The Lieutenant had been silent since leaving the burnt-out remnants of the Dreamhouse, so much so that Officer Greene contemplated whether to ask him about it. The Lieutenant often went through phases like this, sitting in contemplative silence, ruminating. Greene had learnt to appreciate it within the Hateful man. They were the only non-humans in the DFA. They were all the other had.

  If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have gained this chance, Greene knew, and it hurt him whenever he questioned the Lieutenant. Still, something wasn't right. The way he had interacted with Lieutenant Dest…Even if the Lieutenant had been defending him, something about his demeanour troubled Greene. He just didn't know what.

  'What is it?' the Lieutenant sighed, drawing Greene's attention as they drove along the Divinity Highway. It was quieter than usual on the road, with few other cars to obstruct their path. It made the journey faster, but it also emphasised another one of Greene's concerns as they approached wherever they were going. He had never heard of The Place That Doesn't Exist. Until that point, he had been sure that the Lieutenant kept no secrets from him. From that thought, it took him a couple of seconds before he realised he hadn't answered. If he had done that with a human, there would have been repercussions. However, since it was the Lieutenant, he had time to think.

  'I'm concerned,' he admitted, only able to say it as he felt. 'You seem…not yourself. I feel your unsettledness, your agitation. Before, I thought you were going to kill Dest. You've never reacted like that before. Even when they've tried in the past to—'

  He silenced himself then, noting how tensely the Lieutenant was gripping the steering wheel. Greene then watched the Lieutenant ease his hands, knowing that he would have figured why he had stopped speaking.

  'They've always hated us for what we are,' the Lieutenant sighed, allowing himself to reveal the tiredness he obviously felt. 'They blame us for everything, and they turned your kind into slaves. Do you ever wonder why we do this? Trying to show that we're different, showing that we could be so much more if we worked together. Yet, they still spit in our faces, curse us, treat us like we're nothing more than fools who haven't figured out their place yet. Does it not tire you, Greene? Does it not tire you that we have to endure their hate?'

  'But we remember why we're doing this,' Greene said, suppressing his amazement at the Lieutenant's words. 'We're trying to create a better future for both our races.'

  'And that's what he thinks he's doing,' the Lieutenant said, his voice quiet. It didn't take Greene much to figure who he was referring to. 'He shares the same dream.'

  'But he said he wanted to become our new god.'

  'And why do you think he wishes to accomplish that?' the Lieutenant asked simply. Greene said nothing, considering that as he turned his gaze back towards the road. The Lieutenant turned off towards the Seraphu District.

  'Does it concern you that much?' Greene asked.

  'Yes,' the Lieutenant admitted.

  They entered the Seraphu District. Apart from the Dragonport and the Grand Library at the bottom of the district, the majority of Seraphu comprised large warehouses, providing much of the industry and employment for humans. Watching them as they worked, Greene wondered what they would say if they knew a Hateful was driving among them. Greene looked at the Lieutenant, remembering that he had been here just a few hours ago. A question arose in his mind.

  'What happened to that suspect you were pursuing through here?'

  'He committed suicide,' the Lieutenant said, his voice level, betraying nothing.

  'There has been a lot of them recently,' Greene said, keeping his eyes fixed upon the Lieutenant. While they worked together almost exclusively, Greene's speciality was in collecting information and locating targets, while the Lieutenant went to apprehend them. He was the only one who could. Still, it hadn't escaped Greene's attention that many of the Hateful suspects committed suicide before being detained. Whether that was coincidental, he wasn't sure. It was just one of those things he had noticed. It was his job to notice things.

  'Why do you think they keep doing it?'

  Once again, the Lieutenant said nothing, manoeuvring the car past delivery trucks and occasional humans who wore colourful reflective jackets as they worked.

  'Probably because of me,' the Lieutenant said, speaking as though this shamed him. Greene left the conversation at that, knowing that beings like humans and Hateful often fixed their minds on things they didn't like. While he himself couldn't grasp why, it was one of those things he had learned about them. Then again, he knew that he wasn't like most other Titaniuses. He could see a few of his brethren as they drove past the warehouses, working alongside humans while wearing similar attire. However, Greene knew it wasn't the same as Lieutenant Newman and himself. Those other Titaniuses would not be working as equals. All it would take was one order, and they would obey without complaint. Something twisted inside Greene at that notion, a strange feeling that he didn't understand. Titaniuses weren't meant to have feelings, so he wasn't sure what to call it.

