Kopius awoke to the sensation of something jostling his feet. He had to pry open his eyelids as they were unwilling to accept that the time had come to wake up. When they did find themselves ajar he could only make out the blurry outline of a flame. The more focus fell upon him, he could make out the lantern that lit the room and the smiling man holding it.

"Back so soon, my boy?" Oh-jin said in his high-pitched sing-song fashion.

Kopius rubbed at his vision again and shook off the feeling of the de-ja-vu greeting from the old man.

"How long have I been away?" Kopius groaned, sitting up and swinging his feet down to the cold stone floor.

"Seven or eight days if I had to guess." Oh-jin replied, the wrinkling of his forward showing that he was doing some internal calculations. "The closest doorway back here is at least a twenty day trek, deep into Kaliboz. Have you a mount, or the like?"

"I'm not in Kaliboz," Kopius answered as he let the cobwebs in his waking mind untangle themselves.

"Back in Kickshaw then?"

"No, not Kickshaw," Kopius stretched his neck from side to side, popping it in the process. He also twisted his midsection from side to side before continuing. "We passed through Joastu and the Hall of Dashwrath before we got to–"

"Ashes & Embers," Oh-jin cut him off with a whisper.

The old chemist turned as if to leave but stopped short at the doors threshold. He turned with an expression that was a mixture of surprise, wonder, and… fear? It was hard to get a read on Oh-jin with the candle light from the lantern dancing around and the man's goggles hiding his eyes. He pulled at his beard in thought, choosing to waggle his finger at Kopius without words.

"Is there a problem here?" Kopius finally asked, seeing that Oh-jin couldn't gather his thoughts.

"You're there now? In the village?"

"I am–we are; yes."

"They know you are there?" Oh-jin shook his head before Kopius could reply. "Oh course they know! Do they know what you are?"

"How would I know what they know?" Kopius said with some morning annoyance. "They know I'm with Cici and they seem to like him well enough. Just fucking tell me what the problem is?"

"No problem my boy," Oh-jin answered. "There is history between the Collective and Jinovians, you see, once a long time ago–"

"I've heard the story." It was Kopius's turn to cut someone off. "Cici gave me a run down on our way here. I've met the lady in charge and she was only concerned with Cici. Obviously you've been here at one point. Am I in some kind of danger?"

Worried about his safety, Kopius was able to skip past his morning fogginess and move directly into alert mode. He hadn't even a chance to complain about being awake and was already in his boots and dressed as if needed to get the hell out of Dodge. There were only a few things that woke him up this fast and the potential wrath of a group of women scorned was one of them. He was certain he didn't want the full weight of the Collective pressing down on him.

"My family, my lineage, dates back almost to the beginning of the Jinovian existence," Oh-jin began after a long thoughtful pause. He motioned for Kopius to return to sitting. "The Ochos were released towards the end of the original Jannasa's rule, by Jannasa himself. My ancestors were among those tasked to find the land we called our home. It was one of my great relatives that discovered Moonwood and befriended the Collective. It was my grandfather who was granted residency within the Forever Night after we found our land well past the waters of the Torrent."

"Forever Night?" Kopius interrupted.

"Yes, that's what it was called before," Oh-jin paused for a moment, his goggles looking to the ground.

"Before what?"

"The Immolation," Oh-jin practically whispered. He looked up at Kopius, "You've been told this?"

Kopius nodded slowly.

"He warned them, my grandfather," Oh-jin continued, his voice distant. "Ashes didn't believe him at first but Embers did."

"What do you mean, he warned them?"

"Of the Val-jin, their rise and fury; their intent and focus," Oh-jin answered, sending a streak of ice down the spine of Kopius. "Their relentless push for retribution. They had already gained control of the Torrent, seizing every city, town and shack along its shore. Corundu was within their grasp and StoneClaw would ignore the plights of the south until they required aid themselves."

Oh-jin took a few moments to gather himself. He produced a waterskin from his inventory ring and took a long drink. It was obvious that the history lesson he was giving was an uncomfortable one, which did nothing to quell the ever growing worry within Kopius. The pause only intensified the situation. The chemist drew in a deep breath and exhaled in an attempt to calm.

"I am going too far into detail," Oh-jin began again. "Though this all holds value in its telling, just know this: The Ochos saved the Collective and with that they hold the Jinovian with some regard."

"Some regard?" Kopius questioned. "That lacks a certain level of comfort. What's going to happen if I go back out there and they know I am part Jinovian?"

