FOR A WISH

Prologue:
The Gatekeeper

A rabbit exited the maze, her hood shielding her from
the rain. She stood in front of her final destination – the Tower. A black
obelisk piercing the sky, its peak unseen. Asha gritted her teeth and charged
towards the gate, slamming it with full force. The gate did not open.
Frantically she looked for a handle or a crack, anything to get it open. She
pounded the gate, expecting it to budge, or at the least for someone to open
it. She couldn't have come this far, just to be denied her entrance. Asha fell
to her knees. This was her end.

“My, my, what an eager little bunny."

Asha jumped, unsheathing the sword hidden under her
cloak. She was confronted by a dog, dressed in jester's attire. He slowly
circled Asha, positioning himself between the rabbit and the gate.

“Here to conquer the Tower, are we?"

Asha did not respond. The jester paid her no mind and
took out a scroll from behind his back. He unrolled it and, with closed eyes,
began to mockingly recite it.

“Great adventurer, you have battled your way through
the labyrinth of the four lords and you stand before the Tower. If you
successfully conquer all of its twenty floors, you will be rewarded with one
wish, no matter what it may be.  Good
luck and Godspeed."

He rolled up the scroll, a grin stretching across his
face. Asha did not respond. The jester frowned.

“Could I ask what your wish might be?"

There was a moment of silence.

“Immortality."

The dog let out a booming laugh. Her grip on the hilt
tightened.

“I'm sorry, it's just that… you are risking your life
so you won't die. I find it pretty stupid."

She raised her sword, pointing it at the adversary's
throat.

“Let me through."

The jester was amused, he waved his hand and the gate
opened. Asha sheathed her sword and walked past him.

“Good luck, great adventurer." He mocked her, his back
turned.

#

Part
1: Alchemy and Lunacy

Asha stepped into a library. The gate behind her was
no more and she pressed forward, her sword raised. The library was well lit,
with dozens upon dozens of bookshelves, each brimming with tomes of all times
and subjects. With every step she took the library seemed to grow, revealing
corridors unnoticed before, each no different than the one she was in.

After passing a few detours, she heard a shriek of
pain from one of the hallways. Gripping her sword, she ran forward, navigating
through the books and shelves, following the cry. With each step, the books on the
shelves became fewer and fewer and, when she finally reached the source, she
stumbled upon an area almost like a room unto itself.

There were no shelves, only tables with glass
equipment, diagrams and dissected creatures. In the center of the room lay a
tall figure – a crow, wearing a yellow robe, adorned with symbols of unknown
origin.

The crow thrashed on the ground, gripping his hand,
which was covered in simmering boils.

“Curses! Wrong ingredients, wrong circle, wrong
diagram! The king will not be happy, no, not at all." He mumbled to himself,
rolling on the ground, not noticing Asha.

He stood up, still clutching his hand, took a quick
glance towards the rabbit and turned back towards his diagrams.

“Aha!" he yelled out, raising a piece of paper. He
read through it, murmuring, and his injured hand healed itself. He flexed his
newly formed appendage and continued on with his work.

“You are late!" he yelled out in a harsh tone. “The instructions
are on the wall to your right. You better get a move on, or the king will have
both of our heads."

Asha looked at the wall. A parchment stood pinned,
covered with mad, unreadable scribbles instead of words. She stepped towards
the crow.

“How do I gain access to the next floor?" she asked,
still gripping her sword.

“What are you yammering on about child? We have work
to do! We have to build the tower for the king! Get started on the list or I'll
turn you into a living blob!" the crow threatened, unmoving from his work.

“There is nothing written on the list! Tell me how to
climb up the tower or I'll have your head!"

The crow let out a deep sigh.

“Such arrogance in today's youth."

He turned around and waved his hand.

The floor beneath Asha started to gelatinize. Slowly
sinking, she took steps towards one of the tables, grabbing it for support.

“You see child? You cannot simply defy your superiors.
Punishments are needed. They help you grow. I was once punished by the king,
and now I am his royal alchemist. I am sure that after today, you will go on to
do great things!"

Asha could barely hold on to the table. The strength
with which she was dragged down outmatched her own. She scanned the table, spotting
a few vials of different colours. She grabbed them all and, with her final strength,
threw them at the alchemist. Upon impact they broke, setting his entire body on
fire. He stood there silent.

“The king will not be happy."

He toppled over, his body still burning. The floor
beneath Asha returned to normal, spewing her back out.

The crow finished burning and a wall parted, revealing
a hidden path. The rabbit sheathed her sword and pressed forward.

 #

Part 2: Rhetoric

Asha stepped into a garden, a cobblestone path leading
to its center – a circle formed by marble columns. There was no ceiling, only
the stars and moon shining down. In the center, on one of the benches, lay a
parrot wearing a sheer blue dress, more akin to a veil than actual clothing. Asha
followed the path to meet her next challenge.

“Brave warrior, do you wish to climb to the top?" the
parrot spoke, without facing Asha.

“I do", replied the rabbit, unflinching.

The parrot giggled and turned.

“I am the daughter of the king, lady of the second
floor."

She extended a hand towards Asha and was met with a
cold stare. The lady scoffed.

“The greater the ignorance, the greater the
arrogance." She turned back, gazing at the sea below.

“I am the wisest in all the land." The lady spoke, as
if to herself. “I've been taught by the greatest tutors. I know everything
there is to know in all the sciences and arts. That is why I was put here. Why
do you climb the tower? What is it you desire?"

“Immortality."

Asha's answer forced a slight chuckle from the lady.

“Such base interests. Do you fear the inevitable to
such an extent that you risk forcing it upon yourself?"

“I fear no such thing."

The lady turned her head slightly.

“You contradict yourself, brave warrior. People wish
to avert what they fear. There is no other reason."

The cold wind blew Asha's cape open. She did not
speak.

“It gets awfully lonely in my garden. If you are
willing to stay, I just might teach you all there is to know. I have been
craving a companion to talk to."

“I am not."

The lady arose. She turned again, staring down the
rabbit.

“You dare turn down the greatest gift from me? I
should have your head on a platter!"

Asha did not respond. She unsheathed her sword and
pointed at the parrot. The lady's eye, not losing an ounce of anger, twitched
for the slightest second.

“Typical brute. You cannot solve your problems with
words, so you chose violence. You bore me. Be gone!"

She flicked her hand to the other side of the garden,
towards a newly formed door. Asha continued along the cobblestone path and
exited the garden.

#

Part 3: Gluttony

Asha entered a brightly lit room. The walls were
adorned with crested flags and torches. In the far end of the room there was a
feast, but only one ate – a mouse dressed in an enormous dress and a huge
headpiece, most likely made with the intent of resembling a crown. Behind her
throne there was a wooden door, fitted with gold hinges and rings for knobs.
The mouse was surrounded by six guards, barely standing and emaciated.

The moment Asha stepped into the room, the mouse
yelled something, rendered unintelligible from the food in her mouth. One of
the guards sluggishly crossed the room, his halberd dragging along the floor.
Asha readied her sword. When the guard reached striking distance, he collapsed
on the ground.

