So, I die on Earth, I meet an angel who sent me to another world, I woke up hoping that this world did not suck. Only to find out that I was branded with magic as soon as I woke up. Oh and to top it all off I find out that I am a slave owned by a silver mining company. Bonus! I see my first death in this world by a fucking lizard for a man that breathes fire and gets pushed into a wall of pure black swirling voidness. So, yeah it is going great.
The void was cold to the touch as if my arms have wrapped all around me. My first thought was to scream, but as I do nothing comes out. I looked around in terror as if a deprivation tank was my new eternal home. Though in an instant as I arrived I was spit out. I awake in what I find to be more blackness and the smell of rot. The only light source was sconces that radiated about 80 feet. I was standing in a rocky concave room with hallways, ‘corridors I think? Are those wooden pillars? Well, the guard did say throw me in the mine.’
As I ponder my new predicament I start to hear what I think to be footsteps above me. I look up and see some of the wooden pillars holding up walkways that cross large wide gaps across the mineshaft. Starting to finally calm down and start to listen to what's around me I can hear some shouting and metal sounds from a distant echo. With little to no information I have gathered from my perception, I start to look around me to see why I arrived in this quandary.
“Why did I end up down here? Why did the others appear up there? I mean did they go ahead of me?” I asked myself to at least hear something than the occasional scream or metal sounds echoing through the cavern. ‘The people in front of me when we were outside all went inside the black swirling gate as I did.’ I started to recall all I saw and tried to factor in all variables that can stand out from being normal. “Fuck!” I yell as I slump to one of the walls and try to hold back the despair exiting my eyes. “None of this is normal,” I start to mutter to myself, “ elves, dwarves, dragons on human legs, oh, and fucking magic.”
‘I… died, got my family… killed meet an angel that gives me hope that maybe my life would be better and get a chance to find my siblings again.’ I throw a pebble that was near my leg in the air and say, “ Some fucking luck I got yeah. A slave? Where is that power the angel supposedly gave me? Where is my magic if this world is full of it?” I start to throw some more pebbles I find laying around me. “I just wanted to be happy with them, was that something so hard God couldn’t give me? I mean I just wanted to give them a better LIFE!” I threw a pebble as hard as I could giving me a strained shoulder.
Ting!
I was surprised that I heard some metal this close to me and put my hands down toward the sound and searched around the dimly lit area until I found a handle of sorts. I start to pull it toward me and picked up the object. It was hard to tell what it was in the light but I could make out the outline. It was a pickaxe but one side that had the flat part was corroded off.
‘Well, at least I have some sort of crude weapon or use it to let me persuade someone if they catch me wandering around aimlessly in the dark. Fuck it while I am down here I may as well see if I can find anything that can help me escape this slave camp.’ With despair turning into desperation and hope, I hastened toward the rocky wall and put the pick in the leather/cloth hybrid that stretched around my waist holding my tunic together. As I finally managed to get the piece of rotting equipment to stay. Putting my right hand on the wall I start to walk forward and use my free hand to make hooking motions in front of me so I don't fall victim to whatever strays in my path. In a few feet, I felt my hand sweeping the wall has come across a hole about 2 feet wide and tall sinking in the wall. Continuing to pay it no mind I trudged on forward.
About 20 paces forward from where I started to follow the wall I heard a slight rattle at my feet. I froze fearing some unknown creature is at my feet, ‘do snakes exist here’ I thought to myself as the feeling just rested on my toes. Slowly and steadily reaching down to pick up the object I found myself confused about how light and slightly damp it was. Bringing to the light made me freeze as it was a femur I was raising into the poorly illuminating sconce nearby. Seeing the bone was mostly soaked in blood and still damp to the touch puts me to the conclusion that either people fall to their death here and cause muscles and tissue to explode or there is a beast or some kind of predator lurking for some yummy snacks to gorge on.
