The light from my hand-crafted fence illuminated Sera in the best way imaginable. She was wearing a set of blue metallic armour that hugged her body and showed off her impressive curvature. On top were a few silver plates of armour that covered her chest, lower legs, and forearms. A silver belt that held multiple small pouches was wrapped around her waist and behind her flowed a dark grey cloak that shimmered in the light of the campstones. She looked like a superhero straight out of a comic with how sleek her armour looked. Her golden hair was tied in a bun behind her head showing off her pointed ears.
Some time had passed, and realised I had not replied to her. I hastily pulled myself off the chair and spilled my dinner in front of me. Taking a moment to calm myself I looked up to her and gave her my most charming smile.
“Sera, its really nice to see you. Jace and Miko made it back okay then?” I carefully nudged the spilled food against a nearby campstone.
She continued to stand on the other side of the fence while watching me. Her smile dropped as she looked at the fallen mess before returning her gaze to me.
“Yes, Miko said she wants to take a small break from the tower after recent events. Jace also plans to spend time with her.” She gestured to the fence in front of her “Quite the construction, may I come in?”
Mentally hitting myself I said “Yes of course. I uh have not made gate so you are going to have to just hop over it.” As she did just that I used my foot to sweep the rest of the fallen curry against the campstone to either burn or breakup into motes of light.
Giving Sera a smile I jumped over the fence to find a decent sized rock and brought it back over as a second chair. Sitting down on the rock I smiled at Sera and gestured towards the makeshift chair I created earlier. “Please have a seat and we can chat over dinner.”
Her eyes flickered with amusement and walked over to my creation. She took a moment to look over the chair before taking a seat. She gave me a smile “Impressive.” She held out my pouch towards me. “When I found this, I half expected to find you looking like a wild beast wearing only your underwear. Instead, you look as if you are on a relaxing camping trip.”
Accepting the pouch, I laughed nervously as I sat down. I was not about to tell her how close to the truth she was. “Despite what you might have witnessed about me. I do not particularly enjoy running around naked, unless there is a very good reason for it.” She gave me a look I couldn’t quite work out the meaning of and decided to change the subject. “You wanted some dinner? Well let me offer you some earth cuisine. Here at Diner Reigner’s we have a selection of foods that you might be interested in. Would you like a steak wrap or maybe some spicy beef curry, or perhaps a meatlovers pizza that has all the best kinds of meat?”
“You really love beef don’t you? I have not tried it but heard it comes from a cow, correct? Hiro talked about it and said that it tastes just like Solbef, an edible plant that is farmed and used in a lot of cooking here.”
“Beef is the greatest, especially when it’s cooked just right. It’s an ingredient that can change depending on who is the one cooking it. I’ll have to try Solbef some time.”
“I try to refrain from eating living creatures whenever possible. Only when it comes to my own survival will I partake.”
“Vegetarian? That’s great. I dated a vegetarian before but unfortunately it did not work out.”
Sera’s eyebrow rose. “Oh, why is that?”
Scratching the back of my head I replied “I refused to give up meat. Called me a murderer or some such.” A frown appeared on her face and I felt my stomach twist. “But if you think about it. Here at Diner Reigner’s everything is created from mana, so no animal was slain for your sustenance… Now that I think about it. What would you call a mana only diet. Manaterian perhaps?”
“You conjure your own food? In that case I’ll have whatever you were eating before. It smelled nice.”
Nodding, I focused on a curry as I cast Summon Food. “This is a bit different to what I spilled but this is made from spinach, a green leafy plant from earth.” I handed her over the green curry with rice and leaned back to summon my own. I looked down at the hot rice and curry that sat inside the plastic container and cursed inwardly. I glanced to Sera and said “Apologies, I don’t have any cutlery. Actually, traditionally this food is meant to be eaten with your hands. You kind of scoop it with your fingers and thumb. You could use this to scoop it too.” I summoned some toasted naan bread and handed her a piece.
She did not seem fussed about the lack of utensils and dipped the naan bread into the curry before taking a bite. We ate in silence for a moment, enjoying the stars and the light reflecting off swords, maces, knifes, and other weapons from the light coming off the campstones around us.
