Daughtris

Marxwell Brightheart, or Marx for short, was sitting on a bench, alone, and looking down to Boltcrusher from outside the top one of the higher tower of the metropolis. Above him was the black sky. Two of the moons of Daughtris was out and full. The time was midnight and lights from the buildings, street light, as well as the vehicles brightened up the mining city. To Marx, Boltcrusher seems pretty dull. The metropolis lacks of color and entertainment but that is just the way he likes it. It has been a long time since Marx had fun, in truth, he didn't want to enjoy himself. He didn't used to be this way. But time and painful bitter experience that he wish to forget changed him.

Marx's parents were mix breed. His mother was a quarter human, a quarter elves, and half demon while his father was half angel and half wood sprite. That makes him a complicated mix breed himself. His parents are still alive and living in Avory. As for siblings, he has a younger sister which lives in Demotia where all fun things happen. His family isn't a rich bunch but they survive well enough and own a piece of hovering land above the continent of Lightwake where they built their average sized house. Marx constantly visits them but never stays longer than a week because of work. He works as an assistant engineer in Boltcrusher, which pays the bills.

After finishing his one stick of cigarette, he got up and flicked the bud down to the metropolis. No care was given that a bin was nearby. A sudden gust blew, fluttering his hair slightly. His hands were put in his coat's pockets to protect them from the wind. When he exhaled, his breath shows from the cold air. He proceeded through a door which brought him into a room with multiple elevators with a panel on the wall which he pressed to call the elevator and waited. A rang was heard before one of the door opened. Casually, he got in and turned, facing the closing door. The day has been the same, boring and uneventful.

A few minutes later, he was already outside the building. Car filled the streets and a stall selling newspapers and plenty kind of magazines was nearby. Marx paid no attention to them. Turning right, he started to walk slowly while looking down to the pavement, following it. It wasn't long until he reaches the building where his apartment is. The building's elevator got him up to his floor. Using a key, he unlocked the door and swung it open. It was a small apartment meant for a single person to live. A few cloths were thrown on the couch but it was tidy for a single guy's apartment. Marx took off his coat and hung it on a coat rack placed beside the door and then headed to the kitchen, which was in the same room as the living room, where he quenched himself with a glass of water before proceeding to the shower. For a while, he enjoyed the hot water drenching and warming his body. It was comfortable and relaxing. After cleansing himself and putting on a pair of boxers, he went to bed and closed his eyes. It only took a moment for him to fall into a slumber.

Chandler looked around the metropolis he had just entered with his light blue eyes. He accidently bumped into someone as he was taking in the sights offering them an apology before heading on his way. “this place is much different than Ostwyn…” he thought to himself as he tried to get his bearings by looking at a map.

He knew he probably should have rested outside until the morning to enter, but he had been so eager to see the new city and with the two moons being full it had provided him enough light to see by.

With a sigh the half elf put away his map, getting many odd looks…and for a moment he wondered why, it was only until he realized that it was because his clothing, he was wearing his Ostwyn garbs and though a bit dull in color it still had color…something it seemed this place had lacked a great deal of.

“Ah excuse me can you-“ he started to ask someone before they just continued on their way. Chandler sighed at that. “Fine then…” he muttered almost tucking his hair behind his ear before he caught himself. It wasn’t that he was ashamed of being a half elf, it was just…well he wanted to see what it would be like to be treated as a human he knew a few people outside Ostwyn looked down on his kind after all.

He gently touched his red stone necklace before venturing further into the metropolis making sure to look at the signs, trying to find some place to stay for the night. The tall buildings looming above him and the dull colors almost disorienting, making him feel he had just been to a place as he entered, when he knew for a fact he hadn’t. And that noise! Was that the mining machinery he had heard of? It must be. He decided right then that he liked Ostwyn better…though that may be because he was feeling a bit home sick.

He thought of his family back home. His father a proud half elf, and his sisters a girl who had at one point been as adventurous as he, though that had stopped a bit ago, she now preferred exploring lands in books than in real life. Not that he thought that there was anything wrong about books, he liked them as well. It was just he would rather see the land the book was based in than see pictures of it.

It was lost in that thought that he almost passed by a hotel, he quickly stopped as he entered and looked around to see the night desk there looking like they were about to fall asleep. “Excuse me do you have any rooms?” Chandler asked as the clerk lifted their head off of their hand and let out a yawn. “Eh? Yeah we do…” they said before telling Chandler the price. Chandler nodded as he took out his wallet and handed over a card as the sleepy clerk checked it and made sure it was approved before handing him a key. “Thank you.” Chandler said with a slight smile before he put his card back and rode the elevator to the designated floor. Once there he soon found his room and went inside, exhausted he took off his clothing staying only in his boxers as he undid his small top knot letting his blond hair hit a little past his shoulder, his pointed ear tip poking out a bit before he crawled into the bed tiredly pulling the blankets around him before he fell into a dreamless sleep.

