Chương 150: Arc 3 - Chapter 22

Fritz finished the last of his laps just as Rosie started hers. He panted, recovering as more and more of his team joined in the exercise. Not for the first time, he thanked the miracle that was the Ring of Suppress Pain. It allowed him to complete his run with dignity, then continue to stand stoically under the tree as he watched the crew struggle with their own exertions. Soon it was only Bert and Lauren left. Then it was only Lauren, jogging through the rain.

George was standing by Fritz while Cal sat on the long thin roots, panting. Rosie was beside him and had been heckling the still-running woman with shouts of "Faster Lauren! Faster!" from the sidelines. Fritz frowned, he would have put a stop to the taunting earlier, but it did seem to spur the fire mage on to redouble her efforts. However, he could see it was stoking her temper and knew that the woman would get her revenge on the grinning Rosie. One way or another.

"Stop gawking at the girl and gather in the lounge," Adam yelled from the doorway, startling the team and nearly causing Lauren to trip. Cal nearly leapt from where he sat, while Bert slowly stood from where he'd been lying down. The team was about to make their way to the lounge, as instructed, but Fritz called to them to wait for Lauren to finish her running.

"Why?" Rosie asked.

"We should all go in together," Fritz said affecting an air of camaraderie.

"A united front against our foes."

"He's not our foe," George observed.

"Right, well, never leave a man behind and all that," Fritz replied, instantly switching to another old saying.

"Even Lauren?" Rosie asked.

"Even Lauren," Fritz stated. They only had to wait another couple of minutes before the woman staggered to a stop, having completed her last lap. She slumped against the tree heaving and George lent her a shoulder to help carry her. She took it gratefully and the team made their way to where their tutor waited. After they had dried themselves, they met the man. He was making some last-minute adjustments to the notes he'd been taking.

"You're late," he said, not looking up from his papers.

"My apologies, Sir, we had to wait for the last of us to finish," Fritz said.

"That's a good attitude, it will serve you well in the Spires ahead," Adam said.

"Come collect your regimens." He held out three pages to Fritz and he took them, then the tutor repeated the same action with the rest of the team, giving each of them their own personalised advice.

"Now, the first page will cover your daily exercise. You'll each see stretches, laps and lifts as befitting your Roles. You will do them each day, no exceptions, you will need this base level of physicality to build your foundations upon." Though no one questioned his words, he continued to explain, obviously used to being interrupted at this point in his lecture. Likely by some indolent noble, as he would bemoan.

"Everyone, even mages, will be required to run. It will be among your most useful tools and Techniques. Don't fight to the death if escape is an option. Spires don't have honour, seek to emulate their example. Retreat, regroup and reassess are my bywords." When the tutor searched their faces and saw no disagreement, he huffed, seemingly annoyed at the lack of outcry and dissent. They had all already learnt that lesson, and those that grew up in the gutter hadn't thought honour anything but a myth anyway.

A notion only for the heroic tales, not the reality of the world.

"I understand the running," Lauren said.

"But why am I required to lift all these weights as well?"

"You need to be strong enough to carry an unconscious or injured team member," Adam said.

"I see," Lauren said, though it was obvious she wasn't pleased.

"What, afraid you'll grow some muscle?" Adam said with a chuckle.

"Is it wrong to like the way you look?" Lauren challenged.

"I don't want to take on the aesthetic of an ogress if I can help it."

"Hah! Growing muscle is harder than you think, girl. And if you're that worried about it, you can always find some tonics to help keep your current physique," Adam advised.

"Anyway, on the next page, you'll find the equipment I recommend you acquire soon. Then there are some Techniques and Treasures you'll want to keep an eye out for in the coming months. Visit the Treasury at least once a week and lodge some requests, bids and trades for them if you can. Now I don't expect you to find all I list, nor do I expect you to be able to afford them, but it will be good practice for when you're in other cities and need to negotiate in similar establishments there."

"Other cities have Treasuries too?" Cal asked.

"They do. Usually they have varying rules and customs according to the land, and sometimes they're called by another name," Adam explained.

"Some use tokens or a donation system, and others are far more mercantile, like Rain City. But yes, a Treasury exists in one way or another in every city I've been to."

"Can't wait to see the inside of the Treasury," Bert said.

"When you do visit, go with Lord Hightide," Adam advised.

"His title will afford him some privileges that you would be remiss to not take advantage of."

"Such as?" Fritz asked with some interest.

"Better auction booths, for one. For two, Techniques and Treasures are presented first to the nobility before they are allowed to be brought before the commoners. And many Houses will give you better trades according to your standing."

"I'm not sure my house will be so well regarded. In fact, if the Hightides have any standing it will be low," Fritz said, affecting pride.

"From what I know of the upper circles of Rain City, low standing is far better than none," Adam said. Fritz couldn't argue that point, so he let the man continue.

