Somewhere in the darkness of the tunnels beneath the city of Moonwhisper, currents of water carried a thief and a sve into the unknown. The prison break was successful, but they still had to survive the endless stream, in which Eugene Mustfill and Korvus Nightshade were at the mercy of the raging element, as if trapped in a relentless whirlpool.

  Eugene struggled to keep his head above water, but each time, the waves dragged him under. And each time, he fought back. Korvus wasn’t sure how much longer this strange ride would st, but he knew exactly where they would end up. The collector. Most of the tunnels converged there.

  Minutes stretched into hours, but soon Korvus noticed a light in the distance. An exit. Freedom. Perhaps even safetyif only temporary. The light grew brighter until it finally consumed the escaping prisoners. Korvus and Eugene were thrown out of the pipe into a massive reservoir filled with water.

  “Bloody hell!” Eugene yelled as he plunged down, submerging once more.

  For a few moments, he remained underwater until Korvus’s strong hand grabbed him and pulled him to the surface. When Eugene opened his eyes, he found himself lying ft on the cold stone floor, as if he had been thrown back into a prison cell. Looking around, he realized they were in a spherical chamber. Somewhere above, light seeped in, illuminating the reservoir and himself. A few torches flickered at the tunnel entrances. It seemed this byrinth connected all of Moonwhisper, and they had nded at its heart.

  Korvus stood nearby. The only thought running through his mind was how ridiculous Eugene looked in his torn, filthy dress. With a smirk, the goblin extended a hand and helped him up.

  “Where are we?” the red-haired youth asked as he got to his feet, adjusting his gsses. The gss in one of the frames was shattered. “Damn! My gsses are broken.” Gncing down at his dress, which had been made especially for a fantasy festival, he added, “And this thing is only good for the trash.”

  “We’re in the collector,” Korvus surveyed the chamber. “The tunnels are all connected. Smugglers and anyone who wants to move unseen use them. The Guild included.”

  “Because of the Dominion?” Eugene lowered his gaze. Korvus was still holding his hand.

  “Partly. But mostly to avoid unwanted attention. Rumors spread fast in Moonwhisper.”

  “You’ve been here before? Do you know where to go next?”

  “I have an idea. If I’m right, we’ll come out in the lower district.” Korvus pulled Eugene forward, heading toward one of the tunnels. “And your gsses…” He raised a finger. “I know where to get you new ones. Don’t worry about the clothes either.”

  The prisoners vanished into the tunnel’s darkness, and the torchlight flickering on the walls faded. The light from above, which had illuminated the collector, disappeared as well.

  As he followed Korvus, Eugene recalled the events of the past night. Lyraeus. The prison. The Dominion wizard. The traitor she tortured. Their unexpected rescue. It all felt so strange, even though it had happened so recently. Half an hour ago? An hour? Yet now, it seemed like an eternity had passed.

  Feeling Korvus’s warm hand, Eugene thought of him with gratitude. Only thanks to his new friend was he now free. Otherwise, by dawn, he would have been burnedlike the Scum of Lyraeus.

  The Scum of Lyraeus. The lustful curse, forcing Eugene to crave pleasure, driving his mind to the brink. And only a man’s body could satisfy that hunger. Otherwise… Eugene would descend into madness, with no escape. Lyraeus had cursed him just hours ago. Soon, the curse would fully awaken. He would become a sve to desire for eternity. And Eugene would have to make a choicelose himself completely or try to dey the inevitable, hoping there was still a way out.

  He was afraid. But Korvus’s warm hand, like fire, kept the fear at bay. Eugene hadn’t been in this new world for long, yet he already knew he could rely on the goblin.

  It was also strange how quickly he had forgotten his past self. Virginia Mustfill, the person he once was, was gone. Only fragments of memories remained. But with every passing minute, they faded. As if the curse didn’t just awaken an insatiable hungerit changed who he was.

  Once Virginia. NowEugene. And very soon, his former life would become nothing more than a half-forgotten dream.

  That was how it worked, apparently.

  The perfect sve of Lyraeus. Without even remembering who he used to be.

  ***

  For half an hour, the wanderers had been wandering through the byrinth in search of an exit. Sometimes, the darkness of the tunnels was pierced by torches on the walls. It was here that the smuggler's routes passed. The tunnels shifted one after another, and the torches vanished again. Watching the confident steps of the goblin, it seemed that Korvus knew exactly where they were and how far they were from the exit.

  “What will we do once we get out?” Eugene asked the goblin, who was leading him through the darkness.

  “First, we'll wash up, change clothes, and eat,” Korvus said quietly, as if afraid someone might hear him.

  “And then?”

  “Then we'll think about it,” Korvus replied calmly. He already knew what the next step would be.

  “I think Dominion will put a bounty on us. The wizard from Dominion saw us. She'll be searching for us.”

