Cassio Vale entered a city too clean to be trusted.

  From what Ren and Maggie had said about Liberty, he’d expected everything to be dark and dirty, with money-lenders surrounding a spire reaching deep into the sky. Instead, as soon as the back door was opened, he couldn’t help but note how perfectly sterile the tiled ground was past Noah’s frame.

  It was like dirt had forsaken this place in search of another home.

  Ren stepped out, quickly followed by Cass, who touched the ground for the first time in who knew how long. Having to use the bathroom was no longer an excuse for attempted escapes, but he knew it would have to wait.

  Maggie came out last, as Noah closed the door and they both began walking a few steps behind Cass. With Ren still in front as they moved toward the massive building before them, the trio created a guarded entourage that he wasn’t a fan of.

  Though much of his vision was blocked by the large man in front, he still caught sight of the tower streaking through the sky.

  And what a sight it was.

  Rather than a spear standing straight, the Guildtower coiled upward in an elegant and unyielding double-helix of steel and glass. Each twist came to a close on far-reaching balconies that overshot the square-shaped landing before it, with a steady, pulsing radiance that was easy to see in the darkened evening of his arrival. Bright lights shone down from above, illuminating a pathway that Ren took them on to the entrance.

  At the base were large rectangular entryways, where several white-robed men stood at attention. There were no banners or flags, just a singular sigil floating above the entrance: A sword and quill, the symbol of the Guild.

  A man, unseen until then, stepped forward from the back. Rather than robes, he wore a white military-style outfit with golden knots trailing from one shoulder to the opposite hip. The way he walked reminded Cass of some older folks back in Liora. Like every step taken was measured and exact.

  He accepted the note Noah handed him, then looked it over from every angle, even going so far as to sniff it. With a nod, he called to someone behind him, then motioned for them to enter.

  Cass paused at the entrance, but when Noah stepped up closely behind him, he knew it was useless to push back. As a silent bystander, they ushered him forward, where a young man in a pristine robe began to guide them through the tower.

  There was a logical reason he didn’t fight. Railing against his misfortune, or worse, yelling out about the Vocator Calling, wouldn’t help him here. Word would end up back at the Capital, and another letter and likely a much harsher Quest would arrive at his doorstep. Then, his treatment would be rougher than just chains.

  No, he was smarter than that, even as a slow-burning rage continually stoked itself within his heart. Though the headache had stopped and faded into memory, he felt no relief.

  Just like when he’d first gained his Calling, Cassio was taken through several rooms and past people he didn’t know, a metaphorical shove into a new world that he didn’t truly accept. Only this time, he had tools to help him.

  Both of his information-gathering abilities kicked in as they walked. Battlefield Memory mapped the halls, while Profile categorized faces, uniforms, and anything else of note.

  He wasn’t going in starry-eyed and uninformed again. This Cassio Vale was different. Battle-tested. Less naive. He’d proven his leadership, planning, and logistical qualities in the most dire and stark manner possible. He was the Quillbearer who’d lured over a thousand monsters to their deaths, fully expecting his own to arrive at the end of the run.

  Singularly ocular or not, Cass knew his own worth.

  The hallways grew brighter as the lighting shifted to an off-yellow. The base of the tower was much larger than he’d expected, the length of this hallway alone being longer than the entirety of the Atrium back home.

  Several more turns happened; then, just before they entered another long, stretched-out tunnel, Cass noticed the sign at the top and stopped in place.

  Uncalled only

  It was the same, exact two words he’d passed under back when the world made sense. Cass couldn’t help himself. He laughed.

  The irony was almost comedic. Here he was, the quote, ‘Hero of Liora’, traveling down the Uncalled Way of a city that probably didn’t want him. He couldn’t seem to stop; it was hilarious.

  When Ren cleared his throat as the laugh continued and they still hadn’t moved, Cass gestured at the sign.

  “It’s amazing how life likes to throw things at you. You know?”

  “He’s losing it,” Noah commented as they began walking again.

  “No, really. My time at the Liora Guildhall began in the Uncalled Way, and now, here I am. The repetition of events is amazing. I’m guessing this tunnel is required for every Guild city?”

  Ren spoke up from the front, “You’re correct, I’ve visited five cities within the Guild territory. They all have an Uncalled Way.”

  “Six for me,” Maggie commented, “It’s a requirement for each location.”

  “Why?” Cass asked, passing by similar paintings along the walls showing acts of bravery and heroism.

