Tower

Morning. I have reached the tower. Few defenses on the outside. Worries me. Either they think that no one will get this far, or whatever waits inside doesn't need outside security. Could be good or bad. We'll see.

Midday. Entered tower. No hostiles in first area. Seems to be all one room per floor. Went downstairs first. Empty. Fifteen basement levels and not another sign of life. Not a good sign. Either nothing is here, or they want to lure me into a false sense of security and then tighten the noose. Troubling, either way....

Afternoon. Continued to explore tower. Nothing. No furniture, no equipment, no life. Have now been to total twenty levels, including basement ones. Should be something....tower looks like it has never been used. Floors are pristine. walls are spotless. As if nothing has ever been here....

Evening. Am about to enter last five floors of tower. If anything is here, this is where it will be stored. There is a door blocking the entrance to this floor. It isn't locked, however.   There is a strange symbol on the door. A circle, with wavy lines on it, as if to represent water. At last, I seem to have found something. I enter.

Evening. This room is different from the others. The walls shimmer, and seem to move. The light is dim. The floor, rough, as if it was made from hardened sand. As I walk to the center, something happens. A person appears, opposite from the door, though he is like no person I have ever seen. His eyes are a bright blue, his skin grayish. He has long hair that flows around his head, like he is underwater. He has webbed hands and feet. He has a sea blue robe on, and it is flowing like his hair. He also has a sky-blue tunic on. In his left hand, he has a trident. In the other hand, a shield that looks like a massive clam shell.

"This is the tower of The Brethren. I am he known as Aquaaum. This is forbidden ground. No human is allowed to set foot in this tower. You must pay for your transgression with your life."

His voice flows and washes over the ears. It takes a moment for his words to sink in. I then grab my sword and ready myself. I don't know who The Brethren are, but if they want a fight, they've got one.

He attacks with a stab of his trident, easily avoided. I come in with an overhand swing, which he blocks with his shield. He takes a swing, trying to pierce my head with his trident. I duck. I swing at his legs, but he jumps over my attack and brings the butt of the trident hard between my shoulder blades. I stagger, then regain my footing. He tries to puncture my chest, but I block with my sword. I move in, knock his shield out of the way with my hand, then backhand him in the face. He staggers back. I jump in to finish him off, but he dodges my attack and hits me full in the face with his shield. I hear a crunch and I know my nose is broken. I stagger back and fall onto one knee. He almost finishes me with a stab to the chest. I knock his attack aside with my sword. I smack his shield out of the way with the hilt of my sword, and slice across his chest. He falls back against the wall. I get up and come to finish him. He charges me, and I impale him. He falls to his knees.

"This is not over, human. I shall be avenged."

He turns to water and falls apart. What was he?

The next floor has another one similar to the water-thing. Calls himself Pyranous. Uses a massive sword. Another tough battle. This one explodes into fire at time of death. What kind of place is this? Must rest before continuing.

Next floor. Another one of the...things. Says his name is Terran. Wields a large war hammer. Cracks my leg during battle. What is these guys' problem? No matter. I finish him. Turns into soil after I impale him. These things couldn't be human. I expect another one at next level. Leg hurts. Doesn't appear to have been permanently damaged. Difficult to stand on. Must...rest...but...

Blacked out. Leg feels better. Must continue. Almost to top.

Next level. Spiky-headed fellow calls himself Fulgurnas. Uses a bow to attack. Difficult fight on a bad leg. Screw up once. Get hit in shoulder. Respond with a decapitation. See a flash, get thrown back against wall....feel....ow....

Wake with start. See a burn in my shirt. Feel static in the hair. Leg feels better still, but arm hurts. Is my off hand, so I can still fight. Two levels left.

Last level until top. Meet another one of the.....brethren. Goes by Ventusi. Has two small swords.Toughest battle yet. He's fast. Must always be on guard. He lacks power. I knock one of his swords aside. His other one goes for the neck. Duck. Stab upwards...and....

He's gone. Nothing. No transformations....no death form. Just....gone. Tired. Must rest. Then....I finish what I started. I will go to the top of the tower. I will defeat anything that is up there. I will discover the truth behind this tower....maybe the whole desert.  And I will find he who imprisoned me here....and kill him.

END PART FOUR