Harmonia Calendar 715, Chelon 1 - Border City, Elandor
Night - Imperial Road
I sat curled in the corner, knees pulled tight to my chest.
My back pressed against the wall.
Every time the wheels hit a stone, stabbed splinters into my skin.
My wrists burned.
The shackles were gone, but the memory of them stayed.
My whole body ached, but what hurt most were my eyes.
I'd cried until they dried up, until even blinking stung.
The visions hadn't stopped.
Even now, flashes tormented me.
A boy.
A girl.
A name I couldn't place.
And with each vision came pain.
The headaches made resting impossible.
I tried to sleep.
For hours, maybe days.
But sleep never came.
I opened my eyes again.
The inside of the wagon hadn't changed.
Still too small to stretch out.
Still filled with the stench of rot and horse sweat.
The air was stale and thick, with no windows.
Dim light, spilled through the gaps between planks, bright enough to see my surroundings.
My stomach twisted with every bump on the road.
I leaned my head back and tried to breathe, but the foul air just made it worse.
The horse galloped in a steady rhythm.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
It made me relax a bit.
Until—
Screech.
The wagon jolted to a sudden stop.
My head slammed back, boards rattling behind my skull.
"Ah—"
I gasped, wood pieces cut into my palms as I caught myself.
The horses fell silent.
Clink.
Step.
Armor clinked, and steps drew closer.
Click.
The lock turned, and the door swung open, night air rushed in.
I shivered from the cold, but the fresh air made breathing easier.
Then came the voice.
"Out."
I tried to stand, but a hand had already seized my arm and yanked me out.
My boots touched stone.
But my legs were too weak, and I stumbled, my knees buckled first, then the rest of me as I fell.
Thud.
My hands hit the floor, stopping my head from crashing against stone.
I tried to rise, but they hauled me upright before I could.
Clang.
Cold metal pressed against my skin as they forced my wrists together.
Click.
The shackles snapped around my wrists.
One knight laughed.
Not loud, just enough to make sure I heard.
"Look at him now. Noble scum."
Another shoved me forward.
"If it were up to me, I'd slit his throat. Bastards like him don't deserve to breathe."
I staggered forward, but I didn't fall.
I wouldn't fall again.
Not in front of them.
Step.
I kept walking.
Slowly, one step at a time.
My breath came out white in the cold as the knights led me through the empty town.
The streets were dark and narrow.
It looked like a place where people vanished.
Shuttered windows, houses that looked like they could crumble at any moment.
Rats darted between piles of trash.
A dog barked once and disappeared into an alley.
Lightstones flickered on rusted poles, too dim to illuminate the dark.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a dim glow over the town.
The knights walked beside me, holding my chains and pulling me forward.
Clang.
My chains rattled as we halted in front of an old building.
A knight stepped toward the door while I looked at the building.
The house looked as if it had once mattered.
Its door was decorated with faded sigils.
It was bigger than the rest of the houses around us.
The roof was made of dark wood, and the walls of stone bricks. Planks barricaded the windows, and a sign hung on the walls.
Written on it in dark red letters stood.
[Begin of End]
The knights pushed the door open.
Creak.
A warm breeze brushed past me.
It carried the smell of smoke and old ink.
The first knight entered, and we followed.
Lightstones burned low, painting everything in a dull orange light.
The room wasn't big.
Just a few steps wide, and most of it empty.
The wooden ceiling shifted with the wind, bordering on collapse, and the walls had empty spaces where bricks were missing.
Two guards stood by the door.
A wide table was placed in the center, papers scattered across its surface.
A man sat behind it.
He wore a long coat, his sleeves rolled up to the elbow, one gold tooth caught the glow as he puffed a cigar.
He set his pen down and looked up.
"Well...what brings honorable knights to my hall at this fine hour?"
One knight shoved me forward.
He waved the smoke away from his face before speaking in a flat tone.
"Orders of the Empire. Sell him fast and far."
The other knight placed a heavy purse on the table.
"We demand discretion. No logs. No archives."
The man in the coat picked up the purse and weighed it in his hand before nodding.
He leaned forward, a smile spreading across his face.
"That, we specialize in. Any…extra requests?"
"No."
The knight placed a small key on the table.
"For the shackles."
The man took the key and fidgeted with it between his fingers as he spoke.
"Thank you for doing business with us. You're always welcome."
The knights ignored him and turned to leave.
No farewell, not even a glance back.
Thud.
The door slammed shut behind them, sealing my fate.
I stood in front of the desk, the shackles cold against my skin.
The slaver set his cigar aside and reached for a pen.
"Name?"
I hesitated before answering, my voice small and weak.
"…Adonis."
His pen scratched across the paper.
"Good. We'll keep it. Age?"
"Twelve."
He smiled, his gold tooth catching the light.
"You'll fetch a fine price."
He finished writing and folded the paper before pulling a small bell from his pocket.
Cling.
A moment passed.
Creak.
The back door opened slowly.
A woman in a plain grey robe stepped inside and walked toward Goldtooth.
He handed her the paper and the key.
"Health check. Branding. Single cell."
She unfolded the note, read it, then lifted her emotionless eyes to me.
She gave a single nod, grabbed my chains, and tugged me along.
"Follow me."