Catalyst

Chapter 4


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Barren City of Poliask, 14 years ago
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It was a frigid day in the middle of winter. A stone building built up two stories of barren walls and barred windows. Stow covered the roof and porch. The windows glowed orange within. The building was a halfway house for those who had nowhere to go. The orphanage had filled up and had no room for an Edenian if the church had anything to do with it. They did. A small face was seen peering outside the window. The eyes were silvery blue and he had long uncut black hair. His skin was slightly tanned and it wasn't hard to tell that this young boy was Aizik. The only foreign thing on his face was the smile. It was bright and hopeful. He whirled around running to an older man who sat in the corner reading a book by the light of the fireplace. The room had about ten people in it with bedrolls all along the east wall. The old man looked over as Aizik approached and raised an eyebrow. His hair was long and gray tied into a ponytail. He had short whiskers and wore simple brown garbs. Aizik reached him and stopped just short, "Ralus, it's snowing!" he cheered. The old man sighed and closed his book.

"I know Aizik. What, you want to go play in it?" he asked. Aizik nodded vigorously. Ralus stood and patted him on the head heading out the door with Aizik close at his heels. Aizik ran out into the cold wet fluff looking straight up into the oncoming flakes with mouth opened wide in awe. The door closed. "Aizik," called Ralus. The child looked right over at him still smiling. "I have to tell you something important now." Aizik's smile faded as he turned completely to face the old man.

"Is it okay Mr. Ralus? Did I do something bad?" he asked. Ralus shook his head.

"No child you've done nothing yet. Still, you know how everyone at this place treats you differently?" he asked. Aizik cocked his head to the side. "They do so because you're not like them. You are an Edenian, Aizik." explained Ralus. Aizik still looked confused for a moment.

"Ralus, what's a E-deenan?" he asked. Ralus shook his head,

"Edenian."

"Edenan?"

"Eden-E-an"

"Edenian?"

"Precisely." said Ralus. "An Edenian is a race of people like us Cezatians. The thing is, Edenians are mostly all dead. You're good fighters, and good at becoming Readers or Speakers." Aizik smiled,

"I'm good at them cause I'm Edenian?" he asked excitedly. Ralus nodded smirking a little.

"Here's the thing, you can't tell anyone else about. I used to be a Reader myself. I'm going to train you to be one. That way, you'll become strong and can leave this place. How does that sound Aizik?" Nodding vigorously Aizik's eyes shimmered with the visions of being a powerful warrior going from city to city saving and helping people with his powers. He had no idea what a Reader did, but all he could imagine was a superhero.

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"So a man named Ralus is who taught you to be a Reader?" Eira said still confused as to what a Reader was in the first place. Aizik nodded.
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"They be the words of He who has made this soil of the earth and sky of the heavens. His word holdeth the breath and being of all things. His word is spake not by the tongue but by his breath that floweth within thine heart. It is spake by his will that resound in thy mind." recited Aizik. He opened his eyes looking up at Ralus who nodded and smiled,

"Good Aizik. That is right. All right." he complimented. His smile faded into a cold stare. "Now, I will introduce you to your word. It is tradition for a Reader to be bonded with a specific Poema Verus. Do you remember what the Poema Verus is?" he asked.

"The Poema Verus is the True Verse. It is His word. The word that our Light Father used to create this world." Aizik answered easily. Retaining information came easily to him for the most part. Ralus nodded again,

"Good. I have a Word for you Aizik, but first I will decipher it for you. I will find the Poema Verus that is in your heart. Chances are, yours is weak Aizik because you were born weak. You're only human after all. When we find it I'll know how to replace it. You understand?" Aizik nodded in agreement. He didn't like the sound of that. Something felt so wrong about it.

"Master Ralus," Aizik called. Ralus paused listening with a twitch of impatience on his face. "What is the Word for?" Ralus furrowed his brow.

"The Word in your heart is where you will draw your power from. When you face an enemy this Poema will be your strength. If your Word is weak or too specific, you will be weak or useless. The two are essentially the same." Ralus explained. Aizik looked down.

"Okay." he replied. Ralus left the small room briefly and came back with a small boy. The boy had big yellow eyes and long brown hair. He frowned seeing Aizik in the room and looked up at Ralus with disdain.

"What's this? How come there's someone else here?" he asked annoyed. Ralus looked down at him with irritation in his eyes.

