"You can stay in that room and eat, but all other things you will need to take care of by yourself," Ichela said softly.

Daubutim nodded, noting the woman's slightly apologetic tone. He wondered why she seemed to feel she was wrong. They were getting a lot of things for free already.

"Serious? We can't even get a small stipend?" Indoutor grunted.

Ichela's eyes narrowed, and Daubutim quickly turned to his cousin. "Quiet. Be grateful for what we are getting," he said before turning back and nodding at Ichela." Thank you. We will find a way to earn soulshards."

Ichela smiled, then began pulling her braid, her eyes deep in thought. It took a few moments, where Daubutim calmly waited. After a few moments, she sighed and leaned forward.

"You could try to do what your friend, Greldo, was doing. You don't have a fullhand yet, meaning you would fight only the weakest of the serfs," she whispered. "Just make sure the guards don't find out, as it's considered illegal. They don't really act on it, though, as long as things stay calm."

Daubutim nodded, forcing a smile on his face. He had no plans of participating in any illegal underground bouts, especially not with Hult and Uxin'tar still on the loose. Besides, he already had something else on his mind.

"Thank you, but I think I'm going to try something else," he said. "Instead, perhaps you can tell me how I can get permission to join the entrance exam for the junior librarians?"

Ichela's eyes widened, and she began yanking her braid. "Do you have any idea what you will have to do there? To succeed, you need to read and memorize a dozen books in a day. And no easy ones!"

Daubutim felt a tiny bit of joy at his condition for the first time in his life, and he smiled. "I have a good memory. Do you know of a way for me to join? I've heard they sometimes make exceptions and let serfs join?"

Ichela remained quiet as she stared at him for a while, then she sighed deeply.

"Yes. If you can get a citizen to vouch for you and sign a writ guaranteeing that they will secure your living expenses for the duration of one year."

Daubutim's smile slipped as he felt a dullness encroach from the sides of his consciousness. He knew that most citizens had a hard enough time guaranteeing their own living expenses for a year, and if they had anything extra would save it for a rainy day. Besides, why would someone opt to risk this for someone they don't know?

"Would me being housed in the Smith charter count?" he asked.

Ichela instantly shook her head sadly. "No, because the charter has rules against signing any writs like that.

Just another problem to solve, Daubutim thought as he felt his mind grow muddled as another problem cropped up.

He forced himself to focus on Ichela, sending her a tiny smile. "How much soulshards would I need to pay my living expenses for a year?"

"If you want to pay someone to sign the writ, that's not uncommon. Usually, it's five soulshards per day, meaning you will need thirteen hundred seventy-five soulshards."

Two hundred and seventy-five days in a year? Daubutim thought, his muddled mind still able to provide the answer even though the staggering number caused his face to fall. Even then, he still managed a tiny bit of surprise. He hadn't realized that there might be different amounts of days in a year in another world.

"Why do you want to go there anyway?" Indoutor suddenly grunted.

Daubutim looked up, his muddled mind causing him to automatically answer before he could stop himself.

"Librarian assistants are uplifted to citizens and gain a hundred and fifty soulshards per full moon stipend. And-"

He caught himself just in time from adding the second and more important reason. Librarian assistants were allowed into the closed section of the library, and he might be able to get information on the shattering.

Indoutor snorted, but Daubutim saw a twinkle in his older cousin's eye for a moment. Before he could come up with a reaction, Indoutor leaned against the desk.

"What's the best way to earn that many soulshards?" he asked.

Ichela's eyes narrowed as she looked back at the burly man. "The best way or the fastest way?" she asked.

“Fastest,” Indoutor said.

"Go into one of the monster-infested hubworlds and kill monsters for them," Ichela said slowly. "But doing so without being heartcarded is suicide."

Daubutim saw Indoutor's eyes narrow.

"Alright, and safest?" he asked.

"Go inside a mining world and sign up with a company there."

"And how long would that take?"

Ichela sighed, and she shrugged. "If you are unlucky? Decades. But if you can find a nice ore vein or crystal deposit? Much, much faster. The thing is, many luck seekers try this, and most never find anything."

