Evereena:

  Evereena found the training to be arduous, painful, and sometimes dull. Sadly, it appeared that she wouldn't get a bonded sword or any sword-fighting abilities.

  Oh well, at least I have [Insta-Death].

  But she was still made to do all of the physical exercises.

  I'm so strong now! And fast! And Tough! This is so much better than when I was a mere slave.

  "OK, the Misfits have another practice round with the guards. And you lot," said Jane, pointing to the freed slaves holding swords, "Let's go through the basic forms again. Twenty each, of course. And Evereena, Esther and Frannie go through your physical exercise routines again."

  Groan.

  Evereena, Esther and Frannie did as they were told.

  So, too, did Hestia and Reggie. Practicing with their new bonded swords, which System-san had granted them in record time. (Normally it took a Felixian a year or more of practice to get a bonded implement.) They went through the basic thrusts, cuts, slices and other movements, their swords flicking faster than an average person could see, their sword tips producing mini sonic booms as they exerted their maxed-out strength and speed abilities.

  "Good, good!" said Jane, "Now you've got the rest of the evening off! But don't forget to get a good night's sleep. And that means you too, Misfits."

  Jane pointed to the Misfits, who had just finished their practices.

  They probably spend half the night in each other's beds.

  Not that I care anymore.

  She turned to go back to her room when she was surprised by someone picking her up and hugging her.

  Oh, it's Cassy!

  "How about we go, just the two of us, up to the top of the castle and watch the sunset? We still have plenty of time until tea."

  "Yes! I'd love to!"

  They were now sitting on a couple of chairs right next to each other, near the edge of the roof area. Feet up on the battlements, they could see the main street of Manifestoria, running out of the town and disappearing behind low tree-covered hills.

  "Enough of the doom and gloom! Let's talk about your future after the slaver Emperor is defeated," said Cassy.

  "But, will he?"

  "Let's just assume that he is, OK. Let's have some fun thinking about a nice future for you."

  "But you won't be here after the fight!"

  Sigh. "I won't, which is a pity. So that's why I'm having this discussion now when I can. I will make as big an impression on your life as possible!"

  Evereena, already being hugged by Cassy, leaned against Cassy's shoulder. Cassy patted Evereena's back with her tail.

  "But, I don't have any skills, nor any education, I don't know anything about society! It's like those bullies said: I'm just a miserable slave girl, not good for anything."

  Cassy gently whacked Evereena's back with her tail.

  "None of that talk here, young lady. Where are those bullies now? Probably running for their lives. And where are you? Right next to Queen Eleanor! You're one of her confidants! You're part of her inner court. And all of those in her inner court? We are important!"

  "I guess so?"

  "And, consider your powers. You have maxed out skills. And! You have [Insta-Death]. You’re the only one on Felixerra at the moment who does. That means that System-san - I mean, The Voice of the World - must think highly of you. He or she doesn't give out unique skills like that to just anyone, you know. In other words, you are no longer a little slave girl. You are destined to be someone important! You will have some power over others! You'll be a part of Eleanor's new kingdom when all this is over."

  Evereena tried to think this through.

  What she said is true. I report directly to the queen. I have [Insta-Death] and [Insta-Sleep]. My stats are impressive.

  So, maybe I can be someone important for once.

  This feels so strange.

  Although, I'm still going to miss Cassy.

  "I'll try to be the best I can."

  "There is no try! You won't try to, you will be the best! OK?"

  "Yes?"

  "Evereena, my dear. Obviously, I need to emphasise all of this. So, let's do it. Shout out, 'It's all bullshit!'"

  It only took half a dozen times before Evereena managed to produce a respectable 'It's all bullshit!' call.

  "Good! Good!" said Cassy, "In the future, when you are bossing people around and helping Eleanor run a kingdom, just remember that when you are feeling down!"

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "OK, Cassy. And, ah, I love you."

  "And I love you, too."

  The only person, after my mother, I have ever loved.

  With that, they relaxed and watched the sun go down, and then they went down the stairs to find the others.

  The Misfits:

  During their evening get-together, Cassy told the others about her talk with Evereena.

  "Poor kid. She hasn't realised it yet, has she?" said Alice.

  "Nope!" said Cassy.

  Esther:

  At some stage late that evening, Esther had a few words with Aragon.

  "When I was a slave, I was ordered to switch on my fertility and have Evereena, but after that, I was ordered to always keep it off. Now that I have a choice, I might choose to have another baby. But only after we win this fight. I will be thinking about it."

  Esther smiled at Aragon.

  "I'm sure you have no objection to that, right?"

  "Ah, no, that will be wonderful!"

  Aragon:

  Is the Voice still giving her guidance? She's beginning to get so self-assertive.

  He remembered his vows to her. His 100% strength vows to her.

  Err, by the Voice, I'm not objecting, OK?

  Becky:

  Before bedtime, they were all sitting on the adult's bed. Eleanor and Lena side by side, with Mason sitting on Lena's lap and Becky on Eleanor's lap.

  Eleanor is a really powerful and important person! She's the queen of a whole country and has all these other leaders reporting to her.

  I'm so glad that Lena found her.

  "Becky, and Mason too, of course; I must tell you that the upcoming fight will be dangerous. We could, ah, die from it. But we'll be doing our best not to, of course! If we win, we will get rid of all slave collars. There will be no more slavery left."

  Becky briefly thought back to the time when she was enslaved and then blocked the memories. They weren't worth the effort of thinking about.

