Chapter 1: The Tower of Desire

The tower had stood untouched for fifty years.

No one knew who had built it. No one knew what lay beyond its enormous doors. For half a century, it had remained silent, its ancient walls rising above the surrounding land like a monument to some forgotten age.

Until today.

For the first time in fifty years, the Tower of Desire had opened its doors.

Aldara stood before it, staring up at the impossibly tall structure.

Her hands trembled.

Somewhere inside that tower was her brother.

Aldric had been forced to enter by a group of gangsters earlier that day. Aldara had followed as soon as she discovered where they had taken him.

She couldn't leave him behind.

He was the only family she had left.

Taking a deep breath, Aldara pushed open the massive wooden door.

Creaaak...

The sound echoed through the tower.

She stepped inside.

Her footsteps sounded strangely small against the vastness of the entrance hall. The corridor stretched farther than she could see, with towering walls disappearing into darkness above her.

"This place is massive..." she whispered.

There was no answer.

Aldara continued walking.

One step.

Then another.

She had no idea where she was going, but turning back was not an option.

After what felt like several minutes, she finally spotted another door at the end of the corridor.

She approached it cautiously.

Just as her hand reached for the handle...

Something moved.

Aldara froze.

A large, round creature suddenly stepped out from beside the door.

"WHOA!"

Aldara jumped backward and nearly fell over.

The creature was a hamster.

A gigantic hamster.

He stood almost as tall as her, dressed in a burgundy waistcoat, tiny polished boots, and a crooked top hat that looked as though it had survived several unfortunate adventures. Round spectacles rested upon his nose, and a golden pocket watch hung from his waistcoat.

He adjusted his spectacles and looked at her calmly.

"My, my. What a dramatic entrance."

Aldara stared at him.

"You... you're a hamster."

"Indeed."

"A giant hamster."

"Also correct."

Aldara pointed at him with a trembling finger.

"Who are you?!"

The hamster gave a small bow.

"Welcome to the Tower of Desire. My name is Orvyn, Guardian of the First Floor."

He straightened his hat.

"And may I know your name?"

"M-My name is Aldara."

"Ah. Aldara."

Orvyn smiled.

"What a lovely name."

Aldara didn't smile back.

"Where is my brother?"

Orvyn tilted his head.

"Your brother?"

"His name is Aldric. He was forced to enter this tower by a group of gangsters. They came here earlier today."

"Hmm..."

Orvyn stroked his chin.

"Four visitors, then? Your brother and three others?"

Aldara blinked.

"Yes. Aldric and three gangsters. How did you know there were four?"

"The Tower notices everyone who enters," Orvyn said. "If you mean the four who arrived several hours ago, they have already reached the Third Floor."

"Several hours ago?"

Aldara's heart sank.

"But I followed as soon as I found out where they had taken him."

"Time is not always kind to those who chase," Orvyn said. "And the Tower does not slow for grief."

Aldara clenched her fists.

"Then he's still climbing?"

"As far as I know."

She released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"But what are they doing there?"

Orvyn's expression became slightly more serious.

"They are undergoing a trial."

"A trial?"

"Yes."

Aldara frowned.

"What kind of trial?"

"The kind required of anyone who enters this tower seeking to have a desire fulfilled."

He tapped his golden pocket watch.

"You see, the Tower of Desire does not simply grant wishes."

Aldara studied him.

"Then what does it do?"

"It tests whether the person asking for their desire is worthy of receiving it."

Aldara clenched her fists.

"Then I'll take the trial too."

Orvyn blinked.

"You haven't even heard what the trial is."

"I don't care."

"Aldara..."

"I need to get my brother back."

Her voice shook, but her eyes remained firm.

"He's all I have."

For a moment, Orvyn said nothing.

Then he gave a quiet smile.

"I understand."

He turned toward the enormous door.

"However, there is one small problem."

Aldara looked at him.

"What?"

"Everyone who participates in the Tower's trials must possess a supernatural ability."

Aldara stared blankly.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Why?"

"Because..."

Orvyn pushed open the door.

"...that is simply one of the Tower's rules."

Aldara frowned.

"But Aldric was forced in here. He didn't choose this."

Orvyn glanced back at her.

"The Tower does not care how one enters. It only cares that the trial is taken."

He folded his paws behind his back.

"When an unwilling visitor enters, the Tower provides an ability—whether they want it or not. Your brother will have received one as well."

Aldara's stomach twisted.

"Will have?"

"If he passed the first trial."

Silence hung between them.

Aldara lifted her head.

"Then I'll take one too."

Orvyn studied her for a moment, then nodded.

"Very well."

Beyond the door was a chamber unlike anything Aldara had ever seen.

Her mouth fell open.

Thousands upon thousands of unusual objects filled the massive room.

They floated in the air, rested upon stone pedestals, or grew from twisting golden branches.

But they all shared one thing in common.

They looked like eggs.

Some were small.

Some were huge.

Some were smooth and white. Others shimmered with brilliant colors. Some had peculiar patterns across their shells, while others had shapes that seemed impossible for an egg to possess.

Aldara stepped inside slowly.

"They're beautiful..."

"Indeed."

Orvyn walked beside her.

"These are Desire Eggs."

"Desire Eggs?"

"Supernatural eggs."

He gestured toward the countless eggs surrounding them.

"Each one contains a unique power. When eaten, the egg grants its power to the person who consumes it."

Aldara scanned the room.

"So I just choose one?"

"Not exactly."

Orvyn's smile widened.

"You must choose the one you desire the most."

Aldara frowned.

"The one I desire?"

"Yes."

She walked between the rows.

There were eggs shaped like crystals, flowers, stars, eyes, flames, even tiny creatures.

Which one could possibly help her?

She thought of Aldric.

She imagined finding him somewhere inside the tower.

She imagined reaching out...

Pulling him toward her...

Then she saw it.

An egg unlike the others.

It had the shape of a magnet.

Aldara stopped.

"A magnet..."

Orvyn looked at the egg she was staring at.

"Interesting choice."

Aldara studied it.

A magnet could not pull a person toward her. She knew that.

But it could pull metal.

Locks.

Bars.

Chains.

Weapons.

If Aldric was trapped behind a locked door, she could tear the lock away. If someone stood between them, she could rip the blade from their hand. If there was any metal in this tower at all, she could use it.

It was not a perfect answer.

But it was something.

She slowly reached for the egg.

"If I had the power of a magnet..."

She closed her fingers around it.

"Maybe I could pull Aldric out of whatever cage they've put him in."

Orvyn watched silently.

Aldara picked up the egg.

Its surface was cold.

She looked at Orvyn.

"What do I do?"

"Eat it."

Aldara hesitated.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

She stared at the strange egg.

Then, with one final breath, she bit into it.

The moment she swallowed...

BOOM!

A strange force exploded through her body.

Aldara's eyes widened.

Her hair lifted as an invisible pressure surrounded her.

"What... is this?"

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

Something had awakened inside her.

She could feel it.

A force.

A connection between herself and the world around her.

The metal buckle on Orvyn's waistcoat suddenly flew toward her.

"Whoa!"

Aldara instinctively raised her hand.

The buckle stopped in midair.

She stared at it.

Then slowly lowered her hand.

The buckle followed.

Orvyn smiled.

"Fascinating."

Aldara examined her hands.

"I can feel it."

"Your power?"

"Yes."

She clenched her fist.

"I know how to use it."

"Then the Desire Egg has accepted you."

Aldara turned toward the doorway.

"What happens now?"

Orvyn checked his golden pocket watch.

"Your time on the First Floor is over."

Aldara blinked.

"What?"

"The first trial is about to begin."

Orvyn's playful expression disappeared.

"I should warn you, Aldara."

His voice became unusually serious.

"The trials of this tower are not easy."

Aldara said nothing.

"They are dangerous. People have entered this tower believing they could obtain their desires..."

He closed his pocket watch.

"...and never reached the top."

Aldara looked down at her hands.

Then she remembered her brother.

She lifted her head.

"If reaching Aldric is dangerous..."

Her eyes hardened.

"...then I'll face the danger."

Orvyn studied her for several seconds.

Then he smiled.

"Good answer."

He raised one paw.

Golden light began gathering around him.

"Wait. What are you doing?"

"Sending you to the trial."

Aldara barely had time to react.

The golden light swallowed her.

"Good luck, Aldara."

The world disappeared.

---

Aldara landed on something soft.

Thump.

She quickly pushed herself upright.

"Where am I?"

She scanned her surroundings.

Her heart sank.

White grass stretched endlessly in every direction.

It was taller than she was, its pale blades swaying gently despite the absence of wind.

There were no trees.

No buildings.

No roads.

Nothing.

Only endless white grass beneath an endless white sky.

"Aldric?"

Her voice disappeared into the strange landscape.

"Aldric!"

No answer.

Then...

A voice came from above.

A girl's voice.

Clear.

Calm.

And strangely emotionless.

"Attention, participant."

Aldara looked toward the sky.

"In five minutes, the first trial will begin."

She froze.

"The first trial..."

The voice continued.

"Your objective will be revealed when the trial begins."

Aldara clenched her fists.

Five minutes.

She had five minutes to prepare.

She looked across the endless field of white grass.

Somewhere beyond it was the path toward her brother.

Aldara took a deep breath.

"Just wait for me, Aldric."

The grass swayed.

Something moved far away.

And Aldara realized she might not be alone.