Slate put away his books and nudged Isaac. The two made their way to the edge of the mine shaft - Slate remembered the way very well, and the two stood looking down into the black pit. He felt his stomach tighten, just like it did when he first began working in the mines so many years past.

  "So we just jump in?" Isaac asked.

  "Yes. The feather packs will work by themselves and we should float gently down."

  "Should?"

  Slate nodded, exhaling a deep breath before stepping over the edge. The sense of weightlessness took him as his throat tightened. He fell for a few seconds before translucent white feathers spread from his pack and he slowly glided down. Glancing behind him, he saw Isaac just a few feet above. The two continued their journey down into the darkness, easily several hundred feet down. When the moonlight faded, Slate lit a fire in his palm and projected the light downwards.

  Horrible, isn’t it? That feeling of losing control and being subject to the forces of the world? The Passenger asked in Slate’s head.

  It’s not the most pleasant feeling, no, Slate thought back.

  Then you know how I feel just riding along. Constantly under the control of a force greater than yourself. Does that help explain to you why I took over your pre-godhood days?

  ...I suppose it does. What you describe doesn’t sound pleasant. Slate grimaced, If you hate that feeling so much, why not just leave?

  I can’t. Don’t ask me how it works - I’ve tried leaving. And unlike other Demons, I cannot manifest a corporeal form of my own.

  So you would be excited to be removed.

  But not to be trapped in a gemstone forever! That would be even worse. Not even experiencing the world, just sitting in a rock for eternity? No thank you.

  Slate smiled, then let us make a truce of sorts. I promise to create a body for you to use to experience this world, but in exchange you don’t mess with me or my allies. And, you work for me. Sound fair?

  There was a pause, and Slate could just faintly sense the Passenger feeling...joy? Does it have to be one of those metal ones?

  No. Since Isaac rejected the offer to bring Willow back, I happen to have a viable body for you to inhabit.

  Slate heard an otherworldly laugh echo through his head; not a laugh of evil, but a laugh of mirth and disbelief. You would give me a body? A creature’s form? Not just some construct with a failsafe built in?

  I don’t see why not. By your own omission, you cannot manifest a corporeal form of your own. Slate slightly reoriented his body as the end of the shaft approached. Every creature deserves to experience life.

  That’s pretty progressive of you.

  Slate sighed, If I were in your position, it’s what I would want. You remember what mother used to say.

  The Passenger chuckled, Oh, I remember. ‘Do for others what you want done for yourself.’

  Slate landed on the floor of the mine-shaft, the translucent wings folding back into the small pack. He glanced up as Isaac began to land as well. I may not like you - you did burn down my childhood home, after all. And maimed a man. Along with all those dangerous pranks at the academy. But even through all that, you have been useful these past few weeks. It’s not entirely altruism. I can use you. And I have plans.

  I must’ve rubbed off on you a bit.

  Don’t say that...unless you want me to rescind the offer.

  "Where to next?" Isaac asked as the wings on his pack folded in once more.

  Slate glanced around the large central shaft. The place was empty, completely silent save for the creaking of the ropes slightly swayed by the wind above the hole. Six tunnels led off in different directions. "We should be able to find the forward office down here. Look for a wooden door in the edge of this main chamber. There should be a map in it with the metal veins marked out." Isaac nodded and his hand illuminated a dull green as he began a clockwise circle around the chamber. Slate went the opposite way. He found the office and waved Isaac over.

  Isaac reached for the door handle and tried to push it in, but it wouldn’t budge. "Damn, they must have some type of lock on it," hesaid in slight frustration.

  "Not to worry," Slate replied as he reached into his hip-pouch and pulled out a long crowbar. Isaac looked at him questioningly as Slate glanced back. "Oh, the pouch. It’s just cosmetic. I can pull any tool out of thin air if I need it. God of crafting means instant creation of any tool for such purpose." Isaac nodded and helped Slate fit the crowbar into the door near the locking mechanism. The two of them put their weight to it, and the door began to bend inward. With a loud clang that echoed up the shaft, the door stood ajar.

  Isaac glanced upwards, "I sure hope no one heard that," he said as he strapped the crowbar alongside his pack.

  Slate went into the room and found the large map of the mines. Thirty sub-tunnels since I left? They have been busy. He identified the tunnel leading to the boarded-off section. The map labeled that tunnel as a dead end with a big red X over it. "That can’t be good," he muttered as he rejoined Isaac in the main area.

  "What can’t be good?" Isaac asked.

