《Heaven on Earth》


 Prologue: A Silent Abyss

    Salome cast a wary glance over the crooked rooftops of the village spread out before her.


    It clung to the edge of a hollow, surrounded by low, grassy hills. The plain, weathered houses seemed to sprout haphazardly from the ground, like mushrooms pushing through damp moss. No flickering firelight shone through the cracks in the wooden doors, and not a single lantern illuminated the streets. Only the starlight reflected faintly in the windows. Everything was still.


    "Are you sure this is the place?" she asked.


    "It has to be nearby. I can feel it."


    Salome glanced doubtfully at the tall man beside her. His fiery hair was hidden beneath a hood pulled low over his face. His eyes lay in shadow, but she knew he was scanning their surroundings with sharp focus.


    "And what exactly are we expecting to find here?" she asked.


    Instead of answering, her companion inhaled the cool night air deeply and exhaled it slowly. It sounded like the wind brushing gently over the grain fields, over the hills that shaped the land like stone waves, over the forests whose leaves whispered in the distance.


    "It¡¯s a good night. A night for dreaming. A night for hunting."


    Without another word, he began striding down the path that led into the quiet village. Salome hesitated. There was something unsettling about this place. But she pushed her unease aside and followed him. After all, she was here to learn.


    As far as she could tell, the village¡¯s silence wasn¡¯t threatening. She felt it in the lingering warmth of the timber walls as they passed, seeping from the day¡¯s last heat, and in the muffled echo of their footsteps on the hard-packed earth. Whatever lurked in the shadows of the night wouldn¡¯t be more dangerous than a nightmare easily shattered by a sharp mind and a strong will. Yet the absence of any sign of the villagers was strange. Behind the dull windowpanes, there was only impenetrable darkness, and she heard no restless creaking of bodies shifting in their sleep. No animals stirred either, despite the barns and pens hidden in the shadows of some backyards.


    Her companion waited for her in the village square, where a simple well opened a path into the depths. Salome kept her distance from the yawning blackness within.


    "Now then, Salome," he said, his deep voice soft. "What do you see?"


    She turned slowly in a circle, taking in the unremarkable facades, observing the night as it pooled beneath the gables and overhangs, hiding from the silver light of the sky. The moon hung in the heavens, pale white, peeking from behind chimneys¡ªa round disk in a sea of glittering stars.


    ¡°It¡¯s so quiet here,¡± she said. ¡°So peaceful. But¡­¡±


    Something was wrong. The air felt strange, the distance to the walls oppressive, as though they were impossibly far away. She opened her mouth to speak a few times, hesitated, and then remained silent. "I can¡¯t quite put it into words," she admitted finally. "But I feel¡­ cut off. Like the night and this village don¡¯t belong to the same world."


    The man¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°So, you¡¯ve noticed.¡± He turned his back on her and looked at the sleeping village. ¡°What you¡¯re sensing is the boundary hidden here. The edges scrape at the depths of your mind.¡±


    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Salome asked, confused.


    He glanced over his shoulder at her, his smile widening. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try to find out yourself? It usually comes so easily to you.¡±


    Salome looked at him doubtfully. If only she knew what he was talking about! But she didn¡¯t want to disappoint him. He had brought her along on this hunt to teach her, even after all he had already done for her. She owed him this. She had to trust him. So, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.


    The world wasn¡¯t always as it seemed¡ªthat much she had come to understand. There were things everywhere, lingering at the edges of perception, just beyond the reach of the mind. To see them, one had to open oneself, let the world fill even the darkest corners of the soul, and live with one¡¯s whole heart. It was difficult because sometimes the world resisted the mind, and too often, the mind was swept away by the relentless current of time, lost in the past or the future, instead of staying in the present. But Salome was no longer the naive, unknowing girl she had once been.


    She listened to the wind, breathed in the scent of the land, and felt the unshakable stone beneath the earth, wrapped in cool, fertile soil. She heard the clear, trickling water deep in the well, echoes of rain purified by warmth and ancient rock. The stars wove silver strands through the shadows, granting them true darkness, and all things blossomed in their contrast. The world inside Salome shifted, becoming one with what surrounded her, and she felt the night sinking deeper. Slowly, a familiar weight filled the air. Light and shadow became tangible. She was here, exactly here, and the world was within her.


    She opened her eyes.


    At first, Salome saw no change. She felt the connection to the world around her, but everything looked as it should. Had her companion been wrong? She wanted to tell him, but then something caught her eye. Slowly, she raised her gaze to the moon. It was no longer a round disk high in the sky. No, the moon above now had jagged white spikes, protruding in all directions from its milky surface. A faint, almost familiar pulsing emanated from it. It no longer hung far away either. Instead, it seemed suspended low to the ground, close enough to touch if one were to climb a nearby tree¡­


    A soft laugh reached Salome¡¯s ears. She turned toward her companion. He had thrown back his hood, revealing the fiery mane that countless stories had attributed to him. His gleaming eyes were fixed on the strange moon, and a delighted chuckle rose from his chest, growing louder until booming laughter echoed through the village streets. Then, without warning, he sprinted toward the starry moon with strides that covered far more ground than they should have.


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    ¡°Narngrim!¡± Salome gasped in shock as the broad-shouldered man vanished behind a cottage. A sense of dread filled her heart, a foreboding. Without hesitation, she raced after him, running as fast as she could. The cold, shimmering windows and gaping doorways flew past her, but as her legs sank into knee-high grass, she saw him darting over the crest of a hill, as swift and graceful as the wind itself. He moved like one of the waves in the grass, flowing effortlessly over the land.


    She had to catch up with him, reach him. She had to run faster, much faster! The grass slowed her, but it parted before her like water before a ship¡¯s bow as she willed it. She leaned forward, and the hills blurred around her. She sped across the ground, never taking her eyes off his silhouette on the horizon. Grass and lonely shrubs turned to streaks, each step carrying her farther than the last. Faster! A brief glance downward made her think she saw four paws instead of legs, but she didn¡¯t care. All that mattered was reaching the man in the distance. The starry moon shimmered, beautiful and alluring, but something told her great danger lay there. She had to warn him.


    As she hurtled over the final hilltop, a powerful arm yanked her back to the ground. She hit the earth so hard that her breath caught in her throat, and the rustle of the wind went still until fresh air filled her lungs once more.


    "Salome! Don¡¯t lose yourself!" Narngrim hissed. The muscular man loomed over her, pinning her to the ground, his intense gaze holding hers. Yet he didn¡¯t seem worried or angry. Instead, there was that same mischievous grin he¡¯d worn earlier. He pressed a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. Then, with a conspiratorial gleam, he pointed upward.


    Salome¡¯s eyes followed his gesture, and she saw the strange moon. It was indeed hanging in the air. Just below it, a cluster of tall pines rose toward the sky¡ªjagged, menacing giants, black and twisted in the deep night. Narngrim¡¯s finger traced the path from the moon to the trees, and Salome¡¯s gaze followed. Between the trunks lay a darkness so profound that no eye could ever hope to pierce it, like a black wall at the edge of the world. The pines cast long shadows across the meadow before the hill where they lay.


    Night shadows.


    And in that half-formed darkness, Salome saw something that filled her with bone-deep dread.


    It was hard to describe the creature that loomed from the shadows of the forest, its enormous, lifeless eyes fixed on the starry moon. Part of it resembled a toad, with warty, wrinkled skin. It stood on two stumpy legs, and a thick, tadpole-like tail disappeared into the pines. A wide, toothy mouth opened slowly. Salome pressed a hand over her mouth and ducked into the tall grass. Her heart pounded, and the wind that had gently brushed the treetops began to pick up strength, beating in time with her frantic pulse.


    Suddenly, the grotesque creature¡¯s mouth gaped wide, and a long, sticky tongue shot out. It struck the starry moon and pulled it down with the speed of a striking flytrap. In an instant, the moon vanished into the creature¡¯s maw, and the world was plunged into darkness. A deafening silence thundered through the air, like a storm of mute cries crashing down on them. Every instinct in Salome screamed to flee, and she would have, had Narngrim not held her back. His massive hand clamped down, and he hastily threw his cloak over them both. Salome stared at him in terrified disbelief. Before the heavy fabric enveloped them, she cast one last glance at the creature.


    It looked strangely bloated now, as if it might burst at any moment. Then, a bone-chilling, high-pitched scream rent the air. It was as if a wave of shrieks from the depths of the great emptiness was crashing over them. Salome clamped her hands over her ears beneath the cloak. The nightmarish wail might have torn the very soul from her chest if it hadn¡¯t been muffled by the cloak that shielded them from the shredded night.


    Only when the wailing subsided did Narngrim lift the cloak. Cautiously, Salome sat up, blinking at the sky. The night was calm once more, emerging from the depths, peaceful and still. There was the moon, just as it should be, round and distant. The stars twinkled, revealing lonely patches of clouds riding the wind in the silvery darkness. There was no trace of the horror they had just witnessed. Breathing heavily, Salome drew her legs up and wrapped her arms around her knees. It took her a while to find her voice, but at last, she asked in a halting whisper, ¡°What¡­ was that?¡±


    ¡°A Silent Abyss,¡± Narngrim replied matter-of-factly. ¡°At least, that¡¯s what they¡¯re called in the records of the first hunters.¡± He stood up, brushing the grass from his trousers. ¡°These creatures sometimes lurk in night shadows and devour the sound of life. But you rarely see one. Lucky for us, right?¡±


    He offered Salome his hand and pulled her to her feet.


    ¡°And that¡­ thing?¡± she began.


    ¡°The starry moon? Well, that¡¯s the reason why these nightmares are so rare. I¡¯m not sure what those moons are. They have a strange pull, especially on creatures of silence. Sometimes I think they exist solely to kill Silent Abysses. But who could create such a thing!¡± He laughed briefly before continuing. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to witness such a spectacle tonight. Maybe I should bring you along on hunts more often.¡± He gave Salome a knowing look. She opened her mouth to respond but thought better of it, her gaze drifting back to the pines, their treetops swaying gently in the breeze. Everything seemed so peaceful, as if the deep terror that had lurked beneath the cones and needles had never existed. It felt like waking from a bad dream, the details slipping from her memory like threads unraveling from the frayed hem of a woolen scarf¡ªa feeling that was becoming all too familiar. She let it happen, knowing her mind couldn¡¯t hold onto all the impressions forever.


    ¡°Why the grim face?¡± Narngrim¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you pity that creature!¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Salome replied sharply, turning her back on the pines. ¡°Quite the opposite. I¡¯m glad the world has been rid of that thing.¡±


    She walked through the tall grass, avoiding direct eye contact with the broad-shouldered man. The encounter with the Silent Abyss had reminded her once again of how little she still understood about this world, how much there was yet to learn. She felt as though she hadn¡¯t taken a single step closer to her goal¡­


    At the crest of the hill, she stopped and let her gaze sweep over the village, lying quiet and abandoned. Its inhabitants would never know what had transpired here tonight. They would wake in the morning and go about their lives, oblivious to the truth that lurked in the shadows.


    ¡°This place reminds me of home,¡± Salome said softly after a while.


    ¡°That fairy tale world you always speak of?¡± Narngrim grumbled, joining her at the top of the hill.


    ¡°The people there have no idea of the truth,¡± Salome explained. ¡°They believe in rumors and vague claims, never knowing what really hides in the shadows of the trees or behind veils of mist. They hide away in their little homes and content themselves with the stories that suit them best.¡±


    ¡°Fear of the unknown is only natural,¡± Narngrim said. ¡°You¡¯ve seen what lurks in some of those shadows. Can you really blame those who lack the courage to face such dangers?¡±


    ¡°The shadows in my homeland aren¡¯t as deep,¡± Salome replied. ¡°Facing them may be hard, but it¡¯s better than living a lie.¡±


    By now, the first pale glimmers of dawn were painting the horizon in the colors of morning, and the soft sounds of life began to drift up from the waking village.


    ¡°Whatever you say,¡± Narngrim muttered with a shrug, starting down the hill. ¡°Come on now. It¡¯s time to claim our reward!¡±


    Salome cast one last glance over her shoulder, then followed him.

 Chapter 1 - The world below the clouds

    Salome opened her eyes.


    Her mind was a chaotic mess of memories and the bizarre remnants of her dreams, which were slowly being pushed aside by her waking consciousness. Adding to the chaos was an unpleasant throbbing in her temples, reminding her that she had stayed up far too long again. Groaning, she rolled onto her back, the wooden floorboards beneath her mattress creaking, and pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. What time was it? Morning? Afternoon? She closed her eyes again and waited. Eventually, the shadows from her dreams faded, leaving behind a knot of impressions and sensations that pressed on her lungs with every breath. Salome hoped it would unravel on its own by breakfast.


    After a while, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, let out a long yawn, and rubbed her eyes. Outside, a light drizzle was falling, which she could tell from the fine network of raindrops clinging to her window. Occasionally, one droplet became too heavy, trickling down the glass and adding to the pattern of secret, unreadable words that Salome had always failed to decipher.


    Her gaze wandered around her room. One wall was taken up by a heavy wooden wardrobe, mostly filled with clothing¡ªthough only a small portion of it could be considered everyday wear. Alongside the dull shirts, gray skirts, jackets, and stockings, she had gathered a sizable collection of sturdier clothing over the years, which she now proudly referred to as her "gear." Anyone who wanted to explore the areas beyond the main paths had to be prepared.


    Opposite the wardrobe stood a wide desk, covered in sheets of paper filled with her scribbled handwriting and books with worn covers. Leaves of plants peeked out from the clutter, and on the floor beside the desk stood several pots filled with soil, from which more grasses and ferns sprouted. Above it, a shelf lined with large glass jars hung on the wall, each sealed with a cork lid and filled with stones, dark soil, moss, and even more plants. Miniature gardens.


    The ceiling sloped down since the room was directly under the roof, and at the lowest point crouched her bed. It had once stood on the other side of the room, as she had struggled to sleep when the rain drummed against the roof at night, but lately, she preferred it this way.


    Salome walked over to the wardrobe to get dressed. Normally, she would already be on a carriage heading into town by now, chatting idly with the other girls from the village, stepping out in front of the gates of the Ministry School after a dull ride, and¡ªshe clenched her teeth and stopped herself from following that thought any further. No. There were more important things. With practiced movements, she buttoned up her shirt and turned to her desk, where she found half of last night''s dinner on a plate. Next to it lay an open book. She must have forgotten about her meal while reading. Tearing off a piece of now rock-hard bread, she chewed on it thoughtfully. It was unsettling how easily she could lose herself in stories¡ªto the point where she lost all awareness of herself and the world around her.


    She startled as someone suddenly called her name from downstairs: "Salome? Salome, are you there?"


    It was her father. Puzzled, she left her room, descended the stairs to the ground floor, and found the broad-shouldered, stout man in the foyer, just about to leave the house.


    "Ah, there you are," he said without looking directly at her, buttoning up his coat. Salome crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, waiting to hear what he had to say.


    "Did you take care of the letter yesterday, as I asked?"


    "Yes, Father," Salome said. Of course. So that''s what this was about.


    "Good, good... and the reply?"


    "Mr. Girman said he would deliver it personally. As always."


    "Well, if he insists... Anyway, I''m off now. Be a dear and take care of the two letters I left on the living room table. Oh, and... I¡¯ll likely be home late, so don¡¯t wait up."


    "Yes, Father."


    "And don''t forget to lock the front door!"


    "Of course, Father." She sighed in resignation. He cast her a doubtful look, but only for a moment. Then he grabbed his hat from the hook by the wall and opened the door. Salome stared at his broad back, waiting to see if he had anything else to say, but her father stepped outside without another word or a final glance, letting the door fall shut behind him. Of course, he had nothing more to say.


    Salome sighed again. She turned around and slowly closed her eyes. She knew that now, there was no one else in the house.


    And, as usual, the silence came. It crept out from the shadows behind the unlit candles, slithered out from beneath empty chairs and sofas, dripped from the fine cracks in the ceiling, and seeped from every hole and gap where words and voices had banished it. Soon, every room in the house would be drenched in a leaden gray, a screaming void that clogged the ears like invisible cotton. Every step in this numbness cost Salome effort. She didn''t want to stay here any longer. She wanted to leave this cold, soundless realm. So many times, she had set out, let her feet carry her farther and farther, only to eventually turn back. There were simply no places worth staying.


    Shaking her head, she brushed aside these thoughts. With a stony expression, she climbed the stairs back up to the first floor and pushed open the door to her room. She grabbed her shoulder bag, which leaned against the desk, and went back downstairs. She had no desire whatsoever to run her father¡¯s errands, especially in this weather. But it was still better than being trapped in the crushing silence that made it hard to breathe. Since she had no other choice, she fetched the wax-sealed envelopes from the living room and stuffed them into her bag. She pulled on her boots, grabbed her oilcloth cloak with the wide hood, and pushed open the door. A gust of cold air met her, but she ignored it, slammed the door shut, fumbled the key from her bag, and locked up. Sullenly, she looked down the street. A few villagers hurried over the rain-slicked pavement, but they were too absorbed in their own concerns to notice her. The gray clouds overhead shattered any hope that the drizzle would stop soon. Another sigh escaped her before she could stop it, and she set off.


    Soft splashing sounds echoed from the plain, tightly packed houses lining the street, whenever a droplet from an overhanging roof fell into a puddle below. A sorrowful concert of irregular plopping sounds accompanied Salome as she walked toward the village square with her gaze lowered. She tried to find a pattern in the chaos of noises, a rhythm she could hum along to, but it was impossible to predict when the next drop would fall into a puddle. It didn¡¯t take long before she found herself holding her breath, waiting for the next plop. The constant unpredictability gnawed at her nerves, so she tried to ignore the remnants of the rain.


    This time, she stayed on the main street instead of sneaking through the winding side streets of the village as usual. The sooner she delivered the letters, the better. And the first was addressed to the innkeeper of the village tavern¡ªa man she had never liked. He was a greasy fellow who, for some reason, always squinted his right eye whenever he spoke to someone. Besides, he was reclusive and boorish, but Salome could say that about nearly every one of his regulars.


    She reached the village square and immediately turned right. The tavern was on the other side, but she absolutely did not want to walk through the middle of the square. Instead, she walked along the edge, in the shadow of the shops, where she would attract less attention. Meanwhile, she kept a wary eye on the obelisk towering in the center of the square like a menacing reminder. Such a man-high, roughly hewn boulder could be found in every village around the town. They said it had stood there from the very beginning and that the villages had been built around it afterward, but Salome had never believed that absurd tale. It was obvious that the rock had been shaped by human hands. Moreover, the unblinking eye of the Ministry was engraved on its front, and that could not possibly be as old as these stones were said to be. Presumably, the obelisks served only to remind people that the Ministry¡¯s enforcers always kept a watchful eye on them.


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    When Salome arrived at the decidedly uninviting tavern, she hesitated. I wondered if there were any guests at that hour? She earnestly hoped to find the taproom empty and deserted. The last time she had been here, she had had to endure the presence of several coachmen who traveled from village to village transporting goods. They reeked of cheap schnapps and couldn¡¯t help but make their offensive remarks. At the very thought, heat rushed to Salome¡¯s cheeks and she involuntarily clenched her fists. In a fit of anger, she stepped up to the tavern¡¯s entrance and pushed the door open a little more forcefully than she had planned.


    There were indeed a few guests seated at the tables. Some of them looked at her in surprise as the door banged against the interior wall. Salome startled and released her grip on the handle. Holding her breath, she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Only when the guests slowly and quietly grumbled and turned away did she allow herself a relieved exhale. Well, she was there now. The sooner she got out, the better.


    She looked around. The taproom was, as always, smoky and gloomy, with only a few oil lamps and candles casting flickering light. The darkened windows did nothing to lift the gloom. Salome could barely make out the tables along the far wall through her squinting eyes. Not wanting to risk meeting anyone¡¯s gaze, she turned her back on the room and stepped up to the counter, scanning for the innkeeper. A shabby shelf¡ªone that had seen better days¡ªoccupied the back wall and held several barrels whose rusty taps jutted out in a row like iron beaks. Above them sat a cluster of wooden jugs, all looking warped from years of use. But there was no sign of the innkeeper. Could it be he wasn¡¯t there? Then maybe she could¡­


    ¡°What, by the pillars, do you want here?¡± a rough voice suddenly demanded. At that moment, he pushed open the door to the kitchen and stepped behind the counter, wiping his hands on a stained cloth. ¡°It¡¯ always bad news when you show up here.¡± The small, stocky man leaned on the counter and glared at her. He wore an old apron and had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing densely hairy arms. His right eye was squinted.


    ¡°I¡ªI mean¡­¡± Salome stuttered. She swallowed; his unbridled hostility hit her like a blow to the face.


    ¡°Well, just say it! Is it about the damned tax again?¡± he barked.


    Instead of answering, Salome hastily rummaged in her bag and produced the letter meant for the innkeeper. She held it up hesitantly, but the man snatched it from her hand.


    ¡°Pah, village head, no way! A lapdog of the city administration is your father, nothing more!¡± he grumbled as he opened the envelope. He took out the folded slip of paper and held it in the light of a candle so he could read it. Scanning the lines, he then crumpled it up. ¡°I knew it¡­¡± he murmured. ¡°It¡¯s always the same with those greedy bloodsuckers.¡± He was about to leave when he paused and glared at Salome. ¡°What? What else do you want here?¡±


    ¡°The¡­ the reply¡­¡± Salome mumbled. It was incredibly hard for her to meet the gaze of that small, loathsome eye. What on earth had she done to make him hate her so much?


    ¡°Let me handle this with your father privately. Tell him that. And now, get out!¡± He turned away and returned to the kitchen. Salome glared at him as she heard quiet laughter from the taproom, and she felt her cheeks growing hot. Her lips had already begun forming the words she wanted to hurl at him and everyone else, but once again, that damned knot in her throat tightened. She knew she wouldn¡¯t be able to utter a single sound. Turning on her heel, she fled the building with her eyes downcast.


    Outside, she stopped and, trembling with anger, fought the urge to kick against a wall. Slowly, she took a deep breath in and out to calm herself. What could she do, being the daughter of the village head? Everyone behaved like obedient sheep before her father, were friendly and well-mannered, but no one did that in front of her! If only her father knew how people talked about him behind his back! But maybe he deserved it. Probably. What did she know.


    Dejectedly, she glanced into her bag. The second letter was addressed to one of the farmers on the outskirts of the village. With a sour expression, Salome turned away from the tavern and set off toward the village¡¯s edge. Why was she getting worked up again? It had always been like this. By now, she should have gotten used to people making her the scapegoat when she ran errands for her father¡­


    She walked among the dilapidated houses and left the village along a footpath that ran through a gap in the waist-high village wall. Then she entered the well-trodden country road behind it, which, as always, was wet and muddy from the rain. The farm wasn¡¯t far away¡ªshe could already see one of the barns. Thin veils of mist hung over the surrounding fields. As she walked, she lifted her gaze to the clouds, which lazily drifted by. Even the world pillars looked blurred by the moisture. She peered down into the valley, watching the broad steamships with their black smoke flags inch along on the river¡ªsome headed toward the town, others in the opposite direction, toward the mines. Then her eyes followed the course of the small stream that flowed from the forest behind the village and eventually emptied into the river. She cast a longing glance toward the forest¡¯s edge. Hopefully, it would rain properly again soon. Then she could finally return to her favorite place.


    The farm was not particularly large; there were only two barns for the livestock and a one-story house. Yet it was in very good condition. The farmers always took care of the appearance of their farms, no matter if they could afford it¡ªeven if that meant enduring hunger for weeks or even months. Salome had never understood what drove them so much. She had heard that the moist earth was reluctant to share its fruits with people, but if it was so hard to cultivate, why put so much effort into the farms? Why did everyone want to pretend that everything was all right?


    Next to the front door lay a large, shaggy guard dog on a leash. His head rested on his crossed front paws. He perked his ears briefly when he noticed her but refrained from barking loudly as he used to. Salome was grateful for that. She had been quite frightened when she first came here with her father a few years ago. Still, for safety¡¯s sake, she made a wide detour around the canine.


    She approached the front door and knocked. The farmer who lived here with his wife was a man of few words who had never paid much attention to Salome¡ªa treatment she much preferred to that of the cursed innkeeper. She heard footsteps behind the door. Shortly afterward, some bolts were shifted before the farmer opened the door for her. He looked at her with an impassive expression but said nothing. Inside, it was dark; part of his face lay in shadow. Candles were expensive, and one could always economize on light.


    ¡°I have come to deliver this letter to you,¡± Salome said quickly as she produced the second envelope from her bag. The man accepted it wordlessly, taking a step outside. In that moment, Salome noticed how emaciated he looked¡ªhis shirt hung limply and the arm he extended for the letter appeared sinewy and thin. Realizing that she was staring, she lowered her head. She waited until he had read the letter, but when she opened her mouth to ask for his response, he simply turned and slammed the door shut. She blinked in bewilderment. What was that about? Was she not even worth a brief conversation? She glared at the dark brown wooden door, then let her shoulders drop and sighed. Apparently, she had only bad news to deliver today.


    She turned around and lifted her gaze to the clouds. Sporadic droplets still fell on her like tiny cold needles¡ªtoo silent to truly be considered rain, but enough to make her hair begin to curl slightly. It was annoying, but she had no desire to pull the wide hood of her cloak over her head. That would be admitting that this drizzle counted as real rain, and she simply couldn¡¯t allow that!


    The old guard dog let out a soft hum as he lifted his head into a more comfortable position. Salome looked at him. What was she even doing here anymore? It was high time she returned home. Today, neither her father nor her mother¡ªwho, as usual, worked in the city¡ªwould be there. And she doubted her sister would come to visit. That hardly ever happened, as she was always far too busy. So there was no one to burden Salome with any other pointless tasks. She would have her peace.


    A humorless laugh escaped her. How was it that she already wanted to return to the silence after such a short time, even though it had seemed unbearable only moments before? It was always the same! If only there were a place she could go¡ªpreferably far away from here¡­ She pressed her lips together. How long would it take this time before the emptiness once again squeezed her chest? Her gaze wandered to the horizon, slowly veiled by sluggish shrouds of mist. She blinked. Was that¡­? A faint hope spread within her. She tightened her grip on the strap of her bag, cast one last glance at the locked front door behind her, and hurried back home as quickly as possible.

