The Wandering Spire

The Floor Portal was repurposed for the first level of the Spire. This allowed adventurers to enter directly to the Floor Portal chamber and exit to the outside. In addition, they could convert monster portals to do the same function. The Adventurer's Guild worked quickly to establish Safe Zones in those areas. The portal to the Second Floor was available, but much of the First Floor was still unexplored. Prospect-ranked adventurers worked as scavenger teams to collect the pre-purchased piles of loot for merchants. They also operated as map teams and used Communication Scrolls to map out the entire level. Lastly, they collected the bodies of the fallen for proper burial.

In addition, many Prospect-ranked adventurers used the first Floor to complete their field assessment in order to be promoted to Initiate Rank. The first level offered a great opportunity to earn wealth from the lower-tiered monsters that continued to enter the level through the various monster portals. The level was less dangerous with the established Safe Zones and the knowledge of the capabilities of the monsters. The encounters on the first floor consisted primarily of Imps, Thralls, and, it was later discovered, Bloodlings. The Imps were the deadliest challenge.

This happened very quickly as soon as Jeze repurposed the first level Floor Portal. She sat in the corner of the Safe Zone, away from the bustle of activity, and hugged her knees. Her team assisted with establishing a defensive perimeter for the Safe Zone and worked with merchants to organize scavenger teams. Mikal coordinated with the collection teams to retrieve the bodies of the fallen for proper burial. Ziplocke was hiding in the shadows somewhere, and Jeze sat alone with her thoughts.

She believed someone had sabotaged the Floor Portal. They tried to shut it down for some nefarious purpose. The questions that raged in Jeze's mind were: who and why? Also, are these the same individuals who murdered Seb? Was it Drake and the Golden Empire? Ozun? It all didn't make sense to Jeze. The only reason why the Floor Portal was repurposed was because Jeze had the tome she retrieved from the Pyramid. With it's knowledge, she was able to repair the damage. Otherwise, the portal would have remained closed, and the only way to exit the Spire would have been to repurpose the second level's Floor Portal.

Jeze told Miss Heng and the Amber Guard all of this. But they didn't agree with her. They investigated the scene of the explosion that took the lives of Jonah and his team, and they concluded that he had used a faulty Channeling Tool. Jeze screamed and argued with them to no avail. The Amber Guard countered that there was not enough evidence to expend precious resources to investigate a wild claim. Jeze was certain that someone or some group was working against the Guild's interest. Was it the Golden Empire? Would they go to these horrific lengths in order to keep the secret that the Emperor was not immortal?

"Watch your tongue, girl!" Miss Heng had hissed when Jeze made that suggestion.

The Amber Guard's face softened a little, and she added, "This is hard for you. You did good work in repurposing the Floor Portal. It was troubling to have Imps so early on, and this Wandering Spire is already more challenging than the others. You are relieved of your obligation, and you will not be fined. The Guild thanks you for your service."

With that, Miss Heng had dismissed Jeze and ended the discussion. Ziplocke was happy that Jeze wouldn't be fined but it infuriated the teenager. Because she was also filled with grief, Jeze did not press the matter further. The Proven did their best to console her and in the end, Dunar decided it best to allow Jeze to be alone.

"If you need anything, all you need to do is call us," the Team Leader said.

Jeze realized he had kind eyes in addition to a handsome face. This confused her further, and all she could do was to thank him. Grief filled Jeze's heart. In the short time she was an adventurer, she had already experienced so much loss. She only knew Jonah and his team for a short time, but they treated her well. Jonah respected her and followed her when she fought against the restrictions that Drake and the Empire put on them. What happened to him was unfair and he and his team did not deserve that! Jeze rose to her feet with rage building in her heart. She was prepared to confront Miss Heng again, but luckily, she spotted Irvin and Lady Kalina as they emerged through the portal. Jeze rushed over toward them and explained everything.

"Slow down," Irvin said.

"This is a lot for us to process," Lady Kalina added in agreement.

"All I am saying is this. There was nothing wrong with the Channeling Tools. I tested them myself," Jeze stated.

"But they could have been damaged from any number of sources afterward," Irvin pointed out.

"The fact that there are Imps makes matters worse. They are known to stalk a team and slowly drive them mad with their Afflictions. It is possible that Jonah fell victim to this, and as a result, he neglected to take care of his tools," Lady Kalina pointed out.

