The market stalls stand closely together on each side of the crowd, filled with both soul wanderers and creatures. Golden ceilings of fabric hang above us and blocks the spotted glass. They sell everything from strange vegetables, fruits and dishes to crystals, coins and other objects that shine as brightly as our soul stones, often in many different colors.

Artemis and Clover walks in front of me. They look strange together. Artemis white shirt and broad jeans makes me believe she died only a few years ago. Clover's mining clothing would make him stand out around the living.

They're talking about something; I cannot bother listening. One of the turquoise fruits the market sells have the form of an eight-pointed star. They're of a smaller size, I could fit a couple in the palm of my hand. Other sells stone tablets with symbols carved into its surface, or beautiful jewelry shaped in peculiar forms. One of these market stalls sells stones, crystals and other items covered in gemstones carefully placed on red cloth. But what caught my attention first wasn't the colorful crystals or the glowing stones. It was the gaunt creature I had seen earlier that day – the same one that Cerberus had waited for. The three white eyes stop glancing over the crowd as it meets mine. The dry, long mouth smiles. It drums its fingers against the table.

Artemis and Clover haven't realized that I've stopped. The creature's uncomfortable smile becomes bigger as I approach the stall. It's shorter than me and slightly longer than a human child.

"Beautiful day, no?" It says with its coarse and hissing voice.

"Not much different from yesterday."

There is no weather in this world, each day is the same. There's no night, no rain. Not even the wind exists here.

The creature laughs and pushes a gaunt-looking hand against its mouth behind the veil. "Yes, you humans with your world. I can imagine that the Eleven is too... still for the likes of you."

Its grin makes the hair on my neck stand up.

"Personally, I prefer these kinds of worlds. You always know what to expect. No sudden surprises... But I doubt you're here to discuss the weather," the creature says and make an overdramatized gesture.

I don't know why I'm talking to this unpleasant creature. Maybe it has something to do with Cerberus. I cannot deny I'm curious of what they spoke of and what the creature had asked for. Before I can ask, the creature points with its long finger towards a golden hand mirror decorated with sapphires.

"You're here for this."

I pull my eyebrows together. "What do I need this for? I'm dead."

It didn't matter what I did with my hair or my clothes, eventually it would simply go back to its original state.

"Do you think I'd sell a regular mirror?" it asks and sounds a bit insulted. "No... I sold it to the white-clad guardian."

"And why do you think I'd want it?"

Truth is that I want it, or at least something from the creature. It's been bothering me since I saw them at the well. I want to know what Cerberus did there, why he was waiting for it and what it had given him. Now the creature claims that it had sold something to him and not the other way around.

Another broad grin from the three-eyed creature. "Had you not been interested in what I have to offer you'd left long ago. Something has to have caught your interest. You humans are so impatiently curious, while at the same time you pretend you aren't."

I clench my jaw. "Does it normally work insulting potential customers?"

"Have I insulted you? All I'm saying is my view of the truth. You humans are curious, but not very honest. In the end it doesn't matter if I insult you. Either you want what I offer or you don't. I'll just sell it to someone else. Do not believe you are the only possible customer, dear human."

It gets on my nerves, but I know it's right. If I'm desperate enough it doesn't matter what it says.

I sigh. "What do you want? Soul-dust?"

The creature scoffs. "I have soul-dust, it's easy to access. No, I dabble in more of a... exchange of services. A favor for a favor."

I don't like the sound of that, if anything it sounds like I'm about to sell my soul. Before I can say no someone grabs my arm. Clover stands next to me with Artemis behind him.

"She's not interested," he snarls and pulls me away from the market stalls.

I glance back at the creature with its unpleasant smile still left on its dry mouth. Clover doesn't stop before we're far away from the creature, he leads me to one of the narrow areas between the market stalls.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" he yells.

I jerk back.

"First you charge after a shattered soul and now you're making deals with that thing?"

"Hey! That was not my fault, you told me to!"

I don't know what has gotten Clover in such a sour mood. He has always been grumpy, but I don't think he has ever yelled at me.

"She didn't know, Clover."

Artemis squeezes in between the narrow space between the stalls. She touches his arms softly and he lets go of me. I pull back my arm and stare at him while frowning. It's the first time I've seen him act like this, and I can't say I like it.

Clover averts his gaze. "Never go into deals with that being."

"I wasn't planning to. Maybe if you let me speak before yelling at me, you'd realize that."

"Sorry," he mumbles.

Artemis squeezes further into the space; Clover takes a step back.

"It's best to avoid that being," she says. "It knows exactly what to say to make you agree to a deal you don't know all the details of. If you're not careful you'll agree to something you cannot get out of."

"It will lie straight to your face or twist the truth so much that you don't know what you're agreeing to," Clover says.

