Looking at the Mars-like red Planet beyond a porthole on the side of the ship, Iax wondered just where he had ended up.
Still, judging by how clearly he could see the surface, it probably was not Mars.
Even in the Old Era, Mars had been developed to an astonishing degree. Finding so much as an empty stretch of wasteland had been difficult.
Besides, this Planet seemed to have endured some horrific war. The heaps of miscellaneous things scattered across its surface were clearly not rocks or mountains.
After Iax had spent so long wandering around the ship, everyone aboard had grown less afraid of him.
Once the Priests changed their approach to him, they gradually discovered that this Ancient Construct was not difficult to communicate with or get along with. Sometimes, they could even get answers to their questions.
If they had something worth showing off, they could bring it to him. He might clear up their doubts, or he might take a liking to it and give them a new "little handicraft" in return. Because of this, the ship's Priests gave Iax a new nickname.
The Omnissiah's mystery draw box.
While Iax was looking at the Planet through the porthole, a Tech-Priest approached him with a small box and offered it up, brimming with anticipation.
Iax turned his scanner toward it, identified it, then expressionlessly plucked an odd little metal plate from his body and tossed it to the Priest.
Ever since Iax had cobbled together a few small, personal weapons from scraps to trade for the Tech-Priests' finely crafted tools, they seemed to have suddenly wised up.
Every so often, they brought him bizarre creations, hoping to attract his attention and get something in exchange.
Their initial offerings had been of little use to Iax.
Until one