I was so lost.
What was the Faith?
What did Aspect synthesis mean?
Why wouldn't they want to form as many Aspects as they could?
And why did it take me so long to realize that, with the way the rust abominations breathed, they were incompatible with sand being blown around by haphazard gusts of wind?
At least it was now clear I hadn't made a major mistake with my itinerary, that I was definitely heading for Red Sand Rift City, and that the radiant red light did truly originate from there.
The worst had also never come to pass from my joining this group of giants undertaking what they called a "harvest run", as they clearly didn't inherently dislike fairies for the danger their Origin Aspects represented like the refuge had led me to believe.
Not that [Guided] would let me put my guard down so soon.
If ever.
And I could rationalize why.
After I gave myself a good wipe and changed my clothes, my first impression may have looked impressive enough, but with how many apparently basic questions I was asking, that could change at any moment.
Still, with [Guided] slowly shifting my general bearing and manner of speaking to suit what I steadily [Insight]ed to be details they were impressed to see me carry out as if they came to me naturally, and as long as I stopped disclosing my ignorance, it felt unlikely for them to turn on me.
Or as unlikely as my overall very lacking understanding of the circumstances I was stepping into allowed me to judge.
Which made it extremely unlikely.
I should have just trailed them...
But I was learning so many new words, like the name of those small red things covering the ground—sand—or how they accumulated into mountains called dunes, and that this whole place was called the Red Desert and not the rust wastes anymore.
All information that would come in useful when I got to the city.
Hence, in spite of the risks...
"How strong is the Faith?"
I continued to ask questions, unable to resist my soaring curiosity about the world I was journeying towards.
◇ ◈ ◈ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◈ ◈ ◇
I looked up once again at the serrated gap in reality extending all the way from the ceiling to the ground, a massive crumbling frame of metal alive with too many lights and too much activity to count circling it in the most complex and mesmerizing display I had ever witnessed...
And seriously considered when I would come to find such an awe-inspiring sight perfectly normal.
It was bound to happen, just like the refuge eventually lost its sense of mystery after I explored it, just like the tower lost its sense of immensity once I thoroughly explored it, and just like the entire town became my playground when, once upon a time, it had been the scariest memory in my mind.
Actually, the longer I stared at it, the more certain I became of how right my decision had been to leave my dilapidated town and its crumbling ceiling behind to come here.
Only in such a place...
A place where entities like the Faith existed to further my understanding of the world.
A place where I could meet other fairies to plan ahead for my future growth.
A place where the ceiling didn't threaten to flatten me out of the blue while I was sleeping.
A place where I stood to receive development opportunities simply by being present...
Now that I was no longer the powerless fairy I once was, now that I had the Aspects needed to defend myself one way or another, even if my height still remained so immensely tiny compared to seemingly everyone else, only such a dynamic place could accommodate my [Will] to thrive.
Nevertheless, there was one last act I needed to perform before I got to tackle the massive changes ahead.
"I think it's time for us to part ways," I said straightforwardly once I felt ready and had adequately mulled over my choice of words.
"You do you, lady."
"Don't forget us when you climb back up."
"'Twas a pleasure to escort you."
In the end, except for the few who habitually remained as silent as ever and simply threw me unsubtle side glances, I believed I perfectly executed the parting scenario I was [Guided] to carry out.
What's more, before any complications could arise, I was taking the largest strides I could and fluttering my way into the surrounding stream of giants marching towards the same destination as me.
First stop...
The Faith.
◇ ◈ ◈ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◈ ◈ ◇
The Faith Of The Aspects.
Shortened to the Faith, it was, from what I gathered, a gathering of people who believed in the omnipotence of Aspects, and by leaning on this belief, anyone could simply walk up to any of their fancy "Temples" to learn more about Aspects, irrespective of one's status.
Before even seeking out fellow-sized fairies, I decided to do just that first by asking anyone who looked amenable and wore clean-enough clothes for directions to "the Faith's nearest Temple", and apart from being summarily ignored a couple of times, it ultimately got the job done.
From stepping onto the ground floor of the gigantic metal structure built around the Red Sand Realm Rift to reaching the fourth floor, which I did by travelling through a twisted maze of streets delineated by buildings looking eerily similar to the ones that populated the town I had left behind, I only lost my way a couple of times.
Then I reached it.
And I couldn't believe it.
Under the red lighting produced by the Red Sand Realm Rift located behind it, the Temple rose from the ground in seamless panes of polished metal, its surface so clean and free of rust that it seemed entirely untouched by the outside world.
Wide, open arches cut into its structure on all sides, their curved spans framing a hollow interior plunged into welcoming [Darkness].
There were no doors, no guards, nothing to bar my way inside, but despite this bizarre openness, the Temple appeared...
Empty.
People were simply passing it by, leaving its gaping entrances undisturbed.
