Chapter 8: The First Steps
Evangeline stood by the door, her hand resting on the ornate brass handle. "Before we step out, Mr. Walker, a few final words of caution."
Logan nodded, adjusting the collar of his new coat. The fabric seemed to shift and settle, molding itself to his body. "I'm all ears."
"First and foremost, if anyone asks, you're from the Verdant Loop. It's vast enough that no one will question why they haven't seen you before."
"Got it. Verdant Loop native, born and raised," Logan quipped, earning a small smile from Evangeline.
"Second, keep an eye on your pockets. Some of our more... enterprising neighbors have hands that can slip through time itself."
Roscoe sniffed indignantly. "How barbaric. I shall keep a keen eye out for any such nefarious activities."
Evangeline's expression turned serious. "And finally, if you encounter the Dimensional Integrity Division, say as little as possible. They're... intense about maintaining the borders of Kronos."
Logan's brow furrowed. "The Dimensional Integrity Division?"
Evangeline waved her hand dismissively. "Questions for safer locations, Mr. Walker. For now, let's focus on getting you acquainted with your new home."
With that, she turned the handle, and the cacophony of Kronos spilled into the shop. Logan took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever lay beyond the threshold.
The street outside assaulted his senses. Gears of all sizes whirred and clicked. Steam hissed from ornate vents, forming shapes that seemed almost alive before dissipating into the air.
Logan stumbled, his new boots suddenly feeling alien on his feet. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, arms windmilling as he fought for balance.
Evangeline caught his elbow, steadying him with surprising strength. "Easy there. The streets take some getting used to. Try to feel the rhythm of the city. Your boots will adjust accordingly."
Roscoe, to Logan's annoyance, seemed to have no trouble at all. The terrier pranced along, his bow tie glinting in the strange light. "I say, this is rather exhilarating! It's like a waltz, but with the constant threat of falling on one's face."
Logan grumbled, focusing on his feet. Gradually, he began to sense a pattern in the movement. His boots seemed to anticipate each shift, guiding his steps. Before long, he was navigating the street with something approaching confidence.
"There you go," Evangeline said approvingly. "You're getting the hang of it. Now, let's see about those errands."
As they made their way through the Clockwork District, Logan's head swiveled constantly, trying to take in all the impossible sights. Street vendors hawked wares that defied description - bottled emotions, crystallized memories, and what looked suspiciously like miniature universes in snow globes. Vehicles that were part machine, part organism weaved through the crowds, their gears and pistons working in harmony with pulsing, organic components.
"So, uh, where are we headed first?" Logan asked, sidestepping a sentient mailbox that was scuttling down the street on spindly metal legs.
Evangeline pointed to a shop ahead, its façade constantly rearranging itself like a living puzzle. "Zephyr's Odds and Ends. We need to stock up on supplies for the shop, and it's a good place for you to start getting acquainted with Kronos commerce."
As they approached, the door of the shop morphed into an archway, welcoming them inside. Logan's senses were immediately overwhelmed. The interior seemed to stretch far beyond what the outside dimensions should allow, shelves spiraling up into darkness. Objects of every conceivable (and some inconceivable) shape and size filled the space, many of them hovering or moving of their own accord.
"Ah, Evangeline!" A voice boomed from somewhere above. A moment later, a man came sliding down a ladder that seemed to bend in ways ladders shouldn't. He was tall and thin, with hair that flickered between colors like a faulty neon sign. "What can I get for you today?"
Evangeline smiled warmly. "Just the usual, Zephyr. And perhaps a starter pack for my new assistant here."
Zephyr's eyes lit up as he turned to Logan. "Ooh, a greenhorn! How delightful. Let me see what I have in the back."
As Zephyr disappeared into the depths of the shop, Logan leaned closer to Evangeline. "What exactly is a starter pack?"
"Oh, just some basics. A pocket abacus, a tuning fork, that sort of thing. You'll need them for work in my shop."
Logan nodded, pretending he understood. He was beginning to realize that in Kronos, sometimes it was better not to ask for clarification.
Zephyr returned, his arms full of objects that seemed to be actively trying to escape his grasp. "Here we are! One standard kit for temporal newbies. That'll be... oh, let's say three hours and twenty-seven minutes."
