Driven by an explorer's curiosity and the gnawing sensation in his stomach, Evander ventured deeper into the complex, seeking a bustling food court. The midday hour had struck, and the mall was humming with activity. Streams of women drifted towards the intoxicating aroma wafting from the food establishments. They carried trays, their conversations forming a pleasant, animated din that echoed under the grand atrium.

The food court was a wonder in itself, a blend of the culinary arts with advanced technology. Robotic arms prepared dishes with swift precision, gliding over gleaming countertops, chopping and stirring under the watchful eyes of a handful of human attendants. From succulent roasts to exotic-looking salads, the array of foods on display was as vast and diverse as the crowd itself.

As Evander entered, he could feel the ripple of awareness spread through the area. He was an anomaly, a rarity that turned heads and sparked hushed conversations. He ignored the lingering gazes, the curious glances that stole his way, focusing instead on his next challenge – procuring food without any currency of this world.

People before him placed small stones, intricately carved and glowing faintly, onto inscriptions embedded in the counters. Each time a stone was placed, it would pulse with light, and the individual would receive their meal. To Evander, the stones appeared to function like credit cards, a magical equivalent of a familiar concept.

It's just a different form of transaction, Evander reasoned, eyeing the strange stones. The principles should remain the same. However, the lack of such a stone in his possession was a glaring issue.

His eyes scanned the food court, taking in the multitude of dishes he couldn't sample, the tantalizing smells that he couldn't satisfy his hunger with.

Out of the thrumming crowd, a duo of women in the corner of his eye caught his attention. They appeared to be around his age, one of them gesticulating wildly in his direction while her companion tried to wrestle her arm back down, her cheeks tinted with a rosy blush of embarrassment.

This is my chance, Evander thought. If he wanted to understand more about this place, the people living here were the most reliable source. He started his amble towards the two women, a friendly smile gracing his features.

As Evander's figure neared their table, he watched a transformation unfold. The formerly bold woman, who had been so audaciously waving, was now a picture of alarm. Her face drained of color, stark white against the buzzing backdrop of the food court. Her eyes widened, darting around fearfully under the reproachful stares of the surrounding women.

Her friend, who had initially been restraining her flamboyant gestures, now stared at Evander in wide-eyed surprise. Her initial embarrassment melted away into disbelief as she witnessed him heading directly towards their table.

The atmosphere around them grew tense, the previously lively chatter fading into anxious whispers. Yet, through the commotion, Evander's approach did not falter, his smile never wavering.

As Evander reached the table, he bestowed upon the women his most disarming grin, instantly lightening the tense atmosphere that had formed around them. "I saw you waving," he began, his voice a harmonious blend of calm and confidence. "Is it okay if I sit down and have a chat?"

Before they could muster any words in response, Evander was already taking a seat across from them, making himself comfortable. His eyes roved over their meals, intrigued by the amount of food in front of them. Both plates were laden with hefty meals, their colors vibrant and aroma enticing. Yet, in stark contrast to the calorie-rich spread, both women were in excellent shape. Their figures were lithe, their postures poised and their complexions radiating health.

Strange, he pondered, his curiosity only growing. Another mystery to unfold.

Their expressions mirrored that of guppies out of water, their mouths opening and closing without uttering a single sound. In an attempt to break the ice, Evander opted for a casual comment, "The weather's lovely today, isn't it?"

He extended a hand towards the silent pair, hoping to initiate a customary greeting. "My name's Evander. And you are?"

As if pulled out of their trance, the women finally moved. They hesitantly extended their own hands, clasping his in a grip that lingered for a moment too long. "I'm Adrasteia," the bold one managed, her voice a soft whisper, a stark contrast to her earlier bravado. "And this is Calliope," she indicated towards her companion whose face was slowly regaining some color.

Adrasteia and Calliope, he thought, etching their peculiar names into his memory. The archaic names fitting in with the world around him that seemed so foreign

Adopting an air of casual curiosity, Evander ventured, "So, I'm new here. What's fun to do around this place?" He wanted his demeanor to convey that of a typical teenager on the lookout for amusement and a bit of thrill. His question, however, seemed to have thrown the girls for a loop, their expressions reflecting utter bemusement.

"You're a boy," Adrasteia finally said, as though that statement elucidated everything. Evander couldn't suppress the grin that crept onto his face at their perplexity.

