5 Miss Clementine

The bustling streets of Eriden were lined with various shops and residential buildings built mainly with brick and roofs of clay tile. Horse-driven wooden carriages travelled down the cobblestone pavement. The scene unfolding before me was very different from the isolated mountain village where I came from where there was barely any interesting activity that took place. Here, there were a multitude of fascinating sights and sounds: elaborately decorated restaurants with waiters enticing passers-by to enter, shop display windows that were filled to the brim with merchandise, people loitering outside the bakery with bags of bread, a group of women in silk crinoline dresses engaging in local gossip at a cafe, a newspaper boy announcing the unfortunate news of the siege of a nearby town by the rebel forces, and other curious happenings. As we took a casual stroll down the raised stone sidewalk, I couldn't help but take a good look around me.

"Is this your first time in Eriden?" I must have been looking around too much that Adrian decided to ask me this question.

"It's my first time nearly everywhere," I replied without taking my eyes off a strange metal vehicle with a long pipe emitting white smoke. It carried several sitting passengers inside the curtained cars. "What is that?"

Adrian was partially amused that I didn't recognize the transportation. "That is a steam coach. It takes passengers around town for a price."

"Fascinating."

"I assume you don't travel much. Where are you from, Aliciel?"

"Ebernhard."

"The mountain village overlooking the sea? I heard the view there is exquisite."

Was it exquisite? I couldn't recall being moved by the view.

"I suppose it is."

"And that is where you met your master?"

"Yes," I replied. "Eriden is very different from what was written in books."

"Ah. There are many sides to Eriden. This would be the cleaner side of the city, the northern district. The southern area is where the shopping and entertainment districts are located. It's the most interesting and well-documented portion of the city. Visitors usually head for the shopping arcade or the royal bath house."

"I never imagined that it would be this big. Frankly, I'm quite surprised."

"It is the biggest city in the kingdom after all!" Adrian said proudly.

We stopped at a two-storey, red brick building sandwiched in between two other similar structures. There was no clear indication of what sort of shop Miss Clementine ran. The exterior provided no such hint, save for a large sculpture of a bird composed of scrap machinery parts. This bird, with its wings spread out freely (reminiscent of the flying dove some religious orders used to represent themselves), stood behind the thick glass window and concealed whatever activity occurred within the mysterious establishment. When the small bell, triggered by the slight push of the entrance door, rang and alerted the lady behind the counter, the shop interior was finally made known to me, but not its true purpose.

"What sort of shop is this?" I asked curiously.

Adrian lowered his voice, "Miss Clementine had been very indecisive about whether to sell supplies to mechanics or run a quaint cafe. In the end, she did both and that became The Blue Feather, named simply because of her fondness for birds."

"Mr. Latrell! Did you come here to finally purchase my new invention?" The lady behind the counter had her bright red lips curved into a charming smile.

"Miss Clementine, as much as I'd love to have a tea maker in my house, I do not have the money for it right now."

Her gaze landed on me. "Oh? I believe I haven't been introduced to your new lady friend."

"Aliciel, this is Miss Clementine, the shop owner."

"Aliciel! What a lovely name."

Miss Clementine was a calm-looking woman about the same age as the Latrell twins. She wore an elaborate black and red bustle dress that pronounced her feminine curves and assets as if she was fishing for a lover. As Adrian told me during our walk, she disliked most men and placed her career as an entrepreneur above anything else. She just really loved money.

Beside her was a curious automaton with the head of a duck. Ducks bore no apparent symbolism aside from the prospect of a delicious roasted dinner. It went about its work of preparing tea and coffee for the few customers.

"She saved my life during that train incident," said Adrian.

Miss Clementine appeared intrigued. "Ah. So she's that girl. Newspapers say she mysteriously vanished right after the train arrived at the station."

"Actually, I brought her to my sister immediately after to have her repaired. And now, here we are."

