The Climb: Chapter 64

Rhadamantis

He woke up, shirtless and sweating.

Where?

The last thing he remembered was storming out of the lodging. How did he get here?

Beside him was a girl with dark hair and skin, tending to small scratches and bruises on Grey’s face. She dragged a finger across a scratch and the purple Shinsoo covered the scratch and healed it.

“That’s it.” Nanette said. “You’re a natural at this Kyla.”

“Uhh- thanks.” The girl, Kyla said.

“I don’t get why you’re so worried about such small cuts.” Grey said. “It’s nothing.”

“The last time you had a cut on your face, you fought a Tabris who used it a blood attacks and that cut of yours got infected by the blood. You almost lost your right eye.” Nanette countered.

“Fair enough.” Grey said and he turned to Kyla. “It’s both annoying and cool that you can do the healing thing. All I can do is throw Lightning Spears that will kill me if I use too much of it.”

Nanette nodded. “Medicinal Shinsoo manipulation is a talent. It cannot be taught.”

“That’s cool.” Kyla said. “I guess.”

“Oh Nanette.” Grey said. “Rhady’s awake by the way, also why hasn’t anyone given him a shirt yet?”

“Because we don’t have one?” Nanette offered. “None of the boys have similar builds to Rhadamantis.”

“Not  in our team anyway.” Grey shrugged. “Hey Gael are you wearing a t-shirt under that hoodie?”

Mattie sighed and pulled off his hoodie, handing it to Rhady.

“Thanks.” Rhadamantis pulled in on. “Why are you here by the way?”

“Wait.” Grey spoke up. “You know him?”

“Uhmm yeah.” Rhady said. “He was the one that healed you when you were knocked out from using Redan.”

Nanette raised an eyebrow. “So you were the reason for that.”

Mattie shrugged.

“How much have you exactly influenced our actions?” Jin asked with folded arms.

“Well-” Mattie said. “I- uhh healed Sami’s leg back on the second floor.”

“That was because of you?” Sami asked with her mouth open.

“And I saved Ora and Rhadamantis from that Ranker as well.”

“And you never told us?” Jin eyed Rhady accusingly.

Rhadamantis shrugged. “It would’ve been foul play and we could’ve gotten disqualified.”

“Someone else did foul play first.” Ashleigh said.

“Yu Han Sung was already a corrupt test director.” Jin urged. “I highly doubt the WoMan would care about details.”

Rhadamantis was still confused what was going on but he had a gist of what was happening.

“Hey Rhady.” Grey spoke up. “You mind explaining what happened with you?”

Rhadamantis sighed. “I think that I wouldn’t be much help in that either. I don’t remember anything.”

“So you don’t remember breaking out fully and attacking Nanette and I?”

Rhadamantis bit his lip. “I did?”

“Yeah!” Sami shouted. “To get you back to normal she had to do a wakening, do you know how much effort it takes for her to perform that?”

“Wait.” Grey spoke up. “You performed a wakening?”

Nanette waved the two of them away. “I’m fine you two.”  

“What’s a wakening?” Some guy with blond hair asked.

Nanette waved him away. “It’s something not important to you.”

Rhadamantis shook his head. He wasn’t focusing on the topic at hand because of a word Nanette had said. What was it? A Tabaris?

“Listen.” Grey said. “I know all of us are angry right now but let’s throw our anger at the right person.” He turned to Mattie.

Mattie sighed. “Now I know that my actions have been less than…favourable.”

“Yeah, no.” Grey muttered. “A plan created without any of our consents that could’ve killed our friends that we haven’t seen in 15 years. I think favourable was thrown out the window a while ago.”

“What he said.” The same blond guy said.

“You didn’t really give us a choice when it came to the infiltration too.” Aarav (Wait, he was alive?) spoke.

Rhadamantis looked around  to see two more familiar faces that should’ve been dead too, Ora and Kiri- what was going on?

Rhadamantis turned to Aarav who was closest to him. “You’re- you’re alive?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah.” Caleb, who just sat beside him, said. “You missed a lot of things Rhady.”

“I can see that.” Rhadamantis muttered.

“How are you feeling?” Caleb asked as the rest of them were still berating Mattie.

