On the facade nearing the roof the symbol of a fire axe clearly indented into the wood like it was branded onto the cellulose fibres.
James couldn't help but feel confused. "Why does this look like a farmhouse?"
Uquin replied surprisingly quickly. " The lodge was built on the foundation of the original farm house from 2000 years ago."
She paused for a second her eyes flashing slightly before continuing. " It's the main headquarters of the firekeepers in the Fire Garden. The firekeepers are responsible for reconnaissance, extermination, containment and protection of this Farmland. It is also home to the Fireman Juraman who is the current owner of this farm.
She then did a left take and pointed down independence lane. On a slightly raised hill in the southern portion of the city the structure of the kiln's could be seen.
"As you can see there is a direct line from the Lodge to the entrance of the Kiln. The Kiln is the lifeblood of the Fire Garden. It's catacombs produce an unending supply of coal which we use daily. The coal produced by the Kiln has the property of repelling weaker cryptids. The ash and smog in the air coat the walls, the houses, the earth acting as a repellent."
James thought about the concept and imagined this city being covered in a protective haze. His appreciation for the light tint in the air was increasing.
"As you can imagine the the further outwards you go the density of coal and ash decreases meaning higher cryptid activity. The Lodge is located at the Midway point allowing for maintenance and eradication of any cryptids that may get through"
" Okay." James nodded.
The two made made their way inside the lodge. There were wooden stools and tables scattered around the first floor. A few people were seated around having varying conversations about recent events or interests.
To the left of the entrance was an outcropping that seemed to act as a restaurant, currently there was a young man cooking and a orange cat resting nearby.
Beside the kitchen was a large chalkboard that covered the wall. It seemed to detail various things. Words were scattered along the board, however, there were some sections of text larger than the others.
From what he could read there were three main notices.
Investigate and exterminate black shucks within a 5 km radius of the city with Fireman Juraman
Increase night patrols within the residential sector near the kiln. Dandy Man spotted. Any future sightings should be reported Immediately.
Investigate the disappearance of Firekeepers near the southern outskirts
Behind the counter was a young man. He was of average height and disposition. His hair looked like loose mop tissues and was crudely cut, the edges of his hair was damaged from prolonged hea, his dark eyes trailed towards Uquin and his lousy posture immediately perked up.
"Good morning, Uquin. What can I help you with? Oh-, wait is that him?" the enthusiasm in his voice waned into annoyance.
James did not notice the ground beneath his feet beginning to splinter. Something seemed to squeeze out from the cracks but quickly retreated.
"Do I know you?" James questioned.
" No, but I know you." He did not elaborate any further turning his attention back to Uquin.
James double taked to his sides before looking at his shirt as if he spilled something. James' brows furrowed as he once again scanned the room noticing a hush blanket the room.
James looked up to Uquin for an answer. She shook her head and said lightly. " Alot of firekeepers were injured, some even passed away after the starfall incident. A few people have been claiming that you were the cause of the incident because you were found nearby."
James looked around at the highly suspicious and anxious gazes of those around him, their whispers became even more hushed but he could tell that they were discussing him.
James felt like he was understanding what Ziggy mean't. ' I guess im just as unwanted here as I would be anywhere else.'
Uquin pulled him forward. " Relen, please register him under our farm and get him some food, i'll pay for it when I return. "
Hearing the word register James immediately brought himself back to the warning Ignazio gave him. 'Don't tie yourself to any farm.'
She looked down at James. Their gazes held for a brief second before she turned and exited the lodge.
James reached out but pulled his arm back after considering that she had done enough for him up until this point. 'Sigh, No wonder people have been treating us funny. They think im dangerous.'
Relen noticing James reaching out to Uquinn frowned even further. " Okay, lets get this over with. Question number 1. What is your name?"
James startled thought for a second and answered honestly "James"
" Okay noted, Do you want to be registered under the Fire Garden. As a citizen you will be granted the right to a free home for up to a week and will be provided food and water with the expectation that you work to improve and better the function and capacity of the Garden. If you choose not to you are free to do whatever you please as long as it does not jeopardize the safety of our people, and your life will not be prioritized in an emergency. "
James pretended to be in deep thought massaging his chin and pacing around the room for few seconds and shook his head. " Hmm no, I think I can manage on my own for a little while. "
Relen looked up, and a hint of pity flashed past his eyes before sighing." Your loss. I apologize sincerely. If i'd know youre that clueless I wouldn't have thought you were tainted."
James forced a smile but didn't reply.
Relen thought for a second before putting down the notepad was scribbling on. " You're one of those people who thinks they're the main character of this world. I know...I see it in your eyes, that passion, that fearlessness. I was born here so I never understand you people when you come here and treat it as if its a game or some fantasy but to everyone here–"
He pointed out to the room of men and women drinking in silence. Most of them had ceased their conversations to listen into what Relen was saying. Some even nodded in approval and smacked their cups on the table.
"-This is reality. They bleed, live and die just like you."
He turned back to the food he was handling and tasted the broth of what seemed to be soup. After nodding he turned back to James who was glancing at the orange cat sleeping on the counter.
