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"Citizens of the Valorian Empire," the holographic woman hovering above everyone announced, "As per His Imperial Majesty's decree, effective immediately in the year of glorious light 4271, harems are no longer considered a privilege reserved just for the highest nobility." She smiled, and I could swear I saw half the men in the plaza stop walking. I did see someone stumble." Haaa… Here we go againnn," Grant muttered, elbowing me in the ribs.

"Third time this week I've seen this ad."

"Fourth, actually," Finn corrected without looking up from his slate.

"They're really pushing the new legislation, huh." I watched Lady Seren as her holographic form spun slowly so everyone in the plaza could appreciate the view. Say what you want about Imperial propaganda, they sure knew how to pick their spokespeople. She was stunning, with silver hair that seemed to drink in all the light in the surrounding area. Behind her, the eagle of the Valorian Empire blazed in projected gold.

"The Harem Expansion Act of 4271 has made it possible for any citizen of sufficient merit to register for harem privileges," Lady Seren continued.

"Why should the blessing of multiple bonds be limited to nobles? The Empire thrives on unity and love shared, rather than hoarded!"

"Love," Grant snorted." Suuuure. That's what it's about."

"The psychological studies are actually compelling," Finn said. His glasses, which were more of an affectation since corrective surgery was free and mandatory for anyone entering Imperial service, reflected the holographic display.

"Plural bonding arrangements show improved emotional stability metrics across all participants. Reduced isolation, broader support networks, and diversified skill pools within household units-""Finn." I held up a hand, feeling my head start to spin.

"Please, this is, like, the thousandth time you've mentioned it already."

"I'm just saying the data supports-""The data supports you being a virgin who reads too many studies about not being a virgin." Finn's face went red as Grant wheezed, slapping his knee theatrically. A few people glanced at as as they walked, but he ignored them. Grant had never cared much about public perception, which was probably one of his better qualities, though I was sure it would probably get him jailed (or killed) someday.

"That was quite unnecessary," Finn muttered, adjusting his glasses while trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Nope! Completely necessary!" Grant chuckled.

"Someone has to keep you grounded in reality, or you'll disappear into another research rabbithole, never to be seen again."

"Would that be so terrible?"

"For you? Probably not. For the rest of us who have to listen to you cite statistics at parties? Definitely an improvement." Lady Seren's advertisement shifted to show happy families, including one man surrounded by three women, all of them laughing at some unheard joke while children played in a sunny garden. The production value was impressive, I had to admit. After all, the Administratum had whole divisions dedicated to crafting these holograms.

Every detail was carefully crafted to sell a particular vision of domestic bliss. The Emperor provides, as the saying went. Hah.

"Register today at your local Bonding Authority. Because in the Valorian Empire, happiness scales." The hologram dissolved into a cascade of golden sparks.

"Scales," Grant repeated.

"Happiness scales. Who writes this stuff? What does that even mean?"

"Committee of twelve," Finn answered automatically.

"All graduates of the Imperial Communications Academy."

"Rhetorical question, Finn."

"I know it was rhetorical. I chose to answer it anyway because the information is genuinely interesting. The average campaign goes through forty-seven revisions before final approval. Lady Seren was chosen based on focus group responses. Apparently," he continued, adjusting his glasses again, "the hologram you see is also tweaked to your specific preferences, and that some women have reported seeing a male version of Lady Ser-""Finn." Grant's voice carried a warning note now.

"I love you like a brother. But if you don't stop talking about focus groups, I'm going to throw your slate -and you- into that fountain." Finn clutched the screen protectively to his chest, horrified.

"You wouldn't."

"Try me." I tuned out their bickering, checking the chrono on my wrist. Twenty minutes left before my whole life changed. The plaza around us buzzed with activity while servitor-drones hummed overhead and recorded everything for the Administratum's endless archives. A normal day in the Imperial transit system. Nothing special about it, except that it was the last normal day I would have for a while.

"You alright, Jax?" Grant's voice cut through my thoughts. Looking up, I saw both of my friends watching me with pensive expressions. We had known each other since we were twelve years old, thrown together in the same educational cohort when the Scholi Apogonon's sorting algorithms had decided we'd be compatible. For once, the machines had been right. For once. And now we were splitting up.

"I'm… fine," I said.

"Just thinking."

"Dangerous habit." Grant grinned, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Listen, I know we've talked about keeping in touch and all that jazz, but I want you to know I'm serious about it. Technica Deuteros might not be Magna Protos, but we're only two sectors apart. Weekend visits are totally doable, I think." Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Absolutely," Finn nodded.

"I've already calculated optimal transit windows for the next six months. Sending them to your chrono now." My wrist buzzed with an incoming file. I didn't need to open it to know it would be meticulously organized and annotated with secondary options in case of schedule conflicts. That's Finn for ya.

"You guys are going to do great," I said and I meant it. Grant had gotten into Technica Deuteros Institute's engineering program, which guaranteed placement in the Imperial Fleet's maintenance corps. He would probably end up keeping warships running on the frontier, and thankfully very far back from any fighting or dangers. Finn had talked his way into the Fabrica Tritos Collective, purely on the strength of a paper he had published about theoretical applications of crystalline computing matrices.

The admissions board had apparently been so impressed by his methodology that they waived the usual requirements and practically dragged him in. And me? I was headed to Magna Protos University. One of the most elite institutions in the entire Valorian Empire.

"Still can't believe your scores," Grant shook his head.

"Ninety-ninth percentile across the board. Do you know how insane that is? One in a million, Jax."

"It's actually one in approximately one million and forty-three thousand," Finn said, raising his finger and adjusting his glasses.

"Finn."

"Right. Shutting up."