"It's been many generations since that warning. Most will dismiss you as another race they have never heard of. You are giving people credit for a depth of intelligence they do not have."

"I'm trying to avoid getting executed by the mob because they think Jinovians and Val-jin are the same," Kopius explained. "People remember Val-jin, man. I saw it in Cabawchu when the subject came up. It was like everyone's assholes collectively puckered."

"History has long separated our kin from theirs. Jinovians were the first to fall," Oh-jin said in his lecturing tone. "The ones that did survive fought alongside the remaining races of Metem; often on the frontline to erase any notion of allegiance. When the war ended we were reduced to a tribe of wanderers, drifters and vagabonds. Our numbers were scarce and scattered, never to remain in one place for long. As for the Collective, the fact they have not torn down our access should speak at the volume to your safety."

"I didn't get that part of the story," Kopius said with some placating. "I just heard about how the forest turned into vapor oaks. From what you told me before, I just assumed they were the same."

"Our origins are the same," Oh-jin admitted slowly, "intentions and methods are from two different worlds though. One seeks a gathered culture, the other a singular superiority. Jinovian's are not without our faults but our shortcomings tend to steer clear of genocide and dominace."

"Okay," Kopius replied, a nervous pit sprouting in his gut. "Who were they genociding?"

"Well us of course," Oh-jin answered as if it were obvious. "Any who wouldn't bend the knee, convert to their cause were considered traitors at best. The last thing a traitor tastes is the steel, as the saying goes." The old man made a slashing hand gesture similar to one that would indicate cutting a throat but instead of the neck the motion crossed through his open mouth.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Kopius smacked his lips as though metal had recently passed through. He retrieved his own waterskin and drank the sensation down. His stomach spoke up, whether that was in hunger or disgust was a matter of debate. He wasn't sure where to take this conversation after that brief but pointed visual. Initially he wanted to find out any new information from Lexore's notes, but after this colorful rendition of history he would settle for more pleasant news.

"We should eat," Oh-jin offered with a renewed smile. "Get this taste out of our mouth, yes?"

"For sure," Kopius agreed.

***

Breakfast was short and sweet, consisting of dry oat-like bars, large blueberry-type fruit, and more water. Kopius filled in Oh-jin on his travels, giving a grossly shortened version to be sure he informed the old man of the important parts. He told him about getting his hood from Lydian and how she knew the proper way to wear his sword sheath, the C.O.M.A. and the other items obtained from Julz and Fraz, as well as highlighting their lodgings in Cabawchu.

"Is that why you wear the hood now?" Oh-jin interrupted before Kopius dove into his redwhip encounters.

"Well, yeah," Kopius admitted, readjusting the hood's position. "Have you ever had someone in your mind?" "I have indeed my boy," Oh-jin answered with a knowing tone. "More times than I can remember."

"Shits creepy man. I have problems with my own thoughts as is," Kopius remarked. "I don't need the added pressure from someone else."

"I am sure one voice is enough," Oh-jin joked.

"Sometimes the one is too many," Kopius shot back and they both laughed.

With the food finished the two men navigated their way to the lab. At Oh-jin's request, Kopius opened the door to Ashes & Embers. Night still lingered above with no sign of daybreak. Kopius exited the shop to get a better look at the sky only to find a star lit canvas with moons in orbit.

"What time is it?" Kopius inquired as he returned to Oh-jin's lab.

"Morning my boy," Oh-jin answered with a rub of his beard. "Just past the rising sun I would wager."

"It's still night time," Kopius pointed out.

"It will always be night time here, that's where the original name came from."

"Sounds magical," Kopius said unimpressed. "Want to give the place a look around. I'm sure the market here has all kinds of goods you'd like."

"I cannot," Oh-jin answered suspiciously.

"You will not, or cannot," Kopius asked for clarity.

"I cannot," Oh-jin admitted. "I can only pass through to the last place I came from."

"And where is that?"

"The Maca Dami."

"Oh."

"Yes."

"Care to elaborate?"

"I was tasked with sealing the gateways, the doors that your ring grants passage to," Oh-jin replied with little pride. "These doors were integral to the Val-jin during their terror."

"Wouldn't you want them destroyed?" Kopus asked with some alarm.

"Destoryed? Ideally, yes," Oh-jin agreed.

"So why not do that? Would you have like a Stargate issue or something?"

