A metal bearing ran through a complex copper vertical maze with a glass encasement through the 5 of the 6 chamber walls as it made its way down the scape.

RrrRrrRrrRrr

clink

whooshhh

clink

clink

…

clang

…

Ding

RrrRrrRrrr

…

chime

RrrRrrRr

ding

.

.

.

.

DING

…

DING

…

DING

The metal ball after decades has reached the end .

It rolled onto an interconnected copper tube that delivers it to a deep but narrow rectangular pool.

RrrRrrRrrrrrr

…

PLOP

…

The bearing meets the intense,deep, cerulean blue water causing ripples through the untouched , motionless water.

As the metal sinks and sinks deeper and deeper it meets an undisturbed body at the bottom .

The bearing hits the man’s chest . Causing muscle to twitch.

Soon the surface settles again.

…

A silent pause then whistles through the chamber . The only thing active was the small hole above allowing light to illuminate and striking the pool.

SWASH

The pristine surface is ruptured by the man who now surfaces as water spills to the surrounding intricate tile floor.

The room now filled with the sound of splashing and heavy breathing.

The man’s hair is long and white around to the waist , with incredibly pale skin along with redded features from the icy water he laid in for so long.

He donned nothing but a simple, hidden chamber necklace.

He looks to his fist with the bearing and clenches tight .

On closer inspection there’s chips and scratches telling of its use over and over and it’s long journey to return back into his hands.

The cold water leaves shivers and stings across his body.

Gaining enough strength to articulate his hands ,he places the bearing into the necklace ,being sure it closes back up .

.

.

.

After standing for a while taking deep breaths and heaves to recover from his exhaustion ,he walks to the large door on the 6th wall and holds down the lever.

Gears start to mesh and the heavy doors inch apart to the blinding lights of the open world.

.

.

.

“EEEEEEEKKKKKKK!!”

As a girl shrieked and dropped her items she pointed at the ***** man the dozens of others piled their eyes on him .

Confusion and distraught lay on both parties faces

“huh? HUHHHH !?!”

“QUICK !GET THE MASTER HERE”

“AND THE ELDERS! YES GET THE ELDERS TOO”

“WHAT IN THE CAPHIAN REALM IS THIS ?HOW’S THE DOOR OPEN?”

“WHATS GOING ON?!”

The pale man was speechless? His holy sanctuary where he spent his years was infected with low level vermin??

“What in the realms of Apostle is this… who are you?”

“Apostle? What is he even saying? What is that?”

“Atleast he seems human”

“But he doesn’t seem like one. Maybe an imitation?”

“Imitations can’t speak human tongue”

“He speaks funny”

“How does he not know who we are? Is he stupid”

“Where’d he come from? The door?”

“No way!”

“How did he come through that door? That’s near Impossible!”

“Is he dangerous?”

“When are the elders going to come?”

Murmurs ran through his ears but he didn’t speak. Seeing his situation it’d be better to remain silent.

He looked around the crowds of people…?…!!!

‘MY PRECIOUS BOOKS?!’

‘MY RESEARCH ?!’

he glanced at the people , each scared to make eye contact .

His saw his sacred scrolls and books in unfamiliar grubby hands .

“You-“

“Everyone move! Let the elders across”

The swarms gave way to 6 older , more collected looking seniors.

they took one look at the gaping door and looked with concern to each other.

Whispers about what was happening only worsened as more people were curious .

A elder with sharp eyes and dark purple hair donning an emerald green cloak resting on her arm opened her mouth but faltered for a moment.

She was quickly interrupted by the pale man.

“May I ask who you are?… My name is Midas Archiva, commander of the seventh Battalion of Apostle…Why are you in my sanctuary? You should know the punishment for going into territory bestowed by Apostle himself.”

… he spoke with authority and demand and yet he was returned with silence and confusion .

“We- we are the Caphian Mages of the Caphian Magic Tower“ they were taken back at the confidence he held.

“I do not know of any Caphian and yet you still dared to enter and entertain yourselves here? WHY HAVE YOU INTRUDED APON MY SANCTUARY!”

Anger led from his body as he released great power that the elders could not discern. What was that?

“This is a misunderstanding. This is …this is …” spoke a purple haired elder.

More whispers came from the back of the hall as people parted once again to let a singular man with golden short hair and a large towering build through. The elders then stopped talking.

“Ah ,greetings - great mage…”

“What is happening?”

“Ah.. that I don’t know…”

.

.

.

“May I know who you are?” At this point Midas was losing patience … he was …still unclothed

‘How indecent and embarrassing of me. It’s a bit chilly and I’m still wet \~(o///o )\~

He cleared his mouth and looked at the elder that faltered before. Trying to gesture his lack of clothing.

The woman paused and then realised ‘ah’ as she bashfully threw him her cloak ,which he wore.

“I WILL ONCE AGAIN TELL YOU MY IDENTITY!”

“AH, no need I heard from outside.” The blond man spoke

‘… ah this little-‘

“I am the master of this tower, Orion Syndus the great mage of the Empire of Freyv . I am confused as of your origins can you please elaborate? ”

“HAH ! Master? You filthy rats calling my bastion yours? I GO TO SLEEP AFTER DEALING WITH THE NAGA FOR A BUNCH OF EELS TO USURP MY TERRITORY!?”

“AH! So it was you who was the original owner !” His eyes gleamed with the same brightness as his hair.

“Wait what- wait this is my moment-“

“You see this was a while back but out ancestors wondered and discovered this place around… 5,ooo years ago! And discovered all these mysterious writings and objects here! We soon discovered we couldn’t take them out ,( such a pity) but as you know humans are curious so we set up research here and 5,ooo years later it’s become the Magic Tower!*” The man was shining after his history course

The crowd groaned while starting to doze off . (Some were even blowing snot bubbles) _(¯﹃¯) _

‘What is this man doing ? Why’s he so proud of his ancestors intruding on holy lands?’

Midas swiftly aimed his finger at the senior members .

“EVEN SO ,THIS IS MY SANCTUARY. THIS PLACE WAS BESTOWED UPON BY APOSTLE ! DO YOU HAVE THE CONVICTION TO GO AGAINST HIM! EVEN IF ITS BEEN 5,000 YEARS YOU HAVE NO RIGH-( ∩╹□╹∩)

Panic started to settle in as he grasped his face

“You said 5,ooo years … right?”へ(◎_◎)へ

‘… I set the alarm too late…’

The blond man gave a pause, his face was slightly confused by his words.

“…That is true it’s exactly 5,ooo this year. Your appearance and the things you say are truly unexpected and a bit confusing, do you mind leaving this area for a more private place to discuss ?” (^v^ )

He smiled graciously while using his hands to point to the room. The other elders scuttled to the meeting hall as the crowd parted for them. ( ∩_∩ )

“This way\~” Orion gestured .

“HUH! I know the way around my own home.”

Orion still plastered a service smile as he followed .