Babel

The conversation between Linnaeus and Eliza ran much later into the evening than the former had expected. His original intention had been to venture out under the cover of night but, much to his surprise, there were various light fixtures illuminating the city as a persistent amount of foot traffic breathed life into the streets below.Everything Linnaeus was experiencing on the Fifth Floor subtly changed his view on what society, in general, was supposed to be like. The people going about their business seemed full of purpose and, though it was clear that some were in more dire states than others, the tension he associated with large groups of people simply didn't exist.According to Eliza, this was actually very normal as any place with an established hierarchy generally became civil and organized. There were few benefits in suppressing people as they were much easier to exploit when the option of being 'content' and 'happy' was given to them. After all, if their efforts would never amount to anything, most people would resort to violence and underhanded methods just to survive.Linnaeus could understand the logic behind Eliza's words but, having grown up in the slums, he had a lot of trouble overcoming the incongruity in his own heart and mind. If society functioned in the way that Eliza claimed, he wondered how the slums could even be a thing. The only possible reason he could think of was that those in power had orchestrated the existence of the slums and, from the time since its establishment, they had endeavored to force those born within to stay impoverished...As there was no sense in brooding over the matter unless he one day escaped the Tower, Linnaeus ultimately decided to do what he always did, adapt to the situation. He waited until after dinner to mention he would be venturing out into the city to collect information. It might be a different kind of place than the slums he had grown up in but, compared to Eliza, Emilia, and Krone, he was the best at gathering information and moving undetected.Though Eliza and Emilia actually wanted to go exploring themselves, they decided to hole up inside the Inn for the night while entrusting Linneaus to his self-assigned task. Eliza, in particular, had been looking forward to enjoying a hot bath before sleeping in a comfortable bed so she wasn't against the idea of waiting at least one evening. As for Emilia, she was content with having food to eat and, coming from a tribe that always stuck together, she wasn't going to wander around on her own.With everyone on the same page, Linnaeus pulled aside Krone and, though the grey-skinned man didn't seem fond of the fact, he calmed down once the former said, "I'll entrust protecting those two to you. They may be able to take care of themselves but I feel they are being too complacent. While I'm away, please take care of them..."Krone only snorted in response to Linnaeus' words but, based on his body language and the way he became more vigilant, it was obvious he had taken the words to heart. Since his 'mission' was to help Eliza reach the highest level of the Crucible of Souls, he wasn't going to let anything happen to her if it was within his power to prevent.After watching Krone walk away for a few seconds, Linnaeus immediately changed focus as he exited the warm and fragrant inn. The first thing he noticed was that the evening temperature was a little brisk but, with the warm lights coming from the windows of various buildings, it felt strangely warm and pleasant.Without letting this illusion affect his mentality, Linnaeus began to follow the flow of traffic, his eyes darting around as he made a mental note of how people behaved and interacted with each other. At the same time, he checked the prices of various goods so he could get a feel for the average cost of living as there was a good chance that Eliza and Emilia would want to stay for a few days, at the very least.Much to Linnaeus' surprise, there were various fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and even meat being sold in the stalls. Even more surprising, however, was the fact that the vendors didn't seem especially warry of potential thieves. They all put on a mask of amicability as they enthusiastically greeted each customer that entered their sales area.Even though he was dressed like a wild child that had been lost in the woods for years, Linnaeus was treated like a guest of honor after entering a weapons shop. There, a stout man with an intricately braided beard and a large nose waved in his direction as he shouted, "Hey there little one! What can ah get for you today? Routine maintenance starts at 5 Kindlin' and, if you want any custom wares, we have commissions startin' at 50 Kindlin'."Linnaeus was taken aback by the man's vigor but what truly surprised him was the fact that several weapons were on display without any discernible security features. There was even a barrel in the corner with the word 'discounts' painted on the side, filled to the brim with lower quality swords, spears, and other weapons.Seeing Linnaeus look around, the man gave a knowing smile as he asked, "Yer one a' those types that ain't used to enterin' a real weapons shop, eh? If I had to gander, yer probably new to the floor as well, aye?"Hearing the man's words, Linnaeus made a mental note to fix his behavior in the near future. For now, he gave a curt nod before saying in the most neutral tone he could manage, "This is my first time seeing a shop with weapons placed so haphazardly. Are you not afraid that people will try to steal them...?"As if he had just heard the funniest thing in the world, the bearded man began to laugh boisterously