Coming to the end of another lengthy hallway, I stop.

"Maybe I will have an easier time finding the old man if I go outside? Come back in, start from the start. Lot of space I am unfamiliar with." I comment to myself, carrying on with my clueless walk through this estate. Some staff have offered their help, but I turned it down as I don't want to be a bother. I'd also rather avoid being under their scrutiny for long.

Maybe it's the younger me still within, the attitude of 'I can figure it out myself!' Back then, though, it didn't matter as I was familiar with Tobaballe. I grew up in that city and got to experience a decent amount of it, like all children did. Here, I am lost. No time to learn it.

Maybe I'm being too prideful...?

Regardless, at least this borderline cavern for an entrance is easy enough to remember. There's so much space and room in just this one part of the main building. Could probably tire myself out in a few laps of the place. Up and down the stairs, around the perimeter, doesn't really matter.

No sign of the old man here, either.

Shrugging, I distract myself from the current tedium and walk up to an art piece hanging on the wall. Even though my body has warped into something incomprehensible, my mind is fortunately the same in all its aspects. In-depth thought is probably the best way I can keep my sanity right now. So, I use my mind to the best of its abilities and stare at the metallic piece going up along the wall by one set of stairs.

I can't read the text surrounding it at all. There's no point in even trying. My eyes work fine, however. At the start of the piece, there seems to be a group that's down on their luck. A barren wasteland all around them. An amused noise breaks my quiet chitters at the point of comparison it provides with my life.

Me too, artistic buddy... Me too.

Moving up the stairs a little, it seems to transition into a story of a place being built. The details of the geography are lost on me, but I feel like assuming it is this town. That feels like a safe bet. The end of the lengthy, tapestry like piece seems to imply a ruler being selected.

Looking back over the journey, I can't help but huff at how it is coloured. Not with paint or dyed fabric, not with gemstones or polishing. But, rust. Green copper rust, reddish iron rust and swollen aluminium corrosion!

It's enough to leave me wide-eyed, as this is some truly masterful craftsmanship. I suppose this is the sort of stuff I was expected to be able to learn if I wanted to reach a high floor. To have many, many frail pieces carefully wasted away so they could be put into a beautiful whole. Not one bit of colour is spreading anywhere else, not one flake of it.

"Any guesses as to what it is?" a wanted familiarity asks, the sound of his cane accessory striking polished stone plates. Turning around to the calling noise, I mentally shrug at my first action. The man I am looking for, he went and found me, I guess. Suppose I should try to worm in as many 'thank you's' as I can for letting us stay.

Even though I'm not all too sure why he allowed it. He brought me aside when we first met, inspected me a little. Rose-sweerui assured me it was nothing sinister yet, even then. I cannot let go of my paranoia. I know what kind of eyes this old man has.

Brewbrt, Founding-Lord Brewbrt is a man of much experience.

"A reference to this town?" I answer before my thoughts get a stronger grip on my behaviour. His smile grows, and he shakes his head. A soft laugh croaks out of him and he runs a hand into his slicked back, silver-afflicted emerald hair.

"It is a reference to a settlement. You got that much right, Young Man." he tells me, the nickname remaining although he knows my name. He called Rose by her name. Her full name even, 'lhia and all. I guess it doesn't matter, it's not an insult.

"Is it of a nearby city, then?" I change my answer to and he nods, walking down the stairs.

"Not a specific one, our mountaintop wonders, in general." he tells me, his hand touching my shoulder and bringing me back down the steps. We stop at the bottom of them and his cane flips up to tap on metal with deep bluish colouring. Seems to be more so nitre bluing than actual rust. I've more experience using acids to pre-coat metals, personally.

Looking closer, I see how the metal warps in shape, "Water?"

"Indeed." he nods, the cane slipping down.

"Why?" I ask, and his eyes widen a little. He smiles gently, nonetheless.

