Hallowcrest

The capital city.

The Weeping City.

The City of Eternal Tears.

Home to the cultured and the wealthy.

Lucan and Duva were astonished by the breath-taking sight. Never before had they seen such buildings. The constant rain was magical. The couple took their time getting to the military base. For a while they forgot their trepidation over the bargain made and just danced in the rain.

Afterward Lucan reported for duty. He was given a quick briefing, informed their belongings had arrived and he would begin in a few days after getting settled. They were escorted to their new home. The bug escorting them repeatedly apologized for such humble accommodations. Neither Lucan or Duva could understand what she was talking about. It was the largest building they had lived in so far. Massive windows allowed a constant view of the rain. They were also up high enough in the tiered paths to overlook a great portion of the city. Never before had they lived in such a home. None of it was natural and that gave it a feeling of such luxury.

Their escort left and they began unpacking their things. Even once every possession they had found its perfect place so much of the house felt open and empty. Duva reminded though if Madam Todsol was being truthful the space would be filled with their baby. Though anxious to test the truth of the deal they decided to setting comfortably to this new chapter before starting yet another.

Almost immediately Lucan realized he had his work cut out for him at the base. As before, he was assigned to instruct the entry level recruits and trainees. Most of the trainees were youthful bugs, hopeful to be part of a noble cause for the kingdom. The rest were more focused on the glory and stature that came with rank. Lucan had never encountered the my-daddy-is-rich-so-I-expect-to-be-a-general-by-the-time-I-graduate type before. Needless to say that attitude deeply rubbed a to-the-core patriot the wrong way.

But he couldn't lay into them the way he might have someone who so blatantly disregarded the honor of servitude on the street. He was a teacher. Duva got many earfuls of Lucan's frustrations on the subject. She talked him down when his venting also flared up the temper he'd been suppressing all day and offered suggestions about how to deal with it the next day. So Lucan tried to refer to his wife's wisdom when his patience was tested. One thing Lucan changed immediately was the amount of time he spent trying to change their mindsets by talking about what it really meant to serve king and kingdom as a soldier. Some were inspired and it reflected in their training. Same went for those who were beginning to see the light. Then there were those who seemed to be as unchanging as the rocks.

The latter under Lucan's command had their wings ruffled a lot. He did not hand out medals. He expected work. He told them no and punished insubordination accordingly and within his authority. This (if you couldn't already guess) brought up a lot of complaints against Lucan. Rich trainees flew right over the chain of command straight to their rich mummies and daddies. Rich mummies and daddies then demanded to see those of the highest authority, demanding that incompetent beetle be terminated immediately. He actually dared to command their children to do something? Didn't he know who he was dealing with? Didn't he know they were important?

There were several factors that dropped all those complaints flat. The highest ranking officers were already exhausted with the leniency that happened all the time because of the spoiled rich. Having a beetle on staff that wouldn't budge was not only refreshing but a spark of hope they could turn their base around. Results from the inspired students spoke for themselves. They had their patriotic fires lit and it showed (during assessment times it also made the lazy rich look bad).

And most importantly, Lucan couldn't be dismissed. He was stationed in Hallowcrest by decree of the Pale King. This detail was kept on the low-down. There was no sense giving those who already didn't like him the false idea his actions came from a place of 'I can do whatever I want because the king said so'. One might think there had to be something special about the bug the king sent to teach and follow him if not for curiosity to see why. But the hoity toity rich and affluent think differently.

After a few assessment periods had passed, Lucan got called to speak with an elder and general of Hallowcrest. He was a tall locust named Zed. He congratulated Lucan for his hard work. There was a lot left to do but Zed was eager to see the day Lucan's method was taught at all levels and the soldiers it would produce. But that wasn't why they were meeting. Zed showed Lucan the exact tablet that carried the king's dictation of Lucan's transfer. Yes, he was being sent to teach a unique fighting method but that wasn't the only reason. The king had heard of Lucan's devotion to duty and loyalty before finalizing his decision to send him to Hallowcrest. He was satisfied by the testimonies. He was not satisfied with what he saw at the Hallowcrest base. In his presence they bowed and stammered praises but ultimately the rich were faithful to themselves and their geo. The king was greatly disappointed to see this, especially from those claiming to devote themselves to serving him via serving the people. Perhaps a fresh perspective might begin to change their minds.

As one might expect, Lucan was utterly floored to learn of this honor.

Now enough about Lucan for a while.

Duva was utterly enchanted by the weeping city. The towering buildings, carved water spouts, the massive windows and the ever-present hum, whisper and patter of the rain. It seemed at least half the city was indoors. Open atriums were everywhere. These sheltered spaces with glass ceilings had everything. Places to rest. Bugs selling wares from carts. Musicians cornered the places with the best acoustics. From these open areas were stairs and elevators to quickly travel to shops, restaurants, businesses and homes. Every time Duva went out something inspired her. The elegantly dressed people, the song of the rain, the towering buildings all turned to words as she found countless places perfect for composing poems, ballads and songs.

