Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 20: The Paradoxical Twins

Natalia almost forgot about Marlina's body; the holes in her are worse than when they first met. Looks like Tessa couldn't do anything to help her.

As Colonials themselves, their discomfort toward her didn't stem from the same place as Elek's. They are unfamiliar with Constructs and their functions, which are rare in their environment. To them, she is simply a person with a body strong enough to survive being swallowed by a hekoska, something they didn't know was possible.

For Neterion, this is a source of worry. Although everyone in Englias can defend themselves, he is always concerned about the intentions of newcomers. To Neterion, everyone here has enemies to fear or evade—powerful ones that could put them in danger. 

Natalia, being kind-hearted, sees Marlina as someone in need. Everyone here has their reasons for ending up in Englias, searching for a better and safer life, whether intentional or not. Marlina may not have arrived here on purpose, but perhaps the universe deemed it necessary.

"I've been wanting to thank you both for saving me. I'm forever grateful." Marlina bows deeply to them, while Neterion taps his bowl with his spoon.

"You don't need to act like that, it's just our job. Just like how we saved those idiots today."

Natalia shakes her head as she sips some broth. "Let her be thankful. You're just bitter because those guys treated us like we're kids who don't know anything." Her tone shows frustration at his mood and tendency to take it out on others.

Mordecai, able to hear them from the enclosed space, chimes in with another chair in hand. "At least I talked them out of the hunt, so you two can take a break. If they ask for a ride back, I'll take them."

Neterion is relieved that it isn't something they have to deal with as he scoops some of his dinner. "At least it saves us the trouble. I could use a break from the heat."

Marlina nods thanks as Mordecai holds the chair for her before returning to the table. "Regardless, I am grateful. I would have been too stunned to move in your position. I'm glad you both have the courage. May I ask your name, Sir?" Marlina asks Neterion.

Neterion feels a twinge when she calls him Sir. It's unusual for him, as no one has ever addressed either of them in a formal way due to their age. On the other hand, it is nice to be treated with a bit more respect. "It's Neterion, just Neterion. It's weird with you calling me that."

"You'll need to get used to it since she addresses everyone as Sir or Miss. It's a habit I don't mind," Mordecai says between bites of his meal.

Before Neterion fusses over the name issue, Natalia redirects the conversation by asking Marlina, "I've been curious since we met: how did you turn your hands into blades?"

Mordecai raises an eyebrow. He hasn't heard about that detail from the skirmish. "What did she do with her hands?"

Since Natalia is the only one who saw it clearly, she takes the initiative. "Her hands were like blades when we pulled her away." She presses her fingers tightly together to form the shape of the blades. "She was carving into that hekoska from the inside, making it cough her out."

"Honestly, Miss Natalia, that was just a complete fluke," Marlina admits.

"How do you fluke having blades for hands and carve a beast like a dinner roast?" Neterion asks.

"Out of desperation, I suppose. I could see it trying to digest me, and my body was being damaged. I panicked and pressed my fingertips into it as hard as I could, pleading with my hands to be strong enough. And it just happened."

That's not something the three of them hear often. Marlina certainly has no shortage of surprises. "Do you think you could do something like that again?" Mordecai asks.

"If I did it once, perhaps? I wouldn't know where to start. I wonder if it only happened because I was in peril."

Mordecai leans back in his seat and crosses his arms. "I'd prefer not to put that to the test; I wouldn't want any more of you to die."

"I was going to ask..." Natalia adds. "Tessa couldn't do anything at all?"

Marlina shakes her head. "It's been frustrating not having hands, and I constantly have to empty the wandering sand that makes its way into my gaps."

Neterion merely responds by flexing his fingers, dreading the thought of being in Marlina's position. However, Mordecai recognizes the look on his face. He has something important to convey, yet he remains silent.

"Got something on your mind, Neterion?"

Neterion picks up his bowl and gulps down the broth, leaving it empty. "We've been meaning to tell you something. We haven't had a chance to talk to you alone."

"Sorry about that, I got a bit caught up earlier. What's going on?" 

Neterion gestures towards Marlina, while Mordecai waves his hand dismissively. "It should be fine."

"I don't think so; it's about him."

Mordecai falls silent as his eye widens. "I'm sorry, Marlina, but could you take these dishes back and keep an eye on the fellows in the tavern? I'll return later to spend the night with them." 

A furrow lines Marlina's brow, and Natalia's eyes seem to agree. She is a stranger and unsure if she can be trusted to hear their discussion.

"I understand, Sir Mordecai," Marlina replies, trying to conceal her irritation. With Natalia assisting her with the bowls, she steps out as the door closes behind her.

As the sun dips below the horizon, Marlina returns to the tavern, aware that the nights are chilly. She makes her way to the fireplace to start a fire. The others have modified the fireplaces, enabling her to ignite fires independently if the temperatures dropped too low and her petals became damaged. A piece of metal equipped with flint is attached to the frame, and an already prepared metal basket filled with shredded palm fronds is placed within it. She ignites the fronds by striking her forearm against the flint to create sparks and then tips the basket to light the kindling underneath.

Approaching one of the windows, Marlina observes the plumes of sand rising with a sharp gust in the distance. When the sand catches the dim moonlight just right, it sparkles like tiny stars. The lands beyond the Urushian civilizations are dense with trees, their canopies obscuring the sky. In the cities, they ensure the areas are well-lit at night to deter many nocturnal predators from the forests and jungles that obscure the visibility of the stars. On nights spent walking through the desert, she had to pay more attention to the ground to navigate and avoid obstacles due to the limited light.

At least here, the sky is clear, and the others keep their night wandering to a minimum to avoid attracting attention from desert-dwelling creatures. A dim lantern light inside the main building beelines a path from the barracks to the infirmary, catching Marlina's attention as it hurries along. Did something happen? Marlina is concerned and wants to investigate, but doesn't want to leave the men alone. Moments later, she spots two figures running across the grounds in the darkness, making them difficult to recognize.