"It is a reference to an ancient malice. How all of Jherikra was driven from the valleys, ravines, stump-high plateaus and plains. All that sort of stuff. My town of Tryhpeltzweig even, would be under water if it was around back then. Little is known about the specific time, but, more than four-thousand years ago... All of Jherikra was under the waves in a time known as the Time of Liquid-Mountains." he explains and I nod, not entirely lost here.

"Ah, I've heard a bit about that. Back when I was staying at the flower I met Rose-sweerui at, mostly." I explain and Brewbrt gently laughs at the thought. I don't need to wonder much as to what he might be thinking.

"I am pretty confident I can bet a lot of my wealth that you had fun there. Seeing how strong you are and all. Especially given what you have between your legs, ey? I most certainly know me and my friends did back when we were still springing about like you. Oh, how time goes by," he chuckles out, his elbow nudging at my closest arm. Slightly bending with the force, I silently watch him come out of his reminiscing.

It makes me think a fair bit myself and I quickly run into a problem.

"I suppose some of it was fun..." I manage to tell him after some delay as bad thoughts fester. A fair bit happened that I was involved with. My cowardice when I escaped the hive. How I almost got Vadei and others killed when my arm acted up. The dirty trick I pulled against Vapooliar in our sparring match. All the damage I caused when I turned...

"Try to keep your thoughts positive, Young Man." he reminds me, a gentle smack to the arm bringing at least a slight smile.

"So while we are on the topic of the aelenvari..." I go.

"Go on." he goes.

"Earlier you mentioned Rose-sweerui being with me helped convince you to let us stay...? Better yet, I suppose. Why did you even let us stay? I feel like a burden getting into a place like this for free when I don't know you all that well." I ask, other thoughts coming out along with it, changing the question.

He shrugs and his mouth opens with a lip-wetting pop, "Because you are going to Suhurlodst, and, well. I've always wanted to give a helping hand to up-and-coming witches. After all, I was once trained in the halls of the Academy. Between the old hollow city of Suhurlodst itself, the name-lender, and the actually used city of Thrurstradtur."

"Surely there is more to it than that?" I call out, something within me preventing it from being a simple nod along.

"Nope, just an old man helping someone on his way. I know firsthand how difficult it can be getting into a mountain-state proper if you are from a ravineer settlement," he explains, his free hand running along the large scar he has over his right eye. While I'm not sure if the action and words are connected, a hidden frown is still present on my face. It's quite the nasty old injury, after all. He barely avoided blinding himself, it seems.

"But I am not from one of those." I point out, though I guess it doesn't matter. I'm still not from around here and my guide is a woman with only limited exposure to these places.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Even so, a gift from me to you. Once you are on your way, if this bothers you that much. You won't have to worry about it anymore. But, while you are still here, try to enjoy my home and land for what it is, please," he tells me, his smile warm and welcoming.

"Where I am from, gifts tend to be a means to an end. The set up for a favour to be redeemed later." I point out, almost muttering it. My mind fills with the times of struggle I have gone through and my stubborn refusal to accept help. I knew that if I did, I would be burdened by the need to pay them back. With how sudden that needed help could be, I found it safer not to bother. Selfish in the Tobaballian way of things, perhaps, but I also was not in the position to offer much help, anyway.

Grounders have very little and I had a lot of work to get on with.

"We do not do that here, I at the very least, so don't you worry, Young Man!" his smile staying as he taps his cane against me.

"So you were once a student at Suhurlodst?"

"That I was, that I was. Learned me craft there from a tutor unlike some, something that is often viewed negatively up there. But, I think it has brought me enough easy living even if I did not learn it entirely on my own," he explains.

"That's odd, Rose-sweerui was quite enthralled by the idea to have influenced me and my way of doing it. Though it didn't quite work out for her." I try to chuckle out at the end.

"It's not a universal disdain, but in a more professional environment... It is. Something I doubt your aelenvari lover will understand, given her upbringing. Magic is best learned on your own, objectively speaking if we keep it results-minded. It's more fun that way, too," he explains, giving me a wink with his scarred eye and we walk some more. But not far.

