《Fallsinkplummet;》 |).:; Urekin started seeing light sources from the direction he was headed in as a large building slowly came into view. Everything in its vicinity was lit up by large lights on stands, so it took a few moments for his eyes to readjust to the brightness. Eventually, he could make out quite a few figures stationed on makeshift garrisons with mounted heavy artillery guarding what looked to be a construction site. The large building in the middle looked much newer than anything he had seen in this decrepit neighbourhood, and it seemed to be on the verge of completion. As he was taking in the sight, he heard a voice behind him say, ¡°Hands on the back of your head, face forward. Don¡¯t give me a reason, yeah?¡± Without much hesitation Urekin did as he was told. He did not wish to be shot for a misunderstanding that could be prevented by being careful. He had heard that people in the Cleft were a jumpy lot. He soon heard other footsteps approaching, and found himself encircled by a group of well armed thugs. There were six of them, a motley crew consisting of a dwarf, an orc and three humans, with another person whose features were obscured by the shadows they were standing in. All of them were alert in case Urekin tried to pull something, but still carried things through with discipline and practiced teamwork. The orc was aiming a rifle at him while the dwarf patted him down in search of any weapons. A human stepped up and forcefully bound Urekin¡¯s hands behind his back while the rest kept their attentions on the empty street behind him. When the dwarf was done and shook his head, an orc stepped out from behind Urekin and held a scanner to his neck. While he waited for whatever it was scanning for to complete, he appraised Urekin with a thoughtful frown. As soon as the scanner let out a beep, the orc glanced at it and said, ¡°He¡¯s not one of them,¡± then proceeded to pack the device away. ¡°Not on the register.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief at least,¡± said one of the humans. ¡°We have well enough on our plates already, as is.¡± His opinion on the matter was well emphasized with a spit to the side. ¡°Let¡¯s call it in and then get back to the perimeter. He¡¯s an anomaly, so he¡¯s not our problem,¡± said the orc as he moved away while talking in a hushed tone. After a short while, the orc came back and gave Urekin a cursory glance, before turning back to the others. ¡°The boss wants to see his mug. Gret, you take point, the rest of you get back to your stations.¡± The human to the left of Urekin started walking forward while the rest melted back into the shadows. ¡°Now move,¡± said the orc and nudged Urekin forward. Both his escorts and Urekin stayed silent as they made their way over to the building under construction. A few workers and soldiers guarding the area stared at them curiously, but nobody slowed their procession. Soon, they reached the building where two huge ogres were standing guard at the entrance. So far, Urekin had been the largest one around, but ogres were of a different breed. They towered over him, his head aligned with their shoulders, and their physiques were bulging with raw power that made them almost as wide as they were tall. They looked identical in their features but wore different styles of clothing, with one wearing an extravagant lavender coat on a stylish outfit, while the other just wore simple garb with a black leather jacket. Their heads were adorned by a pair of thick black horns which curled all the way back behind their ears. The one in the coat looked at Urekin with eyes that weren¡¯t completely focused, as if he wasn¡¯t looking at him at all, and then observed his escorts in much the same fashion before moving out of their way. The one in the leather jacket didn¡¯t even bother looking up from whatever he was fiddling with in his large hands.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Once they made their way through the large, heavy-set doors, Urekin found himself in a small corridor just wide enough for one of the ogre twins to fit through, and only barely long enough to accomodate the three of them in their passing. There was another door in the same fashion as the one outside, but it appeared to be made of an even sturdier kind of material. The walls were clean and unadorned, and all of this made Urekin think of it more as a funnel than a corridor. As they opened the door, a sight greeted him which showed a large hall that stretched all the way to the far end of the wall, making it a room of gigantic magnitude. Tall, pillar-like platforms were scattered around the room, with a particularly large platform in the middle of the room. At the other end of the hall, he could make out a bar stretching along the wall, with a multitude of shelves decorating the background. Around the middle of the bar, a group of people were hunched over looking down at something and occasionally looking at a woman who was gesturing vehemently while talking. Urekin could just about make out her elven features before Gret turned to the right and forced him into an elevator that had been obscured from his vision by a pillar. The orc brushed a hand alongside a scanner when they entered, and the elevator started ascending at a rapid pace. They arrived at their destination in a flash, and Urekin was escorted onto the roof. As they walked toward the roof¡¯s northern edge, a tall orcish woman made her way over to meet them. Gret stopped and moved out of the way so she could come face to face with Urekin. She was tall, easily tall enough to meet his gaze, but the tusks that were attributed to the orcish kind were nowhere to be seen. Her greyish skin and orcish facial features still remained though, although her underbite was less prominent with the missing protruding teeth. She looked at the three of them giving Urekin a look of unmasked hostility before she turned to his escorts. ¡°Report,¡± she said while tucking her arms behind her back. ¡°What have you brought me?¡± The orcish man straightened his back as he said, ¡°Our unit was overlooking the streets when Torgal saw this man approach the perimeter. He showed no signs of being afflicted so we didn¡¯t shoot him on sight. Six of us broke off from our positions to make sure everything would go smoothly and that¡¯s when we intercepted him. I scanned him for REDs after Gret bound his hands, then decided to notify you about the situation after the scan came up negative.¡± Gret kept a hand on Urekin¡¯s shoulder the entire time, not entirely restraining him, but letting him know not to try anything. The woman looked Urekin over appraisingly before peering into his eyes. The golden halos around her irises confirmed the presence of visual implants. ¡°Speak.¡± Her command was simple, but clear. Urekin decided that the best course of action would be to be as forthcoming as he could be to convince her that he was no threat. ¡°I fell from the Eyrie and crash-landed nearby on one of the buildings. Trying to -¡± he was cut off as the woman held up a hand. ¡°You fell?¡± ¡°Well... It was more of a jump really, now that I think about it.¡± ¡°So you will not speak.¡± ¡°Look, I know how it sounds, but I assure you, if you¡¯ll just let me finish with the-¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°... I was living on the Eyrie, working as an event organizer for Xcit.¡± ¡°Not what I asked.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all rather complicated.¡± Her silence was deafening, and her lack of emotion unnerving. ¡°I am Urekin of Xcit. I don¡¯t know what happened, but I know I don¡¯t look the part just about now. As I¡¯ve said, it¡¯s all rather complicated.¡± A few moments passed in silence, and time seemed to have stopped turning. After what seemed like an eternity, she gave a nod. ¡°You¡¯ll stay as our guest for now. We¡¯ll talk, again.