The walls of Arbaian stone soon included more sandy domes, though Theo spotted many buildings of traditional Fithan red. Several times he tensed as he saw a Mundhin with a body fully crafted for war, most of them soulcrafters, but they appeared to be simple guards. All carried a pattern on one of their spheres that he recognized as similar to the symbol for the city guard.

Soon he passed through a large market area crawling with Fithans, eager to purchase Arbaian goods. From a glance it seemed like their most valuable exports were finely crafted armaments and stone or metalwork, though he saw some raw materials as well. Several times he had to step aside as a wagon filled with non-native rocks passed, and he also saw trade in sand. Most likely it was rare Arbaian sand suitable for fashioning into windows, which might explain how their windows survived the dust storms on Fithe.

With Arbai spilling out of the gate, Theo could only conclude that there was a city or major school on the other side. Normally he would have expected Fithe to go to war against such a force, but then again, Arbaians had a reputation for negotiation. In any case, they seemed to have established a mutually-beneficial equilibrium, based on the routine trade he saw all around him.

When he got within sight of the gate to Arbai, Theo was finally stopped: there was a perimeter of spiked stone and guards from both worlds. Not particularly hostile, but alert, ready to keep order if anyone attempted anything. The only way to get closer to the gate was through several controlled paths, Fithans and Arbaians waiting in long lines.

Theo briefly glanced at the gate, noting that the arc was formed of dark blue marble, standing out starkly against the reddish Fithan sky. His gaze soon shifted downward, estimating the size of the gate, and he understood why there were such long lines. It might be relatively broad, with a steady stream of people moving through in both directions, but it was absurdly small compared to a city the size of Norro Yorthin. Essentially they needed to squeeze the needs of an entire city - an entire world - through a single gate. No doubt passage was expensive, and he imagined it would be the same for the other gates, which boded ill for Fiyu's hopes.

"Are you gonna just stare at everything?" Senka asked. Theo scowled in her general direction and moved off without answering, having finally spotted his angle.

One of the guards sat near a secondary entrance that few approached, not bored but certainly with idle time. Instead of the rocky limbs of the Mundhin, it was an Eubhan, with a snake-like body of smooth living stone. Regardless of its exact species, it had the same guard symbol wrapped around one of its smaller tails.

"Only critical House business through this gate." Though the Eubhan had a blunt face with emerald eyes and a carved mouth, none of those moved, the deep voice emanating from his core like other Arbaians. "Move along, Deuxan."

"I don't want to get through," Theo said, "I just wanted to liven your day with a few questions."

"And what if I don't like questions?" The Eubhan coiled its body to lower its head to his level. Once Theo would have been threatened, but he knew that it was a posture of thought for the Eubhan species, so he pushed on.

"In fact, I don't think I want to go through your gate at all, but I need to check if it's useless to me. What information could I offer in exchange?"

"Oh, I don't play games of exchange, Fithan or scholarly. But... I am required by my position to answer certain questions, so you may ask."

"What lies on the other side of the gate?"

"The city of Ulsalem, which contains more things than I could possibly count." The Eubhan lowered itself further, a low rumble like rocks grinding together emanating from its length. "What are you looking for?"

Theo briefly considered whether or not Navim's name could bring any attention or harm, but decided that it was enough steps removed to be no concern. "I owe a debt to someone in the School of Emerald Indulgence. Unfortunately, I doubt this city of yours is anywhere near it."

"I am not familiar with that school. Now, be on your way."

"You look like you're from one of the Eubhan combat orders. Which one? Perhaps I might have heard of it."

The Eubhan wasn't impressed by his knowledge, since it must be common here. Still, after glancing over the empty pathway, he decided to answer. "I am Eemal of the Order of Steeled Steel."

"Huh. Steeled Steel, is it?" Theo hadn't heard the name before, but the repetition did jog something in his memory. Meanwhile, Eemal shook his head theatrically and released a very good imitation of a sigh.

"So few of your kind understand the profundity of the name. The majesty is lost when the name is translated across souls, but the synonyms speak to the depth of true being, as opposed to the mere reflections we see in our world. It is a magnificent and profound tru-"

"No, it's not." Theo smirked at the impassive face - he wasn't an expert in the many schools of Arbaian philosophy, but he knew enough to recognize a fabrication when he heard it. "Even if your order subscribes to the theory of forms, that's not how they'd frame it. If I had to bet, the name is intentionally stupid, some kind of reminder of the futility of human striving."

For a long moment the Eubhan stared at him, emerald eyes cold, and Theo began to wonder what he would do if it lunged at him. But eventually a rocky chuckle emerged and one of Eemal's tails flicked playfully. "You saw through it! Most Fithans will believe anything if you throw in the right vocabulary."

"Was I right about the meaning?"

"Close to it. Ours is a military order, but we have scholarly roots. The name serves as a reminder that invincibility is impossible, and that piling synonymous defenses is a fool's quest." Eemal swayed to the side, looking past him to peer at Senka, who ducked behind him to hide her face in his pants. "What I would like to know is how a young parent is so familiar with Arbaian philosophy."

