Prologue – Shadow and Flame
[Hall of the Black Centipede]
[Wizbit Cumberlin]
Cumberlin strolled with a listless boredom through the uninviting passageways of the Hall of the Black Centipede. The ebon-wood floors and smooth mosaic walls of dark stone absorbed the light that dared to penetrate its domain, making the casual walk through the Hall difficult to any who didn’t belong. One had to be friends with shadows if one was to make it far into the brooding keep. Cumberlin summoned forth these friends and they crawled from the darkness, lifting him off the ground and carrying him forward on a centipede of shadowcraft, as was his preferred method of transportation.
He made his way through the winding maze of a fortress towards the center of the Keep to a hidden courtyard deep within. The stone gardens. It contained a menagerie of labyrinth creatures, cryptic monsters, sinister horrors, and even the occasional hard to kill target of certain acolytes, all turned to stone by a gorgon kept on hand. Cumberlin found himself here often, listless, with little to do.
Gideon had returned to the Tower in spectacular fashion, and with him he brought war. For most, war was a dreaded thing. Climbing the perilous Tower and conquering its many floors was a tremendous enough task without the added threat of warring factions turning every floor into a battlefield.
For the Hall of the Black Centipede—war was welcomed with a nefarious delight.
Where there was war there were people who needed to be killed. There was work that needed to be done.
All this meant the hall was rather empty these days. The acolytes of darkness were scattered amongst the Towers many floors, doing that which is only acceptable under the veil of shadows, all in service of the Black Centipede.
Cumberlin was not amongst their ranks. He was the quartermaster after all. He had to make sure the Hall was stocked with appropriate wares for the assassins to complete their missions. It was a job he was good at. Perhaps too good. He often missed going on missions. The hunt. The thrill of an assassination. But Mindalia needed him here. His connections through the Tower ran deep. So he stayed, making sure the acolytes went without want or need for equipment, acquiring whatever cruel weapons their hearts desired.
As Cumberlin made his way through the gardens of twisted abominations, darkness coalesced all around him. He watched as the shadows from a waning moon peeled themselves from the walls and pooled in a corner forming an uninviting portal of sorts. Mindalia was summoning him.
He walked over to the shadowy corner, and the darkness jumped at him. The shadows wrapped around him in a tight blanket of cold black. When the darkness unfurled he found himself transported, standing in front of a large gate that marked the entrance to the Hall of the Black Centipede. The walls surrounding the keep were jet black and absorbed the darkness with a never-ending hunger. At their peaks they came to a dangerous spike that seemed as if it might reach out and pierce anything foolish enough to try and scale beyond them.
The entry gate was the same dark ebon wood, stacked deep and thick, bound together with bands of black steel. A centipede dug its way through the wooden doors, solidifying itself into a carving of never ending twists and turns, marking the hall.
“What are you doing here?” came a gruff voice.
The gnome glanced over at a torn, ragged old man. His hair was salt and pepper, and he had more scars than skin. He wore a loose fitting black linen shirt with a black leather vest to match. The groundskeeper Kade had his arms crossed and his red eyes flashed anger at Cumberlin. The pair of them never did get along. It annoyed Cumberlin to no end that he had been relegated to working with the man as some of the only ranking staff that was permanently on site.
“Kade.” Cumberlin gave the man a tight nod. “Mindalia summoned me forth. Do you need my assistance with something?”
Kade glanced at him for a moment, and then turned his gaze upwards towards the starry night sky. The moon was crescent and barely present. The wind was cool and slow and shook the surrounding forest of shadows with gentle breezes.
“I smell fire,” was all Kade had to offer as he stared upwards.
Cumberlin furrowed his brow and gave a tentative sniff. Although his nose was no match for Kades. He glanced upwards, following Kade’s gaze and reached outward with his senses.
Heat immediately bit out at his perceptions. He narrowed his eyes and stared intently into the twilight skies above, searching for the source of power that burned so brightly it threatened his senses.
A small speck of golden flames appeared among the stars. Kade let loose a deep, guttural growl.
“How…” Cumberlin mumbled beneath his breath.
The golden spec grew larger and larger until a literal sun of golden flames threatened to take over the entire night sky. Tree tops burned and life below wilted away under the intense pressure of the flames. A haze of black smoke soon filled the air and Cumberlin took his last breath of fresh air as he began to rouse his mana from the depths of his core.
A titanic roar rang out, and the world shook.
