The final week of the season was eventful, but mostly outside of Alistair. Inside, the group surprisingly fit together well. Wyn wasn’t sure how Lucy would manage with them but she held her own far better than he expected. He wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing, but it at least meant they wouldn’t have any major problems while climbing.
At first Lucy had some difficulty getting used to the formations, and Wyn admitted that the formations were created for only five of them. But they didn’t have any major setbacks on the floors they climbed. They stayed with the fourth and sixth floors, while changing to the third for variety a couple of times. Wyn made the decision not to push to climb higher since the next season was around the corner and they didn’t need to climb higher anyway. They met nearly all of their goals for the month, and just needed to get acquainted with each other before the month change.
Cedric was able to secure the remainder of his funds needed to pay Faye for the Nimbus Smoke monster drop needed for Cara to make his arm. The final week secured enough payments for the group to pitch in collectively, as well as selling some items the guild didn’t want to keep to help pay for the items and to put forward to Cara’s high fee. The Lightning Wizard was excited and relieved to know he was closer to having his arm back, even after Cara mentioned it would take nearly four weeks to craft and test the item to make sure it was properly functional. Cedric was more than happy to wait the better part of another month.
For Wyn, the rest of the items and rewards secured over the week went towards his debt and contribution when meeting Melvin. He already secured what he needed for the month, but any additional funds would still help. Getting out of debt with the Assembly earlier than expected would be an incredible benefit to climbing as much as he has, and he could actually enjoy his time in the city with his friends, sister, and guild.
The meeting with Melvin went exactly as Wyn expected. The man rented another large room to show off his status, and it was only the two of them at dinner. Wyn brought some items to trade that were on Melvin’s list, though not the entire list. He was able to convince the merchant that he didn’t completely fail since he was now part of a guild, now having even more access to items and support that he didn’t have before. Melvin was disappointed Wyn didn’t bring more, but he was willing to meet one more time as long as Wyn could bring at least most of the items on a new list procured from his clients.
Wyn brought one blue item and six green items and made 5000 gold crowns, which he considered incredible. But Melvin threatening him with wanting more put a bad taste in Wyn’s mouth. And the list was not small. The items were all blue rarity, too, which made Wyn doubt his ability to obtain them even over the course of an entire season, let alone two weeks like Melvin wanted. The Twilight Blades wouldn’t let him keep that many items for himself, and there was still his entire team who needed equipment to trade or sell for their own gain.
Wyn left the meeting cordially but also told Melvin he couldn’t hold his end of the bargain. He wanted to be honest rather than disappoint the man later. Melvin wished him well, but told him he was no longer interested if Wyn couldn’t provide what he wanted despite being in a guild.
That sealed their short lived relationship. Wyn wasn’t about to betray or ignore his new guild’s rules for his own gain. But having someone to sell items to was a huge bonus he wanted to be able to get out of debt quicker. He thought about Benedict and wanted to ask him for some advice. Maybe there was another direction Wyn could take.
Finally, the end of the month came, marked with Wyn’s meeting with Lucy. They met in one of the available rooms in the empty guild hall on their wing. All of Wyn’s gold crowns sat on the bed in large sacks while Lucy sat in a wooden chair.
“I still can’t believe your father racked up that much gold,” Lucy said. “How does a farmer do that, anyway?”
Wyn sighed and leaned against the wall. “Years of being a drunk and a bad gambler. He got mixed in with some bad debtors and just couldn’t stop. He neglected the farm and was a shit farmer, making terrible decisions with bad purchases and the wrong people for years. He messed up both with our farm land and couldn’t get away from drinking. A few thousand crowns over a season here, more over there. It added up.”
“It’ll do that. I’ve seen worse, believe it or not.” Lucy grabbed one of the sacks and hoisted it over her shoulder, then did the same to another.
“Do you need a hand? I could take them for you, if you want.”
Lucy laughed. “You just want to meet my contact. Not a chance.”
Wyn smiled. “I can’t meet him ever? Wouldn’t hurt to know who’s actually the one taking all this money.”
“You know who’s taking all this money. Do they really need a face? Besides, I can’t trust you won’t stab him when you first meet him. That will go over as well as piss in a mug.”
