“Oh it's you,” said Herbert Meadows curtly. He looked every bit the distinguished trader, even having premature graying hair. Few had ever seen him look so displeased even when he had completed a poor trade. “When the guards told me they let a VIP into the store early, I thought it was actually somebody who's going to buy something.”

“Don't be like that Herb,” said Davies. “I know you're angry but keep in mind who you're truly angry with. I know if you think about it for a minute you'll realize it's not me.”

“No it's not you; it's her,” said the trader pointing to Joanne.

“Again, I think if you calm down you'll realize that's not true. I can understand that you didn't want Miki to climb a Tower, but don’t blame his decision on others.”

“I never cared if my Miki climbed the Tower. He is an adult and can choose to do as he wishes. I care why he thought it was necessary. Had he decided to climb the Tower on his own, that would have been fine. Instead your harlot of a daughter tricked him into thinking it was necessary.”

“That's uncalled for,” said Davies with anger bleeding into his voice. “You can't blame my daughter for what your son did. And you definitely can't impune her honor.”

“What honor? I've known for some time that she's been sleeping around with other men while dating my boy. At first I didn't care as I thought she was just going to be a passing fancy, but when he announced that he was going to climb a Tower to be able to purpose I realized the truth. She had no desire to marry him and was using the Tower climb as an excuse to break off the engagement. To stop him from making a foolish choice I presented him with the facts and evidence of her unfaithfulness, including the names of several men that she slept with this past couple months. Instead of listening to reason and his family, he said I was just trying to dissuade him from climbing the Tower.”

“Herb, I understand you are upset but if you continue to insult my daughter I will be forced to take action.” Davies stood straighter and put his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Dad, it's all true,” said Joanne, cutting into the conversation. This was all her fault and she knew that Miki’s father had no ability to stop her father if he attacked. “I have not exactly been faithful to Miki during our entire relationship and I tricked him into thinking that he had to go into the Tower in order to propose to me.”

“Why would he think he needs to climb the Tower in order to marry you?” Davies asked, confused.

“You have mentioned that climbing the Tower is the best way to be viewed as worthwhile several times when we were around him,” said Joanne.

“I was saying that for John’s benefit. The boy is always so concerned about being a failure in others eyes. I was just pointing out that if he climbed the Tower he would never have to worry about others questioning his worth. Why would Miki think he is not worthwhile? He has great self confidence and comes from the Meadow’s family which are the most successful traders in Tower City.”

“Since you mentioned it so often, I may have convinced him that you would not let me marry anyone who had not climbed the Tower.”

“That is bullshit. What say do I have in who you marry? Furthermore, why would I care if your spouse climbed the Tower? I only care that you find someone who can love and support you.”

“I know that. And you know that. But Miki does not.”

“Then why did you want him to climb the Tower?” asked Davies.

“She didn’t want him to climb the Tower,” said Herbert. “She wanted to find a way to break up with him without it being her fault. If he did not climb the Tower she would end it when she found a Tower climber she wanted to marry.”

“And if he did climb the Tower?” asked Davies.

“I told him that I did not want him to climb the Tower and that I would consider our relationship over if he entered the Tower,” said Joanne. “I just didn’t expect…” Joanne paused as she looked to her father sheepishly.

“What am I missing?” asked Herbert. “What don’t I know? You did not come here to argue about Joanne and my reports tell me that she would never be so upset about her promiscuity being discovered.”

Joanne looked to her father once more, this time her expression was more like that of a kicked puppy.

“As I am sure you are aware, both Miki and John entered the Tower yesterday,” said Davies. “What you likely don’t know is that one of them elected to complete the Hard Difficulty.”

There was a long pause as Herbert looked between the father and daughter.

“And…”

“And we are not certain who selected the Hard Difficulty,” said Davies. He was completely confused by the lack of reaction. Herbert had raised both John and Miki. Likely he viewed both of them as his sons. How could he not be concerned?

“It was Miki,” a voice chimed in from a different room.

“Emily, how many times have I told you that eavesdropping is a deplorable habit,” said another female voice.

“Mom, you only mentioned it being bad when you get caught,” answered the first voice smuggly.

“You both might as well join us instead of shouting from the other room,” said Herbert. Two women walked in from the back room. They so closely resemble each other that it was clear they were mother and daughter. “Davies I am not sure if you have met my wife Kat, and daughter Emily.”

“It’s a pleasure. Miss Emily, did Miki tell you he was going to choose the Hard Difficulty?” asked Davies, trying to move on the conversation.

“No but it is obvious that John is too much of a coward to select anything other than Easy. If I had to guess, the two idiots were planning on selecting the Hard Difficulty together for some reason and John chickened out at the last second.”

“I thought you liked John?” asked Joanne.

“John is my brother in all but blood,” said Emily with such vitriol that even Davies took a step back. “That does not change the fact that he is a coward. It is better that he chose the Easy Difficulty anyway; he would have just joined the millions of others who have died in the Tower otherwise.”

“You all do realize that means Miki is in the Hard Difficulty,” cut in Davies. “I feel like it shouldn’t have to be said, but no one completes the Hard Difficulty.”

“No one has completed it yet,” said Kat emphasizing the last word. “If anyone could complete the Hard Difficulty it would be my son.”

“I don’t want to undermine your confidence, but are you prepared for the possibility that he won’t be returning home?” asked Davies trying to get them to understand the seriousness of the situation.

“Are you prepared for when he completes the Hard Difficulty?” asked Herbert. “It seems that you fail to properly understand my boy. Let me ask you this: in the academy did he ever once fail any challenge you put in front of him?”

“No but…”

“Was there any record that he failed to beat?” asked Herbert.

“No but…”

“Was he slow to learn any information that you taught him?”

“I am not saying that he is not a smart and capable man,” said Davies. “But that Tower requires the type of intuitive logic that we all know he lacks.”

“What he lacks in common sense he makes up for in all other areas,” said Kat. “If you have given him the tools needed, then he will use those tools in ways that could never be imagined.”

“Are you all that confident in him?” asked Davies. “Will you not heed my warning?”

“Will you not heed my words?” asked Herbert in return. “Have you considered what will happen when he returns? No one has ever completed the Hard Difficulty. I have contacts far and wide and none of the Towers across Earth have ever had a climber complete the Hard Difficulty. I know the true difference between someone who completes the Easy and Medium Difficulties, not the lies you tell others. How great of a difference will it be between someone who completes the Hard Difficulty.”

“What are you saying?” asked Davies for the first time really considering the issue.

“I am saying that when he returns the world as we know it will change. It likely won’t be as great as when the Towers appeared and all the upheaval that happened in those first few years, but things will be different. Who truly knows what powers and abilities someone who completes the Hard Difficulty will acquire.”

Davies stood in silence for a long time as he mulled over Herbert's words. Clearly the trader had a good information network if he knew the true capabilities of a climber who had completed the Medium Difficulty. There were ten climbers alive in Tower City that had completed the Medium Difficulty and all had swore to keep their true powers hidden. He even hid his powers at the Academy and only fought with a portion of his strength. How much greater would Miki’s powers be when he completed the challenge. If he completed the challenge.

“Do you really think he can do it?” asked Davies trying to keep the fear out of his voice. “Can he really beat the Hard Difficulty?”

“Yes,” said Miki’s parents in unison.

“Absolutely,” said Emily half a second later before looking over to Joanne. “If he can avoid getting distracted by a woman.”