Ch 2.2 [Claras perspective] On the way back and home

[Author here. this is a slow chapter]

Waiting where Anastasia left me, I hold the badge she gave me. remembering the name to call if I'm in any kind of danger, Rudy. I'm pretty high up, above the entrance to the Innercity. It's still a bit cramped being an alley but at least there's light coming down. With nothing to do I look around here, the walls of concrete, bricks, and stone... it's a weird combination of materials. the waterpipes seems to be holding a few things together but I find it hard to believe they can hold the weight of some people on them.

I look around this place while waiting for Anastasia. I wait for maybe thirty minutes until I hear her from below.

"Hey. I'm back, was I long?" with that, I jump down to her and for a second, I swear I see a shadow of a fox on her shoulder

"You took maybe thirty minutes. ready to head back?"

"First though. my badge" She hold her hand out, "Oh! right" I place the badge back in her hand

"So Ana, what's that shadow on your shoulder?" I ask "Huh? you can see it?" she replies

"Well, it's feint, like it's there but also not? I just feel like there's something there"

"Is that so..." She seems to look at her shoulder then whisper a small 'return', then she looks and me and says, "What about now?". I try to see or sense the shadow, but I can't "No, I can see it now. what was it?"

"you'll learn soon enough. let us leave now" She starts running out, I follow her leaving the entrance to the Innercity.

After some time, we finally see daylight. it seems to be getting late with the sun setting. we walk out of an alley to see a big road, we're around the mid levels if I had to say, i'd say we're about 75 meters from the ground

"I'll need to head to uhh, Anders little shop from here. what about you Ana?" 

"I have one last letter to deliver. nice to meet you Clara, Bye for now"

"Yeah, bye bye"

We both walk our separate ways. I run back to Mrs. Anders, making my way down to the ground on the way by jumping and sliding down from the pipes, taking shortcuts and alleys until I eventually reach the ground. then I walk along the main road until I get to the shop, seeing it mostly cleaned.

"Hi, Mrs. Anders how's everything?" I look around, seeing the shelves missing a few items, the mess on the floor, there's none.

"It's all good now, and here's the papers for the package" She hands me the papers then goes back to dusting off a few products here.

I take the papers then look them over "Do you need anything else" I ask, feeling bad that I left the mess to them.

"No, we're fine right now. we have it covered and thanks for the delivery"

"Then see you tomorrow"

I leave after making sure everything's in order. walking back to the school I think about meeting Yuna and seeing my new knife.

When I reach the school, I walk through the gates and make my way to the office to turn in the papers and clock out. I go back into my normal school uniform, well, just taking off the red hood.

At the blacksmiths where Yuna should be, I ask someone to get her for me and I wait for her. while waiting I imagine the kind of knife she made and what kind of dish I'll make for her when it's done.

When she comes out to see me, she's holding a box that has my name on it

"Oh is that my knife" 

"Yes, it is. see it for yourself and tell me what you think" She hands the box to me and I open it. it's a simple chef knife. A wooden handle that feels a bit too round, I check the edge and it's curving a little to the side. I touch the blade to check the sharpness, and it does feel like it can cut but it could be better, but I do like the larger size. "So... what do you think" she asks

"Want my honest opinion?" she hesitates a moment then firmly says "Yes".

"Well, first off. the handle's too round that I can't get a comfortable grip, and the blade isn't as straight as I'd like for it to be, and as for the sharpness, it isn't ideal. but it passes." 

"...Still as harsh as ever. can't you hold back just a little"

"No, I cannot" If I'm gonna tell someone if something's wrong, I will not hold back. "Right now, all I want of this is a better handle" 

"No, I'll fix everything you said. expect it done by... the day after tomorrow. see you then"

"Sure. I'm tired after today so I'll head home now."

"Okay then. bye"

I put the knife back into the box then hand it back to her. "But I do like the size. can you try to keep that while you fix the problems I had?" I add "Yes, of course" she says while she heads back.

I leave the school and walk back home. seeing the night sky, I want to take the long route. So, I go into an alley to make my way to the top. Climbing the ladders and walking on the pipes. the moons light seems to reach me from the building tops. I decide to see how far I am up, so I go to the streets view and I'm nearly at the top of the buildings. looking down at the streets, I'm not scared, at least not as scared as my first time. I continue making my way up to the roofs and walk home from there

When I get home, I go straight to bed. sleeping until the next day.