Chapter 16

Atlas

Over the following week, Venus examined fifteen Blacks and three Whites. We could have done it a little faster, but we wanted to pace the rhythm at which people were seen coming in and out of the house. Since we weren't committing any crime, we weren't actually hiding anything. However, we wanted to avoid unnecessarily stirring even more of the ire of our disgruntled neighbors. They still couldn't swallow the fact that I, a Black Guard, was both the Prism's protector and an official resident of the Silver Mansion.

Despite their discontent, they didn't make any noise about the Blacks. After all, as the Razus of the Black Guard, it made sense that my warriors would come to me to hand in their reports on sensitive matters or receive their orders. As some of them also took turns standing watch, especially when I needed to leave the mansion, that so many of them came and went over the course of that week only raised mild suspicions.

Things quickly turned ugly once the first White stepped through the front door. Their presence in town always unnerved the population who had been brainwashed into believing they were walking time bombs. In reality, and specifically because of their tremendous power, Whites were among the most disciplined and controlled casters among our people. From birth, they were taught rigorous techniques to keep themselves in check, regulate their emotions, and channel their anger into non-destructive responses.

Today, I had both Pythus and Leodros standing watch outside as a small crowd had gathered outside in protest when a fourth White showed up. The fact that it was Acamon only riled them up further. I ushered him in quickly and closed the door behind him, but not before exchanging a meaningful glance with Pythus. He nodded in understanding, ready to call back up if needed. We already had additional units patrolling nearby, and who would be able to help disperse the crowd should things escalate.

"It appears your neighbors do not approve of the guests you entertain," Acamon said mockingly, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I snorted. "They certainly do not. Should I be ashamed to derive so much pleasure from their aggravation?"

He gave me an almost malicious grin. "By the Lights, Atlas, you've finally learned to express your true feelings rather than keeping them all bottled up. It appears marriage is doing wonders for you."

I playfully glared at him. "Marriage does agree with me," I replied in a non-committal fashion.

Although stated as a friendly tease, he was being both serious and accurate. My entire life, discipline, duty, propriety, and humility dictated my words and actions. As the Razus, I had to lead by example. Over the past couple of weeks, I realized that maybe I wasn't setting the right example. Maybe what I'd labeled discipline and decorum were in fact denial and submission.

We entered the guest room that Venus had turned into her office and where we'd also placed the medical pod. She was sitting behind her desk with an air of concentration while typing on her laptop. The minute she heard us enter, she jerked her head up to peer at us. She smiled broadly and jumped to her feet.

"Venus, this is Acamon. Acamon, meet my mate, Prima Venus," I said, unable to hide the pride in my voice.

"Prima Venus, it is an honor to meet you," Acamon said, pressing his palm to his chest.

The gesture had been polite and deferent. And yet, something about it instantly made me uncomfortable.

"The pleasure is all mine, Acamon. But please call me Venus. I'm really grateful you accepted to participate in this test."

"Of course, Venus. The work you are doing is important. It could save current and future generations," he replied politely.

She smiled, then went over the details of the procedure. Acamon listened intently and asked a few pointed questions about the medical module. Watching them discuss, speaking the same scientific language made me feel excluded. It was a completely irrational reaction as they weren't using terms any more complex than the ones Kyrene and Venus used during their two previous meetings.

But Kyrene isn't a stunning male in his prime.

I stole discreet glances at Acamon while unlocking the shawl one of my warriors had secured on him before he entered the city. Tall and extremely fit, Acamon was one of the rare true Whites. Most of the others had wings going from true white to an alabaster hue. Their eyespots could come in various colors, although they tended to be black, shades of gray, light blues, and pale browns. And their bodies usually had an off-white tinge.

Acamon was the purest white all over, including his long hair flowing down to the middle of his back. Even his eyespots boasted an ivory hue with a thin silver ring around them. Under the sun, his wings shimmered, giving him an almost blinding aura. The only other color on him were his black antennae and eyes.

His attractive features would have made him one of the handsomest males in the region had he not been Achromatic. His intelligence, charisma, and strong leadership skills made him a force to be reckoned with. On top of being one of the most powerful casters on Sylvar—if not the most powerful—Acamon also happened to be a scientist like my mate, a medical doctor to be more specific.

A pang of jealousy surged through me upon seeing the air of wonder on my mate's face when I slid the shawl off Acamon's wings. They were truly a sight to behold, even without the direct reflection of the sunlight on them.

I immediately berated myself for my insecurities. Despite the clear admiration in her eyes, Venus wasn't casting covetous looks at him. Since our first kiss, she and I had been steadily growing closer, even though we had not gone all the way yet. Every night, we shared a bed, and not just to sleep. We were getting to know each other intimately, learning our preferences, and how best to please each other.

