grow soft.¡±

    ¡°There is really no need for them to take risks. In order for them to advance further, they need rare magic. That is typically found in the higher levels of the Spire,¡± Rainbow stated.

    Swordslayer arched an eyebrow at her and scoffed. ¡°The Grind will never slow down for me.¡±

    ¡°The Grind? Is that a new Swordslayer term?¡± Jeze joked.

    Rainbow chuckled, and the sword fighter glowered at the teenager.

    ¡°Yeah, go ahead and milk the fact that you saved our life. That will pass in time,¡± he growled.

    ¡°Someone is in a bad mood,¡± Jeze said. She was hoping to find friends to joke with, and was disappointed.

    Swordslayer threw his arms up in the air and walked away. Rainbow watched him, and she returned to etching Runes onto her staff.

    ¡°He won¡¯t admit this, but he is worried that Prince Rodger knows that we are here,¡± Rainbow stated.

    ¡°Really? The great Swordslayer?¡± Jeze asked in shock.

    ¡°You know him. He is mostly bravado and insecurity,¡± Rainbow replied.

    Jeze now felt bad and wanted to console him. All she wanted to do was joke around! There was a crack of thunder that caught her attention. Jeze looked up and saw a hurricane wash through the barren landscape of the Wasteland. She was buffeted with strong winds and rain that disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. Jeze recognized this magic as a figure emerged from the fading storm and collapsed away. The newcomer was an old bald man dressed in the armor from her parent¡¯s homeland, the Jade Principality.

    ¡°That¡¯s Zen Fu, The Storm Chaser,¡± Rainbow said.

    Zen Fu looked like someone¡¯s grandfather with narrow eyes that appeared kind, but Jeze knew otherwise. He wore a dark lacquered cuirass over bright golden robe and carried a long bladed spear that he used as a walking stick. A pure white headband lined with runes with a red moon in its center adorned his sun kissed bald head. Irvin approached and the two bowed to each other. The Guild official led Zen Fu toward the elaborate tent.

    ¡°Is that it?¡± Jeze wondered.

    Rainbow squirted and scratched her multi-colored hair. ¡°Nope, there is another.¡± She pointed.

    Jeze looked up and saw a great silver hawk flying toward them. She recognized it as the Totem aspect.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to take a guess, without seeing him, that this is Hunting Hawk,¡± Rainbow said.

    ¡°A Spirit Walker?¡± Jeze asked.

    ¡°Ooh no, and make sure you don¡¯t make that mistake in front of him or your friends. Hunting Hawk comes from the Tribal Council,¡± Rainbow answered.

    Jeze nodded. She knew a little about the Tribal Council but did not understand the relationship they had with the people from the Plains of Liawpia. Where Rainia and Ahanu were from. Jeze glanced at the Spirit Walkers, and she could sense their unease. Rainbow blew the wood chippings from her staff and eyed her carvings. Jeze recognized that the Runes were expertly engraved and was impressed with her friend¡¯s skill. Rainbow still needed to polish and stain the staff before she could use it in the field.

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think any more Elites are coming,¡± Rainbow said.

    ¡°Are there more?¡± Jeze wondered.

    Rainbow chuckled. ¡°Yes, the Imperial Family alone has two more. Our buddy Prince Rodger¡¯s sister and brother are also Elites.¡±

    Jeze¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Really?¡± She didn¡¯t know the Golden Empire had so many powerhouses.

    ¡°Yes, that is why they are winning so many wars. Why they are giving us such a headache,¡± Rainbow grumbled.

    ¡°They will give you more than a headache now that they know you are here,¡± Miss Heng stated.

    Her appearance caused Jeze to nearly jump in shock. How did she sneak up on us? Jeze wondered. Jeze narrowed her eyes and scowled at the Amber Guard. Miss Heng didn¡¯t even glance at her and remained focused on Rainbow.

    ¡°Where is Swordslayer?¡± She asked.

    ¡°None of your business,¡± Jeze snapped.

    Miss Heng sighed, shook her head, and said to Rainbow, ¡°I need to talk to you and Swordslayer. It concerns your safety as well as the needs of the Guild. Come find me at your earliest convenience.¡± With a nod to Rainbow and a scowl at Jeze, Miss Heng walked away.

    The two ladies shared a glance. ¡°That sounded ominous,¡± Jeze said.

 Chapter 117: Planning and Chaos

    Ziplocke missed Jeze, the Proven and simple organization. The Goblin Lord was slumped over on Modok¡¯s jagged throne. Chaos reigned all around him and the crooked palace as hundreds of Lesser and Regular Goblins rampaged about. They joyfully hopped back and forth through the shimmering portal to the Glass Grove and back. Ziplocke slapped his forehead and rubbed his face. He couldn¡¯t even remember what his uprising plans were! At some point, one of the tiny Goblins had placed Modok¡¯s oversized crown on Ziplocke¡¯s head. It hung loosely by his horns, and the Goblin Lord didn¡¯t even bother to take it off. Leandra entered the chamber and walked to sit beside Ziplocke.

    ¡°The Essence is good outside in the valley,¡± she observed.

    Ziplocke shrugged. ¡°Until the Fiends mass an attack and kill us all. Sure, why not? Go ahead and splurge! Our final meals!¡± He cried in a shrill voice.

    Leandra rolled her blue eyes and replied, ¡°So melodramatic!¡±

    Ziplocke had to agree, though. Ever since they defeated the Howlers, Modok¡¯s territory was a significant enhancement for them. The Valley outside the palace was dotted with Essence springs. Many of the Goblins collected the Essence Gems the springs produced, and the throne room was once again filled with the clattering stones. Ziplocke noticed something and sat up to study the pandemonium around him.

    ¡°Is it me, or did many of the Goblins get bigger?¡± He asked.

    Leandra grinned as she absorbed an Essence gem. The stone evaporated into silver tendrils of smoke that she inhaled. ¡°Yes, our tribe now has enough resources. Many of the Lesser Goblins have evolved to Goblins.¡±

    ¡°This could work!¡± Ziplocke dared to hope. He continued, ¡°If we could hold this Valley, we might be able to grow strong enough to attack the others! With the Fiends occupied with the Stronghold, we might stand a chance!¡±

    ¡°Unless they manage to free the Fiendish Lord,¡± Graul muttered.

    The scarred Greater Goblin with one ear entered the chamber. In his thick arms, he held dozens of large Essence gems, each the size of his fist. He was absorbing them as he walked over toward Ziplocke and Leandra. The ground clattered as he unceremoniously dumped them at Ziplocke¡¯s feet.

    The Goblin Lord nodded in thanks and picked up a gem to absorb its Essence. They had enough that he was able to recharge his body and the Hold Core. That was good, right? He wondered to himself. But, no matter how positive things looked, he couldn¡¯t help but shake the ever-hanging dread that something bad would happen.

    He knew, from his past failures, that what they had now was not enough. There were at least a dozen Greater Fiends, like Modok, with armies and territories. Not to mention two Fiendish Lords. If the third was freed from within the Stronghold, that would reestablish their Triumvirate, and the Greater Goblin rulers would all fall in line. The Fiends would have their grip of power once again over the Abyssal plane. That would spell the end of Goblinkind.

    Ziplocke glanced up and saw that his two colleagues were relaxed. Leandra twirled a dagger, and Graul stared silently off into the distance. Occasionally, the stout Greater Goblin would absorb an Essence Gem.

    ¡°What do you two suggest we do next?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    The two Greater Goblins shared a look and snickered.

    ¡°That was not a question, it was an order!¡± Ziplocke snapped.

    ¡°Ooh, our Lord is acting like a Lord,¡± Leandra teased.

    Graul nodded, snickered, and replied, ¡°The good news for us is that the Greater Fiends are not united. They will most likely fight each other before they try to reclaim Modok¡¯s territory.¡±

    Ziplocke narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°The Greater Fiends are all trying to get the upper hand on each other. If one of them were to come and reclaim this area from us Goblins, then they would have an advantage over the others,¡± Graul explained.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Ziplocke nodded. That made sense as they would have access to the Essence Springs within the Valley.

    ¡°But we would not go without a fight! So they would have a weakened force,¡± Leandra pointed out.

    Graul snickered. ¡°There would be no fight. All the Goblins would flee through the portal.¡±

    Ziplocke¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Aww, but they do not know that I am back! That the Goblins have a Goblin Lord! So they have to assume that they will need to retake this Valley with force.¡±

    Leandra crossed her arms. ¡°Which brings us back to my point. They would be weakened after their siege and be vulnerable from an attack from another Greater Fiend.¡±

    Graul snickered and added, ¡°The reason no one has attacked us yet is because they are all waiting to see who goes first.¡±

    The three were interrupted as a horde of Lesser and Regular Goblins swarmed through. The smaller Goblins were playing some sort of team game where they were each trying to control a squishy object with kicking and grabbing.

    ¡°Scram!¡± Graul roared.

    The Goblins screeched and took their game to another side of the chamber. Ziplocke sighed. It would only be another matter of moments before whatever game they were playing came back to them.

    Leandra tapped her lip and said, ¡°Unless they come to some sort of truce. Then we are screwed!¡±

    ¡°Another failure for Ziplocke!¡± Graul cried.

    ¡°Hey! This would be your failure as well,¡± Ziplocke growled.

    ¡°Yes, but you are our mighty Goblin Lord,¡± Leandra pointed out and groveled on the floor.

    Graul cackled and joined her on the floor waving both arms and bowing while on their knees. A few of the lower-ranked Goblins saw this and joined them. In moments, Ziplocke had several dozen Goblins groveling before him like a twisted ocean of green.

    ¡°Okay, that is enough. Scram the lot of you!¡± Ziplocke cried and kicked a few of the smaller Goblins.

    The little Demons giggled and snickered as they scuttled away. Ziplocke turned toward the two Greater Goblins.

    ¡°Do we try to claim another territory?¡± He asked.

    Graul shook his head vigorously. ¡°No! Then we would appear as a threat, and the two Fiendish Lords would force the others to unite against us.¡±

    Leandra nodded in agreement. She said, ¡°We have time. Their distrust and greed work in our favor. I wager none of the Greater Fiends brought this news to the Fiendish Lords as they each want to figure out a way to take Modok¡¯s territory for themselves.¡±

    ¡°How long do you suppose it would take for us to get more Greater Goblins?¡± Ziplocke wondered.

    Graul and Leandra shook their heads.

    The stocky, one-eared Goblin replied, ¡°We can¡¯t depend upon that. We have enough Essence here and in the Glass Grove to live well and evolve many of the Lesser Goblins to Regular. But, in order for us to get more Greater Goblins, we would need to start a strong training regime. Right now? None of these fools have what it takes to advance.¡±

    Ziplocke agreed and observed, ¡°Well, that¡¯s a shame. If we could get more Greater Goblins, that would give us an edge.¡±

    Leandra snickered. ¡°That was the one advantage us Goblins have over the Fiends. We don¡¯t try to backstab each other.¡±

    The weird game the horde of smaller Goblins were playing turned into an all-out melee as they fought for the squishy object. What was that thing? Ziplocke wondered for a moment before his attention returned to the strategy meeting with the Greater Goblins.

    ¡°No, but we lack discipline at the moment,¡± Graul stated.

    ¡°Or a plan!¡± Ziplocke snapped as he pounded a fist on the throne. ¡°What was our plan again?¡±

    ¡°To evolve one of us into a Goblin Lord,¡± Leandra said and pointed to herself and Graul.

    Graul perked up. ¡°You said we then have a chance to take control of the Stronghold. That will ensure that the Fiendish Lord remains trapped and the Fiends never have a Triumvirate.¡±

    ¡°I have to admit. It¡¯s a brilliant plan,¡± Leandra said. ¡°With the Stronghold in our position and the Fiends disorganized. We can then reclaim the Abyssal Plane.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right! We just need the Gem of Magnificence!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    The three looked at the empty pedestal. The three nodded in understanding as their memories clicked into place. They tracked the Gem to the Wayfare Market and discovered that the humans who stole it did not sell it but kept it for themselves. Why? They never figured out why, but they got a lead on where the Humans were hiding. They just needed to trade something. What was it? Ziplocke wondered to himself as he racked his memory.

    ¡°We came back for Modok¡¯s heart!¡± The Goblin Lord recalled, and he looked around. ¡°Where is the dead Greater Fiend?¡± He asked.

    Graul answered, ¡°I had some of the Goblins cut out his heart for us.¡±

    ¡°When was that?¡± Leandra asked.

    Graul shrugged. As one, the three turned toward the small horde of Goblins and their game. They were kicking a squishy object. The object was Modok¡¯s heart!

    ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± Graul muttered and rose to his feet.

    Ziplocke slapped his forehead.

 Chapter 118: Hard Times Call for Hard Choices

    The Proven and the Spirit Walkers were resting at their camps. Much was needed to be done before they were to reenter the Spire. Dunar practiced the Life aspect Runes to further his arm''s recovery. Mikal was confident that the Leader could fight at full capacity, but Dunar still used the time to train his WIll and the Life aspect on his arm.

    The Frostsworn Healer assisted Rolfe and Helga as they practiced their Runes. Ahanu trained with them. The other Spirit Walkers were crafting potions and shopping for supplies. The Proven and the Spirit Walker''s next assignment was to find the Floor Portal on the fourth floor so that they could enter the fifth floor and establish a Safe Zone.

    ¡°I altered the Spirit potion to protect your body longer from the Winter Wolve¡¯s ghost bite,¡± Rainia said and handed Jeze several silver vials.

    Jeze studied the potion and asked, ¡°Longer?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to wait to be bitten to drink this potion. Drink it before combat and it will protect your Spirit from their bites,¡± Rainia explained.

    Jeze nodded and wondered, ¡°Are you certain it will work?¡±

    Rainia shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m fairly confident.¡±

    Jeze grinned. It was the life they lived! She thanked Rainia and handed the potions out to her teammates. The Proven finding the exit portal on the fourth floor meant that they were close to the Floor Portal. So far, no teams have returned from the Fifth Floor, which was cause for alarm for the Guild. Except for the Proven. They did not worry for Berserker Orn and the Carls. A glorious death was the best a warrior could ask for.

    "Besides, they are probably on the eighth or tenth floor already!" Rolfe boasted.

    "Oh ya!" Agreed Helga.

    Jeze left them to accompany Rainbow and Swordslayer. They walked through rows upon rows of tents and market stalls toward where the Amber Guard was stationed. Things were much more subdued throughout the camp. Jeze could hear the rumblings from merchants and adventurers alike at how this Spire event was more dangerous than past ones. It was due to the Cultis and their acts of sabotage. However, none of the dangers stopped the flow of commerce and industry. Merchant caravans arrived and left by the dozens. Bringing in supplies and leaving with raw materials.

    "Do we really need to speak with her?" Swordslayer growled.

    Jeze agreed with the sword fighter, but was also curious on what Miss Heng had to say. The teenager opted to stay quiet, not that the two other seasoned adventurers would listen to her.

    "Yes, the arrival of Prince Rodger changes everything for us," Rainbow answered as she led them through the tent city.

    Jeze noticed that Rainbow was extra cautious. The multi-colored-haired lady stuck more to the shadows and led them down the less traveled paths in between the bustling markets and camps. Was she afraid of assassins? Jeze wondered.

    Swordslayer scoffed. "I wouldn''t mind testing my steel against the Prince."

    Rainbow shook her head and said to Jeze, "He is crazy to think he could even stand a chance."

    "What? I heard that! You doubt me? Because I would march right over to their tent and challenge the Prince to a duel," Swordslayer stated.

    "Against an Elite? Did you hit your head?" Jeze asked.

    Swordslayer snorted, "Lots of times!"

    The three continued on and arrived at the Amber Guard''s station. Several of the red-robed adventurers lounged about at the entrance. They eyed the three with suspicion.

    "Being here makes me a little uneasy," Swordslayer muttered. The Amber Guard was the law enforcement for the Guild.

    "Relax, we were invited," Rainbow said and walked up to two of the guards to announce that they were here to visit Miss Heng.

    The guards appeared to not care and motioned the three inside through the heavy flaps. The station was like a barracks with rows of cots and racks for weapons and armor. It was illuminated by magical torches and was pretty empty at the moment, with only a small handful of others in the tent that had four dozen cots. They spotted the dark-haired Miss Heng easily in the middle of the wide space.

    "I am glad you came. Let us go somewhere else to talk," Miss Heng said as a greeting.

    "And a hello to you as well," Swordslayer muttered with a mock bow.

    Miss Heng ignored his comment and led them back outside. They followed the Amber Guard to a small tea shop with outdoor seating. There, they were greeted by Irvin.

    "Hey Irvin, our old friend! What is he doing here?" Swordslayer greeted.

    Jeze hugged the old man as the other two shook hands with him.

    "This is official Guild business," Irvin replied.

    "Ooh, official. It sounds," Swordslayer said and searched for a word. Finally he just said, "official."

    "Did he hit his head extra hard the last time you were in the Spire?" Jeze asked Rainbow.

    The multi-colored hair lady shrugged and sat at the table. Irvin ordered a round of tea and started once they were served.

    "As you know, resources are very tight for us now. You two are extremely talented adventurers," he started but was interrupted by Swordslayer.

    "Sounds like you are recruiting us to the Guild. Oh, wait a minute. We are already members." The Swordfighter laughed at his joke. He was the only one laughing.

    Rainbow said, "Everything you have said so far was true, Irvin. Please continue."Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "What I am trying to get at is this. You know there is a lot on the line for our realm with this Spire event," the Guild official started but this time he was cut off by Miss Heng.

    "We need you two to join an official full-fledged team," she said.

    Swordslayer and Rainbow blinked. "Why?" They asked.

    "Because we are on Floor five, and it will only get harder, and you two almost died on floor four," Miss Heng stated.

    "Bah, that was just a stroke of bad luck. Who knew the Frost Hag could freeze you with a touch?" Swordslayer snorted.

    "Pretty much everyone who goes in prepared," Jeze responded.

    "Fine, we will recruit a real team this time," Rainbow said.

    "Thank the heavens," Irvin said and drank his tea.

    "You are forgetting something," Miss Heng stated.

    All eyes turned to the Amber Guard.

    She continued, "You have been a thorn in the Empire''s side for years now. Prince Rodger is here, and he has a lot of money."

    Jeze nodded in understanding. "Any new recruit you have could be a hired assassin."

    Rainbow arched an eyebrow. "I think you underestimate us. We know people."

    "Then why have you not had a team yet?" Jeze pressed. She has been worried for too long for her friends. It was all coming out now.

    Miss Heng narrowed her eyes but remained silent. Jeze was doing the work for her.

    "Come on, Jeze! You know why! The Empire froze our funds. Rainbow and I are going in as a duo because we want to earn extra coin," Swordslayer replied.

    Jeze cried, "And how did that work out for you? Huh? You know, I thought you two were gone for good!"

    "I said we will find a team. The bigger question is, why is Prince Rodger even here?" Rainbow asked.

    Irvin answered, "Master Couazart summoned the Elites."

    Rainbow arched an eyebrow. "So? You think the Empire would even consider sending the prince because they were asked to?"

    "They heard that we were here, and they want to bag us for good," Swordslayer stated.

    "You think too highly of yourselves," Miss Heng retorted.

    The sword fighter raised his voice, "You are the one that implied that they would send assassins after us."

    "Because it would cost them nothing," Rainbow answered. The multi-colored-haired lady tapped her chin. "They are after something, and it is not us. I think we are just the icing on the cake. I wonder if they are in league with the Cultists."

    Miss Heng hissed, "Do not make baseless accusations."

    Irvin stepped in and said, "It is no secret that the higher levels of the Spire offer treasures that could help Elites advance to Hero rank. The reason for the Prince''s arrival could be that he planned to come anyway. So he arrived a little earlier due to Couzart''s summons."

    "If that is the case, then why only the Prince arrived? Not his siblings?" Rainbow asked.

    Irvin shrugged and replied, "He left ahead of them? We all know how the Imperial princes and princess are constantly at each other''s throats for their father''s attention. This could be apart their game."

    "None of this changes the fact that you two do not have a full-fledged team," Jeze said.

    "We will get a team," Rainbow stated.

    "I don''t believe you," Jeze growled.

    Rainbow narrowed her eyes at Jeze, and Swordslayer threw up his hands.

    Irvin spoke up. "I can find reliable people for you."

    Swordslayer smirked. "No offense old man, but Rainbow and I are a bit higher caliber than anyone you might know."

    "Join the Amber Guard," Miss Heng stated.

    Swordslayer was dumbstruck and unable to find words. Rainbow narrowed her eyes, but she waited for what else Miss Heng had to say. Jeze felt that her jaw nearly dropped to the floor, and Irvin appeared to have choked on air. The old man''s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

    "If your purpose was to give old Irvin a heart attack, then I think you almost succeeded," Swordslayer joked.

    "No. We are spread thin and could use your talents. Plus, this is the only way for you to join a trustworthy team," Miss Heng replied.

