<h4>Chapter 355 A Somber First Impression</h4>


    Ayumi followed Erich out of thending pad and into the citadel. Unlike her Great Aunt, she had never been to the Germanic Star-Empire before. But she could tell by the cold and lifeless architecture that she had entered a deeply dystopian and totalitarian society.


    Everything about this building was designed to convey one feeling, authority. Everyone who walked past her was dressed in some kind of uniform, whether military or political, Ayumi did not know. And then there was the fact that she was so smallpared to these aliens.


    Ayumi stood at a height of at five feet and two inches. While the men and women around her were significantly taller. So much so that she felt dwarfed by their hulking figures. She even began to lower her head in fear of looking up at these stern people, many of whose gazes looked at her as if she were some kind of trash.


    Erich noticed this meek expression on Ayumi''s face and quickly reached out a helping hand. Quite literally, he grabbed hold of the young woman''s hand, and smiled, assuring her everything was alright.


    "I know this ce isn''t as extravagant as the pce you call home... But I am sure if you give it a chance, you will find it is not nearly as suffocating as you think it is right now."


    Ayumi was shocked by these kind words. So much so that she didn''t even realize she was holding hands with a man. Out of everyone around her, Erich was the only one who didn''t look at her with disgust. Not only that, but his words were almost like he had been reading his thoughts.


    Wait a second, she had heard from her elder brother that certain soldiers in the Germanic Star-Empire were gifted with unique abilities. Could Erich be a mind-reader? Ayumi feltpelled to ask this, but bit her lip in anxiety, fearful that if she were to do so, she might say something inappropriate.


    Erich could tell Ayumi wanted to ask him something. And though telepathy was one of his powers. Erich had seldom used it on his lovers, as that was a terrible invasion of privacy. Because of this, he did not actually know what she was thinking, but could guess simply because he knew her so well.


    "There''s something you want to ask me, isn''t there? You don''t have to be afraid, go ahead and ask. I promise I won''t be mad. I''m kind of an open book...."


    This kindness once more shocked Ayumi, and she was still being led through the halls of the massive building while others passed her by and cast her dirty nces. Still, Erich appeared to be nicer than the rest, and thus she took a deep breath before asking the question, which desperately wanted to know right now.


    "Can you read my mind? How did you know what I was thinking?"


    Erich''s expression turned from kind to serious. He didn''t want the woman to think he was joking, and thus he spoke in a tone that was filled with honest intentions.


    "Can I read your mind? Yes, I do possess such an ability. Am I doing so now, or have I done so since first meeting you? Not at all. I rarely use that ability unless it''s a matter ofbat or national security. It is a grant vition of an individual''s privacy if I were to just force my way into their mind.


    And before you ask, I have two other abilities. One is Cyber kinesis, meaning I can manipte machines with my mind. As for the third one, I''m not at liberty to discuss as that is ssified information of the highest order. So I would prefer it if you did not inquire further..."


    Ayumi was stunned by this information. Her brother had indeed once told her that some Germanic Soldiers possessed special abilities that enhanced their abilities inbat. But in all honesty, she didn''t believe it until now.


    The idea that Erich could read her mind was terrifying, and Ayumi couldn''t help but shiver at the thought. Erich naturally felt this as he was holding her hand and was quick to promise her something that she was not expecting.


    "There is no reason to be afraid. I promise you, I won''t read your mind unless you give me permission to do so."


    There were a few seconds of silence in between Erich''s words and Ayumi''s response. She was desperately trying to determine whether or not to believe Erich. And in the end she couldn''t understand why he was being kind to her, when everyone who passed her by treated her as if she were less than the dirt beneath their feet.


    "Why? Why are you being so nice to me? Doesn''t your kind hate other species?"


    Erich now understood where Ayumi''s timidness wasing from. He suspected the tant grooming that Yumi had done to the girl in his past life so that she shared the same fetish had not urred in this one. And thus, Ayumi''s perspective of the Germanic race was the same as everyone else''s in the gxy.


