(Zeraki Asani’s P.O.V)
As Zeraki took his boots off, he couldn’t help but chuckle, remembering Ola’s theatrics. She had a brilliant head on her shoulders and some strange idiosyncrasies, but Numbers 3 and 7 believed she was a good person nonetheless. He didn’t know about the whole ‘taking over banks’ business, but seeing someone read three thousand pages of financial literature in three hours and actually understand what amounted to a year’s worth of education was humbling.
Zeraki had dug up some information from the library, but nothing that really explained ‘when’ they were. It wasn’t all for nothing, though; Zeraki got to confirm that he was still on Earth—or at least an Earth-like place—and that Astrohelm was somewhere in the heartlands of Africa. Ironically, this made things harder. It would have been relatively easier knowing that he just had to find a way to physically travel back to Earth, but when the data showed that you never really left? Well, things get complicated. Or did they? Did he really want to go back? From what he had seen, none of the consciousnesses resting within him showed any desire to go back. He, on the other hand, cared very little about where he was. So if no one cared about going back, then learning about the world could be considered an interesting way to pass the time.
Zeraki turned to look at the bathroom door, hoping it had warm water.
[ The history of the Empire dates back to 300 years ago,] Number 7 idly stated, [and the history of the world dates back 10,000 years. We were definitely not pulled back in time, and I’m certain that I would remember if there ever was an empire that spanned at least 300 years, boasted steam and machinery technology, and was located within the heartlands of Africa. Nothing was said about what happened before 10,000 years ago, but that was a really long time ago. It’s impressive, actually, that they have this many records. Earth only had in-depth history records dating back 2000 years.]
Zeraki stood and took a towel from the closet, but before he headed into the bathroom, he looked at the bracer on his hand.
‘Number 7, see how far you can go now.’
[ Alright. ]
After 5 minutes, the bracer began feeling strained.
‘Come back, Number 7.’
[ Number 7: Well, that was definitely further than last time. Six to seven times further, actually. ]
[ Number 3: ...and how far is that? ]
‘A square kilometer. Not bad.’
He continued into the bathroom without taking the bracers off. They were easy to ignore for some reason.
---
Zeraki woke up just in time to be ready for breakfast with Ola and Hadiza. She was taking notes as she read through the newspaper, and for the first time, Zeraki saw her without her travel cloak on. She wore a long-sleeved, navy blue, cotton, vintage dress that had a V-shaped front with a white corset underneath and brown gloves. With her legs crossed and her back straight, she lost herself in her research.
[ Number 3: Dad, don’t let her know you consider her dress ‘vintage.’ ]
Numbers 3 and 7 chuckled in his head.
Zeraki sat across from her as Hadiza brought them food and also settled between them with a plate of her own.
“So, big man, are we heading out after breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“Great, do you want to go shopping with me after? Looking like a slave isn’t exactly a look I’m keen on keeping.”
Zeraki chuckled, but before responding, Ola cut in.
“I understand that this is the land of freedom, but could we have at least a modicum of order at the dinner table? Breakfast. Eat. Scheme and plot after.”
Hadiza blushed and turned to her plate.
---
A carriage dropped both Zeraki and Hadiza by a street lamp that probably served as a carriage pick-up spot. He stood by the junction and took in the sights. It wasn’t breathtaking, but it certainly was...something.
The streets were well-paved with cobblestones, and a functional sewer system was in place, which he was glad for. He could see about three omnibuses, completely filled, navigating the streets wide enough for two carriages, while two more horse-drawn carriages ferried their occupants through an under-bridge above which a commuter train passed. Being closer to the equator also had an interesting effect on fashion sense.
Even though long skirts were still prominent, they were made of lighter material, and their blouses were in brighter colors. The smog may have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching the streets, but it did absolutely nothing for the heat, resulting in lesser layering of jackets by the men and being slightly open-minded about shorts and slightly shorter dresses for the women.
