At the base of the tower, Liz collapsed dramatically into a heap on the ground, the others sitting less exaggeratedly, but still equally tired. It was a good thing Janet had an item box else they’d all be carrying three times their body weight in monsters. Even Lupia was looking exhausted, it had been a long walk, but Tear looked the worst, almost dead on her feet, ears limp and tail dragging on the ground.

Thora was looking puzzled as he studied my tower.

“Hey, laddie, what’re the blue and gold bands round the base of the obsidian?” he asked me, “I dunnae think I’ve seen that material before.”

I eyeballed them. “Hey Karma! Come and say 'hello',” I called, wondering why he hadn't already had a look at us.

The dragon's coils rotated round the tower and Karma's colossal head came into view, observing us with an air of curiosity. The adventurers jumped up frantically and grabbed for their weapons, but relaxed when the dragon didn't do anything.

“So this is Karma, I summoned him to protect the tower, he likes pats, napping, and obliterating monsters,” I cheerfully explained. “He also seems to have become rather larger than when we left.”

“Summoned!” Thora exclaimed. “Laddie, I'm not even old but yer gunna do me heart in from shock if ye pull any more surprises like this.”

“How is this a surprise?” I wondered out loud.

“Of course it is! Look at the size of that thing! The cost of the summoning ritual for that would be enough to bankrupt an entire town!” Liz half-shouted.

“Really?” I asked dubiously, and looked at Lupia, she did own a town after all. She nodded solemnly.

“Huh. Anyway, moving on-” at this I got several pointed stares, but ignored them and continued, “-feel free to camp in the clearer space around the base of the tower, Karma won't attack you unless you attack him or the tower. But do be warned, he will not defend you while you are camping, you will have to work out how to do that between yourselves.”

“Camping? I'm not going to be camping, I'm going to be staying inside,” Dranner declared, confused. Everyone else gave him a pitying look.

I ignored him and turned to Lupia. “I've built some guest rooms for you, so-” I turned and called to Karma “this lady is a guest and as such, you aren't allowed to hurt her unless I say. These orders continue up until after I say she is no longer a guest.” I paused, then tacked on “Also, don't hurt this lot, they'll be camping out here for the night.”

“Again, I'm not camping!” exclaimed Dranner. “You just invited her to a guest room and you're making me camp! I didn't even bring a tent!”

“I have a spare,” Liz said, almost reluctantly, and Lupia mimed applause.

Dranner was still looking displeased; I felt that it might cause less friction if I just explained. So I did.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

“It's reasonable to camp if it's part of your test, there won't always be convenient, massive towers that are completely safe from monsters in the middle of nowhere.”

“Yours is.” Tear cut in.

“It's probably an exception. Also, Tear, you're not helping.”

“Why's she allowed in the tower and I'm not?” Dranner demanded, indignantly pointing at Lupia.

“She's the examiner, and anyway, it makes it easier for you guys: if the non-combatant you’re supposed to be protecting isn't in a position to be attacked, you're less likely to fail, right?” I felt this was reasonable, as did the other adventurers, several of whom nodded along with my words. However, it seemed he wasn't quite satisfied with that.

“I, a noble of the Kingdom of Arivin, demand that you, a citizen, grant me access to your abode!” he said in angry but formal tones. I guessed there was some kind of law associated with that phrase.

“Nope,” I replied, scratching my ear through the cloth covering it. Dranner puffed himself up.

“It is the law to open your door to a noble who demands it!” he shouted. Oh, so I was right.

“If you're a citizen,” I half asked, half stated.

“That's correct,” Lupia cut in from the side, amusement evident in her voice.

“And since I'm not a citizen; nope,” I said mildly.

Dranner stared at me in indignation for a brief second then reached into his coat. He pulled a white glove out from under his armour and threw it in my face. Or at least he tried to. At his motion, I instantly imbued mana into my helmet, releasing a wave of heat that incinerated the glove before it reached my face, so I only felt a brief, warm breeze. I was rather pleased at how I was doing that so naturally now.

“Why did you even have that?” I questioned.

“A noble must be prepared to rebuff any affront at any time! I declare you my enemy, and- eeek!!” he shrieked as Karma came to an abrupt halt only centimetres from my outstretched hand.

“Karma, I said ‘no attacking them’. Admittedly I didn't expect him to say he was an enemy, but still no!” I complained at him, waving him back to the tower. “Please continue,” I said to the fallen Dranner, who stood back up.

“Ahem. I declare you my enemy, and seek satisfaction in a duel! Face me if you have the honour!” he declared grandly, seemingly pretending that nothing had happened.

“Sure,” I replied casually. “Since you started it, I shall pick the time. Are you ready now? Actually no, let's wait an hour, no two, so you can get some rest.”

“Very well,” he agreed.

“So what weapon are we using?” I asked. I was unconcerned about his choice as I had instinctive knowledge of how to use all of the weapons I had collected my inventory and world storage, and since I had at least one of all the 547 weapons and damaging tools that were in Terraria, I was fairly certain I could use any weapon in the world if it were handed to me.

“Swords of course.” Well nevermind then, I had 84 of those and I had learned to use a sword in my previous life, though, like martial arts, I never did as well as I might have if my legs followed my intentions as well as my original ones had.

“Do we bring our own or will you give me one?”

“Bring our own, don't want you claiming you lost because of your sword,” he sneered.

“Great. See you in two hours then.” I turned away and headed into the tower. “Come along now Tear, Lupia.”

The astonished beastgirls followed me up to the base of the tower.

“He's a B, almost A ranked frontline swordsman; are you sure you can beat him?” queried Lupia, concerned.

“Hmm, I'm not sure... should I play with him by drawing it out... or make it the shortest duel in history?” I mused to myself. From what I had seen from the fights on the way here, I was confident to say the least. “Anyway, after you,” I said, opening the 'door' to the tower.

Lupia gave me a look, then eyed the ethereal obsidian with slight distrust, but followed after Tear when she stepped confidently into it.

I paused just long enough to quietly tell Karma to protect the adventurers from the more dangerous threats but to let smaller things through, then headed through the door after the two.