The Human - Soothsayer *ON HOLD*

CHAPTER 15

Rarely was fear a factor, and rarely did Ty let it get to him.

Unlike Alexi, who'd go about drinking to forget, or Tobias, working his frustrations into his techs, Ty would rather not deal with it. It was how he had survived; avoidance of thought. Something that never failed thus far. He would push it down, force it into the darkest part of his mind. Like Pandora's box, only with the key long lost into the unknown.

But this was different. The circumstances were different.

And being the first of the few that knew of his involvement with what happened in the city – the summoner's interest in him, it tore open that box amongst a whirlwind of emotions, and suddenly he couldn't breathe. 

Suddenly, his hands shook and his knees trembled. The plushed hotel walls provided no comfort, closing in as if he was in a freaking box. It was how Ty wound up outside, side glancing the center of Riverstead with clammy palms and a stuttered breath.

In and out. Breathe in, and out.

It was the unseemly sight of men dressed in smouldering armours amongst the night crowd that finally drew his attention, stuttering him in his panic. Bronze panoply, with gears that clicked and ticked on the surface and shoulder openings that emitted fumes once every few seconds. Their chest plates donned what Ty would have presumed was the town crest; a winged faction.

They marched down the streets in twos like clockwork, and realisation hit him on their fifth time around. It was patrols. Ty had to wonder how important Riverstead was for security to be this tight.

Someone, a young dark-skinned boy dressed in dull attire, bumped into one of the guards whilst running through the crowd. He was stopped by a mechanical hand gripping onto his shoulder.

'Watch where you're going!' A voice threatened from behind the helm, but the boy only sneered. Surprisingly, that was the end of the exchange. The soldier released him with a dissatisfied grunt, and he was left to run off by himself. It was the sight of something shiny clutched between his fingers, something that wasn't his, that piqued his interest and got Ty's feet moving on their own.

Riverstead bustled with pride during the day; the town filled with trades and businesses going about. At night though, without the bright glaring buildings and merry glad men, it was a completely different settlement, and Ty cannot say it was any less interesting. Gone were the market stalls from the afternoon, replaced by dodgy little stands overflowed with items that – Ty had to admit – captured his attention. For while the town was bright and eccentric during the day, this was when the real town of techs came to life. 

There were gadgets paling even Tobias' inventions; a variety of hovering devices – clocks, stationeries, tuneboxes – which followed you around called Instechs, and large parcel boxes with delicate metal wings, 'No more unreliable pigeon post!'. There was even a brass gauntlet that breaks out protection shields upon command. Vendors beckoned for attention, though some minded their own business in a corner. Those were the fascinating ones, for their gaze held strange looks which offered under-the-counter-sales. How they managed to evade those mechanica soldiers were a wonder.

All the while Ty made sure he hadn't lost track of the kid, who seemed to know the area like the back of his hand. He manoeuvred around buildings, cargos and even moving cartels at a speed that had Ty struggling to keep up. He knew they were out of the centre when the bustles and incandescent lights were left behind. The boy turned a corner, and Ty followed a few seconds after in order to keep a safe — knife in his face!

He threw his hands up out of instincts. If only to prove that he meant no harm.

'Why are you following me?' The blade was jabbed closer, almost taking an eye out had Ty not stepped back.