ROUTE 1: CHAPTER 3: RAINY ROADS PART 1: THE FARAWAY CLIMB

The expectant faces in front of him nearly pushed him over the edge but Arma knew he had to decline their invitation.

All though it felt regrettable, he knew he could not stay here, in all honesty, he didn't want to. There was an entire universe out there waiting for him.

A whisper upon the wind, something that had become a part of him when he had become a being separated from the vast and wondrous power of the Sea of dreams. The will to experience, the will to change.

(Arma: No… I'm sorry, truly. This is a wonderful place, but we can't stay. I was only recently created, it's called being a construct I think. There is too much I want to see and do out there…)

Savilles mother looked dejected, but she still smiled in response. She had probably expected this answer, perhaps it wasn't the first time they had asked someone for protection.

Strong people travelled through Aster all the time, although none seemed willing to lend a hand.

(Clarinette: I see, it was worth it to ask you at least. I guess it's hard to invest a lifetime into a village full of strangers. Construct though, I guess that explains your wild appearance.)

(Arma: The most amazing thing is that I don't even know what I want to experience, what I want to do... Not knowing is the best part. Ah… I guess I must sound pretty naive.)

Kodous self-proclaimed caretaker shook his head knowingly, smiling as he took as sip from his flask.

(Drum: Naye… that is the call of adventure, a young man's heart. Can't blame ye for that.)

Arma could not tell if a single expression had changed on Dinah, the mother of the pale girl, when she spoke. She seemed to carry the impression of a painting portraying a person rather than the look of an actual one.

(Dinah: … … … Perhaps when all is said and done, when you have found the things you are looking for… you will return here. … … … If so you are most welcome.)

When it came to Misha, the other mother of Saville, she simply seemed optimistic.

(Misha: Sure enough! And we will make sure that you remember us!)

The rest of the morning went on slowly as Arma, Manila and their newly found companion Einfeldt recovered from the previous night and ate breakfast on the main floor of the inn.

Barren, the golem bartender, served them toast, bacon and a large mug each of what he called “afterglow”, a mixture of pure berry juice and the fermented version known as the red-eye that they had enjoyed the previous night.

Apparently it was supposed to help you recover from the hangover but Arma strongly suspected that it just saved the misery for a later hour.

As the two men enjoyed their food and drink and Manila looked as if she was a wash-cloth that had been recently wrung out Stevanim, Kodou and Eius-Farim emerged from the depths of the establishment.

(Steve: Morning fellas, and you're looking real good today green lady!)

Manila gave the reddish demon a look that would have turned civilisations into cinder if she let it.

(Steve: Ah… heheh. A bit sore are we? Can't blame ya. Take your time, the first one is always the hardest.)

(Kodou: Man! Aaaaaaaaarmaaaa, that was a pretty fucking good evening!)

(Eius: Agreed.)

(Arma: Yeah… that was amazing. I will sure miss you guys when we leave. Einfeldt is coming along though it seems.)

(Eius: Leave… yes. About that. You aim for the Rainy Roads yes?)

Manila nodded in response while Arma looked happy but confused.

(Eius: In that case I will join you too, the road takes me to a desired location and with shared protection it is sure to be a good bet.)

(Arma: You're more than welcome to join us.)

(Stevanim: Aye, and what am I supposed to do here all on my lonesome ya bugger!?)

(Kodou: Hang out with me!)

(Steve: Sure enough mate, I guess it's time we partnered up and I taught you a thing or two... But Eius, sure you wanna leave? You've been splendid company these past few weeks.)

(Eius: Ah yes… but the winds of fortune are blowing. I can feel it. I am sure.)

(Arma: Then welcome aboard, glad to have you!)

(Eius: Likewise.)

The green apparition gave Arma a sour look and an even more poignant one to Eius-Farim, making it clear that she did not share her masters sentiment.

(Manila: Does this demona really have to join us?)

(Arma: I don't see what the problem is here… if there is something wrong, explain it to me.)

(Manila: It's just… forget it. I cannot forgive those who would steal another's being simply to exist.)

(Eius: Such is the quandary of our people, although none of us actually have a choice, something you are in a unique position to understand.)

Arma could not even pretend to understand what the exchange between the apparition and the demona meant but it did make Manila turn oddly quiet.

(Steve: Anyhow, well help ya pricks pack your bags and send you on your merry way.)

~

It was already late afternoon when they were finally ready to depart upon their journey. Eius-Farim had, to the annoyance of Manila, been kind enough to barter with the villagers in their name and had been able to procure most of the things they needed.

