Chapter 85: Floor One

For a moment, all Theo knew was that he was blank. He was sure that he had slept, somewhere under the flood of messages that had poured into his mind.

But now he was in a different place. And it was a white room like before, except this time it looked like he was alone. And he was standing up from a bed.

But it was strange, everything around him seemed to be frozen. The blanket he had pushed off hung over the edge of the mattress without sliding. The dust in the air sat where it was and did not fall.

Then the system came.

[Do you want to select a class now?]

[Do you want to proceed to floor one or exit the Tower?]

[If you exit the Tower, your next entry will transfer you to floor one without entry trial. The purpose of entry trial is to give you access to the floor. And you have gained access to floor one]

Seeing the message, Theo was happy, because one of the things he had been worried sick about was having to do all of that over again.

’Well, I guess, that’s not going to happen.’

Theo stared at the list of panels standing in front of his eyes, and focused on the Class one.

While he wanted to select a Class, he didn’t want to rush into it. This was majorly because a Class was not something Aide Lance had informed him about. So, he wanted to believe either something was wrong, or the young man had forgotten the vital info.

Theo wanted to hold back on choosing anything, until he had enough information.

’I’m sure, Estea must know something about it, I should try to ask her when she’s not practicing her death glare.’

Theo sighed and considered his next option. That was whether to go to Floor One or not. He wanted to go back and see his wives, to sit in the chair beside Thall and watch the slow green rhythm climb and fall. But what was the point of it, if he was going back empty handed.

So Theo decided that he was going to go to Floor One and at least get the ingredients needed for the recipes he had been gathering from the rewards, so he would be capable of preparing those special meals.

’I need to in whatever way, help them heal. That’s what they need now.’

Theo inhaled deeply and ignored the first message, choosing to enter Floor One.

The moment he chose that response, the white space he had found himself in slowly dissipated.

Then a different environment appeared in his eyes.

What Theo saw was so vast in difference with what he had grown up seeing. While the sheer magnitude and height of the buildings bore staggering similarities to that of the metropolitan city he was from, the structures and their expressions were far different, more artistic, and beautiful.

Towering gothic architectures pierced the sky, immensely fortified citadels, and ornate white stone structures. The entire city blended a religious grandeur with sophisticated urban design, filled with grand avenues, fountains, gardens, banners and elaborate towers. Water went on falling in the fountains. A bell rang somewhere behind him, and a second bell answered it from further off, and neither of them was ringing an alarm.

It felt like a prosperous, deeply established civilization where faith, nobility and architectural magnificence were woven into everyday life.

People walked all around Theo and threw glances at him from time to time. A woman with a basket on her hip slowed, looked, and carried on walking.

He felt like he was being watched too much, but suddenly finding himself in a buzzing and beautiful city like this one, Theo was somewhat distraught.

It took him a moment, but he recognized the streets, the demarcations, the roofs of the buildings. And the wall that was so far away and so high, standing flat and grey at the end of every avenue no matter which way he turned his head.

’Huh?’

At the same time, the system announced to him.

[Welcome to Alderkeep, located in the First Floor]

Theo frowned suspiciously.

’What?’

As it turned out, the city he was fighting so desperately to protect was not destroyed. And it was the same city in the floor one.

As Theo realized this, he stood very still in the middle of a street that kept moving around him.

Some soldiers in silver armor were walking towards him, they were talking and holding spears. Theo recognized them as the moving Legatee, with dirtied armor, but were still fearsome.

He almost took a step back, watching them with a hostile gaze.

The soldiers paused, and bowed very respectfully to him. Which surprised Theo.

"You must be a new Climber."

The soldier on the right side was smiling at Theo, and he had bronze skin with dark eyes. He looked tired but his smile was warm.

Theo hesitantly released his posture, observing them.

"Yes, I... am a Climber."

The other one put in.

"By chance, are you the Sky’s Husband?"

Theo was somewhat surprised.

’They already know me? I guess that’s the boon of having high reputation points!’

Nobody had to tell Theo about reputation points, it was something everyone learnt as the most important thing in the Tower. It was a two-edged sword though. That was how many Heroes who entered the Tower had described it.

"You have been sent by the old gods, and even managed to set a standard that no Climber has ever set."

The one on the right carried on, his tone subdued and kind.

"Our King has asked to meet you personally and grant you rewards and citizenship. If you ever want to leave Alderkeep to explore the First Floor, so you can know that this is always a home to you."

All of this came as some kind of shock to Theo. These were real people, they had no distinction from the people in the outside world. Although they spoke a different language, he had no issue understanding it perfectly. He could hear the accent in it, the way the second one clipped the ends of his words, and it landed in his head as plain as his own tongue.

It was an entirely new world added to his perspective.

’And it is like this for every floor in the Tower...’

Theo thought about the floors that his wives were governing before they were betrayed and cast out of the Tower, and it was as if, it was now that he was truly beginning to understand the immensity of their power and influence. Streets like these. Bells like these. Men like these two, stopping in the road and bending at the waist.

Theo suddenly felt stupid for the way he always dared to talk to Estea.

’I should definitely do better when I get back.’

He chuckled and looked at the two soldiers.