I end my stare at the faraway storm locked in place and continue to the next car in the train, pushing open the door. The first person I find is one that I don't expect. Sitting upon a bench with his knee up and an arm over it is Tomas. His figure is smaller, and more diminutive compared to usual. Almost as if he's hiding from something.

His wounds appear mostly healed, yet he has his right arm bandaged and in a sling. The man looks out the window before noticing me, nodding as he speaks.

"Good job on what you did before. Without you buying me time to make it through the train, most would have died in the crash. And... I heard that you managed Painsforge."

I raise my eyebrow. Who told him? What? I haven't talked to anyone since I fell unconscious. Or did I?

"How did you know?"

Tomas laughs a tiny chuckle, pointing to my chest.

"I heard your heartbeat. Powerful indeed. A perfect combination for you. Though, you need to gain more mastery. It took me months before I could use it whenever I needed to, another six to make it quiet and still keep its potency for my espionage. Until you can turn it on and off as you will, you won't truly know it. And even then, all Dzils act differently for each user. Perhaps... yours will be even greater than Marshall's for raw potency. Regardless, however, good job. Few can ever use it even once. Most that try to learn it only manage it upon death. Now, it's you, Marshall, and me who have used it and lived..."

Tomas' voice trails off as his eyes flicker back to the storm, gazing out the window from before. His words make me think deeply about the skill. Marshall did say that simply using it once is not enough. Unlike many Dzils, Painsforge can be made easier to use. Namely, the more pain and agony one is in, the more manageable it is. The ceiling drops the closer one nears death, and it is dependent on the man to reach it without touching so closely to the Pale Lady's doorstep.

However, at least I can be confident now if I ever reach a threshold of pain at that level, I can use it again. Now, it's all about trying to bring that down to nothing like Tomas and finally making it my own.

Seeing that Tomas doesn't want to return to a conversation, his pupils locked firmly on the storm, I thank him and walk away. He's... he needs some time. His 'father' just died for him. I can only imagine he's in a similar state I was after Ma's death. Though, I forced down all that hurt and saved it to explode later. Even now, a bit of my insides ache at the thought.

Treading further through the train's interior, I find more recognizable faces. Primrose, Holt, and even Rich wave at me as I pass by. I return the greeting as I continue searching for the man I need right now. I open the train door and progress further as Rich's guitar thrums behind me. The pleasant sound vanishes the moment I enter the next car.

The inside of this car is loud, primarily due to the presence of four specific individuals. Sitting at a table with a plethora of cards in front of them are Bonfire, Clumsy, Frozen, and... Abraham. Shouts and hollers resound from them as a hand is dealt, though two empty seats are present, as if for their missing friends.

I continue, moving past Silas, who throws a ball up and down repeatedly, catching it with little effort. I ask the man the question I need answered.

"Is Johnny back as well?"

Silas nods, rolling the ball off his finger upward like a snapping of the fingers. The feat is effortless, and he does so while looking at me.

"Mhmm. Abraham got 'em both hours ago. Johnny found a cave that they fell asleep in, and he got them then."

I shake my head in understanding, watching Bonfire deal to his friends. It looks like they're playing another hand. Frozen won the last one, and Abraham lost badly. He lost so bad and with so much emotion that I almost want to go play right now to see it some more. I propose another question while things seem calm since they haven't noticed me yet.

"What about Earl? Where is he? I need to get this arm of mine fixed up."

Silas juts out his thumb, pointing back the way I came.

"At the front of the train. He is working with the conductor on something."

"Thanks!"

I spare him thanks as I then turn around, but before I take even a step toward the door, Bonfire recognizes me.

"Wyatt! Come join! We could use another!"

Twisting, I smile and wave over, looking to refuse, for now at least.

"I'll be back in a little while, so hold up for me!"

Bonfire gives me a thumbs-up and a nod. With his agreeance, I move back through the train, heading toward the front. Passing Holt, Rick, Primrose, and the medical car again, I soon reach the front.

The smell of smoke, burning coal, and, oddly, medicine perforates my nose as I open the door to the frontmost car. It is pretty spacious, with at the very end of the car an open furnace that is hungry for more fuel lies. Inside sits Elizabeth, Millie, and Johnny over a map on a table as they discuss something while Earl works in a basin of his own behind them. At the same time, a man shovels coal into the mouth of the furnace, causing a noisy roar of flame.

Immediately, Johnny notices me and motions me over.

"Ah, great, you're up! Come here! We're discussing plans for the train."

Curious, I step over for a second as I wave to Earl and point at the most significant dent on my arm. I can visibly see his annoyance, though it is slight, and he nods before tapping his watch. Understanding he wants me to wait, I concentrate on Johnny, Millie, and Elizabeth's discussion, with the man talking first.

