A confusing world with confusing people

'When will this end? I am fucking annoyed as is,' Alistair thought as he breathed out a breath of frost. He had woken up a while ago, and the discharging process for the pregnant Penelope was ongoing even after nine days.

Alistair wasn't angry about the time. On the contrary, he was enraged that he slept through it. 'Damn it!' he thought.

'I missed the chance to know about this world's history.' Alistair complained before moving about in the soft blue cloth that carried him.

Nevertheless, Alistair stared out the window, looking at that high-rise buildings that stood on the ground and the sunny weather above that hovered above. Although what he could see was blurry since the window wasn't too transparent.

Alistair assumed it was close to the 19th century based on the architecture. However, he wasn't too sure; he needed to be outside to confirm.

Alistair gritted his non-existent teeth. 'So much time wasted, yet, my knowledge reservoirs are less than a fucking delinquent. Even though I am one. That is not the damn case!'

While Alistair was uneased, Penelope, on the other hand, felt ecstatic. She strolled the infirmary halls, thinking about the time she would spend with her family.

She also remembered a time that she would clamor for hours at how she would never sire a child, but here she was. She ironically still felt like she was dreaming.

Penelope laughed at the thought as she looked outside the hospital through the sky-blue-tinted window, inspecting the unending stream of houses in the neighborhood arranged like a stack of dominoes.

Upon looking at a tower in the distance, Penelope became nostalgic, and a tear fell down her eyes. Before she could sink into the thought and revel in it, a shrill voice interrupted.

"Penelope, you have been discharged. This is wonderful!" Penelope heard from the side, and she turned to the source.

Additionally, Alistair flinched at the noise. 'What a sour voice!' he thought.

"Satrina, you are here… I thought you were busy?" Penelope said. She looked at a dark spot with a questioning stare and a raised brow.

As Penelope said that, Satrina emerged from the shadows of a towering pillar, she strode forward with grace. Her delicate footsteps made no sounds as her golden dress flowed elegantly behind her.

The moment she lifted her eyes, they gleamed like brilliant blue comets. At that moment, she embodied a divine presence on earth, a true goddess among mortals.

But, when Satrina got closer, her graceful steps changed to giddy ones as she tiptoed to the duo.

"How is my favorite friend… and is this your child!" Satrina screamed out as she bobbed her head.

Satrina bent down to face Alistair, who sank deep inside the soft surface at the sudden change in Satrina's demeanor.

"He is so handsome… Alistair right? How about matching him up with my daughter?" Satrina said.

'Huh!' Alistair thought. His face resembled someone, who saw the gaping butthole of a man. Satrina paid no attention to Alistair's reaction. She poked at Alistair's chubby face and laughed at the shapes it made.

As Penelope watched Satrina poke-play with her child, she remembered that Satrina wasn't supposed to even be here.

"Wait, I thought you and your husband left the city… Oh my God. Does your husband know you're here?!" Penelope exclaimed, Interrupting Satrina, causing her to let go and look at Penelope.

"Ohh, please, of course, he does. What do you take me for!?" Satrina said as she shrugged off her worried friend, but Penelope's gaze only intensified. Even Alistair doubted the woman.

Satrina brought her hands down and avoided Penelope's eyes. Nevertheless, she caved.

"Ok, fine, I snuck out, happy," Satrina admitted the truth in haste. The mother-son duo reacted with tired expression, they had guessed this would be the answer.

Penelope shook her head. "Why would you do that?" She reprimanded.

"How could I not come to congratulate my best friend, huh?" Satrina explained as she held Penelope's shoulders, smiling.

She left the shoulders and added. "Plus, the meetings are boring. Always full of those vile and scheming snakes."

She cringed as he talked about her rivals and partners.

Penelope smiled and answered her childhood friend. "You are a family of merchants, Satrina; you will always deal with snakes."

"Don't remind me. I get reminded by it each time I stay around those reptiles." Satrina rolled her eyes with her head following suit.

She stared at the mother duo, and a question brewed in her mind, one that would shift that attention from her.

"So, where is Revan?" Satrina asked with one brow raised. She looked at their back to see if she would notice him.

"He's at… work," Penelope said with a tired demeanor as she shook her head.

