"Still, three weeks... So much could happen..."

   My eyes flew open, and I winced as a beam of sunlight blinded me. There was a single spot where the curtains didn't cover the window. At a certain time every morning, sunlight would leak through and hit me right in the face. It was a good reminder to wake up if I hadn't already, and my staying up late the previous night almost led to me sleeping in.

   With the remnants of my mother's words echoing in my thoughts, I sighed and sat up. No matter how well she made them, Aedia's remedies only did so much to relax my thoughts. I gave myself a hard slap on the cheeks to chase away the lingering melancholy along with fully waking myself up. It was time to begin yet another day.

   I hurried to get ready, dressing in my uniform and pulling a comb through my hair before tying it up in a high bun. As I did, I glanced in the mirror on the dresser to make sure I looked mostly presentable. I'd long grown used to the sight of my scars, though I still preferred it when my hair and goggles mostly covered them, causing me to grow my hair out longer than how I wore it before. It reached down past my shoulders now as opposed to being chin-length. I probably could have done well with a shave as well, but I was running short on time.

   I was about to leave when I remembered at the last second to open my curtains. Aedia liked the natural light, and she would get on my case for not opening them. It was yet another picturesque morning, hardly any clouds, and plenty of sunlight as a result. There was that to admire. My gaze lingered on the Abyss a bit longer than I would have liked to, and I sighed before turning and leaving the room.

   Aedia was already awake, and like usual she'd prepared breakfast. Thanks to Syele, Aedia had discovered why Father had loved cooking, and it was another one of her hobbies. I was glad she didn't see it as a chore like I had, and she was a damn good cook to boot. She must have heard me come in, and she turned to me.

   "Morning! It's about time you woke up," she said. "Everything's on the table already, so enjoy what's left."

   "Hearing that, it sounds like you couldn't wait for me," I said, glancing at the table. It took a special kind of skill to make oatmeal look appetizing, a skill Aedia had in spades.

   "Well, yeah," she muttered. "Sorry for not waiting, but I have things to do after this. Medicines to sort, shelves to stock," her eyes widened, "and bandages to order, I almost forgot!" She wiped her hands off on her apron before scribbling out a quick note for herself.

   She was just as dedicated to her work as our parents had been. "Should I leave you to that, then?" I said.

   "In a second, I haven't finished cleaning up yet. You can't scare me away that easily!" she said. I took a seat at the table and served myself as she returned to scrubbing away at the small pile of dishes in the sink. "I wasn't sure what would happen first," she continued, "you getting up, or Melva knocking down the door asking where you were."

   "She's gotten more patient," I said. "She won't admit it, of course."

   Aedia looked at me over her shoulder, eyes wide. "Don't let her hear you say that, or she's gonna kill you," she said. But we both knew Melva wouldn't do anything close to that. A harsh glare, perhaps, but nothing more.

   I couldn't help but let my gaze linger on Aedia for a moment. I must have been feeling more sentimental than usual today, because something twisted in my chest. Minus the glasses, she was honestly the spitting image of our mother. My sister had grown up so much...

   It had been nearly four years since our parents passed. I was now twenty-four, and Aedia had just turned twenty. Next month would officially mark the fourth anniversary of our parents' deaths. We'd always found it humorous how mine, Father's, and Aedia's birthdays were merely a month apart each, but the joke had become grim in my eyes. I was glad Aedia could find some humor in the addition of yet another important date in that time span, even if I couldn't.

   Despite being as sickly as ever, Aedia still carried herself with dignity, and she'd become every bit the doctor she'd aspired to be, even at her young age. She'd finally been able to achieve her dream of growing out her hair to be like our mother's, wearing it in low-laying twintails like she had. She also still had some of Mother's dresses, which she was able to keep in good shape with help from Lissy's sewing skills. I knew Aedia tried to dress like our mother as her way of remembering her. That, and the long-sleeved, ankle-length dresses kept her warm since she was always chilly.

   "Oh, speaking of Melva, I might be back later today than usual," I said. "We're going a bit deeper than usual."

   Aedia pursed her lips for a moment but nodded. "Okay. Lissy's gonna be here all day today, so I won't be lonely. I want her to run the pharmacy herself." She then grinned. "It'll be the best way to see if she really remembers everything I've taught her so far."

   "She's not going to want to be a doctor if you make her do that," I said. "I had to run the pharmacy for myself, and you see how I turned out."

   "Unlike you, she's actually interested in medicine!" It also wasn't out of the question that Lissy wanted an excuse to spend more time with Aedia ever since she took over the clinic. I wasn't complaining. I was grateful that Lissy had helped my sister regain that bright spark in her eyes when I couldn't do it alone. "Why're you staying out so late anyways?" Aedia asked. "Just curious."

    "There's been word that one of the orphanages is bringing a class of Red Whistles down to the three-hundred yard depth for the first time today," I replied. We don't want to get in their way."

   Aedia arched a brow. "Worried you'll intimidate them?" she said with a smile. "The big bad Moon and Black Whistle will scare the little children away from the finest Relics the First Layer has to offer!"

   "As long as Vio continues doing his runs around the First Layer, I'm sure Melva isn't the only Black Whistle capable of frightening a new class of Red Whistles," I said. I wanted to smile myself but nearly grimaced instead. From how shaken Aedia had been following her time at Belchero along with Vio's descriptions of his time there, the children weren't treated the best. "I can only imagine what their delving training must be like..."

