Alex returned to his apartment building. He had since changed his room but was still on the same floor. The new place was a bit smaller and cheaper too as a result. He had chosen to downsize because he was rarely home nowadays and wasn’t expecting to have guests over any time soon. The smaller place had a small bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room all within its tight confines. For laundry he could go down the hall to the community laundry area or have some installed in a small closet area he was currently using to store the boxes of stuff he had yet to sell form his old apartment.
After finishing his dinner, Alex left his apartment and walked down the familiar hallway to Caleb's apartment, knowing it was late enough for Caleb to be home from work. He knocked on the door, and a minute later, Caleb opened it.
"Hey, Alex. Long time no see. Just a quick visit to Earth, or are you staying longer?"
"It's just a short visit. I've moved to a smaller place down the hall since I don't need the extra space. The Tower is starting to feel like home."
"That's great. What brings you here, then? What can I help you with?" Caleb inquired.
"I just wanted to catch up and chat, like I usually do when I'm back on Earth. We can exchange stories about Earth's current events and my adventures in the Tower."
"Earth's been pretty much the same, although there have been some changes in businesses. The Tower and its related ventures are quite popular now. I even switched jobs and now work at a guild office."
"Congrats, that's awesome!"
"Thanks! It's an assisting guild called the Blacksmiths. I work in accounting, managing item inventories. They mainly craft and repair items for other guilds and collect unique items. They also run an auction house that's partially open to non-members. It's something to see."
"I might not have the funds for that kind of place, but it'd be cool to see what the best adventurers are after. Maybe when I'm on the second floor, I'll have the cash to spend at an auction."
"The auction has different tiers, so there are items and materials for various budgets. You should check it out."
"Maybe I will," Alex replied. "But I should get to the second floor first. Do you know anything about it?"
“Calm down. Calm down. I can’t say much. I don’t even know that much more than the people in the guild business. As you may or may not know the crafters have different requirements to pass through the portals into the upper floors. This let some lucky people from the Blacksmith’s into the second floor just days after the first fighter’s got there. From what I can estimate from the finances the number of Tower Points will quadruple on the next floor as you level even higher. It is part of the reason that guilds have put a lock down on how easy it is to get to the next floor. Or at least gain information to get there. They want only their most invested members to pay to get access to the information. It also keeps the inflationary rate for points fairly stable. If they flooded the lower markets with their thousands of Points it would ruin the exchange economy and make a lot of people and governments unhappy. As for the second floor itself, people are just starting to explore it form what I understand. They have to deal with far more monsters, the undead, and in turn get a lot more points. But just go experience it for yourself. Whatever I could tell you is surely different from being there in person.”
“That isn’t a lot to go on, but I will take it knowing that the number of points to be earned will increase. I’m glad that you are working in the guild business. It is really great. I’m not as familiar with the guild but I think I have gotten my daggers sharpened by them. I’ll keep an eye out for them in the future. And, speaking of guilds, I've been working with the Golden Doves. I've gone on resource hunts with my team, and mined for ore. A bunch of other stuff."
“How has it been for you?” asked Caleb.
"It's been a fantastic experience, overall. Resource hunts can be thrilling. We venture into the Tower's wilderness, facing various challenges and sometimes encountering rare creatures. City work has been less thrilling. A lot of deliveries and helped the upper management with various tasks at times when I could be improving my skills. I'm not a fan of the mines either. The work is tough, and the conditions can be harsh. But it's a necessary part of the job, and I understand the value of the resources we extract. The various incentives and offerings are well worth it in the end though. I’m glad that I joined up with the others when I did.”
“That’s good.”
“What about what has happened recently on Earth? I’ve heard snippets from a few adventurers, but I’ve also been traveling around a lot.”
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“You haven’t missed too much. I doubt that you care much about celebrity gossip or political news. As for Tower affecting news, I suppose there have been a few things. Some climbers have gotten into fights outside the Tower in multiple countries. I’m not sure why the incidents started but a city block or two was destroyed in each event. Magic was thrown around and government-employed climbers had to come in and both investigate and stop the fights. They are cracking down on superhuman powers as a result. Heavy fines for most but because of the Tower a few have instituted the death penalty because jails are ineffective. Even with reinforced cells, it is only a matter of time for anyone of a decent level to break out. Basically, it just comes down to don’t pull anything with your abilities.”
