Harem Ethics 101

05. Welcome to Stone Lock

My nerves flickered into fascination as I took in the young woman who opened the door.

Messy black hair flowed just past her shoulders. 

Impenetrable darkness covered the entirety of her eyes, not a hint of color or white sclera to be seen. 

Flawless, smooth skin the color of unblemished paper. A face composed of elegant, sharp facial features completed by inviting lips of an extremely light gray. 

Long, elven ears poked out from her mane of soft hair. 

A pale shoulder peeked out from a loose-fitting scarlet sweater, while the tips of her toes were just visible from the baggy midnight-blue pants. Both garments were made from a thick fabric that looked soft to the touch.

My eyes dragged momentarily as I noticed the vague outline of her breasts and slender hips.

It was as though she were a monochromatic inked illustration that’d come to life before donning the uniform of one on a mission to eat ice cream and binge a show they’ve seen a million times.

She blinked sleepily at us. “What is it?” 

Bitchy Spice, Garbage Spice, and Martin each put an empty hand over their heart in salute.

“Warden Ivory,” Bitchy Spice reached into a pouch to present the key to my manacles, his other hand holding out the black folder containing the sheet of paper the elf had filled out. “We are here to transfer the outworlder, Bryan Northgate, into your custody.”

“Huh?” Her attention shifted to me, eyes roaming my frame just as mine had over hers moments earlier, except her inspection was more baffled than intrigued. Her slack jaw befuddlement shifted into annoyance as she turned her focus back to Bitchy Spice. “Why was I not notified of this earlier?” 

Bitchy Spice shifted uncomfortably. “Commander Morr said he couldn’t reach you over echo chain… He said to proceed with the transfer and that he would continue to try contacting you…”

Faint pink rose in her cheeks as sheepish embarrassment flashed across her face before being covered by a mask of confident professionalism. Her back straightened before taking the folder and key. She pocketed the latter before flipping the folder open and scanning its contents. 

“I see,” she said as she closed the folder and reached forward with her free hand. Metal links ground together when her slender fingers closed tightly around the chain between my manacles. “I formally accept the outworlder, Bryan Northgate, into my custody. You three are dismissed.” 

She nodded to the guards, who all offered her crisp salutes before turning on their heels. 

“Now,” she said as she turned her dark gaze to me, “come with me, Mr. Northgate.”

“Lead the way.” My mouth widened into a toothy grin at the exotic woman.

Her expression turned pensive as she took in my open smile. 

“Something on my face?”

“Yes, you’re filthy,” she said neutrally before pulling me inside. 

I winced as I realized I probably smelled like Garbage Spice after being cooped up in the wagon-cage for three days and had likely gone nose-blind to it. 

She walked past me to close the door and the scent of roses filled my nose. The door groaned shut and the beating of my heart picked up when she faced me again. Her face barely crested my chest at her full height, but her enticingly unique presence felt larger than life. 

She’s so close…

My face heated up when she looked up at me through unblinking, dark eyes. 

She studied me for a moment longer, her mouth quirking to the side ever so slightly in consideration. Then her features smoothed over once again into that of a dutiful professional as she slipped past me, her delicate hand still gripping the chain. 

As I turned with her movement, I looked past her and my eyes widened. 

Three crystals hung from chains of silver affixed to the ceiling. A warm glow radiated from them, feeling almost like sunlight against my skin.

The interior of the cube was a large room with hardwood flooring and a luxurious lounge at its center. Along the edge of the room were what looked to be eight jail cells with vertical metal bars lining each of their doorways. To my right a wooden staircase led up to a walkway spanning all four of the walls and overlooking the lounge.   

“Welcome to Stone Lock, Mr. Northgate. You may address me as either ‘Warden’ or ‘Warden Ivory’.” the woman said in an airy voice which suggested she was struggling to remember a speech. “For the next thirty-six days this will be your home. During this time, I will aid you in learning the basics of using your magic and ensuring you gain a rudimentary understanding of this world. Then you will be taken to Chromaryn Academy to take part in the entrance exams.” 

As she led me towards the stairs, I glanced at the furniture in the center at the ground floor. There was a pair of leather couches on opposing sides of what looked to be a dark wood coffee table. A couple high back armchairs sat nearby. Beneath it all was a high quality red area rug lined in patterns of complementary colors.

“After your intake is complete, you will be assigned a cell you are to sleep in each night after dinner, and until dawn. However, you will be permitted to roam Stone Lock freely during the day… “ she said, before her meandering tone brittled, “but should you attempt to escape, you will be executed on the spot…”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be good…” I said absentmindedly, having no intention of trying to escape and my mind being preoccupied by something I spied on the coffee table: A tome entitled ‘The Carnal Inn, volume III’. 

I smirked as I imagined the contents of a book with such a name. An image of a hot and bothered Warden Ivory biting her lower lip while reading on the couch floated into my head, which led me to realize something. 

Why would she be reading something like that out in the open?

“Am I the only outworlder here?” I asked, noticing I hadn’t heard any other voices or seen anyone else yet. 

“You are.”

“Is that normal?”

“Yes. Outworlders seldom appear in this world.” 

“How seldom is ‘seldom’?” 

“I’ve served as the warden of Stone Lock for fifty-three years and you are my first charge,” she said as we began to ascend the stairs.