Chapter 09: Subtle Strife
With proof or not, Natsuki Kruger could not believe her eyes nor what she had heard minutes prior. Her mother, the President of the Aries Republic had potentially broken her Presidential vows—for her. No less in an attempt to cure the paralysis in her legs. She wasn't quite sure what to think. Was it right for her to feel excited? Anxiety swept into the back of her mind, twisting this news into a worst case scenario. It might not work; it could go terribly wrong. But in the end wasn't this just her mind playing tricks on her? Whether she was being overdramatic at all, she had hope; something she hadn't experienced in years.
Positioned outside the entrance of the Hexagon's internal garden, Natsuki stared at the documents she had taken. This was her proof—her possible salvation. However, she shouldn't get excited; just because the nanomachines had worked for others didn't necessarily mean it would for her. Reality was fickle like that. Maybe… maybe what? Leaning into the back of her wheelchair, Natsuki sighed. Wasn't it just pathetic? Things could potentially change for the better, yet here she was moping about it.
Whatever.
"Natsuki?" Her Otome's voice carried from the entrance as she halted beside Natsuki.
"Hi."
Is she alright? Surveying the younger woman, Shizuru languidly pulled her gaze away a moment later. "Your mother is very blunt." The chance of overcoming paralysis was one thing, but to declare their ceremony a moment later? The President's straightforward demeanor was like a bombshell.
"Don't I know it." Natsuki grumbled, flicking open the stapled papers to try and figure out the jargon. There was a lot of medical science and nanotechnology in this; far too much for her to gain a good understanding of the research. Natsuki had never figured out why specialists refused to communicate clearly. How could the non-professionals ever hope to understand what they were explaining? Maybe she should ask her mother for a comprehensible version? She supposed she'd get the answers eventually. "How do nanomachines work?"
Blinking, Shizuru returned her gaze. "How they work?" Receiving a nod, she hummed silently. "Nanomachines—or at least mine monitor my body as they run through my veins." Wetting her lips, she mused for a moment, attempting to simplify her answer. "My GEM sends a signal to Garderobe allowing them to see my status. Because they're blood based, they can detect all manner of complications, from illnesses, disease and injury. If there is something wrong with me, Garderobe can warn me."
"I heard Otome heal injuries on the spot."
The Meister laughed, catching Natsuki off guard. "Where did you hear that?"
"Er." Scratching her jaw, Natsuki shrugged her shoulders. "I heard it years ago."
"Our nanomachines are electromagnetic, however. You may have seen Otome using seemingly inhuman strength. The nanomachines push together when we use our muscles extensively. This causes a short electromagnetic pulse—or an EMP. This is responsible for our strength, and why electronics are sometimes damaged around us."
So essentially all Otome used electricity? Natsuki stared at the Meister. "Where do the robes and weapons come from then?" She furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Teleportation."
Natsuki cocked a brow. Garderobe sure had everything, huh? Teleportation was only just being researched seriously by Aries. It was no secret that Garderobe was advanced compared to the rest of the world. It was surreal, considering that Garderobe was a mere military academy. Being a Migration Age organisation though, she supposed she shouldn't be surprised.
"I'm surprised you're telling me this."
"You are my Master." The corner of Shizuru's lips rose discreetly, her amusement climbing as she noticed the woman blush. "You ar-"
"-I am not." Natsuki opened her mouth but quickly closed it a second later. She already knew there was no winning against the Meister. Instead, she quickly changed the subject, redirecting her gaze towards the garden's central gazebo. "What's an Otome's ceremony like?" Wasn't it like… marriage? Now that she thought about it, Natsuki felt mildly embarrassed. They would essentially become a married couple, and she hardly knew a thing about Shizuru.