¡± She turned her back and walked back to the edge of the building while Urekin¡¯s escorts guided him back to the elevator. It arrived at their destination in a flash yet it wasn¡¯t the spacious ground hall this time, but a different floor entirely. He was lead to a smaller room at the far end of the building which had a single bed that just about fit inside. After the orc took off the cuffs which bound Urekin¡¯s hands, he shoved him into the room, and shut the door. |I.:; Urekin woke up with a start, cold sweat oozing from his pores, soaking his clothing. The feeling of deja vu made him take in his surroundings, but he was on a bed inside the small room he had fallen asleep in. And he wasn¡¯t alone either. An ogre wearing a black leather jacket was sitting in the room on a chair, his big frame taking up most of the free space. Just as when Urekin first saw him, he was fiddling with some kind of device in his hands, although Urekin wasn¡¯t entirely sure what he was doing with it. Moments passed by in silence as the ogre did not even acknowledge Urekin¡¯s presence, his attention solely focused on whatever he was doing. Urekin lay back down and closed his eyes once more. Whatever he had been dreaming had drained him both physically and mentally, so he did not feel any fresher than when he had woken up yesterday. No matter how much he tried though, he could not recall what his dream had been about, only that it contained visions of hazy colors that danced left and right in their distortions. He massaged his temple as even thinking back to it brought some pain, yet he felt like the dream was important somehow. He looked around the tiny room once more, taking in the same view that he had thoroughly examined many times over the course of the previous day, but the whole room was devoid of anything other than the bed he was currently sleeping on. Or it used to be¡­ The noise of the door creaking open brought him back to reality, and he looked over just in time to see it get caught in the chair the ogre was sitting on. ¡°Plague, Enti, you are in the way!¡± said a voice as it seeped through the crack. The ogre named Enti didn¡¯t even bother answering. ¡°Seriously, stop playing and do your bent job for once. Or at least don¡¯t interfere when somebody else is trying to do theirs!¡± the voice continued, and before long, a small head poked in through the crack. With a bit of effort the rest of his body followed, as a alf man entered the crowded room, having to get over the blockade posed by the unmoving Enti. The alf scrambled up onto the ogre¡¯s lap with practiced ease, his childlike size accentuated by the ogre¡¯s huge frame. Enti still didn¡¯t seem bothered though, only going as far as shifting his arm and head slightly to the right so he could better see the screen of his device while the alf stood there triumphantly. Since most of the space in the room was taken up by the sitting ogre and the bed, the alf was forced to balance on top of Enti¡¯s lap as he bowed to Urekin before saying, ¡°My name is Igrim, and I will serve as your attendant for today. Might I ask for your name?¡± ¡°Urekin of Xcit,¡± he gave the standard reply before hesitantly asking, ¡°By attendant, you mean I-?¡± ¡°I mean just what it sounds like. I will be attending to your needs until your scheduled lunch with our fair lady Mavehn. She!¡± Igrim gestured grandly, ¡°wishes to have a private conversation with you, and it is my duty to see you are adequately dressed and groomed for the occasion.¡± Urekin looked at Igrim incredulously, ¡°Lunch?¡± ¡°Indeed, that is what I have said. If everything had been going smoothly and adhering to the schedule, you would have been just about coming out of the shower by now, but of course it seems that the braindead sheep carcass I am currently standing on can¡¯t be bothered to-¡± he cleared his throat before continuing, ¡°I meant to say, I came to fetch you to take a shower.¡± Urekin just about caught the ogre rolling his eyes before he resumed his poker face and stood up, seemingly unconcerned that the alf lost his balance from the sudden shift. The result was Igrim crashing to the ground with a yelp and a string of curses that followed as he got back up. ¡°Come on then, this way,¡± was all the giant said in a deep, rumbling voice before kicking the chair out of the door¡¯s path and opening up the way. Igrim ushered Urekin out while grumbling whatever profanity he could think of under his breath. The ogre kept walking through the empty corridor, while Igrim kept berating him with more creative descriptors along the way. It would almost have seemed like the perfect opportunity to slip away and attempt a grand escape, with how occupied they were with their respective banter. Or lack thereof. They took a turn and arrived at a large entryway. Enti went straight inside while Igrim turned around and waited for Urekin to do the same. As Urekin entered, he found himself in a small room filled with shelves upon shelves of towels, and a counter in the left corner where empty baskets lined the wall. Enti sat down upon the counter, and focused his attention back to playing his game. A transparent door was immediately to his left, showing a row of showering cabins. ¡°Please leave your dirty rags right here on the floor before you enter. And do not worry, I will have a set of fitting clothes prepared for you once you¡¯re finished,¡± said Igrim. He waited until Urekin undressed and entered the shower chamber before gathering his old clothes up and walking away. Looking around, Urekin could see multiple cabins, all of them of a size which could comfortably accommodate anyone of Enti¡¯s bulk, and there was a larger pool of steaming water where multiple people could sit in. He stepped inside of one of the cabins and turned on the running water over his head. The cool water running down his face was a refreshing feeling, especially after more than a day spent in the same, sweat soaked clothing. As he let the water wash over him, he realized that there was a sliding mirror on one of the walls, which he pulled into view to examine his reflection. Most of his features were either the same or very similar to what he remembered them to be, although his face was less chiseled and angular, and his horns were gone. So were the scales for that matter, but his irises were of the same orange hue as they had always been. Another change seemed to be that his previously bald head was now covered in short, dark hair, and stubble was growing on his face. Still, his features were similar enough that he felt somewhat comfortable in his new skin. Finishing his shower, he stepped back into the dressing room. There were a set of fresh clothes on the counter next to Enti, although Igrim was nowhere to be seen. While the clothes were fashionable, they were of a smaller size than what he would have been comfortable in, as the shirt clung to his torso somewhat tightly, and the pants abruptly ended above his ankles. They were also more extravagant than he¡¯d have preferred, but his old clothes were gone, so it was better than walking around naked.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. The silence stretched even after Urekin was done dressing up, the only sound being the buttons that Enti was mashing. ¡°What game are you playing?¡± asked Urekin, but if Enti heard the question, he chose to ignore it. ¡°Ah good, you look and smell much fresher!¡± said Igrim as he poked his head in and took in Urekin¡¯s appearance, then proceeded to grimace when he saw that it didn¡¯t fit very well. ¡°That was the largest clothing I could find that would fit in such a short time!¡± he stomped with his foot as he exclaimed in anger. ¡°People leave everything to me and then piss themselves in surprise when I can¡¯t perform a bent miracle at the snap of a finger!¡± Urekin stayed quiet as the alf, who at most reached up to his waist in height, channeled his volatile anger through a string of profanity. ¡°Well, you¡¯re showered and dressed and that is what¡¯s important. You are still passable without a shave so we¡¯ll move on. With your cooperation, of course.¡± Igrim left through the door and beckoned for Urekin to follow, while Enti stood up slowly to close the procession. ¡°Where are we going exactly?