  If I were human, I would call it shame, he thought, glancing at the Lieutenant and knowing that they felt the same thing.

  It was almost as if the Lieutenant had chosen a warehouse at random by the time they stopped, pulling up alongside a security booth with a reflective barrier that shone against the car's headlights. Having expected something different, Greene frowned as he looked at the Lieutenant.

  'So…The Place That Doesn't Exist is a factory?' he asked, noting the Lieutenant's wry smile at the question, his earlier thoughtfulness dissipating.

  'Yes, and so much more,' he said, unwinding his window while the security booth jerked open, causing it to shake as Greene reached for his Life Essence. Yet it was the Lieutenant's lack of a response that stopped him, forcing Greene to gaze at the security booth, as a cloaked figure emerged from the darkness of the booth. It was then Greene realised that the entire booth was encased in darkness.

  And that the figure was the biggest he had ever seen.

  Oh, Divinity…the size of him, Greene gawked, staring at the cloaked figure. He figured it stood at least 6 feet 5, weighing over 300 pounds. Watching it with awe and fascination, Greene observed it moving to the Lieutenant's side, not speaking. As though such a colossal mass didn't concern him, the Lieutenant turned his gaze towards it.

  'We wish to go down,' the Lieutenant said, with no trace of nervousness. The figure, who Greene took for a guard, still said nothing, instead reaching towards the window with a cloaked arm while revealing a colossal hand that was ghostly white, tipped with black fingernails that could almost pass for claws. Its hand clasped the door and squeezed, causing metal to groan as the car shifted in the guard's direction. It was a simple demonstration of strength, a classic intimidation move. Still, Officer Greene couldn't help but admire such strength, wondering only one thing.

  Is that thing human?

  The Lieutenant somehow remained unperturbed, glancing at the hand before looking up towards the black void where its face should've been.

  'Remove your hand,' he said coolly, 'or I'll remove it for you.'

  This time, it was the guard's turn to appear unperturbed, remaining still. Greene felt his concern rising. It never worked out when anyone challenged the Lieutenant. Normally, the threat was enough. However, the Lieutenant sighed instead, before shaking his head.

  'It would seem that we are not welcome,' he said, before a smile emerged on his face, surprising Greene somewhat.

  'Don't worry,' he said, 'I'm just showing you something. If you ever come here, make sure you're alone. No human must ever know of this place. I cannot stress that enough. It must remain a secret. If anyone were to find out…'

  He paused, allowing Officer Greene to use his own imagination. He didn't need to say anymore. The Lieutenant gestured towards the hulking mass still standing outside the car, as though he were no threat at all.

  'Our friend here always guards the entrance. He will let no one pass unless you speak his language. If you don't, he'll destroy you. Do you understand, Greene?'

  It made little sense to Greene, but he nodded anyway. When the Lieutenant appeared satisfied with this, his expression became thoughtful, contemplative, as though he were debating whether to say what he was thinking.

  'Just so you know,' he continued, 'what you're about to see will change everything, Greene. Trust me when I say that no human knows of this place, nor of its residents. There is so much more to this world than they realise, and they have allowed ignorance to blind them. It is because of that ignorance they have disguised others, others who hide in plain sight, others who would terrify them far more than your kind and mine. We're about to enter their world now. Humanity must never know of this place.'

  Without waiting for a reply from Greene, the Lieutenant turned his attention back towards the silent guard, who still clutched his car in his massive hand, forbidding them to pass.

  'Duischk iashk uolka,' the Lieutenant growled, using a tongue that Greene had never heard before. It was as though he had tapped into some kind of primordial beast's language, rather than any form of comprehensible dialect. Yet, it prompted the cloaked guard to make his first movement since leaving his booth, releasing the car from his grasp as it rocked a little from side to side.

  'Hoiaskl ulp shly,' it replied, using its own primordial growl. It turned back towards the booth, reaching for something inside. A few seconds passed before Greene felt the car jolt underneath them, accompanying the sound of a mechanism coming to life. A second or so passed before Greene noticed the guard and the booth elevating alongside them.

