The 8 bit sound was not loud enough and Mike could clearly hear the sound of his own thoughts instead of remembering how the music went from there. Mike is a big fan of that kind of music, but nothing beats someone actually playing an instrument. Nothing could be worst at that precise moment then just listening to himself think as if his thoughts were on stereo, it was almost as if other people could hear it too. But that would be very unlikely, as Mike was alone. Most nights were like that at the Palace. Being a Dimensional Word Guardian had those things, it was a cool and rewarding job, it gave him enough credits around and all the free music he could hear inside those cold lonely reverberating walls. But usually he was not one to care about it, not at all. Mike was a pretty stand up guy, of course most shadowysians are. In the very core of his country, the perfect center of the entire planet of Shadowys, the place Mike grew up to like and had now been working for full six years, most of them in this exact position he has today. They count time a bit different there, after all, it is not less then four dimensions away from where we at Earth stand at this very moment. ThatÕs right, itÕs so far that the distance is more easily count in dimensions. And Mike, just as most humans have no idea of his planet, didnÕt know about earthÕs existence. And that was really of no importance at that time in his life. Funny thing is that although it is so far it is also pretty similar and as for that weÕll establish his age as 32, just like that. Trained to be what he is and spending most of his nights alone in the palace. But that was no quest, he was ok with being a bit of a loner and had no reason to complain about such an important job, considering that in his whole planet, the words are such a precious mean, if one thinks that gold or diamonds could compare, then one know nothing about math or intergalactic values. No, what Michael Arc was guarding there went super beyond all that. Of course to them those primal minerals where of no importance. He would guard the words with his life if he had to, which he almost did. DonÕt get it wrong, they do use the words in Shadowys, but the use is very much controlled by the dynasty and the power over word depends every inch on what is decides inside. No has access to any of that, not even Mike or any other guard, and he did not have any expectation towards that. Maybe curiosity, but not expectation. He was well trained. The music was not loud enough and he hated thinking about words that way, he was not used to it and it secretly scared him. But in no way was a guard like him supposed to be scared. Of course that was the first time he would actually have a reason for that. After all, Mike wasnÕt aware of it yet, but the palace had just been invaded and no words could describe what was about to happened. And as said is done no one did. The looks had no words to follow when MikeÕs eyes met with Lilith. The young women, as they are also know in his planet, stood before him with her serene clothes of an alkaline community ex-member, or possibly refugee and Lilith looked just fierce. She was surely armed and not afraid, or maybe too afraid to use it. Which meant he had less then 5 seconds or as the song would suggest, not even enough time to get to the chorus. That really pissed Mike off. Who would there to disturb him like that and on his favorite part of the song, no, that was unacceptable. Absolute unacceptable. Their breath could be heard underneath all things. Part I Ð As we come to realize that nothing worth having comes easy. Dynasty Guards Exactly four minutes early for the shift, just as I had planned out. I guess I might be getting too used to this whole guardian thing. Yeah, like that is even possible. I mostly wish I was able to control other things in my life like I can control this. It is of a gigantic pain to have to walk through Shadowys in such an unknown state of feeling. This weird thing like I have no idea what I am going for. I have no words for it, which makes it something that shouldnÕt be. This is mainly one of the reasons why I engaged in the training years so hard. They thought me how to pay more attention to what is going on around me and mostly all the skills I need now to win another game night at the platform. But they should have taught me better. Hell, I should have taught myself better. The whole dynasty is waiting for me to be there in precisely one minute and a half, and I have just wasted the last few with over thinking stuff of absolutely no relevance, nor to me or to any other part of this planet. It is not as if thinking or imagining would ever save the dynasty or help to protect the words and if they are not protected they might loose meaning, or simply just not exist anymore. And as of this moment, any of that could be my fault already. Curiously nothing happened. IÕm more then half a minute late to my position, the exact one I show up to every night for the last six years and everything is fine. Not that I feel like risking this again any time soon, or that I whished anything to happen, butÉ no, I should not be complaining, not even in my deepest thoughts, as of the ones I wasnÕt really supposed to have, but was never able to shut out this past who has any idea how many years. I kind of think it would be much easier if I just kept the same line of thinking and discipline of the first year, of the whole training process. I still like in here. To be honest to anyone who could possibly ask shadow dream job gets no better. I mean, how could I complain about this gigantic lightened room, where every single sparkle comes from a reflection of the stars that I can mostly see outside from this huge transparent spectral wall. I now have a better view then virtually eighty seven per cent of the planet of Shadowys. I am at this period one of the two people who get to see the stars rise until they cover the sky completely, I know most of the seven billion by name at this point, I miss some of them when they move spots, or leave the sky for another dimension. But they get replaced by newborns from galactic explosions so fast, that barely ever a spot is left uncovered. No one should ever find out, but I spend most of time here counting the stars, it is crazy to think that training centers only teach us about the first billion. IÕve been fascinated by that since I can remember, I suppose it even played a big part on the moment of choosing my palace position. IÕm glad to say I have no regrets about all that absorption of content now that I get to stand here with this amazing view while I listen to free 8 bit music all evening. It is crazy how people donÕt listen to music more often around here, I guess the sound takes away from the words and I understand how that is not ok in any situation, but still, I am not sure how I could go through a day without at least thinking about music for a small part of it. Gladly here I stand alone for so many of the hours in this large empty room, where they rest a dome of content I am not even allowed to get close to, and I get to even regulate the volume. Of course it doesnÕt go over 20 db in the whole system, but I canÕt complain. If I could I probably choose not to anyway. I am very aware this kind of behavior is what led me to this job anyway and this is how I want my life to keep flowing. It took me two entire years of special assistants training to learn how to stand in this protection position without having cramps, but whenever I miss my stretch session I feel my thighs tighten and get weaker as I walk. Today the spinning floor piece is been having some sort of trouble with the air lifting device and I am so dizzy as of this point, I can barely remember I even have legs to begin with. This never happened to me before. I have seen it happen to my trainer once when I was with him, he lost balance to a point where he fell of the spinning board and lost his position immediately. I took it from there, and since then things have been pretty peachy. I think I should probably visit him and see how he has been doing this years, he canÕt say no, he still has a contract with the dynasty, as do most people. Ad I suppose it must be better to keep shut and get treated with the right of remaining in the center, then to be shut off to one of those dirty alkaline communities. As of my privileged view I get to see some of those from very far. This is the closer I ever intend to get to one of those filthy places where the outcasts grow. They walk around with knives and get killed daily. One should hope not to cross their paths, as they are uncharted free of law territory. I have no idea how one could ever let something such as that ever exist on this planet, but they are all over the country. This place is so peaceful, I would love to play a challenging word game to enrich my mind training. But that would probably be way to distracting, even for someone who grew up learning to focus on multiple tasks of rationality and who has a major laser weapon access to protect from invaders and crazy shadowysians the most important good we have since the beginning of times, our words, without which none of this would have a name or a meaning. Going back to my place is not the highlight of my day, even considered I always leave my position at work when all lights are up and most people are finally getting out after a good night of sleep. But hey, IÕm used to being Mike Arc, the king of the night, the mysterious guy guard who sleeps only during the day. And that has been reality since I started the position officially. I do get one day of, but who can sleep at proper times when IÕm already used to this whole routine. Besides what good would it do me, besides messing up everything? Even if I switched position I guess IÕm used to it and would miss watching the starts showing up one by one, counting the nanoseconds for the day to begin officially around here. Sleeping over the river by night must be infinitely worse then during the day, but I can only imagine such things. I can almost hear people snoring out the letters as they sleep when IÕm up the palace watching things. I live under the impression I watch more then I am supposed to, my trainer never seemed to do such a thing, and neither do the other guards. Well, at least not that I know of. They should never find out about me anyway. I like sleeping during the day better, but IÕm not even sure I enjoy sleeping to begin with. Where do I go to? I can feel the river waters underneath my mattress and I feel like I am moving away into another dimension. I believe this electrically charged waters have an effect, but no one ever proved of it so I try to trust them and keep living regularly. There are no lights to turn of, as there are no windows to shut or curtains to close. All I get to do is make the whole floating home a few shades darker so that the brightness of the stars doesnÕt burn my sight away like it used to happen before they invented this new darkening technology. Sure that was ages ago, and the main reason my grandpa never got to see my face. IÕm not really afraid of it. IÕve dosed with sufficient thickening eye drops for vision protection when I was a kid, it should last a lifetime, but now technology here in the center dome has developed even more, if I was to be born on this very day they could just replace my retina with light resistant film, but now that I have the drops I donÕt get to do any of that. I bet they have better vision. I have seen one of these two year olds a few weeks ago, he recognizes colors I never believed existed. And the whole thing took only a few seconds of minor agonizing overly sedated pain to get this inside oneÕs body forever. I am amazed by Shadowys technology. Almost as much as I am amazed by the billions of starts that make an appearance in our sly every day and make a private show that most of the citizens donÕt get to see until it is the opposite way and darkness assumes its position. That is my queue. The bitter taste of the alkaline living I hate Shadowys technological promises. I hate it almost as much as I can feel this strong bitter taste of the alkaline waters that flow out of the river when it reaches the lower regions. Sure, I should have gotten used to this taste after drinking and cooking with this for the past twenty-four shadow years, but my super taste buds donÕt work like that. I really fail to believe that anyoneÕs do, but I also donÕt take them for being very good liars, so maybe I was born with a disability and it feels bitter only to me. But disabled or not, this is all we get to drink around here and the thirsty gene I got working just fine. After all this billions of starts make it way hot for one to walk and this sandy streets hurt my feet from inside the elastic sandals that they insist we have to wear everyday. I have actually gotten used to most of it. IÕm pretty sure I like these sandals, they are the only thing I care for, except for the arm protectors. Those are so incredibly cool I would take anywhere, if I ever got to go anywhere there is. I have been moving around inside the same exact community since I was, well probably since IÕve ever been here on this planet. I have visited other communities with my family, but it looked exactly the same to me, I could swear I never even stepped out of this place, but I remember vividly walking in and out of the place and the people were different, at least some facial features and names did the trick. IÕm not one to get fooled easily. This is precisely one of the main reasons my parents are now very upset at me. IÕll bring them some water, make sure things smooth down a bit and maybe it will all pass just as quickly as it came. They need some cooking done for tonight, I spared them the job a little bit, maybe IÕll even help around with it later, invite some other alkaline families to join and weÕll all be happy for the week. Yeah, I suppose leaving wouldnÕt suck so badly. Not as long as it is somewhere interesting, not another copy of this draft of a place with the exception of me not knowing any of my neighbors. People are looking at me funny already, what is up with making a face every time I feel something tasting bitter on my mouth? TheyÕd do it to if they could feel the same thing as I do. But I have no more hope of that, after all these years one knows where one stands and where does everyone else as well. My mom is looking at me like I never saw before. ÐLilith, can you join us inside for a few brief minutes? I knew this was not really a question. I know her to well to understand the dynamics of when someone calls me Lilith, if I ever hear the last name in the same sentence I must run to the sour lands not to know of what expects me, kind of like this very moment. Well, good news is my father doesnÕt look angry, his eyes are shooting furious. I am terribly afraid of this low retina unprotected early years eyeballs of his, but IÕll never admit it. I just hope he is not sounding like the acid body flows of rage. -Lilith Gaa. Do you have any idea what you have decided for yourself young shadowysian? Ð Nope, just as acid as ever. I should be preparing for the biggest run of my existence at this point. Ð I do not have words to describe how disappointed I am in you right now, miss. That is very serious, inconsequential, irresponsible, selfish, utterly atrocious Lilith. Those all sound like words to me, as does my full name I am very aware of having. -Lilith, what your father is trying to say is that you made a very unfortunate decision and we do not back you up on this. -Do not back me up? What does that even mean, I have been doing most things by myself, I always made my own decisions. -Well this time you made a mistake! Ð He yelled so loudly I am almost sure I felt the river move a little. -IÕm sorry you feel that way, you guys usually back me up. Ð When you get to find out what IÕve been doing or saying. -True, girl. But matting with one of our neighbor communities is a promise we make as we are born inside one of them, it goes on from every generation and it has never been debatable. Ð I have never seen her so articulate. -So what now? Ð IÕm pretty sure I donÕt care, but my opinions seem a bit unappreciated around here. -We have decided to give you one more chance. This is the exception already, but the Goonks have agreed on it here as long as we keep it under covered and we are giving them our sour blankets in exchange. Ð Mum is speaking very firmly. I donÕt think my dad is even facing me anymore. -No way! Those are the only things that make it bearable to taste this bitter water. You were going to switch that as an apology. IÕm not sorry! I do fell bad it hurts your positions and you donÕt agree. But I spoke to Drowghty already and that is it. -Then youÕre out of here, kid. Ð He said bluntly and without a hint of remorse in his voice tone. -So this is how it is going to be? I got no answer this time, the lack of words made me more nervous then ever. I never thought I would fight to stay here, but that was back when I thought I would never have to leave. You funny ass perspective. -Fine. IÕll go get my things. I am still allowed to do that, arenÕt I? A backpack is about enough to carry all I should bring with me. After all it does feel weird to leave, especially after something as stupid as this. My mom just stands right there in front of the tent weÕve lived for years as a family, and I even had my own room. Now they will probably take it down and build a contemplation room for all I care. It is as if I donÕt even know them anymore. Or maybe I was the one that changedÉ -I hope you understand we are doing this for you as well, Lil. Ð So now she can call me by a short name. Ð It would be nearly impossible to walk around with the choice you made. So the alternative is to go to center town, find a job there. Lots of people live in dorms and floating homes by that area. Urgh! That sound as ridiculous as it must be. But I will never turn down an adventure. In fact this may be just what I need, what was I waiting for all this time? -IÕm sure your dad would like to say something too. He doesnÕt look like he is sure, except maybe of yelling. Man those eyeballs are quite intimidating. -Lilith, you made your choice and it is not the one I would have done. Now you have to spread apart from us and not to a neighbor community. But you are a brave girl, I am sure you will do well. -Ok, thanks dad. A hug? I can say I was not expecting that! But I wonÕt say anything. I know my way, more intuitively then from experience. But it is not like I havenÕt spent countless evenings looking at this path or tried to follow the hollow stones lines before getting water. I just never actually went all the way through. But there is a first time for pretty much everything here in Shadowys and I am ready to tackle whatever this silly dynasty looks like. And after all I guess this shoes were telling me something all along, because since this center town taking path has begun, my feet havenÕt hurt one bit, and it grips tight to the misplaced stones so I donÕt fall with all the weight from my backpack. I just have no real idea how long this is gonna take. But IÕm getting used to the idea of being by myself in a new place, it doesnÕt sound bad at all. I like it better on my own What is this annoying noise? It is so insistent. It must be the new holophone ring, I forgot it switched last night and I was so used to the old one. Who could it be right in the middle of my one day off the whole week. I can see her waving image already, mum can never wait to speak to me. She does this every time. -Hey mother. How is everything? -Michael, is your hologram feature not working? - ThereÕs the tone we all know and love. IÕm so tired still. -No, my phone is fine, mum. -Then will you please show your face to your mother? -Yeah, just a sec. Ð Pushing the button, showing my sleepy face in pajamas. Ð Here I am. -See, much better, kiddo. I havenÕt seen you in such a long time, I like to at least look at you as we speak. -Ok, so how is everything? Ð She should just go straight to the point. -Well, I made a need recipe this week, IÕm even selling to some of the neighbors. They said they are sleeping better and functions well after having it, so I though maybe next time you came by you should take some with you. -ThatÕs great mum. WeÕll see about that, sure. -You are always kind of discouraged. Are you ok? IÕm starting to think this job is not doing you well. -I am doing fine. I was just resting. I am used to sleeping during the day, remember. ÐI donÕt understand why she has to complain about everything I do. -I know that, Mike. You donÕt have to talk to me like I am a four year old, I raised you, remember? Ð Seriously? I got up for this? Ð I just want to see if you need anything, I have been discovering some great things about our planet here in the Mounty Lands and maybe you could too if you came by some time. -Maybe. You know I am very busy, and we did talk about me visiting once a month. -I understand. You didnÕt come last month, but I still care about you, Mike. Have a nice week, IÕll let you rest. -Thanks, mum. IÕll talk to you soon. -You probably wonÕt, but stay safe. May nature protect you. Ð She sends that kiss in the air thing I never understood and her image has already faded as fast as technology had promised. I guess it was about time I got up anyway, thins ring tone just set me off on the wrong mood. Besides I hate when people complain about how I live my own life or how they have a better idea, thatÕs a great thing about having no direct boss and getting instructions send to me. I mean, it is a good job, I make quite a lot of words a month and I get to live in a floating home, which is a pretty big deal around the center. I have a safe life, well IÕm a guardian anyways, so I out of everyone should know a little bit about defending myself. So, after all, what is there so much to complain or question? Or maybe IÕm just looking for the wrong words, I should probably lend her some, people should not sound repetitive as long as they have means to do so. IÕll not waste any more energy in any of this thinking, it is after all Thursday, my favorite day of the week. I couldnÕt let her find out, as I never let any of my colleagues, because it would be lying to say I donÕt like my job or enjoy standing at the palace. But playing the Power Word Games at the platform is my absolute favorite thing as of this moment. I hated those school games and training centers for being so competitive in earning a living with right amount of survival words and extras. I really didnÕt care much for playing for grades and words inside the classroom. But those amateur days are way beside me now that I play with the real hardcore gang. Now we do it for what matters, we exchange the big words, we might even be inventing or setting of the stuff that will go to river people and the mountain families later days. And that would be priceless if we werenÕt exchanging pay assets to build what we do in there. I cannot imagine my life without these Thursdays anymore. I must confess, even if not really doing it out loud, that I donÕt exactly feel ready for todayÕs round. But I guess I never do, I just go and it changes me, I get all the motivation I need when I step inside the platform. I should get going anyway, it always takes me a while to get there and the last thing I wanna do is loose my floating cabana spot because I used it to ride along the river. I do sort of enjoy this rides aside the electric river. Especially when it is getting later on the day and most people are riving the opposite way. Such a freedom sensation, and I get to move fast, which is always a nice thing. Just looking at the shinny transparent platform from down here at quite some distance still, already makes me feel exited. I havenÕt missed any game in the past three years since I started with the pros, and I intend to keep it like this. Even when there are less lights, or starts shinning, when there is meteor dust all over the air covering the city, or when I am all stiff from work with glowing muscles I still go and play till the end. Most of the guys are already up there, I can spot them from here. I donÕt understand how a lot of people barely notice what goes on up there. It is a transparent platform after all. Even if it faces the cloudy mountains and we use it at night, it works fine for me, and during the day they have events, recite first word level poetry or harmonized second level, but we play at seventh level and I have never heard of a higher until now. We are hoping to reach it in this group. We have had two guys give up during the first year and since then played in the same team of seven. Every Thursday night. Here I am, with another great view of the river that no one dares to dive into, and by the looks of it sometimes I donÕt even fell safe in the floating cabana in all its technology. -Mike. We thought you would be the last to arrive here today. -Well, you thought wrong, my friends. We still got two missing and IÕm sure we are going to begin right on time as usual. Ð Those guys are such fanatics for bets, I wonder why IÕm still surprised by it. -I wonÕt even dignify your prototype of a question with an answer, mister word guardian. Dudle is always trying to be the funny one, but maybe he is just too smart for that. Or maybe we just got someone that much funnier in the group. Although I do get some laughs from Dud, heÕs a neat guy. -You amateurs are still waiting for me to begin playing? Unbelievable how you can manage to block the view from the transparent platform in every side, I got lost, thatÕs why IÕm late and you my friends, should starts dieting as of today. ThatÕs the Nefel we all know, and like, despite the constant moments of bad mood. He is no doubt the funniest one of us to hear speak or look at, he doesnÕtÕ try to be or seems to enjoy it, but it is just the way he does things. If we took that seriously he would have been out of the team since day one. -Now letÕs start the game, or what? That is a question without logic around here. We are all in, and weÕll miss sleeping hours to play this. Born for this? From the looks of it this center town is just as ridiculous as I have always imagined. But I must move closer to really know what IÕm stepping into, literally. Great, the looks have begun. I bet they think the poor girl from the alkaline communities is stepping in the wrong direction or crashing into their precious lands. Well, if I was to be crashing, they would know it damned! I couldnÕt give a bigger crap about this place. But the thing is, me and my backpack have no where to spend the night. It does get kind of chillier outside and I know no one in this place, and I am starting to think that I donÕt wish to. Except having a tent or at least a shadow blanket would really come in handy right now. It would probably turn out to be like one of those numerous nights we used to go camping and I stayed out till later, or maybe a bit more like the times I used to sneak out to watch the stars rising with such indescribable power. Well, on the bright side I guess tonight IÕll get to see that spectacle again and if it looks the same from this capital. Shadowysians, I wish I had brought a thicker jacket! Come to think of it now, maybe I do know someone around here. After all IÕm not the first person ever to live the communities, even though I have not kept in touch with any of the other dissidents. Who would have thought out of all things I would regret that? Although I have to say them and me have something strong in common after all. I wonder if they did well in this place. I mean a floating cabana and on top of an electrically charged river where they make electrolyzed drinks from? Spare me! Turns out falling asleep in the city trees is not nearly as hard as one would have imagined. Surely a nice soft backpack and these arm protectors played a very important part in making things comfortable for this night of sleep. Now all the starts are shining like crazy, almost screaming at my eyes to put the glasses on. They must have screwed up the layer that keeps us safe. It didnÕt burn like this back at the community. Who would have guessed that after a seven hour walk and a crappy night of sleep I would be craving that yucky tasking alkaline water, which is pretty much what they donÕt have around here! If I ever were to learn a lesson, I would not think it would have been this one. IÕm sure I must be delirious. Oh, wait, IÕm sure I packed a water flask from the house in this backpack. Yup, right there, had being pocking my ribs all the way down the centre town. So, here we go. -Disgusting as usual. Ð Look at that, in here I can even say this out loud and there is no conflict. But I really should find sometime to drink, maybe this will all work out just fine. I have no clue which direction I should walk up to. I just have a gut feeling I should avoid this river. I guess they have those inviting houses for the newcomers to introduce this whole illusion of a town as a big community. I can see one already. Well Lilith, guess it is time to fit in. Great, something that looks like a store where I can maybe get some food, I donÕt really see crops around here. So this is probably the way to do it! -Hi, I was wondering how I could store someÉ -Me no understand. Speak. Ð What is this? Maybe heÕs just weird, or crazy. But he signed to stop, so IÕll wait. IÕm hungry, I forgot to store some nice cool things in my backpack. Great, someone else is coming. -Hello. Can I help? ÐWow, they do sound awfully economic with words around here. -I am hoping you exchange for food in here. I just came from out of town. -He just nods; IÕm not sure what to do. Ð I have this plant, great for the skin, glowing muscles pain too. And let me see, maybe youÕd be interested in this cloth, we use it to makeÉ -Stop. Get what you need. I need a poem. -A poem? How? He just writes something on a sheet of paper and hands it to me. Te handwriting is poor, the lack of words is not surprising. He needs to borrow around forty words from me. I never had to deal with that in the community, doesnÕt make much sense and I donÕt really understand how this works, but I kind of need to eat, so I guess. -Ok. How do we do this? He signs for me to get my food, he didnÕt really give me any limits, so IÕll get a pack of fresh grown plants and a can of start fried flower middles, I just canÕt resist those. Now apparently I have to sing a crazy looking form for the forty word poem and done. Now all I need is a place to sleep without burning my eyes, something to drink that canÕt electrocute my entire system and weÕre cool. Maybe it is not a bad idea to actually get inside that transition centre or whatever they call it. But first I really have to try some of these flower middles, they look so amazing and my curiosity is sky high. Larva my sweetness, these do not taste like any of those forty words would describe! Lying funny box from under the rivers dark, what am I gonna do with these now? So, as it turns out they are called Polarizers, convenient. Almost as convenient as the service they offer. Well who would have guessed, it is finally my turn now. -Lilith Gaa. Welcome! So, I hope you are finding your first hours around our city enjoyable, you come from a southern alkaline community, correct? -Yes. -Ok, as you might have already found out, some of the habitants in this town speak a bit differently from where you are from. But that shouldnÕt be a problem. You just fill these forms and weÕll get you set! She does sound pretty annoying, but IÕm not going to point that out as I probably really need to do this drill. -What are these? -This one is for your adaptation course, this blue one is to help you get settled in a nice floating cabana, and this other one is so we get your data for the word flow. ÐSounds pretty sucky, no way in acidic living and you lost me at data. -Not sure I am following. -We have prepared some kind of training for all newcomers, it is pretty easy, routine stuff, and just so you get the slangs and your questions answered. -Yeah, that part I figured. I was talking about the word thing. -ItÕs just so we can get started on computing your word flow, oh, looks like you already spend forty words this month. So weÕre gonna need to find you a job soon, miss. ItÕs ok since every newcomer is granted fifty. -ok. And do I have to live in a cabana, or is there