Chapter Text
Adam travels by night, Not much out of fear, but out of habit.
During all these years of travelling in solitude, he has learned darkness creates a world where he is safe and concealed from the world, and the other way around.
This part of the forest is dense enough that even sound struggles to make it through. Branches knit overhead and moss dulls the earth beneath his boots.
He has been particularly careful for days, altering his pace, doubling back once, choosing water when he can. He doesn't know who or why, but he knows there is someone lurking.
However, Since he entered the deeper woods, the sense of being hunted has faded. No broken undergrowth behind him or smell of smoke. Not even dogs barking in the distance. Still, he knows better than lowering his guard. He has to keep going.
Suddenly, Adam sees a light. At first, he thinks it is foxfire, one of those natural tricks that glow briefly and vanish when approached. But this light is steady, pulsing faintly near the riverbank.
He carefully approaches the river, stopping when he sees her.
A woman kneels by the water, her skirts tucked carelessly above her ankles, hands submerged. The glow that initially drew his attention comes from small conchs clustered along the stones. She seems to be picking them and storing them in a glass container.
Adam watches her from the shadow of a beech tree. She's wearing simple, comfortable clothes. The creature's attention is drawn to her long mane of dark, curly hair and a corset embroidered with intricate wildflower patterns.
Humans in the dark are rare. Alone even more so. Armed men announce themselves, villagers carry lanterns. This woman seems to have neither.
She works with calm precision, as though the forest has already accepted her presence. And then, without turning, she speaks.
"Show yourself"
Adam freezes. For a moment, he considers retreating. He knows the trees would take him easily, he would be nothing but a strange sight by tomorrow. But when she rises and finally turns to face him, the glow catches his eyes. They are a bright, reflective yellow, impossible to miss.
Adam steps out of the darkness to stand exposed under the moonlight. He braces himself for the young woman to be either terrified or disgusted by his appearance.
She stares at him up and down, scanning his large frame, but her expression remains unreadable.
"Well, this explains the feeling..." She says finally "Who are you?"
"My name is Adam" He replies, hesitant. He tries his best to stay still, not wanting to seem threatening.
"Adam. And you are... What exactly?" The young woman continues probing.
Adam takes a breath before speaking "I- Some people think of me as a monster... Perhaps you do as well. All because I was stitched together by men, not by God... But to me, I am simply a man. I think, I feel..."
"You are a homunculus!" She exclaims, interrupting Adam's impromptu monologue.
"I beg your pardon?" Adam says, taken aback by the unknown term and the girl's sudden excitement. Before he can object, she's already far too close, peering at him with fascination.
"A homunculus! A human created with alchemy or modern science, or perhaps a combination of both!" She speaks as she circles him like a bouncy, colourful shark.
Adam blinks "Yes... I believe my... Creator... Combined both disciplines..."
"Fascinating!" She interrupts once again "I wonder who he is... And more importantly, how he achieved... You?"
The rambling continues as she takes Adam's hands in hers, utterly unaware of the way he stiffens at the contact.
Her eyes go from their joined hands to his exposed forearms, and they would definitely explore further if it wasn't for Adam's sleeves getting in the way.
Adam has never found himself in such a bizarre situation, he is usually at the other end of this interaction, watching, not being watched. He doesn't know what to make of this attention.
Yes, being examined like a curiosity is rather uncomfortable, but compared to the usual running and screaming, academic interest feels... Merciful.
At last, she releases his hands. Her dark eyes meet his yellow ones and something clicks.
"Oh, my apologies!" She says quickly, her cheeks turning a light shade of red "You must understand you are... quite extraordinary!" She stops herself, inhales and then softens "I didn't mean to be abrasive, I got carried away"
Adam realizes, with mild surprise, that his lips have turned upward.
"My name is Merlina, it's a pleasure to meet you" she adds, returning the smile and offering her hand properly this time.
"Merlina..." He repeats to himself, taking her hand carefully. "The pleasure is all mine"