Kaiser was again having the same dream.
Soft touches. Gentle warmth. The feeling of being cradled on Ayumu's lap, her fingers running through his hair, her voice a soothing melody.
"Wake up, my love…"
He jolted awake.
His eyes snapped open, and he found himself in an unfamiliar room. The ceiling was white plaster, crisscrossed with wooden beams. Sunlight streamed through a window, casting golden patterns across the floor. He was lying on a small bed—simple but comfortable, covered in soft linen.
He sat up, his head pounding with a dull ache. Beside him, Levain was still asleep, his face peaceful despite the circumstances.
Kaiser reached over and shoved him hard.
Levain woke with a scream. "Ahhh! Cannibals!"
He sat bolt upright, his eyes wild, his hands flying up to defend himself. Then he saw Kaiser, and the room, and the sunlight, and he slowly lowered his hands.
His head throbbed. He winced. "Where are we?"
They both looked around.
The room was medium-sized, clean and bright. White walls. Flower plants in clay pots. Wooden furniture—a table, a chair, a small wardrobe. The window faced the beach, and beyond it, the sea sparkled under the morning sun.
But Kaiser noticed the door.
It was made of a familiar metal—orichalcum. Its distinctive sheen was unmistakable. And the bars on the window—the same material.
Kaiser's jaw tightened. "I have no idea where we are, but it seems we are prisoners now."
Levain looked around, his brow furrowing. "This is a very nice prison cell. Our hands and feet are not bound, either."
Then they heard it.
A loud laugh—booming, familiar, utterly unbothered.
They both staggered to the barred window and looked out.
And there was Drobar.
He was dressed in a dark blue toga, lounging on the beach like a king on holiday. He held a goblet in one hand, and his other hand was reaching for a platter of fruits. Surrounding him were beautiful women—their skin glowing in the sunlight, their hair flowing in the sea breeze, their eyes fixed on him with open admiration. They traced the muscles of his arms, ran their fingers through his hair, fed him grapes.
Levain stared. "Is that… Sir Drobar?"
Kaiser's voice was flat. "That idiot."
Levain's confusion deepened. "They do not look like cannibals, Lord Kaiser."
Kaiser's red eyes narrowed. "They might not be cannibals, but the way the women are looking at him is not normal. Those are lustful eyes."
"Pardon? Lustful?" Levain's face went pale. "Wait… so you mean—"
"These women... they will devour him in a different way."
Levain flushed a deep red. "Goodness! That is indecent!" He paused, his eyes widening in horror. "Does Sir Drobar not realize what they intend?" Another pause, even more horrified. "Wait—will we end up the same way?!"
Kaiser tried to straighten up, though he was still dizzy. "If we continue to stay here, we will end up as mere toys for these women. Get up, Levain. We need to get out of here and drag that fool Drobar with us."
Suddenly, they heard laughter from outside—women's voices, light and teasing.
One of the women's voices can be heard, "And where do you think you'll be going?"
A waft of sweet perfume drifted through the bars of their window. Then, seeping into the room, a red smoke—visible, thick, curling like living vines.
Their bodies went weak.
Kaiser and Levain collapsed to their knees, their limbs heavy, their minds clouded. They could not move. They could barely breathe.
The door of the pristine prison swung open.
A woman entered.
She was tall and lean, her dark skin shining like polished mahogany. Her muscles were toned and proportionate, her movements fluid and powerful. Her curly dark hair was pulled into a high ponytail, adorned with gold ornaments that caught the light. She wore colored silk wrapped around her body—flowing, elegant, revealing just enough to hint at the strength beneath.
Behind her stood several other women—different builds, different features, but all beautiful in their own way. They were her assistants and her guards.
The lady's voice was smooth as honey. "You catch on very fast, dear handsome men."
She stepped closer, standing before them, looking down at their weakened forms.
"Whatever is wrong?" Her lips curved into a smile. "Such strong magis people, and you are left speechless by our beauty?"
The women behind her giggled.
Levain's head swam as he tried to focus. The room was dimly lit, the walls made of smooth white plaster, the floor covered in woven mats. The air was thick with a strange, sweet-smelling smoke that coiled around them like invisible serpents.
He struggled against the haze clouding his mind. "What… do you want from us? What - what is this smell?"
The woman stepped closer. She reached out and caressed Levain's cheek with surprising tenderness.
Levain felt a jolt—a sharp, sudden pleasure that coursed through his body like lightning. His breath hitched. His limbs grew heavy, and a strange thirst bloomed in his chest. He had never felt anything like it before. It was intoxicating. Confusing.
It was Lust.
The woman's voice was soft, almost kind. "Does it feel good? This smoke affects only men. It brings out their pleasure, makes them unable to move." She leaned closer, her lips brushing against his ear. "Are you enjoying it, my dear?"
Levain shuddered, unable to respond.
Then—a surge of movement.
Kaiser pulled his strength from somewhere deep within. He lunged toward the woman, his hands reaching for her throat.
She chuckled.
With a fluid, practiced motion, she grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and pinned him to the floor in a single, swift movement. Her strength was shocking.
"Tsk… such a feisty one," the lady said, her voice dripping with amusement.
