The next days passed by in a blur, switching between training with Haco and with Allie—who both had totally different purposes.

While Haco taught me how to throw a knife, I also paid attention on how to keep my back straight and my chin up high, just like Allie had told me to. I mentally went through motions and strategies whilst I was trying to do my best to eat and speak as a Lady. As I was doing push ups I listed up the endless Family trees, forcing myself to do another fifteen reps once I got one wrong.

Late every night when I went to bed I was sore and exhausted, crashing down on the bed and immediately falling into a dreamless slumber. I woke up early the next day to continue where I left off the day before. I was physically and mentally drained, but somehow I was able to keep standing—I had a clear goal in front of me, which I was determined to reach.

Because the ball was in three days I didn't have time to perfect everything. I still made mistakes. I still said the wrong things. I'd never blend in perfectly.

Surprisingly enough, it had been Mauna who had come up with the perfect cover. We would say that I came from the Wastelands—the uppers would buy it immediately.

The Wastelands were located much further inland, where the effects of the radiation still strongly affected the landscape. Over time, most of the Globers located there had moved to other Globes further away from the drop sites, but some had remained. I didn't get why they had stayed, since the inland was overcast by impenetrable ash clouds nearly all the time, and electric storms frequently covered the entire area. Electric storms were rare to pass over these regions, but we could feel the sheer force of nature all the way back here when they scourged their way over the inlands.

I didn't know all the details about the conditions there, part from some vague stories I had heard here and there, but I knew that there were nearly no Outsiders there either. The few that had found a way to live there, had developed other traits and ways to live which were even for us unorthodox.

The whispered stories about inlanders around the campfires back home were often full of thrill, mystery and horror—just how we liked them best. The inlanders were described as primal savages who had lost their contact with humanity, doing who-knows-what to survive.

I guessed that was how the Globers would explain us Outsiders as well.

But the point was, the Wasteland Globes weren't as advanced or sophisticated as the other Globes. The Lords and Ladies would accept some mistakes I'd make, simply brushing them off by saying I couldn't do anything about it. I was permitted to respond in the wrong way or act strangely from time to time—even though I had to try my best not to. It was still my job to find out as much as I could, and attempt to blend in as much as I was able to.

"Kid!" Haco yelled, startling me out of my daydream. He clapped his hands in front of my face. "Still with me?" he asked.

"Yeah," I answered, changing my footing on the narrow ledge I was standing on. It was strange how much progress you could make in a matter of days. At first I had to concentrate to even stand on the beam, but now it was like a second nature for me.

I rubbed my hands over my face. I could notice that the long days and short nights were starting to take their toll on me. I hoped I wouldn't fall asleep during the ball tonight.

Haco had told me I'd usually get taught by Vace, but he had randomly disappeared a while ago. Haco had said that he'd come back.... eventually.

I wondered if I had scared him off. I dismissed the thought—he didn't care about me. And even if he did, he wouldn't have said something like that.

"What's the main product of this Globe?" Allie asked, crossing her ankles. She was sitting on a stool in the training room as I was doing exercises with Haco.

Since the ball was tonight, both Allie and Haco were still trying to teach me as much as they could in the remaining hours we had.

I took a breath. "Technology. Specialised in microchips and electric weaponry," I answered, catching a knife Haco tossed me and hurtling it through the gym. It hit the target—thankfully—but only in one of the outer rings.

"Kiddo, relax your shoulders," Haco advised me once again as he handed me another knife. I threw it again, this time exhaling once I released my grip.

It hit the target, buzzing once it penetrated the field. It had missed the bullseye only by a few centimetres. A small grin tugged on the corner of my lips as Haco gave me a high five.

"Well done, kiddo. I can't believe how much you've—" Haco started, but Allie interrupted him.

"Tenna, amore, tell me which the richest Families are once again please,"

I sighed, listing up the names I had practiced every spare minute I'd had as I balanced on one leg. "Darkloft. Blackwater. Farhallow. Whitelock. Jadefire," I summed up, spreading my arms out to keep my balance. "Those are easy. Give me a hard one."

Allie nodded. "Good. Now, which way does—"

"Allie, come on! She has to learn how to fight as well," Haco pleaded suddenly, clasping his hands together.

"How much use is throwing a knife when you're conversing with the people who might just know the code? The code with which we can finally unravel the Globes and help the regg? Isn't that what we are striving for?" Allie replied, calm as ever. "The ball is in four hours. We have to get ready."

Haco sighed loudly, before throwing his hands up in the air and walking out, muttering about.

"Trouble in paradise?" I asked, raising an eyebrow once Haco was gone. I hopped to the other leg, trying to throw the dagger as I was balancing on my toes. I lifted my leg up, trying to keep still when I threw the dagger.

"Amore, Haco is nothing but a dear friend of mine," Allie retorted, standing up and smoothing down her dress. "I have a good reason for it."

