Ivy woke with a gasp, her head throbbing with pain. Looming over her stood a blurry figure that seemed to call out to her in a voice she found most irritating. Judging by cadence alone, the heiress knew she was no longer on Callisto.

  "You good there, princess? We thought you were finished."

  "I'm not a princess, and where am I?" Ivy groaned. "I thought I..."

  The heiress clamped her mouth shut, realizing she was better off saying nothing about her escape. If she were in a foreign place, it meant her father had failed to capture her, meaning he would be relentlessly searching the entire solar system. That being said, there was no possible way the simpleton that knelt beside her could possibly be one of Algernon's spies.

  "Thought ya what? Died?" Lila smiled, her rose colored eyes beaming with curiosity. "That woulda have been a shame, I've never met someone with your getup."

  "It's not a getup; everything you see is natural." Ivy frowned, struggling to raise her own head.

  "Ooh, take it slow, I know not all of us had a smooth ride," the short-haired girl giggled, brushing aside a dark brown strand as she reached to fix Ivy's pillow. "You've been asleep here longer than anyone else."

  "My ride was...perfectly smooth, I'll have you know," the heiress lied, her tone becoming more sheepish as she spoke.

  "Me personally, I got a truck thrown at me. Oh, and then I got rocked by an alien. Can you beleive that?"

  "No, I can't," the heiress struggled. "Now get out of my way."

  Suddenly, Ivy realized her attire had been completely changed, causing her to nearly tumble out of what appeared to be a bunk bed. Alongside the other girl, she wore what appeared to be a short black skirt with a set of white leggings, as well as a tight red vest and a silver necktie. Upon further inspection, however, it would appear Lila's necktie was red, matching the color of her eyes.

  "Where...am I?" Ivy hissed. "I won't ask again."

  "Glad you asked. I have no idea."

  Ivy's surroundings were those of an old human barracks, with rows of stacked beds and glass windows lining the walls. Even the curtains were made out of a rather historic fabric, alongside a set of blinds she had only seen in a museum. But quite possibly strangest of all were the inhabitants of the building, who all seemed to be young girls, wandering about the red carpet with their nearly identical uniforms.

  "An orphanage?" Ivy climbed down from her bed, trying in vain to balance herself with the black cloggers that had been placed on her feet. "It's surprisingly clean."

  "Here, let me help you down." Lila smiled.

  "D-do not, touch me," Ivy growled. "Why are you even here?"

  "Okay, well dang, my bad. Just watching out for the straggler, how criminal of me. But hey, if your trip was so smooth, how come you slept in late?"

  "Why you-."

  Before Ivy could raise her hand, another girl with silver hair walked by the bed, tugging on its foundation before removing a splinter of wood. Such a peculiar sight stunned both Iva and Lila, who stared in disbelief.

  "And who is that?" Ivy sighed.

  "Beats me, she hasn't said a word since she got here."

  The strange girl began to stab a window with her newfound weapon, struggling to break what was now known to be a material far tougher than glass. Lila rushed over in response, climbing down from Ivy's bed and approaching the girl.

  "Hey, uh, what's your name?" Lila smiled nervously. "And you...might not want to do that."

  "Sonera," the girl responded, glaring at Lila with violent intent. "And why not?"

  "Well, you look like a smart girl. So let me just put it this way. We both know who put us here, and maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't want to alarm them by trying to escape."

  Sonera paused for a moment, staring at the glass as she pondered her options. Eventually, she produced a slight nod of sorts before dropping the shard of wood. She then turned to Lila, tilting her head as she began to analyze the girl.

  "Oh, uh...I'm Lila. Nice to meet you, Sonera."

  "You're from Earth," Sonera muttered in a lower voice.

  "Indeed, I am." Lila placed her hands on her hips proudly. "What gave it away?"

  Sonera refused to respond, her eyes still fixated on Lila's figure. As an assassin, it was her prerogative to understand people who bothered to approach her. Luckily for the earthborn, Sonera was becoming increasingly certain of the girl's unthreatening appearance.

  "Okay, well...can I guess where you're from?"

  Sonera nodded silently, amused by the jovial game.

