The streets of Alestead were darker than usual though surprisingly not empty. Many Climbers and civilians alike still filled the streets, conversing while the night continued. The night sky was cloudy, the normally illuminating stars above covered and hidden. Magical lamps were the only light source tonight, and despite not fearing anything in the city's streets, the three Climbers stayed closer together out of habit and comfort.
"At least they were better than last time," John said, eyeing a stray person across the cobblestone street. He arched his back and rubbed his stomach. "I thought for sure they'd either die or give up, but they did much better than I thought."
"Both William and Devon surprised me," Wyn added. "William showed a lot of improvement and Devon seemed to have more resolve. As long as they can get a Fighter like you, they should be fine. In time."
"No one can find a Fighter like me." John flexed his arms theatrically, and Tasha giggled.
"If you keep eating like you did at dinner, you'll be right about that," Tasha said, patting John on the back.
Wyn laughed along with John and he was happy with how good it felt to laugh. He still had reservations about the entire experience but brief moments like these reminded him of the good times he shared with the soldiers in his company. Those times were special, and he knew this experience would be no different.
"But don't forget about Maven," Tasha added. "She was the one who wanted to help Devon at the end. I was proud of her!"
"Yea, I've been meaning to ask you about her," John said. "How did you two not know each other? Shouldn't you have met from your mentors?"
Tasha blushed and shrank a bit, withdrawing into her robe. “I… don’t have the standard Divine Magician mentor.”
John furrowed his eyebrows. “What do you mean? I know we don’t all have the same mentors but you should’ve at least trained together.”
“Well… I have a private mentor.”
John stopped walking. “You’re not serious. Is that even possible?”
Tasha sighed and kept walking. “My mother demanded I have someone ‘capable’ to train me. She didn’t trust the mentors already here. To be honest, they hardly trust anyone outside of their social circle. But yes, I'm serious."
John laughed and shook his head. "My, my. How special it must be to have a private mentor coaching you to climb the tower!"
Tasha whipped her head to him, her dark curls bouncing in the light of the street lamps. "You're one to talk! You've been training to be a Climber your whole life. Your entire family is better than private mentors by a long shot!” She stabbed a finger at his chest. “What’s the difference between that and me having my own mentor?"
John put his hands up in defense, stepping backwards away from Tasha. “Okay, okay! I see your point! I was only kidding around. I’m sorry.”
Tasha stared at him for a moment before huffing a breath. She turned back down the street and kept walking.
John looked at Wyn. “What in the hells was that about?”
Wyn shook his head. He had no idea about the intricacies of the tower. Was having a private mentor seen as being an elitist? Was John seen that way, too, being a second generation Climber? His entire family pursued Alistair and had more items and knowledge than most current Climbers, so what if others saw him negatively, too?
It didn’t matter to Wyn, in the end. He had dealt with people from poverty to royalty, and they all had different manners of how they carried themselves and treated others. It was each person’s character that ultimately mattered, and both John and Tasha were people of good character, and Wyn knew it. They were his teammates and his friends, and he’d vouch for them no matter what.
Tasha stopped abruptly before turning back to John and Wyn. Her face softened and she stared at the ground. Breathing a sigh, she leveled her gaze at John. “I’m sorry, too. I’m a bit… sensitive about that.”
John mustered a laugh. “You’re telling me. I didn’t mean any offense by it. Honest.”
“I know. I just don’t have an easy time with others pointing out any advantages it may seem I have. I don’t think it’s fair but it also wasn’t my choice.”
John shrugged. “I won’t do that. We all took our own path here, after all. And I have my own advantages, too.”
“Exactly,” Wyn agreed. “We all came for various reasons and through different means. But it doesn’t change how we see each other.”
The three continued walking towards the trading house, huddling close under the street lights.
“You probably didn’t get much of that in the military, did you?” Tasha asked. “Choice, I mean.”
Wyn laughed. “Not at all. Do this, go here, say that. It was all orders until I left. Now I have the freedom of choice but still feel tied down.”
“You mean your debt?” John asked.
“Yes. I can choose my team, my equipment, when to climb or rest. I can even choose my spells with my class, but still have to climb at the end of it all.” Wyn sighed. “Bottom line is I need money. Badly.”
“We’ll help you, too,” Tasha said. “With your debt.”
“No,” Wyn said curtly. “I can’t take on another form of debt. I’d never ask you to do that.”