    Irvin finally got his coughing under control and croaked, "Miss Heng, you can''t be serious. These two are miscreants!"

    "We love you too, Irvin." Rainbow blew a kiss at him.

    "I admit, I am a little confused as well. I thought you were loyal to the Empire," Jeze said to Miss Heng.

    The Amber Guard scowled at the teenager and said through gritted teeth, "I have always been loyal to the Guild. I admire the stability the Empire provides."

    Rainbow and Swordslayer both scoffed at that. "Stability? You mean oppression!" Rainbow responded.

    Miss Heng held up a hand and said, "I have no time for a political discussion. The Amber Guard could use you two, and you can have a safe team to venture the Spire with."

    Irvin undid his collar and interjected, "With all due respect, Miss Heng. You do know that these two are criminals? They start duels? They are the ones that the Amber Guard typically goes after."

    Rainbow nodded. "I agree with Irvin here."

    Swordslayer looked like he was about to argue but thought against it. "Yeah, the old man is right."

    Miss Heng took a deep breath and responded, "You two have a reputation that will keep others in line. Historically, you two cause trouble during downtime. The entire time you adventured the Spire, you caused no trouble."

    Jeze added, "I hear the Amber Guard is stretched thin, so there is plenty of work for you two. I like this idea."

    Swordslayer snapped, "No one cares what you think." He turned toward Miss Heng, "What is in it for us? Not that I am considering this at all."

    Miss Heng crossed her arms. She looked angry. She always looked angry, Jeze thought. Finally, the Amber Guard spoke up.

    "Bounties. You can make a fortune by going after fugitives," she said.

    "Go after Ozun and Drake and the other Cultists! That is brilliant. A good way to fight fire with fire!" Jeze exclaimed.

    Swordslayer stroked his chin. "I would like the chance to touch steel with Ozun again. And this Drake fella I keep hearing about? How much coin are we talking about?"

    "So, you are interested?" Miss Heng asked.

    Rainbow answered first, "Yes, but you are forgetting something."

    "What is that?" Miss Heng cracked her neck. This talk was starting to annoy her.

    "The Amber Guard are for Adept ranked only," Rainbow stated.

    "That''s right!" Irvin exclaimed. Jeze thought he looked relieved.

    "I hereby promote you two to Adept rank," Miss Heng said and placed two golden scrolls on the table. Jeze believed that she was prepared prepared for this.

    "I''m impressed," she said to Miss Heng. Jeze was ignored as the Amber Guard kept her dark eyes focused on Rainbow and Swordslayer.

    Irvin spluttered, "By what grounds?"

    Swordslayer laughed as he slapped his hand to pick up his golden scroll. "Don''t act surprised, old man! This was a long time coming."

    Rainbow was more skeptical. "I don''t believe you have the authority."

    Miss Heng crossed her arms. "I''m the highest-ranking Amber Guard until Master Couzart returns."

    Irvin repeated himself, "By what grounds?"

    Miss Heng answered by motioning to the scroll. "Feel free to read my report. These two have been adventuring the Spire this whole time as a duo. If that does not impress you enough. Then, consider that they survived a powerful curse from a Demi-God. As far as we can tell, they are the only two that have withstood its effects. By our accounts, hundreds did not."

    Jeze beamed at her two friends and hugged them. "Congratulations!"

    Irvin spluttered and shook his head. "I just don''t know. Rainbow and Swordslayer joining the Amber Guard? By the Night Eye, I never would have imagined to see that."

 Chapter 119: The Goblin Way

    Leandra examined Modok''s heart in her hands. It no longer dripped blood, and it looked a little battered, but there was no mistaking it, it was a Greater Fiend''s heart. She placed it into a sack and turned to her companions.

    "We got everything, let''s go," she said.

    Graul nodded in agreement. He had his shield strapped to his back and his curved sword hung by his hip. In addition, the Goblin warrior managed to scrounge up some armor from the Howlers. Graul wore a mail shirt under a bronze breastplate and greaves strapped to his shins. Ziplocke snickered. He thought Graul would have looked formidable if he was not under four feet in height.

    "What''s so funny?" Graul asked. His voice rumbled like thunder in the distance.

    Ziplocke shrugged and replied, "What? Nothing."

    "What are we waiting for? Make the portal," Leandra ordered.

    The Goblin Lord narrowed his eyes at her and said, "I am thinking. Is it wise for all three of us to go? I also have a lot of other concerns."

    Graul and Leandra threw their hands up in the air and muttered to themselves. Leandra placed her fists at her hips, and Graul crossed his arms and scowled at Ziplocke.

    Leandra spoke, "Well, I sure as hell will not stay here. So, I''m coming."

    Graul snickered, "Same for me. I would not want to miss seeing her explode as she tried to consume the Magnificence Gem."

    Ziplocke blinked, and he said, "Well, I''m the one with the Lord powers and can create the Rift, so I can''t stay either."

    "Why do we even need one of us to stay?" Graul asked.

    Ziplocke motioned to the chaos that surrounded them in the throne room. Hundreds of smaller Goblins ran rampant. Many were even armed with weapons from the Howlers, and they attacked each other. A few Goblins lay on the floor, and Ziplocke was not sure if they were dead or sleeping. The two Greater Goblins did not appear concerned.

    "You''ve been away too long. This is normal Goblin behavior," Leandra pointed out.

    Graul nodded and added, "Besides, I put Lummox in charge."

    The aforementioned Goblin was standing on the throne and striking the Lesser Goblins as they danced around him with the blunt end of a Howler spear. Lummox giggled when he managed to knock the smaller Demons unconscious.

    "I''m not very confident with his ability to lead. What if the Greater Fiends mount an attack?" Ziplocke asked.

    "They flee through the portal and close it. We went over this already!" Graul snapped.

    Leandra snickered and said, "Yeah, are you losing it?"

    Ziplocke slapped his forehead and rubbed his face. There were a lot of details that were missing. He missed Dunar! The Proven Leader would know what to do.

    Graul scowled and stated, "Look, we have a good plan. We barter Modok''s Heart with the Winter Sprite for the location of the humans who stole the gem. We get the gem and evolve one of us into a Goblin Lord. With two Lords, we can definitely reclaim the Spire."

    Ziplocke cried, "There are so many holes in that plan!"

    "It was your plan!" Leandra shot back.

    "So I should know!" Ziplocke shouted.

    Graul hissed, "So tell us what the holes are."

    Ziplocke became flustered and stuttered his words. Finally, he managed to say, "How do we know the Winter Sprite won''t lie to us? Huh? Do we seriously want to trust him?"

    Leandra held up the Pact she stole from the other Fey merchant. The reason they were chased by the Iron Trolls. "We use this. It sets a curse to ensure that both business parties are honest for the transaction."

    "See? Everything will work out," Graul added.

    Ziplocke nodded. This was good. Talking the plan out was helpful for him. He had more questions. "How do we get the Gem from the Humans?"Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    "We steal it. How tough can a bunch of Humans be in the Abyssal plane?" Leandra replied.

    This time, Graul appeared to be less confident. The stocky Goblin pointed out, "Well, they did defeat a Greater Fiend."

    Leandra was still determined, so she pointed at Ziplocke. "We have a Goblin Lord! We are more formidable."

    "Hey! We all know I''m not good in a fight," Ziplocke replied.

    Leandra placed her fists on her hips and stomped her foot. "Fine! We don''t have to fight the Humans. Why does everything involve fighting with you two? We can sneak in and steal the gem. That is what us Goblins are good at!"

    A light bulb went off in Ziplocke''s head. Or, the magical equivalent did, at least. So many ideas came to the forefront that it was hard for Ziplocke to keep them together. He became excited and held his hands to his temples in order to keep the thoughts inside.

    "Is he okay?" Graul asked.

    Leandra shook her head. "No, I think he lost it."

    "I am fine! You gave me a brilliant idea!" Ziplocke cried.

    Graul sighed and shook his head. "Great! That is all we need, another plan."

    Ziplocke continued, "Leandra is a genius!"

    The blue-eyed Goblin grinned and held a hand to her chest. "I know!"

    Ziplocke shook his head and said, "I have been thinking of this Goblin Uprising all wrong. I was thinking in terms of war and how the Greater Fiends took control. We are not warriors!"

    Graul scowled and said, "Speak for yourself."

    Leandra blinked and asked, "I don''t understand. How can we achieve a Goblin Uprising without warriors?"

    Graul laughed. "I thought you were the genius!"

    Leandra stuck her tongue out at him. Ziplocke clapped his hands to get their attention.

    "Us Goblins are good from the shadows. We are tricksters! We can sow chaos! We don''t need to fight the Fiends. We can cause them to fight each other!" He cried.

    Graul and Leandra grinned and nodded excitedly. Their eyes went wide, and then their jaws opened, but no words came out. They both blinked rapidly.

    "I''m not sure I get this plan," Graul finally said.

    Leandra sulked with her ears pulled back, and she admitted, "Me too." She was supposed to be a genius.

    Ziplocke motioned to the horde of screaming Goblins. "Instead of fighting the Fiends head-on, we unleash these little guys into their territories with the goal of causing chaos. Turning the Fiends against each other."

    Leandra''s blue eyes lit up. "Through trickery and deceit!"

    "Exactly!" Ziplocke exclaimed.

    Graul nodded eagerly, "That could work!"

    "Lummox!" Ziplocke screamed into the chamber.

    In moments, the sleepy-eyed Regular Goblin loped over.

    "Yes, sir!" Lummox saluted so hard that he nearly knocked himself out.

    "We have a job for you. Are you up for it?" Ziplocke asked.

    "Yes!" Lummox cried and then blinked. "Wait. What type of job?"

    Grual snickered. "Too late, you already agreed to it."

    Lummox sulked with his pointed ears pulled back. Ziplocke placed a hand on the smaller Goblin''s shoulder and leaned close.

    "How much do you enjoy pranks?" He asked.

    Lummox nodded his head vigorously.

    Leandra leaned in next and asked, "How do you like stealing?"

    Lummox''s eyes went wide, and he nodded even more vigorously.

    Graul was next and he asked, "How about tricking others, lets say Fiends, into fighting each other?"

    Lummox nearly fainted from the amount of nodding he was doing.

    Ziplocke slapped the Goblin on the back and announced, "Good! Lummox. You are in charge of gathering the most devious, the most vile, the most cunning Goblins. Bring them to us. We will give you a mission of most importance!"

    "Yes, sir!" Lummox cried and ran off.

    Ziplocke nodded confidently. "This is going to be good."

    His colleagues agreed. But something nagged at the back of Graul''s mind.

    "Weren''t we supposed to do something else?" The Greater Goblin wondered.

    Leandra held up the sack that contained Modok''s heart. "We were going back to the market."

    "Yes!" Ziplocke cried. "Once we send Lummox and the others off on the missions, we will head out to get the Gem of Magnificence."

    The three waited. And waited. They played cards. They sang songs together. Finally, the three lounged around the throne, each in their own thoughts.

    Ziplocke wondered, "Did Lummox forget his orders?"

    Graul glanced up from the book he was reading. "I think so."

    Leandra had knitted a full sweater. "I think we are better off gathering over a hundred Goblins and sending them off each into the territories and just hope for the best."

    "Many will lose their lives," Ziplocke observed.

    The three snickered as they imagined the horrible fates.

    "But that is war," Graul stated.

    Ziplocke slapped the throne and stood up. "It''s settled! Let''s gather a hundred Goblins and tell them their mission, and then we will send them off!"

    "Agreed!" Leandra rose.

    The three marched off into the castle filled with Goblins to gather one hundred for the important mission of sewing chaos among the Fiends. While they were away, a tiny Lesser Goblin stumbled upon Leandra''s sack. Curious, the small Goblin tilted its head and opened the sack. The small Goblin''s eyes went wide as they retrieved the battered form of Modok''s heart. Another Goblin snatched the heart and ran away, giggling. Another Goblin tripped the other Goblin, and Modok''s heart fell from its grasp to tumble along the floor, where another Goblin picked it up. In moments, dozens of Goblins were scrambling, clawing, and scheming to get the heart as it got lost within the castle.

 Chapter 120: The Amber Guard

    A short ceremony was held within the barracks-like tent. It included Miss Heng and a dozen other members of the Amber Guard. Jeze was impressed and somewhat intimidated by each of them. Scarred warriors at the peak of human condition and combat skill. This group enforced the laws for adventurers, an already impressive cadre of people. Miss Heng gave a brief speech that outlined Swordslayer and Rainbow¡¯s achievements. She didn¡¯t need to say much as the two were known among the Amber Guard. For Jeze, it was hard to determine if the stoic members approved or disapproved.

    ¡°Are there any objections?¡± Miss Heng asked.

    The gathered Amber Guard stood with their backs straight and arms crossed. None objected. Or, Jeze thought, they refused to respond. Even Rainbow fidgeted on her feet while Swordslayer glowered at them.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think so,¡± Miss Heng stated and with that she concluded the ceremony by handing Rainbow and Swordslayer each one thick red cloak.

    Each Amber Guard came over to congratulate the two. This varied from a firm handshake to an embrace. One Amber Guard, a man with piercing green eyes and short-cropped brown hair, gave a short speech to Rainbow and Swordslayer.

    ¡°We are now family. Brothers and sisters in arms. Not only do we face the darkness, but we ensure that the Guild remains strong,¡± the man said in a deep voice filled with conviction. His belief was so powerful that Jeze could feel it in the air like the energy before a thunderstorm.

    Rainbow nodded, and Swordslayer muttered, ¡°Yeah, sure. Whatever.¡±

    With the ceremony over all of the Amber Guard filed out to resume their assignments. All except Miss Heng and three others remained. The three had athletic builds and rugged demeanors. One was a bald man with a jagged scar that ran the length of the left side of his face. Another was a woman with broad shoulders and short red hair. The last one was the man with the cropped brown hair, piercing green eyes, and strong conviction.

    Irvin shook his head, and his thick, bushy eyebrows were scrunched up as if he were about to sneeze. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d see the day,¡± the old man grumbled.

    Swordslayer smirked at him. ¡°Irvin! It¡¯s not so bad,¡± the sword fighter said.

    Irvin grumbled some more, and Jeze patted her friend¡¯s back. Miss Heng introduced the three that remained. They had gathered their equipment and were prepared for adventure. Jeze learned that they had lost two members of their team, but she could not see any hint of sadness on their hard faces. These were experienced adventurers with calloused hearts.

    Miss Heng started with the man with the strong conviction and piercing green eyes. His name was Aaron and he was the tallest of the three and was the same height as Swordslayer. Aaron wore a steel cuirass over heavy mail armor. Jeze saw that he was a man-at-arms that had a weapon for every occasion. Strapped to his hips, shoulders, and back was a heater shield and an assortment of armaments that included a sword, an axe, a mace, and a crossbow.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so glum!¡± Aaron¡¯s voice boomed. He gripped both Rainbow and Swordslayer¡¯s shoulders as if they were long-time friends. ¡°We are the best of the best! Financially, the Guild will take care of you and your family. Very flexible schedules, and we still go on adventures. We are assigned tiered seven or higher assignments, and we go after the hardest criminals in the world!¡±

    Swordslayer perked up and asked, ¡°Is that the bounties? We get paid a lot for them?¡±

    Aaron¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Yes, we get paid very well.¡±

    ¡°You know there is a bounty on Vornicus,¡± Irvin stated.

    Aaron¡¯s eyes went wide, ¡°Ahh, yes, the Vampire Lord. That is a big bounty. Whoever turns that one in can retire and live like a fat king!¡±

    The red-haired lady snorted. ¡°Who wants to grow fat?¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    Swordslayer glared at Irvin but did not say anything more. Jeze wondered about something.

    ¡°Are all Adept ranks part of the Amber Guard?¡± She asked.

    Aaron grinned again and replied, ¡°No. Only a select few join our ranks. We need to be able to enforce the laws among the toughest people in the world. If you work hard, little girl, you may put on the red one day.¡±

    Jeze scowled at the man. She did not like being called a little girl. Miss Heng introduced the next member. The broad-shouldered lady with the short red hair. Her name was Tara, and like Aaron, she carried an assortment of weapons. Most notable to Jeze was the long-bladed spear with a cross guard at the base of the blade and before the wooden haft. Tara had a basket-hilted sword sheath at her hips, a small round shield and a crossbow hung from her shoulders. Jeze recognized the weapons as coming from the rocky Highlands north of the Ironfist Kingdom, where the people had fiery red hair. The Highlands were known to be cold as they bordered the Frozen Sea, where the Frostsworn sailed their ships. Unlike Aaron, Tara wore lighter armor, which consisted of a brigandine coat that hung low to protect her thighs and a steel cap similar to the one that Jeze wore. Tara smirked and waved. A woman of few words, Jeze thought.

    The last member was the bald man with the jagged scar on his left cheek, who was slightly taller than Rainbow. Miss Heng introduced him as Zabo. He had dark sun-kissed skin and a wiry build. He wore a simple mail shirt with steel vambraces and greaves to protect his arms and legs. A wide-bladed curved falchion hung from his hip, along with an assortment of daggers at his waist. Jeze guessed him to be the team¡¯s Scout and recognized a simple channeling tool that hung around his neck and was engraved with Runes. Like Tara, Zabo appeared to be a man of few words and simply nodded in greeting. The talker of the group was definitely Aaron and probably now Swordslayer, Jeze thought.

    Rainbow glanced around the emptying tent and asked, ¡°I thought there was more Amber Guard.¡±

    ¡°Everyone is on assignments or venturing the Spire,¡± Aaron explained and grinned. Did he always smile? Jeze wondered.

    Swordslayer narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°How come you all are not wearing the red cloaks?¡±

    Tara smirked and answered, ¡°We only wear it when we are enforcing the peace. Otherwise, it is bad luck to wear it on an adventure.¡±

    Rainbow arched an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Really? Why?¡±

    Tara shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t know, and I don¡¯t care.¡±

    Zabo grunted in agreement. He stood straight with his arms crossed. Swordslayer smiled and rubbed his hands together.

    ¡°So, are we heading in? To the Spire?¡± The sword fighter asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Miss Heng replied. ¡°You are to wear the Red Cloak and keep the peace.¡±

    Swordslayer¡¯s eyes narrowed. Already, he did not like this new role. Before he could voice his opinion, Miss Heng continued. ¡°Jeze will instruct Rainbow on the portal aspect. First thing tomorrow, we head in.¡±

    Jeze glanced up. She didn¡¯t like being ordered, but she also thought it was a good idea to teach Rainbow the Portal aspect. They desperately needed more Safe Zone squads. In fact, Jeze was surprised that Rainbow was never instructed on it in the first place. It was a rare thing to see such a high level Rune caster. Probably because she and Swordslayer were never in a desperate situation where they were without a team and hunted by a powerful enemy, the Prince. Tara threw on her red cloak and smacked Swordslayer on the back.

    ¡°Come on, if we are lucky, we might get to crack some heads,¡± the red haired woman stated.

    Swordslayer looked at the cloak in his hands and smiled. ¡°That sounds fun!¡±

    ¡°I have a bad feeling about this,¡± Irvin said to Jeze.

    The teenager smiled. Good or bad, Swordslayer as an Amber Guard will undoubtedly be interesting. Rainbow tapped Jeze¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Do I call you teacher?¡± The multi-haired lady asked.

    Jeze smiled. That had a nice ring to it. She would have never thought that she would be the one teaching Rainbow. Jeze still looked up to her as a mentor.

    ¡°I was joking. I¡¯m not calling you that. Not by a long shot,¡± Rainbow added.

    Jeze narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°But you have to listen to me. The Portal Runes are very difficult to learn and dangerous. One mistake could be catastrophic.¡±

    Rainbow pointed to her multi-colored hair, which was a result of magic gone wrong, and said, ¡°Look who you are talking to. I may know a thing or two about dangerous Runes.¡±

    ¡°Enough talking and get to work, all of you. We have one day,¡± Miss Heng snapped.

    Rainbow grinned with a twinkle in her eye. ¡°Come on, Teacher Jezie, show me how to make Safe Zones.¡±

    Jeze pulled out the tome she retrieved from the Pyramid. It seemed like a lifetime ago that she explored the old ruins in Narcadia. A pang of sadness struck her heart as she thought about Ziplocke and Raynor the Old Hunter. Jeze shook the memories out of her head. This was the life of an adventurer and how one can develop a calloused heart. Jeze started her instructions, and Rainbow listened with full attention.

 Chapter 121: War

    Dunar ducked and entered through the flap of the Amber Guard¡¯s tent. Jeze and Rainbow were practicing the Portal aspect, and both looked up at the Frostsworn¡¯s arrival.

    ¡°I was told that I would find you here,¡± Dunar stated. His head nearly touched the top of the tent.

    How long were we studying? Jeze wondered. ¡°Are we heading in?¡± She asked as she stood up and stretched.

