The Elites were coming to the Wandering Spire event. Couzart’s call to them had worked. Jeze and her friends watched in awe as the powerful adventurers arrived. Irvin and other Guild Officials waited to escort the Elites to the meeting site.

“Why didn’t they arrive sooner?” Ahnau wondered.

“They have nothing to gain,” Miss Heng replied.

Rainia tilted her head and asked, “Nothing to gain?”

“That’s what I said,” Miss Heng stated. Her eyes observed the massive plush tent where the Elites gathered.

Jeze explained, “They have broken the bounds of human ability. They have no reason to risk themselves in order to get stronger.”

Ahanu scoffed, “But surely they want to protect the realm from evil?”

Miss Heng turned toward the Spirit Walker Protector and smiled as she gently touched his face. “That is very sweet.”

Jeze shared a look with Rainia, who shrugged. Jeze motioned for them to step back.

“What was that about?” she asked.

Rainia glanced at her brother and Miss Heng and replied, “I don’t know. They have gotten close all of a sudden. Ever since we left the fourth floor.”

“Close? Like they are a couple?” Jeze wondered.

Rainia shrugged. “Miss Heng has been teaching Ahanu the Spirit Aspect, so it can’t be that bad.”

Jeze shook her head. “I didn’t think she had any feelings.”

In the sky, a hurling boulder soared in an arc like it was flung from a catapult in a siege. Except, everyone was not concerned. Jeze’s eyes went wide as she watched. The boulder crashed into the earth just a few meters in front of everyone and near the plush tent. The landing kicked up dirt and rock and created a small crater from which a large man with a thick beard emerged. Lady Kalina and her Ironfist team bowed.

“That is Manfeld, the High Templar,” Irvin explained in a low voice. The guild official explained, “He is the leader of the Church of the One Goddess. It is said that she awarded him the gift to become an Elite for his everlasting faith.”

“Why did he just arrive now? His kingdom has a heavily contested border with the Golden Empire and a Wandering Spire event,” Jeze wondered.

Irvin shook his head and replied in a whisper, “No, his loyalty to the Kingdom diminished long ago. He is here for his own purposes. My guess is that he does not want the other Elites to discover a secret and get ahead of him.”

The old man was careful to not be overheard from Lady Kalina and the Ironfist team that stood near them. Manfeld stepped out of the crater and iron dripped off his skin like water to disappear into the ether. He was a broad chested man with hard eyes and his thick black hair was tied back into a bun. Jeze saw that he wore full plate mail armor and the only thing he carried was a two handed hammer that hung from his shoulders on his back.

“That was the Ironskin ability?” Jeze asked.

Lady Kalina nodded, but remained quiet. Jeze had seen her use the Stoneskin ability and she heard that there were those among the Ironfist kingdom that could turn their skin into iron. Manfeld nodded once toward them and marched into the tent.

“A man of few words,” Jeze joked.

Alcard and the other templars glanced nervously at her. Jeze suddenly felt self conscious and moved away from them to stand near Rainbow and Swordslayer. They would appreciate her jokes. Her two friends had recovered from their ordeal, and had already purchased new equipment. It was of lower quality, but they were no longer unarmed.

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Swordslayer wore a lacquered cuirass over a mail shirt that came down to cover the tops of his legs. He had greaves to protect his shins, and two swords were sheathed at his sides. Swordslayer’s long black hair hung loosely down to his shoulders as he looked on at the arriving Elites and was unimpressed. Rainbow wore her signature heavy jacket with a high collar that covered the lower part of her face. She sat on a rock and carefully engraved Runes on her new staff.

“So, what do you two think?” Jeze asked. “Glad that you are no longer in danger from Prince, what’s-his-name?”

“Rodger,” Swordslayer growled.

“Excuse me?” Jeze blinked.

“His name is Prince Rodger, and no, I am not glad. Nor was I ever concerned,” the sword fighter stated.

Rainbow rolled her eyes and paused from her work. “It is a unique moment for them to arrive this early during a Wandering Sprie event. The concern for the Cultists is real.”