  "A red X denotes an accident. We already knew that there were rumors that men went insane down here and a few were put down. But now we know for sure. Something bad happened in that tunnel," Slate replied.

  He strode down the northern tunnel and navigated through several turns and off-shoots. The two walked in silence, Isaac constantly glancing over his shoulder - the tunnel completely still save for their two forms. After a short while they reached a large wooden barricade; several planks of wood stood upright and crossed with even more wood. ‘Keep out!’ was written in large red painted letters. "Looks like we found it," Slate said.

  Isaac pulled out the crowbar and pried two boards loose, just enough for them to squeeze in. He took the lead, stepping through the gap as Slate followed. The tunnel beyond was the same as before; rough rock walls with support beams along the center. Slate reached a hand up and touched the wall, feeling along as he went. Isaac manifested his bow and drew back forming a green arrow that projected a dim light. He began to quietly go down the tunnel, slinking along the wall with nary a whisper. Slate followed, slightly bumping into a rock here or there. The tunnel continued for only thirty feet before a large chamber opened before them. The room was completely dark, the steady drip of water could be heard echoing through the chamber. Slate raised his hand and focused on the flame he held, willing it to float into the center of the chamber and increase in intensity. His jaw dropped at the sight that stood illuminated.

  A massive black doorway stood, empty. Easily fifty feet high that reached the top of the chamber, and just as wide, leaving scant space to scoot along the wall. The whole construction was made of a matte black stone that seemed to soak up the light in the room.

  "What is that thing?" Isaac whispered.

  "I think...I think that’s some type of portal anchor," Slate whispered back. "But it’s huge. And the stone is one I’ve never seen. This may be an entrance to the Sidereal."

  Isaac looked concerned, "I’ve heard of that before. Something about Lux and Umbra’s servants."

  Slate nodded, "Yes. After the Void Invasion bypassed the gods' defenses, Lux and Umbra came to Heimfold to find it devastated, and Caelum - the god who made our realm - missing. Whilst their siblings held back The Void the two goddesses summoned their armies and pushed the invaders back to where they came from. After sealing the rifts some of their servants chose to stay in our realm. Either incorporating themselves into the newly reforged races and fathering, or mothering, the half-celestials and half-infernals. But many disappeared into a pocket dimension - the Sidereal. Ready to respond should another Void Invasion occur." Slate slowly walked towards the massive structure and ran a hand over the base of it, his voice slowly growing out of the whisper, "That’s only part of the story. True scholars know that the Sidereal warped those who stay within. They become suffused with the essence of The Mortal Realm - where Heimfold is located - and therefore are not truly celestial or infernal. They are known as the Sideborn."

  Isaac walked up and put a hand on Slate’s shoulder, "Why would this cause the miners to go insane and turn on each other?"

  Slate shrugged, "Let’s find out." Slate concentrated and expended his heat, channeling it down his arm and into the stone. The knowledge filled his mind and he stepped back feeling sheer horror wash over him as images of purple and pale white tendrils filled his mind’s eye. "I was wrong. Isaac, we have to leave!" Slate turned and began to run to the tunnel as Isaac followed.

  "What is it? What’s wrong?" Isaac asked as he followed and overtook Slate.

  "It’s not a gate to the Sidereal." Slate said hurriedly in response, looking back at the gateway as a purple pinprick of light appeared at the and slowly spread in a fractal pattern of triangles. Slate stopped and turned, he channeled his heat and directed the flow to his hand, unleashing a massive torrent of fire into the pinprick of light that slowly expanded. Seeing no effect, he stopped the flames.

  "What’s coming, Slate?" Isaac asked as he stopped and turned, drawing back his arm.

  Don’t let us die here! Run! Get us out! The Passenger begged having seen the same cosmic horror within Slate's mind.

  Slate stood firm and glanced at the tunnel behind them. "We can’t leave. If it comes through, it will rampage through Highpass unchecked."

  "What is-" Isaac began to ask, but the fractal pattern reached the edges of the gateway.

  A bleached white form shuffled through. Diseased-looking purple pustules pulsed along its body. A four legged aberration covered with tentacles, with a long maw that a tongue slithered out of, tipped with a black stinger. The tail long and curved at the end, sharp as a scythe. The aberration let out a shriek as it exited the portal; easily ten feet at the shoulder - a perverse reimagining of an equine from the darkest depths of one’s imagination. The portal blinked out of existence as the creature finished emerging.

