"The Kaimar Empire. A vast and complex nation brimming with potential and industry. Sitting across the Ianar Strait, and encompassing the entire continent of Miyori, it functioned as a global powerhouse of trade, scientific discovery, and engineering marvels.

"At the height of its power, The Kaimar Empire was utilizing the raw power of the 'Charge Crystals' to fulfill wondrous rituals, perform great miracles, and power machines large & small! It is said that they rivaled the elves in magical prowess... Which is why scholars have been debating for decades about why? Why did they disappear!? What drove this incredibly powerful collective off the face of Idoria!? When did it occur? And most curiously, where was it located?

"During your time here, you will learn all that I can teach you... In hopes that one day... One of you will find the missing piece of evidence we need." The professor cleared the chalk board and began drawing up a diagram relating to one of the cities in Kaimar. I didn't pay much attention to it at the time, but a feeling of familiarity began building up inside me, "Ms Ain," The professor asked, mildly annoyed. He must've repeated himself already, "Ms Ain, if you will be taking my class, I require you to remove your mask."

"I can't, professor," I lied, "It is of great religious importance that it remains on." I place my hand over my face instinctively. It's always a coin flip on if someone will attempt to de-mask me or not when I say this.

"Then move to the back, so it is less distracting," He commanded.

What was so 'distracting' about my mask anyways? It was bland, featureless, and only had slits for my eyes. The only one who could be 'distracted' by it would be him... But I relented. I wouldn't want to cause a scene so early into the semester; besides, I needed to learn as much as I could from this man, even if he was a bigot.

"Now then," He continued, "As I was saying, this city is cited as being the place where it all began. For in this place we know that the first artificial life was created... The Automaton."

A chill ran down my back, causing me to shiver for a moment. Something about how he said it felt... Wrong. Perverted, even. As if he had some strange obsession with the automatons or something.

"These being were marvels, not just of their time, but so far of all time. They were the first sentient beings that were hand-crafted by someone who wasn't one of The Nine Divines nor The Lost Gods & Goddesses. These beings are said to be immortal, strong, fierce, and 'The Perfect Beings' according to some due to their lack of needing to eat, breathe, sleep, or drink. Perfectly... Self-sufficient." The professor begins rambling on about their theoretical creator, drawing diagram after diagram of theorized internals of an automaton.

All of them were wrong, of course. No one knew the specific details of how one worked. Their power source, their locomotion components, nothing. Only theories. One would assume all one would have to do is capture one and rip it apart, right? Except that they're so rare that most common folk don't even believe that they exist; and no one's ever been able to capture- or kill- one of the few that have been spotted over the aeons.

"Now, you all have your assignment for the week. I'll see you at the same time next Liibrum," The professor waits for the last student to copy down what was on the chalkboard before he erases it and sits at his desk. The desk was, surprisingly, a modest-sized one made of oak. Definitely not cheap here in Mar'Karéth; the climate isn't right for oaks to grow much at all, and the few that can be found aren't worth chopping for firewood even in a harsh winter. It doesn't surprise me any to know my tuition is spent in such a manner. "Oh, Ms Ain," He beckons me over.

Great. Just what I needed...

As I approach his snobby desk, I notice a few odd trinkets: his name plate cast out of iron reading 'Professor Neidle', a messy stack of parchment and books, most of them with the professor's name on it, and a Charge Crystal that glowed a soft-pink and whispered a hum as I approached. "Ms Ain, I do hope to see your wonderful face before the end of the semester?"

I'm not sure if he was being a creep, if it was because he couldn't stand the sight of the mask, or if it just made him uncomfortable; regardless the request left a sour taste in my mouth. "Is that all you wished to tell me, professor?" I asked with a sigh.

"Oh no, I had just noticed you seemed... Checked out when I made the assignment earlier and figured to make sure you knew about it... Just in case," His face displayed a shit-eating grin. He knew he was right and was looking to rub it in my face at his earliest convenience; be it now or when the assignment was due and neither option seemed very appealing...

"It doesn't hurt to have it clarified," I agree with a kind tone.

"Right, yes," He begins, "You must sign these documents, and obtain a ticket for the Southbound ferry. We will be visiting the only known archeological site of the Kaimar; one of their colonies or outposts, as the theory goes. The syllabus has further details including attire, tools, date, and time of our departure."

