The Tower of Eternity loomed ever closer, its spire piercing the heavens like an unbroken promise. Richard and Kaela trekked through the rocky hills in silence, their footsteps crunching against the gravel. The companionship was strange but welcome. Richard, still grappling with his inexperience, observed Kaela's confidence and efficiency as a fighter.
Kaela, on the other hand, sized up the boy walking beside her. He was clearly untrained, but there was something in his eyes a determination she had rarely seen, even among the most seasoned adventurers.
By midday, they reached a narrow gorge that stretched deep into the earth. A single rope bridge swayed precariously over the chasm, its weathered planks creaking in the wind.
"Of course," Kaela muttered, rolling her eyes. "It's never easy."
Richard hesitated, glancing at the bridge. "Do you think it's safe?"
Kaela smirked. "Safe? No. Necessary? Yes."
She stepped onto the bridge first, testing each plank with her boot. The structure groaned under her weight, but it held. Richard followed cautiously, gripping the ropes tightly as he moved.
Halfway across, the sound of rocks shifting echoed through the gorge. Kaela froze, her hand instinctively going to her sword.
"Did you hear that?" Richard whispered.
Before she could respond, a low growl reverberated from the cliffs above. Three creatures emerged, their fur mottled with dirt and their eyes glowing a sickly yellow. They were lean, almost skeletal, with claws that glinted like steel.
"Ravagers," Kaela spat, drawing her sword. "Fast, deadly, and usually in packs."
The creatures leaped onto the bridge, their movements unnaturally quick. Kaela swung her blade, slicing through the first Ravager's neck in a single stroke. The second lunged at her, but she sidestepped, driving her sword into its side.
Richard, clutching his dagger, faced the third creature. It snarled, baring its jagged teeth as it circled him. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to move.
The Ravager lunged, and Richard dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. He slashed with his dagger, but his strike was clumsy and glanced off the creature's hide.
"Focus, boy!" Kaela shouted, dispatching the second Ravager and turning to help him.
The third creature lunged again, and this time, Richard anticipated its movement. He stepped into its attack, driving his dagger upward into its throat. The Ravager let out a strangled cry before collapsing at his feet.
Breathing heavily, Richard looked at the bloodied dagger in his hand. For the first time, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment and a deeper understanding of what lay ahead.
"Not bad," Kaela said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You might survive this after all."
As they crossed the rest of the bridge, Kaela began to speak more freely.
"You're not the only one with a grudge against the world," she said, her voice low. "I've lost people too. Friends, family. The Tower... it's not just a place for power. It's a crucible. It'll break you or make you stronger. But you need to be ready for what it'll demand."
Richard nodded, her words resonating with him. "Why do you want to conquer the Tower?"
Kaela hesitated before answering. "To prove that I can. To prove to myself and to the gods that we're not as powerless as they'd like us to believe."
Her answer surprised him. It wasn't revenge or greed that drove her, but something more profound. Richard felt a flicker of respect for the mercenary, even if her motives were different from his own.
As the day wore on, the two set up camp in a small clearing. Richard, exhausted from the fight and the journey, collapsed by the fire Kaela built.
"You'll get used to it," she said, tossing him a piece of dried meat. "The exhaustion, the fear. It's part of the job."
Richard chewed silently, his thoughts turning to the Tower. He had no illusions about what awaited him monsters, traps, and perhaps even worse. But with each step, his resolve grew stronger.
That night, as the fire crackled and the stars shone brightly above, Richard whispered a silent vow to himself.
I'll climb the Tower. I'll change this world. No matter what it takes.
Unbeknownst to him, the Tower of Eternity stood as more than a test of strength. It was alive, watching, and waiting for the boy who dared to challenge it.