Tower Story -- Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Guide Azilla didn’t appear to want to speak too much as they quickly made their way through the congregating groups of Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, and all of the other races that all seemed to get along together without any tension between them – or at least that was how it seemed to Bax.  He was actually fine with his Guide not wanting to share too much with him, anyway, as he had plenty to think about without adding to it all.  In fact, he was still processing everything in his mind when Azilla led him up a set of stairs at the end of the long hallway, where a much shorter hallway led to a large, open room that was better furnished than the one he had appeared in a short time ago.  It also wasn’t a bedroom, as it was looked more like a living or even a rec room than anything else, with comfy chairs and couches to large, plush mats where some of the residents seemed to lounge.

The room was occupied by a total of 10 people, each of them a different race from each other; when he entered, they all came to attention at his presence, and the angel-like representative, a man that looked straight off of a fitness magazine cover, gestured to an empty chair that was near the door, but which faced all of the others. With only a slight hesitation, as he was suddenly intimidated by all of these people looking at him with what he thought were judgmental expressions on their faces, he took the seat indicated.  A glance behind him showed him that his Guide had disappeared, and despite the fact that Azilla was a devil, he was at least familiar and was therefore slightly comforting.  There was another devil-like representative in the room, an obvious female unlike Azilla, though she didn’t necessarily make him feel any more comfortable.

“Welcome, Baxtonille Smythe, to the Keeper Recruit Cooperative.”  Bax winced when he heard his full name spoken by the angel; he hated it, which was why he always went by “Bax” whenever possible.  Still, hearing it made him question how they even knew it.  “On behalf of all the Guides operating out of the Co-op, I want to apologize for your abrupt arrival and how confusing this has likely all been for you.”  The angel pointed to himself and said, “You may call me Anjelou Lead Guide Harvin, or Guide Harvin, for short.”  He then gestured around the room, indicating each of the different people, all of whom were Lead Guides for their respective races.  The only one he recognized was the Elf, as he was the same one that had been speaking inside the auditorium; it was strange, because he thought that the Elf would’ve been the one in charge based on how he seemed to lead the presentation, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

He almost immediately forgot all of their names as soon as he heard them, though he did note the names of all the races.  First, as he had thought, there were Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes, and Orcs; past that, there were the Fae – which were the smaller, multi-winged humanoids like the one he’s sat next to in the auditorium – and the Anjelou, which were the angel-like beings.  He’d already learned from Guide Azilla that the devils were called Vaneshta, but he also discovered the people that looked like beastfolk were actually called the Dwinaii.  Lastly, the most unusual of the races, the tree-like people and the lizard/dragonoid individuals, were called the Natruri and the Saroon, respectively.

“Now that the introductions are complete, I’m sure you have some questions for us that are probably bursting to come forth, but Elven Lead Guide Layren might end up covering those questions as he explains your situation a little more clearly.  Layren, if you would?” the angel asked of the Elf that had spoken in the auditorium earlier.

Guide Layren smiled as he got up from where he was sitting, a long wooden staff seemingly appearing in his hand out of nowhere, as he used it like a walking stick to stand in front of Bax.  “Thank you, Harvin.  Now,” he said to the Human who had been silent through all the introductions, but was almost impatient to learn more by this point, “I’m sure you’re wondering what this Co-op is all about, aren’t you?  As well as why you’re even here, I assume?  Well, I’m going to give you a brief history of the Retrogression System and the role that Guides and Keepers play in safeguarding the worlds they protect.  There will be much more in-depth instruction in your upcoming classes, but this will hopefully give you a better overview of the current situation and your role within it.

“Millions of years ago, the known universe was starting to decline, as energy levels rose to the point where it was threatening the very fabric of reality.  Natural monsters had grown to the strength of being able to destroy entire worlds if they weren’t stopped, and the energy saturation within those worlds had started to create wild aberrations in their environments, leading to countless deaths of the sapient people attempting to survive. 

