The Inventor from Velothain

The Robot

“Damn!” Elysia cried, slamming her head against the wall. A goodnights sleep was
what she needed but, she still managed to fail for the twentieth time. It must’ve
been a new record. So, what was the point? To keep trying and failing miserably?
“Elysia! Elysia!” She heard a very familiar voice call her. She put down her Tools and ran up the stairs. “Edgar?”
“yes, it’s me. I’ve got a way to get Percy’s voice back!”
Elysia’s eyes flickered up and down Edgar in confusion. “Wait what? What’s going on?”
Edgar showed Elysia the journal. “I found this in the attic. I found something in it that could help.”
“Wait, where did you find that!?” Elysia said in a mixture of surprise and panic. She ripped the book from his hand and began to flip through the pages.
“Elysia, I’m so sorry. Did I step out of line?”
Her eyes trailed to the book, she smoothed it over with her fingers. “I haven’t seen this in such a long time. It was just after Percy was built. I’m sorry, I snapped. I was just surprised to see this again.”
“You’re not angry, are you?” Edgar panicked.
“No, I’m angry, Edgar.” Elysia replied. Then she chuckled. “Honestly, I’m starting to think that some of your sister has rubbed off on you. This will be a big help.”
“What can I say?” Edgar said, flamboyantly.
“I’m sure Percy would love some company. He’s been reading for a while now. Some human contact, would be good for him. He’s in the parlour.”
Edgar smiled, before skipping down the hall.

******

Edgar had been so caught up in seeing Percy again, that by the time he found the doors to the parlour, he realised he had no plan on what to say to him.
“Shit.” He muttered, deflating slightly. He paced the floor in the hopes that some divine god or goddess would give him some sort of advice.
But as usual, nothing happened. So, Edgar was on his own, he ran through many different scenarios in his mind.
“Hello Percy.” Edgar said to himself in practice. “No, too formal. Hi perse.”
He tried again. “Hey Percy, fancy seeing you here. I mean, I know that you live here, if anything, I’m the one who- “
He stopped at the feeling of someone tapping his shoulder. Edgar spun around to see Percy standing in front of him with his usual smile and wave.
Edgar’s heart stopped. He looked at the robot boy with a shy grin.
In this situation, the expression “He felt like his heart was going to fly out of his chest.” Would be the most appropriate choice of words. Those of you who think that its amore ‘flowery’ way of saying that he was scared witless, then you would be correct. Though in this situation, Edgar genuinely thought that if his heart were to beat anymore then it would fly away, along with him.
He took a deep breath and began to speak. “WellheyPercyfancyseeingyouheretodayyesIknowtthatyoulivehereandmesayingthatisquitecreepyisn’titwellanywaynicetoseeyouhowareyou?”
He said in one breath. 
Percy blinked a couple of times. He began to speak, only to realise that he couldn’t without laughing. He knew that it would be deeply insensitive of him to do that, but he just couldn’t resist it. Edgar was just so adorable when he was flustered.

****

With his fleshed arm, he took Edgar’s hand and lead him down the corridor.
“Wait, where are we going?” Edgar asked, still recovering.
Percy looked back at him and shot him a look that said “You’ll see.”
Edgar wasn’t very good at talking to people. He never did it that often, unless it was his sister but she was in his life from day one. Hell, even before they were born, they were inseparable. With Percy however, things were different, it wasn’t just because he couldn’t speak because even when his voice comes back, he’ll be able to speak to him. He liked Percy, he was the only person who looked at his writing as a serious thing and not just something to laugh at. He was an incredibly intelligent person. He would tell Edgar about the city, the politics, the laws, the etiquette and even the history behind the fashion. Edgar loved listening to the stories about the city, sometimes, Percy would tell him about the rest of the world. It was so different to the world he lived in. there were cities, villages, towns, kingdoms, enchanted forests, mountains with fire breathing dragons, wild western towns with werewolves and even circuses with weird and wonderful creatures. It was like he’d stepped into every single fantasy novel at once.
It also helped that Percy was reasonably easy on the eyes, with his messy dirty blonde locks and bright green eyes that made Edgar melt every time he looked at him.
He wasn’t quite sure how long Percy had been on the earth, though he knew that he was meant to be his age, sixteen. He knew that because, when he read Elysia’s notes she was meant to change his model every time he aged by ten years, to make him seem like a human being rather than an AI.
They arrived at a couple of doors. They were still brown but they were a slightly lighter colour, almost as if the room had been built after everything else had been.
Percy opened the door to reveal a large bed chamber. It was an odd copper colour with a few specks of silver. It had a few gears that grinded together every so often. He sat down on the bed in pure exhaustion, almost as if walking wore him out.
Edgar retrieved the notebook from his bag. He enjoyed his conversations with Percy. Sometimes, he’d look back and read his answers.
“So uh, how are you doing?”
Percy smiled and scribbled down the words: I’m very good thanks, how are you?
“Yeah, I’m good thanks. I uh finished the third chapter.”
That’s amazing! I’d really like to read that, your story has me hooked. I can’t wait to see what happens in the future.
“Thank you. Yeah, I, uh thought that you may like to read it.” Edgar struggled to speak. “Hey could I uh ask you a question?”
Anything.
“Well I was wondering about your voice, or lack thereof. You told me a while ago, but I wanted to ask how it all happened.”
Percy pursed his lips; he began to write a few things down. He handed the book to Edgar, which read:
I lost the ability to speak a few months ago, after Elysia put Destruxide in my weekly mixture of chemicals. Kind of like a smoothie to keep me healthy. She’s felt bad about it ever since, so she’s been trying to make a new box for me ever since.
“What’s Destruxide?” Edgar asked.
It’s a compound we have in our world. It destroys anything it comes in contact with, so it has to be put in special tubes and even then, they wear away after a few uses.
“So, it literally destroyed your voice box?”
Yes, it was quite a painful experience really. But as I say, Elysia has been trying to fix it lately. I’d love to speak again but I’ve made peace with being mute.
There was a loud crash that could be heard echoed around the house.
“Um. I’m sure it’s nothing.” Edgar chuckled.
Well anyway, enough about me, so do you write full time or do you have a job?
“Well, actually I go to school. I’m in my last year.” Edgar explained.
Oh, silly me. I didn’t realise, I’ve never been to school myself, so I guess that I don’t know much about the education system and I’m pretty sure that there are lots of differences between my world and yours.
Edgar felt brave. Braver than he’d felt in a long time, maybe if he tested the waters slightly. Besides, if he was shot down, then he could stop trying.
“Percy.” He began.
Percy looked up in response.
“I was wondering if you had ever fallen in love before?”
Percy silently laughed. Not in a mocking way, but in a nostalgic kind of way, he began to scribble.
Yes, actually. It was a young man in the market by the name of Victor Mgee. He ran the stall for the treasures from around the world. He was kind of sweet really, but he kept moving around from place to place so we had to end the relationship. Quite sad really.
“Oh Percy, I’m so sorry.” Edgar sighed.
Its fine. That was a few years ago. You kind of remind me of him.
“Now, don’t go falling in love with me.” Edgar joked.
Percy laughed, if only he knew.
“Well going back to all that, what would you think if- “
Edgar was interrupted by the door swinging open.
“Hey Edgar did you want to stay for lunch?”