Chapter 176 – Floor 18: Part 1
Lily Bartlett knelt on the floor of her family’s chapel in their estate's rear.
It was empty at this hour of the night; even the servants had returned to their rooms for the evening. The large windows of the chapel were open, allowing the warm summer breeze to enter and filling the chapel with the smell of flowers.
Her knees ached from kneeling on the stone floor, even with the thick rug that covered it. She was desperate, and, at this point, the gods were her only hope. She kept her head bowed, and her hands clasped as she whispered her prayer.
“Please, send me a champion! I don’t want to marry Ridley White; he’s a cruel and uncaring man! His family is vile! Please, save me!” Lily prayed, her whispered voice barely carried across the chapel.
The Bartletts were a family of wealthy merchants in Amalar, a coastal city-state. They traded in distant lands and owned a fleet of cargo ships. But they weren’t Nobility, and their youngest daughter, Lily, had attracted the attention of Ridley White, the Sixth Prince of Amalar.
He was the pride and joy of the King and Queen, but the people reviled him. He had started life spoiled and pampered, which eventually gave way to a cruel tyrant who demanded things from everyone around him and relied on his status to protect him from the consequences.
Lily was young and beautiful, with honey-coloured hair and a lovely disposition. She was kind and caring, helping her neighbours and listening to her tutors diligently. It was only by happenstance that she had been walking home one day when Ridley White had spotted her from a distance.
A shout had startled her so much that she had nearly dropped her bag containing her books and other supplies. Before she knew what was happening, Ridley White was standing in front of her, demanding that she accompany him immediately and declaring to everyone that ‘she was his woman.’
He wanted her to be one of his concubines and join his harem of dozens of women in the palace. Lily had heard rumours about their treatment, and there was no way she would ever agree to it.
But there was nothing her parents could do; the King and Queen had heard that their favourite child had taken an interest in her and had insisted her family comply. No one in Amalar was willing to stand with them against the royal family, not even for wealthy merchants.
Her only recourse had been to pray to the gods for divine intervention. Tears streamed down Lily’s cheeks as she raised her head to look at the symbol of the Bartlett family’s chosen deity.
The god of Sanctuary Retort had never spoken to her directly before, but the priests say that the god listens to those under its protection.
“Please, save me.”
Page Break
Mathew was eager to arrive on the new Floor. The shop was open to him now, but he lacked Aether to purchase anything. Dressed in rags layered over his armour, he looked like someone who had been stranded for decades in the wilderness.
The first thing he had done with his inventory open was to take a potion in an attempt to heal his right leg, but the injury was too old. He would have to live with a limp until he levelled up, which could be a while since a new Discipline hadn’t been offered to him yet.
Mathew cracked a ‘cleaning tablet’ that he had pulled from his inventory and felt the cleansing energy sweep over his body and clothing, eliminating the years of dirt, grime and stains that had accumulated. He had grown used to the smell, and it was strange to breathe fresh air again.
He could not do anything about his clothing, hair, or beard until he arrived on the new Floor. The armour probably couldn’t be salvaged; the lack of enchantments on the Punishment Floor had worn away at the material, and the metal was rusty.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Mathew scratched his clean beard and hair, and he marvelled at the difference as the elevator slowed.
“Here we go!” Mathew shouted eagerly. He crossed his fingers, hoping for a world with hot showers and meals with large portions.
Page Break
Lily awoke in her bedroom as the sun peeked through the thin curtains that moved in the breeze off the water, driving away the intense summer heat. Her window looked out over the bay, and the water sparkled in the sunlight.
She loved looking out the window or taking long walks on the boardwalk near the harbour. But she could curse the sun this morning.
This would be the last morning she woke in her own bed. Ridley White would arrive this evening to collect her. He would offer her parents some gold and other gifts as compensation, drag her through the streets to ‘show off her beauty’ like a hunter displaying their kill, then she would be consigned to the Prince’s harem where she would never be allowed freedom again.
The morning passed in a blur, with Lily dressing mechanically. Before she knew it, she was in the breakfast parlour with her parents and siblings. There was a sombre mood in the room, with no conversation. Everyone knew that what was going to happen was inevitable, and no one wanted to break the silence.
Her father was reading the morning newspaper, and the small, black font on the front page proclaimed that one of the neighbouring city-states was going through a drought. Lily knew that a story about her and Ridley would be buried somewhere deep within that paper.
She tore apart a small piece of bread in frustration, the food only there to satisfy her parents. She herself didn’t feel the slightest amount of hunger this morning.
The gods had abandoned her. She had prayed to them, begged on her knees for deliverance, and they had not responded. What good was it to be a god if you were unwilling to save those who worship you?
Lost in thought and feeling helpless, Lily barely noticed one of her family’s staff members enter until she heard him speak. The man wore a business suit with their company’s crest on the blazer.
“Sir, there’s some kind of disturbance outside. You should come immediately.”
Grumbling, her father stood and followed him outside. Looking through the large windows of their breakfast parlour, Lily could see a strange glare outside. Curious and desperate for anything to take her mind off her troubles, she walked over and looked outside.
Page Break
Mathew raised his arm as soon as the silver wristband began to vibrate.
Floor 18 – A Damsel in Distress
Summary: Lily Barlett will soon be resigned to a fate she does not desire. A greedy young Prince, Ridley White, has taken an interest in Lily’s attractive appearance and has claimed her as a concubine. He is to take her away from her family, who are powerless to stop him.
Lily has prayed to the god of Sanctuary Retort for salvation.
You will defend Lily and convince Ridley White and the Royal Family that it is in their best interest to allow Lily to live her life as she wishes.
Reward: 500,000 Aether.
Mathew was disappointed with the reward. He was hoping for a new Discipline and enough Aether for a level-up, but he was destitute and desperate. At least it seemed like this Floor would be straightforward and simple.
“Alright, food, shower, warm bed, then save the girl. In that order.” Mathew grinned excitedly as the elevator came to a stop and the doors slowly opened. As soon as they were wide enough for him to pass through, Mathew was dragging his bad leg through it while shouting.
“Civilization, here I come!”
It had been far too long since he had seen anyone.
Page Break
Lily watched in amazement as the light intensified, forming a large pillar that shot up into the sky. Her siblings and mother joined her at the window, and she could see her father standing with his guards and some of the employees of his company in the front driveway.
The window paned and trembled, and she could feel a vibration in the floorboards beneath her feet. The light flashed, and she was forced to cover her eyes with her hands as some of the people outside screamed.
When she could see again, the light was gone and in its place was a man.
He was tall, had a beard that stretched down to his chest and was dressed in rags of different colours. The man was standing in their driveway, his arms spread wide, and he was laughing wildly.
“Who is that man?” Her brother asked. He was staring out the window with a disgusted look on his face. Her mother responded.
“A homeless person by the look of him. Don’t worry; the guards will drive him off. Honestly, what is Amalar coming to when someone like that can just barge onto private property? And today of all days.” Her mother trailed off and placed her hand over her mouth in surprise at what she just said as she shot a look at Lily.
“It’s fine, mom.” Lily responded. There was something decidedly odd about the man and not just about how he looked. He was acting like someone who hadn’t seen the sun in years. He was twirling in the driveway, and he was still laughing!
The guards obviously had enough, and she could see them approaching the man quickly; a pair of large men that Lily knew followed her father everywhere to ensure his safety. She could hear what was being said through the glass.
“Sir, this is private property. Come with us.” They said. Not waiting for a response, they were about to grab the man when he stopped laughing and spinning abruptly.