A golden dragon burst from the radiant sun above, flames pouring from its mouth as it scorched at the forest surrounding the keep. Each powerful flap of the dragon's wings conjured up tornadoes that greedily swallowed up the flames and ran rampant, the wind feeding the flames and the flame feeding the winds in an arms race towards a fiery obliteration tarnished in gold.
The dragon came to a slow circle in the skies above Cumberlin and Kade. Smoke and flame poured from the behemoth's body as it made its descent, landing in front of the two in a billow of impenetrable white smolder and ash.
An elf emerged from the smoke, his stride slow and full of confidence. He stood seven feet tall. His hair was pure, radiant gold and flowed like flames that he bundled together into a wild tail. He wore a robe of white with flames that lined the hem and cuffs. A dragon of gold danced across the fabric, seemingly with a life of its own. Beneath the robe was a powerful, muscular body covered with scales so polished they reflected the golden flames that now lit up the area. Most curious, a scar ran down his cheek. Cumberlin wondered at who it was that could permanently scar the dragon.
Gideon’s eyes danced with delight at the golden flames that destroyed the dark forest that provided sanctuary to the Hall of the Black Centipede.
“I hope you’ll pardon my intrusion,” Gideon started, a smile ear to ear. “I hate to burn this place to the ground but I know how obsessive you people are with your shadows. It seemed pertinent to my own safety that I… Light the place up a bit," he chuckled.
“How did you reach this place,” was Cumberlin's only response. The Hall of the Black Centipede was a subspace of the Tower. Connected to the Tower, but not necessarily within the Tower itself. While it wasn’t entirely unheard of raiding someone’s subspace, it was usually the thing done with armies, and it was certainly never a surprise to the one being raided. Yet Gideon had shown up without any such indications or warnings.
Cumberlin got his answer as a smaller woman peeked out from behind Gideon’s massive frame. Amara Starseeker's silver hair glistened like starlight as it reflected the light from Gideon’s flames. She wore a deep blue wrap, that twinkled with silver stars. Her eyes shined a deep emerald color, and she had a knowing smile on her face.
Between Amara, the Fateweaver, and Gideon, the Fatebreaker, Cumberlin could hazard a few guesses as to how the duo managed to carve their way through reality and make it here.
“I must say, to be greeted by The Summoner AND The Beast. I’m honored.” Gideon gave a mock bow, and Amara crossed her arms, a confident, if not arrogant smile painted across her face.
“Explain yourself-“ Cumberlin started to engage, but was cut off.
“Cumberlin,” a deep voice growled next to him. He glanced over to see Kade. The man’s eyes were rage red and leaking a deadly, unrestrained hatred. “Make sure Mindalia brings me back.”
“Kade, wait-“
Kade didn’t wait for Cumberlin to stop him.
“Cowl of Fenrir: Full transformation.” Kade’s voice was a deep, guttural growl as the strained words escaped his clenched teeth.
Kade held his hand up to his mouth and bit off his index finger. Black blood gushed out of the wound and puddled at his feet. Cumberlin watched in abject terror as the pitch black blood climbed up the man's body and bit into his flesh like a ravenous beast, consuming every inch of his body.
Beneath the blood was snapping, ripping, and howls of pain as Kade rapidly lost his human form, the blood bending, breaking, and reshaping him in its own primal image.
The grotesque abomination of blood transformed, solidifying into a pile of jet black fur. A hunched over abomination slowly stood up, bones continuing to snap and pop into place. The blood continued to congeal and pulsate as the head took shape. A long muzzle formed, pointed ears twitched. Finger length fangs dripped black blood and shadows.
Kade let loose a howl that rivaled Gideon’s own draconic roar. The flames that raged at the surrounding forest were immediately extinguished by the shockwave his powerful bellow produced.
Kade bit off the howl, bending over slightly, each ragged breath a huff of pain and rage. His eyes of crimson leaked a deadly energy as they sought out their target. The man now stood a wolf over nine feet tall. Muscles strained to break free of the skin that contained them. Each strand of his jet black fur stood tall and seemed to solidify into a hide of needles that promised misery to any who dared touch. A low, constant rumbling shook the earth as the beast growled at both friend and foe.
Cumberlin stared at the fully transformed Kade with some trepidation. He had never actually seen the man fully transformed, only bits here and there. Mindalia had caught him over a hundred years ago and bound him to service as her loyal dog. She expressly forbade a full transformation. If rumors were to be believed, the last time he transformed he completely obliterated the eighth floor of the Tower, making it uninhabitable for hundreds of years.