¡± Urekin asked in an attempt to fill the silence as they walked. ¡°It is time for your lunch with mistress Mavehn. I expect you¡¯ll behave in a courtly manner fitting of a gentleman,¡± Igrim said in a jovial voice. They walked along the corridor until the now familiar sight of the elevator entered Urekin¡¯s view. Once all three of them stepped onto it, Igrim swiped a hand across the scanner and the elevator began moving upward. They arrived in a flash, and the sight that greeted Urekin was a very luxurious and lavish room that filled most of the floor. The flooring was covered in a soft, carpeted material, the bright and warm colors forming some sort of a hazy pattern. The walls were decorated with mirrors, posters and paintings, and there was a massive bed in the dead center. A large desk with a large screen was situated next to it, which was cycling through various drawings. One of the drawings had pillar-like structures scattered around an empty room, illuminated by different colored rays. Igrim took off his shoes, and surprisingly even Enti set aside his game to do the same, so Urekin followed their lead. As he did so, he wondered what had been the point of getting new shoes if he wasn¡¯t even going to wear them for the dinner. Igrim started cutting through the room, but Enti decided to stay behind. Igrim and Urekin walked to the far side of the room, circling around the large bed, where the wall became a large window pane that overlooked the streets below. Igrim led him to the table that was set up near the center of the window, which had two sets of plates and other food accessories all carefully laid out on its top. He was made to sit on the left chair, which was facing a room with a wooden door. ¡°Mistress Mavehn will be with you shortly,¡± said Igrim as he bowed and walked to the room, closing the door behind him. Judging from the smell, it lead to the kitchen. Urekin looked out of the window onto the dark streets, the lights below only brightening the guarded perimeter around the building. As he was trying to memorize the layout of the guarded area, he heard soft footsteps from behind, as an elven woman stepped into his view. Her slim frame and elven features were beautiful to behold, and she wore a blood-red nightgown that accentuated her curves. As Urekin stood up to be courteous, he recognized that it was the same elven woman he had seen the day prior. She smiled at him and gracefully extended a hand to greet him, filling the air with the scent of her perfume with the gesture. ¡°I am Mavehn Lefae, the owner of this establishment,¡± she said as he took her hand. ¡°I hope my security didn¡¯t cause you too much discomfort.¡± ¡°Urekin of Xcit,¡± he introduced himself formally as they let go and took their respective seats. ¡°I believe they have been fair so far,¡± he said while observing her. She seemed to be completely hospitable with a warm smile that touched her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m more interested in the reason behind your invitation.¡± ¡°Yes, well¡­¡± she put on a secretive smile, ¡°We¡¯ll discuss that, and more, after dinner.¡± As if on cue, the door opened as Igrim appeared with a kitchen trolley carrying two smaller plates of appetizers and an assortment of alcoholic beverages. He gently placed the appetizers in the middle of their plates, then proceeded to pour some red wine in both of their glasses before leaving. Mavehn picked up hers and held it in the air as she said, ¡°Let me officially welcome you to Apsylum,¡± she said then took a sip as Urekin raised his own to match her gesture. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said before taking a drink as well and letting the liquid wash down his throat, which left a slightly acidic but pleasant taste. ¡°But I¡¯d rather discuss the matter of my farewell.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± she said as she turned her head to look out of the window, leaving her slender neck in Urekin¡¯s full view. ¡°What is it that you would like to know specifically?¡± Urekin followed her gaze almost involuntarily, to look at what she was looking at before he caught himself and turned his focus back onto her. ¡°When will I be allowed to leave?¡± ¡°My chief of security has managed to confirm your identity,¡± said Mavehn while still staring out of the window, shifting her head slightly to the right. ¡°Despite your appearance, it would seem that you have not been lying about who you are. Or perhaps I should say, were.¡± She slowly turned back and looked into his eyes, ¡°As such, I hope you can forgive their previous treatment of you. They were just doing their jobs...¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t answer my question.¡± Mavehn smiled deeper at that, and nodded while proceeding to sample the appetizer laid out before them. Urekin quickly followed suit, relief washing over him and suddenly realizing that he was indeed, incredibly hungry. ¡°Are you in such a hurry because of an arrangement? Give me something I can work with and I will be more forthcoming with my answers.¡± They mostly ate in silence after that. It seemed that Mavehn really enjoyed the taste of the wine as her glass was refilled often, and so was Urekin¡¯s, as he drank every time she did. By the end of the dinner he felt thoroughly full and perhaps more than a little tipsy. As Igrim removed all of the empty plates and silverware, Mavehn gently leaned onto the now empty table as she focused her attention wholly on Urekin. ¡°Was everything to your satisfaction?¡± ¡°The meal and the view was, but the conversation was lacking,¡± laughed Urekin, as his sense of restraint was freed by the good food and the amount of alcohol he had drunk. Mavehn smiled seductively as she leaned in close, her face now only a breath away from his as she murmured, ¡°Let¡¯s fix that, shall we?¡± Urekin closed his eyes as he felt himself drawn in, but just before he could feel her lips on his own, he felt something slam into his mind with a force of a raging ogre. Suddenly his whole world revolved around the drive of pleasing the woman in front of him, in any way she desired. His whole vision was filled with her frame as he watched her lean back with a complacent smile. A memory surfaced abruptly from somewhere buried deep within, a shadow of an overwhelming feeling of need. The desire was so strong that for a moment Urekin forgot to even breathe before the memory faded, and he was left gasping for air while breaking out in cold sweat. He looked up at Mavehn while still panting, but instead of seeing the object of worship that had filled his entire mind just a moment ago, he now saw a frail elven woman staring at him with wide eyed fear. v\.:; Apparently Mavehn had screamed while Urekin had been fighting back his inner demons, as the door behind her burst open and the orcish female came striding out with her fist aimed at Urekin. When she got there, she shoved the table aside, glass and other tableware shattering on the floor as she got between him and the elven woman. A set of large hands firmly grasped Urekin¡¯s arms and pulled them back, painfully tugging them behind his chair. This all happened incredibly fast, or at least it felt that way as Urekin was still slightly disoriented from the mind-affecting experience. The same could be said about Mavehn, who was still off-balance, having lost all of her composure. ¡°What happened?¡± asked the orc, her voice concerned. ¡°Lanri,¡± Mavehn said with a shaking voice, ¡°He¡­ I...¡± she stopped talking and bit down onto her quivering lip. Lanri¡¯s attention was solely focused on Urekin, and her retinal implants flared up as she said, ¡°You have a minute to explain.¡± ¡°Yeah, turn bent, harlow! I-¡± Urekin responded with the anger that was building up inside him. His response was cut short however, as Enti¡¯s hands shook him roughly, making him grunt in pain. Damn the ogre was strong. ¡°He has some kind of a ward against Suggestion,¡± said Mavehn in a shaken voice. ¡°I felt something claw at my mind as I was working on him.¡± Lanri tilted her head slightly in Mavehn¡¯s direction, but kept her eyes focused on Urek. ¡°As if it traced its way back through my anima. I don¡¯t know how he did it, but he must be a very skilled Manipulator.¡± At that, Lanri and Mavehn exchanged glances. ¡°No,¡± said Lanri after a while. ¡°Lanri, I need this!¡± ¡°Vehn...¡± ¡°Enti, ease up on him please.¡± Lanri slowly lowered her arm and nodded, at which point the giant let go of Urekin¡¯s arms. While massaging his sore spots, Urekin stood up and said, ¡°Plague and more on your houses.¡± ¡°I am incredibly sorry about my previous treatment of you. It is inexcusable, and you have every right to be angry with me,¡± said Mavehn, and bowed her head. ¡°You¡¯ve already spoken your hollow words. Keep your bent apology, I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°I did deceive you, so it is understandable that you would be angry with-¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t just deceive me, you tried to enslave me!