Chapter 2: The Journey Begins
Ryu woke up to the sound of shouting and banging on the walls. He rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed, trying to piece together what was happening. The noise was coming from the room next door, and it sounded like the innkeeper was having a heated argument with one of the guests.
[Unnamed Guest]: "I demand better service! This ... my standards."
[Innkeeper]: "... assure ... sir,... to accommodate all our guests."
[Unnamed Guest]: "I ... your excuses. I want a better room, and I want it now!"
[Innkeeper]: "… rooms are occupied at the moment. Perhaps you could make do with ...?"
[Unnamed Guest]: "That's unacceptable! I demand to speak to your manager."
[Innkeeper]: "... owner ..., sir. ... no higher authority to speak to."
[Unnamed Guest]: "Then I demand a refund! This is outrageous!"
After a few minutes of listening to the commotion, there was a loud thump and everything went quiet. Ryu waited for a moment before cautiously opening his door and peering out into the hallway. The innkeeper was standing a few feet away, looking his way with an unnerving smile on her face.
"Good morning, young man," she said in a voice that oozed power and authority. "I hope our other guest didn't disturb you too much."
Ryu's heart was pounding in his chest as he stood face to face with the innkeeper. Her presence commanded respect, and he couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by her.
He took in her appearance - the long, silver hair that cascaded down her back, the piercing blue eyes that seemed to look straight through him, and the calm and composed expression on her face that belied the utter dominance she exuded.
Despite the smile on her face, there was something chilling about her. Ryu couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt like he was in the presence of someone who had seen and experienced much more than he could ever imagine. He cleared his throat and tried to appear presentable, wiping his face and running his fingers through his hair to tame it.
"Good morning," he replied, his voice a little hoarse from sleep. "No, the noise didn't disturb me too much."
She nodded, her smile still firmly in place. "Good to hear. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'm Kaida, the innkeeper."
Ryu couldn't help but feel a little relieved. Despite her imposing presence, Kaida seemed kind and willing to help. He nodded back and introduced himself before asking her about the city.
Kaida eyed the hallway and then back to Ryu. "It looks like you could use a bath," she said, wrinkling her nose.
Ryu nodded, feeling self-conscious. He hadn't had a chance to clean himself up in days, and he knew he must look like a mess compared to the other people in the city. The rough and torn cloak he received from his father before journeying to the city didn't help with his appearance.
"I'll take care of it," he said, determined to get a fresh set of clothes and clean himself up. "But first, can you tell me more about this place?"
The innkeeper's smile widened, revealing a row of perfect white teeth.
"I'd be happy to," she said. "But first, let's get you sorted out. Follow me."
He obediently followed, trailing behind her by one step as if each step was predetermined and natural. Ryu thought about soldiers marching on a battlefield or a colony of ants following one after another.
As they walked downstairs and through multiple hallways, Ryu couldn't help but notice the innkeeper's confident stride and the way she seemed to know everyone they passed by. He felt like he was in the presence of someone important, someone who knew the ins and outs of this city like the back of her hand.
When they arrived at the communal bathing area, the innkeeper handed him a towel and soap and pointed him towards a private stall. As Ryu washed himself, he couldn't help but think about all the things he wanted to ask the innkeeper.
After he finished cleaning himself up, he met the innkeeper in the common area, and they sat down to talk.
Kaida: "So, young man, what brings you to our fair city?"
Ryu hesitated for a moment, considering whether he should reveal the truth about his divine revelation. He decided against it, not wanting to risk being seen as a madman or a blasphemer. Instead, he told her about his desire to help humanity and become a hero himself.
"I've always wanted to be a hero," he said, looking down at his hands. "Ever since the tower appeared nine years ago, I knew I wanted to help protect the world and make a difference."
Kaida listened intently, nodding in understanding. "Many have felt the same calling, but few have the courage to pursue it. You'll need allies, though. The tower is filled with challenges that no one can face alone."
Ryu nodded, knowing she was right. He had been thinking about this for some time, wondering how he would find a party to join. He decided to ask Kaida for her advice.
"Do you know of anyone who might be interested in joining me? I'm new to the city, and I don't know many people."
Kaida thought for a moment, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I may know someone. A young woman named Aria. She's a skilled mage, and she's been looking for a party to join. She comes to the inn from time to time."
