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"Pardon me, but did I hear that you are still looking for work?" Chief Aleki, who only heard a bit of the conversation, approached Harper from her side.

She nearly had a heart attack, hoping he didn't hear everything, including her mentioning Westona.

"Um... yeah? Yes!" Harper mumbled softly. "It's just... there's a lot of things I have to get used to. The skills I gained from the job I had before don't exactly help me to find one here."

"Ah, I see..." Aleki scratched under his chin. "You and your family are still getting accustomed to the move."

"Yeah,"

"Don't worry, here on Alkapoltua, we do our best to make all newcomers feel welcome. Tell me, what did your job before you came here entail?"

"I was a..." Harper paused. Should she be honest? Would be be able to identify who she was? It would sound more suspicious if she didn't answer. "I was a scientist."

"Oh? What kind?"

"Well... some of my tasks were to study a subject, and write reports."

"You're a very detailed person, I suppose."

"Thank you," Her lips curled into a smile. People like Arturo deemed her career and studies as worthless.

But doing her type of work wasn't at all easy and required lots of attention and organization. She was happy that someone noticed.

"I think I can help you with your job search." Chief Aleki clicked his tongue.

"Really?"

"Mhm. It isn't written on the board, I don't think she's ever gotten around to advertising it but, Akamau is looking for a helper."

"Oh," Harper said, sounding a little disappointed. It's not like she didn't want the job, but she knew that Hyde would give her an earful.

"She is paying 30 talents a day for assistance. If you work long enough, you can make almost just enough to pay for the shed."

Those words were convincing. Harper decided to just give it a chance. At the rate her job search was going, she probably wouldn't find anything until the last day, and she didn't want to burden Hyde with all of the pressure.

"If you're interested, you should go to her. Tell her I sent you."

"I will." Harper nodded. "Thank you."

Chief Aleki parted ways with her, strolling down the path, onto another, probably toward the marketplace and other establishments that Hyde was telling her about.

Akamau's shed was a thirty-minute walk away. The humidity wasn't helping Harper. Her new growth of hair was standing up tall when reacting to the moist air.

She felt that the sunlight was heavy. By the time she reached the stairway leading up to Akamau's home, she felt exhausted. The wrap around her waist was drenched in sweat and so was her cropped shirt.

She puffed as she climbed up the stairs, wiping the pools of liquid off her face.

The island had beautiful sights, but the weather was going to kill her. Just for a second, she missed the Westona cold.

"Oh!" Akamau burst through her doorway, carrying a wooden crate full of small tiny glass bottles. "What brings you back here?"

"Hi!" Harper huffed and leaned against the wooden rail. "Sorry, I just... give me a moment to catch my breath."

"Do you need water?" Akamau changed her tone, growing worried about Harper.

"No, ahem," Harper cleared her throat. "I'm fine, thanks."

"Did he relapse? Does he need more?" Akamau was wondering why she was puffing like she had run a marathon. Was it because Hyde was sick again?

Harper thought the question was odd, but she decided not to look into it. Right now, she needed a job before this one was taken. "Actually, Chief Aleki sent me here. He says that you have a job opening, you're looking for an assistant?"

"Yes?"

"Is the job already taken? If not, I'd like to apply."

"Oh," Akamau frowned. "I don't know... this sort of job isn't for everyone. It involves a lot of research."

"Research? I can do that! That is something I specialize in!"

"Is that so?" Akamau murmured, very skeptical. "Do you have any basic knowledge of Paradisian Herbalism?"

"Uhh..." Harper's face fell. She didn't even know what the heck that was. Westona's only form of science was based on their history. They researched new ways to improve their country's environment.

It wasn't until going to Itaria that she was exposed to new information about the planet.

"No, I don't."

"Oh,"

"But I know some things about Crystonology. I've done some research on it before."

"You've studied Crystonology, but you don't know the basics of its subcategory? Paradisian herbalism is a part of that."

"I... more so studied what Crystonology is, and what it can do. I didn't delve into anything deeper."

"Strange..." Akamau narrowed her eyes, causing Harper to shift a little from nervousness. "It's commendable that you show an interest though, so... hm, I suppose you're hired."

"Really?" Harper's eyes lit up.

"Yes," Akamau shrugged. "I didn't want to advertise it to anyone who only wanted the job to get quick pay. But since you know something about the study of our planet, you seem to be a good candidate who will take on tasks with care."

"Oh, absolutely! I will! If there's anything you'd like for me to look up—"

"Before we go into any details about what you'll be doing, I need to go over the terms of payment."

"Oh, I already know about it. Aleki told me it was 30 talents a day. That's no problem for me, I—"

Akamau held a finger up to Harper's lips and shook her head. "I think you're mistaken. It isn't 30 talents a day. It is 30 talents a segment. In order to get paid the full amount, you will have to work for me in 13 segments."

"What? What are segments?"

"2 days equals 1 segment."

"So... I'll only be getting paid 15 talents a day?" That seemed a little harsh and like a robbery of her time. Would that even be enough to cover some of the costs of the shed?

"And as you progress and get better at your job, I will lower the amount of hours those segments require." Akamau finished.