another option? Wait! Is there any chance I just heard that I spend forty words in a lousy food store buying this flower middles that I donÕt even like and I am only allowed fifty? How many have I spent here? -DonÕt be silly, Lily. Oh, funny rhyme Ð Just go to the point before I rip your head off! I wonder how many words I get for that? Ð First timers can speak here with attendants for free. And besides when you start earning a living youÕll get plenty more words to spend. -Damned! How do I do that? - it is fairly simple. But I do have to warn you that cursing takes off two words, so I am obliged to mark you hare in the form. -Great! Now you tell me that! -Ok, so what are you good at? Pseudo typing? Star fry cooking? Sending holo messages? Ð Well, considering I have barely heard any of those things before I would be forced to say. -I am a great typist. Ð I have never typed a single word in my life. Plus I have no clue how to use a pseudo machine. -You mean typist. You alkaline people are so funny. Ð I wonder if youÕll find me funny when IÕm twisting your neck. -Ok, soÉ -Great, Lilith. These are your temporary keys to the shared rooms, the class begins tomorrow at the six billionth star. Ð Wow thatÕs early! Ð And we hope you enjoy our center dynasty town. -Cool. Just a thing here, what about the words I have to use during the class? -You get a few extras just for that. DonÕt worry, itÕs mostly listening, and IÕm sure youÕll get a job position right after. Where did you get those star fried flowers? More of the same Hyperactive, apparently another state I can describe now, and that of course most people wonÕt understand what I am talking about. Nothing I am not used to at this point. I would say it is kind of disappointing. But that would be a waste of words. Looking at the sky in all its majesty covering the dynasty and even part of the rivers flow of to those communities it all feels a bit pointless. I can see the platform from here. It looks like someone is having a party over there and the whole thing is lit up, there are way more people then the crowd I play with. It is a bit weird to see it like this, I know people use it for other purposes, but I still always think of it as the place I play power word games with the gang. Today is very quiet, but then again, most days are. I canÕt barely remember when was the last time something was going on in town or around the palace that set off my mood and made me turn up the volume of the music so I didnÕt get distracted by the other sounds and focused on protecting what IÕm here for. It is only now that I come to realize I havenÕt switched the stereo to the 8-bit rock yet. I guess it was turned off when I came in and I walked straight past it. Now IÕll be having a quiet evening as I shouldnÕt leave my station to take care of that. If it was on I could just command the switch from here, but maybe this will give me a better sense of the town view and the starts, as my focus will be solely on that. Although I canÕt really seem to stop thinking about spectral, learning new words has always been something quite important and exiting to me, even before the Power games. But this one has been thrown upon me like I donÕt even remember what. I am not quite satisfied with the info we got, I donÕt usually question it, but I feel as if something were missing and I fear it might compromise my duties. Relating to, or suggesting a ghost. How could such thing make any sense? And that is the whole point I get of it, making sense, bringing sense. Considering that the word spectrum mean in Latin, image or apparition I guess limiting it to ghosts is a bit too narrow. But the same word has also been used in modern science to designate things like sound waves in their frequency. So, this is one of those words with possible multiple meanings, or maybe I just got no real use for it and it just sounds pretty powerful and disturbing. Maybe this is one of the reasons they guard the words with such care. Meanings can be tricky and there is no point in people just carelessly using whatever they want whenever they please. This is why I really respect being a guardian, we should have a system to make this work, people have to earn what they wish to do or get and that is just as simple as it has worked since I can remember. The only thing I canÕt really get used to is the idea of who is actually behind all this. I mean the whole thing is so secret, that I have been a guardian for almost six complete sphere years and IÕve never met my superior, he barely appears to me in the holo calls. Surely thereÕs been know theyÕve had some problems in the past with trust issues and local workers and members, but the system has improved, our technology is so much better now. IÕm getting very thirsty even without says a word in the last seven hours awake. Thankfully, our technology and the perks of this very job allow me to have as many electrolyzed drinks as I wish in my time here. And they are all high quality, like the ones people pay many words in the supermarket. I am a bit curious to try the new stardust syrup flavor. Not out in the stores yet, but available for us guardians at the pressing of a button. I can just put my feet in the right spot, shiny option lights as usual, and there it is stardust syrup in a gravitating cup I donÕt have to bend down to catch. And approved, very tasty, a bit sweet after the first sip, but you get used to it. I only like syrup in electrolyzed drinks, IÕm not really a fan of the ground dust in its bitterness, but the star one has a bit of a sparkly flavor to it and I canÕt complain. They taste just as good as they look up there. Walking back home always brings a refreshing feeling with it, it is a new day, duty was fulfilled and I get the fresh galactic breeze just as it is soft enough to not be qualified as wind yet. By the river in non-stormy days, I would say that is just about the perfect weather in lack of a better word. If anyone was to ask that is. But I guess us dynasty word guardians donÕt have as popular of a job as one would imagine. It is highly important and very estimated, but popularity is a different things, and people do get plenty of words for that, even if they use it poorly. From then on is just a huge vicious cycle. These renowned types end up getting lots of words for their time, and people just throw them some more, like it costs them nothing, not even their ears to listen to the bad usage of phrases they usually make, without any effort to learn new words or study language as a true mean of communication, almost as if the cuteness of how a syllable sounds mattered more then its content. Hopefully not everyone feels that way. Still, the river is covered in shiny balls with some popular faces on them. And I can it is now that time of the year, the time when the balls open space for the holographic water projections of the famous. It is times like this when I am significantly unpleased of living at the river and close to the center of town. It has been a while since I have walked alongside this river, I go around it for work, but walk for fun or exercise is something I havenÕt done in quite some time. I remember the last time I walked and looked around I was with Andyra. She was really beautiful, she is married now and got what she always wished for, her face in one of those silly river floating balls. That was a long time ago, I canÕt believe IÕm being this lazy outside guardians training . maybe there is even a slight chance my mum is right and I should go visit or somethingÉ no, IÕm going to far! She gave up being right as soon as I opted for official dynasty front line preparation. I mean going to live in some crazy ------- and barely using any technology besides the communication of the holographic phones. If that doesnÕt sound insane, then I donÕt know what does. -Hey, Mike! Ð Look if it isnÕt one of my cousins from back on the Westside. -Lohan. Are you living here now? -Yeah, on a floating cabana right by the side of the river, isnÕt it awesome? Ð Am I supposed to answer that? What a waste of words. IÕll just nod. Ð How about you? -I work at the palace. -Wow, big shot then. Ð No, thatÕs a waste of words. -Well, IÕll see you around. IÕm running late for my job at the food stop. -Ok. See you. Ð Or not, whatever. I guess that sets that it is time to go back to my cabana. Sleeping is not something we should just give up like that. I should soon replace this fuel for the jumping over device or I might just fall flat into the water next time. CanÕt say I never wondered how that would be, or that I am willing to risk it. Did I leave the phone out of the power source? Well, not a problem, IÕll just put it back and go lay down. Or maybeÉ That was fast, guess it is working perfectly fine. -Hey soon, is everything ok? -Hi mum. I just wanted to check on you. ItÕs been a couple of days since the last call. -IÕm good; I just didnÕt want to bother you. Stop Right There This class is easily one of the most annoying things IÕve ever done in these 24 years of living. And I used to live in an almost technology free community with the same people IÕve known since childhood. But surely now I understand a little better what I am getting into. They are all pretty crazy Shadowysians, who hit their heads when they were born and replaced the brains with some wacko technological creation that sucks off intelligence. From what IÕve learned so far in this creepy hallways filled with doors of all sizes and always in dim light, is that we live in a world of words, everything is paid for in excruciatingly annoying labor that seems of no use whatsoever according to the life I have learned to live fully in the communities and mainly survive on star fried or electrolyzed any number of things that they call food and just make me miss that bitter arse alkalinized water from the uncivilized sides of the river, which is how we are know around here. Thank the meteorites that chatty lady from the reception tables is addicted to those weird flower middles and willing to pay me more than a phone call, or holo call in words. IÕve being owning my family a Òhey, everything is ok with me, IÕve arrived and am survivingÓ since I got here a few days ago. But honestly let them wait! So much for throwing me out just because I refused to follow some stupid rule to marry a sister community member whom IÕve know since childhood years. Well, there it goes. Their image is appearing. -Oh, look who decided she has a family to call. Ð Seriously, IÕve been starving and sleeping in a crappy dorm with two weirdoÕs for two days and that is your first sentence. -Hi mum! -Let me warn your dad, heÕs concentrated on his reading. Hey Wayoard, Lily is on the phone. Come on, tell us how it is going? Are you settled yet? Have you found any cousins or someone who used to live here? Damn, IÕm gonna have to write this down. ÒI Have 347 words left to speak now.Ó -What does that mean? -You now, Shalmda. There in the center the dynasty takes control of words as payment and as we can see newcomers donÕt get a lot, right? IÕm just gonna nod, because explaining I actually would have five if I hadnÕt sold those fried flowers and exchanged my soft pillow would take all 300. -ThatÕs horrible, kid. But can you please say something. It is freaking me out! -IÕm ok. IÕll call soon. -Sorry, Lily. But somethingÕs are just tougher. IÕm sure your gonna tackle this with much ease than you can see now. -Thanks, dad. Ð ThatÕs the kind of support that would have been helpful while I was still living in the community. -Well, we are doing fine too, not that you asked. Shortage season is coming in a week, so we are stocking the food as you can see. - Freaking unbelievable, at least you have food. -Great. I have to go. Goodnight. -Goodnight, Lily. May the stars protect you. -Be brave kiddo. ItÕs another adventure. Yeah, yeah, IÕve always been a fan of adventures, but so far this seems more like a punishment. Although, maybe that is kind of my fault. IÕve been here a few days, sensed the space and all. Now it is time to explore. IÕll have a walk right now, the dirty grounds with these stupid rules. I never obeyed shit. Why start now? IÕm not fine with any of this, words are a constant I know. ItÕs not like planetarium math, where numbers keep changing and you might increase food production or just end up with nothing. Yesterday, I had 447 word, today they are over 600, but the next trade they can shrink a bit, though IÕm pretty sure IÕm getting the hang of the games around this city. This is a pretty weird city looking at it. They have this electrolyzed drinks fountains all around, but people rather buy the canned ones because they have syrup or dirt powder, which in my opinion just makes it all even more yucky. But I am the only person I know who only likes to drink from the grounds leafs, they are tasty, juicy and sweet just in the right amount. I barely see any around here, and they are mostly of the pointy kind, which are sour all the way through, although I bet they are healthier than this canned crap. This weird looking platform seems like it is steering at me. IÕm just waiting for giant eyes to pop off and report me to those maniacs in the class comity. Or maybe they are small eyes, so small I canÕt even notice and they have been watching me all along. It is kind of a pretty and big space, but it is awfully creepy and I can see everyoneÕs feet from downside up, nope, more then just the feet, guess I should leave, and have my eyes shut. One would think I have seen to much, but IÕm Lilith Gaa, I have tackled spirited woods creatures alone, defied my family and traditions and made it all the way here in a 7 hour record walk, because every techno map on this planet says it takes 7 and a half if your fast and donÕt stop. Now IÕm going to see what is really the deal with this place they call center dynasty, or something of that matter, I donÕt really care to that extent. Now, this river is just insane. We get the tiny parts for entire communities and they take control of this majestic floody thing to make those disgusting canned drinks. And on top of that they have this floating balls, man do these Shadowysians have no sense of ridiculous whatsoever? One day apart from this blinding sights and they should know better. I guess all in all I could thank my parent for raising me the way they did, and the community for stand strong, despite the ridiculously questionable traditions they donÕt seem to realize have no point. But I never will, they took mine and their chance for it, the force field will never allow me back now and I canÕt afford to use words for it now that IÕm here. Wow, people here are in such a hurry and jump out of nowhere. ÐYou weirdo! WatchÉ - damned I almost wasted a full sentence on those stupid, whatever. Let them worry. IÕll run when I have something important to do, or somewhere important to go toÉ truth is I miss speaking to people who actually relate to some of what I say and I donÕt have to keep count. In here it all seems like a waste. In other line of truth that no one shall ever know, I have always been curious about this kind of cities and the whole thing. IÕve walked away to grasp at better views, searched around the technological displays, dreamed about this when I was a young teen. But I didnÕt really think I would come live here and not by choice. Look up the hill, crazy Goddess star system! IsnÕt that the almighty palace that represents this whole dynasty system? Undeniably majestic! Such intimidating presence. I wonder what the view must be from up thereÉ I could say loads of stuff right now. But thankfully IÕm completely speechless, this sight is too much, I canÕt erase or ignore, such a strong thought, I have already moved closer, and by no means have I ever or do I now believe in this source of power as a mean of control, but I have to admit it has an indescribably strong presence. ThatÕs it, IÕm doing it. IÕm getting inside this majestic for field of control that makes this town exist in the first place. Part II: The deadly mortality of those who seek to believe So here we stand, alone againÉ ÒIÕve been thinking about the stars and our origins forÉ since I can remember. I wish I could tune of and think about something else entirely. Who knows what or whom could be listening right now? That is why it is best to probably just concentrate in one of those 8 bit songs that carry no lyrics whatsoever.Ó Mike Arc thoughts when faced with the gigantic shadow machine in the middle of a Shadowysians center street on his way back home. ÒThis is just mainly wrong! I wonÕt allow it. If no one is to stop it, then I will. IÕve never been afraid of stuff like this and this is just proof of how twisted this whole thing is, I secretly hope if someone is listening they do catch this. Although is they are listening it is no secret at all. It should be free, surely people should earn it, they shouldnÕt just throw it around like childÕs play, but they definitely should not have to pay for the right of having a voice. Even if it is one that no one listens to.Ó Lilith GaaÕs mind reflections when looking at her perfectly designed reflection in the electrolyzed river, while riding a colony boat to the palace. ÒYears and years in centre town to realize life is so much fuller and rich in the woody retired displacement lands. It is funny that not so many people realize that. Said I might say, it if werenÕt for those crushing word politics. Mostly older people found life around here. I believe this is the time most of us are ready to face and understand this, with maturity comes wisdom maybe. I do question how it would have been if I have had the courage to look at this earlier and didnÕt encourage my soon to go find a job at the dynasty. IÕm still going to try my best to make him realize some things are not exactly how they seem and even as an exact science, things are not always set in stone. But I know it is not going to be easy to get him to listen, he might hear, but those things are very different, like me and the father he lost at such a young age.Ó Showda Arc mind prose in a typical morning staring at the view from her ancient technology levitating balcony. ÒThe definition of this paths in community life has to be determined by many external factors. We sometimes canÕt fight it for our own survival, since the traditional manners that dictate our whole existence as alkaline communities is the central force that we shall not question, as one should put the group ahead of their won needs and just follow things in the order they are presented. One should always thank for their opportunities and there comes a point where maybe the modern well-equipped dynastical society is just too much and needs to be kindly trimmed of the ways in which it touches the core of our secular traditional communities.Ó What Drowgty Millenium thinks while carrying his galactial energy arc through the lands of the river communities after reloading it with community preserved land rock power. ÒFunny is a funny word itself, but it does not make me wanna laugh anymore, so I am in a desperate quest for new vocabulary. Those crazy guys keep finding those insane things and shit gets too serious. If you really come to think of it and be hardcore honest, which is not how I talk out loud and never will, then I probably would have to admit being one of the serious kind myself and making a safe inventing environment for it to grow. But enough! We already live in such a serious program in this planet, we should be entitled to some lightness of heart and fun moments with no big serious implications on the rest of our living moments in Shadowys.Ó Dudle Lifster thoughts after one of the long lasting power word games on the platform with his buddies. What are starts made of? Hello moonlighters, this is Shadowys speaking from under the starlights. I can almost hear someone saying this speech when the day rises in the land of the center dynasty. Almost bothers me a bit. But then I wonder why I have actually no idea of how life is in, well I guess any other state since I have barely left this one in this thirty two years IÕve been living. I never really had an opportunity to do so, and it is not likely that would get one now. Surely I have seen quite a few hologram reproductions of different cities, but the systems differ in a way the perfect graphic reproduction canÕt really show in any kind of display. They have told me more than once before that most of the starts could be full of life in forms we cannot reach or see. It is pretty hard to believe that, but who knows? Maybe they are right and those other living systems have no idea we are standing right here in full force at this exact moment, as of centuries of political organization that began after a huge power shortage, and now constitutes of over 800 galactic years of technology of immeasurable development. IÕm glad to be born in these day and age. Surely I donÕt know any different and canÕt imagine what would be like not knowing what we know have as daily info. But to think of time where there was no form of communication other then the wire phone, or they didnÕt know how to process stardust or even had invented the power word games, that seems pretty lifeless in itself. Today is my monthly day off. I did not plan for it, it just showed up upon me and now it is here and IÕm not sure what to do with. I could stroll around the river like lots of people do on free days and I donÕt find particularly entertaining. I always have to option of just doing nothing. I waste no words and rest all I need, but I am not gonna be able to spend all day in that suffocation tent. Maybe I could pay a visit to the townÕs center round area. And it will well paid, because those people there are as chatty as ever. Well, it does look as nice as I remembered. SomethingÕs just donÕt change, and that is their beauty. It is probably not the day off for many people, I have never seen this spot so empty. But then again it must have been over two years since I last walked this paths. -Yo, hello guardian, man. WhatÕs up dude? Ð IÕve been recognized, and by the sound of that it could only be Mizle. -Hey Mizle. How are you? Ð Apparently aging like a galactic computer and eating planets for breakfast. DonÕt loose your smile Mike, one might notice. -WhatÕs with the formality, Mike. You sound like we havenÕt been neighbors our entire young life. So howÕs the mum? Ð Really, this is how you are going to ask about her? And I am still young. Oh, maybe sheÕs aging double, guess her family had issues like that. -She is fine. Thanks, your family? Ð Please be quick, I was only being polite. -Not so good, man, not so good. But that is shadow life you know, and for us double agers from the inner lands genetic ancestry even harder. But I hang aroundÉ - Sudden silence. -Sure, it will work out. Ð Nodding, a smile and oh, the dynasty pearl card. I canÕt believe she ran out of words here on the streets with me. -Got it. Sorry, hope things turn out ok. See you. Yeah, she has to leave, we still have another full week this month, it will be hard to go without words, unless she has a job that doesnÕt follow the monthly system. I supposed most of them donÕt. that has never happened to me, I am very careful. I am so careful I never got involved with girls like Mizle. Well, I never got involved with Mizle in our minor youth years. She was so different, so beautiful, so not annoying. I felt some of my insides glowing, and it was not just my muscles. Well, deftly not my muscles, though it almost felt painful too. But I now donÕt regret it, we are nothing alike, there is no connection of words whatsoeverÉ Even though she did use her last words of who knows ever to speak to me. Dreadful choice of words, I canÕt deny, but stillÉ IÕve been training to carefully communicate with people since a very young age, and the guardian preparation only reinforced all of that to a whole different level. A level on which I never run out of supply before the end of the month, and on which I donÕt get much interaction with the opposite sex, barely any if I am to be honest to myself without spending any words on it. I try so hard to make it worthy I donÕt seem to ever get to a situation where that is true. I suppose I am fine with my position for now. How can a few words with Mizle bring this up? I was doing great. Besides people in center towns donÕt usually gather up until they get close to forty years of age, we have such long lifeÕs, a whole process before sharing, how could a guardian in such a majestic palace share a life with anyone else? I get one day off a month that is not the evening I play power word games, a day when I can actually experiment sleeping or waking id different hours. That is all the system allows until trainer time is up and supervisors share weekend watches while regular guardians take a break. But that is as far as the dust storms that come along that time of the year. Hard times, I donÕt miss training that bad. Yeah, mike, this is how things work around here, how they always have. i don 't seem to understand anything different than that. it is as if there are no possible words to make it real, or even an idea. I guess I need more practical interaction words, IÕve been so worried about finding new stuff that I can't really even share with people, since they mainly have no idea what I am talking about. Apparently this silly unfinished talk with Mizle is taking me way further then I could imagine. Who would have ever guessed that a neighbor from the youth first years would take me so far back. What a ridiculous thing. It is as if I have no control, the words in my mouth are way controlled. I choose them carefully. But in my head they flow in such a chaotic way I cannot seem to even have a clue where to begin choosing or separating them.Ê Chaotic is the kind of word that I would probably never use in a sentence. It is barely of any use, maybe somewhere else, but in this planet, at least right here, right now, there is not really much of a point for it.Ê But then who cares. After all I rather never use it then run out of words. I am in control so I never get to the shadows and loose sight of myself. No, no, no way. I have to avoid that with all my forces. I never even get close to the Shadowys elevator. That is the one place I do not wanna meet, I see it from the palace and that is a good of a distance I ever want to be from it.Ê It stays there, quiet, in the shadow of the towns frontier. Which is why I barely ever feel like living town. I am fine right here. So what if I don't get to use many of the words from the Power games? I live a standard brilliant life for people in this dynasty and am very much pleased about it. I've been working on it since I can remember and it has never failed me.Ê This river is so strange, I can look at my own reflection standing right next to the people who are on those stupid balls and holograms. Like I would ever want to have my face in a crazy amount of floating water? That is the kind of thing that makes me think of the shadowys cabinet and make me want to stay away from it. After all, spooky thing that looks like a giant package box and has more then one name/ word to designate how awful it must be. It is weird that I see Mizle's face in the river. Could she have paid for it? She is certainly not standing anywhere near. And also in there she looks like her young self, without the double aging effects hitting her. This sort of creepy thing happen in Shadow times, so maybe I should call it a day and just go back to the floating tent, that does stay over the river, but is all closed and I don't have to look at any thing. Funny that out of all days, this should happen right on my only day off of the month of 47. But what can I do about it, if there are two main rules in Shadowys they are, take care of your words and avoid the shadows, I've been living by them for the thirty-two years I've been on this planet and they never betrayed me. So, there is such a thing as caffeine? Every single second I spend on this land with my eyes opened I find something weird and creepy in this dynasty freaking town. I'm not sure how far I want to keep going, but I am sure now it is not the time to stop. This river is taking me somewhere I am not sure off and I am gonna follow it, since I am not sure of anything around here.Ê I'm living a horrible time, if I were to speak of my story I would spend all the words I could possibly earn in a lifetime in this dynasty and I would probably blow people's minds with the crap I would say, I don't have enough vocabulary to spend on this sort of stuff.Ê What a stupid idea anyway? they must be sick from the stupid electrolyzed stuff they insist on drinking. how am I going to survive here? They don't seem to care for anything else. Where is this freaking thing taking me!?