The wagon's wooden frame creaked beneath my mechanical body, which was hidden beneath layers of black cloth, as we bounced along the dirt road. Fields of wheat stretched across the landscape, their golden stalks swaying in the morning breeze. I was still as the dead, neither flesh nor machinery moving. But I wasn't deceased, nor was I sleeping. I needed no rest to function, after all. I was simply lost within my own thoughts. Having to leave Weath had struck me harder than I would have thought. For months, the small sleepy village had been my home. The people there, once so fearful of me, had become friends. Now I was leaving for who knew how long, all in order to protect them from the wrath of a noble whose son I had murdered.

  I forced myself to persevere, though. Both my fate and the fate of the village depended on it.

  "Gonna be a few hours 'fore we reach Cobb Town." Farmer Joss scratched his beard, eyes fixed on the path ahead. "Ye sure about heading to the Academy? It's in the central lands, and I hear they ain't kind to… um, your kind."

  I shifted my remaining arm, adjusting my position. I connected with the farmer's mind and activated Mind Speech, projecting my words directly into his head.

  Antos said that the Academy accepts all who prove their worth. Even monsters.

  "If ye say so." He clicked his tongue at the horses. "The mayor did seem mighty convinced you'd do well there. Said somethin' about your... what'd he call it? 'Assembly' ability?"

  Yes. I gazed at the passing countryside through my eyeless face. I can make things, so long as I have the materials to create them.

  The wagon hit a deep rut, making the cargo shift.

  "Like them contraptions you made for Clarik? That new plow he put together for me worked mighty well." Joss paused.

  I only created the steel for him. Clarik did all the true work himself.

  I tilted my head up, my hooded, veiled face looking towards the farmer. I hear Cobb Town has a carriage service?

  "Aye, regular runs to Remembrance. Costs a fair bit though."

  I have sufficient funds. Antos had been surprisingly generous, as had the rest of the villagers who donated the silver for my trip. The port in Remembrance will have ships heading to the central kingdoms.

  "Long journey ahead then." Joss clicked his tongue again as we passed another wheat field.

  Long journey indeed, I agreed.

  The gentle sway of the wagon brought forth memories I wished to forget. My Mind Sight caught a flash of Kolin's mutilated face, his screams echoing in my thoughts. I pushed the image away and called up my status window.

  The numbers glowed in my vision. I'd gained a level from that fight, though "fight" wasn't the right word for what I'd done to those men.

  It also looked like I had gained a new title: Dragon Slayer. I opened up the entry and read.

  I smiled sadly. It seems as if my act of killing the Snapper Dragon had finally been talked about by enough people that the system saw it fit to award me the title. I thought about Mallie. She, too, would have gotten the title of Dragon Slayer had she been alive. My shoulders trembled, and I forced my thoughts away from my lost friend lest I become engulfed with grief once more.

  So instead, I focused on the blue box in front of me. My mental eyes drifted towards my Abilities list where I found something curious. My Assembly ability was shown as being Rank B. It had been Rank C the last time I checked.

  I opened the Assembly entry, curiosity mixing with dread.

  The wagon hit another bump. I gripped the wooden side with my flesh hand, steadying myself. That last part, the one about biological anatomy. That was new. The system had registered my methodical dissection of Kolin as research. Each cut, each careful examination of his innards, had taught my ability more about working with flesh and bone.

  My throat tightened. The thought of gaining power from such cruelty turned my stomach. Yes, Kolin deserved punishment for what he'd done to Mallie and the villagers of Weath. But I hadn't tortured him for justice; I'd done it because I'd wanted to hear him scream.

  And now the system rewards me for it. Foul, bitter thoughts echoed in my mind. I felt ill.

  I closed the status box, unable to look at it anymore. The golden wheat continued to wave in the breeze, peaceful and innocent. Unlike me.

  The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep purples and reds. Joss guided the wagon off the dirt road, finding a small clearing between a copse of trees.

  "This'll do nicely." He hopped down from the driver's seat. "Been stopping here fer years. Good grass for Bella, and the trees keep the wind down."

  I descended from the wagon using my mechanical legs, the joints whirring softly.

  I can take over driving duties while you rest. I don't require sleep.

  Joss laughed, the sound echoing in the growing darkness. "That's mighty kind of ya, but poor Bella here needs her rest too." He patted the mare's flank as he began unhitching her. "Can't have her pulling the wagon all night and day."

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  Oh. Heat crept up my neck, and I was glad for the veil hiding my face. Of course. I... had not considered that.

  "No harm done." Joss led Bella to a patch of grass. "Sometimes we forget the simple things, eh?"

  I watched him set up camp with practiced efficiency. He gathered wood for a fire, laid out his bedroll, and checked the wagon's wheels. My mechanical hand twitched, wanting to help, but I held back. This was his routine, and I didn't want to intrude.

