The blinding light of the plaza returned as the world snapped back into place. Noise flooding in. Voices, footsteps and distant chatter returning as the hum of a living space filled a room that wasn't trying to actively kill me. I stumbled forward slightly as my feet hit solid ground. The presence of warm familiar stone was missed.
'Oh real world, how much I have missed you.'
I was so happy right now that I could kiss a wall. Literally. The wall right next too me was looking very enticing. In life sometimes, you don't realise how much you appreciate something until you lose it.
'World I have taken you for granted, never again.'
For a second, I just stood there, breathing the fresh minty air of the reception floor.
It was then that I realised that my body seemed to have reverted to its shorter stature. I still didn't really get why it had transformed as such in the tower, but it seemed the oddity had been left behind with all of that nonsense. Though, I did miss the robes. Going back to homeless clothing wasn't the best.
"HAHAHAHA—!"
I threw my arms out wide and tilted my head back.
"HELLO WORLD!!!"
A few people nearby flinched.
"IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK!"
I stretched like I'd just been released from prison, joints popping, muscles loosening, my entire body practically vibrating with relief.
"I'M ALIVE."
A pause.
"…Technically."
People were staring now. Hunters, civilians and staff alike, but I didn't care. They all looked at at me like I'd just escaped a mental asylum. Which, to be fair— wasn't too far off. I spun once on the spot, arms still out, grinning like an idiot.
"Fresh air! No zombies! No screaming! No—"
I paused.
"…Okay there is still screaming but it's the normal kind."
A man slowly stepped around me. A group of hunters gave me a wide berth. Someone whispered something that sounded suspiciously like "another one broke in the tutorial."
"Wow," I muttered. "Rude."
I clapped my hands together.
"Right."
Back to business. I dropped my arms and immediately beelined toward the information desk. There he was exactly where I'd left him. Same posture and uniform without a crease out of place, calm in the practiced, permanent way of someone who'd made peace with other people's grief for a living — and currently, inexplicably, whistling.
I slowed.
My eye twitched. He was leaning slightly against the counter, relaxed and carefree. Whistling like he didn't have a single concern in the world, while I had been unwillingly sent into a warzone disguised as a tutorial.
"…Oh."
I smiled, dangerously. I walked up to the desk stopping right in front of him.
"AHEM."
The attendant jolted, the whistle cut off instantly. He snapped upright so fast it was honestly impressive.
"Ah welcome to the—!"
He turned, seeing me peer up at the desk.
"Oh," he said smoothly, recovering in half a second. "You're back."
'You're back.'
That was it? And why did he stop his into speech? No go on continue don't stop now.
"That took you a while."
My eyebrow twitched.
"…A while?"
"Yes," he continued pleasantly, folding his hands together like nothing was wrong. "Most challengers complete the first tutorial within a reasonable timeframe, but you—"
"How long."
He blinked, his smile freezing in place. "I beg your pardon?"
"How long," I repeated slowly.
"…Ah."
He glanced to the side, then back at me, adjusting his collar. "Roughly eight to ten hours."
"Eight to ten hours."
"Yes", he confirmed, his tone completely even.
I pointed at myself.
"Did you know I fought in a war."
He smiled politely.
"I'm sure it felt that way. The tutorial can feel like a battlefield if not adequately prepared. Especially for a young girl like you."
"No," I said flatly. "I actually fought in a war."
"Yes... yes, you fought in a war."
"That took twelve tries."
"…Ah."
He paused.
"…Twelve?"
"TWELVE."
He nodded slowly.
"I see."
'You do not see.'
I leaned forward slightly.
"Quick question."
"Of course."
"Why," I said, voice calm, "did you not mention that the Tower would amplify my power?"
A pause appeared on the mans expression. A very small pause. The kind that carried no faith behind it.
"Amplify?"
"Yes," I said. "Amplify. Increase. Boost. Turn me from 'slightly struggling' into 'complete veteran.'"
He blinked a little before his smile returned.
"That is not standard, but then and again the tower is a mystery. Perhaps, it re-evaluated you and deemed you too weak. While the Tower is known for… variability, direct amplification of a challenger's capabilities during a tutorial is not commonly reported, but it isn't impossible."
"Not commonly," I repeated.
"Yes."
"So it happens."
"Rarely, but yes it happens", he conceded.
I exhaled.
"Great."
The Tower was weird, noted.
"Next question," I said, already moving on.
