The ruined wreckage of the homely room surrounded the grey tinted humans with their oddly twisted bodies and bony growths, much like they now surrounded me.

My mana shield flickered in my hand as I debated if I should use two axes or an axe and shield. In the end my mind decided to use two axes and the shield reformed into an axe. Yet I hesitated in going on the offensive as the twisted grey tinted humans stood aimlessly around me in an almost perfect circle broken only where the furniture had been stewn around. Their sightless eyes were looking at me, but I could not tell what they were seeing.

I looked towards Alis, hoping she had finished saving Celameth. She had. The two of them were just staring at me as if there was something horribly wrong with me. Well, I guessed one of them was Celameth based only upon the pale blue dress she was wearing.

Other than that, and their height, there was very little resemblance between the two. The woman standing next to Alis had a regal feel about them. Their face was beautiful, but in a strange way. It was almost too perfect. A face meant to be looked at and worshiped from afar. Instead of a short buzz cut, her perfectly straight and glossy, pale blond hair now ran long, most of the way down her back.

Celameth looked almost perfect. It was hard to believe that even if she had been under a pile of bodies not long ago. Only her creased dress gave that impression. But the regal stance and gaze as she looked down upon me made me feel I was there to bow my head and give fealty to my monarch.

Standing just behind her, almost overshadowed by the regal grandeur of Celameth, stood Alis in her armour and drawn sword. For most she would be almost forgettable, with her simple country girl freckles, even if she had fiery hair. But standing half hidden behind Celameth it looked as if she were the queen’s knight, ready to strike down all those who dared oppose the queen.

‘Klarric, Beloved,’ Celameth called. Her face lit up in a joyous expression was oddly human and loving compared to the stoic regal grandeur from a moment ago. ‘I am so grateful that you two are okay. You are, okay, are you? There’s something different about the two of you…

‘It’s not about Aggard is it, I mean, yes it was a surprise to wake up and find my link with her gone. But we’re together now, the three of us. Oh how I missed the two of you. When I woke a month ago, with the City of Rynstowe in flames, you not here, and Aggard missing I was broken.

‘It took me a while to get myself back into shape. But at least the two of you had each other all this time. Klarric, do you know what happened to Aggard? I’m asking you because of everyone I know you are the closest person to her I know. Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t want to bring up any bad feelings. But I hope that you’re able to manage her loss. I know how important she was to you.

‘Oh, those around you. It’s a messed up part of the tower. I’m sorry for worrying you. But I’m happy that you came to save me. Anyway, how did you two get all the way up here without me sensing you in the tower? I really must do something about the security features for the tower. I had been too lazy as no one seems to want to enter the tower these days.’

The grey tinted twisted figures shuffled their way out of the room, leaving behind the three of us and their dead on the floor.

‘Still it was a shock to see what happened to Rynstowe. There have been no clues as to why it just started burning down. My best guess was that it was either a monster rampaging or some Cursed sympathizer. Either way, soon after the city started burning fire, monsters started attacking the city. My guardians are made from the bodies of the dead citizens of the city.

‘Oh, they were in here because a couple of monsters managed to finally gain entry through the doorway to the viewing platform. It was a stupid mistake on my part, you see, I forgot to close it when I came inside to get some food.

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‘Did you manage to activate that key yet, Klarric? Oh, Alis, I’ve not forgotten about you. Thanks for coming to my rescue. But how did you learn to move like that in such a short period of time? I doubt that going through Netherfane’s dungeon would give you such an ability—’

‘Celameth,’ I said, deliberately cutting her off. ‘You’re right, we have much to talk about. Shall we go somewhere safe to relax and chat? There’s much we need to discuss.’

‘Netherfane?’ Alis asked.

‘Maybe, but it is still unfinished. I was thinking of our gift.’

‘It was given to us three, but I want it for just the two of us right now. I want something that she does not have.’ Alis said, indirectly asking something from me.

The relationship between Alis and myself was still strained, so I afforded her what she wanted.

I nodded, ‘okay, Netherfane it is. Celameth,’ I said, turning to her, ‘you hinted that there was a way of moving from there to here. Can you do it in reverse?’

‘Only if the two Controllers give their permission. As I gave you my permission before you departed, then you could travel from there to here, forming a link as you did. But travelling from here to there without that link. Not possible.’

She sighed. ‘We need to get a ship to travel there, but most everyone is avoiding this city now. There’s an army on the overlooking hill. They had already started to make a proper camp there. I guess we could call on Hallvard, he would be sure to aid us. But I’m not sure how to get in contact with him after the destruction of Rynstowe’s temple to Aggard.’

‘So basically,’ Alis said, ‘you’re telling us we’re stuck in this tower until we find a way back?’

‘Yes,’ Celameth said. ‘We’re trapped within this tower now.’

‘We’ll have to use the gift then,’ Alis said. Her heartbroken expression making me feel bad.

‘I think I might be the Controller of Netherfane.’ I said quietly.

‘What gift is that, Alis, is it something nice?’

‘Yes, Aggard gifted to the three of—’

‘I think I might be the Controller of Netherfane. So we should be able to go right there.’ I said, louder this time.

Alis smiled, bringing out those beautiful dimples, which helped light up her beautiful freckled face.

‘Oh, shame, I wanted to see this gift of yours. Anyway. If you’re right, then all we need to do is to go to my gate room.’ She sighed. ‘Which is all the way in the basement…’

‘What’s wrong with that?’ I asked, already used to climbing up and down the many flights of stairs in this tower.

‘When I went to sleep for my deblessing I didn’t activate the security features for the lower tower. Now it’s full of monsters and their Cursed Sympathizer handlers all trying their best to steal control of the tower away from me.’

‘Do you think they’ll succeed?’

‘Yes.’