“It’s a good thing you aren’t asking,” Tasha said. “And didn’t we just agree we all have the freedom of choice?”
Wyn looked at her. She stared at him intently, no signs of playful banter whatsoever. “You’re right.” He smiled. “And, I’ve been meaning to tell you - you’ve really proven yourself, Tasha. You seem much more comfortable and confident in the tower.”
John let out a snort. “Yea, a far cry to our first climb last week. No offense, but you definitely seemed out of your element!”
Wyn could see Tasha’s cheeks turn red, even under the dim light.
“I had to grow quickly if I wanted to hold my own,” Tasha said. “I think seeing you like that, stabbed in the back and bleeding… I just - I’m going to prevent that again.”
John put his arm around her shoulders. “That sounds like the best plan I’ve heard yet.”
Wyn could’ve sworn he saw Tasha lean into John’s embrace before she slightly shook her head and shrugged him off. Then she jabbed a finger in his side.
“Still,” Tasha said, “I’ve been feeling a bit more useless this season. I hate watching you both do everything.”
“Your Arcane Aura spell has been very helpful,” John said. “I feel invincible with it! And don’t take any nasty injuries.”
“I’m with John,” Wyn said. “Taking the load off of me for that spell is invaluable.”
“I guess,” Tasha said. “But I wish there was more I could do.”
“Are there other spells to help support us?” Wyn asked.
“Buff is the term Climbers use,” John interjected. “Buff for support and debuff for afflictions on enemies.”
“I think so,” Tasha added. “I’ll have to look over the spell book again. I can only support, not afflict, but there are some others to use. We’re so limited with only one circle, though, both in mana and spells available.”
“Wait,” Wyn said. “You mean we get more spells?”
Tasha and John laughed together.
“Of course!” Tasha said. “Even I know that. Didn’t you read the spell book?”
Wyn felt his face rush with blood. He kept telling Daniel he’d look over the books he graciously placed on his bookshelf but honestly hadn’t even opened one. The thought sounded boring, and he wanted to either climb, search the markets for items, or train. But obviously he’d missed out on crucial information.
“Not… yet,” Wyn said.
Tasha sighed. “You’re a Mage, Wyn, you need to know this! When we get our next circle we’ll have access to more spells and more mana. It will definitely make things easier.”
“And combat classes get more skills,” John said. “A lot more frequently, too. It tends to even out some since I can’t use spells.”
Wyn mentally chastised himself. He came rushing into the tower, thinking his training and experience in the military would’ve been enough to start and climb, but he was wrong. Very wrong. This process was complex and challenging, and likely the reason so few Climbers advance and become veterans.
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“Alright, then,” Wyn said. “I think I should catch up on the intricacies of being a Ruby Magician tomorrow instead of going to the markets.”
“Are you sure?” John asked. “It’ll be a fun day!”
“I think so,” Wyn replied. “I was only planning to try to trade my magical belt, and if you both still go you can do it for me. I don’t quite think an embroidered silk belt that makes me less of a target for enemies is the right fit. And Tasha’s right, after all - I really do need to learn more about the magic here.”
“I think it’s the right move,” Tasha said. “And we can look for another item for you while you catch up.”
“You’re already looking for more magic items?” A figure said. They were leaning against the trading house wall in a spot between two street lights, hidden in the dark.
John and Wyn crouched, ready to attack. Wyn grabbed the knife on his back ready to draw it. Tasha jumped and gasped.
The figure stepped out from the light, laughing. It was Marcy.
“That’s not funny!” Tasha said. She stomped her foot on the ground in emphasis.
Wyn and John relaxed, both sighing in relief.
“It was a little funny,” Marcy said. “But what else do you need for the first two floors? You three are getting magic items quicker than any rookie I’ve seen.”
“My mentor told me about some enchanted robes that can help with the extreme weather,” Wyn said. “I think it’d be helpful in the heat.”
“No kidding,” John said. “I’d take anything to cool off in the hot jungle. It’s miserable.”
Marcy shook her head. “No, no. Trust me, you don’t want that. That’s just an enchantment that helps comfort. You’ll want something more impactful.”
Wyn furrowed his eyebrows. “I didn’t have another idea right now. What would you suggest?”
Marcy smiled. “It’ll be a surprise. I can go with you two tomorrow and help sort through some good trades.”
Tasha clapped her hands. “Oh, yes! This will absolutely be so fun!”
John shot a horrified look to Wyn, which only made him laugh. He was sure Tasha would want to check all of the stores again, and John would be dragged along willingly or not.
