Gardenia’s Heart

The moon was not visible in the dark room, but the faint glow of moonlight squeezed through the cracks in the wooden door.

The metamorph watched the girl who held her gently in her only hand sleep heavily. After her encounter with the male figure yesterday, she collapsed on the floor near what the creature now recognized as a bed and after a long time crying, she began to sleep.

(So your name is Lily.) She remembered something the man had said.

The concept of names was something that existed in her mind. Unlike the name associated with a race, a personal name would guarantee identity. It was something unique to you. Something she had never received.

Watching the girl with silver hair sleep somehow stirred conflicting feelings within the metamorph. After the long night of rest, her body had already recovered much of her dark mana. She could easily use her magic, now recognized as ”teleportation,” and escape. But for some reason, she never let go of the girl’s hand.

Why didn’t she leave yet? The metamorph didn’t know. Her recent days were so filled with unanswered questions that she couldn’t help but sigh internally.

Perhaps if all the knowledge in her ”mind” were unlocked, perhaps she would have these questions answered, but only small pieces were slowly coming together, like a big puzzle.

Still lost in thought, the metamorph noticed when Lily began to stir, her tear-stained blue eye opening and observing the surroundings.

When her gaze reached the creature in her hand, a thin and almost imperceptible smile formed on Lily’s lips, and she said:

”Good morning,” her voice sounded soft as always, but for some reason, whenever she addressed her, it was somehow... warm.

Getting up, she wrapped the metamorph’s body again with the soft cloth and placed her on the bed.

”Can you move? Does it still hurt anywhere?”

The metamorph thought for a moment whether to respond or not, but after a brief moment, she began to move toward the girl.

She couldn’t miss how the girl’s shaken expression turned into a smile, holding her body and enveloping her in a hug.

(Why does she like physical contact so much? If I wanted, I could absorb her.)

Although she thought that, she wouldn’t devour the girl. The creature hadn’t even devoured a human until today. However, she couldn’t help but find it strange how the human named Lily seemed more comfortable talking to a metamorph than to another member of her own species.

After a few seconds, she lowered the metamorph again and wrapped her in a cloth. Heading to one of the cabinets in the room, she took out a small bag with something the creature recognized in her mind.

”Can you eat bread?” Approaching, she took a piece of the only bread she had and extended it to the metamorph.

She didn’t know where her mouth was, or if she had a mouth, so she placed it on the bed and the metamorph soon positioned herself on top of the bread. Although it wasn’t as good as objects containing mana, nutrients were nutrients.

”I’m sorry, I don’t have much to share.” For some reason, her gaze lowered to the ground and then touched the breast that had been squeezed before. ”And those bastards won’t let me into the forest to get more herbs.”

The words used were easily recognized as profanity. The metamorph noticed how the woman’s expression soured and tightened as she recalled the earlier scene.

Something deep inside the metamorph began to emerge again. The feelings she was still trying to understand were confusing. Fear and panic showed that she was in danger, that was clear to her. But what was that tightness she felt when the young woman was thrown to the ground after being assaulted or when she mentioned that she had nothing left but a piece of bread?

(Why do I feel bad when I look at her like this? Am I sick?) The doubts increased within the metamorph.

”Now that I think about it... do you have a name?” After finishing eating her piece of bread, Lily studied the metamorph’s body while thinking deeply.

This question caught the metamorph off guard. Since she couldn’t speak, they couldn’t communicate, so she simply moved her body sideways.

”Wait, can you really understand me?” Lily’s gaze followed the metamorph’s movement, and it quickly froze.

(I think I messed up.)

Monsters understanding human speech were rare, especially inferior monsters like the metamorph.

(She’s not going to decide to kill me over this, is she? Should I run before she tries something?)

Before she could think of anything, she was interrupted by a joyful shout.

”You understand me!” An exclamation escaped Lily’s mouth, and she leaned closer. ”Really, really, you understand me?”

The barely concealed euphoria began to leak, and she was very excited. Unsure how to react, the metamorph concluded that at least there was no danger in revealing this to the woman, so she nodded vertically.

Watching the nod, which was supposed to be a confirmation, Lily held the metamorph in her lap and sat on the bed.

”I really didn’t know that metamorphs understood human speech. Are all the others like this?” 

Upon hearing the question, the metamorph shook her body horizontally.

”I see, then it must be because you’re special!”

She rocked her body a bit before laying her sore body on the bed. Although she no longer felt as much pain in her chest, sleeping on the floor clearly didn’t do her body any good.

Positioning the gelatinous body of the metamorph on her chest, she began to rub its surface while smiling.

”Hm... is it okay for me to give you a name? Of course, only if you want,” she asked in a low tone while waiting for a response.

(A name...) The metamorph thought.

That was something that gave someone an identity. Her mind informed her that it was something the family gave to the offspring on the day of birth, something she would carry for life.

The idea of having a name seemed subtly sweet, something the metamorph never thought she could like. Born from the cluster of black mana, amidst so many other monsters who blindly obeyed orders, the chance to obtain a name was impossible.

Of course, there was always the possibility of choosing a name for herself, but somehow, the thought of having her name chosen by Lily was much more comfortable in her mind.

The silence that followed seemed like denial in Lily’s view, but the metamorph soon began to bounce on the top of her chest fervently.

”Is that a yes!?” Lily could barely contain her joy. She thought for a moment about what name would be good, but soon she froze. ”Are you... a boy or a girl?”

(Now that I think about it...)

Monsters had genitals, at least some of them did. Her species didn’t need them to expel waste, so it was impossible for her to clearly determine her gender based on conventional standards. However, upon analyzing her interior and the girl in front of her, at this moment, she only had one answer.

”Hm... sway for boy and nod for girl,” Lily’s suggestion was easily accepted, and she quickly responded.

A smile formed again on Lily’s face as she lay on her side, embracing the metamorph.

”So you’re a girl!”

Her mind possessed information about what a man and a woman were, as well as their characteristics. Although she could lean towards one side, somehow, she felt that being a woman would make her happier at this moment. Therefore, she would be a woman.

”A name… a name,” Lily hummed as she observed the metamorph, her previous sadness and icy expression having disappeared long ago.

She spent some time tossing and turning on the bed while thinking of a name until once again her expression brightened, and she spoke.

”Gardenia.” Her voice was calm but penetrated deep into the metamorph, seeming to embed itself so deeply that it refused to leave. ”It’s a flower that represents purity and sincerity... Do you like it?” Her gaze was apprehensive as she awaited a response.

On the other hand, the metamorph was frozen.

(Gardenia...) the voice continued to resonate within her, dozens and dozens of times.

This was a name, just a way to refer to her, but why? For what reason did she feel so happy?

Without wasting another second, she approached the girl and eagerly rubbed her gelatinous body against her.

”Do you like it? I’m so happy!”

With a sincere smile on her face, Lily finally noticed that the fatigue hitting her was getting worse. Covering herself and Gardenia with a blanket, she leaned in and kissed the metamorph’s surface.

”Good night, Nia.”