Epsilon Twilight
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35. Full
🕑 Added 2024-06-11 10:55:44 +0000 UTCLulu uncomfortably waited in Aloe's office. Her help had been needed before, but it was now paramount. The scribe of commoner's limited mobility meant she needed help for most activities, even the simplest ones. Especially those ones. Her mistress had allowed her to sit down, sometimes she would remind her of that possibility if she had enough presence of mind, but Lulu still refused to do so. She didn't want her reaction time to be diminished by being sat down, and she acknowledged that Aloe could need her help at any given moment.
She's… different. Changed. The maid didn't comment nor react to the scribe's gestures, but it was impossible not to think about them. It's not only that lost gaze, not that different from dead fish, but her antics…
Worry oozed through her being as she saw her mistress glance at the door for the umpteenth time today as if someone was behind it. Those glances came in short bursts, not for long, but frequently enough to worry her.
The actions shouted insanity, and whilst she didn't want to doubt of Aloe's lucidity, she had many reasons to no longer cling to a healthy mind. If only half of what I heard is true… Lulu gulped down saliva, she was polite enough to not make any noise. Then… I don't know how she is even working right now. Sometimes the craziest people were the ones that acted the most normal, too gone to realize they weren't themselves anymore, still clinging to that crumbling memory of themselves.
"Ugh…" The scribe groaned and pulled her hair back, her nape resting on the chair's back. "I need a coffee. Lulu, would you be so dear to get one?"
"Of course, Aloe." Lulu bowed and made her way out of the office.
The maid didn't want to leave the woman alone for long, thankfully enough, substances like tea or coffee were always at hand in the palace. She didn't even need to go to the kitchens to get a kettle, there was a burning one in a nearby service room. The concept of service rooms was strange to her, even if they were only present on the biggest palaces of Ydaz. Not many places could afford to dedicate full rooms to expedite the many tasks of servants.
The service room was recently stockpiled as the bowls of fruits shone with life and color. Tea, coffee, and fresh fruit. That's a bit too much. Lulu pondered whilst she readied the coffee. Maybe I should bring some dates, she likes them. As she made her way out of the service room, she met with another maid – Aya was her name – in the doorway. They didn't talk to each other, mainly because both of them walked with hasty feet and full plates, but they acknowledged their presence with a nod.
Lulu knocked on the office door, but as she received no answer, she barged in. Aloe rested on her seat with her eyes closed.
"Back already?" The scribe commented lazily. "I hoped I could get more of a breather."
"I could go back if you desire." Lulu offered half-jokingly, half-seriously.
"No, no. It is fine." Aloe groaned and cracked her neck. "I need that coffee."
"I also brought dates." The maid left the bowl of fruits in front of the petite woman.
"Oh, good. I have not had them in a while." Whilst her words implied happiness, her tone was completely dead.
Aloe blinked slowly as she drank the coffee as if she was asleep. Every gesture of hers felt automatic, without a thought behind it. She ate the dates without much joy.
"I have found myself lacking sleep these days. Both in quantity and quality." Aloe spoke out of nowhere. "In my current state, my body is only holding up through hopes and dreams, though I have not had those for a long time." She chuckled grimly. "You could say I am being fueled by dark thoughts and nightmares."
Bad, bad. The maid knew such a mentality would only lead the scribe into a deeper pit. Can I do something? She eyed the room, but only got more justifications of Aloe's state. Piles upon piles of parchment. She alone needs to deal with all of this… No words came to her mind to solve the woman's affliction.
The scribe of commoners had arrived at the palace two days ago, but work was never-ending. Even with the help of her assistants, not much could be done. Protocol stated that the final say fell onto the ruler's personal scribes. And the scribe of commoners was the personal scribe with more responsibilities.
More work, lesser pay. Everyone knew what the position of the scribe of commoners entailed. The pay wasn't that desirable, it was more about status and connections. It allowed a commoner to play noble, especially if the court was as important as Sadina's. The worst part is she can't quit. Lulu hadn't been there when Aloe first arrived at the palace, but according to the snake tongues, she had been forced into the position by the emir. Some people without knowledge thought she had inherited the position from her late mother, but after spending time with the woman, Lulu knew that wasn't the case. Aloe was ruthlessly efficient and good at her job, but she never showed any joy in performing it. It wasn't the behavior of someone who wanted the job.
Lulu didn't allow her thoughts to distract her from duty her duty, and as she saw the scribe's cup empty, she refilled it with more coffee.
"Thanks, Lulu." Aloe's words were heartfelt. Slowly but surely. Lulu thought with pride.
"You are welcome, Aloe." She smiled at the girl.
"Maybe… but I have the feeling you do not feel the same." What does she mean? "Take a date and do not stand around."
