I am Maltraevinea from the wolf tribe.

2 months ago my village was overrun by bandits and all older males were killed and all females and children were kidnapped. The bandits kept the older female prisoners and the children were sold into slavery.

I was seperated from my older brother who was sold somewhere else and I ended up being bought to work in the mines.

It was so hard.

Everyday we had to pick up those heavy rocks and place them in the cart and then push the heavy carts all the way back to the entrance where we had to again pick the heavy rocks from the carts and then push the cart back into the mines. Each night I would cry myself to sleep as my hands and legs ached from the labour. At first I couldn't eat. But if I didn't eat I couldn't lift heavy rocks and if I couldn't lift heavy rocks I was beaten and threatened to be sold again as a sex slave. So I ate. Even though I was only 11 years old I knew what being a sex slave meant. So even though my hands were trembling, even though my eyes were watering with each movement of my arms, I ate. I ate so I could build up my strength. I ate so I lift the heavy rocks. And I ate so I wouldn't be sold as a sex slave.

But I was sold. Despite all my efforts, I was dragged into chains to meet my new master. But.... what I saw was another wolf-kin.

I was immediately relieved! Even though the wolf-kin wasn't one I had seen before but being of the same race I hoped I was going to be freed.

Though there was something weird about the situation. The wolf-kin was accompanying a bunny-kin. That's when I was told the dreaded news: The two of them were slaves of a human. And now so was I.

Humans had been infamous among all the beast tribes for their insatiable lust. They would kidnap women from the beast tribes and sell them into slavery like what happened in our village.

Thus when I heard I had been purchased by a human, I lost all hope. It was inevitable. I was going to be used and thrown away.

I reluctantly followed the two people who had come to take me. I looked around the city. It was the first time I was able to walk like this and view the city.

Soon we came to an enormous mansion bigger than the others we had come across. I thought we were going to pass it by just like the rest of them but the two people in front of me stopped suddenly.

"This is going to be your new home."

The bunny-kin said patting my head.

This....?

I was surprised at the information. It seemed like I was bought by a high noble.

I went inside the gates behind the two people absentmindedly so I was a little late to realise how I was flooded with people.

There were all sorts of beast-kin races there! Wolf, bear, dog, cat, bunny, fox and even the rare tiger!

They all surrounded me and welcomed me.

"Aww.. She's so cute nya~"

"We should give her a bath first."

"Oh don't worry little one, you'll be safe here."

"Hey, hey you can call me big brother, ya know? Woof!"

"Oh cumon, don't talk all at one. Can't you see you're confusing her?"

"Wait! I'll prepare a feast!"

"Say 'big brother'. Woof!"

"Lets give you a nice rub in the bath!"

"Are you people even listening to me!?"

Everyone looked so excited. It had been so long since I felt such a feeling. I was happy....

Then it all went quite all of a sudden. Everyone was looking at me, staring at me.

I reached my cheek with my hand and it was wet.

Am I ...crying?

"W..why?"

It was only a moment as I uttered those words before I was embraced. By the bunny-woman.

"It is alright. No harm shall come to you here. Kind he is, our Master." Whispered the bunny-kin in my ear.

..

It has been been a week since then and I have been bathed, fed and thoroughly told about the duties of the household.

It turned out that master is almost never at home and prefers to stay in the basement alone, if he ever is.

Today, I was going to meet master for the first time.

I was anxious as to what kind of a person he would be. Everyone used to praise him a lot like how he was incredibly kind and powerful and saved them all from a fate worse than death.

As far as my opinion was concerned, this place was amazing! Somehow I had come to like it more than my original village. Everyone here was so....different, yet! United. It was only because of the person everyone called master and he was on the other side of this door.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

*knock*

I knocked on the door of the basement with a tray of food in one hand.

*kachak*

The door opened. I took that as a cue and straightened up and walked in.

There in the distance was seated a man.

How did he get over there so fast after opening the door?

I didn't voice my question out loud and walked.

Probably because I was too nervous, I didn't look carefully where I was going and tripped. Almost.

I never made it to the ground. But I didn't realise that due to the thought of my incredible failure. My heart wouldn't stop pounding and it felt like it would pop out from my mouth.

"Haven't seen you before. You must be the one they were begging me to save."

I looked up in a daze. I wasn't able to make out much in my state of rush but master seemed to have lost one hand and seemed to be holding in his remaining hand a...tray?

Then I looked down.

"....Its gone."

The food that should have fallen from my hands was nowhere to be seen. Not a single splash!

Then I realised my condition. I hadn't fallen. It was like a force was holding me up.

I put my left foot forward and regained my balance.

Then I looked towards master again, in dread of a scolding when I realised he was two-handed again.

He put his hands somewhere and for a moment I felt like I heard the sound of water. Then he took out a towel out of nowhere and wiped his face.

"What time is it?"

"Huh?"

I was surprised at the sudden words and failed to grasp the meaning at first.

"You see, I have no idea whether this is breakfast, lunch or dinner."

"......Dinner.."

Oh, it was because this was the basement. Since there was no light, you could not tell the time of day. But....there was light.

