Act 2 𖦹₊˚

 

Midlogue

 

Caleb stumbled through the dazzling streets, the gold-plated towers of arabesque and Greek styled architecture over him like monuments to the extravagance of greed itself. His mind swirled with memories of betrayal and captivity, his thoughts interrupted only by the passing faces of indifferent strangers. Caleb stumbled through the dazzling streets, the gold-plated

buildings towering over him like monuments to extravagance. His mind swirled with memories of betrayal and captivity, his thoughts interrupted only by the passing faces of indifferent

strangers. Along the yellow metallic paved roads were a variety of ladies whose auxiliary features resembled beetles, scarabs, grubs and locusts, mantises, and grasshoppers to name but a few.

Some ladies had a body that had a more than passing resemblance to a beetle, while others had insectoid heads, like the larva of a fly. The ones that interested Caleb most had insectoid faces, with big bulging eyes like a fly and huge fleshy mandibles like an ant. Many of these women

Caleb found himself staring at, unable to resist the urge to take them in. He found himself trying to avoid the glances of the female officers as he meandered through the busy streets. They walked with a predatory haughty air, gliding effortlessly along the sidewalks, the long strides of their legs causing them to pass many other ladies in but a few seconds. Caleb stopped and stared for a moment before he remembered he was lost.

He looked upwards, in the sky could be seen a gigantic aqua blue-green watery marble with smoggy trails of brown and wisps of white clouds atop it. The orb lumbered over the golden world he found himself in like an imposing beacon of weight that could spill over and crush all at any moment. “What’s the matter kid, never seen Gaia before?” A lady, whose skin was coated in black-yellow fuzz and had two antennas out her head asked. “G-gaia? That’s Gaia?” Caleb asked.

As he looked back up, the half-crest of a purple planetoid behind the planet could be seen, barely rising above the crystalline horizon.

The last thing he remembered, he was kidnapped for what felt like forever by that seductive harlot, Jack grabbing him in the Con like a force of nature. Without having known any other facts, he was abducted in a strange room and left to the murky confusion of ignorance

since. Weeks passed locked inside. He’d heard voices and what sounded like fighting below him in the past few hours. Then there was a burst of light at some point which felt too dazzlingly blight, and the next thing he knew the castle he was in had collapsed. Without even thinking about it, he’d jumped through a strange portal and gotten lost in this world. His leg was still doddering along the shining pathway, knee and ankles numb with pain from the fall he’d experienced when the castle collapsed, but outside a small bruise he was thankful to be

otherwise okay. No cars or familiar vehicles illuminated his path, outside carriages pulled by large lizards and griffins, although when he looked up above the torus-shaped dome of palaces and gleaming towers, Caleb could make out what looked like a rain of starships as bright as twinkling stars above.

It’d been hours since he’d arrived here, his search for any semblance of sense here had gotten him lost. Then, amidst the crowd, he spotted a figure unlike the rest. An innocent-

seeming girl with earthy brown hair, clad in strange armor, caught his eye. She seemed familiar, yet wholly unfamiliar at the same time.

She seemed to be serene, sitting at a café table surrounded by chattering bachelorettes. As he approached her, several of the women, in silky gowns and golden satin togas took notice of him and began sauntering over, giggling and gossiping while they felt him up. Caleb could feel

pincers and hands coated in carapace clipping him, pushing past until the numerous bug women rushed to the handsome girl in front. "What the hell? Get your hands off me you monstrous bitches!" Caleb's voice cut through the air, his frustration palpable.

He could see their affection was not towards himself, but the princely girl in front. She seemed to be sitting in an outdoor plaza, numerous customers were served from a café with an arched roof alongside the scattered tables and chairs.

"How might anybody be so attractive?" a passerby with butterfly wings and curious

antennas remarked, their words dripping with admiration at the girl sitting at the cafe. “What’s with that metal suit, are you a member of the royal guard? I do detest a girl without muscles.” Another groped the handsome girl’s metallic ass with a ladybug’s touch. "Could it be said that she is a princess of some sort or another?" another voice chimed in, filled with speculation. "So brilliant and sparkling." A young tick girl said, flushing at how debonaire the lady appeared.

“Are you taken by your mother yet? I could sweep you right up.” A woman’s voice came out of a giant cockroach bodied figure, who rubbed this prince’s chest with lechery.

“Now now girls, could you give me and this poor boy a moment.” She said, scratching her head and shooing them off. “Awww.” The crowd slowly dispersed, and the princely girl pulled up a second seat. They put the helmet on the table. “Could you give me just a moment? I’m going to run into the restaurant and change, this doesn’t really suit me.” She said. They then turned to

Caleb, recognizing a gentle soul and waved them forward. “You there, little boy. Could you come over? Just sit here while I change.”

“Ughh, okay I guess?” Caleb replied, unsure why they were being invited over like this. The next thing they knew their gracious host went in, and changed into some flamboyant dress and gloves before coming out, the sinister armor seemingly handed off to a waitress inside. Their chest was as flat as Caleb’s, catching his eyes. They had to squint but after a few moments, realized this

princely girl was no dame. “W-wait, you’re a guy?” He said.

Nathan nodded. "I'm male. Do you fancy the notice? My mom generally advised me to painstakingly monitor my body, and keep up feminine appearances" He interjected, attempting to clarify his identity. "I would like to negotiate with you, sir," he spoke, his tone serious. "I go by Nathanial, meeting you is a pleasant treat," Nathanial replied, trying to ease the tension.

The Xitizen’s eyes widened. “W-wait, did you say Nathan?” Caleb grabbed him by the silky scarf around his neck and gasped. “THE NATHAN?!’ He shook him wildly by the shoulders.

"At ease. I just want to talk, c'mere," Nathan said, grabbing Caleb's hand and pulling him closer, urging him not to stand up like that. "You shouldn't treat young boys so generally,

particularly one as sensitive as me!" Nathanial protested, taken aback by Caleb's brashness. The Waitress came by. "I have a lot, in case you're worried about money," Nathanial offered,

producing a handful of flower petals.

As Caleb attempted to introduce himself, he was abruptly interrupted by the server. "Kindly, plunk down and eat," the waitress from earlier insisted, reprimanding Caleb for his

outburst. Her scarlet dragonfly wings gave a semblance of austere dignity amongst her boyish

black and white waitress tailcoat. "My liege, you ought to truly control your kid. He's very wild," she added, addressing Nathanial.

Caleb ignored her. “Listen! You’re Thatti’s brother right?”

“You know Thatti?” He asked. Caleb nodded, the prince seemed pleased by this knowledge.

“Yeah! She’s my classmate and best friend. But she said that you were dead!”

Nathan looked at him confused, looking back at the waitress who had somewhat of a knowing expression but didn’t intervene. There was an awkward silence in the air, the kind of

trifling beat that could be missed in the grand symphony of all things with lesser abandoned. “I don’t believe so. I’m very much alive, young lady.” He chuckled, before eyeing Caleb closely.

“Arrre you?”

“A-ack!” The Xi boy panicked. “Actually..” His fingers twiddled together. “Keep this a secret. Biologically, I’m female, but, for all intents and purposes I prefer to be seen male.”

“OH. Well, that is quite odd here in this realm, but it’s very much okay with me. I’m sure you have your reasons and am happy for you, but know that comes with quite the implication around these parts.” Nathan whispered something in the waitress’s ear and she left back into the building.

Caleb sighed heavily before opening up, his voice tinged with resignation. "I’m glad. The truth is, ever since I was a child people always mistook me for a guy because of my boyish appearance." He paused, reflecting on his journey. "I’ve always been biologically, born a girl. At some point, I simply accepted it. Then after a while I worked to hide the fact altogether." He looked up at the sky, the gilded glow and ambience of the clouds as garnish as a haze of smog that he wished wouldn’t be so bright and blinding. “There are, methods to change that in Xi, one’s self. But I’ve never really seen the need to, honestly. Is that strange of me?”

Nathan rubbed his chin. “It’s you of you. What more does it mean to you?”

“Well..” Caleb sighed, his words carried the weight of years of struggle. "All my life, I

couldn’t get a single girlfriend, not even in middle school, the time when most boys start finding their one true love. Xi is no stranger to girls transitioning early or in grade school of course, but as far as going to lengths to hide it, I’m rather exceptional. Not even Thatti or my close friends ever got it right or suspected."

“Well my good sir, if you would permit thy honor to call you sir, one must follow their spirit’s convictions and live how one wants to,” Nathanial said, trying to uplift the Xi boy. “One’s sex is no exception. The life of a boy that is content with what he hath, shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find in it the blessings of their soul. For that in the greater scheme of things, kinder and grander is the true essence of freedom.” Caleb looked up at the sky, contemplating his

friend’s words. “Thank you, I think I am the kind of person who does not need to change my

gender, or else I’d feel as though something’s missing. Thatti always said I was perfect as I was.” He said, looking at his friend with a smile.

Nathanial's gaze drifted, lost in reverie. Caleb felt like this boy was going to sail the 7 seas of the ancient Earth he read about in his elementary textbooks, or run through a forest with a bow and toga proclaiming the majesty of the forest. His feminine appearance extruded a strange

majesty that Caleb couldn’t quite place, every soft lilt of his voice had an aethereal quality to it that simply put him at ease.

He looked up, meeting Caleb's eyes “I see.. so speak of truth. You know Thatti. Are you a good friend of hers?”

“Yeah!” Caleb paused for a moment, something in his gut hurt to bypass their last memories together, he looked away towards the thin wisping clouds above, starships visible

even in the radiant afternoon. "Caleb?" Nathan asked, taking another sip of his drink and tilting his head to the side, noticing the boy’s discomfort. Caleb blinked, his throat tightening. “We’re, pretty good friends, y-yeah..’

“Did Thatti tell you about me?" He nodded. “She did. She actually seemed to consider you a paradigm even.”

The prince paused. "I also have a confession. I'm not the blameless, reserved individual you think I'm Caleb." Nathan stood tall, his voice filled with pride as he declared, "My genuine character is, Nathan Nezura, rebel ruler. The head treasury administrator of the Paramilitary Boy’s Liberation Front.”

Caleb's brows furrowed in confusion. "Boy’s.. liberation front?” he questioned. “Wait- Did you say you were a rebel ruler?”

“Better than prince charming, but this isn’t a fairy tail. There won’t be any fairy tail ending and our movement will come to nothing if we stay idle.” Nathan nodded firmly. "I'm

searching for new confidants. I'm trying to recruit for my liberation army because I believe both men and gems should be free of female oppression.”

Caleb's skepticism was evident. “Liberation army? Are you saying men are oppressed here? By whom?”

“By women of course,” Nathan affirmed.

“So when you said you wanted to make a deal..”

“I will be direct, Caleb! Even though you are actually a girl and foreigner, will you come stay in Orchid and fight alongside me, against the women of this world?”

Caleb pondered for a moment. “I understand I guess but, why me?”

“Because, my sister Thatti once told me that there were beautiful girls in Xi. You don’t have to be the strongest, only the bravest..”

Caleb's eyes widened with recognition. "And she's right! There are only smoking babes in Xi! Hell yes, I'll definitely fight alongside you!" A shit-eating grin spread across his face.

Nathan beamed with approval. "Good! If sister approves of you, surely, I do too. All the more reason to trust you. You will become the most legendary general our boy’s army has ever seen!" He clapped Caleb on the back.

As the waitress approached, Caleb tensed, worried about her reaction to their conversation.

Nathan quickly intervened. "Ah, I meant-" Caleb began, but his nerves were eased as the prince continued, "It's alright. Her name is Marigold. She's a comrade of ours." He turned

towards the waitress, who saluted. “This entire café is a safe space of the resistance to meet, free of mother’s spys.”

The waitress raised an eyebrow. "You even have girls in your liberation front huh.." she

mused.

The escaped prince nodded in understanding. "Verily! That's.. true, to a degree," Nathan

said, his words cautious. " We, too, possess agents amidst the Domina's council, nay, her closest confidante, Astrid, orchestrates the uprising from within. Her name's Astrid, she's been arranging things behind the scenes for the coming revolution."

