They left the center of the arena together and ventured into the twisting, labyrinthine bowels of the arena. Jie waited until she hoped they were out of earshot of the older, more powerful cultivators. But, truthfully, who knew how far they could hear from?

"So, would you mind explaining why everyone acted so strangely back there?" Jie asked.

Ithilix cocked its head. A habit it did often it seemed.

"This one does not understand?" Ithilix said.

"Like... when I returned your bow and stuff? It's like everything I did made people mutter. Did I break another custom or something? Is there some special bow for people like you or something?" Jie asked. She tried to keep the acidity out of her voice at the absurdity of all these stupid rules, but she doubted she succeeded.

"You don't know?" Ithilix said.

"So, I did something wrong then?" Jie asked.

"No! Not at all! Oh, forgive this one, but in this one's opinion you did nothing wrong," Ithilix said.

The way it says this one is kinda irritating... Jie thought.

"So why were they like that then?" Jie asked.

"Um... it is not normal to treat one of the Hive with such politeness, Princess," Ithilix said.

"Huh? Why not?" Jie asked, "I mean... you're a student, right?"

"Yes, this one is a student," Ithilix said, "this one is training to be of better use to the Hive. Most people don't treat those of the Hive as well as you do, Princess. Only if they come across one of a hive who is much more powerful than they are, are they courteous. Out of fear."

"Oh," Jie said, "why do they hate you guys so much?"

"Five hundred years ago, a great hive rose up in this area and began subjugating all other races. After a great many battles and much bloodshed, they were destroyed. But the other races still hate us," Ithilix said, "Only the strongest warriors may leave the Hive safely. Ones such as this one would be crushed by greater cultivators like a bug beneath their heel."

"Wow... that sucks," Jie said.

"Indeed," Ithilix said, "it's our own fault though."

"Hardly," Jie said, "I bet the other races have done some pretty nasty stuff too, haven't they? Even without considering just killing you guys like that."

"They have," Ithilix said.

"See? People love to justify their hate. It's not like you personally did anything to anyone right?" Jie asked.

"This one does not even interact with others if this one can help it. With the exception of the Princess," Ithilix said.

"So, not your fault. I think people just suck. No matter what race they are," Jie said. Her voice turned bitter at that. Were good people a minority on every world?

"You are too kind, Princess," Ithilix said.

"At least the school is safe for you guys," Jie said with a smile, "right?"

"That is yet to be determined," Ithilix said.

"What do you mean?" Jie asked.

"This one is here as an experiment. To see if it is safe to use facilities such as the Crimson Academy to further grow the Hive," Ithilix said.

"Wait... you were sent here... to see if you would get killed?" Jie asked.

"Yes," Ithilix said.

"But, you have guards and stuff, right? To make sure nothing happens to you?" Jie asked.

"No," Ithilix said, "this one was determined to be expendable. This one's life will determine the outcome of the experiment."

Jie looked up at the elegantly painted ceiling. Was everyone so heartless?

She sighed. "I see," she said.

They soon made it to the arena clinic. "Right then, I want to check on a friend, you'd better get healed too," Jie said.

Ithilix cocked its head. "Healed? You did not just wish for this one to accompany you, Princess?" it asked.

"Uh... you can barely walk? I figured you need healing. Don't you?" Jie asked.

"No healer will tend to this one. But, this one will recover soon anyway," Ithilix said.

Jie facepalmed. This was all so insane. Not healing people because they were bug people? Hell! Some people came to the healers with a broken fingernail! This was just ridiculous. But what would arguing about it get her?

These people only cared about strength... unless she could force them to heal Ithilix, they probably wouldn't. She needed to get stronger. This had stopped just being annoying a long time ago.

"Well... do you want to visit my friend with me?" Jie asked.

"This one would be delighted. But, this one may cause trouble for you. This one is unable to fight well currently and will be unable to fend off attacks by other students as well as normal," Ithilix said.

Great. They bully her, him, it... whatever. I need to ask about that at some point, Jie thought

"Don't worry about it," Jie said, "I won't just let people pick on you. Come along."