    Dunar nodded, his gray eyes serious. ¡°Yes, we are fully stocked and ready to go. What about you? Do you need more time?¡±

    Rainbow patted Jeze¡¯s hand and stood up. ¡°I am as ready as I ever will be. Let¡¯s hope I don¡¯t cause an explosion.¡±

    Jeze winched at the comment. It brought memories of Seb and Jonah. Two friends she lost from explosions from the Portal aspect due to Val and her treachery. Jeze growled.

    ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Dunar asked. Concern on his face.

    Jeze shook her head. ¡°Yes, I am fine. I just,¡± she paused and finally said, ¡°It is nothing.¡± She exited the tent, and the tall Frostsworn nodded once to Rainbow before following.

    ¡°Look who decided to join us,¡± Mikal said in greeting.

    Jeze and Dunar arrived at the Frostsworn camp, where the Proven were packing their gear and preparing their weapons. A short distance away, the Spiritwalkers were doing the same thing.

    ¡°Oh, hush Micky. Jeze, we are happy you are back,¡± Helga said and nudged the Healer.

    Rolfe shouldered his heavy pack and looked at Jeze. ¡°Is everything alright?¡±

    ¡°I am fine,¡± Jeze answered and she went over to inspect her belongings. She started packing.

    ¡°Did you get enough rest? You look tired,¡± Rolfe said.

    Jeze rubbed her eyes. She realized that her and Rainbow were up all night and she didn¡¯t get enough sleep. Jeze shook her head and answered, ¡°I will be fine.¡± This was the life of an adventurer, one will never be fully rested or prepared.

    Lady Kalina and her Ironfist team arrived. They were fully kitted out in their armor and packs and were ready to reenter the Spire. This was the first time since the Monster Waves when so many teams were working together. Jeze hoisted her filled pack and did a last check on her weapons and channeling tools. She was as prepared as she could be. Dunar did a final check on his gear, and as a diligent Leader, he inspected his teammates.

    ¡°Proven, we head out!¡± Dunar barked.

    They marched through the camp toward the fourth-floor portal that led to the Frost Hag¡¯s caves. On the way, they met up with Swordslayer and Rainbow¡¯s Amber Guard team. Four teams in total? Jeze was surprised at this.

    ¡°Are we expecting trouble?¡± She asked her teammates. Jeze had spent the entire time teaching Rainbow the Portal aspect, and she felt out of the loop.

    Rolfe and Helga shrugged. All they cared about was the opportunity to test themselves in battle. Mikal scowled and gave Jeze the look like she should have been paying attention. Dunar was the one to answer her question.

    ¡°The Guild has decided to approach this Wandering Spire event as if it is a war. A war against the Cultists and the Fiends,¡± he answered. His gray eyes were serious.

    ¡°We think they will be guarding the Floor Portal?¡± Jeze wondered.

    Dunar nodded and added, ¡°There are concerns about that, yes. We also still have not heard from Master Couzart or those who have entered the fifth floor.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Jeze knew that Dunar did not mention it, but that included Berserker Orn, Jorgenson, and the Carls. She nodded in understanding. Each of the four teams that prepared to enter the Spire had someone trained on the Portal aspect. The goal was to establish as many Safe Zones as possible in order to claim each floor. They will also be searching for the Core Tunnels for the Hold Cores, as well as any treasure that could aid them in this battle against the Fiends and the Cultists.

    They made it to the portal that was at the base of the enormous Spire that loomed above them as far as the eye could see. Rainbow, Swordslayer, and the Amber Guard entered, and the portal shimmered. The other teams followed, and the last was Jeze and the Proven. They found themselves in the ice caves of the Frost Hag. It was so much different from when the Proven fought the monster. Much of the ice walls were cleared away, and the entire area bustled with activity. The caves became an extension of the massive camp city outside. Stalls and tents were set up as numerous teams, merchants, and soldiers prepared themselves. The Proven was greeted by Irvin, and Jeze remembered something.

    ¡°Where are the Elites?¡± She asked.

    Irvin scratched his neck and answered, ¡°They are still discussing things.¡±

    Jeze snorted. The Elites did not care about the Guild or the realm. They only cared about themselves. Jeze vowed that she would be different and that she would be more like Master Couzart. If she were ever able to reach that rank. Irvin cleared his throat and led them toward the other teams. When everyone was gathered, the Guild official explained their situation.

    ¡°We believe the Floor Portal to the fifth floor is a few miles hike to the east. We had a few Initiate ranked teams go out to inspect, and they returned with news that the area is crawling with Ice Giants and Winter Wolves,¡± Irvin said, and his eyes looked grim. ¡°We believe that the monsters will be guarding the Floor Portal with a large force.¡±

    ¡°Yes! We will bring them a mighty battle,¡± Rolfe promised.

    Helga nodded. ¡°Oh ya! We will crush their bones to powder. For Glory!¡± She roared.

    Jeze and her team shouted back. ¡°Hurrah!¡±

    The other teams nodded with increased enthusiasm in their eyes. Even Irvin appeared more confident and less flustered. Miss Heng stepped forward, and her voice pierced the caves like a crack of thunder.

    ¡°Let¡¯s move out!¡± She cried.

    As one, the teams marched out of the caves. At the exit, Irvin patted Jeze on the shoulder.

    ¡°Good luck, and be safe,¡± the old Guild Official said.

    The four teams marched through the frozen tundra. They crossed chasms and scaled cliffs made out of ice. Jeze and the other Scouts traveled ahead of the main group. This included Paca, the small dark-haired girl from the Spirit Walker Team, and Zabo, the bald man with the jagged scar on his face from the Amber Guard. The Ironfist team lacked a stealthy Scout. Their method was to march through the floors in full armor and brute force. The most stealthy and observant of the team was Lady Kalina, who traveled alongside Jeze and the other two. Paca paused and held up a hand. The other stopped to crouch in the snow.

    ¡°Do you see that?¡± The Spirit Walker scout asked.

    Jeze and the others squinted, and in the distance, they saw a faint red dot.

    ¡°Oh no,¡± Jeze muttered. Her heart sank. She knew what it was as her team experienced this on the Lava floor.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Lady Kalina asked. Zabo remained quiet, but he was paying attention.

    ¡°I think, and I hope that I am wrong, but they repurposed the Portal,¡± Jeze answered.

    ¡°Repurposed? How do you mean?¡± Paca asked, her voice tinged with worry.

    ¡°They made it so that the Portal can pull in monsters from the higher floors,¡± Jeze explained.

    Lady Kalina nodded. Her face explained how serious the matter was. Finally, she said, ¡°I will alert the others. Let¡¯s proceed with caution.¡±

    In moments, the Ironfist team Leader returned, and with the nod, they continued toward the red dot. As they got closer, Jeze¡¯s fears were confirmed. The shimmering red dot was a repurposed Floor Portal. Jeze Summoned and Shaped Shadows to cover them in the gloom of the pale light of the Fourth floor. She and the Scouts crept closer, and over a low ridge, they saw an army of Ice Giants that stood in battle formations before the shimmering red portal. Lady Kalina gripped Jeze¡¯s shoulder, and the teenager looked up to their left. At first, Jeze thought it was just a gust of wind that kicked up the snow a short distance away before she realized that it was a Winter Wolf that was phasing.

    ¡°They also have Scouts,¡± Lady Kalina said.

    ¡°We need to head back now,¡± Zabo insisted. When the quiet man spoke, it was for urgent matters.

    The gust of snow materialized into the gaunt form of a pale white wolf. It howled. The enemy was alerted. Zabo had already left. Paca, her face lined with worry, followed the bald man. Below them, the army of Ice Giants prepared to march.

    ¡°Jeze, we must hurry,¡± Lady Kalina insisted.

    This snapped Jeze back to reality and the two hurried back to the others. They had to prepare for a war where they were outnumbered and retreat was not an option. Jeze grinned. She was excited to test herself.

 Chapter 122: Treachery

    "Incoming!" Someone shouted.

    Jeze didn''t know who shouted the warning as shadows dotted the area around her and dozens of Ice Boulders hurled at them. Mikal and Miss Heng gestured and Shaped the Water aspect to turn the Boulders into harmless mists. The frozen tundra shook and trembled as the Ice Giant army marched toward them. Jeze calculated that they were outnumbered nearly five to one! That was not counting if anything would come through the repurposed Floor Portal. Jeze worried that something big would come through, but for now, they had enough problems to deal with, which consisted of a small army of Ice Giants and Winter Wolves.

    "Hold steady!" Miss Heng cried.

    Her voice cracked the air like a whip. The teams formed a line, and they readied their weapons and Channeling tools. More ice boulders rained down upon them. Mikal, Miss Heng, and the other Rune casters were able to protect the teams by shaping the attacks into Mists. But boulders still crashed and shattered around them. In front, a howling storm brewed as the Winter Wolves prepared to attack.

    "Stay steady!" Miss Heng barked again.

    The storm of howling wolves came at them with terrifying speed. This was followed by another barrage of ice boulders. The battle had begun! Dunar and Rolfe stood in front and readied their shields. Helga was just behind Rolfe''s right shoulder, and Jeze stood just behind to Dunar''s left. Holding the rear in the middle was Mikal, who had the Life aspect readied for healing. The Spirit Walkers formed up on their left, with Ahanu holding the center with his kite shield. Paca unleashed her Moon aspect spell that knocked the Winter Wolves out of their phasing ability and made them solid. A swarm of gnashing fangs and claws crashed into the teams of adventurers, and the wolves were met with Rune magic and steel. The line held.

    "Advance!" Miss Heng ordered.

    This reminded Jeze of the monster waves, except, during the waves, they were on the defensive. Now, they were on the offensive as she and the other adventurers marched steadily forward through the storm of gnashing Winter Wolves. Jeze and Mikal hacked and stabbed at the Wolves that slipped past Rolfe and Dunar. Helga leaped forward and delivered devastating blows that took out swaths of the howling beasts. She attacked in sync with her team and demonstrated the perfect timing that could only be honed through thousands of hours of practice. Eventually, they passed through the blizzard of Winter wolves and were confronted with the hulking forms of the Ice Giants. Rolfe banged his shield.

    "For glory!" The Protector shouted.

    "Hurrah!" Jeze and her team chanted back as they engaged the misshapen brutes.

    The giants slammed their clubs down and tried to use their greater size and strength to crush the advancing adventurers. With skill, enchanted gear, and Rune magic, the line of adventurers held true against the onslaught. Jeze Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled walls of stone that broke up the Ice Giant''s formations. This allowed Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga to battle a few at a time. The three Adventurer-ranked fighters fought smoothly as they danced around the lumbering Ice Giant behemoths. Dunar and Rolfe held strong with their shields against the crashing clubs, as Helga circled around them to chop off the legs of the Giants. As the creatures fell, Mikal and Jeze hacked and stabbed them to death.

    Jeze''s stone walls gave away, and more Ice Giants surged forward. The Proven repeated the pattern again. Jeze created more walls to separate the Ice Giants, and her team fought and eliminated a few at a time. The chaos of battle kicked into full gear, and Jeze soon lost sight of the other teams. Visibility became obscured as the howling Winter Wolves churned up a blizzard of snow that engulfed them. The Proven could only see the immediate enemy before them, the large dark blue forms of their Ice Giant adversaries. The routine of battle settled in for them. Block, counter, attack, and heal. The team advanced forward. Rolfe and Dunar protected as Helga circled and delivered devastating attacks with her flame-enchanted Dane axe. Jeze created walls and launched boulders, and Mikal healed the team''s bruises and fractured bones. When it appeared that they would be overrun, Rolfe and Dunar would activate the Force enchantments on their shields to create space. Time became a blur, and the only thing that mattered was the next opponents in front of them.

    *****

    Fighting as part of a team was difficult for Swordslayer. He disliked staying in formation or in a battle line. His heart and soul wanted to rush into the mass of enemies before him and slaughter them all. Swordslayer slashed and sliced with his two swords the exact microsecond a pair of Winter Wolves materialized to pounce on him. Their broken bodies thudded to the ground.

    "Don''t do anything brash," Rainbow hissed from behind him.

    The multi-colored-haired Rune caster healed him and the Amber Guards'' minor wounds. Rainbow used the Nature aspect to erect a wall of thorny vines at the exact moment a howling pack of Winter Wolves became solid and entangled them. The team was able to make short work of the trapped beasts before Rainbow released the spell, and the vines disappeared into the ether.

    Swordslayer scowled at his long-time friend. "I feel trapped," he growled.

    Beside the two were their three teammates. Zabo wore a dark, thick hood that covered his bald head. He fought using his falchion in two hands and gracefully sliced apart the incoming Winter Wolves with the perfect timing that only an Adept-ranked fighter could have. Aaron and Tara swapped with ease between their crossbows and an assortment of melee weapons. Against the Winter Wolves, the two decided to use their swords. Rainbow had to admit, she enjoyed watching the three fight. It was beautiful, like a painting that was able to move. Swordslayer could care less. He wanted to wade into battle. The sword fighter''s eyes lit up when he saw the monstrous forms of the Ice Giants.

    "Stay steady, team!" Aaron''s deep voice pierced through the cacophony of battle.

    Swordslayer scowled and seethed. His entire body itched for combat. He craved to be tested and to experience the joys and pains of battle. Rainbow sighed and shook her head. She recognized when her friend experienced the Bloodlust. Their Amber Guard teammates noticed the seething energy that came from Swordslayer.

    "We win if we stick together," Aaron said.

    Tara and Zabo nodded in silent agreement.

    Rainbow agreed, "We know."

    Swordslayer howled into the air like a wolf gone mad. He charged ahead toward the advancing forms of the Ice Giants. The Amber Guard looked on with wide eyes filled with shock. Aaron shook his head.

    "We will not risk our lives for his carelessness," the man with piercing green eyes stated.

    Rainbow sighed and answered, "I know. We will link up after the battle."

    The multi-colored-haired Rune caster ran after her friend into the thick of danger.

    *****

    The Ironfist team was well-suited for battles. They had four heavily armed and armored warriors stand in front with Lady Kalina providing Rune magic support from the rear. Cris and Joff provided excellent protection with their shields in the center as Alcard and Mina skirmished from the sides. The team cut a swath of death through the howling storm of Winter Wolves. Lady Kalina barked orders and ensured that the team stayed close to the other adventurers. To her right were the Spirit Walkers. That team only had one Protector, so Kalina made sure to stay close to them so that their Rune casters could deflect the incoming boulders and return range attacks against the main body of the Ice Giant army.

    "We''ve lost sight of the other teams," Miss Heng stated.

    Lady Kalina bowed in greeting to her boss. It was true. Through the thick snowstorm that the Winter Wolves had kicked up, it was impossible to locate the other teams.

    "We stick together and keep advancing," Miss Heng ordered.

    Rainia nodded, and she informed her colleagues. Ahanu linked up with Cris and Joff and formed an impenetrable shield wall as the Ice Giants became visible ahead of them. The monstrous brutes bellowed rumbling challenges and curses as they lumbered toward the adventurers. Kalina, along with Miss Heng and the three Spirit Walker Rune casters, unleashed a deadly bombardment of ranged attacks that thinned down the mass of Ice Giants. The two sides met in a thunderous clash.

    The battle was pure chaos, and even the Rune casters needed to take up arms and engage in melee combat. Bodies churned, pushed, and pulled among them. Curses screams, and howls echoed all around. Yet, the Spirit Walkers and the Ironfist teams remained together. They fought with mace, spear, sword, and Rune magic. They fought and slayed Ice Giant after Ice Giant as they steadily trudged forward. Step by step, death by death, the teams advanced through the mass of monstrous brutes. But it was too much, even for them.

    Slowly, each one began to feel the stirrings of fatigue. It started as a spark of flame among the dry bush and caught on. Muscles began to strain, and soon they tired. They slowed and missed a block or dodge to take a glancing hit from an enormous club. Bones broke, and muscles strained. Injuries mounted. The Runecasters healed, and the fight continued, but it was like a dam with many holes where the water would eventually break through. Doubt appeared like a disease, but the adventurers'' resolve remained strong, and Rainia summoned the Vitality Spring that restored their bodies and minds. Despite the odds, they continued, for they knew in their hearts that this was it. No one else will replace them. If they failed, then the Darkness would win.

    They were eventually surrounded on all sides, and visibility was lost by the mass of towering monsters. The Protectors were spread thin as the Rune casters healed and unleashed ranged attacks. Cris was the first to fall. No healing magic would bring him back into the fight as he was too injured and too exhausted. Next was Joff and that left Ahanu and Alcard to hold a circle of protection. Ahanu had exhausted all of the charges to his shield. He was ready for death, for that final blow to land. It never came. In fact, the mass of Ice Giants dwindled!

    "Did we win?" He dared to ask. Dared to hope.

    Alcard''s voice rasped a response, "Not yet, lad."

    "But it seems the Elites have arrived," Miss Heng stated.

    This sparked hope within Ahanu''s chest. They had a moment to rest as Manfeld, the Elite from the Ironfist Kingdom, crashed among the Ice Giants like a meteor. Ahanu could not believe the Elite''s power!If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    "How does he do that?" The Spirit Walker Protector wondered.

    "He channels the power from the One Goddess," Lady Kalina replied.

    They watched Manfeld swing his two handed hammer that sent a shock wave of force that scattered the Ice Giants like they were leaves in the wind. Ahanu recognized the Force aspect, but could not comprehend how.

    Miss Heng explained, "An Elite''s magic is similar, but its source is different. As Lady Kalina stated, they are gifted with supernatural abilities that break the boundaries of what we know about Rune magic."

    "Incredible," Ahanu whispered in awe.

    This was the first time he saw anyone above the Adept rank fight. It was on a totally different category, how could he even compete? Ahanu wondered to himself.

    Miss Heng squeezed his arm and explained, "Do not worry. Even the Elites have their limits. Pay attention. Their power is not unlimited."

    Ahanu observed, and he saw what she meant. Initially, it appeared that the Elite had the strength of a hundred men, but in reality, Manfeld''s abilities came in bursts. There were moments when he fought like a normal person. Where he had to dodge an Ice Giant''s club, and he countered with a blow to the monster''s knee that was no harder than what Alcard could deliver. But Manfeld''s control over the Earth aspect was like nothing Ahanu had ever seen. The Elite weaved in Rune magic and hammer attacks as if they were one and the same. An Ice Giant slammed a club and Manfled didn''t even bother to block or dodge. The Club shattered on the Elite''s head, and Ahanu saw that Manfeld was covered in steel.

    "That is the Iron Body technique," Lady Kalina explained.

    "Only an Elite can do that," Alcard added in his raspy voice.

    Ahanu had seen Alcard and Lady Kalina form stone bodies that enhanced their durability. But, it was nothing to the level of what Manfeld achieved. To absorb a blow directly from an Ice Giant was on a whole different level. A different realm of power. Ahanu felt some despair that he would never achieve that level of power. Miss Heng squeezed his arm again.

    "If you believe you can achieve that power or that you can''t, in either case, you are right," she said into his ear.

    Ahanu''s jaw hardened and he nodded with a new type of resolve. Around them the storm abated somewhat and they could see further. They were still unable to locate the other teams but they did see something that raised their hopes. The Shimmering Floor portal!

    "Do not relax!" Miss Heng snapped and added, "You must always be prepared for the worst. For the worst has yet to come."

    *****

    Rainbow and Swordslayer were surrounded by Ice Giants. She Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled a circle of vines that snared and entangled the large brutes and kept them at bay while Swordslayer fought the ones that were free. The Swordfighter weaved and danced through the monsters like the wind. An Ice Giant slammed a club to the frozen tundra, and Swordslayer jumped off the weapon to slash two monsters across their throats. The giants gurgled and fell to the ground as Swordslayer weaved and slashed two more in the back of their legs. Rainbow formed glyphs with her body and caused her vines to sprout thorns and squeeze their enemies while injecting deadly toxins. But more Ice Giants kept coming, and it was only a matter of time. The two reconnected and stood back to back.

    "We need to fall back," Rainbow said.

    "No," Swordslayer replied before he rushed back into the throng of battle.

    Rainbow shook her head and gritted her teeth as she squeezed out more of her Will to Summon, Shape, and Control the Nature aspect. She was hitting her limit, but it appeared that Swordslayer was just getting warmed up. The sword fighter''s speed increased as his body took on a faint red aura. Rainbow blinked her eyes. Were they playing tricks on her? She wondered. She had seen this a few times with her colleague but could not explain how it happened. It defied all her logic on Rune magic. A snarling Ice Giant charged her, and that snapped her out of her thoughts as she dodged its clumsy attack. The monster was covered with welts from her thorns and it was slowed by her poison. Swordslayer appeared in a blur and was gone in a blink of an eye. The Giant stumbled and crashed to the ground, and its head rolled free.

    Still, more Giants came, and Rainbow''s vine wall was breached. She heard Swordslayer grunt as a giant landed a glancing blow that sent the sword fighter bouncing along the hard ice. Rainbow gritted her teeth and Summoned, and Shaped the Life aspect to heal her colleague.

