Emerging from the Elevator, I pause, as a sight unlike any I have seen greets me.
Everywhere, there are People! Hundreds of them, all milling about in a massive Gallery that is so... different than anything like the Core! It is so large that I could fly freely in here, without a worry of hurting myself.
This must be a marketplace; I can see booths along the walls, where people form lines to attain the wares they sell. I recall seeing such when Lord Aliester first spoke to me, and showed me some of the universe.
A hundred different odors come to my nose, making my water a little. Food; things that I've never sensed before, yet I know that they are to be eaten. For a moment, I ponder whether or not I should seek something here to eat, or perhaps bring back something for Lord Aliester. Then I notice that people near me have stopped moving, and begun to stare at me.
"Rei," I say, looking at the people, dressed like that odd man before at whom Caesar laughed. "Have I done something wrong?"
"You're wearing clothes covered in dried blood, Enlil," Rei says. "People are going to think that you were the one who shed it. And given how much there is on those robes of yours, most people are gonna think the person who it came from died."
"What?" I say, "But I didn't... Why would they...?" But, how are they to know I did not. I would never do such a thing... but they cannot be expected to know. If they are unaware of Lord Aliester, then how are they to know of me?
"Don't worry, folks," Rei announces to the people, making a dismissing wave with one hand. "She just got out of the Medical Bay, some important to her was hurt, she helped carry him, and we were going to get her some new clothes."
The people mutter among themselves and begin to disperse, but I can only hear a few scattered words. "Another one of her crazy friends,"; "I shouldn't be surprised by this anymore,"; "I wonder if I'll get in the paper this time?" I don't really understand what they are talking about.
“This way,†Rei says, walking away before I can ask her anything. I have to hurry to catch up with her. We walk along side the wall, which quickly gives away to a number of alcoves, each containing a shop of some kind.
“Welcome to the RecDeck,†Rei says. It is a little difficult to hear her over all the voices. “This is where everyone who works for MacinTech come to relax. Here you can get all kinds of food, shop, talk with friends, or try out some of our latest virtual reality simulations.â€
“What are virtual reality simulations?†I ask. I believe I understand what she is saying; people come here to enjoy themselves. But that word, I don’t understand it.
“Well, um…†Rei says, scratching the back of her head. “Did you see any of the illusions that Aliester made?†I nod, and she continues, “Virtual Reality is essentially like that, but we use technology to do it, rather than Magic like he did.â€
“I didn’t know that a machine could do something like that,†I say. It is… curious to think about. But, in a way, I suppose it makes sense. Illusion is just the manipulation of light or sound to make an effect. If one knows enough about how magic does it, then I suppose that it is possible to make a machine that can do it as well.
“I’ll show you one, sometime,†Rei says with a smile. “You would be surprised how lifelike it is.†Se looks over toward the shop fronts, and says, “Here we are.â€
She walks in, and I follow. The store seems to deal in clothing, but it is not quite like the clothing that everyone I have seen in this place wears. Rather than grayish garments that look more or less identical, here there are brightly colored robes covered with insignias of cherry blossoms, stylized dragons, and other things.
A small woman with straight black hair stands behind a counter, wearing one of the garments that she seems to be selling. Her eyes widen as she looks at me, but I know now it is because of blood that stains my own robes. “Don’t worry about that,†Rei says, nodding to the woman, “She didn’t do anything, but she needs new clothes.â€
"Alright," the woman says, Sighing. She walks toward me, and asks, "What size are you, Miss?"
"Size?" I asks. Lord Aliester never made it a point to tell me how tall I am.
"She doesn't know," Rei tells the woman, before I can say more, "That's custom work she has, from a guardian. Just measure her and put it on the record."
"Yes, Miss Kinezono," Replies the woman, as she takes a strip of what looks like a pliable form of plastic from her pocket and unrolls it. Looking up and me, the woman says, "Raise your arms, please. And, umm... move your wings back if you could. I've not worked with any winged demihumans before, so I'll have to alter something on the spot."
"I'm not a demihuman," I tell the woman, "I am an angel, created by Lord Aliester."
"Wha-?" the shopkeeper says, looking up at me again.
"Just accept what she says," says Rei in a tired-sounding voice, "I don't want to explain right now, and we don't really have time for it, anyways."
"It's really quite alright," I point out, as the shopkeeper kneels down and holds the plastic against my shoulder. "I would be happy to explain."
"Wait until we see what Aliester has to say, alright?" Rei prompts. "I'm not sure what he's going to do yet, or what he wants to do."
"That makes sense, I suppose," is my answer. I have to shift for the shopkeeper, as she places the strip on my leg. I notice that the length of plastic is marked by a variety of lines and numbers; I think that it is a measuring device.
The next few moments are rather quiet. Rei says nothing, and just watches. Aside from the occasion request to move a certain way, or shift and spread my wings, I just stand and wait. I look outside as I wait, and watch the people there.
There are some many of them, milling around out there. I wonder who they are? They talk and eat; some seem to be shopping at the stores. But, who are they? What to they think, what do they feel?
“I’ll have to alter something for you, Miss,†says the shopkeeper, as she stands and takes a step back. “It will take me a few moments. But we do have something in stock that should fit you very well.â€
“Alright,†I tell her, “I’ll wait here with Rei.â€
The woman goes through a door past the counter, and I walk over and, spreading my wings a little so they don’t get in the way, sit beside Rei. She doesn’t seem to notice; instead she stares at the floor. “Are you alright?†I ask softly.
“Huh?†She looks over at me, then sighs a bit. “I’m just thinking about something.â€
“What is it?†I ask. What consumes her thoughts? Perhaps I can help her, after Rei has done so for me.
The red-haired woman sighs again, and says, “Mellewyn came.â€
Oh no… “What happened?†I ask.
“He wanted to kill Aliester, while Aliester was down.†Explains Rei. “I knew I couldn’t stop him, not after he broke the Seal that Aliester placed on his powers.â€
“But Lord Aliester still lives,†I answer.
“Well, I told him that he owed us,†Rei explains. “We helped him stop Aliester; without us, he would have been defeated. So, he owed us a debt of honor, and that I intended to collect. My sister had worked with his people, the Dark Sidhe, you see, and she said that honor was more important than anything to them.â€
The Dark Sidhe… Lord Aliester had lived among them. He has told me much of that He had learned about them. They are a hateful people, convinced that the universe belongs to them. And immortal people, they shun and look down on the mortal races. Their own society, He said, was a model of utopia, built upon honor and fellowship. If they are Mellewyn’s people, and given the power and the hatred I felt from him, he must be their leader. Or, possibly, he is their deity.
“What happened?†I prompt.
“I’m not sure,†Rei answers. “He placed his hand on Aliester’s head. Then, he summoned that sword again, and placed both their hands on the blade. They were both cut, and he drew the sword away and held Aliester’s hand to his own. After that, Mellewyn said ‘Five years’, then vanished.â€
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