Bouquet of Curiosities

Noise of hubbub was heard all over the marble city, as it was that time of the day. The streets of Saileen were busy with people coming back from work to their homes. Some took their time, making last purchases from the market, others seemed to be in a rush to finally relax in their own four walls. The orange rays of sun wraps the marble city in a warm hue, giving those at the higher elevation of the city, a view like a painting made by the best artists in the country. One of those views could be seen from the Crown University building, where a young woman was sitting at the bench holding a file in a firm hand. Her dust blonde hair with dark roots was put up in a messy bun, yet some of the strains of hair still managed to escape the set of hair, falling onto the side of her head. The brown elegant shoes were peeking from under neatly ironed black suit pants. Her bottle green vest was decorated with a yellow pocket square, accenting her white shirt. All finished with black cloth around the collar acting like a puffy tie. Her light yellow eyes were staring through the window, trying to enjoy the view onto the city. Despite her best effort she was too bothered, waiting for something in anticipation.

She couldn't stand, her stomach turning inside out as she decided to take a walk around the corridor. Bouncing from one wall to another, speeding up with each passing minute. The heavy stomps of her boots echoed, syncing with her ever shallow breaths. Young woman felt like she was going crazy until she heard the turning of a lock sounding in the hallway. She quickly turned to see an older man calling out to her.

-Clementine Daffodil, please come in once you are ready. - he said before leaving the door open and disappearing into the room. Clementine took a deep breath before walking back to the bench she was sitting on to pick up the file. She opened it one last time before heading inside with her head high and chest puffed out.

As she entered, she was greeted by four people sitting at the front of the room. Each of them were renowned scientists from all over Saileen. Going from left to right, her eyes first met with Professor Geonna Pearton. She was the one who found a way to use mana in everyday gardening making it possible for people around the world to enjoy fresh crops with ease. Next was Doctor Sevian Thompson, his study helped with insertion of mana into farm animals, making them more resistant to illnesses. Next to last was Professor Peroviska, a sweet old man who invented the first mana aerosol used in today's medicine. The same man who was also promotor of Clementine's work, helping her create the study she was about to present before all of these scientists. The last person caught Clementine by surprise as it was General Brass Rhoden. The man whose grandfather brought peace to Saileen when it was struggling during the civil war. He was also a frequent military research donator.

- Clementine Daffodil, is that right? - asked Geonna looking at the file of students standing in front of her. Her dark eyes skipped through pages from behind the crystal glasses before raising her head.

- Yes ma’am. That would be me. - said Clem standing proud.

Brass Rhoden glanced over at the other members of the committee and nodded in union. The only one who was a bit confused was Professor Peroviska. As Brass started speaking, Geonna leaned to Peroviska. His expression became worried the moment she pulled away from him.

- Miss Daffodil, in union we decided that we can not approve of your work and you'll be expelled from the University at notice.

Clementine's heart sank the moment his words reached her. She wanted to say something but felt like her throat was closing on her when she tried to utter any sound. She visibly shook herself up to wake up from this paralysis.

- Pardon, sir? - Clementine asked as her voice got stuck half way through her throat.

- It's about the content of your work. This kind of technology is too scandalous. You really believe that you can create a machine that passively extracts mana from its surroundings? The idea itself is validating at least four paragraphs in the peace treaty. You are suggesting that we would sign up the blueprints for torture device.

- It is not torture device. - Clem yelled out, clearly having a hard time handling her emotions. She couldn't believe that all her work could be shut down so easily. - It can bring people from frenzy. That can be the cure for the people who overdose on mana. It can even be used in mana mines up south. The technology we are using is at best unsanitary. Due to poor working conditions, we lose at least sixty people at work and over double that are coming back injured. Every single month. We can't keep sending people there just to either die or make them disabled for the rest of their lives.

- These are the risks of keeping up the mana deliveries all over the world. You think these people go there without knowing the consequences? They are very well aware that their job keeps the economy around the world running like a clock. - Brass leered at Clem, trying to intimidate her with just his sight, but it seemed to be useless.

