Chapter 14

"David!"

A worried Abel called from the other side of the clearing, "David! Are you alright?"

From the peripheral of David's vision, I could make out Cain and Abel running toward him, both wearing concerned expressions. In the same instant, Mathias and Luna burst into the clearing. The pair quickly took in the scene before also running in David's direction.

David sat still, ignoring the adults approaching him while gaping at the stairs in the tree. He was taking it well. The stairs to the First Floor gave off a sort of pressure that caused them to feel unsurpassable to individuals who hadn't been exposed to the Plague, either through the power of the Cards or other means.

I couldn't help but chuckle, remembering my first time approaching the stairs when I was brought to the Academy. At the time, I only had the few Cards that survived my father's assailants. The effects weren't terribly overwhelming with two Level 1 Foundation Cards, but I'd still staggered when I came close.

Through David, who had never been exposed to the energies of the Plague, I could feel the effects in full... and they were nothing to scoff at. An invisible pressure fell upon the boy's shoulders, pressing him into the ground, yet not so much so that he felt any pain, only a severe sense of discomfort.

As Abel and the small party came within range, they were accosted by the burden placed upon David's shoulders. Each member staggered in turn, Mathias actually losing his balance and falling inelegantly to the polished metal path upon which David was kneeling.

"What in Tara's name is this?" Mathias shouted, riled up by the feeling of his face meeting the walkway. He pressed his arms to the ground, defying the pressure and looking to the sky, searching for some unknown enemy.

Cain pulled the man to his feet while also looking for the unknown threat, his eyes eventually wandering to the tree. He gripped his spear tightly, standing protectively in front of the group while peering into the darkness at the top of the stairs.

Abel stood to his left, Mathias to his right, and Luna standing next to him, her bow at the ready. Through David's eyes, I looked up at the four figures, another memory spawning in my mind. The four primal warriors... the great tree...

This scene was carved upon the dais that stood in the center of every Church of Damnation. Not for the first time, David's memories left me marveling at the implications, though the darkness soon shut down those feelings, forcing my mind into the calm state that it had been.

I had no doubt that my thoughts and emotions would explode when this was over, but for now, it looked like I could only keep experiencing that which the young man felt. It was probably for the best. If my mind were left to wander, I likely would have quashed the spell and sent myself back to the void.

"Cain, what are you doing?" Mathias hissed.

It seemed that while David's spell was soothing my thoughts, I'd missed a few minutes of his memories. The group was standing closer to the tree, and Cain had already placed one foot on the lowest stair. Before he could go further, Abel laid a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back.

"Cain, it's already getting late. We should get the others and gather this fruit," Abel spoke softly, "I can feel it too. Like... something is calling me to go up, but first, we have our people to think of."

David watched Cain jerk around, and I could see the anger in the man's eyes just as much as I could feel the fear in David's heart. It looked like Cain would explode, but when he took his foot from the step, he seemed to calm down before shaking his head and returning to normal.

"You're right, sorry," Cain apologized to his brother and glanced back into the darkness, "I'm... not sure what came over me."

"It's alright," Abel clasped his shoulder. "Let's get the others and return before nightfall. We can feast and choose a group for the exploration... Maybe there is more food to be had above."

"Mmm," Cain rumbled in assent before turning to face the others. "You three stay here. We don't know if this is a permanent structure, so I want you to keep an eye on it. We will be back within the hour."

"Aye!"

"Yes!"

Mathias and Luna both shouted their assent, and David found a root on which to sit. Cain nodded to Abel, and the pair dashed off in the direction they'd arrived, following the marked trees.

"Mathias..." Luna whispered, "We should stand back. I can feel it too... I think it wants me to climb."

Mathias nodded, "What do you think it is? Is it a gift from Lady Tara? Look at all of this food!"

As he spoke, he jumped to one of the lower branches, snagging one of the purple fruits and pulling it loose. He spun it in his hands a few times before taking a bite, the juices splashing down his chin, "Mmmm. This is sweet. It's almost like the center of a goa fruit."

"You shouldn't indulge yourself until Cain gets back," Luna snapped. "What if it is a gift from Lady Tara, and you ruin it by not letting the shaman bless it first?"

