RE:volt! Chapter 6: Survival of the Fittest
Ark: Age 7.
More years passed as Ark waited for his body to be capable of making a breakthrough.
"Forty. Forty-one. Forty-two. Forty-three. Forty-four. Forty-five-" Ark counted off, performing his daily ritual behind a barn where several crates were arranged to obscure his actions as the other slaves ate.
Between working in the fields during the day, avoiding the two overseer's extracurricular activities at night, and sneaking about the grounds that weren't gated off via the electric fence, lunch time was the only time Ark had to exercise. The only time no one would be bothering to look for him.
Usually.
Is there a reason you waste time exercising when you can just augment yourself through mana? Ireliex asked as an image of the Dragon Empress sitting cross-legged in a dark void appeared in Ark's mind.
Ark remained silent, his one purpose being the rhythmic movements of his muscles.
So you're just going to ignore me?
Still silent.
Fine. Suit yourself mongrel.
You're awfully chatty all of a sudden. Ark sent back. It had been years since the pair last spoke, with Ark nearly forgetting she existed if not for the occasional feelings of disgust he felt.
I'm just curious why you're wasting your time when magic circuits will just augment you anyway.
A healthy body. Leads to a healthy mind. You dragons are born gifted, born strong. Stagnant beings that never had to work to improve. Ark shot back, his arms beginning to quiver as he finally hit fifty. When you have no mana, when your magic runs dry, the only thing you have to rely on is yourself and your body.
A moment passed as the dragon went silent.
…Interesting. Ireliex replied after some time. I suppose I hadn't considered the weakness of your mortal flesh.
I wouldn't look down on mankind, lizard. This is the same mortal flesh that hunted your kind.
Using our stolen techniques and weapons no less.
I used what was available. Ark spat, his eyes staring out into the distance at the white structured Big House that lay in the distance, the master's quarters.
"Six-two-six!" A feminine voice yelled, drawing Ark from his work of self improvement and argument with the dragon.
He wiped his brow, eyes darting up as the familiar voice of the Head Overseer sounded out once more.
Shit.
Ark got up, climbing over the crates to make his way toward the fit, dark-skinned woman who kept calling his number.
"Ma'am! Six-two-six reporting as ordered!" Ark replied, a good obedient slave that bowed his head toward the brown-haired overseer.
Ark was immediately struck, the metal wand that was used to keep the slaves in line hitting him across the face.
"When I call you, you sound off. Where the fuck were you?" The yellow clad woman demanded, before suddenly, her eyes went wide, looking over the sweating shirtless boy up and down. She licked her lips, wetting the cracked skin in a manner Ark knew well.
Lust.
"Which slave dorm do you reside in?" Overseer Delia asked, placing the metal rod beneath his chin to lift his head to meet her yellow eyes surrounded with makeup.
"Six four ma'am." Ark replied, a lie of course. One that would no doubt get him in trouble but at least buy him time and confirm if she was serious.
The brunette woman narrowed her eyes as Ark's nose twitched, the smell of alcohol from the woman's mouth itching his senses.
"Report to Knight Bruno. You've been selected for training." The woman said, touching his face, almost caressing it with her fingers that sported yellow caked nails as the familiar trustee known as Ninety-Nine appeared.
Training? Ark nearly asked, yet he knew not to open his mouth. It seemed he was being moved to the combat thralls camp rather than the pickers or house servants. Not that he minded. If anything this made his future plans easier.
"You've got a fantastic set of aqua blues…" Head Overseer Delia whispered, caught up in a trance for a moment as she stared into Ark's eyes. Neither party realizing that a draconic effect was in play.
On second thought… maybe I can use this.
Although Ark was inwardly disgusted, he knew an opportunity when he saw one. A potential exploit. This was the first time she'd seen him, but it wasn't the first he'd seen her. Ark was well acquainted with the woman. Her eating habits, her patrol routes, her schedule, another target on his list that grew every time he surveyed and skulked around the fields and hovered outside the Overseer's quarters.
"Get."
"Yes ma'am." Ark bowed, taking off with the red-sashed trustee who waited until they were out of ear shot to speak.
"I know you're smart enough not to lie to the overseers kid, especially not the top one." Ninety-Nine whispered, a hint of annoyance in his suave voice.
"Will you report me?" Ark replied deadpan, eyes glancing over to the group of slaves being whipped by an overseer as they passed through the slave quarters.
"No. Just don't get me caught up in your hijinks "savior"." Ninety-Nine replied, addressing Ark by the rumored nickname that had been going around.
"Good. Did you get what I asked?" Ark said, the man glancing down.
"Yes. But do know I took a great risk upon my persons by doing so." Ninety-Nine replied, green eyes glancing over the young boy beside him.
"Thank you Ninety-Nine. I promise to pay you back for this." Ark said as the trustee reached into his sash and took out a lead pencil and rolled parchment, two items Ark needed for his future plans.
Ark took the items, quickly placing them into his pants where he had stitched a pocket into the inner thigh of his tattered rags.
"I won't ask why you need it. But don't get caught drawing." Ninety-Nine replied, eyeing the boy who was so different than all the other children he'd seen come and go. Maybe he is-
"Oui, where you lot going?" Overseer Manfry called out, stepping out of one of the many slave hovels while fixing his belt and correcting his ruffled trousers.