- But why accept these casualties if we can eliminate the risks or at least bring those numbers down. You have to listen to me, Professor Peroviska understands what I'm talking about… - the moment her eyes met Peroviska, his head was shaking, trying to distance himself from the situation. Clementine was confused, why would he do something like that. Taking advantage of the betrayal, Geonna stood up from her seat.

- You need to understand, there is nothing that would change our minds. I'm asking you to leave on your own, if you resist we would have to call in the guards. What will it be? - Geonna said with a sharp eye.

Clementine felt helpless, the world around her was crumbling, the people who she was looking up to, brushed her off like she was nothing. She glared at each of them, from left to right before walking up to the desk and grabbing a copy of her work. Before storming out of the room.

Clementine was walking down the marble streets, her shoulders slumped, gaze fixed on the ground and heavy weight laying on her heart. The buzzing people around her were muffled like a distant. Her steps dragged on the ground, unable to focus on where she was going as she bumped into someone.

- Sorry. - she said before realizing she hit something metal. He looked up at the person she bumped into and it was a tall man in iron armor with a yellow cloak around his shoulders. Clem was taking in the sight as it was rather unusual to see someone dressed like that walking around the streets of Saileen. She couldn't see his face due to the heavy plated helmet but she could tell he was staring back at her. Her eyes slowly drifted from his facade and fixated on a brooshe in the shape of a golden rose, which was holding his cape in place. The silence between them was broken by a gently clunking sound underneath the man's chest plate. Like something was scratching against the cold metal. Before she woke up from this trance the man was already gone. She tried to look around where said man could've gone, but he was already lost in the crowd.

As she nears the familiar street, she sees the ever so blooming and colorful flower shop. Despite how much she used to love the vibrancy of scenery she couldn't bring herself to enjoy the view. She hesitates at the door, taking a deep breath as if to ready herself before stepping inside. Clem sighs deeply, pushing the door open, the small bell above it chiming softly. The shop was already empty, the last rays of sun were shining through the windows, as she moved through the lush plants living inside of these four walls. Clem reached back of the shop to enter the housing part of the building. The aromas of perfumes hit her nose, making her heart sink even deeper.

Her lover was standing next to the table, with two glasses and a bottle of wine right next to it.

- So? How did it go? - the woman asked excitedly with an innocent smile painted on her face.

Clementine clenched her fist, eyes wandering around the room trying to find the words.

- They rejected me. I have been expelled. - she said pointing at her chest, making it crystal clear.

- What? Why did they do that? - the woman walked up to Clementine worried.

- They called my study a torture device. The invention that could… - Clementine’s eyes started to glass but she didn't want to break down.She quickly fixed her posture, flailing her arm. - How can they be so blind?! These are the most intelligent people in the country and they smote me down without a second glance!

- Clem, slow down. - the woman slowly reached out to pull in her angry partner. Her hands wrapped around Clementine, easing her emotions. Clementine’s arms wrapped back around her.

- Why were they so quick to just shut me down…

- I don't know Clem. You’ve been working on this project for so many years, with so much determination. Nothing has stopped you all this time so they won't either. Don’t let them extinguish this passion.- Clementine’s grip tightened.

- Thank you Iris.

The very next day, Clementine got up early in the morning. She made her way to her rather primitive laboratory which was located in the basement of the flower shop. Flipping through the countless sheets of paper with calculations and drawings of her invention, she was making an even bigger mess than it was there before she came down. She didn't put too much emphasis on the clean workspace as she would find her way through spontaneous chaos more than organized order. After about five minutes of ruffling she grabbed her notebook and decided to make a couple last changes to the work she would try to present to other universities in the city. Clementine was sure that at least one of them would accept her work. If Crown University didn’t want her, she would find the one that would.

After packing her notebook she came running out of the basement. She passed Iris already working in the shop, helping people arranging the flowers. Clementine walked up to her.

- Hey Iris, I’m not sure how long it will take for me to…- before she could finish Iris raised her hand and smiled.

- I know, take your time. I know you can do this. - Clementine hearing her lover's soothing voice, calmed her down. She smiled before leaving the shop and heading towards the first university.

