I found myself waking up at the table and have drooled a bit over the plans. I groaned and stretched as I stood up and faced the clock. It's nearly noon, wait, what? Damnit! I'll be late for the market! Rapidly grabbed the list that I wrote last night, my wallet, and a piece of toast and an apple in the kitchen.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkLiTS65Gv
Suddenly a firm hand grabbed at the back of my collar. "Hold your horses, Sylus."618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdU7NfX1Kj
"I can't! I'm late!" I struggled to free myself from his grip. For an old man, he does have surprising strength.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcctbzcCybP
"Are you sure you want to share a cheek-full of your latest plan?" He grinned.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOm2aOTEOA
"Huh? A cheek-full? What do you mean?"618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrac8WnDsuH
Rock pointed me to a mirror. I quickly stepped in front of it. My shoulder long red wavy hair always appears wild, even after brushing. My short goatee looks okay, but I saw ink prints of my plan on my left cheek. I grunted, annoyed, while rubbing it away with my hand. "Damnit." I cursed under my breath and licked my hand, hoping the ink would come off now.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhYIUnIMCZ
"You do know we have a bathroom to clear that up." Reminded Rock with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrVyftizfm
"No time. I'm late as it is." I gave short as I managed to rub off the ink, grab my jacket, cap and sprinted out the door. Once outside, the sun's bright light blinded me for a moment, but its warmth was welcoming. The air was filled with the usual smells from the industrial section of Leahstra; burning coal from steaming hot furnaces, grease and oil of turning cogs and wheels, the sweat of the workers and at times a whiff of tobacco from the wealthy class of people. A gentle breeze brushed my cheeks as I ran towards the city centre.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXcrMQHuax
Leahstra is built in width and in-depth; deep below the surface lies the infamous Mechmar, the mechanic market. A market made to trade among inventors and producers. Similar to the markets you know but only with different sorts and sizes of nuts, bolts, cogs, wheels, screws, wrenches, tools, pieces of metal, or other material you require. You can buy, sell and bargain to an agreeable price. With luck, you may find a broken machine for free or pieces of them, but they also sell unique functioning ones. I've tried selling five years ago the 'Tea-o-Matic Maid', but it ended up serving tea directly to everyone instead of pouring into the small cup. You can imagine how well that went and have since then a reputation with an annoying nickname, Broke-o-Sylus. The great James Michanangan started in this market small before he became famous, but I doubt as disastrous as me.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1UgzByvM9
Once I've reached deep below the city to Mechmar, it is dark as the night itself down here and can't tell the difference if you don't have a watch with you. Aside from the market, this is where the poorer people live and, it's not significantly save. Meaning if you don't look where you step, you might fall into a gap and land between two gigantic cogs. Many wheels and cogs turn for the mechanisms and machines above, the wealthy class. The furnaces are on a surface level for the heating, but here at Mechmar, it is pretty cold and far away from the steaming hot engines. Yep, it's that deep into the ground. The air in here carries a heavy, mouldy and greasy smell, but the poor can't smell it out anymore. I pulled out my flashlight as I entered the market. The light on some stands is feeble with only a few candles. At the same time, a few are well lit with modern electric light—a brilliant invention from Cornelius Durulus nearly two centuries ago. With my flashlight in one hand, I held in the other the list that I needed and began on my search.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDESiccbmhQ
Sunken deep in my search and arguing with the seller for an affordable price, it got cut by a scream at the far end of Mechmar. My first thought was one unfortunate fell between two enormous cogs. Still, I stand corrected as I saw briefly a flicker of bluish light, followed by a deep metallic buzzing. "Hide your metal; it's here to devour it!" Shouted a boy while sprinting towards the other direction. "By the name of Michanagan, not now!" I exclaimed as I saw five bright bluish lights and a particular hum. "Metal-Munchers!" Everyone around me cried in panic as they ran, and others tried to protect their goods. Metal-Munchers look like over-large bees, entirely out of metal, and they live off metal. Where they originate is a mystery, there are many rumours about them. They have to get hungry today when I need parts of metal the most out of all days. I must stop them from eating, but how? Come on, Sylus, think!618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsQM8AJ9wP
Suddenly one muncher came flying straight for my bag of metals that I had bargained for today. Quick-witted, I pulled from the stand a piece of wood and slammed it away from me. It fell at the other end of the market and out of sight, but a high pitched shriek came from it as it fell. A loud sound of whirring machinery came from behind me, I turned to see a swarm of metal-munchers, and they do not look happy. "Bugger" rolled out of me. I need to avoid their poisonous sting and sharp teeth as quickly as possible. Luckily they're not the fastest in flying and easily fooled when in rage. Without thinking, I grabbed some pieces of metal at the stand beside me and threw them high in the air while dashing to find cover. The munchers swarmed the pieces of metal as I'd hoped, but one was at my heels. Clever little thing but annoying. Without thinking, I took off my bag and captured it with ease, but as I heard the metallic sound of chewing, it was a mistake. My pieces! As my bag started to emit a strange regular sound, I peeked and saw a content muncher asleep and snoring.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTVLCHzMEB
"Hey! You have to pay the metal they've eaten away!" Shouted the seller angered at me.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vk3fy5CRD
"Hold it, I-"618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHKLPBuHat
"It can happen to anyone." Cut in a deep manly voice. "At least these buggers are gone." He pulls out from his coat his money clip and hands the seller a generous sum.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblGeQ5mQx1
"James Michanagan!" I exclaimed, surprised as he stood beside me. "May I shake your hand? It's an honour to meet you." As we shook hands, I was over the moon until a strange buzzing sound tickled at my left ear, and James stared at me and became pale as snow.618Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoRvlAuC0S
