A modest sphere of flame in Kurt's hand lights the way as we continue down the glass girl's tunnel. Kurt and I agreed to call her "Sandra" going forward. I guess he likes puns. Kurt's using his other hand to shoot these weird gelatinous looking flames into the tunnel walls every forty paces or so, interestingly enough they stay at the point of their initial impact and give off a faint glow.

"Haven't seen that before, new trick of yours?"

Kurt chuckles as he casts another orb into the ceiling up ahead. "Oh yeah this is brand new, Tyson mentioned my shaping skills were pretty good when we became buds, I thought I'd look into working with that instead of just... ya know, blasting stuff. For now I'm calling it Glow Goop!"

He turns around looking for approval, I don't even attempt to fake a smile.

"Not a winner huh? How about Blob Blaze?"

I sigh and shake my head.

He shoots another one up ahead before turning around again in disbelief, "Listen I thought those were pretty fun names, catchy too. But I don't expect you to have a sense of style wearing a tie with a short sleeve. Pft."

"No need to take it so personal Kurt, I'm doing you a favor. If something like it hasn't been catalogued yet you could be on the verge of getting your own utility spell in the books. Being that all it requires is some shaping skill and fire attunement, it could be a household art in no time. You'd get a lot of credit for it and that's great, but if it's got a goofy ass name that's all anyone's gonna remember you for. It should be easy to come up with something better than damn Glow Goop."

He rolls his eyes and turns back around, "Yeah sure, you got any ideas brainiac?"

I stroke my chin for a few seconds as we continue down further, It hits me as I see him throw one final flame ahead that illuminates the wall ending our path. "Uhh, Stickfire?"

Kurt looks the wall up and down before exclaiming, "Well damn!"

"I know right? Took us long enough to get here."

"No bro, Stickfire! That's pretty good!"

I begin to examine the rune work on the walls, "It's all yours, champ."

"Thanks, so what're we looking at here?" He questioned while wiping a bit of sweat off of his brow, recycling it to slick back his hair. " She obviously drilled to this point to bust inside here, but there isn't even a scratch on the wall."

I pull out my standard caster and shoot at the center of the rune, then begin concentrating to feel the distance between the marker I just set and the marker I set this morning before the rally, at the entrance of Tinworth Terrace on the west end of town. " It didn't seem like we had gone that far on the way in but... looks like we're roughly 40 to 45 meters beneath the surface of the city."

Kurt looks back at his handiwork lighting the way back up the tunnel, he lets out an exasperated sigh before squatting back down. " Looks like we're in for a hike getting back up, I can't even see any of the light from the entrance... did the air just get thinner in here?" He pulls at the collar of his shirt.

"Don't get all worked up now, we're only getting started today. I'll send for Alice, just sit tight." As I finish reassuring Kurt I pull out my sending switch and let Alice know I need a lift.

A wave of relief goes over Kurt's face before he breaks out into a dopey grin, "That's why you're the man with the plan. I always knew we'd make a great team, Thompson!"

"Yeah sure man." As soon as I reply I feel a mental impulse from Alice saying she'll be with me in a minute. As annoying and clingy she's been with me since we were kids, I know I can always count on her when I need her most.

As I finish that thought I look up and my eyes meet Kurt's grin that's gone from dorky to devilish. "From that smile you've got I can tell your main squeeze is on the way." I roll my eyes. " By the way you didn't fully answer my question, what was the point of us making our way down here?"

Well, honestly, we didn't learn a whole lot, more like just confirmed a suspicion I already had, but I didn't really feel like getting into too much detail with Kurt. He's useful in a pinch but he really drains my social battery. I decide to keep it short.

"They're trying to gain access to Tinworth Tower, specifically something at this depth. I don't know anyone with the firepower to penetrate through the perimeter of this place. So, the direct approach isn't an option."

Kurt scratches his head, " Don't tower's usual go... you know like, up? To tower over things?"

"Usually yeah, if it's meant to keep watch or show off fortification for a place. The idea behind this place is basically a super-basement to keep things locked up. We're gonna bust in and figure out what those creeps we're trying to get their hands on."

Kurt snaps his fingers, " Alriiiiight ancient secrets and nerd tech! Sounds like a it can be useful if we strike gold in the joint."