ÊWell, wherever it is I am very curious to see it. After all, if I am here in these freaking town, then I must at least know what the whole Word fuzz is all really about. Walking by myself in the dark, reaching places I am not sure of and with no one else having a clue about the whole thing makes me think of the life in the community. This was day-to-day business, here it is, well, I really have no idea. I guess this boat is taking me directly to the region of the Dynasty Palace. Greatness, I didnÕt even have to ask, now I get to see up close what the whole creepy fuzz is all about, And I only had to use two words and pedal with my arms on a strangers boat till I figured how technology moved it in electrolyzed waters that might give me any Unknown sort of strange reaction to get to here. -Man alive this thing is insane! Ð No, no, no, I used words out loud! Ð Damned. Ð Again you crazy doomed creature! What is the matter with you? Maybe this place just brings it out in people, I guess it must be some way of paying a visit, even looking at it this close is not a free deal after all. Doom nation of this whole thing is that I am almost sure my picture device is not working, I havenÕt been able to replace anything since I have come here. It looks pretty empty all the way around, which is ground rule perfect! Thought i do feel it is completely possible that someone is watching me. I donÕt seem to find it safe anywhere around here, it did not use to bug me back at the Alkaline side of the river, but in this area I am struggling. This thing is so huge I donÕt think I have enough energy to walk around it. But I will give it a try. No, someone almost saw me! I need to be super careful, I am not sure I am actually allowed to be here. Security here is pretty crazy, wow. Someone is getting in. Umm, so that is how they do it, wise, but no wise enough that I canÕt copy. What could that guy do inside the palace, he does not look royal. Not that i would know what royal looks like, or that I care. I think he is far enough, so I can get into action. ItÕs only been a few days and I already miss it. And my parents thought I would settle down and become a homey carrying communal life partner and a star kissed garden to grow on my cabana roof. Dream on. There has to be some sort of a catch, it couldnÕt possibly be this easy to hack into one of the hugest most powerful of all institutions on the whole planet just as easy as that. Or maybe I just didnÕt get it right and IÕm already suffering the effects of that electrolyzed water from earlier. Well, it looks like it is clean. Should I give it a try? Otherwise I may just plea using as few words as possible that I have no idea what I am doing since I am new in town and got lost, having no clue I was no supposed to get inside this palace, after all no one said anything about it anyway. Not except from that giant sign I would pretend not to have read, after all, arenÕt I one of the illiterate alkalines in training to become a typical word negotiator afraid of my own shadow, andÉ I did it. IÕm in! A few non mathematical ways to fail miserably The day off stroked by and I am not sure I am gonna miss it for the next forty something days, and just to prove it I am not even going to think about it. Today feels weird, strange in a way that I have not felt in such a long time and I have no idea why that could beÉ well, it is part of the job to work past it, sure my muscles are glowing all over for the hours I didnÕt manage to sleep. Of course I had to lightly fly past a lighting storm from another region, those crazy cold fronts from the west. I can see the sparkles flying far away still. I think something got into my eye protection filter, and I can still feel it, it is bothering me a lot. But I am not sure how I can get it off. I am not sure what it is and I have no laser drops with me. Well, IÕll just have to endure it like a guardian. Thankfully the 8 bits are heavy on today, and nice selection too. I am not sure I would have chosen better myself. Nice new power songs. How would it be if maybe I were to add power words to it? Well, in here too much of an unwanted distraction. I am not myself without the full armors suit and the sneaker boots that can just lift me up a little in the air whenever I need to see something a bit further. The sky looks so dark right now it is almost black, as if we could just nuance it that far away. I guess that is what the word bohemian would be used for in a world were we didnÕt protect the words in such a way that they actually mattered, and I never got to know such a thing. But one words that has always brought up my curiosity is the word hyperbole. Such a funny sound to it, another one of those I learned in training centre and never saw a use that was worth using my monthly word count for. Wow! Was that sound in the music bits? Am I getting ear syndrome? People lose their positions for that all over, but I thought that was what the lobe nanochip was supposed to avoid. I have spent a fortune on it and the procedure hurt so much, it should work. But who know, eventually a creature just hit a part of the force field, they usually stay away, even rare to see them in town, but eventually a lost rebel could end up just on the wrong place and end up splashing their, well hopefully pointy tales, where they shouldnÕt. Those flying creatures are funny looking, they fly in a very particular manner and seem to have a very unstable sense of balance, which is something curious, but they cope fine with it, at least since I was born I have known it to be like this. -360 spin, forward vision full! IÕm not going crazy there is definitely a noise that is not from the recently changed musical track. And if it is a creature then it spaced timelessly into the force field, or just keeps banging on it. Which is very atypical behavior, even if the last time IÕve seen one was over a life period ago. Now I am as dizzy as ever, I donÕt feel like this, I donÕt get sick, I donÕt miss a work minuteÕs worth of attention. Something is really not ok. And this has to be stopped. There is someone in here! -Hey! Freeze invader, youÕre under a force field light and I am one step from shooting the shadow pistol. LiliÕs pov You have got to be freaking kidding me! I climb ten billion thousand steps with these rock walking sandals, breathe the toxic air of the entrance room royal perfume and when I finally reach the view I get caught by this dude in a funny suit? -Hey! No need. -No one is allowed in here. Wait. You donÕt speak my language. Seriousness of Shadowys, is this for real? I just ran out of words! If there was ever a perfect freaking moment for that to happen. Suppose this could be funny for shadow knows who. I have no idea what that pistol does and I am not looking forward to finding out. But I canÕt really move with this field around me that I cannot even see. This sucks way worse than I could have anticipated. But anyways I just had to get in here, they keep the words here, if I could just move a few inches, then maybe I could grab myself some and then just set them free for good and finish with this stupidity. But I should have guessed there would be a little more strategy and protection then just that entrance. I guess my breathing is so heavy now he probably thinks this are the words they stupid center dynasty weirdoÕs think I speak in my non understandable language. Out of all things I have ever gotten myself into, this is the one IÕm not sure I know how to get out. But I got in here in this palace on the first place, so I have got to get out of this silly force field as well. The dude is just facing me in a way I have never meet another shadowysianÕs look before, or at least that is not how we stare at each other in the alkaline lands. Well, not that we usually stare at each other, ever. I donÕt think I would know what to say, even if I could. But I suppose he is asking me something. I should probably nod, although aware of the danger in that. IÕm trying so hard not to look at him, but I know he is looking directly at me. Wow, this sound. ItÕs insane. I can almost follow the beat with my feet banging on this hollow floor. Wait! Am I free from the force field? Or am I so used to it already that I can move inside? He seems to be shaking his head just enough for me to notice he is following the melody that plays leading where I can never imagine. And so suddenly it was like the entire planet was in complete silence and the exchange of looks and the local low sounds were all they had left. They barely spoke the same language, but were listening to the same melody. She was noting all the bass beats and moving her feet according to the beat, whereas he was letting his fingers play the melody, which was slightly aggressive, as if he was touching key notes in the air. There were no words, it was almost as if even the thoughts were blank. As the two young begins were recognizing each other in a midst of angst and vulnerability they both just stood there, untill starts started to show. As it was officially the day switch, it brought within the begining of a new month. So Lilith could gat back her words, since she was still in newcomers credit and owed nothing. So when Mike looks dar here from up close and showed his badge for taking her away, Lilith said. -Wait! Why is it forbbiden that I come here? -Why? Because you don't have credntials. We don't get visitors in the guardian room, ever. And me and you both know you have invaded the palace. -One can barely call na invasion when your security system is so weak, a flying wood land creature could have gotten in. - well, you are not one. And you don't fly. -you don't know that! -Ok. So I will let down the force field for a nanosecond and you fly away, deal? Mike turns down the invisible force that is holding Lilith's movements and she just falls but down on the floor. He says or does nothing as the girl gets up and then she slowly starts to walk towards the word keeping station. Mike reaches her and grabs her arm with his strong guardian hands. She looks at him and the expression on Mike's face is of extreme dissaproval. No words being spoken whatsoever, but there was a clear message. Something new, which none of them had ever experienced. The whole station of control was standing right there in between two young Shadowysian habitants, one of them standing strongly to protect it with all of his work force, and the other trying desperately to figure out a way to free it, to destroy the whole thing as fast as she could. Nothing really happened for a while, for the first time in, well for the first time period, Mike was out of his official standing position, since he was now with the first ever invasor of the palace. He had heard of rocks getting thrown, he had seen techno warrior try to get in the safe floor, but a real being standing right there with him that was the first time. He did not want anyone to find out about it. And he defiantly did not want the girl to realize he had no real experience in dealing with that sort of situation. Miss Lilith on the other side was spending a lot of her energy trying not to get caught again, so she couldnÕt just run away, but also, she couldnÕt just jump in direction of the word station, that would be suicide. She would get thrown into the shadows capsule forever to say the minimum. So no, it couldnÕt be that obvious and surely she after all those years of watching city life and living to defy systems knew better then that. -Look, dude, sir, mr. guardianÉ can I just go? -Lady, do you have any idea what you just did? No, I canÕt just let you leave. I am going to need you information to report your supervisor and cut you off the word system. -Nice try, I have no supervisor. As he was surprised, Lilith grabbed his armor belt and threw the gun down. The fighting has begun, and they both got way close to the keeping station, to an extent in which LilithÕs eyes are now glowing in expectation and Mike is taken by the impulse of desperation, guided by it he throws Lilly to the other side. Getting up in angst, Lilly looks at him in despise, kicks his gun so that it slides through the floor and then walks away. -You donÕt even know any better then me. You just stand there and you couldnÕt eve dot hat right. Good night. She jumps to the other floor in such agility that when Mike looks down he cannot reach her anymore. He grabs his gun and stands back in position, after all it is still his shift for another full hour, the 8 bit still plays loudly with the anger he carries and there is no one else in reach to help him, but at least he would keep the words safe as it is his duty. As for Lilith, she could be anywhere by now, but the sure thing was, she was no longer inside the guardians territory, or sight. -So this is how the very next day feels like ÒI should not let anyone find out about that incident, I should take any recorder of action with me to keep proof in case I ever need to incriminate her, and in case I donÕt want anyone to incriminate me for doing my job and dealing with it. Where did that crazy creature come from anyway? Ò MikeÕs insisting thoughts on the previous night, which led him to a day of no sleep. By that time Lilith was already far away. She wanted to go back to the palace and really break down the whole word protection thing. She was angry and in combat mood, so she could no longer stay in the dorm with the other students of that stupid civilization she didnÕt believe in. She grabbed her things when no one was around to see or waste words in asking questions she would not have bothered to answer. She left behind a bed and the chance of ever being accepted into that society. That was the sort of thing that did not matter at all to her at that point, the whole thing was so screwed up. She never wanted to be there in the first place and there was not a second in which she believed any of the things she saw as the system. It was already a bit too demanding and quite a few weird stuff at the alkaline community. But this central dynasty town was ridiculous. And all she is concentration on at the moment is shaking dynamics and breaking this silly system. So she walks, a bit lost, no definite path, a backpack on her back and those freaking sandals that were now burning her already scared feet. No note, no holo call, no nothing, and just how it should be. As of this moment Mike is lying in his floating cabana bed and watching the footage of the previous nights for the third time, as if that is going to help him study somethingÕs or change anything that happened. Every time he saw his reaction when she got inside, or the moment she took his gun and threw it down he felt ridiculous to an indescribable extent. But only watching could he figure the exact moment she appeared and the moments she took advantage off and movements she used on him. He had no words to describe anything he was seeing over and over, hopefully he would never have to do such a thing. But still, he canÕt seem to get himself to focus on anything else, or let go of the hologram footage, it was as if it happened again right in front of him, so he begun rehearsing how he could have reacted differently, completely forgetting that would generate a different response from Lilith as well. He was obsessed. Lilith walks beside the river with her long hair down as it almost never stays and a start light protection mask covering half her face, which leaves little room for someone to recognize her features. But someone just did, and was grabbing her arm in a familiar way. -If it isnÕt Drowgty Millenium. -HowÕs it going LilÕs. didnÕt think I would have spotted you with such ease in w town like this. -What are you doing here? -Well, I took sometime to hang out, figure the next plan around since the girl I was meant to join communal forces with choose a different path. -Oh, come on. We both knew that was not right. You are so young and I was the one who got thrown out. -I know. ThatÕs why I wanted to check on you. But you knew this would happen. -I guess I had hope. -Now you donÕt anymore? -Oh, yeah. -Good. I hope I didnÕt make you waste too many words. I should meet my cousin, so I have to go. -Sure. I have stuff too. Nice to see you. -Always a pleasure seeing you, Lil. Nice hug goodbye, it felt like community life again. She hadnÕt realized how much she missed it until then. So much injustice, so much anger. Maybe she was missing the full picture in 4d, but there was no time for nostalgia at the present situation. She just keeps walking without even worrying about how recognizable she looks. Drowgty was just as usual, polite, cute and predictable. One of the best sister community friends a girl could wish for, but never a love interest. Besides joining lifeÕs in community was just not an interest of her. Drowgty walks fast, looking around at the way too confusing sight of the river that cuts through town as one of its main symbols, so that it distracts most locals from the presence of the palace itself and keeps everyone busy and uncurious. His cousin was already waiting by the other side of the water system. Community life had trained Lilith well, but not as well as she trained herself over the years. And that was not all to spend full days bargaining her sentences with a dynasty she had never seen the face of. That was just not going to happen, she wouldnÕt allow it. But as of this walk Lilith did not really have a clear idea of how she would proceed. That music from the night before echoed insistently on her head like no thing ever did, after all, what is town music if not just a bunch of mixed sounds that keep the environment from being quiet. Some like it louder, some donÕt, sometimes they make you want to shake your head or feet and others they just sound plain annoying and that is that. In the communities, well at least the ones she was familiar with, music was tradition, passed on from generation to generation without much questioning, which was the whole point of tradition for them. But the sounds were very local and played by the own people every time. But now the sound from the 8 bits of punk sound were inside her head like brain torture and reminded her of those eyes so bad, of those scary uncomfortable grey eyes that went so deep she did not want to follow, that she even has the impression of looking right into them again, she closes her on an impulse as if they would burn from the sight. So she opens them again and realizes that he is standing right there, the guardian from the night before is in front of her all stiff and without his uniform. But she would have recognized those eyes anywhere. I could get lost in here forever Lilith was always one to have too much self-control to ever let herself get caught on such a thing as fear or any kind of passion. Not that they had acknowledgement of any of those feeling in Shadowys. They barely used any words for it, but even when doing so, it was referring to cowardice, to lack of work initiative or distraction, nothing more. Sure, the deep intense guardianÕs eyes are still placed in the same position with a full view of her discomfort. But Lilith would give it no satisfaction, after all, she was even wearing a mask. -Look miss, I know it is you. -Who? -DonÕt waste my words on this, Lilith. LiliÕs pov Shadow alive, he knows my name! I should probably just dive into the river and hope it floats me away. Shooters dooms is that my feet are hurting super bad and this huge guy is just standing here blocking my path. -I need to show you something. Ð Are you crazy? No chance in shadow life! -No way. -I have the power to get you locked up in a shadow cabinet forever. Ð annoying guardian dude. Come on! -Right. What? -Not here, kid. LetÕs walk. Ð Easy for you to say, letÕs switch foot gear and see if you suggest that againÉ -So did they kick you out already? -ItÕs my day off. And none of your business. Ð Ok, so this is how we are gonna use our words. Yup, no way I am gonna be able to this quietly, it is even weirder then the whole talking thing, or wasting words. -So, Mr. guardian dude, how did you find me? -Not so hard, less effort then it took you to crack my system last night. -Highly doubt it. Ð and canÕt stop laughing, because that system was a freaking joke. Who does he think he is, pulling me like this? I go when I want to. -No one gets to pull me like this. -Fine, follow me. He is trying so hard not to use many words it is not even funny. I guess they train as hard as it is possible to learn tricks like this. What could he possibly have to show me. He must be tricking me to prison. -Stop, if you wanna lock me up just do it. He pointless signs me something I wont obey or believe. Oh! He is so nervous now that I leave him no option besides speaking. Go ahead Mr. big shot. -Look. Ð Stop sighing man! Ð Lilith, that is my cabana. Ð A river house, I should have guessed. Ð I have to footage of the incident. Can we go now? Well, I donÕt see like I have much option. He is pretty strong and all, although he was armed yesterday and it didnÕt stop me from getting out. But for a reason I will never be able to explain, I do not think he is lying. Plus I am as curious as life to see one of those cabanas from the inside. He is so funny waiting for me to answer, IÕll just move like IÕm following him, no need for me to waste my words on him. -Can I at least know you name? I can see he doesnÕt want to tell me. But he knows the drill of believability. Although I am not very sure how that works around here. There is a great chance it is different from the communities, the communities have particularities that differ in the same alkaline river area. And this whole place is crazy. ThereÕs only one thing I have come to realize, Shadowysians are Shadowysians and that goes for pretty much anywhere. -IÕm Mike. Ð Yeah, that is not the name I would have guessed, surely must be short for Michael. But looking at him, no uniform and all, then maybe Mike is the right word for it. Ok, that really does not make me more comfortable around him. But it doesnÕt make me any more uncomfortable, so letÕs go, into the floating cabana of Mike. Righteous I guess this word is now going to be singing in my mind just like the 8 bit from last night, thankfully I didnÕt ask for anymore information, like his last name or something. Ops, what is happening here? -DonÕt worry. ItÕs just a jump over the river, IÕm guessing you donÕt have a device? I will have to sign in a negative here. Been wondering all along how they got into the cabanas without getting wet. But I do not like this closeness with Mike, the guardian. To the starts thank you it is quick. -So this is what a cabana looks like. Ð Funny, he has this look, but no way he is gonna use words to say something about it. Even if it is just ÒNo, this is how my cabana looks like.Ó Ð So, what is it? -What? -The thing you wanna show me. Ð I love that I can just naturally cut down two words sing just one like in wanna, gonna, this is economy girl. We need to think of it around here. But all in all, I cannot believe he is playing this stupidity of what? He just grabs a weird card, like I should understand this and connects it to something I have never seen before, so now I am watching myself get into that guarded room after going through security and show up to the back of a guy who didnÕt look like he was having the best day. -Ok, I was there. Ð Why is he displaying this thing to me? Ð Will you get to the point, or just wait until the last starÉ -Goes down. Now you get it. Ð I do, IÕm throwing down word as I donÕt know who is watching, which I donÕt, at all. So, I realize I have to be more careful, choose it better. No freak is going to throw me into a shadow cabinet for using tree more words than I am allowed into this land to say something unneeded to someone I donÕt even like. What is that on this hologram projection? There is a weird force showing and our eyes, it is as if the image froze. -Did your device just break? -No. There is a movement, something I canÕt explain going on right at the word keeping station. Something like I have never seen ever before. -Did you edit this? Ð Is this a prank, a set up? -Yes. I guard words and moonlight as an hologram video hacker editor. Ð This sounds honest enough for me. -Ok, so how could that be? I hate so much when people stare at me with this serious look like I owe them something. I know we are in a word economy here, but would it kill him to say something. I know! -Do you have paper and a writing brush? He clearly didnÕt get my idea, but at least he is getting the things I asked for, from a pretty weird trunk of junk he keeps very organized. I get it, since everything is so tiny around here, he got any messier he would have no space to move around his own cabana. I suppose what takes the most space here is the holographic projection., and then there is that very limits off or IÕll scream shut door. But ok, it is his privacy, I totally get it, people are not really like that in the community, I wasnÕt even that comfortable with that the way they did it with such freedom of everything to a extent where I wouldnÕt grab a pillow if someone decided they got there first, even if I had sewed it myself. But here they are sort of extreme to the other side, it is as if you look over two seconds to a place, thing or person, you might get shut down. I am just going to write down or even represent with some figures that we should probably check it back, if he will let me in again. Not that it is so hard to get in, but might be to get out. And also, we need to pull some references and make sure no one knows what we are doing at least for know. What is that annoying sound? It doesnÕt stop. What is this freaking thing? Oh, right, I suppose this hologram phones do that sometimes. -Well, I can leave a message, but if by any chance you are home, Mike, the just answer me, itÕs important. I heard something about the river area, please call me back. -IÕm here, mum. Does he want me out? Should I just duck, or hide? -Oh, thank that stars in the sky you are ok. Just heard horrible news about the center town. They are reportingÉ There is someone with you? Hello, IÕm Shoulda. IÕll just smile and sign hi, this as awkward as it goes. -She is a friend from the park strolls. -I thought you quit that. But good thing you are back exercising outside. Good for both of you. Ð I guess it does get more awkward. Ð But be careful, apparently someone has been murdered and fell, or was thrown into the electric rivers bottom just less than an hour ago. DidnÕt you hear? -Well, you know how those news are. Besides there are many people in this town and I just got home. -Ok, at least nothing happened to you, Mike. -DonÕt worry. IÕm fine. -Yes, I can see. You barely call, you donÕt visit. You havenÕt come see the wood distortions I told you about, but IÕll send you some holo cards when I figure out how to work this technology, IÕll make then print to you. -Ok, mum. IÕll call during the week. -Ok. -Have a good night. -You too. Bye. Ð Oh, itÕs to me. -Bye. -Ok, so where were we? -Dude you are just going to ignore that? Someone has been murdered in a close distance. He gets up to what I assume is some kind of window. Wow, what is that mess outside? There are no words for this I have lived in this cabana for over six years, I never moved from this spot, as I did not intend to loose it. And I have never seen anything like this. They are trying desperately to move things so that maybe the news wonÕt spread so far, but I suppose they already have. Though my mother sometimes have weird ways of finding out about stuff. But this I see out of my window is no joke and not coming from any weird means, it is happening right in front of my eyes, apparently right in front of mine and LilithÕs eyes, as she looks as astonished as I my thoughts are right now. What could possibly justify it? Sure, violence is a part of life in Shadowys. We all heard that at some point, there is history to prove it and I do carry a gun to work everyday. But mostly a force fied or slow light shock of the muscles. A murder right in the centre electric river sounds like a phrase gone bad. But there are electric river power boats making silence circles that donÕt let anyone watching the same thing as me deny that something happened, and was not of such small and insignificant proportions. I even lost my train of though, I barely ever open this window. -Who? How? Yeah, she is loosing words to say things of no meaning by a word itself, but I got it, I understand perfectly, and that is not such a common thing around here in the word dynasty. -I know as much as you. But maybe we can turn on the news on my device and check what is being broadcast around the different era news on the land. She seems very interested in watching as well. Apparently nothing on this one, this is not reliable, well this three are displaying similar things, this could be against the rules if they were using the same words. ÒSo the victim, a former member of an eastern alkaline community called Yolarim. He was young and doing well in his position in the center land for a couple of years. He had this alkaline taste for food and shape for years, but for the rest he was an honest word commuter of our society and didnÕt owe anything in our system. But no word credits were found in his outfit or inner skin, which is an odd thing. None of our safety keepers seem to have seen anything suspicious, which leaves us with no answers, and now we have an interview with our dictionary man, Mr. Ò IÕll just shut this off, normally I would care for the dictionary man, but this is too disturbing, and Lilith is from the alkaline communities, she looks speechless, even beyond her low word credit. I even sense she must be finding it harder, but I donÕt know how to explain this. -Which community are you from? -Whosh. That sounds plenty different. Wonder how that works, but not enough that I would want to see it closely. -I knew him. I really donÕt know how to respond to that. Are they so close in those communities that everyone just knows each other? Are they so small? -Friend? -Not really. Just from a neighbor community. IÕm still sort of clueless around here. And I guess by now if there was any chance of still saving something from game night it is not a possibility anymore. It is so weird that they donÕt know what happened, usually our system is so efficient, and there are areas to take care of everything. Even if the word keeping is the most important in most of the land. -Well, that certainly doesnÕt help us. She agrees with me, still looks pretty shocked the hacker invader female. Well, I am a bit too, but the boats are already leaving the area, itÕs all clear, as if nothing ever happened. -So, I donÕt think we are going to be able to back son. IÕll investigate myself tomorrow. -What about me? -DonÕt worry, this are the copies of the footage, you are safe. For now. She looks angry, I donÕt like this and I have no patience for this. It is after all kind of all her fault. -So, IÕm out? What if I find something, ha Mike? -How the shadow should I know? -Fine! And she is leaving. She is getting out of the cabana. How is she going to get through the river without falling into it? -Lilith, wait! No, sheÕs gone and managed to get to the margin without getting wet. I would never figure that just jumping over the cabana would do that. And now itÕs not just my gun bonus function that she ruined, IÕll need cabana repair, and I hate those guys. No more news about the mystery community man anymore, the river is clear like it never bleed, but if I look very carefully now that it is much darker and the electric flows glow a bit, I can see a but of a glowing puddle mark down the bottom at a very tiny corner. I guess they worked hard to cover it up, but didnÕt do such a brilliant job as one should aim for. I suppose it is ok considering mainly no one is noticing, but for one time since, well ever, I am. Like one strange thing was not enough to get my day going, now I need another almost unreal activity happening around me. And what is the deal with this girl anyway? I am going to search some trusty words on this. Let me see WhoshÉ yup, looks real, not any real that I know of, but she didnÕt invent it. Unless she is a mega hacker and purposively implanted this into the system along with her secret identity. I just wouldnÕt believe that someone with such skills would leave and not check the hologram recording like I did. And her face did go a bit glowy when she found out about the killing. She couldnÕt fake that. Or IÕd be the next body dropped into the river. The neighbor community they say, here, found it. Apparently they are kind of close to each other, and not just in length. All the stars are out, it is the first time IÕm here before that happened on a Thursday, but that doesnÕt mean I will be able to sleep, IÕm not sure if I should keep my window opened or closed. I see this semi light protection is actually effective; I will use it more often. No more news on anything, no words on it, I wonder how trustworthy the whole thing even was. Tonight I will be able to check the station for any unusual behavior. Even if I am not sure how to identify or determine anything. The river has a different vibe today, I canÕt explain, I wouldnÕt know any word to describe it, but it doesnÕt exactly look like the same everyday river. Or maybe there is something wrong with meÉ Well, the palace definitely looks a bit different today. There are some weird projections on, security!? And I need to pass through a guard before getting to my guardian position, now thatÕs funny, although it is a hologram robot, there is one step already, why two now. Unless they know! If that is the case IÕll do better on the outside, but I suppose now it is a bit late for that. Well, the platform looks normal, the station looks just as usual to me as well. I do not understand what could be any of that footage. Unless, maybe I could get more footage later and compare things to see if maybe it is just something weird from the hologram projection itself, not the station. But I donÕt believe that makes much sense either, because the only thing weird in the projection was that, everything else was fine. This is the first time in here that I feel some sort of an urge for the shift to be over, that is except for the other night when the inconsequent vandal that Lilith is got in here and scared me out of my position. It seems almost as if the stars are moving in a different pace, slower, but that canÕt be, everything has perfect timing and one substitutes another that has being serving for a pretty settled system for ages, before my grandparents worked positions in this very palace, and I donÕt believe it is about to change as of this moment. I am sure it will be harder for me to grab this footage with extra vigilance, and besides I donÕt feel ok stealing them. I suppose I might just copy bits into my memory wire and then plug into the home device and compare things. But from the tiny bits I see here now, every night of me standing on the station things look as usual, as I se them here. What about the day guards? Maybe I should copy some of their stuff. Although if anything was to be reported, maybe I would have know by now. That night they didnÕt figure because she shut off part of the system and I ended up covering for her without knowing by sing my force field, as I was catching and out of palace reach flying creature or something. And if they ask that is precisely how I will answer. I suppose I should see her again. She needs as much explanation as I do and maybe she knew that man in person. But if I really think about it, she invaded the palace, defied me and played the funny wise one, I owe her nothing. -Guess who? Ð No way. Mizle is out this early, IÕm going to have to change paths. I hate doing that, this was carefully chosen. -Hello. -I guess it is carmelish, Mike. Ð donÕt wanna ask. Ð You know, carma, but delicious. -Nice to see you got your words back. Ð That was kind of mean, I donÕt usually speak like this. See, I am already perishing from the shadow influence