The Wandering Spire

Jeze and Ziplocke exited the pyramid into the clearing, where several Howlers lay dead with arrows protruding from their bodies. It was twilight, and the area was awash in an orange and blue glow from the rising sun. Was I inside that long? Jeze wondered. She lost track of time because of all the excitement and fun she had. She couldn't wait to do it again, and she hungered for the Wandering Spire.

"Raynor was busy," Ziplocke observed.

Jeze nodded in agreement and loudly whispered into the treeline, "Don't shoot me, you old goat."

She couldn't wait to share what she had learned with her friend and mentor.

"He may shoot you for that," the Goblin muttered.

The two waited in silence. Jeze was worried that Raynor might accidentally mistake them for demons. Well, he wouldn't be wrong about Ziplocke. Jeze was full of excited energy, but she didn't want to make careless mistakes. That was all she needed was to survive the pyramid only to be shot by accident by a fellow guild member.

"Raynor?" She whispered a little louder than before.

"I and everything else in the Deep Wood could hear you," Raynor growled back from the tree line.

Jeze smiled so wide it hurt her face. Without further delay, she ran across the clearing toward the Old Hunter's voice. The Deep Wood was filled with shadows as the sun rose, and it took a moment for Jeze's eyes to spot the Old Hunter. Raynor was resting on a log with his bow on his lap, and his Dane ax leaned on a tree next to him.

"Took you long enough," he muttered with a twinkle in his squinty eyes.

Raynor let out a groan as Jeze hugged him.

Concern appeared on the Old Hunter's face. "By the Night Eye, girlie. You got into a few scraps. Let me take a look at your face."

Jeze shook off his hand and said without taking a breath, "There is so much I learned inside. The Wandering Spire is actually called the Stronghold. It does not have the gift of Immortality at the top. It is part of an invasion force from the Abyssal plane, and the Seals that were holding them back are weakening, and we need to tell everyone…"

"Easy, girlie. Slow down. This old goat can only hear so many words at a time. Is your face alright? Are you hurt anywhere else?" Raynor said.

Jeze took a deep breath. Ziplocke hopped off her shoulder to sniff around the trees. The Goblin melted into the shadows. Jeze exhaled and spoke more slowly. Only slightly slower. Her words still came out like rushing water from a crack in a dam.

"My face is fine. I'm fine. Now listen, there is a war between Celestials and Fiends. The Fiends used to control this world but were forced out by the Ones from Before. The Spire is actually a Stronghold which the fiends use to invade planes of existence. The Seals that banished them are weakening, and I have to make it to the top floor to repair them to seal the Fiendish Lord behind the final door," Jeze explained.

"What are you blabbering about, girl? What does this have to do with the cave?" Raynor asked, scratching his thick mop of gray hair.

Jeze inhaled and spoke again, "It's not a cave. It's a pyramid that was lost in time and is buried under the earth. It is actually an outpost made from the Ones from Before to guard the Threshold where the fiends can enter. Actually, it is a weapon! See the top? The top is a giant sphere that, when you ignite it with fire it, will unleash Holy and Fire magic to destroy armies of demons!"

"Any fire will cause it to explode?" Raynor asked, concerned in his voice.

"Well, I suppose magic fire."

"That don't seem safe for the Deep Wood. Is there a way to deactivate it?" Raynor asked.

Jeze slapped her forehead. "Are you listening to me? That is the least of our concerns!"

"Girlie, I've been at this a long time. You handle the things you can manage, you hear me? You are yapping so much about an invasion, demons, that my head is spinning," Raynor mumbled.

"We need to tell the guild. The Wandering Spire is not just a magically appearing dungeon filled with treasure. It is more than that and very dangerous. The kingdoms and clans need to take it more seriously instead of using it as a competition for glory," Jeze said.

Raynor gripped Jeze firmly by her shoulders and looked at her with serious eyes. "You listen to me now. You need to be careful, girlie. You can't be spouting these things to just anyone. Especially here in the Empire."

"Who cares if the Emperor is immortal or not. We are talking about the entire world! Are you listening to me?" Jeze demanded.

"Many cared and died, girlie. This is a lot of information. Dangerous information. I don't want to see you getting hurt," Raynor stated.

"Hurt? The entire world is in danger!" Jeze exclaimed.

Ziplocke giggled from the shadows. This was way more fun than fleeing for his life from packs of Howlers in the Abyssal plane. He was glad he took this contract.

"Aaagh! The world is always in danger. It's either this Fiendish Lord you are blabbering about, or an ancient lich, or a powerful vampire clan wanting to block out the sun forever. When you lived as long as I have, and I hope you do, girlie, then you have seen it all. These things take a measured approach, and you handle what you can," Raynor said.

"So wise," Ziplocke commented.

"Hush you," Raynor snapped.

Jeze was breathing fast. She was annoyed, but what Raynor said made some sense. But why was he not taking this seriously? Maybe he needs to meet Archon? Jeze's eyes went wide.

"Why don't you come inside with me? You can see for yourself," Jeze suggested.

"Inside an exploding death weapon? No, thank you, girlie."

"It will only explode if you summon a flame near it," Ziplocke explained.

"He's right," Jeze added.

Raynor's head perked up, and he held up a finger that demanded silence.

"What is it?" Jeze whispered.

"We are not alone," Raynor answered quietly, and the Old Hunter reached for his long hafted ax.

Jeze pulled out her own weapon and readied her Earth aspect bracelet.

"I don't hear anything," Ziplocke whispered.

"Because you are a fool," Raynor retorted and scanned the trees.

The Goblin grumbled but remained quiet and melted back into the shadows.

"Show yourself! We know you are there," Raynor called out in a voice loud like a grizzly bear.

