The stairwell leading up from the fiftieth floor was a miserable climb. It was a steep and spiraling helix of jagged obsidian that punished the calves of anyone foolish enough to traverse it.
Sebastian carried Valerie on his back. The Arcane Valkyrie was conscious but her digital body was a total wreck. The Magma Carapace conceptual law he had draped over her in the Elemental Forge had saved her life.
However, she was still suffering from her cosmetic silver armor melting into her skin. She was shivering and her breath hitched with every heavy echoing footstep Sebastian took.
"You're heavy, Princess," Sebastian grunted.
"Shut up," Valerie wheezed weakly as her chin rested on his black leather shoulder. "I'm carrying the emotional weight of this entire guild. Plus, my boots are full of ash."
"Just don't bleed on my coat. I just got the Void Spider guts out of the lining."