 Chapter 2 - The stranger

    Dim light fell from the sky as the rain announced itself with preliminary droplets. Salome had impatiently waited for the soft drumming for a while, and now she was ready to set off. Hastily, she devoured the last bites of her lunch, dashed from the kitchen into the foyer, and slipped into her boots. She briefly checked their fit and left the house without hesitation. However, she left her oilcloth cloak hanging on its hook¡ªbecause where she was going, she wouldn¡¯t need it.


    Outside, people were disappearing into their homes. Some even checked their drainage systems beforehand, as it looked like a heavy shower was approaching. If one of the numerous gutters, pipes, or channels got clogged, the whole house could be flooded in no time. But Salome cared little about that. As soon as the cold water fell from the clouds, the village was dead¡ªas if there were no life outside the fearfully barricaded buildings that crowded the street. They were plain facades that glared at her coldly and dismissively. They had been familiar to Salome since childhood, and yet it always seemed as though the faces made from narrow windows and doors mocked her, casting scornful glances her way.


    Upon reaching the center of the village¡ªthe small round main square with the obelisk¡ªshe slowed her pace when she saw a few figures in gray coats wandering about. They were shopkeepers, closing up their stores on the edge of the square and entering the tavern with their collars turned up, waiting out the rain. For a while, no one would buy their wares. Not wanting to attract attention, Salome walked briskly yet composedly over the uneven cobblestones. As soon as she turned into one of the narrow alleys, she sped up.


    Soon, the edge of the village came into view, marked here as well by a waist-high wall of stacked stones. She crossed the wooden bridge behind the village, spanning the narrow brook, ignoring the dangerous creaking of the rotten planks. Along the way, she watched the horizon slowly blurred by gray streaks as the farthest world pillars vanished one after the other into a cold mist. The rain was drawing nearer.


    From the bridge, a narrow gravel road continued¡ªa path laid long ago that was gradually being reclaimed by the surrounding meadow. The road followed the brook upstream, but soon turned right, ascending the hill toward the forest¡¯s edge. The shower began as Salome reached the forest. The occasional plopping of the first droplets turned into a constant trickle and drumming, yet in the shade of the trees¡ªsurrounded by sparse shrubs and wildly growing creepers¡ªthe sounds seemed muffled and distant, like a hollow echo. She walked past crooked tree trunks, listening to the rain, yet she felt not a single drop on her. The vines and ivy had woven the canopy into an impenetrable shield so that the cold water only ran down the trunks or collected in certain spots, dripping onto the forest floor in small rivulets. Only the pale light from the gray clouds penetrated the foliage.


    Usually, no one ventured into the forest when it rained. Rumor had it that cloud devils and other fairy-tale creatures lurked beneath the leaves, but Salome had never seen any such beings. And she often came here. To her, the forest was a refuge where she could retreat without fearing the silence. In the cool, murmuring tranquility of the forest, she could escape the crushing unrest of home.


    Under the shelter of the leaves, she turned and watched as the village was buried under the rain. Light mists gathered like gauzy veils in front of the plain buildings, which seemed to huddle into the landscape as if trying to hide from one another. Sometimes, when she stood up there and looked down on her home, she wished the village would be swept away in the pouring rain so that she would never have to return. But she suspected that wish would never come true. So she turned her attention to the dim twilight of the forest.


    The distant murmur of the brook accompanied her, but it grew steadily fainter as she walked over the rustling forest floor. She didn¡¯t really have a destination. Following the rises and falls of the landscape, she savored the subdued calm, the drumming patter, the rustling and whispering. She listened as it converged into a rumbling river before finally drowning in its own noise, until nothing remained but a faint echo at the edge of her consciousness. As always, when she wandered like this, her thoughts drifted between the future and the past, in the interplay of shadows and dreams that on days like these emerged from the depths of her imagination and washed away her worries. Here, in this place, she could breathe a little easier.


    As much as she relished the calming quiet that differed so much from heavy silence, something about it was different today. A sound mingled with the drumming of the falling rain¡ªa strange, unreal tone that¡­ grew ever louder¡­


    Wait¡ªwas that a scream?


    Suddenly, from somewhere, the sound of leaves and plants being violently torn aside, of branches splintering and breaking under too much weight, filled the air. In her terror, Salome looked around frantically, only to realize far too late that the source of the noise was directly above her. Something heavy broke through the dense canopy, crashing down along with wet leaves and snapped branches onto Salome, who instinctively raised her arms above her head, burying her with a dull thud. A muffled scream escaped her as her face was pressed into the damp layers of withered foliage covering the forest floor. She flailed blindly for a moment, and all that could be heard was the dull thumping of her fists on something soft, until she finally managed to wriggle out from under the heavy object on her back. Gasping for air, she lay beside it. Her head throbbed with pain and, for a moment, she felt terribly nauseous. ¡°By the endless pillars,¡± she thought. ¡°What was that?¡±


    Slowly, and breathing heavily, she opened her eyes. Overhead in the canopy, a wide gap yawned through which weak rain fell, dribbling onto her face. She saw broken branches¡ªattached to the tree only by a single strip of bark and dangling loosely¡ªand here and there, wet leaves floated to the ground.


    ¡°Ouch,¡± she suddenly heard someone say. Startled, she turned her head and saw a boy lying beside her.


    He sat up clumsily and rubbed the back of his head, which throbbed with pain. Turning toward Salome, he asked drowsily, ¡°Uh¡­ is everything all right?¡±


    Salome just stared at him.


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m really sorry about that,¡± said the stranger, grinning awkwardly. In his disheveled black hair, brown leaves and tiny twigs clung about. Salome opened and closed her mouth a few times, simply too stunned to speak. Suddenly, she noticed the unpleasant chill of the damp ground seeping through her clothes, and she sprang up. Looking down at herself, she saw that wet leaves and forest dirt clung to her skirt and her shirt¡ªthe sleeves of which she had rolled up. Stepping aside so as not to stand beneath the hole in the tree canopy, she wiped off the coarsest grime. Her forearms were smeared with mud, and she really didn¡¯t want to know what her face looked like.


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    The boy also pushed himself up and wiped leaves and dirt from his clothes¡ªclothes that were extremely strange. He wore sturdy boots with turned-up flaps, leather trousers reinforced at the knees with a broad belt adorned with countless pouches and a small bag, and a deep green, almost black cloak with a dark brown fur collar, beneath which a grayish shirt peeked out. Everything about him seemed foreign, as if he came from far away. And what was up with his hair? Salome had never seen anyone with hair as raven-black as his.


    ¡°Is everything really all right?¡± he asked again.


    He couldn¡¯t be much older than Salome, even though he towered over her by a head. He stared at her unblinkingly and boldly.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ it¡¯s fine,¡± she mumbled softly. Yet something in his eyes seemed odd, though she couldn¡¯t quite place what it was.


    ¡°Great! You know, it¡¯s usually not my style to swoop down on others from above.¡± He grinned in a mischievous, almost childish way. ¡°But seriously now,¡± he continued, glancing upward, ¡°this whole thing doesn¡¯t feel right at all. One moment, everything goes black, and the next, I¡¯m free-falling. Seems I got lucky though. This could have ended damn painfully.¡± He looked around. ¡°Where exactly are we?¡±


    Had he hit his head? Salome looked up. He must have climbed one of the trees, yet she couldn¡¯t imagine what he was doing up there. And yet here she was, in the middle of nowhere, talking to a stranger who¡ªby the way¡ªkept looking her straight in the eyes. Lowering her gaze, she stammered, ¡°Well, my village isn¡¯t far from here¡­¡±


    The boy¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°Wonderful! Can you show me the way? I need to get an overview of this place first. Something doesn`t add up,¡± he said, casting a suspicious sideways glance at his surroundings.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ of course,¡± Salome replied, eyeing the nearby trees. What did he mean? From her perspective, he was the one who was off. ¡°It¡¯s not far. We have to go in this direction.¡± She wanted to get home as quickly as possible anyway¡ªto wash off the dirt and change her clothes. She silently prayed that no one in the village would see her like this before she reached home. She set off, and the stranger followed her gratefully.


    As they walked among the crooked tree trunks, Salome kept glancing over her shoulder. Each time he noticed, the stranger flashed her a smile. Thoughts raced through her mind. Who was this boy? What was with his clothing? Why was he acting so strangely? What was he doing out here? A part of her was bursting with curiosity, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to ask. What if he took offense? Her curiosity had gotten her into trouble so many times before¡­


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your name, anyway?¡± the stranger suddenly asked after a while.


    She started, ¡°Sa¡ªSalome.¡±


    ¡°What an unusual name. I¡¯ve never heard it before. But it has a nice ring to it.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ my name isn¡¯t that rare,¡± Salome replied.


    ¡°Really? By the way, I¡¯m Van. I come from a small, insignificant port town¡ªthe name won¡¯t mean anything to you.¡± He stepped a little closer so she wouldn¡¯t have to crane her neck every time he spoke.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite far from here, on an island in the west. At least, I think so.¡± He suddenly looked pensive. ¡°Hmm¡­ ever since my involuntary flying lesson just now, I¡¯ve completely lost my sense of direction. That never happens to me. Really strange.¡±


    Salome furrowed her brow. He came from the island states? But the sea was incredibly far from here! ¡°Say¡­ does everyone there wear things like you?¡± she asked, before she could stop herself.


    He looked down at himself. ¡°Why, is there something wrong with my clothes?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine! Forget I asked.¡± She quickened her pace a little. Always that stupid curiosity.


    The rain continued to drum on the dense canopy, but slowly the roaring rhythm gave way to a pattering jumble that swelled and ebbed. She could already make out the murmur of the brook in it, which meant they were near the forest edge.


    ¡°What is it with this forest?¡± asked Van.


    Salome looked at him, confused.


    ¡°Was that a strange question? I mean, the trees here look so gaunt and sick, and¡ª¡± He couldn¡¯t finish his sentence because at that moment they stepped out of the forest into the open.


    From their elevated vantage point, they could see the entire valley. Gray veils covered the land beneath dark clouds that heralded days of rain. Moist, fog-laden air pressed down on the villages, which huddled against the mountain slopes amid vast fields and meadows¡ªshy and unwelcoming like grim recluses who wanted to keep to themselves. Far away, through the distorted walls of rain, one could make out some of the world pillars¡ªthose gigantic structures, as large and wide as entire mountains, jutting from the ground and disappearing high among the clouds. The ever-wavering cloud masses swallowed the pillars like a boiling swamp, as if they despised the stone giants for the sacrilege of their touch. To their left, where the valley curved around a group of hills, dense black columns of smoke rose from the town¡¯s chimneys, which, despite the rain, carved a path to the clouds.


    Van fell to his knees.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Salome asked, startled. His face was suddenly as gray as ash. He looked like someone who had just woken from a terrible nightmare. Had he hit his head after all?


    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t believe it,¡± murmured the strange boy. ¡°This here¡­ this¡­ this is Fundament!¡±


    His wide-open eyes stared at the world at his feet, his arms hung limply, and he swallowed hard.


    ¡°Of course this is Fundament,¡± Salome said. ¡°What did you expect?¡±


    Slowly, he turned his head toward her. She could see the color returning to his damp face and a bright, almost mad gleam lighting his eyes. Suddenly, he sprang to his feet, began laughing loudly¡ªalmost hysterically¡ªand danced in the falling rain like a lunatic.


    ¡°I did it!¡± he shouted. ¡°I really did it!¡± he repeated over and over.


    Salome slowly backed away from him. She held her breath and took one cautious step after another backward, but Van paid her no heed, absorbed in his excessive celebration. He seemed to have completely forgotten about her.


    He¡¯s crazy, Salome thought. Absolutely crazy. She spun around on the spot and ran as fast as she could back toward the village. Whoever this boy was, he couldn¡¯t possibly be of sound mind. She knew stories of vagrants and lunatics, and she didn¡¯t want anything to do with them! Glancing over her shoulder as she ran, she saw a silhouette in the rain still flailing wildly. Mud and pebbles splashed around her where the water had not yet soaked into the ground, but Salome ignored the wetness. She strode in two large steps over the wooden bridge, slid across the paved streets of the lifeless village, not caring whether anyone was watching. Only when she slammed the heavy wooden door of her house behind her did she allow herself to breathe. In the half-dark foyer, she sank onto her heels and wrapped her arms around her knees. What was going on with that stranger? Terrifying¡­


    For a while, she sat there with her back to the door, listening to her own heartbeat and the dull patter of the rain. In her mind, she kept seeing the bright, wide-open eyes of the boy. In the forest¡¯s shadows, she had barely noticed them, but when illuminated by daylight, they shimmered green. Salome had never seen green eyes before.


    A musty smell rose to her nose. With a blank expression, she raised her arm and remembered that she was covered in dirt and soaked all over. Sighing, she got up and descended the narrow staircase to her right leading to the washroom. There, she removed her shirt, scrubbed her arms and legs with the lukewarm water from the morning, and finally cleaned her clothes. Meanwhile, she thought about the boy. Did he really come from the island states? Why was he acting so strangely? Was he truly crazy? He dressed oddly, roamed alone through deserted forests, even climbed trees¡­ though, some of those things applied to her as well. Was she crazy too? Would she eventually become like him? She shook her head and decided not to think about it any further. Let the cloud devils take him¡ªshe never wanted to see that stranger again.


    She hung her things over the tub to dry, put on a clean shirt, and then went up to her room. Sighing, she collapsed onto her bed and buried her face in the pillows. Why did such things always happen to her? All she wanted was to attract as little attention as possible, yet now a lunatic knew her name. What if he mentioned her in the village? She murmured muffled curses into her pillow. Maybe she shouldn¡¯t have run away. But now it was too late. Now, all she could do was pray.

 Chapter 3 - Its not that simple!

    The next morning, Salome was awakened by a faint, unusual scent that floated up the stairs. It smelled of spices and¡­ fried meat? How strange. In fact, no one besides her was supposed to be in the house. Had her father returned this morning? But then, he¡¯d hardly cook¡ªhe never did, actually. Maybe it was her mother? That would be unusual, she rarely came home from the city. Did her mother have something to do in the village? But Salome would have noticed if her mother had come home yesterday! Or maybe her sister was cooking down there¡­? No. That was completely impossible.


    Frowning, Salome crawled out of bed and opened her door. Now, she could clearly smell it. She slipped into one of the skirts she¡¯d carelessly tossed on the floor, tucked her shirt in, and tiptoed out of the room. As she set one foot on the first step of the stairs, she distinctly heard the unmistakable sound of a ladle striking the edge of a frying pan. Confused, she hurried down the stairs. Who, by the pillars, was cooking down there?


    She walked slowly through the living room. The kitchen lay beyond, separated by a simple, doorless passage. She could already hear the crackle of the stove fire. A few more steps, and there he was¡ªVan. The lunatic. With a ladle in one hand and a fork in the other.


    ¡°Ah, good morning, Salome,¡± he said in a chatty tone as he noticed her. ¡°Nice to see you!¡±


    Startled, Salome froze. ¡°Wh-what¡­¡± she stuttered.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare you,¡± he said innocently, ¡°I would have had to spend the night outside, and the rain just wouldn¡¯t stop. Who likes sleeping in the rain?¡±


    He smiled confidently, as if he just gave her a completely justified reason for being in her kitchen.


    ¡°How did you get in here?¡± Salome whispered.


    ¡°Well, through the door, what else?¡± he replied. He set the fork aside and turned to the spices neatly arranged in small cans on a wall shelf beside the stove. He selected one, unscrewed the lid, and sniffed its contents as a test before, with a satisfied hum, sprinkling a pinch over the meat that was quietly sizzling in a pan. ¡°I made enough for both of us. You¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Salome looked at him, then at the pan, and then back at him in astonishment. To avoid fainting on the spot, she slowly sat down at the kitchen table.


    ¡°Through the door¡­?¡± she murmured, more to herself than to Van. ¡°But I locked it¡­¡± Had she? She always took extra care with that, otherwise her father would lose his temper.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy finding you,¡± Van explained. ¡°The people here are strange. No one looked me in the eyes, everyone acted as if they had something important to do. Is it considered impolite to ask for directions around here?¡±


    In her mind, Salome saw him running all over the village with that open, idiotic grin, questioning everyone about her. She slowly put her hands on her head and pressed her forehead against the table.


    ¡°Is everything all right?¡± Van asked, concerned.


    ¡°Nothing is all right!¡± Salome cried out in despair without looking up. It was a catastrophe! ¡°Why did you look for me? What do you want from me?¡± Her voice nearly failed her as she spoke. She braced herself internally¡ªmaybe he was, in truth, a criminal trying to blackmail her? He couldn¡¯t possibly be sincere with all that cheerful, friendly fuss he made! It must be some kind of show to pursue a higher goal¡­


    Van didn¡¯t reply immediately, instead, he scooped some of the spiced meat onto two plates and set them on the table.


    ¡°You were suddenly gone yesterday, so I thought maybe I offended you,¡± he finally said. ¡°That¡¯s why¡­ I wanted to apologize. Just in case.¡±


    Salome peered up at him. He looked oddly embarrassed.


    ¡°And that¡¯s it¡­?¡± Had he broken into her house just to apologize? That was absurd.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± said Van, avoiding her gaze, ¡°I had maybe hoped that you could help me with a certain matter.¡±


    Aha. Salome tried to school her features as she waited for him to continue.


    ¡°It might be a bit more complicated than you think.¡± He sat down across from her at the table. ¡°First, I have to tell you something, a little thing you probably won¡¯t believe. The people I spoke to about it yesterday had absolutely no idea what I was talking about, everyone looked at me like I was nuts and avoided me. Maybe you¡¯ll do the same, but I ask you to listen to me first.¡±


    He took a deep breath. Suddenly, the carefree expression he always wore vanished, replaced by utter seriousness.


    ¡°I want you to help me get back home. But I come from a place that is¡­ well, as far from here as possible.¡± He raised a finger and pointed toward the ceiling. ¡°My home lies above the clouds.¡±


    He looked her squarely in the eyes. Not a muscle moved, not a corner of his mouth twitched. He was completely serious.


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    ¡°You¡¯re crazy,¡± Salome said. ¡°Completely crazy.¡±


    She sprang up so quickly that her chair toppled over with a loud crash. Then she stomped toward the front door in large strides.


    ¡°Salome¡­ Salome! Wait!¡± Van called after her, but she didn¡¯t consider stopping for a moment. Furious, she pulled on her boots and left the house. She¡¯d had enough. At that moment, she didn¡¯t care who saw her nor did she give a damn about the light drizzle that was falling from the sky and that would soon drench her. She just wanted to get away¡ªto someplace where no one could make fun of her. What was he thinking? Above the clouds? How was that supposed to work! She was a fool for expecting a sensible answer from a lunatic!


    ¡°Salome! Listen to me!¡± Van called after her.


    ¡°Leave me alone! Get lost!¡± she shouted without looking back. She noticed an old man ambling along with his cane up the street, casting a disapproving glance at her. Ashamed, she lowered her head. How must this look to others! This day was even worse than yesterday!


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you listen to me?¡± Van ran after her. He would soon catch up. She turned into a side street bordered by bare walls.


    ¡°Wait. Please.¡± Van put his hand on her shoulder from behind, forcing her to stop. ¡°Surely you¡¯ve heard of a place above the clouds at least once, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Brushing his hand aside with a brusque gesture, Salome glared up at him. ¡°Don¡¯t make a fool of me. If you want to tell fairy tales, find someone else. Or are you just here to make fun of me?¡±


    Van, taken aback by her sudden intensity, stepped back in astonishment, but quickly regained his composure.


    ¡°I¡¯m not telling fairy tales!¡± he said emphatically. ¡°I really do come from there!¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Salome scoffed, rolling her eyes. She turned to leave, but Van quickly stepped in her way.


    ¡°Why should I lie to you?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re crazy!¡±


    ¡°Do I look crazy to you?¡±


    Salome looked him up and down with a meaningful stare.


    ¡°I may seem strange to you, but have you ever thought about why? Maybe because I¡¯m not from here? Because your customs, your world, your way of life are completely foreign to me? Honestly, from my point of view, you¡¯re the crazy ones!¡±


    ¡°There can be no place above the clouds! That¡¯s impossible!¡± Salome exclaimed, agitated.


    ¡°Excuse me? What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± asked Van.


    ¡°I just know it,¡± said Salome, clenching her fists. ¡°Everyone knows it. There is nothing above us but clouds.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s nonsense!¡± Van said bewildered.


    Salome tried to stride past him, but he wouldn¡¯t let her.


    ¡°And what about the world pillars?¡± he asked. ¡°Do you think they just stop when they touch the clouds?¡±


    ¡°The pillars are infinite. They are the guardians that protect our world from the great emptiness,¡± Salome stated simply. ¡°Besides, one does not talk about them,¡± she added with a sidelong glance at the street. ¡°Neither the pillars nor the clouds. I can¡¯t believe I still have to explain that to someone your age!¡± The pillars¡ªand the clouds themselves¡ªwere taboo subjects, not to be mentioned lightly. It was frowned upon if someone kept staring at the sky. Having their head in the clouds it was called, and it was associated with rudeness and poor table manners.


    ¡°The pillars are¡­ what?¡± Van asked incredulously. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this!¡± Salome snapped irritably. ¡°If you¡ª¡±


    Van slowly let his hands drop and turned his back to her. He stood there with his head bowed, and Salome noticed his shoulders trembling. She was sure he would start yelling at her in anger any moment, like a child whose tall tales no one believed. Cautiously, she took a step back, but he didn¡¯t move or speak.


    ¡°Van¡­?¡± she asked softly.


    ¡°What happened to this world?¡± Van murmured, casting a brief look her way. His face was half obscured by his long, wet black hair from the drizzle. ¡°Everything is so desolate, and people have even forgotten the sky¡­¡± He trudged to the edge of the alley with his shoulders slumped and sat on the steps of a staircase leading to an inconspicuous back entrance.


    Salome didn¡¯t know what to say. Her anger had evaporated the moment she saw his eyes. She regarded him thoughtfully, as he sat there with a fixed gaze reflecting a deep, warm pain. She knew no one who revealed their innermost self as freely and honestly as him, like an innocent child with no fear of the world and its people. It was almost as if he came from an entirely different world¡ªbut that couldn¡¯t be.


    Her gaze fell on a world pillar jutting out between the gables of two roofs. What was that supposed to mean? How could something exist above the clouds? Clouds were the edge of the great emptiness, the beginning of the end. They were all that remained of the world after it was touched by decay. She had never heard of a place above, let alone considered the possibility. The notion seemed completely absurd¡ªit would call every doctrine into question, everything she knew. It was simply impossible.


    Salome shook her head vigorously. No, that was merely the wild fantasy of a poor, crazy boy. But it didn¡¯t change the fact that she had to do something about Van. He had already done her enough harm, and if she didn¡¯t find a way to get rid of him, he would keep coming back. He clearly had no idea how decent people behaved. If they were seen together, it could completely ruin her already bad reputation in the village. And yet¡­ something about his words intrigued her. She felt her mind racing towards ideas she clearly shouldn¡¯t have, formulating questions she never would have dared to ask, not after everything she had to endure in the past because she just couldn¡¯t keep her mouth shut.


    On a sudden impulse, remembering why Van had come to her, she stepped forward and crouched down. ¡°Van, you¡­ said I should help you get back home. Maybe I can do that.¡±


    His sad gaze met hers. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t believe me?¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter right now. You can¡¯t stay here forever, and wherever you came from, I guess I¡­ will help you as best as I can. I¡¯ll try, at least.¡±


    His expression brightened. ¡°Really? You would do that?¡± He leapt up, his eyes shining as if transformed. ¡°I knew I could count on you from the moment I fell on you!¡±


    Salome pressed her lips together and tried to force a smile. She absolutely needed to make sure Van kept his distance. If she pretended to agree to his request, maybe he would leave her alone. At least, that¡¯s what she told herself she was doing. ¡°And how exactly am I supposed to help you?¡± she asked cautiously.


    ¡°We¡¯ll meet again here tomorrow at first light. Prepare yourself¡ªwe might be on the road for a while!¡±


    He stood up. ¡°I have to take care of something first. See you!¡± With that, he hurried out of the side street and disappeared from Salome¡¯s view before she could stop him. What could he possibly be planning? But whatever it was, she would find out soon enough. If she wanted to get rid of him, she¡¯d have to play along, one way or another.

 Chapter 4 - What could possibly go wrong?

    Torn between reason, common sense, and the absurd stories of an alleged fool, Salome stood in the narrow, gloomy side alley the next morning, before the first dim rays of light touched the horizon. She had slipped away from home as inconspicuously as possible¡ªwhich was hardly a challenge when no one was around anyway. Originally, she had planned to leave a message to explain her absence, but in the end she decided against it. Salome did not expect anyone to look for her so soon. Besides, she hoped to be back before anyone even noticed she was gone.


    Not knowing what lay ahead, she had gathered her ¡°gear¡± and was now wearing a good, sturdy pair of trousers instead of her usual neat skirt, along with a dark shirt, a long?sleeved vest of warm wool, and her best boots, which were fit for long marches even through difficult terrain. Her hair was braided into a simple plait. She had also brought her leather backpack, which she had stuffed to the brim with useful items and provisions for one or two days. Since it wasn¡¯t raining at the moment, she had rolled up her oilcloth coat and strapped it securely on top of her backpack.


    Now she sat on the steps of the small staircase, impatiently waiting for Van. She had promised to help him, yet inwardly she already cursed herself for making that offer. If only she could finally keep her curiosity in check¡­ She had spent the whole night tossing and turning, agonizing over her situation until she was convinced she was now in an even bigger mess than before.


    With a groan, she buried her face in her hands. She had no idea what that madman was up to, or how he planned to return to his imaginary home above the clouds. Why did he insist so strongly that this place existed? It was simply ridiculous.


    At that moment, Van rounded the corner, almost at the same time as the first feeble glimmer transformed the darkness of night into the gloom of morning. A dark crust covered parts of his clothes, as if he had rolled in wet mud several times, and along with the dirt and leaves in his hair now also clung small twigs and pieces of tree bark. What, by the pillars, had he been doing all night? At least it hadn¡¯t rained since yesterday, so his clothing looked fairly dry.