Marigold, the waitress, set a plate of some kind of fish down on the table and walked away, leaving the two men deep in conversation. Nathan smoothly slipped a note from out of the fish into his sleeves. "Amongst these folk of the women's realm of Orchid, females think of your kind as mere slaves. Thou wouldst be seen as nothing more than a toy here," Nathan explained solemnly. Caleb sighed, the weight of their situation heavy on his shoulders.

"But if you do join my militia, I will make you an officer. In fact, your title will be-" Nathan started to say, reaching for Caleb's wrist. "I have a plan though! Publicly you shall be my toy. You'll be my.. concubine," Nathan proposed, pointing at Caleb to emphasize his point. "That's all your front. But a mere guise for our purposes."

Caleb's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!? You want me to be a concubine?! Wait what is that!" he protested, his confusion evident. "A concubine.. is that the same as a slave?" He asked, seeking clarification.

"Only in the most fundamental of ways. Your rights and responsibilities as a slave are not the same as a concubine, you can think of me more like a... boyfriend," Nathan explained, gesturing towards Caleb's neck.

Caleb considered Nathan's words carefully. "Well, what's in it for me?" he asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.

"Nothing! It's all for me!" Nathan exclaimed with a grin, before softening his tone. "I'm joking. But.. you can join in my militia, how’s that sound?" he added, his voice gentle. "Alright, let's go to my mother’s estate then. I have a small place there where we can both stay. But first, we can eat and go for a little stroll," he said reassuringly.

As they chatted and enjoyed their meal, their conversation turned to plans for the future. Caleb couldn't help but be drawn in by Nathan's confidence and charm. Soon, their plates were cleared away, and Nathan dropped numerous flower petals onto the paying-tray as they prepared to leave.

"I'll need to go back to Xi someday and.. make amends with Thatti. She'll be so happy to know you're alive, and I've joined with you!" Caleb remarked, a sense of hopefulness creeping

into his voice. This could be his chance to make things up with her, he thought sincerely.

"Thanks," Nathan said, his smile genuine, though it faltered for a moment. "And once again.. Why wouldn't I be alive?"

"Weren't you murdered?" Caleb asked, his tone tinged with concern.

As they strolled through the marketplace, they made a stop at a jewelry stand. "Feel pretty alive to me, I think I'd know if I died. You shall earn my affection regardless. So how about I buy you a gift? This will be the first time I'm not getting anything for my sister for once," Nathan suggested, picking up a necklace and holding it against himself.

Caleb felt his cheeks flush. "What do you think you'll get me?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Nathan scratched his head, considering. "Hmm.. I guess.. a gift is something that reminds you of the giver. I'll give you a gift that reminds you of me. A collar," he said, picking one up from the stand and pointing to Caleb's neck.

Caleb's eyes widened in disbelief. "Aha.. a collar. You're joking right?" he questioned, hoping for a different answer.

But Nathan simply smiled, leaving Caleb to wonder about the true meaning behind his

words.

 

 

 

“GOLIATH!” A girl shouted.

☆ ☆ ☆

Becca slowly got up, the sight of numerous boys in loincloths and jewels. Some of them had extra limbs, like cockroaches and a few had hides of bark on their chest and shoulders, the pruned textures reminding her of old logged wood chopped down and left in the sunbaked lakes of Echostar’s terran to become the feast of moss and algae. She pushed their groping hands away, gasping for breath. The room appeared to be a brothel, she recalled being carried here shortly before she lost consciousness. Her mint skin dimmed in the poor lighting of the windowsill, half casting over her eyes. “Ugh..” Her body felt incredibly sore, every muscle screaming for relief.

☆ ☆ ☆

 

Lyras paced frantically around the opulent Imperial Sanctuary, her frustration evident in every step. Outside a magnificent palace with a quad of torus-shaped rings went around multiple pillars, platforms visible on the curved edges of their volume and elevators seen on the rim of the golden trunks that held up the Sanctuary. At the highest point, another ring-shaped platform held griffin mounts and just a few Carriage-Class starships belonging to the royal family, currently titled to the holy Nezura regime. Inside this magnificent structure, the weight of the entire empire sunk into Lyra’s mind and had her reeling from a lifetime of schemes and holy serenades. She hadn’t heard from her daughter since she’d sent her away, and flurried rumors of upheaval, rebellion and revolution were around the breath of every whispered mademoiselle, as if wishing a miracle that the Domina could save Flora’s most lovingly addressed subjects.

She approached her working boys idle, finding them exchanging lips and basking in petty pleasure when there was chores to be done, paperwork to be filed. It was as if every sermon she gave about the ethical responsibility of hard work and utter devotion had gone on depth ears.

"Damn it, where the hell is Orion to manage the palace? A proper boy should just lock himself in the kitchen and do chores, thinking only of obeying, with the royal advisor overseeing them.

Why does she slack off so often?" She pulled two boy’s faces apart, slapped them both and put them to work in the next room.

"Just goes to show the money we put into training these boys is a mediocre waste," she lamented, her voice heavy with disappointment. "Sire, this is why I warned you. Men should always be obedient and submissive," Leon, her loyal attendant, chimed in. "Let's be honest, you have all the power and wealth of Orchid behind you. What more could anyone ask for, your

majesty?"

"A better obedience trainer, for one," Lyras snapped, her frustration boiling over to her assistant.

"Truly the burden we bear," Leon sighed in agreement.

"What do you mean 'we'? Are you talking to yourself? You, carry burdens? What responsibilities but serving dinner treys and discipling other boys do you bear?" Lyras challenged him, her tone sharp. "No, it's just that, it's just-" Leon stumbled over his words.

"Do you mistakenly believe there's a 'we', that you shoulder the church day to day? That you hold Orchid together with might and mercy, day in and day out? Mind your tongue, Leon," Lyras reprimanded him sharply. "But-"

"Don't talk back to me," she interrupted, her glare silencing him instantly. Leon immediately dropped to one knee, seeking forgiveness.

"Please, forgive me, your holiness," he pleaded, his voice filled with contrition.

 

Within the boundaries of the Domina’s psyche, Lyras Nezura paced around the room with a teenage girl’s anxiety. Her small, supple form and tanned skin were broken by only a set of small cute wings along her back, she stood no higher than 5’ 4” and wore a childish short-sleeve T-shirt that read ‘Worlds 1# Domina’. The teenage-appearing representation walked in a space inverted from the world, closed to all but the privacy of her own thoughts. Everything else, the palace, the boys, Leon’s fatuous begging appeared along an inverted B&W spectrum frozen in time. Those and the thoughts of the green-haired woman next to her. Behind Idola Brightstone, was a looming grim figure with long mottled grey hair and a tan cloak. Belos. The dark triad of their personality, his Machiavellian personality and power-hungry outlook representing in their psyche with a menacing silence. The man never talked or moved, always standing aside the 3 like a dour statue, unsmiling, surly and cruel. His face typically was hidden behind a net of silhouette. As a pillar of faith for the two females, his stoic coldness gave them an eerie strength of will to draw from. If asked for his opinion, at most he would give a mirthless nod or cumbersome headshake to the other two. “Oh. My. FLORA! Like I cannot BELIEVE these stupid dudes keep smooching faces and making a mess of my totally cool castle! It’s not fair! I work so hard, like WAY harder than any other Domina in, y’know, forever! I try so hard, sososoSOOO hard for my kids! I gave Thatti a great school, I made sure Nate had a bunch of nice Petals and guards. But is this how they treat me? How my palace staff treats me, my kingdom? By throwing rebellions? Seriously? Where's my appreciation, uuuuuughh this sucks!” In her psychic world, she picked up pillows from the palace couch and threw them childishly, throwing a tantrum before covering her face with one. Idola sat down right next to her and comforted her.

“Lo, the adder's beauty is a siren's song, luring the unwary to their doom. Do not fret my child. All thorns come with their bloom of roses in good time.”

“Yes, they are quite troublesome. Rearing children and discipling them is no easy task. My child, you must not wallow in the face of their brattish, disobedience. For time reels in all tempers, even those of children.”

“Yeah but practically NO ONE is helping me! All the boy slaves do is kiss and slurp around. My sister spends WAY too much money on lavish parties and stupid projects. The church gives me nothing but sass, blab la bla Lyras you need to punish this church, you need to fight this challenger, oh this planet needs conquering. It never ENDS! And the one advisor I do

trust to be on top of things, Orion isn’t even here! We both made a deal to stick together, I swear I’m loyal! Where is she?! Thatti could be in SUPERDUPER danger RIGHT NOW!”

“Do not worry about Orion, she’s a viper. As all good reliable Orchid women are expected to be. Perhaps your daughter could learn a little to be more like her, but I do question and worry for Thatti at times my child. So innocent. So naïve.”

“BURRR, uhhhhh yeah, I don’t wanna think about that either…I don’t want to think about that either. AAAAARGH I’m not good at this, this mothering stuff sucks! Uhhh my sister probably is doing something right with all the parties and stuff while I take care of

responsibilities, but like…sometimes it just goes on way too long. Like today, today for example. I am just like SO stressed out, you have no idea. Seriously I want to get out of here, I want to see my old friends. I wonder what Ellie and Zack are up to. When all I had to do was go ZAP

KAPOW YA’ FRIED SUCKA at Challengers, it was way fun! Flora help me, where the heck is my wife at these days?”

“I doubt even now Flora has made time for you. Such is her vanity.”

“Ehhh I don’t wanna talk about her. Everytime we have a ceremony she rolls her eyes at me, can you BELIEVE that? So much for my prayers, ya big sky doofus! Uuuugh, I hate being like this.”

“Lyra, you must learn to accept reality as it is. In this world, you are not merely a girl. You are a woman. A ruler. The Domina. As is the responsibility of women, the world of Orchid needs you. Your sister will never truly understand what it means to grow up and take responsibility. But the potential and your children display shall not be overlooked upon the ages. So do perk up and put your feelings aside.”

Lyra’s attention was suddenly diverted as her disc-shaped phone beeped, indicating a message from an emergency line. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she read the words on the small screen. "NATHAN. IS. ALIVE." She struggled to catch her breath, her mind racing with disbelief and confusion. "What? But.. how is that even possible?" She repeated, shaking her head in disbelief. "But it was.. It was me who-" She paused. "You've read the documents on the file, they are all in order, right?" Leon nodded. "I am sure that the royal guard.. that they were there, and that.. they.. didn't.." She trailed off.

What the heckkity heck? What do you mean Nathan is alive?! No gosh darn WAY! I had him executed immediately myself! Did someone accidentally give him nine lives like a cat, or what?

"How could he be alive? He was murdered?" Leon echoed her shock, his voice trembling with uncertainty. Lyras walked out the halls, up a tall staircase and into her bedroom. She paced back and forth in her lavish bedroom, a queen-sized bed that had been occupied by her as its sole user for over a decade now. "I had him killed personally, I watched them bury him. What does my Orion think she's playing?" Lyras muttered, her thoughts spinning.

AAAH ORION YOU DUMB DUMB STUPID, FART! How could she let this happen? My 1# advisor! Holy macaroni this sucks!

☆ ☆ ☆

 

A scream pierced the air, tearing Becca from a slumber filled with fragmented memories. Groaning, she sat up, her eyes adjusting to the dimly lit room. Men, adorned in

loincloths and jewels, crowded around her, their hands groping. Panic surged through her as she recognized the brothel setting – a place she vaguely recalled being carried to before losing

consciousness. Her mint-colored skin, usually vibrant, appeared dull in the weak light filtering through the window. Every muscle in her body ached, protesting even the slightest movement.

"Becca!" a familiar voice called out, followed by the entrance of Lake Lazuli, a figure shimmering with the ethereal glow of a blue gem.

"Are you alright?!" Lake rushed to Becca's side, gently wiping the blood trickling down her forehead. Becca, wincing, straightened her disheveled skirt. "I'm f-fine," she stammered, her voice raspy. "Where is this?"

"Yumiko’ Pleasure House," a heavily made-up ladybug woman with a smoking pipe drawled. "A gem boy brought you here, paid for your stay. Hours ago, that was. Then said he went off to go look for someone named ‘Caleb’ for you."

Becca turned to Lake, confusion etched on her face. "Wait, why are you here? How did you even find me?"

