I have always longed for something more. That was probably also the thing that set me apart from others even at the academy. Every day I listened and learned what a privilege it is to bow to those who are above us. I hated it. I felt like the only one in the room. There were about 100 of us in that auditorium. As one of the many overcrowded classrooms at the academy. Some mistress was just trying to drill into our heads why it is a privilege for us to worship someone like her. Starix, of tall stature, about two meters thirty. And even tho I was surprisingly the tallest in the year, I could only look her in the cleavage. Not that there wasn't anything to see... As the esteemed Mistress, she was almost bursting out of her complete leather top, which ran between her strong thighs and formed into a tight bodysuit. Even on their sides, the goddess Ema obviously didn't hold back with her void energy. They were full, but perfectly shaped. This Starix could proudly look after her title and look down on us, the inferior members of the lowest tier. Even tho she would most likely have to lean forward to see us at all over her breasts.Despite the fact that she was explaining our own biology to us, somehow after her discussing our culture and customs, I stopped wanting to listen. As if I still needed reminding where my place is. I knew that all too well. In a small room somewhere in the corner of the shadow city... Just like most of this crew. It wasn't long ago that we were finally sorted into our future roles. I don't understand how anyone could be happy. We have always been just a bunch of slaves. No matter how they call it, this was the truth.I leaned back with the hope that I could stretch my legs for a moment and maybe even relax... They weren't nearly as full and captivating as those of our Mistress Prefect, but at least they were longer than most of the North could ever dream. The moment I couldn't find a position and my knees kept bumping into the frame in front of me that held the pull-out table, I huffed angrily and was forced to straighten up again. I don't even know how to express my displeasure. What I would give for that one meter sixty that all the Severs around had. Well, it wouldn't be good for them to sit comfortably when the bench size is just right for their petite bodies. However, that cannot be said about my one meter eighty. Due to the reason for which they had to subject me to a detailed set of tests before sorting, only to find out in the end that I was just a slightly taller slave... At least I could consider myself the tallest. But this fact just infuriated me even more. When I know that I was just a step away from the upper class, it drives me crazy... Quite a paradox despite the darker skin. I've somehow gotten used to being just an anomaly. Anomaly Vaira. If only this were the title."... And it is only thanks to our great goddess that we can reproduce and develop our race." Only thanks to her, and her gift of divine radiance and void energy, which flows within all of us. You have the highest privilege of all. You are allowed to serve and keep our wonderful civilization flourishing. You are the pillars on which we can stand and invoke its light. It is the highest honor you can have. So when you return to your residences, bow respectfully to your Lady. Thank her for her mercy in allowing you to serve her." Mistress stood on the bridge and finished her speech. Even tho I hated listening to this, I had to admit how majestically she could say it. As if she were born into that elegance and beauty. Apparently one of the advantages of studying in the higher grades of the Academy. Her full lips glistened, and her eyes sparkled. As if it pleased her.Are they clapping? Well, fine... I don't care. So we'll just clap. After today, I didn't care anymore. We spent the whole morning discussing social classes. I don't even understand why they keep teaching us this. We know who we serve, it was so exhausting. I must admit, however, that later the Mistress agreed to tell us more about the Predestined. The concept of servitude has never appealed to me much, but I would gladly serve the destined ones. Or at least had the chance to see it. They are so rare that some may not get to see them in their entire lifetime. That might be an exaggeration, but in the shadowy cities, we won't see anything more than our ladies. Who would bother here when they could bask in the sunlight of her divinity?The journey back to the residence was always my favorite part of the day. When I had the chance to walk down the main street, sometimes I was lucky enough to be illuminated by a ray of divine light that had strayed through the crack of Palaras into the shadow city. But today was not that day. I had to take the side streets. Despite the popularity of the main street, it was quite difficult for her to walk through. There were heads on heads. Unlike that, the path thru the alleys was shorter, and that was very convenient for me since I was already