"Exactly. I'm sure that's what they were thinking."

Dark green magis begins to crackle and form an oval shape in side of the tunnel, Alice stands on the other side using both hands to maintain the path, with Alina standing behind her using wind to levitate a tea set while waving at us.

"Finally found you guys! This is a lot harder to do over long distances, hurry up and cross over."

I pass through the path she made while Kurt dismisses his stickfire in an effort to recoup some of his spent magis before following behind me.Alina sets the tea on the coffee table as Kurt and I settle into seats back at Traver's Manor.

"So, what'd you guys find?" She sips seeming to be in better spirits since this morning.

"Long story short we're going to Tinworth Tower, and I think we'll need a team for it. I haven't been to the terrace since I was a kid. I don't know what kind of freaked up stuff might be in there, so we'll have to cover our bases."

Alina chimes in, "I could probably point you to some friends of mine. Usually, I wouldn't miss a chance to take a look at some crafts from the Tinworths, but I really need to keep practicing, and I'm not sure wind is going to be very effective against any constructs that still guard the area."

I nod to Alina, "I appreciate it, anyone who has you to vouch for them should be fine. Alice, you coming?"

She makes an X shape with her arms, "Sorry! As much as I'd love to spelunk with a hunk, I've got some things I have to help my dad with. Birthrights and such."

I ignored the hunk comment and made for the door. "Right. You coming Kurt? I gotta get my kit together and set all of my runes for tomorrow."

I turn around to see Kurt with his eyes fixed on Alina, who wore an inquisitive expression as she stared back at him sipping her tea. He scratched his head and stammered, "I uh... I'll see you in the morning. I got something I gotta take care of."

I exchange glances with Alice, she doesn't know what this is about either. I don't really have any time for melodrama, so I head out. "Yeah sure, Alina, make sure to tell your friends we'll be starting at the terrace at 10. They won't be able to get in if they're late, and I'm not waiting for anyone."

"They'll be there Wyatt. Good luck!"

* * *

I sauntered my way to the front gates of Tinworth Terrace the next morning with a know in my stomach. It’s the first time in a while where I actually had time to plan my load out before going out for a mission, but all the same, I can’t help but feel like there wasn’t enough I could do to prepare for what waited for us in the tower. To my surprise, as the copper gates came into view, I see that Kurt actually beat me here, albeit looking a little worse for wear. Nearby was a girl I’ve seen around the halls before at school, she was one of those girls that obsessed over animals. I’ve never seen her in class without some pup in her pack, or some bird perched on her arm whenever she was in the courtyard. Even know she had been playing fetch with some mutt while I approached.

“Yo, Thompson.” Kurt gives a nod and a half-hearted smile. “You look terrible.”

“Good morning kettle, I wasn’t able to sleep too much after I finished prepping. What’s your excuse? Don’t tell me you spent your afternoon letting Ferreri rough you up.”

He scratched his head and avoided eye contact. “Stuff it. When are we getting started?”

“Like I said , I’m starting at 10. Whoever’s here by then is coming with. So we got about five minutes left for however many more of Alina’s friends feel like pitching in. Speaking of which, have you talked to her yet?” I motion over to dog-girl.

“Oh yeah, Carla’s cool. She got here before I did, she says this is usually the time she takes Luchi out. I think she breeds ‘em, the big fella looks like it’s the same breed as the one she’s always carrying around.”

“Oh no, that’s Luchi too actually!”

A falcon spoke with cheerful tune from atop the gate while looking down at us. Kurt and I looked at each other then looked back at the bird he got ahold of himself first. “Oh well uh, thanks for the info there uh… Mr?”

“That’s my buddy Pele, beautiful ain’t she?” The same voice chimes in from right behind us we whip around to see Carla beaming at us with her hand stuck out towards me. “Wyatt Thompson! I’m Carla Cane! It’s a pleasure to officially make your acquaintance this mornin’.”

I shake her handas I recover from the whiplash. “ Likewise. Say Carla, did Alina tell you what we have goin on her today?”

She continues to smile while she shakes her head. “Naw, not the full details. She did tell me that all you need me to do is watch your back while you make your way down to the bottom of the tower. Sound’s easy enough to me, plus I get to have me a free tour of one of the great houses!”

