Aperio had been a slave for as long as she could remember. She toiled away in the palace of her masters, her body forced to obey, her mind no longer caring that she did. Her only joy was the small inconveniences an error in her work could bring, the resulting punishment a small price to pay. When the news came she was to be sacrificed in a grand ritual, she welcomed it—for most, death was a cause for grief and mourning, but for Aperio, it was her only way out. However, during the final stages, something went wrong. Fate intervened, and Aperio found herself in a world she no longer knew, with powers beyond her wildest dreams. No longer a slave to the Empire, she set out to find her place in the world, and enjoy true freedom for the first time in her life. Please do keep in mind that this story is a first draft and training exercise for me and, while I do try my best, mistakes will still be made. Writing in a foreign language is sometimes harder than you think. Join the Discord to chat! Cover art by creadfectus. This story is also available as an Audiobook by Tome Raider. Synopsis help from Etzoli. You can find her work here.