"Sit down Cavan." he commanded. Cavan lowered his gaze and took a seat next to Aizik looking at him analytically. Aizik smiled and waved at him. Cavan pouted and stuck his tongue out at him. Aizik chuckled which confused Cavan. Ralus went in front of both of them. "I want you to use your ability. I want you to tell me what you feel in Aizik's heart. What is his Poema Verus Cavan?" he asked coldly watching them. Cavan looked at Aizik again and suddenly snatched up his hand recoiling immediately.

"Eww it's sticky!" he shouted in horror.

"I was eating honey," Aizik said innocently looking at his hand.

"Cavan!" Ralus growled glaring at the child. Cavan's head slumped like a scolded hound and he reached out grabbing Aizik's hand again turning up his nose on contact again. He closed his eyes. Aizik smiled again. This kid was funny. How had he never known he was there before? Maybe he lived on the second floor? Aizik had never been up there. A warm feeling began to tingle at the ends of his fingers. It seemed to spread slowly down his arm. Cavan blushed a little and a smile slowly appeared on his face. He opened his eyes again looking surprised. "Well?" Ralus pressed. Cavan looked up at him.

"It was really warm and...it was like niceness...it was..." he stammered unable to find the proper word in his vocabulary. Ralus stared intently at him. "Itwas...compassion. Whatever the Poema Verus that represents compassion is; that's what's in his heart." Cavan finally answered looking at Aizik again. "That's so cool." Aizik smiled brighter.

"No. It's not enough. I'll have to teach you how to accept a better Word Aizik. For that, I'll have to get you to understand how to hate someone." Ralus scoffed looking down at Aizik. The word 'hate' rang gravely in his ears.

"Master, why do I have to hate?" he asked staring up at Ralus's cold eyes. Placing a hand rigidly on the child's shoulder Ralus stared deep into his innocent pupils,

"Because Aizik. It's the only way you can truly kill someone. If you hate them with all your might, you can would their very soul. That is how you kill your enemy." he explained standing straight up again and heading for the door. "Reflect on that for a moment. I'll be back soon." With that, he exited.

Cavan looked back at Aizik again, "I think what you've already got is cool. It's way better than the Master's stupid Word. His heart is selfish and greedy. I'm only letting him teach me how to be a Speaker so I can get out of this place sooner and find out more about the Edenians. What about you? You're just waiting to bust out of this place too right?" he asked excitedly. Aizik remembered learning a little from Ralus about Speakers. They used the actual 'words' of the Poema Verus to control the world around them. He smiled back,

"No, I trust Master Ralus. I think he'll make me a good Reader and I'll be strong enough to help people in need when I leave here." answered Aizik. Cavan stared wide-eyed at him.

"You can't be serious..." he said in amazement. Aizik looked back at him innocently. Cavan glared, "That's it!" he growled standing up and walking right in front of Aizik placing his hands on his shoulders. "From now on, you and me are friends. That means we look out for each other. Got that?" Aizik looked up at the kid who just suddenly took charge and started calling shots.

"But...but why would you want to be my friend?" he asked a little shocked. Cavan rolled his eyes.

"Because stupid, you're a good guy. You are a good guy right?" he asked. Aizik nodded, "Well good guys have to stick together. Got it? So that means we're friends now. Like I said, we gotta look out for one another. That means I can't let you do anything stupid ever again like trusting Master Ralus." Cavan explained grinning. "You need to understand, Ralus is a bad guy okay? We need his help to get strong, but we can't-" Cavan stopped mid sentence hearing returning footsteps. He shot back to his seat, just before Ralus reentered the room.

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"It was then that my real training began. I was taught to forget my instinctual compassion in the face of battle. When I have an enemy, I must hate them with all that I am. As a Reader of Soul, my hatred is a bond of sorts. I cannot shake free just as the object of my loathing cannot escape my abhorrence. I don't enjoy hating anyone. This is why I do all I can to reject the making of enemies." explained Aizik. Eira looked down at her feet. So Cavan's been looking out for him for that long huh? But still, he couldn't stop that transformation.

"So, I'm still not quite sure I get the whole Reader and Speaker thing. You say this Poema Verus is the word or the words that the Light Father used when he created...things?" she asked. Aizik nodded,

"That's the belief, yes."