   "Like Melva didn't almost let you fall off cliffs a couple times," Aedia said, though her tone held no malice towards Melva. "It took me long enough to see why she calls you a klutz."

   I had no defense for that besides weak rebuttals, so I let her win that one. I'd given up on trying to redeem myself from that nickname. "I just can't help but be concerned, okay?" My gaze fell to my bowl as I stirred its contents absentmindedly. "You know that." It really made no sense to worry about those kids. Still, I couldn't help but think of their safety. There definitely weren't enough Moon Whistles to oversee all of them, so it was more than likely that they were going off on their own. If they were half as reckless as I was, they might stumble across a Silkfang, or even worse, something like a Corpse Weeper or Crimson Splitjaw that decided to hunt higher up. Then again, none of us were truly safe, no matter our rank.

   "Hey, Len..."

   I glanced up at Aedia, realizing then that I'd been staring into my bowl for the past however many seconds. I was met with her hesitant gaze, her mouth slightly open like she was about to say something. When she didn't, I responded with, "What is it?"

   Her eyes lit up then, and she shook her head. "Never mind." Like that wasn't suspicious in the slightest. Before I could press further, she said, "Does the food taste okay? I tried adding in some different spices to see how it would turn out. You come back with something new almost every time you go to Morgan's, so I might as well experiment."

   Sibling love at its finest, I thought. Now I couldn't help but wonder what she did since nothing tasted off. "Your cooking is as good as it usually is, and it's comforting to know that I'll always be your test subject," I said. "Although... it's better than you testing out treatment methods on me."

   "Who else can I test them on? Wouldn't you rather I test treating your cuts and stuff than a patient who's really hurt?" she asked. I pursed my lips, nodding in resigned agreement. She was right about that. "And at least I'm not threatening to test the scalpels on you anymore, so that counts for something!" She smiled, and this time I returned it.

   "Well, it's time for me to head out," I announced after hurrying to finish my food. "Like I said, I might be back later than usual."

   "It's fine, really. Do what you wanna do," Aedia said. I didn't believe that. "Actually, we're almost out of garlic salt and black pepper, so could you get some more before you come home? Tell Llyr I said hi if you do."

   I was planning on stopping by the store sometime this week anyways, so it might as well be today. "I will," I agreed. I gave her a quick hug before grabbing my gear and leaving for Melva and mine's usual meeting spot.

   With the sun being fully up by now, the streets were filled with their usual crowds. It seemed like they were larger than in the past. Orth's population had seen a recent spike in the last couple years, surely the result of stories of a new White Whistle spreading off-island. Illegal delving was nothing new, but it was becoming more common. Everyone wanted a bit of the Abyss' wealth for themselves. Who didn't, honestly?

   Eventually, I came to an annex in the road, marked by a guidepost. Beneath that post stood Melva, leaning against it with her arms crossed as she basked in the sunlight. The bright sunlight seemed to be absorbed by the black whistle resting against her chest. It was only a matter of time until she received it with how many Relics she brought up, and frankly it suited her better than her moon whistle ever had.

   It seemed that most Black Whistles had a tendency to take more liberties with their uniforms, likely due to their seniority, and Melva had leapt at the chance to do so once she achieved her new rank. She shed her guild-issued jacket and instead wore a tan shirt with red trimming, and her gray pants and boots hugged her form snugly. A sheathed machete also hung from her belt, and thick metal casings encased the knuckles of her gloves—makeshift brass knuckles, definite upgrades to the simple knives she'd used for years.

   The moment I came close to her, she frowned a little. "You're late," she said, straightening up. "Aedia keep ya in?" The wind blew some stray hair into her face, and she tucked it behind her ear. It was still an odd change seeing her with longer hair, which now hung down a bit past her shoulders. It still flared out like usual, making the new length all the more prominent. Laziness for cutting it seemed to be the only reason fueling her lack of maintaining it.

   "No, I overslept a little," I said apologetically. "I'm more than ready to run to make up lost time."

   "Damn right ya should be." Her frown became a grin, deepening her smile lines. "And 'cause ya suggested that, I'll race ya to the gateway. Loser has to pay for my drinks tonight!" Without another word, she took off down the road, as fast as always even at nearly forty years old. I didn't bother running since I wasn't about to risk knocking anybody over trying to keep up with her.

   Sunlight sparkled off the dew-covered grass, dampening our boots as Melva and I trudged down one of the trails winding deeper into the First Layer. There were other Delvers around us, also making their way to a gondola like we were. But like usual, Melva ignored them, lost in a world only she and I occupied.

   "So does six-hundred work for ya?" she asked, running a hand through her hair before putting her hat back on. She'd replaced her helmet with a brimmed hat that was reinforced at the top so it still had the same protective functionality as a helmet, and of course she had her brown and white feather stuck in its brim. "I wanna go back to that spot we couldn't get to yesterday." I responded with a nod as I put my goggles on, squinting as the light reflected brightly off the glass.

   By the time I could see straight again, we'd arrived at the gondola. Over a dozen or so other Delvers of varying ranks were already in the gondola, making conversation as they waited for the operator to take them down. Once Melva and I boarded, we began our descent.