I looked up and saw things like miniature suns hanging from the ceiling. They were very bright and gave off a constant light unlike the lamps with flickering flames. Also the lamps required something to burn at its base. The thing didn't even have a base!

"Its called a light bulb."

Master called out to me.

"Lite balb?"

"Yes. I made it myself."

I felt a bit embarrassed as I was caught absent-minded.

"Master did?"

"Yeah, and it was a pain, let me tell you. Several things were required to get this to work."

Master pointed to a rotating wheel with a long something attached to another thing that was also rotating. This thing was also connected to other things which were further connected to other things. It seemed to be a never ending process.

"That's where it all began."

Master was probably referring to the wheel.

"Here, come with me."

Master walked to me and extended his hand. I didn't know what to make out of the gesture of one who owns me so I stood there not knowing and not moving.

Master heaved a sigh and bent to take my hand to which I offered no resistance and started following him.

Then he took me to lots of different things and explained each one, though I lost him right at the first words.

"This is a generator. Only god knows how I managed to find a magnet, but I somehow did. I had to spend weeks building it with the help of a blacksmith, building up all the parts. The fuel was easy though. With my magic, I created a Gate with an inverted exit and inserted a heavy wheel halfway through to keep it rotating. Now I had no problem of fuel and an infinite supply of electricity. That is where the light bulbs come in."

I was looking around the place with all the wierd things kept here and there. I had lost master's talk long ago but I dared not stop him. Though I would occasionally find myself glancing at the big hand holding onto mine and I could feel my heartbeat rising. It was a similar feeling to when I made the blunder with the tray yet somehow completely different.

"Making the glass of the bulbs was easy but finding the right material to use as tungsten was a disaster. I had to actually try and make hundreds of different alloys to test out. But still that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was getting air without oxygen in an isolated chamber........"

Master still hasn't eaten yet. Should I remind him?

"Getting to store the energy is another problem. Even though I could make cells, I don't know how to make the rechargeable ones. One that I do know of is the lead-storage battery but that requires both lead and sulphuric acid, neither of which I can easily obtain. Lead, for one, I can't identify even if I saw it and as for sulphuric acid, I don't even know where to begin."

Master's hand is so warm.

"I atleast know that you can prepare acid by dissolving its parent oxide in water but where am I supposed to obtain pure sulphur trioxide? And I don't even think its thermally stable. Or it might be. I was never too keen on chemistry."

"Umm.. Master?"

"Oh you have a question? Go ahead."

"What sort of magic does master use?"

Master seemed a bit disappointed at my question. I immediately lowered my head believing I had spoken out of turn.

"I'm sorry."

It wasn't me who said that.

"I've been in here for a while now and well.."

Then he scratched his cheek with his free hand.

"Its been some time since I've talked to anyone and I kind of went on and on. You understand, right?"

I didn't but I still nodded. Master gave a bitter smile as if he saw through my facade but didn't say anything.

"You want to know what type of magic I use right? Even though I preferably keep it a secret but since everyone in this house already knows, I don't think there'll be a problem. Just remember not to tell anyone though, okay?"

Then master put a finger on his lips and blinked with one eye. I didn't know what to make of master's actions, so I nodded again.

"Well then, hang on tight!"

With that master picked me up and hugged me to his chest. Suddenly, I felt master jump and the scenery changed.

Then master put me down. As I looked around, I was unable to understand where we were.

"Eeeeeek!"

I let out a scream as I looked down. There was nothing there!

I inadvertantly grabbed onto master's hand as tight as I could so I wouldn't fall.

"Its alright. You are able to stand aren't you?"

As master said that, I realised that there was something below my feet. I could feel it even though I couldn't see it.

"Is this how burds fly?"

I asked master as my heartbeat calmed down steadily.

"Well no, actually. We aren't flying, to be exact. We're just standing here, you see?"

I again nodded without understanding.

"Flying is like this."

Right as master said that, the feeling below my feet disappeared and the wind started to blow incredibly fast.

At first the feeling was amazing, like I was free. It felt like I could let everything go, without a care in the world. But the touch of master's hand brought me back.

I looked towards master and he was smiling at me.

Then I looked down.

The ground seemed to be getting bigger and bigger.

..no

It wasn't getting bigger, it was getting closer! We were falling!

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

I let out a scream in horror.

"Aaaaahhh."

Master let out a scream too but he was smiling.

"*Hic* *hic* Pleasss..*hic*..I don wan o dyyy..*hic*"

I was scared! I didn't want to die!

I felt master panic and he pulled me closer to him and hugged me to his chest.

"*hic* *hic*"

I had closed my eyes as I sobbed in master's chest.

I felt my body getting heavier and heaver and finally it seemed like we came to a stop.

Master put me down again and wiped my tears.

"Its alright now. Look we're back!"

"...huh?"

I looked around as master let go of me. We were back in the basement.

I looked back at master as he gazed deep into my eyes. I felt those feelings deep inside me welling up. I followed my heart and did what I believed best.

"Master is scawwy!!!!!! Uwaaaaaaaaaa..."

I ran out of the basement, crying.