Time Will Tell, But The People Won’t

The Chrono Strider hovered to a stop just outside the gates of Cyrillia, its sleek form cutting a stark contrast against the rough terrain surrounding the town. Jessie stepped out first, his boots crunching on the gravel as he glanced around. The town was small, but its layout was tight-knit, with cobblestone paths winding through clusters of modest homes and storefronts.

A few townsfolk were already gathered near the gates, watching warily as the Chrono Knights approached. Their clothes were simple, and their faces bore the lines of hard work under the harsh sun. Jessie felt their eyes on him, but it wasn’t the usual curiosity—this was different. Distrust lingered in their expressions.

Rhea took the lead, her posture commanding as she approached the group. Talia stood at her side, scanning the surroundings with a keen eye. Jessie, Dax, and Mira followed, each of them silent as the tension in the air grew thicker.

One of the townsfolk, a broad-shouldered man with a weathered face, stepped forward, crossing his arms. “What business do the Chrono Knights have in Cyrillia?”

Rhea met his gaze without hesitation. “We’re here on official business. We have reason to believe an illegal chrono tech dealer is hiding in your town, and we’re here to scope him out.”

The man’s frown deepened. A murmur rippled through the small crowd as they exchanged uneasy glances. “There’s no chrono-tech or any of the sort here. We don’t deal with any of that.”

Dax’s sharp gaze cut through the man’s words. “That’s funny, considering the time distortions we’ve detected nearby. They didn’t appear out of thin air, now did they?”

“We’re not accusing anyone just yet,” Rhea said, “But we need to investigate. If you’re not involved, you have nothing to worry about.”

The man hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at the others before nodding reluctantly. “Fine. But don’t expect much help. We keep to ourselves around here.”

With that, the group of townsfolk slowly dispersed, leaving the knights to their own devices. Rhea turned to the team, “We’ll split up. Jessie, Dax, Mira—you head toward the market district and ask around. See if anyone’s heard Malik’s name or knows anything about chrono-tech.”

Jessie nodded. “Got it, Cap’n. We’ll dig around.”

Rhea gestured toward the far side of the town. “Talia, you’re with me. We’ll check the outskirts and talk to the local authorities. There has to be someone here with answers.”

The teams split up as per the captain’s orders. The market was a modest sprawl of vendors selling produce, handmade goods, and tools. The air was thick with the scent of fresh bread and dust.

Jessie scanned the faces of the people as they walked, noticing how most of them avoided eye contact. 

“So,” Jessie said, leaning over to Mira as they passed a vegetable stall. “How exactly do we approach this? ‘Hey, you guys seen any illegal chrono-tech lately?’”

Mira smirked, “Smooth, Jessie. That’ll get us nowhere fast.”

Dax crossed his arms, his tall frame looming over the market crowd. “We just need to ask the right questions. People around here are tight-lipped, but they’ll slip up if we’re patient. The neighbourhood I grew up in wasn’t welcoming either, so I know how it is.”

They approached a vendor, an elderly woman arranging a display of dried herbs. Jessie put on his most charming grin. “Excuse me, ma’am. We’re looking for information about a man named Malik. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about him, would you?”

The woman stiffened, her hands pausing over the herbs. “Never heard of him.”

“Really?” Jessie pressed, “He’s known for dealing with… unusual tech. We’ve heard he’s been around here.”

“I said I’ve never heard of him,” the woman replied, her voice sharp. “I don’t have time for this.”

Jessie sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Well, that was a bust.”

Mira glanced around, her eyes narrowing. “They’re hiding something. It’s not just Malik. This whole town’s on edge.”

Dax grunted in agreement. “We need to keep pushing. Someone here knows where Malik is, and they’re not telling us.”

◔

On the other side, Rhea and Talia headed toward the outskirts of Cyrillia. The narrow streets gave way to quieter paths lined with small homes, the kind that looked worn but well-loved. Talia could feel the familiar rhythm of small-town life here, so much like the one she had left behind.

Rhea’s posture was sharp as ever, her eyes scanning every corner, every person they passed. Talia walked beside her, her face less rigid, softer. She noticed how the townsfolk responded to their presence—not with the open hostility they had shown Jessie and the others, but with caution. There was an undercurrent of suspicion, but it wasn’t directed at them specifically. It was just how people in towns like this behaved around strangers, especially those in uniform.

As they neared a small cluster of houses, Rhea stopped, turning to Talia. “We’ll cover more ground if we split here. I’ll talk to the local authorities. See if they’ve seen or heard of any chrono disturbances.”

Talia nodded. “I’ll talk to the people around here. If anyone knows something, they might feel more comfortable talking to me.”

Rhea’s sharp eyes softened for a moment. “You think this place reminds you of home, don’t you?”

Talia didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she glanced around at the simple homes, the dirt paths that wound between them, the families gathered on porches. “Yeah. It’s… familiar. Places like this, they don’t trust outsiders easily. But if they see me as one of their own…”

“Then maybe they’ll talk,” Rhea finished, nodding approvingly. “Good. We need every advantage we can get. I’ll meet you back here.”

Talia approached a small group of people gathered near a well. She paused as her attention was drawn to a woman kneeling by a patch of soil near her modest home, carefully planting flowers in a small garden bed. The woman’s young daughter stood nearby, watching intently as her mother worked.

Talia stepped closer, her voice gentle but audible enough to reach the woman. “You might want to plant those a little deeper, ma’am. The roots will hold better, and they’ll bloom stronger.”

The woman blinked, looking up at Talia in surprise. “Oh? You… know about planting?”

“I grew up on a farm. It’s not much different than tending to crops. My mother always said flowers needed just as much care as the fields.”

The woman hesitated for a moment, then smiled faintly. “You’re not like the other knights, are you?”

Talia returned the smile, “Not really. But I’m still here for the same reason—to keep everyone safe.”

The woman straightened, brushing soil from her hands. Her cautious demeanor eased slightly, replaced by curiosity. “What brings you to Cyrillia, then? We don’t see many knights out this way.”

“We’re looking for someone. A man named Malik. He deals in unusual tech, and we’ve heard he might’ve passed through here.”

The woman’s smile faded, “I haven’t heard of anyone like that. This is a quiet place. We don’t deal in that kind of thing.”

Talia inclined her head, her orange eyes scanning the woman’s expression carefully. “I understand. And I don’t mean to cause trouble. But if someone like that does show up, it’s better if we know. We just want to help.”

“If he’s as dangerous as you say, he’s not one of us,” the woman said firmly. “This town doesn’t welcome that kind of trouble.”

Talia studied her for a moment longer, then nodded. “Thank you for speaking with me. I appreciate your time.”

They hadn’t been outright hostile, but she could tell they were holding back.

Talia soon rejoined Rhea at the meeting point, a slight frown on her face. “They were… nice enough, but I’m pretty sure they’re not telling us everything.”

Rhea crossed her arms, “Same luck on my end. They’re hiding something, but they won’t break. We’ll have to keep digging.”

Talia nodded, her thoughts turning inward. These people were just like her family—protective of their own, wary of outsiders. She couldn’t blame them. But this time, she was the outsider, and the weight of that realization pressed on her.