"Of course, they must be weak enough to be enslaved…"
Vorila continued to elaborate on how individuals are targeted for enslavement, emphasizing that those chosen are often in a significantly weakened state.
He noted that just because someone is enslaved while vulnerable, it doesn't mean they would remain in that state if they were to regain their strength.
Once they reach a certain threshold of power, they could potentially break free from their enslavement.
Vorila made it clear that while slaves are deemed to possess a master, they also hold the power to escape if they become strong enough.
This dynamic explains the existence of a wide variety of slave seals, many of which come equipped with add-ons such as mental numbing and other enhancements.
These magical modifications serve to dull the senses and slow cognitive processes, causing the enslaved to follow orders without the ability to critically evaluate them.
Nevertheless, Vorila acknowledged that, even with these enhancements, any individual with considerable mental fortitude could ultimately break free from their restraints.
"Understood, but what happens if someone is physically weak but possesses strong mental strength?" Lucian asked, alluding to his own situation.
He was curious whether, should he ever fall victim to enslavement, his mind would be able to resist the effects of the mental-numbing enhancements.
From Vorila's explanation, Lucian gathered that slave seals function as triggers that monitor the thoughts of the enslaved.
If a slave internally rejects their master's commands, they are met with an electric shock.
However, strong-willed individuals could dispel the seals, which is why various types of enhancements exist.
"As I mentioned earlier, individuals can only break free if they possess strong mana," Vorila clarified.
"In cases where mental strength attempts to surface, a person with weak mana may not be capable of breaking the seal but could withstand the shock and overcome the effects of the add-ons." He explained how it doesn't matter even if a person has strong mental resilience.
Given that the slave seal is inscribed using an ancient language that siphons mana from the environment.
Although it extracts only a minute amount, without exceeding a certain threshold of power, one cannot successfully break the seal.
Nevertheless, those with formidable mental strength can resist their master's commands while simultaneously dispelling the enhancements that dull their senses, mind, and decision-making abilities.
"I understand…" Lucian nodded, lost in thought as he contemplated the complexity of this system.
Given that Vorila didn't describe any form of magic employed in creating these seals, Lucian imagined that it only involved drawing a specific pattern on the body of a target in a weakened state.
The fact that it could be executed without relying on mana added layers of complexity to his understanding, stirring his curiosity about the precise mechanics at play.
To fully grasp the process at a molecular level, he recognized that he would need to enroll at Valeria Academy.
For now, he could only glean the fundamental principles governing these slave seals from Vorila's insights.
"Sigh, listen, let's suppose I kill this man over here," Vorila said nonchalantly."There's a high chance his daughter will retaliate against the slave seal."
He gestured towards the slave behind him, emphasizing that if that slave were to die, the girl nearby would inevitably take action against her father's death, driven by rage and perhaps even managing to overcome the seal.
Yet, he added, she wouldn't be able to break it completely, as her awakened ability lacked the mana required to give her enough strength.
Lucian remained silent, observing the expressions of the slaves.
He clearly noticed that while the girl radiated defiance, the man beside her appeared utterly lifeless, a shell of a person.
The girl was glaring at Vorila with palpable killing intent.
Although Lucian couldn't sense any magical energy, he understood from her clenched fists and fierce expression that this girl would truly transcend her slave seal.
Clearly showing her mental strength was too strong.
Moreover, he spotted a faint trace of a burn near her eyes.
Given that her face was covered, it was likely she bore burns all over her face, as well as on her whole body, since he could even notice her hand was tied in bandaged cloth.
Looking at this girl, the only one to react in a meaningful way among the two of those slaves, Lucian realized she possessed a fierce will—even in the face of slavery.
As the daughter of the man who seemed utterly broken, it was clear she had been born into bondage.
The state of her father painted a grim picture; he epitomized the degenerated existence of a slave reduced to mere objecthood.
Lucian observed the girl, born into the horrific existence of slavery, and despite her face being obscured, her body language spoke volumes.
It was evident to him that she had likely taken the drastic step of burning her own face.
Drawing from his experiences in his previous life, where civility often masked a darker nature, he realized that without laws to constrain them, even those who appeared genteel would eventually reveal their underlying savagery.
He contemplated how, faced with a girl who was a slave, not only the noblemen—who viewed slaves as mere toys for their amusement—but even the ostensibly civilized people, would likely succumb to their basest instincts.
This reality illuminated the grim fate that awaited a young girl in her position.
It led him to conclude that she had likely resorted to self-inflicted burns as a desperate attempt to protect herself from being objectified and mistreated.
Such actions were not those of a fragile mind; they demonstrated a remarkable mental resilience.
Forget about her witnessing her father's death; this girl had already gone beyond the struggles of the slave seal.
She exhibited a level of self-awareness and strength that rendered the mind-numbing magic ineffective against her spirit.
'She must be the one following his orders.' As Lucian pieced everything together, it became clear to him that, of the two slaves, it was most likely this girl—who inherently harbored a deep resentment toward the noblemen that had relegated her to the status of a plaything—who would accept Vorila's commands, even if it meant killing a nobleman's son.
Of course, Lucian did not view himself as a mere child in her eyes. He had long since lost the perspective from which he could imagine being treated with compassion, as he had faced death head-on at just a week old.
At that time, he hadn't seen any eyes filled with pity or concern for his fate.
Thus, he regarded himself as just another nobleman. Given this, he understood that he would likely soon find himself as this girl's next target.
Pushing those troubling thoughts aside, he turned to Vorila and asked, "By the way, Gorilla, what awakened ability do you possess?"