  No, not rising. We're going down.

  Darkness enveloped them as though they were being swallowed by some colossal beast, which didn't concern Greene as he felt the Lieutenant's ease. He glanced towards the Lieutenant then, seeing only the faintest outlines of his face.

  'Remember those words, Greene,' the Lieutenant said. 'They will keep you alive.'

  Greene considered that. Despite the myriad of questions that danced in his mind, he decided to ask only one.

  'What was that language?'

  'The language of his people.'

  A vibration reverberated through the car as they continued to descend, while the sound of metal groaning echoed all around them. Light emerged somewhere below, for which Greene couldn't make out the source as he tried to look over the side, seeing it coming through tiny gaps and shifting. He turned towards the Lieutenant once more, noticing his silent contemplation.

  'What is it?' Greene asked, forcing the Lieutenant to flick his eyes towards him. A wry smile soon followed.

  'It's nothing,' he said, though both he and Greene understood the lie. Greene maintained a level gaze, his expression expectant until the Lieutenant looked away.

  'I'm not looking forward to seeing who we're here to visit,' he admitted. 'He's…strange. He's a man you cannot trust, no matter what he says.'

  'Who is he?'

  'That's not the right question, Greene.'

  'Alright then; what is he?'

  'A sorcerer,' the Lieutenant replied, causing Greene to frown as he opened his mouth to speak. However, no words left his lips, as the light from below gave way to a sight that stunned him into silence.

  This was a place that possessed a sun.

  It was unlike anything he had seen before, a sphere of pure white and amber, sitting atop a black spire at the centre of a vast dome. Revolving around it were rings of wooden buildings, stalls and huts that grew with each layer, divided by sand. After a city that was made of nothing but metal, all of this seemed a perfect contrast. Greene's eyes returned to the orb of light, wondering what Exia would look like underneath it.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  'What is it?' Greene asked, unable to hide his awe as he spoke. He was almost sure he could feel the Lieutenant's smile alongside him.

  'The closest thing we'll ever get to a sun, Greene,' he said, his words carrying a similar awe. 'A gift from the man we're here to see.'

  'He's capable of making something like that?'

  'Yes, and so much more,' the Lieutenant said, his voice lined with melancholy.

  Greene looked towards him again, seeing his sadness return. 'What is it?' he asked.

  'Nothing,' the Lieutenant lied. However, rather than try to force the issue, Greene returned his gaze to the new world. The Place That Doesn't Exist. He felt the elevator vibrate more intensely as they descended, seeing the large black metal frame shake as though the burden were too great. Gears turned, while pulleys lowered them down. As Greene's eyes followed the machine, it ran across the edge of the giant dome, heading towards three different tunnels, which were dispersed in a triangle formation. There was a small gap between them and the outer ring, filled with stalls like the ones Greene often visited in Rai, which were run by his kind along with humans.

  I wonder if any of my kind are here? he thought, ignoring the temptation to ask the Lieutenant as they appeared to reach the end of the elevator. It was then Greene saw many beings and races that were not meant to exist. The first was a creature possessing a tiny body and a comically enormous head that flew in an awkward arc towards them with black dragon-like wings that fluttered wildly. Its skin was ghostly white, while its eyes were pure black. The last detail that stood out were the two sharp teeth on either side of its upper jaw, which protruded through its lips when it closed its mouth.

  'Ah, Lieutenant Newman,' it said wheezily, sounding as though it were being choked. 'By what pleasure do we owe this visit?'

  'I'm here to see Barbatos,' the Lieutenant replied, speaking to the creature as if its mere existence was nothing more than an agitation to him. 'Is he here?'

  'Perhaps, perhaps not…'

  The Lieutenant shook his head, waving the creature away as he switched the engine on, as the elevator completed its descent with a groan. There he put the car into gear and began pulling away, moving towards a space where he could park.

  'He's an asshole,' the Lieutenant muttered, parking the car before switching off the ignition. He paused, then turned his gaze towards Greene.

  'A word of advice, Greene. If you ever come here alone, just shoot him with something and he'll leave you alone. No one likes him.'

