“Tell me about yourself.” Johan leaned in with an intrigued look on his face, which made 0071 feel anxious, this is not a question anyone has ever even considered asking her. What does she say, what does he want to know exactly, everything? What if he is not even asking, and she is meant to just say something normal to keep the conversation going, what would be the normal thing to say?

“Ummmm, what do you want to know exactly?” 0071 went with the safe answer.

“Well perhaps we should start with something important, what is your name?”

“0071”

“No, your name, what do your friends call you?”

“People refer to me as 0071, nothing else.”

“What were you called before you came under the empire’s care?”

“I don’t remember, I don’t have any memories from before I was here.”

“Well, that is… Rather sad, but we can fix this.” Johan pondered whether it was acceptable to give the girl a new name since she cannot recall her old one, but he didn’t really see much of a choice, it was demeaning to refer to her as a number.

“What about Silla? Or Lossi?” Johan’s suggestions did not evoke a reaction from the girl, he was trying to think of traditional shifter names, but honestly, he was struggling.

“What about Janessi or Ava?” Johan felt like he was getting nowhere. He recalled the name of one of the few shifters he had met in the past, perhaps he would try this one?

“Rhea?” The girl perked up a little, this name was somewhat pleasing to listen to, she felt a connection to it. “That doesn’t sound too bad sir.”

“You don’t need to call me sir, Johan is just fine.” Johan smiled at her. “So, your name will be Rhea, you are becoming the ward of a man called Darren Murphy, do you know much about him?”

“I only know that I am to serve him.” Rhea was repeating the line as if she had practised it before.

“Would you like to know anything about him?”

“I… I know what I need to know, that he is my master, and I must assist him.” Rhea seemed nervous.

Johan glanced over at Darren, who was leaning against the wall, barely paying attention to the conversation. Johan was aware of how the children were being trained in the empire, although he did not commit the acts himself, he felt responsible for being unable to prevent it. He was hoping to make a difference here, at least with this girl.

Johan initiated a telepathic link between Rhea and himself, he figured it was easier to hold conversations like this. “Let me tell you about Darren, he isn’t a bad person, but he has a lot of issues stemming from a lot of bad things that happened to him in his past.”

“What is this, why do I hear his voice in my head?”

“Rhea, I am a race called a Kalashtar, this is something we can do, I open a link between our minds, allowing us to hold a conversation without speaking.”

“This is weird, am I talking right now?”

“You’re not talking, well you are, we both are, with our mind, wait shit were getting side-tracked LISTEN!” Johan manged to get back on topic, “Darren has a lot of issues stemming from his experiences with shifters, because of this he has a strong hatred for them, not enough to do anything but enough for him to be unpleasant at times.”

“So, what does that mean for me then?”

“I’m not sure yet, I am hoping things will be fine, I just want you to know that he will be unpleasant at times.”

Darren began moving towards the two, having noticed the sudden silence. “Johan you know I don’t like you holding telepathic conversations around me.” Johan quickly cut the link and smiled at Darren. “We were just talking about what her new responsibilities are going to be now, you didn’t seem to be listening anyway, this seems more convenient.” Darren looked at the both of them, trying to figure out if this was the truth, but he seemed unable to spot the lie. “Well alright, look it’s getting late, have you finished the check up?”

“I had to give her some healing, but otherwise she is in perfect shape.”

Darren gestured towards the door, “In that case, it’s best that we get going, I would prefer to get home before it’s too dark outside.” He signals to Rhea to begin leaving, she gets up and the both of them make their way to the door. “Oh, just one more thing Darren, I actually have a request for you.” Darren turns to Johan, and gestures Rhea to keep moving outside. “And what would that be?”

“Well, since it was my referral that helped you attaint your current position as Imperial Inquisitor, I was hoping you would investigate something for me.”

“Can’t you make an official inquiry?”

“This is something I would prefer to keep off the books, if you don’t mind.”

“C’mon, really? I just got this job, and you want me to piss off my employers already?”

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you were capable of this.” Johan smiled wryly as Darren was trying desperately to figure out if he should do this or not. “Dammit, fine what do you want then?”

“I just need you to investigate the Imperial school of Marksmanship, specifically their rifleman course.” Johan began to explain the situation. “I have heard some rumours that they have been performing some rather unethical, and possibly unlawful practices.”

“Okay but I don’t see why I can’t do it officially.”

“I tried looking into it officially, but they are a tightknit group, they refuse to betray each other’s secrets to officials.”

“So, because I am until recently unemployed, they will be open with me?”

“No, they will soon learn of your employment, it’s a big thing to hire an Inquisitor, but they may be less suspicious of your ward.”

“The girl? How is that meant to work?”

“It isn’t uncommon for nobles to hire and train shifters to be… how should I put it… exotic bodyguards?”

“So, you think the girl won’t stand out?”

“I just think she will stand out less that a middle-aged man asking them questions, when you enrol her onto the course, she will hopefully experience what happens first-hand and report it to you.” Darren had an obvious look of doubt on his face.

“Look even though I posed this as a request, this isn’t a request, this is what’s going to happen.”

Darren scoffs, “Fine then, whatever I’ll get it done then.” Johan smiles and relaxes, watching Darren make his way for the door. As Darren opens the door Johan interrupts him once more. “By the way Darren, the girl has a name, she is called Rhea, be sure to use it.” Darren begins to look moderately annoyed. “And if I find out anything bad happens to her because of you, well let’s just say you are not exempt from my curses.” Darren hurries out the door and makes his way to the buildings entrance, where Rhea is waiting for him.

Johan relaxes in his chair, talking like that stresses him out. There was still something left to do, to check in with that person. Johan reaches for a hidden compartment in his desk and retrieves a small carved stone, depicting a talking face. He focuses on the stone, activating its magical property. He speaks into the stone, saying “The candidate has chosen his ward, and I have set him on the path. All is going according to plan so far.” After a few short moments, Johan received a mental reply from a feminine voice familiar to him, “Good, keep them on the path, if everything works out, the Challenge of Erros will open up for all of you.”