“Idiots! Idiots all of you!", the mouse screamed. “I
should have you executed!"

None of the guards reacted. Asha cautiously strode
forward, not lowering her sword. She stood on the other side of the table. The
mouse did not look impressed.

“What would possibly possess you to enter the chamber
of the duchess of these lands? During a noble feast, no less!"

“I'm here to traverse the tower."

“Oh, another one."

The duchess took a gulp from a goblet of wine and
wiped her muzzle with one arm.

“None have reached the top. You should turn back now."

Asha took a look at the guards.

“I don't think so."

The duchess was unamused.

“Be it as you wish! I will drink my wine from your
skull! Guards! Exe…"

Asha slashed the mouse's throat. Blood spewed across
the white table cloth. The duchess fell.

The rabbit turned towards the guards, all of whom took
a step back. She jumped over the table and opened the door.

#

Part 4: Patience and Trickery

Asha walked through a long corridor. At some point the
sound of her footsteps changed from clacking against stone to creaking wood.
When she reached the end, she entered a small room. In the center of it sat a
ram behind a desk, surrounded by dozens of parchments, scribbling away by flickering
candle light. He glanced over his glasses towards the rabbit, then turned his
gaze back to his work.

“Sit." The ram's voice was stern and yet unconcerned.

Asha looked around and noticed three chairs next to
the wall. They were wooden, moldy and one was tied up with strings so as not to
break apart.

The rabbit stormed towards the desk. She pointed her
sword towards the ram. For a second he looked up, let out a small chuckle and
continued writing.

“Number…" he quickly went through some papers."...11154.
Do you know who I am?"

“Another obstacle that needs to be dealt with."

“Cute." For a moment his permanent frown turned into a
light smile “No. I am the executive tasked with overseeing everything that
happens in this tower and the maze."

“So you fill out paperwork."

“Yes, I do.  So,
if you want to pass, number 11154, you should wait until I am finished."

He lowered his head and continued writing.

“What if I just cut you down?"

“Then you wouldn't have anyone to open the door for
you."

He motioned towards a beat up door behind him.

She tightened the grip on the hilt.

“Will this take long?"

“Hmm...hard to say. Ever since I was assigned here, I
haven't stopped filling out paperwork."

She took a quick glance towards to door again.

“Is this really necessary?"

“Absolutely. I suggest you sit down and get yourself comfortable.
I will call you when it's your turn to fill out the forms after which I can
send a request for the key."

Asha took a seat in the chair that looked most intact.
Of all the things she was expecting to come across in the tower, this was not
one of them. It seemed strange how undeterred the executive was when his life
was threatened. Could he have gone mad like the alchemist? Or maybe he wasn't
the fighting type and he was bluffing, now thinking of a way to dispose of
Asha. She didn't let her guard down and stared at the ram. He didn't deviate
from his routine. Comparing papers and writing away. Judging by the amount of
papers around him, it would take at least a week until Asha made any progress.

Asha stood up and walked towards the door. The ram didn't
turn. She examined it up close. It was covered in a brown fabric, nails
piercing it at key spots to keep it in place and looking presentable, but it
was ripped in places. The handle was a simple rusted ring, under which was a
keyhole. By the look of things, she could easily break the door down. She
grasped the handle and gently pulled it. To her surprise the door opened. She
turned towards the ram. He didn't notice her. She opened the door a bit more,
just enough so she could slide in, after which she closed it shut.

#

Part 5: Solitude

Asha walked into a corridor. On the other side was an
open door. She stepped forward and noticed that to her right there was a barred
room. Peeking in she saw a wolf chained to the wall. He lifted his head and
spoke in an exhausted voice.

“Hey, hey you! Set me free!"

The wolf was practically skin and bone and only a
small piece of cloth kept him decent.

Asha ignored him and pressed on.

“Please don't go! At the very least stay a while and
speak to me! It's been so long. Why won't you answer?"

 The thought of
opening the cell crossed her mind, but it meant that she'd only deviate from
her path and prolong her journey. Asha entered the door.

#

Part 6: The purple prince

Asha stepped into a room. Sunlight shone through clear,
wide windows. The room itself was big, the walls decorated with shields,
banners and weapons. There were a few weapon racks, each one with either blunt,
sharp or ranged weapons. A few training dummies were positioned in the corners
of the room. In the middle, in an empty circular area decorated with a crest
depicting the sun, stood a swan. Dressed in an elegant, aristocratic fashion,
he practiced a clunky fighting routine. He was so enthralled in his practice,
that he only noticed Asha when she stepped inside the circle.

The swan, initially surprised, greeted Asha with a
smile.

“Welcome, welcome!" He spoke in a sophisticated manner
and with utmost sincerity, “I take it you are here to climb up the tower?"

“I am."

“Wonderful! I am the prince of these lands. You see,
to get to the next floor, you have to defeat me in a duel. No bloodshed
required. Just a standard sparring match."

Asha didn't need to hear any more. She took out her
sword and assumed a fighting stance. The prince raised one finger.

“Before we begin, I have just one condition."

Asha did not answer and waited for him to continue.

“You see, the weapons here…they are inadequate. I have
developed a very specific fighting technique. Any sword here would just impede
me. I need a real weapon. One used in battle numerous times. A sword that can
taste blood. My condition is for me to use your sword. You can pick any weapon
you want."

Asha did not answer. She handed the sword to the
prince and stepped outside the circle. She examined the weapons and settled on
a scimitar. She waved it around, getting a feel for its balance. It was obvious
it was never used in a real fight. No scratches on the blade, the handle was in
top condition. It was almost as if it was an ornament rather than a weapon.
Asha turned to the sight of the prince once again practicing his routine, this
time with her blade.

When she stepped inside the circle, the prince stopped
and smiled. He was ready to duel.

He raised his hand to strike and in that moment Asha
dashed and jabbed him with her hilt, knocking his air out. He stumbled back and
the rabbit waited for him to regain his composure. He assumed the same stance.
This time he attacked from the side. Asha parried his strike, grabbed him by
the wrist and threw him to the ground.

The prince quickly got up.

“Right. That was a good warm-up. Shall we continue with the real duel?"

Asha tightened her grip and awaited his next attack.
He did a few quick hits, which Asha seamlessly blocked and when he showed an
opening, she slashed, cutting his ascot in half. He was visibly worried and
with haste tried to plunge her sword at her. She ducked, dashed forward and
pressed the blade of the scimitar against his neck. For a few seconds he didn't
move, after which he dropped the sword.

Asha picked up and sheathed her weapon, leaving the
scimitar on the ground. She passed the prince and entered through the door.

“Your sword wasn't good enough."

The words faded as she walked forward.

#

Part 7: Seeing red

Asha entered a coliseum. The walls were breaking down
and the field was covered in sand and bone. In the center of it sat a bull,
hugging a claymore. When he noticed Asha, he stabbed the weapon into the ground
and got up, using the hilt as support. He pulled it out and pointed it towards
Asha.

“I am the berserker! Defeat me in battle and you may
pass forward! If you value your life, turn back now!"

Asha pulled out her sword and waited for her opponent.

