When Edgar said in a trembling voice,
"E-Eliiizaaabeeth!"
The name came out distorted due to the size difference,slow and funny, but clear enough to reach her small ears.
The next moment, the air around his head vibrated, and his hair flew about with a whirlwind of golden light. Suddenly, the tiny louse expanded, her body transforming before his eyes into a woman of full size. She was standing on the table, her blond hair shining like sunlight, her features stern yet bewilderingly beautiful.
She looked at him with a suspicious gaze and said coldly:
"How do you know my name?"
Edgar flustered, feeling the heat of shame climbing his neck. He scratched the back of his head and said hesitantly:
"I...well, someone named Alexander told me you were a beautiful woman... capable of suddenly changing your size."
Her smile hadn't even finished forming when he heard a soft whisper in the air, as if coming from the depths of the tower itself:
Liar...
Edgar froze. He didn't know if the whisper was real or his imagination.
Most likely,he wanted to hide the truth—that he had seen her twenty years ago in one of his strange memories, and had been captivated by her from the first glance, before he even knew she actually existed.
So he smiled lightly, trying to change the subject:
"And why exactly were you in my hair?You almost scared me to death!"
Elizabeth laughed lightly, a short laugh carrying a strange tone between sarcasm and cunning.
"I was exploring.You're new here, and I wanted to see the world in your scalp. Every human has a small world inside them... and monsters too. Oh, I mean lice."
Edgar gasped and said quickly:
"I have lice?!"
She chuckled, waving her hand:
"Just joking.When I travel from the center of the Tower to one of the floors, my size sometimes gets confused and I find myself in unexpected places... like now, for instance."
Edgar sat quietly, wiping his brow, and said:
"That makes sense in a way...If you're asking if I'm new here, the answer is yes. I'm a trainee Cleaner."
She looked at him with blue eyes resembling the reflection of the sky over a raging sea, and said slowly:
"And who is accompanying you?That chatterbox donkey?"
Edgar nodded, smiling sheepishly.
"Yes,this is Duncan."
Duncan shouted without lifting his head:
"Pleased to meet you,Madam... but it's better if you stay out of his hair next time!"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow with a mischievous smile, then looked back at Edgar.
"How old are you?"he asked her unintentionally, with a naive innocence.
The place fell silent for seconds. Then she said with biting coldness:
"Haven't you learned that it's rude to ask a woman her age?"
Edgar's face turned red, and he said quickly:
"Sorry!I didn't mean to offend!"
Duncan whispered from his side in a faint voice:
"Idiot..."
Elizabeth finally laughed, and said in a calmer tone:
"I'm sixty years old,but I'm stuck at twenty-three... thanks to him."
Edgar raised his eyebrow and said curiously:
"Thanks to him?Who do you mean?"
She looked away, towards the ceiling, and spoke as if talking to herself:
"I won't tell you.It's a secret. Maybe he's here, or maybe it's you, or maybe it's your eyes... so I'll keep the secret. Preserving my youth is worth a little mystery."
She said this with a slight smile, then gave a short bow and left, leaving behind a faint scent of lavender and vanilla.
Edgar sat bewildered, while Duncan continued eating as if nothing had happened. After moments of silence, Edgar said with a half-shocked smile:
"She was...strange."
Duncan replied without lifting his head:
"You'll get used to it.All the women here are strange, especially those whose names start with 'Eli-'."
Edgar laughed despite himself and finished his meal with more appetite than before. After they were done, they left the restaurant with quiet steps.
As they walked through the Tower's endless corridors, the bracelet on Edgar's wrist suddenly lit up, and a transparent screen emerged from it, displaying:
[Necessary Procedure Unlocked]
> [Location: Foundation Room]
Edgar said in surprise:
"Foundation Room?What's that?"
Duncan answered, looking ahead with tired eyes:
"You'll know soon.It's the place where everything begins...."
They headed towards the indicated room. The doors opened automatically before them, and the corridor grew brighter as they approached. Upon arrival, the final door was made of transparent glass, topped with strange writing made of light:
Foundation Room
They opened the door. The room was spacious, lit by a soft light seeping through windows overlooking a strange green forest from another world. In the middle, a huge board and seats arranged in a semicircle. Dozens of people sat there, laughing and talking loudly.
When Edgar entered, silence fell for a few seconds before turning into stifled laughter. The reason wasn't just his presence, but his companion Duncan, who was walking with sad steps and wagging his tail nonstop.
A woman wearing a dark cloak, her hair tied tightly behind her head, stepped forward and said in a firm voice:
"All of you,be quiet. It's time for introductions. I will call the names in order, and each person I call will step forward and talk about themselves."
She began calling:
"Alfred Whitaker."
A lanky young man who was sleeping on the desk raised his head lazily and said:
"I'm Alfred Whitaker,hello everyone."
The instructor said:
"State your ability,Whitaker."
He half-opened his eyes and said:
"Actual Skill:The Dreaming Boy."
Suddenly, the air began to vibrate. Everyone felt a lightness in their bodies, then found themselves floating above their seats in a strange circle. Even Edgar lost his balance for a few seconds before everyone returned to their places.
Alfred laughed and said, yawning:
"That's my ability.When I sleep, the area around me becomes a world of my dreams, and you all become puppets within it as I wish."
Applause and amazement. Even Duncan looked impressed.
The names continued one after another—some had strange companions: a talking hat, a breathing stick, or a golden shield that shone like the sun and couldn't be pierced even by the strongest swords.
Then it was Edgar's turn.
He stood up with steady steps despite the mocking glances, and said:
"My name is Edgar,and this is Duncan."
The instructor interrupted sharply:
"Stop mentioning the donkey,we're asking about your power."
Edgar smiled confidently and said:
"My poweris this donkey. Yes, Duncan."
The students exchanged glances and laughter, but Edgar continued in a serious voice:
"I found myself in a dark world I didn't understand,and the first one to guide me was this donkey. With his smile... and his silly jokes. Tell me, does your shield smile at you? Can your hat make you laugh?"
Silence fell for a moment. Everyone looked towards Duncan, who raised his head shyly, his tail wagging lightly, small golden teeth gleaming under the light.
No one said anything. Only the instructor sighed and said:
"Edgar...you still know very little about this world."
Edgar smiled and said quietly as he turned around:
"Perhaps...but I already have my teacher. I don't need another."
He left the hall, followed by Duncan in silence. Edgar showed neither anger nor pride, only a strange look in his eyes, as if he was hearing something no one else could hear.
Outside, the air was cold, and the sky inside the Tower was raining shards of light.
And as they walked,a new card glowing red emerged from Edgar's bracelet.
He grabbed it curiously and asked:
"What's this?"
Duncan looked at it for a long time,then smiled a sad smile as a single tear slid from his other eye.
He said in a hoarse voice:
"It's a new mission...a new door... and a new adventure, my friend.