It was a cold morning and Iris felt ice cold and hot at the same time as she left the stinking moat around the Town behind her. At least she had not forgotten to wear her sturdy boots and so the snow wasn’t too bad as she walked east bound. Her hand cradled the papers in her pocket as if they could protect her. But she knew they would not. Beyond the moat and security of the guard a normal person like her was doomed to die in the Tower. She knew that. Any stray animal could have her for a snack. There were huge wolf packs out there that roamed the first level and any single one of them could be her end.
She knew that, she had been warned about going out of Town on her own since she had been a little girl. But she also knew that animals usually did not wander this close to the town. Carpenters went out to fell trees after all, even if they were normal people like her. But Iris wasn’t really that worried about animals, because she was meeting something much more dangerous. There was a chance the Cultivator would be angry about her coming to the meeting. Or that he would ignore her and let her spend a day in the cold. Or he could capture, rape and murder her. Iris felt incredibly vulnerable as she followed the footpath into the trees and her eyes darted around. She felt like a frightened rabbit ready to run. Even though running from someone that could murder whole groups of Climbers was probably pointless.
Slowly as she walked deeper into the forest her nervousness grew, but also her worry that she had already passed the meeting place. Going east wasn’t exactly a precise spot. What if she had already passed the spot? She started looking around for any speck of color. But the most she found were some flowers poking their heads through the snow. The temperature was actually not too bad with the sun being warm already. It was a beautiful day and yet Iris could not appreciate it. Her hands were balled into fists and she was sweating, not from physical exertion, but because she felt like her heart was jumping out of her chest.
In her entire life she had not been that deep into the forest and she was scared, terrified. The forest was thick and besides the small trampled path through the undergrowth it looked sometimes like a wall of snow around her. Like she was trapped in a maze. But then the area opened up and the path led past a clearing. In the center of the clearing was an old oak tree, standing solitary and proud and on the top of one of its branches fluttered a red armband in the wind.
Iris paused and looked around. But there were no tracks in the snow. It looked unmarred and like nobody had ever been there. But this must be it. Slowly she walked through the knee deep snow, soaking her boots and the bottom of her cloak. The cold was not so bad, because she was sweating under the cloak. Her eyes darted around and yet she did not see anyone. Maybe he was not here yet? It was relatively early in the morning after all. It took her 5 minutes to get to the tree and as she looked up at it she could watch her quickened breath fog up in the air. Nothing moved around her and she felt like she was alone. It was a quiet solitary place and if there had not been the red cloth tied up above her, she would have thought this was not the spot. Slowly she turned around and gave the whole clearing a once over.
“Are you lost?” someone said behind her and Iris yelped and turned around so quickly she almost fell over as her boots slipped on the snow. She leaned against the trunk of the tree as she tried not to fall over. She was panting and tried to recover her breath and yet she felt jittery and the cold shock of fear froze her like a statue.
Behind her, where she had just looked a moment early stood a man. Taller than her, but not a hulking giant. He wore a dark shirt and pants, but nothing else. No cloak, nothing appropriate for winter. He was muscular and powerfully build, his shoulders stretching the fabric and he had a short beard that looked unkempt, his hair was shoulder length, but she still recognized him instantly. It was the eyes. The cold probing look she had seen before in the hardened killers the district employed. She had not heard him approach, he had not left any trace in the snow behind him and if she had not seen or heard him ask a question she would have doubted he was even there. The Cultivator cocked his head to the side and studied her as she gave no answer. She was still too shaken to get anything out. But the man gave her time, he just stood there patiently and Iris finally noticed that the man was armed. Daggers were sheathed in a thick leather belt as well as some potions, making it clear that this was not a young dandy, but a Climber.
“I…” Iris began and then took a deep breath. She took out the papers Tex had given her and tried to give the Cultivator a smile. But she had trouble being seductive right now. Instead she tried to focus on her task. She had to get it over with.
“Mars...the...the Leader of the red-light district sent me.” she finally said and the man nodded.
“I am not sure if I should be amused or offended that he sent a woman to do his bidding. But I didn’t really expect him to come himself.” The cultivator said with a smirk and then waited for her to continue.
That was the first thing that struck her as odd. The Cultivator was quiet, but confident and he did not rush her. Did not get annoyed or seemed to display any emotion but a slight amusement. Usually powerful men like him were impatient and used to get their way. He did not seem like the type though. He gave her time to calm down and once she realized he was not about to murder her and was not angry at her being here, Iris took heart and looked the man in the eyes.