"Ah yes, one of Revan's... Qualities!" Sabrina said with an unhinged look. Wondering why she expected more out of him?

She crossed her hands. "I don't blame the man, but it's been years; he… should… let… it… go!"

"You know he can't," Penelope said with a down face.

Alistair, who listened in on Penelope, became curious. 'What do they mean by 'let it go' ?' His ears jerked to peeve in on the topic.

"Yeah, but It wasn't his fault. It was you guys' wedding and–"

"Madam Penelope, Mr. Revan is here!" A nurse interrupted their conversation, arriving from Penelope's rear.

And Alistair reacted ferociously after seeing the explanation get interrupted; he then had a distressed look. 'Fuck. No, complete the sentence… Damn that nurse!'

Penelope faced the nurse and nudged her head. "Thank you," She said.

"Well, I don't want to be a nail in your happy family. So, I will have to leave before Daren kills me," Satrina laughed as she waved. Hoping she made a good impression on her future son-in-law.

She turned and suddenly headed to a hospital room. "Make sure to tell me everything your little angel Alistair does!"

As Satrina disappeared into the chambers. Alistair seemed unsure why she followed a different path than before.

However his questions were answered when he saw two inconspicuous men in snow-white doctor clothes arrive from another path. They passed by the mother-son duo.

Alistair observed the men passing by. 'I guess being a merchant is a dangerous profession in this city,'

One of the men with scars on their face looked at Alistair but received a tongue out from the rebel-like Alistair for his efforts. The man snorted and squeezed his scarred face before continuing on his path.

'Weirdo!' Alistair thought before looking away.

Furthermore, Penelope walked through the hospital, with Alistair clocked out until they came to the reception hall.

'This hospital is quite' --Alistair sneezed from the hospital smell-- 'Massive!'

Alistair scanned the busy enclosure with curious eyes. 'It feels both old and futuristic.'

As they entered the grand reception hall, their eyes were greeted by billowing black and red banners that adorned the walls, casting a heavenly glow across the space.

The walls were pristine and clean, gleaming in pure white light from the outside glare passing through the window. Atop the reception hall existed luminescent bulbs encased halfway by bronze and glass casing that gracefully rotated around the source of light.

However, Alistair noticed the modern equipment used around the hospital, which led him to second-guess the time-period again, putting it somewhere in the industrial ages.

Despite that, Alistair noticed the reception was filled with soldiers wearing raven-black vests that hugged them tightly.

And after seeing the cases of 1st to 3rd-degree burns and lacerations, Alistair couldn't help but speculate. 'Outside city must be very 'chaotic,' and logically, I should be scared, yes…'

Alistair felt his heart race. 'However, I feel like I need to experience the thrill!'

And as Alistair discovered himself, Penelope left the hospital through the glass door. She walked out into the vast municipality and into the hot breeze from the shining sun.

Alistair's gaze lifted as he beheld the magnificent sight before him. His eyes widened in wonderment as he marveled at the towering buildings of diverse designs, each one uniquely crafted with a blend of cold reflective metal and warm, vibrant concrete. The contrast between the two materials created a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow, casting an ever-changing dance of colors across the cityscape.

Before Alistair could get used to the scenery, an interruption came.

"RAWRRRRR!"

A booming sound came from above, startling Alistair. He looked up to see the source, and his mouth opened to peak proportions as he witnessed it.

Above him was a snow-white metal lion adorning gold wings glistened by solar rays, and attached to the lion was a navy blue carriage made of metal and wood.

'H-Ho-how!' Alistair stuttered as he witnessed the unscientific spectacle.

However his shock didn't stop there. From the carriage, seven individuals jumped. The hot rays shone upon them, reflecting pitch-black silhouettes that glided through the air. Their capes soared with the wind as they descended.

'That is a hundred-meter jump! They will die!' Alistair scorned the men who leaped from the sky: Until he couldn't.

The figures descended onto the ground with a loud thump as their feet dug into the pavements, scattering debris across the street as a result.

'How- is-is- this possible?' Alistair marveled as he coughed up the dust. What would shock him had yet to come.

From the group of six shrouded by dust, Alistair picked out a black-haired man. He saw a familiar bearded chiseled face and hazel eyes.

Alistair's eyes widened, and his hand dropped. He thought of one word. 'Fa- Fath-Father!'