"What's your name?" Eryndor asked
"It's Riven," he said as they continued walking inside the gates, "and yours?
"It's Eryndor."
. Hey, you two! A guard shouted, raising his weapon. Line up for inspection, you rats! The men who are defending the gates point their weapons at them. The loud noise of the gate gears twisting and turning can be heard through the directions given by the soldier.
In the airlock the both of you! Now you damn rats! Eryndor and Riven both lift their hands in the air, entering the airlock.
These guys are just cowards, Riven says while shaking his head. I mean, how the look on their faces says it all. The steam hisses in the airlock, its cold sensation filling the room..
After a few moments, they both walk out of the airlock. Here's your filthy clothes, you rats! Tossing them a bag, the man sneers at them before walking back to his station.
"I hope you die a horrible death," Riven mutters under his breath. He looks up. Welcome back to the smolder, the great city of machines! Riven says sarcastically while beginning to head down the busy street.
"Hey, wait! Eryndor shouted, chasing after Riven. Just how did you know that the forgelings were humans? How long? Why didn't you tell anyone? Tell me!
Riven continues to walk, not bothering to answer Eryndor's questions.
"Hey, answer me, Riven, how do you know?"
Riven notices Eryndor's annoyed expression. "I'll tell you in a more secluded spot. Just remain calm, will you? Oh, by the way, how many of those cores did you snag?
"Only one core," Eryndor says, annoyed. "Good enough, we'll be able to pay for our new respirators that way," Riven says in a leveled voice
"Both of us? I found this all myself." Eryndor shouts, "Yeah, but I saved your life, it's only fair I get a cut of the deal, right?" Riven says while the two continue walking forward
"I guess you're right, but anyway, what happened to your squad that you were supposed to come back with?"
Riven looks to the towering smokestacks outside the walls. He stops at a stand, the gray smoke slowly rising and twisting in the breeze of the cold outside world. "They're dead," his eyes narrowed, "so that's why I need that core. I don't want their efforts to be in vain. Riven purchases a small cloth bracelet from the stand while explaining to Eryndor.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear-"
"Don't be, I barely knew them anyway. Soon enough will join them; apparently were just expandable to those fucking nobles who sit on their high horses.
He spat to the side, looking up towards the noble region.
"All they do is sip tea and throw parties like theirs no problems on the ground." Riven walks into a dark alley, sitting on a barrel, he unslings his weapon to wipe down the blight from the Forgeling. "So, now that you know the forgelings are humans, what will you do?"
"I-i don't know… all my life I was told that the Forgeling were just metal monsters created from the wasteland. It's like my whole life was a lie, I mean, how could that be possible? The Forgelings, once being human? We should spread the word of this!
"Yeah, no, if even a word comes out about you thinking that the forgelings are human, then you're as good as dead," Riven remarks as he slings his weapon around his shoulders, standing up.
"However, I'm not the only scavenger that knows about the secrets of Forgeling. There's a group that knows way more than I do. They're mostly made up of other scavengers who want to change the state of the smolder.
"How come I never heard of them?" Eryndor says in a surprised manner
"They mostly keep their business low; most scavengers don't know about them, so don't feel worried about it," Riven says, giving a good pat on Eryndor's back
"Ow! That hurts"
"If that hurts, then you're hopeless, you know. Come on, let's get something to eat. I'm getting hungry after all that running. Besides, I know a good spot just around the corner."
They both exit the alleyway, the bustling engines of trains passing by, and the steam of the factories fills the air, and the chatter of people fills the streets.
"O-uh okay."
The two walk a little further, hearing the factories and occasional steam in the distance. Eventually, they come across a crowd of people watching a person who is in a dilemma with some guards.
"I didn't steal it! I swear!" The young man pleaded.
"Yeah, then what's this doing on you then?" The guard reaches out for the man's pocket, pulling out what seems to be jewelry.
A lowlife with jewelry is hardly believable; such a crime can be punishable by death, you know! The guard smirks, hitting the man with the stock of his gun.
The man falls to the floor, spitting out blood, "I'm tired of all you troublesome rats." The guard yells before hitting the man again and again.
"I-i-didn't steal it," The man barely musters out, looking as if he is on the brink of death.
People in the crowd begin to avert their eyes, some mutter under their breath, and others walk away, covering their ears, not daring to look back.
Eryndor looks in fear and a slight bit of determination.
Dammit, I can't just stand here and watch him get beaten up like this. But-but what can I do? I have to do something… anything. Maybe Riven has a plan!
Eryndor looks over to Riven, who is shaking his head.
"Come on, we can't do anything for him," Riven says, walking away from the scene
The man screams in pain as he gets beaten to a pulp on the street. Eventually falling silent in the mix of the engines and whistles that roar through the city.
"We could've helped him!" Eryndor says while catching up to Riven.
"And do what exactly? Kill the guards? Besides, did you see your face back there? You we're surrounded in total fear!
"If we had done something, then we would have been hunted down and killed just like that man. Get that threw your thick skull."
" If not, it must've been a miracle you lasted this long out here."
Eventually, they both make it to the restaurant, entering the shop. Eryndor stops and looks at the shop's environment, pipes following through the ceiling, gears on the wall, and a kitchen space in the back where steam rises.
"Welcome to my go-to spot, Eryndor," Riven says in a sarcastic way
"You're a cruel person, you know," Eryndor says sharply
"Don't be like that. Besides, as you know, if we tried something for that guy, we'd end up in the same situation as him," Riven exclaimed again as he took a seat at a table. "You know, it pains me just as much as it does for you to see one of our own be treated like that."
"I suppose you're right, but that doesn't mean he had to be treated like trash because of his actions, dammit," Eryndor says in annoyance and anger
"You're right, but what can we do about it? The strong oppress the weak in this world." Riven says while putting his sling to the ground and asking for the usual.
Eryndor stays standing, looking at Riven, "Well then, we'll change that. I'll change this damning life for the sake of humanity."
The pipes hiss, gears turning, and the clanking of metal fills the atmosphere.
"That's a cute dream, you should keep it close, you know," Riven remarks as he puts his legs on the table.
Eryndor sits at the table now, "I swear on the great glyphs I will." He remarks that his voice hints of anger and determination.
The waiter comes to the table with Riven's food,
Riven begins to chow down on the bowl of what looks like mixed meats and vegetables.
"You get way too distracted easily," Eryndor looks around again before looking back to Riven stuffing his face.
Eryndor leans in close, "But back to that group you mentioned," he says in a low voice
Riven places the bowl down from his face, looking at Eryndor, "Like I said, they're a group of scavengers who want to rebel against the ways of Smolder. That's all I know."
Riven picks up the bowl once again, finishing his meal. Eryndor leans back into his chair, disappointed.
A pair of guards enters the establishment, their steam-powered guns slung around their shoulders
Riven sets his bowl down, looking at the men briefly. This just screams bad news. What could the shinori guards possibly want in a place like this?
Riven looks to Eryndor, who looks back at him.