"I do appear to be a boy," he agreed, playing along. His casual response sparked a round of giggles from the pair. They think I'm amusing, Evander observed internally, a glint of amusement twinkling in his own eyes.

Emboldened by their receptiveness, Evander ventured to address the proverbial elephant in the room. With a smile that he hoped conveyed reassurance, he asked, "Where are all the other boys? I heard some are due to arrive in about a month."

The question seemed to pique the girls' interest. Calliope, who'd been mostly silent thus far, responded with a semblance of flirtation that seemed foreign to her. She offered him a shy, reassuring smile and murmured, "Well, they wouldn't be as attractive and charming as you."

The words hung in the air, the implication of her statement sinking in. Evander, despite his confusion and the bizarre circumstances, found himself chuckling at the compliment.

The girls' flirtatious attempt was as clumsy as a fawn's first steps, endearing in its lack of finesse. Adrasteia's cheeks flushed a pretty pink, her green eyes sparkling as they flickered between his face and her own lap. "There are... um, a few places to explore," she started, stumbling on her words. "I mean, you'd probably enjoy them... Not that I know what you'd enjoy... I mean, just saying..."

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Evander bit back a smile. Her awkwardness was oddly comforting in this alien environment, a slice of normalcy that warmed his heart. He appreciated the effort she was putting in, and he decided to ease her anxiety. "I'm sure any place you recommend would be great, Adrasteia," he responded gently, hoping his warm tone would settle her nerves.

Calliope, on the other hand, seemed to have found her flirtatious footing, albeit precariously. She flipped her silver hair with a dramatic flourish, her electric-blue eyes holding his gaze a tad too long. Her lips twisted into a crooked grin as she said, "Oh, there are tons of fun things to do. But they might not be as interesting as hanging out with you."

Evander had to commend her attempt at brazen flirting. It was delivered with a certain daring that hinted at a bold spirit beneath her bashful exterior. His laughter, rich and genuine, echoed around them. "Well, Calliope, I have to say your company is pretty interesting, too."

From the sudden flushing of Calliope's fair skin, her reaction to his compliment was as clear as daylight. She seemed flustered, a stark contrast to her earlier bravado, her confident smirk now replaced with a flustered smile. "Of course, you being a boy... you cannot go anywhere without..." Her words trailed off, her eyes darting around nervously.

Evander's brows furrowed in confusion at her abrupt halt. Are there restrictions for men here? He wondered. Looking at both girls, he asked, "Why? Are there places I can't go or things I can't do because I'm a man?"

The girls exchanged a shocked glance. Adrasteia’s eyes grew wide as she absorbed his question, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "You really don't know, do you?" she murmured. She seemed hesitant, her gaze softening with a mix of concern and intrigue. "You're... ever so innocent. How cute."

A heavy silence hung over their table as the girls prepared to share their world's grim truths. The casual lunchtime chatter from the surrounding tables seemed to fade away, drowned out by the pulsing rush of anticipation.

Adrasteia swallowed, her fingers idly toying with the edge of her napkin as she took the lead, her voice soft but steady. "You see, Evander, our society... it's predominantly women." She glanced briefly at Calliope, who nodded, her eyes wide and earnest, echoing her friend's grim seriousness.

"That's right," Calliope picked up where Adrasteia left off, leaning forward, her gaze locked on Evander. "Men are a rarity here, perhaps one in a hundred, and that creates... problems."

"Problems?" Evander echoed, his brow furrowing, the hint of a grimace tugging at the corners of his mouth. The undercurrent of fear in their voices had set him on edge, his instincts screaming that he was about to hear something he'd rather not.

"Yes, problems," Adrasteia confirmed, her voice trembling slightly. "The scarcity of men has led to a sort of... crime wave against them. Not here, in the safe zones, but elsewhere..."

"Kidnappings, for one," Calliope interjected, her hands clenching into fists, a reflection of the dark underbelly of their society she was reluctantly unveiling. "Men are... valuable, you could say. Some less scrupulous women... they would go to great lengths to possess a man."

Evander's heart pounded against his rib cage. Kidnappings? He was a potential target simply for being a man? A cold shiver ran down his spine. His casual conversation with these girls was taking an unexpected and rather dark turn.

