Chapter 5 - The Several Strangers (I)

Dahlia felt strange in her new clothing. The tightness of the collar made her want to unbutton the top but she felt it would be improper to do so. She stepped to face the mirror in her bathroom. She was offered to wear some black suit pants, the same as the demon and the goateed man wore but she felt uncomfortable so Alice gave her a black pencil skirt that reached below her knees.

She had blue stockings on that matched her blue button up shirt. The dark ocean blue seems to be a theme with Hencacount as Tsumi had the same blue shirt as well as Rika having the same blue jumpsuit all in the shade of blue she wears now.

Her flat shoes felt tight at the heel but that's normal for most new shoes. Her hair was still in the same bun but Dahlia knew that it wouldn't be like that for long. Inevitably she will have to think of a way to wear it as she no longer had skilled servants to tie it for her.

Once she finished checking herself, a knock on her door was heard. She rushed out of the bathroom and stood in her room. After a few moments the door opened and Alice entered and watched Dahlia from the doorway.

"So how does it feel? It might be difficult to get used to but overtime you should feel like you are getting used to it." she eased.

Dahlia looked at Alice and tried to hide some of her discomfort with her outfit, especially with the shortened skirt. "It feels fine. Comfortable in some while.. less so in others."

"Good. It should be easier eventually but for now let's break it in and have some dinner!" Alice turned around and began to head down the hallway. Dahlia stayed for a moment to prepare herself before stepping into the hallway and following Alice to the atrium.

Dahlia was informed a bit on the layout of the Deadbolt. It was a giant cuboid shaped structure that floated in the Plane of Dreams. It has no entrances so it can only be teleported into or an entrance can be made if someone has enough control over dreams to form one.

The layout inside though was a bit less structured. According to Alice, most of the Deadbolt is unused and is just solid walls. All doors excluding those that are meant to contain are made of the burgundy dreamweave for security purposes.

Reaching the atrium, the table demon was working on was gone. Alice stated that he had finished it and moved it to the dining room. Alice led Dahlia to one of the open doors in the atrium and they were met with a large rectangular room with walls painted a pastel green and having wooden panelling on the lower half of the wall which stretched around the room. Another door at the end of the room seemed to go elsewhere and the table Gregortz worked on was centred here.

It was a long table and had eight chairs around it. Two at the ends of the table and three along the length of each side of the table. Seven plates were stacked at the centre with seven sets of knives, forks and spoons there as well. When Dahlia entered after Alice she asked where she should sit and Alice said it doesn't matter.

"What do you mean? Shouldn't you and whoever else leads the group be at the heads of the table?" Dahlia urged.

Alice sat at the head of the table closest to the atrium door. "Of course! Well, only sometimes. But I am the only leader here!" she chipperly said.

"Then who sits at the other head?"

"Sometimes Gregortz, sometimes Lemon, sometimes no one. It depends on how people feel."

Dahlia thought about where she should sit and decided on seating herself to the right of Alice. "Do we have enough plates? I see only seven."

"No, that's enough. There's only seven of us." Alice removed her helmet, setting it to her left.

"Wait. There's only seven people in Hencacount? I thought you were bigger?"

Alice raised her hand and thought, ~Saltu~, as one of the plates popped in front of her and repeated the word again to call over the fork and knife. "No, we aren't really that big. Oh those seven include you as well." she said matter-of-factly.

Dahlia gazed at Alice, thinking over what she had heard. "Didn't you say your group is responsible for stopping all worlds from crossing over each other?!"

"Yep. I think we do a good job." ~Saltu.~

"Wow..." Dahlia looked at her table and her plate and utensils were already there at the will of Alice.

~There are only six other people? I can't imagine six people watching over one world let alone… except…~

"A-are- you a god?" Dahlia asked, shaking slightly at the possibility.

"Hmm? Oh no, none of us are." she replied.

