Chương 98: Arc 2 - Chapter 40

"Whoa there!" Dayn called out, rapidly approaching Fritz's team before they headed through the grey stone of the siren Door.

"Dayn, what can we do for you? We were just heading off," Fritz said amiably. The man ruffled his brown hair and looked around at the expectant team.

"I just thought I'd warn you before you went through," he said seriously.

"You might want to reconsider and take the leftmost Door, that one is more suited to new Climbers. The Door you are about to take is deadly, too many experienced, overconfident teams are lost within."

"Oh? I heard it was full of extremely valuable materials," Fritz intoned, fishing for more information.

"It is, but the feathers and silk are not worth it," Dayn said.

"The sirens within are powerful creatures, amongst the most perilous foes in the Mer Spire. Abyss, they even beat out some of the Rain Spire's monsters too. And that's to say nothing of traversing the floor."

"Have you ever been in it? You seem knowledgeable about it," Lauren asked.

"Once, and that was enough to make me avoid it. It was on a lower Floor and we still lost four people before we escaped. Then we had the spite to deal with until we lost two more. It was one of the worst Climbs I've ever been in," he recounted grimly.

"We appreciate the warning," Fritz said.

"However, I'm still resolute that this is the right choice for us. We have rags to stuff our ears, and water-breathing remedies for the swim. And other such equipment besides." Dayn looked them over again and seemed to see what Fritz felt from his team, a steady resolve to brave the siren Floor beyond.

"Very well," Dayn exhaled resignedly.

"I just thought to warn you, too many young Climbers needless fall on deceptively deadly Floors. Blessings of Alestria be upon you."

"May your guidance be recorded in Ton'var's archives," Lauren replied properly. When the local Climber had left, Fritz said, "I didn't take you for the devout sort." Lauren shrugged.

"You have to talk the talk when you're a merchant. Can't go offending the clergy or community. That, and it's not like there are any other profound answers out there. Sure, there are other old scriptures, like the Krakosi Commands or the Jastili Way. But those beliefs aren't widespread or entirely credible outside their respective cultures. The Gods existed, and that's a fact. There are records of them and their teams, from when they were mortal Climbers, before they Ascended the Final Spire."

"Yes, though is there any evidence that they still care about us mortals? That they watch us from on high?" Fritz argued.

"More evidence for them than for faeries, I would say," Lauren said blandly.

"Are we going to stand around discussing theology and myth? Or are we going to go see some, I mean fight some, sirens?" Bert interrupted.

"Bert... who in the Abyss taught you the term Theology?" Fritz asked, scowling.

"You did?" Bert said, eyes unfocused as if peering into the past.

"What's theology?' Rosie asked.

"You can get Bert to explain it to you later," Fritz deflected affably.

"For now we have a Door to go through."

"Are you sure?" Cal asked, shuffling from foot to foot.

"I realised it was dangerous before but after hearing that man's warning..." he trailed off.

"Come on, think of the gold and the potential Abilities offered, maybe one of you could get your very own siren song, or feathers if you so wished. Just like the lizard floor that likely improved your selection of Traits and Paths," Fritz said in his most charming tones.

"He's right. I never would have got my rare Abilities without taking some risk," Lauren said. Cal finally nodded.

"Sorry, just a bit of cold feet I suppose."

"Cold feet! You should leave that to Lauren and her boots!" Bert said with a laugh. She frowned at him and George chuckled.

"Right, unless there are any more misgivings we should get moving," Fritz proclaimed. There was no more dissent and the team readied themselves for the dangers beyond. Fritz strode up the uneven, wet rock of the ramp and into the warm wind. Upward until he breached the Floor's boundary and found himself standing on a stone outcrop in the middle of an ocean. From twenty feet above the roiling sea, he took in the wondrous view, the pure blue sky and the bright sun.

The clear air and high purchase let him see for miles despite the roughness of the waves. A welcome change from the previous Floors. There were hundreds of short and tall rocky islands all around. Among them stone pillars, bluffs and cliffs stood against the crashing waves. His own bleak refuge was no more than a hundred feet wide at his estimation, and the others in the distance looked to be around the same size. He breathed deep the fresh air and seaspray leapt and fell on him in a fine salty mist.

