That boy had really gotten on my nerves. I had been so distracted by my thoughts I almost failed to notice I was now sitting in the middle of the road. Caravans passed by me, some people glanced at me suspiciously. Probably thinking I was a runaway slave or something. But no, I was free now. It was hard to believe. I took a look around me. I seemed to be on the edge of town.
I start walking back towards the mansion, all people are talking about was the dungeon and the boy who captured it. Not another word about anything else, not even the missing lord. I manage to pass through without a glance, though I feel a pang of annoyance at their words. 'That greedy little pervert..'
I finally reach the mansion, storming into the room. The slaves all turned their attention towards me, many surprised to see I made it back. Guess they hadn't heard anything about other survivors in the dungeon.
I approached one of them, "Where's (y/n)?"
"I haven't seen her. You're the only slave who's returned of those that left for the dungeon." Maybe she had decided it better not to return in case they forced her back into slavery? But I had to see her again. She would come look for me too, right?
"Oh, who's this?" A friendly looking old man enters the room. He's dressed very nicely, he must've been sent here to replace Jamil. "That Alibaba fellow everyone's been talking about stopped by and used half his fortune to free all the slaves here. Come this way and I'll remove your chains for you."
He takes me into what used to be Jamil's bedroom as he pulls out a key. The familiar sight of this room nearly makes me gag on negative memories, but this would be the place where I would officially be set free. Unlocking each of the shackles, they fall from my feet. I feel a wave of something wonderful wash over me then. I was free. Along with that I felt a sense of gratitude for them letting us out of there with them.
Days passed as I waited for (y/n). Many of the slaves, like me, were unsure what they wanted to do now that they were no longer enslaved. None of us ever dreamed of something like this. It wasn't a hope slaves were often allowed, if ever. The last few days we had mourned all those that had been lost in the dungeon. Sometimes I felt guilty that I survived. But I needed to find (y/n) and take this chance to live my life.
Since the new lord arrived he'd been paying the slaves who hadn't left yet to work for him. He seemed to be a good man, and he took good care of us.
Not long after I returned there was a funeral for Jamil. I didn't want to attend, but I knew that (y/n) would go there if she heard about it. Besides, even I still held onto a part of my master. The good parts, though little and rarely seen. The whole time sitting there I felt my anger boiling over me. I searched the attendees for her, but she was nowhere to be seen. That night I returned to the mansion more than worried that I might never see her again. I held back my emotions as always, but I couldn't shut off my hope, nor my fear.
When I wasn't working I was asking around for anyone who had seen her or heard something about her. Nothing. Not a single clue. It had been about three weeks since I'd last seen her. Since we left the dungeon. Since we left him. At least wherever she was he couldn't hurt her, but I didn't know who else might.
That boy came to mind again. Maybe he really was my last chance. I'd ask him if he knew where she was, thank him for freeing me, and then it'd be over. After that I wouldn't owe him anymore. This guilty feeling would go away. With some guidance I found my way to the mansion. I practically ran my way over there, not wanting to miss another second that I could spend looking for her. If there was any chance she might be there or that there would be any clue where she might be, I needed it now.