There are a few more climbers on the platform to regulate the crowd and make sure no one stops and looks around. Adrian isn’t one of the lookers. He has no good feelings nor wishes to stay on the platform for even a second longer.
So while some people still slow down a bit under the strict gaze of the adventurers, Adrian goes ahead and skips a few places to the front of the line. What he does not notice is someone else’s presence beside him.
“Got some nerves there, Ad?” Matthew asks. He’s a tall and muscular guy. An iron chainmail covers him, while he carries a mace in his hand. Matthew has always been a very straightforward guy, also evident in his fighting style.
And also why he ditched Martin to the authorities.
Adrian wants to hate him, but there isn’t even much of it that he could bring. It’s not Mat’s fault. It’s not just Mat’s fault. And he cannot deal with the bigger problem as of yet.
Not to mention, “Did mother ask you about forming a team?” Adrian asks.
“Hmm, she did,” He puts a hand on the chin in thought, and then replies, “I’m not against the idea, but I’ll have to first see what kind of class and role you can play in the team. Find me when you clear the Tower and we’ll see from there.”
Adrian hums in understanding and doesn’t respond any further. He does not really wanna be part of a party with him, especially not after what happened. He doesn’t think he would ever be able to trust Mat.
But that was one more thing out of his control. Adrian sighs in resignation. His mother would want to control this aspect of his life too.
“You’re really going in for the tank class huh?” He notes, looking at the chainmail he wears.
“Yes. High Priest have given me his blessings, and entrusted the future of the clan to me. I need to step up and do the hard thing,” Mat shrugs with a smile.
“You know the Trial will be harder for anyone with armour right? Not to mention climbing even further. Most of the Tanks don’t even make it past the 4th floor. The Tower doesn’t like it when you appear reluctant to shed blood,” Adrian says.
“Gotta do what I gotta do. I’ve prepared for this my whole life. I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Mat says.
Adrian let go of the topic. He has only been mildly curious about why someone would put themselves through it, but hearing his response has been enough to drive home his own reluctance to engage with the clan and think of them as any more than just a pitstop.
He shakes the thought away from his mind and looks at the Tower which is so close now. So close to the Tower now, he couldn’t even see the curve on it. Just a wide wall covers his whole vision.
He looks at the people in the front who touch their hands on the Tower, get reduced into a puddle of blood, and then get absorbed into it. He has heard that entering the Tower becomes much better and more delicate than this after the first time, but damn does it twist his stomach in a few ways.
Eventually it is Adrian’s chance. With a steeled resolve, he puts his hand on the Tower. A creeping energy flows through his body, he tries to understand what it is when-
#
[Welcome to the Tower.]
[First Entry Registered]
[Trial Commencing…]
[Prepare to fight for your rights, your morals, and your blood. Many have come before you, and many will come after you.]
[May you shine bright in the Spirits as you shed your blood for the Tower.]
[Adios!]
#
There is an instant of panic, a moment of yelling in his own head, and then a sudden bout of softness. The choo-choo of a train echoes, and then Adrian wakes up.
He is in a train, as they said he would be, but no one ever says where the train is leading to. Adrian found out when he finally looks out of the window into the twinkling night.
Those must be what the stories call stars.
It’s a deep dark void filled with an unimaginable number of stars which twinkle and burn like fireflies. Some seem so close that he might be able to stretch his arms and catch them, yet the others are just so far. It is a deeply beautiful and enchanting sight, one in which Adrian gets caught up until someone finally wakes him up.
“Pretty, isn’t it?”
Adrian calms down his wildly beating heart and tries not to show how shocked he is at the sudden voice. He must’ve failed because he hears a giggle soon after.
He calmly looks at the woman who sits beside him, observing him and not the scenery outside, “It is, indeed,”
The woman satisfied, nods her head and says, “I feel like I can never get bored of this sight,”
Adrian finds it odd because she has not once yet looked outside, except maybe when Adrian too was busy staring outside.
Was that enough to fill her curiosity?
