Morning came with the promise of new beginnings.

The crystal-like structures that hung from the trees unfurled, their glow brightening the Lamentenian forest with renewed energy. The light hit Chirin's face, causing the boy to screw his eyes tight and bring his arms to his face as he chased the dream that slowly faded with his incoming consciousness. But his effort would prove to be futile. Much to his annoyance, Python began to not-so-gently shake him awake. He stared up at the branches above him through crusty, narrowed eyes, his frown deepening as he let himself get tousled like a doll.

Python: "Come on, Chirin. Wake up! Time is money, and we have things to do!"

But Chirin was hearing nothing of what Python was saying. Delirious, he stared up at the lights that hung from the branches overhead, his mind processing these strange, new visuals.

And as he lay, focusing on the lights — so bright. Illuminating. Beautiful. White— it was as if a door had been unlocked, and the succession of images that left it flooded back to him with stunning clarity. That dream– no– it wasn't a dream. It was more like a memory. The realization hit him like a tonne of bricks, and he sat up, gasping.

As that memory unfolded in his mind, he felt a sense of longing wash over him. Terra Firma, the comforting melody, the Peace Lilies—

Chirin: ("My father! I have a father! I mean… I don't totally remember his name… or his face… But I have a father!")

Python: "Chirin?"

Chirin's companion had forgone shaking him awake, watching in what he could only assume was curiosity. That dream: it was a memory that had been buried deep in his previously lost subconscious, and now that it was back, the flood of emotions that came with it was overwhelming. He met Python's gaze with a watery smile.

He wanted to tell her about it. He had to tell her about it. Tell her anything he remembers about Terra Firma.

Chirin: "Python! I remembered something! It wasn't much, but I remember!"

Python: "Remember what? Something about Terra Firma?"

Chirin: "Yeah!"

Before he knew it, Chirin was telling Python what happened in his dream, his voice shaky as he spoke. 

He told her about the sky, bright and unburdened by heavenly barriers, the Peace Lily field, and about his father: who left said field because waiting for something there was his "purpose". He told her about how he was the only child his age in Terra Firma and of his mother's existence, but he couldn't recall who she was or where exactly she lived. 

That memory had triggered something deep inside Chirin, and he struggled to keep himself together as he recalled details of the bygone memory. The feeling of homesickness was tragically overwhleming.

Python listened intently, only interrupting to ask for elaboration on brief details or small, insignificant questions like the color of the grass, the scent of Peace Lillies, or what clouds looked like, and Chirin answered them in earnest, slightly amused at her burning curiosity and her slight frustration of him describing any sort of color as either being bright or dark, or slightly brighter than bright or slightly darker than dark.

(But after quickly realizing that attaining any sort of information on anything color-related would prove fruitless, Python's questions quickly shifted focus on the events that lived in his dream, her curiosity about his father not being missed by Chirin).

(But Chirin hadn't noticed the way her face twisted with an unknown emotion as he elaborated on the advice his father had given him; the way she had gone deathly still as if she had come to some sort of realization about something).

As Chirin spoke, opening himself up to his companion about his lost home, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. It was as if putting words into the experience made it more real and tangible. And when he finished recounting that memory, spilling every detail he could, he felt hopeful, yet melancholic.

His father: As cryptic as he was, Chirin couldn't help but wonder about him. 

Would Chirin falling into the Abyss be enough to get his father to leave the Peace Lily field? 

Is he worried about him? 

Is he looking for him? 

Is he okay?

Chirin didn't have the complete picture, so he couldn't answer any of those questions with certainty. Futhermore, the more he tried to think about, the more his head would ache. It both saddened and frustrated him.

Chirin: ("Speaking of questions… There's something about Python that I'm curious about.”)

Chirin: "Ma'am…?"

Python let out an irritated huff at being called Ma'am, and Chirin froze.

Python: "Heeeey, now. I would prefer it if you called me by my name as I asked you already—"

Chirin: "Oh!"

Python: "—Mmm. Yeah. "Oh" indeed. I oughta charge you for that… But lucky for you, I've been awake too long to care. Consider yourself lucky, you silly little fella."

Chirin flushed with embarrassment and glanced behind her shoulder, noting how their temporary encampment had been cleared up. Python must have cleaned everything up while he was asleep. The forest looked so much brighter in the "morning."

