6 A kitten amidst Tigers

The rattling of the bars was the first thing in the morning to wake up Maddison.

"Wake up, greenhorns!" One of the guards bellowed in the corridor which connected to all cells, "Time to work!"

Slowly, he rose from the rough mattress, his skin shivering in the early breeze. He woke up feeling groggy, not used at all to start the day at night. His eyes half-open, Maddison came across the odd sight of his roommate standing right beside the bed, his dick rock hard due to the morning-wood... or so that's how he'd like to think of.

He stood there, probably not aware that Maddison was already awake.

"Ahem-" He cleared his throat, trying to stir his roommate out of stupor.

"I was about to wake you up." The man said in a rough voice, still staying beside the bed, "You good?"

"Uh, yeah-" Maddison said, getting up from his bed quickly, "Thanks for the concern."

The man just nodded before going out and following the other slaves to the Canteen, thoroughly ignoring the flushed young man behind.

'I'm still getting used to this-' His mind went straight to the sight of his roommate's cock, proudly staying erect in the torch's light, its shadow looming over, '- seeing other people naked.'

His cheeks still a bit red, he went out of his cell trying not to think too much about it. He saw a lot of men he never saw before, probably those captured some time ago as most had clothes to wear.

'I need clothes.' Maddison realized as he felt like a duck in the middle of an interview. When everyone was naked, he didn't feel that embarrassed. But now, it certainly felt like one of those nightmares he occasionally had when a child - of being the only one naked in the class.

Unconsciously, he kept his head glued to the ground, his delicate hands hiding his dick between his legs. If he were paying more attention to the surroundings instead, he'd realize the stares he'd been getting from the crowd. As things were though, he didn't dare to look at others straight in the face. He couldn't get naked in the lockers' room before, much less in front of total strangers.

Thankfully, it didn't take much to get to the Canteen. Arriving there, he saw everyone gathered around a charter pinned to the wall. It listed all ores that could be found within the mountain and all of their prices.

"Wha-" He couldn't help himself when he saw - it was just that absurd.

8 Stone - 1 nut;

4 Coal - 1 nut;

2 Copper - 1 nut;

Iron - 1 nut;

Gold - 2 nuts;

Ebony - 3 nuts;

Silver - 4 nuts;

Jewels - 5 nuts;

Mithril - 10 nuts;

Valesyl - 25 nuts.

'What even is Valesyl? I've never heard of it.'

The prices had him aghast. After all, the food charter was just beside the ore one, and it didn't look good. Actually, neither did it sound, taste, smell, or even feel good in any shape or form...

Minimum - 2 nuts;

Half a loaf of bread, and 1 cup of water.

Simple - 5 nuts;

1 bowl of soup, and 1 cup of rich vitamins.

Medium - 10 nuts;

1 plate for breakfast, 2 bowls of soup, plus 2 cups of liquid of choice.

Advanced - 25 nuts;

1 day token for unlimited food (keeping for the next day will warrant public punishment).

'What the actual fuck is wrong with this?! Do I have to find fucking Mithril to eat some breakfast? And- and- what even is Valesyl, to be worth that much? I get to eat whatever I want for getting a mythical alloy, is that it?'

There was no way he was getting anything beyond the simple pack, he concluded. Plus, that was without taking into account the need for clothes, a better room, medicine... and a plethora of other things. How was he supposed to work that much without eating properly?

Then, when his anger reached its peak, a sultry voice ringed inside his mind.

'... the weaklings are disposed of...' Instantly, all anger he felt went quiet, sizzling back to nothingness.

He was never supposed to survive. Looking around, he finally noticed how everyone's physique was - they were all mountains, almost bursting with muscle and sheer vitality. They could probably mine stone all-day-long and get at least the Medium to replenish their reserves.

Then, he looked at himself - small, frail, more feminine than manly. He was like a kitten amid tigers.

'I-' Before he could even think though, he felt a burly hand land on his shoulder.

"What's the problem greenhorn," The voice was raspy, kinda old actually, "Don't look so grim, I can help you. Of course, it will be for a certain price-" He was interrupted before he could finish though.

"No need." Maddison knew that voice, that deep but clear one, "He can come with me, being a blacksmith myself I can pull the weight of two."

Turning around, he saw his roommate, still butt-naked, in the middle of a staring contest against the old sailor-like man. He had his hand wrapped around the senior's shoulder, in a seemingly friendly sign. The smile he had on his face didn't reach his eyes, however.

Maddison furrowed his eyebrows, visibly confused, 'What are they doing- and how can he keep a straight face nude like that?'

"Fine. Your choice." The elder man grumbled before taking his pickax and going off to work.

"Here." His roommate said, giving him one of the tools lying by the wall, "Follow me."

Maddison complied - getting free help was a divine gift given his predicament. After all, just the pickax already weighed him down. And so, the two went inside one of the many tunnels departing from the Canteen, ready to start learning in the ropes.

"Eh- excuse me, but what's your name? You've never told me..."

"Blackwood, Josef Blackwood." The man replied before going silent yet again.

Maddison could only follow behind.