Chapter 2

I raised my head, staring uncomprehendingly at the woman who'd shouted. She was a tall, middle-aged woman with brown hair and a long nose. The bane of my existence back when I was young, always giving me a hard time because she knew that I could do better. Miss Warren.

Wait... Miss Warren?

I locked gazes with the shrill-voiced woman and opened my eyes in surprise. Memories came flooding back of a time when I was nothing more than a child struggling through his days in the Academy. Those were the worst days of my life. Even my days of being a sickly old goat were better.

I saw her lips moving as if she were talking to me, but my mind was elsewhere. My gaze shifted to look around the classroom and landed on the window next to me. There, I found a young, black-haired, green-eyed man staring back at me. I felt as if I was thinking back to some distant memory. My eyes still hadn't turned color from attaining my Origin Card.

This isn't possible.

I moved my hand up and felt the smooth texture of my unblemished face, the man in the reflection mirrored my movements. His eyes were bright, and his skin was tan. There wasn't a single wrinkle marring his clean-shaven face.

Suddenly the reflection disappeared, and I found another figure standing before me. Miss Warren looked down at me with annoyance, but her gaze turned to worry when she saw my far-off expression. She placed one hand on my forehead.

She was exactly as she was a century ago. She may have been a hateful old crone on the surface, but she was a teacher who really cared.

"Rowan?" She spoke much more softly than she had before. A small hand was waved back and forth before my eyes, and her gaze shifted back to annoyance when she saw that I responded appropriately. The woman huffed loudly and headed back to the front of the classroom.

The sounds of snickering and muffled laughter reached my ears, catching me off-guard. I turned away from the window to see the rest of the room, and several familiar faces stared back at me.

My mind showed me the older versions of each of these men and women as I looked from one to the next. I involuntarily shuddered when I met the eyes of Galen just a few rows down. After a few seconds of laughter, Miss Warren slammed a book down on her desk, making many students jump and shutting down the ruckus.

"That's enough!" She yelled, her voice obviously amplified by one of the Cards that she carried. Her long nails rapped the board multiple times until she was sure that everyone was paying attention. The students' amusement with the prior incident vanished.

"Now, Miss Aurora, could you please remind me where we left off?" She asked and looked toward one of the seats at the front of the room. A beautiful, black-haired girl with untanned skin stood. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her Academy outfit didn't have a wrinkle on it. She was the picture of a model student.

"Yes, Ma'am. We had just turned to page fifty and were reviewing what we've learned about the Cards over the years," Aurora spoke confidently and glanced at me with an irritated look when she was done. Out of habit, I raised one of my eyebrows in a 'so what' gesture, only annoying the girl more. The teacher thanked her, and Aurora took her seat, but I could tell she was fuming.

I laughed internally. The old me would have turned away shyly, intimidated by the young woman's beauty and class rank. As for me now, I knew how little this Academy actually mattered. People who took things as seriously as Aurora never lasted in the real world. In fact, she had gone missing shortly after graduation, and I'd never heard another word about her.

The rustling of pages sounded throughout the class as multiple students who hadn't been paying attention quickly adjusted their books. When I realized what was happening, I did the same, and only then did I realize how badly my hands were shaking. I was spooked.

Once I'd found the right page, I rubbed my hands together, amazed at how smooth and unscarred my youthful skin was. No wrinkles or brown spots. My skin wasn't cold, and I was brimming with energy. I hadn't felt like this in almost a century.

Emotions flooded through me, and it took everything I had not to start crying in my seat. I couldn't believe it. I was back. After a few deep breaths, I somehow managed to calm myself and flipped to the next page with the rest of the class.

I wasn't really paying attention, but I pretended to follow along for the sake of Miss Warren. The pages were filled with information about the Cards, a gift from the Tower itself... depending on which Deity you believed in. But my mind wasn't on my studies.

This uniform. The scent of this classroom. All of these people... Am I truly back in the Academy?

A hundred years had passed, but I could remember it all so perfectly. I'd spent ten years with these people... in this same building. I hadn't been close with any of them, but I could still remember them as if it were yesterday.

