Leonardo continued to stare at his reflection, searching for answers in the faint imperfections of the mirror. His eyes darted towards the small dent on the edge of the mirror's surface.

  He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and pried it open. The mirror was more than just a reflective surface; it concealed a hidden compartment lined with shelves.

  Bottles of pills and various toiletries filled the space, neatly arranged in two sections.

  He glanced over the names printed on the packaging; most of them bore the logo of "Rolls-Worth," a company he had seen mentioned countless times across the tower.

  The sheer presence of the brand made him uneasy. How much influence did this company have? He wondered how far its reach extended, from the very top of the tower to the lowest of the eras below.

  Among the medications and bottles, something else caught his eye—a faded, partially scratched-off label that read "The Church."

  It seemed deliberately obscured something was after that, leaving Leonardo with more questions than answers.

  He knew of the church's significant influence in the eras below He usually goes every Sunday, but what was it doing here, hidden among the products of a corporate giant? He pondered for a moment, trying to piece together the connections between the church, the corporations, and the nobility.

  The compartment was cramped, certainly not large enough to store his sword. He sighed, pushing it closed and turning back towards the center of the room.

  He needed to freshen up, and this was as good a place as any.

  Slowly, he began removing his clothes, starting with his red vest, then the long-sleeved white shirt beneath it.

  He took off his trousers and shoes, folding each item with a sort of absent-minded care. His build was noticeable now, slightly muscular from the constant work back in Volnia, with arms that bore the strength of someone used to physical labor, short and lanky with more room to grow.

  He wasn't exactly in peak condition—sweaty, his hair a disheveled mess that hung limply around his face, uncombed for who knew how long. It was clear he needed more than just a bath; he needed a complete overhaul of his appearance.

  Leonardo glanced around, searching for a place to put his clothes.

  He folded them and placed them neatly on the countertop beside the mirror, though he knew it wasn't the most appropriate spot.

  The room lacked any hooks or shelves for clothing, which made him wonder about the practicality of such a luxurious setting.

  He shook his head, feeling a bit ridiculous for being caught up in the details of a bathroom when there were far larger mysteries at hand. "Who designed this place?"

  [dont know]

  why would a tour guide, of all things, know the inner layout of a bathroom belonging to one of heads of the tower? Why would he write about it," Leonardo muttered under his breath, laughing a bit

  [No information on topic,] came the answer, almost instinctively.

  Of course, the tour guide had no Reason meddling in the affairs of those above. he didn't really care and the first thing he gave me to do was go into another era, that is good enough.

  Leonardo paced back and forth, his eyes locked onto the glowing text suspended in midair, using the opportunity his mind trying to unravel the overall idea of Mind Fortitude on his mind since Anna mentioned it.

  It was the kind of skill that didn't fit neatly into any single category of Rasvian manifestations maybe it did, but based on the explanations he Received, blocking attacks to the mind dosent seem right, that made it both fascinating and frustrating. He muttered to himself, the words almost lost under his breath, " explain, mind fortitude, Anna has it, but i don't think it fits in any manifestations"

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  As he spoke, the text shifted, reorganizing itself into clearer sections:

  [Mind Fortitude: Unable to know which manifestation but Its primary function should involve blocking or mitigating mental attacks, which typically aligns it with Navigator or Amplifier roles. However, Mind Fortitude should be understood as a dynamic ability—one that you actively utilize rather than passively possess. Higher stages of certain story skills encompass it, with variations based on control and Rasvian mastery. As in Rank]

  Leonardo's brow furrowed, the lines of text flowing into a more detailed explanation:

  [In essence, Mind Fortitude can be thought of as the act of guiding or enhancing neural pathways to establish a fortified mental defense. Its applications are diverse: Navigators might use it to guide neural pathways confusing would-be intruders, while Amplifiers could boost neural activity to heighten mental resilience. The Veil, though less conventional, could use illusions to cloak the mind's true intent, creating mental labyrinths that mislead mental intrusions.

  All that falls under what the skill you have to compliment it.]

  Leonardo tilted his head, eyes scanning the information with the intensity of a scholar poring over a particularly stubborn problem. "So, it's not just about what Anna has," he mused aloud. "It's about how she uses it."

  The text shimmered again:

  [Usage of Mind Fortitude depends heavily on Rasvian control rank and the specificity of the skill. A clearer understanding of Anna's application remains elusive without knowing her exact methods and proficiency levels.]

  Leonardo clicked his tongue, his frustration barely masked by a thin veneer of curiosity. "You really don't have a way of explaining things simpler, do you?"

  [No.] The response appeared instantly, unblinking, and unfeeling, as if the very concept of simplicity was an alien notion to the entity communicating with him.

  He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he glanced back at the text.

  His mind wandered, picturing Anna's possible methods—could she be guiding her thoughts through a maze, a constant dance of elusive paths that kept mental invaders at bay? Or was she amplifying her mental prowess, turning every thought into an impenetrable fortress? Leonardo wondered what it must be like inside her mind—a complex web of defenses, each more intricate than the last, all designed to protect her from the world's harsh intrusions.

  "what am i even saying she hasn't even used to it yet".

  He thought back to Anna's words—something about an "instrument called a phone." It was supposed to be useful, he was planning to use it and find more about the "eras" they read on their phones, how can entire eras of knowledge be stored in such a small object but he hadn't seen a way to get it, people just held it and went on their way, "wait Anna was talking about ordering, she'll order a person to get her stuff, i could use the-, no". He made a mental note to keep an eye out for it. If Anna was right, it could be a key to navigating the complexities of the tower.

  Turning his attention back to the shower, he approached the glowing discs in the center of the room.

  His sword clattered to the floor as he moved, but he ignored it for now, stepping onto the first disc."it'll stay there" he said slowly, The blue light that encircled it began to spin slowly, almost lazily.

  He placed his other foot onto the disc, feeling the strange, faint hum beneath his soles. As he adjusted his weight fully, the glow intensified, and the disc started to rotate at a steadier pace.

  Water erupted from the floor beneath him and the ceiling above, encasing Leonardo in a column of cascading liquid.

  The water didn't splash outward; it remained contained within the boundary of the glowing discs, moving up and down in a controlled, rhythmic pattern. Leonardo gasped, the sensation of the water washing over him both soothing and disorienting. He had expected a shower of some sort, but this was unlike anything he had ever seen—or felt.

  "Is this how they bathe?" he mumbled, his voice barely audible over the sound of the flowing water. He tried to raise his hand to his face but found the constant movement of the water made it difficult to gauge distance and motion.

  The blue light from the discs pulsed gently, casting a serene glow that filled the room with an otherworldly ambiance.

  soothing the tension in his muscles. He closed his eyes, letting the sensation of the bath consume him, washing away not just the physical grime but the mental exhaustion that had been weighing him down since he left Volnia. For the first time in what felt like ages, he allowed himself a moment of peace, his muscles twitch slightly,

  Yet even in this moment of calm, his mind wandered back to his struggles.

  The resentment he harbored towards the nobles, the overwhelming mysteries of the tower, the questions about who he was now.

  He was no longer just Leonardo from Volnia, the boy with a nack for books and a mining background. The tower had changed him, forced him into roles and situations he would have never accepted.

  All because of that man.

  Then all of a sudden the water increased pace. harsh like waves, yet not even a bit leaking.