The Wandering Spire

Jeze and Rainbow followed Swordslayer as he ran through the temple. They trusted that he knew where he was going as he had done this before. Despite being annoying, Swordslayer was really skilled. Jeze reflected as she observed him spin like a whirlwind of steel that left behind dismembered zombies in its wake. Other than that, they met little resistance.

“Hey! Leave some for us!” She called out. Jeze figured she could use the practice.

Swordslayer continued on. “We must get to her while she is tired,” he called back without looking.

Each floor was similar with two sets of winding stairwells located on opposite ends. One stairwell leading down, and the other leading up. Each floor was square in shape with an open middle that looked down into the main chamber where the wooden labyrinth was constructed. Jeze paused and noticed that the rooms were less in number but were larger and more lavished the higher they went. Were they looted as well? She wondered what treasure could be hidden in there that they were missing.

“You are falling behind again, knucklehead.” Ziplocke hissed.

Jeze snapped out of her thoughts and ran after her colleagues. The fourth floor was the last, and there was only a single door that Jeze imagined led to the only room on this level. Swordslayer and Rainbow stopped before it. It was a heavy steel door set into the green stone.

“You think it is trapped?” Jeze asked.

“That’s why we are waiting on you, scout.” The man replied.

Jeze beamed for being recognized and studied the door. She was getting good at spotting and disabling Rune traps. In moments, she felt the energy snap shut and the magical traps removed.

“I would stand back. She still has not learned how to disable mechanical traps,” Ziplocke cautioned.

“What?” Both Rainbow and Swordslayer asked.

“I need a teacher,” Jeze stated.

Swordslayer shook his head and muttered, “Country kid, rookie.”

“I saved your life downstairs!” Jeze cried.

“What’s the point if we die in an arrow trap here?” The man retorted.

Rainbow shook her head. She was getting annoyed with their bickering. The multi-colored haired adventurer Summoned and Shaped vines to open the door. No traps were triggered. Swordslayer nodded his thanks and rushed into the next room and the others followed. Inside the Night Mistress waited for them.

“Whoa,” Jeze breathed out.

The chamber had four stone columns that held scones with green flames that illuminated the green-stoned room. Shadows flickered ominously in the corners. A single red carpet ran along the center and ended with a throne that appeared to be made out of green crystal. Their adversary stood before the throne.

“I see why you spared her,” Rainbow muttered at Swordslayer.

“It’s not like that,” he responded.

“Her outfit does not seem practical for combat,” Jeze observed.

The Night Mistress was a tall woman with high cheekbones, snow-pale skin, and midnight black hair that fell down to her shoulders. She wore a black dress that clung to her body with slits along its sides that showed pale shapely legs. The material of her dress reflected the green light as if it were made out of onyx. The Night Mistress’s bare arms were well-muscled as she easily held a long spear with a wicked dark blade at its end. What stood out to Jeze were her inhuman eyes, which were black pools with red sparks in the middle.

“You cheated,” the Night Mistress snarled.

Her voice reminded Jeze of a snake slithering through dried leaves.

“No, I won again,” Swordslayer responded. “Now, let us pass through.”

The bravado that Jeze found annoying was rich in his voice, and it echoed throughout the chamber.

“But, we have not had our dance,” the Night Mistress purred as she effortlessly twirled her spear and strode forward on bare feet.

Swordslayer cracked his neck and loosened his shoulders as he moved forward to meet her. Rainbow nodded to Jeze and two ladies fanned out behind the sword fighter.

“Not fair, you brought friends.” The Night Mistress pouted.

“Well, aside from the fact that you are a demigod, we are in a bit of a rush, you see. So I need to make this quick,” Swordslayer replied.

Demigod? Jeze thought. She must be very old and very dangerous. The teenager Summoned piles of Dirt and readied her hand ax.

“Where are you going, I wonder,” The Night Mistress purred.

“That is our business,” Rainbow answered.

The Night Mistress scowled at her and turned her attention to Swordslayer with a coy smile. “Why do you need to pass through my realm? Are you hunted by Legion? What favor would the Immortal Emperor bestow upon me if I were to turn you in?”

Swordslayer growled he was done talking, and he lunged forward with trust from one sword and a slice with the other. His opponent lazily parried both attacks and danced away.

The Night Mistress chuckled and continued, “What could be in Angston? Aww, the Guild. Of course! You want to brave the Spire!”

“No,” Jeze called out. Everyone turned to look at her as if she just magically appeared. “We want to challenge the Stronghold,” the teenager explained.

The Night Mistress laughed, her bosomed chest heaving from the effort. The sound echoed throughout the chamber and was sharp on the ears. Rainbow Summoned vines that ensared the Night Mistress but for a moment. The demigod completed a gesture, and the vines withered away before Swordslayer could take advantage. His sword strikes fell on empty air as their opponent danced and laughed away.

“You are keeping a well-informed company, Swordslayer.” The onyx-haired lady observed.

Swordslayer and Rainbow glanced at the teenager for a moment before returning their attention to the Night Mistress.

“Tell me, young girl, how did you come to have such secrets?” The Night Mistress asked her attention no longer on Swordslayer.

“Enough! You owe me. I let you live,” Swordslayer roared.

“You left me to die!” The Night Mistress cried back, her attention back to the swordfighter.

Seeing the opportunity, Jeze completed the Earth aspect Glyphs. A fist-sized stone struck the Night Mistress in the back of the head. She recovered fast and deflected one of Swordslayer’s attacks but took a slash to her bare leg from his other sword. The Night Mistress countered with a spear thrust but missed and took another slash to her arm. A vine rose up from the ground and, wrapped around the Night Mistress’s waist and trapped her. She attempted a wild attack but missed as Swordslayer ducked and weaved close enough to hold the edge of his sword to her pale throat. His face was close to hers.

“It is good to see you again,” the Night Mistress said. She was breathing hard.

Jeze noticed that her wounds healed, but her skin turned gray, and her body appeared more gaunt.

Swordslayer nodded.

“Will you stay with me?” The Night Mistress asked.

Swordslayer shook his head.

“At least this time you will say goodbye?” She asked.

Swordslayer nodded.

“A proper goodbye,” the Night Mistress insisted, as she placed a gentle finger to lower Swordslayer’s blade.

“Be careful!” Rainbow cried.

The Night Mistress grabbed the back of Swordslayer’s head and pulled him into a kiss.

“Gross!” Jeze exclaimed.

Ziplocke appeared out of the shadows to dance and cackle. The Night Mistress stepped away and walked back to slump on her throne. With a lazy gesture of her hand, the chamber shook and rumbled.

“What is happening?” Rainbow demanded.

“She is letting me go,” Swordslayer said, his eyes on the Night Mistress.

The rumbling was due to the grinding of stone as a passageway opened up at the end of the room behind the Night Mistress’s throne.

“Until we meet again,” she purred as they walked past.

“No, this is the last we will see of each other,” Swordslayer replied.

The Night Mistress chuckled. “Oh, you will seek me out when you want to advance beyond Adept.”

“What did she mean by that?” Jeze asked.

“Not now,” Rainbow replied and urged the teenager through the passageway.

They entered an old tunnel when the stone rumbled, and the way back into the temple was closed off. Rainbow Summoned a ball of light, and they marched on. Swordslayer did not say a word. He marched ahead of the others, and when they were not looking, he wiped tears from his eyes.