Out of all the horrific things one could see in the Underworld, one aspect, in particular, terrified me more than some of the implacable freaks I saw.
That would be the slave trade. Although it may appear ludicrous, some individuals willingly sold themselves as slaves just because life has become too harsh to endure.
I gulped down the lump of saliva in my throat as I watched them consume the crumbs of bread from the grimy cage floor. I couldn't help but shift my gaze away as one of those captives lifted his famished eyes toward mine. I didn't want him to realize I had been staring all along.
Still, humans weren't the only 'item' available for purchase in these parts. There were also various types of monsters. All you had to do was pay the necessary amount of money, and everything you wanted was yours.
Melody tensed her soft muscles beneath my coat when something hissed at us. I softly massaged her, assuring her that everything was fine, and then turned my attention to the source of the noise. It seemed to be a lizard, but it wasn't just any reptile.
It was slightly larger than Melody, and its eyes were the same greenish color as the rest of its body. Its tail and head were both red, but the crystal-like shards that emerged from its bloody spine stood out the most.
It startled me as it exposed its split tongue, but I also felt sorry for the reptile when I realized it couldn't reach me through the bars of its cage. Even thinking about how I had handled Melody in the past made my blood boil. What an idiot I've been...
A woman with a long, yellowish robe approached us from the corner of my eye. Before she could open her lips, which were dyed the same color as her outfit, I turned and walked away. I couldn't even look at her. I knew she'd abuse Melody the same way if she had the chance.
That's why even if I disagreed with Douglass, I remained grateful to him. He didn't hesitate to share his insights, and it was thanks to him that I was able to form a bond with Melody.
Something nasty twisted in my gut. The more I thought about his remarks, the clearer it became that all he wanted was to help me. Because Melody was so precious, people would go to tremendous lengths to injure me just to get her. It pained me to admit that I had never thought about it before...
When I reached one of the entries to the Underworld, I swiped the badge I borrowed from my father on the panel in the center and stepped inside the elevator as the doors split apart. Its interior... wasn't something I wanted to discuss. It was cramped, and I could see a spider moving its legs around the web in the corner if I strained my eyes. I just took a step away to avoid invading its turf.
Stolen novel; please report.
The door eventually opened, showing the passage to the surface.
As I strolled into the sunlight, my eyes burned, and I could feel some of my skin peeling off my toes from all the walking. My limbs were numb and weak, making it impossible for me to move in a straight line. At the same time, a sense of relief washed over me as I inhaled some of the morning's chilly air.
My mother warned me that once the sun rose, you wouldn't be able to leave the Underworld until the sun went down again. Remembering that story, I spun around and tried to use the badge. There was no reaction. I couldn't tell if it was because the panel was broken or because the Underworld is sealed from the outside whenever the day arrives. Not that it mattered; I lacked the energy and will to figure out whether that story was true or not.
Although the thought of another city beneath my feet was unsettling, I was able to get to my destination quickly since I lived in the 5th District.
I was utterly spent. Not only physically, but also psychologically. I sighed and threw myself on top of the bed as soon as I shut the door to my cluttered room, without bothering to remove the cloak I was wearing. A ray of orange light streamed through the curtain's gap, but I was too tired to get up and deal with it. Maybe later...
Then a beak protruded from to cloak, prompting me to ask: "Are you tired, Melody?"
She simply chirped back, spreading her brown wings in what I believed was an exaggerated stretch. I possessed an uncommon power. Honestly, it was strange. It didn't even come close to some of the incredible things I watched some hunters perform on television. However, Douglass described it as exceptional, so I had to treat it as such.
"Do you understand me, Melody?"
That's when she only cocked her head as if she didn't understand what I was saying. No, it was unusual that I knew exactly what I meant by that gesture.
"Are you hungry?"
She let out a yawn through her beak before snuggling up on my chest. That made me sluggish as well. I knew she'd be hungry by the time she woke up, even if she wasn't right now. This gryphon wouldn't stop chirping otherwise...
As I continued to brush my fingers through her feathers, my eyelids naturally drew closer together.
For a brief while, this bedroom resembled Melody's cage.
I couldn't help but wonder whether this was all there was to life. No, there was a lot more to this world than I had heard of or seen, but Melody would never get the chance to discover it for herself if the only thing that had altered was the size of the cage she lived in...
I needed to do something about it eventually, but I lacked the mental capacity to come up with anything at the moment. There were so many things I had to figure out regarding our bond and abilities.
In my undeniable exhaustion, my gaze wandered to the side, where a photograph of my parents stood on top of a drawer. They were each carrying the weapons they used as mercenaries...
My parents obviously knew a thing or two about the Underworld, given their occupation and the fact that they lived in the 5th District. They used to tell me many stories about their exploits, but that wasn't an option anymore.
"I miss you guys so much..."
Sensing something was wrong, Melody stroked her head against my chin.
At least I had her comforting me.