That I could perceive a White as competition testified to the fact that I had come a long way in revisiting my views as to our worth as individuals. That realization made me feel a bit better about my stupid reaction.

I helped Acamon get inside the module, setting his wings around him in the manner I found most comfortable and which we used with the previous candidates. Naturally, he kept his tarp on, as had everyone else. Venus then proceeded to run the tests with the same professionalism she displayed with the others. I hated that my knee jerk response stemmed from the fact I didn't believe I deserved her. It would take a long time for me to finally accept it. But that was fine.

Venus was mine, and I would fight to keep her.

Once the test was completed, I helped him out of the module. Even as he stepped out, his eyes remained glued to the holographic monitor on which Venus was finalizing the preparation of the data.

"Any chance you could share some of that technology with us?" Acamon asked nonchalantly.

Venus gave him an apologetic look. "I'm afraid that's not possible."

He smiled, having clearly expected that response. "Figures, but it was worth a try. How about the data?"

She nodded, although a strange glimmer flicked through her eyes. "We will share all the data that we have acquired for you to study and use as you see fit," she replied in a noncommittal fashion.

Acamon snorted before nodding in concession. He understood her underlying meaning. They would share the data but not the conclusions their advanced scientific knowledge would allow them to derive. As much as I respected their reasoning behind this approach, it also annoyed me to no end, especially in light of the dire situation my people were facing. That said, Venus had proven extremely clever in dropping the right hints when applicable to indicate to our scientists' what important information to further dig into.

"We appreciate it and intend to make the most of it," Acamon replied in a mysterious tone before turning his attention to me. "You've gotten yourself a fascinating mate, my friend. We all rejoice for you."

"Thank you," I said, touched by the sincerity of his words.

"No, thanks to the both of you," he said in a suddenly serious tone. "You have no idea the deep awakening your union has sparked. You are the symbol of hope. People are rallying and finally starting to question things they accepted for far too long."

Venus shifted uneasily on her feet. She was taking the Prime Directive very seriously. Although she supported the idea of an uprising of the Achromatics and Monochromatics, she didn't want to be dragged into it as one of the leaders of the movement. In that, I agreed with her stance. We Prometheans had to spearhead those changes on our own.

"But please continue doing what you are doing. Well… except for one thing," he added with a taunting glimmer in his eyes.

"What thing is that?" I asked with the same curiosity reflected on my mate's face.

"You both need to couple more," he deadpanned.

Venus gasped, and I recoiled with shock and outrage.

"Excuse me?!" I hissed.

"You heard me," he said, this time his voice cooler and his stare hardening while his antennae flicked. "I can smell your scent on each other. There's no question you've been intimate. But for the time you've been married, it is still too weak."

"What we do is none of your business!" I snapped, taking a menacing step towards him.

I didn't know what had gotten into him. Acamon was never the rude or inappropriate type.

"As a physician and as an Achromatic, it is both my business and my duty," he retorted in a tone that brooked no argument. "Stop drinking that tea and stop holding back with your female. Myrdin tea is bad for us, especially for your kind. It stunts your endocrine system. Although subtle, you have started to grow bigger. Once you stop holding back it will be even more."

I froze upon hearing those words. Over the past couple of days, I noticed that my tarps felt a little tighter around the waist. I blamed it on the fancy meals provided by the catering service since my arrival here. Venus narrowed her eyes at him, her gaze intense as she waited for him to continue.

"Blacks aren't meant to be this lithe," Acamon explained while waving at me. "You are the largest breed amongst our people. What's holding you back from achieving your full development is a deficiency in steroid hormones. That tea directly impacts your adrenal cortex and testes. It keeps you from producing sufficient cortisol and testosterone."

"So it doesn't just kill their libido, but it also prevents the full development of their muscles, makes them weaker, and even causes depression," Venus said in sudden realization.

Acamon nodded firmly. "Exactly. What better way to keep the people you deem inferior in their place and compliant?"

That struck me hard. Once we hit puberty, they didn't ply us with myrdin tea, but almost. On average, male and female Achromatics and Monochromatics consumed the tea at least once a week, some more often, and a few almost daily.

He turned back to look at me. "Judging by your scent, you're in heat. Do not fight it, brother. Over the next two to three weeks, you will visibly gain body mass, and maybe even some height."

"Bigger like the Shadows?" I asked.

He blinked, confused. "Like what?"

"The Shadows," Venus repeated. "One of your scientists, Kyrene, told us about a folktale regarding magicless dark giants."