“I will remember not to do anything out in public at least. I know what it means to be a good citizen, but it is nice to have that reminder. Death penalties are back on the table,” said Alex.
”The government already has your ID as well. It has been an ongoing process and agreement with the guilds to note all of their members and independents that they work with. There have already been a few assassinations and assassination attempts toward people who aren’t yet superhuman. I don’t think that there is going to be a large-scale war or anything but tensions in general have risen. If anything, the violence, and fights have been pushed and contained in the Tower. It is easier to commit murder and get away with it. No one has the forensic skills or magic to find out the truth. At least not yet.”
“And the fact that Tower Points transfer upon death makes high-rolling climbers more of a target,” said Alex.
“Exactly. But at the same time usually those with high Point counts are the best equipped and have earned their points in XP,” said Caleb. “They also want to collect the ID’s because of debt scams that have popped up. You can kind of guess how most of them go. People take out massive loans quickly trade them for Tower Points and run off into the Tower with the intent of staying there permanently. And in the end, debt companies are left with the bag and possibly a dead client. Do not pull this. The end result has started to be of a Wild West style. The debt collectors hire bounty hunters to drag people back to Earth. Because of current laws, it is entirely legal for them to do this in the Tower. Once the debtor is back on Earth they are then dealt with by the full force of the company's legal departments. The law is generally inclined to agree with them. The debtor is dealt with in whatever way they can and can never step near a Tower beacon again though I am sure a few try.”
“I wonder how profitable that job is? Maybe I should consider going into the bounty hunter business.”
“It would be a risky business and you’d be paid in cash plus whatever Tower Points the person had on them when captured. It might be worth it, but the time required to search out people when they can jump through portals doesn’t sound like it would be worth it.”
“I’ll keep it in mind when I am strapped for cash. With the leveling up and my entry to the second floor, I will be sure to tell you all about it. You will be missing out, but I understand that climbing isn’t for everyone. Still, I will bash some zombie and skeleton heads in your name,” Alex said casually.
“Thanks, I will appreciate that. You have fun out there fighting the undead. I will see you around. When do you think you will be back?” asked Caleb.
“It should only be two days maybe three if I stay on the second floor for longer than expected. I will have to tour the floor a bit of course. See the sights, taste the food, and bash in a few skulls of course.”
“As should be expected. See you later Alex.”
“You too Caleb,” he said parting ways.
Caleb shut the door and Alex spun around. He didn’t immediately head back to his apartment but instead took the stairs down to the street. Alex stepped out and started to jog. He reached for his headphones, placing them carefully over his ears, and selected his favorite playlist. The familiar tunes provided him with a comforting soundtrack for his morning run, a rhythm that carried him forward and helped him find the connection to his magic.
As he jogged, Alex focused on the sensation of his mana, that mysterious energy that pulsed within him, waiting to be tapped into. He could feel it slowly draining, like a reservoir being siphoned. In response, lightning flickered between his hands, illuminating the street with its crackling energy. The magic inside him pulsed and thrummed, a steady beat that resonated throughout his entire body. It began in his head, then coursed its way down his spine, electrifying each nerve and fiber until it reached the tips of his toes.
As he allowed the magic to surge through him, Alex felt his vision shift, transforming the way he perceived the world. The once familiar streets morphed into something entirely new as if he was seeing the world through the lens of his magic. He glanced down occasionally, observing the way his body seemed to flicker and change with every stride he took. He assumed that this was the power of his magic, the very essence of his being, manifesting itself in ways that he could not have imagined.
Alex had experimented with using his magic in this way before, but never with such intensity. Usually, he had focused on the world around him and the people within it, trying to get a glimpse of their magical energies. The result had been a blurry, overwhelming mess of colors and sensations, impossible for him to decipher. But this time, was different.
He saw the world clearer and more vibrancy than before. The buildings and street lights glowed with power. The people around him still felt blurry and distant with his mage sight but they held spots of vibrancy on themselves. Alex yearned to reach out and touch the power and magic surrounding him, but Caleb’s warning echoed in his mind, holding him back. Experimenting with magic was something he could try later without the risk of police coming to his door. Alex continued to take everything in with his mage sight and continued to run. Thanks to his Tower climbing he did not tire even as he picked up the pace and returned home.