When Gaigen first dawned upon Byuga’s sight, they were yet a day or two’s journey from its gates. Nevertheless, the tower was so gargantuan that the Prince of Gaigon beheld it from the crest of a distant hill, and in that instant, he was struck motionless. The first and greatest of the Shyugan Towers stretched toward the heavens like a single strand of hair upon the world’s bald pate. Amidst the snow-capped mountains and the plains sundered between ice and grass, it stood like a rift torn into reality itself.

  Byuga, who had spent years poring over maps and scrolls in the silent reaches of libraries, could discern the other two towers from his vantage point. To the right of Gaigen lay Mirilyun, and to the left—a mere sliver against the northern horizon—stood Shyosum. These were towers raised centuries later to serve as new dwellings for the Shyugan Wardens as their numbers swelled. Mirilyun, in particular, had been commissioned by several houses alongside the Nyov-Moju toward the end of the Jade Jailyunate to rival the original, yet it had been thwarted time and again, eventually left at its current height. No matter the endeavor, it could never attain the majesty of Gaigen. Now that Byuga saw it with his own eyes, he understood: nothing could. Gaigen grazed the very clouds. He wondered suddenly if the legends of giants having fashioned it might, in truth, be real.

  As Byuga spurred his mysho in the wake of Balbun and Bodhi, his mind wandered through the tapestries of myth. He envisioned the Jade Jailyuns who once held dominion over all Bahysas, emerging from their now-lost legendary seat, the Jade Palace, to command the construction of Gaigen. He wished he could have seen it. The legends had to be true. If Gaigen truly stood before him in all its terrible splendor, then Kaijin—the one descended from Kal-Juade, the most magnificent of the gods—and his lineage must surely have walked this earth.

  When they struck camp that night, Byuga asked Bodhi of the legend. The monk took a visible delight in the telling. As the shimlyndvyens gathered 'round, Bodhi spoke aloud for the company while fixing his gaze upon Byuga, his hands rising to weave the tale in the silent tongue.

  "It is said that the first-born of our people were helpless and adrift," Bodhi began. "To them, the Quang-Shuin provided guidance. These were the eight immortals who departed from Kunlun Xa, the deathless realm of the gods, and chose this world as their dwelling. They arrived here and each established their home upon these lands. Yet, the Four-Eyed Shan-Duval chose the barren wastes of the north and the stark kingship of solitude for his own. The Merciful Guanyin took the fertile, watered plains where Ogasan stands today, while Yan-Hab claimed the vibrant and beautiful shores... Perhaps because they chose these lands, the earth itself took inspiration from their countenances. It is by Guanyin’s might that Ogasan is lush and fruitful, and by Yan-Hab’s beauty and fervor that the Silver Shores are so enchanting. Perhaps the very spirits of our gods are woven into the essence of our realm.

  "In any case," Bodhi continued, "the lineage of one of these gods stood above the rest."

  "Kal-Juade..." Byuga signaled.

  "Kal-Juade was the name of the father," Bodhi said. "The son was named Kaijin. Unlike all other houses, the House of Kaijin was not merely descended from a god; they were mortal gods upon the earth. For Kaijin was the son of Yan-Hab the Seductress and Kal-Juade the Steadfast. He was the sole child of the strongest and the most beautiful of the deities.

  "Kaijin unified the houses during the Age of Interregnum. He brought together all the northern houses—which had been consumed by constant war, bickering, and intrigue—under a single banner. He took the title of Jailyun and founded the Jailyun-May, the Jade Jailyunate. Under his sovereignty, all Bahysaris was united and at peace.

  "However, during the era when the Mashidas of the south and their divine rulers rose with their Eternal Flames, the House of Kaijin fell. When the heir of the last Jailyun perished, the Jade Palace was drowned in grief. Pestilence took hold of the entire court, and in a single night, the Jade Palace vanished. With it, the House of Kaijin and the blood of Kal-Juade were lost to the world."

  "And then?" Byuga asked. This was the part of the chronicle he loved most.

  "Then the Mashidas began their campaigns into the north. The times were bleak, and intentions were dark. Then, quite suddenly, the Kardams arrived. These horrific people and their monstrous, twisted beasts spread terror across our lands. It must have been a time of darkness, blood, and fear beyond reckoning, for many of the northern houses collapsed, and even the armies of the Mashidas were broken. Yet, in that very darkness, the Kaijin line reappeared. Once more, this ancient bloodline unified all Bahysas. They were like a flame—like gods descended to the earth. They repelled both the Kardams and the Mashidas, gathering the north together once more and healing its wounds."

  "Why does no one remember the name?" Byuga inquired.