    "Thanks," Swordslayer said through gritted teeth as he rose to his feet.

    The time Rainbow spent healing Swordslayer was precious, and it was time away from her Summoning the Nature aspect. More Ice Giants were able to break through her thorn barrier. Fear formed like a lump of stone in Rainbow''s chest. This was it, she thought. There were too many, and Swordslayer took another glancing hit. His armor was falling off in pieces and she would not be able to heal him as she needed to focus on the Nature aspect to keep the Giants away from her. Through the thick of battle and the snowstorm kicked up by the Winter Wolves, she could not see the other teams. They were alone. This was it, Rainbow grimly thought. She had followed Swordslayer for the last time and it finally resulted in their deaths.

    A blur and a flash of steel appeared briefly, and several Ice Giants fell to bloody pieces. Standing in the middle of the carnage was a warrior who wielded a large two-handed sword. Hope stirred in Rainbow''s chest until she saw who the newcomer was. Dread consumed the hope like a hungry flame. It was Prince Rodger, and his eyes locked on her and Swordslayer. A snarling grin appeared on his face. Rainbow looked around, and the final vestiges of hope died in her chest. No other Adventurer Teams were in sight. They were surrounded by Ice Giants and trapped with the Prince.

    "Yes!" Swordslayer cried.

    Prince Rodger and him stared at each other. The Ice Giants even sensed the tension and paused their assault.

    "We are on the same side," Rainbow said. It was her hope to create a positive outcome.

    "No, we are not," Rodger growled back.

    Swordslayer seethed, and a crazed look appeared in his dark eyes.

    Rainbow insisted, "If you attack us, you will be persecuted by the Guild." She saw that had no effect, and she added, "and by the other Elites."

    "Only if they find out. Death happens all the time in the heat of battle," the Prince replied.

    "Enough talking!" Swordslayer snapped.

    Rainbow''s heart broke as she watched the Prince and her friend attack each other.

    *****

    The Ice Giants were retreating.

    "Proven! They flee from our might! We crushed their bones, and now we march onwards toward Glory!" Dunar roared.

    "Hurrah!" The team shouted back.

    Rolfe banged his shield, and the Proven continued forward. Mikal had Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled the Vitality Spring. Jeze felt the energy infuse her Will and body. She waded into combat with sword, axe, and Rune magic. Jeze weaved all three seamlessly. This was a feeling she would never forget. Jeze felt that she had touched greatness, and it filled her heart with joy and meaning. It was fleeting and hard to maintain, but it encouraged her with the knowledge that she could achieve this. That one day, she could attain Elite rank or even higher. It was far off but within reach and barely visible, but it was there. A clash of steel could be heard, and that caused the Proven to pause.

    "What is that up ahead?" Helga asked, and she squinted through the howling snowstorm.

    Rolfe stabbed an Ice Giant through the throat, and the monster collapsed to the snow. Dunar dodged a club swing and chopped off the Giant''s hand at the wrist with his axe. The brute howled in pain and stumbled back. Dunar leaped and stabbed the monster through its skull with his sword.

    "Looks like adventurers," Jeze said and her eyes went wide. "And they are fighting each other!"

    "What? Maybe it''s the Cultists," Dunar stated.

    Jeze shrugged, "Should get closer?"

    Dunar paused to think.

    Mikal surveyed their surroundings and asked, "Why are the Giants retreating?"

    Helga stood tall and boasted, "Because they fear us!"

    "Form up! We will move ahead and stay alert!" Dunar barked.

    Rolfe banged his spear against his shield, and the team took up their positions. They marched through the blizzard, and the shimmering red portal came into view.

    "The Giants were falling back to guard the Floor Portal!" Jeze pointed out.

    "Very observant," Mikal muttered with a scowl.

    Dunar ordered the group to halt. Up ahead and closer, they could see Swordslayer and Rainbow fighting with Prince Rodger.

    "That treacherous bastard!" Jeze cursed the Prince and added, "We have to help them."

    Mikal''s eyes went wide. "Are you mad? Against an Elite?"

    Rolfe and Helga glanced at each other. Uncertainty was clear on their faces. On one hand, they were eager to test their skills against an Elite. On the other hand, Prince Rodger was a high-ranking guild member, and perhaps it would be best that they did not get involved.

    Prince Rodger and Swordslayer clashed steel and blurred around each other in a demonstration of incredible speed. Rainbow limped away, and was injured and she Summoned the Life aspect to heal herself. Swordslayer aggressively attacked with his dual sword strikes, which the Prince easily parried and dodged while countering viciously. They appeared evenly matched, Jeze thought until the Prince blurred with superhuman speed and slashed Swordslayer through his armor.

    "What is the meaning of this!" Dunar roared.

    This startled the combatants. Swordslayer limped back toward Rainbow, his blood leaving a trail on the white snow. Rodger glanced up and his eyes narrowed. Jeze saw that the prince was calculating.

    "Stay close," Dunar whispered. He also sensed the danger with the Prince.

    "We should not have gotten involved," Mikal said, but the Healer prepared his spear and Channeling tools.

    Jeze seethed with rage. Even though she now knew that the cause of all her problems rested solely on Drake. That the Empire did not have anything to do with his treachery. Jeze still felt that they were partly to blame. Besides, the Prince most likely attacked her friends, and now he was clearly considering attacking them. Dunar sheathed his weapons and held up his hands.

    "It appears to me that there was some confusion. The Winter Wolves created a storm that made it difficult to tell friend from foe. That is an honest mistake," the Proven Leader said.

    Rainbow treated Swordslayer''s wounds, and the Prince''s face relaxed somewhat. He had a sneer on his perfectly shaped face.

    "Yes, an honest mistake. I forgive Swordslayer for attacking me," Rodger said.

    "You lie!" Swordslayer roared, but Rainbow held him back.

    A thunderous screech took everyone''s attention. As one, they turned to look at where the loud sound came from. It was the Red Floor Portal.

    "Looks like we have bigger problems to worry about," Mikal said.

    An enormous wyrm emerged from the portal. The screech came from its wide round maw that was filled with row upon row of sharp teeth. The behemoth crawled out on jagged centipede-like legs that created deep fissures into the hard pack frozen earth. The Ice Giants parted to allow the huge monster through, and Jeze saw red Runes flare along its carapace-covered body. Ice Walls sprang out in all directions to separate the battlefield even more, and it trapped the Proven with Swordslayer, Rainbow, and the Prince.

    "My lord, you are the ranking member here. What are your orders?" Dunar asked the Prince.

    Jeze was shocked and then angered. Why would he ask him that? But rationality closed in on her. Dunar was making the best of a horrible situation. They needed the Prince as an alley if they ever hoped to defeat the giant monster. Prince Rodger smirked at them.

    "That is a Rimewyrm, a tiered eight beast from the higher levels. There is nothing you pathetic fools could do," he snarled.

    The Proven''s face hardened at the insult. Dunar took a deep breath but held back his retort. He was a wise leader, Jeze reflected.

    Prince Rodger had a swagger about him that annoyed Jeze. "I will handle it. You keep the Ice Giants away from me. If you can even manage that much."

    With that, the Prince crouched, and Jeze could feel his body gathering energy. The air shimmered around him as he launched upwards with so much force that the ground cracked underneath. The Prince soared toward the Rimewyrm and he looked tiny in comparison.

    "Proven form up!" Dunar barked.

    They moved into position as the Ice Giants gathered to attack them.

    "For glory!" Helga roared.

    "Hurrah!" The team shouted back.

    The horde of remaining Ice Giants surged toward them.

 Chapter 123: RimeWyrm

    Miss Heng and the Spirit Walkers scrambled out of the way to avoid the enormous spear-like limbs of the RimeWyrm as it entered the battlefield. It¡¯s screech deafened their ears. The colossal beast towered over them, and much of its worm-like body remained on the other side of the Portal. To make matters worse, the monster Summoned and Shaped enormous walls of ice that trapped them. Miss Heng gritted her teeth as she Shaped a hole through the walls for them to escape through. It was hard! The RimeWyrm¡¯s Will was extraordinarily strong!

    ¡°Melting the ice with the Fire aspect may be easier,¡± Lady Kalina observed.

    Miss Heng nodded in agreement and pointed at the hole she made. ¡°Everyone move!¡± She ordered.

    The two teams escaped just as the Rimewrym¡¯s jagged legs churned up the frozen Tundra where they were just standing. Miss Heng ordered the Rune casters to use the Fire Aspect, and together with Lady Kalina, they got to work melting the walls.

    ¡°How do we fight that thing?¡± Ahanu asked. His eyes wide as he looked up. They still were able to see the beast as it screeched and clambered out through the Portal.

    ¡°We don¡¯t. We leave this to the Elites,¡± Miss Heng responded.

    Cris, one of the Templars from the Ironfist team, asked, ¡°Where is High Cleric Manfeld? He is our only hope in defeating this monster.¡±

    At that moment, they saw Prince Rodger soar through the air, and he landed on the RimeWyrm¡¯s body. The creature squirmed and shook hard in an attempt to dislodge the Elite rank, Adventurer. Its legs smashed through the ice walls, and the two teams were nearly trampled.

    ¡°We have to circle around toward the portal,¡± Miss Heng stated.

    Rainia nodded grimly. ¡°That will be very dangerous,¡± she said.

    Miss Heng¡¯s eyes narrowed and she replied, ¡°If we don¡¯t. Another Rimewyrm may come through.¡±

    Lady Kalina surveyed their surroundings and visibility was still difficult due to the Winter Wolves. ¡°The Ice Giants fell back to guard the Portal.¡±

    ¡°Then we have a lot of work to do,¡± Miss Heng responded.

    *****

    The Proven was the team closest to the shimmering red Threshold. Jeze felt that if she could repurpose the Runes, they could kill the Rimewyrm, as it was still halfway through the Floor Portal. There was one problem, and that was a small army of Ice Giants standing in their way.

    ¡°Focus Jeze!¡± Dunar snapped.

    The Leader sidestepped a crashing club that kicked up ice and snow. Dunar hacked off the attacking Ice Giant¡¯s hand with his axe and he rolled out of the way as a second Ice Giant slammed its club at him. Jeze¡¯s attention returned to the combat in an instant. She Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled a boulder to slam into the injured Ice Giant and knocked it on its back.

    ¡°Die!¡± Helga roared as she leaped at another Ice Giant.

    The warrior maiden buried her Dane Axe in its skull and followed it to the ground with a loud crash. Rolfe was at her side, and the Protector deflected another Ice Giant¡¯s club attack with his shield and stabbed upwards with his spear to pierce the monster¡¯s thick ice-like hide. More Ice Giants kept coming!

    ¡°Jeze, we need walls!¡± Dunar roared.

    The Leader scrambled and weaved in between the smashing clubs as four towering Ice Giants pursued him. Dunar sliced one of his attackers behind the knee and removed the hand of another with his axe before he got away and joined the Proven. Jeze gritted her teeth and formed the glyphs with her hands. A wall of stone blocked the Ice Giants and gave the team a moment of reprieve before it started to crack as the Ice Giants slammed their heavy mauls against it. Up above them, the two Elites, Rodger and Manfeld, fought the giant Leviathan. Rodger hacked and stabbed as he ran along the Rimewyrm¡¯s carapace-covered back. Manfeld smashed his two handed hammer with thunderous power against the creature¡¯s legs and prevented the behemoth from fully exiting the Portal.

    ¡°If I can repurpose the Portal, we can kill the Rimewyrm!¡± Jeze cried.

    Mikal snorted. ¡°Great idea! Except we have an army of Ice Giants in our way.¡±

    Swordslayer scowled at the healer while nursing his wounded chest. ¡°Wise remarks never achieved anything,¡± the sword fighter hissed.

    Jeze¡¯s stone wall crumbled, and six Ice Giants lumbered through. Swordslayer growled low, and his body tensed before he ran into the fray. Mikal¡¯s eyes were wide as he watched the wounded sword fighter elegantly dodge attacks while slashing with his blade. Each stroke was well placed with impeccable accuracy. Swordslayer removed hands at the wrists and feet at the ankles. In moments, four Ice Giants were maimed and wounded. The final two were entangled by thorny vines that burst from the ground. Mikal snapped out of it and Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled spears of ice that impaled the final two Ice Giants.

    ¡°Proven! Press forward!¡± Dunar commanded.

    The team moved into formation and marched ahead as a blizzard of Winter Wolves engulfed them. The gaunt, pale blue beasts phased all around and snapped at them with sharp, cold fangs. Jeze took a bite on her shoulder before she split the wolf¡¯s head with her axe. No soul sucking pain! The silver potion Rainia had provided them worked! The team accumulated gashes and cuts all from the fast-moving ghost-like Winter Wolves, but they each timed their attacks well, and soon, the ground was littered with twitching and dying bodies. All the non-Elite-ranked adventurers were heading toward the red Floor Portal. When the Proven emerged from the blizzard, they spotted Swordslayer and Rainbow¡¯s Amber Guard teammates.

    ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Swordslayer growled.

    Tara, the red-haired lady, snorted, ¡°You look like shit.¡±

    Aaron nodded in agreement. ¡°Brother, slow and steady is how we stay alive.¡±

    Swordslayer growled, ¡°I¡¯m not your brother.¡±

    Aaron grinned widely, and his head tilted back to let loose a hearty laugh. Zabo, the bald-headed teammate, simply nodded. Jeze had to agree with them. They looked fresh, and the trail of bodies they left indicated that they did not have an easy run. Another storm of Winter Wolves swarmed them, and this gave Jeze an opportunity to see how Adept-rank adventurers fight as a team. The three weaved and lashed out with precise timing that caught the Winter Wolves just as they materialized. Jeze felt clumsy compared to them. An Ice wall melted to their side, and the Spirit Walker and Ironfist teams emerged.

    Miss Heng stepped forward and ordered in a loud, piercing voice, ¡°Rune casters to me. We will melt these icewalls! The rest of you form a battle line. We will march and reclaim the floor portal!¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    The ground shook as Rodger bounced and skidded along the frozen Tundra. He was knocked out of the sky by the Rimewyrm, and the adventurers had to move out of his way as he skidded to a halt. The Prince emerged from the crater with a growl. He looked battered, but Jeze saw his wounds closed and mended on their own. He healed nearly as fast as Viel, she realized. The Elite crouched, and the air shimmered around him. Then, he leaped into the air to rejoin the battle with the Rimewyrm.

    Jeze watched the two Elites fight and discovered their patterns. From what she saw, they were definitely fast, skilled, and tough, but what separated them from the Adept rank was their incredible bursts of superhuman power. But it was not constant, and Jeze realized there was a delay as the abilities needed to be charged. She tucked that away in her memory in case she ever needed to fight an Elite. The knowledge that they need to charge their abilities and that they only last for a short amount of time could come in handy. Swordslayer shook his head.

    ¡°They grow dependent upon that power, and that makes them soft,¡± he said to Rainbow and Jeze. Swordslayer added, ¡°I could have beaten the Prince.¡±

    ¡°Keep dreaming!¡± Rainbow said, and she and Jeze laughed.

    But, Jeze reflected to herself, Swordslayer was on to something. The Elites did possess tremendous power, but it had its limitations. Both the Prince and Manfeld¡¯s powers granted them superhuman strength, durability, and healing. There were some key differences. Raynor¡¯s burst of power tremendously enhanced his speed. For a few seconds the Prince appeared as a blur as he moved so fast. Manfeld did not have that intense speed, but he did have explosive power. When he charged up his ability and struck with his hammer, it created a massive shock wave that was strong enough to force the enormous castle-sized Rimewrym back.

    ¡°See?¡± Swordslayer said and pointed at the two Elites fighting above with his sword. ¡°Their bodies can not handle the power, and they need to rest. Their abilities come in bursts. All you need to do is wait them out and strike when they are tired!¡±

    Rainbow rubbed her face and said, ¡°You can¡¯t beat him. Stop pretending otherwise.¡± She sounded tired.

    ¡°Miss Zanchi!¡± Heng barked and continued, ¡°You know the Fire aspect, correct? Stop wasting time and help with melting these walls.¡±

    Jeze scowled, but Miss Heng was right. Time was of the essence, and she hurried over to join the other Rune casters in melting the wall. Lady Kalina spoke up next.

    ¡°Adventures, use this time to charge your equipment. Once this wall is taken down, the Ice Giants will throw everything they have against us.¡±

    Ahanu was resting on the ground. With a deep sigh, he rose to his feet and began the process of Summoning and Shaping the glyphs to recharge his equipment. Helga, Dunar, and Rolfe did the same. They were exhausted, but this was it. The final push and they will reclaim the Floor Portal. Jeze gritted her teeth as she Summoned and Shaped flames to melt the wall. Through the opaqueness, she saw the blurry forms of many Ice Giants. The large forms paced back and forth as they prepared for a fight. Beyond them was the Floor Portal, where Rodger and Manfeld fought the enormous Rimewyrm. Their battle thundered and echoed all around. Such power! Jeze thought, and for a moment, she felt some despair that she could never achieve that level. Miss Heng shouted commands and they snapped Jeze out of her thoughts.

    ¡°Fighters to the front! Rune casters, Healers, and Archers to the back! This is it!¡±

    Rolfe banged his spear against his shield, and Helga roared to the heavens, ¡°For glory!¡±

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± Jeze and the other Proven chanted back.

    The ice wall melted, and the final horde of Ice Giants swarmed through. The two sides met in a thunderous clash. The battle raged all around. Rune magic exploded through the air as fighters screamed in victory and in pain. The Rimewyrm¡¯s piercing screech echoed for miles all around as it tried to kill the two smaller and annoying Elites. Manfeld and Rodger leaped and struck the behemoth and kept it trapped within the Portal. The giant beast would step forward and then be forced back. However, the two Elites were getting tired, and their powers waned. It would be only a matter of time before the Rimewyrm escaped fully. The epic battle could be heard all through the frozen Tundra of the Fourth Floor.

    ¡°Keep pushing!¡± Miss Heng roared.

    The teams cleared the ice wall, and the shimmering red Portal was in view. They were so close that Jeze could see the runes etched along the Threshold. The Proven stumbled forward. Each step was paid in blood. Their bodies were battered and bleeding. Their armor was torn and tattered. But the adventures kept pressing forward and pushed against the tall lumbering Ice Giants. They had to avoid clubs and the massive stomping chitinous legs of the Rimewyrm. The enormous beast did not even notice them as it focused on the two Elites.

    ¡°Jeze, Lady Kalina and Rainbow!¡± Miss Heng called out. ¡°You three seal the Portal. Everyone else, cover them!¡±

    Ice Giants were slain from a barrage of range attacks, and the fighters forced a narrow wedge for the three Rune casters to run through. Up ahead was the shimmering Portal and the enormous tree-sized legs of the Rimewyrm. Jeze and the others dodged and weaved to avoid being crushed by the massive spear-like limbs that dug fissures into the frozen ground. The base of the Threshold was in range. Jeze frantically dug through her pack for the Portal aspect Channeling tools when a tall figure cloaked in black emerged from the Portal.

    It looked like a woman with coal-black skin, flame-colored eyes, and matching red hair that fell to her shoulders. Two curved horns protruded from her forehead, and a sneer played along her lips that showed the hint of fangs underneath. She was as tall as Helga and towered over Jeze. The three rune casters skidded to a halt.

    ¡°A Fiend!¡± Lady Kalina cried.

    Jeze had to scramble back away, and she tilted her head as she studied the Fiend. Viel said that they were bigger. What Jeze initially thought was a black cloak were actually wings that the Fiend unfurled with a snarling hiss, and they expanded outwards to each side. The Demon drew a wide-bladed curved sword that it gripped in two hands.

    ¡°I thought they were bigger,¡± Jeze said.

    ¡°Demons come in ranks. Lessar, Regular, Greater, and Lord. This is a Regular Fiend,¡± Rainbow replied. The multi-colored-haired Adventurer began to Shape Glyphs.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too bad, right?¡± Jeze asked as she readied her weapons.

    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate it. In terms of skills, a Regular Fiend can be equal to an Adept rank,¡± Lady Kalina warned.

    Jeze nodded in understanding. The Fiend made a simple gesture and the entire area was plunged into Darkness. Jeze was impressed with how fast the Demon manipulated the Darkness aspect. She tapped her Channeling tool and gritted her teeth as she Shaped the spell away. It took a tremendous amount of effort, and there was a moment where Jeze worried she would black out, but in the end she managed to dispel the Darkness.

    Lady Kalina rushed in right after with her sword, and the two exchanged a flurry of blows. Rainbow Summoned and Shaped Vines and she Controlled them to entangle the Fiend, but failed as the Demon sliced the vines apart and still managed to fight Lady Kalina without breaking an effort. The combatants had to break apart in order to avoid being stepped on by the Rimewyrm and re-engaged when the behemoth¡¯s enormous limbs passed by. Jeze¡¯s eyes darted back and forth at how fast the three fought, and she couldn¡¯t find an opening. She growled in frustration.

