Exactly two weeks after the village invasion.
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(Arun's Pov)
Me, Alwin, Saphielle, Kiirion, and the other survivors had finally reached the royal capital of Shilon Kingdom: Sixon, a vibrant city, known for its breathtaking landscapes and bustling, welcoming atmosphere. Sixon was famed for its advanced magic, a result of the royal academy and mage guilds that were renowned across the Five Main Nations. It was also known for its inclusivity, a city that embraced all races—beastmen, humans, dwarves, and particularly elves like us.
We arrived just as night was falling, the soft glow of city lights shimmering in the distance. At the towering gates, two guards stood watch. I signaled for the group to wait, then stepped forward to speak with them. "Good evening, sir," I said, trying to mask the tension in my voice. "We're looking for shelter. I've heard there are refugee camps set up just outside the city. Is that true?"
The guard nodded, his face somber but still kind. "Yes, that's right. We've taken in many refugees, especially from the war-torn regions of Kuvia Empire."
I let out a breath of relief. "Is there enough space for all fourteen of us?"
The guard glanced over our group, as if counting, but I quickly added, "We're all here—fourteen people."
His gaze lingered on us, and then his expression shifted slightly. "Elves, are you?" he asked, his tone thoughtful. "Be warned, there are a few in the city who are still not kind to elves despite our acceptance to all races. Let me fetch the captain."
Before I could respond, the guard disappeared into the post. Moments later, he returned with a battle-worn captain, a stout man with a no-nonsense air. "Greetings," he said, nodding at us. "I'm Captain Kivon. I understand you're looking for shelter in the refugee camps?"
Kivon's eyes swept over us, taking in every face. His voice was steady, but his question carried weight. "Would you mind telling me what brought so many of you here? It's not common to see such a large group of elves outside of their villages."
I hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of my words settle deep inside me. But I forced myself to speak, my voice steady despite the sorrow that threatened to rise. "No, I don't mind." I met his gaze firmly. "Our village, Eethri-on, was attacked by bandits two weeks ago. They showed no mercy… slaughtered everyone," I said, my voice breaking for just a moment. I clenched my fists, trying to hold myself together as I added, "And they took our children. We're all that's left."
Kivon's expression softened, and he nodded in silent sympathy. "I'm deeply sorry for your loss," he murmured. "Come, I'll take you to the camps."
We followed Kivon through winding streets, finally reaching the outskirts of the city where the refugee camps sprawled beneath the moonlit sky. He led us to a large, sturdy tent where we could rest for the night. "Rest here," he said gently.
I nodded, my thoughts heavy as I scanned our surroundings. "I'll take a look around the city," I said, my voice firm with resolve. "I'll see if anyone's seen anything unusual—perhaps someone with a large carriage. Since they have to be transporting the children through large cities, it's likely they were moved that way."
Saphielle placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "We'll be here, settling in. If you need anything, just let us know."
With a grateful nod, I left, heading toward the stairs at the edge of the camp that led back into the city. I spent hours walking through the streets, questioning shopkeepers, innkeepers, and travelers about any strange carriages passing through. But no one had seen anything.
By the time the night had stretched on and my hope was running out, I was returning toward the camp, feeling the weight of exhaustion and defeat. My steps slowed as I reached the camp's stairway, but before I could descend, a voice called out to me.
"Wait!"
I turned to see a young man stumbling forward, panting as though he had run the entire city just to catch up with me.
"Did you need something from me?" I asked, confusion creeping into my voice.
The young man straightened, still catching his breath, before answering shakily, "I… I heard you were asking about a large, suspicious carriage."
Hope sparked within me. Desperation seized me, and I grabbed his shoulders firmly. "Yes! What do you know?" I asked, my voice intense. The young man took a deep breath before speaking.
"I saw a large carriage parked near the city gates a few days ago," he whispered. "A man handed one of the guards some coins… it looked suspicious. He said they were moving 'goods' through the city."
My heart raced. "Is that all you know?" I asked, struggling to maintain my composure.
The young man hesitated before adding, "I-I think… they said they were heading to Aneara Empire."
The words hit me like a punch. Aneara Empire. My stomach churned with dread. "We need to hurry," I muttered urgently to myself.
"Thank you!" I said aloud before turning and sprinting down the stairs toward the camp, eager to share what I had learned with the others.
Inside the tent, Saphielle was sitting on the edge of a bed, deep in conversation with Kiirion. She looked up as I arrived, breathless and filled with urgency.
I stopped in front of them, catching my breath for a moment before speaking. "We need to move quickly," I said, my voice firm. "We'll rest for one night, and leave first thing in the morning."
