Chapter 57: Doppelganger Disaster!

What’s something we can all agree on?

“Work sucks!” Skaldi screamed out, after having tripped over his own feet. Silker City, where he and Valiato started walking towards, was uncomfortably hilly. Sure, the streets had more staircases than bare streets, but it ended up making the half blind elf trip and bump into more things than he normally would.

Valiato, who was lagging behind, had to take stops to catch her breath. While Silker City was the smallest area, it was the most mazelike of the parts of Uvi Jantok. Also the most industrious sector, workshops and compounds sprawled around like yarn, with thin wisps of smoke adding to this look. Still quiet, as much of the work was either down below or the machines were powered by water and wind mills high above.

Speaking of high, Cloud District, the nearest to the bridge and where most of the legitimate business was conducted. Most of the residents were slightly fatter there, not so much that they weren’t affected by the famine, but just enough to look more proud.

Well, also because they looked like assholes.

Skaldi and Valiato, as one might tell, looked more tired than anything. Having to rest at an abandoned papermill, they climbed up its steps and entered its doors. Old assembly lines and the rush of water made this a comfy spot to rest, along with its ample amount of shade and windows. Sitting down on old tiles, they took some deep breaths.

“Ska, how far are we far from the cloud place?”

“Only two more miles.” Skaldi rubbed her head and put on a smile. All this walking had given him a headache, and his wounds though banaged started to hurt once more. Nevertheless, his smile comforted Valiato.

“That’s good. Even if this place is weird, it's nice.” Valiato laid her back on the ground, brushing pebbles and rubble underneath her.

“Really?” Skaldi opened his mouth and eye big.

“Yeah! It’s a lot more quiet than Core or Jao, and it still has that neat look all cities have. Plus, no one is drinking.”

“Right…” Skaldi turned his head away, feeling a bit embarrassed. He was starting to crave some booze bad, but he knew he had to put that off for a bit. “I’m… happy things turned out alright for us.”

“Huh? We’re still kind of stuck here.”

“Yeah, yeah, but we're still alive. And when we were all there, in the boat after hearing about Amir, that was… that was pretty cool.”

“Really? You like hearing Ari’s backstory?” Valiato laughed a bit, seeing Skaldi show a softer and more genuine side.

“Backstory? That’s how Bolato might call it, with all those comics. But, I mean we did pretty nice there, saving all the mermaids. It was a lot better than Fort Jao.”

“Was it because you lost your eye in Jao and we got stuff from the nymph lady?” Valiato said without keeping in mind to be sensitive.

“Wow! Okay kid, you got me there. Haha!” Skaldi gave a few playful punches to Valiato’s belly, which made her laugh again. “No! No it’s not about me losing an eye. Well, it really does suck and shit, but that's not what I’m talking about sweet pea.”

“Then what are you talking about Ska?”

“Well… it was because you were there for the mermaids.” Skaldi told her with unfiltered honesty. The redhead breathed out, feeling the heat come to his face and ears.

“Really?”

“Kid… I really got scared when you got hurt. Like, holy shit, I was so scared. Seeing you all miserable, that sucked. Sucks more than me, in both ways.”

“Ska!”

“I’m joking, but you understand? I knew what I had at stake there, and the reason you’re still here is because I defended you. I stopped that axe guy. I helped you.”

“Ska…”

“In Fort Jao… I sort of messed up. When you and Amir were having your birthday, I was in a sewer fighting a Snake Skin and I could have died. No, I would have died. Except a little old scarecrow was there. She helped me.”

“Vega, right. I know Ska.” Valiato sat up and stared forward, imagining the grim image.

“Don’t feel bad, it was my mistake. But before I lost my eye, Vega told me something. That's it, hold on.” Skaldi breathed in and acted out the mannerisms of Vega. “Ya are like an uncared for field. Weeds and pests plague ya, but I know if I’m there-there, ya will be better!”

“Haha! Did she really say that?” Valiato held her belly and leaned on Skaldi’s arm.

“It’s fine that ya have goals, but ya shouldn’t forget her while pursuing them.” Skaldi’s made a wagging finger in front of him as Valiato finished giggling.

“Aww. That was kind of sweet?”

“Well I was really pissed off. Ha! Because she was right. What would it matter if I improved myself if I wasn’t able to hang out with you? Life without other people is no life at all. It’s like flexing your muscles without a mirror. Without it, you can’t see yourself.” Skaldi held his chin, feeling like he said something very smart there. Again, this is how it starts, dear student. Reflective thought becomes reflective action.

“So, it’s because I got hurt, you liked the boat?” Valiato nudged him.

“No! No, I just, how do I say it? I prefer being able to protect you and be there for you over being selfish.”

“Ska… I really like that.” A small, thin tear fell from Valiato’s eye.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry! Shit.”

“It’s okay, thank you for saying that. To be honest, I did kind of miss you. I mean, Vega is cool and all and I love her. But, nothing beats you.”

“I gotcha sweetpea.” Skaldi wrapped his arm around Valiato for a little bit. For a couple of moments, they sat there enjoying the quiet breeze and the shade.

