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As much as Gretchen would have liked to simply disregard the venomous voice that nagged and hissed throughout the whole of her day, it was hard to do that when there were a few things they actually agreed on. Gretchen needed to get stronger. There was no ifs, ands, or buts about that. She also needed equipment to take on missions, and the only way to get that equipment was to pass the training courses.

So far she hadn't done too badly. Of the two attempts she'd made, both had ended up a success, and she was the proud owner of bandages and barrier daggers. Important things, no doubt, but there were more runics she still needed to get her hands on.

Which was what sent her towards the Miss Taken Tower one evening after dinner. It seemed, by reputation, to be one of the harder courses, but that just meant getting a head start on it was in her best interest. Looking up at it, she had to wonder what sort of fun surprises were waiting inside for her.

She'd glance back over her shoulder at the voice, offering a wide grin to the young man that was walking up behind her. "Not really, but I hear these are kinda important." She didn't relish violence, but she did believe in being prepared for the dangerous things they were up against. Gretchen didn't want to be a burden to the others or herself, and that meant getting stronger and making sure she had the proper equipment.

A small hand was offered as he introduced himself. "Sure, company'll probably make this a bit more enjoyable," she drawled cheerfully. "I'm Gretchen. Nice'ta meet you."

"Alright then, let's get this show on the road." With an excited grin she turned towards the doors, summoning Devika as she pushed them open to head inside.

It was dark, but that wasn't unexpected. From what she'd heard, the tower was a combination of all the other courses, and it started with the shadow run. Gretchen had done that one already with Dawson. She'd done pretty well in it, actually. Now it was time to see if she could do it again.

Shadowlings, alerted by the sound of the doors and the lights, converged immediately. Swarming the Death trainee, or trying too. She brought her staff around for a wide, almost golf like swing, sending a few of them scattering to the winds before popping into dust.

"They do," she confirmed, smacking at another little gnashing body as it rushed at her ankles. With Horace's help, the way through had been cleared easily, and Gretchen wasted little time in opening the door, pausing just inside it for the other Death.

"Gotta exterminate'em if you wanna claim one of the houses." Or so she'd heard, in any case. It had been worth remembering, if Isaac ever did wanna make the little house of his dreams a reality.

Gretchen winced as the shadowlings swarmed her new friend, and she knocked a couple back as he staggered towards the door, dragging him forward and through it by a handful of is shirt, then closing it behind him. "I don't think I'd want one to live in on my own," she answered, smiling as she smoothed the shirt back into place. "Wouldn't mind gettin' one with a friend though." Or someone that was more than a friend.

Stepping further into the room, the smile on the girl's face faded as she noticed the spaces on the floor. This looked like a slice from the Death course. "Best step lightly," she'd muse quietly, more to herself than to him. He was in Death, after all, so he'd already know.

Very carefully, she stepped forward, but only touched the tip of her toe to the tile before drawing it back and going for the one beside it instead.

Gretchen winced as she watched Horace narrowly avoid the dropped blade of an axe, and then very nearly get barbecued. "Yeah, it's a challengin' one." To say the least. She'd found the Sun course a lot easier, and the Life course.

It was time to focus though. The girl turned her attention back to the grid on the floor, weighing her options. When she stepped, for a brief second she thought she'd found a safe spot, but as her weight settled on it she heard a click, then had to dive out of the way when spikes came up from the floor beneath her feet.

On the plus side, she was safely on the other side now.

Gretchen winced, cringing another step away from the edge as the bear trap snapped up around Horace's ankle. "I'll bet." She could try to patch him up perhaps, but after the training course was done, probably. She wasn't sure if they were being timed, but she wouldn't have been surprised by it.

"Do you need help?" She'd offer him a shoulder for support, if he did. Regardless they had to keep moving.

Once they'd made it to the next bit he'd be on his own again, though. The trainee stepped forward and sank to her knees beside the princess golem. "I'll get the left, you get the right?"

It took a few minutes, some trial and error, but eventually Gretch managed to get the cuff off, and no one blew up. Bonus.