Walking forward and sitting on the sofa, facing the one Alec stood behind of, the spire's keeper spoke.

"It's a curse would turn any living thing into stone, that enters anywhere within a thousand steps radius of the spire. The time it takes the curse to is six months, after that if you are near anywhere in that vicinity you will be of stone."

Due to his recent experience in getting life threatening information Alec quickly accepted it. Then afte giving a moment to analyse it fully, he formed a respnonse.

"So taking my leave is the priority, right? Got it. I will to do so when the storm passes by."

Tilting the head slightly at an angle, the living statue then spoke.

"The storm you witnessed out there was at its weakest. And the dangers in that sea are beyond than just, but coming this far you should have been awars of that. How exactly did you even get to this place?"

Taking a deep breath first and releasing it, Alec then lengthily said.

"So I was in this cave..."

Giving an abridged explanation of everything that happened in the cave. Alec told most of what he could, leaving the few parts such as, being annoyed by drops of water falling on his head. Or how he passed his time by creating a small puddle of it.

This also helped him avoid any mention about his powers, since he was not sure if the individual in front him already knew. Testing waters in such a reckless manner would be far utterly stupid move in his book.

Another thing that happened which Alec did not tell, despite himself not being aware of, was the conversation that took place there. The one between him and the eight legged entity in that cave.

"Earlier when the ship had sink, tbe ropes were still pulling you up. Despite loosing your consciousness, it was Is your unique ability that of a Psycher?"

To which Alec then plainly responded.

"No."

With only a couple seconds of delay there, the keeper spoke back.

"Oh, you must be a Invoker then. What is your medium of expertise?"

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Other than how his ability was recognised in a single question. Alec was surprised by a few words in that sentence, that he could not help but repeat back in a question.

"What is 'medium of expertise'?"

For the first time the statue like figure blinked, parting mouth to later then speak.

"That is more surprising to me than you having appeared out of nowhere. It hasn't been much long since you awakened your ability, is it?"

Not hiding that fact Alec nodded, seeing his response the spire keeper further spoke.

"The key to Invocation lies in a medium. While the requirement for it is quite loose and varied. It is always easier to Invoke something that you have more understanding towards. Any such object that you decide to have the strongest connection with, is a medium of expertise to an Invoker.

"Although it can be anything that you have the ability to hold. Having it be something you can easily keep on your person, has a multi-purpose usage, easy to find and replace, and most important of all you can make yourself."

"Does any such thing come to your mind?"

This spurred a chain of active thoughts, that Alec voiced inside his mind.

'Hmm. Easy to carry, needs to be versatile, and something I can feasibly make. Can't be a gun, other than the difficulty it has low versatility.'

A number of items and objects Alec then pictured, that he narrowed on various metrics down until one particular object remained.

"I think a rope would be good."

With a mix between recency bias, and having a solid proof in his mind of seeing it working. Brought Alec to decide upon this item as something he would like master well.

Few moments after verifying his own choice, an important question popped up inside of Alec's mind. That he voiced to the figure in front of him.

"How do you know so much about Invokers?"

There was a noticeable shift in posture of the figure, with a hint of solemness coming to the voice.

"My creator was an old and wise person. Strong enough to be respected far and wide, yet not shallow enough to think herself as someone truly above all. She loved to witness simple moments in anonymity, better her environment, and guiding anyone whom she found to have a passion for learning. No matter whether they were exceptional or completely ordinary."

Slightly moving forward, despite stil sitting, the keeper then said.

"Among those of her truly exceptional disciples, there were a few ability holders like yourself. This is how I know so much about that. Now, the question is how much you know about yourself, and would you like to improve?"

A determined look on his face Alec immediately answered for the second question.

"Yes. Please."

"Then let us start-"

Alec's stomach then suddenly rumbled, making him blush a little. As he turned his head to immediately look away.

This made the direction of conversation to somewhat change, as the keeper of the spire then skilfully continued saying.

"-by feeding you first. The food and sleeping area are on the first floor, let's familiarise you with those."

Getting up first, the statue like figure move forward as Alec followed just behind. Until they reached a spiral staircase that the keeper stood on the very first step of.

When Alec set both his feet on the same step, the entire staircase began moving. In a manner no different to how an escalator would.

This surprised Alec, and made him quickly hold onto the railing by his side. Which aided him in quickly regaining his lost his balance, after that he looked in wonder as to how this even worked. Since the staircase looked to be entered carved out of simple stone.

That subconscious thought, also brought him to look at the figure standing right next to him. Doing so he looked at his hand, clenching and then relaxing his fist. Wondering if someday he could do anything at such a complex level.

Leaving that thought behind, he stared as they arrived on the first floor. Where he immediately saw an extremely long dining table, with a set of silver cutlery in front of each seat, and multiple chandeliers hanging directly from above. The walls in the room were not simple, with windows that shifted between the view of day or night.

The grandeur of the entire place captured Alec's attention, until he saw a fresh apple that the keeper handed to him. But before he could reach for it, he was pointed towards a sink to wash his hands.

Only after doing so was he allowed to eat the fruit, and then set a jug of water on the table. Taking a leave once again, during which Alec filled a glass of water for himself, that he found on one of the tables.

Sitting down on a chair, he finished eating the fruit, andl left a quarter filled jar of water to what it was before.

Moving his eyes around for the spire keeper, Alec then saw a few cooked dishes in the hands. Including many kinds of seafood, and a couple vegetable ones.

As soon as it was set down in front of him Alec joined his hands and put his entire focus on eating.