V5 Incline 10: Einervaene

"Did we walk into Undwote's grip or something!?" Baltanthan swears, rubbing his arms together in an effort to generate heat. I had offered for him to come closer to me. To share in the heat generated by my sparks... Yet he had refused, even with everything going on.

"Why did it suddenly turn white, anyway?" I ask, watching my breath turn to steam as it leaves my mouth. I've been cold before, but never like this. Whatever is going on right here is discernibly unique to this land. I've seen plenty of mountains from a cloud-high view, yet never did I dare to materialise as I am right now.

However, there's a greater issue at hand... Repressing the urge to act like a dragon! Much like this little daughter walking so close to us with her parents. It's a kind of warmth I don't think either of us will be able to find for the time being.

"It's because we entered the gods-damned snow-belt." Baltanthan tells me, carefully avoiding a shiny patch on the ground. More and more people notice it and the air ripples as an airship comes into view. A flash of orange and following burst of steam mists in a way that's unnatural.

There are railings everywhere up the mountain road, but more so here, now that we're in this 'snow-belt.' The amount of unspoken rules I've come across walking this mountain is so bizarre. There's so much effort put into making sure that this dangerous part of the road is as safe as it can be. Yet, for all the safety there physically is, the guards couldn't be any further away.

Most are now on floating platforms that were sporadic before. Few walk among the crowds or at its edges between the many checkpoints we've already been through. It's ironic in a way. Having all these precautions to make us safe and then taking away what ensures our safety the most.

"So this is a snow-belt..." I mutter quietly to myself as I try to move my mind onto another topic. I've heard about these, Founding-Lord Brewbrt even made a point of bringing them up. He read me through the tablets he had on them. The way the skies are like in this land of endless mountains, great and small.

It's hard to see anything through this perpetually thick cloud cover that engulfs this area of the mountain. This 'belt' as people call it. The road crunches with what sounds like glass and glitters even in the dull grey darkness. It's so slippery and dangerous, yet there's a joy so many find in the slips. They laugh even with how risky it is.

So... I shall endeavour to enjoy it, too. The crunch my high-heeled boots make is satisfying to hear. Even if I can barely hear it over the noise of the many hundreds of people within only a dozen paces of my person. I've watched Nin-kischu many times now, watching him leap between close peaks. Clawing his way up into the clouds as they break to reveal their white crowns and ties and belts and more.

It is nice to experience what he sees the world as when he travels. I can only hope he doesn't take such strange beauty for granted. Maybe I can ask him about how his trip was when we all finish the climb up this mountain? I can ask him so much about it.

A glitter in the air catches my attention. It flies about, disturbed by so many people moving unrelentingly. Even with how everyone is moving so carefully that it's almost sluglike. It must be so much worse for him!

"Woah..." I let out quietly, finally catching that glitter in the air. I hold it before my eyes, my chilled body shivering as I try to steady my view. The gloves around my palm blur, and that lone shape of white becomes clear. A twinkling crystal that I've barely seen anything of. How is such a shape a natural thing...?

"Yeah, I am not doing this, we are going to an inn earlier today!" Baltanthan snaps, his sudden movement making me flinch. An 'aw' escapes me, and I find my little cold shape broken. However, his red nose only draws attention to the mess that is mine. A tissue would certainly be appreciated about now.

"Ok, when do you want to get to one?" I ask, shifting my thoughts to accommodate for the mutual suffering so many on the road are experiencing. I can't see any of the roadside inns we've come across thus far. We might not see any of them at all for a while, actually.

"Maybe after the next checkpoint? If we are quick about it we might be able to get a decent room." Baltanthan suggests, there at least being a guarantee of lodgings there.

"The rooms have been great, though, the staff kind and welcoming...?" I say, his ending remark confusing me.

"I mean a room that is plenty warm, unlike our last few stops, getting a nice, toasty-warm room is far more important this time," he insists as if the snow-belt isn't accounted for at all.

"How are we going to get ahead, though? The crowds are not moving fast, and we are not in a vehicle." I ask regardless, not concerned with the details.

"We don't need the crowd to move fast, you just have to want to get somewhere warm!" he tells me, pushing me onwards with his sheer verbal brutality. He gestures for us to beeline through the crowds, perhaps even shove as is necessary. That, however, leaves me wary. If we're seen as troublemakers, we'll be sent away by the guards.

