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When the amber light faded from Tafel’s vision, she adjusted the mask on her face and looked around. She had arrived at the third floor’s entrance with Kim Hajun in tow. A second later, another flash of amber filled Tafel’s vision, and Mary appeared. The black-armored woman pursed her lips. “We were supposed to climb the tower together,” she said. “Why are we climbing downwards?”
“For training,” Tafel said.
“Oh,” Mary said and blinked. “Okay.”
Kim Hajun gave Mary a weird look but quickly fixed his expression. He also flexed his quadriceps to prevent his legs from trembling, an action they automatically took upon hearing Mary’s voice. Kim Hajun cleared his throat and made eye contact with Mary before lowering his gaze, cold sweat forming on his back. “We, we’re good now, right?” he asked, staring at Mary’s feet.
Mary squinted at Kim Hajun. “You killed my subordinate,” she said and rested her palm on the hilt of her sword. “You’re alive and unharmed. What do you think?”
Kim Hajun flinched. The only reason he was unharmed was because Vur had kept healing him when he was on the brink of death after Mary’s beating, which would begin anew after he had fully recovered. “Are you going to beat me again?”
“If you keep acting like you’re alive around me, I will.”
Kim Hajun shut his mouth and retreated by a few steps, letting Mary stand next to Tafel. The demon shook her head upon seeing the sight but didn’t say anything. Tafel glanced around one more time before marching ahead, out of the tunnel and into the third floor’s plaza. “How did you pass this floor?” Tafel asked Mary. “Did you learn a craft?”
“Is that how you’re supposed to pass?” Mary asked, raising an eyebrow. “Jackal gave me some money and said I’d pass the floor once I spent it all, so I bought food.”
“Oh,” Tafel said and nodded. “You passed the same way as Vur.”
“I did it first, so he copied me,” Mary said and crossed her arms over her chest, the metal from her armor squeaking as they scraped together.
“Yep, you sure did,” Tafel said, her voice monotonous. “Are you going with me to the smithery? All I’m going to do is work on controlling my flames while I’m there.” The demon raised her head and glanced around at the various holographic tools being projected over the buildings. Her eyes lit up. “Why don’t you go to the woodshop? The staves you made were really impressive.”
Mary turned her head to follow Tafel’s gaze. The demon was looking at a building with a chisel and handsaw projected on its roof. Mary bent her right arm and rubbed her chin. “Does Vur still use the staff I made him?”
Tafel scratched her head. Vur had used the staff Mary had given him … once or twice. “He likes fighting as a dragon, so the staff you made him is a bit too small….”
“So, he doesn’t use it?” Mary asked, her eyes glistening as her lips trembled.
“No, no, he does, just not when he’s a dragon,” Tafel said and made a mental note to herself to tell Vur to use the combination staff Mary had gifted him in the red-headed woman’s presence. “Stop looking at me like that.”
Kim Hajun furrowed his brow. Although he couldn’t see Mary’s expression, he still sensed a mismatch between the Mary that had nearly killed him thirty times over and the current Mary who seemed to be seeking Tafel’s approval. If he were braver, he’d take advantage of her weak personality to manipulate her into action. It was a shame his courage leaked out of him every time he met Mary’s gaze.
***
Magnus took in a deep breath. Despite being completely submerged within a pool of green liquid, he could still breathe just fine. The Flame Lord sat up, green rivulets running down his torso, which was no longer battered and bruised. Magnus climbed out of the crevice in the large branch where he had been laying in the pool of healing sap. Healing sap recovered someone’s health slower than recovery magic, but it had the added benefit of restoring the user to their optimal state.
Magnus dried himself off and put on his clothes. He went to the wooden tablet, which was positioned next to the pool of sap, and pressed his root bracelet against it. Amber light filled his vision, and when he could see again, he was back in his residence. Magnus furrowed his brow, and he clenched his hands into fists. It was his residence, but for some reason, two other lords were there. “What are you doing here?” the Flame Lord asked Jasmine and Ashley. Behind the two women, there was a person, Magnus’ right-hand man, squatting in the corner of the room, facing the wall. Judging by the lumps on the subordinate’s head, it seemed like violence had befallen him.
“Vur Besteck sent us,” Jasmine said and beamed at Magnus. “Hand over all of your guild’s information. I think you know what’ll happen if you refuse. It’ll end in more than just a broken back.”
Magnus’ eye twitched. The pain of having a dragon stomp on him was still quite vivid in his mind. Just thinking about it made him want to sweat. He scratched at his neck and glared at the Wind Lord. “You wouldn’t help the other lords fight a dragon, and now you’re kicking me when I’m down. Are you really on our side?”
“Sides?” Jasmine asked, her face splitting as she grinned. “What sides? We’re all lords of the tower here. There’s no need to pretend we’re anything more than individuals seeking the greatest benefits for ourselves.” She held out her left hand. “Hand over your guild’s database, or I’ll tell Vur a whole bunch of lies that’ll make him angry enough to turn you into dust.”
Magnus turned his head towards Ashley. “You’re working for her?”
“I’m working with her, for Vur Besteck,” the Light Lord said. Her root bracelet flashed amber, and a bazooka appeared in her right hand with its body resting on her shoulder, its front sight aimed at Magnus’ torso. “Are you complying or not?”
A bitter expression appeared on the Flame Lord’s face as he held out his left hand and connected his root bracelet with Jasmine’s. “By any chance…, is Vur Besteck still looking for lackeys? I’d like to join.”