¡± ¡°Yes, you are right, an apology won¡¯t be enough here. I owe you an Oath,¡± she said while sliding down from her chair, and laid down in a prostrate position in front of Urekin. Silence filled the room as Urekin stared down at Mavehn in shock. Without looking up, Mavehn recited the sixth verse from the Eleven Oaths of Elvenkind. ¡°As it had been during the yesteryears, So it will be in the coming days. Until wrong is right, Fate unkind, Shall become of me. I offer nothing but blood and tears.¡± Lanri sucked in air through her teeth while Mavehn got up from the floor and sat back down on her chair. Her expression was well composed, but her face was much paler than before, and her hands were clenched tightly into fists on her lap. She seemed to realize this and slowly covered one hand with another in a more casual manner as she said, ¡°Would you stay a moment longer and listen to my say?¡± Urekin sat back down onto his chair and gave a curt nod. ¡°Thank you. First, let me assure you that you will be able to leave our compounds whenever you wish, without hindrance. My methods may have previously been crude, but I swear to you, I meant neither harm nor disrespect by them. It is certainly not to my advantage to ask under our current circumstances, but-¡± ¡°You want me to work for you as a Manipulator.¡± ¡°Yes, it is as you say.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Please allow me to explain,¡± she waited a moment to see if Urekin would object, then continued, ¡°As you are most likely aware, the Cleft has the most finite amounts of space available out of the three Layers. As such, it is nearly impossible to start a large construction project without having the necessary backing. However, even then, it will most certainly interfere with someone else¡¯s interests, who have backings of their own. Backings, I might add, that rival or even surpass the ones you possess. ¡°With such conflicting interests, it is incredibly easy to make enemies, and the ensuing adversities can often lead to open hostilities. When that happens, the only real choice you can make is to further entrench yourself in your own circles, quite literally digging the grave for your prospects that would fall outside of those interests. ¡°So I decided that the plague can take it all, I will remain independent by reaching outside of everyone¡¯s interest spheres, and build where nobody else dares to.¡± ¡°We¡¯re in a Warren,¡± Urekin whispered in shocked disbelief. Mavehn looked at him searchingly before she crossed her arms and legs and said, ¡°Quite so.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°I know I might be stating the obvious here, but maybe, just maybe, the reason why nobody is interested in building inside Warrens, is because it is not a new idea to try and reclaim them? People have tried before, and failed. Over and over.¡± ¡°So? If I did or didn¡¯t do something just because somebody else had tried it before, then I guess I would be doing nothing at all.¡± ¡°Dragon¡¯s breath! We¡¯re not just talking about trying to learn how to dance, we¡¯re quite literally talking about reclaiming a plague-bent Warren!¡± ¡°I am well aware, thank you. Yet neither am I trying to reclaim an entire Warren, nor will I be persuaded by a stranger debating the practicalities of it as we¡¯re sitting here, undisturbed.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t even need to be doing this¡­ Your father-¡± Mavehn threw her hands up in the air as she said, ¡°My father, my father, my father. This is my project, and it will stay as far away from his grubby little hands as I can possibly make sure. Indefinitely.¡± ¡°So what would my role be in all of this, should I agree? What do you need me for?¡± ¡°Without going into too much detail, crowd control. Your skills would prove to be very useful in the days ahead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, but you¡¯ve answered my question without answering my question.¡± ¡°The Apsylum will be the first club ever to be built inside a Warren. As such, when we¡¯ll be attacked during one of our nights, it will take considerable effort to keep people from panicking. So as I¡¯ve said, crowd control.¡± ¡°Seems to me like too much effort for diminishing returns.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the price we have to pay for our freedom.¡± Urekin was stunned. Her words were a reflection of his own feelings of entrapment that he had felt back on the Eyrie. Most people assumed the Kin were blessed with good fortune, as they counted among the most prestigious races. After all, their connection with their respective Dragons surely earned them more favor and power than they could possibly know what to do with! Instead, they were forced into a lifetime of slavery, reacting to their Dragons¡¯ every whims, fulfilling all of their wishes and doing their dirty work. No, being a Kin was to be born into servitude with chains invisible and intangible for all but the ones who bear them. If anything, his own circumstances should have made him more sympathetic to Mavehn¡¯s predicament, yet here he was, echoing the very same rot others had spewed over the years, while thinking himself so much wiser than the woman sitting before him. He suddenly knew what he wanted to do. Mavehn sighed, ¡°I take it from your silence that the proposition isn¡¯t very appealing to you, so I think we should not waste time. Enti, would you please escort-¡± ¡°Wait- I¡¯ll join you.¡± Mavehn studied him for a moment then nodded, ¡°Wonderful. We will find a more reasonable accommodation for you. Igrim will help you settle in. We can talk more tomorrow, about what¡± As if on cue, Igrim strode out of the room at the back and wordlessly fetched Urekin. Seeing how Mavehn had decided the conversation was concluded and there was nothing else left to be said, for now, Urekin got up just as wordlessly and began following the alf. As he looked back, he could see Lanri quietly arguing with Mavehn. They made their way back to the elevator and took it back up to the second floor, where his previous room had been, but instead of heading that way, Igrim took him down a different corridor. This one seemed to be still under construction, as there were more empty rooms and less decorations than the previous one, but the door they stopped at had a solid door with an empty nametag. ¡°This one will be yours,¡± Igrim said as he took out a tablet and checked something off, after which the nametag updated itself and glowed with Urekin¡¯s name on it. ¡°Well go on in, and we¡¯ll have you settled in.¡± Urekin opened the door, and went inside a small but spacious room. It had a standard furniture set of a retractable wall-bed, a desk with two monitors and a Calibrok screen on the far wall, and a door near the entrance most likely led to the lavatory. All in all, it was well designed, but very much blank, waiting to be lived in. Igrim walked up to the Calibrok screen and synced it with his tablet, then together they introduced Urekin¡¯s anima to the system. Once that was done, he went through to check the storage compartments, taking notes and muttering to himself before turning back to Urekin. ¡°The place is now yours along with an elevator clearance, although before you do anything or go anywhere, I advise you to read the regulations. They¡¯re standard fare, but there are some important sections, and you¡¯ll be expected to adhere to them at all times.¡± Igrim paused just for a moment as he ticked something else off on his tablet, before he said, ¡°The showers you¡¯ve seen already, and food¡¯s cooked up on the first floor. Since shifts differ drastically, there¡¯s something to munch on at all times. Any questions?¡± ¡°Nothing at the moment.