Irvin hobbled inside the large command tent and groaned as he settled into a chair by the large table. The Guild official's breaths came out in gasps, and his skin was paler than usual. He had bags under his eyes, and his body was not fully recovered from the neurotic poison inflicted upon him by the Lich. Or whatever Lady Kalina had done to him afterward to remove the blight. Irvin rubbed his sore joints as he studied the large Rune-covered map of the Encampment before him. There were several areas that glowed red.

  "So many problems," he grumbled as he rubbed his face.

  The flap to the tent opened as Miss Heng and the Spirit Walkers entered.

  "Irvin," the Amber Guard captain greeted.

  "Miss Heng," Irvin replied.

  Rainia gently rubbed the old man's shoulder. "How are you feeling?"

  "Like a platinum ducat," Irvin answered before a fit of coughing overtook him.

  "Drink this and in time you will recover," Rainia said and placed a silver vial in the official's hand.

  "I can't accept this," Irvin started. He knew how expensive such a potion was.

  Rainia smiled and gently closed his fingers over the vial. Ahnau and the other Spirit Walkers took up seats around the table. The Protector's armor jingled as he settled into the chair. Irvin sighed when he saw the tired looks on the young adventurers' faces. They are carrying such a heavy burden, he reflected. The tent flap opened again, and this time, Kash and his team entered. The duelist with the numerous faint scars on his face nodded to Miss Heng before taking up a seat at the table.

  "We will begin when the others arrive," Miss Heng announced.

  As if on cue, the tent flap opened again, and five more people came through.

  "By the hells, Irvin! You look terrible," Swordslayer said in greeting.

  Irvin coughed and replied, "I wish I could say it's a pleasure to see you at the table, but I would be lying."

  Kash laughed and stopped when he noticed that he was the only one. The others at the table wore expressions as if they were at a funeral. Everyone had bags under their eyes, and they stifled yawns. They were tired but held their chins up.

  Swordslayer chuckled and clapped his hands together. "So, why are we here?"

  Miss Heng's face remained impassive as a marble column, but her eyes glinted like the edge of a sharp blade. Swordslayer cleared his throat and settled into his chair. Rainbow studied the room and the map. With a nod, she sat down. Miss Heng motioned to Irvin, and the older Guild official leaned forward to speak.

  "The Seers predict that the Wandering Spire Event is about to end," Irvin started.

  Rainbow and a few others at the table glanced up at this with their mouths opened. "How is that possible?" She asked.

  "I figured we had another year at the least," Kash added.

  Irvin's answer was interrupted by a fit of coughing. He held up a hand to excuse himself as he turned away to cough into a handkerchief.

  Miss Heng spoke up, "We believe it is due to the Hold Cores being removed. This caused some sort of destabilizing effect, which is causing the Spire to be more erratic."

  "How much time do we have?" Rainbow asked.

  Irvin recovered and answered, "A month, maybe two, but we should prepare for the worst. However, this is the least of our worries."

  Kash arched an eyebrow. "We have bigger concerns?"

  Irvin couldn't answer as another fit of coughing overtook him. The others waited until the Guild official recovered.

  Swordslayer threw his arms up in the air. "What the hell is wrong with the Guild? Give this old man a break. Do we not have another official?"

  "This meeting is private. Irvin is the only one I trust with this," Miss Heng stated.

  Swordslayer glanced at the others in the table. Everyone nodded solemnly. Irvin recovered and a part of his heart ached again to see such a burden on the young people before him. These poor souls.

  Irvin continued, "The Safe Zone portals were also powered down with the removal of the second Hold Core. In addition, numerous entrances appeared at the base of the Spire as well as stairwells that we believe connect the first five floors."

  The Guild official paused to let what he shared to settle in. This is grievous news indeed, Irvin reflected to himself, and it was clear on everyone's faces that they knew that.

  "There is no bloody way we can cover all the entrances! All manner of nasties are going to come out," Kash observed.

  Swordslayer chuckled, and the others glared at him. That boy has no sense of decency, Irvin reflected with a scowl toward the sword fighter.

  "What?" Swordslayer said. "I mean, who would have thought that removing the power sources for the Spire would lead to this?"

  "Swordslayer, that's enough," Rainbow said in a low voice.