Logan blinked in confusion, but Evangeline simply nodded, reaching into her pocket and pulling out what looked like a small hourglass. She gave it a twist, and some of the sand inside vanished.
"Transaction complete!" Zephyr announced cheerfully. "Do come again, and remember our motto: 'If we don't have it, it probably doesn't exist. And if it doesn't exist, we can probably get it anyway!'"
As they left the shop, Logan's arms full of his new "essentials," he turned to Evangeline. "Did you just... pay with time?"
She nodded, an amused smile playing on her lips. "Tick-credits, remember? In Kronos, time truly is money. You'll get used to it."
They continued down the street, Evangeline pointing out landmarks and offering tidbits of advice. "That's the Courthouse," she said, indicating a building that seemed rusty and choked in cycles. "Best to avoid it if you can. Their sentences tend to be rather... literal."
Logan was about to ask what she meant when a commotion up ahead caught his attention. A crowd had gathered in a small square, oohing and aahing at something he couldn't quite see.
"What's going on over there?" he asked, craning his neck.
Evangeline followed his gaze. "Ah, that'll be Madame Kairos. She's quite the attraction. Shall we take a closer look?"
They edged closer, and Logan's jaw dropped. In the center of the crowd stood a woman who seemed to be in constant motion, even when standing still. Her hands wove intricate patterns in the air, leaving trails of light that coalesced into shapes and scenes.
As Logan watched, a miniature cityscape materialized above the crowd. Tiny figures moved through the streets, living out microscopic lives. Then, with a flick of Madame Kairos's wrist, the city folded in on itself, transforming into a flock of glowing butterflies that dispersed among the delighted onlookers.
"How is she doing that?" Logan whispered, awe-struck.
"She's a Dreamer," Evangeline explained. "They have a knack for bringing imagination to life, in a manner of speaking."
Logan watched, transfixed, as Madame Kairos continued her performance. For the first time since arriving, he felt a spark of excitement about the possibilities here.
As the crowd began to disperse, Evangeline gently tugged on Logan's sleeve. "Come along. We've got more to see, and I think it's about time for lunch. I know just the place."
They made their way through winding streets that seemed to rearrange themselves when Logan wasn't looking directly at them. Finally, they arrived at a quaint little cafe tucked between a shop selling bottled dreams and a store advertising "Pre-owned Destinies - Gently Used!"
"Welcome to the Temporal Treats Cafe," Evangeline announced. "Best Swirl Specials in the district."
As they settled at a table on the cafe's terrace, Logan found his attention drawn to the conversations around them. At one table, a group of what looked like sentient chess pieces were debating the finer points of non-linear strategy. At another, a woman with covered eyes was complaining about her "pre-cog headaches."
A waiter approached, his uniform shifting colors with each step. "What can I get for you today?"
Evangeline smiled. "Three Swirl Specials, please. Easy on the temporal displacement for my friends here."
As they waited for their order, Logan's gaze wandered, taking in the bizarre sights of Kronos. He was so engrossed that he almost didn't notice when a familiar face appeared by their table.
"Miss Evangeline!" a young woman exclaimed, her voice musical and slightly echoing. "And you, sir, from yesterday! What a lovely surprise!"
Logan blinked, recognizing the girl they had helped in the Clockwork District. "Oh, hey! Glad to see you're okay after that, uh, incident with the ..uh …Watch."
The girl laughed, the sound tinkling through the air. "Oh, that was nothing. Just another day here, really. I can't thank you enough for your help, though. Are you out for a spin around the district?"
"Something like that," Evangeline replied. "I'm showing Logan and Roscoe around. They'll be staying with me for a while, helping out in the shop."
"Oh, how wonderful!" The girl clapped her hands together, causing the cups on her tray to rattle. "You'll love it at Miss Evangeline's. There's never a dull tick in that shop."
Logan nodded, still trying to wrap his head around the concept of exciting moments in a bookshop. "So, uh, you work here now?" he asked, gesturing to the girl's apron.
"Oh, just part-time," she said with a wave of her hand. "I'm apprenticing with my father most days. He's a Smith, you know. Works at the Sanctum."