The girls shared a glance, the tension between them palpable. "And that's just the tip of the iceberg, Evander," Adrasteia confessed, her voice almost a whisper. "There are other... unspeakable acts committed against men." She didn't elaborate further, but the grim set of her lips said it all.

"But here," Calliope gestured around them, "this is one of the safe zones. Most of the men in our world reside in places like these."

"Safe zones?" Evander echoed, trying to make sense of this peculiar social order.

"Yes, places where the rules are strict, and the women have to be from good families with an upright standing. These zones are monitored closely to ensure the safety of the men," Adrasteia clarified, her voice carrying a note of solemnity.

Evander listened, a blend of disbelief and curiosity percolating within him as the girls painted a picture of a world that seemed almost surreal. They portrayed him as a cloistered innocent, sheltered from the harsh realities of their society, an object of familial protection rather than the proactive adult he was accustomed to being.

Their discussion was abruptly broken by a strident, booming voice that sliced through the buzzing background chatter of the food court. Evander pivoted, his gaze locking onto a figure of authority. The woman towered over the scene, a monolith of muscular strength clothed in a stark black uniform. Dark, unruly hair tumbled over her broad shoulders, framing her stern face and stormy eyes.

"What are you doing, bothering this boy?" She demanded, her words cutting through the air like a sharpened blade. An imposing baton hung at her hip, adorned with an intricate web of glowing inscriptions that danced and shimmered as if alive.

Evander moved to interrupt her, his mouth opening to explain that it was he who had initiated the conversation. But his words were dismissed, drowned beneath the woman's authoritative voice as she asked for identification. His words fell on deaf ears.

Adrasteia and Calliope, now rendered pale and wide-eyed, silently fumbled in their bags, their hands trembling slightly as they produced cards. The cards were a symphony of colors and patterns, the magical inscriptions dancing across their surface like liquid light. The woman snatched them with a quick, efficient movement, and began to scrutinize them through a sleek device that emitted an eerie glow.

As the device hummed softly, Evander watched the exchange, his mind racing. It's as if they fear her, he noted, his gaze shifting between the frightened girls and the stoic enforcer. After what seemed like an eternity, the woman gave a curt grunt of approval, her icy demeanor easing ever so slightly.

"Good family, at least," she muttered, her words tinged with a strange mix of relief and begrudging respect. The inscrutable inscriptions disappeared back into the cards as they were handed back to the girls, leaving a palpable tension hanging in the air.

The uniformed woman, a daunting silhouette amidst the bustling food court, did not falter from her decision. The edge to her voice echoed like a judge's gavel against the clamor. "I'm still going to have to ask you ladies to leave," she declared, eyeing Adrasteia and Calliope. "You can't bother this boy."

The scene froze, suspended in the shards of silence that her words had shattered. An insidious undercurrent of unease slithered into the atmosphere, causing the air to grow heavy with trepidation.

It was then that Evander, emboldened by the absurdity of the situation, made his move. Rising from his seat like a bird taking flight, he stood tall, his eyes resolute. "I want to talk with them," he insisted, his voice carrying the crispness of newly fallen snow. "It's my right."

A flicker of surprise flashed across the woman's face, giving him a glimpse of the human beneath the facade of authority. His defiance seemed to have punctured her perception of him, and she wore an expression of someone who'd just found a caterpillar in her salad.

"I'm only ensuring your safety, young man," she explained, her voice wearing a thin veil of friendliness, a veil that did nothing to conceal her condescending undertone. She was certain he would buckle under her authority.

However, he stood his ground, his determination burning bright. "I appreciate your concern, but I'm capable of deciding who I can and can't talk to."

Evander's firm rebuttal rippled through the previously stifled atmosphere, igniting a buzz of curiosity among the onlookers. Their eyes flicked between him and the officer, the sight of a young boy standing up to authority something alien to them.

Staring at Evander, the woman's face hardened, like a sculptor had chiseled it out of a block of ice. The surprise was replaced by a new level of grudging respect. "Alright, we wouldn't want you to get worked up," she finally conceded, her tone begrudging but resigned.

With a final stern glance at the girls, she warned, "I'll be keeping an eye on you." Her words held an unspoken promise of retribution, echoing long after she melded back into the bustling crowd, leaving a stunned Evander in her wake.