Chapter 21 – Gates of the Night
The night wrapped Rashad's house in a velvet stillness, like a curtain meant to soothe the spirit, blending with a quiet sense of peace. Warm lights from candles and dim lamps seeped through the windows, stretching long shadows across the wooden floor—an eternal dance between light and darkness. The air carried a gentle warmth, filled with laughter, even though the clock hands pointed past midnight. It felt like a final gathering before a journey into the unknown, a journey destined to hold surprises and trials none of them had yet faced.
Rojen's laughter rang out, sharp and spirited, breaking the balance of silence.
— "I really enjoyed this! It reminded me of my grandmother!"
Her words rippled like music through the room, mingling with the whistle of the night wind against the windows as if the wind itself laughed with her. She added with sudden excitement:
— "I think I'll visit my grandmother soon."
Eyas raised his brows in genuine surprise.
— "Wait… you have a grandmother?"
Selene's lips curved into a knowing smile, her eyes gleaming with their usual mystery.
— "Yes… but you'll never guess who her grandmother is."
Saman leaned forward, his voice hesitant yet charged with curiosity.
— "Who is she, Selene? Tell us…"
Selene exhaled softly, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight as though revealing a long-hidden secret.
— "Her grandmother is none other than the leader of the Nine-Tailed Fox tribe."
Rojen placed a hand on her chest and closed her eyes proudly. Eyas and Saman, on the other hand, froze in open astonishment, as though they had just uncovered a treasure hidden in a casual remark.
Saman finally managed to catch his breath.
— "Why didn't you tell us about your grandmother before, Rojen?"
Eyas, his curiosity deepening, followed quickly:
— "And where does she live?"
Rojen smirked with playful pride.
— "She lives on the Green Planet, where elves, dark elves, foxes, and wolves all coexist… Everything there feels like a living story."
Saman rubbed his forehead, thoughtful.
— "So… when will you leave?"
Rojen's smile softened into something tender, her eyes flickering between joy and nostalgia.
— "In about two days, I think. Being here, surrounded by this warmth, reminded me of her."
Eyas tilted his head, his expression caught between fascination and caution.
— "And how exactly do you plan to travel there? What spaceship did you choose? Is traveling really that necessary?"
Both Rojen and Selene burst into laughter, their voices overlapping yet distinct—Rojen's bold and teasing, Selene's sharp yet hushed. Selene explained quietly, her tone serious despite the amusement:
— "No spaceship is needed to travel there."
Rojen added mockingly:
— "Oh, Saman, you're still such a bookworm… If only you'd read some newer texts, you wouldn't sound so outdated."
Selene then leaned closer to Eyas, her voice calm yet firm:
— "Let me explain. There are several gates within the Tower. The main gate leads to the first trial. Once you finish, that gate closes behind you…"
Eyas cut her off quickly, unease threading his voice.
— "Then how do I reach the second floor?"
Selene continued with patient clarity:
— "After completing the first floor, you're transported directly to the second. You don't have to stand in front of the Tower's door again."
Excitement flickered across Eyas's face, his eyes widening with an eager smile.
— "So it's instantaneous transfer… right?"
Selene nodded, her gaze steady, carrying both firmness and a trace of care.
— "Exactly. As for Rojen's way of traveling to the Green Planet—there's something called the Field. It's like a backdoor to the Tower. The Tower is linked to countless worlds, and by writing down specific coordinates, a gate will open to that location instantly."
Rojen tilted her head mockingly, her tone thick with sarcasm.
— "Do you understand now how one can travel anywhere?"
Eyas clenched his fists, speaking with a mix of anger and wonder.
— "Yes, yes! Just go already and spare us your nonsense!"
Rojen shouted back at him, her face red with irritation.
— "Why can't you stop annoying me, you foul-mouthed pest?!"
Eyas replied with a mischievous grin.
— "Because making you mad is so much fun—besides, you lose your temper too easily."
Behind them, Saman simply watched with calm eyes, studying their childish quarrel. After a pause, he turned to Selene with a thoughtful question.
— "Eyas's illness is strange… Is it really impossible to diagnose?"
Selene shook her head softly.
— "Yes… it's like a void, devouring every piece of knowledge he has."
Saman's gaze lingered on Eyas, then he murmured in quiet reflection:
— "Maybe that's why he turned into such a bookworm."
Selene's lips curved in a faint smile, agreeing.
— "You're right. He keeps burying himself in those old books, hoping to find a clue that will explain his condition—or maybe just to fill that endless void."
Saman's eyes narrowed as though weighing a hidden truth.
— "But since entering the Tower, he seems… different. Like part of that void has been filled."
Selene fell silent, her gaze softening on Eyas—half pity, half quiet joy.
After their playful bickering, Eyas suddenly stood straighter, his tone firm.
— "So I've decided."
Rojen blinked.
— "Decided what, you idiot?"
Everyone paused, waiting. Selene and Saman looked on as Eyas declared with steady resolve:
— "I've decided to head to the second floor."
At that very moment, the scene shifted—fading into a dark room, heavy with eerie silence. Only the low hum of the Tower's system echoed faintly. A translucent blue screen glowed, illuminating half the chamber like a living presence that watched everything.
A man cloaked in shadows spoke in a low, deliberate voice:
— "I heard the Blacksmith King forged another masterpiece?"
The woman's voice on the other end of the call carried excitement, tinged with madness.
— "Yes. As usual, the masses didn't appreciate it."
The man pressed his lips together, saliva sliding slowly at the corner of his mouth.
— "And what is the level of this masterpiece?"
Her tone sharpened, brimming with strange enthusiasm.
— "It could be Excellent… or perhaps Excellent+."
The man exhaled deeply, his anger softening into cold intent.
— "And how do we get our hands on it?"
The woman's answer was chillingly simple.
— "If we want it, we must either kill the keeper of his armory… or convince her to join us."
The man's eyes gleamed, suspicion and curiosity battling within.
— "Is she the daughter of the Blacksmith Queen?"
— "Yes… but it won't be easy." She paused, her voice lowering.
— "I've also heard the Blacksmith King has recently received… visitors."
A slow, menacing smile spread across the man's face.
— "And what reason could they possibly have for visiting him…?"
The room fell silent once more, swallowed by shadows, leaving only mystery behind—an ominous promise of what was to come in the next chapter.
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— End of Chapter 21 —