“Unfortunately, one race of people had almost fully succumbed to the threats that every world faced, though a small group of survivors of the Ascendale, this race that was almost wiped out to the last individual, managed to find a way to prevent the same thing happening to everyone else in the universe.  These survivors were the strongest of the Ascendale, who were undoubtedly the most advanced and powerful race ever to have existed, and they used the last of their resources to create the Retrogression System, which was powered by their very lives.

“It was their idea to create a wide-reaching set of rules that would envelop our reality, regulating the build-up of energy throughout the universe in a way that was logical and systematic.  In other words, it would allow every world to develop this energy within their own bodies, allowing them to get stronger in order to combat the monster menace that had plagued them all from the beginning of time. 

“To accomplish this, as well as to reset things to the point where the sapient people could fight back, this new Retrogression System did three significant things.  First, it set up where you reside right now: The Keeper Recruit Cooperative and the Keeper’s Tower.  These are meant to be training facilities for Keepers, who are meant to act as the first line of defense against the monsters threatening every world included in the System.  We are currently located in an extra-dimensional space, separate from the universe that we protect – because of the second significant action that the System enacts.

“At the start of the System’s initialization, as well as every 4,444 years, all of the magical energy within the known universe is absorbed and used to fuel the System itself, resetting everyone and every monster back down to Level 1.  This also includes any constructs using magical energy of any kind, reverting them back to their component parts, essentially retrogressing any and all technological progress up to that point. 

“There’s more to it than that, but you’ll learn about those things in your classes.  What is more important, especially when it comes to where you come from, is that the System also creates portals in between each world, allowing for instantaneous travel between them.  This has allowed the people to come together to thrive on all worlds, helping each other with mutual assistance, increased economic well-being from trade, and allowing us to intermingle and become a more diverse population.

“Your people have now been chosen to join us in this endeavor, and you Humans will be the first of your race to do so – and we are extremely excited to have you here!”

There was a round of applause as the Elf finished speaking, but all Bax could do was stare at the Lead Guide as he sat frozen in his chair. 

This can’t be happening.

“So, I can only assume that your world is gradually succumbing to the monster threat that we all face, otherwise the System wouldn’t have chosen you to join us.  How have the Humans been able to survive this long without help?  Are your people exceptionally adept at using magical energy such as us Elves or the Fae?  Do you have extraordinary physical strength like the Saroon or the Vaneshta, or are you masters of the healing arts such as what the Gnomes and Anjelou can produce?  Or perhaps you have holed up in your strongholds like the Dwarves and Dwinaii used to do before we came together for mutual protection?”

Bax wasn’t sure what to say.  Eventually, he just blurted out, “Uh, I think there’s been some sort of mistake.”

“Mistake?  What do you mean?” Harvin abruptly asked. 

Shaking his head, the only Human in the room replied, “We don’t have any monsters on Earth, nor do we have any magical energy – at least as far as I know.  I… I shouldn’t be here.”

“Nonsense.  The Retrogression System chose your world to be included for a reason, so perhaps you just weren’t privy to the dangers that your people faced?”

Bax shrugged.  “I mean, it’s possible, but unlikely.  Monsters and magical energy being present on Earth would’ve been all over the net within seconds if they were real.”

There was silence from the assembled Lead Guides, before Layren cleared his throat.  “Be that as it may, you and your people have already been designated by the System as a new addition, so there’s not much we can do about it right now.  Either way, all of the energy within your world has been absorbed, and your people will be facing the same monsters that every other world in the universe is threatened by.”

The Earthling wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, though he could assume that it would lead to extreme chaos.  Thankfully, the world had the resources to deal with monsters easily enough, especially when going up against things like guns and tanks—wait.

“By energy, do you mean just magical energy?”

Layren shook his head.  “No, all types of external energy.  There are records of some Gnome homeworlds originally employing an energy that they called, ‘electricity,’ that was used instead of the magitech that they employ today.  It, too, was nullified and absorbed when the Retrogression System reset everything, and while it is still possible to use this ‘electricity,’ it is much more dangerous as it interacts with larger quantities of magical energy filling the environment.”

Oh, crap.  It’s not going to be chaos; it’s going to be a full-on apocalypse.