  “I know,” Korvus had already taken that into account in his pn.

  “You're so calm,” Eugene turned to the thief. “Aren't you scared?”

  “I'm not scared,” Korvus answered shortly and stopped. Eugene followed him. “Listen, Eugene. We need to blend in with the crowd. In Moonwhisper, there are humans, goblins, and beasts. If we don't stand out, no one will notice us. I'm very good at staying unnoticed. But if I walk around with a guy in a torn women's dress, we’ll definitely attract attention.”

  “Yeah, but…” Eugene wanted to argue, but Korvus stopped him.

  “It will be hard for us if we're hungry too, so we need to eat. And…,” Korvus hesitated, searching for words. “You're all wet. If you get sick, you'll put us in danger. At the moment when we need to act, you just won’t be able to. So, first food, clothes, and rest.”

  “Do we have time for that?”

  “Trust me,” the goblin squeezed Eugene's hand, “I know what I'm doing. This isn't the first time.”

  “Alright,” Eugene nodded into the darkness, though Korvus couldn't see it.

  “This way,” the thief pulled the young man, and they turned into another tunnel. At the end, they saw the light of a torch and a small iron dder.

  Approaching the torch, Korvus released Eugene and began climbing the dder first. Reaching the top, he pressed his hand against a metal pte. His muscles tensed, and with a screech, the pte yielded to his strength. The light blinded the goblin. Pushing it away, Korvus gestured to Eugene to follow him. The young man obeyed and grabbed the metal bars.

  Eugene began to hear sounds, voices. Smells started to emerge. With every step, they became clearer. The light from the hatch grew brighter until it completely enveloped him. The goblin's hand grabbed Eugene, and Korvus helped him climb into the light.

  Moonwhisper. A city built centuries ago, which had survived many attacks, greeted a new inhabitant. The city itself consisted of three rings: the lower, middle, and upper districts. Korvus and Eugene found themselves in one of the hidden corners of the lower district a pce where no one would pay attention to them.

  Wooden buildings, two or three stories high, created a network of narrow streets where the residents of Moonwhisper moved continuously, day and night. There was never a moment when the streets were empty. Numerous taverns, shops, and street vendors filled the lower district with life. This pce had become a refuge for those who either acted in the shadows or had no chance to live in the middle or upper districts. Thieves, prostitutes, simple traders they all coexisted, and over time, formed a network known as the Guild.

  The lower district, though surrounded by a wall protecting the entire city, remained without proper supervision. Only a few guards reluctantly patrolled the lower ranks of society. The Dominion itself saw this district as merely the first line of defense in case of an attack, it was doomed to destruction to buy time for the middle and upper districts. Perhaps that was why most of the buildings here were wooden.

  Fortunately for the residents of the middle and upper districts, they were separated by another stone wall. The middle district consisted mostly of stone buildings ranging from five to seven stories high. Here, there were shops, craft workshops, and the main industries of Moonwhisper, and most importantly here lived those who gdly obeyed the Church of the Kyrexian Dominion. It was on the outskirts of the middle district where the prison was located, from which three prisoners had escaped that night.

  The upper district belonged to the elite of Moonwhisper. Loyal servants of the Dominion, traders of rare goods, soldiers, and magicians lived in isotion from the rest of the city. At its very center stood the Citadel of the Dominion a castle surrounded by a river that ran through the entire city. There, the Pastor of the Dominion, the ruler of Moonwhisper, a loyal servant of the Supreme Patriarch, resided. And there, too, hid the mysterious vault that no one could open.

  Moonwhisper, like most cities in this world, was under the Dominion’s control. The inhabitants of the lower district knew well what crossing the district boundaries without the Church's permission meant. And those who lived in the middle and upper districts were fully aware of what was happening on the streets below. The city was unified, but it was divided by walls walls that protected, but also separated one from another.

  However, even these walls were not insurmountable. The Guild and the Church were aware of each other's existence. Rumors circuted that an unspoken agreement existed between them: the Dominion did not interfere with the Guild's affairs, and the Guild did not touch the Dominion. The filth belonged to the Guild, civilization to the Dominion. The bance of these powers remained unshakable.

  Until three prisoners escaped from the prison.

  ***

  The morning dawn illuminated the city, waking up from its slumber. The lower district of Moonwhisper was filling with people and beasts. Street vendors opened their food carts, attracting the first customers. The line at the gates leading to the Middle District gradually grew longer. Shops swung open their doors, and their owners had been calling out to passersby since early morning.

  Eugene walked behind the goblin, gncing around. Surprisingly, he was smiling. Beasts of various races, humans, and even goblins were calmly talking to each other. It seemed like the fantasy stories he had read in the past had come to life. The new world was unfolding before him in all its fullnessnot just the dark forests and prisons, but the true lives of its inhabitants. And now, Eugene was a part of this world.

