The Road to the Demolished Magic Tower
A week had already passed since the promised meet-up with Luchel. Tormented by nightmares, I barely pried open my drooping eyes as I pushed open the dorm door.
"Chase! Hurry up already, you know!"
Yaruru was already seated at a table on the first floor, waving her arms wildly.
...Why the hell does she have so much stuff?
A bulging backpack sat beside her. A bag of preserved rations from the shop next to the inn hung over one shoulder. Toast and a memo pad in her hands. And at Yaruru's feet stood a thick rod that looked heavy just to look at.
Seeing that bizarre sight, I froze midway down the stairs.
"Hold on. What the heck is that?"
Yaruru tapped the club-like thing and scratched her head as she eyed my clothes.
"No way you're seriously planning to wear that, right?"
"What? If we're talking pure function, there's zero reason not to."
Wasn't her getup the weird one? And why'd she even bring that club? She's hopeless in close combat.
As if waiting for my question, Yaruru eagerly introduced her gear one by one.
Various protective items and holy water from the temple. A magic tool for unlocking doors, buff scrolls to boost reaction speed. And...
"It's a manual hand-crank flashlight, you know!"
Grunting with effort, she hoisted up the rod—revealing it to be a flashlight. A hand-crank generator model straight out of 20-30 years ago.
"Why the heck...?"
"I realized it when the lights flickered in the research building... In the end, I can only count on myself!"
"..."
I started to say something but shut my mouth. She's not wrong.
Did she really need to prepare this thoroughly...?
"You don't think going to the Magic Tower is more like survival training than research, do you?"
"Spot on, you know."
"You're insane."
Yaruru shook her head solemnly at my look.
"You can't be that careless, you know."
She thrust a thick blanket at me.
"A blanket?"
"Even in summer, nights can get cold, you know."
"...Ribok has auto temperature control."
"Hmph. You'll see when we get there, you know."
I took the blanket in the end. It was her way of looking out for me, after all.
"The research building must've freaked you out pretty bad, huh?"
"It's not that—it's just being careful, you know."
Yaruru averted her gaze as she said it.
"...It was a little scary, you know."
Her honest admission drew a bigger laugh from me. Truth be told, I wasn't much different. I'd bolted from the research building out of fear, and this place was on another level entirely.
Doesn't mean I can just bail, though.
***
By the time we reached Academy City's south gate, a familiar face was waiting.
Luchel spotted us and waved with a bright grin. Beside him stood a woman with long light-brown hair tied back. Her backpack bulged just like Yaruru's. She had "responsible babysitter" written all over her.
"Oh, Chase! Over here!"
"It's been two weeks? Good to see you. Who's this...?"
"Lemme introduce her. This is my senior, Ayla."
"Ayla here."
She gave a light bow first, then casually straightened Luchel's collar.
"I started tagging along to keep Luchel from wandering into sketchy spots, but I ended up getting hooked myself."
"Ho ho."
"Lies. She likes it way more than I do now."
"Shh. Quiet."
"Ow—Sis!"
Luchel obediently shut up after Ayla jabbed his side. Yaruru poked my side in response.
"Chase. Those two seem kinda sus, you know."
"Same vibe I'm getting. Looks like..."
Luchel eyed me up and down with a weird look.
"But what's with that bizarre outfit?"
"Bizarre? It's a legit artifact."
As I enthusiastically explained Ribok's features to Luchel, Yaruru cut in.
"I've said it before, but good functions don't make everything okay, you know..."
"Honestly, it just doesn't fit the vibe, y'know?"
"..."
That's when Ayla's eyes widened at the "club"—flashlight—in my hand.
"Whoa, what's that?"
"Manual generator flashlight, you know!"
Yaruru puffed out her chest proudly at Ayla's reaction.
"Brought it special 'cause the lights might crap out!"
Ayla nodded seriously.
"Smart choice. Places like this, you wanna pack even the useless-looking stuff."
That sealed it—Yaruru was smitten. Only after showing off her gear did we finally board the waiting carriage.
"The place we're headed is a Magic Tower demolished about 50 years ago."
"Magic Tower? Kinda like the research labs vibe?"
"Distance from Academy City is awkward, so... carriage to the nearest big village, then about an hour's walk."
"Three hours by carriage to the village."
"Right. Plenty of time to chat? So... Chase, how was the research building?"
"Pretty good."
"Pretty?"
"Way better than expected."
I shrugged with a wry smile, and Luchel's eyes lit up.
"Knew you'd say that!"
Was that a kindred spirit gleam? ...Don't wanna give the wrong idea.
"I don't actually like scary stuff."
"Eh, then why go to the research building?"
"..."
Luchel's unexpected question left not just me, but Yaruru too, stunned.
"Uh, um..."
"I clocked you at the end-of-term festival. You had the same look as me."
"What look?"
"The one when scary stories get told. Scared but loving it."
"...I had that look?"
Ayla chuckled softly.
"No idea for you, Chase, but it fits Luchel."
"...Feel free to drop the honorifics. We're same year as Luchel."
Haaah...
"Good thing I'm not some weirdo like that, you know..."
"I can hear you. And you came 'cause you're curious too."
"That was assistant duty, you know."
"..."
"Anyway."
Come to think of it, we still had zilch on our destination.
"What happened 50 years ago that got the Magic Tower demolished?"
Magic Tower wizards were elite-tier. Joining one was basically set for life. Dozens of them, and it gets shut down?
Rebellion or something?
