"Well… where should I start…" Jawbi's eyes wandered off into the vast open sky as his broad back leaned against the pillar.
The silence within the open courtyard was palpable while Jawbi took his sweet time pondering how to explain the systems set in this new world to Lilo.
He scratched his stubble and fidgeted with his overall straps, not in any rush to begin this long speech he knew he needed to cover before Lilo's handler arrived.
"Alright... listen close. I'm too lazy to repeat it and quite frankly, as interesting as you are kid, I got better shit to do than explain basic ass principle that everyone in this world knows. I honestly have more question for you than you do for me. Asking about your night at the forbidden temple was just the tip of the ice burg..."
"Where were you before we found you? How the hell are you so arrogant? Where are your parents? What else are you hiding?"
Jawbi slowed down to take a breath and rubbed his temples.
The bombardment of these questions made Lilo uneasy, but he completely understood Jawbi's inquisitive attitude at such a bizarre kid's arrival.
"Forget it. Wonka didn't put me here to interrogate you. The handler will deal with that."
"The basics of class within our spire should be mentioned before you meet your handler."
"There are seven classes of social hierarchy."
"The lowest class of course, are the cravers. They are our slaves, mostly used as meat shields and our first line of defense and scouting within our missions. They are our war dogs and are treated as such."
"The next class are the wipers. They wipe things. The floor. The dishes. Your laundry. Your ass."
"They aren't much different than the cravers, execpt they have the right to live. Cravers are just our mutts used for whatever purpose we see fit."
"Those pigs can rot in hell for all I care; their failure to resist the temptation makes them deserve it."
"The next class are the handlers. They handle things. The newbies. The paper work. Organizing wipers and keeping things running smoothly. They manage the lower rung of our working class."
"The next up are the gatekeepers. They guard our gates, the civil law, the Fien elders, and also help transport goods between the inner circle and the mountainous terrain."
"Us shepherds are next. We risk our lives to collect data, prevent breaches, and also execute special missions upon request of the Timbers."
"The Turners are the heart of our civilization. From turning pages, to turning scrap metal into high tech gadgets; they are our creators of things. Wonka was a Turner, but he chose to revert to a shepherd. He prefers going out on the missions and being active rather than being stuck in the mage's labs."
"Kite riders are our most powerful mages. They are our eyes and ears in the sky. You'll see them shortly, they're better explained visually than with words."
"The apex of our society are the Fiens. They are the eldest, and our counsel of leaders. You don't need to know much about them. You'll likely never cross one."
Jawbi let out an exasperated yawn, knowing he could be doing anything better at the moment. Lilo had a lot to ponder, but one thing stood out to him while being lectured.
"Timbers? What role do they play?"
Jawbi let out another yawn and stepped away from the pillar that he had been leaning heavily on during the long ass lecture.
"No need to worry about them either, you will likely never see them. Even I have yet to meet one. In fact, you should pray you never meet one... We're done here. Your handler will arrive shortly."
"I told you all this for one reason only Lilo... You should treat everyone of them with respect. You never know, even the wipers could be your peers after your screening." Jawbi muttered over his shoulder as he walked away.
Lilo stood motionless for awhile, listening to the echoed footsteps of Jawbi fading as he exited the vast empty courtyard.
'Where will they place me? Damn, wait what if they find out... Soda. How do I thwart their craver detector?'
Soda still remained uninterested with interacting with Lilo. He was currently occupied with studying the mural of the map of the spire on the ceiling that was so far up that Lilo could not even make out Soda's ghostly silhouette.
The halls suddenly grew louder with the resounding noise of countless footsteps. The echo's grew louder as they grew closer and Lilo tensed in anticipation.
'I should run.'
"No." Soda said as he descended from above.
'Why?'
Soda simply shook his head and turned to fly ahead and analyze the group of people that were just now entering the hall.
The sound of chains scrapping the floor could be heard, and the eerie group of muzzled kids with hollow dark eyes were marching behind the caped arrogant shepherd.
Other men dressed in lighter garments were scattered throughout the courtyard, each being followed by servants (which Lilo now learned were wipers) who wore bright neon garments.
Now understanding what each person's role was really helped his earlier suspicions of how the class system worked. He was right about the colors of clothing reflecting their respective places.
The monochromatic, dark, white and grey outfits were those of high class. Mute earthly colors were lower. The lighter colors of pastel were a bit lower... and the lowest wore bright flashy neon colors... well that is, all aside from the cravers.
They wore the torn stitched flesh of gluttons, each still bright and flashy due to the natural pigment of gluttons; but with an eerie and sinister tone that painted over their dark hollow eyes.
It sent shivers down Lilo's spine just to be in their presence. The cravers struck fear in his heart more than the shepherd who was supposedly the leader of the pack of dogs.
Lilo questioned the validity of the shepherds power. Pop was it? He was no doubt confident in himself, but there was confidence that was derived from faith in the effort invested, and the kind of blind confidence that had no foundation.
Oddly enough, Lilo was familiar with both. Even though one may seem more valuable than the other; in his life within the crazy sport of combat, he learned that both are necessary for different tasks.
Knowing how to wield which one when, was a mastered skill that could be lethal if used right.
Knowing how to only use one, could also be proven to be lethal but rather than to the opponent, it would be lethal to the wielder.
Lilo pondered what this "Pop" guy was really made of. Was his arrogance dangerous to his opponents or was it dangerous to Pop himself?
Pop's eyes seemed to seize the room. It glistened silver in the suns lights and moved with bold ownership of whatever it gazed on. After studying most of the room, it finally rested on Lilo's small frame.
A devious smile creased Pop's lips and Lilo's heart stirred. It did not stir out of fear, anxiety, or worry. It was not even that of anger. Instead it was excitement. The same excitement he felt before facing a worthy opponent.
But before he could face off with the arrogant prick, the eyes of a wiper locked with Lilo's. I mean, everyone else was staring at him as well, seeing as he was the only one standing in the courtyard alone with an irregular presence.
But this wiper was different. There was an unnerving spark in its eyes. It was trying to avoid all others and was locked into Lilo's figure. Searching for something. In shock and disbelief' and yet also a hint of relief. Like a spark of recognition.
Lilo turned to Soda who was also staring at the wiper, with the same spark in his eyes. Soda's voice trembled as he uttered:
"That's... my brother."