ALEXANDER KALLIS:
Two weeks had passed already since they put me in a cell with the others. Tartarus was indeed a gruesome hellhole filled with despair and sorrow. There were easily over a hundred slaves working in the mines alone, making it impossible for me to even guess how many prisoners there were in total. I’ve learned that an auction took place once a month with very few exceptions in between. It just so happened that one such exception was coming up next week. The only reason I knew about it was due to a guard telling me to be ready.
Working in the mines was stressful. Accidents were common and our safety was completely neglected. All that mattered was that a group managed to achieve their daily quota. Punishment for failure included extra work hours, cleaning up Tartarus’s upper floor. Honestly, it was exhausting working in the mines every day while keeping an eye out for any trouble. Stealing each other’s food was as common as the ore we were mining.
Being sold was one of the better outcomes a slave could hope for within Tartarus, but the problem was that once a slave mark was placed, all hope of escaping ceased to exist. I didn’t know much about slave marks, but I heard that they were magical curses that were placed on one’s body, compelling them to do their master’s bidding. The reason they weren’t commonly used was their excessive cost, inflexibility, and that they were banned in most countries around the world. Once a mark was placed, changing owners required for the master to die or for it to be dispelled. Regardless, to be branded with such magic was to completely give up freedom which wasn’t something I wished for.
“Damn. . . We’re falling behind again,” Gregor said, spitting on the ground.
He sat down next to a cart we were supposed to fill with gleaming teal gemstones known as mana crystals. While the mine was full of them, they were well hidden behind large chunks of rock that took time to break apart. It was expected of a team that worked for six hours to achieve at least one full cart, but we barely got a quarter done by the three-hour mark.
“Aye. . . If the boy wasn’t so useless, we’d be done by now,” Travis complained. “Oi, if we get punished again cuz of ya, I’ll make sure ya regret it. . .”
Daniel dropped to the ground, leaning against the wall. He was exhausted and starved, constantly having his food stolen away when I wasn’t around. At times we didn’t all work at once which meant we didn’t eat together either. It was the perfect opportunity for them to take his food without picking a fight with me. While I could’ve started something without a confession, it would’ve been foolish to strive for justice for those who lost their freedom when I didn’t have it myself.
Travis and Gregor made it extremely hard for me to pick which one I hated more. They were both scum that preyed on those who were weaker than them. Gregor was a member of a criminal gang that was enslaved when their hideout got raided. Travis on the other hand ended up in debt due to excessive gambling with the wrong people. He even admitted to having sold off his wife and kid to slavers, but instead of paying off what he owed, he ended up gambling it all away again.
“Why the fuck do they even need so many of these rocks?” Gregor sighed, taking a bite at the loaf of bread he was given.
I was a bit more familiar with the mana crystals since I’d seen them back home. Penelope tried her hand at alchemy for which they served as a key component. They were also used for casting rituals, lifting the burden on the caster by using up the mana inside. The amount of mana stored varied based on their purity. The crystals we mined were quite common but in large quantities were still worth quite a bit.
“Does it matter?” I mumbled.
Knowing we were going to be punished for failing to fulfill their demands wasn’t exactly motivating us to keep on going, but the severity depended on how much we underperformed making it so that giving up wasn’t in our best interest. The thought of those who spent months stuck in the mines made my measly two weeks seem laughable.
Without a clue on how long I was unconscious and having not seen the sun at all, my perception of time had become heavily distorted. However, I was certain that my birthday had come to pass and that I ended up missing out on Penelope’s coming of age. Honestly, it bothered me more than the idea that I had spent mine in a cell.
There wasn’t a day that went by without me thinking about them. The ambush ruined what was going to be the best time of my life. I had so many plans and genuinely looked forward to seeing the look on Penelope’s face when I gave her the necklace. My heart ached at the thought of them crying over my death, making me wonder if they even celebrated her birthday. I wished for a way of letting them know that I was alive, but it was hopeless unless I escaped.
“Hey. . .” I said to Daniel, sitting down next to him. “How you holding up?”
Our relationship didn’t change as Daniel refused to say a word to me, but it was safe to assume he liked me better than the rest. At the very least I didn’t steal his food.
