(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

of yours. Outwardly, though, I am a human woman in all respects... save for
the texture and temperature of my flesh. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
"What about your mind, your emotions?"
"Its functions are as much a mystery to me as any human's. When I first
came to this place, I did not understand emotions, nor have any of my own. I
have... feelings... now, though I am only beginning to understand them."
"What do the keys do, exactly?"
"I can only assume that Merriman made the keys so that there would be no
risk of me drawing away from him before he had tired of his experiment.
Now that they are in my possession, I am free to develop and possess my
own emotions."
I nodded, satisfied, "What can you tell me about the silent prostitute?"
"Yes. Her name is Ecco. Her voice - and in fact her every means of
communication - was stolen and destroyed. Ecco's words once wooed away
the paramour of the godling Paramisha. Paramisha, in a jealous rage, tore
away Ecco's voice, sealed it within a crystal vial, and hurled it into a
megogalamdraga's maw. Ecco's voice is forever lost to her; only another,
new voice could return to her the ability to communicate once more. I know
this because I spoke to Paramisha's parmour myself, once."
As much as I would've liked to continue the conversation, the night had
grown late and I had to leave. The girls were already cleaning off their
makeup and loosening dresses. I bid a hasty farewell and wished Dolora the
best of luck, promising I'd return the next day.
~~~~~
Ecco curtsied at my approach, her carefully painted lips forming the slightest
of smiles. She was as pretty as any of the girls here, with coppery skin and a
shapely body wrapped in translucent white cloth. It left just enough to the
imagination.
"Is your name 'Ecco?'"
She nodded, smiling pleasantly.
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