Kikimora Antic (MGE), By GoldenDiva

A city, waking in the bask of the sun while slowly opening it's ears to the water fall near it, a man gets woken up by the small rays of the sun through his window. Seeing as the day had started, he opts for a quick shower before preparing himself for the morning.

Soon enough, the man, a miner and a medic, had outfitted himself with the tools needed for the excavation. He went out of the city and directly under the waterfalls. For one to see what conspired inside, he would have to take the make-shift stairs leading deeper in the earth. After walking down for 10 minutes, the man had found himself in a large underground excavation with many miners and workers here and here. He knew exactly where he was needed and went on a yet unmarked hole,where a team of 3 worked with ore gathering.
Reaching the small team, the man went to the furthest one, to be available for quick help in case. He watched and gathered as well for the first hours of the day. As time passed, progress could be seen with their mine soon emptying itself of ores. But, as fate would have it, a disaster would occur.

The third miner began opening the way for more ore collecting while the two others left for the main hub of the site since they wanted a break. The medic stood with him for assistance and helped along the way, to ease things. As they worked, small ores appeared, leading them to think they were making a swift progress. And then, while the medic stopped to sit down, the other miner pushed one and with a stroke of his pickaxe, a notious gas began pouring out...

The miner was oblivious to the toxic gas, but the medic had seen it and immediately ran to him before latching on his collar to pull him out. The methane was swiftly coursing to them, even as the miner didn't understand why they were to run. Of course, they had gas mask for excavation, but he didn't want to take any chance. Only, it would get worse for him...

For he placed the miner before him and begin pushing him to run toward the main hub, making him more likely to be incapacitated by the gas. The moment some of it leaked between his suit, a crippling pain seized the back of his neck, like he was burning. He didn't stop and continued pushing the other just out of the gas's touch, but he bathed more in it. Methane was not supposed to act so harshly to him. Something was very wrong.

Just about to reach the main hub, he pushed the miner out as the pain got complete hold of him. With him now completely bathing in the toxic fumes, he struggled to pull out his adrenaline vial, to keep himself from passing out from the pain. BUt, even with the other miner seeking help as fast as he could, the man could no longer hold him vial and dropped it, his hand twitching left and right, his breathing sore and ragged. His eyes feeling heavy and the nerves overwhelmed with this unusual painful gas, he finally slipped into the dreamland...

Woken up to murmurs of unknown voices, the man struggled to open his eyes, the pain still not brushed over. He groaned while doing so, which turned those speaking to him. Still recovering from the ordeal, all he could see was blurs approaching him. One of them got close to him and explained to him how luck he was. From the few he could actually focus to listen, it seems the methane had triggered a violent skin and pulmonary reaction, enfeebling him. Basically, the doctor told him that he had an unexpected allergy to methane.
After days of hospital recovery, the man could finally go home, albeit the fact that the doctors had forbidden him to go back to work for a period of time. Well, this was the least of his worries. Because of his nature of work, he was very well paid. And, his superior had even agreed to give his sick pay, 90% of his usual salary. Seems his actions before passing out earned that. HOwever, because of his allergy active, he was weak with physical tasks.

And thus, the man had difficulty doing most of the daily and menial tasks at home, such as drying clothes, cleaning dishes or anything or anything he used to do. So, with that, he thought to himself that hiring help could ease his life until his allergy dimmed down
Walking across the market, the man ignored all of this and came to a unusual department. Inside, a single clerk stood before the counter. Spotting the man, he immediately welcomed him. "Hey,you're that miner that went into a coma, aren't you?" he asked, his eyes shimmering with brightness. The man merely nodded, hidden in his coat.

