[Location: Opulent Cogdia Theater]
[Nearest Start Time - 21:00]
[Extended Description: The Opulent Cogdia Theater stands as a masterpiece of architectural brilliance, a splendid edifice nestled amidst Paradoxia's Theater District. Its exterior is a harmonious blend of Victorian and Steampunk aesthetics, graced by intricately adorned stone facades featuring sparkling cogs and gears. The theater's grand entrance is flanked by imposing brass doors etched with esoteric symbols that seem to hold stories of ages past. Twin towers crown its roof, adorned with mystical aether lights that cast an entrancing, otherworldly illumination over the cobblestone streets below.
Upon stepping inside the Opulent Cogdia Theater, visitors are welcomed into a realm of opulence and enchantment. The grand foyer boasts towering marble columns, intricately designed brass railings, and a magnificent floor, a true gem of marbled grandeur. Elegant stained-glass windows, with scenes from Paradoxia's legendary lore, capture the city's very essence. The inner walls are adorned with rich velvet drapery and adorned with mesmerizing steampunk-inspired clockwork embellishments. The primary theater itself is an awe-inspiring sight. A sprawling balcony, complete with plush, velvet-clad seating, envelopes a stage that transforms through Mechamagic at each performance.
The entire theater is aglow with aetherial illumination. The intricate light fixtures appear as a congregation of luminous orbs, each resembling a timeless star encased within a crystal sphere. These ethereal lights infuse the theater with a mesmerizing, dreamlike atmosphere, creating a canvas where every performance is elevated into an enchanting, otherworldly event.
The Opulent Cogdia Theater isn't merely a venue for entertainment; it's an immersive experience, where artistic genius and technological marvel intertwine. With its captivating exterior and lavishly designed interior, it becomes one with the enigmatic charm of Paradoxia's Theater District, leaving all who grace its doors forever spellbound by the secrets and marvels concealed within the heart of the city.]
"Sorry, kid. No children allowed," The bouncer pushed Silas away and away from the velvet rope separating his success and failure for this gig.
Silas donned a simple yet refined ensemble for the evening, his attire combining sophistication with a touch of elegance. He wore a pair of well-fitted black dress pants that accentuated his height and slender build. The fabric lightly clung to his thin legs, emphasizing a sense of sharpness and grace.
What was most definitely not his choice of a frilly white dress shirt added a layer of timeless charm to his outfit. The shirt's collar was adorned with delicate lace, and the cuffs featured subtle, intricate details. Silas had meticulously tucked the shirt into his pants, achieving a crisp, tailored appearance.
"I have a ticket though," he immediately responded but was ghosted as fast as he could complain. "Whatever…"
'What'd I tell you? Gettin' in isn't gonna be as easy as you think. Take the route I gave you and you'll be guaranteed an entrance,' Glover's voice flowed into his head through two small earpieces placed in each ear.
Silas stepped away from the main line and while sitting on the curb of the bronze street, avoided any passerby who was in a rush to get home or party. Even though it was nearing 9 PM, hundreds upon thousands of Victorian-era dressed women and men ran up and down the amber sidewalks.
Silas extended his forearm, revealing the intricate brass engravings that adorned his System Connector. The device hummed to life, emitting a soft, ethereal glow. As the glow intensified, a new holographic panel materialized before him. It displayed an overhead view of the Opulent Cogdia Theater, complete with its elegant design and the bustling theatergoers entering and exiting its grand doors.
Gazing intently at the holographic map, the boy searched for the detailed path leading to the back alley behind the theater. He followed the sequence of delicate dotted lines that meandered through the various chambers and corridors, expertly guiding him to their clandestine destination. With every step he took, the holographic lines dynamically adjusted and updated, ensuring he remained on the correct path to their covert entrance behind the theater.
Silas navigated through the dimly lit back alley, which was strewn with piles of discarded items and refuse, remnants of the theater's grand performances. The flickering gas lamps on the walls cast eerie, elongated shadows that danced across the cobblestone floor. Following the dotted line on his holographic map, he turned the corner, approaching the hidden entrance to the theater's backstage area.
As he neared the entrance, he couldn't help but notice the two imposing guards stationed there. Clad in steampunk police attire, their heavy-duty uniforms were adorned with brass embellishments and intricate gears. Each guard wore a stern expression, their steely eyes scanning the alley for any potential intruders. Holstered at their waists was a singular, polished steampunk revolver, gleaming menacingly in the muted light.
"Glover… what now?"
'Take them down.' Although he couldn't see the boss man's face, Silas could immediately tell he was serious. There was no lie intertwined with his tongue. It was the sole truth.
A second passed. A minute passed. Five minutes passed.
'Silas? You still there? Did ya' abandon the mission?'
"Huh… no… I was just thinking. I guess I have a plan… though it really depends on how good I can catch them off guard," The boy whispered a bit further back into the alleyway, picking up a rusty metal can, rotting with bits of food inside, and tossed it up and down, feeling out its slight heft.
'If this is too hard. You can back out. You'll be on your own, but at least you'll survive. I'm tellin' you. This is your last chance to back out. This can very well be your last day.'
A series of blurred memories flashed through the boy's mind. "It's not that bad. I prefer this."
'Prefer this over what? Bein' a clown?'
