"We must find a convergence," Ess said. "If they connect the first two levels of the earth, surely there will be some here as well."
"Can't you just fly up and see if we're right?" Pierce asked.
"Gravity asserts itself exponentially as I rise," Ess said. "Within a few thousand feet it would become far too taxing."
"But wait," said Scythia, "if there are convergences here, why has no one ever discovered they could travel down from above?"
"A puzzling observation," said Ess. "Perhaps the machine does not function the way we have always assumed. I would say it is worth discovering for ourselves. The knowledge will be world-altering."
"I say," said Pierce, "we track down that ultra-Monstrosity..."
"Don't say it, kid,' Agrathor groaned.
"...and climb it," Pierce finished. "Honestly I'm surprised we can't hear it stomping around, if it's still on this level, and not down lower. We all must have been unconscious for some time."
"I believe we were," said Ess. "And Pierce's idea is unconventional, as usual, but not without merit."
"Are you kidding?" Agrathor said.
"Convergences do not make a sound. The giant will make quite a loud one, if we can get near enough, and if it is still on this theoretical third level, and not back in the Underlands."
"It's true," said Scythia. "These are the only options we have, it seems. We might as well pursue both of them at once, since the procedure will be the same."
"And what's the procedure?" said Pierce.
"Well," said Scythia, "Ess is airborne, so she can search around us all in a spiral. Each of us carries a light, so we can spread out in a wide formation as we move inland. As long as Ess is in your sight, you should be in formation, and she can let any of us know if we wander."
"You can feel the convergences when you're near," said Agrathor. "And we'll hear the giant if it comes within range. You're right, Scythia, it should work."
"Anyone have anything to add?" Scythia asked. No one did. "Let's get to it then. No need to stop and rest - we don't have food or water anyhow."
The four earthbound companions formed up in a cross shape, with Scythia at its head. Pierce got what everyone agreed to call the east point. Ess floated up above them, illuminated by her glowing spheres and circling around her comrades slowly.
Pierce kept his ears open, set his nerves to listen for the faint hum of a convergence, and let his mind wander.
The world was of three layers. He was certain of that much now. The notion had exploded in his mind, and he felt a strong surety that there were more than three. His imagination had expanded, and he had no trouble seeing the possibility of an endless number of nested shells stretching out beyond what everyone had thought were the highest heavens.
This meant so many things.
It meant that the sun was inside the level that Overland was on. It meant that not every level was subject to the lateral restrictions of the Chasm. It meant that the resources of the world were far less finite than people had always assumed. It meant that the people of Overland had wrongfully assumed themselves to be the pinnacle of the Blacksmith's creations. There were things of far greater power below, and might be things innumerable in variety above.
Not long ago, before Pierce had begun to train himself with adventures, he had worried to himself that Overland and the Underlands would someday be dry of adventure for him. Now he could see new possibilities. He could see that even one more layer to the world, whether above or below, would give him something to discover, and probably things to fight, for the rest of his life. He would never be bored.
He felt a slight pang of guilt at the joy and excitement these thoughts brought him as he walked along. All of Gorgonbane was still mourning the death of their leader, and yet Pierce could feel joy so soon? Was that okay? He certainly wouldn't speak of it out loud.
In a small way, though, he realized that Axebourne was still alive somewhere, for that is what their religion taught. He had been completed, refined, tested and tempered. He was ready for the Glorious Paths, and certainly would not begrudge Pierce the happy expectations of his own journey down to find them for himself.
Even legends had to rest, eventually. It was hard for all of them, to stop, to admit the exhaustion their bodies imposed upon their minds. Pierce thought he could go on a little further, but Ess insisted that everyone stop for a time. Agrathor stood sleepless watch as the others lay on the hard, dry ground.
Pierce stole occasional glances at Scythia. She sat, cross-legged, facing what they'd assumed was inland. She did not nod or sway in the slightest, still as a rock.
Something startled him - a presence. A gap in time opened in his mind. He'd fallen asleep.
"Sorry, Pierce," said Ess, putting a hand on his arm. She knelt down beside him. "I heard you muttering and thought you were awake."
Pierce shook away the cobwebs and sat up. "What's up?" he asked. "Time to go?"
Ess looked around. The only light came from a single one of her orbs, but Pierce could see everyone else still in their former positions.
"Not quite yet," Ess answered. "No one is getting much rest, but this time was needed. Today was a hard day."
"You're telling me," he said, cracking his sore back. "Feels like I got sat on by a Monstrosity."
Ess smiled.
"Your tenacity in the face of dire odds is very endearing, Pierce. It has been a pleasure getting to know you."
"You say it like you think this is the end," Pierce said.
Ess shrugged. "It could be. In our line of work, many days could have been, no?"
"Well, yeah. I've never been this low though."
"Alright, no more bad jokes," she