“Try to endure it a bit longer,” I whispered, tilting my head back against the cold stone wall and letting out a sigh. “Once we’re back at the cell, I’ll share some of my food with you.”
“Why?” he spoke up for the first time, taking me by surprise. “Why would you do that for me?”
His voice was gentle and brittle. It reminded me of Ellie when something happened that she didn’t like.
Maybe what made me feel sympathetic enough to help him while I struggled myself was the fact that he was younger than me or maybe it was a selfish desire to feel like the good guy in a forsaken place.
“You remind me of someone. . .”
“Just because of that?” he looked at me shocked. “You don’t even know me.”
“Before I was brought here I was on my way to a wedding with my brother and two sisters. It was the first time we left home together. The timing was such that my sister and I had our birthdays coming up and I ended up missing it because we were ambushed. They managed to escape, but I had to stay behind. I miss them dearly.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” he looked at me confused but listened intently.
“One of my sisters was even younger than you and would often stay quiet when she was sad, mad, or just outright tired. She is the sweetest little thing you could ever meet. I wish there was a way to tell them I was still alive.” I let out a sigh after glancing into his eyes which lost hope. “I’m telling you all this because I felt like sharing it with someone. In a place where tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, it’s pointless to keep it all in.”
I kept looking at him with a feeble smile.
“I used to live with my elder sister,” he finally spoke up while staring at the ground. “My parents died when I was little so she took care of me. Sometimes we didn’t have food on the table and I’d try helping her by looking for work. In the end, I was often forced to steal from the market. I knew it was wrong, but we were starving. . . I was losing hope but a year ago, we suddenly lucked out on some money and could afford new clothes and food for the winter, but then I learned that my sister took a loan from very bad people. She told me not to worry since she had a plan. However, a few months passed and they came by our house, trashing the place. When I came home. . .” his voice trembled as he remembered the scene. “I saw her curled up on the bed covered in bruises. She said they just hit her, but would you believe that?” He finally allowed himself to shed tears, but even then it was done quietly. “I wanted to save her so I ended up meeting the people she borrowed money from. They laughed but made me an offer. If I were to go with them, they’d forgive my sister. Without hesitation, I accepted and was later brought here without knowing what I signed up for. The last thing I said to my sister was that I was going to return once I fixed things. . .”
“I’m sorry. . .” I whispered, thinking how I hadn’t regretted sacrificing myself to save them even once. The thought of them being trapped in here made me sick to my stomach. “What was her name?”
“Diana,” he mumbled.
“Do you regret your decision?”
“No. . .” he said, forming a fist. “I just hope those bastards kept their word.”
It was unlikely that they did, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.
“Where were you from?” I kept asking questions.
“Orchid, a small town in Notish,” he answered, confirming a suspicion of mine.
It was likely that there were others from all around the continent working in the mines.
“Well, Daniel. When we get out of here, let’s make sure she’s okay. Alright?”
“That’s just wishful thinking. . .”
“Only if you believe it to be so,” I said, standing back up. “Trust me, there’s always a way out.”
Leaving him to rest, I went back to thinking about escaping. I’ve been working on a plan ever since I woke up.
If such a plan was to succeed I needed as much information as I could get. Luckily, during our last punishment, I learned a lot. Firstly, I noticed that there were just as many enemies residing within Tartarus as there were slaves, probably more. However, most of them were common grunts that indulged in alcohol and women that they captured. Assuming I was armed, besting them wouldn’t be much of an issue unless I fought too many at once. The real issue was people like the Reaper. Secondly, I memorized the surrounding area so if I managed to steal their uniform after escaping my cell, I knew where the stairs were that led to the main hall. Blending in was a good option. It was unlikely that everyone knew each other considering how sparingly the Reaper used them for his amusement.
Some conditions needed to be met if I was to attempt escaping. There wasn’t even a point in trying without an opening that allowed me to take one of them down silently. Ideally, such an opening would appear no more than a week away from the auction, making the higher-ups focused on the upcoming event. Considering that an auction was going to be held soon, the timing couldn’t have been better. If I was lucky, then the Reaper would have gone out on a mission to capture more slaves worth selling. Always good to stock up before a big sale.