Was that why Cerberus had met the creature by the well, to be sure that what was said was the truth? Had he agreed to a deal? The creature did after all give him the object he had tried to sell me.

"As I said, I wasn't planning on saying yes. It didn't seem safe."

At least not after the creature spoke of a favor for a favor.

Clover wrinkles his nose. "The best would be to ignore the being completely."

Before either I or Artemis can say something he turns around and pushes through the mass. Something tense covers Artemis' face as she watches his back disappear into the crowd. She gives me a forced smile and hooks her arm to mine.

"Come," she says and pulls me in between soul wanderers and creatures.

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We're walking a few meters behind Clover. He's tall enough that we can still see him in the mass.

"Have you noticed anything?" she asks loud enough for me to hear but quiet enough for it to stay between us.

"Noticed what?"

"Do you think he acts strangely?"

"I haven't known him for very long," I admit.

It's been just over two weeks since I died. The most times I had been around Clover it had been about reaping. It was not the best way of getting to know someone. It feels like Clover puts up some sort of wall for each person that tried to get closer to him. Even if I tried being friendlier, I had a feeling it wouldn't change anything. He'd be the same grumpy, old reaper.

"I know but... he acts strangely."

"How so?"

She takes a deep breath and makes us both slow down. By this rate will lose him in the crowd, but I let Artemis control the pace we walk in. Whatever she's planning to say she doesn't want Clover to hear it.

"He shouldn't have been so angry at you."

Her black eyes focus on the back of Clover's head.

"He normally doesn't get that mad. I think he has some history with that creature. I've asked but he never gives me an answer. At least not one who lets me know what is going on with him."

"You think it was the creature that triggered him?"

She shakes her head. "Not completely. I think there's something else too. I know Clover isn't the friendliest man when you first meet him. But he has always thought through what he says and the actions he takes. He doesn't act very quickly on strong emotions and feelings. Whether they are positive or negative. Lately there's something bothering him. That he exploded that way out of nowhere and that he's still avoiding us, tells me that there's more going on. It was uncalled of him to mention the shattered soul, I know for a fact he feels guilty for not being there. I've tried talking to him. But it leads nowhere. He shuts me out."

"He seems stressed," I add.

I remember how he had acted when he first showed me the eleven. It was obvious he had other plans afterwards that stressed him out. After that I haven't noticed anything. But that day stands out.

"Right. That's what I suspected."

"Do you know what makes him so stressed?" I ask.

"No. I asked a couple of days ago if everything was okay and he gave me a forced smile and said that he was alright. Like I'd believe that. Whatever it is he refuses to tell me."

Artemis gaze searches for Clover in the crowd. We cannot see him anymore.

"I'm sorry." I cannot think of anything else to say.

"It actually hurts a little. I thought we were closer than this... I'm not sure what I believed."

I follow Artemis with my gaze as she squeezes through the crowd to reach Clover again.

***

The market leads out to a small beach, where it meets the almost transparent river that meander into yet another forest made of the moon-trees. The well's white tower looks even further away from this part of the Eleven. On the other side of the water there is a little part of land with the dark blue star-grass. It ends abruptly against the black-pink glass. The world's end – literally.

I had imagined that the world would be bigger, that I wouldn't see the end of it just yet.

"The eleven is a small world," Clover says when he sees my disappointed expression. He leans closer. "There are many worlds that are much bigger."

The music is louder here, loud enough that you almost have to yell unless you stand close to each other.

Clover seems like himself again, even a bit happier than normally. The angry side has left him and he's more relaxed. He crouches down next to Artemis by the beach. She's pulling her fingers through the water. By the somber expression I'd guess she wishes she'd feel it. Will I always be attached to my human side, or will it disappear once my memories fade away?

"I should visit them then," I say.

Clover also moves his fingers in the water. "Huh?"

I crouch down next to him.

"If the other worlds are bigger then I have to visit them," I tell him louder.

"I can show you the Oak once the apprenticeship is over. It's smaller than the Eleven, but it has its charm."

"And Arkaros," I add.

Artemis leans closer. "Count me in!"

It's still hard to hear her over the music.

She doesn't look as sad. The black eyes shine of something when she looks at Clover. He turns to her. I cannot see it, but I know he's smiling.

"I'd like that," he says softly and looks at the water with the smile still on his lips.

Artemis meets my eyes and her gaze speaks for her. This is the real Clover. I feel a bit in the way so I stand up and straighten my skirt.

"I should probably head back now," I say and stretch my arms.

They aren't stiff, but it feels nice doing something I used to when I was alive, whether I need it or not.

Clover looks up at me. "Remember we have contracts tomorrow."

"Yes, how could I ever forget?" I mumble and roll my eyes.

"It's not so bad being dead, is it?" Artemis says.

I try to find a proper answer that isn't as depressing as I feel.

