I sleep relaxed and cuddle a stuffed toy until my face gets wet. With my eyes closed, I feel a slobbery muzzle that started licking my hand

"I remembered, I'm not alone in the box"

I open my eyes to realize that it's dark everywhere, only dim rays of light penetrate inside the box. My vision quickly adapts to the dark and I quickly understood my surroundings

Two big azure eyes appeared in the dark "Finally woke up, and you slept for quite a long time" Night told me "you slept in this box for 12 hours"

I looked at these eyes for a long time, after a while I pinch my hand and even after such an awakening they did not disappear

"I don't think I'm sleeping," I conclude

"Of course you're not sleeping" the eyes moved over my shoulder "Thanks to your psychosis yesterday, the seal has become weaker and therefore I can not see directly through your eyes and also, now strangers can hear me. If I want it"

Listening to her, I began to examine the walls of my room in search of a way out

"That's all good, but how do we get out of here?"

"It's very simple, do you remember your lessons?" I nod "This is good, so concentrate on your emotions and try to embrace the surface of the box with your magic and try to open it"

At the direction of my neighbor, I closed my eyes and began to concentrate on the destruction of its surface, after a minute a black mist began to come out of my hand and surround the walls of my chamber. I started to act, but Night started to say something, but I couldn't stop, the box around me started shaking and soon all the wooden walls began to change their appearance to…

"…"

"…"

"Tell me why you changed the wooden box to a metal one" Night asked me with irritation "Damn you, you wanted to get out of here, and you were required to at least destroy it"

"Don't yell at me, I'm doing this for the first time in practice, "I panic "At some point I wanted to be safe, who knew that I would strengthen the box"

"I told you in our lesson that ..." she wanted to scream already, but stopped, sighed several times and continued "I repeat for the last time. Our magic works not only on emotions, but also on our desires, you have to pull yourself together, clearly imagine your desire and start acting"

After looking at my hand and clenching it into a fist, I still concentrated on escaping, but …

"God, what pathos" she interrupts me "Don't strain yourself too much, if you put too much force in, then even I can't imagine what the consequences will be"

"Yes, I understand, I understand. Understand me, it's very difficult to do"

I take more air into my chest and slowly exhale it "Okay, let's continue"

Again I put my hand now to the metal box, I repeat my previous actions. Black smoke started coming out of my hand again and enveloping my entire space. Everyone was silent and even the puppy next to me did not make a sound, as if he trusts me

After a minute, the box began to crack, the walls made unpleasant creaking sounds "If it was wooden, it would be quieter" and soon, the box could not stand it under my pressure and crumbled into small pieces, the soft toys of the house crumbled because of my weight around me and I lay down on them

Now I felt very tired and hungry

"I'm not surprised by your condition. You slept for 12 hours without eating anything and exhausted your magic limit to nowhere"

"I realize my mistake, but now it's important for me to find not much food," I tell her and look at the ceiling of the room "I somehow forgot that we are now in the ship"

After the sentence I said, voices began to be heard from behind the door and they began to come closer

"Did you hear the sounds from the cargo area?"

"Yes, I heard them, let's make this detour quickly, hand over the report and finish our game"

Two voices could be heard from behind the door, male and female, when the door began to open with a creak, I quickly take the dog in my hands, put on my glasses and start hiding behind one of the boxes

I couldn't see anything from my hiding place, but I could hear their footsteps approaching in my direction

"Hey Yut, do you see this?" a woman's voice asks

"I see Yon. It seems there should be a box here, but someone crushed it into small chips"

They fell silent for a while, only the rustle of their clothes could be heard

"Okay, let's go from here, it seems to us it seemed"

"You're right, let's go"

Further on, the sound of footsteps and the creak of a closing door could be heard

"It seems they are gone," I thought and started to come out of my hiding place. But he stopped abruptly with a long knife pressed to his throat

"So who do we have here" a woman tells me "it seems we have a rat on board"

"I agree, but what should we do with the extra cargo?" her friend asked the interlocutor "That's right, we have to get rid of him"

There were two people standing in front of me, one man and one woman. They were ironed out like two drops of water, but the only thing that gave them away was the color of their eyes, one had blue and green, and the other had the opposite. I couldn't see their hair because of the swamp-green bandages. Their skin was completely gray, and they were dressed in light military uniforms

Cold sweat started trickling down my face, her knife was so close to my throat that I felt how cold it was

"Well? Will we somehow justify ourselves or how? We will play in silence" I nod "Look at him, the joker has been found here" and with a sharp movement of the knife they leave a small cut on the ear "Well, how? Have you changed your mind and will you talk?"

