The rest of the day passed with no events of notability. The illumination of the Light Flowers slowly dampened, the fauna exhausting the last of their energy and fading into a bright damp colored light as they slowly began to curl into themselves.

But whether Chirin would be able to witness those fascinating bulbs of light fade once again was quickly decided as he and Python arrived at the edge of the forest and into a clearing that paved the way for a city of behemoth scale. She lightly tapped Chirin in the shoulder and gestured to the city as if she were welcoming him.

Python: “It took more than half a day to get here, but... we’re finally here.”

Chirin stared after her, absorbing his first sight of Abyssian civilization. Buildings that numbered possibly by the thousands stretched as far as he could see. Impressive yet strictly uniform architecture and coloring enchanted the city with an aura of enterprise and progressiveness. Soulless yet soulful at the same time. And within it, lurked creatures both humanoid and monstrous, tall and short, furry and scaly. 

Abyssians. 

So many Abyssians. So many people. Most definitely the most people Chirin had ever seen in his life. It both terrified and excited him.

Chirin: “S-So this is Outcry?”

Python: “That’s right.”

Chirin: “Woah… It’s so big! How many people live here?!”

Python: “Hmmmm… I’d say most of the Abyssians who reside in this stratum live in this general area?”

Python: “...Yeah. To answer your question: That means that a lot of people live here.”

Python: “There’s more safety in numbers, so Abyssians typically live together in towns, camps, or tiny settlements. Lamentation doesn’t have too many of those compared to other stratums, but they do have Outcry: it’s the largest city in the Abyss.”

She grabbed his hand, clutching it with a sense of urgency.

Python: “I’m not looking to give anyone an opportunity to steal you away from me. It’s easy to get lost here, so stay close and don’t leave my sight. Am I understood?”

He returned Python’s grip with an understanding squeeze.

Chirin: “Yes Ma’am–”

Python’s grip on his hand tightened, and Chirin sputtered.

Chirin: “Aghfpph!! I mean— Okay Python!”

Python: “C’mon, Chirin! You made so much progress… And for what? This? You really need to work on your listening skills...”

𓆙

Outcry was a hectic and loud place. 

Everywhere Chirin looked, there were shops with shiny trinkets and interesting knick-knacks, advertisements written with words he couldn’t read, and Lamentenian merchants of all sizes and appearances shouting of the sweetest new imports of their product. 

Some shops had colorful threads. Some stank with the smell of seafood; specimens of exotic-looking fish hung up by their tails on display for all to see. Some displayed impressive works of art. Others had objects of interest that were utterly unknown to Chirin: devices and machinery that he couldn’t put a name to that seemed to attract a large audience of interested patrons.

Then came the subject of the Lamentenians themselves: if the busier sections of the city were bustling with business, so too were the indie musical performances and conversations among the locals. 

The sound of music played on various different instruments in vastly varying styles echoed throughout the city. Begging musicians offering their hats to passing Abyssians, men and women danced while offering their hats, and a blind Abyssian slumped in a corner, smiling as he took a generous donation from another who pitied him. 

No two Abyssians looked the same. Some looked completely humanoid, while others appeared entirely animalistic, there appeared to be a fair share of Abyssians who fell between those two lines in terms of appearance as well. Additionally, some Abyssians were extremely tall, while others were small: much smaller than Chirin.

Chirin: (“In terms of looks, Abyssians seem extremely diverse… It’s amazing to think that despite those differences in size and appearance, they can all live together like this. I guess it really is true that Abyssians don’t look too much into outward appearances, just what’s on the inside…”)

But despite their extreme diversity, the Abyssians weren’t exactly subtle in their interest in Chirin. 

Their stares were like an unspoken sympathy of intrigue. The moment he had stepped into the city, Chirin had seen and felt their chorus of pondering, curious gazes.

A pair of Abyssians sitting at a bench paused midconversation, their gazes following Chirin’s progress.

A barista wiping down a counter stole glances from behind a cafe’s murky window, their mouth slightly agape as if they were watching a fireworks show.

A small group of Abyssians gathered around a trumpet player paused and glanced at Chirin, their gazes lingering longer than comfortably normal. Even the trumpet player had paused their musical rendition for a split moment, their eyes flashing with fascination as they stole a glance at him before continuing their performance.

Chirin couldn’t shake off the feeling that his mere presence alone had caused him to become the centerpiece of some soft enigmatic spectacle. He squeezed Python’s hand, suddenly grateful for her company.

Chirin: (“Is there really something about me that they see, like Python had said, or do they just treat newcomers this way…? We both stand out so much here...”)

Suddenly, a cicada-like Abyssian holding a stringed instrument intercepted Python and Chirin, a huge wily smile playing at his insect-like features as he held out his coin-filled hat, almost as if he were expecting the both of them to contribute to his generous pile. 