…Well, Chirin hesitated to call it "morning." There was no sunlight in the Abyss, just varying instances of the world brightening and darkening at certain times, almost similar to Terra Firma. But in Terra Firma, it was much brighter. More "colorful". More lively. 

Chirin briefly wondered if he would ever see the sun again.

Python: "Anyways… you wanted to ask me something? Shoot."

Chirin: "Why are you so interested in Terra Firma? Would it have to do with that answer you're looking for?"

Python: "Hmm… It's kind of like that. Let's just say: many Abyssians in my field are interested in Terra Firma, including myself, but it's more getting any kind of knowledge on it that helps with who I'm searching for."

Chirin: "You're… looking for someone?"

Python: "That's right."

Chirin: "But what does learning about Terra Firma or guiding me through the Abyss have to do with finding someone? That… doesn't really make sense."

Python was quiet for a moment. Her next words came slowly, with a slight twinge of longing and sadness.

Python: "...She knows I'm looking for her. She knows something that I want to know: It's the answer I'm searching for. It's... complicated."

She shook her head and waved a hand dismissively.

 Python: "Aaaaaanyways! It's not uncommon for Abyssians to trade information with each other. That's all you need to know."

She sat up, offering Chirin a hand. 

Python: "I'm at my limit with following her. To be honest, it's been nice learning about Terra Firma from someone who's been there, as opposed to reading it from books and other people and such. To be able to have an opportunity to get information first-hand through someone who's lived there... Maybe it can get me closer to finding the truth. I think what I can learn from you will be worth more than anything else in the Abyss. Only to me, at least... Most Abyssians think otherwise."

Chirin: ("The truth...? Now that she mentions it, how much about Terra Firma do Abyssians currently know?")

Chirin: "... May I ask who exactly you are looking for? Maybe I could help?"

Python: "Hmmm... I appreciate the offer, but who she is is none of your concern. You should be more worried about making it back home. My business has little to do with it. You don't have anything to gain from it."

She gestured to Chirin with her extended hand, reminding him that it was still there.

Python: "Are you taking my hand or not?"

(Chirin strained to bite back the confused expression threatening to cut through his face).

Chirin: ("Really...? Even if I don't have anything to gain from it, I just want to help. I'm not really doing anything else for her... Not cool!")

But nonetheless, Chirin took Python's hand, allowing her to help him onto his feet.

Python: "You look way better than before. How do you feel? Hurting less than before, or still the same?"

Chirin: "Huh... It's hurting less. I can still make it just fine, though! You don't need to worry about me."

Python observed him for a moment.

Python: "That's good… l..."

Python: "..."

Python: ".........."

Python: "Wait. Wasn't your knee broken yesterday?"

Chirin spared a glance at his knee.

Chirin: ("Now that she mentions it... The bruising on my knee is gone! It doesn't ache!")

He bounced on his heels, testing his condition. While the aching did completely subside, the weakness remained. Just as long as he didn't push himself too hard, he should be alright.

Chirin: "Yeah. I think it was... Buy hey; it feels a lot better now!"

Python: "It's... Better already? The aching is gone...?"

Chirin: "Yes! I'm okay!"

Python: "What about when you put weight on it? Nothing feels strange?"

Chirin: "Nothing's wrong! I'm super-duper okay, see?"

He further demonstrated his point by balancing on his previously injured knee and shooting his companion a reassuring smile.

Python: "Wow... An injury like that normally takes months to heal... Chirin, do me a favor and don't tell anyone about any of that, understood?"

Chirin: "Why?"

Python: "Just don't. An ability like that is better off being known only by yourself or to someone you trust. The last thing you want is to attract unwanted attention. An impressive regenerative ability like yours is quite a big deal."

Chirin: ("Now that I think of it, what about me separates me from 'normal' Abyssians?")

Chirin: ("...")

Chirin: ("... Oh, who am I kidding? It's definitely a lot... Python does make a good point.")

Chirin: "...Alright."

Python: "....Hmm ...Now let's move on. The daylight is fresh, and the safest path to Outcry is long, but if we start moving now, we should be able to make it by late noon…."

Chirin: "Outcry...?"

Chirin: ("...Like as if someone or many people shouting? That sort of outcry? A little weird but... okay.")

Python: "It's the major city in Lamentation. Most of the Abyssians in this stratum reside there, with the rest living in scattered villages. We'll need to go there to fix this."

It was then that Chirin noticed that Python was holding something: a round, silvery device that fit in the palm of her hand. On it were carved words that Chirin couldn't read. 

