The night had drawned dusky and cold, with chilliness that hinted at the end of summer.
Sano was still in the deep tunnel.
The abandoned latter was a pathway for earthly beasts, as it curled away coldly into infinite darkness, just like a grey snake curving under the masses, cristal rocks shining brightly, blue lights flickered, casting an ominous glow throughout the tunnel, the unfortunate boy dragged his hand across the unpolished wall, picking up dust and grime.
Sano spent his time racking his brain to find a solution, but he didn't know that his chance will come to him sooner than expected.
A heinous screeching sounds echoed troughtout the tunnel, rebounding off the unsteady rocks. Loud explosions shooked his weak heart, it was none other than the sounds of magic casting, mixed with ants cries.
Ant mandible was very useful to make weapons, which attracted hunters from all over the town, to come risking their lives to try hunting them.
One man showed up in front of his eyes; he was old and scrawny, not much taller than Sano; however, the hooded cloak he's wearing signaled his status as a fourth-grade wizard.
The level of magicians in this world is diverse, as the type and number of elements and magic techniques also play a very critical point in assessing a practitioner power;
In a flick of his long wooden stick, flames sparkled from thin air, as it precisely targeted the weak unprotected body part, "the jet ants skinny legs."
Boom*
Agony Cries filled sano's ears, the three ants lost their legs in a split second, rouling in their back, without any chance of standing back.
"Uff! Fortunately we spotted them before they got closer," the old man said, to the five lackeys behind him.
"Milord, you should've let us your subjects do such work!" one of the lackeys said, bending on the ground using one knee while his face showed embarrassment and stigma.
The healthy old man smirked and waved his hand before he ordered them to finish off the ants, and drag them outside.
"Yes, Milord," the party of five nodded, and did exactly what they been asked for.
The old man was the owner of the mines, and also the lord of the whole countryside town called "Perdita." A well-respected baron in the circle of the Southern area.
Sano found his ticket to get out; he knew that they might not even acknowledge him if he pleaded, but he also noticed one remaining ant hiding a bolder as it waited for a chance to attack and avenge the fallen comrades.
He smartly waited till the ant was about to pounce over baron Giovanni Aldini's back before he notified him with a loud scream, "Look behind you!"
Hearing his howl, Boron Giovanni quickly turned his torso and looked behind. He got startled by the widely opened sharp mandible targeting his neck.
However, he surprisingly showed amazing athletism for his age, bending down just enough for the sharp object to graze his shoulder instead, as he wrathfully chanted a single spell that put the ant life to its end.
Not even ashes remained from the poor ants' body.
The black-robed lackeys horrified to chant healing spells toward his shoulder, making the wound disappear in a matter of seconds.
Baron Giovanni inhaled more air that he usually does and sneered, "This damned ant almost took my life!"
He switched his gaze, searching for the owner of the voice that saved him just now, and immediately found Sano's blacked-out corpse; Conditionally, the poor kid gambled his whole being on this opportunity, using all his remaining energy in that scream.
Was it a guaranteed gamble? Presumably not; a gamble is never certainly pledged; Yet, it was still his best shot to survive this bleak tunnel.
And the outcome was indeed in favor of his efforts; after checking on him, the baron instructed two-guards lackeys to take the heavily-injured slave to his mansion.
Sano, after waking up, found himself in an unfamiliar room; he sensed a drafty cold feeling coming from every corner. The walls were built using stones, and the furniture is carved of heavy wood that swiftly turned dark with age, tapestries were hung on the fences, and thick rugs were laid on the floor.
Contrary, to the standard small rooms taking into consideration the astonishing amount of resources poured to build a castle or a mansion. This one was abruptly grand and luxurious, tooting the wealth of the Baron.
It had a fireplace instead of braziers, and a large but comfortable bed, as the sheets were made of sheep fur.
The second thing Sano noticed beside the room was his condition. He was currently wrapped in cloths like a mummy, while he felt a sticky green substance applied on his skin
He dictated that he was saved and brought to the rich older man's house.
As an expert of ancient Medieval time, he knew how much it is forbidden for a slave to enter the master house, which made him wonder why this man would bring him to his home rather than leaving him inside the mines.
"Interesting," he mumbled.
And after a while, A middle-aged maid knocked on the door and entered the room.
She was blonde and fat; black moles covered her face, and her arms looked more extensive than an adult male, wearing a uniform consisting of a black dress and a white apron as she strolled toward Sano, carrying a plate in her hands.
She stopped right beside him and put the plate on the table before picking up the soup, attempting to lift his head to allow him to sip.
Feeling her hard hand on the back of his neck and seeing the little scars covering her arms, he knew that she wasn't a normal maid; no maid would ever have such firm muscles.
Sano had no reason to fake his conscious state; after all, his powerless at the moment; if they wanted to kill him, they would've left him inside the mines.
In a weak tone, he mumbled, "Thank you,"
The maid looked surprised, but Sano recognized that she already knew he was awake, "Amazing facial control too; her skills are already better than some agents I trained,"
The maid pretended to collect her self, warmly saying, "I see you finally woke up; I hope you're okay now,"
Ignoring her manner of speech, he muttered, "How many days I was passed out?"
A quick response rebounded, "twelve days,"
"Shi-" Sano almost cursed upon hearing the answer, «Why would they take care of a slave for twelve days!».
And the explanation came from the Baron himself, confidently entering the room like he knew precisely the time the boy would wake up.