Every piece of stone was black in the Draconian sector, except for the grey cobbled street. The grey appeared to be almost white as it was the only contrast of colour around them. Rebekka saw his look.

“There was a large fire at one stage. It spread through the whole sector and burned it down. Now everything is fireproof. It might look ominous, but rather scary than dead.” she said, her eyes became wet as she peered into the distance. I wonder if she lost someone in that fire. It seems that everyone has lost something in their lives.

“Anywho! We’ll be taking a boat to the Rockfolk sector. I’m tired of walking.” she announced.

They walked down the main street and then turned left and walked below a looming stone arch where a bridge connected over the wide canal to another section of the city. Next to the canal were narrow roads for pedestrians to walk on. Now and then a small wooden jetty bobbed up and down as boats went past it. Some boats were kayaks with only two or three passengers. Others were larger rowing boats, able to carry more than ten people. Then last but not least, there were boats like the one Mark led them with. It had a small metal contraption at the back and it propelled the small vessel forward. Otters swam freely in the waters, inspecting some of the vessels carrying cargo or just general inspections of permits and so forth.

“What is that metal contraption at the end of that ship?” Aleks said as he pointed at one of the vessels.

“I am proud to say, that is us Human’s invention of a steam engine. We discovered how to harness the power of steam around seven years ago,” she said with a puffed-out chest.

“How doe-” Aleks began before being interrupted.

“I don’t know the specifics. You can ask the engineers over at the factory sector.” Rebekka said.

At least she’s honest about what she knows and what she doesn’t know. It does sound really interesting though, I’ll have to go and find out more about it.

They walked down to one of the wooden jetties and Rebekka held out her arm to hail one of the canal taxis. A man on one of the steamboats saw her hand and adjusted a lever on the engine he manned. Steam billowed from it as the vessel lurched towards them.

“Ahoy there, where can I take you fine folk?” The man asked in a jovial tone.

“Rockfolk section, Canal 17B please.” Rebekka smartly replied as she hopped aboard the vessel.

“Stop staring Aleksander, come aboard!” she shouted at him.

With a small jump, Aleks was safely on the small vessel. The ship released more steam as it accelerated down the canal. They passed the rowboats and the kayaks with ease as they sliced through the water.

“She’s a beauty ain’t she?” the operator stated more than asked. He was an older man with a scraggly beard and wrinkly skin. His hair colour had started its shift from black to grey, but still, the old man had a twinkle in his eye as he looked at the steam engine.

“Yes, she is. I have never seen anything like it.” Aleks remarked as he looked at the engine with interest.

“You’ll have to see the newer generation they are busy with at the factory then kid. It’ll blow yer stockings right off.” the old man said with a grin.

I want to get one of these engines on our ship. I wonder how fast it can go.

“Is this the fastest that it can go?” Aleks asked curiously.

Rebekka slapped her hand over her face and sighed loudly. “You should not have asked that.”

The old man was grinning from ear to ear and the twinkle in his eyes brightened visibly. “Lad, you wish to get there sooner?”

“Oh yeah, I don-” Aleks began.

“Say no more kiddo!” the old man shouted as his hand moved further back and pulled a lever.

For a brief moment, nothing happened. Then the steam from the engine shot into the air as the boat leapt forward. Aleks was on the flat of his back as the nose of the boat rose into the air. He struggled to get up and grabbed the side of the boat in a death grip. Water gushed upwards along the sides of the ship as it moved at an exhilarating speed. Aleks’ hair was pressed flat against his scalp, reminding him of the speed that they had when they crested the gigantic wave.

Shouts rang out in the canal as all the different vessels made way for them. Aleks had a grin on his face as he enjoyed the ride through the city of canals. The dark architecture disappeared as they went underneath a bridge. Large open fields greeted them, filled with yellow flowers and walking Rockfolk. A large building in the shape of an oven with a rather sizable chimney with smoke billowing out of it stood in the distance.

A few agile turns down the side canals and they found themselves in front of the building. A sign with ‘17B’ was nailed to the jetty wall. The steamboat stuttered to a halt.

“That’ll be it folks.” the old man happily said.”How did you like the speed kiddo?”

“Can I get a boat like yours?” Aleks said with a chuckle.

“You’ll have to order one from the factory.” the old man replied with a knowing smile.

Wait a minute, I can get one of these? I’ll have to talk to Luke about securing the necessary funds.

“Thank you, old man,” Rebekka said. “Next time, don’t try to kill us,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

“How can I deny a dear customer that wanted to get to his destination faster,” he said with a roll of his shoulders. He turned around as the sound of swimming Otters became apparent. With a pull of his lever, the boat started moving again. “I’ll see you around kiddo. Gotta get outta here before the Otter patrol fines me.”

Steam billowed out again as the boat disappeared with the old man’s chuckle still ringing in the air. Aleks looked at Rebekka and she just shrugged.