Chirin: "What's that?"

With a flick of her wrist, Python opened the circular-shaped object.

Python: "It's a compass. You use it to navigate."

Python: "I've had this one for a while, so it's a bit wonky right now. It's an absolute necessity to have this in working condition for Fraud, though, so we must go to Outcry to get it fixed. I do have a warranty on this, so it shouldn't be too hard. Just pretty straightforward."

Chirin: "Oh! And then once it's fixed, we're heading to Fraud?"

Python: "Exactly. We're half a day's walk away from the city, so it shouldn't take us too long to get there unless something crazy happens. I'll buy us a night at an inn once all is said and done so you can sleep in a real bed this time, Chirin."

Chirin: ("A real bed?! I'll admit, I didn't sleep that great today, and... even though this forest is pretty, it still gives me the creeps...")

Chirin sighed, the thought of a warm bed and a comforting shelter painfully fresh in his mind.

Chirin: ("I wish I was home right now...")

A 𓇗  𓆸 A ᪥ 𓇑

The journey to Outcry quickly proved to be a long and slightly inconvenient one on Chirin's part.

Python allowed Chirin space to keep up, her paces long and slow. She occasionally stopped to check on Chirin before continuing. Chirin, on the other hand, was more focused on absorbing every ounce of his surroundings, cautiously eager to learn as much about the Abyss as he possibly could while trying not to push himself too hard.

The first thing the pair of wanderers passed was a massive boiling lake. The humid heat that came with their entering the lake's vicinity came without warning, blasting Chirin and Python with a whoosh. It was so sudden that it had Chirin shrinking into himself at the sudden temperature change, but when he looked up, he was met with a sight that fascinated him. 

Before he and Python was a bubbling body of water that stretched into an astronomically tremendous circular shape. Behind it lay a seemingly endless stretch of dark, lifeless mountains that stretched beyond the horizon. The cloudy pillar of steam that erupted from the lake was so massive that Chirin had to stop and take a moment to admire the stunning display of nature. His gaze followed the rising pillar of steam to its limit: the bottom of Fraud. Chirin's wide-eyed gaze lingered on that boundary. He wondered where the water was going and what was making the lake boil. Having sensed Chirin's fascination, Python stopped, shooting him a curious glance.

Chirin: “Woah! This is amazing... What is this place?!”

Python: “It's one of the many boiling lakes in Lamentation; a good landmark if anything. We will follow the river that feeds into this lake and return to the forest at another point.”

Her gaze lingered on Chirin.

Python: "Tell me. Weatherwise… Does water move similarly in Terra Firma than it does in the Abyss?"

Chirin: "I don't know… How does it work in the Abyss?"

Python: "Water flows through all seven stratums of the Abyss in a circular manner. When it reaches Lamentation, all of it flows here, where it is superheated by the molten lava under this stratum. The condensation returns to the highest stratum of the Abyss, Limbo, where it begins its journey downwards once again."

Chirin: "... Oooooh."

Chirin: "Wait, how does it rain in Lamentation?"

Python: "It rains when condensation piles up on the bottom of Fraud. That's one of the reasons why Lamentation gets more rain than Fraud and why there are certain periods of drought in all other stratums except Avaricious and Soullen. There's only so much water that can cling under Fraud. It's practically a desert up there… Why are you asking?"

Chirin: "It rains in Terra Firma too… but the rain comes in clouds. And this is the craziest-looking cloud I've ever seen… I thought clouds were only in the sky. At least, that's what I remember how it was like."

A vivid image of rainclouds flashed in Chirin's mind. He remembered the sensation of raindrops trailing down his skin and soaking his clothing, and then, he remembered how the sky would clear up, and the sun would greet him, its warm light slowly drying him off. His expression grew somber at the missed experience.

He wondered if he'd ever see the clouds again.

Meanwhile, Python was considering his words, her voice a low, inaudible mumble. She turned around and continued walking, her free hand resting on her chin thoughtfully.

Python: "Interesting…"

Chirin's distant gaze lingered on the cloudy pillar of steam. When he finally looked at Python's retreating figure, he realized she had put a considerable distance between them. 

He almost stumbled on himself trying to catch up with her.

A 𓇗  𓆸 A ᪥ 𓇑

_________

BONUS!

BLACK OUT Christmas Special!

(This Comic was created in Christmas 2022, back when the web novel was updated on AO3)