  "Mars." Lila pointed confidently.

  "Was it the Russian accent?" Sonera frowned.

  "Yeah...cheap shot, I know, most of the colonists were from there when it was first established."

  "I do like this game though." The silver-haired girl changed her expression into something far more friendly. "Let's continue."

  "Oh really?" Lila shrugged, uncertain as to why Sonera was becoming more approachable. "Okay."

  "Where is she from?" Sonera pointed at Ivy, who was pouting silently next to the bed she had finally finished climbing down from. "I could tell you."

  "Uhhh...Europa?"

  "No. She's from Callisto."

  "I ain't gonna lie, I've never heard of that place." Lila chuckled.

  "They are into...how do I describe it...eugenics."

  "Ah, so the white hair is real."

  "Painstakingly so." Sonera smiled. "This is...nice."

  "Yeah...you kind of struck me as the silent type there for a bit."

  But before Lila could finish speaking, Sonera turned to leave abruptly, as if no longer interested in the girl's existence.

  "Ugh, martians." Ivy rolled her eyes, unable to muffle her complaint. "How typical."

  "What's that?" Lila asked as she walked back to Ivy, feeling insecure in her ability to communicate.

  "That thing wasn't even talking to you. It was analyzing whether you were a threat or not."

  "Uhh," Lila grimaced. "You mean she's cold?"

  "No, all martians are gangsters. That one was probably a whore and an assassin. Kind of like how you earthborn are all primitives."

  "I seem to have gotten you stuck in a rant here," Lila backed away, raising her hands as she gritted her teeth. "Allow me to leave."

  "Good." Ivy turned away.

  Lila then began to wander the room, avoiding every girl she came across before kneeling in front of another bed. It wasn't easy to contain her panic, nor was it getting any easier to distract herself with menial tasks. If she couldn't keep her mind busy, then her insecurities would make way for reflection.

  "Don't think about them," Lila muttered to herself, trying her best not to ruminate on what had happened to her family. "Mom would want me to be strong."

  "She must be proud of you, the way you helped Ivy."

  "Huh?" Lila stammered, looking up to see a girl with strange tattoos, her soft voice practically whispering into her mind. "H-how did you know-."

  "I saw you. I was worried she wouldn't wake either, but I...well, I'm not as brave as you. They scare me."

  "Well, uhh...thanks anyway. It's nice to know at least someone isn't trying to avoid me. My name is Lila."

  "So I've heard." The girl pressed two fingers together with a nervous tremble, before her voice seeped into Lila's ear. "Mine is Lunae."

  "How the heck are you doing that?" Lila's eyes widened.

  "What do you mean?" Lunae gasped.

  "Your lips don't move sometimes, but words still come out."

  "I'm...not entirely sure."

  "Oh...well that's convenient." Lila shrugged. "So what...you were just...watching me fail at conversation this whole time?"

  "You tried it with at least a dozen girls." Lunae nodded, taking a seat next to Lila, fiddling with her shimmering hair as she spoke. "I wanted to chime in but-."

  "Nah, I get it. You're fine."

  "Really?" Lunae beamed with excitement.

  "Yeah, some people are shy like that."

  "I've struggled to be brave ever since I woke here. I know so little...and it frightens me."

  "Join the club, honey." Lila laughed. "This whole thing is obscene."

  A loud rumble then came from the far end of the room, frightening the girls as two wooden doors began to shudder. Lila had been eyeing the peculiar entrance for some time, but figured it would be better to stay clear due to its intimidating size. And to her dismay, the creature that walked out was indeed monstrous in size.

  "Humans," Yrix spoke loudly, silencing the room with her mere presence.

  For all but Sonera, the alien's presence was a shock that the girls were unable to process, watching in horror as Yrix stepped into the center of the room with a single stride. Her words seemed to slip effortlessly from her mouthless face, penetrating the minds of every soul she could lock her gaze on.