“You need to help my people; they won’t survive if monsters arrive on my planet!” he practically shouted, nearly getting up out of his chair in his alarm.  If they acted quickly enough with all of those he saw in the auditorium, he thought that they could save millions, if not billions of lives—

“I’m so sorry, we can’t do that,” Layren responded softly. 

“What?!  Why not?!”

“Your world, at least for this initial cycle of the Retrogression System, is inaccessible by those inside the Co-op.  That’s actually the reason that you, specifically, are here.”

Stuck wanting to yell at the Elf, but immediately knowing that it probably wouldn’t do much good, he just stared at the Lead Guide for an explanation.

“For the first cycle that a new world undergoes,” Layren said slowly, as if he was trying to explain something to a child, “the danger is significantly less than an established world.  There are multiple reasons for this, which you’ll learn about later, but the short of it is that we don’t have any Keepers who can leave here to help – as they’ll be needed in their own worlds.

“Which brings us to why you are here.  As a representative of the Humans from your world, you are to become our newest Guide.  This means that you’ll be here to help Guide future Humans here at the Co-op and the Keeper’s Tower, so that they can become the Keepers that will help protect your world.  To do this, you will have to complete your own Keeper training before spending time on an existing world, learning all of the ways that a Keeper protects the people there.  You’ll then be returned here after the cycle ends, where you will act as an experienced Guide for the next generation.  Both positions are honorable duties that all people strive to become worthy of, as you become the defensive force that keeps the universe from falling into darkness.”

“But what if I don’t want to become a Guide?  Or a Keeper, for that matter?”

Bax’s questions were greeted by a few shocked inhalations and frosty stares, but he didn’t really care.  He’d just learned that Earth was likely under attack by monsters, and while he didn’t necessarily think that returning there would do much, he didn’t want to stay in a place where the people wouldn’t even lift a finger to help them.

“I’m sorry if you feel that way, but the System chose you to be here for a reason.  You want to go back, is that it?  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.  There’s no going back, Baxtonille—”

“It’s Bax!” he shouted, irritated by the use of his name, as well as at the implication that he couldn’t return.  “What do you mean ‘there’s no going back’?  Just send me back and pick someone else!”

The angel Harvin stepped forward, his disappointed look coloring his words.  “We can’t. Teleportation in and out of the Co-op is solely controlled by the System, and unless one meets certain criteria, they cannot leave.  That goes for Guides, as well; don’t you think it would be easy enough for us Guides to leave the Co-op and help the worlds ourselves instead of just helping to train the next generation of Keepers?  Well, we can’t; we’re duty-bound to stay here because we could unbalance the energy levels in a world just by being there, which could lead to severe consequences to those living there.  In essence, our presence here is allowed because this place is cut off from the rest of the universe, but that also means that once we’re here, we can’t leave without having our Levels reduced at the next cycle.  For all intents and purposes, you are a Guide, and unless the System lets you go, then you cannot leave.”

Bax’s words stuck in his throat as he wanted to continue protesting, but the flinty look in the angel’s face was enough to silence him. 

“Enough of this.  What’s done is done and it can’t be changed.  For what it’s worth, I feel for your world, but we have a responsibility to every other world that we have to uphold, so it will be up to your people to survive until the portals open and they can request some external help.  Until then, your duty is here with us; one day, I hope, you’ll look back and be thankful for being given this opportunity. 

“So, for now, forget about your people and concentrate on being the best Keeper and Guide that you can be; while you cannot do anything about the present, you might just be their only hope in the future.”

Bax supposed that hearing all that was supposed to instantly convince him to go along with what they had planned for him – and it worked, at least a little.  While he still wanted to see if there was any way to get help to the people of Earth, he was now realizing that – at the moment – he had no power to do anything of the sort.  He even believed the Lead Guides when they said they couldn’t teleport him back or send help to his world, as they didn’t seem like they would deliberately let millions or billions of people die needlessly.