His team soon joined him and stared out in appreciation, murmuring their own words of delight. Fritz pulsed his Awareness laced with Door Sense, and could feel the general direction of the Stairway. Unsurprisingly, it pulled his gaze towards the tallest peak of one of the largest islands. They would have to hop from island to island tens of times to reach it, and on its sheer slopes he could see pale specks of bleached bones and the brown of driftwood nests.

There were also the birds, or rather not birds, but sirens, flying around its peak and sitting on the grey ledges. They would dive from their perches and skim the ocean before rising and swooping onto the jagged stone shelves where they made their nests. Unfortunately, the sirens were too far away to make out clearly, even with his own powerful senses, and he had to make do with guesswork.

"What do you see, Fritz?" George asked.

"Have you already found the stairway?"

"What?" Fritz shouted as if he hadn't heard him over the sound of waves.

"Have you found the Stairway!?" George yelled back.

"Maybe! That's the highest point," Fritz said, gesturing to the largest island.

"How do we get there?" George asked during a lull in the noise.

"Swim. How else," Bert stated, stepping back, then taking a running jump over the cliff's edge. Before Fritz could remind him of their heavy bones, he was gone, diving into the depths with a great splash. He was swallowed by the sea and Fritz looked on worriedly. He knew the fall wouldn't hurt Bert, and it had looked like he'd already applied some of the raider's gill-grease so drowning wasn't an issue, yet. But still, what if he sank too far into the ocean and couldn't swim back up?

His fears went unrealised as Bert's pack popped up like a cork followed by his grinning head. His expression seemed only a little troubled as he swam to the stony shore and clung to it.

"Waves are a little rough!" He cried out.

"There's a cave here!"

"I wouldn't recommend doing as that idiot did," Fritz told the team.

"We should just climb down."

"Are we going to have to swim? That might be... difficult," George said, clearly considering his armour.

"Oh, right. Take it off, Cal can carry it in his new pack," Fritz ordered.

"Maybe shrink your sword too." George wasn't pleased, the first time Fritz had seen him in such a mood, but he obeyed without a grumble. What Fritz wouldn't give for a team full of the man. Cal diligently packed away the armour in the black traveller's pack and fastened it to his back. With that done, they clambered down the side of the stone cliff, it wasn't easy though it wasn't exactly difficult either. The stone, though wet, was porous and rough, with many handholds and footholds.

The greatest danger was that a wave might sweep them away. Though that wasn't likely either, with all of them, save Lauren, having aligned so many points to Strength. They made their way down with no troubles and gathered in the small cave where the sounds of the ocean were muffled and they could speak without shouting.

"Bert, you moron, your bones, you imbecile," Fritz chided.

"Whoops," Bert said.

"Didn't feel too bad though, I'm only a little heavier. It felt like the waves were less powerful than they should be."

"Momentum," Lauren stated.

"Oh!" Bert cried slapping his forehead and grinning.

"Of course. You're a genius, Lauren. I'm so glad Fritz dragged you along, without you all these mysteries would never be solved."

"Don't patronise me," Lauren said, scowling. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"He's trying to be earnest, I think," Fritz said.

"I am!" Bert yelled, then dropped his grin.

"In all seriousness though, each of you are a valuable addition to the team, even Fritz." Unsure what to do with Bert's unusual change in demeanour the group stared on with mild embarrassment. Fritz coughed.

"Thank you, Bert, I value your contributions, mad as they may be, as well." he said then turned his attention to the team.

"And now that we have some time to talk, and you're stuck with us for four more Floors we can answer some of your questions." Fritz and Bert had planned this out together the previous night, agreeing to give answer to some of the team's lingering doubts.

"Are you really a noble?" Rosie asked.

"Yes and no," Fritz replied.

"My House is gone, and I don't expect to inherit. Though I suppose I have the blood, whatever good that does."

"None," Bert said.

"Is Bert also a noble or is he your servant?" Cal asked.

"Gods no," Fritz and Bert said together.

"I'm as common as they come, grew up in the gutters as an orphaned urchin. Don't even remember my parent's faces, if they had any," Bert said proudly.

