ICHI

I awoke as soon as I heard my alarm go off; it was 6 a.m., and I had to be at work by 8 a.m. I am a regular office worker at the Ylury Tourism Industry Council. I got out of bed and went to the Patio for a morning stretch.

I went to the bathroom and did my routine after a few stretches. I walked towards the walk-in closet wearing an office outfit consisting of gray trousers and blazer, a white blouse underneath, and white tennis shoes. I let my dark brown, straight medium hair hang loose.

I checked my face in the mirror and applied powder and a slight tint to my lips. I did not bother making it look fancy. For breakfast, I went to the kitchen and cooked eggs and bacon. I went out to the garage and got into my car.

I realized I had forgotten my bag as I was about to leave. I returned home and grabbed my bag and the files I was supposed to bring, as well as my phone. I went back outside and looked at my house. Apart from having the sector title of Middle-Born, it was the only thing my parents had left. It was lovely enough for a family from the Middle Ages.

I live in a village near the center of Ylury that is home to Middle-Borns. The Tourism Industry Council is a 20-minute drive away. It is also close to local businesses. I got back in the car, drove to a coffee shop, and ordered a Nitro Cold Brew. After paying, I went to work. Before going outside, I took a deep breath. I will be surrounded by people again, which makes me uneasy.

I entered the building and proceeded to the elevator, only discovering that it was overcrowded. I look at my watch; it is quarter to eight. Our office is located on the fourth floor. As I looked up to see if the elevator was full, Aia, my best friend and the person who got me into tourism, called me.

"Kerstein, there's still room here, join in," she offered; I could hear people whispering and discussing how stuffy and full the elevator was. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Excuse me, people," she grumbled. The people in the elevator crunched their backs to force Aia outside. The elevator rose after I exited.

"I told you to come inside if we're late just for a second Attorney Laura Edwards would be angry," she grumbled, rolling her eyes once more as she mentioned the Attorney's name. Almost every regular office worker here refers to Attorney Laura as a Mad Dog because she freaks out at everything. "Shh! Don't say anything bad about her; she might hear you, Aia," I reassured her.

"Whatever, she's just the Director of Special Concerns, and she thinks she's the emperor's right hand," she said again. She pressed the elevator button, and after a few moments, an empty elevator appeared. We entered the house. "I heard the House of Lords is doing something today, and the Head Executive Assistant has been going in and out of the Office lately," I frowned.

"What's up?" I inquired. "The rumor I heard was up until there, and no one talked about it after that," I sighed. "I warned you before not to tell me rumors with incomplete details, it's frustrating, and curiosity kills me," I grumbled.

We were on the fourth floor with a ting. As we exited, we noticed everyone gathered, with Attorney Laura in the lead. We approached the pack in hushed tones. "You both, don't expect me not to notice you! Why are you late? I told everyone to gather at 8 a.m. sharp this morning! Don't you know how to read a clock?!" She scrutinized us and humiliated us in public. "Please accept our apologies, Attorney-"

Aia cut me off by gripping my arm; she took a breath then spoke. I smell trouble. "Attorney Laura! Do you think we would bother coming here every day to listen to your sermons? For your information, do you think you are perfect? For you to correct every single mistake, you must be the empress of this empire!" she exclaimed, eliciting gasps from the audience. "Much more, are you being overly dramatic these days? You have truly gone insane; every employee here does their best to make time for this. Do you think you're the only one who's busy? For example, Bradley there has to do the report that was tasked to you by the Head Executive, yet you let others do your work, and you who thinks she's pretty sitting like a queen always receives applause."

Everyone lowered their heads; she wielded more power than the Office's Head Executive, and everyone felt cheated. "Aia! Do you want to die? Do you want to be fired?" she yelled at her. "No, I don't have any, perhaps you do, perhaps you want to explain this later at the House of Commons," she said, her eyes widening as she was taken aback by the statement.

"W-What do you mean by H-House of Commons?" she stumbled. "If you don't want to be reported, start treating us like proper employees, you're not the boss here, Attorney. Also, remember, you're just a Middle-Born, you're neither a Noble nor a Lady. Stop acting like you're above us just because of your petty position here in the office, which you earned through Kerstein. Ylury proposes a land of freedom without the care of hierarchical and sectorial means, but don't but don't you dare overstep your boundaries."

Everyone was whispering in response to Aia's announcements, and I lowered my head as I whispered to her. "Stop it, Aia," I begged. "No! I will not stop; I was already in a bad mood from the scene this morning, but please, Kerstein! Learn to refuse; that is why that woman over there used you." I felt embarrassed. Attorney Laura always had me do all of her work until she was promoted; I just felt obligated to because she is a senior.

"All right, people. Go back to your station; the show is over; let the fake stay here," Aia said. Everyone hesitated, but Aia yelled, "Move!" and went back to their desks. I sighed. First and foremost, why did she become my best friend? Our personalities clash, as she is an extrovert and I, well, I am just plain old me, I suppose.

She shoved me into my seat. "Just stay there, arguing over this would be pointless," she said as she walked away on her way to her desk. "Understood,"