Chapter 39: Preparing to Enter
Ebner then skimmed through the rest of the contract. It included clauses prohibiting disclosure of the "Dream Labyrinth Tower," rules stating that any rewards gained belonged to the individual, and a handful of other minor conditions. Activating his "White Eye" in secret, he confirmed the contract's authenticity, then glanced at Xio. "What do you think?"
Xio, after reviewing the terms, nodded. "No problem here."
Having reached an agreement, they both signed their names in Hermetic script. Mr. Gaston, satisfied after a quick glance, added his own signature.
As soon as his pen left the page, the mystical seals and markings blazed with warm light. The symbols lifted off the paper like glowing stamps, then imprinted themselves on the backs of Ebner's, Xio's, and Mr. Gaston's hands.
A brief warmth spread through Ebner's skin before fading, leaving behind a faint sense of connection to the document.
With the contract secured, Mr. Gaston began his explanation: "The Dream Labyrinth Tower exists deep within the realm of dreams. It is said to have been created by high-ranking Beyonders of the Savant and Mystery Pryer pathways. I don't know how many entrances exist, but one lies beneath this school. I uncovered its location after studying a manuscript over a century old—it still took me nearly twenty years to find it."
Intrigued, Ebner asked, "What exactly is this tower? What's inside it?"
"It's an inverted tower of dream labyrinths, each floor its own pocket of reality and dream. When we enter, we'll begin on the ninth floor. Every level presents a unique dreamscape with a specific challenge. Solve the puzzle, and you receive a reward—knowledge, information, sometimes more. Once solved, the passage to the next floor opens. The higher you go, the greater the reward. The seventh and eighth floors contain especially valuable prizes, but their difficulty increases sharply."
"What's the farthest you've reached?"
Mr. Gaston sighed. "I can consistently clear the ninth floor, and I've managed the eighth floor a few times. But the seventh… that one has eluded me."
"So the labyrinth can be entered multiple times?" Ebner pressed.
Mr. Gaston gave him a puzzled look, then quickly understood. "Ah—you mean revisiting. Yes, but only once a month. Entering too frequently reduces the value of the rewards. By the second attempt, you mostly gain knowledge you already have. By the third, almost nothing new. The cycle only resets after six months. I discovered this entrance three years ago, so I've entered several times since."
Ebner thought to himself, It really is like a dungeon. Outwardly, he only nodded. "So the ideal gap is six months?"
"Exactly. The ninth through seventh floors pose no mortal danger, but they are extremely difficult. Real risks appear only after the sixth floor, though I don't know the specifics."
"Understood," Ebner said. "So you only need help reaching the seventh floor."
"That's right," Mr. Gaston confirmed.
After a pause, Ebner asked, "What kinds of puzzles should we expect?"
"All sorts," Mr. Gaston replied. "Finding key items, escaping buildings, locating explosives with clues, detective-style scenarios. Unfortunately, past experience isn't much help—the puzzles change each time." His tone carried faint frustration.
"No wonder you wanted a detective," Ebner realized. He also noted that the generous fee was no doubt offered to lure his teacher, who would otherwise never bother. More importantly, such a discovery couldn't be entrusted to just anyone.
"Will we be sent into separate labyrinths?" Xio asked.
"No. We enter as a team. It does raise the difficulty slightly, but in the early floors, luck is a bigger factor than teamwork."
Could this tower be one of Roselle's creations? Ebner suddenly wondered. He was both a Paragon angel and a Knowledge Emperor—exactly the mix Mr. Gaston described.
Curious, Ebner asked, "What's your Sequence, Mr. Gaston?"
"Sequence 7, Appraiser," the man replied plainly.
Ebner wasn't surprised. An Appraiser… the wealthy Savant pathway. No wonder he can afford such a fee. Of course, below Sequence 5, the Savant pathway lacks real combat power.
He nodded thoughtfully. "We should be ready, then. Any other preparations?" Mr. Gaston thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you know how to craft Dream Charms?"
"Yes," Ebner replied without hesitation. The God of Knowledge and Wisdom could answer nearly any charm request—even if slightly weaker than charms from other gods.
"The entrance requires a dream-related key. A Dream Charm works, as would powers from a Nightmare or Dreamwalker. Normally, I'd need to buy two, but if you can make them, we'll save both money and time. Rest today, and tomorrow at nine we'll set out."
Ebner and Xio agreed. After collecting ritual materials, they returned to their lodging. With his expert-level ritual skills, Ebner easily crafted the charms, sealing them with his spirituality. Then his thoughts drifted toward Klein—toward The Fool.
He had already figured out a method to create an object that could connect to the gray fog, but hesitated. The process required invoking a deity or unknown being, and he feared interference—even from the God of Knowledge. He didn't want to endanger Klein, his friend and future ally.
No need to rush. Klein can't handle more members in the Tarot Club yet anyway. Once I advance to Knowledge Keeper and unlock more of the White Eye's potential, I might find a safer method. Or perhaps when Klein reveals The Fool's honorific name, I could try contacting him in Ancient Hermes. But that will be my last resort.
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July 1, 9:00 p.m.
Ebner and Xio followed Mr. Gaston into the school's basement. Behind a hidden door, a narrow passage led them deep underground. At its end stood a magnificent, dreamlike door, hovering between reality and illusion.
"Activate your charms and touch the door," Mr. Gaston instructed, demonstrating with his own.
Ebner and Xio did the same.
The charms flared to life, and the world around them warped. The next instant, a colossal inverted tower stretched above them, its endless spire vanishing into the clouds.
(End of Chapter)