Chapter 15

I'd only managed to get a few hours of sleep before I was awoken by the mental tug from my watch. Glancing at myself in the mirror as I stood, I could scarcely believe the lack of dark circles beneath my eyes. To be young and healthy again after so many years of being old and feeble... It was remarkable.

After getting dressed and looking at the old uniform, I frowned while smoothing out the many wrinkles. If it weren't for graduation being just a few days away, I would purchase a complete set. Presentation was just as essential as decorum, in my own modest opinion.

"I suppose I should make my way to the ol' haberdashery before too long..." I mumbled. It would be uncouth to continue wearing the Academy's uniform after graduation, though there were many who still chose to do so. My eyes lingered on the Deck Box I had strapped to my old leather belt, "I'll need something to better secure you as well."

It was getting increasingly dangerous to hold on to my possessions. If someone were to find out... I flipped the lid open and pulled out the Card I'd received the night prior, tapping the Demon Glass on the corner to look over the details.

[Card Name: Spirit, David]

[Class: Summon]

[Rank: Sacred]

[Level: 1]

[Essence: 0 / 1,000]

[Foundation: Intelligence, Wisdom]

[Effect: Wielder can summon a Spirit familiar for a short time. Summon lasts for 15 minutes, during which time Wielder can give basic commands. 30-minute cooldown after the Summon is dismissed. Summon Skill Power based on Intelligence, Summon cooldown based on Wisdom]

[Blessings: As a Sacred Summon, the Spirit, David, has been blessed with natural awareness. Will Foundation not required for this Summon]

[Skills: Minor Fear]

An image of the lad floated on the front of the Card. He was holding the tattered brown ball in one hand, with most of the junk from the hidden room sitting in the background. I didn't fail to notice that the women's undergarments he'd filched were at the top of one of the piles.

"I'll have to keep an eye on him when I let him loose," I chuckled and shook my head while sliding the Card back into its slot. "Can't have him getting me in that kind of trouble."

When I left the memory, I passed through the darkness once again before finding myself cross-legged in an almost empty room. The piles of miscellaneous items were gone, and David's Card was lying on the ground in front of me. Unfortunately, Summons weren't the same as the other Cards, and I wouldn't be able to chat with him until I'd secured the Wisdom Card I had Crook searching for.

The best I could do for the lad now was to keep him safe, along with the Pixie that was passed down by my grandfather. With that in mind, I could see a nice suit with a proper belt attachment in my future. Until then, I would sport the Academy uniform and the bit of gear in my possession.

I didn't have time to waste on such matters today. On this day, I had to travel through the Old Boar Forest, across the Howling Hills, and make my way into the heart of Bear Peak Mountains to the north. There, a majestic mountain stood taller than the rest, its shadows looming heavily over the First Floor.

With my current build, I could make the distance before the day was over. All but one of the remaining tasks awaited me in this place, and I'd be a fool not to get there right away. As long as there were no unexpected occurrences, I could reach the mountain, perform the tasks, and be back in time for a couple days' rest before the graduation ceremony.

Once I tired of admiring my appearance, I pulled on my hunting gear, grabbed my cane, and made for the door. Holding the spectacular weapon brought a smile to my face. Though only a short time had passed on the outside, close to a month had passed in David's memories, and I missed the gentle tap that echoed as I walked.

"And to be clean again..." I shuddered. Living in the woods without the comforts of modern relics... Once I'd come to and secured David's Summon Card, I doused myself with an entire vial of Infernal Wash.

Seeing as I was in such a chipper mood this morning, I decided to swing by Crook's shop before my departure to see if he had any updates on my requests. I know I'd given him a little more time, but hey... I was feeling lucky.

​

I pulled the door shut and weaved my way through the throng of students meandering in the hall. There were no classes or exams, so many chose to spend their last days before graduation with friends or forming parties in the dorm rather than going home to their families.

"-was broken into last night!" I heard a voice on the other side of the door and halted my steps rather than moving forward. I recognized it as Miss Warren, "We've already interrogated the students from your logs. Are you sure that no other students left the dorms last night?"

Ah.

"No, Miss," I heard the jostling of paper. "All the students were accounted for."

"Alright," Miss Warren sighed heavily. "We have professors questioning the younger years, but whoever this was, they were skilled enough to outwit the guards. It has to have been one of the seniors."

The two exchanged thoughts for another minute, and when it didn't seem like Miss Warren was in a hurry to leave, I decided to get moving. I didn't have all day to stand around. Miss Warren's eyes darted toward me as soon as I opened the door.