while slapping his palm against the countertop. This caused Linnaeus to tense up as a powerful urge to turn around and leave the shop began to well up inside of him...After collecting himself, the man wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye before explaining, "I haven't laughed like that in a while. Thanks fer that, kiddo. As for yer question, well, it isn't all that rare for someone to try 'n snitch a good here and there. These are usually greenhorns that only just arrived in this 'ere Fifth Floor. If yer smart, you'll learn quickly that causin' trouble for others just ain't really worth the risk. Everyone with a shop here in the central district is under the protection of the Lord's family, Caulder. Besides, here, come 'n take a look see."Though he was hesitant to simply listen to the man's words, Linnaeus didn't feel any hostility coming from him. This was despite the fact that the man pulled out a sheathed longsword before setting it on the counter.As he had entered the shop to try and gather information, Linnaeus ultimately walked over to the counter as the bearded man used a hammer and a rod to remove the pin keeping the sword's blade rooted to the handle.With a patient and guiding tone, the man pointed to a small mark on the previously concealed slat of the blad, explaining, "Anyone competent enough to forge a blade can print their Maker's Mark on the inside. If an item isn't purchased properly, the mark gives off a signal that can be easily be traced by anyone with the proper insignia. Only a fool would try an' steal a hand-forged item from a shop!"Linnaeus had heard that many blacksmiths like to leave their names on the items they forged but this was the first time he was hearing about the function of the mark. This was an important piece of information and, while it didn't explain everything, he was beginning to understand why businesses didn't show any fear of having their items stolen.Feeling that this man was a good source for information, Linnaeus pulled out a bright red gemstone with ten small flecks of light floating inside. At the same time, he pulled out one of his hand-carved daggers, asking, "Can you teach me how to maintain my weapons properly? I've yet to get a grasp of the Fifth Floor so I'm hesitant to spend my Kindling haphazardly."Accepting the horned-rabbit dagger without any hesitation whatsoever, the man began to turn it over a few times in his hand before saying, "Yer luck musta been quite bad, kid. To be usin' the horn of a Horned Rabbit as yer weapon means ye must've died before reachin' the Tenth Floor, aye?"Linnaeus' face tensed up a bit at the man's words, earning a light chuckle from the latter before he tossed the dagger into a pile of materials at the side. This caused Linnaeus to take a step back and prepare to reach for another dagger but, before he could complete the action, the man raised his brow in amusement as he set a hunting dagger on the countertop and said, "Here, kid, you can have this one, on the house. From what I can tell, you've had it pretty rough. Maybe this'll turn your luck around, aye? Now, come over here an' watch closely. I'll teach you how to sharpen and oil the blade properly so you don't end up squanderin' my kindness."As if he wasn't afraid of Linnaeus at all, the man turned his back to grab a whetstone and a few other materials for maintaining a weapon. It wasn't until he noticed that Linnaeus was still standing a few meters away that he cocked his head to the side, asking, "Don't tell me you'd rather keep that trinket than use a proper blade...?"Hearing this question, Linnaeus pretended to drop his guard as he walked closer to the counter and asked, "How do I know someone won't track me down using the Maker's Mark? It isn't my intention to offend you, but I've...experienced a lot..."Rather than be offended, the bearded man seemed amused by Linnaeus' response as he began to chuckle in a lighthearted manner. He then separated the dagger's blade from its handle and said, "This dagger be gifted to another." This caused the Maker's Mark, which had previously been black in coloration, to flash slightly before losing its luster and turning an inert grey.Without waiting for Linnaeus to ask, the man explained, "When a transaction is completed properly, the Maker's Mark loses the tracer function. For an item of this quality, nobody would bother putting on a second trace as it is only worth around 30 Kindlin'. If it was a custom build, you can pay extra to have a tracer put on it that is linked to a unique insignia. This would let you track down the item if it was ever stolen so keep that in mind if your hands start itchin' in the future."Linnaeus didn't understand why the man was being so helpful to him but, considering he had gained a net profit of 20 Kindling, he wasn't complaining. He was learning a lot of new information, some of which had a chance of saving his life in the near future. After all, his primary role in a Party was Scout and Thief so, if the opportunity presented itself, he was prepared to use his [Steal] with impunity. The bearded-man seemed to understand this and, without saying it directly, cautioned him against doing anything that might get him into trouble...If Linnaeus had known that the only reason the man had been kind to him was due to the fact he thought the former was a young girl, his current good mood would have quickly spoiled...(A/N: For those that don't follow EPIC, I've been sick the last couple of days so my update schedule took a hard hit. I've been feeling better so there should be one chapter per day unless something else happens. Thank you for your patience and sorry for the delay.)