Lake shrugged, her voice calm and reassuring. "I live in Orchid, remember? Petal contacted me after losing track of you. I followed your trail while you were unconscious. You've lost quite a bit of blood, and you're still limping!" she scolded, a hint of concern laced in her voice.

Becca simply sighed, her body yearning for escape. She rushed out of the brothel, Lake following close behind. "Wait, don't just leave! What happened?" Lake called after her.

"The Marquise is Nathan," Becca blurted out, her voice laced with a mix of fear and anger. "Caleb and Hyde were kidnapped by Jack for him. We fought them, they attacked us, things went wrong, and... now Thatti..." her voice trailed off, her throat tightening with unshed tears.

"Gone?" Lake echoed, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Gone gone. Like, mega-gone." Becca confirmed, her voice barely above a whisper. Lake’s brow furrowed further. "I don't understand. How could she...?"

Becca met Lake’s gaze, her eyes welling up. "She sacrificed herself to save us," she revealed, her voice breaking. Lake stared at her, stunned by the revelation. "She... she blew herself up right in front of me, and I couldn't do a goddamn thing!" Becca slammed her fists and choked out, tears streaming down her face. "I couldn't help her... and now we're... we're stuck here, and I can't do anything..."

Lake, her heart heavy with empathy, pulled Becca into a comforting embrace.

Becca's body crumpled against her, the dam finally breaking as sobs wracked her entire being. After a while, they stood in silence, the weight of their grief hanging heavy in the air.

"We need to inform the Domina," Lake finally said, her voice filled with concern.

"No!" Becca's voice shot up, laced with urgency. "She can't know. If she discovers Thatti is dead..." she trailed off, her grip tightening on Lake’s arm.

She held out the broken hilt of Headhunter, her voice trembling. "Nathan is... someone I know. Someone from my past. The Domina wouldn't care about him. But if she finds him, there's no way she'll show any mercy. Especially since I kinda... sorta, erased his memories."

Lake raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion. "Why would you do that?"

"I don't know! It was so stupid, but I was freaking the fuck out and I just panicked, okay!" Becca exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration. "He doesn't remember being Goliath, so I watched him stumble around confused after I did it. But I don't think I was supposed to use that power without Thatti, and I messed up." She looked up at the ceiling. “As far as he knows right now, he’s Nathan, son of the Domina. That makes things easier in some respects, but I, I need to figure out what happened to him before doing anything rash.“

"Someone means that much to you? But you said they killed Thatti?" Lake questioned, her voice laced with concern.

"I know, I know!" Becca shook her head, her emotions swirling in a storm of confusion and grief. "I'll explain later. Right now, I need to find him."

"What are you going to do?" Lake asked, her voice trembling with worry.

"Everything," Becca replied, her voice filled with a newfound determination.

"Everything I have to, to get him back!" She looked at Lake, whose eyes held a mixture of skepticism and fear.

"Becca... how can you do that? After everything that's happened?" Becca remained silent.

"I don't know! I need to get Thatti and Goliath back! But first I need a way to get to him!" She looked at Lake. Becca was silent, but Lake could feel the resolve on her back. Her words were filled with a kind of quiet confidence. "You'll see."

Lake was silent for a while. "I have something that may help!" She took a bracelet from her wrist. "I told you I'm not good at shapeshifting. Petal gave me this as a gift”, She passed the bracelet to Becca- "You can take on Thatti's appearance. This can help you survive!"

Becca examined the bracelet. "Lake. Are you sure? You're.. going to give me this?" She questioned, tears once more springing to her eyes. Lake nodded, placing a hand on her back.

"You have my permission. Just put it on and try to visualize how you want others to see you, and how Thatti talks and acts."

Becca slipped it on her wrist, a small display on the bottom side. The warmth of Thatti's pale-lemon hair, her serene smile... Becca gasped. Her hair, skin, even her eyes changed into a copy of the Domina's daughter. Her gentle face, her school uniform, even her voice and personality was unmistakably Thatti. She turned to Lake, who nodded at her. "Okay, let's get searching." Thatti said, quickly getting accustomed to the odd physical and mental perks of the disguise. More than just appearances slipped in. How Thatti felt, some things that the girl remembered, her emotions and personality leaked in, as if infiltrating Becca’s soul even beyond the skindeep. The deep feelings from Thatti’s existence sank as a golden radiant balm and washed in deep. Was it because she was in Thatti’s body currently that she felt this, or was the mere disguise a deception, a placebo she was convincing herself out of shock? Thatti decided to put aside the existential angst over her identity for the moment and, for the sake of brevity

simply ‘be Thatti’ for a little while.

☆ ☆ ☆

Back in the streets as Nathan explained the intricacies of Orchid to Caleb, the two boys continued to stroll through a beautiful garden, various woman with flowers over their heads and leafy appendages planted soil in the walkway garden. Flowering folk, a rival aristocracy who lacked power in these parts. Not since Lyra, and her insectoid kin had taken the holy throne and she reigned as Domina throughout the land. Caleb turned to the prince. "Nathan, this might sound a little forward but, if most men in this country are slaves, why not run away?"

He shrugged. "Run away, to where? Xi? AU? Even though I hate and despise thy realm’s injustice, this is the dominion I was born in. I have no desire to flee it. Thou shall love the homeland from which one was born into."

The walk brought them to a magnificent view of the sunset. "What do you see, Caleb?" “Uh.. a garden?” Caleb replied.

He smiled. "Perhaps. For me, I witness a beautiful place where man can co-exist with nature, where men can take pride in their strength. And where the women are as pure as the morning dew and moonlight, and every boy is free to live and love as they desire!" Nathan looked back to Caleb. "But as-is, in this world boys are always disposable. It's a common practice if a girl doesn't like her boy, to either sell him or kill him and get a new replacement. In this kind of world, you can't get too close to the boys you love either, outside the physical.”

He waved his hand out into the setting sun, as if he could hold it in his grasp.

"We are all living under a common bond. Because a girl is no better than a boy, women no different than men." He said.

Caleb smiled. "Well, I'm glad I met you then. I think I'd love to be part of the men's liberation front. But um.. don't you think we should move on? We've been walking for a while.."

Nathan laughed. "I think we're fine. The walks good for the heart. Cheer up, sir Caleb. I'm truly glad to have you as a comrade, even if you are secretly girl, having a wee one like you identify and feel comfortable as a boy brings sacred solace to my heart." He patted Caleb's shoulders. "Keeping secrets is a good way to bond, no?"

Suddenly a gigantic shadow flew overhead, eclipsing them both. Then from the skies, a gigantic gryphon with a saddle on its back landed right in front of the two.

"My lord! " Said the voice of a tall women with a blond ponytail and blue-gold robes, her bare hands holding the reigns of the beast. She let go of the lariats and the bird calmed. The two looked as she caught up to them. "Ah, Orion! How timely for you to join us. I'd like you to meet my new friend, Caleb here has been quite cordial." "Hullo." Said Caleb. He turned towards her with a warm smile as she flinched. "H-huh? Come again?" She stared at the two from above.

Was this an act? Confusion ran through her mind, she hopped off the flying beast, and approached, turned to her lord and whispered. "If the plan was to win him over, taking him to Orchid might not have been ordeal. The other gems and Becca will be out here looking for you."

He smiled innocently, the serene expression high lightening his beautiful features. "Thatti's wand? Why would she come to me, unless she's just fallen for me that hard." He chuckled to her confusion. “Goliath?” She asked with a look of deep concern.

“Whose that?” The prince replied confused.

She looked at Goliath- no, Nathan horrified. The Shadow king, the orchestrator of all nefarious in her lovely world. Nathan was his disguise, his fake identity she knew, what had happened to her liege?

"Excuse me?!" The she aimed her staff at Caleb, the glowing gold shard at the end sticking out of the emerald charging, threatening him with the radiance of its arc. "Orion?

What's the meaning of this?" Orion turned towards him, confusion in her eyes. The girl searched Nathan’s eyes to find a flicker of understanding, but when she found none, she relented. His expression, the jovial smile, there was no sign of the lord she knew at the moment. Others on the streets were whispering. She released her staff, examined Nathan's head, running her hands through his hair, then turned to Caleb. "O-okay my lord. I promise Dav- I mean, Nathan. Who's this stupid looking child?" Astrid scowled, her expression cold and skeptical.

“This my good follower is Caleb! Caleb, this is Astrid, Spy and Logistics Officer of the Boy’s Liberation Army. She goes by the public alias ‘Orion’ round my mother’s palace. Orion,

Caleb is an Xi’an friend of my sister. I see great potential in them to be my new officer,” Nathan explained, his tone confident.

“O-officer?!” Astrid exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief as she covered her mouth. “This nobody? He’s a little twerp.”

Nathan leaned in, his voice low and serious. “Actually, he’s secretly a she. But please go by he/him,” he clarified. “It’s important to respect the convictions of one’s spirit.”

Orion rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by Caleb's presence. “Oh sure he’s a boy. I can see him wetting the bed already.” She snarked.

“Orion! Be respectful.” Nathan shouted, watching her fold her arms. “You will recognize my new officer.”

"What? It's absolutely impossible that in damnation I can recognize this child. How might an annoying boy like him help our movement?” Astrid questioned, her skepticism evident as she gestured towards Caleb. “Surely his qualifications-“

“Please, trust in my judgement Astrid,” Nathan interrupted firmly, his tone unwavering.

She shook her arms angry like a toddler throwing a tantrum, then relented.

"Fine. Hello, garbage. Let's move,” Astrid murmured in Nathan’s ear, her voice cold and calculating. “We should be cautious of him, he might be a spy for the resistance. Or, for the Xistress.”

As Astrid's mind wandered, she contemplated the complexities of the situation, trying to think and figure out what happened to Goliath. So now that Goliath has forgotten his own

identity, who is he now exactly? Nathan, the prince Nathan? A sovereign of unrivaled

excellence, the Domina calls him a slip-up by the maker. In broad daylight, she calls him her slave and courtesan without uncovering his actual character. He has an affectionate

compassion toward equity, despite the fact that he lives in magnificence and seeks to abuse his power to start a fierce revolution. He’s an object of sneer and hatred for most lowerclass boys in Orchid. In any case, that is only the surface character, under he's our master, Goliath. Why

cannot he seem to remember that though? I have to find out and bring my lord back to the fold.

She mused, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty.

"Apologies for my, brashness Caleb. It is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Orion said after returning his smile, her smile seeming genuine and the look in her eyes were briefly flashing with the color of gold. "I am Astrid, but everywhere outside the revolution else my name is 'Orion' and I am an assistant to Nathanial, and advisor to his mother."

“This woman practically raised me, she’s one of my closest friends. Do commend her brilliance.” Nathan said.

The woman’s name, a reference to a bright constellation within the galaxy the boy could have sworn he studied in school, unless he was misremembering. The boy’s mind filled with the image of the girl, in his mind he thought, She’s a smoking hottie. So fierce.

"You are truly foreigner huh? Those are certainly Xi clothes if I'm not mistaken." She said innocently, trying to feign ignorance. She and Jack had researched this child considerably in the past. He replied to her question, “That I am, it’s nice to meet you too.” He couldn’t help

but smile when she seemed to smile back at him. “Isn’t it?” She asked, grabbing his collar by the neck and yanking him close. "Listen twerp. Try anything funny or get in Nathan’s way, and you're dead." She whispered. The two walked along a path not too far from their meeting point, eventually coming across a series of wooded clearings beyond a knoll. Orion whistled, and her mount hopped up, landing in front of them with scaly wingspan outstretched.

"Wow, a real gryphon!?" Caleb shouted. He'd only heard of similar sights in Blackwind, but never thought he'd see one. Orion helped Nathan up the saddle, then Nathan in turn Caleb. Orion then pulled the reins on her beast and had it fly off into the depths of the city, the momentous architecture visible below. "That was rude of me, but I have no choice but to be over protective of Nathan," said Orion, her voice quieter as the bird flew higher. "You can be honest. I know Nathan has his secrets, but for all of his faults he's a good man." She continued to talk, despite Caleb’s silence, "He's my best friend, someone who's gone through hell and back to find his calling in life. But despite all of that, he still has so much room for improvement." She told

him. "I see," said Caleb. While hiding her gaze, her eyes were filled with wrath for the kid.

