The world has ended, time and time again. Yet… we rebuild upon it.
Floor 7 - Kaori is sitting in his small home in the depths of the habitable floors, looking over his letter from the Adventure Academy. “Welcome back for your second year. With the groups assigned and ready, you and your new team will start gaining hands-on experience to become full-fledged adventurers. We are excited to have you back! Please report to your new class when you arrive!”
Today’s the day, he thought to himself. Kaori kept reading the names of his new team over and over again. As a Goliath, descending the floors is not uncommon. It's the best way to test yourself where he was from, so the first year of the academy was somewhat disappointing. He had learned a lot in that time, but he was itching to go deeper and test himself even more. But he was here for a reason and not to make the same mistakes he had already made. Grabbing his gear, he looked around his home one final time before leaving for the academy.
Walking through Floor 7 was as usual. Ruins from one of the old worlds lay about, but like all the first ten floors, people were living their lives. It was still early as Kaori needed to climb to the surface for the academy, but there were still people getting their morning started. Travelers, merchants, and even adventurers who most likely were heading deeper down were packing their things together. He greeted the ones he knew but walked straight toward the staircase.
The Staircase, or the Ascension, the Descent, the Abyss, the Devil's Mouth, etc., depending on where in the world and what floor you were born on, had different names. The stairs connected each floor to one another, an old world that at some point in time was destroyed with now a new floor built upon it. The large staircase was built like a massive road leading up and down, with markets and shops set up for passersby and guards ready to protect from the depths if needed. It is said to never look straight down into the abyss unless you want something to look back up.
Like most people this early in the morning, Kaori saw the stairs leading up and gave a deep sigh. He didn't have enough money to spend on transport up at the moment, so he would have to walk, starting his journey to the academy.
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Floor 3 - Zaleon, a Halfling, sat in a tavern having an early breakfast with his family and their guards. They were ready to set out for work as the successful merchants they were, and he was to return to the academy for his second year. During the break, he returned to them and managed to get some personal training from the guards who had been with his family since he was young. Now an adult, he didn't feel like the merchant life was for him, but the life of an adventurer called to him—to find lost treasure and explore the unknown in the deep floors. Like most parents, they were apprehensive at first about letting him go, but in the end, after many discussions and the support of the guards training him since he was a child, they agreed to send him to the academy.
He didn't know when they would meet again, as the life of a merchant could take you to any of the first ten floors. They all said their goodbyes when Zaleon left for the academy. Floor 3, like all floors, is filled with ruins, but Zal thought these ones were nicer at least, with decorated walls and houses that somehow looked not completely destroyed. Even though it was early in the morning, the streets were getting busy. Floor 3 was one of the hubs for merchants and traveling smiths, where people could restock for deeper travels and sell anything they brought up. But he and his family were here for him; they wanted to see him off and make sure he wasn't late. Zal appreciated it as he was now sprinting to the floors. The goodbyes had taken a bit longer than planned as his brother kept teasing him about leaving.
As he reached the staircase, he got the first glimpse of the rising sun. The early morning streets on the stairs were already busy with people and in the shops. This high, the stores and stalls were tight and close together, as the worry of monster attacks was not as urgent as on some of the lower floors.
Zal, seeing the path he could take between all the people, moved smoothly and steadily up to the surface.
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Floor 2 - Eolos was in his room trying to figure out what hat he should wear for his first day of the new school year. As a proud satyr and a wizard at that, he needed to look the part. He held two almost identical hats in his hands, one bright blue and one blue and purple. After some time thinking, he decided to take the purple one. Why shouldn't he take it? It made him look more wizardly! Nodding to himself, he grabbed his pack with one hand and a smooth crystal ball in the other. All wizards have a crystal ball; the shopkeeper told him so!