    ¡°You really did come,¡± he said. ¡°I thought you just wanted to get rid of me.¡±


    ¡°What? Uh¡­¡± she stammered. Awkwardly trying to change the topic, she pointed at his clothes. ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡­ don¡¯t worry about it,¡± he replied, patting dried earth off his sleeves. ¡°I was in the forest again yesterday. Looking for something.¡±


    ¡°And did you find it?¡±


    ¡°Yep. Took quite a while though.¡± He reached into the collar of his shirt and produced a small pendant, attached to a simple necklace with fine silver chain links. It was a compass, as far as Salome could tell. A beautifully crafted one, adorned with gold and silver, whose needle spun wildly in circles as if it were broken. But Van quickly hid the trinket back in his shirt before she could take a closer look.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m leaving this place without this. It hung on a branch in plain sight, can you imagine? Just had a little bit of a hard time getting up there.¡± He brushed off some more dirt.


    ¡°So then, let¡¯s get going!¡± he suddenly declared, full of enthusiasm, spinning around on the spot. Then he walked cheerfully along the alley without caring whether Salome followed him or not. For a brief moment, she considered just running away and hoping he would forget about her. But deep down she knew that this was not what she wanted. So, gripping the strap of her backpack tighter, she ran after the strange boy.


    They avoided the wide main road and left the village on a narrow, beaten path that wound its way down to the center of the valley. At that hour, hardly anyone was out¡ªat most a few farmers preparing for work in the fields. The area around the village consisted mainly of grain fields and some pastures for livestock, all enclosed by low walls made of stones stacked on top of each other. The farmers were meticulous about every hand¡¯s breadth of land they owned, for no one liked to share their property with others. In between, scattered barns dotted the landscape. It quickly grew brighter, and soon in the distance one could see a few of the slowly rattling carts of coachmen, making their way along the large country road by the river to the city.


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty cold today,¡± said Van, pulling his coat tighter around himself. ¡°At least there¡¯s no wind, or else we¡¯d freeze our butts off. Is it always this cold here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not really that cold,¡± Salome replied. ¡°And what is a wind?¡±


    Van suddenly stopped. He looked at her as if she had claimed she could fly.


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    ¡°What¡¯s¡­ wrong?¡± she asked, uncertainly.


    ¡°You must be joking,¡± said Van. ¡°You really don¡¯t know what wind is? Wait¡ªdoes that mean¡­?¡± He looked around in every direction, even at the sky, and then, for some reason, put his finger in his mouth and held it up.


    Salome had no idea what he was talking about. Strangely, the absence of this wind seemed to affect him greatly.


    ¡°So what is a wind then?¡± she asked again.


    ¡°Well, you know,¡± said Van, struggling for words, ¡°that breeze, that¡­ invisible stream that flows through the air! By the pillars, how am I supposed to explain what wind is?¡±


    An invisible stream, then. Salome did not ask further. That must have been one of his wild fantasies, and she really did not want to know more about it.


    ¡°So there is no wind in Fundament,¡± Van stated in disbelief, shaking his head slowly, as if dazed. ¡°I was wondering why it¡¯s been so windless all this time! Simply unbelievable. This world is so different from everything I¡¯ve ever seen. And I¡¯ve been around a lot, I tell you.¡± He looked up at the roiling clouds and murmured to himself, ¡°Does that mean there are no storms here either¡­?¡±


    Salome gave him a confused sideways glance, but ¨C with some effort ¨C she decided not to pursue the matter further. Who knew what twisted ideas might be haunting the mind of a madman?


    They soon reached the large country road and followed it westward, down the valley, letting the scattered farmsteads flow by slowly. Occasionally, they passed small flocks of sheep that bleated at them listlessly. Now and then, the melancholic tinkling of large cowbells echoed over the fields. Far ahead, hidden by a low mountain ridge, lay the city whose furnaces polluted the air and darkened the already weak daylight with columns of black smoke.


    A cart pulled by a pair of horses slowly approached. From here, Salome could already hear the grumpy cursing and swearing of the coachman as he rumbled over one of the countless potholes, that, thanks to the frequent rains, were difficult to repair. They gave way to him, and as he passed by, the old man with the leathery face eyed them suspiciously. Van looked up with a dumb grin, while Salome kept her head down and avoided his gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a grumpy old codger!¡± Van laughed as the man was a good distance away. ¡°Practically smelled of bad mood!¡±


    Salome didn¡¯t know what he found so funny. She was just glad that the old man was headed for the city and not her village, where he might have mentioned her during a visit to the tavern. Those people loved to gossip, and if one wanted to avoid unnecessary rumors, one should steer clear of them.


    As they walked on, Salome asked, ¡°Tell me, where exactly are you going? If I¡¯m supposed to help, you at least got to tell me what you¡¯re planning.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± said Van, ¡°to be honest, I have no idea how I¡¯m going to get back home. Oh, come on, don¡¯t look at me like that! I don¡¯t even know exactly how I ended up in Fundament!¡± Van awkwardly averted Salome¡¯s reproachful look. ¡°But that¡¯s why I thought maybe we could find a clue there.¡± He pointed northwest, toward the next world pillar.


    Salome¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°What? But we¡¯re not allowed to go there!¡±


    ¡°Aw, come on. What could possibly happen?¡± said Van with a shrug. ¡°We¡¯re just going to take a look. Besides, I can¡¯t wait to visit the foot of a world pillar. I¡¯ve always dreamed of that.¡±


    ¡°But it is said that great misfortune befalls those who enter the forbidden zone!¡±


    Van laughed merrily. ¡°Where did you hear that? Don¡¯t worry, nothing¡¯s gonna happen to us.¡±


    Salome was anything but convinced. But turning back now was pointless. If it meant she could be rid of Van, she would even go as far as getting close to the world pillar! Surprisingly, she felt a surge of excitement well up within her. The pillars were a part of her world, just like the mountains and forests¡ªordinary things that one overlooked unless one consciously paid attention. But it hadn¡¯t always been that way. Salome could still vividly remember how, as a child, she always watched the pillars from afar. Of course she knew the stories told in the village¡ªstories of children who played too close to a pillar and disappeared forever, or of dark figures and evil creatures that lurked there and hunted people. But all that talk, all the whispers, the prohibitions and warnings had been like fuel that ignited the imagination of her young mind and gave those towering structures an aura of danger and mystery, so that back then they appeared to her like black towers entwined with mist jutting out from the landscape. It was a childlike curiosity¡ªa thrill for the forbidden¡ªthat only reemerged in the following years of her life. The idea of breaking the rule now made that old curiosity flare up in her.


    They soon approached a wooden bridge that spanned the river¡ªa practical structure that floated on the water and could be pushed aside by boats using long poles when they needed to pass. Van walked merrily over the planks, which swayed slightly in the water, and even jumped around briefly, causing a gurgling sound in the gentle current.


    Across the fields on the other bank, the network of unpaved country roads continued, just wide enough for plows pulled by mules. They followed these paths to the foot of the low mountain range on the far side of the valley, having to avoid the muddy ruts along the way. Then they hiked uphill across wet meadows with knee?high grass until they reached the edge of the forest. Van trudged straight between the crooked tree trunks into the undergrowth, but Salome stopped and, somewhat surprised, examined the dark, gnarled bark right before her eyes.


    She turned around and let her gaze wander over the landscape. It was strange how quickly they had crossed the valley. They had hardly hurried, yet barely two hours had passed since they set out. In the end, the valley was nothing more than a narrow, insignificant crack in the land. It felt odd to view the fields and river from the other side after so long. She could see her village¡ªsmall and insignificant¡ªjust a part of an equally small and unimportant world. And she would spend her whole life there.


    ¡°Come on!¡± Van called from somewhere in the forest ahead of her. Shaking her head, she turned away from the view and followed him.

 Chapter 5 - The world pillar

    On the uphill path, Salome managed to peek through a few gaps in the foliage at a gray mass, and it became uncomfortably clear to her that it was not clouds she saw.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be there soon,¡± Van said excitedly. Sweat beaded on his forehead, yet there wasn¡¯t a hint of tiredness in his lively eyes. ¡°Just down the slope! Make sure you don¡¯t slip!¡±


    When they finally reached the edge of the forest, Salomes legs trembled from exertion. She stood bent over with her hands resting on her thighs and took a deep breath. Her growing excitement had driven her to go faster and faster through the woods as she imagined what she would find at the foot of the world pillar. Once she had gathered herself somewhat, she straightened up and looked at what lay before her.


    The world pillar towered about two hundred paces ahead and filled her entire field of vision. It was so massive that for miles to her left and right there was nothing but grey stone that divided the world into two halves. In awe, Salome¡¯s gaze wandered up the pillar all the way to the clouds, where the storm?gray masses enveloped the colossal structure like a rock in the surf. She quickly looked back down.


    Between the edge of the forest and the grey stone of the pillar lay a vast open area that was almost completely bare and empty. Only low grass grew there, looking as if it had just been grazed by a flock of sheep. Otherwise, there were no trees, bushes, or any other plants. Not even small stones or the like jutted out from the flat ground¡ªeverything was perfectly even. And then there was a wooden fence that stretched just behind the edge of the forest around the entire area, as far as Salome could see. It marked the forbidden zone, but it was completely dilapidated and rotten. Everything looked so abandoned, as if no one had been there for ages.


    Van climbed over the fence without hesitation and entered the open space.


    ¡°Do you think anyone is keeping this place clean?¡± he asked, looking around. ¡°Or is it normal that nothing grows near a world pillar except grass?¡± He continued on.


    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Salome called nervously. ¡°What if someone sees us here?¡± She dared not step out of the shadow of the trees.


    ¡°Does it matter? We¡¯re not doing anything forbidden.¡± He stopped. ¡°What are you waiting for? Come on, hurry up!¡±


    Salome gave him a sullen look. Of course they were doing something forbidden! Every child knew that one was not allowed to approach the pillars. Moreover, the strange emptiness that filled this place felt anything but comforting to her. It wasn¡¯t the heavy, uncomfortable emptiness that one might feel on open plains, but the cold, dividing sharpness of a boundary. Yet Van didn¡¯t seem to care at all, and when Salome said nothing more, he turned his attention back to the pillar and walked toward it in awe. Salome was left alone behind.


    Slowly, she became aware of the dim twilight of the forest. Her nervousness and the many spooky stories of old made her think every few moments that she saw a shadow darting out from behind a tree or heard a branch crack behind her, as if someone¡ªor something¡ªhad stepped on it. Her heart began to race. She kept glancing behind her and then at Van, who was moving further and further away.


    ¡°Oh, damn it!¡± she finally hissed and clumsily climbed over the fence. She did not look back and ran straight to the boy.


    ¡°So this is what the other side of a world pillar looks like,¡± Van said. He had his arms crossed and stared thoughtfully at the massive stone wall before him. The dark pillar merged so seamlessly into the meadow that it looked as if it had grown from the ground. Presumably it had, Salome thought¡ªafter all, the world pillars had existed since the beginning of time.


    Van placed a hand on the stone. Being so close to the pillar, it felt to Salome as if she were standing at the end of the world¡ªa world that existed only up to this wall, and no further.


    ¡°Well, we¡¯re here, just as you wanted. And now what?¡± she asked, unable to stop nervously turning her head and watching the forest¡¯s edge. She felt exposed and terribly uneasy. More than anything, she wished she could leave this place as quickly as possible.


    ¡°No idea,¡± said Van.


    ¡°What do you mean, no idea?¡± Salome looked at him incredulously. ¡°Why did we come here then?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. I thought maybe there¡¯d be some clue here, a hint of how to get back. But there¡¯s¡­ well, nothing.¡± Van didn¡¯t look at her, but continued scrutinizing the rough stone before him.


    ¡°Should have known from the start,¡± Salome muttered, more to herself than to him. She took a deep breath. He was crazy¡ªwhat had she expected?


    ¡°Listen, Van, maybe this is just the wrong spot. Maybe we need to try another part of the pillar?¡± she said, deciding to play along a little while longer.


    Van¡¯s expression brightened. ¡°Good idea. That might actually work.¡± He looked first to the left and then to the right. ¡°Let¡¯s try going that way.¡±


    So they marched along the pillar, continuously searching the stone wall for any peculiarities, like uneven spots or hidden notches for example. Despite her excitement, Salome was only partially focused on the task, as she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. There was nothing and no one to be seen for miles, but what if someone was hiding over there in the forest? What if the ministry¡¯s pursuers caught her here? She constantly listened for human voices, yet the echo of their footsteps on the hard ground reflected by the pillar was the only sound reaching her ears. After nearly an hour of tense creeping, her nerves were frayed.


    ¡°Van, why don¡¯t we take a little break?¡± she said wearily.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ sounds good,¡± Van replied absent-mindedly. His initial enthusiasm had faded considerably. Salome stepped a few paces aside and sat cross-legged in the grass. She deliberately sat with her back to the forest edge so that she wouldn¡¯t keep nervously glancing over there.


    She didn¡¯t know what time it was, but it could be at most noon or early afternoon. After all, they had been on the move since dawn. With a restrained yawn, she opened her backpack and took out a loaf of bread wrapped in paper. She tore off a large piece and handed it to Van.


    ¡°Here, eat this. You¡¯re hungry, right?¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± said Van as he accepted it absent-mindedly. His mind was elsewhere.


    ¡°Van¡­ I don¡¯t think we¡¯re going to find anything here,¡± Salome said cautiously. ¡°There¡¯s nothing here. If there were something special to discover, someone surely would have found it already, and then everyone would know about it.¡±


    ¡°But where else am I supposed to search?¡± Van asked seriously. ¡°Maybe¡­ maybe we¡¯re doing something wrong. In stories, you always have to find a password before the hidden Path opens!¡±


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    He stepped in front of the gray colossus and began theatrically reciting some phrases. At first, they were simple commands like ¡°Open up!¡± or ¡°Bring me back up!¡± but when that didn¡¯t work, he switched to childish rhymes and even poems. Eventually, he moved on to meaningless, presumably made?up words.


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to accomplish?¡± Salome sighed. She rested her head on one hand and plucked some blades of grass with the other. ¡°Do you think if you keep this up, a hidden door will open and reveal a staircase? That¡¯s just pointless.¡±


    Van paused in his litany. ¡°You¡¯re probably right,¡± he said after a while, letting his shoulders drop. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± asked Salome.


    ¡°Forget it, never mind,¡± said Van. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just look for another way home.¡± He turned to her and smiled sadly. ¡°Thank you so much for coming with me. I really appreciate it, truly.¡± He looked up and stared longingly into the clouds. Then he shook his head, as if trying to pull himself together, took a deep breath, and straightened his shoulders. When he looked at Salome again, his usual grin had returned.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here.¡± He held out his hand, and she allowed him to help her up. Then he turned in the direction they had come from. Salome brushed a few blades of grass off her trousers. After a brief hesitation, she approached the world pillar and cautiously placed a hand on the cold stone for the first time. Van was crazy, but he undoubtedly had a flourishing imagination. A place above the clouds? Invisible streams that float through the air? She shook her head. What had happened to him that made him run so stubbornly from reality? And yet, somehow, she could relate. She, too, had once dreamed of fantastic worlds, closing her eyes and wishing herself away to a place far from all the pain, all the rules and boundaries that bound her every step. The hopelessness and sorrow she sometimes felt must have weighed heavily on him as well. But eventually, you get used to the pain. You stand numb in the rain and accepted that you¡¯re insignificant in the course of things and have no influence over injustice. Eventually, you just turn away from the horizon and stop tugging at the chains. If one is reprimanded for every wrong question, is it even worth asking at all?


    She looked up at the steep wall, gazing at the clouds as if they were an inverted abyss. How beautiful it would be if Van¡¯s words were true¡ªif there was more. More than this grey, rainy, lost world¡­


    ¡°Oh by the way, Salome, I just remembered¡ª¡± Van began, placing a hand on her shoulder.


    Then things escalated.


    From somewhere a deep, penetrating rumble suddenly sounded. It was quiet at first, barely audible, but it made Salome perk up in alarm. Van paused in mid?sentence and did the same, yet the rumble was like distant thunder, coming from no discernible direction. The ominous sound rapidly grew louder, like a rock avalanche tumbling down a mountainside, dragging more and more stones and rubble along with it. In a very short time, it swelled into a heart?stopping roar until Salome felt as though her head was about to burst. With a scream, she fell to her knees and pressed her hands over her ears, yet her voice was completely swallowed by the sudden, all?encompassing noise that came from all directions at once¡ªand, worse still, seemed to emanate from her own body. Hot?cold waves spread deep within her, surging through her mind and distorting her senses, yet at the same time she perceived the world far more clearly than ever before. Everything moved incredibly slowly, as if time itself had gone off track. There was Van, his face twisted in pain, pressing his hands to his ears and crouching on the ground, just as she had. His eyes were like mirrors of infinity, and the grinding of his clenched teeth was almost palpable. And then, in the midst of that deep, roaring, frozen moment, bottomless darkness enveloped Salome like the darkest night over the brightest day.


    Once, as a child, Salome had fainted because she had to stand in one place for too long. She still clearly remembered how she tried to keep completely still and perfectly straight while a tailor took her measurements for new clothes. The next moment she had opened her eyes while lying on a bed, completely confused and disoriented. It was much the same now as she slowly came to herself. Everything was spinning in her head and she felt terribly nauseous. Every heartbeat pumped blood painfully through her temples, making her gasp softly. What had happened? She lay on her stomach, with blades of grass tickling her face. Moaning, she turned onto her back and covered her eyes with an arm. If this racing headache didn¡¯t subside soon, she wouldn¡¯t be able to think clearly for a while. A faint humming filled her ears.


    Very slowly, the pain in her head ebbed away and the numbness began to leave her body. Why was she so warm? And how long had she been lying here? She lifted her arm from her face and tried to open her eyelids, but the blindingly bright light brought tears to her eyes. ¡°By the pillars, why is it so bright?¡± she wondered. She waited a while until she got used to the light flooding through her lids, tried opening her eyes again¡ªand stared into endless, deep blue. She blinked a few times, but she wasn¡¯t imagining things. With every closing and opening of her eyes, the color appeared even clearer and¡­ more real than moments before. Slowly, she sat up, unable to take her eyes off the endless expanse unfolding before her. She had never seen such a beautiful blue. Sitting there with her mouth open, she was lost in the overwhelming sight. Only gradually did she begin to realize what exactly she was marveling at. That infinity high above her head ¨C that was the sky. But why was it blue? What did that mean?


    Before she could start puzzling over it, something else entirely drew her attention. The bright light that dazzled her came from a glaring disc that hovered in the west above the horizon. Salome stared at it in astonishment. At least she wanted to, but every time she looked toward the disc¡ªwrapped in white and golden fire¡ªher eyes began to water from the intense brightness, and she had to look away.


    Frozen with fright, she looked down at the tips of her boots. Her heart began to race. What was going on here? Where was she? Memories of pain and noise surged up within her. In her mind¡¯s eye, she saw Van staring at her with a distorted face, a silent scream on his lips. What had happened? The world pillar¡­ of course! The stories must have been true after all! Oh, by the pillars, she should never have accompanied Van. How could she have been so foolish?


    Salome began to internally curse and berate herself wildly, but then an unusual detail entered her consciousness. She had been looking at it the whole time without really noticing: the grass in which she sat was moving. Very slowly, it swayed back and forth. And not only was the grass behaving strangely, but her hair was also being lightly lifted repeatedly. Her braid must have come undone at some point, and now individual light?blonde strands danced before her eyes. She noticed that something was tugging at her clothes and seemed to be¡­ enveloping her body¡­


    Completely overwhelmed, she began to perceive more and more of her surroundings. She found herself on a vast, rustling meadow. In the light of the glaring disc, the lush grass appeared incomparably more vibrant and much richer than she could have ever deemed possible. Whatever was enveloping her caused the blades of grass to sway, so that gentle waves rippled over the landscape and the air was filled with a soft rustling. Salome couldn¡¯t think clearly as wonder after wonder unfolded before her. With her eyes wide open, she pushed herself up and stood. Not far from her, the ground simply ceased to exist¡ªshe couldn¡¯t describe it any other way.


    A vast sea of swirling and undulating clouds spread out at her feet¡ªa roiling mass of the purest substance that stretched to the distant horizon, where it melted and merged with the all?encompassing sky.


    A sea of clouds.


    The world pillars jutted out of this sea like a bright forest of ancient stone and cast long shadows on the gleaming white¡ªbut they were far from infinite. Upward, they widened in a funnel shape and supported gigantic plateaus¡ªflat islands on which breathtaking landscapes bloomed. Salome saw mountains, forests, grassy plains, and hunchbacked chains of hills; she saw shimmering lakes and rivers that flowed in winding paths like gold?blue silk and poured noisily over the edge of the plateaus into the abyss. Some pillars ended just above the surging cloud masses, while others seemed broken off or reached far up into the deep blue sky. Countless scraps of cloud floated through the air. Some glided weightlessly just above the ground near Salome, moistening the grass in their path and leaving traces of tiny, shimmering droplets in which the warm light refracted. The glaring brightness, the abundance of colors bursting with life, and all the incredible, impossible impressions that pelted Salome literally took her breath away. Without knowing why, she began to cry. Tears streamed down her cheeks, beacons of color flooding her heart, yet she couldn¡¯t tear her eyes away from the wonders surrounding her.


    A soft groan pulled her out of her astonishment. Not far from her, Van lay on the ground, just coming back to himself¡ªshe had completely overlooked him. He got up unsteadily and then stopped in surprise as he recognized his surroundings.


    ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± he whispered. He looked at Salome, who stared at him with wet cheeks and trembling lips.


    ¡°Welcome to Firmament,¡± he said with a wink. ¡°Do you believe me now?¡±

 Chapter 6 - A new world

    Salome sat on a flat stone that jutted out of the tall grass, her elbows resting on her knees and her head cradled in her hands. She had been sitting like that for hours, almost in a daze, with a fixed stare. And still she expected that in the next moment she would open her eyes in her bed at home and wake up from this crazy dream her imagination had conjured. But all her senses reported to her with an intensity she had never experienced before things that could not possibly have arisen from the confused mind of a simple girl. She had always valued her imagination highly, but this was¡­


    Deep beneath her, a vast sea of clouds roiled, stretching like a white infinity from horizon to horizon. A cloud ocean. Salome could hardly believe it, even after hours of staring at the sluggish mass. The ever-gray layer of clouds that had rumbled over her head all her life now lay softly and purely at her feet, as flawless and untouched as a field in winter after the first snowfall. Occasionally, Salome was overcome by a fit of dizziness, as her stomach apparently did not like to view the clouds from the opposite direction.


    She sat there silently, listening to the omnipresent, soothing rustle of the blades of grass swaying back and forth in the constant breath of air, as if waves were moving over the plain like over the surface of a still lake. She had long since given up trying to brush away the strands of hair that were constantly blown into her face. According to Van, these invisible streams in the air were called wind. At first, they had seemed eerie to Salome, but she had to admit that she now found the wind quite pleasant. Its gentle touch on her skin, the constant, playful tug at her clothes, the way it seemed to breathe life into everything¡­ And all the sounds and scents riding on it! She closed her eyes, listening to the chirping of countless insects, the distant song of unfamiliar birds, she smelled the fresh earth, the warmth¡­


    Firmament.


    Salome whispered the word, the name, letting it melt on her tongue and savoring the sweet, exciting foreignness of its sound. It was the name of a place that was not supposed to exist at all. A place, no¡ªa whole world above the clouds, where nothing but a void ravaged by eternal decay should exist. She sat on a vast plain under an impossibly blue sky, looking at a world illuminated by the golden light of a glaring disc, a world where there should be none. But she was here, there was no doubt about it. All around her, the mighty world pillars rose, their shadows lying on the clouds like the hands of enormous clocks, slowly ticking along their predetermined paths. However, as Salome noted once again, they had lost something of their supposed infinity. The vast plateaus growing from the top of each pillar had never been mentioned. For the thousandth time she tried to make sense of this obvious inconsistency, but as always only two plausible explanations remained: either the lessons drilled into every resident of Fundament from childhood were all lies, or the people in her homeland really had no idea what was happening above their heads.


    ¡°Am I imagining things or did you not move at all since I left?¡± Van¡¯s voice suddenly rang out behind her. Salome turned and looked up at the boy standing at the end of a trail of trampled grass.


    ¡°Really?¡± she asked slowly. Van looked at her with amusement, then sighed and dropped down into the grass beside her.


    ¡°I found a place further back where we can spend the night. Nothing special, but still better than sleeping under the open sky.¡± When Salome did not reply, he looked up at her. ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    She didn¡¯t answer immediately but stared off into the distance. After a while, she said, ¡°This is real, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Van snorted. ¡°How many times are you gonna ask me that? The answer will always be the same, trust me.¡± He tilted his head back and gazed at the sky. ¡°But yeah, I get you. I felt the same when I discovered Fundament. You were there, remember?¡±


    Salome said nothing, instead letting her gaze wander for a while longer. Van had danced and laughed with joy at the sight of her homeland. She, on the other hand¡­ Everything around her was so new, so fascinating, so breathtakingly beautiful. How was she supposed to react to the sight of all these overwhelming wonders? For most of them she didn¡¯t even have a name!


    ¡°So, what exactly do you plan to do now that we¡¯re in Firmament?¡± she asked eventually.


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    ¡°For starters, dinner would be nice,¡± Van mumbled. ¡°By the pillars, I¡¯m starving! About time we got something between our teeth.¡±


    Now, as Van mentioned it, Salome also became aware of her empty stomach. With all the new impressions bombarding her at the moment, she had simply forgotten her hunger.


    ¡°About the stuff you had in your backpack¡­  guess we can forget about that¡± Van said, a little disappointed. ¡°A real shame it disappeared. Let¡¯s see if I have anything left.¡± He opened the bundle that was tied to his belt and produced two small, battered green apples, followed by two more. He gave the last two to Salome. ¡°Here. Brought these from your home. I hope no one misses them. Those are apples, right? Never seen such puny little things.¡±


    Salome frowned as she looked at the apples in her hand. How else were they supposed to look? And why did Van act as if it were the most normal thing in the world to take things from other people¡¯s houses?