"Stargate?"

"It's a movie," Kopius clarified. "They destroyed the fast travel portals but if you rebuilt them they'd work again."

"Fast travel?"

"Ugh, nevermind… "

"The best I could accomplish was to disconnect and seal them from each other. Before my work, a person–or an army–could advance to any destination where another door existed."

"That's fast travel," Kopius pointed out.

"I see," Oh-jin replied. "I stopped that from happening. Now you can only–fast travel–to here and back."

"So the Val-jin could come here?" Kopius asked with alarm.

"Not without that metal band on your finger."

"And your letting me just carry it around like some fucking promise ring!"

"Promise? No." Oh-jin answered matter-of-factly. "Trust."

"Trust! A horrible idea. That's a four letter word my guy."

"It's five, I don't see how that is relevant here," Oh-jin retorted.

"What if the Val-jin capture me? You think I wouldn't give this up to save my own ass?"

Oh-jin laughed. The old man threw his head back and laughed as if it were the funniest thing he had ever heard in his life. The sound echoed around the laboratory, in and out of the shelves and cabinets before circling the two men like hungry vultures. He placed a calming hand on his stomach and wiped away some tears that had leaked through his goggles.

Kopius just stood there with a blank expression wondering if he had tapped into an inside joke that he was not privy to. Part of him wanted to chuckle along while the other half felt insulted. He looked around as if to find others in the same state of amusement.

"Of course you would, my boy!" Oh-jin exclaimed, shaking off what remained of his outburst. "It is the nature of any beast to preserve his own life, I would expect no difference here."

"Then why give this to me?" Kopius said with a growing ire.

"Ah, you see, that is your predicament," Oh-jin answered. "Lexore gave you the ring and my trust resides within his logic."

"That… makes no sense–whatsoever," Kopius stumbled over the explanation.

"Nor should it," Oh-jin agreed. "To you or I, but he would not have crossed the veil without purpose or summoned you without cause."

"Man, that's so vague I don't even know where to start complaining," Kopius responded, flustered. "I'm no doctor, but it looked like he died from his skull getting crushed after a fall. How can that be purposeful? And it's not like he knew whose soul he redirected, right? Because if he did, he wouldn't have offed himself so that I could sport this ring in his absence. He would have been like 'oh shit, this guy has issues' and would have been wise to grab the next weak soul!"

Kopius ended his tirade by almost shouting the last part. He hadn't been expecting to yell at anyone today but it was obvious that he held some resentment for past statements. Something he had likely known to be true and grew angry from that very thing being pointed out.

"You give yourself little credit Kopius," Oh-jin responded in a soft tone.

"Credit for what!?"

"For being a survivor; a persistent force," Oh-jin insisted. "Enduring life when giving in, giving up would free you from your misery."

"I'm not a glutton for punishment, man."

"Nor do you bow to the wind or allow the tide to erode your will. How many times should you have died here?"

"I don't know, like six or seven times," Kopius shrugged.

"Have you been intimidated?"

"Yeah."

"Slapped?"

"Yes."

"Stabbed?"

Kopius nodded.

"Battered, beaten to a pulp?"

"Have you been watching me from a distance or something?"

"Well, have you?"

"Yes. Lots of bumps and bruises! I've had my ass handed to me several different ways."

"And still you walk among the living, stronger than your last fall. Rising to meet the day knowing it will likely assault you once more?"

"Yeah, I guess," Kopius tried not to smirk. "It's not like I enjoy it. I'm fucking scared half the time."

"You cannot be brave if you are not scared, my boy."

"How does that work?"

"Bravery is knowing pain resides on the path and walking through anyways. Otherwise you're just behaving recklessly."

"I can get a little reckless," Kopius chuckled. "Just ask Cici."

"They both have a time and place," Oh-jin joined in with a laugh. "Try to keep your reckless nature as the final option, not the first. As for your companion, here he comes now."

Kopius shook away what remained of his sulking and looked out the door. Sauntering down the thin candle lit corridor of a street was the big man, holding three cups of steaming something in his hands and a wide smile on his face. He kindly nodded to the few individuals that passed him by bidding them a glorious day or some version of that. Whatever is the opposite of the 'walk of shame' is what his strutting resembled.

"Top of the morning lads!" Cici proclaimed as he climbed the four steps to the threshold, his accent a bit heavier than normal. He raised the cups in tribute, "I brought some morning energy to start our day!"

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