The Lighthouse

In the distance, there's a lighthouse overlooking a quiet, cerulean ocean, at the edge of a peaceful town. It sits on a small patch of land stretching out along the shoreline, nearly at sea level, pale sand and scraggly shore grass framing a spaced stone path.The exterior of the lighthouse is pale and chipped in some areas, worn from the elements. The spacing of the few narrow windows indicate there's two stories below the light. It's clear the tower has been here for ages, and it's well taken care of.

You turn around and leave.It's just a lighthouse, and there doesn't seem to be anything special about it. Besides, you can always check it out tomorrow! There's much more interesting things in town. The old lighthouse inevitably fades from memory.

Upon closer inspection, it really is a beautiful lighthouse. The white walls are patched with stucco and a fairly clean layer of paint, filling places where there might have once been holes or other blemishes.Stones are laid neatly into the ground leading up to the entrance. The pathway seems well maintained – the stubborn shore grass has been trimmed away, and none of the stones feel wobbly.The front door is cradled by a humble stone arch, set a little into the face the lighthouse. Some kind of pale green ivy climbs along the entrance arch, with soft morning glories peeking between intertwined vines near the ground. The wooden door is a warm, mild brown. A heavy iron knocker sits at eye level right in the middle of the door.A simple lamp glows warmly over the door. Oh, there's a mailbox here, too, but no numbered address. Is this a residence, or a lighthouse?

Like any polite guest, you try and knock. The door seems very thick, and the noise your knuckles make against the surface is muffled. It doesn't seem effective. After a second of consideration, you lift the heavy iron knocker and let it drop against the door.コン. Yup, the door sounds really sturdy........Overhead, a seagull lets out a lonesome squawk. Perhaps no one's home?In the moment it takes for you to think about whether or not you should go, the door opens. A young person in a white sailor dress stands there, mismatched eyes wide with surprise. Jellyfish-like ribbons flutter behind them, and gemstone beads chime at the edge of their skirt. "Hello?" they inquire, head tilting slightly in interest. There's a sailor hat perched on their very fluffy, very much hair-covered head. "May I help you?"You explain that you're new to the area, just passing through, and that the lighthouse out on the shore drew your attention. "Do you work here?" you ask, politely curious.The girl's expression lights up. "I do! I'm Sometsuke Mezzo, lighthouse keeper. You can come in, if you'd like a short tour."

The lighthouse keeper welcomes you in, slippered feet padding on the smooth stone floor."Ah, take any house slippers you'd like," Sometsuke says, gesturing to a wooden shoe rack lined with woven house slippers. You choose a fluffy pair with embroidered jellyfish and leave your traveling boots by the door.The interior of the lighthouse is warm, both in appearance and the temperature. Soft rugs are scattered about on the wooden floor, and bright lights shine from the ceiling. An easel faces an open window. You can faintly smell the salty sea breeze filter through."I'm trying to paint the ocean, but I can't seem to get it right," Sometsuke comments. She pulls out a blue and white porcelain tea pot and a few paper cups. "Would you like some tea?""Yes, thank you," you say, and take one of the cups. The scent of genmaicha joins the sea breeze air. Sometsuke smiles. "Do you have any questions, traveler?"

"So how long have you been a lighthouse keeper?" you ask."Lighthouse Keeper," Sometsuke corrects casually, but you can't tell what the difference really is, and she offers no further explanation. "I have been working here for a couple of years now!" She sips her tea. "I don't really remember when I started, but it was definitely after the invention of the telephone."The telephone?"I don't really remember how exactly, but I think I was looking for a job, and there was an opening here! Super lucky!"

"So what is the job of a lighthouse keeper?" you ask."Well, a Lighthouse Keeper's job is mainly Lighthouse upkeep," she replies, scrunching her face slightly in thought. "I keep the light on, keep the light strong, and make sure the Lighthouse is well-fed." She shrugs. "It's actually really fun work, but it's a bit difficult to explain..."You think about it for a moment. Something about it seems a bit weird. "Fed? The building needs to be fed?"Sometsuke opens a bag of chocolate chip cookies, shaking a couple onto a plate on the counter. "Ah! Yes! Can't have the Lighthouse get...what's the word? Hangry? Can't have it get hangry, right?"She offers the plate of cookies.