"Get her fixed? She is an automaton I presume?" She observed me carefully. "Well-built with what seems to be Lunatia, a special alloy only the best alchemists can produce. Even I don't have such a rare material in stock. She looks very human for a machine."

"Half-automaton," corrected Adrian.

"Interesting. And what seems to be the problem?"

"According to Iris, her core was created with magic. We were hoping you would know any high-rank mechanic who could repair her core."

Miss Clementine's face turned serious. Gone was the look of intrigue that was there just seconds ago. "Let's continue our talk in the back room."

The young shop owner lifted her skirts and carefully walked to a door that led to her office. Adrian and I followed her inside. She closed the door shut after we took our seats on the cushioned chairs in front of her desk.

Miss Clementine's office was quite messy, a sharp contrast to the clean and organized shop interior. There were various sculptures, very similar to the bird displayed behind the shop window, enclosed in glass casings as if they were worth the same value as precious gold. The mahogany desk was littered with papers: written orders from customers, letters from suppliers, and accounts of monthly expenses. Some of these papers were underneath a wooden abacus, given a secondary function of a paperweight. A particular book caught my eye because of a cross-like symbol with a rose and a caged bird etched on its leather bound cover.

She began, "Mr. Latrell, a few high-rank mechanics have been targeted and murdered in the past few days. Nobody knows why yet. I urge you to be careful not to get wrapped up in this one. I fear that this might be the work of a vile organization."

She reached for her pen and began scribbling on a piece of paper. "This is the nearest available high-rank mechanic. He is not directly working for a noble at the moment. He might accept your request. Tell him I sent you."

Adrian received the paper. "Thank you very much, Miss Clementine."

"Remember to purchase that tea maker once you have the money. I'll be waiting." She winked, inducing a forced smile on Adrian's face. "If you are not in rush, Mr. Latrell, how about remaining in my shop for a quick drink?"

Adrian paused to consider his schedule. Finally, he replied, "I'll take you up on that offer then. A cup of your special coffee blend please." He looked at me. "Would you like anything, Aliciel?"

I shook my head. "No. I'm fine."

Miss Clementine was pleased to hear his answer. "Wonderful. I will have my automaton prepare it immediately. Please make yourself comfortable."

I followed Adrian to a table near the bird sculpture. It was the only table that was illuminated by natural sunlight. It was also far away from the corner where The Blue Feather's triumvirate of regulars sat discussing some political theory almost insurrectionary in nature. For a minute, Adrian sat still, possibly eavesdropping on the conversation. This was interrupted by the serving of his coffee. He thanked the coquettish shop owner and proceeded to take a sip.

"Do you not drink or eat?" Adrian asked curiously.

"I'm able to survive without food or water," I replied.

"Amazing! So you survive through the core's power?"

"Yes. The core was built to sustain me."

"Have you ever regretted being unable to eat or drink? I can't imagine missing out on the pleasures of food." He smelled his coffee, bringing a smile to his face.

"I never imagined I'd have the pleasure of good food and drink."

For a moment, he flashed me a look of what seemed to be filled with pity. He most probably spent his fortunate life having enough coin for delectable meals.

Adrian opened the folded paper he received from Miss Clementine. He kept a stern face as he looked over its contents. There was a single name written in longhand: Neal Culver. Below the name was an address located in a place called Byrd. Both names were unfamiliar to me.

"We'll ride to Byrd first thing tomorrow," declared the detective. "It's almost dark. The roads are dangerous at night with a higher incidence of highwaymen."

"Is travel always dangerous?" I wondered.

"Oh, travel is always dangerous. Hard times have made people desperate enough to hurt others to survive." Adrian glanced at the metallic bird as he refolded the paper and slipped it into his pocket. "Oftentimes I think about the day when this peace we enjoy here in Eriden will be disrupted. If the war continues, and it shall, Eriden will not be spared because the stronghold of our king lies in its center."

"I imagine it must be frightening to think of losing your home."

"I've lost a home before. Losing another one wouldn't be as heavy to me." His eyes were lost in a long-forgotten memory.

