The content's on the wooden plate didn't look like much to Damian. Most of the dish consisted of beans with three different colors, green, yellow, and blue. Slices of strange fruits mashed together, and last but not least a piece of bread, And let's not forget the cup of white juice. Damian was hesitant to try it at first, but after watching the Corporal eat from the same menu with an open appetite, then how bad could it be?
The beans were a bit salty but edible. The fruits salad had a sour kick to it that forced a funny expression on Damian's face, with the addition of the hissing sound. Folen pretended not to notice, but the upside curl at the corner of his lips says otherwise.
The white juice tasted like milk with a hint of honey, and the only thing that felt normal was the bread "-well, beggers can't be choosers-" Damian thought as his stomach growled before he started devouring his meal.
Folen kept chatting to Damian from the moment they met in the square as if he expected him to engage in the conversation. Though all he got back were narrowed eyebrows and sometimes a tilted head.
It wasn't like Damian couldn't understand, but all he could make out was a single word every two or three sentences. But it showed that he was paying tremendous attention to every syllable, yet there was more to it.
Thanks to his enhanced hearing, Damian was actually focusing on every word from a dozen other elves along with Folen in an effort to learn quicker. Of course, he only understood a fraction, but he knew that the more he listened, the faster he learned, yet there was something that gnawed at him and annoyed him considerably.
-Killing intent- Detected.
Every now and then, this screen would surface with the same announcement setting Damian on edge "-This is the twentieth time it appeared, don't they get tired of it? And what did I do to be hated so much, I don't even know you people-" Damian thought, barely containing his annoyance.
After fifteen minutes in the mess hall and two servings, Damian's tummy was satisfied, and the dining hall was almost empty. "Folen" As they were about to head out, a feminine voice called out.
Elven post commander - Lvl???
A female elf walked towards them. She wore a long-sleeved white cloth shirt, black pants, and long leather boots reaching up to her knees. As she strolled, her uniform caressed portions of her body, slightly revealing gentle curves, while her blond ponytail swayed behind her, barely touching the edge of her butt.
"why is the prisoner here?" Leena said as she stood in front of Folen with crossed arms and a displeased expression. "He did not eat for two days, and heavens knows how long before we found him, so I assumed it would be hospitable to give him some food to regain his strength, Lady Leena," Folen responded as he stood in a saluting manner.
Damian, of course, stood there switching his gaze between the two as they continued to exchange words. "-I guess she's even in the food chain in this place-" But then the female elf returned him with a glance, even though it lasted only for a second, but the air around her changed.
The atmosphere felt cold and wet, it was as if he was caught in a raging blizzard, hardly able to go anywhere, and a white tiger stood before him. Waiting for Damian to make any move that it didn't like before tearing him limb from limb.
On the other hand, Leena saw in the boy's eyes darkness vast as the sky and deep as an ocean, yet something somewhere in there is looking back at her as if peering into her soul. Quickly she looked away, facing Folen unconsciously, trying to hide the imaginary needles poking at the back of her neck.
"I do not care if he does not look harmful or if he can't talk. I don't approve of a prisoner walking freely around my post," Leena pointed to Damian as if she was scolding a child. "but you gave me permission to let him out of his confinement if he remained within my sight," Folen responded, still maintaining his soldier stand.
As Leena recalled that she indeed gave him permission. Her face reddened in embarrassment, she sighed before speaking back, "fine, but if you want him to remain out of his cell, then he will do labor in exchange for it. Everyone earns their keep, and he is no exception". She storms away after giving her order with her arms still locked together.
Folen scratched his head in confusion, not knowing the reason for her annoyance as he looked at Damian "well, you heard the Commander. We will have to put you to work for a while" the only words Damian understood were (Sorry, and Work) causing his head to tilt slightly to the left.
As Folen and the boy headed outside, Leena looked at Damian's back "-I don't know if I just imagined things or not, but I sense great danger in that boy, I need to keep my eyes on him-"
The rest of the day was spent doing labor work, mostly lifting crates of different sizes from the corner of the square to what looked like a storage room. Of course, Damian didn't mind since it helped him increase his strength and endurance.
