“We’ve been helping adventurers who aren’t a part of any guilds travel up to the twenty sixth floor so they can climb as far as they want to. Lately, if you aren’t with a guild, you can’t even get up there. Sadly, the ones that don’t get picked by the stronger guilds tend to be weak, so we take them to our floor and train them up before letting them go further.”

“Why are you helping them?”

“The tower won’t be beaten by a solo climber. Since the guilds have different goals climbing the tower on your own isn’t helping anyone. If you’re alone, you draw more attention to yourself that way and then they pressure you to fall in line and if not, they get rid of you.

“Anyone that enters the tower, won’t be killed outright though. Just entering gives people an enhancement to their skills, it would be a waste not to use them. They generally try their best to avoid killing anyone…. Honestly, being dead is better than some of the places people end up.

“Many end up in slave contracts thinking they’ve just hit the jackpot getting into a guild. They’re sent to work on farms, or in mines on the managed floors until they can be fully brainwashed into complete loyalty, or they die.

“And the weak ones that refuse are forced to sign and get the worst conditions. With them, they don’t even bother brainwashing; they just work them till they die. If anyone fights back and manages to get away from a managed floor, they get put on a list and targeted the minute they get to floor forty.

“If you join willingly, and not in a slave contract, you’re still stuck in the tower for a while. They can’t let the info of what they’re doing get out into the world, so they restrict who leaves. Only members at a certain level get to leave and it takes a while to climb that far up.

“Whoever is ranked high enough has been there for long enough that they’ll be able to ensure loyalty. And with those that they force in but don’t put in work camps like Chase, they put a curse on them to stop them from revealing anything which is why he couldn’t say anything.”

“Is that why Chase sent me here? Cause I’d have a hard time climbing?”

Kayden nodded.

“If you’re dead set on climbing, yeah. I’ll be able to get you papers and then bring you up with me to the twenty-fourth floor. There you can join a party and start climbing. I haven’t gone past the thirtieth floor, so I don’t know the situation going on higher up.

“But unless you plan on fighting your way loudly through the guilds to get to the elevator there really isn’t a way for you to climb. Either way though, I’ll get you new papers. I’ll leave you and Valera alone now. Come down when you’ve made your decision.”

Kayden put a hand on Valera’s thigh patting it slightly, glancing at her before standing and leaving the room, how much time had they spent together?

We sat in silence for a moment, and I sighed heavily. All I wanted to do was to live a quiet life near the tower without having to deal with any big problems. But now here I was, in the middle of this huge conspiracy with a quest basically forcing me to keep going.

There was a ding and I looked over to see a notification.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quest updated.

Travel to the 24th floor, find other future avatars and travel together up the tower.

Completion requirements:

Potential Avatars 0/?

Floors climbed 20/50

Penalty: Becoming Mezu’s food source until he climbs the tower completely

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I sighed, thankfully the tower wasn’t giving me much of a choice in the matter. I really didn’t like making decisions. But how was I supposed to even find the other potential avatars?

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Alcoroth moved behind me and shrunk so that he could get a better view of the banner.

“Let's make this quick, climbing the rest of the floors will take much longer than the first ones. I should be able to pick them out. They’ll most likely already be together. If this area really is to train potential climbers, they will stick out amongst the weaklings.”

I glanced at him and slouched for a second before standing up and picking up the plate of food.

“I’m glad you’re alive. And since you made it up here you must be stronger but are you serious about climbing? You somehow made it out of there that day but-”

“Yeah, I’ve got to complete my contract. The only reason I can grow my limbs back is because of Fluffy here since he finds me tasty. If I don’t climb up on my own, I’ll just be dragged up.”

I looked at her, her face was contorted in a way that seemed familiar, but I couldn’t quite remember how. I wasn’t as close with the party as I was with… but I got along with Lyra and Valera. They were together all the time. It’s apparently been months since she died, but I don’t know what to say to her.

I took a bite out of the rolled rice snack to avoid talking, not that we really seemed to be talking about much.

“I know you won’t trust him easily, but Kayden really did help us. I didn’t tell him much about you since that’s up for you to say.”

