Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 16: The Final Recovery

The final remains discovered are only about an hour away, not much farther than the previous two. They come across a geode resting on the sand; Marlina had taken a broken piece of the deposit to use as a makeshift headstone. 

Attempting to stay in the shadow of the deposit as the sun rose, it seems this set of remains hasn't been in the wasteland as long as the other two, as their clothing is still in decent condition. The remains belong to a male in his twenties, and his attire is Urushian, specifically from the Earth Potreros. He is also missing his right hand. Based on the polishing tools found and a close examination of the deposit, he appears to have been a jeweler, likely involved in extracting gems. After Elek discovers dozens of small holes in the right radius and ulna, he inspects the stone. A section of the deposit has a hollowed core beneath a large crack opened using Earth abilities, and it is full of mammalian quills. Elek carefully picks up one that is easily accessible, being cautious not to prick himself.

"What do you think happened to him?" Marlina inquires.

"If I had to guess, this stone was likely home to a group of recently born dralzi, rodent-like creatures, which this man disturbed, and he was paralyzed by their poisonous quills while defending themselves. They might have claimed his hand as a meal before escaping to a safer place." Elek picks up a twig and reaches deeper into the stone, uncovering a wholly decomposed hand beneath the pile of quills. "I would also guess you found him resting on the rock, pulling him away and relieving him of his hand?" Her nod confirms his suspicions.

Finally, after loading the last set of remains and a well-wrapped cylinder of dralzi quills, they take a moment to rest, feeding the braxl in preparation for the long journey back. Since Elek wanted to return before nightfall, he aimed to cover as much ground as possible during the hours-long journey. To avoid overheating and exhausting the braxl, he planned a quick break in a cave between the locations of the first and second remains. 

As he jots down new notes on his map about the locations of the remains, Marlina sits beside him and gradually deciphers his scribbles. In just the past few days, Marlina has learned so much about the desert from Elek. Metal or not, there seem to be deadly dangers, even for someone as resilient as she is. Now, she regrets having dismissed the offer for a copy of that newsletter before coming here.

"You wouldn't happen to have the Lodestar Chronicle with you? I'd hate to keep bothering you with questions all the time," Marlina asks. 

Initially, her inquiry seemed random, but it quickly became clear to him why she would ask if she intended to journey across the rest of the desert to the Colonies. Considering what she has gone through and how the remains they are about to transport met their fates out here, it would benefit her to gain more knowledge. She may not be human, but that doesn't mean she can't assist someone less resilient than she is if she encounters them. At this point, Aurea will ensure Marlina doesn't trek across the desert on foot again and will arrange for her to travel with the twins the next time they deliver to the Colonies.

"I have the latest issue. We try to keep the most up-to-date information on our person when we travel through the wastes. I've wondered if you think someone could be searching for you."

"What do you mean?"

Elek wasn't sure how revealing his true thoughts about her would impact her, but it was clear that she wasn't human and must have come from somewhere. Nevertheless, the seed she possesses appears to be the only link between her and her creator. "As someone from the Colonies, known to dabble in all sorts of things, you remind me of an artificial construct that Colonials create as personal attendants. Artificial life designed as a tool for those who created it."