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"The problem is that there aren't many tracks available for the Steam Train. The thing's only been in service half a decade, after all, and there is only one. Either we take the road all the way to Pridestead in Timberlands that eventually veers back to Blackreach and ultimately Onyx Gate, or we stop at the station in Hardrock coming up in a few hours to turn around and try to brave the storm to head straight to Blackreach."

I see Elizabeth's brows furrow as she ponders intensely while Millie speaks her mind. I don't know anything about all this, so I try to take it all in without butting in with a stupid idea.

"Hmm... that means it's either we take two weeks to reach Blackreach and potentially meet Eli or Clarence, who should be in Timberlands, or we try to brave that storm again that's only gotten worse and make it to Blackreach in a few days. Tough options. Though, we could also ditch the train."

Elizabeth shakes her head at Millie's last thought before waving her hand toward the back of the train.

"We have too many supplies, weapons, and wounded to lug it all through hundreds of miles of forest, hills, and plains to reach Blackreach. It's not even a safety issue; it'd just take too long and eat up too much food."

Finally, Earl pitches in with his mind as he works on something in the back.

"We could wait for the storm to end. How long could it take to end? A day? Two?"

Johnny laughs, articulating Marshall's power.

"No, Earl. That storm will last way longer than that. I'd be surprised if it died out sooner than fifty years. At the center of it is a growing Crossroad, the Ether swirling with such force that soon Otherplanars should start peeking through."

"Oh..."

That is the only reply Earl has as he continues to work in the back. Damn. Years? Did Marshall make a Crossroad that will last for years? Aniwye's lasted a while, too, but I don't think it was years. Or was it? I don't quite remember. Maybe it would have lasted longer without that fight with the other Angel she had? Not sure.

Johnny continues a bit, trailing his finger over the map.

"We could split up? Send a few to investigate Blackreach and have them meet up with us before we enter. I have a feeling some shit is about to go down, and it's best if we know what we're walking into. Regardless, our goal is to meet up with Edward and his revolution, right, Millie?"

Millie nods, agreeing with Johnny as she taps a northeastern section of Blackreach.

"Yup. Tomas said he no longer cares about the Hunters, and I quote, 'They can all go to hell.' If the newly risen General is with you, so are the rest of us. Though, we have to be careful. We have no Virtues or figures who can stand up to one like Marshall could. Best if we stay out of Arkhen in Timberlands, the temple Green Hallows, and the entirety of Lawless Lake to not attract their ire. Even Pridestead is risky, seeing as one of Weiss' biggest laboratories is there."

Earl twists his head oddly as the man throws something from his bag onto the table. It's a newspaper that unfurls and releases some words for us to read. My eyes are drawn to the most prominent letters.

Ed Summers stripped of Demonsbane for his support of the Bloodied Hand?

The article heading gets a gasp from everyone, including Elizabeth, who has been learning to read the past few months, and I read further.

The Hallowed One is said to have lost the greatest Lumen by the return of the Prime! Eli Weiss confirms the news, saying, 'He is supporting a tyrant!' What will happen to Green Hallows? Is Ed Summers entering Blackreach to aid the Bloodied Beast, Edward Dudley? Or will Eli Weiss step in!?

The news is focused on the interior of the Territories, and I see that it is from almost a week ago. Earl explains more as he walks over to us, a small bag now tied to his hips.

"Found that with the conductor today. Apparently, he was given many of them while on the way here a few days ago. That means this news is recent."

A weird face from Johnny draws my attention as the man purses his lips.

"The news... it has to be a lie."

"Huh?"

All of us question him. What does he mean by that? It makes perfect sense to me. The Prime taking a weapon from Ed, who is supporting a rebel, is typical. The damn old man only ever sits things out or purposefully shits on them. Eli publicly agreeing to it is a bit odd, but it works.

We should be counting our lucky stars he didn't just straight-up kill Ed; instead, he left him without the weapon that lets him keep up with other Virtues as the old man is not a primary combatant. He more so leans toward support, investigation, and exploration.

But Johnny doesn't think so.

"The Prime couldn't have taken a weapon from Ed. He just returned yesterday."

My eyes open wide.

"Returned from where? How do you know this?"

Johnny shakes his head as he sighs.

"Upon investigating Marshall's corpse, Bonfire and I found an old man. That old man was Vincent Harvey, the eleventh Prime. He spoke of how he was too late, returning to our continent from his worldly exploration just yesterday. Vincent even mentioned how he discovered the way forward to Godhood and that he need only complete the act required of him. So, it couldn't have been him. The old bastard wasn't even in Green Hallows, let alone our continent at all."

Millie scoffs, the skepticism palpable.

"He could have simply lied to you. Leave the continent? Impossible. The Endless Waves devour all."

Johnny's lip upturns as I watch the back and forth. He met the Prime? What the hell...

