The Last Shade VI: Illusory Dream

Chapter 14

Just before they stepped through the gates and into the town proper, Kiel posed a question for Laurelai.

"Laurelai, I was just wondering, what are those metal parts in the desert, where the ribcage- the rock formations are?"

The atmosphere chilled a little, and the vice captain's face darkened.

"Those..." she clicked her tongue, searching for the right words, "those are the remains of the Mechanic's heroes, marking the graves of those who deserved to die."

"The Mechanic?" Kiel asked, steering the topic away cleverly.

"Nothing short of a genius," Laurelai praised, patting her weapon with a proud smile. "He made this, and all of our weapons, and...you'll see."

Kiel now took notice of the bulging bags that a few of her squad's members carried, his interest piqued. The sentries waved them in, and Kiel straightaway saw what Laurelai had meant.

The town looked just like any other town, save for the automation that occupied the same space as the townsfolk. Humanoid ones walked haltingly alongside animalistic ones, the latter as pets and the former as sentries, accompanying people dressed in the same dark green and gold uniform as Laurelai's squad. The only difference was that her squad also wore distinct red lanyards.

"This is the most well-guarded place I have ever seen," Kiel said in surprise, genuinely impressed.

Though crude, the automation was functional and not hard on the eyes. Kiel could clearly see where their creator had gotten his inspiration from- designs from that golden age of the past.

"That's the most you can say?" Laurelai laughed. "Well, I don't blame you, it's hard to put into words what you're seeing."

"There's nothing like this in the world," one man chimed in, "at least, as far as anyone knows."

"The Mechanic really changed our lives. Look over there-" Laurelai pointed up a hill some distance away, "-that's where he stays, together with his apprentices."

Kiel looked, noting down this new information.

"He doesn't accept visitors," a girl stated, as though reading his mind.

"I see," Kiel acknowledged.

Laurelai's face grew grave as she glanced at Kiel.

"We are not responsible for anything that might happen if you try approaching him."

"Alright."

The squad stopped walking at the beginning of the main street, and Laurelai gave him a salute.

"This is as far as I'll be able to take you. May you enjoy your time here, visitor."

"Thank you."

Laurelai and her squad turned back the way they came, walking in formation. Ignoring the curious looks cast his way, Kiel started his way down the main street, walking with the townspeople going about their way.

The aroma of freshly cooked food drifted towards Kiel, and so did the chattering of excited people, the words "competition" and "prize money " being repeated over and over. In front of an inn, there was a portable stall with round wooden steamers displayed, but what everyone was looking at was the long table with played piled high with white meat buns. A group of young men stood near the table, cracking jokes and jostling one another, though they quietened down when an apron-wearing man brought out another plate of meat buns.

"Looks like we are still short of one competitor," the man announced, scanning the loose crowd of gathered people. "Is there anyone interested in joining?"

The young men also scanned the crowd, one of them grinning as he shouted, "Anyone wants to take on the great and mighty me?"

His eyes suddenly shone as he jabbed his finger towards some unfortunate soul.

"Hey, you there!"

Kiel looked at the tip of the finger singling him out, then at the surprised faces of everyone present, his gaze moving to the cocky-looking young man.

"Visitor, come and fight me!"

"No thank you," Kiel refused, nausea already starting to manifest from seeing those meat buns glistening back at him.

"Come and experience our town culture!" his friend shouted, the others joining in with gusto, pressuring Kiel to compete with them.

The townspeople started to warm up to the idea as well, some of them even trying to motivate Kiel.

"Come on, the prize money is a whole ten gold! Who can pass it up?"

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

"I am not interested," Kiel said, backing away. "Sorry!"

He dodged the hands trying to grab him, sprinting away before anyone could stop him.

"What's the hurry, young man?" someone hollered behind him as he pushed past a couple and entered a smaller street.

Ignoring the clamour behind him, Kiel blindly navigated various streets and small pavements, eventually reaching the base of stone steps to that climbed steadily upward. His mind gradually focused, and he looked up at the seemingly never-ending stretch of stairs, realising where he was.

Looking behind him and seeing no one in the vicinity, he breathed a sigh of relief and started walking in the opposite direction of the Mechanic's hill.

                     ———~~<~>~~———

On the second floor of a teahouse, Kiel poured the fragrant local tea from a teapot into his teacup, swishing it around before taking a sip. From his seat by the large window, he had an excellent view of the hill, and he could barely see a small residence atop it, as well as a cluster of miniature buildings. Picking up a dense rectangular milk cake from his plate, he took a bite and waited for the opportunity to strike.