“Fine. Then could you at least ask him if he’d be willing to take more gold in advance to lessen future payments? The quicker I’m done with this debt the better.”
Lucy held the last sack in her hand and looked at Wyn. “That would not be a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Think about it. You’re already making an incredible amount of money climbing. More than even some nobles retain or make with their businesses and connections. What would it look like when you go and say you’re making more than the amount that was already raised, because you’re so successful?
Wyn thought about it for a second and he realized her point. “It would look like I’m too valuable of an asset to let go so easily.”
Lucy snapped her fingers on her free hand. “Exactly. I know I said they would move on after your debt is done, but it doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t try to recruit you. And trust me, you don’t want to go through that. So instead, just store up whatever you have left over and put it aside. Pay it off in your appointed time and keep what you have left over for yourself and your sister.”
Wyn opened the door for Lucy and walked out with her. “You’re right. I know that. But I’m just ready to be done with it all.”
“Unlike me, you eventually will be. So try and enjoy the time you have now with your sister, and maybe save some of those crowns for the both of you. Gods know you both could use some financial breathing room.”
Wyn stopped and watched Lucy walk out of their residential wing while thinking about what she said. Her perspective was solid. And appreciated. Even though they left their farm and life behind, he and his sister needed to think about what their future held. Not fully living in, and paying off, the past. Wyn then walked to his room, opened his personal chest of items, and pulled out a green rarity belt he’d set aside for trading or selling. The belt’s effect had common enchantments of reducing the weight of pouches or items carried on it while magically securing them. It would be a great theft deterrent even without the weight reduction.
He hadn’t seen Arabelle in days. Maybe a surprise to see her would be exactly what they both needed.
*****
Lucy stared up at the dilapidated building she used to call a home. It wasn’t more than a shack, but it was a roof with lockable doors. That was enough for the Assembly to stash her there.
She spat on the ground in front of the door. Good riddance. Her new home was far, far nicer than anything she had before. Even though there were likely some strings behind the scenes that were pulled for her to join the Twilight Blades, she didn’t care. She was in and had people she could rely on now that weren’t duplicitous assholes. Her only concern was being able to stick around for awhile and actually enjoy it. Hopefully Mathias wouldn’t make her do something stupid like steal from the guild or get her kicked out.
Walking inside, she made her way to the bedroom, opened the cracked door, and dropped the sacks on the bed without even acknowledging the man skulking in the corner. He may have tried to look intimidating, but she faced monsters far more deadly than him. If anything the man just looked creepy in his floor length coat and wild eyes.
Mathias reached into one of the sacks and pulled out a handful of crowns, holding them in his palm. “My, my, what sweet gold. That Magician sure can make some money, don’t you think?”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Lucy shrugged. “He can make what he owes. That’s good enough for me.”
Mathias laughed. “That’s more than some can say. Do you think he’d be interested in a more… rewarding position after his debt is paid?”
Lucy sighed. That came up sooner than expected. “No, I don’t. How much more rewarding can you be from magical items and coins from Alistair?”
“Fair point. But we have our ways. The tower is mostly limited to the city. Our reach far extends that boundary. He could be quite something anywhere he wanted.”
Lucy felt her anger rising. Why didn’t they give her the option of being free like that? Wyn shows up with bags of coins and suddenly he’s their godsdamned golden child.
But she knew why. She was bound by something larger. Something worth more to them than coins, even by Mathias’ standards.
Her sister's eventual betrayal, and Lucy being her now-proxy. The entire situation was fucked and Lucy hated thinking about it.
“He’ll say no. I don’t think there’s anything you can say that will convince him.”
Mathias bit one of the gold crowns before placing it back in the sack. “Maybe he’ll respond more to threats than rewards, then. That can be equally, or sometimes more, convincing.”
Lucy laughed. “It would be convincing in one way, alright. But who’s to say he wouldn’t try and kill you on the spot for doing something like that?”
Mathias smirked. “Well, that’s why you’ll be there to protect me. And kill him instead.”
Lucy’s smile vanished. “He’s my guildmate, now. My teammate.”
“You don’t owe them allegiance. No, no, no. You know damn well where your orders actually come from. If I told you to stab him in his sleep tonight you’d do it.”
