Prologue

[The Tower, 14th Floor – Starfall Castle]

Amara Starseeker awoke from another restless sleep, gasping for air, her silver hair caked to her forehead in sweat. She kicked off the silken covers and stepped into the moonlight that pierced through the bay windows of her room. The shadows crept behind her. She pushed open her balcony doors and stepped outside, taking deep refreshing breaths of the frigid night air, bathing in the comforting light of the shining silver moon.

The shadows had haunted her dreams again. Creatures of darkness creeping and crawling around her, a thousand million legs skittering across the ground as chitinous armor clinked together, the shadows tightening with ominous intent around her. Suffocating her.

Amara stared up at the stars to collect herself, banishing the image from her mind. It’s only a dream, she repeated to herself, hoping if she said it enough, it would be true. She knew it wasn’t. She knew who her killer would be. The only question was–how much time did she have left?

“Trouble sleeping?” came a cool voice from the corner shadows that plagued the balcony. Amara didn’t bother to turn around. Instead, weaving mana into the surrounding air, collecting power from the stars above, she prepared her attack. If she was to die, it would be under the assault of falling stars.

“Don’t be like that. I’m not here on… official business,” the shadow said, tasting the words.

Amara held the power of the stars at bay, turning around to face her opponent. “I’ve had dreams that a bug was trying to kill me.”

There was a long, tense moment of dreadful silence as she stared down into the shadows before a woman in black clad armor revealed herself within the darkness. Midnight hair spilled over her shoulders, dark skin that killed any light that dare touch it. Two long Elven ears poked out from beneath her hair. Pitch black orbs filled her eyes. Mindalia, The Black Centipede was here.

“I suppose we’ll see how the night goes. You may live yet.” Said Mindalia, a faint smile tracing her lips.

Amara glanced up at the starry night sky again, fate shrouded by the darkness that surrounded her. “What do you want?” She asked, returning her gaze to Mindalia.

“I need your abilities- “

“You can’t afford my services. Now please leave.” Amara said, cutting her off.

In response, Mindalia produced a round silver orb that glowed like the moon above and gave it a lazy toss across the balcony. Amara didn’t bother to dodge. She instantly knew what it was, her hands moving with a mind of their own as they snatched the item from the air unbidden. She inspected it.

Orb of the Moonlight Scholar

Type: Reagent

Tier: Legendary

Description:

Mana core upgrade material

An orb of the Moonlight Scholar, used to peer into the night sky and discern the secrets of the stars.

“You’ve done your research,” said Amara, almost impressed with the offering. “I suppose this is enough to get you a meeting.” She said with a sigh.

“Only a meeting?” Mindalia said, eyebrow raised.

“Come inside. Tell the Witch of the Stars what it is you seek.” Amara said with a practiced laziness as she walked back into her room. Mindalia followed suit, shadows pulling themselves off the wall to trail behind her, zigging and zagging in a spastic fashion.

Amara’s chambers were large. Enormous bay windows filled the surrounding walls, spilling in the silver moonlight. A large bed draped with white silken sheets took up the far wall. A small round table for guests sat at the other side of the room, an ornately crafted porcelain tea set sitting upon it, showing little signs of use. The primary feature of the room was a large round pool inset in the middle of the room. Crystalline water that sparkled in the moonlight filled it halfway.

Amara plopped down rather unceremoniously onto one of the sitting pillows that surrounded the pool, letting the tension bleed out of her as her toes made lazy figure eights in the waters below.

“Should you be so carefree with that?” Mindalia asked, cocking an eyebrow at the girl dangling her feet into the waters of the only known celestial item in existence.

“It’s just a pool of water if I’m not actively using it,” Amara offered with a shrug. “You know that creep, Vance? He once paid me 3,000,000AP to swim around in it,” she said with a disgusted look.

“I thought that was a rumor…” Mindalia said, taking a seat next to her by the pool.

