Chapter 50

“Welcome back,” Alexandra greeted us as we walked up to the counter. Flint had finished his instruction for Lyn and I, and Nyle had wrapped up his training with Eb. Ryker had sent us on into Climber’s Rest, instructing us to report to Alexandra to receive our rewards for the day. He also told us to get cleaned up, grab some food, and then, for Lyn and Nyle, they were free to do whatever. For me, he made sure to remind me, not that I needed it, to meet him back at the entrance to Climber’s Rest at the fourth hour of Dusk, so we could get my daggers.

“I understand the three of you had quite the first day.” She smiled kindly at us as she opened her massive book, the page instantly opening to our entry from the morning. Lyn had accepted the job earlier than Nyle and I, putting her name at the very top of the page, while ours was closer to the end. Alexandra scribbled a few golden marks onto the page, and I felt a mental tingle.

“I’ve confirmed your completion of your job for the day,” Alexandra said warmly, “and have released the rewards for the completion to your inventories. The Farmer’s Guild was extremely appreciative of your hard work today,” her smile shifted into a smirk, as she glanced past us. I looked back to see Ryker standing in the doorway, waving at her, “or at least, the fact that the Obsidian Shield and his clan decided to help out for the day. It’s not every day, after all, that Rank C Climbers take on a Rank F job.”

She closed the book and pulled out another. This one I recognized as the book she’d used when she lent us the weapons for the day. “If you pull up your Climber’s IDs, you’ll get a brief rundown on what you’ve received for the day.” Alexandra explained as she opened the book in front of her. “Once you’ve read through everything, it will automatically be added to your inventory. After which,” she tapped on the book, “we can sort out your payment for your loaner weapons and sort out what you’ll need for tomorrow.”

The three of us exchanged looks, and then each focused internally. I mentally focused on my Climber’s ID, as Alexandra had instructed. Warmth flowed into my mind, as the magic of the Tower did exactly as she’d said it would.

Job Complete

Protection Request

Rank- F

Floor- 1st

Guild- Farmer

…

Rewards Received:

Standard: 1 gallon of fresh milk, 2 chickens, 15 copper

Additional: 1 gallon of fresh milk, 5 bundles of vegetables, 15 copper

“By the Tower,” I muttered as I closed out of the information. Thirty coppers. Our reward had been doubled. And we hadn’t even really done any work. Ryker had let us spend the day training and leveling, while he handled everything. I couldn’t help but feel dismayed. Or no, that wasn’t the right emotion. Was I frustrated? Embarrassed? Upset? I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, but the emotion didn’t sit quite right. This didn’t seem… fair?

“Are the rewards not up to your expectations?” Alexandra asked, her keen eyes looking me over. “I thought they were quite generous today. Especially given they informed me all of the Climber’s on today’s job were gifted the rights to the animals on the floor as well.”

“It’s not that Ma’am,” her eyes narrowed dangerous. “Alexandra,” the eyes didn’t unnarrow. I gulped, “Alex,” she smiled instantly and nodded.

“Continue.” She said, helping me find my tongue to keep speaking. The sudden animosity, or danger I’d felt from her, had scared me. How could she evoke such a feeling through just a simple look? I remembered vaguely what Echo had said about her weapon. What was it, a Masterwork Relic? How strong did you have to be, to have a weapon like that? How strong was the Overseer of Climber’s Rest? And why was she the Overseer, and not Climbing, if she was that strong? I pushed the thoughts aside, as I felt her gaze intensify on me over my silence.

“I don’t feel like we earned any of it.” I said sullenly. “We didn’t protect the farmers. Ryker and his Clan did.” I looked at Lyn and Nyle. They all nodded in agreement. “It just, it feels like we don’t deserve any rewards for today. Not after everything we’ve already been given. The chance to level, the aid from Ryker and the others, the materials, the opportunities.” I shook my head, “getting job completion rewards, for a job we didn’t do, it just feels like too much.”

Alexandra pursed her lips, though the edges curled upwards, like she was fighting a smile.

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“So, you don’t feel you deserve the rewards at all?” She asked, tapping the book. I looked once more at my teammates. They nodded once more.

“That’s right,” I hung my head low. “We’ve already gotten more than we deserve today.”

“Well, then that’s a problem.” She closed the gear rental book loudly and leaned forward, resting her hands on the countertop as she did. “Do you know why?” Her tone dropped to a soft whisper.

A sweet, spicy smell drifted forward from her. Cinamon mixed with honey? Her eyes seemed to shift colors as she looked at us, and we all moved closer, as if she’d beckoned us forward.

“No ma…Alex.” I said awkwardly. It felt weird calling her Alex. Especially right now, when it felt like we were on the verge of being scolded or punished.

“Because I’m the one who ultimately decides if the rewards for your jobs are fitting.” She said sweetly. There was an underlying danger to her tone though. “So if you’re saying you don’t deserve it, then you’re saying I’m wrong.” She made a clicking sound with her tongue, as she looked at all three of us. It felt like her gaze was solely focused on each of us, somehow, at the same time. “Are you saying I’m wrong?”