I nod as I pull out the syllabus to follow along.

Pulling out a map of the town, he points at the docks, Professor Neidle continues, "We shall meet here and go as a class. Failure to complete this assignment is an automatic fail, Ms Ain. Waste no time."

"Got it, Professor. Thank you for clarifying. I'll make sure to complete it." In my mind, I was a bit annoyed at his condescending tone; but given that I really was spaced out when he originally gave the assignment, I can't really blame him too much... Still, the nerve of the guy irks me.

Heading off campus, I read through the list of supplies I'll need:

• Dust brush
• Torches (10x or an Ever-Burning Torch if you can spare the coin)
• Pickaxe
• Shovel
• Tent
• Food for the week-long expedition
• Clothes that cover your whole body to protect it from the sun & to keep cool
• Enough water to last for a minimum of two days (there will be a creek nearby to stock up at)

Most of these things I've had in my Bag of Many Spaces- a small coin-purse-sized pouch that can hold virtually endless amounts of things, so long as they can fit past the entry point- although from my time around the people of Mar'karéth, I should probably not make it known that I have one. Which means I'll have to carry all of this on my person... Great.

Back at my apartment I begin checking in my Bag of Many Spaces for the items on the list, "Okay, I've still got that Ever-Burning Torch from my previous adventure. I've got my trusty revolver I, er, 'borrowed' from a Xylotilii when they tried robbing me at gun-point; I should probably take it with me just in case...My usual clothes & bandages cover my body already, so that I won't need to worry about clothing... While I don't need to eat or drink, I probably should to keep suspicions low; or at the very least I should pack some even if I'm not going to consume it." I dig around a little deeper, the bag's maw enveloping up to my shoulder as I search for more items, "I should have pieces of a tent in here somewhere... I think it's riiiight- AH! Yes, there it is. So I'll just need the dust brush, the pickaxe, the shovel, and some food and water. I can probably bother the Etherial's guild to buy myself a rune of endless water for the trip... They're pretty good about taking small odd jobs like this for coin... Usually." I gather up the Ever Burning Torch, my revolver, several bullets, and the pieces to my tent and stuff them into various pockets of a large backpack I have for times like this and head into town for the rest of my supplies.

As I approach the Etherial's guild, I'm struck by a concussive blast that sends myself and several others back several meters, "What in the hells was that!?" I demand as I struggle to lift myself up off my ass. Looking at the guild's headquarters I notice a glowing hole in the wall of the building, as if something hot had melted its way through the stonework.

"Terribly sorry, miss," A man hurriedly approached me to help me to my feet. He and several others in similar garb had come spilling out of the building once the blast happened as if they expected this kind of result, "We're teaching a new recruit a new spell... Safe to say they managed to cast it. Are you alright?"

"Dandy," I huff with a tinge of annoyance on my lips.

"If there's anything we can do to make it up to you, do let us know?" He seemed to be saying that partially-genuinely as if he did want to make it up to me, but was truly hoping I'd decline his offer.

"Actually," I begin with a grin creeping across my face behind my mask, "I was just coming here to buy a rune. Maybe we could... Work something out with that?" My body shifts to a more shy posture in hopes to trick the man to get me the rune for a lower price, or even free!

"Ah, well if that's all you needed I can get you that if you're not physically injured," He gives me a once-over to make sure I'm not injured before motioning me into the building. I follow him to the guild's rune table where mages engrave stones with magical writing that can execute the spell that is written upon them. I had been in this room several times before now and was surprised that it was neat and tidy for once, usually it's a chaotic mess with shards of stone on all surfaces from failed runic creations. "Now, what rune were you wanting?"

"I was actually about to go out on an expedition next week and would be needing an easy and portable source of water; so I was hoping to get a rune of endless water?" I point my fingers together in my best attempt to be what people call 'cute'.

"Oh sure, that's an easy one," The man riffles through various shelves and drawers before pulling out a pitch-black stone no bigger than my hand and some gold-infused ink, "How long is your expedition?"

"About two weeks give or take," I lied. Often times the runes will last a lot shorter than anticipated depending on if an amateur or a master Etherial makes it, so I tend to over-exaggerate just in case.

