They gathered at the camp the next morning to discuss what they would do next. Mana procured the key that Cobal found the previous day. Sitting around the wobbly table in the sand were representatives from each camp. Eliana and Fareh were joined by Bartew and Kenar. Mana, Cassandra and Cobal sat opposite them as Mana laid the key on the table and looked around. “Cobal found this object in the water last night. I’ve taken the morning to look at it and although it’s hard for me to really figure out what it is, I’m pretty confident that it’s the key to the tower.”
“And where does this confidence come from if you can’t even figure out what it is?” Bartew sneered at her.
“The engraving on this object is similar to one in the door of the tower, so it would be a logical conclusion that the two are related.”
“It could still be a different object that has to do with the tower.” Bartew countered.
“It could, perhaps we should just throw it in the ocean and let you rot here,” Eliana said, clearly done with his attitude already. “Just listen to the young lady and shut your mouth.”
Bartew wanted to say more but Kenar put his hand on Bartew’s shoulder and shook his head.
Mana continued. “I suggest that our safest bet is to put together a team that goes to the tower and explores it. We want to be as careful and meticulous in our approach as possible. Just because we have the key to the tower itself doesn’t mean we’ll be welcomed with open arms. Maybe it serves as some way to give us safe passage, but I somehow doubt it.” She looked around the group again before continuing. “Now, that leaves me with the question of who will go in with me.”
“Are you sure you should be going in?” Cobal asked.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“It could be very dangerous and you are too important to lose to some sort of trap or magic.”
Mana smiled. “The same could be said for any of us,” she countered.
“I know some people who I wouldn’t mind throwing into danger,” Eliana scoffed.
“That would only hurt the people whose bodies they possess.” Cassandra reminded the fiery pirate captain.
Eliana sighed. “Fine, whatever, I’m going in with you.”
“So am I,” Cobal said.
“I should come along too,” Kenar said.
“Why?”
“It was our fault that this happened in the first place so I think we should take some responsibility in fixing this problem too.” He looked at Bartew who shrugged. “Do as you wish.”
“Then it’s settled, I think sending in a small group is smarter than sending in a large group, so this should be a good number.”
Cobal was surprised that Cassandra didn’t want to join them, knowing her curiosity about things in general, but he also knew she had very little skills that could be of use in a tower filled with unknown magic, so it was probably a wise decision to stay behind. It would be four of them. Before they got ready to head to the tower, Kenar pulled Cobal aside.
“Listen, I wanted to give you a quick warning about the captain.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on Bartew and I worry that he’s changed his mind about all this. The rest of us want to be put to rest, but I think he’s still clinging onto hope that he can continue to live within the body he has possessed now. The fact that he once again has a working body has convinced him that this is his second chance at life. I suggest you have someone follow him closely until this is all over.”
Cobal nodded. “I’ll make sure it’s done.” He looked at the man, possessing a body that didn’t belong to him. Over the past few weeks Cobal had started to feel some pity for the ghosts. They were in this situation due to their own hubris, but the punishment for their crime was far harsher than it had any reason to be. “How are you faring throughout all of this?”
Kenar smiled wryly. “I can’t say I’m not scared. But just because these past weeks have been lively and – I have to admit – fun, doesn’t mean that this time is ours. We are borrowing someone else’s time without anything to give back to it. I’ve had a very long time to think about our situation and what it means to pass on, and I think I’m ready, although I’m sure I’ll hesitate when the time comes.”
Cobal smiled. “That’s a very honest response.”
“No point in hiding my feelings, I’m appreciative that you’ve given us the chance to finally rest.”
“First we need to get into that tower and find the artifact that keeps you stuck here without dying. For all we know we’ll be fellow ghosts in a day.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” Kenar said with a grin.
The tower had been looming over them for the past few weeks, both physically and metaphorically. The reason they were all in this predicament in the first place was because the previous time someone went into the tower without permission things went so poorly that they can’t even explain what went wrong, just that everything went wrong. The way this thing was built even looked strange to Cobal, as if it wasn’t from this place at all. He felt a tingling feeling in his body and an idea crept into his mind.
“Whoever built this might have been from my world,” Mana commented, confirming Cobal’s fear. “This type of architecture doesn’t seem to exist around here and although it definitely looks different from buildings in my world, the influences are clear. I think whoever built this like Roman architecture, you can see that in the pillars, but wanted to give that look a more modern touch by adding in windows and what looks to be sliding doors.” She paused. “They look automatic, but I don’t think they could be. I didn’t see any signs of a generator and if there were solar panels on the roof we would have known.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Eliana complained.
“Don’t worry, it’s not relevant. What we should really focus on is how to get inside, I’m sure we’ll figure things out from there.”
“Sure, most of the things that are there to figure out will fall upon you though.”
Mana let out a deep sigh. “I’m very well aware.” She took the key from out of her bag and walked forward towards the door. She first held up the key to the door to see if anything would happen on its own, but nothing did. Cobal still wasn’t sure how the key would work. All things considered it just looked to be a metal cylinder with some symbols engraved into it. The symbols didn’t look like any writing he was familiar with and when he asked Mana she said she was pretty confident they didn’t come from her world either. Perhaps they were some sort of runic script as they did look a little bit similar to the runes that were being used by the cultists, but they didn’t have enough to go on when it came to that idea. When nothing happened she instead started looking for a place the key might go.
This was something Cobal could help out with, so he started looking around as well. The others stood off to the side, awkwardly waiting for the duo to find something. It was Eliana who ended up spotting something as she was pacing around a little away from the entrance. “What’s that up there?” she asked, pointing at a cylinder sticking somewhat out of the wall, to the top left of the door.
Mana and Cobal looked up. “It’s a flag holder,” Mana said. She immediately looked at the metal object. “I wonder if this goes in there.”
“Get on my shoulders and we can try,” Cobal suggested.
“I don’t know if I’m that limber, maybe try Eliana instead.”
The pirate captain smiled. “Want me to hop on the kids head and dump this key into that hole?”
“Just don’t hurt him too much,” Mana replied.
Cobal cupped his hands to give Eliana a lift up and seconds later she was standing on his shoulder. She put the key into the cylinder and pushed off from the wall, getting out of range quickly in case something weird would happen.
A strange combination of clicks sounded from near the door until it stopped. A second later a large piece of fabric shot out of the wall and unfurled, turning into a flag of a country Cobal didn’t recognize. In the center of the flag stood a single word in the common script. Metocari.
“Now what?” Eliana asked. The flag had revealed itself like it was some sort of grand gesture, but nothing happened after that initial surprise. They all stood a little bit away from the entrance to the tower since they weren’t sure if something would happen. When it seemed safe enough, Mana was the first to step forward.
“I still don’t see a way to open this door,” Cobal commented right as the door slid open on its own. “What sort of magic is that?” He asked.
“Automated doors, they sense movement. I don’t know how they work in my world, but I’m guessing this one is powered by magic.” She steeled herself. “Time to enter the belly of the beast.”
I am aware that these last couple of chapters have been a little bit short. I have some things to consolidate and adjust for the final version eventually.
Opal Kaharis 