The Eternal City

✧₊⁺

The Airship Station, located near the base of the control tower, had a magnetic field that drew our ship in and parked us amongst the hundreds of other flying vehicles in the launch bay.

“Welcome travelers to Memoria Station, where your new life is only just beginning. Make sure to keep small children and animals with you at all times while patronizing our establishments in the control tower, and may the light of Memoria guide you for all eternity.”

A message greeted us as we exited the airship down a flight of foldable stairs.

“I didn’t have an opportunity to mention it before, but please exercise care in the city. Especially if it’s your first time.” The pilot, being the last one to exit the aircraft, warned us. “The eternal nature of this place hasn’t dulled human greed and mischief. There are those in the shadows who would take advantage of the most vulnerable of you.”

“We appreciate your concern, Mister.” Yuna nodded, her mood having improved somewhat. “But we’ll be careful. Jiro-bo will be with us, after all!”

She flashed a quick smile, slapping me on the back.

I see her confidence in me hasn’t shaken, the spat with Blackheart aside.

I just wondered if she was pushing herself to seem more cheery than she actually was, but there was no use in speculating.

“I trust that means you’ll be sticking around.” The man’s eyes sharpened through his mask as he addressed me. “Or are you going to take off the moment I turn my back on you, and leave these ladies behind?”

“I’ll meet your lady, just as I said I would.” I shrugged. “Besides, I was hired to protect these two today, and I’m not off the clock just yet, despite what I said earlier.”

“See, I knew my puppy dog eyes still worked, I’ve charmed you right into unpaid overtime,” Yuna smirked. “I hope you don’t mind taking yours truly on a date through the tower.”

“I’m simply no match for you, miss.” I sighed deeply, taking note of how proud of herself she seemed.

“Hmph, good. When you’re finished perusing the tower, take the hypersonic elevator to the three hundred and twentieth floor which houses the cabaret club and casino where our lady eagerly awaits. You might even catch the night show, the Songbird will be performing there herself. And don’t worry, it’s a kid-friendly production tonight. Farewell now.”

We waved off the pilot as he disappeared into the crowd of Eternals walking in every which direction. The busyness of the place was slightly overwhelming, and reminded me of how they used to describe the Shibuya Scramble. Before people spent most of their time indoors due to the poor air quality, that is.

“So… What next?” Yuna asked.

“I want to see the show!” Shizuka beamed.

“Sure thing, honey, but we have a bit of time before then. This place is so massive, I hardly know where to start…”

I scanned the immediate area before coming to a realization.

“Archie, how much time do I have until Hunter Protocol is initiated, and I wake up? I lost track of time when I blacked out. ”

“You have been under for three real-world hours and forty-five minutes, meaning you have just over four real-world hours remaining until today’s shift ends.”

“It’s only been that long!?” I exclaimed. “This feels like both the shortest and longest day of my life.”

“The day and night cycle in the Digiscape is set to about 1.75 that of the real world, which may throw off one’s perception of time,” Archie explained. “So while it is about 11:45 am outside, it is close to nightfall here, and the cycle keeps on going at that rate.”

Archie was just rehashing what I already knew, of course. There had been times when I dove and it was already the middle of the night within the Digiscape. It just goes to show how I hadn’t quite gotten used to it all yet.

“Good to know, in any case. I don’t want that time limit creeping up on me again in case something happens.” I said. “Didn’t you say that you had a friend waiting for you, miss?”

“Ah, that’s right! I should send her a message that I’ll be late. Thanks for reminding me, Jiro-bo!” Yuna shook her head as if to curse her forgetfulness. “Airi lives on the outer edge of the city, so I’ll have to figure things out, and possibly meet her in the morning.”

“Will that be alright?”

“Yes, of course! She’ll understand. For now, we should focus on getting to the show and doing a little exploring on the way. I’d hate to let good hospitality go to waste and from a celebrity like the Songbird at that.”

“Can’t argue there. Then, shall we?”

“Let’s go!”

. . .

The more we wandered around, the more I came to realize that the first few floors were basically a glorified shopping mall, but on a massive scale. Considering the size of the place, I figured the crowds of people would be more dispersed, but it was like Black Friday with the foot traffic. It was almost refreshing to have so many elbows bump into me, a carefully practiced “excuse me” to follow.

The concept of malls had all but died back in the real world. Online shopping was king, and flying drones could essentially deliver packages in an instant. Yet another reason for people to stay within the comforts of their homes. My job as a freight driver, too, was replaced by robotics in time. Just another cost of innovation.

“Tch.” I was annoyed just remembering it, clicking my tongue.

“Something wrong, Jiro-bo? I’m not boring you to tears with all my shopping, am I?” Yuna asked, looking a bit concerned. “It’s just not every day you get to see all… this.”

She had gone into every department store that looked interesting, picking out several outfits for her and Shizuka. Meanwhile, I tagged along, thanking my good luck whenever I found a place to sit down while she tried on outfits. Occasionally she’d ask what I thought, and I’d give my best barrel guy impression by saying I liked it.

