Chapter 171: 169. The Truth of the Big Red Heart

Frost always had a feeling that the triplets were exaggerating whenever they spoke of the Retrofitters. The colossal woman didn’t strike her as the pervert they warned her to be.

The procedure was as straight forward as a general checkup with a local doctor.

In fact, it was exactly what it was.

The Retrofitter had Frost strip to investigate her body. The metallic tubes surrounded Frost like a gyrating wall, isolating herself with the Retrofitter atop the temple.

While there was some protest from Jury, she eventually understood that it wasn’t anything sexual, whereas the triplets were hellbent on their stance.

Frost realized how easy it was to misunderstand the Retrofitters largely due to their touchy nature. The issue lay with how they conducted themselves, as well as how this procedure fell in line with how slavers inspected their assets before they were hosed down with cold water.

As Demi-humans, the triplets were naturally dispositioned against being physically inspected, no matter the context.

Of course, Frost was aware that people were going to call foul play if they were touched and stripped by a bunch of tentacles out of nowhere, regardless of the intention. The Retrofitter was excited to inspect her, but Frost made it damningly clear that she was in charge.

Also, she offered the Retrofitter advice. Being a nurse meant that she knew how to approach people the correct way. Even if her intentions were to help, she could never touch a person without permission and consent. Asleep or awake. Dead or alive.

So, she told the Retrofitter that she needed to talk first, because how was someone supposed to know they were being inspected by a bunch of wriggling tentacles if no one told them otherwise?

Something as simple as “Is it alright if I lift this? Let me know if this is uncomfortable.”, can go a long way.

A person’s dignity needed to be respected. That way they could rebuild their rapport rather than simmering in their perverted stigma. Frost had little issue, and even when she revealed that she was a man to the Retrofitter, she did not jump or mess with Frost as the triplets warned.

The giant squid-lady was only curious, and such information was necessary for them to draw out a blueprint of a person’s desires.

Frost was the only one who took the opportunity for an Atelier Item. Jury, as a Beholder, needed a far more powerful Retrofitter to detect her desires.

As for Ignis, she was content with using her bone-blades. In fact, using a normal weapon was counterproductive as she wouldn’t be able to devour them as efficiently.

The Retrofitter announced her interest in Frost’s seemingly otherworldly knowledge. The woman seemed to know something about her, and Frost had to wonder just what was said in Carpalis’ message.

“Making amends. Recommendations to an Atelier’s function. That is a first.” She said as Frost refitted her clothing.

It was strange. Thinking about this as a medical procedure inspired much confidence. Although to be fair, she did not really have an issue showing her body if the situation called for it.

“Are you aware of any other names I go by?” Frost asked, tugging on the sleeves of her brilliant fur coat.

Mechanical whines surrounded them. The metal tentacles parted as all eyes fell onto them. The triplets covertly retched; all the while Jury watched on with eager eyes.

“I cannot tell per say. But I’ve lived long enough to sense it. You may be a Color. You may be a Beholder… Or you may be something higher. I’m satisfied knowing that I don’t know.”

The Retrofitter began as the tentacles that rooted it to the temple’s stone ground revealed a writhing cavity. An egg slowly emerged, as if she had given birth to a child. It carried a slight glow and was as large as a human head.

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But in the Retrofitter’s perspective it was ‘normal’ sized.

“Fascinating. Your body plays a wonderful melody. It is a shame that our Abyssal Mother could not tend to you directly. She would have loved drawing your desires out, touch by touch.”

A tentacle cradled the egg, which pulsated alongside her heartbeat.

And then, another egg was born, causing the Eclipse to make a low-pitched hiss as she uttered: “Two. Weird. Not normal.”

“I drew two kinds of desires. Two separate souls. I wonder if there’s more than one person inside that big heart.”

Could she be talking about you, Nav?

“How could she have drawn my desires? Am I nothing more than a metaphysical voice in your head? Desires are arbitrary to me.” Nav was just as confused, and the face Frost made was telling.

I never thought of you as something as simple as just a voice. This kind of proves that you really are there, huh?

“I cannot fathom that my desires were blueprinted into an item. How can I possibly use it?

When we get you a body. I’ve made that promise, didn’t I?

Nav didn’t respond any further and chose to swallow Frost’s words. Neither did the Retrofitter try to pry. Drawing Frost’s desires had already sated her. These two eggs carried the blueprints that would allow an Impulse Artificer to create an Atelier Item for them using Corrupted material.

And Frost was lucky enough to have the honor of seeing it in person in 5 days’ time. There was nothing more that needed to be said or done. Both pale, luminescent eggs shone brilliantly underneath the Eclipse’s light as they flashed in a code-like manner. Before long, and as the triplets grew impatient to leave, Frost noticed the arrival of a particular fellow.

It was a human man dressed in blue robes, with a lighter blue mantle so long that it was wrapped around his neck like a scarf. The excess seemingly floated behind him. It never touched the floor, as if held by invisible strings.

His hair was jet black, and his eyes permanently sealed shut. He presented himself silently with a humble smile as if greeting old friends. Beneath his robes was a suit made from an even darker blue fabric, and Frost recognized that subtle glow.

His apparel was made from the same strands that created the Scripts.

 

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