Indoutor nodded before turning to Daubutim.

"Let's go back to our room for a bit," he grunted before leaving without as much as a world of thanks to Ichela.

Daubutim stared after him, his face blank before he turned to the amethyst-ranked smith who was glaring at Indoutor's back.

"Thank you," he said as he inclined his head.

Ichela's glare vanished as she looked at him with a smile. "It's alright. I promised Irwin to keep an eye on his friends, though, if I'd known that lummox was one of them…"

Her gaze drifted to Indoutor, who left through the door.

"I will be sure to tell Irwin how well you took care of us," Daubutim said.

"Thanks! You shouldn't do anything hasty. He should be back in a few months and will probably be able to get you into the library then," Ichela said with a smile.

"Months?" Daubutim asked as his eyes widened. He did some quick calculations based on the trip to the other world and shook his head in confusion. "Shouldn't he be back next week?"

"What? No, no. The trip to the Scour portal is a week there and back, then roughly two weeks through the portal. Add probably a day or two inside, depending on how many years he stays, and when he comes out, he will need to sell what he found to the merchants after giving the Smith Guild its cut. Due to how busy those are, it could take another few weeks," Ichela said as she began raising some fingers. "I'd say the fastest would be two months, and if he is in bad luck or the travel through the portal has issues, it might be up to six."

Daubutim felt his mind fuzz over, and he barely managed to croak a forced thank you before turning and heading towards the door. He vaguely heard Ichela say something behind him, but by then, all he heard was a dull roaring.

Focus, focus, focus, a tiny part of him chanted as he headed to their room.

Everything was blurry, and when he finally came back to himself, it was because Indoutor had shouted something.

"What?" he muttered, noticing he was sitting on his back, staring at the dusty ground.

"By Gelwin's beard, have you finally snapped out of it?" Indoutor snarled, staring at him from the other side of the room. "What is wrong with you now?"

Daubutim tried to recall what had happened until now, but all he got were jumbled memories.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I lost it again, he thought as he took a deep breath, calming himself and forcing his face to return to its normal placid look.

"We need to find a way to save as many people from Giard before it shatters," he said, forcing his mind away from trying to come up with any solutions lest he became catatonic again.

"What are you talking about? Isn't that what Irwin is working on? I thought you wanted to join that library to get information or something?"

Daubutim stared at his cousin, slightly surprised the other had managed to deduce his real reasoning.

"Irwin will be gone between two and six months," he said calmly, cousin Indoutor to jolt upright.

"What?" Why? What was all that fuss about him going to that world about then?"

"Traveling there and through the portal will take too much time. We can't wait for him. Based on what we know, it's already odd that Giard hasn't shattered yet. I need to get into that library and find out what we can do."

Indoutor glared at him, then leaned back. "This is so bloody ridiculous. First, I get sent to that stupid tower, losing out on- Dammit! And now this? Is it too much to ask just to live my life in luxury?" he grunted as he clenched his hands into fists repeatedly as if he were crushing something.

Daubutim gazed at him coolly. "If we can't find a way to save our world or the people on it, I want to head back. Perhaps I can find my father and my brothers."

"Yeah… go back to a world that is going to explode? I don't think so…" Indoutor looked around the room, and he gnashed his teeth. "But I'll be damned if I live like a serf until I die! Fine. I guess we only have one option then."

Daubutim gazed at him, his mind suddenly spinning as he tried to determine what option he had missed.

"What? Didn't come up with it, you oddball?" Indoutor said. "We need to find Uxin'tar and go to one of those monster worlds. If there's one person I know who can probably kill them by the dozens, it's that ancient piece of leather."

Daubutim stared at his cousin as he recalled the things he'd seen Uxin'tar do. Besides decimating those dragons when they reached the Coulwater tower, he had also come here and escaped from a dozen, heart-carded, after which he was still somehow staying out of the hands of the guards. Quickly some issues with the plan came to him.

"Will he even be able to enter through a portal to get there?" he asked. "They will likely detain him. Also, how are we going to find him?"