“Well, I guess that’s the gist of it. We’re gonna be heading inside soon if that’s okay.”

“Actually, can we take a spell and hold on a second? You can start openin’ the gate up if you want but Lora took too long gettin’ ready and I got Luchi runnin’ her this way right now. Lora might get mad but I’ gonna have Luchi double-time it.” She turns around and flips her dark hair out of her face before putting a couple of fingers in her mouse and letting out an ear-splitting whistle that echoed out to the horizon.

“Jeez Carl! Give us a damn signal before you bust our eardrums like that.” Kurt spoke for the both of us with his hands over his ears while teary eyed.

“Tobias, baby you can have whatever you want except for a another chance to call me that again. Understand?”

Kurt gulps audibly, and meanwhile I’m pretty sure I can see a vein convulsing near her temple. Thankfully before the silence gets too awkward, a hound cloaked with malachite tinged magis comes barreling towards us leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. It has a passenger who is fully cloaked and holding on for dear life using reins composed of magis. It stops 10 feet short of us with a powerslide that would have had Tyson starstruck.

“Great job Luchi that’s my boy!” Carla ran up to the beast and starts nuzzling it and giving it pats. Luchi kicks off his patron, leaving them rolling on the pavement. After lying still in disbelief for a few moments, they pop up march over to her.

“Carla we talked about double time! Namely the fact that we do NOT do double time!” The disgruntled rider pulls back their hood as they get in Carla’s face. Carla remains oblivious as she continues to congratulate her pet. “Hey! Are you evening listening you fashion backwards zookeeper?”

Carla laughed and gave her a hug. “Well, good mornin’ Lorry it’s great to finally have you join us! We agreed double-time protocol is for emergencies. You were late. That’s all. Now come say hi before we get started, and don’t forget to thank my sweet boy Luchi for dragging your lazy bones over here.” She shoos her towards us, leading her to realize that she had us for an audience.

“Ahem!” She flourishes her fiery red hair and sends magis coursing through her cloak as she tears it off and throws it into the air, revealing an ornate outfit. A black crop top and pair of loose-fitting olive green joggers, each embroidered to integrate rune work within the stitching. She also war bangles and rings, with at least five dainty necklaces, each embedded with different precious stones. The final statement piece being a black and white pair of hi-top sneakers that reminded me of something Tyson would have worn. The whole thing was way too busy in my opinion.

“Velora Couture, the pleasure’s all yours boys.” She smirks striking a pose while Carla politely claps for her in the background. Kurt lets out a whistle, I turn around and start working on the gate.

“Wyatt Thompson, thanks for your help today.” I don’t bother to look back as I channel a steady flow of magis into the keyhole.

“Is there perhaps a trick to this? I’ve tried to gain entry to this area in a similar fashion but always received negative feedback, like my hand going numb.” Velora questioned looking over my shoulder.

A click reverberates for everyone to hear, and the gates slowly open themselves for our entry. “No trick, it’s all about who’s trying to get in. My folks were conscripted with the Tinworths generations ago, so I’m technically a branch member of their family. If my blood was closer to the main line’s It would’ve only taken an instant to open this thing.”

“Didn’t know I was palling around with royalty all this time, Thompson.” Kurt chuckles as we begin to walk down the cobblestone road leading into the chateau behind the gates. The edges of the path were garnished with old forgotten designs of clockwork golems, a trademark of the Tinworths and their craft. Most of which were anywhere between 7 and 10 feet tall, with variable skeletal structures depending on their main function. Hopefully I can come across some schematics while we make our way down to the bottom of this place and learn to make some of these myself.

I take a deep breath as we reach the front door of the chateau. Pele swoops down and rests on Luchi’s back. Velora, Kurt, and Carla are all looking at me, eager to get started. My fingers are already starting to feel stiff, I don’t know what’s ahead for us down here but I know it’s my responsibility to see what our enemies were trying to get their hands on, and maybe see if I can use it to shut them down.

Tyson’s gone, I can’t afford to screw up. If I don’t push forward, who will?

Once again I give the door some time to examine my magis, before pushing it open. I put on a brave face and stride my way through the foyer.

“Let’s get started.”