GARDEN of IDIN: The Next Day

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The following day unfolded like the one before it. With L'majha serving Talbot breakfast. This time they fed the Empress as well. And when the royal couple had been fed, the L'majha took their plates away and returned to the kitchen. M'jarissa stayed behind and chose clothes from the wardrobe for Maritiseis and Talbot.

"It is time to be of a sober mind." The Empress said to Talbot. "The Assimilation Process will not be delayed."

"What is the assimilation process?"

"That is where the Fire of Rantaris will be awakened in you and you will become the Champion of Malrishi."

"What—who is the Champion of Malrishi?"

"You are sire." The Empress said.

"What do I—what does, um—what is expected from the Champion of Malrishi?"

"His is to protect the interests of Malrishi."

    (Dude stop trying to find a reason to protest this, and just go with it

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(Dude stop trying to find a reason to protest this, and just go with it. You will be champion of a world. That is more than you have ever been on Earth.)

But what if I don't want to be this champion?

(Then you're an idiot. You are banging boots with the most exquisite creature in creation, and now you are getting cold feet? I don't think the Empress would approve.)

Talbot thought about that. The Empress could pretty much kill him if she wanted to. But her interests seemed to lie along a different path. And oh—the fringe benefits.

(So, stop being a monkey humping a football. Proceed to assimilation.)

Do you think I'll get a tail?

(At the rate you're going you're likely to get three.)

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

    What the hell is that supposed to mean?

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(Just get on with it!)

The Empress wore a slick leotard body suit, trimmed in silver; a dark blue uniform with black boots was chosen for Talbot. Then M'jarissa, J'janella, and Mischiel, escorted the royal couple through a series of burnished corridors with lambent light illuminating the halls. They took the chute elevator to the ninth floor of the Lilis, and continued further down another collection of hallways, before stopping before the door of a lab. Talbot could see inside the workshop, for there were windows all around looking into it.

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