    Violent, bloodthirsty, and xenophobic warmongers. It was an urate assessment, but Erich had never actually been that way. And thus, he formted a proper response to the woman, so that she could move past her initial reservations towards him.


    "It''s not surprising that you don''t know... It is exactly how you say it is. My people despise anyone who is remotely different from the norm, myself included. Or at least until rtively recently, I was scorned the same way you are now.


    If not for my exceptional military career, I would still be in your position.Because I was treated as an outcast my entire life, I never embraced the ideals of racial supremacy that are somon among my people, nor their disgust for those who are different.


    My people have a word for those born with my condition... Mutants... And that''s if they are being polite. Freak was far moremonly tossed my way when I was growing up."


    Ayumi was baffled by this information. She honestly couldn''t tell what was so different about Erich from everyone else around him, and was quick to ask about why he was treated so poorly.


    "Wait... I don''t understand... How are you, a mutant? Is it because of your special abilities?"


    Erich broke out into a genuine sense ofughter at Ayumi''s misunderstanding, and instinctively pet her hair beforeplimenting her, forgetting that she barely knew him in this timeline.


    "You''re adorable! No, actually, special abilities like the ones I have are a matter of prestige, especially among the youth who have yet to prove themselves in war. My great disfigurement that is deserving of thebel of freak is something as simple as having the wrong hair and eye color...."


    Ayumi was mortified by this answer. Erich, who was for all intents and purposes normal aside from a unique hair and eye color, was despised and shunned by society simply because of those two things? She was starting to feel sorry for the man for being born in such an insane ce.


    But at the same time, she was starting to understand why Erich was not the same as everyone else. Why would he look towards the ideals and beliefs of a society that hated him? And yet, he was such a high-ranking individual. She honestly had a hard time wrapping her mind around this logical disconnect and was quick to ask about why this was the case.


    "Wait... So if you''re a mutant, then why does everyone show you so much respect? How are you the designated sessor to the Supreme Leader if all of society despises you?"


    Erich''s expression turned stern when he heard this. He was clearly looking past Ayumi, almost as if he did not even see her when he responded. Something that was strange for Ayumi to witness. But his words showed the massive difference between the civilization she was born in, and the one Erich was.


    "In my society, nothing is more important than the glory a man achieves on the battlefield. No matter what position you are born into. If your actions in war bring prestige to the Empire, then you will be heralded as a hero. And nobody has done more for the Empire that still draws breath than me."


    Contrary to what Erich said, there did not seem to be a sense of pride in his voice, but a harrowing tone. As if Erich had seen and done too much for him to consider himself worthy of such honors.


    But Ayumi didn''t pick up on this, instead she thought the man was boasting, and was quick to inquire why a man who was shunned by his own society would fight so hard for it.


    "I don''t understand. If you said that you were treated as an outcast, then why would you fight so hard to earn glory for a society which hates you? Why would you be proud of such a thing?"


    Once more, the Ayumi of this timeline was disying herplete and utterck of education on the Germanic Star-


    Empire, and thus, as Erich stopped in front of the diplomatic quarters she had been given temporarily within the citadel, he told her the truth.


    "You are misunderstanding the intent behind my words, Princess. It is not a matter of pride, but duty. I have no choice in the matter, nor does any other man born in the Empire. We all must serve, and those who are lucky enough to escape a life of war are then assigned a job in the civilian sector based upon their own abilities.


    There is no choice, there is no freedom. There is only service. Only in death does service end... These are your temporary quarters. We are currently constructing a proper embassy for you to stay at that is near the citadel.


    So in the mean time I ask you to be patient with your current aodations. Take some time to rest. I am sure you are tired after your journey here. Tomorrow I will visit and introduce you to the Ambassador from the Davrakian Consortium.


    Have a good night, Ayumi..."


    After saying this, Erich turned away and left the Oni Princess at the doorway of her quarters. Though it took her some time to enter, after all, she couldn''t get Erich''s words about service out of her head, nor the grim look on his face as he did so. For the first time in her life, Ayumi had actually felt sympathy for the Barbarians to the West that her elder brother had always warned her about.