¡± ¡°In that case, should anything arise, the chat¡¯s always available to anyone who¡¯s not out on patrol, just ask it there. Now if you¡¯ll excuse me,¡± said Igrim and hurried off somewhere else, following his busy schedule. Urekin spent the rest of the day by settling into his new room. First, he spent at least an hour just browsing through the Calibrok screen for a room configuration he liked, which--while wasn¡¯t an actual window--did a fairly good job at imitating the sight and feel of the sunny pastures of the Eyrie, and even the scent of fresh air. Next, he accessed the servers and the channels and spent a bit of time getting to know the people, and trying to piece information out of the bits and pieces which could be gleaned from the comments. There was a surprisingly large amount of posts which did not seem to contribute to any discussion, or at least none that Urekin could see, and the general atmosphere seemed very carefree, which seemed completely different than what Urekin had seen so far regarding the operation. Still, from the discussions and jokes that Urekin had read, the plan really seemed to be building a club in the middle of a Warren, which would eventually have a secured airtunnel built as well, to move traffic in and out. Another thing he understood, from the chat alone, is that everyone was completely onboard with the idea, and while there were a few grumblings here and there about how things should be run, the two women at the top of the pyramid seemed to be well loved and respected. There was also talk of runs to town, but they seemed to be performed at scheduled intervals, with their own announcements about reserving a place in the queue, along with a reminder before the event. On the matter of how these runs happened, there was no mention. At one point, while Urekin was reading a channel dedicated to local news and gossip, a warning flashed on his monitor, and most of the chats seemed to have been abandoned, even in mid sentence. There were still some people active on the channels, but the conversation shifted entirely to the raid at hand. Urekin could hear the gunshots and shouting from outside, as someone reported the events happening outside. Urekin could feel the tension just from the way people changed to more serious tones, but there wasn¡¯t any panic. From this, he could gather that this wasn¡¯t an entirely uncommon scenario, and that even with all the preparations and countermeasures that were taken, there still seemed to be trouble at the doorsteps. This once again made him question the wisdom of the whole operation. The fighting lasted a while longer, as tenseness grew in the chat, but the sounds seemed to be fading away into deeper parts of the Warren. After things have calmed down and the danger seemed to be over, the clock ran well past midnight, and Urekin decided to get some sleep, dreaming of warped bodies, dismembered limbs, and a large wing, beating rhythmically like a heart. [T.:; The next morning, Urekin received a message from Mavehn asking him to come to the Aula on the ground floor at 1 PM. Since he had plenty of time until then, he decided to explore the building and get a good feel of the place. He decided to start with the first floor, as he was starting to feel his hunger. As Urekin got close, the elevator doors opened up and he stepped inside. It only took a moment for him to arrive at his destination, and he was quickly out onto a corridor that was wide enough to allow for a large number of people, which is probably why the floor was bustling with activity, as people moved about. Urekin started heading to where the kitchens, or the Mesh as people fondly referred to it, was located, having identified its location on the CalibroK screen yesterday. While he walked, he got a chance to get a closer look of the Apsylum¡¯s workforce, and in return he received a few curious glances from passersby here and there. Most people were absorbed in conversations of their own, however, or hurried along on some business, so his interactions were limited to the few looks that measured him. As he neared the Mesh, he could smell the fragrant mix of foods that were being prepared, and although he had eaten his fill yesterday, he felt his stomach growl in response. Entering the large hall, Urekin could see rows upon rows of tables with seats, and a couple of food dispensers at the right-hand side wall, where people were waiting in line. In one of the lines, the giant form of an ogre clad in lavender extravagant clothing towered well above the others, his eyes looking much clearer than when Urekin had first seen him. He was talking and joking with a dwarf who was kitted out in battlegear. The two of them were laughing loudly, to the point of being obnoxious, but most people were laughing along with them. Their conversation steered towards dwarven women by the time they stepped out of the line with their packaged food, and they made their way out of the Mesh. Urekin watched as the ogre waved to people calling out to him with all sorts of lighthearted remarks. It didn¡¯t take much longer for Urekin to get to the food dispenser, and he got a good look at the current menu, which consisted of an assortment of spiced meat, some kind of greenish paste made of vegetables, some salad and a variety of side dishes like potatoes and rice. All in all, there were a fair number of choices, but it was impressive that there even were choices at all, in the middle of a Warren. Urekin chose a little from everything, preferring to taste all there was on offer instead of picking just one thing that he liked. He made his way to an empty table and ate his meal while watching the people of the Apsylum come and go. The Apsylumers were a fairly diverse group, and he tried guessing what each of their jobs entailed, based on their clothing and outer appearance. The guards were easy to identify based on their uniforms and the way they carried themselves, and the construction workers weren¡¯t more of a challenge, but there were some he could not so easily guess. These were the ones who seemed to be perfectly ordinary, and could fit into any city crowd. Urekin supposed there were some off-duty guards and construction workers hidden among them as well, but the majority must have been brought here for something else, the only problem being that there wasn¡¯t really anything else to do here at the moment from what he could see, aside from maybe preparing meals he admitted, as he chewed on the last strip of meat on his tray. After finishing his meal, he dumped the tray in the bin next to one of the dispensers, and made his way out of the Mesh. He still had some time left until the appointed meeting, but he didn¡¯t feel like doing much of anything else, and now that the time was approaching, he noticed that he was becoming more and more anxious. With a churning stomach, he made his way down to the ground floor, where the same view greeted him as when he had first arrived. The Aula was large, taking up almost the entirety of the ground floor, and it was bustling with activity, as floor tiles were being set and paint was being applied to the walls and ceiling. There were a group of people installing lights in unpainted sections of the ceiling, as well as between laid down floor tiling. In the middle, a large platform was being built, which Urekin guessed would serve as the stage for whoever was performing. As he was watching the work that was ongoing, he noticed that the dwarf he saw in the Mesh was there as well, lounging around by the bar. He was kicking his feet about as he observed the scene around him, while also nibbling on strips of meat and savoring the delights the bar had to offer. Soon, the dwarf noticed Urekin watching him and waved in a friendly manner, for Urekin to join him. Urekin made his way over and sat down on the chair next to the dwarf, who clapped him happily on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re the new hire Vehn got us aren¡¯t you!¡± he said. ¡°Well yes, but I¡¯m still not sure what Lady Mavehn¡¯s plans are for me just quite yet,¡± said Urekin, as the dwarf was shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯re new, so here¡¯s some advice for you. Don¡¯t call her that.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, call her Vehn or a donkey or whatever, just don¡¯t call her what you just did.¡± ¡°Why? She never told me to call her any other way.¡± ¡°Oh, she won¡¯t tell you to, but she¡¯ll like you more if you do. Trust me on this,¡± said the dwarf, then as an afterthought he added, ¡°And I will like you more if you call me Sergh.¡± ¡°Then you can call me Urekin in exchange. Does she not like her name then?¡± ¡°I suppose you could say that. Not really my place to say why though, so if you want to know, ask her. She¡¯s coming over here anyway,¡± said Sergh and nodded towards the approaching elf. ¡°How about we just focus on the here and now,¡± said Vehn as she walked behind the counter. ¡°Sure thing Vivi, what¡¯s to be had here and now?