CHAPTER LV

THE OTHER IMPERIA

Elchome’s commentary made sense until later when Gidit guided Adriaas to her dormitory in a separate area of Silver Camp. The full-size tent stood empty, accommodating space for six individual mattresses, four already occupied. It included a bathroom equipped with four showers, three heated toilets, working sinks, and a couple of cabinets. Gidit searched for bed sheets.

Upon finding them, the coconut scent impressed Adriaas, but the yellow and disgusting pillows they found afterward did not. "I'll lend you one of mine until we get a new one. Just keep your head clean when using it, please."

"I maintain good hygiene," Adriaas remarked, surveying the tent as the pillows ended up thrown in a corner. "Thank you for keeping my identity a secret."

"You should keep it to yourself," Gidit advised seriously. "Not even those you trust should know."

"I’m just grateful to have a roof over my head," Adriaas admitted, sitting on the mattress Gidit had shown her to. "I’ll be known as Adriaas Zaraz here."

The past few weeks had marked her worst experiences. Being falsely accused was bad enough, but having most of who she loved believe the lie had shattered her heart. Exile to Sectum to have her synthesis torn apart had inflicted a pain unlike any she had experienced before. Yet, suffering an attack by Imperials, losing everything including any chance of a decent life, proved even worse.

The depressive vortex spiraled out of control until Gidit found Adriaas, who was ready to drown in the rainwater.

"The blankets are clean; I made sure of it. If you're feeling uncertain, there's a spray bottle of antibacterial solution in the closet."

She was thankful with Gidit for finding her earlier that day.

"I need to do some selling around the camp. Do you need anything for tomorrow?"

Gidit was already heading out, near the exit.

Asking for more after the food and lodging seemed excessive.

"You've done more than anyone here. Thank you for saving me."

Adriaas felt overwhelmed, unsure how to repay Gidit for everything she had done.

"It's a heart thing, or instinct, but know it was my pleasure. One day, you'll do the same for someone else. Get some proper rest."

Seated at the edge of the mattress, the young woman cried silently, setting aside grudges, frustrations, worries, and anger.

After changing into a silver pajama left for her, she lay on the bed, emotions still overwhelming her. Reclining on a mattress felt transcendental and reminded her of her arrest in Iustitia. The floating Gevurah fortress, with its red crystal stagnum, stood as an imposing and grandiose sight, spelling doom for many.

The next morning's early wake-up call felt like a violation of her human rights. At 4:30 a.m., Gidit roused her from the most comfortable, dreamless sleep.

"Come on! We have stuff to do if you want to become a Kapa."

A group of women awaited Adriaas' awakening.

"Our roommates, from left to right, are Hyldia, Jassique, and Banturi."

Each was older than Adriaas, who felt cornered by a pack of she-wolves.

"We know how to help you forget your past, at least for today," Hyldia said, her blue eyes and bronze hair shimmering.

"How do you feel about hunting?" Jassique asked, her long, curly hair framing her face as she sat beside Adriaas.

"Not great, to be honest. I've never killed anything." Adriaas drew her legs up to make room.

"One of the easiest ways to earn your place here is by bringing back food. We're not trying to get you killed. It's a necessary hunt." Banturi's brunette braided hair showcased geometric patterns, reflecting her meticulous nature.

Dismissing further sleep, Adriaas decided to trust these unfamiliar women.

The new roommates gave her space, each returning to their beds. After grabbing clothes with a dark green and yellow camouflage design, Adriaas disappeared into the bathroom. She stripped and took a warm shower that turned cold, revitalizing her. Dressed and ready, she emerged, ready to socialize. "Who's next?"

"We usually shower after we return," Jassique explained with a tender smile, letting her know it was fine.

The young extarri blushed. It made sense.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," Adriaas apologized, embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it. You desperately needed to catch up on some showers. Let's go!"

After Gidit winked at her, the group left the room and formed a protective circle around the newest member. Adriaas felt emotional with the changes in her life. The women led her through a specific route across interconnected tents towards an exit, all smelling quite nicely.

Outside, moonlight barely illuminated the path, making the dark, noisy forest seem intimidating. Adriaas tried to suppress a sneeze but failed.

Being a Sapiens made her allergic to pollen. The others immediately demanded silence. "Shhh! Let's not wake anyone up!"