"On your last page will be the simple mental exercises you need to be doing to start your Pattern training."

"What's that? What are Patterns?" Rosie asked.

"The energy of Advanced Attributes can be manipulated into certain shapes or can be 'exerted' in certain ways that will refine or simply improve their expression. The use of these Patterns can grant you a great edge both in combat and out. Mastering this skill will separate a great climber from the merely good." The team nodded and Adam motioned for them to look at the papers he'd given them. Those who could read started to pore over the notes, those who couldn't merely stood around awkwardly.

Adam noticed this and motioned the illiterate toward him so he could explain the broad strokes of what he had in store for them. Fritz sat by the fire, resting his trembling legs and started to read out all the suggestions and exercises written out in neat rows. There was a surprising amount of information presented on each page in packed, neat script. He looked over his daily regimen and grimaced. Not only were the exercises punishing in number, but also in difficulty.

The lifts and tasks changed, targeting a different set of muscles or movements every day of the week before resetting. There was also the direct order to eat at least three large meals a day. The meals were to be full of meat and fish, and they were to supplement their diet with as much mana-dense food as they could find. It would be expensive. Though not as expensive as what Fritz found on the next page.

There were various equipment listed, from grappling hooks and ropes, to armour repair or weapon maintenance kits. Among the more expensive items were at least one healing potion and a selection of remedies. Fritz skimmed the long list, his eyes only catching a couple of times on certain suggestions, like the mention of a crossbow and a helmet, and some heavier armour.

"I already got some of that stuff," Rosie said as Adam read her list to her.

"You should, it's all just there to make sure you don't miss anything," he replied.

"You'll have a gear check at the end of next week. Then some drills where you're fully in your armour and have your packs packed. Full kit is my least favourite type of training so you should do it right, if only to appease me."

"Alright," Rosie said. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"So we need to get all this, while we're training hard each day as well?" Cal complained.

"Yes, but you can have today off to purchase the bulk of what you need," Adam said.

"Especially the training equipment, Lauren, you are Quartermaster are you not?"

"I am, for now," she said, then she sighed.

"Well, here's the list of gear you need," he said handing her a rolled scroll.

"Take all these strong lads with you to carry everything. And if you find the role too taxing you should hire someone on to serve as Quartermaster instead so you can focus on your training."

"I may just do that," Lauren said thoughtfully.

"I didn't become a Climber to look over ledgers and have the same duties as a merchant. Really, I wanted to give all that up." The team stared at her, surprised at her open admission.

"What?" She asked, seemingly just as surprised.

"Not like you to be so honest," George said.

"I never hid my disdain for such tasks, did I?" Lauren asked.

"I, for one, didn't take your comments for true aggrievement," Fritz admitted.

"I assumed you were just bellyaching," Bert added.

"I thought you was just being a lazy bitch," Rosie said, shrugging. Lauren frowned at them.

"I started Climbing for freedom and adventure, not to be relegated as the team's bookkeeper. I'm happy to take note of what we find inside a Spire. But outside of it, well, I'd rather dedicate myself to training, or other pursuits."

"Like seducing waitresses?" Bert asked, grinning.

"Perhaps," Lauren said, sniffing, then tilting her chin arrogantly.

"Very well, we'll find a Quartermaster too," Fritz allowed. He started to wonder just how much staff they would need in their Climbing pursuits.

"I just worry about the expense."

"Shouldn't be too much out of your vault," Adam interrupted.

"You don't need a Climber. Just someone you can trust not to rob you or misappropriate your wealth while you're Climbing. Someone who's good with ledgers also wouldn't go amiss. Though that in itself can be difficult. Never know who to trust in this drowning heap of stone and filth." The tutor reached for his flask and drank from it while the team gave each other concerned glances. Fritz searched his mind for anyone who fit that description, but was interrupted when Adam continued speaking.

"No, the real expenses will be of the alchemical sort," he proclaimed.

"Healing potions aren't cheap and you will each need one. It's an old Climbers rule and it's an old rule for a reason. It keeps you alive."

"We know some alchemists," Cal said happily.

"Fritz is good friends with them, maybe they can give us some better prices."

"Probably for the remedies, the healing potions, however, would still be a challenge," Fritz said, knowing the two sisters weren't so capable as to be making such powerful, expensive potions. If they were they'd have a full shop in the Upper or even Palace Ring and would be under the patronage of some nobility or perhaps even the king himself.

"And we could give them the... well, you know," Cal said. Fritz did know. The raider's scrolls, full of recipes for remedies and potions and proliferate with descriptions of herbs and fungi.

"Another one of you Drowned Archive finds?" Adam asked. Fritz rapidly looked to the man's knowing smile, then scanned over his team only to find the ripples of guilt rippling over Cal's head like a heat haze.

