As he slipped through the byrinth of the city's alleyways, Evander moved with a practiced grace. The architecture around him echoed of an ancient past coupled with advanced tech and evident magic - crumbling stones jostling with vibrant neon glyphs, conduits of pulsating arcane energy strung alongside corroded copper wires.

  Beneath the cloak of night, shadows twisted and elongated around him, morphing into monstrous silhouettes that danced along the grimy stone walls. The hum of magical conductors harmonized with the low buzz of neon signs and the faint murmur of life beyond the alleyways. His footsteps echoed, a staccato rhythm punctuating the eerie melody of the city after dark.

  As he neared the city's waterfront, a sudden scream rent the night, an agonizing melody of fear that set his heart racing. His instincts kicked in, drowning the peaceful hum of the city in a rush of adrenaline. Squinting into the distance, he discerned the origin of the disturbance – a woman being assaulted by three others, their figures monstrous under the harsh, flickering streetlights.

  He unched himself into action, rushing towards the brutal scene. His body moved with the efficiency and precision of a well-oiled machine, his every action honed by years of survival in the wilderness.

  He moved swiftly, unching himself at the trio. His fist connected with the first attacker's jaw, a satisfying crunch reverberating through the alley. The second woman barely had time to react before he swept her feet out from under her, her body hitting the cobblestones with a dull thud. The third, disoriented by the sudden attack, fell swiftly to his well-pced strike.

  But in the chaos, his hood slipped from his head, revealing his face in the unforgiving glow of the streetlight. The woman, still trembling from the assault, looked up at him, her eyes wide with shock. Her lips parted in a gasp, her voice barely a whisper as she stammered, "A... a man?"

  Evander quickly pced a gloved hand over the woman's mouth, his eyes scanning the area, making sure their commotion hadn't attracted unwanted attention. He looked back at her, his stare steady and intense, and uttered a threat in a low, gruff voice, "Stay quiet or I'll have to knock you unconscious."

  He watched her eyes widen momentarily before she gave a small, shaky nod. She was eager, that much he could tell, but beneath that eagerness was a flicker of fear. An interesting mix of emotion pyed out in her expressive eyes, and he couldn't help but notice that she was around his age, perhaps even a little older. Her attire was distinctive, veering toward a kind of urban punk aesthetic, with a mishmash of leather, metal, and vibrant colors. But beneath the edgy attire, he could see a striking beauty that commanded attention.

  As he removed his hand from her mouth, she seemed to regain some of her composure. In a soft whisper, she said, "I should thank you properly for saving me." A flirtatious glint twinkled in her eyes, stirring a combination of amusement and exasperation within Evander. He rolled his eyes, ready to vanish back into the safety of shadows when her next words halted him.

  "I can get you things, if you want," she added, her voice steady now. He paused, turning to face her as she staggered to her feet and attempted to close the distance between them. He held out a hand, halting her advance, and leveled his gaze at her.

  "I need information," he decred, watching her reaction. A sweet smile pyed upon her lips and she nodded, her fear repced by an almost coy enthusiasm.

  "I've got a lot of information, handsome," she responded, the seductive look returning to her eyes. But this time, it was accompanied by a spark of curiosity and a hint of respect. Whether this newfound respect was for him or the dangerous situation he found himself in, Evander wasn't certain.

  She looked up at him, her eyes filled with determination and a promise, assuring him, "I'll keep your secret, don't worry." Satisfied, he pulled his hood back over his head, concealing his features once more.

  While he stood vigint, his gaze sweeping the area, she was rifling through the belongings of the unconscious women. Small slips of magical tokens glinted in the dim light of the alley, and a handful of potions clinked together as she pocketed them with a nonchant shrug. "Waste not, want not," she quipped, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

  "We should go somewhere more private to talk," she suggested, her voice dropping to a near whisper as she finished her looting. He followed as she led him several blocks away, through byrinthine backstreets until they reached a quaint little eatery. The pce was mostly deserted at this te hour, save for a lone woman bustling about behind the counter.

  Upon their entry, the woman paused, sending them a curt nod of acknowledgment. The girl returned the gesture before steering Evander towards a secluded booth tucked away in the back. "We can talk here," she assured him, sliding into the seat opposite him.

  She busied herself with ordering their food, her eyes periodically flicking towards Evander with a glint of interest. She studied him with open curiosity, a slow, appreciative smile spreading across her face as her eyes danced over his covered figure. The corners of her mouth twitched upward, the pyful curl of her lips making her intentions clear.

  An amused grin tugged at the corners of Evander's mouth, but he kept his amusement in check. Just py along, Evander, he reminded himself, mentally preparing for the verbal dance he was about to embark on.

  As a pte den with food was slid before them, Evander's gaze swept over the humble fare. The dish was unassuming, typical of a greasy spoon establishment - a heap of some form of protein, a side of fried tubers, and a hunk of rustic bread. It was simple, perhaps even mundane, but it was food nonetheless.