After the sneeze crisis passed and allergies set aside, Adriaas appreciated stepping outside so early. The sun began to hit the treetops as the moon set behind the mountains. After an hour's walk through the valley, they reached a cooler, more humid area at a higher altitude. A great lake reflecting the rising sun greeted them.

Life thrived around them, a family of foxes drank water in the distance, birds sang, and a snake crawled down the trunk of a nearby tree. In a flash, Hyldia decapitated it with her machete.

"They are good for leather," Hyldia remarked, already starting to peel the skin off the snake, a smile of satisfaction on her face.

"Stealthy, you are a bloodthirsty madwoman, it gives me the creeps," Jassique muttered.

Gidit continued walking at a brisk pace through the rich variety of flora and fauna. The freshness near the water was captivating, and Adriaas welcomed it with familiar lungs, talking into the breeze. The ambiance remained quiet and slightly illuminated by the rising sun.

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Leadership of the hunting party fell to Banturi, who chose to pursue deer after discussing with Jassique. The curly-haired woman had visited the area the day before to assess their chances, deeming it safer than hunting a bear.

They drew their weapons—crossbows, bows, axes, and a bola, not to mention the swords at their belts.

Adriaas glanced at her knives, aware of her minimal self-defense training.

"You won’t have to worry," Gidit reassured her, pointing to another weapon. "This spear will help."

With a frown, Adriaas inspected the small stick Gidit referred to.

"This tool has AI technology that will assist your aim. It will collapse if aimed at a human," Gidit explained, activating a mechanism that expanded the cylinder to the length of her body. She demonstrated its use with impressive skill before handing it to Adriaas.

"A bit like cheating, isn’t it?" The newest member of the group asked.

"This isn’t a competition; it’s survival. The easier we can secure our prey, the better. It’s crucial to avoid accidents," Gidit replied.

Hyldia wielded a second spear in her right hand.

"Silence. Merge. Gidit, track," Banturi commanded, scanning the forest around them.

Gidit approached their leader and presented a dark square device with a screen.

Adriaas peered curiously at the gadget.

"It’s a quantum tracker with adjustable aim," Gidit noted, catching Adriaas' gaze. "This beauty can locate any nearby species as long as it’s in the database—a treasure from the twenty-second century."

"It contains data on millions of species across various realms of organic life," Jassique chimed in excitedly. "Show her how it works."

Gidit demonstrated the device's mechanics. The dark square screen displayed a map, but upon activation, a larger screen with a menu and keyboard unfolded. She typed the desired animal, and within moments, the map updated to show various points indicating the number of steps to reach various deer. The second screen also updated, displaying colorized data divided by age and weight.

Adriaas noticed other shadows on the screen. "Are those supposed to be there?"

The roommates huddled around the device, turning defensive.

"A wolf pack," Gidit murmured, alert, readying her crossbow as she still held the tracker.

Adriaas felt her nerves spike, knowing her limitations in such situations. "What should I do?"

"If we get wounded, you can help. You plan on becoming a Chesed, right?" Gidit replied as she, Hyldia, Jassique, and Banturi prepared to face the predators.

They had smelled them. Adriaas could hear their cautious steps in the distance. She wanted to flee, yet no one else seemed inclined. The group positioned themselves strategically, remaining still as statues, waiting. The animals, careful and alert, sniffed the area, drawing nearer. Banturi ordered the group to stay still, holding their breath.

The largest wolf led the pack, his fur a mix of brown and white, his snout bloodied, fierce, and majestic. As four members of his pack approached, displaying a parade of grace while assessing them, tension mounted. The leader loomed two meters from Hyldia, muscles tensed in preparation for attack.

Adriaas' legs trembled with anxiety, her nerves frayed as the wolves' large, menacing fangs dripped saliva. Three wolves lunged at the group, who retaliated with arrows and blades. Gidit and Banturi controlled the long-range weapons, while Jassique and Hyldia advanced with swords, engaging the second wave. Their movements, calculated and effective, quickly resolved the conflict. A cry from the third wolf before it fell made Adriaas turn just in time to see two more charging.

"Behind you!" she screamed, moments before they were ambushed.

Gidit and Hyldia struck the beasts with arrows just before they could reach Jassique and Adriaas.

"Nice catch!" Banturi cheered, holding her bloodied blade aloft. "Good job, Zaraz."

The dark-haired woman scanned the area for more threats, her eyes darting from one shadow to the next.

"I guess we got some hunting done. Those beasts were beautiful," Jassique remarked, her face grim, her steps heavy. No one seemed pleased with their victory.