The doors opposite of the atrium opened and in entered Gregortz accompanied by a man Dahlia has yet to meet. He was an older man with warm olive skin who had short flat hair coloured an olive green with silver streaks on the sides of his head. He had a square jaw and crows feet and appeared to be scolding Gregortz who was huge compared to the old man.

He wore a blue button up just like Dahlia and black suit pants with suspenders but what caught Dahlia's eyes the most was the green scales at the edges of his face and on his nose, as well as his yellow reptilian eyes.

"I'll say it as many times as needed until it finally sticks in your head. Clean out your ears daily!" Gregortz had a look of tired frustration as the man continued to lecture.

"For most people a little earwax is fine but you produce six times more than anyone. Unless you want me to burn your ears off to clean it out you better take better care of yourself." The man's voice was hoarse but not from a poor throat but more due to age.

Gregortz sat at the head of the table opposite of Alice. The scaled man then turned to Alice and Dahlia and began to walk to them. "Alice, considering you didn't come to me implies that the false mites weren't an issue?" He sat to the left of Alice and went to take his plates.

"Yes Samuel, it was mostly smooth but I do have some damage to my suit."

"Good to hear. Now what's your name kid?" He turned to Dahlia.

He reminded Dahlia of her uncle in the capital; he was older than her mother and showed. Dahlia stayed with him occasionally when she was at the academy and he was always friendly. Stern but friendly.

"My name is Dahlia McDernon. I am the daughter of Count Dylan and Countess Varme McDernon." she presented.

"Ah, nobility.. anything I should know about in terms of any ailments or allergies you have?"

"Oh no, I do not. Are you a medical doctor, Dr..?" 

Samuel spoke up as he swathed his hand in the air, "You don't need to be formal. I'm fine with just Samuel but if you need to I'm Dr. Fawlks. Yes I am a doctor of medicine. If you ever get hurt please come to me.. or else I'll come to you." His final words were matched with him looking over to Gregortz who had gotten his own plate and fork.

Alice and Samuel talked over what happened at Dahlia's castle with her giving her perspective on some things but it was cut short when two people entered from the atrium. Rika and Tsumi, both walked in with Rika sitting next to Dahlia and Tsumi sitting next to Rika with Gregortz being next to him.

Rika reached for a plate as she looked at Dahlia, "So! What's your world like? I heard it's a low-tech."

"By tech you mean technology then I cannot say. I don't quite have anything to base it off Ms. Glitz." Dahlia answered.

Rika took a knife and fork and set it on her plate, "I mean like… Do you know what that is?", she points at the ceiling where the lightbulb illuminating the room sits.

"Yes, I believe that's a lamp..?", Dahlia was unsure whether her answer was the correct one or not.

"Powered by…?"

"Electricity?"

"Good!" Rika jumps as she excites over Dahlia's knowledge, "You have the concept of electricity down… How do you make it?"

Dahlia pours over her mind on the process of electricity and recites to Rika what she knows. Rika nods as she explains more of their technological advances as she gets what Dahlia's world has in terms of technology.

Rika recites what they know, "So, you have the inklings of mechanics down but not widespread enough. You seem to be on the verge of industrialisation but magic is making the advancement difficult as always…"

Samuel speaks up during Rika's thoughts, "With that I can drum up something to help you understand things better."

Dahlia across to Samuel, "'Drum up something?'", Rika perks up at Dahlia's question.

"Grandad's going to make a manual for you to help you get what you need to know before your first mission!" 

Dahlia was stuck on the word 'grandad', she was surprised to hear that the two were related but before that thought could finish Tsumi spoke up.

"He isn't actually her grandad, it's just what she calls him." he assumed.

"Oh, I see."

"On that, I've told you several times already, stop calling me that.", Samuel complained, "It's going to keep causing confusion when we have to explain this every time."

"Nope!" Rika cheekily replied.

"Hmm…", Samuel grumbled.

Alice turned to Tsumi and asked, "Tsumi, did you make sure to inform Lemon?"