"Rowan?" She smiled at first but then began to frown as she looked at my attire. I'm sure the old ragged leather armor I was wearing was a worrisome sight, "You don't plan on attending class today? The year is over, but I'll still be offering what knowledge I can to those who sit in."

"I'm sorry, Miss Warren, but I will not be attending the final classes between now and graduation. Unfortunately, my financial situation is a bit precarious, and I would like to use this time to shore up my savings and get some more field experience," I couldn't help but smile. Even though the way in which she spoke was rather harsh at times, she really did care for her students. "Thank you for everything you've done for me over the years."

"E-Eh?" She seemed stunned, and even the custodian listening in looked at me funny. Miss Warren wasn't wrong to be surprised by what I'd said. As far as she could remember, I was the quiet type and never cared to share my burdens with others. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "You say that like I won't be seeing you again."

I shook my head, "No, I just realized that I'd never thanked you properly before. I'll certainly be seeing you at graduation. I have a reward to retrieve, after all."

"Oh? Confident, are we?" Her face assumed a complicated expression as she spoke. I simply nodded, knowing she'd likely already seen my test score. Coincidentally, that was also one of the reasons I wasn't concerned about my being a potential suspect in the break-in. Someone who did well on their exams wouldn't need to break in and tamper with the log book, right?

"Well, I hate to rush, but I would like to clear up a safe area before setting camp tonight," I nodded to the caretaker and again to Miss Warren. "I'll see you on the day of the ceremony. Now, if you'll excuse me."

I could almost feel the professor's eyes boring holes in my back as I walked away, cane tapping melodiously on the cobblestone walk. No one else stopped me as I made my way through the northern gate and headed into town. No strange adventurers made a bid for my staff, and no guild callers tried to recruit me. It was still shaping up to be a nice day.

Before long, I stood before the merchant Crook's shop. The break in the glass had already been repaired, but this time it appeared that he was open for business. The door opened effortlessly, the chime from the little bell causing the patrons and the clerk to look up at the newcomer.

It seemed that the merchant had been putting his moves on the young couple that stood at the counter. They were holding a bottle of unsightly green liquid, a few coins placed between them as if they were haggling over the price.

I chortled softly, glancing at the bottle and then back to the slightly flushed face of the young woman. It seemed that Crook would never change, no matter how much trouble he found himself in.

When he saw me, his face whitened slightly, and he politely but swiftly sent away the customers with their prize. The woman grabbed her partner's arm in delight as they left, and the man had a goofy grin on his face, likely thinking that he'd gotten the better end of the bargain.

The bell above the door jingled as the couple left, and I flipped the sign to closed before making my way to the counter. Crook didn't seem as tense as on my previous visit, but the sweat on his brow showed he was worried about something.

"Ahh, good to see you again, Sir Wilder," he smiled awkwardly. "You're a bit early."

I nodded, tapping the tip of my cane gently, an action that didn't go unnoticed by the merchant, "Not much to do between now and the ceremony, my good Sir Crook. I'll be out farming for a few days and need to borrow some supplies. My old camping gear is a bit worn out, you see."

"When you say borrow..." Crook trailed off, one eyebrow raised.

I laughed, "Well, I may have to bother you for the sleeping roll. I will return the rest, however."

"I can deal with that," the man sighed. "Come with me to the back. I recommend we replace your pack with a suitable travel bag. You can pick through my selection of used ones while I relay what I've learned."

"Oh?" It was my turn to be surprised. "You've already met some of my requests?"

"All, actually, though I'm not sure you'll like what I have to say," he spoke the last part under his breath. I followed him into the back room, which looked to be a small warehouse, until we reached the back corner. A pile of discarded bags lay in the corner. "Sift through them and take your pick. They may be dusty, but they are all good quality."

I nodded appreciatively, surprised at how accommodating the man was being today. Still, I didn't miss him rubbing his temples when he sat down, as if he was wondering where to begin. Something was up.

"The lead Skull himself showed up at my door yesterday."

Ah, this is what he was worried about. I turned back from my searching and raised an eyebrow, "And?"

"He asked about you, and obviously, I didn't refuse," Crook flinched as he said this but kept talking. "I didn't say anything about the gear you left or that you wanted more information on his mercenaries, but I did tell him you looked pretty beat up and were looking for the magic Foundation Cards. I had to say something, or the man would have flayed me."