'Why does this cat give me an ominous feeling?' James did not take what Relen said to heart. He was not wrong, James was the person he was describing, fortunately James was quickly humbled by almost being eaten alive.
Relen continued. " Youre probably thinking right now, " What does this guy know about me? He just met me and he's telling me what to think? Am I right?"
Relen himself felt a bit smug puffing his chest a bit waiting to see James reaction, however James just continued to stare at the cat in silence.
Relen glanced at the cat and responded to James curiosity. " Oh, youre looking at the vial floating above his head right?"
James for the first time reacted to what Relen said and nodded breaking eye contact with the sleeping cat to look at Relen.
Relen rubbed the sweat from his face into his shirt and explained. " The vial is a representation of his vitality, the color is how old he is, Orange means he's considered a Juvenille cryptid and could be between 10 and 50 years old."
The vial containing the orange liquid shimmered lightly as James watched the cat with interest. 'Ignazio mentioned something about that'
"His name is Xchitzo Cat, It's a cryptid but he was deemed relatively harmless to people under normal circumstances. Xchitzo Cat is also a pretty chill guy, but he does talk funny."
"Talk funny?" James questioned.
Xchitzo Cat hearing his name stood up and stretched itself out before quickly standing on its hind legs.
James reeled back from where he stood.
Xchitzo Cat looked at James briefly before scratching his stomach and yawning. " Yo, Relen, My Cat, you got any fish back there, a Cat is starving."
James blinked and after a few seconds the vial above the cat shimmered out of his vision.
Relen's mood seemingly improved after Xchizo cat woke up. He quickly walked beyond sight and returned with a slab of fish resembling pink salmon. The fish smelled rather earthy to James.
" Outposts have been cut off, so were going to have to start rationing your Silent Salmon portions" Relen placed the fish on a tray and slid it over the counter.
Xchitzo Cat threw up its paws in retaliation. " You can't be rationing a Cat like that man, I worked hard for my rights."
Relen laughed and didn't pay Xchitzo cat any mind. Xchtizo cat didn't seem to care much either sitting down and eating the piece of Salmon as if he was on a lunch break.
" Man I love that cat" Relen smiled.
Relen raised his hands gesturing to the entirety of the lodge. " Since you chose not to join the Garden, you'll be on your own. I don't particularly care that you live or die but…it would be a waste to those we lost to let you die of ignorance."
His tone seemed to draw especially heavy on the aspect of loss.
James frowned. This probably was his fault…and those people most likely died because of his influence. ' But…What Could I do? Should I apologize? I didn't actually directly kill anyone…but Ive never accidentally killed someone either. Am I a murder? No, I didn't kill anyone. Why did I call myself that?'
James once again was forced to grapple with the fact that this wasn't a fantasy. Lives were lost. Maybe not for his sake, but there was his influence. James held his head down his expression shifting from anxiety to guilt.
Relen sighed. " I'm not saying I blame you. Regardless of your role in the incident it's our jobs to die fighting to protect the ones we love. Not all of us come from Earth. Like I said, many like me, were born here in the Wilds and death is something we become accustomed to but one thing we never do is forsake life. That is the one sin the firekeepers never commit."
James looked up at Relen's polite smile and nodded lightly. Relen turned around and picked up a bowl and filled it with some soup.
" Black peas soup. It's my specialty" Relen slid the bowl to James.
James looked down at the bowl filled with a dark broth and a mixture of ground provisions and meat and smelled the thick and savory aroma of the peas and realized that he was just that hungry.
Without much to say James downed the bowl within a few minutes and got a refill. He noticed that as he ate he felt both satiated but could also feel that a portion of the food was converted to karma with a light drizzle appearing in his karma lake. Relen continued to cook other dishes as James sat there quietly.
He picked up two fingers of a purple fruit with a similar shape to green plantain. He expertly cut it and divided the fruit into portions and placed them in a pot of oil.
ssss…
The light sizzle of the oil in the pot reminded James of home but he quickly brushed off the nostalgia to take in the beauty of everything around him.
Relen glanced over his shoulder as he was dicing some meat and seasoning it. " Don't be fooled by the comfort of the lodge. This is one of the few truly safe places in the Garden. Don't let the ambiance of the streets fool you either, we live in constant fear of a crypid attack. The night is still very dark and scary. "
Relen did not give James a chance to respond and turned behind him and began preparing a dish. He spent some time dicing other ingredients, they all looked like bizzare forms of vegetables and fruits from Earth.
James asked, " Those things, black onions, yellow tomatos, black peas, are they all native crops?"
Relen played with the pan as a mixture of flavors waffed out of the kitchen. " Any food brought here from the outside get tainted by the dirt, I don't know why but that's just what happens. Most people are just glad the food grows. "
Click.. Chop chop chop chop. Click..
" How did you survive the Star fall?" Relen asked as if it was a simple question.
Swosh. Sizzle. Swosh. James hearing was drowned out by the sounds of the pan, he almost though he heard wrong but Relen repeated.
" How did you survive the Star fall?"
James sighed and shrugged. " I'm not sure. The most I remember is waking up in the kilin."
Relen's shoulders relaxed a bit before shaking his head. " Youre one lucky guy"