A lone man was limping across a thick forest of trees underneath a dark sky. The crisp crunch of leaves, and the subtle winds made barely made an audible sound. A single ball of dim light floated around the man, as he continued limping forward.

His lips were cracked, the white plain shirt looked dirty, and his black pants had dark red stains on it. His face looked more full now, and his plain sword looked thinner then it was originally, one could only wonder how it's base design permanently changed shape.

A small sigh leaked out of his lips as he continued onward.

“Ah... I overestimated my body, this is somewhat disappointing.”

After forcing out a sigh he stared at the floating ball of light next to him. The air around it hummed, and vibrated as it started to form a sliver of magic thread that leaked from it, and stretched out to touch him. Lan only stared vacantly as it reached his mind, and a small, soft voice echoed solemnly into him.

“We felt it, no... Everyone alive felt it, the death of the guardian. His anguished screams, his terrible pain, and his incredible sorrow. The waves of emotions darkened the skies, everyone turned mad all over the world, and beasts turned crazed. Families murdered each other, beasts wrecked havoc, and nations fell.”

Lan continued to move forward silently staring at nothing in particular, bu occasionally stopping to listen, and observe his surrounding before moving on.

“....... A single light fell into this world, those of us who remained sane, those who wanted to stop this insanity gathered around that light, and we marched towards the guardian's lair. Many died, many fell, many turned against us, but we managed to continue on. Tears were shed, blood flowed, and relationships shattered, but we believed we could persevere.”

Lan's right hand instantly moved severing something reaching out towards the ball of light, but he didn't stop, he continued walking. Occasionally he would find something and pick it up, stuffing it inside his pockets. Despite his actions, he continued listening intently to the ball of light.

“He was amazing, every obstacle, every wall, and every hardship was broken through, but not many could follow him. As the days went by, our number dwindled, and our determination bled, in the end only five remained.”

The ball of light remained silent for a few seconds, before continuing.

“I was weak, and cowardly, I tried my best to chase that back of his, but.....”

“But?”

“I simply couldn't reach him anymore, I could no longer catch up to the rest of them, and this place was the end of my journey.”

“Hmm, I see.”

A thick fog started to flow out of the forest, engulfing everything in it's wake, the ball of light merely floated on Lan's shoulder as he continued forward, his right eye formed layers of magic circles. Despite the highly dense fog, Lan causally walked around trees, boulders, and would occasionally slash at something hidden from view.

“....”

The dead pan facial expression twitched slightly as he eyed something inside the fog. He then stopped walking, and instead looked casually to his side.

“.....Now what is this?”

The ground exploded, and Lan disappeared from view., he continued staring at something beyond the fog, and recited something underneath his breath. A thin blue film coated the blade of his sword, each time he swung his sword, large chunks of the fog actually dispersed.

Each slash, grew faster, and faster until only the sound of steel cutting the air could be heard echoing in the forest. Eventually the mist altogether collapsed, and dissipated as if it never existed.

“I guess the mana leech worked, the magic in the mist was for denser then I expected.”

Lan stared at the blade where the blue glow grew thick, and chaotic, vibrating, and convulsing in an erratic manner. He gently stretched out his left hand, and touched the blade, the blue light formed around his finger, and started to seep into his skin.

“The mana has a benign feel to it, not very dense, and lacks uniformity in it's visible state, looks like a non-structured spell, in that case this was formed naturally, or by something that has a natural affinity with magic. A magic creature or naturally born user?”

Lan stared straight ahead at a towering shadow several meters away from him.

“Oh sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you, I was lost in thought.”

There in the distance was a giant skeleton wearing a strange layer of thick metal clothes that was held together by rusted chains, and torn cloth. It's empty sockets glowed a sharp blue. It stood in a small clearing leaning against an ancient tree, there in it's clasped hand was a single female floating around in it's skeletal palms.

She had thick black wings on her back, and dark black hair that turned slightly purple near the fringes. Objectively speaking she looked like a beautiful human girl, with black eyes, and what resembled small chains, and leather as her clothes.

He swung his sword at the air, as if hitting away something non-existentm and pointed it at the strange woman.

“I don't really know if you understand what I'm going to say but... Can you stop doing that?”

The woman gave a bewitching smile, as she stuck out her fingers towards him. Lan swayed back, and forth, side stepped, and stared back at the woman with a dead pan expression. This time he dug the sword in the dirt, and waited for her response.

The woman smiled and said only a few words.

“Master wants Rian to collect that soul, and your body.”

She flew near the giant skeleton's face, and lovingly stroked it's chin.

“My body huh?”

“Ah.”

“Hmm, I guess words are meaningless.”

As he was about to slowly approach the woman, and the skeleton, the ball of light spoke urgently.

“Please, follow me.”

“Hmm that woman has been attacking us for awhile now, it's better to end the annoyance now.”

Without waiting for a response from the ball of light, he dashed forward.

The skeleton opened it's arms, and the chains all over it's body shuddered violently as they blasted into the sky, and dove downwards. The woman called Rian flew sideways, and made several hand motions as if flicking something into the air.