“So be it…" the bull murmured and charged forward. He
ran the distance in seconds and slashed at the rabbit. His height and the
length of his weapon allowed him to attack from a bit further than what Asha
was used to. She rolled underneath the weapon and plunged forward to strike her
opponent but instead was met with a kick, powerful enough to pin her to the
wall. Her sword flew from her hand. The berserker was already mid-strike when
Asha regained her senses. At the very last moment, she jumped out of the attack
and fled towards the center of the battleground. The bull was quickly catching
up to her.

As she ran, a shot of burning pain slashed across her
back. The sensation and force made her lose balance and she fell face first.
Asha scrambled forward and turned over to face her opponent, ready for his
final attack. At a moment's notice, the rabbit grabbed a handful of sand and threw
it into the bull's face. Blinded, he reached at his face, diverging his attack.
Asha used the momentary distraction to grab a broken bone and strike back. The
bone pierced the berserker's stomach. He let out a roar of pain. She didn't
spare a second, grabbed another bone and struck again. Her opponent started
violently slashing back and forth.

The rabbit used this opportunity to run back to her
sword. She picked up her weapon and faced her opponent. His eyes, although
bloodshot and watering, were now open and filled with relentless fury. He
grabbed his hilt with both hands, as if the bones sticking out of his stomach
weren't affecting him at all. Asha gritted her teeth and charged towards him.

The moment the berserker got in range, he slashed
forward. Asha ducked underneath the claymore, passing between his legs. Her
sword slid through his Achilles heel.

The berserker screamed in pain and collapsed on the
ground, his weight plunging the bones deeper into his body. Asha shuffled over
her opponent and buried her blade into his back, finishing him off.

Asha took a deep breath and sat on the ground. She
looked towards the sky. It was midday. She closed her eyes for a quick rest.
The wind blew the sands, ever so slightly reforming the battlefield. At regular
intervals the ambience was broken by Asha's breathing.

A few minutes later
she got up and took a few steps forward, before a sharp sting reminded her that
she was wounded. She took off her cape, cut a piece from the lower half
and tied it over her shoulder, covering the cut on her back. She put her cowl
back on and walked over to the door of the next floor.

#

Part 8: The choice of strength

Asha took a step into a forest, her legs crushing
dried up leaves. Trees towered above her, for what seemed like miles. A light
fog, combined with the lack of sunlight, impaired her long-distance vision. She
took a few steps, cautiously exploring her surroundings.

There was a crack. In just a few seconds the entire
forest was on fire. Asha started running, looking for the way out. Suddenly
manic laughter came from nearby. She stopped in her steps and changed her
course, following the sound, knowing that the source was her way out. She
grabbed her hood and pulled it around her neck to cover her mouth.

Asha stopped at the foot of at the largest tree.
Through the smoke and leaves, she could barely make out a silhouette with
antlers. It almost seemed like it was looking at her as well.

“I am the forest god! What are you doing in my
domain?" the figure yelled out from atop of the tree.

“I am traversing the tower!"

“We should hurry then! The fire is spreading quickly!"

The figure jumped from the tree and landed in front of
Asha. A tall, nude deer, wielding a spear.

“Battle me in my flames."

 He raised his
weapon.

“Why did you set your kingdom on fire?"

The deer laughed.

“I was forced to guard this tower. It's not something
I chose. But I can choose what to do with what is mine. This is my final act of
defiance."

Asha took out her sword. Her eyes were watering from
the smoke. Even at such close range, her opponent looked blurry. She was at a
disadvantage, but she knew one sure way to defeat him.

“Denying yourself is not a real choice."

The deer let out another laugh, this one more powerful
than the last. He opened his mouth to speak, when Asha sliced his throat. He
collapsed on the ground.

Asha looked around. The fire had already surrounded
her. She sheathed her sword and jumped over the deer's body to get to the tree.
She had the intention of climbing it, but she felt a cold wind blowing from the
ground. She looked down and saw a hole between the roots. Without any
hesitation, she leapt into the hole, which lead her through a small tunnel. At
its end was a round, wooden door. She opened it and crawled through.

#

Part 9: Hillside view

Asha kept on crawling through the tunnel for what
seemed like hours. She had lost almost all her strength, when she saw a feint
light. With her last breath she clawed her way out. The rabbit found herself at
the base of a dead tree, perched near a cliff.

“Going somewhere?"

Asha turned around, her weapon at the ready. In front
of her, on a rock, sat a raccoon, dressed in a blue cloak.

“You can relax. I'm not much of a fighter."

The raccoon's voice was calm and sounded elderly. Asha
didn't let go of her sword.

The raccoon got up from his place and walked towards
the cliff.

“You are climbing the tower, aren't you?"

“I am."

“Not really any other reason why you'd be here."

He chuckled underneath his nose. He bent over and
picked a pebble off the ground

“The way to the next floor is through that chasm."

He threw the pebble over the cliff. There was no
sound. Asha inched towards the edge. It was too foggy to see the bottom.

“You are lying, aren't you?"

Asha's voice was stern in contrast to the raccoon's
calm, almost cheerful, speech.

“If you want, look around. If you find a way out, be
my guest and use it."

The rabbit frowned. She took another look over the
cliff.

“Why would you show me the way so easily?"

The raccoon smiled.

“I've found that most can be a hindrance to
themselves. I don't need a sword to swing, or to weave lies, when I can just
point you in the right direction and you can torment yourself to death."

Asha let go of her sword. She took a pebble and threw
it, mirroring the raccoon, almost as if she expected different results. Again
there was no sound.

“If I jump, will I die?"

“I doubt it."

“You doubt it?"

The raccoon shrugged.

“No one has ever jumped before. Not to my
recollection."

Asha paced nervously back and forth between the tree
and the rock, the raccoon following her every step.

“Why do you climb the tower?"

Asha halted in her steps, the question coming as a bit
of a surprise, despite it not being her first time hearing it.

“I seek immortality."

“Is there a reason?"

“Yes."

Asha continued her pacing. Half a minute later, the
raccoon spoke again.

“Would you care to share that reason?"

Asha froze up. She looked at the sky. It was filled
with stars.

“I'm not afraid of death, if that's what you are
asking."

The raccoon scratched his chin.

“Are you, by any chance, afraid of life?"

Asha's eye twitched. She didn't answer. She turned
around, took a deep breath, closed her eyes and ran. She opened them just when
she reached the edge of the hill and jumped into the chasm, arms spread and her
cape billowing behind her.

The raccoon smiled and sat on his rock.

#

Part 10: Pastsight

Asha's landing felt more like jumping over a few
stairs than jumping off a cliff. She found herself in a rather small space,
compared to the earlier floors. Looking around, she saw all manner of
knick-knacks hanging from the ceiling, shelves filled to the brim with what
might be charms and talismans.

“Ah, Asha, you've finally arrived."

The voice came from behind her. Asha turned around,
where behind a circular table sat a black cat. With a coy smile, the cat waved
a hand in front of herself, motioning for the rabbit to sit in the opposing
chair. Asha stepped forward, but did not sit.

“You know my name."

“You've been in the tower for quite some time now.
Sooner or later, someone had to learn it."

