Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 32: The God of Fire's Wall

Once Marlina and the twins reach the wall, the now-visible finer structural details strike Marlina as bizarre. It appears to be composed of tightly clustered columns of hexagonal basalt slabs stacked on top of one another, which would take ages to cut and assemble. However, from what she has heard from the Urushians about the tale, the God of Fire formed the wall when the cries of slaughtered Urushians awakened their fury. They cracked the land and caused lava to spew, holding back the Colonials and creating the wall once the lava cooled, thereby ending their tyranny in one swift blow. To her, it has always felt like a far-fetched legend.

Seeing the wall in person makes the achievement seem even more unbelievable, yet it also emphasizes how terrifying the power of the Urushian Gods could be if it were true. It is astounding how something as malleable as lava can assume such an unusual shape, although her understanding of such matters is limited.

As they approach one of the many gates along the wall, this gate is a direct entry to the NetherWake Badlands. Once it comes into view, Neterion takes Marlina's hand and walks in front of her, as if he is leading her. Just as Marlina was instructed earlier, her walking pace stiffens, and she steels her expression to reveal nothing as they near the gate.

At the gate stand two Urushians clad in baggy pants and sleeveless black and orange tops adorned with red and blue flame designs, a style typical of the Fire Mesas in Urush. However, the markings on their skin, rather than the ink fire patterns usually seen, are more angular, resembling the wall structure resulting from deliberate burns on their skin. Their plate armor allows for easy movement, and their pikes, featuring crescent-shaped blades, are crafted from obsidian. Their hair is styled in tightly woven dreads instead of the loose braids typically worn by most Urushian warriors.

The gatekeepers immediately raise a hand to the three of them, and the twins roll up their right sleeves. On their inner wrists, two tattoos are visible. One appears much older, featuring two side-by-side arches whose outer lines form jagged shapes near the bottom of the symbol, while their inner lines intersect to create a vertical shape that prevents the jagged lines from connecting. Upon closer inspection, it vaguely resembles a mouth, but the bottom has jagged teeth. Below it is a more recent tattoo, colored in red and orange ink, depicting hands holding a flame as if presenting a gift. 

The Urushians grasp their arms to examine the second tattoo, a flame extending from their fingertips. They hold it close as the tattoos emit a fiery glow in the heat of the fire. Satisfied, they release their arms, and one extends a hand towards Marlina.

"You must present your blessing to pass," one person tells Marlina.

To maintain the semblance of a construct, Marlina stands perfectly still, her gaze staring blankly into space without any response.

"It's just a construct," Neterion explains, rapping his fist against her hollow body. "We found it in the desert and are being paid to return it to its creator. I suppose it's quite an expensive one."

The Urushians approach to get a better look at Marlina, lifting her arms and inspecting her, a process that Marlina allows without any reaction.

"So, you two are the Colonials from that outpost in the desert. We've heard about you," one of them remarks, their gaze fixed on Marlina. "What a disgusting creation."

Marlina had grown accustomed to the disdain from Urushians, but she still despised being treated like an abomination. Even if, in a way, that's what she is.

"This is the most complicated one we've seen. We thought it was a person too when we found it. But knowing Colonials, I guess they've been working to make them look more like people. They're still pretty mindless, though," Natalia adds, knocking on Marlina's head, but still no reaction.

The gatekeepers exchange glances, their grimaces revealing their unease over Marlina, then nod in understanding. The twins then hand over their packs, which the gatekeepers thoroughly inspect to ensure nothing concerning is inside. All that is found are clothes and food rations, which present no cause for alarm.

"You may pass."

The ends of their pikes showcase intricate and unusual designs. They push the tips deep into two openings on either side of the obsidian doorway, needing to maneuver, shift, and twist the poles to fully insert the key. The gate unlocks with a click, and they open the doors, stepping aside for the three of them to pass.

Beyond the gate lies a dimly lit basalt bridge spanning a wide gap, with an ominous orange glow emanating from below. Neterion is the first to step forward, taking Marlina's hand to guide her and demonstrating to the gatekeepers that she needs to be led, with Natalia following behind them. Surprisingly, the wall's interior resembles a deep chasm, mostly empty between the walls. In the far distance on either side are other bridges, only visible thanks to the lanterns illuminating them within the enclosed space. Far below, a river of lava flows endlessly in both directions, making it fortunate that the narrow bridge has railings.

Marlina refrains from looking around as the gatekeepers continue to watch them cross, preventing her from displaying human-like traits such as curiosity. About halfway across the bridge, the gate in front of them clicks open, revealing additional Urushian gatekeepers waiting for them. The trio passes without incident, as the first two have already confirmed their visas by opening the gate.

Before them stretches a grassy plain dotted with tree stumps and a dirt path, showcasing what seems to be a city several miles distant, with dark clouds billowing from the tall structures. With plenty of daylight left to reach the city, they begin to walk.