"It's always about problems with you, isn't it?" Indoutor snapped. "I have no idea how to get him there, but finding him? That should be simple enough. Let's go."

Daubutim slowly rose and followed Indoutor, wondering what his cousin was up to.

--

"You have some awesome cards," Yogog said as he slapped Irwin on the back before letting out a bark. "Do all of them have body improvement aspects or something? Most normal heart-carded don't have this much strength!"

Irwin grinned back, feeling incredibly elated as he leaned back in the wagon.

"All but my hammer," he said as he grinned back.

"You are one odd smith," Balarn said as he shook his head. "If you continue like this, you could probably become a mercenary."

Yogog laughed uproariously and took a sip of the flask he seemed to have gotten from Tragt for his help in fighting off the Screequanox on his side.

Irwin sighed as he rolled his slightly tense shoulders. He wasn't planning on becoming a mercenary, but as he thought about his future cards, he knew that he was likely going to continue striving to get cards that would increase his power.

I'll need to get some card that increases my movement soon, he thought as he thought back to his recent fights—especially the one with Hult, who had taught him that he had a lot of glaring weaknesses.

"By Gelwin, you reek," Greldo muttered from next to him.

Irwin took a sniff of his arm and grimaced. His friend was right, but it wasn't just him.

Yogog, Ignalia, Hotzli, and he were covered in thick, disgusting blood, causing a bloody air to permeate the wagon. Looking at the others, he wondered how people here showered if water was so precious. Probably a very expensive bathing house?

The wagon continued gliding through the black pillars.

During the next few hours, they encountered two more groups of Screequanoxes, and these times, Irwin remained in the wagon while Yogog and Hotzli guarded one side of the wagon. Now that he wasn't fighting, he could fully appreciate the fluid and well-trained guards as they made short work of the incoming monsters. Only at the end of the second encounter did he himself see some action, as one of the Screequanoxs managed to rush towards the wagon behind them. With only one guard who let out some cries for help, Irwin rushed in, battering the massive creature to the ground.

Still, when the light of dawn began appearing, the caravan quietly glided into a small walled area. A building with two towers stood on one end, and a dozen Viridians stood there with bags and packs to the side.

"Tragt, you are late, you old root!" a large viridian with yellow and brown leaves and a coarse bark skin shouted.

The towering leader of their caravan moved to him, saying something that Irwin didn't hear.

"We will probably be resting here until tomorrow evening," Balarn said as he got up, cracking his back.

There was a round of weary sighs while everyone got out and prepared themselves for another round of sleeping while the sun was out. Irwin surprised himself by managing a proper rest, and when he woke, the sun was slinking back down.

When they left, their wagons were packed with even more people and luggage.

The next few days passed by. They had to deal with a few more attacks, but between the guards and Yogog, there was little trouble. As they picked up more and more people, some with their own gliding wagons, their caravan grew until it was twice the size it had been when they left Chark by the time they sailed out from between the massive forest of black stone pillars.

"Finally, I can see something again," Greldo exclaimed as he rose and looked around. Although it was evening, the moons and stars were providing enough light for most people to be able to see across the vast stretches of ruddy, sandy hills.

"Don't be too happy," a guard who walked beside the wagon shouted. "We need to pass through the Firespark desert now, and it might take days before we find a suitable windriver."

Windriver? Irwin thought.

"Windriver?" Greldo asked, echoing him.

"Offworlders, you really know nothing," the Viridian muttered. "To get from here to the Cinder Grove at this speed would take months! What we need is a wind river, one of the many powerful currents that blow through the desert. The Teinefola will be able to drag us across it all the way to the equator grove. From there, it will be a short journey to Cinder Grove City.

"So, what kind of trouble can we expect?" Greldo replied, easy-going as he leaned over the wagon, staring at the guard.

Irwin watched the two interact in wonder. As closed off as the guard seemed to be, somehow Greldo had managed to get onto pretty good ground with many of the guards, and he snorted as he continued.

"Firespark storms and clouds of Emberions," the guard said seriously. "Especially those Emberion clouds are dangerous. We should be fine because they normally never move about during the night, but it's not unheard of that they attack traveling caravans."