    ¡°Jeze, repurpose the Portal! We will hold the Fiend at bay,¡± Lady Kalina called out.

    The Fiend hissed and leaped straight into the air while it flapped its wings. It soared around and dove right at Jeze.

    ¡°Change in plans. You repurpose the Portal instead!¡± Jeze cried, and she narrowly evaded a sword swipe that was aimed at her head.

    Jeze attacked with sword and axe, and the Fiend fluidly parried, evaded, and countered. The blade¡¯s edge nicked Jeze on her cheek. Rainbow¡¯s vines entangled the Fiend by the legs and prevented it from flying away. Jeze chopped high with her axe and the Fiend batted the attack away and then sliced at the vines holding it. Jeze lunged with her sword, and the Fiend whipped her sword back in a flash to deflect the attack.

    ¡°She¡¯s good!¡± Jeze commented, a wide grin on her face.

    The Fiend snapped its blade around, and Jeze narrowly avoided the edge while countering low with her axe. The Fiend lifted their leg, and the axe struck nothing but air. Jeze twirled her sword high and then struck low and nicked the Demon¡¯s hand. It howled in pain and shot fire from its mouth. Jeze rolled out of the way with her armor getting singed. Rainbow Controlled Vines that whipped the Fiend hard and sent the Demon skidding along the Tundra. Jeze and Rainbow circled around the tree-sized limb of the Rimewyrm and pursued the Fiend. A quick glance up them that Lady Kalina was nearly finished. The Fiend sneered at them.

    ¡°Until next time,¡± it hissed, and it soared through the Portal right before it snapped and turned blue.

    The entire fourth floor rumbled as the Rimewyrm let loose a deafening screech as it its body was sliced in half from the Portal being repurposed. Instead of spraying blood the Rimewyrm unleashed a frigid blizzard that blasted wind so fast that it knocked Jeze and the others clear off their feet. Jeze remained on her back and laughed and she howled up at the sky like a wolf. She heard her teammates howl back.

    ¡°For glory!¡± Jeze shouted with a raised fist in the air.

    ¡°Hurrah!¡± She heard her teammates shout back.

 Chapter 124: Lords of Mischievousness

    Ziplocke was impressed at how quickly his Goblin saboteurs got around. He, Leandra, and Graul returned to the Wayfare Market and already they spotted several of their tiny brethren scampering about. One tiny Goblin snickered and disappeared into the shadows while being chased after by a mixed group of Fiends and Feytouched. Another incident involved the Iron Trolls. The enormous humanoids crashed through the marketplace in chase of a giggling and elusive Goblin.

    Leandra grinned at the antics but the smile soon faded away. She had a thought and said, ¡°Do you think they are drawing attention to us?¡±

    Both Graul and Ziplocke were chuckling at the looks of misery on the faces of the Iron Trolls and other pursuers. They imagined what mischievousness the little Goblins were up to. The diminutive Demons may not be tough in a fight, but they can hide and cause all sorts of mayhem. The Goblins¡¯ pranks could be shrinking clothes, stealing shoes, changing the locks on doors, and placing Afflictions on food that caused excessive pooping. The list was practically endless, and it tickled the imagination of Graul and Ziplocke. But, most effective was the Goblins ability to spread lies and rumors. That was why they released the little buggers in the first place. To sow chaos and discord among the Fiendish ranks. However, Leandra pointed something out and the two immediately noticed the glares they received from the other denizens of the market. The Goblins were drawing undesirable attention to them, but Ziplocke perked up.

    ¡°We should get cloaks!¡± He suggested.

    ¡°What in the hells will that do?¡± Graul snapped.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a fool! Wearing a hooded cloak is an effective way to blend in and not be noticed,¡± Ziplocke replied with a knowing nod.

    Leandra tapped her chin and questioned. ¡°But we are small. Wouldn¡¯t people just recognize that we are hooded Goblins?¡±

    Ziplocke sneered. ¡°We are not that small! There are some Fey that are our heights. Come on, admit it! It¡¯s a brilliant idea!¡±

    Graul rumbled deeply and shook his head. ¡°This is coming from the Great Failure.¡±

    Leandra chuckled and added, ¡°I¡¯m in.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°What?¡± Both Graul and Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°You are asking a girl to shop, and this gal loves to accessorize!¡± Leandra replied and she started to browse the stalls for a suitable cloak.

    Moments later the three wore hooded cloaks that covered their eyes, but their sharp noises still peeked out a little. Ziplocke chose one with a bright orange fabric. Graul went with deep blue, and Leandra had one that was bright yellow like the sun. If there was a sun in the Abyssal plane. The three made their way over to the Winter Sprite¡¯s stall. The ice colored Fey sneered at them.

    ¡°Your kind is nothing but trouble,¡± he hissed.

    ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Leandra asked, her eyes blinking innocently.

    The Winter Sprite leaned in and stated, ¡°Your little brothers and sisters have been running rampant across the land like, how do the mortals say it? Like rats.¡±

    ¡°Really? Well that is news to me. Have you two heard anything?¡± Leandra held a hand to her chest and asked her colleagues.

    ¡°Nope,¡± Graul replied.

    ¡°Nothing of the sort,¡± Ziplocke added with a snicker. ¡°What sort of trouble?¡± He asked.

    ¡°All types of trouble. Most notable was a fight between the forces of the Greater Fiend Odash and Scurry,¡± the Fey answered.

    Graul snickered. ¡°Those two were always fools.¡±

    ¡°Some might even say its bad for business,¡± the Winter Sprite added with a raised eyebrow.

    Ziplocke stated, ¡°Chaos is good for opportunity, that is what my grandma always said.¡±

    The Winter Sprite shook his head and replied, ¡°Its risky doing business with your kind. I should raise my prices.¡±

    ¡°Who are you kidding? No one but humans want to do business with you, and not even them!¡± Ziplocke cried.

    Graul and Leandra snickered.

    ¡°We have what you asked for,¡± Ziplocke said and nodded to Leandra.

    She handed him the sack. Graul¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Why did you hand him an empty sack?¡± The stocky Goblin asked.

    The Winter Sprite arched an eyebrow and nodded.

    ¡°It¡¯s not empty,¡± Leandra said.

    ¡°Yes it is,¡± the Winter Sprite turned the sack inside out.

    Ziplocke slapped his forehead. ¡°You didn¡¯t bother to check it?¡±

    Leandra shrugged and blushed. Graul¡¯s eyes went wide and he pointed at Ziplocke and laughed.

    ¡°You should see the look on your face!¡± The stocky goblin exclaimed.

    ¡°I guess we have to go back,¡± Leandra stated.

    Ziplocke slapped his forehead a second in time.

 Chapter 125: Priorities

    The four teams made camp after the defeat of the Rimewyrm. The behemoth''s frozen carcass was splayed across the tundra like newly created hills. Rainia told Jeze that hidden amongst the Rimewyrm''s ice chunks were precious gems that could be used for magical crafting. But everyone was too exhausted after the fight to think about riches and treasure.

    So much has happened. Including Prince Rodger''s attempted murder of Swordslayer and Rainbow. Jeze growled. Could you believe the nerve of that guy? She thought to herself. The audacity to attack fellow guildmates in an effort to make their deaths look like an accident! Jeze was furious, and she balled her hands into fists. Rainbow sat next to her by the campfire with a steaming bowl of recovery broth in her hands.

    "What do you make of the Fiend telling us ''until next time?''" The multi-colored haired lady asked.

    Jeze glanced up at her friend and she had no idea what the demon meant. That was another issue to think about, but why would Rainbow ask that of all things?

    Jeze leaned close and whispered, "I think you have bigger concerns to worry about. Like the Prince''s attempt to kill you."

    Swordslayer sat next to Rainbow. He chuckled and then grimaced in pain from where he was stabbed by the aforementioned Prince. Even with healing magic the sword fighter would need a few days to fully recover. When the pain subsided, Swordslayer spoke.

    "We only have to worry about him when there is an opportunity. He won''t make a move against us now with everyone about. Besides, I have studied him. I know his limits."

    Jeze growled, "You can''t be serious! He almost killed you!"

    Rainbow shrugged. "Wouldn''t be the first time."

    "You fought the Prince before?" Jeze asked.

    Swordslayer rubbed his injured side and answered, "Not directly. He always sends people after us."

    Jeze shook her head. Her friends could be so infuriating to talk to sometimes! "So this is different! He is here and an Elite ranked adventurer! You two need to be more careful."

    Swordslayer scoffed and grimaced. "We are with Amber Guard now. He wouldn''t make a move against us in the open. Besides, I''m sure I can beat him. He relies on his powers which makes him dependent and his sword fighting is sloppy. All I need to do is to wait him out. When his powers run dry, he''s mine!"

    "You are insane! Do you know that?" Jeze cried.

    The Prince fought a RimeWrym for almost an hour! How long did Swordslayer think to wait him out? Jeze couldn''t begin to understand how the sword fighter saw the world. Or reality, for that matter, she thought dryly to herself.

    Swordslayer chuckled and patted her on the back. "I suppose we owe you our thanks for showing up when you did. We would be dead otherwise."

    Rainbow added, "Your mate, Dunar, is very clever. Don''t lose him, he would make a good husband."

    Jeze sputtered, her thoughts derailed, and she blushed. "What? No, it''s not like that between us."

    The Proven sat a short distance away and Jeze worried that Dunar overheard them. Rainbow studied her and then returned to sipping her broth. Why would she say that? Jeze thought to herself and she gripped her head with both her hands. So many things were happening!

    "Can you two be serious for once?" Jeze exclaimed.

    Her friends chuckled. Swordslayer rubbed her shoulders and stated, "There is always another person, or monster, that is trying to kill us. You are young and new to this life. You''ll see after one near death experience, that they all are the same. Just another day."

    Rainbow nodded in agreement. Jeze wanted to scream. She rose up and stormed away from them. If they wanted to get themselves killed, so be it! The area around the Floor Portal bustled with activity, and Jeze saw that the other Elites arrived along with a caravan of merchants. That was good! She thought to herself. In order for them to restock on supplies they would have had to travel all the way back to the Safe Zone which was in the Frost Hag''s ice caves. The merchants being out here made things convenient, but it was a bit dangerous for them as there was no Portal that exited the Wandering Spire. The Floor Portal led to the next floor and only five could travel through at a time if they wanted to be together. The sixth person would be sent to a random location on the fifth floor.

    The merchants had brought along a small army of mercenaries for protection, but would they be enough? Jeze wondered to herself. The Ice Giants and Winter Wolves were at least Tier 5. That was beyond the range of Initiate ranked fighters, which could handle up to Tier 4 with some difficulty. Jeze shook her head, why was she worried about the merchants? She had more important things to worry about! Such as, scheming Princes, Cultists, and now Fiends. What did that Fiend mean about seeing them later? How was the Fiend connected to everything? Jeze was delighted when she spotted Irvin among the merchants. She ran over to her old friend and like a burst dam, she told him everything.

    "Whoa! Slow down, I just arrived," Irvin replied while he held up two hands. He looked at Jeze with his bushy eyebrows and said quietly, "We shouldn''t talk here. I''ll come find you and the others when I can."

    Jeze sighed and muttered, "Fine."

    She sulked off back toward her camp and on the way she found Mikal arguing with a merchant that sold supplies.

    "Can you believe this guy? He is selling the Water Bricks for nearly triple what they are worth!" Mikal exclaimed.

    The Merchant, a beefy man, held up two hands and replied, "It is a big risk for me to be out here."

    "Oh, you think? Risky to be out here, you say? You do realize we are trying to save the realm?" Mikal responded.

    The merchant shrugged their broad shoulders. Mikal glanced at Jeze.

    "The nerve of this guy!"

    Jeze responded, "Its still worth it for us to buy our supplies here rather than huffing all the way back to the Safe Zone."

    Mikal''s eyes widened, and he grabbed Jeze by the elbow to move her to their camp with the others. "Why would you say that in front of him? I''m trying to negotiate a better price!"

    Jeze yanked her arm away and scowled at the Healer. "We have bigger things to worry about!" She snapped.

    Mikal scoffed. "We can''t do anything if we are broke." The Healer looked at the enormous form of the Rimewyrm corpse. "Hmm, I wonder how much we could get from that. There has to be hundreds of magical applications."

    "I heard that Prince Rodger and High Cleric Manfeld laid claim to the Rimewyrm," Ahanu said, as he joined their conversation.

    Earlier, he was recharging his enchanted gear and needed a break. Mikal''s eyes went so wide that Jeze worried that they would burst from the Healer''s skull.

    "By what right do they have? It was Jeze that killed the beast when she repurposed the corrupted Floor Portal!" Mikal Exclaimed.

    Ahanu shrugged and said, "I suppose you could argue with them about that."

    Mikal sputtered and muttered, "It''s so unfair." He then tapped his chin and looked up, "What about the Ice Giants and Winter wolves? Are they worth anything?"

    "I think they are being assessed now by the Scavenger teams and Merchants. It will probably be split evenly among all the teams that fought," Ahanu responded.

    Mikal growled, "Thieves and vultures the whole lot of them. Probably going to rip us off, even though we risked our lives."

    Jeze chuckled. In a way she was glad that Mikal antics made her laugh and took her mind off all their other problems. If only for a moment. Jeze scanned the busy area and she saw no sign of Prince Rodger.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    "Where is the Prince?" She asked.

    Ahanu pointed off in the distance. "He and the other Elites made camp elsewhere. I suppose they are talking about Elite things."

    Jeze leaned close and said, "Well, we all need to talk."

    She told Ahanu about the Prince''s attempt on Swordslayer and Rainbow''s lives. Mikal muttered something about Jeze and drama, and he walked off. The Spirit Walker Protector''s eyes went wide.

    "We should tell Miss Heng. She will know what to do," he said.

    Jeze exclaimed, "No! Not her."

    Ahanu replied, "She is not so bad once you get to know her."

    "Maybe to you. Miss Heng is out to get me," Jeze snorted her reply.

    "She respects you, you know?" Ahanu said.

    Jeze rolled her eyes. "She sure has a funny way of showing it, but we can''t tell her. I don''t trust her."

    Ahanu crossed his arms. "She has been nothing but loyal to the Guild."

    Jeze placed a gentle hand on the Protector''s shoulder and replied, "I know. I just rather not tell her about this. She will just accuse me of causing trouble."

    Ahanu nodded and asked, "Then who?"

    Jeze''s eyes lit up when she noticed the Ironfist team. "Lady Kalina! But, let''s wait until Irvin can join us."

    "You are making my head spin," Ahanu said.

    Jeze grinned. "I''m sorry. A lot is happening."

    Miss Heng called for all the teams to gather around her.

    "We should go," Ahanu said and headed over.

    Jeze joined her teammates, and they sat with the other teams around Miss Heng. Irvin joined them.

    Miss Heng began without any formalities. "You all are to restock on your supplies, rest, repair your equipment, and be prepared to head into the Fifth Floor in two days time."

    That was it. She added nothing more. Jeze''s eyes went wide, and she raised her hand.

    "Miss Zanchi?" Miss Heng asked with a sigh.

    Jeze looked around at the gathered crowd and became a little nervous. Where should she begin? She should have thought first before she raised her hand.

    "Sometime today please," Miss Heng snapped.

    Jeze scowled. "We need to discuss the Prince''s treachery. He attacked Rainbow and Swordslayer!"

    Rainbow shook her head, and Swordslayer scoffed like it was no big deal. Miss Heng narrowed her eyes.

    "Nothing is ever easy with you. Do we have proof?" She asked the Amber Guard that traveled with Rainbow and Swordslayer.

    Aaron responded, "We did not see any such attack. We," he cleared his throat and said, "got separated."

    "What?" Miss Heng demanded. "Why?"

    The blond man stuttered for words. Tara, the red head, spoke up, "Oh, stop beating around the bush, Aaron. They left us, plain and simple."

    Miss Heng glared at Rainbow and Swordslayer, "Is that true?"

    Swordslayer shrugged. "That surprises you? They were moving to slow for us."

    Miss Heng shook her head. "We do not have time for this. Do we have any other witnesses?"

    "Why do we need more? I just told you what I saw!" Jeze cried, she rose to her feet.

    Miss Heng ignored her and spoke to Dunar. "Tell me what you saw."

    Dunar glanced at Jeze and answered the Amber Guard captain. "We saw the Prince fighting Rainbow and Swordslayer. We do not know who instigated it. It appeared to be an accident due to the poor visibility."

    Jeze''s eyes went wide. Why would Dunar lie?!? "Tell the truth!" She demanded.

    "I did," Dunar said, his jaw firm.

    Miss Heng rubbed her temples and stated, "No harm was done. Be more careful next time and stick with your team!" She snapped at Rainbow and Swordslayer.

    "What? No! The Prince needs to be held accountable for his actions!" Jeze demanded. She glared at Dunar, why would he betray her like that?

    "How do we do that? Hmm? He is a Prince to the largest Empire and an Elite ranked adventurer. We also have no evidence, so please enlighten us on why you wish to waste all of our time?" Miss Heng responded quietly, but her inner rage could be felt. It was almost tangible the way it nearly leaked out of her.

    Jeze fumed, and she made two fists at her side. She glanced at the collected crowd and asked, "So, we are just to forget what happened? What if he decides he does not like the Ironfist team and attacks them?" Jeze pointed at Lady Kalina''s group.

    Jeze was happy to see some nods of approval from the Ironfist team. She had some support. Irvin held up two hands to make a calming motion.

    "We are not saying that. Just now is not the right time," the old man stated.

    "So when someone is killed? Would that be the right time?" Jeze demanded.

    Dunar shook his head. He was about to say something, but decided against it. He crossed his thick arms, and his frustration was evident like a cloud around him.

    "What do you propose that we do, Jeze?" Miss Heng snapped.

    Jeze couldn''t find an answer and she noticed for the first time the bags under the Amber Guard captain''s eyes. Miss Heng''s hair had come undone, and she looked older and tired.

    "Master Couzart remains somewhere on the fifth floor and I''m in charge of the Amber Guard. I''m just an Adept rank, I have no power or ability to stop the Prince, even if I wanted to!" Miss Heng nearly shouted.

    She continued, "We are stretched thin. We face an evil that knows more than we do. They have the upper hand. Our realm is at risk of being destroyed, and you! You are concerned with trivial matters! You waste our time with this!"

    The other teams remained quiet and it was clear to Jeze that they all agreed with Miss Heng. A part of her felt young and foolish and this made Jeze even more angry and she screamed in frustration before storming off.

    Dunar rose to go to her, but Miss Heng stopped him.

    "Let her go," she said and added, "You all need to prepare for the task at hand and that is to secure the Fifth Floor. As I said earlier, we leave in two days."

    With that, the teams departed to prepare. Later, Jeze rejoined her team. It ached her to see that none of them said anything to her. Not even the jovial Helga and Rolfe. Dunar''s gray eyes looked disappointed. Jeze took a deep breath.

    "I''m sorry for earlier. I know why you did what you did," she said.

    Dunar nodded. "You are too impulsive sometimes."

    "Yeah? Well, at least I have principles! You lied, and for what? Because you are afraid?" Jeze snapped back.

    Rolfe and Helga paused their packing to watch the two argue. Mikal rubbed his hands together. The cynical Healer was enjoying this! Jeze thought to herself. Dunar put down his pack and stood tall.

    "I am not afraid. I have ran with the Dire Wolves through the deep snow!" He growled and continued, "In the Frozen North people have killed each other over such accusations, Jeze Zanchi. You have traveled with us long enough to know that."

    Jeze''s anger deflated. She knew she had gone too far. So much was happening, and she didn''t know what to do. She didn''t know what to say. Dunar''s face relaxed.

    "We take things one step at a time. We work hard, we get better, and someday we can stand up to people like the Prince," Dunar stated.

    "Ya!" Helga exclaimed.

    Rolfe nodded and added, "Let us conquer the fifth floor and find our glory!"

    Mikal surprised everyone when he raised his fist to the sky and cried, "For glory!"

    The others paused and grinned. They chanted back, "Hurrah!"

    Jeze went over and embraced Dunar. The tall man patted her back and promised, "We will win."

    Irvin approached their camp.

    "Hail friend!" Rolfe greeted.

    The older Guild Official nodded back and said, "I just left a meeting with the Elites. We need to talk."

    "Ya? What news do you have for us?" Helga asked.

    The Proven gathered around the older Guild Official and Dunar asked, "Will they enter the fifth floor?"

    Irvin sighed and shook his head. "No."

    "What?" Mikal demanded. "Do they know what is at stake?" He asked.

    Irvin looked up with sad eyes. "Prince Rodger and High Cleric Manfeld are more concerned on how to split the remains of the Rimewyrm and the others," the Guild official shook his head, "Want more incentives to join."

    "They are bribing the Guild?" Mikal cried.

    Dunar sighed and replied, "Sounds like it. That means it is up to us."

