Chapter 5: A New World
He noticed the pale steel sky first, but only because of the neon signs and lights glowing brightly because of it.
Floating panels displayed advertisements from Beast Egg flash sales to urgent Rift alerts, calling nearby Riftwalkers to assist in the clearing of a newly detected Rift.
The city never seemed to stop moving. There were drones zipping overhead like impatient hornets, and massive silos belching plumes of recycled steam into the residential streets.
Glowing lights were everywhere David could see.
They came from people, brands, buildings, and small street vendors scattered from one corner to the next.
Below those radiant heights, the street level was filled with vehicles hovering inches above the asphalt as they drove by on silent magnetic currents. Bigger vehicles like synth buses, carrying more people, rumbled past. There was a street performer in glossy but old clothing playing his bass.
Even with Jethro’s memories anchoring him, David still found all of this to be unbelievable.
It was like waking up in a dream someone had left behind.
He darted his gaze around, overwhelmed by the magnitude of this place, his Red Lizard watching as well. It sat lazily on his shoulder now, tail flicking with boredom, beady eyes blinking as it turned and bopped its head.
David stood by the asphalt road for a moment, still taking in the scene and adjusting to the strong scent of wet metal and wires. A girl who had just gotten her license hurried past him, crossing the road with her Flame-tailed Squirrel and disappearing into the smaller streets.
He lingered on her fading silhouette, then looked away. "Apparently, I’m supposed to go home now," he said, more to himself than the gutterling on his shoulder.