  "Perhaps even then, no one knew," Bodhi gestured. "We do not know the name of the Bahysa who repelled the Kardams, but we know the one who followed him, the first Shyugan: Nima. It was he who, instead of refounding the Jailyun-May, created the rank of Shyugan. He oversaw the construction of Gaigen and established the wardens who would forever stand sentinel over the north. A Shyugan was not a Jailyun, nor was Nima. Yet, he and his lineage were treated by all northern houses as if they were their rightful leaders.

  "But all things must come to an end. The Kaijin Lineage met its conclusion once more. Its final heir, sick and infirm, drew his last breath among the monks of the Changchao."

  "Why do the other houses endure while the House of Kaijin always vanishes?"

  Balbun touched Byuga’s shoulder to answer. "Because they are servants of duty," he said, his hands rising. "The other houses live by their games, their disputes, and their wars. Even the Mashidas can barely keep them in check. But the House of Kaijin comes from the blood of Kal-Juade the Steadfast. They are above such things. They live for their duty and their responsibility. When these are no more, there is no reason for them to exist."

  "Then, if the Bahysas are in peril again, will they return?" Byuga looked at the hands of both men.

  "We cannot know," Bodhi said. "Though, until now, they always have."

  Byuga asked no further questions. He wondered why Kal-Juade had not returned. Now, the Mashidas—the god-monarchs of southern Bahysaris who claimed to be the immortal guardians of the Eternal Flame—ruled the great houses of the north, and the Kardam raids were increasing with each passing day. Byuga had once compared the records of fifty years ago with those of fifteen years past and had seen that the frequency of raids had nearly tripled. Some believed that one day, the Kardams would gather around a single leader and arrive with a colossal army. This had happened before. Such leaders were called Rokon—the 'Unifiers.'

  As Byuga laid his head down to sleep, Balbun and Bodhi huddled with the others around the fire, seeking refuge under the furs they had acquired in Nuwailiji. The Prince of Gaigon dreamed of the legends and tales in his mind. He felt alive. At last, he was seeing the world. Tomorrow, or the day after, he would behold the great Gaigen.

  When he was roused the next morning, he packed his things immediately. They continued their trek along the edge of the marshes that stretched like an eyelash at the foot of the mountains, walking among strange rocks that appeared as if they had melted from ice. All these lands seemed dead. Yet, rather than being lifeless, they appeared majestic, ancient, and grand. Byuga could understand why the Bahysas called the northern lands, and even the Barren Realms of Shan-Duval, the Xa Shim Shuin—the Abode of the Gods. Though he could not hear the wind that blew, he could feel its force upon his skin. Life might not be robust here, but everything made its presence felt. Nothing lived, yet everything existed with a powerful intensity. This was precisely what immortality must feel like.

  Then, Byuga saw Gaigen with absolute clarity. He wondered how the tower’s presence could be felt so little until one was nearly upon it. It was as if it were enchanted, capable of hiding from sight on its own. He paused; while the others continued to ride their myshos, he remained where he was. Up close, the tower was far more magnificent. There must have been at least a mile between them, yet it was already intimidating. Though he was a Bahysa and should have found safety in it, Byuga felt a tremor of fear.

  Gaigen sat upon the brink of a precipice to the east. It was a few miles from the end of the mountains. Nearby, several streams born from the Shilum-Baas merged into a river, which then cascaded down this abyss. Gaigen itself was perched on the very edge of the cliff, with strange protrusions resembling piers reaching out into the void. The base of the tower was hidden, nestled within gargantuan ramparts. It possessed four successive walls, each taller than the last. He scanned the black walls, which had color transitions reminiscent of the shell of a blowfly. The ramparts resembled a massive black rose. There was perhaps half a mile of distance between each. In the center of them all rose Gaigen. The Black Tower was immense. Its base alone must have spanned nearly three miles. It tapered as it rose, and in this slightly misty, damp air, Byuga could not even see its pinnacle. Nevertheless, he could discern that even the highest part he could see was nearly a mile wide.

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  They reached the foot of the walls before Balbun touched his shoulder. Before the ramparts eclipsed their entire field of vision, the old Bahysa pointed toward the world beyond the cliff. Amidst the mist-like droplets kicked up by the falling waters, the Prince of Gaigon beheld the most beautiful vista of his life. The cliff must have been thousands of cubits high. Below, he could see the mountain ranges to the north of Tahmar, the land of the dwarves. They were like mere blemishes upon the earth, but they were there. Beyond them, the young Bahysa saw white plains. Red hills rose from them, and rivers flowed through. It was a staggering sight. As Byuga gazed upon it, he wondered if this place was high above the shore or if those plains were below sea level.

