Evereena:

Later that day, the Misfits, plus all of the slaves, as well as Aragon and Lena, went for a walk down the hill and to the markets.

Of course, Eleanor, being the very important person she was, was stuck in the castle, doing some more queening. That is, more meetings.

Evereena was walking just behind Esther and Aragon, which was the perfect location to get a good look at them holding hands.

This is a bit embarrassing. I mean, everybody can see them.

What if I go with Cassy?

So, after telling her mum, she attached herself to the Misfits as they wandered along various shop fronts. Aragon and Esther went off in their own direction.

"Ooh, look, they have a shop selling weapons!" said Drayden.

He and Bronsen were instantly entranced and entered without hesitating, leaving the ladies outside.

Cassy looked at Alice.

"They certainly do charge off without the slightest consultation, don't they?" said Cassy.

"Bloody hell, they do. Looks like I need to have yet another talk with my man," said Alice.

Cassy giggled, then looked at Evereena.

"We females need to demonstrate who the boss is around here, don't you agree?"

"Ahh, I guess so?" said Evereena.

"You need to work on that attitude, young lady," said Cassy.

As in, get more assertive? But I'm a slave. I'm not one of the Misfits.

Evereena was startled as Cassy knelt beside her and hugged her.

"Don't worry, you'll get better at things. I'm sure you'll one day be showing others who the boss is!"

I really can't see that.

Bronsen and Drayden:

The boys went in through the double swinging doors, discovering that the inside was surprisingly small. A single room with a counter at the far end, shelves and racks on the wall, and a table display. There was a modest collection of swords, daggers, axes and spears. There was also an assortment of shields, knee and elbow pads and helmets.

"Say, Bronsen, I was expecting a much bigger range of weapons?" said Drayden.

Bronsen scratched his head, looking puzzled.

"Ah, hello, you must be the Misfits, from some faraway place?" said the shopkeeper.

She had been sitting behind the counter, to one side.

"Anyway, naturally, there isn't much of a range. Most people who want a weapon will eventually get their own bonded weapon. These weapons are mainly for initial practice so they can earn their weapon."

"Ahh, of course." said Bronsen, "And I suppose there is little need for shields for the same reason."

They chatted with the shopkeeper while they browsed around.

"Wait a minute, where are the bows and arrows?" said Drayden.

"Huh? What are they?" said the shopkeeper.

The boys tried to explain, but the shopkeeper kept looking puzzled.

Eventually-

Ding! Bows and arrows don't exist. Remember the explanation of the true nature of reality here? Because of the Flexian's actual body plan, it is almost impossible for them to draw and aim a bow. And the atmosphere is, in Earth terms, more like a transparent pea soup than a thin gas. However, short-range throwing daggers do exist, as you have seen.

"Oh, right. Sorry, Miss Shopkeeper. System-san - I mean The Voice of the World - has just informed us that due to reasons, bows and arrows don't exist here." said Drayden.

"Fine. So the Voice of the World told you that... amazing."

Evereena:

Outside, the girls kept wandering along.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Hey, look, a shop selling chocolates and sweets!" said Alice, pointing to another shop.

"What do you think is the real nature of that? After all, if the actual biochemistry is based on using methane in place of water, what does that make chocolate?" said Cassy.

Alice rolled her eyes. "Who knows? Obviously, System-san manages to translate it in some way."

What does that mean?

Alice continued: "Anyway, Evereena, how about sitting on that park bench under the tree over there? We will do a little shopping and bring you some treats."

Cassy and Alice will buy me some chocolate?

She had tasted chocolate once when their master had been inexplicably generous and given them a small piece each.

Cassy and Alice are wonderful!

"Yes, please!" said Evereena.

This was the first time she had ever produced a normal-sounding 'please'.

So she sat on the bench in the shade of a tree, swinging her legs and feeling hopeful of life for once. Or, at least, of life in the next half hour.

Of course, that feeling didn't last very long.

Five teenagers appeared and loomed over Evereena.

Shit, I recognise these kids; they were the ones that tried to bully me beforehand. Except that now Cassy isn't here to protect me.

"Hey, look, there's that slave girl! And those Misfits aren't anywhere near!" said one of the girls.

"Say, what did your older brother say?" said one of the boys.

There was much giggling and laughter. Evereena tried to shrink back as far as possible in her seat.

"He said that you can ask a slave to remove their clothes!" said the second boy.

More laughter.

"They have to obey, they can't help themselves!"