Amara shook her head free of the memory, then looked to Mindalia, her gaze steady. “What exactly is it that you want?”

“Where is Fatebreaker?” Mindalia said, coming right out with it, a hard look in her pitch-black eyes.

“No,” said Amara instantly, “absolutely not. Are you insane? Even if I could find him, did you really think I- “

For the second time that night, Mindalia produced another item from the shadows of her cloak; a small jar filled with a blue glowing substance. Two emerald orbs floating around inside. She sat the item on the ground, nudging it in Amara’s direction.

She looked at the items and groaned.

The Emerald Eyes of Lucky Logan

Type: Ocular Enhancement

Tier: Legendary

Enchantment Slots: 16/16

[Sight of Fortuna - Natural Enchant]

Allows the user to see the fortuitous rivers of fate.

[Glorious Focus - 8 Slots]

+250 Focus

[Glorious Willpower - 8 Slots]

+250 Willpower

“Logan always knew which rivers to fish in. Wherever he cast his rod, the best fish were sure to bite.”

“Do I even want to know how you got those?” Amara asked.

“Does it really matter? Find Fatebreaker and they are yours.”

Amara let out a sigh as she fell back onto the pillows, staring up at the ceiling.

“I’ve already tried searching for him…” she said after a long moment.

“And?”

“And wherever he is, The Tower is hiding him from my sight. It’s going to cost you a lot more if you want me to test my fate against that monster.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“I’ve given you key upgrade components for your core and a legendary item that will have you ruling the upper sectors within the year. Yet you still want more?” Mindalias voice was filled with both anger and exasperation.

“Yes. If you want me to pit my fate against the will of The Tower and locate my friend so that you can make another attempt at his life, then yes, I’m going to insist upon more. You’ve given me so many wonderful things, but what of my people? I have an army to feed, after all.” Amara didn’t owe Fatebreaker anything, he was a powerful ally, but Mindalia had so much to offer. It also wasn’t like her success was a guarantee. If he could survive, this would be a net win for everyone, and a massive blow to the centipede.

Mindalia scoffed at the hint. She produced a small black bag and tossed it over.

Amara peered inside; it was a void sack filled with a literal mountain of soul crystals. The wealth of this woman was starting to give her a migraine. Where was she getting it all? Killing people couldn’t be this lucrative.

“Alright…” Amara finally said after a moment’s deliberation.

“What, that’s it?” Mindalia said, “You don’t want my first born? An unbreakable soul pact? Should I offer you a celestial quest perhaps?”

“Hey, no one is making you do this.” Amara said, holding her hands up in defense.

Mindalia took a sharp breath in collecting herself. “Very well. Find Fatebreaker.” She said, more command than request.

“I still need a memento…” Amara said, wincing slightly as Mindalia’s eyes flashed anger. Then she pulled out a small wooden box, handing it over to Amara.

Amara opened the box and peered inside to find a golden dragon scale. The scale of Fatebreaker… The Scale of Gideon. Amara winced at the thought of how this was obtained, almost returning everything to Mindalia on the spot. There would be no coming back from this she thought.

Amara let out a small sigh as she picked up the golden scale. She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes. Mana poured from her [Core of the Celestial Sky], running through her channels and filling her body, spilling into the world around her in a gentle hum. The light from the moon warped and swirled in congress around her as she activated her technique. The ability for which they named her. “Starseeker…” she said in a quiet, deafening whisper.

She opened her eyes, their crystal blue had disappeared, spiraling galaxies taking their place. Black cosmic tears dripped down her cheeks and spilled into the crystalline pool below, turning it pitch black. One by one the dark waters filled with stars from the night sky. Then galaxies. Then the heavens themselves. Amara felt her soul separate from her body, slipping into the cosmos below.

She floated aimlessly in the grand cosmos, letting the rivers of fate carry her to her destination. It didn’t matter which river she chose. All paths were the same. All would eventually end at The Tower. She gave herself the smallest moment to enjoy the journey of sailing through the stars before she opened her eyes again.