  Despite the curse and the uncertain future, the young man couldn’t help but admire what he was seeing. He had always dreamed of such a pce but never thought he would end up here. However, Korvus was rightseveral beasts were eyeing the red-haired young man carefully, and some were even smiling slightly. Eugene Mustfill stood out too much among the others. But still, Moonwhisper was accepting its new resident.

  "Let's go," Korvus waved Eugene over.

  "Where to?" Eugene quickened his pace to catch up with the goblin.

  "To a special pce," Korvus grinned, turning around the corner.

  The street narrowed so much that only two people, shoulder to shoulder, could walk through it. Tall buildings seemed to lean on each other, but they still left a narrow passage between them. In this gap, the two fugitives disappeared from the city's view.

  Korvus approached a wooden staircase and, without slowing down, climbed upwards. Eugene followed him. After a few minutes, they reached the roof.

  "Wow..." Despite his broken gsses, Eugene could still see the beauty of Moonwhisper.

  The lower district stretched out to the horizon. On the other side, the wall separating the Middle District rose high. Beyond it, the smoke from factories was visible, with a few tall buildings, and higher still, the Dominion Citadel. The majestic castle towered above the rest of the city, like a guardian watching over its life.

  Suddenly, a noise sounded. Eugene looked up. High in the sky, through the clouds, an airship was floating toward the Upper District. Far off in the distance, more of these airships could be seen.

  "Welcome to Moonwhisper, Eugene," Korvus climbed onto a roof ledge and spread his arms out. He was smilingslightly, but genuinely. He was trying to distract the young man from his heavy thoughts.

  Eugene was now a sve to desire, and his first encounter with this world had been far from easy. Korvus wanted him not to dwell on it. A new day had begun, and that meant they were still alive. This was a rule the goblin had learned long ago and wanted to pass on to his companion.

  It doesn’t always rain, but the sun doesn’t always shine either. This is the cycle of life. And if you’re alive, not everything is lost. If Eugene understands this, it will be easier for him to live in this world.

  "Moonwhisper..." Eugene walked up to the goblin. Now they were standing side by side, at the same height. The sunlight illuminated Korvus’ face, allowing Eugene to see him much better than in the dim light of night.

  "A city where everything exists," the goblin pced his hand on Eugene's shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze.

  "It’s incredible…" Eugene whispered.

  "Is this how you imagined it?"

  "Yes… but…"

  "But what?"

  "I didn’t think it would be this big."

  "Moonwhisper isn’t that big a city, Eugene. There’s much more."

  "Right... I remember." Eugene smiled.

  In the sunlight, he noticed how handsome the goblin was. His eyes, his tusked smile, his strong body… The heavy hand on his shoulder… That touch... Something awakened deep inside Eugene, growing like a quiet fire. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from his companion.

  "Your introduction to the city is just beginning," Korvus jumped off the ledge and headed for a small building on the roof. "Later, we’ll eat and visit a pce."

  "What pce?" Eugene hurried to follow.

  "They might help us there."

  "With the curse?" Hope echoed in the young man’s voice.

  "No. But with what to do next."

  The building resembled a tiny apartment or an annex. Wooden walls, a tiled roof, a couple of windows, and a door. Nothing remarkable. It looked more like a storage space or a shed where residents keep old things.

  Korvus approached the door, pointed two fingers at the lock, and, as if escaping from a prison, began to move them as though controlling invisible threads. In a moment, the lock clicked and fell to the ground. The goblin pulled the handle, opening the door. With a gesture, he invited his companion inside.

  "Let me guess…" Eugene stepped across the threshold. "Is this illegal? Did we just break into someone’s property?"

  "Someone’s property?" Korvus ughed as he locked the door behind them. "What makes you think that? Because I’m a thief?"

  "Isn’t that the case?"

  Eugene looked around.

  It was still an apartment. Small, but cozy. Lanterns and flower boxes with unfamiliar flowers stood on the windowsills. A small kitchen, a table with two chairs, a drawer with ptes and spoons. Something resembling a couch. Across from it, a window looking out at the edge of the building. The view from there opened to other rooftops stretching to the horizon.

  But what caught Eugene’s attention the most was the bookshelf, crammed full of books. There were surprisingly many of them. However, the inscriptions on the covers were unreadable to Eugenehe didn’t recognize the nguage.

  At the end of the room, another door was visible. It clearly led to the only room in this apartment.

  The one who lived here was extremely attentive to details and cleanliness. A book lover, who likely enjoyed reading in the evenings, watching the sunset. Next to the sofa stood a small box with several bottles, which seemed to resemble alcohol. Apparently, the apartment's tenant enjoyed a drink after a long workday. In any case, the atmosphere of this pce gave Eugene a strange sense of peace, mixed with an exotic coziness.

