Urekin woke up with a start, cold sweat oozing from his pores, soaking his clothing. The feeling of deja vu made him take in his surroundings, but he was on a bed inside the small room he had fallen asleep in. And he wasn’t alone either. An ogre wearing a black leather jacket was sitting in the room on a chair, his big frame taking up most of the free space. Just as when Urekin first saw him, he was fiddling with some kind of device in his hands, although Urekin wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing with it.

Moments passed by in silence as the ogre did not even acknowledge Urekin’s presence, his attention solely focused on whatever he was doing. Urekin lay back down and closed his eyes once more. Whatever he had been dreaming had drained him both physically and mentally, so he did not feel any fresher than when he had woken up yesterday. No matter how much he tried though, he could not recall what his dream had been about, only that it contained visions of hazy colors that danced left and right in their distortions. He massaged his temple as even thinking back to it brought some pain, yet he felt like the dream was important somehow.

He looked around the tiny room once more, taking in the same view that he had thoroughly examined many times over the course of the previous day, but the whole room was devoid of anything other than the bed he was currently sleeping on. Or it used to be…

The noise of the door creaking open brought him back to reality, and he looked over just in time to see it get caught in the chair the ogre was sitting on.

“Plague, Enti, you are in the way!” said a voice as it seeped through the crack. The ogre named Enti didn’t even bother answering.

“Seriously, stop playing and do your bent job for once. Or at least don’t interfere when somebody else is trying to do theirs!” the voice continued, and before long, a small head poked in through the crack.

With a bit of effort the rest of his body followed, as a alf man entered the crowded room, having to get over the blockade posed by the unmoving Enti. The alf scrambled up onto the ogre’s lap with practiced ease, his childlike size accentuated by the ogre’s huge frame. Enti still didn’t seem bothered though, only going as far as shifting his arm and head slightly to the right so he could better see the screen of his device while the alf stood there triumphantly.

Since most of the space in the room was taken up by the sitting ogre and the bed, the alf was forced to balance on top of Enti’s lap as he bowed to Urekin before saying, “My name is Igrim, and I will serve as your attendant for today. Might I ask for your name?”

“Urekin of Xcit,” he gave the standard reply before hesitantly asking, “By attendant, you mean I-?”

“I mean just what it sounds like. I will be attending to your needs until your scheduled lunch with our fair lady Mavehn. She!” Igrim gestured grandly, “wishes to have a private conversation with you, and it is my duty to see you are adequately dressed and groomed for the occasion.”

Urekin looked at Igrim incredulously, “Lunch?”

“Indeed, that is what I have said. If everything had been going smoothly and adhering to the schedule, you would have been just about coming out of the shower by now, but of course it seems that the braindead sheep carcass I am currently standing on can’t be bothered to-” he cleared his throat before continuing, “I meant to say, I came to fetch you to take a shower.”

Urekin just about caught the ogre rolling his eyes before he resumed his poker face and stood up, seemingly unconcerned that the alf lost his balance from the sudden shift. The result was Igrim crashing to the ground with a yelp and a string of curses that followed as he got back up.

“Come on then, this way,” was all the giant said in a deep, rumbling voice before kicking the chair out of the door’s path and opening up the way. Igrim ushered Urekin out while grumbling whatever profanity he could think of under his breath.

The ogre kept walking through the empty corridor, while Igrim kept berating him with more creative descriptors along the way. It would almost have seemed like the perfect opportunity to slip away and attempt a grand escape, with how occupied they were with their respective banter. Or lack thereof.

They took a turn and arrived at a large entryway. Enti went straight inside while Igrim turned around and waited for Urekin to do the same.

As Urekin entered, he found himself in a small room filled with shelves upon shelves of towels, and a counter in the left corner where empty baskets lined the wall. Enti sat down upon the counter, and focused his attention back to playing his game. A transparent door was immediately to his left, showing a row of showering cabins.

