While Edgar was floating above the blue cloud, he heard a deep metallic sound ringing in his ear like the very pulse of the world:
[SYSTEM: The Great Tower — Choose a Floor from 1 to 100]
Edgar looked around; the space around him glowed with threads of light twisting like spirits. Duncan said with a mischievous smile, wagging his small tail:
"Choose quickly before the Tower chooses for you.It doesn't like the hesitant."
Edgar hesitated, rolling his eyes, then said:
"Eight...a nice number, isn't it?"
[Floor Eight Selected]
[Area Options: Bird Garden – Key Office – Restaurant of the Seven Fairies....]
Edgar read aloud, then looked at Duncan, asking:
"What should I choose for the room section?"
Duncan replied, yawning:
"Choose the Key Office.We get the payment first, then eat later. Fairies don't cook for free."
Edgar pressed the button. In an instant, a tremendous force sucked him in, stretching his body like a shadow in the wind of light. Dizziness in his stomach, wind roaring in his ears, then he crashed into reality.
He opened his eyes to find himself standing before an old wooden door carved with strange symbols. Beside him, Duncan was smoothing his hair by shaking his head, while other Cleaners from the Organization passed by, some laughing, some whispering.
Edgar knocked on the door shyly, sweat pouring from his forehead. Duncan didn't care about the others' glances; he was used to being mocked. He was "the donkey who is useless to anyone or the freeloader," as they called him.
Edgar knocked on the door again. No answer.
Duncan whispered in his ear:
"Open it with the mission key."
Edgar replied:
"Oh,right..."
He cautiously opened the door, releasing the smell of old paper and ink. The office was narrow and filled with flying papers, and in the middle sat an enormous woman, wearing half-broken glasses, her eyes staring at them from above.
It was Jasmine, as indicated by the name carved on the desk in front of her.
She said in a voice as loud as a cannon:
"What are you two doing there?Come on, give me your key immediately!"
Edgar stammered as he extended the key towards her.
"Ha...here it is!"
She glanced at him over her glasses and said sarcastically:
"You poor thing.You ended up with that chatterbox donkey? Dying in the first mission would have been better for you!"
Duncan swallowed his words, slowly wagging his tail, then said softly to Edgar:
"Step back a bit...she might explode."
Jasmine shouted:
"What did you say?!"
Duncan raised his hands and said quickly:
"Nothing!I just said you're... beautiful as usual!"
She shot him a fiery look before opening her drawer and taking out a few coins.
"Door Level:E, Haha... Beginner level. This is the mission payment, only five pounds."
She handed him a quill and said:
"Write your name,your rank, mission type, and door level."
Edgar took the quill and prepared to write, but suddenly... the quill moved on its own! It flew in the air, spinning and swaying like a lost insect.
Jasmine screamed, holding her head:
"Oh,not again!"
Edgar ran after it, trying to catch it, jumping over chairs and falling to the ground, while Duncan stifled his laughter.
Suddenly,the quill stopped in mid-air, held between the fingers of a strange young man who had appeared out of nowhere.
He was strangely handsome; his hair was long, reaching his waist, black with brown streaks, and his violet eyes shone with a vivid sparkle as if they hid other worlds.
The young man smiled and said in a calm tone:
"You're the new Cleaner on the eighth floor,aren't you? Tell me, why did you choose this particular floor?"
Edgar hesitated and said:
"It was completely random...and who are you?"
The young man raised his eyebrow, then said with a sideways smile:
"I'm a cat."
In an instant,his face transformed into that of a black cat.
Then he said, laughing:
"No,wait, I'm a mouse."
And his face turned into that of a small grey mouse.
Then he returned to his human form and said:
"I'm Alexander.The Cleaner who broke logic. Some call me the wizard, some the Builder, because I built this tower. But I prefer the title Alexander the Illogical; it gives a better impression, don't you think?"
Edgar froze in place, while Duncan muttered in fear:
"My God...it's him..."
Alexander smiled and said:
"I saw you wandering with Duncan,and I thought to myself: perhaps I should say hello. Who knows, maybe we won't meet again. No hard feelings, Duncan."
Edgar asked in astonishment:
"And why not?"
Alexander answered in a soft voice with a strange echo:
"Because logic doesn't like your kind.But I see something different in you... something that transcends logic and its stupid rules."
Then he added, smiling:
"Remember,if you need me, just call Alexander's name. And I will be by your side. I am everywhere; in fact, I am the whole place itself."
Before Edgar could respond, Alexander's body burned with blue fire and vanished into the air, leaving behind ash that faded like the dreams of children.
Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief and said:
"Finally,he's gone. That man makes beginners hope for his power in a harsh world!"
Duncan remained silent, unusually so, looking disturbed, while Edgar sat catching his breath. He wrote his details with the new quill, then left with Duncan, counting the money joyfully:
"Five pounds!This is enough for a royal dinner. Do you know a good restaurant?"
Duncan replied, wiping sweat from his brow:
"Follow me.I know a place you won't forget."
They ran through the corridors until they reached a huge hall with green candles hanging from its ceiling. A large sign was written in glowing script:
Restaurant of Fantastical Cuisine
Edgar opened his mouth in astonishment.
"This is...so huge!"
Duncan laughed:
"Wait until you taste the food.
They sat at a small wooden table. Edgar rang the bell placed on it, and a small, bright yellow fairy came, her wings twice the size of her body.
She said in a delicate voice without looking at him:
"Are you new here?"
Edgar replied with a smile:
"Yes,my name is Edgar. What do you serve here?"
But the fairy didn't answer. She turned and left lightly.
Edgar glanced at Duncan in confusion:
"Did I say something wrong?"
Duncan laughed:
"Wait,you'll see for yourself."
After a few moments, the fairy returned carrying a plate of roasted beef, emitting a delicious aroma that made Edgar swallow his saliva.
He said in surprise:
"This is weird...I was just imagining roasted beef!"
The fairy smiled lightly and said:
"That's the meaning of the name...The Restaurant of Fantastical Cuisine. We bring your imagination to you."
Then she vanished in a golden glow.
Edgar began eating voraciously, while Duncan in front of him devoured roasted corn like a little beast. It was a rare moment of peace after a long day.
But suddenly, Edgar felt something moving in his hair. He scratched his head violently, grumbling:
"What is this?A louse? Impossible!"
He rubbed his head, and the louse fell onto the table.
But it wasn't a louse.
It was a tiny woman the size of a louse,her face beautifully familiar, her blond hair flying about.
Edgar froze, his eyes widening as he muttered stupidly with memories, first admiration, and astonishment:
"Eli...Elizabeth?!"