Steam World (ENG)

Steam World

Amael walked towards a huge door that looked like a cogwheel that slowly ticked forwards. In the middle of it opened a door for him. He took a deep breath and walked through to a town in which the sky was filled with steam-powered zeppelins and the buildings were a bit wonky but beautiful. Tall buildings were there for as long as the eye could see, clock towers here and there. The Victorian-era-themed town seemed lively. Amael started walking through it, his IPW on hanging on his neck under his shirt as he admired everything around. It looked so beautiful. He soon realized to look at himself.

His shirt and turned into a brown sleeveless shirt with a belt going across his chest. He had brown and black striped pants and long over the knee brown boots on his feet. On his head, he had a top hat with pair of goggles he saw as a reflection from a mirror. His blue jacket was still on but hanging from his shoulders. He had a brown leather glove with some copper buttons on it and his wings weren’t visible. He felt fancy in it as he took his notebook and started writing about the world while looking around, very mesmerized about everything.

He walked around, greeting people, smiling like he thought he never would again. It was awesome and it felt good. He walked around until he got to a small coffee shop. He shrugged a ‘’why not?’’ and walked in. He looked around and walked to the cashier.

‘’Good evening.’’ He greeted the man on the other side of the counter.

‘’Good evening. What may I get to you?’’ He smiled.

Amal looked at the menu.

‘’Coffee with cream and a slice of strawberry cake, please.’’ He ordered.

‘’Coming right up. Go sit down, please, I will serve it for you to the table.’’ The man smiled.

‘’Thank you.’’ Amael smiled and walked to a corner table and noticed a newspaper on the desk.

He took it and started checking it out. Right on the front page was an article about people going missing. This caught his attention. He started reading the article as the waiter brought him his coffee and cake.

‘’There you go, sir.’’ He smiled.

‘’Thank you.’’ Amael looked up and smiled, as he took his coffee mug and took a sip, stopping to stare at the coffee.

‘’Is there something wrong?’’ The waiter asked.

‘’No, not at all! This is the best coffee I have ever tasted.’’ Amael smiled and took another sip.

‘’I am glad!’’ The waiter smiled.

‘’Is there anything else you’d like?’’ He asked.

‘’Sorry if this sounds weird, but can you tell me more about this?’’ Amael asked and pointed at the article.

‘’Of course. A while back in the nearby clock tower got jammed. It’s not moving anymore and everyone who investigates it disappears. It’s off-limits now, but it seems like something is stopping anyone from getting even near. Because during night time people disappear around it…’’ The waiter explained.

‘’Oh? Really?’’ Amael asked.

‘’Interesting…’’ He mumbled.

‘’Is it? I think it is terrifying…’’ The waiter sighed.

‘’Why is that?’’ Amael asked.

‘’I need to walk past it to get home.’’ The waiter said.

‘’Oh. Well… I can check it out.’’ Amael smiled.

‘’I wouldn’t recommend it…’’ He said.

‘’Why not?’’

‘’Because people disappear near it.’’

‘’That just sounds like something I should check out.’’ Amael said and took a bite from his cake.

‘’Who are you?’’ The waiter asked.

‘’No-one.’’ Amael shrugged and took another piece.

‘’But my name is Amael and I am just a mere wanderer.’’

‘’Your name does sound foreign…’’ The waiter said.

‘’How about you?’’ Amael asked.

‘’Huh?’’

‘’What’s your name?’’

‘’Oh… I am Robert.’’ The waiter smiled.

‘’Nice to meet you.’’ Amael said and finished his cake.

‘’This cake is good.’’

‘’Thank you. I baked it myself.’’

‘’Really?’’ Amael asked.

‘’Yes.’’ Robert smiled.

Amael just nodded and finished his coffee.

‘’Thanks for the coffee and cake.’’ He said and took a small pouch and paid for the order, giving a small tip to Robert before saying goodbye and leaving.

Amael walked to the clock tower that had wood hammered to its windows, leaving one door open for a curious traveler.

‘’Helloo?’’ Amael called out as he walked to the clock tower, walking to the stairs and then upwards.

Nothing held him back right now as he kept climbing upwards. He wanted to figure out what was going on when suddenly he felt a hard hit behind his head and everything went dark and he fell to the floor…

The next time he woke up back in the Nexus with the weird man. Amael held his head in pain, as he realized his left hand wasn’t a human hand anymore… It felt hard and sharp at some points… He moved his hand to his field of view and just stared at it.

‘’Wha…?’ He mumbled as he saw a new hand made with cogs, scraps, and springs.

‘’Those worlds out there… They have their dangers. In some worlds, you will be straight up killed when they realize you are a traveler.’’ Man in Indigo spoke.

Amael turned to look at the man.

‘’This time you were lucky only a few parts of you were changed. Don’t trust anyone. Just smile and walk away.’’ Man in Indigo said.

‘’What parts?’ Amael asked carefully.

‘’Your left hand, left foot, knees, heart, left eye and part of your face on the right side.’’ Man in Indigo said.

‘’What got me out?’’

‘’I did. I got just a bit too late…’’ Man in Indigo growled at himself.

‘’Thanks… I think I know now…’ Amael said and squeezed his hand on a fist.

‘’Know what?’’ Man in Indigo asked.

‘’What I have to do.’’ Amael smirked and got up slowly.

‘’You need to train your body to stand the pressure of your new parts.’’ Man in Indigo said.

‘’Yea I know. And I am ready to do so.’’ Amael smirked, standing up straight.

The next few days went by as Amael learned to use his new body before he went traveling again… He wanted to feel more dangerous and cause trouble in the multiverse, but he wanted also to have fun and be an asshole. Especially now that he knew he could reset the world…