of Lilith. -Nice to see you too. Ð That is not what I said. -I have to get going. Take care. -So soon. Well, ok. See you another time, Michael. And she learned nothing. I see some people just donÕt, she is still throwing words around like it is some sort of party bonus only valid for the period. And to say things she could have used plenty less. Well, everyone behaves their own way, makes their own choices, I am just not sure I would get used to it. I also think this must be the day of running into people, and not just anyone, but unwanted company, those you do not wish to see, or to be seen by. And there she is standing, probably waiting for me, and I do not suppose it is to pay me from last evenings damage, which I just now remembered I did not arrange to get fixed yet. I could turn around, but she has seen me already. And I donÕt think she is a criminal, even if I have reasons to believe it. But someone must be, and they seem to attack community, well, ex-community member like her. - Having a nice time? -Sure thing, Michael. -Do I owe you something? - What am I saying? I know I donÕt. What does she want? Why am I getting so angry? -I wanted to tell youÉ -What! Say it, Lilith! Or it was only in the past? Ð Why am I yelling? -Yo, polite assman. I put some stuff together from last night. -You mean evening. Why am I wasting words on this? Ð It is nonstop. I need fresh breaths of easening temper fresh inhaler. Ð You do realize you damaged my cabana when leaving. -Big deal. Someone was murdered. -That has not been proved. -WhatÕs your point, Mike? Ð My point is why are we doing this. Why are we having this stupid pointless conversation? -LetÕs go somewhere quiet Ð and safer, I think. Ð IÕm not bringing you in again. -Like that could stop me from damaging anything. I feel like throwing her into the river. But the last thing I need is to be the next time news as Michael Arc, the former word guardian that attacked a community young woman and gets thrown into a shadow capsule to orbit outer space forever. So I have to control myself. Good thing I have guardianÕs discipline. -Ok, say. Ð this walls of translucid particles compose the figures of this city stand and rest space that is almost always empty. No one has time for those things. That is precisely the reason I believe this to be a quiet and safe place. Just as long as there are no wires. IÕll make a quick check, and weÕre clear. -I think you should visit your mother. Oh, how cute. So the girl from out of town who is an outcast from the system and happened to be in my house when my mother called to do some of the annoying things she always does, thinks that I should go visit my mum. In a crazy land of who knows that I have to go near the shadow space path to get to. And I bothered to bring her here to hear it. So there it is. The awkward silence once again, as in the evening of our first encounter, the stare, no words and this time no 8 bit sound in the background, only the colors changing on the walls. -Why? -Well, one because you can. And she is your family. -Ok. Ð But that doesnÕt mean I should go now. -She seems as if she knows something more. -Such as? -I donÕt know, that is whyÉ -Right. Ð Let me spare you of those next words, which are useless. I am not doing such a thing. And who is she to come tell me what to do? So we are going to stay here and do this awkward silence wait again, IÕm fine with it. I donÕt care. I am not going to do what she tells me, I donÕt do what my mother tells me, why would I do what a crazy invader girl from the communities suggests? -Mike, I know it is not my place. I only think there could be something, and she is your mum. Ops sort of speaking at the same time here. ÐIt is not your place to say that. Sorry to interrupt, I wasÉ -ItÕs fine. -She is like that, and that place you donÕt know it. -Another reason to go. -You wanna go too? Ð Talk about invasive, Lilith. Are you kidding me? -Not necessarily. But see, I canÕt visit my family, you can. -And I should just tell the palaceÉ -That you are visiting your sick mother and someone should stand in for two days. Man I hate this, I really hate this. And yet I am still listening to this insane person with bluish degrade hair, instead of going back to my cabana, which she damaged the top. -IÕll think about it. I need to get up, walk back to my own place and stop this kid from bringing any more of those ideas to me. Worst part is that I am sort of actually considering what she said, and I just see her sitting, probably has nowhere to go now that she bailed out of welcoming school. Must be hard being new and alone. But at least I took her to a safe place, with warm and fresh dust on the ground, protective isolation walls and fairly isolated. No way I would have her stay on my tiny place I can barely fit myself. And why am I even considering that, when I donÕt even know her well and the little I know is from inconsequent, violent transgressor behavior? I now se I have missed two hours of my usual day rest on this. This thing is getting out of control way beyond I could ever imagine. I can spot my cabana from out here, one can barely notice that the outer protection is ripped and has taken a bit of a strange shape, but because I can always tell it, and apparently it is now easier to see because a couple of people moved out of their spots. Maybe I should adventure myself and travel a bit thought the river, but I donÕt really have any idea how to do that. And what would be the point, it would take me a few days to do something worth possibly losing my spot for good, and I have no days off to justify that. At least not until mid season vacation, which is in a few months. No more interviews on yesterdays case, no words being thrown on it. Maybe it was not such a big deal, surely it cannot be good when someone is found in the river, but he could have thrown himself, gotten hurt and fallen down, these are possibilities, and people wouldnÕt go around wasting no words on things they are not sure of. Even if those holographic show presenters are granted way more words then they should be. Well, I am perfectly capable of searching myself. And I do get guardian perks too, such as research credits I donÕt even use that often. So now is the perfect time. Of course they never actually gave away the name of the guy who was found, so that will make it all harder. Unless, seems like a terrible idea, but she knows. Some things I never would have guessed This place is almost cool. For somewhere in this whole dynasty town that is. Maybe I owe that to Mike, after all, if he hadnÕt brought me here I never would have guessed such a place existed. This changing colors are interesting, very distracting. I like watching. Surely it is not like the non electrolyzed river side, the amazing star flowers, the little alkaline creatures that reach the land, the Shadowysian community power build homes, but it is nice. I still canÕt believe that guy from the communities was murdered here. What did he do wrong? Does this system just throw people in the river when they donÕt like them and finally there was a leak and people found out and used written words for it. I am sure I have seen that man before, I remember speaking to him once or twice. But he was older, about a decade or so, and for that we didnÕt really hung out much, considering he was already from another com. A lot of youngsters come from Yolarium, not all to this center land, but more then from Whosh without a question. Which is probably why I have kind of a blur about him. He was friends with my uncleÉ no that was another person. Maybe he was the one who visited our schooling centre a few times. But it canÕt be because that man moved to the south, thought they looked alike if I am not mistaken. Fancy watching the stars go down from here, I guess it is a good place to sleep. Probably in some ways even better then the dark shared dormitory I was staying in till last night, and one of those unstable weak tiny cabanas. DrowgtyÕs cousin! ThatÕs who that men was, Slaiow. Almost sure that was his name. yup, that was him. How strange, I only saw him twice and it was a long time ago, over eight or nine years for sure. He went to another community and traveled on research before coming to this place. ResearchÉ why would communal people want to know dynasty tech? well, if I really think it through I suppose it makes some sense. But now it is just getting worse, everything is even creepier then before. When I met Drowgty earlier, he said he was meeting his cousin, and unless there is someone else I am not aware off. Then it must have been the men. So either he must be really scared, screwed and dealing with a lot.. or heÉ but, Drowgty is one of the most polite and plain stable guys I know. Sure, he has a few corky manias, sometimes walks funny and all, but a killer need to know how to handle weapons, and he was always pretty clumsy. So, I guess it is possible to fall asleep on your backpack, lying on the warm ground between the colored walls while thinking how maybe your possible husband from the sister community deal could be involved in a creepy murder in the town you currently leave in, and he is probably still in the city, the same city where words controlled by the dynasty never to be seen leaders put people on a leash and one of the guys who helps reinforce that, could have access to important information, but does not want to pursue it or share it with you, because he is mad like a little girl that I scratched his cabana top and invaded that at least at the time ridiculous palace system. Well, it looks like time to get up, and go somewhere I have no idea. I am not sure I even remembered to pack more food, not like I call those gunk looking smelly mixtures that. But my internal digestive organs are a little mad at me, I can hear them screaming, and soon more people might be able to hear. Another time for being a land free no attachments woman. I like this, I actually do. Surely I would like it better if I wasnÕt carrying weight, counting words I donÕt know how IÕm gonna deal from next month up and possibly being watched by well, I have no idea what or who. Whose freaking hands on my shoulder are this! -Step back or IÕll make your brains glow, youÉ oh, itÕs you. -What in shadow is the matter with you? -Sorry, I thought it was, you wereÉ -Yeah, leave it. Come with me. -So, this is our deal now? Ð And just so youÕll never know, I might be fine with it. He just makes a sign like usual. Look at that, usual like we have known each other for over a week. I canÕt hold the laughter, and sure I realize how insanely ridiculous that makes me look. I only hope it doesnÕt make me look as one of those silly giggly girls, because ew. -Ok, so we are going to get close to a shadow cabins, we must be very careful. LetÕs not waste any words on the trip. HereÕs a bag of star dried chips and electrolyzed flower flavored soda, with an extra bust for energy. I must have made a horrible face, because he almost seems offended. -Humm, my favorite. -You have any better? Yeah, I should probably know when to shut up. Now seems like a fine time. Except, am I understanding this correctly? -So weÕre visiting your mother? -Well, we are not strolling around town. Now words. He is so stressed, spare me. But I donÕt think I can complain, it is as if things are working out a certain way, we are leaving this land and visiting his interesting mother, so at least for now I donÕt really have to worry about a place to stay. Plus I love trips, I donÕt love being thrown away and not welcome anymore in the place I grew up, but I enjoy traveling, even with all the walking. -Just watch it for the shadow cabinets, Lilith. -Ok. DonÕt worry big shot. This I got, now we are entering my zone. Negotiating with words like that, while eating badly and staying at lousy places is not my style, but walking longing distance and watching out for myself I am plenty used to. -We should have a snack. Take 10. -Sure, if you need. Ð I will fully support you, damn this path is rough, and it feels so far! But no need for me to spend any words telling any of this. I gotta admit this food is not so bad. But I wonÕt do it out loud. Maybe he will start thinking I am enjoying, or that he is just way too good, and that is not true. Why is he smiling like that? -You like it, donÕt you? -ItÕs ok. Ð WhatÕs with the sudden need for approval? That is not an usual thing. -Right. That is weird. We are, no that canÕt be. How could that be? It is as if we can communicate without words. Oh, look he is putting that 8 bit music. -YouÕre addicted to that thing! -So? Funny, it is as if the notes bring me the feeling of that night, and I donÕt know of any words to describe it. I never had an experience like this in my life before, maybe it is just not a community thing. Or I am just thinking too hard on it and it is really nothing but me getting tired and not willing to admit it. -Hey, we can rest after this stretch. -If you want. Again with that funny face, I donÕt even know what that means. Maybe he is tired too. Or he is trying to be a nice guy, who is the older, bigger, supposedly stronger one and has a duty to look after the girl. Which could mean he believes I canÕt make it all the way. Oh, no. IÕve done worse. What is he doing now? Are those sleeping air floating devices? The dude is well prepared! And probably earns some nice money up that palace. But that says he is establishing the rules here. That he is sort of dictating it is time to rest, without even asking me. Although they do look confy. No, Lilith, focus! We should get there soon, early, and no way is this guardian dude going to boss me around, or take my strength for granted. -I got the blue one. My personal. -We should go further. And turn of that freaking sound, it is making me crazy. Look at that he did turn it off. And plus I sensed, not that I know how that is possible, that he was going to choose the blue, it felt like he was closer, or more personal. -Well, good luck. He just makes me so angry! I will go, he can stay and look at whatever damn thing makes him so out of space in that hand projection device of his. Stupid technology from the center lands! Wow, somehow this is getting to heavy and this path is all irregular. Damned my foot! -Told you we should rest. Come on. Like I need his help. Sure, he is stronger then me. How is it my fault that mike is really tall and muscular, and figured I would stumble like a clumsy person that I usually am not. -Ok, thanks. Goodnight. -Goodnight. I absolutely cannot explain any of the things that are happening, not since I started questioning things, since I entered that palace just sort of knowing what to do, then that music that seems like it is missing something, and this weird thing with Mike I donÕt even know his last name, and then there is the Drowgty thing. I better just sleep, shut my mind of, see if words appear in my dreams, at least they are free there. Wow, morning just showed up so quickly and unannounced. I see now what the lens of protection in the dynasty land does, and it damaged me, now I am having a hard time with the stars shine that I grew up to. I can see he came prepared for that too. That suits him in a way, tidy guy that has everything in perfect control. Funny I always pictured him like that, but it is kind of different when I see it happening for real. But the really funny thing is that I am coming with this guardian city guy I donÕt even know very well to visit his mom, and my parent have no idea where I am. I canÕt tell them that. It is best if they think IÕm on the dynasty town getting settled and all that shenanigans. I used to walk early and all, and this was sort of a fine night of sleep. I have seen his mother before, but I keep remembering my first encounter with DrowgtyÕs mother. Boy, that was one of the scariest moments of my life! I donÕt even like thinking about it. I meet him when I was very young, around 11 years of age, kids go together to collect stardust that is not even real star dust most of the times, but we have fun anyway. We run around the block in the community, say for hours in muscle glowing positions, that before you are fourteen barely hurt one bit, we even dive into the alkaline water at the side where it falls from the river and make puddles in the ground. Those were fun times, I barely even think about them, but I had a nice early life. Although, all that is in the past, so thatÕs that. But come to think of it now, then I only saw him again about a year later, I hung out a bit without my parents, but people are not supposed to know that. Then we met at a fraternization between communities alongside the river. It was ok, so then it was the time we became friends, or at least that was what it seemed to me. So we hung out more then one time a year and exchanged river notes about pranks on double walkers from outside the land, which was so funny! I donÕt even remember why we stopped. So, it took a while looking back at it, we hung out like that, joking and meeting at events for almost four years, and I got to know his brothers, and a few other family members and friends, but his mum was not at the party. I didnÕt even think it was weird. He went away for a year on a community switch youngsters for learning and when he came back, we took a while to get the friendship back on track. Then when I was almost seventeen years of age on this planet, I was invited to his house. I see now they were already planning ahead of my knowledge. Bastards! I was probably the only one who hadnÕt realized at the time what was exactly going on. Of course I noticed a while later without much trouble or explanation. Wow, I am severally pissed right now. My parents were acting sort of behind my back, when I was barely old enough to consider those things for real. And Drowgry, did he like me? Or was he just depending and coping strongly with the arrangement? What was in it for him? Although with his odd mom I wouldnÕt question much inside that family, and I definitely would not question wanting out, as soon as possible. When I saw his mom for the first time, I was so not prepared for that. Meeting a mum when your very young and is at her house and she is not from your community can be a rather big deal. Of course it could have been an even bigger deal if I knew what was actually happening. Maybe they were secretly waiting for her to approve me, for me to get along with the family, so my parents entered in and everyone was just floating happy for me, for my independence aside, no power of choice for the young woman. But whatever situation it was, and even now some years later, IÕm pretty sure the situation would be equally shocking. I could never have imagined, that right by the side of our territory, in an alkaline community of the east, a lady who wasnÕt even that old, would be a zombie skinned descendant. Surely her son doesnÕt show any signs of it. But I do not understand how my parents wouldnÕt worry that if I had kids with Drow, that they could get some of her creepy genes. There are no more communities of the zombie skinned, they went extinct decades before I was even born. But still very few people made through living in other territories and with some health issues, they pull it through eventually and have made it to new generations. I had never met one before, until I saw that woman. So I felt like my eyeballs would jump out of my whole skull. But even if they did I wouldnÕt look like her. Because DrowÕs mum was not only zombie descendant from both sides of her family, she did not take care of herself, at all. And against all odds she made it through years of star light exposure, she had baths into pure alkaline water, like we donÕt even do, and ate only the fried crap they sell here like it is full of nutrients, she had it ordered specially. All the things zombie shadowysians are not supposed to do, she did and boy it showed, on her face, and every other piece of skin that ever showed. And her voice, it made me freeze to the very inside of my cells. But it didnÕt make me stop hanging out with Drow or his sister, I even saw the zombie lady a few other times and pulled through like a champ, I forced myself and screamed into my pillow after it was over, but I never acted in any way to be considered offensive. Until apparently I made a choice, that was mine and perfectly normal, but other people couldnÕt deal with. But maybe it was all for the best. After all, why would I want to stay at a place that keeps such things and doesnÕt want me to be exactly how I am and feel natural being? -I think we are close, but my location device is crashing. -What? -Lilith, pay attention! We need to figure which is the right direction here. -You have never visited your mother before? -Hey, not that it is any of your business. But I just went one time and I took transportation to go with her and others. She has not been living there for a long time, in case you would ask. I wouldnÕt. like you just said yourself, it is not really any of my business. Sure, I was curious and all, and she is family, but really not my problem. And it is kind of a long walk, so not something one would do so often like this, I get it. But I will limit my word count. -Ok. Wow, they have arrows shinning on the ground, that is so intergalactic, like something I would see on those shinning educational boards or something of the sort. -Watch it! DonÕt step on them. Some are traps. Wise ones I could say. I super feel like jumping over some and I wouldnÕt mind if they took me to another land like a flying ride. This looks very different from the city we just left behind. I suppose maybe there are other options. Maybe I can find a different and more interesting place to stay then some ruled by that ridiculous dynasty. -I think we got the wrong pathÉ yeah, we definitely made the wrong choice, letÕs turn. Lilith, are you with me? -Oh, sorry. Turn, sure. So an even bigger walk, I guess this whole techno fuzz is not such as good as they promise and paint it. But what can do? Soon weÕll be there, andÉ no! what can I do? Where am I going to stay, I am visiting his mother with not much invitation, this dudeÕs mom in wood lands! Are you out of your freaking mind Lilith? -Mike? -Yeah. -Does your mother know IÕm coming? -She doesnÕt know I am coming. Great! Amazing! Now is the perfect time to figure that out. -Not a problem, Lil. My mum has a big house, and thereÕs also a really big yard. -WhatÕs that supposed to mean. -You may understand it as you please. Now he is being funny? Man this dud is just unstoppably annoying! DidnÕt even get the directions right. And did he just call me Lil?! -Ok, now we are in the right piece of land, so the house should not be far. I think I can see it from here. Wow, heÕs got unstoppable strength, maybe the guardian training did do him good. IÕm used to long walks and physical distress, but he looks like we didnÕt even tried hard. It is the middle of the day and the first time we make a stop. -ThatÕs the one. She didnÕt change the house in over a year. Like that is a big deal! Sometimes people keep the same house structure or looks for mealy a lifetime, and a lot of them do it on purpose. I donÕt even understand how he could chance a cabana so often, but I see this centre land people are just fanatic for change and all that crap. -Is she not home now? He just keeps knocking, it is a little annoying. But somehow I am rooting for her not to be home. I think the whole memory of the encounter with DrowgtyÕs mum just made me a bit sick. Oh, no! someone just answered the door. Please donÕt be a zombie descendant, please donÕt be a zombie! Wait, I have seen her on that holographic phone, she is fine. There she is. -Michael?! Did you come visit me without a warning? -Nice to see you mom. -Typical. Well, since you are here, then you should come inside. Did you find your way alright. Sure he did, lead us to the wrong direction, misunderstood his electronic guide andÉ -Sure, I can handle things mom. Liar! You bastard of a liar, trying to look like Mr. perfect. -So, are you going to introduce me to your friend? -That is Lilith. She came from centre town with me. -Ok, nice to meet you Lilith. -Nice to meet you. -You can call me Shoulda. Interesting name, suits her just fine. She doesnÕt seem like Mike at all, much more vivid, fun person. How is he so stiff and know it all? Well, what does it matter, IÕm here now and the first encounter went just cool, so IÕm having a place to stay for a few days, or at least I hope itÕs a few days, we never really discussed any of it. -Como on in, take a sit. You can leave your things here close to the door. Oh, no way, I canÕt believe that she has those fluffy as ever balloon chairs are in her living room. DonÕt need to offer the sit twice, IÕm dying to try this out. -Thank you, mom. But we should go around for a walk before, weÕll be right back. -Ok, IÕll try and make you a snack. If I had known you were coming I could have prepared early. Are you freaking kidding me! We come all the way up here and you want to go for a walk! ItÕs all perception -Are they dosing you one something, or are you taking some yourself? -Some what? What are you talking about? -We have been walking for freaking 20 something hours, I didnÕt even get a sip of what could be this planets only pure water and you want to go for a walk! -Calm down, will you? I just realized something and I figured we should check it out before I go asking my mother about, you know, stuff. -What could possibly be that urgent, Mike? She does not stop screaming! How is what I am doing so wrong. How am I the bad guy for taking her out of the streets to a safe region, in a mission she barely deserved to be invited to. -Well, I am not going to waste my time here and ask you to trust me, so follow me while I explain. -What other choice do I have besides looking like a freak invader at your momÕs place. You could stop complaining, why donÕt you try that? And besides you always look like a freak and I only met you because you are an invader. -Ok, so have you noticed the flowers are a bit different here? -Yes, why? -Well, that seems to have a direct relation to the construction of the houses, see how they somehow imitate some nature pattern, very different from the centre and the other dynasty towns. -DonÕt know any other, but ok. -IÕm assuming it could have something to do with the absence of the river, or did your community look like this? -No, not at all. -I figured from the special hologram. But maybe you can have an even better perception then me, since I have never been to a community. That is sort of why I brought you on this hike. Plus it would be a little weird living you there with my mother. -But what has any of that got to do with the crazy action we saw on the video? -That is what I am trying to understand. See, if they follow the pattern, this could mean that either people watch it closely like we centers donÕtÉ -But we do that at communities. That is something they teach us. We build to the stars, looking at nature so the climate doesnÕt screw with us and use natural material. But weÕre river based, technology is in. -And you count words by your community thought connection. -Something like that. But much freer than you guys. -Yeah, but not like here. -I guess. Wait, you are telling me, I was making an effort to use minimum words this whole time and ever since we renter territory I donÕt have to? -No, since we left the first road with the town bricks it not on count, but if you exceed 60000 when you get back you pay per word. -Sick, freaking bastard! I knew I shouldnÕt trust you. -Big deal, so I spared you a few. She is really getting on my nerve. And we are not making much progress here at all. I need to keep focus. -Look, Lilith. We have some things to figure out, we are not here on vacation, I got a two-day license from work for this. -Whatever, I just think your mother can help. So I donÕt see the point in strolling around now. Unless you are afraid of speaking to herÉ -IÕm afraid of no such thing. She is getting way out of line here. Who gave her such liberty? Did I do that? Did I by any chance give a message that it was ok for her to have this amount of freedom and just call the shots? -I will speak to mother, Lilith. I just figured that when o do that, I should bring up all information and we barely saw the place, and she is still a bit alarmed with our presence unannounced. So IÕll give her some time and us some info and then we talk. -Ok. And maybe we should stay quiet for a while. ItÕs beginning to remind me of my mattes back in the community when we went on hikes and everyone wanted to lead the way. I am not sure we are doing something of the sort, but sure, IÕll have to agree with her, it is getting annoying and we should give it a break. To start IÕll just nod and sign I agree, so we stay in silence from now, until hopefully we get back to the house. The energy here feels different, without technology being all around and the river in the centre of everything, the air is different, my eyes feel dry, but I suppose I breath with much ease. I never realized I had difficulty breathing. And also, the presence of the palace changes everything. I seem a bit lost here, but also with less pressure. What is she doing? She is trying to mimic me something. That is a bit funny, but maybe we should stick to that for now. What is that anyway? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We are back at this house, that I barely recognize as a house. I donÕt understand completely what made my momther move here. Sure, I get she would like a life outside the centre after working there so many years, and she has always been sort of wacky with a few things, which I never fully got. But if she doing fine, I suppose it is for the best. I just canÕt hide that I feel a strange vibe when in this land. And I see that Lilith had a really important point when she insisted we come here, I think I am going to have to talk to my mom, I have no sooner or later option, I already stretched time I didnÕt have in the first place to come here, now I either do it, or shut it off for good. -Ok, here we go, some fresh steamed salted soft rocks from the galactic forest and petal juice with a few drops of ancient oak syrup. I hope you enjoy it. It is kind of last minute. -Thank you, Mrs. Arc, I mean Shoulda. -Have a bowl Lilly. And they are getting kind of intimate already. My mom sometimes does this sort of thing with acquaintances of mine, but Lilith is kind of surprising. The food looks plenty strange, but smells like the hot meal I have been waiting for a couple of days, so itÕs not like I even have much option here. -DonÕt make that face Mike. At least try it first. -Yeah, Mike. Ð Great, now they are laughing at me while bonding. - ItÕs really good, Shoulda. Since I moved to the center I havenÕt had a meal like this. -ThatÕs good! Eat as much as you want. It is sort of good, I wouldnÕt trust it to be by the looks and names, but it is a lot more then bearable and I am not that hungry it could be an excuse. -Yes, very good mom. -Oh, so you like my food now. What is happening? You show up at my door unannounced, bring this nice girl and enjoy my cooking. Is everything ok? -Yes. I mean we are not so sure. We came here because we want to talk to you. -Yeah, when your thirty two year old son appears with a backpack on your doorstep coming from the main dynasty city one is lead to think there is something to be discussed. I donÕt even know how to do this, she doesnÕt seem so pleased with the idea, and it is not about what she said. I have been having a weird feeling, like she does know something, like she wouldnÕt like the talk very much, it is as if I know Lilith is a bit anxious and none has been said or written about it, so it is like itÕs a guess, but not really. Maybe it is best that we finish eating first. I hate mixing activities and getting everyone all confused and anxious. I imagine this might also give me a bit more time to think about the whole situation and how to start the conversation. After all, I havenÕt really had a meal like this in a very long time, I mostly buy pre-made, since I donÕt have a lot of time or space and even if I did I am not such a good cook. By the looks of it Lilith is really enjoying it too. The food at the welcoming center is probably not all that welcoming, people are still in probation there, which she didnÕt pass. No, they are already looking at me in a weird way. Just let me eat me meal in peace and weÕll talk after. That is not so bad, I need a bit of rock and flower energy. It doesnÕt even taste like dirty water. IÕve had some electrolyzed this morning. But this actually feels nicer on my system. The Magic is in the eye of the beholder This woods, I could never imagine how much energy could flow from such a place, a place where there is no river, somewhere the maps aren't even precise to tell about and show what it is in fact. As a girl who grew up in the communities, close to the alkaline parts of the river, colecting dust grab ups, diving into water wholes and eating homemade cooked meals of local flowers river derived plants with their nutrients and methods of making I am absolutely impressed with the way they handle things in this region.