"Of course, go ahead I'm always ready to answer a customers questions."
"Yeah sure... it's about storylines."
He blinked again.
"Storylines."
Did this guy love repeating the questions that I asked him.
"Yes," I said. "You know. Narrative. Plot. War scenario. Emotional damage. That kind of thing."
"Mmm mmh."
He straightened slightly.
"Yes. Those do exist."
"And you didn't think to mention that either?"
"Well similarly to the prior case, they are not the standard experience. Although, they are a lot more common."
I leaned on the counter.
"And I just happened to get one."
"It would appear so."
I narrowed my eyes, my patience was waning.
"Are you just saying things now?"
"I assure you, I am not."
"You sound like you are."
"I am providing accurate information."
"You're providing vague information."
He smiled again. There it was. That silly little half-grin of his. Maybe I was just cranky after my tutorial experience, but I had to say that look was professionally infuriating.
"The Tower does not always conform to expectations, young lady."
"That is not helpful."
"Helpful or not it is accurate", he countered, offering a slight nod. "As I said, storyline-based tutorials are rarer but not unheard of. In such cases, challengers are placed into… reconstructed scenarios."
"Reconstructed," I repeated.
"Yes."
"Like memories?"
"That would be one interpretation."
"Were those people real?"
He didn't answer immediately, choosing to mull on the idea while tapping his chin. "Some would argue that there is something more to them. But since they are individualistic to each person and haven't emerged in the actual tower the resounding idea is that they aren't."
That answer didn't feel satisfactory enough. Somewhere in that tutorial there had been a woman who had fought hand in hand with me in battle. An annoying earth mage that almost sacrificed me. A shy support mage with absolutely massive knockers. Hate them or love them, they felt very much real to an extent. Earlier I had rationalised them all as NPCs, but that argument was getting weaker and weaker by the moment. Even the words of that silly talking TV supported the idea. Displaying minimal emotional investment in NPCs. Why would that matter if they were just a figment of imagination.
"I know that the Tower is not fully understood", he said finally.
"Yeah, the Tower is very mysterious that's for sure."
I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.
"…Okay."
Well not much was gained from the attendant, but honestly I wasn't expecting much. It was nothing new. The only reason I even came back to him specifically is that I promised if I survived the trial that I would come back to this deceiving conman.
"One more thing," I said.
"Of course go ahead."
"It's about my rewards."
He perked up slightly.
"Ah, yes. Did you receive your rewards?"
"Yes."
"And?"
I reached into my pocket and held up the fang I had recieved.
"Oh wow, a fang. Nice, it looks good in quality. Looks like the tutorial did bear good fruits."
I nodded in agreement with the man for the first time. Looks like we could get along, well kind off. I neglected to mention anything about the new skill that I had learnt. It was best to keep my abilities and cards hidden.
"So," I said, narrowing my eyes again, "where do I sell the fang."
His smile sharpened slightly at the words of sale.
"Ah."
There it was. That smile. The specific one that lived in the half-second before someone did something that would benefit exactly one person in the conversation, and it wasn't you.
"Within the plaza," he said smoothly, "you will find several exchange counters and certified vendors who deal in dungeon materials and Tower-acquired items. Personally, I recommend Nilfan's Crafting & Exchange, tell him Alan referred you and he'll give you a discount."
I stared at him.
A discount. From a man who, up until thirty seconds ago, had been carefully omitting information for my own safety. Now he was doing referrals. The customer service voice had returned so cleanly it was almost impressive. Like a switch. Like none of the previous five minutes had happened.
'This guy definitely gets a cut.'
"I'll keep that in mind."
I straightened up.
"Anything else I should know before I leave."
He glanced at me once. A brief, professional sweep that somehow managed to convey an entire opinion without a single change in expression.
"You may wish to allocate some of your new found budget in getting some new clothes. First impressions are important."
I looked down, my face turning beetroot red.
"It's a work in progress okay!"
I stepped back from the counter. That was enough for now, I'd get my money and leave this place. My bed was calling me, and I deserved some nice, earnt rest. I took a few steps, then stopped.
"…Hey."
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"If the next floor is another war," I said, "I'm blaming you."
He smiled, offering a polite, infuriatingly perfect bow of his head. "I will accept that responsibility."
"You sound too okay with that."
"I have been blamed for worse."
I shook my head, walking away towards Nilfan's Crafting & Exchange.