"Of course, you're the one who contacted us. If you will follow me..." he said again before walking to his counter, with the medic following. It seems documents were in need to signing. After a brief time doing so, the clerk then walked him out with the saying "Your help will be at your door soon enough." This confused the man and he walked back, thinking this was a scam. He sighted as he entered his home, trying to think of a way to make his life more bearable. Then, 30 seconds after he had entered, a knock was heard...
The man scratched his head and went on to answer, finding a gentle lady standing before him. Her hands oddly had feathers on them,yet they didn't cover her pristine hands that were together. Clad dressed in a maid outfit, two sets of luggage lied besides her left and right sides. She had a gentle stare to the enfeebled man,seeking entrance. He took her wears inside. Well, tried,at least...

Taking her hands on their, she entered them instead. "Do not worry, I will take them" she expressed, with no hint of pity or condescending tone.
With them inside, she presented herself ~I am Melissa and I and I am here to assist you with whatever you ask. Please, do not hesitate if you need services.~ The man nodded but before he could say anything, ashe had already began working around, knowing what was needed here.

He let her go to her device while trying to have something done around. As usual, he barely could do anything significant before the
maid Melissa came around to do his task. At first, it seems fine. He was in a horrible condition and couldn't afford to strain himself, so, the man was content.

However, as the months passed, seeing his hired maid do much of the work for him, watching her do many things here and here. All of this was beginning to wear down on him. He often tried doing it on his own, cleaning the dishes for example. But, he would always drop a plate or two, with Melissa around the corner to sweep up his mess. No sigh came from her, yet he felt like he was abusive her kindness.

More months passed by and it seems his condition had yet to progress,still weak physically. What drew him to despair was when at one point, he wanted to get a cup of water, but, as usual, he dropped the glass and broke it. Melissa walked in and swept in the pieces.

Being done many times, the man's mind spurred into guilt and self-loathing. At night, while the maid slept, he went in her stuff and found out her work papers, to carry back to the table...

Day after day, she worked diligently, while the man was always away. Every time she could hear him in the kitchen, she would serve him something to eat, with much insistance, for him to recover faster. He accepted, but underneath, a great shame ate at him.

And then, one day, while she was passing broom in the kitchen,, Melissa noticed a closed case under a chair. Having never seen it before, she tried ignoring it, not wanting to intrude her master's privacy.But, curiosity got the better of her and she opened it. Many documents were inside, now splattered on the table. They were all tied in with work....Her work...

Curious, she sat down and began reading some. They were mostly about her qualities and field of work. The usual. But then, she stumbled upon a potentially disheartening one. A page, listing her experience was filled, with different coordinates from this very house. Melissa looked at it again, this was his hand writing. Was he firing her? Was her service inadequate? She began sobbing softly, thinking she had failed...

And then, while wiping her tears,thinking about taking her things, she noticed more papers, this time in a different color. She took a look at them, with hesitance. They were info files with pics of variable men here and here. One in particular was encircled. His face , location and pay.

Melissa was now confused, wondering what her current master was trying to pull. And then, just as to confuse her even more so, a diary with a opened lock was at the bottom of the briefcase. She took it and began reading. At least, the entry for when she enetered his service.

The first pages were of him praising her work. Obviously, he loved having her at his side. What changed? Why the sudden firing? She continued reading. The sentences she was reading took a darker turn. But, it was not because of her. THe loath, hate, insults and everything negative that inked his diary were all pointed at the writer.
That's when the puzzles started assembling in her head. But, what definitely cleared her mind about this situation was the last page. Basically, that page detailed the entirely of his search for another employer. Someone that could treat her right, pay her better, not bear her with such work. He also loathed himself for pressuring her so much, what with all the accidents he made here,forcing her to clean up after him.

She took a look on the one he planned to send her to. Apparently, it was a noble in need of a cleaner to occupy his house every time he was gone. The pay was that much higher compared to his, the work charge was much lower and she had much free time between. Holding the piece of paper, her hands trembled. How could he think of sending her away to someone who clearly didn't need her service. Just because he feels like he's overburdening her?Nonsense, he needed her. She wanted to be here.

Melissa ripped the paper in pieces with a stern look on her face before packing the rest back in the man's briefcase.

