2. Oh, brave new world

We walked for at least half an hour.

I looked with curiosity at the elf walking a step ahead, and tried to understand why what was happening was less and less like delirium or a dream.

Maybe because the short black dress, which my friend dressed me with a fight, rubbed the skin more and more, digging into the most unexpected places? Or because the feet hummed mercilessly in shoes with uncomfortable heels, which were not at all designed for walking on uneven paths? Or maybe for the simple reason that the humid air soaked my hair, twisting it into tight spirals, and the nasty midge biting my bare hands, making me itch furiously?

Everything was too real. And these sensations, and these unfamiliar, but heady aromas, and the sounds of the forest that does not stop for a moment ... And even this strange young man with a completely inhuman look, as if descended from the pages of a fantasy novel.

Every time the elf swiftly appeared next to me, preventing me from falling after an awkward movement, I shuddered, feeling how hot his skin was. It was as if an inexhaustible fire lived inside him, somehow mystically locked in a fragile bodily shell. From this heat, my hands were covered with large goosebumps, and my brain fell into a stupor, not understanding why I reacted this way to an unfamiliar, in general, man. And where, in general, could such fantasies come from, because I had never suffered like this before.

With every minute, I looked around more and more anxiously, starting to guess that everything was far from being as simple as I had drawn in my head.

Of course, I read several popular books about hits, and although I did not dream of being in their place, now, contrary to common sense, I tried on such a possibility for myself. And the more I thought about it, the more I understood: your mother, how did I get!

The news, let's say, is unpleasant and beyond any logic. And in the light of where this blond eared one was leading me, it also scared the hell out of me!

Slavery... A disgusting, unjust and painful relic of the past. I was even afraid to imagine what beings who were completely subordinate to others felt. And I still didn’t understand whether I should be glad that I wasn’t in the ranks of the unfortunate, or be upset because I didn’t know what to do with those whom I now had to buy, according to this big-eared ...

By the way, about shopping. And why, exactly, should I do them? Will they sell me myself, as soon as they realize that I am not the one for whom the person who met me took me? And how, my God, do I get out of here?! Well, or survive here, for starters?!

- Hey, handsome, - I called the elf, and he, throwing a surprised look at me, froze, immediately lowering his head. - We seem to be in trouble.

- What, Madam? - he immediately started up, carefully scanning the space and extracting a luminous blue blade right out of the air.

I suppressed an exclamation of surprise with difficulty, but mentally patted myself on the head for it. Instead, she came closer and said in an ominous whisper:

- It seems that while I was walking towards you with this ... um ... portal, I was attacked. Maybe they hit me in the head because I don't remember anything at all! How about a brief background on your world and what I should do about this whole situation? I’m afraid I don’t have any money or jewelry with me, and I’m unlikely to be able to confirm my identity. Maybe, well, them, these slaves? Take me back and open the portal to where I came from. You know, I wouldn't want to end up in jail instead of a market, or where unidentified persons are being rounded up here?

- What are you, Madam! It's just impossible! The man breathed out in shock, even forgetting to look down again. No one in their right mind would offend a woman, no matter who she is. And, even more so, you!

Ah, so all is not lost with this specimen, and his humility is, for the most part, ostentatious. Maybe the slaves don't have such a bad life here, and I'm worrying in vain? But who am I lying to? No luxurious conditions and golden cages can compensate for the lack of freedom and the right to choose.

I sighed and, looking around, tried to sit right on the ground, in the mood for a long conversation, but I didn’t have time. The blond-haired eared man immediately shook off his hoodie and with a graceful gesture spread it under my lowering fifth point, and I froze in a raskoryaku, sticking to a chic body that was hiding under a loose fabric.

Oh what a body it was! Muscles twitched under milky white skin, even seemingly smooth as satin. Dark beads of neat little nipples stood out brightly on the embossed chest, and the belly, lined with perfectly even cubes of the press, barely trembled from the light breeze.

I practically buried my nose in his navel and swallowed hard, trying not to look lower, to where simple dark pants made of rough material sat tightly on the thigh bones.

Oh my god, the vibes of this world seem to be contagious, and I'm becoming a horny woman, because I've never wanted to touch a man like that... Ah, no. I wanted to. And I even touched. To some impudent dragon! And then she ended up here. So, Mariana, control yourself!

Sighing heavily, I nevertheless plopped down on the spread hoodie, and, probably, it seemed to me, but from the side of the elf came a ragged exhalation, in which disappointment was clearly audible.

- Madam? He breathed out in a hoarse, low voice.

‍​- Tell me, - for some reason, I also croaked hoarsely, unlike him, not at all sexy. “All I need to know about this Raygon of yours. Imagine that I am a child who has fallen on your head, and I do not understand even elementary things.

“It will be difficult,” the elf exhaled under his breath, but I heard and smiled fleetingly, and the man bowed his head again, hiding his multi-colored eyes, and spoke: “Well, Mistress, the first thing you need to know is that Raigon is a very small through world, a kind of Crossroads for others. Portals from six different worlds that do not communicate with each other are constantly opening here, which is why few people live here on a permanent basis. But on Raygon you can buy and sell anything and anyone.

