"A runaway Slave that is caught will be publicly beaten and then returned to its owner to undergo ­­further punishment."Nadia's worries washed away as Marchioness Ivanna guided her through a dreamscape of amber coral reefs, their branches flickering beneath the shifting light. Curtains of luscious kelp swayed around them, thick and vibrant, brushing against Nadia's arms like silk as they passed.At length, they reached the edge of a vast drop-off where a sleek, black coach fashioned from a spined-star shell awaited, glinting with a pearlescent shimmer and gold filigree that curled like sea foam. Four blue sharks were harnessed to it, hovering in the water eerily still, their eyes sharp and empty. Nadia trailed her fingers along the cool, gleaming frame before drifting inside. The whale-skin cushions sank luxuriously beneath her. Then with a subtle jolt, the coach glided forward into the blue.Nadia gazed over the side of the coach, her eyes wide as the ocean unfurled around her in st

"The three ways a Slave may obtain freedom are as follows: Freedom by Imperial Command, Freedom by Owner's Command, and Freedom through the Annual Slave Arena."  Six years ago, Polaris had encountered his first prophetic dream; something so rare, many sophists and sages considered the topic a myth. Now here was Rein not only claiming to have had them before, but she was experiencing them again. It was impossible not to be intrigued. Across the room, Ivanna slowly eased herself into a chair at Aleda's table, her posture rigid. She didn't share his enthusiasm; he could feel it in the tension she radiated. But Polaris couldn't help himself. He shifted his entire body to face Rein, and leaned forward in his seat.

Last Updated : 2025-12-23

"For a Slave to be freed by its Owner, the command must be made in front of witnesses..."  That same night, after Doralyn had delivered her message to Inara, Makiar moved through the dark corridors of Aimonbay Estate. The cold marble echoed beneath his black satyr hooves which clopped sharp and deliberate in the silence. Candlelight flickered along the stone walls, casting restless shadows as he pushed open the heavy door to the study. Inside, the air smelled of ink and incense. Rallian sat hunched behind his broad, cedar-wood desk, its surface buried beneath crumpled parchment. He didn't look up, fingers still rifling through the chaos like a man searching for something lost forever."You summ