Chapter 12: All Clean
"Can you clean up this mess?" Jett asked as he peeked at the chunks of earth and splattered blood littering his Rose Garden.
"Of course, Master Jett." Mia bowed low before gently extending her hand, animating the entire garden.
The soil opened like a monstrous maw, devouring rotten flesh and spectral remnants with a wet, sucking sound. Waves of earth swept across the ground, as if sharks patrolled beneath, restoring order under Jett's curious gaze. The spectacle held him rapt, but his eyes kept drifting back to Mia, standing tall and composed, orchestrating it all with her outstretched palm.
"Will the Harbinger come here?" Jett asked.
"The chances are slim, Master Jett. The Harbinger hasn't assumed a single form in a long time. If it ever chose to adopt a sentient shape, it would unlikely abandon its invasive nature. It's safe to assume the Harbinger exists everywhere in countless guises, each acting independently. This particular fragment was too weak to reach its stronger counterparts and alert them to your location."
"I get that, but why do they operate independently?" Jett asked.
Mia smiled. "Because they are the opposite of the Warden, Master Jett. The Harbinger thrives on competition, revels in revolts and wars. It's unlikely any would cooperate unless one tamed the others."
"I see." Jett nodded, satisfied.
He reflected on the difference: the Warden—whom he envisioned as the one uniting all his maids—stood in stark contrast to the Harbinger. He had no intention of ostracizing any maid. He sought to forge bonds, fulfilling his role and repaying the Warden Mansion for choosing him.