The pull of the portal was as familiar as ever, and Wyn immediately felt his feet go from the hard stone floor of the base in Alistair to the firm ground on the battlefield of the fourth floor. After clearing the floor over and over, it was almost second nature.
But it would only be around for another week. Then it would be lost to the sands of time, marked in history as a month long environment in the tower while never to be seen again.
“What are you doing?” Lucy asked. She stood to Wyn’s left, twirling her axe in her hand. It was larger than a hand axe but smaller than a battle axe that was more commonly used two-handed. It looked like a woodsman axe with a larger head, carrying a more triangular shape than a rounded edge.
Wyn had no idea why she only had one, but the handle was long enough to easily use two-handed. Maybe he’d find out while he was still their leader in the next week.
The rest of her equipment was the same gear she wore when they first met. Her armor was sleeveless but thicker covering her chest and torso, and was covered in a short hair fur that Wyn didn’t recognize. Instead of pants she had a matching skirt extending to nearly her knees and leather boots that covered half of her lower leg. The equipment matched, but didn’t look to be very protective as her arms, knees, and neck and head were exposed.
“Just waiting,” Wyn said. He drew his dagger and extended it to a spear. He didn’t bother with his shield yet, as he knew the Ashen Warriors on this floor weren’t too difficult to manage. Even before he had the Ashen Galladium equipment he was able to hold his own just fine.
All around them was the same illusory fighting of a war, with people dressed in full armor fighting similar monsters like the Ashen Warriors and Dogs. The longer Wyn stared at them the easier it was to see that they weren’t real.
Well, they weren’t real on this floor. That likely was different on the second and higher tiers. Something he’d never find out.
“Here they come,” Marcy said, slowly drawing an arrow. She fired it ahead of the group where a mild fog clouded most of the area around them. Between the fog and the illusion of war, the path forward was hard to determine. But the arrow flew true and stopped with a thud and a grunt.
Wyn wanted to give Lucy orders but he decided to wait. This was the perfect floor to see how she’d do. Prior to entering and on the way over, they reviewed their most basic formations and strategies. Lucy mostly nodded along and said she understood, never questioning Wyn. She didn’t even bother asking questions like where she should go in their formations, or what happens in certain scenarios.
Wyn assumed her lack of response was either because she had enough experience fighting to be able to join their formations without much trouble, or because she didn’t care about how they fought and was going to do whatever she wanted. He prepared some words just in case their first climb ended up with her being the latter. To his relief and budding curiosity, it was actually the former.
Without hesitation, Lucy stepped forward with John and met the small group of Ashen Warriors head on. There was only four of them, as Marcy killed the fifth with a second arrow. The first projectile mostly slowed it down. Cedric and Tasha waited in case they were needed while Wyn wanted to see how Lucy fought alongside John.
The fight couldn’t even be called a fight. It looked more like a one-sided beating.
Lucy immediately met one of the Warriors and dodged their sword slash while striking back with her axe. The weapon cleaved the monster so heavily it nearly split it in two before it started disappearing back into the tower. John kept the attention of the other three while Lucy hacked at them from the side or behind. In seconds all four of the monsters were killed, with Lucy doing most of the work while John served the role of distraction.
“That was easier than I remember,” John said. “What rarity is that axe?”
“It’s blue,” Lucy said. She raised it and spun it around once to show off all of its sides. “It’s not incredibly special but it works well enough. Improves my strength by a small amount for one minute after I kill a monster with it, bypasses slashing resistance, and has the earth element. Oh, and if I use it two-handed the boosts are a bit better.”
“That sounds a lot better than not incredibly special,” Marcy said.
Lucy shrugged. “It works for me, I won’t complain. Found it recently and it’s been reliable.”
“What about your armor?” Cedric asked. “You said on the way over it’s straightforward. I’m going to guess you also undersold that?”
“No, they really are straightforward.” Lucy patted her chest. “My armor is blue rarity and lessens bleeding when I’m injured while giving some minor defense and protection from magic. Same with the skirt. The boots are green rarity and just improve my endurance and let me jump higher and further. Pretty shitty effect if you ask me.”
“You haven’t traded for anything better?” Wyn asked.
“I haven’t been allowed to,” Lucy said. “All of my equipment had to be approved before I could use them, and I only traded for the armor. I had to find the rest, and thanked the gods I found the axe when I did. It’s been a real bitch getting better equipment.”
“Huh,” Wyn said. He didn’t realize she was restricted that much. She wasn’t lacking, by any means, but she could still use more items, especially if they were going to climb in the second tier more. Between the six of them, she clearly had the lowest amount of magical items, but even the rest of them could use some more to improve their setup.
That would come in time, though. For now, they needed to learn how the climbed with Lucy. As long as they kept clearing floors, making money, and finding items, the rest would come.