   I clung to the railing, staring out of the gondola as cliffs passed us. Hammerbeaks among other birds flew by, dipping in and out of the thin clouds hanging near the Abyss' center. If I squinted, I could see another gondola descending, likely the eight-hundred-yard vessel. I recalled Melva making me climb up from my first descent that deep. It hadn't been pretty.

   "What'cha lookin' at?" Melva asked from my left.

   "I'm more thinking than looking," I said, turning my head so I could actually see her. "Thinking about old delves and such. It's hard to believe it was over a decade ago that I first came down here with you." I looked over the railing. "How do you think Vio's doing?" I asked. "It's been almost a month since he left, hasn't it?"

   "Ya know it takes a while to get to the Third Layer and back, 'specially if they've been findin' a lotta Relics," Melva said. "I asked Syele if he sent up any balloons, but there's been nothin', not like there's not much of a chance of balloons makin' it up from there."

   "Then all I can do is hope he's okay..." I said, frowning.

   "It's Vio, he'll be fine," Melva said, rolling her eyes. "Can't help but envy 'im. I mean, he has a higher chance of seein' Ozen! Far as I know, she and Lyza ain't back yet." A nearby Delver gave us a look.

   "The Immovable and the Annihilator? You say that like you've met them," he said. "How in the world did you meet two White Whistles?"

   Melva gave the man a look of her own, unsure and cold. But after a moment of silence, she cautiously said, "We didn't only meet 'em, we delved with 'em," she said. That was one way to frame our encounter with them.

   The Delver's look was just as disbelieving as it had been before, and I couldn't blame him. "Oh yeah?"

   Melva frowned, but she seemed more willing to talk now. "Yeah. 'Bout four years ago when Lyza was still a Moon Whistle, my friend and I ran into 'em in the Third Layer once an' ended up delvin' with 'em a bit."

   Another Delver who had begun listening in piped up. "What were they like?" she asked curiously. "Are they as strong as people say?"

   Melva's hesitation lasted but a moment before a grin snuck onto her face. "Of course," she said. "Ozen flattened a Talpiclor's snout with a single kick, and Lyza finished it off a second later. They're called the Immovable and the Annihilator for a reason!" Her response invited a stream of questions, and she was more than happy to have an opportunity to talk about Ozen. All the while, I stayed quiet.

   It was no surprise that Lyza had become a White Whistle, and in such a short amount of time. She quickly earned the title of "the Annihilator" from the public, and it honestly suited her in spite of her girlish appearance. Apparently she and Ozen were somewhere in the Third and Fourth layers, but rumors were all we had. It was always rumors.

   "An' when my partner got hurt, Ozen was able to carry 'im along with all of our supplies no problem!" Melva said. My face flushed when I felt the eyes of her audience drift to me. I could tell they were going to ask if Melva's words were some elaborate story or not, so I cleared it up.

   "She's telling the truth, believe it or not. Ozen's as strong as everyone says." That was all I could say. I wasn't about to stop Melva from pulling positivity from that delve, even if the memories brought nothing but pain and nightmares for me. And it was nice to see her talking with other people besides me and Vio.

   But while watching her regale our story to a growing number of Delvers, I couldn't help but feel a bit lost. Left out, even. Meeting two White Whistles should have been something amazing, a Delver's dream. It certainly was one I had when I was younger. Yet, it was in the wake of nearly getting myself and Melva killed, and compounded by a figurative slap in the face by Ozen. I forced the thought away and took out my map, trying to get a sense of where we'd be searching. I'd rather think about that.

   After a while longer, the gondola came to a halt. The top rim of the Abyss was obscured by a layer of swirling clouds, though more than enough sun was able to leak through. It took some minor prompting, but Melva managed to pull herself away from the other Delvers. Once she did, we headed out.

   Our destination was some mostly-untouched ruins we had uncovered the other day. It was close to the farthest eastern edges of the Abyss in the depths of a forest of petrified trees, causing the area to be further shrouded in a layer of shadow cast from the cliffs. The clearing the ruins lay in was decently large, but distance didn't mean much when we had our whistles.

   After some searching, I found a possible spot of interest to start looking. It was a weathered stone building almost completely coated in moss and greenery, one of the very few that was completely intact. Despite there being no doors or windows and the erosion, I knew it was meant to be a building instead of just an oversized rock. Besides the odd placement, there was a difference between solid stone and a wall when it was tapped with a pick.  

   For minutes, all I did was chip away at the wall, lost in my work. All I could focus on was retrieving the possible Relics that might be beyond the stone. The world around me was nothing, the scenery, wildlife, all miniscule compared to what I could gain.

   I was pulled from my work when something moved through the trees a ways away. It was like something was trudging through the bushes. When I paused, so did the sound. I tensed; that was never good. I held my breath, trying to listen. The air was still. An insect buzzed past my ear, loud and obnoxious. Then after a bit of time, the sound resumed. It didn't seem to be coming closer, so I resumed my mining, now sure whatever it was wasn't hunting me.

   It didn't take much longer for the stone to begin cracking and crumbling away. With some extra prompting from me shoving the rubble aside, the gap I created opened up into a dark, open space. Old, stale air wafted out to greet me, reeking of molding cloth. 

