The Mechanical Era

The bakery encompassed the ground floor of a 3 story wood and stone building. The bottom floor was mostly made out of stone, with the upper floors being made out of wood except for the corners, which acted as stone columns that held the building together.

The bakery itself was very open and spacious, with no walls except a stone collum in the corner to support the building. There was a roof on the sides, which gave some extra shade. The bakery itself was open, allowing the fresh smells of its goods to reach the noses of everyone walking up and down the street, and allowing potential customers to have a good look inside.

The bakery floor was made out of plank wood, cut into long endless rectangles. There was a counter, made of wood and stone, where one could place their order. On the bottom left and right on the counters, there were trays of goods that they sold. So even if a customer did not know what they want, they can order it by pointing at it.

The bakery also featured a bunch of round wooden tables, with chairs surrounding them. Some of them were occupied, while the empty ones were being cleaned by a young girl, wearing a hawthorn-leaf orange gown, with a light brown hemp apron, using a hemp cloth.

"Is that it?" Marco asked while pointing to the bakery.

"That is it. Although, there appear to be more people sitting around. Must be due to the school opening so near the place," Vice replied. As they walked closer, Vice suggested that Marco should be the one to order.

"Why is that?" Marco asked.

"Well, it's because you are new around these parts. People usually remember their faces. I think it will be a good time to introduce yourself to the bakery owner." he replied. With that, Marco agreed to Vice's advice and walked right in.

While Marco went up to the line to the counter, Vice secured them a table. He had already told Marco what he wanted;10 buns, a fish pastry, and an almond cake along with a small cup of beer.

As Marco got closer, the great smell of food, which had resided in the bakery, increased Marco's appetite a little more. He looked around and saw nothing familiar to him. As a result, he picked something that he thinks he will enjoy.

Once it was their turn, a woman, with long black hair tied up in a knot with a stick, came up to them with a smile. She wore a similar outfit compared to the one working at the counter, but she looked to be a few years older than the one cleaning the counter. Marco guessed about 19.

"Hi, how may I help you?" she asked.

"Hi. How much is the small bun?" he asked while pointing at it. It was a round dough bread on a wooden plate.

"Oh, that? We sell 2 buns for 1 copper each. Normally people order a basket of buns. That comes with 20 buns for 8 copper. It also comes free with the butter."

"Alright. What about a fish pastry?"

"2 copper for 1 each."

"And an almond cake?"

"6 copper. The people love it."

"And the beer?"

"A small cup costs 5 copper. A medium costs 8, and a large one, 10,"

"Alright then, I will a basket of buns, 2 fish pastries, an almond cake, and 2 small cups of beer."

"Alright, anything else?" she asked. Marco eyed a brown cookie on the side. He pointed to it and asked for one

"That will cost 8 copper. Do you wish to proceed?"

"Yes."

"Dine in or takeout?"

"Dine in."

"Alright then, Just wait right here," she said. The woman disappears into the kitchen through the door. A good minute passes until she comes back with a large wooden plate full of the freshly baked goods Marco ordered.

"Your total comes up to 36 copper pieces," she said. Marco, after giving all the money in his pocket, lifts the wooden plate of goods. Before he leaves, the woman asks him a question.

"Before you go, may I ask your name?"

"My name is Marco. Marco Dietrichson," he says.

"Nice to meet you, Marco. My name is Nia, I will make sure to remember your face," she replied. Marco brings the plate of goods over to where Vice was sitting. He had picked a spot where they can enjoy a good view of the streets.

"Thank you, Marco. Here is the money for my share. Forgot to give it to ya." he handed a pouch of coins which covered the cost of the food he wanted. Marco placed it in his pouch and started to eat with Vice.

Marco tried the fish pastry first, while Vice ate the almond cake first. Marco wanted to try and see if what he talked out about the fish pastry was true. As soon as he placed it in his mouth, he felt a great sensation in his mouth.

Coming from a rural area, where he mostly ate the same thing every day, with a few variants, Marco's tongue managed to taste something new for the first time in a long time, and he enjoyed it.

Wanting the sensation to last, he slowly bites into it, creating a stronger, and longer-lasting flavor. Vice, who was seeing his face, chuckled.

"I see you like it." Marco gulps his bite to respond.

"I do. It's amazing! You were right about his place!"

"I told you. Say, did she ask for your name?"

"She did, and she responded with her name. Nia. Pretty similar to my mother's name."

"Oh, really? What is her name?"

"Mia."

"Ah. That is similar. Well, make sure you remember the names of the people around you. You will get to see them a lot when you come here. You can even recognize a few faces after a while. Like that guy." he pointed his finger at a young man.

He had blond hair, combed back and a little to the left side. He had a sleek masculine face, along with a clean-shaven face. His ocean-blue eyes looked directly at the food he ate, picking them up with his clean pocket knife. The man wore a clean white coat with black pants and leather shoes.

"That guy comes into this place every day about this time. His name is Lester Von Hattlebur. He is a rich merchant that likes to live around these parts."

"You. know him?"

"A little. I talked with him a couple of times. Although it is small talk really. It's a good place to network with people. Pretty important to become a merchant."

"I see."

"Hey, once we are done with learning to read and shit, we can maybe ask for an apprenticeship. I mean, by then we would already have the skills he needs. Right?"

"Yea. Right." Marco replied. They continued to eat their food. From the corner of his eye, Marco spots two strange men, wearing strange clothes.

"Hey, you know who those guys are?" Marco pointed at them. He turned around to see what he was talking about.

"No. I don't I wonder who those could be." Then, all of a sudden, a woman, whose voice belongs to Nia, screams at the top of her lungs.

"THIEF!!!!"