The massive chains buried into the earth causing large fissures, Lan jumped on top of one of thick rusted chains, and made a beeline towards the skeleton, occasionally deflecting something unseen, with several successive slashes.

The massive chain Lan was running on started to quiver, as each interlocking chain started to melt, and reform into spikes.

“Not happening.”

A familiar blue light enveloped his sword, as he lightly skimmed his blade across the chain he was running on, the chains that had partially melted froze it's action, and maintained a solid form. The woman stared in alarm as Lan was nearing the skeleton's head, while swatting away something unseen.

“Master!”

Lan ignored the woman flying towards him, he dug his hand into his pockets, and continued to run forward. The skeleton's eye started to shine brightly as it opened it mouth, something resembling hand's grabbed it's teeth and crawled out that looked like living shadows.

“Oh, so it's you guys.”

Lan threw several rocks in his hands, at the skeleton's face, smashing whatever crawled out from it's mouth, and penetrating the back of the skeleton's neck. Instead of charging forward, he instantly changed direction, kicked off of the chain, and went directly for the woman flying at him in mid air.

“Rest in peace.”

Before the beautiful woman could even respond her head was severed from her body, all around Lan winged snakes started to appear from thin air, falling to the ground below. His body slammed into and opposing tree several meters away shielded by his arms. With a single clawing motion his fingers dug into the bark, and launched himself upward to dodge flailing chains.

He darted in, and out skirting around the giant, as it lashed out violently, while pouring out shadowy creatures from it's mouth. This continued on for several minutes, but Lan never reappeared. The creature merely raged on searching for him.

Several meters away Lan was walking next to a flying ball of light. His face remained impassive, almost bored. His limping was now worse, and his sighing increased even more.

“To think that woman was able to summon creatures outside the scope of the five senses, now that she's dead I won't be annoyed by her long range attacks anymore.

He vaguely heard the sound of the giant skeleton.

“I don't have time to waste fighting thatthing, it can have fun by itself.”

The ball of light floated silently, before speaking.

“... Did you know?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“..No, never mind.”

Lan sighed again as he stopped at the foot of the giant pillar. He turned towards the ball of light, and waited patiently.

The ball of light started to disintegrate, and its bright glow rapidly turned dull.

“Thank you again, I finally made it. If I had made it to this tower, if I was more courageous, if I only tried a little bit harder, if..... I...... With him...”

“Goodbye, Rian.”

The ball of light could not finish it's last sentence, and disappeared. Lan likewise did not stay still, he merely walked away in silence after she left.

The pillar was gigantic, he estimated it would take him several days just to walk around it, as soon as he approached it, the pillar actually started to glow, and hum. The pillar started to peel away its shell revealing a marble white, the once dark pillar, now looked like something different. The shape itself looked more like a tower, and less like a plain pillar as it's outward appearance slowly changed..

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Something suddenly floated down from one of the open windows and landed next to Lan.

“Welcome, exiled.”

“Hi thief, did you enjoy my bird meat?”

“It was delicious.”

“Can a non-living being enjoy that?”

The robed figure chuckled, it's voice slowly turning deeper, and deeper, similar to an aged man.

“You could tell?”

“How could I not?”

“Hmm, I may be a construct, but I do need nutrients to sustain myself. Well let me rephrase then, it seemed delicious. Anyways allow me to introduce myself. My name is tower overseer Faust, welcome to the radiant sky tower.”

“My name is Lan.”

“No title, or last name?”

“..... Does it really matter?”

“I suppose not.”

Lan lightly tapped the now white tower, and stared into the brightening sky.

“This will lead me to other people?”

Faust nodded silently. “Ever since the calamity, everyone has escaped to the skies. It could be said the heavens now belong to the people, and everything else now belongs to the monsters.”

Faust motioned for Lan to follow him as he lead them towards the side of a tower, he muttered something, and a small passage opened to the side of the tower. Without a second thought Lan walked in.

The first thing he noticed was that there were no walls, nor ceilings, and no floors, it was simply an empty abyss. Even Faust who led him in, completely disappeared into nothingness. It was a quiet, and empty place. Lan just stared around him, without moving from his spot.

“Doesn't look like a closed dimension, the walls seems to be taking in mana from the world itself, and maintaining a long lasting tower huh. Seem the excess mana is activating long engraved spacial magic inside. But the key would be what kind of magic triggers it.”

True sight started to activate, he carefully examined the dark abyss around him.

A dense layer of magic is distorting the walls I can't analyze it, the magic surrounding here is dense, and the mana is uniform, but changing simultaneously. Almost as if it's constantly shifting, the air seems lighter as well.

“Ah, so we're actually moving upwards.”

Occasionally Lan would notice something shaped like a net wash over his body, other times he would feel slightly cold, or slightly hot. The magic being employed were something different from what he was used to, but the basic principles, aftereffects, and reactions were still recognizable to him.

“So I'm being tested, likely if I failed any of these tests, I would be dropped back to the first floor.”