  Greene frowned as the creature, whatever it was, flew away before appearing to pester another creature, a dragon but shaped like a human.

  'What was he?' Greene asked, his voice disbelieving.

  'Would you believe me if I told you he's part of the same race as our friendly guard up there?'

  'How?'

  'No idea. Just is,' the Lieutenant said, shrugging as he fumbled at his pockets, searching for something.

  'One more thing. Don't stare at anyone unless you want to get yourself killed. Remember, we're here for a reason.'

  Greene said nothing, trying to calm his expression and resume his more neutral look, which he used often while dealing with humans.

  The Lieutenant nodded. 'Alright, let's see if our suspect has been stirring around here.'

  Greene found it difficult not to stare at the incredible beings that now surrounded him, struggling to avert his eyes. The first beings he noticed were gaunt humanoid creatures that were as ghostly white as the strange creature that had spoken to the Lieutenant. The difference was that they seemed evenly formed, possessing the same black dragon-like wings and long black hair. Even the most meagre of glances towards them drew hostile hisses and bared teeth, revealing the same set as the little creature. Greene figured that they too must be of the same race. As they turned towards Greene menacingly, the Lieutenant intervened.

  'I wouldn't recommend anything stupid today, boys,' he said, his voice layered with ice. 'I'm working…'

  They returned the Lieutenant's threat with a hiss before turning and walking away. In their wake, Greene noticed another race as he stood trying not to gawk, beings that were half human and half machine. Unlike the gaunt white creatures, they minded their own business, possessing various mechanical sections across their bodies alongside organic ones. Greene watched curiously as they came from stalls with dentist-like chairs; vendors that enabled them to switch and change parts of themselves at will.

  'Newman,' Greene said, watching, 'what are they?'

  'You mean the robotic humans?' Newman asked, stopping as he looked in the same direction. Another being was working on one of its kin, using overhanging tools that they grabbed and used like a mechanic, switching pieces around, causing sparks to fly.

  'Cybernetics,' the Lieutenant answered, while Greene watched in fascination. 'Probably the closest our kinds will ever come to being one. Some say they originate as deformed humans on the verge of death, before their machine god finds them and infuses them with the machinery you see.'

  'Machine god?' Officer Greene asked, having never heard of this before.

  The Lieutenant turned to face him. 'Do you think the Divinity is the only god? Every race has their own. Unfortunately, I know little about them. They share little with outsiders.'

  'And…what are those beings with the white skin and black wings? They seem especially hostile towards me.'

  'Don't take it personally,' the Lieutenant replied, smiling. 'They're like that with everyone, even their own kind.'

  'Yes, but what are they?' Greene asked, as the Lieutenant's smile faded.

  'Ethero Fiends.'

  Greene's mouth dropped in amazement.

  'But…they shouldn't exist. They're myth. Legend.'

  'You're forgetting the name of this place, Greene,' the Lieutenant said, stepping towards the strange wooden buildings, leaving Greene to ponder what he had just learnt.

  'None of this exists. It shouldn't be real,' he said, gazing up to the orb at the centre of it all.

  They reached a small building close to the magical orb. Greene wasn't sure why, but the Lieutenant appeared quite uncomfortable as he glanced towards the building and back at him.

  'Let me do the talking,' he said, before appearing to consider something else before they moved to enter. 'Like I said before, Barbatos isn't someone you can trust. He enjoys playing games, trying to confuse you and twist your thoughts. Don't let him. Treat him like you would any suspect with a silver tongue.'

  'Alright,' Greene said, not sure but nodding anyway. This seemed to satisfy the Lieutenant as he turned towards the building, stepping into the door. Their arrival was announced by the light jingling of bells. They were in a small shop stacked with shelves that contained an assortment of glass jars and vials, filled with different compounds. Greene wasn't sure what they were, nor of their purpose, but the sight of them fascinated him. After a quick glance around, he was unable to resist reaching towards a strange-looking concoction, whose deep sapphire contents looked like a cross between liquid and dust. After picking it up, he shook it a little, watching as its strange contents seemed to bond and almost sparkle with flickers of gold. He turned to ask the Lieutenant what it was, surprised to find the Lieutenant glaring at him.

