Every Jorgenskull understood that ancient cadence of the heart—the canticle birthed through the tribulations only vested by the hunt. They aspire to glean their place within the natural order through the pursuance of this timeless craft. Such a deed was committed with supreme reverence toward their quarry, presenting the hunters with a newfound appreciation for the duality of life and death. Few considered this equilibrium, yet all were cognizant of it regardless of their station. It was through this rite that the saddened maiden wished to acquire penitence. She yearned to cleanse herself in the feverish ichor of a fresh kill to scour the begrime of enfeeblement. And out of all the hunting grounds that were darted across the jungle. It was that of the Hearth of the Earth that beckoned her the most.
Florentina had withdrawn herself from her swampy territory. She employed some of that accumulated furlough to rediscover herself. And so, with this newly fashioned purpose, the diva of the silt strutted toward her terminus. The pilgrimage emerged as uneventful, but the mere act of living off the motherland without the yoke of obligation was reinvigorating. Nevertheless, the serenity which loomed aloft was a masquerade finagled to dupe the conceited. With eyes of jade, Florentina took in her surroundings, respecting the shade rendered by the gargantuan trees. This brief reprieve repulsed the humid air and heat.
Confidently, the usher of death sashayed down the lonesome road. Her boots of bone left their mark on the moist soil as the crooning of birds rang out from the treetops. The atomic blonde looked up at the welkin, taking in the luster of the rays perforating through the spaces amidst the branches. The psithurism of midday and the choir of insects and birds were ameliorating. A much-needed reminder that Florentina was still within the meridian of life. Throughout her voyage, she beheld many faces, fellow denizens of this fertile jungle. And unlike those who languished within the desert, their expressions were bereft of misery.
The irony of these observations wasn't lost on the diva. Lucidly she regarded the comical essence of it all. That out of all the inhabitants of the wilderness, she alone bore the marring yielded by a decisive blow. A scourge that ravaged not the body but that of the heart. Furlorness weighed down the spirit, an aura that stood in contrast to the chipperness of those she floundered across. And rather than expose this weakness, the monk would stifle it behind an illusion of revelry. However, behind that broad simper and malachite orbs was the writhing of a bitter soul.
Florentina ceased her stride while peering up at that mountain range's jagged peaks. The inert bosom of the earth was mystifying, its vista the sort of experience that would lead even a giant to feel small. Tapering her eyes, she noticed the billowing of smoke. From a distance, one might be excused for supposing those mountains were volcanic. However, the interrogator knew better. Holding a rank of authority, she was conscious of things most weren't, and the assiduousness of the inhabitants of that mountain had reached her ears. The goatkin, former sand ape, was plucked away by her "benevolent" mother. She'd never know why her chieftain had a penchant for welcoming in such people. But rather than mull over it any further, she opted to recommence her travels.
Ascending that trail, Florentina would note how the treeline thinned out. And the once soft soil gave way to more rocky and rugged terrain. Nonetheless, such obstacles wouldn't deter her plans; instead, they emboldened her. Navigating up the rocks, she'd scale them using her "sticky finger" ability to ensure she could stick to them. Those boots dug into the crevices as she took a shortcut. Eventually, she reached a clearing, panting from exhaustion. She'd plop her large rear onto the ground, dangling her feet over the edge and taking in the splendor of the jungle.
There was a pizzazz to it from this far away—something about watching those lumber edifices reaching to the heavens only further compounded that sense of feeling like a lilliputian. Sweating, the red sap agent smiled as she relaxed and took in the view. Privately she wished she had someone to share this with. But alas, she was alone and would likely never know the sweetness of companionship again. But for now, she could only stare out at the horizon and wonder if perhaps somewhere out there, another returned her stare from the other side with a similar question squirming in the back of their mind...
