The work of the shardflies was visible at first glance. A bit too eager to please, they didn’t just create a series of footholds, but carved a ladder on the side of the tower leading all the way up to the top. As Vihrogon liked to joke, Dallion had that effect on beings. Naturally, there were a few additional decorations that could be described as more artistic, almost modernist. Dallion had no idea what they were supposed to represent, but had no doubt who had created them. Without muttering a word, he started the long climb up.

Even with combat splitting, every few floors he’d stop and look around in case some new starspawn creature emerged from somewhere. Thankfully, there was none. Furthermore, Gleam was certain to fly a few feet away from him, always protecting his back.

The top of the tower was exactly what Dallion imagined it would be: a rough layout of what the tower had been before it was destroyed. All that had been walls were less than a foot high, with nothing in-between. In a way, it reminded Dallion of the YouTube videos of ancient ruins he’d occasionally seen when trying to fall asleep. Somehow enough dirt had amassed during the years to allow a thin layer of plants to form. That was slightly confusing given the sand abundant in the area. If anything, Dallion would have expected that to have covered the floor.

First thing’s first, Dallion told himself and looked in all directions of the horizon.

There wasn’t much to be seen. If there were other towers in the canyon, they weren’t anywhere nearby. He did manage to spot a few bodies of water, though, glistening in the light of the Green and Red Moons. At the very least, water wasn’t going to be a problem, and if standard logic applied, there would be some food as well.

Rushing through sands and jungle might not be the best idea, Nil said cautiously.

“I know. That’s why I’ll leave it for morning.”

Oh? That’s a surprisingly sound decision. What’s the catch?

“Nil… I’ve been a hunter for quite a while. At some point, you should stop treating me as a sheltered freshling.”

You are you and no level or real-life experience could change that. You’ve dealt with a huge amount of your problems, but your nature is the same—the otherworldly nature that drives you forward even when you don’t want to.

“You’re saying I’m reckless because I’m an otherworlder? That’s a bit broad, even for you.”

I’m saying you’re curious because you’re a human from another world, Nil clarified. And so far, I haven’t been proved wrong. Or maybe you’ll prove me wrong now? After going to the fallen south on a hunch?

“That’s low,” Dallion grumbled. “You know I’ll explore what’s left of the tower. If I want to know what I’m facing, I should be prepared. You used to teach me that. In fact, what’s wrong with you? You’ve been jumpy ever since I got here. And don’t give me that “I’ll tell you when you’re ready for it” crap. I’m an initiate. It doesn’t work anymore.”

There is so much more you don’t know. Passing level forty might feel like you have all the answers, but you don’t. I’m just afraid for you.

“Why? Dallion snapped. “That’s what I can’t figure out!”

If you explore the tower, you’ll find out. And I fear you might wish you hadn’t.

The warning was worth some consideration, though at this point Dallion had already made up his mind. As everything else in this world, when a subject was avoided there always was a reason for it. However, the reason could only affect those who weren’t ready to hear it. Also, Dallion still couldn’t decide whether Nil actually knew something about this place or not.

Reading echoes as a bit more complicated, but Dallion had sensed no doubt or deception when Nil had claimed not to know about the south. At the same time, he knew details relating to it. Maybe he had read it in books, or received second-hand accounts, or even maybe he knew of elements of the south without realizing they were here. Whatever it was, both he and Dallion’s ancient guardians were reluctant to say anything specific.

Finding a way into the tower proved more difficult than originally expected. While there were indications of large stairwells, all the openings had long been filled with dust and dirt making them completely impassable. After spending twenty minutes walking about, Dallion decided it would be quicker to make his own entrance, and with some help from the shardflies, he did just that.

I can do that too, Nox said with a lazy yawn.

I know. That’s why I want to keep your claws sharp.

Heh, the crackling sounded amused. They’re always sharp.

In his mind, Dallion still saw the familiar as the small cub that could barely bite the tip of his fingers. The truth was that he actually was a vicious puma. What was more, if this place was as dangerous as it seemed so far, there would be a lot more chances of Nox to gain a level or two.

Drawing his harpsisword, Dallion split into a dozen instances and jumped to the floor below. The smell of rot kicked him in the nose the moment he landed. The air wasn’t exactly stale, but whatever wooden objects had been here had surrendered to slow decay, unlike the tower itself.

“Lux, light,” Dallion whispered.

Immediately, the kaleidervisto flew up to the level of his chest, then lit up, covering itself in blue flames. It wasn’t much, but more than enough for Dallion to see everything around. The room that he had entered was wide. At some point, that must have been furniture in this place, possibly even carpets, but now all that was left was a thick layer of dust and debris.

“Better stay up there, guys,” Dallion said to the shardflies.

Most of them moved higher up, except ruby, of course.