    "It saddens me to hear them talk like that," Irvin admitted, and Jeze rubbed his shoulders.

    "Any news on the Fiend we encountered?" She asked.

    Irvin responded, "Aye, we did discuss that. Since the Rimewyrm and the Fiend came at different intervals, plus the fact that not an entire army of Fiends came through, we believe that the Cultists may not have a solid partnership with the Demons. We think it was just confidence. The concerning issue is that the Cultists can repurpose the Portals to lead to the higher levels."

    Mikal snorted, "That sounds promising. The floors are hard as it is, now we need to potentially need to face Fiends from the upper levels?" The Healer rolled his eyes.

    Irvin turned to Jeze and said, "But, the real reason I am here is this. Jeze, you need to be careful. You need to stop drawing attention to yourself. Your outburst earlier can not happen again."

    Jeze scowled and snapped, "I don''t need another lecture."

    "But you do," Irvin replied. "Be easy on Miss Heng too. The Elites are interested in the Core Tunnels and so far Miss Heng has not reported that you were the one to find them."

    "I don''t understand," Jeze muttered and asked, "Why would she need to do that?"

    Dunar nodded in understanding, and he agreed with Irvin. "The Elites only care for themselves. They view us like insects and not worth their time. But, if they find out that you have a way to discover the Core Tunnels. They will start to pay attention to you and you do not want that."

    Jeze hugged her pack close to her chest. Inside were the tomes she got from the Pyrmrid and the Core Tunnels. "I understand," she said.

    Mikal snorted. "How much do you want to bet that she will start another fight?"

    Jeze scowled at the Healer.

    Helga laughed. "That is why we love our Jezie!"

 Chapter 126: Trust and Agendas

    Jeze found Lady Kalina and Rainbow and suggested to them that they use the downtime to study the tomes they discovered. The two Rune casters agreed.

    "We should include Miss Heng," Lady Kalina said.

    "No way," Jeze said while she shook her head.

    Lady Kalina sighed and lectured, "She is more knowledgeable than us. Don''t be foolish. As an adventurer, you need to be able to set aside what is comfortable and do what is right."

    Rainbow agreed. "She''s right, you know."

    Jeze sputtered and finally acquiesced. Afterward, the four ladies sat around a wooden table within a Rune box hut. At one point, Ahanu and Irvin sat with them but quickly discovered that this was above their rudimentary knowledge of Rune magic and beyond their attention span. Mikal and Dunar swung by as well. Dunar was fascinated with Frost Hag''s journal, and much was written within it that was an affront to Mikal''s spiritual beliefs. Eventually, the Frostsworn Healer left. He muttered something about how he was needed to help Rolfe and Helga with their Rune inscriptions. Dunar remained, and Jeze found it interesting how he focused on Frost Hag''s journal.

    After Mikal walked out, Rainbow observed, "He is really defensive about the Frozen All-Father."

    Jeze snorted, "Don''t get me started."

    Dunar looked up from the tome he was reading and stated, "He is a Cold Priest."

    "What does that mean?" Rainbow asked.

    Dunar paused and replied with a smirk, "That he is really defensive about the Frozen All-Father."

    This caused Rainbow and Jeze to laugh. Lady Kalina even chuckled a little, and Miss Heng glared at them.

    "Are you all finished? Because we have work to do!" She snapped.

    Jeze scowled but returned to reading along with the others. Some time passed as each person scribbled notes down.

    Miss Heng looked up and ordered, "Okay, let''s share what we learned."

    "Why are you in charge?" Jeze snapped.

    "Because she is the ranking Guild Member here, plus the Captain of the Amber Guard," Lady Kalina replied.

    Jeze avoided the glares and shrugged. "Fine, whatever."

    Dunar raised his hand, and he spoke when Miss Heng nodded at him. "The Frost Hag writes how the Spire appeared in Niflheim. It was just like what we experienced with the monster waves. She and her Ice Giants were defeated by a Fiend general named Aragrash."

    "Aragrash, we should take note of that name," Miss Heng said.

    "Does she mention anything else?" Jeze asked.

    Dunar scanned Frost Hag''s journal, and he answered, "The latest Journal entries state that she has not seen Aragrash or his Fiends in some time and that every so often, her home would be invaded by the descendants of the First Kings. She particularly enjoyed freezing them in her Ice Caves."

    "This adds up with what we know. The Ones from Before corrupted the Spire, and they trapped the Fiends at the top levels. The Spire continued to travel between realms," Jeze said.

    "What does she mean by the descendants of the First Kings?" Lady Kalina asked.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Miss Heng answered, "It refers to mortals in the Frostsworn religion. The Frost Hag was cursed by the Gods, and she took out her vengeance on their mortal human children."

    Rainbow tapped her chin and observed, "She is referring to adventurers that entered the Spire from the previous events?"

    Dunar nodded in agreement. "That is correct."

    "Good information. Not entirely useful, yet, but helpful. Anything else?" Miss Heng asked.

    Jeze had been studying her brother''s journal and the tomes she found from within the Hold Core chamber. She answered, "My brother mentions how each floor represents a realm the Fiends conquered. It''s inhabitants conscripted into the Abyssal army. I think we can talk with them."

    "Talk to the Demons and monsters that attack us?" Miss Heng inquired with an arched eyebrow.

    Jeze scowled and answered, "I happen to know that approach works." She was referring to Viel and how the sword fighter discovered the Core Tunnel on the third floor.

    "We typically attack first before talking. Does not hurt to give that a try as long as we are careful," Lady Kalina suggested.

    Miss Heng nodded and didn''t say anything else. She motioned for Lady Kalina to share. The Amber Guard bowed and complied. She was reading one of the maintenance tomes that they discovered from within the Hold Core chamber.

    "This looks to be an instruction manual of sorts."

    "For whom?" Miss Heng wondered.

    "The caretakers of the Spire," Jeze replied.

    Dunar nodded and explained, "Think of the Spire as a vessel. A ship that requires a crew to maintain. To clean the deck and repair the hold."

    Miss Heng nodded, "Except this ship is the size of a city and requires advanced Rune magic."

    Lady Kalina continued, her voice rising with excitement, "They talk about the dimensions that were conquered and subsumed into the Wandering Spire. These include the Labyrinth, the World Volcano, Niflheim, Swamps of Despair, the Necropolis, the Nexus, and the Castle."

    Jeze narrowed her eyes and asked, "They only listed seven. What are the last two floors?"

    Lady Kalina shrugged as she flipped through the pages. "It does not say. But this tome was damaged by fire."

    Jeze ducked her head. It probably happened from her fight with Drake and his men.

    Dunar said, "The first floor was probably the Labyrinth. The second was definitely the World Volcano, and the third was the Swamps of Despair. Niflheim was the fourth floor, which leads to the fifth being either the Necropolis for this Nexus  you mentioned."

    ¡°Necropolis? Like a cemetery? And what is a Nexus?¡± Rainbow wondered.

    The others didn¡¯t know either and shrugged their shoulders.

    "That is helpful, good work!" Miss Heng exclaimed.

    Jeze nearly fell out of her chair. Was that a compliment?

    The Amber Guard captain leaned close and asked, "What do we know about the Core Tunnels and these Hold Cores?"

    Lady Kalina, Dunar and Jeze shared a look and all three remained quiet. Miss Heng''s face was impassive. Rainbow chuckled.

    Miss Heng scowled. "Still do not trust me? It is important that we organize groups before going into these Core Tunnels. From what I have read, these Hold Cores could be the key to defeating the Wandering Spire. They each hold tremendous power, and without them, the Spire will shut down."

    Rainbow spoke up. "I found a clue."

    Everyone looked at her. She grabbed the tome Jeze found from the Hold Core chamber with Veil.

    "It is hinted that the Core Tunnels can be accessed through a gravestone for the Monarch, Lev Shabuyaton," Rainbow stated.

    Miss Heng tapped her chin and nodded. "I''m sure we will know more about what that means when we see it."

    "Perhaps it is in the Necropolis," Dunar suggested.

    Lady Kalina agreed, "That seems the most likely."

    Jeze wondered about something, and she asked, "What do you all make about the Fiend we fought?"

    Rainbow added, "The Fiend was very skilled but was not a Lord or a Greater Fiend."

    "They are like us in the sense that to achieve a higher rank, they need a catalyst," Miss Heng explained.

    "So, the one we fought was what? A servant to the Fiendish Lord? Or the one that is working with the Cultists to carry out their own agenda?" Rainbow wondered.

    Miss Heng chuckled. "It seems you are transferring your anxiety and distrust to another."

    "What''s that supposed to mean?" Jeze growled.

    "Nothing," Miss Heng responded with a straight face.

    Rainbow gently patted Jeze''s shoulder. "Do not let her get under your skin."

    Miss Heng scowled and concluded their meeting. "That is all for now. You all should go, get rest, and prepare. Tomorrow we will venture into the fifth floor."

 Chapter 127: Uprising Are Never Easy

    Finally, Ziplocke, Graul, and Leandra were able to bring Modok''s heart to the Winter Sprite. Leandra activated the Pact Scroll, and the Feytouched agreed to the terms. The Pact was sealed, and the Goblins knew that the information they would be given would be trustworthy.

    "Who are these humans?" Ziplocke asked.

    The Winter Sprite smiled. Even without his ice magic, the smile gave the others chills. "A mixture of escaped Thralls and self-serving Demon worshipers."

    "Self-serving Demon worshipers?" Grual grumbled.

    "Cultists," Ziplocke explained.

    Leandra narrowed her blue eyes in thought and finally she laughed. "They are fools!" Leandra cried.

    Graul nodded and snickered alongside her. "They think they can bargain with Fiends?"

    Ziplocke shook his head. "Do not underestimate the Humans. They are capable of deceit, maybe as good as us Demons."

    "Or, maybe only to you!" Leandra shrieked as she pointed a finger.

    Graul snickered.

    The Winter Sprite crossed his arms with a scowl. "Are we finished? I''m very busy."

    Ziplocke glanced around and saw that there were no other customers. "No, you are not! Tell us, where did they go and how many were there?"

    The Winter Sprite sighed as if he was bored. He produced a scroll and drew a map. "They are located in the caves just beyond the Barren Plains. Such a dull place. My last count had them at about three or four. Though, it could be less now. Living out there is treacherous even for the Demons that are native here, nevermind mortals from the Material Realms."

    Leandra took the map and narrowed her blue eyes. "Why do you know this?"

    "Hmm?" The Winter Sprite asked.

    "Why do you even bother to know where the mortals are hiding?" She asked again.

    The Winter Sprite nodded with a grin. "That is my business."

    Ziplocke arched an eyebrow and wagged a finger. "It is because this information is useful. Who else have you told?"

    The Winter Sprite smirked and answered with a twinkle in his pale eyes, "Just you."

    "Yeah, right! You are lying," Graul hissed.

    "He can''t lie because of the Pact, right?" Ziplocke asked.

    Leandra shrugged and whispered to her colleagues, "I don''t know! It was not one of the terms we listed. All we can guarantee is that the humans have the gem and their location."

    The tall, pale Fey, who clearly heard Leandra, waved a hand and replied, "In either case, you best hurry."

    The three Goblins glanced at each other. They snarled once at the Winter Sprite and then ran off.

    "How do we know if someone else didn''t take the Gem of Magnificence from the humans?" Graul wondered.

    Leandra replied as they ran out of the market, "We don''t."

    "Enough yapping, you two. What other choice do we have? Let''s go and find out," Ziplocke stated.

    They exited the Market, and the three hunched around the crudely drawn map.

    "I know this area," Graul said.

    "How?" Leandra asked.

    "From my mercenary work," the stocky Goblin replied.

    Ziplocke and Leandra snickered.

    "It''s not funny! I am a warrior," Graul stated with his hands on his hips.

    This made the other two laugh even more.

    "You were a tour guide," Leandra muttered.

    Ziplocke wiped a tear from his eye and asked, "Okay, what do you know?"

    "It''s filled with Bloodlings. They are the most prevalent. The other beasts will leave you alone unless you get too close to them," Graul answered.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Anything else?" Leandra asked.

    Graul tapped his chin and shrugged, "Maybe an occasional wild Ogre."

    Ziplocke''s eyes went wide. "Why didn''t you open with that!" He exclaimed.

    "Yea, dum dum. Ogres are serious business," Leandra added.

    Graul snickered. "We may not run into an Ogre. But for sure, we will run into a few Bloodlings," he replied.

    Ziplocke snapped at his companions. "We are so focused on the Demons we have not made plans for the Humans themselves. We know that they are Cultists and escaped Thralls. We also know that they are strong enough to take down Modok."

    "That''s not saying much. He was a fat slob," Graul stated.

    "Still! He was a Greater Fiend," Ziplocke pointed out.

    Leandra looked serious without any sneer or smile on her face. She tapped her chin and said, "For them to break free from the Madness of a Thrall means that they have a strong Will. I think Ziplocke is right, we should consider how we will approach these Outsiders."

    "Exactly!" Ziplocke cried.

    Graul waved his hands up in the air. "Fine, whatever. You traveled the Material Plane the longest out of all of us. What can you tell us of these Humans?"

    Ziplocke paused and replied, "They are probably Adventurers."

    "The ones who try to defeat the Stronghold?" Leandra asked.

    Ziplocke nodded.

    "Are they warriors?" Graul asked.

    "They could be. Or powerful Rune casters," the Goblin Lord replied.

    Graul tapped his chin and said, "Interesting. I didn''t know Humans could be that dangerous."

    Leandra wondered, "Should we approach their hideout on foot? So we can get a better sense of what their defenses will be like?"

    Ziplocke shook his head. "That will take too much time."

    Graul snickered. "The cheap Goblin Lord here wants to use his precious Rift aspect? That''s a first!"

    Ziplocke scowled at his companions and explained, "We do not know who else the Winter Sprite gave this information to. Many Greater Fiends want to advance to the Lord rank, like us."

    Graul pointed at a spot on the crude map. "Can you teleport us here? This is close enough for us to travel by foot but far enough to avoid detection."

    Ziplocke agreed and activated the Rift aspect to the location. They entered the portal and appeared near some rocky hills out in a blistering desert. Ziplocke quickly closed the Rift, and the three Summoned Shadows and hid themselves just as a swarm of Bloodlings scurried by.

    "You weren''t kidding by there being a lot of them," Leandra whispered to Graul.

    The three found plenty of shadows to blend into from the numerous outcroppings of jagged rock and twisted glass trees. They manipulated the Darkness aspect and made themselves nearly invisible as they traveled across the twisted landscape toward the hills the Winter Sprite directed them toward. The three Goblins remained invisible as they carefully scaled the steep, jagged rockface.

    "Stop," Leandra hissed.

    The others froze as the green-eyed Goblin studied the black onyx rocks they climbed.

    "Clever," she snickered and pointed out a Rune trap.

    "We are close," Ziplocke observed.

    Graul nodded and said, "So wise, our Goblin Lord."

    Ziplocke scowled at the bald Goblin as Leandra disarmed the Rune trap. The three continued up along the jagged incline until they came to a flat plateau. It appeared as a campsite with a cookfire and a tanning rack that had the stretched out chitinous hide of a Bloodling.

    "We know what they use for food," Graul pointed out.

    The three remained in the shadows and observed. Beyond the campsite was a cave entrance that went deeper into the hillside. When they were certain, it was clear the three approached the campsite. Graul sniffed the cauldron over the fire. It bubbled with a stew that floated with chunks of meat. Ziplocke studied the tanning rack. Whoever lived here made clothes and tools out of the Bloodling hides.

    "These Humans know how to survive in our realm," Leandra observed.

    "What about water?" Ziplocke wondered.

    "What about it?" Graul asked.

    "Humans need water to live, and the water here is poisonous," Ziplocke replied.

    Leandra shrugged. "If they are Rune casters like you say, then they can use either the Life aspect or the Water aspect to remove any toxins."

    Graul nodded. "We should proceed with caution." The scarred Goblin was developing a newfound respect for these humans to survive this long in a hostile environment.

    Ziplocke''s sharp eyes noticed a detail, and he hissed, "Hide!"

    The three ducked behind a rocky outcropping that was near the tunnel entrance. Ziplocke pointed to what he saw. The shapes of approaching Fiends that flew on flapping wings.

    "That''s a Greater Fiend!" Graul exclaimed.

    "There is another!" Leandra pointed.

    Approaching from a different direction was another Greater Fiend. Each Demon had a small retinue of Regular Fiends that accompanied them. Lucky for the Goblins, the two groups of Fiends were occupied with each other and paid little attention to the outcropping they hid upon.

    "What should we do?" Graul asked.

    Ziplocke pondered. "They will most likely fight each other. We should head inside and work as fast as we could to steal the Gem. Once we have it, I can Rift us out."

    The other two agreed, and the three hurried toward the cave entrance while cloaked in Shadows. They paused as the hill they were on shook, and a cascade of rocks tumbled around them.

    "You have to be kidding me!" Ziplocke exclaimed.

    From above the three saw a huge red skinned Wild Ogre sliding down the hillside toward their location. The jagged rocks steamed and turned to magma under the Ogre''s feet as the beast gilded downwards. The Fiends picked up their pace and flew faster, and they would arrive around the same time as the Ogre.

    Ziplocke shook his head. "Nothing''s changed. We will enter the cave while they fight it out."

    Three scurried inside and ducked into the many shadows. When they traveled several strides into the cave, they heard the Fiends and the Ogre arrive at the campsite outside. The Goblins heard muffled shouts and then fighting. That worked in the Goblin''s favor as they continued deeper down the winding tunnel.

    "How much profit did the Winter Sprite make off of this bit of information?" Leandra wondered.

    Graul scowled, "That cheating bastard!" The bald Goblin then snickered. "Well played, though!"

    Ziplocke sighed and agreed. Well played, Winter Sprite, well played. Nothing was easy ever since Ziplocke arrived back home. Uprisings were so hard!

 Chapter 128: Fear

    "This is the Necropolis," Jeze breathed out as she glanced around.

    "Incredible," Mikal observed.

    "How big is this place?" Rolfe wondered.

    "Oh ya! It''s enormous!"

    "Stay focused, team," Dunar ordered.

    They found themselves standing in a cemetery of monumental proportions with gravesites fit for kings. All around them, including above and below, was worked stone. The smaller tombstones were still giant-sized and intricately carved works of art with life-size gargoyles that stood watch. The air smelled of ash and dust, and it was dimly lit. The main source of light came from an enormous pillar of twirling blue and purple energies that spiraled up toward the dark heavens. The Necropolis was so large that it could take the Proven a week of traveling through endless aisles of extravagant memorials, gravestones, and obelisks to reach the pillar of energy.

    "Is that where we need to go?" Jeze wondered.

    Dunar nodded.

    "Makes sense to me," Mikal replied.

    Rolfe rubbed his large hands together. "What foul beasts do we need to slay here?" He asked.

    Helga grinned. "We will face the Draugr of the First Kings?"

    Mikal''s eyes narrowed. "We should leave them to their sacred duties."

    "What''s a Draugr?" Jeze asked.

    "Undead warriors that protect the Barrows of kings and chieftains," Dunar explained.

    Rolfe grinned widely and asked, "But what about the treasures they are guarding?"

    Mikal sputtered. The Cold Priest was conflicted between his religious duty and inherent greed. Finally, with his chin up, Mikal replied, "The Frozen All Father respects those who help themselves."

    "Even if it''s robbing from your ancestors?" Jeze chimed in.

    Dunar chuckled. The Leader focused mostly on their surroundings. So far, other than the Proven talking, the entire area has been quiet. Too quiet.

    "Wouldn''t be my ancestors. Besides, the dead do not need material things like the living," Mikal responded.

    "Ya! Good answer!" Helga exclaimed.

    Rolfe scratched his head as he fumbled with his gear. "Dunar, which weapons should I use?"

    The options for the large Protector were spear and shield, sword and shield, or spear in two hands. Dunar looked around. There was limited space with narrow dusty walkways that weaved in between a forest of worked stone.

    "Spear and shield may limit your visibility and mobility," Dunar observed.

    "So, sword and shield?" Rolfe asked.

    Dunar shook his head. "Your spear off your pack will still still bump into the tombstones. I think you should go with your spear alone. It will give you reach, and you can thrust well enough in these narrow spaces."

    "What if we encounter ranged attackers?" Jeze wondered.

    Dunar thought a moment before he answered, "I can hold a shield."

    "Hmm, what about me, ya?" Helga asked.

    "You do you, Helga," Dunar said with a nod to her Dane axe.

    Helga grinned and hefted her weapon in two hands.

    "Which way should we go?" Mikal asked.

    Dunar shrugged and motioned in a direction with a nod. The others agreed and the team marched out. Jeze ran up ahead to scout. Next was Dunar with his shield and Rolfe was beside him. Helga took up the rear with Mikal in the middle. Jeze studied the dirt floor and something caught her attention. She paused.

    "What is it?" Dunar asked.

