Thomas visibly winced, recoiling back slightly as he saw Akiko stab through her own shoulder with an arrow. He didn’t want to look, but couldn’t help but stare on in curiosity as she pulled the bloodstained arrow out and put it away, in a way that seemed pretty casual considering what had just happened. He was tempted to ask just what the hell he’d just watched, when the same woman spoke in reference to him. He was confused: Adventurer? People from down below? Again, he opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted again when Akiko spoke again, addressing him directly this time. His eyes widened as he heard her mention ‘this Tower’. Tower? What Tower? His eyes followed Akiko’s gesture to Cait, though that was just instinct. Inside, his mind was searching for an answer to where exactly he was, his violet eyes appearing to be glazed over. 

And then it came to him. The more he thought on it, the more obvious it seemed. He was on the Tower. The one he’d seen looming over Miso City not long ago. It made sense; it was the last thing he remembered seeing before he’d ended up here. How he’d managed to get here was a separate issue he’d think about later, but why he was there was becoming clear to him now. It was slight, but he felt a sense of purpose from deep within him now, one that pushed him forward as he began to approach Cait behind the bar. 

Before he could reach her though, another voice rang out from nearby, this one sounding more enthusiastic than the last. At least this time he felt that he immediately understood most of what this person was saying, now that he’d figured a few things out for himself. He felt reassured by what she said though, giving her an affirming nod in response to show that he got the general gist of what this all was. However, he was caught off guard by what she said next, as the sudden realisation that he was the odd one out here for more reasons than one suddenly came to him. He felt himself get a bit flustered and overwhelmed, a hint of red lingering on his now-warm cheeks, but he tried to ignore it; thinking on it would only make things worse. 

A distraction quickly came in the strangely mesmerising finger gun pointed at him, which set off with a loud bang, dispelling him from his trance. After a second or so of silence as the ‘rabbit-in-headlights’ face began to clear away, he spoke back, realising that he’d hardly said a word at this point.

[color=violet]“Uh, well, it’s nice to meet you, Clair.”[/color] Was all he could manage, unable to introduce himself before another voice caught his attention from further away, female as well. He gave Clair one final glance before walking over towards where the voice was coming from, listening carefully to what it was saying – it sounded important, after all. 

He finally reached the room the voice was coming from, noting the room’s title, the desk and the girl behind it. He simply looked at her as she continued to speak, the somewhat curious expression returning to his face, especially as the cards came out. He couldn’t make out what was on them really, and in any case, within seconds they were gone with a sudden flash of light. Almost immediately after, however, he felt a slight weight in his pocket. Barely noticeable, but a distinct enough change from complete emptiness for him to realise. 

He slipped a hand into his pocket, letting out a very small, but surprised, gasp as his fingers found and rubbed against what felt like cards, three of them after some more feeling around, presumably the ones he’d been shown before. He lowered his eyes down to his pocket, then back up to the girl. [color=violet]“Uh… thanks.”[/color] He gave the mysterious girl a final nod before returning to the group in the tavern, momentarily pulling out the cards he’d received to look them over, before putting them back in the same pocket. Of course, he wasn’t sure of what they did, or of their purpose, but he figured that the other members of the group had them too, so he’d probably learn soon enough.

For now though, he simply followed Cait’s pointed finger to the door, moving slowly and carefully, but making sure to keep up with the rest of the group as they entered through it into the unknown, for him at least. It was unusual how little he was questioning and second-guessing himself and his situation, he thought. Perhaps it was that sense of purpose that was driving him on. The purpose that would lead him to the top of the Tower, that would help him find the truth.

Once he was through the door, he took a moment to let his eyes adjust to the dimmer light, a new shade of red coming over him, though from the outside this time. A chill running down his spine, one that originated from a whole pool of varying emotions, his gaze wandered around, looking around the torn up hallway: its ornate walls, grand decorations and presentation, one that would probably be very well kept usually, but was now fractured, for whatever reason.