Resuming her work, she cleans the entire house, going overdrive after seeing this, keeping the ripped papers in her pocket. With the evening near, the man finally came back home, only to find his maid, sitting on a chair, staring at him with a stern look on her face.

The man, unsure of why she looked at him like this,noticed that his briefcase was on the chair besides her. His heart spiked up at the thought that she could have taken a read through his things. Before he could get to it, she took out the ripped papers and layed them on the table.

He saw the pic of the man he had encircled and knew she had looked through. He spoke "Look, I did this to make your life easier..." "How? By forsaking your own needs? In a misguided attempt to send me to someone who dosen't really need the service?" she replied. "Seeing you work so much here, constantly picking up after my mistakes, taking over the tasks that
I'm too feeble to do on my own, is making me guilty of wasting your potential here."

Melissa got off of her chair and walked toward the man she served for months on no end and stared deeply in his eyes. "Sir, when I had read the condition and purpose of your employment, I knew what was waiting for me, but I accepted it. I did, knowing that I could help your recovery after such an act had left you crippled and weakened. I didn't take this job just so that I may go wash the carelessness of a delusional noble who thinks he owns the world. I know there is better, but I wish to stay here, at your side..."
The man walked toward the table and took the ripped pic of the one he sought to send her to. She followed and gently turned him to face her "If I wanted to serve someone with a large amount of coins, I wouldn't be here. In fact, I wouldn't be what I am. We don't look for the richest or even the strongest one...." she says as she takes his hands with hers wile keeping her stare. ~No, we look for selfless men to cherish,to care for, to help get them back on their feet, no matter how low they have fallen. If I must pick up after everything you drop for the next year, then so be it. But,
I'm not serving anyone else!~

While speaking those words, Melissa pressed herself against the one she called her master , their hands still together. With tears falling on her eyes, she continued.~I'm not leaving you. No matter what problem you may be confronted by, I'll be at your side,always!~ Melissa ended up sobbing on his chest, her hands now latching on it as well. The man, pretty shocked and surprised to see she wasn't willing to leave him, accepted her, for after a speech like this, after someone decides to be at your side, for good and bad, what madman would refuse such warmth?

And so, despite his still enfeebled state, he hugged her back, pressing her against him. "I'm sorry..." he muttered "...I really wanted you to be happier." She lifted her head at him "I was...and still am. With you..." she responded before burying her face once more on his chest. Even with his shirt wet with her tears, he didn't budge, really wanting to enjoy that hug the two had. And then, after 10 minutes, of a blissful eternity to the two, he lifted her chin, as to face her and closed his face. He sought to kiss her....

5 years later, the excavation site under the waterfalls, turned into a second city thriving due to the abundance of ores found here, many flocking citizens went to fill it's walls and homes. The miners who worked here were all sent elsewhere, another potential mining place found, this time, with much more security measures and a huge smiles on their hearts for ever since the incident, no accident had been noted. And thus, ends this story of the one afflicted by a very unknown allergy.... "Dad, was mom really like that back then?"

The man laughs a bit, while passing his finger through the hair of a much younger kikimora what sat on his lap, on the rooftops of a house standing on a cliff. "You have no idea how strong headed she can be, my dear child." the man said. "But dad, you tried to send her out." replied the youngster, prompting the man to laugh a bit. "Indeed, I was quite a fool back then. She had to knock some sense to me, but I'm lucky she didn't literally knock it on me."

The younger kikimora giggled a bit "Well, I'm glad you and mom are together now. But, what happened after that?" The father got up and picked her up to get inside."Well, that part will be for when you get older. Even if you are a monster, I'm still holding on that part. Besides, mommy has prepared dinner. It'd be a shame to eat it cold."
Walking with the young kiki on his shoulder, the two made their ways back home, where a slightly older and much more refined mother awaited, dinner on the table. As the man sat their daughter down, he invited his wife on his lap, where they would enjoy dinner, on a fading sun that has yet to pronounce night.