Recheov seemed completely unphased by walking backwards. The man had better senses than he would have thought.

"So...there's no telling what to expect, then."

That was unsettling. He did not like the idea that his power might wane in the middle of a fight. And given that he had enough difficulty controlling it anyway, even it increasing might be more troublesome than helpful.

But there was no way to know for sure, especially if it was true anything could happen. Like much of what he encountered involving the Memories, it was a difficult concept for him to wrap his mind around.

"Yep, pretty much," Recheov acknowledged Eld's fears with a nod of his head, "An' it's funny, too. For a Memory, it's completely normal. Mundane. Everythin' makes sense an' you know just wot t'expec'. Nothin' messed up at all. But f'you? You an' jus' 'bout anyone else in the world? Nope. That's where all the reactions get fumbled and fuckered up. Probably gonna be a lot of upward struggles for you. Either you're gonna live or you're gonna die; but you ain't gonna have a tougher time than this ever again."

Really, Eld couldn't possibly have tougher struggles ahead of him. He was going to pit himself against some powerful folk, in a place that quite literally preferred them over others, and was bound to keep Eld at a disadvantage at all times. Comparatively speaking, every other conflict in Eld's life was probably going to be easy.

"Say," he slid into a more casual tone, changing the subject, "You got any cigs on you, by any chance?"

So...in addition to the fact that he'd face who knows what, anyone he fought wasn't going to be at the same disadvantage. If the stakes had been any less he would have been extremely hesitant to keep going. But they were what they were, and he'd just have to find a way to deal with whatever he encountered.

Recheov's question surprised him much more than it probably should've, at least from his perspective. But to Eld it elicited an eerie sense of deja vu. "N-No, I don't smoke."

It reminded him of Remmy, and the similar request he'd made when a ghost (despite knowing very well Eld's view on smoking). He often wondered what his friend would make of everything he'd gotten involved in if he were still alive.

Probably for the best. That Eld didn't smoke, that is. It wasn't good for you. Did all kinds of crazy badness to your lungs. Granted, Recheov never encountered those problems, but a human like Eld? Yeah, he'd have 'em. Had Recheov been alive for longer, he'd have probably had 'em, too. Now, though, he didn't have any risks. If Eld could somehow get him a pack of cigarettes he could actually smoke, he'd be fine. What was the worst it could do, kill him?

"Ah, damn," Recheov rubbed his nose, "Any chance you could pick me up some down in Galaens? I'm really gonna need 'em later."

Is that your unfinished business? Just one more cigarette, and then you can move on?

Eld gave Recheov a searching look; the Memories knew a lot about it seemed. Was it possible they knew about Remmy as well? It was hard to believe this could happen twice without someone intentionally pulling his leg. But who could know about it?

"...Can't you go without? I'm kind of in a hurry here," Eld reminded him. He'd packed everything he needed, and didn't want to waste time going shopping if it wasn't necessary.

"Aw, c'mon."

Yep, that was how it went when he thought about it. Well, it was only a matter of time, then. In any event, he actually did want a pack of cigarettes for later. Right now wasn't the time to give in to the craving, though. He was going to need them much, much later.

"Be a bro," Recheov said with his arms open expressively.

Best case scenario, Eld bought him some cigarettes. Worst case scenario, Recheov "accidentally" annoyed him until he bought him cigarettes.

I am not your bro.

But he still wanted Recheov's help as a guide, and worst case scenario was that his refusal would earn his ire and cause him to stop helping. Or possibly annoy him for the entire trip like this. He wasn't sure which idea he dreaded more.

"...Only if I if it doesn't take long. I'm not waiting in line." That was the best he could promise in these circumstances. He wanted to be on his good side, ideally, but it wasn't likely to be worth it if he spent half the day being stalled because the shops were busy.

At least he wouldn't have to go far out of his way; being a city that thrived on trade, there always stalls set up near Galaens entrances that sold things travelers often needed or wanted.

"Heh, thanks," Recheov grinned widely, "Knew I could count on you."

Going through Galaens was no big deal. It was easy enough to go by the stalls and pick up a pack of cigarettes. It was also easy enough to see how correct Recheov was about himself. No one saw him. Nothing he said, no single noise he made, was heard. He could barely interact with the world around him. He could even walk through folk, show up inside of the stall of the very vendor Eld looked into for cigarettes to point out the kind he liked the most. It was altogether short, though. They only passed through Galaens for twenty minutes, tops.

Recheov then lead Eld to the eastern side of Galaens, down a wide, empty road, punctuated by rising cliffsides and empty, rocky expanses. It was one of the main ways to get to Feiyan, but that wasn't their destination. Their destination had nothing to do with this material world.

"Well, this's where we split," Recheov stated as he looked into the bleak distance, "You're goin' one way, I'm goin' another. Got some things to take care of 'fore I go back 'ome. Oh, an' . . ."

He paused, reached into his back pocket, and withdrew the pack of cigarettes Eld provided for him. Without much of a thought in the matter, he tossed them at Eld, giving him only a "catch" before he did.

"'old onto these f'me, will you?" Recheov said as he shoved his hands back into his pockets. "I ain't gonna need 'em 'til later. Don't wanna lose 'em, y'know?"

"Huh?" Confused though he was, he caught the pack reflexively. So...Recheov was now heading off in his own direction, and he was having him hold on to the cigarettes he wanted?

"...Whatever." He stuffed the pack into his pocket; he wasn't going to argue. "I just keep going this way, right?" Fortunately he had a compass he could check to be sure of his heading, but it would be nice if he could stick to roads as long as possible, especially as he was traveling into unfamiliar territory even before finding the Unreal City.

Though this area looked fairly familiar for a place he was fairly certain he'd never been before...

"Yep. Skip to the next world and jus' go down this way," Recheov pointed northeast.

Problem: there was a cliff wall in the distance that blocked the way. Recheov didn't bother to pay mind to that, though. He'd pointed Eld in the direction he needed to go, and now Recheov needed to head out and take care of some things. He fully planned on meeting back up with Eld later, but it probably wouldn't be until after he was inside of the Unreal City.

"Best o'luck," Recheov waved his hand, though his back was facing Eld, and he was already since walking away. Any questions Eld might have had for him were going to have to wait until later, then, as Recheov no longer planned on sticking around. He, too, was a busy man. And so, any difficulties Eld had up ahead, he was going to have to face on his own. "Jus' try not gettin' killed, 'kay?"

. . . besides, Eld would only need to enter the dead lands to see how much of the world's topography it lacked, including restrictive cliffsides . . .

"I won't die."

Under less dire circumstances he may have grown to like Recheov, even in the short time he'd known him. It was a shame he was a ghost, and that Eld would probably have to send him on his way sooner or later, or he could even see becoming friends with him.

He closed his eyes; the transition was always easier with his eyes closed. Seeing the world warp before his eyes always made him a bit queasy. The sensation was hard to describe; it was though he was both moving a great distance very quickly and standing perfectly still.

Soon enough he was looking upon the gray world of Purgatory. It was a mild surprise to find that the cliff that had been in his way before was absent; while he was certainly no stranger to the gray world, he didn't spend any more time in it than he absolutely had to. It was a depressing place to look on.

Better keep moving.

He pulled a compass to check his heading...only to find that the needle simply lay dormant no matter which way he pointed it. Guess it was stupid to expect it to work here. Oh well. Generally east was going to have to do, then.