[What happened? Where am I?]
Blake slowly opened his eyes, the sudden light blinded him for a moment, but he could feel the cold, hard, and smooth floor against his hand, there was a lingering scent of incense and the warmth of a nearby brazier, the sound of chatter and murmurs around him. As his eyes adjusted gifting vision on his surroundings, he was stunned to see an opulent throne room, with tall walls and lined pillars, all of it made of beautiful marble, hugging the walls all around were close to maybe a hundred people dressed in fine cloths of many colors and styles. In front of the crowd were knights, hands on their hilts and heater shields, armor closed and posture stiff.
His eyes drifted about the room and landed on the thrones that were both on a raised landing, the larger and well-made one, gilded in gold, made to look like a tree, had most likely the king or emperor, his face was a bit round from fattening access to food, and he was dressed in fine robes lined with gold, his eyes showed a carefully hidden cunning, but Blake knew humans like this ruler and he could see past the veneer he wore. This king was not to be trusted, much less befriended. Blake’s gaze shifted to the second throne, while well made, it was a polished wood, crafted to look a bit like a bird’s cage, with four posts coming forward with curtains blocking the peripheral vision of its occupant.
[is that an elf?]
Blake stared for a few seconds at the woman, most likely the queen. She was elegant and fair-skinned, with long pale hair that was gracefully braided and rested off one shoulder, she was dressed in clothes that while made of high-quality cloth, seemed like little more than simple robes, fit for a lesser noble at best. But her eyes show something that made Blake’s heart sink, she seemed deeply saddened, like her place was of no purpose beyond a showpiece, something to sit and look pretty for the king.
Blake looked around again for more information, and he saw two others waking up next to him, he stood and walked over, noting a lightness in his step, as he reached over, he realized that his hand was different, pulling his hand back, he looked at the hand, it was his but younger. The cuts from his youth when he studied martial arts for self-defense, and calluses from his time in boot camp were there too, but nothing else, like his time and years had been erased, like the long scar he had on his ring finger from his accident at a job after his time in the army. His wonder broke as the person next to him stirred, and he reached over and helped them sit up.
It was a girl, maybe eighteen or nineteen, and her eyes corrected for the light, Blake’s eyes shifted to the other person, who looked like a boy about twenty or twenty-one, too took a second to adjust to the light and the two looked around too, both looking scared and confused, but their eye lingered on the queen for a second and then they looked over to Blake as he was the only one dressed in something similar to them.
Blake smiled with warm reassurance, “Don’t worry, we will be fine, and I don’t know what happen, but it looks like we got isekaied, so let us just see what they want.” Blake stood up, lifting the girl to her feet, and shifted her behind him. “Hello noble ruler, I am Blake, and we would like to know why you have summoned us?” Blake said with his parade ground voice, a bit weaker than he remembered but still carrying the authority he wanted.
The king looked a bit angered by the sudden address, but then let out a carefully made laugh. “Wonderful, Heroes that know they were summoned, wonderful, I am King Ludi Kain-Frollo the twentieth, ruler of the kingdom of Marica, first of my name, and descendent of the hero king.” He said with a clap of his hands, making those in the crowd clap too. “I had you summoned to stop the Dark lord, I wish to have you ready before his return, while only one of you will have the class of hero, all of you should have powerful classes, my court scholar will explain, Lidaran.”
On the king’s cue, a man likely in his early forties stepped forward from the bottom of the stairs, opening a book in front of him and started reading aloud from, “Greeting heroes, if you are being read this do not worry you are not dreaming and yes you are in a different world. First know that while this realm is alike the realm of Charlemagne of the Franks, however, their gods have gifted the realm with blessings and gifted magic to many who walk the land. However the great evil of Satan has tainted the land with monsters and horrors, he whispers to the ears of lesser men and serfs, you are charged with protecting this realm against his will, and defeating his champion, our almighty god has gifted you with power, raise your left arm, call for the truth of yourself and see your heart, by saying open rank.” the man said and looked at them expectantly.
The boy and girl looked at him a bit unsure but gave them a nod, as he raised his arm. “Open rank.” he said as a small box appeared in front of him, but Blake had to blink a few times.
[that looks like a TTRPG character sheet, yeah, we got isekaied]
Name: Blake Winters. Class: none. Race: human. Current power rank: 6
Health points: 100, Spell Points: 50/50, Spell Power: 0. Energy points: 20/20.
Strength: 11, Dexterity: 11, Constitution: 12,
Intelligence: 12, Wisdom: 12, Charisma: 10,
Trust: 0, Faith: 0, Honor: 3.
Skills: None.
Abilities: None.
Blessings: Language comprehension (23 hours).
[Fuck.]
