"You have fifteen minutes in the mess hall, then report to your stations," Gunthar shouted before turning and walking out the door.
At the mention of food the always present hunger lurking in the back of my mind rose to full force making my stomach growl. Squeezing through the crowd with my skinny frame I made it out the door almost before everyone else. Stepping out onto the mental catwalk I looked out across the massive open space that constituted the Iron Hold.
The labor camp existed with a massive shaft drilled straight down into the earth, an echo of history involving forces far beyond my comprehension. While the sheer scale was a marvel in itself, the true glory was in the bright glowing blue tendrils that tunneled through the rough basalt walls that bathed everything in their light, Aether veins.
They formed in places rich with magic, running through the earth and slowly leaching into various metals, gems, and stones turning them from ordinary minerals into items worth a fortune. But Iron Hold was different from the natural aether springs that formed across the Realm. It had been made, magic had bore into the earth with such potency that it left enough residue to burn its mark into the stone for centuries.
Lost in my thought I almost didn't notice when the catwalk turned from flat metal into a winding staircase to the market, a misleading name for what the space was. While stalls and impermanent structures were squeezed together shoulder to shoulder where people could sell what they harvested in the mines for food equipment or almost anything else imaginable.
"Ramos," turning my head at the sound of my name as I stepped off the stairway I saw the boss standing nearby with his arms crossed, "Let's go visit the new foremaster."
Nodding my head once I fell into step behind Gunthar as he turned and walked down one of the countless narrow alleys leading through the market. Even though the work bell only rang a few minutes ago, already the market was a buzz of activity with people moving back and forth.
Normally I would have to duck and weave my way through the foot traffic but with the Boss leading It was like swimming in the wake of a massive galleon as I watched the sea of people part to avoid his broad shoulders.
After a short walk we came out into one of the few open spaces in the market around the only building made out of brick and mortar. The general store looked more like a block fortress with no features besides the grated windows at the front where lines had already formed. There wasn't even a door to enter or leave the store making it seem like the build was a block of stone.
Without sparing the people a second look Gunther moved to the front of the line to which not a single person protested at least verbally. I could almost feel their hate fill gazes across our backs however, but I didn't mind at least for once it was because of my actions.
Walking up to one of the iron windows Gunther raised his massive hand and rapped against the metal with the back of his knuckles. A second later a portion of the window slid to the side revealing a pair of scarlet red eyes sunk into a gaunt face with gray skin. Staring at the Ghoul's face it was difficult to think that once, probably only a few months ago, the creature in front of me had been a man.
"Eh, what do you want human?" A familiar raspy dry voice echoed through the heavy metal plating that made my skin crawl.
Stepping forward Gunther leaned down so he was at eye level with the creature behind the kiosk, "I'm here because you refused to service one of my men?"
I watched as the scarlet red eyes slid from Gunther's massive frame down onto me, "Oh the Elysian, I remember you. I thought all of your people were killed by the Champions?"
Gunther moved to the side partially blocking the unnatural piercing gaze, "Keep wagging your tongue and someone is bound to cut it off."
The red eyes narrowed but for what reason I couldn't tell, "Is that a threat big guy?"
"I wonder how much a man must hate themself to trade their humanity and freedom for eternity all for a sliver of power.'' Gunther's question seemed to strike a deep chord within the Ghoul as its scarlet eyes as they narrowed
A hiss echoed from the window as the fae's scarlet eyes began to glow faintly, "Even if I'm not a true blood I still claw your throat out and feast on your heart!"
Gunther shifted and from his body posture alone I could tell the man was smiling, "I encourage you to try, It has been too long since I've tasted Fae blood."
For a long moment the Ghoul fell silent as it stared at Gunther with open hostility. Then after a tense minute its glowing red eyes dimmed, "Fine, you win this one human, now take your junk and leave."
The previously hidden inscription carved into the stone beneath the kiosk glowed as aether flowed through the magical circuit and a massive drill head appeared with a flash of light.
Reaching down, Gunther grabbed the drill bit in one hand before turning and passing it to me. Holding the hand drill with both arms pressing it against my chest I checked for any defects and nodded at Gunther when I found none.
"We're done here," Gunther grunted as he turned from the kiosk.
Quickly following in his footsteps I waited a second before I glanced over my shoulder. There from the slit in the window the scarlet eyes bore into my back that narrowed when we made eye contact.
A grin spread across my face as I stared at the hate filled eyes that peered through the gap in the window, stuck and helpless, unable to inflict the pain and agony it so desperately needed to tolerate its own existence. Turning back around I followed after Gunther my step lighter despite the drill head in my arms.