The gryphon stopped right outside the golden gates of the imperial sanctuary, Astrid and Nathan looking at one another. Nathan then got off. “Caleb, I have to get off here. Astrid will

guide you to the Boy’s Liberation mountain base. But meet me back tomorrow night! I need to smooth things over with mother.” Nathan said.

“Huh, why?” He asked.

“I, I’m not sure but I feel like I’ve been out of her hair for while, it’ll be a lot for her to process. If I bring you too it’ll only complicate things, but once I have her good graces introducing you should be a simple matter.” He gave him a small pouch. “Here’s some money for the night, try to avoid the slave catchers and any being seen among other boys, especially without a collar.” He advised.

“Um, alright? Are you sure about this?” A sense of unease filled his gut.

“Positively! I’ll send Astrid to retrieve you in the morning, remember if you’re to be my officer in the Boy’s Liberation you must be resilient! Floraspeed.” He kissed Caleb’s cheek and then he climbed off. Astrid sneered, then tugged the ropes and had the bestial mount fly off.

With the two in tow. They flew for about 3 minutes before they were a good distance from the Imperial Sanctuary. “So where is the whole, base exactly? Is it like a really cool underground resistance or-?” Caleb asked. Astrid narrowed her eyes, waving her staff at him from behind. “Yeah, you’ll be going groundwards alright. Just bend over and look down.” Caleb shuffled his head further below, until Astrid’s staff lit up and a blast of golden energy struck him, blasting him off the mount and down onto a field of daisies back in the town. “As if the BLF would ever

accept the liked of you!” She shouted. “Keep away from my Lord.” Astrid threw down a pouch of currency, enough to get by for a few nights. Then the griffon took off.

“W-what?! Ow ow oww..” His back felt flattened by the fall. The last thing he saw was Astrid’s mount turning back around and returning to the Domina’s sanctuary.

“O-okay..” Caleb slowly got off, shrugging off the pain and looked in the pouch she’d tossed. “Is this a joke? He said he left me money! Not these stupid decorations.” He turned it upside down and started emptying the dozens of colorful petals within.

☆ ☆ ☆

As the gryphon mounted back onto the imperial sanctuary, Lyras and her guard, Ankka stood watch out the balcony. The message she received from Astrid hours earlier tested her nerves in ways she couldn't describe.

Lyras looked ahead. "NATHAN?!"

"My son! Do you know the amount I searched for you? Where have you been?" Nathan staggered. She had no tears, nor he no faith in her. They smiled profusely.

OH MY GOSH GOSH I’M GOING TO KILL THIS IDIOT HOW DARE HE SURVIVE HIS

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT Oh but that does make him rather strong if he did, is he finally

growing out of the weak sissy phase and becoming a SUPA HOLY FIGHTA! A strong boy instead of my lame weenie would be better. That’d be so cool! I need him dead but him becoming strong would be so awesome eeeeeee. Wait focus Lyra, put on your best face!

Orion and the rest are watching too. Mind yourself dear.

She stood, watching as Orion landed the bird before them. "Orion. Good to see you. I’m glad you found him." "Of course, sire. I live to serve you." She bowed her head for the Domina. Orion whispered into Lyra’s ear. “Sire, he seems to have some form of amnesia, we cannot be sure of what happened to him but his defiance has mostly slipped away. He doesn’t recall anything from that tragic night, and has only praise for you my Domina right now.”

“Is that so?” Lyras look at her surprised, then she turned to Nathan. "Son, what do you last remember?" She asked. Nathan stood in silence, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked at her with the gaze of a puppy with an unattainable ball, begging her to pet him. "Last I recall, you scheduled a party to introduce me to your congregation, but I blacked out that morning, likely after a few drinks the previous nights. I don't recall anything beyond that." He looked around.

"Where is sister?" He asked.

“She's probably still at school. I'd be wary of Thatti's intentions when you find her," the Domina advised, Nathan shaking his head with a yawn. "This isn't a game, Nathan. You must listen to me when I'm telling you something." She shook her head, patting his head. With the child purged of all recollection, she felt as if the icy wall of her guard could melt with ease, and peace came to her soul. "Goodness, my charming little child. You're beautiful. I need to kiss

you," she exclaimed, enveloping him in a warm hug.

AAHEEEE this is like, OMG so wrong! I should hate this and be killing him but my mysterious boy is all grown up! My boy! He’s so handsome and pretty and coooool. Better than any of the other good-for-nothing icky boys in my palace or the Church owns.

"Wait- stand by mother, I'm truly drained, and I really want a shower," Nathan protested, his exhaustion evident. "Come along, I'll wash and rest with you for a while. My

dearest, you will come rest in my rooms," Lyras insisted, her tone firm as she tried to drag him along.

"Please, Mother!" Nathan pleaded.

He exhaled deeply. “Orion can wash me, per regular," he suggested, hoping to avoid the uncomfortable situation. Inside her head, Lyras seethed with anger, her fists clenched tightly as she struggled to maintain her composure. I must behave with respect, like a proper Domina, she reminded herself.

But why does he want ORION to bathe him? Is it so wrong to have momma’s protection? He’s always been so close to her, like he’d choose her over his own mother! Mphff, so lame! Boo!

“Okay, that's fine by me," Lyras conceded, relieved to have found a compromise. "See you after your shower, my little blossom," she said, a hint of affection in her voice as she left the room.

"Sire, will I chain him by his lower legs with the 150 kg weight, as you requested earlier?" Leon asked, seeking clarification.

"Are you mad? His ankles will simply break if such a chain is attached," Lyras snapped, her patience wearing thin.

"It's just 150 kg," Leon countered, trying to defend his actions.

JUST 150 kilograms? That’s like, TORTURE for my goodest boy. Is this donk CRAZY??! "Excuse me? Nathan is the most precious thing in our realm, how horrendously awful of

you. Don’t you at any point do you disrespect me or my son, kiddo." Lyras reprimanded sharply, her anger boiling over. She slapped him to the floor, the force of the blow sending him reeling. "I've trespassed my liege, seriously, I barely merit just my words passing," Leon cried, tears streaming down his face. "Then, you ought to pray for forgiveness to my son," Lyras declared, her voice cold and unforgiving. She slapped him once more before pressing her heel against his

neck, asserting her dominance.

"I, I will pray to Nathan then-" Leon stammered, desperate to appease his furious mistress.

"I wasn’t finished. Remember this, from here onward you are to address my child as 'Sir Nathanial.' His name isn't something a humble boy like you can express with such obscenity," Lyras instructed sternly.

Yeah show my awesome family some of the RESPECTS! Expecto presto got it?! "I will remember that, sire," Leon replied obediently, his tone submissive.

With a final glare, Lyras turned on her heel and left the room, leaving Leon to contemplate

his mistake in silence. As he turned on the hot water in the sauna, Nathan looked out a nearby window. "Caleb ought to be protected at the Liberation base at this point, I keep thinking about whether he'll get along nicely.."

 

☆ ☆ ☆

 

Caleb continued running the streets. “She could’ve atleast dropped me off at a hotel.” He grumbled. The city of gold was just as bright as the sun, in sharp contrast to the attitudes of the people he ran into. The shining temples and disc-shaped skyscrapers seemed to blend into a haze of gold that painted the sky and bright sunlight from above reflected off the golden

buildings, creating a dazzling spectacle. Despite the opulence of the architecture, Caleb couldn't help but notice the harsh attitudes of the people he encountered. He walked along the streets with a pensive grin.

“Why are the streets here always painted so bright and glimmering, it hurts my eyes. The way Nathan described Orchid I thought this place would be savage, yet the design is more highbred and stylish than even Xi,” Caleb remarked to himself, his tone thoughtful.

As he walked, he came across a scene of laborers unloading a truck. “A gigantic truck of chests? They must be moving in..” he observed, watching the male workers strain under the weight of their cargo.

“What are you, a snail? Put your back into it!” a woman with bee mandibles shouted, her voice sharp with impatience the way a queenbee signals to her hive. “Looks like her boy is quite the weakling, is he already calling it quits?” another bystander commented snidely. “Better find a decent replacement!”

“Why cannot you move swiftly? Even though you are unable to transport a few boxes, do you know how much I paid for you? Worthless!” the woman scolded, her tone cutting.

“I'm s-sorry mam, if it's not too much trouble, pardon me!” the boy stammered, clearly intimidated by his owner. “Wow, she’s really putting him to work. It’s like they say, a cane is a woman’s best friend!” a passerby remarked jokingly, nodding their head with approval.

“Oh, he's a little weak. Sometimes boys need to be beaten to remember where they belong in the family,” another person added callously. “You don't have any idea? What's there to think about. That is just the qualification between the powerful and the powerless. Once in a while, a whip is a daily need,” someone else chimed in, their words dripping with cruelty. Caleb sighed, feeling disheartened by the scene before him.

“You’re working the boys too hard, they need atleast a break now and then. Are you even feeding them right? I do hate women who mistreat their boys.. I try to take care of mine personally.” A lady said witnessing the scene. “Mind your own business!” The owner of the boys snapped in response.

“Phew, I’m relieved they at least have some nicer women like that here,” he muttered under his breath. “It’s already dark out, where do I go now?” Caleb wondered aloud, feeling lost

in the unfamiliar city. He looked around for awhile, not able to find his way until the chills set in, sunset long since passed. He knocked on a random city door, antique ornaments and chandeliers seen beyond the door as a woman with jewels and a latex dress peered over him.

“Could you let me sleep over just for tonight?” he asked a passerby, hoping for some kindness.

“Sleep? Of course, you can rest anyplace, dozing is free. Just keep off the main streets and alleys should be fine,” the passerby replied before nearly slamming the door on the boy. He grabbed the edge before it shut and peaked his head in. “Ahaha, please mam, be nice. It’s just for one evening! Be kind, I’m a foreigner and-“ Caleb pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation.

“You idiot! Who would let in their home a weak little boy like you?” a woman scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. “Where’s your owner? They should’ve taught you better manners than this, disgraceful.” The door finally slammed, Caleb removing his hands to avoid injury.

"Individuals here are shockingly selfish and icy. I’ve never met women so frigid," Caleb muttered to himself, his disappointment evident in his voice. ‘Everyone here is cold and catty as hell,” he lamented, his frustration growing.

“Psst.” A woman with a soft pelt of plume leaves around her neck and hair that looked like green tangled roots walked by, her lips pastel coated in a light tint of lipstick. “Come with me, I’ll feed you. I know who you are.” She said generously. Caleb, a little weary started to follow her, the girl putting her arms around him protectively until they reached her abode- a giant

carved out hollow tree with windows and doors, the leaves the same gilded, lustrous tone as the streets and buildings. He’d seen other trees like this on the way here, but most held multiple doors, stairways and apartments within, this one seemed to be a singular household.

When she showed him in, Caleb was exposed to a luxurious loft with velvet furniture and a hearth. “My name is Fronda Weevil Beechworth. Please sit down.” She invited him onto a soft couch and lit the fireplace, before going into the kitchen, pouring some lime-green substance in a cup with brine-textured amber chunks and handed him the cup. “I am a sympathizer of the Boy’s Liberation Front. Well, many plants up here are. But I could tell from your dress, you’re not from around here are you?” She asked.

Caleb started to sip slowly. “Uh.. no. I’m from Xi.” “As I suspected. You’re an Enigma Escapist.”

His eyes wandered up towards her. “Uh.. also no?” The boy paused. “Wait, what’s that?”

Frona took a moment to remove some daisys from a basket and place them in her hair, ornamenting them elegantly. “You don’t know? Hasn’t the Enigma reached your sector?”

Cal nodded. “The Engima has reached everywhere. I know what it is back home, but I’ve never heard of, that.”

She folded her hands quietly on her lap. “Well, living conditions haven’t exactly been safe or comfortable as of late. Not since the end of the Duskblade crisis. There’s a lot of refugees due to the Enigma. Escapists are those who have reached the pinnacle pessimistic outlook on Xi or other realms, and immigrated elsewhere. Some of our own in Orchid have become Escapists too, for different reasons- but not nearly as many as you guys. The Enigma seems exponentially a worse problem right now in Xi, while here it’s a minor inconvenience.”