"Ah yes! The Shaydwin," Acamon said, his face lighting up with understanding. "Shadow is the modern name used in more recent versions of the tale before it fell into obscurity. I'm not surprised Mother would have told you of that tale. She was always quite fond of ancient texts."

"Mother?!" Venus exclaimed, stunned.

Acamon chuckled and flicked his pristine hair over his shoulder. "Yes. I am Kyrene's son."

Venus turned to look at me with a betrayed expression. "Oh wow! Why didn't you tell me?"

I held her gaze unwaveringly. "It is not my secret to tell," I replied factually.

She pursed her lips before giving me a stiff nod. "Fair enough."

"But yes, I believe Shaydwin was indeed the name given to Blacks in the olden days," Acamon continued. "Folk tales all have some elements of truth."

"Do you have the original text?" I asked, suddenly struck by an idea.

"We do, back in our library. If memory serves, we should have at least two of the four existing versions as the tale evolved over the centuries.

"I would like a copy of each, and of any other ancient folk tales you have lying around," I said.

Acamon lifted a scaly brow, intrigued by that request, but didn't challenge it. "Very well. I'll get that for you."

"You own a library?" Venus asked with genuine curiosity while placing the vials of samples from Acamon into some sort of temperature-controlled container.

"Not here in town," he replied. "I lead a Pharom."

Venus's eyes widened. "Oh! Is it a village with all White Achromatics?" she asked eagerly.

He shook his head. "We have both Achromatics and Monochromatics."

"Nice! Is it a big village?"

I flinched at the same time he stiffened. Venus took on a mortified expression when she saw him hesitate.

"My apologies. I didn't mean to pry. My curiosity got the best of me."

He smiled, the tension in his shoulders relaxing a bit. "No need to apologize. In your stead, I would be as well. Under the circumstances, we tend to be very careful and secretive to protect our people. But we are one of the bigger Pharoms. Our village counts a little over six hundred people. At least half are Whites, the rest are a mix of various Monochromatics, and only two Blacks."

She tilted her head to the side, looking fascinated. "Why so few?"

"Most of them joined the Black Guard," I responded in his stead. "We are heavily pushed in that direction almost from birth."

"You are forced to become Black Guards?" she asked with a frown.

I smiled. "No. It is a choice, but a wise one for us. Genetically, we're literally made for the role. It is also one of the better position an Achromatic or Monochromatic could aspire to in terms of wages, duties, and working conditions."

"Having them join the Black Guard greatly helps the Pharoms," Acamon explained. "They're our eyes and ears, help prevent abuse against us, and also help provide the things we aren't able to produce ourselves in our villages as they would require too big of an infrastructure for such a small population."

Venus nodded slowly. "But I'm curious about something. You say more than half your population are Whites. Isn't it difficult or dangerous to have so many gathered in a single place?"

Acamon and I snorted almost in unison.

"No, Venus. It is not dangerous, and we haven't had a single disaster," Acamon replied with a hint of sarcasm laced with the resentment he felt towards our leaders. "There are many ways to mitigate the risks, especially with younglings throwing tantrums. We've tried to present these solutions to the so-called elite. But they didn't want to hear it."

"They fear you," Venus said in a mysterious tone.

"They do, but not because of our alleged lack of control. What they dread is our power and the fact that they can't control us."

The approving smile Venus gave Acamon floored me. It struck me then that my mate had known for a while what kind of power plays occurred behind the scenes. It shouldn't surprise me. As my mate evolved in the highest spheres of politics on a galactic level, she learned to quickly recognize those signs.

"Understanding the motivations of your enemies is the most powerful weapon," Venus said, as if she read my mind.

"It is," Acamon concurred. "That said, would it be possible for me to see the Prism before I leave?"

I stiffened. This wasn't the type of request anyone made as it would be deemed highly inappropriate. People had specific times they could see the Prism: during the parade leading him to his place of residence during his incubation, and after he emerged from the chrysalis before his first flight.

However, as a White, Acamon would not have been welcomed in the streets of Japhyr during the parade, even with his shawl on. I silenced the instinctive refusal that burned my tongue and glanced at Venus. As the Prima, it was up to her to decide who could approach Xarin.

She tilted her head to the side and gave Acamon an assessing look.

"I personally do not have an issue with it," she said carefully, "but it is his decision to make. We can go ask him."

"I would greatly appreciate it," Acamon replied, failing to hide his surprise laced with hope.

Like me, he had expected to be automatically shut down if not chastised for even asking. Taking the lead, Venus gestured for us to follow her as she headed to the boudoir. My gaze flicked to Acamon's pristine white wings. I should demand he wear his shawl before standing in the presence of the Prism.