    ¡°Apples are apples,¡± Salome said and bit into one of them. It tasted sour, but at least it was still reasonably fresh, and it helped stave off the hunger. She would have loved to have some of the bread in her backpack, but that was nowhere to be found since she woke up in Firmament. A shame. She had liked that backpack.


    It was a meager meal, but better than nothing. Afterwards, Salome asked her question once again: ¡°So, what exactly do you plan to do now? You really wanted to go back home. There must be a reason for that, right?¡±


    ¡°Very perceptive of you,¡± Van replied teasingly as he swallowed the last bite of his apple. ¡°Never told you why I came to Fundament, did I? There were several reasons, but¡­ I was looking for someone. My mother.¡± He let his gaze drift over the cloud ocean. ¡°She''s a navigator, you see? One of the best in all of Firmament. Every expedition wanted to hire her. Couldn¡¯t save herself from offers.¡± He paused. ¡°And I think she found a way to Fundament.¡±


    ¡°So you met her?¡± Salome asked.


    Van fell silent for a moment before answering. ¡°No. She wasn¡¯t there.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that? You were only there for, like, two days¡ª¡±


    ¡°She wasn¡¯t there!¡± Van interrupted her. ¡°I¡¯m sure of it, alright?¡±


    Salome hesitated. ¡°Is she¡­?¡±


    Van looked into her eyes. ¡°She''s alive, and I will find her one day. For sure.¡± His gaze was determined. He reached for the compass hidden beneath his shirt. ¡°But first, I need to rub it in a few certain people¡¯s faces that I¡¯ve traversed the clouds. Oh yes, and you have to come with me.¡± He added the latter after a brief pause as if it were something entirely trivial. ¡°I need you as proof that I was really in Fundament.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Salome asked, confused.


    ¡°Well, without proof no one would believe my story. Fundament is something like a fairy tale here, you know? Very few people believe that it actually exists. And that¡¯s where you come in.¡±


    ¡°Did you ask me for help because of that?¡± Salome asked, a suspicion arising in her. ¡°You¡­ planned all along to take me to Firmament, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Van turned his gaze away from her and looked to the side. ¡°I¡­ wanted to offer it to you, anyway. Didn¡¯t expect that you wouldn¡¯t have a say in the matter. Now it almost looks like I¡¯ve kidnapped you, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Salome raised her eyebrows in surprise. Did he feel guilty? Because he had revealed to her a world whose beauty simply took her breath away? A world that was so much more than she could ever put into words? At that thought, an amused snort escaped her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± she said dismissively. After all, one could hardly call it a kidnapping, considering the way they had reached Firmament. Neither she nor Van had the slightest explanation for what exactly had happened at the foot of the world pillar, or how they managed to travel through the vast cloudscape without noticing the slightest detail of the journey. Her memories of the strange noise were also blurred and seemed to be slowly fading, as if it had all been nothing more than a fleeting dream¡­ She shook her head and returned to the matter at hand.


    ¡°But what exactly could I possibly prove? Instead of me, you could sell anyone as a resident of Fundament. No one would buy that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your eyes,¡± Van said simply. ¡°In all of Firmament, no one has silver-gray eyes like yours.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s supposed to be enough?¡± Salome asked skeptically.


    ¡°Hopefully,¡± Van said with a grin. He picked up a flat stone from the ground and idly played with it for a while. ¡°There are old legends,¡± he said thoughtfully. ¡°Stories in which certain¡­ creatures appear that are connected to the missing age. No one can say how much truth there is in these stories, but a careful listener will notice that many of these beings are described as having ashen or ice-cold gray eyes. I used to think it was just a coincidence, but now that I¡¯ve seen the world under the clouds and everyone has been staring at me with exactly those gray eyes, I believe that there must be a connection between Fundament and these old tales.¡±


    ¡°What creatures? And what¡¯s the missing age?¡± Salome asked curiously.


    ¡°Ah¡­ that¡¯s not so important right now,¡± Van said, casting a probing glance at the sky. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll tell you later, but we really need to get going.¡±


    Salome wanted to protest, but he simply ignored her and stroked his chin in thought. ¡°I honestly still haven¡¯t the slightest idea where exactly we are, but if we walk along the edge for a while, I might find a clue. It¡¯s always a good idea to follow the wind.¡±


    With that, he jumped up and calmly forged a path through the tall grass. Salome followed him.

 Chapter 7 - Firmament

    When he said edge, Van of course meant the edge of the island. In Firmament, that was how the plateaus that formed the upper part of the world pillars were called.


    The islands themselves were of various sizes and always circular in shape, but sometimes natural rock formations or mountains would jut out beyond the edge, or plants would grow over them. The edge fascinated Salome for one simple reason: no matter where she went, sooner or later she would reach the end of the world, but at the same time that only meant that somewhere else a new world was beginning.


    "Van, say, what exactly is that?" Salome asked, pointing at the bright disc that hung weightlessly over the horizon. Van blinked and turned around, his gaze following her gesture. "What do you mean? What¡¯s over there?"


    "Well, this incredibly bright thing in the sky! The burning disc! Come on, it''s impossible to miss."


    "Wha¡ªwait, do you mean the sun?" Van looked at her in disbelief.


    "The sun..." Salome repeated the name reverently as she gazed at the golden disc. She had to squint her eyes into slits, yet even then she couldn¡¯t look directly at its brightness.


    "You really had no idea, did you?" Van said. There was a hint of surprise in his eyes, which gradually turned into pity.


    "And the sky... why is it blue? How can that be?" Salome asked, tilting her head back.


    "Why?" Van frowned. "What kind of question is that? The sky has always been like that. What makes you think there¡¯s a reason behind it?"


    Salome hesitated. "All my life, the sky was just a mass of gray clouds, you know? Until today, I had no idea that there was another, real sky behind them. To me... the clouds were the sky."


    Van walked silently through the tall grass, seemingly pondering her words. "So you mean, no one ever even considered that something might exist above the clouds?" he asked.


    "Just the thought is¡ªwas¡ªabsurd," said Salome. "Besides, we knew exactly what was above our heads," she added sarcastically.


    "Right, you did mention something like that once," Van mused. "There¡¯s only clouds over Fundament and the pillars are infinite and all that nonsense. Who told you this junk?"


    "That¡¯s just what we are told," Salome explained with a shrug. "The world is in a state of constant decay and Fundament is all that remains of it today. The clouds are the remnants of what has dissolved into mist, filling the vast emptiness that surrounds us. Only the world pillars remain untouched by decay. They are the framework of the world, with no beginning and no end."


    "A nice story," said Van.


    "And it¡¯s obviously made up," grumbled Salome. "I can¡¯t believe I just accepted all of this!"


    Van grinned. "You know what? I think I should tell you a few little things about my beloved homeland, now that you have no choice but to believe me."


    He began to describe impossible and wondrous things that, until recently, Salome would have never believed. Among other things, he mentioned that in Firmament, people traveled between the islands by ship. Ships that glided through the air as if on water! She was eager to see one. Salome knew¡ªaside from the boats that rattled up and down the river in her homeland¡ªreal ships only from pictures she had seen in books. They sailed the seas around Fundament near the coast and were used to transport large quantities of goods. Could something so heavy actually fly through the air like a bird? Or did they end up looking completely different and were just called ships? She immediately scanned the horizon for them, but she couldn¡¯t find anything that fit her idea of a ship.


    As they walked along the edge, Salome gradually became aware of just how large the island was. She couldn¡¯t see the other side, as the ground flowed in gentle waves into low hills that blocked her view. When they climbed one of these gentle ridges, she noticed strange silhouettes emerging in the distance from the haze left behind by the drifting cloud strip. They were the outlines of buildings, or rather, ruins that jutted out of the ground at considerable distances from each other. They looked like the remnants of simple dwellings. A soft whistling sounded as the wind brushed past their old, moss-covered walls and swept through the empty windows and doors.


    When Salome asked Van about them, he said "It¡¯s possible that people once lived here long ago, but these ruins could stand here for another reason as well. In Firmament, countless things are not at all what they seem at first glance." Then he added, "But it would be pretty... dumb to build a settlement on an island like this."


    "Why is that?" Salome asked, intrigued.


    "Because of the storms!" Van exclaimed, as if that were something every child knew. "We¡¯re at least in the fourth sphere here, if not the fifth. Even a small storm could wreak serious havoc on such a flat island!"


    He probably gathered from Salome¡¯s utterly confused look that she had no idea what he was talking about. He sighed.


    "You do know what a storm is, don¡¯t you?"


    Salome shook her head hesitantly. She vaguely remembered having heard the word from Van before, but she couldn¡¯t make sense of it.


    Van gave her a resigned look. He stopped and ran his hand through the tall grass swaying around his knees.


    "What do you think happens when the wind grows stronger than a simple breeze drifting through the sky? When it swells up, starts to roar and bellow, when it herds all the clouds in the air like a flock of sheep until their sheer mass darkens the sun?" He looked up at the thin, white cloud strips drifting peacefully high above him. "The wind has been sweeping through the sky of this world since the beginning of time. It is boundless, an unbridled, primordial force that no one can ever restrain. One should never underestimate it."


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    Salome stretched out her hand and felt the invisible caress that played over her fingers. Could it really become stronger? It was hard for her to imagine.


    "Next, lightning flashes across the sky, accompanied by loud thunder," Van continued.


    "Oh, I know those!" Salome interrupted. "Sometimes the clouds light up brightly, and then there¡¯s a tremendous roar. Is it similar here in Firmament?"


    "Well... more or less," said Van. He cleared his throat. "The weather here is a decisive factor. That¡¯s why Firmament is divided into spheres from bottom to top. The cloud ocean occupies the first sphere, while the highest islands are in the thirteenth sphere." He pointed straight up into the sky with his finger. "They say there are islands even higher than that, but I haven¡¯t seen anything like that so far. In any case, this division into spheres is important because the behavior of the wind changes with altitude. Basically, the higher you go, the stronger the wind can become. But that only applies up to the ninth sphere. Beyond that, for some reason, it grows weaker again. Far up, there is at most a weak breeze, and otherwise it¡¯s simply terribly cold."


    Salome wondered how far an island in the thirteenth sphere was from the cloud ocean, or even from Fundament itself. Could one see it from here? And what might the view be like from up there? One must be able to see the entire world.


    "We¡¯re at least in the fourth sphere here, which means a storm can already become quite unpleasant," Van explained. "Now, just imagine a storm on this island, where there are no natural elevations, no forests, and no mountains." A grin flashed across his face. "At first, it would just rain heavily. But before you know it, a thick cloud would hang before the sun, and then the wind would blow stronger and stronger until it seems to rain from every direction."


    Salome noticed a faint gleam in Van¡¯s eyes as he looked at the thin cloud fragments drifting close to the ground. "Next, things that aren¡¯t firmly anchored to the earth start to lift off, and then you can only wave them goodbye. What the wind takes away, it won¡¯t give back. But that¡¯s not all! It will become so strong that even people will be blown away as if they were as light as feathers. When it comes to that point, you¡¯d best not be wandering around outside. Unless you want to race the birds." Van looked at Salome with a mischievous smile. "That¡¯s why I think it¡¯s stupid to build a settlement here. A storm would sweep across the land unimpeded, carrying everything away, including us, and transport it for miles until it drops us somewhere over the cloud ocean. It¡¯s probably also the reason why only ruins remain here."


    A shiver ran down Salome¡¯s spine as she imagined falling freely, unimpeded, onto the white mass far below, yet at the same time she felt a spark of curiosity.


    "When do you think the next storm will come?" she asked softly.


    "Not today," Van replied after a brief pause. "Why? Don¡¯t tell me I scared you?"


    "No... honestly, I would very much like to experience such a storm for myself," Salome admitted shyly.


    "What? Weren¡¯t you listening?" Van asked, puzzled. "A real storm is no pleasant thing and can be damn dangerous!"


    "Maybe so... but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that I want to see it," Salome said a bit bashfully.


    Van regarded her for a moment in disbelief, then burst into amused laughter. "Seems like Firmament¡¯s air does you good. Come on, let¡¯s move on."


    They continued along the plain, always close to the abyss on their right, with Van leading and Salome following closely behind. The trail of trampled blades of grass they left in the tall field was like a fleeting memory of their visit. Salome enjoyed every step in this new world, and it was nearly impossible to get enough of all the wonders it had to offer. Under the glow of the sun, it seemed as if the world pulsed with life. The wonderfully warm light bestowed a magnificent luster on all colors, breathing life into them and perfecting them. Never before had Salome felt so deeply for such simple things, even though for the moment they were still new and unfamiliar to her.


    "There it is," Van said suddenly. He pointed to one of the ruins a short distance from the edge. It was larger than the others and seemed to have retained much of its original shape. Old masonry in the form of a round tower stood above a wide gateway, crowned by decrepit wooden beams that must have once supported a pointed roof. At the very top of the wall, a strange framework of crossed, rusty iron bars jutted into the air, swaying back and forth in the constant breeze.


    "This mill is still in reasonably good condition, and the walls aren¡¯t too riddled with holes," Van explained after they reached the ruin. "We¡¯ll spend the night here. Gonna protect us from the damp and the weather."


    A mill, then. Salome regarded the peculiar building and wondered why it had been built right here, even though there was no river in sight to drive a mill wheel. And what was with those iron bars? She glanced inside and saw a somewhat sturdy stone staircase that spiraled up along the inner walls all the way to the roof. Tentatively, she stepped onto the lowest step and found that the thick stone blocks supported her weight without any trouble. As she watched the deep golden rays of light, which fell like a velvety curtain through a hole at the very top of the ceiling, a thought suddenly occurred to her.


    "Van, what actually happens to the sun when night comes?"


    Van opened his mouth, thought for a moment, and then replied with a smile, "Just wait and see."


    Curious, Salome decided to climb the staircase and take a look at the sky. She had already noticed that the glaring disc called the sun seemed to be slowly moving across the sky, but until now she had dismissed it as a mere illusion. But what if it really was moving? Could it actually disappear? Or would it simply fade out like a candle flame? When she reached the last few steps, she entered what must have once been a kind of roof chamber, though over time the roof had been lost. Now the tower offered a magnificent view over Firmament, and her suspicion was confirmed: the sun hung low in the west above the horizon, its dazzling light already beginning to lose some of its intensity.


    Salome rested her arms on the waist-high remnants of the tower wall before her and absorbed the vivid, shifting spectacle. Who would have thought the sky could be so changeable?


    The sun inched ever closer to the horizon and finally immersed itself into the cloud ocean, as if settling down into the white waves. When it was finally completely swallowed by the clouds and its last flames extinguished, Salome felt a painful tinge in her chest, an unexpected sadness, like she lost something important. But then she noticed a strange shimmer that had spread over the world. She lifted her head and her eyes grew wide.


    Thousands and countless thousands of tiny lights had appeared out of nowhere. They speckled the sky like myriad frozen sparks, like glistening, living raindrops pulsing in silver waves. Delicate ribbons in ethereal shades of green and purple traced sinuous paths through the sparkling void, and amid this sea of gleaming darkness hung a graceful white crescent.


    "Do you like it?" Van asked.


    Salome started. She hadn¡¯t even noticed that Van had climbed up to join her. Completely astonished, she first looked at him, then at the sky, and finally back at him. Her mouth opened and closed silently, without uttering a single word. Van nodded, as if he had expected that reaction. Calmly, he strolled over to her and leaned against the wall beside her. "We call them stars," he said, tilting his head back. "No one really knows what they are. Some believe they are the suns of other worlds. A beautiful thought, isn¡¯t it?" He gestured with his hand toward the slender crescent. "And that is the moon."


    Slowly, Salome turned in place, letting her gaze wander in a circle. In silence, her lips formed the words, the names that Van had revealed to her. "How could I have lived so long without this sky..." she whispered.

 Chapter 8 - The Palace

    She stayed on the roof of the mill for many hours, watching the sea of lights above her head. Eventually, she must have fallen asleep, because when she opened her eyes again, warm sunbeams were tickling her nose. Van¡¯s coat lay spread out over her. She blinked sleepily, then got up and stretched her stiff limbs. As she stood, a gust of fresh wind blew through her hair, swirling it around her head. Smiling, she tamed it with both hands and tied it into a ponytail with the thin leather band she always wore on her wrist for that very purpose. As proper as long hair might be back home, up here in Firmament it would only get in the way. Maybe Salome would cut it off at the next opportunity.


    When she descended the mill¡¯s stairs, she found Van curled up and sleeping peacefully in the grass next to the exit. A few of his messy black hairs hung over his mouth, rising and falling with each breath. With a whispered ¡°thank you,¡± she placed his coat beside him and stepped out through the wide gate into the golden morning light.


    She was just taking a sip of water¡ªcollected from the dewy blades of grass in her cupped hand¡ªwhen Van yawned his way out of the old mill. He stretched at length and brushed the hair from his face. ¡°You always get up this early?¡± he asked sleepily.


    ¡°Almost never,¡± Salome replied.


    ¡°I see,¡± murmured Van. He pulled his coat on and lazily fiddled with the buttons. ¡°By the way, I managed to roughly determine our position last night. No wonder you don¡¯t see any ships around here, as far east as we are.¡± His gaze grew thoughtful. ¡°This pillar¡¯s got to be quite a distance from the nearest harbor.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡± Salome asked in surprise.


    ¡°The stars told me,¡± Van replied with a wink. Salome couldn¡¯t tell if he was serious or just teasing her. ¡°And what now?¡± she asked cautiously. She wasn¡¯t in a hurry, but she knew that sooner or later they would have to eat something. This island was beautiful, but she hadn¡¯t seen a single tree or any other plant that might bear edible fruit. And apart from birds, there didn¡¯t seem to be any animals here that could provide food¡ªnot that Salome would ever have any chance of catching a rabbit or something similar. Besides, Van didn¡¯t exactly seem like a skilled hunter either.


    ¡°For now, we should explore the rest of the island,¡± said Van. ¡°We¡¯ll figure out a way to get out of here eventually.¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of worry in his voice. Salome gave him a questioning look, but he just gazed at the sea of clouds, enjoying the wind that tousled his hair.


    They continued their march from yesterday, always staying close to the edge, with the wind at their backs and the warm sun on their faces. Every now and then, she asked one of the thousand questions buzzing in her mind, and Van did his best to answer them. As they made their way through the tall grass, the wind swept more clouds over the plain, and soon a dome of misty fog spread around them, hiding everything within a mile and softening the light. The cloud fragments formed dense walls, tall towers of air and rain, like fleeting castles carried along by the wind. The longer Salome looked, the more castle-like shapes and details she thought she saw¡ªtall railings emerging from the white, elongated windows and gates opening in the fluffy walls, fluttering pennants crowning wavering battlements, and elegant arches reaching toward the sky for a moment before dissolving in the wind.


    Salome blinked. There may be countless forms to see in the clouds ¨C especially with her imagination ¨C but she had just caught a glimpse of something she definitely wasn¡¯t imagining. Something that was really hidden behind the mist. Following a sudden feeling, she veered off the trodden path of grass in front of her.


    ¡°Hey, where are you going?¡± Van called when he noticed her sudden change of direction.


    ¡°Did you see that too? Over there behind the clouds¡­¡± Salome called, captivated, without looking back.


    ¡°What?¡± said Van, but she paid him no heed. The closer she got to the undulating mass, the more the veils cleared and revealed more of what was hidden inside.


    Just as she thought. It wasn¡¯t her imagination.


    A ruin emerged from the clouds, unlike the half-collapsed houses that had lined the road until now. The facade of a massive mansion¡ªalmost a small palace¡ªrose from the ground in the middle of the empty landscape. A gable roof covered with blue tiles, surprisingly still intact, stretched over the whole thing, while a lacy dome adorned the main building. Moss and climbing plants overgrew the walls, reaching up to an almost completely covering something resembling a coat of arms set just below the highest point. Two slender corner towers soared on either side into the sky, their peaks broke drifting mists. Where elaborate frescoes and ornaments did not decorate the walls, large arched windows opened into the vast ruin. A paved path led to the wide entrance gate. The wooden doors were long rotten¡ªonly a skeleton of bent, rust-eaten hinges remained. A heap of rubble blocked the entrance.


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    Astonished, Salome approached the gigantic building, tilting her head back to see the dome. The wet outer walls appeared darker than they really were because of the moisture in the air. Somehow, an image of white stone, like marble, formed in her mind.


    ¡°Incredible¡­¡± murmured Van, who had followed Salome and now stood beside her. ¡°What, by the pillars, is that? Who¡¯d build something so monstrous in the middle of nowhere¡­?¡±


    He took a few steps toward the entrance. Behind the mounds of debris, parts of a tall corridor could be seen. Salome held him back. ¡°Wait a moment. What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I want to take a look inside. Something wrong?¡± Van asked, genuinely surprised.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ don¡¯t you find it strange? Until now, there were only these small ruins, and then suddenly there¡¯s an entire palace. I mean¡­ isn¡¯t that¡­ eerie?¡± Salome looked at him intently, but Van just shrugged. ¡°Eerie or not, you don¡¯t see something like this every day! Come on, let¡¯s take a look inside!¡±


    Without another word, he stepped onto the paved path, climbed over the scattered rubble, and soon disappeared behind piles of debris in the shadowy interior of the building.


    Salome hesitated. To be honest, she really wanted to explore the ruin, but something held her back. It was as if the gate were just waiting to¡­ devour her. Also, what was up with Van¡¯s enthusiasm? Was he never afraid?


    Alone in the cool shade of the ruin, she suddenly became aware of the strange silence that seemed almost tangible in the air. The stone colossus was surrounded by an aura of abandonment and loneliness¡ªit was one of those places where you feel watched, as if hidden pairs of eyes were fixed on you. Even the constant rustling of the wind sounded unreal and distant. She couldn¡¯t help but shudder. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw swirling towers of clouds that mostly hid the sky. The uneasy feeling in her stomach made her shift from one foot to the other. But hanging around here alone wasn¡¯t helping either. So she took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and hurried after Van.


    Finding a way past all the rubble was not easy at all. She had to watch out for loose pieces underfoot, as well as small stones that would crumble away beneath her immediately. She was just glad that for her little outing with Van she had chosen her sturdy trousers. The skirt she usually wore would have been extremely impractical here.


    She had to climb a pile of debris in front of the gate to reach a gap through which she could squeeze. When she finally, cursing under her breath, entered the interior of the ruin, there was no sign of Van. Cautiously, she took another step when suddenly a block of stone slid away under her weight. With a surprised cry, she fell onto her backside, and as if that weren¡¯t enough, she triggered an avalanche of smaller rubble that carried her down the rest of the heap. She quickly got back on her feet and looked around with burning cheeks, checking if anyone had noticed her little slip. She half expected Van¡¯s mocking chuckle, but it remained silent. Did he go further in already?


    The room into which she had slid so elegantly was a hall of impressive size. Two rows of thick columns lined the central aisle from the entrance, rising several stories high and supporting a vaulted ceiling. On either side of Salome, broad staircases led up to a gallery, from which several tall passageways descended deeper into the building. Moss and climbing plants also spread inside the ruin, covering the walls and columns as if they had always been part of the simple, unadorned structure. At the far end of the hall was another gate, opened just a crack, through which bright light streamed. It was made of stone.


    She noticed that the tiles in the middle of the hall were arranged into a mosaic forming a kind of symbol. It was a large circle, surrounded on each side by three smaller circles. The circles on one side were made of gray stone, while those on the other were as white as the central circle. Maybe it was some kind of coat of arms?


    An almost reverent silence reigned¡ªeven though the arched windows held no glass whatsoever. The constant rustling of the wind was completely absent. When Salome took a step, the sound of crunching stones under her boot could be heard throughout the hall. There was no echo.


    ¡°Van?¡± she called softly. Even her voice was not reflected by the high walls. ¡°Van, where are you?¡± she called again, this time a bit more forcefully, but there was no answer. Where, by the endless pillars, had that chaotic guy gone?


    She eyed the large passageways suspiciously. Behind the doorless openings, an eerie, yawning darkness reigned. She could make out occasional rays of sunlight that fell through cracks in the walls, but they were too faint to illuminate the hallways. She called out for Van once more. This time her voice sounded strangely muffled and weak. Had she maybe been intimidated by the ancient grandeur of the ruin? She pulled herself together and continued through the hall. Her steps sounded hollow on the stone floor. And they grew¡­ quieter? Even her clothing did not rustle, she noticed.


    Salome stopped. ¡°Van?¡± she called again¡ªand drew a sharp breath. Her voice sounded as if she were speaking into a pillow.


    Something was wrong.


    Her heart began to race. She looked around the hall again, feeling watched. Pressing her back against a column, she swallowed hard. And then she felt it. Someone¡ªor something¡ªwas here. She knew it, even though she couldn¡¯t see any movement. A presence weighed upon the emptiness of the hall¡ªand upon Salome. She wanted to call out, but when she opened her mouth, nothing came out. Her voice was gone!


    She grabbed her throat and choked, yet no sound reached her ears. She felt dizzy. Panic welled up inside her, and she began to stumble toward the gate on the other side of the hall. Her footsteps made a dull thumping sound that grew quieter with each step. It was as if something was absorbing all the sounds around her, gnawing away at her very heartbeat. As she approached the gate, even her breathing was just a soft whisper.


    Suddenly, she heard¡­ singing? The sound was so faint, so unreal, that at first she thought she was imagining it. But in the unnatural silence of the hall, Salome could clearly make out a voice humming a wordless melody. It came from the gate. And that light¡­


    In a panic, she threw herself against the gate. The scratching sound of stone scraping against stone rang out, and she was bathed in golden light.

 Chapter 9 - Kiran

    Salome entered a courtyard.


    The sky above her was deep and clear, without a trace of white. How strange, especially since only moments ago, massive towers of clouds had blocked out the sunlight. Moreover, as Salome immediately noticed, no wind played with the ankle?high grass. In fact, it was quiet¡ªnot unnaturally silent like in the great hall, but simply pleasantly still.


    The inner walls of the courtyard were like stone horizons that framed the sky and imposed limits upon it. It was as if one were staring through a window into endless blue, as though someone had cut out a piece of the sky and set it as the palace¡¯s roof.