After leaving the weapons shop with two new daggers stowed away in his Inventory, Linnaeus began searching for his next destination, an armorsmith. He had noticed that most people had forgone the use of their self-repairing bodysuits so, if he wanted to avoid standing out, he would need to change his clothing.For now, Linnaeus decided to stick close to buildings and alleyways, using the skills he had acquired in the slums to get a better grasp of the territory around the Inn. He knew the importance of having a proper grasp of the terrain around one's home as it could allow him to escape pursuit and drop a tail if he was being followed.Fortunately, while most people went about their business without paying much attention to their surroundings, Linnaeus made eye contact with several others in the same 'profession' as him. They too kept to the places where people didn't typically look and, while they didn't seem as active as the thieves in the slums, it was obvious the timeless trade had continued in the Crucible of Souls.Had there been fewer thieves, Linnaeus wouldn't have been able to relax as he couldn't fathom the existence of a society that functioned in perfect order. He believed that the more peaceful a society appeared to be on the surface, the darker the shadows laying underneath. This was the conclusion he had come to after his discussion with Eliza and, after changing his perception slightly, Linnaeus had started to notice things he had previously overlooked as a result of the incongruous feeling that had plagued him since entering the Fifth Floor.The blacksmith with a beard, who Linnaeus had come to know as Baro, had mentioned that this city was protected by the Lord's Familia, Caulder. They were a large organization of powerful individuals who, failing to exit the Crucible in time, formed a contract with the Lord of the Crucible, the aptly named Goddess of Darkness, Tenebrae.Though the terms of the contract were not made public, it was an inviolable truth that, in the central district of the Fifth Floor, the Caulder Familia reigned supreme. They worked tirelessly to keep order over the last 800 years and, despite many powerful figures passing through over the centuries, their rule had been largely uncontested.From Baro, Linnaeus learned that the members of the Caulder Familia all wore a similar emblem somewhere on their body. With this information, he was able to glean some insight into the means used by the Caulder Familia to keep order as, during his skulking about, Linnaeus noticed that nearly every thief he came across had the identifying mark.Eliza had mentioned that a structured society was very orderly but, from what he could tell, Caulder and his Familia were just a very organized gang. The only thing that made them 'good' was the fact that they were the strongest faction as, in the endless annals of history, the victor was justice while the losers' reputations were dragged through the mud...Fortunately, Linnaeus had come to learn much about the Fifth Floor through Baro so, even if Eliza and Emilia pressured him to stay for an extended period of time, he should be able to convince them to spend their time productively.The Fifth Floor was a vast plane of various different environments, each rich with both monsters and resources. There, you could earn more Soul Kindling for yourself and, if you obtained rare materials, converting them into greater wealth, weapons, or armaments was an option.Linnaeus realized that the Fifth Floor was one giant trap but, considering what awaited them in the Fourth through Second Floors, they needed to be prepared. They only had a year since the time of their entry into the Crucible to reach the surface so, if they became complacent and used to living on the Fifth Floor, there would be no escape. From then onward, they would be bound to the Crucible of Souls until their bodies turned to ash.While this may not seem like the worst fate, as living on the Fifth Floor seemed rather comfortable, the truth of the matter was that the longer you spent in the Crucible, the more of yourself that was lost. You would slowly begin losing your memories and, after a few decades, even your basic senses would begin to fade away. This could be tentatively treated by consuming Soul Kindling but, from that moment onward, you would need an ever-increasing amount to keep yourself functioning.Linnaeus wasn't fond of the idea of being trapped inside the Crucible until his very existence began to fade away so, in order to return to the Tower and reunite with Saht and his sister, he would gather the necessary Soul Kindling to purchase a new life from Tenebrae.According to the information he had obtained from the inordinately kind Baro, reaching the First Floor alone granted you the right to make a contract with Tenebrae. There, in exchange for 100,000 to 1,000,000 Soul Kindling, you would be allowed to return to the world of the living. This value was based on how long you had been inside the Crucible of Souls and, according to Baro, how much the temperamental Goddess favored you...Though Linnaeus had yet to meet Tenebrae directly, he had the distinct impression that the Goddess was over-fond of him based on his conversation with his fellow Party members. They all had similar experiences with the lascivious-sounding Goddess of Darkness and, prior to hearing her interact with him, her voice had been distant and cold when they had to interact with her.Linnaeus had no idea why Tenebrae was so taken with him but, from what he was able to glean, she apparently just picked people at random to show favor to. He didn't believe this in the slightest bit, until he could meet with her directly, there was no way to ascertain why she was so fond