Crook held his breath, waiting to see how I would react. I thought about it for a moment before asking, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I'm fucked," Crook sighed and rubbed his temples again. "I don't regret sending the brothers after you. You're an infuriating brat, and you deserved it."

I chuckled to myself and let him continue. There was no reason for me to take offense at the accusation. I'd purposely provoked him, after all.

"My purpose here was to recruit the Skull, and there's no way that's happening now that one of my requests killed their top members," the merchant stared at one of his rings, one that was marked with the seal of the Society. "Even if the Skull doesn't gut me in my sleep, my employer has already dismissed me, and I'm to leave this place when the month is up. This shop and the mission he gave me were my tickets to the big leagues."

"Anyway, I don't know what you plan to do with the Skull, but I'm sure it won't be pretty. I may not be the most honest merchant," Crook looked to the ceiling, "But I don't think I deserve to have my guts spilled. If you can offer protection, I'll do what I can to help."

Ahh... this is why he's being so agreeable. The Society was one of the more prominent factions in the Tower created to rival the Noble Families, not that they could even come close. Still, they had hands everywhere and could likely rival the top Guild in influence. Zachary's family belonged to this group, though I wasn't sure about their place in the pecking order.

"Hmm," I mulled over his words for a while. The Skull was one thing, but if the Society wanted him, there was nothing I could do. Did I really want to risk myself for this swindler? I sighed, defeated. I'd already decided that I would help where I could... and Crook did have access to the Merchant's Guild...

"That depends. Were you working directly for one of the Fingers?" I asked. The Society's Fingers each held much more power than I could contend with for now. Each of their operations included multiple Guilds, shops, and resource farms.

Crook looked at me like I'd just sprouted horns, "No, not at all. If that were the case, I wouldn't be dealing with the likes of the Skull. The gentleman I'm working for is trying to grow his influence to take the mantle of Little Finger. He still has a ways to go."

"You're in luck, Sir Crook. I'm feeling generous today," I turned back to sifting through the pile of bags while talking over my shoulder. "You continue to assist me until I leave for the Second Floor, and I can assure you that the Skull will no longer be a problem. You said they had more to tell you. Fill me in, if you please."

...

Around half an hour later, I exited the shop with a skip in my step. My Essence pouch was heavier, Crook having paid me for the loot I'd left with him in my prior visit, and he'd even provided me with another crate of Infernal Wash. It was an unexpected turn of events, but it seemed that I'd found an ally in the paunchy salesman. One with a lot of insight into the inner workings of the Society.

The Network held extensive knowledge about the Floors and Plagued Beasts, along with information on all the known criminals and criminal organizations of the time. Still, being a government establishment, the Network had very little in the way of the various legal factions within the Tower, no matter how shady they may be.

There hadn't been time for an interrogation today, but I felt Crook would be able to fill in a few of the gaps in my knowledge. Once I'd agreed to help the poor bloke, he came clean with all that the Skull had told him.

The head Skull informed Crook that he possessed not just a Wisdom Foundation Card but all nine Foundation Cards. He wanted Crook to tell me that he'd found a seller and that I was to meet them to purchase the Card, where it was likely that an ambush would be waiting. The appointment was scheduled for the day after the turn of the century.

Before leaving, the lead Skull also demanded several barrels of liquor be delivered for the end of the century's festivities. Apparently, their entire group would be in town to celebrate. That suited my needs just fine.

After giving Crook a few orders, he fished out the camping gear I needed, along with the Essence for the Skull Brother's loot. It was a good haul.

My new pack was one of those high-backed deals with straps for mounting a bed and canvas roll. It was filled with rope, knives, a fire starter, a small hatchet, and a few climbing picks. The loot had also netted me another 1500 Essence, which was paid in Level 5 shards.

"Pay?! You expect me to pay to ride in this dingy ass carriage?" A voice from across the street broke my train of thought. I looked over and saw a familiar face, though he was frowning at the source of the complaint.

The fuss was coming from a young man, no older than fifteen, if I had to guess. He was red-faced and yelling up at the carriage driver who'd been kind enough to cart me out to the woods.

"I'm sorry, young man, but I have a family to feed," the driver spoke carefully, trying to defuse the situation. "The trip you're asking of me will take about an hour both ways. I can't do it for free."

"I don't care about your sniveling brats!" The boy kicked the side of the cart and pointed to an emblem on his collar. Of course, I was familiar with it, as it was the same placed upon my own, "You see this? Do you think some commoner has the right to argue with a student from the Academy?!"