"Course, she was in the kitchen preparing the meal. She's planning a roast."

"Aggh.", Rika slumped on her chair, "It better not be duck! It keeps getting stuck in my teeth!"

Tsumi laughed at Rika as he reassured her, "Made sure she wouldn't."

At that moment, the door opposite of the atrium opened and in walked something most strange to Dahlia. It was a rotted tree stump, its short roots acting as legs as it skittered around at table height carrying on it a platter of steaming ham as wilted branches placed it in the centre of the table.

Soon three more came out, one with drinking glasses and water, one with a series of bowls containing vegetables such as boiled cauliflower and cooked potatoes, and one that contained a variety of sauces. 

All platters were set on the table and as they each finished they went back beyond the door where inside Dahlia can see stepping out a tall woman.

She had long flowing purple hair which was thick and fluffy. Her skin was very pale with a slight tint of grey except for her lips which were slightly tinged lilac. She was slim and quite beautiful with a symmetrical face and a clear complexion.

She wore the same ocean blue button up but the top buttons were free and her bottom buttons were partially unbuttoned, exposing her navel. She wore a pair black suit bell bottoms and was missing any shoes but did wear black socks.

All in all she appeared ethereal, that is until you realise that her appearance is less so on purpose but due to not caring. Her lilac lips seemed natural and not makeup, her hair was flowing and bushy because it is unbrushed and her shirts unbuttoned because she's too lazy to button them all.

When she walks in she carries a final platter containing a cooked chicken that she sets on the table.

"Here. This new person better be worth waking me up early.", her voice was smooth and had a slight nasally tone to it.

"It's evening." noted Samuel.

Lemon's eyes narrowed at the old man who cracked a smirk. The woman then plopped herself down a chair away from him and turned her attention to Dahlia, looking her up and down.

Tsumi reaches out to begin picking some food off of the platters and into his plate, "I see for once you remembered to take the head of the chicken before cooking it."

"Well of course I did. When I have people making so~ many complaints about my five star cooking." Lemon chided, taking her eyes away from Dahlia and picking out some cauliflower.

Everyone else soon started to collect different foods off of the platters. Alice looked to the purple-haired woman, "Lemon, this is Dahlia McDernon. Dahlia, this is Lemon Gordana, our chef, maintenance and cleaner, as well as our horticulturist."

Dahlia reached across the table to Lemon, mimicking the custom she's seen so far of shaking hands, Lemon reaches her hand and shakes once sluggishly before retracting.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Gordana. I hope we can work together well."

Lemon looks at Dahlia after being called and chuckles, "It's been a while since I was called 'Ms'."

"If you mind it, then I ca-"

"No issue, blossom. I'm fine with it." she said with a groan as she stretched her arms to reach the water pitcher.

Once poured, Lemon proceeded to lie back in her chair. It gets tilted back a bit, supported by one of the stumps from earlier. As Dahlia turned to the food, she collected a cut of ham and some cauliflower and a couple potatoes. 

She takes her knife and fork and positions it to cut the potato in pieces before taking one of the sauces, one she recognises as gravy, and gently slathers the ham. Once done she cuts the ham into pieces and consumes each piece one by one in a scene that showcases her perfect table manners and regal manner.

Rika speaks up with a mouthful of cauliflower, "You really are a princess aren't you?" 

Dahlia looks up to see that most of everyone, besides Lemon, is watching her. As Dahlia feels slightly embarrassed at this attention, Tsumi reassures her that it isn't a bad thing.

"Don't worry about it. Everyone eats different, just that yours is refreshingly new."

Dahlia ponders on that she realises that most of the ham and half of the chicken is gone and has gone to Gregortz plate. He wasn't using utensils, instead peeling the meat with his nails and dropping them into his mouth. 

Tsumi picks on Dahlia's notice, "Don't worry if Gregortz is eating too much, he needs more than everyone else."