Jie moved through the clinic until she found Pan Zhanshi. He was already sitting up and looked absolutely fine. Healing in this world was pretty great. Maybe there was a way to help Ming heal as well... Jie wondered.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"Are you okay?" Jie asked.

"Of course," Pan Zhanshi said, "I just didn't feel like stepping out just yet. It's fairly embarrassing getting beaten like that."

Jie ground her teeth. "There's nothing wrong with losing a fight. What he did was... unforgivable," she said, "Where's your sister?"

"She's training. Our family isn't pleased about us losing so much face. If she stops training even for a moment... she'll be punished. I'll likely be the same. But, maybe not as bad," Pan Zhanshi said.

"It's because of me, isn't it?" Jie said.

Pan Zhanshi opened his mouth but froze as though thinking better of what he was about to say. "Yeah... to a degree at least. I know you didn't mean to cause trouble though. Thanks for not doing anything when... it happened to me," he said.

Jie shook her head. "I still hate it," she said.

Pan Zhanshi shrugged. "It's life," he said.

Jie sighed. "And I hate that everyone is so okay with it. Even you. It's not right," she said.

Pan Zhanshi chuckled. "Not like I can do much about it. So, did you win your fight... and uh... what's with the hive girl next to you?" he asked.

"Oh!" Jie said as her cheeks heated from forgetting to introduce them, "This is Ithilix. She was who I fought in this round."

"So? Did you win?" Pan Zhanshi said.

"The Princess defeated this one with great ease," Ithilix said.

Pan Zhanshi looked at Jie. "I didn't know you were a princess," he said.

"Huh? I thought that was just how she spoke," Jie said, "like the way she says 'this one'."

"No," Pan Zhanshi said, "it means she thinks you're royalty or something. They don't even call their masters stuff like that unless they're beaten into submission."

Jie's hands tightened into fists at the casual way Pan Zhanshi said that.

"Oh... sorry. I forgot you're pretty sensitive about stuff like that," Pan Zhanshi said, "don't worry, I don't do things like that. Neither does Pan Tian. Some of the elders... well... let's just not go there. So, what kingdom do you rule over?"

"I think there's been a misunderstanding," Jie said, "Ithilix, I'm not a princess or anything. Sorry if I made you think I was."

Ithilix blinked. "But you are. Your signature is unmistakable," she said.

"Signature? You mean my aura?" Jie asked.

Ithilix's antennae twitched. "No, we of the Hive have more senses than most. This one can sense the royalty in you. You are not of the Hive. You are something so much greater. All of the Hive, of any hive will know it upon meeting you. You are one to be served," she said.

Jie blinked. "Um... well... I don't want to be served," she said, "I'm just a girl." A girl with a promise to fulfill. She added mentally.

Ithilix shook her head. "That will only make those of the Hive wish to serve you more. It is in our nature to serve a master. Either the Hive or another. Your kindness would make you an attractive mistress," she said.

Jie blushed. Right, mistress means something different here. Mental images. Stop. I'm begging you. Why did I ever indulge my curiosity about adult stuff?

Pan Zhanshi chuckled. "Who knew my sister made friends with royalty? I should congratulate her," he said.

"Don't you dare!" Jie said, "I'm not a princess!"

A female elder poked her head into the room. "Is everything alright?" she asked.

Pan Zhanshi laughed. "Yes, Elder. I was just teasing her and she got all flustered," he said.

The female elder looked at Jie with a knowing smile that made Jie's blush turn into an inferno. "I see," she said and giggled. Then, she frowned. "What is that doing here?" she asked.

Jie blinked and followed the elder's gaze to Ithilix.

"She was just accompanying me," Jie said, "sorry if I caused any trouble."

The idea of apologizing for Ithilix's presence here made Jie want to scream and knock some sense into everyone in this crazy world, but she'd caused enough trouble for her friends already.

"I see. Make sure to take it with you when you go. Oh, and if you bind it to you, its hive may get annoyed. Be careful," she said. Then, the elder left. Jie felt their aura moving through to other rooms but held her tongue. The woman wasn't that strong. Nothing compared to Elder Shi even, but there was still no telling how far she could hear or what else she might sense.

