The train only takes a short time to approach the next stop. The station is the same as the last. A few people exit the train, but nobody boards, and soon, we're back to moving hundreds of miles an hour. The Finsal Mountains come into view a few minutes later.

If the Spine could easily touch the clouds, then the Finsal mountains must touch the stars. They're so large they cast a shadow dozens of miles long, and no light reaches the bottom. However, as awe-inspiring the sight is, it's nothing I haven't seen before.

The train enters the shadow of the mountains, and my eyes focus on one in particular. Along the long line, one sticks out like a sore thumb, slightly disconnected from the rest. Even from here, you can see the lines carved into it from mining.

"Something special about that one," Zack says, motioning toward it.

I frown, "It was my fathers." I'm not looking at them, but I can feel their gaze. But they won't get a peep out of me. If they don't want to answer my questions, I won't answer theirs.

Hearon sighs, "Very well. A question for a question. I believe you wanted to know who I am?" I look away from the lone mountain, unable to place how I feel after seeing it. I nod.

Azu and Zack shake their head at him, but Hearon ignores them, "My name is Hearon Dike. I'm forty-six and the leader of this group. As you know, I am a life Siphon. My wife died six years ago in a job-related accident, and I'm an only father to my eight-year-old son." He says nothing more.

That's smart. He knows I want answers to where I'm going but won't or can't give it to me. So instead, he told me about himself, which was my original question. That's fair.

I look back at the mountain. I open my mouth, but the speakers above us crackle to life, "Attention, passengers, this is your captain speaking. We are about to enter Finsal. We will slow the train down to accommodate the steep turns and climbs. We ask all passengers to remain in their cars until we reach the Wall of Marks. The estimated time is one hour." There is a ding, and the silence returns.

Hearon nods for me to continue as the train slows. "My father owned the largest P-core mining operation in the entire region. However, one day, the main mine collapsed as he visited, killing him instantly. My father didn't trust the banks, so he kept all our money, bonds, and permits in the house in a fireproof safe." I chuckle, "That safe did nothing when the Neo core exploded. Vaporized instantly. Thanks to that, I lost my right to the mine, and it was sold off to another tycoon." I shrug, "So I had to leave."

Hearon ran his fingers through his beard. Zack and Azu share a glance before Zack turns to me, "I didn't know that Planetary cores were mined from the mountains."

I shrug again, "Most people don't. And no one I've talked to knows how or why the cores only exist in these mountains. I don't think too hard about it. All it does is create more questions."

Zack goes silent again and looks back out at the window. Azu hums in thought before she speaks, "You said it vaporized your entire home?"

"Yeah? Why?"

"See, that is not how those explosions work. They do not vaporize. They position, affecting anything living, but do not interact with inorganic matter."

I shrug, "This one did. Left a huge crater in the ground."

Azu looks out the window, her eyebrows furrowed, and silence follows as we make our way through Finsal. Much of it is in darkness, thanks to how tall the mountains are. Every now and then, I'll see a fire in the distance or a light shining. Probably prospectors looking for platinum or surveyors looking for the next mountain to mine for P-cores. I've never been too Igneous, but I've heard the stories.

Roads made out of gems, houses built directly into a mountain-sized ruby. All kinds of rumors spread about that place. The only thing I know for a fact is that it's a military city. I don't know exactly what that means, but I guess I'll find out today.

More than an hour passes before the speakers crackle to life, "We will be arriving at the wall of Marks shortly. All passengers, please have your tickets and bags in hand for inspection."

"Inspection?" I ask, glancing at my sword.

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Azu shakes her head, "There is no need to worry. Weapons are allowed on the train. Just try not to act nervous." I nod and look out the window. We turn around a mountain, and I see the wall. It's hard the miss, considering it's as tall as the Spine. Light penetrates the mountain tops and shines down, illuminating it. Like everything else, the wall is so tall it goes into the clouds. The outside is made of shiny black rock that almost looks like obsidian. I feel my jaw drop as I look at it. This wall makes me feel like an insignificant ant. I can see a light coming from a cutout every few hundred feet. It looks small from where I am, but those must be at least a dozen feet tall or more.