Swordslayer scowled, “Lazy snobs, the whole lot of them. They feel they have achieved power, and then they grow soft.”

“There is really no need for them to take risks. In order for them to advance further, they need rare magic. That is typically found in the higher levels of the Spire,” Rainbow stated.

Swordslayer arched an eyebrow at her and scoffed. “The Grind will never slow down for me.”

“The Grind? Is that a new Swordslayer term?” Jeze joked.

Rainbow chuckled, and the sword fighter glowered at the teenager.

“Yeah, go ahead and milk the fact that you saved our life. That will pass in time,” he growled.

“Someone is in a bad mood,” Jeze said. She was hoping to find friends to joke with, and was disappointed.

Swordslayer threw his arms up in the air and walked away. Rainbow watched him, and she returned to etching Runes onto her staff.

“He won’t admit this, but he is worried that Prince Rodger knows that we are here,” Rainbow stated.

“Really? The great Swordslayer?” Jeze asked in shock.

“You know him. He is mostly bravado and insecurity,” Rainbow replied.

Jeze now felt bad and wanted to console him. All she wanted to do was joke around! There was a crack of thunder that caught her attention. Jeze looked up and saw a hurricane wash through the barren landscape of the Wasteland. She was buffeted with strong winds and rain that disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. Jeze recognized this magic as a figure emerged from the fading storm and collapsed away. The newcomer was an old bald man dressed in the armor from her parent’s homeland, the Jade Principality.

“That’s Zen Fu, The Storm Chaser,” Rainbow said.

Zen Fu looked like someone’s grandfather with narrow eyes that appeared kind, but Jeze knew otherwise. He wore a dark lacquered cuirass over bright golden robe and carried a long bladed spear that he used as a walking stick. A pure white headband lined with runes with a red moon in its center adorned his sun kissed bald head. Irvin approached and the two bowed to each other. The Guild official led Zen Fu toward the elaborate tent.

“Is that it?” Jeze wondered.

Rainbow squirted and scratched her multi-colored hair. “Nope, there is another.” She pointed.

Jeze looked up and saw a great silver hawk flying toward them. She recognized it as the Totem aspect.

“I’m going to take a guess, without seeing him, that this is Hunting Hawk,” Rainbow said.

“A Spirit Walker?” Jeze asked.

“Ooh no, and make sure you don’t make that mistake in front of him or your friends. Hunting Hawk comes from the Tribal Council,” Rainbow answered.

Jeze nodded. She knew a little about the Tribal Council but did not understand the relationship they had with the people from the Plains of Liawpia. Where Rainia and Ahanu were from. Jeze glanced at the Spirit Walkers, and she could sense their unease. Rainbow blew the wood chippings from her staff and eyed her carvings. Jeze recognized that the Runes were expertly engraved and was impressed with her friend’s skill. Rainbow still needed to polish and stain the staff before she could use it in the field.

“Well, I don’t think any more Elites are coming,” Rainbow said.

“Are there more?” Jeze wondered.

Rainbow chuckled. “Yes, the Imperial Family alone has two more. Our buddy Prince Rodger’s sister and brother are also Elites.”

Jeze’s eyes went wide. “Really?” She didn’t know the Golden Empire had so many powerhouses.

“Yes, that is why they are winning so many wars. Why they are giving us such a headache,” Rainbow grumbled.

“They will give you more than a headache now that they know you are here,” Miss Heng stated.

Her appearance caused Jeze to nearly jump in shock. How did she sneak up on us? Jeze wondered. Jeze narrowed her eyes and scowled at the Amber Guard. Miss Heng didn’t even glance at her and remained focused on Rainbow.

“Where is Swordslayer?” She asked.

“None of your business,” Jeze snapped.

Miss Heng sighed and shook her head. “I need to talk to you two. It concerns your safety as well as the needs of the Guild. Come find me at your earliest convenience,” She told Rainbow and walked away.

Rainbow and Jeze shared a glance.

“That sounded ominous,” Jeze said.