I did not press him further about his statement.

After finishing his drink, the detective and I returned to the Latrell house where Iris eagerly pestered her brother for details on our visit to Miss Clementine's shop. He patiently answered all her questions, after which he was finally allowed to have a bite of the bread Iris purchased from the neighborhood bakery.

"We will be riding to Byrd tomorrow morning to meet this high-rank mechanic named Mr. Culver," Adrian told his twin sister.

Upon hearing the town name, Iris' mouth dropped in shock. "Byrd you say? Have you not read the news, Adrian? The war has spread to that area too. Half of the town is in ruins. Would you really believe that a high-rank mechanic would stay?"

"It's the only lead we have from Miss Clementine."

"Perhaps she could give you another lead. I am almost certain that she isn't aware of the news."

"I fear that a second lead would require a purchase from her. Would you like a new Clementine-made tea maker?"

Iris sighed and admitted defeat. "Promise me you'll both make it back in one piece."

"We'll be back as soon as we can."

"Be careful."

The household fell to a hush as each twin carried on in separate activities: Adrian deeply concentrated on updating himself with the local news and Iris moving items around the house. I sat on the couch as a quiet observer of the natural movements of these Eriden residents.

An hour later, Iris announced that dinner preparations were completed. The twins sat on the couch with their dinner plates and began eating their humble meal of potato soup and bread. I thought about the last time I had a similar meal.

"The newspapers never mentioned much about the rebels who hijacked the train," Adrian initiated the dinner conversation.

"They would do well to conceal that sort of information. Rebels have access to the local newspaper too," said Iris after she consumed the last drop of her soup.

"Those rebels. They knew me."

Iris Latrell rolled her eyes. "With you always getting wrapped up in these kinds of incidents, I'm not even surprised. Maybe you should wear a disguise and dye your hair."

"Certainly not! I like the color of my hair just fine."

"So, who was it who hired you this time?"

"I don't know. It's that blank envelope again."

Iris looked worried. "You still continue to accept those requests?"

"He pays extra for keeping his identity hidden. It keeps us alive for a month at least. Clients have been hard to come by these days. There are more pressing matters for them to attend to."

Iris couldn't argue with her twin brother. "Those envelopes give me a bad feeling."

"They give me a bad feeling as well, which is why I only accept them if we really need the money."

After dinner, Adrian thanked Iris for the meal and went to the second floor. The detective's sister began piling up the plates and bowls. I offered to help her clean the dishes.

"Will you be alright being in contact with water?" Iris asked.

"I was built to withstand liquids as well," I said in reply.

Upon finishing the dishes, Iris turned to me. "I've prepared your room, Aliciel. You're welcome to stay with us in the meantime. Come, let me show you to your room."

"Thank you," I replied politely and followed her to the second floor, where we entered a hallway.

Iris led me inside the room in the middle with olive green walls. There was nothing inside except for a single bed and a wooden dresser.

"This was an extra room we kept in case we had to look after our little friend, Kitty. Adrian keeps his books here when it's not in use. I've moved them into his room. You can use this room temporarily," she said. "You must be tired. Take a rest."

I thanked her once more before she left me.

I never imagined that I would ever lie on a comfortable bed again. Ever since I left Master's stone tower, I slept outside under large trees in any weather. Simple errands only gave me enough coin to purchase train tickets.

The room right next to mine was Adrian's. I could hear him muttering things to himself. I moved towards his door and watched curiously as the detective concentrated on the papers scattered on his work-desk. He reminded me of how Master used to stay up late to read books and write on his notebook.

"He always looks through his cases before bed." A voice startled me. I immediately turned around.

It was Iris, appearing amused by my spying.

She continued, "He may be clumsy and easygoing, but he works much harder than I do."

"Is it just the two of you living here?" I asked.

"Yes. Our parents perished in the war. We have no other family."

"Mine as well."

Iris was saddened to hear that I suffered the same fate. "Well then, I suppose we should look out for each other."

She went into her room and left me alone.