“Air” he croaked out. “when was the last time he breathed.” He wondered, in fact, where was he?

Ed's eyes fluttered open to a world bathed in peaceful serenity. The scorching heat of the depraved wastes had been replaced by a gentle warmth, and the harsh, barren landscape had given way to a tranquil oasis. But as his senses slowly returned, he realized he was confined within a cage made of iron bars. He tried to rise, but his body refused to obey. It was as if chains were holding him down. He felt weak and disoriented.

A familiar voice reached his ears, gruff like hard iron "Easy there, Ed. You're awake."

Turning his head, Ed spotted Clayton sitting nearby, there was no expression on his face. Ed's throat felt parched, and his voice came out as a hoarse whisper. "Clayton... what's happening? Where are we?"

Clayton leaned closer, he appeared aged even more so than when they first met"We've had a bit of trouble, my friend. You were poisoned by that Sandstalker and slipped into a coma. Afterward, we were ambushed by Lizardfolk slavers."

Ed's heart sank as he struggled to make sense of it all. He noticed that his clothing was now tattered, and he felt vulnerable and exposed. "Slavers? Are we their captives now?"

Clayton sighed and sat back, running a hand through his disheveled grey hair. “Aye, we've been here for 3 days, being taken somewhere. I reckon it's not for a pleasant reason."

Three days. It had felt like mere moments since he'd last been conscious, and now he found himself in a world completely transformed. “Three days,” he thought again, it felt too long yet short at the same time. His gaze shifted to their fellow prisoner, Aric, he could barely recognize him.

Clayton nodded solemnly towards Aric. "He's been with us since the attack. They took everything from him—his riches, his pride, and even his hope."

Ed could see the desolation in Aric's eyes, a stark contrast to the confident merchant they had met before. His once opulent clothing now hung in tatters, and his spirit seemed equally broken.

Their captor, an imposing figure with scales that glistened in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, sat perched on a wooden platform at the front of the cart. Their sharp, unblinking eyes scanned the surroundings.

Clayton leaned in closer to Ed, his voice barely above a whisper. "We have to be careful, Ed. These Lizardfolk are dangerous, and they won't hesitate to use force if they sense any trouble. We should comply, I heard they despise humans like us. Our weapons have been taken too, so we couldn’t even escape if we tried"

Clayton gestured with a subtle tilt of his head to the two guards who trailed them. The formidable reptilian creatures, clad in boiled leather and plates of metal mixed in glinted in the forest light. One of the guards bore Ed's precious spear, the weapon that had saved him countless times now lay in the hands of their captors.

Ed clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he struggled to keep his frustration in check. "That spear, Clayton—it's more than just a weapon. It's a part of me, a connection to my past. I can't just let them take it."

The rhythmic bumping of the cart soon came to an end. Clayton seemed to say something but held back. As the cage was opened, the three of them were roughly pulled from their confinement, the guards screeching at them in a language unknown. The false adventurer, senior bounty hunter, and impoverished merchant were led to their new fates.

They were led forward in chains, moving slowly towards the front gate where a solitary guard awaited. His reptilian eyes regarded them with a mix of curiosity and perhaps something more. Ed glimpsed a reflection of his past self in the guard's stern gaze.

The imposing castle that loomed before them was an architectural marvel. Massive stone walls, etched with intricate designs inspired by reptilian scales, towered overhead. The castle's spires and battlements were topped with Dragons whose mighty jaws were open as if ready to devour any who dared to assault it. The main gate was flanked by colossal stone statues that Ed could only assume were some powerful Lizardfolk figures, their eyes seeming to follow their every move.

The Lizardfolk guard exchanged a series of hissing, guttural commands with his fellow sentinels, resulting in a brief but intense discussion among them. Eventually, they reached a consensus and, with a mixture of pushing and prodding, led them into the castle.

Once inside, they found themselves in a long, dimly lit corridor adorned with murals depicting scenes from their history. It was hard to make out. In one piece of the wall, he saw the Lizardfolk in chains. The next piece however was destroyed leaving nothing to see. The piece after that showed the lizardfolk bowing to a figure with a crown and the next showed five lizardfolk surrounding the crowned figure as if protecting them. The walls were hewn from ancient stone, and the torches that lined the passage flickered with viridescent green flames. Each mural told a story of their culture's triumphs and struggles “Bringing to life the history of a people mysterious“ Ed thought.

