“Welcome to Rainbow Tower!” Fritz announces as he stands with Luke on the other side of the tall, granite wall. “This is the home of the world-renowned casters who helped make Gaia one of the most influential cities in Windemere. Cyril and Willow named it Rainbow Tower because they used magic to transform millions of gemstones into bricks for the tower. Hence the bricks changing color depending on sunlight and viewing angle. Surrounding the tower is a beautiful garden with a waterfowl pond on the southern side. Willow is a skilled gardener and has created several plant hybrids without the use of magic. At least, that is what she tells people. The final leg of the Fritz Warrenberg Tour is the basic outer wall with a single doorway that is flanked by ivory gargoyles. As you will see, the gated entrance is the only door in the entire complex since there are no windows or doors on the actual tower. This is a common practice of casters because it makes it very difficult for people to break in without knowing how to break the illusion. Even with that knowledge, it’s not recommended that you ever try to break into a caster’s tower. To conclude the tour, I have one question.”

Luke finishes chewing on a piece of chicken and turns to the gnome. “What’s that?”

“Why aren’t we going toward the entrance?” Fritz asks. He looks around the shaded area with a look of deep concern in his big, red eyes.

Luke swiftly picks Fritz up and starts climbing the wall. “Simple. This place is huge and it’s a long walk to the entrance, which is on the other side of the complex from us. I don’t want to waste time walking around this wall when I can just climb over and knock on the tower. We’re expected guests after all.”

“I would like to point out that this is suicide!” Fritz exclaims, watching the ground get further and further away. “There are basic rules of etiquette that one should uphold when dealing with any type of caster. Breaking into their home on the assumption that we’re already invited is not one of the rules. Rethink this action, put me down, and take the walk around the tower. You’re a forest-tracker! You should be used to walking around things! You ever go around a mountain! This is the same situation!”

Luke hoists himself onto the top of the wall and lets Fritz down next to him. The half-elf takes in the sight of the lush garden spread out below him before dangling his legs on the tower side of the wall. He closes his eyes and absorbs the sweet aroma of flowers that permeate the air without overpowering his sense of smell. A splashing flurry of wings catches his attention as a flock of gray swans lift into the air and soar in the direction of the farmlands. A caressing breeze passes over the wall and into the courtyard where it playfully shakes the slender branches of several willow trees. Luke can taste the sea in the wind as it passes over him and he crinkles his nose at the sudden taste of salt.

“You just wanted to sit on the wall, didn’t you?” Fritz asks.

“Basically,” Luke sighs.

Fritz chuckles before patting his friend on the shoulder. “Let’s get down and head to the entrance. Nimby and Aedyn will be trying to contact us soon.”

Luke is about to respond when a large shadow passes over them and continues toward the sea. He recognizes the silhouette of a griffin within seconds and gets to his feet as he watches it disappear near the distant mountain. He gently reaches into his shirt to clasp the griffin talon he wears around his neck. The forest tracker is even more awestruck when several more griffins fly overhead toward the farmlands and completely block the red moon and the green moon from view. The majestic beasts silently glide in a diamond formation. Forgetting where he is standing, Luke takes a step forward and promptly crashes into the garden.

Fritz looks down at Luke in amazement. Even after all their time together, there are moments that cause the gnome to wonder how the accident prone warrior defeated a Hellfire Elf and a Lich in the same day. The grace of a stumbling ogre comes to mind while Fritz carefully climbs down. He finds Luke clambering out of a bristle patch with his eyes still locked on the flock of griffins.

“Guess we might as well head to the tower and apologize for the intrusion,” Luke casually says. He winces as he pulls a few barbs out of his arm.

“I say we go back over the wall and use the entrance,” Fritz whispers, following Luke toward the silent tower.

“No time. At least, we’re apologizing,” Luke says in as low a voice as he can muster. He has to stop from time to time in order to remove more barbs that he didn’t notice while standing still.

