Roommates

"Can I go?"

Cece crackled with pearly laughter, "I like you!" she claimed, ebbing closer to me, " You're a little weak, but that can be ratified easily." She paused, shifting her eye towards Vincent," Is she to say here? Within the Guild walls?"

"That will be up to her, Lady Cece." Said Vincent, his tone as formal as ever, and it made me wonder who these people were. Eryth, he had said, 'Lady Cece.' he didn't seem like a butler, but his formal mannerism made him out to be.

"With the rites approaching, you'll not find many missions, so I suggest you get comfortable. " Eryth calmly said, pulling out an aged pocket watch covered with scratches. It was clear it had seen better days. And yet the way he held it seemed so gentle. "The meeting is—I've got an idea."

"No one likes when you've got an idea," Cece claimed, leaning back as she twirled on the ball of her heel towards Eryth, " But do tell, your idea always seems to end in blood, never a boring moment; with Lord Eryth."

The teasing yet condescending tone in which she spoke surprised me, but more so was why I was still here.

I hated talking to people. It was exhausting! Which was the main reason I left Relvor's home. Having to make a conversation was a bitch. Saying good morning was even more annoying. It's morning. There's nothing good about mornings. And for some goddamn unknown reason, I have to say, it back every morning! Who the Hell came up with that?

"Umm!" I raised my hand, " Can I go? I'm—"

"Shush, my Black Rose, you are to be my assistant."

"Hell no! Stranger Danger!" I shouted, backing away with a grumble in the back of my throat. "I've no interest in working for you or anyone else."

He smiled. " Are you sure? You are in a world of strangers, my dear. Weak as an ant. You've no idea how dark this world is, how many women's names come across my desk daily. Missing reports after reports I look at, only for their bodies to be discovered a week later. Should I describe it?"

My stomach churned at his words. "Don't,"

"Darline Pierce, age sixteen, was found seven days ago. Her legs and arms were severed with over fifteen types of semen pouring out of—"

"God damn, Eryth, she gets it. No one wants to hear of that," Cece berated. And I was a little thankful. "She's not even a seeker. She needs time to adjust. Give her a day at least."

"I'd agree, with Lady Cece," Vincent tacked on. "She's had a good start than most. People who are usually transferred into the world tend to die on their first day. Give her time. I suggest she shadows you temporarily and see the underbelly of Blackpool."

"There's a difference between shadowing me and being my assistant," He said in a warning tone that made my skin prickle. "I alone control one of Blackpool's most prodigious ports. To shadow me is to see blood and more. Seems counter—"

"Just do it, dummy! Mithra's Light, how the Hell did you even get my sister? You talk too much. What do you think, Iza? Care to shadow Eryth? I promise you. You'll not regret it. He's actually a nice guy once you pass the dickishness." Cece uttered, leaning close to my ear; she whispered, " If you don't, and stay ignorant of this world, I promise you. A beauty like you is doomed to die or worse."

Was it truly so?

"She's right Iza," Said Lily softly, " try it. Plus, Eryth is hella cute."

I groaned. "Fine, but I still have no intention of being an assistant," I said, giving in. I don't know about others, but I found it demeaning. I am smart enough to build a mini sun. Why would I work as an assistant?

Speaking of, I hope father turned off the reactor. No one wants another Chornobyl taking place. Although if a meltdown were to occur regarding the reactors I designed, the mini sun would cave into a black hole, destroying our very solar system.

"Great! Now I've got a roomie!" Cece rejoiced, " I've been so bored in my room!"

My lips twitched. "r-r-roomie?"

Oh, Hell, no one wants that!

"Oh, did I forget to mention it? Well, it's free for a year, or would you like to try your luck in the most expensive city within our little cage." Eryth addressed, grabbing my attention.

"Cage? What do you mean?" I inquired, intrigued by the premise.

"I'm a little busy, so follow me." He said, turning around and leaving without care as I rushed after him, a little annoyed by his behavior.

"I'm unsure what you've heard regarding our world, Arcadia. But there is a massive magical barrier surrounding four points between the two kingdoms, spanning well over a hundred million miles." He said as he led me towards what seemed like his office, which was in no way inviting.

The coloring around the office was a solid oak, which made it seem powerful and cold. Eryth's desk was undoubtedly big, neat without a speck of dust and yet on each side of his desk stood two large stacks of papers.

Taking his seat, he continued staring as I stared back, " For the past hundred thousand years, no one has been able to break the barrier, hence why I say 'cage.' For what better word is there?"

The earth is about 196.9 million square miles. How can this cage, as Eryth calls it, have the same parameters of time? In fact, how does time even work here? There still seem to be twenty-four hours in a single day, which doesn't make sense if this world is significantly bigger.

But as per my cultivation session, I cultivated for eight hours and—"

"You're staring off into space. If you've got a question, ask it.' Eryth said, his golden eyes glistering under the light peeking through the windows.

"How are there eight hours in a day?" I asked as his brow arched.

"You an astronomer? " He questioned but shook his head, " Well, whatever, it's eight hours because your perception of time has changed. Time is relative. When you enter this world, your body undergoes a reconstruction period to help your mind adjust. Do you know why Vincent said that many 'Outerworlders' die their first day?"

"Time?" I said, making an educated guess as this was the most logical choice.

"Correct," Eryth confirmed, as his voice dropped a few octaves, turning cold as a blade of ice, "the mind and body could not adapt to the change in the world. Time is required. Usually a Month. But to some people, it seems like hundreds of years, if not thousands. Their minds and body break, and they begin to break down. Tell me, how many people in your world are there?"

I was unconscious for a month!

"A little ways off from Eight billion," I revealed as goosebumps prickled my skin. My heart dipped with unease as Eryth spoke.

"Well, if your entire world were transferred, which is unlikely, only seven percent of the eight billion would survive; the rest would perish. These humans won't last a few milliseconds before their bodies turn to dust."

"Bloody Hell!"