  The fire crackled to life, casting dancing shadows across our small camp. Bella grazed contentedly nearby, her tail swishing at invisible flies. The night air carried the scent of pine and earth.

  Would you like me to keep watch? I offered, settling myself near the fire's edge.

  "If you've a mind to." Joss pulled out some dried meat and bread from his pack. "Though these roads are usually peaceful enough. Worst we might see is a curious fox."

  He offered me some of his food, but I shook my head. Another thing I didn't need was sustenance. Sometimes I wondered if that made me more or less human. Or perhaps neither, being what I was.

  The crackling fire filled the comfortable silence between us. Joss finished his meal and settled into his bedroll with a contented sigh. Soon his breathing evened out into the easy rhythm of sleep.

  I sat motionless, watching the stars wheel overhead through the gaps in the trees. Bella's occasional snorts and the pop of burning wood were the only sounds breaking the night's quiet. It was peaceful, yet I felt oddly disconnected from it all, as a creature that neither slept nor ate, keeping vigil over those who did.

  The next two days passed in similar fashion. We traveled by day, rested by night. Though I didn't need the breaks, I found myself appreciating these quiet moments. Joss taught me about the roads, pointing out landmarks and sharing stories of his previous journeys.

  On the third morning, wisps of smoke appeared on the horizon. As we drew closer, I straightened in my seat, taking in the sight of Cobb Town. Stone buildings stretched upward, some reaching three stories high. It was a far cry from Weath's humble structures. The roads grew more crowded with each passing minute.

  "Quite different from what yer used to, eh?" Joss guided Bella around a merchant's cart laden with barrels.

  Yes. I had gotten acclimated to the quiet slowness of Weath.

  My fractured memories danced against the back of my mind, showing me scenes of even busier streets. I saw images through the mental fog, of actual cities with towers and buildings rising high into the air. I was unsure if what these recollections showed me was actually truth or not, so I left them to linger in the back of my mind and tried not to pay too much attention to what could possibly be simple delusions.

  Numerous travelers streamed past us on foot and horseback. A group of adventurers in gleaming armor marched toward the town gates, their weapons catching the morning sun. Merchants called out their wares from wooden stalls that lined the approaching road. The air filled with the sounds of commerce and conversation, punctuated by the occasional bark of a dog or cry of a street vendor.

  We passed under the town's stone archway, the guards giving our wagon only a cursory glance. Inside, the streets were even busier. Children darted between carts and horses, playing some kind of game. Smoke rose from dozens of chimneys, carrying the scents of bread, metal works, and tanning leather.

  This is... slightly overwhelming. I adjusted my veil, making sure it was secure.

  "You'll get used to it." Joss steered us down a wider street. "Cobb Town's one of the bigger trading posts in these parts. Not quite a city, but getting there."

  A cart carrying fresh fish from the nearby river passed by, the smell making Joss wrinkle his nose. Workers hauled crates between warehouses. A blacksmith's hammer rang out from a nearby forge. Everywhere I looked, people rushed about their business, barely sparing us a glance.

  It was strange seeing so much activity after the quiet of Weath. My mechanical fingers tapped against the wagon's wooden seat, an unconscious gesture I'd developed when processing new information. This was just a taste of what lay ahead. Kaldos City, the place where the Academy was located in, would likely be even more populous.

  "Watch yourself here," Joss warned as we navigated a particularly crowded intersection. "More people means more chances for trouble. Keep that veil tight and mind who you talk to."

  I nodded, understanding his concern. In Weath, I'd been an oddity, but here I could be a target. Still, seeing all these different people going about their lives stirred something in me. This was what I had wanted so long ago: to be part of the wider world, not hidden away like a monster.

  Yet already I started missing the quiet of Weath. I missed the farm fields and the forests, the sound of Clarik's hammer as he worked. I missed my quiet walks in the morning, the smiling greetings of my friends and neighbors. The villagers of Weath had started off distrustful of me, yet in the end I had managed to become one of them. I wanted to so badly to return to that quiet town, yet I knew such a thing could never happen. In order to keep the friends I had made safe from the wrath of Duke Redflight, I needed to continue the farce of being a murderous monster.

  "Well, this is where we part ways." Joss pulled the wagon to a stop near the bustling marketplace. Stalls and shops lined the cobblestone street, their colorful awnings fluttering in the morning breeze.

  Thank you for everything. I climbed down from the wagon, my mechanical legs whirring softly. Your kindness will not be forgotten.

  "Aw, none of that now." Joss scratched his beard, looking embarrassed. "You did a lot for us in the village. Least I could do was give ya a ride. Besides, you were good company. Quiet, but good."

  I reached into my cloak and pulled out a small wooden box I'd crafted during one of our evening stops. Inside was a set of spades I had made using Assembly.

  For your farm. They should last longer than standard tools.

  Joss's eyes widened as he examined the contents. "This is... these must have taken ages to make."

  Not for me. I adjusted my veil.