Dragged off by them, even...

"I don't know..." I go, hesitant to be as forceful as he seems willing.

"It's not illegal to shove past someone, so let's get going!" he almost shouts, grabbing me as a guard platform suddenly stops above us. Everyone present stops, the rims of magical light keeping us still.

"Baltanthan...?" I let out, not sure what to make of this. I've seen these machines fly by a lot, but I don't recall anything like this.

"Great... An inspection." Baltanthan mutters, his head teetering about in a childishly spiteful manner.

"Attention, those within the designated square will be brought forward for increased inspection." guard calls down from the platform, a speaker device amplifying his voice.

"Damn it..." Baltanthan swears, tacking on another grumble as he flicks his numb fingers about.

"Don't be like that, we were told before that they did this as a precautionary measure." I recall, suddenly remembering how they mentioned that airships would be increasingly involved in the snow-belt. I didn't think this is what they meant, however.

"Yes, but why did it have to be us...?" Baltanthan snaps, an odd contrast to his expression and those outside of the glowing square. Some people are even trying to sneak in, though the square blares violently if they try to. Why is he so apprehensive to something others see as a good thing?

Either or, I suppose I will now find out.

The road ahead clears up, allowing the platform to land with its edges coming down to allow passage. Sticking close to my freezing companion, he continues to mutter insult after insult while I just go along with it all quietly. I'm quite curious about this procedure, and, well, the heaters on these platforms are all but delighting. I can stop passively using my magic to try and static into existence some heat. Even if the child near me is nothing but disappointed by it.

"No! Keep doing it!" she whines, her father reining her in.

"Sorry about that, she just really- Really likes seeing witches," he tells me, his wavering smile becoming steadfast as a satisfying, industrial warmth holds back the cold.

"That's quite alright, I don't mind entertaining her if it helps her keep calm if that is the current issue." I insist, doing my best to crouch down so I can get a better eye-to-eye view with her.

"Hear that, sweetie? Witch is going to let you play with her for a bit," the father tells his daughter as he urges her forward. As little as the tightly packed platform allows, anyway. Her small body bounces with excitement, her practically clumsy body barely staying up. All that thick clothing and such small, undeveloped muscles beneath it. It's adorable!

I hold out my hand close to hers, thinking of home as I do so. I might not be one for casting spells, but my time with the staff around Mother's keep has taught me one or two things. There's a common practical joke amongst my people, and I can cast that with no trouble at all. I just need to get a few things out of the way first.

"Hello, I am Einervaene, nice to meet you." I introduce myself as, my following thoughts putting an even greater smile on my lips. Why would I ever introduce myself as anything else in this land? Either way, I raise a gloved hand before her, ready to shake it if she understands the gesture enough.

Do Jhermonikra shake hands as a general rule?

"Hello! I'm Oyeihfee!" she says, her smile so rosy-tipped with those cold cheeks of hers, however, her hand doesn't raise to meet mine, "Why are you holding your hand out?"

Her head keeps on tilting, even after she asked it.

"For you to shake it." I point out, showing my teeth even as the cold picks at them in such an uncomfortable way.

"Ok!" she goes, grabbing my hand by the fingers and whacking it about. I giggle at her behaviour, getting my spell in regardless of how little contact she makes. Her smile goes away, a heavy frown coming to her as she picks up on what's going on, but not quite noticing fully. She looks up at her father, who can't help but chuckle.

"Your hair has gone all funny." he points out, nudging the mother to present a small hand mirror so their little girl can see. The three of them laugh together, the daughter all but screaming with excitement as she tries to flatten her living hair. It won't stop going up, always going up and up, like how we are going right now.

"Attention passengers, please exit the security platform and spread yourselves out into your travel groups," the platform driver calls through a speaker, alerting me in such a way to ruin the spell.

It docks into an extensive building, one built up far more than the checkpoints of before. The railings collapse, and we do as asked, a small wave parting me from the little girl and her family. We keep on doing as asked, all the way until me and Baltanthan find ourselves on our again. Somewhat, anyway, many of the groups that have formed are going off into private rooms.

