When Dusk woke up, nothing's new today. Everything from yesterday is always the same.
"What should I do today... I barely had anything left on me...
...I paid that old sunk last night right? So tired I forgot...."
He's halfway through the street where he's just about to commission but heard the sound of horns of a Parade.
And all other people is already dressed to celebrate it.
'Parade? I forgot about that.'
He didn't go far. The streets were already closing off for the parade. The guards dragged wooden fences and pushes anyone who looked too poor to be there.
Figures. The nobles finally crawl out of their golden holes once a year and everyone else has to move out of the way.
He slipped back toward the apartment. 'Cause he'd find his own view if they wouldn't let him watch at least, and this didn't cost him a damn coin. He has a brain you see.
Climbing the staircase was already risky enough since its wet and crooked, he had to be careful everytime. But climbing to the roof was just asking to die young.
Dusk still did it anyway of course. The old planks creaked when he pulled himself up through the side ladder.
"Don't break now... please don't...."
*crrreaakk*
"...shit!"
He caught the next rail just in time, and dragged himself up the rest of the way.
"Such a hassle."
Finally, he sat on the half-broken tiles, and a view of the main street that blurred by how far he was.
Everything in the town is full of life, and it's too rare even for this world. At least, this kingdom is pretty devoid of any warfare.
Or so, since there were also slaves being used to do their works. Like that girl over there, working as a waitress but wore a steel on her neck or that one guy forced to be a statue to advertise their shop.
And those with money didn't pay attention or they were simply disgusted, could be avoiding them. They were busy talking about money, money, money, always money, and how their days going on.
Not to mention, their home are near the Royal Capital and constantly has contact with the royalties there.
"Try living like us, shiny people."
_ _ _ _ _
From the central town, large amount of people gathered and celebrates the banquet after the Parade.
They already built the altar for their wedding.
"Cuin, might you set me down, please?"
"So soon? I had thought you'd enjoy the view a while longer."
The princess known as Yna has gained popularity for her outstanding authority and beauty, but the prince from another royal family on an allied kingdom, had won her heart. Even with her almost shy-like trait.
[[Yna, 20 years-old, dark grey hair and bore a calm emotion, common for a princess. And her husband, Cuin, 22 years-old, black hair and kind-looking]].
The prince, Cuin, held his princess' hand to walk between the crowds that cheered and respected them.
"Shall we? Our people awaits."
"Yes."
One slave wore a steel collar on her neck and was ordered to feed the horse right after the parade. But Princess Yna caught an eye to her, while the slave feeds the horse.
"Oh..?"
"Keep your eyes forward Yna. That filth isn't worth a glance."
Yna's hand loosened a bit from his without him noticing 'cause he's busy waving on the crowds and that only increases his pride as a high-class noble.
"Right."
But it wasn't just the princess who sees the slave. Dusk saw her too, even from miles away, she may be blurry but he can't leave an eye to that slave, at least, he feels pity and wanted to help.
Meanwhile the one who's in charge of these slaves, literally whipped the back of the female slave, since she gets a glance by the princess instead of him. Yet, she only sobbed and held the pain.
"You garbage. I should be the one the royalties seen, not the likes of you!"
"I-I'm sorry..!"
Both the Prince and the Princess walked to their destiny and ignored the faint sound of punishment. Though, Yna still wanted to free them, but even as a princess, the world chose cruelty and she does not have the power to as her father commands everything to the border of his kingdom.
_ _ _ _ _
The Parade ends but the banquet didn't. They celebrated for so long that Dusk fell asleep.
'Crap.. I can't be sleeping here.'
And when he woke up after a few minutes, he climb down because the celebration is too boring now. For him.
While walking, not even a block away from the apartment, a creaky cart slowed beside him. The driver was confusingly whether an older man or a middle-aged man.
"Hey, kid! You're from the lower block, yeah? "Dusk", was it?"
"And? What about it?"
"Name's Harn. Been hauling goods since before you were born. Thing is, I'm short on hands today. My partner got drunk last night and decided to quit this morning."
"Sounds like a genius."
"Yeah, well, genius or not, I've got deliveries to finish before sundown. You look able enough to lift boxes. Interested?"
Dusk was already walking toward the given seat next to Harn. Getting called for a hand has never happened to Dusk unless he wanted to. This may be a once in a lifetime.
"Payment's small but decent, no? So don't complain kid."
"..."
On the central town, the crowds are decreasing. The married Royalties have left a while ago. The remaining crowd are either cleaning their mess or still drunk, and some literally tried to start a fight.
"So, uhh.. Where exactly are we heading."
"Back gate of the Royal Capital....
... They've got the crates lined up, already waiting. Should've been picked it up hours ago but I was late as usual."
They reached the back gate and didn't even try to follow the front gate path, because they shouldn't even bother looking at those golds and stuff even in the gates.
"Can't even look at front huh?"
"Get used to it."
One by one, they picked up the crates, two knights are prepared to accompany them on their way to the allied kingdom after a successful trade pact.
"Alright, that's everything right?"
