Kaiden having fallen asleep against the tree, starts to dream of a lush meadow with mountains in the far distance. There is the sound of birds in the trees circling the meadow and wolves howling in the distance, a herd of deer are close by in the tree line but quickly vanishes. A silver shimmering wolf suddenly appears several feet in front of Kaiden and walks slowly closer to him passing by flowers. The flowers pass through the canine’s paws, almost like he is transparent and not connected to this landscape. Gradually as the wolf gets closer, the wolf transforms into a striking man adorned in elegant golden clothing, his form radiating a soft, and luminescent energy. This man looks upon Kaiden with kindness, a smile appearing on his lips as he waves his arms out in a welcoming gesture.
The dreamscape slowly fades as we see Kaiden's sleeping form and the outside world. A rickety wagon slowly approaches and comes to a halt near the tree where Kaiden is asleep, curled up peacefully. The driver of the wagon spits over the side, his clothing very dirty from long hours of fieldwork throws his arm out behind him to grab the attention of the man behind him. The passenger seated atop the hay in the back spots Kaiden as well. The two men take in their surroundings, looking down and up the road. There are no other wagons or people on the road, the only people around are the three of them. The man in the back jumps down from his perch, brushing his pants off trying to remove the hay attached to his body. The man's nefarious thoughts appear across his face as he approaches the sleeping Kaiden, armed with a length of rope from the wagon. His smile turns sinister as he steps closer to the unsuspecting Kaiden. The outside world fades again, returning to the dreamscape where Kaiden finds himself conversing with the stunningly handsome man.
As the conversation comes to an end, the elegant, adorned man slowly transforms back into the silver shimmering wolf. Before disappearing, the wolf speaks a few final words, warning of a trial ahead and the pain that Kaiden will have to endure. The wolf encourages him to trust in his heart and in his warriors, emphasizing faith in those who will support him along the way.
Kaiden jolts awake, only to find himself in a terrifying situation. He's gagged and restrained, his vision hindered by a cloth covering his eyes, allowing only a fuzzy, partial view of his surroundings. Kaiden's ears perk up, catching the sounds of commotion nearby. Loud cheers and shouting fill the air, and suddenly, he feels a pair of hands grip the rope encircling him. The rough rope digs into his skin, biting into his arms and clothing as he's hoisted from the ground and carried a short distance. Within a few moments, he's dropped back onto the ground, the impact jarring his body.
The blindfold is swiftly removed, with one quick motion. As the blinding light gradually fades and Kaiden's vision clears, he finds himself on a makeshift stage, surrounded by a crowd of men. The realization sinks in as the speaker announces that he is up for auction, and the chilling understanding that he's in a slave market leaves him horrified. Confusion and fear rise within Kaiden as he struggles to comprehend where he is and how it's possible. What kind of world is he in that condones slave auctions?
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Kaiden tries to cry out in protest, his words muffled by the gag in his mouth. Bound tightly with ropes, he attempts to struggle and strain against his restraints, desperately trying to release his voice from behind the gag. Frustration and pain build as he tries to loosen the gag, but to no avail. Suddenly, he feels a sharp pang in his chest and wonders why the wolf/man would send him here only for him to end up in such a terrible situation. Kaiden’s emotions start to build farther, the doubt and fear becoming overwhelming for his mind to handle.
Kaiden's fears become the catalyst for an astonishing display of celestial power. A dazzling array of celestial light explodes from his body, sending shockwaves outward and toppling everyone over within close proximity. Pandemonium ensues as the crowd erupts into chaos, their voices filled with fear and panic. The brilliant light shoots upward, spreading across the sky and clouds, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
Feeling a little weak after the intense display of power, Kaiden finds himself released from the ropes that previously bound him. The ropes lay beside him, burn marks and smoke rise from the material. His legs buckle as he attempts to stand, and he falls to a kneeling position. The men on the stage quickly regain their bearings and approach him, weapons in hand, a threatening aura surrounding them. Just as Kaiden braces himself, fear coursing through his veins once again, a sudden gust of wind fills the air, and the metallic sound of clashing metal reverberates throughout the space.
Kaiden lifts his gaze, eyes wide with surprise and relief. A man stands tall and unmoving before him—a figure that was not present in the crowd before. With sword in hand, he skillfully deflects the onslaught of weapons aimed at them, creating a protective barrier between Kaiden and the other men.
The mysterious swordsman makes a witty comment that Kaiden cannot make out, then swiftly engages the enemies in combat, skillfully dispatching them in a matter of moments. Kaiden watches in awe, his amazement growing as the last enemy falls by the man's hand. The man approaches Kaiden, gracefully kneeling down to his level, a calm and reassuring presence emanates from him.
The swordsman looks at Kaiden with a hint of sarcasm as he speaks, his tone laced with a touch of bravado. "So, you're the one we've all been waiting for, our priestess from another world?" he queries, a skeptical smirk on his face.
Kaiden gathers his energy to respond, but before he can utter a word, a wave of weakness washes over him. The aftermath of the tremendous release of energy takes its toll, causing his consciousness to slowly slip away. Just before he falls, the warrior swiftly steps in, catching him in his arms and preventing Kaiden from crashing onto the stage. Concern etches the warrior’s face at the sudden onset of Kaiden's fatigue. The warrior wasting no time, gathers Kaiden into his arms and quickly flees the stage. Jumping across rooftops with skill and ease, the sun on his back as the pair makes their escape from the slave market.