The marble streets of Saileen have been as always busy. People seemed to be in a rush all the time. But in the city it seemed to be impossible to just sit down and enjoy the day. Only restaurants and cafeterias were in the middle of the city and further it was from the center the less frequent they were. Most people try their luck with mana trade as it seemed like the easiest and most profitable business with the amount of goods that were entering the city on daily bases. But because of ever rising numbers of new shops opening every week, people were cycling through the business in just a couple of weeks, leaving them with crippling debt. Because the only way to receive mana from a legal source was to make a contract with the economics department and pay it off monthly, people were charged the same amount, no matter what their quota summed up to at the end of the month. All the businesses received the same amount of mana every thirty or so days to give equal chance for everyone. That means the supply wasn't the issue, but the rival businesses. Despite the abundance of mana on the market, people still try to make a living while selling this expensive product.

The first on the list of colleges was Hill University. Taking in the towering entrance to the second biggest university in the country, Clem took a deep breath before entering the marble building. As she passed the massive pale columns supporting the painted ceiling she looked like an ant. Feeling the crushing size of the building around her. Making her way along the cold hallways she noticed the office at the end of the corridor. After knocking on the lightly colored wooden door, Clementine entered with a smile and walked up over the table before sitting down.

- Good morning, I wanted to sign up for my doctoral dissertation.

The older woman working there glanced over at Clementine, looking her up and down, suspiciously.

- Good morning. I don’t think I've seen your face around here before. Are you sure it is the correct building? - she asked, reaching for the form to fill up.

- Yes, definitely. I have my work already prepared, just need to submit it. Here, please, have a look. - Clementine said before reaching into her bag, taking the neatly framed folder. Secretary exchanged it for the form and started flipping through the pages, until she suddenly stopped.

- Are you Clementine Daffodil? - the rather weirdly formed question caught her off guard. She raised her eyes from the paper to look at the woman.

- Yes, that would be me ma’am.

Before she could even process the question, the woman closed the folder and placed it over the paper Clementie was trying to fill up.

- I am sorry, but we cannot accept your work submission. - Clem looked at the woman in complete shock. She couldn't say if she heard it correctly.

- Pardon?

- Like I said, we cannot accept your submission. Because of that, I'm going to ask you to leave now.

Young woman was confused at the situation. She didn't even have time to process what just happened. But seeing she had no power there, she surrendered and left the room. Still holding the file she looked down at her name, wondering what made her so dismissive.

Not giving up at another rejection, Clementine rushed down the streets to reach another University on her list. The list was long so she knew at least some of these facilities would accept her, but the last encounter planted a worry seed in her, now growing with each passing minute. Quickly shaking it off, the young woman gathered herself and continued her application spree.

Unfortunately with each university the story was the same. Everything seemed to be fine until they confirmed her name. Why would they turn on her so quickly after just learning her name?

Hours passed ,the list was getting thinner and thinner. None of the academies were interested in working with her. The sun was slowly approaching the horizon, covering the marble city in a warm hue yet again. Clementine was at a loss for words as she approached the last building. Without worrying in advance, if it was even a good idea to enter, she walked through the small door frame and passed through the marble walls to reach the room at the end of the hall. As she peeked her head in between the door, her eyes met the secretary as all she did was to shake her head dismissively. Clementine walked inside and sat at the chair anyway. She collapsed her arms before leaning a bit forward to make sure the woman could hear her.

- Why? Why won’t anyone accept my work? - the woman looked at her before sighing heavily.

- We are not allowed to, miss. We received information from Crown University to not accept your work as it is a violation of Intercontinental Peace Law. If you wish to clear some things about your work, you should reach the person who signed these letters instead of tormenting all the universities around the city. - she explained calmly before standing up from her desk. - I'm going to ask you to leave now, miss, my working hours are over.