The cat continued their conversation with a dramatic,
yet self-ironizing tone of voice, all the while shuffling
a deck of cards.

“I am the keeper of the tenth floor – the
fortuneteller. The way to the next floor is just behind me. All you have to do
to reach your goal is humor me."

She fanned out with the cards, covering the bottom
part of her face.

“Let me read your fortune."

Asha scoffed.

“I don't believe in fortunetelling."

“Oh, I knew that. I am a fortuneteller after all.
That's why I asked you to humor me."

Asha crossed her arms and furrowed her brow.

“I knew a stargazer once…" the cat continued, still shuffling
her deck, “…who assured me that there are more ways to stack a standard deck of
cards than stars he has counted. A deck of tarot cards is seventy two cards."

She laid the cards on the table.

“I like to believe that each reading I do directly
corresponds to only one person, on the virtue of so many combinations. We'll
use a stripped down deck, just to make it easier."

The cat arranged ten cards, Asha all the while
deciding to let the fortuneteller play out her shtick.

“You may not believe it, but I can tell a lot about
you with these cards." She turned over the first card. “The fool shows me that
your highest ideals are somewhat simple in nature, while the next card, the
chariot, shows that you have a creative, but rather physical, way of dealing with
some of your problems."

She took a quick glance towards Asha, an innocent
smile adorning her face. The rabbit did not react to it. The fortuneteller
continued.

“The high priestess shows that you do have to work on
your wisdom a bit and you aren't exactly virtuous, as seen by the hierophant,
although you are very goal driven. The magician showed me that you are ready to
deal with anything that stands in your way. While the empress says you might be
altruistic exteriorly, however, on the inside you really just care for
yourself."

The cat slid her finger on top of the next card before
flipping it over.

“Your soulmate could as well be your sword, signified
by the lovers. And the emperor says you do manage to learn from experience. My
favorite card here, the wheel of fortune, tells me that you have already
adjusted quite well to the cycle of defeating, or stalling out, the keepers of
each floor and progressing to the next one. Strength shows that you exert a lot
of control and thought in a fight and finally - the hermit. You believe you
have achieved all the spiritual depth you need to embark on your journey and
wish for immortality, thinking that it's the only way to achieve peace of
mind."

The cat flipped the card between her fingers, losing
herself.

“Are we done?"

Asha's voice leveled, but had a slight tone of
annoyance. The fortuneteller jumped a bit.

“Oh, absolutely. You may go."

Asha walked towards the door behind the cat. Before
she pressed any further, she spoke up.

“I'm pretty sure those weren't the meanings of the
cards."

The fortuneteller took out another card from the deck
and smiled to herself.

“And I am sure you knew I wasn't talking about the
cards."

Asha hesitated for a moment, but did not bother to
answer. She opened the door and walked through.

#

Part 11: Whisperer

Asha walked through a dark corridor. The barely
present ambient light made it seem like it stretched for miles. On both sides
of the pathway pillars stood tall, as if holding up the sky. From time to time skittering
sounds could be heard. She took slow and measured steps, not letting down her
guard.

With time the skittering became more and more
frequent. Asha had taken out her sword, but continued with the same pace. She
knew she was being watched. It was only a matter of time before the stalker
revealed themselves.

“What are you looking for, little rabbit?"

She did not answer. The voice echoed through the
hallway and Asha could not pinpoint its origin.

“Playing tough, are we?"

There came a cackle. Asha paid it no mind. She was
done repeating herself for ten floors and pressed on through the dark.

“You really are a rascal, aren't you? Not wishing to
play along? Fine. I can tell you why you are here. You are here to kill me."

Although echoing from all directions, it seemed like
the voice was nearer this time.

“Kill me, get to the next floor. Kill the next
guardian, get to the next floor, ad infinitum. Sometimes you'll talk to the
floor keeper, with no need for bloodshed, and then get back to killing."

Her enemy was getting closer.

“You are here because you conquered the previous floors. You'll be there
because you will conquer the next floors. That's the gist of it anyway. I
personally think you won't get your wish. Eight more of us, excluding myself.
You are bound to fail at some point. Some point soon…"

The voice came from a few feet away. She held her
sword tight.

“There's no need to go on. So many have failed. You
would have heard by now if someone got their wish.  There should have been at least one global
emperor, right?"

It was right behind her.

“Turn back now, if you value your life."

She turned around, swinging her sword, cutting off the
head of a fox. She looked at the carcass. He wore a green cloak and held a
dagger in his hand. She bent down and wiped her blade in his clothes.

Asha continued through the hallway until she reached
the next door.

#

Part 12: Forked path

Asha entered an abandoned clock tower. Gears turned,
crackling and clanking, pushing leavers back and forth. Although every single
piece of equipment moved, the hands on the clock itself did not budge and were
perpetually stuck at six o'clock. The entire room was illuminated by the moon
peering in through the dial. Asha stepped forward onto a walkway, positioned
over an endless, dark abyss. The path itself lead to a door, right underneath
the dial. 

She stepped lightly over the cold, stone floor. It was
wide enough for two to pass each other, but she didn't want to risk it.
Although it hadn't bothered her before, she had a feeling her back injury might
prove troublesome in a duel here.

When she reached the middle of the walkway, she
noticed a shadowy figure stepping onto it from the other side. She wasted no
time and unsheathed her sword. The figure did not change its pace and continued
on with a calm and steady step. Although cloaked, Asha could determine her
opponent was just slightly taller than her. It wasn't visible if they were
armed, but even if they were, it wouldn't be a long-reaching weapon, so the
battle would be intimate.

When her opponent was about three meters away from
her, he took down his cowl, revealing himself to be a rabbit. Asha readied her
weapon, but he did not attack.

“Tell me, traveler, for how long have you been
climbing the tower?"

Asha did not answer him. He turned towards the dial.

“I've been here for so long and I've yet to fix that
thing. I'm just curious how much time it takes for an adventurer to get here."

He turned back towards Asha with an innocent smile on
his face. She was not amused. He sighed.

“I am the clock-keeper. I came here because I enjoy
the solitude the tower provides for those who wish it."

He walked slowly towards Asha, continuing his
monologue.

“I enjoy examining things – how they work and
function. I have the mechanisms of the clock mapped out and I know every single
part of it. But most importantly…"

His hand started moving from beneath the robes. Asha
stood ready for an attack, but he pulled out a simple deck of cards.

“…I enjoy games."

Again he smiled and, again, Asha did not answer.

“Even though it's nice to stare at the cog wheels,
overthink the existential condition and play solitaire, it can get a little
dull. So would you mind if you played a few games with me?"

He sat down and spread four cards face down.

“If you do, you can go on to the next floor."

Asha sheathed her sword and crossed her arms. The
clock-keeper smiled.

“You have to pick two cards and they have to be the
same colour."

Asha bent down and picked two cards. The clock-keeper
flipped them over.

“Spades and hearts. You lose."

Asha got up and walked towards the door. She pulled
the handle, but it was locked. She turned back towards the other rabbit. He was
dangling a key on his finger.

“I played a game. Open the door."

