Chapter Thirty-Three: Future Problems

THIRTY-THREE

Roan stared at the other man, not rising to the bait of asking him what their mysterious pact was. It was easy enough to deduce what it was based on how all the sect students were moving together, but he was getting tired of the drama surrounding this. When he didn’t ask, Taoya sighed in annoyance and continued.

“It was simple. A Pact that we’d all enter the Thirteenth Tower together. That we would aid one another with the only objective being that we conquer this tower and stop the spread. We didn’t know about this market system or think of the association until we were in, but everyone has joined it and so far is honoring the pact. Giving up our own gain for the greater good of the world.”

“Congrats. You’re not short-sighted,” Roan said deadpan. Of course they’d realize if it was spreading that eventually it would spread to them, and with how long one could live by raiding the wealth and resources of the towers, they might still be alive to see their descendants affected by the transformation.

“That’s how we thought of it too. Now, here comes the question. Will you honor the Pact?”

“You’re inviting me into this Pact?” Roan asked, genuinely surprised.

“I nominated you. Some of the others are more hesitant to it, but I’ve seen your skill and more importantly your drive. If you don’t get yourself killed, it’s the type of drive that sees people finishing a tower. When we read the journals of the original tower conqueror’s, it’s people who have your drive that see it through.”

“What’s the full totality of this Pact?” Roan asked, shifting as he wanted to tell them no out of hand. The more rational part of him whispered to at least hear them out.

“There is no in-fighting. Group decisions by vote on how to clear floors. Alliances of support and sharing of resources. Honestly, it’s pretty much what the T.C.A is.”

“But it’s not,” Roan said. If it was, then they’d have simply just had everyone join the Pact and not worried about the association that Darren was trying to get off the ground.

“What else, Taoya?”

“If you don’t join there will be no backlash. But you won’t see the opportunities coming your way that will for others. Shared resources or opportunities or help to the degree the Pact members will work together. Maybe a single person, like me, would help you out. Maybe Moira, but the others won’t go beyond the basic tenets of what the association demands.”

“Sounds like backlash to me,” Roan said.

“Naw. Backlash would be me killing you and hiding your body to keep our secret cabal a secret. You’d just be treated like a normal person is all. Just another association member,” Taoya said. Roan felt a chill run down his back as he heard the words Taoya said and the serious look in his eyes.

“And if you do the impossible and break the tower’s hold? What happens with the Pact then?” Roan asked.

“It’d stay in effect. Likely the association too. For too long we’ve allowed our separate aims for power limit our growth and the betterment of our planet. Even here we struggle with information sharing without the pressures of the outside world,” Taoya said.

“This is a revolution. At least the start of one.” Roan realized now why Taoya was being so careful dancing around the words. The Elders of their sects or the professors and deans of the colleges wouldn’t allow this wide spread of information and resources without a fight. Neither would the civilian governments. It would come down to a fight, eventually.