The Last Shade VI: Illusory Dream

Chapter 15

Kiel landed near the top of the stairs and folded his wings, climbing the rest of the way so as to not alarm anyone who might be out and about at this hour. Looking at the gilded metal gate in front of him, he found himself at a bit of a loss- he hadn't actually thought about what to do after this step.

"Who goes there?"

The flat, almost robotic voice came from above, making Kiel raise his eyes to the dense tree foliage.

"I am a traveller, and I am here to visit the legendary Mechanic."

There was a pause, then, "The Mechanic doesn't accept visitors."

Kiel's sharp eyes picked out the faint human silhouette hidden among the leaves, almost invisible in the dark night.

"I said I was here to visit." Kiel stretched his hand towards the gate, which shuddered and started opening.

Surprised, Kiel withdrew his hand, the gate swinging open the whole way. As soon as he stepped through it, something whistled past his ear, planting itself somewhere behind him. Knowing better than to turn, he sidestepped a bolt that whizzed past his calf, embedding itself into the ground. They had come from the same place- the shadows to the right of the small noble's house just in front, the person in the tree likely serving as a distraction.

"You have some skills," the person in the tree said in his flat, monotonous voice, watching as Kiel easily dodged the next few bolts fired, the Shade reaching the boy with the crossbow and kicking it out of his hands.

The boy frowned and turned to run towards the back of the residence, and Kiel gave chase, only to quickly brake as a laser beam shot out from the darkness, cutting across his path forward, and a large humanoid figure ambled out into view.

Unlike its counterparts which were scattered in the desert, this one was considerably more sturdy and well-made, almost a perfect replica of the original.

If it's a replica, then...

Kiel ran towards it, ducking and turning to the side to avoid more of the laser bemas, which burned holes into whatever they touched. With the smell of singed leaves in his nose, Kiel darted to the back of the automation, drew a short knife and threw it upwards, the weapon burying itself at the base of the robot's head.

It shuddered, electricity pulsing around the knife, Kiel taking a step back, breathing a bit fast as the automation staggered forward. A panel at its back slid open, a large weighted net shooting out to ensnare the Shade and dragging him to the ground along with the automation.

Tied tightly on his front, his body pressed to the fallen automation, Kiel applauded the ingenuity of this "Mechanic". Managing to turn his head slightly, he saw several figures closing in on him, the one in the lead holding what he recognised as a stun gun. Two barbs shot out from it, and the electricity that coursed down the wires knocked him out for good.

                            ———————

The moonlight that streamed through the dusty windows illuminated a dead fireplace, a large workbench and a long table covered in a mass of scattered blueprints, odd gadgets and work tools. Everything was well-used and relatively clean, like their owner had just set them down and would be back later.

Kiel, tied tightly to a chair with rough hemp rope, wiggled his fingers and formed a sharp ice blade which swiftly cut through his wrist bindings. Shifting around somewhat uncomfortably, he made short work of the rest and tossed the blade into the fireplace. Brushing the remnants of ropes aside, Kiel stood up, stretched and looked around.

What interested him the most was the set of blueprints left carelessly in the open- Kiel lifted a sheet, scanning it with great interest. It was the blueprint of an automatic construction robot, though just a copy, and the design had been simplified.