Another black-haired boy sat next to me, and he was still grinning with amusement at my former interruption. He was a class clown and also a bit of an asshole. This kid had always been one to laugh at the expense of others, and he always tried his best to make jokes about the poorer students so everyone could laugh. I remembered this jerk well.

Then, there was the model student, Aurora. She was the 'cold beauty' of the Academy and didn't give two shits about anything but her studies. All of her scores were at the top of the class, and her fighting skills were even top-notch. There was a big commotion when she disappeared, but after a few weeks, she was forgotten. A common thing in the Tower.

Did I really travel back in time?

There were only two explanations. Either I was dreaming... a very vivid dream where even the smells were accurate. Or, I was actually in my younger body just days before graduation. I turned my attention to the teacher to see if something looked off. Reading the board, I found what I was looking for, a date in the upper corner.

The year was 9899, only ten days before the turn of the century. 9900. Exactly one century before the end of the world as we knew it. Before my mind could take me on a journey through time, the teacher's voice caught my attention.

"As you all know, these Cards are the core of our world," she said, trying not to sound too dull. She held up the metal box that contained her Deck. "These Cards are what give us strength, and they are the reason our society is flourishing."

"Without these Cards, civilization wouldn't have advanced as much as it has. In fact, without the resources of the higher Floors, we would still be living in a stone age," she laughed. "These Cards are the reason that we've managed to climb so high in the Tower, regardless of the Demonic scourge."

I smiled, actually somewhat enjoying the lecture. Though my life in the Academy had been terrible, times were simpler. Back then, everything was straightforward, and I only had a few worries.

"Now..." Miss Warren looked around the class, her eyes lingering on a few students. "There's only a week before graduation and just a few days before the Century Celebration. Once the Celebration is over, the stairs to the Second Floor will be opened to you."

"Leaving the First Floor marks the start of your adventure, and many of you are nervous," she sighed. "I would like to say everything will turn out fine, but that isn't true. How you've performed on the First Floor will determine your future."

No one was actually too frightened by her words. That was the whole point of the Academy, to prepare to leave the First Floor. They'd been studying and training with different weapons for ten years. Killing the Boars and Wolves on the First Floor had become almost a chore for most of them.

"You've heard this a hundred times, but we will still be doing quick reviews for the rest of the week," she spoke loudly. "Knowledge of the Cards is essential. Most choose their build after seeing their reward from the First Floor, but many of you have already started collecting."

"As you know, there are six Classes of Cards. Origin, Foundation, Enhancement, Ability, Spell, and Summoning. Our Origin Cards are unique to each of us, and the nine Foundation Cards are the same for everyone."

I looked at the current page we were studying. It showed the nine Foundation Cards. Strength, Vitality, Endurance, Agility, Dexterity, Perception, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Will. These were vital, and other Cards couldn't even be used properly without them.

Without embellishing the matter, Miss Warren continued, "Of the other four Classes, Climbers typically choose one to focus on and then use the other three to augment their build. For example, a Climber who focuses on Abilities may choose Enhancements that increase their physical prowess."

"Enhancements passively boost your body's capabilities and the might of your other skills. Abilities enact attacks or movements on command, which your body usually wouldn't be capable of. Then there are the Spell Cards, which hold great power, but can also be very costly," she looked around the classroom again.

"As for the Summoning Class, it is unlikely that any of you will be able to build such a Deck. It isn't impossible, but the drops for actual Summons are so rare that even the top Climbers only have one or two. So if you choose this build, you shouldn't have high expectations."

Most of the students nodded, knowing that it was nothing but a pipe dream to aim for a Summoner build. Of course, it wasn't impossible for them to get a single, low-level Summon and a couple of buff Cards for it, but even thinking about a Deck assembled around Summoning was just absurd.

Summoning Cards...

Instinctively, I looked down at my hip and caught my breath as I did. There was a small metal Deck Box that I hadn't seen in years. Of course, I wasn't the only one carrying such an item. Every student walked around with their Cards on them, and some would sooner die than be caught without.

