In the instant those words rang through Ridion's head, his entire body locks in unison, his soul, previously rampaging, destroying its host. Now calm. Ridion clutches his hand, Lucas, Sophia, and Jeskat all sit around him. Each a comforting hand on his arms. He looks around, seeing the precious faces of those around him. He didnt realize just how much these people began to mean to him over such a short time. His heart is full as he looks over each of them, despising their circumstances. Ridion stands, and feels rather refreshed. Rather than fatigued, or in any pain, besides one crucial detail. His stomach feels entirely empty, and he topples back into the bed. Reaching his hand out, he managed to grab onto Jeskat's arm, before whispering "F..ood..." and passing out once more. Jeskat, panicking at the realization that Ridion hasnt eaten a single time since arriving here. Runs to their bed, screaming "HE'S GONNA DIE!!," pulls out a leather sack from beneath the floorboard, and runs back, hurling pieces of bread down his throat. This unsurprisingly makes the others panic.
"Are you trying to kill him! He needs water, water!" Screams Sophia, herself running off, leaving Lucas who is calmly reaching into Ridions mouth, pulling out the bread, parting it into bite sized pieces, and returning it to his mouth, then rubbing his throat to ensure he could swallow properly. This delicate process, while entirely ineffective, wakes Ridion, who in a daze just begins to chew and swallow Jeskat's hoarded bread, bit by bit. In the next moment, Sophia returns, cheeks resembling that of a chipmunk, running full speed down the hall, she performs an impressive leap to the bedside where Ridion lie, and sprays the water like a hose all over his face, aiding in the digestive process. This would become the first group activity outside of work that the four have together. After another hectic couple of hours of Ridion visiting the afterlife. The group finally sleeps. Morning comes, another uneventful day passes, and night comes again, it becomes a nightly occurrence of the group hanging out together, sharing stories of their lives, Ridion stays relatively quiet, listening to them share their stories. Sophia typically shares stories of her family as a child, showing specific focus on how she would do anything to prove her strength as a child. She mentions a few times that as a teen she was a mercenary, before her band was captured and she ended up being sold off. Jeskat typically reminisces about their days eating different foods from many different places. Traveling with their siblings far and wide, before becoming lost and waking up here one day. Lucas eventually opens up to the other two about his circumstances, telling the three about some of his life in the demon world. Children are used as tools of war from birth, his father and mother belonging to a royal family, only birthing to produce powerful offspring. He was the first and most powerful of his siblings. But a human maidservant taught him compassion, and friendship, she was imprisoned for her time spent with him, and was scheduled to be publicly executed. His pleas were not heard, and his father punished him severely for becoming friendly with a servant. The night of her execution, Lucas freed her, killing all the demons that came to watch, and his own father, leaving his mother with his siblings, he snuck away with the maidservant, traveling for months to reach spite. A prince no longer, he gave himself the name Lucas, and turned his back on his old life. He had come here with the maidservant, who unfortunately became a slave as he did, and was sold off. He used to vow to escape. Swearing he would avenge her. Every day he would challenge Heran's father, every loss granted him another seal. Fighting a losing battle, he eventually gave up. Heran's Father, a man named Harmon, in his dying moments, told Lucas the location of she who he had been looking for. She was 4 miles south, all these years. The slave of a shopkeeper named Rumar. Lucas, knowing his magic could only amount to mere telepathy at this point. Tried to forget about her and live out the rest of his days as a slave. When Jeskat arrived, they had tried to escape every single day. Lucas conversed with them, trying to give them hope, wishing he could do more, after Sophia's arrival, the three stayed in constant communication, Jeskat giving up after a they dug behind the shack was sniffed out by the jackals, and Heran gave her a beating, Sophia, blind with rage upon seeing Jeskat bruised and bloody, was on her way to wreak havoc in the mansion. Jeskat's pleas were the only thing to stop her, saving her life that day. Hearing everyone's heartfelt stories, and lives, Ridion felt something in his soul. The feeling of Hatred, hatred for their circumstances. They had ended up with lifestyles they dont deserve, treated like dirt, beaten and abused. A sudden urge fills him, and Ridion walks to Lucas. He stands over the sitting man, and places his hand on his chest. Focusing his magic deep within him, he forces a burst of pure, white fire directly into Lucas' soul. Every seal covering his body is broken instantly. A surge of power flows through Lucas, as his body begins to instantly regenerate his wounds,these wounds that have bound him for years, the reminder that he was nothing but a slave, gone, in an instant, now the body that Lucas hated the sight of was clear of all that had held him back for so long.
Ridion looks to the three of them, and begins to speak. "You've all told me so much of your lives, please, help me escape from here, I cant do it on my own, and I dont want to see people I care about be hurt again." Ridion turns, and begins to walk out of the shack, it would seem he's headed straight for the manor. Behind him, Jeskat, Sophia, and Lucas follow.
"Ridion. You've done me a service, and I won't soon forget it, all I ask is that, when this is over, could we all head south together?" Lucas says firmly. I'm sure if they were to refuse, he'd head south himself anyways, allowing nothing to stop him.
"Of course, I'll need a guide for a while anyways, it seems that strange magic I used has left my vision impaired, I can only see a mile or two in front of me at this point." Ridion shrugs, disappointed at his current capabilities.
"You mean to tell me you dont know what magic you even used? You might be some kind of hotshot man!" Jeskat follows the two, making sure to stick close.
"I've not seen a magic such as that before, I guess that shows there's more to life than it seems, it was common knowledge that seals could never be broken up here. At least that's what I've always been told." Sophia tags along behind everyone, a conjured sword and armor already adorning her body. It was almost as if she was waiting for the moment of rebellion all this time. The group runs listens for guards, and on Jeskat's signal, ambush and dispatch of them as they cross them. Her advanced hearing allows them to easily move unnoticed. And they make their way to the mansion. As they reach the front gates. Jeskat moves close to the edge of the mansion, and inside she hears all too familiar footsteps.
"He's awake and coming, get ready!" Suddenly, four massive lions appear, fur white and grizzly, streaks of purple lightning coursing through their bodies. Heran walks out from the front door, clapping his hands slowly, applauding the group for coming this far.
This is where the Fight for Freedom Begins.