“Are you the Cultivator?” she asked, because she had to make sure. It was also one of the questions Mars wanted to ask, although it felt a bit redundant to her.
“I am a Cultivator, yes.” the man said with another small smirk. “But you know that already, you recognized me. Probably from those wanted posters.”
Iris nodded and cleared her throat.
“Mars wants to ask you some questions that he has given me. I...I am here as his representative. He gave me the authority to speak on his behalf. Even to make a deal on his behalf.”
“Did he now? What is your name?”
“My name?” Iris asked off balance. She had not expected him to ask her that. “My name is Iris.”
“Well, nice to meet you Iris. You are the first person I have met in the tower since Aurix called for my death that has not tried to kill me or would have if they got the chance at least.” the Cultivator said and even gave her a short bow and an actually charming smile.
“Uh, nice to meet you too.” she said and then added feeling a bit more bold. “What is your name?”
“My name is Aaron.” he said and smirked, showing white teeth. “And I am happy to answer all of your questions. But before that can I ask you something in return?”
Iris ignored that he already had asked her some questions and nodded. “Sure.” she said. She felt weirdly light headed. It felt surreal to have a casual conversation with a man so feared and hated. He seemed to be a perfectly normal guy so far. None of her instincts told her anything. She had developed a good bullshit detector and she usually could guess when a customer would be trouble. But the Cultivator...Aaron was a mystery. She paused and then noticed that he did not move. He stood still in a way that seemed unnatural. He barely moved. Only his chest and his eyes were moving. The rest of him was still and he made no noise nor did he smell of anything. A man living in the wild for months should have some kind of smell at least, right?. But not the Cultivator. It gave her the creeps once she noticed it.
“What do you do for Mars? How come he has sent you, someone without any powers whatsoever to negotiate for him?” Aaron asked and ripped Iris out of her train of thought.
She noted to herself that he had instantly recognized her as powerless, although her struggling through the snow might have given her away. Iris hesitated for a long moment before she decided to just tell him the truth. So far their conversation had been amiable and she wanted it to stay that way.
“I...I am a prostitute.” She said stiffly. She did not really like to think of herself like that, but in the end it was the truth. Aaron raised his eyebrows but he did not interrupt her and waited for her to continue.
“I have debts with the district and so...Mars promised me to wipe out all that I owe if I do this for him.”
“So, you are expendable is that it?”
Iris flinched slightly at the word expendable but eventually she nodded. She did not like the way he had said it. Coldly.
“I see and yet he gave you the power to negotiate on his behalf. Makes me wonder if the best deal you are allowed to offer is the one Mars wants me to take, or if he wants to test you.” Aaron stayed silent for a moment and then said with another smirk. “Probably both, huh?”
Iris had the strange feeling that he knew everything already. Aaron had a keen sense of her and she could see in his eyes that he enjoyed showing off his knowledge. Maybe he liked to play or maybe it was a show of power. Most men liked that. She would have mimed being impressed but for once she really was impressed.
“I think so, yes. Although I can’t think of why.”
“Its simple really. This Mars does not trust you or me. So to see what we are made of he gives us leeway and watches how we react.” Aaron said with a grin. “No matter how we react it tells him more about us both. So...tell me Iris. What do you want out of this deal? Maybe if we work together we can both get what we want.”
Iris hesitated and then remembering the other part of the plan, she opened her cloak a bit while she looked pensive. She only gave him a hint of her cleavage but she did notice that he looked. It was the natural thing to do, but it still filled her with a bit of glee. This was her own magic. But she would not push it, because he was making a good point she had never really considered. What did she want out of this deal?
“Its...simple really. I just want to come back alive and debt free.” she said and Aaron nodded.
“I suppose considering the death toll I have accrued that is a reasonable wish.” he said and it struck Iris how carelessly, casually he mentioned the people he had killed. She noted to herself that this man was used to death and killing. Very used to it.
“If I may ask, how did you get into debt with the district in the first place? You don’t strike me as someone who would live beyond your means.”
Iris felt unexpectedly flattered although she also noticed she had not asked a single question for the last few minutes and he had started to interrogate her instead. But she still felt compelled to answer.
“I don’t. But I took out a loan for my little sister. To get her to Ambition and into an apprenticeship. They take normal people there for some of the easier work.”