Lucy once again felt her anger reaching a tipping point. Not that Mathias was wrong. It was because he was right. They essentially owned her. If she didn’t listen, they’d kill her and what remained of her family. But how far would she go until that point? Was doing everything they told her worth the lives of her, her parents, her other siblings and their families?
She didn’t know that answer. How could anyone actually weigh one life compared to another. But she had to at least try and keep her family safe. While she did that, she could at least do her best to keep others safe, too. Arguing or pushing Mathias too far could mean nudging him in the direction Lucy didn’t want to go. A direction that involved hurting others like she’d done before. Except this time it would be people she was familiar with, people she started to trust and wanted to befriend.
Lucy took a deep breath and did her best to let her anger go. It wasn’t easy, and plenty of it still remained. But she had to try.
“You’re right,” Lucy said, her voice calmer. “But you won’t have me stab him. Not if there’s a chance he could at least hear you out.”
Mathias smiled. “That’s right! Maybe he and I should meet during his next payment. Don’t tell him now, of course, but wait until the very moment and invite him along. That way he doesn’t plan anything before coming.”
“Of course,” Lucy lied.
“Good. Now go back out there and make us some more money. We need to go over some particulars, so have a seat.”
Lucy reluctantly sat on the bed. Maybe one day she’d be able to escape this life and earn something for herself. Or maybe she’d die and everyone else would be left alone, left out of harm’s way and free from the threats that plagued her.
One day she’d be free. One way or another.
*****
Arabelle flopped down onto the floor like a fish needing water. She breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling quickly with her breath. The Ruby Magician robe layered on top of her clothes kept in her heat and sweat like a thick blanket.
Daniel hated her. She knew it. Why else would he have her go through this?
The older Ruby Magician stepped beside her and looked down at her on the floor. “Are you alright?”
Arabelle nodded with her head but couldn’t find the words. Not yet. It took too much effort just to breath.
“Good! I was worried we might have overdone it there for a moment!”
“We?” Arabelle said, huffing the word. After a few more seconds her breathing relaxed enough for her to speak more clearly. “I’m the one on the floor, not you!”
Daniel chuckled. “Yes, but I’m the one who’s forcing you to train. And I’ll be the one that will have to answer to your brother.”
Arabelle sat up, resting on her hands behind her. She tilted her head back so her breaths were deeper. “No, Daniel, that will still fall on me. I know I need to tell him. He won’t blame you.”
“Have you met Wyn? Of course he’ll still blame me! At the very least for encouraging you and allowing you to eventually climb!”
“But it’s not his decision, is it?”
Daniel smiled. “No, my dear, it is not. And that’s where the truth lies, isn’t it?”
Arabelle stood up, putting her hands on her hips. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that at the heart of the matter, it’s your decision whether you want to be a Climber or not. But to get to that truth, you should be honest with him still. He might just be your biggest supporter, you know.”
Just then, the doors to the training hall opened. Benedict came rushing inside while Wyn was right behind him.
Arabelle cursed under her breath. Wyn did not look pleased.
“I’m so sorry, dear,” Benedict said, talking nearly as fast as he was walking. “I only told him you were here, he assumed the rest!”
Daniel stepped up beside Arabelle and whispered to her. “I’d recommend easing him in.”
“What in the hells, Arabelle?” Wyn asked. “You’re climbing? And you didn’t talk to me first?”
“I was going to,” Arabelle said. “But I was so excited to get started and was busy helping Benedict that I sort of... lost track of my days.”
Daniel cleared his throat. “Not exactly what I had in mind, Arabelle.”
Wyn sighed and ran a hand over the back of his head. “Would you just explain, please. It’s not that I’m that angry, I was just… caught off guard.”
“Could have fooled me,” Benedict whispered.
“You’re not too mad?” Arabelle asked.
“Well, I’m certainly not happy,” Wyn said.
Arabelle narrowed her eyes. “You were the one who left home to become a Climber! You can’t tell me not to climb. I can make my own decisions!”
“Of course you can. That’s not why I’m mad.”
Arabelle relaxed. “It’s not?”