“Gleam, please tell her.”

The whip blade extended, moving, its tip stopping inches from the shardfly in question. With a grumble that only one who could understand their language could hear, the creature fluttered back out of the room.

Walking slowly, Dallion made his way to one of the three doorways in the room. The doors that had been there had long since vanished, leaving only bare stone behind.

“Nil, what are those?” Dallion asked, pointing at one of the many semi-spheres of glass on the upper part of the walls.

Difficult to say. I assume some type of light crystals. The dwarves developed the technology, but they weren’t the only ones using them. Some even modified the model.

“In what way?”

There’s a process to melt the crystal down, then pour it into any chosen shape. The Imperial house only knows the details, but they allow the creation of glowing statues. If you’re the emperor, glowing structures are also a possibility.

“I thought light crystals didn’t go out.”

Even they aren’t eternal, Nil sighed. Although, you’re right. They normally last a few millennia at least.

That meant that the tower had to be present during the age of dryads, possibly even the one before that. However, that made little sense. For there to have been a power here, some of the other races would have noticed. At the very least, it should have remained written down somewhere… unless the knowledge was erased.

The Eighth Moon, Dallion thought, then walked through the doorway. The kaleidervisto moved along, flashing propelling itself several feet at a time, making it seem as if it were teleporting.

Contrary to expectations, the next room didn’t turn out to be a corridor, but an even bigger chamber almost surrounding the first.

I really should take a crash course in architecture, Dallion thought.

There’s nothing stopping you, Nil said. There are several dozen scrolls on the subject in the ring library. Of course, it’s doubtful the knowledge will help you a lot.

“Why not?”

Do you know anyone else in the world who builds towers of this scale?

“What about the Academy?” Dallion instinctively asked. He had never seen the place, nor heard it described. Since it had mages, he had assumed all this time that it had to be a tower of sorts, probably as impressive as this one.

The Academy isn’t a tower, Nil almost snorted in laughter. Who in his right mind would want to live in a tower?

“There are three towers in my realm…” Dallion frowned.

It’s an arena, the echo continued. It’s said that in the past mages fought each other to determine their strength and rank. Now, though, the entire empty space was transformed into a giant library that is said to contain every known book in existence.

“That sounds a bit too much.” Not to mention that similar rumors circulated about the citadels of the order. So far Dallion hadn’t seen an actual citadel, but it was said that they held all books in existence as well, including those that ordinary people couldn’t read.

Of course, it is. It’s supposed to impress people. Bottom line, it wasn’t mages that built this tower.

“In that case, who did?”

Carefully, Dallion scraped part of the layer of dirt off the floor with his boot. There didn’t seem to be any mosaic beneath. That would have been too simple.

If this were an awakened realm, the first thing Dallion would do was to use his music skills to determine if there were any creatures left alive in the ruins. Unfortunately, the realm was completely empty.

For over an hour he went through chambers and corridors, each unique in its own way. Whoever had built this had meant it more than a collection of living spaces. As silly as it sounded, the closest thing Dallion could compare it to was a multi-story mall. He could imagine ballrooms, resting spaces, shops, entertainment areas. While it was difficult to tell for certain with empty spaces alone, Dallion could swear that several of the rooms were designed like movie theaters.

Four large stairwells led to the lower floor. They too were filled up with dirt from above, forcing Dallion to use the Nox dagger to cut his way down through the ceiling. The floor below was no different, although the smell of rot was noticeably stronger. Just as before, all the rooms were empty without a trace of anything inside.

The next two floors were pretty much the same, until finally Dallion reached a floor on which the stairwells were no longer filled with dirt. Good judgment made him split into twice as many instances before he ventured down. That was a good decision, since the moment he did, he was almost crushed by a strong sensation of voice coming from everywhere around.

Crap! Dallion drew his harpsisword, his instances splitting up in all directions.

Dallion expected to come face to face with a monster—a cutling or at the very least a pack of cracklings—but instead he found the room empty once more. Not only that, but the furniture that was absent on the floors above was everywhere around and in perfect conditions. Chairs, tables, finely crafted cabinets, even statues and paintings decorated the corridor, starting from the stairwell.

Nil, what the heck is that? Dallion asked, holding the harpsisword with both hands.

Every single piece of furniture was pitch black and emitting a single emotion: void.

I tried to warn you, dear boy, the echo said in regret. One single race has ever attempted to build towers to the Moons, a long, long time ago.

As Dallion stood still, reciting the names of the Moons for protection, Lux moved closer to one of the paintings. Blue light fell on the surface, making the black shapes obtain a bit of color. Something similar to a large family portrait emerged. However, there was one thing wrong about it: all the people in the portrait, from the children to the oldest adults, was depicted as having platinum blond hair.