"And you and Cavan can learn these words and use the power they grant in different ways? You draw on the power of 'hatred' and Cavan draws on the power of..." Eira paused hitting a snag on her confusion of the topic. Aizik shook his head smiling warmly.

"Cavan is a Speaker so he 'speaks' the words of creation and used the power of the words he speaks to do something to that word's effect." he tried to explain. It was a difficult subject to explain to a non-practitioner. Eira nodded as if in understanding.

"And you're a Reader of Soul? Are there different kinds?" she asked. Aizik nodded,

"A Reader of Soul like myself draws power from a Poema Verus that makes up a human emotion. In my case, it is hatred and contempt."

"Okay, but your power would have come from compassion if Ralus hadn't gotten a hold of you huh..." she said sounding disappointed. Aizik shook his head,

"No, I'd have no power if it weren't for Ralus. I'd have never become a Reader." he replied. Eira shook her head,

"Nevermind. Go ahead Aizik," she said giving up. She really wasn't sure how to get her point across without sidetracking his whole story. He nodded.

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Poliask, 9 years ago
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Ralus lead Aizik out behind the building. "Aizik, you're twelve years old now. You've learned enough. If you can't complete a simple task then you'll never be a Reader. You understand?" he asked. Aizik nodded now wearing the white jacket he'd have on years later. It was much too long and the sleeves were rolled up for the time being. He held a long curved katana in his right hand. Voices of a man and a woman joyfully heading home after a day spent together were heard heading down the street. "Go Aizik." Ralus commanded. Aizik obeyed heading out into the street which was empty and just barely lit by the light of the moon and stars above. A young couple was coming his way. They stopped when they saw the young boy standing in the middle of the street. Aizik looked up at the man shivering. The man stepped forward carefully,

"Hey there, are you alright?" he asked concerned. Aizik bit his lip for a moment. He didn't want to hate this man. He'd never even met him, but right now if he wanted to be a Reader...he had no choice.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but can you please make me your enemy. I don't want to involve anyone else." he said his voice trembling. Ralus had said this man was part of the city militia before, but they ostracized him when he fell in love with the mayor's daughter. Many in the city wanted him gone. That's all it took to make him the target of Ralus's training for Aizik.

The man cocked his head to the side staring at Aizik, "I'm sorry? What are you talking about?" he asked. His hand touched his sword. Aizik looked at his hand. Would he really have to kill this man? Suddenly Ralus came running from the other side of the building with a frightened look on his face.

"Watch out! That boy is mad! Strike him down now before he kills anyone else!"" he shouted. The man turned his head looking frantically at Ralus then back at Aizik. His face changed,

"What?" he spat, "You murdering little-" his sword was drawn and in an instant the man was upon the boy. Aizik barely raised his sword in time to deflect the blow. The solid handle of his sword jerked into his small hands hurting even behind the calluses. He winced and took a step back barely leaning out of a second strike. He shifted his weight onto his back foot as a thrust came his way. The point of the blade just barely glancing across his shirt cutting the cloth easily. His back foot wasn't set and he toppled backward looking up horrified at the man who stood over him raising his blade to finish him off. Aizik knew he had no choice. If he was to survive, he had to fight. Not only fight, but win. If he was to beat this man who was in better shape, and clearly the better swordsman, he had to hate him. He had to hate him with all his heart. Eyes shifting to a demonic red he clenched his jaw and kicked just beneath the man's knee cap as hard as he could. A popping sound echoed down the street as the bone lurched out of place. The man howled in pain buckling on his now bad leg. Aizik rose immediately and swung his razor sharp blade down through the bone of his enemy's shin. The scream was almost musical to him. The heat and fire of his hatred pushed him forward. This man had to die. It was no matter of survival anymore. The man had to die, because he was his enemy. Because he was despicable. Because he was fucking doomed the moment he drew his sword. Aizik slapped away a feeble attempt at an attack and cut a gash through the man's wrist knocking the blade skittering across the empty road. His enemy tried to scoot backward to avoid the demonic child in front of him, but it was no use. Aizik remembered feeling the heat curdle the contents of his stomach. The muscles in his body tensed and throbbed. He remembered screaming and raising his sword over his head.

