To Walk The Mist 117 City of desire 2

When they walked in, they discovered this was no library at all. There were no books or parchments. Instead people sat around drinking.

"A drinking parlor?" Nti Anem asked, but the man said nothing. Only continued leading them past tables till they got to a secluded room. They sat as he served tea.

"You are a traveller your self." the man said.

"Isn't everyone?" Nti Anem asked.

"Many in the light realm were born here." he answered.

"But if so, then what happens when the light realm closes? How can people still remain?" Nti Anem asked.

"The light realm only closes to outsiders. It does not close at all. It is just inaccessible for those born outside the light realm. Yet those born here can not leave. Unless they become an outsider."

"How?" Ku Jian asked curiously.

"Where are we?" Ed asked. He couldn't careless about the workings of the light realm.

"The city of desire."

"How do we get to the three paths crossing?" Nti Anem asked.

"How do you know of that name?" the man asked.

"What name?" Nti Anem asked.

"Slah. No one has spoken that name for millennia." he answered.

"Where I come from, this is a household name." Nti Anem answered.

"Ah, so far away then?" the man nodded vaguely.

"You seem as though you know this place." Nti Anem asked.

"The highest level of the tower." the man said.

"What?" Nti Anem asked.

"Climb to the highest level of the tower. At the top, you can leave the city of desire." he answered.

"What tower?" Ed asked.

"At the centre of the city. But, before you can gain access to the tower, you have to be acknowledged by the library." the man explained.

"Here?" Ku Jian asked, "Isn't this just a restaurant?"

"What restaurant? Many here are waiting to hear their results." he explained.

"How do we take this test. Ed asked.

To this question, the man stood up. His flowing robe fluttering as though getting dusted. "Come." he said and they followed him. He did not walk out the room. He instead knocked twice on the wall behind him and the wall slid open. He took them through a corridor that seemed to lead downwards under the building.

"What does this test comprise of?" Nti Anem asked.

"No one really knows. It is different for everyone." the man answered.

They soon stood before a row of identical doors. "Each person, a door." he said.

"Where does it lead?" Ku Jian asked, "can't I just go with brother Ed?"

"One must take this test alone." he answered.

Ed glanced at the reluctant Ku Jian, "Let go." he said and she did as asked, allowing him to step before a door, open it and enter. Ku Jian took the door next to Ed, leaving only Nti Anem and the man outside.

Seeing them enter, Nti Anem finally turned to the man, "Everything may look black and white, but I know your face." he said and the man raised a brow.

"Do you actually believe I will enter the room knowing who you are, Baskii?" he asked.

"Who are you to have such keen eyes?... No, odd memories?" the man asked.

"I'm older than I look. Besides, even in my original body, you would not have recognized me." Nti Anem said.

"Knowing who you are, god of desires, do you think I will take your test?" Nti Anem asked.

"Since you know, you still let them take it?" Baskii asked in amusement.

"I could care less about the girl. As for the other, if you made things difficult for him, or the test even border trying to kill him, you will be doing his master a great service." he answered.

"What an odd boy, he is. Something about him makes me uncomfortable. But you, the test is the best way to transverse the tower. You must take it." Baskii said.

"Do you think I am stupid? If possible, this entire city is one of your creation. I am sure I can just walk through the tower. Besides, seeing how well you have hidden so long, it would not be good if someone found out where you are."

"Or you could just die here, the secret with you." Baskii said and Nti Anem snorted.

"The way you are now, you do not have the ability. Besides, I fought in the war, I know how you fall." Nti Anem said and Baskii frowned deeply.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Fear not. I was her left hand, I mean you no harm. But I will not play your games."

"Apteil... you have not died? What do you want?" Baskii asked.

"Just do as you will with the boy. It will be good for him to gain some experience. I would be shocked if you could subdue him."

"Even though I am not as strong as I used to be, I can still kill a little boy." Baskii said, "When he enters the tower, it will be hard keep his life."

"Then a bet then, for old time sake. Kill him if you can." Nti Anem said with a smile.

Chapter end