Alexander's POV:
Ah, what a... beautiful day. The sun's burning my skin. I'm sweating like crazy. Not to mention...
"What do you mean you left it at the front desk?!"
Currently, I was sitting on a bench in the shade, a cup of iced coffee in hand. The bookstore owner spoke to me through the device I held to my ear.
It looked like a black rectangle with smooth edges and a flat face. Its back was similar. The device was palm-sized and less than a centimetre thick. It was called a linkframe.
Handy things, these were. Wallet, identification, map, camera, and communication with voice, text, and images—all in one. If only you could play games or read on them, they'd be perfect.
"Again..." I sighed, explaining what happened for the 2nd time now. "The buyer wasn't home, nor anyone else he lives with. So, the guy working the front desk told me I could leave it with him, and he would make sure it got to the buyer."
I took a sip of my drink, letting out a contented sigh.
Gods, I love coffee.
Being religious isn't something I ever considered, but if you told me it was some god or goddess that gave coffee to the world...
Now that— that would be my religion.
"And you thought that was a good idea?" Judging from her tone, Mrs Walked didn't think so.
"What was I supposed to do? Wait there all day? I still have one more package to deliver."
She didn't answer me. I wasn't sure if her silence was a good or bad thing.
"The first one went alright though." I tried appeasing her. "The buyer was home."
The buyer was a boy who looked to be around my age. He lived in a large family house with a garden, fitting into the norm of the districts closer to the edge of the city.
We talked a bit, and I learned he was 17. That made him a bit older than me, since my birthday was at the year's end. Or maybe the start of the next. It doesn't really matter. My parents weren't sure either.
"...yes, I know that." The bookstore owner answered eventually.
"Oh? Tracking me, Mrs Walker?" I asked in a teasing tone.
"No, you idiot! When the package is delivered, it's set to send back a notification. That's why I called! I didn't get a second notification."
"Oh... Well, you didn't specify my job exactly, so..."
I heard her groan on the other side of the call.
"Give me a few minutes. I will call you back."
Oh joy...
With that, she ended the call.
I leaned back on the bench, taking a large sip of my coffee and taking in the sight before me.
Smelling the soft, flowery scent from the nearby park and just listening to people busily going about their business was nice.
As someone who lived in the outer parts of the city, I was less used to places like this. The 15th district was more like a transitional one between the smaller-scale buildings on the edge of the capital and the skyscrapers of the inner city.
Buildings were taller here. A few could even be considered smaller skyscrapers. Not to mention the colours.
Almost all of the said buildings were light grey or white. Giving colour to larger buildings was hard, I heard. Larger pieces of Etrine trees, the material used for most of the city, didn't respond well to it.
Family houses had more variety, though most were also white or grey. Some had other soft colours. Ours was light beige, for example.
Greenery, shops, and decorations helped make it less bland. It fits the title given to this place.
The Haven of Reason and Progress.
The streets were busy. A young couple walked by, eating ice cream. Two middle-aged ladies window-shopped. A father chased his laughing sons. A few cars — sleek, quiet vehicles — rolled on the wide road.
"How boring... Broad streets with no back alleys, cleanliness, almost no crime...How absurd."
Hearing the voice of my less-than-dear companion, I turn my head to the side.
He sat on a tree branch a few metres from me. His voice was clear, like he was right by my side. By the time I blinked, he was gone.
I felt a certain sense of unease wash over me.
'He's been more active lately. He used to only speak to me a few times a week in the real world. Now he's been annoying me all day. I don't like this...'
I finished my drink and got up, tossing the cup in a nearby trash box. Even that was clean and orderly. The lid opened and closed automatically—no need to touch anything.
It really does look too perfect sometimes. Full of weirdos though...
Not that I had any right to say anything. I'm probably Weirdo #1
I put a hand to my temple, pressing down and rubbing it for a bit.
My headache is getting worse. I should still be good for more than half a day, so why...
Shaking my head, I checked the time and started to walk towards the subway station. Better move.