I hold the wound with my hand and try to make at least some sound, my lips move, but the sound never came out

"Stop making faces" the man lost his patience "We don't believe you"

I didn't have an option and so I started showing them the language (or what was left of it)

"Look at him, he's so brave that he began to show us ..." before he could finish, he noticed that I had no tongue "Oh, my God, how did you manage to?"

The girl looks at me and also gasps "Oh, my God, who is this with you?"

These two noticeably moderated their ardor and began to exchange glances with each other and again at me. Then one of them came up to me and quietly calmly asked

"Okay, we didn't get too excited, and now try to explain to us how you got here?"

I'm waving my arms and finger movements trying to explain my situation

"Wait, wait. Don't you know a mute language?" I nod "That's how, and why didn't you master it?" I lower my head and shrug my shoulders "Apparently no one taught you this"

The interlocutor turned to his partner, both nodded and continued the dialogue with me

"Okay, apparently in this situation you have to come with us" he says and smiles slyly "But we need to search you" I don't like what he's driving at "And therefore you have to strip naked and we will understand that you are not dangerous"

I froze with my jaw open and start shaking my head in protest

"Sorry, but we have to. Either we check you on our own or you will sail in a package to the sea, choose"

I agree due to lack of choice and start taking off my clothes

In the beginning they had a funny look, but when I took off my jacket, they stopped smiling and started staring at me with eyes of complete surprise

When I took off the last part of my clothes and stood completely naked, they looked at me with complete shock and did not know how to start a conversation

"I don't know what they are more shocked about, the fact that I have black spots all over my body and a rather noticeable spot in the heart area or the fact that my body is also covered with numerous scars"

After a while, the girl blushed and turned away, and the man came up to me and covered me with my own jacket

"Excuse us, we didn't know that you would be like this" the man apologized to me

Then he approached his companion and they began to whisper, but i heard them well

"Have you seen him? His spots are the same as ..." Interrupted her interlocutor

"I know, I know. He can't be the same, plus his scars make you look at him differently"

They looked at me again and continued

"What do you think? Are we taking him with us?" says the guy

"There's nothing to say, we have to take it with us and show it to our main"

They both nodded and came up to me together

"You passed the test, you can get dressed. And since you're coming with us, let's get acquainted, my name is Yut, and she's my twin sister Yon, and what about you?"

I get dressed and take a note with my name out of my pocket and hand it to them. When she was taken, they changed their faces again and I could feel their panic growing

"No, it can't be, there can't be so many coincidences"

"I agree, we have to do something"

And abruptly these two turned in my direction and started talking in turn

"You…"

"Must…"

"Change…"

"Name!" They finished at the same time, and in turn I don't understand what's going on here

"Understand, if you want to survive on this ship, you have to come out with a different name" says Yut

"Due to some circumstances, this name is forbidden in our by ship and therefore for a while you will be called..." Yon pondered and pointed at me with her finger "Now you are Silent, I think it suits him" her brother nodded in agreement

"Okay, we've sorted it out, let's introduce you to our leader and his squad"

"Woof" suddenly sounded again under our feet

"Oh, and who is this with us" Yon got down on her knees and started stroking the little puppy "I didn't even notice her, is she yours?" I nod "She's cute, what's her name?"

I thought about it, in fact I forgot to give the puppy a name and I didn't have time for it, I just shrugged my shoulders at her answer

"Will you let me give her a name?" I nod "Okay, we'll call you Scales! Hello Scales"

"Woof" replied Scales

"It looks like she liked it," I thought, smiling

Yut comes up to us and reminds us "We have been gone for a long time, it seems that reinforcements will arrive soon if we stay any longer"

"You're right, brother, let's go" she gets up and goes to the door "I hope you have no more surprises?" I show that there is no "That's great"

They come to the door and wait for me to approach them, I approach without thinking for a long time, letting them know that I am ready

When we got out, I began to evaluate the interior of the corridor of this ship. So, he's not there, he was completely gray with green spots "is that mold?" I thought. All the walls were completely full of holes, so I could see what was and was happening inside each hold. The light in the corridor was dim and shone with a dark green light, it was not usual, but my eyes quickly got used to it

"I agree, buddy, there's a rather unusual design here" Yut noticed "But we don't live here because we're too lazy to clean up, but because we harden ourselves to harsh and cruel conditions when we're on missions" he paused and added a paragraph "But we're also too lazy to fix and clean it all up"

Yon laughed at his remarks and continued "He's right here, the only room that has at least some order is only our leader's"

While we were walking, they began to explain to me who they were and how everything worked for them

As I understand it, they call Changelings, their group was considered an independent military force that fights only for its ideas. They consider themselves masters of disguises, elite for the extraction of other people's information and just people hiding in the dark. They consider this matter a family duty that is passed down through generations, they are united as one big family.

