New Place, Old Face
Though there was still some sailing she had to do before she could dock, Polly had the good fortune of being able to enter the city before nightfall. The explorer knew it’d be unlikely for her to find the Naru fellow she sought in less than a day, so she judged she’d use the half-day she had left to hunt for a place to stay the night.
The little land the island had was reflected in its narrow cement streets and tall buildings that stretched upward like trees reaching for sunlight. However, the city Polly found herself in was more than just a maze of soulless brick and metal architecture. Planted at the base of almost all the structures were plants ranging from red-tinged succulents to leafy trees, and sitting happily on the windowsills of the buildings were trailing plants and bright flowers.
This island was evidently no stranger to strangers, for as soon as Polly disembarked from The Birbalinda she saw a massive noticeboard that even had a map with directions from the port city to the nearest town center. She stood before it trying to get her bearings while travelers who already knew where they were headed streamed past her.
“Hopefully the town center has advice on finding a cheap place to stay. Who knows how long I’ll be staying here trying to get that letter delivered. Actually, you know what, if this Naru dude is so important that he gets a special letter, then maybe there’ll be information about him at the town center.”
“That is a surprisingly valid thought for you.”
“Also gotta figure out how this card works,” muttered Polly to herself while holding the small red rectangle an arm’s length in front of her. “Can’t say it looks like it’s worth much.”
“Oh you’d be surprised,” chucked Fethar, offering no assistance.
After Polly confirmed with Fethar that the hat had committed the map to memory, the two were off. It turned out Polly wasn’t the only one headed to the hub of information, so she was conveniently able to add herself to the crowd making their way downtown, walking fast, faces passed.
“Where are you from, lass?” asked a fellow traveler, a hunched over man with greying curls in an electric yellow button-up with large pink flowers printed generously on it. It was a touch brighter than anything Polly would wear, though her sky blue button-up decorated with orange flowers was hardly much better.
“Sea Island 7, sir. Yourself?”
“Well I’ll be darned, I’m from there as well. What brings you all the way out here? It ain’t an easy trip, that’s for sure.”
“Sure ain’t, though I didn’t come here straight from Sea Island 7. I was actually just by The Second Island, so the journey really wasn’t half bad. But anyways, I’m here to deliver a letter. Know a guy named Naru by any chance?”
“Naru, hmmm. Can’t say that rings a bell. Know anything else about him?”
“Wish I did, but I don’t. The person who asked me to deliver this letter didn’t give me much to go off on.”
“I feel ya there,” he sighed. “I’m here to pick up some tech my crew needs that’s apparently exclusive to this island, but all they told me about the fella I’m supposed to get it from is that their nickname is Glint. Oh by the way lass, pardon my rudeness for not asking earlier, but what’s your name?”
“I’m Polly. And yourself sir?”
“Raybit.”
The two continued chatting all the way up until the mass they were part of had arrived at their destination, the town center. Thanks to the lively chatter of its inhabitants, it was a plaza with a welcoming aura despite only hosting metal, multi-tiered buildings.
Calling all eyes to it was a glistening steel skyscraper that towered above it’s fellow skyscrapers and that tapered toward its tip. No matter how far back Polly craned her neck, she was unable to see where the building ended. Windows circled the building in neat rows, and from some, a warm yellow glow emitted.
Posted at the building’s entrance was a wooden sign with the word “Information" in a bold serif font. The crowd of many that had made its way to the plaza had all but dispersed, leaving only Polly and the hunched man standing before the titan of a building.
“Guess we best head on in,” he said after a moment of silence.
Before Polly could reach forward to push the translucent doors open so she could hold it for her elder companion, the doors parted to opposite sides, creating an opening in the middle just large enough for the both to walk through.
“Guess every island but Sea Island 7 can use magic huh,” said Polly, doing her best not to sound bitter like a winter melon.
“This your first time on The Third Island lass?”
“Sure is. I suppose I said something that wasn’t quite right, didn’t I?”
“Right-io. This island’s renown for its technological prowess, and if there’s one thing they like to boast about, it’s that they have no need for magic.”
“What the door did was mighty cool, but I don’t know about it being better than magic,” said Polly somber with her memories of The Second Island.
Cream tile covered the building’s floor, which Polly’s boots made a satisfying clack against as she walked toward the reception desk--a circular desk hollow in its center.
“How can I help you today?” asked a blue haired, massive hat wearing lady standing in the middle of the circle and behind a gray box.
Raybit shot a glance at Polly, giving her a chance to ask her questions first, but the girl declined with a slight shake of her head. After her ignorance about the island had been exposed, despite it having been done graciously, Polly’s confidence had taken a hike. Watching what the evidently experienced Raybit did then following suit seemed like the wise course of action.
“I’m looking for someone named Glint. Have any information that could be of help?”
“Hmm, that name doesn’t sound familiar to me. However, I can recommend you to places that may have information on this person you seek.”
“That would be great.”
“Let’s see…our local tavern, The Flopping Fowl, is known for attracting patrons from all the islands. The bartender is a pleasant man and would likely be able to either introduce you to someone who might know about Glint or to Glint themself.”
“Thank you Miss. Also, know anywhere I could stay the night?”
“Yes. Here’s a list of all possible lodgings, with their price per night listed to the left.” The lady turned the box so that it was facing Polly and Raybit, and to Polly’s surprise there were pictures and symbols displayed on it.
“I believe this is what the locals refer to as a puter,” commented Fethar.
“A puter? What does it do?”
“The concept behind it is too complex for one such as I to explain, but think of a puter as a hat, like me, but without the personality and a, though I loathe to say this, larger store of information.”
“Oho?”
“Is there anything I can help you with young lady?” asked the receptionist. Raybit had finished scrolling through the list, and was now standing off to the side of the room. Polly figured she’d save herself some time and ask about Naru at the tavern rather than here.
“I’ll look at the list of lodging too, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
Polly scooted toward the puter, unsure of how to use it. Her short talk with Fethar had momentarily distracted her and she had missed her chance to see how Raybit worked the contraption.
“This is a higher end puter, so if you put your finger to it, you should be able to move what is on screen to your desire,” Fethar offered.
“R..right.”
Polly touched the screen and dragged her finger up, and was shocked to see the list move up and reveal more options.
“The further down you scroll the more expensive the rooms are,” the receptionist threw in. Polly hurriedly moved her finger down.
“The Flopping Fowl offers rooms?”
“Indeed it does. The tavern is on the first floor and rooms are on the second. It's both tavern and inn, and as you can see, it’s the cheapest one on this list. That’s one of the reasons it’s frequented so often.”
“I see, thanks a bunch Miss.”
“My pleasure young lady.”
Polly backed away from the counter and toward Raybit.
“You headed to The Flopping Fowl about now?” she asked.
“Sure am,” he replied.
“You mind if I tag along?”
“Not at all lass, not at all.”