Ryu's face lit up at the prospect of finding a companion for his journey. "Could you introduce me to her?"
Kaida agreed and led Ryu to a small table in the corner of the common area, where a young woman with fiery red hair sat reading a book. As they approached, Aria looked up, her green eyes filled with curiosity.
Kaida made the introductions, and Ryu wasted no time in explaining his quest and asking Aria if she would be interested in joining him.
Aria hesitated, considering Ryu's offer. "I've been looking for a party to join, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to enter the tower just yet."
Ryu understood her hesitation, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency, knowing that the tower still posed a threat to the world.
"What if we start by exploring the city and getting to know each other better? We could train together, learn each other's strengths and weaknesses, and when we're both ready, we could enter the tower together."
Aria considered his proposal for a moment before nodding in agreement. "That sounds like a good plan. I'll join your party, Ryu."
Ryu couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of relief and excitement wash over him. He had taken the first step in his journey, and he was no longer alone.
With Aria by his side, Ryu felt more confident and ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Together, they would explore the city, train, and prepare themselves for the monumental task of climbing the tower.
As they left the inn that day, the sun shining brightly overhead, Ryu couldn't help but feel that his divine revelation had set him on a path to greatness. The pair took the following days touring the city while getting to know each other and honing their skills in the afternoon in preparation for the tower.
One morning, as the first light of dawn seeped into his room, Ryu found himself lost in thought about his divine revelation. The weight of his newfound responsibility weighed heavily on him. As he considered the path that lay before him, he suddenly heard an unfamiliar ping and an indistinct voice that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.
His vision blurred and darkness enveloped him, disorienting him completely. His thoughts raced with confusion and worry, questioning what was happening to him. Was this another message from the divine? Was he being tested or punished for his doubts?
When Ryu regained consciousness, he found that night had fallen. Blinking away the disorientation, he noticed a strange, transparent, thin blue rectangle hovering in the air before him. He instinctively reached out to touch it, but his hand simply passed through it, as if it were made of air.
'What is this?' he wondered, his thoughts racing.
'Is this another aspect of my divine blessing, or is it something else entirely?'
He tried to make sense of the floating rectangle, searching for any hint of its purpose or meaning.
As Ryu stared at the mysterious object, he felt a mixture of curiosity and unease. He knew that this was something significant, something that would play a role in his journey.
Slowly, unrecognizable patterns of gold began to appear along the borders of the rectangle. A faint ping could be heard each time a pattern is added.
Ryu became more shocked as he read the message that was shown in the center of the rectangle in front of his eyes.
---
Ascension Interface Opened
Ryuji
Human - Level 1
Skills -
Beginner Swordsmanship – Level 1
New Skill Unlocked
Divine Blessing
---
'Divine Blessing?' He pondered, and the words changed.
---
Divine Blessing
Unique
Level - 1
Call upon a divine power.
---
Instinctively clenching his fists, he called upon the power of 'Divine Blessing' in his mind.
Nothing happened.
He raised his hands in the air, whispering the name of the new skill to not be overheard by other residents of the inn.
Nothing happened.
Ryu tried multiple times to use the skill in numerous positions and varying tones. Each time nothing happened, his mind was getting more and more delirious.
As he was about to give up, he gave a shout.
"Why are you doing this to me?! What kind of skill is Divine Blessing if it doesn't do anything!"
A golden ray soaked through the ceiling of the room, illuminating the wooden interior and worn planks used to make up the walls and flooring to the bed frame. The light connected directly to Ryu from the Heavens.
The divine energy surged through his body, and he braced himself for a significant boost in power.
Ping!
The rectangular screen in front of Ryu now showed
---
Received a temporary boost
Stat: +1 Agility
Time: 5 minutes
Cool-down: 12 hours
---
To his surprise and dismay, the power seemed to focus on one random stat, increasing it by a mere single point. Ryu couldn't help but chuckle at the irony, as his slightly improved agility didn't seem to make much of a difference.
Ryu lay down in his bed, his mind racing with thoughts about his situation.
Then he remembered Aria. He was supposed to meet up with Aria but ended up sleeping all day.
Ryu knew that he would have to apologize to Aria in the morning, and he hoped that she would understand. As he closed his eyes and tried to sleep, he promised himself that he would do whatever it took to make things right and earn Aria's trust.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone