TOWER OF THE EXILED GOD

Chapter 7: The Spear at His Throat

The spear’s cold steel pressed against Kaelen’s throat. Varin’s eyes glowed faintly in the dim light of the bridge, sharp and calculating, like a predator weighing its next move. 

The cracked porcelain mask dangling from his belt made him seem even more dangerous, less a man, more a hunter stripped of pretense. 

Kaelen didn’t move. His dagger glimmered faintly in his hand, pulsing with crimson light. The god’s voice purred in his mind. 

“Kill him, you’ve seen his strength. You know what he’ll do if you let him live.” Kaelen ignored the whisper, keeping his voice level. “Move that spear, or I’ll cut your arm off.” Varin’s expression didn’t change. “What are you hiding?” 

Kaelen smirked faintly. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” 

Varin chuckled softly, but his spear didn’t budge. “You’re not funny.” 

“Not trying to be.” 

The air between them was thick with tension. Kaelen could feel every muscle in Varin’s body coiled tight, ready to strike. 

Then, with a sharp motion, Varin stepped back and lowered the spear. “Relax. If I wanted you dead, you’d be bleeding already.” 

Kaelen sat up slowly, his dagger still raised. “You have a strange way of saying thank you.” Varin’s mouth twitched. “I didn’t ask you to follow me down there.”

“You’re welcome anyway,” Kaelen said dryly, sheathing the dagger. 

The bridge trembled beneath them, dust raining from the ceiling above. The chains below were still moving, though slower now, retreating into the darkness. 

“We can’t stay here,” Varin said, retrieving his cracked mask and sliding it back over his face. “The purge beast woke up to something worse. The tower will be on alert now.” 

Kaelen stood, his muscles aching from the descent and climb. “What does that mean?” 

Varin gestured toward the far side of the bridge. “It means every step forward is going to be harder.” 

Kaelen raised a brow. “That wasn’t hard enough for you?” 

Varin didn’t respond. He simply turned and started walking, his spear resting casually over his shoulder. Kaelen followed, scanning their surroundings. 

The bridge led to a massive stone archway, carved with runes that pulsed faintly with blue light. Beyond it was a spiral staircase descending deeper into the Tower. 

As they entered, the whispers grew louder. They slithered along the walls, unintelligible but heavy with malice. 

Kaelen’s grip tightened on his dagger. “You hear that too, right?” 

Varin nodded. “The voices of those who didn’t make it.” 

Kaelen frowned. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?” 

Varin’s masked face turned slightly toward him. “No. It’s supposed to remind you where you are.” 

The staircase wound downward for what felt like hours. The air grew colder, and the walls began to change, no longer smooth stone, but black obsidian etched with strange glyphs. Kaelen could feel power thrumming through the walls, like a heartbeat. 

The god’s voice rumbled in his mind, “We are getting close.” 

“To what?” Kaelen whispered under his breath. 

The heart of the Tower, the god replied, his voice low and hungry. I can feel the pulse of its core. Kaelen shivered but said nothing.

Finally, they reached a massive door at the base of the stairs. It was carved from obsidian, its surface covered in intricate runes that glowed faintly red. Two statues stood on either side, towering humanoid figures with blank faces and clawed hands. 

Varin stopped, lowering his spear. “This isn’t a normal floor.” 

“No kidding,” Kaelen muttered. 

Varin traced a hand over the runes. “This door only opens for a marked climber.” Kaelen tilted his head. “A what?” 

Varin glanced at him. “You. That dagger’s not just a weapon, is it?” 

Kaelen’s hand instinctively went to the hilt. “And if it isn’t?” 

Varin’s mask tilted slightly. “Then you’re the key to getting through this door.” Kaelen hesitated, but the god’s voice whispered in his mind. Touch it. 

“Why?” Kaelen murmured. 

“Because I said so,” the god replied, amused. And because I want to see what happens. 

Kaelen stepped forward, ignoring Varin’s watchful gaze. He pressed the glowing dagger against the door. 

The runes flared bright crimson, and the statues’ eyes snapped open, glowing red. “Kaelen!” Varin barked, spear snapping into his hand. 

The statues stepped forward, claws unsheathing with a metallic scrape. 

Kaelen jerked the dagger back, but it was too late. The door split down the middle, and the statues lunged. 

Varin hurled his spear, impaling one through the chest. It shrieked, a sound like metal grinding on stone, and staggered back. Kaelen slashed at the other, his blade cutting through its claw. 

The god’s voice thundered in his mind. Strike its core! 

Kaelen spun and drove the dagger into the glowing rune on the statue’s chest. The creature convulsed, its body cracking apart like shattered glass before collapsing into dust. 

Varin retrieved his spear, driving it into the second statue’s head. The creature let out a final shriek before crumbling. 

The door swung open silently.

Beyond was a cavernous hall, lit by an eerie crimson glow. Massive chains crisscrossed the chamber, suspended from the ceiling like a spider’s web. At the center of the room was a colossal crystal heart, glowing faintly red and pulsing like it was alive. 

Kaelen stepped inside, his breath catching in his throat. “What… is that?” Varin removed his mask, staring at the crystal with wide eyes. “The Heart of the Tower.” The god’s voice was a hiss of excitement in Kaelen’s mind. Break it. 

Kaelen froze. “What?” 

Break it, the god repeated, his tone dripping with hunger. Smash it open, and I will be free. Varin turned to him, his expression grim. “Kaelen… whatever you do, don’t touch it.” 

Kaelen’s grip tightened on the dagger. Two voices battled in his head—Varin’s warning, and the god’s temptation. 

Break it, the god whispered again. Your enemies will fall. Your vengeance will be yours. Varin took a step closer, spear in hand. “Put. The dagger. Down.” 

Kaelen turned toward him, the red glow of the Heart reflecting in his gray eyes. The crystal pulsed faster, as if it sensed him. 

Chains rattled above. 

The chamber trembled. 

Kaelen’s dagger began to hum violently, crimson energy crackling around the blade. Varin’s voice was sharp. “Kaelen!” 

Then the ground split open. 

From beneath the Heart, a massive figure rose, a towering golem of obsidian and chains, its head crowned with jagged spikes, its eyes glowing bright red. The creature let out a deafening roar that shook the entire hall. 

Kaelen stumbled back, staring up at the monster. 

The god’s voice was a whisper of delight. “Ah… a Warden.” 

Varin cursed under his breath. “Run.”