Freefall

High Priest, what are Durin cities like?

Uhh, I don't remember. A little too boring to talk about.

I spent some time in the underground world a century or so ago and the only thing I can remember is that it was a nasty place chock-full of imbeciles.

Less interesting than watching Originium slugs sleep by the river.

Though, heh, you young kids ought to experience things on your own. You need to have the kind of drive and ambition that I did!

By the way, turn left at the next junction, and DON'T jump down!

How much longer now, High Priest?

Good question. There's no end to the road called life. No matter how far you've come, you can only keep moving forward— plus, there's a geezer like me watching over you.

Oh, if you meant how far we are from the city, if you could drop right through the rocks like I can, you need to go down another five or six hundred meters.

Zumama, how the hell did you put up with this guy up so long? He won't shut up.

He's usually not as noisy around the machines.

Does this chainsaw blade count as a machine?

Harrumph! No manners!

Would you look at that. Worked like a charm.

This is it... We're here!

Uhh, the 'Great Aquapit?'

Let's set aside the Durins' naming sense for now.

This waterpark already looked pretty insane from the distance, but it's even more incredible up-close!

Is this how Durins live all the time?!

Cowabunga!!

When did he change into a swimsuit?

E-Elysium, please be careful!

Woah, that was a close one! Are you alright? Didn't spill your drink, did you?

Well... that's weird. How'd you surface-dwellers end up down here? Never seen you people around before.

And this guy looks about as stupid as a Durin.

Hello, sir. We were invited here by Stitch Canvas.

He said, uh, he wanted us to help him with a little favor!

Stitch Canvas, huh... Would you look at that, he actually came back.

I thought he was going to say goodbye to this city for good, just like that respectable teacher of his.

As much as I'd like to offer you our famous Durin hospitality, welcoming folk that we are, I sadly can't while Stitch is running around causing havoc and ignoring all our ways.

Let me introduce myself first. I am Catch Lightrace, this city's design representative.

No need to be nervous. It'll be over in no time.

What... is the meaning of this?

Hmm? Did the atmosphere just get a little weird all of a sudden? I can't handle all these people trying to toast me at the same time.

Are you guys...?

Trying to pick a fight?! I'm not afraid of you shorties!

You're gonna get a taste of the combat skills Gavial taught me! Phew... Take a sturdy stance, and put your hips into it!

Come at me!

Wh-What is she doing?! Is she gonna clobber us with her stick?

Gyaaaah! Stay away from me!

Hey, hey! What are you people doing?! Stop! Stop, I tell you!!

Huh? I thought we were going to fight?

Why would Durins do such a pointless thing?!

Put your weapons away and come with me!

Ahem! Citizens of Zeruertza, this is this quarter's four hundred and seventeenth referendum.

Following our previous vote on this month's general background music, we decided on the color of our street lights for the week during the last referendum. Now, we must answer a new question.

Since this question isn't particularly important, the individuals here today are enough of a quorum to represent Zeruertza.

Today's question is: Zeruertza has just welcomed new guests. Should we accept them or not?

......

What guests?

I heard something about a guy who doesn't drink?

Ah, no, it's these ones standing right in front of us.

Cheers, brother! Isn't it crazy that there's a Durin out there who doesn't drink?

Yeah, that's totally crazy. Cheers!

Let's finish chugging this barrel, then we can go play in the water.

Hah, make sure to keep those eyelids peeled! You have to see what us surface-dwellers can do!

Tomimi, sorry if I sound like a broken record, but are you sure everything's alright at Rhodes Island?

Uh, p-probably?

You're always welcome to come back if things aren't working out. Be careful— don't underestimate the amount of damage a bad environment can do to you!

Hurry it up, Catch! We've got a lot of stuff to take care of!

Brother, have you ever heard of a sport called surfing?

Surfing, you say? That might as well be my middle name!

Objection!

This guy can't be trusted!

Ah, yeah. I knew things weren't going to be that simple...

Hey you, drunk Liberi over there!

Inam, they must be talking to you, because I certainly amn't drunk. Not a bit.

I AM talking to you, guy with the stein!

Alright. Whaddya want?

You'd better come out and pick a side: noble mead, or lame-ass whiskey!

We of the Old Karl Mead fan club graciously welcomed you into our fold, and now you're hanging out with those hoity-toity whiskey-sippers? My disappointment is immeasurable!

Not too long ago, we had our arms over each other's shoulders, shouting 'Long Live Mead' together. But I turn around for a second and you go off to play with those uppity kids?

Err, um, I think they're both great...

Oh no you don't! We don't take kindly to fence-sitters around here!

Haha, you're a joke. You can't know what's good and what's bad without a point of reference. Isn't that right, brother?