Ayla and Luchel spoke up at once.
"About fifty years ago—"
"Disappearance incidents—"
They stared at each other.
"...Huh?"
Luchel moved first.
"Dis... appearances?"
Ayla stammered too, seeing his confusion.
"That's what I heard. Disappearances kept happening around the tower, even snagging wizards... Empire used it as an excuse—said the tower stirred chaos and couldn't stop it—so they disbanded it."
"No, my research said mass suicide by the wizards."
"...What?"
The carriage went dead silent.
Disappearances were sketchy enough—mass suicide? Luchel's been poking around places like that?
And their intel didn't even match?
Guess real research starts now.
Ayla shot Luchel a glare.
"My ending's different. No proper bodies recovered, details fuzzy, so conclusion was 'not dead, just gone.'"
Luchel pondered, arms crossed, then continued.
"What I heard: Fifty years back, tower wizards researched forbidden magic, went collectively insane, mass suicide."
"...No way, you know."
"Yeah! Empire and other towers were so spooked by the magic they left it abandoned. Thought even approaching was risky."
"..."
"..."
"Why do your stories clash right off the bat, you know."
"Scary, but intriguing..."
I replied to Yaruru's mutter, but she recoiled in horror.
...Why?
"Chase, you're thinking 'that' again already, you know."
Aside from that, wasn't she right? Ghost stories always get embellished and scarier mouth-to-mouth.
Not that it makes 'em less scary.
I casually rubbed the goosebumps under my Ribok tracksuit.
Luchel's tales and my ghost stories kept the carriage buzzing. The initial awkwardness melted away before we knew it.
"Grahhh—"
"Nngh— Phew, feels like my body's totally stiff, you know."
"Stretch thoroughly. Skip it and muscle spasms hit when you freak."
"Sip— This ain't no joke."
I turned as Luchel, stretching skyward, suddenly stiffened.
"Huh?"
"It's past 5 now... Walk to the tower, set up camp out front, head in."
"Sun sets."
"Exactly. Vibe's gonna be no joke."
"...Yeah. Everyone stay sharp from here."
Ayla met each of our eyes, handing out canteens from her bag and cinching it tight.
"Sip some water. Tension dries your throat—could choke or whatever."
"Ooh..."
Yaruru took hers reverently.
"Super reliable, you know."
"Right? That's what I always say."
After sips all around, we sent the carriage back and headed out of the village.
The tower was faintly visible even from there.
...Not exactly thrilling.
Each low hill we crested brought it closer. At first, that was all I noted... but as we walked, I kept scanning around.
Summer past 5 PM. Harsh sunlight still beat down as we entered the forest.
Yet.
"It's quiet."
I muttered, and Yaruru stuck close.
"Been like that since we entered the woods, you know."
Yeah. Cicadas buzzed when we got off the carriage, over the hills. Not deafening, but summer essential.
Now? Dead silence.
Just our slightly ragged breaths.
"Normal?"
"...Never heard of this in any stories."
Yaruru's face hardened as she glanced at Ayla, who just gravely shook her head.
"...Chase, Yaruru. We still going?"
Yaruru answered Luchel's it's-not-too-late-to-turn-back.
"No way, you know!"
"Yaruru?"
She alternated between the now-clearly-visible tower and my face, then yelled.
"I'm not alone, so I can handle this much, you know!"
"...Alright. Let's keep going."
Soon the forest path widened, and the tower's full view hit us.
Way taller than I thought.
The ancient stone walls' magic structures were cracked and worn. Most windows gaped with shattered remnants, painted black with shadow.
We circled the base briefly. Air felt off, like the sealed research building. Summer, yet a chill wind seemed to linger.
Perfect, though.
Perfect for game material, that is. Not that I liked the place.
"Hold up."
Ayla raised a hand firmly.
"Better not go in today."
Luchel whipped around.
"Why?"
"Sigh. Check the time."
We pulled out our magic panels.
...Sun was dipping already.
Luchel pouted.
"Not fully set yet—"
"Two newbies here. Get lost inside?"
"..."
"Path here took longer than expected. Better camp, hit it fresh tomorrow than push tired."
Luchel nodded at Ayla's calm logic.
"Fine. Yaruru? Campfire thoughts?"
Yaruru bobbed her head fast.
"Exactly, you know! Been dying to say that!"
"You were quiet earlier."
"Saying it now counts, you know."
Her rapid-fire chatter cracked me up. We picked a spot—not too close, not too far—and unpacked.
Ayla chose it.
"Flat ground, decent tree and bush cover. Firelight won't leak much."
"Owaaah... You know your stuff, you know."
"Heh. Comes with the babysitting."
As Ayla chatted with Yaruru, Luchel approached sheepishly mid-unpack.
"Sis, where's this go?"
"Not there—over here. No, not with food."
"Ah."
"No 'ah.'"
Their banter as BGM, I draped the blanket over my shoulders and zoned out staring at the tower.
Still dead quiet. Chill wind blew, but no sounds. Silence too profound, unnatural.
Sunset'll make it worse.
"Chase."
Yaruru lugged the flashlight over, grunting.
"Where to put this, you know."
"...Why'd you even dig it outta my pack?"
"Just in case, you know."
"Fair. Easiest spot to grab."
"Knew I could count on you, you know."
"..."
With bedding done, night fully fell. Red light slid down the walls, faded. Our camp sank into dark.
Through the quietly crackling campfire, I gazed at the Magic Tower once more.
Please. Let nothing happen this time.