City at Night

"There you go."

After fiddling around with it somewhat, Theodore stuffed a 'cored slime' into a jar made of Aethervoid glass. To differentiate the slimes created by the mages and the slimes generated by the tower, Theodore decided to call the replicas created by the mages 'cored slime' due to having a behavioral matrix as their core.

Since he had encountered those slimes the first time he explored the sewers, Theodore decided that he was going to bring one back with him to study. That being said, this was not the only goal he had for this little expedition of his.

Stuffing the jar of slime into a satchel that was a hand-me-down of a sort from Fiana, Theodore moved to his next objective.

Having explored the sewers somewhat, Theodore had a few ideas as to which passageway led where. The one he headed in was the one that led to the northern edge of the city.

After traveling down the twists and turns of several dark and humid passageways, Theodore arrived at his destination whereupon he was faced with a metal grate. Beyond it was the lagoon, and further beyond was the ocean.

The first time Theodore had found his way here was by following the water flow, which he figured correctly would lead him towards the outside. However, though he knew where the exit was, he could not so easily approach it.

Around the grate, Theodore could spot several behavioral matrices embedded within the bricks. No doubt, should the grate be removed or even approached, a defense mechanism would activate. Likely, an alarm would sound and both mages and the gargoyles he had heard so much about would flock to this location in force.

As such, Theodore could only glance at the outside from a distance, and that was what he came to do. To simply look at the boundless horizon beyond the metallic bars and be struck with a sense of melancholy, and then, a stubborn determination in response.

(I'll go see you soon. I'll come home, just like I promised...)

Having his fill of the scenery, Theodore eventually decided to turn back, only to then opted to head for the surface on a whim. With his new robe and the behavioral matrix designed to hide him from Aether-senses, Theodore had since allowed himself to grow just a bit bolder. He had wanted to explore the areas beyond the walls surrounding the workshop grounds for the longest time. And as he saw the dark clouds approaching from the horizon, obscuring the stars and moon, Theodore decided that it was high time to finally fulfill this long-suffering desire of his.

***

Lifting the stone cover of the manhole overhead, Theodore peeked into the dark alleyway. Upon making sure that no one was around, he crawled onto the surface.

As he stood up, Theodore could feel his heart pumping in excitement. This was the first time he had ever set foot into the part of the city that wasn't Kalman's workshop. At least, not since he was brought here by Annaliese.

Taking a moment to breathe in the air, Theodore was extremely disappointed as he found the air to be putrid. The air in the workshop grounds was much cleaner. Even the air in the sewers was pleasant, though that was because the slimes had been constantly cleaning it. In fact, the sewers were so clean, that Theodore would bet money that he could drink the sewage water. Someone else would have to do the drinking though.

With the air so putrid, Theodore figured that he must be near the alchemical factories, where the alchemical fumes had been getting worse due to the increase in production quota for the various potions and medicines.

From one of the inner pockets of his new robe, Theodore pulled out a mouse, one of the undeads he had made, and released it into the streets. Theodore had to be careful not to be caught wandering around. Though the behavioral matrix stitched to the back of his robe was emitting a thin layer of diffusive Aether around him, it only cloaked him from Aether-senses. If he's not careful, someone could still see him with their naked eye.

After the mouse returned and Theodore extracted the memories from the undead's behavioral matrix, Theodore judged that the coast appeared to be clear and proceeded to explore the street.

The factories were gloomy even during the day, but at night, they became all the more so sinister, their functional and cost-effective design felt cold and heartless, and their thin walls barely contained the eerie echoes of creaking from within the building.

As Theodore had heard from Albatross the horror stories of the accidents that occurred within these factories, if he were to be told that this place was haunted, he'd believe it without a second thought.

"I'd hate to work here," Theodore whispered to himself, his voice muffled by the mask he made out of the same fabric as his new robe.

The mask did not only cover his face either. Instead, it was wrapped around his entire head, leaving only a slit for the eyes to see through. This was made in case his hood fell for whatever reason.

As he began to make his way back to the sewers and see if he can't find a passage that led elsewhere, a blood-curdling cry made Theodore jump out of his skin. It sounded quite close to his location.

(Time to go.)

Even Theodore thought that he was being cold, but he had known about this city and how dangerous it could be to stick one's nose into another's business. He didn't want to die, so he'll leave.

In a hurry, Theodore returned to the alleyway that he had emerged from. It was a nice, cozy alleyway with a dead end further in, making it so that Theodore only had to be aware of what was in front of him once he made sure that nothing was in the back when he exited moments earlier.

With swift movements, Theodore tore open the manhole and dove into the sewers before pulling the stone cover close with his threads of Aether, weaved together for increased strength so that the cover could be moved.

As he took comfort within the humid darkness and the soothing sound of flowing water, footsteps could be heard trampling above. It would appear that someone had entered the very same alleyway.

***

End of Chapter 88

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