  Isaac loosed an arrow, "Forget I asked," he muttered as the arrow struck true, the aberration letting out a snarl as black ichor dripped from the wound. Slate unleashed his torrent of fire, the creature shrieking as it dodged to the side. Slate tried to track its movement but it was too fast and closed the gap between them. Slate stopped the torrent and surrounded himself with the flames, willing them to become a barrier as the creature bull-rushed him, sending him flying back down the tunnel. He went tumbling end over end, but the flames cushioned his impact enough that he just suffered some bruising. Glancing up in between rolls, he spotted Isaac.

  His fellow god dashed around the creature, "Hey! Ugly! Come get me!" he shouted as he continued to loose volleys at the creature, running around the edge of the room. The aberration let out a high pitched screech and chased Isaac, as he nimbly ducked under the tail that swiped and the large toothy maw that tried to chomp. Isaac glowed green as several phantasmal arrows appeared around the creature and feathered it; the nimble dance of hunter and hunted switching roles as the two worked their way across the chamber.

  Slate struggled to his feet, breathing in deep and feeling that several of his ribs had cracked, his flame barrier not quite cushioning him as much as he hoped. Isaac can keep it occupied for the moment, he thought as he channeled his heat into his palms, bringing his hands together and focusing as much heat as he could spare without passing out into a small bead. He ran forward to see the aberration had struck Isaac several times; a long gash along the front of his armor as red blood dripped as the bladed, barbed tongue flashed out to strike. The horror had also suffered injuries, several black pools spread across the floor. Isaac was panting at the top of the portal, as the creature tried to crawl up the pillar, the hooves on its feet turning into malformed hands.

  Slate ran at the creature, leaping as high as he could as he brought his palms down onto it. The bead vanished and went into the monster. It turned around rapidly, throwing Slate off as its tail slashed across him, carving a wound across his shoulder. Slate was launched against the wall, the wind knocked out of him as he felt bones crunch again as he felt his blood begin to wet his body. The aberration began to lumber towards him as it glowed red. Slate grinned, "Burn you bastard!" he wheezed out. The creature cocked its head sideways, as if it understood Slate’s words. It opened its maw and screeched, but smoke billowed up and out of the opening. The creature rolled on the ground as its flesh began to bubble and boil before sloughing off. Inside the creature, where the flesh had sloughed off, a fire raged and devoured. The heat didn’t bother Slate at all as he watched with satisfaction. The creature keeled over and burned away to ash, its form screeching in pain as it suddenly went silent. He pressed a hand to his wound and cauterized it.

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  Slate slowly stood and glanced over at Isaac who had dismissed his bow. He limped over to Slate, a large gash across his leg, and a small hole in his shoulder. "It got me Slate. I think it -" Isaac knelt over and puked before collapsing to the ground. Slate knelt down and felt Isaac’s brow. Fever. Damn, it must have had a poison on that tongue-barb. He slapped Isaac’s face gently, "Can you miracle us back to the Inn?"

  Isaac’s eyes fluttered open as his breathing went shallow, "I can...try." He began to convulse slightly, his legs spasming.

  Slate glanced around and saw something in the aberration’s pile of ashes. He plucked the shining crystal and put it in his pocket, giving Isaac a nod. Isaac glowed green. Slate glanced around the chamber as the glow spread. The doorway seemed silent - no trace of the portal remaining, but a small group of men stood at the tunnel entrance. Shit, Slate thought as the two vanished.

  Slate fell onto the wooden floor of their room at the inn as the two reappeared, Isaac falling onto the bed. Slate put an ear to his chest; his heart was beating very slowly. A venom of some type.

  Got something to fix it in that bag?

  I don’t. And I can’t make an antivenom unless I have a sample of the original, or the stinger. Slate picked Isaac up and threw him over his shoulder, running down the stairs of the inn and dashing through the main door, the innkeeper giving him a quizzical look as he did so. We have to get him to a Church of Soothing Waters. That’s our only chance, Slate thought as he ran to where the temples and religious buildings were on the upper tier of the city. He made a fast pace, willing his body to move faster, and feeling his dwindling heat respond, flowing to his legs and pushing him forward at a breakneck speed - smoke literally coming off of his footsteps.

  He came upon the building - the church being one of several religions dedicated to an aspect of Aqua - and opened the door. The inside was devoid of people. Benches were lined up on the sides. A large fountain dominated the far end where an altar would be, and a five foot by three foot pool lay at the front of the fount. "Hello! Anyone! We need healing!" Slate shouted. No response came as his voice echoed through the building. "Damnit! What should I do?"