  I never want to go back to those horrible days. Instead, Lena and Eleanor are so wonderful.

  I don't want to die. But Eleanor is looking after us! She'll save us again.

  But she said we might lose.

  I don't want to be enslaved again. I don't. No, I don't. Dying would be better.

  I think.

  "That's all right, Eleanor. We'll help Lena as much as possible, and she will help you to win. I don't want to be a slave again."

  Eleanor is hugging me so tightly. Hugs are nice.

  Is Eleanor crying?

  Mason:

  "Eleanor, everything will be good! We'll help Lena! There's no need to cry!"

  It's nice being hugged by Lena.

  They give us lots of lovely food.

  We have such a nice bed to sleep in.

  And Eleanor looks after all of us.

  "Oh, Lena, why are you crying also?"

  Eleanor:

  Two weeks beforehand, Eleanor chaired a meeting with all of the fighters and a lot of support people.

  "OK, the stone workers have been busy producing the building blocks, the blacksmiths are working overtime to produce the reinforcing rods, and we have a small army of porters carrying all of the stuff to the Wall and up fifty kilometres to the internal room. Many thanks to the Misfits for maxing out the strengths of these porters. Also, thanks to the Misfits for bringing most of those porters from the slaver country."

  "Naturally, the porters move between Manifestoria and the Wall at night. Hopefully, this will prevent the Emperor from seeing what we are doing."

  "In a week, all of the fighters, plus a lot of support people, will also be moving. We'll set up a base about three kilometres below the room. It will be a pain since there is little room to spread out, but we'll manage. The logistics is a nightmare, but it's only for a week or so."

  "Manifestoria itself will be left under the control of the remaining guards and a few of the remaining nobles whom I trust. After all, they volunteered to stay, which must count for something."

  "Once at the site, we will have daily practice runs. Naturally, we'll have to fit ourselves around the final construction work. Fortunately, the Treasurer has produced a workflow chart for everything we need to do. Thanks to Drayden for giving us the idea of how to produce Gantt charts. Ahh, that is the right term?"

  "Yes," said Drayden, "It's just the name of someone back on Earth who first invented them."

  "OK. And, unfortunately, there won't be much privacy for that last week; ah, sorry to whoever might be affected by that."

  Eleanor carefully avoided catching the eyes of any of the Misfits.

  "And, I suppose you have all heard of the reports relayed to us by semaphores from countries sufficiently far around the ring to see. The Emperor is moving a lot of slaves along the top of the Wall towards us.

  Usually, this would cause us to panic about a possible invasion. Of course, if we lose, we already know there will be an invasion, but nothing can be done.

  At least if that happens, since we will also be plugging the staircases below the internal room, the slaves will be slowed down as they try to get to Manifestoria."

  That night, after she and Lena had gotten the kids to sleep, Eleanor had an idea. She made another vow -

  Ding! You have made a private vow, 100%. If I ever get the choice, I will instantly choose to destroy slavery.

  Lean nodded in agreement. "A good idea. You will always try to do that anyway, but you will be compelled to do so this way. I wonder if your vow would overpower an absolute order if you were ever enslaved?"

  "Who knows?." said Eleanor, "And, remember, it is a 100% vow. Probably nobody else has ever had a chance like this before."

  "That brings me to another idea," said Eleanor, "Remember how I made those vows about being Manifestoria's queen?"

  Lena nodded her head.

  "How about we think up an appropriate vow to make when we win this fight."

  "So, it's fantasy time?"

  Eleanor swiped Lena with her tail.

  "Rubbish. It could happen. So we must be prepared."

  They spent an hour hashing out the details before going to sleep.

  Misfits, last night in Manifestoria:

  It was a week before the fight date; they would be travelling to the Wall tomorrow morning. The Misfits were holding their last meeting in their club room.

  They were very subdued.

  "There will be no privacy after tonight," said Cassy.

  "So, this is our last chance to make love to each other. As in, the last chance forever," said Drayden.

  "How about we split up in pairs for half an hour, then swap over, and then convene back here?" said Bronsen.

  "That sounds like a good idea. And, everyone, after our last bit of passion, what about we all sleep in here tonight? I'm, well, I want the presence of everyone around me." said Alice.

  "Let's do it," said Bronsen.

  An hour later, they were back. Lying down, with their heads right up to each other and their bodies spread out in a cross shape, in a girl, boy, girl, boy order.

  Each Misfit extended their arms out to the sides and took the hand of their neighbours.

  There was a long silence as they lay there in the darkness, listening to each other's breathing and faintly hearing in the distance the sounds of people moving around in the castle.

  "It was wonderful while it lasted," said Bronsen.

  Murmurs of agreement.

  "I just realised I never did get to confirm this," said Cassy, "Drayden, did you have a teddy bear or equivalent back home?"

  "What! Oh, ah, how did you know that?" said Drayden.

  "Oh, just by observation... Can't give away all my secrets, you know."

  "Really? What did your family think about that?" said Alice.

  "Oh, it was fine. It was my teddy bear from my childhood, and I always kept it by my bedside, and, well, it just stayed there. And yes, sometimes, I would hold it for nostalgia as I went to sleep."

  "Of course, I hope none of you will tell other students that little piece of information about me?"

  "Hmm, I guess I can make that promise," said Bronsen.

  "Yeah. But, of course, there is no need to make it a vow," said Cassy.

  After that, they were quiet and drifted off to sleep.