The woman screamed. Aizik looked up seeing Ralus shout something at her and point her down the alley. She ran where she was directed and Ralus stopped turning to Aizik. The silence finally faded from his ears as the old man spoke. "You'll become my little mercenary yet. I'll go take care of our witness. You may return to home and get some rest." Aizik nodded slowly his body still shaking. He stood feeling something sticky between his fingers. He looked down seeing himself covered in red. The same red that was all over the ground and the eviscerated corpse in front of him. Hot bile rose in his throat and spewed forth from his mouth all over the blood-soaked earth.

The time was passing in a haze. He sat in the bath rinsing the blood from his skin with cold water that wasn't quite clean. Getting dressed he want to his bedroll and lay down. It didn't seem real. That man would never live again? Really? Worse of all, he still hated him. He still couldn't shake it away. The man was dead and gone, but he could not bring sadness to his mind, only emptiness. An emptiness tainted with malice. Aizik felt a pain in his heart that sprang from deep within its corridors. It wasn't sorry or regret for the kill itself, but only because he wanted so badly to cry for the man slain and who he'd forever remember as a hated enemy. Unfortunately, he could do nothing. In fact, he would sleep quite soundly.
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"It wasn't long before I was killing people for money. Money for Ralus. He'd hire me out to people as a mercenary to kill someone giving them problems as part of my training. Some of my targets were evil men, some were innocent. Each of them is eternally burned in my mind as a villain. As someone to despise. It started when I was only thirteen. By the time I was fifteen I'd already surpassed the fear of death and of killing. I knew if driven to kill I'd have no ability to regret it. I'd hate the person so deeply that in the end it wouldn't matter." Aizik explained to Eira. She looked at the floor. Her face was flushed with anger. It was too horrible. Someone so innocent twisted and warped into a weapon for someone's profit.

"Aizik, how did you get out of all that? Don't tell me you're still working for Ralus?" she asked. Aizik shook his head,

"Things changed, Eira. If not, chances are good I'd have not survived to this day."

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Poliask, 5 years ago.
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Cavan tapped his spoon against his bowl. Aizik looked up at him concerned. "Cavan, aren't you hungry? You've been eating scarcely the past couple of days." Cavan looked up at Aizik then over at the closed door to the room before returning his gaze to his friend.

"Look Ai, we have to get out of here. You can't keep doing this stuff for Ralus. You know you can't. We have to go." he said sternly. Aizik shook his stubborn head.

"Cavan, I can't go until I'm completely done training. Once that's done, we can go and I'll save a life for every one I've taken and then some." he answered. Cavan threw his spoon at Aizik's head who winced and barely dodged it with a jerky duck.

"You idiot! Saving a life doesn't make up for the one that disappeared. It's not like a piece of bread or a missing shoe that can just be replaced. When you take a life you inherit the responsibility of that person's life. It will forever be on your head Ai. Every life you take will be more souls that you have to carry on your back. Aizik, I can't watch you do that man." Aizik looked away from his friend's face and leaned down to pick up his spoon. He began wiping it off on his jacket.

"Cavan, those people died so that I could get stronger. If I give it up now then didn't they die for nothing?" he asked handing the spoon back. Cavan glared at the spoon and knocked it out of Aizik's hand. Aizik recoiled staring into Cavan's furious eyes. He'd never seen his friend so upset with him before.

"Dammit Aizik! Obviously I'm not getting through to you! Fine, I'll go take it up with Ralus himself. Mark my words, after this you'll never kill for him again." he spat standing up so fast that his chair fell behind him. Storming out the door Cavan disappeared down the hallway. Aizik stood staring out the door for a moment. The truth was he didn't even know where Ralus was today. Only Cavan knew where he went at these times. The days after Aizik's training missions that is.

The day passed slowly, boringly. Aizik wasn't used to being alone anymore. Usually he and Cavan were together training, talking, or playing some cheap game in the down time. Right now it was like the earth itself was still. The house they lived in now was big enough for the three of them, but when it was empty it was as if time had stopped.

Night fell and Aizik stared at the ceiling finally hearing the door open. He sat up in bed hearing footsteps approach his open door. They were light like Cavan's, but their rhythm was way off. Cavan peered into the room smiling. Aizik smiled back, "Cavan!" he called excitedly. His friend came in, but something was wrong. He looked alright on the outside, but something had changed. His smell was different, his walk was...odd. Cavan was limping and, it seemed as if he was somehow sore. A veil of obscurity was over his eyes whereas before he'd never had anything to hide. Cavan was hurt, but hurt so deep and so badly that even Aizik could not see the wound just yet. When he came in and lay down on his bed he winced before settling on his back. "Cavan, what's wrong?" Aizik asked gravely. Cavan looked over at him still grinning.

