A Helper

Ezekiel sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose. Glancing at the boy who knelt and stared at him with a loyal expression, he really couldn't understand how he came upon this current circumstance.

He had been busy with the creation of his equipment while also having an internal conversation with Laura about his techniques when his silent alarm placed at the entrance of the workshop rang to inform him of a guest.

The mechanic had been ready for a battle when he found out the guest was a boy who was hell bent on serving him. The boy who he had given several starls the other day.

"I don't really understand how you can trust someone just because I gave you a bit of money. The money really doesn't matter to me."

"No. My parents always told me to return any favor given to me so I can only return your favor with my life." Vahn spoke with a determined tone while staring honestly at his benefactor. He didn't care that he was choosing to serve someone his age, that didn't matter to him.

Though his benefactor seemed to work in the slum side of Pytra city, Vahn could easily infer that the boy before him was a noble's son. Probably a son of one of the top families in the city.

(Hah~, just allow him in Ez. We needed a little help in the workshop anyways.) Laura suggested seeing the strong determination in the boy's eyes. (Besides, Vibration type Awakened are really rare after all. He could become a rather strong subordinate.)

The mechanic sighed once more before nodding. "Okay, come on already. I'm only letting you in because you seem like an innocent guy, if you betray me…" A rather terrifying smile appeared on his face, one that sent shivers down Vahn's spine. "Let's just hope you don't do something so stupid."

He turned and moved towards the wall before allowing the hidden machine to scan his prints once more. The hidden shaft soon opened to reveal what seemed to be a bottomless abyss. "Come on."

Hearing hid voice, Vahn snapped out of his initial fear and nodded, walking over to Ezekiel's side. "Benefactor, what's down there?"

"Benefactor? Urgh, that sounds so weird in my mouth." Ezekiel gagged, as a former Earthling and African American, that word sounded so weird. "My name's Ezekiel, call me that. As for what's down there, it's my base. Let's go." With a step, he dragged Vahn and jumped into the hole which closed once they were in.

The poor boy screamed as he felt the wind brush by him. "I-I can't fly!"

"Haha. Don't worry about it." The mechanic chuckled and revealed the Windchasers attached to his feet. The golden lines that streaked across its body soon lit up before Psionic energy left the thrusters at the sole, slowing their fall speed before they safely landed.

Vahn fell to his knees, gasping loudly while slightly shivering. "C-Can we never do that again?"

Ezekiel laughed. "How else do you wanna get in and out of here then?"

The boy groaned as he realized this. But he could only accept his fate, he had chosen to come here on his own accord after all. He stood up, glancing around at the items he saw here. "This… are you a Forger?" There was a bit of hesitation in his voice. Because the items here did look like forged equipment, but there was no trace of any mana within them at all. And most of what he saw looked weird or misshapen.

Ezekiel shook his head, smiling as he withdrew a glove from his Dimension ring. "Nah. I'm more special than that. You can call me a Mechanic though."

"Your attempt at making a dramatic flair really sucks." Laura appeared in front of the two and mockingly spoke.

"Tch, does it make any sense that a human AI knows what dramatic flair means."

"You just mentioned the reason. Human. AI."

"What I'd give to find the core of your code and re-customize you myself."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Oh but I would. Wanna try?"

"Um, who is she?" Vahn felt a need to butt in at this point. Something told him that the duo would argue all day if he didn't interrupt their petty argument.

"Hmm?" Ezekiel finally refocused, glancing at his new subordinate and scratched his hair. "She's my partner. Think of her as my personal assistant."

Laura's amethyst eyes twitched but she let that answer slide. And seeing this caused the mechanic to hold back a smile.

"Anyways, just treat her words as mine. Thankfully, there are rooms in this workshop so you can stay here if your living conditions are poor. Actually, I think it's better if you move in since that will make it easier for me to reach you."

"B-But my sister." Vahn immediately protested. He had just gotten her out of the hospital after all, he couldn't just abandon her. Even if it was for the person he had pledged himself to.

"Oh, yeah. Well it doesn't really matter, go get her and bring her here too. It'll be better that way too, she can tend to the place while I train you up."

"Train?"

"Yeah." A trace of amusement appeared on Ezekiel's face. "You think I'd let someone with a rare Life affinity work as a servant? That's such a waste, man. My dad would kill me if he heard I did something like that. Plus, I need someone who I can ven- I mean practice with. Someone around my level of strength."

"We could also test if we can create gears that can be worn by other people." Laura inputted, several holographic images appearing around her as she rose up into the air.

"Hmm, yeah. That too. I guess we'll start right away." He moved to the side, grabbing what seemed to be a measuring tape and taking Vahn's size. "Nice, your feet size is almost the same as mine. I won't need to change much then."

"Um, what's that for?" Vahn asked curiously as he watched Ezekiel bring out a screwdriver and disassemble some parts of a pair of Windchasers on the table before him.

The latter smiled. "You said you couldn't fly, didn't you? I'm gifting you what will allow you to. Get ready for the best ride of your life."