Ê I heard so little about the woods outsiders I wasn't even interested, but damned to regret not getting the opportunity to see this place, in all its magestic glory. It is hard to believe such names as palace and dynasty and power belong somewhere elese, who even dares to displace this lands with its words and system. But the people here don't seem to care much about any of it, I a much more bothered then any of them would appear to have a reason. They hang out peacefully, are completely welcoming to newcomers in a way I could not imagine, and most of them are about Mike's mom age or older, which could be a sign of something I am still trying to figure for real.Ê -So, how are you liking the tour with a local? -This place is incredible Mrs., I mean, Shoulda. -It is, isn't it? But Mike here usually hesitates as much as he can to visit. -Como on mom, again with that. -No, that's ok, son. I don't blame him. Even if it seems that way, it is a mother's natural worry for a child, and the desire for him to know wellness and things that can do one good. But I understand the resistance, the incompatible lifestyles, I was once like that too, and it wasn't even that long ago. wow, that is hard to imagine, as much as picturing my grandparents as kids playing the games and spaces I did, or my father courting any other women, and I should just let my thoughts stop right there before I regret it. -When one is outside, it is difficult to picture a place like this, and the holograpich projections and map simulating programs don't do it justice. Shoulda has such a nice soothing voice. -No, they don't mother. Last time I was here I didn't get to see any of this. -You are always in such a hurry, and tense and worried you'll miss something, waste so many words and all those tight up things. -I understood we had agreed on not to bring those things up when we were out and hanging. -Oh, don't mind me! - Plus, I really wanna hear it, do please do continue. -Do not flatter yourself missy, this has nothing to do with you, I simply don't want to have this kind of discussion anymore, and I hope we all understand it leads absolutely nowhere. -Maybe you are right, Michael. But this trail leads to this wonderfull lake, where we get our free, healing powered water without any interfearence. And if any or both of you would care to help, it would be great. A lake! Such an interesting thing, so close and yet completely distante from the idea and logic of the river its even funny to think of it. -Have you even tried lake water, Lilith? -Never. Only I grew up on the waters of the east of the alkaline river. -That is something. Want to try some? I absolutely do, but I am a bit intimidated by the idea. I am goning to give it a shot, maybe I'll even like it, I just hope it is not as bitter as the one back home, or whaterver it is now that I am sort of not allowed back. -Ok, sure. -Here you go. Just place this interesting looking cup next to your mouth and sip a tiny bit of it, enough so that you can taste it, and not enough that you can by any chance choke on it, ok...Ê -This is refreshing! - Finally something cool to drink in twenty four years of living, where have you been hiding. They are looking at me, I must be doing something weird in public, yes, moved my feet and hips and a little celebration dance, and honestly don;t even care, this deserves it. -It can have that effect on people. Mike has already tasted it, but fell free to have some to. Will bring some buckets back to the house, this is how we do it in this land, now river flow or soda magical buttons. -Back in the community we have a simmilar system, I used to carry lots of cumbucas around since a very young age, can't say I miss it much though, plus that water was bitter as something else. And I guess they see me as funny again. So be it. Maybe the bitter days were not reall me bt only the river. -So, Mike... -I'll help mom. Let me grab the big one. I'll have some back at home with the syrup, can't risk moving my hips around. -Nice. - I could push him down the lake, but that would ruin the only good water I ever had, so a light push would do for now. -What? I'm just not a dancer, the town is not like community, you know? We don't do those things. -Yeah, he is right, Lilly. And don't mind, Mike, he ca be like that sometimes. Now I get to laugh too. cool twist. I have this intense feeling of running up front and taking as much of this water as can on me, so I never get to miss it. But in reality I know the only way would be to move here. I this water goes to the land, and humidifies the dust and plants I can absolutely understand how this landscape is so unbelievably beatifull. Taking loads of mental memories and wishing for my flash chip so strongly it should materialize in my arm this instant, but I guess I am going to have to settle for the idea of coming back considerably soon. ---- And not a stone more to fullfill me -So, Mike. She is nice. -Where? Are you sure this living in the woods thing is not affecting your senses already? -You know it is more likely to be the other way around. And why are you so resistant? No forget it, pretend I never said a thing. I know you hate this talks with me. -No, I hate this talks period, not with you. Want some help? -Don't worry about me, I am used to this, plus when have I even been weak or unable to handle myself? -Not any time I can remember. -Maybe you should go help your friend. -Lilith is fine. I think they train with stones or flying creatures back in those communities. And we should please end the subject here, enjoy the fact I am here visiting, brought somewhat of a nosy companion to help entertain as well and let us move along and explore the things in this land. -It is nice that you have company anyway, Mike. I am going to nod in agreement to make sure this ends here, I absolutely do not want to ruin the communication, opportunity or anything else we could have here on account of something fairly meaningless. And finally we are back into the hose in shape of a cave where we can leave this water and continue the search that brough us here in the first place, and I have to admit to myself I have not given this much though until now, but I should know. -Hey mom. What motivated you to move here? -You know, that former neighbor we had moved some years ago and I met her and we taked about it. -Yes, I do remember that part. But you have heard about it before, even by your work mate. Why that time and finaly moving without a try out. -Let me show you something. What could that possibly be to have such an influence. how come she changed a perfectly adapted city life out of the blue, still in plain working years to come here and miss on perks and the dynasty card to move back again whenever desired. Such a strange and somewhat brave leap, the seems much more as crazy then brave to me, but anyways... -Here it is. A solid sewed dried plant drawing. What could this possibly have to do with anything. unless, I see it, it looks like, here, this street, and it smells of the woods, t is made of a local flower reminiscent. who would figure? Interesting, but still doesn't completely answer my question. -Feel it, run your fingers over the picture. This is not actually to be considered a picture as we know pictures, it is ripped, rough, I don't recall this sensation. I fell feed and rested, and this well, picture ahs no words on any part of it. -Now turn it around. What is that? Water flow inside the dried flower? surprising! and it healed my sore fingers from the drawing. Interesting. -See. Not much way to explain but to feel. and I came to a point in life when I had to try, and leave the life I was heading in town that was taking me nowhere I could enjoy myself. Who the shadow ever said life in town is meant to do that? I could expect such a sentence from the rookie on the other side of the room. but from the woman who raised my in town, since age two without my dad and worked for decades into the word system with great achievements it comes as a minor shock. How come I never knew any of this. -Don't worry, things have their timing, and it is ok you didn't notice before, you should experience at your own rate, Mike. I did not say any of that out loud, or have I? How could she know how I feel or think? This is all completely absurd and hard to process, I wonder how the guys are doing at the power word rounds, I can't really believe I am missing and staying here instead, but I need to figure some stuff and there wasn't actually much alternative. -Come one kids, I'll make us all dinner in a heartbeat so make yourselves at home. And I hope you worked up an appetite. I can't say I haven't those walks and talks always have this effect on me, plus this is about the time I usually eat before the games.Ê An experience with a missing piece. As Mike did not appear in the power game session, the guys waited for a few minutes, but he was out of reach and left him no message. So, without much trouble they all began playing short of one. they hadn't done that in may months, it has always been the (seven) of them, but it was a perfectly designed game for people to play in any number from three to twenty eight, and there was no chance they would miss a days, well week's practuce on the absence of someone who didn't even bother to tell them he wouldn't appear. The thing is, it was Mike Arc, the responsible and overly commited guardian of the palace, the guardian of words, one of the founders of the group, a proud advanced player who devoted a big part of his life to that. Or at least that was what they thought until that moment.Ê they all felt something odd, it didn't seem as he was one to abandon the team without any prevous warning. But they had research, studying of words to be completed, and also one less week of play equals one week further from reaching the star level, complete light in mastering the knowledge of words, something not yet accomplished by any shodowysian in cathalog, which meant of course by no one at all, since the game was only available to someone in cathalog. And of course, someone who made the whole thing ti begin with, or the ancient word makers from the dynasty descendence, but who knew about that? Who could possibly have access to such things? This was not in the main list of worries of the players of the night, and whenever any of them considered the subject for a second, then the most obvious answer was usually Mike Arc, the guy working at the palace, not the dudes who worked the welcoming committe of town, or study center applications for younger students and certainly not the guy who traded his parents store processed food for words so he could live in socitet while spending most of his time in practice holographich individual games in a tiny room of silence and no color except when he turned on the device to play the games.Ê wittyness and aginlity appart, they were all pretty schooled with the whole process, they met in tournaments on the platform and on holographic fantasy lands when they were still in the study centers. It was Mike's idea to keep all things conquer in a password device in the platform, and they were all glad he insisted on it earlier, or now they would have missing props on account of his own abscence. So they were sure of one thing, there were no tricks there, or he could have taken something with him. As soon as they all figured there wans't a delay, but an absence, Duddle blurted out in his usual grumpiness. -So, I guess our funny guy won't be joying us tonight. They all agreed, mostly with grins on their faces. No one really questioned his performance and humour on the games, except maybe himself. Ê They scored about average and figured some words to study later. A lot of which reffered to places in the woods and the formation of the land itself. But they would only see that through later on the week. I would give you time if one could own any of it. It is very fullfilling to see Mike comming here and not just to visit because he has to, or maybe he has no where out of town to go, but because he actually wants to see the land, figure how things work around here. He is even volunteering to clean up after supper. He never bothered much about those things when he lived in my town house. But then again maybe life by himself at the cabana did him some growth as well, not that he was ever the immature kind, no, smart as galaxy since a little kid. I would not say those were my genes, I could not pull off the high scores at a word game like he has, even if they were not holographical or anything. He always helped a bit with that. And all living time shadowysians know he didn't grab a single smart gene from his dad, because that would have killed that man.Ê I never get to relax and stop to do nothing in my own house, I like service and things clean and being by myself there is always something to be done. But now that he offered to help so enphaticaly then I get to sit and read this compositions of letter combinations inside the pictures of nature from the woods.Ê And this girl, she is very witty, she has a strong character and opinions, but the community lack of dynasty anxiety and vision more turned to the whole then such a tiny centralized almost blinding focus that most of us carry is something to consider positive. I really don't mind seeing Mike with a friends such as this. I do not undestand their relationship, they push each other aside most of the time and on the other hand seem to be in search of the same things and didn't mind sharing a long trip without any galactic transportation to come to a place with no disctraction as they know it. And in such a young age... Well, I mom can only wish for the son's happiness, and that should be whatever he chooses, as long as he is truly motivated and fullfilled by it, and not only following protocol. -Shoulda, this view you have is absolutely fantastic. -It is Lilly. It is one of the reasons I live in this place. There comes a time when the person needs to choose for something closer to themselves, nature, a different relation to things, you know. -Yeah, but it is the first time I see something like this, is makes my breathing feel different, you know? -I am used to it now, but it does, you are right. I remember my enchantment with this place when I moved here, this awe sensation is a bit overwhelming, but a nice way to break the dynasty pattern and make one join this flow of the woods. It is good they get to figure this out at a younger age then I did. Everyone has a moment of their own and different things to figure out of this existence, but as soon as someone gets to see the pulse of these wind and this rocks and flowers, the better for everyone. -Ok, mom. I'm done with the kitchen things.Ê -You are getting fast at that, Mike. Thank you. -No problem. I do not have much to offer them now. But I understand that is not what they are here for, as it is not a reason people come here in general, it is either to rest, for which this place as a whole offers a very nice option with welcoming members of territory. But in their case, as the girl is agitaded and Mike always looking around and not to enthusiat about siting and relaxing I only hope I can help them somehow, as there are no answers set in stone or such a formula for life as the dynasty tries to pull on every major center town and some more peripherical ones. -So, mom. I know it is after dinner and appreciatte the day we had touring around, but I was hopng we could talk for a while. As long as you are not too tired for it, or anything. Polite as usual, I must have raised him well, at least in some aspects, others I didn't really know any better. -It's fine, Mike. I am not sure how much help I can offer you. And I hope the walk we had today is also a great incentive for you, if not more then that. -Certainly very interesting, mom. -You know Shoulda, we came here realising you are a very cult and wise person and that maybe this place also could have something to offer us in terms of knowlege. They were not wrong about that, this land can offer many things and clearer understanding is one of them. If I am any wiser I probably owe most of it to finding this place, my neighbors and coming to live here. -See, mom. In the palace, the room I work most days, as for the past six years. -ÊYes, long and strong years you offer night after night to that place son. - I have noticed something a few days ago that I don't believe has ever happened before. -That sounds interesting, what was that? -It is probably better if I can show you, do you have any plugging station? -In the other room, but we try not to demand a lot of energy from devices around here. -No, it's fine, I have internal charge on my projector, if it begins to fail before we are over we can use yours. Better, I don't have much domain over those things and I rather not disturb the balance with dynasty things. But I don't want to leave him unattended. -Ok, so here we go. I'll start the projection from earliear that night and get to it, keep an attentive eye, ok? We can pause, move back, forward, zoom in, no problem. Should I be worried about what I am about to see here? He seems a bit anxious, more then usual. But we are a team, and the patience I gained here has to be used every time, he is my son, he is here to see if I can help him, and this footage of him inside the palace guarding the word station seems perfectly normal, at least from this starting point. Although Mike does look very tired in this position of his, he seems distracted, as he was not feeling well, or even anticipating something. So unconfortable to watch him like that, even if it is something in the past and now he is ok right here. He does have a very nice view of the city and all the star composition. I never got to saw what the place looked like. So, that is all It is a bit nervewrecking to watch my mother watching this holograpic projection of me. I am trying to figure what she is thinking and at the same time I feel like hidding, Lilith is watching as well and now is the first time I come to think of what all this represents in many levels. I was only thinking about the part of the words that it showed much further, and in orther to compare I would have to show things that happened earlier and quite a bit of it to legitimate, also to show what event might have originated the strange movement and maybe I wanted answers for other possible coincidences or whatever might they be called that happened there, such as the music moment and if there is something about it. Man, I really want to simply push this forward and leave the room. I can't stand to watch myself and at the same time know for a fact that other people are watching it with me and I can see them doing it. Wow this past forty eight seconds cpmpletely felt like the longest moement of my life. now Lilith is showing. I supposed she is a bit embarassed now, but there is no other way to do this, and she knew. Mom looks fine, as if she is watching any presentation, dense, tense or even mostly entertaining. I don't know what that means, but I hope it means she know something about what happens to the station that helps us with the complete lack of understanding on our account. And look at that, Lilith was actually studying me for few seconds before I turned at her. she had a smart and prompt reaction. Was she trained? I never found out her real intentions on that day. This 8 bit song never got out of my mind, every now and then I catch myself tuning to it and even moving my head or fingers to the melody. I enjoy most of those sounds, but this particular song stuck to my mind in such a way. And there it is, I can see my mother noticed it, we are anxiously waiting for her to say something, but she seems very focused on the footage. WHat is it? To me once again it is all confusing and it just starts flowing differently out of nowhere, and happens all by itself, without any interphearence and then stops after only a few seconds and we don't even get to see it live happening right next to it. The only time I step away from my Êposition. Wait, this could have something to do with that, mainly the station is never left unwatched, I step up right over Jonaha's turn, and when I am about to leave, Pechack takes my space. -Interesting compostion. You see, kids, I am no expert in word stations or flow here, you as a guardian can know a lot more then me, Mike. We may fail a few times, but never shadow on anything. -I must get going, mom. -Wait a bit, Mike. Who knows when you are coming back. I just made this nice oak syrup pancaques. -I was absent last night, this will be too many nights and I take some time to get back. -Maybe if you wait you can get ransportationÉ But probably not, since no one elese seems to be leaving, and also it is harder to track me. Even if thinking that makes it seems like I am running away or a thing of the sort. -Well, try it. Take some with you, do what you think is best, you are a grown person. That is right. We settled it ages ago, and never had a problem about it. I do wish to try some now, they look fresh and steamy. Plus I am in kind of a hurry, but it is not such that I canÕt spare a few more minutes. And as I suspected she already brought the dish ,with all the sets for eating and even a glass of flower drink, boiling hot, like the lava stations. Ages since I have had one as this.This is the kind of thing one will mostly have at a motherÕs house. -So, I hope it helpes, even if a little bit. -It did. -There are usually no answers set in stone and exact words for everything. Except when there are and their names begin with Lilith and finish with Gaa, and they come from the communities on the alkaline area to invade your work space and cause a massive confusion regarding everything. -Is it good? -Yes, very. Thank you. -See, when there is a connection, sometimes things happen with no real explanation, Mike. -What do you mean? It wasÉ -Look at the cup of steem. What about it? Vapor, steem, liquid content. Unless, is it changing colors? That is very unusual, what did she add to it? -Did you addÉ - I barely have any idea how to continue this phrase. -It was done as always, the same way as you were a kid. Nothing more or less, no different way of stirring, no longer wait. Well, that is simply not possible, because lava juices do not change colors, never have, and the cup is normally way wetter then that, plus the air here is so much more humid. -Then how? -That is the thing, Michael. I canÕt tell you a name for this phenomena, unless you want to make up one now. That is not how words work, e canÕt simply start comming up with new ideas and suggestions ans add them up to the list that has been set ages ago and is protected by the palace and deeply studies in elaborate games. This absolutely canÕt be. -Are you ok, son? -I guess, yeah, sure. -Are you going to find your friend now? -Who? Lilith? She is in no way my friend. Maybe that is it, she is around isnÕt she? It must be, that alkaline energy flow, she is such an intruder. IÕll go look around. There is no chance she is still disturbing my patience and this house. IÕll go guardian on her and make the girl never forget the system has a meaning and guarantee she has a nice place to stay for many years in a crime holding facility under the river. -What are you searching for, Mike? She left. We know that. She may be an intruder and many other things even, but she does not carry within herlsef only the power to make such things happen, and also had no control over it. Also? No controlÉ this does not make any sence at all. -Are you suggesting I am doing it? -Not that simple, kid. Ð Oh, I am no kid, and it sure as shadow has to be simple enough for you to say it like that. -Great, mom. The panks where delicious, and I gotta get going. -I hope you are not angry at me. Those are the infos I get through the lake view and the oaks feel, but hopefully we can figure further together. I donÕt think so, but you can do as you damn please in your own craziness spot, I now doubt more then ever a living creature and completely lost the desire to have my lava juice I was so thirsty for. I should absolutely get out of this land before I completely lose what is left of my sanity. If I never get to figure it out then it will just be one of those events. -Ok, have a nice trip. And be careful in that town of yours, violent things have been happening right in the center. I know, there is where I live, and they were pretty uncommon and not figured, although I do not fit the profile, if anything makes sense, what appears to be the issue in question was related to the guy being a former community member. I am simply not gonna be able to get rid of her, am I? -Talk to you when I get home, mom. Thank you. -Things will show themselves with time, youÕll see. Sure, whatever you choose to believe in. I better hit the road before I really loose my temper. This piece of land is an insane space on the planet. Everything was working as it could and should and suddenly people decide they now have to try something different, they should not anymore agree to how things have been working for decades and beyond and some oaks and water spaces may support it. As if it is much different from people running in and out of communities of a century based disobediency to the system and deciding that was not enough of a confrontation and chaos, so they must defy all things personally. This has to be some sort of joke and I am the only one with no sense of humour. But then again, it does not make much sense. Things donÕt move that way, they donÕt have involuntary motion actions or personal object desires, and it is so out of control sometimes it happens and other not, the only thing in common is not even the element is water based material in an environment with local sounds where people wereÉ I donÕt know, what can it be? I suppose there was confrontation, but different kinds, and not exactly here. The first time my and Lilith did not speak, so that is out as well. I have no clue, this just makes me as mad as ever! But Lilith was not really the element in common, I hate to admit it. Well, she must be far by now, and that was probably for the best, for both of us, and all others. I didnÕt drink the lava and now I am too thirsty to go directly for the walk, and I forgot to pack. So I hope the lake is not so far from here, it will already take me from my path, but is should spare me more time then coming back to knock on my motherÕs house again. I suppose she tried to help, and surely this oak and flower filled land is inspiring in some ways, and I did get an even better view of the stars then at the palace. But the air in here is really not right. Everything is so different, this houses like cave shapes, but not exactly the big round lake of still water which they donÕt make any syrup from. It is almost as if a lot of things were backwards and did not work right at all. Hopefully it turns out ok for everyone, this is a word station free, ni terms territory and that doesnÕt inspire m any confidence from the moment I step foot, until after I step out. But then again I only stand in front of the station and guard words, I donÕt own them, as I have never invented one, and I probably will not, at least if I donÕt get to lever groundrules soon enough. But I am not on my way to it by skiping a gameÕs night to come to this land. Carefull step and I almost got myself into the lake with full force, I see someone familiar is around. I suppose sometimes trying to avoid something, when you donÕt exactly understand that it is solved completely takes you to situations such as this. I have the absolute option of turning around forgetting about the lake all together and leaving this all behind for good, go back to town dry and thirsty and simply return to my old and perfectly fine life as guardian with regular game nights. Get off my back, just leave me alone!!! So Mr. Smart pants needs water, no way I am gonna let him talk me into anything again. I can see it, he is trying super hard to avoid me. I donÕt care, he can fall on the lake for all that concerns me. Not that I simply donÕt wish a little bit for that to happen. Idiot creep didnÕt even think he owed me any sort of explanation. And he probably didnÕt, I was already in his motherÕs house and everything. I, well.. idioticly thought we were bonding in some way. As if we were not just complete strangers. Or competitors who hate each other and couldnÕt care less about this planet. Seriously, he is getting closer. Shit alive I must get away from this lake. -Heeey, Lilith. Ð Talk like a guardian you asshole, speak the words, donÕt be ridiculous. Oh! Wait you already are. ÐYou are ignoring me, of course. This is great! Why should I not? Give me a reason. A good enough reason, donÕt just stand there and look at me, I am not related to you I do not have to stand it, I didnÕt from my family as they didnÕt from me, no more. Good, get your water and leave. Go for your hours long walk and have a very enjoyable time back in that nasty town that is probably shadow itself. I was waiting for a way not to go back and you spared of even the idea of discussing it. So I might owe you a thank you, which I am gonna have to keep owing you, because there is no way IÕll ever say it. -You knowÉ I am coming back and maybe if you wish to shareÉ. -Are you freaking kidding me?! -Look, I had a stupidÉ -Yeah, you did. Good luck with it! No way alive I am gonna stay here and listen to that. He canÕt even complete a sentence, it does not deserve my attention for another second. Wow, there seems to be a strange movement on the water. Is this not a lake? I always thought they were supposed to be still water. Maybe it is a shadow streem from the guy standing by the other side with his bad energy. IÕll get away. -See that, Lilith? Of course you do, you are doing it! -Me!? crazy boy. Shadow man. You unbelievable jerk from beyond space that is what you think of me? Is this why you shoved me off? -Hey. I should not have brought here in the first place, you invader maniac. I cannot believe this is happening, thankness to the stars I donÕt have word restrictions in this land. -You are an ass of guardian, didnÕt even notice. And if you thought all that and brought me here you must be even more stupid then I imagined, and in case it took you that long to think it, well you suck greater even. -Maybe you should take it as a compliment that you are great at whatever deceiving thing you think you are doing. -Sure, and you should take it as compliment when I tell you to get those words andÉ what was that? The land moved? Or I am loosing it from rage on this jerkÉ no it definitely moved. I have to get out of here. I am not wasting another second on this. -Lilith, this is, this can be shadow move. We have to go. Ð Yeah, right. Very likely that I am going somewhere with you. Ð Now! -Why should I trust you? -I should ask the same question. ÐWell, you probably should. Ð And we donÕt even have to trust each other or anything, only to get out of here, as fast as we can. Ok, that sounded convincing, and I was about to do it anyway. -Are you going back to your mothers? -Not now. ItÕs the other way and the land seems to be splitting about here, we are just going to have to take a longer road back. Wait, what? Who says I am going back? That was no where near the plan. No way, you can go mister, I have nothing to do with that. -I am not going. -How? You have to. Where would you even stay? -ThatÕs none of your business, Mike. See you again never. -Move for now, you can figure out on the way. Hey, donÕt pull me. You donÕt get to touch me as if we were friends or something. Next time IÕll punch the breath out of your face. And