"Sell me one! Or at least tell me where you got them!" Z's voice was a desperate rasp, there entire frame practically vibrating with covetous energy as they moved in a blur of motion to cling onto John's legs with an almost comical desperation. "I'll even make you my best and most favored customer with discounts of three percent off everything you buy from now on if you do!"
John sighed, a weary exhalation that barely stirred the air. "Even if I did tell you, I doubt you could get there. Now, please let go. I need to get the others."
Before John could even disentangle himself, Z sprang up, eyes wide with a manic gleam as they grabbed him by the collar, shaking him vigorously. "Your telling me there's still more?!" The words were a choked blend of surprise and shock. Ash and Saya, who had until this point been observing the scene in stunned silence, decided to redirect their attention to the intricate statues and clockwork figures scattered around them.
"Rather reminiscent of Doctor Who's Cybermen, aren't they?" Saya mused, her fingers tracing the smooth, metallic surface of a clockwork sentinel. "Except and rather thankfully, these seem to rely heavily on gears and not... human parts." She shuddered almost imperceptibly.
Ash, ever the one for broader comparisons, chimed in, "And these automatons are a lot like the God Warriors in Nausicaa, just smaller. Or maybe the Daguarees from Grandcrest. But definitely with a more pronounced fantasy feel to their aesthetics." She said circling one of them, her brow furrowed in thoughtful analysis.
Ignoring the pair's academic musings, John knelt, his focus entirely on the task at hand. From his ornate bag, he carefully began to take out his half of the inscribed tags. Following Peter's earlier instruction, he placed widely spaced apart after placing a single magic stone on each to supplement their magical energy needs to trigger them. Z watched seemingly captivated, there desire for the items momentarily overridden by a profound curiosity to see what he would be doing next.
With a series of soft flashes, like distant lightning and small puffs of smoky essence seven figures now stood before him. Four of them radiated an intense, almost palpable pressure, a primal aura of bloodlust and latent power that made the air thrum and for a split-second tint red just from there presents. The remaining three, however, simply stretched before blinking and looked around with an air of disoriented surprise, as if waking from a long, strange dream.
"Wha— but— what— how?!" Z stammered, there mental faculties visibly struggling to process the impossible as they staggered backward, hands flapping in disbelief. "You didn't teleport people in; I didn't feel the air vibrate from something like that! And I recognize those as possible slave marks on them but if you had somehow met with a black merchant I would have known since my friend is the only one in this area! And you used some strange paper things you took from your bag to do it which I don't understand so how?! What's going on here?!?" Their voice rose to a near shriek, what they thought they knew and understood now having been thrown out the proverbial window. There merchant instincts for order and logic utterly shattered.
The small girl tilted her head, her deep, intelligent eyes scanning the surroundings slowly as if taking in every detail. Her name, John had learned before leaving, was Evangeline Frostheart, or Angel for short. "So, this is your home? This one is rather surprised. The energy in the air feels extremely thin and the spirits hold a lot of malic to them. This one would probably only manage a sixth of their full strength in a world such as this." She paused, a thoughtful expression on her face. "But this one is also rather happy. It means this one can further refine their control due to the limited energy and learn to rely more on their internal energies and technique rather than force." Her tone was remarkably analytical, betraying a mind honed by rigorous discipline.
"Indeed, shorty," a foxy woman named Aria remarked, rolling her eyes playfully at her companion. She then offered John a radiant smile, a flash of genuine warmth. "But this is Master's world, remember? He told us its situation so you should have expected the energies to be thin." Her loyalty to John was already clearly evident.
John returned their gaze, a resolute smile gracing his lips. "Well, I know it doesn't seem like much, but this will be where we'll all be staying once you help me get some revenge. Z here will help supply you with any potions, armor or weapons you feel you may need in the event the ones over there aren't satisfactory. I'll cover the costs. and We'll be leaving in two hours after I make sure you all get a good meal. Until then, feel free to inspect here and the underground city. I welcome you all to your new home." As he spoke, he returned the stones and cores to his bag, his casual demeanor belying the profound impact of his words. The newly freed individuals exchanged surprised glances, taken aback by the extraordinary amount of freedom he was offering.
"You're trusting us and giving us so much freedom? Just like that?" a red-haired mage asked, her name Ivy, her sister Hope nodding in agreement beside her seemingly just as confused by such freedom. The rest of the summoned while silent, mirrored the twins' skepticism in their expressions. "What if we try to run away or hurt someone around here? Or we have the merchant break our slave marks?" The questions were direct at him as a clear challenge to see what he would do and how he would react.