    On the other side of the courtyard, hundreds of thick tree roots dug into the earth, supporting the mighty trunk of an oak that leaned against the wall like a feeble old man. Long branches forced their way through openings and windows into the interior of the building.


    Mesmerized, Salome walked toward the old tree. Her panic had vanished with the touch of the golden light, as if it had never existed. Whatever was happening to her in the hall no longer mattered in this moment.


    A feeling of security settled over her like a veil. Her thoughts flowed slowly. She placed one foot in front of the other, even though she felt as if she were standing still. There was only this majestic oak that invited her, awaited her, showed her the way¡ª


    "Who are you?"


    A voice pulled Salome out of her trance. She looked toward the source of the words. The light was so bright that she could barely make out anything in the shadows at the base of the inner wall to her left. But when she squinted and stared hard into the darkness, she made out the silhouette of a person leaning against the wall with crossed arms. The figure wore a hood that concealed the face except for the mouth.


    "Who¡¯s there?" she asked as she slowly stepped back from the mysterious tree. Strangely, she felt neither alarmed nor uncertain about the stranger in the shadow.


    "This place is supposed to be protected. How did you get in here?" asked the man, without responding to her words.


    Salome ran a hand through her hair. For some reason, she found it difficult to think clearly.


    "It seems to me that you entered this place unintentionally. That explains some things, but it also raises new questions." The man in the shadows stroked his chin thoughtfully. "What is your name?"


    Salome stared at him. His words echoed within her, yet the answer to his question slipped away, as if she were trying to grasp a leaf floating in a stream. She watched as the stranger straightened up in the shadows and said something in a firm voice that sounded like a command. But she couldn¡¯t understand him¡ªshe heard nothing, saw nothing, couldn¡¯t think¡­


    The cool air in the great entrance hall filled her lungs. Dim light enveloped her, and a faint breeze played with her hair. Disoriented, Salome stared at the mosaic on the floor. Then it dawned on her where she was, and she looked around in alarm.


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    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you are safe,¡± said a voice. Salome spun around and saw the stranger sitting casually on the lowest step of the staircase. This time, she could see his face. Attentive, piercing green eyes gazed amusedly from an angular, youthful face¡ªhigh cheekbones, thin lips, and a slightly crooked nose. His hair was ashen gray.


    ¡°Could you tell me your name now?¡± His words carried a restrained impatience.


    ¡°S¡ªSalome,¡± she answered, stuttering.


    ¡°Good!¡± the stranger exclaimed. ¡°There you go. Then you can surely explain to me how you found this place.¡± He made it sound like a question, even though it came off more like a command.


    ¡°Well¡­ I actually found this ruin by accident¡­¡±


    ¡°You mean, you were just wandering through no man¡¯s land and happened to stumble upon this place? And then you casually opened the way into the courtyard?¡± He looked at her as if he could hardly believe her.


    ¡°But the gate was open! And something attacked me! What else was I supposed to do?¡± Salome shuddered at the thought of the strange presence she had felt.


    ¡°Those were Echoeaters. A lot of them are hiding in this ruin, apparently. As well as something else¡­¡± the stranger said before he looked at her sharply. ¡°Are you sure the gate was open? Absolutely sure?¡±


    Salome¡¯s mind swirled with questions. So much was going on, so many unexplainable things happened one after the other. If she didn¡¯t get some answers to satisfy her curiosity soon, she was going to burst.


    ¡°What exactly are Echoeaters?¡± she blurted out. ¡°What do they look like? Where are they now? Did they really eat my echo? How is that even possible? And what kind of courtyard is this? Why couldn¡¯t I think clearly once I was inside? What¡¯s wrong with this ruin? And who are you, anyway? Did you sing earlier? What¡¯s up with our hair? That tree had a door in its trunk, right? Where does it lead?¡±


    The stranger raised a hand and interrupted her. ¡°Stop! Stop! Now, calm down first.¡± He sighed. ¡°I understand that you have many questions, but one thing at a time.¡±


    Salome abruptly shut up and raised her hands before her mouth. She felt her cheeks burn up. By the pillars, she did it again!


    Weirdly enough, the stranger didn`t seem to mind her outburst. ¡°My name is Kiran. I¡¯m here on behalf of my master to find someone. And I believe I have just found that person.¡±


    With a soft creak, he stood from the step and brushed the dust from his clothes, a heavy coat whose collar reached his chin. His boots looked well-worn. Crossed over his hip above the coat hung two broad belts with small pouches attached. On his chest was a faded embroidery that vaguely resembled the symbol on the floor of the entrance hall. His clothes were sturdy and well suited for long journeys. He pulled back his hood and reached for a shoulder bag that lay at his feet. It was patched up in some places and bulged with its contents. Salome thought she could make out the outlines of books.


    ¡°My task is to bring you to my master as quickly as possible. Would you be so kind as to follow me?¡± he said with a slightly mocking tone.


    Salome wanted to ask him many more questions, but she felt as if she had forgotten something.


    Right. Van.


    ¡°Wait,¡± she said hastily to Kiran, who was already about to leave. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here alone. There should be someone else here¡ªa boy.¡±


    Kiran¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°If that is true, then we should find him as quickly as possible. I hope it¡¯s not too late.¡±


    He turned around and hurried up the staircase to the gallery. Salome was surprised by the urgency in his voice. Too late for what? She glanced over her shoulder. Gentle light flowed through the now-closed gate, but it no longer had the golden glow she remembered.


    ¡°Are you coming, or are you taking roots down there?¡± called Kiran from the top of the stairs.


    Salome shook her head, trying to shake off the sight of the gate, and hurried after him. Hopefully, Van was alright.

 Chapter 10 - Escape

    Kiran walked without hesitation through one of the passages and was immediately swallowed by darkness.


    Salome had to stay close by so she wouldn¡¯t lose sight of him. He seemed to have a clear goal in mind, as he strode steadily along the iron torch holders lining the walls. Soon the corridor opened into a vast room, whose dimensions Salome could only discern from the cracks in the walls and ceiling through which sunlight streamed.


    Kiran stopped in the middle of the room, stood motionless for a while as if listening, and then briskly walked toward another passage on their left. In the room beyond, he paused once more, only to hurry toward a staircase that led them to the next floor. He repeated this pattern room after room.


    Before long, Salome lost all sense of direction. The rooms were plain and empty, there was nothing to indicate their original purpose, except for their size and occasional remnants of furniture that belonged to tables or shelves.


    When Kiran led her into a sort of storage room, she asked him what exactly he was doing, but he interrupted her with a wave of his hand and hissed irritably, ¡°Shh. I have to concentrate.¡±


    Salome had the feeling that they were moving deeper and deeper into the ruin. Her eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness, yet it kept getting darker. Only now did she notice the absolute lack of windows. Light always seemed to originate from somewhere behind the walls, as if the next room bordered the outer wall of the ruin. And it grew quieter¡ªthe same silence that had suddenly overcome her in the great hall.


    ¡°Kiran¡­ what keeps those Echoeaters from attacking us here?¡± she asked with an anxious glance toward the shadows.


    ¡°I,¡± he replied simply. Noticing her tension, he stopped. ¡°As long as you stay near me, they can¡¯t harm you.¡± He hesitated. ¡°However, it seems that something else is lurking in this ruin. Something very old.¡±


    ¡°Something dangerous?¡±


    Kiran thought for a moment before answering. ¡°I don¡¯t know. There¡¯s something¡­ unusual about it. Better to stay¡ª¡± He wanted to say more, but something made him pause.


    He listened. Salome did as well. It was so quiet, she could hear her own heartbeat.


    Something reached her ear then. It sounded like distant bell chimes. She turned her head. There it was again. It reminded her of the bright tinkling of boat bells that sometimes echoed through the valley of her home. But this sound was deeper. Pleasant. It was not meant as a warning, but conveyed a much more joyful message.


    ¡°Do you hear that?¡± asked Salome as she moved toward a passage.


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s quite close.¡± Kiran passed her and resumed his pace. They crossed two more rooms before arriving in a small hall that was distinctly different from the rest of the labyrinth. In the ceiling there was a hole through which bright sunlight poured. And in the circle of that light sat Van.


    He looked relaxed, his eyes closed, and he seemed to be murmuring something to himself. In his hands lay the compass he had sought in Fundament. The sound of the bell appeared to emanate from it.


    ¡°Van!¡± cried Salome, and she wanted to run to him, but Kiran held her arm back. ¡°Wait,¡± he hissed. His gaze was not on Van, but on something hidden further back in the room. Because of the bright light, the shadows there were particularly deep.


    Kiran stepped ahead of Salome and slowly reached into a pocket of his coat. His movements were cautious, as if not to startle a shy animal. He pulled out something that looked like a large glass shard.


    ¡°Listen carefully now,¡± he whispered, without looking at her. ¡°We are going to go to your friend and you will speak to him. Say nothing except his name. Get him to leave the room with us without uttering a word. And focus only on him, do you hear?¡± He looked at her intently over his shoulder. ¡°Think of nothing else!¡±


    Salome nodded hesitantly. Kiran¡¯s tense words frightened her.


    He let go of her arm and set off. She stayed close behind him.


    As they approached the beam of light, Salome had to stop herself several times from peeking into the shadows on the other side. She didn¡¯t know if something lurked there, but she felt as if something was present in the darkness¡ªthe same weight in the air as when the Echoeaters had appeared. The same emptiness.


    Once they stepped into the light, Salome immediately went to Van and turned her back to the darkness. She knelt beside him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Van!¡± she whispered urgently and shook him. The boy stopped murmuring and opened his eyes as if he had been asleep.


    ¡°Salome?¡± His voice was rough. ¡°What¡ª¡±


    She instantly pressed her hand over his mouth. For a few dreadful seconds they stayed like that, listening.


    Nothing happened.


    Slowly, she exhaled. She placed a finger to her lips and looked Van squarely in the eyes. Then she gestured past his head toward the exit. He followed her gesture, his gaze falling on Kiran, who stood in a crouched, tense position beside them, staring into the shadows. A muffled sound escaped Van, but Salome immediately increased the pressure of her hand and caught his gaze. She shook her head vigorously.


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    Slowly, Van seemed to understand. He nodded almost imperceptibly. Salome removed her hand from his mouth and stood up. She watched Van, who slung his compass over his head and also stood up, paying attention to every one of his movements, every detail. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Kiran, who beckoned with his thumb over his shoulder. She nodded and stepped out of the light together with Van. Her heart pounded.


    Then something changed.


    Salome noticed it immediately. It was as if the heaviness in the air increased, as if it was shifting. The silence expanded. She knew that feeling¡ªit was the same silence as that which occured between thunderclaps, between the echo of distant rumbles and the roar that follows when the world holds its breath.


    Her heartbeat stopped.


    ¡°Run!¡± shouted Kiran.


    Salome sprinted off. She didn¡¯t know the way out, but at that moment it didn¡¯t matter. She just wanted to get away from that place, away from whatever lurked back there.


    As she rounded the next room, a blinding flash of light illuminated the ruin behind her, accompanied by a deep, pulsating beat that she felt more than heard. But she didn¡¯t stop. She ran haphazardly from one room to the next.


    Eventually, Van took the lead, and she concentrated on keeping his billowing coat in sight. Her breathing came in gasps. How were they ever going to find their way out?


    Another flash pierced the darkness, and the pulse that followed reverberated within her chest like a powerful heartbeat, an indestructible sound. It kept the emptiness from closing around her, from wrapping her up like a spider would its prey. Yet the effect was short-lived, its power too fleeting to hold back for long the ancient silence that had consumed this place.


    ¡°This way!¡± Kiran called suddenly, emerging from a room to their left. He pointed toward a staircase. They quickly changed direction and moved toward it. Salome realized they were on the right track, as the light steadily grew brighter and a gentle breeze touched her skin. In the next moment, she stumbled into the great entrance hall of the palace ruin.


    She quickly regained her footing and headed straight for the exit. Van and Kiran made no effort to stop either.


    A cool breeze caught Salome.


    She ran along the stone path that led to the gate of the palace ruin until she stepped out of its long shadow. Only then did she stop, breathing heavily, hands resting on her thighs.


    Van collapsed beside her in the grass. He stretched out his limbs and struggled for air with his eyes closed. Kiran stood a little apart, lifting his collar with his index finger. He, too, was breathing heavily.


    The scent of fresh grass, mixed with the subtle aroma of moisture in the air, replaced the dusty taste in Salome¡¯s mouth. She took a deep breath, feeling the mist draw through her lungs and wash away the musty smell of the old ruin. It was as if the cool wind cleansed her and swept away a veil from her mind, just as one might rub away the last traces of sleep from one¡¯s eyes.


    For a while, no one spoke. Only heavy panting could be heard. When Salome finally caught her breath, she asked, ¡°Van¡­ are you okay?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I should be asking you,¡± he replied. ¡°How did you even find me? I thought¡­I thought I was a goner.¡± He looked up at the sky. Then he settled into a sitting position and nodded toward Kiran. ¡°And who''s that?¡±


    ¡°His name is Kiran,¡± said Salome. ¡°He¡¯s the one who found you.¡± She looked over toward the palace ruin, its eerie silhouette towering above them. ¡°What, by the endless pillars, happened in there?¡±


    Van regarded Kiran skeptically. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. No idea why I even entered that ruin. Was pretty damn foolish, actually. But somehow I couldn¡¯t think straight. I only remember standing beneath that hole in the roof and¡­ not being alone. I activated my compass just in case, although I''m not sure it would have helped against that. And then you were there¡± He stood up as Kiran approached. ¡°Maybe he can tell us more.¡±


    ¡°You were damn lucky I¡¯m here,¡± said Kiran.


    ¡°Seems that way,¡± said Van with a smile. ¡°Salome said you found me. Apparently, I owe you one. I¡¯m Van, by the way.¡± He extended a hand, but Kiran made no move to take it. Van let it drop awkwardly. His smile then appeared somewhat forced as he continued, ¡°Uh¡­ and who are you? Why are you here? And what is this place?¡±


    Kiran flatly ignored his questions and said, ¡°My task is to bring Salome to my master. I assume you¡¯re traveling together, so I have no choice but to take you with me.¡±


    Van scrutinized Kiran from head to toe, his gaze lingering for a moment on the yellowish embroidery on his chest.


    ¡°Who is your master?¡± he asked. ¡°Do I know him?¡±


    ¡°Certainly not. And if it were up to me, it would stay that way.¡± Kiran¡¯s tone carried a hint of disdain. ¡°But as fate would have it, I have no say in the matter. You should consider yourself lucky. Few people ever get the chance to meet my master.¡±


    Van raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, if he¡¯s so important, then I should have at least heard his name before. What is it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll learn soon enough. I¡¯m only to show you the way to him, and that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯ll do. Everything else is irrelevant.¡±


    Van crossed his arms. ¡°Whoever your master is, I have no desire to meet him until I know what¡¯s going on here. And you can¡¯t force us to come with you.¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t,¡± agreed Kiran. ¡°But I think you¡¯ll accompany me anyway.¡± He turned and, without another word, made his way through the tall grass.


    ¡°And now?¡± asked Salome, who had been quietly listening to them. The shock of recent events still ran deep, and she had so many questions. Kiran seemed as if he could provide some answers. And so far, he had only helped them. But was it a good idea to accompany him to his master? She couldn¡¯t tell.


    ¡°Guess we should follow him for now,¡± said Van. ¡°It¡¯s kind of suspicious¡­ I mean, he appears here out of nowhere, even though he couldn''t possibly have known we were here! There¡¯s certainly more to it. But based on what he just said, I suspect that this¡­ master, whoever that is, lives on another island. That means Kiran must own a ship, or at least a larger boat, if he arrived with the prospect of passengers.¡± He nodded. ¡°Of course! Salome, this is our chance to leave this island!¡±


    A short distance away from the stone path, Kiran waited impatiently for them. He waved and then pointed vigorously to somewhere behind him.


    ¡°Alright then. I guess we¡¯d better hurry,¡± said Salome. She wanted to get away from the ruin as far away as possible anyway. When she received no answer, she turned around. ¡°Van?¡±


    He frowned as he looked at the massive facade of the palace looming above them.


    ¡°Van!¡± she asked again. The sound of her voice made him start, as if he¡¯d forgotten where he was.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ yeah, it¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s go,¡± he said, setting off. They walked side by side through the grass, and he kept shaking his head and looking back at the ruin.


    ¡°Hurry up already!¡± called Kiran impatiently.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah¡± said Van, loud enough for Kiran to hear. ¡°We¡¯re coming! Why the rush?¡±


    Kiran turned and strode off with long, determined steps. A veil of mist that swept along the ground enveloped him and almost instantly swallowed him up.


    Salome and Van hurried to follow the trail of trodden grass before the wind righted it again.

 Chapter 11 - The Mirror Gate

    Salome stepped into damp whiteness.


    With each step she took, wrapped in dense layers of cloud, the light around her grew steadily brighter. She could barely see her surroundings. When she stretched out her hand, her fingertips blurred as though dissolving into vapor.


    Yet, gradually, colors gained vibrancy. Tiny droplets of rain brushed against her face as she glimpsed the white glow of the sun hidden behind the misty veil. Then a strong gust of wind swept past, scattering the damp white cage that held her captive. In an instant, brilliant sunlight flooded the world again, as it had that morning and the day before. Salome squinted, momentarily blinded, her eyes used to the dimmer light. She watched as shreds of cloud drifted off, blending into towering formations that gradually concealed the palace ruin behind her.


    Kiran sat cross-legged on a rock that jutted from the ground nearby. Resting his chin in his hand, he watched Salome and Van with a gaze that seemed almost glowering.


    ¡°So, where¡¯s your boat anchored?¡± Van asked, wiping moisture from the corners of his eyes. ¡°You did come here by boat, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Kiran twisted his mouth into a mocking smile, and Salome thought he was about to laugh at Van, but instead he jumped lightly off his rock, saying with amusement, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    They continued along the same path Van had taken earlier, following the island¡¯s edge. Van attempted conversation several times, but the mysterious gray-haired boy remained mostly silent, answering only briefly. Eventually, Van gave up and walked with his hands shoved deep in his pockets.


    Salome remained quiet as well, observing Kiran. Something about his upright posture, stern proud gaze, and the purposeful way he moved reminded Salome of home, back in Fundament. There, only a few individuals carried themselves in such a manner, mostly within the city¡ªrecognizeable by their dark coats and gleaming pins: the Ministry¡¯s enforcers.


    Salome had rarely interacted with them, but their smug arrogance was unmistakable. They knew exactly who they were and how much power they wielded, and people bowed their heads in their presence. They always evoked disgust in Salome as they passed with noses held high, like an unpleasant aftertaste everyone endured. Nobody liked the enforcers, and neither did Salome¡ªexcept for one single exception.


    Yet, Kiran was different. He radiated confidence without making it seem as though he considered himself superior. His disdainful glances and arrogant demeanor weren''t hurtful, rather, they made him seem¡­ more genuine. Maybe that was why Salome found it so easy to trust him. Since meeting him, it had never occurred to her that he might harbor ill intentions.


    After brief hesitation, she quickened her steps to catch up with Kiran.


    ¡°That courtyard¡­¡± she began hesitantly. ¡°What kind of place was it? And what exactly happened to me there?¡± Memories of the courtyard with the ancient tree kept slipping away from her, as though recalling a very old, indistinct dream.


    ¡°What courtyard?¡± Van asked, joining them, curious.


    ¡°There was a strange courtyard in the palace, just beyond the small gate opposite the entrance,¡± Salome explained. ¡°A giant oak grew there, and the sky¡ª¡±


    ¡°You should never have found that courtyard,¡± Kiran interrupted sharply. ¡°It''s a miracle you even entered that ruin, let alone the sanctuary within. Oblivious, blind fools like yourselves are supposed to pass by without ever noticing it. Yet, for some reason, you stumbled upon it.¡± He shook his head.


    ¡°What¡¯s the deal with that ruin anyway?¡± Van asked. ¡°Something there isn''t right.¡±


    ¡°Firmament has many such places, but of course, you wouldn''t know that. Some things must remain hidden from the world.¡±


    ¡°But that still doesn''t explain what exactly happened,¡± Salome insisted. ¡°It felt so strange¡­ like stepping into another world. I wasn¡¯t myself there. Even now, when I try to recall it, everything''s blurred, as if the memories belonged to someone else! How is that possible?¡± She looked questioningly at Kiran.


    ¡°Enough questions!¡± he snapped irritably. ¡°You should be thankful I was there to guide you out. Without me, you''d still be wandering lost inside, tomorrow, the next day, and who knows how long. Show some gratitude and spare me your ignorance!¡± He huffed loudly, quickening his pace. Salome was startled by his sudden irritation. What had gotten into him?


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    They spent the next hour mostly in silence, continuing towards an unknown destination. Clouds drifted timelessly over the grassy hills, occasionally revealing ruins before concealing them again behind a curtain of white. They discovered a narrow brook trickling gently through a shallow channel, tumbling over the island''s edge into the void, dissolving into swirling mists that sank into the cloud sea below. Salome wondered if the rain showers back home originated from such water.


    They followed the landscape¡¯s gentle rises and falls for a while, until finally, Kiran stopped for the first time.


    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± he announced simply, pulling his hood back over his head. Salome looked around curiously.


    Clouds, meadows, and the silhouettes of distant ruins. Nothing else unusual caught her eye. Yet, according to Van, Kiran¡¯s boat had to be here somewhere.


    ¡°What do you mean we''re here?¡± Van asked, bewildered. ¡°There''s nothing here!¡±


    Kiran sighed and casually gestured toward several misshapen rocks jutting up from the ground near the island''s edge.


    Salome blinked. She hadn''t noticed these boulders at all. No, that wasn''t quite true. She had seen them¡ªit was just remarkably easy to overlook them. Her gaze slid past them as though glancing off edges in a dim twilight. Upon closer inspection, she realized they weren''t misshapen rocks at all but massive, deliberately carved stones. How had she missed something so obvious? They were arranged in an arch-like formation, with the highest point nearly twice her height. Within the arch, framed perfectly by these stones, was a mirror.


    Next to her, Van audibly gasped.


    ¡°A mirror gate¡­¡± he whispered, his eyes widening. He stepped slowly toward the strange formation, as though unable to believe what he was seeing. He licked his lips, excitement suddenly glittering in his eyes.


    ¡°This is a mirror gate, isn¡¯t it?¡± he asked with nearly childlike enthusiasm. ¡°Incredible! It''s been ages since I''ve seen one! They''re so easy to overlook, even when you''re standing right in front of them!¡± He eagerly rushed toward the mysterious gate, examining it curiously from every angle.


    ¡°I''m surprised you''ve seen one before,¡± Kiran remarked, stepping up beside him.


    ¡°When I was a kid, my father took me on a trip to a place at the edge of the known world,¡± Van explained absently. ¡°While he was busy with errands, I played nearby and stumbled across something similar to this. Shame I didn''t know what it was at the time.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Kiran murmured, almost to himself, nodding thoughtfully. ¡°Children find them easier¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡­ is this?¡± Salome asked cautiously, stepping closer.


    The frame must have been ancient, as completely covered with bright green moss as it was. In stark contrast, the mirror''s surface appeared flawless, as pristine as new, untouched by nature or time. It seemed so natural, as if the mirror had simply grown from the ground itself.


    Salome suddenly realized it cast no shadow. The sun hovered slightly overhead, casting shadows only from the stones themselves onto the grass.


    Incredulously, Salome stepped to the side and circled the mirror carefully, placing one foot cautiously on the narrow ridge that separated it from the yawning abyss below, examining its backside. Yet even there, she found nothing but another mirror surface perfectly reflecting the world. Astonished, she gazed at the mirrored view of the brightly illuminated cloud ocean. Carefully, she returned to the front, stepping closer to the smooth surface. Her reflection stared back at her, astonishment clearly written on her face. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Van and Kiran. Hesitantly, she reached out and gently touched the surface with a fingertip. It felt cold.


    Suddenly, Van knocked his knuckles against the mirror, startling her. She shot him a glare, which he met with a playful grin.


    ¡°They say these gates lead into a world behind mirrors,¡± Van said, answering her earlier question. ¡°Supposedly, people once used them to cross vast distances in just a few steps.¡±


    Salome eyed the structure skeptically. A world behind mirrors?


    ¡°And what exactly are you doing here?¡± Van asked, turning to Kiran. ¡°You didn¡¯t actually come through the mirror gate, did you?¡± He laughed at his own joke, but Kiran''s expression didn''t change. Calmly, he watched Van¡¯s laughter fade away.


    ¡°You actually came through the mirror gate,¡± Van concluded soberly. All traces of humor vanished. ¡°But¡ªI thought¡ªI thought nobody knew how to use them anymore? That knowledge vanished along with the missing age!¡±


    ¡°Just because no one reveals certain knowledge doesn''t mean it no longer exists,¡± Kiran replied smugly. ¡°Somewhere in this world lies the key to every secret.¡±


    He reached into his pocket and withdrew the glass shard from before, briefly allowing Salome a glimpse before clasping it with both hands. She thought she saw faint golden veins threading through it.


    ¡°Usually, our reflection blocks our way. That''s fortunate¡ªwe wouldn¡¯t want to fall through every mirror like an open window. But if you ask your reflection correctly, it gladly steps aside and allows entry.¡± Kiran stood in front of the mirror, paused briefly, and then pressed the glass shard against the forehead of his reflection.


    At first, nothing happened, just the quiet scraping of glass against glass. But somehow, Salome sensed a shift in the large mirror. She squinted.


    Kiran''s reflection began to flicker, its edges blurring along with those of Van and herself. Suddenly, a sharp ringing sound echoed as hairline cracks radiated from where Kiran pressed the shard, spreading rapidly like an intricate spiderweb until the entire mirror fractured. Alarmed, Salome stepped back as shards broke away, falling to the ground with a crystalline crash. More and more pieces detached until the mirror collapsed entirely, revealing the cloud ocean behind. The fragments formed an oddly neat pile in the grass, almost like a threshold.


    ¡°Great,¡± Van muttered. ¡°You broke it.¡±


    Kiran stepped aside, gesturing broadly at the shards.


    ¡°The way is open.¡±

 Chapter 12 - Mirrorworld

    As Salome gazed through the gate onto the other side, she could hardly believe her eyes.