  "Thanks a lot!" He carefully tucked the box under his seat. "You take care now. And if you're ever back near Weath..." He trailed off, remembering why I'd left.

  I know. Thank you.

  We exchanged final nods, and Joss clicked his tongue at Bella, steering the wagon toward the merchant district. I watched until they disappeared into the crowd, feeling oddly hollow.

  I stepped into the flow of people, my mechanical legs moving with practiced grace. The widow's black dress and veil, crafted by Sarah Goodmak's mother for my journey, provided the perfect cover. At my height of over six feet, I towered over many in the crowd, but mourning clothes commanded a certain respect. People gave me space, averting their eyes as custom dictated.

  Kolin's sword pressed against my chest, wrapped carefully in oiled cloth. The weapon, which the spoiled nobleman had dropped as he fled from Mallie, now served to protect me during my trip. From my examination during the wagon ride, its long, edge-less blade was enchanted, allowing it to pierce the thick plating of most armors. It should serve me well, much better than it had done for its former owner.

  A merchant brushed past, his arms loaded with colorful fabrics. A group of children darted between market stalls, their laughter piercing the general din of commerce. The scents of fresh bread and roasted meat wafted from nearby food stalls, mixing with the less pleasant odors of horses and unwashed bodies.

  Two women whispered as I passed, their eyes following my tall frame. I kept my head down, the veil hiding my pale flesh and the porcelain mask covering my missing eyes. My mechanical hand, covered in a black glove, clutched the sword tighter.

  "Poor dear," one woman murmured. "So young to be widowed."

  "And so tall," her companion added. "Must be from the southern kingdoms."

  Their assumptions were exactly what I'd hoped for. The disguise worked perfectly as they saw what they expected to see. A southern widow, traveling alone, perhaps seeking a new life after tragedy. It was far better than them seeing what I really was: a monster wearing a mechanical body, carrying a dead man's sword.

  A cart rattled past, spraying mud from a recent rain. I sidestepped smoothly, my mechanical legs compensating for the uneven cobblestones. The movement caught a merchant's eye, and he called out to me.

  "My lady! Surely you need supplies for your journey? I have the finest-"

  I shook my head and hurried past, unable to speak. My only way to communicate was through my ability of Mind Speech, and doing so would bring too much unwanted attention. Better to play the part of a grief-stricken widow, too lost in sorrow to engage with merchants.

  The crowd thinned as I reached the edge of the marketplace. Here, the buildings grew taller, their upper stories blocking out much of the morning sun. Signs creaked in the breeze, advertising inns and taverns.

  A child bumped into me, stumbling back with wide eyes. I steadied him with my gloved hand before he could fall.

  "Sorry, miss," he mumbled, staring up at my veiled face.

  I nodded silently and watched him scamper away. The brief contact made my mechanical heart ache. In Weath, children had eventually grown used to me. Here, I was just another stranger. Just another face in the crowd. It was exactly what I needed to be.

  I moved through the marketplace's bustling center, where merchant caravans and transport services gathered. The scents of horse manure and leather mixed with the general chaos of commerce. Wooden signs swung in the morning breeze, advertising various destinations and prices.

  I approached a weathered wooden stand with a prominently displayed pricing board. The destinations were written in neat chalk lettering, with Remembrance listed among several other cities. Perfect.

  The clerk, a young man with sandy hair, looked up from his ledger. "Good morning, my lady. How may I assist you today?"

  I gestured to my throat and shook my head, then pointed deliberately at 'Remembrance' on the board. His eyes softened with understanding.

  "Ah, I see. To Remembrance then?" He pulled out a fresh ticket. "That'll be thirty silvers, madame."

  I reached into my cloak, using it to hide my actions. I activated Depository, withdrawing the needed amount of coin from the magical inventory, then placed them carefully upon the counter. The metal clinked against the worn wood as he swept them up.

  "Thank you." He stamped the ticket and handed it to me. "If you'll allow me, I can show you to your carriage personally."

  I nodded, grateful for his consideration. He stepped around the counter and led me through the busy yard where several carriages stood ready. Workers loaded luggage and checked wheels while horses stamped impatiently in their traces.

  We stopped before an old but well-maintained carriage with fresh paint and sturdy wheels. "Here we are, my lady. We're set to leave in about three hours, once the other passengers arrive." He opened the door with a slight bow. "Would you prefer to wait somewhere more comfortable? The Golden Swan Inn just across the way serves excellent tea."

  I shook my head and gestured to the carriage interior.

  "As you wish." He offered his hand, helping me up the steps. "Please make yourself comfortable. I'll ensure the driver knows you're already aboard."

  I settled into the plush seat, arranging my skirts and ensuring my sword remained hidden beneath my cloak. The clerk gave one final bow before closing the door, leaving me alone in the quiet interior.

  The carriage smelled of leather and wood polish. Sunlight filtered through small curtained windows, creating patterns on the opposite seat. I sat perfectly still, my mechanical body making no sound as I waited for departure.