“No, I’m doing just fine.” I finally replied. “Though we should probably head on up to the cabaret club if we want to make it in time for the show.”

There was also the matter that the Songbird wanted to discuss with me, but I left that part out.

“Momma, can we go see the arcade first?” Shizuka, holding onto her mother’s hand, pointed in the direction of a large video arcade.

We had seen plenty of them on our walk around, but this one featured rows upon rows of claw machines and flashy gashapon capsule dispensers. It was a collector’s dream and nightmare rolled into one.

“Hmm… Just a few tries at a machine, and then we have to get going, okay sweet pea?”

“Okie dokie.” Shizuka ran to the first machine she saw, much to her mother’s exasperation as she failed to keep up at the same pace.

I chuckled a bit to myself as I sauntered over to join them. Shizuka was already manning the joystick, her eyes lit up at the prize inside, which was a stuffed cow a lot like the one they had back on their farm.

“Momma, it’s Bessie!”

“You’re right, hun, it does look like the old girl. Why don’t you give it a try and see if you can bring our grand total to two cows, eh?”

Shizuka nodded enthusiastically before trying and failing to obtain the cow. This process repeated itself several times with even Yuna giving it a couple of attempts with the same result. The little girl had but one hope remaining. She turned to me, pleading with her saucer-like gaze.

“Um, I don’t know, kid.” I chuckled nervously. “It’s been a while since I tried my hand at one of these, and...”

“C’mon, Jiro-bo. The worst you could do is give it a shot, or is the big bad Hunter afraid to embarrass himself in a game?” Yuna crossed her arms. “Fought scary monsters, but can’t fight a claw machine…”

“Statistically speaking, after so many failed attempts, the odds should favor a winner within a few turns.” Archie piled on. “To turn back now would be forfeiting a potential win, and quite cowardly by human standards.”

What is he, a card shark??

“Fine, fine!” I huffed, taking control of the joystick. “I’ll give it one try, and that’s all.”

Yuna and Archie had succeeded in egging me on, much to Shizuka’s delight. I couldn’t believe how much of a pushover I had become. What was I, five? I scanned my key card, and the credits required were automatically converted into yen to be subtracted from my pay.

“Here goes nothing, I reckon. Can’t be that hard…”

I pressed the start key and watched as the claw whirred to life. I moved it right over the stuffed cow, in a pack of other farm creature plushies, and watched as the claw descended. To my surprise, it gripped the thing with force unlike the flimsy tries before, and the cow plopped right in front of us in the prize slot.

“Ah—“ I couldn’t believe it.

“You—You did it, mister Jiro!” Shizuka jumped for joy, speaking directly to me for what felt like the first time.

“Statistics, huh?” I scoffed, turning a suspicious gaze to Archie whose interface blinked just before I took my turn.

“I knew you had it in you.” Yuna nodded approvingly. “And it seems you’re the first man to win over Shizu, the fickle one that she is. I suppose I should congratulate you, Jiro-bo.”

“Thanks…” It didn’t take much to win over the child, it seemed.

“I’m gonna call her… Bessie Jr.”

“I’m sure the original Bessie would be glad you kept her namesake,” Archie said. “Though, I must be the bearer of bad news and caution that the show should be beginning soon.”

“I suppose Archie’s right. We better skip along, or we’ll be left with standing-room seats only.” Yuna suggested. “Or worse, get stuck up at the front, and get picked on by the performers…”

“Glad we’re in agreement there, I can’t think of anything I’d like less than that.”

. . .

“……....”

We sat at our table at the cabaret club… in the very front of the room next to the stage. Yuna and I shared the same exasperated look while Shizuka was none the wiser, humming happily to herself. Archie floated just above a fourth seat so as to not block anyone’s view of the performance.

The room itself was extremely fancy with red carpet, and gold trim decorating the walls. The tables were all lit with candlelight and the lights were otherwise dimmed in a packed house. The stage set was perhaps the most impressive, decorated to look like a fairytale castle with a single window and a small garden below.

A man and woman both walked up onto the stage, wearing the same blue masks and black tabards that our pilot from before wore. The woman began speaking.

“A princess once lived in a lonely kingdom of her own making. A bird in a cage, she whiles away her days staring out at the sky, hoping that she may one day be free to spread her wings.”

The man began after her, and they continued alternating.

“An echo in the distance, a foolish man approaches the castle. An outlaw and a drunk, each day he finds himself enraptured by the maiden clad in blue, his beloved princess staring out at her kingdom with silent longing.”

“For in his heart of hearts, he wished to make her dreams come true, just as she wished for him to find the hero hidden deep within himself. But how could a lowly fool hope to become anything but?”

“Dear audience, this is the story of the Princess and the Outlaw.”

There was a round of applause, and a spotlight shone on the castle window where none other than the woman of the hour stood, looking out over the crowd. Autumn, the Songbird of Memoria smiled softly before opening her mouth to sing.