But it wasn't because there's still 4 more left inside the garage. 4 Animal cages with people inside, and they were slaves.
One of them was the girl Dusk saw earlier that morning.
"Our King made a pact with another kingdom....
....It wasn't just stuffs but people as well."
"...I see..."
The cage was a human size, not bear size, but obviously three people should be able to lift it with a person inside. And with the two knights' help, they easily set them on the cart.
Harn told Dusk to sit on the back of the cart to look after the slaves. But while guarding them, he couldn't help but look at the female slave he'd seen a while ago when watching that parade.
Since she's not an adult than expected, if anything, she's younger. Good eye from Dusk for recognizing her even when she's that far.
"Up-close, you look younger than me for a slave...
...Are you really that slave in the parade?"
She wouldn't talk because she's not allowed to.
"Hey! Don't start a conversation with these garbages, lest you want to be one of them."
"....."
So he can only shut up and wait until they get there. Though not until Dusk notices the wounds all around her body. He wanted to offer some help.
He found his wrapped half-eaten bread loaf. At least it was still fresh. And he splitted it into four pieces to hand it to the slaves secretly.
"...Here, eat silently. Don't get caught..."
All of them appreciatedly take the offer, all except the same girl he was concerned of. She didn't took the bread and just left it there, because she's unsure if this was a set up or not. Or may be just trying to test her.
"...You'll starve..."
Saying that, she forgets her doubts and slowly picked the bread and ate it slowly. Of course she's grateful and thanked him.
"...U-Uhm.... I-..uhm... T-Thank you..."
He only smiled, yet he didn't know to himself he actually smiles.
And the other three followed her as well. Thanking Dusk for his unique kindness. Unique for them, since nobody ever showed kindness to slaves, being seen as dirt in their foot.
"...I don't know what to say..."
"...Thank you...."
"...Thanks..."
Their appreciations hits Dusk with an unexpected Déjà Vu. He seriously felt like he heard these words before.
'.....Huh.....'
_ _
"Dusk, thank you."
"Don't forget us, Dusk!"
_ _
He couldn't confirm whether he was just hallucinating or did it really happened before. If it's a shattered memory.
"That's... weird."
They reached the forest. The two knights riding horses strengthen their guard, because it wasn't just bandits or hunters that roam around these area but Corrupts as well.
Dusk looked around and it's a little dark inside the forest, good thing it wasn't dense or anything. Just pile of trees and destroyed huts.
"We're still miles away from our destination. It'll take about several hours to get there, so we're going to camp by the river there."
They stopped by for a break near the river after hours of traveling and they're still far but they successfully entered the ally's border. It's just a matter of time to get there.
Dusk was still on lookout of the slaves, remained sitting on the cart while Harn admired the river and washes his face.
But Dusk just looks at this particular slave, since unlike the other three, she's utterly quiet, well obviously, but the other three looks genuinely afraid.
"Hey."
He leaned closer ti'll his chin touches his knee, he tries to see if she would answer but what came out is an awkward silence.
"...."
"I.... guess, I shouldn't talk with you."
But when he looked away and leaned back to stare on the hazed forest, then she quietly talks with a shaky voice.
"...P-Please.... I.. don't want to... go back... in there..."
His eyes were still on the fogs, but he listened to her deliberately. He knew she would talk if she's given a little chance to.
"....I see...."
He looked towards the slaves again, on the other three, their expression says it all as they needed help too, not just her.
Half an hour later, Harn goes back to continue the travel and the knights who'se recently sitting on the log were already riding their horse.
"Let's go. Did you sleep well boy?"
"I didn't even slept."
The cart began to move, it's still afternoon but going back at dawn will be absolutely pain in the ass.
_ _ _ _ _
Hours of travel, they've reached the allied kingdom where the Prince Cuin lives. Right now they will set the "items" down and collect the exchanged ones.
The four cages were picked up one by one, but when it was turn of the fourth cage where the specific girl is chained in...
"Don't worry... I will come for you and the other slaves. Keep your hopes high, and don't bury it...
.....Wait for me, okay?"
"T-Thank you."
He made a promise to her and to her friends. And he can never break that promise once he made it. Dusk grabs her pinky, so their promise is locked in.
"Dusk. My name."
"I-I'm Yuz-"
"Hey! Are you talking with that filth!? Get her down already!"
Dusk instantly obeys, but he's disappointed he didn't catched her name because the knights already lifted the cage and talking now will cause her trouble.
And after they picked up the exchanged items, they left. Harn didn't think about those much more as they're just going to deliver, except Dusk who's trying to recall her name.
'Yuzu? Yuza? Yuzi?...
... What's her name?'
Harn noticed.
"What's wrong, boy?"
"N-No its nothing."
He didn't asked further if it was personal for Dusk, and just continued to mind his business.
'I'll definitely save them.'
But the wound all around her body was still very concerning for him as he didn't know what was she experiencing.
'Come to think of it.... she's the only one with most injuries....
....Aside from the other three.'
.
>> Proceed to the next Chapter <<