"Noted," He says, as he begins to scribble on the black stone with some white chalk for a rough outline before making the actual engravings, "I'm sure you know how to use runes if you're asking for them, and a specific one at that, but just in case we've started beginning to tell all customers and guild members how to use them properly for liability reasons. For most rune-use, you'll want to crush it or otherwise break it for it to activate. It will know your intent as it is broken, so there's no need to worry about it not working properly if something unexpected happens. For this rune specifically, you'll want to scratch off one of these lines on the outer-most part of the sigil for each use. Assuming you'll need water three times a day for sixteen days, you'll need forty-eight of these lines; but I'll put fifty just in case." He pointed out the outer-portion of the sigil and the lines he's marked out with chalk, "When one line is broken you'll have five seconds to hold the rune in a bucket or container of some kind and then it'll begin to spill water into the container until five liters of water have been created. After that you will need to break another line to get more. Once the last line is broken and the five liters have been created, the rune will disintegrate. This particular stone is more durable than others, so it shouldn't break from your fist or from being banged around, but you will need a sharp instrument to break each line, do you have something for that?" He holds his hand over the stone and a moment later it begins to glow as the engravings slowly replace the chalk outline.

"Yes, I've got that covered, thank you for the clarification," I had used runes countless times in the past due to their compactness and durability versus scrolls, but it was nice hearing the guild try to take people's safety into consideration.

As the man lowers his casting hand, his other hand reaches for the gold-infused ink and he begins to paint in the grooves he had just created, "Now, technically, this is already good to go; but to make sure you can see which lines you're breaking and to make it easily readable in case you have multiple other runes, I'm adding this ink... Also it should be noted: Do NOT, under any circumstance, break the entire rune at once. This will unleash all of the water at once, which would be catastrophic in most circumstances. There, that should do it." He holds out the black stone with the golden ink. Its face holding countless smaller symbols within various larger symbols and shapes with the outer ring connecting all fifty lines.

"This is wonderful! Thank you! What do I owe you for it?" I ask in my most convincing 'sweet' voice I can muster.

"Well, normally these would go for around twenty gold, but given you were an... Unwilling participant in a lesson earlier, you can have it for only five gold."

Damn. Didn't get it for free... Oh well, can't beat a price like that. "I can do that, let me grab that real quick." Reaching my hand into my Bag of Many Spaces, I subconsciously demand the five gold pieces from the pouch before they appear in my hand, "Here you go, thanks again for the rune~ I'll make sure not to break it all at once."

He lets out a sort of nervous chuckle before escorting me back outside, "Enjoy your expedition, miss!"

I stuff the rune into my pouch and dig around for my list. Yanking it out, I scratch off the required amount of water, "Great! Just food and tools, it looks like! What would I even do for food though? Hmmm..." As I debate options for food to myself, I find myself automatically moving through the crowded markets before stumbling onto a small baking stall ran by an elderly elf woman.

"Would you like any baked goods, dearest?" She asks in a voice so sweet it rivaled that which was baking behind her, "We have pastries, loafs, rolls, and more!" Her smile was almost hypnotizing.

"Do you have anything that stores well? I'll be going on an expedition and will need to have something with a good shelf life," I ask, as I peruse the items in her stall's little glass showcase. Despite not needing to eat, I did enjoy it from time to time; though it frequently gets in the way of my work, so I tend not to...

"Of course!" Her charming face beams with excitement as she reaches into a crate next to the counter, "If you're on a budget and don't mind what it is you're eating, I've got plenty of hardtack I can sell you for a few copper coins per day's worth!" Seeing my body revolt at the mere suggestion, the elf chuckles, "Fhufufufu, no worries, deary. I mainly carry it for soldiers when they get deployed. It never goes bad, but my oh my is it difficult to stomach! Now, if you're wanting something with about as long of a shelf life, but don't mind spending the coin, I've got some lembas I can sell to you. You wouldn't need much at all, and even a bite can fill your belly for an entire day! How's that sound sweetie?" She pulls out a small cloth-wrapped rectangle and unravels it to reveal a plain cracker-looking piece of bread. The elves refuse to sell the recipe to anyone, so they're the only ones that can make it.

