The Tower of Terrible Ideas loomed on the horizon, a crooked structure that seemed to defy the laws of physics. Its base was made of mismatched stones, its middle was inexplicably shaped like a teapot, and its top resembled a melting ice cream cone.
"That... doesn't look structurally sound," Mika said, squinting at the leaning tower.
"Nothing we've encountered so far has been," Kazuya replied, sighing.
As they approached, a sign at the entrance read:
"Welcome to the Tower of Terrible Ideas! Abandon logic, all ye who enter!"
"Great. Sounds like another trap," Mika muttered.
Fergus, however, was already bounding ahead. "This is going to be fun!"
The First Floor: The Room of Regrets
The group stepped into the tower, where they were greeted by floating mirrors. Each mirror shimmered before projecting an image of a past mistake.
In one, Fergus was shown trying to train a squirrel to sword fight, only to have his pants stolen mid-lesson.
"That wasn't a mistake," Fergus said proudly. "That squirrel became a legend."
Mika's mirror showed her accidentally kicking a bucket of water over a royal guest during a formal banquet.
"That wasn't my fault," she grumbled. "The bucket was in the way."
Kazuya's mirror, however, was blank.
"Why isn't it showing anything?" Mika asked.
"I'm perfect," Kazuya said smugly.
The mirror responded by projecting an image of him falling face-first into mud during their last battle.
"Never mind," he muttered.
The Second Floor: The Bath of Poor Decisions
On the next floor, they found themselves in a luxurious bathhouse filled with steaming pools. A sign above the entrance read:
"Relaxation or Ruin? Choose your soak wisely."
"I'm not getting in there," Mika said immediately.
"Oh, come on," Lyria said, already slipping into one of the pools. "It's just water."
The others hesitated, but the warmth and inviting scent of the baths were too tempting to resist. Kazuya sank into a pool, letting out a sigh of relief.
"This isn't so bad," he said, leaning back.
But then the water began to shimmer, and strange sensations took over.
"Why do I feel... tingly?" Mika asked, her cheeks turning red.
The pools, as it turned out, were enchanted with a peculiar spell that amplified emotions. Laughter, embarrassment, and a bit of tension filled the room as everyone tried—and failed—to maintain composure.
Fergus, meanwhile, was having the time of his life, sliding from pool to pool like a carefree otter. "This is the best tower ever!"
Kazuya couldn't help but notice how the spell made everything feel... heightened. He quickly focused on the ceiling to avoid embarrassing himself further.
The Third Floor: The Wardrobe of Wacky Choices
After drying off (thanks to enchanted towels that insisted on tickling everyone), the group ascended to the next floor, where rows of bizarre outfits awaited them.
"To proceed, you must choose a new outfit," a booming voice announced.
Fergus immediately grabbed a sparkling cape covered in sequins. "How do I look?"
"Like a disco ball," Mika said, rolling her eyes.
Mika reluctantly chose a leather jacket that came with a pair of cat ears. "This is ridiculous," she muttered, but the faint blush on her cheeks suggested she didn't entirely hate it.
Kazuya, after much hesitation, ended up in a sleek black outfit that clung a little too well to his figure.
"Why is everything so... tight?" he asked, tugging at the fabric.
"For mobility!" Fergus said, striking a dramatic pose in his cape.
The Final Floor: The Room of Bad Ideas
At the top of the tower, they found a massive table covered in glowing objects, each one labeled with a terrible idea.
"Touch one to claim your prize," the voice instructed.
"What kind of ideas are we talking about?" Kazuya asked, inspecting the labels.
One item was labeled, "A Potion That Makes You Smarter, but Only for 30 Seconds." Another read, "A Sword That Talks Back."
"This one says, 'Eternal Beauty but Uncontrollable Hair Growth,'" Mika said, holding up a glittering comb.
Fergus grabbed a helmet labeled, "Invisibility, but Only While Dancing."
"This is amazing!" he said, donning the helmet and immediately breaking into an awkward jig.
"We're doomed," Mika muttered.
The Tower's Secret
After much deliberation—and some accidental chaos involving a self-propelling chair—they finally chose an object labeled "The Map of Questionable Directions."
As soon as Kazuya touched it, the tower began to rumble.
"Why does this always happen?!" Mika yelled as they scrambled for the exit.
The tower collapsed behind them in a shower of confetti and glitter, leaving them standing in a cloud of absurdity.
The map glowed brightly, revealing their next destination: "The Island of Awkward Truths."
"Do we have to go?" Mika asked, looking exhausted.
"Yes," Kazuya said, tucking the map away.
"Do we have time for a snack first?" Fergus asked, still wearing his sequined cape.
As they set off, the group couldn't help but laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of their journey. Because if there was one thing they'd learned, it was that terrible ideas often made for the best stories.