He doesn’t question her about it and looks at the other passengers who are with him in the compartment.
The compartment has two columns with 5 rows, spaced evenly yet spaciously. Two people take one seat. Adrian and the other woman are seated on the first bench in the right-side column, so he has a good look at almost everyone from his position.
The train itself is a soft beige with dark lining spread across the window frames and above it. It is fairly dark in the compartment, with the only light being the starlight from the windows.
Everyone is looking around them, at each other, gauging each other with their eyes but no one tries to start a fight. There is no need to, they are not their enemies after-all. At least not yet.
Next he checks his bag which sits by his leg, and makes sure that everything is where it should be. He belatedly notices that the woman doesn’t seem to have anything else with her.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
He looks at her in question, and she answers, “Oh there’s no need to bring so much! It’s just a few hours isn’t it? We’ll be done before dinner time,”
Adrian immediately decides that he likes her style.
“I’m Adrian. Adrian Alphona,” He puts his hand forward for a shake which she grabs tightly. She is strong, Adrian thinks.
“Ji-a. Nice to meet you.” She shakes his hand exaggeratedly, shaking Adrian in the process.
Adrian takes a moment to massage his arm before he asks, “Where are you from? I don’t think I’ve seen you around Okrug?”
Okrug is Adrian’s home. The place that his clan has taken over all those years ago and rules now. The Tower is so big that cities freely form around it, with massive gaps between each other, propagating their cultures and differences, and yet most of it is still based around blood sacrifices. Just the rituals change, the end results don't.
“I’m just from here and there.” She waves her hand.
“A nomad?”
“You can say that, I suppose. Outside got boring again so I thought I’ll come to the Tower,” Ji-a says. Adrian finds her way of speaking odd. Very odd. It was like she had already come to the Tower, but that would be impossible. If she has already been through the trial, then she would’ve either passed and awakened, or failed and forever barred from the Tower.
Considering she is seated with him for her Trial, it means that she has still not completed her Trial.
Might just be a quirk. What do I care even. Adrian shrugs.
“What kind of class are you hoping to get?” Ji-a asks. Adrian frowns a bit, but doesn’t mind it. Usually asking something like this can be considered rude as people are able to figure out the identity of your Sacrifices, but it doesn’t really matter much to Adrian.
“A warrior-mage kind. What about you?”
“Just the usual Nuker kind,” Ji-a answers.
“Heyy! I’m aiming for the same! What kind of Sacrifices did you get?” A guy from behind them calls. He’s a tall guy with spiky hair.
“Trade secret.” Ji-a puts a finger on her lips and winks.
“Booo. What about this? If we both pass, can you tell me then? I wanna see how different Sacrifices and different amount of tests taken results in different Nuker classes. How many tests would you be taking by the way?” The man insists. Adrian turns to look at the other woman who sits with him, looking at him with an almost resigned face.
“You guys know each other?” Adrian asks.
“We are twins,” She sighs.
“Quite lucky to enter the same train then.”
“It happens. I’ve heard that the Tower values family relationships a lot, and keeps family members together should they enter together.”
Adrian hums in response, unwilling to say anything else or praise the Tower.
“I’m Adrian,” He introduces himself.
“I’m Himari. He’s Ritsu, nice to meet you.”
Adrian focused on the man who seemed to be in the middle of concluding a deal with Ji-a. “Cool, then I’ll meet you on the Second floor!” He shakes her hand, nods at Adrian and then goes off to talk to others. Himari follows suit, apparently worried about him.
Adrian puffs his cheeks and sits back, looking outside to calm down. He has been feeling more and more relaxed ever since he came here. It is weird, paradoxical, and yet he can’t help but feel this way. Away from his clan, away from everything which still reminds him of the bad and the worst, this starry space is much better.
“You don’t wanna go make more friends?” Ji-a asks.
“I’m fine. For now at least,” Adrian replies.
“You sure? Some of these people could be your next team if you do good enough.”