His eyes opened, blinking twice and seeing the grey wall of the bedroom. When he looked out the window, he noticed that it was already dawn out. Only a couple of times had he missed waking up early. No alarm was needed since he awake automatically when needed. Mysterious; how the brain functions. He sat on his bed, placing his elbow on his thigh and rubbing his face on his hand. It’s probably was going to be another meaningless day. That is how it’s always been recently. Minus as well get ready for work. He got up and walked to the bathroom for his first act of the day; cleaning himself.

Breakfast while heading to work. Just like any other morning, his breakfast consist of a burning rolled tobacco called cigarette, produced in Demotia. Warm, sweet, but most importantly, it relaxes him. The cigarette was like a calming pill for him. It was hazardous to health, rotting the lungs and heart, darken and drying the lips while making the teeth yellow, but nothing that Daughtris's healers couldn't fix. One trip to the hospital and everything will be good as new. That is how advance Daughtris is.

The subway station was crowded with many kind of Daughtrisian. Almost all of them have the same purpose as Marx; which was going to work. The train is crowded most of the time and sometimes dangerous but it’s the favoured transportation for anyone that doesn't have money pouring out of their pockets. When the train came, almost everyone rushed in, fighting to get to any empty seat. But not Marx though. He took his time and waited until no one was pushing and shoving then he walked in and leaned beside the entrance. He continued to wait. It will be a while before reaching his stop.

Chandler heard the alarm go off as he groggily got up, one thing the half elf never seemed to be good at was waking up, his blond hair covered his blue eyes briefly as he yawned and planted his feet on the floor as he rubbed his eyes and got his clothes out deciding on jeans and a loose light blue shirt. He went to the bathroom as he took a quick shower, letting the cold water jolt him awake.

He soon got dressed as he did his hair up again making sure his ear tips were covered before walking out and locking the door. He wanted to explore the metropolis a bit before he headed to the next place. He again was looking at the map he had as he went into the subway station as the train rolled on in. He was bustled in as he put the map away.

He stayed to the front as the train started to move, causing him to bump into the person next to him. He quickly regained his balance as he gave a slight bow to him. “I am sorry about that.” He apologized as he grabbed onto the pole near him. “I am not used to these that much…” he explained with a slight chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head.

In the next station, more Daugthrisians rushed into the train, but Marx wasn't paying attention. Then the train moved, he felt something bumping into him from the side, pushing him back from his spot. It irritated him. Grunting, he turned his head to the side where the man that bumped into him was already bowing slightly for forgiveness. It was a male elf, tidy looking, unlikely to be a local of Boltcrusher.

“I am sorry about that.” the elf apologized as he grabbed onto the pole near him. “I am not used to these that much…” he explained with a slight chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head.

Marx grunted then turned his head away. Then he noticed that his spot was already taken by someone else which added to his anger, but it was a public train. He predicted things like that would happen. Now, he had to grab on the same pole as the elf was holding on to so that he wouldn't fall from the movement of the train. He wasn't happy with it but he shrugged the disappointment away. After a moment, his attention was caught by the elf's garment once more. It looked like it was made from fine threads. Curiosity filled Marx's interest.

"you from Clearwood?" he asked the elf with a nonchalant expression.

Chandler subconsciously tucked his hair behind his ear. When he realized what he did he put his hand down. Well their goes him trying to hide his ears for now. It was very rare he would bump into this man again. He heard the man grunt and turn away, looking like he was going somewhere…only to find the seat taken Chandler supposed. His hand grabbed onto the same pole Chandler was on so as not to fall as the figure shrugged.

Chandler looked out the window seeing the darkness blur by him, he felt someone staring at him as he turned to see it was the one who bumped into him. “May I help you?” he asked him, when the question was asked if he was from Clearwood he shook his head, “Ostwyn. I have been to Clearwood though.” He explained to him with a smile. “How about you? Where are you from?” he asked with a small tilt of his head. He was always willing to talk to people about travels…anything in general.

He fiddled with his necklace, feeling the cool touch of the red stone as he remembered how he first left his home and the many interesting people on the way and the things he had seen. That was one of his favorite things about traveling, learning new things and having many different experiences.

From the ears that Marx saw, the male in front of him was indeed elven or a mix breed like him. Marx was sure that the stranger wasn't a demon since he had no horns.

“Ostwyn. I have been to Clearwood though.” the stranger explained to him with a smile. “How about you? Where are you from?” he asked with a small tilt of his head.

Marx did not return the smile. He turned his head away, looking outside the window of the train, avoiding eye contact "south part of the metropolis" he answered.