Kade was now a beast of shadows, hatred, and rage. Cumberlin would be as likely a target as anyone here, knowing Kade had zero control over himself when fully transformed.
“This should be fun,” came an amused voice.
Cumberlin looked over at Gideon. The dragon was still smiling ear to ear. His gaze shifted briefly, as though he wasn’t even paying attention to anything in front of him, and his smile only grew wider as he watched something meant only for him. What is he looking at? Cumberlin wondered.
The rumors that followed Gideon’s return to the Tower had been too many to process. The only thing that people seemed to agree upon was that the dragon had finally broken his curse, and was subsequently more powerful than ever. Judging by the gleeful look on his face as he stood in defiance of Kade’s monstrous transformation, those rumors were sure to be true.
Kade let loose another powerful roar and launched forward at blinding speeds. He tackled Gideon and the two flew backwards into the forest remains, sending an explosive rumble as Kade’s tackle broke the sound barrier and sent dirt, rocks, and tree trunks flying into the air.
Howls and roars rang out as wolf and dragon battled it out. Gideon took to the skies a golden dragon, but the heavens wouldn’t be a safe place for him to retreat. A black wolf launched out from the fiery graveyard below and into the skies in relentless pursuit. Cumberlin watched as the two turned into specks of black and gold, clashing in the night sky.
His gaze fell back down to the lone Amara. She was also watching the fight play out with an amused curiosity on her face. She sensed Cumberlin's gaze and looked back at the gnome with a forlorn smile.
“I told him not to get carried away, but to be fair, you guys started it,” she shrugged.
“What do you want?” Cumberlin asked, not interested in her games.
“I have no idea what he wants. He just said he had some unfinished business with Mindalia. I assume he’s here to finally wipe you all out.” As she spoke, Cumberlin watched her weave mana into the air around her. Tiny stars began to form, creating a mesmerizing constellation that floated aimlessly around her.
Cumberlin doubted Amara’s words. Gideon was undoubtedly strong. But he was on home turf of the Black Centipede. Mindalia would be at her strongest here. He glanced out at the destruction that surrounded them, reading into the darkness of the shadows. Mindalia was watching. She was patient. The best assassin of them all. Her interference, or lack thereof was the only sign Cumberlin needed. She was waiting in the shadows for Cumberlin and Kade to give her the perfect opportunity. Gideon and Amara wouldn’t be leaving her domain alive.
“Full summon - Barracuda Storm.” Cumberlin cast his spell and a hundred tiny portals of pitch black opened up around him.
Schools of pitch black barracuda the length of spears shot out of the portals all towards Amara. They swam through the air and dived into the shadows, launching out at her from every angle.
Amara was readily prepared for the assault, her field of stars shooting small beams of light that intercepted and cut the barracuda with ease while she rested safely in her galaxy of stars.
Cumberlin studied her carefully, a frown on his face. He needed this over quickly and Amara seemed content to hunker down and draw the fight out as long as possible.
If he couldn’t penetrate her defenses, he would simply overwhelm it.
Cumberlin cast barracuda storm four times over. Hundreds upon hundreds of summoned barracuda launched out of the portals he created, and towards her field of stars in a desperate kamikaze mission to take a bite of her flesh. As she contended with the school, Cumberlin summoned another creature.
“Full Summon - Penelope.”
This time the earth rumbled as a creature dug its way up from the earth below. A head broke free from the dirt first, two black tentacles whipping at the earth as they explored their surroundings. The tentacles found purchase on a head with two large fangs, each bigger than the gnome.
“Hello my sweet.” Cumberlin patted Penelope on the head as the centipede pulled itself free from the earth. Her fangs dripped shadows and her black chitinous armor silently clinked as her body whipped back and forth.
“It’s feeding time. For your enjoyment, the Fateweaver.” Cumberlin gave Penelope a bow, gesturing in Amara’s direction as she fended off his unrelenting storm of barracuda.
Penelope clacked her fangs excitedly and then whipped in her direction at a blinding speed, bleeding in and out of the shadows without a sound. She would weave through the storm of Barracuda, letting them absorb the brunt of her defenses, and then strike out at Amara like the perfect huntress she was. At least that’s what he hoped would happen. Dealing with a fateweaver would hardly be such a simple matter, he knew that much.
