As the final rays of light from the Tower Challenge faded, a somber atmosphere enveloped Sheath. It was the seventh cut that had ended the spectacle. All but one team had been defeated before reaching the tenth floor. And Oman and his team were wiped out almost immediately on the tenth.

The citizens now stood in a heavy silence, their eyes fixed on the final returning casters and the towers display of the resulting ranking of Sheaths challengers. Name, Party, Reached floor. These were the last survivors. The moment were the last hope vanished for many families that had clung to the thought that their lost ones would still return.

Among the weary figures, few casters stood out, each clutching a golem heart. The crowd's reaction was a mix of muted relief and palpable disappointment. They had hoped for more, hoped for a turn of fortune from its desperate struggle for survival. The light would be weak in the season to come. Enough for the new quarters, close as they were to the tower, but Sheath proper would stay in the cold and dark.

The casters themselves were a reflection of the challenge's toll. Though back in their hale mortal bodies and garments, their faces were marked by fatigue, fear and desperation. A story of relentless struggle and narrow escapes.

In the midst of the casters, a particular figure drew attention. Unlorm, his cobalt feathers now dulled from the rigors of the tower, was ringed by a group of people. His eyes flickered again and again to the golem hearts.

Agitation swept through the rows in waves, as the incident involving the golem heart was discussed. They had shattered it, and its shards were used in unknown ways, sparking rumors and fears among the gathered crowd. Whispers had already been born of all imagined things that could be done to them with the shards, adding to the air of uncertainty and unease.

As the last defeated casters made their way through the crowd, there were no cheers.

As the murmurs grew, a figure from the council of Sheath emerged, stepping forward to address the restless populace from his position on the horst.

"Citizens of Sheath," the council member began, their voice carrying across the crowd. "Today, we stand at a crossroads. The Tower's Challenge has ended, and our casters have returned. Though their bravery is unquestionable, the spoils they have brought back are strained. The results are not what we hoped for. Though we know this is the burden we need to bear. With this now behind us, we look to the next seasons and what's best for Sheath."

"The golems that guard and aid in our expansion are too few. Without adequate golem hearts to power them, we cannot risk delving deeper into the darkness that surrounds us. Therefore, with todays conclusion, we must make a difficult decision."

"We must halt our expansion downwards. Instead, our focus will shift to fortifying our existing quarters. We must strengthen our defenses, consolidate our resources, and protect what we have."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"We understand the hardships this will bring. But our survival depends on it."

Whispers and uneasy glances swept through the crowd. No surprise that this day would come, it was still an admission of defeat. An indefinite cessation of the city's expansion meant living with the cramped conditions that many had hoped would be temporary.

"We will investigate this new development around golem heart shards. So we can use this new knowledge for our purposes. Rest assured, we will explore every possibility to improve our situation. It is a stark reminder of the challenges we face," the councilor continued. "We must be vigilant. We must strengthen our defenses and make the most of what we have. Our path is resilience and unity."

The council member paused, allowing the words to sink in. As the council member stepped back, a murmur of conversations broke out among the crowd. Uncertainty clouded the faces of the citizens and the ruling class alike.

The crowd dispersed slowly. The tower light already dimming. Small groups gathered, their voices low and tinged with worry. Rez stood among them, listening intently as the citizens shared their thoughts and fears.

"The golems... how many do we have left? Without them, we can't even fight the monsters." an older man voiced out, his hands trembling slightly.

A woman, holding a small child close, added, "If the Aeons found a way to use the shared, they will finally destroy all of us."

Around him, the talk turned to speculation. "They say the broken golem heart could be used to create powerful weapons," a young man suggested. "It's a new form of magic, something we haven't seen before," another chimed in.

Rez's gaze shifted to the the tower. He couldn't help but feel a surge of fear. Tomorrow, I have to go in there.

Unlorm still stood close to the tower. His weary figure silhouetted against the glow. His cobalt feathers fluttered slightly as he clutched the last shard of the golem heart in his hand. The ancient magic within the shard sending a tingling sensation through his body.

He pondered over the message that had appeared before him in the tower: "Insufficient shards for quest modification." Was this how other towers gained their edge? Quest upgrades could happen in different forms, and they always promised better rewards, but also higher difficulties. Was that enough?

He needed help. His thoughts drifted to his team, and other potential allies within Sheath. They were all brave and skilled, but this... this would require different skills. As he walked back towards his quarters, Unlorm's mind was going through what was next. He needed to gather more information, more shards.

In the shadows of the theater, concealed from the crowd's view, two figures stood obscured, their features shrouded in the gloom. One was tall and slender, draped in a cloak, while the other bore a stocky frame, arms crossed, eyes focused on Unlorm.

"They will make progress now," the taller figure murmured, voice barely above a whisper. The stockier one grunted. "It's too late. The ignorance is just going to help us." The taller figure shifted slightly. The other continued, "He may suspect something but understanding... that is a different matter. They all going to keep scurrying about their golem hearts and quests."

The taller one leaned closer to its companion. "The shard's resonance with his feathers... it can be exploited." In their secluded corner, one shadow nodded to the other.

The shadows held their breath as Unlorm stopped by an elderly woman who whispered fervently into his ear. He nodded solemnly before she pressed something into his hand.

"Patience," cautioned the taller one as they observed Unlorm moving to the horst. "The city's focus shifts inward now. Defenses strengthen, ... fear grows."