Feasting

Johan sat with Silverblade in a large cafeteria at an oak table at the head of the room. The room was filled with people that seemed to be from all aspects of life.

Unique and delicious aromas caused many to salivate in anticipation of the upcoming meal.

Food was brought out from the kitchen on different plates and served by scantly clad attractive young women dressed in black lingerie. Their voluptuous breasts bounced up and down as they enthusiastically served one table after another. Many a men and women glared thirstily at the waitresses, ogling the beauties physiques with lusty eyes.

Breads, beer, juices, meats, vegetables, pies, sauces, rices, curries, salads and various other dishes were brought out in such abundance that there seemed to be no end to the supply. They were greedily grabbed and consumed by the hungry occupants of the room.

Some of the rowdy occupants would grab at the waitresses rumps as they were served, causing them to giggle and Silverblade would yell for them to leave the girls alone until after dinner.

Finally, the beautiful women served food to Johan and Silverlight's table.

Johan looked down at the meat, and memories the birdman babies screaming out, "MAMA!" flashed through his mind.

"These birdmen," asked Johan pausing, "are they intelligent?"

"No," said Silverblade, "most are idiots."

"I heard the babies scream Mama when they saw the corpse of the mother."

"Ahh yes," said Silverblade, "when their form resembles a human, they gain the ability to communicate in human tongue. They are taught via a psychic connection with their ,other while in their eggs. The mother bird feeds its life experience and knowledge to them. Thus, they have memories even upon birth. But, upon reaching adulthood, they loose their human traits and the ability to speak as well. But in general, they are useless for anything but food."

Johan felt sick in his stomach.

The birdman babies are basically people, thought Johan.

"However," said Silverblade, "outside of food they are have recently reared by armies as weapons and soliders for war. In the case of these birdmen, Looking Glass Realm was rearing many of the creatures for exerting control over the local people. I can't exactly remember the name of the woman who came up with the idea. I think it was director Army ... Arny ..."

Silverblade muttered variations of the name as he fumbled through his memories for the correct one.

"Armyka?," said Johan.

"Yes," said Silverblade, "Armyka came up with the idea. You know her?"

"No," said Johan as his mood darkened.

Johan felt his heart go cold, as memories of his days in the pit came flooding back to him. Eating fungus, sleeping on the floor, climbing day after day, at times, being on the verge of his mind. Any sympathy or humanity he saw in the birdmen vanished. Johan grabbed his fork and angrily ate the birdman meat without hesitation. Any ally of Armyka was nothing worth thinking about to him, even if they were raised in ignorance to be an ally.

"Looks like you are enjoying the food boy! HAR! HAR! HAR!," laughed Silverblade, "the meat is one of my favorites. For a second there, I thought you were a birdman sympathizer."

"I am *munch* *munch*," said Johan in between chews, "so hungry. I haven't eaten *munch* *munch* in two days. It is so delicious."

"Then eat," said Silverblade, "and eat well! No one in my abode will ever be hungry! I only feed my men the finest of foods! One of the greatest joys of being alive is having an abundance of good food and drink!"

Johan grunted in acknowledgement as he continued to consume the food at a rapid pace. He made sure he ate a lot of birdman meat.

Silverblade took a swig of his beer and began to dig into his food platter joyfully.

-- Ø --

Johan scarfed down the last bit of food on his plate and sat back in his chair satisfied. His mood had significantly improved as he felt the mana from the dishes feed into his meridians and dantians nourishing them.

"Ahhhh!," sighed Johan, "That was great!"

The majority of people in the cafeteria had finished their meals and had left for the night, or were engaging in rowdy conversation with each other.

"Glad you liked it boy!," said Silverblade, "I enjoyed your stories about your fights, Atlantis and El Dorado ... fascinating concepts for a realm without mana! This earth seems like an explorer's dream."

"I need to get back to my gym to train for the fight tournament," said Johan,

"Hmmm," said Silverblade, "tis true. However, why not test your skills against my men in combat? I plan on betting on the fight tournament and I'd love the opportunity to see if your skills are worth the garner. Perhaps you are my lucky pick."

"I'd love to," said Johan, "but, I have urgent business to attend to back home."

The threat Rey had made was still fresh in his mind, he had to make sure that Luisa was alright and protect her at any cost.