“Please leave your dirty rags right here on the floor before you enter. And do not worry, I will have a set of fitting clothes prepared for you once you’re finished,” said Igrim.

He waited until Urekin undressed and entered the shower chamber before gathering his old clothes up and walking away.

Looking around, Urekin could see multiple cabins, all of them of a size which could comfortably accommodate anyone of Enti’s bulk, and there was a larger pool of steaming water where multiple people could sit in.

He stepped inside of one of the cabins and turned on the running water over his head. The cool water running down his face was a refreshing feeling, especially after more than a day spent in the same, sweat soaked clothing. As he let the water wash over him, he realized that there was a sliding mirror on one of the walls, which he pulled into view to examine his reflection.

Most of his features were either the same or very similar to what he remembered them to be, although his face was less chiseled and angular, and his horns were gone. So were the scales for that matter, but his irises were of the same orange hue as they had always been. Another change seemed to be that his previously bald head was now covered in short, dark hair, and stubble was growing on his face. Still, his features were similar enough that he felt somewhat comfortable in his new skin.

Finishing his shower, he stepped back into the dressing room. There were a set of fresh clothes on the counter next to Enti, although Igrim was nowhere to be seen. While the clothes were fashionable, they were of a smaller size than what he would have been comfortable in, as the shirt clung to his torso somewhat tightly, and the pants abruptly ended above his ankles. They were also more extravagant than he’d have preferred, but his old clothes were gone, so it was better than walking around naked.

The silence stretched even after Urekin was done dressing up, the only sound being the buttons that Enti was mashing.

“What game are you playing?” asked Urekin, but if Enti heard the question, he chose to ignore it.

“Ah good, you look and smell much fresher!” said Igrim as he poked his head in and took in Urekin’s appearance, then proceeded to grimace when he saw that it didn’t fit very well. “That was the largest clothing I could find that would fit in such a short time!” he stomped with his foot as he exclaimed in anger. “People leave everything to me and then piss themselves in surprise when I can’t perform a bent miracle at the snap of a finger!”

Urekin stayed quiet as the alf, who at most reached up to his waist in height, channeled his volatile anger through a string of profanity.

“Well, you’re showered and dressed and that is what’s important. You are still passable without a shave so we’ll move on. With your cooperation, of course.” Igrim left through the door and beckoned for Urekin to follow, while Enti stood up slowly to close the procession.

“Where are we going exactly?” Urekin asked in an attempt to fill the silence as they walked.

“It is time for your lunch with mistress Mavehn. I expect you’ll behave in a courtly manner fitting of a gentleman,” Igrim said in a jovial voice.

They walked along the corridor until the now familiar sight of the elevator entered Urekin’s view. Once all three of them stepped onto it, Igrim swiped a hand across the scanner and the elevator began moving upward. They arrived in a flash, and the sight that greeted Urekin was a very luxurious and lavish room that filled most of the floor. The flooring was covered in a soft, carpeted material, the bright and warm colors forming some sort of a hazy pattern. The walls were decorated with mirrors, posters and paintings, and there was a massive bed in the dead center. A large desk with a large screen was situated next to it, which was cycling through various drawings. One of the drawings had pillar-like structures scattered around an empty room, illuminated by different colored rays.

Igrim took off his shoes, and surprisingly even Enti set aside his game to do the same, so Urekin followed their lead. As he did so, he wondered what had been the point of getting new shoes if he wasn’t even going to wear them for the dinner. Igrim started cutting through the room, but Enti decided to stay behind.

Igrim and Urekin walked to the far side of the room, circling around the large bed, where the wall became a large window pane that overlooked the streets below. Igrim led him to the table that was set up near the center of the window, which had two sets of plates and other food accessories all carefully laid out on its top. He was made to sit on the left chair, which was facing a room with a wooden door.