  "Listen closely," the Psion squinted, unveiling a large golden scroll from behind her tall body, its silky parchment practically long enough to act as a blanket for Lila. "I, Yrix of the Consortium, bring you a decree from his opulency, the Emperor. This holy declaration states that your lives are henceforth, as of this moment, sworn to the Consortium. You will be trained here, in my Aerie, and you will be forged into Psionic weapons to fight on behalf of your empire. Fail or succeed, it is all the same; you will give your life for this cause. My cause."

  Yrix then began to scan the room, its inhabitants still as the crypt. She didn't need words to understand their feelings, nor did she need another lengthy explanation. Casting the scroll aside like trash, Yrix spoke again, her voice even more piercing than before.

  "Those clever among you know why you were chosen to be here. Your Psionic potential. I have searched far and wide for such gifts, and using that same power, I will hone you into a blade. Whether or not you survive the process is...irrelevant."

  Lila began to whimper, clutching the back of her head as she struggled to process Yrix's words. The Psionic connection was far stronger than the one she felt the day she was stolen from Earth. Only this time, it appeared she was not allowed to simply lose consciousness.

  "Or perhaps I shall put it even more plainly. Impress me with your gifts and live. Disappoint me, and I will kill you myself, before finding a use for your corpse."

  The room remained silent, as the girls reeled from Yrix's overwhelming presence. At such a point, only one remained focused, her gaze still fixated on the flayer regardless of her pain. Sonera still hadn't forgotten what was taken from her.

  "Now. For your initiation. Many of you here have yet even to activate your latent potential." Yrix explained, gesturing towards the doorway behind her. "I will awaken that potential, one student at a time. If you survive the process, you will be...changed. Do I have any volunteers?"

  Just as Yrix had expected, Sonera was the first to eagerly raise a hand, glaring at the Psion with her usual malice. But what genuinely suprised the flayer was the second hand that appeared in the farthest corner of the room. It belonged to the Earthling named Lila.

  "You volunteer?" Yrix tilted her head, focusing her voice solely on Lila.

  "I uh... yeah." Lila smiled nervously.

  "Wonderful. You will be first," the Psion spoke out loud. "As for the rest of you. I have a list. Do be patient."

  Lila suddenly felt a soft hand grasp her wrist, pulling her away from the doorway in fright.

  "Are you sure?" Lunae whimpered, her eyes watering.

  "Of course. If someone like me can survive, then you've got this in the bag." Lila smiled as she gently lifted the girl's hand away from her.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  "But I'm...not-."

  "You already spoke into my mind, girl. Give yourself some credit."

  Lila watched intently as Sonera stared at her with a curious look, almost as if giving the girl a measure of respect for her decisions. Yrix took notice, squinting her singular eye before gesturing towards the open doorway. As she walked past the towering figure and into the doorway, Lila felt an unusual sense of calm. Perhaps she should have been afraid.

  ______________________________

  Yrix's office took her student by surprise, both in its proximity to the bedchambers and its strangely familiar layout. In fact, the only thing that felt appropriately alien was the size of the wooden desk in the center of the room, with both its height and the steps leading up to it matching Yrix's figure. As for the contents of the room, it was primarily filled with leatherback books, as if pulled from a library on Earth.

  "You were expecting something different?" Yrix laughed, her voice gently entering Lila's mind. "I did not build this place with the intention of flexing my alien origins, nor the opulence of the Consortium."

  "You built it yourself?" Lila's eyes widened as she awkwardly scaled her way up the steps near the center of the room. "The Aerie, I mean."

  "Every brick. Every wooden scaffolding. I went to great lengths to study your human culture...make you feel at home," the Psion boasted proudly. "I am of the stern belief that your edge cannot be honed without a reminder of where your Psionic powers originally came from."

  "Home." Lila smiled.

  "Yes." Yrix nodded. "Maybe you'll see it again...in some form or fashion. If you survive your Psionic awakening."

  "So...I get powers if I don't explode?"

  The Arch-Flayer chucked almost uncharacteristically, her somber tone having been altered by Lila's presence.

  "Yes, Lila. You will be able to practice all sorts of miracles your species has beleived to be impossible."

  "If I survive."

  "If you survive."

