Crystalis was a unique continent indeed. If it could even be referred to as a continent. It was too scattered and discombobulated to be considered anything whole.
If there was any unifying feature about the islands, it was the chains themselves. The sa material, the sa pattern on every chain that connected them. And we were to climb through them.
Well, not all at once. We were allowed rest between crossings, spending days on islands before venturing across the next chain to the next platform of rock and civilization.
Every descent was the sa. Every ascent was equally horrifying. After ten days of climbing down and up, we finally reached Wavegem — where we weren’t going to be climbing down, at the very least.
Levi and Tristan made their way ahead, leading us through the clustered streets of the floating mountain until we finally entered an inn. The place was dimly lit and scarce with people. Dust motes drifted through the few shafts of light that made it past the grimy windows, and half the tables looked like they might collapse under the weight of a tankard.
The bartender was unusual, sitting on what should’ve been his bar and playing a wooden guitar. His fingers moved lazily across the strings, producing sothing that might charitably be called music.
’Eh... that’s a new one...’
As we entered, Levi headed straight for the man, who stopped playing as soon as he saw us.
"Leevvy broo, what’s up man! How’re you doing!!"
Levi walked to him and both of them jamd handshakes like they were trying to crush each other’s fingers. They cycled through a series of hand signs — so kind of old routine — then tore their hands apart with matching grins.
"It’s been so long, Gilbert..."
"Too long to count." Gilbert set the guitar aside. "Bro, what have you even been up to? Wasting money?"
"Yes." Levi spread his hands magnanimously. "And I’m about to waste another sum on you."
Gilbert chuckled at that, leaning back on his bar-top perch.
"Oh." His grin widened. "Yes, yes, tell how much you’re willing to—" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes moving past Levi to take in not only Tristan but all of us.
The grin faded.
"You guys... how did you get here? Through the STC?"
Levi’s answering grin told him everything.
Gilbert didn’t seem to need further confirmation. His expression soured imdiately.
"What? No! Hell no!" He jabbed a finger toward the door. "Get out of my place."
Levi shook his head, utterly unbothered.
"Gilbert, don’t be like that. This is sothing you need." He gestured around the empty room. "Look at your inn. You’re not getting any custors because of the state this place is in."
He kicked the nearest table — it wobbled dangerously, one leg shorter than the others — and made a face of theatrical disgust.
"Look at this. What even is this?"
Gilbert’s scowl deepened.
"So will you be willing to pay a hundred thousand silver talents?"
Levi turned to him with an incredulous expression.
"You never told you were a con artist too..."
Gilbert showed his teeth in an irritating smile.
"Learned from the best." He tilted his head, studying Levi with obvious satisfaction. "You seem to really need my help this ti. I can’t afford to not take advantage of this look I see."
Levi was silent for a mont, scratching his sideburns, eyes closed in apparent contemplation.
"I guess this is my fault for being such a great teacher." He glanced back at us, barely a flicker. "Sorry, everyone."
I’d lived long enough to recognize Levi’s serious tone. This was not it.
He stepped forward, all warmth and concern now, and placed a hand on Gilbert’s shoulder.
"Rember that ti in Rostovia... when you didn’t believe you could do it...?"
Gilbert looked at him with dubious eyes. My guess was he’d seen Levi take this route too many tis to fall for it.
"What are you getting at?"
Levi sighed, his face suddenly somber and burdened.
"It’s just... Gill, you owe this one. Don’t you?"
Gilbert’s expression went flat.
"Am I ever going to stop owing you, Leevy?"
Levi frowned and shook his head, wounded innocence personified.
"What? No way!" He fished out a pouch of coins and pressed it into Gilbert’s hand. "This is just friends doing things for each other!"
Gilbert weighed the pouch without looking at it.
"Please," Levi continued, "help us reach Chainbreak with that flying vessel of yours."
Gilbert stared at him for a long mont. Sothing flickered behind his eyes — old debts, old grudges, the kind of history that accumulated between people who’d known each other too long.
"Fine." He tucked the pouch away. "But you know we can’t just fly anyti. Flying around here is dangerous, and I’m not losing my precious airship because of soone like you."
Levi smiled warmly, as if Gilbert had just agreed to everything he’d ever wanted.
"I’ll take the complint."
Gilbert gestured around the sad excuse for an inn.
"Settle in. Make yourselves comfortable. We leave tomorrow night."
Levi’s face fell into genuine discomfort for the first ti.
"Co on, Gilbert. Isn’t tomorrow night too far?"
"She’s under repair from the last flight. Any more flying now and she’ll fall apart — might not even land safely." Gilbert crossed his arms. "That what you want?"
Levi considered this, then shrugged.
"Hmm. I guess we leave tomorrow, then." He looked back at Gilbert. "Well? Where are the rooms?"
Gilbert glared at him. As Levi started forward, Gilbert caught his arm.
"What are you doing?"
Levi blinked at him, all confusion.
"What are YOU doing? Shouldn’t I be asking that?"
Gilbert opened his palm in a demanding gesture.
"Aren’t you going to pay? You’re staying here for the night."
Levi’s expression shifted to outright offense.
"Gilbert! How greedy must you be?!"
Gilbert shouldered his guitar.
"Greedy?" He raised an eyebrow. "You want to spend the night at an inn and you don’t want to pay. Who’s the greedy one here?" He thrust out his open palm. "Mr. Man. Drop one silver."
Levi opened his mouth to protest.
"Gilbert! One silver for a night is impossible! Not with this..." He caught himself quickly.
It was too late.
Gilbert’s eyes narrowed.
"This? What do you an, ’this’?"
Levi chuckled lightly, hands raised in a placating gesture.
"Alright, alright. I hear you. This place is top-notch, worth every coin. The money I gave you will help you restock — your inn will be thriving again before you know it." He put on his most sincere expression. "So please, cut us so slack."
Gilbert’s gaze slid past Levi to where the rest of us stood, still watching their performance unfold.
His eyes lingered on the won in our group.
"Fine." A slow smile crept across his face. "I’ll give a discount for the red-haired lady. The two ladies stay for free." The smile turned sharp. "Everyone else pays."
Levi looked at him with plain irritation.
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