- Even women? I asked suspiciously.

- What are you, Madam! Women are inviolable, as in the worlds adjacent to Raigon. They say that patriarchy reigns among dragons, but even there girls are treated with care - no one dares to offend the future mother of their own or other people's children! True, the two worlds are closed to the public, but judging by the guests who come from there, they live well. By the way, you are one of them. Sorry ma'am, I don't know the name. As for Raigon, we, as in the remaining three worlds, are ruled by women, and the duty of every man is to ensure your comfort and make you happy.

I grunted, but did not comment on it, realizing that I would have to figure out the intricacies of local orders for a long time, but for now it would be nice to know something else, no less important.

“By the way, why did you decide that you had to meet me?” - I cautiously asked what had been bothering me since the appearance in this forest.

- I was shown your portrait and a magical cast of the aura, illa in'Ravien, and they also indicated the time of your arrival, - the elf barely perceptibly shrugged his shoulders.

I nodded. Very interesting, but nothing is clear! Is it possible that in one of these worlds I have a double, and we, in some incredible way, switched places? Since portals, fabulous creatures and magic exist here, why not be such coincidences? In any case, I don't have any other options. Everything needs to be figured out carefully. The main thing is that this very illa in'Ravien does not appear here and now and does not accuse me of appropriating her identity and of all mortal sins at the same time.

- Okay, m-m... Listen, can you tell me your name already, huh?! I blurted out a little annoyed. - Well, horror, how uncomfortable it is to communicate with you!

The elf looked at me again with his multicolored eyes, breathed in convulsively through his teeth, and then, as if having made some kind of decision, he said quietly:

- Eli. My name is Eli, Mistress.

“Eli,” I drawled, as if tasting the name. - Very beautiful. And, since we have moved off the dead center, remember, for you I am Maryana. At least when we're alone.

And, stretching, she lightly touched his hand in a reassuring gesture, in order to immediately withdraw her fingers, because I was palpably so shocked by the current, and blue lightning ran along Eli's wrists, after a moment curled up on them with metal bracelets.

- What is it?! I hissed indignantly, shaking my hand, which was still tingling from the unusual magic.

“Forgive me, Mistress,” the elf repented, immediately falling to his knees. - I told you my name, and you named yours in response and, it seems, just branded me a personal slave.

- Did you know it would be like this? I asked coldly, looking at him in a completely different way. About what speed of reactions this guy has, I have not forgotten. He could well have avoided my touch, but he didn't.

"I guessed, Mistress," Eli answered quietly.

- Why?

In this question, I immediately put everything that tormented me at that moment. Why didn't he explain that he couldn't give his name without repercussions? Why did he allow this incomprehensible ritual to happen? Why put yourself in the hands of an incomprehensible stranger?

“You are different,” the elf shrugged his shoulders again and threw his eyes at me, this time looking straight into my eyes, “and I want to feel alive for a while. Normal. I have exhausted my attempts to find the Mistress, Mariana. To meet you today was my last assignment, it would be foolish not to take this chance.

- Why? What would happen next? - I whispered in a strangled voice, it seems, beginning to understand his gesture of desperation.

- Gladiator fights or consent to conduct experiments on me. Any.

- Fuck, - I could not restrain myself and squeezed the bridge of my nose with my fingers. Yes, Eli. Come on again, what does this status of yours mean, with which I unknowingly punished you.

“That means you can do whatever you want with me from now on, Mistress.” Kill, punish, force to do any work, sell, donate, exchange ...

- And you voluntarily doomed yourself to this?!

"I hoped you wouldn't do that, Mistress," Eli smiled unexpectedly softly, and his face immediately changed, becoming even more beautiful.

- Why? - rather out of harm, I asked.

"Because it's alien to you," he replied confidently. "I don't know who you are, but I just confirmed that you are not Illa in'Ravien, even though you look like her and even have a similar aura, a cast of which was attached to the portrait." No wonder I mistook you for her at first. But on you, Madam, there are no traces of magical interference, no injuries, not counting the old fracture, which is more than ten years old. Your clothes look strange, you remember your name, but for some reason you forgot or pretend to forget, elementary things. That doesn't happen.

- Smart, huh? I grumbled and stood up, handing him the hoodie.

“Until now, no one has complained,” the eared one barely noticeably twitched the corners of his lips. - You won't regret it, Mistress, I swear! Whoever you are, I'll be better off with you. And in return you will receive a creature devoted to you. I will never betray you, I will protect you to the last drop of blood and will do everything in my power to make you happy.‌

- Well, then, for starters, help me survive here, - I made a decision, realizing that I still couldn’t cope alone and would have to trust at least someone, why not him? "Then we'll figure out how to reverse your hasty decision."

- I won't let you down, Mistress! - Eli assured me warmly, giving me a happy look, and in one continuous movement he threw his hoodie over himself. Come on, we need to hurry... ‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‍