"What are they?" Greldo asked.

"Tiny little fire elemental monsters the size of a grain of sand that roam about in massive groups, eating anything they find," the guard said. "We have scorchers to keep them away, but even then-"

"Stop scaring those simians," another guard grunted. "It barely ever happens, and you know it."

Simians? Irwin thought, wondering what they meant by that.

The first guard smirked. "Just making sure they know how lucky they are. They don't have to travel around by themselves."

Irwin stopped listening as the discussion slowly revolved into an argument.

"You need to get me a good fire-resistance card," Greldo muttered.

"We will buy a good common in the city, and I'll reforge it for you," Irwin agreed.

A soft yawn from his pocket caused him to look down in surprise.

"Ambraz?" he asked.

"What? Can't you just let me wake up in peace and quiet?" a rough voice snapped from his pocket. "Do you have any idea how tiresome the last week has been?"

Irwin grinned as the tiny anvil forced its way out of his pocket before stopping. Even without eyes, he could imagine Ambraz looking around.

"We are here already!?" Ambraz shouted, shooting up and hovering around a dozen feet above Irwin's head.

"You slept for a week," Irwin said when the anvil landed back on his shoulder.

"Guess I was more drained than I had thought," Ambraz said, sounding annoyed. "Whatever. So, this is Scour… I've never been here before, but I can feel how far we are from the Portal Gallery. No wonder the time dislocation is so strong here!"

Irwin nodded, but his attention was drawn by Monyque, who was staring at Ambraz with gleaming eyes.

"What are you looking at, punk?" Ambraz snapped as he hovered towards her.

Monyque blinked in surprise, then shook her head quickly.

"Nothing, mighty Anvil of the Gods. I was just admiring you," she said, staring at him intently.

There was a moment of silence before Ambraz snorted.

"Empty words. Don't even think I'll pick you over, Irwin," he snapped.

Still, Irwin noticed the air of superiority that suddenly hung around the anvil.

"I wouldn't dare," Monyque said, shaking her head. "But… perhaps you could see if any of your esteemed brothers or sisters would be interested in leaving Granvox?"

Monyque's eyes were twinkling, and she quickly continued. "My family would be willing to provide you with a reward, and we could promise two quartz cards for any mighty Anvil of the-"

"Bah," Ambraz snorted. "Let me stop you right there, brat. I've not been back home in hundreds of years, and I have no idea what the current situation is there! Besides, how do you suppose I even contact them?"

Irwin saw that Monyque's eyes remained glittering, and nothing about her seemed dissuaded.

"I am more than willing to wait until we return, and my family is able to pay for a mental connection soulcarded to connect you to someone on your world's Gallery Portal dock!"

Irwin saw Ambraz's mouth turn to a thin slit, and he was almost sure the anvil was going to decline. Then Ambraz sighed.

"You know what? I'll think about it. Ask me again a few days before we leave."

Monyque nodded vigorously. "Thank you, mighty Anvil of the Gods!"

"Yes, yes, stop sucking up to me!' Ambraz said, but as he landed back on Irwin's shoulder, he almost seemed to preen.

As the others returned to their conversations, Irwin leaned his head closer to Ambraz.

"Do you think another of your kind would actually come here?" he asked, curious.

"No," Ambraz whispered instantly. "But don't tell little miss moneybags that. Having a soulcarded connecting me to my world is ridiculously expensive, but it would be very good for us! Depending on your growth, we might be able to be allowed through the portal back home!"

Irwin stared at Ambraz, who was grinning widely.

Alright, and why would that be good for me? he wondered. After they were done here, he had to go back and save his family and hopefully the rest! He had no time to go traveling around! Still noting how happy Ambraz was, he decided to let it rest for now.

One and a half days later, they were deep inside the Firespark desert. They had to sleep in large tents that heated up immensely during the day. The Viridians, used to this heat, managed to sleep, but from the offworlders, only a handful managed even a moment's rest.

Deep in the second night of their journey through the desert, the lead wagon began slowing down.

"Firespark storm! Setup the tents," Tragt roared.