Only after I’ve somewhat come to terms with my new face (and the permanent golden graffiti scrawled all over it) do I get dressed and put my mask on. Instantly the comforting feeling of being hidden envelopes me and I let out a sigh. I think I’ll always like that feeling.

  Double checking my appearance in the mirror to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything, I exit the dressing room and search around for the decorative rope Ja’karis had pointed out before to call for someone. Finding it next to my bed, I give it a firm pull. Somewhat to my disappointment, there is no immediate change. I mean, it's not unreasonable that I expected something magical to happen. This place changes based on my thoughts and I have a closet more bottomless than Mary Poppin's bag. Why shouldn't the people calling rope teleport people?

  Not sure what to do next (should I go wait by the door for someone to come? Wait here? Pull it again?), I eventually decide to abide by the rules of all lost children everywhere and just take a seat at a nearby table to wait for someone to come find me.

  Conveniently, the nearest doorway changes to show the entrance to my chambers so I can see it when someone does arrive. I glance at the people calling rope with a hint of condemnation. It could learn a lesson. Luckily, I only have to stare at the for a few minutes before I hear someone knock.

  When I realize I now need to respond I have a brief internal struggle about how to do that. Shouting intrude would be rude since I called them here to do things for me and I also quickly decide that just calling out enter is too pretentious. In the end I settle for a classic and hope my voice is loud enough for them to hear me. “Come in.”

  Somewhat to my surprise it’s Ja’karis alone who enters, no longer wearing the super fancy robes from yesterday but still looking like a king in clothes that speak of refinement. He only walk in just enough to catch sight of me before turning around to look behind him, beckoning at someone I can’t see. “Alright, you may enter.”

  When a line of servants bearing trays come in right after I realize he had been checking to make sure I had my mask on. That's smart. I doubt these people get paid enough to risk their souls getting crushed by lingering transcendent will. Though, I don't know, maybe they get hazard pay.

  The servants themselves all wear the same simple yet elegant black uniform reminiscent of tuxedos with silver accents. I had seen the uniform on a few people yesterday on the walk here, but unlike the people I had seen wearing it then, all these servants have a grey cloth with black markings on it hanging down over their eyes.

  Despite that, the servants move silently and in perfect coordination as they set the trays full of food I only half recognize on the table before me, one placing a cup next to me before filling it with an unfamiliar pink liquid. That all seems very nice, but personally speaking, anytime your food needs to be carried over by more than one person it strikes me as a good indicator that you might have too much food. Which only makes me wonder… why did they bring me this much food?

  Do I look like someone who can eat all this?

  Once their task is done the servants all bow in unison and exit as quietly as they had entered, leaving me alone with Ja’karis. The grey haired man nods at me. “Greetings Adonik Bright-Eye, I hope you had a good rest.”

  Ah, so Artos finally settled on a name. “Good morning Ja’karis. Is that to be my name then?”

  He smiles. “Yes, your father put much thought into it.” I’ll bet. With golden peepers like these who would’ve thought to name me Bright-Eye? Totally inconceivable. “You might not know, but your father goes by Artos Void-Eye. All the gods have a similarly styled moniker attached to their name based on their known attributes and behaviors. It is an unwritten rule that none but the gods may have monikers like these. It’s the closest thing he can give you to a surname.”

  He’s letting me into their special name club even though I’m not a god? Okay, so now I feel kind of like a dick for being so sarcastic just now. Thankfully, I’m wearing a mask so Ja’karis can’t see me avoiding eye contact. “I see. Did my mother agree to this name, or did she give me another?”

  Ja’karis’ expression turns slightly awkward at the uncomfortable topic of my broken family. “She has given you a different name, but I will let her own people tell you of it. A matter of courtesy.”

  I don’t mind. I imagine remembering one new name will be hard enough, I don’t need to go around making things more difficult for myself.

  Deciding to focus instead on the food that was brought in I’m not sure where to start. Or even if I want to. I am hungry, but instead of making me hungrier the smell of the food seems to be dampening my appetite. It doesn’t smell bad exactly. It smells just like normal, expensive looking food, yet for some reason it doesn’t seem appealing to me at all.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “I have a few things I would like to discuss with you.” Ja’karis starts and I happily let myself get distracted from my breakfast. I had been wondering why he was here, but I hadn’t wanted to ask because I couldn’t figure out how to without sounding rude. The guy is literally a king. It’s impossible he doesn’t have a million other things to do right now, so why is he of all people accompanying me for something as trivial as a meal? “Do you mind if I take a seat?”