The train glides up to a massive gate. It must be at least fifty to sixty feet tall and several dozen feet wide. It would be pitch dark if it weren't for the various torches lining the gate. The train stops at a small station, much different from the simple ones in Calypso. This one is made out of the same shiny stone as the walls. It's maybe fifty feet long, and every few feet is a small box. I can see arrows peaking out from small holes in the box. There is no ticket booth, only a few benches.

Aside from that, the station is filled with men in chainmail armor. Each carries a sword with black letters engraved into the silver blade. One such man boards our car, "Tickets and bags, please." The only other two people comply, and Hearon takes our tickets. The man approaches us and eyes my sword and Zack's wrapped spear. We don't say anything as he checks our tickets. He nods and hands them back before exiting the car.

I hear a deep rumble and look out the window to see the massive gates open. The train glides forward as the gates shut behind us with a bang.

All three of my traveling companies let out a relieved sigh, "I swear, every time I come here, it feels like they want to pick a fight." Zack says, shaking his head.

"Agreed," Hearon replies. Azu remains quiet.

I'm unsure what I expected once we made it past the wall. Something extravagant, maybe? But it was surprisingly simple. There was an enormous mountain in front of us. Carved into the side were thousands of houses—all pretty much the same. A river ran by the bottom, and a large town lay at its banks. In every direction, you can see the wall. It looks to be supported by mountains at each end, almost in a circle-like formation. The mountains have been carved to be completely smooth, like massive pillars.

The sunlight lit up the entire area, quite a difference from the dark shadows outside the city. I crane my neck to look at the central mountain. The mountain's peak looks to be made out of some kind of red gem. It sparkles in the sunlight. All over the tall cliffs, various airships can be seen docked. Unlike the ones at Calypso, these were large metal ships with several canons. Warships. Calypso has a few, but dozens must be docked over the mountain. I had heard Ignious was a military city, but I had no idea it was so... vast.

"Ah Igneous. They have quite the impressive fleet." Hearon says, his eyes flickering over the mountain. I nod. Apparently, Igneous is also home to the five Titan class warships. I've never seen one in person, but apparently, one of those could decimate all of Calypso.

The train glides across the small plains between the wall and the central mountain. Several farms occupy this area. People working in the fields wave at the train as we move past them. It's peaceful here.

We come to a stop at a station that's a mile or so away from the city. "This is our stop," Hearon says, getting up. We follow him as we leave the train. Unsurprisingly, it's somewhat chilly. Being in the middle of a massive mountain range will do that. The station we step into isn't much different from the other ones. The wood is darker, and the ticket booth has bars blocking anyone from trying to force their way in. I look around, not sure what to look for.

Zack taps my shoulder with the tip of his spear, "This way," he says, pointing toward a mountain to the city's left. It's one of the mountains that act as a pillar for the wall. It's probably half a day's walk. I groan inwardly. I wanted to explore the city. Guess that's not gonna happen.

We walk in silence. Works for me. I'm tired of them poking their nose in my past. As I guessed, approaching the mountain's base takes us roughly four hours. By this time, the clouds had cleared, and I could see the peaks of the mountains.

"What is that?" I ask, pointing at the top of our current destination. It looks like some kind of art sculpture. I can't tell the shape from here, but it's enormous and shiny.

"That's the Greatbow of Zacarious, God slayer," Zack says, looking up.

"Woah." Zacarious. I read about him in a book once. The legendary blacksmith who lived a few thousand years ago. He created the strongest weapons known to man. I actually used one of them a few months ago. It was one hell of an experience. If I remember correctly, there were five weapons coveted by anyone who had any interest in combat. A Warhammer, Bow, shield, sword... I can't remember the last one. Was it a set of gauntlets? Hearon nudges me to move forward before I can get too deep into my thoughts.

"Almost there."

I look back up at the shape. Hopefully, I'll get to come back and take a closer look at it. We start to walk to the entrance. It's a large door not unlike the one at the wall and is guarded by a dozen or so men. However, my group takes a sharp turn, walking parallel to the mountain. I look at them, confused, but they say nothing.

A few minutes later, we stop at a perfectly smooth wall, and Zack taps it repeatedly. I hear a slight rumble as a door a few feet taller than me opens. I peer inside to see a long row of torches descend into the darkness, illuminating a set of stairs.

Zack lets out a long sigh, "Almost home."

"Indeed," Hearon replies as he moves first. I follow hesitantly, unsure what I'll find at the bottom of these stairs.