After doing my business I stepped back into the room and saw a large green Orc sitting at the table. Mac was seated next to him. The Orc had a bald head, braided beard, and was wearing an open black robe with a grey square runic pattern running down the edges. Inside his robe was well fitted grey leathers. He loomed over the table.

Mac gestured towards a chair across from the orc. “Reigner, have a seat. This is Elder Knight Torak. He has asked to speak with you.”

I pulled out the chair and sat down. Scratching the back of my neck, I started to speak. “Listen. I don’t know what came over me. Believe me when I say that has never happened to me before... I mean we all let out some gas every now and then, right? I just...”

Saved from explaining further, the elder let out a deep, rumbling laugh.

“Worry not. What happened to you is not your fault.” Elder Knight Torak placed the glass sphere on the table between us “Mac explained what transpired. We have records of this happening before, but this is the first time I have personally witnessed a faded Awakening stone.”

Mac sat up straight with a surprised expression.

The elder glanced at him. “What is to be discussed here is not to be repeated. Understood?”

“Yes Elder. On my honour as a Knight of the Tower.”

Elder Knight nodded and took a deep breath. “This is not your first time being summoned to another world. Or the first time seeing a Tower.”

That’s a surprise. Guess I’m not the first double worlder. “No, it’s not. It’s happened to me once before today. However, the first time was quite different. Apart from being naked that is.”

“Different How?”

“Well, the first time I woke in a magic circle, surrounded by mages. They were cheering and laughing. I thought they were laughing at me. Until they started calling me Hero…”

The elder ran his hands down his beard and made a rumbling noise “Interesting… Did this world have a tower?”

“Just the one.”

“Reigner, I would be honoured if you could share your story with us. And know, that anything you say will not be shared to others.”

“Look, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, if you can get me access to my status and class. The only thing that stone awoke in me was my bowels.”

Kight Elder Torak smiled. “Do not be concerned, Reigner. Awakening stones come in all sizes. Godly rank or not, this one was just not powerful enough to break through your natural resistances. I believe the Ex-terra guild has one of the biggest stones in the city. I’ll write a message, informing them of our need.”

After making a gesture, pen and paper appeared within his hands. I watched as the Elder placed the paper on the table and wrote down a message. He then folded the paper, ran a glowing finger over the flap, and handed it over to Mac.

“Please give this to Master Gushiken’s disciple and ask her to deliver it for me. Let her know that I will be personally bringing Reigner to their guild headquarters this evening.”

Standing up the elder continued “I think we should move our conversation to somewhere more comfortable. Mac, tell Vaella to bring lunch to my study, and join us there once you are done.”

There was a dull thud as Mac opened the door to the waiting hall. Looking past the open door I could see Yui fall backwards and sprawl out on the polished wooden floor.

“Ugh… Mac!”. She quickly jumped to her feet and bowed towards the elder “Hello, Elder Knight Torak… Is Reigner okay?”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Mac handed out the letter towards her “He is fine. Please pass this on.”

Chuckling the elder shook his head and moved to a side door “Come on. I feel like we could do with a drink”.

The Tower Knights headquarters was like a maze. One hallway we walked through was filled with paintings, items in display cases, and some mannequins wearing full suits of armour. Elder Torak made a few comments. Saying how this ring was claimed by an expedition to another tower or that was a famous spear forged by a smith on the upper levels. After about ten minutes of walking, we reached a set of closed ornate doors. The elder opened them and gestured me through.

The room inside was a small library or study. The walls were lined with dark wooden shelves filled with books of all sizes. A fireplace rested in the back wall, and in the centre of the room, sat a large leather couch with two matching chairs. An intricate rug adorned the floor. It felt warm, soft and fluffy on the soles of my feet.

Mac joined us shortly after, followed by an Elf pushing a trolley of sandwiches. After eating I spent the next few hours telling them my story. My first few days, mourning the loss of my friends and family. My excitement learning and discovering the existence of magic. My disappointment and frustration of not being able to use mana. The years being trained in all manner of martial styles and weapons. My time leveling as a Hero and paving the way up the Tower. I ended my story with the undead Guardian and finding the godly ranked tome.

They sat in silence for a while after listening. I used the time to eat some more of the sandwiches. They tasted way better than mushroom soup.

The elder gave out a sigh, leaned over and filled up three glasses with an amber liquid. He passed one to me and another to Mac. Picking up the third, he knocked it back drinking the entire contents before filling the glass again. “Incredible… A Hero chose a class book over a Tower.”

The elder poured himself yet another glass and looked towards me. “I mean no disrespect, Reigner. Your story is a noble one. Just… how much do you know about the Tower?”

I took a sip from the glass, the drink tasted like a mix of honey, nut, something flowery, and was definitely alcoholic. “Only what I was told. It was once a place that provided great wealth… until it didn’t. The historians said the Tower destroyed the city by sending out large waves of creatures. The survivors ended up fleeing and forming a new city a week’s ride out by horse. That was a few centuries ago. By the time I arrived, all manner of undead and demon like creatures were attacking the city walls.”

Leaning back into his chair, Elder Knight Torak glanced towards Mac and took a long sip from his glass. “Normally I would never tell anyone that has not gone above floor eighty what I’m about to tell you. However, as you have already discovered the type of existence that lives on the top floor you have the right to know... The Towers are ruled by entities that can only be compared to gods or at the very least, demigods. At the very top, accessible only to those the master of the tower allow, exists a portal to a higher world.”

“Another world. Like this one?”

Finishing his glass, the elder continued, “No. Not just some other world, but a higher one, with a much denser mana atmosphere. Traveling to these higher worlds lay the path of ascension.”

Finishing my own glass, I placed it on the table “Mana has never had an impact on me. A world with more makes no difference.”

The elder leaned forwards, took the now half empty bottle, and refilled our glasses. “Had you claimed the Tower, it would have acted as an extremely powerful Awakening stone, not only giving you access to mana but the opportunity to evolve your class. An evolved hero would become exceptionally powerful.”

The elder picked up and passed me the now filled glass. “Class Tomes are extremely rare. However, their worth is nothing compared to the ownership of a Tower.”

Taking the glass, I tossed the liquid back, gulping it down. I took the bottle from the table, refilled my glass, and drained it a second time. Leaning back into the chair I contemplated on his words.

All those years spent killing Tower spawn. All the levels gained… gone… No wonder I felt weaker when stepping out of the stone room. At least the world doesn’t have to worry about the tower spilling out creatures anymore. I completed my job as the Hero. I might have been a bit too hasty in claiming that book but I don’t regret it. Casting magic has always been a fantasy of mine. At least there are no impending world ending events that I need to focus on. Maybe I can finally take a break and do my own thing.

I looked over to the elder who was nursing his drink. “You don’t happen to have some kind of dire need of a hero to save the world or anything, right?”

He gave a deep chuckle. “You don’t have to worry about that. Anything big enough to threaten a city gets dealt with quickly in this world.”

I let out a breath and stared at the bottom of my glass. I felt a grin form on my face. I might not have a tower, but maybe here I can do something I want to do instead of have to do.

I felt a pat on my shoulder and looked up to see Elder Knight Torak standing above me. “Come, Reigner. Let’s get you some footwear and go meet Master Gushiken. It’s time you see the fruits of your labour. Summoner, was it?”

Not waiting for an answer, the elder pulled me to my feet.