  I gesture at the seat next to me. “Please, sit.” As he pulls the chair out I think to ask about what I saw earlier. “Why did all those people have their eyes covered? How could they see like that?”

  Having taken his seat Ja’karis looks at me blankly before seeming to realize something. “Oh, those? They were wearing what is called vision clothes. It allows a person to perceive all 360 degrees of their surroundings without the use of their eyes. Blind people often use them, though they are also popular with races that are sensitive to light. You might remember Rancor wearing one. His eyes place a curse on anyone who meets his gaze, so he wears one at all times except when in combat.

  “As for why the servants were using them, that is because your father has decreed that they do so when in your presence. No one below the level of a grandmaster is permitted to look on you with their naked eyes.”

  That seems excessive. Like, wildly over the top excessive. Would the entire city have to put them on if I decided to take a stroll about or something? I’m not one to enjoy being stared at to begin with, but even for me that rule seems pretty heavy handed. “They can’t even look at me? Even with the mask on? Why go so far?”

  Ja’karis gives me the indulgent look one might give to a particularly slow yet adorable child. “You might not fully understand yet, but you are a being that stands above even the concept of high position. An emperor couldn’t rule enough land to make himself your equal in status. Your very existence is a sacred miracle previously unheard of in all the world. Only the greatest and most faithful servants even have the right to approach you, while all others dare not even gaze upon you and should be ashamed to even try.”

  That- That’s a lot. Ja’karis has seemed like a pretty okay guy, but now I’m starting to see how he got the job of priest king in what I'm beginning to suspect is a nation sized cult. The dude is a true blue believer, and I’ve inherited some of that belief through the power of nepotism. I make a mental note to self not to ask too many questions when all this religion stuff is brought up again in the future. I might have to be taught it, but curiosity isn't needed here. That would be like having a jehovah's witness knock on my door, foolishly opening said door, and then inviting them inside. Wise people don't do that. Wise people hide under the kitchen table until they leave.

  “In that vein, you should be aware that no one but a grandmaster is allowed to see you with your mask off.”

  That at least makes sense to me, even if the other stuff doesn’t. And it wasn’t like I was planning on giving anyone a free show or anything to begin with. Though, the word allowed does make me kind of uncomfortable. What happens if someone of a lower level does see me? Given the effect I have on people it would almost be like I’m attacking their soul. I know Ja’karis just went on about how I’m super special and stuff, but would I get in trouble for something like that or would the person I potentially just soul fucked get punished for seeing something they’re not allowed to? But no, it doesn’t make sense to make a rule to protect other people from me and then punish them when they get hurt.

  “I see. I’ll be careful.” This topic is making me feel a bit gross and a bit like a walking biohazard, so I turn my attention back to the food in front of me. Now, if only I wanted to eat any of it.

  Hesitating a touch after the conversation we just had, I reach up and take my mask off, noting the way Ja’karis’ eyes wander to my face. I guess I can’t blame him. With all the bling on it it’s bound to draw the eye. Besides, I’m not even used to it yet, so I can’t really except anyone else to be.

  Unable to find anything in particular on the table that appeals to me (which should really be impossible with this many plates) I pick something at random. It looks like meat and it smells like meat, only it’s green. But I’m sure that’s on purpose. I cut into it with determination and a slightly queasy stomach and force myself to take a reluctant bite.

  The instant it touches my tongue my stomach heaves like a rodeo horse and I spit it back onto the plate, quickly covering my mouth as I gag a few more times over the lingering taste. Ja’karis stands up so fast it looks like someone shocked him, his expression one of alarm. “What’s the matter?”

  I look between him and the food, finally understanding something. I haven’t been drawn to the food they brought despite my hunger because subconsciously I’ve been viewing it the same way I would’ve looked at a plate of tree bark a week ago. Technically speaking I can eat it, I just really wouldn’t want to unless I absolutely had no other choice and even then it would probably make me a little ill. Artos had said I was different now and that we would figure out how that difference would present itself as we go. I guess somewhere in all the change normal, human food stopped being food for me.

  I stare up at Ja’karis, feeling a vague sense of guilt for being such a problem guest what with my body having a hidden care condition like this. “Um, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can eat this. I don’t suppose you would know what I can eat? Other than food, that is.”

  The look Ja’karis gives me is one of a person utterly dumbfounded and I feel my sympathy for the man grow. A high stress job and an irresponsible boss are bad enough, but then not only does his boss dump his kid on him but the kid turns out to have dietary restrictions that no one bothered to tell him about until it was too late.

  Maybe I can ask Artos to give him a raise. Or, better yet, a vacation. I get the feeling that Priest King Ja’karis is going to be in need of a spa day soon.