  Yrix then lifted her prey into the air, bringing the girl at level with her Psionic eye. The Arch-Flayer's piercing gaze began to bore into Lila's skull, causing her to feel agonizing pain all over. But just before her mind could collapse into itself, the girl felt her body become transported into a different dimension entirely.

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  "Where am I?" Sonera tilted her head, staring off into a sunless horizon as a gust of cold wind brushed against her face.

  "The Psionic plane. Those with our gift can access it at any time, to meditate and commune." Yrix explained.

  "Could you be killed here?"

  "Yes. Two Psionic warriors could face each other in this plane. The winner would take the other's mind."

  Sonera turned around to see a dimly lit landscape, its indescribable ruins only made visible by a glowing aura in the distance.

  "What happened to it?" Sonera asked, her malicious tone shifting into genuine curiosity.

  "You'd think the center of all Psionic minds would be something...more than this. Perhaps it once was. But our minds are not temples. They are a battlefield."

  "It's our reflection." Sonera nodded.

  "Yes. Psionic powers are... merely a catalyst with which we express ourselves. The same can be said of this realm. I would ike to prattle on about history and supremacy like so many other Psions. To tell you this is the birthplace of art and culture. But I am not interested in lies."

  Yrix then stretched out a hand towards her student, enveloping her with Psionic energy. Within the plane, her grasp felt like the hand of a god, tearing at the girl's insides in an attempt to draw something out. It came as no surprise to Yrix when Sonera began to resist.

  "So this is your strength. I chose wisely." Yrix nodded.

  Regardless of what she felt, Sonera continued to glower at Yrix, her eyes sharpening with an orange glow. Eventually, her hatred reached its limit, bursting forth from the girl's chest and consuming her in an enveloping flame. Sonera's solar radiance burned brightly against the ruined landscape as she took a step towards Yrix.

  "To awaken your Psionic potential is to open your mind. Accept your true nature. Only then can you be honed into the perfect edge." Yrix continued.

  "Not for you." Sonera frowned, the dust around her shifting as she spoke.

  The two figures entered an awkward silence as the astral plane's fading light began to ebb. Far off in the distance, a bright flash illuminated a storm of clouds, causing Sonera to avert her attention. The realm was reacting to a presence she could not yet discern.

  "Very good. Now then, we shouldn't linger much longer. Inevitably, he'd find anyone in here. But I imagine your scent must be truly irresistible."

  As if envisioning the creature Yrix spoke of, Sonera turned to see a dark figure in the distance, its twisted limbs quivering with uncontrollable excitement. She wanted to feel terror in that moment. But something stopped her, as the Psionic plane faded away.

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  "What exactly is the point of this?" Ivy whined. "I've already proven myself to be Psionically gifted."

  "You mean your father did it for you."

  "What?" The heiress gasped. "How did you-."

  "The most gifted of Psions can peer into one's thoughts and memories."

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  "So what did I have for lunch three weeks ago?" Lila winced, keeling over onto the floor of the Psionic plane as she tried not to fall apart.

  "Oh, good heavens, it's not that thorough," Yrix replied in a jovial manner as she continued to mimic human phrases. "But considering your diet...it wouldn't be impossible to guess."

  "How does it work then?"

  "The more focused you are on a single thought or emotion, the easier it is to read."

  "Is this the part where I hear about the spiritual energy of inner peace?"

  Yrix walked behind Lila hastily, trying not to smile as she spoke, "No. You fat panda."

  The girl laughed as well as she could, coughing up bits of blood in the process.

  "You got it." Lila wheezed.

  "I did."

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  "I don't think about my family that much!" Ivy huffed.

  "The moment I brought you here, that's ALL you've reflected on. You've traded in physical pain for your insecurities." Yrix explained.

  "Can you...not tell the others about this?" The heiress looked down in shame.

  "I won't divulge your personal life, no."

  "Then why bring it up?"

  "You were bragging."

  "B-but I passed! With flying colors!"

  "It was hardly a test for you. That girl Lila, whom you think so little of already. She struggled to survive during this session. I congratulated her for surpassing such a hurdle. You, on the other hand...we will see how you handle the other tests."

