"All of you get ready because today many of you will die while doing cleanup work," one man said. He was wearing solid iron armor and a long sword. That must have been a swordsman...
He is definitely a swordsman, Asher looked at all his armor down to his great iron long sword. The sword was brown in color, and his armor shone with the little sunlight that entered through the clouds full of snow, which would fall at any moment. The subject was standing on a square wooden platform. Behind the subject was a flag and a name.
[Glory to slavery and money]
A blood-colored flag with a drawing in the center of two people dragging two slaves across the ground. The flag was very eye-catching, especially since it was right behind the swordsman.
The swordsman spoke. At that moment he was prepared and with his guard up; His mission was to protect Gloriana and Luna.
"Hahaha, those desperate faces make me laugh."
The guy spoke very arrogantly, but he seemed to be a leader or even higher, so the situation was obvious. However, that scarred face and confident look bothered me; It was almost identical to that of the two millionaires who set me up.
"There will be two groups. The first group will be sent to the west side of the snow field, where the weaker monsters are, and the second group will be sent to the south side, where the stronger monsters are. But you are lucky that there are only a few "said the swordsman guiding the slaves.
"The two groups are already decided," the swordsman mentioned.
With a dull sound, several slave children emerged from another door. So, that's what he meant by the groups being ready. Basically, there are different places where slaves are trained. For example, the place where he was is like a separate place, like a group, and these guys must organize the slaves into groups. So why are there only two groups? Are there no more slaves or are they dead?
"So, have fun. Oh, I forgot to mention, if one of you tries to escape, I'm just warning you: in the snow field there is a magic field, so if one of you tries to escape, you will die."
"Well, that's to be expected. No place that sells slaves would let their profits slip away easily," I thought.
Quickly, the people who were watching us began to talk.
"Quickly, get out! We don't have much time," they shouted as they pushed the children towards an exit where the wall of logs was.
The slave children began to walk in line. Slowly, the first group left the place. Continuing with my group, we also went out. The air was strong and very cold. Upon leaving the place, a landscape full of pine trees could be seen in front of everyone. I looked at the second group heading west, while my group changed course and headed south. People with leather armor and swords guided us, but with a very arrogant attitude.
***
-Change of scene.
We walked for about two hours. The guards let us go freely, but I knew that no one could escape from this field. In front of everyone was a field full of snow and with several trees, but these trees were so big that they looked like buildings from my past life.
I approached Luna; I was curious to know a few things as we walked aimlessly.
"The guy with black hair and dark eyes, he was the one who gave you all that information, wasn't he?" I asked for.
"..."
Luna frowned. Her face looked like that of those people who don't trust others.
"I don't trust you much, but it's true," she replied.
If you don't trust me, why do you give me the order to take care of Gloriana in this place? But fortunately, I'm not that kind of person anymore. In this new life I must do new things and not be the same as in my past life.
But I was bothered by the fact that Luna doesn't trust me. If it were the one from my past life, maybe some would never trust me, but I was always trustworthy. However, that was also what led to my death.
"Do you know if they will come for Gloriana?" She wanted to know if the royal family was really looking for Gloriana; at that moment she could be free from this place.
"..."
"I hate that you look at me like that," I murmured.
"That?"
"Nothing. So, do you know when they'll come for her?" I asked again when my gaze fell on Gloriana, who was standing behind Luna.
"...Yes, but you know that if you do anything or try anything, the royal family will execute you," she replied coldly. Her tone of voice was cold and she seemed to have some grudge against me, but she hid it very well.
The snowfield is a place with only giant trees and snow everywhere, but what makes it different from a regular snowfield are the monsters. I've never seen a monster, but they might be very strong. Apart from the guards not accompanying us, this situation was also very annoying. The place is not that nice, but it is much better than being locked in a room almost all day for two weeks.
"Dry sound"
The footsteps of several children were so loud that they could be heard easily. At that moment I frowned; If the noise continues like this, the monsters may attack us. I am the only one capable of fighting, but I cannot protect more than fifty boys at a time and two girls who are important in society.
The situation was complicated, but I had to stay calm. Every step I took and my breathing, which began to become exhausted, were signs of fatigue. My breath looked like steam coming out of my mouth every time I exhaled. I continued, and the footsteps were still loud.
"There's nothing around these parts. I should take a look," I thought. If there are no monsters nearby, it means they are far away, but it is also possible that they are hiding.
I looked at Luna and asked. First of all, I had to warn before leaving the group and investigate the area.
"I should look around if possible," I asked.
"Okay, but don't take too long," she replied.
She responded so quickly that she didn't even look at me.
I sighed and then looked in one direction. I walked and left the group. I entered an area where sunlight did not enter; It was starting to get dark, but it was still light. I continued walking, this time trying not to make noise.
"Deaf sound"
Suddenly, I heard some biting sounds, they came from some bushes. I walked slowly without making any noise. I approached the bush and what I saw left me very surprised.
"That... is a monster," I thought.
In front of me was a monster. It had white fur, it looked like a polar bear, but its head had four eyes. His teeth protruded from his jaw. It practically had the body of a polar bear, but it had more eyes and bigger teeth. His claws weren't out either; They were so long that they could tear off the meat very easily.
"Shit, I have to tell the group..."
