The last of my classmates approaches the exit. Turning around, he looks towards me with sullen eyes. His question, no doubt, the same as my own.

"Why me?"

Though, I suspect his concern is less, "why me?" And more, "why not him?"

No, I'm wrong again. From what I know of human nature, his thoughts are probably closer to, "why anyone at all?" A man can withstand all privations, so long as all others are equally suffering. Only when one is favoured above the other can they then loathe their sorry state. Should blessings rain down upon their head, they will feel themselves accursed if even one drop more should touch their neighbour.

Reluctance clear from his hesitation, the boy forces himself out of the hall.

'Why don't we sit?' Scraping two chairs clear from their desks, Professor Lucas points them towards each other and takes a seat. With an outstretched hand, he gestures for me to do the same. I comply.

'I watched you throughout the entrance exams, I have to say, you have me impressed.' Sitting stiff on his chair, the blue-haired man folds right leg above his left and leans forward.

'You know, in the history of this academy, the number of straggles to kill a Clansman can be counted on both hands. When narrowing it down to Mid-tier Clansman, you only need two fingers. Me, and now, you.' Letting his words linger in the air, Lucas stares straight in my eyes. Like a contest of wills, I hold his gaze. Breaking away, he softly laughs.

'You've got potential, kid. A lot of it. So much so, that you can't be so dense as to not realise the kind of shitstorm you've brewed up for yourself. The Yung Clan casts a wide shadow. Wide enough to reach you even here, let alone where you're going.'

'And where am I going?' I ask.

'You're a smart kid, don't act like you haven't figured it out.'

The Tower…

'Sooner or later all lower-set students head inside the Tower. Hell, doing our grunt-work is half the reason the lower-set exists. Without taking on missions, not one of you has the hope of advancing. Someone needs to do our work. We can't force the upper-set to do it without risking the ire of some powerful players. So we get you to do it. Or maybe, you can say it's incentivised.'

So, it's really like that? We're little more than bait…

As academy students, we're provisional escalades, licenced to ascend the nearby Tower. The meagre skills of a lower-set student can make little difference, but by contracting with mercenaries and guilds, we can use our allowance to take them into the Tower. We gain protection, they gain opportunities, and the academy gains free labour. In a way, everybody wins.

Well…

Provided everybody survives.

Even the smallest floor of an Earth-bound Tower is larger than half the continent of Aspire. Sapphire Academy is no small force, the campus alone spans the width of a city, but with all their resources, they could only occupy a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a single Tower. Establishing relative safety around their base camps is of little comfort when I consider the vast sprawling lands infested with danger.

'People like us need to embrace greater risks. We can either soar through the clouds or crash down into the grave, forgotten by time. I believe you already know that.'

'But?' I ask.

'But, the target on your back carries much greater risks than even you can appreciate. The Yung Clan is subordinate to the Xander Clan.'

Molten blood pumps through my veins at his words. Though he tells me nothing new, even now, the name of those bastards that took everything from me inspires such an eruption. Harnessing my will, I steady my breath and unclench my fist.

'That's the right response, kid, anger won't change a thing. Power will. I'm not telling you not to take risks, just that you best prepare yourself for when you do. To that end, take this.'

Reaching into his pocket, Lucas removes a metal ring. Embedded in the top, a small black stone. No, green. A green so dark its vibrance is near imperceptible.

A warp stone.

'Why are you giving this to me?'

'Isn't it obvious? When they come for you, and as soon as you step foot in that Tower, they will come for you, This gives you more options. It can only take you a few miles from where you are, and where you end up can't be specified, but in a pinch, it might just give you the time to survive. Or maybe it'll land you in greater danger. If that's the case, you can only blame your luck.

'No, what I mean is why are you helping me at all.'

'I have my reasons and you need the help. What difference does it make why I'm doing it. Maybe, I'm just bored, what does it matter as long as we both reap some benefit? Taking the ring, I place it into my pocket. 'Wise move, kid, Walking around with that on your finger would attract unwanted attention. You have enough of that to begin with.'

Uncrossing his legs, Lucas leans back in his chair, assuming a more relaxed pose.

'It isn't just the Yung Clan you need to worry about. This academy's Tower is rich in resources and we can only guard so much of it. Naturally, outside our camps, the place is teeming with hostiles. With so many access points available to those who can use them, there is no shortage of Tower jumpers. Mercenaries, guilds, other academy's students, none of whom would hesitate even for a moment to take what you have and leave you dead in some hole.

'Beyond that, our Academy only has a small presence on the first three floors of the Tower. While your licence allows you to climb as high as the Tower will let you, there are no safety nets if you climb past floor three.'

