Chapter Fifty-One: Paradigm Shift

FIFTY-ONE

“What about my family?” Roan asked as calmly as he could as he entered the rabbit-kin’s office. It was a small space of muted colors, browns, tans, earthy tones mostly with little light coming through the doors.

“A burrow,” the quiet part of his mind remarked as Roan looked to where the mayor sat in an ornate leather padded chair that looked like a throne. She leaned back in it and kicked her wide feet up on the desk as she continued to sip her small cup.

“Met your siblings a few years back when they started their climb. They’re tough, competent, and smart. Well-educated too, they figured out what we’re trying to do quickly and played the game well.”

“Are they alive? Are any of them alive?” Roan asked. Hana grimaced and shook her head.

“Can’t tell you about future floors or what challenges happen on them. One of the Rules.” Hana sipped her drink and sighed as she blinked slowly and closed her eyes, head lolling back before she spoke again.

“You know these towers are supposed to be homebases for us. Once they’re conquered and the natives are strengthened we can come and go, work the planet and explore. It’s a great way to elevate one’s clan or family; join some ambitious Tower Master and explore the frontier. Help save the ignorant barbarians, introduce them to the greater universe, you know how it is. It’s not supposed to be like this,” Hana said, shaking her head as her eyes slowly opened.

“This isn’t supposed to be a prison. A test? Yes. Lethal test even. But not something insurmountable.” There was sadness as she looked at Roan and he realized what she was saying.

“What happened to make it change?” Roan asked.

“Rules kid. You have to discover it yourself. Hard coded into the Tower’s mainframe. It’ll turn me into a fine mist if I break the big Rules.”

“She’s a prisoner. All of them are because of something that happened to them. The Tower isn’t functioning properly, but they want it to?” Roan shook his head as he thought it out. He didn’t want to get trapped in this problem, he just wanted to find his family and know if they were dead or not.

“Will solving this problem of yours help me find my family?” Roan asked.

“It won’t hurt. I watched your performance on level one and was hoping you’d land over here. Some of my family they think we should just wait it out. What’s a few centuries of meditation and study to beings who can live millenia? Others of us think we should be more proactive.”

“As long as you stay in the confines of the Rules?” Roan emphasized the word rules and Hana nodded.

“You’re getting it, kid. I can’t hinder or aid you in your climb. Not beyond the station I hold on the level. And there’s not always a station to hold on every level, but where there is, me or one of my compatriots will be there.”

“And your station right now is Mayor of Village 3?” Roan asked.

“You got it. Village 3 is in some trouble at the moment. Horde coming from the east. Infected horde too, one might even say corrupted,” Hana said with a roll of her eyes.

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“You can tell me this, but you can’t say other things? Your Tower Master’s logic doesn’t make sense,” Roan said. Hana grew still and blinked slowly.