"Nothing Aizik. You're done now. Ralus is letting you off the hook for this mercenary bullshit. I knew he was only in it for the money. Well, now he'll get it without screwing with your wiring. Like I told you before, I have to look out for you. We're friends." he explained. Aizik glared.

"No," he growled standing up, "you said we had to look out for each other. Cavan, what happened?" he asked seriously. Cavan closed his eyes and faced the ceiling again. His smile slowly disappeared under Aizik's stare.

"Ai..." he began before pausing. Face shifting away, Cavan shook his head lightly. Aizik knew now was not the time to press. Still, a burning heat develop rapidly in his chest filling the sides of his neck and up into his face. He knew this feeling. It was distress, anger. Few and far between were the times that he felt it naturally without having an enemy. It seemed ready to burst forth from his mouth and electrify his hands to destroy his surroundings. How dare someone hurt Cavan.

"My friend..." Aizik growled. Cavan looked over at him quickly and sat up when he saw the red glow of his friend's eyes. "I can''t..." he stammered choking on his words as he tried not to breath them out as flames. Cavan had always been there for him since he'd known him. Now he was here in pain of some kind. Ralus had gone too far with whatever it was he did. "I can't forgive him."
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"Did you ever find out?" Eira asked. Aizik sighed and sat in thought for a moment.

"Yes, but that would be something for Cavan to tell you himself." he replied. Eira nodded eagerly.

"So what did you do to Ralus?" she asked. Maybe she'd feel better if she heard that he got some sort of revenge on that evil bastard. The wagon began to slow down. The two looked out at the road. They were passing armored guards. Their armor was different from that of the guards in Alium. Instead of simplistic pounded steel shaped only to fit and protect it was slightly more ornate with thicker shoulder guards making the soldiers look heavier armored. The shields they carried each had a short spike on the brunt.

"Hmm, looks like we've reached the checkpoint. I guess time flies." Aizik stated yawning. Eira picked up her bag settling it in her lap.

"Do you think we'll see my sister soon?" she asked eagerly. Aizik shook his head.

"No, we won't be meeting the Maiden until we're all together. I'm honestly not sure what happens after this point." he admitted.

"Oh..." Eira said unable to hide her disappointment. After a few minutes the wagon finally came to a stop. Aizik noticed some of the soldiers walking past them, but something was odd. They moved rigidly as if uncomfortable. Untrained even. His eyes widened and he placed a hand on Eira's shoulder. She looked at him concerned, "What?" she asked abruptly.

"These men aren't trained to use heavy armor like that. Something is wrong. Very wrong." he replied quietly. He knew they seemed to arrive a little too quickly. Stood resting his hand on his sword, but his ribs wretched in pain as a response. He clenched his teeth and buckled. Eira stood and placed her arm around his back to steady him.

"Aizik, are you alright?" she asked frantically. He closed his eyes tightly for a moment mustering up some more strength before nodding and standing on his own. Those ribs had become much more sore than before. Having broken ones before didn't make him more immune to it. All it did was let him know just how much of their pain he could take.

"I'm fine. Let's just hope I'm wrong about our situation turning sour."

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Alium, 8 hours ago
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Cavan stood outside wearing a red collar with his name on the tag. Seiru stood behind him with cold countenance. "Cavan, don't look so glum. I'm sure with his strength you'll see him again. The girl may not survive, but she's irrelevant." he said. Cavan sighed turning and facing Seiru. The man looked down at him without the fiendish grin on his face that Cavan had seen before. It was an unusual look for him. Instead of being evil and menacing he looked handsome and powerful. Untouchable. Still, Cavan had seen what was inside him. That wickedness was impossible to mask from someone who'd seen it before.

"I'm not worried." he lied. "Aizik will return. Just hope you don't become his enemy along the way. I'd hate for you to have to feel his wrath." The last part was a lie too. Cavan knew this man was twisted, but he couldn't feel it like he usually could. That worried him even more. Who was this Seiru?

"Well, that'd just be a waste of good talent now wouldn't it? I can't have that. Now if you would." Seiru replied motioning to the road as a carriage approached. It stopped just in front of him.