    "Tracks, lots of them," Jeze replied.

    The floor was churned with footprints. Jeze guessed hundreds. They traveled up and down the dirt and ash trail they were on.

    "From adventurers?" Dunar wondered.

    "I don''t think so," Jeze said.

    She followed a set of tracks that led to a nearby mausoleum constructed from dark marble and engraved with images depicting some monarch. The iron doors that led into the edifice were solidly shut. However, the dust beside the doors was disturbed, indicating to Jeze that they had been opened before.

    "Something is in there?" Dunar whispered.

    Jeze studied the ground and other tracks. She rose up and motioned for Dunar and the others to step back to the center of the trail. They were still very close to the rows of gravestones and mausoleums.

    "Something resides in all of them," Jeze quietly said.

    "What do you mean by that?" Snapped Mikal.

    Jeze motioned to all the stone edifices that varied in shape and size. The smaller ones were the size of a small cabin, and the larger ones could rival a palace. Essentially, they stood within a city.

    Rolfe gripped his spear. "We could be surrounded."

    "Wait, the footprints lead to all of them?" Mikal waved his hands.

    Jeze nodded.

    Mikal exhaled, "By the Frozen All-Father. Not could be. We are surrounded."

    Dunar''s eyes narrowed, and he wondered, "Why would they remain inside? We have not seen a soul."

    "And what does that glowing pillar do, ya?" Helga asked and pointed.

    Rolfe shook his blonde head and muttered. "So many things. Why can''t we just fight?"

    Mikal rubbed the Protector''s broad shoulder. "I agree, my friend."

    Jeze on the other hand was excited. This was what adventuring was all about! Mystery and problem solving. Something was happening here and she will get to the bottom of it. Jeze studied the tracks and followed them along the trial. Many tracks diverted back into the surrounding mausoleums. Dunar''s tracking skill was not as high has Jeze''s but he knew enough to be of a assistance. He studied the ground alongside her and something confused him.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    "What are these?" Dunar asked.

    Jeze came over to examine what Dunar discovered. Among the churned dirt of numerous footprints was a particular mish mash of tracks that caught Dunar''s attention. Jeze initially thought they were an overlap of hundreds of footprints but in reality, she discovered that they were a giant footprint!

    "Something big came through here and the other footprints appeared to flee from this thing. This monster!" Jeze exclaimed.

    ¡°Monster?¡± Both Helga and Rolfe perked up.

    Dunar followed the giant footprint and said, "It appears to be traveling away from us. That way."

    "Or, we are going to its home where there might be others," Jeze added. Her response hung in the air ominously like a dark cloud.

    Helga and Rolfe shared a grin. Finally! A potential fight! Mikal had wandered a short distance from the group. A gleaming gem caught his attention that was embedded in one of the raised sarcophagi that dotted the ashen landscape they found themselves in. The stone tomb was at one time intricately carved with flowing depictions that have long been scratched or marred. But by what? Mikal wondered. Who would deface such artwork? Mikal grinned. More importantly, who would leave the gemstones? Lucky me! He thought as he used a dagger to pry the shining stones free.

    "Mikal! Stay close," Dunar barked.

    The Healer paused and looked up to nod at Dunar. A grating sound caused Mikal to step back in alarm. The heavy stone lid slid slightly to the side to reveal a dark abyss within. Mikal cocked his head in curiosity. A dark, gaunt hand snapped out of the opening and grabbed Mikal by his cloak. The Healer scrambled back and managed to pull himself free but fell on his rump.

    "What is it?" Dunar asked.

    "We need to get moving!" Mikal spun and stumbled to his feet in a hurry.

    "What did you do?" Jeze whispered.

    "Nothing!" Mikal snapped.

    Behind the Healer, a lanky, gaunt figure emerged from the opening of the sarcophagus. Its skin was coal black with shadowy tendrils that spiked off its body like dark knives. The creature had long arms that ended in thick clawed hands that reached down to its knees. The face was what caught Jeze''s attention the most. It was like a skull that was surrounded by a mane of sharp, shadowy hair. The thing''s eyes were red pits of flame, and its mouth opened inhumanly wide where its jaw came all the way down to its chest! It let loose an ear-rattling howl, and Jeze immediately recognized the Affliction aspect that was embedded in the supernatural shriek. Fear gripped her heart and pressed heavily against her Will, but she managed to suppress the effects. Dunar and Mikal grimaced as they both fought against the supernatural howl. But Rolfe and Helga were not able to withstand the fear effect, and the two large warriors fled in a panic.

    "No!" Dunar roared, but it was too late.

    The party was split apart, and to make matters worse, more monsters appeared from the surrounding tombs. Some undead rose from the dirt, and others emerged from the stone mausoleums. The coal-black-skinned Fear Monster pounced at Dunar with its long-clawed hands extended. Dunar deflected the claws to the side with his sword and chopped downward with his axe. The Frostsworn steel buried deep into the monster''s collarbone. Dunar kicked the Fear Monster away and, with horror, watched as its body mended itself.

    "Run!" Dunar roared.

    The three fled after Rolfe and Helga. The two large warriors scrambled in a frenzy through the dirt paths. Luckily, they ran relatively in the same direction, but hordes of undead appeared all around them. Mikal impaled a lurching zombie that tried to grab him. Jeze removed the thing''s head, and the three continued to run and dodge, grasping hands from all sides. Dunar loudly cursed as the Fear Monster pounced upon them from behind. The Leader fell to the ground, but not before bucking the creature off of him. Jeze impaled the Fear Monster to the ground with her sword. Its wicked claws slashed against her armored shins and thighs. Mikal rapidly Summoned mist, and with a wide wave of his hands, he Shaped the Mist into an ice wall that encased dozens of zombies. With a growl, Dunar hacked off the Fear Monster''s legs, and Jeze removed its head.

    "We go after Rolfe and Helga," Dunar stated with determination clearly etched upon his gray eyes.

    They ran, and the Fear Monster''s head howled after them. Jeze risked a quick glance behind and saw that the creature was putting itself back together. I should have kicked its head away, Jeze regretted. It would only be a matter of moments before it gave chase, and it moved much faster than them. They will have to deal with that creature again at some point.

    All around them was a frenzy of activity as more undead noticed them. The foul creatures shrieked and hollered and gave chase. Lucky for the Proven, many of the undead fought and devoured each other. She watched in disgust as a pair of ghouls slurped up the dark ichor that leaked from the wounds of another undead creature. Jeze wondered what that was about but took the blessing in stride. They needed all the distractions they could get. Rolfe and Helga became overwhelmed by a swarm of gaunt undead bodies. The two fought in a panic but lacked skill. It would only be a matter of moments before they were torn apart!

    "For glory!" Dunar roared with such fury as he leaped into the mass of undead that engulfed his friends.

    The Proven Leader hacked and slashed like a whirlwind of death. Body parts and black ichor flew away from him as he waded through the mass of monsters. Jeze and Mikal Summoned and Shaped walls of Ice and stone to stem the tide of encroaching hordes, but the longer they remained, the more undead they attracted. The three furiously fought with axe, sword, spear, and Rune magic and finally were able to see the cowering forms of Helga and Rolfe. Their glazed-over eyes showed that their minds were not present.

    "Jeze, do something!" Dunar barked.

    "Keep the undead away from me," Jeze replied.

    "What else do you think we would be doing!" Mikal snapped with a scowl.

    The Healer''s face beaded with sweat as he exerted his Will to form more protective ice walls. Jeze ignored the comment and focused her Will. She tapped her Affliction ring and gritted her teeth as she Shaped the curse out of Rolfe and Helga. It took an enormous amount of effort, and Jeze feared that she would burst a vein in her head because she strained so hard. Greasy red tendrils emerged from her friends, and Jeze Shaped it into a ball that she then Controlled to splash against a group of undead that climbed over the ice walls that Mikal had erected. The monsters spasmed from the raw Affliction energies. Rolfe and Helga shook their heads and rose to their feet. It took but a moment for them to recover before they waded into battle with such fury.

    "I will grind that monster''s bones to dust!" Helga roared her promise.

    Rolfe agreed and the two large warriors slaughtered the incoming undead with fury and rage. But there were just too many and despite how formidable the Proven was it was only a matter of time before they would be overrun.

    "We need to keep moving!" Jeze cried.

    Dunar glanced around and saw an enormous castle-sized mausoleum with its doors closed. Maybe if they could make it inside? At the very least, they can fight with the walls at their backs and avoid getting surrounded.

    "We go there!" He barked the order.

    The Proven responded with pure discipline. They moved as one and covered each other''s backs with practiced ease. Helga activated the flame enchantments on her Dane axe and carved a swath of fiery death before her. Rolfe and Mikal protected the warrior maiden''s flanks and impaled the undead that attempted to close in. Dunar and Jeze fought with axe and sword. The two weaved back and forth and kept the undead at bay. Jeze spotted more intelligent undead among the horde of mindless zombies. They waited and pounced with an evil cleverness that glinted in their red eyes. But, like the zombies, they were cut down with ease by the mighty Proven. They neared their destination, and the heavy steel doors slid open. Jeze''s heart sank. Would they be surrounded? A tall, armored figure emerged with leathery gray skin and a scraggly beard. He wore a ruby studded crown and carried a greatsword with a golden pommel.

    With mighty swings, the Dead King slew the zombies surrounding the entrance and called out, "Come with me!"

    More and more zombies and ghouls appeared from the surrounding graves, and the odds were getting worse by the second. Dunar, with a firm jaw, nodded and pointed toward the dead king.

    "Go inside!" He roared.

    Mikal appeared that he was about to sputter a protest until they heard the hair rising screech from the Fear Monster. Rolfe and Helga''s eyes glazed over as fear consumed them. Mikal shoved the two forward and with Jeze''s help they all managed to follow the Dead King inside as he closed the steel doors blocking off the hordes outside.

    "What is this place?" Dunar asked.

    They appeared to be a grand hallway illuminated by magical torches and with its walls lined with nooks for the dead. Jeze imagined that it was once opulent with marble and gold, but now overtaken by age and time. The gold has since stained, and the  marble chipped and covered with ash, grime, and dust. Plus, the nooks were emptied.

    "Welcome, friends! This is the tomb of the great King Archerbold the Defiant!" The dead monarch exclaimed.

    A gaunt creature grabbed Jeze by the shoulder from one of the nooks that lined the wall.

    "Begone from here!" It hissed.

    Archerbold cut the zombie''s head off with a sharp slice of his sword. "Apologies," he said as the black ichor dripped to the ground from the headless undead. Re-dead dead? Jeze wondered.

    "Please, friends, join me for supper. It has been ages since I entertained proper guests," Archerbold said with a grin. Jeze noticed that his eyes kept lingering on the dripping black ichor.

    The Proven, with their hands remaining on their weapons, continued deeper into the mausoleum. Their eyes were wary as they studied their surroundings.

    "Be on guard, Proven," Dunar ordered.

    Jeze spotted the undead king slurping up the dark ichor. When he noticed Jeze looking at him, he quickly finished drinking and wiped his scraggly beard.

    "Just up ahead!" Archerbold said and hurried in front of them to lead them further inside.

    When the Dead King was out of earshot, Mikal muttered, "This will not end well."

 Chapter 129: City of Avarice

    ¡°Please follow me. It¡¯s been ages since I have entertained truly remarkable guests such as yourselves,¡± Archerbold said.

    Jeze heard the King switch to the Frostsworn dialect. She learned the language herself from her many months of adventuring with the Proven. This surprised her and her teammates.

    ¡°I invite you to warm yourselves by my hearth, brothers, and sisters,¡± the Dead King said in the Frostsworn dialect.

    ¡°You speak the Language of the Frozen North? How did you come to learn our words?¡± Dunar asked in his native language.

    Archbold scoffed and puffed his chest out. ¡°Why I had to fight off the Frostsworn savages from invading my lands.¡±

    The Dead King noticed the scowls on the faces of his guests and quickly added. ¡°I also traded with you noble people and have had the honor to learn your language.¡±

    Mikal shook his head and whispered to Jeze. ¡°I am certain this will not end well.¡±

    ¡°Relax, Micky!¡± Jeze grinned and poked the Healer in the ribs. ¡°Have faith.¡±

    ¡°I do have faith,¡± Mikal muttered and added, ¡°That things will go poorly. They always do in this blasted Spire.¡±

    Archbold led them to a grand hall deep within his mausoleum with a long table covered with plates filled with dust and dirt. The food rotted away long ago. Magical torches on stained scones illuminated the room that was lined with empty burial spaces. Why were the spaces emptied? Where was Archbold¡¯s tomb? Jeze wondered. Where was the Dead King buried?

    ¡°Please sit and make yourselves at home,¡± Archerbold invited them.

    ¡°If it is all the same to you, your grace, but we will remain standing,¡± Dunar replied.

    Helga and Rolfe circled the table and examined all the empty nooks and crannies that lined the walls.

    ¡°How rude!¡± The Dead King exclaimed. One hand on his chest.

    ¡°Apologies, your grace, but you must understand our caution. We are the living among the land of the dead,¡± Dunar replied.

    Jeze was impressed with the way their Leader presented himself to the Dead King. She had forgotten that Dunar was the son of a warrior chieftain. Speaking to nobles was not new to him.

    ¡°Right, of course. So tell me, what brings you here?¡± The King asked. He also remained standing.

    The Proven glanced at each other and they silently agreed to allow Dunar to do the talking. The gray-eyed Leader sighed and answered the Dead King¡¯s question.

    ¡°We are from the Adventurer¡¯s Guild and found ourselves in this realm. What is the name of this place?¡± Dunar stated truthfully.

    Archerbold grinned as he took up and drank from an empty cup. Jeze wondered if the King had gone mad.

    ¡°Allow me then to welcome you all to the City of Avarice. A place of lies and falsehoods,¡± Archerbold proclaimed.

    ¡°What does that mean? Lies and Falsehoods?¡± Dunar asked.

    The Dead King shook his head and responded, ¡°Tsk tsk. It is my turn to ask a question. Tell me, have you heard stories about me? King Archerbold the Defiant?¡±

    Jeze did not, and she was certain that the others didn¡¯t either. One thing Jeze did know was that there were once many small kingdoms that were eventually consumed and conquered by the Golden Empire. Her homeland of Narcadia was once one such kingdom. When Dunar did not reply, Jeze took a chance.

    ¡°The Great Warrior King that stood against the Golden Empire,¡± she said.

    Archerbold beamed with pride. ¡°Yes! You have heard of my exploits. I was the last King of Galica to stand firm against the Empire. But, alas, near the time of my death, my closest advisors and nobles succumbed to treachery. That was how my great kingdom became a part of the Golden Empire. It was not through conquest, I assure you. I was a mighty warrior king!¡±

    ¡°Your grace, you mentioned that this was a city of lies and falsehoods. Please tell us more,¡± Dunar asked.

    Archerbold nodded and prepared himself for his response. ¡°This place is a scam aimed to trick mighty kings such as myself. Did you know I was buried in this grand mausoleum with over a hundred servants and guards? They were entombed alive with me. This was in recognition for the great King that I was. A mighty warrior king that stood firm against the incredible power of the Golden Empire. I was promised immortality and godhood for my deeds.¡±

    The King drank from his empty cup again and turned to face the others. ¡°What did you think of my swordsmanship earlier?¡±

    Dunar nodded. ¡°You are quite skilled and live up to your mighty reputation, my grace.¡±

    Archerbold beamed with pride, and it appeared as if he literally drank in the complement as if it were sweet wine.

    ¡°Were you not granted immortality?¡± Dunar asked.

    The Dead King scoffed. ¡°Yes, a cursed existence as a wretched undead. What is worse, the ruler of this realm, a Lich by the name of Lev Shabuyaton, has created this place to trap us foolish kings who believed that we could rise up as gods. He sends his Corpse Eaters to claim what little energy we have so that he can feast upon our greatness and grow in power.¡±

    ¡°Lev Shabuyaton! That is the name we got from our research. The key to the Core Tunnels,¡± Jeze whispered to Mikal.

    The Healer nodded and turned to Jeze. ¡°I do not like this place. Something bad is going to happen. I can feel it.¡±

    Dunar made a show to look around the wretched tomb and say, ¡°But surely you are not at risk. You were entombed in this great palace, which is a fine testament to your greatness.¡±

    Archerbold drank up the complement with a smug look of contentment upon his leathery gray-skinned face. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    With the price paid, Dunar asked, ¡°We encountered a creature outside with coal black skin and red eyes. It moved extremely fast, and its howl brought terror to the soul. What do you know of this creature?¡±

    Archerbold grinned, proud of what he knew. ¡°Ahh, yes, you faced the Wendigo. They are savages, you see. In life, they were cannibals. They believed they became stronger from eating the flesh of their fellows. Truly nasty business, and now they are cursed to their horrid existence. But fear not, my friends. The Wendigo dare not enter my halls. You see, it fears me!¡±

    ¡°Your grace, you are truly a mighty and noble warrior,¡± Dunar said with a bow.

    The Dead King puffed out his chest as it swelled with pride. Jeze rolled her eyes, but she knew what Dunar was doing. The currency for Archerbold was to feed his ego. In doing so, he freely gave up important information.

    ¡°Where does Lev Shabuyaton reside?¡± Jeze asked.

    Archerbold scowled at Jeze with disgust clearly etched upon his dead face.

    Jeze cleared her throat and added, ¡°It would please us, your grace, if you would share your wisdom.¡±

    The Dead King nodded with satisfaction. ¡°The cursed Lich resides near the giant glowing pillar. Surely you have seen it? It is comprised of the poor souls that he has harvested from this grand city of the dead. It is only a matter of time before he will claim me, I fear.¡±

    Archerbold slumped down in a chair, clearly depressed. The Proven gathered around.

    ¡°I grow bored of this place. Let us leave and fight our way to this Lev fellow,¡± Rolfe stated.

    ¡°Ya, I agree!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    Dunar glanced up at the Dead King. Archerbold remained slumped in his chair and was twirling his empty cup. ¡°At some point, we will need to head out. In the meantime, we can still learn more from him.¡±

    Mikal snorted. ¡°That arrogant, pompous fool? I doubt it. However, I am not sure if we should head out. It would be suicide.¡±

    ¡°What of the other teams? Maybe we can find them, we stand a fighting chance,¡± Jeze suggested.

    Rolfe and Helga nodded in agreement. They preferred to do anything but talking.

    Dunar shook his head. ¡°There are too many undead, even for us. Plus, there are stronger creatures that we do not know about. Creatures like the Wendigo.¡±

    Rolfe and Helga sighed. ¡°Our Will is not strong enough,¡± the large Protector stated.

    ¡°Ya, sorry for that,¡± Helga added.

    Jeze rubbed their shoulders. ¡°You are getting stronger. In fact, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you two could withstand the Wendigo¡¯s howl and be able to crush its bones!¡±

    Helga beamed, and Rolfe puffed out his chest.

    ¡°Ahh, that¡¯s why I love you, Jezie!¡± Helga grabbed the smaller girl in a powerful embrace.

    ¡°None of this helps us!¡± Mikal snapped.

    ¡°Let us gather more information,¡± Dunar suggested.

    The Frostsworn Leader called out to the Dead King, ¡°Your grace, we seek more of your wisdom, for you are truly a remarkable warrior.¡±

    Archerbold perked up as if the compliment was a solid form of energy. ¡°What is your question?¡±

    ¡°How can we defeat the Wendigo?¡± Dunar asked.

    Archerbold rolled his undead eyes and replied, ¡°Fire is how you set that creature down. You must burn it.¡±

    ¡°We thank you, your grace. Your wisdom knows no bounds,¡± Dunar complemented the Dead King.

    ¡°What other creatures exist outside?¡± Jeze asked.

    The dead monarch scowled at her. Jeze rolled her eyes and added, ¡°Your grace.¡±

    Archerbold sat up in his chair and leaned his elbows upon the grand table. ¡°The weak-willed enter this cursed city as Zombies. You have seen them. They are mindless and need to feed on each other. They are typically the first ones collected by the Corpse Eaters, for they are too dumb to flee. The next rank are the Ghouls. They are more clever. They were perhaps knights or even lords. But, their cleverness only extends to the fact that they know to hide when the Corpse Eaters come. Otherwise, they believe that if they feed upon enough zombies, they can advance. They are fools!¡±

    ¡°And what of you, my grace? Clearly, you are a mighty lord of this city,¡± Dunar stated.

    The Dead King¡¯s chest puffed out with pride. ¡°I am a Wight. A powerful undead warrior.¡±

    Mikal grabbed Jeze by her elbow and pulled her close to him. ¡°This is bad news. We must leave this place.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Jeze whispered back.

    ¡°I have read about Wights. They are truly evil creatures that feed upon the souls of the living,¡± Mikal answered.

    Jeze motioned for Dunar to come to her and Mikal. Archerbold watched with dark eyes. The two whispered into the Leader¡¯s ears.

