The Record of Unusual Creatures

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Master Orrow got up in such a jittery manner that the people beside him were afraid that the old man would keel over when he started talking. After a few deep breaths, the old scholar started explaining. “The electric fairies have just returned and are extremely weakened. We have lost about half of our lights. The heaters and part of the water delivery system are down too. Our technical apprentices found a few damaged circuits. They are trying to change the parts but our resources are very limited…”

“Prioritize the heaters. We can fetch water from Watertank Town. The water reserves there should be able to last about half a month.” The viceroy interrupted the scholar. “Any news from Metalshire?”

“Can’t see any lights from here. The electricity is probably still out over there. The transmitters are out as well.” A short, fat man seated beside the scholar rose. “Seems like we need to send men over.”

“Then do it. You’ll lead the party. Bring a few extra muscles. We need to be wary of those Eisenstadt barbarians trying to take the opportunity to steal our galvanized metal sheets and wires.”

“Winter is coming.” Master Orrow still had something to say. “My lord, this darkness is just a warning. Our offerings are not sufficient to stop the coming of winter. You will need to think of what to do if winter does come. We need to take in refugees, stockpile resources and send envoys to Eisenstadt…”

‘Master, you’re an expert only on matters with machines and lightbulbs. Leave the matters of war to me.” The viceroy knocked on the table. “I honestly don’t care if winter is coming or not, we will never find real peace with the Eisenstadt. At the very least, I won’t be the one offering the olive branch to those treacherous scum.”

The scholar mumbled to himself, but the old man did not intend to challenge the viceroy’s authority and sat down after a deep sigh.

The viceroy then went through the agenda and arrangements with brutal efficiency before urging Master Orrow and his escorts to depart as soon as possible. He did however sought the opinion of his ‘warrior guests’. But Hao Ren was agreeable to leave as soon as possible, so after allowing the old scholar to prepare, the group got ready to leave Hearthfire.

Hao Ren and the rest waited for Willy by the small road before Hearthfire. Lily crossed her legs looking at Furnace of the Ancestors across the land. The husky was rather worries. “We can’t be walking over there right? We have an eighty year old old man in tow… by the time we trudge our way through the reactor would’ve blow up a second time…”

Hao Ren too was worried about this, and while his group could run over pretty quickly, bringing Willy and Master Orrow was another matter altogether. Willy may have seen their ‘sorcery’ so there’s still a chance to use some high-tech transportation method to bring him there, like the North Star. The problem was Master Orrow, that old man’s eighty year old heart may not survive the North Star’s speed…

But before he had much more time to ponder, a loud train horn rang from behind and something that sounded like a tractor came out a distance. Turning back, Hao Ren saw a bizarre contraption bellowing black smoke chugging out of Hearthfire…

The vehicle’s rear part was a carriage made out of sheet metal and planks while the front part was a very out-of-place locomotive. The entire engine was exposed and two bended exhaust pipes extended out from both sides of the engine, belching smoke and the signature train horn sound. The driver’s seat too was rather unique. There was a soot blackened chair secured by wire and rope behind the engine. The field of view was unobstructed and a crooked steering from who knows where was lodged before the chair. It was not only crooked, it was unevenly crooked….

But the most dumbfounding thing of all, was the driver. Master Orrow. The old scholar was on the driver’s seat. The skinny, and frail old man sat up straight on the chair, his face serious as he held on to the steering. The fistful of hair remaining on his head fluttered in the wind, like a patrolling old knight.

That scene that totally took Lily aback. “Awoooooo??”

Following the rolling black smoke and deafening tuts, the odd contraption screeched to a halt before Hao Ren. Willy poked his head out from the carriage, the young lad looked much more energetic now. “Sorry for the long wait. We’ll head out now. Get on.!”

Hao Ren pointed that the ‘vehicle’, not knowing where to start ridiculing it. He was probably torn trying to point of the irony of someone knowing how to drive in a feudal world, or the fact that this world had a tractor had is made out of wood and metal. This bizzare vehicle could literally qualify as a piece of art, proudly on display in between the ancient and modern section of a museum. The fact that it was here however, left Hao Ren speechless.

“Surprised?” Master Orrow saw Hao Ren’s expression from the rear mirror. The old scholar laughed giddly. “Only those who had studied in the Spire of Knowledge for more than six years are granted the right to learn and pilot the Steelbeasts. There are only three of this in Hearthfire, and if not for the emergency royal summons, the viceroy would not have let this out. Lets cut the chatter, hop on!”

Hao Ren swallowed everything that he wanted to say back with all his willpower before dragging Lily onboard. As they got into the carriage they realised that it did not have anything resembling a seat. The carriage was basically a wooden crate tied together with metal wires. The locals probably had no idea on how to make a seat, and how to fix them to the floorboard of the carriage. Willy pulled out a couple of stools from the back of the carriage and placed it before them. “Have a seat.”

After confirming that all have gotten onboard, Master Orrow called for everyone to seat tight. With a pat to fix his robes, the old scholar sat up straight on the wooden chair and slammed the throttle.

Lily looked at the stools that Willy had pushed over, quipping. “More than ten odd years when I hitch a ride on a tincan carriage I too had sat on one of these folding sto…. OH MY WOOF!”

As the old scholar slammed the throttles, the combined-tractor-like vehicle lurched forward and onto the pothole riddled road. The violent jolt threw Lily flat on her face. Hao Ren quickly helped the lass up before noticing everyone else was bouncing and shaking about in the carriage. That proved that installing a seat in the carriage was practically pointless. The entire vehicle followed the Brownian motion as soon as it started moving. The passengers had to rely on their wits and strength to stay in place. While it may look like everyone was sitting on a stool, in practice all of them were squatting down and followed the carriage’s motion with a slow trot…

Willy, who was usually cowardly was instead rather calm. As a local, he was probably used to this…

“Can this really run?” Hao Ren spoke at the top of his voice towards Willy as he squatted. “There’s a proper road out there?”

He still remembered the horrible state of the road when they passed by the Path of Abundance, and the usualy pathways of the sanctuary had already so broken it was no different than the Gobi Desert. Hao Ren started worrying how far the artistic contraption he’s on will actually take him. After experiencing the jolts and tumbles of the carriage, he felt that going straight or sideways was no different…

Willy shouted back. “No worries! The main road is well maintained!”

Hao Ren looked out an noticed that they were indeed on a wider road that is better maintaned. While there were cracks on the cement surface, all of the potholes had been filled up. That brought some measure of relief to him.

But as Master Orrow slamed the throttle again to get the vehicle onto the road, Hao Ren realised something. The road condition be damned!

It was the vehicle’s condition that was god awful. It did not even have any suspension to boot! Heck, the wheels are not completely round either. No one an intelligent scholar in that whatever tower they hail from needed six years to learn how to operate a tractor. This was clearly not a driving class, it is an extreme sports class!

Hao Ren was worried that parts of the carriage might came off as the vehicle trudged along the road. At the same time, he looked through the carriage window towards the old scholar, Master Orrow who was driving the thing. The old man was seated on a chair before the engine that was only held in place by wire and rope. The scholar’s robe and hair fluttered in midair as they went. It was an understatement to say that Hao Ren was worried that the old man would fall off the chair…

“My impression of the scholar had just turned upside down.” Nangong Sanba said to his sister. “Even guys sixty years younger than him would not have gone this crazy.”

Hao Ren muttered to himself as the carriage shook. If this thing was to be thrown back to Earth, forget about anyone driving it. Recognising it as a vehicle itself would have been an achievement. Just by leaving it by the roadside, no one will know better if you did not drive it yourself.

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