Sneaking out during the night sounded like a smart idea, but it didn’t actually work. The risk of other prisoners giving me away was too high and freeing them would do me no good. It had to take place during work hours when most were in the mines along with some of the guards. Not to mention that it was likely that the same people stayed up late, making it easier to blow my cover if I tried blending in.
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The final two conditions were a weapon and for me to not be exhausted. Obviously, I needed to be in good health to be able to fight if necessary as well as to run once I’m outside. Without knowing where Tartarus was, it was likely that I would spend a lot of time in the wilderness unless a city was nearby, thus having a good weapon was crucial for my survival.
“Let’s get back to work,” Gregor said after finishing his meal.
“Still eatin ya know. . .” Travis brushed him off, making a critical mistake.
Gregor wasn’t going to let him rest while he worked and since we were behind, he wanted everyone to pick up the pace. It took one glare to make Travis change his mind, sensing that if he refused, a fight would’ve broken out.
“You too, kid. . .” he looked over at Daniel, but refrained from ordering me around. Even though he was taller than me, he could tell that I was a fighter and risking defeat in a place like Tartarus could end fatally. “You’re the reason we’re behind so I need you to get back to work even if you’re passing out. Understood?” Daniel was too exhausted to do anything but avert his gaze. “Get up you little twat!”
Gregor grabbed him by the hair and tossed him to the ground.
“Stop!” I yelled out, running up to him.
While I wasn’t able to protect him at all times, there was no way Gregor could get away with bullying Daniel like that. Hearing his story made me even more protective of the kid.
“What makes you think I’d listen to you?” he growled getting all up in my face with his rotten breath.
“You sure you want to do this?” I warned him, staring him dead in the eye.
He huffed knowing that we were both all bark and no bite, understanding that it’d be more trouble than it’s worth. However, that wasn’t the case for all of us.
Daniel managed to get back on his feet unnoticed. By the time he came into view again, I saw him holding a pickaxe above his head, ready to kill Gregor. I wondered if it was my eyes going wide that gave him away or was it the small rock Daniel accidentally kicked. Regardless, he reacted on time, turning around and sidestepping his attack.
The pickaxe hit the ground but Daniel didn’t give up. Letting out a roar, he managed to lift his weapon back up before swinging horizontally. Sadly, the difference in experience showed as Gregor easily dodged again and before I could even react, he countered with a straight right hand that landed cleanly on Daniel’s chin. The power behind the strike was almost enough to outright kill him in his current state. Daniel wobbled before slipping backward and landing directly on a rock. His neck snapped, killing him on the spot.
Gregor humphed, taking a step back. “Idiot. . .”
Without saying a word, I slowly approached Daniel’s lifeless body and looked into his dead eyes. It was an unforgettable sight. For some reason, his death was unimaginable to me as only a moment passed since he opened up, telling me about a sister. Maybe it was foolish to believe we’d come out alive, but hope never disappeared. I thought about it being my fault that he died. Had I reacted or refrained from helping him remember the horrors he endured, then maybe. . . No. . . It wasn’t my fault and while I knew I should’ve felt angry, I found myself surprisingly calm.
Tartarus began to change me. Seeing suffering infuriated me, but it was no longer shocking. And while I remained compassionate, it no longer controlled my actions. There was nothing I’d allow to get in the way of me returning to my loved ones.
“You happy?” I asked with a toneless voice, glancing back at Gregor.
Watching him smugly stare back at me made me certain that if I had the chance of escaping and he was in my way, I’d have no qualm about killing him.
Out of respect for the dead, I closed Daniel’s eyes, allowing him to rest in peace.
“Daniel. . .” I looked up. “I promise you. I’ll find your sister and make sure she’s okay.”
The sound of heavy boots echoed behind us as a guard that was supposed to supervise us came running with his whip out. Without asking any questions he swung toward Gregor’s back, making him grunt in pain before dropping to his knees. Trevor hid behind the cart, hoping to avoid trouble. When the guard looked at me, I raised my hands and averted my gaze.
“It wasn’t me!” I yelled out.