"It has only been two weeks," Clover reminds Artemis. "It takes some time to get used to it."

I force a smile. "With the right company I imagine it can be quite nice."

With that answer Artemis smiles but clover didn't seem to get the hint.

"Death means a whole lot of loss... But a lot of this we wouldn't be experiencing without it," he says and looks up at the spotted glass. It feels like he means what he says but at the same time not.

"You're probably right," I say even though I don't really believe it. I don't even think they do, not completely. Both Artemis and Clover would say yes without hesitation if they got the chance to live again. I would too.

"See you tomorrow," I say and leave them by the small beach by the river.

I reach the wooden stage where the music is coming from. A long, thin creature plays two drums that are just as elongated as it is. Its skin is coal-black except the fingers that are coated in white powder that dances through the air for each beat of the drums. The face is slightly longer than a human's and the solid white eyes are located far up on its forehead. I stay there and listen to the drums that beats slowly and each one sounds rhythmic and powerful.

"They're called xars," a somewhat familiar voice says.

I turn around; a pair of dark blue eyes stare right into mine.

"Sun," I begin and focus on the scene once more, "I didn't know they had names."

"Why wouldn't they have names? We call ourselves humans, do we not? It would be foolish of them if they didn't have a name for each being."

I ignore the condescending tone in her voice.

"And the others?" I ask and watch the creatures that have white, thin fur, and long fingers that elegantly touches the strings of their long instruments.

"Lyniers."

The creatures at the stage begin a new song. This on sounds more haunting, yet beautiful. It reminds me a bit of the feeling at the well.

"It looks better. Your throat, I mean."

"It also feels better."

Sun gives me a small smile, another one that doesn't quite reach the dark eyes. In her hands she's holding two medium-sized wooden sticks impaling a round dish that reminds me of dango. They are brownish with slight marks of what looks like coal speckled on top of it.

"For Rampion?" I ask.

I point at the sticks. They look simpler to eat than the stew she had given him a week earlier.

Sun spins them with her thin fingers. "Yes, would you like to try?" She holds one of them out towards me. "They don't taste like our food. I guess they barely taste anything at all. But you can... feel them."

I was planning on saying no, yet I reach out my hand and pluck one of the dango-looking dishes from the stick.

"It's the only thing Rampion asks me to get him when they put up the market stalls."

I put it in my mouth and when I chew into it, she adds, "I think they're foul," with the corners of her mouth curling into a smile.

It feels like an explosion, and ash fills my entire mouth. I cough and bend forward with a hand pushed against half of my face.

"It seems like you share my opinion on the matter."

She enjoys this. Now I understand why I've only seen her around Rampion. I glare at Sun, I want to say some very colorful words but nothing but coughs tasting like ash escapes my mouth.

"It stops after a while."

I continue to cough but am able to get out a "why?"

She shrugs. "What do I know? He says it makes him feel more alive... Like there wasn't better way of getting that feeling."

Sun grabs my arm and leads me away from the stage and the music once we receive annoyed glances. It burns violently and I can feel each detail of my mouth. I pull my tongue over my teeth; I can feel them. I understand why Rampion likes to eat them. When you feel nothing at all even pain is welcomed over pure emptiness.

She leads me between two stalls and continues until we reach the border of the moon forest. The sound of the market sounds like it's close yet at the same time far away, like it's trapped in its own glass globe.

She releases my arm. "I've actually been looking for you."

"So, the first thing you do when finding me is tricking me to eat whatever the hell that was?"

Sun rolls her eyes. "It wasn't that bad."

I glare at her.

"My god, it's like talking with another Rampion."

"Just tell me what you want," I mutter while my mouth burns aggressively.

She looks back at the market before she moves the ancient eyes towards me again. "I saw that you were with Clover."

"And Artemis," I add.

Sun waves her hand like she was swatting away a fly. "I don't care about her. It's interesting, Clover was also the one that stole you away when we had our pleasant conversation in the forest. Are you under his apprenticeship?"

I have a feeling she already knows the answer to that question, but I'll indulge her.

"I am."

"Do you know what he did at the well two weeks ago?" she asks.

What did she just say? Clover was at the well?

Sun takes a step back. "Seems like you know even less than me and Rampion."

"Rampion knows?"

They didn't seem to like each other last time I saw them exchanging glances.

"It was Rampion that saw him," she says indifferently. "He asked what he was doing and he received an annoyed grimace as an answer. He certainly has changed since the Raven had him as an apprentice."

Sun sighs. "This was a complete worthless waste of time." The unreliable smile is left on her lips. "You can ask Clover yourself; you know where I'll be if you receive any answer from him. It's unlikely though."

She walks towards the market again and I half run after her.

"Wait!"

She turns around and lays her head slightly to the side.

"I want to talk to Rampion about this."

"Follow me then. Rampion won't go out in crowds."