¡± ¡°Lanri will be joining us soon with a few people, so I need you to take us to the Ring once they get here.¡± ¡°That will be a squeeze. What about the now?¡± ¡°Sergh, it¡¯s too early for your jokes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s never too anything for my jokes, my dearest Vivi.¡± ¡°Are we going there to assess my abilities?¡± Urekin asked. ¡°In part. But I¡¯ll let Lanri fill you in on the details,¡± said Vehn. They waited a couple of minutes until Lanri¡¯s group arrived, which Sergh used to finish his meal and burp in satisfaction. Urekin busied himself by watching as Vehn meticulously checked a number of different compartments that were built into the counter. She got about halfway when Lanri arrived, followed by Enti and two others who Urekin had not seen before.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Sergh wasted just enough time to greet the newcomers before he closed his eyes and cupped his head in his hands. The others all waited in silence, as they watched Sergh, so Urekin did the same, until a blue shimmer appeared on the wall next to the counter and started to expand slowly, and Urekin finally understood why the dwarf was happily lounging about while everyone else seemed busy with their work. Transistors, especially skilled ones, are always in high demand. The blue shimmer had widened enough for it to take on the general outline of a door just wide enough for Enti, if he went through it sideways. The inside of the doorway swirled with blurred imagery, but started getting sharper and sharper until a room came into view, with obstacles and other props laying about. Sergh opened his eyes and motioned towards the doorway, at which point Enti edged himself into the room. Lanri stepped in next, and beckoned for Urekin to enter as well. Once Urekin stepped through, he could see the room in more detail, and saw that things were looking pretty battered. The walls seemed to have been patched up and reinforced numerous times, and the objects that weren¡¯t completely new showed signs of heavy wear as well. ¡°Where are we exactly?¡± Urekin asked. ¡°We¡¯ve come to a secluded area, not too far from the Apsylum. Come,¡± said Lanri as she walked to the center of the room. The others followed behind her, except for Vehn, who lingered behind by the back-wall. Sergh also stepped through and seated himself on one of the large crates by the wall, where Vehn had settled down, and pulled out a bag of some sort which smelled of food. The two of them started crunching on its contents immediately. Urekin followed the group to the center of the room, each step he took churning twisting his stomach as his anticipation was growing about what he would be evaluated on. While he was trying to calm himself down, he realized he had caught up to the others when suddenly Lanri spun around and lunged at him with her left arm. Urekin¡¯s nerves were already on edge, and he attempted to dodge to the side, but Lanri¡¯s arm followed his movement like a whip and her fingers wrapped around his throat. ¡°Hundred ninety six milliseconds,¡± said Lanri, and let go of him. ¡°That¡¯s not shabby,¡± said the man standing next to Enti, and recorded the score on his CalibroK. ¡°Definitely better than I expected.¡± Urekin¡¯s heart was pounding madly, as he adopted a slightly awkward position with his arms attempting to create a barrier between him and Lanri. ¡°Plague, harlow,¡± he said, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Measuring your abilities,¡± said Lanri as she inspected him. ¡°Any implants?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there equipment made specifically for that? This was completely unnecessary.¡± ¡°There are pleasuring equipment as well, but that doesn¡¯t mean they are always the best choice.¡± ¡°Well why was this the best choice then, in your expert opinion?¡± ¡°This was an unexpected, or mostly unanticipated situation for you. Testing with equipment can be beneficial, but it loses most of the element of surprise. You are prepared for the test, you know you have to react and in what way, just not when. This way, you might have known you had to react, but you had no idea to what, how, nor when,¡± said Lanri, as she held up three fingers before continuing. ¡°One, it took you hundred ninety six milliseconds, to respond to the unexpected situation. Two, you responded by attempting to dodge out of the way, instead of contesting me and countering my move, and three, you did all of this by relying only on your physical prowess, as you did not even try Manipulation,¡± she said as she lowered each finger. ¡°Now, any implants?¡± ¡°No,¡± said Urekin as he shifted his shoulders uncomfortably and begrudgingly answered her question. ¡°Okay. Enti, bring seven boxes and a pushwall.¡± For the next six hours, Lanri made him do a variety of tests to measure his physical abilities, and in the process he had received quite a few bruises. His body especially sorely remembered his attempts at wrestling with Enti, and the memory of the exercise he did with Lanri would forever be locked away in the back of his mind, so that he would never remember it again. During the whole time, the man with the CalibroK, Grimdal, had meticulously been taking notes, and more than likely had recorded the whole thing for future reference, but Urekin could not begin to guess for what reason Orita, the other person Lanri had brought with her, was there. She had not once spoken a word, nor made any gestures. In fact she didn¡¯t really do much other than watch intently and position herself out of the way. All in all, it was an exhausting process, and Urekin was more than glad when Sergh and Vehn returned from the Mesh with packaged food for all of them, although he welcomed the break more than the food. Even thinking about it made him feel nauseous, yet Lanri made sure he ate every last bite, even if she herself did not eat any. On the other hand, there was a power struggle between Enti and Sergh for the others¡¯ leftovers, in which Sergh had come out as the dominant party, and Enti was forced to watch the last pieces being devoured by the victorious dwarf. After dinner, they moved out the crates which were bunched together as a makeshift table and Urekin dreaded the thought of having to do any more tests. Lanri pushed a large crate out of the clearing with one hand, and faced Urekin, her eyes flaring with golden light. ¡°That¡¯s enough on the physical end,¡± said Lanri as she focused her sight on him. ¡°What type of Manipulator are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a Subjector.¡± Lanri looked him over once more, and then gave a slight nod as if confirming something. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you can do then.¡± Everyone had been watching closely through the physical examinations, but the air of anticipation condensed in the room heavily. Urekin focused on all of the objects in the room and lifted them high into the air. The heavy crates floated and rotated around the center as Urekin willed them to do while Sergh gave out an appreciative hoot. Urekin watched Lanri¡¯s expression, but she was as stone-faced as ever, not letting anything show. He decided to show off a little more and focused on the people now, attempting to pick them up as well. Just as he felt the usual resistance to the idea of being moved against their wills, he felt a shock as his control was being interfered with, to the point he could barely focus on the objects that were already floating, making them slowly but steadily drift downward. Not having felt such a sensation before, Urekin frowned, putting strength behind his will, but the sensation grew with it. It felt as if a pressure was being applied, his power being wrestled. Looking around though, he did not see anything different, the others were all still waiting expectantly to see what would happen next. Urekin retreated into his inner self as he concentrated on the feeling of haziness that was overcoming his mind, and pushed against the pressure that was being applied. He pushed some more and more, but it would continue to push back just as thoroughly, never letting him get the upper hand. With a snarl, Urekin pushed with all of his strength, and the pressure was suddenly blown away. At the same time, everything around him was thrown into the air with terrifying force. Orita gave a yelp as she and everything else in