The next NIGHT
Floor 1: City 14
The first floor feels endless as we walk through the city streets, each step echoing in the quiet night. The cobblestone beneath my boots feels strangely real, considering the world we're trapped in. This is floor one. Nothing should surprise me here but everything about it feels off.
"Are you sure we need to go this far from 23?" I asked Eli, who was clinging to my arm.
Eli, still glancing around nervously, replied, "I don't want my guild interfering."
I couldn't help but smile a little.
It was quiet. Most players were busy preparing for the next floors. As we walked, we came across a flower shop. The sign read "Lilian's Flowers," and the shop was small but charming, with flowers of every color displayed outside. I nudged Eli with my elbow. She stopped, her eyes narrowing at the figure inside.
The shopkeeper is an older woman with long brown hair that reached her knees and silver eyes that glowed in the moonlight.
I approached her stall as she was just opening up. "What kind of flowers do you have?" I asked with a smile.
"I'm sorry," she said, "most of my supplies are limited right now. If you come back the day after tomorrow, I might have more." She hurried back into her shop and returned with a few vases filled with flowers in every color imaginable. Red, blue, green, grey, yellow etc. Among them was a striking arrangement in a vibrant shade of yellow that caught my eye.
"How much is everything?" I asked.
"1 copper each," she replied with a smile. "But for a bouquet, it will be 1 silver. The gift in the window is 1 gold."
That seemed quite reasonable. I told the shop keeper that I wanted the gift and she ran to get it .As I was paying, the shopkeeper noticed me and asked, "Sorry, but may I ask your ages and names?"
Eli glanced at me and replied, "I'm Eli, and I'm twenty-one."
I shrugged. "I'm Arden, and I'm twenty."
I handed her 1 gold, and her eyes seemed to light up with surprise and gratitude as she gave me the gifts. I thanked her, took the arrangement, and handed it to Eli.
She wrote the information in a small book. I took a peek. It contained names, ages, and dates. I figured it must be for the World Guild.
We walk further down the main street until we reach a fancy restaurant with a glowing sign. Eli pulls me toward it, her stomach growling loud enough to make us both laugh.
In a world of 100 floors, where one wrong move or offending the wrong person can mean death, it's nice to slow down. The inside of the place is extravagant. Velvet chairs, crystal chandeliers, everything polished to a shine. The food smells amazing, almost too real for a world built on magic and code. We sit down and order whatever catches our eyes. It's strange how we still care about good meals, even in a place like this.
For a little while, it feels normal. Just two friends sharing food, pretending we're not trapped in a death game. This world doesn't feel real in some ways. Magic still feels strange. But I know I'll surpass them. I know I'll make it to the end.
"Arden, you've been quiet," Eli says. "What's on your mind?"
I rim over the rim glass.
"Just thinking about the floors. We have a long way to go"
"Why didn't you use your skill?" I ask.
She smiles. "What skill?"
"Reyna believes you have a skill that could have won. Viri thinks so too."
For a moment, Eli's smile fades. I start to think I've messed up.
"I'm not like the others," she says softly. "I'm not as strong as Viri, don't have as much mana as Tenshi, not as cunning as Reyna. I've always relied on them ... even here."
Her voice wavers. "In a world where your imagination can become reality… I'm useless. If they found someone better, I'd be replaceable."
"You're not replaceable," I say firmly. "You're precious to me, and I'm sure the rest of the guild feels the same."
Eli blushes slightly, looking away. I continue, my tone gentler, "Everyone has their secrets."
Eli blushes slightly, looking away, but then she teases, "Even you?"
I laugh softly. "Even me."
She smirks, crossing her arms. "You have your emotions like an open book. Anyone can see what you're feeling."
I smile at her, the warmth in my chest growing. "Maybe so, but that just means I can be honest."
Eli's expression softens. "I guess that's true."
We talk for hours, the tension from before slowly fading as we laugh and share stories. I forget where we are for a moment. The world outside, the battles we've fought, the ones yet to come. It all seems far away. But it won't last forever.
After our meal was done for the night we warped to the Lunar Glade, a vast garden sprawling in all directions. The moon looms close, above us its silver beams illuminating the plants and giving them a radiance. Eli guided me to a tranquil pond encircled by blooming flowers. Together we settle at the water's edge, our feet lightly skimming its surface.
The stars shine brightly tonight; they seem more stunning than anything I've witnessed in real life before this moment as we soaked in the beauty around us. Eli inhales and exhales with a sense of contentment as I reach into my pocket to retrieve the ring I've kept for her all this time. It's modest yet charming, with a hint of enchantment that is almost imperceptible. I passed it to her and she looked at them with a look of surprised.
"I thought this might help you in combat," I say, avoiding her gaze. "It has some hidden enchantments. I'll activate them when the time's right."
She holds it up, inspecting the delicate design. "You didn't have to ... "
"I wanted to," I cut in, my voice firmer than I expected. "You'll need it."
For a moment, I consider leaning in, testing the waters for something more. Her hand is still resting next to mine, just within touching distance. Her skin feels warm, inviting me to try. I inch forward slightly so that our noses almost touch and her eyes stare into mine.
But before I can do so, she stops me by placing a hand on my chest.
'Not yet,' she whispered. 'It should be more special than this.'
I lean back, chuckling under my breath.
We stay like this for much longer, the tension that was there before gradually softening into something closer, more intimate. Eventually we made our way back up to the 23rd City. Our friendly fellow guild member Viri waited at the reception.
She looks at Eli's finger, her eyes narrowing as she looks at the ring.
"What is that?' she asks quietly but pointedly.
"It's not important, It's just something to help in combat," I shrug
'What is it?' She says it out loud "Specifically, what does it do?" she presses.
Before I can answer, Eli steps forward, cutting in smoothly. "It's special to me. That's all that matters."
Viri raises an eyebrow but doesn't push further. I glance at Eli, and a smile forms on my face. She catches my look and grins back. She gave my shoulder a light punch.
"The ring buffs effect magic. It uses the spell buff_mana(type:Effect)."
"Isn't that Rank 3?"
"Yup. I've been reading up on enchantments and found a way to simplify the mana cost."
Eli's eyes glinted with amazement as she looked at the ring.
"Since she can only use effect magic, like paralysis, I figured it'd be useful."
Viri steps forward. "Alright, Eli. I'll be your test subject. Let's see if this spell's really are stronger."
"Fine. Don't blame me if you get stuck." Eli glances at her, then nods.
Viri chuckles. "I'm counting on it."
"Paralysis_."
A faint shimmer ripples in the air as the spell activates but this time, there's a subtle pulse beneath her skin.
The ring glows faintly.
Viri seizes instantly. Not just slowed, but frozen in place. Rigid.
Eli blinks. "That was... faster."
She steps forward, studying Viri. The spell didn't just land. It dug in. Her usual paralysis lasts three seconds, maybe four. This one pushes six. Seven.