“Dizzy and confused.” Rhadamantis said. “You?”

“I’m fine. Just worried about you.” Caleb took a drink from a bottle of liquid Shinsoo and made a ‘ack’ sound. “I wish that this was little stronger.”

“Don’t you ever get tired of drinking alcohol?”

“Don’t you ever get tired of breathing Shinsoo?” Caleb countered.

Rhadamantis chuckled. “Fair enough, just don’t get mad when I say ‘I told you so’ when your liver fails one day.”

“Just pipe down and listen to what they have to say.” Caleb countered. “Don’t want you to miss anything else.”

“Alright Caleb.” Rhady chuckled and turned to them.

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Grey

“Why did you make Ora and the others fake their deaths? Just so that we would climb back down and attack the Calix?” Grey demanded.

“I needed the fight between the two teams to be personal.” Gael replied. “And Ora was needed to infiltrate the Calix because Ora was close to Evorsa- and at the very least, I thought that Evorsa would have a weakness for Ora. I didn’t expect her to outright imprison Ora.”

“Well maybe you’re just not a good Guide then.” Kiri muttered.

“Guys, that’s enough.” Emlyn  urged, making Mattie jerk up at her voice. “It seems that despite all the wrong things that he’s done.” Emlyn turned to Mattie. “He had the best intentions in mind- at least, I hope that he did.” 

Kiri sighed. “That’s obvious. Blood is thicker than water.”

“Hey Bird-Brain.” Grey threatened. “How about you keep your mouth shut about Emlyn before I pluck your feathers and use them to stuff my pillows.”

Kiri unfolded her arms and leaned forward. “You can try Sparky. It’ll be fun to hear you scream when I drop you from 50 feet in the air.”

“Alright!” Nanette shouted in frustration. “In Field.” Her Lighthouse appeared and surrounded the people in the room. “Calming Field.”

Orange Light surrounded the room and the people in it. Grey felt his tense muscles relax as well as letting out a breath- almost as if that breath held all of his anger, he felt calm and less prone to shouting.

The rest of the people on edge, Kiri, Sami, Aarav and some of the other let out a breath and calmed down too.

Grey turned to Nanette. “I’m pretty sure that’s cheating Nanette.”

Nanette smiled innocently. “Now apologise to each other.”

Grey sighed and turned to Kiri. “I’m sorry Kiri.”

Kiri shrugged. “I am too. I would still win in a fight though.”

“You know Kiri.” Hwan spoke up. “For a girl, you sure are fond of testosterone-filled fights.” Kiri only shrugged.

Gael stepped forward. “Now let me explain why it had to be the Silver Knights that had to defeat the Calix.”

“Just a fair warning, don’t say that name when Memphis is around.” Grey warned. “She doesn’t like that name very much.”

“And whose fault is that?” Jin asked.

Grey frowned. “Ours.”

Gael cleared his throat. “On the lower floors, the Silver Knights are shown to be good- not just in terms of battle but also morally. Some of the significant actions you have done have been good in the eyes of the masses. The raid on the raiders in the Middle Area of the 25^th floor and returning the stolen goods that the raiders stole.”

“We only attacked the raider because they stole our stuff too.” Jin urged.

“And you returned whatever was not yours.” Gael said.

“Only because we couldn’t carry most of it.” Jin muttered.

“Don’t listen to him.” Ashleigh said. “Most of us were in agreement that we should return the goods.”

Grey also knew that for all intents and purposes that Jin had to act like he disagree with anything that the team did that would’ve been seen as disagreeing with the Zahard Empire.  

Gael nodded. “Protecting that family on the 27^th floor from the corrupt officials.”

“We got banned from that floor by the ruler for that, just FYI.” Sami added.

“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that to the current masses- the Silver Knights are a symbol of good. A group that looks after the will-being of the inhabitants of the Tower.” Gael continued. “If another team had been the ones to defeat the Calix- it would’ve just been another team beating a team- and the Calix would’ve been reborn again. But if the Silver Knights were the one to defeat the Calix-”

“It would been seen as an ‘act of good’.” Hwan nodded.

