Leora let out a frustrated groan and leaned backwards in her seat, massaging her temples. She had been familiarising herself with the case since the last and things didn’t look all that great. First up, while she had been promoted to Leading General, the actual number of Guards that were under her command meant she was just an Officer with a fancier title.
The City Guard was simply too entrenched with the current preparations for the Lebensfest. At least she could coordinate directly with the Commander but with this type of job that was just a formality.
“I even have to do research myself.” She sighed, hand ruffling through feathery hair. The CG’s Think Tank was just as much wrapped up in the festival.
Leora had to pick through the data she had been given on her own before she could start giving requests to the TT. And sadly because of clearance levels, she couldn’t even call in any of her coworkers for help.
“I’m starting to think the Central Commander just wanted to pawn this off to somebody and wash his hands off of this…” She grumbled lightly in annoyance, eyes flitting over the information of the Scarlet Bandits again.
A pair of red furred canines, assumed to be twin sisters, who had been sighted 8 years ago for the first time. Their prominent signature was the fact that they were proceeding with their thievery entirely in the nude. Apparently they were also quite famous among adolescents.
“Figures.” Leora sighed and rolled her eyes.
Three years ago they first appeared in Dampfstadt, the city becoming their primary hunting place since then. Mostly just small break-ins and burglary, nothing that put them high on the priority list of the City Guard. That had changed about a month ago when they suddenly started looting highly classified locations of the city’s Amber and Steam Research Ward, Central Division.
“Haa… let’s see and go over this again…” She let out a heavy sigh of exhaustion, clicking a pen and then grabbed her Pad to go over her notes again.
Maybe she should ask Resources for some of those conspiracy cork boards? An amused giggle escaped her. Yeah, that’s just what she needed right now. A bit of humour to ease the workload.
———
In wholly different part of the city, the Coast Sector of Dampfstadt, a rather confusing scene was taking place in a side alley of the largest Back Market rivalling even the Central Market.
“Was that real?!” “No way, that had to be a prank.” “Hey! Don’t just go jumping around like that!” “Woah, she’s so cool…!” “We gotta call the City Guards!”
The reason for all the commotion was a young bunny cat whose long and fluffy tail flitted after her like an animated weasel or ferret. Her eyes were wide with excitement as she gazed around this utterly foreign place, the confusion she had felt to start was quickly replaced by burning curiosity.
“Everybody sounds funny, too…” Myra mused to herself with a small giggle.
“Funny or not, get off of my stand!” A lanky chameleon guy squawked indignant up at her, shaking his fist.
“Hehe, sorry~!” Myra waved with a sheepish grin and promptly leaped towards the closest roof. It was far too distant for her to actually reach it, even with her rather impressive jumping capabilities, but as she achieved the apex of her jump her hand shot forwards.
The soft, orange glow of energising Amber rippled across the gear covering her arm like a glove which flowed up her forearm to around halfway of her upper arm. There it became covered beneath the sleeves of her jacket that she wore over her purple bodysuit. A small tube was fitted near the end of the gear glove and vanished into the back of her jacket. Like a pulse the Amber glow flitted through the tube.
The flash of Amber occurred for maybe less than a second and then a grappling hook shot outwards from her invention. It grabbed onto the roof and smoothly pulled her forwards at high speeds. Loosening its grip as she had nearly reached the top of the roof the hook pulled away and zoomed back into her glove.
The conspicuous glow of Amber pulsed at her soles as well, two rings shimmering for a second, and her hard landing was softened by a gradual counter force.
Myra didn’t give her success even a second glance, she had already fawned over her babies back when she had tested them successfully for the nth and final time, and continued to race over the roofs of the Costal Sector. Her eyes were drawn to a taller than average building standing out against all the others, a small clocktower. It was the same she had noticed when she had first leaped onto the roofs to look around! She had finally found it again! Time to get a better look at this city from further above!
A wide grin spread over her lips and she leaped across the roofs at high speeds, the glow within her soles now acting as boosts. Confused and startled calls echoing below her as the visitors of the open back market saw her jumping over them.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Soon enough she had reached the small tower and her grappling hook shot upwards, grabbing hold of a windowsill to pull her rapidly along. She used the pull of the hook to shoot past the window and further up, already the hook was back in her glove and with a quick whirl around thanks to her tail she was able to again aim it towards the top of the tower.
Gracefully Myra landed on the peak of the tower as the hook flitted back into her glove and turned around. A gentle breeze blew past her that made her ears and hair, bound into a provisional ponytail, flutter within it. Standing tall, she stood against the backdrop of Central Dampfstadt. Her gaze wandered across the city’s coast.
The city sloped down towards the dark blue ocean whose the waves glittered beneath the warm sun. A variety of seabirds floated above both sea and city using the strong ocean winds. The buildings became scattered and rundown the closer they got to the ocean, built more to withstand the tides than for beauty or comfort. Fishing boats and numerous, high-built docks laid scattered along the coast. Everything became a bit brighter and better maintained as her eyes traveled from her right to her left, from east to west.
