Usurper of Fire

In Restitude, several weeks had passed since the banquet hall incident. Women now looked up to Adverity for being a leader in social justice.

And while it was nice to see real smiles and have genuine conversations. Adverity knew where this would lead. Men started the Great War. They also took charge of the village, despite the women’s silent protest. If women allowed their poisonous ideals back into Restitude…it would be only a matter of time until another war started. And the women would suffer most.

They had barely defended the last surprise attack during their previous campaign. It was emotionally devastating listening to the sounds of the men dying outside their shelter. When the war was lost, the Androcidian was the only way to move forward. Something had to be done.

Adverity sat with the Matriarchal Order at the passball game. It was the only time women wore different colors, and it was a sight to behold. This game was red shoes versus white shoes.

Passball in general was designed to be fair to everyone. The court was small enough that all the players wouldn’t have to move. Instead they placed the ball in each other's hands by pivoting at the waist. There wasn’t any way to score points, but the crowd cheered when witnessing a particularly graceful pass.

Samartha was playing today. Everytime he passed the ball the entire crowd cheered, regardless of how graceful it was. Adverity fought the urge to raise an eyebrow as many women were watching her.

“I haven’t seen a match this intense in a long time.” Ospera said. “I’m almost glowing. It’s so thrilling.”

“It’s amazing that there hasn’t been a single broken nail time out,” Mertha said. “That’s why I say, ‘leave it to the pros.’” She was on her fourth cocktail already, despite other women only being on their third. This would be great gossip for later, but Adverity’s mind was elsewhere.

“What do you think Adverity?” Ospera asked. Adverity erased her thoughts to answer the question.

“It is truly inspiring to see. These women uplift us all with their spirit.”

The other women all gasped.

“What? Do I have something in my teeth? Bad breath?”

Ospera leaned in to whisper in her ear.

“Sister, Sam is participating…I think you meant to say these people uplift us all. I’m aware it's still new to us all though. I doubt the others will look down on you for a small transgression.”

Adverity took a deep breath and clenched her teeth.

“Forgive me, sisters. I misspoke just now.”

“It’s quite alright,” Mertha said, her eyes still on the game. “You haven’t been to the education center yet. There is a new course that is quite thrilling. Sam created it himself.”

“Sam did what now?”

“A new course to study! So we know how to act around him, how to address him, and just some general guidelines to help avoid offending him.” said Mertha as she watched the game.

Adverity was taken aback. How was it she was just hearing about this now?

“Well, that sounds interesting indeed.”

“Funny,” a woman she couldn’t see piped up. “After years of prosperity under the rule of women, now we need to learn how to give special treatment to a man.”

The other women gasped. Their cocktail straws almost fell from their mouths.

“Lithia!” Ospera said. “I think it’s high time you went to take the course! This is not about special treatment. It's about making everyone’s feelings equal.”

Lithia stood. She had no dye in her hair and a disgruntled look on her face.

“You bitches need to wake up to what’s happening.”

They had no responses beyond strawless, open-mouthed gasps.

“I’ll take you there,” Adverity said. “I’d like to witness this course myself.” The other women stood to hug and praise her before she clasped hands with Lithia and walked toward the education center. When they made it out of earshot, she spoke once more.

“So, you have a problem with what’s happening too?” Adverity said. It was dangerous to be so blunt, but Lithia seemed like the kind of woman who could take it.

“Too? So you are aware of how ridiculous this whole thing is,” Lithia said.

“Yes. We cannot have true equity if we are forced to give special treatment to men once more. I don’t wish us to go back to tiptoeing around them. Those were dark days indeed.”

“When my husband left for war, I begged him not to go. He wouldn’t listen to me, so I thrashed at him. As I swung at him, he grabbed my wrist so hard that it almost left a mark.” Tears filled her eyes. “I won’t bow to a monster that can be that cruel without hesitation.”

Adverity hugged her and rubbed her hair.

“I promise you, that will not happen. I never married, but the man my father set me up with…He gave me this.” She pointed at her eye patch and scar. “He forced me to stab my own eye when I needed attention. There was no other path for me left to take after he stayed out an hour later than normal.”

“What did your father say to that?”

“He told me that I had lost my mind, of course. When did those savages ever offer us comfort? We have come so far from those dark days.” Tears swelled in her eye as well before she rubbed them away. She stood straighter and grabbed Lithia’s hands, staring into one of her eyes.

“How do we stop this? So many women support it, and I’ve heard more women are changing their identities each day. It’s taking a hold of everyone…How long before…It’s too late?”

“I have a plan, but I’ll tell you now…this won’t end without conflict; it’s a dishonorable masculine act. I can assure you though that once it’s over. I’ll never allow anything like this to happen again.”

Lithia took a few moments of reflection.

“Where do we begin?”

“In our footprints lie the path where it has already begun.”

She stared at her for a moment.

“So…”

“We start tonight by seeing this class.” Adverity said. To which she nodded.