Another day, another defeat. Clementine couldn’t believe that someone from the Crown Council would want to sink her into the mud so deeply. Of course, the only person who might’ve done such a thing already painted itself on Clem’s mind. General Brass. He was the one who took the lead in rejecting her project and not the professors who gathered there, which was already unusual. This made her feel powerless. She couldn't do anything to prove that her work is safe and can bring more good than bad to the world. While dragging her feet through the now dark streets of the city she was raised in, Clementine took a moment to take a breather and stood over the railing, looking far into the ocean. Massive ports, now empty as the ships left for the collection of mana from the southern pole. The empty, calm waters reflecting the starry sky with a lighthouse in the distance, guiding ships, helped Clem to clear her mind. The girl leaned on the metal railing watching the stars in the distance as her hand slowly moved to her bracelet. Glancing down at the silver locket in the shape of a heart, ticking softly she rubbed it for good luck.

- What will become of me, mom? -  She started to wonder about the future. Her guts started to twist and knot into themselves as she only looked further and  further. Would she ever accomplish anything? What will she do if this project fails? Would someone even remember her or would she be forgotten as soon as she passes away?

The train of thought has been catching up to her as the dread over the future was haunting her whenever she stopped for even a second. She gripped her left part of chest, feeling her hammering heart. She closed her eyes, emptying mind to feel her chest slowing down. Only for her peace to be disturbed by a scream coming from behind.

The moment she turned around, she lunged to the side avoiding a projectile.. Something smashed on the railing she was standing at. As her eyes adjusted she saw a mangled body of a man, twisted limbs hanging from the metal bars. The blood dripped on the ground. His eyes met hers.

- H-..el..p.. - he coughed, looking at Clem with glassy eyes. But before she could do anything, the heavy breathing sounded from the direction the man came from. From the darkness, it came out to the dim light of street lamps. The glowing blue veins reaching like vines over the whole body, empty black eyes shifting trying to focus on one point and a foaming mouth. Clem stepped back from the fear as her back was met with metal railing. The shoulders on the overgrown creature swayed with each step as Clementine mumbled one word softly under her breath. Frenzied.

Clemeintie started looking around frantically, trying to find something that could help her survive this encounter. The sheer pressure the creature was putting on the woman, made it challenging to focus on a way out. Hulking figure lunged onto Clem and reached its oversized hand to grab onto her. She managed to quickly dodge out of the way, as the fist grasped onto the railing, bending it effortlessly. Frenzied pulled the railing, ripping part of it from the ground. Clementine started to run, hoping to outpace the foe, but she knew the chances were slim. Her adversary tossed the railing over her head as it blocked the narrow alley she was trying to reach. She quickly turned around to see the creature taking its time before attacking, moving slowly after her. Knowing there was no time to waste she went for another way out but the creature started to charge at her. The shaking ground was stronger as the distance was getting smaller and smaller between the two of them. Heavy panting was more and more audible, to the point she could hear the foam hitting the floor. Feeling the arm of the creature reaching for her once again, she closed her eyes, afraid it was the end of her. Until she heard the clinging of the metal.

The moment she anticipated that creature would catch up to her, did not happen. Bit confused after making some more distance she turned around to see the knight in yellow cape in a clash with the monstrosity. His sword  managed to stop the foe's fist, letting him twist it out of the way to strike the frenzied into the chest. Annoyed at the pain, the creature grabbed onto the base of a sword, crushing a stranger's hand with it. Before pulling it out of the fresh wound and tossing it to the side along its wielder. His body flew across the street to hit the nearby wall. The knight collapsed.

Clementine realized she was still in danger as the frenzied creature reclaimed her as a new target. Its roar sounded between the buildings as echoes were carried further into the city. The charge ensued, Clementine paralyzed from fear, could do anything. The whistle could be heard in between the rampant stomping of the monster, before the sword hit the creature right through the neck. It collapsed on the spot. The knight was panting, kneeling in front of the crushed wall, his hand extended, glad he hit the target. After dusting himself off, he gets up and walks over to the creature, pulling out his sword. His eyes quickly shifted towards the frightened woman, who also collapsed on the ground as her legs were made out of cotton. She looked up at the knight which put away his sword and walked up to Clem.