The other women in the room giggled, their eyes gleaming with delight at the sight of the men brought to his knees.
The woman leaned down, her lips brushing close to Kaiser's ear. "I suggest you behave, naughty black magis."
She rose and began to walk around the two men, circling them like a predator appraising new toys. Her gaze was slow, deliberate, taking in every detail of their forms.
"You think we are seducers?" She laughed—a rich, melodic sound. "Hah! We are collectors." She paused before them, her hands clasped behind her back. "I might as well introduce myself. I am Camilla. The leader of the Umajo people here. And you are guests—for now."
Kaiser forced his head up, fighting against the paralysis that clung to his limbs like wet sand. His red eyes burned with defiance.
"Drobar. The man on the beach. What have you done to him?"
Camilla's lips curved into a slow smile. She gestured lazily toward the window. "That man, Drobar? Ahh, him. He is enjoying himself. He chose to stay on the beach. Quite enthusiastically, actually." She waved a hand dismissively. "He drank our wine, ate our fruit, and decided that fighting us was less interesting than… other pursuits."
Kaiser's jaw tightened.
Drobar, you utter fool.
Levain managed to speak again, his voice trembling but resolute. "We will not be like him! We magis people will not fall for your… provocative actions…"
Another round of giggles erupted from the women behind Camilla. They exchanged knowing glances, their eyes sparkling with amusement.
Camilla waved a dismissive hand. "We will see how long your resolve lasts." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a silken murmur. "You should know that we Umajo people… acquire interesting men."
Kaiser's mind raced despite the fog clouding his thoughts. "Acquire for what purpose?"
Camilla knelt again, this time looking him directly in the eyes. Her expression softened, losing some of its mirth, becoming almost clinical.
"For breeding, of course." She said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Our numbers grow thin. We need strong blood. Magis blood would also be beneficial. You both and Drobar would sire strong children."
Kaiser's stomach turned.
Camilla rose and began to pace again, her voice taking on a businesslike tone. "Let me be clear, dear magis men. You have two choices."
She held up one finger. "One: You stay here, accept your new life, and in time you will find it… pleasant enough. The island is beautiful. You can roam freely. Many men choose to stay willingly for a few weeks—some even longer."
She held up a second finger. "Two: You resist, and we keep you in this room until you change your mind. The scent you are smelling is from a flower called the Angel's Trumpet. Let us just say it will be your constant companion if you resist."
She laughed, the sound echoing off the white walls.
Kaiser growled, his voice low and dangerous. "And if we choose to escape?"
Camilla's laughter faded. Her eyes hardened.
She leaned down, her lips close to Kaiser's ear once more. Her voice was soft, but there was steel beneath it.
"I suggest you behave, black magis. We see your women. They stay in the trees nearby, watching us... And I know that amongst them, one is a white one."
Kaiser's eyes widened. His entire body tensed, a surge of adrenaline cutting through the paralysis. "If you dare hurt them—!"
Camilla released him with a dismissive shove, stepping back with a laugh that was almost gleeful. "Hahaha, hurt them? Me and the white magis have history together." Her eyes sparkled with something between mischief and anticipation. "Let us see what they do. See if they come to rescue you and the muscled knight there. This is all so exciting."
She clapped her hands, "Come, ladies."
They exited the room. The door closed with a heavy thud.
The smoke began to dissipate, and slowly, Kaiser and Levain regained control of their limbs.
A few moments later, the door opened again.
Drobar was shoved inside, stumbling slightly before catching his balance as he was a bit tipsy. He looked down at Kaiser and Levain on the floor, and a wide grin spread across his face.
"Well, well, isn't it Kaiser and Levain." He laughed heartily. "What are you doing here?"
Levain, who rarely lost his temper, barked in fury. "To save you, of course, Sir Drobar! How can you casually be with those women? Do you not know what they want from you?!"
Drobar continued laughing, utterly unbothered. "Of course I do. I cannot help it that I am an irresistible man."
Kaiser, still struggling to rise, summoned his shadow spirit. It shot forward and wrapped around Drobar's mouth, silencing his laughter. Drobar struggled against it, muffled sounds of protest escaping.
Levain pushed himself up, his voice strained. "Cant we just break this place, Lord Kaiser? Break free and run for it? I do not wish to hurt the ladies, of course."
Kaiser shook his head, his jaw tight. "And what of Ayumu and Rhea? These women might hurt them. We need to make sure they are safe before we break free."
Levain paused, then mumbled, "I think you are forgetting Fifi, Lord Kaiser."
Drobar, still struggling with the shadow, made a muffled sound. "Wait—Fifi is not here? Hahahah! They did not want such a fairy-like man as a sperm donor? That is too hilarious!"
Kaiser's head throbbed with pain. He was annoyed—deeply annoyed. "Shut up, Drobar."
The shadow tightened, sealing Drobar's mouth completely. "Hmphhh!"
Kaiser ignored him and turned to Levain. "We wait until tonight. If we do not see Ayumu and Rhea by then, we escape at midnight."
Levain nodded. Then, quietly, he added, "Lord Kaiser… Fifi also exists."
Kaiser had not forgotten Fifi. He simply had not prioritized him.