Chapter 3

It's been a week since I agreed to go with the cloaked figure. Since then, I have learned a couple of things. The figure's name is Gakures, and he is from Hesame, one of the richest territories. Gakures makes a living off of blood money, and trains assassins to get the job done. I've also learned it's a very long journey from Fusaemis to Hesame. A very long journey. We've spent the last week on horseback from town to town and staying at various Inn's.

A week later, we are just a day's worth of riding to get to Hesame. Personally, I've never been there. I was born and raised in Fusaemis. Never went outside of my territory until now. Never had a reason or a way to.

Under our verbal agreement, I will not be one of his typical "assassins". Myself and a few others that he has saved will be his five person army for saving as many people as we can. Including myself, he now has four people. From what I've heard, the first person has already been training for a year. While Gakures is finding our fifth and last person, we will be training under one of the assassins that is Gakures' most trusted.

This is a lot to process, but I have to do my best. I want to be able to save others as I have been saved. Don't I owe at least that? Gakures could have chosen anyone, yet he chose me. I'm obligated to return the favor and save others like me.

"Almost there. Just another couple of hours," Gakures said. After he explained everything, we haven't talked much. I'm not much of a talker, and I guess he isn't either. I'm ok with it, considering I've been thinking over what's happened within the last week.

At some point during my thoughts, we reached a massive metal gate. It must've been at least 50 feet tall. All the way at the top was a guard that seemed to manage the gate. Around him, was a stone wall with guards marching all along said wall, as far as I could see. You could say they really don't want anyone other than the high class elites.

Gakures spoke first, more like yelled, "Hey! Vy! Let us in!"

"You got it," guard, Vy, spoke through a microphone. I believe so anyways, microphones are not common in Fusaemis.

Like that, the gate opened. Just, opened. No one pushed it. Technology must be much more advanced here. I know my territory wasn't top of the line… but I didn't realize we were so far behind the top.

While I'm here, getting used to all the technology they have will be difficult. Gakures went ahead and I followed close behind —- fearing the gate would close before I got completely through it. As we went through the city, I took in all that was around me.

This place is so different from Fusaemis. There's so much color and life here that isn't found at home. Are things better here? Maybe there isn't places like the whore house I just escaped from. Maybe everyone here actually has a good life, with good jobs, with good food. You would think that's the bare minimum, but where I come from? That's a damn good life. A life very few people get to live.

"Don't be surprised by what you see, they'll sniff you out like dogs. Keep a straight face, eyes forward, and act like you own the place," Gakures advised me. Who's they? Is there a 'they' here too? Was I wrong? No, surely not…

As we walked, I was quickly proven wrong. I saw beggars on the streets. I also saw preppy rich folk that gave looks like those on the streets were no better than dirt. I did everything I could to keep myself from crying. I blinked away whatever was eating at me. Why would I think this place is any different?

"Hello there, young lady. Could I interest you in something?" A middle aged woman approached me, and I put my poker face on. I stared at the woman. She had the lightest complexion I've ever seen. Now that I think about it, most everyone here has a lighter complexion than those back at home. Some not by much, and some might as well have been ghosts.

Gakures turned his horse around to come in between me and the woman, "She's not looking for work. Have the day you deserve."

He nodded his head at me and we continued on. Clearly, it was not uncommon for people to ride horses around here. It is also not uncommon to see people in chariots, with whom seem to be servants guiding the horses instead. The customs here are so strange. As well as 'have you day you deserve'. Back home, as a way of goodbye, we say, 'may Saeludis do her bidding'.

Apparently, I will also have to get used to their vernacular speech as well. I don't want to sound like a foreigner if I can help it.

The horse in front of me abruptly stopped. Gakures turned around in his saddle, "This is our stop."

Took us long enough. I… gracefully got off the horse and took the reign into my hand as we walked towards the front entrance. I prayed to Kikamaeres that no one saw me stumble off my horse. I suppose I'm still not as proficient of a rider as I had hoped. There are worse fates, I suppose.

We walked inside and I took in the grandre of the place. Everything was finely furnished and sparkly. It took all the strength I could muster to not lose my eyes over this castle-esc home.

"Kai, Gakures, is this the young feller you were talkin' 'bout the other day?" a more feminine voice rang out. She had a very strange accent I've never encountered before. When she emerged from the shadows, she was a very eccentric woman. Her skin was dark, like mine, but maybe she was slightly lighter. She had short puffy hair, and strikingly colorful eye makeup on. Her clothes were also filled with various patterns and just as colorful as her face. She was gorgeous.

He turned and smiled at her, "Yes," he turned back to me, "Jueseka, meet Lylan. She was the second of the five I've recruited for the cause."

She walked right up to me and pulled me in for… a hug? Hugs are not common in Fusaemis.

I awkwardly patted her back and begged for help with my eyes to Gakures. He just laughed to himself as she pulled away, "In retrospect, I realize you prolly aren't used to hugs, are ya hun?"

I just nodded. Nod and smile. Nod and smile…

Lylan put a hand on my shoulder and turned to Gakures, "This poor lad here needs some good food, GTL, and a new wardrobe. Let's put that in the works, don'tcha think Gakures?"

"GTL?" I asked.

She turned back to me with one of the most shocked faces I've ever seen, "Poor thing… Gentle Touch and Love is what it stands for. That just means we're gonna fix you up!" she stroked the side of me arm, "We'll give ya a hot bath, a good scrubbin', and maybe do some hot stones too."

"Hot stones?"

"You'll see when we get there, hun."

Gakures looked at me with an amused look. The hell is he laughing at? Maybe I could use some GTL or whatever. That would probably be nice. I don't think I've properly taken care of myself just to take care of myself in years.

I looked over at Gakures, and he shrugged, "Have at it."

That was all Lylan needed before pouncing on me. She dragged me over to the women's bathing area, stripped me down (though she asked permission first, which was nice), and let me soak for a while as she put various things on my face and neck. While my skin color didn't gain any marks like some of the women here would, parts of my skin would be sore for days after a client. Lylan said she was putting things on my skin to help them heal quickly.

This… was nice. I don't remember ever being treated this nice.

At one point, I finally opened my eyes, "Lylan, if I may, where did you come from?"

She sighed and her face morphed into that of sadness, "Where I came from? I was a whore's daughter, so no one really cared for me. My mama just barely kept me alive, she didn't like me much, ya know," she paused, "I was never forced into that line a work, but I was put in a different sector. Before Gakures came and whisked me away, I did hard labor in construction sites.

"At the time, I never really thought about fashion or the way I looked, but one day some rich fellars were walking by, and I saw this gorgeous woman with bright and… out-there patterns. You could say she's where I got my fashion sense from. But anyways, long story short, I did hard labor while bein' underfed."

I looked at her, she seemed so distant about her past, yet so capable of speaking about it. She's a diamond in the rough for sure. Before I knew I started talking to, "I guess it all started about the time I was eight. At that point in time is when I started to realize what was happening around me. My father helped protect me, and my mom died in childbirth. The both of them had chosen to have me, so while he was upset, he never lashed out on me. Just… kept working to keep me safe. When I was 13, he was jumped by goons of the man who would be my boss for the next seven years. He was killed, and eventually they found me.

"I was forced into that line of work, and I saved up for seven years. It wasn't enough, though. Gakures still had to save me. Either way, I survived and escaped. Now, maybe, I can do the same for others."

We looked at each other with a mutual understanding of each other. We weren't slaves in the same way, but regardless, we were slaves to our society.

"Anyways, to more upbeat topics, let's get you some clothes," Lylan ecstatically grabbed me a robe and, once again, dragged me to a new room. Perhaps things will be better here.