Gulping at the most rational thought I have thought in a while I start to put down the bone, but before it hit the floor I had an idea. Putting the red damp bone in my free hand I continue to start down the path again. I started hearing the faint sound of water running down the path ahead. I slowly walked to the sound as a more wide room was opened up a small bed of water went over the floor and continued down deeper into the cavern ahead. I looked up and saw a wooden bridge that stretched from one edge of the ravine’s cliffs to the other. I watched from the shadows to see if it was clear. The light barely reached the bottom and still, I could not see 15 feet in front of me. When it was clear enough I started to slowly move forward in the open area.
Though on my way forward I heard a menacing shout, “Oi where do you think you are going half-breed?!” I freeze not wanting to look up but my blood and muscles wouldn’t obey me as I started to look up keeping my struggling breath to a minimum. I see what I can make up to be a figure wearing the same armor from before holding an open flame in his hand. ‘Magick, it has to be or he would be burning.’ I stared in curiosity forgetting the tension I just experienced. I slowly started to back up to the spot where it was dark and stayed there without making a sound.
The light it was emitting made me see more of the main level of the mineshaft from what I could see. Being on a lower elevation made me see jackshit, but I could make out I was in some kind of ravine, and upwards showed a bridge that went across the gap that I was stuck in. “I can see you!” the figure holding the flame shouted across the gap. He wasn’t facing toward me but at the bridge. Though no one was on the bridge until I see two figures hanging under the bridge start to slow their way to the top. I know I wasn’t hallucinating but when the guard help up his flame closer I could visibly see the hair of the figures. Though instead of what would be hair on top of heads, this covered all over like fur.
When the guard started to walk toward the figures, the two started to take off in the other direction across the bridge only to be stopped by another guard that heard the commotion I guess, and situated himself that they could not make a hasty retreat. Though that did not hesitate the figures as they launched themselves at the other guard. From what I could tell the guard punched one of the assailants back toward the bridge. But the guard did not have time to swing the other as the figure started to grapple the guard. I saw light shoot out in the middle of the room as I saw a ball of molten light crash close to the figure that was punched back toward the bridge.
The radiance exploded and heavy sparks blew from every direction landing mostly on the end of the bridge. The figure was blown back by the concussive blast of light and seemed stunned on the ground. The figure that was still grappling the guard on the other side of the bridge felt the reverberations of the blast and looked back to see his or her companion laying on the ground. Though in that brief moment, the guard took advantage and broke the grapple, and pushed him toward the bridge. Though when the guard pushed the figure it was as if the guard was using an invisible force and launched the man from the other side of the bridge to the middle. I felt the wind brush past me as the figure barely had more time and clutched to one of the wooden railings as he stopped his rapid descent of death to the ravine’s floor below.
The sparks that flew from the ball of fire had started a small inferno on the end of the bridge and started to charr it black already even though it has only been at least 20 seconds from where it was launched from what I guess the other guard that held the flame in his hand was standing. I look back to where the guard with the fire would be, but he was now at the other end of the bridge and I gaped as he started to light his side with fire. Now with both ends catching fire only time could tell how long the figure could stand on it without falling to his demise.
The guard that did the insane force pu– ‘Wind’ I thought recalling that breeze I felt. The guard walked through the embers on his side and walked toward the figure that was now hoisting itself onto the bridge. “This is the last time you try escaping slave. You two have been causing all sorts of problems and unfortunately, I have had enough of it.” The guard that threw the ball of light started to shout, “Haleth we are not supposed to kill the slaves, Guntharr will be pissed if some–”
“I don’t give a shit. Dior go get reinforcements to help repair the bridge when it inevitably crashes down.” the guard muttered as she launched herself at the slave that was in the middle of the bridge. The figure shifted his footing as he ducked down and launched a hand that was open toward the guard that was about a few feet away from it. But before it could land the figure drooped as if some invisible force again hurled him toward the floor. Before he had a chance to get up he was hit from the guard multiple times in the face. The slave tried to hold his hands in defense but whatever magick the guard had was forcing his arms down on the edges of the bridge leaving the slave defenseless to her armored fists that gleamed in radiance in the light. Though over time the gleam turned a darkened red, the slave’s head was now hanging over the edge of the bridge limply.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
As the guard started to walk away from the slave, the slave started to stir and use the railings as leverage to get up and rose his hand. What came next utterly horrified me as he plunged it deep into his chest and pulled out some organ, raising it to its mouth and eating it. I felt sick as if the whole cavern started to fill with some darkness that can not be seen or heard, but the air was as thick as butter. “Fuck he went into frenzy mode! Haleth you need to kill this fucking half-breed or he will collapse this part of the mine!” the flame guard yelled toward the guard that was not standing in front of what I could only imagine to be a living nightmare for me.
