Chapter 259- Learning while stumbling

Learning while stumbling

Chu noticed the smile before she disappeared. Then, from the corner of his eye, the foot came swinging in from a dangerous, airborne roundhouse kick. His counter, of sliding his forward right foot backward, felt like pushing a heavy stone slab up an incline. By the literal breath of a hair, his eyes focused on the tip of his nose as the worn heel of the leather boot passed him.

Intent to capitalize on his ocular ability, he then launched a sidekick while harnessing his abnormal speed. Powered by sole determination and driven by exhausted willpower, it plowed diagonally into the leather chest of the airborne redhead. The world shifted away from slow-motion, in time for him to see the brown and green garbed girl, flying away. She tumbled and rolled before sprawling on the grass while clutching her side.

"Owww! That hurts. My poor ribs..."

"That's good for you. Now you know how it feels. Chu, you should have broken her nose."

Panting, Chu walked over to help Dyna back on her feet. Ming sat on the small hill while holding up his bleeding nose. Convinced the girl didn't suffer any severe injury, they both trudged up the hill before tumbling down. Next to them, a large wolf lay sprawled out while watching them with half-closed yellow eyes.

"Do you want a health potion to drink? A rib injury is something you can't see."

"No, it's ok. My leather armor cushioned the blow so it didn't break or anything. I am sure, tomorrow, I will wake up with black and blue skin."

Dyna replied.

Chu looked at her and then raised a hand to rub her red hair. Both of them appeared oblivious to the wide-eyed teen staring daggers.

"Hey, excuse me? You do see I'm bleeding here right? How come no one asked me if I wanted to guzzle down a gold coin worth of healing juice?"

"Man up, you wuss. Anyone would think you were the little girl here."

Miki scolded while shifting another chess piece. She sat at the crown of the hill, with the hooded Ishara, as they hovered over the chessboard resting between them. With a clack, she claimed another victim on the wooden battlefield. After introducing the Hakim to this strange game, she hooked a willing opponent. The boy furrowed his brows while locking eyes with this vile mouthed devil.

"You should speak nicely to me, you blackmailer. Toll says Shine grumbles in her sleep when she's tired. I know why you and Lucy refuse to swallow the Mark of Initiation potion when it becomes ready."

Ming cupped his free palm over his armor at his upper chest and imitated a few squeezes. The action caused the raven-haired girl to narrow her eyes.

Chu glanced at the eyes shooting bullets at the idiot, before facing the road near the south gate of the village. This fellow thumping his chest, not only opened a door to hell, but he even included poor Toll with him. Thank the heavens Lucy was on patrol in the forest. Unwilling to join this minefield which was doomed to blow later, he turned to the green-eyed girl.

"The size I can understand but why did they gain this reddish tint at the tips of their fur?"

"It happened after eating the heart and brain. The boost to their strength and attributes increased even more than when they ate the wolf demon and the Blitzer leader. If Fenrir puts a paw on you, you will swear a log fell on you."

Dyna rubbed a gloved hand that disappeared into the folds of the meaty neck. Hearing the grumble of satisfaction, she continued.

"Remember how we learned the demon beasts fed on human brains to evolve? Maybe the same thing can happen if normal beasts feed on the brains and heart of demon beasts."

"You could be right. I still recall how those three cubs honed in on the wolf demon heart. The possibility exists..."

His voice trailed off on thinking up an absurd idea. Could humans do the same? Eat the flesh of a demon beast? All while knowing some human family possibly resided in its stomach?

Somehow his mind drifted to the room he once visited under the tower and the face of the half-crack Mage prodding among the sealed jars. How far did the experiments of the Tower extend?

Throughout history, the world was not built on niceties.

"They are coming."

The words tossed him out of his mind as his eyes looked towards the bend.

Two guards wearing the uniform of the Trading Post appeared first, and then the convoy appeared.

To be precise, it appeared more like a procession.

One which he never wanted to be a participant.

The lead wagons came first, bringing the traders and food stores. An open wagon ambled in, to which five or so rows of thick ropes extended behind. Along this line, shackled slaves ran, walked, or dragged their emaciated bodies. Behind, similar wagons followed.

Exhausted slaves who couldn't complete the journey on foot were tossed in congested, caged wagons. A living slave, no matter the condition, had more worth than a dead one. At least for a certain time.

"So this, this is slavery..."

"Humans treat humans like this? No honor."

"If this is how they treat the skilled slaves, then what about those who can only perform manual labor?"

Chu gazed down at the open area in front of the south gate and the visitors who arrived.

"Remember, there are all kinds of slavery. This is just the base one which exists."

While the caravan occupied the field, the south gate opened to allow its very own contingent of greeters. Commander Joss, and Chief Drey accompanied the Trading Post Master, while the garrison guards established a perimeter. Under the serious atmosphere, a group of men hauled out a few desks and chairs.

The children sat far enough on top of the rise to be disregarded but close to hear and view the proceedings. Luckily, the resting wolf attracted no attention, at least for the time being. Commander Joss and his group engaged in discussion with the leaders of the caravan while the escorting guards lined up the slaves. The garrison commander climbed a makeshift stage as the large gathering subdued into silence.

