Before they saw the lighthouse, everyone had wondered who would possibly build one in the middle of the ocean.
Yet there it stood.
The tower occupied an extraordinarily remote location. Mintarn lay to the west, Jannath's Tears to the south, Orlumbor to the east, and Waterdeep to the north. The lighthouse stood almost exactly where lines drawn between those four places would intersect. No ordinary shipping route passed through these waters. Most likely, only shipwreck survivors ever found themselves here.
Aquatic races surrounded the lighthouse. Sahuagin, nagas, merfolk, and other creatures circled beneath the surface. Species that normally attacked one another on sight were maintaining a temporary peace. Judging by the severed limbs and mangled remains floating on the water, a bloody war had already been fought here.
For the moment, however, a fragile peace prevailed. The aquatic factions carried enormous conch-shell horns nearly forty feet tall, along with altars and military banners. They had divided the waters around the lighthouse into separate camps and now faced one another across invisible battle lines.
The enormous octopus carried Livia slowly through the aquatic battlefield. The mercenaries, clerics, paladins, and prospective Tower recruits on the raft followed Mr. Mora without daring to breathe too loudly.
For reasons no one understood, thousands of aquatic creatures had gathered around the lighthouse.
A cleric of Tyr, god of justice, murmured, "Yes, all of them have come because they want to reach that city. What could possibly be waiting there? Tyr, great Maimed God, was it by your hidden will that your servant was led to this place as well?"
Andrei's expression was dark as he muttered under his breath, "Livvy, you're in so much trouble. You mischievous little brat. Once I get you home, I'm going to have Mom tan your hide."
The captive Bordon stared at Tyr's paladin with heartfelt admiration.
"Sir, you're a paladin, aren't you?"
"Shh. Quiet. This isn't the time to talk." The paladin gave him a slight nod.
"Right, right." Bordon immediately clamped his mouth shut.
Tawna fidgeted restlessly. Had Zim not covered her mouth, the nervous halfling would undoubtedly have started babbling nonsense.
The storm had completely vanished, passing as swiftly and tracelessly as a dream. The clouds had dispersed, the rain was gone, and warm sunlight shone over the peaceful sea. Long, dark silhouettes carrying forked spears glided slowly beneath the surface. Their terrifying, alien shapes carried the oppressive presence of the deep ocean. The soldiers of these underwater civilizations watched the surface dwellers crossing their territory closely, but none made a move.
The enormous conch-shell horns remained silent. Merfolk generals mounted on whales stood as motionless as statues. The clear air beneath the sky felt as heavy and solemn as an immeasurable mass of glass.
Had anyone asked the people on the raft what they felt, there would have been only one answer.
Sacredness.
The gods were watching this place. From far beyond the Prime Material Plane, their gazes followed the coordinates provided by their worshipers and settled upon the sea. The sensation of divine sanctity was so intense that it felt like an electric current passing over their skin. Every native of Faerûn could sense the faint trembling deep within their hearts.
The lighthouse seemed embedded in the ocean. It consisted of a modest foundation and a white tower built from marble, while the beacon platform at its summit had been cast from steel and gleamed like a silver cap.
Livia looked down and saw the fine, nearly transparent hairs on her arms quivering like a cat's whiskers, as though they were receiving some invisible signal.
"Mr. Mora, I have a strange feeling."
The great octopus released a stream of bubbles, and its lazy voice sounded inside her mind.
"The gods of Faerûn are watching you. Every one of them wishes to extend their influence into the celestial city of Skylrael."
"The gods can't influence Skylrael right now?" Livia froze.
She had never even considered such a possibility. How could any place in the universe exist beyond the reach of divine power? It violated the most basic principles of common sense, like hearing that somewhere existed without air, fire, or thinking minds.
Within the Prime Material Plane, the place where divine influence was weakest was probably the phlogiston, that turbulent expanse between crystal spheres. Aside from that, not even the Abyss or Baator could completely block the gods' sight.
The enormous octopus gave a muffled chuckle and allowed the young girl's imagination to run wild.
Mora approached the lighthouse's foundation. Not one of the aquatic creatures dared stand in his way.
Livia walked across his intertwined tentacles as though they formed a bridge and stepped onto the lighthouse platform. The enormous octopus rapidly shrank, transforming once again into an utterly ordinary copy of The Wizard's Practical Guide before dropping into the young warlock's hands.