Inside the carriage was obviously well paid for. The seats were cushy and the curtain was made of silk. Cavan sat across from Seiru. Natasha staid behind at the prison to take care of some duties. "So what," Cavan began raising an eyebrow, "am I just here as your play fuck or do you have some other duties for me?" Seiru looked up at him.

"I have a few duties for you. They are quite simple." he began, "The trouble will be you trying to find a way to get around what I'm telling you to do without getting your 'brother' killed. If this end of my plan falls through, then he'll end up being no use to me. You understand?" Cavan stared at him in disbelief,

"You think you can kill Aizik from here? Did you forget that I'm not giving you his true name. In fact, I don't even know it." Seiru smiled wickedly, but not as devilish as when he'd been screwing Natasha or Cavan.

"You must take me for small time my dear ass candy. You see, I know your type. You're not doing this for yourself. Your dear Aizik is reluctant at best to do anything against my name as long as I have you, and you won't lift a finger against me if he's in danger." Seiru held up two fingers. "I know the names of two of the people Aizik will be traveling with on this journey. If anything happens that gets in the way of what I want I won't hesitate to use them. They will murder your friend and then take their own lives." Cavan clenched his teeth and looked away from Seiru's gaze at the floor. How was this guy so many steps ahead of him already? Had they been being tracked for a long time before now? This was just insane. Cavan shot his glare up at Seiru's face and held up one finger,

"Answer me this then: What's to keep me from speaking just one Poema Verus and sending your body all over this well furnished carriage's interior?" he asked. Seiru tsked him wagging his own finger.

"I'm not the one who will speak the name you see. All I have to do is communicate the order itself," he tapped the side of his head with the previously wagging finger, "with this. Someone else will use the name then or if I'm suddenly," he shrugged and gave a condescending grin to Cavan, "turned into paint." Cavan sighed and shrugged.

"Well, it seems I have no choice. What do you want from me?" again he lied. He would never give up without a fight, but for now he needed more information.

They arrived at a grand mansion. It was three stories in height and had healthy ivy plants growing partially up the side walls with a well tended flower garden underneath each. The sun was just getting bright by the time they made it. Seiru stepped out first and Cavan followed closely behind. They approached the doors with Seiru leading. Just as they reached them the doors were pulled open by two people. Both were dressed in close fitting maid outfits of frilly black and white and wearing black collars. The skirts were short and their legs were covered in net stockings with straps up their thighs. Each had long blond hair and slim faces with pretty green eyes, but Cavan could tell the one on the left was a male. Still, as they walked in a grand stair case rose in the enter of the room with two more on the sides of the room at the top leading to the final floor. Another set of doors stood in the center atop the first flight between the other two. A large crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling. Cavan had to admit, it was impressive. Apparently whoever this guy really was was loaded. Another maid came running downstairs. She had short red hair and a black hairband. Her eyes were a silvery gray color kind of like Aizik's but of a more natural quality unlike his Edenian ones. Still she was cute, hot even. Cavan watched her come down though she was a little ungraceful. When she reached the bottom she bowed low and greeted them.

"Good morning Master Adatine. How can I serve you?" she asked. Cavan noticed there was no collar on her. Seiru looked at Cavan,

"Take this one and dress him properly. I can't have someone who's working for me or even just getting fucked by me to be in such poor attire. See to it that he looks appropriate." he answered.

"Yes Master." replied the maid rising and walking over to Cavan bowing at a much less obvious level. Her eyes glanced over his tag. "Please follow me Master Cavan." she instructed.

"Just Cavan is fine." he said. She blinked a little surprised for only a brief moment then nodded and turned heading back up the stairs. Cavan followed her up and to the right past the next flight of stairs to room. They entered and he saw one particularly large wardrobe and a wall of mirrors. Raising an eyebrow Cavan closed the door behind himself just before the maid did it for him. "So you don't have a collar. What's your name?" he asked. The maid looked confused again.

"Um, Anasala. Most people just call me Anna." she replied bowing slightly again. Cavan shook his head.

"Look I get it. It's your job to do that who servant girl thing, but when it's just us, stop it." he commanded. Anna raised an eyebrow at him,

"What?" she asked bewildered. Cavan narrowed his eyes at her.

