Ascension Chronicle: The Tower Of Calamity

 Liam and Clara stood at the feet of a staircase quite unlike any other. This one ascended, twisting in spiral fashion, instead of descending as the others did, with steps made from a shiny polished obsidian. The air stood very dense and heavy, almost choking one in every inhalation drawn.He gave a sideways glance at Clara, who seemed to be preparing to sling her bow over that shoulder and put her hand on her hip. Beneath the veneer of calm, though, he could tell she had half an ounce of hesitance before she placed the first footfall onto the step."Are you alright?" Liam inquired softly."I'm fine," she said curtly but evenly. "Let's move."They climbed in silence, their footfalls echoing ominously through the enclosed space. It was an endless stair and after what seemed like hours of climbing, they came to a door, massive, of hollow silver, engraved with impossible-looking mazes, twisting and turning into infinity, and populated with tiny figures trapped within its walls.He touched the door. It had a cold feel to it, too cold even, and the carvings seemed to move under his finger."I have a bad feeling about this," he muttered."Just open it," Clara said, her bow already drawn.Taking a deep breath, Liam pushed the door open. It creaked on its heavy hinges and swallowed him up into the visible distance of an endless maze that spread with smooth dark stone walls, etched lightly with glowing runes. There was a stench of damp earth and something acrid, like sulfur, thickening the air."Wonderful," Liam said, his tone as dripping with sarcasm as ever. "A maze. Because that really is what we needed."Clara glared back at him. "Focus," she commanded. "There is no telling what lies within here."They stepped into the room, the door slammed off its hinges, and the echo of the sound bounced off the interior walls. The voice of the tower echoed in their minds yet again."Trial of the Echoing Labyrinth. Find the core. Beware the watchers.""Watchers?" Liam asked, tightly grasping at his dagger.Clara said nothing. Her keen eyes were now already darting about shadow to shadow, scanning their surroundings.The silence was unnaturally deep as they trekked further; only their footsteps padded through it, followed by the near inaudible hum of the runes on the walls. Every bend in the roads opened onto another corridor, which gleamed but did not help one path stand out from the other ones.After having walked for several minutes, they arrived at a bifurcation in the path."Which direction?" Liam wanted to know.Clara pursed her lips; she was staring at the writings inscribed on the walls. "These markings... They're different."Liam squinted hard at the glowing symbols. "Different? How?""A pattern is forming," said Clara, trailing her fingers along the wall. "If we follow it in the right succession, it may well lead us to the core.""What would happen if we do not follow the right issue?"Clara's silence was more gnomic than her answer. The creaking set at the jaw did the needful too.They took the left route; Clara taking the lead, Liam was never far from her. There was some suspense in the atmosphere, with even the shadows seemingly shifting and moving at the edges of their vision.As they rounded another corner, a low guttural growl echoed through the corridors. Liam was frozen, gripping harder on his dagger."What was that?" he whispered.Clara did not respond. She raised her bow, her body tensed and poised. The growl got louder, coupled with heavy footsteps.A figure emerged from the darkness; it stood as tall as a house and was a grotesque mass of stone and flesh. Twin glowing eyes snapped at them, and its mouth opened into a twisted grin, revealing jagged teeth in dozens."Watcher." Clara spoke barely above a whisper.It lunged at them with horrifying speed for such a massive thing. An arrow struck it in the chest as Clara fired it, but it barely flinched. Liam ducked below a swipe of its huge claw, his heart pounding."Clara!" he shouted. "What's the plan?""Keep it distracted!" she responded, releasing another arrow."Great plan!"Liam did another dodge, the claws raking against the stone wall, producing a deafening screech. He slashed at its leg with his dagger, but it barely penetrated the hide thicker than a tree.Clara fired one last arrow, aiming this time for the creature's glowing eyes. The arrow struck home, making the creature give a deafening roar and stumble backward."Now!" Clara shouted. "Run!"Liam ran down the long corridor straight away, with Clara not so far behind. The monster gave an almost primal roar and thunderous footfalls soon started breaking the ground in pursuit.Corner after corner they hung around in the twisting and shifty maze. The runes on the walls began pulsing, faster now, their light glimmering even brighter."There!" said Clara, pointing ahead.In the middle of a small chamber hovered what could be called a large glowing orb. Its light extended long, stretching shadows across the walls. The core.They made a run for it, but the watcher was closing in fast, guttural growls echoing through the corridors. Clara turned, drew an arrow, and placed a swift flurry of arrows to slow."Liam, go!" she cried.Liam reached the orb and stopped short again. It pulsed with energy; its surface swirled with colors beyond imagining."What do I do?" he shouted."Touch it!" Clara yelled, dodging a swipe from the watcher.Liam reached out, hands shaking. The moment his fingers made contact with the orb, an energy surge shot through his body. The labyrinth shook, and blinding light filled the chamber.When the light faded, the watcher was gone, and the labyrinth's walls had shifted once more. A new doorway had emerged, its golden glowing frame welcoming them.Clara lowered her bow, taking deep heaving breaths. "Let's get out of here."Liam nodded, still feeling the orb's energy coursing within him. They stepped together through the doorway and away from the Echoing Labyrinth.Climbing to the next floor, Liam felt something in him that seemed to indicate the trials in the tower were far more than just tests of strength-the stakes seemed higher with each challenge.To Be Continued....