There's nothing to be afraid of. Speak your mind, and let the words of praise flow for our great whiskey. That is, if you want to stay in Zeruertza––

Hey, stop threatening him, you despicable whiskey-sipper!

Gah. Your mead's baby stuff! Might as well drink it out of a bottle!

Let's throw down in front of the Big Cask tonight then! Walk the walk if you talk the talk!

Hah, you wanna see who can chug more of your baby brew? You have my attention!

Wait, stop right there! The referenda we hold here in the forum are sacred! Talk about drinking somewhere else––

Raise your hand, and let your vote be known. The minority obeys the will of the majority— that is the eternal lodestar of Zeruertza.

Begin the counting of the votes!

If you're raising your hand, then I'm not!

I'm raising my hand whether you like it or not! Piss off!

Just wait 'til we get to the water slide. I'm gonna splash your brains out!

With what, that ridiculous 'technique' of yours?

Alright, not bad. A solemnly conducted vote.

In what world does this count as solemn?

The votes have been counted, and the results are clear.

The people of Zeruertza have made their decision: play to your hearts' content, surface-dwellers.

Cheers!!

By the way, I welcome you as an architect. That gorgeous edifice sitting atop the lake is my pride and joy. You are welcome to play your hearts out beneath it.

You're talking about that 'Great Aquapit' over there?

I didn't come up with the name. It was something we all voted on!

Did they tack more stuff onto the 'Great Aquapit?' It looks even more hideous than the last time I saw it.

That's Catch's masterpiece, you know? You really shouldn't badmouth it in front of him.

He's not worthy of my constructive criticism anyway. Or rather, there's no way to fix it in the first place!

That malformed, twisted structure... Just looking at it makes me want to pass out! How can the people of Zeruertza continue to suffer him as the design representative?

Probably because folks really love playing on the big slide.

If I were calling the shots...

You'd use béton brute to construct... uh, an array of squares.

You still don't know me well enough, Edge. I'd just put a long, narrow strip of concrete there. Minimalism is beauty.

Huh? What about the slide then?

I suppose there wouldn't be any harm in slanting it a little...

Ahem, back to the issue at hand.

There don't seem to be any major issues with the dome right now, but I'm still worried.

Since the earthquake over six months ago, the leak that sprung in the dome has been getting worse and worse. Is that your idea of no major issues?

I'm just telling you what the people of Zeruertza think. The water flow increased? Makes for a more stimulating experience. The temperature control stopped working? Even better, that just means the summer's not over yet!

As for the Originium detection system... Well, no active Originium layers have been detected near Zeruertza for over two decades!

Hmph. A short-sighted bunch.

So, you...

I'm not fixing it. What's worth saving about this cheap, rickety dome? I've said it a million times.

Were you not looking for a solution when you first went up to the surface? Were you not thinking about ways to restore the dome?

Absolutely not. I was just trying to hide from you because you won't shut up.

Now that's a little harsh, isn't it? Just a few months ago, I was voted into the Top 100 List of Zeruertza's Nicest Elders.

Alright, enough of that. I know you're concerned about the state of the dome.

But if Catch can't even solve the issue with the dome's integrity, then forget occupying the design representative's seat, he should get the hell out of Zeruertza.

If we're just talking outcomes, there shouldn't be any safety concerns regarding the dome at this point.

We can leave the temperature control system alone, since our beloved citizens are having a good time anyway. After they get tired of it, maybe they'll raise their hands and decide to turn Zeruertza into a walk-in freezer.

As for that Originium detection system, if you ask me, it was never that reliable to begin with. But since you've been chasing me around everywhere, I assume that's what you're most worried about? I do have a plan for that actually.

It'd be better for us to rebuild the railway bridge that was damaged by the earthquake, re-excavate the collapsed tunnels, and directly install the Originium detection instruments there for more accurate readings.

From the very beginning, the dome was over-engineered to try to do too many things at once.

You'd rather take a massive detour like that than directly work on the dome? Look, even if Finch up and left without saying anything, that's still your work together, master and pupil...

We're done here, okay?

Stop before I actually get mad, Edge.

...Fine.

Right now, the problem of Originium detection takes top priority.

I picked up a few people up on the surface who will probably come in handy. Their hodgepodge of skills is likely enough to repair Zeruertza's railway.

Now, we only need to...

Pardon the interruption, but are those handy people from the surface you're talking about...

Is that one flying through the sky right now?

Huh?

Waheyyyyy!

When you, Zumama, and Kemar first joined Rhodes Island, I didn't think much of it. But now that I've seen this guy...

Be honest with me, Tomimi. Is it really that easy to swindle a paycheck out of your company?