When I turned my gaze to the monster, it was looking at me with its four eyes, it was very close to the bush where I was.
"Shit."
"Boom!"
The monster slammed its claws into the bush and tore it to shreds. I jumped back. My mana rushed straight to my hand and a sphere, or rather a ball of fire, appeared in my hand. The bear ran towards me, its claws so close to my body.
"Boom!"
Again the bear lashed out with his great claws. This one was much larger than a normal bear, it was more than eight meters in size. His large claws, when he slammed them against the ground, made the snow fly into the air and the sound of the impact was also loud.
"Boom!!"
He slammed his claws against the ground again as I jumped back. The monster lunged at me with its entire body. I threw the fireball I had in my hand at the monster, but...
"He dodged it."
The bear dodged my attack, but suddenly an explosion with purple rays and the fire, which is supposed to be yellow, was black. The explosion had a size of more than tens of meters over a large radius of distance.
***
-Change of scene.
—Perspective of Luna Hazard.
I don't usually trust anyone, but this guy named Asher knew magic. I don't know how he learned to use magic, but if anyone knows about the result of him using magic at too young an age, the entire continent could be in chaos. This would lead the entire royal family into trouble.
He is a commoner who managed to learn magic. The royal family is very proud; If they ever found out about Asher's existence, he would be in trouble, all because he is a commoner. But the rules are the rules: only members of the royal family must learn magic from a very young age, although they only manage to obtain mana and fail to be a first circle. Therefore, if the royal family knows about Asher, it would be a big problem.
"If only I didn't meet him in this place," I thought.
He is someone I should not trust. The heir to the throne is next to me, but he is also a very sensitive person. It all happened because of that trip to the academy. Gloriana couldn't absorb mana because she is the heir to the throne. As her role indicates, she is always busy, even as an 11-year-old girl.
It's annoying; The heirs to the throne should not do jobs, they should rather learn magic.
I sighed.
"It's been a long time, did he escape from this place? It's not possible for him to escape easily."
My eyes widened as an explosion echoed in the direction where Asher went. I quickly covered Gloriana. Although the explosion was strong, it did not reach this place, but he had to protect Gloriana no matter what.
"What's wrong, where is Asher?" Gloriana asked.
Why does she care about someone unknown? They don't even talk, so why does he care?
"He doesn't matter, the important thing is that you are safe, Gloriana," I shouted.
"...But Asher..."
"Stop worrying about him, we must be safe."
"And what's up with all those kids?" Gloriana asked.
"Leave them, they're just a burden. Remember, they're almost here and we can be safe," I mentioned.
"Boom!!"
Again an explosion rang out. I looked in the direction of the explosion. It wasn't very far away, maybe a hundred meters away, but I could see something. It was like fire, but it was black and there were also rays of purple, a color that should not be in rays, but also in fire.
"That's the magic of him," I thought with wide eyes.
It was strange magic, a color the likes of which had never been seen. So what magic is Asher using? Aside from his talent in magic, he can even use spells. Spells are the most difficult part of the wizard's path to learn. In the books, the most basic spells can only be learned by the most talented wizards in a single day, and that is also aimed at the strongest wizard in the royal family.
So why can he use spells and is also a first circle? A wizard can only use spells when he is a first circler, but being a first circler takes a long time. So the question is, since when is he learning magic and when did he learn the spells?
I clenched my fists. I thought I was the next most talented mage. My understanding of spells was very fast, but I still haven't been able to absorb mana due to lack of time.
"Damn, let's run, we must get to a safe place. That guy must be fighting a monster," I mentioned while looking at Gloriana.
Gloriana looked at where the explosions echoed, she gulped before I grabbed her arm and forcibly took her in another direction. We left the group alone; all the slave children were kneeling on the ground in fear. This was the first time those faces were afraid.
Gloriana took one last look and a new explosion echoed again.
"I don't want to leave you alone, but please don't die… Asher Frostblade," Gloriana murmured as she disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
***
-Change of scene.
—Asher Frostblade's perspective.
A dry sound was heard.
I ran panting, the monster managed to dodge the fireball attacks. In this situation it was very difficult, the ground was deep due to the snow that hindered me, but I could not continue and I should not take the monster to where the slave children were.
This time I decided to use fire arrow. This was a very good distance to be able to use this attack. The bear was running towards me, its four-eyed gaze giving me a chilling feeling. Manna ran through my veins, reaching my hand. The mana began to take shape into an arrow. The arrow floated in my hand and I quickly took aim at the bear. I drew my body back and pushed myself off, the arrow shot out.
"Boom!!"
"I managed to hit it."
The arrow penetrated the bear's left arm, blood gushed from that place while something large with claws fell to the ground, it was his arm.
"IlKuaaar!!"
The bear screamed. I prepared two more arrows and then released them. This spell consumes a lot of mana, so I only fired two more arrows; I had to save mana, I didn't know if I would encounter more monsters like this again.
"Boom!!"
The first arrow hit the big monster's leg and the other hit his neck. The monster shed large amounts of blood as its head fell to the ground, its body falling to the ground and raising a curtain of snow around it.
"I did it" I said with a smile.
It's true, the group may be in danger. I must hurry" I thought as I ran quickly towards where the group was waiting for my arrival. I didn't know if there were monsters, but I had to get there as quickly as possible...