"He is uncommonly common, and would be a terrible servant," Fritz added.

"How does a noble-born end up in the gutter and friends with an urchin?" George asked, keenly interested in the tale.

"You heard most of it from that noble Charles, which I won't reiterate. Suffice it to say, a terrible tragedy befell my family, then I committed some 'grave' offence at the Guide orphanage. I was eight or nine at the time, and on the run, fleeing for my safety. The rain was particularly heavy, and I was swept up in a sudden flood. Bert caught my arm as I flailed and floundered, then he pulled me free of the rushing water."

"Fished him right out," Bert said.

"At first I thought he saved me out of kindness."

"I did," Bert lied.

"True benevolence runs in these veins."

"Then I realised he wanted to rob me, as I was still in my sturdy, stately orphanage uniform and looked far wealthier than I actually was," Fritz explained.

"He had a whole silver in his coin pouch! I was right," Bert said indignantly.

"But the bastard wouldn't let me have it, even after I saved him! Ungrateful! And like any noble, he clung to his coin like it was his own life."

"We fought," Fritz said in fond remembrance.

"We were both skinny as starved rats back then."

"You still are," Bert interrupted.

"So the fight was a vicious struggle, I fended him back with a stick. But Bert fights dirty and soon we were tumbling on the ground, screaming, punching and biting."

"Fights dirty!? You came at me with a broken chair leg!" Bert argued with a grin.

"I only did what I had to do!"

"Eventually, after much exertion, we were too tired to move, too exhausted to keep brawling. We lay there, and famished as I was I asked him where I could get a decent meal at that time of night," Fritz continued.

"And I said, 'You'd need a decent place for a decent meal, but I know somewhere that won't make you sick.'" Bert recollected.

"And I said, 'lead the way,'" Fritz ended, smiling softly. A couple of moments passed where they were both quiet, caught up in nostalgic reminiscence.

"And?" Lauren asked.

"And? What? That's the end," Fritz said, slicking back his hair.

"Or rather the beginning of my life as a gutter thief."

"What!? That's it?!" Lauren said incredulously.

"Huh?" Bert asked.

"No blood oaths? Or swearing to take revenge on Fritz's foes together?" She asked.

"No, he bought me dinner though," Bert said.

"Grilled seagull, if I recall correctly."

"You do," Fritz agreed.

"That's... that's..." she mumbled.

"That's anti-climactic."

"That's just how it goes," Fritz supplied.

"This isn't some grand tale. It's just survival, and two young wretches wrestling in a gutter over a sliver of silver."

"Where did you get the dagger?" Lauren asked.

"An heirloom?" She added hopefully, obviously clutching to the vain wish that the story would conform to some adventure book she had read.

"Hardly. Though that is, unfortunately, a secret I cannot reveal. The Nightshark forbids it," Fritz said. Lauren scoffed at that, "A rumour and a stupid one."

"No," Fritz said vehemently.

"Absolutely true." Lauren seemed taken aback by his tone and considered the implications.

"Have you met him, the Nightshark?" Cal asked.

"No, though Bert and I are likely to after this Climb. Unfortunately, due to our affiliations and activities while we scraped-"And stole," Bert interrupted.

"And stole," Fritz agreed, "To survive. We have fallen under their rule and seemingly ever-present gaze. If the higher-ups are to be believed."

"Bad luck that," Rosie said.

"Yes. Unfortunate," Fritz replied.

"Anything else?" There was a silence for a while as they searched for questions.

"Now that we can ask, nothing seems to come to mind, "George observed with a wry smile.

"I know, right?" Cal agreed.

"I have one more, though it sounds mad," Lauren said tentatively. Fritz motioned for her to ask so she did.

"Faeries," she said.

"Faeries?" Fritz echoed.

"You've said some odd things," she began.

"Things that have caused me some concern, mind you, about meeting faeries."

"Ah," Fritz said.