“There’s a speed limit. If you go faster then you get a fine,” she stated.

They walked up the stone stairs that connected the jetty to the land. The area around them was peaceful with birds chirping in the air while some sat on the shoulders of the Rockfolk. The Rockfolk lumbered in the distance. Their walk was neither too fast and neither too slow. Like their surroundings, they walked at a peaceful pace.

“Coming to this sector is always a breath of fresh air,” Rebekka said with a genuine smile. “They may not look like it, but they are such gentle creatures.”

“How did they come to be?” Aleks asked.

“No idea. Some have asked them, but they never talk about it,” she replied.

That is peculiar. This place has a lot of secrets and everyday mysteries.

“Well, what do they eat and what do they do except baking bread?”

“We are here for a reason Aleksander. We’re meeting up with one of the head bakers.”Rebekka said as she walked ahead of him in the direction of the only building in sight. “Also, they have really deep voices. Just a heads up,” she said as an afterthought.

That is vague. . .

The building they moved towards was a dull grey colour, almost the same as the Rockfolk’s ‘skin’. It stood nearly fifteen feet tall and had only one large archway as an entrance. They were ten feet away when the started feeling waves of heat from the entrance.

“When they’re baking we can’t go in there. Some of the Draconians also find it difficult, and their scales are fire-resistant.” Rebekka said in a low voice. She cupped her hands together and put them to her mouth. “Oi! Runir, I have a guest for you!” she shouted.

A rumbling came from inside the building. The ground began to shake as something heavy impacted the ground in regular intervals, growing louder and more pronounced as it moved towards them. Out of the archway came a Rockfolk giant. He stood nine feet tall with thick grey legs and even thicker arms. His stony eyebrows jutted out from his face, covering his dull green orbs that were most likely his eyes. An angular wide nose was met by a mouth that extended across his face.

Runir looked down at the humans standing in front of him. A rumble began, originating from his chest and his mouth opened a little bit. “Greetings,” he spoke.

Aleks looked up at the giant in wonder as his hands moved to his heart. I could feel that in my own heart. It vibrated with the voice of this giant, not with the ground or anything else. . . just with my heart.

“Hi, Runir! Good to see you again.” Rebekka simply said with a smile.

“My core is joyful to see you as well Rebekka,” Runir said, once again creating the vibrations in all the living creatures in the area.

“This here is Aleksander. He is from another world and would like to know more about you and your kind.”

With another rumble, Runir turned his gaze on Aleks and regarded him. After a few moments, he opened his mouth slightly. “Human Aleksander, your heart vibrates painfully and hides an anger that I can feel resonate with my core,” he said as he looked in the direction of Aleks’ heart. “If you do not let go of that anger, the vibrations of it will change who you are.” Runir intoned with a voice that spoke to Aleks’ heart and soul.

Aleks stared up at the giant, feeling vulnerable in front of him as his eyes began to moisten. “This anger is not something that is easily left alone. . . I thank you for your words, wise Runir. But I do not wish to talk further about this. Rather tell me about your kind.”

“I understand.” Runir rumbled. “Walk with me as we talk. I will show you the way of my people.”

I wonder how much this giant must weigh. His very steps make the earth tremble, almost as much as his voice that made my heart tremble. . .

They followed Runir in his rumbling footsteps as they walked over the field of grass.

“My folk are simple. We do not invent like you Humans. We know how to fight, but do not search for battles like the Draconians. Swimming. . . we walk, unlike the Otters.” he said in his deep vibrational voice.

They walked past a glistening lake with water crystal clear. Large fish swam lazily past sitting Rockfolk.

“We are peaceful and align ourselves more with nature. The reason we came to Canalis. . . it was after the call to war against the Dark King. We lost many a great rock in that fateful battle. We had relations with the other races. Most of my people decided to head back to their homes far North. But we. . . we decided to stay and co-exist with the other sentient races.” Runir paused for a moment before he continued.”This is the story of my people, young Aleksander. I could tell you more, but that will be after our relationship has strengthened beyond mutual acquaintance.”

“Thank you Runir. You have given me great insight into your race.” Aleks said with a respectful nod of his head.

“Thanks, Runir, you made my job a lot easier,” Rebekka said with a grateful smile.

“It is always a pleasure to help out a friend of the Rockfolk.” Runir rumbled. With those words, he parted from them and walked into the lake.

Rebekka turned to Aleks and looked at him with a grin. “So what do you think of them?”

“They are not what I expected,” he replied.

She nodded at his words. The Rockfolk were a peculiar race.

“It’s almost time to meet with the council of Elders. Let's get going, we’re meeting up with Luke and . . . Ikaros?” she furrowed her brow.”I think that was his name, or it could be Horus.”

For someone not from Greece, I can imagine that differentiating between those traditional names can be tough.

“Let’s go then,” he said before adding. “Where is it that we're meeting them?”

“Just follow me,” she said again with a roll of her eyes, but this time a smile was on her face.