20. Crime

Clutching her wrist, the wounded girl bared her teeth at them. “You fucking dweebs thought you could steal from us? What is this bullshit. You’re, what, level two?”

Beryl’s eyes flew wide. She scurried back, startled. “L—level fifteen? Topaz, get back!”

Hackles raised, the injured girl jumped away. “Level fifteen? These pieces of shit?”

Laughing, the slender man slapped the invisible walls. Loud banging reverberated in the narrow space. Rowan winced, ears aching.

“Look closer. At their classes,” the man hinted.

“Mica, what? What is it?” Beryl asked, cowering in her sleeping bag.

Topaz leaned in, squinting. After a second, she frowned at Rowan and Kaidu. “Gardener? Hairdresser? Are you serious? This isn’t some kind of scan-ducking skill?”

Kaidu grimaced. Rowan cast his eyes down.

“They’re… support classes?” Beryl asked, peeking out of her sleeping bag.

Mica laughed loudly. “What’d you come here for? Couldn’t make it in the real world, so you came peddle your wares in the Tower? Sorry, I don’t really want to grow a garden in the Tower, but maybe next time.”

“I could use a trim. If I let you out, will you fix my split ends?” Topaz mocked. She pulled a bandage from her bag and wrapped it tightly around her wrist. “Or will you slit my other wrist, you piece of shit?”

"Maybe I will," Kaidu snarled.

Rowan glared. "Why don't you let us go and see what happens? Or what, are you afraid of a couple of support classes?"

“Someone wake up Ruby. Isn’t he supposed to be on guard?” Topaz snapped, ignoring them.

In a blur, Mica disappeared and reappeared a moment later over Ruby, hand already finished a swing over his shoulder. A slap rang out.

The burly man startled and shook his head, looking around. “Huh… wha…? Are we… under attack?”

“We were. The three of us handled it while you were out cold. Damn, Ruby, we’ve been here two weeks already. If you don’t start pulling your weight, we’re going to kick you from the party. Good luck making it off the floor without a party.”

Ruby pushed to his feet, rubbing his eyes. He blinked at Kaidu and Rowan, squished into their box. He yawned and waved his hand. “Looks like you did fine without me.”

“We did, so why the hell are we feeding your fat lug?” Mica asked, kicking him in the ass.

Ruby whirled and swiped at Mica, but Mica was halfway across the clearing, hands behind his head, whistling a tune.

“Alright, Thief, don’t go aggravating our Tank. Unless you want to soak damage against the boss? Because I know I don’t have enough HP for that,” Topaz complained.

Mica threw his hands up. “I’m just saying. I mean, our Mage over there is pretty solid with those force walls. Do we even need a Tank if we have a defensive Mage?”

“Leave me out of this,” Beryl snapped.

Topaz rolled her eyes. “Someone fetch the rope. There’s no need to drain Beryl’s mana to restrain these two fools.”

“Wait, hold on.” Beryl furrowed her brows. Her eyes glazed over, then lit up. “Sleep!”

A wave of exhaustion hit Rowan like a sack of bricks. His head drooped. His eyelids drifted shut. Beside him, Kaidu went limp as well, eyelids flickering.

Rowan forced his eyes open. No! I won’t… His head fell to the side, body limp. His eyes shut, and this time, they stayed closed.

--

A slap woke Rowan. He shook his head and looked around, eyes narrowed against dawn’s light. Rough rope scraped at his arms, wrapped tightly around him. He yanked at the rope, but only succeeded at rubbing his arms and wrists raw. Dammit!

“What the hell were you two thinking?” Mica asked jovially. He crouched in front of Rowan and Kaidu, idly flipping Kaidu’s razor in one hand.

Beside Rowan, Kaidu growled, eyes locked on the razor.

“I mean, this is the only weapon I found on you. I don’t know what you were planning to do with the rest of the stuff you brought, but… I mean, hand trowels? This claw thing? What the hell. And you’re support classes. Support classes! Are you nuts? Do you want to die?”

“Shut up! What would you understand?” Rowan snarled.

“I don’t understand, that’s why I’m asking,” Mica returned evenly. He flourished the razor and slid it into his pocket. Kaidu followed every motion, eyes burning a hole in Mica’s pocket.

“We’re going to conquer the Tower. That’s all. The same as everyone else,” Rowan said.

Mica chuckled.

Rowan glared. I knew there was no point. No one has ever taken support classes seriously.

“Oh, you’re serious? Shit. Damn. Uh… damn.” Mica put a hand over his mouth, but his grin spilled past his hand. He burst out laughing. “Damn, that’s the best joke I’ve heard in a while. Support classes? Conquer the Tower? And barefoot, at that. You’re delusional.”

“What’s with all the gem names, anyways? You’re the freaks,” Rowan returned.

“What, did you not pick out code names? Aren’t you worried someone might track you down after the Tower and try to get revenge on your family for the fucked-up shit you did? Like, I don’t know, slitting someone’s wrist?” He glanced at Kaidu.

“Good luck. Leave the old man for me,” Kaidu replied, voice even.

Rowan stared at Kaidu. What? He doesn’t get along with his family? Didn’t his father finance his shop? He paused, then frowned. He said he used his father’s money. He didn’t say if his father agreed to it…

“Holy shit, you guys are fucked up. He’s fucked up, do you know that?” Mica asked, looking from Rowan to Kaidu and back.

“We’re support classes who think we can take on the Tower. According to you, we’re crazy to start out with. Why are you so surprised?” Rowan bit out.

Mica pointed at him. “Fair point, fair point.”

“Mica, enough. Ruby, can you pick up the prisoners?” Topaz asked.

“What are you doing with us?” Rowan demanded.

Topaz looked down on him. “We aren’t fucking insane, so we aren’t going to kill you. Not directly, anyways. You’ll just help us out with a little problem.”

“What kind of problem?” Rowan asked, suspiciously.

Mica chuckled. “You’ll find out.”