Odyssey of the City of Lights

Odyssey of the City of Lights - Book 1 - Chapter 16

We stood in front of the bank entrance, the cold glass doors with 2 inverted triangles making a big star surrounded by small stars looming over me. My heart raced as the realization that Aaron was going to abandon me to deal with the bank sank deeper into my psyche. "Aaron, I... I don't think I can do this alone," I confessed, my voice shaking slightly.

"Come on, Eli, you've got to start doing things on your own. It's just setting up a bank account." Aaron smirked, his prosthetic arm casually resting on his hip.

I stammered, feeling like a child lost in an unfamiliar world. "B-b-b-b-but I've never done anything like this."

His face remained unchanged, that irritating smirk still plastered across it. He refused to answer anything and just stared at me.

"I know I need to learn, but this is all so new to me," I pleaded, "Couldn't you just... stay close by? Just in case?"

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, weighing my words. "Eli, you're not going to learn if I'm always there to hold your hand." I ran out of arguments and just stared at him with pleading eyes, feeling like I was on the verge of tears. His gaze softened. "Alright, how about this: I'll come in with you and explain what you need, but you handle the rest of the talking."

My relief was immediate. I nodded, grateful for his compromise. He pulled the door open and held it waiting for me to walk through. I didn't feel like I could walk in first. He motioned for me to walk forward, stubbornly not leading the way.

I relented and forced my feet to shuffle forward into the bank office.

"Remember, you've got this," Aaron encouraged with a pat on my back as I walked past him.

The sterile atmosphere of the bank, with its polished floors and neatly arranged counters, made me feel uneasy. There were a few different station, and a few counter places, one of which had a lady standing looking at us with expectation.

I remembered accompanying Dad to our village bank a few times; it was just old man Hank with a computer and a few dozen filing cabinets. This place looked more like our hospital with how clean and organized it looked.

We approached the help desk, the young lady greeted us with a professional smile. "How can I assist you today?" she asked. I blinked and was surprise to realize that she wasn't wearing AR glasses. I glanced at Aaron, and his glasses were completely off and clear for once.

Aaron took charge. "He needs to set up a private account. He's new here, an Oldworlder who just moved into the area. Started working and has a government account." Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "I know I'm not allowed to do the talking," and stepped back, leaving me exposed and alone. I swirled and watched him back up to the chair, my jaw slack. He winked at me and nodded. I slowly turned to the clerk, feeling betrayed and vulnerable under her scrutinizing gaze.

"Let's get your account set up," the clerk said softly, offering me a gentle, understanding smile. Her tone was reassuring, and as she led me through the process, her demeanor remained kind and patient.

"I, uh, appreciate your help," I mumbled, trying to relax.

To my surprise, she said, "I, too, was from an Oldworlder village and had moved here a few years ago."

I blinked. "Oh. Okay. Why did you move from the village here to the city?"

She gave me a sad look not breaking her professional smile. Looking at her screen and clicking on the keyboard she explained "I had to escape an arranged marriage; my father wanted me to marry the blacksmith's son. I didn't love him, he didn't love me. I didn't want to live like that."