'There are monsters you can't imagine, passed there, Not all of them, Tension Beasts. Other than the Tower's native inhabitants, there have even been sightings of mavericks. Embrace risk, but don't be stupid. It would take an army to transverse the floors above. The first three floors of the Tower are large enough to spend a lifetime exploring, there's no need to go further.'

Standing, Lucas makes his way towards the exit. He pauses at the door and turns his head so I can see the side of his face.

'I look forward to seeing everything you can achieve. Rise above your lot in life, you'll make your lost ones proud. Both your mother and…' Pausing, his lips tug to a smile.

'Father.'

Eyes go wide in shock. Mouth opens to speak, but no words come out. Not a sound leaves my throat, save, the soft puff of thoughts unspoken. My mind races with the possibilities as panic flares up. Calming my thoughts, I force myself to think clearly.

Is it a coincidence? No, but how could it not be? How could he possibly know that man?

Lucas XI...

What do you know?

Without another word, Lucas walks through the door, and again I'm alone. Leaving myself, I turn my mind to more pressing matters.

Whoever he is, Lucas is right. The risk to my life isn't something I can ignore, but neither can I avoid all risks. At rank-three, grade-two, I'm a step ahead of the upper-set class for now, but it won't take them long to leave me in the dust should I become complacent. The support the academy provides sets out their path to advancing into the fourth rank. Conversely, if I ride the tide without changing course, I'd be lucky if by the end of six years I increase by a single grade.

I can't avoid taking risks. I don't have that luxury. As I am right now, ascending a Tower alone would mean death. I can't rely on mercenaries or guilds for support, the bounty they'd reap on my head is enough to turn even good men dark, how much more, killers and thieves? If it weren't my own neck, for the treasures it's worth, I would slit my own throat and repent a rich man.

If I can't go alone, I'll need people I can trust. People I can control. Smiling to myself, I make my way to the lower-set dining hall.

***

The scraping and ringing of knives and forks, and plates, and bowls, create a chorus of feasting. The scents of grilled meats, rice and stew waft in the air enticing my taste buds. The hall, divided into sections, hosts tables and chairs in rows occupying the centre of the space. Looking at the front row, the lower-set sixth-year students pick at their lunch. Eyes downcast, the few that are gathered sit in haunted silence. Vitality depressed, beyond their lethargic consumption of food nothing else denotes the persistence of life.

Each row prior, occupied by slightly more youths, my eyes wander to the back, where my classmates are seated. Humming with a vigour, incomparable to our seniors, the sound of my peers discussing today's lecture reaches my ears.

Beyond the last row, loose chairs are lined up, forming a barrier between the lower-set groups and the servant's table. Beyond the blockage, I catch sight of who I'm looking for.

Rachel.

Reaching the front of the hall, I scan the day's lunch items. Though unacceptable to "my betters", the collection of meats, fish, curries, and freshly baked bread of different kinds, causes my mouth to water.

In my days spent with Father, it was a happy day when we ate anything other than the smoke cooked meats of whatever we could catch and preserve. Bread, curries, and meats that weren't dried have always been a luxury we could rarely afford.

'What will it be, my Lord?' A lady asks, behind a counter. Pointing at an assortment of food, I place a plate on a tray. With my selection made, I walk across the dining room. As I approach my class, the bespectacled girl sitting at the end of a table scooches down, making space for my arrival.

I keep walking.

Now at the barricade, I slide a chair out of place and pass into the servant's area. Attracting all eyes, I find where Rachel is eating and sit down. In an instant, the table clears. The servants around lift their plates and stand up. Bowing low, they utter their apologies at impudence they show in deigning my eyes with their lowly presence. Rachel moves to do the same. I catch her arm and pull her back to her seat.

'My lord,' she says, bowing her head low with no hint of her usual pretence. 'I would not dare to presume myself worthy of your presence.' Practically screaming the words, she makes to escape once more. Abandoning her meal, she once again stands. I hold her hand back.

'Meet me in my chambers in an hour', I say loud enough for everyone to hear. For a student of Sapphire, to eat with a servant is a scandal neither party could live down. To bed a servant, however, is a matter of course. In the week since I enrolled, many young women and even young boys had been shamed by the lustful exuberance of the new students. If people think that's what this is, beyond pitying looks, no troubles should befall this young maid...

Not that it matters, I force myself to think.

What does it matter if her life is ruined? It's my interests that I protect. Whether she lives or she dies is a question of for how long she remains useful to me. Friends, Family, loved ones. What good are they when they always leave?

They always leave me. They leave me alone.

Alone...

I'll always be alone.

Releasing my grip, I let Rachel go. Head touching floor, she prostrates herself and leaves my line of sight.

Once again, I'm alone.