“Mistress Mavehn will be with you shortly,” said Igrim as he bowed and walked to the room, closing the door behind him. Judging from the smell, it lead to the kitchen. Urekin looked out of the window onto the dark streets, the lights below only brightening the guarded perimeter around the building. As he was trying to memorize the layout of the guarded area, he heard soft footsteps from behind, as an elven woman stepped into his view. Her slim frame and elven features were beautiful to behold, and she wore a blood-red nightgown that accentuated her curves.

As Urekin stood up to be courteous, he recognized that it was the same elven woman he had seen the day prior. She smiled at him and gracefully extended a hand to greet him, filling the air with the scent of her perfume with the gesture.

“I am Mavehn Lefae, the owner of this establishment,” she said as he took her hand. “I hope my security didn’t cause you too much discomfort.”

“Urekin of Xcit,” he introduced himself formally as they let go and took their respective seats. “I believe they have been fair so far,” he said while observing her. She seemed to be completely hospitable with a warm smile that touched her eyes. “I’m more interested in the reason behind your invitation.”

“Yes, well…” she put on a secretive smile, “We’ll discuss that, and more, after dinner.”

As if on cue, the door opened as Igrim appeared with a kitchen trolley carrying two smaller plates of appetizers and an assortment of alcoholic beverages. He gently placed the appetizers in the middle of their plates, then proceeded to pour some red wine in both of their glasses before leaving.

Mavehn picked up hers and held it in the air as she said, “Let me officially welcome you to Apsylum,” she said then took a sip as Urekin raised his own to match her gesture.

“Thank you,” he said before taking a drink as well and letting the liquid wash down his throat, which left a slightly acidic but pleasant taste. “But I’d rather discuss the matter of my farewell.”

“Very well,” she said as she turned her head to look out of the window, leaving her slender neck in Urekin’s full view. “What is it that you would like to know specifically?”

Urekin followed her gaze almost involuntarily, to look at what she was looking at before he caught himself and turned his focus back onto her. “When will I be allowed to leave?”

“My chief of security has managed to confirm your identity,” said Mavehn while still staring out of the window, shifting her head slightly to the right. “Despite your appearance, it would seem that you have not been lying about who you are. Or perhaps I should say, were.” She slowly turned back and looked into his eyes, “As such, I hope you can forgive their previous treatment of you. They were just doing their jobs...”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Mavehn smiled deeper at that, and nodded while proceeding to sample the appetizer laid out before them. Urekin quickly followed suit, relief washing over him and suddenly realizing that he was indeed, incredibly hungry.

“Are you in such a hurry because of an arrangement? Give me something I can work with and I will be more forthcoming with my answers.”

They mostly ate in silence after that. It seemed that Mavehn really enjoyed the taste of the wine as her glass was refilled often, and so was Urekin’s, as he drank every time she did. By the end of the dinner he felt thoroughly full and perhaps more than a little tipsy.

As Igrim removed all of the empty plates and silverware, Mavehn gently leaned onto the now empty table as she focused her attention wholly on Urekin. “Was everything to your satisfaction?”

“The meal and the view was, but the conversation was lacking,” laughed Urekin, as his sense of restraint was freed by the good food and the amount of alcohol he had drunk.

Mavehn smiled seductively as she leaned in close, her face now only a breath away from his as she murmured, “Let’s fix that, shall we?”

Urekin closed his eyes as he felt himself drawn in, but just before he could feel her lips on his own, he felt something slam into his mind with a force of a raging ogre. Suddenly his whole world revolved around the drive of pleasing the woman in front of him, in any way she desired. His whole vision was filled with her frame as he watched her lean back with a complacent smile.

A memory surfaced abruptly from somewhere buried deep within, a shadow of an overwhelming feeling of need. The desire was so strong that for a moment Urekin forgot to even breathe before the memory faded, and he was left gasping for air while breaking out in cold sweat. He looked up at Mavehn while still panting, but instead of seeing the object of worship that had filled his entire mind just a moment ago, he now saw a frail elven woman staring at him with wide eyed fear.