I let out a deep sigh.
The exhaustion was more mental than magical.
(Why did it have to come to this?)
Even though I felt that way, now that it had come to this, I had no choice but to continue.
After defeating the monstrous horse, its body vanished. A key was left behind — most likely, the key to leave this grand hall.
After picking up the key, I opened the letter I hadn’t had a chance to read due to being pursued.
The words in the letter were written in an old magical kingdom’s language.
“Waiting at the tower’s peak.”
That’s what it said.
This must be another part of the trial.
I tucked the key and letter into my pocket.
The key I found here turned out to be for the door of this hall.
Instead of the path I came from, I inserted the key into the keyhole of a door I hadn’t opened yet. With a click, the lock released.
Opening it carefully, I found a corridor.
There was no ceiling, and I could see outside.
The surroundings were quite dark, with only the red moon glowing ominously in the sky.
Would it be possible to fly up to the top of this tower from here?
No sooner had I thought that than the sound of thunder was followed by rain.
The rain fell suddenly and heavily.
Using a combination of water and wind magic, I shielded myself from the downpour.
If I tried to use flight magic through this rain and thunder, something would likely interfere.
I just had a feeling.
There was plenty of water around me.
I gathered it with water magic and directed it outward.
But the water hit an invisible wall along the way.
“So, I have to climb the tower after all.”
I murmured to myself, trying to dispel the eerie atmosphere, though the rain muffled even my own voice.
Although I wasn’t getting wet, staying here too long would chill me to the bone.
I continued onward, blocking the rain with magic.
After walking for a while, I saw a door.
I reached for the doorknob and turned it.
It wasn’t locked.
As I opened the door to step inside, I heard a distant howl amidst the rain.
I quickly turned to look outside, but the rain was falling harder, making it impossible to see anything.
Hastily, I closed the door.
I exhaled a breath.
The hallway was dim, with only a faint red moonlight.
I illuminated the surroundings with magic.
Just having light eased my fear significantly.
Three paths led from the hallway.
I tried to sense any magical energy, but perhaps because of the trial, I couldn’t perceive anything clearly.
With no other choice, I created a slender piece of ice and placed it on the ground.
The ice tilted to the right.
Following it, I proceeded to the right.
Paintings decorated the corridor, but they all had poor taste.
I thought it would have been better if they had displayed landscape paintings, continuing forward.
Then, I saw a door at the end.
Opening the door, I briefly glimpsed a room — unnaturally bright inside.
It seemed that the brightness was due to the chandelier on the ceiling.
It was so bright that I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
So I covered the chandelier with water to dim the light.
The brightness became more manageable.
“Is someone there?”
I instinctively flinched.
I hadn’t expected anyone to be in such a well-lit place.
“I’ve been praying all this time. Really, I have. So, please, no punishment…”
Looking around the room again, I saw a woman bound and fixed in a praying posture.
A black cloth covered her eyes as a blindfold.
The room was nearly empty, except for a statue of some deity placed before the woman.
“Is there anyone there?”
“I’m sorry for barging in. What are you doing here?”
When I spoke, the woman trembled.
“I’ve been following orders all this time, so please, no punishment…”
“Don’t worry, I won’t punish you. I came here from outside.”
“Outside…?”
At that, she finally turned her face toward me.
Her skin was pale.
“Tell me, why are you here? Were you brought here and forced to do something?”
“I… was brought here and told to pray to Lord Aion, so that’s what I’m doing.”
Aion. I hadn’t heard that name before… but it was in the memories I inherited.
Apparently, Aion was the deity the sorcerer who built this tower had ultimately sought.
However, it was said that no one other than that sorcerer had ever spoken that name.
I hadn’t heard of a deity by that name either.
“And this statue?”
“They said it was made in the image of Alkon, and that I must continue to pray to Lord Aion through this statue.”
Alkon… I know nothing about that.
It seems the sorcerer of this tower created a god that only he understood, one that existed solely within him.
He was such an odd character, distancing himself even from demon worshippers.
It appears this woman was abducted and forced to pray here.
“What’s with the brightness?”
“They said it was to lead to the true light…”
There must be some meaning behind it.
“I want to help you escape, but I don’t know how to get out myself.”
“I see… if you find a way out, will you help me too?”
“Yes, I promise.”
“Then I’ll continue praying. Otherwise, I’ll be punished.”
The woman fell silent after that.
If there’s a punishment, it means there’s a patrol.
Getting caught would be troublesome.
I retrieved the water from around the chandelier.
“I’m sorry I can’t help right now. I’ll come back later.”
“Yes.”
I closed the door.
If Ahavain were here, he would have taken her along.
With his confidence, backed by strength and experience.
I have some strength, but I don’t think I could imitate that.
As I paused for a moment, I thought I heard the footsteps I’d heard before.
This is bad. If I keep going, I’ll run into them.
With no other choice, I stepped back into the room.