“I’m just saying . . . who is that?” Fritz asks, his pupils dilating.

Luke follows Fritz’s lecherous stare to a figure walking toward the tower. The moonlight is bright enough for him to notice that it is a female half-elf. She is slender and petite, but her footsteps are surprisingly heavy and loud. Luke can hear Fritz make a small wolf whistle as they get a better look at her. Her midnight black hair contrasts sharply with her bright red peasant shirt and matching cloak. Unlike her immaculate shirt and cloak, the girl’s brown sandals and flowing, black skirt show signs of being dirtied by smoke and ash. Even the leather satchel slung over her shoulder has a large burn mark on it. Luke barely hears the murmur of her voice before a door emerges from the colored bricks of the tower. The door disappears as soon as the girl steps through.

“She must have been one of the tower servants,” whispers Fritz, whose heart is racing from nerve-wracking fear. “The skirt had a crude slit up both sides, which an apprentice of Cyril and Willow would never wear. The masters hate the new trend of torn clothing and refuse entry to any apprentice who dresses like that. Though, the shirt was rather unique for a servant. Might be Willow trying out some new colors for the hired help. She does that from time to time. Thankfully, the girl wasn’t an apprentice or we would have been noticed. Apprentices of this tower are trained to have a high awareness of their surroundings. Now, let’s go back over the wall and go through the entrance.”

Luke ignores the gnome as he cautiously approaches the tower. He starts feeling around the wall where the half-elven girl passed through. Fritz shakes his head as he runs to grab Luke by the wrist and tries to lead him away.

“We’re already here. I’m just going to knock,” Luke says, easily freeing his arm.

“You don’t knock on a caster tower,” Fritz hisses in a hushed voice. “That’s like shooting spitballs at a werewolf. The results tend to be fatal.”

“Calm down. It’s a simple knock,” Luke whispers with a friendly smile.

Fritz cringes as Luke lifts his fist to deliver the ominous knock. It never connects as Luke suddenly grabs Fritz by the shirt and leaps away from the tower. The gnome can feel a surge of intense heat narrowly miss them. Luke lands in a crouch putting himself between Fritz and the tower. A patch of fire is still smoldering where they were standing and a small trail of flickering flame continues for a few yards.

“What kind of idiot tries to break into a caster tower while the masters are home?” asks a loud female voice from the direction of the tower. They turn to see the half-elven girl has returned and spurts of flame are dancing along her fingers. Being closer to the girl, Luke notices that her skin appears to have been marked by constant exposure to fire. It is a fire-licked tan that looks out of place on the half-elf.

“You said she wasn’t an apprentice,” Luke says through the side of his mouth.

“She must not be traditional,” Fritz replies, putting a little distance between himself and Luke. “I’ve never seen an apprentice of Rainbow Tower dressed like that in public”

A sword of fire grows around the girl’s left hand. “Stop your banter! It’s my job to protect my home and my masters. Do either of you have anything to say before I kill you?”

“I think you’re being overly dramatic. We’re invited guests. If will you let me explain, we-” starts Luke. A slash of fire passes between him and Fritz before it explodes against a sapling. The young tree crumbles to ash in seconds.

“Bullshit!” the girl screams.

“I sense her etiquette lessons never stuck,” Fritz whispers, watching the smoke float off the tree ashes. He turns toward the girl and flashes a charming smile. “You got detention a lot for violent and hot-tempered behavior, right?”

“Shut up!” the girl angrily yells. “Do either of you have anything to say that won’t make me hurt you? I can stand here with a prepared spell all night.”

Fritz clears his throat to say, “Uh . . . nice legs?”

The caster roars in anger as she sends a wave of fire along the ground. It fades away as Luke scoops Fritz up and sprints out of the spell’s range. The girl chases them across the garden, but she is quickly left behind by the faster warrior. Luke wastes no time in hurling Fritz over the wall where the gnome is safe and no longer a concern. The girl catches up to them in time to hear a crash followed by some muttered gnomish that she assumes to be curses.