“Thanks.”

I swallowed.

“I’m sorry about-”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about Lyra.”

"Quartz-“

“I know how close you guys were, sorry you couldn’t bury her.”

That’s what people say when someone dies right? I wanted to avoid discussing things more though, it’d be obvious I didn’t know what to say.

I went to the door shoving more food in my mouth and Mezu followed after me.

“Quartz, wait! Chase gave you it right? Did you read it?”

I stopped. She must have been talking about the bag that Chase gave me before I left. I haven’t even opened it yet. I held the door handle staring at it for a moment.

I shook my head. She must know what’s inside at the very least knows that there’s a letter there.

“Please, read it.”

“Yeah, I will.”

I left the room and headed back down the hallway. Alcoroth caught up quickly and floated by my head.

“I don’t care what you do but it appears as if you won’t be alone for much longer. If you’re going to read it, you should do it soon.”

“Alcoroth, you can hate me, and tease me all you want but this is one thing I really don’t ever want to talk with you about.”

I glared at him. I felt Mezu pull on my shirt and I looked at him to see his big eyes.

Alcoroth sighed.

“It's not for me, it's for him. I don’t care about it, but the young master is concerned.”

So that’s what that face meant.

“I’ll look at it if I get the chance. Okay? I’m sorry, Mezu. I didn't know you were worried about me like that.”

I ruffled his hair and then continued to eat as we went downstairs. It was dark outside now and the floor was empty except for Kayden and a different barmaid who was a beastkin, but I wasn’t too sure what type. Her hair was a soft light reddish-brown color, very long even in the two braids she had. Her ears were on the side of her head coming out from her hair and they were small and slightly pointed.

She had black antlers that were long but not too much longer than her head. I couldn’t remember if I had even seen something she reminded me of.

“That didn’t take long.”

“Well, there wasn’t much of a choice for me in the end. I’ll just head to the twenty-fourth floor with you.”

“Alright then, let's get you some papers.”

“So do we need a full set or just a membership form?”

The barmaid spoke, her accent was heavier than I’d expected.

“A full set, thanks Nira.”

“Alright, do you have a name in mind or do you just want us to pick one for you.”

“Imuril.”

It came out before I even thought of it and Alcoroth looked at me a bit shocked.

“Is that your real name? Quartz is odd enough for an elf.”

Nira grinned.

So, they did think I was an elf just by the sight of me. Valera hadn’t told them I was half, did she even know I was half?

“Well, it would bring less attention in the tower than out there.”

“Alright then, I’ll be right back.”

She walked through a door behind the counter, and I took a seat next to Kayden.

“So, is it?”

“I said it too quickly huh?”

“Does Valera know?”

“I’ve never actually used it so does it even count?”

Kayden laughed lightly.

“Quartz would be way too eye catching for an elf, so it helps. But then again you walkin’ around with a kid like that, your name really isn’t the most attention grabbing thing about you. If I’d list things, it’d be him, your hair and then your name.”

Yeah, my hair, I was surprised she hadn’t commented on it. There were more important things for us to discuss, but she actually knew what my hair had been like.

“Right, so how long will I have to spend on the twenty-fourth floor?”

“It depends, I haven’t been up there in a few days. Last time I was there, there were a few people that were eager to climb but they hadn’t started yet. If they’re still around then I’d say not that long. I can get things run through pretty quickly since it’d probably be best if you don’t attract any attention.”

Kayden stood up from his chair.

“The papers won’t take long. I need to arrange a few things before we head out. If you want a more private room to wait, just go back upstairs.”

“If you won’t be long, I’ll stay here.”

“Then I’ll be back.”

Kayden went back to the stairs, and I moved to a booth table leaning against the upholstered seat.

“He was hiding something.”

Alcoroth sat down across from me, full-sized. I guess it was more comfortable to sit in a seat if it fit you. He’s been floating around all this time though; did he just want a change?

“Well, at this point I should be able to protect myself, won’t I?”

"You aren’t allowed to die just yet so there’s no need to be overly concerned.”

“That’s very reassuring, thanks.”