There were some more giggles; then, there was a small silence.

"Well?" said one boy to another, "Are you going to try that?"

"Doesn't it only work if the order is from a higher-ranking slave?" said a girl.

"I don't know, let's find out, shall we?" said the first boy.

So the second boy said: "Slave girl! Go on, take off your clothes!"

Evereena stared at her shoes, tightly holding her hands together.

"No, I don't want to."

"What's that? I didn't hear you!"

"I said, I don't want to. Cassy says I don't have to obey orders any more."

One of the girls appeared to get uncomfortable.

"Say, perhaps we should just go?"

"Come on, Katress, it's only a slave!"

But this girl still turned away and left. Evereena heard the sound of footsteps walking away. Meanwhile, the others continued their teasing. The boy leant closer to Evereena:

"You're just a worthless slave girl. Just do what you're told!"

I’m just a worthless slave. A worthless slave. I've been that all my life.

But she still managed to shake her head. So the boy doubled down.

"Right now, I'm your master. And, You. Will. Take off. Your. Clothes."

With Evereena's willpower and self-respect crumbling around her, she remembered all the times some man had raped her. All the times her slave collar had made her do their bidding. Her hands shaking and still looking at the ground, she hesitantly started to undo the top button of her shirt.

The remaining four teenagers hooted in celebration, then the boy said: "Keep on going, why are you stopping?"

By now, Evereena was on the verge of crying; her hands were shaking so much she could barely hold the second button on her shirt-

Ding! You have been granted the power of [Intimidation], the same one the Misfits were given when Cassy protected you from bullying the first time. Only yours has a maximum value of 200 and is currently set to 15, whereas theirs is only 5 out of 100.

Go for it, girl!

She froze in place. Her hands stopped shaking, and her tears stopped flowing.

I have [Intimidation]?

I can intimidate these bullies?

And - and - is the Voice of the World encouraging me to use it?

Cassy is right. This is all bullshit!

She looked up and had a good look at the teenagers.

So, one girl did go away. But there are still four left...

"Hey, slave girl, I didn't tell you to stop. And what's with this attitude? Remember, slave girls are worthless; you don't get to have any such attitude!"

"Fuck off," said Evereena.

There were exaggerated looks of disdain and contempt from the teenagers. The leading boy leant over even closer and leered at her.

"Oh, so that's going to be your reaction. Well, in that case-"

Evereena reached her limit. She turned on her brand new [Intimidation] ability at its full 15 points power.

The boy yelped in horror and staggered backwards, then collapsed on the ground. The two other boys, being a little further away, weren't quite as badly affected, but they still had looks of horror and terror on their faces. The girl collapsed on her knees and began crying.

Evereena turned off her ability.

Wow, this is incredible. I can't wait to tell Cassy. And Alice.

No longer enthralled by Evereena's power, the four turned and ran away. However, the leading boy appeared to have trouble remaining in balance.

Evereena was left alone on her park bench.

Maybe, maybe, I'm not such a worthless person after all?

Is the Voice of the World looking after me?

Really?

I still have my slave collar - it's never coming off.

But, so long as I avoid all ranking slaves - does this mean I can have a good life after all?

Just like Cassy and Alice. And all of the others.

She was starting to hyperventilate with the wonder and excitement of it all.

This is wonderful!

At this point, Cassy and Alice strolled up. They had four or five shopping bags with them.

"Hi, Evereena, we've got treats for everyone!" said Alice.

"Say, we saw four terrified teenagers run past us just then. Do you know what that was about?" said Cassy.

"Oh, those? Who cares."

"But, I must tell you what the Voice of the World said to me!"

Eleanor:

Everyone had an evening meal together. It had become their habit. Right now, Eleanor was having an after-dinner meeting with just the Treasurer and Jane.

Ah, those days when I was a teenager. The nobles had a roster for when they could dine with the king, and so much wheeling and dealing was involved.

Now, it's just me and my two trusted staff, plus a bunch of friends.

Truly a decline in power.

The former glory of this little kingdom is never returning.

"So, various twits were attempting to bully one of the slaves," said Eleanor.

Sigh from Jane. "The guard's roster has gotten a bit slack after your, ah, ascension to the throne. Some girl notified a guard, but everybody had already moved on by the time he got there. My apologies; I will have a few words with various guards tomorrow."

"That's fine. At least Evereena got something out of it. Maybe it will be all to the good."

They got stuck into arranging a new guard schedule, plus other tedious but necessary matters.