  ____________________________________

  Lila sat restlessly, her body shivering at the entrance to Yrix's office as the muffled noises of another student could be heard just behind the doorway. She was unable to grasp what she had become, and yet still, she refused to think of her family. The pain she felt was just another convenient distraction.

  Ivy, on the other hand, resorted to pouting in the same place she had woken from, crossing her arms in frustration as she stared into space. Her adaptation to Yrix's treatment was nothing less than stellar, and yet she still felt like the heiress who could never make her father proud. It wasn't until Yrix entered the room that she began to notice her surroundings.

  For all her pride, Ivy was unprepared to accept the ramifications of what she had undergone. For when Yrix stepped out onto the red carpet to call for another, there was a noticeably lifeless figure slumped over behind her.

  "Did she...fail?" Ivy gasped as her eyes widened, staring at what appeared to be a blonde girl whose corpse was being halfhazardly tugged along by Yrix.

  "Allow me a moment," Yrix grunted with noticeable dissapointment in her tone.

  The Arch-Flayer then exited through a different doorway, its contents having been previously unseen by any of the girls. What then became of the failed student was unknown, leaving Ivy speechless. It hadn't quite dawned on her that if she failed, she would be thrown out like garbage along with those she deemed inferior.

  One girl began to sob loudly, causing Lila to stir. The Earthling girl recognized the voice immediately and knew it belonged to Lunae, who was utterly mortified by what she had seen. Mustering her remaining strength, Lila limped her way over towards the frightened student, trying her best to seem emotionally intact.

  "I'm next," Lunae whispered in a panicked tone as her words entered Lila's exhausted mind. "She spoke to me."

  "I didn't even know what a Psion was until twenty minutes ago, Lunae, you'll be fine," Lila replied, not realizing she was using her own powers to communicate with Lunae.

  "I'm sorry." Lunae sniffled, wiping away her tears as she walked towards Yrix's office.

  "She'll make it." Lila smiled awkwardly, looking around for someone to talk to. "Yea?"

  The Earthling whirled around to see Sonera, who was standing right behind her in complete silence.

  "You did." Sonera tilted her head. "Why?"

  "I...didn't want to die?" Lila shrugged.

  "You beleive you have something to come back to."

  "And you don't?"

  "I know why I'm here," Sonera spoke plainly before leaving abruptly.

  Lila spun around, fidgeting desperately as she tried to find another person to converse with. One step towards the bunk beds was all it took for Ivy to shoot her a menacing glare, leaving the lone girl with nothing but her own shattered mind. Eventually, she knew she would have to pick up the pieces alone.

  "Yrix?" Lila asked, using a sudden connection before placing a hand to her mouth in fright. "Ignore that, I'm sorry."

  "Good to see you're learning," Yrix replied as she suddenly entered the room once again. "What is it?"

  "Umm...do we have food here?"

  "Lunch will be served after a few more students are seen. I promise it won't disappoint."

  "You studied our culinary?" Lila grinned.

  For both Yrix and her student, something felt oddly right about their interactions. Amidst all the evil the Arch-Flayer had already committed, there was still some brevity to be found with. But the Psion already knew why Lila truly acted the way she did, which brought her great satisfaction.

  _____________________________________

  As the light began to fade in the Aeire, the remaining girls gathered near their bunk beds, waiting in anticipation for Yrix's next move. There were many amongst their ranks who, like Lila, were still reeling from the effect of Psionic awakening. But for those with natural talent like Ivy, there was nothing but the long, awkward intermission. What all the students shared in common, however, was their collective state of disbelief at their current predicament. It no longer mattered which colony they were from or how they were brought to the Aeire. Yrix would kill them all if they faltered.

  "Hey, look!" Lila beamed as she ran to the back of the chamber. "This door! It's opening!"

  Ivy nearly snorted at the idea of the Earthling wandering into the eerie hallway that awaited her, but to her surprise, Lila had already begun to skip through the back door.

  "She can't be serious." Ivy raised an eyebrow as she spoke.

  Sonera was the second girl to push into the dimly lit doorway, leaving Ivy in a state of disbelief. But before she could climb down from her bed and chase after the two girls, she heard another door swing open from the direction of Yrix's office. After quite the long delay, it was Lunae who came walking through, her eyes still clearly watering.