  Across from him, the woman practically beamed at the sight of the meal. Her fingers danced along the rim of her pte, her lips curling upward in satisfaction. She was quick to break the silence that had descended upon their table, her tone airy yet ced with a sly undertone. "You'll have to pay for the information, handsome," she said, her gaze meeting his.

  "I have the money," he replied curtly, his voice void of any indication of flirtation. Her face fell slightly at his words, a hint of disappointment fshing across her features. She seemed to have been hoping for a different form of payment, but Evander promptly cut her off before she could suggest anything more.

  The sly twinkle returned to her eyes as she leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "What's a pretty boy like you doing all alone in the unsafe zones?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "From what I hear, even in the safe zones, men are always escorted."

  Evander responded firmly, setting the boundaries of their interaction. "I'm here to pay for information, not provide it."

  Her eyes widened slightly, taken aback by his assertiveness. "I've never thought that a man can talk like that before," she remarked, her voice ced with a mixture of surprise and interest. "You're supposed to be all shy and submissive, with just a hint of arrogance."

  Evander just shrugged in response, a silent rejection of the societal norms she was trying to impose on him. I am who I am, he thought, refusing to fall into the stereotype she was expecting him to fit.

  Evander's next question, directed at the woman before him, took on a more intimate tone. "Have you ever met any other men?" he asked, a quiet seriousness underpinning his words.

  His query seemed to catch her off-guard. Her face reddened, and she stammered out a response, her gaze flicking down to her p. "Well, if seeing them from a distance counts...then yes."

  The vagueness of her reply elicited a skeptical look from Evander. "Not really, then," he concluded. Then, shifting gears, he added, "I would have thought a beautiful woman like you would have men falling all over her."

  She gave a startled gasp, her surprise so pronounced that her utensils cttered onto her pte, drawing the attention of the serving woman at the eatery. In response to the woman's concerned query, she waved her off, her eyes never leaving Evander's hooded face. "All's fine," she replied distractedly.

  Her focus returned to Evander. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper as she addressed him. "Do you really think I could even get close to a man? Do you realize it takes so much power and influence to do that?"

  Evander frowned beneath his hood, the revetion stirring up more questions in his mind. Given the skewed gender ratio, with one man for every hundred people, he wondered aloud, "Surely, there must be a few men in each year of schools, right?"

  The woman gave a derisive snort, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. "All the men are in the safe zones. They leave the city duties to us. Yes, there are some men that still live out here, but they are few and far between."

  So, even in this world, the segregation persists, he mused, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of his stomach.

  The woman continued, her eyes taking on a more serious tone. "As for a pretty young thing like you, you'd be kidnapped in no time. Your price could set someone up for life."

  Evander couldn't help but feel a cold chill run down his spine at her words. His existence, it seemed, was a coveted prize in this world. His gaze hardened, his resolve to keep his identity concealed strengthened by this newfound understanding.

  A sweet, almost girlish expression washed over the woman's face as she gazed at Evander with eyes that glowed under the eatery's flickering lights. A quiet moment passed before she dared to voice her question, her voice softer than a summer's breeze, "Do you really think I'm beautiful?"

  Evander responded nonchantly, digging into the heap of food id out before him. He nodded in affirmation, his movements smooth and assured, like the notion was an indisputable fact. The simplicity and sincerity of his response had a raw charm to it.

  His eyes flicked up from his meal to appraise her once more, his next words betraying a blunt honesty that was quintessential to his character. It was a trait that, in his past life, had often nded him in hot water with women. "You are beautiful, but your clothes... they're not doing you any justice."

  She blinked at his candid critique, a flurry of emotions flitting across her face. She looked down at her attire, her lips parting slightly as she muttered a response. "Well, this is a working outfit," she defended, a hint of embarrassment coloring her tone. She then added, her voice ced with pyful sarcasm, "Had I known I'd be meeting the first ever man of my life today, I would've dressed for the occasion."

  Her words were accompanied by a grin that stretched across her face, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She was showing a side of herself that Evander hadn't seen before - a jovial, id-back woman with a sharp sense of humor. It was a side he found intriguing, even if the circumstances under which they met were less than ideal.

  Despite the stark differences in our worlds, he mused, there are some things that never change. Humor, it seems, transcends dimensions.

  Surreptitiously, Evander surveyed the surrounding area of the eatery. The smoky tendrils of the city's underbelly, flickering neon signs, and the murmur of hushed conversations offered an ambiance of danger that felt tangible. He felt the prickling sensation of exposure. Being in the outer city like this, I'm like a fox in a hen house... only the hens are very much capable of hunting the fox, he mused.