Zeraki and Hadiza walked south for about fifteen minutes. A five-story building that seemed to tower over most of the buildings in its surroundings came into view. It was located at the intersection of two roads, yet its streets were practically empty, with evenly spread-out street lamps. A handful of carriage drivers lined the roadside, perhaps waiting for their employers who were making use of the library.
At first, Zeraki thought he’d have to haggle his way into getting employed, but as it turned out, very few people could actually read, and those that could generally thought themselves above the station of a librarian.
Zeraki and Hadiza walked through the front doors and were welcomed by the sight of a practically empty library. Their steps echoed as they approached the front desk. A scrawny man, probably in his late twenties with large spectacles, quickly climbed down a ladder and nearly tripped over himself as he rushed to attend to them.
“G-good morning, Sir, Miss.”
“Well, good morning to you too!” Hadiza cheerily responded. “Where do I sign to join the Society of Engineering?” She placed her Brave Heart badge on the table and winked at Zeraki.
The man’s eyebrow quirked as he reached out for the badge. “M-miss, this certainly is a commendable achievement. B-but it only exempts you from paying the one Ruby exam fee. Y-you still need to pass the test.”
Hadiza shrugged. “Sure. Not paying a Ruby is already more than I expected.”
The man’s face visibly relaxed. “T-that’s good to hear. Here, fill this form for me.”
[ He does not handle social interactions well at all, ] Number 7 commented as he drifted into the shelving lanes.
“What about you, sir?”
Zeraki looked away from Number 7.
[ Number 3: Try using your badge too, Dad. ]
Zeraki lifted his arm for the man to look at the bracers on him and said, “I’m looking for employment. Anything will do.”
“A-are you sure about this? N-not many…” he looked at Hadiza for a moment before quickly turning back to Zeraki,
“I mean, s-sure! I-if you are certain about this, why not become my assistant? The pay is pretty okay, I think.” His voice became softer and harder to hear as he spoke about the payment.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“...Uhm, sure. Any job is fine.”
His face lit up, and he led Zeraki to one of the empty tables. They settled on Zeraki reporting every day from Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., for 1 Blackmore Gold and 5 Saka coins a week.
“That’s pretty good pay for someone that can read and write, big man,” Hadiza told him as she walked him out of the library. He had excused himself for a couple of hours to get a place to stay before heading back.
“Well, big man, good luck. I should start prepping for this test. Sorry I can’t accompany you.”
“Don’t worry about it. This is more important for you. Go.”
“Thanks, big man.”
---
‘Sorry, Number 3,’ Zeraki consoled after Hadiza walked back into the library.
[ Grrr. I can’t make more than one promise, ] she pouted angrily and went silent. Zeraki could tell she was brooding and let her be. He had sent out her sentiment, the desire to be friends with Hadiza too, and it failed spectacularly.
When the sentiment interacted with Hadiza’s dark spot, Number 3 felt like she was being split down the middle. It was painful for both her and Zeraki, so she had to give up.
Zeraki took a carriage and asked to be taken to a cheap place to stay. The further the carriage drove into the residential areas, the more cramped it got. Roads that could initially host two omnibuses side by side now only fit a single horse carriage. Most of the houses were two-story brick apartments. After the carriage dropped him off, Zeraki stood there trying to figure out how he should proceed. A child’s voice then called out to him.
She wasn’t much to look at, though. She was about 11 years old, skinny, with disheveled hair and soot on her face, wearing an old cashmere sweater and a dress with many patches so roughly stitched that Zeraki had to wonder whether she did it herself.
“Two pence and I’ll show you around,” she said, looking up at him. Seeing that Zeraki didn’t respond, she exaggerated a sigh and added, “...it’s too obvious you’re new, mister. I’m offering to show you which roads to take so you don’t get robbed, and 2 pence is a fair bargain.” Zeraki switched to his sixth sense and got both Γ Exhausted ˩ and Γ Exasperated ˩ sentiments as feedback. She was physically tired and felt like she was speaking to a child who failed to see reason.
