*Knock Knock*

His eyes shot open. Who was it at this time of night? No, that statement was incorrect, he was unsure of the exact time of night, but he knew that it felt later then it actually was due to the stress of the day.

He strained his ears, hoping to gain some amount of insight into what had woken him up. Perhaps an assassin? Perhaps a serving girl simply making a bit more noise then normal. Perhaps nothing of import, just a rat scurrying about in the walls.

??? : "Excuse me mylord, I have been meaning to talk to you since earlier about something, but as of yet I have not had the opportunity."

A female voice, soft and melodic, came from the other side of the door...

Cornelius : *So it WAS a girl...*

He was baffled for a moment; what had he done to attract someones attention. No, perhaps this was a general thing and they were simply asking everyone, and now it was his turn...

Cornelius : *This must be important; as the kingdom, after all they have done to be respectful, would not interrupt our sleep after the feast for a small matter. Perhaps something happened? Or they wish to talk to each and every one of us about our status cards?*

Cornelius : "Yes?" He said, just to be safe...

??? : "Pardon my rudeness, but may I come in mylord?"

This certainly was odd. He sat up in bed, put on something to wear and then walked over to the door. He opened it just a hair, enough for him to see out but for someone outside only to see a part of his face.

What greeted his eyes was an alluring woman. Not exactly a beauty but not average in looks either. Less mature then the women given to the rest of his class, she appeared to be younger by a few years, putting her just older then he was. Around her body was a simple servants dress, brown and white in color. Her bust was adequate and her hips were narrow.

She gave off an aura of knowledge, and as far as he could tell she was reasonably intelligent. He quite liked her, without a real reason to. It was odd, irrational, illogical. He discarded this feeling on those grounds. His original good impression wiped clean. he addressed her again...

Cornelius : "Might I ask why?"

Girl : "Ah... Ahem, Pardon my rudeness but I had a small question for you, no, that was an understatement. I have a rather ambitious question for you mylord, one that could very well get me killed and if left unanswered could potentially put you in unnecessary danger, and so I ask once again... May I come in mylord?"

He pondered her words for a moment before looking out into the hall. No other door had someone standing outside of it like this, implying that either she was a good liar or he actually was an anomaly. He briefly nodded, turning around and sitting on his bed as he waited for the click as the door closed shut again.

Cornelius : "This matter," He paused, choosing his words carefully. "What could be so important that you would risk your life to ask."

Girl : "Ahemm" She cleared her throat " I, your humble servant Ismene, do beg" She paused, getting on her knees and lowering her head to the ground in a worship position. " To know of your true race mylord." Her head still bowed she seemed to be very tense. "I know that this question is forbidden from one of my position, and should you wish it I shall willingly go to death for my actions, however for your sake I must ask."

She expected the answer. When in the castle servants have no rights at all, even her. She had once been from high nobility of a country that was conquered, she knew that even in her country asking something like this from her original position would likely result in grave punishment perhaps even death.

That was at the forefront of the country from a position of power, and yet here she was, reduced to a slave in this foreign country, forced to obey, forced to work, forced down into a subservient position and yet she still had the stupidity to do something like this. If what she had just asked was overheard or known perhaps not just her but her remaining family or her friends amongst the servants would all be put to death.

Status cards were just that, the inner workings of a person, to steal one, to take one, to even hold another persons was a crime not even the king would pass through unscathed. That was for normal people, and yet here she was, asking this of a hero summoned only a day earlier. She fell into despair as she waited his answer.

Ismene : *If I am wrong about him, what if it was a different one? Would I die in vain?* Her thoughts raced, worsening by the moment.

One second passed....

Two seconds passed...

Still no answer...

She could not tell what he was doing, or what his face looked like as she was still staring at the floor with her body down, hoping for that one outcome that would probably never happen...

Three seconds...

She heard him take a breath, she prepared herself for his answer. She tensed herself knowing full well that the next moment could be her death...

Cornelius : "How did you know..."

Ismene : *A question? No decree? No declaration of my death? Nothing but a question?*

To her the answer to the question was easy, but it was baffling the boy. He had promptly hid the card the moment he had receive it. Making sure that nobody suspected anything before relaxing. He had been cautious, cautious enough to make even himself feel safe of his secret, and yet not even four hours had passed and here someone was inquiring about this secret he had en devoured to keep hidden.

How? This question was the loudest among all of his thoughts. How had it been discovered, what had lead to this outcome?

