The Ruby Magician

“This is maddening.” Wyn stood at the base of tower Alistair. The actual entrance, not just the guild hall or the city. Before him was the opening, the same opening he’d seen throughout Alestead and the one that welcomed him in earlier this morning - two large pillars, wide and glorious. It was the exact image of the entrance to Alestead, only he knew these were the original while the others were simply copies. Something about the slight dullness to the stone that showed weathering over the years and the pockmarks that littered it like freckles wasn’t here on these pillars. The pure magical radiance that the tower released kept these stone barriers in pristine condition.

Wyn craned his neck to look up at the top, and he wasn’t even close to seeing the peak. Not that he could, considering there were clouds hovering in the sky and the tower was higher than the clouds, but still. Even the width of the mighty tower was abnormally large, being easily as round as several buildings. The tower seemed evenly cylindrical with various windows and decor spiraling up its length, but it also didn’t seem to make sense. No support structures were anywhere to be found, and the building felt as though it should fall over from its sheer height. The only explanation for it’s strange and unrealistic appearance was that it was completely made up magic.

No castle Wyn had ever passed or even heard about came close to matching the sheer scale and awe of Alistair. He looked back down at the entrance in newfound amazement. It was no wonder people were captivated by the tower’s allure. And that was only what the outside held.

There were less Climbers coming to the tower than came into the city. Wyn still noticed a handful, many accompanied by what looked to be their mentors or other veterans. The rookies wore more simple clothing and gear and the more experienced Climbers had more elaborate equipment. It was nearly time before the scheduled climb.

Back in the training room Daniel quickly taught Wyn the basics of his magic with a few spells to practice, which he promised wouldn’t consume too much mana. He said Lucidity would recover them before he started his climb. Thankfully Wyn picked up on them relatively quick, though he was by no means as comfortable as his combat ability.

“Just say the name of the spell and the mark does the rest,” Daniel told him.

Sure enough, he was right.

The spells were listed in his parchment - the names, runes to cast them, and their description. The mark worked by summoning those runes when called on, using mana to cast it. It was a complicated concept, but Wyn accepted that he both had a limited understanding and that it would work in the tower. He thought this because it worked in the room at the guild hall, and it worked well.

“It is something, isn’t it?” Daniel wasn’t as in awe as Wyn. He’d seen it many times before, and while Wyn was in awe in some ways, Daniel was in awe for different ones. The elder mage had experienced the tower. He felt the impact of climbing it, both good and bad.

Though all he could focus on right now was the bad with his new apprentice.

“I’m ready.” Wyn gripped his spear tight with his right hand. Being here felt right.

“You say that,” Daniel said. “You won’t ever be ready. Not truly. But you’re prepared. And that’s as good as you can hope for.” He pulled out his flask of seemingly never ending alcohol and took another drink.

Wyn looked at Daniel. He knew, deep down, something happened to him. Not just losing students or prospective future students. Some other bad experience or culmination of experiences that changed him. He opened his mouth to ask but thought better of it.

In time he’ll share when he’s ready. Now isn’t that time.

“Thank you, Daniel. I mean it. You’ve done so much for me to get ready to climb today. I don’t know how to repay you.”

Daniel smiled. “I’m your mentor. It’s my job to help! But I know one way you can repay me.”

“Survive? Come back and have a beer with you after reaching the top?”

“Yes, but also no,” Daniel said, and patted Wyn on the shoulder. “Actually repay me. I think 150 gold crowns should cover it.”

Wyn’s jaw dropped. “What?! 150 crowns? It took over three months to make that in the military!”

Daniel paused but quickly laughed and hiccuped at the same time. The alcohol was finally catching up to him. “I’m only kidding, Wyn. I would never ask you to repay me. I want you to succeed, of course, so I’ll give you whatever you need!”

Wyn’s heartbeat returned to a steady pace. He was surprised Daniel was able to catch him off guard. He obviously still had a lot to learn about the man.

“If I do have the opportunity to repay you, consider it done. I am thankful for what you’ve done for me in a short period of time.” Wyn adjusted his leather jerkin, another gift from Daniel. It covered his shirt and protected him without restricting his movements while also not interfering with his spells. Daniel informed him earlier that most mages can't cast spells in armor reliably, which limits their protection - another benefit to the Ruby Magician that goes unnoticed by most Climbers. He couldn’t wear heavier armor but that was fine with him. It was too restrictive anyway with his more mobile fighting style.

Daniel pulled out another small object out of his inner robes. Wyn thought it was simply another flask until Daniel handed it out to him. “Here, one final gift. I want to make sure you are completely prepared.”

Wyn grabbed the object. It was a small vial of a deep red liquid.

“It’s a healing potion,” Daniel said. “A basic one, but plenty for the first floor. Use it in an emergency.”

Wyn had only seen them in the military, where they were provided for his superiors in times of war. He immediately wondered if they were commonplace here. It made sense that they were, considering how magical the tower was and the people who traversed it, but still, Wyn was surprised to be holding one.

