章 4: Chapter 4 — The Tower
Chapter 4 — The Tower
I sign the bottom of the contract with my new name after a few moments of reflection. It will be Nomad. My first name is "Yaël" but I don't really like this name which is too exotic. I prefer my nickname on the internet. Both served me before, of course, but my nickname is something I chose unlike my first name. Knowing that he has just insisted on the fact that I leave my earthly life behind me, I might as well leave my real name with it.
I no longer have to hesitate over everything he said to me and the thing that matters most to me is to find my girlfriend. The risk of killing or dying does not particularly worry me, I am not violent at heart, but if someone approaches with a knife you have to flee and if it is impossible you have to fight. Well, that's how I see it. "When you have to, you do," right? Hmm that might not be the best way to put it. Well, what you have to understand is that I am a normal person, I think. I don't like violence, but you must not push myself to my limits.
I hand him the sheet after putting the pen back on the table and he grabs it without further ado.
"Now you are a tower dweller, a climber. You can no longer turn around. Hoping you make it to the top, I say goodbye to you. "
Suddenly, the light goes out and I find myself again in front of the tower where I was when I fell asleep. Only this time I am on the other side of the stone ark and therefore the "liquid film" which separated me from the tower. In front of me is a roughly hewn wooden door that appears to be the only entrance to the tower. I'm rather worried that I won't see my girlfriend, but I guess I haven't actually entered the tower yet, she is probably waiting for me on the other side.
I walk towards the door in front of me which has no wrist and just a lock. This is where I remember that I still have the key in my jeans pocket. I instinctively pull it out and about to drive it into the lock, but I hesitate for a moment.
Although it doesn't really seem like it, the two trials were tough, each in their own way. As for the signing of the contract, it was only a formality, I imagine, and I don't know if I can really say that it was a "test."
At this moment comes the last hesitation. I finally achieved my goal: the entrance to the tower. Behind that door should be Micha, my girlfriend. I just hope she's okay. I'm a little worried to tell the truth.
A deep breath and I insert then turn the key in the door before pushing it forward. The mechanism unlocks and a draft rushes inside the door. I open it fully and pass it while in front of me a different landscape presents itself.
The sunlight blinds me slightly and a hubbub echoes around me. People move in groups talking, seagulls are heard above my head, a crowd passes in front of me. The smell of the ocean attacks my nostrils. All the sensations attack me one by one as if I had just woken up. The surroundings look like a port city made of stone, the only thing that differs is that I am at the foot of the Tower of Worlds which is much bigger and more massive than I imagined. Even when I fell asleep, the tower I had in front of me, even though I couldn't see the end of it, seemed less incredible to me than the one I have in front of me now.
There are other towers as well, but although they are tall they cannot be compared to the tower in the center of my field of view. Looking up from the sky and gradually descending to the ground, I notice someone standing still a few feet away from me.
In front of me stands a man, his hands behind his back which he keeps straight and who looks me straight in the eyes. Half a smile on his lips and dark circles under his eyes. He has blue eyes and long, slightly curly hair that flutters around in the wind. He also looks to be a little over his thirties. Considering the look, I would say he is waiting for me and I take a few steps in his direction which he hastens to answer by advancing in turn towards me until he is close enough to speak.
—My name is Cyrus, nice to meet you, I will be your guide here in the tower.
—Nice to meet you too, I'm…
—"Nomad" if I believe the name that I have been given, I know. I imagine you want to hear from Micha if I'm correct?
—Yes!
—I'll drive you to your quarters, during that time we can talk about the first thing you need to know. Since you've just arrived, I'll stay with you until you understand how the tower works. Follow me. First of all, you must know that you may have the false impression of being outside. The sky, the ocean, the different towers, it's all inside the tower. You don't have to worry here for your safety, despite the population, crimes are rare and guards maintain order.
Cyrus is walking fast and I have a hard time following him. Gigantic alleys more than a kilometer wide and paved with stone seem to link different places and different towers. There are also smaller paths that pass between buildings that seem to create a maze of roads. I can say that they are secondary towers, it is just that the central tower itself does not seem to have an end in height and I do not even speak of the width… At first glance it is difficult to say how wide it is anyway. I am already lucky not to be in its shadow, I would probably not see the sun there for a long time.
In short, the secondary towers are only secondary towers in names, each of them seems to be over 100 stories high. Thanks to the distance it seems less imposing, but nearby, the size must really be overwhelming… In any case, the paved areas are surrounded by buildings of varying size or just railings serving as a border with the ocean. I refocus on Cyrus.
—When you say you are there to maintain order, are you really human? Are you from Earth?
—I know that you have already asked the question during one of your tests and indeed I am not human in the sense that you mean. The tower called me and I came. Hmm, it's more complicated than that, of course, but let's say there was a need and I'm here to fill it. It's the same for the rest of the people of the tower: Guards, teachers, salesmen, merchants and so on, you will discover this as you go. Nothing really differentiates us from a human coming from the earth, the only difference is that we are not allowed to climb the tower. We're here to help you do it by managing the base of the tower which represents the entire area around you and which we commonly refer to as the base of the tower. You can also trust us in all circumstances since it is impossible for us to betray climbers. As a guide, I am here to help you when I can, keep that in mind.
Slowly, the buildings pass by and we gradually move away from the Tower of Worlds in the direction of a secondary tower which points to the horizon. From what I can see, the side towers look spread around the central tower and joined by paved roads bridging over the water.
"We'll arrive soon? We've been walking for a while now and I'm starting to worry. "
Cyrus then made a slight face while looking at the ground. Something seems to be bothering him and I wait for an answer that doesn't seem to come. The path goes by little by little and around us I can see different people. Most are dressed in armor and swords, but some with staff and even still others with modern or ancient firearms. The mixture is very difficult to describe because it is so rich between each person. Overall, the norm is either to have guns, or to be dressed as an mmorpg adventurer, or both.
—As for the tower, here on the ground floor, you are supposed to learn before you start to climb. This is why there are different towers which are connected to the main tower. Each of them represents a "class." It is, of course, more complicated than that, but for you to understand I would say that it looks like the classes of an online game of Earth: Druid, warriors, archer, priests, etc. The ability to customize has no real limit on classes, but you'll see that later.
—I know that you probably have other things to say to me, but it is still far? I would like to see Micha.
—No, we're almost there. I purposely made you arrive in an area nearby. It's always more pleasant for newcomers, even if the circumstances are a bit special with you.
—Why?
—Because you must really understand that if you entered the tower it is not for her, it is for you.
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