tachak

'It should be almost winter where you are by the time this letter arrives.'

'I imagine winter in Ursus is even harsher.'

'I hope you can come back sooner rather than later.'

'I hope you haven't been dragged into the mess over there.'

'One last friendly reminder.'

'I know your style, but don't get too involved.'

'Good luck, Lord.'

'Don't get too involved'?

It's a little too late for that.

Sigh.

Alexsandr looks at the device before him, sighs, and puts away the letter.

His breath turns to white fog in the cool air.

It is a strange piece of machinery, with roughly polished metal rails and slightly rusted plates.

Alexsandr carefully maneuvers a wooden crane, putting in the finishing touches next to the strange device.

An Originium engine hangs beneath the crane, the last piece of the puzzle for this strange device.

Done!

Coupling, check. Where's my wrench?

Where on Earth is my level?

The soldier reaches into a box and takes out a level made from birch and glass, calibrating the connection between the engine and the machine.

Let's see...

Power supply, check. Voltage...

Where am I supposed to find a voltmeter in this place?

How the hell did they do this in the 50s?

This torque better be enough.

After a few minutes, the sound of machine rumbling begins to echo in the warehouse.

Aha!

There we go! Hahaha!

It's moving! It's moving!

Mr. Alexsandr?

Good morning, Mr. Alsu.

You're up early.

Oh, it finally started?

I know, right? It's been two frustrating months, but at least it paid off.

Too bad we're out of booze. Who knows when the next caravan is coming.

They don't like going out too far in winter.

Using this machine, I'll be able to make some simple parts even without the caravans.

We could fix that hand pump, for example.

We can teach the others how to use it. It'll make life a lot easier.

What do you call it... a lathe?

I've heard my son talking about it.

I've been here a while now, but I've never met your son.

He doesn't work too far from here, but it's on the other side of the mountain, and the roads get really bad in winter.

The east side? There's a mining zone over there... owned by a nomadic city, I think?

Looks like you know the area.

I asked some questions when trading with that drifter group.

I might have to go again in a few days. Let's hope the snow isn't too bad.

You should stay away from the wastelanders for a while...

The taxmen are coming soon. There'll be trouble if they find out we were dealing with the wastelanders.

Trouble?

I don't know about other places, but Lord Fetisov doesn't like us talking to them too much.

Why?

People from the army say that many of them are Kazimierzian spies.

Along with outlaws like the Rusthammers.

I see.

But most of the drifters in that group look like Ursus people.

It didn't use to be that way...

In the past, wastelanders mostly came from outside Ursus. They were quickly chased away by Lord Fetisov's guards.

But now...

Plenty of Ursus have been fleeing their villages and joining the drifters.

We had more than two hundred people in this village a few years ago, but so many ran in the last couple of years.

There's no one left to till the soil, and the traders aren't coming anymore.

The only thing that's increasing is taxes...

Your standard formula for depopulation.

What about your Lord Fetisov? Does he just sit on his thumb while his serfs run away?

I... I'm not sure.

But he's probably busy dealing with the highwaymen up north.

Highwaymen?

Oh, the bandits the villagers have been talking about?

Who exactly are they?

It's been a month. What is your lord doing?

Ursus's armies wouldn't have trouble with common bandits, would they?

I'm not sure, but rumors say that they're well-trained, targeting nobles specifically. They're even attacking the army.

I don't know how bandits manage to do that...

Well-trained 'bandits' fighting against the nobility. I've heard that story before.

Too many times.

What do they say? History repeats itself.

Er, you've seen this before?

Oh, no, just an off-hand comment

Old man! What are you doing here? They're all looking for you!

Take your time, catch your breath.

You need to hurry home! Your son...

My son's back?

Wait... why?

Just go! He's in bad shape!

What?!

Alsu! You're here! Your son...

What happened to my son?

I was getting firewood in the morning when I saw someone lying at the south edge of town.

I realized it was Anwar when I got closer.

Who knows what might have happened if I didn't stumble across him.

Thank you so much.

I bandaged up wounds. There's no frostbite, so I guess he wasn't there for too long.

But...

What is it?

Listen to me carefully... your son has Oripathy.

What?!

Look at his shoulder.

Oh my...

The old man takes a step back in shock.

In the span of a few seconds, a multitude of expressions flash across his face - fear, worry, doubt.