  'Put. It. Back', he whispered.

  'Oh, don't spoil his fun,' a husky voice rose in reply, drawing both Officer Greene's and the Lieutenant's gazes towards the counter on the farther side of the shop. There was a blue-skinned man, his eye sockets powdered with black make-up, emphasising his almost dazzling gaze, while his long jet-black hair reached all the way to his shoulders. He wore a black costume that looked unbearably tight, covered in random black straps with ruby buckles. In his right hand he held a black sceptre with a protruding emerald orb, wrapped around a tip of ruby bandaging, which he pointed towards the vial in Greene's hand. His grin was undeniable.

  'Though, I must admit, that potion will set you back a few credits, unless you have something interesting to trade?'

  'He has nothing of value to you, Barbatos,' the Lieutenant answered before Officer Greene could speak. 'I was just telling him to put it back.'

  'So I heard,' Barbatos said, his voice hinting annoyance. 'As for whether he has anything of value, I'll be the judge of that.'

  'Leave him out of this,' the Lieutenant said sharply. 'I have business with you.'

  'Oh, I already know about that. You have a Hateful issue?'

  The Lieutenant's expression darkened, glowering at the sorcerer. 'Has he been here? Have you seen him?'

  'No, I have not. Unfortunately,' Barbatos said, but the grin that emerged on his face suggested otherwise.

  The Lieutenant stepped forward. 'But you know something.'

  'I know many things, Lieutenant,' Barbatos replied, his voice barbed. 'Yet, one thing I am yet to discover is the fate concerning our little deal. Do you have any results for me?'

  'No, not yet,' the Lieutenant answered, surprising Greene with how suddenly the sorcerer seemed to control him as he backed away. He frowned at the Lieutenant before turning his gaze to Barbatos, who he then saw was smiling.

  'Such a shame,' Barbatos said, folding his arms. 'Though, I am not surprised. It was always going to take something substantial to force you to use them. Perhaps your fellow Hateful could help you with that.'

  'It's far too early,' the Lieutenant replied. 'Lucifer hasn't shown himself to be worthy of that, yet.'

  'Ah…but he sees himself as worthy enough to challenge the Divinity.'

  'A delusion, nothing more.'

  'Yet, he seems to possess the conviction.'

  'Only I do,' the Lieutenant replied, his voice containing traces of ice that surprised Greene, understanding that there was another conversation taking place within this one. A pause emerged between the two of them before Barbatos returned his gaze to Greene. Realising that he was still holding the vial, he reached to put it back on the shelf. Barbatos appeared to smirk at this.

  'So, Titanius. What do you think of this place?'

  'Very…interesting,' Greene replied, not sure if he should remain cautious or not. Either way, Barbatos smiled at him.

  'That's one way of putting it. So many new races you've never seen, so many cast as legend. Yet they exist, and they thrive in places like this.'

  'But why are you hiding?' Greene asked, as Barbatos regarded him as though he were an innocent child.

  'Surely, of all the races, your kind should understand why the rest of us would hide from humanity.'

  Shame filled Greene then, causing him to look down and say nothing.

  'Do not be ashamed of what you are, Titanius,' Barbatos said. 'After all, it is not your fault. Like the Hateful, your kind shares history with humanity, but a more important part of that history was erased from your minds.'

  'You know of our history?'

  'I possess knowledge of many things, my dear Titanius,' Barbatos said, leaving the words hanging in the air as he turned towards the Lieutenant. 'As for you, perhaps Imperi might have something of more substance. I believe his stall is near the outer rings. Catch him before it's too late.'

  'What does he know?' the Lieutenant asked.

  'Why don't you ask him and find out?' the sorcerer said, stepping towards the shelf alongside Greene and reaching for the vial he had held before. He proffered it to Greene, who took it with a questioning look.

  'Keep it. It might come in handy one day,' he said. 'If you have questions about your race, please visit again. In the meantime, I believe you have someone to visit?'

  The Lieutenant said nothing, his face hard as steel as he turned and walked away, while Greene followed. On the threshold, Greene turned and looked back into the store, haunted to find Barbatos grinning at him.

  'I'll see you soon, my dear Titanius.'