After another deep breath, I continued, "I spoke to a young man in the city. He saw a suspicious carriage at the gates a few days ago. I believe it's them—the bandits with our children. He said they were heading to Aneara Empire."
A heavy silence fell over the group as they absorbed my words. The dread that had filled me settled on all of us, and the urgency to act became even more apparent. It might already be too late to save them.
Aneara Empire was a small, notorious region on the fringes of the Five Main Nations. Known for its brutal practices, it allowed the enslavement of non-human races—especially elves and beastmen—who were prized in the slave markets. The terrible certainty settled in our hearts: our children could be there, already on their way, or worse, sold into slavery as we spoke. We needed to act fast.
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Seira sat alone, lost in her thoughts. Her breath hitched as she struggled to contain the grief threatening to overwhelm her, each sob threatening to break free from the walls she had carefully built around her pain.
(Seira's Pov)
I think it's been two weeks since we left home. Since I saw Mama and Papa. That's what the men said earlier, anyway. We just got to a new city a few minutes ago. Kailu is still sitting next to me; he's been trying to get me to look at him so many times on this trip. But I haven't looked at him. Not even once.
The other kids here are also really quiet. Sometimes they whisper to each other, but not much. Not like me—I can't say anything at all. My voice doesn't want to come out anymore. My mouth just won't open, like it forgot how.
I don't want to think about it anymore. I just want to get out of this dark, silent place. We've stopped moving, finally. I think it's for good this time. The mean men open the door of the carriage, grabbing each of us one by one. They look disgusted. Is it because of the dried-up vomit on the floor? It has to be. Even I think it's really gross.
"Here, take this one. She's special, so don't damage the goods too much," I heard the man say as he handed me to a different man. Was he talking about me? Are they going to hurt me? I don't think it can hurt worse than the hurt already in my heart, so I don't really mind. But what did he mean by "she's special"?
Maybe he thinks I'm special because I'm the only one who isn't crying or fighting. But that can't be it, because Kailu isn't fighting either. I don't know. The man carries me somewhere different than where Kailu and the others went. Why is he taking me away from them? Kailu must be so scared there without me. What's going to happen to me?
The man stops and greets another man who looks like his friend. I hear them talking, even though they're trying to be quiet. "We have the girl. Boss is gonna love this."
Did they come to our village just to take me? Is this all my fault? Did I hurt Mama and Papa?
"Throw her in and wait for the boss to get here," the man said. The one holding me shoves me into a cell—a dark, cold room that feels like a prison. Why am I here? I hit the ground hard, and it hurts a little when I land on the cold, dirty floor. There's dirt all over my face now. I wish I could wash myself.
I feel something strange inside me, like a flutter way down deep, like butterflies. But it disappears almost as soon as I notice it. I wonder what it was. Maybe it was my soul or my heart trying to reach me, but my mind just wouldn't listen and blocked it out. That's what it felt like.
I lie there on the ground, staring up at the cracked, dusty stone ceiling. Then, after a little while, I hear footsteps coming toward me.
"Is this her?" asked a man with an orange robe and round glasses. The other men carrying me nodded. "Yes, this is her. The elf connected with divinity. She could sell for millions."
Connected? Divinity? What does that mean? And...sell me? Like I'm something to buy and trade? Why is this happening all of a sudden? Just a short while ago, I was happy, with my family, and a home. Happiness…that word doesn't make any sense to me anymore.
"Splendid. The auction is set for tomorrow night," the man told his friend as I sat up, trying to look him in the eyes. I could feel all my hope draining away when I looked into his cold, empty stare. He knows I have no chance of escape. He knows they've broken me already. "You're going to make us rich," he says with this awful grin stretched across his face. I just sit there, wishing I could disappear, even wishing for my life to end, rather than be useful to these horrible men. I feel myself falling into a dark, lonely place, wishing someone—anyone—could help me feel safe again.
The men left, leaving me alone in this cold, dark room. It's so empty. Just a greasy old blanket on the floor to sleep on, and a sink in the corner. I spent the whole night staring up at the ceiling, too scared and sad to sleep. I just kept thinking...why? Why am I alive if this is what my life is going to be like? Why did I even have to be born if this is where I'd end up?
"Seira…" I hear a strange voice. It's like it's calling my name from inside my head. But no one is here. So…how can I hear it?
The voice comes again, soft but strong. "You can get through this—"
And then it's gone. It was strange…but also comforting. Like someone was reaching out to me, someone who cares. "Who…who are you?" I whisper, my voice breaks, barely loud enough to hear myself. That's all I can manage to say.
I feel my stomach growling. I'm so hungry. Will they ever give me food?
Hours pass, or maybe more, and I think morning has come, because the men are back. "Come on, you disgusting creature," one of them snarls, yanking my arm. Disgusting? I don't understand. I didn't do anything disgusting.