damned I can very well do my own thing, I donÕt need help, have always handled myself fine. -There is nothing to figure out, except that you donÕt ever get to pull me, ok jerk? -Fine. But there is plenty to figure out. I looked some things up on my electronic searching device, and maybe improper usage of words can lead to unusual happenings. But I need to study it further. -Have a nice time. -No, come on. I think maybe we can look it up when we get back. -Oh, so you want my help now? Funny I knew a guy who thought I was afraid the invader girl was wrecking his life and causing strange happening around like a creature from fantasy ideals in ancient kids scary mind night put aways, or maybe as a, extra planetary person here in mission destroy. -You might still be in any category as such. -Then why risk it. -I figured if you wanted to wreck and havenÕt figured out how to do it this far along, maybe youÕre not that good. Or has about the same level I do about what I am doing. -Makes no sense and a lot as well. -So are you coming? -I guess not. I still have nowhere to go to. Ð And I donÕt exactly like that town as I am pretty sure it doesnÕt like me back. Plus I do not enjoy when people stand and look at me like that, I am not gona bite or fly away, so whatÕs up? -Maybe I can figure something out. Great another floor night or worse, I donÕt think so, buddy. And I do not appreciate the persuasiveness. -Nice try. Ð although not really. Ð But I suppose IÕll find a place around free land. He seems conviced now. ThatÕs good, he is finally out of my back and I get to start something new. Whatever that might be. -See, Lilith. I am trying to figure some things and I need more info that I think maybe your community point of view, well knolege might be able to help. I have to explore it further, see it from up close. -Good for you, but what is in it for me big town boy? -I can get you a free pass back to the alkaline lands when you want it without any investigation from the dynasty. That does sound interesting, and if anyone except that nonsense reception place people or dynasty itself could get it, itÕs probably Mike. It could be interesting to visit the land again, and I am a bit curious to find out more about this word quest. I started it. -I knew you would come. I havenÕt even said anything, I only took a step forward, what is this now? The longer road can lead to bigger disappointment So here we are again in this shinny flat piece of land, no info, the company of each other as strangers who met with something in common among everything that is not. I had this dream that we are going to figure it out, but how can I be so sure of it. It is as if I donÕt know anything anymore, and that is not by any means a comfortable sensation. I need to let it slide and concentrate on what we are doing, one thing at a time but always eyes on the main goal, as in any word game I ever won. -So how does this work? How did she get hold of that? That is personal and very sensitive. I knew I should be more careful around this girl, young, reckless and unworthy of my full trust. -Give it to me. This is my property, you know it. -Chill, it fell while you were asleep. Here. That is better. And I should be more careful from now on. I might lose it another time if it happens. Although I ma not so sure it actually fell. But it might have, I suppose I would have felt it if she took it from my suit. -This is what I am using to keep track of things. Any wrong button pressed might make a huge mess. See, this is how we project it. Ð seems like the definition is better here somehow, interesting. Ð and then you can save it, explore it, search similarities, and a few other things. -Ok, cool. She doesnÕt even seem so interested. I donÕt know why I bother, my mom was usually like that, usually not interested in stuff that can matter a great deal. Maybe can get the company of some music on the trip so it is a bit more fun and we donÕt need to talk. -WhatÕs up with you and the 8 bit punk? -What is there to be? I like listening to it. You donÕt? -I donÕt mind. But they do have instrumental sounds and other styles too. -I have some other sounds here, see, water music, stone beats and some more sophisticated electronic sounds, if your taste would rather. -Hey, itÕs your device. I just wanted to make sure you knew. Very funny. This is exactly why I wonÕt even bother answering, instead IÕll keep walking and raise the volume up a bit, it is why I turned this on in the first place, so I can have a nice time without any inconvenient disturbance. This sounds are sort of inspiring, help keep alert, this semi deserted landscape can be a little deceiving. Ops, news alert. I almost never get those. Plus I even put on this filter to leave undesired news set away so I focus on what matters. Maybe I should check what the fuzz is about. -Hum. -What? No, itÕs fine, we donÕt have to speak to each other until we reach the town. -itÕs my news alert. Apparently the guy from the river was really murdered, that is the conclusion at least. -Great. Apparently it must have been a big deal, why would it be in the core news otherwise? Maybe it means more to her since they were from the same place, although he was killed right next to my cabana. Which reminds me I might have left the light device on, that can cost me a few extra words next month. Shit. Hopefully it went into automatic saving. I have to get back faster now. -why are you running? - I just realized something important and I need to get back as soon as I possibly can. -And you believe this is gonna help? She does have a point. Probably not if I think it through. Yeah, maybe we should keep walking and IÕll get there when I get there, even if it bothers the shadow out of me. -Hey, Mike. Do you have the song from that night, from the palace? -I probably do. Let me check here. This one. Is it stuck in your head too? -Ever since that day. And it was the first time I heard it. -It was pretty new to me as well. This is interesting. Should I be concerned? Well if I should it will have to be some other time. Now I am pretty busy focusing on the worry over my light I left on. If I can get this device here to focus on it maybe I can turn it off. Although bad idea. I donÕt want the tracking feature to be activated and it wonÕt work any other way, so I rather loose that then this freedom of space. So we are now absolutely ready to leave this woods and see things as they are, regardless of all that is told out there. I can still fell th taste of those delicious steamed sparkling rocks inside my mouth, just the righ amount of warmth and perfect seasoning. I wish more people could just see it the way I do now. I donÕt even believe it took me this long to actually realize that things arenÕt just exactly how they are created to be and that not only words have power and meaning in this planet. Starts alive I didnÕt even know that such a thing as a song with lyrics could exist, and that it would be so incredible. Someone else is in this road, looks like they are coming in our direction. Wait, are they coming not the opposite way, but purposely in our direction? LilithÕs Pov No way, Drowgty and the twins from the river hills are here. They have found us, I see now, now we opened up this perception realm. Drowgty is not just walking in our direction, he is coming for me! But does he know? No, he couldnÕt. it took a lot of research and ability he does not have and those twins are tools, they barely understand the community they live in. I should try and switch paths, Mike should know. -Hey, Mike. -Why are you whispering Are they dangerous? -Very. We should switch paths. -It is a bit tight for that now. -Well, anyways... and just one thing. Whatever they do, avoid fancy words and the river. Oh, no they are getting very close and he is looking directly at me. What could he possibly want? And why is Drow so angry? So much rage just because of a stupid arrangement that sent him to freedom after all... I guess I really donÕt understand things as clearly as I though. And now i think i donÕt have enough time to do so. Why canÕt I move? -Hey, so it is Lilith Gaa and her friend, the dynasty boy. -WhatÕs up, Drow? Hill twins. Ð You know what, if they are gonna play the ridiculous, rude and asshole thing, then I am not gonna give them any less then a not frightened, obedient, negotiating version or who I never was. -Funny you should ask how I am doing. -Yeah, hilarious. You should be careful not to wet your pants. -Really, Lilith. This i show you speak to someone you rejected who by the way has now complete control of your moving space? Those idiots are laughing now, I wasnÕt even sure they were capable of things other then standing still and maybe following someoneÕs steps. Mike looks worried, he has his guard thing going on. -Lilith, stop it! -Ok, IÕll try. Ð Maybe I am scaring him a bit. This attitude just burst right out, I didnÕt even plan. If I had, it would not be this nice. -Lilith, do not abuse your luck here. DonÕt you see you have already taken many chances, -No. I have taken the chances someone living should take, and I didnÕt realize how much it hurt you. -It didnÕt hurt me! It ruined everything i ever had planned, you wrecker. And now you are trying to pull out of tradition even more. Why, didnÕt your parents raise you all right, girl? He is hiding something on his pocket, and I know him, he doesnÕt usually walk like that, Drow has something on his back, it could just easily be one of those gigantic bazookas with the lasers and all. So why doesnÕt he just exterminate us, or everything? Not that I want him to, far from me. But what on Shadow is he waiting for? -So, all out of words you two? Funny, we are on free territory, are we not? Man, he is such an ignorant! At least do your research if youÕre gonna go out and just spill stuff like that. Makes you sound even more ridiculous then you already do normally. Shadow if I make it through this I am gonna be super exited for the moment I tell all this tom y parents and all the rest of that silly shut out community that banned me. They are going to be thrilled to find out who the guy they wanted me to spend the rest of my life with really turned out to be. And whose genetic material this grandkids would have had ended up with, this is insane how could I have not seen him like this, or did my turning him down just triggered something that was shut down in his being and he didnÕt even really know he had it in him. -Well, are we gonna bring them down or what, Drow. I hate those stupid twins with all power in me, which I donÕt suppose is that little, at least not after this whole trip. So maybe this is the moment Lilith, show your real strength, act it out and just end up this whole ridiculous over extend situation. Mike in his guardian pose has no idea what is in it for him, and shadow, neither do I. Maybe he just got dragged in from being with me, which would make all this my fault, maybe they know more then I think and are looking for him too. -Mike, what are you doing? -IÕm doing what I trained so hard for, defending. Not sure if the words anymore, but this has got to be worth something. -You have no idea how things work outside the dynasty. -Do you? -Other than community I am not so sure, that is precisely why we should be more careful. -We donÕt have time for that, Lil. He is standing against them. Is he out of his already freak of mind? I should be doing something. Although it is a little bit harder with this force field against me. Althout I defied Mike that time, he is trained guardian, those dudes are just bullies, so it should not be that much harder. -Yo, Drow. Feeling rejected much. Ð No, no Lilith, you did not just say that out loud! What is the matter with you, they heard it now. How can they possibly interpret and understand that. They donÕt know what you just learned. LetÕs just hope they are stupid enough to let this slide by, because Mike is stearing at me now with a frightened and repressed looked that is a mix I would never guess possible. -You subversive freaks keep trying to mess up the tradition and bring things to defy the order o four harmonic universe. This ends here! Yup, now he is getting the bazooka whatever that is, and Mike just knocked down the twins in a strike I barely got to see from how fast he moved. Wow, were where those fighting me? He is good! I guess it is me against Drow, IÕll rip his organs out that I show how angry I am at him now, IÕll do it with one hand. He is approaching me. IÕm pushing him he is like a wall, a hollow wall, with a lot of unnecessary weight that is ringing this planet down. -Mike, donÕt! MikeÕs pov ItÕs dark. IÕm waking up from the floor in a point of a path I am pretty sure I am not familiar with. Those dudes took off, and they left me here, Oh, I see, this is word control land, so I canÕt call or report this to anyone and I am outside track area, but unlucky for them I know my way out of here, and possibly how to find them as well. But where is Lilly? They took her! Those dudes from communities want something I donÕt even understand and now I am not sure how I should act and what is the best way to deal with this. He had a giant piece of machinery I had never ever seen or heard of, I am almost sure there is no record of this thing, I studied this there is recycling class every couple of months. Now I need to act fast here, we were so close to something important, and now I donÕt have any idea what is going on anymore. So how should I find those community guys outside the woods? People say, think like them, but this does not really help much at all. The thing is that I canÕt really count on anyone for help here. Unless I go back to my momÕs place. But that is not going to happen, it is considerably far, and I donÕt have much time, stars are already raising, I must have been unconscious for hours. I suppose they were not using flying devices. I should focus on what my mother figured with us, our connections, we go beyond words, so I should focus on something other than that. Lilith is a bit far from here, there are no signals available, so no devices and nothing on the ground. Of course they choose the path which had rocks on them, so there would be no track. This is a shadow alive of a path, it could take me a long time to get through it. But if I use the jumping rock technique I never saw use for, then maybe I can move faster. It does work. Of course now I have absolutely no energy left, but I am almost reaching the end of the whole thing in just a few minutes. I can regain power from the flowers I had packed, and those bastards were as I see now just careful enough to steal and take with them. Nice, real mature and greatly professional. I am not a violent guard, but I do wish I had my weapons now. What is this? Lilith dropped her rocks in the middle? How did they not notice? (REFERENCE FOR LATER HER POV). So, I am in fact correct in my line of thought so far. Outside this path we are back to the river zone, but at a different part. What is up with this alkaline community people and this obsessionÉ No! Could he possibly be the one responsible for that manÕs murder from the previous week? He is going for the river in areas far from living land. Seriously I am in a psycho track now? He could have planned my arrival and anticipated me some sort of surprise. I should look out. Exactly, right there, a direct path to fall into the deepest river parts, he didnÕt think I would know my way around here. Which probably means he has no idea who I am, what sort of training or knowledge I have got. And that is surely a point in my favour. I must be close, the sound vibe is different already. This must be Lilith trying to send me a message! She got the hang of this thing, probably better than me I must admit. And that if correct also signs she is ok, at least conscious. But it is still a bit confusing I canÕt precisely tell the direction it is coming from. Sound goes everywhere, I am not trained for that yet. But I must be close. Which reminds to realize I have no plan. Am I just going to arrive there. They have huge weapons, that probably wonÕt work out right, and I guess when you repeat the same mistake in such a short period of time, it makes you a stupid one. She has a weapon, she always has a hidden weapon. I guess it is the street education I never had. I donÕt even know this area, only from the research device, it appeared a few times in the middle of my living room, the free river territories. It always sounded like an extremely chaotic place I would never have any interest in visiting. But as it turns out the only chaos in here is the lack of dynasty structure, there is barely anyone out, most people probably shared my thoughts and decided to never come here. I have to admit the world is turning out to be a more interesting place then I took it for. They rebuild the logic, architecture and exact natural resources of the lands right in my holographic space, I can see things in real scale if I have such room and almost touch it, which I am sure they are working on. But being on the precise spot is a whole different deal, not exactly a measuring way to compare. Sometimes it is disappointing, but usually more on the hologram then on the actual place. The woods werenÕt all bad, the rock path was much longer and uneven and this place, it is kind ofÉ well, amazing. They say it is an area where the river flows out of order, so I suppose the pictures never quite get it right, it was dark and grainy on the image, but in reality, it is shiny, like it is made of a million star dots that move with a soft motion of the breeze and have a life of itself or whatever it is. In a way, it is as if I can relate to things differently right now. And I only just came to realize, the two days had gone by, in which I even missed the power word game I had been going strictly for years, week after week. And I didnÕt really think about it this entire time. I donÕt exactly miss work like I used too. Not that I am enjoying this situation right now. Not at all to be honest. In a way I am a bit lost, I have no idea where they took Lilith, who they really are, and what they are trying to do. All of those elements bother me to the bone, which makes me even question if I could be in a shadow cabinet. But I donÕt think that anything from a shadow cabinet could ever look like this river of extreme beauty. It looks as if it is trying to tell me something and I have no clue how to begin figuring out, as we shadowysians are only able to understand what is said or written in our own vocabulary. IÕm skipping some of MikeÕs part here Ð COME BACK LATER What do you know anyway? Nice! So I didnÕt get to stay in my community any time longer than barely enough to pack, I had to spend days in that horrid word system controlled directly be the dynasty itself and when I finally get to go on a nice trip, find out interesting stuff that we just began to figure out and am on my way back to see somethingÕs with a companion that mightÉ uh, maybe start to become sort of a friend. Then I am faced with the dude I didnÕt want to unite with in the first place and get to see every reason I didnÕt even know why. So I am stuck beyond where a shadow could find me, with the son of zombie descendant, who appears to have lost his mind completely and is taking charge over the tool river twins who never seem to know better then to take orders in crime. I am concentrated in getting myself out of here and maybe finding Mike, who I hope is ok after the huge push that weird gun gave him to the ground last night. But I canÕt feeling like I want to kick DrowÕs face until it switches sides, and wondering if I mash together those two mindless guys they would actually end up a being with a full functioning brain, and in case they do, would it be used for evil. In reality I sort of want to know what he is really all about, how he managed to act so different back at the alkaline communities throughout so many years, ok not that we have lived that long, but still, and also, why did he kill his cousin, which leads me back to why I am here, after all, he does have a reason to be angry with me. -So you didnÕt manage to escape yet, Lilly? Sarcasm never suited you, jerk. But maybe some glowing muscles will! -Graciously lost your words, warrior? Well, suppose you never really gracious, or smart, orÉ -Now that we settle that, why are you so bothered that an ungracious creature didnÕt chose to stay? You couldnÕt find another girl to be your company Mr. Charming delight? It came out, control yourself Lilith! The dude is delusional, you wouldnÕt wanna get killed over a funny comment. -DonÕt flatter yourself Yolariam girl! My family is about as traditional as yours, and with my mother being from zombie progeny, I only got one set up. You must understand how that works. Now maybe you had a nice time on the town, but I am from community life, that is my place. -You are allowed to stay! Your community is more flexible than mine and you are a guy. -Thanks for the info, Lilith. Let me just come back there and explain to my ancient parents how the agreement we held for the past then years signed in the glowing liquid from my activity test doesnÕt count for shit and I am staying right there, alone and out of traditional order. -So you were thrown out to? That is not the worst thing alive. -Have we met?! Ð Not anyone who screams this loudly, no. I believe I knew a different Drowgty and somehow he introduced you to me and you, looking just like him physically, think you know me. ÐI had a life project for the community, I spent years talking to people, building a house myself, studying things I donÕt even like to learn how to live in a nice self sufficient way and spread the word and do the work to earn some back, I know have access to know of that. That is all I know how to do, I wasted a tone of time for nothing! I wasnÕt really aware of all that, how come he never shared those projects. He mentioned something, but I had no clue it was to that extent and meant that much. Somehow I canÕt stop thinking of that song from the day I met Mike at the palace, it had a fun rhythm to it. And I suppose I am once again moving my body to it. It reminds of a game, like those learning never ending things we had at the studying centers, that technology was accepted in the community and encouraged to us, even though it was as boring as shadow. That song would have made a much better game itself. -What are doing? Did you loose it, Lilith? Or is this your attack strategy? -I donÕt need one Drow. - I wish I did not had to invest so much of my time on you transgressors. I figured you would pull something out, you know, Lilith Gaa. Those parents of yours, they are too liberal and you Yolarians are freaks from the beginning, maybe that is why I had hope. I cannot believe that instead of awesome music or that delightful Mrs. Shoulda and her surprising knowledge I am standing here listening to this crap. -Really? GlaÉ I mean, sorry to disappoint you then. -DonÕt be ridiculous. Ð me? Seriously? Ð sorry means nothing now, so donÕt bother wasting a word on it. Words are meant to be taken seriously, and you threw your community vows to the infinite space. And I can see that you still donÕt care. Oh! I finally managed to pull myself out of this wall, my music moves had an actual effect. -So thatÕs what this is aboutÉ you are trying to make like a vows strict policy and making sure people stick to it, sort of to honor that, which you estimate so much? -Wow. You used to be a lot faster, girl. Have you been drinking too much of that alkaline water? -Not really. You? -Spare me, that thing is only worthÉ what? Worth what? Throwing your family members on? Speak monster descendant men! Unless, no way! So funny. -WhatÕs the matter, Drow? Run out of words while in secret electronic monitored territory. Nice work tools, see you all in the shadow cabinets. Although I donÕt believe youÕll be able to see much from there. He is paralyzed from the lack of words and those idiots wonÕt even breathe without an order from him, or someone else. -Yo twins. Drow there asked my through a tech device if you could help stick him to the wall, but up right, he wants to have a view. Jerk, I canÕt believe he thought he would save me from the shadow by helping everyone stick to those stone water written stuff from ages ago. Doom out of me that I was in any sort of relationship with that wack ball of a zombie. What is that noise? I knew it was too easy getting out like this. I mean how come for the fist time this lack of words thing would actually come in handy to me. Oh! Mike is here? He found this place? -YouÕre ok. -You make it sound like itÕs a bad thing. -No. That is not what I meant. ItÕs just that I thought they had taken youÉ -And you were trying to find me and help. Oh, that is so nice of you, dude. -Hey, back off. IÕm glad you are all right, now letÕs get away from this cave place. Good, I did not really wanna hug him anyway, it would be so weird! But I imagined it could be funny seeing his reaction, kind of predictable really. -But how did you find me? Ð Drow took us pretty far actually. - I realized he left no trace so he probably took the rocky path. -Smart assumption. -Then I sort of felt the vibe of the 8 bit song, around somehow, I donÕt really know. -The one from the palace. He just nods, that is enough of an answer. But it is also plenty strange. What could that mean exactly? -We should get out of here. I feel like I donÕt really want to search or find any thing else, like I am tired, I can deal with life and even if I hate somethingÕs, which I strongly do. I just want to live close the river again, or more likely hang around the woods, eat salted rocks all day and study things with someone like Shoulda around. But the moving stars are casting shadows for something different and it seems there is no running from it. So there is more to it then just sound? I was sure I was making the same way back, but somehow it isnÕt and I seem to be lost. But I havenÕt said anything to Lilly yet, and I am not sure I intend to. WeÕll probably find our way back in no time, and after everything that just happened I donÕt even care about regular routine thins anymore. -So you lost there, Mike? She couldnÕt possibly have listened to my thoughts. Could she? Damned, I might be loosing it, I better answer something. -Freaked out much, ha dude? -No. I am just tired from the mess you got us into. -IÕm sorry, Mr. Big shot. And if it werenÕt for me we wouldnÕt have even got so far in the first place. -Exactly. Why is she being so incredibly annoying again? I was sure we were over that already. -Perfect. You know what, Michael. Why donÕt we each take our separate ways, that way one of us might find the way back, and we donÕt have to bother with each others company. -Fine by me. -Great. Have a nice trip! -You too. I actually could use some more time alone, and we are probably close anyway. But this isÉ how are we gettingÉ where is she going? -Wait. Where are you gonna go to? -Who cares! Later, or whatever. Wow, she seems really angry. Was I that offensive, I usually try to be super careful and I didnÕt even say anything that harsh, or any kind or harsh for that matter. Well, if she wants to walk by herself, then so be it. IÕm good solo, always have been. And now, unless there are anymore of her old friends we should worry about, we should make it back all right. Surely I have no idea how things are going to be once we are back into town, but hopefully not to much of a challenge. This whole trip was some sort of a delusion in the first place and we didnÕt really find anything concrete. So I might as well go back, to what hopefully is still my job at the palace and assume there will be no more weird motion in the word keeping station, as usual, maybe that only happened because there was an invader inside the room. That never happened before, at least never on my watch. And my mom, she is smart, but she is far from having anything of science in her studies, those woods are just odd and inadequate and Lilith is a bratty girl from the communities who has no idea how to behave in any other society, even though she has great warrior skills. And I am sick and tired of everything that has happened this past few days. Still I canÕt take that insane song out of my head for anything. I miss the free all I can hear 8 bit music with the electrolyzed whichever choice flavor soda I want. Yeah, my life was cool before Lilith busted into it with her lack of word manners and knife strapped to her leg, underneath the baggy community style pants. I have no clue where this path is taking me, this looks nothing like anything I know of. And nothing I have seen before in a mapping device. If I had brought my tracking location chip I wouldnÕt be lost, but that would be on the account of anyone I have no idea off finding me or knowing exactly where I am when I am out of town. So I guess lost it is Mike, that is the sort of training we word guardians lack, we are only palace region trained, so there it is. This soil is grainy and I feel as if my feet were constantly sinking and I have to keep pulling them of, which keeps demanding a load of effort and id making my legs tired, seems I keep getting further. Maybe I should switch directions or I might end up trapped into something unknown. The air is so heavy it almost hurts to breath as I normally do. Something completely awkward and out of my control is happening, and I have no idea how to react. My body doesnÕt feel normal. Did I get something different to eat? Am I having an unhealthy reflux or my system is slowly shutting down. I might be having an hallucination of some sort, unlessÉ no way! We reached the shadow path! Or I did. I have heard horror about this place, and I have no clue how to get out. Or actually the only thing I remember hearing about this place or anything shadow related was to stay away from it, as far as possible. Which is the whole idea of how our town works, avoiding all shadow spaces and moving away, even electrolyzing our river so it doesnÕt ever trick us into getting close with this stuff. And now all this hard work got me where? Right in the middle, well some part around the very shadow path, the thing I have no domain over and I can already feel some of its symptoms. I need to get out! I need to focus on getting out, but I got a feeling of panic washing over my entire physical system. How do we avoid shadow? I got some soda on my backpack. Unless it is almost empty and it is getting dark already, so I canÕt barely see what I am trying to do. I am getting dragged somewhere different, wind, strong tempestuous wind id blowing out of nowhere I could have anticipated and now it is making things even harder, small pieces of dust are getting closer to me and I have to protect my face, those things hurt and this is really not regular weather, this only happens at the desert way up north, and a few times a year. Now here in shadow territory have no idea how things work, and apparently they are taking complete control. Do I even stand a chance? What sound is that beyond the dust storm? I know this song! The 8 bit plays around here as well? So maybe it isnÕt all that bad as they say. This one they use in the game where you have to find words to fill in the blanks for polite work environment phrases. I am in a different setting now. I didnÕt even move a feet. How is thisÉ well, it is shadow, and apparently also a cameo, I knew I couldnÕt trust it, but now I canÕt even recognize, myself! I am in 8 bit, just like the game characters. I move funny and jump in slow motion! IÕm screwed! There seems to be someone around, hopefully not one of those crazy arch throwing ponies that hit you every time you miss a point, I am not even sure what I am supposed to play. Looping song. At least it is one I do like, this seems as it is going to be a long game, or whatever this is. Should we regular bother pressing start? I think I still have some dust from the storm inside my eyeballs, ouch, this was so unexpected. I hate when I get these stupid things on my face, and donÕt even get me started on my hair. I never saw something like this here, well, not that I have been specifically here before. Which maybe explains how suddenly the whole setting looks completely different, I donÕt anything in this area. Although this seems awfully fast for a setting to change like that, it doesnÕt even look like river area view. I couldnÕt