Once James was in Astral Space, he confirmed that he could communicate with Rocko without difficulty. The next thing he wanted to do was go through his notifications. He had not had a chance to do that since he left the Dungeon.

Charm +1

Luck +1

Melee - Sword +1

Melee - Glrick Sword +1

Negotiation +1

James was always pleased to see an upward motion in his Attributes and Skills. He then altered his appearance to that of a different human male and collected all his gear with this task done. The sack filled with his armour and weapons was cumbersome and frustrating to carry.

'Hey Rocko, I didn't want to say anything earlier, but I want to make a quick detour.'

'Where to?' Rocko asked.

'When I came to Ash Rumbo, I encountered a large stone object in a field of white clouds. It had metal plates on it that was covered in writing. I was hoping to get a rubbing of them to figure out what they said,' James explained.

'What's this?' Rocko asked. 'How come you didn't say anything?'

'I got stabbed,' James reminded him.

'Okay, that makes sense. If you can learn that language, it may help when travelling there.' Rocko agreed.

'How does language work? I speak three languages—one fluent and two enough to get by. But here, everyone seems to speak the same language. Even in different places around the world,' James inquired.

'There are hundreds of languages worldwide. Most of them are divided by race, not by location. As such, most humans speak the same language. You may find that there are different accents or perhaps dialects, but it is rare for members of the same race to not be able to understand each other,' Rocko explained.

'What about other languages. Do I have to learn them the conventional way, or can I learn them through Advantages?' James asked.

'Yes to both,' Rocko confirmed.

'So, there is a chance I can learn the language used in Astral Space. Do you know if the Glrick have their language?' James asked.

'I am sure they do, and you would probably already speak it. Same as when you were a Were Tiger, and you spoke to that cat,' Rocko explained.

'Then why was I unable to understand what was written on the monolith?' James asked.

'Maybe because it was not written in a Glrick?'

James thought, 'You know, you may not be dumb as a rock after all."

James could hear the sigh through the telepathic link, 'Your wit was a Skill, it would be in the negatives.'

James started moving towards the Monolith that he remembered finding. He was surprised to see the Monolith after only travelling for an hour. It should have taken four hours. When he arrived, he approached cautiously, but it was not necessary. There was nothing around the structure, and the Monolith had not changed.

'What is this place?' James asked.

'You're asking the wrong person. But if you will get your rubbings or whatever, I suggest you do so quickly and get back here or continue to Milgarden.' Rocko encouraged.

James nodded his head and pulled out some parchment. It didn't take too long before he had a rubbing of all six plates. He had hoped that he would have understood the language, but even on a second review, he could not decipher the language.

'Incoming,' James sent a message to Rocko.

'What does that mean?' Rocko asked.

'It means that someone is approaching the Monolith while I am here.' James explained.

'Then get out of there!' Rocko shouted in his head.

'Too late. Also, they're moving a lot faster than I can.' James said. He stepped away from the Monolith and pulled his sword from the sack. It could be considered a hostile act, but that was why James moved away from the rock.

The humanoid that was approaching the Monolith paused about 5 meters away. It moved so fast that James only had a few seconds to react. While he was chatting with Rocko, the creature had stopped and crossed its arms across its chest, right over left. It held that position, waiting.

James could see that it was bigger than he was, standing more than two meters. It had a spear strapped to its back, and the blade looked more like a sword than a spearhead. That spearhead also glowed with a soft blue light. The creature looked somewhat like a lizard. Black eyes on either side of its head seemed to act independently of each other, with two slits for a nose and a wide, pointed mouth. The creature also wore some solid metal armour covered by the loose colourful fabric. The only other thing that stood out to James was the colour. The creature itself was a vibrant red from head to foot. And still, it waited.

James spoke first, "Hello?". When he didn't see a response, James set the sack at his feet with the Glrick Sword resting on top of it. He then crossed his arms in the same manner as the creature and waited.

When James returned the salute, the creature glided forward towards the Monolith.

"Human not be here, danger," the creature said to him in broken English. Its voice was very guttural and deep.

James activated Alter Self II and changed his appearance to a Glrick, just not his real features. There wasn't much of a change, but he didn't want this creature to be able to identify him later.

"Not human," James said once the alterations were completed. James passed on the creature's description to Rocko, but Rocko did not know what it was.

"Truth. Glrick! I should have known. You mask your stench well, Defiler," the creature sneered. It spoke in a different language, but James understood it as well as if it had spoken English.

James tried to speak in the same language. "You don't like my kind, I take it." the speech was awkward; he was unsure if he had succeeded.

The creature pointed at James' sword and frowned, "Truth. I should have recognized your blade. A cursed weapon if there ever was one. Why are you here, Defiler?"

James was at a loss. He was treading in an area that he knew nothing about. He needed information, and this creature seemed to know more about him than he did about himself. But there was danger in what he was doing.

James pointed at the plates on the Monolith. "I don't recognize the words. I was hoping I could translate them."

The creature glided towards the Monolith. "Truth. This Travel Stone has two languages. Assaniti and Kat a' Dorinma. I would be surprised if you speak either of them."

James held his ground be was happy that the Monolith stood in the way of a direct charge. He advised Rocko of the two languages, but Rocko had never heard of them and was frantically looking up some information.

"You're right. I can't speak either of them." James agreed.

The creature chuckled, "I understand Kat a' Dorinma, as I am one." This last statement was punctuated with a slap of its hand against its chest.

"I am not familiar with your kind," James stated while updating Rocko on the creature's race.

The creature cocked its head to one side. "Truth. How odd."

James pointed at the plates on the Travel Stone. "Can you tell me what they say?"