This is all just a different style of checkpoint building, that much is clear. One that is nice and shielded from the cold, but nothing particularly welcoming or homely. Very clean, very sterile and lacking all but the most bare essentials. A lot of empty space with nothing but impatient and cold people in mind.

"You two, with me," an approaching guard says, his polished, clockwork-style armour glittering under the needlessly strong lights above. We follow after him, arriving at some kind of thin metallic block. He stands at the edge, however, he gestures us to wait. It scans us, metaphorically prodding at us in a way that most certainly touches on our magical power.

Some guards come over, whispers passing between their lips as they look over their tablets. Eyes keep swishing up, specifically at me. If there was anything worry-inducing, this is certainly it. All this privacy and constant looking at me-

"You, in here," the guard tells me, some staying by as they reassure their weapon grips. I blink firmly at their actions, looking around as a different kind of cold settles in me. What's going on!?

This nervous jitter won't go away, and this small room we're now in is not helping things. They sit me down on a plain seat, and the harsh stares of the guards only makes things even worse. I keep my posture, but I can't exactly stop shaking. I can't not like this.

"Name." the lead demands an answer to, checking his tablet over.

"Excuse me...?" I ask, confused as to what's going on.

"The name you gave us at prior checkpoints, say it." the lead repeats.

"Uh... Ein... Einervaene Bosphama." I answer, gulping the end words down my throat.

"Thank you. Now, the reason you are travelling up to the capital of the Dual-Republic of Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst?" he asks, that long form professionalism making me feel so small.

"To attend the Suhurlodst... Suhurlodst Academy and meet up with a friend?" I answer, struggling to recall the full name to something I already know the full name to.

"We have an issue, then," the guard explains, sending a freezing pain throughout me.

It cools my blood dangerously low, "P-Pardon? That can't be right... I know I said something along those lines to the guards of previous checkpoints."

"And yet, one of the men who brought you here reports you entertaining a child. Why would a children's entertainer go to a school specialising in arcane engineering and the pioneering of combat-focused witchcraft?" the guard asks, his hat coming away as a small grin forms on his face.

The tension of the room snaps, the close walls barraging me with every bit of laughter from everyone present. I try to get some of it into my system, sprout a laugh of my own right back. But, I can't. I'm too scared.

The door opens behind us and a sighing man enters, his rank putting the others at attention, "Ignore my colleague, Einervaene Bosphama, he is just having some fun. Everything matches up, you are free to leave the room."

The reprimand, however, goes no further, and the pair exchange data-tablets. I nod carefully, the worry largely leaving my body as they all stand at ease. It's nice knowing this. It's all a joke, little else.

"Baltanthan!" I call out the moment I spot him, I rush on over, glad I can seek counsel with a familiar face.

"Why are you so happy to see me? You weren't gone long." Baltanthan goes, his grumpiness going away for just a bit as my lingering worry entertains him.

"I just am, ok!?" I almost snap at him, going quiet and finally allowing myself to calm down. My eyes look everywhere around us, at everyone as they go back to their groups. A soft warmth washes over us, the click of distant doors catching our attention as a lone man comes out through them.

"You may now arrange lodgings at the connected inn if you wish, thank you for your time. We hope your journey remains safe thanks to the efforts of the Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst Guard of the Road. And it is in our interest you carry on compiling until you are out of our jurisdiction, thank you." the man explains, stepping aside with a welcoming smile as he ushers us all down the freshly opened path.

While I'm mostly scared and confused, most of the people here seem quite used to this. Is this perhaps why everyone was the way they were about the square? It lets us skip the hardship of the snow-belt so we can get to an inn quickly? Either way, Baltanthan is more than delighted with what has come of our journey.

"Well, this has gone better than I had expected." Baltanthan comments with relief as we move on from the dull and practical layout of the building. The stone shifts to gilded artwork all around, and the clinical smell is no more. Only sweet, foody smells remain. The heat of plentiful fires roar away as so much helps me return to a peaceful mindset.

There's so much beauty in just this quick hallway and-

"Sorry!" I frantically yelp having run into- Walked into Baltanthan!

"Wait until we have a room first before you get tired," is all he has to say to me, rushing down the stairs as we come across a vast, welcoming cavern.