Cumberlin opened up another, much larger portal and glanced into it. The pitch black waters of the void sea gave way to nothing. A large blue eye opened up, its size unfathomable with no point of reference in the dark waters that surrounded it. Its color a beautiful blue jewel surrounded by a sea of pitch black.
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“Prepare yourself, old friend.” Cumberlin closed the portal and returned his focus to Amara. The barracudas had pushed in and were now swimming within biting distance. Penelope was lurking behind them, hidden in their shadows, moving silently, waiting to pounce.
She launched forward like a spring, fangs at the ready to bite into the elf and release her deadly toxins.
A cannon of white light shot down from the sky, cutting Penelope in half. Cumberlin grimaced and fed more mana to the summon. The centipede quickly rebuilt herself from the shadows and continued her assault. She moved like a whip with a mind of its own as she lashed out at Amara. Amara’s eyes glowed a deep emerald color as she dodged and danced past Penelope's attacks with a practiced ease. All the while she rebuilt her field of stars, now overpowering the Barracuda until there was no trace of them left.
Every time Amara dodged an attack from Penelope it was followed by a thick beam of starlight from the heavens above that slammed into the exact spot Penelope was attacking, ripping her in half.
As Cumberlin fed more and more mana to his summon he grew more frustrated.
Amara wasn’t necessarily strong. Combat wasn’t her forte. Everyone knew that. She was a diviner, not a combatant. What made a fate weaver difficult to deal with was the fact that they more or less knew what was coming. She could read fate better than anyone, making her exceptionally good at dodging, and counterattacks. Cumberlin had been hoping to save most of his energy for Gideon, but he would have to use some to swat down this fly.
Eight black tentacles made out of shadows shot out from Cumberlin's back and picked him up off the ground, carrying him into the fray.
He cast Whip of Lazarus and a tentacle twice the size of a watchtower shot out of a portal and slammed into the ground on Amara as soon as she landed from dodging one of Penelope’s attacks.
“You’re going to have to do better than that,” Amara mocked, standing on top of the enormous tentacle.
Cumberlin simply smirked at the elf.
“Tenth whip of Lazarus.”
Ten large portals surrounded the area. A massive tentacle shot out of each one and slammed down on Amara with a titanic boom that quaked the earth and shattered the terrain. None of them stopped after one slam. Cumberlin watched as they pounded at the spot where Amara stood, turning the area into nothing but dust. She couldn’t retreat, couldn’t dodge. There was nowhere for her to run. Cumberlin cut off all hopes as his tentacles annihilated everything in sight.
Cumberlin’s smile grew as her mana signature faded. He was yet to receive a kill notification, but that was fine. He could tell her core was flickering out like a light. Her death would be imminent, if not by him, then by Mindalia. He dismissed the ten portals and the tentacles they summoned forth. Cumberlin sent Penelope forward to finish the kill. Instead, she died in an instant.
The dust and debris gradually gave way, and Cumberlin's eyes went wide with shock.
Gideon stood there triumphantly. Held over his head, shielding both him and Amara from Cumberlin's onslaught was the body of Kade. Gideon launched the body at Cumberlin and it came rag dolling to a lifeless stop at his feet. Cumberlin stared down at the man in shock, then he scowled.
“I must say,” Gideon stood there, not a single hair out of place, the same confident grin on his face. “If he ever learns to control that, we’re all in serious trouble.” He finished with a taunting laugh at Kade on the ground. “Now Cumberlin. Let’s see what you’ve got for me.”
Cumberlin felt his blood run cold at the challenge. Kade’s failure wasn’t wholly unexpected. What was unexpected was Mindalia had never interfered in their fight. That meant there was never an opportunity for her to strike. That meant it all came down to him to create that chance.
“Very well,” Cumberland sighed. “ Just remember, Gideon, some things can’t be put back into their cage.”
Gideon only smiled a dragon’s smile. Curiously, his eyes lost focus again, like his mind was somewhere else. Like he was watching something. Cumberlin put the dragon out of his mind and focused on his Core of the Black Depths.
His mana was composed of black oceans from a sea of void.
“Lazarus. Heed my call.”
He drained the entirety of his mana core into the ability. Like high tide, pitch black waters seeped from the ground below and began to flood every inch of their surroundings. Cumberlin floated upwards on a boat of shadows as the waters rose, soon rising up to Gideons waist. Waves began to rumble and crash, and the calm starry sky quickly disappeared behind the black clouds of an ominous storm. Lazarus was coming.