The next two Ashen Warrior groups came soon after, pinching their spot. Both groups had five enemies, and they immediately split as Wyn gave instructions. He told John to go right with Cedric, Lucy left with Tasha supporting, and Marcy picking off the ranged monsters or intervening when needed. Wyn activated Speed Up and his shield, forming it along with his spear. He rushed to the left with Lucy, catching an attack on his shield before stabbing back with a quick thrust. Lucy flashed out with her axe, hacking away at whatever she faced. Armor, shields, weapons blocking her, it didn’t matter. She batted away defenses easily and made openings quick, openings that either she or Wyn took advantage of.
After the fourth warrior fell, Wyn stepped back and looked to the other group. Tasha or Marcy never called for assistance, and John was handling himself fine. Still, three of them still stood, and Wyn rushed over to help. Soon both groups were dead and gone with only small piles of coins remaining.
“That was good,” Wyn said. “You definitely have experience fighting alongside an ally.”
“No shit,” Lucy said. “It wouldn’t be good to accidentally hit you. I only get a bit more wild when my primary skill activates, but I can still watch where I swing my axe. I’m no slouch.”
Wyn wanted to laugh out of absurdity. She couldn’t even take a compliment. “I know, but still good to see.”
“Your skill is Fury, right?” John said. “Improves all your passive skills by one and a half and active skills by twice as much?”
“Yea, that’s right. Wanted to be a Barbarian yourself?”
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“No, I just remember it being powerful. Except for the part that you have to be injured to activate it.”
“It’s a small price to pay for that power. I’ve survived fine so far.”
“Heads up,” Marcy said. She loosed a glowing arrow that exploded about forty feet from them. A magical plume of water splashed around four Ashen Warriors, and Cedric followed the arrow with his own lighting strike.
The floor continued on without issue, and before the six knew it they were at the portal. The boss was a group of six Ashen Warriors that were as strong as the sixth floor enemies, but they were quickly dealt with. After they fell, a potion and gemstone was all that was left. They didn’t find any other items during the clear, but instead had a few piles of smaller coins. It was about average regarding rewards but nothing to be upset about.
Returning to Alistair’s base, Wyn looked around with his group. “How long did that take?”
Cedric pulled out one of his pieces of parchments while his scepter floated in the air beside him. “It took… about twenty minutes.”
“Gods,” Marcy said. “Our fastest clear before was just over thirty minutes!”
“You’re welcome,” Lucy said. “I have a feeling like we’ll be doing just fine.”
Wyn looked at her and the others and nodded. For the second time that day, he actually agreed with her.
*****
Wyn shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Despite everything he was taught and experienced he found it funny that he was still more comfortable fighting monsters in Alistair than he was sitting in the guild hall meeting his new guild mates. They were kind and inviting, but the focus being on him and his group was strange and awkward. John loved it, Tasha responded well, and Marcy and Cedric were respected for their experience, connection with Faye, and performance in the guild trials like the rest of them. Even Lucy had some people congratulating her on her trials and abilities.
Then there was Wyn. People were cordial and polite, but didn’t really ask much about him or his class. Either they were hesitant because he was a Ruby Magician or they avoided more conversation because they didn’t know what to say. After he thought about it more, even that reason was likely because he was a Ruby Magician.
The only ones who stayed and talked longer during the evening was Gregory, Faye, and Brett, who saw them climb, Nigel who seemed friendly, and Caryn who liked to ‘stir the pot’ as Faye put it. Prian avoided them, as did the rest of Caryn’s team. The rest of the guild offered small talk only. Which was fine with Wyn. He was never socially strong.
Prian’s team, interestingly, were all middle-aged. Wyn was curious to know if they were all related or familiar with each other before becoming Climbers, or if the man somehow only recruited teammates that were around his age. They mostly kept to themselves, though they weren’t rude. Just more reserved.
Everyone else looked, for the most part, average. Seeing them all sitting at tables eating, conversing, laughing and generally having a good time reminded Wyn of his time out in the field at war. When they would eat in community tables like this when able, covered by large tents and forced in tight areas. The mood felt similar, too. The quality of food was far different, and the circumstances even more so - but it was a familiar enough scene to invoke a strong sense of nostalgia Wyn didn’t realize he had.
“Everything okay?” Marcy said, elbowing Wyn’s arm.
Wyn snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. “Yea. Sorry. Seeing everyone here just reminded me of another time, is all.”
“That happens a lot, huh?” Faye asked. She was sitting on the opposite side of Wyn beside Cedric, not eating. She was primarily visiting all of the other teams along with the rest of Gregory’s group to talk.
“Not as much anymore,” John said. He cleaned another chicken bone and sat it on his plate, then wiped his hands with a napkin. A quick glance to Tasha was met with a small nod, then John delicately picked up a dinner role. “He was pretty bad, at first.”
“Daniel’s helped me with that,” Wyn said.
“Are you just losing focus?” Faye asked.
“Well, it’s more that fighting in certain situations was reminding me of my time at war. And it was hard for me to mentally separate what was memories of the past and actual situations in the present.”
Faye’s face scrunched in concentration. “That sounds difficult.”
“It was. It’s better now.”