"That could certainly work!" I exclaim with a smile, knowing that even if I got snackish, I wouldn't be condemned to, and may Idor forgive me for thinking this, hardtack. Eugh. "How much would around two-week's worth cost me?"

"Fourteen gold pieces." The elf says without missing a beat.

I do my best to not gag at the price. I have the money for it, but if I don't even need it, is it worth getting? I guess at worst, I can hold onto it and save it for later if I don't burn through it all... "Dang, that's a touch out of my price range... Could you do ten gold?"

"I could do thirteen."

"Eleven?"

"Twelve," Her innocent demeanor has turned into the same ravenous look that most merchants have when haggling. I've got to close the deal soon or she'll back out entirely.

"Y-yeah," I say hesitantly, "I can could twelve gold pieces for it..."

"Wonderful, let me ring you up then, sweetheart," She says as her smile magically reappears.

As I dig for the coins in my pouch, I notice a pick-pocket's hand uncomfortably close to my pouch as if they were waiting for me to withdraw my hand before snatching it. Instead of grabbing the coins, I conjure my trusty revolver from the pouch and draw it at the amateur, putting my other hand on my pouch for safety, "Not so fast."

The crowd quickly drops dead-silent as everyone but the pick-pocket scatters exposing him to the world.

"Get lost," I demand, flicking the barrel of the revolver in the direction I'd prefer him to flee in, "I don't have time for riffraff like you today."

"B-but, miss, I have a sick sister to feed!" The hooligan mutters.

"I bet," I flick the revolver again, this time jerking my head in the same direction. Pick-pockets rarely have family around here, and if they do, they're rarely in a state worth giving a damn. "Do I have to say it again? Scram!" The kid scurries off into the crowd as some of the other merchants and bystanders smack the kid upside the head as he passes by. Depositing the revolver back into my pouch, I take out the twelve gold pieces that the elf needed and exchange it for the lembas. "Sorry for the racket, ma'am."

"Oh no worries, he's been prowling this market all day. I was wondering when he would get caught," She gives me a nice wave and I begin making my way to the blacksmith for the tools I'd need.

The rest of the day went rather smoothly and I was able to get the remaining tools I'd need for a steal. All that I needed to do now is get the ticket for the ferry and I'll be set for next week! Luckily for me, the blacksmith's shop was only a short walk to the docks where the ferry would be anchored.

"Ah, Miss Ain!" A familiar voice calls out to me, "What brings you back to my fine docks this lovely evening?" The voice belonged to a man whomst I had worked with several times. His name was Captain Keildrik. He was a bit on the short side with a massive beard, often mistaken for a dwarf- although with his drinking habits he may as well be one- he was a sweetheart that felt like a father-figure instead of another creep trying to get some 'action'. He was the most reliable ship captain I've ever had and we'd been through some hellish storms together over the years.

"I'm looking for the southbound ferry that'll depart next Liibrum," I ask, greeting Keildrik with a hug.

"Southbound?" He asks with a chuckle, "What makes you want to go that direction this time, lassie?"

"A class trip."

"I didn't take you for the learned type, Miss Ain," He sounded surprised, "What's the class for? Etherial studies? Tinkering? Merchantry?"

Initially I didn't know how to react to his question, but knowing his intentions, he was likely just joking around. "I know, I know hahaha... This class is more for a history lesson. I'm taking Professor Neidle's-"

"Oh! Neidle's Automaton History course?" Keildrik interrupted with a shout.

"Er... Yes," I was hesitant in my approach, "How'd you know?"

"Ah, that bastard only teaches one thing, and it's those damned automatons! Er, no offense..." He seemed to have let that slip. I had let Keildrik in on my secret a few years back when we thought we were going to die at sea. He's done a magnificent job at keeping it a secret, but he has always had some negative feelings towards my kind for reasons he has yet to reveal to me all these years later, "Dah! That's besides my point," He continues, waving away his previous outburst, "Point is, that Neidle twat only knows about automatons. Ask him the history on literally anything else and he's as worthless as the ocean in a drought! And the worst part, I feel, is all his knowledge is speculative at best! The cunt doesn't even truly know anything for certain!" He continues to mumble on about Neidle and his many, many flaws.