“No…” I trailed off. I wanted to step backwards. I wanted to apologize. I wanted to do something, anything, but her gaze held me tight. The others were right there beside me, just as frozen as I was. Had they responded to her too? I couldn’t tell. All of my focus was fixated on Alexandra.

“Good,” she said sweetly, “because I do not take kindly to those who think I’m wrong.” She blinked, and it felt like her hold on me lifted. I stepped back instinctively, my body shivering. The sounds of the massive entrance hall of Climber’s Rest filled the air once more. I hadn’t realized they’d disappeared. I looked nervously at my companions, and they had an equally bewildered, and concerned look to their eyes.

“Now then,” she opened her gear rental book once more. “You must not be so hard on yourselves. The Farmers were protected. Even if you weren’t physically by them, killing monsters on the floor throughout the day, limits threats to them. Ryker and his Clan did little but offer additional security, which allowed the farmers to act in a more expedited manner, without having to be as cautious as they normally would have been. You and your team did plenty. And, judging from your appearances, and the whispers I’ve been hearing throughout the day, the first floor Climber’s on the job all had quite the valuable day.”

She nodded towards Lyn’s cloak. “And you three, especially, seem to be in for quite the adventure this week.” She looked towards me. “Is it safe to assume you’ll be returning your rented weapons today? I understand you’ve got a new set of daggers being crafted as we speak, after all.”

“That’s… yes. I think that works.” As I confirmed it, she scribbled into the book, and I felt a mental tingling. I checked the magic in my mind and confirmed that a trade window had opened. I placed the weapons into the slot, as well the required fee, a copper per weapon, so two coppers total. Once I confirmed it, she turned away from me, and looked to Lyn.

“I’ll be keeping the bow,” Lyn said, “and I’ll need some more arrows…”

“I understand you were forced to use some for reasons outside of the job,” Alexandra said gently, “so I will not charge you for that expended quiver. Take what you will, and we’ll handle the transaction.” More scribbling, a moment of silence, and then she looked at Nyle.

“I’ll, uh, just stick with the rapier.” Nyle said.

“Would you like to purchase mana potions?” Alexandra said with a knowing smile. “The path of magic, unfortunately, is a costly one early on.”

“Eb lent me some,” Nyle said quietly, “so for now I think I’ll just rent the rapier.”

“Did he now?” She made a quick scribble, then closed the book. “It is so refreshing to see Climbers helping Climbers. Truly, Ryker’s Clan is a shining example of what Climbers should be.”

Her words brought back one last thing that had been bothering me. I took a steady breath, trying to draw up my courage. I knew I needed to ask the question, but a part of me told me it was a dumb thing to bring up.

“About other Climbers,” I started. I almost stopped, as her gaze fixed on me. I couldn’t tell if she was daring me to ask or warning me against asking. I decided to press on. “What happened to Hans?”

Her features went stone cold. A moment of anger simmered behind her eyes, and the stillness in her face, the lack of expression, scared me more than anything.

“Hans has been duly dealt with. I’ve warned, time and time again, that hazing new Climbers, and preying upon each other, is not something I would tolerate. However, there are always those who think my words are purely words, and believe themselves safe from my reach, when they’re outside of Climber’s Rest.” Only then, did her face change. Her lip curled up slightly, an evil, cold sneer on her face. Her eyes flashed, changing to a blood red for a moment. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but one of her front teeth, barely visible as she spoke, seemed longer, sharper, than the others.

“Today shall serve as a reminder that none within the Tower or without, can escape punishments when I’ve declared it. A lesson that hopefully will finally remind all those who have been acting in a less than appropriate manner for Climbers that I’m always watching.” Her face changed, the stiffness left, and she was smiling cheerfully again. Her teeth all looked normal. Her eyes, a vibrant green.

“Not that you should worry about that lesson,” she said sweetly again, “after all, the three of you, show a great deal of promise. And I have high hopes for the three of you and your futures as Climbers.”

Her nose wrinkled, and she let out a laugh. “Now then. You three should go get cleaned up. The stench of a hard day in the Tower, while admirable, isn’t something you need to be stuck with. Take the time to bath, relax, and reflect on your day. Cement the lessons learned, commit to memory your successes, your failures, and your feelings. Take today as the first step, the first building block, in your long and exiting future. And then, treat yourselves to a grand meal, and sweet drink. For tomorrow will come all too soon, and a new day within the Tower, awaits the three of you.”

We moved away from her, taking her words as the opening to leave. As we made our way towards the Dawn marked door, the one that would take us upwards to the floor where our rooms were, she muttered one last thing. It was so soft, so quiet, I wasn’t sure if she’d said it aloud, or my mind was simply adding to her previous words and statements.

“What type of Climber do you wish to be?”