"I'll tell you some other time."
With a bead of sweat trickling down his brow, Silas carefully hugged the edge of the corner, inching his way closer to the backstage entrance. In his hand, he clutched the rusted and battered can he had found moments earlier. The sound of his own breath seemed amplified in the tense atmosphere as he prepared to make his move.
Clank clank clank… clank… clank…
Quickly, he tossed the rusty can just around the corner into the alleyway. The can clanged and clattered across the cobblestones, echoing through the alley. One of the guards stiffened, his attention instantly drawn to the noise. With a wary expression, he motioned to his companion to stay at the door and investigate the distraction.
As the sizable guard made his way cautiously around the corner to check the source of the noise, Silas seized the opportunity. Swift as a shadow, he lunged in front of the man, drawing the steampunk revolver from the guard's holster in one fluid motion. The startled guard's eyes widened in disbelief just as Silas pulled the trigger. A deafening shot echoed through the alley, and the guard's body fell lifelessly on top of him, a red stain blossoming across his face.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? LIE ON THE GROUND, HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD!"
With the lifeless body of his fallen comrade sprawled across Silas, the remaining guard, startled by the sudden gunshot, frantically reached for his own steampunk revolver. As his trembling fingers finally wrapped around the cold steel of his weapon, he drew it and aimed toward the lifeless guard's body. Panicked and disoriented, he fired off several shots, the deafening cracks of gunfire splitting the air. One of the bullets zipped past Silas, narrowly missing his face and leaving a burning trail that scorched his cheek.
Silas knew he couldn't stay pinned beneath the corpse any longer. With desperation as his driving force, he pushed the lifeless body forward with as much strength as his legs could muster. And once the corpse's stomach had left the soles of his feet, Silas rolled to his left. As soon as his body hit the outdated stone brick ground, he raised his stolen revolver, taking a hasty shot at the remaining guard. However, the shot went wide, whizzing past the guard and embedding itself into a stack of wooden crates with an explosive splintering of wood.
'You suck, kid.'
"I'VE NEVER USED A GUN BEFORE ASSHOLE!"
Click Click Click
The guard's wild, terror-filled eyes locked onto Silas as he pointed his gun, feeling a moment of fleeting triumph. He took aim, his trembling finger poised on the trigger. But as he squeezed, nothing happened. The click of an empty chamber echoed in the narrow alleyway.
Realization washed over him, and panic set in. Frantically, he tossed his useless revolver to the side with a clatter, deciding to take matters into his own hands. The guard charged at Silas, closing the distance in a matter of seconds.
Silas reacted swiftly, squeezing off a few desperate rounds from his stolen revolver. However, the bullets found no purchase as they pinged off the guard's clothing, their impenetrable fabric rendering the shots ineffective. With an unexpected grace, the guard lunged at Silas, his powerful arms outstretched, ready to overpower his would-be assailant.
Silas felt a strange sensation, as if a tank finally drained empty. But, with a burst of adrenaline-fueled speed, he brushed off the feeling and scrambled to his feet, narrowly dodging to the side as the guard lunged. With the man's brute and careless force, Silas delivered a swift, punishing roundhouse kick to the man's face. The force of the kick sent the guard stumbling backward, disoriented and momentarily dazed.
However, the guard quickly regained his composure, wiping the blood from his bruised lip with the back of his hand. He adopted a formidable boxing stance, muscles tensed and ready for the next exchange. As if on cue, the alleyway suddenly came alive with mechanical churning and the unmistakable whirring of gears. Four turrets concealed within the alley sprang to life, their barrels swiveling and locking onto Silas.
Silas found himself surrounded and outgunned, with those mechanical monstrosities poised to rain deadly fire upon him. The guard clearly knew what was up as once four red, harmless lasers locked onto the boy, he smiled viciously.
'Don't worry kid. I got some help.'
In a sudden, unexpected turn of events, the menacing turrets lining the alleyway abruptly fell silent. The whirring of gears ceased, and their menacing barrels withdrew. It was as if a phantom hand had pressed an invisible switch, shutting down these formidable machines. The alley plunged into eerie quiet, broken only by the soft hiss of steam vents releasing their pressurized contents, dissipating into the cold night air. The abrupt silence left both Silas and the remaining guard in a state of cautious bewilderment, their weapons at the ready, but with a newfound uncertainty.
"You're not some punk kid… who are you?" The guard questioned, but Silas stayed silent, raising his dominant right hand up while sheathing his left behind his back. A stance all too familiar to him. A royal one.
'Uhhhhhh… kid. Why are your vitals dropping?' Silas could barely hear Glover through the intercom as he was too focused on waiting for his enemy to make the first move. 'Emily! Get me a diagnostic on his vitals!'
'Ahem,' A new feminine voice had been linked to his ears, snapping Silas back to a more aware state of mind. 'You have a steam-powered heart, correct?'
"Yes, why?" Silas muttered, keeping his eyes glued to the opposing guard.
'In the chamber of that heart, do you have any fuel? Like a gaseous amber smoke or liquid aether?'
"Oh… no. It was ejected from my body a day ago."
'Oh, shit… Glover! Your boy is fucked! He's a dead man walking! If he doesn't get any fuel into his steam anytime soon, he'll drop dead for sure!'