Regardless, he swung the cracking whip but intentionally hit the rocks above me. Within seconds, more guards showed up swarming us.
“Take them to the detention cells and get rid of the body. . .” the supervisor ordered.
“Ey! Why ya takin’ me for?!” Travis complained but was convicted by association.
Believing that the worst-case scenario was unfolding I let out a sigh. However, it quickly turned out to be a blessing in disguise as they separated us once we were out of the mines. I assumed we would be taken deeper into the dungeon, but to my surprise, they put sacks over their heads while shoving me in the opposite direction. That’s when I realized they were taking me back to my regular cell.
“What’s going on?” I dared ask as we approached the cell door.
“Shut up and don’t cause any more trouble.” He shoved me inside before locking me up. “You’re too valuable for us to send you to detention cells over something as petty as that scrawny kid dying.”
He left after that, leaving me in the shadows of a cold rundown dungeon cell with an old man that hadn’t moved in weeks. It was frustrating, but at least it was quiet when I sat along the wall. About an hour passed since the boy died in front of my eyes and while the rest of my inmates suffered in detention cells, I was brought food. There were two portions, one for me and the other for the old man that never ate. Nothing special, just a chunk of overcooked meat and a slice of bread. Once I finished eating my portion, I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.
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Wandering the endless abyss that was the dream world, I enjoyed what was probably the best sleep I had in a long time. Surrounded by nothing other than darkness, I was allowed to rest my mind from the dreadful reality even if only for a moment. Part of me wondered if that was what the afterlife looked like. Without a warning, my slumber was disturbed by a loud crunching sound.
Opening my eyes left me awed as I saw the old man awake for the first time since I laid my eyes on him. He was nonchalantly enjoying the food I had left for him.
“You’re finally awake. . .” he said with a croaky voice befitting of an old man.
“You’re alive?” I asked utterly baffled.
“Would you rather I be dead?” he started to laugh peculiarly.
“No, I was just surprised. . .”
“What is your name, boy?” he suddenly stopped laughing, looking into my eyes for the first time.
His pale iris took me by surprise, making me wonder if he was blind. There was nothing more to him than skin and bones, yet a strange aura surrounded him. I wasn’t sure yet if I could trust him or not, but giving away my name seemed harmless enough.
“Alexander,” I introduced myself while watching him eat.
“That’s quite the name. Was it your mother that gave it to you?”
His line of questioning made my skin crawl. It wasn’t just what he asked, but the way he phrased those questions felt like he already knew the answers ahead of time.
“Is that even important old man?” I tried changing the subject.
“Amon.”
“Hmm?”
“You may call me Amon,” he chuckled. “Names. . . Sometimes we overlook their importance. Did you know that during ancient times they believed that names were the thing that gave us power? That is why the names of deities we now worship hold symbolic meaning.”
“And do you believe that? Amon. . .”
“In every myth, there is a mix of truth.” Answering my question, Amon placed his bowl on the ground and leaned against the wall. “Alexander. . . May I ask you another question?”
“If you have something you wish to ask just go ahead. If I don’t like the question, I simply won’t answer.”
“Not answering a question can sometimes give away more than simply telling,” he lectured me with an enigmatic smile on his face. “However, mine is a simple one. Why did you leave me food when you knew it was likely I wouldn’t wake up?”
“There was a boy in here named Daniel. He died today attempting to kill the man that kept stealing his food. Guess I didn’t want anyone aiming for my life over a slice of bread.”
“That’s not true. . .” he called me out. I wondered if he guessed by making a logical conclusion or was I so easy to read. “Ever since you’ve arrived you had done everything in your power to ease the suffering of those around you. While I can see you’re conflicted about whether the boy’s death was your fault or not, let us not forget you gave your shirt to the young lady. Quite the noble gesture.”
Hearing him mention the girl, I looked over to her cell. It was empty which likely meant she was still working. I never exchanged words with her, but it seemed they allowed her to keep the shirt. However, what bothered me more was the fact that he was aware of such a thing happening.
“How did you know?”
“What do you mean how? I saw you do it. . .” he chuckled again, each time creeping me out more.
“You were awake?” I looked confused.
“Did I ever mention being asleep?”
