With Hermit inside my body, the world felt sharper than it ever had before even as an Iron rank, sounds seems to layered over each other. Heartbeats. Breath. Even through the closed door, I caught every word the Elf man inside muttered. My senses were beyond Iron rank now, whether I liked it or not.
I shook my head and stepped out, doing my best to tone things down.
Litha and Temur were waiting beneath one of the iron umbrellas scattered around the registration area.
"So?" Litha asked. "How did it go?"
"Just like you said," I replied. "He tried to get my Grimoire measured."
She gave me a look that screamed I warned you, then turned and started walking. Temur followed, already rambling about some restaurant he wanted to try. Apparently, they served cold stone monster meat that somehow stayed on fire while you ate it.
Suddenly someone slammed into my back. I frowned and turned, expecting an apology.
"Mopi?"
The shorter boy scratched his head and smiled awkwardly. "Ah… Torvan! I didn't know you were here. See me running into you… ah ah ah."
I stared down at him and repeated flatly. "You ran into me."
"W-well, yes. Sorry. It's a mistake. My foot slipped."
Litha's eyes narrowed. "That's strange. Why would an Iron rank be clumsy?"
Mopi shrank under her gaze, scuffing the cobblestone with his boot. "I—I mean—"
"Are you following us?" she pressed, then lowered her voice. "Do you snitch?"
He jumped back like he'd been stabbed. "No! Of course not! I'd get into trouble too if I said anything!"
"Come on," Temur said calmly. "I'm sure he just wanted familiar faces. After everything that happened, he got the worst of it, remember?"
Litha clicked her tongue but let it go. "Alright, alright, big guy."
Temur beamed at Mopi. "We're heading to a restaurant, I want to try some new food. It's going to be an interesting one."
I couldn't help smiling. I was right about Temur. He really was like a big bear, and a friendly one.
We followed his massive frame as he pushed effortlessly through the crowd. Once we left the registration area, he guided us down a less busy street, promising it was a shortcut. Our boots echoed against the cobblestone and it was the only sound in the near empty street.
Then suddenly, Hermit screamed a warning inside me.
And my body moved before my mind even caught up to what was happening. My right hand snapped up, fast and sharp, and I caught something....a stone that was inches away from smashing my skull in.
"What the...." I muttered, my eyes flaring as I stared at the stone.
Hermit had protected me from something my eyes never even saw coming.
Temur and Litha reacted instantly, moving ahead of me into defensive position as they stared at someone.
"Who are you?" Temur demanded. The shift around him was instant and the warmth he excluded had vanished.
The attacker was an Elf with spiky hair and he was crouching atop a rusted dumpster. His Grimoire floated above him, shaped like a single eagle wing.
"I'm Tim," he said casually and with a slow smile. "Don't mind me, big guy. I'm only after that one."
He pointed at me.
My eyes darkened.
"I wouldn't have minded fighting you," he went on, eyes flicking to Temur, "but I've got orders and I only need to beat that one."
Litha stepped forward, hands on her hips. "Who sent you? We're not looking for a fight right now."
Tim jumped down lightly, eyes raking over her with a smirk before settling on me. "You hide behind a girl, eh?"
My jaw tightened.
How did I end up here in this situation? Second day in the Tower and with no formal training and no real combat experience. How am I to deal with a situation like this?
And yet… I was angry. Really, I have been angry since Mike ripped me off.
I stepped past Litha, placing myself in front of her. "Do you have a problem with that?"
Tim's grin widened. "None at all. Since you've stepped up, how about it? I want to fight you. Thayer said you were powerful. I want to see that for myself."
"Thayer?" I repeated, blinking in confusion.
Litha hissed softly and suddenly glanced upward as if she'd just come to a certain understanding, her glowing eyes quickly picked out a small drone that hovered high above us, barely visible. "Thayer Argent, he's a Legacy Climber and a very rich brat."
"A powerful rich brat," Temur added with a slight frown.
"Yes," Litha said grimly. "He's recruiting strong climbers to form a team and we haven't even started the first test, and he's already moving."
"So he asked you two?" I asked as I began to understand what was going on.
"We turned him down."
I don't know how to fight. I haven't trained. What if I mess up? What if I get killed? I've heard stories of such happening and it won't surprise me if..
"Torvan," Temur rumbled. "It's a free fight. I'd advise you to take it and make use of it when you won't be fighting for you life."
Litha started to protest, then stopped. She knew it too. In the Tower, fighting wasn't optional but If you didn't prove yourself, you got crushed. Besides, Torvan was a total newbie and he needed to learn certain things quickly.
"It's your choice," she said quietly.
Tim waited patiently, his eyes sharp as he looked at Torvan. 'So this is Torvan. The one Thayer wants tested, he doesn't look like much though, I'll fold him fast'
I stepped forward.
My heart was pounding but my eyes gleamed and my blood seems to flow faster. I can't help the excitement that flowed through me like flame.
Hermit stirred inside me eagerly too.
This was the Tower.
And if I wanted to climb it…
"My name is Torvan," I said, meeting Tim's gaze slowly. "You want to fight me?"
A slow smile crept onto my face.
"Lucky you. I haven't tested my new body yet, not to mention Hermit. I'll be in your care then!"