   Upon turning on my headlamp, I saw walls with designs and unknown glyphs carved on them, etched deeply. I also saw nearly a dozen skeletons scattered about, all locked in eternal prayer. It was like they had walled themselves in here. Then again, every skeleton in the Abyss seemed to have entombed themselves.

   Among the skeletons were glittering objects, stone, metal, and glass—Relics. Swallowing the rising lump in my throat, I muttered a quick apology before beginning to gather the items, careful to not disturb the bodies more than I would be by doing this. Surely their spirits were long gone by now... hopefully. I started at the far wall and worked my way back towards my entryway.

   Soon I was back at the entrance, and it seemed like I was nearly done clearing everything out. I was more than pleased with my haul. I could already tell with a glance that these Relics weren't the highest of quality, but they'd sell well regardless. It was a stroke of luck that nobody had cleared out this place before we found it, and it seemed that we would be the ones to finish the job.

   I was bagging the last of the Relics when recognizable sounds reached my ears. Rustling shrubbery. It was that thing again, that large creature, and it was closer than before. I turned my headlamp off, retreating further into the darkness of the building before looking back out the hole. I wasn't about to let whatever was out there know that I was here.

   Through the gaps in the trees I could see something humanoid moving close to the ruins' clearing. Its form was darkened by shadows, but I could tell it was a person of some kind from how they carried themselves. They didn't bear the typical silhouette of a Delver, so that put me on edge.

   Eventually, the person stepped into the clearing. Fleeting sunlight revealed dark, ragged clothing and a head scarf that hid both their face and figure. Delving equipment, merely the bare necessities, hung from their belt. Their head swiveled about as they looked around. For what, I could only guess.

   Briefly, I debated confronting this person. They obviously weren't an Orth Delver, or at least a registered one. Either way, they seemed incredibly shady. Illegal Delvers were known to attack Orth Delvers in hopes of taking their Relics, so I may have been the subject of a hunt after all. Worry then struck me as I realized that if this person didn't find me, they might find Melva instead.

   I ducked out from the hole, standing up straight. "Are you looking for me?" I stated sharply, and the person faced me, unsheathing a knife from their belt. Even with the distance between us, I could tell the person was much smaller than me. "If you want trouble, I won't hesitate to give it to you." I brandished my pickaxe for emphasis. That was apparently enough, as the person quickly scattered back into the trees, heading closer to the center of the Abyss.

   Once they were gone, I let out a breath, briefly giving into the light shudders coursing through me. I'd encountered a few illegal Delvers before, but they were never that bold, likely because I had Melva by my side. Still, this Delver might not have been alone, and my mentor might've still been at risk. I snatched up my gear before heading deeper into the ruins to find her.

   Melva was close to where we parted ways, near a grouping of archways and staircases leading nowhere. She was kneeling on the grass, rooting through a very small pile of Relics she'd uncovered. I called her name to get her attention, and she looked happy for a moment before concern took over.

   "I was gonna ask if ya found anythin', but ya look pale. Everythin' okay?" she asked, puzzled.

   "I-it is now," I said. "But a moment ago it seemed like I was about to be attacked by an illegal Delver. I was able to intimidate them though, and they ran off." I sighed. "I was worried that they weren't alone."

   Melva smiled. "I 'preciate it, but ya don't gotta worry," she said, glancing around at the trees. "As for other Delvers, I saw nobody."

   "That's good," I said, relaxing.

   "Kinda weird that an illegal Delver would be up 'ere... Guess some of 'em have the smarts to not throw themselves so deep right away." Melva said. "They know 'bout the Abyss 'fore comin' here, but they don't know it. Poor bastards." She shook her head. "Makes me wonder if I would've been one of 'em if I never found Bellan."

  "You were planning on coming here even without your mentor?" I asked.

   Melva shrugged. "Sorta. I wanted to leave that wasteland, and a lotta off-shore people know 'bout the Abyss. But the guild ain't gonna hand a whistle to an untrained kid without a mentor. Just would be a waste of a whistle when the kid would 'ventually get themselves killed." Things fell silent for a moment, even nature quieting at Melva's words. She chuckled nervously. "Damn, didn't mean to get so grim there. Just can't help but think 'bout the nasty shit."

   "You don't need to tell me that," I said. It was all I could think about nowadays. "Regardless, me encountering that illegal Delver is a sign for us. We should clear out this place so nobody else can do it for us."

   Melva arched a brow at my remark. "Glad you're so enthusiastic. But wait a sec, ya gotta see this." She started up one of the crumbling staircases, gesturing for me to follow her. I was confused but still climbed the stairs. We stopped at the top where there was nothing left, leaving us about twelve feet off the ground. "Look, ya can see the whole clearin' from here," she said, looking out.

   She was right. Ancient stone sprouted from the ground like the petrified trees, ivy and grass creeping up to reclaim it. By now nature had resumed its ambience, with birds and other creatures calling out in the distance. The sparse shafts of sunlight cutting through the trees painted the cold stone a pale yellow, making everything look oddly warm.

   "When was the last time we did this?" Melva pondered. "Just stopped and looked 'round. It's nice, ain't it?"

   I nodded. "It is nice... Still, I think we should be more concerned with gathering everything we can." I turned and started back down, stopping when I didn't hear Melva behind me. She was staring at me from the top of the stairs, her expression blank while her eyes held an emotion I couldn't identify. "Is there something wrong?" I asked. "You usually agree with me."