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Logan noticed Evangeline's eyebrow raise slightly at the mention of the Sanctum, but before he could ponder it, a voice called out from the cafe.
"Table seven's order is trying to escape again!"
The girl's eyes widened. "Oh dear, I'd better go. It was lovely seeing you all! Do come by again soon!" With that, she hurried off, her tray of cups now engaged in what sounded like a heated debate.
"Well," Evangeline said, breaking a moment of silence, "shall we see about those Swirl Specials? I promise you, they're an experience you won't forget."
Logan turned back to the table, ready to face whatever was in store for him next. Their meal turned out to be surprisingly normal, despite the cafe's eccentricities. The Swirl Specials were a delightful blend of flavors that seemed to dance on Logan's tongue, each bite subtly different from the last. Roscoe, for his part, seemed more interested in the tiny, intricate gears that decorated the plate than the food itself. “ Bloody things are spinning, but I can’t get them in my mouth!”
Evangeline glanced at a pocket watch that seemed to have too many hands. "We'd best be moving along. There's still much to see, and time has a habit of getting away from me.”
They left the cafe, stepping back into the bustling streets. Logan only stumbled occasionally when a particularly enthusiastic gear decided to do a little dance beneath his feet, or a cobblestone decided to vanish.
"Where to next?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Evangeline pointed down a side street that seemed well worn. “The Gear Gardens. We need to pick up a few specimens for the shop."
As they turned the corner, Logan was nearly assaulted by mechanical flora. Trees with leaves of thin, flexible metal swayed in a non-existent breeze. Bushes of intertwined wires sprouted flowers that changed color in a mesmerizing dance. He ducked quickly underneath what appeared to be a vine of cable.
"Welcome to the Gear Gardens," Evangeline said, a note of fondness in her voice. "One of my favorite spots in all of Kronos."
Logan wandered down the paths, marveling at the impossible plants. There were roses made of interlocking gears, their petals slowly rotating. Copper wire crept along the ground, occasionally sparking with tiny arcs of electricity. He glanced over at Evangeline, suddenly grateful for the boots.
As Evangeline busied herself selecting plants for her shop, Logan found himself drawn to a patch of what looked like grass, but on closer inspection turned out to be thousands of tiny, swaying pendulums.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" a voice said behind him, making him jump. An elderly woman with goggles perched on her forehead smiled at him. "First time in the Gardens?"
Logan nodded. “ I'm from the loop. The plants there are more….planty.” the woman laughed. “ah yes. But could you fix your broken chronometer with them??” Logan's eyes widen is he realized the purpose of the mechanical flora.
"Ah, I remember my first visit," the woman said, a faraway look in her eyes. "There's always something new to discover here. The gardens are never quite the same twice."
As if to prove her point, a nearby shrub suddenly sprouted a series of tiny cogs, which began to turn in a complex pattern.
"I'm Gardener Thyme," the woman introduced herself, extending a hand covered in what looked like a fine layer of brass filings.
Logan shook her hand, managing a smile. "Logan. Nice to meet you."
Gardener Thyme was in the middle of explaining the finer points of pruning gear-roses when Evangeline returned, her arms full of various mechanical plants.
"Ah, I see you've met our resident expert," Evangeline said warmly. "Gardener Thyme's knowledge of chrono-botany is unparalleled."
Thyme waved off the compliment with a chuckle. "Oh, stop. I just talk to the plants. They do all the real work."
As they bid farewell to the gardener and made their way out of the Gear Gardens, Logan felt a sense of peace he hadn't experienced since arriving in Kronos. Something about the rhythmic ticking and whirring of the mechanical plants had soothed his frayed nerves.
"Feeling a bit more comfortable?" Evangeline asked, a knowing smile on her face.
Logan considered for a moment. "You know, I think I might be. This place is still completely insane, but... I'm starting to see the beauty in the madness."
As they headed back toward her shop, Evangeline nodded approvingly. "That's the first step, Mr. Walker. Kronos has a way of growing on you, if you let it."
The sun was beginning to set in a kaleidoscope of colors as they made their way through the winding streets. Logan found himself looking forward to what the next day might bring. This place was strange, dangerous, and utterly bewildering, but it was also full of wonders he'd never dreamed possible.
