The lifeless animated Construct known only as Marlina, awakened in a world at odds from deep lingering scars of conquest and malice, seeks a home where she can belong.
In hopes of finding a place to call home, she also wishes to seek answers for th...
This is the third skeleton Marlina has come across in this wasteland, found lying on a massive stone slab and half-buried in the sand.
Despite numerous warnings about the dangers of the Everlasting Expanse, she is still surprised by how many dead she's encountered so far, if such dangers are common knowledge. Fearsome monsters that dwell in the dunes, brutal days that can kill someone in hours, harsh nights that chill to the bone, sandstorms that pound relentlessly. You'd think that would be enough to scare people away, yet here she is, ironically.
She spends many hours in the heat using only her hands, digging up every bone, scrap of clothing, and any objects she finds with the bones. It couldn't be helped; she has no proper tools available. The way the slab jutted from the ground reveals a narrow gap beneath it, offering shade from the scorching sun. By the time she finishes, the sun is beginning to set. To mark the grave, as others have explained what is done with the dead, she finds a nearby cactus with a blooming flower and grabs it, tearing off a piece with the flower.
Although she isn't exhausted from the heat, the sunset is filling the sky with stunning colors, so she decides to sit beside the shallow grave and watch it. Despite traveling through the desert for days, her clothing shows no sign of grime, not even on her white gloves she's been digging with for hours. Anyone can tell that Marlina's attire isn't suitable for desert travel—she wears a loose black blouse with long sleeves decorated with white cuffs. She also has a corset that extends into a skirt-like design covering part of her hips, along with long pants and knee-high laced boots. Mostly monochrome with her clothes and pale skin, the only bursts of color are her unusually vibrant shoulder-length violet hair, a dark bead necklace with three roses of the same color, and her striking sky-blue eyes.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Taking a long look at the grave, she is aware that the person buried there won't hear her, but it's been a while since she talked to anyone, so she sees no harm in it—just a moment to project her thoughts. At least this one won't show hatred toward her.
"Lovely sunset, isn't it?" Marlina says to the grave, as if she's having a conversation with a stranger sitting beside her. "I'm Marlina. I hope you're a bit more comfortable than you were before, and have a lovely view now." At first, feeling a little silly, it's nice to speak out loud. "I wonder what brought you to a place like this, even with how dangerous it is for people, but I'm sure you have your reasons. I'm looking for a master to serve."
By now, she is imagining what they might ask in response to what she said.
"It's what the voice in the flower told me is my purpose, along with my name. However, my search has not gone as well as I hoped. Have you been to Urush? Seems people like me are not welcome there."
She pauses for another imaginary response, pulls her legs close, and hugs them. Oddly, a soft metallic grind sounds from her as her supposedly clothed limbs rub against each other.
"Well, it seems I am a Colonial, or at least I look like one with how pale I am, while Urushians have tan skin, even though I have only been in Urush since I awoke. I was turned away by many when I offered my services, and many who accepted my offer treated me poorly. Eventually, I'd be cast aside. 'Vile Colonial' was shouted at me many times, telling me to go back to the Colonies, where I belong. The only way to reach the Colonies of Maydra is through the Everlasting Expanse, and so here I am."
Being able to speak more freely in this moment without negative feedback from others, she allows herself to drone on.
"I'm apparently someone who exists to serve others. I've received mixed reactions to that statement. I've found that Urushians don't have servants; many believe that such a life makes someone no better than a codependent slave to the person they dedicate their life to, gaining little from such devotion. Personally, I think it's an honor to live as a loyal and valuable companion to someone else. Well, I would, if I were treated with a little more dignity. I was told Colonials have servants, so maybe my search will be a bit more fruitful there. I hope so, at least."
With a moment of silence, the sun finally sets. Knowing she must move on, Marlina crawls out from under the slab but pauses to bow toward the grave in respect, as she has done for the other skeletons she buried.
"Thank you for listening, and rest well."
The frigid night air doesn't stop her; she walks on, without rest, watching the ground so she doesn't trip, with the dim moonlight her only way to see. Morning eventually arrives, and she has a few hours of daylight before she notices a sandstorm heading her way. From what she's been told, the relentless barrage of sand wears people down, but she isn't too worried and keeps moving forward. The sand caught up in the approaching storm makes light, metallic tinges against her body, which is somewhat of a nuisance but doesn't hinder Marlina. However, the storm distracts her, and she is caught off guard by one of the creatures said to hunt within the sand.
