"How are the new refugees?" Lillia asked as she walked into the temporary camp that was created. There were just too many to house in the base, so they had to make do with earthen houses for the time being.
"Madam, there seems to be one who is staying away from the other refugees. She also has nicer clothes on as well. From the looks of it, she is hardly eating since she came and always seems to be in a sad mood." A young human girl reported as she handed Lillia a chart.
Lillia took the chart and looked it over before nodding her head. "Where is this refugee now?"
"She is in the cafeteria." The young human girl replied.
"Thanks." Just from the description she had just heard, it seemed this refugee was well taken care of.
Lillia walked into the cafeteria and immediately saw the cat girl in nicer clothing, although dirty, sitting there with her spoon full of stew halted mid air staring blankly at it as if she had no idea what it was.
Lillia could only sigh as she knew this cat girl probably missed her master. Her master must have been very good to her, and knowing the way cat kin were when it came to the ones they took a liking to, they would not like being away from them and would go into depression. The new races were being watched very closely to understand their mentalities. Otherwise, they would not be able to provide a proper environment for them.
"Is this seat taken?" Lillia asked as she sat down, not waiting for an answer. The spoon full of soup fell back into the bowl it came from, as Tobie almost jumped out of her skin. She never expected someone to suddenly talk to her.
"Ah… Sorry. I will move…." Tobie went to get up, but Lillia grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"No, please sit. I am here to speak with you." Lillia gave a warm smile as she motioned with her eyes for Tobie to sit back down. Tobie did as she was told and sat down with her head lowered. Seeing this, Lillia sighed. She then asked: "Do you wish to go back?"
"Huh?" Tobie's raised her head, her eyes filled with a bit of hope upon hearing those words. She never thought she would be asked such a question. "Can I really? Can I go back to my Mistress!?"
"Mmm…. My husband probably would like to talk with this mistress of yours as well. My guess is that her name is Grace, correct?" Lillia asked.
"Yes… Mistress's name is Grace Townson. But most call her, Her Holiness. She is amazing in every way. She is kind and sweet. She treats Tobie well. She even gave Tobie her name…" Tobie praised her Mistress to no end. She truly loved her Mistress.
Lillia could see the love in Tobie's eyes and sighed. It seemed that this Grace was not all that bad if she was able to make this cat girl fall for her. "We can help you return, but she will need to undergo a magic contract to never ask about this place and to also to cherish you as you cherish her. We will not harm her in any way as long as she is able to submit to these two conditions. But remember, if she rejects our offer, we will take you away forcefully if we have to.
"We will not release you back to your mistress unless she is willing to protect you no matter what. You are supposed to be her lover, not a slave. Do you understand this?" Lillia wanted to kind of break the slave mentality that Tobie had. She wanted Tobie to understand a relationship is based on mutual trust and love. Not slavery.
"My Mistress will agree!" Tobie cried out with confidence. Her mistress even said she loved her. After the first day they had sex, her mistress had begun being much nicer to her. They would sleep together, bathe together, and eat together. Only when she was in her office did she not pay much attention to her, but out of the eyes of onlookers, her mistress would do many things that contradicted herself, like brushing her hair and tail. She would take the initiative to make her feel good. She did not treat her badly at all. Tobie knew her mistress deep down was very gentle and loved her.
Lillia really wondered if the same woman they saw on the battlefield was the same woman that treated this cat girl well enough to make her feel confident that her mistress would not abandon her. "Then we will work out a way to help you get home."
Lillia patted the back of Tobie's hand and smiled. "But if you change your mind, let us know. We will not do anything against your wishes."
Tobie's eyes began to fill with tears as she lowered her head and sincerely thanked Lillia. "Thank you. Thank you for letting me return to my mistress."
"You do not need to thank us. Here in Destiny City, those around us are free to live as they please. They can come and go as they please as well. If you wish to return, we will not stop you. But only under the condition that you will not be mistreated. You see, my husband dislikes slavery the most. He only thinks those who have done wrong deserve such treatment. Not innocent people like you and the other refugees here. But I can tell you were treated well. While the other ex-slaves are happy with their current life, you are the only one who seems to not want to be here. So we will do what we can to help you return, but only if the conditions for your future are fair. Because we care enough for our people to not want them to suffer." Lillia wanted Tobie to know that she could be considered one of Destiny City's people now and that they would protect her even if she wished to leave. Lillia did not want Tobie to return to her mistress, only to be mistreated. This was something she would not allow. And she knew Blake would also not allow it either.
