Die. Respawn. Repeat.

I hesitate for a moment before I agree. There's no specific reason for that hesitation; Kauku hasn't asked me to do anything I wouldn't be willing to do anyway. More than that, he seems pleased that I'm his Heir, and while I don't know specifically what that means, it does seem to imply that he has a vested interest in my success.

It just feels like there are holes in what he's said. For one thing, he's already told me that whatever secret I need to bring Gheraa back is within the heart of the Empty City; what help is he offering, exactly? Is there something specific I'll need his help for, or is he just offering to help make the process easier?

"How exactly can you help me?" I ask. "Don't get me wrong—I'm happy to help. I'd just like to understand what this deal is." I pause. "And how just bringing you something is going to let you answer questions you couldn't answer before."

Kauku laughs at that last remark, shooting me a surprisingly human grin. At the very least, he doesn't seem offended by the questions. "The rules are based on equivalent value," he says, a low rumble of amusement in his voice. "You're asking for information that carries quite a bit of value, and saving your friend has quite a lot of value as well. I cannot give you what you want unless you offer me something of equal value."

"And I can't just... give up an Inspiration?" I ask, glancing back at the columns behind me. Not that I want to give one of them up, but I want to know what my options are here. Kauku snorts in response, folding massive arms across his chest.

"Clever. But no; those things hold no value to someone like me." There's a small moment of hesitation, then Kauku's smile vanishes. To my surprise, he kneels, bringing his head level with mine. He rests one enormous hand on my shoulder. "I do not often plead with anyone, but... please, Ethan. This means a lot to me."

"I'm not saying no!" I protest, a little startled—and perhaps a little uncomfortable—by how earnest Kauku is all of a sudden. "I will help you. But I need to know what form your help is going to take, so I can at least plan for it."

"The Empty City is difficult to navigate," Kauku answers. He stands back up on his feet, dusting off his knees. He's surprisingly calm suddenly, as if he wasn't just on his knees a moment ago. "All dungeons are, but the Empty City is particularly so by intent. You may have gathered that the City was overtaken by a particular type of Firmament."

"Color Drain. I remember." A lot has happened since reading that record, so in all honesty, the memory is fuzzier than I would like—but some things still stand out to me. The desperation to save a dying city. The corruption of all Firmament within that city, causing structures to collapse and imbuements to fall apart. The discovery that there was a plague of distorted trees rooting through the sewers and spreading that corrupted Firmament...