Dana escorts me to the dining hall. At the centre of the room is a long table made of redwood, its legs carved to resemble the legs of a horse. The patterned cushioned chairs are made of silk and are soft. In front of me is a set of knives, forks, and spoons. All of them have gold trims around silver, while the handles are made of ivory. At the other end of the table sits Lee, leaning back like he is proud of his immense wealth.

  While the room is painted white, the walls feel clean and unnatural. The only thing giving this saturated place some colour and personality is the large painting on the south side of the room. It depicts a landscape of a hill during the night of darkness, where the only source of light is a purple comet that flies overhead with the celebrating crowd below. The painting looks old, crusty to the touch. Its golden frame sticks out like a sore thumb as it seems to be the newest addition to the piece.

  ‘Beautiful, isn’t she?’ Lee smiles at the painting. ‘I’ve spent millions to get that painting, last of its kind.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I’m glad you asked. That right there is what Magaria would’ve been like during the Forgotten Era. People might say that Magaria is a seasonal event that depicts the flow of magic, but really, it is that comet.’

  I look at the piece skeptically. I can believe the people of the distant past will celebrate strange things, but I doubt the origin of Magaria is because of that.

  ‘Where was this piece found?’ I ask as our entrees are placed on the table. Chicken morsee soup with rye bread on the side and a spread of duck liver butter.

  ‘The ruins of the Golden Tower,’ Lee replies after tasting the soup. He moans in delight as the flavours of the earthy greens mixed with the flesh of the chicken mix in his mouth. ‘Took a fortune to get that out, as the level it was in was fully submerged in the ocean. It is a miracle that the painting is still intact at all. But here it is, as beautiful as the day it was made. Might’ve seen better days, but as anyone who knows. Things made of magic that survived The Collapse will survive just about anything. I was told to give this finding to a museum or the nearest scholar, but I like it. I want it for myself, and besides, it isn’t like anyone cares about that past anymore.’

  I do, the past is what makes our future what it is, to keep it away from everyone for yourself will only limit our understanding of what ended our world. Though again, not everything from the past is relevant. This can just be a regular painting.

  ‘I highly doubt Magaria is a season dedicated to that. This can just be an artistic representation of the event and not a real thing. It is just a painting after all.’ I respond after taking a mouthful of soup.

  ‘Not just any painting, General. That is our past we are looking at, the only mirror of a world that fell.’ Lee pauses for a second, choosing his words. ‘No one knows how the world fell, how magic died all of a sudden. We can only imagine what wonders they had, what they could do! But how did it end? Some say it is war, a likely cause because it is just so easy to explain. But…’

  He leaves it open for me to fill in the gaps, ‘but it doesn’t explain the death of magic.’

  Lee grins as I play along with him. ‘Exactly! War is destructive; we have weapons that are still around from that time period that could’ve been used to end it. But that doesn’t explain the disappearance of magic. Weapons that are powered, made, and use magic as a power source. Those are still around. Even if they are rare. They create an endless supply of magical energies, an endless loop of usage and recycling. The sort of resource to create a perfect utopia. Why would anyone want to destroy that? Alternatively, some might say famine killed the world, but I don’t buy that logic. They would’ve had enough food to feed the world ten times over. The academic fools in their schools will claim it is political destabilisation that killed the world, but you can’t take that theory seriously since it implies the poor are unhappy with the life they had. A life of unlimited resources, a life free of evil and plague. How can anyone rise up against the people who gave them what they wanted? No, just because they found an old book that describes material dialects and working poor, does not mean it is a reliable source and I reject anyone who thinks so. No, my favourite theory: environmental collapse.’

  Lee laughs as he fails to contain himself. ‘People say magic has a byproduct that damages the local environment, making it an unstable energy source that eventually poisons the air, warms the planet, and even makes the oceans turn acidic. Still! Ludicrous! All of it. All of those theories are based on the belief that we are the ones to blame, mortals that built a world free of hunger, sickness, and pain.’

  ‘So, what killed the world?’ I ask, mesmerised by his passion for the past.

  He points to the painting with the comet. ‘That did. I believe that killed the world.’

  Like that, my excitement dies in a flash. One painting, one depiction of the past that might not be accurate at all, might have something to do with the end of the world.

  ‘That is a bit of a stretch. How can you be certain that it is the reason the world collapsed?’

