"The head slave master requires your attention. You must meet her at the center building as soon as possible."
The paper was given to Julian by a slaver. The day had just begun, so he was a little confused. Finley stared at the paper.
"Whoa. Maybe you're getting sold to royalty!" Finley spoke with excitement in his tone.
"Hey, you aren't gonna forget me right? At least send letters. I don't need a family, the life of a slave is all I've-"
"That's definitely not the reason. I had this encounter… I.. haah… think I'm gonna die," Julian felt his stomach sinking slowly. He slowly crumbled up the paper, slipping it into his pocket. Finley patted the back of his shoulder.
"Come on. Don't think like that. You got this. Brighten up."
Finley, it would be really helpful if you would just shut the fuck up right now.
"Okay. I'll be on my way."
Julian hopped off the fence and began his travel. It wasn't that far of a travel.
"Julian, where are you going?" Veind stopped to ask.
"To be executed," he replied grimly and very matter-of-factly. Veind giggled.
"Okay!"
It… this isn't a joke.
The dreaded moment came when he gave the paper to the guards, and they allowed him into the center building. Each walk up the stairs to the most important room felt deadly.
He placed his hand on the doorknob, twisting slowly. The room revealed itself. Sitting in front of a desk, with a book and a pair of reading glasses, was the slave master.
"… You're here sooner than I expected. Follow me. No, matter of fact-"
She placed her hand over his face.
[Cast: - - -]
His vision blurred until it completely disappeared, and Julian dropped to the ground.
. . .
. .
.
Julián woke up slowly to his wrists above his head. Chained up. It was a dark stone room, dimly lit by a single lantern that did a pretty good job. At the other side of the room was the slave master.
"You… did all of that. Gave me all of that anxiety. When you could have knocked me out in my sleep and dragged me there," his words were a bit slurred, as it made sense with his grogginess.
"You view me as some kind of loser. But, why are you acting like I'm gonna kill you?"
"Huh? Eh— what else would you do?"
"…"
The slave master walked closer.
"Julian. That's your name, right? I'm confused about what my daughter finds in you. It's embarrassing to say this, but I'm a little jealous. I heard a lot of talking between you too. A lot of talking, when she hesitates to even ask me for some water. It's embarrassing. As a mother, she should feel…"
This woman is crazy.
"… so I'm going to beat you until I figure out what it is."
Huh?!
The slave master pulled out a whip with serrated blades from the tip to the handle. Just the look of it was able to snap Julian awake.
Then, she whipped once.
Twice.
Three times.
All whips to the chest. They left Julian a bloody mess. He panted, his head tilted down. She grabbed his chin, lifting his head up.
"Are you seriously crying? Wow. And that was only three!"
She whipped with ferocity.
"Gyah!"
Julian's yell echoed throughout the stone dungeon. With every slash of the whip, his blood etched into the stone wall.
"Ah, I did say I wasn't gonna kill you."
She only said this after leaving Julian's body unrecognizable. She cracked the whip one last time, breaking the chain that connected Julian's shackles to the ceiling.
Julian collapsed to the ground. He was conscious, but he couldn't feel any of his muscles.
This was agonizing.
A pain that he had never felt in his life.
One that left him unable to think. To think on anything besides the intense pain.
"What is it!? What is it that she sees in you?"
"…"
"It's been perplexing. I seriously cannot figure it out. What is it that she finds so interesting in you? Since clearly, she's able to speak so fluently to you!"
"…"
"Ah, that must be it… since she's that age and all. No, is it really that? Though it would be inappropriate…"
A rummaging of fabrics was heard.
"It… must be this. Haha! It really must be. I have to say, I'm quite impressed. Well, I've battered you up like this. I suppose there is something I can do for you to help you feel a little better. Both of us.~"
"… What?" Julian spoke weakly. Even weaker, he moved his body. There was nothing he could do at the moment. And he felt dirtier than he had ever felt in his life.