It was a dark place and I didn't remember anything except for me getting enslaved by those bandits. My clothes torn apart and my body rotting in the cold surrounded by dirt all around.
But I couldn't feel any of that. My body was numb and my brain had already left me alone to tackle this…Actually, the more precise word would be suffer.
…
I heard the steps of someone entering the room. There was a golden light in his hand, probably a torch.
"Hey, filth, you still alive?" An old and heavy voice called me out while shining that bright light directly to my face.
He walked closer to me and held my chin with his rough hands.
"Why would anyone wanna see ya, even those eyes look like they are dead anyways." He commented as he unfastened the metal chains that locked my hands and legs.
"Have a look yerself, Mister." The man said as he drifted away from me and aimed the torch at the door, through which entered another man.
"I told you to stop with that damn torch, old man? Don't you understand?!" He said while covering his face with his hands.
"Ah, my bad. Anyways, this is the last product for ya, the only elf around this region but she's about to die." He said while scratching his short brown beards.
"Die? What do you mean, is she diseased or something?" The guy asked while looking at me.
Although I wasn't really focusing my gaze at me, he was opaquely visible. He was a fair young man with cyan-colored hair combined with brown variant from the side cuts. He was wearing a brown cape over his Grey-colored T-shirt and marine trousers.
His getup was nothing too flashy of the short, just a normal villager-like appearance.
Although I couldn't really focus on anything around me since I couldn't care less what happened to me after this…I just wanted to die quickly so that I don't have to bear any more of that pain.
"Ya see, some bandits handed her over to me a few days ago, and she was like this since then. They probably had their fun with the poor girl and then sold her to me in pennies." The trader said.
"I see…" The young man answered with soft voice and walked towards me.
He stood where I was facing to have an eye contact with me. With a serious expression on his face, he asked me, "Do you want to get out of here?"
'No, I don't want to. Please let me die in peace now, I can't take anymore.' That was the only thought revolving around me.
I stayed still without giving any reaction, I mean I couldn't.
Suddenly, his expression changed and he gave me a little smile. "Don't worry," While patting my head, he said, "I will save you." with a soothing smile on his face.
I didn't know why but hearing those words surprised me a little…still, I didn't expect much out of it.
"Do one thing, old man. I will buy this elf here and and that cat girl you showed to me before. I don't think I gave you any less amount considering the quality of the products." He said.
"Ah, ye, I got ya. But I don't understand why ya would buy something that won't last long." He asked.
"I am buying them. You are getting paid. So, you see, old man, don't butt in unnecessarily, alright?"
"Alright, alright, I got ya. Take her away, it's not like I have any use of her."
Out of the shop
"Listen, you take this girl and go directly to the Duke without wasting anymore time here. I don't want him whining at me for being late." The young man conversed to another of his mate who was on a horse.
I looked at them while still giving off the same blank expression.
"And what about that elf there? More importantly, what about you? Are you not coming?" He asked.
"Just follow my orders when you reach the mansion. First of all, remember that you only bought a cat-girl and nothing else. Second, if he asks about me, tell him that I fell from a cliff while dancing around or doing something, just whatever you like, and lost my life. You understand?"
"Hmm…w-wait, what?! Are you for real?"
"Yep, just do this much for me. Thanks a million." He said and ran towards me.
"Now that all's set and done, let's get moving shall we?" He said while looking at me.
"Oh? You can't move?" He said while staring at my legs.
"Never mind, you will be able to, soon enough." He said and pulled me up using both of his hands.
"Till then, I will take care of you." And carried me on his back, "Not too bad, right?" while looking at me with a smile.
I wondered what the fate had in store for me.