  ‘It makes a lot of sense. A sudden force from the stars crashing down. It explains the war theory as we have remnants of destruction. It explains the collapse of society as the world was set aflame, and it even explains the environmental theory, regardless of how bunk it is. But most importantly, it explains the disappearance of magic. A great sudden catastrophe that is alien must have the capabilities to end a perfect world. That is why I believe it is the reason the world died, it is because the comet hit our planet.’

  ‘That is a convincing argument,’ I admit while I dip the bread in the soup. ‘However, you are missing a few factors.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Where is the impact crater? Something powerful enough to destroy the world would need to be pretty big. But the most damning factor that throws your theory out of the way is the Shaman.’

  Lee leans back into his chair, folding his arms with a toothy grin. ‘Go on.’

  ‘If the world died because of that comet which the painting depicts. He would comment about it, even talk about how the world fell. But he doesn’t, he never does. Which is why the other theories have weight to them. If it is because of the hubris of mortals that led to the world falling, he would be too ashamed to tell us. If it wasn’t, he has no obligation to keep his mouth shut about the past.’

  ‘Or perhaps he doesn’t want to remember the past, who is to say he even remembers the world before the Collapse? It has been over a thousand years since the event.’

  ‘That is true, but unlike your comet theory, the others have evidence to justify their legitimacy with academic backing. You, on the other hand, have a painting.’

  After we both finish our entrees, the Dogs walk in to take our dirty dishes away. Giving us time to digest our small meal in preparation for the main course.

  Lee, on the other hand, rests his right hand on the table, a strange display of mannerisms. He seems comfortable, uncaring that what he is doing is considered rude in high society. Perhaps he is only doing that to make me feel at ease around him.

  ‘Tell me, General, are you a scholar? You seem to read a lot on the subject.’

  ‘No, I read a few books, but really it is just a niche interest of mine.’

  ‘Could’ve convinced me otherwise.’ Lee clicks his fingers, Dana walks up to him and pours wine into his crystal wine glass. He gestures to me if I would like some, so naturally I accept the offer. ‘However, surely you will know something about the Dogs.’

  A strange question to ask out of the blue. ‘What about them?’

  ‘They are what you are fighting against, they are beasts, beautiful creatures, but still beasts. I hope you know enough about them.’

  I don’t know what he is getting at. Is he trying to make me look incompetent? Or perhaps he is only asking to start up a friendly conversation? Either way, I don’t want to look bad in front of him.

  ‘I always like to learn more about them. Just so I can figure out how to best defeat them.’ I calmly respond, an answer that should be good enough to avoid suspicion.

  ‘Well, allow me to start. I know where it all started. Dragon Mine. I owned that mine, you know.’ He takes a sip of his wine, though he maintains eye contact with me. ‘Granted, I own most of the mines and plantations on this island. But to happen there is a bit of a shock to me. I have that place locked down and under tight control because the beast there was… unruly. I even hired a former Sergeant to be the warden there. It is… well, it was the most fortified mine on the island.’

  ‘Why the extra precautions?’

  Lee shrugs in defeat, maybe even in apathy. ‘Black maned Dogs are strong, but they are also very violent. Dragon Mine was always underpopulated because of their hyper-aggression. Most of them will kill their partners during mating season. It is often a risk to transport them to other mines for breeding programs to boost the population, but it does lead to the risk of potentially causing the population to be more violent. Believe it or not, there were two guards for every Dog at the mine before the place fell.’

  I raise a brow. I thought the large Dogs with the flat faces were the aggressive ones. However, I’m not entirely sure. He has the data to back up that claim, while I only have experience. Perhaps Marak is different in the fact that he is the most intelligent one in his group.

  ‘There has to be a reason your mine fell.’ I pointed out. ‘Someone with that sort of security should see it coming. You have essentially an entire army there, all fully kitted out. What went wrong?’

  ‘I don’t know how they lost to the Dogs, I only know that they did. I suppose the reason will forever be lost to time.’ Lee chugs down his wine. ‘What about their history? Do you know anything about them?’

  ‘The only thing I know about the Dogs is that we enslaved them three hundred years ago.’

  ‘No, not three hundred years ago.’ He gestures for Dana to pour him more wine before he explains himself. ‘There are two types of people regarding knowing Dog history. Those who are uninformed will say we enslaved them four hundred years ago, and those who read the plaque at Shatler that says three hundred.’

  ‘And which one are you?’

  ‘Neither. The plaque hasn’t been updated for over fifty years, and even that is wrong. We enslaved them 320 years ago. To be precise, it is the 12th day of the second month of Summer, 937. The day we invaded their islands and took their people from their lands. The campaign only lasted for six hours; well, it is believed it only lasted for that long. Now you see, we have a nasty habit of throwing away records, removing paper trails of things we don’t want people to remember. We took their island, their people, but most importantly, their labour. The reason for the war is forgotten, but it is meaningless, as what truly matters is the outcome. That we have won. The little details are just a waste of time and effort.’

