The smell of filth and damp earth filled the stuffy basement air.
Fathir lay on his back on the cold, hard stone floor, the tattered scraps of his clothing not enough to block the chill that pierced his skin.
The only source of light was a flickering torch at the end of the corridor, casting long, dancing shadows on the damp stone walls.
Water dripped from the ceiling somewhere in the darkness, creating a constant, rhythmic sound.
Soon after, the sound of heavy footsteps approached.
The footsteps stopped in front of the cell.
A muscular man stood there, his large body blocking the torchlight. In the darkness of his face, a pair of red eyes glowed. He wore a thick leather chestplate and sturdy boots. "Boy, you're lucky today. Someone wants to buy you," the man said. His voice was hoarse.
Fathir lifted his head slightly. "Me? Why?"
"How should I know!" the man retorted. He inserted a key into the lock and turned it. There was a loud CLANK, followed by the screech of the iron door being pushed open.
The man stepped inside and stopped, staring directly at Fathir. He observed Fathir lying there in his tattered clothes.
He was silent for a moment
After that The man laughed softly. "Never mind. I take my words back. You might not be lucky... because it's safer to be here than to go with that woman."
Fathir frowned. He slowly sat up and scratched his head. "Why?"
The corners of the man's lips lifted into a smile. "She's a criminal wanted by all the kingdoms. Vampires, dragons, humans, goblins, dwarves... hahaha, enjoy yourself."
Fathir nodded. He then stood up straight, facing the man. He smiled back.
"I'm already dead."
The man chuckled, "Is that so."
He then gestured with his chin towards the open door. "Follow me."
Fathir walked out of the cell. The rough, cold stone floor was immediately noticeable against his bare feet. Each step felt damp, and fine grains of sand stuck to his skin.
What kind of fate is this... Fathir thought to himself,
He walked behind the muscular man, climbing a steep stone staircase. Along the stairs, the walls on both sides were lined with more cells. Fathir passed a cell containing a half-wolf man curled in a corner, then another cell inhabited by a middle-aged elf with wilted, pointed ears. The faces of the slaves in the cells looked hopeless, their eyes dead and showing no signs of life.
At the top of the stairs, in a slightly brighter room, the man stopped. Standing before them was a woman. Her hair was short, with a color gradient from sky blue at the tips to a deep purple at the roots. Her large eyes were violet, her skin was pale and smooth, and her lips looked soft. Dark blue clothes and intricate gold jewelry adorned her neck and ears.
The man smiled broadly. "Lady Lairas, this is the slave."
Fathir looked at the woman before him. The woman looked back at him and smiled sincerely.
The muscular man turned to Fathir and said, "As I told you, he's just a level 9 assassin, but I'm sure, my lady, he will be very useful to you!"
The woman named Lairas nodded gently. "It's alright." She took a step forward and gently touched Fathir's chin, lifting it until their eyes met. "so...handsome...."
Fathir just raised an eyebrow.
Lairas turned back to the slave trader. "How much?"
The man smiled while rubbing his large hands together. "20 thousand gold coins!"
Lairas nodded. She snapped her fingers, and instantly a thick leather pouch appeared in her hand, making a heavy clinking sound. She handed it to the man. "It's all there. You can count it~."
The man's eyes lit up. He opened the pouch and quickly poured its contents onto a nearby table. His thick, rough fingers moved nimbly, separating the piles of gold coins, his lips moved silently, counting every piece.
When he was finished, the man nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you for your visit!"
Lairas gave a short nod, then took Fathir's hand . She started walking out of the place. Fathir remained silent, pulled along as he stared at the woman's back.
"Why did you buy me? I don't even want to live anymore," Fathir said in a flat voice.
The woman let out a small laugh. "That's precisely why," she answered without turning around.
Fathir frowned. He didn't understand what the woman meant.
They finally arrived at a large wooden door,
Sunlight immediately hit Fathir. After so long in the darkness, the light was painful. He instantly squinted and covered his eyes with his arm, feeling an unfamiliar warmth on his skin.
Lairas's steps halted outside. She turned around, facing the slave trading building. The building was a windowless stone fortress, looking sturdy and grim, with its only entrance made of thick iron.
"Look at this place for the last time," Lairas said.
Fathir's expression didn't change. He lowered his arm, his eyes slowly adjusting, and also looked toward the building.
"Shield," Lairas said. Instantly, a translucent, light-blue dome of a shield surrounded them both.
The woman then murmured softly, "Nfiri."
BOOM! BOOM!!
A massive explosion tore the building apart from the inside. Stones flew, and a great fire erupted from every opening, consuming everything. Amidst the roar of the flames, several panicked screams from the guards and desperate cries from the trapped slaves could be heard.
Fathir's pupils dilated. His once-resigned face now tensed with shock and disbelief. "You crazy shit... what did you do? There were many innocent slaves in there, are you fucking crazy? Oh right, you must be crazy! must be!" he said, his voice trembling as he slowly turned towards Lairas.
The woman turned to face Fathir. Her movement was calm, and her face showed no emotion no remorse, no satisfaction, just empty smile "that's their fate" she says