(To Chirin’s relief, he seemed more interested in Python than in him).

Lamentenian Musician: “You! With the beautiful exotic, expensive-looking garb, yes you, Ma’am! Sorry—! I just couldn’t help but notice how beautiful you are! Judging by your exotic clothing, would you happen to be a denizen of Soullen?”

Chirin: (“Soullen… That’s one of the seven stratums of the Abyss...”)

He shot a curious glance at Python, whose expression (judging by the sharpness of her frown) appeared entirely disinterested.

Python: “Yeah.”

Lamentenian Musician: “Woah! You must have traveled a long way to get here. We get it! Many Abyssians from outside Lamentation visit here, so it’s only to be expected!”

Chirin: “Really? Why?”

Lamentenian Musician: “Good question, little listener! Tell me this first: Would this happen to be your first time at Outcry?”

Chirin: “Oh-! Uhm... Yes, sir!”

Lamentenian Musician: “Well then, since it’s your first time here, let me tell you about our amazing home!”

Lamentenian Musician: “Business is always booming in Outcry, it’s the most technologically advanced city in the Abyss, there’s so many things to do here, and we love foreigners… They bring us so many nice exotic things, and we really can’t get enough of them. Unlike the other stratums, we pay absolutely no mind on how one dresses or behaves. So… please! If you’re here to look for a new place to call home, this is the city for you!”

The Musician stared expectantly at Python.

Lamentenian Musician: “Denizen of Soullen… May I have the honor of hearing your name?”

Python: “Python.”

A perplexed look crossed The Musician’s face.

Lamentenian Musician: “Python…? Just Python?”

Python: “Just Python.”

Chirin: “Umm… Were you expecting more?”

Lamentenian Musician: “Well… Yes! Soullenians pride themselves on clan-chosen names that show off their physical or intrinsic qualities. I was just surprised at how… boring your name is. I was expecting something like… ‘Fierceteeth’, or ‘Nightstalker’, or ‘Two-Toed’ just to name a few that I’ve met! Not just Python! ”

Chirin: “Two-Toed…? Did they actually have two toes?”

Lamentenian Musician: “Ahahaha! Why of course they did, little listener! And it was quite a sight to behold!”

Chirin: “Woah…”

Chirin: ("That's weird...")

Lamentenian Musician: “Python… Is that an alias, or did you actually reject your own name?”

There was a brief, heavy silence. Chirin felt Python twitch through their conjoined hands, and he shot her a concerned look.

Chirin: (“This seems like a tough subject for her… Should I say something?”)

Python: “That’s none of your business.”

The venom in her tone wasn’t missed by Chirin.

Chirin: (“... On second thought, maybe I shouldn’t say anything at all...!”)

The Musician waved a hand dismissively.

Lamentation Musician: “Alright, alright! I’ll drop it! Please, don’t be mad at me. H-Here! Let me play a welcoming song befitting one as beautiful as yourself on my beautiful guitar here!”

He further emphasized his point by strumming the chords on his guitar, the resulting sound an entrancing melody that had Chirin’s eyes widening with curious anticipation. The Musician, having noticed Chirin’s interest, beamed at Chirin, his grin not quite reaching his eyes.

Lamentenian Musician: “That aura of yours... It's so is incredibly hard to miss, you know! It’s so... beautiful and colorful…”

Chirin: (“... Huh?")

Lamentenian Musician: “Dare I say that YOU certainly are unique! It’s unmistakable, that heart seems like quite the treat!”

Lamentenian Musician: “Ahahah! See what I did there? I rhymed! And I did it without thinking either! I’m quite the genius, huh?”

At the mention of Chirin’s heart being a treat, an image of the tree-bound Abyssian’s gaping, heartless chest and the Elder standing over it flashed in his mind. He pressed closer to Python, his gaze avoiding the Musician’s. The Musician, having noticed his sudden unease coughed nervously.

Lamentenian Musician: “Ah! Oh… Apologies! I had no intention of offending you!”

Chirin: “I-It’s okay, sir. Don’t worry about it... You wanted to play us a song, right?”

Lamentenian Musician: “Yes, yes! You’ll listen till the end, will you?”

Chirin: “Sure!”

Python: “Nope. Not interested.”

The grip between their entwined hands tightened, and Python dragged a confused Chirin around the Musician.

Chirin: (“Wha-?!)

Lamentenian Musician: “Huh?! W-Where are you going? Wait! Come back!”

At his protest, Python’s gait sped up to a sprint Chirin could barely keep up with, and almost stumbled keeping up with her, unused to the sudden physical exertion as he let himself get dragged away. Chirin’s past injuries let themselves be known with a sharp piercing pain that started with his knee and seared through his whole body. The sudden pain had caught him off guard.

Chirin: “Agh! Wait! Ma’am! Please stop!”

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