Edwin moved through the forest keeping in sight the river. The air was a welcome change from the suffocating stench that lingered in Wheatbridge. He breathed in deeper as he spotted the first watch tower. The watch tower seemed to be made hastily from the wood around. He sneaked towards it as he clocked the movements of the archer that stood guard. The archer looked from one way to another in a periodic fashion. Edwin took advantage of this as he stealthily neared the watch tower.

Moments later, Edwin found he had choked the archer such that no sound was made. He spotted another watch tower in the distance. The archer positioned there had not yet noticed his companion's plight. Edwin picked up the bow and borrowed an arrow from the now dead archer at his feet. He took aim and fired, the arrow swooped through the air. The archer fell down the full height of the watch tower as the arrow met him.

Edwin got down from the Watch Tower and walked at the clearing that had been created all around the area.

No wonder, no forest fire ever reached them.

Soon a larger, cylindrical tower was in sight. It had windows arranged in a spiral fashion. The top storey had large rectangular windows, a faint ochre glow shone from within.

The glow will become more intense soon.

Edwin spotted two alchemists who stood guard at the door of the tower. The door itself was large, almost a storey tall and seemed to be made of solid Rosewood.

The alchemists wore full battle armour and had spears. One of the them tapped his spear to the ground before asking, "Who goes there?"

Edwin did not reply as he swiftly moved to the right. The alchemist was prepared as he thrust his spear forward. Edwin caught the spear by the neck with his left hand and pulled. He kicked hard with his right leg at the raised shield . The alchemist toppled over on his back as his hand clutching the spear twisted and lost its grip. Edwin quickly moved in to stab the man directly piercing his flam red armour. The other alchemist would have used alchemy was his companion not in range. Edwin had moved to the right and taken advantage of that. Moreover, performing alchemy required a certain level of concentration, steal their calm and all that was left was an armoured dummy. But Edwin didn't steal their calm, he gifted them menace. He threw the spear, now in his left hand at the second alchemist. The alchemist dodged to his right. Only to realise the gauntlet on his spear arm had come apart and his hand bled from the cut. He was disarmed as the spear fell from his hand. Edwin swung again, this time it was his throat.

He moved to the Rosewood door and placed a hand on it and closed his eyes. A force turned the door to mere splinters that flew inside like projectiles.

He waited as the dust gradually settled in. He saw bodies of two men who stood guard behind the door, their armours now ridden with various holes and wood splinters. An alchemist and an archer revealed themselves at the end of the long corridor. Edwin knew quite well it was a trap. As soon as he would step in, the archer would divert his attention while the alchemist would seal the narrow passageway. He ducked to the left of the entrance as the archer shot. He sheathed his sword and grabbed a spear lying to his right along with the dead alchemist. He caught the alchemist by the back of his collar using his left hand. He lifted him to intercept the incoming arrows. He threw the spear at the alchemist, borrowed the shield of the dead man he held and ran. A split instant later Edwin had thrown the shield at the archer much to his alarm. The alchemist had just gained his composure after dodging the spear in the narrow space. But to no avail. Edwin had already crossed the distance by that time. He zipped further past the archer and the alchemist, his back arched, head bowed. The archer's bow snapped and the alchemist's armour tore at several places. The two men fell face first into the ground to taste the dust they were supposed to manipulate.

****

That was the closest to harmony the Tower of the Hidden guild had ever achieved. That was the closest to symphony the Tower would ever achieve. The spiral rooms around were the chords that Edwin struck. 

It started from the lowest spiral stair. That was the beginning of a tune that would reach remarkably intense strains. It gradually moved upwards. The scream and shouts, metal piercing metal, and noiselessly tearing the softer flesh, that noiseless melody, last cries, and glass. Glass, as the windows shattered, as someone was thrown off the window to complete his part in the tune. The part only completed when that someone touched the ground, a thud. Among fragments of broke glass.

Indeed, the tune was a melancholic one.

What has a start must have an end. The tune ended, the last chords struck were heard by the only listener left. And that listener was not Edwin. Edwin just heard, he wished not to listen; It was the head of the Hidden Wind Guild that did. He had listened to the full symphony, he had taken in the complete gravity, and he sat on his throne, or so he called it, though he felt it not, for lost he was in that same symphony.

Edwin broke the door and there sat the Head, unmoving. It was a perfectly symmetrical room made to imitate a throne room of a king. It was but a poor imitation. The air was heavy, despite the twelve large windows that presented a view of the night. An ochre glow shone inside, the last glow left in the Tower. Numerous torches and lamps gave birth to that eerie glow.

The arrow has been shot.

"Shatrughat, the fabled Indian blade! Then I shall say it's an honour to meet the wielder," said the Head, looking at the thin sharp blade, devoid of any decoration or symbol.

Edwin's response gave the Head the impression he hadn't heard. The Head started to realise the tune hadn't ended. The encore remained.

He continued, "I won't go down as easy as my men. And I hold no grudge against you, such business we are in. Let me warn you, not only am I proficient in alchemy but am a master of advanced sorcery. I am wonder..."

Edwin's blade had passed through him his armour, his heart and his so called throne. He slowly removed his sword, now dripping in blood.

"The blade lost its name when it was blessed to me."

He moved to look out of the large rectangular windows sheathing his sword. They revealed half a burning town drenched in yellow flames.

How many times had he enjoyed this view?

Edwin picked a lamp from the numerous ones in that room, broke it and poured the remaining oil on the dead thief's head and his throne. He took a torch from one of the pillars. Shadows took shape on the pillar as the torch moved further away from it. Edwin flung the torch at the guild head. His throne and soon the room started calling the flames. Such was the encore.

The room was filled with intense light that far outshone the numerous lamps.

For the second time on that dark night, Edwin fulfilled his promise.