Somewhere in time, in the infinity of space, The Tower stood before her. She looked up at its unreachable heights, then down at its infinite depths–and began her search. She spiraled the tower a hundred, a thousand, a million times, looking for any signs of Gideon. Any small thread that would lead her to him. The Tower took notice.

She stood before it as it measured her, weighed her, judged her very existence. Amara stared back in defiance. Her position wasn’t great. If she couldn’t find an answer here, she wasn’t sure what Mindalia would do to her. She needed The Tower to help her. As though reading her mind, a wisp of a golden thread extended before her. An invitation. She latched onto it, winding it tightly around her arm, the thread cutting into her skin. The Tower pulled.

Amara closed her eyes and grit her teeth as The Tower yanked her by the thread, pulling her through the tower. Bashing her against the many floors, slamming her into walls, the thread biting into her arm with each cosmic pull. Her only recourse was to give in and hold tight. This was the price for taking from The Tower.

Mercifully, the journey reached an end. She opened her eyes, first staring at her arm, battered, bruised, and broken. This sort of damage to her soul would likely be permanent. She put the thoughts of her pain aside and glanced around the tower. Taking in the clear blue skies and rolling hills of green grass. Forests and mountains lining the horizon. Where was she?

Amara floated aimlessly through the skies, trying to gain her bearings. She would be a ghost here, peering through fate at those around her. This was unlike any floor she had ever seen before. She was beginning to think that the tower dragged her into one of the unreachable upper floors, as she didn’t recognize the landscape at all. It would be unlikely that Gideon had made it here with no one the wiser, but it also wouldn’t be the first surprising thing he had done.

After a moment longer searching, she finally saw signs of life. A small group of people were traversing the rolling hills. She flew in for a closer look and grimaced. Humans. There was always trouble when humans were involved. That alone immediately dismissed any theories she had about Gideon making it to the sixteenth floor. Besides, these humans looked weak. She doubted any of them had even gained their first true level if their haggard appearance was to be any judge. With them was an elf. Hair more tarnished than golden hung long from his head. He was pale, almost skin and bones, but a jovial smile hung across his face, and golden eyes filled his gaze. Amara felt her stomach drop. She had found Fatebreaker. She had found Gideon…

For a being of the fifteenth floor, descending all the way down to the first floor was no small thing. With each level you descended, so would your stats, dropping to the level at which you first completed the floor. In addition, the mana degraded, becoming less pure the lower you went. This had clearly taken its toll on Gideon. Gone was the glorious dragon of gold that was both hero and terror to those on the upper floors. Now he was simply a weak, powerless elf. Why had he come down here?

She stared at him, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. This was clearly the first floor. But whose first floor was it was the question. Had Gideon broken into another race’s integration floor? How? Why?

Amara had so many questions. Every species that found themselves integrated into the tower had their own personal first floor, aptly nicknamed the Tutorial Floor. These were sacred places, meant only for the members of your world to learn and grow so they could challenge the tower. It wasn’t until the second floor that The Tower pit everyone against each other. So how had Gideon made it here? What did he want from the first floor of a bunch of humans?

Amara was deep in thought, watching the group slowly make their way through the rolling grassland, when a loud crash shook her from her thoughts. The group continued, unaware of the noise. Amara turned, looking for the source. On the horizon were black shadow filled clouds. Merely a pinpoint at first, but rapidly increasing in size and speed. The ominous clouds grew closer and closer, consuming her vision. White hot lightning cut jagged tears through the clouds as loud thunder rang in her hears. Her heart pounded and her breathing quickened as she quickly found herself consumed by a dark storm of lightning and thunder. Then it was over as quick as it had come.

Amara looked around in panic. Everything was normal. The sky was calm. There was no storm. She glanced back at the group and her heart froze for the second time in as many seconds. The group of travelers continued their trek across the hills. All except for one. Gideon had stopped and was staring directly at her. Their eyes locked. In that moment Amara saw him for who he really was. This was no frail, weak elf. She was staring into the eyes of Gideon, The Golden Dragon. The Fatebreaker. He gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod, banishing her from the floor.

