Chapter 62: Fate From a Boot
Time passed within the Stone Tower and the five members of Room Eighty—Abel, Sena, Isabella, Nando, and Ronald—moved in unison down the spiraling stone staircase of the Stone Tower. The walls around them hummed faintly with the presence of magical wards, their arcane energy hanging heavy in the air. Each step echoed through the tower, matching the tense silence of the recruits who passed them by, casting curious glances but saying nothing. Ronald walked slightly behind the others, feeling the weight of his recent return to the group. He had been accepted back, but proving his loyalty still lay ahead, and he could feel the unspoken pressure.
As they descended, Abel could sense the mix of nervous energy in the air, both from his friends and the recruits they passed. His heightened senses made everything sharper—the clatter of boots on stone, the murmur of hushed conversations, even the faint whispers of the wind outside seemed amplified. Sena walked at his side, his massive form gaining some attention, while Isabella’s quiet footsteps were almost inaudible. Nando, as unpredictable as ever, whistled softly to himself, his fingers tapping absently against the folds of his robe. Ronald kept his head down, glancing occasionally at the others, his thoughts swirling.
The tension in the air was undeniable as they finally reached the bottom floor. The grand hall was filled with recruits, both gifted and non-gifted alike. The air felt thick with anticipation. Abel’s eyes quickly swept across the room, noticing the wide range of expressions, some recruits stood confidently, while others fidgeted with visible anxiety.
At the far end of the room, in front of the massive stone gate, stood the Overseer. His tall, looming figure was shrouded in a blood-red robe, the hood pulled low to conceal his face entirely. The dim light from the torches flickered against the dark fabric, casting him in an eerie glow. In one hand, he held an ancient, worn leather boot—its surface cracked and aged, exuding an aura of mystery. The tension in the room seemed to thicken as the recruits waited in silence for the Overseer to speak.
Sena leaned slightly toward Abel, his voice a low rumble. "I don’t like the feel of this. Something’s off."
Abel nodded subtly, his eyes fixed on the Overseer. "Yeah, there’s a strange energy today... something more than just the usual nerves."
Isabella shifted uneasily beside them, her fingers brushing against the sleeve of her robe where her familiar rested, coiled and silent. Nando shot a quick grin at the group. "Whatever it is, it'll be interesting. Always is."
Ronald, though quiet, couldn’t shake the gnawing sense of dread that had settled in his stomach. He had worked so hard to get back in with the group, but the looming threat of the unknown expedition weighed on him. This wasn’t just about gaining trust anymore—it was about survival.
The Overseer finally raised his head, his voice booming through the hall with an unnatural resonance. “Recruits of the Stone Tower, the day of your expedition is upon you.”
His voice, deep and hollow, seemed to reverberate in the very walls. Abel felt a chill run down his spine as the Overseer continued, his tone calm but heavy with warning. "This expedition will be unlike anything you’ve faced so far. You will be tested, and the dangers that lie beyond these walls are not to be taken lightly. You’ve had time to prepare, but understand this—your success, your very survival, will depend on your strength, your knowledge, and your will."
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The room was silent, each recruit absorbing the weight of his words. No one dared move or speak.
The Overseer held up the boot, its presence commanding the attention of everyone in the hall. "This year," he continued, "we are trying something new. You will not choose your expeditions. Instead, fate will choose for you."
Confusion rippled through the crowd. Abel’s brow furrowed as he exchanged glances with his companions. Sena crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “What does he mean by that?” Nando whispered, the edge of a grin still lingering on his face despite the tension.
The Overseer tapped the boot lightly, and as if responding to some ancient magic, the boot began to hum with a strange, melodic tune. From within the boot, colored slips of paper suddenly shot into the air, swirling above the recruits like a cloud of restless birds. The slips hovered for a moment, casting an eerie, glowing light across the room.
"Each color represents a different expedition," the Overseer explained, his voice cutting through the murmur of unease. "Once a slip lands before you, it will reveal your task. Head to the task office to receive the full details of your expedition."
The slips floated gracefully through the air, each glowing faintly with a color—red, green, blue, yellow, orange. Abel watched with a mix of anticipation and apprehension as the first few slips landed before some recruits. He heard frustrated whispers and murmurs of protest from a few who were clearly unhappy with their random assignments. Still, no one dared raise their voice too loudly.
Abel’s heart raced as two slips drifted toward him and Ronald. A blue slip settled in front of both of them, glowing faintly against the stone floor. Sena and Isabella received green slips, while Nando’s landed with a sharp flicker of red. The five exchanged glances, realization dawning that they would not all be together for this expedition.
Abel caught Sena’s eye. The hulking figure gave a slight nod, his expression serious but calm. “Looks like we’re splitting up,” Sena muttered, his voice low.
Isabella ran her fingers across the green slip, her expression unreadable as she glanced at Abel and then Sena. “We’ll be fine,” she said softly, though there was a tension in her voice. “We’ve prepared for this.”
Nando twirled his red slip between his fingers, a flicker of excitement crossing his face. "Guess I'm flying solo this time," he quipped, though the dark undertones of his transformation showed in the gleam of his eyes. The black veins beneath his skin seemed to pulse as if in response to the magic in the room.
Ronald remained quiet, staring down at the blue slip in his hand. This was his chance to prove himself, but the weight of the unknown pressed heavily on him. He glanced at Abel, who gave him a reassuring nod.
The Overseer’s voice rang out once more, pulling their attention back to the front of the room. “Do not underestimate the challenges ahead. You may find allies where you least expect them, and dangers in places you thought safe. Learn from this experience, and grow stronger. Only the worthy will survive.”
With a sudden, almost blinding flash of light, the boot disappeared, leaving a lingering sense of unease in its wake. The Overseer’s hooded gaze swept across the recruits, his presence both intimidating and inscrutable.
“Proceed to the task office,” he commanded. Without another word, the recruits began to move, the tension in the room palpable. Abel, Sena, Nando, Isabella, and Ronald all exchanged final glances before stepping into the crowd, each lost in their own thoughts.
As they made their way to the task office, Abel couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that lingered in the air. This expedition would be unlike anything they had faced before.