Traveling equipment, rope and hooks for climbing, provisions and everything that was required for a proper campsite.

As knowledgeable as Manila was she simply did not understand or share the needs of those with physical bodies.

Stevanim had helped pick out some basic protection for Arma, a simple armor made out of leather bands and belts which seemed to blend together with the black bandages around his arms and waist.

Eius had exchanged his formal suit for jeans, a shirt and a weathered duster adorned with a myriad of styrofoam dice fastened with strings to its many pockets.

(Eius: It brings luck, do not judge me.)

Einfeldts outfit was the strangest of the lot, thin bands adorned with studs turned inward which barely covered his bulging muscles, more likely to damage him than offer any protection.

(Arma: That armor doesn't look like it will protect you much, kinda looks like it invites the opposite really.)

(Einfeldt: Yes… such is my purpose. Being hurt is the foundation of what I am capable of. In taking punishment, I can protect others.)

(Arma:You'll have to explain that to me later, makes me curious.)

Having gathered themselves and their belongings they went to the center of the ancient village Aster. A simple cobbled square with two defining features, a well and a floating piece of rock above it.

This small island, hoovering perhaps twenty meters above the square, had several rope ladders hanging from it and a larger net, as it served as the focal point of those who would enter and leave the village.

The large piece of stone, seemingly something that had been dislodged from the towers above it, had several ropes, ladders and other ways to ascend protruding from it.

(Arma: I almost cannot believe this place, and this is our way forward?)

(Manila: Yes… to reach the Rainy Roads, we will have to make this climb. Make sure to watch your feet master, if you fell that would be most unfortunate.)

Most of the people Arma and Manila briefly had become friends with had come to see them off; both the children, their parents as well as Stevanim and Kodou. The only missing ones were Barren, the bartender and the azure child; Ervine and his mother.

(Clarinette: I offer this prayer to Leida, patroness of all arts. May the celestial radiance paint your journey with a display of joy.)

(Saville: Mom! You're embarrassing me! Anyhow, good luck mister Stupidhead and miss Greeny!)

(Dinah: Sister Moon, Sanctum Mother, watch over our fellow spirits as they depart upon this journey.)

(Darah: Mother…. Hum…. um…. um… Yes.)

(Drum: Aye, the gods are a fuckin waste but I'll pour one out for ya to bring luck upon your travels.)

The old man took a deep swig from his flask, spat it on the ground and gave Arma a thumbs up.

(Kodou: Right on old man!)

(Steve: Yo, Eius. Don't ya dare die out there, I'll be expecting us to paint the town red again someday.)

(Arma: Let's meet again everyone!)

(Manila: …)

With waves and awkward smiles the ragtag group started their grand climb towards the heavens.

~

After a few hours from their departure the large towers still loomed endlessly above them, as tall as they were strange.

(Arma: Have any of you travelled this road before?)

Arma had an astonished look on his face as he turned his face upwards towards the winding path that seemed to continue to curl around and through the skyscrapers.

(Einfeldt: It was the road that took me here… but there are a number of ways to go about this climb.)

(Eius: Yes.)

Traversing through the vertical landscape they ascended ever higher, using stairways, ladders and suspension bridges reaching from one crumbling building to another.

Sometimes the established pathways were broken and they had to rely on their climbing equipment but usually the old roads could still be used.

It was surprisingly simple, all of them more than physically equipped to handle the harsh upwards climb, but still, an exhausting venture. Manila floated candidly beside them as they climbed with a coy smile upon her lips.

(Manila: ...Yet to break a sweat boys.)

(Eius: Apparitions…)

(Arma: I thought you were afraid of heights Manila?)

(Manila: … Only when the fall might actually kill me… the sea of dreams is no joke, master.)

Inside of the titanic structures Arma witnessed wonderous vistas where rows upon rows of cubicles filled with ancient equipment created large labyrinths, where crumbling plastic desks were covered in soot and ashen old handprints painted a picture of shadowy interactions having taken place a long time ago.

(Arma: Manila, tell me about this place, if you would.)

(Manila: As it pleases you, master.)

The green apparitions eyes shone while she spoke, as if she was reading the environment as one would read from the pages of a book.

(Manila: These towers are usually known as the “Faraway Climb” and can be found above multiple spheres, existing in one and many places at the same time. This is a known gateway, a connection between multiple spheres, where a lot of travellers traverse as they go about their business.)