Aaron looked surprised and then thoughtful.
“You took out a loan because you did not want your sister to become like you.” he said as a statement more than a question.
“How interesting. I suppose most prostitutes are normal people?”
“What do you think?” Iris asked back slightly bitter and Aaron nodded.
“I saw only a bit of the society in the Town, but from what I have seen normal people are treated like second or even third class citizens. But you tried to change that at least for your family, no?”
Iris hesitated again and nodded.
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“I could not just sit still and do nothing. I don’t want any girl to be forced into this trade because they have no other choice.”
“You don’t like your work?”
Iris gave him a look and Aaron raised his hands.
“Alright, dumb question.”
Iris sighed. She had never really talked about this to anyone, but the words just came out without her being able to stop it.
“Most of the time its boring and disgusting. Sometimes its fun, but rarely. It is the best paying job a woman without any power or connections can have though and that makes it worth if you have bills to pay.”
“I see, well then, lets make sure you don’t have any bills to pay in the near future. Go ahead ask your questions.”
Iris felt relieved that the man was willing to entertain her and she consciously opened her cloak in the front as she got out the papers. Aaron gave her a once over, peered at the papers with some mild interest and then waited for her to speak as he looked her into the eyes. No lingering gazes to her figure or the pretty dress she wore. That was honestly disappointing. But she caught herself quickly and started to read of the questions.
“Where are you from in your last life?”
“Earth.”
Iris had suspected that. Most Earthers did not like that normal people were disenfranchised. For most other places it was normal.
“What occupation did you have in your last life?”
“I was a hit man. A killer for hire.” Aaron said casually and Iris actually paused and gave him a look. But the Cultivator seemed to be perfectly serious.
“Did you leave family behind in your last life?”
“I am not going to answer that, if Mars wants the answer to that he can ask me that in person.” Aaron said and for a moment Iris thought he would be angry, but he was calm on the surface. He had stopped smiling though.
“What is your goal in the Tower?”
“To climb to the top of course. To leave it behind.”
Iris paused and looked at him surprised. Only the most optimistic people even dared to dream of that. But Aaron seemed dead serious.
“You seem surprised, isn’t that every Climber’s dream?”
“I mean, yes, but most actually don’t believe we can get there.”
“I don’t know if you or Mars are aware of it, but Cultivators live a very long life. In a century I will not look a day older. I have time to climb the tower at my own pace.”
That was the first time Iris heard about any of that and she was surprised. You just stopped aging if you became a Cultivator? That made her slightly envious. Okay it made her very envious and curious. But she continued on with her list.
“Are you willing to work for the district?”
“No, I am willing to work with the district. I want an alliance, not a job. Look at me as a sort of contractor that does jobs for you. That is what I am willing to do. The same thing I have done in my last life as well, actually. Be a killer for hire.”
“How many times a day can you take someone’s power?”
Aaron chuckled. “Now we are getting to the interesting questions. I am not sure how many times, that is not how techniques work for me. But so you can understand it there is a significant cool down for it. Once a day is a safe estimate.”
Iris knew this question had to be important, but she continued as if it wasn’t.
“Are there any limitations on targets you are willing to...eliminate?”
“I don’t kill children, I don’t rape and I don’t torture. Other than that I have no problem killing women.”
That last bit made Iris shudder slightly, because there was no shift in emotion in the man. No hesitation. This was his code. She looked up into his eyes and knew that he would kill her if he had a reason to do so, but he would not lay a hand on her otherwise. It was a strange set of rules, but she knew it must be important to him from how he had shifted. He stood straighter and his shoulders had relaxed from the question about his family.
“How long does it take you to level up?” she finally asked.
Aaron sighed and shook his head.
“Cultivation does not work that way. You don’t level up. You progress by overcoming hurdles, barriers that stand between you and more power. It might take me a week to go through one of these hurdles or a year. It depends on the hurdle and on my own understanding and resources. Its more like the progression of a mage I believe, my understanding of the world and myself influences my progression.”
“So you could be stuck at the same level for a year?”
Aaron nodded. “Yes, there are smaller and bigger hurdles to overcome. It all depends, but overcoming a hurdle is not like leveling up. My power increases exponentially.”
“Expo...what?”
“It will never cease to increase and it increases more and more the more power I have.” Aaron explained patiently and Iris once more was struck with the man’s calm.