Silverblade nodded and said, "How about this? I'll have my assistant Lin take you back to your place tomorrow morning, once you are done with your business, come back and have your skills tested. My men are well traveled and trained, you'll get better experience training here than you would back where you are from."

Johan was hesitant to upset Silverblade since he was his only way to get home currently. Furthermore, he wouldn't be able to investigate the Labyrinth with Lin watching over him.

"Sure," said Johan agreeing reluctantly.

"Very well then!," said Silverblade happily, "I am waiting for some of my men to return from gathering resources. So, I cannot take you in the abode. Sleep here for tonight. Lin will meet you in the morning. She will take you there on her bicycle."

"Thank you," said Johan, "I should be able to resolve everything within a day or two."

"A new friendship made," said Silverblade happily, "would you like for me to call a waitress to comfort you for the night? They do it gladly. They are manaless, so rather than having them tortured to death and taken advantage of and living a life of poverty in the upper realms, out of the kindness of my heart, I took them in. Here, they help with food, and provide comfort to the men and women on my team and in return we take care of them and treat them to the utmost luxuries. They live a life of pleasure and usefulness. As you see, everyone here serves a purpose."

Johan cringed internally. The way Silverblade spoke, made it seem like these woman were female slaves and Silverblade was their pimp. These women were being groomed as sexual slaves.

"I have a girlfriend back home," said Johan shifting in his seat uncomfortably.

"Too bad boy!," said Silverblade with a wink, "No man should commit at your age! It isn't a vice if it doesn't hurt you physically. Your woman must be something. I'll will excuse myself off to bed and have a waitress show you to your room. If you change your mind, their quarters are right next to yours. I suggest you awaken them."

Johan nodded.

Silverblade snapped his fingers and beautiful tall platinum blonde girl with shoulder length hair and striking blue eyes approached their table.

"Hello Sir," said the girl with a big smile, "enjoying your meal?"

"Oh yes Brandy," said Silverblade, "it was amazing, I hope you ate as well? You are looking beautiful today. I need my girls well fed."

"Of course Sir," said Brandy, "me and the other girls ate earlier after exercising. It was delicious as always."

"Can I ask a favor of you?," asked Silverblade.

"Always," said Brandy.

"Can you or another one of the girls, take this handsome young boy Johan," said Silverblade, "to a guest room. Do everything you can to make him feel welcome, he is an interesting fellow and new friend. He has told me stories of worlds far different from my own."

"Yes Sir," said Brandy gazing at Johan, "Come Johan."

Johan got up from his chair and Brandy grabbed his arm, boldly pressed her bosom against him making him blush.

"Come with me," said Brandy looking up at him with a big smile, "I'll take good care of you tonight."

"HAR! HAR! HAR!," boomed Silverblade, "Sleep well Johan! Sleep well! Brandy is a great girl! Very energetic!"

Brandy led Johan out of the cafeteria through the Abode's halls.

Soon, they reached a room with a large pink queen sized bed, small fridge, a wall mounted television, dressing table and sofa.

"This is our room for today," said Brandy.

Johan entered the room and glanced around.

"Our room?," Johan asked after a momentary pause.

"BANG!"

Brandy shut the door to the room noisily behind them and leaned her back on the door seductively.

"Well," said Brandy, "might as well have some fun while we are here. We are young, gotta live it up. Plus, I got the itch. Not many times we get a new hot guy around here."

Brandy went to the fridge and pulled out a can of beer and tossed a it to Johan. She then chugged down a beer herself before she started to strip naked.

"I am sorry," said Johan backing up, "I have a girlfriend."

"She doesn't have to know, honey," said Brandy, "I am not from around here, how is she going to find out. Just some fun between two good looking people."

"I love her," said Johan.

Brandy let out a disappointed sigh.

"Well then," said Brandy sitting down on the sofa naked while crossing her legs, "if we aren't gonna have some fun, tell me about her. Sit next to me. I got nowhere else to go tonight."

Brandy patted the sofa next to her.

Johan hesitantly sat on the sofa next to Brandy and said, "Sure"

He blushed, attempting to keep his eyes away from Brandy's beautiful body and flawless skin ... her silky blonde hair and soft pink lips. He felt himself heating up. If he hadn't had his first experience with Gadra, he wondered if he would have been able to control himself. But his love for Luisa kept him at bay.