  The sword fighter nodded, sat back in his chair, and crossed his arms. Tara and Aaron remained as silent as their comrade, Zabo. Kash's teammates sighed. One of them muttered a complaint about extra long guard shifts.

  "Irvin, please continue," Miss Heng ordered.

  The older Guild Official nodded. "Right, the other main issue is the Lich. He escaped, and no one knows where he is. More pressing for us is that Vampires also came through the portal, and we suspect that they are hiding in the Encampment."

  Irvin motioned to the red spots on the map.

  "By the Night Eye," Zabo whispered.

  The others around the table started to talk amongst themselves. Concern hung heavy in the air like the thick fog before an ocean storm.

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  Irvin continued, his eyes were moist. "Lastly, monsters from the upper floors are free to travel down and even escape the Spire as well."

  Swordslayer snorted, "Lastly? You all have your hands full!"

  "I see that you are wearing the same Amber cloak as us," Tara growled.

  "Honey, I can take off this cloak anytime I want to," Swordslayer shot back.

  "Honey?" Tara hissed, and her eyes narrowed.

  "That's enough!" Miss Heng snapped.

  The tent became quiet, but the tension remained thick like a heavy curtain. Irvin watched the Spirit Walkers talk amongst themselves, and each of them nodded. They are good folk, He reflected to himself. He knew that they were prepared to help however they could. They were only Adventurer Rank and yet they were willing to assist the Amber Guard.

  Rainia spoke up. "We will help."

  Miss Heng nodded and glanced at Kash.

  "What? You are my captain. Tell me what needs to be done," he replied.

  The other Amber Guard nodded. This included Tara, Zabo, and Aaron. That left Swordslayer and Rainbow.

  "This does not involve us," the sword fighter stated. "We have plans to continue on to the sixth floor."

  "The Elites want to find a Hold Core for themselves, and they will be there," Miss Heng stated.

  "So, may the best Adventurer claim the prize," Swordslayer responded.

  "Prince Aaron will make a move against you," Miss Heng stated bluntly, like a hammer to a nail.

  Swordslayer scoffed. "He could try."

  "We will join your cause," Rainbow stated.

  The sword fighter froze with his mouth open. "Huh?"

  "She's right, and this is too important for us to ignore," Rainbow stated.

  "What?" Swordslayer growled.

  "If you wish to continue on, you will have to go alone," Rainbow said.

  "You can't be serious? I, we never adventurered without each other." The shock on Swordslayer's face could be felt by all, it was so evident and real.

  "Then work with me to help them," Rainbow replied in a soft voice.

  Swordslayer sat down and nodded. "Of course." But a scowl remained on his face like the shadow of a hunting wolf as it leaped.

  I don't trust that he will play along for long, Irvin thought to himself. Kash raised his hand, and Miss Heng nodded at him.

  "I'm not a thinking person. I'm a soldier; you tell me where to fight, and I'll go there. But I have a question. Why have we not invited more of the Amber Guard here? Can we not trust them?" The sword fighter asked.

  Miss Heng answered, "The Amber Guard remains trustworthy. The reason why more are not here is a simple matter of limited resources. Monsters are starting to exit the Spire, and we have Vampires hidden in the camp."

  Her words resonated in the air with the seriousness of their situation. Kash scratched the back of his neck.

  "Why am I here?" He asked with an arched eyebrow.

  "I brought you all here because you all demonstrated strong capabilities. Each of you will be a mission leader," Miss Heng said.

  Kash raised his hand. "Hold on."

  Miss Heng paused and narrowed her eyes at the scarred duelist.

  "Them," The Duelist pointed at the Spirit Walkers and asked, "Are we making them a part of the Amber Guard?"

  Irvin was surprised by the question. Would Miss Heng promote them to Adept Rank? The Guild official wondered and then shook his head. No, it would be too soon for the Spirit Walkers. Though they were very capable and their skills were impressive, they were still Adventurer ranked. Adept rank required peak human condition and master level skill.

  "No," Miss Heng replied.

  Irvin noticed the Spirit Walker Protector, the one named Ahanu, deflate like an emptied wineskin. Inwardly, Irvin chuckled. The ambitions of youth, he thought to himself.