"He was a seasoned adventurer and rune caster. That can not be possible!" Jeze exclaimed.

The two were motioned over by Miss Heng.

"We will talk more, I promise," Lady Kalina said.

Irvin squeezed her shoulder and stated, "You did good work, Jeze. Your efforts will be recognized, I promise you."

"I don't care about that!" Jeze snapped back.

Irvin nodded, his eyes soft, and he followed Lady Kalina as they walked toward Miss Heng and the Amber Guard. Jeze had half a mind to head over and argue her case again but decided against that. She remembered that she wanted to help Hannah set up in a Safe Zone. That would keep her busy and away from this business of saboteurs and murders. Jeze told Dunar that she planned to bring Hannah into a Safe Zone.

"That is good, we will come with you. You are certain she will give us a good price?" Dunar said.

Jeze shrugged and responded, "I think so."

Dunar gathered the Proven, and they waited before the only portal in and out of the Spire. There was a lot of traffic as numerous people entered through the main portal. There was a small line to exit, but the wait time was still high due to the enormous amount of people coming in. Across from the exit portal, a line of Initiate-ranked and higher adventurers was already forming to head through the portal to the second floor. It would be some time before they could leave the Spire and even longer time for them to return.

"Is this worth it? We should proceed to the second floor," Rolfe suggested.

"Ya! Let's go now while the line is still short," Helga agreed.

"We need supplies," Dunar said, but he was also concerned about the lost time.

Jeze perked up. "I have an idea. Let me repurpose the monster portal we discovered."

Dunar nodded in agreement and the team traveled back through the corridors and chambers. This time they met with other adventurer teams instead of Thralls and Imps. Though, they did hear sounds of fighting that echoed through the tunnels as there were active monster portals tucked away somewhere among the maze of square chambers. They came to the portal that Jeze had closed.

"Here's the plan. Once I open the portal, Rolfe and Helga should go first and guard it from the other side. Because, before we know it, there will be a large rush of people that will try to use this portal," Jeze stated.

Dunar's eyes narrowed, and he asked, "Can we stop people from using it? Isn't it your job to repurpose the portals for everyone's benefit?"

Jeze rubbed her face, and Ziplocke slapped his forehead. The Proven Team Leader was too honest for his own good.

"Yes, but we will need to first ensure that this area is clear before we can allow free access," Jeze replied.

Dunar nodded, and he asked, "How long does that take?"

"She's just going to get her merchant friend, no? Once we are all set up in here, then we can allow the others to use it, right?" Helga asked.

"Exactly," Jeze responded.

"We can guard it," Rolfe promised.

"I feel this is dishonest. We will be using this for our own purposes and not for the best for all," Dunar stated.

The muscular Leader was shaking his head with his arms crossed.

"Think of it as a slight reward for us for opening the portal in the first place. We are entitled to a little compensation. Besides, how long will it take for Jeze to find her merchant friend?" Mikal asked.

The question and statement from the dark-haired team Healer caught Jeze by surprise. Was Mikal in agreement with her?

"Not long at all," Jeze stammered a response.

"Good, we are in agreement then. Rolfe and Helga will guard the portal. Dunar and I will restock on our supplies," Mikal said.

Am I going to agree with him? Jeze wondered to herself. She couldn't believe it, but the Healer was making sense.

"Aye! Okay, then let's go! Get to work, little Scout," Helga said.

"Right!" Jeze replied after she snapped out of her initial dumbstruck awe. Her mind still couldn't wrap around what just happened. Did Mikal argue on her behalf?

Using the Channeling tools she created, Jeze completed the final glyph and poured her Will into the Runes. The energy snapped into place, and a shimmering portal appeared. Rolfe and Helga went through first, and the rest of the team followed. What they saw shocked them. In the span of three days that they traveled the Spire, the encampment outside had quadrupled in size! It was nearly as big as a small city. They could see a seemingly endless line that waited outside the entrance portal. It was filled with adventurers and wagons. Dozens of heads snapped at the appearance of their portal, and immediately, many adventures rushed over.

"Halt!" Rolfe commanded.

"This portal is not ready yet, so why don't you just form a line and wait, ya?" Helga added.