    At the edge of the island, on the very brink of an abyss where one misstep would plunge one into a deep fall, a path had appeared. A broad road fashioned from golden light¡ªnearly transparent and as delicate as the finest silk¡ªstretched out into nothingness, right through the airy heights of Firmament. Before long, it merged into a gleaming staircase that wound upward in broad steps into the blue sky and then branched off into a multitude of paths, each almost identical to the first. A true network of trails, stairs, ramps, and scattered plazas spanned out in places reserved only for the wind.


    ¡°Welcome to the Mirrorworld,¡± said Kiran. ¡°Come on, step inside! What are you waiting for?¡± With confident strides, he crossed the shattered threshold of the door and awaited them on the other side.


    ¡°Indescribable¡­¡± murmured Van, completely overwhelmed by the enchanting sight before him. Yet that did not stop him from striding through the gate with two quick steps.


    Salome was at a loss for words.


    It took her a while, before she too, with a pounding heart, stepped through the gate, which had only moments before been a mirror. Now she stood there, side by side with Van and Kiran, staring down at the cloud ocean that stretched just a hand¡¯s breadth from her toes. Whatever this glasslike path might be, she could see right through it, and she doubted very much that it would carry her. Cold fingers dug into the pit of her stomach and crept slowly up her spine as she gazed into the abyss. The world swayed with every breath. Looking up, she realized that the ever-present wind had vanished the moment she''d crossed the threshold, as abruptly as if she''d imagined it all along. It was suddenly very quiet.


    ¡°Those who wish to walk the paths of the Mirror World,¡± Kiran explained conversationally, ¡°must be absolutely certain. It''s easy to get lost here, and even easier to stray from the path. Don¡¯t look down and trust your steps to find their way; then the paths will carry you safely.¡±


    He stared straight ahead with determination and stepped boldly out into the void.


    Salome screamed and reached for him, but instead of falling, he stepped confidently onto the path. Now he stood before them, suspended in midair with nothing but a golden shimmer beneath his feet, flashing them a cocky grin.


    ¡°If only my father could see this¡­¡± murmured Van, still amazed. He cast a doubtful glance at the path ahead.


    ¡°Come on, then!¡± cried Kiran. ¡°Or are you scared? Surely a Navigator isn''t afraid of heights?¡±


    Van coughed awkwardly and clutched the necklace with the tiny golden pendant, before he tuck it back into the collar of his shirt. ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re right of course,¡± he said. Then he pressed his lips together, drew a deep breath, and leapt with a wide bound onto the path. Salome let out a startled gasp. When his feet landed on the golden ground, she exhaled a relieved sigh.


    ¡°Your turn,¡± said Kiran.


    ¡°It¡¯s not as difficult as it looks,¡± Van reassured her with a smile, reaching out his hand.


    Salome swallowed hard, glancing once more into the void. It was impossible to gauge how far away the swirling cloud mass lay beneath her. The longer she stared into the cloud ocean, the more consuming its pure white became, filling her vision until nothing remained but endless swirling infinity. The abyss seemed to call out to her, tugging at her mind with invisible hands, slowly drawing her downward. She forcefully tore her gaze away and closed her eyes. Trust, Kiran had said. Trust your steps to find their goal. Salome wasn''t afraid of heights; quite the opposite, she loved climbing to high places to watch the world shrink beneath her feet. Yet this impossibly thin path, appearing out of nowhere, more like a dream than actual, solid ground¡­ She shook her head to dispel the intrusive thoughts, and when she opened her eyes again, her doubts vanished. She had doubted Firmament and even Van''s words about the existence of this beautiful world. Now she was here, and the time for doubts was past.


    With her heart racing, she raised her foot, shifted her weight¡ªand took that decisive step into the void. She didn''t look down, forcing herself to keep her eyes open. Then she felt the path beneath her, holding her securely.


    Relief nearly brought her to her knees. She took Van¡¯s hand, allowing him to pull her forward.


    ¡°Well done,¡± said Kiran. ¡°Remember, as long as you believe the path will hold you, nothing can harm you. More or less.¡± He whispered the last words so quietly that Salome wasn¡¯t sure she was meant to hear them. She decided to ignore them anyway. That single step had cost her every ounce of courage she possessed.


    ¡°So, this is the Mirrorworld,¡± Van said, gazing around. ¡°I''ve heard countless stories about it, but it looks different in every tale. Apparently, most of those stories were nothing but lies.¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± said Kiran. ¡°The form this world takes isn¡¯t always the same. I think it depends on who opens the gate.¡±


    He pushed his hood back and adjusted the strap of his satchel.


    ¡°Come,¡± he urged. ¡°It''s easy to get lost here, easier still to fall off the path. Just don¡¯t look down.¡±


    Walking on what felt like a breath of nothingness through the sky was a strange, yet exhilarating feeling. Almost like strolling on the wind itself.


    ¡°How can a world like this even exist?¡± Salome finally asked. ¡°These paths¡­ what are they? What are they made of?¡±


    ¡°This world is very old,¡± Kiran remarked thoughtfully. ¡°Whoever created it has long since faded into oblivion. Now, it''s merely a convenient passage between the islands.¡±


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    ¡°You must teach me how to open these mirror gates!¡± Van said eagerly. ¡°I would love to explore the secrets of this world.¡±


    ¡°Over my dead body,¡± Kiran replied grimly.


    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Van pleaded, flashing his most charming smile. ¡°Who knows what ancient treasures are hidden here? Maybe I could uncover some lost knowledge from the missing age?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Kiran said firmly. ¡°Never! Fools like you only find death in this place. Haven¡¯t you learned anything from the palace ruin? Stay away from places you can''t comprehend!¡±


    Van raised his hands placatingly. ¡°Alright, calm down,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m just curious. It¡¯s not every day you get such a chance¡ªwhat, by the pillars, is that?¡±


    He suddenly pointed ahead. Far off on the horizon, an unusual glow shimmered, distinct from the sun''s muted reflection. It shone brightly, nearly white, and Salome could make out tiny figures in the air beyond the pathways¡ªbirds. Countless birds. A flock was crossing the horizon.


    There must have been thousands, maybe many more. From this distance, they seemed crafted from pure light, their feathers radiant and ethereal. In the quiet that held the world spellbound like an eternal winter, Salome thought she heard their distant chatter¡ªthough it sounded more like gentle singing, the soft chirping and sweet trills of songbirds heralding dawn on a warm summer morning. At the same moment, she imagined the melancholy calls of migratory birds leaving their homes in late autumn, searching for warmer shores.


    Joy rose within her, intertwined with sorrow, happiness, longing, profound nostalgia... A smile crept onto her lips, yet tears welled in the corners of her eyes.


    ¡°Those are the Sakrales,¡± Kiran said softly, his voice pulling her back from the enchanting melody to reality. ¡°Beings of purity and light. It is said they are reflections of the souls of the departed.¡± He listened quietly before continuing, ¡°They are the heart of this world, the eternal flame resisting the power of silence. Silence is strong here, but as long as the birds sing, the mirror paths remain safe to travel.¡±


    Suddenly, he clapped his hands, jolting Salome and Van from their reverie. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t lose yourself too deeply in their song. Their voices echo from unreachable distances, meant not for the living. The bittersweet melancholy of departure can plunge a heart into grief from which it may never recover. Let¡¯s hurry and leave this place quickly.¡±


    Salome was surprised by how effortlessly she ignored the abyss below by now. Although aware of the depths at every step, her breathing remained steady, her heartbeat calm. In fact, she found pleasure walking amidst this towering emptiness. The distant song of the Sakrales washed wave-like through her mind, giving wings to her thoughts. She nearly laughed, imagining the people of Fundament gazing upward at the clouds, oblivious to the wonders hidden beyond their sky.


    ¡°I assume you know the way?¡± Van asked cautiously after they''d wandered through the complex network of paths for a while.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Kiran replied confidently.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Van responded, clearly skeptical.


    Eventually, Salome lost track of whether minutes or hours had passed when they arrived at one of the large, circular plazas branching into more paths. Kiran paused here, examining their surroundings carefully. Then, nodding to himself, he stepped into the center and retrieved the peculiar shard of glass from his pocket. Kneeling briefly, he pressed it to the ground. Salome watched expectantly¡ªbut nothing happened, at least not until she blinked. Suddenly, a mirror gate stood before them.


    ¡°What the¡ª?¡± Van exclaimed, no less astonished than she was. ¡°How the heck do you do that? By the pillars!¡±


    Kiran ignored him and approached the gate, which strangely contained no mirror, only a perfectly smooth, pitch-black surface absorbing all light. Salome wondered if someone standing on the other side at that very moment would see three reflections without their counterparts.


    Nevertheless, Kiran opened the black gate the same way he had the first one. As the shards fell clinking to the ground, an opening appeared, revealing an island utterly different from the one they had just left.


    A mighty wall of trees rose only a few steps away from her, their moss-covered trunks as thick as anything Salome had ever seen. They all stretched seemingly endlessly into the sky before branching out into mighty canopies.


    ¡°I had no idea trees could grow so large,¡± Salome murmured in awe as she stepped through the mirror gate, craning her neck upward.


    ¡°That''s perfectly normal,¡± Van said, stepping out behind her. ¡°Trees can reach this size when they''re truly ancient. See now why those small, scrawny things in Fundament seemed so strange to me?¡±


    Despite the subtle roar of the wind rustling the dense canopy above, a peaceful stillness enveloped the forest. A mysterious gloom nestled between the trunks, obscuring its depths. The forest floor smelled of dry wood, moss, and cool summer air, rising from layers of fallen leaves and needles like invisible mist. Salome felt oddly at ease beneath the giants spreading their broad, leaf-covered branches protectively above her.


    She couldn''t recall seeing an island with trees of this magnitude from the ruin-covered plains¡ªhad they simply appeared smaller from afar?


    When she finally tore her gaze from the immense trees, Salome noticed the sun already sinking towards the horizon, casting long shadows across the cloud ocean. In the east, the sky darkened, and the first stars began to shine. But how could that be? It had been only afternoon when they entered the Mirrorworld, and they¡¯d traveled no more than an hour or two.


    ¡°So, distance and time are different behind the mirrors,¡± Van observed, noticing the same thing.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Kiran replied, readjusting his bag. ¡°The world seen in a mirror is only a reflection, not reality itself. Sometimes this reflection seems distorted, but that''s just the mirror we look through.¡±


    As if that explained everything, he adjusted the strap of his bag once more and began climbing the short, steep slope leading up to the forest''s edge. He ignored Van''s puzzled frown.


    Here, right at the island''s border, nothing grew except low grass and a few scattered daisies, as if the forest itself feared the abyss.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to¡­ close the gate?¡± Van asked hesitantly, glancing back at the tall arch through which the golden pathways still shimmered.


    ¡°This gate is only open for those reflected in it at the moment of its opening,¡± Kiran explained without turning around. ¡°For anyone else, it remains just a large mirror¡ªat least, to anyone capable of seeing it.¡±


    When he reached the top of the slope, he paused, looking down at Van and Salome.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost to my master. If we hurry, we''ll reach him shortly.¡±


    ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Van suddenly exclaimed. ¡°It¡¯s almost dark! Wandering through the silence of the forest at night is far too dangerous!¡±


    Kiran wrinkled his nose disdainfully. ¡°On any other island, you might have had a point. But naturally, you fail to see the truth even when it stares you in the face. Nothing will harm us here. Come on, follow me.¡± Without waiting for a reply, he turned and disappeared into the shadows between the colossal trees.


    ¡°That insufferable¡­¡± Van grumbled, glaring up the slope.


    ¡°What exactly could happen to us in the forest at night?¡± Salome asked cautiously. Back in Fundament, the popular belief was that evil spirits roamed the woods after dark, though she''d never encountered one ¨C despite frequently looking for them. Yet, after everything that had happened in the palace ruin, she wasn''t sure anymore she wanted to meet any spirits.


    ¡°He of all people should know better!¡± Van said angrily.


    Salome gazed thoughtfully at the edge of the woods. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s right,¡± she said after a pause. ¡°I think nothing will harm us here.¡±


    She began climbing the slope. Van watched her, mouth agape, before reluctantly following with a muttered, ¡°Well, if you say so¡­¡±

 Chapter 13 - Forest Night

    Slowly, night settled over the heavens, causing the warm hues of the evening to vanish along with the sun.


    The last rays of light filtered sporadically through the leafy canopy, evoking for Salome the image of falling rain¡ªappearing and disappearing as the treetops swayed high above them in the wind.


    Down here, at the base of the mighty trunks, she could scarcely perceive the wind. Only a peaceful, pleasant calm reigned. Occasionally, the solitary cry of a wild bird would break the silence, disappearing like an echo as if it had never truly been. Salome laid her hand upon one of the towering trees. Its bark was overgrown with moss and dotted with large, wrinkled mushrooms, as was often the case with ancient trees. In some places, sparse grass sprouted from the bark, and here and there even flowers emerged from the wood.


    As the light dwindled, it became increasingly difficult to discern the ground before her. There was hardly any undergrowth, the trees were spaced far apart, and their roots were deeply anchored in the earth. But what if, somewhere, a root¡¯s tip protruded or a fallen branch blocked the path? She had to be very careful not to stumble.


    ¡°Kiran, don¡¯t be so stubborn,¡± said Van. ¡°Soon it¡¯ll be pitch black! We¡¯ll end up breaking our legs while getting lost! Besides, I don¡¯t even want to think of what might be lurking in this forest.¡± He looked around anxiously as he spoke.


    ¡°There is nothing here that we need to be wary of,¡± Kiran replied calmly.


    ¡°How can you be so sure?¡± Van asked.


    ¡°Just wait and see.¡±


    Very slowly, the golden beams of the evening light transformed into silvery threads of moon- and starlight, and darkness enveloped them like a heavy cloak. Yet the darker it became, the more clearly Salome understood what Kiran had meant.


    Deep within the tiny bodies of the countless insects that crawled in columns over the ground and tree trunks or fluttered through the night on transparent wings, a ghostly blue light slumbered. Gradually, with every passing minute, it spread and grew in brilliance and intensity. Soon, the entire forest was suffused with a midnight-blue shimmer, settling in the air like a fine mist. Overhead, the treetops dissolved into deep darkness, broken occasionally by the distant sparkle of a solitary star.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before,¡± Van whispered in awe. ¡°What¡¯s this strange light?¡±


    ¡°Those mushrooms growing on the trees are of a very special kind found only in this region,¡± explained Kiran, gesturing toward the wrinkled growths. ¡°They extract the essence of the forest¡ªthe life within the soil and the trunks. The insects that feed on them absorb this essence and become animated with life. When night falls, that essence radiates from their tiny bodies and returns to the forest. We perceive this process as blue light.¡±


    Salome spun slowly, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the marvelous spectacle.


    ¡°Kind of strange that I¡¯ve never heard of this island,¡± Van mused.


    ¡°It is under the protection of my master,¡± Kiran said proudly. ¡°Only those who have received his invitation may enter.¡±


    They continued their journey, enveloped in ghostly blue light, ever deeper into the forest. Amid the vibrant silence, the hum of countless insects made Salome¡¯s ears tingle. She observed that, as they neared the forest¡¯s center, more and more roots jutted from the ground. At first, they only had to step over a few thick, wooden tendrils that lay motionless on the ground. But soon they found themselves climbing over entire mounds of roots that blocked their path, or even having to slip beneath massive wooden formations¡ªrising from the earth like petrified snakes. They ascended higher and higher until they followed a broad root path that separated them from the forest floor.


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    ¡°It¡¯s so quiet here,¡± Van remarked thoughtfully. ¡°I don¡¯t hear any animals. No birds, no insects, nothing. Would be quite worrying normally, but here it seems¡­ somehow all right. Strange place.¡±


    Salome¡¯s gaze wandered in amazement when suddenly something caught her eye in the periphery. It was a peculiar shimmer, as bluish as all the other lights in the air, yet somehow¡­ different. The source of this glow lay somewhere below her. She could glimpse it intermittently through the gaps in the tangle of roots along her path. Whatever it was, it appeared familiar and inviting¡ªlike the warm glow of a lantern above a doorway on a dark night. Entranced, Salome tried to catch a glimpse of its source when, all at once, Kiran¡¯s voice rang out:


    ¡°Salome, watch out!¡±


    But it was too late.


    Her next step carried her straight into a wide gap beside the root path. It happened so unexpectedly that she plunged silently into the labyrinth of roots below without even managing to cry out.


    The fall lasted a mere split second, but her side struck a gnarled protrusion so forcefully it drove all the air from her lungs. Worse yet, she felt herself sliding further downward.


    ¡°Salome¡ª!¡± she heard Van¡¯s alarmed cry from somewhere above her.


    Desperately, she searched for something to grasp, but her feet met only emptiness and her fingers repeatedly slipped off the knobby surface of the root. It all happened so quickly that the next moment she was in free fall, a silent scream forming on her lips. Frantic thoughts raced through her mind: How far was the ground? How high did these roots rise? Had they been climbing ever higher all along? She didn¡¯t know!


    Suddenly, tall blades of grass reached for her like greedy fingers, and she landed on the ground with a dull thud. Somehow she managed to land first on her feet and then on her hands to soften the impact, but a sharp, piercing pain shot up her left leg, forcing a stifled scream from her throat.


    ¡°Salome? Salome! Are you alright?¡± Van called again, but the pain and shock left her unable to respond. She curled up, clutching her ankle in a spasm. Waves of white fire surged through it, and she pressed her lips tightly together to keep herself from gasping uncontrollably.


    ¡°What by the pillars are you doing?¡± Kiran shouted, agitated. ¡°Salome? Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with my leg,¡± she managed to say after a while.


    ¡°Damn¡­ Wait, I¡¯m coming to you! Don¡¯t move!¡± Van cried. His voice sounded strangely muffled, as if coming from a great distance. Salome drew shaky breaths. Waves of pain throbbed along the side where she had struck earlier.


    ¡°How by the damn pillars am I supposed to move?¡± she muttered in despair. Apparently, she had fallen quite deeply. The roots above her formed a kind of dome, through narrow slits of which she could see blue light streaming in. All around her, it was pitch dark. She could hear muffled boot steps overhead¡ªpresumably Van¡¯s.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Kiran¡¯s voice rang out again. ¡°You must not go down there!¡±


    Why did his voice sound so strangled?


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Van shouted angrily. ¡°Salome is down there! She¡¯s injured! We have to get to her!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple!¡± A trace of nervousness tinged Kiran¡¯s tone¡ªor rather, he sounded quite uneasy. ¡°Beneath these roots hide things that one should not come too close to,¡± he said gravely.


    ¡°What?¡± Van exclaimed in disbelief. ¡°I thought there was nothing here that could be dangerous to us?¡±


    ¡°There is nothing! But you still shouldn¡¯t test it!¡±


    ¡°Damn it! I¡¯m certainly not leaving Salome alone down there!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Kiran insisted urgently, clearly striving to keep his tone calm. ¡°If you descend, you will only make matters worse. She must manage on her own for a while¡ªonly until we reach the center!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s got to be a joke,¡± Van hissed after a brief pause.


    ¡°Enough, Van,¡± Salome gasped between sharp breaths. She hoped that he could understand her from down there. ¡°I¡¯ll manage!¡± she tried to sound reassuring, though it came out rather poorly.


    ¡°Listen, Salome,¡± Kiran called. ¡°Follow my voice, but at all costs keep away from any unusual light sources! They¡¯re wisps. You must not touch them!¡±


    ¡°Unusual light sources? Can¡¯t you be more specific?¡± Salome slowly pushed herself up, trying not to put weight on her injured leg. Yet with every movement, it felt as if her ankle were being pierced by needles.


    ¡°Well, they too shine blue¡­¡± Kiran shouted. ¡°But they differ from the natural light of the forest in a¡­ special way. I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t describe it any more precisely! But I believe you will recognize them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a great help,¡± Van muttered angrily.


    ¡°I think I know what you mean,¡± Salome called out. So that was indeed what she had seen.


    She gritted her teeth.

 Chapter 14 - Spirits and Darkness

    Salome found herself in a vast cavern, its dome-like ceiling composed entirely of an intricate tangle of roots.


    The tree trunks, standing in great intervals throughout the space, sprouted their roots in some places in an unusually steep, almost vertical manner from the ground, stretching up to the dome where they branched into a labyrinth of wood and gnarls. In a way, the place somehow reminded Salome of Fundament, with its world pillars piercing the clouded sky. Moreover, it was dark¡ªthough not as dark as she had initially assumed, for here too, scattered luminous beetles scurried about, albeit far fewer than above, and the large mushrooms grew only sparsely and far apart.


    Salome took several deep breaths and struggled to rise to her feet. With every movement, waves of pain shot through her body, and she nearly collapsed once again. Yet somehow, gritting her teeth, she managed to balance on one leg. Tentatively, she tried to set her left foot on the ground and bear the weight, but the effort made her nauseous. Thus, she had no choice but to limp cautiously onward.


    "I''m ready," she cried, her voice strained. The sooner she escaped this strange, eerie place, the better.


    "Alright," replied Kiran. His voice now held a calmer tone than before. "Just move in the direction from which you can hear my voice."


    Salome heard the sound of footsteps¡ªthe two boys moving somewhere above her. Slowly, she limped after them, a task made all the more difficult by the tall grass around her, almost reaching up to her stomach. She noticed how unusually dry and gray it appeared.


    "Watch out down there!" Van called out worriedly. "If you need help, I''ll come to you, no matter what that blockhead says."


    Kiran snorted audibly but did not comment, adding, "Don¡¯t forget: be wary of unusual sources of light! And if you hear rustling grass nearby..."


    "Then what?" Salome replied anxiously, scanning the vast cavern suspiciously.


    "Forget it. Just hope it doesn¡¯t come to that."


    Salome swallowed hard.


    It was terribly exhausting and slow to hobble on one leg. She had to pause now and then, leaning against a tree trunk or a root. There was nothing here besides the grass¡ªno fallen branches she could use as a cane, no thinner roots she could tear off, not even stones or other plants.


    "What kind of place is this?" she cried, panting as she groped along the bark of a trunk.


    "A labyrinth," came Kiran¡¯s voice. "All those who are not meant to be here eventually find themselves here. The path isn''t open to everyone."


    "And why not?" Salome asked.


    "There are things that must be protected, and there are those from whom they must be safeguarded."


    "Aha," Salome remarked, wincing in pain. "And what are wisps?" she groaned.


    "You never heard of wisps?" Van interjected, astonished.


    "I¡¯m surprised you know about them," said Kiran.


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    "Well, ''knowing'' is probably not the right word. I¡¯ve heard stories of solitary wanderers being hypnotically drawn to strange lights, suspended in midair, and straying from the path. But those stories never end well. Most often, they fall into some hole or abyss, or blindly wander into a swamp where they drown."


    "Wisps are simple spirits," Kiran declared. "They cloud the senses and obscure the mind¡ªnot out of malice, but because their nature is the very essence of stray. A deep construct that effortlessly influences the delicate fabric of the human spirit. One must be wary of them, yet they make for diligent guardians."


    Ghosts, then.


    At another time, Salome might have leaped for joy upon hearing that ghosts truly existed. But now she merely ground her teeth, hoping never to encounter one. Getting lost in her current state was the last thing she wanted, especially since the boys¡¯ conversation brought her some solace. She focused entirely on their voices and let them guide her.


    Time dragged on agonizingly, particularly because she didn¡¯t know how much longer she could endure. She tried not to think about what might be lurking in the shadows at the edge of her vision, watching her hungrily.


    "How much further is it?" she asked wearily, already feeling her leg cramp and the effort to keep her balance growing ever more strenuous.


    "We¡¯re almost there," Kiran called out.


    The pain had scarcely subsided, and on top of it all, Salome noticed her ankle was swollen. Removing her foot from the boot would be a nightmare.


    In the distance, she could see blue sources of light, solitary and murky, drifting in the darkness. It was as if, at night, she were gazing into a deep pond, upon whose bottom gleamed shiny pearls. But were they bugs? Or was one of those wisps lurking among them? Wherever Salome looked, the same image confronted her. Without Kiran¡¯s guidance, she would never have found the correct way down here.


    "Salome, the exit is near. Hold on," Kiran said. She gritted her teeth and ignored her exhaustion. She walked between two trees standing unusually close together and headed straight for a strangely branching tangle of roots that arched just above the ground in several directions before rising towards the dome. As she approached, similar constructs emerged from the darkness until it appeared as if there was a grown wall of living wood. And in all the gaps between the roots, blue light shimmered.


    "You should now be right in front of the exit," Kiran called. "You must pass through a gap near the ground. But you have to find the correct one! All the others are guarded by wisps, and if you touch them, you¡¯re lost! The exit will look just like all the others at first glance, but that is merely an illusion."


    "And how am I to recognize it?" Salome asked wearily.


    "Just look closely," Kiran replied simply. "You will find it."


    "I don¡¯t like this," Van said grimly. "How do you know she¡¯ll find the right way?"


    "There''s something about her. I''m not sure how to put it into words, but..." He paused. "Anyway, right now we have to trust her. There''s nothing else we can do."


    Salome tried to breathe steadily. To the pain in her leg now joined a piercing headache from the exertion. As if in a trance, she studied the wall of roots more closely while slowly hopping towards it. In all the openings that were large enough to slip through, blue light shimmered. There were no bugs visible anywhere that could be exuding that ghostly blue. What was she to do? If she chose the wrong opening¡­


    Suddenly, she heard soft rustling. She turned around and stared into the darkness behind her. There it was again¡ªsoft, barely audible rustling, as if something were moving through the tall grass. She turned back to the lights and tried to ignore her racing heartbeat. What did Kiran say about rustling grass again?


    Some of the lights differed from the ghostly blue of the insects, though not in any way she could describe in words. They seemed merely brighter, lighter, or perhaps¡­ less real? Near her were two openings that resembled Kiran¡¯s description. But which one was the exit? Which was a wisp and which was not?


    She glanced over her shoulder again and was horrified to see the rustling coming from different directions. And it was drawing nearer. She almost thought she saw the long blades of grass parting around something that was advancing in its concealment.


    She had to decide. If her strength failed her here, in this place, she might never see the light of day again. And whatever lurked behind, she certainly did not wish to come into close contact with it.