Florentina saw little benefit in crying over spilled milk. Regardless of her thoughts on Miriam, the djinn was her own spirit and could renege on their covenant if she wanted. Ultimately, the giantess had been blessed by her magic, and Florentina planned to make full use of it to safeguard her people while elevating her status. However, this didn't imply that the diva wasn't without a heart, nor did it suggest she was immune to feeling hurt. Still, she supposed the mechanical cacophony of the hearth flawlessly reflected how detached she felt of late. A spiraling depression she'd never voice to another soul.
The giant yawned while she stretched her muscles. Those malachite eyes studied the goatkin home while they slipped between Mengu's brethren. These industrious folk sure were busy, not the sorts to rest on their laurels. Which, to Florentina, was an admirable trait to possess. Perhaps that was why she didn't regard them as sand apes? Or maybe, she was getting a bit too soft?
The monk wouldn't have enough time to dwell on such nonsense. For it appeared her kind guide had something to say. Mengu's confusion brought a wide smirk to Florentina's face. Could it be that he finally pieced it together? Or, at the very least, perhaps he'd enjoy this little distraction. She had hoped to experience this triumph with Miriam, but life has a way of taking one down detours. And the diva would respond the only way she knew how, adapting and overcoming.
"Yes, I don't believe I stuttered?"
She rhetorically asked, only to keep up with the hooved hunter's gait as he chaperoned her deeper into the metropolis. The closer they got to their destination, the more obstreperous the racket became. Florentina respected their imaginative amplitude. Nevertheless, she preferred the calls of the wilds over this manufactured symphony.
Once they had arrived, Mengu appeared content to part ways. Unfortunately for him, the diva had other plans. Clearance or not, she needed someone to bear witness to what she was soon to achieve. And who better than the riffraff? The giantess marched forward, only to stop as she stood by the hunter. Those green eyes were peering at him from the corner of their prisons while she snickered.
"Consider yourself blessed. For now, I grant you the proper clearance to accompany me. Soon you will see what I have invested my resources into and how innovative Queen Zanryue truly is. Just try not to press any buttons or drop to your knees when the head engineer of the dynasty steps onto the stage."
Florentina would stretch her hand, placing it on Mengu's shoulder before patting his cheek.
"Unless you wish to refuse this honor? You wouldn't be the first to do so this day..."
The only insight the diva would grant into her thought regarding Miriam. One could call it a gesture of trust.
Mengu let loose a sigh of disappointment, upon hearing that the Varenkun was not coming with, but regardless, he would move along. As they made their climb, the sight he would witness over his shoulder was certainly something to witness. Whether it was magic or otherwise, seeing her stuck to the rocks without issue. In fact, his mind immediately drew comparison to a frog climbing a tree, something not even his own kind could truly boast of. He too snickered as they finished their climb, and entered the bowels of the city.
As their trek continued on, Mengu naturally fell somewhat silent at the giant’s lack of interest, until eventually, he was given that singular sliver of information necessary, just as he was abou to head for the steps leading into the outside once more, the entrance allowing wind to cascade down the tunnel.
“Research and development?”, he would ask, somewhat surprised by such a request, as his bright blue eyes blinked several times, and brow rose. Whilst he heard of the myriad of technologies being developed now and again, this only raised even more questions than before, namely what this Giantess could have possibly commissioned that would require her heading there, of all places. Rather predictably, he did indeed fall prey to curiosity, his drive to peace the puzzle presented to him driving him to turn in the opposite direction, and then swiftly nodding.
“Right. Well, in that case, we’ll need to head down.”, said the guide, as he would waste no time in showing her the way, easily able to discern the directions necessary to take. The noise that filled the halls only increased in their volume, making it clear they were approaching the area. The duo passed sign after sign, occasionally broken by individuals greeting the passing hunter, before moving along with their tasks. Eventually, his hooves finally halted, in front of an entrance whose sign above indicated that it truly was the sector for research and development.
“And here we are!”
Now that the entrance was presented, Mengu would merely wait for Florentina to enter, likely to follow along, although obviously, the range at which he would be able to is severely limited. He was a hunter, after all, not a researcher.
