The multi-purpose center stood before them.
Modern castle. Stone architecture mixed with glass panels. Traditional structure with futuristic materials. Towers rose from corners. Imposing. Beautiful. Functional.
The entrance was wide. Grand. Double doors opened automatically.
The teams entered.
Proctors waited inside. Six of them. Perfect formation. Perfect stillness.
They wore sleek black tuxedos. Formal. Immaculate.
But their eyes. Empty. Glassy. No spark. No life.
Androids. Definitely androids.
Their movements were smooth but mechanical. Precise but lifeless.
The hall opened before them. Massive. The ceiling stretched impossibly high. Lights hung suspended. Chandeliers mixed with modern fixtures.
Juli's eyes went everywhere. Scanning. Taking it all in.
He smiled. Wide. Genuine.
Queen P'reri noticed. Her large eyes tracked him. Watched his reaction. His joy. His wonder.
She smiled. Soft. Maternal almost.
Rows of seats filled the hall. Individual desks. Spaced perfectly. Each numbered.
The proctors moved efficiently. Directed cadets. Maintained order.
A proctor approached Juli. Gestured. "This way, Cadet."
"Wait." P'reri's voice cut through. Gentle but firm. "One moment, if you please. Cadet, might I have a word? In private, yeah?"
The reaction was immediate.
Heads turned. Eyes locked on Juli. Recognition hit like lightning.
"That's him." A whisper. Barely audible.
"Julian Weiper." Another voice. Tighter. Nervous.
"Number two." Fear. Actual fear.
"The monster." Someone breathed the word like a curse.
Murmurs erupted. Thick with tension. Cadets shifted. Stepped back. Created distance. Some stared. Others looked away quickly.
Polo stood at his designated area. His calm eyes observed. No fear. Just awareness. His focus sharpened.
Juli blinked. Looked around. Confused. Why was everyone staring? Had he done something wrong?
P'reri noticed the reactions. Her eyes swept the hall. Understanding flickered across her features.
"This way, Cadet." She gestured toward a corridor. Away from the crowd. Away from the stares. "A moment of your time, if you don't mind, proper like."
Juli shrugged. Smiled. "Sure!"
They walked. Moved into the corridor. Private. Quiet. The door closed behind them. Muffled the noise. Gave them space.
The other cadets couldn't hear. Couldn't see. Just wondered. Just feared. Just speculated.
P'reri moved closer to Juli in the quiet corridor. Her silver-white tentacles shifted. Her expression was warm. Interested.
"Might I know your name, young cadet?"
Juli's grin exploded. Bright. Cheerful. His thumb shot toward himself. "Julian Weiper! But you can call me Juli, yeah?" The gesture was adorable. Pure. Unselfconscious.
P'reri's smile widened. "Juli, then. A pleasure, proper like."
She paused. Her large eyes studied his face. His expression. His energy. "Tell me, Juli. How do you feel about Pelagis? About Ozyra? This water world of ours?"
Juli's grin widened. Impossibly wide. His eyes sparkled. Lit up like stars. He tried to mimic her accent. The attempt was. Rough. Very rough. "It's proper brilliant, innit! The bubbles! The colors, yeah! The buildings that look like they grew instead of being built, they did!"
The accent was terrible. Inconsistent. He dropped it mid-sentence. Picked it back up wrong. The pronunciation was off. The rhythm all wrong.
But the effort. The pure genuine effort to connect. To speak her way. To honor her culture.
P'reri's smile grew wider. Warmer. Her eyes softened with affection. Her tentacles curled slightly. A gesture of fondness among her people.
Juli continued. Normal voice now. Words tumbling out. Fast. Excited. "And the dancing! The tentacle dancing was so cool! And the sky! You can see other planets! And the sun! It spirals! I've never seen anything like it!"
He bounced slightly. Energy pouring out. "And the food! We tried something purple that moved! And the music! And everyone's so nice! And the makeup! The face paint! So artistic! And..."
