Faces dart away from windows as we pass by. A ragged urchin scoops up a cat and dashes down a side street. Wind disturbs the surface of the puddles around my feet. Somewhere to the east i hear the rhythmic creaking and banging of a door. My friends are silent, fixed on carrying their only supplies we are left and their tired limbs along the street.

As we crossed a curve in the road, the silhouette of a magnificent building looms into view. Constructed around two big banyan trunks, its twin towers expand their canopies toward the night sky. Intricate paneling is interwoven with the natural growth of branches, twisted and curled around the building's exterior in a tight embrace.

At the building's base, a small crowd has gathered. A man in a shabby black coat and red tie runs up to meet us. "The Sage delivers all in our moment of need. Come, quickly!"

"Hold a moment," I reply, as the man moves to depart. "Who is this Sage?"

"The Sage of helpless, protector of Tml"

I look to Alicia and thaitang. "Sounds like the local deity," Alicia says with a slight shrug.

"Is the Sage not known to you?" the man asks, perplexed. Then, as if revisited by his purpose, he urges us to follow him. "There's not much time. He could fall at any moment!"

"Wait, who are you?" I asked.

He turns around, already several steps farther down the road. "I'm a disciple of the Sage, of course. Now make haste, before it's too late."

I find the dregs of vigor in my body, hoist our supplies on our shoulders, and pursue the man to the foot of the building. As the four of us push through the crowd, we follow their gaze up to one of...