It's often said that every story with an ending has a beginning, and mine is no exception. My journey, my story, my life path, and how I ended up here might sound like a fairy tale to many, but to me, it's a deeply personal and unforgettable reality that began taking shape from the moment…
I was born a slave, to my slave mother, who did not show me the true affection that I believe a parent is meant to show their children. She often treated me as a burden she had to carry. Despite the way she treated me, I loved her because I was too naive to understand what parental love truly was. My mother and I were slaves to the Yuchi clan, which treated us like animals rather than humans. We were made to work like beasts all day, eat like pigs, and sleep in stables with horses. The Yuchi clan was a dominant force, ruling over a vast expanse of territories, but it met its fall when it was attacked by the Great Molped Empire. The Empire took over the territories of the Yuchi clan, enslaving most of its former inhabitants. I was ten years old when I became a slave of the Molped nation. Those who refused to surrender, resisted, or fled were chased down and killed. My mother was no exception; she left me to die but ended up being the one who died instead. Strangely, I didn't feel as bad as a daughter should feel for the death of her mother. Just like the Yuchi clan, the Great Molped Empire treated me no better; in fact, they were even more cruel.
At the age of thirteen, in the year 1024 CE, a great rebellion occurred in the Great Molped nation, led by the surviving remnants of the Yuchi clan. During this period, the Great Molped Empire experienced great turmoil within its walls. The Empire of Agor, which had bad relations with the Great Molped, used this opportunity to launch attacks. Molped couldn't withstand the internal and external onslaught from both sides. The Agor Empire took over the Great Molped Empire soon after, and like Molped, it enslaved those who submitted and killed those who rebelled. My slave status was once again transferred to another empire. However, unlike the Yuchi and Molped, they treated slaves a little better. For the first time, I met an owner who at least gave me the dignity of being human by giving me a name, Hala.
At the age of fifteen, in the year 1026 CE, my master and I traveled through the great mountains, heading to the capital city of Agor, when we were attacked by bandits. My master was killed, and a few other servants and I managed to survive. But as usual, as if being followed by misfortune, I was sold as a slave girl again to a branch territory of the Great Duchess, which, like Molped and Yuchi, treated slaves like animals. It's almost hard to believe that throughout my life as a slave, I have never been defiled by anyone or my male owner. Maybe it was because I was still too young, even though I was indeed beautiful.
At age 17, in the year 1028 CE, the Great Barbarians of the North launched an attack on the Great Duchess and its surrounding territories. This assault was a result of their internal power struggles, which had weakened them, giving the barbarians an opportunity to strike. Although the barbarians were ultimately defeated, they inflicted significant damage on the Great Duchess and captured many residents as slaves, myself included.
By age 19, in the year 1030 CE, I had been taken as a slave to the Grey Barbarian tribe. The tribe was engaged in warfare against the Zest Empire of the North. My story had moved from the South to the North, where the barbarians ruled alongside other small but powerful empires like the Marcus and Zest Empires. I was taken to the battlefield as a helper slave and was constantly harassed by the barbarians, who tried to assault me at every opportunity.
The day my life truly changed was when I met him, the mighty war god of Zest. It happened on a sunny day in the northeastern hinterland battlefield between the Grey Barbarians and the Zest Empire. A group of barbarians dragged me to a secluded corner of the woods, attempting to assault me. Just when I thought all hope was lost, a figure flashed by, decapitating the five barbarians in one swift movement. I couldn't even see his actions clearly, only the lone figure of a middle-aged man, seemingly in his forties, wearing an ancient military uniform with a coat made of animal skin.
I looked at him in surprise, covering my exposed body with my torn clothes. He appeared like a god shedding light upon me. Upon recognizing his uniform, my admiration turned to fear. Trembling, I spoke in a low, fearful voice, "Yo… yo… you are from the Zest Empire."
He glanced at me, still covering my body, and with a stern look and commanding voice, he asked, "Are you a barbarian, yes or no?"
