Stepping back into the room, sitting at the head of table was a large green Orc, with Mac sitting to his side. The Orc had a bald head, braided beard, and was wearing an open black robe with a grey square runic pattern running down the edges. Inside his robe was well fitted grey leathers. He loomed over the table, and I’m surprised the chair can hold him.

They both look up at me and Mac gestures towards a chair across from him. “Reigner, this is Elder Knight Torak. He has asked to speak with you.”

I pull out the chair and sit down. Scratching the back of my neck and avoiding eye contact, I start to speak. “Listen. I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Believe me when I say that has never happened to me before... I mean we all let out some gas every now and then, right? I just… That was...”

Saved from explaining further, the elder lets out a deep, rumbling laugh.

“Worry not. What happened to you is not your fault.” Elder Knight Torak places the transparent Adventurers stone on the table between us “Mac explained to me what transpired. This may be the first time I have personally witnessed a faded Awakening stone. However, we have records of this happening before.”

Mac’s sits up straight. “Elder. Why have I not been told of this before now?”

Looking to Mac the elder responds “What is to be discussed is not to be spoken elsewhere. Understood?”

“Yes Elder. On my honour as a Knight of the Tower.”

Nodding, the Elder Knight turns his head from Mac and looks me in the eye “This is not your first time being summoned to another world… Or the first time seeing a Tower… Is it?”

Looking back towards him I respond “No, it’s not. It’s happened to me twice. However, the first was quite different to this time… apart from being naked that is.”

“Different How?”.

“Well, the first time I woke in a magic circle, surrounded by mages. They were cheering and laughing. I thought they were laughing at me. Until they started calling me Hero…”

The elder runs his hands down his beard and makes a rumbling noise “Interesting… Did this world have only one Tower?”

“Yeah. As far as I was aware, anyway.”

“Reigner, I would be honoured if you could share your story with us. And know, that anything you say will not be shared to others.”

“I don’t mind. However, I broke the Awakening stone and still can’t access my status…”

Kight Elder Torak smiles at me. “Do not be concerned, Reigner. Awakening stones come in all sizes. Godly rank or not, this one was just not powerful enough to break through your natural resistances. I believe the Ex-terra guild has one of the biggest stones in the city. I’ll write a message, informing them of our need.”

Pen and a sheet of paper appear in the elder’s hands. Placing the paper on the table, he writes down a short message. He then folds the paper, runs a glowing finger over the flap, and hands it to Mac.

“Please give this to Master Gushiken’s disciple and ask her to deliver it for me. Let her know that I will personally bring Reigner to their guild headquarters this evening.”

Standing up the elder continues “I think we should move our conversation to somewhere more comfortable. Mac, tell Vaella to bring lunch to my study, and meet us there once you are done.”

Mac opens the door to the waiting hall, a dull thud sound came from the door. Looking past Mac I see Yui fall backwards and sprawl out on the polished wooden floor.

“Ugh… Mac!”. Quickly jumping to her feet, Yui bows “Hello, Elder Knight Torak… Is Reigner okay?”

Mac hands out the letter towards her “He is fine…”

Chuckling The elder shakes his head and moves to a side door “Come on. I feel like we could do with a drink”.

The walk to the Elder Knight’s room took some time. One hallway we walked through was filled with paintings, items in display cases, and some mannequins wearing full suits of armour. Elder Torak made a few comments. Saying how this ring was claimed by an expedition to another tower or that was a famous spear forged by a smith on the upper levels. Reaching a set of ornate closed doors, the elder opens them and gestures for me to enter.

The room was a library, the walls lined with dark wooden shelves filled with books of all sizes. A fireplace built in the back wall, and in the centre, sat a large leather couch, with two matching chairs. An intricate rug adorned the floor and reminded me of my lack of footwear. It feels soft and fluffy on the soles of my feet.

Mac joined us shortly after, followed by an Elf pushing a trolley of sandwiches. After eating I spent the next few hours telling them my story. My first few days, mourning the loss of my friends and family. My excitement learning and discovering the existence of magic. My disappointment and frustration of not being able to use mana. The years being trained in all manner of martial styles, weapons, and lore… And my experiences leveling as a Hero, paving my way up the Tower. I ended my story with the undead Guardian and finding the godly ranked tome.

Elder Knight Torak and Mac sat in silence for a moment.

Filling up three glasses with an amber liquid, Elder Knight Torak passes one to me and then to Mac. Picking up the third, he knocks it back, drinking the entire contents before filling the glass again. “Incredible… A Hero chose a class book over a Tower”.

Looking to me he adds “I mean no disrespect. Your story is a noble one… but how much do you know about the Tower?”

Taking a sip from the glass, the drink tasted like a mix of honey, nut, and something flowery. “Only what I learned in the first few years. It was once a place that provided great wealth… until it didn’t. The historians said the Tower destroyed the city by sending out large waves of creatures. The survivors ended up fleeing and forming a new city, about a week’s ride by horse. That was a few centuries ago. By the time I arrived, all manner of goblins and demon like creatures were sending attacks against the city walls.”

Leaning back into his chair, Elder Knight Torak glances towards Mac and takes a sip from his glass. “Normally I would never tell anyone that has not gone above floor eighty what I’m about to tell you. However, as you have already discovered the type of existence that lives on the top floor you have the right to know... The Tower’s top floors are a means of accessing and traveling to other worlds. At the very top, accessible only to the master of the tower, is a portal to a higher world.”

“Another world. Like this one?”

Finishing his glass, the elder continues “No. Not just some other world but a higher one, with a much denser mana atmosphere. Traveling to these higher worlds lay the path of ascension.”

“Finishing my own glass, I place it on the table “Mana has never had an impact on me. A world with more makes no difference.”

Elder Kight Torak leans forwards, takes the now half empty bottle, and refills our glasses. “Had you claimed the Tower, it would have acted as an extremely powerful Awakening stone, not only giving you access to mana but the opportunity to evolve your class.”

The elder passes me the now filled glass. “Class Tomes are extremely rare. However, their worth is nothing compared to the ownership of a Tower.”

Taking the glass, I toss the liquid back, gulping it down. I take the bottle, refill my glass, and drain it a second time. Sitting back into the chair I contemplate on his words.

All those years spent killing Tower spawn. All the levels gained… gone… No wonder I felt weaker when stepping out of the stone room. At least the world doesn’t have to worry about the tower spilling out creatures anymore, I completed my job as the Hero. Maybe… just maybe I was a bit too hasty in claiming that book. At least here there is no impending world ending event that that I need to focus on. Maybe here I can do something I want to do instead of have to do.

Feeling a pat on my shoulder I see Elder Knight Torak standing above me. “Come, Reigner lets get you some shoes and go meet Master Gushiken. It’s time you see the fruits of your labour. Summoner, was it?”

Not waiting for an answer, the elder pulls me to my feet and we start walking.