“One isn't enough. I insist you stay a bit more."

Asha took out her sword and went towards the
clock-keeper. He extended his arm over the abyss, the key still dangling.

“Don't make any mistakes you might regret."

Asha stopped in her tracks. Her opponent spun the key,
coiling it around his finger. He closed the distance between them while
shuffling the deck of cards.

“Did you know there are more ways to stack a deck of
cards than there are stars in the sky?"

“Yes. I heard that recently."

There was mild look of disappointment on the keeper's
face.

“Oh…the cat told you, didn't she?"

Asha breathed slowly. When the keeper got close
enough, she was going to pounce on him and take the key. She wasn't planning on
wasting any more time than she had to. But to her surprise, when he was close
enough, the rabbit just threw the key towards her.

“You can go if you want. I don't plan on interrupting
your journey."

She turned around and headed straight to the door.

“But I can provide for you."

She slowed down.

“If you want you can stay here for as much time as you
like. I doubt climbing ten floors was easy. You can rest here. No tricks, no
battles. Just a moment of peace."

As he said that, Asha felt her wound sting. She had
completely forgotten about it since she got it. Only now did it act up.

She turned back. The keeper was in front of her. Asha
sighed, sat and then laid sideways on the stone floor.

“What do you want to play?"

The keeper smiled. He sat down and pulled out a bag
from underneath his cloak and rummaged in it.

“I personally believe that games show a person in
their truest light. And no game does that better than go."

From the bag he pulled out a small board, divided in
squares, and a box. Asha examined the equipment as he laid it down. The box was
filled with small black and white pebbles, all of them polished.

“I don't know that one."

“Don't worry. It's easy to get."

He took out a white pebble and placed it in one of the
squares.

“You see, backgammon is game where you play against
luck and have to rely on forces beyond your control. Chess on the other hand is
a more naturalistic game, where you play strictly against your opponent – mind
versus mind, while in go, you play against yourself."

Asha scratched her ear.

“So you won't be playing with me?"

The keeper giggled.

“No, no, it's a metaphor. The game is more about self
control and betterment. A game can end whenever we want it to end, and so you
can determine when you've bettered yourself and begin anew. The cat uses her
cards more as a form of meditation rather than real fortune telling. I consider
games in the same matter. It's more what you perceive and think, rather than
what you do."

Asha frowned a bit. She scratched her nose and sat up
straight. The clock-keeper took that as a sign that she was ready to take the
game seriously. He smiled and explained the rules to her.

#

Part
13: Converse

Asha
walked through stone hallways, sarcophagi filling the walls. The air was cold
and dusty, making her cough each time she inhaled too deeply. Every time she
thought she reached an end of the path, the hallways would fork, leading her
deeper into the catacombs. Her steps echoed through the labyrinth, at times
accompanied by a current of wind. There was no danger to be feared here, yet
she still felt uneasy.

Asha
paced through the corridors for what seemed like hours when she finally found
herself in the center of the maze – a field covered in ash, sand and dust,
bones littered or formed mounds both great and small.

 The ceiling, a dome with a withered mural, was
at least ten stories tall. Asha cautiously stepped onto the field. She took out
her sword when she got close to the center, expecting the guardian of the floor
to leap out at her from somewhere nearby. Every step she took towards the
center was slower. She completely stopped when small pieces of plaster fell on
her head from the ceiling. She rubbed it off and looked up. More specs of
plaster started cracking from the ceiling. Then she felt it.

Asha
fell back when the ground beneath her gave way and from the sand something
emerged. Asha crawled backwards trying to gain ground and to better see what
was coming up. It was as if the creature had been sleeping underneath the
mounds and the footsteps woke it up. It was colossal in size. Asha barely
reached its ankle. The giant was covered in rusted, black armor, it wore a
helmet, completely covering its face, and had a halberd in one hand that was
almost ready to fall on one side. Its pose was unnatural – the joints were bent
in weird angles, the spine made unusual turns and the neck looked as though it
might be broken.

For
the first time in the tower, Asha felt fear. Fear of the size and misshapen
stature of the creature before her. Fear that there was a chance her quest
might end here.

The
giant planted the halberd firmly in ground and used it like a cane, turning
from one side to the other. When it noticed Asha, it bent down to examine her
closer. Asha raised her sword, but she could not hold it still. She was
trembling.

“Are
you climbing the tower, little rabbit?"

It's
voice was loud, but calm and collected at the same time.

“I-I
am..."

The
giant made a low, droning sound in response, indicating that it understood her.
Still gripping the pole, it slid down to the ground, resting on the sandy
field.

“I
don't wish to fight you. Turn back and let me spare your life."

“N-no."

Asha
took meek steps forward. Although she was scared, she was not willing to give
up on her quest so easily.

The
giant let out a low laugh.

“You
are a fool. I can easily crush you. I'm giving you the greatest gift there
could be – life. No wish can compare to it. Just run along."

“I
won't back down."

The
giant observed the rabbit - her meager steps were barely visible, and yet the
giant found them commendable.

“In
my youth I wanted to be a soldier. I trained everyday and before I knew it, I was in the
king's army. After each battle, I would lament on the time I've lost preparing
for this. I never had a wife or close friends. I never had a real chance to
enjoy life. I've killed hundreds but there was no pleasure in it. There was no
pleasure in my life. And now, in death, I sleep with the bones of my foes. Turn
back and do not make the mistake of denying yourself of life."

Asha
listened to the story. There was a note of pain with each word the giant said.
But the warnings weren't enough to make her forfeit.

“You
said that you lost out on life because of a mistake. I aim to rid myself of all
mistakes."

The
giant turned its head. It was intrigued.

“Mistakes
affect us because life is short. With each choice we make, we deny ourselves another.
Mistakes are choices that do not fulfill us. I want to wish for immortality. If
bad choices deny us of life experiences because of how short life is, then
immortality would mean that there are no bad choices, only experiences."

The
giant laughed. At first it was a chuckle but it soon became a powerful,
thunderous laugh that shook the catacombs.

“Oh,
rabbit, I haven't had such a laugh in a very long time. You are quite the
wordsmith. I enjoy your enthusiasm and vigor, but I doubt you'll be able to make
your wish."

The
last part caught Asha off guard.

“Why
is that?"

The
giant stood up and started fixing his joints, aligning them in their correct
positions.

“Many
have tried climbing the tower. Few have succeeded. And yet, there are no kings
of the world, nor unkillable warriors, or miracle workers. Think about this
when you climb up."

   The
giant struck the dome with the halberd, breaking it down. Sunlight illuminated
the catacombs. From two slits on the back of the giant's armor, two dark,
almost paperlike wings emerged. It jumped and the wings started to flutter,
levitating it off the ground and through the hole on the ceiling.

 Asha coughed out all the dust she had
swallowed during the display. She rubbed her eyes until she could see better
and walked forward, through the field and towards a giant stone gate that had
opened with the illumination of the catacombs.

#

Part 14: Suspension

Asha stepped onto a wooden platform encircling a
tree. In front of her stretched a rope around ten meters long, tied to another
tree with a hole burrowed into it. In front of the hole stood a macaque
twirling a scimitar. He turned towards Asha with a cocky smile.

