It has only been a few hours and Ozark's new owner had been staring at him, groping his biceps, humming in a matter that was arguably cute had it not been for his own fears of what the woman may do to him as he had heard plenty a story from the crew back when he was under their care, to say the least. Young men bought by women to be their Toys, pets, or worse, being the subject of their Experiments.
A subtle shiver ran the Slaveborne's spine as Baroness Arsen had removed the Collars and Cuffs from his form and passed neat clean clothes, a Black Tunic Far too Small from the looks of it to cover his whole form, a Pair of black Trousers, and a Pair of Boots. Perhaps he would be a pet to the woman, not that it concerned him as long as she was levelheaded and kind he can live with it.... after requesting from her a favour. No doubt the Baroness would ask something in return from him if he dared to ask too early.
Without an Order from her Ozark had began to remove the Worn Tunic and Pants he had feeling the stare of his Master or was it Better to call her Madame? The Chain of thought was immediately broken as soon as The Baroness Screeched to which Ozark blinked in confusion as to why she did so. He had noticed her face Bright red as her breaths were shallow this concerned the Apparent Last Scion of Erebus as he rushed to her side with his Forehead against hers to get an accurate feel for the possible fever... which was non-existent then came his search for any possible injuries she may have... again no trace of anything that would cause her to screech and be red as a tomato until she turned her face away from him.
Then it hit him, as he retreated to a more covered part of the Auction House to which he had finally clothed himself. He walked towards his Madame and Bowed deeply with both hands presented to her awaiting for her to punish him.
He had not think his Madame was a maiden, similar to, To Ara had reacted when the Lamps of the Lower Brig were bright enough to show their naked form as he washed their clothes. His Spouse; from the lack of any word to describe their relationship, was quite a sheltered woman when she first was placed into his cell, which was probably due to how well-behaved he was in comparison to all of the other Merchandise there as he had only protected her within the time they spent together. He shook his head as he had not been paying much attention to his Madame and had simply nodded along.
"Ozark, as I said, Raise your head." The Red Haired Baroness requested to which he complied she gestured him to follow her to her coach as the sounds of whipping made him flinch and was noticed. "There will be no harm dealt to you, as long as you have done no wrong to me. For now, tell me what you know about the world? What you remember of it?"
Ozark shifted in his seat trying to understand what his Madame meant, imagining a growing scowl and sneer upon her beautiful face. "I, have no memory of it My Dame. I have only known Darkness, dim lights of the lamps, cold, and... warmth." His pause ellicited a hand on his chin lifting it up to face his Madame, her eyes seemed to be judging his very being, perhaps she had changed her mind and wish to return him? The idea sounded fine until he had realized that the Slaver ship would have been long gone after his purchase. He emulated Arces and stood firm as he continued, if he was of the Last line of Monsters in Human Flesh Royalty then he would goddamn act like it for Ara and Mia's sake. "What I do remember was a Fire in my childhood."
The apparent end of the Line of Erebus were the Diogenes Noble House as they set ablaze the ancestral home of the Monstrous roughly Ten Years ago, which fitted his age as the records of the Erebus spawn were Burnt along with it killing off the Noble house all in name. It was common knowledge in the Slave ship, especially with Arces speaking about it.
"Hm, I do Apologize if my question sparked up some unpleasant memories of that day. As I the Last of the Arsen Noblehouse can relate to that, and the fact we are a side branch of Your Direct Lineage, so innately know of;" She caught herself mid-sentence as she poured herself a flute of red wine swirling it as she continued. "My apologies Ozark, I seemed to have forgotten my manners. I am Salem Arsen, Last of My Line of Noblehouse Arsen. I do wonder why hadn't broken out as soon as you reached fifteen winters? Your Ichor should have been active by then, and even with specialized restraints, so why?"
"I-ichor?" Ozark mouthed the word outloud resulting to a wide eyed surprised Salem who nearly dropped her drink as the coach passed a bump. He feared for his life as a strange sensation reached his branded hand as it glowed ever so violently. "M-my Dame, I Apologize but I-i have no idea what you meant by Ichor?"
The strange sensation stopped as the Blood haired woman sighed, from exasperation or simply because she was tired of the trip? Ozark had no clue.
