The Brooker quickly stabbed them with the keys.
"This is the main reason keys are kept in the liminal space. When the horn sounds, if you have a key in the liminal space. It breaks giving you a seamless transition."
After Tye Brooker's explanation, they all put their hand out and tried. Except for Amir, he sat on the stairs leading to the pit.
"We have to keep going. Next is the library. Make sure you buy things you might need before we go."
The Brooker said but they made no effort to shop. They had no keys to spare for shopping. They continued the walk up the stairs. About 3 hours later they got to Second Landing.
Unlike the noisy First Landing, Second Landing was quiet. People sat around tables reading. It had a similar architectural structure as First Landing. In the place of a pit in the second landing were rotating bookshelves.
A woman walked over to them.
"Welcome, how can I be of service?" the woman said, bowing slightly. For a place that barbaric, Amir was surprised to see someone so elegant.
"We would like to look around."
"If you have a book you want to trade. I will be behind the counter," the librarian said, this time she nodded and walked away.
They went around looking at the books they had. None explained how the tower came to be. As they searched Art called for the others.
"Look at what I found," he said as he flipped through the book. The others paid close attention.
"What did you find?" Oroc asked after Art flipped the last page.
"Can't you see? It has no seal. All the books I have seen have the library seal." Art explained, his face filled with excitement.
"Okay, they forgot to put a seal in the book. I don't understand how this is important." Oroc said then looked at the others for support.
"Freedom grants nothing it did not take. To pursue it is to be willing to surrender it."
Art read, looking at the others.
"This book predates this library. That means it might hold secrets of the tower. Ones that might be useful when climbing."
"Art, just tell us what you think the book says,"
Aria said, hoping to give Art the confidence to speak his mind.
"I am not sure but I know there is something here."
Art continued reading, the others left him. They roamed searching for other books. After a while, Art went to the librarian.
"Can you tell me who traded in this book?"
Art asked handing her the book. She took it and examined it. She picked up a logbook and perused through it.
After a while, she found the original owner.
"Fenrick Laff, that was his name. He climbed many centuries ago," the librarian said as she ran her finger through the book.
"I have diaries of some prominent climbers. If you would like." she handed Art three books. Art opened them up one at a time.
The third one was plain, he looked at her.
"That's for you. Record the events of your climb. It might help the next generation of climbers."
The librarian said and Art nodded. After learning all they could, they continued climbing.
They climbed for 3 hours before getting to the third landing. A large table stood in the middle of the landing. On it was a feast, foods of every kind in different proportions.
Aria immediately ran to the table and picked up a drumstick. She bit into it and picked up another one. With one in each hand, she took turns taking a bite of each one. The others joined her as they ate the horn sounded. Oroc, Amir, and Art spat out their food.
Aria on the other hand continued eating. The Brooker saw this and stabbed them with keys. When Oroc, Art, and Amir got their memories back they puked.
"Oh my god, that is not food," Oroc said and spat. He wiped his tongue with his sleeves.
"Aria, you need to stop eating," Amir said and tried to take the good away from her. She fought him off.
"She knows she just doesn't care," Art said, wiping puke off his lips.
"Is it some kind of illusion?" Amir asked looking at The Brooker.
"Yes, it is called glamour."
"You knew it was patch guards, and you let us eat?" Amir asked surprised at The Brooker's demeanor.
"Maybe you might have noticed the keys are not actually keys. Does that stop them from being effective? Glamour helps us see the beauty in stuff."
Just as The Brooker finished talking a woman walked over to them.
"Kind folk, have you seen a little one gone missing? My child is lost."
"No, but we would help you look," The Brooker said guiding the woman away. The others followed, the landing was not big. There were no other rooms.
"Maybe she walked out and fell off the stairs."
Oroc said walking to the entrance.
"Heavens no! I pray that be not the case," The worried mother said. She followed Oroc to the entrance. Oroc turned around to see The Brooker shake his head at him.
Aria started choking luckily for her Art noticed. He smacked her on the back, to help her cough out what was shocking her.
Amir quickly stuck his hand down her throat. She immediately vomited. As soon as she vomited, she went back to the table.
Amir on the other hand picked up a necklace from the puke.
"What is that?" Oroc asked looking closely at the necklace.
"That is a St. Christopher medal, my boy wore one much the same," The worried mother said and took the necklace from Amir.
"Madame, we need to leave now hope you find your son," The Brooker grabbed Aria and walked out.
"What, what is it?" Amir asked as they went up the stairs.
"It happens, sometimes bodies are added to the pile. The glamour makes it difficult to tell. There are rumors of a group who kill and add to the pile."
The moment Aria heard this she vomited. Tears run down her cheeks.
"It's fine, you did not know," Oroc held her close to his as he consoled her.