"Well, I'm afraid that the answer is as mad as the question." When the group just continued staring at him, he continued, "You see, Bert was in a dire state, cut by the very blade I now hold. He was dying in the dark, and in that blackness I discovered a hidden Door. One that led to a faerie realm of eternal sunset, or sunrise, it was hard to tell. I sought help from the faeries dwelling within and received it. They broke the curse laid upon Bert's wound. And then we left. Straight into a Well room.

That's about all I remember, even now the recollection is fuzzy." Obviously, this was a rudimentary summary of the events that transpired in that strange twilight world. But he also had not one mote of desire to tell them the whole truth of his bargain and the debt he still owed to the Duskmoth. No, that he would keep very close to his chest, and even now the thought of that favour being called upon unnerved him. Though he didn't suspect he would be demanded to repay it any time soon.

The call would come in the future, some dark, violent future. Somehow he knew that for sure.

"Really?" George said sceptically, bringing Fritz back to the conversation at hand.

"Really," Bert said.

"I wouldn't believe it myself if I didn't have a latent Trait that says I've been touched by faeries."

"So Bert never saw them and all we have are your words. They didn't give you a token or anything else?" Lauren asked unconvinced.

"I said it would sound mad, and no they gave me nothing," Fritz stated, knowing that it wasn't exactly correct. His Cloak of Dusk could be considered a boon of sorts, even if he had to empower it with the Spire's magic.

"Nothing save your best friend's and blood brother's life you mean!" Bert exclaimed.

"A gift beyond any Treasure!"

"True as the rain," Fritz laughed.

"A priceless gift!"

"You missed the part about Sir Geraldo. You implied that you had met him," Lauren stated, not distracted by their laughing.

"Oh, yes, he was ordered to pull the carriage and lead us to the Doorway out. He was extremely rude and kept calling me a muddy mortal. His manner truly belied his valour. I'm surprised he's even a knight. Though maybe he just distinguished himself in battle, those antlers did look mighty deadly, triply so if he were on the charge," Fritz mused.

"I see," Lauren said, those particular anecdotes seeming to give her pause. Again silence gripped the group the quiet broken only by the crashing of waves.

"I don't know what to think," she said finally.

"Faeries were said to exist and would treat with humans, though it's been centuries. Why break the silence now? Why you?" Fritz shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Enough about that, what Abilities did you fine folk end up picking?" Bert asked.

"I chose an Ability called Bull Rush but you've seen it in battle already. It makes me charge forward, stronger and faster than normal. And I'm plenty strong already." With that, the questions about their past were forgotten and the team got to gushing about their new Powers. Rosie reiterated her choice of Ruinous Resistance, mentioning it gave her some small protections against rot and corrosive or poisonous substances.

Fritz thought it an odd Ability but couldn't discount its versatile nature, and reasoned that anything that helped you survive was a great boon, especially as a Defender.

"I took Sure Grip, a Passive that helps me hold onto things, like my sword. It also aided me while climbing down," George said.

"I must admit, I was dismayed at my poor offerings and chose this one simply because it wasn't water-aligned. But it has already proven more useful than I was expecting."

"That's the way of it sometimes," Fritz said.

"You've all seen my Ability as well, it's a Passive that lets me phase into shadow before I'm harmed. Though it has a long refresh and an Aligned-only cost."

"Lucky," Cal groused.

"Very unusual in a water and sea-beast aligned Spire," Lauren remarked.

"Even with those particular downsides. Though I'm sure they could eventually be ironed out with Evolutions."

"Indeed," Fritz said, giddy at the thought but not showing it.

"I myself chose Heat Sense," she continued.

"Oh, a Sense Ability?" Fritz asked eagerly.

"Yes, it's strange, it's not like seeing or hearing, but in a small distance around me, I can feel how warm, or cool things are. I don't think it's very accurate, as you all feel around the same temperature. However, at least I can tell you apart from the cold stone and water," Lauren explained.

"I suppose its more limited nature is because I don't have very high Perception, or don't have access to Awareness."

"Likely so, but at least it'll be harder for monsters, or hogs, to sneak up on you," Fritz said with his usual smirk.

"It will at that, though like George's choice, it was just the best of some bad offerings," she said, sighing.

"Tell me about it, I was offered Conjure Water, Igniting Touch, or Guided Toss," Cal groused.