“How fast can you climb up to Ambition and what floor do you have been to so far?”
“I do not know. I guess at least a year. Much will depend on how many resources and missions I get from you guys. Because unlike other cultivators I am slightly different. You know how Vessels gain experience from killing monsters?”
Iris nodded. Everyone knew at least the basics of magic and being a Vessel. Every kid dreamed of becoming one of those after all.
“I am similar, just that killing monsters gives me barely any experience. Killing Vessels and mages gives me a lot of experience in comparison. So the more people I kill, the easier it is for me to “level up”.”
Iris felt a slight chill run down her spine. Aaron had not smiled or smirked this time, he had not shown any emotion but quiet calm. That made her uncomfortable. He was speaking of killing people for experience. Vessels killing each other was not common and most of the time murderers were punished harshly, usually to be killed themselves. That he could kill Vessels to grow in power made him very dangerous and unpredictable. But she also noted that he had not told her to which floor he had been. She was not sure if she should ask the question again, but in the end she decided against it.
“Last Question. How much would you want for doing a mission for the district?”
“Well, that depends on the mission, its difficulty and the districts financial situation. You are having trouble at the moment so I won’t demand too much. Lets say 10 mid grade mana stones for a mission as a base. I would also like to be on retainer. Which means no matter what I get those 10 mana stones every month, if you use me for a mission or not. The first mission will be free a month. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes, thanks. I hope I can remember all of that.” Iris said, but she had a good memory. It was also very difficult for her to forget anything the man had said. Few Vessels had been so open about how their power worked, not to say mages, who always made it seem their powers were given to them by Emnu himself. She knew next to nothing about Cultivators. Just that they were Emnu’s enemies and each and every one of them were monsters. Aaron was a monster as well. A calm, collected killer with a clear code and his own set of twisted morals.
“Good, now lets talk about what you will do for me.” Aaron said, but Iris quickly interrupted him.
“Actually Mars has given me three missions for you that he wants you to do.” Iris handed him a piece of parchment and Aaron took it with raised eyebrows and read through them quickly.
“Take the powers of a rogue Alchemist to set an example, steal the deed to a piece of land from a well connected Merchant without being seen and finally find out the reason why the guild Elder Lorraine is trying to increase the number of Crafters and their levels in the Town.” Aaron said and scoffed.
“So he wants me to prove that I can repeat my little trick of taking someones power and then wants to test my ability to move undetected and to obtain information.” He paused for a long moment and Iris tensed. But then Aaron nodded.
“Very well, I’ll do it. But first tell me what I get in return for answering your questions and doing Mars’s bidding.”
“The district offers you shelter and protection, which means they will hide you whenever you come to one of us, no questions asked. Elder Mars also promised that he would end the manhunt for you, although the bounty on you will most likely stay.”
“Okay, when will the manhunt end? I don’t like doing things around the Town while an army could come and start hunting me again.”
“That I don’t know. It says here it will take some time.”
“You have a month. If by that time the manhunt is still going on I will deem this alliance void.”
“I will tell him, but I don’t know if that is realistic.” Iris said cautiously. She finally felt more confident in negotiating. Aaron seemed like a fairly normal and amicable guy on the surface at least. It felt still dangerous to make demands, but her just being a messenger actually shielded her from his wrath or displeasure. Aaron wanted something from the district and Iris thought that Mars could provide that.
“Mars also offers you a house in the city, where nobody will bother you.”
“No thanks. I don’t think I will ever feel safe in the city when my face is plastered on every second wall for everyone to see. So here is what I want from you. First 50 mid grade mana stones for the 3 tasks that I will do for Mars, second I want pots, pans, spices, flour and all matter of foodstuffs.” Aaron paused and frowned. “But I suppose I will have to make a list so you won’t forget anything. I will handle these tasks and then you come back here in a weeks time with my mana stones and something to write down what I want.”
“Me?” Iris asked surprised.
“Well yeah, I talked to you and I think I know what I can expect from you. If you become the official go between between me and the district that will give you some leverage. Make sure they pay you well.” Aaron said with a wink. “And in return you get me what I want. No fuss, no negotiating for everything. I think that is a good deal, no?”
Iris hesitated. She had not thought of doing this ever again. But as Aaron put it, this could become her new job. She might not even have to continue working in the brothel. Iris looked at Aaron and narrowed her eyes. Then she opened her cloak to show him her dress and her figure entirely. She gave him a smile, one she actually felt, but Aaron held up his hand.