"So, what's your plan for the next round?" Pan Zhanshi asked.

Jie shrugged. "Win, of course," she said.

Pan Zhanshi narrowed his eyes. "I get the feeling you're hiding something," he said.

Jie blinked innocently. "Who? Me? I'm just a sweet little girl," she said.

Pan Zhanshi snorted. "I've seen you sparring. Even the old goats in my family might think you're just a bit strong for your cultivation base, but I know you're a monster among monsters," he said.

"Me? Clearly, you haven't seen how close some of my matches have been," Jie said as she fluttered her eyelashes as innocently as she could.

Pan Zhanshi rolled his eyes. "It hurts my arm when you lie so bluntly," he said.

Ithilix gave a chittering sound.

"See?" Pan Zhanshi said, "anyone who fights you knows the truth."

"But you haven't fought me," Jie said sweetly.

Pan Zhanshi smiled. "My sister told me all about what it was like sparring with you. I'm not stupid enough to try," he said, "you're going to win this whole thing aren't you?"

"My master would be pretty irritated if I didn't, I think... I'm not supposed to attract too much attention, but... he's kinda a hypocrite about that. I think he'd get mad if I didn't win," Jie said.

Pan Zhanshi's smile turned bitter. "Would you do me a favor?" he asked.

"You mean beat Chen Huo into a bloody pulp his own mother wouldn't recognize? I already planned on that," Jie said.

Pan Zhanshi shivered. "Damn... I've heard people say stuff like that... seen it... done it myself... but you. It's like... never mind. I wanted to ask you not to do that," he said.

Jie frowned. "Why? Is this another of these stupid customs? Am I supposed to just let him get away with it?" she asked.

Pan Zhanshi shook his head. "No... no nothing like that. I want you to hurt him. That you'd do that for my sister... and for me... I want that. But if you do something like that... the Chen family will likely come after you. You have no family or clan here. You won't be safe. Don't do it," he said.

"I already spoke about that with Elder Shi," Jie said.

"So you'll throw the match? Don't get hurt though," Pan Zhanshi said.

Jie laughed. "As if! They can send their assassins or whatever," she said.

The color drained out of Pan Zhanshi's face. "You can't do that! You'll die! What would your master say?" he said.

"He said that I needed to deal with some life-and-death experiences. That they'd help me on my journey," Jie said.

Pan Zhanshi opened and closed his mouth. He turned to Ithilix. "Can't you talk some sense into her?" he asked.

Ithilix's antennae twitched. "That would be impossible. She reeks of certainty. It's so... royal," she said.

"Please stop saying that," Jie said.

"This one can't help it... you ooze cool, calm, deadly authority. And your anger and hatred seethe as an undercurrent. It's a heady aroma. If this one were your enemy, this one would die on the spot," Ithilix said.

Pan Zhanshi sighed. "I should've known," he said, "please don't die."

Jie shrugged. "Don't worry, I'm not suicidal," she said, "I have a question though."

Pan Zhanshi sat back on the bed, looking utterly defeated. "Sure," he said.

"They didn't stop the fight because your family and the Chen family are at odds and they didn't want to be seen taking sides and all that, right?" Jie asked.

"Yes...?" Pan Zhanshi said as his gaze turned slightly suspicious.

"So, wouldn't they end it as soon as I broke a few of his bones? Because the situation isn't the same?" Jie asked.

"Hmm... I suppose they might. It would still be fairly ba-- wait. What are you thinking? You have a weird look in your eyes and your smile is making my blood cold," Pan Zhanshi said.

"Right," Jie said, "I guess I'd better get going. Coming, Ithilix? I might be able to convince Elder Shi to heal you."

And myself, Jie thought. The wounds she'd sustained in her fight with Ithilix still burned from the poisonous qi. She doubted it was life threatening, but it seemed wise to have it taken care of. She'd planned to receive healing from the elders here, but after the way they'd behaved toward Ithilix, she wanted as little to do with them as possible.

"This one would be most grateful!" Ithilix said.

"Hey! Jie? What are you going to do? Jie? Jie!" Pan Zhanshi said, his voice becoming tinged with panic as Jie vanished beyond the doorway.