"I figured. Poor boy," I said, jumping off the beam. "He really doesn't get it through his thick skull, does he?"

"No, he doesn't," Allie said. "He's just not my type." Allie clasped her hands together, letting out a small sigh. "We barely have four hours left. We have to get you ready!"

Four hours?! I thought, my brows furrowing together at the idea, How long can getting ready take?

* * *

I had been so wrong.

Allie and Mauna well knew how to spend four hours on my dress, hair, and make up.

My eyelids slowly drooped as Mauna was doing my hair, the movements of her fingertips through the strands lulling me to doze off.

When Allie snapped her fingers in front of my face I jumped up. "I'm off watch," I exclaimed. I quickly shut my mouth, my cheeks heating up as I realised what I had just blurted out.

Back home, when someone was on watch and they would fall asleep, anyone—everyone—automatically got the right to drench them with a bucket of ice cold water. Over time, some even started to see closing your eyelids for a mere five seconds as an excuse to soak someone. They found it hilarious.

I'd built the reflex to yell out I wasn't on watch soon enough after waking up several times soaking wet, while I was only relaxing out in the sun.

Still, the reflex had saved me from a wet set of clothes a couple of times. I'd never fallen asleep during watch though, which was a plus.

Allie laughed. "I'd advise you to withhold yourself of saying such things while in the Higher District," she said. She handed me a cup filled with a warm beverage. "You look tired. Drink this," she commanded.

I regarded the cup wearily. I knew better than to accept a drink from someone who knew how to kill a person with a single drop out of the right vial. "I think I'll pass," I said.

Even though I'd become closer with Allie over the last couple of days, I hadn't let my guard down. She was still an upper, even though she didn't exactly always act like one.

"If I had wanted to kill you you'd be dead already," Allie said, "Don't worry, it's coffee. It'll help you stay awake," she assured me.

I grabbed hold of the steaming cup, my fingers curling around the hot metal. Heat seeped into my cool skin, warming it up till my fingertips.

I inhaled the steam swirling above the cup, trying to place its scent. It was bitter yet sweet, and I felt myself invigorate just at the smell.

I paid attention to how my nose reacted to the scent, since smelling is simply inhaling miniscule particles of that certain thing. If it was poisonous I should be able to notice. Not as strong as actually trying it, but sometimes it worked.

No allergic reaction.

Bringing the cup to my lips, I regarded Mauna and Allie with scepticism, trying to see if they were about to break into dance once I had sipped the mysterious liquid. I was waiting for the moment that either of them would blurt out villainous laugh, exclaiming that they'd finally slayed the mighty Outsider, claiming the victory was theirs.

But that didn't happen.

I blinked a couple of times, trying to keep my thoughts straight. I really should have slept more.

To hell with it I thought. In one swift move I swallowed the entire contents of the cup, burning my throat and tongue in the process. I groaned loudly, doubling over.

Apart from my burning insides and tongue from the searing hot drink, the taste was horrible. It was way too bitter, leaving a rough film on my tongue.

I looked around me, grabbing Allie's cup of water she had standing on the floor beside her stool. I chased the horrid tinge of the coffee with the water. It didn't help.

I finished off the water. "That tastes horrible," I managed, pulling my wrist across my lips.

"Well, at least you're awake now," Allie said simply, picking up the cup I'd dropped and setting it on the table. She sighed. "Sit still," she commanded. "I have to do your cosmetics."

An eternity later I was ready, and wearing the dress again. This time not because I had to practice how to hold myself or walk in heels—this was the real deal.

Allie pulled me up and guided me to the mirror. "I gladly present you, the fair Lady Diyawood from the Wasteland Globes," she announced, making a small reverence.

I gave myself a once-over. Allie and Mauna had done a stunning job. I was wearing the same dress I'd worn earlier, but somehow it fitted better. I assumed it was because I now knew how to wear it—if there even was a proper way to do so.

But, I was afraid that Allie had more in stock for me than just this one dress. I had been able to throw a glance in her wardrobe a little while ago, and well... let's say I had a lot of options left.

Hooray.

Allie smiled as she stood beside me. "You remember what you have to do, right?"

I straightened my neck. "Chin up, back straight, and don't break my neck on these heels," I said.

Allie laughed, her nose scrunching up under her wide-set eyes. "Please try to make some allies as well? You'll need those if you ever want to retrieve those codes—for now, just get used to the balls."

"Yeah." Make allies. Find a way to get into the computer system. Get the codes. Break into the mainframe. Access the prisoner's records. Find Kael. Go back home.

"But, how do I know if—"

Suddenly, I heard a sharp, disembodied bleeping arise from a source unknown to me. I turned my head, trying to figure out where it came from.

Allie gave me my answer: "Your transport has arrived."