The structures built into the volcano were much larger from up close. Bursts of light flashed in the mountainside as something ran up and down veins of glass leading from one structure to another. Upon close inspection, the volcano itself appeared to be manmade. Or at least made by magic.

Nobody greeted us as the ferry docked in one of the many berths in the harbor. I looked at the captain who was busy tying the boat off with the crew. “Do we wait for someone to come to get us?”

He tipped his head back and laughed. “Sorry, kid. That’s above my pay grade. My job ends here. We shack up in those shanties for the night and head back to the mainland in the morning. There is a no questions asked policy about how they unload the cargo. If you have business with the folks up there, you’re on your own.”

I stepped off the boat and held out a hand to Kalli to help her.

Look’s like it’s just the two of us.

Kalli smirked at me and took a bounding leap onto the dock, ignoring my hand. Once she was in front of me, she grabbed it. Well? Coming?

After a moment of shock, I snapped my jaw shut, before laughing.

Lead on.

At first glance, the glass tubes that terminated at the base of the mountain had no entrance or controls of any kind. However, when we approached, a disembodied voice spoke. “Greetings travelers. Present yourselves for identification.”

Not knowing what else to do, we walked slowly up to the closest tube.

“Scanning.”

“Bloodline confirmed.”

“Welcome, Lord and Lady Murphy of the M bloodline. Please enjoy your visit.”

In front of us, the outer shell of the glass tube liquified and melted away, leaving an entrance for us to climb aboard. I raised an eyebrow at Kalli, not offering my hand this time.

Shall we?

She nodded and preceded me into the elevator. The walls of the chamber reformed around us and we were launched up through the tube as though a giant were sucking on a straw. Moments later we shot into the first building, popping out of the tube and floating a couple of feet in the air before landing softly on a dais in front of a reception counter.

Kalli staggered a few steps before composing herself. I’m glad you did what you did on the boat because that would have made me sick.

I lurched and coughed a few times.

I still might be sick.

The person behind the counter was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The best way I could describe her was part-human, part-ostrich. Resting atop the torso of a woman was a long feathery neck with a tiny avian head on the top. The result was a woman who looked down on us as we approached her podium. “Welcome, Lord and Lady. I trust your travels went well. Would you like to be shown to our guest wing or would you like to conduct business first?”

“How do you know about us?” Kalli asked hesitantly. “Also, why do you know me as Lady Murphy and not Queen Celestea?”

The ostrich lady held up a device and a red line scanned Kalli. “Ah, yes. You are the queen of a primitive country. Unfortunately, that title does not grant you access to this facility. As renowned members of a dominant bloodline, you are both granted full access to everything on the island.”

Wondering what kind of people occupied the high house, I decided to inspect the woman.

Name

Scuawk Struthio

Class

Receptionist

Level

2

Affection Level

Weary

I rubbed my chin at my findings and asked, “How many unawakened work here?”

Scuawk scoffed at me, her large neck leaning over the desk until she was towering over us. “What are you getting at? Are you saying that I am not worthy to serve you? Well, I’ll have you know…”

I held up my hands in defense. “Wait! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that as an insult. We are looking for some unawakened friends, and I was hoping they might be here.”

Scuawk blinked and suddenly began laughing hysterically. “Friends, you say? You are friends with the unawakened? Well, that’s something I’ve never heard before.”

“What’s so funny about that?” Kalli asked, frowning at the bird lady.

She thought the next part to me. I don’t think I like her!

Unlike Kalli, I had a feeling I knew exactly how Scuawk felt. “Miss Scuawk, how would you like to be awakened?”

“Well, every chick dreams…” She began, choking back her laughter. “Wait, how do you know my name?”

I chuckled and she pulled her head back. “I know everything about you. You know about my bloodline so you should know at least that much.”

Scuawk looked sad when she sighed. “Very well, Master Murphy. Your joke was truly entertaining. Will it be the guest quarters or straight to business?”

I could tell that Kalli was starting to feel bad for the bird. I placed a hand on Squawk’s feathery hand that was resting on the table. “I was serious. I can awaken you if that’s what you want.”

She froze as she looked down at my hand, regarding it as one might a snake. I gave her a minute before clearing my throat. Scuawk jumped and said, “I, um, yes. Yes! I would please. I mean, please do that. Awaken me. Please!”

Kalli giggled at the excitement we both saw in Scuawk’s face. I nodded and, without wasting any time, passed my mana into her. Inside, her mana channels were similar to the many other people I had awakened. I wasn’t sure if birds would be different as I never attempted to awaken any.

There was something strange about my mana that I hadn’t seen before. Black impurities bobbed along the surface of the otherwise pristine white mana.

It didn’t take me long to arrive at her core. A nest hung in the darkness filled with what appeared to be multi-colored feathers. I jump-started it with my mana and watched in awe as the feathers came to life and began to glow. Then they rose and swirled around the nest in a multicolored tornado.