“I see, suppose it makes sense people are leaving if our shiny toys ain’t workin.” Caleb took a slurp with his spoon and then stretched his arms abit. “Duskblade crisis?”

“Yes, that’s what they call the massacre of Duskblade Apostle. She was a respected and well- renown priestess, fleet commander and activist, but after she and her most fervent supporters were assassinated at one of the Domina’s palaces, it was revealed she too was a sympathizer of the BLF. Most there were. Rumors were already spreading about it prior, so some think the political purge was a means to get rid of dissidents and those harboring BLF sentiment. Because of that, partisans of the movement have become agitated and active, and many have fled Orchid since the Duskblade turmoil began. With how the Xian authorities are acting towards escapists, you can’t tell how much of the situation is the Enigma and how much of its political pressure. I have many questions about the Domina you came from. I’m certain she's on your bad side too.”

“Our Domina? Oh, you must mean- the Xistress.” Caleb pronounced. “As for whether she’s on a ‘bad side’, ehhh?” He shrugged, even with how little he knew about history where were some facts that came to light and slipped off like sunbeams thru a droplet. “Yeah she arrests a lot of people. Sometimes she purges political commissioners, or military officers or yes- probably even Escapists. She even does that for crimes uncommitted, sometimes just for having the

wrong allegiance or sympathies. It seems that’s how our ruler works right? I don’t like her

either. She’s also kind of a big ‘ol baby, though she has kept our galaxy together and safe from threats, that’s gotta count for something yeah?” He scratched his head. “It wouldn’t surprise me if she was arresting escapists or those criticizing her handling of the Enigma. That stuffs, getting kind of messy back home.”

“Are your people not conquerors? Imperialist? Rendering the free forces of the stars and lifeforms beyond into your midst and subjugating them with citizenry and service to your empire?” Frona spoke seriously. “Just as our people are.”

“Oh. Right.” Caleb looked away abit and took another sip. “Aw well. That doesn’t really change anything, we all know she sucks, and Orchid might have problems too but at least she takes care of the Enigma. Or, she’s trying to. If you can believe that- I mean we can’t really believe anything the Xistress or Orchid’s Government says.” He shrugged. “I’m not really a Politian or someone who typically cares about politics, I just want everything back to normal.

Like a normal place where normal people like myself can have their daily lives. I want my

comfort. And I guess that’s all that matters?” “You don’t sound very enthusiastic about freedom or policies my young friend.” She looked down at his hip. “That’s very strange for an officer of the Boy’s Liberation Army.”

“How did you-“ He was startled. She looked down at his pouch. “That pouch, it has a little mud droplet shaped like a teardrop on the side. That’s the BLF enigma. I thought you would be a patriot like me, but it seems you’re callous and indifferent. Something worse than an Escapist even. Doesn’t sound like someone who believes in freedom, or loves our planet. Or even their own home. It sounds like you just care about your own self..”

Caleb put down the bowel and huffed. “I’m literally just a kid, what do you want me to do? Who cares what happens to the world? I mean, what do you do for a living?”

She picked up a vial of green foamy liquid and swirled it abit, before pouring it out and unleashing it on his injured, bruised leg. “I am a magical botanist. A mage-herbalist. A very powerful one. But I do require food, water, a nice habitat and other essentials to be able to

provide for those around me. I am very much a pragmatist, I try to help those that I can. Mud or not mud, plant or insect. I met my wife this way, she works for the church and we have our disagreements, but-“ When the gel felt cool and smooth on his healed skin, she looked at him.

“You should get going. She’ll be back soon. I was going to let you stay the night, but I gravely misjudged you. She'll probably be displeased at having a foreigner as a guest.” The young man looked down abit as she walked him back to the street, and they made their way out silently into the night. On their way out, Frona saw a giant of her own race and sex, holding a sledgehammer, covered in an outfit that resembled a golden cloak. She looked like a gigantic fern tree with lumbering 40’ legs and a feminine gentle face. “That’s Alma, a friend of my mothers. A fellow patriot. Like her, she wants to see Boys liberated, she taught me kindness and equality were superior to the qualities of obedience and self-indulgence. The bugs in the church scorn these values, but- I still believe.” Frona pushed him one last time. “Go now, you seem to align more with that church then you do my folk. You would only be a burden to our cause. A selfish foreigner here to do no good.

Soon Frona returned to her tree-like home and left, leaving Caleb to the dark of dusk.

He wandered for awhile, eventually looking for a good alleyway to curl up in. Near a trashcan he found a huge carpet, just silky and flexible enough to serve as a blanket. Caleb

pulled the carpet out, surprised how heavy and bulky it was. “Uggh, what the heck? There’s something in here.” He started to unravel it.

As he looked further, Caleb's heart sank at the sight before him. "It's, that man moving chests the woman was beating before.." he whispered, horror creeping into his voice.

The man lay on the ground, wounded everywhere, his face a crushed wreck, stains of blood leaking out everywhere and rapidly spreading in a red puddle. He was dead. Caleb could only watch in shock and horror, feeling helpless in the face of such brutality. He sat down,

plunked his head against the floor and stared up at the stars, whose glimmer appeared choked out by the glamor and gold of the imposing architecture above him all throughout the city.

 

☆ ☆ ☆

 

Dozens of miles away, deep underground in the mountain ranges the Boy’s Liberation Front was on edge. Months of preparation, the Liberation Army was mobilized to strike Orchid's forces. They were prepared to send their assault on the sanctuary at any moment, the attack plan in place. Liberation Army was mobilized to strike Orchid's forces. They were prepared to

send their assault on the sanctuary at any moment, the attack plan in place. But now, they waited for the moment to strike. Their hopes felt dashed in recent months. The man tasked to assassinate the Domina, had yet to report any progress. They were getting desperate and with the plan’s execution delayed after constant continuous delays, the army grew more agitated with each passing minute.

"Have you heard the news? Nathanial, is alive and aimlessly wandering," Seth exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Yes, Seth, it appears so," counselor Trey affirmed, his tone measured. "Our scouts caught sight of him, accompanied by an unfamiliar Xi youth, meandering through the midtown Daten region this very evening. He contacted us via Marigold, yet it's still conceivable that the Domina's watchful eyes have been upon him, constraining his movements and communication."

"That fool," Seth muttered under his breath, his brow furrowing. "Where could Nathan have wandered off to now?"

"Our reports suggest he was headed towards the very heart of the Domina's stronghold, her castle," the counselor replied, his expression reflecting a mix of worry and contemplation.

"Can we truly rely on his allegiance?" Seth pondered aloud, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "This situation grows more troublesome by the moment."

Trey observed soldiers walking in and out of the tunnels, giving secret salutes and codewords to assure their trustworthiness and commitment. "I share your apprehensions," another leader, Matt interjected, his voice filled with caution. "I've been informed that the

Domina's demeanor towards her son has grown increasingly distant and cold. Nathan stands as the lone dissenting voice in this realm, a beacon of defiance against her rule. Let us not rush to judgment. Consider, too, that Nathan remains under constant surveillance.”

“Could this be a trap, orchestrated by the Domina herself?" Seth asked.

"Nathanial, destined to ascend as the future Ruler of this Domain," Counselor Groening declared, his voice resolute despite the doubt lingering in the air. "We must tread cautiously.

Our mission remains paramount. To reclaim our rightful place, to assert men's dominance over women, and to overthrow the oppressive reign of the Domina." Stacks of ammunition were piled to the ceiling.

"Together, we shall rise," the chorus of voices echoed within the underground base, their words a fervent pledge of loyalty. "For we are the children of Gaia, forged in the fires of

adversity, warriors of mud!"

"Blow up the church!” “Crush the Domina's hold”!” Let the boys' rightful reign begin!" they cried out, their voices rising with each declaration, fueled by fervor and conviction. "Pride, loyalty, and glory are the pillars upon which we stand. Even in the face of uncertainty, we must remain steadfast. Let us march forth, united in purpose, and bring about the dawn of a new era!"

"The intricate web of the holy intelligence network has ensnared us all," Seth mused, his voice heavy with the weight of revelation. "Our recent failed attempt to eliminate the Domina, the leak of our operation data... It's all too coincidental. Only a select few were privy to our plans, and Nathan's sudden disappearance and now reappearance... We cannot dismiss the possibility of his involvement in light of these circumstances."

"He's upstart junk. I've cautioned you endlessly time again that having him gone around and elevated to the position he's in will just demolish our tasks." Seth yelled.

Marigold talked unhesitatingly. "He's a magnificent young fellow, he's quick areas of strength for and urban leaning. Nathaniel, in my opinion, possesses a pure heart filled with fervor and ardent ideals. He has an uncommonly valiant spirit, and the characteristics to lead our freedom forward!”

Seth, seeing Marigold’s speak on his behalf scoffed. He never trusted women, especially not women claiming to sympathize with boys or work on behalf of the organization. She sensed this and squeaked slightly. “Plus, Counselor Seth Sir, he’s our biggest patron and without him and Astrid and their ‘Anonymous donor’ our treasury and funds would fall apart, sir.” She lowered her head.

“Send the assassination notice.” Seth said, swishing his long robes, stroking his beard and turning around to head towards his office. “At ease. You are all dismissed.”

☆ ☆ ☆

 

Hidden within her private quarters in the Imperial Palace, Astrid stood in front of a

mirror. She moved her finger over it until the translucent imagery of Harmonizer, the Overlord’s other supporter suddenly appeared as if waiting to hear what had transpired since the other afternoon. Astrid began to relay what she knew, the cold emerald knight stroking a pure red

rose-bush with a blue jewel around the banded roots. “I see. So currently our Lord does not remember who he is or his own mission? Have our worst fears come to light?”

Astrid nodded. “It’s very worrying. I’m going to keep an eye on him as best I can, but until we can get Goliath’s memories back, put everyone else and our plans on standby. I’m going to try to work with him and the BLF to execute the steps we discussed. Until then, stay steady.”

Harmonizer plucked some petals and threw them into the air like decoration, the imagery of her slowly fading out. Astrid sighed as she slumped against a wall, hearing a loud shriek from elsewhere.

The Domina looked at the gem laying on the table, one of the medic boys bandaging up her wrists and soaking all the blood. She had blindfolds over her sockets covered the absence underneath, like dark chasms into an otherwise unblemished crystalline peach-tinted face. One of her assistants, Rava looked on with fear and apprehension. The woman covered her mouth, she was a respected midwife who had even helped raise Thatti, but she’d seen the way Lyras

treated her servants. How she wouldn’t dare let injury or disrespect fall upon them in public, but dealt harsh and punitive measures behind these holy walls. Rava, the flowery girl with green flesh and petals across her wrists even was tasked with finding secluded quarters for Nathaniel at one point, she always observed the Domina’s icy nature towards her son and didn’t understand the sudden embracing of her scion she was doing now, while still keeping airs publicly he was a mere concubine. “S-sire, was that really necessary?” She asked.

Lyras didn’t even turn to meet her, rather observing the punished gem in consolidation of her slights.

“Please, she was a lowly Petal that dared to touch and mishandle my belongings. That’s a grave crime. I should have taken her head, but I only took her hands instead. They’re capable of growing those back after a few months, no? Gems are designed for such, I offered her

extraordinary and much needed kindness, and you try to call it a brutal discipline?" She insisted.

Rava rubbed her neck uneasy. "B-yet, her eyes and her tongue were.."

"Her eyes needed to pay for the transgression of sending Nathan an enchanting look, and her tongue legitimately got discipline for attempting to slight Nathan with her sweet tongue and compliment his figure with a salacious infliction. That insult to my son has been paid in full. Do you have anything more to say?"

"No, your reverence."

Lyras finally turned to her.

Her face, devoid of any trace of emotions like a sculpture. Voice harsh. Every single aspect of her stung in and paralyzed the assistant like a drug of nervousness, dread flowing through her green capillaries.

“Rava, you've become very rash recently. Your mom was an individual right hand to the past Domina, I don't have any idea what sort of impact she had however that does not hold relevant anymore.” Her voice droned on, it was something of a miracle Rava had lasted this long.

“I u-understand your holiness but-“

“In any case, on the off chance that you keep on contradicting me and show affront, I must assume you’re aware and accepting of the consequences.”

“I wouldn't dare, n-no!”

“Then you are dismissed.” Nezura told her. “That will be all.”

