Relocation flares, and the safety of the tower appears around us. I pull out my Class Card to make sure the intake is set to energy, then turn to Clutter and raise an eyebrow. He nods back, squirms over to the wall, and uses it to prop himself into a sitting position as he pants for his life.

  “We need food and water.” I note as the tower’s air gently wraps around me like a soothing hug. “I’m not sure how long we can survive without it, but it’s definitely not weeks.”

  Clutter tries to swallow, but just coughs. “Maybe the ‘energy’ option works like a meal replacement potion, too. I mean, we haven’t seen anything close to food or water since we got here so… it kind of makes sense.”

  “That or it’s an option we haven't unlocked yet.” I sigh as I slide down next to him. “But that’s enough worrying about the imminent future for now. Let’s see what the quest decided killing that stain was worth.”

  “Killing the stain and running a map-only maze.” Pearl chimes in. “We’d still be stuck in an infinite loop if we couldn't figure that out.”

  I nod in agreement. “I’d say we definitely proved ourselves. Clutter, you want to do the honours?”

  “Yes, please.” He says as eagerly as he can and pulls out his Class Card. “Ooh, I hope it’s something cool… I haven’t gotten an awesome quest reward before. Do you think it’s going to be a weapon with its own legend? Or what about a coin that gives you a clearance level the same way most coins give you stat points? Ooh, ooh, no–how about a spell that lets me shift between phase and unphased so I can be more than completely invisible?”

  I let him excitedly chatter on for a few minutes as the tower revitalizes us little by little. It doesn’t take a mind reader to figure out that he’s stalling for time because he’s nervous about the rewards; his hands are shaky, he won’t look me in the eyes, and he’s got his Class Card turned away from both of us. I can’t tell why he’s sidestepping actually looking at it, but he’s got to have his reasons.

  Doesn’t mean I’m just going to ignore it, though. “Do you want me to check mine first?”

  He stops mid sentence, and a guilty look spreads like a blush. Along with an actual blush. “You could tell?”

  “Excitement and stalling for five minutes are kind of exclusive emotions.” I say with a shrug. “But we’re going to have to look eventually. Would it make you more comfortable if I left the tower for a few minutes so you can have some privacy?”

  “No!” He exclaims and sits up straighter. “I… it isn’t you. It’s me. I’m… worried that I’m not going to get credit for the things you did. N-not in a selfish way, but in a ‘I don’t want confirmation that I’m just slowing you down’ kind of way. All I did was run from the stain–you two are the ones that actually figured out how to do everything.”

  “Aw, Clutter, don’t…” I trail off as I try to think of something he did. “You… distracted the stain when I teleported behind it. I couldn't have destroyed it if the thing turned around before it phased in.”

  He shakes his head. “You know that’s a lie–it didn’t have time to react, and even if it turned as fast as it could, you would’ve already phased it in. I did next to nothing for this except not explicitly slow you down.”

  Pearl sighs and rolls her eyes. “You’re our scout, Clutter. Our information gatherer, covert operative, and guide. Just like it’s your job to lead us with information, we’re here to lead you through fights. If you can eventually hold your own–great. But if you can’t, then you just need to double down on the ways you can help us.”

  Her words hang in the air as Clutter slowly turns to meet her gaze. Pearl’s intensity far outweighs her size, but Clutter doesn’t shrink away from it–he steels himself and takes a calming breath. This isn’t the first time he’s lamented his less than stellar combat abilities–but from how he easily took care of the sphere-head constructs, his strength isn’t in killing formless atrocities.

  It's very quickly and quietly dealing with fragile necks or similar weak points. Though I have a feeling that won’t get through to him until he influences a real fight with those very strengths.

  Though it takes him another dozen seconds, Clutter eventually turns his Class Card towards himself and looks down at it. His eyes light up, but his body keeps the same nervous disposition as before.

  “My map’s visible again. And there’s a little notification that says it was… part of the reward for meeting the plastic paindne?” He frowns in confusion and taps on his screen. “It doesn’t say what the other half is. All I can see is my map and a marker–OOH!”

  He whips around and points directly at his card. “I have a location marker now! See! I’m right here in the tower! That must be what the other part of the reward was!”

  I nod in agreement as I study Clutter’s map. Compared to mine, which has three dimensional textures, his just looks like a flat piece of paper. But there’s a little black dot–like a single ink droplet that fell on the paper–right on top of the tower. And if I’m remembering right, that little thing is apparently extremely expensive.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  “Congratulations.” I offer him a pleasant smile. “Too bad I already had both of those, so I didn't get anything out of the first meeting.”

  “Oh, right. Sorry about that.” Clutter says sheepishly, then swipes away to his notifications. “Right here it says I gained the ‘use of the map tab’. And if I didn’t already have a map or a location marker, that the quest would permanently upgrade my Class Card with them. I already had a map, so I guess it doesn’t compensate for anything we already had.”