At sunset, Damian followed Folen to the mess hall for dinner, and thanks to other Elves' chirping Damian's Elven reached 50%, which helped him understand half of the language while struggling to make out the rest.
-Killing intent- Detected.
By the time Damian returned, his -Wild Sense- reached Level 3, and he gained 2 Strength, 4 Endurance, and 1 Agility points. Sure it left him fatigued, but the day was finished, and there was nothing else to be done.
The next morning Damian was woken up by Folen for some strolling and more labor work to be done. Folen's company relaxed him as he started considering the elf as closest to a friend since Damian had only a handful of them on earth, now he has none.
Damian was the type that was always bullied in school. Even when he managed to have any friends, they didn't last long. The reason was, they always got weird vibes when close to him, and that was the same reason he was bullied. Lashing back was only helpful to increase the servings of beatings.
Ever since then, Damian has resorted to games. It was safer and more enjoyable. He made friends that didn't judge him, they had the same agenda as he did, and they loved it. It's his sanctuary.
Damian did the occasional crates lifting in the storage room, while Folen tended to one of his subordinates at the entrance. Two post guards approached Damian asking him to join them near a crate in a corner covered from Folen's eyes, where another guard sat on a stool across from the crate.
Elven post guard - Lvl 14
Elven post guard - Lvl 13
Elven post guard - Lvl 13
Apparently, from the scattered cards across the wooden container's surface and the foreign coins that they were slacking off.
You have learned a new currency.
Damian stood in front of the crate while two of the guards occupied the space behind him while the other picked three cards and placed them in front of Damian as he stood on the other side of the crate.
ace of diamonds
ace of spades
queen of hearts
It was apparent what game they wanted to play, but why would they want him to join. Nevertheless, a couple of games wouldn't hurt anyone "- maybe these guys aren't so bad-" or so he thought.
The guard started skillfully swaying and switching the three cards with their faces downwards to finally separate them evenly, gesturing for Damian to pick a card. Damian easily knew which card he had to pick after scanning them. With an innocent smile, he plucked the queen of diamonds showing it proudly to the guard in front of him, only to receive a strike to his right side.
-5HP
As Damian covered the aching side, his head turned to discover the guard behind him struck him with the tip of the sword's sheath. "-did I pick the wrong card.. is this the punishment for it?-" after another shuffle, Damian chose the Ace of spades, yet to receive the same treatment, then the third only to get hit yet again.
The three guards kept giggling while gesturing him to pick again "-these fuckers-" This time, Damian chose the Queen of Hearts. As the Sheath once again aimed for his side, it was met with the boy's firm grip holding it in place.
Damian had experienced his fair share of bullying to let this one slide. He was weak before, but not anymore. This time they will feel what it is like to be on the receiving end of a beating.
His grip tightened around the sheath's end, causing it to crack little by little. Damian's gaze met with the guard facing him. The elf saw not the eyes of a boy, but a bottomless pit of malice glaring right back at him, causing his body to flinch and dew to form on his forehead. The other guard behind him raised his sheath to hit Damian's head.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Folen called out to the boy as he saw him standing with the guards. Damian simply let go of the sheath and walked to Folen wearing the same clueless expression, to not get him suspicious of the situation.
The guards, on the other hand, "I had warned you several times about your activities when on your guarding duties..." were scolded by Folen for slacking off on their job. It was enough to satisfy Damian to an extent.
The rest of the day consisted of moving crates around and some language lessons for Damian that awarded him with more physical stats and additional language classes.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Night has arrived, and both Damian and Folen headed to the boy's cell when a window popped up in front of Damian that brightened his mood.
You have learned (100%) of -Elven language (Spoken)-
But it would be very suspicious to be fluent in Elven in one night "- I guess my best approach is to speak a few simple words to Folen, asking him to teach me as an excuse and work my way up from there... well, it can wait until tomorrow-"
After secluding himself in the metal cage, Damian was disturbed from his sleep by three guards. One of them demanded the boy to follow with a hand gesture while saying, "Corporal Folen wants to see you" Damian's body resisted momentarily as it didn't want to leave the warmth of his makeshift bed. Still, he endured and walked out of his cell as soon as he heard that Folen summoned him.
