Alex directed the carriage on the road, the rhythmic clopping of the horses' hooves echoing through the narrow mountain pass. The sun was setting, casting long shadows that stretched across the rough-hewn stone walls flanking the path. He continued to rub his shoulder, wincing slightly as he did so. It still felt sore after Kai had removed the arrow from his shoulder and given him the health potion. After the incident on the road the day before, they had no more issues. The horses returned to work and trotted toward the city.
As they rounded a bend, the city of Gavros came into view. Nestled in the mountains, the imposing stone metropolis stood as a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of its inhabitants. The city walls, constructed of large, weathered boulders, blended seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, providing a natural defense against potential invaders. Several watchtowers dotted the over one-hundred-foot walls, their avian archers keeping a wary eye on the travelers below.
The city's entrance was marked by a massive metal gate, intricately carved with symbols and runes that told of the city's storied past. Their carriage was checked and the items on them were cataloged. After confirming their identities as adventurers, they were able to enter the city. The gate creaked open as Alex approached, the heavy iron hinges groaning in protest. Beyond the threshold, Gavros bustled with life.
The streets were paved with cobblestone, worn smoothly by years of foot traffic. Sturdy stone buildings lined the thoroughfares, their facades adorned with ornate metalwork and colorful banners that billowed in the gentle mountain breeze. The clang of hammers on anvils filled the air as blacksmiths toiled in their workshops, forging weapons and tools from the precious ores and metals that were Gavros' main export.
The people of Gavros were as hardy as the city they called home. Dressed in simple, yet functional clothing, they moved with purpose through the narrow streets, their faces etched with the lines of a life spent working in the unforgiving mountain terrain. Alex looked around and saw a few other humans that had also made it to the city. He nodded at them, and they paid him little more than a glance.
“Where do you want me to take the carriage now?” asked Alex. He pulled back on the reigns and slowed the carriage so that it fell in line with the other carts and people on the road.
“We need to drop it off at the main transport hub. The Traveler’s Association will take the secondary payment for the rental of the carriage and take it out of our hands,” said Rich. “I can guide you through the city based on the directions I was given. After that, I think the plan was to sell off the excess items we have on us and then split. I was going to stay and work on the barbarian training overnight, but you are free to do whatever. Let’s just meet up in front of the Traveler’s Association tomorrow morning.”
“Sounds good to me. Do you know where the Golden Dove’s guild is located?”
“They are currently active in the entrance to the mines here in the city. We will go there tomorrow. They don’t have a formal place yet in the Tower but do have an office on Earth. For now, it just costs too many Tower points to rent space. Especially when they could put the points toward other endeavors,” said Rich.
“Is there even any guild or person that has bought or rented a place in the Tower?” asked Taylor.
“Maybe,” answered Rich. “I don’t follow everything the different guilds do but one of them must have bought space on the floor. Though I know some like the seekers are waiting for and saving up for land on the second floor. Considering that this floor is very much like a tutorial level it makes sense. As long as the floor challenge to get to the next level isn’t too bad I would imagine that most people who enter the Tower can at least get to the second level.”
“It depends on what we need to do to enter the next floor. We still have no idea how to get there,” said Eric.
“Considering that the Seekers were the first to enter the second floor they will probably sell the information at a price. It will probably be expensive for those outside their guild until it becomes common knowledge,” said Alex.
“Then we should hope that the price drops quickly. I would preferably enter the second floor sooner rather than later. From what others have suggested we just need to hit level 15 or close to it before challenging the next part of the Tower,” said Kai.
“Well, let's focus on getting ourselves stronger first,” suggested Taylor. “We can always try to gather more information on how to reach the second floor as we progress. We also need to gather more Tower Points. The guild should help us with that.”
“Yeah, you're right,” Eric agreed. “For now, let's just focus on leveling up and getting into the good graces of the guild. It will also help pay for our lives on Earth when we aren’t here in the Tower. As nice as it is here living out of this carriage has made me really appreciate what I have at home. We can worry about reaching the second floor once we're ready.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
As Alex guided his carriage deeper into the city, he marveled at the sheer scale of Gavros. The central square, a wide expanse of cobblestones, was dominated by a towering stone statue of the city's founder, his arm outstretched as if to protect the citizens below. Surrounding the square were several stalls, vendors hawking their wares in a cacophony of voices that melded together into an energetic hum. The tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread and spiced meats wafted through the air, drawing Alex's attention. In the city center was Alex’s first glimpse at other races outside of the bird people. In Gavros there were also a few dwarves and elves walking about.