    ¡°It is rude to whisper at my table!¡± The Dead King roared as he rose to his feet.

    ¡°Apologies, your grace. My Priest here does not feel worthy to speak in your presence,¡± Dunar responded.

    Archerbold raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh? That makes sense. My greatness does have that effect on the lower classes. But what of her? Why does she feel so bold as to speak to me?¡±

    Dunar pulled Jeze close to her and responded, ¡°Because she is my wife and of noble blood, like myself. But, adventuring has made her forget her manners sometimes.¡±

    Jeze scowled at Dunar, but his answer appeared to appease the Dead King.

    ¡°Adventuring is a good way to build strength and character. But, one must not let it ruin one¡¯s manners,¡± Archerbold stated.

    ¡°Wise words from a wise king,¡± Dunar said with a bow.

    Jeze shook herself free and scowled. With a deep sigh, she asked, ¡°Your grace. What can you tell us of the Corpse Eaters?¡±

    ¡°Why do you want to know such things? You need not worry about them. You are safe here!¡± Archerbold snapped.

    ¡°Your grace, we are adventurers. We seek knowledge and wish to make ourselves stronger. We strive to be wise like you,¡± Dunar replied.

    Rolfe and Helga gripped their weapons and gritted their teeth. Jeze knew they disliked seeing Dunar suck up to the Dead King. It struck their pride deeply, and the two were prepared to rip apart Archerbold and grind his undead bones to dust. She held up a calming hand to them.

    The Dead King nodded and replied, ¡°I support your search for knowledge, and you are lucky to have found me. Or rather, it was fate for us of noble birth to encounter each other in this vile place. The Corpse Eaters serve the Lich. They are magical constructs made of flesh and steel. They are huge, with the strength of a hundred men. It would not be wise to face them. It is best to flee and hide when they approach.¡±

    ¡°Your grace, allow me a moment to speak to my servants,¡± Dunar stated.

    Archerbold nodded and drank from his empty cup. Mikal and the others scowled at the Frostsworn Leader.

    Dunar ignored their glares and said, ¡°I believe the undead hide when the Corpse Eaters arrive. I think that is the best time for us to move. It is easier for us to hide from a few then from many.¡±

    ¡°Are you mad? Did you not hear what he said about them? What if the Corpse Eaters find us?¡± Mikal snapped.

    ¡°Then we fight them!¡± Rolfe boomed.

    ¡°Shhh,¡± Jeze hissed and glanced nervously at the Dead King. ¡°Oh, no,¡± she said.

    The others looked up. Archerbold was nowhere to be found, but they clearly heard the heavy iron doors close shut. They were trapped!

    ¡°Your grace! What is the meaning of this?¡± Dunar shouted.

    Archerbold¡¯s muffled voice came through the Iron doors. ¡°Thank you, Frostsworn, for your company. It is nothing personal. You see, I need to consume your flesh to survive.¡±

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you face us like a true warrior!¡± Rolfe cried.

    The Proven heard the faint sounds of chuckling. ¡°I could, but you outnumber me. Plus, I know the Frostsworn to be fierce warriors. I am a wise king and know that it is better for me to starve you out. I will then feed upon your weakened bodies.¡±

    The magical torches went out, and the Proven were plunged into an oppressive darkness in a room that smelled of dirt and ash.

    ¡°I knew only bad would come from this,¡± Mikal¡¯s voice said in the darkness.

 Chapter 130: The Human

    Ziplocke and his colleagues hurried through the twisting passageways of the cave they entered and stuck to the shadows. Behind them, the fighting outside intensified between the two Greater Fiends¡¯ forces and the Ogre.

    ¡°We best hurry,¡± Graul insisted.

    ¡°Hold up!¡± Leandra cried.

    The three Goblins froze as the blue-eyed Goblin knelt on the ground.

    ¡°Rune traps,¡± she hissed.

    Ziplocke muttered curses. Why does this have to be so difficult? He wondered to himself. The sounds of fighting indicated that the Fiends and the Ogre had entered the cave and were just beyond the bend.

    ¡°Any moment now, and they will be upon us!¡± Graul exclaimed. The stocky Goblin pointed down the twisting corridor they had just come from.

    ¡°You don¡¯t think I know that!¡± Leandra snapped back and pointed to the faint Runes etched into the rocky floor. ¡°I suppose you want to trigger this trap and find out what happens?¡±

    ¡°Just hurry up!¡± Ziplocke growled.

    Leandra paused her work and placed her hands on her hips. ¡°What do you think I¡¯m doing?¡±

    Ziplocke scowled but remained quiet. That was the only way to get Leandra to do her job. Otherwise, she would continue to argue back, and before they knew it, they would be overrun by Fiends and a rampaging Ogre. Graul let loose a stream of curses and readied his curved sword and spiked-edge shield. Ziplocke couldn¡¯t help but snicker. Even though Graul was a Greater Goblin, he was still small compared to even the Regular Fiends. He was tiny compared to the Ogre and the Greater Fiends. Shoot! Even I am small compared to them! Ziplocke realized.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Graul hissed.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Ziplocke replied after a gentle cough.

    ¡°You don¡¯t think I can fight them, do you?¡± Graul asked.

    ¡°Seriously? No, I don¡¯t, but this is not the time for this conversation!¡± Ziplocke shot back.

    ¡°Finished! This Human is clever,¡± Leandra stated, and she ran off down the corridor.

    The other two Goblins followed and the sounds of fighting grew closer. They could see the flashes of magical energy flicker along the walls. The Fiends and the Ogre were near! The Goblins rushed down the rocky passageway and they came upon a small opened cavern. Leandra was the first to step foot inside and she immediately froze.

    ¡°Uh oh,¡± she said.

    Ziplocke smacked his forehead. ¡°What is it now?¡± He asked.

    ¡°I triggered a Rune trap,¡± Leandra whispered.

    Graul and Ziplocke took a step back. This gave them an opportunity to see into the dimly lit cavern. On the opposite side, maybe a few dozen meters away, was a single Human man who sat cross-legged against the rocky wall. The Human had long dark hair that hung down to his shoulders and obscured his face. On the ground before him was the glowing red Gem of Magnificence. The man snapped into action, scooped up the Gem, and drew a longsword. He stuffed the Gem inside one of the pockets on his dark brown robe and unslung a round shield. Through his long bangs, the Goblins saw the Human glaring at them.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Leandra whispered.

    ¡°That depends. What type of trap did you trigger?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°I think it was an Earth sense trap,¡± Leandra replied.

    ¡°Oh, to the hell with this!¡± Graul cried and charged the Human.

    The man tapped channeling tools and formed Glyphs in the air. He Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled the Earth aspect with skilled ease. Giant hands made out of rock rumbled along the ground toward Graul. The stocky Goblin dodged and flipped over them and continued his charge.

    ¡°Did you know he could do that?¡± Ziplocke asked.

    ¡°No, I guess he really is a warrior,¡± Leandra replied.

    ¡°Stop your yapping and help me!¡± Graul cried without looking back.

    The stocky Goblin engaged the Human in melee. He was about a head and a half shorter than the man and had a significant reach disadvantage. But Graul managed to close the distance. The two exchanged sword strikes and shield blocks, and after a few seconds, it became clear that the Human was skilled enough to beat the Greater Goblin. Graul retreated with a bleeding gash along his cheek.

    ¡°That¡¯s gonna leave another scar,¡± Leandra observed.

    ¡°Will you two help me!¡± Graul cried.

    This snapped Ziplocke into action. The Goblin Lord Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled orbs of flame to launch at the Human. The man blocked one ball of flame that exploded against his shield, and he twirled and dodged two more while countering with Boulders. Leandra and Ziplocke dodged the Earth attacks as they crashed against the cave walls and floors.

    ¡°This guy is good!¡± Ziplocke exclaimed.

    ¡°We can take him,¡± Graul stated and reengaged the Human in melee.

    Leandra was nowhere to be found. Ziplocke had forgotten how stealthy she could be. If only he knew what she was up to, then he and Graul could engage the Human accordingly. But that was the problem with Goblins, Ziplocke realized with a sigh. We lack strategy! So, Ziplocke continued to launch balls of flame.

    ¡°Hey, watch it!¡± Graul cried as he was nearly killed by an explosion from Ziplcoke¡¯s magic.

    ¡°Sorry!¡± The Goblin Lord exclaimed.

    Leandra appeared out from the shadows and shot rays of red Affliction energy. One struck the Human and Ziplcoke noticed the man move slower. But, the Human managed to dodge the second ray and it struck Graul.

    ¡°Bloody hell!¡± The Stocky Goblin cried as he fell to his knees, too weak to move.

    ¡°Ziplocke! What are you waiting for!¡± Leandra cried and motioned toward the weakened Human.

    ¡°Right!¡± Ziplocke responded and Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled flames to strike the downed Human.

    But he was too late. The Human managed to Shape walls of stone to protect him from the fiery assault and was hidden behind them. Graul grumbled as he attempted to Shape the stone walls away. The stocky Goblin focused more on sword fighting and the Fire aspect. His Earth-aspect skills were not enough to overcome the Human¡¯s enchantment. However, Leandra was able to, and she Shaped the walls away to reveal a tunnel opening. The Human had escaped!

    At that moment, four winged Regular-Fiends soared into the cavern and spotted the Goblins with furious red eyes. The Fiends were from different factions and immediately fought each other and crashed to the ground. The cavern lit up with the Fire and Darkness aspects as the Fiends battled each other in the air and on the ground with spears. A tremendous roar startled the Goblins back to the present as the red-skinned Ogre erupted into the cavern with a burst of magma and intense heat.

    ¡°What are you two waiting for? Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± Leandra cried. She dove into the tunnel after the escaped Human.

    Graul went next, and Ziplocke followed last. The Goblin Lord sealed the tunnel behind him. But what was the point? The Ogre could easily melt any Earth enchantment Ziplocke could put up, but it may delay their pursuers for enough time. All they needed to do was to deal with the very formidable Human. Why must things be so difficult? Ziplocke wondered to himself as he gave chase.

 Chapter 131: Trapped

    Jeze Summoned small balls of light that floated in the air and illuminated the room they were trapped in.

    ¡°That¡¯s a new trick,¡± Dunar observed.

    Jeze grinned. ¡°I have been practicing with the Light aspect.¡±

    Dunar nodded and asked, ¡°Where did you learn the Rune chains?¡±

    ¡°My brother had a few spells in his Journal,¡± Jeze answered.

    Dunar tapped his chin and wondered, ¡°What else can you do?¡±

    Jeze was eager to explain. ¡°Initially, the Light aspect didn¡¯t interest me, especially since I found the glow globe from the pyramid. I didn¡¯t need light spells. Also, I knew the Fire aspect, and at the very least, I could light torches.¡±

    ¡°Please answer the question,¡± Mikal muttered.

    Jeze stuck her tongue out at the Healer and continued, ¡°But there is so much utility to the Light aspect that I didn¡¯t know about. I¡¯m working on creating veils, and I believe if I overlay them with the Darkness aspect, I can create some convincing illusions.¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? Talking about this! You do realize we are trapped, right? How do illusions help us now?¡± Mikal cried.

    ¡°Relax, Micky. Don¡¯t be so dramatic, ya?¡± Helga said.

    ¡°We have food and water in our packs. King Archerbold didn¡¯t think his plan out,¡± Rolfe added.

    ¡°Have you all gone mad? Am I the only sensible one here that realizes the predicament we are in?¡± Mikal exclaimed, spittle flying from his mouth.

    Dunar placed a firm hand on the Healer¡¯s shoulder. ¡°This is a good thing for us.¡±

    Mikal sputtered but was unable to find the words to respond.

    The Leader continued, ¡°We have a rare moment to talk. As Rolfe said, we have food and water. We are not in any danger. We can plan our next move in peace.¡±

    Jeze nodded and pointed to the large main doors. ¡°We know that outside is dangerous for us. We either face hordes of undead or the Corpse Eaters that Archerbold told us about.¡±

    Mikal muttered, ¡°Assuming that the king was not lying to us. Don¡¯t forget that he trapped us in here!¡±

    ¡°That is true,¡± Jeze replied and continued, ¡°But we can only plan with what we know.¡±

    Rolfe shook his head. ¡°That cursed Wendigo! I failed you all.¡±

    Helga rubbed his shoulders and vowed, ¡°I will crush that creature¡¯s bones to dust!¡±

    ¡°You two can resist that monster¡¯s howl attack. Your Will is strong enough. You need to learn to fight while being afraid,¡± Mikal admonished.

    ¡°Ya! Dunar, how did you resist that fear in your heart?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t resist. I was terrified, but I focused on the task at hand,¡± Dunar replied.

    Rolfe bowed his head. ¡°I do not think I can do that.¡±

    Jeze slapped the big man across his face. ¡°Yes, you can! Focus on what you love.¡±

    ¡°Glory!¡± Helga cheered.

    ¡°Bingo!¡± Jeze cried.

    Rolfe rubbed his face where Jeze had struck him and perked up. ¡°For Glory!¡± He howled back.

    Mikal leaned in close to Jeze and whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s hope that works because if those two flee again, we are as good as dead.¡±

    Helga removed her helm to scratch her braided blonde head. ¡°Since we are talking. I have a question. How did the Lich get all these tombs here?¡±

    Mikal nodded and replied, ¡°It is a very complex spell, one that is beyond my knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Were all the tombs teleported here?¡± Rolfe wondered.

    Jeze shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I think these are magical recreations or illusions of what was. These monuments were filled with tremendous belief.¡±

    ¡°But to what purpose?¡± Rolfe wondered.

    ¡°To grow stronger. In order to break beyond the Adept rank, one must get power from an outside source. The Lich is probably Elite rank and is looking to consume enough energy to reach Hero rank,¡± Jeze replied.

    ¡°But, Zippy said that we can grow our Spirit through our own means, ya? To achieve a higher rank without accessing outside power,¡± Helga said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to consume the souls of others,¡± Rolfe muttered.

    Jeze flinched at the mention of her familiar and the memories of his betrayal. ¡°I suppose,¡± she replied.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Mikal sighed and said, ¡°All the burial rituals we have for our kings and chieftains were a lie. This cursed place is proof of it.¡±

    Dunar narrowed his eyes and asked, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    Mikal motioned around them. ¡°You heard Archerbold. He was buried in this grand tomb along with one hundred of his servants. It was believed he would return as a god and become immortal. All our chieftains and kings are buried under such extravagant means. Remember outside? It was endless, with grand tombs for thousands of monarchs. This Lich, this Lev Shabuyaton, figured out a way to trap them here in this cursed realm so he could feed upon their souls. I fear we are in over our heads.¡±

    ¡°At some point, this realm was discovered by the Stronghold, and Lev was defeated and subsumed by the Fiends,¡± Jeze added.

    Rolfe¡¯s eyes went wide and he said, ¡°That¡¯s why this place is the fifth floor!¡±

    ¡°See that, Micky? If the Fiends could defeat Lev, and we have bested the Fiends, then we could defeat this Lich, ya?¡± Helga asked.

    ¡°When have we fought the Fiends?¡± Mikal demanded.

    ¡°Against the cursed sword, the Eye of Azsith,¡± Rolfe answered.

    Mikal rolled his eyes and snorted, ¡°I¡¯m surprised you remembered that evil blade¡¯s name. But that was just an Eye that possessed a Cult Leader. We didn¡¯t face a full-fledged Fiend, and in that fight, Dunar nearly lost his arm. We are doomed.¡±

    ¡°You are forgetting something. There are other Adventurer teams here. If we find them and organize, we can take down the Lich,¡± Jeze pointed out and added, ¡°And the Core Tunnels are here.¡±

    Mikal threw his hands up in the air. ¡°More impossible challenges!¡±

    Dunar rubbed his arm where he was wounded and asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s our next move? Jeze, can you pick the locks?¡±

    Jeze went over and studied the large doors. She ran her hands along the edges and couldn¡¯t find any mechanism to lock or unlock the doors. No handles or knobs to open them. Jeze gently pushed on the door. It would not budge. It was locked tight.

    Mikal observed, ¡°Let me guess, we are trapped in here forever.¡±

    ¡°Micky! Stop being so dramatic!¡± Helga cried.

    ¡°The mechanism to open this door is somewhere else,¡± Jeze stated.

    Dunar nodded and ordered. ¡°Everyone search the room.¡±

    ¡°What are we looking for?¡± Rolfe asked.

    ¡°Anything. A chain, a pulley, or even a lever,¡± Jeze answered.

    The Proven searched the room and looked in every nook and cranny. Jeze climbed up to examine the ceiling. The team gathered back in the center.

    ¡°We are doomed,¡± Mikal said with a sigh.

    ¡°There is still one option,¡± Jeze said and pointed to the doors Archerbold had fled through. They were smaller and appeared less thick than the main doors.

    ¡°What if they are locked the same way as the other doors?¡± Mikal stated.

    ¡°Then you freeze them, and Helga can smash them open with her mace,¡± Dunar explained.

    The warrior maiden grinned and hefted the two-handed Devil Steel weapon she had taken from the defeated Howler Elite.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that will work as well as you would hope,¡± Mikal muttered.

    Jeze returned from examining the doors and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s a locked door that requires a key.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Mikal scowled.

    Jeze rolled her eyes. ¡°I can pick the door.¡±

    ¡°Then what?¡± Mikal asked.

    ¡°We owe Archerbold a beating for his treachery,¡± Rolfe stated and slammed his fists together.

    ¡°Ya!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    Jeze added, ¡°I believe the mechanism to open the main doors will be in the King¡¯s chambers.¡±

    Mikal shook his head. He was still skeptical.

    Rolfe leaned down toward the Healer and said, ¡°Maybe there will be treasure?¡±

    Mikal perked up. ¡°Does not hurt to take a look, right?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, Micky!¡± Helga exclaimed.

    Dunar cleared his throat and reminded the team. ¡°Let¡¯s not forget that we still need to contend with Archerbold. By all accounts, he is a formidable warrior and one of the stronger undead.¡±

    Jeze had an idea and grinned widely. ¡°I have a plan,¡± she said.

    *****

    King Archerbold the Defiant wondered what his captives were doing. He heard a loud commotion from the other room and grimaced. They were destroying his home! But, in time, they will grow weaker, and it will be well worth it. The king rubbed his hands together in anticipation. To drink living blood!

    ¡°I will get stronger! Perhaps strong enough to challenge the Corpse Eaters! The Lich himself!¡± Archerbold exclaimed to himself.

    The commotion was still happening. Could they escape? The dead king wondered. It was at this point that he regretted killing his advisors. When he woke up here, it was survival of the fittest, and he was very hungry. But, in retrospect, he could have spared the advisors. Archerbold shook his head. A king should not doubt their decisions. A king needs to be divisive!

    ¡°More importantly. A king needs to be patient. They will succumb to their mortal needs, and I will consume their flesh!¡± Archerbold promised himself.

    The steel doors to his chamber rattled every so slightly. It was such a faint sound that a lesser person would have missed it. But not King Archerbold! He was not a lesser being. He was a wise king with excellent perception. The adventurers were picking the lock! The commotion was a distraction.

    ¡°They think they are clever,¡± Archerbold observed with a cruel sneer. He readied his two-handed sword and promised, ¡°They will learn why I am called Archerbold the Defiant. The great warrior king!¡±

    He turned off the magical torches and plunged his burial chamber into complete darkness. It was a small circular room made of rotted marble and wood. Archerbold ducked to hide behind his stone coffin that was in the center of the chamber and adorned with intricate designs that depicted his greatness.

    Light flooded the chamber as the steel doors opened. Archerbold cursed his luck. Of course, they would have a light source! It was a small chamber, and it was only a matter of moments before they discovered him. Archerbold needed to act quickly! The first person to enter the chamber was the small girl with unkempt dark hair, a flat nose, and a scarred face. She had the wiry, muscled build of a warrior, but she was small and armed with an axe and a sword. A magical ball of light floated above her head. A few strides behind her were the others.

    Archerbold grinned. They were fools to have her go in first! He could easily cut this girl down and improve his odds! Four against him? The mighty Archerbold the Defiant? It wouldn¡¯t even be a challenge. The dead king exploded forward with the terrifying speed of a Wight. Archerbold was a formidable warrior when he was alive, and now he was even more dangerous as a powerful undead! The young girl didn¡¯t stand a chance as he sliced her in half with his sword.

    ¡°I told you that the illusion would work,¡± Jeze said from the other side of the opened steel doors.

    Archerbold glanced up and saw that he had been tricked through foul sorcery! Motes of light dissipated before him, and the real girl stood in front of him along with her colleagues. A giant of a man in heavy armor growled at him.

    ¡°We owe you a beating,¡± Rolfe promised.

    If Archerbold had a throat, he would have gulped. But he shook the doubts from his mind. He was a mighty warrior king! Is a mighty warrior king!

    ¡°Proven! Attack!¡± Dunar roared.

    The Frostsworn surged into the room, and Archerbold met them with his blade.