My wrists and ankles hurt from the heavy metal chains they tied around me so I can't even move right. The man drags me out of the room. "Where…are we going?" I try to ask, but my voice barely comes out. He strikes me hard across my face.
"Shut your mouth, nasty specimen," he says, spitting at me.
It hurts so much. What did I do wrong? Why are these men so cruel?
He picks me up again, dragging me like before, and we start going up some stairs. When we reach the top, we step into a big room crowded with people of all different races. I spot some cat-people, rabbit-folk, and even a few humans. Are they all here for the same reason as me? Are they being treated the same way? Did they all do something bad, too, and that's why they're here?
The man throws me into a glass box. What's happening? He just turns around and walks away, leaving me here alone. I'm scared. I sit in the glass box, waiting, and the silence feels heavy. After a few minutes, I hear someone talking to the crowd. "Next up on tonight's products, we have an elven girl with a one-of-a-kind mana essence!"
Two men come over and push my glass box, wheeling me out past a big curtain onto a stage. In front of me is a huge audience—hundreds of eyes staring right at me. My mind is racing so fast, filled with fear. But my face stays still. I show nothing. No emotion. No anything.
"Bidding starts at 20,000 gold."
"Here!" shouts a voice.
"20,000 for the man in the gray coat. Going once—"
"25,000!" calls another voice.
"Yes, 25,000 gold coins from the gentleman in green attire! Going once, going twice…"
The night goes on like that. More and more people start bidding, each one offering even more gold. It goes all the way up to 50,000 gold coins. Then, suddenly, someone interrupts everything with a bid so high that the whole room goes silent.
"150,000 gold coins…"
Everyone stops and stares. Why would anyone pay that much for someone like me?
"150,000 gold coming from Count Reymar Kuz! Going once… going twice… SOLD to Count Reymar!"
The crowd murmurs as I'm wheeled back behind the curtains. I'm still in the glass box, just sitting there. I wait for what feels like a long time until a large, frightening man comes to get me. I think his name was Count Reymar-something. I don't understand why he spent so much on me. He grabs me and drags me, even rougher than the other men. This time, he pulls me by my hair. It hurts so much, and I try to scream, but no sound comes out. I twist and struggle, trying to make him let go, but he won't.
Eventually, I can't fight anymore. I feel too tired, so I just stop struggling and let him pull me. We finally arrive at a huge house—it's like a mansion. He shoves me into a small, dark room, even darker than the prison cell I was in before. And then, he shuts the door, leaving me there all alone.
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Back in Sixon City, the capital of Shilon Kingdom, at the edge of the bustling refugee camps.
(Arun's Pov)
I was ready to depart, though only Saphielle and Alwin chose to accompany me. The others, feeling safe and comfortable in Sixon City, decided to stay behind, and Kiirion wished to stay behind as well with them and nurse the other survivors when needed. They had seen enough danger on our journey through the ominous Abysmal Woodlands and the Arlingcour Highlands. It was more than enough for them, and they wished us good luck as we prepared to move on. I couldn't blame them. The risks we had taken to get this far had been exhausting, and I knew the road ahead wouldn't be any easier. But Saphielle, Alwin, and I had a different path to follow. Our mission was urgent, and we could not afford to stay idle.
We soon arrived at the guard post near the city gates, approaching from the opposite direction we had first come. The post was quiet, and the guard stood alone, as if waiting for us. A watchman, his armor dulled from years of service, stood steadfast in his post, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon with a vigilance that didn't seem to waver. It was clear that this was not just a routine day for him.
I stepped forward, casting a brief glance at Saphielle and Alwin, who were ready to follow my lead, before addressing the guard directly. "How long does it take to reach Aneara Empire from here?" I asked, my voice carrying a sense of urgency that I couldn't hide. I hoped he would sense the seriousness of our situation.
The guard paused, considering the question carefully. After a moment of silence, he replied, "By foot, it's about a three-day journey. If you're traveling by horse carriage, you'll make it in a day, maybe less if the roads are clear."
"Thank you," I said, my voice steady but firm, though I could feel my impatience growing. "We're in a hurry—would you allow us through without delay?"
The guard's eyes softened slightly as he gave a knowing nod. It was clear he understood the weight of our urgency. "Yes, you're clear to go. Our captain, Kivon, has already informed us of your situation and the urgency of your arrival. You'll have no trouble here." His words were reassuring, but I knew the real challenges lay ahead.
I gave him a brief nod of appreciation, and we moved forward, ready to continue our journey. The last road to Aneara Empire awaited, and we couldn't afford to waste any more time. The sooner we reached our destination, the sooner we could find and rescue the children.