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Haleth
She heard tells of stories Half-Breeds can consume their vitality in exchange for temporary power. Though none of the stories have shown how the procedure or ritual can be done. She of course turned around already before the slave was up to his feet and began to watch in disgust as the transfer began. The half-breed plunged his claw-like hand into his chest and pulled out his still-beating heart. He brought it to his mouth as he ate it in front of her. Already he started to convulse as the fur all around him started to turn a more solid black and his eyes turned a red gleam. His back grew and hunched over while his face grew fangs and his claws turned into sharpened nails long as daggers.
Though what she has heard from the stories is the Half-Breeds can use suicide as a last resort to kill themselves and their enemies around them in a last attempt of desperation. Even if they are stories she can’t rule out that he will explode and take this part of the mine shaft all down on everyone's heads. Guntharr won’t even let her off for a stunt like that to happen in her section of the silver mine. Even with the slave collars that each slave was branded to lessen their magic most likely won’t limit this. She needed to coax him into engaging her and her alone, but how can she do that she thought? She looked back at the figure on the cliff that was knocked out by Dior's fireball explosion and thought of a malicious idea to get her opponent to attack her directly.
“After I kill you by my own hands half-breed I will probably send your sister kin to visit the men’s garrison. They always require more expendable entertainment.”
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Rifter
The change of the atmosphere in the cavern was already thick but whatever she said to the wolfish nightmare that stood before her just pissed himself even more. I even swore that I could see his red gleaming eyes from here gaze upon me for a brief second. His appearance changed from what I could tell to be somewhat human before changing into a tall, hunched, and blackened creature that could only be described as a real-life werewolf.
The creature snarled at Haleth and lunged in her direction throwing his arms widely. From where I was standing, Haleth welcomed the attacks, ‘Guess that wind stuff is a very good defensive magick, while the other guard uses offensive spells.’ Every time the creature threw an attack the guard would just send a gust of air to keep the creature out of reach. Though as soon the pattern kept going the guard was nearing the other side of the ravine's cliff she looked tired. ‘Maybe mana and stuff like that exist in this world. Katlynn loved to talk all about fantasy.’
I threw the thought aside and watched in stillness as the now tired guard was hit struck by the beast that caught her in the shoulder after she attempted to escape a grapple. The bridge was almost all engulfed in flames and some of the wood was breaking apart and falling to the ravine where some of the fire glittered radiance all over the floor of the ravine. Some fell in the water and caused some of the wood to make crackle and pop noises all over.
‘Why isn’t the other guard helping?’ I wondered looking back to where the other guard would have stood. There was nobody there, ‘maybe he went to get reinforcements or maybe he could not take the presence of that beast.’ I turned to the fight and watched as the guard jumped back from the beast and has taken the figure that was now most likely knocked unconscious by the ball of light and had the ‘sister kin right?’ in front of the beast as a shield.
“You are one tough son of a bitch beast, but look at yourself. You already are dead and yet you still cling to life? For her?” Haleth said dangling the figure in front of the creature as if she was conscious. The beast roared and put his strength in a leap to grab its sister-kin and slice Haleth’s throat, but before he could put its arms around the figure the bridge gave away and the beast only managed to rip something off the figure before plummeting down with the flaming bridge. The crash of the bridge and the creature stirred the sparks and ash to rise like a mushroom cloud as I took cover in one of the shadows that were not open to the light that was crashing down to the floor of the ravine.
