Here I am, suddenly alone.

    My eyes scan the ground dejectedly.

    What was Eris thinking?

    The people of the East amble around me, unaware of my prescence.

    Only a moment ago, Eris and I were the center of attention.

    Now we are separated.

    Where do I go from here?

    I need to find Ygrene.

    Find Ygrene.

    Find Ygrene...

    I stare up at the neverending Eastern mountains. So many secrets must be hidden in those peaks.

     The Chasm fog lowers around the city. A forlorn silence closes in around me.

    "No matter what, I'll never be able to escape my destiny," I voice quietly,

    "Whatever that is."

    I ponder on the strange sign I saw when I first awakened:

    "This is your doing. Welcome to the Chasm. Hopefully, you will learn the truth about it all."

    What a mysterious message.

    I walk further through the Eastern city, observing the many civilians going about their business.

    I should talk to one of them.

    "Excuse me, sir?" I ask a round, smiling, worm-like creature.

    "Ya?"

    "Do you know anybody by the name of Ygrene?"

    "Ygrene? No. Sorray." He replies, shrugging.

    I spend the next hour or so asking every city-dweller in sight, hoping someone knows of my friend.

    Most of the responses I received, however, were unsatisfactory:

    "...Ygrene?"

    "No..."

    "Who?'

    "Neva heard af 'im."

    "Nope. Its a big citay, ya know."

    "I'm sorray?"

    "Doesn't rang a beyll."

    "I have nay idea."

    "What?"

    Finally, after an eternity of searching, I stumble upon someone acquainted with Ygrene, which is actually quite surprising, considering the city's size.

    The individual who knew of my friend was quite mysterious. She wore a long cloak, so lengthy it covered all but her eyes, which peered out suspiciously from the darkness of her hood.

    "Ohhhh, yais. I know of Ygrene. We go way bayck. What do ya want from 'im?"

    "Do you know where he lives?" I ask optimistically.

    "Hmmmm— Huw can I trust ya haf good intentions?"

    "uh—well— I know he's from the East, but he recently moved to the Core, which led him to change his dialect. Oh yeah, I also know he can't stand stop-and-go stations! He likes Eastern lifts much better."

    "Okay, so ya eitha know 'im or stalk 'im. Ah, I'll take ma chaynces: head down ta that tall teymple, then go down the alleyway. His house is tha smallest one. Ya won't miss it."

    "Is the alley—is that way safe?"

    "Weyll, it's as safe as ya can get out here in tha outskirts."

    "Outskirts?"

    "Ya new here, aren't ya?"

    "Yep. I know nothing."

    "Okay. In tha East, the fartha in ya go, the safer ya are. Farther out ya go, tha closer ya are ta tha DOEC."

    "The—the 'DOEC'?"

    "Deceyntralized Outa Eastern Clans. Nasty people, they are. Always tryin' ta take ova the land. Destabalize curreyncy. Rioting. Stuff like that."

    "Oh, gosh. How do I stay away from them out here?"

    "Uh, weyll, most Easterners learn this simple rhyme to stay safe: 'good distance, safe existence. When there's a bad vibe, leave ta stay alive.'"

    "You know what? Could you tag along with me to Ygrene's place? I'm surprised I'm not already dead out here."

    "I'm not so sure about thayt. Me aynd Ygrene—we aren't on great terms."

    "Please? All you have to do is lead me to his house. You can walk right out after that. Please. I don't want to meet one of these 'DOEC' members."

    "Oh, alright, fine. But if you geyt killed, I better not be liable!"

    "You won't! You won't! I swear!"

    "Okay—follow me, scardey-cat. Oh, and the name's Ydal."

    "Nice to meet you. I'm Nur."

    Ydal leads me down the exact path she described to me: upon encountering a sleek, cubic temple, we turned into a small alleyway, dark and foreboding. Although it was nearly pitch black inside, I could easily see the light shining through the other end of it. I focused on the light, struggling to stay unafraid. Thankfully, we both made it through unscathed. Of course, while I was decompressing from the utter ominousness of the alleyway, Ydal appeared completely calm, even apathetic. She unconcernedly led me to Ygrene's house before waving goodbye and disappearing down the same route.

    Alone again, I stare at the unfamiliar, boxy shape of the dwelling.

    Ygrene, who must have noticed me, walks out of its glowing walls.

    "You again! How've you liked the East?" he asks happily.

    "You didn't tell me anything about these DOEC people!"

    "Oh, shoot. I totally forgot about that. Sorry. You didn't run into them, did you?"

    "No, no. How could you have forgotten about them and not about stop-and-go stations?" I question frustratedly.

    "Well, as long as you stay inside before 8:00 PM, they're not really a problem. They're night owls."

    "What time is it now?"

    "6:02."

    "Oh, good. Listen, Ygrene—I know we barely know each other, but I've been awake for far too long and am in desperate, desperate need of sleep. Would you mind if I spent the night here?"

    Ygrene studies me for a moment.

    "No. Come on in. I'll show you around. Wait a minute—where's that other guy you were with?"

    "I don't know. Probably somewhere in the area."

    "Oh, okay. Has he got his own place?"

    "Not really."

    "What happened, then?"

    "It's complicated."

    "Ah, okay. Well, make yourself at home."

    I walk through the house's glowing border into Ygrene's homely living space:

    It is nothing like Wolliw's: an assortment of bean bags surrounds what looks like a 3D projector. Nearby, a mini-kitchen, full of various appliances, smells of delicate pastry. The ceiling is comfortably low, giving the room a feeling of warmth and safety. I sigh.

    "I love this place," I remark, yawning loudly.

    "Alright, you've got to sleep before you pass out right where you're standing. You'll find a bedroom behind that door next to the kitchen." Ygrene explains.

    "Thanks," I mutter, hobbling through the aforementioned door and flopping onto the puffy bed as soon as my vision confirmed its existence. Fatigue instantly overcomes me, submerging me in deep, much-needed sleep.