And then Myra turned around and gazed in awe at the massive city skyline that was Dampfstadt. There was no wall, but as the buildings moved closer and closer together they rose higher and higher. Until at first glance it appeared as if it was single, massive wall that obstructed her view, one made out of streets and buildings. And beyond that wall, at the very centre of the city, towered the massive pillar that was the Dampf Tower, visible from any Sector of the gargantuan metropolis. Thick streams of steam billowed from everywhere within the city.
“Woah…” Myra breathed with wide, sparkling eyes, her jaw dropping in excitement.
———
It was break and Jak had sat down at the middle of the Gymnasium’s private park, making up a good third of the plateau, with his back turned to the artistic fountain. It was an old classic, the rise and victory of the rebellion as they struck down the Kerzen König during the climactic storm of the castle.
“Welp, seems like I got a date now…” He mused, leaning backwards and bracing himself on his arms. His tail flicked lightly through the air.
Definitely not what he had expected to come out of the day but after he had recovered from the initial shock, mostly caused by the sudden fall, he had readily accepted Vee’s proposal. His own smirk reflected by her own wicked grin.
“Why do I get the feeling I should have told her a different dare…?” Rehn had sweatdropped in the background. She couldn’t help but compare the scene to a deal between devils. Then she giggled lightly.
“And now I have to think of a way to tell Jenny…” Jak groaned as his little sister in all but blood immediately jumped to the forefront of his mind. There was no way he could snub her with the festival! She had been looking forward to it for months now!
“You got any ideas…?” He turned to the Rust Slime that had bounced out of the bag during his musings and was now resting on his lap. Then he blinked and his eyes narrowed. “Wait, what the Abyss are you doing here?” He hissed lightly.
But before he could glare any further at the cheerful little slime, another voice chimed in.
“Heh, you’re already planning to two time me, Grey Ears~?”
Vee smirked at him as she had snuck startlingly silent up on him from behind, the scales on her body quickly flickering through the colours of the background. A stark contrast to her darker, near black hair which swaying in the wind. It gave her a sort of menacing and eerie appearance as she loomed over him.
Jak jumped despite himself. He had thought he had gotten quite good at noting when somebody was sneaking up on him, but he hadn’t even noticed her until she had spoken up.
“Oh? Did I hit the bullseye?” She mused with a curled, little grin, the fingers of her hands tapping against each other. Then her eyes fell onto the little Rust Slime still perked up on his lap, big eyes sparkling completely oblivious to everything menacing.
“Didn’t peck you for a pet owner. A Rust Slime, huh? Cute little buggers.” She smiled, suddenly much more genuine, and plopped down besides Jak. With a small grin she tickled the little mollusk under its chin. “What’s his name?”
“Vex.” Jak declared without a moment of hesitation, returning to glare light at the rust red vexation and poked the newly recognised him accusatory between the eyes. The little slime just blinked cluelessly back.
“Vex, huh? Cute name.” Vee smirked lightly, eyes twinkling amused.
“Yeah, and he’s not so much a pet as he’s an unwanted squatter.” Jak grumbled lightly. A more goodnatured smile tempered by annoyance came to his lips. “He and all of the others...”
“Oh, come on~ What’s some adorable Rust Slimes gonna do to you~?” The chameleon girl teased him, continuing to tickle the little slime under his chin which Vex happily accepted.
“Bounce on you during the entire night and keep you from sleeping.” Was his prompt and deadpan response. “Which is a lot worse when it’s at least a dozen of them.”
“Ugh, I hate loud neighbours… Can’t imagine actually having them poke you, too.” Vee grimaced, sticking out her tongue as she let herself fall backwards, hands catching her above the stone. “At least Monty knows not to start a ruckus without me around.” She smirked lopsided.
“Heh, now who’s two timing who?” Jak smirked.
“Ey! Monty’s the best T-Crab around! Got all the good stuff for him~” She cackled with a sharp grin. “You’re the guy who’s been talking girls back there.” Her eyes sparked challenging at him. He, however, ignored the last part and instead mused thoughtful about the former part.
“A Tinkerer Crab, huh? You’re pretty good at taking care of pets, then?” Jak stated more rhetorical than actually asked her.
“What are you on about?” Vee’s eyes narrowed suspiciously at him.
“Oh, just that you’ll actually be able to help me babysit day after tomorrow~” He hummed cheerfully and whipped back on his feet.
“Wha…?” Vee made completely confused.
But before she could ask him what the heck he meant with that, the sound of the bell rung out, ending the break and giving everybody around five minutes to get back into the classrooms. Jak was already halfway back to the gate.
“Get back here…! What the Abyss did you mean by that?!” Vee squawked annoyed after him, jumping up into a swift sprint. Sadly she was much less built for high speed chases and more for graceful ambushes, and so Jak’s nimble feet had carried him onwards with a quickly growing lead.