From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Chapter 115: Enter Bracken

As Ty settled into one of the luxurious seats, he couldn't help but address the elephant in the room. "Why do you look scared of the idea of zombies?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.

Mattison, still looking a bit disheveled from the conversation, replied, "Well, one bite and it's all over, seems kinda cheap. And to imagine your mind rotting away, how is that not terrifying?"

Ty leaned back, pondering over Mattison's reaction. "Well, I suppose, but where I'm from there are no powers, cool weapons... We do have guns, but that just levels the playing field for everyone. Overall, no one is really special from the get-go, so the idea of zombies is very popular where I'm from for that reason, I guess."

Mattison, shaking his head slightly, seemed to be trying to understand. "Well, when you say gun, do you mean Powder Barrels?"

Ty, surprised by the question, clarified, "No, you don't call guns powder barrels, do you?"

As Ty absorbed Mattison's explanation about the weapons, he couldn't help but express his surprise. "Yea, the old-style weapons that were distance weapons used powder and long barrels to do damage to monsters. Though we have a bit more advanced now that can fire with the powder inside a casing, but why would we call it a 'gun'," Mattison elaborated.

Sitting back, Ty pondered this. "And why have I not seen any guns at all?"

Mattison responded, "Oh, well, those are used more for security. Not everyone gets a weapon that is really fight material."

Before they could continue, a large knock came from the door to Ty's left, drawing their attention. "Oh, who is that?" Ty asked, curious about the new arrival.

"That's Bracken, she's the train's engineer and rider," Mattison replied.

As the wheel turned, the door opened, and in walked Bracken. Her presence was immediately commanding, with her arms crossed and a yellow sleeveless jacket adorned with blue lines running down her arms. She had a no-nonsense air about her, her short pink hair framing her face and emerald green eyes sparkling with a mix of annoyance and assertiveness.

"What's the sudden call for? I have a busy day, you know, General," she addressed Mattison directly, her tone a blend of respect and impatience.

As she brushed her hair away from her eyes, beads of sweat were visible on her forehead. She continued, slightly exasperated, "The train already has heating issues. Taking detours can cause more problems, you know."

General Mattison, showing a rare moment of deference, offered a slight bow to Bracken. "Sorry, ma'am. Maybe I can treat you to some drinks as forgiveness for wasting your time?" he suggested, trying to smooth over the situation.

Bracken scoffed lightly, a mix of amusement and dismissal in her voice. "Pft, you wish. No thanks. So, where are we going anyway?" she asked, redirecting the conversation to the matter at hand.

"I thought I signaled for the third main housing area. We can be dropped off at the medical section for Lady Amaris's section. We have a young lady to visit," Mattison explained, his tone becoming more business-like.

Bracken, her confusion evident, listened as her emerald green pants rustled slightly with her movements. Following Mattison's gesture, her gaze shifted toward Ty, who had remained still during their exchange.

Upon noticing Ty's skeletal form, Bracken's annoyance quickly transformed into excitement. Ty, slightly taken aback by her sudden interest, managed a wave and a casual, "Hello, sorry, I'm not good with formalities."

Bracken didn't waste a moment. Rushing over to him, she bent his hand, her curiosity overtaking her. "How do you function?! What's your energy source to keep this skeleton form up?" she asked, her voice tinged with excitement and wonder as she felt strands of blue energy emanating from him.

Mattison, sensing Bracken's growing enthusiasm, gently pushed her back, trying to maintain a semblance of order. "Okay, don't get too worked up," he cautioned, before addressing her original query. "Was there anything else you needed? Just wanted to check on my passengers and confirm where I'm dropping you off. If you're all the way in the capital, who is watching the outlands?"

Bracken, stepping back and placing her hands on her hips, responded, "Oh, I left that up to Zaraki. He was actually a bit excited to take on the task. It can be quite boring, but this time of the year, wolfin creatures usually spawn, and even on rare occasions, orcs. But he can handle that."

She paused for a moment, her expression turning slightly contemplative. "If you say so, but ever since we were young, he's always struggled fighting Orcs for some reason. He can handle almost anything, but his fear of them makes him as passive as an innkeeper."

Ty, amused by the mention of Zaraki's fear, couldn't help but chuckle. "I wonder if he was afraid of Todd," he mused aloud, his tone light and playful.

Bracken, intrigued by the mention of a new name, questioned, "And why would he be afraid of someone named Todd?"

Mattison interjected, providing some context. "Oh, that's his green friend that's practically an Orc but acts nothing like one. He's being used elsewhere right now."

Bracken seemed intrigued by this piece of information. "Now that's interesting for sure," she commented. Her attention then shifted back to the task at hand. "Well, we should be arriving for drop-off shortly."

"And Skeleton guy," she said, turning to Ty with a playful yet investigative glint in her eyes, "let me know if you ever want to get some drinks, and I can figure out how you work more. I love taking things apart."

She gave him a short wink, a gesture that was both friendly and a clear indication of her scientific curiosity, before turning to exit through the door, closing it with a definitive click.

Mattison, with a hint of humor and self-reflection, plopped down on the seat next to Ty. "Huh, who would have thought she has a thing for a skeleton? Maybe that's why she always ignored my advances," he mused, half-jokingly.