running late. I can only hope that Lady Sinclair doesn't notice. I wanted to enjoy the day of the beginning in peace and get some rest. It was exactly one solar from the last day of the beginning when I could celebrate my coming of age. Soon I will only finish the Academy, and I will be able to look forward to a lifetime of service to my superior lady. I spat. In this way, I have nothing against her in the highest echelons.This way, I had nothing against her, but maybe I would want more... Well, normally I would want more. Today, I had enough of it. Not only was the academy absolutely exhausting, but I haven't been feeling well lately. My head constantly hurts, and my whole body is tingling. I feel like I'm going to crawl out of my skin. I quickened my pace at the thought of my bed. My thick dark hair, cut into an elegant bob, kept falling into my eyes, forcing me to constantly push it back.I never really liked the alleys; of course, they couldn't compare to the distant rays that occasionally illuminated the main street. I must admit, tho, that the ubiquitous neon lighting of the shadowy city added a cyberpunk undertone to it all.Finally, I got out of the alleys. It took me a while to find my way out of the densely populated district for our class. It was like a rabbit warren. Hundreds of thousands of apartments in high-rise buildings that supported the higher and better parts of the city. I headed toward a busier street. There were some other Starix everyplace. Here, I was glad for my height. At least I could see where I was going. In this part of the journey, I always enjoyed watching the large screens on the skyscrapers. They often depicted our perfect Mistresses and all-powerful Empresses, whose beauty and perfect charms never ceased to amaze me. They had everything an individual in our culture could desire. Perfect curves and divine beauty gave them an unceasing right to rule. But not everyone has the energy of the void burning so brightly within them. From them, the Void radiated directly. Only because of that could they become the absolute rulers of our race. I often tried to imagine how enormous and powerful they must actually be. It was said that the tallest among them could be up to four meters tall... how pathetic we must seem against them.I continued on my way, pushing thru the crowd. Sometimes someone would nod or give a slight bow as a gesture of admiration. I loved that feeling when they mistook me for someone from a higher class. At least I could pretend to be something more. I didn't deny to them that I wasn't a Lady.Finally, I arrived at the residence where I had my place as one of many maids. It was one of thousands of high-rise buildings towering into the sky. Just to be safe, I entered thru the back door so that none of the bitches at the reception could report me. Sycophantic bitches. Like everyone else, really. Everyone wanted to improve their situation at the expense of others. I opened the big doors. And she slipped inside. The building was primarily reserved for the Severys, but the hallways and some rooms were designed so that even a taller Mistress could pass thru. If she somehow got lost here... I quickly climbed the stairs to the floor where my room was, the 35th floor. Out of a total of 115. I was so close, but just before the door to the room, I hesitated."But but... Where have you been, Vairo?" By the door, leaning against it, was a slightly smaller Severa. I recognized her very well. Lara. I never liked her. She twirled a strand of her long brown hair with her finger and didn't hide a mischievous smile on her face. It was known about her that she was one of those who wanted to climb the social ladder by any means."What do you care, Lara, but I have a feeling you were just on duty kissing our lady's boots, weren't you?" I returned the favor with a venomous smile and a slight provocative smirk. I stepped closer to her and looked down at her. Once again, a reason to love my height. She didn't let herself be intimidated, on the contrary, she looked me in the eye, licked her lips, and said, "Lady Sinclair wants to see you, somehow she found out that you're not here yet... she probably wants to scold you."The smile vanished from my face, replaced by a stern gaze into her calculating eyes. One hell of a bitch. Fine, we'll play. I couldn't let it show that it threw me off balance, or give her an excuse to think she would succeed. It wasn't the first time she tried to undermine me. "I will gladly see our Lady, and while I'm there, I'll mention how great you are at climbing up someone's backside, maybe you'll succeed with her this way." "I heard they like this." I ended it with a seductive look, and with a wink, I turned away from her and silently left. I had to keep a cool head. At least until I turn the corner and she can't see me. I can collapse only when I get there.With horror at how much I would have to humiliate myself before Lady Sinclair, I walked back to the staircase and headed to the upper floors.