David turned away from the squabbling pair, who had ventured further from the tree to resist its pull. I was surprised to find that though the pressure was a bit tough to bear, David didn't even feel the call of the First Floor as the others had. Instead, I felt the strong urges of a young lad. The curiosity was almost overwhelming.

I watched as the young man hopped up from his makeshift seat and began examining the peculiar path leading to and from the tree. Reading his thoughts, I found that metal was a material that was scarce in this era, and he'd never actually seen it... Cain being the only warrior with a metal-tipped spear that was stolen from another tribe.

David dug at the dirt, attempting to reveal more of the strange walkway. It took the boy a few minutes, but I was surprised by what he found once his quest was complete. The boy's fingers traced along the metal, following thin markings that were etched into its surface.

I recognized these. They were almost identical to the 'Blood Circuits' used by the Church of Liberation to empower many of the facilities and appliances on the Origin Floor. The only difference was that these were simply carved into the path rather than painted with the purple blood of a Plagued Beast.

I watched on curiously as David followed the strange markings to the base of the stairs, where they continued up into the darkness. As he walked, he traced the images with his finger, looking for a pattern. When he reached the first step, David glanced back to the two adults standing guard.

The two adults were still bickering about whether they should consume the fruit, Mathias having already secured one of the red ones. With a smile, David turned away and quietly made his way into the tree.

"If this is Lady Tara's doing, I want to be the first to see," David mumbled. A wide grin was plastered on his face, his excitement fully displayed as he stepped into the darkness.

I wasn't sure what I expected when David ascended the stairs, presumably being the first to climb them. Maybe some fanfare or one of the strange screens that appeared between Floors beyond the First? But no, none of that happened.

David's first ascension was no different from my own. Around the fiftieth step, a vague sense of vitality flowed through him, which I knew to be the feeling of having one's life force extended. Then, on the very next step, David stepped off the stairs and onto the virgin ground of the First Floor.

What greeted him was a ring of massive trees. Aside from the slightly darker color of the wood, the clearing in which he stood was much like the one he'd left. It was new to me as well. When I traveled to the First Floor, I stepped into an enormous stone room housed in the center of the Academy with a reception desk and a few guards waiting.

David looked back curiously. The great tree was gone, replaced by two rectangular huts that looked to be made of the same material as the stairs and walkway, though both were covered by moss and vines. In the hut he'd just left, there was a set of stairs leading back down the way he'd come. In the other, another similar set of stairs led up.

David knelt down, digging through the old moss on the ground until his fingers brushed the cool, silver rock beneath. After clearing some of the dirt, he found markings much like the ones he'd seen below.

"What are these..." David traced the lines with his finger, noticing repeating patterns every so often as he cleaned away the dirt. After a few minutes, he seemed satisfied and turned to the second set of stairs.

Watching David made me realize something... I'd never caught the repeating patterns in the Church's Blood Circuits. Or rather, I had noticed them but never put any real thought into understanding them. My own curiosity was piqued, though it was swiftly quashed by the calming mist that I'd grown somewhat accustomed to.

By the time I came around, David had stood and made his way to the second set of stairs. Unlike before, there was no pressure, and he felt no pull goading him into walking closer. Instead, I could sense something instinctually telling him that he couldn't ascend the stairs, even if he wanted to. That same feeling advised him that he could return the way he came and that he wouldn't face any issues in joining his tribe at the bottom.

Still, his curiosity trumped his instincts, and David took a few steps closer toward the stairs leading to the Second Floor. Needless to say, the lad didn't make it very far. A dull purple barrier appeared, keeping him from even getting a toe on the first step.

"Ahh!"

David, obviously not expecting this at all, jumped away from the sudden appearance of the barrier. The scream that left his lips was deafening in the silence, echoing in the small clearing. He tumbled to the ground and stared at the glowing purple wall in front of him.

Before he could study the anomaly further, a second presence made itself known in the silent clearing. Somewhere behind David, there was a harsh snort, causing the lad to slowly turn his head. I cringed when I saw what his yelp had attracted.

A massive boar stood at the edge of the clearing, staring at the boy with hunger in its eyes. Though it wasn't any bigger than those I'd recently slaughtered, it looked like a giant in David's eyes. The beast stood a good few inches taller than David, each of its tusks being as long as the boy's arms.

