The Marble City
The shadow of the Marc-Grace house finally faded as the boys followed the Paxus River toward the horizon. The landscape shifted dramatically; the jagged, soot-stained rocks of the interior gave way to rolling white cliffs and the salt-heavy breeze of the Thessason Sea.
The city of Harthpool rose from the coast like a miracle. Unlike the industrial grime of Pickford or the stone silence of the village, Harthpool was a city of light. Built entirely of polished white marble and interlaced with shimmering canals, it gleamed under the pale sun. Here, the water didn't groan or whisper; it sparkled, flowing through the city’s veins with a peaceful, rhythmic hum.
As they crossed the grand marble bridge into the city center, LB stopped. His usual twitchy, alert posture softened. His eyes, which had spent so long scanning for guards and shadows, began to well with tears.
"This is it," LB whispered, his voice trembling. "The Street of Blue Lanterns. My parents... their house is just around the bend."
The boys stood in a circle in the middle of the white plaza. The realization hit them all at once: LB wasn't a traveler like them. He was a piece of the county that was finally being put back where it belonged.
"You really live here?" Nathan Brooks asked, looking at the beautiful, peaceful surroundings.
LB nodded. "The King Führer took me during the Great Sorting three years ago. I thought I’d never see the marble again. I thought I’d die in that Sanitarium being called someone else." He looked at Fox. "I only made it back because of you four."
"We only made it out because of you," Fox Smith replied, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
LB stepped forward. Before Fox could react, LB leaned in and pressed a quick, lingering kiss to Fox’s cheek. "I hope I see you again, Fox Smith. In this world or a better one."
Fox froze, his face turning a shade of red that rivaled the sunset over the sea. LB laughed—a genuine, light sound—and turned toward the Street of Blue Lanterns, waving his hand high over his head until he disappeared into the crowd of marble-dwellers.
The four boys stood in silence for a long moment, watching the spot where their friend had vanished.
"Well," Andrew Brooks said, a sly grin spreading across his face. "That was a hell of a goodbye, Fox."
"Shut up, Andrew," Fox muttered, rubbing his cheek and staring at the ground.
Michael King chuckled, adjusting the strap of his journal. "I think he likes you, Fox. 'Hope to see you again.' Sounds like a date."
"I swear, I know nothing about it," Fox snapped, though his ears were still flaming. He adjusted his pack and pointed toward the jagged peaks to the north. "We have a job to do. The road is still open, and the City of Dreams doesn't wait for romance. Move out."
As they headed northward, leaving the marble beauty of Harthpool behind, the teasing continued. Nathan and Michael took turns mimicking LB’s goodbye, their laughter echoing against the white stone walls.
Fox kept his eyes fixed on the horizon, but for the first time since they had entered Dane County, his jaw wasn't quite so tight. They had saved someone. They had returned a name to its home.
But as the city of marble shrank behind them and the air turned cold with the coming mountains, the weight of the journey returned. They were four boys from Taylorville, walking into the heart of a cosmic storm.
The road ahead turned narrow and steep, winding toward the highest peaks of the county. Somewhere beyond those clouds, the In-Between waited.
The city of Harthpool rose from the coast like a miracle. Unlike the industrial grime of Pickford or the stone silence of the village, Harthpool was a city of light. Built entirely of polished white marble and interlaced with shimmering canals, it gleamed under the pale sun. Here, the water didn't groan or whisper; it sparkled, flowing through the city’s veins with a peaceful, rhythmic hum.
As they crossed the grand marble bridge into the city center, LB stopped. His usual twitchy, alert posture softened. His eyes, which had spent so long scanning for guards and shadows, began to well with tears.
"This is it," LB whispered, his voice trembling. "The Street of Blue Lanterns. My parents... their house is just around the bend."
The boys stood in a circle in the middle of the white plaza. The realization hit them all at once: LB wasn't a traveler like them. He was a piece of the county that was finally being put back where it belonged.
"You really live here?" Nathan Brooks asked, looking at the beautiful, peaceful surroundings.
LB nodded. "The King Führer took me during the Great Sorting three years ago. I thought I’d never see the marble again. I thought I’d die in that Sanitarium being called someone else." He looked at Fox. "I only made it back because of you four."
"We only made it out because of you," Fox Smith replied, his voice uncharacteristically soft.
LB stepped forward. Before Fox could react, LB leaned in and pressed a quick, lingering kiss to Fox’s cheek. "I hope I see you again, Fox Smith. In this world or a better one."
Fox froze, his face turning a shade of red that rivaled the sunset over the sea. LB laughed—a genuine, light sound—and turned toward the Street of Blue Lanterns, waving his hand high over his head until he disappeared into the crowd of marble-dwellers.
The four boys stood in silence for a long moment, watching the spot where their friend had vanished.
"Well," Andrew Brooks said, a sly grin spreading across his face. "That was a hell of a goodbye, Fox."
"Shut up, Andrew," Fox muttered, rubbing his cheek and staring at the ground.
Michael King chuckled, adjusting the strap of his journal. "I think he likes you, Fox. 'Hope to see you again.' Sounds like a date."
"I swear, I know nothing about it," Fox snapped, though his ears were still flaming. He adjusted his pack and pointed toward the jagged peaks to the north. "We have a job to do. The road is still open, and the City of Dreams doesn't wait for romance. Move out."
As they headed northward, leaving the marble beauty of Harthpool behind, the teasing continued. Nathan and Michael took turns mimicking LB’s goodbye, their laughter echoing against the white stone walls.
Fox kept his eyes fixed on the horizon, but for the first time since they had entered Dane County, his jaw wasn't quite so tight. They had saved someone. They had returned a name to its home.
But as the city of marble shrank behind them and the air turned cold with the coming mountains, the weight of the journey returned. They were four boys from Taylorville, walking into the heart of a cosmic storm.
The road ahead turned narrow and steep, winding toward the highest peaks of the county. Somewhere beyond those clouds, the In-Between waited.