"Well, it's a little difficult to explain." Ryven admitted.
"Earlier today I discovered what exactly my mantle does." He said truthfully. "It basically kidnaps a persons consciousness, and puts it in my own brain."
Silas' brows furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"I see him as a sort of ghost." Ryven explained. "I'm the only person that can see and talk to him."
Silas fell silent for a moment.
"I see… and who exactly is this person?"
Ryven chuckled a little, giving Abel a glare.
"Just a little harmless domestic terrorist." He said, giving Silas a smile.
His eyes widen.
"A terrorist."
"Harmless." Ryven repeated, holding up a hand. "Relatively."
"He has no powers and it's not like he can actively do anything. He's kind of just like a voice in my head." Ryven said, giving Silas a smile. Silas however maintains that same look of concern.
"Even if it's just a voice, that voice could do a lot of harm to a fragile mind."
Silas let the words hang in the air for a moment longer than Ryven would have liked.
The old man's gaze lingered on him, thoughtful, cautious, as if trying to weigh something invisible.
Finally, Silas sighed.
"Well," he muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "that certainly complicates things."
Ryven gave a small shrug.
"Not really. Like I said, he's harmless."
Abel scoffed
"First off, I wouldn't really call myself a terrorist, im more like a freedom fighter, and second, your the one who kidnapped me!"
Ryven ignored him.
Silas straightened, his expression settling into something firmer.
"Whether he is or not isn't the point," he said. "A second mind inside your head means that he can influence every single one of your decisions even if you dont realize it."
Ryven folded his arms.
"I wouldnt worry about that, Abel seems far to stupid to do anything of the sort."
"Hey!" Abel barked.
Silas studied him a moment longer before releasing a small sigh.
"We don't know the full extent of your powers yet, so perhaps it's not that big of a deal." Silas muttered.
"I suppose that can be all be figured out during our journey toward Dustreach."
Ryven stays quiet.
"Do you need to grab anything?" The man asks Ryven.
He shakes his head. "It's not like I have anything." He chuckles.
"Good, grab some of that lunar creature meat and follow me. It's time to head out."
…
"How far is Dustreach, exactly?" Ryven asked.
"It's quite a distance. It's a small homestead home to a few tier 2 and 3 dreamers owned by a small grocery corporation in sector five of the UCA, though mostly present in the old state of Oregon, not California." Silas muttered,
"Ugh, corporations own everything, don't they? Even lands on this fake moon." Abel muttered in disgust.
"Where does this hate for corporations and capitalism originate from?" Ryven asks.
"I don't hate capitalism!" Abel roared. "I merely hate this state of hyper corporate greed and control. Hell, our countries economic system doesn't even feel like capitalism anymore, but rather a battleground of conglomerates and monopolistic corporations clawing over each other while leaving regular cogs like us behind. Does that not infuriate you?!"
Ryven peers over at him. "You really seem to have a deep hatred buried in your heart. I wish I could relate to you, but I've yet to experience or feel the grind of being a 'cog,' as you say."
"Oh but you will. And it is only then that you will understand."
"What is that psycho in your mind going on about?" Silas asks.
"He's just rambling on regarding his hate for corporations. You could just ignore me." Ryven said, giving him a small smile.
"I'm just trying to figure out what exactly goes on in a psychopathic terrorist's mind."
"You scrutinize me now, but one day, you will understand. And when that day comes, I hope you remember this moment."
Ryven sighs.
"Wait." Silas raises his hand. "Do you feel that?" Ryven looks around but sees nothing. "What is unc talking about?" Abel asks. "Do you not feel the vibrations?" Silas asks again. "Earthquake?" Ryven questions. "No. Something much bigger. Far in the distance." Ryven pauses, trying to look past his peripheral vision. "Maybe it would have been better to part ways. Uncle is losing it." Abel stated, shielding his eyes as if that would help him see further. "Should we change our direction?" Ryven asks. "No. We'll be able to handle it. Probably." Silas takes one of the few strips of meat from Ryven's hands, chewing into it as if it were some exquisite piece of wagyu steak. In reality, it was extremely dry, disgusting monster meat that tasted like a terrible beef jerky.
"I can't believe you find this delicious." Ryven groans.
Silas looks over. "This is what real meat tastes like. Nothing like that synthetic shit in the real world."
Ryven's face scrunches.
"Either real meat tastes disgusting, or your cooking is horrible."
"It's probably the latter." Silas said, releasing a small chuckle.
The ground gradually changed as they walked.
At first Ryven didn't notice it. The dull gray dust of the lunar surface had always looked the same to him, powdery and lifeless, stretching endlessly beneath the dim sky. But after an hour or two of steady walking, the terrain began to shift. The powder gave way to rougher stone, jagged slabs rising from the surface like broken teeth.
The ravine appeared slowly.
At first it was just a subtle dip in the land ahead, a darker line cutting across the pale terrain. Then the ground dropped away entirely.
Ryven stopped at the edge.
A massive chasm split the moon's surface open, stretching far to the left and right until it disappeared into the gray haze of distance. Its walls plunged downward into shadow, deep enough that the bottom was almost impossible to see. Faint blue dreamlight glimmered far below, like distant stars trapped in stone.
Salis looks down. "Seems like we made it."
"Made it to where exactly?" Abel asked.
Silas's silence forced Ryven to groan. He still wasn't used to this. "Where exactly are we?"
"This moon's version of Vallis Planck. Largest ravine on this damned rock."