“How big is this place?” Nic’s question echoed through the cavern, bouncing off the innumerable tunnel walls. They spread out in every direction, some large enough for him to pass through at full height, others so small a mouse would struggle to fit. All of them were formed of scrap, the same fusion of raw … Continue reading The Scrap Knight Ch.6 →

Nic staggered back in a sputtering, panicked flurry, thoughtless but for a desire to get away as fast as possible. This proved a less than ideal strategy, his feet stumbling over the uneven terrain. He would have fallen had the suit not shot out its hand and caught him by the belt, holding him up … Continue reading The Scrap Knight Ch.5 →

It was difficult to describe what Nic found waiting for him out in the wilds of Gibson. A mess to be sure, there was no ifs, ands or buts about that. Anything and everything even vaguely related to the craft of electronics was here, of both the magical and the mundane aspects. Stacks of circuitry … Continue reading The Scrap Knight Ch.4 →

“I’m bored again!” “I still don’t care.” “Why not?” “Because you’re annoying.” Zephyr did a little wobble, a silent “fair enough”, before returning to circling the car in search of something to amuse himself. He paused at each window, watching the passing landscape of warehouses, industrial sites, and undeveloped scrubland pass by. Most of it … Continue reading The Scrap Knight Ch.3 →

Cleaning up the mess turned out to be much easier than Nic had expected. Besides the console and some cabling, everything else had been damaged well beyond salvage, reduced to some combination of ash, slag, or scrap. Nic would be feeling the bite one in his allowance this month, of that he was certain. Still, … Continue reading The Scrap Knight Ch.2 →

“I’m bored!” Nic refused to look up, keeping his eyes fixed on his work. “I said I’m borrrred!” “I don’t think it’s possible for me to care any less,” Nic said. “But I’m like, really, really bored!” “Then go bother Master Orlin, I’m busy.” Zephyr wiggled back and forth, a child stomping their foot. “Orry … Continue reading The Scrap Knight Ch.1 →

Nic had decided that he didn’t mind some parties. The celebration had begun as soon as the duel had formally concluded. Food and drink materialized from nowhere, carted about by the automatons. Nic barely had time to get his rig off before the crowd swarmed him, dozens of people, everyone who had been in attendance … Continue reading Duel Ch.11 →

Nic flinched. He didn’t freeze as he once may have but time unquestionably passed between his rig being released and Nic beginning to cast. No more than a second, barely a blink, but enough that it left him scrambling, unbalanced during the vital first exchange. If Arthur could get something off fast enough, he’d get … Continue reading Duel Ch.10 →

“Will you stop fidgeting?” Isabella’s words were annoyed more than anything else, though she didn’t let it show on her face. To any onlooker, she was the picture of grace. “Oh, trust me, I’m trying,” Nic said. For the second time in as many weeks, the young techne found himself back at the Worthington estate, … Continue reading Duel Ch.9 →

A routine emerged at Greytower over the next several days. Nic would wake to an array of bruises and aching joints from the day before. Some days were worse than others but a quick shower was usually sufficient to cure them, leaving him free to return to his rig. A good hour or so of … Continue reading Duel Ch.8 →