Shivering in fear as he pointed his sword at my neck, I stammered, "I… I am a slave to the Grey Barbarian tribe."
He looked at me with a weary expression, then drew back his sword and sheathed it. He removed his coat and gave it to me to put on. I continued to look at him in surprise, not expecting him to spare my life, let alone give me his coat. I wore the coat as he motioned for me to follow him silently. We arrived at the barracks of the Zest frontal army, where I learned he was the mighty god of war of Zest, a figure I had heard of for so long and whom the barbarians feared greatly.
At age 20, in the year 1031 CE, the barbarians lost the war against the Zest Empire and retreated to their homeland. I followed the Mighty Chief, the god of war of Zest, back to the Zest Imperial capital. Even after our return, he never treated me as a slave but as a real human being, despite knowing I had been a slave from birth. Unlike the other residents of Zest, who saw me as nothing more than a barbarian slave and either wanted to exploit my good looks or keep me for themselves, the Chief protected me, and they all feared him.
The way he cared for me was unlike anything I had ever experienced, even from my own mother. He treated me differently, revoked my slave status, and even proposed marriage to me as a concubine to protect me from the predatory eyes of those in the imperial family who disliked or disrespected him. They could have used my status as a mere barbarian slave to undermine him. This turn of events did not sit well with the Empress of Zest or the Great Chieftress, his wife and the daughter of his brother, with whom there were already heavy tensions. Even though I was married to him as a concubine, I was too naive and timid to know whether I truly accepted his proposal out of love or gratitude for all he had done for me.
My marriage to him led to clashes between me and his wife and increased tensions between him and his brother, who coveted the throne. The Chieftress gradually began to mistreat me, seeing me as a competitor and an unexpected variable to the other members of the imperial family who wanted him out of power. I was too foolish and naive then, allowing myself to be bullied and keeping silent because I didn't want to cause a conflict between the Chieftain and the Chieftress. I thought I could endure it for all the Chieftain had done for me.
At age 22, I had been married to the Chieftain for almost three years, and he had never once slept with me or come to my room. I never expected much from him back then; I just wanted to be close to him, and that was enough for me.
At age 24, in the year 1035 CE, I experienced the event that changed my fate forever. The Zest Imperial Celebration, which takes place every two years to honor the Father, the Mother, the Heavens, and the ancestors, was held. This event was meant to be a joyous occasion in Zest to celebrate its founding ancestors, but it turned into a disaster, marking the beginning of a significant change in my life from the naive girl I was to who I am now.
It all began during that celebration. At first, everything was fine. A banquet was held in the Zest Imperial Mansion to celebrate the occasion. Everyone was drinking and dancing, including my husband, the Chieftain. The event proceeded as usual until suddenly, a guard burst into the imperial palace in haste. He knelt down, bowing to the members of the court present. The Chieftain and other members of the court looked at him in surprise as my husband ordered him to speak. It was then that he informed my husband about the current situation outside the palace.
"Yo… your grace, th… the Grey Barbarians are attacking us as we speak and have broken into the city walls."
My husband and other members of the court were stunned. Even though they were in a period of celebration and security had become lax, it was completely impossible to break into the Imperial Capital without them knowing unless someone had let them in. The members of the imperial family and court immediately entered a state of urgency. Suddenly, loud laughter came from a part of the room. All the members of the court, including my husband and me, looked at the source. A man stood up from where he had been sitting, looking at the Chieftain with hostile eyes. He spoke to him:
"Hahaha… they have finally begun."
The Chieftain, my husband, looked at the man with a stern and fearful expression before speaking.
"Make sure to explain carefully what you mean by those words, brother."
There was obvious tension within the imperial hall as the two brothers clashed with their gazes.