John's smile softened. "Mutual trust. Honestly, I don't know if any of you would do what you just said, but my gut says none of you would do any of that. I read your files so I know your good people who were dealt a bad hand, you fought for what you believed in and only ended up like you did because of some bad luck and circumstances. I know it sounds cheesy or stupid but I want to give you all a second chance in exchange for helping me, letting you have more than just war and violence even if that will still be involved. Besides, after a few fights or helping for a short while I might just break the seals myself to give you to the choice of continuing to follow me or to make your own mark out there." He delivered this with a small, hopeful smile, only to be abruptly interrupted by Saya and Ash, who had evidently processed enough to finally react.
"John, what the hell is going on here?!" Saya demanded, her voice tight with a mixture of surprise and genuine shock at the sudden appearance of these powerful, unfamiliar individuals, the shadows shying away from them as a seemingly larger one slipped cross from them, her eyes tracing it only to be greeted by a large, toothy smile that caused her to look away from it and back to John. "Who are all these people?"
"And what do they mean, 'slave seals'?" Ash chimed in, her expression a mix of confusion and slight anger mixed with disappointment.
John rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, feeling like a naughty child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Uhm, well, you see, I kinda got them from that friend I mentioned. He took me to a slave store and they're the ones I chose to bring with me. From there files they seemed like the best fits for building a good foundation for our camp. Well, except for Angel and Aria; they chose me and wanted to come with me and would have regardless of if I allowed them to follow or not."
Saya's eyes narrowed, a clear glare challenging his explanation. "And they're the ones you chose? Were you even serious about a second chance? I thought you hated slavery and the like! Why didn't you take more to free if you could then!" Her words, sharp and accusatory, caused a flicker of internal conflict in John as he visibly stiffened, his jaw tightening slightly, before he resolved himself. He stood straighter, his gaze unwavering as he met Saya's, holding it until she was the first to look away.
"I didn't take more because I still want at least a level of control and I needed to truly make sure they could get here unharmed, taking to many all at once would possibly draw attention as well, something we can't handle yet." John stated, his voice now firm, each word carrying a newfound weight. "Yes, I dislike it to a degree but I didn't want to spurn a new friend's offer or offend him by refusing. It seems slavery and the like for him is something normal. Another reason I didn't take more was because I felt a smaller number would have a lower risk of casualties! I am going to be doing everything I have to in order to stick it to those gods and reach them to cut them down. I will be getting more slaves under me in the future, at least with them I know I can show my back without risking a knife being jammed into it like what happened with the last lot! Besides, each of them are either debt, war or self-chosen slaves, none of them are criminal slaves. Each one was treated well and made the choice to take the path of a slave for their own reasons. The debt slaves to spare others, the war slaves to not fight for those who took everything from them and the self-slaves for whatever reasons they have." His eyes hardened, his tone growing sharper with each pronouncement, causing both girls to flinch slightly, recoiling from the raw intensity of his conviction. The air crackled with the unspoken history of betrayal and the fierce determination now burning in him.
Without another word, He turned and walked toward the entrance to the underground, his group of animated statues and clockwork automatons obediently falling into formation behind him. He left behind the newly freed people, now mingling with Z who instantly began trying to interest them in their wares along with a stunned Ash and Saya. Saya bit her lip, unsure how she felt about being spoken to with such force, a conflict of emotions swirling within her. Ash, however, now sported a distinct flush, her legs unconsciously rubbing together. John's harsh tone had ignited something unexpected within her, a curious spark that made her almost wish he could have been slightly physical, the thought sending a deeper, more intense blush spreading across her face. Perhaps the changed world makes everyone more primal? Desiring those with a sense of power or force as she had never imagined having a reaction like this, or at least that's how she tried to rationalize it to herself.
"Really? This one does not understand how their master has survived with people like the two of you," Angel's clear, dispassionate voice cut through the lingering tension as she walked past the two girls. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. "But this one does suppose you could be suitable concubines for Master." Aria broke into delighted giggles beside her, while Ash and Saya could only gape then glare, their blushes deepening even further at Evangeline's blunt assessment. The other summoned individuals, meanwhile, were either sifting through Z's extensive wares or simply taking in the strange, beauty of their new, albeit temporary, home.