The time could have easily been confused for late evening as Jak and Jenny climbed out of the Steam Way into the slum alleys. From there, the afternoon sky could only be seen as a small streak above them, roof edges, clotheslines and even pipes obstructing that view.
They were closer to the ground this time and good ways away from where the boxes had so mysteriously come crashing down.
“Think you can get to the orphanage from here without falling asleep?” Jak asked amused as he let her off his back.
“Yes. I’m not five.” Jenny grumbled softly, rolling her eyes. “And don’t forget your promise! Because you will never see me coming!” She declared stubbornly, eyes narrowing as she pointed dramatically at him.
“Never!” And with that last exclamation she flitted down the alleyway and around the corner.
“Heh, we will see.” Jak looked after her, eyes twinkling as his tail swiped playfully through the air.
Turning into the opposite direction, Jak quickly climbed up the side of the nearest building. Once he was high enough atop one of the larger pipes, he ran along it following the same path Jenny had taken to make sure she got home safely.
The Maisen Orphanage was honestly one of the better ones located within the slums even though it was situated in one of the tighter alleyways. What it lacked in front and backyard space it more than made up with its interior. There were five floors, three of which were reserved for the orphans with enough space that quite a few had a whole room for themselves. Only a few of them had actual windows, fewer that even got much light during the day. The top floor, meanwhile, was restricted to the Head Karnel Wobecker and the other caretakers, the stairs to the roof were completely off limits to all orphans while the ground floor held the dining room, kitchen and showers. Toilets were near the stairs on the upper floors.
Jak watched as Jenny scampered into the alley before the honestly unassuming looking entrance door, after looking it up and down she nodded to herself and flitted more confidently inside.
Satisfied, Jak nodded to himself with a smile and turned away. Climbing further up the side of the alley until he reached the roofs of the slums.
Standing atop the roofs of the slums revealed their true appearance as the clefts between Dampfstadt’s segments. From where Jak stood, the surrounding city seemed to be elevated far above the slums. It was the other way around, however. The slums had been built into the indentions acting as the vents for the massive steam engines that worked within the bowels of the city. A mix of natural caverns that stretched through the entire eastern landmass of Abyludia and artificially carved tunnels.
It was like he was looking up from a hole, scattered one of the larger buildings of the slums peaking upwards but never challenging the height of the true city. Even the colour of the slums was dirty, rust and smoke clinging to the stone and iron as it rose upwards with the steam. Regarded as simply beautiful clouds rising upwards from within the main city, here they held an overbearing presence.
Even in its contrast of rich and poor, the sight was still beautiful and awe-inspiring. Dampfstatd. The gem of Ebenerz, built after the end of the Kerzen König’s tyrannical reign. It was one of the most repeated history lessons Jak had to sit through in school. Seriously, they told it basically at the start of every second month.
Giving the view not a second glance, Jak leaped from rooftop to rooftop deeper into the slums. He had some stolen goods burning a hole in his pockets and it was time to see what he could sell them for in the Back Market. Probably not too much, Lebensperlen and Glasslichter weren’t exactly high in demand with people who actually knew their worth. Tourists very much didn’t, that’s why they made so much money in the first place.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Too bad I can’t just open a fake booth…” He sighed, shortening his jump to the next rooftop to catch himself on the pipe leading downwards. With a slick whirl, he pulled himself on top and ground down its slope, at the next bend he leaped down and neatly transitioned into a full run along the alley.
Even the most outer rim of the Central Markets were diligently checked for fake booths, there were just too many rules and regulations for anyone to actually open one and get their risk worth of money. Especially since those that did have an official booth didn’t look kindly on cheats.
The Central Markets were primarily tourist bait anyways, the actual stores and stands that most people visited were the Back Markets scattered around various parts of the city. The largest one, rivalling the Central Markets, was located within the Coast Sector of Dampfstadt.
Turning from a run into a smooth jog, Jak slowly began to enter the eastern Vent Slums’ Back Market. A soft, orange light illuminated the area as the already weak sunlight was entirely replaced by Amber Lamps. And the animated sound of business, haggling and chatting began to fill the air.
———
“Well, let’s see here…” Graam mused thoughtfully, gingerly picking up the Lebensperle to inspect it with his jeweller glasses. This delicate procedure was completely at odds with the shark’s massive build and the completely obvious low quality of the uneven glass pearl in the first place.
“Oh, come on. Do we have to do this spiel…? We both know they’re barely worth a Flicker.” Jak groaned from the side, sitting at the side of the counter and tapping impatiently against the hard, splintery wood.
The small shop they were in was illuminated by a pair of Amber lights. The noise of the market outside was muffled surprisingly well by the thick, rust red cloth that covered the entrance.
Graam snorted and gave him a reproving look over his glasses.
“You got much to learn if you still think so.” He declared, turning back to the pearl with exaggerated fascination. “Always make your ware look worth more than it is! If you’re confident enough you can fool even an expert.” At his words, the pearl gleamed beautiful within the light of the Amber lamps.
“Speaking from experience?” Jak grinned, eyes gleaming mischievously.
“Bah! My words are lost on you…” Graam grumbled, putting down his glasses to give them a quick cleaning.
“Yeah, yeah…” Jak rolled his eyes with a smile. “But come on, if anyone would fool anyone here it would be you. Now, are you going to make those worthless glass baubles look like royal gems or just give me the money?”
“So impatient…” Graam sighed and looked up towards the ceiling in exaggerated rue. “Is haggling truly lost to the youth…?” He then chuckled and shook his head. “Anyways, if you want money then you should sell me those sweets you got.” With a smirk he pointed towards Jak’s bugling pockets that threatened to pop with all they contained.
“Hm… I don’t know… they’re pretty luxurious goods. Do you even have enough Stones for them?” Jak replied, eyes sparkling with a wide grin as his lips curled in wonder.
“Oh, don’t start now…” Graam deadpanned, giving him an unimpressed stare.
The massive shark had more words waiting on his tongue but they were swallowed as the small, unassuming watch on his wrist suddenly sparked with alarming blue cracks and a loud hiss.
“Agh, verdammte hundert heulende Höllenhunde! What is it now?!” Graam cursed with an angry hiss, reflexively giving his right wrist a powerful shake before slamming a fist loudly onto the table. Jak’s eyes went wide.
“Damnit, got something to check on…” Graam then sighed, the shock quickly flowing off of him. “You want the cash quick? I give you a Shard for all your pearls. I will make it five with the sweets.”
“Three Shards. Six and I give you half of them.” Jak immediately jumped the shark.
“… kleiner Mistkerl.” Graam muttered under his breath. “Fine, Five Shards. Seems like you do you know how to barter.”
“Heh, I just know when to barter.” Jak grinned back and handed over the pearls and half his sweets. The less desirable ones to be exact. Rolling his eyes, Graam easily handed over the five shards.
“Shops closed! Now scram.” The shark declared as he vanished into the back and the wolf cat hurried out of the store. A second later a metal grate slammed shut behind him, sealing the entrance to ‘Hammerhead and Wern’.
“Hehe, this went great!” Jak grinned wide, bouncing the five Shards in his hands before catching them out of the air and pocketing them safely in the hidden pouch of his jacket. Satisfied he wandered through the Back Market, making his way home.
Meanwhile, Graam had a bright smile of his own as he delighted in the black liquorice. And those pearls would definitely catch nice price once his Central Dealer hawked them off. Heh, Jak still had a lot to learn but he was going the right direction.
“Now, let’s see what the fuzz is all about…” Graam grumbled, eyes narrowing as he glared at the still lightly sparking watch.