  Which I can safely guess is that we became immensely rich as an Empire because of it. ‘But why did we forget? What can cause us to choose to forget something important about our past?’

  ‘Because it isn’t necessary, or in reality, the truth and continuous knowledge of the fact will weaken us as a people and as a society. We did that with the previous Sand Campaign; we didn’t lose, but there is knowledge about the campaign that is not worthy of being remembered. Ignorance is bliss at times. It can even be a strong motivator to face the world head-on.’

  As soon as Lee finishes, a group of maids walk into the dining hall with a tray in one hand. They place them down in front of us and remove the lid, revealing stuffed cheesy beef tenderloin with steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes on the side.

  Lee rubs his hands as his mouth salivates at the sight of the main course. ‘Finally! Now we can discuss business with this fine meal.’

  That I can agree with him on that, let’s chat about business.

  ‘As you are well aware, my army needs supplies to fight against the Dogs. Without them, the Empire will be at risk.’

  ‘I agree, General. However, you must understand that this war affects me as well. I can’t run around and donate raw resources without some sort of payment, and I doubt the other council members will like the idea of you or I proposing a deal after going against your defence initiative. It would be a… let’s say, conflict of interest. Not just that, but I need the resources to protect my estates. If we are going to rebuild what we lost, my mines and plantations will be the driving force of rehabilitation for the entire south and maybe the whole island. Preservation of my capital is for the greater good, you see. I can’t just give what little I have to an already capable General.’

  He has a point; we can’t go to the council, he won’t donate, and most importantly, he has to protect his interests. All of these things I can work with to get what is required. ‘Charity.’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘You set up a charity, get people from our Empire and beyond to donate to the war effort. However, you are the main donor. Giving supplies to the finest men and women of our Empire’s army, showing the world that you are willing to lose some profit for a just cause. Philanthropy is a virtue people will find difficult to forget easily, it is also a virtue the faithful as well as the church will reward in kind.’

  Lee smirks as he shakes his head in disapproval. ‘As I’ve already said, I don’t donate.’

  ‘That is where charity comes into play. We lobby that donating to charities of any type can be a tax write-off. There, you are not just giving me what I need, but in return, you get paid for it, maybe make a profit from it as well. Not immediately, but eventually you will. We both win in the end, even your friends might like the idea enough to support it, following your example as the greatest among the wealthy. Those who might say, reputation has more weight than gold.’

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  ‘What if I just take the idea for myself and not give you anything?’

  ‘Mister Lee, that would most likely hurt my feelings.’ I jokingly reply, to hopefully tell him I don’t mean him any ill intent for the point that I will make. ‘There, however, is a constant reality to war, I like to call it the Desperate Killer. Sooner or later, they will push through our lines. A supply chain is the lifeblood of any army; without it, everything will fall apart. When it does collapse, and when no one can get their blade to fight. Others and I will do everything to survive, giving us grounds to rob you of your wealth if it means protecting the Empire.’

  ‘Is that a threat, General?’

  ‘Far from it, it is a reality we all face. It even happened last year when the Dogs battled for the South. However, when we do get what we need from the land, which in your case is your plantations and mines. By then, it will already be too late. As right behind us are the Dogs, thirsty for our blood, hungry for our flesh. I ask for your help now, not just because we need those supplies but because we can get them with our dignity intact. That we won’t stoop as low as the monsters we are facing. You are a good man, Lee. Your wealth is proof of your position. So I ask, not demand, that you help us, and in return I will help you.’

  Lee nods with a subtle smile. ‘A fair point, General. Though in war, it is also true that most of the time it ends suddenly and without warning. That one decisive battle can be the very thing to end a conflict. You only need to kill their king, hence why we all believe you can pill it off without my aid.’ He takes a sip of his wine. ‘But I can’t ignore your argument. So how will you help me?’

  I smile, seeing how I am slowly getting through to him. ‘Soldiers need clothes, weapons, and food as it motivates them to march into battle. With the means to fight, they can hold any inch of land. By providing me with what I need, I can ensure your estates will be safe for as long as possible. It is a mutually beneficial agreement. You have the resources, and I have the soldiers to hold the line.’

