Hands flying over a keyboard visible only to her, the receptionist entered the last of their information and clicked something on her interface. She smiled at them, a professional, well-trained smile. “You are now formally registered as a party. Bear in mind that from the System’s perspective, this is purely for the Tower’s convenience. Party members can harm each other, and are not generally granted any buffs or debuffs for being in a party. Party members can see each other on interactive maps, if the Tower has not disabled such maps in the area. Please keep this in mind before doing anything… untoward.

“Speaking of which, please resolve internal conflicts yourself. We do not provide counseling services. If you wish to exit the party, please do so through your System interface. Similarly, party members can be added through the System. Give the System up to twenty-four hours to apply any changes in party composition.

“Only party leaders can dissolve parties. A dissolved party cannot be reformed within the Tower, nor can new parties be formed. Parties can only be created at the reception desk. Lone climbers can join an existing party without leaving the Tower, if they so desire, and similarly, party members can exit a party and become lone climbers within the Tower. However, anyone wishing to reform a party that disbanded or create a new party must return to the reception desk.”

Glancing over her glasses, the receptionist took in their party. “Are there any questions?”

"Nope," Jude said.

N. Kaidu shook his head.

"I think we're good," Rowan said politely.

She nodded. "Remember, you cannot exit the Tower until you conquer a floor. Once you conquer a floor, you cannot re-enter it, you must progress to the next floor.

"There is no safety net. From this point forward, you take your life into your own hands. Murder and other capital crimes remain illegal on floor one, but this will not be the case on higher floors. Please bear that in mind and act accordingly.

"At the moment you step into the Tower, you agree not to hold the System, Tower staff, or any of their affiliates accountable for any injury, traumatic events, or death.

"Obey any orders given by Enforcers and mind the Tower's rules. Different floors have different rules, and disobedience can and will be punished by Enforcers, up to and including death."

Her eyes flashed over her glasses. "Do you agree?"

The three of them nodded.

She pressed a button. Dark lines carved a much larger door out of the wall, wide as a double door. It hissed and popped open, slowly swinging open to reveal darkness, an utter, pitch void on the far side.

The receptionist gestured. "Proceed to the first floor."

Rowan stepped forward. No point waiting. I don't have a home to go back to.

N. Kaidu followed, close on his heels. Jude hesitated. "Right now? Are you sure? In flip-flops?"

Rowan glanced at his feet. Oh, right, I was going to buy shoes. He hesitated, the dark void gaping before him. "You're right. I should--"

"No time like the present," N. Kaidu declared. A firm hand at the shoulder blades propelled Rowan forward.

"Wait, I--" Rowan reached back and caught N. Kaidu by the coat. He teetered on the edge of the darkness, toes dangling into the void. Startled, N. Kaidu lurched forward and slammed into Rowan. Losing his balance, he fell into the void.

Rowan grabbed on tighter to N. Kaidu's jacket, spinning to face him as he fell, teeth gritted in determination. I'm bringing you with me, dammit!

Impassive, N. Kaidu stared back at him.

"Guys!" Jude reached out for them.

Black swallowed them up. The reception office vanished, leaving only darkness. Rowan held on to N. Kaidu’s jacket, his only anchor in the void. N. Kaidu grabbed his arms, grip painfully tight. Together, they fell into the darkness.

--

Rowan thumped down into a thick bush. Thin, scratchy branches crunched under him, scraping his skin, and then he smacked into the ground. N. Kaidu’s weight slammed down on top of him, flattening him to the ground. All the air left Rowan’s lungs in a wheeze. He shoved at N. Kaidu, eyes shut tight against the prickly branches. “Get… off…”

Slowly, fighting the branches, N. Kaidu climbed off Rowan. Rowan sucked in a breath and flailed his way blindly out of the bush. At last, no more twigs poked at his arms or scratched past his face. Rowan opened his eyes.

A thick forest stretched around them. Trees marched in all directions. Gorgeous, enormous trees, thicker than Rowan could reach around, taller than the eye could reach, canopies spreading high overhead. Little saplings sprung up around their roots, fresh green leaves stretching for the sun. Vines coiled around trees, and scrubby plants tangled underfoot. Thick layers of fallen leaves, the product of generations of growth, crunched underfoot, laden with fallen branches and acorns.

“I thought we were supposed to climb the Tower, not fall into it,” Rowan commented dryly.

Looking around at the thick vegetation, N. Kaidu gestured. “You’re a Gardener, right? Prune the way.”

“I don’t have any spells! Even if I did, pruning isn't a spell," Rowan ridiculed.

“You have four skill points, don’t you? You leveled up in the square back there, four times. I counted,” N. Kaidu said.

Flabbergasted, Rowan stared, jaw dropped. After a moment, he closed his mouth and protested, “It's rude to scan someone without asking."

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t,” N. Kaidu returned.

Rowan stared at him. Is it okay to openly admit that? Isn’t that kind of rude?

A thought came to him, and he put a hand to his chin. “Wait, then… you saw me rapidly level up. You know…” That I hacked. Or did something else weird. “Are you okay with that?”

“The System is stacked against support classes. Whatever you do to gain levels, whatever you exploit, I won’t judge you. Trickery, hacking, whatever. You have to do what you must.”

“Oh,” Rowan said, surprised. Most people get angry when they hear about hacking. Haughty as he seemed, I thought he'd protest it for sure.

Kaidu nodded at Rowan. “Well? Go on. Skills are the most essential aspect to a support class's success. Don't sit on your points.”

Rowan glanced up. “Is Jude coming?”

Unbothered, N. Kaidu glanced up and shrugged. He watched Rowan expectantly, leaning against a nearby tree to wait.

Sighing, Rowan called up the System interface. Nothing I can do but give in and level up properly. He's got a point, anyways. As pitiful as our stat-ups are, skills are going to be what makes us or breaks us.

Time to find out if I'm made, or broken...