"Damn it, Cal," Fritz said, more exasperation than true anger. Though he knew their tutor would eventually be privy to a lot of their secrets over time, he didn't expect to be revealing so much so early.

"Sorry," Cal said. His face looked just as regretful as the sad motes hovering around him proclaimed.

"Don't be too harsh on the man. I used a cunning tutor trick to force the information out of him," Adam declared. Fritz didn't believe it for a second, he knew Cal too well for that, but he let the excuse pass for now.

"Very well," Fritz said.

"I'll do as you say and forgive him."

"You should thank him," Adam countered.

"He's saved you some trouble in the future."

"How so," Fritz asked.

"That floor, the Drowning Archive, is a known, yet kept quiet, reoccurring Door in the Mer Spire. Its contents are coveted and keenly desired. As you would well know, it is full of hidden and rare Techniques strewn across its shelves, secreted away amongst the false histories and ancient tomes of even older nonsense."

"If it's reoccurring why would we be in any trouble?" George asked.

"Because it only reoccurs every thirty years," Adam said.

"The King has an accord with the Guides Guild, if they spot the door they alert him so he can send the Royal Climbers in to recover what they can. The nobles are also under similar orders as the Guild, and neither would cross the King in his own demesne."

"How would he know if he were betrayed by either group?" Cal asked.

"Spies. Informants, all sorts of ways." Adam shrugged.

"That's not important, the important thing is that you have beat him to the punch. Finding the floor and taking its Techniques before he even knew it had resurfaced yet." Fritz's stomach turned at the new knowledge. How was it when they had even the slightest blessings it turned out it was a bitter curse in disguise? Adam grinned as if it were all some great joke. Fritz wanted to strike him. He knew it wasn't the tutor's fault, but still, he blamed him for bringing him such unwelcome news.

"So we'll have to keep the Techniques to ourselves?" Fritz asked, feeling cut down. He'd planned to take them to the Treasury and exchange them for the ones that would be useful for him and his team, but now it seemed like that idea was off the table.

"Oh, no. Just slowly release them over the years or find fences for them," Adam said.

"Make some backroom deals with other nobles on the quiet. I can help with that, put you in touch with some wealthy, wanting, individuals who can be trusted. Well, trusted as far as it goes for the nobility." Fritz barely bristled at the remark, it was all too true. He nodded.

"You'll, of course, have to show me what you have and what you intend to keep and trade," Adam said.

"The sooner the better, in fact, I can look them over while you go acquire your new training equipment. But before that, any more questions?" Fritz had one, it had to do with the last page of his regimen.

"These mental exercises, they seem rather basic."

"That's a statement, not a question," Adam replied blandly.

"I thought they would be more advanced."

"Again, that's a statement."

"Why are they so basic?"

"Good question. See, you can do it if you try, Lord Hightide," Adam said with no small amount of condescension.

"They're basic because we need to build up your mental reflexes layer by layer. You'll eventually need to use Patterns in battle. Which means you'll have merely a moment to react, a moment when you might be dodging a deadly attack or striking your foe. Either way, you won't have time to think and will need to rely on instincts ingrained into you by training. And the best way to do that is to truly master the fundamentals, then the next step, then the next.

Until you're able to call upon the Patterns without conscious thought."

"Sounds hard," Rosie said.

"It is," Adam agreed.

"Even I, with my many years of experience, have not completely mastered all the Patterns I know, just a select few that I had talent with in the first place, then a few others I had to work very hard on. You'll all have to do the same. And to do so, you will need a solid foundation. That's what all this training is about, having something strong to build on as you grow more powerful. The higher the Base the more the multipliers matter."

Fritz took in the statements, they made sense, but he still dreaded all that he would have to endure. He'd already done so much, survived so many perils, and yet, if Adam was to be believed, he still had so much suffering left to slog through.

"Anything else?" Adam asked the contemplative crowd.

"Do we get any days off?" Cal asked.

"You have rest days," Adam said.

"Every three days you only have to do a light run and your stretches while your body recovers. If we had a steady supply of mana-dense meats we could make it only one rest day every six days. But alas, we'll have to take it a bit slow."

"This is slow?" Lauren asked, her face growing a little paler.

"For my training, yes," Adam said proudly.

"Now if there's nothing else, show me to your vault. I want to see those Techniques you found."

"You can wait in here and we'll bring you the Techniques," Fritz said.

"Oh, got more secrets you can't reveal to your tutor? Disgraceful," Adam said as if the words offended him, but Fritz could tell the man was merely joking.

"But very well, go get them. I'll look them over, then take my leave. I have a lot ahead of me and I'd like to get started as soon as may be." At a nod from Fritz, Lauren who was the current custodian of the vault key, left with Cal to fetch the requested tomes and scrolls. George was about to leave to gather his tiles, but Adam stopped him.