My high-heels echo throughout the area as I take the moment of calm to look out across the gold and red of such beautiful carpets, drapes and more. A sea of clothed tables, cushioned and blanketed sofas and other furniture pieces awaits us. It really is amazing how vast these inns are. I still haven't got over how beautiful it is to look at them.

They're small towns in and of themselves!

"Should we get a meal first?" I ask, lingering to try and get a good view of all that is on display. Baltanthan insists upon himself, and I join him at the bottom of the stairs. We take no time at all and cross the gap from here to there. All the sweet and savoury smells rushing to meet my wide nostrils.

They have some kind of fruitcake on display, powdered with sugar that's so much like the snow outside. Creamy soups in vast vats and cute little bowls painted with careful patterns. It's hard to tell what the main dish of the day is right now. It was hard enough to figure it out before, but I can't focus at all right now.

"Specials." I read out under my breath, still not sure what to think of what they call their 'Dishes of the Day.' It's such an odd naming convention. The dishes are not special, just very plentiful. So, why are they special? Back home, the main dish of the day is just that, the dish of the day.

But here they call them specials... What an odd people these Jhermonikra are.

"I'd rather get a room." Baltanthan goes, seemingly contradicting what he said earlier.

"Then why don't you get a room, and I get us something to eat?" I suggest, knowing we can easily solve both of our problems right now. Yet, with how cozy these inns are, I honestly wouldn't mind losing out on a room. Tucking out on one of the sofas is certainly an option!

"Maybe I want room delivery." he contests for no reason at all

"I can get you something that won't make a mess of the bed from here, no?" I point out, not sure what to make of what seems like him making a fuss for no reason at all.

"Just get yourself something, I'll find you later and tell you where the room is. Or, who knows, maybe I can get the staff to do it," he lets out with a refreshed sigh as he seemingly frustrates himself out of the conversation. The stiffness in his posture melts away, his legs carrying him away towards the reception counter at the far end of this great hall.

"Alright..." I go, disappointed that I've found myself alone in this gargantuan building. A finger comes to my hear, twirling about and undoing the snow-soaked braids that make it up. I wander off towards and around all of the food, my nose otherwise hooked. Through the aisles of endless, gorgeous desserts and steaming meats, though, I find myself staring at the doors.

I am for some reason, looking at the doors. There're plenty of people using them, as doors should be. However, there are many just not being used at all, and it's not because they're broken in any seeable manner. I shake my head, perhaps just hoping too much Nin-kischu and Rianta-chira will turn up through them.

My focus returns to the meals and dishes prepared on the valley-long set of tables. All of it looks so enticing, and my stomach refuses to do anything but growl over the array of foods presented. I almost feel intimidated with how seemingly endless it all is. All of it is fresh and juicy when applicable and... And, despite all of the intimidation, I will not step down from this challenge!

I will devour so much and become fat because of it!

My cheeks burn warmly, and I huff, looking aside to find no one near me to be concerned about. It was a lie, I don't think I'll ever lose my impressive proportions, but I probably might eat so much I become fat, anyway! If the food is as delicious here as it has been beforehand, then maybe such a problem will become forgivable.

But I guess it depends, really. Some of it seems to naturally make me averse. So many foreign dishes, just like all the others inns we've stopped in for a quick break or the night. No two layouts ever the same to a disorienting degree. So many things to try.

"I guess I should be extra thankful to you then, hmm?" I ask my memories of a lone, welcoming man. Our previous host back in Tryhpeltzweig. He helped me get so far in my journey to begin with, but that's not the point. He removed the trials and tribulations of trying foods I'm not familiar with. He went out of his way to learn my favourite dishes from before I left my homeland and did his best to replicate familiar comforts.

And now, I'm in a place that accommodates the comforts of another people... The Jhermonikra of the Dual-Republic of Thrurstradtur-Suhurlodst. Yet, I'm willing to give it a go to the limits of my belly and waistline. It only makes sense I get use to it, after all. I'll be here a while.

Even if I acclimate to such food at a slow and steady pace...

"Hmmmm..." I ponder, putting a gloved finger to my lips as I look over my immediate options. It all looks so good, but no sizeable portion can be taken just in case I don't like it... Ohhhhhh!