of teasing him.What mattered at the moment was that Tenebrae's 'affection' was a costly burden to bear as, rather than make the price more affordable, the Goddess hiked up the cost for those she favored. This was so that she could keep them in the Crucible and, while it was frightening to imagine, Linnaeus heard the Goddess kept a vast collection of the people she cherished the most back in her palace on the First Floor.In order to avoid this ridiculous end, Linnaeus would need to earn upwards of 4,000,000SK as his instincts told him the Goddess would extend the same 'favor' to the rest of his Party. There was a good chance that Krone wouldn't want to return to the Tower but, so long as he was Party Leader, Linnaeus would always look toward the 'best' route forward for his entire Party.This was where the Fifth Floor came in as, even if you weren't a powerful combatant with a high Level, you could still earn a fortune. There were various materials that could be found in the vast wilderness surrounding the five major districts circling the central region dominated by the Caulder Familia. Some of these could be exchanged for thousands of Soul Kindling at a time and, if you were fortunate, obtaining a rare artifact that auctioned for several hundred thousand wasn't impossible.The caveat to this system was that, in order to pass through the Fourth, Third, and Second Floors, the number of Soul Kindling you possessed determined the difficulty of the trials you would face. If you did not possess adequate willpower and resolve, passing through would be impossible as Tenebrae would not so easily allow you to simply move on whenever you'd like.Linnaeus assumed that she used the first three Floors as a metric to determine the type of person you were so, after hastily moving on from the Sixth Floor, he imagined she was eager to force him into a difficult position. Fortunately, at least according to Baro, most of the challenges on the next three Floor weren't strictly combat-oriented as it would otherwise be impossible for those with non-combative Blessings.Without having to be asked, Baro had regaled for Linnaeus the tale of his own ascent through the Crucible so, unless the middle-aged man was lying to him, the information should be trustworthy.From this story, Linnaeus learned that Baro had been required to forge one-hundred high-quality weapons back-to-back with the only rest afforded to him being when he was polishing the edges of various blades. If he stopped for more than a half-hour at any point, the room he had been forced into would begin to rapidly decrease in size, threatening to skewer his body with the very weapons he had forged.This seemed to be an impossible task in Linnaeus' mind but, from how Baro talked of the event, it apparently hadn't troubled him all that much. Rather, it was the challenge on the Second Floor that was his undoing as he had been forced to clear nine rooms, each containing a progressively stronger Doppelganger of himself. He was only able to clear up to the fifth room before he was forced to give up, a right that was allowed to everyone at the expense of never being able to leave the Crucible in the future.After failing his challenge, Baro was sent back to the Fifth Floor and, with no way to move upwards, decided to settle down. It was rumored that, if you lived a good life on the Fifth Floor, you would be given the chance to reincarnate into a better standing in your next life. There wasn't any evidence for this but, after being sent to the Crucible of Souls upon their first death, many of the residents on the Fifth Floor believed in things like reincarnation.Linnaeus felt that this was just something the ruling families came up with to keep people in line but, as there was no harm in believing in an ideal that made people live better lives, he didn't mention his opinion. Rather, he eventually realized that Baro thought he was a girl when the man told him that, if he failed to leave the Crucible, he could always return to the weapon's shop. After that, he began to talk up how 'kind' and 'hardworking' his grandson was, alerting Linnaeus to the misunderstanding his appearance had caused...Fortunately, Baro seemed rather amused by the fact that he was a male and, towards the latter half of their conversation, he began droning on about eating more meat and exercising frequently. He even tried to convince Linnaeus to purchase a warhammer and a battleax, claiming they were the types of weapons used by men to build strong upper bodies and toned back muscles.Though it was a uniquely 'frustrating' conversation, Linnaeus appreciated Baro's advice as the man had given him a lot of information for no real cost other than a bit of his dignity. He was actually a little inspired to take advantage of his looks more often but, remembering the fate of many women in the slums, Linnaeus had no intention of following through on this urge. Though he might be able to trick a few people, there was a chance he would trick someone he had no hopes of defeating and, as a result, suffer an extremely terrible end.To avoid this, Linnaeus had found a relatively affordable clothing shop before purchasing distinctly male clothing. He also used his newly acquired dagger to give himself a haircut as, without any real need to maintain it, his bangs had grown near eye level while the back of his hair had nearly reached his shoulders. In hindsight, it was easy to understand why some people would mistake him as a girl, especially with his small stature and thin frame. Unfortunately, cutting his hair actually made his face stand out even more so, after returning to the Inn for the night, Eliza pestered him for more than an hour before he was finally able to rest...