“What about Cedric?” Wyn asked. “Can we see him soon?”
Marcy sighed. “He’s doing better. It’s really taken a toll on his mentality, though. He said you can come by on Faesday to see him.”
“That’s great!” John said. “I’d love to thank him for saving me.”
“And he wants to thank you, Wyn, for saving him,” Marcy said. “Among other things.”
“What other things?” Tasha asked.
Marcy shifted her feet and shook her head. “Like say goodbye. He’s leaving Alestead. For good.”
*****
Wyn rolled over in his bed as the sun beamed in through his open window. He kept his eyes closed and soaked in the morning light, taking deep breaths to help himself wake up. A smile slowly formed on his face. He enjoyed the leisure mornings of Alestead where he could wake up when he wanted and perform whatever morning routine he wanted, too. When he was in the field with his soldiers he had strict routines, times, and harsh living arrangements.
Still, despite the bed being cozy and morning warm, there was work to be done.
Thankfully breakfast was just downstairs, and he opted to satisfy his hunger before he'd strain his mind. He didn't relish the thought of sifting through books all morning but knew it was both necessary and important. Having food on his stomach and more in his room for later was important.
It took him less than an hour to get ready and eat, Wendy serving him as usual. She was particularly speedy this morning, both serving him food and cleaning up. Wyn wondered if she had a sixth sense about her customers or if she was just used to quick turnover in the dining lodge due to the number of Climbers wanting a large breakfast before they disappeared for the day. Regardless, she was as pleasant as usual, and another bright part of his day before the slog of reading began.
Wyn straightened up his room, periodically looking over at his small bookshelf that was mostly empty, save for the few books Daniel provided him. He was seriously procrastinating reading them, and tidying or cleaning anything he could find. A speck of dust there? Gone. Dripped wax on his desk? Scraped off. Clothes thrown about his room? Placed away to be laundered.
Another few minutes drained away. He looked out his window again and sighed. How could this be so difficult? It was only reading books. The information was interesting, too, and he knew it would capture his attention once he started. But that was exactly the problem - without being told what to do, starting was never easy.
Reluctantly, he growled out loud to himself to get it done. His friends were busy with their tasks, even if theirs were much, much more enjoyable.
He lumbered over to the bookshelf and skimmed the spines. A few of the books he picked up and read the summary. There were books that covered any topic he’d need as a new learner. They included the history of Alistair, the history of Alestead, the basics of climbing, magical items, classes, tiers and upgrades, magic as a whole, spells…
His finger stopped on the spine of the one book he was familiar with. Magic of the Ruby Magician. It was the book he reviewed with Daniel the very first day, when he had his mark placed and chose his first spells. He flipped open the pages and began perusing the book. It wasn't a very thick book, but he was never one to sit down and read from cover to cover, whether reading for pleasure or education. He was suddenly happy the size was more easily digestible, otherwise he'd be looking at a migraine later in the afternoon.
The beginning of the book helped explain what he already knew. His mark allowed the use of spells as a catalyst instead of the usually complicated method of using gemstones, knowing the rune formations, mana requirement, etc. It was a complicated process and he blinked several times trying to process the dense information. Thankfully, being a Climber afforded him a much easier method of using spells than the Wizards of the world like Tasha’s father.
He skimmed the book further to find the spells listed inside. It was broken down categorically by the number of circles on his mark which was a sort of tier list for spells. Apparently gaining a circle was fairly straightforward - advancing to the next tier grants access to that tier’s spells. Spells are categorized by tier one, tier two, and so on.
This book only had information on the first tier of spells, and it mentioned how he could grow his mark much more than that, though higher ranked spells were more difficult to come by and had more books to explain them and their use. Those spells used more mana, had more effects, and were of course far stronger. Lower tier spells were also upgraded as a Climber grew with their class, and each new effect was slightly different based on their new class. This was obviously a beginner book meant to inform rather than provide true research and study as it didn’t explain further.
A sigh subconsciously left his lips. More reading, and more studying. Exactly what he wanted.
He kept looking through the available spells the book listed. There weren't many, which was confused him. In fact, most of the book was an explanation of the how and why of the Ruby Magician class as a whole, rather than the exact spells he could use. Some of the spells listed were the basic ones he'd seen before and used, like Cure, Ice Shard, and Arcane Aura, but he didn't see Regen on the list and knew he could use it.
