The path to the Tower of Eternity was not a road carved for the faint of heart. As Richard walked through dense forests and barren plains, the silence weighed heavily on him. His hands gripped the dagger Garret had given him, though he doubted it would be enough to fend off anything larger than a wild boar.
The shadow of the Tower loomed in the distance, ever-present and unyielding. Each step Richard took brought him closer to its ominous promise of power, but also to the dangers that lay in wait.
On the second day of his journey, Richard encountered his first true challenge. The forest path narrowed, twisting through dense undergrowth, where sunlight barely penetrated the canopy above. The air was heavy, the silence broken only by the rustle of leaves.
And then he heard it a low growl, guttural and menacing.
Richard froze, his heart pounding as he scanned the shadows. From the darkness emerged a wolf, its eyes glowing unnaturally in the dim light. Its fur was black as night, matted and streaked with dried blood. This was no ordinary predator.
The wolf bared its fangs, circling Richard with calculated movements. He tightened his grip on the dagger, his palms slick with sweat.
The beast lunged.
Richard barely dodged in time, stumbling as the wolf's claws tore through the air where he had stood. He swung the dagger wildly, but the wolf was too fast, darting back before he could land a blow.
The fight was over before it truly began. The wolf lunged again, knocking Richard to the ground. Its jaws snapped inches from his face as he struggled to hold it back. Panic surged through him, and for a moment, he thought it was over.
And then, it happened.
That strange power he had felt the night his mother died surged through him once more. Time seemed to slow as Richard's mind sharpened. He could see the wolf's every movement, every muscle tensing before its next strike. Instinct took over.
Richard twisted his body, using the wolf's momentum to throw it off balance. As it stumbled, he drove the dagger into its side with all his strength. The beast let out a pained howl, thrashing wildly before collapsing to the ground.
Gasping for breath, Richard staggered to his feet. His hands were trembling, his body aching, but he was alive. He stared at the wolf's lifeless body, his mind racing.
This wasn't just luck. That strange energy, that clarity it wasn't natural. Was this the power the shadowy figure had spoken of?
"Power always demands a price."
Richard continued his journey, more wary than ever. The encounter with the wolf had left him shaken but also more determined. If he couldn't even handle a single beast, how could he hope to survive the Tower?
As he pressed on, the forest began to thin, giving way to rolling hills and rocky outcrops. The Tower grew larger with each passing day, its massive structure dominating the horizon.
On the fourth night, Richard came across a small campfire in a clearing. A young woman sat beside it, sharpening a longsword. Her armor was dented and worn, her face smudged with dirt, but her eyes were sharp and alert.
Richard hesitated, unsure if she was friend or foe. Travelers on the road were often as dangerous as the monsters that roamed it.
The woman glanced up, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "If you're here to steal, don't bother. I don't have anything worth taking."
"I'm not a thief," Richard said quickly, raising his hands to show he meant no harm.
She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Then sit. You look like you've been through hell."
Grateful for the warmth of the fire, Richard sat across from her. The woman introduced herself as Kaela, a mercenary heading for the Tower. She had been traveling alone for weeks, fending off both beasts and bandits.
"What about you?" she asked, eyeing his dagger. "You don't look like much of a fighter."
"I'm not," Richard admitted. "But I'm going to the Tower. I don't have a choice."
Kaela raised an eyebrow. "Nobody goes to the Tower unless they're desperate. What's your reason?"
Richard hesitated, the weight of his mother's death pressing down on him. "Revenge," he said finally.
Kaela's expression softened, and for a moment, Richard thought he saw a flicker of understanding in her eyes. "Revenge is a dangerous motivator," she said. "But it's enough to get you moving. Just don't let it control you."
They spoke little after that, but when morning came, Kaela surprised him.
"You'll die if you keep going alone," she said bluntly. "I'll travel with you until we reach the Tower. Don't get in my way, and I won't get in yours."
Richard nodded, grateful for the company. Together, they continued toward the Tower of Eternity, their journey only just beginning.