"Appointment with Knight Bruno sir." Ninety-Nine replied, immediately bowing. "I am escorting the young six-two-six to be trained as an enforcer for Lord Constantine."
"This little shit?" Manfry spat, poking Ark in the head with his metal baton.
Ark gave no response, instead he kept his focus on the man's leather boots. A trick he'd learned from his previous life.
"Yes sir, this little shit indeed." Ninety-Nine replied, grabbing Ark by the scruff of his neck. "Master Constantine wishes for the boy to be deposited post haste into Knight Bruno's charge so as you may see, Overseer Manfry, time is-."
"Go, get! Enough of your yapping ya damn pixie!"
"Thank you for being such an accommodating being sir." Ninety-Nine bowed again, this time forcing Ark to do the same by the hand on the boy's neck.
The pair walked off, Ark making sure to avoid eye contact as they did so.
"So you believe that crap? About me being a savior?" Ark whispered, gauging the trustee's interest in the rumors about him as they exited earshot. After all, another asset was another asset.
"As much as I believe a furry Horex will wipe its arsehole with toilet paper." Ninety-Nine replied, the two nearing a wooden arena. "Isolation and loneliness must have infected that poor wetnurse to concoct such rubbish to tell the truth, so don't get any ideas."
Ark raised a brow, looking at the man who possessed much more etiquette and ability than all the slaves he'd seen combined.
"The hell is toilet paper?" Ark asked, confused by the idiom used.
"Right. Savior. You're certainly different. I shall give you that six-two-six." The man scoffed, before flourishing his hand toward the twin wooden gates that were wide open. "Here we are six-two-six. If you'll please step forward and join the rest, I'll consider my task done."
Ark did as told, walking through the double doors and into the arena filled with racks of wooden weapons, training dummies, and dozens of other kids.
Boys and girls, various eye colors, ages ranging from six all the way to thirteen from Ark's estimate, with the one thing they had in common being the collars around their necks.
Ark glanced at Ninety-Nine who nodded, his expression flickering to concern for only a fraction of a second before he turned and left, leaving Ark to join the crowd of other children.
Great.
Walking, he shouldered his way into the crowd, blending into the cloister of kids sequestered by the wooden walls of the training pit and the sand beneath their bare and calloused feet.
Ark frowned.
Ireliex… just tell me. Are we in the past or are we in the future? Please. I need to know. Ark asked as he glanced around, taking in the sickly and disgusting state of his peers. Some had open wounds, others, their bodies so frail from lack of nutrients that Ark wasn't sure if what he was looking at was a human being or a ghoul.
The power of time lies outside the capabilities of even a regal species as mine.
Ark frowned. It was just as he feared. Despite wiping out the dragons in his former life, the world remained the same. The status quo kept. A small portion of himself had hoped that he was in the past, that he could put his knowledge of his time to use to correct the mistakes of the past.
To save Liliana.
Harsh reality hit Ark, the last vestige of hope nearly fading away if not for his mind telling him that he hadn't confirmed it. That until he did, there was still hope.
A man in full plate stepped into the arena, distracting Ark from his thoughts.
Knight Selgeun Bruno, a disgraced knight judging from the rumors Ark had picked up from his skulking. A man of no-nonsense who hated everyone and everything.
Well, anything that didn't have to do with fighting. He was an oaf, a brute given the title of Knight to keep the slave master's minions in check.
"Listen up you bottom feeders!" Bruno barked, drawing the attention of the entire cohort.
"I am Knight Sergeant Bruno, a knight in service of Baron Constantine! And today, I have been given the task to weed out the gems from the refuse. So, rejoice! For your miserable lives have been selected to be repurposed for a noble cause!" The man declared as several men suddenly entered the arena, each carrying whips and various tools Ark was well acquainted with.
Helpers… Ark frowned, tracking the men as they spread out, boxing in the children and preventing any means of escape.
"Those who make it past selection will be given extra rations, clothes, and a means of improving your station by serving under me." Bruno explained as several helpers moved a table into the center of the arena and began placing various types of food on the table. At the sight, the emancipated and starved children began to drool, their eyes greedily eyeing the fresh bounty before their eyes.
A hand from a little girl nearby went up, stepping forward to reach for the food yet was immediately hit with a whip from a nearby helper that sent her squealing away like a feral animal.
"Today. We shall be playing a game!" Bruno continued, causing several of the more lethargic children to perk up, their attention captured at the prospect of playing rather than the rewards and food.
"A game called Survival of the fittest." Bruno said, taking off his gauntlet and snapping his fingers to summon a helper that dumped a box filled with tems Ark immediately recognized at the foot of the crowd.
Weapons.
Not wooden weapons, training swords, or iron bars, but actual iron blades with sharp edges.
Shit. Ark balled his fists, putting two and two together.
"The rules are simple. Kill to survive. If you wish to live then pick up a blade and take a life." Bruno announced, drawing odd looks from the gathered children. "Prove to me and Lord Constantine that you are worth investing in. Once you do that…"
The knight raised his hand, gesturing to the table. "You may eat to your heart's content."