IC Date: 10/27/2025

OK. OK. She was going to brave the lift today.

Tempesti had reminded herself more than once that no matter how cage-like the contraption looked, it would be impossible to get trapped and stay trapped.

But a magical means of escape would also set her back a few days. And if it fell who knows if she’d be able to reach her phone to escape.

But if she saw that the lift was working that would be good for visitors, right?

But what if they got stuck?

But she could help them get unstuck.

But that would interrupt whatever they were here for.

She shook her head, temporarily banishing the barrage of self-doubt as she approached the ancient machine. An intricate cage contained within a cylindrical shaft that seemingly ran the height of the Tower, meticulously crafted metal merged in cast and wrought elements in whimsical botanical forms enshrining a glass vessel. After a few moments of fiddling with the various levers and switches on the lift’s exterior the lift’s door ascended, revealing an interior just large enough to accommodate three or four people. Maybe five if they really crammed in. As in the rest of the Tower, colorful, floral mosaic covered the round floor. Before she could manage an excuse about not wanting to damage the ancient tile, she stepped into the small car to examine the controls. They were much less complicated than the device that controlled the ferry, though. Just a wheel, helpfully labeled with the direction in which it would take the lift, what she assumed was a brake lever, and what was probably a power button. Alright. That seemed like the place to start.

Through several minutes of trial and error followed by a stuttering ascent, Tempesti pulled back the brake and stumbled onto the third floor. She wouldn’t claim that the old lift was her favorite means of transportation, but it could probably save time and energy once she got a better handle on using it. Not that it hadn’t firmly reinforced her preference for the stairs.

The greenhouse, that was why she was here. Most of Elysia’s truly peaceful memories occurred surrounded by green and glass, her hands sheathed in pale leather as she tended to what garden the Tower’s limited space would allow her. Its presence loomed large and though the library had felt like a greater priority, today Tempesti wanted to allow herself some time with the quieter ghosts.

Approaching what appeared to be a swimming pool, she examined it briefly, its shape was clearly intended to emulate that of a natural body of water, with the debris-strewn mosaic edging it depicting all manner of aquatic plants and pondside animals. It was far too easy to get distracted here, as her desire to stay and figure out how to get this cleaned up made clear.

The green spread its tendrils well beyond the boundaries of the ancient greenhouse, open doors disgorging masses of leaves and flowers, vines creeping up their wrought metal sides and claiming the stones for their own. Calling forth her own gloves and tools she gently pushed aside the growth, carefully stepping into the riot of scent and color.