“I am the treewalker. Get through me and you can
get to the next floor. Simple enough."

Asha took out her sword. The treewalker
stretched.

“You've got to come to me. No reason to
overexert myself."

The rabbit looked at the rope. It was suspended
for what seemed like miles above the ground and it was barely thick enough to
walk on.

She put one foot on it and immediately retreated
when it started shaking. The macaque laughed.

“You can always just turn around you know."

Asha ignored the remark. She took off her cape
and fastened one end of it to her foot. The other, she tied in a noose to the
rope. She took her first steps, barely managing to balance herself. When she
reached the halfway point, she raised her sword, ready to fight. The macaque
proudly walked on the rope, grabbing it with his feet. The shaking almost
caused Asha to lose her balance. When he reached her, the treewalker stood
still and let the rabbit regain her composure. As she lifted her sword again,
signaling that she was ready to fight, the macaque just hit it. The force was
enough for Asha to fall off to the side. Even though it lasted for a second, it
felt like she fell for an eternity. The feeling of all her insides hitting the
body cavity made her clench every muscle in her body. The sudden stop almost
tore her leg out from its socket. For a split second she blacked out. The
treewalker laughed and walked back, leaving her behind, dangling.

 It took
Asha a few moments to completely realize what had happened. When she came to
her senses she noticed an intense pain in her hand. She was clutching her sword
hard enough to hurt. She couldn't sheathe it and didn't want to risk losing it.
The rabbit ignored the pain and lifted herself up to grab her makeshift harness
with her free hand. She climbed up her cloak and crawled back to her platform.

When she finally managed to sit, her feet
dangling off the ledge, she pried open her hand and placed the sword beside
her. She spent the next few minutes stretching her fingers until she had
complete control of them again.

Asha took a look at the macaque. He was lying on
his back, looking at the sky and singing a song to himself. None of this was of
any surprise to him.

Asha untied the knots and this time decided to
sling the cape underneath the rope and attach two ends to both her feet. She
took a few steps on the rope, this time even less sure of her skills and
immediately bent down to grab it with her free hand.

The treewalker noticed his opponent trying to
crawl back to the battlefield. He sighed, picked up his weapon and again met
Asha in the middle. He prepared to swing his sword down at her, but in the nick
of time Asha slashed towards his legs. He was quick enough to step back, but
all the movement caused Asha to turn upside down. She was still holding the
rope with one hand and the treewalker decided this time around to kneel down.

“You know, it would be quicker if you just turn
back. No shame in losing to a superior opponent."

Asha didn't answer. In a split second she let go
of the rope and grabbed it again, this time behind her foe's feet, after which
she slashed it with one swift blow.

In his panicked state, the treewalker dropped
his scimitar and grabbed the rope in front of him. Both enemies swung forward
and hit their opposing trees. Asha managed to climb up the tree, much slower
than the treewalker, but there was no rush. She had already won.

When she reached the top and started undoing her
harness, she heard the macaque laughing.

“You're a tricky one you are. Go on! Get to the
next floor! I'm sure that scaly creep in there has been waiting for someone
like you for a long time."

Asha didn't answer him. She put on her cloak and
walked through the burrow.

#

Part 15: Of flesh and lust

Asha walked down a flight of circular stairs.
The only indication that she was making any progress was the sound of music
getting louder and louder. There was no door at the end of the stairs, just a
thin, purple veil, shadows and figures dancing behind it.

Asha grabbed the veil and pulled it. At that instant,
it was as if all the sounds in the chamber had burst forth – loud, almost
atonal music, yelling, cries of pain and pleasure. Inside she witnessed all
manner of animals, some dressed in the most bizarre and outlandish clothing,
while others completely in the nude. None of the residents had formed groups
dedicated to one activity. Around every table sat at least five, either
drinking heavily or gorging themselves, yelling and laughing, all the while
watching other revelers dancing, whipping or fornicating.

Asha stepped through the threshold. She passed
through jugglers, minstrels, drunkards, sadists, masochists, sodomites, looking
for entrance to the next floor. It didn't take long for her to be noticed,
being the only one wearing actual clothes. Some of the dancers moved with her,
urging her to join them. She ignored them for the most part, but their
insistence slowly wore on her patience. They started grabbing her and pulling
her by the arms and cape and pleading her to dance and she pulled away with
force.

“Enough!"

Although she yelled, her voice was drowned out
in the cacophony. She was ready to take out her sword when the music stopped
and with it - all other noises. Everyone turned towards the end of the room and
Asha followed their gaze. A lizard, sitting on a black throne, one hand
supporting his head and the other raised towards the direction of a band of
musicians.

“Step forward, rabbit."

Asha walked towards the lizard, everyone
straying from her but still keeping a moderate distance. The lizard didn't
move. He examined her from head to toe and he waved his hand.

“You do not need these in here."

In an instant Asha was stripped naked, all her
clothing on the ground and the perpetrators lost in the crowd. She tried covering
herself as much as she could but the lizard raised his hand, motioning for her
to stop.

“Relax, little rabbit, you are amongst friends
here. We all value the beauty of the naked form. Set your hands down and you
may state what you are seeking."

Asha reluctantly dropped her hands, revealing
her body in full. She was covered in scars, the largest and freshest one on her
back.

“I wish to climb the tower."

The lizard scratched his chin.

“Climb the tower…climb the tower…you know, many
here also wanted to climb the tower, but they preferred to stay. I'll offer you
the same things I offered them."

Again, the lizard waved his hand. A line of
people went by Asha, all of them holding platters with food and drinks.

“You can have the tastiest of meals, the most
numbing wine or the most intoxicating substances."

Even though the line went fast, she could smell
every individual thing on those platters. The combinations of aromas made her
visibly salivate.

The lizard waved his hand once more. Another
line of figures passed her, each of them caressing her body. The smell of sweat
and perfume filled her nostrils. Her breaths became heavy.

“You can have any man or woman, or those which
can be both. You can be as sensual, as brutal or as submissive as you want to
with each and every one of them."

The lizard rested his hand on his throne.

“You can stay. You don't need to go."

Asha closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She
wiped the saliva from her mouth, took her clothes from the ground and put them
back on.

“I wish to climb the tower."

The lizard sighed and waved his hand. On his left,
the wall split open and he gestured Asha to walk through it. She stepped
through the crack and walked into the darkness. She heard the wall behind her
close and with it the music started playing anew.

#

Part
16: The tower

Asha
walked through complete darkness. There was no other sound except her
footsteps. She held her sword firmly, ready to defend herself, but there was no
one to defend from. She changed the course of her path a few times, intending
to come to a wall or an obstacle so she could get a better image of the place,
but there were no walls. It was as if she was walking in a desert.

The
lack of sights and sounds made her uneasy. Surely there had to be a guardian
here and not just an endless void. From time to time she could swear she heard
whispers, but when she adjusted her hearing, there was nothing.

When
it felt like she had been walking for hours, she stopped and sat on the ground.
The ground didn't feel like anything. It was solid, but it didn't posses any
other characteristics. Her sword, now sheathed, rested next to her. There was
nothing here. Nothing to fight. Nothing to fear. Nothing to help her.

