the garden within the wasteland

Brush,1

My feet crashed against the ground, a mocking notion; my footsteps echoed in the same tune as a chorus awaiting the rest of the symphony to accompany it, yet it responded only by the booing and disapproving wind. All I felt was water slamming into my armor, washing me, drowning me, cleansing me, and merging with me. I felt it seep into the tiny cracks of my armor in a rushing manner; it began to enforce my body and mind with memories both physical and mental. The bruises are all gone, yet they still itch. Then the water all evaporated in an instant, and I began to smile, smile as much as my body would allow, as if I heard the world's greatest joke! but had missed the setup. nothing to miss or mess with! I felt as if my soul was shooting out hooks in all directions, searching for something to grab onto from afar. I heard what was akin to the sounds of a discussion turned one-sided yelling competition. I felt an urge to move towards the sound, even if the memory served to haunt me with what feeling would await me if I failed again. Within the empty waste was a shorter man with two tiny horns that fit the top of his head and skin as red as fire. The demon stumbled backwards as sweat began to form at the top of his head; he was dressed in a frankly silly manner. I haven't seen anything quite like it, even if I failed to observe it fully due to the two figures standing much taller than the demon, each of them carrying a weapon.

"THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE BEFORE WE MAKE YOU BLEED." One of the men scolded as he raised his weapon. That guy raised a hammer. It's kind of hard to cause bleeding from a blunt object. It was a childish thought that I couldn't help but chuckle at as I began to approach the scene.

"YOU BETTER HAND US THAT REAL DRAGON OIL, YOU RUNT!"

"YOU SAID IT WOULD BRING BACK MY MISSING EYE!"

"AND YOU SAID IT WOULD GET HIM A GIRLFRIEND, AND HE'S STILL SINGLE."

"You didn't have to expose me like that, brother."

The demon chuckled as he ran his hands through the area between his horns as he quickly recomposed himself.

"The fault isn't with me! That dragon oil was legit. But your one-eyed brother brings such loser energy that it canceled out the effects of the dragon oil. What you need, my friends, is an extra dose!"

The demon's voice was confident. He spoke with a knowledge far beyond any of our understanding. As if he knew everything that exists or will exist, and he's selling it for only 9 coins, he reached into his suit, reaching for another bottle as he fixed the obviously fake brown hair on his head.

The man with the eyepatch swung once downwards and only slammed into the air; the demon and his nimble feet quickly slithered away, and when the realization that his deal fell through hit him, his eyes began to quickly search the area around him. That's when his pupils landed on me, and he smirked.

"Come on, lads! You're wasting your strength, look! Behind you! a deadly machine far beyond the borders of the Enkidu's nursery"

The words slammed into my psyche; I felt like I should feel hurt. But the way he said it intended no malice, only survival. The two men turned their gaze around till they met with me; a shock quickly filled them, then a courage.

"You're not off the hook, but we've got bigger fish to beat."

The one with both eyes muttered to the demon as they approached me. A rush of energy beamed through my circuits, a beam piloted by excitement and funded by pride as I prepared myself. I dashed as fast as I could towards one of them, slamming my shoulders into one of them and knocking them back a fair distance. Motivated by the sound of a bone shattering, I noticed his one-eyed brother standing to my left. Before he could react to the shattering sound, I moved my left hand to my shoulder and whipped it back into his face. Upon the second of the impact, I raised my other arm to the heavens and sky, kindly requesting its strength before slamming it towards his back. The air was vacant of yelling or cries of pain. two successful knockouts. I couldn't help but celebrate with a laugh and chuckle as I turned back to the demon.

"Issue one taken care of. Now, issue number two. Hey, hey, my dear robotic pal!"

He had caused me no harm, so I decided to humor him.

"Hello!" I let out a sound that was more eager and irritable than I intended.

"OH SH—ahem ahem, oh, you can talk? I've never seen a robot with that capability."

I stood bewildered for a moment. His voice began high-pitched enough to burst a wire within my shell, then switched to a calm, collected, posh-sounding voice.

"Aha! Where are my manners? I am A. Naiser; you may also know me as the island's greatest businessman."

"I am brush. a robot."

"That much is obvious, habibi. You seem unbothered by the fact you've come across a real demon."

"It's not much of a surprise, even if there aren't many these days. What's your business with the two I knocked out?" I triumphantly stated as I began to approach. A naiser simpily chuckled as he approached me, carrying that smile of his.

He was dressed in a simple suit and tie; I saw memories of many dressed like this from Pedro's memories. but none in the modern day. He had a briefcase on his hip. His wig was slicked back, well kept, and smelled like a thousand blessings.

"Don't worry about them. No fault lies within me for the failure of the usage of my products. Speaking of which, as a thanks for saving me, I wish to gift you with an offer from my store for the same perfume that I use, titled "A Thousand Blessings." Originally 250 coins, but just for you, my friend, 5 coins. You reek of oil, mister—oil, ash, and regret, to be specific."

I would've emptied my pockets if I had any, so I simply shrugged.

"I have zero coins to my name."

"Now that is just sad." A naiser wasted no time in exclaiming as he chuckled.

"Any person worth their salt starts at nada and hopefully becomes something. Not me, though; I have been stacked from day 1," the salesman continued as he spread out both his arms downwards and opened his palms. He clicked his tongue, and a treasure chest's worth of coins materialized, stacking atop each other on his hands as he chuckled. As his eyes confirmed the fact that I had indeed seen him, he flung both arms upwards and reached for his briefcase, which was holstered to his hip. He opened it and aimed it upwards, capturing all the coins he flung upwards except one that he caught in his other hand and gestured for me to grab the coin.

"How about you work for me then! I could use the security with the ideas I plan to implement."

"Sure! I've got nothing better to do." I grabbed the coin as I spoke.

Why did I say that? Should I have thought about it first? But I wasn't lying; I really got nothing, or more so am nothing. Maybe this will be a chance to be a better brush, to be a better me. I began to think if such a thing was possible or deserved; the sound of the waves and water began to flood and fill my ears, only to be all shocked away with a single clap by A naiser, and as my eyes returned to him, I saw those hooks had imprinted onto him. I plan to follow those hooks.

"Now, now, paint man—" A naiser spoke forcing a return to reality.

"It's a brush." I sheepishly respond.

"Paint man has a better ring to it; let's get a move on; we're en route."

"Where are we headed to?"

"to the second biggest colony on this accursed island. AZTHRYUA! So let's get a move on, employee."

And thus the both of us began to move; I simply followed behind him, inspecting the coin.

"employee? I know you hired me and all, but you can drop the formalities; aren't we basically friends now?"

"Friends? We just met, man. Give it some time, brush," he said as he dismissively waved his hand in my direction.

"We aren't friends?" I chuckled.

"And why is it so important to you that we are?"

"It's important for a person to have friends, isn't it?"

"Nope. All I need is me and my coins."

"But like, given time, we'll be fre—"

"Drop it, brush."

I did as was asked of me and simply followed in silence.