GASP!
Thames lets out a loud gasp as he springs up, grabbing the bedsheets. His face was drenched with sweat, and his pale cheeks had a tinge of gold.
At least I'm still in bed…
He grimaces, recalling the last time he dreamt that heavily, and how he ended up in the fountain of Nira. He slowly lets go of the sheets, but quickly goes to inspect his torso.
Gold..
Much like his cheeks, his torso also had a tinge of gold, similar to the color of the liquid that was dripping on him.
It should be time to leave.. I don't normally wake up that early, but if I had overslept I'm sure Ode would've woken me up.
Thames slips out of bed and stands in front of the silver mirror, using it to inspect the rest of his body, and, much like his face and torso, a majority of his body had a golden tinge.
Now I'm like Ode I suppose.
He walks to the chair at the wooden desk and grabs his clothes. Pulling up his pants and adjusting them, then buttoning up his dress shirt slowly.
Ah! My suitcase.
He rolls his eyes as he grabs his brown leather suitcase. After putting on his shoes, he ruffles his hair a little, and walks out the door.
"Good morning Thames."
Rubes had been standing outside his door, her dark skin still illuminated by the blue light of the corridor.
"Have you been waiting long, Miss Rubes?"
He asks apologetically.
"Not at all. You are quite on time, Thames. Have you been up very long or is your sleep pattern merely perfect?"
Thames chuckles dryly in response to her questions.
"Perfect is a way to describe it, Miss Rubes."
She looks at his clothes from head to toe then at his suitcase.
"Then come along, Ode's companion. We would not want to keep that man waiting."
"Yes I suppose we wouldn't.."
His thoughts trail off to the dream from the night before. She begins to walk further down the corridor, and Thames follows.
"Did you sleep well, Thames?"
"…Yes I slept fine. The bedsheets are quite nice here."
He adds an extra detail as his tone betrays his response.
"Did you sleep well, Miss Rubes?"
"Yes I am much used to this tower."
"How long have you been here..?"
"I am the creator."
"Oh…"
Thames fixes onto the back of her head as the corridor widens into a circular room.
There's an array written in chalk on the floor, and a stone fence blocking it off from the side of the room. On the far side of this a sort of altar with a large ununiform crystal atop it. Behind it, stood Ode, his hair messier than before they departed, but his vanilla scent still lingered.
The two walk around the chalk array and meet with Ode.
"Good morning Ode."
Thames says quickly while Rubes turns to watch the two.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Not a bit! I hate sleepin in these towers."
Ode loudly responds to Thames before breaking into a yawn.
"Ah.."
Thames rubs the back of his neck, and turns to Rubes, hoping she'd say something to change the topic.
"Where will you be teleporting, Ode?"
"What's the closest to Lino??"
Rubes presses her index finger to her lips as she thinks.
"The Inferno Tower. Sir Frio's tower."
Ode grimaces as she mentions the unfamiliar name to the duo.
"What's the next closest tower..?"
"In the sea, but then you would have to take a boat to shore. Then you would have at least a three days journey by carriage."
Ode pinches the bridge of his nose while looking up.
"Inferno Tower it is."
Ode walks towards the center of the chalk array as Rubes moves towards the altar. Seeing this, Thames quickly joins Ode at the center.
"Are you two ready?"
The duo nod at Rubes, who by now has both her hands atop the crystal.
"[Oh space join together
Sever the distance between Inferno and Flowery
Teleport!]"
The chalk array pulses a purple and green glow as she finishes her chant. The crystal atop the altar pulsates the same color as Thames feels an unfamiliar energy gather around him.
He notices Ode shove his hands in his pockets and tense up.
Just as he goes to ask Ode, Thames' worldview completely shifts around him as the walls full of vines and flowers vanish.
Just as he blinks he realizes that he's in a new space. The walls are cracked like clay in a kiln which rose too hot. There's a slight reddish tinge in the air.
He hears Ode sigh, followed by footsteps.
"Ode! If it isn't my old friend!"
A deep, booming voice yells from behind Thames. He quickly spins around to find the source, only to see a three foot tall man white a long, grey beard. The hair on his head, which is little in amount, is singed, and his eyebrows are literally ablaze. His fiery red pupils pierce Thames as he notices his presence behind Ode.
"Frio! It's been a while!"
Ode quickly walks out of the array and towards the man, his hand moves to behind him and signals to Thames to get close. Noticing this, Thames quickly leaves the array as well.
"It has! Last time we were together I think was in The Kiln!"
"Has it really been that long?!?"
"Yes it has! We went to drink and you got so drunk you BURNT MY HAIR!!!"
Frio's voice echoes around the room, shaking Thames' eardrums.
"Ahhh… Sorry..!"
Ode sheepishly apologizes for something he can faintly remember.
"As you can SEE it still has yet to grow back!"
"Well.. Let's let bygones be bygones! What'd ya say, old pal?? We can't fight anyways! I got a guest!"
Ode points at Thames.
Curse you, you gold man..
Thames grimaces as Frio focuses again on him.
"He can watch us then! Don't tell me you forgot I got an arena set up in the tower!"
"Nah I remember! I remember bein the one to tell ya to create it..!"
Ode's fake laugh trails off as he looks back at Thames then back at Frio.
"Follow me then! Let's settle this as battlemages!"
Frio practically demands as he turns away from the painter and the mage.
He directs them through a corridor which couldn't be more different than the Flowery Tower. The walls were cracked and oozing fire, the corridor was barely lit, and the entire tower had an explosive and unwelcoming atmosphere.
As the trio silently walk through the tower, Frio directs them to the side instead of walking down the stairs towards the entrance. Following to the right onto the balcony, he presses his hand to the wall.
"[Open!]"
The outline of a door appears as Frio says this, and slides down.
"Cmon Ode.. Let's battle with your friend as witness!"
Frio brings the two past the doorway, into a grand arena which goes down.
From where they stand there's seats surrounding a large circular indent in the ground. The floor of said indent is volcanic rock, and the walls of the arena are singed in ash.
Frio and Ode jump down into the arena, separating to opposite sides.
Seeing this, Thames walks to the side of Ode and sits down closest to the edge.
"Count us down, friend of Ode."
Frio yells to Thames in a serious tone.
"Okay… Three, two… one."