“If that’s true, then why didn’t you move at all? How did you survive so long without food? Who are you even?”
“You ask a lot of questions, yet you didn’t answer mine.”
“Fine. . . I didn’t take your food because stealing from you would make me no different than the scum I hated.”
“You’re indeed a good kid,” his enigmatic smile turned to a pleased one. “However, what I had asked was if your mother gave you your name.”
“That’s what you want to know?” I looked surprised again but was slowly getting used to his quirky personality. Letting out a sigh, I mumbled, “Yeah. . . She did. . .”
“She has good taste,” he said, touching his chin. “Well, since you’ve answered one of my questions, I’ll return the favor. What is it you wish to know?”
His wording was very specific, making me believe he was going to answer one of my questions each time I answer one of his.
“Why were you imprisoned?”
“What an intriguing question. Assuming you’re right and I was brought here for a reason, my answer would give away quite a bit. Call me impressed.”
“I might not know much, but they certainly don’t keep people here that are of no use to them. You don’t work in the mines and I doubt someone would purchase you as a slave. . .”
“Lots of speculation and many flaws in your theory, but it’s a good start. You have potential.”
“Potential?” I raised an eyebrow.
“The simple answer to your question is that I was imprisoned because I caused them trouble. However, to gain your trust I shall share a bit more. Are you ready?” He waited for me to nod. I wasn’t sure what type of game he was playing, but there was much to be gained from interacting with him. The only problem I couldn’t work around was the possibility of him being outright insane. Considering it was Tartarus we were talking about, it wouldn’t be surprising. Still, I nodded, awaiting his answer. “You wanted to know who I was and while the answer is too complex for me to elaborate, I shall try and keep it simple. Do you know what mages are?”
“Are you claiming to be a mage?”
“How else would you explain my survival without food for so long?”
“I don’t get it. How is that related?”
“When you develop a mana core, your body no longer feels burdened by such petty needs.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, what circle mage are you?”
“Oh. . . The legendary 5th!” he burst into laughter. “Impressive, right?”
“Yeah. . .” I smiled awkwardly.
If true, it would certainly be considered an astonishing feat for a human. However, he was lying to me. Knowing that my father surpassed the fifth circle was proof enough that a mana core didn’t pardon one from needing food and water. However, there was no reason to bring that up yet.
“Still, I no longer possess such powers as they were sealed away by the group that captured us.”
“Do you know who they are?”
“How about answering one of my questions first?” he chuckled for the millionth time, making me wonder if it was some weird traumatic tic he had. Even if what he said was false, there wasn’t much to do besides talking to him at the time. “Tell me about your parents.”
“That doesn’t sound like a question,” I smirked smugly.
“Can you blame an old man for being inquisitive? To make it fair, I’ll answer any remaining questions you might have if you tell me more about your family.”
“Why are you so obsessed with my family? It’s getting weird. . .”
“To be honest, I’m simply curious as to why you’re afflicted by such powerful magic.”
“What?!” I raised my voice, shocked by his statement.
Was he aware of my curse? Did he know anything about it? Dozen questions popped into my mind, but he was likely unwilling to answer until I satisfied his curiosity.
“You’re right. I want an answer first,” he stared into my eyes, making me feel once again unbearably uncomfortable.
“Reading my mind now?” I joked, letting out a sigh. “Fine, I’ll entertain you a bit. However, I’ll only share as much as I feel comfortable. After that, you won’t be getting anything else out of me.”
“It’s all an old man could ask for,” he grinned, listening intently.
I spent the next few minutes explaining to him my origin. Mentioning that I was adopted once my mother married into the Kallis family and that I never knew my father. I was fishing to see if he knew anything about that, but he seemed clueless. Talking about my siblings felt weird, but I kept anything private hidden and told him only what the public already knew. It seemed enough to satisfy his curiosity.
“That’s pretty much it. . . I ain’t telling you anything more than that.”
“So stingy. . . But a deal is a deal,” he chuckled.
“So, you’ll answer my questions now?”
“Of course. . .”
“Then-”
“Alexander. . . Before you ask me any questions, tell me. . . Do you wish to escape this place?”
Chapter End.
Thank you for reading.
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