Content warning:
Strong Language
The different cities of Adlernest were rather same-y. Each had their own traits of course, as Hafennest had a few abandoned ports. Not for airships, but for boats. They're so foolish aren't they.
Let me take you to but one of these ports. There were pieces of wood that led into water, almost like they were once piers. Meanwhile there were corrupted chunks sticking out of the water.
Few would even consider going near these rocky shores. Only the innocent and foolish would dare.
With that upon our minds, one day in late Leo, three children skipped about the place. One was the child, Ismael{from the teaser/short}. The second was a young olive skinned girl with shaved head and in a navy blue wool coat that was clearly too big and long for her. The third was an olive skinned boy with long, black hair, wearing a leather vest over a tank top and cargo shorts.
They all had tiny pieces of metal on their bodies. It was often somewhere small like their ears, noses, the back of their necks. Just somewhere visible and somewhere near fatal spots.
Ismael followed along nervously. The Girl strut through the port. And the boy in the vest jumped and skipped recklessly around the place.
"Fajr, Dawud," Ismael called out, looking left and right, his voice like the softest soft ball.
He thought he saw a Drescher behind his back. He looked, only for nothing to be there. Sweat poured down his face.
"Its fine Ismael," Fajr urged, popping over to pat him on the head with her large sleeve, her voice like a talented rookie pitcher.
"Yeah, Fajr's ri-…onto something," The boy added, his voice like a reckless batter. "Those wolves{Dreschers} haven't been 'round these parts in years…I think,"
"Dawud, try to at least avoid fallin' down there," Fajr ordered, pointing at the water. "We're here fer the fresh air, not the death part,"
"Whatever," he waved away.
"Moma's gonna kill us when she finds out," Ismael swallowed some air.
"Relax Ismael, jus' don't snitch," She stated, hands behind her head, her eyes narrowed. "Ya ain't no snitch right?"
He shook his head. Dawud jumped back.
"Whoa!"
"Whelp, I toldja not to mess 'round, now we're gonna have to cut yer feet off," Fajr joked, shaking her head and shrugging.
"I ain't got no black on me sis. The water moved,"
"It…moved…?" Ismael questioned, stepping away and eyeing the supposedly silent waters.
Fajr chuckled, "Good one. The waters ain't never moved without the Quaker of the Ground's say, an' she ain't done any forgin' fer months,"
"I'M SERIOU-!" Dawud shouted.
"(Don't shout, what the fuck're ya thinkin')?" Fajr shushed, sleeve on her lip.
There was a light splashing nearby. The children froze.
"She's right you know, my child," a familiar, metronomic voice called out.
The children all jumped away, huddling together. Gliding along the waters was Taipan. She approached, looking at her pocket watch.
"Who 're ya?" Fajr questioned, her arms wrapped around the two boys.
"Why Fajr, I'm simply a travelling salesman,"
"How d'ya?"
"Shhhh," she interrupted, listening to the subtle movements of the waters.
She made a quiet clap, "Right on time. My children, how would you like to make a deal?"
From the waters, Setsune washed up, unconscious.
Chapter XXXIV
Wounded Bear
AKT I
Wartebereich XXXIV
There was a Hafennest slum at the edge of the city. Like the port, they were quite close to the waters. While the rest of the city was protected by a large, outer wall that stood 3414 Centimetres, the slum, labelled 'Wartebereich XXXIV', were outright designed to not have protections. The walls were even built to close them off. The only way into the city was through a large, spiked gate. A professional moron might be able to make it over, but not most.
The buildings were worse off than the ones in Tsuno, that was certain. They were closer to the ones in the North: made up of metal plates thrown together. Albeit there was some structure.
"Your forge is like that of Quakerus Regni today, Ms. Najwa," a dark skinned man wearing a used medical mask over his face exclaimed.
Helping him build his house was an olive skinned woman with black hair in a braid. She 158 centimetres tall and wore a hat of straw and wore a blue tank top with a small green cape that covered her shoulders and reached her mid back. The blue cape features the symbol of a green dull sword with a blue outline. On her legs were a belt, torn blue jeans, and white slippers.
"It ain't no trouble Mr. Kangar," she responded, tipping her straw hat, her voice like a rocky soft ball field. "All comes with the job,"
People wandered about in rags and similar, thrown together clothing. They all had metal on like the children.
"But aren't your children going to need your help?" Mr. Kangar asked, picking up another block.
"They know their way 'round these parts. Fajr at least knows better," she responded, using a corrupted trowel to apply the glue.
There was some noise in the distance.
"What's going on there?" He questioned, carefully wrapping cotton duck cloth around the blocks.
"We'll worry 'bout it when we're done here," she responded, scraping bits off from the trowler back into the glue mix and stirring it around to slow any corruption.
She groaned, trying to focus on the corruption setting in, "I hope it ain't trouble…,"
He placed the next brick on, "That should be it for now,"
"Glad, I could help," she exclaimed, stretching her back. "Be careful 'round these walls. Ya still have to wait a bit fer the corruption to fuse 'em together,"
"NAJWA!" a grumpy old voice like a tree that refuses to fall called out.
"Oh no…," she slumped.
She wandered over to the crowds. Near the edge of the slums was a long line of four well built houses. They weren't too different from the ones you'd see in the city, they were just falling apart at the seams. Near one with the dull blade symbol, the three children carried a big wet sack with a few holes in it for breathing.
Dawud nervously waved at Najwa. Ismael placed his hands on his head and crouched down. Fajr blushed nervously.
An old Daimyese man with a big cane angrily approached Najwa. He had a beard so long, he combed it over his head and cut little holes in it, giving the illusion he had long hair and making it look like his head was a bush. He wore socks and a big red cape that covered his entire body. When the wind blew, you could see the symbol of a red fishing rod with a blue outline on his back.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" he exclaimed, waving his cane.
She sighed and glanced at the children, "Well kids…what is the fff- meaning of this?"
End of Scene I...