Therefore, he calmed himself down and tried to think about things logically, or as logically as he could from his perspective.  While he wasn’t going to give up trying to help, at the moment he knew that there was nothing he could do but play along and see if he could find a way to sneak some help in somewhere.  Being a Keeper and a Guide had to have some perks to it, after all.

“You’re… right,” he said after a moment, letting the tension that had been straining his muscles fade away.  “I… apologize for my outburst.  It’s not every day that you hear that billions of my own people are likely going to die, probably within the next few days,” he added, intending it for the jab at their seeming inability to help.

Bax wasn’t sure why he got satisfaction at seeing a few of them flinch when he mentioned billions of people dying, but he did.  But then he pictured what was likely happening back on Earth and any satisfaction that he’d felt drained away, replaced with depressing thoughts.  Shaking himself out of it by slapping his face a few times with his hands, he sat up.  “I’m sorry, that was uncalled-for.  I know that it wasn’t you who chose for the System to come to Earth, nor did you chose for me to become a Guide.”  He sighed with a shake of his head.  “Anyway, I might as well take advantage of being here and learn something, and perhaps I can help my people earlier than normal.”

“It’s unlikely, but anything is possible,” Harvin said, his expression and tone a bit softer than before.  “I know this isn’t the ideal situation, but I applaud you for recognizing that the only way out of it is to go through it, and your people will appreciate your sacrifices in the future.”  The angel clapped his hands, breaking the tension in the room.  “Now, on to more important things!”

What could be more important than Earth being besieged by monsters—

“That’s correct,” Elven Lead Guide Layren said.  “Because you were taken from your world before the Retrogression System initialized for everyone left behind, you haven’t been blessed with the important changes quite yet.  Sit there and I’ll do it for you.”

In the blink of an eye, Layren appeared in front of him and before he could move, he felt a hand on his forehead.  It was only there for a second before he felt a tingling sensation pass through his body, before a stabbing pain enveloped his mind.  Thankfully, it only lasted a second before it disappeared, but it was enough of a shock that he slumped bonelessly in his chair and his throat became overly dry, causing him to start coughing incessantly for nearly a minute.

“Are you alright?”

Bax waved off the question, before answering once he had control back.  He was starting to feel worse by the minute, and he wasn’t sure if it was the stress of the whole situation of if his illness was progressing at a more rapid pace than expected.  “Sorry, I’m just not feeling the best right now.”  He was interrupted by another cough before he could explain any further.  A moment later, he felt a radiant energy suffusing his body, and he looked up to see the Anjelou Lead Guide with his arm raised toward him with a yellow glow around his fist.

You have been cleansed by Ultimate Remedy.

Along with feeling so much better, a notification suddenly appeared at the upper right corner of his vision, which was the very first indication that this “System” was more than just an arbitrary absorption and resetting of energy throughout the universe.  It was a whole lot more than that.

“Let me guess, I need to ‘Status’ to see my stats?” he asked sarcastically, half-expecting it to work and was disappointed when it didn’t.  He’d read a few books that had a situation that was familiar to this, and he somewhat figured it would world.  From the Lead Guides, however, he only got confused looks in return.

“No, to see your stats and more, all you need to do is think, ‘APPS’, and it should appear.”

Huh.  Not what I was expecting.  Well then, APPS—

Advancement Progress and Performance Sheet (APPS)

Name: Baxtonille (Bax)

Race: Human

Overall Level: 1

Experience: 0/100

Health: 30/30

Health Regeneration: 3/min

Mana: 10/10

Mana Regeneration: 7/min

Strength {2}

Endurance {3}

Dexterity {3}

Intellect {7}

Unity {1}

Class: —

Class Level: —

Threshold: 0/5

Notable Exploits: —

Applicable Traits:

Quick Learner

Language Translation

Available Spells: —

Available Abilities: —

Special Equipment:

None Detected

Current Tasks:

Keeper Training – [0/7 Classes Complete] (See more)

Keeper Tower Completion – [0/50 Floor Cleared]

“Whoa.  What are—”

“We’ve spent more time than usual speaking with you, and most of your questions about your APPS will be answered in your classes.  Simply focus on your current task named ‘Keeper Training’ and you’ll find your class schedule, which will begin tomorrow morning.  For now, get something to eat in the Meal Hall, and get some sleep.  Today might have been an exhausting day for you, but tomorrow it will be even worse.”