the room crashed into the ceiling, the crates cracking and shattering, and sounds of sickening thuds and crunches coming from the bodies. The whole thing lasted for a heartbeat before Urekin fell to his knees and started retching as the world crashed back down around him. Nearby he heard a deep, rumbling groan. Looking up weakly, he noticed Enti¡¯s large form slowly sitting up. With a grunt, he reset his twisted shoulder and massaged it with a large palm. Next to him lay the man with the CalibroK, the device having been bent in half. He himself did not stir, although his chest moved with his breathing. Sergh and Vehn seemed to have gotten away unscathed, as Enti seemed to have shielded them in a large bearhug, and took the brunt of the damage. In the middle, Lanri hopped down and landed on her feet with a loud thud, completely unphased by the whole experience, as she brushed off the dust from her right hand. Of Orita, there was no immediate sign. Sergh immediately rushed over to the unconscious body of the man, whose head seemed to be bleeding profusely, while Vehn went over to help, taking a meaningful glance at Lanri. Enti started thundering his way over to Urekin, his fists clenched beside him. He was almost upon Urekin as he noticed something and bent down, gently scooping up debris with his shovel-like hands, and quickly but carefully uncovering Igrim¡¯s motionless body. His face twisted into a scowl as he looked up at Urekin, then his eyes flickered to Lanri and he turned his attention back to Igrim, beginning to check for vitals. Urekin followed Enti¡¯s gaze, and noticed that Lanri¡¯s eyes scanning him, her pupils flared in a terrifying golden halo. f?.:; Urekin was still kneeling on the floor as he warily watched Lanri making her way over to him. Her movements could not be described as graceful, instead, they had a methodical efficiency to them. Her purposeful strides were not broken by the debris lying about, as she kicked any obstacles out of her way. ¡°You are not a Suggestor,¡± she said when she finally stood over him. ¡°I¡¯m not, no. Never said I was one either,¡± said Urekin as he tried to get up from the floor, but Lanri placed a firm hand on his shoulder and kept him down with ease. ¡°Subjector?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then clear the room.¡± Urekin looked up at her for a while more, then attempted to focus on the debris lying about, yet as soon as he tried to lift anything up, his nausea came back twofold and he began vomiting on the floor. His position was awkward, as his body involuntarily started bending over, yet Lanri held it in place with ease, not minding the vomit which dripped down her arm. Pain shot into his sides as his body fought the position he was forced into, and he thought that he might have cracked a rib, when the nausea finally stopped. ¡°From now on, you work under me. You do what I tell you, no more, no less. Understood?¡± Urekin managed a weak reply, after which she released her grip on him. ¡°There is a team shift in twelve hours. Our Boundary needs to be powered, so we must provide a distraction away from the Apsylum. Be at the Aula on time.¡± Lanri strode away from him, which gave Urekin a moment to spit out the bile that had remained in his mouth, and he finally managed to get up, although any sudden movements resulted in a surge of pain in his left side. Looking around the room, he could see that Sergh had already opened a portal back to the Aula, and the two injured were carefully carried through. Urekin made his way through as well, taking his steps gingerly to avoid straining himself. On the other side, he could see Lanri and Vehn talking quietly among themselves, while Vehn was looking over at him. Soon after he stepped through, the portal closed behind him and the sounds of the people around him crashed all around him in a wave, and he could not make out their words in the jumbled sounds. Vehn then gave him a nod and walked toward the elevators. Lanri headed out through the entrance hallway, while Sergh and some others rushed the injured Igrim and the man away to another room. Only Enti remained nearby, and the ogre was leaning against the counter, with his iconic console in his hands already. There was a slight bump to the left of his horns, the initial signs of a swelling being formed. ¡°Enti, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to hurt anyone,¡± said Urekin. Enti cleared his throat as a reply and continued playing, but he seemed to be more relaxed as he lowered his shoulders. They stayed like that for a few minutes, Enti playing his game while Urekin tried to find some way to talk to the ogre. During that time, moved about the Aula on some work or another, or just were resting together and watched others work. However, all of them gave a wide berth to the both of them, with what Urekin thought were wary glances. ¡°...I¡¯m also sorry,¡± came the deep rumbling voice from Enti. ¡°I almost lost control and hurt you back.¡± ¡°Lost control?¡± Enti gave a deep nod as he said, ¡°...I know what it¡¯s like, hurting others when you don¡¯t mean to.¡± Urekin didn¡¯t want to interrupt the ogre, now that he actually got him talking, but Enti just kept his attention on the console, content on not saying anymore on the subject. Urekin decided not to push the subject some more, but he wanted to know the ogre some more, while he was feeling talkative. ¡°Can I ask you something, Enti?¡± A deep grunt. ¡°I don¡¯t mean any offense, but ogres are highly sought after everywhere, and there aren¡¯t exactly a lot of you. So how did two of them end up here? Weren¡¯t there better places for you?¡± Enti seemed to chew on his words before he said, ¡°...Anti can do here what he wants, as long as he does his job well,¡± he gave a shrug, ¡°nowhere else would they let him glazed.¡± ¡°Wait, they allow him to do drugs? And that doesn¡¯t concern you?¡± Another deep grunt. ¡°But what if he-¡± ¡°He has his reasons, as do you, and so do others. That¡¯s it,¡± he said, and left the counter, along with Urekin. His large frame hunched as he thundered over to the elevators, his head in his game.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Urekin was left wondering about the exchange. No matter how he thought about it, letting anyone be drugged out of their wits was a bad idea already, but letting an ogre do it was plain reckless. He could just imagine the carnage it would cause, if one went berserk. Carnage, huh? I guess I¡¯m not much better either, and I¡¯m not even glazed. He thought back to the moment where he was so frustrated with not being able to do as he pleased, something blocking his attempts, and then just going all out and causing the destruction. In the moment, he felt elated at his own strength, then both the things he was holding up, and his elation crashed back down to reality. He still felt a bit nauseous when he thought about moving anything, but at least the world had stopped spinning upside down. What had caused the nausea though? He was sure he overdid it somehow, but at the same time, he remembered being able to control much more during previous years, as he lifted up a bridge with some help from others of his Kin. Was his contribution back then less, than what he thought it had been? Surely not. Even so, that probably was the smaller issue for him at this point. The people before had seemed wary of him, true, but at least they were curious and somewhat welcoming, yet the news spread fast of his stunt, and now he saw mistrust and even fear in people¡¯s eyes, when they met his gaze. Most looked away, some stared back challengingly. Some had even had disappointment written in them, as he thought back to how Vehn had looked at him just a few minutes ago. