POV Our Newly-Made-Servant MC

I have somehow ended up sweeping the hallways with two other children who also didn’t speak. They were weren’t wearing work clothes either, but their robes weren’t quite as clean as mine. The boy was sweeping the part of the hall nearest to the kitchen, and the girl was sweeping the dining area. I decided that the space between them was probably my job, and so, I got to it.

We swept in companionable silence, and I began to think I could get used to this. Perhaps these two will be the first friends I’ll make in this new world…? After being locked away for so long, the thought of friendship was exciting. Well, anything new seemed exciting all of the sudden.

It took an unnecessary amount of time, but finally, we finished sweeping the floors we were assigned. Shouldn’t they have magic to do stuff like this? I would clean it with my magic if it weren’t for the fact that it would bring way too much attention to me. For now, the best thing for me to do is probably lay low (I just got out of prison, after all). The other two children lead me back to the kitchen where we put away our brooms. The kitchen staff had apparently finished lunch, so they were quickly eating their own meals before rushing off to complete another task.

Each of those of us who were sweeping also got a portion to eat, and we took it outside so we could sit in the grass as we ate. I found it to be absolutely delicious. It wasn’t any better than what I ate in that prison, but eating while I was free was an amazing feeling. The two I was sweeping with and I each stood side by side as we ate. After I had finished, I glanced up to see they were still eating. I decided to wait until they were done to ask their names, but when they opened their mouths to spoon in more soup, I saw that their tongues had been cut out.

It wasn’t that they decided not to talk, they simply couldn’t. While watching them happily eat their meal, I stayed completely still. Their tongues being cut out was obviously intentional. Who would do such a thing?

POV Goddess

I watched the man I had sent down with satisfaction. Somehow, I’d become a bit attached to him, haha. Maybe he will provide some prime entertainment in the future?

“Goddess!” I heard the voice of that obnoxious bitch Vitrea, the goddess of energy. “I-I have to tell you something!”

“What is it?” I asked, struggling to keep the irritation out of my tone.

“I wanted to tell you that I found out something about the God of Games.” Vitrea said, “It’s top secret, so can you…?”

I nodded in understanding to her request, and quickly pulled up a few barriers around us. Anything about the God of Games was certainly important; she might have information on the world I had tossed the man into. “What is this secret?”

“He has come up with a new game for us Gods to help decide the next God or Goddess to join our pantheon.” Vitrea explained.

I snorted in disgust, “We don’t need any more Gods, there are too many as it is. Mortals shouldn’t have been able to become Gods from the beginning.”

Vitrea grimaced at my harsh words, as she is a newer Goddess herself, but she didn’t mention it. “Yes, well, he came up with an idea that a few chosen gods and goddesses would put blessing on a mortal or a group of mortals and have them battle with the other blessed ones. After that, the final champion would become the next God… or Goddess.”

I tilted my head a little, “So what? We’ve done that before.” It was a common practice in which we watched our champions’ battle for centuries until one finally emerged powerful enough.

“Yes, but there are some differences this time. The world the mortals are in have levels or ranks which they can reach by defeating more powerful monsters and gaining something known as “EXP”, it is not as based on training anymore. Plus, the higher the rank is, the closer the mortal comes to being a God. Of course, only the champion will be brought up the final step into Godhood. Also, the champions know of what is happening, and they have the choice of purposely attacking other champions or avoiding them entirely.”

“They are aware?” I looked to her in shock, “How peculiar… How long has this been going on?”

“Only a few centuries. Each God is limited to ten champions. Some bless them all at once, and some wait to bless one new champion at each generation.”

“This game is more complicated than before…”

“Yeah, there are all kinds of other rules, but those are the most important ones.” Vitrea said.

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Suddenly, a thought struck me. “Wait, if all of these people are “aware” than that doesn’t necessarily mean they were blessed at birth, right?”

“No, actually, the Gods and Goddesses are forbidden to look into the future, or past, of their champions. You have to watch the champion mature yourself instead of relying on the sight. So they tend to be blessed in adulthood.”

“So if a newborn was blessed…” I started.

“Then an older champion will almost certainly kill it.” Vitrea finished.

I smiled softly. Unknowingly, the boy had been very lucky to have been locked up in such a cruel way. Doing so probably saved him from dying an early death. With the strength he has achieved from being locked up, and the power of his past memories he might be able to survive despite the odds. Still, it is worrying. After all, he has yet to rank up even once.

I came to a decision, and I ordered Vitrea, “I want you to call in all of the Gods and Goddesses most loyal to me. I will need their help.”

POV Our Dragon-Elf Boy

I was just considering whether I should attempt to speak with the other children when I saw my grandfather approaching out of the corner of my eye. No one could mistake him with his prideful stride and the glitter of his jewelry. Celes was right behind him, muttering out some sort of apology.

“I didn’t know, sir!” She was telling him, “And I didn’t have the permission to enter him in the royal baths, so I thought…”

“You think I would care that much for any commoner child?!” Grandfather snarls, his expression twisted in his rage, “To think you would treat my own Grandson like this, you incompetent-!” He raised his hand to slap her, and I took action quickly.

If I was wrong, I would get us both in trouble but if I was right, Celes would be spared. I ran to her and wrapper my arms around her legs, my face buried in her hip. Celes let out a squeak of surprise, but she doesn’t push me away. Grandfather paused, seeing the show of affection and sighed, “It seems he is attached to you, however…” Grandfather runs a hand down his face, “Fine, take him to my quarters and allow him to rest there. You will stay with him until I come and tell you otherwise, understood? It’s been too long a day for him to have a meal with the family…”

Celes nodded, “Of course. I will watch over him well.” She bowed.

“Good. You may end up as his caretaker sometime soon if you do well.” Grandfather hinted. With that, he was off.

I released Celes as soon as he was out of sight. I turned back to the children I was eating lunch with and gave them a little bow to say goodbye. They both immediately threw themselves onto the ground in a panic, kneeling with their foreheads pressed into the grass. I reached out to reassure them that I didn’t mind them, but Celes pulled me back with a look of horror.

“Those are ex-slaves. You don’t want to become involved with them. They might have a disease or something. Come along.” She pulled me out of the garden, and even when we were far out of sight, the two continued to kneel without moving. I felt anger rise in me, not at them, but at my Grandfather. Did he turn them into this?

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

Celes sat in a chair at the end of the bed while I pretended to nap. Her eyes never left me, and she reacted every time I so much as shifted. It seemed she was taking this whole, ‘watching over me’ thing very seriously. Sometimes she spoke to me, telling me about how she loved the castle, and it was much preferable to her tribe. Because she had a defect which made her senses duller than that of an ordinary cat beastwoman, she was mistreated by her tribe members. She spoke of how she was glad to have an opportunity in which she could work in peace.

She also said that she hoped to be my caretaker, because the job pays more, and her daughter’s life would be easier if she could bring in at least a little more money.

The more she spoke, and the more she told me about herself, opening up her heart, the deeper a new conviction ran in my mind. Celes would officially become the first person in the world I had sworn to protect.

Skill: Protector (Beginner lvl. 1) learned!