Rava walked away holding her head up high, taking her licks. The worries magnified n her mind. ‘This feels risky. The Domina was always such a cruel person, but she’s usually cool- headed and wise. However ever since the new concubine came into the palace, she’s been acting erratic.‘ She thought back to when that boy had first come into the world, the hatred the Domina felt, all the betrayal she swore from the goddess for giving her a son and not a daughter, as had always been the case for every Domina past. But she couldn’t understand her psychology now.

‘Just who is he?’ She wondered.

The Domina returned upstairs and found Nathan in the new bedroom the gems had setup, a quality bed, wardrobe and his customary religious literature were all present for his incorporation into the Sanctuary. "You will come on an excursion with me." She told him.

"An outing, mother?"

"To the slave market I mean. There are rumors that several good boys are for sale. Or atleast, that is what your aunt tells me. She’s rather insistent I see her latest stock.”

“Isn’t this just more political theatre? You need her support and the clergy’s solidarity after the rumors. The Boy’s Liberation Front has been afoot no? Money and favors.”

“Naturally.” Lyras replied. “But nonetheless, family is family. Let’s go see what her auction houses are offering.” She outstretched her arms. "Obviously, not even one of them will be a counterpart for you in excellence. We’ll look for a good one!"

Nathan smiled. "That is a splendid choice, mother! I've been concerned up and down that I'm not serving you alright, I'm so happy!"

"Totally, sweetpie. New slaves, new young men, new courtesans, you will give them as much love as your requirements want, and treat them as your own for pleasing you.” She patted his head and ran her hands down his chestnut hair.

"Carnal pleasures be blessed. Thy truly do have licentious needs that another boy could satisfy." He confessed.

"Truly Nathan?" Lyras said with a dour expression, betraying nothing. "Indeed, undoubtably! I will make haste, scurry and prepare."

Oh my gosh my gosh my gosh SQUEEEEEEEEE buying another boy for Nathan will be so SOOO CUTE! They can cuddle and kiss and I can peak in a crack when they get all steamy and- wait wait what am I thinking about! He’s not some boylove portrait, you need him dead remember!

But, why not buy him another buy until that happens? What’s the harm.. Ehehehe boys kissing..

"My Domina.." Astrid, her signature blue robes with the golden highlighted trims flapped into the the room. Her blond bangs swept over half her face, eyes baggier than usual. “A thousand condolences, but I have important news.”

“A minute, Nathanial.” She said, walking out of the room until Astrid followed behind her in the halls.

"Be direct, what is it Orion?" Lyras said.

"A murmuring humming bird flew in with a monogram message, logical for a covert operative. It was accompanied by Challenger's seal joined to a white ribbon and a red ribbon." Astrid showed her to the Domina’s throne room where the two were placed on a pedestal, the bird helplessly nailed by its wings by Astrid prior to keep it still.

“Did they now? A Challenger’s seal, they must be quite well connected if they’re using these empty threats as cover.” Lyras smirked.

“Two no less. But a red is hardly news sire.” Astrid turned to her.

“Hardly. Red is a gambit’s farce Orion. We only get a dozen white a year, I still have fond memories of the bloodshed from the last tone. That was a pitiful dual.” The Domina sat on her throne chair and leaned on her arm, as if bored. “Nonetheless, do we know who sent it?”

Aww YISS finally, been waiting to go POW and BLAM on some poor meatbag brave enough to challenge me! Defending my throne is the only cool bit of fun I get to have these days..

Astrid nodded. “Yes, we have cracked it. It is by all accounts a gathering summons from the Boy’s Liberation Front.. The message illuminates a double-crossing plot to oust the Domina. We're running an investigation on the bird to reveal its origins. On the off chance that they're pretty much as messy as we naturally suspect, they might have offered up their headquarters on a silver plate."

"Great, we can plan to pound these disreputable vermin unequivocally. Who else has tacit of this?" The Domina observed the bird, helplessly trapped with what was essentially a declaration of war ribboned to its claws.

"Just I have, my Domina."

"Ah, well then." Lyras laughed. “Is it safe to say that you are letting me know those imbecilic revolutionaries are this incompetent? For these idiotic rebels to think they can plan

that far ahead without me knowing? That any of the regrettable riffraff have any premonition or benefits over me?” Lyras laughed.

"Furthermore, what of the Challenger's seal? Is it solid?" Astrid asked.

"Is it? Its believability is of no significance.” Lyras Nezura walked up to the bird, gently ripped out the nail and started stroking the bleeding wing. “Of course, my Domina,” She replied, "We'll use it as an opportunity to draw out the schemers and execute the entire resistance in one blow."

Astrid was excused and proceeded with onwards past the nursery, and to the upper chambers where the prince was cleaning himself, once in a while thinking back to guarantee she was carefully concealed. Her heels clattering on gold and white tiles, until she shed them off and she remained by Nathan's showering shadow. " The BLF's message was successfully received, and countermeasures will begin in a few months.” Astrid spoke. On the other side of the curtain, Nathan grinned. “The time is almost at hand..”

☆ ☆ ☆

 

The sun rose high in the sky, like a malevolent beam of judgement casting its enigma

across the golden crest of the mountains. Its unclouded face, illuminated the castle, the Domina

in the heart of her chambers sitting upon her throne. Her eyes, glossed over as the rays reflected through her golden eyepieces, her white skin was like the unblemished snow beneath the sunset as they shimmered across her face. Across town, a boy put off his morning blues to try to find his way back to the sanctuary. As he walked the streets in the early morning, Caleb read the

brochure he’d been given out a traveling church-member.

Rules for young boys and women: Boys can't walk openly unreservedly or before a lady except if given consent by their proprietors, yet at the same never unaccompanied. Boys must use the backstreets and alleys if they are without their partners.

Young Boys will play out all work, viewed as either actual work, errands or

hazardous undertakings. First and foremost, women work to find pleasure, eat, play, rest, study, and compel.

A lady's fulfillment will continuously start things out before a male's, regardless.

Young Boys, except if given unique consent won't ever hinder lady or talk before a female. Whenever told not to talk, they will be completely quiet and compliant. To be

SUBMISSIVE IS BOY’S GREATEST VIRTUE.

Any boy opposing these standards will be viewed as upset and accordingly responsible to forgo any leniency or securities mutual respect around more polite circles manages the cost of them. Whipping, cruel actual disciplines, obligatory sexual joy giving, and difficult work are acceptable as consequences.

Caleb scowled at the wrinkled pamphlet shoved into his hand. "This is horrendous. No wonder there's a rebellion brewing out here…" His stomach began to growl, he stopped at a stand selling juicy looking fruit. "Geez, this looks…quaint." He flipped a coin the weight of a

grape. The seller, some sort of ant-like lady clacked her chitin mandibles in disgust. "What is this, a joke? Xi currency? You some kind of foreigner? This wouldn't even buy me breakfast." “W-what, what do you mean? My currency should be good anywhere!” Caleb shouted back.

She took out some petals from her tip jar and showed them to him. “Seeds. Petals. Jewels. Gold, this currency is acceptable here.” “But-“

"You revolting old hag!" a shrill voice shrieked. Caleb turned away from the fruit merchant to see an older man surrounded by pots, a lady in crimson uniform kicking him. "I warned you not to peddle your wares before my store!"

He got on his knees and prayed. "Gaia bless, please m'lady, forgive me. It's my only way to earn a living since my master disappeared. Selling these pots, it barely…it barely keeps me alive."

"Shut up! Disgusting! Is there nothing you boys won't stoop to leech off us women? Look at your wrinkled face. Men should be chained to the house, scrubbing floors. Instead, you dare

try to earn your own keep?!" She took out a stick and attempted to scold him with force. “Stop, STOP IT!” Caleb shouted, running in front and grabbing the end of the stick.

The marketplace froze. Every pair of eyes was now locked on Caleb and the woman in crimson. His impulsive act seemed to ring as loud as a thunderclap in the hushed silence.

Some watched with smug indifference, others with a pity that curdled Caleb's stomach. And there, somewhere deep in the sea of faces, his heart almost stopped. Astrid! Her emerald eyes widened, blazing with shock and something fierce... something protective. Then, her features hardened, any hesitation erased, and she began to weave her way forward. Caleb began to run in the other direction.

"Hey, the heck is with that boy! That punk's on the run! No collar! Get him!" A woman shouted.

"Catch that brat! There'll be a hefty reward for the woman who does!" Another yelled.

From the back of the crowd, Astrid surged forward. There was no way she'd let her charge slip into the enemy's clutches. He dodged through the marketplace, surprisingly swift for someone unaccustomed to freedom. "GET BACK HERE!" she roared.

He darted around a corner at a desperate sprint. As the street widened, he glanced back with wild eyes. A crowd had gathered, their attention captured by this bizarre midday chase. "Stop! Someone help!" Astrid pleaded.

"Isn't he your boy?" a woman asked.

"Oh, you know boys," Astrid forced a strained laugh, her face burning with exertion. "Always trying to slip away."

The crowd parted as the boy bolted through the center of the street. Astrid pushed herself past them, her breath ragged, heart pounding. They couldn't lose him.

The city streets watched as he ran past startled crowds. Caleb bolted away from the alley, desperate to lose the pursuing shouts of angry women. Every fiber of his being revolted against the order to disguise himself in a dress. This whole city, its twisted rules, the injustice of it all, it burned within him.

Back in the alley, Astrid's patience had worn perilously thin. The absurdity of the situation fueled a simmering anger within her.

"What is wrong with you?! Why the hell did you run?" she fumed, her voice crackling with intensity. “I.. uh, you were abit scary back there. And the other girls too.” He said.

Astrid rolled her eyes. She tried to put a hand on his shoulder.

Caleb flinched, but defiance shone in his eyes. "No. This is…this is humiliating! They treat men like animals, Astrid, and you just want me to roll over and accept it?"

"Accept it enough to stay alive!" Astrid countered, her temper flaring. "We survive first, then we change things!" She tossed him a dress. An absurdly frilly, bright pink dress. To make matters worse, a garish floral hat had been shoved inside like some kind of diseased cherry on an overly-sweet cupcake. A strangled protest nearly died in Caleb's throat.

"No. Absolutely not," he sputtered, holding the dress at arm's length as if it would give him cooties.

"Do you want to get caught? Put. On. The. Dress!" She stomped her foot.

The sound of the mob from before was fast approaching and soon they were cornered. Yet, his pride warred with his survival instincts. Their voices rose in a heated whisper-shouting match, oblivious to the growing sounds of pursuit outside. Frustration crackled in the air as thick as an impending storm.

Then, it happened. In a swift, horrifying blur, Astrid moved.

Her blade wasn't aimed at their pursuers, it was aimed at him. With a sickening shriek of metal, the knife in her hand sliced through the air towards Caleb's shoulder. Pure instinct saved him, but he still cried out as a thin line of blood blossomed upon his tattered sleeve.

"Do not test me, boy," Astrid snarled, her emerald eyes ablaze with fury. "I will dress

your corpse myself if I have to. Nathan will have my tongue if you don’t get back to him safely."

Fear washed over Caleb, icy and chilling. This was Astrid as protector, as pragmatist, willing to do whatever it took to ensure survival. Without a word, Caleb turned and ran again. Not back to the mob, but deeper into the twisting labyrinth of alleys, driven by a mix of terror and rebellion. The city blurred around him, its noises fading into a muffled backdrop to the

frantic pounding of his heart.

Then, a stroke of desperate luck. Signs, rough and hand-lettered, plastered like tumors on crumbling walls: "Boy Auction! Tonight Only! Quality Stock! Come to Madam Veena’s

propitious Auction house." Panic twisted in his gut, but this was a problem for later. Right now, the auction's promise of darkened rooms and distracted crowds gave him the perfect place to hide, if he could get there alive. Gasping for breath, Caleb weaved through the crowd flooding towards the auction. Behind him, he could still hear the fading shouts of the women, but exhaustion dulled their sting.

As the auction hall loomed before him, Caleb paused at the back entrance. An unguarded doorway beckoned, its darkness seeming more a welcome refuge than a terrifying unknown.