P'reri laughed. Genuine. Delighted. The sound was musical. Warm.
Juli took a breath. Composed himself. Slightly. His thumb shot up. He tried the accent again. Worse this time. Somehow even worse. "I'll remember this awesome planet forever, I will! And I'm totally visiting later too, bruv! Hehe."
He was doing it on purpose now. Trying to make her smile. Trying to connect through her language. It was his way. His endearment. Clumsy but heartfelt.
He grinned wider. Back to normal. "You're awesome too, boss squid lady!"
P'reri's eyes widened. Then she laughed. Loud. Rich. Pure joy. Her tentacles moved with delight. The boy had tried to speak like them. Badly. So very badly. But with such pure heart. Such genuine affection.
"Boss squid lady! Oh, I quite like that, I do!" Her tentacles shifted. She raised one. Mimicked his gesture. Thumb up. Adorable. "And your accent, yeah? Needs work, it does. But the effort!" She beamed. "You're welcome anytime, Juli. Anytime at all, proper like!"
Juli's grin matched hers. Perfect synchronization. "Cool!"
P'reri's expression was fond. Maternal. "Come then. Let's get you to your seat, yeah? Can't have you missing the examination, we can't."
They walked back toward the hall entrance. Back to the massive doors. Back to where the other cadets waited. Wondering. Speculating. Fearing.
P'reri opened the door. Gestured to a nearby proctor. "Please escort Cadet Weiper to his seat, innit."
The proctor bowed. Led Juli away. Toward his designated spot among the rows.
Juli turned. Waved back at P'reri. Still grinning. Still glowing with energy. "Thanks, boss squid lady!"
The other cadets heard. Eyes widened. Jaws dropped. Did he just. To the queen. Did he really just.
P'reri waved back. Openly. Warmly. A queen waving at a cadet. At Juli.
As Juli was escorted to his seat, the whispers intensified. Confused. Shocked. Fearful and baffled in equal measure.
An officer approached P'reri. Quiet. Respectful. Waited for acknowledgment.
P'reri turned. Still smiling from the encounter. "Yes?"
The officer leaned closer. Voice low. Discreet. "Pardon me, M'lady. But. Do you know who that cadet is?"
P'reri smiled. Warm. Genuine. "Yes. Now I do, proper like. Julian Weiper. Juli."
The officer shifted. "Um. Ma'am. He's ranked number two in the Constellation Illustrated power rankings."
P'reri's eyes gleamed. "Is that so?"
"Yes, M'lady. And. From what I've gathered. He's only second due to poor academics. And his background. If those weren't factors." The officer paused. "They say he could've easily been number one."
P'reri's expression shifted. More focused.
The officer wasn't done. "They're also calling him a monster, M'lady."
Silence.
P'reri's eyes changed. The warmth remained but something else emerged. Something protective. Something fierce.
Her eyebrows furrowed. Well. The equivalent. The ridges above her eyes deepened. Her tentacles stiffened. Slightly. Controlled but noticeable.
"A monster?" Her voice was quiet. Sharp. "How dare they label that sweet boy with such a horrid name!"
The officer stepped back slightly.
"That child who sees beauty everywhere. Who tries to speak our way with genuine effort." Her eyes blazed. "That is no monster. That is a treasure, he is."
The officer nodded. Quick. Understanding. "Of course, M'lady. I apologize for the terminology."
"Not your fault, innit." P'reri's expression softened. Just slightly. "But spread the word among our people, yeah? That boy is to be treated with respect. With kindness. As he deserves, proper like."
"Yes, M'lady. Immediately."
The officer bowed. Departed. Left to carry out orders.
P'reri's eyes found Juli across the hall. Settling into his seat. Still smiling. Still pure.
A monster. They called him a monster.
Fools. Blind fools who saw power and labeled it danger.
She saw the truth. The boy who gave a thumbs up and called her boss squid lady endearingly. Who noticed beauty. Who promised to return.
That was no monster. That was a treasure.
P'reri smiled. Soft. Protective.