The journey to the 10th floor had been grueling. Arsonat and Alec had fought their way through countless monsters, solved puzzles, and survived more close calls than Arsonat cared to count. But now, they were standing before a massive, gleaming gate, the entrance to the 10th-floor town—a safe zone for players who had made it this far.
"This is it, huh?" Arsonat said, his voice full of a calm confidence. The town sprawled out before them, a vibrant mix of market stalls, inns, and guild halls. Players were everywhere, chatting, trading, and setting up camp. The bustling atmosphere was a stark contrast to the desolate battles they had fought just to reach this point.
Alec seemed almost too excited. His usual grin was stretched wide, and he couldn't stop glancing around, like a kid in a candy store. "I've read about this place! The 10th-floor town is where you can actually trade real-world items for in-game currency. Some people even settle down here. It's not just a rest stop; it's practically a small city."
Arsonat nodded, already knowing all of this. He'd been to floor 50 after all, so this wasn't his first encounter with a town-like area. But after the grind and the endless dangers of the tower, he could appreciate the town for what it was: a brief respite before they continued on their journey. "Yeah, I've heard the stories too."
As they walked through the gates, Arsonat couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and unease. The safety of the town was welcome, but the tension in his chest never quite left. They had made it, but they hadn't won. The tower was still out there, and the climb to the top was far from over.
They made their way to the central plaza, where a group of players had gathered around a large bulletin board, plastered with announcements for quests, tournaments, and trading deals. The town was buzzing with activity, and Arsonat couldn't help but feel like they were just a small part of something much larger.
"So, what now?" Arsonat asked Alec, who was already looking around at the various players with interest.
"We rest." Alec said, pulling Arsonat's attention back to him. "We've earned it. And maybe we can get a feel for the place."
"Right." Arsonat agreed, though something in Alec's tone seemed a little off. Alec was usually eager to move forward, but today he was oddly calm, almost distracted. It was a small thing, but Arsonat noticed it. Alec's usual enthusiasm had been replaced by a quiet, distant expression. He kept staring at the bulletin board, his eyes glazed over, like he was thinking about something else entirely.
As they entered an inn, the warmth and comfort of the building enveloped them. Arsonat glanced around, taking in the surroundings. There were a few players sitting at tables, chatting about the tower or looking for partners to team up with for quests.
Alec, however, seemed to barely notice the lively atmosphere. He took a seat at one of the tables but didn't speak for a while, his gaze still distant.
Arsonat raised an eyebrow. "Alec? You good?"
Alec blinked, snapping out of whatever thoughts had consumed him. "Oh, yeah. Just thinking." He smiled, but it was a little too forced. "I've been wondering what the other floors are like. If this place is as safe as they say, maybe we can get some intel on what's coming up next."
Arsonat couldn't help but feel a slight tension. It wasn't like Alec to space out like that, especially when they were in a safe zone. He'd been acting a little more withdrawn the past few days, and Arsonat had started to wonder if something was going on. Alec had always been the adventurous type, the one to lead the charge, but now…
Arsonat shook his head. Maybe it's just the exhaustion, he thought. We've been pushing ourselves hard. But the nagging feeling didn't quite leave him. Alec's eyes seemed to hold some secret, something that wasn't quite right. He wasn't giving off the same energy that he had back on the lower floors.
The next few days were spent exploring the town. Alec seemed to come back to life as they interacted with the other players, making trades, and even participating in a few small quests. Arsonat could see the appeal—safe, comfortable, with enough distractions to make anyone forget the weight of the tower looming above them.
But as the days passed, Arsonat couldn't shake the feeling that Alec was still hiding something. There were moments when Alec would pause, stare off into the distance, and get lost in thought. It was always before or after big decisions, like when they had to choose a quest to take or when they discussed their plans for the next floor.
It wasn't obvious, but it was enough to raise Arsonat's suspicion.
One evening, as they were sitting at a table in a tavern, a player approached them—a tall man with dark hair and an air of quiet authority. He was dressed in simple armor, but his eyes glowed with an unsettling intensity.
"You two look like you've made it far." The man said, his voice low but firm. "Care to make some real progress in the tower?"
Arsonat exchanged a glance with Alec. The man's tone was too serious, and something about the way he approached them didn't sit right. "Real progress"? What did that mean?
Before Arsonat could respond, Alec suddenly spoke up. "We're not interested."
The sharpness in Alec's voice caught Arsonat off guard. He turned to Alec, surprised by his immediate rejection. Alec had been all about the tower's secrets, the potential for progress—but now, he was acting almost… guarded.
The man didn't seem fazed, though. He simply gave a sly smile and walked away, leaving Arsonat with even more questions.
Later that night, as they settled into their room, Alec seemed lost in thought again, his gaze fixed on the window.
"Alec?" Arsonat asked quietly, his suspicion growing. "What's going on with you? You've been acting strange lately."
Alec looked at him, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he spoke softly. "It's nothing. I just… I don't trust this place."
Arsonat's heart skipped a beat. "You don't trust the town? Why?"
Alec's eyes flickered to the window, his voice barely above a whisper. "There's something more to the tower than we know. I've been looking into it. There's a lot that's hidden, and I don't think everyone here is who they say they are."
As the night stretched on, Arsonat felt the weight of Alec's words. The 10th-floor town, a place that was supposed to be a haven, was beginning to feel more like a trap. Alec's behavior, the strange player they had encountered, and the unease that clung to the air—something was off.
Arsonat glanced at the Rune of Rebirth still safely tucked away in his inventory. He had saved it for when he really needed it, but now, he wondered if the time to use it was already approaching.