Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

          Michelle picked up a red ruby from the side of the wall and saw the pensive expression on Byul's face. She had been like that since the time they had appeared in the mage, but now a frown appeared on her brows.

        "Did something happen?" she asked.

        "I can feel him more clearly now," Byul said.

        Though she did not mention who was him, Michelle knew pretty clearly who it was. "Is it bad or good?" the redhead asked, unsure what to make of this.

        "I'm not sure either," Byul said. "Before this, I could only tell where he is or the frame of his mind, but now I can tell what he's feeling inside."

        A rare glint appeared in her eyes, as Michelle came forwards holding the ruby. "So what is he feeling now?" she asked. "If you don't mind me telling."

        "I don't know who to make sense of this," Byul said and closed her eyes. "Fear," she muttered, and the frown deepened.

        "Fear?" Michelle asked as well, unconvinced. "Are you sure?"

        "I'm sure, but the feeling I'm getting is not normal," Byul said, and her lips quivered. 'I looked like it was bottled for ages.' Her face saddened instantly. Other than feeling the other person's feelings and emotions through the bond, the emotion reflects on her face as well. Even the fear had an effect on her mind that her mood dampened instantly.

        This was one of the secrets of Byul that only the two of them knew, along with a few other secrets. Michelle was the only one who she told about her ability and what it could do.

        Abruptly, a sudden happiness flowered in her mind and she knew it was through the bond. But there was another new emotion to it. On closer examination, she knew what it was and her face blushed.

        "What is it?" Michelle asked.

        "Let's go," Byul said, shaking her head. "I think they resolved their relationship."

        "Really?" the redhead shouted in cheers. "But why are you blushing then?"

        Byul did not answer, but Michelle only needed a couple more seconds to find out what it was about. Her cheeks flustered a little as well. She followed behind her as they crossed paths. Red rubies meant deadend.

        "We only need a few more minutes to finish the test," Byul said. "Let's go quickly."

Michelle could not help but sigh, looking at her, shaking her head. 

.. .

        Meanwhile, Wrik and Tanya were as lost as anyone could be. It turned out the walls were self repairent. Any damage he caused to it had recovered itself after some time, rendering every of his marking useless. Now he could not even tell if they were running in circles or not.

        "I think these colourful rubies are some important pieces to finish the test," Tanya said, and picked up a green ruby.

        "The runes too," Wrik added. "I recall seeing the same marking an hour ago. That could mean we have to run in circles or the markings repeat itself."

        "Let's move and find out which one of them is," Tanya said, and the two of them picked up the path again.

        They walked in rhythmic movement. In between, each of them stole glances at the other and when their eyes met, both of them looked away at once. They move like that for about a couple of hours, talking about all types of things important to the test to something irrelevant.

        In the path, they somewhat solved the puzzle with the mage. It all depends on the rubies and the runes on the wall. Following both the correct way will lead to the end of the mage, though there were some complications as well. They found only the green and Blue rubies on the path leads them forward while a few reds in a row meant they were running in circles. Purple means they are moving in another direction, and the other colours have some other function that they have not found out yet.

        The runes on the wall were something similar. If they follow it in chronological order, then they might find their way out of it far easier than following the rubies. But there was a problem as well, as even with his mastery, Wrik could not follow entirely in chronological order. The runes here were far more complicated than his mastery. Sometimes he even startled looking at it. He could clearly learn from studying it, though he had no time now to do that.

        "I reckon, everyone already finished their test," Tanya said clasping her arms. Before her, Wrik was examining the runes in the wall with a glitter in his eyes. It had been a fourth of the day, and they were finally on the way to finish it.

        "It would be great if I have more time," Wrik added. He wished he had a recording device with him to record the marking on the wall. On another note, he could probably get the writings if he searched in the omega store. The tower was thousands of years old. It was valid to think someone already recorded it.

        "I wonder what Michelle and others will get us to do after this," Tanya said as they walked again.

        "You are thinking too much. We might not be the last one to finish this," Wrik said. "We wasted a couple of hours at first, but I'm not sure if there were no other fools like us."

        As they walked, the path became narrower, and finally, they appeared before a grand gate, sparkling in colours.

        The rubies flew away in many colourful lights as they looked at each other.

[Congratulations! Mahasayer Wrik Everknight and Mahasayer Tanya Syfinn in completing the test of the Sixth floor.]

        "Shall we go?" Wrik asked, giving her a look.

        Michelle did not answer, looked down while fidgeting with her palms. She seemed to leave with something, yet she could not say it. She mustered her courage and lifted her head. She was about to say something when she saw Wrik coming at her.

        Wrik moved swiftly before her, before his lips moved in the direction of hers. If they left now, they might not get the chance again. So he held her narrow waist softly and met her lips. Her lips were soft, sweet, hot and all the other beautiful things in the entire Axilia. The sweet-hot feeling overflowed him again, and he pulled her even closer.

        Tanya did not stop either. Her palms held his hair and roamed like his roamed her back wildly. Both were breathing heavily, but they disagreed to let the other go so early.

        Before it was she who took the initiative, but now, she was entirely passive in her. Her breathing got even heavier than her breast rose and fell against his chest.

        Other than the lust, Wrik was feeling the freedom. Freedom from the anguish and fear that roared in his head. The surge of warmth, joy, happiness, glee and all the other positive emotions chittering inside him. There were other feelings that were a little darker than those. The sensual pleasure from her scent, her supple body pressed against his. All roared in the primal needs.

        Wrik found out he needed her as much emotionally as much physically as well. He wanted to tell her how important she was to him, that he did not want her to leave, but he was never verbally good. At least not in this area.

        Wrik pressed her even further as she let out a quiet gasp of surprise, but she did not deny him. The kiss finally broke, and he looked at her with hazy eyes for once, before their lips joined again. His hunger deepened, and so did the kiss. His tongue invaded her lips and touched hers. With just a single tease, it was like a twirling emotion of thunderbolts to them.

        Low whimpers vibrated from both of their lips and mouths into each other. The primal emotions overpower him for a slight movement and he slid one of his arms over her hip, beneath her gown, and sweet waist. She lifted one of her legs and pressed against his, as he lowered his lips to her cheek and then down to her neck, tasting the sweetness of her skin.

        Wrik found her lips again, eager to suck the sweetness and warmth from her. Both were drawing each other closer, even though there was no space between them. As much as Wrik wanted her, she wanted Wrik as well.

        The primal lust overpowered him as he roamed her bare waist and back.

        [Mahasayer Wrik Everknight and Mahasayer Tanya Syfinn will be teleported out of the testing zone within a couple of minutes.]

        They finally broke from the kiss and looked at each other with hazy eyes. The intimacy lingered far longer than they had intended and if there was no notification from the system; they did not know how far they would go.

        "I will look for you when I reach the 3oth floor."