The sky transformed into a deep orange hue, the sun retreating behind the mountains, while the moon ascended from the opposite horizon.
As darkness enveloped the world, casting an inky shadow over everything, there remained one place untouched by the gloom: Feril, the capital of Ariella. This vast metropolis pulsed with the glow of cyber lights—pink, blue, red, and yellow—a dazzling palette illuminating the night.
Amidst the countless buildings and the labyrinthine streets of this endless city, a tower soared, stretching toward the heavens.
Its base was colossal, words swirling in the air, revolving around to reveal a name: "AnyThing Market."
"True to its name, 'Anything Market' offers all that one might desire—be it the exotic, the extraordinarily rare, or simply a common everyday need."
From the depths of imagination, a hand broke through layers, belonging to a child at the center of a group, all standing before one of the countless entrances.
"Very good, it seems we have a question here," the voice that had been explaining moments earlier chimed once more. At the entrance marked Number 24 stood a machine—a robot resembling a game mascot, round and cheerful with a broad, smiley face.
The boy, small and curious, raised his voice. "Is there chocolate too?"
The robot chuckled, "Indeed, there are chocolates within—delicious and delightful, some you may have never seen before."
At this, the children erupted into joyful leaps, their faces alight with smiles and their stomachs rumbling for sweet treats. "Now, now, everyone be quiet, form a line, and proceed slowly," their teacher instructed.
Watching this lively scene, a girl mirrored the children's joy, her pearly black eyes reflecting a bittersweet blend of happiness and longing.
Elara stepped toward the gate, and the large glass doors slid open slightly. Beyond the glass lay another thriving world. A metropolis inside a metropolis.
Neon signs hung above the bustling market stalls, crowds surged past grand shops, and hundreds of elevators moved in unison, soaring between floors.
Elara gazed upward, following the path of the elevators, but all she could see was an endless expanse of floors, an unseen pinnacle above—like staring at the horizon from the heart of the ocean, where land was but a distant memory.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she momentarily forgot her purpose, and like a child, she dashed into the vast Mall, eager to explore the labyrinth.
***
"Crap, it's getting late," echoed a voice through the deserted alley, as a boy sprinted down its length.
His fluffy black hair bounced with each hurried step. Ren ran as fast as he could, not out of fear of the encroaching darkness in the abandoned streets, but because of the person waiting for him on the other side.
He dashed across the clanking metal bridge that connected the forsaken part of town to Hemsworth.
After what felt like an eternity of running, Ren finally arrived at his doorstep. He straightened his posture, took a moment to calm his breath, and opened the door.
Standing before him was the embodiment of fear itself—his mother, her emerald eyes blazing with anger.
"Where have you been?" she demanded, her voice heavy and intimidating.
Sweat trickled down Ren's cheeks, and he gulped nervously. "I-I was—" Words failed him, confusion and dread swirling in his mind. Then a thought struck him.
"I was at the Academy, filling out internship forms for the University," he said, hoping his mother would buy the lie.
Her gaze pierced through him, intensifying his terror. With a heavy sigh, she raked a hand through his hair.
"Don't stay out so late; the streets aren't safe these days," she said, her tone softening, turning gentle and warm, as only a mother's could.
"Now, I know you must be hungry, so eat something first," she continued. Ren nodded, his stomach growling in agreement.
***
Outside his home, a man lurked in the shadows, watching with his crimson red eyes. "He sure ran fast," Victor chuckled to himself.
He had been trailing Ren until he safely reached his doorstep. Satisfied, Victor turned to leave.
As he wandered through the town, he hummed a melody in his head.
"Du du du, du du du, to protect the world from evil, to save the humanity, the savior of all mankind, the greatest invention of all inventions, the King of all robots is here,The Warrrrrr Bringerrrrr."
Concealed within a concrete pipe, a secret base beneath the grand bridge connecting both parts of Hemsworth, two children sang the theme song from their favorite show.
"Did you see yesterday's episode?" asked a young boy, a packet of chips in hand, munching as he reclined.
"Yes! I was on the edge of my seat when Mr. Rojer appeared out of nowhere in the new Warbringer Suit," replied the other boy, savoring a blue popsicle to combat the heat under the bridge.
"Victor, why don't we build our own Suit?" suggested the boy with pale green eyes, crunching a mouthful of chips.
"Are you really a kid? It's a fictional show," the smaller Victor retorted.
"That's why you're so behind," the boy teased.
Feeling offended, Victor snatched a piece of charcoal from the charred remnants of garbage and began sketching on the concrete pipe. "Well, just wait a minute."
Before long, a drawing emerged—a tin box with a junky head and wavy limbs.
"What is this, a bear?" the boy laughed at Victor's creation.
"It's a robot! I'll make it someday," Victor declared, pride swelling in his chest as he admired his drawing.
"Then I'll build one ten times bigger than this," said the other boy, rising to leave, tossing the empty chip packet into the river after finishing his snack.
"I'll build one a hundred times bigger than yours!" Victor shouted, racing after him.
***
As the moon drifted through the cloudy sky, Victor stood beneath the bridge, gazing at his childish drawing.
"Our dream, haha, it wasn't just a dream isn't," he murmured with a soft smile.
***
The door slid open, unveiling the entrance to an elevator, where a sign boldly announced, "172nd Floor." From within emerged a girl, black pearled eyes and silk like hair shining by the light.
"I have wasted so much time," she whispered, having spent over an hour darting through the building until clarity finally settled upon her.
"Let's see," Elara murmured as she retrieved her translucent glass phone. With deft fingers, she scrolled through the floor map of the 'Anything Market.' "Cosmetics and beauty products on the 170th floor, software on the 171st, and machine spare parts and accessories on the 172nd—perfect! I'm on the right floor!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm palpable.
The corridor was lined with shops, each brimming with the latest tools, innovative products, and a vast array of mechanical equipment. For a machine enthusiast like Elara, it was nothing short of paradise.
She flitted from one shop to the next, eager to explore the diverse offerings, but after yet another half-hour of frenetic wandering, she came to an abrupt halt.
"Ahh, I've done it again," she scolded herself internally. "No more distractions; I'll gather what I need and be on my way."
With steely determination, she scanned the series of shops until her gaze landed on the one she sought. It was a spring and elastic shop, boasting an impressive array of spring coils and electrical elastic metals, all meticulously arranged throughout the gallery.
As Elara stepped inside, an elderly man rose swiftly to greet her, his hair and moustache as white as snow, revealing the passage of time. "Welcome to our shop," he hummed pleasantly.
Elara nodded in acknowledgment as she meandered through the empty gallery. "Not many come to this shop," she noted softly.
After a few moments of searching, she found herself puzzled. "Need any help?" the old man inquired, observing her expression of dissatisfaction.
"Uh, I'm looking for two shock-absorbent jumping spring coils that can absorb shock up to 1500 PSI and provide an 80 percent rebound," she specified.
The old man regarded her with keen interest. "What do you need them for?"
"I'm working on something," she replied, and the shopkeeper, merely glancing at her mechanic attire, sensed her sincerity and chose not to pry further.
He rummaged through his stock before producing two spring coils that glimmered under the bright lights.
A single glance was all Elara needed to confirm they were precisely what she desired. "Thank you for your help," she said, bowing her head in gratitude. The shopkeeper smiled as she completed her purchase and exited.
"It's heartening to see there are still young ones who appreciate things like this," he sighed, settling back into his seat in the empty shop.
Elara cast a glance at her glossy, analog watch, which mirrored the hue of her hair. "It's too late already," she lamented internally.