Knowing a dismissal when he heard it, he looked at all of the Lead Guides and saw that they appeared to already have forgotten that he was there, so he nodded and stood up, his legs a little wobbly for some reason.  He had to mentally dismiss his APPS from his vision, which was as easy as thinking about it closing, and he turned to see Guide Azilla waiting for him at the entrance. 

That could’ve gone better.  It also could’ve gone worse, I suppose, though I’m not sure how.

Eager to explore and learn about his introduction to the System, as he hoped it would distract him from what was undoubtedly happening back on Earth, Bax was interrupted when Azilla said, “Follow me.  I’ll show you where the Meal Hall is, and then you’ll be free to explore and socialize, if you care to.  Now that you have access to your APPS, you can pull up a map of the facility, which will help you navigate your way to your room and your classes tomorrow.”

Overwhelmed by everything, Bax just nodded as he followed his Guide out into the hallway and down the stairs, his stomach rumbling as he thought about his lunch he’d left back near his desk on Earth.

                    *

“There has to be something we can do.”

Anjelou Lead Guide Harvin shook his head at Deendra, the Vaneshta Lead Guide, even as he thought the same thing.  “You know that isn’t possible.  We can’t go anywhere, and all of the Keeper recruits are already assigned to their respective worlds.”

“I know that, but he was saying that billions—”

“An exaggeration,” Layren interrupted. 

Harvin looked at his fellow Lead Guide closely.  “You know that for sure?”

“It almost has to be,” the Elf answered almost immediately.  “There’s no way these Humans could be so inept that a bunch of Level 1 monsters could kill so many of them.  Access to the Retrogression System and their Classes would make them more than a match for them.”

“But if he was telling the truth about having no magical energy, they might not have the knowledge of what it is.  Plus, did you see how scrawny he was?  If he was an example of their entire race, then they are likely extremely weak.  And sickly, as well.  Why was he coughing?  Did some speck of dust get into his throat?”

“I don’t know, but Ultimate Remedy took care of it,” Harvin said confidently.  “Either way, I’m inclined to believe Layren; I think he was just overreacting to the situation, and therefore exaggerating the impact the System would have on his world.  Sure, there might be some deaths, perhaps a few thousand before they begin to fight back, but it is a very small price to pay for the protection of the Retrogression System.”

The Anjelou was fairly sure that Baxtonille—Bax—had simply been trying to play up the threat to his people in order to get a rise out of them; to be fair, it had worked, but there was also no way that it could be true.  The Retrogression System would never put any world into that kind of danger, as it was designed to help protect as many people as possible.  It wouldn’t make a mistake of the kind of magnitude proposed by the Human; it wasn’t just unlikely, it was nearly impossible.

Dismissing the meeting from his thoughts, as it wouldn’t do any good to dwell on the implications of this new world suffering so greatly from what was supposed to help them, Harvin then turned his attention to planning out the rest of year, when the first Keeper recruits would likely finish their training and would actually enter the Keeper’s Tower for the first time.  Cycle after cycle, the Guides always tried to streamline the training process and get them through faster than the cycle before; efficiency was always a good tactic to follow when it came to ensuring the safety of their people, after all.

Even as he began discussing the upcoming cycle with the other Lead Guides, consulting the cycle-end report given to them by the System on where they could make improvements to fix some of the issues that had arrived once the Keepers reported to their worlds, he couldn’t help but think about the new world that had been added to the System.  As much as he wanted to believe that the Human had been thoroughly mistaken, he couldn’t help but think about the implications if he was telling the truth.

Just as he had told Bax, however, there was no use dwelling on the present; he could only look toward the future and ensure that this current cycle of Keepers got the necessary training they needed.  It didn’t help a whole lot, of course, but it helped him get through the planning session well enough.