At 6 am, a really loud alarm starts causing a ruckus among the girls in the cell barracks. Grumbling and complaining can be heard across the hallway. 

Ara rubs her eyes with the back of her hands as she complains about the tiredness she is feeling. But soon, the feeling of nervousness and excitement start to sip in to her consciousness and she bolts to the bathroom.

Ara takes a quick shower and puts on her working uniform. It is already prepared in the room for her. The uniform is rather shabby in color. It consists of a grey long sleeved shirt and a black skirt. The shoes are black and plain.  

After looking at herself in the mirror one last time, she walks out of the cell and logs herself out using her moniker.

“Good Morning, Ara! Did you sleep well?” Coincidently, Ara bumps into Bunga.

Although Ara really does not need that much excitement early in the morning of the big day, but still, she is happy to meet someone from her home-ship. 

“I sleep alright. I am still so tired though. I think I am a bit sleep deprived,” said Ara.

“Ara, you’re so funny! We slept for eight hours.” Bunga laughs as the two girls walk down the corridor towards the employee dining hall. 

“Do you think we will see Guntur in the hall?” ask Ara.

‘It’ll be nice to see him before we start our day,’ she thought.

“Well, maybe we will,” said Bunga.

As she said that, the two girls enter the dining hall and are stunned by what they see.

“Or maybe we will not see him,” continues Bunga, followed by Ara nodding her head with her mouth opened wide.

“There are at least a thousand of workers here! How is it that a place can be so big to gather all of us?!” exclaimed Bunga. 

“Let’s not get separated.” Ara links her arm to Bunga’s as the two are being dragged by people pushing forward. 

After relentless struggle to not being separated from Bunga, finally Ara and Bunga arrive at the meal station. 

The lady serving at the counter takes out a tray with three parts on it. She then puts two pieces of bread, a canned of tuna, and a box of milk on the tray. Without saying a word, the lady pushes out the tray towards Ara’s direction. 

Ara takes the tray that was given to her and proceeds to find an empty chair. Though it may seem like an impossible task, she finally finds a spot for two people.

She puts her table there and waives two arms so that Bunga can find her. Luckily, the smart Bunga notices Ara’s flailing arms and starts heading to her friend.

Bunga puts her tray on the table and breathes loudly.

“Do we have to go through this whole catastrophe every morning? Like EVERY morning?” complained Bunga.

Ara laughs out loud because this is the first time she ever hears Bunga complains ever since the trio arrive in Garuda. 

“We better get used to it,” reply Ara.

Ara and Bunga start to stuff food down their throat because another bell was rung as they speak. The second bell means that all workers need to be in their station in 15 minutes.

The more experienced workers are wrapping up and starting to exit the dining hall. They whisper and talk but move about like this whole madness is a normal thing. Ara can only stare as she chews her food frantically.

"All the new girls from Rama, please meet me right outside the exit of the dining hall in 10 minutes," said a very familiar voice.

The girls turn their heads towards the source of the voice and finds Madam Bunga sitting calmly on a chair with her foot on top of the other.

"Ah, I guess she is also categorized as employee here," said Ara.

"Of course, Ara. Did you forget? We learned this in our Common Knowledge class. Everybody in Garuda are workers except the Royal family. Only elite merchants and the Royal family eat together," explains Bunga.

Ara chugs down her milk. She cannot remember ever learning about that at all. Yes, she was indeed mesmerized by Prince Chahaya a long time ago. But that was it. Other than that, she has never been interested in the Royal family and its business.

'To be fair I was hitting puberty at the time I was swooning over Prince Chahaya,' thought Ara, defending herself as if somebody is judging her.

"Time's up, girls." Madam Bintang said.

The girls carry their trays to the cleaning area and start lining up in front of Madam Bintang.

"This first week you are going to be trained to clean. So you are going to follow the head maid, Miss Mawar."

"Yes, Ma'am," answer the girls. 

Without being asked the second time, they follow the lady called Miss Mawar. Ara was also following her until Madam Bunga calls her out.

"You, Mutiara! Where do you think you're going? You are coming with me."