Some of these boxes looked luxurious, some decorative, and some were rather plain. Mine, well, mine was just dirty. With just a glance at my tattered and blood-stained Deck Box, most of the other students would just turn away. Thus, before I'd even made a friend, my reputation had become that of a poor orphan boy.

I thumbed open the leather strap that kept the box closed and took a peek inside. Sitting loosely within were seven thin metal cards that fell back and forth when I moved. One Card was missing, and it was one of the few treasured Cards my father left for me when he passed.

My careful attitude when I was younger wouldn't allow me to tote around something so precious. Currently, the Card was hidden in a lockbox in my dorm. I'd felt that there were many who would kill me for such a Card. It wasn't something that someone like me should have. Looking back now, I know I was right.

Even though the Card was nothing more than a death mark, I could never bring myself to get rid of it. The small Deck was the one thing my father left for me, and that Card was special. He'd received it from my grandfather, and it was one of the few things I still had of him.

It was important to me. It had been enough to get me through the first Ten Floors in my previous life, even with my debilitated condition. It had also served my father well... until it got him killed. Miss Warren's voice pulled me from my thoughts again.

"Your Deck is your life. Take care of it," she said earnestly. "Now, let's move on to what we know about the Cards. The Levels of the Cards range from One to Ten, each being exponentially more powerful than the last. There are five Ranks agreed upon by both the Church of Liberation and the Church of Damnation. Pure, Blessed, Holy, Sacred, and Angelic."

Even with my current worries, I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. She was missing one. Before the Network became a well-used resource, not even the teachers in the Academy knew of the Celestial Rank Cards. Luckily, it seemed that I'd retained my memories from my previous life.

''Excuse me, teacher!'' Sitting in the front row, a short, brown-haired young man raised his right arm.

''Yes, Luke?''

Luke stood up and said, ''I heard from my father that there are actually eleven levels. Is that true?''

The teacher smirked, "That's a common rumor, usually talked about in pubs by drunken old fools. Unfortunately, no one alive has been willing to verify it, even if it is true. As such, it's nothing but a myth."

I smiled subtly. I knew that it was more than just a myth.

Luke nodded and sat back down. He leaned against his left arm and scribbled on his notepad. From where I was sitting, I could see what he was drawing. It was a cartoon picture of him holding 52 cards while standing on top of the Tower. I chuckled inwardly.

"Remember, a list of regularly found Pure Cards can be found at the back of your book. Make sure you study them. Many will be on your final exam. Also, be sure to memorize the Essence chart for the first five Floors," she called out. The kids were getting restless as class was about to end.

"More importantly, you need to study up on the creatures and learn the dangers of the Tower!" Miss Warren's voice was louder this time, forcing the students to stop squirming and listen. "This Tower may be our home, but it is also the home of many dangerous monsters. It is the job of the Climbers to venture through the hundred Floors and bring back resources for the rest of us to survive. Climbers are heroes!"

Many of the students began looking upward, imagining the glory of reaching the higher Floors.

"However," Miss Warren snapped. "None of you will be heroes if you don't learn how to stay alive first!"

"You must know your limits and the limits of your Deck," she continued. "Without that knowledge, you will die, and your adventure will never begin. Don't venture out and die early because you refused to study!"

She looked directly at me when she said that, and I had to fight off the urge to roll my eyes. I was too old to put up with this shit a second time. The other students listened silently, and a few decided to take those words to heart.

Before anything else could be said, a loud bell sounded out in the center of campus. Everyone rose from their chairs almost simultaneously and rushed to join their friends. Discussions of adventure and laughter filled the air. Some young men swung imaginary weapons back and forth.

No one walked toward me.

"I can't believe this..." I'd slipped out the door long before any of the groups could reach it and escaped into the hall. Some other doors opened, and students began to pour into the open corridor.

I ignored them all. My focus was still on the class that I'd just left. The talk of Cards, the Tower, and the dangers we would face were all very familiar to me. That same class had taken place one week before graduation. And I'd just heard it again.

