Aurianna glanced at him, her curiosity montarily piqued. "Where are Peter and the others, anyway?"
"I lost track of them, but I’ll catch up." He nodded. "See you later this evening, Lady Aurianna."
With a quick bow, Juvin turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Aurianna standing alone once more. She watched him go, shaking her head.
"What a strange guy," she muttered, resuming her walk. After a few steps, she glanced around. "Where are Avriel and Zagan, anyway?"
She sighed, feeling a surge of restlessness. "I’m so bored.. And I guess I’ll have to make more suckers faster than usual. This wasn’t part of my plan. But I guess so tweaks to it wouldn’t hurt," A wry smile crept onto her face before she munched in so cake.
_________
’In this world, is there such a thing as compassion or empathy? I doubt it. The sisters kept telling that people like that exist, yet all I’ve seen is the cruelty of Imanity,’ thought the young demon boy, his spirit worn thin. His grey skin was drawn tightly over his bones, his black sclera sunken and empty beneath short, ragged black hair. The dry, cracked skin around his neck bore the cruel indent of a slave collar, and he wore shabby clothes. He walked through the crowded market, his owner’s grip pulled rcilessly in the chains attacked fo his collar, forcing him along like a chained animal.
Detrius’s gaze remained hollow, fixed forward as the people passed by without a second glance. This sight was far too common to warrant sympathy.
’Why must my life be like this?’ His weary thoughts turned toward his master, a tall, sneering man with blonde hair and a twisted mustache. ’What did I do to deserve this suffering?’
Suddenly, his legs buckled beneath him. He crashed to the ground, trembling. His body was overwheld by fatigue, the constant pain, and fresh bite marks covering his bruised skin.
"What the hell?! Get up, you worthless trash!" His master’s voice sliced through the noise of the market, and a sharp kick connected with Detrius’s head. Pain flared as blood trickled down his face, staining the ground beneath him.
With a groan, Detrius forced himself to his feet, swaying.
"Much better." The man sneered down at him. "I can’t have you embarrassing like that. I’m about to et a very important guest, and you, my boy, are to be my chair. Wouldn’t want you falling apart before then," he laughed, his eyes filled with cruel satisfaction.
Then, the man’s expression shifted to sothing uglier—a lecherous grin that made Detrius’s stomach twist with dread. "But we still have a few hours before he arrives. Why don’t we head back to the hotel and... finish our business?"
Detrius felt bile rise in his throat. He wanted to scream, to fight, to do anything but comply. But the slave collar around his neck tightened at the very thought of resistance, its magic sinking deep into his nerves, promising a punishnt so painful he’d wish for death.
’Why must I suffer like this? I hate this human. I wish he’d just drop dead,’ Detrius thought, his anger seething beneath his despair. But he knew that no one would help him, that the world would continue to turn, uncaring of his suffering. The cruel, unforgiving world of Imanity offered him no rcy.
As they walked through the crowded street, sothing unusual caught Detrius’s attention—a woman, radiant as she passed, with skin like snow and an almost unreal beauty, she was like a goddess. He wasn’t the only one who noticed. His master’s lecherous gaze imdiately turned toward her, unable to hide the twisted admiration in his eyes.
Detrius scanned the crowd, noticing that so onlookers were eyeing the woman with an expression not of awe, but of fear. That fear kindled a desperate idea. It was a reckless, dangerous gamble, but the crushing weight of hopelessness left him feeling there was nothing left to lose.
His mind flashed back to a horrific mory—the room lined with bodies, n and won from all races, limbs severed, their bodies hanging there as they were still alive. The forr ace which he used to be once a part of. The recollection nearly made him falter. But before he could second-guess himself, Detrius made his move.
He dashed forward, stumbling toward the woman, and fell at her feet, wrapping his arms around her legs in a last-ditch plea. "Please, save ! I’m begging you!" His voice, soft and lodic, had always been a blessing and a curse, a trait that had led to his purchase by cruel hands, saving him from one hell to another hell. But now, he hoped it might stir the slightest rcy in this woman’s heart.
Aurianna glanced down, her eyes glinting with disdain. "What?" She scoffed, her gaze cold and unyielding as she took in the sight of the filthy slave boy clutching her legs.
"Please, miss," Detrius begged, lifting his hollow green eyes to et her cold gaze. "I’ll do anything, just... save ." His voice cracked with desperation.
"You wretched slave!" Detrius’s master roared, storming up to them. He yanked hard on the chain connected to Detrius’s collar, his face twisted in fury. "Let go of her, now!" He shouted, tugging harder as the collar around Detrius’s neck began to shock him. Waves of pain coursed through his body, but he clung on, refusing to release her legs.
At that mont, one of Aurianna’s companions, Saem, approached, raising an eyebrow at the scene. "Is soone causing trouble for Aurianna?" he asked, his tone amused but mildly curious as he took in the sight of the desperate boy which caused his heart to ache.
Aurianna’s gaze sharpened, a faint sneer tugging at her lips. She looked down at Detrius, her eyes devoid of warmth. "Give a reason to save you," she demanded coldly.
Detrius’s heart pounded as he stared up at her, feeling the pain radiate from his neck, yet unwilling to let go. His dull green eyes t hers white crystal like eyes, and for the first ti in a long ti, he dared to hope—even if only a sliver.
"I-I’ll be loyal," he stamred, his voice barely above a whisper. "I’ll do anything you ask, no matter what. Just... please... don’t leave with him." He shivered, knowing this might be his only chance for freedom or at least a better fate.
Aurianna studied him for a mont, her expression unreadable. Then, she glanced at his furious master, who continued to yank the chain, his patience wearing thin.
"What’s it going to be?"
"Whatever I can offer you, you can have it," Detrius repeated, a desperate calmness in his voice as he clung to Aurianna.
Aurianna sighed, rolling her eyes. "What a pain." With a flick of her wrist, she shattered the chains binding him, letting it fall to the ground.
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