"Um, yeah," I interject, trying to find the best place to cut in, "But do you know where the ferry is so I can reserve a ticket ahead of time?" I didn't want to be rude, but we were getting severely off topic.

"Ah! Almost forgot!" He blurts out, smacking his knee with a chuckle, "He hired my ferry! Can you believe the nerve of that man!?"

"How much are you charging per ticket?"

"Eh, I'll be honest with ya lassie," He gestures for me to lean down so he can whisper in my ear, "I'm robbin' this guy blind! Hohoho! I'm charging him and his attendees a whopping fifteen gold a piece!"

My eyes widen, "Fifteen!? Geeze, Keildrik, why so steep???"

"Eh, he can afford it, but I'll cutcha a deal: You 'help' me with the boat on the days the lot of you are going to and fro, and I'll wave your ticket fee?" He elbows me while wiggling his eyebrows in a joking manner.

"I'd rather swim, if I'm to be honest..." I lied. Keildrik ran a tight ship, but he handled most things on his own; I just didn't want to have to work if I didn't have to.

"Daawww, yer no fun," He pouts, "Alright, fine. I'll let you on for our usual price, eh? Fifty silver each way, but you help me out in a pinch?"

"Deal. But, only if that means I get to steer the ship," I tease, holding my hand out for a shake. Typically Keildrik could handle everything, but he couldn't do the smaller tasks and steer the ship simultaneously. So usually I'd take up the smaller tasks, as he abhorred anyone, even me, from steering his vessels.

"Hmmm, deal," He firmly grips my hand, "Just this once, though, ya hear?" He gives me a light wink. I didn't think the madman would agree to it, even jokingly.

"Wait," I pause, "You're serious?"

"Eeeeehhhh, sure, why not? I've known ya longer than any of my normal crew," He chuckles, "Just don't crash 'er now, ya hear?"

After confirming the finer details, I hand him the gold piece in advance to pay for both trips before heading back to my apartment. I had finally gotten everything on my list for next week. I'm proud of myself, I'm rarely this productive!

Unlocking my apartment, I toss my backpack by the door, light the candles around my shrine, and sit on my prayer mat to offer my nightly prayer to the god Po'oraat, "Po'oraat, my guide, may you continue to watch over me as I venture south for this approaching trip. May you guide me away from the traps and snares of the world and that I may be able to recognize your influence." As I close the prayer, I go to extinguish the flames of the candles before catching myself. It's not 'proper' to extinguish the candles afterwards. I keep forgetting that I'm supposed to let them burn out on their own, but prayer candles can be so expensive sometimes... Ugh, I guess I'll leave them to go out, themselves, this time, I suppose... It shouldn't burn through the whole candle, but I hate wasting things if I can help it.

As the night grows, the candles eventually burn out and I find myself finally surrounded by darkness. I don't necessarily sleep, so it was nice to at least rest my senses whilst I enter into a sort of trance that I've grown to call 'sleep' even if it is far from such. With these trances, I'm able to block out most sensations and meditate for however long I need to. Sometimes I 'dream', although most times I don't. The peace and quiet is very nice, though, I will say. It's hard to come by unless I'm out on an adventure and even then, I'm typically the one keeping watch over the other adventurers, as they have 'frail fleshy bodies' that 'need' the rest.

On a rare occasion I'll have that 'dream' again, as if it were a corrupted memory playing back whenever it felt like... Tonight was one such night; where the 'dream' played back in my mind like a corrupted memory weaseling its way into my thoughts like a virus. It's always the same... My point of view skips around, as if I were carried into a large room before I'm on the ground reaching a bloody, fleshy, arm out towards two motionless figures who feel... Familiar somehow. Then as the visual moments fade to black, I'm filled with a lingering pain that increases before being replaced with a cool sensation and I snap out of the 'dream'-like trance. I'm unsure of who the figures are in this 'dream', where 'I' am during it, why I always snap out of the trance filled with phantom pains, or even when this occurred, if ever. People often say that dreams aren't real, rather their brains fabricating scenarios to retain memories, feelings, or reinforce behaviors; but this always feels too vivid for it to be fabricated. Especially given that I know next to nothing about anything happening in it. It is one of the main driving factors for me to learn as much as I can about my people, so I may finally understand some semblance of context for this 'dream'.