  “Just a way to make sure everyone has everything they need to finish the objectives. Hrm.” I hum in thought as I stare at Clutter’s Class Card. “Are all the quests always this ‘fair’?”

  He snorts and shakes his head. “Definitely not. Look–right here it says ‘permanently’. Most quests would just give you the map for the duration of the quest, or even only for the part of that quest you need it for. The only reason I can think of that they’d give it to us permanently is if… well… actually, I can think of two reasons.”

  “Really?” Pearl tilts her head to the side. “Maybe I’m just jaded, but I can only think of one. But you say yours first.”

  “Okay. First–” He holds up one finger with adorable seriousness. “The quest thinks we’re going to need not just the map, but the location marker even when we finish it. Maybe there’s a second part to it that we’ll need the map for. Or–um, second…ly… the quest is going to give us so many rewards that it thinks the value of a map and a location marker are absolutely nothing compared to everything else we’re going to get.”

  I raise an eyebrow. The first possibility isn’t… great. It tickles a part of my brain that sends off so many warning signals that my own thoughts have trouble getting through the noise. Sure, the second option is pure gravy for us, but I can’t believe the system would give away anything for nothing. Especially because the map and location marker are just for talking to the construct–not for ‘proving yourself’ after. If it was, then I’d be way more likely to believe option two.

  Pearl nods thoughtfully. “If you’re treating the quest as a… good entity… then maybe you could be right. But I’ll throw option three in there; somehow, it benefits the system that, when we get out of here, we all have maps. I don’t know how, and it definitely sounds like a conspiracy theory, but I just don’t trust it.”

  “Me neither.” I easily agree. “But none of that matters yet. What’s the reward from ‘proving’ ourselves, Clutter?”

  He slightly inclines his chin, then scrolls down. After a second of frowning, he scrolls up instead with a slightly embarrassed laugh. “I kind of forgot that the notification would be newer. Whoopsie. So, um… here it is.”

  You have proven yourselves to be: enduring, observant, competent.

  This has been noted by the city.

  Reward: one Tower addition, to be voted on by the following members of your group:

  (Shelby, Clutter).

  Possible additions: Workshop, Kitchen.

  One additional reward revealed after choice is made.

  My eyes widen as I read the options. The workshop opens up the possibility to refill–or make–more catalysts. But without access to the grey magic, that’s all but useless. And the other possibility… well, if the quest’s trying to bait me, then it’s got me hook, line, and sinker.

  “We need the kitchen.” Pearl and I say at the same time. We share a look, and she motions for me to go first. “Nothing else matters if we starve to death in a week. As long as the kitchen has some food already in it, we can make it stretch for at least a while.”

  Pearl nods. “Plus, if it has running water, that means we can use it as a makeshift bathroom as well. It’s not pleasant to think about, but… well… soon enough, you know?”

  “I completely agree.” Clutter says seriously. “But I want the workshop. And–and hear me out first; if you’re expecting the kitchen to have food and water, isn’t it fair to assume that the workshop might have materials too? Like the grey magic, which we might be able to use to upgrade the tower from right here in this room?”

  He makes a point. Not a great one, since it hinges on our argument of the kitchen having the food required for us to live, but it is a point. It does bring up something that could become a problem, though.

  “What happens if we tie the vote?” Clutter and Pearl turn to look at me. I pull up the exact same notification on my Class Card and tap ‘kitchen’, which locks in my vote. “Since I can see your argument for the workshop, I won’t fault you for picking it. But know that it means we’re going to have to go find another one of these… quest-rooms… on an empty stomach if we want to eat.”

  Momentary hesitation flashes over Clutter’s eyes, but it vanishes just as quickly. He nods and presses ‘workshop’ on his own Class Card, which annoys me more than a little, but I really do get it. My choice is the safer option. His choice has a much higher ceiling if our assumptions turn out to be right.

  “Then I guess we’ll see how it treats ties.” I say with careful effort not to let any annoyance seep into my voice. “And whatever it chooses, we regroup tomorrow to try and find a way to get the other.”

  Clutter nods in agreement. “After a full, rejuvenating sleep.”

  “One without water. Or clean clothes.” Pearl mutters. “For your sake, Clutter, I hope the workshop has a sink.”

  “Me too.” He agrees wholeheartedly. “It wouldn't be safety certified if it wasn’t.”

  With Clutter’s… strange source of confidence lingering in the air, I can’t help but laugh as I watch the Class Card for a new notification. It comes after a few seconds, and I feel the rumble of something down in the walls shifting to make room for something new.

  The vote is tied.

  ‘Workshop’ is the higher quality option, and as such, it has been chosen over ‘kitchen’.

  Construction commencing within the walls underneath your tower; access to the workshop will still be restricted by your group’s choices.

  Final reward: a room with doors has appeared at the bottom of your tower.