The Tower was built by the first Lord Light as the official building of the ruling government. Steam pipes ran throughout the structure, powering the many generators within with heat from the underground lava pool they've tapped. Within the thirty stories tall tower – which included ten more levels underground – varied types and amount of activities took place. Government officials were housed, scientific researches were carried out, political prisoners were held, and even magic was trained. On the tenth floor was the Commission Assembly of The Forum, where the leaders of the country gathered on all issues. The twentieth floor held the Chamber of the Overseers, where the Overseers charged with prediction and handling of epitaphs lived.
Because of that, the first floor bustled with activity. Workers travelled in and out, lamp light continually flickering off the copper walls and steel floor. The large level was pillared by two spiralling flights of stairs that led up and through to the top floor. A manned reception counter was positioned to the right of the entrance with an open-space canteen. The area to the left was filled with chairs and space for gatherings and relaxation. Four doorless elevators were set into the wall at the end of the room. Nadier followed Nora through the crowd, heading for the leftmost private elevator used by high rankers amongst them.
“Where are we going?” Nadier asked, stepping into the steel grate box, the shaft that led underground was lid dimly by torches embedded in the walls.
“The Commission Assembly,” the spy answered.
While the main elevator only operated every six floors, the private one had access to all. This was to prevent unwanted individuals from accessing the Assembly and Chamber levels. Though Nadier had rode the private elevator before with his brother, he did not actually have the key for it.
From between her cleavage, Nora took out a silver key and slot it into the control panel. She selected a level and the steam engine ten floors below began to chug. The gears of the machine started turning and the mechanism began pulling the elevator up, the walls of the shaft rushing past by their sides. Nadier had always resisted the inner childish temptation to reach out over the railings to touch the walls that were grinding by. The ride was punctuated by Nora's humming of the travelling tune, The Road is Long.
Annoyed, Nadier asked, “Why are you humming?”
“I thought it would help stave off the boredom. You know how we have travelling music? Well, now we have elevator music.”
“That's stupid,” Nadier replied. “It's less than a minute of travel. What's the point?”
Before Nora could reply, they had reached the tenth floor and the elevator came to a stop. They stepped out and Nadier followed Nora's lead down the corridor towards the Assembly room. She led him through the double door and into the round chamber.
Shaped like an arena, the Assembly featured hundreds of chairs surrounding a platform in the middle. The path to the entrance was embedded into the south end of the room. It was eerily similar to the dark elf council chamber, save for the perpetual darkness. The chairs all had backs taller than the elf himself, and during the gatherings, the Commission discussed issues amongst each other in equal height, while looking down on any outsiders in the literal sense. But the room was emptied now, and the only other person in it was the Lord Light, who stood on the central podium in a gleaming white robe, shining so ridiculous bright that Nadier could swear his skin itching even underneath the aeronium layer.
The man turned and with a gracious smile and opened arms, welcomed, “Wanderer! Good to finally meet you, after all these years.”
Nora left Nadier and proceeded to Light's side.
Nadier bowed his head in greeting. “Lord Light. It is an honour.”
“Please, the honour is mine,” Light replied, waving the notion away. “The service you have provided for Everwind and the United States of The Forum has been invaluable. We are forever in your debt, both you and your brother.”
“My brother?” Nadier raised a brow in question.
“Yes. I would like to offer you condolence for his death. I'm sure you've realized this by now, but your brother was coerced into his final acts due to blackmail from the dark elves of Ta'Galadul,” Light explained. “In light of this information, the Committee has decreed that he shall be given full honours in death, and his crime as resolved.”
Though the information of his brother's name being cleared did not particularly warranted any feelings from Nadier, he nodded back anyway. “Thank you for your graciousness, Lord Light.”
Light continued, “But we do have ill tidings. Our agents have discovered a plot by the dark elves to lay siege to Everwind. As such, I had personally visited their capitol to negotiate.”
That was the information Nadier had needed for Adelle to gather. If the dark elves were raging war, it made sense for their culture to send their first wave as an infiltration. And who better to infiltrate Everwind than one of them who had been ingrained into the high society of the city. Now, Nadier knew his target with clarity. The Ta'Galadul will pay for the death of Akaras Spaeruiner. His brother was not a pawn in their wars.
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Light dropped his formalities suddenly, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he clapped his hands together like a child. “In any case, you will never guess who I ran into there. The Demon of Valendria. 'Demon Eye's' Adelaide Wiltkins.”
Nadier's heart pounded but he maintained his outward stoical appearance. “I hope you had not much trouble with her.”
“Oh, do not worry, I am unharmed,” Light replied. Nadier could see Nora's lips part slightly in a barely noticeable smile. “But that girl is as elusive as the reports says. She had managed to escape my grasp, just by the hair on the nape of her neck. Though I was surprised by her teleportation abilities. None of the reports before mentioned it. You've faced her before, have you not?”
“Yes,” Nadier admitted, but then lied, “But I did not experience this teleportation you mentioned.”
Light nodded in understanding. “Just as expected, given how long we have tried to capture her to little success.” The man folded his arms in thought, before continuing, “But we have a greater issue. The negotiation with the dark elves did not go as plan, and they continue to mount their forces. While I focus my energy and attention on that front, I would like to personally employ you to hunt down The Watcher. As he is your brother's killer, I'm sure you would like to have his head for yourself. It's best if we take him down as soon as possible. A time traveller as powerful as The Watcher would definitely be dangerous to the security of the nation.”
“Ah...” Nadier let out in surprise. He tried to not let the information and change in tone get to him. “Of course. But I don't see how I could fight someone that managed to defeat my brother. From what I understand, he is a mage.” He knew what he said would draw suspicion, but Nadier hoped to walk away without taking the job.