have moved so far I got inside another country and didnÕt even notice. Though I do feel as dizzy as shadow and that storm didnÕt allow me to see anything, but I stayed in one place. Unless, no, no, no, no, no! I did not enter shadow territory and not noticed. Lilith! Now what? I donÕt actually know what to expect, how can I prepare, react, get out? Oh! Why? I just wanna scream. But I am afraid of what might happen if I do. I donÕt even know how they count the words around here. Someone is by the other side of the road. Hopefully no one else looking for me, but I donÕt suppose I know anyone else like Drow, and he couldnÕt possibly, or could he? Someone from shadow land maybe, I should strongly avoid then. Or it could just beÉ yup, the guardian city boy got inside the same stupid path the rookie community girl. Stars shinning bright I am so mad at him! I think he just saw me. Great! Although in a way it is kinda nice not be completely alone while lost in here. But he must know about the same squad info as me, or he would not have gotten stuck in shadow as well. -Hey! -I thought they though you how to avoid this at the palace. -Nope, just teach us to avoid. Awesome, what should we do with that? No way. I lost my humidity rock during the storm, which could help understand where we are. -WhatÕs wrong? -I lost my humidity rock. -DidnÕt know you had one. -There are lots of things you donÕt know. -Well, I do know this song, and it is from a word game, much like what we seem to be inside. -What do you mean? -Look around, and at us, we are 8 bit. ThatÕs what this freaking feeling and blurry vision is? I am inside an 8-bit game as a character. This is gotta be the craziest shit alive I have ever gotten myself into. And how the shadow should I get out? -Lilly, are you with me? -Yeah. So, how do we play this? I feel I desperate need to cover my mouth and avoid wasting my words without knowing what can happen to me in this creepy place. He is standing in front of me, and he is right, it doesnÕt even look like the Mike I met, it looks as a badly downloaded version of himself, and I probably have the same appearance. So he is jumping, to make me realize how in this dimensions of extra power know what, we are extremely ridiculous, but very accurate and mathematically determined, which is dangerous and scary, since things change a lot in that field, without much announcing itself to the untrained mind. -So, Mike. Are you any good at math? -Oh, I see where you are goingÉ not much need, if itÕs anything like the game. And yes, I was pretty good at that. Well, that is great. Not what I asked at all. And what if itÕs not. I simply donÕt wanna use more words, I want to escape this. There is nothing around us. What is he doing? -Found it! Must be a big deal, I am not so sure I should even ask, butÉ -This is what connects the words to the phrases, so we should see a, where is it? Ð Is he seriously talking to himself now? Ð Here it is, the display of sentences, kind of like a board, but much bigger and you only have to throw in the words. -I am not sure I should ask what comes nextÉ -Words start falling. -As in over our heads, all over the space?! -Exactly like that, which is why we need to be fast. We need a system. You are a fast runner, I am good at figuring the sentences, so I can get the words, and you throw them at the board. -How do I do that? -I only even played the holographic and mini pad digital version, I was never inside the game. -Great. I feel a desperate need to protect myself against giant words. The song just changed, which means, yup, precisely. A written word just fell from the air into the ground. And now another oneÉ -That is it, Lilith. Throw. Wow, they keep falling and another sentence appeared already. -So shinny means we got it right. -Precisely. Keep paying attention. Ok, this game is considerably boring. Even if throwing the words is gives me a bit of a rush, I only now realize those punching plant blocks by the alkaline river side made such a difference, or maybe I was just in the mood to punch MikeÕs face, and I never got to do it to Drow, so yeah, cool. -Lilly, focus! Overload of words, where is all this coming from? I donÕt believe I am even familiar with everything that is around me. How freaky! And he seems to know his way pretty well. Which I could admit is probably saving my skin here. -So, how long do we have to keep doing this, my arm is starting to feel sore. -Hang on. This is only phase one. -How many are there. -If this is the master version there would be thirty seven. -Thirty seven! I canÕt even handle myself right in this form and we have got thirty six more to go nonstop. How? -DonÕt worry, they are not all the same. But maybe you could switch arms from now, if you can do it. -If I can do it. Have you met me Mike? I am a lefty, IÕve been using my worst arm the whole time. The never-ending word games This is so much harder then I thought. it is as if I have no strenght at all, and I also feel stupid. We did not have games like this back in the community, I grew up drawing the words on walls and repeating them with my grandparents as if I was memorizing things, they always sais it was the same thing they did when they were kids, pretty different from dynasty territory technilogy. When I was a kid I enjoyed it, or at least I didn't care, my gramps was cool, he helped me do the homework things and my grams was making some snacks while we played in a sort of way. I miss those times, they don't even live in Yolarium anymore. It's such a silly policy that people over eighty nine have to move to a place that is almost isolated for the whole of the community, I miss them, we get used to it, but now I seem to only have memories of those times when they were around and I only visit them once or twice a year, which now I barely know how it's gonna work, i am not even sure if they know of my situation, maybe they would be upset if they found out, I can even picture the look on their faces, which is weird, because usually one would think of the angry or disapointing things they would say, but that is now completely secondary to me and I don't actually have an explanation. This words around me are making me a bit dizzy and Mike seems to be calling my attention yet again, which is really annoying, a fist for him. -What am I doing wrong now, Arc? -The phase has changes, we now press the words on the screen, or whatever this is. Great, I hope there is no more throwing of any sort. -Which phase are we? The number I can count in one of his hands is nowhere near satysfied, there are still dozens of stages to get past and I am already beaten to the last cell of my standing feet. I can't recognize half of this words, but Mike, he is like a freaking lightning bolt, I knew he was well educated and into this whole word learning thing, but I didn't realize it was to that extent. I guess good for me he is here. But that doesn't mean he needs to know that. And I should really focus on this damn game. No shit this things are to close to me, I'm gonna be squasehd by words like a nightmare I never had. This shadow place is so horrible. -Lilith, are you ok? -I... don't know how to answer. -Well, try not to scream, it's very distracting. I missed a few shots. -Sorry. I didn't notice I screamed, or that it was that loud and distracting, I could be losing it. This might be what happens to people in shadow realms. So no way I am going to give whatever is responsible for this the satisfaction. I am in this whatever to win this. Yeah you sons of guns of words I don't know. I'll figure my way out, just eliminating this intruders and great, I'm scoring this. And now we are moving faster, which is a great advance to get this over with. And just when I think I am getting the hang of it the stage switches again and I am lost yet another time. -Jump over the wrong spelling ones. Cool, I don't even have to ask anymore! and he is not even bothering with complete sentences, he must be getting tired as well, despite the forever steel guardian looks he insists on carrying almost everywhere he walks to. Hey, this is a nice sound, it makes me more motivated to continue the game, this colored flashy things are kind of acting in the rhytym of the sound in the background. I am kind of glad the music changed to give us a bust of energy, this game is a bit more intuitive with the flashing words, I didn't even had to ask and Mike didn't even had to answer, we looks, smiles and began playing, and I suppose I am sort of even enjoying myself a tiny bit. In your face stupid shadow.Ê Why are the same words shinnying back after done? And simultaniously, that is hard, I suppose now would be the real time for team work, which makes all we have been doing so far training. Power Payoff Lilith seems to be having fun. This should be a sarcastical comment, because I never imagined I would think that about her, specially here. Of course I also never would imagine being traped inside a shadow real which is a reproduction of a school version word game where I am inside what would be the digital world.Ê But if it weren't for anything or just fancy vocabulary and fun nights, I suppose I can now be extremaly satisfaid with my performance and the insitance in playing he power word games, as they are helping me so much in this particular sittuation I can't even immagine how I could make through this without those. The new phase begun and I recognize it, time to make entire sentences with this gigantic flashy things with letters. How come the holographic version has a completely different feel to it then here? I imagine I should be thankfull to the stars we are playing our own game or the porson in charge of motion could be ruining us and sentencing us to the punishment which could lead to never getting out. And I absolutely should not even consider such a thing, or I will completely loose focus and ruin the whole thing, and Lilly seems to be doing well. I don't even have to walk her through anymore. I see her looks, her facial, what could that be? Expression sort of, and it is as if we are simply communicating, no words involved. Yes, yellow stars we are ding very well and this game is paying us back, always nice to have a bonus, specially if we never actually need to use it. This music means we are in the extra stage, I love those. We get to collect points from earning these extra words, we just have to be fast, it is an area of no mistakes, and a bit of rest for both us us, or maybe not really. Lilith's pile is impressive, she is a very strong girl and the stage is over. I am so glad we got to play one of these, means we are doing a great job and already earning even more points. A great incentive for the next twenty stages ahead, all of which include those stairs, yes they are presenting themselves already, considerably bigger then I had imagined. We have a long way until we reach the end I can't even see from here. Lilith looks surprised and not in the nice way. Maybe I should soften with a smile and pretend it is easy and completely under control, no need to freak her out now. And we are on, now we need to make the words from this out of order letters, great to learn spelling. Ok, three steps up and my vision seems to be betraying me. I used to play this games for hours, even after the study sessions, how come I get to be tired now? Well, in my defence for whatever it is not worth and never will be heard, I never played a lifesize version of this and the motion was only suggested by my body, not entirely dependant on it, although I have to be fare to Lilith, whose help has been I suppose fundamental.Ê Hang on Mike, you can finish this, maybe the greatest task you'll ever get the chance to acomplish without anyone ever knowing. And then you get this entire shadow thing out of your system for good. ÊWhich leads us now to seven steps up, we are regaining speed as these things get trickier, just as well. I am sweating colors already, and that only happens when it is either extreme artificial light inside closed spaces for quite some time or my body is starting to fail me on lack of nutrients. Liliths's hand is very reasuring, but I rather she would focus on the game then on me, so we can both get out as fast as possible. -Keep going. I do sound horrible, I don't even recognize me voice. Oh, she has water on her baggy community styled pants, thank the possibilities for this is from the woods and I feel better sip by sip as she keeps playing. And finally we reach step 13. To me this moment sort of represents that all I have learned so far works in different realms and adventures and that my life might have been holding me back. Look at that, if anyone could see it, I am being helped and probably having my skin saved by a girl who had barely spent anytime in dynasty word controled rule lands, come from the communities and and she is doing a damn of job while I am here on the verge of fainting, a trained guardian with six years of practice.Ê I know the words, I know the drill, I know the game, and surely I would never in a billion galactic years have believed something like this would happen, and maybe this is the shadow working its way on me, I am right in what I should dominate the most in my existance, and yet I am failing and all the tricks, ways and holographic practice do no justice in here. Different lands, not the same work ways. And of course, now that I feel as if I had been run over by a gigantic vehicle is the time the word blocks start falling down. And I can't quit, I don't know what happens if we don't get out and I can't leave Lilith. She is not even familiar with this game and all involved. And I know she won't admit it, but her features show somehow that she is struggling, and more then just the usual. Come on Mike, pull yourself togheter, don't even say a word, just collect them, or throw the wrong ones out of the way and finish this at once, like when some idiot in the study group chanted about how they could be so fast and beat you at every stage of the game and you proved them wrong each and every time. Now focus, this is the tricky part. -Lil, they'll get blurry now. -What?! She sounds a bit out of it, but we have to do this, nothing good can come out of being stuck at shadow. and it is not impossible this game itself kills us if we don't pay enough attention. As of right now, this blocks are heavy as damned be it, I must have disclocated my shoulder. But let me pretend I am ok and say nothing, and waste not a second on this. In here we have no option or staying appart from the game, droping the old console or even standing away from the motion device, and we sure as meteors can't turn it of. But, that's it! Maybe we can pause it, the thing is now figuring out how! Well, for now, I have to focus and look for it at the sae time, the last thing we both need is to get thrown down this stairs at this point, when there is only one more left to go. Last step? (a.k.a. I don't wanna fall from this height!) Finally we reach this last step, I hope this is not some funny bunny trick and something just shadow magically materialize over here and make us work our colors even more. I can see the floor dripping degrade mixtures from all we sweated this past few minutes. thankfully we have not sliped on it and will dry slong with this setting which is about to fade. I feel like I have been holding my breath and I can't wait to start breathing again, and the sort of funny, yet not so much thing is that I am under the impression that the words that are appearing correct for us to choose are pretty much relating to our situation, as it was speaking to us, or narrating our own freaking story as we are living it, but how shadowy creepy would that be? Although we are in shadow land and I am not sure there is any creepyer. I suppose I am getting the hang of it, and I am to tired to care. No fun. How many stages do we still ahve left. I don't even have the strength to ask, it is as if my voice is not working anymore. f I could only get a bust of energy somehow. Some clean nutrient water fointain, some dry prensed rock ball, this is exactly the word that appears to me now. -Are you talking to me? -Lilith! Are you allright? Now I realize I said that out loud, not my intention, I am loosing it. Wow, what a fun drip of great light fointains, why is he pulling me closer? What do they do? I see, this exactly the sort of energy that I was in desperate need of. Amazing how we can benefit rom this completely unimaginable things that just wash over us and are now desaperaing almost as quickly as they showed up in the first place.Ê this must be an energy bonus, so this is how an 8 bit character would feel if they were real living beings. and a thought I would never in a gazillion years believe I would have in the wildest imagination crazy moments. -Now what? -Just assemble. We can't manage to speak much around here, and I'm pretty sure the words aren't doing us any justice to say the truth. Studying centers in big towns must suck super hard, thankfully I never got to go to one. This words now don't even make any sense, what a bunch of stuff thrown down a pile of forms of letters. Or maybe I am absolutely too tired to see anything and those ideas of relations to us were just an ilusion, a shadow big ass ilusion. And this playlist, I am memorizing all the beats already, could almost perform them myself, if I had the slightest clue on how to play those music buttons. This puzzles are super hard, I never had to assemble words like this before, and I don't intend to. Attention. What is that supposed to mean, is the game calling me out, great. Sensitive, yeah, it is definetly mocking me now. I cannot believe this. What a freak alive? Calm down?!Ê -Really, this is what you freak got to... -Lilith! Ok, ok, I'll tone down, no need to say my name twice, I won't ruin this for us. He was right to call my attention, I was about to knock those freaking letters out of the sphere, that could not turn out ok for anyone. Much better. I must have the patience of a scenic river fantasy creature to be playing this bitch game right now. It is defying the core patience cells in my shadowysian body to the extreme limit.I wonder what Mike's pile of words is turning out to be, he seems extremaly concentrated and a bit concerned. But I should concentrate on myself right now, this is messy enough as he is and as much as I am curious about his words, I also don't want him to look at mine.Ê How cute a smile face, what word is there for that? Kick, kill, no I don't see no k's around this pile of the thing that is still pissing me off more then life. I was having less trouble with the physical part then with this whole puzzle thing. and the words are mildly easy to figure, I have already done about thirty, score? Where are you hanging, there, thirty seven, ok! Mike's score is right there by the other side, one hundred and nineteen words. Wow, son of a guardian, himself the man is good beyond the unbelievable. or maybe I am not good at all. He could flip if he checks it out. Unless we are competing against each other and he is on his way for my massacre. -Time, I'll help. This encrypted messages are not really helping, but I must have been developing some extra galactical skills here, because I understood what he meant. And that means I don"t actually have much to worry about, except from the fact that now I a getting words such as slow or dissapointing while Mike helps me gain number nd I never got to see even one of his more then hundred words from the puzzle. Unfair, yes shadow game that sounds about right and this music is making me crazy! I could dance, but that would require muscles. The best part of playing these games, even more then figuring out new words, which does not happen for me at intermediate level anymore, is to listen to this music, cool energetic melodies in this electronic setting. I could never play one single sound, well, not that I ever really tries, I was always so much more focused on the word learning part of the process. It's so upbeat, some are more fun, but in a way they all kind of remind me something of something in life, game, holo figures and more. I don't know how someone just comes up with sound, recreating from the rocks or the stars is a bit diffirent this is, I don't know what. Expression, nice word, and maybe works for what I would say about music. I am glad we actually got to sit and do the more intelectual rather then the physical part of this game, althout putting the letters togheter is not exactly my favorite part. And it is almost over, Lilith's words are much more angrier then mine, if this wasn't only a game I would imagine she is very frustrated. And if that was the case then I would also have to admit that I am extremaly fond of myself, isolated, scared of the thruth and holding myself back, to sum up, and in reality whatever that means in shadow land I sort of feel this way, questioning what was always right. Continuing from the sww on celtx. I hate that I keep looking around for those creatures. I should hit them like Lilly did, I am a strong built guardian. Come on, Mike, wake up, brace yourself and finish this in style. This is your ultimate power word game on shadow land, you have been training all your life for this and now, you have to do a great job, you owe it to yourself, to everyone who is terrified of the shadow and to Lilith, who for some reason yet unknown ended up on the very same challenge as you. It is getting better already, this song is really cool, and we are coordenatly acing this word jumping thing. I feel as if I am dancing, even if I have no hability to do such thing and usually find it a stupid boring activity for those who have no job or want to externalize their fun with weird moves. Is it wrong to have fun when you are in shadow land? Not all stages in this game are too weird and boring, and I might need to get one of MikeÕs music devices when we get out of here. Which hopefully wonÕt take much longer, as I am exausted. I did not realize until seconds ago that we could actually coordinate to that extent. But we seem to be following the same steps without any trouble, and just by lloking at each other, no speaking, no writing. Something I never did before, except when I knew the steps, when it was a tradition thing with clear rules I memorized before it started. This flying words to jump on are quite entertaining, and I canÕt wait to hit another of those funky little game ball shaped creatures, they are annoying as only shadow is expected and when you hit one, it fells like hitting your own fears in the face and watching them fade from life. Coolest sensation ever! I am anxiously looking for another chance. I completely lost track of which phase we are in, I hope that pit stop with all the fuzz was not the middle, because that would mean we still have a lot ahead and my energy might not follow that in one sequence. Could we maybe stop time for a little bit? Games do that, donÕt they. I suppose there is a sign for that, maybe I can remember it and tell Mike some things before we get to finish the full round and get out of here for good. I am enjoying the music even more then I would think, but I wish it was not so loud, since it is all the time everywhere. Jump Lilith, attention! And does it not seem as if the music turned down a bit in volume? So, if I think something clearly and game related it can happen? That is awesome! And also a bit scary probably. Well, I donÕt even have to worry about it, apparently it does not work for everything, I am thinking about the game stop and it is not happening. I need to remember, I know this, and I will need a break soon or I might fall flat on this dust or whatever is shadow pavement and donÕt know when or how I am getting back up. But for now I guess I can follow MikeÕs lead somehow in intuition helm and finish this stage of the game before we get send back a few phases. This crazy words are moving way fast now, I can barely follow them, read something and figure where I am supposed to go. It looks like he is offering his hand. Sure, why not? At this point I donÕt have much choice in any matter and he does know this thing way better then me. So take my hand Mike Arc, and lead this game to take us out of the shadow before we fail our own selves. Curious how his hand is bigger then mine in such a way and feels so much warmer, yet sweatier then what I have to offer at the present moment. I donÕt like it when people squash my fingers this way. I havenÕt since my mom or dad did it when I was such a kid that needed to be following someone by holding hands and they thought they might loose me if they didnÕt grab it with such strength. I never told them anything. But I need to give Mike a little push before he breaks me, who is he to do this, we are not related, only by some irony sharing the same shadow land, and reaching such an intimacy code I did not really share with Drow, his brother or my neighbors in general. The funny person who comes to mind now is Suna, I grew up with that boy, and then he left with his family and never left a single message. But the word we used to say to each other a lot was connection, such as I believe I see in front of me now. Maybe I am reaching delirious fields already. I am seeing colorful letters everywhere, they blink at me in such a velocity I canÕt follow if I try my hardest. Thankfully Mike has things under some sort of control, because I have a strong impression I am about to tune out at any second. I donÕt even feel strength enough to fight harder then the ability to keep standing up in the lousiest possible way. The sounds are getting indistinctive, as are those blurry letters and everything around them, all at once, it is so blurry as shadow, I canÕtÉ Learning to move from no idea to a certain extent of hope -Lilith. We are getting out soon, can you open your eyes and stay with me? I am not so sure I can finish just by myself, but I promise I only need you to keep me company, IÕll do all the hard work, now please wake up before it decides to start again. Get out of here annoying creature, IÕll finish you with one arm, crazy bastards! Three minutes is quite some time already. I have no clue what I can do here besides holding her head and trying to make it more comfortable and breezy. No, wait! That least word, it is the name of a foot pressure method, it can help wake one up from fainting, if I can remember how to do it. Ok, here we go. Yes, apparently she is opening her eyes. -Good. Thank the stars you are awake. Can you get up? -We can speak now? What is going on? -Carefully. Can you keep playing? We are in pause mode, but I am pretty sure it wonÕt last long. -Ok, and apparently you knocked down the last of our monsters. -I suppose I did. Ð Great, I didnÕt even notice I did it, such unconscious move, threw him far and didnÕt even got to enjoy it at all, well. Maybe another time, hopefully never. And for the first time in all the years I am alive I find myself sick of this game, like I wouldn't in my wildest nightmares. I even feel a bit silly about being a word guardian now. I mean I stand there day after day, well, more precilesely night after night guardin something I don't even have any domain about, at least not any real one, which I hadn't realized as truth untill this counter started going on and computing like crazy our almost impecable free of mistakes score, that managed to stay right under established time, but did not get too close to beating my high scores from junior practice periods ages ago. It doesn't seem important at all. The important thing is that we finally beat the mark middle part of this game and if this is at all faithull to the original, or the other way around for those who care one bit, there is no going back no matter how far we screw up, this is the point we stand from now and to the rest of this game. That is somewhat of a relief, at least untill we reach the next ten stages. She should know it too. And from the smiles face reflecting on the fake electronic fireworks that I stand further not the hit me in this game that is of no more simulation then reality itself, it signed itself and made it clear that we are here, reached it with great effort and scores and now have set a mark to this exact point, to no maro stairs, letter puzzles or extreme championship physical games that suited me way better at fourteen then at thrity two. The celebratory animated part is taking a bit longer then I remembered, but then again I am not entirelly sure this is faithfull to the version I played, even bacause I have to consider the fact that despite my almost certainty that this game was no longer presented to word study centers at this day and age, maybe they have made some changes since the last time I played it over a decade ago. I don't like when it stops for a while, it makes me get more tired from the wait and I loose strenght in the game. -So, we're doing ok? -Yeah. We'll be fine, Lil. I don't know how I can be sure, what I meant by that and how it become so natural for me to simply call her Lil without any effort and only sense it to be a bit weird after it was said. But we probably will do fine, I never had much trouble with this game or many others, and she is doing a great job, surprisingly for someone considerably unfamiliar with all this. if I remember correctlly in this stress tiredess mixture only shadow can proportion one person, now muste be the time we should start focusing for the word eaters, thay are going to make our work here a bit harder. and it has been a while since I have played this.Ê -Lilly. Watch it for the word eaters from now on, ok? -Right. Something is around already, I suppose they are lloking at the territory and the words aren't even being formed yet, this is quick and witty. plus here they might be not only life size, but right next to us and not only by holographic feel, it is the only part of this game I am not too happy about, even further phases are not as bad as these monstery fiction thingis. -Mike, does middle game mean point of no return? -That is it exactly.