Harper thought hard about it. Was that worth it? She was going to have to keep it a secret that she was working for her. She would be risking Hyde's wrath for this job. But was lower pay and longer hours worth that risk?

Harper knew she needed it. It was a good opportunity, and good opportunities didn't come easily with the situation they were in. Hyde was able to find a job almost immediately because he was able to use his abilities and his power.

She wasn't at all like that. The only useful thing she had going for her was her brain and prior knowledge of a specific science.

Was there another choice? There wasn't.

"Okay. That's fine, I can... I can work that out."

"You're very eager."

"I have to be. I have to take care of..." Harper sighed.

"Ah, yes, the boy and your husband."

"Um... yeah?" She didn't want to correct her about Hyde. They weren't together. But for the sake of keeping their identities concealed, she didn't say anything.

"That's good." Akamau expressed her admiration. From afar, they all seemed close. "If you'd like, you could actually start your first segment today."

"Really?" Harper grinned. "That would be so great!"

Getting started right away was a head start on getting paid. "What do you need for me to do?"

"Could you make a new dirt patch for some seeds that need to be planted?"

"You want me to... do some gardening?" Harper frowned. She thought she would be doing research on plants.

"Yep. The shovel is over there." Akamau pointed to her right. "Is it too difficult?"

"Not at all," Harper knew how to garden from her experience in Itaria. She actually enjoyed doing it. But it was much hotter here than in Piccposto. She would probably catch a heat stroke.

"While you're doing that, I'm going to make some deliveries. I'll be back in an hour or two." Akamau propped up the crate in her arms and walked down the stairs.

Harper strolled over to the shovel and the open field of grass. She blew out a gust of air and placed a hand on her hip.

"If I don't die because of the heat, exhaustion will probably kill me instead." She dug the shovel into the grass and chucked the contents behind her. 10 minutes went by and she was already sweating bullets with only a quarter of the patch finished.

She kept reminding herself that this was all for Yanpu. And some of it was to help Hyde.

But making sure Yanpu had the chance to live like a normal kid was her goal. She wanted to see Yanpu smile, laugh, and run around with other children his age.

She wanted to see his first accomplishments, his new experiences, and his wants, without being locked away in a laboratory. Although Harper wasn't his real mother, she wanted him to see that she was going to try her best to fit the role.

He wasn't a test subject, and she would have to die before anyone would use his dead body to cure a greedy man's disease.