Once inside a grand chamber, the three were forcibly brought to their knees. They knelt there, their movements restricted by the chains that bound them, waiting in tense silence for what would come next. Time seemed to stretch until as the minutes stretched into an agonizing wait, a set of grand, ornate doors swung open with a heavy creak. Emerging from within was a lizardfolk, clothed in fine silks adorned with lustrous gemstones. Their regal attire, though distinctly Lizardfolk in design, radiated wealth and authority just like any human noble.

The Lizardfolk noble, their emerald green scales shimmering even brighter than the guards in the dim light, approached Ed and Clayton with a measured grace.

Welcome to my domain, you will address me as Lord Varkar" he began. "You must be wondering why you find yourselves here. Allow me to clarify. You are now under my ownership, and your fate is tied to my whims."

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Lord Varkar continued, "You see, there are tasks that require the use of human hands, and well these types of jobs are more suited for human hands. As my property, you will be tasked with various responsibilities within this castle. Disobedience will not be tolerated."

Aric couldn't help but speak up, his voice quivering with fear. "Why have you brought us here? What do you want from us?"

Lord Varkar turned his gaze to Aric, studying him for a moment. "You, merchant, were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have use for you and your abilities. As for these two," he gestured towards Ed and Clayton, "they will join the rest of the miners"

"I don't expect you to understand everything right away," Lord Varkar continued. "You will have time to adapt to your new roles and purpose here. Refusal to cooperate will result in severe consequences."

"Mining? What are we supposed to mine?"

Lord Varkar's reptilian eyes fixated on Ed as he replied, "You will be extracting valuable minerals from the depths of our mines. The work is demanding, but it is essential to the prosperity of my domain. You shall begin your duties tomorrow."

Aric, still trembling, asked with a hint of desperation, "Is there any way we can earn our freedom?"

"Perhaps. Those who prove themselves invaluable may be granted privileges and lighter duties. Perhaps you can even earn a spot in the household slaves. However, freedom is not a guarantee." he said, addressing Aric, "you, merchant, will have the privilege of working directly under my steward.

Aric overwhelmed, managed to muster a weak affirmation. "Yes,” he began finding the rest of the sentence hard to complete. “My lord” finishing that phrase broke whatever pride he had left as a merchant.

With that, Lord Varkar signaled to his guards, who began to escort each of them away to their designated roles within the castle. Ed and Clayton exchanged a final, determined look before being led down separate paths.

As Ed shuffled down the dimly lit corridor, the heavy chains around his wrists and ankles began to take their toll. His arms ached, and every step felt like a monumental effort. He made a joke in an attempt to lighten the mood. The Lizardfolk guard, his scaly hide reflecting the eerie torchlight, continued to push Ed along, responding to Ed's attempts at humor with a series of clicks and hisses that Ed couldn't comprehend.

Finally, they reached their destination—a cold, damp cell. Ed was thrust inside, and before he could react, the heavy cell door slammed shut with a resounding clang. He whirled around, heart racing, taking in the oppressive shadows that engulfed the room.

In the corner of the cell, barely visible in the dim light, Ed discerned a shape. His eyes strained to make out the details, and he squinted to see better. As his vision adjusted, he realized it was another prisoner, huddled in the darkness.

"Who's there?" Ed called out, his voice trembling slightly. “I’m Ed, the newest prisoner in this forsaken castle” he corrected his tone, an adventurer shouldn’t be afraid he thought.

Ed blinked in surprise as the figure stepped out of the shadows. He had never met a crimson-skinned individual before, and it was quite the sight. Ed's disheveled appearance contrasted starkly with their strange sense of happiness.

"Who... who are you?" Ed asked cautiously.

The crimson-skinned man grinned, his twin cranial horns giving him an otherworldly appearance. "Ah, where are my manners? The name's Kaynard Rexus, and I'm a member of the Silver Company. At least, I used to be, or well I am a member of it. Quite confusing to be honest"

"The Silver Company? Never heard of you folks. What are you doing here, and how did you end up in this place?"

Kaynard's cheerful demeanor didn't change. "Well, it's a bit of a long story. You see, we came to liberate this city from the clutches of the Lizard King, but things... didn't go as planned. We ended up getting captured, and here we are."

