Disclaimer:

“Dialogue”

‘Thoughts’

-Author notes-

Chapter 18: Change of Plans

“Shhh! Lower your voice.”

Dalia was shocked.

“Wait… you are hiding it?” She gasped.

“You haven't turned yourself in?!” She pointed at his neck.

“You have no collar!”

“Collar?”

It was then that he noticed a black collar around Dalia's neck.

Dalia took a step back. She ran a finger through the black leather collar.

“When an awakened is taken into Celestial custody… we are given these collars. They keep our magic under control.”

“Is that what happens to all awakened humans?” Zephyr asked.

“I don't know… but my Master has two other awakened girls working at the mansion,” Dalia answered.

“Master?” Zephyr didn't like how that sounded.

“The Celestial whom I serve… that's how we must address him. Now tell me, what happened to you Zeph? How did you end up here? Did you run away from the village?”

“I… I was attacked by a sea monster the other day when I was visiting the docks. My magic awakened… otherwise, I would have died.” He decided to skip the part with Thomas and the other two boys.

“I ran away from the village then. I didn't even notice my physical change at the time.”

“So they don't know about your awakening?” Dalia asked.

Zephyr shrugged.

“Probably not… but it's not like I can hide it now.”

“Yes… I've never seen anyone's hair changing color too… wait, that's not important now… Zephyr, you have to turn yourself in!” Dalia exclaimed.

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“What? No way! They will arrest me!”

“If you don't… they will kill you. You know the law. If you turn yourself in, they will take mercy on you. You may go to work at a Celestial house like me,” Dalia told him.

“I will not become a servant for the Celestials,” Zephyr frowned.

“What do you mean? We have always been servants for the Celestials since the moment we were born… collar or not,” Dalia rebuked.

Zephyr had no counterargument for that. She was right. Since the moment they were born, humans have been servants of their Celestial Masters. They follow all of their orders and even give up their own life force every month at the Temple.

It had been like that since the day of the Great Sin.

“I refuse to be a servant any longer… I'm running away.” Zephyr had already decided that before, but seeing Dalia now, working as a servant and wearing a collar, had just reaffirmed his conviction. This was not the path he wanted to take in life… not anymore.

“Have you gone mad? You think you can escape? Where would you even go? There are only three human settlements, and they are all under Celestial rule,” Dalia wanted to make him see reason.

“I will go south… south of the wall,” Zephyr told her.

Dalia stared at him with horror.

“South of the wall? You will only find death there… have you forgotten about the Great Sin? The air is not even breathable there. Nothing can survive south of the wall. In fact, if it wasn't for the wall itself, there would be no safe place in the entire continent for us to live.”

“Yes, that's what they told us… but I want to see that with my own eyes.” He saw how scared his friend was and took her hand into his.

“Dalia, come with me!”

“Go with you? You want me to die too? Why Zeph?” Dalia pulled her hands away from his.

“Are you happy living here as a servant?!” Zephyr asked.

“Dalia, please. You have always been my best friend… come with me, we can both be free.”

“That sounds so crazy…” Dalia took a moment to breathe.

“Would you go no matter what I say?”

“Yes, I have made my decision,” Zephyr said with conviction.

“Do you have a plan at least?” Dalia asked.

“I do! I was about to go buy a map so I can avoid the Celestial posts placed near the wall and find the best place to cross.”

“I see… say Zephyr. Have you seen the golden manor at the top of the hill?” Dalia asked.

“Yes, how can I miss it? That's a Celestial manor,” he answered.

“That's where I work. I cannot stay here any longer. If I come back late, I will be punished… come to the manor after sundown.”

“You want me to go there?!” Zephyr asked with surprise.

“Don't get close to the front door. Sneak close to the west wall. There is a lot of shrubbery there, making it easy to hide, and that wall has no wards.”

“And then what?”

“Wait for me there. I will try to leave without anyone noticing me,” Dalia promised him.

“So you are coming with me?” Zephyr smiled.

Dalia smiled back.

“Wait for me there.”

She turned around and left in a hurry.

‘Oh well… I was planning on leaving immediately, but it seems like I will have to wait until tonight…’ He didn't like the idea of staying in this place longer than necessary, but this was for his best friend.

He was willing to take the risk for Dalia.

‘Okay, new plan… go get the map, buy some supplies with the remaining money, and then explore the surroundings of this manor. I'll have to find the best path to sneak there at sundown without being caught.’

The security surrounding a Celestial Manor should not be that strict since no one is crazy enough to sneak in there.

Just being too close without permission was enough to merit a death sentence.