As they neared Evangeline's shop, Logan's attention was drawn to a commotion down a side street. A group of figures in dark, form-fitting suits were pursuing what appeared to be a humanoid figure made entirely of clockwork parts.
"Stop in the name of Lord Tempus!" one of the pursuers shouted, their voice distorted by a strange, echoing effect.
The clockwork figure darted down an alleyway, its movements jerky but surprisingly swift. The pursuers followed, their suits seeming to ripple and shift as they moved, blending into the shadows.
"What was that all about? Tempus? " Logan asked, turning to Evangeline with a puzzled expression.
Evangeline's face was unreadable, but Logan thought he detected a flicker of concern in her eyes. "A Timekeeper Noble, important in the imperium. Probably just a routine check by the DiD. Nothing to worry about."
Logan wasn't entirely convinced, but he decided not to press the issue. He had a feeling there were many things about Kronos that Evangeline wasn't telling him, and he wasn't sure he was ready to know all the city's secrets just yet.
As they entered the shop, the familiar scent of old books and something Logan couldn't quite identify – perhaps the metallic tang of a freshly wound clock - filled his nostrils.
Roscoe, who had been uncharacteristically quiet during their walk back, suddenly piped up. “I say, Evangeline, do you think I might be able to accompany you on your next errand? I’m quite curious about these ‘Swirl Specials’ and would love to see more of the city.”
Evangeline chuckled, setting down her armful of mechanical plants on a nearby workbench. “Of course, Roscoe. I’m sure Logan could use a break from your constant commentary anyway.”
Logan shot her a grateful look. As much as he’d grown fond of the little dog, Roscoe’s endless stream of observations and questions could be a bit exhausting.
“Excellent!” Roscoe said, his tail wagging excitedly. “I shall endeavor to be a most attentive and insightful companion.”
As Evangeline and Roscoe made their plans for the next day’s outing, Logan found himself wandering through the shop, running his fingers along the spines of ancient books and marveling at the intricate devices that whirred and clicked on every surface.
He paused In front of a large, ornate mirror, its frame a twisted. For a moment, he hardly recognized the man staring back at him. The Logan Walker who had left Charleston just a few days ago had been a lost soul, scared. The Logan Walker in the mirror looked… well, not exactly confident, but certainly more at ease in his own skin. He examined his brown eyes and beard, realizing he needed a shave.
As he studied his reflection, Logan couldn’t help but wonder what other changes Kronos had in store for him. He had a feeling that his journey in this impossible city was only just beginning.
Evening settled over the Clockwork District, the soft ticking and whirring of the city’s mechanical heart slowing to a gentle lullaby. In the workshop above Evangeline’s Emporium of Echoes, Logan sat at a workbench, carefully studying the array of tools and components Evangeline had laid out for him.
“The key to being a successful ,” Evangeline said, her voice soft but stern, “is to understand that every piece, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, has a purpose. There are no useless parts."
Logan nodded, picking up a tiny gear and holding it up to the light. It gleamed with a faint, pulsing energy, as if it were alive.
“What do you feel?” Evangeline asked, watching him closely.
Logan closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of the gear in his hand. At first, there was nothing. Then, gradually, he became aware of a faint vibration, a subtle warmth that seemed to emanate from the heart of the metal.
“It’s… it’s like it’s breathing,” he said, opening his eyes and looking at Evangeline with a mix of wonder and confusion.
She smiled, a rare, genuine smile that lit up her usually stoic face. “Very good. You’re starting to sense the life in the machine. That’s the first step, Mr. Walker.”
As the night wore on, Logan lost himself in the intricacies of tinkering. Under Evangeline’s guidance, he learned to listen to the gears, to feel the pulse of the springs and coils. It was unlike anything he’d ever experienced, Requiring precision and intuition that left him both exhausted and satisfied.
Finally, as dawn began to coat the sky in shades of copper and brass, Evang
eline called a halt to their work.
“You’ve done well, Logan,” she said, a note of approval in her voice. “But even the most dedicated apprentice needs rest. The city will still be here in the morning.”