He pondered it as he slowly made his way downstairs to the kitchen. His mother, already there with breakfast set up, greeted him. He gave a half-hearted greeting as he was obviously busy pondering his crystal ball—just like all wizards do. She sighed and placed a plate of eggs and meat in front of him. “Hmm, I see food in my near future,” he said, mumbling to himself as he started eating breakfast.
When he had finished, he said goodbye to his mother and left for the academy. He walked slowly down the busy road, still looking into his crystal ball. He was never able to get it to change colors like it should. Wizards always looked deep into a crystal ball with swirling colors in the books he read.
Eolos believed he was a skilled wizard; he could cast spells almost instantly without having to study. He even spent a few months at the wizard academy until he was kicked out. They claimed he was not, in fact, a wizard, but how could they explain his magic then? He sighed as he kept looking into the crystal ball until he started hearing the voices of people as he reached the staircase. Putting it back in his pack, he looked around until he found what he was searching for: a giant blue and red lizard with a cart strapped to it, eating what looked like a large fruit.
These lizards were the most common transport on the staircases. Harmless as they were, they climbed up from the abyss to bask in the warm sun, eat, and live in peace until they descended back, never to return. Eolos walked up to the owner, asking for a ride to the surface. No way was he walking this early in the morning. He paid the price of a gold coin and sat in the back, once again pondering his crystal ball.
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The Surface - The open sky and fresh air were something people always enjoyed when they came up here. Around, you could see Water Tower crystals placed on all the busy streets, condensing water from the air. Large patches of farms and gardens covered the surface. Each patch of open space was used for something—if it was not a government building, a shop, tavern, or something for the public, it was being used to create food and water. This seemed to be common throughout history, as historians researching the old floors found similar constructions and records of how their society was built.
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Eolos finally reached the top and, with a nod to the cart driver, headed to the academy. Following the busy road, he saw a shop he liked to browse. “Huh, maybe they have some new books about dragons,” he muttered to himself. As the door to the shop opened, three people he recognized stepped out. Quicker than he himself could think, he dove behind a box to hide. These used to be his classmates from his time at the Wizard Academy—those who laughed at him and told him he was not a wizard. He always hated seeing them. He was not scared of them; they should be scared of him! He was such a good wizard that even their academy couldn't teach him anything. He was just always able to do it, and he was not hiding. No, of course not—he simply did not want to embarrass them in front of all these people! Taking a small peek, he saw that they had moved away. With the confidence of someone who had not just hid behind a box, he strolled to the academy.
The large white marble building stood tall in an open patch of land, with an iron fence surrounding it and its large gate standing open, welcoming its students. This not being Eolos' first day, he walked with confidence past the new students who looked in shock at the massive building and yard with training equipment and students actively training. Strolling right into the main building, he remembered that maybe the library had some new books about dragons. With a smile, he turned and walked towards it.
Slamming the door open with excitement, he spotted the librarian behind the counter. Turning, she saw who it was and, with a deep and audible sigh, said, “Good morning, Eolos. How can I help you this morning?”
“Have you received any new books on dragons yet?” he asked excitedly.
Looking at him with a straight face, she responded, “How could I have guessed? In fact, we have received one.” She reached down behind her desk and pulled out a dark green book. “Somehow I had a feeling you would stop by this early asking for this.” Eolos looked at the book with excitement in his eyes.
“Great! How long can I keep it for?”
“Two weeks,” she said, sighing, “like usual.” She opened the book and stamped the inside before handing it over. "Enjoy."
With a bright smile, he left the library, now with his face in the book, heading to class.
Opening the door to the class, Zaleon looked around the new room. It looked like a newly decorated training hall, fitting for what they were here to do. He was also one of the first there. A few heads turned as he entered, and a few waved a greeting before turning back to their groups. Shrugging, he went inside and took a seat.
“Morning,” a voice behind him said. Turning, he saw a large Goliath looming over him.
“Morning, Kaori. Looks like we are in the same team, huh?” he responded.
“Yeah! I'm so excited to get started. I hope we get a good quest!” Smiling, Zaleon said, “Yeah, I hope so too.”
