Marsil The Mage - Vol 1 - Beginning and Freedom
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Whiterock City - Whiterock Prison Mine or Grimrock Prison Mine
As I opened my eyes, I didn't have much time to think. A hoarse voice pierced my thoughts, shouting with a whip in hand,
"Walk, you filth! You live on charity, and yet you show no gratitude."
My left arm was gripped, and I was dragged along. I took a deep breath, telling myself,
"I must endure."
Moments later, I found myself back in my cell.
For the past three months, this has been my life—a life of closed eyes and physical exhaustion, more mentally draining than physically fatiguing. I couldn't help but wonder,
"Why do things have to be this way?"
Grimrock Mine Prison, my home for the last three months, had worn me down considerably.
The mental fatigue weighed heavier on me than the physical exhaustion.
All I wanted was to get my life back on track and continue my journey to becoming a wizard.
However, I had been accused of involvement in a gang's activities and thrown into prison without trial or any chance to seek justice.
It bothered me, but there was nothing I could do.
As I drifted into sleep, something peculiar appeared in my dream.
"Marsil"
Physique = 1.0; "
Power" = 1.0;
Agility" = 1.0; "
Spirit" = "1.0"
Abilities:
"Survival, Level 1,"
"Archery, Level 1,"
"Memphis Sword Art, Level 1."
"Soul Power: 0"
Upon waking, I didn't dwell on it much. I thought, I was just dreaming.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
I gently opened my eyes and surveyed my small, dirty, and plain cell, my home for the past three months.
Iron bars stared back at me, like watchful eyes restricting my freedom.
"There must be a way out of here," I thought.
"But how?"
As I continued to ponder, a familiar voice called out from the neighboring cell.
"Marsil, are you awake?"
I smiled slightly and replied, "Yes, Old Man Eval."
The man, Eval, chuckled softly and began to speak.
"When the next work session begins, come to me. I believe I've found a way for us to escape from this place."
I grinned and shook my head. Old Man Eval, also known as Master Eval, was a wise man.
I had heard rumors that Eval had traveled far and gained a wealth of experience before ending up in this prison.
But I had also heard that he had been here for a full four years and had gone insane due to the harsh prison life.
"What's on your mind, Master Eval? I asked, even though I had my doubts.
Eval's laughter echoed again, and he replied,
"My plan is a secret. It wouldn't be right to divulge it. If I reveal it, it ceases to be a secret, right?"
I took a deep breath and examined my hand.
For some reason, my right hand has been mildly aching recently. It wasn't bothersome, more like a sweet ache.
"I hope it's not a serious ailment," I thought.
A few minutes later, I moved to the stone bed and lay down, eventually falling asleep due to exhaustion.
"Ding Ding."
I opened my eyes with fear and looked around in a daze.
"I must have slept for quite a while," I murmured, getting up from my stone bed.
A few minutes later, three men dressed in black leather guardian outfits, wielding whips, came to the front of my cell.
They cast disdainful glances at me, and one of them unlocked the cell door with a key.
"Get up, prisoner; it's time to work," one of them barked, the same ugly man as before.
I had grown accustomed to this routine. The routine at Grimrock Mine was brutal but straightforward.
No proper meals, just a piece of dark bread and some water during work. We tried to eat while working, avoiding the whip.
Our daily rations consisted only of black bread and a meager amount of water.
It was dire, and prisoners with weak constitutions would die quickly.
Grimrock Mine was nothing like a regular prison.
There was no leisure or respite; all prisoners had to work. Two guards escorted me to the mining area.
The prison and the mines were quite close to each other.
As I looked around, I noticed that two familiar faces were absent.
From what I had learned in the past three months, this could only mean one thing: those prisoners not assigned to work had met their end.
"Edrick and Nelan... I muttered, "I can't see them."
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I was on the verge of succumbing to grief when a whip struck my back, eliciting a cry of pain.
"Don't waste time, prisoner! Take your pickaxe and start working, or you won't receive your black bread today."
Suppressing my anger and pain, I picked up the iron pickaxe from the ground and began to toil.
Beside me, someone else started working.
It was none other than Eval. He looked at me and then started talking.
"The death of Edrick and Nelan is a terrible situation, Marsil, but you must pull yourself together," Eval said.
I didn't say anything; I wasn't in a state to talk right now. Eval looked around cautiously and began whispering again.
"A few hours later, you will hear an explosion sound. Once you hear it, immediately start running toward the northern area. You will see an opening there, and that's how you can escape from this mine. After that, your survival is in your hands."
This time, I took Eval's words seriously. Somehow, I felt that the matter was indeed grave.
"What about you?" I asked.
Eval closed his eyes slightly and stared intently at one of the guards.
His eyes were filled with hatred and a desire for revenge, clearly readable.
"I have an important task to accomplish. Don't worry about me; follow my instructions," Eval replied.
Having said those words, Eval distanced himself and continued working in a different area.