Again the black specks invaded my handiwork, making the colorful display of her core somehow dirty. I tried to push the thought from my mind as I tugged a string of her newly formed mana through Scuawk’s channels before extracting myself. I emerged to see the ostrich lady stiffened, her feathers all puffed out.

“So this is what it feels like.” She whispered, waving a hand in front of her face. Then she fell to her knees, her head still somehow above the desk. “I swear myself to you, Lord Melvin. If there is any way I can ever repay your kindness, just give the command. If you need companionship…”

“He has all the companionship he needs!” Kalli barked, causing the Scuawk to recoil. “I mean, he doesn’t need that. You don’t have to do anything for us. It was a gift.”

“Oh, but she does.” A tired-sounding Maya said from a doorway. “You see, you’ve tainted her. She will forever be loyal to you which means she no longer has a place here. I assume that won’t be a problem considering you have an entire country to keep her in. I assure you she is one of the very best receptionists I’ve ever had. Very discreet.”

I stared at my older sister as she strutted into the room. “Maya! You don’t have to fire her. I was just…”

“Actions have consequences.” She interrupted. “You can’t just go granting favors for other people’s servants. What would the world come to? Besides, I am giving her to you. Consider it a gift.”

“She not an item!” Kalli roared, scowling at Maya.

Maya tutted and patted Kalli on the head. “Relax. I am not calling her that. She is a servant though. You need to remember that. Even though you may choose to govern in a certain way, that doesn’t mean that others will always have the same customs. With that said, we treat everyone with the utmost respect here. Isn’t that right, Scuawk?”

I turned to notice Scuawk kneeling with her head bowed. When Maya addressed her she nodded vigorously. “Yes, My Lady. It is the greatest honor to serve the high house.”

Maya smiled at the bird lady, motioning for her to rise. When she did, she continued. “Please, tell these two about the perks of serving in the high house.”

“Of course.” Scuawk squawked. “Receiving an appointment to the high house is a most unbelievable honor. Not only is the selected given a life of luxury but their entire family for three generations either way is granted an estate and all that comes with it here on the island. We don’t even need money because everything is provided for us. All I have to do is work at this desk three days a week. I don’t mind giving that all up to serve you. It will be an honor.”

Kalli still refused to meet Maya’s eyes, indignant that the woman had patted her on the head. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Scuawk, my new receptionist.

Do you think we can give six generations of her family a good life?

Kalli snapped out of it and sighed. I don’t know, Melvin. I mean, we can give her family a place to live and make sure she has everything she needs but she seems pretty spoiled here even if she is a servant.

I sighed, deciding to worry about that another day. Turning back to Maya, I said, “The reason we’re here is that we’re looking for Kiki. Actually, you might be able to help too. Are you familiar with a town called Hudholm Summit? Mardella relocated some people from there and I need to find them.”

Maya rubbed her chin and then nodded to Scuawk. The ostrich lady stiffened before turning to a device on her desk. “Oh, right. Yes, My Lady. Let me see, Hudholm Summit. Spelt H U D H O L M. Got it. Evacuated. Citizens relocated. Troll revolt so it seems. Hmm. Well, depending on who you need to find, they could be anywhere. I see that the old mayor and her daughter were given a place in Lady Mardella’s private villa.”

“Guinny! Look up Guinny.” Kalli exclaimed, before thinking better of it and adding, “Oh, and make sure everyone else is okay. If anyone got put in a bad situation, please make arrangements to let them come to Celestea.”

While Scuawk hammered madly at her console, Maya spoke to Kalli. “I promise you that we will make sure everyone from Hudholm is treated with respect and decency. If you wish to relocate all of them to Celestea, I will see that it’s done.”

Kalli scowled at Maya, but I could tell her expression was starting to crack. I turned to Maya and asked, “Is Kiki here? I wouldn’t mind seeing her.”

Maya blinked at me in surprise. “No. She isn’t here, Melvin. Didn’t you speak to her in your guild chat?”

I wanted to slap my head. I forgot all about the guild. So had Kalli apparently. She laughed nervously and admitted, “I turned that off because of how many people talk in there. I forgot Ki was part of the guild.”

Turning guild chat back on, I reached out to my sister.

Kiki, are you there?

Her reply came instantly. It took you long enough, dork! I’ve been trying to get your attention ever since you left Celestea. Your friend Guinny is here at the manor.

The manor?

Kiki explained. Actually, it’s Alariel’s house. More of a cabin in the woods actually. A very big cabin. It’s neat though. There’s a big garden in the back and it’s so beautiful. You should visit sometime.

Kalli said the same thing I was thinking. Um, Kiki, is Mardella there?

The thought of Malric inhabiting the body of Alariel’s mother and taking Ki hostage made my skin crawl. I heaved a sigh of relief when she replied. No, she’s not here. Mardella hasn’t been seen since you fought her. Alariel is worried. Remember, it’s her mother after all.

Scuawk startled me when she chirped. “Ah hah! I found her. She is at the summer manor of Lady Mardella!”