[ Dad, she’s hungry, ] he could hear the pleading in Number 3’s voice. She was still in pain, and her usually chipper self felt... faint.
“I’m hungry; do you know of any good places?” Zeraki asked after a moment’s pause. She looked thoughtful, then asked him to follow her.
They walked for quite a while, and Zeraki felt mild exhaustion setting in. His breath came in shallow bursts, and his feet were slightly numb. Zeraki focused on his breathing to resist the urge to pant, and that’s when he noticed it.
His desire to stop feeling the burn in his legs and maintain his breathing rhythm was accepted.
‘Have either of you ever noticed this?’ Zeraki mentally asked.
Number 7 observed him closely and gasped.
[ Number 7: Well, that’s interesting. I don’t know what’s going on with your legs, but they stopped being painful when you desired it. Something funny’s going on with your blood too. ]
‘When we came up with the hypothesis about communication, we used the body as a good example of intimate communication. This must be one of the applications for it. We’ll see how far we can push it after this.’
They reached a rather decent bakery on a street that at least didn’t look like it belonged to a local gang. There were a variety of bread and cakes on display with witty labels on them like:
{{ Top of the Muffin to Ya! }}
The baker winked at him after Zeraki made the purchase—a single sample of each cake and a single loaf of bread—which set him back one Saka coin. Zeraki didn’t think much of it as they started looking for the apartment the child recommended. If the cakes were any good, he wouldn’t mind going back.
They made their way through the labyrinthine alleys. The buildings that loomed above them, their brick and steam pipe façades weathered by time and neglect, seemed to lean together for support, their weary foundations burdened by the weight of years of repair or cheap upgrades.
They eventually got to a building that didn't look like it would fall over should there ever be a magnitude-3 earthquake. The neighborhood still looked like a local gang had claimed ownership, though.
When they walked in, a lobby welcomed them, and he could see two Asian old men playing a board game from the corner of his eye—well, Number 7 claimed they looked Asian at least. Then there was a staircase leading to the first floor and an elevator.
Tara waved to the old men and walked him to the elevator, which was a contraption that looked relatively new due to how the steam pipes that ran along its inner walls didn’t leak nor were they rusty.
Ascension to the fifth floor, and a narrow hallway stretched before them. The apartment they were after was the one to the left of the elevator. Though not grand in scale, it carried a quiet dignity and cleanliness. This was the living room; the bedroom to the left, though, was a whole other affair. There were permanent stains on the wooden flooring and strange memorabilia littered across the place.
“The previous owner really loved the Gracie Family,” an old man from earlier said behind them.
He didn’t mind it, though. It was one of the few apartments that had indoor plumbing and a gas meter lamp for only 5 Saka coins a week—which sounded okay? Okay-ish? He wasn’t sure.
---
They settled into an agreement with the landlord, with the child doing most of the haggling for Zeraki. He didn’t yet know how much most things were supposed to cost. After the landlord left, Zeraki settled on the floor, not really bothered by the lack of furniture. There were gas pipes lining the walls with different meters and lamps on them, but the apartment was still relatively empty. Zeraki could see that the child was deep in thought, and if he was reading her sentiments right, she was working her way up to say something.
“You owe me two pence, mister,” she finally spoke up, but her sentiments still showed that she had more to say, so Zeraki chose to play along.
“The price of a single meal,” Zeraki placed the service fee on the floorboard.
Her sentiments morphed to resolve as she started speaking.
“Teach me how to read; I saw you doing it at the bakery. Not many people can do that. That’s how they know who to consider a valuable customer, just so you know. It’s why you got extra cakes with your purchase.”
Zeraki had noticed the extra cakes but thought it was the baker flirting to get him to come back often since he made a relatively large purchase. Zeraki sighed at the subtle games.