"For trade." the creature replied.

James still had his Backpack of Holding, his Bag of Holding, his satchel and a large sack of his armour and weapons. Along with his enchanted items, he didn't want to reveal his wealth, but he was carrying a lot of bags.

"I don't have very much I wish to trade, but I have a couple of Enchanted items I would be willing to part with."

The creature cocked his head again, "Truth. How odd. A Glrick who does not know what race I am. Or one who does not know what we trade."

James felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. "What do you trade?"

The creature leaned back and smiled, "The Truth. Oddly, you are ignorant of the Kat a' Dorinma, considering your people enslaved my people for hundreds of years. And yet, you appear to be Glrick."

At this, the creature stepped from around the Monolith and waved an arm to draw James closer, "Come, I will read each of the plates for you. In trade, you will answer one question truthfully."

James took a step closer, then paused. "That is why you say 'truth' at the start of your sentences. You can tell if I am lying?"

The creature nodded, "You may appear to be Glrick, but you are not a Glrick. This fact may allow both of us to walk away alive from this chance encounter."

Before getting too close, James asked, "What is your question?"

"How are you, Glrick and not a Glrick?" the creature asked.

James passed on the question to Rocko, who gave the expected response, 'Don't tell him you're a Champion. If it was informed of bounty, your life is forfeit.'

The creature scowled and glided away, "You pause, thinking of how to lie without lying. Perhaps you are human after all."

That stung, not because the creature was wrong, but because he was right. "I used to be human. But I died. Now I am an Avatar."

The creature turned back to James, "Truth. I know not what an Avatar is, but you have answered my question." The creature pointed at each of the plates and spoke a single word or two before moving on to the next.

"Are those names?" James asked.

"I am willing to trade answers." The creature smiled.

"Fine. I accept." James said with a sigh. He already knew the question that would be coming his way.

"What is an Avatar?" the creature asked.

James paused again, he tried to consult with Rocko, but the creature started to scowl again, irritated at the delay.

"An avatar is a being created by the gods to hold a soul," James answered, filling in Rocko as he went.

'Damn it, James!' Rocko groaned.

'He can tell if I am lying,' James protested.

'Then don't talk to him!' Rocko shouted.

'We need these answers,' James continued to protest.

"Truth," the creature said, "Yes, the words I gave you are names."

"To what?" James asked.

"Trade. Why would a god put your soul in an Avatar?" the creature asked.

Now it was James' turn to scowl. Rocko was swearing up a storm. James smiled back away from the creature a bit, "Because he wanted me."

The creature returned the smile. James had figured out a trick with regards to the trade. He was giving away too much information. To give a question that leads to another question is to control the transaction.

"Truth. They are names of destinations." The creature paused for James to speak, and when he didn't say anything. "I wish to trade?" it said.

James nodded, "I accept."

"Why would a god want your soul specifically to be in an Avatar." the creature asked.

James didn't answer. If he was right, he was to ask his question based on how important the question asked of him, "Tell me how to operate this Travel Stone."

The creature shook its head. "That is not a question. I only trade in questions. Please try again."

James passed on the question and the instructions for the creature. James spoke it aloud when Rocko answered, "How do I operate the Travel Stone?"

The creature nodded, "You place your hand on the plate of the destination you want to travel to and speak the name."

James nodded back to the creature, "He needs me to save his life."

The creature smiled at James, "Truth. I see you learn quickly. I am certain that as you are not a true Glrick, you must have many questions. And as you are not a true Glrick, I have many questions."

James pointed at the Travel Stone, "What are the names of those plates again?"

"It would be impolite for me to trade you twice for something I have already traded you. So I will repeat their names for you to record. But be aware this is a courtesy I offer only once."

James glided around the Monolith with the creature as he wrote down the names of the places on the plates and sent the information to Rocko at the same time. All while trying to figure out how to ask questions without them being a question.

On a hunch, he tried something new, "My name is James."

The creature looked at him for a moment before nodding, "Truth. My name is not easy for your to pronounce. I have encountered a few humans before, and they have given me the name of Soloman. You have also learned a valuable lesson about asking questions without asking questions."

James agreed, "Yes, by offing the information first."

Soloman chuckled, "You are most definitely not a Defiler."

James' eye twitched, "You did that on purpose."

Soloman chuckled as his eye tracked James. "If there is no demand, create one."

'You need to continue to Milgarden, James,' Rocko reminded him.

'A few minutes more won't hurt.' James sent it to Rocko. 'If you have any questions, I am sure he would answer them.'

'Fine, find out if there is a map of Astral Space.' Rocko agreed.

"Do you have a..." James paused again. Asking questions was currency. "I need a map of Astral Space."

Soloman frowned, "You learn too quickly. I, too, would like a map of the Void, but there are none. I wish to make a trade."

"Accepted."

"If you are not Glrick, why do you travel the Void?" Soloman asked.

James nodded in agreement, "Why do you call the Glrick defilers?"

"They are defilers because they corrupt or destroy the minds of others," Soloman stated.

James wondered if that eluded to PSI powers the Glrick possessed, "I travel Astral Space, or the Void, as you call it so that I can move around the real world faster."

"Truth," Soloman stated. "The real world, you call it. You make it sounds like the Void is not real. I wish to make a trade."

"Accepted."

"Where are you going in such a hurry that you willingly face the dangers of the Void?"

James shrugged, "You spoke of being named by humans. Does that mean you have been in the real world before?"

Soloman waved his hand, "I declined."

"Decline. You never mentioned that I could decline a question!" James growled.

"You never asked," Soloman said with a laugh.