"Only show me what you're willing to part with," he said. With that caveat, they only had one such Technique, Mist Art: Mystic Forms. The rest had been claimed or Fritz had plans for their use, such as the raider's scrolls and the red gem he had still to find a way to understand properly. Still, he fetched the gem just in case the man had some idea of how to better read it. He briefly considered showing the man 'The Observations', but he couldn't bear the thought of trading it away.

He had read it cover to cover once now since he'd got it back, but still felt there was something missing within the text. Perhaps there was a cipher, a code he had to break before it would yield its secret that stood tantalisingly out of his reach. Or perhaps he simple hadn't delved its deepest depths. Adam looked over the two Techniques with some disappointment.

"You should have been able to find more than this. Even with the floor's time limit, you could have found at least five," the tutor complained, searching their faces. The team turned to Fritz and he hesitated for a moment before explaining.

"We weren't alone. We came into conflict, and what the others may have found was lost as they drowned."

"Damn," Adam said.

"Bad luck there. Still, this mystic mist style Technique is uniquely valuable to water and air mages. And could be of some use to you as well Lauren. However, this gem, it will be more difficult to seize its secrets. You have to shine light through it to reveal its contents. It will require a special apparatus to truly read it as it was meant to be read. I'll see if I can find the schematics for such a device."

"Really?" Fritz asked.

"Yes, and you should keep it until you know what it is. Be sure of what you have before you trade it away," Adam said, tossing the gem back to Fritz. Then he hefted the large rolled-up wooden slats of the Mist Art scroll to Lauren.

"Read that, learn it, it'll help with unlocking Control, and it may have some interesting applications when combined with fire. Maybe you'll get some sort of smoke? Once you have it at novice level you can trade or sell it."

"If you say so," Lauren said.

"Sir," the man reminded her.

"If you say so, Sir," she repeated.

"Good. Now you sorry lot of gutter rats and soggy merchants, get on with your tasks. You training truly begins tomorrow. I look forward to seeing your struggle." With that, the man stood and took his leave. The team waited for a minute or two before they broke out into complaints about their individual exercises. They cursed Sir Needle and questioned both his humanity and his moral fibre, then his sadistic predilections.

Fritz joined in, knowing the grousing to be merely the act of releasing frustration rather than some true hatred of the man or the tortuous regimens he had crafted specifically for them. Those same exercises that targeted their individual weaknesses like a marksman's arrow. After their small session of commiserations, they prepared to head to the Thoroughfare Market to purchase all they would need.

Fritz attired himself as the young noble he was, intending to abuse what ever privileges he was allowed, and some he wasn't. Then they set off into the morning rain. They eventually joined the moneyed masses and prosperous patrons, perusing both produce and proud premises under the dull roar of rain and countless conversations. Fritz left all the haggling and purchasing to Cal and Lauren, who were more interested in such things.

It was while he was perusing a stall that sold all manner of ropes, that he heard some excited talk and the whispers of change on the air. He listened to the passing crowds and he questioned a few of the gossips, finding out what they knew. It left him with some lingering dread and apprehension. The Mer Spire had pulsed gold early this morning, and the Prince had left the great Spire door only hours ago. However, there had also been another two individuals, leaving just after the Empire's party.

They were of little consequence and had claimed to simply have left the sixth floor. Yet the proximity of their exiting so close to the Prince had caused some pause and some questions from the Storm Guard. Eventually, they had been let go, as they looked ragged and pitiable, no threat or trouble to any.

"I saw them myself. Their packs were upended, and it looked as though the drizzlers, I mean the Storm Guard, good Sir, were looking for something. Whatever they were searching for was not found though and they were allowed to leave. A lot of fuss for two barely Spire-aged commoners as they looked," one gossip provided. Fritz had to agree. It was likely that the Drizzlers were paid or ordered to be on the lookout for Larry and his team, and only two of them returning would look quite strange.

A search before they had the chance to ditch the Team's stolen Treasures could have caught them red-handed. Fritz wondered why they had waited longer than he had told them to, but supposed they had their reasons or own plots in motion. He was sure he'd find out eventually and had no desire to hunt the two down to make sure they made good on their promises. It would be terribly suspicious of him to do so.

No, his actual desire was to return to the orphanage and warn Frank and the Guards of the noble enemies he had made. But again, he would have to trust them to do their duties. And it wasn't as if the first thing on those nobles' minds would be vengeance for some slight on the sixth floor almost a week ago. If it were him, he'd want to relax and unwind after a Climb before settling some scores. Perhaps they'd merely forget.

Still, time had marched on and the consequences of his rash words and actions were going to catch up to him, eventually. He just hoped he'd be strong enough to meet them or sly enough to avoid them when they came. It wasn't enough for Fritz to stand by and watch, he had to act. But first he would need knowledge, information and a whole lot more prestige for his House and name. With that in mind he set to make the most of his time in the market and embrace his Path, Spy.