“It was my idea to jump the wall and approach the tower. Your problem is with me alone,” Luke states, turning to bravely face the angry caster. “Now, are you going to listen or are we going to fight until I beat you?”

“I choose fight,” she growls. She launches a flurry of fire lances out of her hands, the heated projectiles leaving a trail of haze behind them.

Luke leaps into the air and kicks off the wall to sail over the spells. He barely has the momentum to get over her head and lands without a sound. Before she can turn around, he makes a dash toward the waterfowl pond. The glistening water makes him grin because it reminds him that this caster has only used fire magic. The spells are dangerous and powerful, but even magic fire can be weakened by water. Luke is starting to form a plan when he slams into an invisible wall.

“I know more than fire magic if that was what you were thinking,” she says as she approaches him.

Luke waits for her to get close before he fluidly spins around and kicks her legs out from under her. The caster falls on her back with an angry snarl. He pounces on her to pin her arms above her head and prevent her from casting any spells. It almost works until she releases a blinding flash from her vivid, violet eyes. Luke yelps in surprise before stumbling away and frantically rubbing his eyes. She wastes no time rushing at him and delivering a surprisingly solid punch to his stomach. Luke quickly grabs her arm before falling to his knees.

“Begging?” she taunts the warrior.

“I’ve been punched a lot harder than that,” he grunts. He flips the girl over his shoulder and slams her against a nearby tree. An echoing crack is heard as the small tree falls over and crushes a row of silver flowers.

“You son of a troll!” she shrieks, getting to her feet. Luke blinks the last of the dots from his eyes in time to see an aura of magic erupt from his opponent. He dodges fireballs, lightning blasts, and acid sprays as she chases him around the garden. Trees and flowers explode, filling the air with leaves and petals.

Luke uses all of his skills to dodge the barrage of spells that turn the garden into a burning war zone. He flips around to make a head-on charge at the caster, sliding under a spray of acid as he unsheathes one of his sabers. Spinning up to his feet, Luke hits her firmly below the ribs with the basket hilt of his weapon. She doubles over gasping for air, but she still has enough strength to coat her hand in colorful flames. Both half-elves stop while Luke keeps his sword against her throat and she keeps her fire-covered hand an inch from his face.

“Guess it’s a tie,” Luke mutters under his breath.

“I can fry your face off before you can even twitch your weapon,” the girl threateningly declares. “This battle is mine, jackass.”

“I’m getting tired of this. I apologize for intruding. Now, can we stop this?” he asks.

“Screw you.”

“What is your problem?”

“I don’t take kindly to intruders.”

“You could have asked me to surrender instead of attacking.”

“There isn’t any fun in that.”

“Listen, psycho,” Luke says, leaning toward her ear to make sure she can clearly hear him. “My name is Luke. I was told by the heir of Duke Solomon to come to Rainbow Tower. My friends and I made it to Gaia earlier than expected. I’m very tired and slightly hungry. This little skirmish has used up the last of my energy.”

“So, you admit that you’re weak,” the girl interrupts in a voice of joyous victory.

“No, I admit that I’m tired and hungry. I’ve been on the road, in this heat, for the past few days. You’re probably fine in this weather since you seem to love fire magic,” he begins to explain. He stops and shakes his head in frustration before continuing. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. At least, can I have your name?”

The girl is about to say what Luke suspects is to be another insult when a bolt of red lightning hits the ground next to them. A deafening blast erupts after the impact, leaving their ears ringing. The sheer force of the blast knocks both of them against the side of the tower where Luke drops his sword and the girl’s fire turns to smoke. They get to their feet just as a rumble of thunder rolls through the cloudless night. It’s not long before the thunder takes the form of a male voice that can be heard throughout all of Gaia.

“Nyx!” it bellows.

“In trouble again,” the girl sighs as the wall of the tower opens up and both half-elves are magically yanked inside.