"Can't hear me?" he asked taking a deep breath, "STOP IT!" he shouted. Anna jumped and immediately looked horrified running behind him to check out the door. No one had heard Cavan's shout. She closed it again and came back around in front of him,

"What the hell are you doing?" she growled, "Y-you're going to get me in trouble!" whined the maid. Her face was flushed with red as she bowed low. "Please don't do that again!" Cavan groaned and rolled his eyes,

"Why are you bowing?" he asked. Cavan took another deep breath. Anna looked up at him again her eyes growing to twice their normal size before bowing low again.

"It's habit now please don't fucking do that again!" she squealed standing up straight again. Tears had formed in the corners of her eyes. Cavan looked at her for a moment before shrugging.

"I guess that's good enough." he sighed. Anna let out a giant puff of air and slumped a bit. Cavan smiled at her, but she didn't notice as she quickly marched over to the wardrobe and pulled out a suit similar to Seiru's, but it had a red undershirt and the jacket was pinstriped with red. Anna looked at Cavan then the suit then back to Cavan. She handed them to him smiling,

"Please take these," she asked. Cavan shook his head taking them. She grabbed the pants closing the wardrobe and hung them on an outside rack before taking the items from Cavan and setting them on the same rack. She came over to him and began taking off his shirt. Cavan blushed heavily as his shirt came over his head showing his bare torso.

He'd never actually been this undressed in front of a girl before. In fact, he'd never been able to actually get very close to girls like this. It wasn't that he didn't like them, it was more of that he wasn't used to them in situations like this. Anna was really good looking. So much in fact that he felt a little activity in his penis as she pulled his shirt off. If she disrobed him too much further he may have cause to get even more embarrassed. "W-whoa!" she stammered stepping away from her. She frowned briefly before wiping it from her face.

"What is it Cavan?" Anna asked. Waved his hands as if telling her to stay back.

"I can take off my own clothes thank you very much. Sheesh, we only just met." he sassed uncbuckling his belt and stopping as Anna stared at him. He glared clearing his throat loudly. Anna looked at him again in disbelief,

"You can't be serious..." she muttered. Cavan narrowed his eyes again,

"What you gonna be upset if you can't watch me undress?" he asked teasingly. Anna's face burned and she whirled around.

"Uhn, i-it's not that! I-I just...it's part of my job!" she spluttered nervously. Cavan smiled again when she couldn't see him. He got himself undressed and into the suit. It fit nicely which was lucky for the first try. As he buttoned the jacket he began trying to strike up a conversation with Anna.

"So, how is it here?" he asked calmly.

"The Adatine Manor is the fruits of Master Seiru Adatine's-"

"Not that!" Cavan interrupted quickly. "Get real Anasala. What does he do here, and why don't you have a collar?" Anna paused for a long while as if considering if she should really open up. While he waited for her response, Cavan let his eyes wander down her legs. They were smooth and long, even though Anna herself was an inch shorter than his already unimpressive height. He blushed wondering how a girl's legs felt.

"I don't wear a collar because Master hasn't decided to have sex with me yet. I've been here over a year. It's only a matter of time I know, but there's not particular order to it. When people come here it's either because he takes them in or because they have no choice. I'm sure that's the case for you too right Cavan?" she asked in return. He nodded knowing she couldn't possibly know he was,

"Yeah. You?" Anna lowered her head a little.

"I...fell into debt paying my mother's medical bills. She was always drinking and spending her money on alcohol and gambling. She got hurt really badly one night and I had to work to pay off her debts and when I borrowed a lot of money from Master Adatine that debt came here." she explained. "Still, it got my mother healthy and back on her feet...for another month." Cavan's heart sunk. That was probably not something she really wanted think about again. He took a deep breath and smiled finishing the last button on his jacket. He reached up touching her shoulders. They were so slim and soft unlike a man's. It was nice. Turning Anna around to face him Cavan patted her on one of the shoulders.

"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm gonna find a way out from under his thumb alright? When I do, I'll bust you out too alright? We're friends now after all." he said in a matter of fact tone. Anna gasped,

"What? We are?" Cavan nodded in confirmation.

"Yep, and that means we have to look out for each other. So, if someone messes with you around here then they're messing with me." he said giving her a thumbs-up.

"But...but..." Anna stammered. She couldn't help but blush.

"Trust me, it's better this way. I don't know what that Seiru thinks he is, but I'll show you somewhere along the line how a real man handles himself." With that, Cavan walked out of the room.