Something Immortal

46: Avarice Part Six

In spite of the hard work and the skill that Malee possessed, Ilarion had only been able to transcribe a small portion of the book and he would've persisted if not for the erinyes offering another option that proves to be tedious if not risky.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" He whispered next to the Shaman's younger sister moving closer to her side as possible.

Malee finds this amusing but lets him anyway. "This is the only person I know we could trust that might be able to transcribe that book and he is known to frequent this place."

The Metropolis was one of the most highly advanced cities in Asturia, a cesspool of technology and waste but visited mainly by one of the Keepers of the Peace Treaty, the Grand Sage Zelda Galizur. For a distinct elderly, Ilarion never thought that he would visit such a place. Metropolis was also infamous for being coined as the home of thieves and bandits. Although Malee told him several times that no one would touch them since erinyes were among the well-known guests of the city, Ilarion just couldn't stay still. In fact, it took half an hour before he could settle down, and only when he was convinced that people didn't even bother looking at them or knowing their names did he let go a sigh of relief.

"Here we are," Malee happily announced as they stood in front of a palatial building, that happens to be the company of clerks and estate agents who authored and notarized constructions of buildings in some well-known places. Ilarion couldn't help but think that this place seemed to house all the scammers and fraudsters in this world. "Do you know that this place stood for more than a hundred years? Since the reign of the very first Dragon Emperor."

"I am guessing that is not Lord Kyro so let's not talk about it," Ilarion replied wryly. "Can we get going and find that Grand Sage? Also, how confident are you that he will entertain our request?"

Malee only smiled gleefully. "Just trust me. I have this under control."

As they entered the austere hall, Ilarion could not help but notice the ambitious middle-class lads and ladies working inside, as well as complacent middle-aged ones. Despite the place being plain-fronted and dull. They head straight to the receptionist's desk and Ilarion had his first encounter with what he presumed to be a "psyche".

To be precise, the psyches were another type of race whose birth stems from the fact that the ancestors of the draconian created them and thus they dedicated their whole lives as their servants. Some of them work as bodyguards, house cleaners, and secretaries under the employment of a certain organization or in the case of the psyche butlers, under the employment of a certain "master", the majority of them were draconian. But since the sign of the Peace Treaty, Lord Kyro find it prudent to give them their freedom and supported their decision to be independent.

Honestly, Ilarion was not quite sure how to imagine what they looked like when he first wrote about the race, but he simply stated that they were androids and their internal structure was mostly made of solid metals and alloys with the exception of their beating heart and soft skin. And if the erinyes have pure black hollow eyes, and the draconian have isosceles slits, the psyches have white pupils that seemed like they were infected by a cataract. On top of that, their skin has an unusual texture, like they were made of glass and could break at any time. It was strange since it feels like they were talking a doll but at the same time, these were real people.

"Yes, how may I help?" This female psyche has golden blonde hair in pigtails and thick eyelashes, she blinked and cocked her head to the side as though someone was holding a remote control and moving her, and Ilarion fought the urge to check her back to see if there was a winding key and if she was powered by a clockwork motor.

"I am looking for Elder Zelda Galizur. I understand he can be found here," Malee did not beat around the bush and went straight to the purpose of her coming. When the female psyche expression somewhat changed, she quickly added, "He is expecting me."