Blake stared at his scores, he was classless and had nothing, no skills, no abilities and the only reason he can understand them is because of a spell.
[ok, it looks like a cross between D&D and JRPG, so if the scores are a D&D then I am about average for a human, but if they are Jrpg then I am royally screwed.]
“If you turn your hands so the palm is skywards that will allow others to see your rank, your scores as heroes should start around twenty,” said the man in the robes, and then cough as he closed the book, “Please do so, I will be able to guide you only if you allow me to see your class.” he started walking closer.
The boy and girl happily followed the request and flipped their palms. The boy was an Archwizard, with a high intelligence score past forty, and the rest were about twenty, he also seemed to have access to every form of elemental magic and some advanced forms. Along with a blessing from the god of magic. The girl was a Heroine with all her physical scores close to thirty, and the rest were sitting comfortably at twenty, she also had skills for martial combat and beginner weapons proficiency. she was blessed by the god of light.
Blake looked back to his one, he would be useless, he was just a human in this realm. He lowered his hand. “Your majesty, I regret to inform this court that while I was summoned, I have not been blessed. Please send me back, I have nothing to offer.”
The court froze at his words, but Lidaran coughed. “We can’t, summoned heroes are gifted to us as your time on your world had closed, however, your virtuous soul was brought here to allow you to live again,” the old man said with a sad glint in his eye.
[wait, I died, when how why, I was working it was a normal day]
“However, if you would allow it, my king, I would like to guide him nevertheless.” Lidaran said, turning a bit to the king, getting a nod after a few seconds.
Blake without thinking opened his rank again, and showed it to the scholar, he seemed to start reading, then thanked him before turning and walking over to the king and whispering in his ear. The king watched Blake closely for a few seconds before forcing a neutral smile. “Blake, I understand, we will finish the ceremony then we will see to help you with your woes. Please step back from the other two.” The king said in a voice that screamed at Blake’s instinct not to follow along, but his mind was still elsewhere.
Blake watched as the scholar announced to the room the classes of the other two and congratulated them on being soon-to-be mighty warriors for the good of the realm, and they will be given rooms in the palace and get training from the greatest teachers so that they can learn quickly. And then they were dismissed, as the crowd and the other two were filtered out of the room, Blake was left standing, his mind still trying to handle the idea that he had died.
As silence closed in with the doors, Blake looked over to the king, but his mind locked on his visage. The king was no longer the seemingly kind man he presented, and Blake knew he had to tread carefully. Blake gave a shallow bow to the king, “Your Majesty, I do humbly appreciate any aid you can lend me in settling within your realm, I know that on the larger scale, one extra mouth is not a lot, the real issue is that I was summoned before your court, with your help I am willing to relocate to the deepest part of your great domain so that you can more easily silence any who would dare to question your rule.” Blake didn’t take his eyes off the king.
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“Blake, you seem to understand more than your fellow travelers. Yes, I did have you come here, and you had clearly stated you could not help. You were given a second chance to live by the merit of your soul in your past life alone.” The king tried in vain to contain his dislike of Blake. “So, I shall give you a choice, as the amount of resources needed to summon you was great. The first is that you will be given a coin purse and shown to a nearby inn, where you can work hard to make something of yourself. Or you could stay in the palace and work for the betterment of the kingdom, under the guidance of Lidaran.” the king said, his voice showing that the second option had more to it.
Blake’s eyes shifted to the old scholar, and he saw it, the man was trying to hide information and forced a reassuring smile, but his eyes betrayed the older man with glints of vile excitement. So unknown information hides the true meaning of the king’s words. Blake’s eyes moved to the Queen as she stirred in her seat with discomfort her hand pressing on her abdomen with glints of painful memories in her eyes, her sharp ear, if her race was alike to those of fiction would have heard the king’s plan for him.
Blake thought about it carefully, the inn was most likely a trap somewhere outside the palace to have people killed, but staying may be more perilous. “My king, you have been gracious enough to allow me a chance in life and that is something I would not miss, and while I do truly wish to serve you, I do not think that I could help Master Lidaran with his works, I was little more than a grunt in my past life, so I think I have to take the first option and go to see your magnificent realm and learn of its wondrous people. If you would allow me to do so, know that I will only speak of your generosity to all who cross my path as I seek out my place in your realm.” Blake said with a light bow, but his eyes lingered on the Queen, as she showed distress at his decision but also a sense of pity akin to when you have to put down a wounded animal.
[so, I will likely be killed soon, well not the first time that has happened]
Blake’s eyes snapped back to the king as he cleared his throat. “Very well, Blake Winters, I hereby give you the rank of a citizen of this nation and gift you a pouch of ten gold, I will also arrange for your stay at the inn for a time of three weeks so that you can be ready to set out on your own. as is my command so shall it be done.” He said aloud so that the few retainers in the room could hear him, Two of which immediately broke and left through side doors.
