Chapter 6: Whispers in the Tower
The further they ventured into the Tower of Disperse, the more unpredictable it became. The corridors twisted in ways that defied logic, opening into grand chambers or narrowing into claustrophobic tunnels. Azaymos, Rex, Nox, and the girl moved cautiously, the air thick with the unknown dangers that lurked ahead.
For now, the summoned girl remained quiet, her presence more of a shadow than a guide. Occasionally, she would flicker in and out of view, but each time they moved forward, she reappeared just behind them, calm and composed as ever.
Azaymos found himself glancing back at her more than once, half-expecting her to vanish altogether. She didn't offer any more explanations for her presence, nor did she seem bothered by their lack of questioning. In fact, her silence was almost... comforting.
"Not exactly the talkative type, huh?" Rex muttered as they turned into a wider chamber, his fiery eyes scanning the walls for any sign of a threat.
"Let her be," Azaymos replied quietly. "She's not causing any trouble. If she's here to help us, then that's enough for now."
Nox, walking ahead, turned slightly, her expression thoughtful. "There's something different about this part of the tower," she murmured. "The air feels heavier, like we've stepped into a place that's been waiting for us."
Azaymos nodded in agreement. The walls of this chamber were different from the ones they had passed earlier—etched with far more intricate runes and symbols that pulsed faintly. He could feel the energy thrumming beneath his feet, like the tower itself was awake and watching.
"This place is ancient," he whispered, running his hand along the wall. The runes reacted to his touch, glowing brighter for a brief moment. "The magic here is powerful... old."
The girl's voice suddenly cut through the silence. "This is a convergence point."
Azaymos, Rex, and Nox all turned to her at once. She stood just a few paces behind them, her eyes scanning the runes on the walls with an eerie calm. She didn't explain further, nor did she offer any more details.
"A convergence of what?" Nox asked, her tone curious but not pressing.
The girl glanced at her, then back at the runes. "Magic. Time. Power. All things come together here."
Rex raised an eyebrow. "And what's that supposed to mean for us?"
The girl didn't respond immediately, instead walking toward a section of the wall that glowed brighter than the rest. She raised a hand, placing it gently on the runes, and for a moment, they flared with a bright, almost blinding light. Then, as suddenly as they had brightened, they dimmed back to their faint glow.
"This place is where the tower's energies converge," the girl finally said, her voice soft but clear. "It's a place where you can harness what the tower holds."
Azaymos felt a chill run down his spine. The tower was already a mystery, but this revelation added a new layer to its complexity. A place where magic, time, and power converged? What exactly was the tower hiding?
"Can we use this power?" Nox asked, her hand hovering over the runes, though she didn't touch them.
The girl nodded. "If you know how to channel it, yes."
Azaymos stepped forward, his gaze locked on the runes. "And how do we channel it?"
The girl's lips twitched into a small smile, as if amused by the question. "That's for you to figure out."
Rex groaned. "Of course it is."
Azaymos, however, wasn't deterred. He could feel the power coursing beneath the surface, a pulsing energy waiting to be tapped into. "The runes," he murmured, looking at his own tattoos. "They react to the tower's magic. Maybe..."
Without waiting for further explanation, Azaymos placed his hand over the brightest section of the wall. Immediately, his tattoos flared to life, the runes on his skin glowing in sync with those on the wall. A surge of energy rushed through him, not painful, but overwhelming—like trying to hold onto a bolt of lightning.
His eyes widened as visions flashed before him. The tower, in all its vastness. The shifting rooms, the endless stairways. And at the center of it all, a pulsing core of light, far below, deep in the tower's depths.
"The core..." Azaymos whispered, his voice barely audible as the vision faded. "There's something at the center of the tower. A core of energy... or magic."
Nox and Rex exchanged glances. "Is that what we're after?" Nox asked, her voice filled with a mixture of awe and concern.
Azaymos released his hand from the wall, the glowing fading as he stepped back. "It could be. If we reach the core, maybe that's how we break the curse. Or find a way out."
Rex grinned. "Then we've got a goal. Sounds better than wandering around aimlessly."
Nox, however, was more cautious. "The core might not be the solution we hope for. It could be another trap, or something far worse."
Azaymos nodded. "I know. But it's the only lead we have."
As they stood in the chamber, the girl drifted back into the shadows, her presence barely noticeable once again. She didn't offer any more information, nor did she seem interested in their decision.
For now, they had a goal—reaching the core. But as they prepared to leave the chamber, Azaymos couldn't shake the feeling that the girl knew far more than she was letting on. She had shown them how to tap into the tower's power, but why? And what role did she truly play in their journey?
As they continued their path through the ever-shifting corridors of the tower, Azaymos resolved to remain vigilant. The answers would come in time, but for now, they needed to survive.
---
End of Chapter 6