  But soon the walls closed off all he could see. As he stared at the darkness rising before him, he heard the blast of a horn. Pitch-black gates, which he had not noticed until that moment, swung open. The young prince noted with surprise several arrows lodged in the wood. Had Gaigen been attacked from this side? They passed through, and Byuga entered in the company of his shimlyndvyens. Even passing through the ramparts took time; the walls were tens of meters wide.

  Byuga noticed something else: along both sides, long, wide bands of bas-reliefs caught the eye. He spurred his beast toward them to read what was depicted, but Bodhi placed a hand on his shoulder, drawing him back nearly at the cost of falling from his own mount.

  "You will have plenty of time to examine everything here," he said.

  Once they cleared the walls, Balbun handled all the discourse. He produced his documents and the sealed letters from Gaigon, displaying the scroll that granted him authority. They permitted him passage. One of the guards ran ahead of them to announce their arrival. Many seemed pleased to see him. The company continued. There were many buildings between the first and second walls. He noticed the second wall was thicker; perhaps they were simply moving more slowly. Soon after, he saw that the buildings behind it were larger and wider. Following Balbun like everyone else, he passed first the third, then the fourth and final wall. He had seen very few wardens outside and was surprised; he had expected a crowd.

  Beyond the final wall, Byuga realized something even stranger. The buildings within were made of the same curious stone as the walls. The buildings behind the first, second, and third walls were examples of classic northern Bahysaris architecture from the era of the dynasties. But these buildings were bizarre. Clearly, they had been constructed alongside Gaigen. Furthermore, they were exceptionally orderly. They possessed angular yet soft lines. They were built in the spaces between a network of roads that clearly resembled a star when viewed from above. In the very center—at the heart of the star—stood the Black Tower. It rose from the edge of the abyss.

  They dismounted their beasts to climb the stairs of the tower. At that very moment, three men approached them at a brisk pace. While one spoke with Balbun, the others saluted Byuga and took the reins of their myshos one by one. Then, Balbun beckoned him. They climbed the stairs, following the third man. "He is taking us to your uncle," Balbun explained. Byuga was glad. He had not seen his uncle in years. The last time he had seen him, his ears could still hear and his eyes had not grown misty. He remembered how tenderly the man had treated him. Their guide led them through the doors of the tower. The Prince of Gaigon could not help but feel as if he were entering the maw of a colossal beast.

  The base of the tower was vast. There must have been hundreds of Bahysas inside. He saw that the building contained its own corridors, tunnels, and mezzanine floors. In the center was a void stretching toward the sky like a cylinder. Sunlight entered from above, illuminating the interior in a way that mimicked the light of a gargantuan torch. Their guide led them to that very central void. It was then that Byuga realized what he had taken for a platform at the bottom was actually the floor of an elevator nestled between the spiral staircases that wound around the central space. To his surprise, he noticed that the spiral stairs had been added later. He wondered what the tower had been used for before.

  "He says do not look up," Balbun said, touching him. Byuga hadn't even realized the man had spoken. "Your eyes will be dazzled. He said the light coming from above is very powerful." As they entered the elevator, the Prince of Gaigon did as he was told, though he found it difficult to restrain a small, curious spark of rebellion.

  The elevator rose for a while, and Byuga noticed several gaps at long intervals in this massive pipe they were in. He looked closely at the stones of the tower, but until they reached their destination, he could not see a single seam or joint. The entire tower appeared to be fashioned from a single, monolithic stone. He was amazed. Of course, this was impossible, so he continued to watch. Yet he found not one. Finally, when they stopped somewhere in the shaft, Byuga tilted his head slightly toward the walls. It appeared there was still a great distance to go.

  "What is up there?" he had Balbun ask.

  "Kardams."

  "What?" Balbun had turned and asked this in surprise before even translating for Byuga. The Prince of Gaigon frowned and tapped the back of Balbun’s hand.

  "There is no way for them to escape from above except for this elevator," the guide explained. "And the control of the elevator is at the very bottom, with us. Even if they tried to flee, the area of the elevator is limited. We would simply bring it down and kill them. That is why we keep them on the upper floors, save for the topmost eight levels." Afterward, he walked on with an air of indifference, stepping through the circular entrance before them. When Balbun translated what had been said, Byuga raised his head in both dread and curiosity, but immediately lowered it, remembering the warning about the light. He had no wish to go blind prematurely.

  Leaving the void behind, they emerged onto another massive floor. Here, too, were additional chambers and stairs. Each floor was like a small-scale city in its own right. The Prince of Gaigon now understood why there were no crowds at the ramparts. Even if they had only climbed ten floors, thousands of people could not have filled the levels they passed.