"I would've taken Igniting Touch in a heartbeat," Lauren said and George nodded agreeing with her.

"What?" Cal asked.

"But it said it would only set flammable things alight? Like wood and stuff.""'Stuff' including oil, rope and clothes," Lauren said condescendingly.

"I'm no fire mage so it wouldn't have been worth it to me," he retorted, blushing.

"Yes, of course," she said drily.

"You must have taken the throw 'stuff' better one then."

"Guided Toss, and yes, it will make my throws more accurate and able to predict how to hit a moving foe," Cal said, defending his choice but steadily growing redder.

"An amazing choice," Bert said, slapping Cal on the back.

"Especially seeings as our foes on this floor can fly."

"That is a fair point," Lauren said half-apologetic half-thoughtful.

"Perhaps you were right Cal."

"Well-" Cal began.

"Speaking of foes, we should get to finding them and stealing their silk," Fritz interrupted before Cal could blunder and blurt out that he had made his choice before he knew what Door they were taking. Fritz led them back to the entrance of the cave and pointed to the closest stony pillar.

"We'll swim from island to island until we find one with the signs of sirens. Then I'll climb up and see what I can scout without alerting them."

"Oh, but first, water-breathing potions or gill-grease. Take your pick, there's plenty to go around," Fritz said. He himself chose the potion, as he was more familiar with it. The rest tried out the gill grease. Apparently, it was painful, they winced as horizontal slits opened on their necks where they applied the substance.

"More and more a merfolk every day," Cal teased Rosie.

"That's good, they can work in the palace and get much better pay," Rosie said.

"Right, are we ready?" Fritz asked.

"Ready," the team called out. Fritz stood by the sea, some apprehension bubbling in his chest. Most of the times he had to be submerged in water had been some of the most deadly trials of his life. And now he also had his moonsilvered bones to worry about with the distinct feeling and fear that he'd be dragged down into the depths. Though he had seen that Bert's traveller's pack was surprisingly buoyant and he hoped his would also be able to offset his heavier body.

He drank down his disgusting potion and took a deep breath. He felt the heat in his lungs almost immediately. Apparently the alchemist who had made this particular potion was more skilled than the one who had mixed the other foul concoctions he had consumed. Even the taste wasn't as bad, more like boiled cabbage than burnt boots. Pushing himself to take the next step, he leapt into the waves below. With a splash, he was embraced by the chill of the ocean.

For a moment or two he sank, and Fritz had to admit the water wasn't too bad, no muscle cramping cold or powerful currents assaulted him. He hung there, his descent suspended by the floating pack on his back. Fritz's fear left him as his drowning became unrealised. He began to move his arms and kick his legs, swimming forward with little difficulty. It felt similar to the Sunken Spire's lake, and that remembered terror threatened to subsume him, but he pushed away those memories and swam onward.

The next island was only around two hundred feet away and it took him around three, maybe four, minutes to scrabble onto its rocky shore. He wasn't the first to get there, nor was he the last. That dubious honour was reserved for Lauren who had obviously had the least experience swimming and the least aligned Strength. Even then it only took her five minutes to reach the stone and be hauled up by Bert's strong, outstretched arm.

The island they had landed on was completely barren and grey, so they skirted around its edge and swam to the next, and the next, until they had come upon one stony outcropping that bore the signs of habitation. A bleached skeleton hung from a tree that jutted from the cliff's sheer face, its roots growing deep into the craggy stone. The bones were carved with strange symbols that resembled the ancient languages of old. Before the Spires, when such things were remembered, but were now unneeded.

From the rock plateau above, at the very top of the island, there were the sounds of a song being sung. Rhythmic and melodious, a sound that could lull a man into walking for miles without noticing nor slowing in his stride. Fritz felt his Dusksong react, it shivered and hummed, its own low tones a differing dirge that nonetheless blended, no, elevated the song.

Before he knew it he was climbing the cliff, the calls of his friend's annoying voices, their harsh notes distracting him and ruining the delightful, sensuous voices drifting down from above. Further he climbed, focusing on the singing, the captivating music, the siren song that called him. Siren song? Why was that bad again?