I am currently very uncomfortable. Cramped in a single diver mech suit between two large girls isn't my favorite scenario.
I'm not calling them fat, but their long limbs are awkwardly folded around me and their lanky bodies are pressed against mine; bit too close for comfort .
This was Zara's bright idea. There was no real way of sneaking into the garrison. The peaks have giant walls armed to the teeth with the welders greatest weapons.
They only let divers in and out of the walls. So we were forced to cram into the mech. The suit is about twice the size of the diver that controls it but it is designed to comfortably fit only one person in it.
Having one more person might be manageable but adding my short stalky ass in addition to Dior was damn near impossible to maneuver in.
Zara is controlling the suit with belaboring effort, swimming in our sweat and awkwardly pressing against us with each small movement she makes.
I can feel Dior's breath against my neck. This is dangerous for my curse. Our sweat mixes and the suit soon gets steamy. The mech's visor is fogging up.
We're meters away from the garrison walls. Every weapon is aimed at us as we approach. A droid fly's over to identify us before we reach the entry point.
I can feel Dior grow tense and her anxiety rubs off on me. We both hold our breath as it scans us. Zara exchanges information with it and it seems to accept whatever she says.
Relief washes over us as we continue on towards the gate. I can't see much from in here. Besides being cramped, the visor is horribly fogged up, I'm surprised Zara can navigate through it.
Dior and I exchange a worried look as we feel the mech suit shake under us. Are they going to open it up?
Zara told us to never speak and be still throughout this process; so despite our countless burning questions we stay silent and deathly still.
Sweat pools at the bottom of our clothes, we're dripping not only from our proximity but from our nervousness driving our hearts to be at a rapid pace.
I can hear the large gate close behind us and the ground beneath us starts shaking rapidly. I feel an odd falling sensation in my gut as we are lurched towards the floor.
Dior let's out a grunt as she is pressed harder against me and the mech starts to rocket towards the sky.
We're flying. I can hear the wind roar. The suit starts to cool as the hot air filters out to give us a chance to breath.
Our sweat beings to dry and I can feel the semblance of who I was before being mushed together in this god forsaken sauna suit.
Dior nods towards visor and I look out in awe as the sky scraping city structures rush past us. Each building has intricate beautiful sculptures riddled all over them.
The round smooth marble that rolls off the curves of the structures reflects the golden light of the sky. Each round window is adorned with pearls and other precious metals.
The higher each tower goes, the greater the art, the value, the cleanliness. The lower levels of the building seemed to be made of iron, rustic and twisted in awkward angles.
It had its own beauty though. I almost preferred that look. It as if it were the thorns that led up to a rose. The very top of each building had a glass globe and within it was a gorgeous garden.
It's someone's home that was intricately knit together by dazzling floral plants. I have never seen such a spectacular yet bizzar design for a living space.
Smoke, embers, and jet fumes erupts below each towering building; reminding those above of the shit hole of working divers and welders below.
Although for us that live outside the garrison, the dimmer structures within this city looks like glamorous mansions. Anything in the coast is made with angst (for fear of ghouls) and not nearly as much craftsmanship as what is within the peaks.
I see droids hovering over unbuilt sections of buildings and I quickly realize that they (BEE's) are the building blocks of this city.
I see BEE's manning cooking stands, sweeping the streets, sculpting the architecture; every and any minor detail of this place is touched by a BEE. Their entire society stands on the backs of them.
I continue to stare in awe, Dior beside me having the same reactions I am while absorbing the view. Time seems to slow as we take in this spectacular environment.
We arrive a few kilometers of flight later, at a mid level of a building, a dark colored marbled section with carved sculptures of horned angels carrying thorny harps all over the outer edges.
Two large pearly doors open to allow the mech suit to enter and with a soft landing, we arrive at our new home.
Immediately upon landing, the bottom of our suit opens and we all come spilling out.
A pile of a steamy hot mess, all gasping for air and flailing about in the new open space that we so longed for while being trapped in there.
It's empty. So barren. There is no furniture. No lights. Just big open empty space. I look around for answers. Some semblance of this place being a living space.
Behind me is the landing pad where our mech is, and the two large pearly hangar doors for that opened for us, but besides that we are in a large empty dark room.
Light spills out from the entrance onto our figures to cast a deep shadow into the emptiness.
"What the hell Zara? You show us a beautiful city and this empty shell is going to be our new home?" I ask shamelessly.
"Ahem... It's nice to see you too, pretty surfer." It's Perada's voice. I can recognize that handsome devil's voice from anywhere.
His short but poignant figure steps out from the shadows, his shadow lantern hanging above his head on the staff he carries to shepherd all the hellish abyssal creatures.
He is not wearing his dark hooded cloak and his sharp angular chad like features have been shaven down, rounded out around the edges, just like the transformation that Dior and I had to go through.
His once silver hair has been modified to jet black and his horns are nowhere to be seen. The marking of the tiger above his brow, the demon of fear, has been hidden away as well.
With this new transformation he looks... cute.
"Wow you uh... you've changed from a handsome devil into..." I approach him and pinch his cheeks, "A cute little boy."
He punches my stomach. It doesn't hurt. I bet it hurt his hand. No, I'm sure of it as I see him shaking it off, regretting that decision.
"I may look cute, but I can make anyone fear me if I wish." His deep soothing voice erupts out of his vocal chords.
Wait. Vocal chords? He's speaking rather than using his telepathy third eye trick.
"How are you... Why did you..." Dior begins to ask.
"I am joining you on your quest. Seke has assigned me to be your guide. Zara has already assimilated into the city so she cannot have two identities. I cannot exist within these walls without learning to communicate the... traditional way." Perada explains plainly.
"Guide? I mean sure, we don't have a clue what we're doing but how the fuck do you? You're just a powerful shepherd. Be honest cutie patootie, do you have any experience or expertise on this academy?" Dior accuses in a mocking tone.
"Your concerns are valid. Aside from teaching myself to speak recently, both Tyde and I will have to overcome the odd height difference. It is abnormal to be short here where sculptors can synthetically adjust that for you. But I do have something that trumps both of you and holds infinite value." He defends himself evenly, not disturbed by Dior's remarks.
"Wait they can change my height? What the hell Zara, screw this illusory bullshit tattoos, gimme a damn sculptor." I get excited.
"You know damn well why nobody can sculpt you, dumbass." Zara teases harshly.
Ouch. That was cold. Even for Zara.
"Shut up and stop bickering you two twiddle brains, let Perada tell us about this magical trump card he has over us." Dior demands.
"Oh sure..." Zara rolls her eyes. She knows it already. Must not be that important judging by her reaction.
"The principle of the school is my dad. He's been sculpted into a human. He's been a shepherd for half of his life. I know everything about that school inside and out. You two have no better guide in the entire damn peak." Perada's face transforms into a proud grin, a hint of his angular features under the illusory magic shines through as he does.