That also reminded me that this was the last week of my life that I'd been healthy. I could hardly remember a time when I hadn't woken up coughing blood in the middle of the night. Even standing up in the morning without collapsing was a rarity.

"Well, I think I can rule out this being a dream. Which means... all of this is real," I pinched the tips of my unscarred fingers. The pain was there, and I couldn't be happier to feel it. Grimacing, I tried to remember the exact words of my old Origin Card, but it was a blur for some reason.

Why me? I'm not someone who deserves a chance like this. Why not one of the heroes who'd made it past Floor Sixty?

I couldn't help but wonder. My life had been far from extraordinary. With a sigh, I shrugged it off. There was little chance I would ever find the answer.

For now, I should head to my dorm.

Turning right, I rushed down the nearest set of stairs. The corridors were relatively empty, as most of the students were heading to or had already reached their next class. As for me...

That wouldn't do! I'm much too old to experience school a second time!

After reaching the bottom floor, I found myself in a hallway full of lockers. For old times' sake, I walked over to one of the lockers at the end of the hall. Fifty-Two.

In a few swift motions, I pulled the little key from my pocket, unlocked the door, and pulled it open. What I found inside was laughable. An old, worn-out jacket, a pair of filthy shoes, and a pair of loose pants that had probably been lying in the bottom for a month.

A picture of my father was tucked onto the shelf. It was faded from age, but I still smiled when I saw it. I carried around the same picture a century from now, but it was so worn that his face couldn't be made out.

Walking from the hall and into the courtyard, I strolled by a fountain with crystal clear water pouring from the top and left the Academy. While wandering about, I turned and got a good view of the building. It was absolutely massive.

The Academy was located in the center of the First Floor, blocking the exit leading to the Origin Floor and the entrance to the Second Floor. Both were closely monitored, as the government and the churches wanted all Climbers to be registered before acquiring their Origin Card. Criminals and delinquents were banned from moving forward, though everyone knew that all it took was a few Essence for the guard to look the other way.

These were the inner walls, however. Another smaller wall stood a reasonable distance in front of me, and it cut off the Academy grounds from the Academy Town. Without wasting any more time, I walked briskly through the gates and headed to the dorm buildings. They were built on the grounds but further from the Academy.

While walking through the dorm hallways, I rummaged through my pockets, finding a few different items. After fumbling for a bit, I pulled out two small bronze keys. It wasn't long before I stood in front of the door to which one of them belonged.

There on the second floor, I stood in front of a small wooden door with the number twelve engraved in the center. The key slid easily into the slot, and I pushed open the door while holding my breath. I smiled. It was just as I remembered it.

The room was simple. It had a small living room with a single chair, a connecting bedroom, a separate bath, and a balcony overlooking the wall. I didn't take the time to reminisce as I went straight to the bed and flipped it on its side.

I peeled up the floorboards to reveal two wooden boxes. Both were locked, with chains wrapping around them. It may have been overkill, but I was paranoid back then. Rightfully so, since I hadn't been strong enough to guard what was mine.

After lifting the boxes, I opened a nearby wardrobe and rummaged through the mess of clothes at the bottom. They weren't clothes that I actually wore. They were just there to hide the small safe that lay beneath them. I pulled out the metal box and spun the numbers until I heard a satisfying click.

The lid popped open on its own, and I pulled out the two keys that sat inside, laughing as I did so. Everything was just as I remembered it... down to the last detail.

I opened the smaller of the two boxes and pulled out a long, black cane. The shaft was black, and an ornate, silver handle decorated the top. It was the same cane that I'd died holding, though it was in much better shape. It wasn't beaten and battered, and the handle hadn't been worn out from years of use.

"Ho ho! What a work of art!" I pressed a hidden button on the handle, and a small click could be heard. In one motion, I pulled on the handle, revealing a short, thin sword that had been hidden in the shaft.

I flicked it back and forth a few times before examining it. The sword was just under three feet long and was as sharp as a razor. Reflected within the shining blade, I could see my eyes looking back at me. Those weren't the dull eyes of an old, worn-out man.

Those eyes were young and full of ambition.