Favor

I awoke to a metal ceiling bathed in early morning light and the sounds of rustling and chatter just outside my room. I pushed my sheet over and got out of bed, ready to confront whatever Serrum and Dente had planned. As I opened the door to the rooftop, I saw Fesha helping Dente prepare breakfast while Serrum was messing with her prosthetic. I walked up to her as she shoved what looked like a screwdriver in between the gap of the metal plates. I hollow cylinder rotated upward from her prosthetic with a loud metallic click. Serrum reached for a small bag on the table next to her and poured its contents into the cylinder. A black powder came falling out, leaving a small dust cloud around the cylinder's edge. 

"Is that explosive powder?" I asked.

"Yeah, never know when something might sneak up on thee." Serrum answered. 

I remember something just then. "I'm pretty sure Fesha was in need of some of that. She's been scrapping by with the little we'd find."

"Worry not, she has already been supplied, and she shall get more once we complete the task." Serrum said happily. "Actually, thou will need something to fight with as well. Thou must've not seen trouble yet if thou doesn't wield arms." She continued. I didn't have the guts to tell her her intuition was wrong. How would I begin to explain the trouble I fought with just a kitchen knife?

After she finished reloading the cartridge in her arm, she stood up and walked toward another building that was attached to the roof, one that has been closed since I got here. She opened the door and walked in and came out with a long bladed weapon.

"Here thou art, even if thee lacks battle experience, it's better than nothing. Though, looking upon thee, I can tell thou hast seen war, even if the memory have faded." She said.

She dropped the weapon into both of my hands, it's weight a little lighter than how it looked. It was a spear, its shape being the obvious identifier, though its blade looked different from any ordinary spear. Its spear head was silver and extended straight from the shaft's end at about my forearm's length. From the main spear head, two more blades curved outward creating a crescent shape around the straight blade. The crescent was asymmetrical with the straight spear head, make its weight somewhat unbalanced. As I stared down the spear, I noticed that the dark gray shaft was not cylindrical but rather a bit ellipse shaped. At the other end of the spear, there was a red handle with dull gold detailing. I felt the spear end in my palms until I noticed a small trigger poking out of the hilt. I pressed it and the handle unlatched itself from the spear shaft, revealing a thin blade inside. I fully pulled the short sword out, showing off its silvery gleam. The shaft of the spear also doubled as a sheath for a secret sword.

"Pretty impressive huh, someone highly skilled must've wielded it. Found it while just scavenging. There's a couple of valuable items Dente and I happen across." Serrum said proudly.

I turned to look at Fesha, wanting to show her this astounding weapon. I found her staring at it already, not in a sense of amazement, but very blankly. She seemed to be lost in thought at the sight of it. She quickly looked away without either of us saying a word. With that, I sheathed the sword back into the spear's end and Dente and Fesha came walking over with food.

"Now then, shall I tell ye the grand plan?" Dente spoke. "Truth be told, there may be no need for battle, this preparation is just as precaution. We've seen things lurking sometime before, but we can stay hidden." Dente took a big bite of his bread, allowing crumbs to fall all over himself. He continued, still having bread in his mouth. "Now, what we need is an explosion engine. We know where it is, but it seems to be trapped in... well thou shall see." 

Fesha interrupted. "Explosion engine, the technology of heathens?"

Dente looked offended. "Watch what thou call me. Us heathens had to progress due to the neglect of the gods. Thine cloths tell me thee wouldn't know of such neglect, born into royalty and miracles and all." He said respectfully despite his harsh undertone. "Anywise, this engine is the last part Serrum and I need for our creation."

I got a suspicious feeling. "Hey, you sure your whatever machine is going to work? What if we get this engine for nothing? I asked.

"That's a risk Serrum and I decided to take way before. Anything to leave this spire." Serrum and Dente nodded in unison. 

Afterward, we continued with a light chat before getting ready to set off. I kept the spear at my back, blade side down, using a leather strap that Serrum had given me. It stayed on tight, hanging across my back at a diagonal. Dante came out of his sleeping quarters with a big axe, and Serrum adjusted two daggers that she kept on a strap around the leg of her overalls. Dente lead the way off the roof and into a building. We walked through several winding hallways before making it to a stairwell. As I looked around at the brick walls, I saw light gleaming through the top end of the staircase. Fesha and I walked between Dente and Serrum, with me right behind Fesha. I felt a light tap on my shoulder before Serrum spoke.

"Hey, tell me, where art thou from? Thine accent is not of here and from our previous talks, thou seems to remember a lot less about Caelum than the rest of us. Fesha kept having to explain things to thee." She spoke.

I stayed silent to which she took as an answer. "So, thou does not even remember thine birth place. Seems thine memories are far too altered compared to ours. Or perhaps, thou hides their sins." Serrum said growing somewhat distrustful.

"Listen, I really don't remember anything so drop it." I said trying to keep things brief.

Serrum obliged and stopped pestering me, though what she had said stuck with me for a bit. Do I have any sins that I may have forgotten? Perhaps it may be better not to remember.

We continued up until we met the light of the sky. We walked a bit further until Dente stopped us an a very dilapidated factory building. Details on the wall have faded and huge holes of collapsed brick covered the surface. I glanced into a hole only to be met with Serrum and Dente's reason for recruiting us.