Paul turned his head to Dean, not sure about how he could answer that question. It was, indeed, something that caught him off guard. He wasn't expecting such a thoughtful question coming from Dean.
'Well, no wonder. I don't know him. He seems to be just a stubborn and strong-willed person, but, maybe, there is a lot more hidden within his mind. Just time will tell... well, that is, if I really come to know him more.'
"That's an interesting question, I must say." Paul retorted, not answering it right away.
Actually, he really wasn't caring about this kind of thing. His future seemed to be so hopeless that he just threw this concept away a long time ago and decided not to pursue this matter anymore.
'Truth be told, I left my future aside because I came to learn a long time ago that, while still a slave, I don't have any future other than that which my Masters want. If I go against this path that they show to me, I can either die or suffer.'
Paul had the stoicism inherited from his folk. He didn't lose time overthinking and whining about things that he couldn't change at all.
"Well, I didn't think about this kind of thing, regardless of being interesting and essential." He shrugged. This time, not because of shyness, but just showing that he couldn't care less about it.
"Really? That's rough. I always wondered how people like you even have the energy to go out of their bed." Dean commented, chuckling.
Now, his voice was getting slightly better, so he could talk more properly and, at least, chuckle without feeling that he had swallowed nails.
"T-that's none of your business, Dean."
"Haha, I think that's one of the few times when you really say my name out loud." Dean grinned, struggling to make his muscles respond to his commands.
'So annoying... But it is somehow... pleasant? I mean, I am not hating to talk with him at all.' The young slave thought in amusement when hearing Dean's words.
"Really, man, you can't just be waking up every day just with slave work in your mind." Dean insisted.
"Haha, not everyone has the guts that you have, Dean. After all, you are always working on your own things while doing slave tasks at the same time. If it was me, I would have died from exhaustion long ago."
Dean couldn't deny that. With his weak constitution, Paul would have passed out in the first weak. Nonetheless, he still didn't like much the way that Paul always belittled himself.
"I don't have any motivations at all, Dean. Different from you, I just accepted long ago that my life is all messed. Even if I find a way to run away from all of this, what will I aim for? I mean, my folk is now completely spread through the country. Most of them might have died while being a slave. After all, hardly a slave will live more than two years here when doing hard work.
"I don't have any special abilities. If a Dread finds me while I am running away, I will be as good as dead. Also, after two years into slavery, I still didn't Ascend. It just means that I am some sort of failure myself.
"To add to all of it, even if I manage to go to a refuge and hide myself, what good will it do? Most of the refuges won't accept anyone to enter there. At least the good ones. The poorest ones will only give me headaches in the long run. As I said, there is nothing left to my future. If I don't stick up to just being the slave of someone who can protect me, I can't survive."
After that explanation, Dean finally understood everything. Paul wasn't a slave just because he lost purpose in his life. Actually, he pretended most of it all the time.
Under that facade of aloof and indifferent person, was a normal human who was only doing anything that he could to survive, even if it meant to serve someone and get treated badly every day.
He was someone who got slaved since he was a kid. Paul didn't have time to develop anything, he couldn't find any outs.
When serving someone forcefully was the only thing that he knew and could do, it was almost impossible that he would think of doing something different.
It was a type of brainwashing. But not Rick's fault at all. Paul brainwashed himself to think that there was no hope.
"Your way of thinking... is just too messed, you know?" Dean spoke, slowly.
Paul glared at him, waiting for an explanation. For him, it was quite reasonable.
"Listen, even if your folk is spread, they are still somewhere. It's impossible that they all went extinct. Also, as far as I understood from your story, your parents aren't dead. Don't you have a little bit of curiosity to know what happened to them and why they needed to abandon you? If they were such good parents as your aunt said, the mystery behind their departure is something that bothers even me."
Upon hearing those words, Paul got somewhat agitated.
"W-well, it's not like I can do anything I want. I am still a slave. No matter what kind of objectives I have in my life, it is all pointless."
"It's pointless because you are thinking that it is!" Even though his arm was all messed, Dean raised it and pointed his finger toward Paul.
The boy made a complicated face, not knowing how to deal with someone so intense.
Dean didn't need to be loud nor gesticulate like a crazy man or talk too much to be intense. While conversing, he could be overbearing, but also motivating for other people. And it wasn't different when it came to Paul.
"Ok, then. How will I take myself out of this situation? Praying? Fighting?" Paul began to get annoyed.
Dean gave him a soft smile.
"Nope. Leave this to me, only. If you find something to do in the future, I will bring you with me when I run away from here. Got it?"
Dean offered a high-five.
Paul's eyes shone for a while, but then he hid his face in embarrassment.
"Ok, ok. Got it." He raised his hand as well, accepting Dean's friendly gesture.