"I was telling the truth about owing a debt to a Mundhin school. But I take it that, even if I could buy my way through the portal, I probably wouldn't be able to find it through this gate."

"Come, let us speak more directly!"

Now that he had been amused, Eemal was much more open, giving Theo a great deal of information about the city on the other side of the gate. Theo actually recognized the general region from his first life, which only confirmed that the gate led nowhere near Navim or the School of Emerald Indulgence. He had expected that outcome, but did feel a flicker of disappointment before refocusing.

Though he had the essential information he needed, Eemal did seem bored, so... "Eemal, would you be willing to give a fellow outsider some insight into the politics of Norro Yorthin? I'll need to take up work with a House, and I fear that many of them would offer deals with no future for my daughter." He set his hand on Senka's head, which she tolerated for approximately a nanosecond before squirming away.

"You are right to be cautious, but most of the Houses offer salaried servitude, some of them even fair terms." Eemal circled his body on the ground, though in a spiral instead of a snake-like coil. "It's the small Houses that you need to watch for, because they'll squeeze the life from you in their desperation. Most of the larger Houses could offer you real opportunity, if you have the talent."

"Which ones dominate the city?"

"With Fithans, it's always about strength. Three Houses within the city are led by a Stronghold-tier soulcrafter, so they are also the most powerful by social or economic measures. Of course, there are also the outside forces... Arbai controls its own affairs, Aathal exerts an influence, and the House of Waves represents powerful Fithan forces, even if they don't have a Stronghold."

"Let's focus on the local Houses for now." Though Theo suspected he might have to deal with broader politics eventually, he knew that he was in no position to do so yet. So the city had three Strongholds... that was the highest tier he and his allies had reached in his past life. If they had arrived in the city with their full strength, they would have completely upset the balance.

He considered asking about any Dominion-tier soulcrafters, but decided that it would seem too ambitious for a conversation between Archcrafters. Besides, if there had been any, Eemal would likely have mentioned them first. Dominions generally ruled nations or led powerful militaries, though they did gather in rivalries in some of the world's most dangerous places.

"House Crimson is most prominent, of course," Eemal said. "They have a powerful Stronghold, but also two Authorities they hope can ascend, giving them superiority in raw power. By contrast, the House of Coin has a weaker Stronghold, but more Authorities and a great deal of economic might. Most of their attention is to the business of the city, and so long as they remain in their field, they are unchallenged."

Both potentially promising choices, if they were as honest as proclaimed. "And the third Stronghold?"

"A bit of an odd case. The House of the Lost is an organization of travelers from strange worlds that was a lesser House with only one Authority, until they gained a powerful new Stronghold. With such undeniable power, all must negotiate with them, but their position is tenuous."

"I understand." More importantly, he understood that he would have absolutely nothing to do with the House of the Lost until he had gained extensive information about them. In many languages "Lost Ones" referred to people like him, from outside the Nine Worlds, and that made the organization far too suspicious. It might be an interesting opportunity, but the chance that it was a trap was simply too high.

"Any other questions?" Eemal rose up to his full height, peering over the gate, then descended to eye level again. "I may need to conduct some of my other duties soon, so our conversation must end."

"Just one more: which of the lesser Houses are large enough not to fall into the disreputable category you mentioned?"

"Those led by an Authority, essentially. House Blacksilver is the most aligned with foreigners, and it attempts to buy favor with public works. House Teal is old and stable, with an Authority who has long since given up on ascending. The House of Burning Leaves is young and ambitious, with many weaker Authorities. Aside from the outside powers, those are the primary movers in the city."

"Thank you, Eemal. You've been a great help to me and... my daughter." He glanced around for Senka, who was no longer anywhere near his legs, only to find her crawling atop a nearby gate somehow. "Senka, get down from there."

Eemal promptly rose to pick her up, but Senka skittered away and then threw herself at Theo. "The rocky fumpet is trying to eat Senka! Senka doesn't want to get eated!"

"He just wanted to help you get down." Theo patted her on the head and then tried to pry her fingers from his clothes to set her down. While struggling with her, he gave one more smile to Eemal, assuming that the Eubhan was used to humanoid expressions by now. "You've been a great help to us both."

"Oh, it's no trouble." Eemal returned to his guard position and swayed back and forth in a friendly fashion. "Perhaps one day you'll return for a true visit to Arbai, but for now, enjoy yourself in Norro Yorthin. Be careful not to let the earth swallow you."

Was that an Arbaian idiom? As Theo headed back into the city, he searched through his memories but came up with nothing. Despite the ominous tone, his new optimism was unharmed. He trusted Eemal to have given him a reasonably accurate picture of the city, so he now had a realistic plan upwards.

Finish scouting and confer with the others, then choose a House. Through one of the most powerful organizations in the city, they could definitely acquire all the sublime materials they needed to ascend while finding a way to acquire Chasm Invitations. Then the Chasm of Lamentations and beyond...