The journey was divided into several tiers; reaching the heavens is best accomplished by plateaus. The first goal was to reach The Grey Beyond. Their colony lived within the Greenesh Lands and kids were known to climb trees and claim to see the mysterious stone country far off. It had come to be accepted as a sort of legend-place, like Atlantis or Russia, but Saint Wire confirmed otherwise in secret before they left. He met with Zepp while the youth readied supplies, and told him of his own adventures there from long ago.
“So, it's real,” Zepp reiterated in awe, “and that is to be our passage to the heavens?”
“The Grey Beyond is real, indeed,” he replied in a slow whisper. “It is far too dangerous a place to not be real. Do not tread lightly. Your path will be treacherous, but once you reach the other side… my boy…” – here, a flame of life flickered through his eyes unlike Zepp had ever seen before. He turned and walked away, calling back over his shoulder – “it will be greater than you could ever imagine.”