"They were planning to tear us apart," Adriaas added, trying to shake off the shock of having a wolf inches from her face.

Hyldia turned, conflicted with the group's next steps.

"What do we do with them? We don’t eat wolf; it’s a camp rule, can’t go with minorities."

Banturi thought ahead, plotting a workaround.

"Sell their pelts ourselves for a few thousand Onis? The meat can go to El Mercado. We got six of them. Come on! This will get us good reputation at the camp and a great start for Zaraz!"

No one contested her suggestion. Adriaas recognized the importance of money for the financial stability of Silver Camp. In Imperia, things operated differently than in Malkuth, where killing wildlife was against the Edictum Vitae, the law, except in self-defense, as had happened that morning.

The group piled the bodies and concealed them from other predators before resuming their hunt for deer.

Gidit's quantum tracker revealed several groups of deer within a three-kilometer radius, categorized by does, bucks, and fawns. Adriaas felt her stomach clench, uneasy with the task ahead.

"I don't want to kill any cubs," she declared, firm in her decision. "Or kill at all."

"We avoid it if we can," Hyldia reassured her, "We'll target one big male so we can make it last."

Adriaas closed her eyes, waiting for them to choose their quarry.

After analyzing their options and studying the specimens' data on the dark squared screens, Banturi pointed out a promising target. "There’s one, almost two hundred kilograms, about a kilometer away. It’s relatively old and would be a great catch," she said. "Are you up for it, new blood?"

"Whatever works," Adriaas conceded, resigned to what had to be done. "I want to make it quick, with no suffering."

"Your spear has a tracking device that targets the prey's head directly, ensuring a painless end," Hyldia explained.

As a cohesive unit, the women moved stealthily, blending into their surroundings and nearing their prey. They had chosen a large buck, grazing alone near a river that flowed from the earlier seen lake.

They positioned themselves on higher ground, twenty meters from the deer. Adriaas' hands were sweaty as she gripped the spear, the weapon that would end the beautiful animal’s life. Hyldia and Banturi flanked her, while Gidit and Jassique covered their backs.

"This is the best position for a clean shot. Hold your breath and aim," their leader instructed, bolstering her confidence.

Wiping her sweaty palm on her camo pants, Adriaas locked her eyes on the target, steadied her breathing, and with a firm throw, launched the spear at the deer. As it struck, the hunting party erupted into cheers, but Adriaas was overwhelmed by guilt.

She hoped this mission would secure her a spot in Capahuento’s Silver Faction, a crucial step into building a stable life in Imperia.

As they approached the fallen deer, Gidit brought a thin, white net from her backpack.

"How’s that going to hold it?" Adriaas asked skeptically.

"You've seen nothing yet. Sectum is full of illegal gadgets from technologies predating the times of Malkuth," Hyldia said with a smirk.

The net, made of poliphene—a popular mix of polymer and graphene known for its elasticity and weight absorption—could easily hold wolves and three deer without struggle. Jassique and Banturi had secured more kills.

Their return to camp was jovial, filled with laughter and stories. Hyldia had brought wine to celebrate Adriaas' first successful hunt. "My heart is still pumping, whoo! Those skins will fetch good Onis. We might even climb the rankings at El Mercado," Banturi exclaimed, thrilled with their success.

The triumphant mood was infectious, and even Adriaas felt drawn into the spirit of celebration. After their discussion, she learned that each hunter was ranked on a board in El Mercado according to their killings, a strategy to engage clients with discounts based on their position. The top hunter could even earn a fraction of the total sales of meat products for a week.

To maintain the balance of their load, four of them pulled the net and carried their prey back to camp, led by Jassique. They covered the corpses with cooling screens to protect them from the heat, which was a relief for Adriaas, sparing her from having to see them. The lively chatter of her group made the trip back to Silver Camp seem brief.

Upon reaching the camp kitchens, an open space between tents, the sun was high in the sky. "Time to take a shower," Hyldia teased Adriaas about her earlier decision to clean up before they left.

The rationale was clear now, as dirt and sweat had caked their bodies, obscuring the original colors of their clothes.

Hours later, refreshed and rested, Elchome appeared, sharing news of a scheduled meeting with the committee of outsiders. Adriaas felt integrated into Silver Camp after just one day. Regaining hope was a victory in itself. Even though she remained exiled and betrayed by the society she once thought perfect, her present situation was not as dire as it was the day before.

*****

That's it for Chapter LV!

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