Chapter L

Hope in Hopeless Days

When Adriaas Ancaris first learned of Sectum, the continent of the Extarri, at the tender age of six, she never imagined that she would one day be exiled there. Her parents had often half-jokingly threatened to send her and her brother Zeban to Sectum for their mischiefs. Such threats only worked temporarily to induce good behavior until they found out children under sixteen were not judged by a Table of Nine but were instead eligible for reformatories.

Being exiled meant losing the privileges of being a Homo Sythesicus, along with the freedoms that this evolutionary status conferred. Sectum served as a penal colony for those who violated the Edictum Vitae, the Law of Malkuth. The continent was divided into four nations—Eslavia, Imperia, Dictaduria, and Capitalia—where criminals were segregated and sentenced based on the severity of their crimes. Eslavia housed the most severe offenders in a nightmarish environment, while Capitalia dealt with the most minor infractions. Imperia and Dictaduria occupied the middle ground, reflecting societal structures from the ages before Aequiteism became the norm.

Disappointing expectations about her future, Adriaas found herself lying on the muddy ground of an unknown street in Imperial City, the capital of Imperia. Despite feeling hungry, lost, and defeated by the world, the twenty-two-year-old maintained a sense of innocence in her mind. She closed her eyes, letting the comforting sensation of rain washing over her take hold. It had been a day or more since she last had any liquid. Her limbs felt heavy and leaden, like they were made of stone. Weeks had passed since her traumatic exile began, and just thinking about it made her sick. The burning bile was washed away by the pouring water she used to gargle, trying to rid herself of the foul taste. She drank enough rain to recover some energy and moisten her throat enough to manage a sarcastic laugh. The mud around her increased, sticking to her clothes and hair. Filth had become a part of her daily routine to the point that she barely noticed it anymore.

Feeling alone was a new sensation for her. Experiencing her exile and how it unfolded was heartbreaking in multiple ways. The metaphorical turning tides felt like a tsunami, still drowning Adriaas after weeks, sapping her life force by the minute. She was ready to leave that reality and die.

As someone approached, stepping into the mud under the rain, it seemed they might have heard her manic laughter.

“I can’t help but tell you, this is a depressing sight,” the woman remarked.

“Furk off, this is my decision and it shall be respected,” Adriaas responded with anger brewing inside her, feeling the weight of the stranger's pitying stare. Before, she might have reacted with more vigor, but now she lacked the energy to fight or even feel shame. “I will leave this world in solitude.”

The identity of the person became irrelevant as the woman replied against Adriaas’ wishes, “Aren’t you Ms. Dramatic? I can’t let you die here. This is a pathetic way to go. How did you end up like this? Are you just waiting to drown? Because if that’s the case, I’m afraid you’re wasting your time, there’s no flooding risk in this area.”

The overwhelming number of questions left Adriaas exhausted. "If you're so interested, I fainted," she confessed, reluctant to move from her spot, her eyes firmly closed. "I'm poor and starving. A group of people attacked me hours after my exile began. They took everything the Gevurah had given me to start over, including all my Onis, so you can't steal anything from me!"

The Gevurah, known as the Fifth Sephirah, was one of the nine branches of expression in Malkuth. They enforced the Edictum Vitae, a manuscript outlining the rules for an Aequiteist society. Onis was the currency in Imperia, the Second Country of Sectum.

"Your view of the world seems heavily influenced by fatalism. I'm sorry, but that's just awful and kind of sad."

Adriaas felt exasperated by the stranger's intrusion.

"I don't sugarcoat things; I'm a realist. It's been weeks, and I haven't managed to find a job or a home! I've been spending my nights sleeping in alleys next to restaurants, trying to snatch bags of leftover food before the other homeless people can. I might as well just die already since I'm not getting that H21 furka in my veins like the rest of them."

The woman had knelt next to her, hanging on every word. "I've been where you are, and it furks."

"I'd appreciate it if you let me die alone." She was tired of humanity and of being its punchline.

"Can't do that, I already told you. The moment I saw you, I knew it was my duty to help you. My name is Gidit."

The woman's smile stretched from ear to ear, leaving Adriaas puzzled about what was so amusing.

"I'd encourage you to avoid wasting your time. I’m not worth the struggle."

"I'll make a note of it, thanks." Gidit disregarded her wishes once again. She had oval features and dark purple hair tied in a bun.

"Can you stand? I want to avoid carrying you."

In resignation, Adriaas moved her limbs and got up from the ground, that woman was not going to let her alone unless she did.

Gidit touched her arm, trying to assist her.

"What do you want?" Adriaas halted her with a gesture, not wanting to be touched.

"My intention is to offer you a place to stay and food to eat. If I were in your shoes, I'd hope someone would do at least that much for me." Every word from Gidit's mouth seemed sincere.

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"What if I don't want your help?"

Adriaas had always tried to avoid being indebted to anyone. Her father, Annevan, had been guilty of that.

"You're not that stupid." Noticing her weakness, Gidit supported Adriaas by placing her hand around her waist.

She accepted the help, aware that her legs weren't strong enough to support her alone. "You think I'm stupid?"

"Without a doubt," Gidit's expression was stern. "You must accept reality. Being a Homo Synthesicus is part of your past. You're a Sapiens now, just like every imperial. You're slightly more interesting than an ape. Behave in a manner befitting your situation."