"Liberate the city? Lizard King? I'm not familiar with any of this. My name's Ed, by the way. Ed Reiner."

Kaynard extended a friendly hand "Nice to meet you, Ed. So, what brings you to this charming establishment?"

Ed sighed "Long story as well. I was an adventurer or well I wanted to be one. I visited the city of Gear Gate in the first step of my grand adventure and went aboard an airship. Somehow, it led me here, but I'm not sure why or how. It's been quite a mess."

Kaynard's laughter echoed in the dimly lit cell. "Ah, a fellow adventurer. Classic. We've all got our stories, don't we?"

Ed couldn't help but chuckle in response. "Indeed, it seems so. But what's our plan now? I would rather not stay in this place”

"Well, my friend, that's the million-gold-coin question, isn't it? We'll need to figure out a way to escape from this predicament and hopefully find my allies along the way. Currently, we are in the western half of the kingdom, Valkar controls these lands in the name of the king and us by extension.”

"I have to admit, your positivity in this situation is impressive. How can you be so... cheerful?"

Kaynard's grin remained, and he responded by snapping his fingers. In an instant, a small, shimmering ball appeared in his hand. He began to toss it back and forth, seemingly entertained by the simple act.

"Being a member of the demon race has its perks. One of them is that our magic is innate. We don't need to draw mana from the air like many others do. It's a handy little trick."

Ed's eyes followed the ball as it moved swiftly between Kaynard's hands. He extended his hand, and with a swift catch, he held the shimmering orb, surprised at the speed with which Kaynard had thrown it.

Kaynard grinned, his crimson skin appearing to glow with amusement. "You've got quite the reflexes there, Ed. You're lucky you ended up partnered with me. Trust me; this little trick will come in handy."

Ed couldn't help but crack a smile, despite their predicament. "I suppose I am lucky then. It's just that... well, this situation is quite overwhelming. I've never been in anything like it before." His smile faded “I guess if I have one redeeming quality it’s my tenacity” Despite all the pain he has gone through he was determined to finish his grand adventure.

The sound of jingling keys and the grinding of a lock heralded the arrival of a guard in front of Ed and Kaynard's cell. As the door swung open, Kaynard greeted the guard with fluent Lizardfolk words. After a brief exchange, Kaynard turned to Ed and explained, "Seems like Lord Valkar's plans have changed. We start now."

Ed's eyes widened in disbelief. "But he told me we'd begin tomorrow. I wasn't ready for this."

With a shrug, Kaynard glanced around the cell before responding, "Well, it seems we have no choice but to start early. Plans change quickly in a place like this. We'll have to adapt. Don't worry; you have me by your side you’ll figure this out."

They were clamped in heavy chains once more and led out into the open mining area, The vast expanse of the space stretched out before them, tunnel openings scattered across the terrain like pockmarks on the land. Each of these tunnels represented months, perhaps years, of grueling labor.

A sturdy pickaxe was thrust into Ed's hands, its weight causing his muscles to tense. It felt foreign and unwieldy, and he couldn't help but think of the days recent as it may be, when he had been free to wield his own weapons, to fight for what he believed in.

Kaynard offered a reassuring pat on Ed's shoulder. "We're in this together, Ed, and if worse comes to worst," he says snapping his finger, a small gem appeared in his hands “We can just use this”

“why don't you just summon some gems or use your magic to make our work easier?" He asked as they entered into one of the tunnels.

Kaynard paused for a moment, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. He lowered his voice as he replied, "Ed, using my magic openly here would raise too many suspicions. If I create a gem looking as if I didn’t do anything, well we wouldn’t want that, do we? Even if that weren’t the case to suddenly conjure gems or perform any other overt displays of magic, they'd expect more from us. It's best to keep a low profile for now."

"Right, let's make the best of this then." He felt ashamed not knowing that.

They joined the line of other slaves, each armed with a pickaxe. With a heavy heart, Ed swung the pickaxe, its blade digging into the unforgiving earth. The rhythm of labor had begun, and they were now prisoners of a cruel fate, forced to toil away beneath the scorching sun in the name of Lord Valkar.

He wiped away the first of many beads of sweat to come and swung the pickaxe. Then he swung again and again until the earth broke. He muttered a curse under his breath. And so, they continued their grueling labor, swinging their pickaxes in unison with the other slaves.