The briefing room was cold. The cold of anticipation. Helena stood at the head of the table, a new dossier open before her. The map on the wall showed a Tower marked in grey, isolated in the eastern highlands.
"The Tower of Silent Stones," Helena said. "Mid Class. Originally an ancient monastery from some pre-Tower civilization. The Tower system absorbed it about three hundred years ago, and it's been quiet ever since. Literally quiet." She tapped the dossier. "Its unique mechanic is magical silence. Voices don't carry. Sound-based skills are suppressed. Verbal commands are useless inside. You'll be relying entirely on non-verbal coordination."
She looked at the party. "Valerie's orders. Clear this, and she'll sign off on your return to the Tower of Ash. This is your final proving ground."
Nathan met her eyes. "We understand."
