Lord Brumen lifts me to my feet grabbing the fallen slave collar on his way up.
He silently leads me and his two guards to the dining hall before abruptly turning
around and facing me.
“Typically, I would never let a slave go free, but I couldn’t go back on my word
infront of my men. Anyways we need to make it official. Please give me your right hand
Kusk.” He says as I reach my right hand forward.
“It would be my honor sir.” One of the honor guards states as he hands him a
piece of metal and unsheathes his sword.
“Alright Number 3, you can do the honors as he was once one of your kin” Lord Brumen
says as he starts heating up the metal object the honor guard gave him with fire magic.
“Thank you sir. Kusk please remove your shirt.” Number 3 says.
I quickly remove my shirt, and with burning pain Number 3’s sword cuts diagonally
across the brand carved into my back. Lord Brumen then grabs my right hand
and places the metal object on the top of my right hand, burning a seal much like
the one etched into my back. Number three then grabs my hand and cuts diagonally
across it as well. This is nothing compared to the pain I’ve endured for 10 years.
“Also wear this as proof, you are the only slave I’ve ever freed and you will probably
be the last. Fortunately for you I have the ability to fully free you, marking you as a free
demi so that no one can legally capture and enslave you again.” He says as he hands me
the slave collar attached to a string like a pendant.
I quickly put the string over my head. The bleeding from my hand and my back already
beginning to clot.
“Before you go though, I want everything that belongs to me.” He quickly snatches the
shirt from my hand.” He says while looking at me with a mischievous grin pointing to my
shorts.
Are you fucking kidding… I quickly drop my shorts and hand them over along with my
shield. Number 3 quickly grabs me by the shoulders leading me towards the front door.
Helen is standing next to the front door with a bundle of clothes in her hand.
“I knew he would do that to you. He’s always been a sly old man.” She hands me a shirt
and shorts and I quickly put them on. “Now go, be free. Live the life neither of us will be
fortunate enough to live.” She gestures towards Number 3. He removes his helmet
revealing the face of an old man with 2 white dog ears drooped across his head.
“Yes Kusk, be free.” He says with a nod as he opens the door leading out.
I quickly rush out of the keep. Holy shit, for a second there I thought I was going to be a
nude free man. I make my way over to the gate and a guard quickly opens the gate
letting me leave. Before I get too far out of reach, the guard calls out behind me.
“If you’re looking for work try the adventurers guild. They aren't discriminatory.” I barely
hear him as he whispers under his breath, “Fuck slavery” as I make my way down the
road leaving my life as a slave behind.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
The cobbled road is littered with fancy carriages
on both sides. Magic lanterns are illuminating the surrounding luxurious houses on both
sides. The morning sun is just barely coming over the horizon. I quickly start running
down the road. I got to find the adventurers guild, I am going to need money for food,
and shelter.
After walking around the town I finally manage to find a building with Adventures guild
written on a crude wooden sign with faded black paint very close to the city wall.
The building stands 2 stories tall with a rough textured roof with a couple of peaks,
but looks like it's seen better days. One of the windows has a board covering it up and
moss is growing between the stone of the foundation. I can hear a couple of voices from
inside. God, this building looks like it belongs in the slums, but I have nothing to lose.
I quickly muster some courage and make my way over pushing the front door open.
The voices I heard instantly diminish and I’m met with complete silence.
Inside there are 3 rough looking men wearing beaten leather armor sitting at a
table next to an unbroken window. Off to the side there is a woman wearing a
hooded black robe standing next to a billboard with a bunch of notes scattered
across it. There is a bunch of empty tables scattered around.
“Can I help you?” A man calls out from a bar straight in front of the entrance.
“Yes, I would like some work” I let out with a sigh. God I must sound like an idiot.
“Alright, come to the front, I’m assuming this is your first time.” The man says.
I quickly make my way to the front of the bar standing with my hands in my
pockets. I feel like an idiot. I don’t know how this works.
“I’m assuming you can’t read, so I can help you fill this application out.”
“No, I can read,” I reply with a confused look. Oh yeah, slaves aren’t taught to read.
“Oh…” After a quick pause he continues “Okay well in that case please fill this
out” while handing me a piece of paper with a piece of charcoal.
I quickly grab the paper and charcoal and sit down at one of the empty tables.
The men started to chat again while the woman grabbed a piece of paper and
walked over to the man at the bar whispering something towards him.
The Application:
Name: Kusk
Age: 17
Class: None
Titles: S̶l̶a̶v̶e̶
Previous combat experiences:
Beaten daily by guards?
Advanced Shielding lvl 2?
I wonder if that's an okay answer… Oh well.
I quickly pick up the paper and charcoal and head back to the man. I wait behind
the woman as she takes a stamped note from the man and quickly leaves the
guild. I hand him the application and quickly go and sit back down at the table.
The man glances down at the application and then looks up at me and facepalms
himself before leaving the bar. Shit, I must’ve done it wrong. I sit patiently at the
table while a torrent of what I did wrong runs through my mind. I slowly lower my
head onto the table. Well looks like this isn’t going to work out.
*BOOM* I hear a door get thrown open from somewhere behind the bar. The
sound of heavy footsteps pounding down a set of stairs jolts me out of my slump
“WHO THE FUCK IS PLAYING GAMES WITH ME THIS EARLY IN THE
MORNING” A loud voice booms out from behind the bar.
I quickly jump up from the table making for the door only to be stopped by one of
the men who were casually chatting earlier.
“Sorry nothing against you kid, but if I let you go I’m a dead man.” He spits out
blocking the entrance to the building. Oh fuck I’m so dead.
A door to the left of the bar flies open revealing a 6’ 5” jacked monster. The man
has the head of a lion. His arms are as red as a tomato. He's holding a giant 2
handed ax in one hand as he scans the room looking for the culprit. His eyes
immediately focus on me, but with one glance towards my arm all his bloodlust
fades. He slowly walks over to me holding a piece of paper in his hand, as he
casually places his ax next to the door.
“So kid, this isn’t actually a joke is it. I’m sorry for getting so worked up I thought
someone was mocking me.” He coldy states as he sits down at a table.
“The names Leotemumo, but most people just call me Leo. I also use to be a
slave, thats why I got so worked up. Anyways I can start you off as iron if that's
okay with you.”
“Yes sir” I quickly reply, trying to hide my fear.
“Dunthor, get this boy a card!” Leo yells out as he makes his way back.
I sit down, patiently trying to understand what just happened. Holy shit I almost
just died. After what feels like an eternity, the man from the bar comes out and
hands me an Iron card that looks a lot like a debit card.
“Well that went just as I expected, anyways kid the jobs are listed on the board
over there, just pick one and bring it to the front desk and I’ll assign it to you. You
can pick up to 2 jobs in the iron rank or 1 job in the bronze rank. The pay is listed
on the note. Complete 10 iron jobs to become bronze. I’ll explain more to you
later, but for now I’ve got to finish something in the back.” Dunthor says, as he
walks awkwardly towards the back.
I quickly walk over to the board and check the jobs.