The next morning, I get to enjoy a nice cup of coffee and listen to a radio playing in the bar… I honestly couldn’t tell you what’s playing I think it’s some sort of propaganda about their government but I just couldn’t help but be a bit giddy at the idea of the radio being a household item here. My breakfast is interrupted by the same worker from last night coming up looking a bit nervous at the urging of the bar maid from before.

He nervously rubs the back of his head and scrunches a bit. “Sorry for uh interrupting sir. Just uh I’d like to apologise… I thought you were trying to put us through a runner and didn’t expect you to have actual gold laying about… The last alchemist that came through could make that fools gold stuff and we-“ He gets a small smack from the barmaid. “I was worried that you’d be trying to cheat us like he did the last rat… Last night we kept watch of the coins you gave us and they didn’t turn back to stone or nothin so I felt I should apologize for the behavior before…” His head lightly slumps. I look over at Zig who is carefully examining the man before us.

“Apology accepted, now you wouldn’t happen to know where I can convert some of it for local money do you? I can’t exactly pay for a train ticket in gold coins haha.” He seems to look up and smile at that. Relaxing a bit now that I’m making jokes with him instead of stilling the air like last night.

“Well, I’m sure Beth here can lighten you load a bit.” The heavy man gestures back to the bar maid… Oh I guess she’s probably also the owner then. I guess I should have made that connection last night. Exchanging some money doesn’t take long and we end up on a train heading west with a waylay station not far out from there for southeast city.

Packing up our bag and getting comfortable in the compartment I settle down with a book in front of me as Zig turns the pages. As the train starts up and we head off to the start of our new life I can’t help but feel something… bad?

“My lord? Do you sssenssse that too?” He’s looking towards the west angled down. He is slightly more sensitive than I am to Chi somehow even though he doesn’t have skills helping him, I should really train that more. The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach slowly deepens as I feel the curdling presence below our feet… It’s like a roiling mass of tar Chi, I’ve never felt a Chi like this before… It’s wrong like it’s very existence shouldn’t happen.

“Yes, I do… Hah we are going to have to fix that aren’t we? Oh well, even with some sort of eldritch abomination underneath it’s crust, this place is still more comfortable than Xing.” Zig seems a bit annoyed by that comment, but with a grunt we both try to ignore the presence below us for now.

The feeling deepens the closer we get to the west, but it seems to slow down. By the time we stop it barely gets stronger the closer we get to their capital Central. Exiting the train, I’m shocked by just how advanced this place is. The streets are paved, there are lamp posts along the sidewalk. Cars driving by on the road, still somewhat rare enough that there isn’t any traffic but not uncommon.

“Lord, why are they riding in that? Why not just walk or train? The town isssn’t that big. They are a potential threat.” Zig points off at a car passing by. Inside I can clearly see the blue military uniform of several officers driving by.

“-sigh- it’s a matter of convenience and expediency. If you notice most of the people here aren’t exactly fit to our standards. Most of their military should be composed of gunmen and alchemists. At least that’s what I’d do with their supplies. Front line fighters like us will be rare within a military. They also have many other positions that don’t require fighting within their ranks and those people need a means of transportation while they work or communicate with others.” He nods but keeps track of every car that gets within sight. Like he’s waiting for it to veer towards us suddenly in an assassination attempt.

After exploring the town for a while and visiting all the small shops that I could having Zig carry some of my new curios in the bag that’s slowly getting bulkier we make our way into the foreign affairs office.

The person at the front desk looks up at us then frowns.

“Are you two lost?” They seem almost annoyed that we have to bother them.

“No, we were hoping to pay for visas to stay within this country. We crossed through the desert to the east so had no chance to acquire one through legal means. When we arrived the town was too small to have an office like this one.” The receptionist grunts in annoyance before standing up.

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“Well, follow along. I’m going to need payment upfront then pictures of both of ya without any masks on. You’re lucky we never have anyone coming in on this side of the country. Typically getting a Visa is a long process that takes time and inspections along with tests but I can’t be fucked dealing with that and the sooner I’m done with you the sooner I can get back to staring off into the distance.” Ooookay he clearly doesn’t like his job. But this works out for us.