  "Can't wait to hear the Earthling gloat about this one." Ivy sighed, storming off in the direction Lila had chosen.

  Lunae was still trembling in silence, her visible fear silencing the room with its mere presence. Eventually, Yrix spoke, announcing the next event with her chilling voice. She appeared even more agitated than before, adding another layer of weight to her demanding presence.

  "Food. You need it." The Arch-Flayer pointed to the back doors. "You will be brought back here in an hour for rest. Do not make me say it twice."

  Without question, the entire room began to migrate, leaving Lunae all alone standing in front of Yrix.

  "You too, Lunae."

  "I'm sorry, Yrix." The girl sobbed, wiping a tear that stuck to the markings beneath her eyes. "I did my best."

  "You are an anomaly, thus far, little one. Not a failure." Yrix spoke more softly. "Go on now. I'm sure Lila would like to hear all about your story."

  __________________________________________

  "Damn, she cooked," Lila smirked as she fiddled with her fork. "It's pretty good."

  It wasn't unfair for Lila to assume the food of the Aerie would be unfit for humans, which made its quality all the more surprising. Yrix had once again shown her observant nature, handcrafting an entire cafeteria for her students a mere walk away from the bechambers. The appearance of the room was familiar, with the same style of windows and the soft red carpet making a return. What changed primarily was the presence of a bathroom and a series of silver trays and platters, alongside several chafing dishes filled with corn beef and rice. It felt almost surreal for Lila to receive perfectly human food in a nightmare.

  Without Lunae to accompany her, however, the Earthling girl found herself sitting alone at a large wooden table, choosing to place herself closer to the window where she could try and peek outside. But just like before, the room was sealed shut, with no visible environment to be seen outside the Aerie's walls. Lila was almost content sitting alone, her body finally beginning to feel stable.

  "You gave me advice before," Sonera spoke from behind, catching Lila completely off guard.

  "Wah!" Lila jumped. "Hi Sonera. Didn't see you there." Lila girl grinned awkwardly.

  "Why aren't there armed gaurds?" The strange girl continued, tilting her head as she spoke. "I wanted to ask you."

  "Well, you're smart, I'm sure you figured it out. This place was designed by Yrix with a lot of care. If anyone breaks out, I'm sure she has a lot of safeguards in place. I don't know much about this Consortium, but...they showed up to my home with ships the size of a town. We'd be insane to think they don't have something equally absurd out there waiting for us to do something stupid." Lila explained, showing her nerdier side as she began exuding passion in her body language. "Ya know what I mean?"

  "Yes." Sonera nodded. "I'm sorry about your home."

  "Really?"

  "I had mine taken by her."

  "Yeah...I get that. Thanks for bothering to talk to me. You seem like the loner type."

  "I do prefer to watch from the shadows but..." Sonera hesitated, looking down at her plate. "Forget it."

  "Aren't we all."Lila joked.

  Sonera produced the faintest of smiles, staring at Lila with thinly veiled curiosity.

  "Hey, wanna do something funny?" Lila beamed, realizing she had the potential to make a friend. "Let's go over to Ivy and exist in front of her."

  Sonera looked disapproving.

  "Cmon, it'll pass the time."

  Lila then hobbled her way over to Ivy, who was sitting by herself, her food untouched. Sonera came in tow, glaring at every other girl he came near. There was still more than enough for the faces to blend together, making them all inmutable strangers. Many of them came from colonies vastly different compared to Earth and Mars, giving them unique accents and hair colors.

  Lunae didn't care. She just wanted to be with the one person she was beginning to trust, albeit barely. Something about Lila's authenticity made her feel, at the very least, like she had control of the situation.

  Much to Lila's dissapointment, Ivy didn't have any reaction when the two sat at her table. All the girl seemed to be capable of was staring longingly into her food. At the very least, she touched some of the water Yrix had provided in a nearby dispenser.

  "Something wrong?" Lila asked with a mouthful of rice. "Eating is pretty good when you're on the verge of dying to a psycho alien."

