Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 62: The Beginnings of a Joined Path - Part 1

How can a place that can be so hot at times be just as cold at others?

Elek shivers as he wipes his runny nose, the air growing more bitter the farther he sneaks from the camp. Sand keeps getting into his already irritated eye from the gusts, sending the chill of the night straight to his bones.

Taking care to be as quiet as possible, since the satchel of supplies makes noise with every shift, he ensures to step only on rocks and pieces of ruin to avoid leaving footprints in case any of his companions notice he's gone and follow him.

Everything is as dark as pitch, but thankfully, one of his spells helps him navigate fairly well in the dark. He has a cloth pressed to his Glass Eye to staunch the bleeding so he doesn't leave a trail, while using his Ocular Magic to sneak away.

This is a ruin he has visited several times before, so he has some familiarity with the layout. This allowed him to be specific about where he instructed his escort to meet him tonight. If she isn't here, then his efforts will be wasted.

Once he reached a toppled statue lying in the sand, depicting a humanoid with pointed ears, Elek moved toward the base. There, a trapdoor is located, and the surrounding sand is disturbed, with footprints visible. Maybe she did come after all; otherwise, the trapdoor would be covered by sand. Hopefully, the footprints he left at the ruin entrance will deter others from coming here and discovering this.

Struggling slightly to lift the heavy door, he slides down into the darkness below, feeling for the stairs. A headache begins to form from using his magic for a prolonged period, reaching for a satchel at his waist to grab a small vial of tincture, and sipping a little before he starts descending the steps.

At the base lies a narrow corridor that, after the initial section, branches into more paths. Placing his hands on the walls, he remembered she had told him she would do something to mark them so he would know which way she had gone in these maze-like corridors. The walls are mostly smooth, apart from old cracks and areas where something had slammed against them, leaving large holes. When he reaches a path with a polished feel to the stone near the entrance of a new passage, he follows that route and any other path with similarly altered stone.

Although he has heard of this Urushian woman many times, this will be their first encounter. Rumors say that when the God of Fire permitted small groups of Colonials to enter the Everlasting Expanse, she rescued workers at the Estranus Flower collection site from a desert vermin infestation. She initially stole some, since Estranus Flower can be processed into a powerful opiate. However, she cared for the Colonials poisoned by the vermin, ensuring they safely returned.

Since then, she has agreed to a few escort requests from some Guild Masters when they needed to go into the desert. Oddly enough, she only accepts payment in gems, which Colonials use for accessories and are not worth much as currency compared to Colonial Coin. As heir to the Sullivan Family, he has access to the communication channel used to request her services since his father owns the guilds that call on her.

Turning down the final corridor, he sees the faint glow of a fire ahead, reaching a junction where an Urushian woman sits near a small campfire. While his clothing is dark with shades of brown, her garment is a vibrant shade of blue, with hides and leathers for some protection, and a red knitted scarf around her neck. How odd to wear bright colors while traveling in the desert.

Her auburn hair is styled in a messy bun with small braids to help keep stray hairs from her smooth complexion. Despite being a woman, her natural smile, which curves her lips, and her gentle hazel eyes, Elek remains cautious of the situation.

Immediately, he reveals his hands to her to show he's not hiding anything. For many Colonials who have encountered an Urushian, it rarely ends peacefully. From her letters, she seems reasonable, but he makes sure there are no bad intentions.