We pay upfront and I get ready for my picture. “I’m going to need you to remove the covering on your eyes. It obscures your face enough that someone might pass off as you.” He yawns into his hand while waiting on me.

“I very much doubt that sir. I’m armless and eyeless.” That shocks him out of it. Then he gives me a long look before awkwardly setting the camera up and taking the picture. “Um sorry about that… I uh just assumed… I mean you were walking around so confidently and all. Just you know, uh how did It happen anyways? Ishvalin war?” He seems hesitant to ask but also curious enough that he asks anyways. While fumbling over the old style camera a little.

“No, and I’d rather not talk about it. Though I heard good things about the prosthetics of this country.” He smiles at being given an out.

“Prosthetics? Ah you probably mean automail, they are a bit hard to find but automail shops are dotted all around the country. They offer some of the best robotic limb services in the world. I’d recommend going to rush valley, it’s a small town to the west of here. Full to the brim with Automail engineers though they are a bit full of themselves, so their prices are the worst. Anyways, next photo!” Zig moves up next for the photo. “I’m gonna need you to take off the mask big guy. Also, what’s the name to be put on it?” Before Zig has a chance to talk, I speak up first. “Ziggles” I can’t help but laugh a little at the look on the guys face. Then Zig sighs before taking off his mask. The man nearly pisses himself when he sees that Zig has patches of scales and giant metallic teeth.

“W-w-well sir… please say uh cheese?” The flash happens then Zig immediately puts all the stuff back on. Likely annoyed at showing his face. His job as a guard trained him to be faceless and to not have any individuality, so having such stark features still annoys him even if they are useful.

I can see the question on the photographer’s tongue, so I speak up first. “It’s a genetic thing, runs in his family hence the mask.” Zig huffs in annoyance but the guy buys it, likely thinking about how the world sure is strange. After paying for our copy of the papers we are all finished up in this town.

We go out for lunch at a nice café overlooking a sort of towns square. It’s a nice view of the people as things move around… It’s nice seeing a productive society. They seem to be very militaristic; you can see it in the subtle movements of the people. Military are more frequent than other worlds I’ve been in and there is a large amount of deference to any that walk by. Also nearly every car that’s gone by seems to hold military rather than common civilians judging by their uniforms.

A man sets up a small podium in the town square and begins preaching… Perhaps gods are more interactive in this world? Something sort of like magic exists here afterall… I can hear his sermon from the café easily enough.

“All thee of the flock! I come to you bearing the message of the light god Leto! He shall deliver us from this world and help bring us to a higher realm of peace! Let us join in worship as his holy one has been chosen! As I speak in Reole the chosen emissary of the GRAND god LETO performs miracles never before seen! He is not limited by the pitiful rules that your alchemists are. Do you have a lost loved one? He can bring them back! Do you wish to see him turn a toy into life! He can create it with but a thought! Come, come all the true believers to Reole. Come join the flock and together we can make this world great for our god.” He seems to trail off and keep the message relatively the same.

It’s somewhat impressive he can yell the message so much… Perhaps I should check the place out. The miner from the last town mentioned that the state alchemist that they knew was heading towards Reole. It would be a good way to either make a connection with the local alchemists. This Archepriest of their faith may also just be a very skilled alchemist. I could certainly make new life and claim I brought back the dead though perhaps they have extensive knowledge of interconnective neuro paths? If I could get the copy of someones mind I suppose I could grow someone to have all the memories of someone else… but the soul is the main issue. Perhaps they have stumbled upon a method that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg haha….

“Lord… the café isss closssing. You’ve been ssstaring off in the dissstance for a while…” Zig concerned but knowing that I do this too often just lightly shakes me out of my thoughts.

“Alright, tomorrow we head for Reole, while I would like to go to this Rush Valley to perhaps get access to automail it sounds like there may be an alchemist heading there so we should probably hurry.” Zig nods and we find a small night hotel that takes last minute reservations.

The next morning heading off to the trainyard it looks like there are about 5 transfers if we want to go to Reole… hopefully we can meet with the Alchemist heading there.