Daniel also provided him a spear and dagger, both standard issue and basic, but kind gifts nonetheless.

Wyn had sheathed the dagger in the small of his back under his backpack - his preferred place. He checked it was snug, then checked again, and adjusted his pack’s straps one more time. He only had the basics inside - a water canteen, some dried food, and now the healing potion. Daniel offered the pack and supplies for his quick trip, and Wyn didn’t feel right not taking them when offered. Plus, Daniel recommended he climb light so he could get used to the experience as a whole. It was a climb that only would take a couple of hours at most, and only the first floor at that.

Wyn pulled out his parchment from a pocket on his pants. It was the piece labeled SPELLS. He quickly looked it over once more, trying to familiarize himself with the information.

Ice Shard: A damaging spell that allows you to fire a sharp chunk of ice the size of a dagger in the direction you point. This could pierce the target or coat them in ice. Consumes a small amount of mana.

Arcane Aura: A protection spell that coats the user or target in a magical shield of armor. Currently provides basic protection that will last a short amount of time. Consumes a moderate amount of mana.

Regen: A healing spell that will heal the user or target over a period of time. Heals basic wounds, not able to cure diseases or remove poisons. Currently takes more time to heal and consumes a less moderate amount of mana.

Magic Weapon: A utility spell that coats a weapon in magic for a small amount of time, increasing damage, durability, and overall effectiveness. Consumes a less moderate amount of mana.

Wyn stared at the parchment for a moment. He used them all in the training hall but he silently cursed himself for not finding out more about them. How much is a small, less moderate or moderate amount of mana? From the first spell he cast to now was about an hour. He foolishly took some sips of a weak mana potion Daniel brought in order to help recover and be completely ready. Of course it restocked his mana pool, but he didn’t track anything about how much mana each spell used. There was no true sense of his capacity or ability to cast spells in the brief time he had. And, the spells that lasted longer he also ended early to save time, but now he regretted not having a better idea of how long they lasted.

His stomach dropped. He felt less prepared than he did before, like he was wading into combat with a weapon he didn’t know how to use. Which in a sense was exactly what he was doing.

He took a deep breath. Then another. He was experienced and level headed, having trained for years to expect the unexpected and adjust himself on the fly. Plus, this was more of a training exercise than anything truly life threatening. He folded the parchment back up and placed it back in his pocket.

Climbing the tower was the entire reason why he came. The best training was jumping right in, and he needed to get out of his head and jump.

Wyn adjusted his gear, ending with his new robe and hat. Both were the most unique gifts of all, at least according to Daniel. They were the signature look of Ruby Magicians, and it was customary, Daniel said, to wear them proudly and respectfully.

The robe was a high collared coat and the hat a magician’s hat, wide brimmed with a loose center. Both were blood red. It was a nice contrast to his dark grey under shirt and stained leather jerkin, though he felt funny wearing the hat. Daniel told him it was a rite of passage to wear it for his first climb, and that veterans wore far stranger gear that offered magical boons. These were as ordinary as socks, but who was he to argue?

“Good luck. I mean that.” Daniel offered his hand.

Wyn took his hand, shook it, and offered a smile in return. “Thank you. It’ll be great, I know it!”

Daniel quickly walked away, obviously not one to linger. He headed back to his room to find a drink until Wyn returned. He couldn’t go with him into the base of the tower. Most other mentors were at least escorting them inside, but he couldn’t. Not again.

Wyn was nervous but ready. He walked through the entrance and inside, ready to face Alistair. He joined the mass of other new Climbers, almost all of them nervous along with him. He expected a few snickers and laughs from his outfit but found only whispers, likely not even about him.

It wasn’t a long walk past the large pillars, though it was equally as intimidating and awe inspiring inside the tower as from outside. The main hall wasn’t as large as Wyn thought, though it was strikingly beautiful. He had never seen anything like it, even in noble castles he’d protected in the past.

The walls were made of smooth stone, set perfectly from floor to ceiling. There were large stained glass windows in the walls, all depicting different scenes. Some were of trees and nature, some of war with conflicting armies. They were massive, easily as tall as buildings, and Wyn wondered why he didn’t notice them from the outside and how someone was able to construct them. Each one ended before the ornate domed ceiling of intricate patterns of stone, though to Wyn’s surprise he could see the top. It was still the tallest room he’d ever seen, but the tower obviously spanned much, much taller than this ceiling appeared.

At the far end of the room was a series of connecting desks and people behind them, all guild workers. Some were walking around carrying objects here or there, and some were standing still, though all had tasks to do. Further behind them were storage compartments and various doors that other staff members were using, entering and exiting beyond the room into unknown areas.

To his left and right were open doorways and hallways that extended past the main room into more unknown places. Wyn knew those were the way to the actual adventuring part of the tower. The desks and guild staff were probably there for information or help.

The rookie Climbers were gathered in the middle of the hall. Together with their mentors there were probably 30 or 40 of them, and the room still looked as though it could hold more, probably over a hundred people.