"I see..." I mutter, my attention going down to my rising claws. I try to keep them out of his line of sight and make the attempt to do what I did with the sticks. I manage and return to a full face with him, my claws both hidden again.

"So what do you hope to learn at Suhurlodst, Young Man?" Brewbrt asks, and my blood freezes solid. Slowly, my chitters return, a little too loudly for my liking. I try to hide it with a tapping foot.

I can't really answer this properly with any honesty...

"General knowledge, I guess. Home wasn't the best place to learn magic. Rose-sweerui and a friend who is at or still heading to Suhurlodst have tried to help but... It is what it is. I need to catch up with her, though. Clear up a few details regarding plans we made when I come on home with her."

"She? Oh no, Young Man... Oh no indeed. Are you sure that is wise with an aelenvari? I know they like swarming the good-looking men like me," Brewbrt jokes, his free hand waving and trailing along what I have a feeling might be a well-built body. His suit is way too tight for anything slimmer.

"No... No, Rose-sweerui was quite fine with her. Besides, the friend I am going to see did not seem to like me like she does. Though, to be honest. Aelenvari are tiring and I wish sometimes she did not claim her affection."

"You'd rather be alone?" Brewbrt asks, his brow rising.

"N-No... I just don't want to be constantly pestered by someone saying she loves me when I haven't known her for long." I explain, sighing what frustration I can.

"That's aelenvari for you," he tells me in a knowing tone. Possibly having dealt with a situation like this before.

"So is there a Founding-Lady of this town? While the topic of love is relevant." I ask, eager to move the topic off of Rose-sweerui in case she comes in looking for me. I've already seen how easily she can be set off by a misunderstanding. Don't want another case of it.

"No, not anymore anyhow. We got divorced fifty or so years ago," he explains, his eyes going to the usual finger. His gaze clearly lingers on the distortions that have scarred its shape. A promise made before the gods and it is gone. Motrtha, specifically.

"How long were you married?"

"Oh, two-hundred years, give or take. Some of the best years of my life, it was just a shame her family came first. I also had to go south to visit a friend for something -very- important," he clarifies, and Einervaene strikes across my thoughts. While fifty years isn't all that long of a time, given how strange age circumstances are in this land... Gods above, this is confusing. But, I have to wonder if Einervaene is related here.

"Why did you get divorced, if you don't mind me asking?" I find myself wanting to ask.

"Outside of my travel needs, which I just mentioned. Bad timing, I suppose. Something happened back home with her far-off family. As she came from a mountain-state and has that stone-rich blood, as they say... We both felt it was best that our marital bond didn't get in the way. She kept in contact with her family for a long time, but I was always a mysterious figure to them."

"Wow... That's a personal question. I am now realising... Sorry." I let out, rubbing the back of my head and stepping back a slight step. He shakes his head and chuckles.

"Don't be. It's nice to speak to someone interested. Speaking of, you got any plans for starting a family?" he asks, his cane's tip swatting at the bracelet I got from Motrtha. Guess he saw it just now, before my arm slinked back under the cloak.

"Uh, no. No, I don't. And I don't think I ever will at this rate..." I let out with a deep sadness. My current state as an osibindah has made me a monster. No family can be made when I look like this, when -I am- this. Thankfully, he seems to think something else on my mind is bothering me.

"Don't speak like that. You'll be around for hundreds of years if you play your cards right, Young Man. In fact, why not go to the temple? I'll let you borrow my keys so you can get some privacy with Motrtha's shrine. I know it does me some good if I am feeling like I had just rolled down from the highest peak. To go and visit the temple, anyway, my problems aren't really motherhood after all!"

"Is the temple even open?" I ask rather stupidly, my claw already fantasying the jingle of the keys.

