Noah stood frozen, trying to grasp what just happened. He stares at the rusting chain on the ground, he is free of the shackles, yet his shoulder feels heavier than ever.
"I'm.. free..?"
His voice is hesitant, barely escaping his lips. All his life, he was a tool, a betting chip and a possession no less. But now, what is he?
"You're free, as a devoted individual to serve me. You now bear something more than just heavy chains on your neck — a purpose."
Noah raised an eyebrow, he wants to make sense of Ezren's words, but years of rotting in metal chains probably have dulled his sense of normalcy.
"So I'm free, but bound by you. Is there a difference?"
Noah asked, Ezren let out a weak shuddering laugh, amused by the question, he leaned back against the carriage body, resting his head against the wooden wall.
"Well. There isn't one. But hey, look at the bright side, at least now you can be useful by choice."
Noah frowned, instinctively stepping back. Ezren noticed Noah's doubt, he steadied himself.
"Relax, I'm not trying to trick you. What I'm doing is offering you a job. Salary. Room of your own. Under one condition — you cannot back out."
Noah's eyes narrowed, something was off, and it could just be a trick.
"And if I do?"
Ezren smiled, a sharp smile playing on his lips.
"That's your choice. I won't stop you. But let me ask you this: Once you're out of here, you might be a free man, but you're also a man with nothing. The decision is yours.
He extends his right arm, the blood on the glove is still fresh like a rose petal crushed in a killer's grasp.
"Now then, ready to make a deal with the devil?"
Noah blinked at Ezren's extended hand, torn between the temptation of normalcy and self pride freedom. With a deep breath, he slowly accepted Ezren's hands. Sealing his oath in a blood soaked hand.
"I knew you would see reason eventually. You've made the right choice."
Ezren pats Noah's shoulder, a rare gesture of comfort from a slave owner. It's a feeling that Noah couldn't really make sense of, but what matters now is that he is promised a place in this world.
Suddenly, their discussion was interrupted by an approaching footsteps, it was the Ezren's guards. Their faces covered in blood sprays in an attempt to contain the unexpected raid.
"Your grace, we-"
The guard's words trailed off, as he saw Ezren's battered form. Both of them quickly run towards him, pushing out of the way.
"Your grace! Are you alright? Your head is bleeding, and your clothes are torn. Is there anything you need?"
The other guard gaze falls on Noah, there's something odd about him, the chain, it's not where it is supposed to be.
"Hey! This one is trying to escape!"
The guard draws his sword as Noah immediately shields himself with his arms. But before the guard could even leave a wound on him, he was stabbed through his stomach. A gasp escaped his lips, as he slowly turned his head to look at the attacker.
It was Ezren, the very person he swore to protect, now back stabbing him.
"I think I've made it clear before, I don't want anyone to touch my property."
Ezren asked with a deep menacing tone and twisted the sword before pulling out the blade from the man's chest. Thus the last words ever spoken by him to the guard before he falls out of the carriage. Noah's eyes widened as he trembled from toe to toe. He thought he knew who Ezren was by now, but he was wrong. Terribly wrong.
[—To be Continued—]