“Stop that this instant. If you summon that thing here I’ll banish you from the Halls for a thousand years.”
Cumberlin's heart froze as Mindalia’s voice cut through the air.
“But-“
“I said stop.”
Cumberlin bit down in frustration and canceled the summon. He instantly fell to his knees and started coughing up black blood as he slammed the gate closed. Lazarus didn’t want to be put back in his cage, and it was now a battle of wills as Cumberlin fought to regain control and fight against the backlash of canceling a summon.
He felt a cool hand brush the back of his neck, and his power returned to him in a flash as he canceled the summon with ease. The black waters dissipated seconds later, leaving muddy fields as the only sign they had ever been there. Cumberlin glanced up to see Mindalia standing above him, her hand resting on his shoulder. Cumberlin hadn’t been successful. He was moments away from losing control of Lazarus.
Mindalia had simply scared the beast back into his cage. No one defied the queen of darkness.
Mindalia smiled down at Cumberlin as he regained his composure. Her black leather armor clung tightly to her ebon skin. Her midnight hair flowed freely into the darkness, no end in sight. A long cape trailed behind her, zigging and zagging in erratic fashion, pulling at any shadows surrounding it.
Mindalia had finally revealed herself.
“Awww. I was looking forward to that. I’ve never actually seen an abyssal kraken.”
“Trust me, it’s not something any of us should be eager to deal with.” Mindalia gave an easy smile, her words betraying nothing.
“That’s ok. You’re the one I’m here for anyways.” Gideon’s eyes went hard, and his smile turned wicked. Golden scales slowly began to crawl up his neck and every time he breathed out flames leaked from his mouth.
“You’ll allow me a moment to prepare?” Mindalia asked. Cumberlin stared at her. She was the picture-perfect silhouette of calm, and he wished he felt her confidence. He let his senses bleed out to the rest of the world, maybe backup had arrived. All of their high-ranking members were on assignment, but they would have returned under threat of attack. Cumberlin felt nothing outside of a few acolytes creeping in the shadows, some watching in fear, others waiting to attack.
Gideon had been hunched forward ready to attack, but he quickly straightened up.
“Where are my manners? Please. Take as much time as you need to prepare.” Gideon pulled out a large, plush throne from his void sack and plopped down, more laying in it then sitting in it.
“Would you like some wine while we wait?” He pulled out a bottle of something and offered it to Amara, who wore an equally scandalized look on her face to match Cumberlin's.
Mindalia, for her part, simply held her hand out above the ground. Shadows carved out a circular glyph into the ground that Cumberlin didn’t recognize, some ancient script he couldn’t be sure of. A black rectangular box burst forth from the ground, as if being dragged from the depths of a layer deeper then the seven hells. Black chains were bound tightly around it, padlocks with no keyhole ran through every link. Three skeletons with bones of pitch black had their arms wrapped tightly around the case, desperate to keep the contents of the case closed.
Such dread and terror poured off the case that even Cumberlin felt sick to his stomach.
Gideon, who had been all smiles stared intently at the case as it was summoned forth.
His eyes did that strange thing again where they lost all focus, like his mind was somewhere completely different. His confident smile lost all humor as it disappeared from his face, deepening into a frown. He gave Mindalia an angry, if not slightly confused look.
“Where on earth did you get that?” he finally asked.
“You’re the one who can see into the future. You tell me.” Mindalia smiled back at the dragon.
The dragon didn’t respond. He narrowed his eyes at Mindalia as he leaned back in his seat, his hand covering his mouth as his brows furrowed together in deep thought.
Precognition, Cumberlin thought, piecing together Gideon’s actions. The dragon had somehow gained future sight. Mindalia wasn’t watching, waiting to strike, she was studying Gideon, trying to figure out what new powers he had gained.
“I knew you were watching,” Gideon said, his smile returning as he popped out of his seat. “Letting your pawn sacrifice themselves to gain an edge and learn something new. As cold as ever, Min.”
“They exist to serve me, how I use them is up to me,” Mindalia replied coolly, showing no remorse. Cumberlin glanced down at Kades’ body, only to find it gone. He reached out with his senses and felt the man somewhere deep within the keep. Sometime during her appearance, she recovered his body and pulled it back into the Hall for treatment.
