Chapter 21: Eclipse

Ivy is still wandering around the Undercity's streets. As she brushed past the people, she remained undetectable to avoid being noticed by the guards.

She witnessed everything in black and white: the gearworkers laughing at their antics, the homeless pleading for money, and the occasional fight between two mercenaries.

Ivy saw a kid using gearwork magic to control a gear metal bird while they were playing with it.

It appears to be somewhat serene, yet tragic all at once.

She was about to turn around and head back home when she spotted a fight going on in an inn. She started to wonder inside the building out of sheer curiosity.

As soon as she got inside, a body fall onto her, breaking her out of invisible. But nobody cared because they were all too busy fighting.

Ivy shoved the man away from her and attempted to go to the door, but four individuals were beating each other up, blocking the way.

"Hey!" Under a table, Ivy heard a whisper. It was a young golden gearwork girl.

Ivy crept beneath the table and folded her legs as the girl gave her half of her bread and said, "Here you go, madam." Despite her suspicions, Ivy ate the bread that was offered to her.

After finishing her bread, the girl remarked, "Ever since these guys come here, things have been both good and bad. The positive is that they add excitement, but they also caused problems here."

Ivy tilted her head, confused, "Sorry for confusing you. My name is Lunar. I used to be one of the city's peacekeepers but decided to leave to see what was going on with the world. And you?" asked Lunar

Ivy pointed to her mouth and formed a cross while looking dullly happy, "Um, so you can not talk...I know." Lunar said, reaching into her toolbox.

Taking out a journal with a pen, she said, "This is my diary, so please do not read the first few pages."

When Ivy opened the diary, she noticed a lot of Lunar drawings that were relatively cute and wholesome. After discovering a blank page, she wrote, "My name is Ivy. I can talk but do not want to, so do not ask why."

"Great to meet you, so are from here or did you just visited?" Lunar said, grinning and clapping her hands.

Ivy wrote, "I was fighting and got myself captured, so I am using the time to learn about the Lost Brotherhood hideout. Now that I have done it, I am going home." Lunar read aloud.

Her head struck the table as she tried to leaped to her feet, "Oww, my head." She whined

Ivy wrote, "Do want to go outside first before jumping again?" after chuckling quietly.

Lunar nodded her head and grinned broadly. They crawl between bloodied and sweaty drunken mercenaries to get out of the inn.

When they got outside, Lunar asked, "How is it up top? Is it beautiful?" With an increasing excitement, her emerald star eyes gazed at her.

After writing what appeared to be a lengthy paragraph, Ivy showed her, "If you are a human, then right now it is hell on earth. However, if you look in the right direction, it is strangely beautiful. There are lots of adorable flowers and dogs that make you want to give them a hug all day."

Lunar jumped up, excited, and asked, "May I come with you? I have always wanted to explore the outside world and meet new people. You mentioned having a home; if you are okay with it, can I crash there. But if not, I realize I can probably find a place for-" Lunar continued, but Ivy already finish her response and pushed the journey to her face.

Ivy wrote, "I think there is a place for you, but it is a village where I stayed. My lover and his friends are putting together a settlement. Your technology is incredible, and I think we can use it. But only if you share your experiences with the Lost Brotherhood with them."

Lunar furiously nodded her head and responded, "Certainly, in the meantime, you have to tell me about yourself." They both begin to walk together in the direction of the exited.

Ivy wrote, "Sure, but do not ask too many personal questions. Why did you leave your position as a peacekeeper?" With a ivy flower drawn in a circle.

Lunar leap on the railing of the metal bridge, graceful skip, "Well, it was boring, which is why I hate it. Just waking up and doing nothing was my life before the humans arrived. My parents passed away from old age, so I was living alone at the time. I lost my excitement and despised the fact that I was accepting that life. My life became a living hell after the humans began to cause problems. Saying stop fighting or preventing robbery. I love that there was excitement in my life despite my stress and anger, and it made me even more envious of the outside world. I made the decision to resign from my position and travel." She explained.

Ivy was intrigued and amused by her bubbly personality. Despite seeing only black and white, she was having fun and smiling with someone other than Axel.

Then Lunar leaps from the railing and says, "Do want to see something cool?" while pointing to Ivy.

Ivy scribbles three question marks quickly with the same smile.

Lunar gestures toward the bridge's side with a golden left arm. Her arm started to glow at the exposed cracks as she formed a finger pistol, saying, "Bang." A purple energy shot out of her in the direction of the water.

Ivy was impressed by the water splash, which made her smile.

Lunar posed, but her radiant smile quickly faded. "YOU THERE! CASTING WITHOUT A LICENCE IS ILLEGAL." Three gearwork guards charged towards the two of them.

Lunar's smile vanished instantly, and she started pouting, saying, "We are going to jail!" She groaned and shed a few tears.

Ivy gave a little giggle, took her hand, instantly became invisible, and began to run with her.

"WHERE DID THEY GO!" Shouted one of the guards.

Lunar was perplexed, but she just kept running.

Ivy, meanwhile, was just enjoying herself.