   Melva blinked, giving me a smile as she caught up with me. "Whatever ya say, kid."

—~*~—

Over the years I'd been shopping at Morgan's, I'd mostly grown used to the overwhelming fog of spices that filled the air. Mostly. Enough that my eyes didn't water anymore. Though, I wore my goggles in the store just in case. Llyr didn't seem bothered by it in the slightest. Apparently his sense of smell was rather dull to begin with, not favorable for a botanist.

   In no time, I'd come to learn that Llyr and his parents ran the shop together along with his aunt. Like the clinic, the second floor of Morgan's was built for people to live there in order to save space. However, only Llyr lived there. His parents lived in the house he grew up in near Orth's outskirts while his aunt lived a few streets down from the shop, leaving Llyr to do whatever he wanted with the space.

   "Before I say anything else, do you want anything to drink?" Llyr grabbed a pair of cups from a paper-covered cupboard, filling them in the sink. "It's pretty hot out there today."

   I smiled, taking the cup when he offered it. Both cups were made from clay, hand-crafted by his mother. "It's appreciated," I said. I was sitting at Llyr's dining table in the only empty chair while Llyr leaned against the counter, careful to not knock against the dishes precariously stacked there. The other chairs were piled with books and papers, and the table was just as cluttered. The only reason this room could be identified as a kitchen and dining room was the sink and stove. Otherwise, it could've easily been mistaken for a library, indoor garden, and atelier all combined into one.

   Wherever the sunlight reached was occupied by a potted plant, and even some darker spots. Llyr had converted one of his closets into a place to grow blue shining grass he'd brought back from the Third Layer and other plants that didn't need sunlight. The first time I saw the upstairs, I was shocked the plants hadn't overtaken it altogether. Rather, it could be said that Llyr's drawings were taking over instead.

   Every flat, vertical surface had everything from diagrams to standard drawings, all done by Llyr like the spice posters down in the shop. From what parts of the upstairs I'd seen, every room was like this with the exception of the bathroom, where only the plants took up available space. Oddly enough, with the exception of the plants, the floor was completely clean. Even with the obvious mess, Llyr hardly seemed bothered by it, able to navigate through it all with ease. It was here that he looked to be the most comfortable, so even if I wasn't a fan of the clutter, I didn't say anything.

   "I'm glad Aedia's been doing well," Llyr commented. "And I'm especially happy she seems to be developing an interest in botany."

   "I wouldn't exactly call it that," I said. "All she does is ask me to bring back plants to test for medication. It's not like she's growing them herself." If there was no off-shore treatment for the sickness Father had, then the cure could be in the Abyss itself, Aedia had reasoned to me.

   Llyr shrugged. "Some interest is interest, no matter how minor," he said with an awkward laugh. "Has she been testing her concoctions on you?"

   I shook my head, suppressing a shudder. "No, thankfully. She's only been experimenting on and off when she has the time. The clinic's only been open for a year now, so she needs to start bringing in consistent business before she can spend more time with her own medicines. Besides, she would have to gather a clinical group to test them on. I'm too valuable for that."

   "Lucky for you," Llyr said. "But she always seems to be working so hard. You both do."

   "Medicine to her is what delving is to me. Of course she would be enthusiastic," I replied, and Llyr nodded.

   "Speaking of, how have your delves been going?" he asked, focusing his gaze on a leafy potted plant sitting on a nearby windowsill.

   "Decent enough. Melva and I have been going a bit deeper than usual, and our hauls are doing better for it." I frowned. "She's been considering a trip to the top of the Second Layer, but I'm not sure. Addy, you know."

   Llyr pursed his lips, nodding. "That's a shame, though it's understandable. My last delve to the Second Layer was way too long ago, and I hardly got to bring back any specimens to study." His gaze shifted from the plant to the floor as he absentmindedly tapped his foot. "The best I got were sketches, but those only do so much..."

   It was rare that Llyr met my eye whenever we spoke, but it was plain to see he was still listening intently. "I feel it's too direct, and someone might take it the wrong way," he had told me when I asked him about it. I stopped trying to reassure him he could look at me a while ago and let him continue on.

   "At least our haul today was the best one of the week," I said. "We searched these ruins we found the day before, hidden in this forest of petrified trees."

    Llyr's brows vanished into his bangs. "Where did you go, exactly?" he asked. "I'm trying to gather samples from petrified trees in different sections of the First Layer."

   I did my best to relay where Melva and I had gone, with Llyr jotting down notes in a small notebook he always seemed to have on him. "Are they your pet project right now?" I asked as he finished writing.

   "Until I can get a full, intact sample of what I really want that I can further cultivate here, the trees will do," Llyr said. "But the trees in particular fascinate me because they make absolutely no sense."

   That phrase could be said about almost anything in the Abyss, really. "And how's that?" Even as he wasn't looking at me, I could see his face light up when I asked. Of course he would be happy to explain it to me.

   "Well..." His eyes scanned the walls, landing on a diagram pinned next to the stove which he pointed out. One of the several drawings on it showed a bisected log with what looked like water surrounding it. "Look there. Petrification occurs when mineral or sediment-rich water deprives wood of oxygen by flooding into the wood's pores. Then it calcifies into stone once the wood starts rotting, replacing the wood as a sort of mold. Petrified trees are basically stone replicas of trees, if that makes sense."