As he stood between the guards, Damian noticed that the guard who took the cell key placed it inside a hidden pocket on the inside of his belt, but he shrugged it off since he was still light-headed.
By the time they reached the square, one guard was walking in front of Damian while the other marched behind him. The grogginess subsided when he remembered the faces of the guards escorting him. "-aren't these the assholes that bullied me before?-"
-Killing intent- Detected.
-Killing intent- Detected.
-Killing intent- Detected.
-52HP
Bleeding -4HP
"-shit!!!-" A sharp pain bolted through Damian's back as he struggled to heighten his senses. Using -Focus- wouldn't give him an advantage. It would slow him down as he needs to remain in place for it to take effect. Now he hears them breathing, heartbeats drumming. Damian jumps, spinning 180 degrees clockwise, kicking guard that stood behind his right shoulder as hard as he could with his left leg, pushing the now wounded elf several feet backward, gasping for air.
45 Damage
-Killing intent- Detected.
Bleeding -4HP
Damian's attention returned to the front guard, who was rotating to Damian's right till he faced the airborne boy while trying to unsheath his sword. "-I won't make it to the ground before this bastard hits me. I need to either dodge it or...-" before the guard could fully retrieve his sword from its sheath, Damian's left arm stretched to meet the hilt's end halfway, stopping it in its tracks before leaving the sheath.
the elf that was behind Damian's left shoulder tried to strike him downward. "DASH!!" the moment Damian's feet touched the ground. His body barged forward while still grabbing the pommel of the sword pushing the guard's entire weight upward.
-Dash- has reached Level 3
The moment the guard's balance was lost, Damian planted himself to the ground as his free fist launched to the elf's right side, aiming upwards with as much power as he could muster.
71Damage {critical hit}
Bleeding -4HP
The uppercut lifted his enemy momentarily from the ground as if the elf was struck with a Warhammer, a visible fist mark on his body, two shattered ribs, and a sword in Damian's left hand for the effort.
You have obtained Elven scimitar.
The last elf standing shook like a leaf after witnessing a child with monstrous strength slowly walking towards him, now armed with a weapon "HELP! THE PRISONER IS ESCAPING!!"
Bleeding -4HP
"-what!!?-" Damian stood dumbfounded, as the square that was empty seconds ago is now flooded with guards aiming their weapons at him. "-so that was your plan from the start fucking bastards-"
-Killing intent- Detected.
-Killing intent- Detected.
Bleeding -4HP
-Killing intent- Detected.
-Killing intent- Detected.
There was no place to run to. Damian was surrounded "-I'm sensing a Dejavu coming up-" he thought before passing the sword to his main hand. Ignoring the pain, Damian took a deep breath before leaning forward. "Focus"
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE FOUR HEAVEN'S IS GOING ON!!!" a feminine voice roared as it echoed in the background. Moments later, from the crowd, Leena emerged in full view.
Bleeding -4HP
Several seconds later, Folen barged his way through, to see a boy holding a sword leaning forward, "Commander, please allow me to deal with this situation," Folen pleaded, "fine, you have ten seconds to deal with your pet before I do it myself" She replied with a cold tone.
Damian was disgusted by Leena's way of addressing him as a pet, but he knows too well that she is not someone he wants to fight with... well, not now anyway. After issuing everyone to lower their weapons, Folen approached Damian slowly "it's all right. No one is going to hurt you," he said as the elf's hand extended gently towards the bleeding boy "now just give me the sword so we could treat your wounds."
Bleeding -4HP
Giving up his weapon was a huge gamble considering the situation. Still, Folen always sided with him, and he could help him again. "-well, it's all or nothing-" Damian simply placed the sword in Folen's hand, causing a sigh of relief from the concerned Folen.
"Now that this is out of the way, someone better explain," Leena commanded, "Commander Leena, I know what happened here." The elf who tried to kill Damian with the other two stepped forward. "-shit, this is not good-" Damian thought as his eyes twitched in agony, "then what are you waiting for?" she stared him down coldly.