Gael turned to Ora’s team. “I honestly didn’t mean for to be hurt for you to be involved in this. For that I’m sorry.” He turned to the members of the Silver Knights. “Do you see why I needed for this to happen? Other than the fact that there probably aren’t many teams that would’ve been able to fight and beat the Calix.”

Sector cleared his throat at this, pointing to himself and his team. Gael ignored it.

“Yeah well, you could’ve just asked us to defeat them.” Jin offered.

“Yeah.” Grey said. “I would’ve found out that Riskel was the one that killed my father. Sami would’ve found out that Auk was in that team- so we would’ve just challenged the Calix eventually too.”

“And Rhady would’ve found out about that witch being in that team too.” Caleb added.

“Yeah.” Grey agreed. “Wait- who we talking about?”

Gael sighed. “I think all of you know why I couldn’t just ask you.” He set his eyes on Emlyn, a sad look in his eyes.

Grey turned to Emlyn, who just looked confused, like she didn’t know what to say or do. She just…looked at him.

This man had been the one that drove Emlyn’s family to poverty- which was his own family. However, Emlyn’s mother hadn’t been the best person either. She had sold off Orphans in the Middle Area to get money- Honestly, Grey didn’t know what was the right choice either in this point. Who was right and who was wrong here?

“Let’s give these two some alone time.” Nanette urged.

“Yeah.” Ashleigh agreed. “We need to discuss our battle plans for the Semi-Finals anyway.”

Nanette, Jin, Ashleigh, Sami, Rhadamantis, Kyla and Caleb all stood up and headed to the other side of the room where the rest of Ora’s team was waiting. Grey stayed on the spot. He didn’t want to leave Emlyn alone but he realised the need to let the two of them be alone.

Nanette grabbed Grey’s arm. “Come on Grey.”

“I’ll be fine Grey.” Emlyn smiled.

Grey sighed. “Alright.” He stood up, giving Gael the evil eye one more time before he followed the rest of them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Emlyn

She waited for them to be out of earshot before turning and to talking to her brother. “Gael Matthews.”

Gael bit his lip. “Emlyn Matthews. Are you going to scream at me too?”

“I did all my screaming already.” Emlyn said. “20 years ago, when I had to sleep on dirt and only had cardboard to protect me from the cold.”

Gael sighed. “Em-girl, I didn’t mean for you to go through that. It was just to punish our mom and dad- for agreeing or at least not stopping mom. I had plans for you- someone was supposed to take you-”

“I don’t blame you for anything Gael.” Emlyn said. “I did back when I didn’t understand what mom did- but I understand why you did it.”

“I-I see.” Gael swallowed. “So how are mom and dad now?”

“They’re fine- the last time I saw them anyway. I haven’t seen them in 15 years since I’ve been climbing the Tower but I give them calls from time to time. Dad’s got a stable job now and mom- well, let’s just say your plan worked. She’s a changed person now Gael. I know it sounds crazy but she’s a…caring and kind mother now. She doesn’t sell Orphans to people anymore.” 

“We were in the middle of buying a house-nothing special, just a small one room house, right before I was chosen to climb the Tower.” Emlyn replied. “I was planning to meet them when we got to the 50^th floor and I’ve been helping them by giving a little of bit of the points I’ve earned through climbing.”

“I see.” Gael nodded. “I guess that we know who the better child- after I sent mom and dad to that fate, I completely ignored their existence.”

“If you just go meet them- I’m sure they’ll forgive you.”  

“I think you’re just a bit too hopeful Em-girl.”

Emlyn sighed. “Gael, mom kept a box labelled with your name. Inside it was all keepsakes that reminded her of you. She pulled it out every day and cried every night holding. She misses you. I’m sure they want to apologise to you as much as you want to apologise to them.”

Gael stared at her quietly for a moment. “When did you get so mature Em-girl?”

Emlyn snorted. “When I first picked up a bow. It was a stupid bow that I made when I was ten, I didn’t know that a bow was supposed to be able to bend so I used a curved piece of wood.”

“After I brought home the scrap that was that bow, mom , in her first sign of change, decided to spend the remaining points we had on something that wasn’t her.” Emlyn continued. “They got me my second bow, a real one because I needed a way to defend myself in the Middle Area of the Tower.”