Were these really the benefits offered to newcomers to the Tower? She was not even an apprentice yet. Wasn't the Tower's treatment of its members a little too generous?
Livia's heart burned with excitement. Her resolve to join the Covenant became even stronger. She desperately wanted to understand what people meant by a higher academic platform. She wanted to see for herself what awaited her beyond the limits of the world she knew.
The raft crossed the perilous waters and stopped beside the lighthouse.
Andrei leaped onto the platform like a lion pouncing on its prey. He grabbed his sister and examined her from head to toe. Only after confirming that she was still healthy did his tightly furrowed brow finally relax.
"I'm sorry, Andrei. Running away was my decision. My companions had nothing to do with it."
"You are never doing anything this reckless again. You're coming home with me right now."
"No."
"Wait."
"Absolutely not."
Livia's companions, the servants of the god of justice, and even the aquatic creatures all spoke up to stop him.
Andrei looked utterly bewildered. "Why?"
"We need to enter the lighthouse."
On that point, both the prospective Tower members and the servants of the gods were in complete agreement.
The aquatic factions sent forward their representatives, a merfolk general, a sahuagin chieftain, and a naga warlord. Although they did not dare threaten Livia, they showed no such courtesy to anyone else.
"Humans, you must take us with you."
The aquatic races had already reached a private agreement. Each faction had selected one representative to enter the lighthouse.
Faced with their gleaming blades, the humans were hardly in a position to refuse.
Livia pursed her lips before speaking solemnly. "I cannot guarantee that all of you will obtain what you desire. My patron has guided me to the celestial city of Skylrael. Should you be denied entry, you will not harm my friends. That is the agreement. Accept it, and you may follow me."
The young warlock drew a deep breath, turned around, and walked toward the lighthouse doors.
A strange tree had been engraved upon the pure silver doors, occupying nearly two-thirds of their surface. Beneath its roots rested a broad island.
The magical runes covering the doors shimmered like sunlight reflected upon the sea. Sensing the approach of the Guide's bearer, the doors slowly swung open.
The aquatic representatives began breathing rapidly and muttering in low, hurried voices.
One of the paladins understood a few scattered words.
"So it really does require a specific person... We spilled so much blood, all for the sake of opening the door..."
Holding her brother's hand, Livia led the way into the lighthouse.
A spiral staircase wound upward through the tower. An elemental pool stood in the center of the entrance hall, and the energy surging inside it burned with the intensity of the noonday sun.
"This is practically a wizard's tower," Simon whispered to his companions. "What kind of device is that elemental pool powering?"
"Whatever it is, I have a feeling we're about to find out," Zim said, narrowing his eyes.
The unicorn snorted and followed the paladin up the staircase one careful step at a time. The lighthouse contained only two accessible floors. The structure between them had been completely sealed and could not be entered, yet something beyond the walls inspired a bone-deep sense of dread. It felt like peering at a blazing furnace through a closed iron door.
The entrance to the upper floor was a steel hatch in the ceiling at the top of the staircase. When Livia touched it, the metal flowed like water and receded into the frame.
Rows of high-backed seats filled the steel chamber above, each fitted with black straps.
A pedestal stood in the center, shaped like a music stand and clearly designed to hold a book.
Livia placed The Wizard's Practical Guide upon it.
The entire chamber came alive. Lights flashed, and a clear female voice rang through the room.
"The flight from the Sea of Swords to Skylrael will be departing shortly! I am Doric, your guide for this flight! All passengers, please take your seats and fasten your seat belts!"
"Do what she says."
After exchanging uncertain looks, everyone obeyed.
The merfolk and sahuagin struggled to fasten their seat belts. Two of the naga's six arms ended up pinned beneath the straps. Tyr's cleric attempted to squeeze the unicorn into one of the seats.
"Departure in ten seconds. Ten, nine, eight..."
Red lights flashed continuously.
The people of Faerûn nervously gripped their armrests. The unicorn sat in its chair and looked around curiously. Simon, seated beside it, raised his head and gave it an awkward smile. Zim muttered under his breath. Tawna rubbed her hands together excitedly. Bordon asked the paladin whether he could join their party. Livia gave her brother a strained smile.
Andrei shook his head bitterly.
"What am I going to do with you...?"
"Three, two, one! Launch!"
As countless aquatic creatures watched, the lighthouse windows erupted with brilliant, multicolored magical radiance. Propelled by a pillar of light, the circular chamber at the top slowly separated from its foundation before shooting straight into the sky.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
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