At this point...
What else could this be but a trap?
I dawdled for some breaths before reaffirming my [Will] and striding onward, [Guided] once more to follow the rules of [Darkness] to their utmost, preventing any sound from carrying across the metal floor as I made my way further inside.
As it turned out, however, the brightness outside had induced me into the wrong assumption that the interior was dark, and it was only once my eyes reverted to a state more accustomed to almost no light being present that the inside unveiled itself.
No narrow corridors, no doors, no partitions, no adornments, no furniture beyond plain chairs and tables...
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Just a broad, unbroken chamber of pale metal, its surfaces as seamless and spotless as the outside, with the whole space arranged in wide, circular tiers, leaving the center as the most well-lit area, inexorably attracting my eyes to it and the individuals present therein.
Tilting my head to the side and perking my ears to focus on my sound [Perception], I clearly made out what sounded like whispers despite being so far away.
"...too hard, I'm thinking of giving up..."
"...going against your nature will only bring you pain..."
"...the [Recovery] Aspect isn't for everyone, do not feel lesser for it..."
"...I simply can't seem to be able to advance my [Perception] Aspect..."
"...everyone struggles at some point. Mine was with the [Balance] Aspect, I can still remember how ambitious..."
"...all to pursue the revered height of power..."
Well, at least it sounded like I was in the right pla—
"That is a splendid [Cycle] you have there, little fairy. Might I inquire when and where you formed it?"
Before I was aware of it, I had unsheathed my weapon—what the giants I travelled with had taught me could be called a "needle with a handle"—and turned to point it at the giant who had suddenly sprung out of nowhere right next to me.
"Beautiful [Stealth], by the way, and a most apt reaction speed and technique," he added, seemingly thoroughly unimpressed by the threat I represented. "Also, while I am no expert in fairy physiology like some of my peers, aren't you a bit too young to be here? What are you, barely a year old? Two?"
I stared silently at this giant, my body tensed to its limit, and shortly recognized him to be fitted with the same utilitarian garments of muted metallic fabric, layered in simple, uniform lines, as many of the individuals present within the center of the Temple.
"Seeker?" I called out the "Path name" of those I was told were in charge of the Faith.
"Once upon a time, but not anymore, I switched to the Sentinel Path when I got fed up with books," he answered without so much as a blink. "I am the Guardian assigned to this Temple, and the more I look at you, the more my [Instinct] is tingling, obliging me to reconsider the reason for your presence here."
"I—"
I nearly started spilling the story I had prepared, as I had planned to from the moment I heard about something like the Faith being a real thing, but [Guided] caught me off guard by urging me to non-insignificantly shift the narrative I intended to employ to go about solving all my troubles.
I didn't resist.
"I want advice on where I can learn to read and write, learn numbers and how to count, learn what being born with an Origin Aspect means, and learn about Path Aspect formations, advancements, and synthesis."
My words echoed through the wide-open Temple, shortly causing all the whispers to vanish as everyone who heard my preposterous demand turned my way.
My words, however, didn't appear to faze the 'Guardian' at all, and he simply continued to stare at me without letting any hint of what was going on in his mind show.
That ended all too soon, however, when a subtle grin broke his expressionless facade.
"Your statement is hiding a [Truth] that is of some interest to me, young one. Would you like to talk this through in a more private space?"
◇ ◈ ◈ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◈ ◈ ◇
"So, let me first introduce myself formally. I am Elric, Guardian of the Faith Of The Aspects," I introduced myself once we finally found a smaller space to settle in below the discourse hub.
Just the two of us.
Me and a fairy who was giving my [Instinct] a real workout for the first time in a while.
Seeing that she remained silent, I assumed she didn't want to introduce herself yet and continued, "Why don't you let me ask some questions first to push aside some of my most far-fetched conclusions? This way, we won't waste unnecessary time."
She nodded at that after a second spent staring at me with her big, emotionless, unblinking iridescent eyes that didn't belong to someone of the young age she appeared to be.
I could be totally wrong, though. It was entirely plausible that she belonged to a peculiar fairy family line that had lost the ability to fly and had a much shorter height than was usual for her kind.
Nonetheless, as my [Truth] [Instinct] didn't feel strongly about that, I preferred to assume she was the same age she looked, and that age was that of a one-year-old fairy, or a fairy whose Essence had yet to mature enough to enable them to even take flight, thus explaining her wings not yet being mature enough for her to fly.
But seeing how familiar she looked with ground-based movement and her overall demeanor...
I couldn't understand.
Something was seriously not adding up.
"Do you wish to join the Faith?"
Hence, I did just as I said I would and didn't waste any time, directly asking the first question that came to my mind upon hearing her ridiculous demand.
A first question that already appeared to take her by surprise from her subsequent answer.
