"Am I still alive?"

The man looked around. The room was painted white and no dirt was to be seen. Not even dust in the corners, everything was just clean. Too clean. He tried to stand up but legs had no intention to listen to him, they just laid there almost as if smiling cruelly.

"You two, get up or else I am going to kick your ass." He ordered.

"But that would mean kicking your own ass, wouldn't it?" A low-pitched laughter reached the man's ears.

When he turned around in order to locate the voice's owner he saw a twenty years old man with an unshaved oval face and a long dark cloak. It took him a minute to remember the person in front of him but when his brain finally caught up he exclaimed in surprise.

"Want to have your ass kicked too?" He finally uttered with a breaking voice.

"Ben, you just woke up and want to fight again?" The second man asked.

"Give a moment, fighting again? What are you talking about, Peter?" Ben couldn't quite follow.

"Don't you remember? A big ass spider stung you and this NPC had to bring you here." He explained.

"Spider? What spider? There are no big spiders in my city, what are you talking about?"

"We are in the the world of the Tower, Ben, not in our world."

"Wait, what? It wasn't a dream?" The man fell on his bed again. "Oh, fuck me."

"Sorry, not this time."

The two weren't sure whether to laugh or cry so they decided to change the topic. Peter explained recent events and told Ben how he even survived being attacked by Giant Cave Spider. Having heard how lucky he was that a group of mercenaries stumbled upon them he sighed in relief and decided to thank them as soon as he could. His surprise was even bigger when he heard of Arath joining that group but the merry atmosphere didn't last long.

"What do you mean Carl is still unconcious?" He was at a loss.

"They said he won't wake up until an antivenom is ready. The gate to second floor hasn't been open for long so it will take time before they can do anything about it. I don't know any details but this I am sure of. I overheard leaders talking about making you join a normal team now that your previous team is basically non-existent, we could use your special ability, you know?"

"What do you mean non-existent? Arath and Clara are fine, right?" Ben asked.

"That man's bitch? She is unconcious too and will probably die soon." Peter wasn't even trying to be nice.

"What the fuck did you say about her?" Ben threw aside the pain it caused him and stood up.

"Calm down, macho boy. Sit down."

Ben furiously run to the door, jump outside and slammed the door behind him. He tried to get away. He knew the building like the back of his pocket, as he had lived there for the last weeks but this part of the mansion was completely unknown to him. He was oblivious to the direction he was headed and had no idea which way to go but it didn't matter to him. Every way was the right way if it took him away from Peter. Finally after roaming around like a wild bull for over half an hour Ben saw the rocky ceiling through a window. He just opened it and jumped outside. A jump from the second floor could hurt a normal person but he just used his ability to make the ground softer for him and landed safely. After getting a rough understanding of his position he sprinted towards Arath's apartment.

--------------

"Thank you guys for the meal! It was delicious." Arath said and after telling everybody to have a good night he left the restaurant.

To say that evening was expensive is to not say anything at all. Nearly a quarter of his savings had been spent but he didn't feel bad about it. He had seen too many people defeated by greed and overwhelmed by hardships, these people had one thing in common - they could not let go and just let off the steam from time to time. When the bell signalled the arrival of night he quickly run back to his apartment. As he was approaching the door he heard someone arguing. He didn't recall a single time the old couple argued so he was sure something was up. Ready to see a burglar or just a drunkard he prepared to fight and as quickly as he could run towards the door yt the surprise on the intruder was only defeated by an even more surprised Arath's face. The two man hugged tightly and it took them a while to calm down.

"I suppose this gentleman here is your friend?" Donna asked. "He was trying to barge in without even asking. Next time warn us about visitors, please.

Arath apologised and explained that he had had no idea that someone would come. Donna waved her hand and left the two on their own. Ben did not waste time, and after finding out where Clara was, run straight to her room. No words could convince him that she wasn't going to wake up for now and he desperately tried his best and if one could get rid of poison by shaking it out it would have gone away at least hundred times.

'Well, well, well. Guess who has a crush on you, Clara. I never thought the big guy could be so emotional. You would make quite the interesting couple, you know?' Arath laughed in his mind.

"By the way, I heard you joined a mercenary group. How is it?" Ben asked.

"I met some great people there. I am still figuring out my abilities and they always help me out, I think I needed that." He answered.

"Is there any way I can join too?" Ben declared without a care about status or pride. "Council doesn't care about Clara, they will prepare antivenom for Carl but leave her alone. This is why I want to go to the second floor with you and help her however I can.