"Whoever took you must have struck your head a bit too hard. Ichor my Dear Ozark, is the Crystallized source of all Mana, a power source that is present in all life forms. The Erebus have always been late bloomers, so to say, which contributed to their monstrous reputation. As once their Ichor's have matured by the fifteenth Winter their reserves match those who were born to be Mages and Out class those who have studied Mana," She paused to take a sip from her wine then continued her discussion. "And Naturally everyone was Born with a specific Role or Caste so to say and each Caste had their strengths and weaknesses. Those Born in the Castes of War; Sabers, Archers, and Spearmen were those who were sent to wars abd are considered to more balance footed of the Castes, Those Born in the Castes Of Intellect; Mages, Assassins, and Mounters were those who have specializations like How Mages had an innate feel for mana, their Colors, Shapes and natures, How Assassins are Nimble and light footed and have an innate understanding of Humanoid anatomy and poisons specializing in killing with no trace, or How Mounters have a Special Ties to The Beasts of Yore and often are quite in tune with Nature, then Finally those who were Born in the Castes of Mind; These are the rarer Castes as One does not simply become A Berserker from birth and if they do they are exposed to nature vs. Nurture which often makes them far more stable than their namesake, Same goes for Rulers as they are Trained in mind and body to become such for one to be born as one is a one in a trillion chance, then comes the Avenger or the Wretched as many call them. These people who have dove into madness, killed their view of life all because of a betrayal be it a search for vengeance against a single person or against the world.... are you still with me Ozark?"
The man in question simply nodded slowly, his understanding of the world from the Few Kind Slavers and captured royalty were far from what his Madame had shared. There were castes, actual castes, Actual magic! this, was amazing. "Then, What Caste am I?"
"Normally we have three lines that take shape of anything that reflects our Ichor, for The Arsen, we are of the Intellect Caste, I will not say which but I am one of them. For you, I cannot discern it yet" Ozark visibly deflated from her comment. "Until that Brand has properly disappeared in two to three years time. You can argue the brand was made so Slaves can be sold and not be discriminated until a sentiment is made with their Owners. As a Caste Identity is something one should be wary about sharing."
"As you can guess each caste's Class has a weakness. For Saber Classes it is their Genetic Honorbound Code which often ignores outside influences in battle such as Archers firing at them. For Archer's it is their Tunnel vision as their one track mind would leave them open to Spearmen's Speed and Mid range reach. For Spearmen it is their perception of the area as they'll be too wary to focus on Sabers if they are in a duel with them." Salem paused yet again to allow her Slave to absorb the information effectively. " For Mages it is their Weak Constitution which allow Mounters to Blitz through their Magical defense. For Mounters it is their Hereditary Headstrong nature that they forget an Assassin's concealed presence which becomes their downfalls. For Assassins they simply cannot mask their presence around Mages who are attune to Mana."
"And of Rulers, Berserkers, and Avengers milady?" Ozark asked as he watched the woman smile.
"that's the thing those three of the Mind caste are different. The Berserkers are Strong against All Classes but suffer double in exchange for their advantages, the Rulers are Resistant to all but Berserkers and Avengers as their Sovereign do not tie down the Insane and The Betrayed. for Avengers, those born as such are Naturally Strong against Berserkers and Rulers however one can Fall into These Three Mind castes quite easily carrying both their Class's Boons and Banes in the process."
"Whilst we speak about the Rare Castes classes we should cover the Myth Caste, the Caste i
of the Soul; they are outside of any understanding as of now but we do have the fundamentals of the concept. The Classes under it are Pretenders, Alter Egos, and Foreigners. Soul Castes are one of the more obscure castes in our History having only three recorded people with each of the Caste, Those that tend to the Soul is what the caste is. The Pretender Class can Change into any Class they wish to but half of their Parameters, whilst stronger Class Advantage-wise they are simply Fodder until they gather enough Masks to make up for the lack of Quality Parameters, Alter Egos are more of an even split in half, Two souls in zone vessel two Minds in one Body, the works they are Mainly strong against the Mind caste but have been known to Trample the pretenders as their Quality 'Mask' out classes the Quantitative collections of them. Then we have Foreigners, the Only Class that is resistant to Berserkers as they are Out of this plane of reality, strength wise meaning they are a singularity a singularity that cannot compete the innumerable Masks and Identities that the Pretenders Hold."
"So they are the rarer of all the Castes?"
Salem nodded as she passed the Young man a whole loaf of bread along with fried salt pork. He was teary, not because ge was ungrateful but because he worried over Ara and Mia, what would they eat? Had the Crew done heinous things to them? Had they adjusted to him not being with them? So many questions, so many Pains thinking over them. This was did not Go unnoticed by the Baroness.
"I, will contact my acquaintance in that slaver ship. and Purchase your Spouse and Child." Salem Grinned sadistically. "I will need you to do tasks for me, no worries. They will be Bought to my Manor and You may indulge them in whatever they want, After all we are related. And that Brand's Glow, Confirmed it. So welcome Home Ser Erebus, and You art under mine service until I say so."