So far Lan could recognize cleansing, healing, and insight variation type magic being used on him. None of which carried any hostile properties attached, so he willingly let them enter his body. Bored of the constant monotony, Lan sat down on the seemingly non-existent floor, and once again sighed.

He thought a little about what Rian had said, for a creature to have been able to affect a planet, meant they were at the level of a new avatar. The issue here is the how it reached a point where people were forced into the sky.

“So either an avatar related to regeneration or growth had not been born here, or they simply did not care enough to intervene.“

Another sighed leaked from his lips, as he shook his head. Without anything to do, the only thing was to wait. He laid down, and idly stared at the darkness. The mind numbing experience lasted for countless hours, the isolation and silence, reminded him of something.

“Ahh, that was right, she was like that as well......”

The same isolated room, with an all encompassing heat, and a dull glow of warmth in the corner. Where the wall were made by some mysterious alloy that filled the room with thick mana, and where a rhythmic clashing of metal rung ou tin the dark room.

A slow drawn out melody, that sent sparks of flame into the air, and illumination in the dull room. That hunched figure beside a metal glowing object, radiating powerful magic. Her short auburn hair decorated by soot, and burns. Her once white skin was tanned dark by the flames she constantly worked next too, and the song she always formed from hitting the metal with her magic tools, and her magic.

Reforming the metal, imbuing it with magic, and constantly trying to meet the demands of the ever increasing war.

How long have I been watching that back of hers? How long have I watched her slowly chip away at her life?

Unlike the others, she did not have overwhelming power, ability, or even magic, she simply creates, and forges.

No..... I was mistaken.

She simply no longer has those things.

As I watched that back of hers, that rhythmic sound stopped, and she stood up. Her grungy brown work clothes stained, and decorated with droplets of sweat. She turned her head and stared at me, but what was facing me was merely a grey mask, covering everything but her eyes, nose, and lips.

She staggered slightly, as she held unto what looked like a multi coloured spear, similar to an aurora. What she mad were no mere weapons, but items meant for champions blessed by each of the other avatars.

As I try to reach for her stumbling body, my hand was quickly swatted away, as she clumsily regained her balance, and walked on.

Right... This routine has gone on for many, many years

As I stared at her walking away, I could see a fresh scar opening on her hands, what was once smooth, and beautiful, turned rugged, and scarred. Every time I would notice a single scar, that would never heal again.

And tomorrow once again, the same routine will continue, and a new scar will be added to her body.

“But of course... I could only watch it happen. After all, I'm only.......”

The images quickly melted away a a sharp piercing light, slammed into Lan's eyes.

A strange sweet fragrance tickled his nose, and the sounds of vibrant life echoed in the distance, as the light slowly died down Lan watched his surroundings.

A see of pure blue from all directions, and shadows of creature flying in the clouds, letting loose loud vibrant sounds. The scent of the wind blowing across the expansive open room felt fresh, and rich. A deep familiar voice drifted to Lan's ear, as he stared blankly at the scene.

“I'm surprised you survived, normally human's become tainted by wandering the surface after awhile, you would normally be extinguished by the dormant spells carved into tower.”

“You tell me after... That?”

“Anyways this is the top of the tower, it serves as a mana refuel station for nomadic islands vessels.”

“So I can expect a nearby passing vessel to pick me up?”

“Pick you up? What a thing to say, they merely allow you to join their nation.”

“So around how long would one take to reach here?”

The disembodied voice sounded amused by the question.

“The islands vessels have no set course or schedule, each one follows their own erratic trajectory, from the records, a total of six islands are in this towers area of influence.”

“How long will the next one arrive?”

“The one coming should be the nation of Aistole, they should arrive in four months.”

“Four months....”

A slight frown appeared on Lan's lips as he walked near the edge of the open platform, and stared at the sea of white clouds below.

“Is there a way to quicken the process?”

“None at all, unless....”

“Unless?”

“See those bird flying around the tower.”

Lan eyed the giant white feathered birds spanning several meters long, flying lazily around the sky, diving in and out of the clouds, and generally taking a leisurely flight.

“If your that desperate, that try and use one of them.”

A small chuckle echoed in the platform as he said that, immediately later, a small crumpled piece of paper formed next to him.

Lan quickly picked up the paper that was being blown away by wind, as he unfurled it, a set of routes quickly came into view.

“This route will lead you to one of the few stationary sky ports in this area, but you'll encounter a lot of danger trying to reach it alone.”

As soon as the voice was finished talking, the robed figure was already beside him, and pointing at a single direction far away.

“If you're a careless idiot, feel free to risk your life chasing something you might not find.”

Lan walked up near the edge of the platform to stare downwards, he dropped the sword on the floor, and looked down at the bird flying below, then turned back and stared at the robed figure.

“You know something?”

“What?”

“I'm an idiot.”

Without even waiting for a response, he kicked off the platform and began a free fall, near where the birds were flying around.

The figure remained silent for a bit before muttering something underneath his breath.

“I forgot to tell him those birds are in mating season, the males are currently hyper aggressive. Oh well.... One less idiot for this world.”

Without even bothering to check what happened, the figure slowly turned to mist, and disappeared

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