Turning down a side street, Alex spotted the sign that Rich had mentioned. The sign above the door depicted a silver horse, a nod to the city's mining roots. He guided the carriage into the stable, where an eager stable hand took the reins, leading the horses to their stalls for a well-deserved rest. Rich took care of the payment while Alex and the others worked on unpacking their items and bringing them out. In the end, they each had bags on their backs as they marched out of the building.
Alex took his things with the others to a few different shops in an attempt to get better prices and better acquaint themselves with the layout of the city. He watched for other adventurers and found their levels always above ten if not higher than their own. They dumped their excess weapons and armor at a smith, and clothing at a general goods store along with the other miscellaneous supplies.
Once they sold off the items Rich split off from them and made his way into the Fighter’s Guild for his further training in the barbarian path. In the meantime, Alex went straight to the city hall of the city. He was able to locate the teleportation pad easily and didn’t have to wait in line to get out of the Tower. In a flash of light, his teleportation access was updated to allow him to return to the city and brought him back to Earth.
As Rich stepped into the Fighter's Guild, he was amazed by the strength and power of the people who were at work within. Men and women busied themselves. They sparred, practiced, and trained with single-minded determination. There was a palpable sense of purpose within these walls, and Rich couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement course through him. He knew that he was ready to hone his skills and become the fearsome barbarian he aspired to be.
With his short sword and a round shield in hand, Rich approached the grizzled, scarred instructor in charge of the barbarian training.
“Hello, I am Rich. An adventurer looking to continue along the path of a barbarian. I am seeking to learn more about combat and the techniques I need to know so I can be successful on any battlefield I find myself on.”
Brondar sized Rich up, his eyes lingering on the young man's weapons and assessing his potential. “We will see about that if you don’t drop out of the training course. The payment is 1000 Tower Points non-refundable. I will teach you everything you need to know and more. I hope you will be able to put it to good use and not wash out on the second floor.”
“I will do my absolute best and won’t let you down.”
Over the course of the next few hours, Rich threw himself into the training with unmatched fervor. He worked tirelessly to master the techniques and strategies taught by Brondar. The veteran instructor was a hard taskmaster, pushing Rich to his limits and demanding nothing less than perfection.
Rich learned the art of channeling his inner rage, a key aspect of the barbarian's prowess. Brondar taught him how to harness his anger and frustration, transforming it into a raw, unstoppable force on the battlefield. With each passing hour, Rich felt the power within him grow, fueling his strength and endurance. The training focused heavily on melee combat, teaching Rich how to wield his short sword and round shield with lethal efficiency. Brondar showed him the importance of footwork and timing, ensuring that he could strike with deadly precision while avoiding the enemy's blows. Rich practiced his swordsmanship for hours, his arms aching and sweat pouring down his brow.
In addition to his weapon skills, Rich was also trained in the art of grappling and hand-to-hand combat. Brondar emphasized the importance of being able to disarm and incapacitate an opponent even without a weapon, as a true barbarian was never truly defenseless. Rich learned how to use his body as a weapon, turning his fists, elbows, and knees into deadly tools of destruction.
Brondar also taught Rich the importance of working with his fellow warriors, as even the mightiest barbarian could fall if they faced their enemies alone. Rich was paired with other fighters in the guild, learning how to coordinate their attacks and support each other on the battlefield. The young barbarian quickly developed a strong bond with his comrades, forging friendships that would last a lifetime.
As the night of training drew to a close, Rich's skills as a barbarian had grown exponentially. His strikes became faster and more precise, and his ability to channel his rage had been honed to a razor's edge. Although he knew that there was still much to learn, he felt good about the progress he had made and the investment of time, energy, and points he had put in.
He had spoken with Eric beforehand and had learned a few things already, but Eric was on the path of a pure swordsman. Some of the introductory techniques were familiar but the skills and training required diverged quickly in the beginning. From what he could tell the city’s training regiments and opportunities were far better than the village. Not only were their more people in the city but the specializations were more readily available in the city. The bird people from their starter village knew a lot about the ranged path and some sub-paths in the fighter path but would not have been able to teach him much more than the basics of the barbarian path.
He stepped out of the fighter’s guild. Rich noted the time and knew he would be short on sleep tonight. He walked his way toward the locations of one of the smaller inns. He paid the innkeeper for the night and quickly made his way to bed for the few hours left he could.