Outside, becoming more incomprehensible the further they reached, the view turned surreal.

Spheres glittering in the far away distance like fireflies, shining through a thick fog that hung heavily around the titanic structures which blossomed from the depths.

(Arma: Yeah, yeah, but I mean, what is all of this, why is all of this?)

(Manila: Hard to say… at the top there are always the Rainy Roads, at the bottom there is always Aster, but in between many different locations can be sought, depending on where you entered the climb. Why is it all here? This is still all part of Aquilegia, the sphere of the forgotten. I guess it's not that strange that no one simply remembers who created these towers.)

Most of the large halls and rooms they moved through looked similar, almost duplicated in simple patterns creating larger, more complex networks, and many shared the same theme, a theme that perhaps only Arma noticed.

(Arma: I don't get it… how can one place be many places at once? I have a lot of knowledge embedded in me, but this doesn't align with any of it.)

(Eius: You have been recently born so it is understandable that you are confused. Think of it as a cracked mirror showing multiple faces of the same thing at the same time. The Outer spheres are… overall... an incomprehensible place. Much less consistent than the Inner space; Origa)

The other members of his party did not seem to see it for what it was, but Arma could identify it, as a part of his inborn gift.

The burnt-out computers, the strangely sheeted beds, the plastic utensils and odd equipment all seemed tell him that these had been places of healing, all part of an old hospital, but scattered throughout the different buildings all around them.

It reminded him in a way of his place of birth, the windmill upon the field of dreams.

At some point Arma took a closer look at one of the dead screens, following the cords that protruded from it with his thin fingers.

They were inside a large room whose whose main walls had been completely destroyed by decay, leaving it exposed to the open air.

Einfeldt looked curious and joined him.

(Einfeldt: I wonder what this used to be.)

(Arma: Its a computer I think.)

(Eius: A computa, but without spirit. A shell without a ghost. Worthless.)

Manila frowned intensely and quickly shot him an angry look.

(Eius: Sensitive subject.)

(Manila: No it's not that! Get down, sniper!)

An intense bang echoed throughout the otherwise totally silent and dead environment as a bright blue beam of energy barely grazed Eius-Farim as he threw himself down to the floor. Arma and Einfeldt quickly followed suit, taking cover behind a thick block of concrete.

(Eius: Nearly clipped me, no dice though.)

The beam had left a large burning hole in the wall behind it, still smoldering and pulsating with energy.

(Einfeldt: Curious… I did not sense any ill intent.)

(Manila: Just stay down and be quiet! I will check it out! External mode off!)

The green projected visage of Manila disappeared from view, although Arma could still see her, just as always. She floated away towards the direction that the beam had come from.

It took some time before she returned and the rest of the group waited, cowering behind the thick concrete walls, expecting another beam to blow them up at any moment.

(Arma: This is pretty exciting, isnt it?)

(Eius: How long are we supposed to wait here…)

Manila popped back into visible existence with frown upon her face, clearly displeased.

(Manila: I could not find anyone… I have to assume they fled after the missed opportunity. Still, how peculiar, they should not have noticed me unless...)

Eius-Farim shrugged visibly, his six eyes rolling around in their deep sockets.

(Eius: An opportunistic bandit perhaps, looting the corpses of adventurers can be a lucrative business around these parts.)

(Einfeldt: Enjoying the spoils of another's misery, how saddening…)

(Eius: Exposing their position without a single kill is a bad move though, I expect they are moving to another advantageous position to try again.)

Outside of the crumbling building light was beginning to fade as the deep fog surrounding the skyscrapers seemed to intensify.

Day and night was not always such a clear concept in the realms of the Outside Spheres, but this, clearly, indicated that dark hours were about to be had.

(Manila: With such dangerous individuals operating out there… I guess this place is as good as any. Master, I suggest we make camp for the day and continue our travels on the morrow.)

(Eius: Agreed.)

~

As the sky outside of the building darkened further Arma and his party prepared to make camp.

A small fire was soon roaring on the cold concrete floor of the building they were inhabiting as they made their beds and started cooking their meal for the night:

dried meat, bouillon and nourishment powder. Not a feast by any means but things that were easy to carry with you on a journey.

Both Eius and Einfeldt had completed small rituals to defend the party during their rest, Eius creating a field of good fortune and Einfeldt creating a barrier of shared punishment, as he called it.

This barrier, supposedly, would make it so that any harm to anyone inside of it would affect him first, in essence creating a ward where any first attack would harm the one most physically capable to handle it.