“No. I’m mad because you didn’t think to tell me first!”
Arabelle felt a heavy sense of guilt and shame suddenly rest on her shoulders. He was right, of course. As was Daniel. She should have told her brother first and talked to him about it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” Arabelle said. “I was… afraid you were going to say no.”
“I thought we were going to stick together?” Wyn asked. “Tell each other everything.”
Arabelle felt her breathing pick up again. Emotions started to swell within her but she quickly pushed them down with as much will as she could muster. The last thing she wanted to do now was to lose her composure.
“But it’s fine,” Wyn continued, offering a smile. “We can talk about it later. Why don’t you tell me what you’ve been doing so far?”
Arabelle took a deep breath and pointed with her thumb at Daniel. “This slaver has been pushing me to no end for days, now! I can’t catch a break!”
“Has it impacted your work with Benedict?” Wyn asked.
“Not that I’ve noticed,” Benedict said. “She’s still been a great help, and she caught on very quick! Everyone who comes in just loves her!”
“Good,” Wyn said. “What have you been having her do, Daniel?”
Daniel stood a little taller and put his hands behind his back. “Just the basics. Laps, body exercises, and magic studies for breaks.”
“Basics,” Arabelle repeated. “For Fighters or Rogues, maybe! But we’re Magicians and can use magic. It doesn’t need to be that intense!”
The three men exchanged looks with each other, and Arabelle noticed immediately. “What?” She asked.
“Did you not see the trials?” Wyn asked.
“Of course I did. Watching you was what helped me decide to become a Climber.”
“That’s so touching,” Benedict said, holding his hands to his chest.
“Did you see anyone get tired during the trials?” Wyn asked, ignoring Benedict.
“No,” Arabelle said. “But that’s because of magic, right?”
“Not always,” Daniel said. “A good number of physical Climbers have abilities that improve their bodies, yes. But what about the Magicians? They don’t have those.”
“Wyn does!”
Wyn smiled. “No, I don’t.”
Arabelle furrowed her eyebrows. “I… I don’t understand.”
“Let me explain,” Daniel started.
“No,” Wyn said, cutting him off. “Let me.”
Daniel waved his hand forward like he was ushering Wyn through a door.
“Magicians are actually the ones who need physical training more,” Wyn said. “We don’t have the many kinds of passive skills that give us magically enhanced bodies. But everyone should be training at a minimum. The more combat-focused Climbers who have skills that enhance their bodies need to have a solid foundation to make those skills better. If a passive skill improves your strength, wouldn’t it improve it more if you were already stronger without any magic?”
Arabelle crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, yes. That makes sense.”
“And on top of that, you’re going into a place that will require you to not just walk, but jog or run for miles and miles, for hours and hours, and fight for your life between all of that. Being lazy now and neglecting your training will guarantee a slip up or a mistake when you can’t afford that.”
Arabelle sighed. “Okay, I see your point.”
“Good. And listen to Daniel. Do you really think he’s going to steer you in the wrong direction like a drunken wagon driver?”
Daniel chuckled. “Not anymore. My drinking days are behind me!”
“Exactly!” Wyn patted Daniel on the back. “So what’s your plan, then, Arabelle? And what are your skills?”
Arabelle pulled out her parchment from under her robe and handed it to her brother. “My plan is to train for a month and then climb in the guided rookie climb on the last day or so.”
“That’s right,” Daniel said. “You need to get used to using magic, and your body needs to adjust to the training. That takes time. Plus, your skills lean more towards using magic than fighting in melee like your brother, so getting your body used to the physical toll of climbing is important, though using magic is equally so.”
“Interesting,” Wyn said. These skills are great! I might have some items for you to use, too, for your first climb. No sense going in without them.”
Arabelle brightened at Wyn’s offer. More so, she was happy of his support both for climbing and about her Ruby Magician skills. As Daniel told her before, every Ruby Magician is different, while some have better synergy than others. He told her that she had a solid magical synergy, and it made her that much more excited to train and test it out.
“First, though,” Daniel said, clapping his hands together. “You have one more lap, then studying Divine Magician spells to find the ones that will suit you best!”
Arabelle groaned. Wyn and Benedict just laughed.