  You could try praying to the goddess yourself.

  You think she would respond?

  What have we got to lose at this point?

  Slate grunted and went to the fountain, placing Isaac in the trough below, his body sank just until he was almost fully submerged, his pale face still floating above the water, his breathing very slow and shallow. Slate got to his knees and spoke aloud to the fountain; "Goddess Aqua. Bearer of water, giver of life, lady of healing. Please, help Isaac. He’s been hurt by a creature of The Void." Slate felt a small tear form in the corner of his eye before wiping it away. "Save him. We need him." Slate waited for some sign, some vision...something!...

  But none came.

  If she won’t help then I guess I have no choice. Slate rolled up his sleeves and placed a hand on Isaac’s head, and another one on his heart.

  What are you going to do?

  I’m going to try and burn the poison out. I don’t know if this will kill him, but it’s the best thing I can think of.

  Slate concentrated the last of his heat into his palms, and focused to the exclusivity of everything else - Save my friend. The heat radiated as Isaac’s body began to grow extremely hot to the touch. He began sweating profusely, the water around him bubbling and steaming. Isaac coughed several times as his eyes blinked open, glancing about. Slate fell back as a wave of lethargy swept over him as his eyes fluttered shut, exhausted. Isaac sat up in the trough. "Where are we Slate? What happened?" His wounds were still present, but the poison seemed to have been burned out of his system.

  Slate grinned and panted, "You got us out of there. I tried my best to fix you." He glanced up and down his ally, "I think it worked. Do you feel anything except those wounds?"

  Isaac shook his head, "No. Just the shoulder and my leg." He stood up and favored his good leg as he did so, "What was that thing?"

  "A corrupted creature of The Void," an unknown voice replied. Female, soft and soothing, but tinged with melancholy.

  Isaac glanced around, not seeing anyone. He looked at Slate, who shrugged and smiled, "Guess she did hear me after all. What took you so long, Aqua?"

  Out of the fountain a female figure appeared. She was clothed in deep blue robes with a flowing wave pattern of silver. Adorned with platinum jewelry, and hair white as sea-foam that rolled back from her head. The goddess of water stood before the two gods. "I’m not at your beck and call, you know. It takes time to transport from The Deluge to Heimfold."

  Slate grinned at her, "I dealt with the poison, I think. Want to check the rest of him over?"

  Aqua nodded and gestured to the trough, "Get in, god of forests." Isaac did so, and Aqua passed her hands over his body. The water responded to her movements, and before Slate’s eyes Isaac’s wounds healed over without a scar left where they were. Aqua then turned to Slate and gestured as water flew out of the trough at him. The small deluge soaked him and he sputtered up water. The pain from his torso and shoulder was gone, and Aqua smiled.

  "Now then, what’s this about a creature of The Void doing this to you?" Aqua asked.

  Slate summarized the encounter with the aberration as Aqua’s face grew more rigid with concern. "...And we were spotted as we left. Not to go into my history, but I’m not well liked in this town," Slate finished.

  Aqua leaned against the large fountain she had stepped from, the water seeming to leave her completely dry despite flowing over her form, "A black doorway. And it responded to your presence. " She ran a hand through her hair, "Well, you’re gods so you deserve to know. Tell me, how much do you know of The Creation itself?"

  Isaac stood and replied, "Not much, just what I learned as a child. The Void used to have everything in its control. Then the Artificial Gods appeared, and pushed The Void back, establishing a barrier and making Heimfold."

  "We didn’t make The Mortal Realm - our term for Heimfold." Aqua walked to a bench and sat, seemingly quoting from something, "‘In the beginning there was The Void, and The Void was all.’ That is how the saying goes. And it’s true. But, things happened before The Void, before ‘the beginning’ of recorded history." Slate sat down next to her and took out a notepad and writing utensil, Aqua put a hand up and shook her head, "No, do not write this. For if the truth were known, then the Artificial Gods may lose followers, and therefore power, and The Void may reclaim what was its own once more." Slate sighed and put the notepad away.

  Aqua continued, "Before The Void came there was more than one Creation. More than one world, more than one Mortal Realm. And they were filled with life and had gods of their own. But then The Void crept in. None know where it came from, only that it consumed and perverted that which it touched. The gods were unaffected, and fought back. But all were destroyed. Except Caelum, our eldest brother. He made a last stand against The Void. He failed." She looked down and took a deep breath before continuing, "The Void did consume all. However, Caelum had a backup plan. On Heimfold, he hid deep in the ground; recovering, and creating me, my brother, and sisters. He had hoarded Aether Shards in the unlikely event that other worlds sought to invade his own, fearing the other gods, fearing one that would attempt to conquer him." She looked up and gazed into Slate’s eyes, "Just like you and Isaac here, we were made gods. But not from creatures, rather from the prime elements themselves - the most potent forces in all The Creations. Hence why we are called Artificial."