(Arma: It sounds painful…)

(Einfeldt: Pain is something that I am used to, much more devastating would be to lose a companion knowing that I could have prevented it.)

As the bouillon packets and the nourishment powder start to blend together with the water in the pot they had placed on a tripod over the fire Eius sat down on a blanket and took out a small, dark wooden box.

As he opened it he showed everyone its contents, a couple of dice and a deck of cards.

The dice had a dark red color with tiny skulls marking the numbers and the cards seemed to be intricately designed with pictures that probably wouldn't have been out of place in a deck created for tarot-reading...

(Eius: As we are stuck here for the time being, would you, my fellow travellers, be interested in a game of chance and skill? A gamble if you will…)

The demona easily let the dice dance between the fingers on his left hand as the cards seemed to mix themselves in his right.

(Arma: Sure, teach me!)

(Einfeldt: I will play.)

(Eius: You want to play too , yes, miss Manila? I can sense you long to get one over me… Well, any of my kind that is.)

(Manila: Count me in… demon, but no cheating.)

(Eius: Tsk... Such actions would rob the game of any fun, would it not? I only cheat in combat. Anyhow, a game of dice would be the most appropriate, as the rules are quite simple.)

Eius smiled a sharp-toothed grin and his six eyes glowed as they rolled around in their sockets.

(Eius: This is a game called Burden… Now, know that I am a greedy demon, do not expect me to show you any leniency.)

~

Glowing dice floated in the air in front of Arma, affirming the newly made contract. Although both he and Manila had been warned at the beginning of the game they both now owed a special spirit-bond to Eius-Farim.

In essence it was the spiritual equivalence of “I owe you one”, although much more definite.

Only Einfeldt had managed to squeeze a bond out of Eius himself.

(Eius: Ghahaha, never fails to be amusing. Do not worry, I will not use these debts for anything too worrisome.)

(Einfeldt: You too, do not worry about this bond.)

(Eius: Come on good friend, you are as decent as a church mouse, I know I have nothing to fear.)

The glee was apparent in each of Eius eyes and his wicked smile painted the rest of the picture.

(Eius: I, on the other hand, am not, and as such I give you my word. A game in good fun should not be spoiled.)

(Manila: I can't believe I owe this creature a spirit-bond…)

(Arma: It was fun! When you decide what you want, tell me. Afterwards i want a re-match.)

(Eius: A very appropriate response, appreciated indeed. Now it is due time for some sleep, will you be watching over us during our rest miss apparition?)

(Manila: Yes… of course.)

(Einfeldt: I will join you on the first watch...)

And so the lumbering giant of a man and the transparent ghostly lady sat together in silence and gazed upon the glowing spheres in the far off distance while their companions slept.

~

The Faraway Climb was an eerily quiet place, even more so at night. No birds nested there, no signs of wildlife could be found around or in the large towers, even insects seemed to avoid its desolate surroundings.

Thus the only noise Einfeldt and Manila could hear as they waited was the blowing wind and the occasional sound of stone crumbling to dust as a piece of one of the towers fell off and disintegrated in the air.

(Einfeldt: Miss Manila. If you do not mind me asking, you are tied to the boy, correct?)

(Manila: Yes… although not by his choice.)

(Einfeldt: That is good to hear, such imprisonment is a sad state indeed, a vile action.

I hope you can find your freedom, surely he will help you if he can… if you two can reach that garden.)

(Manila: ...Yes, I hope so… I really do.)

~

A few hours later the night seemed even darker as the thickening fog made it so that even the eternal glow of the spheres could not be seen.

Einfeldt was sleeping soundly and it was Armas and Eius-Farims turn to keep watch. Manila had floated away somewhere, perhaps searching for yesterday's assailant.

The two pale figures sat on the edge of the building where they had made camp, daringly dangling their legs out in the open.

(Eius: Yo, Arma, want a smoke?)

(Arma: These are cigarettes right? Aren't they supposed to be dangerous?)

(Eius: Ghaha, you should have noticed from both myself and Stevanim, we demons are all about vices.)

(Arma: Sure, I'll try anything.)

The ashen demona took a cigarette from the red and white packet he was fiddling with and gave it to the pale young man, lightening it in the process with a zippo-lighter.

Arma took a deep breath, letting his lungs fully experience the poison that he inhaled.

(Arma: Hmm, this is pretty nice. Relaxing.)

(Eius: Ain't it? People just love a small sense of danger, don't they?)

~