The Ruby Magician

Marion knelt down at Lionel’s still body. The impatient fool just couldn’t wait. They were supposed to go together to face that Red Mage and his group. With the four generals facing them there was no way they’d lose. But Lionel just couldn’t help himself. Like he had something to prove or someone to impress. He took the two useless followers and went off to die.

Or maybe he just really was that bullheaded. Honestly, though, it didn’t matter anymore. He was dead and that was that.

Marion opened a portal and drug the large man’s body through it to the cave. He hated doing it but if he left the man’s body it would be gone forever at the end of the day when Alistair changed its layout. The others weren’t important like him, and he didn’t care enough to bother with their bodies. They were just two more robes to fill the space. Still, Marion didn’t know if he was lucky or unlucky that he found him by chance when he was searching through the floors for more bodies to attack the city. They were planning to strike tonight, and now they were three people down.

In the dim light of the cave Marion huffed with effort, finally stopping to just let Lionel’s body go. At least he was out. Now he could make some of the lowly followers deal with it.

“That damned fool,” Slayer said behind him.

Marion jumped. “Gods, don’t do that. Warn a guy next time!”

The general just turned her head towards him, her porcelain mask hiding her intentions.

Marion sighed. “What’s done is done. The fool went and got himself killed.”

“That doesn’t change our plans,” Slayer said. “We continue on.”

“I know. We need to tell Zarath.”

“Tell me what?” Their leader said, suddenly appearing behind them. He stopped when he saw Lionel’s body on the ground. A sharp curse left his lips. “He wasn’t strong enough. That’s fine. We have more than enough to continue with the plan.”

Marion let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t know how pissed Zarath was going to be, but he was glad to know he wasn’t about to take it out on them.

Suddenly the cave rumbled and shook as though the earth itself was splitting under their feet.

“Again?” Marion asked. He had to balance his body in various angles to keep from falling.

“This is different,” Slayer said. She fell to one knee and braced the ground, not quite as dexterous. “Stronger than before.”

“Oh, gods,” Zarath said. He fell directly to the ground to his hands and knees.

A bright light filled the cave blinding everyone inside it. Screams of panic were shouted but silenced nearly as quickly as they came. The rumbling stopped and everything returned to normal.

Except for the Avatar kneeling before the elevated throne in the cave where a glowing figure hovered in midair. His eyes shone like they were made of light, and a strong yellow and white aura covered him as though he was divinity itself.

“What is happening?” Marion asked. “Who in the hells are you?”

The floating figure slowly turned his head towards them but didn’t move anything else.

Marion suddenly felt… odd. Like his body was warm and light. He looked down at his gloved hands and saw nothing different. But his breath was hot under his mask. His throat felt closed off and tight. In a panic he ripped off his mask and threw it to the ground where it shattered. He looked over towards Slayer, unsure of what was happening.

“Jen?” He said. Then a similarly bright aura enveloped his body before he crumbled away in ashes in seconds. A small pile of grey, white, and yellow dust was all that remained.

Zarath sobbed on the ground. Jen slowly took off her mask and stared at the spot Marion just stood with horror in her eyes.

“Zarath,” The Avatar said, its voice booming throughout the cave. “You were warned. Now you must face the consequences.”

“Warned? What is it talking about?” Jen asked, her voice frantic. She walked over to Zarath and yanked him up by the collar of his robes.

Zarath looked at her with wild eyes. Jen let go of him and stepped away as though Zarath was infected with a sickness. She looked at him with disgust.

The floating figure moved his gaze across the entirety of the cave. All of the followers began to remove their hoods and robes while looking at each other and the new figures in confusion. Then, slowly, they began to fade away from a bright aura into dust and ash just like Marion.

Jen fell to the ground on her knees and watched the spectacle in horror. She stole one last look at the glowing figure whose eyes met hers. It was then she realized the truth. Zarath led them astray. He was a false prophet, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This man - no, this god - was the true leader. The true master. The one who they worshiped, who Zarath claimed to be following.

Aliyar.

Jen closed her eyes in acceptance at her fate and hoped in the last few seconds that she would be shown mercy. Then she felt nothing as she became nothing.

Zarath gathered himself and looked around the room. Only piles and scattered remnants of ash remained. Everything he worked for, his entire followers, his plans - they were all gone in mere moments.

Realization hit him then. This was his fault and his burden. He would be next - it was only a matter of time. Likely seconds.

“I don’t know where I went wrong,” Zarath said, his voice quiet and broken.

Aliyar now floated before him, his image glowing with reverence and power. He didn’t bother looking down at the man. “This, unfortunately, was not your fault. I take the blame.” His voice was deep and bold and reverberated with power.

Zarath looked up for what was likely his final time. He didn’t want to speak, however. He was too afraid of the figure that stood before him. It was a stark contrast to the last time he saw the god face to face. But now, even the Avatar that stood stoically behind the glowing god remained quiet in respect.

“When you first met me on the 20th floor I was hesitant to offer you the choice I offer Climbers who complete my challenge,” Aliyar continued. “You did sacrifice your group, after all, in order to finish the climb. That goes against the purpose of my reward. But do you remember our conversation then?”

Zarath tried to swallow. His throat was dry and he coughed, then cleared his throat. “Of course. It was the best moment of my life.”

“What did I tell you?”

