The singing of birds, the swaying of bushes, and the sound of Kyra eating reached the blonde girl’s ears as she groaned and slowly woke up.

Her blue eyes took time to adjust to her surroundings, but once they were fully opened, she immediately began screaming. Kyra stopped eating the steak beetle and looked at the panicked girl funny.

“Do they all do that or...?” Kyra asked and pointed at the girl. Gabriel looked up from the pot of herbal stew he was making and glared at Kyra. “What? I’ve never interacted with a slave before.” She added, eyes wide, with her shoulder lifted.

“Neither do I.” Gabriel replied defensively. He knew what Kyra was trying to hint at, jokingly or not.

“Aye Gabriel. I’m not accusing you of anything.” Kyra replied, a conniving grin stretching across her face. “But with how defensive you got,” she continued.

“Kyra!” He exclaimed, red-faced. The emerald-eyed girl began howling, throwing her head back as she held her stomach.

The blonde girl watched the interaction and relaxed a little. She slowly slid down the tree trunk and sat down. The young girl then looked down at her body, and her eyes widened in horror as Kyra’s gown covered her body.

The young girl slowly opened her mouth to scream.

“I changed your gown, not the scary, big, bad blonde man.” Kyra reassured. Gabriel wanted to hit her, but he refrained from doing so. “So are you really a slave?” Kyra then pushed. Gabriel huffed out, then placed his bowl down.

“Name, Kyra. You ask for names.” He corrected. Kyra rolled her eyes.

“What’s your name, then?” Kyra instead asked. The blonde girl looked at the tall girl and stuck her nose up, turning her head to the side.

“Hmph. I don’t give that out to strangers. Especially strange strangers.” The girl answered. Her tone was snobbish, arrogant, and downright ear-grating. Kyra’s intrigued smile dropped, and her left eye twitched.

“You ought to show some respect to the people who decided to save your sorry ass.” Kyra stated this through gritted teeth. The blonde girl stood up and pointed her finger at Kyra.

“I shall not be spoken to this way by a brutish, bug-eating bitch!” The girl screeched. “Do you not know who I am!?”

“No.” Gabriel and Kyra replied, their expressions falling into a deadpan. “That’s why we’re asking for your name.” They added.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“I’m Lady Cilia Groneway. The third daughter of Halian Groneway, head of the Groneway Manor.” She introduced herself.

“I thought you didn’t introduce yourself to strangers. But that seemed like quite the introduction.” Kyra mocked. Cilia’s face went red, and Gabriel almost saw the steam blow from her ears.

“I think I’ve heard of their house.” Gabriel spoke up. “They’re known for their gowns and garments. They recently went into the jewellery business and have found unprecedented success there as well. My father was a big fan of their rings.”

“Your father has taste. Anyways, as the most important person here, I want to be honoured.” Cilia stated that her mannerism was far too conceited for Kyra’s liking. So the swordsman decided to humble her.

"Actually, me and this guy are the most important. He’s a prince, and I’m the daughter of a legendary swordsman.”

“Oh yeah?” Cilia was questioned sarcastically.

“He’s Gabriel St. Wraith, prince of Aerion. And I’m Kyra von Stein, daughter of Lord Munich von Stein.” Kyra grinned with satisfaction as Cilia’s face grew pale, enjoying every moment of the snobbish girl slowly eating her words.

“How did a girl of your calibre become a slave?” Gabriel asked, breaking up the weird tension between the girls.

“What makes you think I’m a slave?” Cilia answered with a question. A hint of hesitation and uncertainty filled her tone, painting her in a different colour than the one she was trying to portray.

“The chain marks around your wrists and ankles, and the fact that you ran from the direction of Kuuya Town.” Gabriel analysed.

Cilia brought her knees up and hugged them. She then placed her head on top of her knees and slouched forward, and she resumed being the small girl that they saved.

“My mother sold me.” She replied. Hot tears slowly pooled out of her eyes and coated her cheeks. Her shoulder then began to shake. “She sold me off to pay off a large debt.” She sobbed.

Gabriel’s heart broke for her, while Kyra felt really awkward, not being used to such a massive show of emotions.

“Wait. I thought you were well off.” Gabriel asked, confused. “Why would she need to sell you off?”

“A horrible rumour of our materials being far too cheap for their prices began to spread, and people slowly began turning their business elsewhere. New customers no longer had interests in our goods, and old customers no longer returned, fearing their image would be tarnished if they did.” Cilia explained, wiping her tears.

She lifted her head. “Before long, we were slowly losing money, and my mother’s gambling habits ran her into debt, and she started owing some dodgy people money.” She added.

“Then why sell her own daughter?!” Kyra exclaimed, angered by the lack of care for one's offspring.

“She saw it as getting rid of the daughter she didn’t like and an easy way of getting out of the debt. And now I’m stuck working as a slave to pay it all off for her.”

“Your mother’s a bitch.” Kyra commented. This made Cilia laugh, her red eyes glimmering with glee at the insult hurled at her mother.

“I’m starting to like you,” Cilia commented.

“You don’t seem that bad yourself. However, do try and work on your first impressions. They do matter after all.” Kyra advised. Cilia nodded.

"So, how long have you been a slave?” Gabriel asked as he poured the girl a bowl of herbal stew.

“Three days. It’s been horrible. Not just for me, but for others too. Kuuya is a massive slave trade hub where lords live to simply watch in amusement as we’re abused.” Cilia answered, taking the bowl from Gabriel.

The blonde prince then stored the pot and other culinary items he had brought out back into the inventory.

“I made a couple of friends, and when I escaped, I promised to get help for them too.” Cilia stated.

“So you weren’t running away?” Kyra asked. Cilia shook her head.

“I was trying to get as far from the town and into the main area of Alderon as possible. I was hoping that I would come across a city or kingdom to get help from, and before I could get that far, I passed out.” She explained. “I had to outrun a group of men riding tiger lizards.”

Just as the last words tumbled out of Cilia’s mouth, the bush rattled, and slowly, five men on top of orange tiger lizards emerged.

"Well, if it isn’t Blondie, and she brought some friends with her.”

Gabriel and Kyra got up and prepared their weapons.

{Would you like to engage in battle? Yes/No?}

“Bring it.”