Time seemed to stand still as the boar sized up the lad. David had no weapons and was completely vulnerable in his current position. Even if he was on his feet, I didn't think he would be able to sprint down the stairs before the boar gutted him.

I found myself wondering if this was how the boy had passed on. No sooner had that thought crossed my mind than another noise broke the silence.

"David!"

If I could have breathed a sigh of relief, I would have. It seemed Mathias had made his way up the stairs searching for the lad. Not that it made the situation any better. The boar stopped glaring at the kid and turned its head to the stairs, though David didn't take his eyes off the creature.

"David! What are you-"

I couldn't see the man, but the way his voice stopped abruptly, I could assume that he'd seen the nearby threat. The boar's eyes shifted between David and the new target, likely trying to determine the level of threat the two posed.

Honestly, Mathias wasn't much of a threat. Even though the Wild Boar was only a Level 1 entity, it was still a Plagued Beast strengthened by Essence. Even though he didn't have any Cards, I felt that Mathias could still kill the beast... if he weren't starved.

Even if Abel, Cain, and Luna were to join him, they would have to wear the beast down. Due to their emaciation, I didn't feel they could drive their stone spears deep enough into the beast to cause lasting damage. Well... Cain did have that metal spear...

The calming nature of the spell dragged me from my thoughts again, and I was thankful to find that I hadn't missed much. I could now see Mathias standing beside David, both hands gripped tightly around his spear. At the other end of the clearing, the boar was stamping one of its cloven hooves on the ground.

"David," Mathias whispered. "Go back down and fetch Luna. We won't make it if we both turn our backs on this thing to run."

"But Mathias-"

"Just do it!" The man hissed, "Get Cain and Abel if you can."

The boar was already on edge, and the harsh whispers shared between the two were enough to push the balance. It stamped its feet one more time and squealed loudly before charging forward.

"Now, David! Run!"

David scurried to his feet and ran for the stairs, reaching them quickly. He turned back in time to witness the boar slam into Mathias' spear, snapping it in two and sending the man flying. Unlike most boys his age, David didn't freeze upon hearing this. Instead, he took a deep breath and rushed down the stairs.

After only a handful of steps, David found himself back in the first clearing. The sudden appearance of the roots surprised him, and he tripped over them in his rush to find help. Luckily, Luna was waiting and caught him before he could get injured.

"Luna!" David cried, "You have to-"

"What were you thinking, David?" A voice interrupted him, and he looked up to find Abel stomping over. "What if you'd gotten stuck up there?"

"Abel!" David took in the scene behind him, where Cain was also approaching with the rest of the expedition in tow, "You have to get up there now! Mathias was attacked!"

Abel's countenance shifted from one of scolding to one of worry. He didn't have time to say anything before Luna released her grip on David, letting him fall to the ground as she dashed for the stairs. I could see the hesitation in Abel's eyes... until another figure sprinted by him.

Having been within earshot of the trio, Cain heard the revelation and barrelled up the stairs. Abel also steeled his resolve at that moment, gripping his spear tightly.

"David, stay here," he commanded before he, too, followed after the others.

David stood there for a moment. The other caravan members stared at the tree curiously but continued making camp at the far edge of the clearing. He could go and join them, but...

I sighed inwardly, knowing what the boy would do before he'd even made up his mind. As expected, David returned to the tree and ran up the stairs, consequences be damned.

The sound of battle met him the moment he stepped onto the First Floor. Grunts, squeals, and shouts of pain assaulted his senses, and it took him a moment to locate their origin. The battle had moved and was now taking place somewhere behind the stairs.

Even so, David didn't miss the corpse that lay nearby. He fell to his knees when he saw Mathias' motionless body. The tusks had opened a large gash in his stomach, leaving the man's entrails spilling on the ground.

I groaned as the boy vomited and did my best to tune myself out. There are some things I just prefer not to relive, thank you very much. Luckily, my ploy worked, and the calming magic took a few seconds to bring me back to the present.

By the time I could see clearly through David's eyes again, he was crouched in the small alley between the two sets of stairs, clutching tightly to Mathias' spear and watching the ongoing fight. The boar was bleeding from multiple wounds, though it was still going strong, thrashing its head toward Cain and Abel while a heavily injured Luna shot her arrows from afar.