As the dinner carried on, everyone was mostly focused on eating with occasional talks about 'Polaris'. Dahlia made sure to follow along with the conversation but then they kept using different words that Dahlia didn't understand. It wasn't until she asked that she would get an answer.

"Pardon me, but might I ask how in fact I can communicate with all of you?" Dahlia had put down her utensils and dapped her face with a napkin before her question. "I hear the words that leave your mouth as those of my language but I doubt all of you happen to speak my language."

"Good catch Dahlia!", Alice was elated when Dahlia noticed the unlikeliness, "You see we are all actually speaking a language I call the 'common tongue', this language is a special anomalous language I found that, no matter the culture, can be understood by most other intelligent creatures."

Dahlia listened in awe at the idea of a universal language that can be understood but Alice was not finished explaining it, "You see, there are many things, no matter the differences between cultures and biology, there will always be a series of ingrained identifiers for certain emotions. For example, a smile. No matter if you are a human or a dog or a fish, a smile always means that the person is happy about something."

"Same for laughing, same for crying. What common tongue does is it collects these recognisable signals, interprets them into a complex series of emotive data and projects it through vocalisation."

Dahlia followed most of it except for the 'emotive data' and the 'signals'. Thankfully Samuel helped to make Alice's words more understandable, "Essentially we are speaking our minds, literally. Not quite telepathy though as there is still sound made."

"But I am unsure if I can do something so complicated.", Dahlia realised all that sounds a bit beyond her in terms of ability.

"No need to worry. We don't actually naturally know it except for Alice." clarified Samuel, "We use a piece of machinery in our brain to do the translation for us."

Rika finishes her meal and swallows down quickly, "Yeah tomorrow I'm going to put one in your head."

Samuel cringed at how bad Rika made it sound as Lemon and Tsumi laughed to themselves. 

"I'm sorry but, you are going to put what in my head?"

Samuel immediately responds, "It's not as invasive as it sounds, it's just a simple injection. You don't really feel anything once it's in."

Dahlia felt assured by the old man's words, she realised that her question wasn't completely answered, "Wait what about me? Does the 'machinery' translate my words back?"

"Yes they do.", Samuel replies.

As Dahlia looks down at her food, she picks up her utensils again, curiosity satisfied as she thanks Samuel and Alice for explaining it before continuing to finish her meal.

- - -

After dinner, Gregortz is the first to leave back to the atrium while Rika rushes back to the giant junk room, saying she will start getting the stuff ready.

Before Tsumi and Lemon leave through the opposite door, Tsumi gives Dahlia his good night. After, Dahlia is left with just Samuel and Alice, a bunch of the purple stumps from earlier walk out and begin removing the plates and platters.

Samuel steps over to Dahlia and begins to reassure her, "I know this is probably a lot of cultural whiplash for you."

Dahlia agrees. To have this world shattering information be revealed to her. Other worlds, alien life, a language that can be understood by all and strange objects and clothing she could never envision. She would've collapsed in exhaustion from the sudden shock if it wasn't for her composure.

"That's why if it ever gets too much for you, just let me know and we can talk about it to get your mind off of things.", his words sounded genuine and caring despite the undertone of sterness. Dahlia did feel like she should talk first but for now she thinks she should sleep and meet this confusion and change with a rested mind.

"Thank you Dr. Fawlks. Your support reassures me." Dahlia replies.

"Good. Don't bottle it up. Hope your first night is pleasant.", he walks out and leaves Alice and Dahlia to themselves in the dining room.

"So Dahlia, need me to show you back to your room?" Alice inquired.

"Yes, I would appreciate that."

Alice shows Dahlia back to her room and bids her good night before leaving for elsewhere in the Deadbolt. Dahlia entered her room and prepared herself for bed with her night gown that was packed in her case. 

As she laid in bed, the glass wall of the room was projecting a night sky from some unknown location that made it easier to sleep. And as she melted into the covers of her bed, her first day at the Deadbolt was complete.