You pull the door. After a brief moment of strange resistance, as if a strong magnet was holding it closed, it swings open smoothly.Well, come in, it seems to taunt.The interior of the lighthouse is dimly lit, with sunlight barely filtering through extremely dusty windows. The floor is splintering wood, damaged by ages of humidity and salt, with faded, decayed rugs scattered rotting on the ground. Once upon a time, must have been warm and welcoming. The room smells of the ocean and ozone. The ivy from outside crawls through tiny cracks in the window frames. Dust particles shimmer darkly.You get the distinct impression that you are trespassing. The hair on the back of your neck prickles with unease.There's a spiral staircase, made of the pale limestone, in the center of the room. With a twisted iron handrail, there are steps leading up, and steps leading down. The curling pattern is reminiscent of the inside of a shell.Behind you, the door swings shut. As soon as it closes completely, all the sounds of the outdoors is cut off. The distantly crying seagulls, the faint sound of waves, suddenly go completely silent. Inside the lighthouse is like a different world altogether.[ aS yOU EXpeCted of thE TowER. ]Oh. That's right. You're here for That.You glance at the sword in your hand, determination fueling your bravery. (Were you always holding a sword? Something whispers that it doesn't matter, not anymore.)

You descend further. The spiraling staircase is never ending, and the abyss below never seems any closer. (It never seems any farther, either.)Each level you pass seems impossible. The iron handrail never has an opening, keeping you trapped on that spiral as you pass each floor. The scent of salt and dried pampas grass gets stronger and stronger.One level is pitch black, and you take out your phone to see the next step down. Tap. Tap. It's stiflingly quiet, and each of your steps on that sandstone staircase sounds louder and louder until you finally descend to the next level down.Another floor going down is unbelievably bright, framed with a mist-filled, sky-high ceiling as you descend down to a glass aquarium floor, into what appears to be a dimly-lit storage room floor. Your grip on the sword grows clammy as the humidity rises.You continue to descend.

You decide to climb upwards. This is, after all, a lighthouse. Perhaps what you're searching for is located at the crux of the building.As you go up, the vines become more numerous, weaving around the staircase like curling snakes. Small, pale blue blooms, morning glories, peek through the leaves. The stairs ascend into daylight.Seagulls are perched on the railing,Behind you, encased in a beautiful cage, is the light of the lighthouse. A gem as large as your head, golden and shining with a mysterious inner light. It almost looks like a tiger's eye. As soon as that golden light hits your face warmly, all worries and stress leech away.Look at the ocean, all around. The azure waves sparkle. Puffy clouds linger in the distant horizon, white as snow and light as mist.It's a truly beautiful day.

A girl in a white sailor uniform stands there, a surprised expression on her face. Jellyfish-like ribbons trail behind her, and small blue gems glint on her skirt trim. She has a bag of off-brand cool ranch-flavored chips clutched in one hand. Her eyes flick to the sword in your hand briefly before meeting your gaze."Oh," she breathes, and takes a small step back. "You wandered in, didn't you?"You bare your teeth, and bring the sword up. This person could only be one thing. "Keeper," you bite, "where is the treasure?""The treasure?""Yes. The gem."She looks confused. The bag of chips crinkles slightly in her grip. "What gem?""The core of the Stake! The gem!"She brightens. "Oh, you mean the sparkly jewel thing?"You brandish the sword, frustrated. "Whatever form it is, I've come to take it. Your reign of terror is over! I will free the townspeople of this horrible tower!"The girl continues to stand there, looking confused again. "What? What terror? Did the mayor not like the brownies?"In order to save the town, you must retrieve the core of the tower! Only then will the reality annihilator be destroyed. Lighthouse Keeper, malevolent witch of the tower! No confusion could distract you from your noble cause. This is obviously a ploy to get you to lower your guard so she can get you!

You swing your hero's blade at the nameless girl, but she evades the attack with a yelp. The bag of off-brand chips falls to the ground. "Eh? Wait, wait, that's dangerous!"As she stumbles back, slim wings burst from her back, flapping for balance. White, with dark blue tips, seagull wings. A set of bone-white horns sprout from her forehead, knobbly like coral. You knew it, the Keeper is a demon king!With a snarl, you lunge again, and this time, your blade finds purchase in the Keeper's flapping wing. Pale blue blood spills, and she cries out.The cry, high with surprise and pain, warps into a growl. The Keeper prances back, steps suddenly light and battle-experienced. You adjust your stance and stare at her hard.The battle is long and legendary. Sword blade against claws, wings battering your tired body. You roar, and unleash all the blessings bestowed upon you, illuminating that strange space with unbelievable power. The Keeper screeches and recoils."I can't let you," the Keeper pants. Can't let you what? Kill her? Take the core? "You're not supposed to be this aware. Oh well. You're an outsider, right?" She scoffs, a cold sound that sounds very cool and very mysterious and super evil. "Let's start over. Explosion!"With a quick sweep of her hand, the world lights up.

A sense of peace slowly suffuses your tired soul. You can strongly hear the sound of crashing waves...but is it even possible to hear it from here? Even if it were possible, surely the sound would be much more distant than what you can hear now. The lighthouse is on a cliff overlooking the shore, the sea a long ways below.A long, long ways below.Was the lighthouse always on a cliff? you think for a second before you stop thinking altogether.In front of you is the open sky. The seagulls are crying, calling out to you:
Give up, give up, join us in the warm sunlight, hero!