  He takes a bite of his meal, rubbing his lips with his napkin made of cotton. They respond in a gravel tone, ‘alright. You made your point, I agree to this deal of yours. However, all this talking and feeding is making me a bit hungry.’ He clicks his fingers, signalling Dana to approach him. She seems agitated, on edge somehow, as Lee whispers into her ear. Once he finishes talking to her, he waves her off. ‘Tell me, General. What do you feel about my estate?’

  ‘An acquired taste, one that has the potential to fancy me.’ I lie, in reality, this place gives me the creeps. While Lee is a wealthy man, there is a reason he doesn’t have an heir. He has a unique taste in women, rumour has it, a different kind of woman.

  Lee grins. ‘Then let's talk about the dessert.’

  ‘What do you have on the menu?’

  ‘Flesh,’ the door opens as female Dogs line up on the wall. The youngest is the little girl who cleaned my room hours ago. They all look down, fiddling with their hands while their breaths are heavy.

  ‘My condition is that you must have some fun. Being a General of her Empire’s Army is a stressful position, especially when the enemy is knocking on our gates. A good man such as yourself deserves some form of entertainment, and I want to thank you beyond coin or wealth. So I offer my finest women to warm your bed.’

  My stomach turns, my mouth tastes of rot at what he is asking me to do. The rumours are true. The man is a xenophile. Lover of other sapient creatures. A degenerate of the highest order! He would rather lie with those animals than sleep with his own kind. I can understand lying with a human as they are similar to us. If the Gods permit that we can create offspring with humans, then we are compatible. But to be with a beast that can’t carry our children!? That is an evil I can not stand for.

  But there is more to it; he wants some sort of blackmail. I am an idiot for not realising he will do something this diabolical. He wants a piece of information to hold against me and maybe use to get whatever he wants in the future. I’ll be a pawn for his future schemes.

  Yet, I keep my smile on. This is part of his game; to be part of the deal, I must throw away my own morality and dignity. ‘Aren’t you generous? I see you are full of surprises. So, do you pick for me and I get the privilege?’

  Lee forms an awkward smile as he leans into his seat. ‘Well, I see you and I have the same, let’s say, proclivities.’

  ‘People say a General of the Army must be righteous, an exemplar of the faith. If I live true to those expectations, I wouldn’t ask for your help or eat your food.’

  If only I can puke, the bile I can conjure in my mouth makes me sick to the core. I just hope that by doing this, he will leave me alone, and I can just fake the interaction in my private quarters. No witnesses, no proof. A good enough plan, I hope. I just hope he buys it.

  ‘Then take your pick, all of them will serve your every whim.’

  There are twenty of them, the oldest among the Dogs being Dana, while the youngest will have to be Olivia. They all look so young, some barely being my age. All of them in line, some shaking in terror. This isn’t the first time this has happened. They know the routine, they know what they must do. The degradation they must go through, the abuse they are subject to.

  I hide my disgust by pretending to adjust my seat. ‘There are a lot of options to choose from.’

  ‘I know what I want.’ He clicks his fingers at the young girl. ‘It’s Olivia’s first time here, just turned twelve and is ready for service. She’ll even get her first markings after this?’

  ‘Isn’t it their birth number?’

  ‘No,’ Lee chuckles. ‘Their auction number. But I’m sure we can both keep this little secret between us, I wouldn't mind trying out my merchandise before putting up and leaving others disappointed.’

  He gestures for Olivia to go towards him. She sheepishly takes the first step, but after she takes a deep breath, she begins her walk. Dana wraps the string around her hands and tightens it till her hands are almost purple. Knowing what will come for her. She then digs her claws into her hand, drawing blood as Olivia stands next to Lee.

  I can’t let that stand; this isn’t right! They are creatures, beasts even! But she is just a kid; they don’t deserve this. By the Gods, no one does.

  ‘That’s a bit rude.’ I blurt out, my instincts taking over during the heat of the moment.

  What the fuck did I just do? What have I gotten myself into this time? How the hell did I even say that?

  Lee eyes me with contempt. ‘Say that again.’

  ‘It is impolite for the host to pick first; by all means, the guest should have the honour of first pickings.’

  ‘Is that customary in your own home?’

  I scoff, pretending to be insulted. ‘My good friend, of course it is. If you come to my home, you have the right to eat the first meal and choose the first dessert I offer. Because you are my guest, and potentially a friend with similar tastes.’

  He thinks for a moment, though it seems my words got to him as his frown changes to a smile. ‘You’re right, forgive me. Please, take your pick.’

  ‘Olivia, I chose her.’