  “Well...” Korvus said, sitting on a chair. “Welcome to my home.” He raised his arms and stretched.

  “This…” Eugene scanned the apartment with his eyes. “Is this your home?”

  “Didn’t think a goblin could have a home?” Korvus ughed.

  “No, I…”

  “What?” Korvus stood up and walked over to a small cupboard. He opened it and took out a towel.

  “I’m surprised. It’s… very clean… cozy…”

  “Do goblins have to live in filth?” Korvus handed Eugene the towel.

  “What? No… I… I’m sorry…” the young man exhaled. “You see…” Eugene took the towel in his hands. “In my world, there are stories…”

  “What stories?” Korvus didn’t release the towel, keeping Eugene close.

  “Made-up ones. There are many… But there are some that talk about magic and wizards, about creatures that don’t exist in our world.”

  “Like me?” Korvus smiled slightly.

  “Yes, exactly. In my world, there are no goblins, but in these stories, there are characters…”

  “And they’re goblins?” Korvus tilted his head.

  “Yes, and there, they’re described… In general, they live in caves, kidnap people… and much more.”

  “Funny.” Korvus finally let go of the towel. “Can’t say everything’s different in this world. My homend is on another continent.” He waved his hand, inviting Eugene to go further. “My ancestors arrived on this nd when their homend perished, and they were searching for a new refuge. But…” Korvus turned around. “The way they did it wasn’t the most peaceful. When the local wizards and warriors fought back, most of my people left the continent. But some stayed.”

  “And you were among them?”

  “What? No!” the goblin excimed. “That happened almost a century ago. My ancestors stayed here.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  “I was born here, in Moonwhisper. But as far as I know, those who stayed in my homend… they don’t live in caves. But their traditions and customs are very different from here.”

  Korvus opened the door to a room and let Eugene in. It was smalljust enough space for a double bed, a small bedside table, and a wardrobe. There was a window near the bed, and in the corner, a door leading to the bathroom.

  “That's the bathroom.” Korvus gently nudged Eugene forward, touching his waist. “Take a shower, and I’ll find you some clothes.”

  “Okay,” the young man nodded. “Thank you, Korvus… I really…”

  “Thank me ter.” The goblin turned around and left the room.

  Eugene Mustfill entered the bathroom, pulled off his dirty dress and underwear. And only now did he truly see what Lyraeus had done. His body had changed. Virginia’s chest was gone, along with what had made him a girl. It was as though he had always been a guythin, soft, smooth.

  Eugene picked up a small mirror from the cabinet and looked at himself. His face had completely changed. Virginia no longer existed.

  He touched his cheek, lips… and became frightened. The ancient magic, almost unknown to anyone, had changed not only his body but also his mind. The memories of his old self began to fade. He tried to hold on to them, keep them in his memory, but they slipped away like water through his fingers, sinking into emptiness.

  “What do I do now…” he whispered quietly, putting the mirror aside and turning the knob.

  A stream of hot water poured down. The bathroom quickly filled with steam. Eugene stood still, hoping that the water would wash away the curse. He wanted to become himself again… the person he could barely remember. But miracles couldn’t overcome ancient magic. It was stronger.

  As water droplets hit his body, Eugene couldn’t tell what he had done longerwashed away the dirt or studied his new, unfamiliar body. But at that moment, something strange took hold of his mind.

  Before his eyes appeared the image of Korvus Nightshadeshort but sturdy, the goblin who saved him. The one who had held his hand, who helped him escape from prison. But Eugene didn’t see him as either a hero or a thief. He saw him as a male who, if he wanted, could take him to bed and make him submit. And the thought made Eugene happy. If Korvus wanted to use him for his pleasure, he would obediently submit. He wanted to serve him, be part of his will.

  A knock at the door pulled him back to reality.

  “Are you okay?”

  His chest burned. Eugene was breathing heavily. A strange excitement took over him, invading his mind, dominating him. A hunger he couldn’t satisfy. A desire he couldn’t resist.

  “I need a shower too!” Korvus’ voice called again. “I’m all wet from the tunnels.”

  “Yes!” Eugene shouted, quickly turning off the water. “Sorry, I’m coming out.”

  He wrapped himself in a towel and opened the door.

  Korvus was standing there, holding clean clothes: a shirt, pants, and shoes.

  “How are you?” the goblin asked with obvious concern. “You’ve been in there for half an hour.”

  “I?” Eugene hadn’t noticed how quickly time passed. “I was thinking.” He forced a smile.

  “Get dressed,” Korvus commanded briefly in a low voice.

  Something inside Eugene shivered.

  “Now it’s my turn.”

  Eugene left the bathroom and began to get dressed.