“And here you are now- Diana of the Silver Knights.” Gael said.

“Grey was being serious about what he said earlier by the way.” Emlyn reminded. “Don’t say that name in front of Memphis. She really doesn’t like it.”   

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Gael chuckled, his expression turning serious after a while. “Are you sure you have nothing to say to me? If anything to vent, now’s the time.”

Emlyn shook her head. “I’m fine. Besides, if you didn’t do what you did I would’ve never been able to survive this long. Maybe I would’ve never been chosen to climb the Tower and if I was never chosen then-” Emlyn paused, turning to Grey. He was sitting listening to whatever the group was saying.

“You would’ve never met him huh?” Gael finished for her.

Emlyn nodded.

“But Em-girl, a Gremlin?”

Emlyn frowned. “Half-Gremlin and he’s not like the other Gremlins. He has a good heart and is a good person.”

“The one thing I’ve found out from my time exploring the Tower Em-girl, is that Gremlins will always have their secrets.” Gael said, making Emlyn jump at his words. She couldn’t argue with that- because she had experienced it first-hand and had been told multiple times.

“For what it’s worth, I accept him. You won’t have quarrels with me on whether you can date him or not.” Gael said. “He does care about you and that’s all that matters.”

“Yeah well he doesn’t accept you so you need to do something about that.” Emlyn replied. “Just so you know, he liked pasta.”

Gael chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind. I think he’ll be a good addition to the family though- it’ll be nice to have a brother-in-law for once.”

“Br-brother-in-law?” Emlyn cheeks were heating up. “What- what are you saying?”

Gael chuckled. “I’m teasing you Em-girl. Expect a lot more of that, I have 20 years of little sister teasing to catch up on.”

“Don’t make me un-forgive you.”

Gael smiled. “You should go be with your friends. You need to be in that strategy meeting too.”

Emlyn nodded. “Okay. Don’t go leading little girls to their deaths while I’m gone.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

She walked over to the team and sat beside Grey who took her hand in his. “Everything okay?”

“Yup.” She smiled at him. “Everything’s okay now.”

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Grey

“Based on what’s on the Box (A/N: Basically the equivalent of Internet for Light Bearers) the Calix right now are a group of 12 people.” Hwan revealed.

“What?” Kyla demanded.

“Yeah. Looks like they got a few more followers.” Hwan replied. “That either means that they have just a group full of cheap summons or Riskel is a better Gambler than I am- which is saying something.”

“What does that matter?” Sector offered. “We’re what- 17 strong?”

“Yes that would be fine if those Rampants weren’t siding with them.” Grey reminded.

“And Riskel himself is a genuine threat that probably requires all of us to handle.” Nanette added.

“Yeah I know that.” Sector muttered. “I faced him before, a long time ago. He slaughtered my old team.”

“He did?” Ora spoke up. “Sector- why didn’t you tell us?”

“What’s there to tell? I didn’t even know that Riskel was a problem until 2 days ago.” Sector said. “It didn’t seem like news you’d want to spread around.”

“Grey and I could’ve ended Riskel easily back at the hotel if Rhady hadn’t come breaking through the wall.” Jin said. “We should be able to handle him.”

“Yes it would have been.” Nanette said. “But right now, Grey’s not at a 100%. He can probably barely manage any of Maschenny’s techniques, much less Redan.”

Everyone turned to Grey, waiting for a confirmation or a denial.

Grey sighed. “I have to say it as it is. Nanette’s right. I can probably manage one of Maschenny’s techniques but that’s it.”

“Which means that you can’t depends on your lightning as much.” Grey turned to see Gael walked forward. “But luckily for you, you have another kind of Lightning to use.” Gael summoned his Arms Inventory and pulled out a spear- a spear that Grey never expected to see for a few more years.

“That’s- Jupiter. Where-”

“Shanaz and I are old friends, she was the reason I came down to Evankhell’s floor in the first place. She wanted me to investigate Yu Han Sun and his actions behind the scenes.” Gael revealed. “She wanted me to tell you that she knows that you were going to take it from her once you were deserving. She told me that she thinks that you already are.”