  A question had been gnawing at his mind, ever since he had glimpsed the domed housing area stretching across the bay, ensconced within the safety zone. The massive structures stood empty, but they carried an enigma that seemed to resonate with the whispers of the city. He decided to seek crity, turning to the woman across from him.

  "Do you know anything about the domed housing area across the bay in the safe zone?" he asked, curiosity lighting his eyes from beneath the hood.

  She appeared taken aback at his question, surprise etched onto her face as if he had asked about the most obvious fact in the world. "How do you not know about it?" she questioned, incredulity seeping into her voice. "It's been all over the news for the past several months."

  His query met her surprise, and a smile teased at the corners of her lips. "You mean you don't know?" she asked, coyly running a finger along the edge of her gss. Her eyes twinkled with mischief, "You really do keep to yourself, don't you?"

  He shrugged, his eyes returning the pyful spark, "Perhaps. But sometimes, it's good to learn from others. Enlighten me?"

  "Well," she began, leaning forward in a conspiratorial manner. Her voice dropped to a low, captivating murmur as she confided, "The vacant domes you're talking about are a part of a... humanitarian endeavor, let's say. A rescue mission for the timid hearts."

  Evander cocked a brow, his interest piqued. "A rescue mission for the timid? You make it sound like a knight's quest."

  Her ughter rang out, a sweet, intoxicating sound. "Well, aren't you the knight, rushing to a damsel's aid in a dark alley?"

  He couldn't help but return her grin, "Well, the knight does expect a fairytale ending."

  "Fairytale endings...?" she teased, her gaze lingering on him. She then continued, "Anyway, these domes are meant to house young men who find the world a bit... overwhelming. It's like a safe house, a sanctuary."

  Evander nodded, his gaze softening as he mused, "A sanctuary for the shy... It's a noble cause."

  Her eyes met his, a glimmer of cynicism fshing across them. "It's a noble facade. You see, this endeavor, as noble as it seems, isn't about chivalry. It's about the gold, the profits."

  "The world does seem to revolve around money," he sighed, his voice ced with a touch of sadness.

  "Unfortunately, yes," she agreed. "But amidst this world of profit, we do get some chances for... unexpected meetings."

  "In a few weeks," she expined, "at least a young men, each of them grappling with being shut-ins, will be housed in those domes. And after about a month of them settling in, each will be joined by five women."

  Her words carried an undertone of cynicism as she detailed the mechanics of this venture. The privilege of living with these young men was auctioned to the highest bidder. The women and their families had to shell out an exorbitant amount of money. But it wasn't just about the money; they also had to undergo specialized training, preparing them for this unique living arrangement.

  Evander listened to her expnation, the gears in his mind turning at a fervent pace.

  Evander leaned back in his seat, a question mark etched onto his face as he surveyed the woman before him. "What's the endgame?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity. His mind spun, trying to stitch together the pieces of this seemingly utopian puzzle.

  She responded by reaching across the table, her hand nding lightly on his. Her touch was warm, an unexpected contrast to the cold realities she spoke of. Evander blinked in surprise, but didn't pull away.

  With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Oh, Evander," she breathed, a soft ugh escaping her lips, "Are you really so naive?"

  His eyes narrowed slightly at her words, but he remained silent, allowing her to continue.

  "The families of these lucky girls are dreaming of weddings," she said, her voice still hushed, "They're picturing grand ceremonies and a lifetime of privileged connections as their daughters become the chosen ones, the ones who tame the shy boys."

  She paused, a sardonic smile pying on her lips. "And of course, living with a man... Well, it does open certain... doors."

  Evander sat still, his mind whirling with the implications of her words. His thoughts wandered to the untouched wilderness. I could always just vanish back into the wilderness, he mused, No one's holding a bde to my throat.

  But a small part of him, the part that remembered the gentle touch of her hand, the soft curve of her smile, the infectious gleam in her eyes, whispered a different tale. A tale that spoke of a different sort of wilderness, one filled with ughter and shared smiles, soft whispers in the night and the warmth of companionship.

  It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, he thought, his mind flickering with images of warm homes and softer beds, of shared meals and stolen moments, Being surrounded by beautiful women... Why not give it a shot?

  A slow smile began to spread across Evander's face, the inner workings of his thoughts masked by the calm exterior.

  The evening had deepened and the neon signs outside the café bathed the inside with a surreal glow. The entrance to the establishment chimed continuously as a stream of women sauntered in, breaking the hushed whispers with their jovial banter and soft ughter. As the space began to brim with life, Evander's gaze took in the scene unfolding around him.

  Nothing but women...as far as the eye can see, he thought, his mind churning with the implications. It was a situation that grew increasingly hazardous, for he was a stranger in a strange nd, accompanied by a woman he barely knew, and he was not naive enough to believe that he could trust her fully yet.

  He leaned closer to her across the table, his voice barely a murmur. "That's all the information I need for now."

