"I can't fix it."
"What do you mean you can't fix it?"
I heard two voices. One was Detective Latrell's and the other one belonged to a woman.
"That core she uses as a heart is advanced technology. It's machinery built with magic. Only high-rank mechanics serving noblemen or royalty have access to that kind of knowledge. I'm sorry, Adrian. I would love to help save her if I could."
"Save her? Is the damage that extensive?" Detective Latrell sounded worried.
"She exceeded her energy limit when she tried to stop that train. It did considerable damage to the core. She should have around three months to live if it goes unfixed."
"Three months!" He was shocked.
Fortunately, my ability to hold any emotion was lost when I became a half-machine. It was easy to accept my eventual demise.
I opened my eyes slowly. Before me was a bright light that hampered my ability to examine my surroundings. It felt like I was on Master's operating table once again. I saw two figures flanking me.
"Adrian, she's awake." The lady was quick to notice.
"Hello there! Are you feeling alright?" Detective Latrell bent down closer to me.
"What happened? Did everyone survive?" I struggled to get the words out.
"It turns out that the rebels forced the engineer and fireman to stop the train. Thanks to you, I'm still alive and the rebels have been captured. Zero casualties. You did a great job." He did a happy thumbs-up for encouragement. "I'm Adrian Latrell. Please call me Adrian. This is my twin sister, Iris Latrell. She is a mechanic. I brought you to her for repairs."
The lady smiled. "It's a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for saving my reckless brother."
"Hey!" Adrian reacted angrily.
Iris Latrell was a vibrant lady in her early twenties. She wore her light brown hair in an elaborate braided bun, fastened with a metal item that looked like three metal parts pulled out of some machinery and glued together. She appeared girlish despite wearing aged jumper shorts and knee-high laced boots underneath a white labcoat.
Iris completely ignored him. "What is your name?"
I had to pause to recall my own name. "Aliciel."
"Aliciel, who built your heart?" Her voice softened.
"My master did."
"Was he a nobleman?"
"I don't know, but he was very skilled at building machines."
Iris turned to her brother. "We should let her master fix her then. He was the one who built the core after all."
"I don't know where he is. I've been travelling around trying to look for him."
Adrian placed a palm over his forehead. "Wonderful. Our best chance of finding someone who could fix her... gone!" He sat dejected on a nearby chair.
Iris' face lit up. "Perhaps Miss Clementine knows someone. Why not pay her a visit?"
Adrian didn't look very happy about the idea. "Ah, Miss Clementine. I'm very much hopeful that she has given up on enticing me into making a purchase. The last time I visited her shop, she was insistent on selling me her tea maker."
"Take Aliciel with you if she is well enough to make the trip. Perhaps Miss Clementine can provide more insight about Aliciel. I still cannot identify the material used for her body. It appears to be some sort of alloy, but it's nothing like I've seen before. It looks almost unworldly."
"And you believe Miss Clementine might have the answer?"
"She is no mechanic, but she has been a reputable supplier of materials for Eriden's mechanics. Appraisal is something she does often."
After a moment of thinking, Adrian finally agreed with her sister's suggestion.
"Are you able to move, Aliciel?" Adrian asked me.
I moved my arms and pushed myself up. Thankfully, I had regained control of my body. I moved my fingertips to be certain. They functioned perfectly.
"Do you feel pain anywhere?"
I shook my head.
"Try walking."
I slid off the table and took a few steps. My sense of balance still hadn't fully recovered. Adrian caught me before I fell.
"It looks like you might need a bit more rest."
"Take a rest in the main room. The seats there are more comfortable than my workshop," Iris suggested.
The twins led me to the main room, a small and untidy (but very cozy) space with two worn couches, a coffee table, and a fireplace. In a corner was a spiral iron staircase that led to the second floor. The corner right across it had an iron stove and cooking pots piled on top of a wooden counter, which functioned as their kitchen. There was no sign of a dining area.
"How did I get here?" I asked after they had me sit on the couch.
"I believe my brother should answer this one." Iris flashed her twin a look that had some implications of him being guilty of a crime.
"Oh, it's very simple really. I carried you here right after the train stopped at the next station. They were very busy arresting the rebels and applying first aid that they failed to notice me slipping away. Worry not! We are in the capital city of Eriden, your destination. And I am by no means a suspicious individual," Adrian said rather cheerfully.
Iris shook her head in disbelief. "If you had left her with the authorities, they might have brought her immediately to a high-rank mechanic."
"Oh, I doubt they have the time of the day for that with all the crimes that require their attention. Moreover, a high-rank mechanic would require payment for such a procedure. They wouldn't sacrifice their precious funds to cover the expenses. Even if they wanted to. The war has diminished their funds by a considerable sum. They have little to go on with."
"And so, you brought her to me hoping I could repair her?"
"Precisely."
Their conversation made it apparent to me that Detective Latrell was perhaps a kind person. Of course, I was also open to the idea that he could possibly demand something in return for his help.
The detective reflected on his actions and began to feel a bit of guilt. "I apologize for bringing you here without your consent, Aliciel. Your destination was Eriden, which is conveniently where my home and my sister are. I brought you here simply for repairs. However, I failed to foresee that you needed a different mechanic to complete your repairs."
"It's alright. Thank you for bringing me here," I replied.
"Did you come to Eriden to meet someone?"
I shook my head. "There is no one I know here. I am following Master's trail, which led me to Eriden. Although it is less likely that he is still in the city, I believe I can find clues here that will lead me to him."
"What is your master's name? Perhaps I've heard of him before."
I realized that Master's name was never revealed to me. His books and belongings bore no hint. He had no other visitors either who called him casually by any name. In a similar way, he didn't know my real name either and began calling me Aliciel.
"I don't know his real name. He never told me," I answered the detective.
"Interesting. Apprentices and servants are normally aware of their master's name. Perhaps your master had a reason for concealing his name."
"Without a name, finding a specific person can get very difficult," said Iris. "Eriden is a big city with a high population density. If your master is travelling from city to city, it would take a miracle to find him."
"I will continue to search for him even if the odds are extremely low," I said.
"What loyalty and perseverance! I wish you luck on your search then, Aliciel. May you be reunited with your master." Adrian was moved by my words.
"Thank you, Detective."
I slowly stood up. Adrian bent forward, ready to catch me in case I fell. I walked around with ease. My sense of balance had fully recovered.
"I think I'm ready to see Miss Clementine," I announced.