- I know you… - she said softly, looking up at him. - I bumped into you yesterday.

The tall figure didnt answer, he just kept staring as the clinging under his armor sounded just like the day before.

- Who are you? - Clementine asked, confused. Yet again she didn't receive an answer.

As she was trying to puzzle together who the man was and why he helped her, she heard shouting from behind. She quickly turned around as she saw the light of the lanterns shining in between buildings, she was safe. But when she glanced back at the spot where the knight was standing, he was already gone.

-There they are. - shouted one of the guards rushing to the crime scene.

Clementine got up and walked over to the middle part of the road to show guards where the frenzied one was. They worked quickly, securing the entire street from outside influence so they could conduct any necessary actions. One of the guards walked up to the young woman to write down the report. As she was describing the situation, she couldn't look away from the man entangled on the railing. The medics were trying to take him off of it. It was painful but hard to ignore, due to his screams. Took them some time until they could lie him down on the portable mattress. One of the medics grabbed a small, blue metal cylinder with ‘MANA’ written on it, before attaching it to the breathing mask. He placed it over the man’s nose and mouth and turned the small valve. The man in agony breathed in deeply the cure. His arms and legs started to vibrate but he wasn't screaming. After some dosage curated by the medic, the man stood up on his own. Just like he wasn't hanging on the metal railing just four minutes ago. He was completely healed.

At that moment onto the scene came three people wearing an “AD” emblem on their arm. Their white pants held up with thick black belt, and jackets, buttoned up with golden buttons clashed with black long boots reaching over to their thighs. The black shoulder pads hold their black capes with crimson spilling from the inside.

- Why didn't we get the information sooner? -  asked the tall man in the front to the guard who was writing down the report with Clementine. His bright blue eyes were terrifying. Clem felt them piercing her soul without him looking in her direction. The other two that were accompanying him were an older woman with dark short hair and sharp eyes, and a younger man with bright brown hair and a smug look.

- I assure you, we have everything under control. Anomaly Departament would receive entire rapport after the clean up as usual. - the officer assured him but that answer did not please the man. He clicked his tongue annoyed.

- I think I have made myself clear. I need to know about all the frenzied attacks the moment they happen. You people don't know how to deal with those freaks of nature. - he said, glancing back at the body of the monster. Seeing guards trying to clean it up he shook his head. - How about you call off your people until more damage is done?

Before the officer could answer to that, the same roar that pierced Clementine's ears sounded once again. The creature was still alive, it started to thrash around violently biting onto the leg of one of the guards that was trying to clean it up. His screams alarmed everyone around as the blood started to spill onto the marble floor. The front man of AD nodded his head to the older woman. She turned and started to approach the struggling monster, which was still teeths deep into the legs of one of the guards. The frenzied seemed to be paralyzed as it could only move around its head, but it made the most damage of it he could.  She stood up in front of him and pulled out a gun and shot the monster in the head. The parts of his skull and brains scattered around the street leaving a pool of blood underneath the monster. His jaw still interlocked with the man's shin started to loosen as he was able to pull it away. The body of a monster started to evaporate with blue vapor, soon leaving nothing but a body of a withered man. Older woman crouched next to the corpse examining it.

Front man of AD chuckled softly before looking down at Clementine.

- And who are you? - the man asked as his bright eyes put an uneasy feeling on Clementine, making her feel weak in the knees.

- Clementine Daffodil, sir. - she answered, still shaken up by the entire event.

His eyes opened slightly more for a fraction of a second before nodding.

-And tell me, Clementine. Did you see anything unusual with this encounter? - Clementine, gathered her thoughts for a moment, staying quiet while doing so. But after a moment she shook her head.

- No sir, there was nothing unusual. - she said lying to the AD. The man leaned a little forward tilting his head a little.

- Are you sure? - his scratchy voice sounded through her ears, making it somehow more terrifying than the monster's roar. He waited for a moment but since he didn't receive an answer he straightened back up again. - Very well. - he turned to the officer again. - Now remove your toy soldiers from the parameter. AD is taking over this case. - Officer nodded.

- Yes Marshal.