  The words hung in the air between them, and he saw a change flicker across her face. Her lips, previously curved in a pyful grin, straightened into a line of shock, her eyes growing wide at the sudden realization that he was pnning to leave.

  "But...but...I can offer you more," she stuttered, desperation tingeing her voice, "More information, even...even access to some...illicit goods, if you're interested."

  He was halfway out of his seat, preparing to melt into the darkness of the night, when her words caused him to pause. A thought crossed his mind, and he found himself sinking back into his seat.

  "Can you get me anonymous access to a computer?" he asked, his eyes locking onto hers. Her expression morphed into one of annoyance, and she shook her head, the disapproval clear on her face.

  His lips twitched into a small frown. "What about cracking a password on my computer?"

  Her features brightened at his words, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across her face as she nodded. The change was almost instantaneous, as if he had presented her with an intriguing puzzle to solve. He sat back in his seat as they began discussing the logistics of their future meeting.

  She assured him that the best pn would be for him to invite her into the safe zone. "I could never enter on my own," she expined, her eyes wide and earnest, "But with you, we could talk freely, without prying eyes."

  In the dim, diffused glow of the café, Arckit extracted a pen from her pocket, uncapping it with a swift flick of her wrist. A worn piece of parchment was produced from her pocket, its edges frayed with use. She fttened it out on the table and started to etch her contact details onto the delicate surface. As she worked, the nib of the pen danced over the paper, leaving a trail of ink that coalesced into her name and a string of numbers.

  Arckit slid the paper across the table to him, her fingers brushing against his briefly. His eyes lowered to the parchment, his gaze tracing over the neat script. Arckit, the name swam before his eyes, and beneath it, a sequence of numbers - her contact details.

  "I don't have a phone," he told her, gncing back up to meet her gaze. The light from the neon signs outside danced across her face, painting her in shades of pink and blue. A sigh escaped her lips, and she pulled out a device from her pocket. It was sleek and rge, humming with an unknown energy, much like the smartphones from his previous world.

  She navigated through a series of complex-looking interfaces, her fingers dancing across the screen in a choreographed rhythm. As she worked, she expined to him the procedures he would have to follow to grant her access to the safe zone. "You just need to go to the police control station and provide them with my details. I'll be waiting at the women's side," she expined, her voice a soft whisper.

  As the details settled into pce, they agreed upon a meeting time: 12:00 sharp the next day. The confirmation of their arrangement seemed to drape a sense of finality over their conversation. He felt a sudden rush of urgency to leave, to disappear back into the night where his identity would remain concealed.

  With one st lingering gnce at Arckit, Evander rose from the table, his chair scraping against the floor. The café, its ambiance seeping out of the sporadic dim lights and distant murmur of idle conversation, held Evander captive for a moment longer. As he rose from the worn seat, his gaze moved instinctively towards Arckit, her form defined by the ethereal halo of low-hanging lights. A hint of concern etched into his brow as he leaned towards her.

  "You going to be okay traveling alone?" he asked, his tone ced with an unusual earnestness. He found himself drawn towards her in an unexpected manner. She was a puzzle, pieces of grit and determination nestled in the heart of her femininity, a stark contrast to the norms of this strange new world.

  She snorted, a pyful sound that reverberated in the quietness of their corner, "They got lucky, that's all," she asserted, the echo of their previous confrontation tinting her words with an underlying steeliness.

  His chest warmed at her words, a strange mix of pride and relief sweeping over him. There was strength in her, he realized, a resilience that intrigued him and drew him towards her. As he watched her, something shifted within him, a pull he found hard to resist. And as he succumbed to this unexpined attraction, his hands moved almost of their own volition.

  Reaching out, he gently lifted her hand from the table, his fingers wrapping around her slender ones. The rough calluses on his skin felt startlingly prominent against her softness. He felt the tension in her fingers, her surprise mirrored in the wide-eyed stare she shot him. Her pulse thrummed wildly beneath his touch, a rhythm that enticed him further.

  He leaned in, his lips ghosting over the back of her hand in a fleeting kiss, an act so bold and yet so innocent. A spark ignited as his lips met her skin, the jolt of shock shooting through her body evident in the rigid way she held herself. He felt her surprise as palpable as his own at the unexpected gesture. The foreign sensation of his lips against her skin was a novelty, a thrilling rush that sent a jolt of warmth through him.

  Pulling away, he let his gaze linger on her, drinking in the sight of her wide-eyed surprise before standing up. Let's see what tomorrow brings, he thought, the anticipation sending a thrill through him. With one st lingering gnce at Arckit, he turned away, his form blending seamlessly into the shadows as he retreated into the beckoning embrace of the night. His st sight of Arckit was her, sitting there, frozen in surprise, the echo of his kiss still evident in her widened eyes.