Ê Oh, they are already here, and seems as if they are looking for our words, the spoken ones, not the game. I should sign her to keep quiet, maybe they will go away. But in case they don't we should not risk it. It was already a drag to play them stealing virtual, but spoken I don't even care to imagine what must be like. Besides we are doing fine and must concentrate on the game so that we can finish it faster and better and get out of this. Ok, we actually have to draw the letters from scratch now, giant crayons made from rock solids, and a space to write seems about right and according to memory. Those fast eating creatures too, here they are shadowy and they also make the sounds I turned off the game every time. It is fine Mike, still only a game and nothing to worry about. You mastered this many times in virtual land it is not going to be much different now, plus you have a quite good helper. The words materialize nice around here, although I am sensing we need to start using the right color combinations already, it quite a bit trickier, but she should master it in no time, even if I can't risk actually telling her how to it. I also cannot write i, because that would classify as word from the game and make me miss points. Pointing is good, usually communicates, looks like she got it. Yeah, we are good. Hopefully these dreadful creatures will be out of here soon. They never stayed till the end in the holograpich game, so it should not be different here. Ouch. One just bit me. What is this? Are they trying to see if I can play injusred, I have been doing that for a long time now. This was completely uncalled for. This is absolutely a shadow land game, I wouldn't even have nightmares about such things. Now I have to look out and focus on the words. ÊWow, Did Lilly hit one? She did, it is falling over. Nice job girl, so we can get them. I never did that electonically, I always finished soon enough and they left the holo space. The guys would be curious to find that out. But I suppose they never will, this is in no way a believable experience or something I can show anyone without register. well none of that matters now, I need to finish this. Plus there are more of this dreadful creatures around, totally shadow land thing, sort of mind suckers, and I do not want to risk anything. From the crayons wearing down thing I believe we are either moving to next phase or loosing back to the middle point. I cannot keep up with how Lilith is doing, sometimes we play as team and others it seems as if it is everyone for itself. It is weird, I feel as if I should be looking out since I am the veteran here, but I can barely do my own thing. Ok, looks like we are through with the crayon stage! Now this next one, humm.It is a tricky one, we have to stand over the words we just wrote with the crayons. How can I tell that to Lilith without speaking or writing. I hope she understand my signing, I am not usually very good at this. -mix up with love and care with word version and good luck editing this later on smiley face in the future. -So that was what I had to do? Great, she is loosing it. Keep calm Mike. -Do what, Lil? -I needed to pass out so the game would go to pause. -That's what you were trying to do? -Why did you know another way? -Well, I did not know of this one. but here seems to be a bit different. are you ok now? -Yeah, I hope. That was not the answer I was hopping for, but it will have to do. at least if she stays awake that will probably be enough to get us to the end, and we are not that far from it now, if it is actually like the original. or maybe this is the original, and that would take us o the same place, focus. -So, are we too far from the end? -Probably not. But we have to focus, it might get back any time, we have two minutes left and I think they might be needed in the future. So can you keep up, now? I'll take over, you follow me, ok? -Ok, let's go! Great, I hope this works, I'll shake my hands and again, and ok, we are definetly back on the game. Maybe it was good to pause and recharge. Except I probably did none of that and wasted even more energy worrying and taking care of Lilith. Well, what can I do, this is game now. Time to play like you never played before, time to focus with all your core energy and work with every muscle you got in you. time to... dive in? -Water? What now? This was not in the holographic version. No way, I would remember it. Great, they changed the special positioning with the graphichs phase for this weird lake thing, they are mixing the game sets with our reality lives outside here. I don't like this, not at all. But liking it or not won't change it, and certainly will not help me win it. So now I get to throw all behind me and dive into this possible cold water to grab some words and throw them to Lilith, before she dives in herself and I have to catch her from down the water before drowning. She is not fully recovered yet.Ê One, two, three, jump! Man, freezing! But let's go. Words are flowing through and will not wait another second. Hopefully if I go faster this ends son enough and I do not have time to turn into an icicle and jeopardize the whole entire thing.Ê I don't suppose they have simmulation for body temperature like this, I should tell the game developed as soon as I am back in town. And this crazy floating words only spell dynasty things: palace, dynasty, damnation, control? how does that make any sense? words, platform, system, beyond, search, quest, knowledge. Really? well, no time Michael, keep throwing and stop shaking. ok, looks like we are out of words here, so I might be able to leave. or the river will just disappear, as quickly as it first showed up unannounced. -What now? -This is all can happen land. I haven't got the slightest clue. She doesn't seem satisfied with my answer. I am not satisfied with this idea, but it is what it is and we will get over it as soon as it is about to finish. I am wet now and have no spare clothes to switch to. Thinking of it, where is our luggage? I didn't even realize we lost track of it? Not that I have any idea what good it could possibly do us now, but for a near future we might be luggage less. I think that is probably not the worst that can happen, we'll live. Look at that, I can see the control panel. Was it there all along? if it was then I am so much slower then I imagined, better not to even think about it or I can loose motto here. It appears that we are close to stage sixty four, we must have doubled something here. Maybe that is why the score is up, we are reaching end stage, three to finish. It is both exiting and body devastating in the craziest mix never imagined.Ê Lilith should see it. It might help understand and motivate. She seems relieved to look at it, that is a good thing. At least one of us can feel that sensation I might not remember how to process. Well, since apparently anything goes now, I have no idea what to expect except to hope it is really reaching the end and that the last phase actualy has a double shot for us players in case we don't get it quite right the first time. What do have in store for me now? Ocean diving? Flying with no support, throwing myself from a star reacher in dream land from the last century failure deaths? Ok, word tetris! This I can play without much effort from outer body energy. I imagine Lilith must not have such a hard time with it either. Yeah, she seems to be dealing with it fine. Good, looks a bit too easy for last trio of stages, but IÕm not complaining. This is a fun stage, but I understand that soon enough we are about to be faced with a creep shadow of a challenge. I wish I could take it one step at a time as we are trained too in studying centers and power word games, but this is al just too nerve wrecking. A tower of fun and sweat! This is such a weird game to begin with I donÕt know why it even keeps surprising me, but it does. This is so stupid, yet fun and mostly funny, would be funnier if it wasnÕt all real life happening to me. But still. This tower thingy is so strange to build and look at, and it keeps getting all confusing, but Mike seems to be managing it so well, it is still impressive to watch him fix and clear it all with such skills. Which leads to me realize for a fact that if I am not attracted to him now, then I probably never will be. Ops, I lost focus here, this is getting more and more intense, this stage takes too long. -Are we still in the sameÉ -I guess, not sure. It appears that he is out of breath, this is intense. Something looks like its not going right. The whole place is getting filled with cripted words, what is happening, why is this creep of a game going so fast, what is up with this song. -Why is it so damn fast? -ItÕs running out of time. No! what does that mean? Are we going to be stuck here, trapped in this encrypted words stage? I canÕt, no! Wow, it looks as back to normal again. -What happened? -Hopefully we get a second shoot at this stage. But this is it, no third time, itÕs back to middle point. Oh, no shot alive! I havenÕt got it in me to do another round of all those stages again. I barely made it the first time. But I figured we were doing fine here. What could possibly have gone wrong? We put the words on top of each other, formed the right combinations, used the spaces fine, and suddenly the song got repetitive and fast and now itÕs back on again in regular speed. The words are falling again, we need to assemble the towers, and I am so nervous about this process! Why is this so hard to figure? IÕm sweating like never before, but it feels as if my eyes are starting to get watery too. This is so disappointing, we are so close, we have to finish this. How can we not? This words it seems as if it could be some sort of combination outside logic of phonetics, which was definitely not the right path. No, some of them are repeating themselves, this is weird, this insisting beat. We stoped? WhatÉ -Did you pause it, Mike? -Yeah, told you we might need the minutes. We only got two left. -So, whatÕs the idea? -I donÕt have one, obviously what I was doing was wrong. -It is not phonetically, they keep coming again in an awkward combination. -But this is never completely random. Not in any game such as this. I donÕt think it is, but what other options do we have, this time thing is making me tense. -I donÕt know, there is probably an idea leading the whole thing, like a story. That could be. Makes perfect sense. -Yeah, but why would a story repeat so much? -DonÕt know, Lil. But time is running. -Unless. No, that makes no sense. -What? Say it. -Could it be following the music that plays? -Like a written song? With words? DonÕt know, never saw something like itÉ Time is up. Whatever it is we have to figure out soon and make it happen. Otherwise shadow land creepiness extended. Feel the music, there is a pattern, could it be? Mike looks like he is trying it, we can check. -Look, Lilith! Wow, the sentences as flying out in beat. How insane. So I got it, this is it we are writing inside the sound, a song with words on it. -This is crazy, but you got it! We needed a text for the music. This was the point of the game! Now it is all flying, well ,standing in the air as if waiting. -Lil, I think it wants us to say the words in the melody rhythm. At this point all sounds reasonable. And after all the hard work this is nothing to complain about. But what does it say? Can we keep on beat? This is kind of funny, me and Mike are not on the same speed. The game, as the entity doesnÕt appear to be satisfied with this. But it is giving us the chance to continue. Let me look at him, we should count beat together. Yeas, we are getting it right! It is as if we canÕt only speak the words we have to somehow declamate it, give it another intention, another flow. Never have I heard of such a thing, but it is fun. Looks as if we made it, the song is over, everything is clear around here. -Did we win? -I am not sure. -HavenÕt you played this before? -Not like this. Have you ever spoken throughout a musical piece? -Not really. Wow! Why is it getting dark, Mike is this normal? -Not to the holo game, come here, letÕs see what happens. There is some sort of show, lights, big projection, and yet again with those damn words. I didnÕt get to pay much attention to them with all the tension from finishing, but it seemed cehesivaly sensible as a text. -I think it is going to play for us. What could that even mean? But then again, it is not as if any of this makes sense anyway, we are supposedly in shadow land and have just written a text within a song and spoken it in melody, so all I am is curious. Introduction, strong sound, in no way does it sound like 8 bit music. The song poem was like this: Ò This say what we have no words for, the sounds has powerfull meaning and there is no way to deny it. Not all in life has an explanation, But everything brings up a feeling. There is more to this word then we can understand, So just dive deep down But try not get lost. The shadow can only catch you, If you let yourself be fooled.Ó And the last part was repeated a couple more times until the sound faded away. Which is the real deal? This is not the sound I am used to hearing, or anything that resembles it. No, it sounds exactly like the song we have written phrases to now, but it does not play like an 8 bit, or an instrumental stone sound, this is different and not spoken, melodically pronunciated. So out of this planet. And it speaks of connection, of how there is more to say then words can print, and more to see then we can think. What is this? Pure shadow. So obviously to mock me now as in invading my personal thoughts it says that shadows are what we hide, that they are only bad as long as we keep them apart and run from it. Sure, this whole challenge was a huge delight. -Wow, powerful! Lilith is interested in it. Ok, it is interesting, very. But it does not mean I am going to agree with what it says. -Interesting, but quite out of perception. Pure shadowÕs work. -Mike, this is about the experience, we made it through. This is, it is more then all this. What nonsense, I donÕt believe she has fully recovered yet. UnlessÉ -You think maybe this has to do with the word search we were doing? -Might have. Look, it is all clear, the game is over. -We say finished, over means you lost. -Ok, good to know. But how do we get out of here? There does not seem to be any outing, none at all. The game has desapeared, the song has faded, although it is still playing in my mind, both the 8-bit and the other version, but there is nothing. We are in the weird dusty place we started out. -Maybe we could walk out of here as we got through the dust storm. It sounds like a reasonable option. But this whole space feels so empty, it is as if we are right in the middle of nowhere, nowhere to be found and no way to get out. I donÕt see a single piece of land that doesnÕt look just like dust, a minor element of landscape that resembles any other space that not here. I do not like this! -DoesnÕt seem as if we are getting anywhere, Mike. -I know. And we have been walking for several minutes, it even looks like it is getting darker. -So, what do we do now? Is the game not oveÉ I mean finished? -It should be. But who knows, shadow is an unstable, untrustworthy place, which one should avoid with all the strength in their being. Now that we got here, I am not exactly sure how to deal with anything. I donÕt even feel like myself, I didnÕt throughout most of the process, and the one thing I imagined I was sure off was beating the game would free us. But I guess that is not how it works. -Maybe we are not seing something. -Such as? -I donÕt know, and element that can brings us out, some connection. -This is not community land, Lilith. I doubt it works this way. -Ok, so maybe we have to walk a bit further. It is not as if you know any better. She is right, I donÕt. I wish I did, but that is no help at all at this point. I just hope that we donÕt get stuck here in shadow, really with every fiber of my being I root this is not the case and we will find an outing anytime now. -Look at that! Come on, Mike, you have to see this. I hope we are not wasting way too many words around here, this could get even more complicated then it already is, but I must chack out whatever she is talking about, soundsÉ like a dimensional portal created in fiction land to bring people from one place to another. Are we in another game now? Could things get any cooler? I donÕt like when he shuts out like that, canÕt he say anything? I know he is thinking something, why worry about using words at this point. Besides if anything on that song makes sense, it is telling us not to focus so much on these silly rules of dynasty and else. -Say something, dude. -I think we are in another game. -What!? No way, you cannot be serious. I donÕt have any more strength left to play, even to hear another song like that. No thatÕs not true, I wanna hear more. -DoesnÕt matter. This looks exactly like one of the dimensional portals they were designing to put into games so people could switch stages, and realms and all that. Sucky bastards alive. This cannot be happening. I donÕt want to play anything else, possibly ever, but definetly not today. I only want to get out of here, to go somewhere I can rest and maybe drink something pure and tasteless. Maybe my own tears in the next minutes. -They do look a bit more intriguing and real then those simulators I saw that time. -Maybe they are. -How could you know? -I donÕt, Mike. Just a hinch, same as you. We probably should take the risk here. -IÕm not one hundred per cent sure of it, this are not safe. -Well, at this point, what is? Staying here cannot be the better option, and we finished a big challenge, maybe we make a good team and are ready to face other stuff if it comes. -Wow, you sound confident. Ok, letÕs go before I change my mind. I am really not that confident, I am trying to be before I too bail out of the whole thing and stop trying for good. That is what scared me the most, being trapped. While I am still in the fight, all is good. Giving up, that is whole other deal I am not ready to face in this existence. But it absolutely does not look like it is another game piece. It seems real and I am both worried and extremely curious about where this might take us, and there is only one way to find out. -Ok, so letÕs jump together at the count of threeÉ one, two, three! May this be a nice place and not another game, may this be a nice place and not another game. Please, may we land on a soft place so I donÕt break my hips, I am very hurt already. -Ouch, rough. -Are you ok? -Yeah, IÕm fine, Mike. How about you? -Fine, where are we? Looks super dark. If I knew this place I probably could not be able to recognize anything. Which doesnÕt seem to matter since it appears as we are not done and still moving inside this portal thing. This is so fast I hope I donÕt get nauseaus. Wow, could and wet and, oh my starts hold me and protect me! Damn hard floor again. I am all wet, what just happened. -This landing was rough. What was that? -I think we just went through the river. It looks like it doesnÕt it? -Yes, it does. Is that my cabana flying over us. -Wow, I though it was gonna hit us now. This was crazy. Yes, it is his cabana, we went from down the river, through it and ended up just at the spot of his house, or whatever, but with a fairly bad and painfull landing. -What do you think this means, Lil? -How should I know, I am not the one who has been living over this electrolyzed waterÉ oh, no! no, no, no, no! I have got the electrolyzed thing all over me now. This cannot be good, what isÉ. -Dude, calm down! -Did you just call me dude? -I guess your terrible use of language is clinging on to me as we are spending more time together. This water is fine, we are alive, no one is melting, our clothes are fine. We are just wet. -Yeah, but how do you know it doesnÕt have any side effects as time passes, people donÕt dive into the river ever. -Because I drink it. The soft drinks use the same exact water that runs in here. And my house would probably have corroded over time. And look at it, it is intact, this whole thing was probably a speech so that people donÕt dive into the river and start swimming in it. -Well, thatÉ actually makes perfect sense. They have been fooling you all about the word bussines for, well, forever I guess. -Seems like it. -So, what can we do now? How could such uncertainty bring so much clarity? I have no idea how anyone can go from here. The only thing I do know is that I canÕt stay in this town anymore. I canÕt go back to the palace pretending like nothing has happened and stand there doing the same thing I was doing before. I canÕt even think about joining the guys for another session of the pwer word games. It seems a bit pointless now. It feels as if after that game and the whole experience from the past few days, this is all a huge lie and I cannot be a part of it anymore, I have been fooled for many years, way too many. And now it is time to move on and that probably means moving away too. But I still have no clue on how to answer LilithÕs question. -You think the shadow song was right? It is really not about th words and meaning? -I donÕt know, Mike. But the combination of the sound with the words and now we shooting out of the water like that. It doesnÕt seem to make a lot of sense in keeping up the same old world view as before everything. I completely agree. I might be dead wrong. Shadow wrong here. But the way I feel now any side could be fooling me and I donÕt want to risk it, as I donÕt want this feeling going to bed with me. I am not taking my caban back to the river. -We should get out of here. IÕm taking my cabana to another location. -Where. -I havenÕt the slightes clue, Lily. -Mike! -Yeah? -I get that you donÕt want to get back now, and I believe I understand how you feel. But donÕt you think there could be a reason for us to end up right in this location? I mean, out of anywhere in Shadowys, we get shoot out of the river part where your cabana was parked. She is right about the us as my theory is just proved right. Someone already took my spot. Unbelievable, it has been like four minutes, if I ever went on vacation with it I would never have been able to get back anywhere near. This is insane. -I have no idea why we eneded here. Maybe for a last look, so I can get my things and leave, because now when I look at this magestic town with all I have always strongly believed in, I donÕt feel anything but diconection. It doesnÕt make any more sense and I do not wanna be a part of it for another second. -Ok, I know I definetly do not belong here. So where might we go? Any suggestions? -Well, the good new is, now that I have lost my spot on the river, we donÕt have to walk all the way, we can use the floating movement device in the cabana and go through the river. -Good, because I am exausted. -Can you help me set it back into the river so we can do that? -Sure. LetÕs do it. It is a bit heavier then I remembered and by this point the interior is probably a gigantic mess. But I donÕt even care much about it. -Ok, get in. -Are you sure? -Yup. I am inviting you, hop in, Lilith. -Ok, thanks. -So, where should head to? Your parents house this time, maybe? -Yeah, right. Funny, Michael. -I am serious donÕt you want to visit them? -I think about it sosmetimes. But not right now, not after all this. Besides, unless I get an invitation from the community with a townÕs permit I am not allowed in, and since I have only been out for about a month I donÕt get those rights yet. -I had no idea it was that tricky. -Yeah, it is not. I am just making that up. Well, part of it. You can go, and you can bring anyone you wish, but I am not ready to visit right now. -I didnÕt think you would say yes. I was kidding. But if you change your mind at any point soon we can arrange that visit. -Ok, IÕll let you know. I am not entirely sure I remember how to pilot this thing. I never used this function since it got to me and I found the perfect spot six years ago. I never thought I would get to use it. But things surprise us once in a while, and for a while not just once. This view has never looked stranger to me as it does now. But I think I have to do this. It is almost driving me there itself. -Mike, why are you going in the palaceÕs direction? -I have to go there one more time, I have to see those words andÉ -Are you out of your mind? Did the water get into your brain? -ArenÕt you the one who invaded the palace in the first place? -And look how well that turned out. It was probably a mistake. -No, we only got to find out stuff because of that, Lil. -Maybe. Bot now we already did. Why go back? -To free those words, to expose the place for what it is not. How does that only make sense to me? She was so convinced of it sometimes ago and now I am alone in this one. -Dude, that is not going to happen like this. They built a whole system that convinced a world of people that words rule everything. We spent the last few days, trapped, running away and being shot out of portalsÉ Well, she does have a strong point. How come she is so smart and I seem to be clueless, wasnÕt it the other way around? I suppose things do chance. Though I hope I get back into my senses soon enough. -Ok, I think you are right, letÕs no go to the palace now. So we find another direction, away from it, and from this word controlling town, because from the looks of it we will run out of words very soon. -That sound like a great start, letÕs go. Ok, I now only have to figure this thing out, turn it aroing and keep piloting with high hopes that I am not doing anything wrong. -Hey Mike. Is it ok if I drive your cabana for a little bit? -Sure. Can you do that? You should grab the button wheel and É -Turn it to the center as I move the commands down the sides. I know, I used to drive a big floating piece down the alkaline river when I was a teen. Well, and the surprises keep showing up without previous announcement. And Lilith may once again top me at the performance of something. Which I suppose would not be such a surpise at this point. And besides I am not so sure it matters, as long as we get somewhere new and get to figure out how to move on from it. -Yo, Mike. You sure you got enough fuel on this thing for a long ride? -This doesnÕt run on fuel, it is charged by the electrolyzed water. -So then how does it work if we get outside this part of the river? Man, I clearly have not thought this through. But I know there is a way to make it work, if I can find the instructions anywhere around this displacement of a home. -IÕll check the electronic device. I know there is a way to function, but it is nice if we can figure it out before we get stuck at some frontier and get trakked by anyone. -Are you always this paranoid? -Yes, and that is what got us through some of this experiment. -Ok, no need to get all defensive. Just a joke, dude. Not the time for joking, timeng was never really one of her strengths. And I am sure it cannot be that hard to figure this out, I even knew about it, I only did not pay enough attention since I never imagined I was going to use it. -Ok, figured it out. When we get anywhere outside the electrolised area, we must recharge it by sinding in the right word combination. This doesnÕt seem right. -It is a trap, they donÕt want anyone to get out. We should try putting the song in, or reaching another portal. -You think they just lye around? We might never run into another one again. And besides it can be dangerous, Lil. We are never sure where it is gonna end. -We should go back to the woods. Around the lake area, we can figure some things out from there, the other side. If the cabana stops moving when we reach new waters, we can use this as an oar. Do you have another one? -Right behing the cabinet. And I imagine that would be the pint of them, which would force us to pull down the windows, and just do the effort ourselves. -Does there seem to be a problem with that? -Actually it makes perfect sense. LetÕs do that. The sweet taste of nothing I am enjoying this rowing thing more then I would have expected. Especially since I can already spot the area that I love so much on this land of Shadowys. I am so happy we get to be back here, this turned out great after all. -So, Mike, are you gonna park by the lake? -I suppose for now I donÕt have much option. Unless I take it out of the water. Well, maybe that is better, there are no houses by the lake. No there are not. Maybe it is better like that, this trip was so much faster then the other one, it was nicer. -You know, Lil. Now we probably wonÕt be able to make it back for at least a long while, they are probably looking for us, my cabana has a trakking device withing central town and now it is missing from the river. -I donÕt really care. The only reason I went there was because it was the closest thing from the communities and the only place people from the side of the river I came from seem to end up at. -Good. We can stay here for a while then. But, can we? How will this work? I mean, we are not really settled here, and this house is not very big, plus I am not really that comfortable sharing it. We make a good team and all, but this seems like it can be too much. -How about we rest for the day and figure things out when we wake up? -Sound like a plan to me. -I should have some dried flowers in here somewhere and then IÕll sleep on the couch. -No, I get the couch, I wonÕt feel confortable in your bed. -Ok, if you insist. I am too tired to do that, but I would if that was not the case. That pushes things too far. Oh, wait. We are the lake. -We should go eat outside. I have to at least drink this magical water that only seems to be a possibility around here. -Well, that is not entirely true. You can get some purified non-e;ectrolysed water at some shops in center town for a very abuse price. -Great to know that now. Although I probably would not have any means to pay for one. -Well, IÕm sure I wouldnÕt have heard you speak for a long time if you were drinking those when we met. -Funny, you should really explore that, Michael. But now let me enjoy my moment with this great tasteless water. Pefect as I rememebered it, pure, fresh, not bitter ou sour or anything like that. Simple what I have always been waiting to drink. This even makes everything else ok. And it is settled, wherever I have to stay, even if of the woody sandy places, I am not moving from this land! Part III: After time and space, there can be life Has this always been here? Out of all places on this planet, I never imagined the one I would end up at would be Mounty Hills, at least not on my own will. But when the whole world seems to be upside down I donÕt think holding on to old lines of thought makes any more sense. This is a whole new start for someone who now cannot be called a guardian anymore, has no spot at the electrolyzed center river, and is trying to listen to music that is not 8-bit. Although I have to admit I still enjoy the sound of that and see no harm in it. -The words have no space in oneÕs life, where the is no feeling. -ItÕs meaning. -What? -You were singing it wrong, it says meaning. -Ok, I was changing it up a bit. And how do you know that is singing, singing has no words, just sound. -I know, but we donÕt just speak the words, we say them like singing, at the melody, the beat, so it must be singing. -Ok, you have a pint there. Plus I donÕt feel like arguing about it. What could it possibly help? -Since you even decided this singing thing, I guess you are ging to be happy to know that I have found out a couple more poems to music. -Really, Mike? And how did you find them? -Tamara showed them to me, from her grandmaÕs collection of ancient things from this land. -Tamara, I see. So, what is the deal with you two? -None of your bussines. -So nothing. You are s slow, bro. Almost unbelievable. -Still none of your bussines, Lilith. Now go find the portal guides before you come critise my personal behaviour. -Sure, captain. See you later. By the way. I am all settled by the wooden lake house so I wonÕt be taking up your space any longer. -You sure? If you need help with anything around there, IÉ -ItÕs ok. Really. I am fine and so are you. We are still gonna be partners, we just donÕt have to share a bathroom anymore. -Ok, great. Maybe youÕll invite me to your place sometime. -Yeah, right. For life and beyond I am glad we got this partnership thing working. I am not sure I could have figured so much out about portals if it werenÕt for MikeÕs help, and I guess my life if alright now after everything that happened with us. I never had actual sibling, and since my family threw me out I wasn;t looking for things like that. But they found me and now I canÕt complain. A life brother is a good thing, and traveling through the portals with company is a lot more fun then alone. I hope we get to figure out the tunes. I canÕt believe Mike is already coming to visit. -Hang on, IÕll be right out. - Oh, itÕs not Mike. Ð Hey, Tamara! Can I help you? -Mike said you were living here now. I hope I am not disturbing, I just wanted to drop this lyrics over, they seem to have some info on travel issues. -Portals? -Something like that, yeah. -Cool. Thanks a bunch, girl. -No problem. Have a great time at your new place. -I will. I can invite you guys over sometime. As soon as I take care of the mess. -Ok, see you Lilly. -And hey, Tamara. Mike could use some help you know. He doenÕt like to ask, but he probably need a companion to test these traveling spots, and I am a bit busy now. -Sure, I can help, I will go talk to him. Sometimes I even surprise myself. For now all I need is the company of my own bed and this fantastically tasteless water. Maybe some music with words in it as well. Someone is knocking on my door again. This time it is Mike, wow, and morning already, I didnÕt even notice I overslept. -Hey Lil. Did I wake you? -No, I was justÉ what do you want? -Me and Tamare figured some stuff last night and we are going on a portal ride to spread the music, since it is a big mission we figured you might wanna join, but weÕre leaving soon, or the portal might close. -No it wonÕt, we call it up again. And you know IÕll be ready soon. This is my favority activity ever, spreading the lyric songs anywhere the portal opens up too, maybe one of our next destinations can be the palace, I just need to convince Mike we have plenty of time to get in and out and back. Maybe there is a song for it.
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Spectral Word Warriors
Science FictionIn a different dimension, human like creatures live in function of a highly technological dynasty that controls all communities. They spend time individually trying to hide from all their shadows, by using the right words for everything, which is wh...