   "It does," I affirmed, thinking over what he said. "And you're right that it doesn't make much sense. Where's the water that would have petrified the trees?"

   "Exactly," Llyr stated. "It has to mean at one point, the Abyss was flooded with water. Or somehow just the First Layer was. The wood is even older than the praying skeletons, and those are about two-thousand years old, so the trees were likely petrified millenia before."

   "That's incredible. I spend so much time researching the Abyss, yet I didn't know that. You never cease to amaze me," I said.

   Llyr's face lightly flushed as he smiled. "Thank you, but I'm sure any book could have explained it better... Still, I'm glad I could help you learn something new today," he said. "As soon as I become a Black Whistle, I'm heading straight down to the Fourth Layer. The plant life down there is even more lush than it is on the Second Layer because of the humidity down there. If I didn't despise humidity, I'd be more excited."

   "I don't know a single person who likes humidity," I said.

   "I'd be more concerned if there was someone who did," Llyr added. "Pardon me for this, but I still don't understand why you aren't as eager to get your black whistle as I am. I know it's because you don't want to be apart from your sister for too long, but you're more invested in the Abyss than I am."

   I couldn't help but stiffen when he said that. Llyr knew nothing of what had happened to me on the Third Layer, why my face was scarred and Aedia was so concerned about me. The question had obviously crossed his mind, but he never asked. And I didn't want to tell him. We were friends, but I wasn't as close with him as I was with Melva, or even Vio now. "It's complicated," I finally said.

    "Well, it still doesn't negate that it'll be an achievement once you get your black whistle, and you should be proud when you get it," he said. "I haven't delved with you much, but even then I know how dedicated you are. You could even be a White Whistle, the next Lyza the Annihilator!" His words rang in my ears, making my heart twist. My silence earned a quick glance from him, only for his face to pale as he grimanced. "I-I'm sorry, that was far too bold," he muttered, twisting his hair around his fingers.

   "No, you're... you're fine," I said. "I'm flattered you'd say that, but I could never be Lyza. As long as I'm committed to the first two layers, I'll never get anywhere else."

   "And I was hoping to go on a delve to the Fourth Layer with you," Llyr said, smiling nervously. "Do you know how difficult it's going to be to bring up viable specimens on my own? At least you're strong, and dirt weighs a lot."

   I chuckled in spite of the horrible sinking feeling in my chest. "If only."

—~*~—

A few months later, I yet again found myself at the Delvers Guild in the late afternoon. However, I was there to do something else besides have my daily Relic haul appraised. It was only a matter of time until this occurred, so I shouldn't have been surprised with the initial announcement.

   "Congratulations on this achievement, Mr. Keiri, especially at your age." In one hand, a guild official held something I'd been waiting to receive for years: a black whistle. The whistle itself was in better shape than my previous few, having traded fewer hands. A stray ray of sunlight from a nearby window bounced off its surface, making it gleam darkly. The official waited until I took it before she said, "You do know what having a black whistle entails for your depth limit, yes?"

   "Yes, I do," I replied simply. There was little else to discuss, since the depth limit increase was all that came with becoming a Black Whistle. "Thank you very much, and have a good evening." I didn't waste any time between that response and heading for the door.  

    Melva was waiting for me out in the hallway, and the corners of her mouth lifted when she saw the whistle. "Congrats, kid!" she said. Silence from me, and then she said, "What, no fanfare?"

   "It's more of a shocked silence," I partially lied. She was right to expect more of a reaction from me. Instead, the feelings were horribly mixed. One was the happiness she and I were expecting. I mean, I'd done it. Though it'd taken twelve years, I'd reached the goal I had since I was a Red Whistle. But that happiness was smothered by more pressing feelings.

   As we approached the building's entrance, Melva spoke up again. "Wanna go celebrate? We don't have to drink this time." Her expression turned sheepish, her tone apologetic. "Didn't ya say ya wanted to do somethin' big when ya got your black whistle? I mean, it's the last big thing ya wanted to celebrate since... " She frowned. "Uh, you're a Black Whistle now, ya should celebrate!"

   I smiled awkwardly, shaking my head. "No thank you. I think I'm going to just go home. I've been really tired lately."

   Melva fell silent for a moment but shook it off. "As long as that means ya won't faint on me again, I'll settle for that. Sleepin' early myself don't sound half-bad, actually. Screw the bar." She laughed weakly and gave me a wave, saying, "see ya tomorrow, kid," before turning and leaving. I watched her go, instantly feeling guilt well up in me.

   With a sigh, I took off my goggles and put my glasses back on. With the tint now gone, my world turned to a rich golden-orange thanks to the sunset. I turned my head so I could see the full sunset, the brilliant rays reaching up past the rim of the far cliffs. I'd had years to admire Orth's sunsets and sunrises, and yet it was only in the past few years that I'd acknowledged them.

   I lifted my whistle to the light, eyes narrowing as I stared at it. Did I  even deserve to have this? What are you doing? I questioned myself. Addy's waiting for you, hurry up. A sharp hiss escaped me as I dropped the whistle, turning on my heel and starting towards home. In its wake, the receding sunlight left a wall of shadow that slowly consumed the west side of Orth. I raced the encroaching darkness back home, making it minutes before the light vanished completely.