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but that hurt him more than it should have. On the other hand, he thought Lanri seemed to be more excited about him, although she was as unreadable as on the first day he had met her, and infinitely more terrifying. He was sure she could have snapped his neck while he was kneeling on the floor. He had half expected her to, at his weakened state. He winced as he placed some pressure on his side. Maybe she had considered it at one point¡­ Urekin got up from the counter, made his way to the entrance, and went through the corridor. He found himself back at the construction site where he half expected to be stopped, but while there were some glares, nobody did anything. Enti¡¯s twin brother, Anti, was standing outside again, his lavender clothing immaculate, and his posture straight and confident. Yet, his stare was glazed, unfocused eyes looking into whatever depths he saw. Urekin shivered involuntarily and quickly made his way further outside, to see how the construction work was going. The Boundary, was a thick layer of copper set into the ground, forming a large perimeter around the construction site, with the Apsylum at its center. As it was, he could see people gathered around panels, at distanced intervals, but he didn¡¯t know anything about these sorts of work. Urekin looked about to see where Lanri might be, but since he couldn¡¯t find her anywhere, he just watched the construction work for a while before continuing on. When Urekin was far enough away from anyone else, he just settled down onto the ground and looked out toward the rest of the city, covered in impenetrable darkness. It had only been a day or two since he had arrived here, and remembered walking confidently through the dark streets toward the light he saw. He was glad of his ignorance back then, as his knowledge of the Warren had placed everything into a new perspective. Even now, the darkness around the city seemed more like a veil, a beast of its own, even without the nightmares that were crawling about in it. There was a reason Warrens were cordoned off, yet here they were building something inside of one. Not only that, but he was going to be taken into the heart of the madness. He wasn¡¯t sure what kind of distraction they would be causing, but he knew for certain that their purpose was to be bait while the Boundary was finished. Urekin jumped up, and looked about nervously, as he felt as if something was staring at him, and the darkness seemed to flicker at the cusp where the light¡¯s strength faded away. It was probably just his imagination toying with him, but he slowly backed away nonetheless, keeping his eyes from focusing on any particular thing, and just trying to track movement. The strange feeling only eased up when he was back inside the Aula, and making his way toward the elevator. As Urekin made his way up to the second floor, he saw Sergh talking to a few people. There was a woman with a shaved head and a nasty scar running across her face, splitting her lips, and two men in guard uniforms. Urekin strode up to them and the conversation quieted down as they saw him approach. ¡°Sergh,¡± Urekin said, ¡°How are the others?¡± Sergh gave a sigh as he said, ¡°They¡¯ll make it, is what it looks like. Igrim has a bad concussion, as he slammed his head pretty hard and will be out for a day or two, but Alrek¡¯s already come to and is more pained about his broken CalibroK than anything else.¡± ¡°I¡¯m relieved to hear that. I also wanted to apologize to you about what happened, I-¡± ¡°Look, we all make mistakes, I understand that. Some of us make them more costly than others, but Enti of all people came over to me and told me not to be too hard on you. If he can put it past you, then so can I.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± said Urekin, feeling a lot more relieved. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. I heard you are heading out with the others during the team shift, that¡¯s punishment enough as it is.¡± ¡°What does that mean though? Lanri said we were to provide some form of distraction, but she didn¡¯t go into the details.¡± Sergh just shrugged his shoulders, while the woman with a scar running across her face on his left asked, ¡°He¡¯s also on the team shift?¡± ¡°Lanri¡¯s orders,¡± said Sergh with a nod. ¡°That¡¯s just what we need. A rookie who will not only get us killed, but might do the bent deed himself! I need to have a word with Lanri,¡± she said as she strode off the way Urekin had come from, shoving past him with force. The two men followed quickly after her, one of them giving Urekin a nod out of courtesy. ¡°Look, going out into the city is no laughing matter at the best of times, even with people you know and trust at your back. I¡¯m really not sure what Lanri is thinking this time, if I¡¯m to be honest,¡± said Sergh, shaking his head. ¡°So what am I supposed to do then? I didn¡¯t ask for it.¡± ¡°Just¡­ Try to not hinder the others. Do as you are told and try not to hinder them. Eventually I will extract you when the time comes, so just follow their lead. That¡¯s the best advice I can give you, as from what I¡¯ve heard, planning ahead is mostly useless out there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not at all reassuring, Sergh.¡± Sergh patted him gently on his shoulder, ¡°I¡¯m sure Lanri has something in mind, but I don¡¯t know what yet. Just try to get some rest, you are going to need it.¡± With that Sergh left Urekin wondering, with dread creeping in as he thought about tomorrow. Intermission - Glossary Anima There are two types of Anima. Innate (inanima) which is part of every living being, and External (exanima) which can be found everywhere in the world. Innate Anima is unique to each living being and is the resource which Manipulators use to do their bidding. This type doesn¡¯t mix well with other sources of inanima, and is also the source of energy used for implants. External Anima however, is a form of Anima that has escaped a living being¡¯s influence, whether through being a residue of a Manipulator¡¯s technique, or leaked unconsciously through dreams, expectations or some other way. This type is much gentler in its nature and mixes well with both inanima and exanima, and is the energy source that is used to power most of the technologies. Manipulators can sense exanima just as they can sense inanima, but in a much more faint and unobtrusive way. Because exanima comes from the leaked Anima of every living being, it is impossible for a Manipulator to use for their techniques despite the seemingly limitless supply of it. While it cannot be consciously used by Manipulators, exanima is still the more miraculous of the two types, and when it does end up being used somehow, its effects are drastic. Manipulators Manipulators are people who are proficient in manipulating their inanima to affect the world around them. There are six types, each tied to one of the Dragons. Suggestor - Alters the mind of the individual enveloped by the Manipulator¡¯s inanima to compel them to perform an action. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Cultivator - Alters the biological body of the individual enveloped by the Manipulator¡¯s inanima to help restore or enhance it. Illusor - Alters the perceived reality of the world affected by the Manipulator¡¯s inanima. Transistor - Alters the fabrics of reality to form gateways between two locations using their Inanima. Destructor - Alters the state of the Manipulator¡¯s Inanima from intangible to a volatile destructive force. Subjector - Alters the vectors of anything enveloped by the Manipulator¡¯s Inanima temporarily. The Dragon attributed to Subjectors is Xcit. From the dominant races, the ogres are not capable of becoming Manipulators, just as having too many implants can inhibit the use of inanima. Dragons There are six Dragons. each associated with a basic emotion: Ypha is a female green dragon associated with happiness. She is attributed to Suggestors. Erdt is a female pink dragon, associated with tenderness. She is attributed to Cultivators. Scer is a male yellow dragon associated with fear. He is attributed to Illusors. Desa is a male blue dragon associated with sadness. She is attributed to Transistors. Ganr is a female red dragon associated with anger. She is attributed to Destructors. Xcit is a male orange dragon associated with excitement. He is attributed to Subjectors. Layers of the World The World¡¯s surface is a tapestry of interconnected megalopoleis, consisting of three layers: The Eyrie, or the top layer, is where the prestigious elite reside, and is the only layer which has access to fresh air, sunlight and naturally sustainable greenery. The Cleft, or the middle layer. is home to most of the population, cast into perpetual night by the shadow of the Eyrie looming above. Most of the dominant races live on this layer. The Slump, or the lower layer, is where those who wish to seclude themselves from society dwell, choosing pockets deep underground.