Watching the debris and the beast hit the floor with a thunderous crash. I wanted to rush in and pull him out of the debris. Though I have no idea if he were to be hostile toward me and that damn guard is still probably up there smirking like a piece of shit. ‘Using his kind I am guessing as a shield is dishonorable. Though in a world like this, I bet honor is not one of its strong suites.’ Looking up the guard was gone and maybe an opening was before me to see if I could do something. So, without a chance to waste I slowly come out of my hiding spot and slumped my way toward the debris to see if I can find the beast and potentially free him.
I find him in the middle of the wreckage that was not burning curled up. The problem would just be to get to him; I need to clear a path to get to him. I started using the pick I scavenged to pry some of the burning wood to make a short, narrow path toward him. I sucked in my breath and slowly squeezed through the burning wreckage occasionally stepping over pieces of still burning wood. After some dodging and more prying off wood I come to find the beast in front of me. He was wearing somewhat of the same tunic though it was mostly made of cloth and twine. His wolven-like features on the bridge went away and was mostly human besides the brown and black fur that covered him from the ears to his toes. Blood swept through his fabric and multiple gashes were visible upon closer inspection. He also had cat ears that rose from his head and were missing the tail but other than that he looked like a cat/human hybrid.
Without a thought, I put one of my hands on his shoulder and he jolted awake and flinched at the touch, and turned to look at me. “Whoa, I am a friend not like those guards that are assholes,” I responded quickly “I was down here already and wanted to help you when you fell here.” He looked at me like he was in a trance and held out one of his arms begging for mine, knowing what happened previously when I gave out my hand to someone I hesitated but gave in. The other arm went to his neck and pulled something and held out his arm putting a necklace in my hand while saying, “Give…Jayde…please.” Before slumping down onto the floor and lying motionless on the ravine’s floor.
“The bridge is over here!”
“I can’t see it!”
“Shit, has it already collapsed?!”
“Where is Haleth and that fucking half-breed?!”
Voices started to accumulate over the ravine’s edge and I knew I had to get out of there as soon as possible. Running and rushing through the path I made it to the corridor that was opposite of where I came in. More water was rushing at my feet and falling deeper further in the ravine. I clutched the necklace he gave me and tied it around my neck because I had nowhere else to keep it. I looked up at the figures that started to surround the edge of the ravine that was looking at the wreckage below. I silently wished one of them could fall and meet the same fate as he did. Dying all alone, knowing that he failed an escape attempt just to escape this life of slavery. ‘Poor fucking guy is all I kind of think of as I started to hear more voices.
“Haleth you down there? Haleth!” Sounded like that guard Haleth was talking to before she fought that slave on the bridge. ‘Dior, I think that was his name if I am not mistaken.’
“Shut up Dior! Do you think a meager slave could kill me? A half-breed no less?” Haleth said somewhere above me. ‘No doubt still on the other side of the ravine reveling in her cheating kill.’ I thought to myself.
“No-no I just wanted to know where you are so you could report to Guntharr for a report on the situation.”
“Tell him that I will be there in a second I want to make sure that slave is dead.”
“But Haleth you saw him pull out his own heart.”
“I know, but I wasn’t talking about him though.” My blood froze as she uttered those words and my breath felt like painful needles every time my lungs begged for more as the air around me came to a standstill. It was as if the air turned into a vacuum and there was nothing to give me oxygen.
“Haleth wait do you mean?” Dior asked as I felt the air return to me. I breathed in the air like it was the fountain of youth.
“Nothing, with the Centoids down there, not a soul could survive down there with them. Plus, it is almost feeding time already.”
I was already gone before she uddered a word. I rushed down toward where the water was rushing and frantically put my hand on the wall to guide me into the depths. As I ran I heard screams echo through the cavern and chittering noises in the depths.
While I was running I found one of those holes on the wall again but something was different this time. I could hear chittering and clicking coming from the hole and realized that there was not a predator in this cavern but a whole lot of them.
“...fuck…”