“Hey Ska?”

“Yes?” Skaldi asked, with Valiato looking down, preparing her question. She raised her head up slowly.

“...do you think Vega will be okay?”

“...To be frank, I don’t know. What’s she going through, something I only have a theory on.”

“Just a theory?”

“Hush now!” Skaldi shook her twice, trying to focus.

“Okay.”

“Look, Vega and the Voice she has, and now the magic thing she did. We have no clue. There’s maybe three people who might know or could figure it out. The Voice. Kaliber. And Vega.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“So you have no clue?” Valiato spoke with a worried tone. She didn’t want to see the scarecrow erupted like she did just yesterday.

“No. But I do know one thing. She has us and we have her. She’s strong and got a good heart, and when she’s needed to she’s pulled through. It’s like she said, together we are-are what we aren’t alone.”

“Ha. I like your impression of her.”

“Me too.” Skaldi could see Valiato’s eyes starting to get heavy. Gently easing her down and scooting over, he let her have more space. “Well, get some rest sweet pea. We’ll start moving in a bit.”

The kid nodded and closed her eyes, trying to take a nap. Skaldi brushed his hair away and stood, glad to have some down time between walking around. It had been awhile since he and Valiato had been alone with each other, his heart missed it.

Skaldi still knew that he had a responsibility and pulled out a sheet of paper. Sorbet, with the aid of Vega’s map, had drawn out a basic layout of Silker City. it didn’t feature any street names, only loose landmarks that would help the two navigate. Getting up, Skaldi searched for a window to see where they would have to go next. He went slow, not trying to put too much strain on himself or his wounds.

“Geez… I would pay anything to get rid of this.” He groaned, kicking over old rotting paper that littered the floor. “Still, beats having to deal with gangs. Or reading. Or whatever the hell Vega is doing.”

Feeling a cool breeze in the hall he was going in, he turned a corner to see a balcony, putting the city’s great beauty and venom on display. Wooden rails were there, overtaken by vines and ruined, standing above the streets below. Skaldi, taking away his sense of smell to once again enhance his sight, took in the whole view.

Long yellow snakes and turtles formed out of the roofs, with white stone and red wood as the skin of most of the buildings. Compounds of people processed and manufactured silk in big wooden contraptions, ones that boggled Skaldi. Rivers of water carried by open air piping, connected each workshop together, like veins in a body.

Foul smelling smoke either went into the sky, or made a toxic mist in certain parts of the streets. And in those very streets were gangsters patrolling their claimed land. Skaldi knew better, that this land was chained by Tibato. And yet, he could see more than that.

He could see through the many windows of the homes, each individual person going about their lives just as water flows, simple and mundane. It was hard to believe, for a moment, that all of this in some forty days might come to an end. That these folks must be another people culled by the Tripolians.

“Man… it’s kinda hard to relax, huh? Nevermind, let’s just find that Cloud District.” Skaldi shook his head and placed the tiny map on the railing. Clicking his tongue, he looked left to right, trying to piece out Cloud District. “What part of this city says ‘I’m a rich asshole’?”

Just as he spoke, he saw a tower with golden statues on its roof.

“Ahah! That’s the one.” He checked the map and it did indeed have a landmark for the statues, and them being a part of Cloud District. Quickly mapping out a path, Skaldi made the decision that going on the ground would take too long. Instead, he had quite the plan.

“Rooftops are easy! Hardly a difference!” There was a significant difference, but Skaldi didn’t want to confront that. He’d rather choose the risky option over the headache causing one, in the figurative and literal sense. After a few minutes of mapping out a route, he ran back over to Valiato and he got her up.

“What the!” Valiato yelped in great surprise.

“Come on, we gotta get going.” Skaldi began to rush her over to the hall.

“Well, can you please put me down?”

“Huh?” Skaldi hadn’t realized, but he suddenly and accidentally lifted Valiato into his arms. Both of them were quite impressed to say the least, but Skaldi’s aching arms caused him to slowly drop her to the floor.

“Wow. That was… kinda fun!”

“Y-yeah, well, don’t expect it for a while. Let’s go sweetpea.” He waved her forward, as they both reached the balcony.

“Alright. You know, I think this is gonna be al-”

FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATOMB!

“Nevermind!” Valiato hid behind Skaldi, as a great shaking took the entire building. Yells outside were heard, along with more explosions. Showers of rubble and smoke clouds erupted, as the two could see from the balcony. Children ran to their mothers, gangsters readied their weapons, all of them with an uneasy look on their faces.

Okay… I might have lied about, you know, the whole stabbing and mugging part? More like… having your limbs violently ripped off by black powder bombs. But hey, that’s hardly a difference!

“We gotta move!” Skaldi saw that the ceiling split apart and was soon to fall. Without any hesitation, he grabbed Valiato under his arm and backed up before rushing and leaping off the balcony, just as the ceiling crashed behind them.

“Holy shit!” Having gotten more air and height than he planned, he could see how far they would plummet if they didn’t land on the roof. “Hold on!”

