Arc 1: From the Ashes
Chapter 3: "Freedom" (??? POV)
(Late September, 3 years later)
The years had passed by slowly in the dimly lit dungeon. My life was still rather monotonous; only being interrupted by the gossip of the guards, mealtimes, and the occasional slave being taken away to who knows where. Once a week, we also forced to those accursed metal chairs, and I was often beaten black and blue from overstaying my welcome. But the longer I stayed here the better I knew.
There was no hope for escape or rescue.
*****
“GET UP BOY!”
I was quickly shaken awake by the other slaves. As I rubbed my blurry eyes, I was able to make out a guard peering down upon me from outside the cell. Next to him, another man stood, inspecting me. Looks like it’s finally my time to go. The man looked rather young, maybe mid-thirties judging by his appearance. He had a broad frame and his scruffy auburn beard and hair glowed in the torchlight. While he was by no means a small person, his casual clothing was loose and scuffed.
After a moment of silent staring, the man motioned to the guard. “I’ll take him.” He said gruffly. The guard nodded in response before walking to the cell door and opening it. I was quickly shoved forward by the other slaves, and once close enough, the guard grabbed my arm and yanked me out of the cell, locking it behind me. Strapping handcuffs on me, the guard shoved me forward. “Walk.” The guard commanded.
“It’s not like I have a choice.” I thought to myself. The guard shoved me again, telling me not to make him repeat himself. I complied and started walking towards the large oak door at the front of the room. After I passed through, the guard locked the door behind us.
*****
We continued our trek down a long stone hallway. Unlike the room I had spent the last 3 years of my life in, the hallway was lit by strange glowing lights on either side. Each “torch” was fortified by an iron grate. Each side of the hallway had more wooden doors that seemingly led to other groups of unfortunate souls.
Eventually, the hallway narrowed into a small path and we reached a flight of stairs leading upwards. I continued walking upwards before I was a door of light. I stepped into it and was blinded by the intensity of the world above.
*****
What now surrounded me was not the dark stone rooms and passages that I was used to, but a glamorous house that screamed “rich.” The ground was made of white marble that sparkled and shined. The lavish white walls were lined with gold and intricate designs that hurt my eyes. Not a speck of dust was anywhere to be seen. Behind me, the guard closed the final door, which this time, was disguised to blend into the wall.
The guard now took the lead as the other man continued to trail behind us. He led us through even more hallways that were finely decorated. Around us, guards buzzed about as servants were busy cleaning the beautiful mansion. Finally, we reached a set of glass doors that slid open when we approached. As we walked through them, I gawked at the sight in front of me.
Rocky cliffsides surrounded the abode and towered towards the sky. Jungle foliage sprouted from the walls and draped downwards towards the ground. Looking back, I realized how large the facility we had left was. It had surrounded the entire back wall of the cliffside. At the other end, a gaping hole was blocked by a security gate that led to the outside world.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
We stood facing away from the facility. The ground in front of me was made from small black rocks and a strange vehicle was parked in front. It was grey with tinted windows and four black tires held it above the ground. I was ushered towards it before the guard opened the door and shoved me inside.
The guard slammed the door on me before returning to the other man. They began to converse in a hushed tone before the man gave the guard a gold coin. The guard nodded, handing him the keys to my handcuffs, and walking away. The man walked around the strange vehicle and got into the seat next to me. Not saying a word, he placed his hand on the panel next to a wheel, and a moment later the vehicle revved to life. Through a combination of hand and foot movements, the man drove us to the exit.
The exit to the large estate loomed in front of us as we approached. As we reached the security gate, the man had a quick chat with the guards before they let us through, and we left the cavern behind us.
*****
My new “captor” per-say stayed quiet during the drive, so I followed suit; instead, I turned my attention to the world beyond. We were on the side of a large mountain that overlooked a valley. Far in the distance, a mountain range encapsulated the surrounding area. The valley below was a dark green from the foliage that covered it, and small lakes could be spotted among the trees. A layer of clouds had covered the sky, and a misty veil had been cast across the ground.
The man drove us down the tedious mountainside, slowing down when he reached corners to avoid flying off the steep cliffside. Finally, we reached the bottom of the mountain and began driving on a long stretch of road.
*****
A bit later, the buildings of a ruined city came into view. Swaths of leaves and vines covered the once white walls and plant life sprouted from ashen rubble. Before reaching the concrete jungle, we turned onto a small side path. The strange black rock that had once covered the ground quickly changed to gravel and we continued delving deeper into the woods. As the sky began turning to night, a small clearing came into view.
My captor stopped the vehicle and got out. Opening the side door, he motioned for me to do the same. I stumbled out of the car and looked at my new surroundings. In the middle of the clearing, a small cottage had been built from wood and bricks. A small bridge had been erected over a river, providing us safe passage to cross. While the shack wasn’t in perfect condition, the secluded location gave me a sense of security.
I followed the man towards the cottage. As he opened the door, a gust of warm air seemed to invite me inside. My captor flicked a switch on the wall that turned on the lights inside, and I took one look back, before stepping into my new life.
*****
The inside of the cottage was rather cozy, and surprisingly organized. The entranceway consisted of a small pathway leading to a living room and had a closet containing a shoe rack neatly tucked to one side. I continued meandering my way inside and inspected the living room in front of me. The ground was made from a matted material, and a small table had been placed in the middle. On the back wall, a bookshelf covered in a swath of colorful books rested underneath a window to the backyard. To the right of the living room, a U-shaped kitchen area had been neatly organized and a pantry next to it had been stocked full of dry goods.
I turned my attention to the left side of the house where three doors were. Two of them seemed to lead to bedrooms, while the final one led to a bathroom. Though the outside had looked rough, the interior was very clean.
“Stop looking so surprised. A man can clean you know.” A voice came from the farthest left room made me jump in surprise. Instinctively, I took a defensive stance facing where the sound came from, though my bound wrists limited my movement. My captor chuckled as he walked out of the room. He had changed to more comfortable clothing and after walking up to me, he uncuffed my wrists. “Settle down, I’ll cook dinner.”
*****
I cautiously sat down on a small mat at the low table as the man took to the kitchen. I watched as he expertly diced potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery before placing them to the side. Walking over to some black grates, he began turning a knob on the side. A clicking sound reverberated through the small house, but nothing else happened. Getting frustrated, the man began to murmur a strange chant. “[Ember].” He muttered as a small flame burst from the palm of his hand. I watched entranced as he tossed it into the grate and a fire roared to life. My eyes began to gleam, and my heart started palpitating with excitement when I realized what just happened. Though I didn’t show it, my fear seemed to wash away as it was replaced with fascination. Magic. Somehow, someway, I wanted to learn how to use it.