Chapter 14: The Tenth Floor[1]

“There have been arrivals of new humans, my lord.”

Said a voice, rough and weak. The man bowed before a large figure shrouded in shadows sitting on a throne.

“That isn’t anything worthy to report? Are these humans special?” The man asked, his golden eyes visible through the darkness around him.

“Y-yes, one of them felt familiar. The mana he had was akin to us the dragons.”

The man in the shadows opened his mouth, a smoke flowed out as a orange light formed inside. His neck glowed and a small fire jumped out of his mouth.

The fire clung to the man on the floor, it burnt his robe yet he didn’t flinch. This was a test of loyalty.

“Find the boy and bring him. Whoever he is will have to answer for how he has the scent of a dragon.”

“Y-yes, my lord. I will take my best men to capture him now.”

The man got up and walked out of the room. He looked behind him, the man sitting on the throne didn’t move a single bit. Because he was the chief of the Dragon Tribe.

*****

Inside the meeting room Becca sat besides Xior as two hunters explained the situation of the tower. The rules and the scenarios they had to clear on each floor.

Across them sat a man with brown hair and brown eyes, a lean and fit body wearing a light blue buttoned up half sleeve shirt, an off-white trouser and black casual shoes.

He looked at the board very carefully as to not miss anything. His expression was unchanging through out, much like Xior’s. As the hunters finished explaining he turned to them.

His brown eyes studied both of them, he put his arms on the table and smiled.

“Welcome, I am the Vice-Guildmaster of the Dragon Guild. Rain Smith.” The man introduced himself.

His voice was neither low nor high, it was perfect, calm and soothing. Becca thought, did all the higher people in her guild have soothing voices.

“Nice to meet you, Vice-Guildmaster. I’m Xior Arden, I’m on a one year contract with your guild.” Xior replied.

“I knew that already. Maria had filled me in so to say.

Rebecca right?” He asked pointing towards Becca.

“Yes, Mr. Rain.” She replied confidently, her embarrassed and timid self was no more.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Maria, I think she exaggerates too much. But regardless of that, good work.

I will be keeping an eye on you, since I want to see if Maria was exaggerating or not. I have a bet to win.” His smile turned into a small chuckle.

“You don’t have to worry about that sir, Miss. Maria does indeed exaggerate a lot. But that doesn’t mean my performance is anything short of my two hundred percent.” She exclaimed.

“Well then, let me give you both your first task. Go to each of the tribes, you two only.

Get to know them and help them with one of their tasks. We have friendly ties will all of them except the Dragon Tribe.

They are hostile and powerful, be careful.”

Xior and Becca nodded and got up from their chairs. They walked towards the exist when Rain remembered something.

“Oh, I forgot one thing. There’s an old ruin not far from here. The Rabbit Tribe knows the exact location. While you’re at it, try clearing it as well, that area is under Dragon Guild jurisdiction so no other hunters have gone there.”

They nodded once again and left, it seemed he had a habit of forgetting things. Judging by his way of speech, it felt like he was constantly forming scenarios in his head and executing them.

*****

Xior and Becca walked out of the forest clearing and stepped onto a vast plain. The grass was tall enough that it swayed rhythmically with the wind.

Not far away the plain merged into a mountain, the behemoth had snow on the top and houses could be seen from the distance along the peak of the mountain.

“That’s the Wolf Tribe surely.” Becca said.

“Yeah, I’m wondering if we should walk to take a shortcut.” Xior responded as he stretched his arms.

“I prefer walking, I don’t want to ruin my hair. Plus who knows what we encounter on our way there.”

Xior let go of the thoughts of jumping to the top and walked quietly with Becca. An awkward silence ensued between them.

Becca broke it and asked, “what was your trial, Xior?”

He looked at her as they walked, her red hair bobbed as she walked and her emerald green eyes reminded him of their childhood.

When they had no worries, and then he also remembered the trial. He had spent thousands of years there, enduring it all for her. His black irises shone as they reflected light from the sun.

For just a few seconds they felt full of emotions unlike his normal self. With a sigh he replied, “my trial? Just finding the right door.”

“Just that? That’s easy, mine was a reenacting of the Black Gate in which Derek abandoned you.” She replied, her head hung low.

“Becca, I’m here now. Forget what happened back then.

Just know that I will never leave those five bastards alone. And I’m tired of walking.”

Becca was dumbfounded, out of nowhere he brought that up. But before she could say anything, he lifted her up in his arms and jumped.

The ground beneath him cracked as he jumped high in the air and landed on the edge of the mountain.

The mountain rumbled and small stones fell down but he didn’t stop, he leapt from one edge to another and finally landed outside of the Wolf Tribes territory.

The guards were alerted and they bared their fangs against them but when they saw the Dragon Guild IDs they let them in.

One of them guided them to their Chief’s house. In the far end of the territory, stood a fairly big building.

It served as the Chief’s house and also included the military barracks and other offices. Becca and Xior stood outside it waiting for when the Chief would be free.

As the sun started to set, the first snow of winter began to fall. Change was imminent, seasons changed and now the hierarchy of the tower would be changed as well.

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