The people need us now, especially now the safety of Gargrim depends on us.”

Iota didn’t respond.

“Stand straight soldier, “

Sanachi straightened Iota’s helmet and smiled warmly at him.

Don’t tell me he came here because he heard a soldier was here and decided to go himself Thought Iota. He seemed much nicer then he had initially appeared.

“Sanachi you are summoned by the king.” said an important looking person in a robe.

“You there.” said the guy pointing at Iota.

“Go with Sanachi, he refuses servants but he must have at least some personnel. It sullies the king's name to have someone of such high rank walking the streets unaccompanied and unaided, especially districts as poor as this.” He said with disgust. He kicked a can on the ground as he said poor for further emphasis.

Iota followed after Sanachi hurriedly.

They took a train into the castle. Giant metal doors leading into the palace lead them through. Iota could only stare in amazement at it. How many people and how much blood and sweat must it have taken just to build those doors? He thought. The king sat on his throne and his sons were in the room as well. The king was a plump man past his prime.Wore a red coat with white frills. He sat slouched in his chair and had a beetroot face. A glass of wine could always be found in his hand and talk of war was never far from his mind and therefore his mouth. His two eldest sons had serious bearded faces. They bore swords at their sides. One was adorned in blue while the other wore red. The other sons were clumped together. They were always conversing their faces forever looking discontent. Six anima dogs were seated on the steps in front of him. One of them is playing with a bone.

Iota stiffles wondering why he has anima.

“Don’t worry, they won’t attack” said Sanachi comfortingly although while his words here comforting his expression and eyes were wistful.

“Sanachi,” said the king sternly. “My kingdom is in disarray, the people want answers. It is my decision that you will be taking the blame for this mayhem. You are hereby banished from Gargrim “

Sanachi was in disbelief.

“Sire, you saved my life! I can still serve you! "shouted Sanachi desperately.

“Well, I have no use for you anymore.” Said King Ulgath while casually picking his ear.

“You rescued me from certain death, have I not served you well for over 20 years!?”

Sanachi was aghast. “But . . . King…” King Ulgath waved his pleas away with a half open hand.

“I will also require the sword that I had the Nemrire’s make for you, it is a part of this kingdom’s military. ”

“You have served me well but you are now dismissed.”

Sanachi and Iota walked out of the hall. Hopefully I can get away now thought Iota.

“You don’t have to follow me any more.” Said Sanachi. “Besides I’m no longer a citizen let alone your superior anymore.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“If you insist.” Said Iota, nodding respectfully before leaving Sanachi. He quickly hurried off, he thinks he still remembered where the exit was . . .

“You there.”

Iota stopped dead in his tracks. Surely the voice wasn’t talking to him . . .

Iota turned around.

One of the prince’s was looking at him. “Yes you, follow me!”

Iota couldn’t say no. He followed him. They walked past maids and servants moving busily sweeping the floor and carrying furniture.”

He was led into a room. “Carry this.” Ordered the prince pointing at a small barrel. “Come on now.” Said the prince impatiently. Iota squatted down and lifted it. It sloshed unsteadily in his hands.”

“I almost forgot.” Said the prince stopping. He took out a small vial. He unscrewed a small opening on the barrel and put in a few drops.

“Don’t move.” Cackled the prince. “One drop of this and you can say goodbye to living.” He screwed it shut. “Take this to the kitchen.”

“Yes, sir.” Said Iota. He somehow managed to find the kitchen. A grumbling cook took it from him and sent him on his way.

Iota wandered through the castle until eventually he made his way out.

Iota massaged his leg. He needed to see a mechanic for his leg. He had to be careful. If he wasn’t careful someone might quite literally try to steal it from him.

t had taken many blows recently in addition to the years that he spent outside in the wilderness. The lever for the prison cell bars, escaping the monster,

He wandered around looking for someone to fix his leg.

He enters a clearing with Stalls, its one of the various market places scattered around. He asked a burly man turning frog legs over a fire. He didn’t know and shrugged.

There are competitions that are being held there.

Iota asked one of the people in the crowd what was going on.

“Its an all you can eat competition.” responded the guy

He finds out that it will be starting soon. He pays the last of his money that he stole from the dead soldier to join.

The contestants were lined up on a single line made of tables that had been joined together. WHen one plate was done people quickly brought forth new ones. He polishes off plate after plate. Collective gasps from the audience were heard as he somehow had the space to fit plate after plate of food into his lean body. He got up for a second to stretch and loosen his pants but he soon went right back at it. In the end he ate 11 full plates while the closest competitor ate 7 and a half plates. It was a unanimous decision that he won.With food secured he was about to make himself scare but it turned out that there was another competition as well, it's a shooting game.

He uses some of the money he wins to join. The rules were simple. You must hit a target 10 meters away that is on a rotating wheel. If you hit the wrong ones you lose.

Iota yawned, staring through half closed eyes and while barely looking through the crosshairs of the air gun fires it and hits it bullseye. Then he did it again and again and again. The stupefied faces of those watching increases the more he wins. After his tenth win Iota stops and leaves. He noticed several men staring dangerously at him and he realized they would probably beat him up if he took more of their money.

THe noise of footsteps and clanking metal that had been obscured in the background gre louder. Soldiers suddenly walked into the area. They were looking for slaves that had escaped. Among them they had a person dressed in ordinary clothing. He recognised who it was. It was a guy who had been there before when they had left the cruck and was put into prison. He must be there to identify the slaves that had escaped. He would recognise Iota and Iota also took off the soldier’s armour because he didn’t want to be mistaken for a real soldier and have people request things from him and increase the chance of him getting exposed.

He hid behind a stand. The burly man had a daughter. She was by the counter.

She saw him, she knew he was hiding.

The soldiers said there would be a reward if they found any slaves. Still even with that the girl didn’t say anything. Iota was prepared for her to reveal him. He still had the air gun and the gun from the soldier. That had never happened to him before. He was shocked, why wouldn’t someone do something for personal gain especially without having to sacrifice anything .

He thanked her and offered her money but she refused. “We have to help each other out otherwise who will!” Iota paused for a second. Those words reminded him of someone or something from long ago but the memory was too faint and he couldn’t quite place it.

He asked the burly store owner if he had seen a new or unfamiliar mechanic in the area.

The burly man said that there was someone he hadn’t seen before who fixed his heater in exchange for food.

Iota went in the direction that the man pointed. He searched around and finds a shack. It has building parts from machinery around it.

Iota walked inside moving a tattered green tarp that was over the entrance.

To his surprise Zeno was inside.

“What are you doing here.” Said Zeno equally surprised.

“Likewise.”

Iota says that he needs help. He shows Zeno his leg. Iota doesn’t realise how important and powerful it is. That is enough for a couple years wages (and still valuable while not as much in that battered state).

Zeno is surprised and shocked. Iota’s leg is made from anima parts.

He withdrew a miniature magnifying glass from some pocket. “This is battered but this tech. . . It’s beautiful! Who made this?” Demanded Zeno.

“I can’t say.” Replied Iota. “It doesn’t matter, just fix it.”

“You don’t understand.” Replied Zeno. “The tech in that leg has the power to destabilize not only this entire city but this entire world!!”