Slipping inside, he found himself backstage. Rows of frightened, silent boys sat chained to rough benches, awaiting their turn to be displayed like cattle. The sight ignited a fresh surge of anger within him. “There’s a lot of people at today’s auction. All the slaves brought in today are pretty boys,” remarked a bystander, his voice filled with observation.

"Taking into account how this is the best spot for everybody to flaunt their young boys, it just seems natural they dress them up," another person added, their tone casual.

"The Domina enters, clear a path!" announced someone, their voice carrying a sense of urgency.

"That is the Domina, what's she doing at the slave market?" questioned another, their surprise evident.

"That nice guy by her side to her should be the popular boy, Goliath, her newest slave.

She reported them on the congregation's official web-based entertainment the previous

evening," explained a gossiping voice. When he entered, it appeared as though the market was illuminated by his light.

"He has a pretty cute ass," someone remarked, their tone admiring.

"I love you Goliath, come live with me! Couldn't care less about that holy hag, I can treat you such a ton better!" another voice exclaimed, filled with longing.

"Shh, the empress is listening, please. Mind your respect," cautioned someone else, their tone hushed yet firm.

"Lovely people, welcome to the Madam Veena's Propitious Auction house, we will initiate the sale now," announced the auctioneer, their voice booming across the bustling market.

"This slave is marked down, the bid begins at just 10 metals. He doesn't eat a lot, perhaps you could fill him out?" the auctioneer suggested, their tone businesslike.

"Ugh, get that unattractive thing out of here," muttered a disgruntled bidder, their disappointment palpable.

"They generally start with the most exceedingly terrible quality stock," observed another, their tone critical.

Lyras rested on her shoulder. "They're all unfortunate and low quality. My sister typically advises them to display the most expensive slaves first because my time is extremely valuable. Where is she anyway?” she mused, her voice tinged with annoyance.

“If I blend into the crowd, she won’t be able to find me,” Caleb muttered to himself as he darted through the slave stables, his eyes scanning for a velvet curtain at the back of the stage.

“Aquito, don’t you think that slave is very pretty? You should bid!” suggested a voice from the crowd.

“The boy with lips of sin? Pass, I favor buff young men who can do work and cumbersome errands,” replied another voice dismissively.

“Hmhmh, no matter how much I look at other slaves, none have beauty like you Goliath. You are without doubt the most gorgeous man in the country,” cooed a bidder, their admiration evident.

“Your holiness, General Shamrock and your sister Madam Veena have arrived,” announced a servant. Lyras looked towards the bottom of the stairs, a hulking muscular beetle woman, clearly Shamrock appeared, and beside her a woman gleaming with a golden metallic evening dress, orange hair with blue streaks and numerous Petals across her neck and wrists slowly made her way up, around her arm was Shamrock in military regalia. Veena’s mothy wings and soft fur around her neck appeared like a silken boa she flaunted around, the delicate, perky lips of her face said to be among the finest of beauties in all of Prospit’s religious and financial elite. There was no one who didn’t know who Lyra’s flamboyant sister was, there were few she hadn’t swindled, won over her even bed with in her wild days. Lyras grumbled and put the sibling rivalry aside to ready herself for the best professional outing permissible for her patience.

“Take a gander at that, our beautiful sponsor the scandalous Lady Veena has shown up! With her boy, he's a remarkable looker would he say he is?” whispered another attendee, their tone filled with gossip.

“How embarrassing, how can a woman wear such showy ostentatious clothes,” remarked another, their disapproval evident.

“How superbly indecent, would she say she is rich?” agreed another, their tone judgmental.

“She owns auction houses like these everywhere, and once gambled the entire treasury of the Imperial Sanctuary during a party while intoxicated. She brought the Domina complete and unadulterated embarrassment, and repaid her seven days after the fact,” whispered a gossiping voice.

"Be cautious with your boys, they say she's inconceivably lascivious," warned another attendee, their tone filled with concern.

“Greetings, your highness,” greeted General Shamrock respectfully. “You may stand General Shamrock,” replied the Domina.

“Greetings, your holiness,” greeted Madam Veena with a smirk. “Sister,” replied Lyras through gritted teeth.

“So you’re my sister’s new boy. Where did she buy you I wonder?” Veena asked as she ran her hands down Nathan’s chest. “Just call me Vee. You’re quite beautiful, if it weren’t for my

sister’s protectiveness of her boys, I’d definitely make you mine,” she continued, her tone flirtatious.

“The Domina has warned me you are quite infamous for poaching others property.” Nathan replied, sitting firm.

“I may be known as one to look for beautiful boys, but that’s not always true. I admire your acquisition with the greatest respect sister,” replied Veena diplomatically.

“Rather than pretty doll like pretty boys such as Goliath here, I personally prefer men who are strong and manly,” added Madam Veena with a smirk.

“Nonsense, men should be beautiful! Especially if they’re to be good for sex,” countered the Domina firmly. “We should hold a ball, and make them dance and drink and put them in

fancy dress.” “Oh, I’ve never seen you get drunk, preparing to fuck and flirt?” Veena giggled.

“Mind your manners. What’s with that outfit, aren’t you ashamed of yourself as a member of the royal family?” questioned Lyra, her tone reproachful.

“I like going out freestyle, your highness, let me be and get off my case sis. You’re such a bore sometimes.” retorted Veena defiantly, swirling the wine glass in her hand.

“You test my patience in surprising new ways sister,” replied Lyras with exasperation.

“Whatever. Regardless, did you acquire a new slave? My bartering houses won't ever dishearten!” boasted Veena proudly.

“Hardly. There's not a solitary slave here that outperforms the ones in my royal palace,” retorted Lyras confidently. “For someone so known for her auction houses, your training,

grooming and slave rearing skills are substandard. These boys are pitiful.”

Veena leaned on her seat and crossed her legs as she looked at Nathan. “Oh, am sure you could tell me all about proper grooming..”

Behind the curtain, Caleb shuffled among the other boys in back the curtain. “They really just sell you off like this huh? This world is shitty. How could someone as cool as Thatti

come from a place like this?” He sighed, looking at the dress Astrid gave him. With a quick look around he started to undress and quickly slipped on the dress and floral hat, the other boys slumping with indifference. “Ugh, this looks so sweet I could puke.” He pinched the tight lacy material, the frills swishing at his fingertips. Astrid pushed forward and appeared behind him, dagger pointed.

“About time.” She said. “Now come on, we have to sneak you out of here! You’re coming with me.” He scowled. “Like hell I am! Atleast put the knife down first.”

Astrid’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t push me. You may not like it here, but I have to put up with it.” She said, voice rising in desperation. Caleb snorted, the sound carrying his disgust. He stuck out his middle finger, pulling his eyelid down and sticking out his tongue. “Fuck off.” He said.

“Okay. Blood will be spilt then.” She leapt at him and swiped her dagger, Caleb dodging with ease. The two began to shuffle until she tackled him past the curtain, the auctioneer taking notice of the two wrestling on the floor, one with knife in hand.

“Looks like a fight between Orion and a slave?” Someone said from the audience.

“That’s Orion right, the Domina’s right-hand women? She’s scary, always so sharp

looking and like she’s about to sharpen her tongue.“ commented another, their tone tinged with apprehension.

Caleb got up and readied his fists. “Ha! Luckily for me I know martial arts.” The blond women started swinging continually, Caleb placing his fist square in her gut. He was surprised when she went flying into the other boys, twirling onto the floor with a flop. “Woah..” He looked at his hands. “I didn’t think I hit that hard. How’d I do that?” She got up, a trickle of blood spit out. “Y-YOU!”

From the audience, Nathan watched. Astrid, what's going on with you..

He began to sneak away slowly while the commotion was high. “I’m going to the grape stand to get some wine mother.” He said, she mumbled something as he left.

“E-easy now!” Caleb said. “I’LL KILL YOU!” Astrid screeched. “I can do this without my hands, I’m very very skilled in that area!” He jumped forward and with a single leg swiped her feet out from under her, slamming her down. “Y-you’re…” she stopped mid-sentence as she heard footsteps approaching. Caleb ducked. A crowd of soldiers surrounded the small altercation. “What’s the meaning of this Orion!? Fighting a stray boy, on our majesty and her sister’s

auction?” A woman from the garrison corps shouted. “SHUTUP!” Orion swung her dagger in a full 360 degree sweep, the airy force of the swing cutting them at the chest. Caleb jumped up to dodge, going flying up into the air. “W-what was that? How did I jump that high? What were those feathery lights around my feet?”

Caleb flinched as Astrid appeared next to him, her fangs bared. Her eyes were red, tinged with fury. “What is with you and violence!?” she shouted. He took a step back. “Hey hey, I don’t want to fight. We can just escape from here if you don’t wanna do it!” She paced. “No. We’re

doing this, now. No more running.” “I don’t wanna fight! I just want to get outta here.” Calee muttered. “I WILL get you out! You will not live this life anywhere but in shackles. I will not allow it.” Astrid snapped. “I’ll just break a few bones so you cannot escape first.” Caleb stared at

her, his eyes wide. “If we fight we will lose. They outnumber us, and they’re trained soldiers. They’ll use firearms. I think we can get out without violence, just try.”

“SHUTUP!” Astrid charged ahead. With no further recourse, Caleb closed his eyes and swung again, his speed and strength rising beyond what he knew was possible. The end of his hand slammed into her face and she went flying at fullspeed into the audience, a crack around the masonry and seats, blood splattered out her back.

The entire audience went dead silent.

"Nobody said there'd be entertainment." A woman said. "Wow, that boys really strong! To be fighting on par with the Domina's confident." Caleb swung his fist at her, knocking her back with a haunting of his breath. "What? How did I.." He looked down at his hands, surprised at his own strength. The feeling of blood rushing in, of his muscles throbbing gave him an elated rush.

"Amazing, Orion's dead!" " It appears that boy was quite powerful. Orion lost!" " He has extraordinary STRONG hands, he killed Lyra’s top fighter with just a solitary punch!" " She was excessively feeble, ah well." “That’s just what she gets for being weak.”

They are treating the death of a women as if it were nothing? Cheering even? What's going on with them?

Veena licked her lips. She needed to have this boy. He was so remarkable in her eyes, she knew she should have him.

Lyras raised an eyebrow at her sister. “You lowly thing-“

Astrid gradually got up, shaking and twitching from the injuries. "I'm not dead you boneheads. Ugh, what are all of you doing? Attack that brash moron! Capture him my lord!"

“Orion sweetie, isn’t that your job?” Lyras said, to the laughter of the audience.

Caleb stepped forward to the front of the stage. “How can you just sit there and watch? Selling people, murdering them, you’re heartless! The strong are supposed to protect the weak! You’re all animals!”

On the auction stage, the auctioneer grabbed his shoulders and began to hear offers from the crowd. "Everyone, here is a sturdy one! They seem prime for a good home, so I'll open the bid at 200 Lumen. Wait- an offer, 300 Lumen.. no, 500! 500 for the boy, going once- Oh, 1000? 1500!"

Astrid stumbled forward slowly, her eyes were filled with hate. The woman looked at him with disgust. “I’ll get him, no matter how long it takes!” She yelled. Women were already

perching over the ringed pews to get a better look at the boy below. "The auctioneer didn't stop to take a breath. "7000. 8000...10,000. 15,000!" Suddenly ‘Goliath’ appeared on stage to the confusion of the audience. Before he could speak Caleb held a dagger to his throat. "Don't move!" He'd taken Nathan hostage to get away from auctioneer. The Domina looked at Nathan with cold eyes.

Madam Veena rubbed her hands together. “Oh, taking a hostage now? He’s smart and bold, I wonder how charming he’d be in bed? As a connoisseur of boys, there’s none more suitable for me to have..”

Astrid finally made her way back to the stage, she was breathing heavily as if

hyperventilating. “Now you turn your dagger on my lord..” She hissed and her hands were

pulsing a multitude of colors. “S-stop!” Caleb shouted. “YOU BRAT!” The women sped forward like a flash of light, a rush of agility having her grab her dagger back, her swing coming down in the blink of an eye. The audience was speechless as Caleb darted back and she cut Nathan’s forehead. A trickle of red dripped down, like a sunset with a trail of crimson lowering down its vermilion descent.