Jeze was worried that she now had less time than she originally thought. Before she could go find Hannah, she needed to first inscribe a set of Runes on this side to stabilize the Threshold. Jeze took out her tools and began to etch Runes along the wall of the Spire that was just behind the portal.

"Hurry up!" Ziplocke hissed.

"Don't rush me! You know what happens if we do this incorrectly," Jeze snapped back.

It was not long until she was finished.

"Can we enter now?" An adventurer who waited in line asked.

"No," Rolfe answered. He and Helga made an imposing pair of guardians.

Jeze ran off through the dozens of tents and stalls that comprised the encampment in search of Hannah. It was nearly thirty minutes before she discovered the dark-haired merchant.

"Jeze! I hear you were able to get the Floor Portal up and running," Hannah said in greeting.

"I did, and we got a Safe Zone portal up and running. Do you want to go in first?" The teenager asked.

Hannah's eyes went wide and without delay the merchant began to gather up her gear. "Just give me two shakes!"

A short time later, Hannah returned with four others. They all looked like adventures as they were dressed in armor and armed with weapons.

"Jeze, this is my scavenger team," Hannah explained and made introductions.

The teenager was in such a hurry that all the names and introductions were a blur to her as she led them back to the portal where a crowd formed before the Proven. Dunar and Mikal finished their supply run and they were helping Helga and Rolfe with guard duty. At this point a guild perfunctory was arguing with Dunar.

"By what authority do you have to prevent others from entering through this portal?" The official asked in a nasal voice.

"Uh, her authority," Dunar answered and pointed to Jeze.

"Hi, I'm with the Safe Zone squad. We need to ensure that the area is safe before we can allow others to enter," Jeze replied.

The teenager motioned for Hannah and her squad to enter the portal quickly before those in line had a chance to get upset.

"I have never heard of this process," the perfunctory challenged.

"It is unusual circumstances. Just give us a moment," Jeze answered, and she entered behind Hannah and her team.

Dunar and Mikal followed after. Rolfe and Helga continued to block the way.

"You don't have much time to set up your stall," Jeze said.

"I can do that fast, but your gear took a beating. Who did the repairs? Your Goblin?" Hannah asked with narrowed eyes at the damage done to Jeze's armor.

"Hey!" Ziplocke cried.

Dunar exited to retrieve his two large team members. "We are good. You can take it from here," he told the guild official before the Proven entered through the portal.

When Helga and Rolfe left their posts, it was like a dam that had burst. A flood of adventurers streamed in. Some asked the Proven where the floor portal was, and others activated their Communication Scrolls. Dunar just pointed, and the adventurers went on their way. Others, who were merchants like Hannah, stayed behind to set up shop.

"My team will collect your loot, and I will give ya a fair price," Hannah said.

"Are you sure? There is a lot of Devil's Steele, I'm not sure it would be worth it for you," Jeze explained.

Ziplocke slapped his forehead. "Knucklehead!"

Hannah laughed and said, "I appreciate you, girlie. I don't think you should be that honest next time. But no worries, I'll give you the fair rate. Now, let me repair your armor! All of you! I couldn't in good conscience allow you to travel like that. You will surely die."

"We thank you. We can pay for the repairs," Dunar said.

"Don't mention it. Consider it a fair trade-off for getting me inside. I doubt I would have gotten in on my own," Hannah replied.

Later, Hannah's team collected the pile of Devil Steel weapons that the Proven had obtained. The merchant paid them in coins and repaired their armor. Jeze and her team were ready to continue on to the second floor. Dunar called a meeting.

"We have supplies. Our weapons and armor are repaired. Are we ready to enter the second level?" The team Leader asked.

"For Glory!" Helga roared.

"It will be treacherous. We have no idea what challenges we will face. As far as we can tell, all that have entered so far have not defeated the Floor Guardian," Dunar added.

"Aye, I have not been more sure about anything else in my life," Rolfe declared.

"There are no repurposed exit portals. We will have no way to return or exit," Dunar continued.

"Not to mention dangerous adventurers like Ozun and this mysterious group that sabotaged the Floor Portal," Mikal added.

The Frostsworn nodded solemnly.

"Oh, will you all stop already?" Jeze snapped. "Let us go before the line gets too long!" In reality, she didn't want the grief over the loss of Jonah and his team to catch up with her again.