   The moment I stepped inside, I was instantly met with Aedia's excitement as she said, "So where is it? Where's your new whistle?" I let her hold it, and she examined it closely. "I kinda like your moon whistle better," she said, pursing her lips. "Purple's a much better color than black, but this looks more official. I mean, you're basically a vetran, right?"

   "Yes, since all that's left is... white," I said. "Apparently the average age for someone getting their black whistle is twenty-eight. Of course, there are exceptions."

   "Like you!" she said happily. I held back the urge to say otherwise. She handed my whistle back, and I pocketed it. "I thought you'd be doing something with Melva tonight."

   "I'm not in the mood to watch her get drunk again," I said jokingly. "It seemed like she was going right home anyways."

   "Shame, she's one of my best customers for hangover remedies," Aedia said with a mournful sigh. "Well, at least ya got back right when I finished making dinner. It's probably a bit cold now though."

   "You know I don't mind that," I said. "And actually... I'd like to have my dinner in my room tonight, if that's okay."

   Aedia's brows rose as she tried to lean in closer, as close as she could get considering the height difference. "Are ya feeling okay?" she asked with suspicion.

   "I'm perfectly fine, don't worry," I said with a firm shake of my head. "I'd like to be alone, okay?"

   Aedia slowly backed away, eyeing me before smiling. "All right, I won't say anythin' else."

   "Thank you," I said, slight relief coming over me. I regretted shutting myself in my room that night, but I didn't know what else to do. I just needed to think.

   A couple more uneventful days passed, during which I sought to get back into my usual routine. Getting a black whistle ultimately didn't mean anything when I had no intentions to utilize its privileges or progress further, and I had to process and accept that. I wouldn't let it affect me and others in the wake of my own feelings.

   One afternoon, Aedia and I were surprised to hear a knock at the front door downstairs after we had closed for the evening. I was more surprised to see it was Vio. These past four years had been kind to him. The only signs of age he showed were slight crow's feet, and last year he'd decided to cut his hair short, a decision that had baffled everyone. He'd said he wanted to look his age, and having long hair just made him look more aloof. I thought he would have wanted to look younger, but he seemed to like it. I couldn't be one to judge him.

   "Hello, Vio," I greeted him. "I didn't expect to see you this evening."

   "Me neither, but this is a dire situation. When were you going to tell me you got your black whistle?" he asked. He feigned sadness, putting a hand to his chest. "I'm hurt, Len. I thought you would have told me that on day one!"

   I flinched a little, grimacing. "M-my apologies. I... didn't think it was that big of a deal," I said. "Things haven't changed, really."

   "That's because you haven't put its privileges to use!" Vio said with a smile. I heard footsteps on the stairs behind me then, and I turned to see Aedia entering the pharmacy.

   "Who is it, Len?" she asked, only to smile when she saw Vio. "Hi, Vio! I didn't think you'd stop by this late."

  Vio greeted her with a wave. "Well, I was just informed by Mel that your brother became a Black Whistle, and he hadn't bothered to tell me even though it's been almost a week!"

   "I-I didn't think it was too important," I said, wincing. Now I had both of them staring at me. I felt like a Neritantan caught in the sights of a Madojack, and all I could do was mutter out another apology, only for Vio to speak again.

   "Don't worry, I didn't come here to torment you," he said with a laugh. "I actually came here to ask something." That was yet another surprise. "Now that you're a Black Whistle, I believe it's time you made some changes to your uniform. It's almost like a tradition for a Delver to customize theirs upon becoming a Black Whistle." He was right about that. Vio had been slow to update his own uniform, but he had done so as well. His whole ensemble was cool in tone, from his blue undershirt to his gray jacket and baggy pants. The only thing that wasn't some tone of blue or gray on him were his boots. "Before you turn me down," he added, "I'll be willing to pay as well."

   I frowned. The ensemble of tan, brown, and white with leather boots and gloves had been my uniform for years now. I almost couldn't imagine myself wearing anything else. "It's appreciated, but I'm fine with what I have. Besides, you've already done so much for both myself and Aedia, you don't need to do any more."

   "You're right, I don't need to, but I want to," he said.

   I hesitated again, only for Aedia to nudge me. "Len, just do it. You're a Black Whistle, and I think you should take some pride in that."

   "She is right about that," Vio said. "Not everybody can earn their black whistle so young, so it's certainly an accomplishment."

   I held in a sigh, trying not to wince. It didn't seem like I was going to win here, and I did want to spend some time with Vio, so I agreed. "You really don't have to pay, though. I have enough money to buy myself some new gear, I'm fine."

   "No, I insist!" Vio said, shaking his head. "Do you mind if I come delving with you tomorrow, then? That way, we won't have to worry about getting caught up in our own delves and losing time in the evening."

   "As long as Melva doesn't mind," I said.

   Vio grinned. "So it's a yes, then." And I agreed. There was no backing out now.

   Melva was definitely surprised to see Vio show up at our meeting spot the next day, but he was of course welcomed into the group. For the first time in what felt like years, the three of us delved together. Of course, our immediate conversation focused on my recent ascension in rank.

   "Does anyone else find it sort of strange that we've all got our black whistles now?" Vio noted. "So much time has passed..."