Grey reached out for Jupiter slowly, his fingers closing around it and taking it from Gael. 15 years ago, this weight would’ve been familiar and welcoming- but he hadn’t touched this thing in years. It’s weight was now Alien and unfamiliar.

“Well since we’re on the topic spears.” Jin stood up and summoned his Arms Inventory too. He pulled out around spear and threw it at Grey, the latter catching it. It was a spear with a cross-shaped shaft that was as long as Grey was.

“Why are you giving me Gáe Bulg?” Grey asked.

“Eh it was yours to begin with.” Jin said. “I stole it just because I was annoyed that my sis trained you and not me. Plus you need a proper melee spear, the whole reason Gungnir broke was because you were using a throwing spear in close-combat.”

“Well- alright then.” Grey cleared his throat.

“Anyone else have weapons that they want to give away?” Sector asked. “Because if so, I’m next to receive it.”

“No time for jokes Sector.” Everyone turned to the voice, that being Memphis standing at the doorway. “You Dewdrops want to win right? You beat the sorry asses of the Calix into the ground right?”

“Alright then, here’s the deal.” Memphis walked towards them. “I’ll lead you to victory, I’ll let you win but on one condition. You guys have to follow everything I say to the letter. If you do, then victory is yours. I need you to trust me, to lend me your strength. In return, I’ll do everything I can to help you win.”

“Well.” Dax spoke up. “We were kinda already expecting you to do so. So yeah, you didn’t even need to ask.”

His words were followed by multiple nodding and ‘yes’s from the group.

“Alright then.” Memphis sighed. “Here’s what’s going to happen. The injured right now, meaning Ora- you sit out of this.”

“Excuse me?” Ora demanded

“You are excused, especially from this fight.” Memphis said. “You are not participating.”

“No!” Ora demanded.

“Ora-” Grey started but Ora cut her off.

“I will not sit this fight out like I’m some kind of easily broken piece of glass.” Ora turned to Grey and then to Memphis. “I don’t know what you think of me right now- but I am not the little girl you left behind on the second floor. I will participate in this fight if agree or not. You asked me to trust you Memphis- but I expect for you to trust me too.”

Memphis turned to Grey, silently asking what they should do. Grey sighed. “Alright.”

Memphis sighed too. “Alright fine. You will participate.”

Ora smiled. “Thank you.”

“Alright back to the plan-”

“Before you start Memphis.” Gael spoke up. “I believe Ora has something to say to all of you.”

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Ora

She jumped up at Gael urging. She hadn’t expected this- why?

Gael urged her on with his eyes. Was she really going to have to do this?

The whole group had her eyes on her- except Aarav and Kiri, who knew her secret already.

She took in a deep breath and steeled herself. Like she said, she wasn’t the little girl back on the second floor anymore.

“The thing you need to know- it’s that I’m an irregular.” Ora revealed.

She had expected gasps, muttering, denial- something. What she got was dead silence. It made her nervous- what did this silence mean?

“You’re- you’re an irregular?” Grey asked.

“Yeah.” Ora nodded.

Grey’s shock look turned into a smirk. “Huh. I always knew you were a weirdo, now I have a reason why.”

“Hey!” Ora frowned.

This made some of the group chuckle, lightening the mood a little bit.

“Wait.” Grey turned to Aarav. “You knew this?”

“Yeah?” Aarav said.

Grey turned to Ora, frowning. “You told him before you told me?”

“Uhh.” Ora muttered, not knowing what to say.

“Grey. He’s her boyfriend.” Nanette said. “Of course she’s going to tell him first.”

“What?!” Grey looked between Ora and Aarav. “Boyfriend? I didn’t agree to this.”

“Ignore him.” Nanette covered his mouth.

“So, you’re from outside the Tower huh?” Dax asked. “That’s cool. What’s it like?”

“Uhh…well.” Ora cleared her throat. “There’s…the sky. I guess.”

(A/N: BTW. I know I’ve used some terms like the Sky and Sun and Stars during the story but…there’s no such of those things in the Tower. I only use those terms because I don’t have anything similar to compare it to in the ToG  world)

“The sky?” Sami asked. “What’s that?”