After eating I summoned us some hot drinks to enjoy and asked her about what’s happening outside the tower.
“Burin and Miko shared their version of events with the tower knights. Fights have broken out between Dwarves and Elves in the city. More and more Elves are continuing to enter the city and tower. Normally the knights would stop climbers over level twenty from entering the early floors, but the elves are bringing in climbers that have not yet entered this tower until now. Because of that they are allowed to progress from the first floor. Be careful as they are quite high in level and skill.”
“Yeah, they were good. I had a run in with a group of them yesterday. I had to take the mazer hole when Zelphar showed up. He seems to be obsessed with killing people and bringing their corpses to his father.”
Sera frowned. “Those of the Ashen woods have a different view of the world. It’s best if you avoid them. Zelphar though, should no longer be a problem for you. He is currently wanted by the Tower Knights who are out searching for him in numbers on the lower floors.”
“That’s some good news. It would be nice to spend a day without him burning everything.”
“The situation is tense, and Hiro feels that a faction war might soon break out. We are preparing for the worst and are calling in the higher climbers to return.”
My face soured. “Guess this place is not so different from Earth after all. People loved finding reasons to feel superior to others.” I tossed the empty plastic container against the campstone and watched it break into motes of mana. Looking to Sera I asked, “How do you feel about the situation? Has anyone made life difficult inside the guild for you?”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“What?” She raised to eyebrows for a moment and noticed I was looking at her ears. “Oh, not at all. My father was an elf that fell in love with a human woman, my mother who was a daughter of one of the founders. No one but Hiro could give me a bad time in the guild, and he treats me like his own daughter.” With a smirk she added, “People should worry that I might want to make things difficult for them.”
I let out a small laugh before asking, “Do you know why the elves are so interested in me?”
She leaned over and dropped her own container on the campstone. “No. Hiro went personally to meet with the lord of the Isle. He was told that it’s a personal matter between the elves and yourself and refused to talk about it further.”
Standing up I walked over to the fence and looked out to the river. “A personal matter? I don’t understand their obsession with me.” I turned around to face her. “They keep calling me carnate, does that mean anything to you?”
She shook her head “No but I have heard that word is also being mentioned in other cities around the world.” She let out a sigh and looked up to the night sky. “Hiro is worried. There have been rumours of strange events happening around the tower cities in the past few days and he believes something big is about to happen. He doesn’t want Yui to leave the protection of the guild hall… But with the way things are looking, the tower will likely be the safest place once war breaks out. Floor ten is an important floor to have access to and Yui has been delayed from going for far too long.”
“What’s so important about floor ten?”
She gave me a mischievous smile. “I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise… but I will say that we have a stronghold there.”
Turning back to watch the river, I could see the occasional fish break the surface and splash back into the water. For fun I focused on one of them and cast sparkle. A small patch of the river illuminated slightly from the white and yellow motes of light that flickered off the fish. As the fish looked like a shooting star as it swam downstream.
Sera walked over and stood next to me, her shoulder lightly touched my own. The casual contact caused my heart to beat quicker. I leaned into her shoulder instinctually. It felt good, so good that I started to reach out to wrap my arm around her. I realised what I was about to do and stopped before my arm made contact. I carefully moved my arm back and grabbed hold of the railing of the fence.
“Why did you stop?” She was not looking at me directly but flicked her eyes towards me as she watched the river.
Turning to face her I took a moment to get my thoughts and emotions in order. How long has it been since I felt this way about anyone? How long has it been since I even felt comfortable enough to have these thoughts? I had spent the last twenty plus years carrying the hopes and possible survival of a city on my shoulders. Romance was the last thing on my mind at the time. But what about now? Arriving here I decided to live for myself, so why was I so hesitant?
I let out a sigh. “This might sound strange to you, but I have spent so long without an affectionate touch that even the brush your shoulder is sending my mind into a frenzy. If I were to give in to my desire even slightly, I worry that I won’t be able to hold back.”
She met my gaze with concern in her eyes. “How could this be? You have only been here but a few days. Surely there must be someone that mourns for you in the world you left behind.”
Chuckling I said, “If anyone mourns me it is because I either succeeded or failed in the task I undertook before arriving here.”