"If I want to get home at a reasonable time, I need to catch the next ride to the 18th district. That's in.... 30 minutes. Should be good."
Strolling here was enjoyable even in dreadful summer weather. Not exactly this district, but those closer to where I lived had some wonderful sights and activities during Fall and Winter. This one surely had its own ones too.
And as a bonus, I could also see my favourite spectacle from a new angle.
Far in the background, in the very heart of the city, stood a giant tree. It was the same greyish white as all Etrine trees, but it was clearly different.
Its top disappeared in the clouds. Giant branches poked out of the sea of white. Light danced on the almost transparent leaves, making them shine like stained glass shards.
The Tree of Babel. The Heaven Piercer. The whole city —in a sense, the whole country — was built around it. Its seven smaller children stood in districts 6 to 12.
One day, I will climb all the way to the top and jump down. I will fly, soar free through the sky.
My linkframe vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw the caller ID: Annoying Woman.
"Hello? Who's this? I'm not buying anything." I answered the call with a grin on my face.
"...you know, dear Alexander, one day someone will grab that pretty neck of yours and just..."
I half wanted to ask if my neck was really that pretty, but Mrs Walker's tone didn't sound too pleased. And I did enjoy living for the most part, so...
"Done joking? Good. I called the buyer. They forgot the package was coming today and went to the festival. They will pick it up at the front desk of their building later."
"So, everything's fine? Perfect!"
"Yes... Where are you now?"
"Heading to the subway now. Should be done with the last delivery in like an hour and a half. Two at most."
"Good. Anything else I should know?"
"Well, I got stopped by some officers like an hour after I left the shop."
The line went silent, though I did hear a small sound coming from the other side. It was like something just cracked.
"And you are just telling me that now..." Mrs Walker sounded a bit weird, her voice lower and... quite a bit less cheerful than usual.
Now that I think about it, she was way more easy-going when I didn't work at the bookstore. I must have picked the wrong week to help out. Yes, must be that...
"Well, yes. It didn't seem like anything really. They just asked for permits. Is the thing I'm delivering that dangerous?"
I probably should have asked that before agreeing to deliver it.
"It's just regulations. The government checks private businesses selling things like this too often. It's for safety, they say." She scoffed.
That didn't answer my question…
Her voice sounded bitter, particularly at the regulations and safety parts, so I wasn't too keen on pushing the issue further.
"Anyways. I'm at the station. Call you later?"
"Yeah, do that after you are done. I'm going to lie down a bit..."
Guess I was right. She must be under the weather...
She ended the call with that.
I continued my stroll to the subway in silence, humming a jovial little tune. It was one I wasn't sure how or when I learned, but it made me feel relaxed.
Soon, without me even noticing, I was reciting the lyrics of this unknown little piece:
"If the world is to end
I shall sing my song
'til the last moment.
If the song is to end
I shan't write again
'til they play again.
If the play is to end
So will my—
Precious life—
Come to start again."
Just another thing to add to the list of abnormal things about me.
I should make a list.
Ah, wait…
If I try to write down some specific ones, I forget about them.
My leash was really damn tight.
Before I realised, I was already at the station, walking down the stairs. The cool air underground was a welcome change.
There were fewer people than I anticipated. Must be because of the festival.
Leaning against a clean white pillar, matching the rest of the place, I waited.
"He is coming! The end of days is coming!"
A loud voice made my head snap towards it.
It was a man, wearing a black robe. Though his one didn't have the unnatural darkness inside it. His features were clearly visible too. A clean-shaven head and gaunt features.
"The Lord of the Soundless Night shall bring an end to the song of suffering!"
I sighed loudly and shook my head. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a set of earbuds.
Another fanatic from Valenstein…
Or another resident who turned mad.
I took one last glance at him. Our gazes met.
"AH!" he shouted loudly, flinching back. "DEM-"
I didn't hear him finish his sentence; the music started to play in my ear.
He was running away from the station.
Yeah… Religion isn't for me…