“Sixteen
floors. I beat fifteen floors and the one to beat me was the one with nothing
in it."

She
laid down, gazing up at the darkness. She could no longer tell if her eyes were
open or closed. The solitude was crushing.

“Maybe
the guardian is the darkness itself."

She
tapped the ground a few times. She tried to scratch through it but to no avail.
She was ready to turn back, but there was nowhere to turn back to.

“Nothing
to fight and nowhere to go. I did enter knowing the possibility of failure. But
not like this."

She
was calmer than she would have expected. There was no need to put on a front.
She was bested and she was going to die here.

Asha
took a deep breath.

“I
accept my fate."

With
those words she let go of everything and drifted off to sleep.

She
woke, again surrounded by darkness. She sat up and stretched her hands. She was
refreshed. For the first time since she began her quest, she wasn't tired.

While
feeling the ground around for her sword, she felt a slight burning in her eye.
The more she turned, the worse it was. When she grabbed the hilt, she realized
what it was. Right next to her, there was a weak ray of light, as if coming
from beneath a door frame. She extended her hand forward and it collided with a
wooden surface. Feeling it up, she found a door handle. The rabbit smiled to
herself. She opened the door, the light behind it momentarily blinding her.
Asha rubbed her eyes and went through.

#

Part
17: Starbound

The
first thing Asha experienced on the other side was the smell of the ocean. The
second one was a wave hitting her entire body. She fell down on a wooden deck,
her eyes and nasal cavity burning from the salt. It took a few seconds to fully
realize where she was.

“You
the climber?"

The
voice came from behind her. She turned around and saw a white swallow hoisting
the sails. Before she could answer another wave hit her, filling her throat
with water. She started coughing violently, puking the water she'd swallowed.

“I
take it you are. Don't stand around, take the helm."

Asha
quickly got up on her feet and ran towards the boat's wheel, which was spinning
out of control. She grabbed it, stabilizing it and tuned towards the swallow.

“Will
you lead me to the next floor?"

“Forget
about the floors for a second, we gotta get through this first."

Another
violent wave hit the boat, knocking it back and forth. Asha held as tightly as
she could, but she still slipped on the wet deck.

“Hold
tight. The storm won't last long! Just a few more minutes!"

Asha
tried to get up, but another wave rocked the boat, throwing her back down. Her
head hit the boards and the darkness engulfed her again.

“Hey,
you alright?"

Asha
slowly opened her eyes. She was in the cabin. Above her stood the sailor with
only a slight degree of concern on his face. The rabbit tried to stand up, but
a sudden pain in her head forced her to fall back.

“You
hit yourself pretty hard. The ocean ain't no place for the inexperienced, you
know."

Asha
tried standing up again, this time ready for the pain. The swallow helped her
get up and let her out on the deck.

“We'll
be stuck here for some time, until the skies clear up."

Asha
looked up. Although the storm had passed, clouds still hid the stars.

“How
can I get to the next floor from here?"

The
sailor led out a low sigh.

“I
don't know. High chance of it being to where I'm headed, I guess. But we can't
get anywhere with no stars."

Asha
rubbed her head. The pain was still present and it started to get worse. She
grabbed the gunwale and slid down to the ground.

“If
it makes you feel any better, I'm pretty sure we are close."

The
sailor looked around.

“Mhm.
Definitely close."

Asha
slowly stood up, her headache under control and she gazed out into the ocean.
There was only darkness.

“Is
there any chance we could sail out on instinct?"

The
swallow laughed.

“Good
luck with that. Just hope the skies clear up soon."

Asha
turned back towards the waters. It was a tad awe-inspiring. Such a bleak
vastness. No way to know where you are. Always at the mercy of the elements. The
hairs on her neck stood up. She decided it would be best not to dwell on it and
turned around. She was met with the same sight. Only this time, something was
off.

“Hey,
is that a light over there."

She
pointed the sailor towards the horizon. He squinted his eyes.

“Indeed
it is."

He
stormed off, untying the ropes of the sail.

“Grab
the helm! We are setting course towards that light!"

Asha
was soon steering them towards the source of the light. The sailor set the
sails and they were off.

“What
is that thing?"

“It's
a lighthouse. It shows the path for lost ships."

The
closer they got, the stronger the light became. Asha was sure that in it she
could find her way out.

When
they got close enough, Asha turned towards the swallow.

“It
was a pleasure sailing with you, captain."

“I
ain't no cap…"

He
didn't finish. Asha had jumped out of the boat and was swimming towards the
dock. This act alone was more tiring than any of her other challenges, but she
kept on going.

She
climbed out of the water, breathing heavily, and ran to the lighthouse. She
hurried up the circular stairs and broke through the door at the top.

#

Part
18: Broken light

Bursting
out through the door, Asha found herself inside the lighthouse. She was so used
to the drastically changing scenery, that the sight of an ordinary lighthouse
interior caught her off guard. She paced slowly around the room, careful not to
look directly at the blinding light emitted by some strange contraption. She
examined her surroundings as closely as she could, but the simple plainness
distracted her by itself. Although big, the room did not have any obvious exits
besides the one Asha entered through. There was a light smell of fish, but that
was to be expected.

Strutting
along the circular path, she stepped on something squishy and slimy. She
tripped, but quickly regained her balance. There was a yell. Asha turned
around, but she couldn't see anyone. She looked at her feet. At first glance
there was nothing unusual, but upon further inspection, Asha noticed a thin
trail of mucus. It was barely visible, but the central contraption shone enough
for one to see a nuance on the floor. There was something in here with her.

Asha
pulled out her sword and spoke with a loud, firm tone.

“Show
yourself now, or it will get worse for you later."

The
ambience of the room slowly changed. A squishy, dragging sound slowly filled
the lighthouse. Patches on the walls changed colours, revealing themselves as
tentacles, slithering down to the floor. They lead to a strange amorphous,
white blob on one side of the room. Asha closed in on the grotesque thing. And
then she heard it speak.

“I'm
here! I'm here! No need for any of that."

The
tentacles lethargically waved towards the sword. Asha was now within striking
distance. She didn't lower her weapon.

Two
big eyes appeared on the blob. It was a squid.

“Please
lower your weapon! I'm just a humble light keeper. I've got nothing worth
stealing."

The
squid could barely move and its shaky voice was evidence enough that it wasn't
a fighter.

“Show
me the door for the next floor and I'll leave you be."

The
squid blinked. One eye after the other.

“I'm
sorry, I don't quite understand."

Asha
raised her sword towards the light keeper and it visibly sunk back.

“Do
not play with me. I am climbing the tower. Tell me where the next door is and I
won't slice you up."

The
squid was now visibly shaking.

“I'm
sorry, I'm afraid I don't understand. This is the top of the towe…Oh! You mean
THE tower. I'm terribly sorry, but this isn't it."

“What?"

“Yes.
Did you come with the swallow? Adventurers keeping sailing with him and
bursting into my lighthouse, claiming it's the next part of their journey. You
won't find any adventures here. I think the real path is somewhere outside."