"We heard some noise in the square, and when we came to investigate, we found the prisoner attempting to escape.." the guard spun his weave "-that lying son of a bitch-" Damian thought with disgust. "we tried to stop him peacefully, but he suddenly attacked us without warning, and we called for help as you can see."
Bleeding -4HP
"He's lying.." to everyone's surprise, the one who spoke was none other than Damian. "-I got nothing else to lose now-" Even Folen was shocked he never heard the boy speak anything other than the first time they met.
"What is your name, young one?" Leena said as she walked casually towards Damian, who started feeling chills from blood loss. "D-Damian," he said as he took a step backward, "so what happened here, Damian?"
Leena asked as she crossed her arms, waiting for an answer.
Bleeding -4HP
"Earlier today, as I was carrying some crates, these three asked me to play a card game with them only to bully me, but they were interrupted when Folen saw us and scolded them. I guess they had a grudge against me since then, and so tonight, they woke me up and told me Folen wanted to see me and lured me here before they attacked me. When I beat two of them down, the last one shouted, saying I was trying to escape, when in fact, they were the ones who got me out in the first place."
"H-h-he's lying.. this filthy human is L-" scared of the plan falling apart, the third elf spoke, only to be silenced by a glare of both Leena and Folen "are accusing my guards of lying?" Leena asked with narrowed eyebrows aimed at Damian.
Bleeding -4HP
"no...just those three," Damian replied, doing his best to keep his cool," what proof do you have to support this accusation?" with a slight smirk, Leena asked. As if waiting for that question, Damian raised his hand, pointing at the guard with the broken ribs.
"As they led me out of my cell, this guy hid the key to my cell inside a pocket in his belt. I wouldn't be able to know that if he didn't use that key in front of me, or if I met them after I left my confinement."
"Corporal Folen, check if what Damian said is true." Leena issued, and without delay, Folen rushed to the now passed out elf and took his belt. After checking the contents, he found the key inside a secret compartment.
Bleeding -4HP
"take the wounded to be treated because I want them to feel the full extent of their punishment later on.. as for the pris... Damian. Bring him to my office once his injuries are treated," the Commander spoke before she strolled away. After the boy's wounds have been stitched and bandaged, he was brought back to Leena's office.
As he stood there in front of her desk filled with scrolls and books with Felon behind him. The female elf gazed at Damian, making him a bit uncomfortable, "I still have some questions that need answering, Damian." Leena said. She stood up from her desk walking around, to lean on it while facing the boy. "let alone the fact that you managed to defeat two guards, disarming them, leaving them with wounds that could only be done with a Warhammer unarmed, and while being ambushed" she crossed her arms before resuming " who taught you how to speak Elven?"
"N-no one taught me. I learned by listening to others talk," Damian replied with an expressionless face. "you've been here for less than a week, and you only woke up three days ago. you have learned an entire language in only three days just by listening?" she asked but was only met with the same expressionless face. "I have a good memory," Damian answered.
A smirk curled on Leena's face "that is good because I want to know how did you manage to infiltrate so deep in an Elven territory without being discovered. hopefully, you could clarify that, with your good memory?" the commander said as she started observing every motion in his body waiting for a lie.
Damian explained everything that happened from the moment he woke up in this world till the moment he woke up in his cell, making sure to withhold any information about his powers. "So you are saying that you appeared from another world called Earth, and you do not know how it happened?" Leena asked with a pondering face while Folen's face revealed how surprised he was, unsure if Damian was good at lying or hallucinating from blood loss.
"I guess I did," Damian replied. Leena didn't sense any lies in his word, but she could sense the boy was hiding something, something dangerous. This boy can't be allowed to roam freely. She went back to her desk and started writing on a piece of paper, "Damian, I understand that you were only protecting yourself when my men assaulted you, and they will be punished severely for it. You have my word."
"Putting that aside you have still assaulted Elven guards, so I am forced to issue a disciplinary measure on you as well. So you will be transported to another facility for three weeks, then you will be transported back" as she signed at the end of the letter, Folen's body tensed as he realized to whom the paper will be sent to.
"Damian, please wait outside, and Corporal Folen will shortly accompany you to your cell," Leena said, and as Damian left the room, closing the door behind him, Folen said with a solemn voice. "you just gave him a death sentence."