“Thank King Ludi Kain-Frollo for your wise aid and help in my first tentative steps” Blake bowed deep before taking three steps back and leaving.
As Blake was let out into the Palace entrance, he was met by a woman dressed in simple worker garb, however, she didn’t seem all that interested in him, she appeared humanoid, but had a thin layer of fur and a pair of curled horns reaching back and away from her face, she handed him a pouch and a rolled scroll. Blake took them and watched as she pointed to a carriage waiting nearby, a driver sitting on it, and a human man dressed in a fine tunic and breachers.
“Oh, thank you…” Blake said to her but was caught off guard as she had walked away. Leaving Blake, a bit speechless but walking over to the man.
“Greetings Master Winters, I am Daus, I have been ordered to accompany you to the Wonder Wake Inn.” The man by the carriage said but Blake’s eyes were still on the woman. “If she insulted you, we could have her brought to you.”
“What no, she hasn’t insulted me at all, I just didn’t think she would walk away all of a sudden.” Blake said absentmindedly.
“YOU, COME HERE.” The man suddenly yelled, making the woman freeze, and slowly turned and came back over. “I understand you have been rude to a guest of the king,” as she had gotten just inside of arms reach, she froze again. “Filthy slave, do you wish for a second beating today or will you apologize to his majesty’s guest?” The Man said as he grabbed her by the horn and forced her to the ground.
[what the fuck did he say? Did he say, slave?]
The woman groveled at Blake’s feet and in a muffled voice begged for forgiveness, her head at his feet pressing on the stones of the path they stood on, her voice panicked and full of fear, making Blake’s heart ache with pity for the woman.
“I CAN’T HEAR YOU” Roared the man as he reached for the whip of the carriage driver and raised it over his head, readying to bring it down on her. “Maybe this will teach you how to beg.”
Blake instinctually intercepted the man, catching the man’s arm. “You will not harm her.” He growled, then looked down at the woman. “Stand up, you are forgiven, you have neither offended me nor insulted me, go back to your work.”
The woman ran off at full speed for the passage she was going to go through. And Blake turned back to the man. “Let it be known that if I hear she was harmed after my departure I will come for you.” Blake released the man and walked back to the carriage and climbed in.
[I didn’t see a collar, so it is likely that they use magic to bind slaves if it's that then she really is in trouble, i have no idea how to free her]
Blake sat down and watched the man climb in after a second. “I see you are a kind man, if I have angered you, I do apologize, I didn’t think you would forgive her so soon.” the man sat opposite Blake and knocked on the roof as the door was closed by a footman.
“I didn’t see her actions as rude. I had assumed that she had other tasks to fulfill so didn’t hold her departure against her. She is the king’s slave, as he is a busy man, I am sure she is too.” Blake said, forcing a nonchalant voice out despite his internal morals demanding the man suffer.
“Oh no, she is a slave of the second prince, she is little more than a toy for the young lord, she had been acting up lately, so the prince gave her to me for discipline.” The man said with true disregard for the woman, something that made Blake’s stomach turn. “After all I am the Slave Trainer of the palace, she should have known not to leave until your word. It seems that she has become rather impudent lately, sad to hear, she was the prince’s favorite when he was young.” the man let out a sigh.
“I am sorry, but I am only familiar with humans, but what is her race?” Blake asked as though he was just interested in getting his own.
The man looked to Blake for a second, “Oh, she is a part of the beast folk, her subrace is Ramkin, their men are good and strong making for wonderful hunting dogs in the mountains, their women are noted for their recovery magics and their fur makes them excellent choices for a heating source in the winter.” the man said, “honestly it is for the best they remember their place, if not for the hero king, they along with many beast-man would have been killed, they are better off as slaves, and their nation's tribute to this kingdom is enough to secure our benevolence, are you interested in acquiring a slave, Master Winters?”
“Perhaps, I have yet to fully grasp this world, how many nations are there?” Blake asked as he looked out the window at the different people walking about the street.
“Well, to the north you have the Kingdom of the Dwarfs, they are good at metal working but keeping one as a slave is taxing as they drink a lot of alcohol, then you have the elven forest to the southwest, their alliance with us is tied by their king’s marriage to the queen, as such they are the only race that is not allowed to be enslaved, a shame really, I hear that their abilities are wonderful when in distress. To the east, you will find the Kingdom of Beasts. They pay us a tribute of slaves every seven years. Massive airships carrying thousands of them come here to be sold, the coin we get helps keep the Demon Lands to the south in check. Sometimes some brave adventurers capture a few demons and bring them here to be sold, there is a lot of money in that trade, and many people still wish to show them the pain of the Dark Lord's attack on us.” The man spoke as the carriage rocked. “In this realm, anyone can be a civilian, but only we humans can be citizens. But everyone can be made a slave provided the crime is terrible enough.”