“I feel like we got off on the wrong foot,” Gideon gave a placating smile. “How about you put that thing away and we talk like the mature and dignified Tower climbers we are.” Gideon’s eyes had never left the black case that Mindalia summoned forth. It stood between the two like an ominous tower of doom. It seemed like a weapon cast of sorts, but Cumberlin couldn’t be sure. Mindalia didn’t really use weapons, and neither Gideon nor Mindalia seemed keen on speaking it into existence.
Mindalia waved her hand and the case retreated back into the earth as easily as it had appeared.
“Tell me Gideon, how can the Hall of the Black Centipede be of service to you?” Mindalia’s words were cool, but her tone was restrained, each word an unspoken threat that she was done playing around.
“Two things,” Gideon said, holding up two pointed fingers. “One. I would like to cancel the contract against me. I’m tired of living under constant threat of assassination. It’s annoying.”
“We don’t cancel contracts. You know that.” Mindalia countered.
“I know. Which is why I’m here to negotiate in person,” he said with an awkward gesture at the destroyed surroundings. “Seeing as how I’m the one who put out the contract on my own life, I figure I should be at least given the opportunity to call it off.”
“Tell me what your reward was for breaking your curse and I shall consider canceling the contract.”
“You already know?” Gideon gave Mindalia a questioning look.
“Confirm it.” Mindalia demanded, her eyes growing cold.
“As you have guessed, for breaking my curse, I have received Precognition.” Gideon gave a small, almost humble bow.
Cumberlin’s ears perked up in surprise as Mindalia actually let some emotion slip out. She gave an annoyed tsk and frowned.
“Very well,” she sighed, pulling out a large gold key the size of her forearm from the shadows of her cloak. “Consider the contract canceled. The reward for killing you was your very own dragon’s hoard, held in escrow for the soul capable of killing you and completing the contract. May Amara Starseeker and Wizbit Cumberlin serve as witness to see I’m returning your treasure to you, marking the contract's nullification.” With that, Mindalia tossed the golden key back to Gideon, who practically lunged at it like a dog to a bone.
“Ah, finally I am made whole again.” Gideon cradled the golden key to his face with a satisfied grin. “A dragon should never be without his treasure.”
“What is your second request?”
Gideon pocketed the golden key, and his face turned serious once again.
“Humans have returned to the Tower.”
“I’m aware. I’ve been monitoring the situation closely.”
“Monitor them all you like but know this—I am taking them under my wings. They are mine now. If anyone moves against them, I will consider it an action of war against myself.” Gideon crossed his arms and glared defiantly at Mindalia.
“Why?” Mindalia asked, not bothering to mask her confusion.
“Because I promised someone I would. It’s the least I can do for the gift she gave me.”
Mindalia didn’t say anything for a long moment.
“Who the Hall is contracted to kill is no business of yours. If our mission is to kill a human. Then I will kill that human.”
Gideon’s golden eyes flashed angry fire, but Mindalia pressed on.
“However, when the calls for human extermination undoubtedly come, I will pay them no heed.”
“Fair.” Gideon snorted out flames, his stance relaxing slightly.
“I will warn you now. I do have unfinished business with a human. From what I gather he’s a friend of yours. His death is non-negotiable I’m afraid. I will have his soul.”
“You must mean Jack…” Gideon chuckled to himself. “I can assure you, that man is dead.”
“I can assure you, he is not.” Mindalia countered.
For the second time Cumberlin watched Gideon lose his smile.
“Well. I’d like to say that surprises me, but maybe it shouldn’t… Very well, do what you must. You’ll be doing us both a favor if you kill that man. Although don’t be too surprised if you aren’t able.”
Mindalia cocked her eyebrow at that, but Gideon offered nothing more.
With business between the two having reached a tentative agreement, the small group stared awkwardly at each other, no one willing to make the first move. Finally, Gideon scratched at the back of his head and broke the standoff.
“Well Min, it’s been lovely as always talking with you, but I fear I’ve overstayed my welcome. Will I see you again in the upper sectors?”
“Are you recruiting me?”
“Well, the roster is mostly filled up, but I wouldn’t mind having the most powerful Shadowmancer in the Tower fighting alongside me. What do you say?”
