The steady clatter of wagon wheels and the rhythmic clip-clop of horses' hooves filled the air as Rex and Carl walked alongside a merchant's caravan. Their task for the day was simple: escort the merchant and his goods to the neighboring town while protecting him from bandits or wild beasts.
The merchant, a rotund man with a wiry beard and a shrewd glint in his eyes, was more talkative than they had anticipated. He introduced himself as Jorvyn, a trader specializing in rare goods—and slaves.
"If you ever need a loyal servant, come to me," Jorvyn said casually, as though offering nothing more controversial than fresh produce. "Adventurers like you two often find use for slaves. Discount for my new friends, of course."
Carl shot Rex a wary glance, his expression uncertain. "Slaves? Seriously?"
Rex, ever composed, only nodded, though his eyes darkened with thought.
The rest of the journey passed without incident. Thanks to Rex's sharp eyes and Carl's swift reflexes, the caravan arrived safely at its destination. Jorvyn, true to his word, offered them a token of gratitude. "A free visit to my shop," he said with a wide grin. "Come, let me show you what I have to offer."
---
The "store" turned out to be a sprawling tent with rows of cages and pens. Inside, various individuals sat quietly, their expressions ranging from resigned to defiant. Carl looked around uncomfortably, his thoughts drifting to history lessons about slavery in the 1700s. The similarities were uncanny and unsettling.
"I don't expect this," Carl muttered under his breath as they stepped inside.
Rex didn't respond, his gaze scanning the cages. Despite his usual detached demeanor, something about the scene before him seemed to catch his interest.
Jorvyn guided them through the shop, pointing out different "options" with a practiced salesman's charm. "Strong orcs for heavy labor, nimble beastfolk for household tasks, or perhaps a magic-capable elf for more specialized needs."
Carl flinched, appalled by how casually Jorvyn spoke of people as commodities. "Rex, are we seriously—"
Before Carl could finish, Rex stopped in front of a cage holding a dark elf woman. Her silver hair framed sharp, delicate features, and her piercing violet eyes glared back at them with a mix of defiance and suspicion.
Jorvyn followed Rex's gaze and smirked. "Ah, a fine choice. She's a bit... spirited, but I guarantee she'll be worth every coin. Name's Lily. Interested?"
To Carl's shock, Rex nodded. "Yes. How much?"
Carl's jaw dropped. "Wait, *what*? You're actually buying her?"
Rex ignored him, his focus on Jorvyn, who quickly named a price. The transaction was over in minutes, and before Carl could fully process what had happened, the three of them were outside the shop.
---
Lily walked a few steps behind them, her posture stiff and her expression unreadable. Carl still hadn't recovered from his shock, muttering to himself as they left the merchant's district.
"I can't believe you, Rex," Carl finally said, his voice exasperated. "You bought a *slave*. And not just any slave—a dark elf! Do you know how cliché that is? What's next? Are you going to proclaim yourself her 'savior' or something?"
Rex glanced back at him, an amused smirk tugging at his lips. "She looked like she needed a way out of there. Besides, I'm curious about her skills."
Carl rolled his eyes. "Right. Skills. Totally not because she's a girl."
Behind them, Lily finally broke her silence, her voice cold and measured. "If you're done bickering, I'd like to know what you plan to do with me."
Rex stopped and turned to face her, meeting her gaze with steady confidence. "For starters, you're free to leave if you want," he said. "I'm not keeping you here against your will."
Lily raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You paid for me. Why would you just let me go?"
"Because I'm not Jorvyn," Rex replied simply. "But if you stay, you'll have a purpose. We could use someone with your skills."
Lily studied him for a long moment, her violet eyes searching his face for any sign of deception. Finally, she crossed her arms and sighed. "Fine. I'll stay. For now."
Carl groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I still can't believe this. Since when are you this down bad, Rex?"
Rex shot him a dry look. "I'm not. But if you're done complaining, we've got work to do."
As the trio made their way back to the guild, Carl couldn't help but shake his head. Life in this world was already unpredictable, and now they had a dark elf companion to add to the mix. Despite his reservations, he couldn't deny that their little group was starting to feel... complete.