The guaranteed safety of the first trial of the Ivory Tower was common knowledge. Liam knew that. Go in and come out. Easy. Come out with a summon, maybe not so easy.
However, an unsettling gnawing feeling from his stomach couldn’t be explained. The feeling was not fear. Nor was it anxiety. Liam was sure of that, seeing how he was a worrisome anxious adolescent for the past six years. He couldn’t find the right words to describe the feeling.
“Oo!!! Ah!!! Wow!!!”
Luke excitedly awed at the magnificence of the Ivory Tower, looking up as it extended into the sky. The majority of the students were. They were all heading to the inviting entrance of the tower.
However, Liam was oddly cautious. He was wary of the unknown in the dark entrance of the tower.
Looking at the radiating tower, it was holy, but imposing. A thought crossed his mind. He never noticed it before.
Currently, in Liam’s eyes, the holy glow of the exterior of the tower seemed to hide something else inside. The gleam of the high elegant cascading arches of the tower looked like razor sharp teeth of a monster, ready to bite down on those entering. The maws of the tower did not seem like it would easily let go of those it clamped down on.
Liam had an unexplainable feeling their group were walking into something more, but Liam was not sure more of what.
Luke noticed the off demeanor of his friend.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Why so serious? Isn’t this a great time? We’re going to get our first summons.
“I don’t know. Do you feel the tower is different just now? Like, have you wondered why the tower is helping us fight the Dungeon Heathens? What does the tower gain from this?”
“It looks like the Ivory Tower to me. The towers are our saviors. They gave us the ability to fight the dungeons.”
“Yea. I know. That’s what we’re taught. It’s just, why though?”
Darell cut in from behind on the two’s conversation, making them both frown.
“This is why you are all Tacks! I can't believe you peasants don’t even know the basics! Were none of you listening to the lectures for the last 6 years?! The towers oppose the treacheries of the dungeons!”
Luke and Darrel despised each other and were always at odds with each other. If Darrel took one side, Luke most likely took the other.
“Oh! Ms. Maribell! Is that you? Wait. It’s only Darrel. I knew something smelled. The stink of entitlement.”
“Idiot peasants! You don’t know a thing!”
Annoyed by Darell, Liam forgot about his conversation and joined along with Luke.
“Why are you bothering us then, Darell? Since the guilds told you so much, go stay with your little po…”
Thud!
Liam’s sentence was cut short.
Both him and Luke were inattentively walking, and they bumped into someone. Liam’s and Luke’s face hit something firm and hard. They looked more clearly, and it was Reld, who over the years grew into a burly man larger than Luke and Liam combined. Irked, Reld swiftly turned around.
“Hey!!!”
“Oh! Hey Reld.” Luke nonchalantly greeted Reld.
“You bumped into me!”
“Oh... Yea. How’s it going?”
Liam shook his head at his friend, Luke, who wouldn’t acknowledge mistakenly bumping into Reld. The three of them were on good terms, and Luke liked poking fun at his two friends.
Liam apologized on behalf of Luke. “Hey there Reld. Sorry, this hairy bear wasn’t paying attention, and we bumped into you.”
“What! I’m not that hairy! And I don’t want to hear that coming from a hairless kid not paying attention and bumping into Reld!”
“I’m not hairless! And I’m not a kid! See these hairs! My beard is growing ok?!”
“Oh wow! I didn’t see those. What magic potion did you use to grow your cat whiskers? Use some of that potion to grow some hair down there too, ok?”
Liam was furious at Luke’s low blow. “I have plenty of hair down there!”
“Fools.” Darrel rolled his eyes at the oblivious three friends.
“What Darrel?! Are you a hairless kid too?!”
“Look, fools! The higher floors of the tower are dangerous!” They were right about to enter the Ivory Tower.
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It wasn't clearly visible, but there was an odd tension in the air. Especially from those that had a connection to the guilds. They knew what lurks within the tower.
“Bah! I’m excited to finally get my first summon. So what if the upper floors are dangerous?! This one’s not, right?! Seems like you need to grow some balls too! Hairless monkey!”
Luke grabbed Liam and Reld, darting off into the dark entrance of the tower before Darrell could shout his complaints.
“LUUUUKKE!!!” Reld’s and Liam’s shouted in terror as they were unprepared being suddenly pulled into the unknown darkness entrance of the tower.
The shouts stopped.
Silence filled the air.
A holy column of silver light illuminated the center of the massive room.
An ivory statue of a breathtakingly beautiful woman stole the three young men’s attention. With her eyes closed, she piously prayed with her hands raised, waiting to receive a revelation.