The leader of their squad was a certain Chrysalis, she had a tough and rather selfish character, but in a good mood she allows herself to be called a mother. I was also jokingly told to keep my mouth shut if I didn't want to have problems, and it was because of her that I was forbidden to have the name Feel

After a long corridor, we come to a suitable door, we stopped in front of it for a while, as if we were gathering the spirit

"OK" said Yon "Are you ready?" I nod "Great, the main thing is just don't be nervous"

With a creak, she began to slowly open the door, and she, in turn, resisted any resistance. At the moment when the door opened, a view of the entire room appeared in front of me, this room looked like a huge snack hall, long tables with long wooden benches without backs were placed everywhere, but I didn't see food. But what was full was people, SEVERAL DOZEN OF THE SAME PEOPLE, of different shapes and sizes, and only their appearance was the same, black skin, blue eyes, and also I was able to see their green hair that shone at the right angle.

Here they did everything they could: they played sports, talked, argued, played, but as soon as I entered the threshold everything went quiet and all the people turned in my direction to drill me with their eyes

I, from the sudden accumulation of so much attention, wanted to fall into the ground or just evaporate. Then Yut and Yon's hand fell on each shoulder as if they wanted to cheer me up

"Let us introduce you to a new addition" Yut was the first to speak

"Let's all say hello to Silent together" Yon added

And then there was a deathly silence and only the twins smiled as if they were doing this all the time, but this did not improve the situation in any way. This went on for a couple of minutes until someone from the crowd shouted

"Catch traitors"

And as if on command, a whole crowd of people rushed in our direction

"Oops, it seems something went wrong" Yon said, and the next second I'm already lying on the floor and not alone

"As I see it, you really like being treated rudely" Night quipped

"I am innocent that failure always haunts me," he replied to his neighbor in his head

I am tired of violence, especially over myself, and therefore I am lying on the floor and do not resist, because in this situation it will be useless. I am being held by three people, one holds my legs, the other my arms and the third my head

"Call the mother" one of the people shouts and points at the twins "and you two will explain your betrayal and do not hope for a pardon"

These two are trying to explain something, but they don't listen to them and then close their mouths

We lay in this position for a couple of minutes until their mother entered the main room

"What's going on here?" a woman's voice shouted to the whole room "They told me that traitors and garbage had made their way to the ship here"

When I heard this voice, goosebumps went through my body, I don't remember from where I heard it, but I was afraid of it, as if death itself was approaching me. In front of me, the crowd began to disperse and only three was still holding me, as soon as one pair of legs stopped at my head, I was twitching and feeling sick

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Chrysalis began to speak and looked at the twins "Are these two really doing what they want again? Do you have no right to invite anyone to our family, or do you have a valid excuse?" and by her decree they are given a chance to justify themselves

"Excuse us, your Excellency" Yut began "In no way did we want to change or even ignore the rules"

"But this guy was an exception" Yon helps "he has the same signs as us"

Everyone started whispering, I didn't see Chrysalis' reaction, but I felt her indignation

"Well" she looked at me skeptically "And what do you tell us?"

All eyes shifted to me, and I, in turn, was silent and did not even try to publish anything

"What right do you have to be silent when I gave you the right to speak?" their leader began to lose patience

"Excuse us, Your Excellency," Yon interrupted her, "but he can't talk."

"I didn't give you my word, I'm not leading..." and then she stopped without finishing her dialogue

There was an awkward silence again, "I'm starting to get used to it" passes in my thoughts.

"Let me explain" Yut received an approving nod "Thank you, for some reason unknown to us, he has no tongue, and also during his search we noticed our characteristic features. You can check it yourself"

Chrysalis looked at me for a very long time, as if there were clues to all her questions on my body, soon she decides to believe their words and decides to check it herself

"Okey. You three come with me to my office and there you will explain all the information" she decides, but "Just don't forget to tie their hands, I don't need unexpected surprises"

And as if on her orders, three people get up from me and start tying me up. I was the first to see the appearance of their leader. She was surprisingly very tall (6.3), she had the same black skin, her hair was long and had a birch color, but what caught my attention was her eyes, they have an iris like a cat and have a bright emerald color. Her clothes were simple but very rough, green knee-length jeans with holes, a green tank top and ordinary shoes