Why would I? No other color does.

As the prime protector of the city, and specifically of the Prism, I should be inflexible in the application of the law, both written and implied. However, this wasn't justice. Xarin represented the greatest hope for people like us. Acamon was not a threat to him. Even should some inexplicable madness take over him, I would be able to counter any attack Acamon might unleash.

Anyway, the Prism was many things but not helpless. With his song alone, he could put the entire city under his thrall. That thought plagued me since his return, and especially after hearing how he lured Venus to his location in order to bind her to him. Why had he not used this ability to stop his abductors from taking him in the first place?

Because he wanted to be taken.

Had he known that he would find my mate in the stars? Had it been a gamble out of desperation knowing that an even greater cataclysm than the one that destroyed Orist would soon be upon us? I doubted that I would ever get the answer to that question, not that I would lose any sleep over it. All that mattered was that he brought my soulmate to me and stirred a wind of change that would sweep everything in its path in the upcoming weeks and months.

Although I trusted Acamon not to do anything stupid, I entered the room after Venus and turned to gesture for him to wait outside. However, he had already stopped, waiting respectfully to be invited in. I gave him a grateful smile that he returned in kind.

"Xarin, sorry to bother you, but there's someone here who would like to see you," Venus said in a soft voice. "Would that be acceptable?"

The surface of the cocoon lit up with soft shimmering colors that we had come to recognize as his way of expressing agreement or approval. I didn't know how to feel about the way my mate smiled. Like her, it pleased me that the Prism would acknowledge another Achromatic. But I couldn't help the ridiculous and unfounded insecurity that his presence continued to stir in me.

Venus turned sideways to gesture at Acamon to come in. My chest constricted upon seeing the vulnerable expression that descended over his handsome face. He was always so strong and dauntless, I had forgotten that his fierce exterior hid a soul that had been abused and battered even more than I had been by a society determined to make him feel less than a person.

He advanced with careful steps, as if he were walking on the thinnest ice. He stopped at a respectful distance from the cocoon. To my complete shock, he knelt down and draped his wings behind him like a long train. The shimmering on the chrysalis went up another notch.

"No words can express the depths of the wonder that currently fills my heart to be here before the Prism," Acamon said in a voice thick with emotion. "Your divine presence always brought peace to our people. But this time, you have given incommensurable hope to those who no longer had any. Thank you for allowing one such as me in your presence. Thank you for bringing this pure hearted off-worlder to us. And thank you for bestowing your blessing upon the finest among us. We will not waste these invaluable gifts. We will answer the call."

With each of his words, my throat tightened a bit more. Judging by the intensity of the gradually increasing shimmering on the cocoon, Xarin was also deeply moved by them. The delicate feel of Venus's hand slipping into mine startled me. I gave her a sideways glance only to find her staring at the stunning tableau of Acamon kneeling before the Prism. The soft glow emanating from the chrysalis reflected on the White's pristine scales, giving him an almost mythical halo.

As if in response to Acamon's last sentence, Xarin emitted a hypnotic song similar to the one with which he had beckoned me to him that first day in the Gathering Hall. But this time, it wasn't aimed at me. I held my breath when my friend rose to his feet and slowly approached the chrysalis as if in a trance. He reached a hand and placed it on top of its surface. An air of pure bliss settled on Acamon's face. It only lasted a few seconds before the melody stopped.

Acamon blinked, shock and wonder warring for dominance over his features once he realized he was touching the Prism. He carefully removed his hand, looking dazed as he pressed it to his chest.

"By the Lights," he whispered.

"Did he bless you, too?" Venus asked, looking mesmerized.

He shook his head. "No. Assuming he would have even wanted to, he couldn't. He can only give one blessing."

"He likes you. If he could have, there is no doubt in my mind he would have," Venus said softly.

My throat constricted at the powerful emotion that swept over Acamon's face, who struggled to hide it. As an Achromatic, learning to hide one's vulnerability was a matter of survival. But I understood all too well what he felt, for having been just as overwhelmed by wonder and gratitude to have been Xarin's chosen.

"He wants you to come with us to Keryth," Venus suddenly added.

We both stared at her questioningly.

"To Keryth? What for?"

"Now that Venus is done doing the medical evaluations, we're going to take a few of my warriors to Keryth to perform the same test I did, trying to block the Sibris' halo," I explained.

"But I'm not Black," Acamon countered, confused. "I can't block anything."

"I know. But Xarin showed me an image of you standing with Atlas by the beacon. Whatever the reason, I'm sure we'll figure it out."