"You know what, brother? You were always Daddy's little boy, just because you were stronger than us. Do you know how much I have hated you ever since you came to be? I ceased to be relevant, always cast under your shadow. No matter what I did, no matter how many contributions I made, no matter how hard I worked, it never met the expectations of that old man. He always praised you, and I was left behind, always feeling like a worthless son. In the end, despite all I did to ensure that Zest thrived, it was of no use. That old man gave the position of leader to his favorite second son instead of me, the rightful heir to Zest's throne, the first son," he said, lashing out at my husband.
The Chieftain looked at him with a furious gaze and, with a stern and commanding voice, spoke to his brother, Zic.
"What do you mean by that, Zic? What have you done?"
Zic looked at him with a hateful expression.
"What do I mean by that?" Zic said, clenching his teeth and giving a devilish smile. He used one of his hands to cover his face while giving the Chieftain a murderous look before continuing.
"I am just taking what was rightfully mine. On top of that, you turned my own daughter against me. I have long been dissatisfied with you. In fact, I am not the only one who has been dissatisfied; the clans and other great families within Zest that you suppressed when you came to power are also very dissatisfied with your rule." Zic smiled maliciously, spreading his hands to his belly level as if giving a signal.
To my surprise and that of the Chieftain, other members of the court and imperial family stood up, drawing their swords and slashing at the Chieftain's loyalists. One by one, the Chieftain saw his loyalists fall and die. He could not bear the sight of his people dying and flew into a rage.
"You think relying on your numbers alone can stop someone like me? You must be looking down on me too much, or you must have forgotten why I was given the name The Mighty God of War of the North." The Chieftain picked up his sword and stood up, revealing his mighty and graceful appearance, which sent shivers down the spines of his enemies. He walked towards them, wielding his great sword and emitting a terrifying murderous aura. They knew they couldn't win against a monster like him, so Zic and his allies began retreating slowly.
All of a sudden, a voice that sounded like thunder, carrying a very terrifying presence, spoke up.
"You are truly worthy of being the God of War of the North. Your presence alone makes them shiver like ants. Why bully the weak like them? It's not worth it, don't you think? I, the Great Chieftain of the Grey Barbarians, have always wanted to challenge you, the God of War." A man with a huge mustache and a massive build, almost like that of a giant, stepped in, wielding a large sword and giving my husband a mocking smile. His sheer presence was almost as intimidating as the Chieftain of Zest. The Chieftain looked at the barbarian leader with clear dissatisfaction as he spoke.
"Spare me your nonsense. You all will die here today." The barbarian chief, upon hearing this, smiled at the Chieftain and immediately lunged towards him, wielding his massive sword and swinging it while shouting for him to die. The Chieftain looked unbothered as he nonchalantly glanced at the massive sword heading towards him. The chieftain with slowly and nonchalantly expression raised his hand, and as the massive sword came down, destroying everything around, he caught it with his bare hands, holding it in place. The barbarian chief tried to pull it out of his grip, but there was no sign of movement from the Chieftain's tight hold on the blade.
The Chieftain struck the barbarian chief with his left fist, sending him crashing into a nearby wall. This scene left me and the others in shock. Even though I knew how strong he was, it was still shocking to see a human catch a sword with their bare hands and throw someone like the barbarian chief, who was like a giant, with one punch. The barbarian chief forced himself to stand up from the rubble of stones, still staggering and spitting out blood from just that casual blow. He ask
"What sort of monster are you?" The chieftain looked at him with a menacing gaze, as if wanting to eat him alive, while he walked towards the barbarian chief, who could not stand but could only kneel in front of the Chieftain due to the pain from the punch. The Chieftain spoke up,
"Monster? Maybe I am a monster, or maybe I am more terrifying than a monster." He exuded an even more terrifying aura than before, standing in front of the barbarian chief who was kneeling face down on the floor. The Chieftain's actions left me in amazement; I felt like a fan girl watching her idol perform for the first time.
As the Chieftain casually raised his sword high to cut off the head of the barbarian chief, it happened—the event that truly shattered my world for good.