When our eyes met, I saw her predatory and not satisfied look, she turns around and leaves, and we follow her, accompanied by several of her guards. We walked in complete silence, even the twins didn't say a word, but what I don't understand is…

"Why doesn't anyone pay attention to the dog? Am I the only one who sees her?" I look at her, and she sticks out her tongue and smiles at me, "Yon kind of saw her, but their leader didn't even pay attention to her, as if she didn't exist. She clearly has something strange"

We walked for a couple of minutes until we stopped at a large black door with a crown logo "Probably this is her office," I thought

When we went inside, I was surprised by the order and integrity of the whole room, there were no holes, no mold, only the most necessary furniture and accessories decorating the whole room. At the moment of being inside, we were untied and then the door closed behind us and we were left alone, me, the twins and Chrysalis herself

Chrysalis herself came to her desk filled with papers I didn't understand, one photo and sat down at a large chair resembling a throne, her gaze fell on me again, as if in such an environment I would be able to speak

"Well, when we were able to get away from prying eyes, I allow you to briefly and clearly explain his similarity to us" she gave the order firmly and clearly "And you" she tells me "Take off your glasses immediately, have respect to take them off when I'm talking to you"

I hesitated for a long time, but I understood if I didn't take them off, it would be worse for me. I slowly take them off, but before that I close my eyes tightly

"Are you kidding me at? Are you not only mute, but also blind or something?" I shake my head as a refusal "So what's your problem, fast open your eyes"

"Excuse me, your Excellency" Yon got into the conversation that she got an angry look at herself "When we met him, he was already wearing glasses and did not take them off, as if he did not want us to see his eyes"

Chrysalis gets up from his seat with impatience, comes close to me and forcibly opens them to me

"If you don't want to, then I'll have to force you" and with these words, rather sharp nails dig into my eyes, I don't resist for a long time and open them sharply in front of her "Don't force me again..." she stood rooted to the spot and looked into my eyes without interrupting

And again, the same reaction as everyone else, I started to get annoyed by this situation, in order to stop it, I turn my head to the side to stop the awkward situation, but then the unexpected happens for everyone. Chrysalis's hand reaches out to my head and she turns my head back so that I can see how she looks at me with slightly tearful eyes until she is distracted

"Excuse us, our lady, if he did something, then we are ready to accept the whole guilt" says Yut

Chrysalis quickly and imperceptibly wipes away tears and leaves to sit at his desk

"So what did you see from him" Chrysalis is trying to change the topic

"When his search took place, we noticed that he was covered with various spots" says Yon and blushes

"But on his chest in the heart area there is a characteristic sign of our kind, and this is a large depression that shows our similarity" says Yut and for demonstration takes off the upper part of his clothes, allowing you to see his lean body with the same spot on the heart, but smaller

Chrysalis listened to everything very clearly, and to confirm his words, I lift my jacket up to my neck "It seems to me or the spots have become much wider than usual" I notice my changes. She does not believe her eyes again comes up to me and starts touching every spot (or recess) and finishing at the biggest at the heart

It was getting awkward for me while she was touching me on the chest, soon she finished, went to the table and sat down at its edge

"Okay, I believe you" says Chrysalis "But we have to check his abilities and therefore you will check his skills. You have time until we reach Manehattana, which is about 2 weeks. You clearly understood" she commanded and we all nodded together

"Allow me to deviate" Yon asked, having received a positive answer, we began to leave the door

When we were almost at the exit, I put on my glasses and look at Chrysalis with the last glance, and she, in turn, took a photo frame from the table and mumbles something, but I can't hear it anymore

"Here you surprised me" Night is surprised "You can say you got away with it"

"I agree with this, not without conflicts, but in principle everything turned out fine," I tell her

"Do not lose this opportunity, perhaps now you have a chance to train your physical shell"

I nod to her and again notice my dog at my feet, but this time she has some kind of transparent and shiny green stone in her mouth, which she tries to gnaw through with her jaw

"More and more questions are going to be asked of you" and after that Scales swallows this stone "I hope it won't make you feel bad," I thought, looking at her

To Be Continued………

Author's Note

I've finally finished this chapter

If there are questions about names, then I picked them up randomly from the Dungeons & Dragons board game, as it happened that there are Changelings there too, and as we know, names are practically not mentioned in the series, and I can't leave everyone without a name

A moment with pictures. For Chrysalis, I chose a more human and adult one. It is simply impossible to find art for all other Changelings, because they are all painted with insects, and I wanted to add people. Also, I drew (colored) art for Scales, but I couldn't upload it directly through the computer

I will try to release one chapter at a time a week and therefore, see you again