The silvery light magnified her poise and elegance as she glowed with a divine aura.
Smooth curves of ivory shaped her long slender legs hidden behind a flowing robe. The soft lines of her robe continued up, slightly curving inwards around her toned stomach before they rounded out from the supple mounds of her bosom.
The holy woman held her firm and tender arms out, with her hands ready to embrace the three young men and the other chosen climbers of the tower.
She was one of the most beautiful women the three had ever seen. Even with her eyes closed, she held onto the gazes of all who looked at her.
Liam stared, unable to look away. His eyes followed the long flowing ivory hair caressing her seductive neckline to the immaculate face of the woman.
Her smooth straight hair ran down the sides of her heart-shaped face. Liam was drawn to the outlines of her closed round eyes, set perfectly on her soft cheekbones and straight nose. Her beautiful full lips completed her otherworldly beauty, locking in Liam’s unblinking gaze.
Luke and Reld were the first to break out of her mesmerizing allure. Luke noticed Liam’s lovestruck face, and he smirked at his enamored friend.
“Hey! Liam! You there?! Hello?”
Luke broke him out of his trance. “Huh? Uh. Uh huh. Yea. Yea. I’m here.”
“Hahaha! Was it love at first sight? I don’t blame you!”
“What! Stop talking nonsense Luke. It was nothing of the sort.”
Reld chipped in with a grin. “Actually, you're in love with a statue. Unrequited love as your first will be painful. Don’t get too broken-hearted.”
“What! Not you too! You're getting at me too, Reld?!”
“I’m just telling you the truth.”
The young men laughed at Liam.
Darrel’s voice broke the jokes and laughter of the three. Entering the tower with his entourage, they marveled at the stone woman.
Darrel’s voice broke the jokes and laughter of the three. Entering the tower with his entourage, they marveled at the stone woman.
“I’ve only heard stories, but Lady Gwendell truly is beautiful!”
“Finally grow some balls Darrell?” Luke smirked, picking a fight.
All of the chosen students from the academy filled the entrance to the room. They watched on, enjoying the two quarreling.
“Coming from the cowards who just ran away? Ha! Just like the Tacks you are! You’re not worthy of being a climber!”
“Shut it daddy’s boy. If anyone’s a Tack it’s you! I bet you haven’t even been on the other side of the wall! We’ll see who’s unworthy when we actually start climbing the tower!”
With the last student entering the tower, a heavenly voice echoed through the massive stone room, stopping the rowdy pair of arguing students.
“My, my. We have a lively bunch this year.”
The statue of the beautiful woman spoke, moving gracefully and poised. The poor and uninformed were stunned at the once lifeless statue suddenly moving and talking. Even those who had prior information were shocked as well.
“Welcome candidates and future climbers of the Ivory Tower! I am Lady Gwendell. I will be your guide. This avatar is merely a shell of myself, but maybe one day if you conquer the tower, we can truly meet in person.”
The angelic woman looked around the room. She smiled as she observed all the new candidates, soon to be climbing the tower.
Bewitched by the lady’s smile when she looked at him, Luke was quick to jump into action. He dramatically created a scene as he rushed forward and kneeled on one knee.
“I will conquer this tower and gift its glory in your holy name and unwieldy beauty, Lady Gwendell!”
The chiming chuckles fluttered in the room as Lady Gwendell was amused by Luke’s acts.
“I shall be waiting, young summoner.” Liam rolled his eyes. He’s seen Luke use that playbook before.
“Now then! This is the start of your journey! Your world has been destroyed ages ago by the appearances of the dungeons and their vile masters, the Daemods! Since time immemorial, we, the Sepharath, have fought against their oppression and heinous crimes against creation!
We have brought our towers to allow your race of humanoids a place of refuge and to strengthen yourselves and fight back against the dungeons and the evil Daemods!
The path back to freedom is not easy. Blood will be shed. Lives will be lost. To fight and win against the cruel invaders of your world, you will need experience of battle and war!
The towers will provide the training grounds to grow yourselves to protect your race and planet. And eventually the universe!
The dangers of the towers are real. We have reduced the chances of fatalities, but they still happen. To properly train, injury and the possibility of death must be authentic. The face of evil is not kind. They will not go easy on us. The trials will truly let you grow.
Still, the tower is tame when compared to the dungeons you will face.
Because we pitied your suffering and the slaughter of your innocents. Along with the tower, we have also given all that are eligible the power to wield summons!
You are all here today to obtain your first summon!
There is no time like the present moment! Try your best to contract and obtain a good summon! Your fate and the fate of all creation depends on it!
Now! Let’s have you all begin your first trial!”