  “Who cares, ya Git! Let’s just get there so I can leave. Being here makes me want to jump out of my skivvies, and not in a fun way.”

  “Language, please, sir.” The young man leading them said. “I don’t know what a git is, but I don’t believe you should be saying it here.”

  “I’ll say what I fookin want to, ya nobby puncha.”

  “Please, language, sir.” The young man repeated, though he sounded strained, as if people in the area were listening in.

  Noah grumbled in the background, but didn’t say anything else as they continued walking. For a while, the only sounds were footsteps taken, with the occasional clank as Ren’s armored boots touched down.

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  The tunnel continued for far longer than expected, forcing Cass to ask out loud, “Just how big is this place?”

  “The Guildspire is a modern marvel of the world,” The young man replied pleasantly, “Our histories tell us that when Guildmaster Erelle first arrived in this location, it was completely taken over by monsters of a kind that could easily wipe out a smaller city. Working with several of Liberty’s Founders, they destroyed them all, taking down enough portals that the System granted them an extraordinary Quest. Liberty was founded only five years after the Reshaping, becoming one of the oldest in the Guild.”

  Cass raised an eyebrow, “How many floors are there here?”

  “The lower floors alone span more than thirteen sublevels, while the spire reaches thirty-two floors high, rivaling the old world’s skyscrapers.”

  Noah snorted, “Yah, it’s big, I can give you that. But the rest of what you said isn’t ri-”

  Maggie interrupted him, “It’s fine, Noah. Let it go.”

  When Cass looked back, she must’ve pantomimed or mouthed something to him because the taciturn man continued without speaking.

  What the hell was that?

  He tried to think about what the issue was when the light in the tunnel began to shift. There was a noticeable change as it moved from the off-yellow he’d quickly grown bored with to a gold color that covered everything in the near distance. Mercifully, the tunnel ended in a large circular room big enough to hold ten times what the Atrium back home could.

  In the center stood a hooded man in a thick golden robe, a white line running down the center. Above him and seeming to float in place was an open book, the kind that Cass had grown very familiar with in a short period of time. The entire area above and around the Atrium was filled with empty plush seats, waiting for those who would step up and receive their Calling.

  He knew they were coming here for a reason, but he’d been intentionally left in the dark as to why.

  They moved closer until Ren stopped. Not wanting to stare at his back, Cass stepped up beside him, the other two doing the same as they faced off with the man standing on the platform above them.

  He looked down at them from his lofty position, and though the combination of gold lighting with the same-colored clothing was almost sickening to look at, what was worse was his smile. Pearlescent white teeth shone from his pit of a mouth with all the ferocity of a Skreel.

  “Welcome, welcome, visitors from the capital. What a treat it is to have adventurers travel all this way to our humble city. I’m Under-Guildmaster Martin, and it’s my pleasure to meet you all.” He took two steps to the side, then lightly jumped down, his robes not impeding him in the slightest.

  After landing easily, he stood up from a lightly bracing crouch, the smile never leaving his face. Cass mentally noted that the man was over a foot taller than he was as the Under-Guildmaster threw his hand out to Ren.

  The armored man met it skin on metal.

  “What a wonderful event. It isn’t often that the capital sends people our way.” They pumped hands twice. “Do you mind if I ask what you’re doing here? The only information I’ve received is that we’re to welcome you in the Atrium.”

  Ren pulled back his hand, and though it was armored, he almost looked like he wanted to wipe it on something. Martin noticed and tsk’d.

  “I apologize. Sweaty palms run in my family and my Calling, I’m afraid.” He laughed to himself, the sound rebounding off the walls and back again. “But when the System offers you a powerful mage class, what can you do?”

  “Of course, sir,” Ren replied. He reached inside his armor and retrieved a third letter, “This was sent with us from the Sovereign themself. They said we could only hand it over to a Guildmaster-level representative of Liberty.”

  “Oh my, that would be me.” Reaching out, he took it and opened it up after the flash. His eyebrows drew down as one of his blue eyes twitched, then the smile came back again as he folded it and put it in a pocket. “Well, well, it looks like we have a new Junior QuestWright to add to our roster.”

  He looked at Cass, then at his robes, before shaking his head, “Whatever happened to you, QuestWright Vale? You look like you’ve been through a war.”

  Careful, Cass. “Just a bit of a scuffle, Under-Guildmaster.”

  “You can call me Martin,” The man replied with an open grin. Looking at Noah and Maggie, he pointed a long finger at the spectacled girl, “I’m guessing you’re the auditor.”