As Wyn looked around, he noticed about a dozen Climbers standing to the left of the desks. They were wearing extravagant gear - full packs, weapons, and armor that were definitely not basic. He assumed they were the leaders for their climb. They looked tired and beaten. One woman’s armor in particular was covered in a green, almost fluorescent substance. She had a quiver on her back and a bow slung around it. Her armor was made of furs over leather, and the more he stared the more he recognized her.

It was Marcy.

She caught him staring at her and smiled. She waved a small wave, quick as a flash. Wyn couldn’t help but return both.

“Wyn! You made it!” A voice rose up from the hushed crowd, surprising several people. One rookie jumped and dropped their staff. Wyn, most surprised at all, looked around for the source.

A man cheerfully pushed himself through the crowd towards him. It was John, the Fighter from the training hall. He had his sword sheathed on his left hip and his shield was attached on the outside of his backpack. He was holding a helmet in the crook of his left elbow and wearing padded armor, a popular choice of protection that gave more defense but was still more maneuverable than heavier plate armor.

Wyn breathed a sigh of relief. “John! I guess you made it, after all!”

John trotted up beside him. His mentors weren’t around, thankfully. “I couldn’t miss it. I’m too excited to wait and sit it out! Most of the other Fighters wanted more training but I knew I was ready. I’ve been ready for awhile.”

“I felt the same way. Were you in the military, by chance?”

John’s face scrunched up. “No. Why do you ask that?”

“Well, you said you’ve been ready for awhile. And you seem more mature than most other new Climbers. I figured you’d have combat training or experience somehow?”

“Ahh,” John said, adjusting his backpack strap. “I’ve been training to be a Climber for months, now. Nearly an entire year. And that’s outside of lessons and study. My entire family are Climbers!”

“You’re not serious,” Wyn said, eyes nearly popping out of his head. “That seems dangerous for a family business!”

“It is. But rewarding,” John said, smiling again. “My father and mother met while climbing Alistair, then they left after awhile to start a family. Me and my siblings caught the bug.”

Wyn nodded. “I can understand that. Everyone has their own reasons for being here, I suppose.”

John sighed and peered through the crowd, darting his head back and forth. “You’re telling me. Good or bad.”

Wyn looked at him. His sword and shield did look different from others he saw in the crowd. He only caught a glimpse of both in the training hall, but now he really studied both. The sword had an ornate hilt and the sheath had gold trim. He realized the hilt perfectly matched the runes on the sheath, which were also laced in gold. The shield had an aura similar to the brief bits of magic he’d seen, as though the air around it shimmered and shifted.

John grabbed the handle of his sword as if he knew Wyn was examining it. “This was my older sister’s. She retired a couple of years ago after climbing to floor 17, and it was one of her magic swords she found inside Alistair. She offered it to me to use on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“That I find a weapon to pass down to my little sister in the same way! She wants a bow, though. What crazy 15 year-old wants a magic bow for her birthday?”

Wyn just stared at him. He absolutely did not know the answer.

“So were you in the military? Interesting choice of a spear there,” John said, pointing to Wyn’s weapon.

Before Wyn could answer, one of the veteran Climbers walked to the front of the guild desks and climbed on top of it. He was a large man, both tall and wide, and wore black chain armor. He had a large axe on his back and a belt across his waist full of potions in varying size bottles.

Wyn was struck with how easily he was able to climb on top of the desks. The gear looked heavy and armor awkward. He wondered if it was part of his class growth or something else.

“Good evening,” the man said, and his voice boomed over the crowd. Everyone was already mostly silent, eager and anxious to climb, but now you could hear a pin drop it was so quiet.

“I am Xander,” the man continued. “I am a Barbarian and veteran Climber of tower Alistair. I’m here to help guide all of you on your first climb, along with others who are experienced and capable to lead you safely. They are very generous to give their time and expertise to all of you!”

Xander was animated with his speech, smiling awkwardly and waving his arms around. The crowd was silent though, not sure what to expect or how to respond.

Wyn couldn’t help but wonder how he was a Barbarian, either. He hadn’t heard of that class before. Of course there were other classes out there, but there were only five choices to start. Obviously more could be found or earned.

“Are you not excited or ready for your first climb!?” Xander yelled. His powerful voice carried through the hall, echoing off the walls. Some of the rookies jumped in surprise.

Wyn shot a side glance at John, who also glanced over at him. They smirked at each other. John then beat his chest with a fist twice. Eagerness and confidence poured from him.

Wyn gripped his spear tight and banged the butt on the floor twice. He used to do it to signal his comrades he was ready for battle, and they would return the beat with their own weapons. Memories flooded his mind of laughter followed by war cries, friendly shoves in the barracks over meaningless games followed by gritty, dirty fighting to be the one standing rather than dying.

He remembered the excitement before the bloodshed.

Alistair didn’t seem too foreign from war. Regretfully, he was in his element.