"No! Please don't do this. We promise not to try to escape again, commander."
"Wrongdoing must be punished." It seemed that the Commander could not tolerate what the two people before him were doing.
"No! Please! Let us suffer any torture from the caretakers, but please let us go. Let us go back."
"You should have if you knew the consequences. There was no need for you to be this reckless. You stupid slave!"
God Mervous who did not understand at all the behavior of his friend who was begging for them to be released.
Even that man was willing to lower his pride, continuing to hear the swear words of the commander in front of them hoping that his words would be heard.
God Mervous lowered his head, aligning his height with Endrick's body who was prostrating himself with his hands clasped together in a pleading gesture.
"He won't listen to you. You'll only look foolish if you keep this up."
God Mervous seemed to whisper in his friend's ear. Hearing that, assured by God Mervous's gaze and faint nod, Endrick straightened up.
"Thank you."
God Mervous nodded.
Meanwhile, the commander, who was still on his horse, watched the brief drama of friendship with a dismissive smile.
"Have you finished your drama?" the commander asked with a lopsided smile.
Although God Mervous had no idea who Libradon was and why Endrick looked frightened when he heard that name, God Mervous, who was sure there was no other choice for them, stepped forward towards the commander.
"You may take me away."
God Mervous resigned himself to whatever fate he would receive after this.
A lopsided smile appeared on the commander's face, satisfied with the face of surrender.
Endrick who witnessed the strong man turn weak immediately shook his head.
Soon, several guards came from inside the cave with a wooden cart which they mounted and were pulled along by the commander's horse.
"Drag them immediately!" the Commander ordered firmly.
All the bodyguards immediately pulled the two men to come with them.
"Wait for the commander!"
As the two men were forced to immediately mount up and go with the commander, God Mervous suddenly made a sound that brought everyone's movements to a halt.
"What is it, stupid slave?" the Commander replied sarcastically.
"I already told you. Just take me. But don't take my friend. He is innocent."
The Commander seemed to smile pettishly. As if he had no intention of listening to the words of the man he thought was so stupid.
"Are you done with your drama? Hurry up bodyguards! Take them immediately!"
Without listening to God Mervous' protests, the two of them were forcibly pulled into the wooden cart.
"Don't ever let your guard down again. There are so many of you, two people shouldn't be able to defeat you!" said the Commander sharply.
The guards straightened their bodies as they nodded slowly. After that, the horses started walking to take them to the place directed by the commander.
The moment they came out of the cave, many slaves' gazes were watching them.
They weren't. Not because they were jealous that they could get out of that special place of work but because they understood that the fate that the two people would receive would be worse.
The sad gaze that was fixed in each of the slaves' eyes left a big trail of questions in God Mervous' mind.
He did not know the reason why they were all staring like that.
By the time they had passed the slaves' territory, there were only bushes around them.
They still seemed to have quite a long way to go.
God Mervous then turned to his friend. The man seemed to have had enough of not questioning the confusion in his head.
"Endrick!"
God Mervous called out to the man. "You called for me, Kayrus?" replied Endrick with a nod from God Mervous.
"Endrick. Do you know anything about Libradon that he said?"
Endrick's worried face instantly turned deathly pale as the name was spoken by God Mervous.
A flash of memory and some information he had heard made it difficult for Endrick to breathe again.
[Where, Zeuys?]
[You don't know? He tried to escape the other day. He was taken to the kingdom where Libradon rules]
[Libradon?]
[Yes. Such a feared ruler. One thing was certain, Zeuys would not survive. You know the treats on the night of the royal feast? They feasted with Zeuys' body tied to a wooden cross. Anyone who dared to defy the power Libradon had made them would never return].
"Endrick? Are you still listening to my voice?" God Mervous tried to snap Endrick out of his reverie.
"We're going to die! There will be no survivors!"
God Mervous was stunned when the man said exactly that.
It was clear to see how fear filled the man's eyes.
"He is a cruel ruler. He will not hesitate to take the life of anyone who has dared to oppose his rule. I've heard the news. One of the slaves once died a horrible death because of him."
Hearing that, God Mervous could already deduce everything.
It was nothing new for God Mervous to face such a cruel king as Endrick had said.
It was just that man. He had never been in the position he was in now.
"Please stop, commander! I have something to say!" said God Mervous loudly. "I beg you. Just this once."
The commander stopped his horse.
"What's wrong?" asked the commander with a furrowed brow.
"Take me alone to the kingdom. But, don't involve my friend. He is completely innocent. I forced him to go with me."
The Commander seemed to be silent. Taking God Mervous' face seriously.
Endrick who was at God Mervous' side seemed to round his eyes, shaking his head trying to stop his friend's actions.
"What did you say? No, commander. Please take me with him."
God Mervous shook his head asking the commander to listen to him instead.
"As you said. Every wrong must be punished. And here, I did it all. So, let me get the punishment for the mistake I made. Please." Lord Mervous spoke again.
The Commander was silent for a moment. Before finally, he complied with God Mervous' words.
The man was able to convince the commander in an instant.
"Come down, you may return to work with your slaves."
God Mervous smiled in thanks. He then ushered Endrick down from the wagon that carried them.
"I know, you are a great and strong man, Kayrus. I apologize for failing to be your best friend. I believe you can make a difference. I believe in you, Kayrus. I hope we can still meet."
God Mervous hugged the guilty Endrick.
"Never tire of doing good. I will always remember your kindness."
Endrick then walked back. There were guards who had been watching him from a distance.
After all, Endrick would certainly not try to escape again. He was fed up with everything.
Now, it was just God Mervous himself. He was not afraid of anything but he was hesitant because right now, he had no strength. He did not know how he could overcome all his problems.
God Mervous sat back on the wagon and waited until the horse brought them to a huge palace gate. Sleepiness attacked God Mervous.
A few minutes passed, God Mervous woke up as a cloak was thrown at his feet.
"Wake up, fool. Put that on."
God Mervous turned his gaze to stare at the heavy cloth robe at his feet.
"This?" God Mervous looked puzzled for an explanation.
"Prisoners of the palace are required to wear that robe. Including you," said the commander.
God Mervous seemed to sigh softly.
He then dismounted and immediately put on the robe given to him.
"Follow me." The commander led the way with God Mervous in tow.
The palace, which was not much different from God Mervous' place of power, made the man less interesting to look at.
The guards then opened the doors of the large palace, letting the commander and himself into the palace.
Many eyes stared at him. It was as if they could already read his destiny.
They just didn't know who they were staring at right now. If God Mervous was still himself, he could be sure that all those people would have fallen to his fury.
"Your highness. I come bearing a prisoner for you."
A lopsided smile rose at the corners of the lips of the man sitting in power.
"Hm... I had expected, there would be good news for me today. You may return to your place, commander."
The commander's retreat made God Mervous only then turn his gaze to the man who told the commander to leave.
He did not seem to recognize the man he believed to be Libradon at all. However, God Mervous was quite surprised by the figure of the companion at Libradon's side.
She was...
"Goddess Earth.."
God Mervous muttered the name along with the woman who was also staring into his eyes.