“It doesn’t really matter though. My family already has a team ready for me back home. They’re simply waiting for me to come back and then dump me with them,” Adrian explains.
“But why do you have to listen to them? Are your parents some high ranking Climbers?” Ji-a asks.
“No, they’re just common people. They failed their Trial.”
“Then you can literally do anything you want after coming out of the test. Why do you have to be bound by their wishes?” Ji-a has an almost apathetic face as she asks.
“It’s not that simple,” Adrian sighs and shakes his head.
“From where I stand, it’s pretty simple to me. They can’t force you if you don’t want to, and you can always run away into the Tower and not come out. What can they do? Come and get you?”
“I don’t want to run away from my family. I won’t force my strength on them. If they agree, then I’ll be more than happy to find a team for myself,” Adrian says. “Not like I like anyone there anyway,” The last part is said in a mumble to himself, but Ji-a looks at him contemplatively.
“What about you? You don’t wanna make friends?” Adrian asks.
“Hah! Do you think I need to go and find people? Kid people used to come to me to form parties with them. I just need to want to form one, and they’ll be there,” Ji-a mocks and waves her hand over herself as if that explains everything.
Adrian for the first time looks at her carefully. She has a nice face, thin but cunning eyes, an eternal smile on her face. She is flat chested, but otherwise has a great figure. She wears a long oversized full-armed t-shirt or something with big sleeves, and comfortable pants.
“You do look pretty I suppose,” Adrian nodded.
“That’s the worst compliment I have ever heard,” Ji-a shakes her head, muttering under her breath something about indecent boys and what not.
Adrian meanwhile, for the first time opened his status.
Tower.
Name: Adrian Alphona
It is a very small screen, but he knows that it will grow and become a full-fledged system screen once he awakens and becomes a Climber.
Very soon now.
As soon as Adrian has that thought, the train comes to a stop with a jerk. He hears some voices of surprise, but nobody falls, all of them trained enough that a simple change in momentum just isn’t enough to do anything to them.
Outside the train, one can make out a station hidden in a grey mist.
Then the announcement rings through the compartment with a static,
“There are 11 tests in the Trial, each given a total of 30 minutes to finish and in between 30 minutes interval. Within the Trial, you must complete every test except the special tests to gain your class and awaken. Every special test completed would only add to your final score in turn making a better class with better stat bonuses.
“This is the first test. Everyone shall deboard within the next 5 minutes. Every extra minute would be taken from the time allotted for your test. All the best!”
Adrian already knows most of it, and so does everyone else. All of them, as if in sync, stand up from their seats and make their way towards the open gate. Ji-a and Adrian both wish each other luck and then deboard.
When Adrian walks out, he is alone. The scenery too quickly changes from the station to an underground dungeon. Torches are placed alongside the wall, and Adrian follows them deeper. He walks for a few minutes, a timer on the corner of his vision ticking towards 27 so he picks his pace.
In the end he comes across a metal door with what seems to be a gap to look inside. Adrian peeks in and finds a brightly coloured room with bunk beds on which kids lay sleeping. Instantly, a bad feeling courses through him.
He sighs, grabs his blade in his dominant hand, and pushes the door open. Instantly, the test is revealed to him.
First Test: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
Dodecaplets in their mother’s womb, they were raised under the soft lullaby of Twinkle, Twinkle. They were born with the promise of stars, and as they learned to walk, they strove to achieve this goal.
Sadly, their fates were not kind. Corrupted as Star-vestiges, they roam the world deathless now. Their mother locked them in this room, in the hopes that they might get well.
She never even got to ask why, when they ate her alive.
Goal: Be a Little Star, and free these souls. They are weak, but we hope your spirit isn’t.
Advantage: None.
Time Limit: Whatever is left.
Adios!
As if on command, all of them wake up at the same time. Their emerald green eyes glow with something as they stumble out of the bed. Sharp claws on their hands and poison in their diapers.
They are only a year old…
Adrian sighs as the first kid lunges at him.
#
