A Fine Black Sky
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
This was the place of the Machines. For many weeks the Apprentices had been studying the form of the Machine, beyond the design stage and onto its function, leading to its reaction and produce, ultimately to its residuum. For many, it would seem that this subject became an opportunity to slack, to play up and to decry its effectiveness. And from within the Classroom, often it would become unavoidable - there would Osseus Rivalis be, imprinting his nature upon the poor children he victimised, day in, day out, endlessly for seemingly his own disparate ambitions. For power perhaps? Certainly for control. Kid had managed to avoid him of late, their encounters being particularly difficult for Kid, fostering the loneliness and powerlessness of his situation - the duty bound promise of his ancestral moniker that stripped any individuality he may have had at one time, be it short lived, and certainly at a time Kid had forgotten, or become lost to, as an amnesiac to his past.
But it seemed fate had taken a break this day, lost amongst the dark clouds in the dark sky, or hidden in the dark corridors, in the dark corners of the dark Tower, for Osseus Rivalis became bolstered by a story he was to tell. He began, and at volume - for he was immortal, untouchable - indestructible. The Tutor took a blind eye and formed a deaf ear to the turn of events.
“Let me tell you all of the story of the broken Machine. Are you listening? Well, there once was this Machine, that was rejected first by its maker, then by its Engineer. The Machine was useless, and it was decrepit. It’s Inventor was so disgusted by the product it created, that they died, just died, out of sheer hatred of the thing they had designed and made come into the world. Then, guess what? Another Machine, because it was so horrified by this one, became weak, began to fall apart, until it simply stopped working. Of course, many said it simply wasn't good enough, and deserved to die, much like the Inventor. But that broken Machine, it still thought it was something, thought it was equal to the Machines about it. But it wasn’t. It was useless, pointless and defunct -“
“Osseus, please -“ tried Kid.
“- Oh, but that wasn't all. Oh no. An Engineer was assigned to that Machine, which was beyond repair and useless beyond function. The Engineer was forced to work with it, but became more and more desperate, until the Engineer took to bedding prostitutes, and -“
“That’s enough, Osseus! Please!”
“- And that Engineer turned to drugs, drink, and crime, until he was found dead in a gutter, while the broken Machine -“
Kid heard no more. He was pushed beyond reason. He burst into uncontrollable tears, which simply made Osseus laugh, causing the sycophants to join with him, as Kid tore from the Classroom, even as the Tutor called him back. Kid did not hear this either, as he ran aimlessly down the corridor to somewhere. And behind him, completely unnoticed to the boy himself, the shadow attempted to keep up with him.
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