  Slate nodded sagely, "And since The Void once controlled and ruled Heimfold, it established itself here."

  "Yes," Aqua replied, "My brother trained us and we erupted forth; destroying The Void and pushing it back as far as we could. We cleansed a large portion of the space surrounding this Mortal Realm and established a barrier; my sister Terra forming the backbone of the defense keeping the encroaching Void out. Then we set about remaking Heimfold and cleansing it. We found that The Void had constructed doorways to travel to and from Heimfold. A portal network, if you are familiar with the mage term. There is some sort of intelligence that controls The Void, but we don't know what it could be. Scouting beyond The Guardian Belt is dangerous and could leave us vulnerable. To continue: the gates re-opened and thus The Void Invasion occurred as it did in your history books. We destroyed the gates we found, Caelum was lost in the conflict, and then history occurred as you know. It would appear you two stumbled across a doorway we did not know of." She stood up and held out a hand, manifesting a spear of water as she went towards the entrance of the Church. "And now I must destroy it."

  "Wait!" Slate said, standing and walking to her, "I still have questions. So many questions."

  Aqua sighed, "I cannot spend all night answering questions for you, god of knowledge."

  Slate pulled out the crystal and handed it to her, "This came from the creature."

  Aqua took the shard and her hand pulsed with blue light. "The monster you slew most likely killed a god such as yourself and ate it." She handed it back to him, and he felt the tingling sensation in his hands as he grasped it - but it felt…wrong. Like when his foot would fall asleep, the prickling pain that comes with restored blood flow.

  Slate nodded but then a thought occurred, "Is this Shard corrupted? Can Shards be corrupted?"

  Aqua shook her head, "My only guess would be that can be corrupted given enough exposure. I'll bring the matter up with Lux. Out of all my siblings, she is the one most likely to know, having purity fall under the purview of light."

  Slate pocketed the Shard and glanced back at Isaac who walked over and crossed his arms.

  "Do you want us to come help you destroy the doorway?" Isaac asked.

  Aqua shook her head, "It’s not needed. I am more than capable of destroying doorways myself. And besides, you two seem rather exhausted." She smiled, "But thank you for offering. It is appreciated. And as a reward for finding it…" she reached down into a small pouch hanging from her waist and handed another Aether Shard to Isaac, who took it and bowed.

  "Thank you," he said reverently.

  Aqua laughed, "You’re welcome, god of forests." She turned to Slate, "And to you, god of knowledge and flames. I grant the boon of one more question."

  Slate put a hand through his beard, "I’d like to know why miners were driven insane, rather than open the doorway like I did."

  Aqua frowned, "It is unfortunate that mortals died. The Void causes madness in those who are unprepared to deal with it. One look at the doorway, and the men lost their minds. Mortal minds cannot comprehend it either. As for its opening; well, whatever intelligence controls or directs The Void...it must have forgotten about that doorway until you were present."

  Slate smiled, "Ah, that makes sense. Thank you very much Aqua, for all the knowledge and the gifts."

  She waved a hand dismissively, "It’s in my best interests to keep the other gods alive. But don’t expect this type of divine intervention to happen often. I have one question for you. You mentioned you were seen as you left the doorway?"

  Slate nodded his head, "Yes. A group of men. They may have heard us descending into the mine. I don’t know if they went mad or not."

  "I can fix madness with ease. Thank you. And Farewell." She opened the door and a wave of water crested under her feet as she surfed through the air towards the mine-shaft at the center of town.

  Slate breathed a sigh of relief as he turned to Isaac and smiled, "We got what we came for, and learned something no one else knows. I’d call that a good expedition. Why don’t we go back and sleep?"

  Isaac nodded and smiled, "Sounds like a plan."

  The two made their way back to the Inn. As they entered Slate saw the innkeeper staring at him and continued up the stairs.

  Meeting a goddess? What a fun life you live.

  Did you know about all that stuff? The pre-Creation history?

  Nope. But I think that Innkeeper recognized you. Want me to take over while you sleep?

  Slate opened the door to their room as Isaac entered behind him and collapsed on the bed. He turned the door handle and dropped the lock-bar into place. As long as you promise not to burn anything or kill Isaac.