Upon her arrival in Imperia, Adriaas, like many Extarri before her, had received a vaccine that stripped away everything that made her unique. The so-called "Xtracter" had deactivated the chains in her DNA that enabled the synthesis of technology and organic matter to function cohesively within her cells. Now, she was no more than an ordinary human and without food and water, she would eventually die. The past few days had demonstrated that Imperia was overpopulated, making it hard to find employment. Everyone had a priority over Adriaas.

"You're the first person that has spoken to me in a week. Why bother? No one else did."

Her self-esteem was shattered after countless rejections from the past month of her life.

"Maybe they sensed your air of superiority?" Gidit's insight extended beyond appearances.

"Is that why the imperials have been ignoring me?"

The constant feeling of loneliness, danger and fear had become familiar to the point that she often responded with irreverent humor and defensive behavior.

"We ignore you because you act like an outsider, like a Malkuthian, when you're an imperial, just like us. To elevate yourself without any attributes is a mistake when you're a newcomer in this continent."

Gidit's tone was final.

"To survive, be humble with your peers but lethal with your wrist. Drawing swords is common practice for imperials. This isn't a Virtualis experience. You're stuck in a primitive land with a body lacking synthesis. Imperia respects only the survival of the fittest. If you want to die, at least do it honorably, not pathetically."

"I'm feeling the shame. That’s certain," Adriaas admitted. “It’s been a downwards spiral for days.”

"I can name a hundred ways to die in Sectum more honorably than by drowning in rainwater, hell a million reasons. You haven't earned death yet, you'd be in Eslavia if that were the case. There will be a day when you’re out of this furkan hole and back in Malkuth! In the meantime I’m taking you to a place where you can learn how to fight, defend a cause, and if you desire to, give your life for something that matters, not pity.

Gidit kept Adriaas walking, allowing the painful memories of being stripped of her nature to resurface in that feudal land. Lying on the ground as it rained as the ground around her flooded had seemed like a reasonable way to die in the dire state of starvation her body was. Whether that woman was helping or not, Adriaas' mind remained defeated, unable to return to the reality she once took for granted.

They walked through the muddy streets in the outskirts of Imperial City in the rain. The uniform adobe architecture, blended with wood, plants, and other materials, provided warmth and color to the green coastal valley.

"Why help someone you don't know? That's asking for trouble here." Adriaas' mind spun theories with each additional step, to the point of making her stop. “There has to be more to it in a place like this. Are you trying to make a slave out of me? Cause if that’s the case, I’d rather die!”

"There she goes again! A place like this! Listen to yourself. Imperia will be your home for the foreseeable future, accept that. You are an Imperial, whether you like it or not but, there’s a choice you can make about the life you want to live in this place."

She paused, waiting to see how Adriaas would respond but the response was silence.

"You're no stranger, Ancaris. You're recognizable by your last name alone. How do you think I found you? You're lucky it was me and not the Elkrachets the locals told about, they are on our side but too scared to rebel. Tell me, who advised that introducing yourself as a Malkuthian with your true name was a good idea? Stop playing the melodramatic victim and start thinking about surviving long-term."

"It’s been a nightmare since I got here."

The memories of the past few days haunted her. She had been foolish and naïve too think using her last name would give her an advantage; it had backfired, hitting her as hard as a cannonball. Just thinking about her upbringing and the burden of being a member of the Ancaris clan upset Adriaas.

"Seems logical. Your father is quite a figure, isn’t he?"

She didn't need to wonder—Gidit obviously knew of her past.

"That’s one way to see it."

Many glorified her father, which only exacerbated Adriaas' discomfort whenever she felt safe enough to complain about him.

Annevan Ancaris had been highly respected among the Malkuthians for his intellectual prowess, long before she was born.

"I’m not even sure if he believes in my innocence. Where are we going?"

The question arose as they walked across yellow cornfields, away from Imperial City.

"To the silver faction of Capahuento, the rebel movement against Empress Sabina and her followers, the Elkrachets. We don’t care about being hunted and called rebels by the empire. The unsafe and exploitative conditions of the capital are worth rebelling against. In our hidings through the valley, the forest and between towns, we spend our days in the woodlands, fighting the system in the shadows, living in tents, and working as a community. Sometimes, we operate close to the city. That’s why I was around today, but you’re lucky. Most of our business is with the smaller towns and El Mercado. Our home is in the mountains." Gidit handed her a bag. "Take it, all of it. I think it’s safe to say you won’t puck it."

Adriaas didn't hesitate and took what he offered, a orange silk bag full of dried fruit. She opened it and pulled out pieces of mangoes and strawberries, salivating.

"Would you share the origin of these delicious looking treats with me?"

Her excitement was noticeable yet a hint of doubt loomed over.

"There are ways to acquire items not authorized by the Gevurah or the Elkrachets. We made these ourselves." Gidit smiled and winked at Adriaas, her confidence evident. "Be humble, and I might show you the ropes."

Questions were necessary before they could continue. "Why are you helping me?"

Gidit noticed that Adriaas was walking on her own now.

"What's the problem? I've already told you."

She felt compelled to make the next statement to feel comfortable moving forward."No one tried to stop my exile or questioned my innocence. In days, I was the only one who believed in myself. No one stood up for me, not even my family. Why would you do anything for me?"

"You’re going around in circles. Don’t get stuck in the past. That’s life. It's surprising how many people in Sectum claim innocence. We're on our own; most extarri come with problematic upbringings. You can choose between complaining or making the most of your time in Imperia. That's why I do it. Suck it up and own it, take advantage of a poor opportunity."

Adriaas found Gidit's blunt answers valuable and pondered what sort of community was worth her energy in a place such as Imperia.

*****

That's it for Chapter L!

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