"Haaaa... Haa... Is that all?" Reena gasped, her voice echoing with exhaustion. She sank wearily to her knees, her trembling hands desperately clutching the ground to support her weary body.
"Yeah, I th..." Melta began to say, but her words abruptly halted as her attention was captivated by something within the confines of the tightly enclosed farm area. Numerous high wooden fences barricaded the space, creating a sense of seclusion. It was then that her eyes caught sight of a vibrant, green-yellow plant, tinged with shades of yellow, plunging into the earth, yet its exposed roots betrayed its presence and action.
Without hesitation, Melta extended both of her arms, stretching them towards the moving plant, showcasing her gift. She turned her head to the side and whispered to Reena, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it," her voice barely audible amidst the unfolding scene. With an unwavering focus on the plant and her hands inching closer, a resolute expression etched across her face, Melta forcefully plunged her hand into the soil, gripping the defiant plant as it struggled to escape.
Her elongated arms propelled her body forward until she was now kneeling on the soil, positioned just above the plant. With a swift motion, Melta upturned the plant, freeing one of her hands to create a gap in the soil before forcefully shoving the plant's roots into it. The plant's body remained suspended outside the soil, while its roots were trapped securely below the surface, sealed away from escape.
"Phheewww... That was a close call," Melta exclaimed wearily, her voice laced with exhaustion, as she wiped away the sweat from her forehead. Her gaze remained fixed on the stubborn, twisting plant before her, relentlessly striving to break free from the clutches of the soil.
"Calm down," a familiar voice suddenly resonated behind her shoulders. Startled, Melta turned her head to witness Reena activating her gift, directing its influence towards the restless plant. As if caught in a trance, the plant gradually settled, its agitated movements subsiding. Once satisfied, Reena deactivated her gift, gasping for breath after having used it incessantly throughout the day.
As the night grew darker and they continued their laborious work, Reena couldn't help but feel a slight bitterness. The situation reminded her of the previous night when Orion had come home late. It was all because she had agreed to her best friend's impractical suggestion of using her gift to guarantee her promotion. A quick glance at her friend made Reena wish she could use her power on people, commanding Melta to slap herself a few more times, for making them work until this late hour.
Unaware of Reena's thoughts, Melta sensed her friend's deep frustration and couldn't resist releasing a feigned cough before speaking up. "Don't look at me as though any of this is my fault," she claimed, her tone laced with defensiveness. "Who could have predicted that one of the girls among the newcomers would already be acquainted with Dariya? Even I was scared of her when I first joined, and that includes you as well. So, it's only fair to say that neither of us expected them to handle their issues so effortlessly with the assistance of an overseer tree nymph in their section."
However, Reena remained unconvinced by Melta's explanation. "And who was the one loudly insisting on taking care of the Turkic plants in front of Mrs Shani, claiming that our help was needed there?" she retorted, her weariness threatening to overwhelm her to the point of nausea. The exhaustion from using her gift repeatedly over an extended period had taken its toll.
"But, it's not my fault that neither of us had predicted Mrs Shani's intervention once she learned about the harassment inflicted upon those guys by the tree nymphs. And did you not notice the way she smiled and nodded approvingly upon seeing us there? She clearly approved of my words," Melta retorted, her voice tinged with a sense of grievance.
Reena let out a weary sigh, shaking her head in exhaustion. At this point, all she could focus on was the weariness simmering deep within her stomach, causing her to hunch over a few more times. Suddenly, dizziness clouded her vision, and a rush of breath enveloped her tired lungs, compelling her to take deeper, faster breaths.
Melta swiftly noticed the alarming situation and exclaimed, "Reena, are you alright?" Hastily rising from her spot, she brushed off her hands on her side before tenderly cupping Reena's face to assess her condition. Sensing an impending event, Melta quickly stepped aside, her eyes fixed on Reena. Just as Melta anticipated, Reena removed her face from her hands and swiftly turned to the side, instinctively bending down. With a series of gasps, Reena unexpectedly vomited onto the soil, her breaths becoming deep and rapid as she tried to calm her nerves following the unsettling event.
"Reena, are you...?" Melta's question trailed off as she wore a surprised expression on her face, but before she could continue, Reena swiftly recovered from her bout of vomiting. Nevertheless, a lingering weariness persisted in her body. "Don't worry, I'm fine. I just need a little rest," Reena reassured, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. Understanding her friend's need for respite, Melta nodded understandingly, encircling her hand around Reena's waist to help her walk forward with ease. Together, they made their way out of the section housing one of the most stubborn crops on the farm, heading back towards the guarded gates.
Nonetheless, as they were making their way out of the gates to head home, Melta couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt, realizing it had been her fault for pushing Reena too hard. She couldn't help but contemplate ways to make it up to her friend, knowing she needed to make amends for her actions.
'Maybe I should have a conversation with that girl tomorrow,' Melta pondered, her mind fixated on the same girl who shared a remarkable bond with Dariya and appeared to have some connection with Mrs Shani as well. Perhaps she could utilize this relationship to alleviate the weight of Reena's promotion from her weary shoulders, with the intention of reciprocating the favour by extending a helping hand to the girl in the future.