Light explained, “I hear you have developed a chemical capable of cutting through seither. If so, you should be able to assassinate the man, even if he has an innate magic shield. Even one such as The Watcher needs to sleep.”
Nadier reached for the ring from his belt and pulled out one of his vial. He held it up to them. “Neverite. Negates seither based phenomenon.”
Light clapped his hands together joyously. “Fantastic. I assume it to be safe to leave the matters to you?”
Acknowledging he could no longer get out of the mission, Nadier quickly nodded and bowed, “Of course, my Lord. Then, if there is nothing more, I should take my leave and prepare for this mission.” He hastened to leave.
“Very well,” Light's mouth twitched into a smile. “I await your good news.”
Nadier turned and headed for the exit. Just as he reached the door, the sound of chuckling rang out within the empty chamber, stopping Nadier in his tracks. He turned back to face the duo, only to see Light breaking out into a fit of laughter.
Nora exclaimed, “Lord Light!”
“I'm sorry, Nora. I can't hold it in any longer.” Light hunched over in laughter as Nora tried to get him to calm down.
The Lady said, “Weren't you the one who said we have to keep a straight face until Nadier left?”
But Light kept laughing. While the two were distracted, Nadier reached for his dagger. A ray of light shot out toward the elf, slicing off a lock off the side of his hair. Light, still laughing, had a glowing white finger pointed at Nadier.
“Hah... hah!” Light finally calmed down, but a grin was still etched across his face. “I'm sorry. We were supposed to let you leave and follow you to The Wanderer and Demon Eyes. I'm sure you would've told them this new information about us going after them directly. But since you figured out our bluff I doubt that would happen now. It'll be much easier to get their locations from you, preferably through torture or magic.”
Nadier stood to height, taking his hand off his dagger. “I'm sorry my Lord, but I don't know what you're talking about,” he lied again.
“Oh, no use playing dumb. I could see the change in your eyes long before. Before I send you to the intelligence agency, would you kindly let me know how you figured it out?” Light aimed his finger at Nadier's head as if holding a gun. “Consider it a gift to satisfy my curiosity.”
As the elf listened to the man, he could not help but grit his teeth, thinking the man conceited. He raised his hands in surrender, the vial still dangling in his palm. He explained, “No one ever said The Watcher was a time traveller.”
“Hah! I guess I should be more careful with my words.” Light laughed loudly. Nadier could see the man's eyes flit to the vial in his hand. Light then said, “I know what you are thinking. You're thinking of using the Neverite to negate my next attack. While I doubt even you will be fast enough accomplish such a feat, I'll not take my chances. Drop the vial.”
The elf asked menacingly, “You want me to drop the vial?”
Gripping the vial itself, he pulled the ring with his index finger. The pin popped out and smoke shot from the tip. He let the vial go, the cannister leaving a trail of smokescreen as it dropped to the ground. Nadier spun and jumped backwards just as a beam of light shot through the cloud. He landed on his arms, rolled, stabled himself in a kneel, before pushing up and bashing through the double doors as his smoke grenade continued to cover his escape. Another beam of light blasted out of the room behind him and pierced into the wall just as he turned into the corridor. There was a second of delay before the point of impact exploded, chunks of copper and bricks blasting outwards and littering the corridor.
The blast knocked Nadier off balance, but he quickly regained his steps. He followed the path to the elevator shaft, only to find the elevator had left and was proceeding up to the floors above. But the machine that pulled the elevator was located in the basement, with the pulley at the top floor, meaning that the rope at the end of the shaft was still descending. He jumped for the rope, grabbed onto it, and began the journey down. It was by the time he had reached the fifth basement that the elevator had stopped. He still had five floors to climb before reaching the lowest level.
“I'll cut the rope,” he heard Light's voice echo from above.
Nadier jumped for the walls just as a bright flash of light preceded a loud snap from above. He landed against the wall and slid down it three levels. The rope flailed, snapped and slapped against the shaft with enough force to knock out a chunk of brick. He pushed away from the wall, launching himself towards the final exit at the bottom, grabbed the top of the archway, and swung himself into the tunnel just as the elevator came crashing down behind him.
Though panting from fatigue and arms burning from the dangerous journey down, he quickly ran down the empty, pipes-lined corridor of the maintenance level as dust filled the elevator entrance. He stopped at a door with a sign that read 'Sewage Section 42'. He entered and was immediately caught in a waist-level hug from the girl.
“Nads!” Tinarya Twainrae exclaimed. “I got your message! Room 42! Aren't I smart?”
He ruffled the girl's hair. “Good work, Gutter Rat.” One of the copper plates that covered the sewage line was opened, leading into the underground tunnels. “Let's get out of here.”
***
Nora stood at the edge of the elevator, surveying the crash at the bottom. The lack of blood splatters in the crash suggested that Nadier had escaped. “It seems we might have lost him, my Lord. I will start a search of the building immediately.”
Light smiled at the news before saying to himself, “Oh, Watcher. Your friends never ceases to amaze. The people you gather always manages to escape my grasp.”
She did not understand her Lord's connection to The Watcher, but it was not her place to question the man who had given her everything. But it was obvious that ever since The Watcher arrived, the Lord's behaviour had taken a drastic change, with more fits of laughter and mania than he was normally known for. His actions within the committee had also pushed more towards hostile resolutions with the dark elves and his meetings with the Overseers had increased.
“Nora,” the man passed her a handful of hair. It was Nadier's hair that got shot off during the attack. “Leave the search of The Tower to the security. Get a group of tracking hounds and circle the city walls. If The Wanderer leaves, we will most definitely be able to follow his scent.”