John sat with his back resting against a rock, they had taken shelter under some rocks that poked up from the sand to wait out Night. He looked around the camp, he saw the Vishashi sitting meditating while this "Hilmas" sat beside Arnimos who seemed to be slightly stirring.

  "So," John said. "How'd you meet our Archon friend?"

  Hilmas looked at John, his eyes were soft but they held an undeniable sharpness behind them.

  "We have known each other since we were young," Hilmas said. "He was the prince of a city and me and my brother the noble street rat,"

  "He's a prince?" John said. "Did he tell me that already? I don't really remember,"

  John sat up.

  "So what are you doing out here?" John said. "Arnimos talked something about a dragon, i think,"

  "Yes, there was a dragon," Hilmas said. "We were protecting a village from raiders when said raiders showed up, lit the place on fire, their leader turned into a dragon, we beat his ass, then he called Night and we appeared here,"

  "And what exactly are you?" John said. "Arbeross?"

  "Truth," Hilmas said.

  "And what exactly is your plan now?" John said.

  "I'd like to get back to Elysium," Hilmas said. "And i will bring Arnimos with me,"

  "Few months' journey at least to get back there," John said. "You'd have to pass through quite a lot to reach home,"

  "I hear the Empire has a so-called 'train line' to Paradise," Hilmas said. "We'll take that back to Elysium,"

  "Don't mean to be rude but you really shouldn't trust the Empire," John said. "Especially with your friend being an Archon, don't believe they'd let you leave,"

  "Then we'll take the long way," Hilmas said. "We just need to be getting home, my brothers probably worried sick,"

  "You can go," John said. "But it seems like Arnimos is pretty determined to help me deal some business in Paradise,"

  "I was meaning to ask about that," Hilmas said. "Why were all those men after you?"

  Hilmas's hand fell to the blade laid on the ground next to him.

  "No need to get violent," John said. "I can give the rundown,"

  "Good," Hilmas said.

  Hilmas pulled his hand away, John leaned back a bit more and let out a sigh.

  "Few months ago, me and a bunch of others set out looking for Page," John said. "Only 2 of us survived that place and made it out with the Page and the other guy wanted it all to himself so he shot me and left to die in the desert. I didn't die so now i'm planning to find his ass and fill his brain with lead then get my Page back,"

  Hilmas took a second to think.

  "And how did Arnimos get dragged into this?" Hilmas said.

  "Found him half-buried in sand," John said. "Was thinking about leavin' him but he looked rich so i decided to save him and try and get a reward,"

  'And to pay back some old coot who helped me,' John thought.

  "A true hero you are," Hilmas said. "And what about your friend here? i have not heard much from him,"

  "Terribly sorry," The Vishashi said.

  The Vishashi opened his eyes and looked over at Hilmas.

  "I am a Vishashi," The Vishashi said.

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  "Why are you travelling with this group?" Hilmas said.

  "I met the two while they were wandering," The Vishashi said. "After i heard what they were after i offered to help in exchange for something,"

  "Yeah, bastards drives a hard bargain," John said.

  "It is more than fair," The Vishashi said.

  "And what's with your name?" Hilmas asked. "I heard about someone with a similar name when i met a tribe of people out here in the desert,"

  "It is as much a title as a name," The Vishashi said. "It replaced my name when i became one,"

  "What are you then?" Hilmas said.

  "A Storyteller," The Vishashi said. "It is my duty to remember and tell the stories and tales of my people to all who wish to hear,"

  "Why'd you choose to become one?" Hilmas said.

  "No other calling interested me," The Vishashi said.

  Hilmas looked over at Arnimos, he was not awake yet but it seemed like he might soon.

  "So," Hilmas said. "Mind explaining why he's passed out exactly?"

  John glanced at the Vishashi then back at Hilmas.

  "We got captured a week ago," John said. "To escape he did... Something... and he hasn't woken up since then,"

  "What did he do exactly?" Hilmas said.

  John shrugged.

  "I don't know," John said.

  "He used his Dichotomies and Destroyed the cart, and the guards, holding us," The Vishashi said. "His Dichotomies are truly strange things,"

  "He's gotten his first Skill?" Hilmas said, he mimed wiping a tear from his eye. "I'm so proud,"

  "Though he does not seem very experienced in the use of Dichotomy," The Vishashi said.

  "He did only get them working in like the past month or 2," Hilmas said. "Before that they were just freeloaders,"

  "Then he has made remarkable progress," The Vishashi said.

  Hilmas leaned back against his Terrastrider.

  "I was worried for sometime I'd know the only Archon without their Dichotomies," Hilmas said. "Especially after-"

  Arnimos stirred, his mind foggy. Everything felt heavy and he just wanted to sleep, where was he? He opened his eyes and saw endless dark around him, 'is this death?' he thought. He tried to move but it felt like he was moving through syrup, it was heavy and slow. He slowly reached his hand forward, eventually he felt something. He couldn't see anything but he grasped it and a moment later the world exploded with light. His body floated weightlessly in this endless dark with a single bright light, for a few moments nothing happened until he heard a single click and awoke.

  Arnimos shot up panting, his heart beating fast in his chest. He looked around and saw John and the Vishashi were talking to someone but quickly looked in his direction.

  "You're awake!" John said, quickly standing up and rushing over.

  "It's been quite some time," The Vishashi said.

  "Are you ok, buddy?" A familiar voice said.

  Arnimos froze for a second, his mind racing. 'It couldn't be...' he thought. He turned his head and it was true, he saw Hilmas sitting just beside him.

  "Hilmas!" Arnimos said he threw himself into him and pulled Hilmas into an embrace. "You're safe,"

  "Takes a lot more than a dragon and a Personification to keep me down," Hilmas said. "It's good see you're still alive,"

  Arnimos hugged Hilmas tighter for a second before pulling back.

  "Where's Milhas and Kalis-Fijki?" Arnimos said. "Is everyone else safe?"

  "I have not seen them but I am certain they are safe," Hilmas said. "It would take much more than Night to put Milhas down and Kalis-Fijki is strong enough to hold his own,"

  "That's... Good to hear," Arnimos said. "I was worried that-"

  "It's okay Arnimos," Hilmas said. "I wouldn't have guessed that bastard was about to use a Partial Page on us but we're safe now,"

  "Yeah... Safe..." Arnimos said. "Far from home though,"

  "We'll get there in time," Hilmas said.

  Arnimos looked over at John and the Vishashi.

  "Thank you both," Arnimos said. "For saving me,"

  "It was the right thing to do," The Vishashi said.

  "Don't worry kid," John said. "If it wasn't for you we wouldn't have gotten out of that cart,"

  "And I hear you are helping them get a Page, is that right?" Hilmas said.

  "They helped me," Arnimos said. "I wanna help them and John promised he'd help me get back to Elysium,"

  Hilmas looked at John then back at Arnimos.

  "I'd say we should start home immediately but if you want to have some adventure then I'm certainly not one to say no," Hilmas said. "Let's get this Page, bask in the glory then head home,"

  "That's what we'll do," Arnimos said.

  Their chats around the fire continued for some time until morning came and they walked until, nearing midday, they crested a dune and in the distance they saw a city in the desert. It was a circle and divided into three districts with a large spire in the center. Paradise.