Kaori took the seat next to Zal as more people started entering the class. Looking at the slow stream of people entering, they spotted a familiar face—or rather, a head with a book in its face—entering.
“Oi, Eolos!” Kaori greeted the satyr. Looking up from his book, Eolos walked towards the other two, completing their group.
“What are you reading?” Zal asked.
“I got a new book on dragons this morning. I simply could not let it be without reading it!” he responded.
“Haha, of course it is. Well, glad you are enjoying your morning,” Zal responded. Now all three of them together waited for the rest of the class to arrive.
After some time, the room was filled with students excitedly talking in their assigned groups.
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“I’m telling you, with me as this group's wizard, we are unstoppable!” Eolos announced during their talk.
“Not a wizard,” a voice from the back of the class said aloud. Turning, he saw a student who was also in the magic class. He knew his classmate was just messing with him and didn't mean to hurt him, but it stung regardless of hearing it.
“Big talk from someone who gets hurt by their own cantrips!” Eolos responded back. There was a laugh from some of the class and the student from before, but it still didn't feel good to be called not a wizard.
While he was thinking, the door to the class shot open with a loud BANG! Dust filled the room as students started to cough and covered their ears from the loud noise.
“Sorry about that, guys. I think I went a bit too dramatic on my entrance,” the source of the disturbance said. Entering was a tall, broad-shouldered muscular man with dirty blond hair, an eye patch, and a large sword hanging from his hip.
“Good morning! I am your new teacher. You can call me Willow!” he shouted loud enough that a few of the students had to cover their ears again. “I am so excited for you all to be here! As some of you know, I'm in charge of the adventure class here in our academy. Some of you will only have me as you only wanted to take the adventure class, and some of you will have extra classes in between our assignments. Now, you might be thinking, ‘Hey! This loud guy can't be our teacher. What does he know, huh?’ Well, I'm a former soldier and adventurer. After some misadventures, I decided to retire and teach the new generation to avoid the mistakes I have made,” he said, his voice suddenly going serious. “All of you are here for your own reasons, but you will take this seriously regardless. Starting today, you all will receive a group assignment. This is a real quest from the people, and they need your help,” he continued, looking over the class as a new smile formed on his face. “That being said, naturally, we will start with something easier. Each group will receive a mission, to be completed within a week. Each night, you must report to either a teacher at the academy or a guard. If not, I will be coming for you,” he said with a slightly threatening tone.
After the excitement quieted down, Willow went to each group and handed them a sealed scroll and a badge per person. “You may open it after I leave. The badge is to prove to the guards and quest senders who you are and that you are representing the academy, so remember to act like it,” he said, walking to each group.
“Obviously, I will be the team leader,” Eolos said.
“And why would you be the leader? Also, do we even need one?” Zal responded.
“For I am a Wizard!” he retorted.
Kaori, sitting to the side of the two talking, turned to Willow as he walked by. “Can I switch groups?” The teacher looked at him, planted both his fists on his hips, and with a bright smile, responded, “No,” dropping their scroll and three badges in front of them and continuing on.
The moment the scroll dropped on the table, Eolos took it with a smile on his face. Zal looked at Kaori, and both of them just shrugged.
“Unless there is anything else, I wish all of you good luck with your first assignment,” Willow shouted again with the same energy as he entered, and in a blur, left, leaving a cloud of dust. The class continued murmuring to each other after the energetic teacher's departure, and each team began unsealing their scrolls.
“Alright,” Eolos began reading the scroll. “Creature hunt - Floor 8. Town of Newshaw. No deaths. Harmed children, adults, and missing animals. Attacks occur at night in random locations. Please talk to the people of Newshaw to find out more.”
“Well, that's a bit vague,” Kaori said after hearing the request.
“I suppose it's time for us to begin our first assignment,” Zal said to the team. They all nodded to each other and with excitement left for their first mission.