Miriam hadn't followed her; the djinn's words and convictions appeared hollow. Florentina should have known better, given her kind's notoriety for deception. Ultimately, the varenkuns betrayal was a superficial slight. Whether or not she backstabbed her pledge wouldn't alter the fact the giantess had achieved what benefit she could have from the wish granter. The spirit had endowed the diva with her magic, which amplified the monk's physical brawn to new zeniths. The boon she received extended beyond her muscles and went toward the operative's alacrity and speed. That allowed her to push the limits of her body that much further.
There, within that mountain, the atomic blonde steeled her nerves for the arduous trek to follow. Florentina hadn't arrived at such a vista for sightseeing alone. No, she had an ulterior motive, another catalyst she had commissioned to further amplify her capacity for bloodshed. And this piece wouldn't come in the form of some ancient relic of yore or the bewitcheries of a temptress. No, it would materialize itself in the form of technology. And it was akin to magic within those malachite eyes.
"Her devotion appeared lacking. Nevertheless, I won't permit such a minor inconvenience to diminish my aspirations or impede the mission."
The diva replied somewhat distantly. It was almost as if she was in denial or accustomed to such abandonment. Whatever the root for her demeanor was, it wouldn't matter. Mengu's warning concerning the bluster of his people was met with a nod. In actuality, this wasn't Florentina's first time entering their municipality. A fact she'd keep obfuscated for the time being while the guide took the lead.
The two were off, adventuring down the path less traveled for whatever reason. The diva couldn't help but wonder if the hooved chaperone was evaluating her merit. An idea, perhaps erroneous, wasn't without merit given his people's bizarre culture. Regardless, she wouldn't be swayed by such obstacles and instead began to ascend that rocky incline. Florentina would use her flesh magic to produce an enzyme that allowed her hands and feet to better stick to the steep obstacle as she followed closely behind the goat. The giant couldn't help but snicker while she enjoyed the cardiovascular workout. And despite their eccentric behaviors, she understood why they appreciated such perilous climbs.
Once they had cleared the final edge, Mengu would lead the agent to the throat of their civilization. The two sentries posted outside would receive no reaction from her, and instead, she permitted the hunter to take the lead. Eventually, they slipped beyond the maw and ambled through subterranean corridors. The tenebrosity of the mountain wouldn't influence the diva, nor would the heat and rising clangor of their crafts. And in truth, she respected Mengu's silence, for there was nothing more that she hated than a nosy escort who was prone to overstep their boundaries.
The man's motions to draw her focus onto the various shops and dwellings would fail to elicit a sense of wonderment. And while the abundance of such abodes magnified the deeper they strolled, her disinterest wouldn't budge. However, that dearth of banter wouldn't remain. In due time the bleater eventually felt inclined to chime in while tossing a few harmless inquiries her way. The diva of the silt chuckled. She viewed this as the opportune time to reveal to the goatkin a single fragment—a mite of information that might enlighten the man into why she arrived.
"Yes, I need to reach the research and development sector. There is something I was tasked with picking up."
While a tad murky, the details provided should be enough to unnerve the goat. Or, at the very least, propel Mengu down a spiral of curiosity. Either way, whatever he felt held no power over her greater calling. And no mountain or barrier could stand in her way from achieving another step up the ladder that is her transcendence.
The hunter’s eyes were briefly closed, as his own mental wanderings led him to taking a brief nap, which was broken once the sound of footsteps reached his ears, a sign of patience being rewarded. Mengu’s bright blue eyes fluttered open, before immediately turning towards Florentina, and returning a smiling nod of his own as he rose to his feet. He rose a brow, however, as he stretched each shoulder respectively, followed by a brief squattin that extended each respective leg. Something was evidently missing, wasn’t there a certain large-eared woman with her?
