Servants of the Genies

Ru figured out what had happened when he found himself in one of the rooms of the Golden Palace. The opulent surroundings, with their gilded walls and shimmering chandeliers, felt both familiar and alien. He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he muttered, "Oh, Heise must have put me to sleep."

He began to wander aimlessly, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors. He knew he had to stay away from anything resembling a cage—bird cages, barred windows, or even the faintest suggestion of confinement. The thought sent a shiver down his spine, and he quickened his pace.

"What should I do? Can I dream while I'm already dreaming?"

He searched for a place to rest, but the grandeur of the Golden Palace felt oppressive. Instead of seeking out a luxurious chamber, he found himself drawn to something simpler, more humble—perhaps a maid's room, tucked away in some forgotten corner. After wandering for what felt like hours, he stumbled upon a set of stairs and descended as far as he could.

Finally, he found himself in a kitchen. It was still undeniably part of the palace, with its golden utensils and gleaming surfaces, but it felt more real.

As he wandered through the kitchen, his eyes landed on a couch in the corner. Its cushions gleamed faintly in the dim light, and without hesitation, Ru collapsed onto it. He closed his eyes, letting the weight of exhaustion pull him under. His mind drifted, and soon, the golden palace faded away, replaced by the dusty, narrow corridors of the Betelnut Youth Hostel.

In the dream, Ru was younger, his face still round with the softness of youth. He wore traditional Middle Eastern attire—a shalwar, a vest, and sandals, his hair wrapped in a turban. He darted from room to room, trays in hand, his movements quick and practiced. But his expression was anything but cheerful.

"Fuck the genies," he muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with bitterness. He spat into the coffee cups he carried, a small act of defiance against the invisible chains that bound him. His friend, a boy about his age, watched him with tired eyes.

"One day, you'll get caught," the boy warned, his voice low. "Don't do such things anymore, my friend."

Ru's grin was wild. "I'll get caught and killed," he shot back, "and then the torture will end."

"If you're lucky enough to come across a well-intentioned genie kid, you'll be punished with death," his friend said, setting the coffee tray on the counter. "I'll pour these out and prepare new ones."

The Betelnut Youth Hostel was a place of harsh training, where young humans were molded into perfect servants for the genie aristocracy. The adult trainers were merciless, and Ru often found himself wishing he could wake up from the nightmare of his daily life.

One day, Ru asked sarcastically, "Is it because they want their kids to have tanned skin that they let them drink coffee? Are they tired of having blue skin?"

His friend, busy pouring imperfect coffees into the sink, replied, "Believe me, my friend, they say the red ones are the real dangers."

Ru rolled his eyes. "Oh, ifrits, I don't give a damn." He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Why not?" he said suddenly, turning to his friends. "Let's make a deal with the ifrits to defeat the genies."

A new voice interrupted him. "Even if six genie kingdoms and the shah of ifrits united, it's still impossible for us humans to reach them." The voice belonged to a girl who had just entered the kitchen. She was striking, her presence commanding despite her youth.

Ru turned, prepared to respond sharply, but his words became stuck in his throat. There was something about her—something dazzling and slightly menacing—that left him momentarily speechless.

"I'm Hana," she said, glancing at him with an unimpressed expression as she washed her hands in the sink. "Making plans is easy. But making them work? That's where you'll need someone who knows something."

Ru rolled his eyes dramatically, masking his sudden nervousness. "And that someone's you, huh? Miss Know-Everything?"

Hana raised an eyebrow, a sly smile playing on her lips. "You'll see."

Ru swallowed hard, feeling a flutter in his chest that was entirely new to him. For the first time, he found himself more drawn to someone's smile than the argument he was trying to win.

Another friend, busy making coffee, called out, proudly displaying the golden cup she had filled. "This coffee is pretty special, Ru. Just don't spit in it, please."

"So your big plan was to poison the genies with your spit, Ru," Hana said with a grin, walking out of the kitchen before Ru could respond.

"Why?" Ru asked, his eyes shining with newfound admiration as he stared after her.

"Don't fall in love," his friend whispered. "These girls belong to the genie aristocrats. Sooner or later, they'll be taken as special maids or concubines."

"What love? What girl? What nonsense are you talking about?" Ru protested, though his eyes betrayed his fascination. The foxes circling above his head seemed to giggle in amusement.

"Aristocratic families bring their male children here to mature," his friend explained, tending to the brazier fire.

"Well, what does coffee have to do with maturing?" Ru asked, mopping the floor.

"Don't you understand? Aristocratic genie families hire maids and even concubines from here for their children. And this thing called maturing is a kind of... sex lesson," his friend said bluntly.

"I wish someone could pick me up and catch the devil," Ru said with a grin.

"The coffee in the golden cup that just departed was intended for a genie prince. I wish you had provided the service," another friend teased.

"It isn't saliva-free. I don't care," Ru replied, though his tone lacked its usual bite.

His friend leaned in closer, whispering, "Believe me, Ru, this is the first time a prince has been brought here. If we treat him well, we might be able to move up in society."

Ru said, grabbing a shaker from the shelf, "From now on, I will prepare his coffee with a pinch of salt."

"Come on, let's make him feel welcome! Who knows, maybe the prince's pleasure will get us into the palace," his friend said, his eyes alight with possibility.

The scene shifted abruptly. A commotion erupted in the corridor, and the tamer's urgent voice echoed through the hostel: "Take her to the infirmary immediately!"

Ru rushed to the scene, his heart pounding. When he arrived, he saw his friend, her face badly burned. Whispers circulated among the others, speculating about what had happened.

"Could this be an accident?"

"I don't think so. She must have angered the prince somehow," someone whispered.

"But she's always been so kind," another maid interjected, her voice filled with disbelief.

Hana stormed into the kitchen, her face flushed with anger. She grabbed a nearby object and hurled it against the wall, shattering it into pieces.

The tamer followed her, barking orders, "You, girl, prepare a cup of high-quality coffee and serve it to the prince."

As Hana reached for the closet, Ru stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

Ru grated his teeth and said, "Leave it to me."

Hana blew a lock of hair out of her face and glared at him. "This is my job. Back off."

"Alright," Ru said, backing away slowly. He watched her for a moment.

Another tamer burst into the kitchen, out of breath. "Ru, grab the mop and come with me right now," he barked.

"Okay," Ru said, but he didn't do as he was told. Instead, he quickly grabbed the tray of coffee Hana had made and ran out of the kitchen.

"Idiot!" Hana called after him.

The tamer shouted, "Where is Ru? Have you made the coffee yet?"

Moments later, an angry voice echoed through the narrow corridors of the Betelnut Youth Hostel: "Coffee with cyanide? For me? Who, how dare they?"

The kitchen staff exchanged knowing glances. "Ru!" they whispered in unison.