Falling a long ten feet, the elf managed to slide onto the roof tiles, avoiding any major injury. Looking back, he saw the paper mill shatter apart like a ceramic pot. Feeling even more shaking and seeing the aftermath of explosions, Skaldi knew they were hardly out of it yet.

“It’s a gang war! Everyone, get down and inside!” A senior soldier shouted out from below. In the streets, mobs of people suddenly appeared as they rushed to either get to their homes or find a safespace to hide. Gangsters in waves enter in or out of buildings, ready to defend their claims with their blades.

“Let’s keep moving.” Saying this softly, Skaldi let go of Valiato and began to navigate the rooftops as fast he could. His wounds ached but he ignored them and kept moving. As he reached the edge of the building and started to get ready for a jump, the structure he was going to jump on blew up with fantastic destruction.

“Okay, maybe not on that one!” Skaldi turned to another building to his left, which too broke apart, the smoke consuming the entire street. Even from high up, he could see gangsters fighting amongst themselves. Two large groups, one of red and the other of brown scarfs, struck with barbaric energy. No mercy was spared on the other.

Trust me, it is usually a better vacation spot during this time of year.

“Skaldi…” Valiato called out, lifting her arm at him. Blood was seeping out, as Skaldi’s sudden carrying of her reopened her axe wound.

“Shit. I got you, don’t worry.” Sliding up to her, he quickly wrapped up her arm with a bandage and carefully led her away to another side. The ground beneath was shaking as well, as the scuffles ceased in one unanimous cry, followed by a bloody mist.

Feeling the very foundations starting to give way, Skaldi saw the pipeworks connected to the side. He hoped that they’d be strong enough to support them, so after giving a testing step, he helped Valiato on as they began to climb away. Just as they did, two more great clouds of black powder smoke took the building as it collapsed in on itself. He held onto the pipes and the kid for dear life, and the pipeworks frayed and bent, but stayed stable enough for them to continue.

“This had to have been planned, this is insane.” Skaldi murmured to himself, staring down at the warring streets. Every step the two took, a bandit fell and bled. Every time they climbed higher to a new pipe network, another bomb went off. All of it became so deafening and ear splitting, Skaldi considered dulling his hearing in exchange for better sight. But in fear that Valiato would call out to him, he kept it and always had her in his line of view.

“Ska! Right there!” She pointed at an open window of a workshop, one that was made out of strong looking strong stone and materials. “Maybe we can hide there!”

“Maybe…” He pushed himself too hard, and he could no longer ignore the pain of his body. Grunting, having to stretch hard just to even reach the lip of it, he grabbed on. Struggling to hoist himself in, he pushed on the side of the wall and managed to fall into the window. Sparing no time, he reached out and pulled Valiato in, as the two lay breathing and sweating against various industrial machines.

They didn’t care for the wood dust air, nor the shaking in the ground. Right there, the two had made it out of the disaster. Sure, it was close, but they escaped the worst of it.

Or so they thought.

The fizzing of a fuze was heard, as suddenly a round ball came from out the window.

A bomb lobed up there! Skaldi lifted his head and froze, petrified that it was so close. The fuze was nearing detonation!

Valiato, without a second thought, grabbed her sling and flung a rock at the bomb perfectly, sending it backward and it blowing up just a few yards away. A gray cloud swallowed them, as the two rushed out of the room. Coughing and having black ash on their faces, they shoveled in air.

“That… was too close!” Valiato shouted, laughing in shock as she did.

“Good job there… what the hell was that!?” Skaldi gave her a light pat on the shoulder before checking the window just in case another bomb flew up. Luckily, there were no more explosions to be had.

Rushing down in file columns, watchmen shouted at the gangsters who soon broke apart. There were some fifty left that were drunk on fighting that decided to give the watchmen the what for. Skaldi soon had to cover Valiato’s eyes, for those same fifty were cut down in shivering brutality, and only to a mere seven watchmen. They soon left the scene more bloody than when the bombs went off.

Dragged away by their comrades or looted by bold souls, these gangsters had no peace in death. Well, there were pieces of them, but that doesn’t matter.

What did matter is the cause of the explosions. As he nursed Valiato’s ax wound, the girl gave him a sweet smile. One that said ‘I’m okay, go check it out’. And so he did, heading back into the room that they narrowly escaped from. Most of the machines laid in split parts, as the stone maintained its original form as best it could. The moment he checked the streets below, he could see people returning to them with mild caution. Of course, they might have encountered more violence than the average Iozian, but they looked pretty shaken up. I mean, who would blame them.

Skaldi checked all that he could, for any signs of the person who had done this. There had to have been a reason, it couldn’t have been a simple gang war. There had to have been a reason the two were targeted. Deciding to poke his head out of the ruined window, he looked one last time.

He stared down, and he couldn’t believe what he saw. Well, he couldn’t believe who he saw. In his brilliant sight, the person was in incredible clarity that it could not be disputed who it was.

A simple feminine shape. Hair composed of hay. In her stitched glove hands were a steel ball with a fuze coming out. Her eyes, uneven and with a creepy smile.

Vega smiled up and waved at him, before disappearing into an alleyway…