“Maybe next time. With your movement the Tower is about to become very lively again. I’m still weighing my options. Soldiers of the Silent Sword have shown back up in force. The seat of the first storm has started to rumble. The Radiant Warden has taken up the light once more. The Harem king has gathered his concubines. Even the dreamer has awoken from her slumber. ” she smiled. “Plus, you know as well as I do the sort of old decrepit monsters waiting for us in the upper sectors, provided they aren’t dead that is. I do appreciate the offer though,” she finished, her smile knowing and mischievous.
“Suit yourself,” Gideon shrugged. With far less fanfare than his arrival, he scooped up Amara into a princess carry and jumped upwards, transforming back into a large golden dragon and disappearing into the sky.
“Why did you let him leave? He was obviously scared to fight you,” we’re the only words Cumberlin could manage. Certainly, Mindalia could have bought enough time for back up to arrive. Her, on home ground, with several of the other high-ranking members showing up. It would have been more than Gideon could handle.
“I’m not prepared to risk everything I’ve worked for on a gamble. Precognition isn’t something anyone has actually achieved within the Tower. If I’m to do battle against someone who can see into the future I need more…” she trailed off, still staring at the spot in the sky Gideon had disappeared to.
“More what?”
“More everything,” she responded after a long moment, a hungry look in her eyes.
“Do you think he will be able to reach the top?”
“Maybe. Gideon’s blockade was strong but not impenetrable. You know as well as I do the kind of people who have made it beyond the 15th floor. Plus, who knows how many made it before his time, rotting away in the upper floors of this damned tower. Gideon now has something far more powerful than anything I’ve ever seen, and he has the skills to use it to its fullest potential.”
Cumberlin felt a cold dread form in the pit of his stomach. A kind of despair he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“So what are you going to do?” he asked.
Mindalia turned to look at Cumberlin, her eyes piercing into his very soul, a look of pure determination on her face.
“It’s time for me to make my move,” she smiled. “I’ve recalled Victor to serve as head of the Black Centipede in my absence.”
“What?” Cumberlin felt his brain short circuit several times over. “Victor? That maniac? Where are you going? Why are you leaving your post? Does the Black Centipede know of this?” Cumberlin felt the questions pouring out of him. He knew he was out of place, but he absolutely could not allow Victor to take control over the Black Centipede. Mindalia would never regain control. He knew that. She knew that.
He stared back at Mindalia, her gaze was deadly and Cumberlin felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He instantly went to one knee before her.
“Forgive me. It’s just-“
“I know.” She cut him off. “I would place you in charge, but you know how… pragmatic Victor can be. His reputation might even be worse than mine. I can’t have anyone making a move against the Hall in my absence and with him at the throne I can all but guarantee its safety. Plus, I have work for you.”
Cumberlin’s head shot up at that last part. Work.
“You are to see to it that Jack Atlas, and all of his associates are killed."
That didn’t surprise Cumberlin. He knew at one point or another Mindalia would have the human killed for his failures. Gideon showing up here served as a poignant reminder. He was a bit insulted that he was the one assigned to the job. It was overkill. He did recall Gideon’s words on the man though.
You’ll be doing us both a favor if you kill that man. Although don’t be too surprised if you aren’t able.
He remembered Jack being a rare, if not annoying talent, but for even Gideon to imply as much was alarming praise. Just what exactly had Jack done?
“Where are you going? The sixteenth floor?” Cumberlin finally asked, turning his focus back to Mindalia.
“The thirteenth floor. I think it’s high time someone unraveled its mysteries.”
Cumberlin felt his jaw drop.
“The thirteenth floor? Are you insane? No one survives the thirteenth floor. How did you even gain access?” Before he could get out his flood of questions and protests, she disappeared in a cloud of shadows, a mischievous smile on her face.
Cumberlin stared at the empty spot that marked where she had been standing. His mind raced for answers but none came. The thirteenth floor. The cursed floor. The unconquered floor. Any who went there died. So much so, even the Tower quit allowing people to go there. Once you completed the twelfth floor it sent you straight to the fourteenth, even going so far as to give you a faux quest completion for the thirteenth floor. Cumberlin hoped that Mindalia had been lying. Or maybe had some sort of a plan, had uncovered some sort of truth about the floor. But there was story a plenty about some brave and powerful adventurer finally figuring out the secret of the thirteenth floor, only to never return. Now she had done the very same, and Victor was coming to replace her.
Cumberlin let out a sigh, and made his way back into the keep. He would settle matters with Jack quickly. He needed strength more than ever now if he was to contend with Victor's rule, and the sixteenth floor was all but open to him now.