[ Father, she’s proud and honest. She won’t accept handouts, ] Number 7 noted.
‘I see…’ Zeraki thought.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Tara,” she responded, fidgeting. Still very nervous about what she was doing.
“Well, Tara, you seem to have something in mind; what’s your offer?”
She looked around, considering her options.
“Two pence a week for an hour’s lesson after you come from work. When you settle down, I’ll do your laundry three times a week for six pence.”
Zeraki sighed and accepted her proposal. The amount was pitiful, but it was the best the child could do. Also, being a librarian didn’t seem like a physically demanding job, so he gathered that he wouldn’t be too exhausted to tutor her. She left the two pence on the floorboard where Zeraki had placed them and politely rejected the cakes he offered.
[ Thank you, ] Number 3 whispered in her exhaustion.
---
Zeraki got back to the library in time to get a couple of hours' worth of reading done before Labaan closed up. He needed to do some light reading on basic biology and also find out how the empire’s currency was structured. The casual look he had given Ola’s three-thousand-page book was only a single paragraph of high-minded economics throwing around thousands of Rubies, yet he had no idea how much that actually meant.
Zeraki had 5 Blackmore gold by the time he made it to Astrohelm. How much gold made a ruby was anyone’s guess from his point of view.
Zeraki had been spending most of the day going on faith that he wouldn’t be shortchanged—idle hope really, as he was in a profit-driven city. Hoping for honesty and actually expecting it was a fool’s errand. So he did the next best thing and kept memorizing how much things cost, like ‘The price of a single meal, 2 pence; count the brown coins’. Zeraki was actually really grateful for the child’s help with the landlord.
The library was a warm and quiet place, with a subtle woody scent about it that Zeraki and Number 3 liked. Zeraki looked down at his selection, ‘The Greenback: The Lonely World Of The Blackmore Ruby.’
By the time Ola arrived, Zeraki had gotten the hang of how the currency was broken down.
1 Ruby Coin = 1,000 Blackmore Gold
1 Blackmore Gold = 20 Saka Coins
1 Saka Coin = 12 Pence
Paper notes only came in at 50 Blackmore Gold, 100 Blackmore Gold, 500 Blackmore Gold, and then the Ruby Coin.
Ola came in at about 5:15 p.m. and settled down in one of the open reading turrets with Hadiza in it. She seemed exhausted but content.
“How’s Duchy domination going?” Zeraki asked as he settled in across from her. She smiled at them.
“I hired a decent silver-tongued lawyer that can woo mortals into selling their souls to him. I shall be making frequent visits to this library to educate myself more on the ways of freedom, so I have insisted on using this location to plot our schemes.”
Hadiza couldn’t help but laugh. “Miss Ola, I don’t think anyone will take kindly to you saying you are scheming against them.”
“Ah! Yes. You are right, child. I should say, ‘Strategizing.’”
“So, big man, did you find a place, or should we wait for you before we head home?” Hadiza asked, still smiling from Ola’s rebranding of terms.
“No, it’s alright. I did find a decent place. I’ll show it to you when you are free enough,” Zeraki replied.
Zeraki watched them walk out, then went back to the shelves and got himself a beginner’s book on biology. He returned to the central desk to wait for Labaan to close up while taking notes.
image [https://github.com/DAN-BIWOTT/DAN-BIWOTT.github.io/blob/b2ee9aee6e4230656ebcbe6254020eb1f0b1fc99/assets/svg/img.png?raw=true]
“Try as I might to conceal a guilty conscious,
one constant stands,
I hate at leisure that which put me in this condition.
In turn, that which I once lusted for, I now find revolting.
Guilt is a bag of sand around my neck that gets heavier by the hour,
and as my Misery grows, Bitterness within me stirs.
I curse that which put me in this predicament.
Guilt is disease in my blood, that rots and decays me from within the longer I ignore her.”
~ By Zeraki Asani