Ironveil City stretched endlessly beneath the bright cerulean sky, a vast metropolis whose brass and stone towers climbed towards the heavens in detailed layers.
Bridges and railways threaded between the buildings like veins in the lively city. Complex walkways and trolly tracks crafted perfectly to take anyone and everyone to whatever part of the city they needed.
Above it all, airships flew in their designated paths, massive cargo zeppelins that were heavy with packages, minerals, and crops harvested from nearby farming cities. And for some reason, recently, sleek new patrol crafts seemed to circle over districts that were known for their low crime rates.
Steam hissed from rooftop vents in rhythmic bursts of air, steam-powered turbines spun on end atop of skyscrapers. Luminous conduits ran through the city like blood.
Yet underneath all the glory of the city and the constant whirring, clanking, and thundering of machinery, some things felt unnatural.
Certain towers predated the steam age by centuries, their foundations left unbothered by time and innovation. Those specific buildings were off limits to regular citizens and only those with authorization could even come near.
Due to the fact the buildings had been there for so long and the regulations surrounding them had been in place for around the same amount of time, not a soul would even go near them.
In the center of the city stood the monumental town hall, named The Axis. The Axis was truly the heart of the city. Its colossal structure rose far higher than the surrounding towers, a unity of towering stone buttresses and overlapping brass plates fitted together like the bones and joints of a slumbering giant.
Massive clocks made of scraps, cogs, and other miscellaneous pieces of metal were embedded into both sides of the building, both of them donations from the Ironveil Orphanage. Their hands turning with a calculated slowness, each shaped from ancient swords whose edges had long since dulled and hilts held together by nothing but rusty screws.
At its base, The Axis possessed two medium sized titanic doors with ancient sigils and crests carved into them, their surfaces had become smooth after centuries of constant use.
The Axis was so grand and breathtaking that travelers from all over the globe would visit Ironveil just to take a glimpse at the extraordinary construction. Its presence turned the city into a destination, drawing scholars, architects, and engineers. Alongside attracting tourists and visitors, The Axis also attracted many designers and students studying the subject. Its intricate design and structure fascinated even the most renowned architects.
The Axis was constantly busy with city officials flying through the halls, all in a rush to get to whatever meeting that they happened to be late to. Yelling voices echoed through the corridors, doors flung open and business men and women sprinted down the halls dropping papers from their briefcases and pens from their pockets. Punctuality was a luxury The Axis rarely afforded.
So when three figures came sprinting through the crowd, even less composed and more desperate than the city officials around them, few spared them more than a glance. Clutched in Elias's hand was a sealed letter bearing the mayor's insignia, its edges already creased from being checked one time too many.
"Elias! Run faster!"
Liora shouted, she wondered why he was so sluggish today.
Varya was already far ahead of the both of them, her long legs and confident strides carried her through the corridors of The Axis with much efficiency. There was no time to shout at them, or ask them to pick up the pace; she knew wasting breath would slow her down, and her mind was focused on far more pressing matters.
What was Sebastian going to say?
The three of them were already extremely late. Varya was told to have them back by three.
It was a quarter till four.
Varya looked behind her to see the two twelve year old children she was entrusted to watch over finally catching up to her. Of all the consequences that could possibly be waiting for them, she was most dreading the lecture from Sebastian that she knew would last far past sunset.
"Can we please rest?"
Elias begged the two of them to please slow down, clutching his side as he struggled to keep up with the two.
They did not.
Soon afterwards the three children burst through the doors of The Axis and onto the open streets of Ironveil. Varya began sprinting even faster, if she had not of caught herself and slowed down she could've easily left the two in her dust.
The wind rushed past their faces, their hair flying in the wind as they weaved through the crowds of people. Liora shouted quick apologies to people as they passed, while Elias focused on not dropping the letter or being trampled trying to keep up with the two girls.
Ahead of them, the familiar iron pole and copper sign of a trolley stop came into view, its platform had already begun to become crowded and its signal lights flashed vibrant reds and oranges.
Ring!
Screech!
A loud bell rang out as the trolley screeched to a halt arriving at the stop, and with no hesitation, Varya leapt aboard, grabbing Elias by the collar and hauling him up after her. Liora immediately hopped on the trolley as well, not knowing whether to laugh at Elias or worry about how angry Varya was.
As they rode on the trolley the city blurred by in a haze of steel, steam, and stone. The trolley carried the children from the heart of the city towards the wealthier districts. The streets became less crowded, and the thundering of the machinery faded away and became a distant humming.
The children got off the trolley at the stop nearest to their home and sprinted the rest of the way there. The city was even quieter the closer they got to home, this part of the city was so peaceful you would think it was an entirely different location.
When the manor finally came into view, it stood apart from the houses neighboring it. Not entirely stone, fully metal, or wood, but instead a beautiful fusion of different materials and intricate designs. Expected of the home of the greatest inventor this world had ever seen.
The gates of the manor parted as Liora, Elias, and Varya approached. Looking towards the manor, the children saw the tall steel-framed windows glowing faintly from the lamps inside. The manor was proper, elegant and imposing, its towers crowned with rotating mechanics and slow-turning gears that never seemed to stop.
'I wonder what Varya is thinking'
Elias thought to himself, still clutching the mayors letter. He had noticed she slowed her pace and was breathing quite heavily as they got closer to the entrance of the manor.
Varya rubbed her eyes before turning to Elias and holding out her hand.
"Elias. The letter."
Without thinking, Elias tossed it to her. The moment it left his fingers, a quiet sense of relief settled in his chest.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
They lingered there for a moment, looking at one another. Elias loved his sister, and the thought that the weight of Sebastian's expectations, and the endless demands of adults, might be pressing too heavily on her made his stomach uneasy.
Varya turned away first, facing the manor's front door.
She drew in a slow breath, tightened her grip around the handle, and pushed.
Whatever awaited them inside, she knew one thing for certain.
It would not be pleasant.