"I am Commander Joss, the garrison leader. All of you here have been provided a choice before being purchased and brought here. You should know your owner belongs to the Tower. You will work for him and eventually gain your freedom. Our village, however, will provide you with food, clothing, and shelter."

Scanning over the murmuring crowd, the Commander continued.

"You will register your name, family members, and trade skills at any of those ten tables. After which a villager will guide you to a suitable home. You have one week to settle down before the wagons take you off to work. For those of you thinking about rebelling or running away, feel free to do so. There are myths more terrifying than slave traders lurking around."

As if on queue, the gate opened to allow Bon, Halter, and a few others to exit. By having them conduct the registration process, they could assimilate the skilled workers into their groups. This way, they had the correct individuals for various tasks without having to spend time in training. What generated the screams and shuffling among the arrivals, however, was the large silvery-red wolf that stalked out behind them.

The narrowed but large yellow eyes scanned the crowd while it raised its head. Issuing a faint growl, it circled dreadfully around the large crowd and then seemingly vanished. A scream pierced the stifled silence a minute later when the initiator spotted the lurking beast at the top of a small rise.

As men, women, children, guards, and slave traders alike jostled for safety, they noticed two of the terrifying creatures staring down at them. The scene, however, looked confusing when they spotted a group of youngsters sitting between them.

"Settle down. Quiet!"

Commander Joss drowned the noise with his deep voice. The whipping also appeared to help in restoring order.

"You are working for Tower Mages! Soon you will learn the strength and legends of your master. Now line up, we have much to do!"

***

"Name?"

"Hedgewort."

The broad-shouldered man answered. The girl sitting on the table wrote his name onto a page before looking up with a no-nonsense face. Her gaze made him uncomfortable while her aura didn't match that of a country girl.

"Family members?"

"I have a wife and child."

The scratching of the quill onto the paper continued.

"What skill do you have?"

"I was a farmer until I couldn't afford the taxes."

"What kind of farmer?"

The young man blinked at the question. The girl, however, seemed to read his mind.

"Corn? Barley? Cow? Sheep?"

"Ah, corn. I planted corn."

"Did you have any cows?"

"No, only corn."

Marie nodded while writing.

"And your wife?"

"Huh?"

"Your wife? What skills does she have? Cooking, sewing, baking?"

"Ah, she does a spot of knitting. Right, Rube?"

The farmer said while seeking affirmation from the young woman standing beside him.

"Is this your child? How old is she?"

"She is seven. I know she might be a girl but she can still gather firewood or fetch water."

The man said as his wife clutched her daughter's shoulders tightly. The scribe sitting before them dismissed their wild imaginations with a bothersome wave.

"Nobody is saying we don't want your daughter. Soon we should have a place built to care for the children when both parents are out working. Your daughter will learn to read and write there, and also learn to count. The choice is yours."

Marie ignored the stupified faces before her as she placed a stamp on the expensive-looking paper. She handed over a copy to the surprised farmer who treated it like gold.

"Take this and go to that line in front of the large straw-colored guy over there. His name is Clod and he deals with farmers. After he lets you know when you need to begin working, a villager will guide you to your new home in the village. A girl will also visit you during the week to hand over knitting materials for your wife."

"Thank you, amm, may I ask what about food?"

"There is a hot meal waiting inside for you. Some of the people you see writing on the tables were slaves just like you. Work hard. You will not find a better opportunity than this..."

***

"Ahhh, that went down good. I thought we would have never finished."

Bon burped while guzzling a large tankard of ale. The registration period had ended late at night and they finally arrived home.

"Look at you enjoying yourself. How many blacksmiths and apprentices did you net today?"

"Heh, heh, Tapper found ten apprentices while I got me, three village blacksmiths. With this help, we're going to be nailing up that Industrial Complex in no time. Tomorrow, I have to pay me a visit and work out the arrangements, no sense in having these men rest for a week. I want to hear some hammering!"

Bon cheered while downing another gulp.

"Not all the slaves we found seem so willing. The garrison patrol caught five men trying to scale the walls. Commander Joss made a big commotion about it before we left. He whipped them in the village square for being ungrateful and then handed them over to the Slave Traders."

Halter added. He had mixed feelings on witnessing the sight, having once been in a similar position himself.

"U-huh. He said they could at least have worked for their freedom as promised. I hear the Slave Trader will remain in the village until the next one arrives. Any slave who refuses to work or decided to escape will face the consequences. Chief Drey told the slave trader to take them back. He doesn't want ungrateful people who scorned the hard work of the villagers. Everyone worked hard to welcome these new families."

Pine said. The Commander had reiterated once again that whoever did not want to work or had problems with this arrangement could hand themselves over to the Slave Traders. He further added, the coins required to purchase their freedom did not fall from the sky.

"The most we can provide these people is with an opportunity. Expect more to try and test our limits as the days go by. Remember, we have to be firm since we all know what we face in the future. Those who are willing to build and work hard together with us will be protected."

Chu said.

He sighed before muttering,

"There is a long road ahead of us..."