She looked at me with her beautiful sapphire eyes but did not ask further. I could tell she wanted to know more but was being respectful. I let out another sigh.
“With everything that’s happening, you and Hiro should probably know some of my past. You can let Yui and the others know as well when you share my story to him.” For good or bad I told Sera about the dead tower, the last standing city of a dying world, and the hero summoned to save them.
With my conversation with Mr T. I had learned that hero was not actually meant to be my starting class and I was just forced into it on arrival. Apparently, my forced summoning was also the reason why no one from Earth had arrived here for the past century. However, I did not to share that information with Sera.
Sera was silent after listening, watching the fish that I continued to cast sparkle on. After a moment she said “I saw one once. A dead tower. I was young, only sixty summers of age. My father wanted me to witness how destructive a tower could become when its owner dies.”
Letting out a chuckle I said, “And here I thought I was special for clearing the tower… when it’s just a common occurrence here. How long ago was that?”
She turned to face me. “Not so common. The death of a go- tower owner is no small matter. A dead tower expends its power by growing its floors and constantly respawning creatures. Only the power of the tower’s Hero is able to slay its manifestations for good. Any creature slain by someone other than the hero will just respawn at the base of the tower.” She quirked her eyebrow at me. “And you should never ask a lady her age.”
My eyes widened at her words. “You said a tower’s hero. As in each tower has its own hero?”
“Yes, it’s quite common knowledge here. Each tower city has a hero living somewhere close by. However, they are more than just a tower safeguard.”
Sera turned to face me. “I am sorry that you experienced such hardships before coming here.” She lifted my hand from my side and held it within her own “And I’m glad you made it to this world.”
A cheeky smile formed on her face. “What was it about me that caught your eye? I know for the fact that both Yui and Miko both have a crush on you.”
Chuckling, I said, “You sound just like my shadow.” At her confused look I mentally hit myself. “Ahem, never mind...Yui and Miko? Beautiful as they might be I can only see them as kids. They are innocent and too young for me.” I met Sera’s gaze and squeezed her hand gently. “And you? Well, let’s just say that I finally understood what all those songs were about after laying my eyes on you.”
“My my, quite the silver tongue you have. But to my eyes it looked like you were trying to hide a room full of dangerous weapons.” She looked back out to the river and watched me from the corner of her eye. “You do realise that if we were to compare our ages you would be just a young boy compared to me.”
Putting on my most charming smile I said. “Yup but even a boy can appreciate true beauty when he sees it.” Turning away from her and facing the river I continued. “Besides, you have the maturity that tells me you have survived through some of the darkness that exists in the world and know what it means to bear that knowledge and experience.”
She let out a sigh and pressed her shoulder against mine. We rested like that for a few minutes just enjoying each other’s company. It might have lasted longer if my summoned clothes did not crumble into motes of light. Crap, has it been ten hours already?
Sera stepped back from the fence and gave me a wide smile. “Now that’s the Reigner I was expecting to find.” She started laughing, a musical sound. “I have included some clothes, food rations, and water into your pack. I guess you don’t need most of it but its there if needed.”
Too embarrassed to move I just stood there, one hand holding on the fence while the other rested on my hip. The wind felt cold. I sighed and said, “Thank you.”
She stepped close to me, kissed me on the cheek before twirling away. “I need to report back to Hiro. It’s still too dangerous for you to leave the tower, so you can’t come back with me unfortunately. You should regroup with the others and get to floor ten. The tower knights are no longer looking for you, but the elves are, so be careful.”
“I want to spend some time here to train and meditate before moving up further. You can let the others know I will meet them on floor five in a week.”
With a smile she added “I’ll let them know. Come quickly to floor ten. I’ll be waiting.” The air around her shimmered and after taking a few steps Sera vanished from my sight. Standing there after her departure I couldn’t stop the huge grin form forming on my face. “I’ll be waiting?” I let out a laugh and leaned down against the fence. The handrail under my hand made from a wooden stave crumbled into motes of light.
I watched as my fence started to slowly crumble and couldn’t help but feel a little sad at the sight. I spent most of the day building the fence only for it to disintegrate. After putting on the clothes Sera provided me, I sat down and watched the fence slowly break into motes of light that drifted upwards for a moment before vanishing.