The horse’s hoofs clopped on the gravel as they entered the encampment. Inside was another layer of wall even closer to the mountain. On the outer wall, many men dawned in uniform walked around with various weapons. From the path Ozias was on, there were various housing units, likely for the soldiers, with recreation areas and shops to purchase what one needed. Following behind Giorgos and the guards, the carriage moved to the inner wall, which held the hill and its slaves.

At the entrance of the inner wall, the entrance door opened as Ozias prepared himself. However, rather than the atrocious environment he expected, the inner walls were scarily similar to that of the outer. Sure, the houses were in rougher shapes, and they were smaller, but they were basically the same!

Ozias’s eyes widened as Giorgos appeared next to him.

“What did you expect? Judging from your expression, you probably thought this was going to be the underworld.”

Ozias looked away from Giorgos as if to assure those claims.

“You needn’t worry.”

From inside the cage, Ozias could see the mellow expression on Giorgos’s face.

“No matter what status says, we are all human.”

As they continued walking, many slaves walked past Giorgos and extended greetings to the man, as he returned them.

“Although my status may say I am better than those working here, I am also man, the same as those working for me.”

“…”

“And as man, I believe it to be my duty to believe in the betterment of my brethren.”

Ozias scoffed lightly before glaring at Giorgos.

“You’re a hypocrite. In the end, we are slaves working for you until the end of our lives.”

Giorgos looked back to Ozias before speaking.

“You know quite a lot of words for being so young.”

Ozias continued to glare at Giorgos as he continued.

“Until the end of your life? You’ve hardly been here for a quarter of a day and yet you believe you know me and my encampment? Ozias, you seem quite smart so I’ll tell you this. Nothing is pure black and white. I am not pure evil, yet I know for sure that I am not good.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The person who caused you to end up like this is not pure evil either, or is he?”

“I never said he was.”

“Yet I know in your mind you thought he was a vile villain, no?”

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“…”

“Ha! Maybe in the future, people will see you as the vile villain. This is a changing world, and you’ll change alongside it.”

Giorgos chuckled lightly before getting serious again.

“Anyway, the people here are no slaves, they are people working toward freedom.”

“Working toward freedom?”

“People of many walks of life end up at my encampment. Some murderers, some rapists, some innocent children as well.”

Giorgos smirked at Ozias as he continued.

But they all work together here, no matter where they come from. And the reason for that is collective success.”

Giorgos walked toward Ozias’s cage and gripped the steel bars tightly. Moments later, white garant poured from his hands as he effortlessly pulled the cage door open before throwing it to the side.

“You will also need to work with the others here. If not, you will be stuck here, forced to remain just as you said. Here, you can earn your freedom, and become part of the world outside again. I don’t care where you came from, nor do I care for what you did. What I care about is what you will be now, here.”

Ozias stepped out of the steel cage before looking around. He thought of running, of attempting to escape this place but stopped himself. It would be impossible with a garant user right next to him.

“Ozias, follow me, I’ve decided to take you a bit earlier. Hopefully, that old hag will want to see you.”

“?”

—————————————-

“My cutie pie!! How are you!”

Ozias watched in shock as the dignified man he knew earlier crumbled in front of his daughter. Giorgos ran after his daughter and brought her into a large hug.

Currently, after Giorgos told Ozias to follow him, they ended up in the city once again. Now was different though. Rather than being watched from inside a steel cage, he roamed and walked, the same as any other person here.

“Darling, this is a slave that the countess sent!”

Giorgos’s daughter noticed Ozias as she shook out of his embrace before approaching.

“It’s nice to meet you, my name is Valery, what’s yours?”

She stuck her arm out to shake hands. But rather than reciprocate the sentiment, Ozias stared at her. Her dark brown eyes shined in the sunlight as her black curly hair flew through the wind in a soft ponytail. Not to mention her flowing purple dress that matched her-

Ozias quickly snapped out of his thoughts before responding.

“I’m Ozias.”

Valery smiled softly before pushing her hands out further.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ozias.”

Ozias finally noticed her extended hand before moving. They shook hands under the high-sitting sun as Ozias found his heart beating irregularly. Maybe it was because this was the first time he had properly spoken to someone else his age since arriving in this country! Or maybe it was because of the wound! Or maybe, he had fallen in-

“Let’s get going.”

Giorgos came from behind Valery before putting his hands on her shoulder.

“Cutie, we’re here to see that old granny, do you want to come along?”

Valery’s eyes shone as she exclaimed.

“Yes, absolutely!!”

Giorgos smiled before leading the way.

They stepped on the hard cobbled walkway, traveling through the human-filled city. Around them were buildings standing two stories tall, with the top floor being used as a home, and the bottom floor being a shop or restaurant.

It was the second time Ozias had ever been in a city as large as this. And the first time he was here, he was being taken in a cage.

Multiple people walked past Ozias on their way to see the healer. Although the people wore differing clothing, they all had similar hairstyles and had the same skin tone. Ozias had noticed it his first time here as well. This city felt dead, even though there were thousands living here.

“We’re here.”

Ozias looked back towards Giorgos and Valery as they walked into an alley. Trash bags were littered across the tight pathway. They made multiple turns and twists, passing in between buildings to reach a small shop. They had finally arrived.