When I first set foot in Nairobi, the capital of the Kenyan Kingdom, I swear I gasped.
It was not because of the CATF banners stretched across the skyline, nor the way the streets seemed to buzz with energy like the whole city was preparing for a festival. What stunned me was the sheer diversity and vibrancy of life that hit me all at once.
I have been training in Egypt for weeks, soaking in the history that had never fallen to chains or outsiders, but walking out of the Fast Travel Room and seeing Nairobi with my own eyes was different. It was alive in a way I couldn't describe.
Altera Earth isn't the same Earth I was born in. Here, colonization never existed. Slavery never twisted its knife into history. Africa wasn't scarred and drained. It thrived. It became the center. And standing there in the heart of Nairobi, I realized just how much that changed everything.
According to Hinesia, the Kenyan Kingdom consists of five states; Kenya itself, Uganda and Tanzania. She said that Rwanda and Burundi (this was new information for me since I don't know every African country like she does) don't exist in this world since Tanzania took them. So the Kenyan Kingdom existed as the three country states.
The Fast Travel Room we came through was perched high up in a glass-and-steel skyscraper. They acted as airports since passenger airports and planes didn't exist. These places always reminded me of airports back on my old Earth, with flux scanners instead of metal detectors, and special registries instead of customs lines. Passports and visas still existed sure, but not for us. Being House members, we walked past every checkpoint. Seirath's name alone opened doors.
The rain in Nairobi was strong.
We had just stepped out of the Fast Travel Building, the tall glass doors sliding behind us with a hiss that echoed faintly in the damp air. The Rameses daughters fanned out with me, their umbrellas blooming open like metallic flowers.
Radellei was already groaning about her hair frizzing. Phyri muttered something about her outfit being ruined. Vilythe simply stated she wasn't about to ruin her shoes for "aesthetic's sake." The three of them turned right back around and ducked into the warmth of the building, claiming they would wait for the ride there.
That left me standing in the rain with my umbrella tilted at a lazy angle. Hinesia stayed beside me.
"I'll wait here."
Nefira, her blindfold damp from the humidity, hesitated before shaking her head. "I'll join the others."
Her tone was soft but decisive and just like that, she was gone too. And so it was me and Hinesia, again. Funny how often that kept happening.
"I didn't expect Africa to be this prosperous. Who knew Flux could change the flow of events completely?"
I shrugged, letting out a small laugh.
"We're not in our home world anymore. Of course things aren't the same. Here, Africa having the Elemental Flux didn't just improve their economy. It flipped the entire balance of power. Every continent relies on African exports now. Agriculture, minerals, you name it. Africa is literally the backbone of Altera Earth."
Hinesia hummed thoughtfully, scanning the skyline. Even in the rain, Nairobi shimmered. The skyscrapers were sleek, plated with alloys that Flux engineers must have reinforced. Streets were alive even in the storm, lightning arcs flickering faintly in the distance.
"You know, I'm glad I was born into a House. Other Outers who might have been transmigrated in Africa are living comfortable lives now. Maybe not House-level, but still good."
I scoffed at that.
"Humans and Hybrids don't."
Her head snapped toward me. "What?"
"Humans and Hybrids are treated like trash by Fluxers everywhere on the continent. It doesn't matter how hardworking they are or if they're born here. Fluxers look down on them."
"But… humans don't exist because they're hidden."
"Exactly. The Argemenes are the only humans who can actually move around with some measure of respect and even they're still ridiculed. It's racism on a whole other level, Hinesia."
"Explain it to me. How does that even work? If the Argemenes are the only humans with Flux, and they're not Fluxers…"
I inhaled, rain-soaked air filling my lungs. It wasn't an easy thing to explain, but I'd lived long enough in this world to see how the hierarchy played out. Also, I had general knowledge from Phasnovterich's memories.
"Fluxers are simply built superior. Their genes, their physiology, it's all optimized. Healing factors, stamina, everything is dialed up. And then, of course, they can manipulate Flux. Humans can't. Humans don't have that innate power so they're already at the bottom of the ladder."
Hinesia tilted her umbrella slightly as ran down the edge like a silver stream.
"So what do humans do? How do they survive?"
"They rely on weapons, not Flux. That's why the Abyssal Houses are so feared. They've got the best weapons in the world. No, scratch that, in the entire game. They can't use Flux so they consume Fluvehearts to get stronger temporarily. And then they bind weapons to themselves. They're biological weapons, fused with body and soul."
Her eyes widened a fraction. "That's… grotesque. And brilliant."
"Yeah. Phasnovterich, for example, has biological strings fused into his body. And the crazy part? His strings don't just use his Flux or Xana."
"Wait. But didn't you say—"
"Humans have Xana as energy but don't possess Flux. So, their weapons can use Xana to enhance themselves or the weapon or just summon them naturally. Since Phaser couldn't use Xana like the Argemenes,who are the only humans with a Flux, he use strings. I broke the curse he had though."
Hinesia's umbrella shifted again as she asked. "So Humans don't have Flux, but they use Fluvehearts and weapons. And the Argemenes are the exception?"
"They are the only humans with Flux. Complicated as hell, I know. Everyone else either fuses with weapons or dies trying to keep up."
"You're Human. At least you get to keep your humanity. I'm a Fluxer with an elf ears. My humanity was traded away before I even realized it."
I smirked faintly, though there was no real humor in it.
"I never had any humanity to begin with. So there's nothing to keep."
She frowned, her lips parting like she wanted to argue but the words didn't come. Instead, she looked back at the skyline.
Our ride came after a few minutes and we all got in.