  Dana eyes me, her mouth shaking as if she wants to scream. I glance at the frightened child; from her expression, she might have an idea of why she is here. For what perverse purpose she might serve. I won’t allow that. Not in a billion years.

  ‘Please wait outside of my room’ I tell the poor girl. ‘I’ll meet you there soon.’

  Olivia bows before walking off, her heels echoing throughout the hall.

  Lee shrugs like nothing happens as he randomly picks a girl from the pile. ‘Chelsy, you’re good enough. Head off to my room. I’ll meet you there.’

  The Dog gives him a scared nod as she too walks off. Lee hushes them away to give me and him some privacy. Dana is the last to leave. She looks regretful, disheartened even.

  They are my enemy, yet my heart aches for some reason. I shake my head, trying to get that wretched feeling out of my stomach.

  ‘You know, Olivia would’ve been priceless. Lee comments after taking a sip of his wine. ‘In a typical auction, she would go for tens of thousands at least. Being small and young looking. But just the right age.’

  ‘Are auctions common?’

  ‘More common than you think. Once this war is over, you should come to one. Make sure to bring a lot of coins with you because oh boy! New merchandise is always desirable. If you want, you can even put your initials into their brand. Make the world know you were the first to buy.’

  My jaw locks down, my teeth grind as the image of children is lined up to be expected like livestock. No, I have had enough of this. I should leave. I don’t even have the stomach to eat anymore.

  ‘Thank you, Mister Lee.’ I calmly say.’ Sadly, the food and my work have made me an easily exhausted man. If it is okay with you, I would like to retire to my quarters for the night.’

  ‘Indeed, and I should retire to mine as well soon enough. Either way, it was good sharing a meal with the youngest and most understanding General of our Empire’s greatest army.’

  Before Lee can head off, I raise my hand to say one final thing. ‘I know this is irregular, but I am wondering if you have any products for sale.’

  What the fuck are you doing, Volas? Why am I even doing this or flirting with the idea?

  He raises a brow, curious about my question. ‘Depends on what you want to buy.’

  ‘Well, as a kid, I always wanted a slave. Someone to clean my room, paint my portraits, even beat up my bullies, funnily enough. So, I am wondering if you are selling any at this time.’

  Lee sits back down, his smile glimmering with the smell of profit. ‘Who are you looking to buy?’

  ‘If the night goes well, I am hoping to purchase Olivia, as well as any Dog that might serve me well at the palace.’

  Hang on, this isn’t a bad thing. I can help her, get her out of this hellhole. Hopefully, I can buy her mother as well. If there is one alive, that is. If not, maybe someone else who is friends with Olivia and can look after her.

  ‘They allow Dogs at the imperial palace?’

  I shrug, ‘maybe not officially, but if I can prove that they work for me. Besides, it shows that I have no fear of the Dogs and it demonstrates our cooperation. A powerful message to keep morale up. Plus, as you rightfully pointed out. Leading an army is a stressful job. I like some free time, if you understand my meaning.’

  Lee claps his hands as he laughs in amusement, thinking that it is an amazing practical joke. ‘I love to, but there is one problem. I can only sell you one Dog, as it is the law and I doubt you have any land to house more than two. Trust me, it is a logistical thing and it is really annoying. Though I’ll have to remind you that slaves are not cheap.’

  ‘I am well aware of the price, Mister Lee. But I am more than willing to make the purchase regardless. You are a fair man, so I expect a fair price for the slave.’

  He smiles, ‘then it is settled, we’ll talk more about your purchase in the morning. As a friend, I’ll offer a discount. See it as a successful business transaction. For now, I insist you have your fun. A good stress relief makes the mind sharp.’

  In this case, it darkens the heart and rots the soul. But I just nod along with him, pretending to be in agreement. I won’t bed her, and by the Gods, it is a blessing that he believes that we share the same degenerate fetish. But off I go to my room, my stomach ready to yack out tonight’s dinner.

  However, even if I hate it all. In the end, I need those supplies, I need to push the Dogs back, even if it means I have to compromise. I can’t change him, nor can I challenge him without him outing me to the world as a freak like him. So, the best I can do is pray.

  To think this is what I am fighting for. For this sickness to carry on. I am a Cinari, the guardian of the world as mandated by my Gods. Yet here I am, here I stand making deals with a horrid member of my species. I am no better than him, by the Gods, I am playing along even if I won’t participate in the most vile acts. I am still complacent. This place should burn to the ground, and Lee’s head should be mounted on a spike. But when I leave here, all I can do is look away and do nothing, knowing what is really going on.