Though the boar was in rough shape, it looked like it had done a number on the party. Mathias was dead, one of Luna's legs appeared to be broken, and one arm was hanging limply at Abel's side. Cain had a few scrapes but otherwise looked to be holding up better than the others. His spear was almost a blur as it struck at the already opened wounds in the boar's hide.

"I'm almost out of arrows!" Luna called, nocking another and sending it flying forward. The stone-tipped projectile harmlessly glanced off the boar's hide, clattering uselessly to the ground.

Cain grunted loudly and jabbed at a large cut on one of the boar's front legs. It squealed in anguish as it lashed its head toward the man, but Cain had already pulled his spear free and backed away.

"Abel, disable its legs," he called. "Luna, hold for a clear shot!"

"Aye!"

"On it!"

As the boar limped after Cain, Able closed the gap and slammed the tip of its spear into one of the creature's back legs. Its stone tip didn't pierce through, but I could tell it wasn't the first hit the beast had taken in that spot. The boar stumbled before tearing its head around, lashing at the new offender with its tusks.

Abel wasn't as quick on his feet as his brother, and one of the tusks caught his side, tearing it open as the man tried to dodge. He grimaced, stumbling back, waving his spear threateningly with his uninjured arm.

Cain took this opportunity to dash in, thrusting his spear forward at the leg that Abel had weakened. The metal tip of the spear tore into the softened flesh, severing the muscles and forcing the beast to the ground.

Abel backed away, leaving space for Luna to use her last few arrows to pepper the creature's face. Her third arrow burrowed into the already weakened creature's eye, leaving it blind to Cain's approach from the side.

Cain jabbed forward with his spear, finding an already injured portion of the boar's neck. He dived forward with the weapon, putting all his weight behind it. David watched in awe as the spear pierced all the way through the monster's thick neck until it protruded from the other side.

The boar let out a pathetic squeal as it fell, a dull thud sending a small cloud of dust in the air. Luna fell unconscious, and Abel collapsed to the ground, covering his face with one hand. David's breath came out in ragged bursts, his adrenaline pumping from the battle he'd just witnessed.

"Cain..." Abel spoke softly. It was almost too quiet for David to hear across the clearing with the blood pumping in his ears, but he managed to calm down. Of course, he didn't leave his shelter, even shrinking back slightly, thankful that it was already dark.

"What is it?" Cain asked, "Don't tell me you're going to cry to Lady Tara about this. The beast attacked us first. It even killed Mathias!"

"I just..." Abel sighed, "It isn't right."

"Listen, Abel," Cain snapped, pointing to the boar with his spear. "We've been over this time and again. Our people are dying. The teachings of Lady Tara be damned!"

Abel looked offended and tried to speak, but Cain kept on, "The Tower has provided us with this boon, and we should accept it! You and the Shamans keep praying to Tara while the other tribes are growing and taking our food and women! Be it meat or fruit, we need sustenance!"

Before Abel could respond, both men were cut short as a golden light filled the clearing. David winced and looked away, but not before I'd gotten a glimpse of what was happening. It was just like when I killed the thousandth boar.

The light dimmed, and David turned to see a Card slowly falling toward Cain from above the boar. From this distance, I could scarcely make out the golden lines on the back of the Card. My mind reeled, and once again, I was thrown away from the memory.

I couldn't help it... That was a Celestial Rank Card! Was that the reward for the first kill in the Tower's history? What Card was that?

By the time the spell forced my mind back into tranquility, I found an entirely different scene before me. A very different-looking Cain stood over Abel, his spear pointing at the younger man's throat. Cain was much larger, his muscles and face filled out like he'd been eating well for years.

"Don't worry, brother," Cain's voice loudly resonated throughout the clearing. "I'll tell them of the beast and this great gift that the Tower has given me. I won't let our people starve for some Goddess who doesn't give a damn about them."

With that, Cain slowly pushed the spear forward. Whatever Abel's response, it was lost in the splashing of blood that escaped his gaping mouth. David gasped, and Cain whipped his head to the stairs, instantly spotting the boy even in the darkness.

Before David turned to run, I saw the sadness in Cain's eyes as he pulled the spear from Abel's throat. He hefted the spear as David turned around. I felt an intense pain in my chest and then... darkness.