Elysium is actually a skilled guide and a communications specialist...

Well, anyway! Maybe this is who he really is!

Here's the sweet fruit wine you wanted~

Thank you!

Uhh, how should I pay? Or rather, how'd you buy all that other stuff before?

I told the nice tailor granny a few stories about Gavial, and she was so happy she gave me these clothes for free!

As for me... The drinks were covered by my good friends from the fan club, and I put the food on Stitch's tab.

I guess you'll probably survive, no matter where you get tossed.

That's one of the qualities of a professional guide!

Ma'am, go ahead and put our drinks on Mr. Stitch's tab as well. He won't mind.

You got it!

Haha, that guy's stingier than you'd think. Here, let me pay for those drinks.

I am quite proud of this amusement park after all. Naturally, I hope you'll have a great time.

Mr. Lightrace, do you and Mr. Canvas know each other well?

Depends what you mean by 'well.'

When we were young, we ran into each other a lot, since we were competing. We've gone head-to-head over several projects, some of which I won, some of which he won.

The only project neither one of us could secure was this dome above our heads.

We both have ideas for how we'd like to improve Zeruertza's iconic dome, and for a few years, we practically met every day––

During the referendum meetings, we both worked hard to prove that our respective ideas for the dome renovation were better.

But in the end, neither of us managed to win over a majority of Zeruertza's population.

After all, the dome is the legacy of Master Finch, the design representative who came before me.

And Stitch, as his student, is also...

Forget it. There are some things I'm not meant to say. You'd be better off asking him yourself.

Catch, my dear bro, why is someone as young as you talking like a withered old man? 'When we were young?' Come on.

Just follow Elysium's lead. Keep your heart pure, and face life with a smile! Instead of lamenting days bygone, come enjoy a drink with us––

Liberi man, your extra-large barrel of ice-cold beat-the-heat ale is here!

Help yourselves, everyone! Our good friend Catch wants us to have a good time, so how could we possibly disappoint his expectations?

So, my good brother, mind if I order some more? The folks from the fan club aren't paying for other drinks, and there's still so much I want to try.

......

Are you sure you're not a Durin on stilts?

'How should I describe the feeling of this long-leaf dew rolling down my throat? How ought I praise it without using words so pedestrian?'

'Tis as if I could swallow a cloud, or pluck a string of spring rain's pearls.'

'Tis as if I could feel the falling of winter's last two snowflakes...'

Uhh, they probably have no idea what falling snowflakes are, so maybe I'll go with a more Durin metaphor.

'Two super-frosty fruit-flavored ice cubes fall into a marvelous explosion of flavor––'

Ugh, that hurts––

The High Priest was right, we really shouldn't have jumped down.

It's been a real long time since I've felt like my bones were gonna fall apart. Probably the last time we fought.

Yeah. Now I think I'm starting to hallucinate. About fruit-flavored ice cubes and rum. Think it might be an aftereffect of our fall?

Huh? Why's there a Lupo sleeping here?

Do you think... this might be our fault?

Probably not... right? Uhh, think I should treat her?

Did you bring your medical kit?

Dr. Kal'tsit once said that a true master of medicine can resolve most problems with her bare hands.

Did she now?

Well, I don't remember her exact words, but that's the gist I took from it. Alright, where to start...?

*gasp*!

Oh, she's awake. I haven't even gotten started yet.

Um... Are you alright?

Ugh, my head's still spinning...

Sorry, I think the two of us might've bumped into you earlier. Need me to inspect you?

What are you doing here?

Come again...?

How did you two find this place?

Mind if we ask for directions? Do you know if there's a magical underground city here, or something like that?

You came from the surface.

Weird thing to say. You didn't?

We heard something terrible was about to happen underground, so...

You've finally come, surface-dwellers.

'Naturally, those who come with chainsaw and axe in hand can only spell calamity for this pure garden.'

...... 'The beast of civilization finally sheds all pretense of hiding its razor-sharp fangs, baring its gigantic maw before us...'

I see, that makes sense. A wild beast with a huge mouth and razor-sharp teeth. Don't worry, I'll handle this.

Huh? No, that was a rhetorical flourish...

As long as the thing's less than ten meters wide, I'm confident I can take it down clean. Perfect timing too, since I've been itching to get a good workout!

Mind showing us the way, Miss Lupo? Is it over here?

Maybe it'll be faster if we keep jumping down.

Stop, surface-dwellers! The blood on you will...

Don't worry. I know how to control my strength so it's not going to splatter all over the place.

Zumama, ready for round two?

Right behind you.

Hold on tight, Miss Lupo.

You can trust Gavial. She's an expert when it comes to fighting.

Uh, actually, there's another way... Hey? Hey!!