  “Well, it ain’t me ya-”

  “Yes, sir.” Maggie interrupted Noah with a smile. “Tier 4 Auditor Margaret Jim. I just need to look at your Accounts for a few weeks, and then I’ll be out of your hair and back on the road. I’m certain I’ll find nothing untoward that keeps me here any longer than that.”

  “Well, of course you won’t!” Martin said, waving off her words. “Liberty runs a very tight ship. No leaks here of any kind. And don’t worry, if you do find something troubling, I’m sure we can fix it in a jiffy.”

  Maggie’s smile wavered for just a moment, but Martin had already turned back to Cass.

  This guy seriously gives me the creeps. Every time he smiles, I feel like he’s considering different ways to grab someone and roast them on a spit. What the hell is wrong with him?

  Martin clapped his hands loudly, “Now, Cassio. You don’t mind if I call you Cassio, do you?” Cass didn’t reply, so he continued as if he had. “Cassio, I’m going to need you to step on up to the Book of Callings and place your hand on it. When you do, the System’s going to change your regional code from Liora to Liberty, and just like that, we can get you set up here faster than dropping a boat into the sea.”

  He seriously talks about boats a lot.

  Cass nodded again without speaking. He didn’t want to transfer from Liora to Liberty, but again, there was that ‘no choice’ thing going on. Taking the required steps forward, he began to ascend the staircase, the beacon that was Bella pulsing in his mind.

  She was closer, but she’d also seemed to stop for the night. He didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad one. He just knew he missed her and wished she were with him already. Adya and Gary, too.

  Approaching the Book of Callings wasn’t done in hesitation. Based on his short conversation with the System itself, he knew it wasn’t going to try to hurt him. The whole of its shared mythology was that it was meant to help humanity win the war against the monsters.

  But then again, who’s to say that there isn’t a way to mess with a Book of Callings? Life has a way of surprising you. Better to be thoughtful and careful than screwed and dead.

  He reached the top of the circular steps and, not wanting to show any sign of weakness, held a breath and placed his hand on the surface of the floating book.

  The moment his fingers touched the blank page, a pulse ran up his arm. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t the most comfortable feeling in the world either. It felt like someone running their fingers all over his body and through his bloodstream at the same time.

  The page beneath his hand shimmered as a series of glowing symbols etched themselves in, and his name appeared at the top.

  [Cassio Vale]

  Regional Designation: Liora-LIA

  Transfer in Progress…

  Cass gritted his teeth as a second pulse burst through him, this one a little painful and stronger than the first. His lost eye throbbed with it as a small gasp pulled itself from his lips. Then, it was done.

  Transfer complete

  New Regional Designation: Liberty-LTY

  Welcome to the most incredible city in the world,

  QuestWright Vale

  The Book of Calling’s page turned on its own as soon as he lifted his hand, then he heard a clapping sound from below.

  Martin was looking up at him with a big smile on his face, “Welcome aboard, QuestWright Vale. I’ll have Jamison here escort you to your room while I take our dear Auditor off to find a workspace. I’m sure you will appreciate the accommodations after your jaunt in Liora.”

  Cass didn’t have time to reply as the Under-Guildmaster had already turned, walking back toward the tunnel of the Uncalled Way as he spoke softly with the others. Left behind was the young man in the white robe, who fidgeted when their eyes met.

  “QuestWright Vale, um, if you’ll please follow me, I’ll take you to the proper floor.” He bowed once, then gestured for Cass to walk in front of him toward a filigreed door just beyond.

  Cass nodded, “Thank you, Jamison. I’m sorry I didn’t learn your name before.”

  “Think nothing of it, QuestWright. Think nothing of it at all.”

  [Tier 1 Delivery Quest]

  Assignment: Deliver the Thing You Keep Withholding

  In your life, there is a pattern of delay.

  This Quest is about giving what you’ve been putting off receiving.

  Your Task:

  Identify one small thing you have been meaning to give yourself.

  Time. Permission. Closure. Nourishment. Relief. A tool. A treat. A boundary. A beginning.

  Then, give yourself permission to take it.

  Examples:

  Give yourself the full afternoon.

  Buy the better version.

  Say no and mean it.

  Finish the letter.

  Get the appointment.

  Begin the plan.

  Completion Condition: One act of intentional self-delivery, logged without excuse.

  Timeframe: This week

  Reward: 5 XP

  You are not exempt from care. Even self-care.

  —

  J D Mullenary Sr The Original QuestWright