Zarath closed his eyes and smiled. “You offered congratulations followed by a choice. That no matter what I chose I’d change the world. But I needed to choose wisely.”

“Yes. I had several tests for you that day. But when you wanted your boon to be able to share power to others I assumed you had learned your lesson about the value of allies. That you wanted to make amends for leaving behind your group. But now I see the truth.”

Aliyar looked down at Zarath who instantly averted his gaze to the ground. He postured, falling to his hands in complete submission.

Aliyar, for all his power and reverence, sighed. Another failure. Another waste.

He waved his hand and Zarath became no more like the poor souls that followed his misguided lead.

The Avatar waited for several seconds before stepping up to Zarath’s ashes and inspecting them. “Was that really necessary?”

Aliyar didn’t bother looking away from the destruction. “He sullied the sanctity of my creation and purpose. He was given one warning purely due to his previous accomplishments. But my grace only goes so far, Elik’yar.”

The Avatar - Elik’yar - bowed in respect.

Aliyar crossed his arms and settled onto the ground. He walked through the cave slowly and purposefully through what was left of the people there. “So much wasted potential. The decisions of these mortals sometimes makes me wonder why we decided to enact these towers in the first place.”

He stopped at a pile of ash that was a mixture of white, green and blue dust. It was neat and collected as though poured from a jar and swirled in perfect harmony. He reached out a hand and absorbed the ash into himself, closing his eyes and smiling at the pleasant result. This person had a genuine heart and cared for others. It was easy to feel in her spirit. He kept her essence so that he could revitalize her and make her anew.

Reincarnation wasn’t common, but a spirit such as hers deserved a second chance. He’d make sure she was given it.

The Avatar watched with hesitation. It was unlike Aliyar to show such compassion in the wake of disobedience, but this poor soul also followed Zarath out of blind faith. All of them did. If Aliyar judged them to be worthy, then so it was. Elik'yar wasn't one to question, but doubt flooded their mind. Alayar had been increasingly active in the last few seasons.

But, Elik'yar was loyal. They would never question their god.

“Still, there is always hope to come,” Aliyar said, walking away after collecting another four piles of essence.

Elik’yar stepped forward beside her creator. “Yes, my lord. What shall I do now?”

“What you’ve always done and done well. Continue to test the challengers so they may prove themselves.”

Elik’yar bowed again. “Of course.” They turned and began to walk away.

“Elik’yar.”

The Avatar froze. “Yes, Creator?”

“The Ruby Magician. You think my interest in him is misplaced? I can sense your unspoken feelings.”

Elik’yar felt a tremble in their hands. It was a strange sensation, foreign and… human. “I would never question your decisions.”

Aliyar smiled genuinely. “I know. But you may speak freely. It is your prerogative, after all.”

Elik’yar turned to face him, hesitation on their lips. “You said there was great potential in him. But isn’t there great potential in all Climbers? Like the ones you just procured to repurpose? I admit he has… potential. But I still don’t fully understand.”

“I sensed something within him, yes. A resolve that few others have matched. Determination to accomplish his goals. Loyalty as fierce as yours. And a purpose that exceeds personal gain of power unlike most. It was why I gave him the Ruby Magician class.”

“But he is still a young Climber. His actions are questionable at best.”

“That is true for all who have little experience. But in recent years Climbers have lost their way. They see my creation as a means to an end, a way to advance their own status and power. They’ve forgotten what it means to complete the challenge and the reward it brings. This, tonight, was an example of that ignorance.”

“I believe the Magician is treating his climb the same way. A means to an end only.”

“But not for selfish greed, by my understanding. Wealth, yes, but more for familial protection and security. And a similar notion could be said for his group, as well. If they continue to stay the course they likely could discover the true reason for climbing. It’s rare to find a collected group such as theirs.”

Elik’yar nodded. “Hopefully. After I took that Wizard’s arm I wasn’t sure how they would respond. Truthfully, I was surprised they survived at all. It’s not easy for me to contain my power when I descend floors. I believe some… leaked out, for lack of a better term. I didn’t intend for the floor to be so difficult.”

“Climbers must be ready for anything. You did not disobey or intrude in the slightest. I sent you there, after all. It was my decision.”

“The Wizard continues to climb despite his deficit. I’m not sure how he will do with one less arm as they continue to ascend.”

“I believe he will manage. I have a reward in mind for his decision to return climbing.”

Elik’yar jerked their head towards the god. “My lord? You would personally reward a Climber?”

Aliyar chuckled. “You rewarded Ardwyn with an item and skill, did you not?”

Elik’yar bowed deeply and remained silent.

“Again, I am not upset. You only did what I asked. But yes, I do have something in mind for him. Not a direct reward, but an idea. A seed. One that has already been planted. And I will implement it soon.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Aliyar continued walking through the cave before returning to the throne. He looked out at the field of death once again, taking care to remind himself of the consequences of actions.

Sometimes even gods choose poorly. But if mortals have anything, it’s potential. And Aliyar knew that the right Climber was out there somewhere. Whether that was the Ruby Magician or not.

“Let us return, Elik’yar,” Aliyar said. “We must prepare for the change of the season.”

Elik’yar stepped beside the god and knelt on one knee. Aliyar placed a hand on their shoulder and disappeared in a flash of golden light, leaving behind failure and death to prepare for hope and success. As a new season comes, so will the possibility of success. More trials await, but so do changes. Changes that will mold or shatter those who climb.