The pages flew under his fingertips as he reviewed the spells again, more carefully this time. Regen still wasn't there.
"Huh," he said out loud. "That's strange."
He scoured the beginning of the book again to try to find an explanation. When he skimmed the pages before, he didn't realize that more than half of the book was a summary, and just skipping around from paragraph to paragraph obviously made him miss some important information.
He began to read the book from the beginning, finding a comfortable spot in his chair to settle in. Straining his brain was already harder for him than training his body, but it was an exercise all the same.
In just under an hour, he leaned up from the chair. Finally a relevant part of the book stood out to him, and his heart raced to find the answers. The paragraphs showed him that the Ruby Magician is a unique spellcaster, able to utilize the spells of other classes. He already knew that, but figured he had a specific list he could use. Instead, a brief sentence read that the book wouldn't list all the spells he could use because they were already listed under the other Magician’s book, and he would need to scour the spellbooks of other classes for compatibility. Apparently under the spell description was a small mark of the Ruby Magician, showing it could be used by his class.
He groaned. Based on what the book informed him, he'd have to individually search through other books to find the spells he could use. It could take hours, possibly days, and he just didn't have the time, mental capacity, or desire for such an undertaking.
It was another question to ask Daniel, and potentially another task if his mentor was gracious enough to find the spells for him. He'd pay him if he had to, but Wyn just couldn't stomach the thought of searching through so many other books for potential spells to use. Daniel likely had many of the spells already memorized anyway, and Wyn decided to simply ask for a brief list based on what he wanted to do as a Climber.
The book thumped on the small table as Wyn set it down, still open to the page he was reading. He stood and stretched, basking in the warm light through the window above his small kitchen area. This was the perfect time for a small snack, and he needed a break to think.
So far, his choice of spells had been mediocre at best. He didn’t have many options, though. Or at least he didn’t think he did. Daniel helped guide him about the basic spells to use but Wyn didn’t press him last week - he only told his mentor about what kinds of spells he wanted to use and Daniel helped him from there. Based on his party makeup, though, he wanted to rearrange a few things.
He grabbed a clean cup from a cabinet and filled it with water from a pitcher, staring out the window. The view wasn’t great as he only saw the side of a building, but the change of scenery was nice enough. This was far better than the mud-floors of his tent out in the fields, or the barracks during training with soldiers in bunks and no privacy for weeks.
Wyn then took a deep breath. There wasn’t any point to delaying what needed to be done. He was here for a reason, and his and his team’s survival was partially dependent on his ability to perform well in Alistair. His physical capability would only go so far - he had the means to cast spells and he needed to capitalize on that.
He strode over to the bookshelf and looked for more books. He saw similar books for Diamond Magicians, a book that covered the elemental magic the various Magicians use based on their gemstone that was basically a thick tome, and a book detailing magical theory and history.
Wyn sighed again before picking up the largest book of them all - Magic of the Elemental Magicians. He settled back into his comfortable chair, slid the last book to the side, and cracked open the monster of a book. His eyes flittered through the pages and his fingers swept over sentences and paragraphs with a renewed sense of determination. That feeling didn’t last long, however, and Wyn’s pace began to slow as the minutes dragged on.
*****
A knock at the door stirred Wyn. He jolted from his chair. The room was darkened as the only source of light he was using was nearly gone. The sun was almost completely set, a faint orange and purple glow creeping into Wyn’s apartment.
“Shit,” Wyn said, as he realized he fell asleep reading through the large spell book.
Another knock rasped the door, this time louder and more pronounced. A muffled voice came from the other side, drowned out by Wyn scrambling to put the books away and be more presentable.
“Coming!” Wyn said. That bought him a few seconds as the knocks stopped and he rushed to the door. He jerked it open, and Daniel stood there smiling.
His mentor barked a laugh. “Have you been catching up on some well-needed sleep?”
Wyn rubbed his eyes and tussled his hair. “I was reviewing some books and fell asleep.” He yawned absentmindedly.
Daniel smirked and put his hands behind his back. “Dinner is ready in my apartment. How about you meet me there?”
Wyn nodded gratefully. “It’ll only take me a few minutes to look more presentable. Thank you.”
Daniel waved a dismissive hand at him before walking away.
Wyn sighed. So much for looking over the spells - he barely remembered what he read. Apparently he fell asleep soon after looking more spells up.
He’d settle on asking Daniel over dinner about some guidance for the rest of the first tier of the tower. For now, though, he needed to wipe the drool off his face.