Necromancer Dreams of Mechs Chapter 48: Chapter 54

Read chapter 48 of Necromancer Dreams of Mechs by Magic on NovelPedia.

Chapter 48: A Most Refreshing Catastrophe I gave my body a long, grueling stretch after emerging from the virtual space of the Flesh Hangar. My muscles felt stiff—a phantom ache from hours spent in a digital void. I wasn’t sure exactly how much time I’d logged designing my new units; in this place, the ever-present sun was a useless clock, pinned mockingly to the sky. “How long was I in there?” I muttered to the empty air, reaching one arm across my chest to pull on my shoulder. There was no answer. I scanned the backyard of the bone palanquins, but my mecha cat was nowhere to be found. It wasn't unusual for him to wander, but I’d expected him to be hovering nearby, buzzing with curiosity about my latest creations. Then again, the "System" lived inside him; he likely already knew every jagged edge of what I’d built. “Allen!” I winced at the sudden shout and spun around. Alric was rounding the corner of my house, his colorful attire looking far too bright against the grim scenery. “What?!” I barked, my heart hammering against my ribs. Are they here already? To my relief, Alric offered a dismissive wave of his hand. "Peace, my friend! I entreat you, compose yourself. I perceive that you are quite overcome with worry—and I shall not say without cause—but pray, believe me when I say this is merely a social call. I had endeavored to seek you out much sooner, yet that luminous feline of yours insisted I remain patient whilst you were occupied with weightier matters." I nodded, letting out a jagged sigh. I was wound far too tight, but I had every right to be. Even with my new mecha bone warriors—monstrosities that would make most men soil themselves on sight—I was terrified, if I was being honest with myself. “Yeah, I was just... getting everything ready,” I said, gesturing vaguely at the now-closed Flesh Hangar. Normally, the structure looked like a grotesque butcher’s rack, but I’d camouflaged it to look like a secluded shed in the woods. It didn't help much; it still had a distinct "Leatherface" vibe that would make any sane person turn and run for home. "Oh? Then I take it you are at liberty?" Alric queried. With a deft flick of his wrist—as if summoning the very air to do his bidding—a lute manifested in his grasp, its polished wood gleaming in the relentless sunlight. “Time?” I asked, scratching my head. Did I actually have free time? Or was I just waiting for the clock to run out? “I say! Do not fix me with such a bewildered expression!” Alric scolded, punctuating the air with a sharp, melodic strum of his strings. “You declared your labors finished—and a blessing that is, to be sure—but my dear boy, you are in dire need of a moment’s repose. Furthermore, Her Ladyship was nursing the hope that you might favor her with your company for a spot of tea.” I cringed. Seraphine. I wasn’t sure I was mentally prepared for another verbal sparring session. She was breathtaking, sure, but I had Ciara. Or... I thought I did. That doubt had been a slow-growing rot at the back of my mind. Why was I suddenly the center of gravity for these women? Ciara, the popular girl who’d gone out of her way to notice a guy who stayed invisible by design; and now Seraphine, falling head over heels for me in a doomed camp. I wasn't stupid. I knew how the world worked. Ciara’s father had arranged a marriage for her before I’d even moved to my latest school. I wanted to believe she liked me, but as I’d sat in the dark of the Hangar, the math didn't add up. Her intentions were a blur of shadows and political moves. "I say, Allen—have the mists of reverie claimed you entirely? You look as though you’ve seen a phantom, or perhaps you are merely composing a tragedy of your own in that silent head of yours." The bard’s voice snapped the tether of my thoughts. I blinked, returning to the dusty reality of the camp. “What? Oh. Yeah. There’s just... a lot going on up here.” "I perceive as much, my dear fellow. Might you be persuaded to unburden yourself? Though I am