  The Passenger chuckled, Hey now, we are building trust here - I want that body you said I could have. Get some shut eye. I’ll wake you up if something tries to break down the door.

  Slate sighed and collapsed back onto his bed, closing his eyes and falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

  Wake up! Something’s wrong.

  Slate roused to consciousness to find he had been standing in a corner. What is it?

  I heard shouting in the alley outside. Something along the lines of ‘burn the banished’. Ring a bell?

  Shit. Slate went over to Isaac and shook him awake. Isaac roused slowly before sitting up. "We have to go, Isaac. Now. Can you warp us back to Bastion?"

  Isaac sleepily shook his head, "I’m pretty much tapped. I used a lot of my heat trying to deal with the creature."

  "Damn," Slate replied. "Then we have to get to the horses and flee."

  "Flee? Why?"

  Slate packed up his supplies and shouldered his pack, tossing Isaac his as well. "I was banished. Someone must have recognized me. Any who are banished are killed if they return."

  A loud slamming was heard on the door as several loud voices yelled through the muted door.

  "We know you’re in there madman! You’ll pay for what you did!"

  "Kill the madman!"

  "He murdered my child!"

  "Let's go, we can take him if we all go in at once!"

  Isaac went over to the nearby window and opened it, ducking back as a clay pot shattered into the window frame. "We can’t get out this way. Any ideas?"

  Slate looked around the room - the one door, the window… the floor. He smiled and created a pair of axes from small bits of wood and metal in his satchel. "We can get out by going down. First floor, I think we’re above the kitchens." Slate began swinging downwards with all his might, cracking through the wood as the door to their room began to buckle. Isaac joined in, and soon the two had a small hole they were able to squeeze through. They jumped down and Slate used the last remnants of his heat to reshape the floor, leaving it pristine as exhaustion once more washed over him.

  Isaac went to a door leading to the outside and put his ear against it. "I don’t hear anyone out this way." He slowly turned the handle and poked his head out, waving Slate to follow as the crept outside the building.

  The two went along a back alley, hearing the shouting of the mob fade into the distance as they made their way to the stables nearby. They saddled their horses and rode to the gates finding them barred.

  Slate grimaced, "We aren’t getting out that way it looks like."

  "What about that?" Isaac asked, pointing at a small lake situated near the front gate. Several boats were moored there and a river led from the eastern edge down towards the valley below. Only a single tower looked over the river.

  "The lake is just used for leisure. There’s a net slung underwater so you don’t get caught in the flow. It leads to the falls." Slate replied as he briefly recalled playing in the lake and the test of courage that all young lads undertook to swim close to the start of the rapids. "We’ll be dashed to bits."

  Isaac frowned and dismounted his horse, "Unless you have a better idea of how to get out of here, we should try the falls. It’s our best chance. Unless you think we could hide out somewhere until our heat renews."

  Slate swiftly dismounted as he shook his head, "No, I don’t think anywhere in Highpass is safe. A manhunt will be underway. Follow me." Slate led Isaac over to the lake and along the edge of the netting, glancing up briefly at the watch tower that stood silent against the night sky. He gestured towards the falls, "You go first. Don’t blame me if we die from this, it was your idea."

  Isaac nodded and dove over the net and into the rapids, vanishing from view. Slate took a deep breath and jumped in after, feeling the current pick him up and swiftly propel him forwards.

  This wasn’t a good idea, I’ve never heard of someone surviving the falls before.

  First time for everything, hope you don’t die...

  He felt the water tilt downward as he leaned back. Then, empty space. The feeling of weightlessness and falling...for all of ten seconds, as the feather pack deployed and he slowly drifted downwards. Looking below he saw Isaac slowly floating as well. They made eye contact and both laughed, surely giving away their position to the watch-tower. You’ve outdone yourself again, he thought, having forgot he was wearing the feather pack.

  After several minutes of descending several hundred feet - much longer of a fall than the mine shaft - the two plopped into the small lake at the base of the deluge. They swam to the shore and lay there, panting.

  "I completely forgot about the packs," Isaac said, a wide smile on his face.

  Slate chuckled and sat up, "Good thing I’m a genius inventor."

  Isaac pushed himself to his feet, "Yes, you are. Now let’s get some distance and find a place to hole up until dawn." He offered a hand to Slate and pulled him up, the two making their way north along the mountains.

  They found a small cave and took refuge, laying down their bedrolls as they both fell into an exhausted sleep.