  This floor, however, was quite deserted compared to the others. Although there were sounds, Byuga could not determine where they were coming from. Finally, they stopped before a door. Their guide knocked and entered. After a moment, he emerged and beckoned them inside. Byuga and Balbun followed. The Prince of Gaigon was astonished to see how beautifully the room was furnished. It was more aesthetic, more elegant than even his father's throne room.

  Upon entering, they were greeted by a wide space. The room was quite large. With a ceiling exceeding three meters and an area reaching a hundred square meters, it drew one in instantly. Immediately to the right, in the middle of the wall, was a fireplace that, like many things, had clearly been added to the building later. The fire burned so fiercely that it often spilled out, leaving scorch marks on the mantle. The black walls of the room shimmered with the color transitions created by the firelight. Directly ahead was a large desk. It appeared to be carved from a single tree; it was quite substantial. Behind it, on the far wall of the room, was a massive window fashioned from mosaic pieces of different colors. It was so beautiful that Byuga could not take his eyes from it.

  Just then, he saw someone rise from the desk. His eyes had deceived him, and because of his mistiness, he hadn't seen the person rising beforehand. It was only when the figure drew close that he realized it was his uncle. Balbun moved forward to greet him, but he was as surprised to see the man as Byuga was. Kungam had aged greatly. When Balbun had last seen him, he was a robust, agile man. Now he had put on weight and walked with a slight limp. The hair on his head had turned white, and his heel joints clicked with each step.

  "Shyugan..." Balbun said, kneeling. "I have brought you your nephew."

  "Balbun..." the man coughed, shaking as if he might fall. "It has been a long time, old man. You’ve grown fat." The shimlyndvyen smiled. It was good to see that, at the very least, the man hadn't lost his sense of humor. They embraced, then the Shyugan placed a hand on Balbun's shoulder. "How is our other old man doing?" It was clear he meant his brother.

  "Dealing with nobles, monks, and the demands of the south."

  "It is not easy to rule Gaigon without being a Quang-Shuin noble. He is doing his best."

  "He has those who help him." Balbun gestured toward Byuga. "Prince Byuga secured an alliance and a marriage with the Nyov-Moju on the journey here." Kungam looked at him with furrowed brows, then turned to his nephew with the same expression.

  "With the Nyov-Moju, eh?" Meanwhile, Balbun was translating the conversation. Though Kungam looked on with a strange side-glance, he struggled to approach Byuga. "How did you manage that?"

  "He expected to find a crippled fool before him," Byuga said, raising his hands after understanding the translation. "Instead, he found me, and I crippled his own house."

  "Ha ha ha!" Kungam burst into a laugh, his mouth snapping wide—the first time Byuga had seen such a thing. He realized how much he had idealized his uncle in his memories. The years were kind to no one. "That’s my nephew! How strange that the Bahysas seek perfection so fervently, yet are so eager to harbor perfectly-formed flaws among them."

  "Prince Byuga has come to join the Shyugan Wardens, my lord."

  "I heard." Kungam walked back toward his desk. "My brother sent word before you. I heard he had Byuga renounce his rights. In his message, he asked me to make him comfortable, as if he even needed to say it." Then he smiled. "As if you wouldn't be comfortable arriving with an army of shimlyndvyens by your side."

  "We only brought them so he would be safe on the road..."

  "No need to explain, Balbun." Kungam raised his hand as he sat. "All sorts of men have come here. Once, the nephew of our dung-heap Eternal Mashida from the south came to win the favor of the north. The damn fellow arrived with more guards than we have wardens here! This is nothing compared to that."

  "What am I to do?" Byuga asked Balbun with his hands. Balbun translated. Kungam shrugged his shoulders as if hesitant and pointed to Byuga.

  "There isn't much he can do anyway," he said. "No one here understands those signs you make. He’ll have to wander with you. Is there anything he likes? I don't know, like fishing, perhaps?" When Balbun translated this, Byuga nodded.

  "He has never fished but would like to try," the shimlyndvyen translated his words. "Also, he loves books," he added on his own. "He is, of course, literate. I imagine that would be valuable here as well."

  "In that case, when our men go to the frozen lake to fish, he shall go with them. In his remaining time, he can serve as my scribe or work in the archives." Kungam stood and opened his arms. As he approached Byuga, he asked Balbun something, and the shimlyndvyen gestured 'welcome.' Then his uncle drew near and raised his hands. "Welcome." The Prince of Gaigon smiled.

  Nothing was as he had feared.