Interactions with the upper class were interesting. One of the first thing she learned was if anyone asked what you do or your family does was to sound as eloquent and important as possible. It seemed like a shallow point to her but among the well-to-do seemed as a gauge for how much attention they would allow you. Duva's beauty and performers confidence got her noticed by more than a few. Some took her demeanor as a reflection of noble or upper standing. Others heard her sing or play as she composed and were enchanted.

Her voice and playing put her on the map again. After being hired to perform a few times the astonished and moved upper crust ladies began inviting her to regular tea times. One of them mentioned how magical it would be if she and the new diva at the Pleasure House were to sing a duet.

"A new diva?"

"Yes. A lovely young thing that started small like you did but has since taken the town by storm."

"What I hear she will be a permanent act at the Pleasure house. "

"Is she a pink butterfly named Marissa?"

"So you have heard of her?"

"Of course. She's my cousin!"

That night Duva, excited, told her husband. The next day she searched for her cousin. When they met? Well, let's just say the pitch an excited female is capable of is very impressive (if not a bit painful). The girls were thrilled far beyond the point of adequate words they now lived in the same city. They talked for hours about absolutely everything since the last time they wrote each other. The only thing Duva left out was the deal with Madam Todsol.

In the eyes of the upper crust Duva's status went way up to her not only being directly related to the beloved diva but also in good standing with her. Duva passed along invitations for tea times which Marissa accepted when she could. Knowing someone who knew someone was also how Duva was introduced to Hallowcrests' own artisan guild and hired for the occasional performance at the Pleasure House.

The high-class circles Duva was now part of knew she was married to a military officer. She had shared about the transfer (but left out the part about the kings' orders). As always the story captivated every listener. Without ever having met him it was concluded he must be a very important bug and surely a worthy contact. However, Duva never actually told anyone outright Lucan was a beetle. And the way others talked it became clear they assume her husband also a butterfly or some kind of moth. Amused by it Duva never corrected them. One of her greatest amusements about their assumption came about one tea time.

The husband of the hostess stormed passed the drawing room all hot and bothered about something. Naturally his wife and her guests were curious and concerned something was wrong. Flustered and outraged he ranted about how some newer beetle commander at the barracks was an utter brute. He aggressively refused to see reason regarding his sons' advancement through the ranks. When setting the standards for how he expected his son to be treated he became downright bestial. The fiend wouldn't even accept a little geo to tweak the rules.

The wife and a few others were aghast. An even-tempered, reasonable gentleman being verbally thrashed by an uncivilized slave driver? Oh woe betide!

Duva, positive of whom he was talking about, swelled with pride and took all of her willpower not to laugh. That night she got Lucan's side of the story. Then, giggling, told him about what she'd seen. They both got a terrific laugh out of it.

It wasn't long after that did her high-society friends learn the truth. Usually the ladies would rotate hostesses. Duva had always politely declined. Her home was provided as part of her husband's transfer. It was quite humble by comparison to their manors and much smaller. She didn't even have a proper tea set. Eventually they shooshed her and expressed confidence she had made even a simple abode warm and welcoming. Instead of their next tea time at a home, they would go shopping to get Duva a tea set and have lunch at a bistro.

Nervous about hosting the next tea time Duva asked Marissa to come too. The guests were polite, using words like cozy, charming, quaint and darling about her home. Though Duva could tell some of them were thinking 'This whole house could fit in my dining room'. Much to Duva's surprise Lucan came home very early. He apologized for interrupting, said polite greetings to the ladies and excused himself to finish the work he had upstairs so to be out of the way. Once he was gone the ladies asked,

"Your husband permits his colleagues to just enter his home like that?"

"Especially when his wife could be home alone?"

"He isn't a colleague, Lucan is my husband."

Long story short, a few of the ladies began distancing themselves after that. A beetle and a butterfly? How scandalous! What would that kind of association look like? More than one tea time got 'canceled' for one reason or another. Duva was still sought after to perform at high-class functions. So she crossed paths with her old 'friends' from time to time. Pleasantries felt felt forced and scripted (unless a busybody tried to up-sell a handsome butterfly like that would somehow make Duva see sense and leave the beetle brute). Marissa declined any further tea time or luncheon invitations and wouldn't accept a function performance invitation by them unless Duva was also invited.

Ultimately the whole thing proved a blessing. The remaining tea ladies were the least shallow of the group and admitted they were bored of the same drivel that seemed to plague Hallowcrests upper class. They started their own ladies tea time and eventually expanded to poorer friends. Genuine relationships grew in this time and for the first time everyone involved had true and honest fun.