There was a village at the edge of the forest . Not the kind that made you think of peace or nostalgia .
This one stank of smoke , sweat and resignation.
People looked at each other not as neighbors ,but as prices . You could see it in their eyes --- the quiet calculation of survival.
Kaien walked down the path of dirt . The villagers stared , parted , whispering . It wasn't his appearance, --- though his handsome face and looks drew attention ---- But it was something else .
Something in a way he moved . Too calm , too deliberate . Like a man who'd already accepted the fact that morality is just an illusion.
He walked and stopped near the wooden sign that read " Slaver's Yard " .
Below it , in near and clean craving the words ;
" Ownership is the foundation of order .
And we have slaves for labour , pleasure or what ever you want . "
" How poetic !!! " Kaien murmured, "Ownership as virute . They just said what my old world never dared to admit . "
He entered .
Insides , cages lined the wall , Iron bars glistened in the dim light . People,--- or what used to be people ---- sat behind them .
Some humans, some beastkins, some whose forms the blurred line. None looked up . The silence here wasn't fear. It was acceptance.
The slaver , a board man with gold teeth and a too wide grin , looked up from his ledger .
* Welcome, Traveler . Looking for Pleasure , Labour or both ?
Kaien tilted his head , " Neither . I'm looking for truth . "
The man laughed , " Guess ,What ? We don't sell that here . Pretty too expensive, you know . "
Kaien rounding his head , curved his lips slightly, " Then , I'll take the cheapest thing that still breathing. "
The slaver hesitated , " Cheapest , you say ?
There's one ..... But she won't live long ."
He pointed toward the farthest cage . Inside lay a small figure , half covered by torn cloth . White ears twitched faintly , fur mated
with dirt and blood .
A wolf girl .
Her breathing was swallow , half eye opened, staring at nothing.
" Five Silver " said the Slaver .
" Barely worth that . " Kaien said
" Okay . Four Silver "
" For a dying thing "
" Fine , two silver . Not less than that ."
Kaien looked at her , not with pity but curiosity . Her eyes look like she was dead inside .
" Deal . " He said .
---++-----------
Outside , Villagers watched as Kaien dragged the cage out himself . It was heavy . The iron scraping against the ground . The Wolf girl didn't resist She couldn't.
He stopped by a dried up fountain and broke the lock with his bare hands . The Mark of the Scumbag pulsed faintly on his chest , red light flickering beneath his shirt .
The girl stirred , weakly , " ..... Please ....Kill ...Me. "
Kaien crouched beside her , his expression unreadable, " Kill you ? How dramatic ! "
" You still speak like your life belongs to you."
The girl fainted .
Her lips parted but no sound came . He poured a small amount of water from his flask and watched her drink greedily trembling.
" Survival is strange . " He mused . " Even dying will crawl for a single drop . "
She coughed , her voice cracking , " Why ..buying me ? "
Kaien eyes met hers -- cold , analytical almost detached . " Because I want see what happens when I save your life . "
She stared at him confused . Then her gaze dimmed again slipping into unconscious.
----------------;;;;;;;------------
He made camp in the ruins : the camp tent he got from the bandits --- outside of village .
A place where even rat didn't bother to live . The girl lay on the mat of old cloth , shivering.
Kaien stared into the fire , lost in thought.
" In my world . " He said to no one " we dressed one cruelty in words like a kindness . And here , they don't bother . "
" This world is much more simpler ."
A Mark glowed pulsing . Then , a voiced echo through his head .
And blue screen panel opened .
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
UPDATE
ACHIEVE NEW SKILL - SUBMISSION - THE POWER TO BEND WEAKER WILLS THROUGH DOMINANCE OF PRESSURE AND CONVICTION
Kaien exhaled slowly , thin smiled curling his lips . " Hmmm .... Whatever the case Weaker are always be the sacrificial pieces ."
" Better not to be weak . "
He looked at his hands , not trembling anyone , no fear , no guilt .
He was changing .....
------------------;----------------------
Morning came slowly. The air smelled of ash and dew . The girl -- still alive barely .
She wakes up slowly , he was eating a bread.
" Fenra ... " Kaien while eating .
" That's what I decide to name you . "
He handed her piece of bread , " Eat ."
" Not because I care for you . Because I still need you to walk ."
She obeyed silently.
Power he realized, wasn't always about spells or swords . Sometime , it was the quiet acceptance of another's command .
The moment some one's obeys , the world tilts in your favour .
He didn't feel campassion , He felt order . The kind that made sense .
---------------
By afternoon, Kaien had found a stream nearby . He washed his face , staring at his reflection . His eyes ha dgrown sharper and colder .
He spoke to his reflection as if an old friend .
" I used to think the worst thing in a life is to be hated . I see now ---- it's the only way to find their personality. "
Behind him , Fenra limped closer , her chain dragged softly . Her ears twitched at the sound of his voice though she said nothing.
Kaien glanced back . " You fear me . Good . That means you understand the rules of the world faster than I did . "
---;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
At sunset , Kaien and Ferna returned to Slaver's Yard.
The same man startled . " You again ? Don't tell me that mutt's still alive ? "
Kaien dropped a small pouch of silver on the table . " Information . Tell me who runs this village . "
The man licked his lips . " That'd be Baron Mikal . Owns half of the lands , Half the women , and all the guards . Cruel Bastard indeed . "
Kaien's smile didn't reach his eyes ." Then I suppose I'll fit right in . "
He turned his cloak flicking dust into the air .
The Slaver's voice followed him , " You ... Are you planning to fight him ? No one is insane enough to do that . "
Kaien didn't answer .
----------------
Tent Of Kaien At Night .
The forest whispered around their champ . Fenra slept , curled like an animal .
Kaien sat beside the fire .
Fenra condition have improve sightly. She manged to talked and moved .
" Why ..? " She began , her voice hoarse , " Why help me if you don't care ? "
Kaien adjusted his cloak not looking back .
" Because control is better teacher than compassion. And I plan to leaned everything
world has to offer . "
She was confused . She didn't understand. But that's okay . Because she felt something called --- peace