  "I shouldn't be here," Ivy muttered. "This...is all wrong."

  "I mean, it's pretty good if you ask me. What do you think, Sonera?"

  Sonera sat across from Lila, giving her a prompt thumbs-up expression as a response.

  "It's trash." Ivy retorted. "I can't eat this."

  "What are you some kinda rich girl?" Lila shrugged.

  "Rich girl?! I'll have you know I'm the heiress to the Tesselation, the largest colony organizer in the solar system. My family owns a moon."

  "Then how the hell did you end up here?"

  "Why you-."

  Ivy did her best to contain herself, taking several deep breaths as she extended both hands. Pursuing Lila's taunting would only expose her. And so, for the time being, she would have to pretend she wasn't livid. Luckily for the heiress, a new distraction had arrived.

  "Hey, it's Lunae!" Lila waved, signaling for the girl to sit down. "Grab a plate and join us!"

  Lunae seemed confused, wandering the room with an unsteady posture. Even compared to the other humans from distant colonies, her ethereal features caused her to stand out from the crowd. Locking eyes with Lila, she shook her head in dismay.

  "Don't be silly, we're all friends here." Lila smiled, thinking of how she had felt just a minute ago. "Sit."

  "I...a-alright." Lunae nodded as she stepped closer to Lila. "Thank you."

  Ivy couldn't help but stare at the girl in disbelief, her eyes squinting into a scrutinous gaze. As far as she was concerned, Lunae was quite the shameless attraction, with her shapely figure and exotic features forcing even Sonera to observe unabashedly. Or in simpler terms, one might describe her as jealous.

  "What are you?" Ivy crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow as she glared at Lunae.

  "Human...I think." Lunae smiled.

  "You think!"

  "Where are you from?" Sonera spoke softly, her more curious side emerging as she spoke.

  "I don't know, I'm sorry. All I can remember is...this place."

  "And before then?" Lila added.

  "I'd rather not talk about it. If you don't mind." Lunae looked down in shame, pressing her palms against her knees.

  "That's perfectly fine, just enjoy the food." The Earthling shifted her plate over to Lunae as a friendly gesture. "I'll go get another plate."

  Lunae fiddled with her fork, unsure of how it worked. But after watching Ivy, who performed perfect etiquite, she was quick to learn.

  "Mmm. It's amazing!" Lunae beamed. "I wonder who made it."

  "Oh, you have got to be kidding me." Ivy rolled her eyes. "Girl's acting like she hasn't had food before."

  "I like it," Sonera replied, regaining her willingness to speak. "Not so bad."

  "See? Not everyone's so picky." Lila chimed in as she took her seat with another plate. "And Yrix made plenty for everyone."

  "How kind of her." Lunae nodded.

  "Is that a joke?" Ivy sneered. "You think it's funny that we're here?"

  "Speaking of funny." Lila deflected, keeping the attention away from Lunae, who already began to look hurt. "Check this shit out."

  Lila grabbed a napkin and began to fold it into a strange shape, placing it between the tips of her fingers.

  "Sonera, hold out your hands like a big U."

  Sonera followed the instructions, staring curiously at Lila before the tiny napkin came flying towards her face. The object bounced right off, causing Lunae to giggle loudly. Sonera paused for a brief moment before producing a smile.

  "See? She liked it." Lila gestured towards Ivy. "We can have fun regardless of the circumstances."

  "That's it, I'm done." Ivy slammed her hands against the table before storming off. "I've had enough of Earthling drivel."

  Lila sat in silence, her expression becoming agressively plain as a response to the insult.

  "What does that mean?" Lunae asked.

  "She doesn't like us," Lila replied. "That's basically it."

  "Oh."

  "I've seen her kind before." Sonera frowned, reminiscing on her past work. "They squeal just like anyone else."

  "Well, okay now, it's not that serious. Maybe she's just shy." Lila shrugged as she tried to lighten the mood.

  Despite her own words, Lila watched closely as Ivy left the chamber. Something about the heiress had her morbidly enamored. More so than Lunae and Sonera, something was off with her.