Makinor was exhausted.
The things he had fixed, the ones he couldn't, and even those he had managed to fix—but only after far too much trouble—had all worn him down.
A quarrel with a demanding client had drained him even further.
A month ago, he had barely managed to hire an assistant, but the boy was neither quick with his hands nor sharp with his eyes.
The only comfort was that his long-time customer and friend, Fidelious, had promised to bring someone who could help for a while.
At least I can lighten my load a bit, he thought.
As always, the workshop that doubled as his store was filled with the smell of metal and oil.
Sunlight slanted in between the scattered screws and tools on the floor, tinting the floating dust gold.
When the door clanked open, a gust of sea breeze swept in—along with a loud, hearty laugh.
"Makinor! How long has it been, hah!"
Makinor looked up and gave a faint smile.
"Fidelious… it's been a while."
The two exchanged greetings like old friends reunited, but there was a subtle tension in Makinor's expression.
Though he was glad to see Fidelious, he couldn't quite shed the cautious distance that came with viewing him as a client.
After a brief chat, Fidelious gestured toward the boy standing beside him.
"I'll be staying in Marcana for a month—buy some supplies, have a few drinks, unwind a bit before setting sail again.
This boy will help you while I'm here. You mentioned needing someone for deliveries, right?"
Makinor turned his gaze to the boy.
Lifeless eyes. Slumped shoulders devoid of will.
And a faint, ironic curl at the edge of his lips.
Can this one really handle deliveries…? Makinor sighed inwardly.
At that moment, another boy burst in from the back, his face and arms smeared with oil.
"Do we have a customer?"
Curio's voice was bright and lively.
"Curio, say hello. This boy will be working with us for a month. What was your name again?"
"Audalis."
"Right, Audalis."
Curio looked Audalis up and down with curious, sparkling eyes before grinning and holding out his hand.
"Nice to meet you. New faces are always welcome. Let's work well together."
Audalis stared at the hand for a moment, then slowly reached out his own.
He was beginning to understand—just a little—what such an act meant.
When their hands met, Curio gripped his firmly.
The strength in that handshake felt strangely unfamiliar… yet somehow comforting.