Asha
furrowed her brow and the squid noticed it.

“It's
true! I don't go out much, so I can't tell you where it is, but everybody who
comes in here claims to have passed through impossible hallways and gardens,
forests and arenas. They are always surprised to find a lighthouse on top of
the lighthouse."

Asha
lowered her sword. It did make some sense.

“You
are saying this isn't part of the tower?"

“I'm
afraid not, no."

“And
it's most likely outside?"

“Most
definitely."

Asha
turned around and walked towards the door.

“I
hope you find your way."

She
was a few steps from the door when she noticed one of the tentacles on the wall
changing its colour. She stopped. The light keeper could disguise himself.
Could the floor itself also be disguised as an ordinary lighthouse?

Asha
turned around and walked back to the squid.

“Is
something the matter?"

Its
voice was sincere.

“Nothing
really. Would you mind moving yourself?"

“Oh,
I don't think that would be necessary."

Asha
pulled out her sword. The squid gulped and slithered to one side, revealing
that it was standing on top of a door. Asha opened the door. There was a spiral
staircase leading towards a black abyss.

The
squid chuckled.

“I
almost had you, didn't I?"

“Yes,
almost."

Asha
kicked the light keeper and climbed down.  

#

Part
19: Peace of mind

After
less than a minute, Asha reached the bottom of the stairs. They lead to a
chamber at the base of the lighthouse, strangely well illuminated by the moon
shining through cracks in the walls. The staircase itself ended a few meters
away from a tunnel. Asha walked towards the tunnel, stepping onto cold mud.

Right
before the entrance she looked down and saw, laid out neatly on a piece of cloth, a torch, tinder, a pair
of boots and a note. She picked up the note, which read:

“A
present for the adventurer to help them on their journey."

Asha
crumpled up the note and threw it away. With suspicion she picked up the boots
for inspection. They were made of rubber, exactly her size. She checked inside
to see if this might be a trap, but her fear was unfounded. She put the boots
on, lit up the torch and pressed onward.

The
tunnel was supported by wooden beams, visibly old and quite decrepid. The mud
was getting thicker and thicker and the air more and more damp. After some
walking, Asha reached a fork in the path – two tunnels with a sign in between
them pointing to the left. Asha followed the sign and reached another fork.
This time the sign pointed right. Asha followed it again and was met with a
third fork. She continued to follow the signs left behind, until she finally
saw a light in the distance. She quickened her pace, throwing the torch aside.
She reached the source of the light.

Asha
entered a room. Unlike the previous one, there was a marble floor, with a
carpet rolled out at the entrance. The walls were covered in green wallpaper
decorated with paintings. A small fireplace burned, around which chairs were
placed, giving the room a homey vibe. Asha took a step into the room and an arm
emerged from behind one of the chairs.

“Please
take off your boots. You'll track mud."

The
rabbit proceeded to slowly take off her boots, not taking her eyes off of the
chair. Now barefoot, she stepped towards the fireplace, to meet her host.

A
dog, dressed in jester attire, was sitting in the chair, reading a book. He
bent the edge of the page he was reading, closed the book and left it on a
table next to him.

“Glad
you could make it. Asha was it?"

Asha
furrowed her brow.

“Do
I know you?"

The
dog grabbed his chin while looking up as if deep in thought.

“Not
likely. You've probably met my brother. He lets adventurers in, I let them
out."

The
dog stood up and extended his arm towards Asha. Unsure what exactly to do, Asha
extended hers where he grabbed it and violently started shaking it.

“Congratulations
on making it this far. I'm sure it was a long and treacherous journey. I'd
offer you something to eat and drink, but experience has taught me that people
tend to be too excited to be hungry here."

“Wait.
This is the top of the tower?"

The
jester shook his head in a negative response.

“Well…no.
You still have one more floor to go. It's a meeting with the king."

He
walked towards a table and poured himself a cup of tea.

“The
king?"

The
jester took a sip from his tea. Displeased with the taste, he added a lump of
sugar to it and started stirring.

“Mhm.
He's the one who will grant you your wish. If you pass his challenge."

Asha
sighed. She looked around and saw an ordinary wooden door located near the
fireplace. She went to open the door when the jester spoke up again.

“Leave
you sword."

The
rabbit spun around to glare at him. The jester was looking at her from above
his tea cup.

“It's
part of the rules. No weapons on holy ground."

Asha
begrudgingly undid her sheath. She stared at it, not ready to let
it go.

“Is it neceserry?"

“Oh, most definitely."

With a deep relenting sigh, the rabbit lay her sword
next to the door. She closed her eyes and opened the door, stepping through the
final stairway.

“Good luck, great adventurer."

Part 20: The king

Asha had been climbing the stairs for hours and yet
she felt no exhaustion, no pain, only pure determination. She would finally
reach her goal, her wish for immoratlity. She could live any life she wanted,
changing them whenever she pleased, without having any regrets for missed
opportunities. Only one floor stood between her and all she ever wanted.

At the top of the staircase, she reached a mahogany gate,
heavily ornamented with with golden insignias. She put both hands on the gate
and pushed it open, entering a small, stone chamber. The air was cold, heavy.
Flickering candles lit the room from both sides, revealing a mural in the
center, depicting each floor of the tower.

On the other side of the room, opposite to Asha, was a
throne. A cloaked figure sat on the throne, its face obscured by darkness.
Boney fingers gripped the handles of the throne and on its head, there was a
thin, white crown. This was the king.

“Step forward, my child."

The voice was ghostly, gravely, a mere whisper. It did
not seem to have an origin, but felt like it came from the entire room. Asha
took a few steps, placing herself in the middle of the cirle.

“You desire immortality, don't you Asha?"

With a confident, yet respectful voice she answered.

“I do."

“It is not beyond my abilities, but I would need
something from you as well."

Asha's ear perked up. Her breath became heavier. This
was something she wasn't expecting.

“It's a simple request. You have passed through the
maze of the four lords and reached the top of my tower. So tell me, child, what
have you learned on your journey to my chamber?"

Asha stood still. She closed her eyes, reminiscing on
all her encounters. A few minutes passed and she spoke.

“I've learned of the horrors of madness and ignorance.
That no one can forge your path to victory. I have learned to better think on
my feet and to not sway away from my goals. I have learned to appreciate peace
and help when given and to reject lies. I have learned to survive and I have
learned to appreciate."

There was a moment of silence.

“To each, their own. I find your answer acceptable.
Although it was nothing more than a request, you answered truthfully. Your
final challenge awaits. Beyond my throne is the door which will lead you to the
top of the tower. Climb up, fulfill its challenge and your wish will be."

Asha stepped forward, passing the unmoving king and
opening her final door.

#

 Epilogue: On top of the world

She
could see the entire world. The sun's morning rays burning brightly. The moon
disappearing behind the mountains. The stars more numerous than a deck of
cards. The oceans roaring, the forests howling, the winds hissing. The people
laughing, crying and cheering. On the tower there was no pain, no sorrow, no
guilt, no happiness or sadness. There was no victory nor defeat. Only existence
and whatever it held. Asha's ego broke.