    So she gathered her remaining energy, chose the left of the two openings, and limped as fast as she could into the unnatural blue.

 Chapter 15 - [Interlude] - Heartrift

    Distant thunder rumbled across the sky that morning over Fundament.


    It had barely rained in recent days, leaving the city''s cobblestone streets uncharacteristically free of their usual slick sheen. Still, Semira¡¯s gaze followed the course of a dark, partly dried-up trickle that had adapted to the cracks between the cobblestones and painted a disturbingly even pattern upon the ground. The source of that trickle lay roughly three paces away.


    With a look of disgust, Semira wrinkled her nose as she approached the corpse of the man, slumped against a wall. He was found in a shadowy side street¡ªa narrow crevice far removed from the busier routes where horse-drawn wagons clattered by and gray figures with lowered heads shuffled along. High, oppressive walls of bare brick and peeling plaster jutted up from the uneven ground. Only a single, barricaded window and a bricked-up back entrance opened into the alley. The air reeked of soot. The dim daylight scarcely sufficed to drive away the rats that crawled about in the damp half-light.


    ¡°What do you make of this?¡±


    Semira turned her head to regard the man at her right¡ªthe one who had addressed the question. He wore the uniform of a warden, reinforced with metal plates, yet the badges on his chest and shoulders marked him as a mere foot soldier of low rank. He wasn¡¯t young, as evidenced by the slight wrinkles around his eyes and the graying hair in his curled mustache. How could a man of his age still hold such a lowly rank? Semira strove to keep her expression impassive and refrained from snapping her tongue derisively.


    As for his question, she decided not to answer immediately but instead returned her attention to the corpse at her feet.


    It was a middle-aged man with a bare, sinewy torso. Maybe a farmer? Or a laborer from the mines? No¡ªhe lacked the typical calloused hands. He sat on the ground with his legs outstretched, yet the trail of blood on the wall indicated that he had slowly slid into that position.


    Semira had already suspected why she had been summoned to such a remote and filthy place instead of having the Ministry¡¯s murder commission handle the matter as usual¡ªand now her fears were confirmed: In the man¡¯s chest, roughly where his heart should have been, yawned a fist-sized, round hole that pierced through his entire ribcage. The edges of the wound looked charred, as if seared with a hot knife.


    Her gaze followed the smeared bloodstain along the wall to a spot where an almost identical hole was unmistakably embedded, as if melted right into the stone. If the man were to be set upright, that hole in the wall would undoubtedly align with the one in his chest.


    Semira let the sight sink in for a moment before releasing an exasperated sigh and turning back to the warden. ¡°Who else saw this?¡±


    ¡°Well, aside from the old man who reported the murder, as far as I know only those present here,¡± he replied. The warden glanced past her and nervously eyed the two men waiting at the alley¡¯s entrance with their arms folded, watching intently.


    Semira leaned aside and caught his gaze. ¡°And that old fellow? Where is he? I hope you secured him properly?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I handed the man over to my colleagues. You must understand, he seemed very intimidated and, well, confused¡ªso I wanted to verify the veracity of his claim first. And when I saw this, I rushed straight to the Ministry to report the incident.¡± He shrugged and looked uneasily at the corpse at his feet. ¡°Who would have thought that the old fool was telling the truth? A heartrift¡­¡±


    Semira stared at him.


    ¡°Those¡­ were his words. You understand, don¡¯t you? There¡¯s this tale of cloud devils that steal hearts¡ª¡± He abruptly broke off and cleared his throat awkwardly. ¡°I mean¡­ What I¡¯m saying is: We obviously didn¡¯t take the man seriously. There are more than enough crackpots in this damned city, and so¡­ I can¡¯t promise he¡¯s still in custody at the station.¡±


    An uneasy silence followed. Unable to withstand Semira¡¯s intense gaze for even a second, he looked down dejectedly.


    ¡°You will tell no one about this,¡± Semira said coldly after a while. ¡°Every rumor or the smallest mention of this incident can be traced back to you, and you can expect severe consequences¡ªso don¡¯t even think about it. Is that clear?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ yes,¡± the man replied meekly, glancing in confusion at the corpse.


    ¡°Good. Now return to your post as quickly as possible and find that old man, no matter where he is. Bring him to the Ministry immediately. Speak to no one. From now on, you are under my direct orders.¡± Semira paused briefly before adding, ¡°Ravil here will assist you.¡± She motioned over her shoulder with her thumb, and one of the two men at the end of the alley nodded in her direction.


    The warden looked back and forth between her and the man, surprised. With a wave, Semira signaled that his presence was no longer needed, and he reluctantly set off.


    ¡°Oh, and,¡± she added without turning to him, ¡°reporting this directly to the Ministry was a wise decision. You did the right thing.¡±


    The men had been explicitly ordered to report unusual incidents such as this one, yet no one had ever specified exactly what qualified as unusual¡ªa point Semira frequently criticized, even though she knew the Ministry had no choice.


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    She listened to the echo of the clattering steps of the warden reverberating off the high, narrow walls as he departed.


    Once he and Ravil were gone, her second subordinate stepped up beside her and shook his head at the corpse. ¡°This is now the fourth one,¡± said Akeno grimly. He, like Semira, wore dark clothing beneath a black coat, but the pin on his collar shone bronze rather than the matte gold of hers. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re right and this really is a warning.¡±


    ¡°I have no doubt about that anymore,¡± Semira replied. ¡°Someone is trying to demonstrate their power here. However, I¡¯m not sure to whom this warning is aimed. Had these people been killed in more crowded places, everyone would be aware of these unnatural wounds. But we always find the bodies in the most remote, secluded corners of the city, so in essence only the Ministry knows the full extent of these murders.¡±


    Akeno snorted amusedly as he grasped her meaning. ¡°But who would be foolish enough to threaten the Ministry?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I don¡¯t understand.¡± Semira chewed her lower lip anxiously before she could stop herself.


    Akeno crouched beside the corpse and examined the wound in its chest more closely. ¡°By the pillars, I¡¯d really like to know what causes these holes. If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d say someone drove a glowing iron rod straight through this man¡¯s chest. And through the damn wall behind him.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°But in this cursed alley you can hardly stand face-to-face. Who in their right mind would be swinging a long weapon here?¡±


    After a moment¡¯s thought, he carefully raised the dead man¡¯s hands and inspected them. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like our friend here put up any resistance. No injuries or burns.¡± Akeno showed Semira the rough, uninjured palms and forearms of the man. ¡°As if he were caught completely off guard. He died before he even knew what was happening.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe he had already resigned himself to his fate,¡± Semira mused. Akeno gave her a puzzled look. ¡°Anyway,¡± she continued without elaborating further, ¡°for now we should try to find out as much as possible about this man. Maybe this time we¡¯ll discover a clue as to where he came from.¡± Yet, deep down she harbored little hope. From previous cases, she knew these men were like ghosts. No one knew them, no one had ever seen them, and no one missed them.


    ¡°I leave the disposal of the body and further investigations to you. I must speak with Senator Nito.¡±


    Akeno nodded and wordlessly began to comb the alley for clues. Semira sighed, straightened her shoulders, and set off determinedly to the Ministry. She had had enough of the grime and the stench of death slowly creeping up the bare walls.


    The Ministry was an imposing building that loomed high above the surrounding houses and occupied an entire side of the city¡¯s rectangular main square. The facade had no ornamentation. The windows were darkened, and in front of the large main gate¡ªaccessed by a shallow staircase¡ªuniformed guards were always stationed, eyeing the passing crowds with suspicion. Just below the roof gable, the unblinking eye was emblazoned¡ªa symbol identical to the one engraved on Semira¡¯s pin. Viewed from the square, the building seemed to lean menacingly forward, as if subjecting anyone who wished to enter to a meticulous screening. A deliberately created effect, Semira suspected. Many of those who arrived here were either under suspicion or accused of a crime. The intimidating facade offered a foretaste of what awaited inside.


    Semira cast a fleeting glance at the sky. The advancing daylight seeped only sparingly through the black smoke that clung to the city like a dome of gloom and ash. In the distance, the muted clamor of the blast furnaces mingled with the murmur of the townsfolk, their words blending into an amorphous murmur that flowed oily and sluggish through the streets. Many of these people were laborers who tended the fires of the great furnaces ceaselessly and processed the iron that was transported across the river on wide barges. As long as the valley¡¯s iron mines did not run dry, the fires would burn day and night.


    Semira climbed the stairs to the open gate, ignoring the guard¡¯s stiff greeting. Upon entering the lobby, the tangle of voices from outside was replaced by the echo of bustling footsteps clattering over the black-gray marble floor. Everywhere, enforcers¡ªmen and women in dark clothes and black coats¡ªmoved with resolute determination, as if nothing in the world were more important than their duties.


    And, in a way, that was true. It was the Ministry¡¯s responsibility to maintain order in the world, which would be nearly impossible without its numerous agents. However, the weight of that duty and the accompanying privileges had fostered a certain arrogance in many of the enforcers, an attitude that would eventually reveal itself in their conduct¡ªa fact that Semira constantly disapproved of.


    Opposite the entrance was a broad counter, behind which two rows of ordinary citizens were lined up. They all appeared nervous and intimidated, constantly glancing around and casting sidelong looks at the wardens posted along the walls at regular intervals.


    There was always an abundance of those ready to complain or lay charges against someone.


    Semira walked past the counter, deep in thought, and headed for the broad staircase that arched upward to the next floor. Something the warden had said simply would not leave her mind. Apparently, the man who had found the corpse had described the murder as a ¡°heartrift,¡± a reference to an old fairy tale that was used to frighten little children. It spoke of cloud devils that prowled near the world pillars, hunting the hearts of those who dared venture too close to the forbidden zone.


    Was it really just the ramblings of a confused old man? If there was even the slightest chance that something more was at work, Semira had to pursue it. It was time she finally found a lead in this matter. Hopefully, Ravil could track down the man¡­


    Just as she reached the top of the stairs, a bright voice cut through her thoughts.


    ¡°Semira! There you are at last!¡± A woman approached from the rear of the hall, discreetly beckoning her. A heavy cloud of perfume preceded her.


    ¡°Mother?¡± Semira asked in suprise. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Surely I¡¯m allowed to pay my wonderful daughter a little visit, aren¡¯t I?¡± the woman replied in an overly sweet tone, punctuating her greeting with a kiss on the cheek. Semira hesitated before returning the gesture. ¡°I hope I¡¯m not interrupting anything important?¡±


    The encounter was so unexpected that Semira shook her head before she could think of a better reply. In truth, she had other matters on her mind. A visit from her mother was something she couldn¡¯t afford at the moment. Moreover, the appearance of the woman usually meant she needed something.


    ¡°How long have you been waiting for me here?¡± she asked. The plump woman¡ªabout a head shorter than Semira¡ªcurved her broad mouth, smeared with wine-red lipstick, into a smile. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not important at all. I don¡¯t mind waiting if I get to chat with you for a while! Or is it that you¡¯re too busy right now to spare a few moments for your dear mother?¡±


    Semira regarded her skeptically but eventually sighed in resignation. It was hard to refuse her mother. The woman could be incredibly insistent. Apparently, her visit to the Senator had to wait.


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to my study,¡± she said reluctantly. ¡°There we can talk in peace.¡±

 Chapter 16 - [Interlude] - Power Games

    Semira and her mother ascended the staircase and followed a wide corridor, flanked by life-size statues of black stone.


    The stern faces of the tall men and women seemed to glare down upon them as if disapproving of the two women¡¯s presence. Soon Semira turned into a narrower passage that ended in a broad wooden door, which she unlocked with practiced ease.


    They entered a spacious room furnished mainly with wall-mounted shelves and a wide desk. A large, arched window that stretched from floor to ceiling dominated the wall behind the desk, bathing the room in a gray light. Semira hung her coat on a hook by the door before seating herself on a leather chair by the window and motioned for her mother to do likewise. The woman settled into one of the two chairs in front of the desk without hesitation. She smoothed out her knee-length skirt and allowed her eyes to wander contentedly around the room.


    ¡°It¡¯s always such a magnificent feeling to come here,¡± she said. ¡°Really, Semira, you¡¯ve come so far. I¡¯m so proud of you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Semira replied flatly, her gaze fixed on the unadorned shelves crammed with leather-bound maps. She did not care for such compliments¡ªespecially not from her mother. The woman always sounded as though she had played a part in Semira¡¯s success. If only she knew what Semira had done to get so far¡­


    ¡°Tell me, are you still working with that¡­ troublesome man? You know, the one¡ªwhat was his name again?¡±


    ¡°Akeno is one of my most capable men,¡± Semira answered immediately. ¡°His past crimes are long behind him, and he has proven his loyalty time and again. I¡¯ve already explained that to you.¡±


    ¡°Right, Akeno,¡± her mother said disapprovingly. ¡°So he¡¯s still here? You really shouldn¡¯t associate with men like that, Semira. They never change.¡±


    Semira wanted to retort but eventually let it go. There was no point in arguing with her mother about these things. She was utterly unyielding when it came to appearances. Instead she asked, ¡°What¡¯s new in the city administration? I¡¯ve heard that the latest tax adjustment is causing quite a bit of problems?¡±


    ¡°You can say that,¡± her mother replied heatedly. ¡°With the volume of written complaints flooding the mailboxes these days, it isn¡¯t easy to keep track of the truly important letters! As if we had any influence over this year¡¯s completely botched harvest!¡±


    Semira had already heard about it. Apparently, there was an extreme imbalance in the farmers¡¯ yields, with some fields inexplicably bursting forth with fertility. These unusual, entirely random irregularities meant that the general levies had to be recalculated and adjusted repeatedly. Semira¡¯s mother, who worked in the city administration on the other side of the main square, was well aware of much of it¡ªeven though she was merely a secretary.


    ¡°What do you think is the reason for all this?¡± her mother asked.


    Semira shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve never plowed a field in my life, so what do I know about the quirks of the earth?¡± Admittedly, she had heard some rumors, but most involved ghosts or stupid curses. Superstition was widespread among the inhabitants of Fundament, yet Semira dismissed such tales.


    ¡°How is Father handling the situation?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Well, as village head, he¡¯s having a rough time with all this fuss, as you can imagine.¡±


    Semira nodded.


    ¡°He¡¯s actually in town. I told him to come see you, but right now he¡¯s just far too busy. You know how he is.¡±


    Semira paused, wondering if she should add something more, but her mother only looked down and nervously fidgeted with her fingers.


    She sighed. ¡°Is something the matter? You look worried.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Well¡­ you know, I¡¯m just worried about your sister.¡±


    Aha. So that was it.


    ¡°Salome? What about her?¡± Semira asked.


    ¡°I¡¯d like to know that too,¡± her mother said sorrowfully. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand what goes on in that girl¡¯s head. She hides away at home all day, but not long ago, someone saw her wandering in the rain again. I hate those looks from our neighbors when they mention it¡­ And you know what? When I went to check on Salome last night, she was nowhere to be found! Where on earth is she these days?¡± She let her shoulders slump in exhaustion.


    ¡°Salome can take care of herself. You worry too much,¡± Semira said. Admittedly, her little sister could be a bit headstrong at times. She had given their parents plenty of headaches before.


    ¡°Oh, Semira, couldn¡¯t you have a word with her? I know you¡¯re busy, but maybe she could take a leaf out of your book! You were always her great role model!¡± her mother pleaded.


    Semira leaned back in her chair and returned the look pensively. She hadn¡¯t been home for a while. Maybe she should pay Salome a brief visit? But there was so much to do. These strange murders demanded her undivided attention. She couldn¡¯t simply leave the city now just to take charge of her little sister¡¯s upbringing, with which her mother was clearly overwhelmed. She tapped her chin thoughtfully with her index finger. After a while she opened her mouth and said, ¡°You know, Mother, I¡ª¡±


    At that moment the door was flung open with a flourish, and Ravil stumbled into the room, completely out of breath. ¡°Please excuse the interruption,¡± he panted. ¡°Semira, there¡¯s trouble.¡±


    Semira briefly appraised her subordinate before immediately rising and retrieving her coat.


    ¡°What is suddenly¡ª¡± her mother began, but Semira cut her off. ¡°Mother, we¡¯ll talk about this later. You¡¯ll surely find your way back without me.¡± With that, she swung her coat over her shoulders in one swift motion, leaving the dumbfounded woman alone in her study.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Semira asked as she hurried along the corridor. Ravil, walking beside her, cautiously glanced around before replying. ¡°It¡¯s about the man who reported the murder. He wasn¡¯t hard to find, but I completely misjudged him. Damn it all, this is entirely my fault!¡±


    ¡°Calm down,¡± Semira said firmly. ¡°What about him?¡±


    Ravil gritted his teeth. ¡°I managed to persuade him to come with me without any trouble. Everything was going well until we got close to the Ministry. Then the man suddenly lost it, like he was possessed by fog spirits! He started screaming and tried to bolt, and when I got a little bit rough, that madman actually pulled a dagger from his pocket and waved it right in front of my face!¡±


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    Semira stopped in her tracks and looked at her subordinate. That¡¯s when she noticed his hand, haphazardly bandaged. ¡°You¡¯re injured,¡± she observed.


    ¡°Not a big deal,¡± Ravil replied, tucking his hand into his coat pocket. ¡°It¡¯s just a scratch. But that¡¯s not the point! After the old fellow broke free, he ran like crazy toward the Ministry. Akeno happened to be nearby and managed to stop him, but in the meantime, he injured someone.¡± Ravil paused for a breath. ¡°One of Senator Sargo¡¯s men.¡±


    Semira cursed inwardly. ¡°Does the Senator already know?¡±


    Ravil¡¯s look answered her question. She muttered a quiet curse and resumed her original pace.


    As they neared the entrance hall, loud voices reached their ears, and when Semira reached the stairs and peeked down, an unpleasant scene unfolded: Near the grand entrance gate, several guards stood in a semicircle, their unsheathed swords pointed at an old, nearly toothless man who pressed himself against the wall in a half-faint, groaning loudly. In front of him stood Akeno, attempting to keep the guards at bay with placating gestures. Behind the assembled figures stood an unusually tall man, waiting silently. With his arms crossed behind his back, he initially appeared almost indifferent. Yet the distinctive voice echoing clearly throughout the hall undoubtedly belonged to him.


    ¡°¡ªdemand that you hand this man over to me immediately,¡± Senator Sargo had just declared.


    ¡°Senator, I beg you¡ª¡± Akeno began, but the tall man would not let him speak. ¡°Immediately. Step aside, or I will have you arrested along with this criminal.¡± To emphasize his words, the guards advanced a step in unison.


    Semira drew a deep breath and rushed down the stairs. ¡°Senator Sargo,¡± she called, ¡°please wait a moment!¡±


    The tall man turned slowly. When his eyes met hers, a faint, sinister smile briefly played upon his lips. ¡°Ah, if it isn¡¯t Senator Nito¡¯s favorite little enforcer! What brings you here?¡± He spread his arms in a grand gesture.


    Ignoring the unvarnished insult, Semira assumed a composed expression. ¡°That agent over there is acting under my orders,¡± she explained, striving to sound as calm as possible. She nodded toward Akeno, who gave her a look of relief. ¡°The man accompanying him is an important witness in a case. I simply cannot hand him over to you.¡± She became aware of the numerous eyes fixed upon her¡ªthey were, after all, in the Ministry¡¯s reception hall.


    ¡°Ah, is that so?¡± asked Sargo, sounding remarkably affable. Far too affable, in fact. ¡°Of course, I should have known. But tell me, are you aware of what this man has just done?¡± He theatrically gestured toward the old man, who was still loudly lamenting his fate. ¡°He has broken the great taboo and attacked an agent of the Ministry! And in the very heart of our bastion of order! Such an offense cannot go unpunished. His trial in this case is of the utmost priority!¡± He spoke loudly enough for all present to hear, clearly aware of the impact of his words. In a slightly lower voice he added to Semira, ¡°You surely agree with me, don¡¯t you?¡± His tone was serious, yet a mischievous glint flickered in his small eyes. He clearly relished the situation.


    Semira met his gaze steadily and weighed her options. To the Senator, this great transgression¡ªhowever he termed it¡ªlikely meant nothing at all. Only that the victim was one of his own faction made it the perfect opportunity to publicly showcase the benefits of his support. And opposing him in such a setting, with so many onlookers, was difficult. Semira felt the weight of the other enforcer¡¯s eyes on her and knew that very few were on her side. Senator Sargo had surely noticed that fact. Yet if she were to hand over the old man, she would probably never see him again. The Senator now knew that the man had a certain value to her and would, of course, keep him away. There was no doubt about that. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time he had tried to sabotage her work.


    She looked past him and at the pile of personified misery crouched by the wall behind Akeno. The old man might possibly offer a clue to the strange murders, but that was merely speculative on her part. Was it really worth openly defying one of the most powerful men in the Ministry? It was just a hunch, but¡­ She took a deep breath, then made her decision.


    ¡°Forgive me, Senator, but I must disagree. I believe that this man¡¯s value as a witness cannot be outweighed by anything,¡± she declared.


    For a moment the great hall fell silent. The corners of the Senator¡¯s mouth twitched, as if he were suppressing a grin¡ªno doubt he had been hoping for that very answer. Suddenly his expression turned grave and he leaned threateningly toward Semira. ¡°Do you realize what you are claiming?¡± he said quietly, yet clearly enough for everyone to hear. ¡°It almost seems as though you are questioning a Senator¡¯s judgment. Am I right in thinking so?¡± He straightened up and began to scrutinize her from head to toe. ¡°I get the feeling that the preferential treatment by your superiors is beginning to go to your head. Maybe it¡¯s time to remind you where your place is.¡± His small eyes, set deep in their sockets, locked onto hers. ¡°So, let me ask you once more, just to be sure: What shall we do with this man?¡± The Senator made a beckoning gesture.


    Semira looked at him with an impassive expression and sighed inwardly. Now she had no choice but to agree with the Senator if she wanted to avoid serious consequences. It was clear that he cared only to humiliate her, and he would not relent in front of so many spectators. Slowly she opened her mouth¡ªbut at that very moment, a voice rang out, breaking the tense silence.


    ¡°Is there any reason why you are threatening my subordinate, Senator Sargo?¡±


    At the top of the staircase appeared a slight woman who descended the steps at a measured pace, head held high. Though old and marked with numerous wrinkles, she wore the black uniform of the Ministry¡¯s enforcers as though it were the only attire she had ever known. She exuded confidence and authority, and a white lapel pin glistened at her collar.


    ¡°Senator Nito,¡± Sargo said, slightly disappointed. But he quickly recovered, putting on his usual calm, friendly facade. ¡°It would never occur to me to threaten your esteemed subordinate!¡± He laughed, and the tension in the hall noticeably eased.


    Semira exhaled in relief. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted Ravil standing at the top of the stairs, nodding at her. Had he informed the Senator? As always, he demonstrated remarkable presence of mind.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± asked Nito, glancing at the guards who still stood with their swords drawn, waiting for further orders.


    ¡°That miserable old man attacked and injured one of my enforcers,¡± Sargo explained matter-of-factly. The theatrics of his earlier outburst had vanished. ¡°I was just in the process of having him arrested.¡±


    Nito shot Semira a questioning look.


    ¡°He possesses information that could help us in that case,¡± Semira interjected quickly, sounding much more confident than she felt. But for now, that was something no one needed to know.


    ¡°I understand,¡± said Nito simply. ¡°Senator Sargo, I ask you to leave the handling of this man to me and my people. You have no objection, do you?¡±


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Sargo asked in mild disbelief. ¡°This criminal has violated one of our highest laws! He should be punished on the spot, just as the rules demand!¡±


    ¡°Well, given that he appears to be crucial to the performance of my subordinates¡¯ duties¡ªand thereby to me¡ªI¡¯m certain that his trial can be postponed for a while,¡± Nito replied. She looked up at the towering Senator with a stony expression. He held her gaze wordlessly for a moment before abruptly turning away. ¡°I see. Apparently, the immediate punishment of the man¡ªthough undoubtedly warranted¡ªwould be premature. However,¡± he added, casting a dangerous gleam over his shoulder, ¡°this may only apply in this particular case. I am sure you can tell me more about the circumstances that led you to this decision.¡± Not waiting for a reply, he strode off with his head held high, arms crossed behind his back. As he walked, he casually waved to the guards, who promptly sheathed their swords and returned to their posts.


    Akeno, muttering a low curse, approached the old man, roughly cupped his hands behind his back, and dragged him away. After a while, the small cluster of onlookers gathered around dissipated, and the reception hall resumed its usual bustle.


    ¡°Thank you for your help, Senator,¡± Semira said.


    ¡°I hope it was worth it,¡± Nito replied dryly. ¡°If it turns out that this man proves useless, it will be difficult for me to justify my actions before the chairman. Besides, it will now be nearly impossible to keep our case hidden from Senator Sargo. He will soon dispatch his own men and try to claim all the glory for himself. From now on, we must work swiftly and effectively.¡± She shot Semira an unmistakable look.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Semira answered firmly, steeling herself for the coming days.


    The visit to her little sister would have to wait a little longer after all.

 Chapter 17 - An Unfamiliar Ceiling

    Salome knew she was dreaming.


    She wandered aimlessly through the darkness, unable to tell where she was or where she was headed. Only endless blackness surrounded her¡ªa darkness that oozed over the ground like tar, enveloped her like thick cotton, and swallowed every sound until even her own breath was lost. Yet she felt strangely calm. It wasn¡¯t fear that moved her to place one foot in front of the other, but rather a pure, childlike curiosity. What lay ahead of her? What was hidden in that bottomless void?


    In the distance, the nothingness gave birth to a spark, a source of dim light. With every step she took, that light grew brighter¡ªa glimmer in the darkness, the only sign in an endless emptiness.


    Blue light.


    The closer she got, the more convinced Salome became that she could discern the silhouette of a tall man waiting for her amid the radiance.


    Then she heard soft giggling. It came from no discernible direction, echoing through the dark without a clear source. Salome longed to reach the light, yet that giggling distracted her, causing her to pause and listen. And then she sank into the darkness, was swallowed by the ground, and began to fall¡­


    She opened her eyes.


    An unfamiliar ceiling. Dark brown wooden beams.