"Oh…" That. "Of course, I am sorry."
"Do not be sorry for doing your job." The scribe's words rung… empty. Tainted. Tired.
Lulu did as commanded and took a date for herself. If it had been any other mistress, she would have eaten in silence, but eating with people was joyful, and Aloe needed all the joy she could get.
"Hmm~" The maid moaned in pleasure at the sweet taste. "The dates we get in the palace are so incredible. No matter how many I eat of them, I never grow full."
"Yeah, exa…" Aloe's visage suddenly focused, the sleepiness slapped out of her. "Could you repeat that?"
"Repeat what? That dates are delicious?" Lulu asked in confusion.
"The last part."
"That I never grow tired of them?"
"No, no. The exact wording."
"I never grow full?"
"Yes!" Aloe shouted out of nowhere and placed her open palms on her face, tightening them around her likeness. "Sorry for the outburst." She added a moment later.
"Is there something wrong, Aloe?" Lulu inquired shyly.
"No, no. Everything is fine. More than fine." The scribe sighed. "Let us say you solved a headache of mine. Of course, never full. How did I not think of that?" She added the last part lost in thought, in barely a whisper.
"I am glad to be of assistance." The maid responded with a warm smile. Doing whatever I just did, I guess. I just hope I haven't played on her insanity.
{*}
Aloe sulked as she noticed a fatal flaw in her plan to increase her maximum vitality. They are going to notice. Those being the sultanzade. If I can feel other cultivators' maximum vitality, then I must suppose they can do the same. But if either Naila or Rani notices my vitality increasing day by day… Dark thoughts bloomed in her mind.
At best, they will think I must be reaping people. That was the best outcome, yet it made her sick. She… couldn't. Even if she knew the theory behind reaping, she couldn't bring herself to do such nefarious activity, not even to as a façade. She almost puked in the middle of her office at the sheer thought.
At worst… Aloe paled as she already knew what the worst was. She wouldn't be the perpetrator of the reaping, but the victim. No… Not again. NOT AGAIN. Her finger twitched erratically and dangerously close to her eyes.
Calm down. Calm down. She repeated to herself in a mantra. A few seconds later, Lulu came back to the office with a tray in hand, she was none the wiser to the ailing woman's antics. The scribe had totally forgotten about the maid, her thoughts overpowering her reason.
The two young women ate in silence, drinking coffee and having a few dates along the way. Trivial conversation sprouted out of them, Aloe didn't even remember who started. Her mind was elsewhere, still trying to find a solution.
"Hmm~" Lulu's rather erotic moan distracted Aloe away from her thoughts, allowing her to focus on the woman's next words. "The dates we get in the palace are so incredible. No matter how many I eat of them, I never grow full."
"Yeah, exa…" The scribe responded automatically like before, but the maid's words seeded an idea in her mind. "Could you repeat that?"
"Repeat what? That dates are delicious?" The maid looked at her with stupefaction.
"The last part." Aloe could feel the sprouts growing from that thought, the roots digging in.
"That I never grow tired of them?"
"No, no." The scribe dismissed the answer. "The exact wording."
"I never grow full?"
"Yes!" Aloe shouted in ecstasy, the idea having fully blossomed. "Sorry." Then apologized for scaring the maid.
"Is there something wrong, Aloe?" Lulu fidgeted nervously in her seat, like a child who had done something wrong and awaited to be scolded.
"No, no. Everything is fine. More than fine." The scribe sighed. It wasn't out of exhaustion, but relief. "Let us say you solved a headache of mine. Of course, never full. How did I not think of that?"
If my maximum vitality keeps growing… then it's as simple as not filling my deposit! The solution was almost idiotic. So simple yet so beautiful… Aloe held her chuckle, otherwise Lulu would have thought she had gone insane.
The scribe appraised the date in her fingertips like some sort of gemstone. Evolution sucks the vitality out of me, making it impossible to control. But it isn't the same with Infusion, I can control the vitality output. I can even leave the infusion halfway if I want… In other words, I can put in however much vitality I want. A single date. That was all she needed to hide her growth not only from the sisters in Sadina, but all the imperials.
Infusing a tree requires a full adult deposit, meaning that with three dates I can completely remove my current vitality… Aloe smiled. Even if she increased her vitality by unheard magnitudes, she would only need a handful of dates to remain at her thrice as an adult deposit size. And all those calculations were under the supposition that she wouldn't be evolving plants, which was far from the truth. She would now be able to manage her vitality without raising any suspicion whatsoever.
"I am glad to be of assistance," Lulu admitted with a welcoming smile.
Oh, how much I have missed you. If Aloe were a more promiscuous woman, she would have kissed the maid on the spot.