“Daniel’s his mentor,” Marcy said. “Smart guy. A bit bookish, though.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Cedric said.
Faye’s face relaxed and she nudged Cedric. “It’s never a bad thing! Marcy’s just jealous.”
Marcy started to reply when Gregory stood on a bench beside the hearth on the left wall. The room quieted as people started to look towards their leader.
Gregory cleared his throat and smiled at everyone. “Thank you all for coming to a special end of month dinner. It’s a great sight to see everyone here eating together and enjoying good company.” There were some cheers and laughs, along with fists pounding wooden tables in excitement.
Gregory’s smiled widened, then he raised his hands to attempt to quiet them. “I know we’re all excited for the change of the season, but more so than that is the addition to our guild!” The people clapped and cheered louder this time, turning to Wyn and their table.
“I’m sure everyone’s had a chance to welcome them,” Gregory continued, “but please make sure they feel right at home as they are our new brothers and sisters. I know they will bring even more value to the guild just as the rest of you do, and please continue to help them get used to being guild members over the next few months.”
“Here, here!” The crowd said in unison.
“Good, good. Now, that brings me to our usual manner of business. This month has been, as you all know, a bit of a challenge. The progression wasn’t as smooth as other months and the difficulty spiked far greater than normal. But we still performed well and met our goals for the month, even if they changed half-way through.”
“That’s his way of saying this season sucked,” Faye whispered to the table.
“For this next month, there are a couple more points to add outside of your normal expectations. One, is that Nigel and his group are still wanting to break into the third tier. They are geared and ready and waiting for the right layout. Caryn, your team will not be taking point this month on information gathering. Instead, it will be my team.”
Caryn’s table nodded their head in approval, while Gregory’s table had mixed reactions. They mostly sat there stoically though some sighed or shrugged. Wyn’s table all turned to Faye in confusion who just smiled. “I’ll explain when he’s done,” she whispered.
“Next, is that we added to our vault with more blue rarity items but are lacking more purple ones. Caryn’s group found two orange rarity items but after some deliberation it was decided they would better used for their kit than to be stored.”
“Orange?” Cedric mouthed to the table, his eyes wide in shock. John nearly spat out his drink when Gregory mentioned the rarity. Wyn knew it was the next color rarity up, but apparently couldn’t grasp the significance of how rare or strong it was. He’d find out soon, though, he hoped.
“So, we’ll sell some of the blue items on the last day of the month and replace them with purple rarity items of value. The same rule applies that no set pieces will be sold, but still check the vault to see if there is something useful to you before we sell it off. See Brett if you have questions.”
Gregory paused to let his words sink in with the rest of the guild before raising a mug. Everyone did the same. “Last but not least, a toast to another month that we’re all here. Despite the season being not what we wanted, the goal we all have is to return here at the end of the day and live to see another one. So a toast for the month behind us to prepare for the change of the season.” He smiled around the room before bringing the glass to his lips, and the guild gave a quick cheer before drinking.
“How long has Nigel been climbing?” John asked, once the crowd settled down. Faye was still sitting beside him. “That’s great he and his team are wanting to advance to the third tier.”
Wyn knew what John meant by his question. He wanted to advance, too.
“He’s been with us four months now,” Faye said. She speared a piece of fruit with a fork and held it out in front of her. “He wanted to advance this month but it was honestly a really bad month for climbing. If next month is better he and his team will likely make it.”
“Is that the set amount of time before trying for the next tier? Three months?”
Faye munched on the fruit and eyed John. “There’s no set amount of time. It’s just when you’re ready. Did you want to join just so you could advance as a guild member? Because you aren’t ready.”
John’s smile morphed into confusion, but he quickly recovered. “No, of course not! I mean, who doesn’t want to advance. I was just curious.”
“He doesn’t want the other Squire to beat him is all,” Marcy said.
Faye laughed. “Don’t worry, there’s room for all Knights. But you have to meet the requirements we have to progress to the third tier.”
John stopped before taking another bite. “What are those?”
“Easy. You need at least one blue set of items that gives a valuable set bonus to your abilities. It could be two items if its give the value. And then mostly blue items in your equipment, if not all of them. A purple item will balance out a green one if it works for you, but I suggest moving away from those.”
“Huh. I guess I know what my next goal is, then.”
Faye laughed. “You remind me of Nigel. He’s eager like you. I think you two would get along.”
“Or hate each other,” Cedric said.
Faye laughed again. “Or that.”
Wyn thought about his own set of items he just obtained. Technically they fit for him to be able to advance, but no one else had one. Not even Cedric or Marcy. And both of them had the best equipment in their group.
Since the bonus from his weapon, shield, and helmet was enough to give him the set bonus, he didn’t technically need the rest of the set, either, despite being curious about it. He liked his current gear list and figured he could help the others get what they needed. Any items he obtained could go towards his debt. For now, at least.
Another month was coming, which meant a different environment, different enemies, and different rewards. But that wasn’t a bad thing. In fact, for the first time in a long time, he looked forward to the change.