The bearded man upon the seat sighed, and I could tell he was about to give in. Even if the kid was no one special in the Academy, it was a fact that students were of higher standing than most individuals. If the kid really tried to cause a problem, he would simply be scolded and sent on his way, even if the carriage driver was heavily injured.

Before the driver could speak, I had already leapt into his carriage from the other side. The man looked back, startled, while the child's face turned red as a tomato. If we were on one of the higher Floors, I would swear he'd been infected by the Plague.

"Lovely day for a ride, isn't it?" I asked the driver, patting his shoulder.

The kid barked before the driver could respond, "And just who the hell do you think you are?!"

I sighed. My day had been going so well, "Lad, where's your mum? It's dangerous to walk about unaccompanied at your age."

"W-What did you say?" The kid stuttered and fumbled with his sword. "You can't talk to me like that!"

"Hmm," I took in his awkward stance. "You still haven't learned to hold a sword properly at your age? What's your name, boy? I'll see if Professor Landri will take you into his summer program."

The kid blanched, almost dropping his sword. He observed me for a moment, looking at my gear before his eyes came to rest on my uniform, particularly the golden stripes that marked me as a tenth-year.

"Y-You're also from the Academy?" He stammered.

"You didn't think you were the only one, I hope?" I laughed and patted the driver on the back, "To the northern border of the Old Boar Forest, good sir. And If you don't mind, I'd like to sit up here where we can have a proper exchange. No need to stand on ceremony."

"Ha! No problem," the bearded man snapped the reins after I sat my pack on the back bench. The boy still stood on the street, holding his sword awkwardly. "It's nice to see you again, young man."

"Likewise, lad. I never caught your name," I glanced at the driver expectantly.

"Jacopo. And you?" He shuffled the reins a bit and offered me a hand, which I grasped firmly.

"Rowan."

"Rowan? Like the tree with the red berries?" Jacopo asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded, "That's right."

We swiftly arrived at the city's edge, leaving behind the paved and well-managed roads to cross the much bumpier terrain between the vast farms. Though these roads were regularly traveled, none of the farmers or adventurers bothered to tend them.

The carriage bounced as we continued our chat, Jacopo eyeing me curiously, "So what's a young man like you doing out in the forest? Hunting for game?"

"My last trek out was to gather shards. I can't hire an upright chap such as yourself to take me to and fro otherwise," I smiled as Jacopo laughed merrily. Once he'd calmed down, I continued, "This venture, I'll be doing a bit of hiking. There's some time to kill between now and the graduation ceremony."

That was somewhat true, and I didn't want to outright lie to the man after he'd been such good company. One of the tasks required me to climb to the top of the mountain, while the other two lay in a valley on the other side. Yes, there would be plenty of hiking. My legs already ached from thinking about it.

"Hiking, huh?" Jacopo eyed the cane with concern, then glanced back at me, "You sure you're up for that?"

I chuckled, picking up the cane and spinning it nimbly between my fingers. The cane whirled so quickly that a strong breeze passed by the two of us, "I appreciate the concern. However, I don't carry this around because I'm injured. It was a gift from my grandfather."

"I suppose so," he laughed again as the breeze blew his beard into his face. "Just make sure you're careful out there, ya hear? It's not often I get to meet such a decent chap around here."

Our conversation continued until we reached the edge of the forest, where I bid the man farewell and fished out more Essence than was needed to pay him. He thanked me profusely and even asked me to stop by for dinner before I left for the Second Floor. Apparently, his wife made a mean apple pie.

I dashed through the forest, heading straight north instead of veering toward the chasm of the Howling Hills. I would have to cross the massive dunes to reach the foot of the largest mountain before nightfall.

Of course, my journey was regularly interrupted by the many boars and wolves that blocked my path. I slew them effortlessly. Also, I found that using the Spell Card I'd acquired from the Skull brothers to Pull the Essence shards to me saved a lot of time.

I made it to the foot of the mountain a few hundred Essence richer, just before the sun fell over the western mountains. I could hear a Level 3 bear snarling somewhere to my left and a few wolves barking back. The smaller creatures likely wandered too close to the bear's domain.

It wouldn't have taken long to dash over and collect their Essence, but I wasn't here to fill my coffers. I looked up at the mountain, scarcely able to make out the branches of a large tree somewhere at the peak.

I spotted a shelf cut into the rock a few yards above me and used Dash to cover the distance. It was a safe enough spot to set up camp for the evening. While working, I glanced up the mountain again and heaved a heavy breath, thinking of what would come in the morning.

It was going to be a long climb.