There didn't seem to be a limit to the number of environments that could be found on successive Floors but, at no point in time had Linnaeus expected to encounter a situation like what he found on the Fifth.Shortly after their transfer, Linnaeus and company found themselves standing in what appeared to be a stone alleyway. To further add to their confusion, a busy street could be seen just a few meters from them, filled with people of varying size, shape, and origin.Having grown up in the slums, Linnaeus had certain expectations about how people lived when they gathered together under difficult circumstances. This caused him to feel an uncanny feeling deep in his stomach as, against all his expectations, the people on the street seemed to be happily enjoying their lives as they went about various stalls and shops with impunity. It was a stark contrast to life in the slums, as even the colors present seemed more vibrant and full of life...Waking him from his temporary lull, Eliza casually remarked, "It seems like we were transferred into some kind of city. I hope they have an Inn with a big bed and a hot shower...haaaaaa-"Based on how Eliza, Krone, and even Emilia were reacting, Linnaeus felt like the odd one out in the group. Fortunately, he was able to keep his incongruous feelings in check as he began to scan the area for any signs of danger before saying, "We'll focus on securing a base of operations before I begin collecting information. Stay on your toes...there is a chance this is some kind of trap."Hearing Linnaeus' words, Eliza was reminded of the fact that he had grown up in the slums. From her perspective, this city looked like one of the markets that could be found near the outer districts of the Megacity. Though there were undoubtedly dangers present, you could typically determine public order by seeing how the people carried themselves while conducting business.Realizing that she may have to take charge of the situation, Eliza pulled Linnaeus along confidently as she looked toward Krone and Emilia, saying, "You heard Lin, let's go find a place to stay. If there is even a chance of securing a comfortable bed, I'm not going to pass it up~!"Krone answered Eliza's outburst with a curt nod while Emilia just followed behind, her eyes darting around curiously. She had never seen so many people in one place so she was feeling a little tense and excited. There were so many different kinds of foods present in the stalls that her mouth was already beginning to water in anticipation...Fortunately, Emilia wasn't the type to just wander around on her own so, with Eliza pulling along Linnaeus, she dutifully kept pace without ever truly dropping her guard. If anyone got too close to their Party, her ears would incline at a forty-five-degree angle as she glared at them, startling quite a number of people who hadn't really been paying attention to the group of four.While allowing Eliza to shepherd him through the busy street, Linnaeus' eyes darted to and fro as he searched for any signs of impending danger. He did spot a few thieves, allowing him to calm down a little, but it was still very strange to see so many people living alongside each other without any real tension between them. This was something he had never experienced before and, to make matters even worse, he even saw groups of children happily playing games together in alleyways without any visible concerns...Eliza could feel the tensions in Linnaeus' body as she pulled him along and, though his expression didn't show it, she could tell he was very uncomfortable. This made her feel strangely guilty about her own upbringing as it was clear to see that Linnaeus had grown up in an environment where he couldn't even walk around without fearing for his life...It was fortunate that they were transferred into a busy market district as, by traveling toward the periphery, they were able to find various businesses such as taverns, restaurants, and inn. Since all races spoke and wrote in Kinu, it was easy to read the signs that were posted and, based on the SK denomination, she determined that the rates were paid for with Soul Kindling.Finding a place where they could get a combined room and food service for only 120SK per night, Eliza led the group through the double-door entryway. Here, Linnaeus seemed to collect himself a little better as, compared to the outside, there were only a handful of people quietly lounging about in the parlor while a rather fat woman wearing the clothing of a proprietress could be seen resting behind a countertop.Seeing new faces appear, the rotund woman hoped up from her stool before adopting a pleasant and courteous smile as she asked, "Anything I can get for you, darlings? We have a few double and single rooms available and lunch will be ready in about forty minutes. If you just want something to fill yer gullet, we have honey-glazed bread and cookies available for 5 Kindlin'."As if she had done this a thousand times before, Eliza adopted a smile of her own as she stepped forward and asked, "Does your institution provide bathing services? We just returned from a tough job so my companions and I would like to relax. For now, we'll take a double bed and two singles at the standard rate."Hearing Eliza's words, the woman gave a knowing smile before leaning forward and whispering in a voice that only the Party could hear, "You must be new to these parts, eh? Not many would come to the central district after hunting on the