“Well, it’s like.” Ora frowned. How in the world was she supposed to describe this?

“Can we do this later?” Memphis frowned. “We have a Semi-Finals to plan.”

“Of course.” Gael said. “There’s one more thing you have to know though. Ora- she’s the child of Eseld and Piran.”

“What?” Sector and Dax stared at her like she was someone that just fell out of the sky.

“I’m assuming we’re supposed to know who those guys are.” Hwan said.

“Eseld and Piran.” Sector repeated. “Remember the Queen and Protector pair, where the Queen became a Zahard Princess? Eseld and Piran are their names.”

“What?” Hwan demanded. “Are you- being serious?”

“Okay, I don’t know what’s going on.” Jin said. “But I’m pretty sure if Ora’s mom was a Zahard Princess then Ora can’t be an Irregular.”

That’s when Sector and Dax explained the story of the Queens and Protectors, how one Queen managed to become a Zahard Princess and even though it was against the rules, he had a child with her Protector. Then everything else that followed.

“So…Ora.” Grey said. “It’s a child of a Zahard Princess and also an Irregular.”

“Yeah.” Ora nodded.

“Wait.” Jin said. “If Ora’s a child of a Zahard Princess, then why was she so weak on the second floor. No offense, but I’m just saying.”

“My powers only awakened a year after we passed the second floor.” Ora said. “Probably because I haven’t been breathing Shinsoo until that point.”

“You don’t breathe Shinsoo outside of the Tower?” Nanette asked.

“Continue this later.” Grey said. “Is that all Ora?”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much it.” Ora said.

Gael stepped forward. “Now that all of you know the truth, you have to be asked something. I think all of you know the standing of Irregulars in the Tower. They are objects of fear and destruction. If anyone were to find out that you were once in a team with a Irregular- it would tarnish your reputation.”

“So the question now is, now that you know all of this- what will you do?” Gael asked the group.

Ora didn’t have to worry this time though- as there was no silence to that question.

“What kind of question is that?” Grey demanded. “What difference does her being an Irregular make?”

“What he said.” Aarav agreed.

Grey pointed a crooked finger at him. “Quiet you. I haven’t forgotten the whole boyfriend thing.”

Hwan cleared his throat. “Grey is right. What different does it make? We’re all just nobodies from nowhere town. Our reputation wasn’t good in the first place.”

“Whatever her role.” Dax said. “She’s still a Queen and as Protectors, it’s our duty to protect her- even if she wasn’t bonded to us.”

“What my twin brother is trying to say, is that you’re not getting rid of us that easily Ora.” Sector said.

Kyla nodded. “We’re not going to abandon you Ora.”

Caleb sighed. “I don’t really have a reason to stay but it would be a dick move to just run away now right?”

Rhadamantis nodded. “I already knew this from that attack from the Ranker. This is nothing new.”

“Rhady you sure knew a lot things that you didn’t want to tell us.” Grey muttered.

Rhady shrugged. “It was not my secret to tell.”

“Fair enough.” Grey shrugged.

“Like what Hwan said.” Sami added. “Who cares about reputation? I’ve been meaning to find a way to say that I don’t like all those fanboys anyway.”

Emlyn nodded. “Ora’s a friend. Friends don’t abandon other friends.”

“I think I speak for everyone on my team that we honestly don’t care.” Memphis said, getting nods from everyone from the team- except one.

The group turned to the only person who had any significant reputation. Jin was staring at her ground, biting the nails of his thumb. He looked up suddenly, facing everyone’s gazes.

And he laughed.

“Seriously? My goal in climbing the Tower is to usurp my father’s throne and you think I care about something as stupid as what other people think of me?” Jin said. “I don’t care about my reputation. The day when I’ll be branded a traitor is inevitable, I’ll be worse than any Irregular then.”

Kiri whistled. “The Son of Koon grew some balls. You would be totally hot right now- if you were my type and gave you the time of day.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Jin said.

Ora saw from the corner of her eye, Ashleigh frowning at Kiri for that comment.

“Alright!” Memphis slammed her hands into a chair. “Unless anyone less has anything else to reveal- it’s time we discussed strategies. So listen up!”