Liam stared at the man who had just purchased him. The man was tall and muscular, with a cold expression and rough hands that hinted at his profession. He wore a tattered robe and a wide-brimmed hat, a sign of his low status, and a machete at his side.
"You're mine now," the man said, grabbing Liam's arm and pulling him away from the auction block. "Don't even think of running or resisting, or you'll regret it."
Liam followed the man, his heart heavy with despair. He had been sold into slavery, a fate worse than death for a young man like him. He had always dreamed of traveling the world and making a name for himself, of exploring new lands and discovering new cultures. But now, all his dreams were shattered, and he was nothing more than a piece of property, to be used and abused by his new master.
The man led Liam through the dusty streets of the city, past the colorful markets and the grand estates of the wealthy. They walked for hours, until they reached the outskirts of the city, where the air was thick with the smell of salt and sweat.
"This is where you'll be working," the man said, pointing to a cluster of shacks near the entrance of a mine. "You'll be a miner, digging precious metals and minerals from the earth and hauling them to the surface. It's hard work, but you'll get used to it. Or you'll die, like so many before you."
Liam looked around him, taking in the bleak landscape and the hot, dry air. The mine was surrounded by jagged rocks and steep cliffs, and the entrance was a dark, ominous hole in the ground. He knew he had no choice but to obey his master, to work tirelessly and hope for a better future. But deep down, he knew that the odds were against him, and that his life would never be the same again.