CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

THE BLACK TOWER

It stands across the snow-covered field, a giant three-pronged black tower in all its glory and monstrosity; piercing the sky above as a dagger would flesh. The sight of this enormous structure brings awe to the spectator’s eye and dread to their soul. Black metal reflects light on the clear snow in a dark crimson glimmer, turning dark as blood under the moonlight. Smoke rises from it, followed by cyclic loud noises of steel grinding on steel.

The party lies hiding on a small hill, observing in the distance.

“Is this it?” Shaphas asks, trying to perceive the tallest structure he ever laid his eyes upon.

“No! We are looking for another giant black tower,” Ulric comments with sarcasm as he approaches.

“Must you...” Shaphas responds as he gets cut off.

“Shaddup! We are here,” Noname says.

“That we are. Now we must find a way in,” Tyr adds.

“I say we storm the front. Aion will watch over us,” Shaphas says.

“Might as well. The Moon will watch over us,” Ulric agrees.

“Are you two daft or plain stupid? We need to scout first,” Tyr adds, visibly annoyed.

“Scout? Well, scout if you want,” Ulric adds, comfortably lying on the ground.

“Do ya have any ideas?” Noname asks Melione who looks, possibly for the first time, troubled; there is no response.

“Did she finally crack?” Shaphas adds, shaking his head.

“She is the chosen of the Moon. Show some respect,” Ulric scowls. Loud enough to display his frustration and quiet enough to keep their position hidden.

“Does your blasphemy know no bounds?” Shaphas comments with a stern look.

“SHADDUP!” Noname yells; noticing her loud voice, she quiets down.

“This is no time for this. Leave it when we finish what we came to do,” Tyr interjects.

“Ya said ya wanted to scout? Right?” Noname asks Tyr.

“Yes?” Tyr responds.

“Let’s go then,” Noname adds.

“Maybe, Princess Valima, you should stay here with them?” Tyr says.

“Princess my ass, stay my ass... I go,” Noname adds, grunting.

Tyr and Noname leave as the other three remain in waiting.

They move around keeping to cover from where they can; tiny cliffs, a wayward tree here and there, or small boulders. If there is no cover, they turn to the deep snow. Hidden and far. Scouting the front, the entrance of the black tower, they notice a giant metallic door and a single man guarding, if you can call him a man. Imposingly tall and wide, the armored being stands motionless; crimson red plates cover his body and a giant sword in his hand.

“Can ya take ‘im?” Noname asks, lying in cover.

Tyr observes the motionless giant, taking into count his monstrous size. He never saw someone of such size.

“Hard to say. Maybe?” Tyr answers, without confidence.

“It’s not wise to go through da main entrance. That much is obvious. Always find cracks in da defense,” Noname says.

“You sure know a lot for a princess,” Tyr adds, with surprise.

“Dintccha pay attention. I’m no princess. A thief is wat I be,” Noname says, slightly annoyed. She did say that, Tyr thinks to himself. He didn’t care as drinks took a priority during that time. They always do.

“Let’s check for...a crack in the armor,” Tyr says as the two move.

Continuing to move and circle the Black Tower, they find an opportunity.

Through one side of the structure, there is a sewage hole locked with a caged door. There is no mistake about what this is. The proof of this can be vividly seen and almost smelled. Putrid.

“Maybe dere?” Noname says pointing at it.

“I was afraid you would say that,” Tyr responds sighing.

“It is fitting,” Noname adds.

“Fitting?” Tyr asks, looking at her.

“This entire situation is shit. We went through it and we still have ways to go. Why not go through actual...” Noname says as she gets cut off.

“I get the picture. By the way, I have to ask, why do you sometimes talk with a certain slang and other times not?” Tyr asks.

“Abacus. Let’s go back,” Noname says, stealthily moving away.

“Abacus?” Tyr asks looking at her with confusion; he follows.

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Back at the small cliff, Shaphas and Ulric sit near each other in silence; trying excessively hard to avoid eye contact. Melione ponders, visibly distraught.

“Is something wrong, Melione?” Ulric asks noticing her worried expression; she does not respond.

“Did you see things in the forest?” Shaphas asks as curiosity takes over. Unsure if he wants to reflect on those moments or not.

“You also saw... things?” Ulric asks.

“I.. did,” Shaphas responds.

“Was it, perhaps, your past? Your... darkness?” Ulric asks.

“So, it was the same for you?” Shaphas confirms as a grim expression covers their faces.

Tyr and Noname return, noticing the gloomy atmosphere.

“Ya didn’t kill each other? Good,” Noname adds.

“We’ve found a potential entrance. Did something happen here?” Tyr asks, feeling something off.

“Did you two have dreams of your past in the Pale Forest?” Shaphas asks.

“So, it is like that. I thought I was the only one,” Tyr adds turning his glance towards Noname.

“Ya! But so wat of it?” Noname asks.

“True. We must put this to the side. There is a purpose for us here,” Tyr adds as the others nod.

“What did you see in the forest in your dreams, Melione?” Ulric asks approaching Melione.

“In my dreams? I saw my dead parents and all the other dead,” Melione responds as she thinks for a moment.

“Melione, I know you saw things from the past but you can’t let that bother you now. Remember? We traveled all this way because we are chosen,” Ulric says trying to comfort her.

“It didn’t bother me,” Melione quickly responds.

“It didn’t?” Ulric blurts out in confusion.

“I always see them. Every day when I dream,” Melione says faintly smiling at her companions.

“Every day you experience things like that?” Shaphas blurts out.

“Imagine every day being like that. It is enough to drive a person...” Tyr says as he stops at the end of the sentence. Shaphas, Tyr, Ulric, and Noname look at Melione with a clearer understanding.

“Why are you bothered then?” Ulric asks.

“The lady in the forest told me we are being deceived by someone called...” Melione speaks as she gets cut off.

The voice in her head speaks.

“You must go! He is near. Find Boreas. Kill him!” One commands.

“Boreas is near?” Melione blurts out.

“We will talk later. Let’s go,” Tyr says as the party moves.

Moving fast and out of sight, the party approaches the sewage gate.

The coast is clear. They proceed.

Tyr approaches as he tries to force the seal open; it shakes but stands firm.

“Smash it,” Shaphas says, drawing out his mace and smashing the giant lock. It holds. He goes for a second swing.

“Stop!” Noname quietly yells as Shaphas stops.

“Is there a problem?” Shaphas asks.

“Breaking in requires da delicate touch,” Noname says as a gigantic smile appears on her face; she pulls out her lock pick set as she gets to work.

With some dexterous movements and tinkering, the lock falls to the ground as the sewage entrance opens.

The already foul smell intensifies as the wind blows; the party makes a disgusted look as the smell reaches their noses.

“Dis feels good. Not da smell though,” Noname says looking at the broken lock.

They enter.

The path is narrow but there is room for movement. They move upwards through the foul water runway clinging to the sides as trying to evade directly stepping on the foul water filled with human waste. The more they move, the more light fades away.

“The stench is foul!” Tyr yells as the smell overtakes his composure.

“Stop whining like a girl,” Noname adds, passing him.

“The light is dim,” Ulric adds.

Shaphas takes out the last drops of his liquids, creating a small blue flame upon a bottle. It shines through the darkness.

“This will not last long and there is no more,” Shaphas adds.

Continuing the unpleasant climb with the company of running rats, they reach another closed gate. Tyr kicks it breaking inside.

The voice whispers.

“I cannot follow! You must do this on your own. Do not fail me. Finish this!” One commands.

“One?” Melione asks; she hears no response. There is no One!

They are inside.