Your next step in circling Home Tower was to move to Tower Two. It seemed redundant, as you had been there just a few days ago, but your only way forward was to follow the suggestions of the Woman of Light and Heroa and gather the weapons and energy necessary to stop the Witch of the Water. Your shield crystal seemed to have taken care of itself, no thanks to Heroa for keeping that little secret. It seems the right way is to keep it constantly over a lava flow and it can transmit almost unlimited energy. You would need to confront Delrona near a river of lava to be successful. 

Haden's discovery of the crystal's power came by pure accident during a moment of 'private contemplation'. She had discovered the special ability of the crystal earlier that morning after breakfast. She wouldn't share all the details as I guess she was embarrassed or something but she had gone to use the 'outdoor commode', also known as a bush by the river of lava. Anyway as Haden had sought solace and a quiet place to 'think', she squatted over a nearby rock, reaching for some leaves while, absentmindedly clutching the shield crystal in her hand. As she pulled on the leaves she dropped the crystal which clinked and chinked towards the edge of the lava flow. Instead of shattering or melting, the crystal began to absorb the lava's energy again, glowing brighter and brighter. Fascinated, Haden watched as the crystal seemed to pulse with power. After taking care of business, Haden carefully retrieved the crystal, noticing that it felt warmer and heavier with energy. She experimented further, holding the crystal above the lava flow for extended periods, observing how it continued to absorb and amplify the energy from the molten rock and she activated her shield through the gauntlet. Almost constant power which seemed to increase was flowing through it. 

Through this accidental discovery, Haden understood the key to the crystal's power: it needed to be constantly over a lava flow to transmit and maintain nearly unlimited energy and she argues to this day that working it out had nothing to do with going to the bush but she let me decide. 

Knowing Tower Two was protected, you decided to spend the night in there. After all, there is no better sleep than one where you know you are safe.

Drue and Alster found an arch in the main room of the tower where they could set out a glowlight and a bed for the night. They sat and talked about their day at first then after that Drue rolled out his thin, spartan sleeping mat. Talik in comparison conjured up a soft nest of grass and feathers that was large enough for the females, comfortable as long as you didn't mind the odd quill in your back if you rolled over.

That night, noises loud enough to wake you came from the area of the tower where Alster and Drue had made their bed. You couldn't quite see what was happening until Talik, also woken by the noise, summoned the soft burning ember sprite and bid it fly toward them, casting illumination onto the scene. Alster was rolling back and forth, mumbling and groaning. Drue lay next to him with his hand on Alster's heaving chest.

"I can't wake him," Drue said. "Something is wrong!"

Alster was sweating profusely, moving in unnatural rhythms. He mumbled an incantation and his hands were trying to push something unseen away. Haden threw her flask into the air.

"Drue, catch this," she demanded as it sailed across the darkened room into the lit area above Alster. Drue had no time to think, but he reacted with warrior-like speed, catching the flask, flicking open its clasp, and pouring the cold liquid contents onto Alster's contorting face.

With a start, Alster awoke, gasping for breath, his eyes wide with terror. He sat up, clutching at his chest, trying to steady his rapid breathing. The rest of you gathered around, concern etched on your faces.

"It was just a dream," Alster said, his voice shaky. "But it felt so real."

He described his ominous dream about Delrona, the Witch of the Water. That was the first time we heard her name. "We had made it to Home Tower, but not before she had taken the lives of two of us." He retold us the horror of his dream. In it, Delrona wielded her water powers with terrifying precision. She conjured a torrent that drowned one of us in a crushing weight of water, their screams muffled by the churning water. The other was encased in a prison of ice, their body contorted in a frozen tableau of agony.

As Alster recounted the dream, his face paled, and he looked away, unable to meet your eyes.

"Who did she get?" Haden demanded.

Alster refused to answer, his silence a heavy, ominous weight on the group. The realization that the dream could be a portent of things to come settled over you all like a dark cloud. The night passed slowly, each of you haunted by the possibility that Delrona's wrath could soon be upon you. "It's not important, it is just a dream,"  says Drue trying to diffuse the tense moment.

Morning came, but the unease from the night before lingered. You knew that the journey ahead would be fraught with danger, and the memory of Alster's dream would serve as a constant reminder of the peril you faced. The path to stopping the Witch of the Water was more treacherous than ever, but you resolved to press on, united in your quest to stop her grab of power that wasn't intended for her. 

Was it just a dream? If you heard this dream would you continue your quest? Is it a portent of your own demise? Enter your thoughts in They Quests to continue. 

Next: E8Q2 Kiva's Truth