outskirts. That is a three-day journey unless you use one of the transport services, fufufufu~"Eliza's face flushed slightly upon hearing the woman's laughter but her mood quickly returned when the latter said, "Since it is your first time staying with us, I'll give you a bit of a discount if you decide to stay for five or more days. You'll be wanting to gather information and this place is where most of the newbies end up being sent after that hellish landscape on the Sixth Floor. Take it easy and focus on finding your footing before deciding on your next course of action, okay, darlings?"At the adjusted rate, they would have to each fork over a total of 500SK but, considering this plan included three meals and a bathroom key, it wasn't a bad deal. The woman even told them about a few ways they could make money before telling them she was free to answer any of their questions after the lunch rush ended. This would, of course, cost them some additional SK but, considering she had been operating an inn in the area for eleven years, there was no end to the gossip she had to share.Linnaeus didn't immediately trust the woman but, after listening to her for several minutes, he never got the feeling she was trying to deceive them. Rather, she seemed like a kind and easygoing person who showed genuine concern for their situation. She even gave them a small bag of freshly baked cookies, something Linnaeus that had shaken Linnaeus considerably as they were very sweet and full of sugar, a very hard to acquire spice back in the slums...Ultimately, the Party rented four rooms that were located on the second floor of the establishment. He somehow ended up sharing the double room with Eliza but, considering he had a lot to ask her before setting out to obtain information, Linnaeus didn't fuss over the arrangement. He wasn't really self-conscious when it came to things like sharing a room with a member of the opposite sex so it didn't really matter to him all that much.What Linnaeus hadn't expected was that the room was fully furnished and, unlike the small prison-like dwellings that could be rented in the slums, it even had things like a mirror, a wardrobe, and a very comfortable looking bed. His hand actually sunk into the material of the mattress, yet another thing he had never experienced before.While Linnaeus was looking around the area in awe, Eliza garnered a genuinely surprised expression from him as she remarked, "I expected the room to be a little bigger. Well, it has a nice and homely feel so it isn't the worst room I've been in."After fixing his expression, Linnaeus turned to face Eliza, asking, "Is this normal for the Inn within the Megacity?"Shaking her head, Eliza explained, "Normal is something subjective. I'm sure the people that live in the outer districts are used to this quality but the rooms I'm used to typically have an attached bath and kitchen area. The only time I've stayed in a room of this quality was when I asked my mother to let me explore the outer districts with a few of my friends and bodyguards. Back then, I felt as if it was a waste of money to rent such a room as even my servants had better accommodations..."Toward the end of her statement, Eliza plopped down on the bed as if it were the most comfortable mattress in the world. Even the bedding they had been provided with was clean and fresh smelling so, while it didn't really meet her standards, it was infinitely better than roughing it inside of a dark and humid den.With a distant look in her eyes, Eliza nestled into one of the plush pillows available, adding, "I was told as a child that you never really appreciate what you had until it is taken away...ever since I came to the Tower, I've been reminded of this saying countless times..."Hearing the melancholy in Eliza's voice, Linnaeus released a small sigh as he laid down on his own bed and looked up at the ceiling. He was tempted to ask if she wanted to stay in this place but, as he needed her to reach the exit of the Crucible, the words couldn't reach his lips. This made him feel a little guilty but, at the very least, he wouldn't be the one to broach the subject.Rather than discuss his wayward thoughts, Linnaeus decided to try and strengthen the bond between him and Eliza, even if it felt like he was exploiting her. She was one of the few people that linked him and his sister so, fearing she would want to remain on the Fifth Floor, he asked, "Can you tell me more about the Megacity...more about your life prior to entering the Tower...?"Eliza sat up upon hearing Linnaeus' question and, her eyes reflecting his image for several seconds before she smiled and answered, "Only if you'll tell me more about yourself. I'm certain you left out a few of the more personal details of your upbringing. I want to know more about your sister, that girl named Saht, and any other interesting people you met prior to falling into this place..."Linnaeus had felt a little tense due to Eliza's silence but, upon hearing what she had to say, he parted his eyelids to stare at her for a few moments before rising to a seated position of his own. He wasn't sure if she had seen through his intentions or not but, as it was remarkably therapeutic to talk about his past, he decided to go with the flow of the conversation. It wasn't as if he had any great secrets to keep so, if it could bring them a little closer, Linnaeus didn't mind pandering to Eliza's curiosity...

Chapter 59: Incongruous : Information