Lyra, your advisor just put harm towards your own heir. Your flesh and blood, its as if she made you bleed personally. Surely you’re not just going to let that slight stand? Do not let her get away with treating your prized son that way. You must show decisive discipline.

“She did WHAT?! No one hurts Nathan (but me)! Oh she is going to get her wedgie SO

bad..”

Inside the negative B&W spaces of her psyche, the energetic kid Lyras punched the air

back and forth repeatedly as if to demonstrate she would not be tested, her lips made sound effects as she did and danced around the other pews and audience members.

“Enough.” Everyone went quiet at the Domina’s lone word. "That was a mistake." The Domina said calmly, walking down the stairs through the clearing crowd. The atmosphere was deadly serious, and all the women’s face was full of steel. Every step she made caused Astrid’s heart to tremble. Soon she reached the bottom stage and drew close. “Astrid,” The Empress said calmly. Astrid went rigid, her body tense. “That was MY concubine you just cut. You know how I feel about those who touch my belongings.” Astrid looked at her with shock, her face white as a sheet. "Your holiness..!" She cried out, her body slumping down with fatigue and remorse.

“I apologize, your highness. Please accept my sincerest apology, it shall never happen

again.”

“Of course it won’t.”

“W-wait-“ Without even being able to process it, Lyras swiped the dagger from her hand

and struck a blow vertically along Astrid’s face, creating a gash above her eye that had her screaming. She grabbed Astrid’s hand next and stabbed it, sticking the dagger in. Astrid yelled, her voice cracking. A soldier shrieked and had to turn away as blood went spraying, pointing at the bloodied wound on her side. Her eyes widened and her daggered-hand reached out at the Domina, but her back was already turned and walking towards the stairs, the girl’s eyeball taken away with it. She took a separate knife out of her hand, but Caleb swiped it then stood there, surprised at the sudden rush of events. The Domina turned her head to stare at Nathan. Slowly, Caleb held it back at his neck.

"Goliath sweetheart, do you need any support?" She asked.

"I'm great. Don’t bother, go back to your seat.” Goliath replied calmly and confidently, waving off the concern.

"Very well. Then resume bidding again," the Domina mentioned, her voice carrying authority as she turned around and slowly walked back up the stairs to her seat.

"Highest bidder, I'm going to be completely honest with you. You may as well not bid any more, that boy's good as dead." Carnique announced. The crowd went silent. She walked

towards the edge of the stage, her eyes never leaving Caleb's. "This won't end well for you." Suddenly Nathan put his hands up, as if surrendering. "20,000 Lumen" He shouted, to the confusion of everyone in the colosseum. When he turned to the auctioneer, she looked back at Lyras in hesitation and cleared her throat. "A-ahem, right. 20,000. Do we have any other takers?"

“I’m curious how obedient he is.” “He’s young, what does he want? Can he follow orders?”

“Your highness, a little boy for a royal isn’t very fitting. Do you realize this?” General Shamrock whispered. “Let me be the judge of that.” Lyras replied.

A figure snuck through the auction platform, climbed up and stood behind the boys. She took off her mask, showing a face with blue eyes, with a blonde short ponytail. "I’ll keep my promise to you, Thatti." She said in a cold voice. "25,000 Lumen." The girl shouted, everyone looking behind the spectacle to see what appeared to be the Domina's daughter, the crowd was silent, the figure had been infamously the cause of an enormous ruckus in the past.

“Who? Hands off!" He shouted as everyone looked behind him, pulling the dagger closer against Nathan's neck. Caleb turned around towards Thatti with a look of shock. "Thatti?" She looked at him with her blue eyes, her gaze penetrating his gaze.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, his voice filled with bewilderment. Thatti looked at him, coldly. "Saving your bacon you idiot!" She whispered, her voice filled with resentment. "30,000 Lumen!" Nathan shouted. The Domina looked back and forth between the two in dispute, deciding to let this play out. “35,000.”

"40,000!" Nathan replied back.

"60,000." Thatti immediately replied.

"75,000." "90,000." "125,000." "150,000."

"180,000." A voice shouted from the crowd, Veena raising her fan. Lyras socked her in the

jaw.

 

"250,000." Nathan made the last bid, everyone looking to Thatti.

"Are you going to bid?" Asked the auctioneer, looking at the assembled nobles. She

pretended to yawn. "Going once.. Twice, thrice!" The bid didn't gain further traction. Thatti looked at the auctioneer, her fists clenched. She looked back at Nathan. "That's it, that's the end of the bidding!" The auctioneer declared. "Ladies and gentlemen, what a show! I award this boy to the Domina, on behalf of her slave's bid."

The crowd began to cheer as Lyras looked down, disappointed. Her face was red with anger. Caleb released his knife as the auctioneer handed Nathan a collar, which he clicked around Caleb and held the leash, walking back up to Lyras.

"What, frivolous nonsense my children and boys get up to." The Domina said, in her most public-friendly voice, to the laughter of the audience. She said, turning her head towards Astrid. Astrid began to walk towards the girl, who looked at her with disinterest. Astrid snuck up with her staff and attempted to reach Caleb, Thatti grabbing the handle with one hand and her shoulder with the other. "It's over, Orion. Don't push your luck any further." Thatti said to

Astrid, turning back towards Lyras. Astrid stood in defeat, walking towards a corner of the colosseum. She looked at the sky in despair.

Thatti walked over to the schoolboy. “Hey.” She says. “Hey.” Caleb replies back unnerved, clearing his throat. “You doin okay bro?” Becca asks.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine. Aren’t you mad still?” The boy replies.

She shrugs. “Furious, with all that’s happened. But it is what it is.” Her hand slings around his head and she leans in close to speak softer. “I’m sorry for, all that’s happened lately. I know it’s really crazy, but I need you to stay put here alright? Here-here. Something’s happened and I need to figure it out. I cannot protect you right now, so you need to trust me.”

“A-ah? Alright I guess. I trust you Thatti.” He tried to cooperate as best he could. “So I really have to stay, here? In-”

“In Orchid yes. Stay close to Petal if anything goes wrong. And heaven forbid, if you must reach out to Thatti’s- I mean my mom. She’s a pain and not trustworthy but, she can be reasonable when desperation calls for it. Atleast sometimes.“ Thatti shrugged. "As much as it pangs me to say this, you're safer here in the palace than you are back in Xi." She said to him, with a look of uneasy concern. He'd become an unwilling slave, but at least he'd be well fed and live without worrying about further kidnapping.

"You can't even tell me what's going on?" He asked.

"That awful woman over there is one of your kidnapper's agents, she wants to trap you.

That's all you need to know. But be wary of her, she's an unhinged woman." She whispered in his ear. "YOU THINK?!" Caleb practically shouted.

"Nathan's in good hands here, he's a good guy.. for now. But I don't trust him with Astrid or Lyras- I mean 'mom.'"

He nodded. "And now, I need to talk to her."

Lyras looked back to the boy and his new master. "When I said we could come to purchase you a concubine, I meant it.. and I will follow through on that promise. Nathan will be your owner. But you can call me 'mother.'" She said to Caleb. She said as a smile broke through her mask of stone. He looked into her eyes, unsure of whether or not she was a safe bet. He looked down at the floor, ashamed at being a slave in this new land.

Lyras reached up and petted him on the head, his face turned red from the awkwardness. "And just look at this wonderful slave you are! I mean 'you'll be', of course. I know he'll take good care of you." Caleb was dead silent, a cringe on his face. "What's the matter, is my son too scary to you?"

"M-mom." Thatti said, trying to make it sound convincing.

"Ah, you're here Thatti. I'm sure we can make up for lost time at another party later on." The Domina told her.

"Tsk." Thatti turned to Nathan, terrified and still unnerved. He looks so innocent, no way this is just an act. But, did he forget that he's really..

"Thatti! I was wondering when you'd show up, you were at school for so long." Nathan said, pulling his boy closer and hugging him like a teddybear.

"Y-yep, Thatti sure comes around comfortably doesn't she?" Caleb said. "Oh, you two know each other?" Nathan asked. "Um, yes." Caleb responded.

Thatti looked back at the boy. "A-ah, yeah. We're good friends, I've helped him out in the past." She said with a nervous smile. "N-nothing to it, really. Trust me.. nothing."

Lyras shuffled by Thatti’s side, looking at her suspiciously. “I trust your studies in Xi have been treating you well?” She asked.

“Didn’t learn nothin.” Thatti stuck out her tongue. “But no murderers or assassins, atleast.” She remarked, goading the Domina to look out at Nathan.

“Yes, none of those indeed. Don’t you find it strange how.. happy he seems? For the better one might think, it’s almost as if he was absent all this time.” She patted her daughter’s shoulders. “I’m not quite sure what occurred, but you best stay out of trouble. And please, mind your dear old mother. You’ve given her enough heartache already.”

The Domina finished. Thatti looked down at the floor. “Sorry, mom.” She said in a whisper, looking away from her mother and taking Caleb’s hand.

"Thatti!" Petal waved, and she ran over to her. "Sshsh." Her, Lazuli, Hyde and Maisma were accompanying her. The girl began to explain the situation, to their evergrowing confusion.

"You want that that kid to live in... your palace?" Petal asked, looking at Caleb. "Keep your voice down." Thatti whispered. "S-sorry!" Petal said, but her voice still echoed with concern. "But I mean, this is a dangerous idea. I have to keep pretending to be Thatti, it’s the

only way to prevent her mother from knowing she blew the big one. If she finds out.. you’ll all be shattered, and I’ll lose one of the only resources I have in all this, a literal head-of-state."

“Sunspark, you cannot just pretend to be someone else permanently and impersonate them while dropping Caleb off here, this sounds disastrous.” Petal tapped her foot. “Really think about this for a moment. This is a horrible idea.”

"Yeah, yeah I know.." Thatti sighed. "But Jack and Orion kidnapped him last time, he's not safe back at school. I don't have Headhunter or my powers anymore, so I cannot protect him there. I have no idea what other rats they might have scurrying. And he needs to go into hiding for the time being, so he can't be out in the open with anyone watching him.. not even you lot.

This way I’ll be safe disguised as Thatti, and Caleb will be safe here."

"A-ah, so.. " Petal looked back at him, her eyebrows raised. "Instead of keeping an eye at him, we're leaving him with one of his literal kidnappers and giving her full access to him.

Sounds, brilliant." She sighed and rolled her eyes.

"That's where you come in." She ran around Petal and shoved him towards Lyras.

"M-MOMMM! Mother, dearest! Look at this beautiful Petal my boyfriend gifted me." She winked towards Hyde and Petal "Isn't she just precious?"

"W-wh-" Petal squirmed as she was pushed forward.

Thatti elbowed her. "But, they don't let Petals on the schoolground in Xi! You could get expelled for keeping one. Soo, I need her to stay in the sanctuary, with brother and his new boy, okay? Is that okay?"

Lyras looked at the gem with suspicion, who tried to smile as wide as she could. "I thought you and that horrid gem broke up." She said.

"Uh.." Thatti stammered. The Bedlam gem stepped forward, bowing. "Spare my

insolence, your highness. I cannot keep away from your daughter. I came with my entourage of gems, and tried to gift her this Petal in order to win her heart back. Sadly she seems to have spurred my, advances. But she refused to give back my gift.. you know your daughter, stubborn as ever."

"What a, lovely couple you two don't make." Lyras grumbled, ever risible to show her disapproval. "But your mother is forever the charmer, so you and your lot are free to go. Do give Red my holy regards."

Thatti pushed Petal towards Caleb. "Just keep an eye on him, okay? Don't let you-know- who come by and kidnap him." She said in a whisper, making eye contact with Astrid. “And.. please, keep an eye on Nathan too. Don’t let anything harm him.” Petal looked at her stricken. “Ah, of course. The pursuit of sibling fidelity.”

“Please, stop whispering to that Petal. And do tell me next time you’re returning home.” The Domina interrupted. Thatti looked down at the floor. “Sorry, mom.” She said in a whisper.

Lyras put her hands along the boy’s shoulders. “Come along, sweet boy. Your master awaits your service in the sanctuary.” She said. “And I’m still waiting to hear more about your studies, pumpkinpie.” She said to Thatti, her voice terse and menacing.

“Yeah, sure. I’ve gotta get back to school tomorrow so why not.” She said, rolling her

eyes.