The air shimmered from among the trees, and several figures emerged. One was a thin man armed with a crossbow. Jeze recognized the Runes etched into the leather of his belt. This was a caster and probably the one that shaped the Light aspect illusion. Three others, who were in light armor and armed with spears, stepped out, and Jeze's heart sank. The last figure to appear was Drake.

"Girl, I really wished you told me the truth instead of lies," the powerfully built, dark-skinned man said. There was no charming smile on his face.

"What do you want, and why are you sneaking around like snakes?" Raynor demanded.

The Old Hunter gripped his ax and moved protectively in front of Jeze. She also readied herself.

A weak smile appeared on Drake's face, one that lacked mirth, and he said, "I did not want to involve you in this, Old Hunter."

"Yeah? Well then, don't," Raynor simply replied.

Drake chuckled and rubbed his head. Jeze saw a ruthless cruelty in the dark-skinned man's face. Fear gripped her chest as hard as she gripped her weapon.

"If there is any consolation, I wish I could," the Emperor's agent said.

"Stop your nonsense. You know there is no need for trouble," Raynor growled.

"Ah, but you see, there is. I must preserve the stability of the Empire. What she has told you is dangerous and must be put down," Drake said.

"She is just a child with big ideas in her head. Nothing to concern you or your Empire," Raynor growled.

"You mean our Empire? I am sorry, Old Hunter," Drake replied and made a motion with his wrist.

The thin man fired his crossbow. The bolt struck Raynor in the chest.

"No!" Jeze screamed as the three spearmen charged forward.

Raynor roared like a raging bear and knocked aside two spear thrusts with a mighty swing. Jeze hurled her ax and struck the crossbowman in the head. The thin man collapsed to the ground by Drake's feet.

"Not bad," the Captain said with a shrug and readied his sword and shield.

Raynor lopped off the head of one of his attackers and took a spear to his leg. The Old Hunter roared furiously with wild swings to keep the remaining two spearmen at bay. But it was only a matter of time.

Jeze Summoned piles of dirt in different spots as Drake marched toward her with cold eyes. She Shaped the dirt to stone and launched them. Drake casually blocked a rock with his shield. One of the spearmen grunted in pain as they were struck on their side. The two remaining soldiers retreated cautiously. They were made nervous over the quick deaths of two of their colleagues.

"What are you doing? It's just an old man and a girl!" Drake roared.

The Captain moved fast. He lunged with his sword and caused Jeze to stumble back with a clumsy parry. Drake's swordsmanship made his blade appear alive as it changed direction and slashed out again with deadly accuracy. The tip of his sword cut a deep gash on Jeze's face. She fell on her back and brought her weapon up just in time to intercept another attack. Drake disarmed Jeze of her ax with a casual flick of his wrist that sent the weapon into the air. She scrambled for her remaining weapons, but Drake moved too fast, and his blade was posed for a killing blow. Then he sneezed. A violent sneeze that racked his entire body.

"An old man, a girl, and a Goblin!" Ziplocke squealed from out of hiding, his hands glowing red with the Affliction aspect.

Jeze used the distraction to Control a Stone Fist and whacked Drake in the back of the head. The blow knocked his helmet off, and he looked up with fury in his eyes.

"Enough!" He roared.

He was in the fight for real now, but alone. His two soldiers remained reluctant to engage, and that left him standing in front of Raynor. The Old Hunter's breath came out, and he wheezed as he wobbled on his feet from his wounds. Drake attacked, and the two exchanged a short flurry of blows that resulted in Raynor getting cut twice along his arm and face. The Old Hunter roared with surprising power and struck a heavy blow against Drake's shield, which caused the Captain to stumble back. Drake and his two spearmen were engulfed in a globe of darkness.

"Hurry!" Ziplocke cried and clambered up the teenager's shoulder.

Jeze helped Raynor, and the three ran toward the pyramid entrance. Behind them, Drake emerged from the darkness with sword and shield by his sides and walked with an inevitability that frightened Jeze. She dragged the Old Hunter inside and pulled the lever that opened the stairs.

"Come, we can hide inside," Jeze said.

Raynor was breathing hard and nodded. When Jeze was by the stairs, he shoved her. Jeze and Ziplocke tumbled down and looked up in time as Raynor sealed the stairwell that plunged the two into darkness.

"No!" Jeze cried.

She banged her elbow and was injured from the fall, and she struggled to search her pack for the magic sphere.

"I respect you, Old Hunter," Drake said from the cracked entrance.

"Shut up," Raynor spat back.

"Come, pick up your ax. I will provide you with a warrior's death," Drake said and pointed with his sword to the Old Hunter's weapon that lay on the ground.

"How about you turn back, and we forget this nonsense," Raynor suggested, blood stained his lips and teeth.

Drake chuckled and replied, "If only I can. I have a duty, you see. I believe that the Empire is needed for stability, and without it, there will only be chaos."

"Great! I'm dealing with a zealot," Raynor spat.

"Call me what you wish. I am honor-bound, but that does not mean I can not grant you the death that you deserve. The mighty Raynor!" Drake said with a flourishing bow.

"You mock me, boy?"

"No, I am sincere. I am truly sorry it had to come this," Drake replied and took a step inside.

"You and me both," Raynor said.

The Old Hunter held the rune stick he crafted with Jeze's instruction. He looked up and saw the giant sphere on the ceiling. Raynor completed the final glyph that sparked a flame, and he held it toward the weapon above. Red Runes appeared on its surface, and it began to glow.

"What are you doing?" Drake demanded.

The Captain was uncertain if he should impale the Old Hunter or flee. It was that hesitation that cost him everything. The chamber erupted in white holy flame. From underneath, Jeze and Ziplocke felt the pyramid quake, and the intense heat washed over them even through the thick stones.

"No!" Jeze shouted with tears in her eyes.