He paused for a moment, taking a good look at the girl again in the dark light. Thats right, it was her, she held the sphere, she was there the moment it came out. Perhaps she glimpsed it upon its exiting. Upon this realization he instantly changed directions with his thoughts, instead of how it was more on why she confronted him. Perhaps she wasn't sure of what she saw, perhaps she had already told someone of her suspicions. He couldn't use mana, therefore it would eventually be revealed correct? Then why was it such a big deal that she was kneeling. No, she said that this involved danger to himself. Who had she told that would bring danger unto him?

Anger and fury at this outcome seeped into his voice. From his earlier sentences it was too late to deny it. That left two options, the first was to kill her, but without a proper reason that would only lead to more suspicion and would lead to him being in the dark as to why he was in danger and who she had told. The second option... Either way, he needed to know who she had told and why the question was being asked...

Cornelius (angered, not yelling though) : "Who... have you told..."

Ismene (frightened) : "Nobody my lord, it was simply my own curiosity leading me to my foolish actions. I had to be sure before - *Choke*"

Cornelius held her throat as he lifted her up. He was strong due to his inflated stats, but normally he wouldnt be able to do this with one hand. Logic had taken over at this point. She knew that he was not human, but had not told anybody as insurance in case she died.

He had the option of ending her life right there and she knew it. She simply let out a smile as he held her up, preparing to take her life for his own safety, after all... knowledge is power...

A knowing smile...

A sad smile and yet at the same time a Fulfilled smile...

Why was she smiling? Perhaps that irrational illogical statement had been correct. This female would risk her life in pursuit of pointless knowledge, knowledge that she knew could get her killed.

KILLED

That word rang out in his mind, as he thought back to her words. He released his grip, and slowly lowered her to the floor. Her knees could not support her weight and gave out, he continued to lower her to the floor until she was sprawled out, knees open, panting for air.

Cornelius : "Why do you smile?"

She coughed a few times before resuming her original posture of kneeling before him.

Ismene : "I smile *cough * because it is an honor to die *gasp * at the hands of a primus, even a locked one...And at this point, my life is yours to take."

Cornelius : "Since when do you belong to me? I never recall wanting you, desiring you, or anything of the sort. Is it because I almost killed you but decided to spare you, if so discard that notion. I spared you because you have information that may pertain to my well being."

Ismene : " I belong to you, because the world , nay, the universe belongs to you Primus... You may not desire me, but I desire to belong to you, for out of every living thing on this hunk of rock in the void, you alone deserve to own someone else.

Cornelius : "That word, Primus... Why do you keep calling me that? What does it mean?"

Ismene : "Do you not have the legends on your world? No, perhaps you do not require them. You are a Stratovian, as you confirmed earlier. Stratovians are godlike beings present everywhere. They are akin to gods, they watch us, they protect us, but they do not rule us directly. Every universe has one Stratovian who comes close to their creator, that one Stratovian which stands above the rest is referred to as the Primus. They are more then gods, more then men, more the legends or stories, more then anything possible. They are a perfect existence,

and you mylord,

My light in this hellhole,

My hope in this dark world..."

Light started emitting from her arms, coiling around their bodies. Red light circled her while blue light circled him. He wanted to stop her but he could not move, her face contorted in pain, she started softly crying out, tears spilling out of her eyes. Unknown to him, she was literally forcing her soul to bind itself to his.

Strangely enough a golden stream emerged and started solidifying in between. One end connected to her the other to him, it slowly and steadily grew stronger, forming a clear ethereal stream of energy connecting their souls... A strange feeling overwhelmed them both, a feeling of connection a feeling of knowledge and strength. A feeling of warmth...

"You my MASTER ...are a Primus."

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Spoiler : Hi again, hoped you like it... :D

Back on the topic of the cities...

Stratovian cities grow with their population automatically. (Did I mention that they fly?)

When a city's population exceeds a certain point the original city starts to build a second core on the outskirts of the city atom by atom. This creates an identical hub which is then split off from the original with its own five thousand Stratovian people.

Its like Cell division, Once the cell gets to a certain point it creates another cell, and that creates another one and so on... All Stratovian cities are run by two AI programs on the large scale, but the cities themselves are run by the population. The AI's have the final say in everything, and mostly monitor their surroundings instead of the city itself as those inside the city follow the rules to a T.

Btw Ismene is a Greek name derived from the word isme, meaning "knowledge."