"That could be the case. But... why show up at all? What's the point of lying to me? He felt genuinely remorseful. I believe his words, which means something else must be going on."

Earl then moves over to me while everyone, including me, is thinking and takes my arm with his, hauling me onto the table. Then, he takes a tiny bit of the bronze-like metal used for my arm and holds me down.

"Stay still. I need to go make some of this molten to replace the parts sheared off. Then, we can grind out the rest and fix the dents."

Nodding, I watch him move to the furnace and stick a pole with a tip of bronze into it that he had in his bag. The material melts slowly but surely as Elizabeth continues, only partially paying attention to Earl.

"Maybe Ed did lose Demonsbane, and it's being blamed on the Prime?"

A few headshakes push away her thoughts, with Johnny sure that it's not the case. Millie tries next.

"Perhaps... Eli is simply lying? But what would he have to gain in lying?"

Again, doesn't make much sense. Even I don't think he's lying about Ed missing his Claymore. That is easily proven right or wrong. Johnny continues to tap his chin, pondering the whole while. Minutes pass in thought before Earl walks back and places the pole against my arm, the metals fusing together as it drips the molten metal onto my arm. Earl spreads the steel evenly with some force as he throws his thoughts into the field.

"I have an idea. Though, it's pretty outlandish. Eli seems to be doing something big. This could be some preparation for it, and perhaps... Eli took his weapon and made the rumor. If the Prime didn't do it, and Maddox rarely leaves his waters, the only person left in the Territories who could do it would be Eli."

Johnny nods his head but counters Earl's idea. However, I think it fits near perfectly. Eli Weiss... he led to Sacate's death. And, he's part of an Estate. For the Bloody Palm, it only fits to kill him.

"That's not impossible, but Richard Lang, the Blinded Man, could do it, too. There's a chance this is his doing."

Earl tsks his tongue as he works on my arm, replacing the rope. The argument seems a bit strong to me, confusing which one I believe.

"Yeah, but Lang is exiled, imprisoned, and constantly watched within Northene. The Prime said he could only leave under his direct authority when he was convicted, right? With no other options, it has to be the only remaining one. Eli is close to Ed, both geographically and emotionally. Plus, the man is known for his schemes."

Johnny finally acquiesces, finding nothing else to refute Earl with.

"I suppose you're right. But then, why? Why did he do it? And is Ed even still alive? Eli's always worked for humanity, so why is he doing something so damaging?"

No one has an answer. Earl might have figured out that Eli was behind Ed losing his weapon, but beyond that, we have no clue. His intentions are obscured from us, unknown and hidden. At least Earl is done fixing my arm.

"Don't touch the metal for an hour or so. It needs to cool down. It's not liquid anymore, but it's still scorching. And... no, I won't say it. I'll just try to make you one that you can't break next time."

I laugh, knowing what he wants to say. In his eyes, I can see his wish that I was more careful. And in my defense, I was. It didn't break against an Angel but instead a train.

Johnny then taps a place on the map with the word 'Pridestead' above it.

"Seems we're taking the long way, then. If Eli is behind Ed's situation, then he's not in Timberlands. And at most, we'd only have to deal with Clarence. The Silent Scorpion can be, if not killed, held back by Tomas and me. Your Ballista, Lily, or Virgil's assassination could do the rest."

Nodding, I step back as Johnny furls up the map and continues his orders. As he speaks, his eyes gradually roam to Earl.

"We're six or so days out from Pridestead, and we're not stopping for anything but an Angel. Rest up, relax, and prepare. Pridestead likely won't be peaceful, and no matter how much I'd like to just swing on by without stopping, I know one of you will want to find Eli's lab in Pridestead. And... I agree. He could have rare materials, weapons, and a thousand other things. So, go on. I'll stay in the front with the conductor."

Then, he waves us all away as the conductor, a man named Jeremy, smiles. I don't notice any chains from Jeremy, which is odd, but I ignore it. Not everyone has to be a Sigiled to be helpful. Hell, Earl wouldn't need a Sigil at all to make this arm for me other than Craftsman. Though, I guess that ruins the point.

Shaking my head, I pull Earl with me to play cards.

"Hey! Come play some cards with me. Bonfire, Clumsy, Frozen, and Abraham are already going at it!"

Earl sighs but agrees.

"Yeah, I could use a bre---"

"What about me?"

Elizabeth stands with her hands on her hips as Millie shakes her head with a snort and walks past. Defensively, I put my hands up. She's never wanted to play before, and I was hoping I could convince Earl to help me cheat against Abraham. It's so much fun to watch him lose a hand.

"Of course! Come one! I didn't ask 'cause you normally don't want to."

Elizabeth simply grabs the two of us and hauls us backward through the train.

"Well, I changed my mind."