Syrcus Tower - Part 2
Date Posted: November 11, 2018
This chapter was written in collaboration with Scylla.
Scylla rushed to keep up with the bard, growing increasingly fearful as the pair dropped down into the stone foundation. She could see why the labyrinth was named as such; paths split off every direction, with caverns and pitfalls of searing liquid flame. Mounds of decaying demon-kin lay strewn about, the parts not stripped clean still buzzing with flesh-flies.
Vassago…
The name welled up from her subconscious mind as she examined at the horned skulls of the creatures. She didn’t have time to question where it came from, before Amon was nearly out of sight again. He was moving through the area with a furious determined pace, navigating through the maze… as if the place was familiar.
Could it be? Could he really be telling the truth? And if he is one of these Allag-demon-people, what does he plan on doing?
The white mage gripped her staff tightly, as she scurried up the rock-formations to follow.
There’s no one to help me here if he loses it… No Brother E-Sumi, no Koh, no one…
She cursed under her breath, trying to keep up with Amon’s steps.
Scylla, you’ve gotten yourself in really deep this time…
Amon glanced back at Scylla who was lagging behind. She was staring about at everything, not in the way that someone who knew the structure would. Thankfully. The last thing he needed was for her to come to her senses before he got her to do as he needed.
The Elezen silently mulled over what he would do once the path into the Tower was open. It had not been too difficult to lead Scylla this far, but he would still need to coax her inside once the gates were unlocked, and get her to one of the lab stations, which were all located on the upper floors.
Using his own tools would not be possible, he knew, since there was such a disparity between his stature of before and now. But surely one of the other labs would have the energy restraints and aetheric siphons he needed to extract the power he required from the white mage…
Just a little longer, Amon told himself. And despite all these thoughts, and the slight twinge of guilt that he shoved to the back of his mind for having them, he still managed to turn and look over his shoulder, offering Scylla a smile that held no hint of his predatory intentions.
“Are you feeling okay? Do you need to rest?” He asked, trying to sound honest and concerned.
“No, I’m not feeling okay.” Scylla answered with a warning voice.
She slowed her pace a bit and stopped just short of the climb back up to the surface. “You’ve never explained what -exactly- you needed me for.”
“And let’s just for the fact of the matter say that this isn’t all a delusion.” She furrowed her brows in growing concern. “What exactly do you plan on doing if this all works?”
Amon took a moment to consider his answer before he spoke. He didn’t want her to realize the truth of her own importance too early in the situation. So, he wove a bit of a fib with a bit of truth.
“I need your help to open the gates,” he told her smoothly. “As I’ve expressed, much of the magic I once had is dimmed. ‘Twill take more than just my own presence for the gates to budge. But I believe between the two of us, we can unlock the Tower again.”
“And then, we’ll work on restoring your memories, of course. There’s resources locked within Syrcus Tower you couldn’t begin to imagine.” The Elezen turned around, walking backwards carelessly to flash a wide, friendly grin. “And I was one of the lead… researchers… in the bioaetherchemieric wing. I’m sure that if the energies of the Tower itself don’t jog your memories, I can find a solution to help you.”
Amon tilted his head, spinning on his heel to walk the right way again. Once more, he spread his arms with a wide, encompassing motion.
“The Tower is currently in slumber. But when we open the gates, those who are still trapped within will wake again. And before you grow concerned with that, I’ll note that most of the defenses and the ruling leadership were taken down during the raid.”
He pursed his lips.
“There are still Allagans sleeping in there – normal people who served the royal family… people who assisted in the labs… people who had nothing to do with the leadership, raids or the battles. Those are the people we must find and help… and from there, we’ll decide how the knowledge of the Tower can be used to help the people of the new Eorzean world. The Allagans and Eorzeans can come together. Just think of it!”
Amon eyed her shrewdly, though she probably couldn’t see for his mask.
“That is what you want to do, yes? Help the people in Eorzea? Perhaps even, with the assistance of the Allagans of old, we could find a way to put a stop to the struggle with the Empire that plagues their lands.”
He always seems to have the right answer for everything!
Scylla frowned as she again started to scuttle towards the mouth of the cavern.
If there are innocents trapped in the tower, it’s in my duty to help, right? But what if the legends are right? What if the Allagans are demon-blooded monsters?
Scylla swallowed, awestruck as the gilded entrance of the tower came into view. The gold-inlaid doors stretched up in height so big that even several Garlean airships could fit through. She could feel the warm aetherglow of powerful magics even from the distance.
Such power these people had! No wonder the Sons keep this place secret from the public.
And if there was advanced technology locked within the gates, it could turn the tides against the encroaching Garlean menace. The populations of Eorzea had been growing increasingly concerned about the war-like empire to the north. Amon’s promises held much potential for the struggling alliances.
But the Warrior of Light chose to leave the tower sleeping.
A tattered, posted wooden sign lay fallen on the path. Scylla picked it up, and turned it around to show Amon.
“If there are such good people within this place, why does this sign warn of demon-kin and evil sealed within the tower?” She handed over the sign with a shaky tinge. “Maybe we should leave this place and go home.”