“And how do you keep so many slaves in check, I see no whips or collars,” Blake said, his mind holding back his malice to this nation, his mouth started to taste like blood as he gritted his teeth.
“Of course, right you come from a world without magic, we use a subjugation mark on our slaves.” The man said with open arms. “The mark makes it impossible for a slave to disobey their master's command, see if they try then the mark induces pain throughout their bodies, and if they disobey for long enough then they will die as the pain overwhelms their minds and leaves them as living shells, then they are sold to either the military or a whorehouse.” He spoke as though something so inhumane was normal between them. But Blake had to maintain his composure. “I have seen it, you know, it is the final step to being a Slave Trainer, when I started my training, I was given a single slave, she was cute, barely ten from the wolfkin, she was bright and intelligent. Then on my final day, they tied her to a chair, and I was told to order her to come to my side, so I did. And they made me watch, as the mark activated, I was told later she held out longer than they had expected, but she was gone nevertheless, I still have her you know, I am told it's common to keep your first.”
[FUCKING MONSTERS, that is this nation. I can’t stay here, but I will so that I can raze it to the ground]
“I see, well then if I was to say go traveling where would you recommend?” Blake asked.
The man thought about it for a second. “The town of Greenwood is a nice enough place, and the nearby forest makes for great hunting grounds. Also, many adventurers call it home due to the short distance to the border of the Demon lands. What’s more, the slave market there is sublime, I had been there three months ago with the king, and we found him a wonderful Wolfkin to have.” The man said after a few seconds. And looked out the window as the carriage slowed down to stop. “Looks like we are here, please follow me.” he said as he climbed out of the carriage and walked to the inn.
Blake stepped out and noted that most of the street traffic had slowed and started walking around the carriage and out of his way. And his mind wondered how many of the people around him ware slaves or not. He sighed and followed the man into the inn, it was warm and comfortable inside with a nice-sized dining area with a bar, the man was already talking with the woman behind the counter, and noticed that she was slipped a coin purse, her eyes landing on Blake for a second, then turning back to the conversation she was having.
As Blake got to the counter the woman looked over to him and smiled, it was lukewarm at best, and sinister at worst. “Greetings Master Winters, I am Jasmine, I will have your room readied shortly, do you have any requests in regard to your room?” She asked carefully.
“I would prefer to be as close to the ground floor as possible. Second floor if you must, but if not then I shall find my own accommodations” Blake said with a clear and stern authority.
Daus looked at Blake for a second, “Oh, I had arranged for you to stay on the third floor as that is where their best room is” the man said with a smile. “The king is paying for your stay so no need to hold back.”
[yeah, I am not taking any room you want me to stay in, that aside the top floor has no way for me to easily get to the ground and I don’t plan to stay more than tonight.]
“I see, while that does sound wonderful, I do have a fear of heights, and if I were to look out the window of the third floor, I fear it may upset me, I apologize that I hadn’t informed you before our arrival. Miss Jasmine, can you see to my request, it would make my stay more comfortable.” Blake said in his best and faked sincere voice.
Jasmine watched him for a few seconds, her eyes imparting the sharp gaze of a trained warrior before she broke into a smile “Of course we can see to that, why don’t you have a seat, and we will get you some food while you wait.” she said as she gestured to a table.
“No, thank you for the offer, I do have some shopping to get done, can you point me to where I could find some traveling gear and a clothing merchant.” Blake said with a raised hand.
“Oh…, certainly, I can have one of the slaves show you the way.” Jasmine said, before yelling for a Kiania.
As Kiania stepped into the room, she was dressed in loose work clothes and was wiping away something on her apron, her eyes were a bit bigger than the humans and she had a pair of fox ears that twitch and twisted, her overall appearance wasn’t all that different from a human, as long as you put aside the fine coat of fur that covered her skin, as she stepped in and looked to jasmine. “Yes, Master?”
“Kiania, you are to show Master Winters to the shops nearby that sell what he needs.” Jasmine said as she gestured to Blake.
“Yes, Master.” Kiania said with a bow and walked over to Blake, her eyes watched him for a second then averted. “What do you need to acquire?”
“Traveling gear for a journey to Greenwood, and a change of clothes, maybe a weapon too” Blake said after a second of thought.
“Great choice, Master Winters, please follow me.” She said before gesturing to the door.