As he followed the man through the cave, Moon split his attention between memorizing the route back to the portal and listening to Joseph speak. The man had picked up quickly that Moon wasn't interested in small talk, and had shifted to providing useful information instead.
"You need to be careful, young man. You must lower your expectations in this place. There are many people here that have been stuck in this sky for years, and they still haven't found a way to escape it. To survive in this place, you need to learn your limits. I can't count the number of fresh Evolvers that had over-estimated themselves and died to clutches of beasts or hands of spirits."
Moon's eyes twitched imperceptibly.
"How old are you? If you don't mind me asking."
Joseph turned his head to look at Moon. "I'm twenty-one years old."
Moon blinked.
He's only a few years older than me, and he's talking like a wise elder of an ancient sect.'