"All hours of the day and night. Not staffed by the priests all the time, but I did not think it right to let people in need go without help. Men sleep, but the gods do not," he clarifies and I nod along. A laugh almost coming out of my system. If only he knew.

"That... That would be nice, thank you." I say, letting a small smile form on my weird lips. Strange as it is, being able to do something as familiar as going to a temple to pray is nice. Maybe, given my circumstances, I will even get the chance to speak to them all again. Gods and goddesses, if that is possible.

The keys flash in his hands and he stops himself from chucking them.

"Oh! Shit... Right. Someone came to me a little earlier, an Einervaene... Bosphama?"

"Einervaene is here!?" Brewbrt almost shouts, his body snapping to attention.

"Yeah." I answer, his face suddenly up near mine.

"Where is she now? Never mind the length of the journey, I've heard of what happened to the ferry." he asks, his voice a mixture of relief and worry that his body is otherwise not letting show.

"She crashed through the window of our room, somehow. Broke the wall a bit and burnt the carpet and floor..." I explain, going quiet as my previous worries return. Brewbrt leans back and blinks. He sniffs the air and possibly picks up on the trace remnants of smoke. Huh, he lets out.

He sighs into a huffing laugh, "Well, at least it was a guest room."

"She's having a bath now with Rose-sweerui, or, well, that is what they were doing when I left." I explain, possibly preventing any speeding off and an awkward conversation.

"I see. Well, I'll inspect the damage in the morning when you lot are up and about. Thank you for telling me she got here safely. The journey to and back from Eusorochii is not a short one in the slightest. I've been trying to help her and her mother for a while. Would've been... Would've been a real tragedy if something bad was to happen to her when she was alone."

"Only bad thing that seemed to have happened was her being completely filthy. So she is likely enjoying that bath, at the very least."

"I'm sure she is after having spent so many years at sea." he breathes, eyes wide in remembrance of the journey he seems to have taken himself.

"It took her years to get here?" I ask, my bafflement coming out in force, and I have a feeling I heard this from Einervaene before. Even with how much I have travelled myself since first leaving Tobaballe... It can't possibly have been more than a few months, right?

How far away is this 'Eusorochii' place? Or is the journey just that complicated? Was it not all that smooth of one throughout on top of the ferry incident? I guess I can ask her later if she is willing.

"Oh, very much so. Her homeland is very far away and very high up in a way I am sure will leave you awestruck. Never mind the Water-Veins and the Lowlands, the Fallen Colonies and all that. Gods above, she must've felt like an Errakurd going that deep into the earth when she got onto the final ferry," he tells me with a dry laugh. I follow after his amusement, even though I have no idea what most of that information means. What's an Errakurd?

Oddly enough, the noises of the word sound almost Tobaballian, or at least something similar. Here we are talking about absurdly long journeys and the world is smaller than it seems. How odd it sounds so familiar. How very odd.

"Well, I will see you later then, Brewbrt. I hope we don't overstay our welcome." I tell the Founding-Lord, taking the keys properly.

"Don't worry Young Man. Just focus on getting your head in order and move on when you are able! But for me, I'll be going to sleep soon. Knowing Einervaene is alright has taken away that which is keeping me up," he encourages, his smile depressing while a hand pats over his heart.

"I'll be sure to do that, then." I nod out, walking away slightly.

"Oh, one last thing while you are here. The servants are serving breakfast for as long as the orbital-halo ain't nearing its peak. So sleep in if you want. I am sure a good rest is something you will enjoy." he explains, and I ignore my thoughts about trouble sleeping.

"What if I sleep past that timeframe?" I ask back, trying to keep my tone joyful.

"Eat twice as much for lunch!" the old man laughs out, his restarted journey taking him back up the stairs. The distant tapping of his cane carries on for quite some time, even after his footsteps vanish from hearing distance. Once he is gone, it is truly just me. I am standing here alone in this vast chamber of an entrance with a key to the town temple.

Rattling it in my claw, it forms a gentle fist.