I walk down the path toward the tower. The goblin king already granted me access and I can’t just walk away from it. If I can get the tower’s magic like I did the elves it helps not only me but also the goblins, so a win-win for everybody.

Or I fail and I’m too late and everyone dies.

Gotta love those worst case scenarios.

As I walk I don’t look down as the path falls away from me on either side, and having just climbed out of one pit I’ve no interest in falling into another. Fortunately, this isn’t some kind of test and the path is plenty wide so there’s no need to fear a tumble.

As I approach the tower it looks even more impressive. The rock has a red glaze on it so it stands out from the rest of the mountain stone. And it shimmers as I shine my rays on it. There is also an enormous urn in front of the structure which I can only imagine served as a fiery cauldron back in the day. It’s flames lightning the whole cavern with their perpetual glow.

All is darkness now though.

I approach the door and press against it. Of course nothing happens. The stone hasn’t been moved for ages and there may even be some trick to it. Like there was for the elven tower. And it’s possible I won’t even be able to enter the thing. I stand back and sigh.

Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all.

I’m done courting the spirit for advice though. It’s a shame Angel isn’t here like last time, in the elven woods. Of course maybe she’s mad at me for working with the spirit and won’t show up ever again.

Gee, guess I should have thought of that earlier.

Anyway, I’m alone for now at least. I look back to Eeyore who is just waiting patiently. Well, mostly alone I guess. I miss Luna. She was always so encouraging, so supportive. I reach up to the necklace she gave me a pull at a few of the stones ensconced upon the chain.

“Hello,” it says. “Are you there?”

I freeze, unsure whose voice that is. There are so many voices now: Timmy, Angel, the spirit, and (worst of all) my own interior monologuing.

“Hello,” the voice comes again. “Is this thing even working? My father always warned not to trust drawven traders…”

A light goes off in my head. I can’t believe it. “Luna?”

“Ethan,” the voice chirps. “So you can hear me.”

“Yes,” I say, “somehow…”

“It’s the necklace,” says Luna. “The stones are a strange kind of crystal from beyond the seas.”

“Amazing,” I mumble.

“They call to each other, even over great distances. I can tell when you grab your necklace as my stones will vibrate. I can’t always talk but I will try when I can.”

“Luna,” I say. “Why didn’t you just tell me? When you gave me the necklace. You could’ve just said something.”

“Because I wanted to surprise you, Ethan,” she says teasingly. “Don’t you think it’s so much more exciting this way?”

I laugh, imagining Luna safe in her palace surrounded by courtly nobles and getting excited by quasi-clandestine discussions with yours truly.

“Luna, I don’t know that I need anymore excitement my life right now?”

“Really? What’s happening? Are you about to charge gloriously into battle?”

I laugh again. “Maybe later. Right now I’m stuck outside a tower.”

“A tower of Magi? You found it? The goblin one I mean.”

“Yes, but I can’t get in. There must be a secret. Like getting into your elven one.”

“Hmmm,” Luna says and I can sense the wheels turning in her mind. I miss my elven amiga and suddenly find all the rocks and dust a little stifling. There is no sun down here, no rain, no wind even. Just a bunch of stone, darkness, and torches.

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I don’t think I could ever live here. Even if all the girls do run around nearly naked.

“What about writing?” asks Luna. “There usually some above the door, right?”

Good idea. Why didn’t I think of that?

I shine my rays above the door and squint to see what diabolical riddle the goblins could have used to prevent entrance into their exalted tower.

Please ring the bell.

I see…

I’m both thankful and a might disappointed at the simplicity of it all.

“What’s it say?” Luna asks.

“It says to ring the bell.”

“A bell?” says Luna. “Like by the door?”

“I mean that’s what I assume.”

“Who puts a bell by a door?”

I scoff. “The goblins I guess.”

And Earthers, like everyone in the U.S.A, basically.

“Alright,” says Luna. “So you see a bell I guess.”

But the thing is I don’t. I check all around the door and don’t see anything that looks or seems like a bell. I even touch the stones, each one separately. Nothing rings, or even happens.

“Well,” says Luna, “Did you find it?”

“No,” I say, feeling a little exasperated. “I’ve checked all around the door and nothing.”

“Around the door?” asks Luna. “Why are you looking by the door?”

“Ugh, because the message says there was a bell?”

“Ok, but they’re not going to put it by the door. Think of the racket it would make for anyone standing inside.”

Isn’t…that…the…point?

“Ok,” I say instead. “Where would it be then?”

“As far away from the door as possible, clearly.”

Clearly indeed.

So I walk around the edge of the tower, making my way as quickly as possible until I get to the very opposite side. And sure enough, there is a bell, built into the edge of the tower itself.

“You were right,” I say to Luna.

“Of course I was,” I can almost see her grining at me. “Now maybe you won’t go so long without talking to me again.”

“But I didn’t even -”

“I kid, Ethan, I kid. You know how I am. I just like to tease. It’s how you know that I like you.”

That pings my heart a bit and I start thinking about what could’ve been and what could be. Long had I put the thought of elf sex out of my head but now it comes roaring back with a passion. This despite the urgency I should feel to get in this tower and to complete my quest.

“So,” I say tentatively. “You did miss me then I guess. Noticed my absence anyway.”

Luna laughs, the sound is simply melodious in my ears, so elevating and inspiring among all the dirt and rocks.

“Yes, silly, I missed you. And I know I cut you off, last time, when you were trying to leave. So maybe we can finish that conversation, when this is all over. But for now maybe it’s time to ring that bell.”

I smile and do as my lady requests. The sound is stronger than I anticipated and I step back as the tone reverberates around me. It even causes the stones to tremble. In fact they tremble in order, creating a reverberating path of sound that I follow first with my ears and then with my feet as it leads me all the way back to…the door.

CRACK

The stones wail and split as the long abandoned tower finally creaks open for the first time in countless years.

“Woah,” I mumble.

“Did it work?” Luna asks.

“I’ll say. Looks like we’re ready to go.”

“That great! Best of luck to you, Ethan!”

“Wait, you’re not coming?”

Luna giggles. “Well, technically, I’m still in the palace either way. But I do have to leave you I’m afraid. There’s a meeting I want to be in.”

“A meeting?”

It feels like I’m ditched for an office party or something.

“Yes,” Luna says quickly. “It’s very exciting, Ethan. There is a resistance forming in Astria. We are getting runners. Lord Erriam is even sending elven spies to gather intelligence and provide aid to the struggling. With even more coming hopefully.”

“That does sound promising,” I admit.

“The rebels are harassing the sorceress. Raiding her storehouses, attacking her lizards. Everything is small scale for now but it’s growing, Ethan. Despite all her darkness she has not been able to extinguish the light. And the elves are doing what we can to help. Including spreading rumors of you, Ethan.”

I wobble a little. “Of me.”

“A hero,” says Luna. “To give the people hope in these benighted times. Because that’s what they will need, Ethan. We will aid them as we can, and my father is strengthening the army, but the sorceress is, well, a sorceress. And we are not.”

I don’t say anything. There’s really nothing I can say. I can feel the pressure building on my shoulders.

“Don’t worry,” Luna says. “I believe in you.”

And that’s it. I can feel her leave. Like there’s a break in our connection.

I take a deep breath. And step through the temple door.