20 The Factory

Marianne XIII led us down the long staircase and into a series of alleys until we reached an empty street where a large brick warehouse was. The other buildings that surrounded it appeared to be factories and warehouses owned by local businesses. Patches of tall grass grew at the sides of the cobblestone street. The leader of the Sariyan Order walked up to the warehouse's iron gates and unlocked them. After stepping inside the building, she gestured us to follow behind her.

Inside the building were long tables with various metal parts and tools scattered atop. I picked up one of them and felt its texture. They were made of lunatia.

"Why are you bringing us here?" Iris asked.

"I want you to understand what we are dealing with. More importantly, I want you to understand what Aliciel is." She stood in front of an oddly shaped object covered by a sheet of fabric. In one swift motion, she pulled at its edges to reveal an automaton underneath. It bore an uncanny resemblance to the machinery used for my body.

I walked over to the boxes and crates that were scattered and piled up haphazardly inside the room. They were filled with copies of that same automaton.

"This is a mortis machina," Adrian said as he gazed upon the death machine. His face turned grave and brimmed with repulsion at the sight of the mechanical weapon that killed his comrades years ago.

"Indeed it is," said Marianne XIII, who maintained her usual calmness. "This is Excidium's most formidable weapon." She forcefully tore open the machine with a screwdriver and dismantled it. She then carefully laid out its parts on the table. "This is a machine built specifically for battle. Within its body parts are weapons hidden from view. It's quite an intricate design worthy of praise were it not for its true purpose."

"Does Aliciel have that as well?"

"She might. We won't know unless she learns to utilize and control her other functions. If they exist, that is."

Iris looked at me. It was almost as if she was afraid of me.

Marianne XIII turned the automaton to have its back face up. She stabbed the screw in between two metal plates and yanked the back metal cover open rather ruthlessly. She reached her hand in and pulled out what seemed to be a mechanical wing. She spread it wide open. Its wingspan was twice that of its arm length.

"They have the ability of flight as well?" Iris asked.

"They are built to have the advantage," replied Marianne XIII without taking her eyes off of the wing she was holding.

I felt my back. Could I have those same wings as well?

Marianne XIII looked at me in the eye. "Aliciel, you could have some or all of these functions. When the time comes, I request that you will use them to protect the innocent just as you did during the train hijacking. I believe you are different from these machines. These automatons are without soul and only obey without question. You, on the other hand, are human. A rational creature with free will and intellect. Never forget your humanity."

"Who is the designer of this machine?" Iris asked as she ran her hand over the automaton's dismembered arm.

"Its original design belonged to Adonias. After Adonias left the organization, they seized his blueprints and made multiple copies. Once they produce enough for a large army, they will come. And when they do, there will be war."

War will be coming.

The twins were unsettled by Marianne XIII's words. The reason why the underground council were serious about eradicating Excidium was because they recognized the true extent of the threat the evil organization posed. If no one made a move against them, they would come sooner. The kingdom would fall into ruin.

"What exactly is Excidium's goal?" Adrian asked.

Marianne XIII turned around to face us. Her fierce expression burned into my memory. "Revenge."

"Revenge for what?"

"I can't blame them, but I disagree with their actions. The founders of this organization were survivors of this kingdom's experimentation with dark magic and forbidden alchemy practices. Others were a product of these artificial methods. This includes Adonias." She paused. "There is an island off the coast of Anbernel where the ruins of these laboratories are. I can take you there if you wish to know more."

"Could Master have been part of that experiment?" I asked.

"The fact that your master is able to replicate the mortis machina design links him strongly to Excidium. It is highly likely that he shares the same past as them."

I recalled the memory of that day Master took me out fishing:

"Do you miss your home, Master?"

"I am already home."

"I mean your original home."

"There is no such thing."

Could this be the reason why he said that?

"I would like to go to that island," I declared.

I needed to know more about Master's past. Perhaps it would lead me to him one day. That island probably held several clues.

The Latrell twins said nothing in reply. They were unsure whether knowing more would be good for them. Knowledge could prove to be dangerous. This was evident in the successive murders of high-rank mechanics.

Marianne XIII nodded. "Very well. I will have it arranged. We will travel by ship to the island of Cassandra tomorrow morning. Please wait at the docks at seven o'clock."