“I assume Miriam has some matters to tend to?”, Mengu would asked, his inflection making his curiosity clear as day. Leisurely, he would pace along the path leading towards the maw that lead towards the city’s entrance. He half expected Miriam to suddenly leap off of her partner’s backside, and yet, when taking a brief look as the giantess led for a moment, he saw nothing on it. This only helped confirm the hunter’s assumption, should it still have been present by that time.
“Well, either way, I’m certain you would enjoy! Expect a lot of noise once we enter the tunnels, however, inventors’ work’s never done behind our walls.”
With that warning settled, he soon reached the path leading to it, which he would slowly begin to climb himself, his pace as steady as usual. That was the fortunate blessing his people had, from his view. As he said before, they’re natural-born climbers, down to their very hooves. He occasionally looked back towards the giantess, wondering what sort of trick she had to overcome this climb. After all, if she’s the one who managed to climb such an out-of-the-way detour towards the spot they all encountered each other, this should be nothing, right?
Once they would reach the wall Mengu would raise a hand, and the two would be greeted by a pair of guards that were set in front of a large gate, which halted, just as it prepared to close itself off. The tunnels began here, and would soon develop into a network that descended up and down across the city, with the sounds of machinery being an ever-present reminder of the existence of their inventors. As they went along, he would gesture towards the shops present, and other such buildings, as well as their purpose. These entrances became more abundant as they ventured further.
“... Most of us live at the top, so if you’re looking for something, you’ll find it around here, mostly. Anything you’d like to see?”, the hunter inquired, merrily looking over to the visiting Giant, before focusing back on the tunnels that he knew like it were the back of his head. Whatever she was looking for, the hunter was certain he could help find it.
The rabbit is silent. And rather than waiting all day for Miriam to respond, the giantess would amble down the same path Mengu had trekked. Eventually, she'd arrive at the gates to the earthen metropolis. Her emerald eyes scouted the scene before settling themselves on the hunter. Calmly she'd slide on her webbed fleece before strutting over to the bleater. Whether or not the djinn followed, she wasn't certain. If Miriam hadn't, it wouldn't be the first or the last time the giantess was abandoned.
Standing close, the inquisitor would offer Mengu a nod before her eyes leaped over to that rocky maw. It had been some time since she stared down that entrance. And while she was partly here for leisurely pursuits, there was something she wanted to check up on—a new model of armor for the red sap she had requested years ago. And considering Zanryue's letter, she imagined it was completed or near completion.
"It has been some time since I've walked this path. Alright, Mengu, escort this diva into the imaginative world of your people."
She decreed while a simper sprawled out across her face. Who knows, maybe this chanced meeting might benefit them both?
Near the end of the path leading up the mountain, the hunter would search about the nearby landscape, managing to secure himself a spot, right under the shade of a tree. Setting down the weapons, the goat settled near its roots, calmly observing the sunlight cascading between the leaves. Mengu took a deep breath, gently slowing his breath with a wide smile, reflecting back on the encounter. It was interesting, as awkward as his mere presence made it. He considered himself fortunate that the giantess did not take offense, or get physical about his intrusion, as instead, he earned a pair of acquaintances, some rather lovey-dovey ones, as well. However, rather than ponder the relationship or be envious about the matter, he thought it a better idea to observe nature around him, imagining himself effortlessly dancing across the landscape. Although he was certainly a good runner, he was more so used to traversing the jungle with his usual hunting party, concocting plans in order to locate and seize whatever creature happened to be first noticed by them. One that could be considered prey, that was, as most predators proved an enormous danger to them. His smile faded, as he recalled freak accidents that would occur sometimes, from snakebites, to crippling injury. Such was the nature of the hunt, to Mengu, merciless, and rarely forgiving to mistakes. Were it not for healers and the like, such a perilous act would surely be all the more grim. And so he waited, entertaining himself within his own thoughts, as he practiced the patience that always seemed to favor him. The pair would come by eventually, he was sure of it.