Amaras soul returned to her body in a flash. She took several deep steadying breaths, sweat dripping from her body as she stopped herself from toppling over into the pool. Her left arm hung limply at her side.

“Well?” Mindalia asked from the table across the room, teacup in hand.

“Well, you’re fucked.” Amara said, picking herself up off the ground to join Mindalia.

Mindalia stopped the teacup just shy of her lips, setting it down as she drilled her black eyes into the depths of her soul.

“He’s on the first floor.” Amara said with some assurance.

“Impossible. I’ve had my agents scouring the denizen floor. There isn’t even a hint of him being there.”

The denizen floor was the first floor designed for anyone born within the tower. The Tower also made it available to anyone who had their tutorial floor purged.

“He’s made his way to someone’s tutorial floor. Looks like a new group of humans are being integrated into the tower. Don’t ask me how he managed to reach another race’s tutorial floor. I would tell you it’s impossible, but it’s what I saw.”

“And?” Mindalia pressed

“And what? That’s it Min, that’s all The Tower let me see before it kicked me out.” She wasn’t sure if that was a lie or not, but the truth that Gideon banished her seemed less believable.

Mindalia pressed her lips together in a tight frown. Then she stood up and made her way back towards the balcony.

Amara received a notification.

You have received 100,000,000 AP from Mindalia – Accept? Y/N

“What’s this for?” she asked.

“The arm. I honestly didn’t think the backlash would be that bad. Plus, the information is helpful. I can at least stop wasting resources on a fool’s hunt.”

Amara glanced again at her arm and winced. It was going to be expensive to fix. Then she glanced at Mindalia, who was making her exit, and groaned internally. Why did she have to be nice about it?

“Wait,” said Amara, stopping Mindalia in her tracks. “There was one thing I forgot to mention.” Mindalia turned around, eyebrow cocked in curiosity.

“There was a storm. It was odd. I watched it approach from the horizon, then it consumed me. Trapped me in its dark black clouds and violent strikes of lightning… I don’t know. Maybe it means something to you?” she offered with a shrug.

“That is very strange indeed.” Mindalia said with a curious smile on her face. She took one step back into the shadows and then disappeared from sight.

Amara let go of breath she didn’t know she’d been holding, the tension of the night pouring out of her.

“I don’t think you should have told her that.” Came a voice from behind. Amara jumped only slightly in her seat.

“I swear the next person to sneak up on me tonight is getting their fate severed.”

“Pardon me ma’am.” Said a man in a black and white butler's uniform, a pencil-thin moustache running across his upper lip.

“Horace, why didn’t you step in to help me?” she said with a hint of chastisement.

“The centipede had use of you. I fear, had I stepped in, she would have killed me instantly.”

Amara found herself nodding in agreement.

“Do you think she’ll be able to kill him? It could put us in a rather… difficult position if he dies, and we were the cause.”

Amara merely waved the question away, dragging herself back to her bed.

“He didn’t earn himself the sobriquet of Fatebreaker because he goes with the flow. Trying to get a read on him is as pointless as anything. Whatever happens is going to happen, and my peering into fate won’t change a thing.” She finished crawling under the covers.

“Very well. I’ll leave you to your rest. I have summoned the soul menders to fix your arm. Would you like me to wake you upon their arrival?”

Amara only grunted in response from underneath the covers. Horace gave a deep bow and then exited the room, leaving Amara alone with her thoughts.

Amara stared listlessly at the ceiling for a long time. Dreams of the Centipede would no longer haunt her nightmares. Those were over. Instead, Gideon would take their place. Tears came unbidden at the corners of her eyes. She thought back to his weak, fragile form and the hell she had just unleashed on her friend. “I’m so sorry…” she said through quiet sobs.