"I... don't know? Maybe? Would it... give me all the knowledge I asked for?"
I sensed [Truth], which was only slightly baffling considering how she had initially presented herself to the Faith.
"Let's settle that as a maybe for now, then." I nodded imperceptibly. "Next question, how old are you?"
"..." She looked at me.
"..." I looked at her, pondering the meaning behind her silence...
Then suddenly caught on to the evident trouble I was giving her and corrected myself.
"Right, you want to learn numbers and how to count. My apologies, young... I still didn't get your name, did I?"
Still, I made the conversation flow naturally; my past Seeker experience and the unavoidable long years spent secluded inside various Temples studying and communicating with fellow Aspect enthusiasts came in useful as usual.
"Haven't given myself one... yet," she mumbled, the last word barely audible.
"..." For the first time in a long, long while, this answer filled with nothing but [Truth] actually took me aback, and my eyebrows shot up to reflect that.
What was up with this little fairy?
What was up with honestly not having a name and knowing nothing?
What was up with looking perfectly healthy and being fitted with proper, clean clothes?
What was up with her wielding a weapon suitable for her size and height, one she had obviously trained with?
What was up with the trained and experienced way she moved, breathed, and observed her surroundings?
"Alright," I said, deciding there and then to adapt my approach to that of a first discussion with a total stranger. "Why don't you tell me what you think I should be aware of about you? Things like who your parents are, where you grew up, what your Origin Aspect is, how many Path Aspects you formed, things like that? Don't feel forced, simply tell me what you think is most relevant."
"I... don't know the name of where I was born, but I can show you on a map..."
"...it was a refuge with many other kids like me..."
"...earned food by scouring rust from various metal pieces..."
"...due to my size, I was in charge of scouring the inside of pipes..."
"...couldn't exchange enough to feed us all, something about harsh times being ahead..."
"...infiltrated the biggest tower and ended up settling in its pipe networks..."
"...until the ceiling collapsed and killed everyone..."
"...scavenged the entire tower and then found a path back to the surface..."
"...signs of the ceiling collapsing again, I packed up and..."
"...through the rust wastes, and then the Red Desert, where I met a group undertaking a harvest run..."
"...heard about the Faith..."
"...asked around for the nearest Temple..."
"...and that's how I ended up here, and we met, and now we're here."
Once the little fairy finished recounting her unique life journey, I was once again stupefied by my [Truth] [Instinct].
For despite there being so many gaps in her story that it should have collapsed on its own without me having to ask a single question, it stood impossibly [Truth]full, with all the convenient omissions and gaping holes covered by a veil of mysterious Aspects she only alluded to but never explicitly stated.
Was the [Cycle] Aspect I was seeing her use, even at Tier 0, actually able to sustain an infant fairy if she found herself in the exhaust pipe network of a paste furnace?
How did she survive the calamity of the ceiling collapsing on Volow, when even I didn't feel confident I would make it through intact enough to survive if I were in her place?
Where did she receive all the training I was obviously seeing her employ as if it had already reached the height of being second nature?
Unlike what many of my Seeker friends used to say with a dreamy sigh whenever we ended up discussing fairy legends and their most exceptional living powerhouses, not everything could simply be explained by a lucky Origin Aspect that set them on the path to becoming who they eventually were.
There were simply too many fairies born with exceptional Origin Aspects, along with a select few anomalies born without one who were then allowed to form theirs with full cognizance of the consequences, which proved that an Origin Aspect was only that in the end.
An Aspect with a different growth trajectory.
Be that as it may...
"It seems I underestimated the complexity of your situation and the circumstances surrounding your arrival here," I ultimately declared after giving myself an adequate amount of time to deliberate.
My decision on what to make of this little fairy, who had probably turned out to be even younger than she looked, had been made from the instant I didn't perceive any falsehood in her ludicrous tale.
And the reason behind my decision couldn't have been more straightforward.
"For someone such as you, who exemplifies the omnipotence of Aspects against the willful flow of fate, I believe it is more than appropriate for me to personally escort you to the Prime Temple and invoke a special meeting with the local Magister," I explained.
Nonetheless, it was easy to see that she understood neither what I was saying nor what I intended to do.
"Prime Temple?"
My guess was proven when she asked about a most irrelevant detail of my proposal.
"This place is a Temple, sure, but it can only be qualified as a Lesser Temple of the Faith, a Temple built first and foremost to spread the glory of the Faith to places in dire need of it, and as such, you would only find Acolytes and Scribes from the Seeker Path here, with a Guardian such as me acting as their protect—"
"..."
Observing that my words were evidently entering through one ear and exiting through the other, I wisely elected to cut my explanation short.
"You will understand everything once you are provided a larger context. But it would take too long and still be fragmented if I did so here, so why not simply depart now, and I'll answer any question you have on the way?"
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