    Where was she? Every part of her ached, as if she had been running for hours. She lay in a bed, lavishly adorned with fresh white sheets and a thick, warm woolen blanket, her head resting in a pillow that felt like a cloud.


    She looked around the room in amazement. It was filled with a comforting warmth, the air was fresh and carried the scent of wooden furniture. In addition to Salome¡¯s bed were three others, all neat and unoccupied. A weak light filtered through some windows, veiled by thin curtains, bathing the room in a pleasant, subdued glow. Everything was clean and orderly, much like the well-kept guest room of an excellent inn.


    A soft giggling made Salome listen. Could it be a fragment of her dream that persistently followed her into reality? Or¡ªThere! There it was again! With a startled gasp, she sat upright in bed, every muscle in her body protesting, and looked around suspiciously.


    No one was there. But she could once more hear someone giggling¡ªnot far away¡­ She turned her head and peered down beside her bed. There, a little girl sat, peeking at her with large, innocent eyes. The child giggled again, then sprang to her feet and scurried across the room.


    ¡°She¡¯s awake! She¡¯s awake!¡± the little one cried in an excited, high-pitched voice as she slipped through the half-open door at the other end of the room.


    Salome watched her in astonishment. There was something on the girl¡¯s forehead¡ªit resembled a large bump, almost like a tiny horn. She wanted to follow her, but as she moved her legs beneath the blanket, a sharp pain shot through her ankle.


    Suddenly, a flood of images and sensations rushed through her mind, and she remembered everything that had happened. Van! And Kiran! Where were they both? Had she chosen the right path in the end? What had happened in the forest after she passed through that blue light?


    She tossed the blanket aside and prepared to swing her legs off the bed when she noticed that her injured ankle had been neatly bandaged. Frowning, she looked down at herself. Her clothing was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was clad in a simple white garment, much like the one the little girl had worn.


    Uneasily, she slid off the edge of the bed and found a pair of soft slippers waiting on the floor. After a brief hesitation, she put them on, carefully using her hands to assist her injured foot. Then she slowly stood up. Her ankle still throbbed, but it wasn¡¯t as bad as she¡¯d feared. Testing her balance, she shifted her weight and was pleased to discover she could walk. She tried standing on her injured leg, only to be rewarded by a sudden wave of burning pinpricks. Bad idea then.


    Taking a deep breath, she hobbled over to one of the windows on the opposite wall. She pulled the curtain aside¡ªonly to be met with the sight of the stone facade of a multi-story row house. It was run-down, as if neglected for years, yet still entirely intact. On either side, more houses abutted seamlessly, forming a long alley that filled her entire field of vision. She must have been on the first or second floor of a similar building, for far below her, a paved road ran straight between the houses. Distressed, she withdrew from the window. Where was she?


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    The sound of footsteps echoed from outside the room. Someone clattered up the stairs in heavy boots. Alarmed, Salome backed away, pressed her back against the wall, and braced herself.


    The door was suddenly flung open and Van burst into the room, his coat fluttering and an expression of concern on his face. ¡°Salome! Thank the pillars you¡¯re alright,¡± he exclaimed with relief upon seeing her. ¡°I thought you¡¯d never wake up!¡±


    ¡°Van?¡± Salome asked, confused. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are we?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything¡¯s fine,¡± the boy said with a grin. ¡°We are¡ª¡±


    From outside came a bright voice calling for Van, accompanied by the sound of quick steps. In the next moment, someone else burst into the room, much like Van.


    ¡°Van! Now wait a minute! How many times do I have to tell you to keep it down¡ªoh.¡±


    A girl had appeared behind Van, not much older than Salome, wrapped in an unusual gray coat with a high collar that seemed oddly familiar. She was quite small, with chestnut shoulder-length hair that framed her round face, and large, gray-green eyes that looked at Salome in surprise.


    ¡°You¡¯re up again already!¡± she said, hurrying over to Salome. ¡°How are you feeling? Anything strange? Are you nauseous?¡± She moved in close, scrutinizing Salome from head to toe, even bending down to check her bandages. ¡°How is your leg? Does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s okay¡­¡± Salome replied, taken aback by the girl¡¯s rapid-fire questions. ¡°Van? Who is that?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± the girl said, then sprang up. ¡°Of course, where are my manners? I¡¯m Alin. Pleased to finally meet you!¡± Without waiting for Salome¡¯s response, she crouched down again to further examine the bandage.


    Van sighed. ¡°She¡¯s been watching over you the entire time since we got here.¡± He sat down on one of the beds, carefully ensuring he didn¡¯t disturb the blankets.


    ¡°You¡¯ve slept for three whole days. I was really worried, you know? Kiran said it was due to the effects of the labyrinth.¡±


    Three days? And all because she¡¯d injured her ankle? That was absurd. Such a minor mishap shouldn¡¯t have sidelined her for three full days! Salome allowed Alin to help her back to her bed, so she could sit.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Kiran? Is he here too?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t the slightest idea!¡± Van shouted, throwing his hands in the air. ¡°That damn blockhead led us here and then vanished without a trace. As far as I¡¯m concerned, he can crawl into a hole and stay there for all eternity!¡± He closed his eyes and sighed deeply. ¡°I had to carry you all the way here. You¡¯re quite heavy, you know?¡±


    Salome¡¯s eyelid twitched at the remark, but she kept her face expressionless. No way she was that heavy.


    Alin giggled slyly.


    ¡°And just where exactly are we?¡± Salome asked again.


    ¡°You won¡¯t believe it,¡± Van said excitedly, ¡°but there really was¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough now, Van,¡± Alin interrupted firmly. ¡°Salome has just woken up! Let her catch her breath. Can¡¯t you see she¡¯s still trembling? She needs to rest.¡± Turning to Salome apologetically, she added, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but that¡¯s just how it is. Be patient and rest for now. Your body has been through a lot, and it will take some time for you to return to normal. Then you¡¯ll have plenty of time to ask questions, trust me.¡± She gave her a warm smile.


    Van shrugged. ¡°All right, whatever you say,¡± he conceded. ¡°I think it¡¯s better if she sees it for herself anyway.¡± A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes as he winked at Salome.


    Before she could utter another word, he leaped up and dashed for the door. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll leave you to your rest if you need it so badly,¡± he said, feigning disappointment as he slipped out of the room.


    Alin shook her head. ¡°What a troublemaker,¡± she remarked, stepping over to the small chest next to the bed. ¡°Look, here are your things. We¡¯ve washed and mended everything that needed it. Later, I¡¯ll change your bandage once more, and then you can put on your own clothes again.¡± Busily, she shook the pillow out and smoothed the sheet.


    ¡°Was the girl from earlier¡­¡± Salome began, ¡°injured?¡±


    Alin paused. ¡°Oh, you mean Nuria? Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll explain everything to you later, but for now, lie down a bit longer.¡± She plucked a feather from her sleeve that had come loose from the pillow and walked to the door. ¡°Make yourself at home!¡± she said with a mysterious smile before stepping out into the corridor. The door closed behind her with a soft click, once again cocooning Salome in the comforting calm of the warm room.


    What was that about? The girl treated her so familiarly, even though they had just met. Where had she ended up¡­ And how was she supposed to rest now after three days of sleep? Besides, she had many questions, and her curiosity wasn¡¯t going to vanish on its own. What exactly had Van been talking about earlier?


    How strange¡­ Her curiosity had always brought her nothing but unpleasant consequences. It was always the same. At school, at home¡­ so she had learned to hold back and try to ask as few questions as possible. But lately, she noticed that the feeling was taking hold of her again, that it was increasingly getting harder to ignore it.


    Lost in thought, she leaned back. It wasn¡¯t long before a leaden weariness settled over her, almost pressing her eyelids shut.

 Chapter 18 - Wegesend

    The sound of hushed voices roused Salome.


    Drowsily, she opened her eyes and turned her head to the side. There, beside her bed, was Alin, bending over the little girl from earlier, whispering something in her ear. A few loose strands of hair draped over the child¡¯s forehead, and nestled among them was that same peculiar bump that, upon closer inspection, definitely resembled a small horn.


    She wanted to move, but her body felt strangely sluggish¡ªas if she had slept for far too long. The rustling of her blanket caught Alin¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Ah, Salome, you¡¯re awake! We were just about to wake you up. Right, Nuria?¡± The little girl nodded again and then looked shyly at Salome. A tired smile spread across Salome¡¯s face, brightening the girl¡¯s expression.


    ¡°Well then, Nuria,¡± said Alin, ¡°go to Sileil and tell her we¡¯ll be downstairs shortly. And don¡¯t forget to help her in the kitchen afterwards!¡± With a caring hand, she tousled Nuria¡¯s hair. The girl dashed out of the room and clattered down the stairs.


    ¡°Who¡¯s Sileil?¡± Salome asked in a strained voice. Why did she feel so weak? She tried to sit up, but only managed with a little help from Alin.


    ¡°She¡¯s the housekeeper,¡± explained Alin. ¡°She looks after us and assigns each of us certain tasks. She makes sure we make ourselves useful and help one another.¡±


    ¡°We?¡± Salome echoed.


    ¡°Yes. We.¡± Alin smiled. ¡°Many of us are very old, but there are still some like me¡ªand children like Nuria. Only one or two of us find our way here each year, but it¡¯s still better than wandering out there forever, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Salome nodded, confused, having no idea what Alin was talking about.


    She desperately needed answers.


    Sitting on the edge of her bed, she could feel her strength slowly returning.


    ¡°Well, you seem to be getting back on your feet,¡± Alin remarked after a scrutinizing glance. ¡°I¡¯ve already changed your bandage. If things keep on like this, your leg will be as good as new in a day or two. Honestly, do your injuries always heal this quickly? That bruised rib was gone after the very first day!¡± She shook her head in wonder. ¡°Would you like me to help you get dressed, just to be safe?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± Salome replied quickly, waving her off. ¡°I can manage.¡±


    ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll wait by the door. When you¡¯re ready, just come out, and we¡¯ll head downstairs. You finally get to ask your questions.¡± With that, Alin turned and left the room.


    Salome slowly got to her feet. Once she felt steady enough, she wasted no time. Her clothes were neatly folded beside the bed, so she quickly changed. It took a bit longer for her to put on her boots, as the bandage made her foot barely fit and her ankle ached with every awkward movement. But she could walk.


    She bounded clumsily toward the door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open.


    Alin was waiting in the corridor outside the room, greeting her with that same ever-present smile.


    ¡°Come on, then,¡± she said, leading Salome to a wooden staircase at the foot of which warm light flickered. Alin supported her on the way down.


    When they finally reached the last step, Salome entered a smoky, cozily furnished room that appeared to be the taproom of an inn. Large round tables filled the space, with cushioned chairs tucked neatly underneath. The walls were lined with snug, upholstered benches and several soft armchairs. Warm light seeped from a large tiled stove, within which a small fire danced. Oil lamps hung from wall fixtures, and tiny tea lights twinkled on the tables. Although the curtains at the windows were drawn, the dim twilight bestowed upon the room a sense of deep peace. It was the kind of place one would eagerly look forward to on a cold winter¡¯s evening, just in time to curl up with a good book.


    At the far end, opposite the stairs, was a long counter behind which a broad shelf¡ªladen with bottles, barrels, and various other items¡ªspanned the entire wall. The exit was secured by an inconspicuous door.


    To the right of the counter, a passage led into the kitchen, its entrance veiled by strands of rattling wooden beads. Salome could hear the gentle clatter of pans and pots.


    The room wasn¡¯t empty though.  And the sight of those gathered within made Salome freeze on the spot.


    They were monsters.


    They looked human, yet the skin peeking out from beneath their clothes was pale, almost gray, and marred by cracks and fissures, resembling ancient stone. Each of them had two unmistakable horns protruding from their foreheads. Like two long, slender spikes, they arched over their heads for several handbreadths. Some were curved and pointed to the side, others twisted in spirals, and a few were even broken or worn down.


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    With wide eyes, Salome watched these¡­ beings slowly dragging themselves around the room, leisurely resting on the benches, quietly conversing, or puffing on long, drawn-out pipes.


    They were all ancient. Salome saw an elderly woman with a bowed back, skillfully flicking knitting needles through the air with her deft fingers. She saw men with rugged faces silently playing cards or dozing by the tiled stove. Some of them adorned their horns with rings or let chains dangle between them.


    ¡°Surprised?¡± Alin asked with a smile. She took Salome¡¯s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the people here are extraordinarily friendly. They might look a little intimidating, but there¡¯s no need to be afraid!¡±


    Salome was so frightened that she could barely move.


    ¡°What in the world are those things?¡± she whispered anxiously, her voice barely audible.


    Slowly, some of the assembled figures began to take notice of Salome. To her horror, she saw more and more heads turning in her direction, hushed conversations falling silent, and wrinkled fingers pointing at her. Curious glances fixated on her as murmurs and whispers spread through the room¡ªsnippets like ¡°Is that her?¡± or ¡°¡­just a fairy tale¡­¡± floated in the air.


    These words were swallowed by the general hum of voices, a buzzing like that of a beehive permeating the space.


    ¡°They are people just like you and me, only fate has dealt them a heavy hand,¡± Alin said in a flat tone. She meant to add something more, but at that moment the beaded curtain behind the counter rustled aside, and a tall woman emerged from the kitchen.


    Although she appeared markedly younger than the others in the room, she too had horns on her forehead and stone-like skin. She wore a simple dress adorned with playful trimmings at the sleeves and hem, and a spotless white apron. Her raven-black hair was held back by a net.


    Her stern expression, piercing gaze, and the way she moved with absolute confidence and dignity gave her a natural authority. Clearly, she meant to find out what all the commotion was about. But when she saw Salome, she straightened her skirt, glided gracefully through the room, and came directly toward her. Their eyes met, and in that instant, Salome was utterly captivated, unable to tear her gaze away.


    All the color drained from Salome¡¯s face. She stumbled back in horror a few steps. Suddenly, she felt like a helpless mouse fleeing from an oncoming burst of rain, fully aware that escape was futile. Just as the woman¡ªtowering more than two heads above her¡ªwas nearly upon her, Salome squeezed her eyes shut in fear¡ªand found herself enveloped in a warm embrace.


    ¡°How wonderful that you¡¯re finally awake,¡± the woman said in an unusually deep voice, pressing Salome¡¯s face against her ample bosom so that Salome could barely breathe. ¡°We were all very worried about you!¡± A cheerful giggle, part laughter and part relieved sigh, escaped her.


    Salome managed to free her face and gasped for air. Confused, she looked up at the woman, who smiled at her with maternal tenderness, as if cradling a newborn. In astonishment, Salome stared at the intimidating, pointed horns protruding from her forehead.


    ¡°How is your leg? Are you in pain?¡± The woman placed her hands on Salome¡¯s shoulders and gently pushed her away to get a better look.


    Salome¡¯s mouth felt as if it had dried up. She couldn¡¯t muster the strength to move a muscle. Who were these people? What did they want from her? To her dismay, she noticed that many of the elderly had come closer. Her head jerked anxiously from side to side.


    ¡°That¡¯s her, isn¡¯t it?¡± croaked a woman, whose age must span several centuries, judging by her looks.


    ¡°Is it true, what your friend said?¡± asked a man whose face seemed to be made entirely of wrinkles, one who could have been the grandfather of Salomes grandfather.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be,¡± muttered another. ¡°It¡¯s just a fairy tale, I say!¡±


    ¡°But the boy sounded damn convincing, if you ask me,¡± interjected a man with a bulbous nose and a spiraled horn. ¡°And just look at her eyes!¡±


    ¡°No one¡¯s asking you though!¡± someone from the crowd retorted, and the man looked around indignantly. ¡°What? Who said that?¡± A low growl rumbled from his throat. Others laughed, and soon no one held back any longer.


    Questions upon questions pounded on Salome¡ªabout herself, about her home Fundament, and whether this world truly existed. Suddenly, they seemed to her like children encountering a legendary figure from their favorite fairy tale.


    Overwhelmed by the barrage of words, she withdrew her head, unsure of what to do next. She glanced back at Alin standing by the stairs and seriously contemplated fleeing back upstairs, escaping the grip of the imposing woman by slipping between the legs of the elderly. Yet she felt paralyzed.


    At that moment, the woman raised her voice: ¡°Now, now, calm down! Don¡¯t all speak at once! Can¡¯t you see you¡¯re scaring the girl? She¡¯s trembling!¡± Shaking her head, she wrapped her arms protectively around Salome. ¡°What is it with you all? Where are your manners toward a guest?¡±


    Gradually, the clamor in the taproom subsided. Some even murmured a quiet apology or looked down in regret. The elders stepped back to give Salome some space, though they still formed a semicircle around her.


    Once calm returned to the room, the woman nodded in satisfaction and said, ¡°Much better. I understand your curiosity, but Salome has only just awoken and is still a bit weak on her feet. In due time, she will surely answer all your questions.¡± Looking down at Salome, she added in a gentle tone, ¡°I am Sileil, the hostess of the Wegesend Inn, and these are my esteemed guests and dear friends.¡± She gestured toward the horned elders. ¡°I am delighted to officially welcome you into my home!¡±


    A murmur of agreement filled the room. Then Sileil raised a finger to her lips. ¡°I know what I just said¡­ but it would be cruel to test the patience of my guests any longer. They can hardly wait to learn more about you. So, I ask you, girl, tell me this one thing:¡± Leaning down to look Salome straight in the eyes, she asked, ¡°Are you truly from Fundament?¡±


    Salome found herself unable to evade that piercing gaze, just as before. Uncomfortable with the tense silence that filled the room, she opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, yet no sound emerged. As the silence of the attentive elders grew unbearable, she managed a timid nod.


    At that moment, a new uproar broke out among the elders. Sileil maintained her unyielding gaze, as if trying to peer into Salome¡¯s very soul and extract the truth from her, but after a while a smile formed on her lips.


    Suddenly, she took Salome¡¯s hand and, leading her through the crowd, made her way to the entrance door, which she swung open without hesitation.


    And before she knew it, Salome found herself staggering into a resplendent, golden light.

 Chapter 19 - Adamer

    The wooden door closed with a dull thud.


    Salome stumbled clumsily into Sileil and had to hold onto her to avoid losing her balance. With the sleeves of her dress rolled up, she inevitably touched Sileil¡¯s pale, cracked skin. It was rough yet soft¡ªand warm. Salome had fully expected to feel cold stone beneath her fingers.


    She stared intently at the arm in front of her nose. Realizing after a few seconds what she was doing, she hastily pushed herself away from Sileil, stumbling backward.


    "I''m sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to¡ªuh¡­" she stammered, waving her hands awkwardly. Her gaze darted to the ground, unable to meet the tall woman''s eyes again. Yet Sileil merely chuckled softly with her deep, raspy voice and waved it off.


    "It¡¯s alright, little one. You''re not the first to react this way. I assume today was the first time you saw someone like me?"


    Salome nodded hesitantly.


    Sileil seemed relieved. "I''m glad to hear that," she said. "The fewer of us there are, the better. If you''ve lived your life without seeing one of us, that probably means we are few¡ªor maybe even nonexistent¡ªin the place you come from. Ah, that would be wonderful..." Her smile was tinged with sadness. "Please forgive the terrible behavior of my friends. They didn''t mean to frighten you. Don¡¯t worry, we won''t harm you. You''re safe here with us."


    "What exactly¡­ are you?" Salome asked, her voice trembling. "Are you truly human? What¡­ happened to you?"


    Sileil took her time answering. "It''s a curse," she finally said. "Some call it a disease, but those of us who suffer from it see no difference." She squared her shoulders. "Come. I want to show you something." She began moving and gestured for Salome to follow.


    Only now did Salome become aware of her surroundings. She stood on a broad street lined on both sides by tall houses made of pale gray stone. The worn, uneven paving stones met seamlessly with the three-story buildings, their irregular roofs stretching off into a gentle curve, vanishing from view in both directions without revealing their beginning or end.


    The countless windows and doors were tightly shut. Near ground level, iron rods twisted into intricate swirls protruded from the buildings as though meant to hold signs indicating their purpose or names. Yet the only sign Salome could see hung from a clover-shaped iron rod above the doorway of the building she had just left. It read Wegesend in elegant script. Beneath was a painted symbol: a large sphere in the middle, flanked by three smaller ones on each side¡ªwhite at the front, black at the back.


    It was the same symbol she''d seen on the palace ruins'' floor. Was this place in some way connected to the ruin?


    Particularly strange was the golden light, coming from no distinct source. It was faint, bathing the world in fewer colors than the last rays of a sunset could provide. Yet it was warm and peaceful. Salome looked up.


    But there was no sky.


    Where deep blue and pure white should have competed for dominance, there was only solid gray stone. It was as though she gazed upon the ceiling of an immense cavern, miles above.


    "Watch your step or you''ll trip," Sileil teased gently, walking along the street.


    Salome forced herself to tear her gaze from above.


    "What is this place?" she cautiously asked, catching up to the tall woman.


    As her voice echoed off the paving stones and high walls, Salome realized how unusually quiet it was. Only the clicking of their footsteps resonated, dissolving into a profound emptiness, an absence of the sounds she would expect in a street like this.


    Everyday noise. The hum of life.


    Instead, complete silence prevailed¡ªno, that wasn¡¯t entirely true.


    If Salome listened carefully, she could hear pigeons cooing softly in the distance, as well as the gentle flutter of their wings. There was also another sound she couldn''t quite place.


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    "This is a refuge," Sileil answered Salome''s question. "A safe haven for those lost in life''s turmoil, swept away like ships without anchors."


    After a while, they reached a crossroads so broad that a patch in the middle had been excavated and filled with soil¡ªperhaps for flowers or shrubs, though the earth was gray and lifeless.


    At one corner stood a monstrous building, an ornate stone structure crowned with a tower above the grand entrance gates. Sileil moved toward it, climbing a wide staircase but turning before the main doors, opening a small side door hidden within the wall.


    Behind it was a circular chamber, its walls encircled by a narrow spiral staircase ascending upward. Salome gazed upward in awe at the towering shaft that must have extended all the way to the top of the tower. Higher up, thin slits were cut into the walls, allowing muted golden light to flood in from outside, weaving a tangled network of rays through the air.


    When the stone door closed behind them, a small flock of pigeons took flight high above, shedding a few feathers. Salome watched as they drifted slowly downward, crossing the beams of light repeatedly.


    "Do you think you can manage this?" Sileil asked, nodding towards the stone steps. Salome flexed the toes of her injured leg and swallowed nervously. Did Sileil truly intend to climb all the way up there? There had to be hundreds of steps!


    "I think so," she bravely replied.


    There was no railing or boundary. Each step jutted directly out of the wall, disconnected from the others. One misstep, and she would fall like one of those feathers¡ªonly much faster and considerably louder, if she even managed a scream.


    The ascent was exhausting, leaving Salome breathless. Yet she found the climb exhilarating, aware constantly of the emptiness yawning beside her. The higher they climbed, the more uneasy she felt. Each cautious glance down into the shaft made her stomach churn. Whoever had carved these steps out of the stone had clearly relied heavily on the sure-footedness and strength of those who used them.


    Ahead, Sileil climbed effortlessly, her hands gracefully folded at her waist, showing no signs of fatigue. Soon, they neared the ceiling.


    The staircase ended at a wooden trapdoor, which Sileil opened upward. Salome dragged herself into the room beyond, her legs heavy as lead. When she straightened up, her breath was stolen away¡ªnot from exhaustion, but by the incredible view before her.


    The roof of the tower was supported by several pillars, and only a low balustrade separated Salome from the drop.


    A city lay at her feet, sprawling beneath them in an immense underground cavern unlike anything she had ever seen. Thick roots hung from the distant ceiling, indicating they were directly beneath the forest where Kiran had led them. A massive wall encircled the city, topped with wide battlements and watchtowers rising like the teeth of a crown. Salome couldn¡¯t see what lay beyond it, as their vantage point was barely higher than the wall itself. What on earth could require such a massive defensive structure?


    Low buildings clustered along the inner wall, separated by a network of winding streets and alleys like fine cracks in the landscape. As the buildings neared the city center, they became larger and more elaborate. Flat roofs gave way to gables; buildings rose to three or four stories, and simple doorways gained elegant columns and intricate decorations until eventually, grand towers topped magnificent estates adorned with sculptures and gargoyles. Hundreds of broad, paved streets interconnected the buildings, punctuated by open squares, often featuring statues or fountains at their centers.


    The city rose in terraces toward the center, but most spectacular of all was what stood at its heart:


    A castle.


    An enormous structure with ornate walls and slender towers, linked by countless stone arches and bridges.


    It hugged a mysterious, irregular pillar rising among the towers, stretching all the way to the distant ceiling. This pillar glowed softly, undeniably the source of the warm golden light suffusing the city. Though it appeared to be made of stone, it radiated an ethereal brilliance from within¡ªa glow so compelling Salome could barely look away, though it didn¡¯t blind her.


    "Welcome to Adamer, the hidden city," Sileil declared solemnly.


    Salome turned to her with wide eyes and mouth agape, words failing her completely. No city in Fundament even approached this. Sileil smiled, amused but gentle, without a trace of mockery. Gracefully, she rested her hands upon the balustrade, watching three pigeons flutter by at eye level.


    "Very few know of this city''s existence," Sileil continued. "You¡¯ll find its name only in the oldest texts, and many adventurers have spent years searching for it in vain. Legends speak of its disappearance, but human memories are too brief to discern myth from truth in these stories."


    Her gaze drifted into the distance. "None of us know the past, and maybe that¡¯s for the best. This place might have been forever forgotten, but we, who have no place in the world, always find our way here eventually. Someone is calling us, we hear¡ªfeel¡ªa voice guiding us without words."


    The pigeons had settled on the distant wall, where the pillar''s light dimmed and shadows hung like curtains before the far-off cavern walls. Salome thought she saw the silhouette of a girl feeding the pigeons atop the battlements.


    "Many secrets lie buried here, some as old as the city itself. But for us outcasts, it¡¯s a home unlike any other in the world."


    "What is that?" Salome asked, fascinated, finding her voice again. She pointed toward the glowing monument.


    "Magnificent, isn¡¯t it? This is the heart of the city," said Sileil. "The source of our sanctuary. But I believe Master Lom will tell you more later."


    "Who is Master Lom?"