“I don’t want to sleep with you.” he said rather bluntly and Iris blushed a bit. Maybe that had been a bit too forward.
“Its not that I don’t think you are pretty or attractive, but if we want to have a working relationship, then its not a good idea. I don’t want you to become leverage against me. So lets keep our relationship purely platonic.” he explained and yet Iris felt kind of hurt for being rejected like this. It made sense though and she sighed.
“Listen, I want to build myself some shelters out here in the forest. Multiple shelters. I want to equip them so that I can live pleasantly in any of them and I don’t want anyone to know where they are. So you bring me the materials I need out here. Or rather you will have some people load up a cart that you will leave here. But we can talk about that next week.” He gave her a long look and Iris looked back.
“Why do you want me to be the messenger? And I would not mind sleeping with you. Its not like I expect you to become my boyfriend or anything like it.” Iris said and puffed out her chest a bit, showing off her curves.
“I can imagine it was very lonely all those months running and hiding?”
“It was, but I am still not interested, Iris. I want you to be my messenger because I like you. You are open and although you are terrified you asked me all the questions on your little page. I admire that. I also think considering your current job it would be an upgrade and a lot less disgusting work if you were just a messenger.” he said with a shrug. Iris could read nothing from his face, but he had given her a smile when he said he liked her. It seemed like a genuine compliment. Still she felt like he was trying to use her. Much the same as Mars had, just a lot more subtle. She studied him for a long moment, not making any sense of his motives and then gave him a shrug.
“Alright.” she said and closed her cloak. “I can become your messenger if you want to, but I doubt Mars will pay me much for this.”
“Ah, well that depends on how you frame it. Tell him I want you and would be angry if you would not come to the next meeting. Tell him you are gonna buy things for me and you would like a cut from it for your work. Since you will have to spend time away from wherever you work to fulfill my requests. Eventually if you make enough you can stop working as a prostitute.”
Iris did not say anything. That was a fairly intricate plan, one that could actually work. It made her weary about what his motives were, but she did not say anything.
“Well, think about it. Anything else you want to talk to me about?” he asked and iris hesitated and then remembered something.
“If you take the red armband every single member of the district or anyone associated will have to help you and even shelter you if you get into trouble. One of the perks of being in, I mean being allied with the district.”
Aaron looked up and then leapt into the air over her head and Iris flinched back scared. He landed on a branch of the oak tree and undid the armband easily and looked down at her. She had barely heard him make a noise while he leapt and he had leapt up 3 or 4 meters into the air.
“Do I need to wear the armband?” he asked and Iris nodded.
“They wear it usually on the right arm, but you can keep it covered until you need to use it.” Aaron smirked to himself and tied the red armband around his muscular biceps and then let it vanish underneath his shirts sleeve.
“Anything else?” he asked and Iris thought about it and then shook her head.
“Good, then see you next week Iris.” he said and then leapt again. Iris stared wide eyed as he soared through the air like a bird, fast as an arrow and landed on the top of a fir tree at the edge of the clearing and then vanished with another jump into the depth of the forest. She stared in disbelief after him for a long minute before she shook her head. No wonder she had not heard him arrive. He was as silent as a ghost and he could almost fly. During her time working in the brothel she had met dangerous men. Either as customers or as part of the district protecting her. She had seen the physical feats the higher leveled Vessels were capable of, had sometimes even felt them. But never in her life had she seen anything like it. She was not even sure if a mage could replicate that. At least none of the mages down here in the Town could. With a slight shudder Iris wrapped her cloak around her tighter and made her way back across the clearing.
The entire time back she thought about what she had learned about the Cultivator and what he had told her. That she could become his messenger and make her money that way. It was tempting, too tempting. She felt like she was a pawn between two powerful men and both were trying to use her. She was used to men using her, just not like this. It made her feel what? More important? Like she mattered? Yes in some way, but she also did not really want to do this again, she did not want to have to speak to Mars again. But she realized that it might be her life now. Mars could force her. But that was not likely in the end. Maybe she should take Aaron’s advice and try to make money of this arrangement. He had been much more civil and patient than she had expected, although she had failed in seducing him, utterly failed.
She would have a week to decide what to do. But for now all she wanted to do was get out of this forest.