She would explain her new job to Hyde later. She prayed to the overseers that he would understand her. In the end, she knew this would be worth it all.

~~~

As the sun was setting, Hyde sauntered toward the shed with a basket full of food. He used his first workday's pay to buy fish, fruits, eggs, and spinach leaves. The food would last them for half a week.

But he knew that once he had more in his keep, he would save for the shed and buy more supplies.

He walked inside and placed the basket on the counter in the tiny cluttered kitchen. Afterward, he felt something was off.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

Where was Harper and the boy?

Did she take him with her on her job search?

And where was the whilfox?

Hyde walked over to the bedroom and slightly pressed the door. The whilfox skipped out happily. That gave him an answer to one question.

It wasn't until he turned around that he got another answer. Yanpu stood behind Hyde, nearly startling him.

"You're here." Hyde acknowledged his presence nonchalantly. He concluded that Harper was still out. He didn't worry initially, but he decided if another hour went by, he would go out to check on her.

"She'll give me a lecture if you don't eat." Hyde gestured to the basket on the counter, walking by Yanpu. "Take something."

Yanpu clenched his jaw, his teeth gnashing against each other.

When Hyde didn't get any response, he shifted his eyes over to Yanpu again. "Did you hear me? Go eat."

Yanpu balled his fists and his dark brown eyes began to glow red.

Hyde turned to his side for a moment and sensed something dangerous. Without a second thought, he whipped out one of his swords and blocked a solid piece of organic Puron that flew his way.

He exhaled after realizing that Yanpu just struck first. "The heck is wrong with you?" Hyde spat.

There was no response. Yanpu only twitched his fingers, creating 2 more pieces of the red crystals.

Yanpu threw his arms forward, flinging them at Hyde. They charged through the room, one striking against Hyde's sword, and the other hitting dangerously close to his torso. But he blocked both of them successfully.

Hyde stepped back, blocking multiple shots of crystals. Each one shattered against the blade, sparking into hundreds of tiny pieces.

There was no time for him to think. Every blow was calculated on Yanpu's part.

"Stop." Hyde swung his leg over Yanpu as he darted forward, not wanting to fight with him. "What's gotten into you?"

Hyde's gaze shifted over to the kitchen cabinets, now with holes in them. "Shite!" He ducked when a slash of Puron hacked at his head.

Now the couch was damaged. It was only a matter of time before Yanpu destroyed the shed from inside out. He rolled over and hopped up, before dashing out of the home.

Yanpu was hot on his tail, drawing up Puron orbs from the soil, creating more ammo to hurl at Hyde.

"Stop!" Hyde swung one of his blades, taking out the other one for extra protection. Yanpu grunted and threw his fists forward. Hyde leaped over him multiple times, avoiding every hit.

"Yanpu!" He had enough and knocked the boy off his feet, before stepping onto his front. He made sure not to press all of his weight on him, not wanting to break his rib cage.

Yanpu squirmed under Hyde's shoe, trying to free himself.

"You wanna explain why you're acting like a bloodhound?" Hyde tilted his sword downward, holding it directly under Yanpu's chin.

There was still sunlight, so Hyde was able to see Yanpu's tears streaming down his face as he tried to claw at him. Hyde wondered what had gotten him so riled up to attack him. Did something happen to Harper?

While he was distracted, Yanpu tossed dirt at Hyde and it smacked him in the face. "You little piece of—"

Yanpu knocked him back with a gust of crystals.

Hyde rolled onto the ground with a snarl. His scar was exposed, because the crystals cut his top clean open. Since the Puron grazed his skin, it began to glow.

Hyde's torso began to ache. Hyde held his hand to his chest and puffed. By the time he looked up, he saw Yanpu standing over him with a crystal formed and shaped into a dagger.

He was going to kill him. The look in his eyes was the same as the other night when Hyde tried tricking Yanpu into using his power.

"If you kill me," Hyde spat slowly, "You won't last another week here."

Yanpu raised the red jagged dagger high.

"Think about it well." Hyde grumbled, "Who will protect you when the villagers find my body? You think they'll listen to you when you make up an excuse? Bullshite."

Yanpu took heavy breaths. Both were fighting for the upper hand. He hated how confident Hyde looked, even when facing death.

"Do it." Hyde smiled wickedly. "What are you waiting for? Scared?"

"No." Yanpu spat.

"Then do it," Hyde circled his scar with his fingers. "Put it here, it's quick and efficient."

Yanpu gripped tighter onto the blade. As much as he wanted to end Hyde, he knew that there were many consequences that would come afterward. What would Harper say? What would she do?

As of now, she was the only one who he held up to a standard. She was his caretaker. But it seemed like she was sending him away. He felt betrayed. Why was she suddenly agreeing with the man who tried to kill her?

What did Hyde do to her?

Hyde smirked when he saw Yanpu's eyes dilate. He noticed there was an internal struggle. Hyde used it to his advantage.

He quickly snatched Yanpu's hand and threw him over his shoulder. Yanpu felt the wind leave his body as he landed on his back. Hyde quickly flipped him over and pressed Yanpu's face to the dirt.

Yanpu cried as he tried to get out of Hyde's hold, but he refused to let up.

"Congratulations," Hyde seethed. "You've learned your first lesson in combat. Never give your enemy the opportunity to see your vulnerability. Now,"

Hyde folded Yanpu's arms behind his back. "It's time for you to learn another lesson." Hyde's red eyes twinkled with a hint of darkness. "I let you hit me once, but you're still an untrained pipsqueak."

~~~

"15 talents, as promised." Akamau placed 15 golden coins into the palms of Harper's hand. Harper counted them in her head, amazed at how shiny and smooth the material was.

It was real gold. How cool, she thought.

"Thank you,"

"You did a really nice job with the patch. Very thorough and well spread."

"I learned a thing or two from..." Harper stopped herself, not wanting to reveal much information. "I had a great teacher when it came to gardening."

Harper remembered how Anna Bella would tell her to spread the dirt evenly to allow more seeds to grow.

Giada and Anna both attributed her interest in flowers. The memory was a fond one, but the guilt of losing them was slowly eating her up.

"You're very promising. Keep it up. Oh, and before you go," Akamau rushed inside her shed before quickly coming back out. There was a large handheld bottle made of clay in her grasp.

She passed it to Harper carefully. "It's for your husband."

"Huh?"

"For the poisoning. I meant to give it to you the other day, but you left in a hurry. His condition is in a very bad place right now."

"How do you know?" Harper raised a brow, now suspicious because of what Hyde told her.

"There are many from the far Northern, Eastern, and few from Western regions who've faced crystallization within the body. There's no easy cure for it, but drinking this will help it heal." Akamau frowned, explaining in detail.

"Your husband's case is vastly different though. I've never seen it get to that point. Whatever he's been taking as a substitute has been the only thing keeping him alive. But the more he drinks this, the better he will become. It will take lots of time until the cure is complete."

"What? Crystallization? I... HUH?"

"I'll explain it to you soon." Akamau smiled. "You should go. The sun is setting. Don't stay out too late. You may catch the Erblu's song, and drift away into further darkness."

What the heck was an Erblu? What did she mean about drifting away? That scared Harper.

She quickly turned around and left to go back to their shed.

As Akamau had said, the darker it got outside she started to hear mewling sounds. She wasn't sure where it was coming from, but she knew she had to leave the forest of trees before any creature would hop out and eat her.

Around 20 minutes later, after running like her life depended on it, she made it to the shed. She rushed inside and closed the door behind her, exhaling when she realized she was safe.

She turned around, and nearly dropped the bottle that Akamau gave her when she saw the mess.

The cabinets were torn or cut into, and stained in red. There were a few shattered clay pots scattered around the room. Then she looked on the couch and saw Hyde wrapping a bandage around his exposed chest, which was glowing.

~~~