"No need to be shy hun," said Brandy, "the human body, male and female are natural things. We are just having a friendly talk between new friends."

"Well," said Johan, "she is from earth like me. Italian. Beautiful, funny and caring. We met while she was working in a restaurant, and I'll never forget what she was wearing that day. A black hat, ripped jeans and a tan top."

"You are from earth!?," said Brandy as her eyes widened curiously, "italian? I've heard about that place. We don't get the opportunity to meet many people from earth since they are so rare."

"Well in Looking Glass City, most people do not have mana abilities," said Johan.

"So there," said Brandy drawing in a deep breath, "everyone is like me and the other waitresses. Manaless. It isn't strange to not be able to use mana techniques. It doesn't get you classified as handicapped?"

"Exactly," said Johan.

"So strength alone doesn't dictate your status and opportunities," asked Brandy as her eyes widened, "even I could be important."

"To a degree it does," said Johan, "But on earth it doesn't. There it is your skillsets and money that do. Perhaps, even looks to a degree. I fight for a living, it is what most people in Looking Glass Realm need to do in order to earn money to survive. My girlfriend Luisa had an issue with that initially."

"Earth seems like an amazing place," said Brandy, "why did your girlfriend have an issue?"

"Because I could get hurt or killed fighting," said Johan, "eventually she saw I needed to do it. Not because I was being forced, but because it helped me get stronger. She loved me regardless of my choice to fight. She supports me, and makes me little snacks and brings it by the gym while I train. Leaves me small love notes in the packaging. I save them all. I try to do the same, I like to leave little surprises for her ... treats and gifts."

"What makes you love her so much?," asked Brandy, "how do you know it is real love and there isn't someone else better for you out there? Is she great in the sac?"

"I feel comfortable around her," said Johan, "she makes me forget my problems. Makes me happy. We enjoy each other ... and no ... we haven't slept together yet."

"You are kidding me ...," said Brandy with a laugh, "then how do you know she really likes you as much as you like her? What if she just likes the things you do for her and give her? If she hasn't slept with you, clearly she isn't totally into you. Has she had other boyfriends?"

"Yes," said Johan.

"Has she slept with them?," asked Brandy.

"I never asked," said Johan.

"How long have you been dating her?"

"Close to a year."

"How do you know she won't leave you like she did left her other boyfriends?"

"Trust and we have been together almost a year now."

"Why are you being so faithful to a girl who is clearly not 100% vested in you. If she was, she would have given her body and her mind to you."

"She is," said Johan, "it is the little things that count, the things that she does without thinking. Sleeping with me isn't important. I don't want only her body. More importantly, I want her heart and she has been giving me that."

"Seems like you are seeing this girl through rose color glasses," said Brandy, "have you had many girlfriends before?"

"Once I was away," said Johan, "for a fight, and I arrived back home a day late. It was the weekend, Luisa had the weekend off. I found Luisa asleep at my house. Apparently, she had been waiting there the entire weekend to surprise me. It had been my birthday two days ago, she had gotten me a present, bought me a cake. She didn't leave the entire time. All this without me asking. You see? That is love. She stood up to her parents to stay with me, she fought for me."

"Sweet," said Brandy, "but you didn't answer my question. Have you dated other girls?"

"No," said Johan, "she is my first girlfriend."

"Then experiment," whispered Brandy moving closer to Johan, "she did, so why don't you? Then after, you'll know whether what you are feeling is really love."

Brandy pressed her soft naked body against Johan and Johan could smell her sweet cherry scented breath. She was beautiful, stunning, the type of girl who most guys would fall in love with at first sight. Johan felt extremely tempted. But he had Luisa and forced himself to push Brandy away.

"I'm sorry," said Johan looking down, "I can't."

Brandy let out an annoyed breath. She then picked her clothes off the floor, put them on, and said, "You aren't any fun. I am going to go back to my room. Call me if you change your mind."

"I love Luisa," whispered Johan.

He had thought it before, but resisting this temptation made him sure.

Brandy left and Johan retired to bed for the night.

That night, Johan had dreams of his beloved Luisa.