  Miss Heng continued, "The Spirit Walkers will be in charge of re-establishing the Safe Zones Portals. One of our priorities is to get all the adventurers out of the Spire before it leaves."

  The Spirit Walker team Leader, Rainia, nodded. She had dark hair and smooth, sunkissed skin. Her bare shoulders and arms were well-muscled. She spoke in a melodious voice that reminded Irvin of a strong female wolf.

  "We will not fail you," Rainia said. Her teammates nodded in agreement.

  "I know," Miss Heng replied and she turned toward the Amber Guard in the tent and said, "Each of you will be promoted to a Senior Guard."

  Miss Heng handed Kash and his four teammates a golden badge marked with Runes. Once each person placed their thumb on its center, the badge was bonded to them as proof of rank. Irvin knew that it was sophisticated magic that provided irrefutable proof that the owner was among the Senior Guard. Miss Heng also gave Tara, Aaron and Zabo a badge each.

  "Hey! What about us?" Swordslayer demanded. He and Rainbow did not receive a badge.

  Good thing too, Irvin reflected, those two were nothing but trouble. Miss Heng ignored the sword fighter and continued to speak with the others.

  "Your mission is twofold. One is to secure the Spire exits and ensure monsters do not escape. Second, to enter the Spire and help adventurers evacuate. Coordinate how that happens," Miss Heng ordered.

  The Amber Guard nodded and remained in their seats. Swordslayer glared with a scowl on his face.

  "What about us?" He demanded a second time.

  Miss Heng turned to face him and Rainbow. "You two are to hunt the Vampires that escaped."

  Rainbow nodded. She was oddly quiet, Irvin thought to himself. What was she up to?

  Swordslayer snorted, "That is easy enough. What about the Lich? I would like another crack at him."

  The other Amber Guard nodded. A few agreed and wondered about the Lich. Miss Heng held up a hand, and the tent became quiet.

  Irvin spoke next. "We have good reason to believe that Lady Kalina is going after the Lich."

  Rainia raised her hand, and Miss Heng nodded at her. "We heard that she," the Spirit Walker paused for a moment and continued, "She fled with Jeze."

  "That is true," Miss Heng stated.

  Swordslayer chuckled, and his eyes raised. "Those two will go up against the Lich? I mean, Lady Kalina has my respect and the kid? Not so much. But you can't be serious. Those two will get killed."

  "It is out of our hands," Miss Heng stated and asked, "Please acknowledge that you understand your assignment."

  The sword fighter glared at the Amber Guard Captain. Rainbow spoke up next in a soft voice.

  "I agree with Swordslayer. The Lich, in his pure form, overpowered two teams of Amber Guard."

  Irvin understood what Rainbow meant. The Lich was able to move his essence into different bodies, but they were weakened. The Lich was still considered Elite Rank in all cases, but he was much more powerful when he was in his pure form. He was also vulnerable to being destroyed in that state.

  "We believe Lady Kalina has obtained powers that allow her to negate the Lich's necrotic abilities," Irvin answered.

  "Oh yeah? I wonder how she came across those," Swordslayer stated.

  Rainbow asked, "Why is Irvin the only Guild Official here?"

  This question sparked mutterings from the other Amber Guard in the tent. They all wondered the same thing. Only the Spirit Walkers remained silent.

  Miss Heng's narrow eyes pierced the others in the room and they quieted. She answered, "Two reasons. One, the other officials are busy with organizing the evacuation efforts. Two, and this is an unfortunate truth, many Officials are financially connected to the different corporations, merchants guilds, and governments."

  Kash snorted and observed, "That's a nice way to say they are corrupted."

  Miss Heng responded with a silent glare. Kash cleared his throat and apologized with a slight bow.

  Irvin spoke up, "It is no secret that the Wandering Spire is a lucrative event for many industries, kingdoms, and guilds. The raw materials discovered within are used for all manner of Rune enchanted items. In many ways, the Spire boosts the world economy. We believe that many Guild Officials will not have the same sense of urgency with the evacuation efforts. But, you all need not worry about that. I will be coordinating with the other officials."

  Miss Heng rose from her seat and leaned forward onto the table. "You all know what to do. Go and do your jobs well," she said.