Kiah picked the last book off the shelf and slumped into a chair in the corner, flipping through the pages with greedy anticipation. Killan remained quietly in the background, but Kiah was too focused to notice.
After an hour of reading the book, she found absolutely nothing of value.
Advanced technology, her foot. The book barely scratched the surface of basic science. The diagrams were vague, the explanation laughably simplistic. It felt more like a high school textbook.
'What the hell is this crap?'
Growing more annoyed, she rifled through the remaining five books. Each one was more useless than the last. They repeated the same thing: the Fall, the monsters, a vague nod to the Overseer… but never anything specific.
It had been thirty-five years!
Where was the process? The breakdowns and analyses? The schematics? Or did nobody think to take notes?
"Load of nonsense!"
She cursed loudly, slamming her hands on the desk in frustration.
"Is something wrong?"
She jerked, having forgotten she wasn't alone.
Killan watched her from across the room, a small, amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Oh—I'm sorry." She let out a frustrated breath. "It's just… these books are useless. They say nothing about the Overseer. Nothing about the anatomy of the original monsters. No data on how the human body was modified or how water was detoxified. Nothing."
Killan chuckled softly.
"I understand your frustration. In fact, I acted the same way when I realized they'd taken all the real knowledge with them to Veloria City."
Kiah perked up, instantly alert.
Killan didn't seem much older than fifty, which meant he was alive before the Fall. He experienced things, so he definitely knew more than the books did.
"Really? What happened?"
Killan leaned back in his wheelchair, his eyes drifting to the ceiling as if he were peeling back the years.
"I was a young soldier when the Fall happened. We were trying to evacuate residents from a building, and I didn't make it out in time. I nearly died. When I was eventually rescued, I lost use of my legs. I was no longer useful to the military after that."
He paused, spotting a sad smile.
"When the Overseer came, he brought designs, blueprints, and ideas that were strange. At first, we thought he was a lunatic. Everyone did. We were all just trying to survive, and here was this man talking about energy grids and water purification systems and synthetic farming."
He gave a short, wry laugh.
"We thought he was trying to give us false hope before we all met our pathetic end. But then… he made the water drinkable again. And just like that, people started to believe him."
Killan paused, and Kiah gazed at him with anticipation.
"Slowly, with the rise of his inventions, life became bearable again. Our bodies were modified to withstand most of the toxins in the air. We became stronger. Weapons became more effective in fighting against the mutation. But once construction of the Wall began, knowledge began to disappear."
Kiah narrowed her eyes, listening closely.
"You see, even with a useless leg, I refused to stay idle," Killan continued, his voice edged with pride. "I was recruited into a team of mechanics who were tasked with building prototypes based on the Overseer's designs. It was the most inspired I've ever been."
"But when the Wall was completed, everything was taken with them. And those of us left behind were told to manage the scraps. Now, people like me build miniature versions from memory just to keep Duskworn running."
Kiah's brows pulled together.
'But why take the books and knowledge, though? It is almost as if the Overseer does not want others to know about his knowledge. That is a bit suspicious and quite heartless.'
"Wait a second." She tilted her head. "Aren't you like fifty? If the Fall happened thirty-five years ago, that would make you around fifteen when it happened. You became a soldier at fifteen?"
Killan chuckled. "Kid, I'm seventy-three."
Kiah's mouth opened in shock. "Seventy-three?!"
Aside from his grey hair and a few light wrinkles, he didn't look that old. In fact, with a decent haircut and new clothes, he could easily pass for a man in his late forties.
"You look amazing for your age." She complimented.
"Thank you." Killan smiled. "I take great pride in maintaining what I have left."
"So… you're the mechanic?"
"That I am," he said with a proud nod. "I make all the fancy things you see moving around here. I also designed that gorgeous Labrys strapped to your back."
Kiah's eyes lit up.
"Really? How did you do it? The design is so pretty. The metal is light to hold and doesn't weigh heavily on me. For a big weapon, swinging it is not a problem. I heard it can also change forms when I become stronger. And that bonding stuff, how does it work?"
Killan's eyes twinkled as she rambled. It was rare to meet a teenager interested in stuff like this. It made him excited.
"It took a lot of tinkering. But I like you, kid. I can teach you a thing or two about it. Do you have time?"
Kiah almost squealed.
"I'd love that. But I have to train for my test in three days. After the assessment is done, I'll definitely be back."
Kiah watched as Killan's smile faltered.
"The test," he echoed, almost to himself.
A shadow passed over his expression. His eyes dimmed, the joy from earlier slipping away.
Kiah frowned.
What was with his sudden change? Did she say something wrong?
Killan quickly fixed a smile when he caught her staring, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Best of luck on the test," he said, his voice softer now."Remember, when the degenerates come at you, always aim for the head. It's the only way to kill them."
"Thanks." She offered a grateful nod. "I'll be going now."
"I hope I see you again." He said, and this time, his voice carried something heavier. A sorrowful edge, maybe.
She chose to ignore it.
Back in her room, the artificial lights overhead mimicked a soft twilight, though there were no windows underground. A digital clock on the wall blinked: 19:00.
Kiah dropped on her bed with a sigh, closing her eyes. Just two days in this strange world had drained her considerably. It felt like a lifetime. But she had made a promise. She had less than two years to return home.
'Seven hundred and twenty eight days left…'
"I can do this. I'll come back, Mom." She whispered to herself before letting herself drift to sleep.