Q awoke in his bed, dressed in a Chinese red velour pajama. His muscles were sore, and he had a slight headache.
Near his enormous bed, on either side of the floor, two women were sleeping. Q recognized one as yesterday's servant. The second resembled the beast from yesterday, albeit smaller, about 170 cm tall.
Q moved discreetly, but the two servants immediately stirred and began to rouse. One went to the armory, presumably to fetch clothes, while the other approached Q in bed. Both were scantily clad, and out of respect or perhaps shyness, Q averted his eyes.
The second servant came too close for Q's comfort, prompting him to catch her arm to prevent any inappropriate actions.
She halted abruptly and began to apologize frantically, "I'm sorry, Master! It's a new role for me, and I'm still learning, I am s..."
Q interrupted her, feeling confused. He could clearly see everything from his angle, which made him simultaneously comfortable and uncomfortable. He hastily pulled the sheets over his side of the bed to conceal her, while the servant, also confused, retreated politely and methodically.
The second servant returned with Q's new clothes, which exuded the scent of aged wood with a hint of elegant spice. She waited nearby, clearly anxious. Understanding they awaited his instructions, Q requested, "Could you please leave the room?"
Both servants exchanged terrified, then shy glances before nodding and exiting, albeit with a hint of worry and disappointment. Q couldn't help but wonder what was happening.
After dressing quickly, Q opened the door to find a breakfast table set as described in the book. The two servants awaited him, still not appropriately dressed. Q requested they wear something more suitable, to which they complied, though with evident concern.
Minutes later, they returned with appropriate attire, still looking striking. Q pondered if this was an effect of genetic selection in the future and assumed it to be the case.
The food proved to be delicious, presented uniquely on cubic plates with cubic eggs, sausages, and unfamiliar cubic vegetables. He ate with a fork that had only three prongs and no knife, while the water tasted refreshingly mineral-rich. Whenever he made a move, the servants attempted to anticipate his needs, but Q insisted they join him in eating, which they did, seemingly enjoying the meal.
However, whenever Q caught them stealing glances at him, they quickly adopted blank expressions, though he could tell they were still secretly enjoying themselves. This amused him, prompting him to proceed to his next inquiry.
"What are your names?"
The two women exchanged concerned glances. One eventually answered, "But, Sir, we will be called the names you give us!" She almost added something more, but the other subtly silenced her, a gesture Q noticed but chose to ignore.
As Q settled into his routine, he began to notice peculiarities about his servants. They seemed to anticipate his needs almost uncannily, as if they were extensions of his own desires. Yet, as Q delved deeper into this realization, he found himself uncomfortable with the notion that these servants were essentially replicas of what men seemed to want, both in body and soul.
It was a disconcerting thought, one he preferred to push to the back of his mind.
Another revelation came when Q discovered that his servants managed his finances, which had been provided by the consul. He learned that he was wealthy, extraordinarily so, yet he had been oblivious to his financial standing. This newfound wealth only added to his sense of disorientation in this unfamiliar world.
One day, after being persuaded by one of his servants to remain at home to prepare for his return, Q found himself accompanying one of them on a tour of the city. The servant, whose name he had not yet given, guided him through the winding streets of the Circle, the city enclosed within its protective walls.
As they walked, Q couldn't help but notice the curious gazes of the city's inhabitants. He felt out of place, a foreigner in his own home. Determined to blend in, he agreed when his servant suggested they acquire more refined clothing.
They ventured into a boutique, where Q was fitted with garments that befitted his newfound status. The fine fabrics and impeccable tailoring made him feel oddly transformed, as if the clothes themselves possessed a kind of magic that imbued him with confidence and elegance.
With their new attire, they continued their exploration of the city, meandering through bustling marketplaces and narrow alleyways. Q was enchanted by the sights and sounds, the vibrant tapestry of life unfolding before him.
At the market, Q was drawn to a stall selling handmade trinkets and baubles. He selected a small token for each of his servants, a gesture of gratitude for their unwavering loyalty and service.
When they returned home, Q presented the gifts to his servants, who were deeply moved by the gesture. Tears welled in their eyes as they embraced him, overwhelmed by his unexpected kindness.
In that moment, Q realized that despite the strangeness of his circumstances, he had found a semblance of belonging in this peculiar world. He may not understand everything that had transpired, but he was determined to embrace this new chapter of his life with grace and dignity.
Q decided to come back walk into the circle every day, and simply observe and listen the conversations.
In the heart of the Circle, where the walls loomed tall and imposing, Q found himself immersed in a world unlike any he had known before. As he ventured through the bustling streets, he couldn't help but notice the subtle undercurrent of unease that seemed to permeate every interaction.
People spoke in hushed tones, casting wary glances over their shoulders as if afraid of being overheard. Trust was a rare commodity here, a luxury reserved for those fortunate enough to have been born into the right circles. Families stuck together like tightly-knit webs, their bonds forged not only by blood but by necessity.
It was a society built on hierarchy, where the worth of an individual was measured not by their character or deeds, but by the size of their capital. Those with the most wealth held sway over every aspect of life, their influence extending far beyond the confines of their lavish estates.
Q soon learned that the city was divided into distinct circles, each one home to a different stratum of society. At the top were the elites, a privileged class who lived lives of luxury and excess, their every whim catered to by an army of servants and workers drawn from the lower circles.
Below them were the working people, toiling away in the shadows of their wealthy overlords. They were treated with disdain and contempt, their inferior status made painfully clear at every turn. Yet, despite their hardships, they remained unfailingly polite, resigned to their fate in a world where money spoke louder than words.
As Q delved deeper into the intricacies of this stratified society, he learned of the unwritten rules that governed its every facet. In this world, might was not just right – it was the only law that mattered. Those with the most capital held sway over those beneath them, their authority unquestioned and absolute.
He learned that in inferior circles, respectively circle 1 and 2, there was no formal legal system in place, no impartial arbiter to mete out justice. Instead, the elites relied on their own power and influence to maintain order, often resorting to brutal tactics to assert their dominance over the lower classes.
It was a harsh reality, one that Q found difficult to reconcile with his own sense of justice and fairness. Yet, as he witnessed firsthand the injustices perpetrated against the working people of the city, he knew that he could not stand idly by and watch as they suffered in silence.
And so, armed with newfound knowledge and determination, Q set out to challenge the status quo, to fight for a world where everyone, regardless of their wealth or social standing, could live free from fear and oppression. It would be a long and arduous journey, fraught with danger and uncertainty.
For he knew that true greatness was not measured in gold or silver, but in the strength of one's convictions and the courage to stand up for what is right, no matter the cost. And with that knowledge burning brightly within him, Q set forth into the unknown, ready to carve out a new destiny for himself and for all those who called the Circle home.
As he was walking under a bridge, he saw something very rare in the city: A tag.
The tag goes by:
"I prefer a dangerous freedom than a peaceful slavery"