   "I mean, it was gonna happen sooner or later," Melva said, and Vio nodded.

   "If only Llyr could have come as well. The two of you get along well, Len, and he seems to like us."

   Melva shrugged, rubbing the back of her neck. "You, maybe. I kinda scared the shit outta 'im when I got drunk last time we all met up an' yelled at 'im, but what can ya do?"

   "I think that should be an incentive," Vio said.

   "An' I don't really care," Melva replied, rolling her eyes. "I'll get drunk if I want, it's my money."

   I laughed a little. "This delve was a bit short-notice, and I don't think he would have liked that."  

   "That's fair," Vio said respectfully. Our delve was filled with as much conversation as it was Relic-hunting, and the day wore itself out soon enough. After we returned to the surface, I was almost dragged by Vio to a section of the central district I didn't frequent as much. I only shopped here when I needed to buy new delving gear, so of course this was where we'd go.

   "I still feel like this isn't necessary, but since you're paying..." I said jokingly, purposefully trailing off.

   "If that's how you see it, I'm fine with that," Vio said. "Now let's find you something that really suits you."

   Out of all the things I'd done with Vio in the past few years, I never knew gear shopping would be one of them. And as we browsed the various stores, I didn't think there was such a wide variety of alternative gear for Delvers. From jackets, to scarves and bandanas, to countless styles of helmets and hats. My world had been so limited to the standard guild uniforms that this was a tad overwhelming. But eventually, I decided on something.

   It consisted of a faded green short-sleeved jacket that reached down a little past my thighs over a black short-sleeved shirt and pants. The boots I chose were a great deal sturdier than the ones I was used to wearing, and the gloves were made from brand-new leather and reached halfway up to my elbows. To complete this new ensemble was a leather satchel I could use alongside my backpack, except this was less cumbersome to carry. Even better, this satchel had a second strap that went around my waist, so if I found myself falling or hanging, the satchel wouldn't slip off. And of course, I kept my goggles.

   As I observed myself in the shop mirror, Vio peered in from the side. I was glad he could smile when I couldn't. "See, now that is a Black Whistle," he said.

   If he said so... I turned to face him. "Thank you again for this." I could say that sincerely.

   "Of course," he said. "You're... sort of like a son to me now, and I still want to help you no matter how secure you feel. It's something I believe every parent should want to do." I smiled sadly, nodding. My parents certainly had been willing to do that. "I can remember when I first met you," Vio then said wistfully. "You've gone from that weak but determined boy to a strong, experienced man. You're practically unrecognizable. In a good way, of course." He grinned. "I hope I haven't changed much myself, because then I'll truly feel old! But the Abyss knows why I've never grown taller."

   "You've changed in nothing but good ways," I said.

   "I know that's not true, but it's good to hear that," he said. "But now that you're a Black Whistle, I'd like to propose something to you."

   My heart seemed to skip a beat in surprised anticipation. "And what is it?"

   "Next month I'm going down to the Fourth Layer for a guild-sanctioned field survey," he started. "Relic-gathering won't be the priority, rather it'll be collecting information about the ecosystem and such." He paused, letting me take in his words. "A delve like that is more favorable for a new Black Whistle, and I'd like to be there with you on your first Fourth Layer delve."

   "So you're inviting me, is that it?" I asked faintly, my heart sinking.

   He nodded. "I hate to assume, but I'm surprised you're not leaping at the chance," he said, sounding confused. "Field surveys only happen once a year or so, and you've always been so interested in the Abyss. I thought it would be perfect for you."

   Again, "always"... Before, yes, I would have agreed with Vio without hesitation. I could hardly say that now. "Vio, I'm sorry, but I-I can't. I told Addy I'd stay as safe as I could while delving, and I intend to uphold my word."

   Vio's brows lifted with surprise, a syllable of silence escaping him before any actual words could. "I know that, but I didn't think you would actually... stick with it."

   "I don't mean to dismiss you. Really, it sounds amazing. Seeing the Goblet of Giants, those beautiful luminescent pools, a-and those giant amagiri stalks, it—" I cut myself off. My mind shouldn't have been wandering like that. "I can't accept it. I-it isn't worth the risk to me, or to Addy."

   "You don't need to explain yourself, it's understandable," Vio said sympathetically. "I know you don't need me to tell you that the Fourth Layer is treacherous, both in getting there and navigating it. I'll likely be gone for maybe... three, four months. Five, even."

   "Then I definitely can't go," I reaffirmed. "I can't leave Addy for that long."

   "Of course. We'll forget this conversation happened, then," Vio said, his smile beling how I felt.

   The early evening air was crisp and cool when we left the store, heavenly to breathe in. Things were blissfully quiet between myself and Vio. My head began to clear a bit, though I couldn't stop thinking about his offer. I didn't know why. I told myself a long time ago that I wouldn't consider going to the Fourth Layer when I received my black whistle. Yet I couldn't help but imagine the scenery, what unknown things it held, waiting to be discovered.

   Stop being selfish! Think of Addy! I scolded myself. After all, it was my desire to delve that had caused everything to go wrong. If I couldn't give myself wholly for the sake of my health, then sacrificing what being a Black Whistle entailed was the least I could do to make up for everything. I bit my tongue and soldiered on home, making my thoughts only those of Aedia. After all, she surely missed me.