Chandler saw the man turn his head away looking out the window of the train. “I am being a nuisance again aren’t I?” he thought to himself as he let out a soft sigh. “Really? So you must know this metropolis well! I seem to get lost a lot…then again my map might be out of date.” He commented with a light chuckle. “I am sorry I mst be bothering you.” He commented with a gentle sigh.

Marx did not respond and continued looking out the window.
The view outside the window of the train became black as they entered a tunnel. It stayed that way for a moment. When the train was out of the tunnel, light shine through the window, revealing that they were now at the underground sector of the Boltcrusher. They sky was the ceiling of the massive cavern and the bottom seemed to have no end. The first time Marx saw the view, it really impressed him. Although they were underground, the light that shined from the holes was bright enough to light up the cave with cooling blue colors. He has seen this view almost every day but the amusement of seeing it never stopped.
A tone played from the speaker of the train. "We have reached Amber station. Next stop; Amethyst station" then the train slowed down, preparing to stop.
Max turned to the elf "well" he said, expressionless "this is my stop"
The train went into a full stop and the door opened. The train have reached the station.

Chandler looked at the black interior of the tunnel trying to make out some form of light. As the light shined through the half elf could not help but gasp in surprise. This was amazing! His blue eyes were soaking the sight as if trying to commit it to memory. It was…like they were in a sea of sapphire and Lazuli gems. He heard the speaker as he looked at his map, well he had no real plan of sight-seeing liking to see everything spontaneous. Chandler turned to the man next to him, “Same here…well I have just decided it is.” He commented with a light hearted chuckle. He saw the door open stepping aside to let the others pass him by with a slight bow of his head.

Marx joined the crowd of creatures leaving the train. As soon as he was out, he took out a metal casing from the pocket of his pants. From the metal casing he took out a cigarette stick, placing it between his lips and whispered a basic fire spell, starting a small flame on his open palm. He covered the flame from the wind and lighted the cigarette between his lips. To put them out, he simply closed his hands. Marx puffed out white smoke to the air. When he turned, he noticed the elf from the train was beside him, probably a coincidence.

"smoke?" he asked the elf, offering a cigarette with a gesture of his hand.

Chandler filed out with the crowd seamlessly finding a place in it this time. He spied the man as he came out and stood by him to see him smoking a cigarette a small fire in his hand. He rapidly shook his head. “N-no thanks…” he commented. “…sorry bit of a fear of fire…” he muttered as he rubbed the back of his head. “Though I won’t bore you with that story.” He commented with his usual cheerful smile. “So what do you do here?” he asked him with a tilt of his head, making sure he did not get in someones way again.

Marx placed the cigarette case back into his pockets. He sucked the already lighted cigarette and placed it between his index finger and middle finger before turning to the elf.

"I work as an assistant engineer at Barnom Industries" he answered and puffed out more smoke. "What about you?"

Chandler watched him smoke as he heard the question. For the briefest of moment a frown lit his face, but that soon quickly vanished. “I worked various odd jobs, for now I am a wanderer. I may write my experiences down and publish them.” He commented with a slight shrug, “Though probably not. I just like wandering it is fun to do.”

For a brief moment, Marx stared at the elf's face.

"you don't like smoke?" Marx waved the cigarette around and exhaled grey air "then you shouldn't have come to Boltcrusher"

Ahead was the stairs heading down. Marx descended while still staring at the elf.

"what's yer name anyway?" he asked and started smoking on the cigarette again

Chandler nodded, “I don't mind others smoking I just personally do not like smoking...I have never found it appealing to me.” he offered him as he stared back at the humans' face. He only chuckled at his comment of not coming here. “Well I like to travel and I haven't been here before so...better now then never yes?” he asked him.

“Oh yes I forgot to introduce myself, my apologies...my name is Chandler.” he said as he offered him a hand to shake.

Marx halfheartedly shook Chandler's hand. "I'm Marx..." he gave his name in return and continued smoking, eyes averted forward to avoid Chandler's gaze.

The underground part of Boltcrusher is called The Mines. All of the buildings in The Mines was constructed from stones and metals. No wood were used as a material for the reason being that trees are not an easy resource in the dwarven capital. Pipes in variety of sizes could be seen connected from one building to the other. It was not a pretty sight but it was necessary to supply liquids and gases to the buildings. As they continued heading deeper into the inner part of The Mines, the light from the sun gradually fades away, concealed by the cavern walls. Replacing the sun light was lights from glowing giant crystals sticking out from the cavern walls and ceiling as well as man made light from light bulbs. They reached a place where half transparent blue force-field surrounding an area could be seen. 'MINING AREA' was punched and painted black on a metal square sign planted on the ground by two poles. A few meters ahead, beside a guard house, the entrance of the mining area could be seen.

"Well, here's where I work." Marx said to Chandler and saluted in a casual manner. "Safe travels to you, Chandler."