"Still can't believe you're going to that place," Grant said, shaking his head.

"Highest scorer in the sector and you pick the school that's basically a glorified noble's retreat. I've heard a lot of stuff about it, especially with the new law that just passed."

"It's the most prestigious university in the Empire," I said evenly.

"Best resources and advancement opportunities you can find in colonized space." I wasn't lying. Magna Protos is incredibly prestigious. Graduates often went on to become planetary governors or high officials. Every door in the Empire would open for someone with that university on their credential chip. My dreams of a cushy job where I can relax and enjoy life would be coooomplete. Buuuut… also…

"Best girl-to-guy ratio, you mean," Grant said with a knowing grin.

"What is it, like eight to one? You sleazy bastard."

"Nine to one actually," I corrected, then immediately regretted giving him the satisfaction. Grant crowed with laughter.

"I knew it! You absolute dog. All that talk about 'resources' and 'advancement' when really you're just trying to maximize your odds."

"Hey, hey! It can be both," I said defensively. Magna Protos' student body was composed ninety-one percent of women, a quirk of its founding as a school specifically for noble daughters. Since the men were off busy dying to the war and all. When the Empire fully integrated the education system fifty years ago, they had opened admission to men, but the demographics had barely shifted, since most men preferred physical, military, or exploration career paths.

The theoretical side of things is still very dominated by women because of this. It wasn't like I had a choice to be honest. That anonymous sponsorship had basically made it politically impossible for any other academy to accept me, not that I tried too hard. I wasn't about to fuel the flames with even more juicy information though. And I am not a monk, ok? Cut me some slack.

"What do you think it's like?" Grant asked, his voice dropping conspiratorially.

"You know. All those women."

"It's an educational institution," Finn said primly.

"I imagine it's like any other university, just with different demographic distributions."

"Different demographic distributions." Grant stared at him.

"Finn, my absolute dear companion, the ratio at Magna Protos is nine to one. Do you understand what that means?"

"Competition for bathroom facilities?" Grant looked at me with an expression of profound despair. I shrugged. Finn was Finn.

"It means options, Finn. Potential romantic entanglements with significantly reduced competition from other interested parties," Grant said, sounding a bit like Finn, "Think of the laaadiies!"

"Ah." Finn nodded slowly.

"You're referring to Jax taking full use of the Harem Expansion Act of 4271. That has been out for a total of three days, ten hours and forty minutes. I'm sure the women there will accept that as well. It's not like we have binged several dozens of shows about how much drama that would cause. It's what the Empire needs after all."

"I'm going to hit you."

"Violence won't change the accuracy of my statement."

"No, but it will make me feel better." I stepped between them before Grant could make good on his threat.

"Easy, both of you. This is supposed to be a fond farewell, remember? Cherished memories of friendship and all that?" Grant deflated slightly.

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right." He ran a hand through his hair.

"Sorry, Finn. I'm just... this is weird, you know? Six years, and now we're all going different directions." Finn's expression softened. For all his social obliviousness, he wasn't actually incapable of reading emotional moments. He just chose to file them to a corner of his brain and ignore most of them.

"I understand. The dissolution of familiar social structures can trigger anxiety responses even when the change is objectively positive."

"That's... yeah basically what I meant, yeah." My chrono buzzed. Fifteen minutes. Too long. Too short.

"I should probably start heading to the platform," I sighed, slinging my travel pack over one shoulder. Everything I owned fit in that pack. In any case, the only truly important things were my slate loaded with my favorite books and textbooks, and the small carved wooden box my mother had arranged to be given to me after she passed. The only thing I had left of her, besides memories that grew hazier with each passing year. Nothing else had seemed worth bringing.

The goodbyes were awkward in the way that all goodbyes between young men were. Lots of shoulder hugs, back slaps and manly nods with promises to stay in touch.

"Don't forget us when you're famous, ya rascal" Grant grinned at me.

"Send regular updates on your academic progress," Finn added, adjusting his glasses while making a face I am sure he thought looked very academic. He just looked constipated.

"I'm compiling a longitudinal study on educational outcomes and social stratification."

"You're compiling a—never mind. Sure, I'll send updates," I said, deciding I did not, in fact, want to be baited into another two hour lecture on a topic that would probably fly over my head anyways. Grant pulled me into an unexpected hug.

"Take care of yourself, Jax. And for the love of the Emperor, make a harem. Or else I will hunt you down for missing the opportunity of a flipping lifetime." he grinned again. I spluttered, "Hey! I'm there to study! S-t-u-d-y! All I want is a cushy job where I don't need to lift a finger, and maybe play Dominion every now and then. The other stuff is secondary, at least until I'm sure of things." Okay, that may have been a small lie, but I am not giving him more material to bully me later with.

Finn offered his hand for a formal shake.

"Statistically speaking, you have excellent prospects. Your test scores place you in the top tier of incoming students, and the personality metrics from your entrance interview suggest strong compatibility with most other students at Magna Protos."

"Finn." Grant put a hand on his shoulder.

"Just say goodbye like a normal person." Finn paused.

"Goodbye, Jax. I hope you find what you're looking for." That was unexpectedly profound for him. I smiled.

"Thanks, Finn. You too." I stiffly turned around and walked towards the platform before either of them could see my expression. Sigh. The last six years had passed by in the blink of an eye. I had poured myself wholeheartedly into my studies completely disregarding everything else, until Grant and Finn came along and slowly brought me out of my shell with fun and friendship amongst midnight study sessions fueled by caffeine and desperation. And now…

I was walking toward a shuttle that would carry me millions of kilometers away to start a completely new chapter of my life. One where, like Grant had mentioned, the girl-to-guy ratio was nine to one.