20- Contrasts Pt.1

Servus 132-X watched in horror as the new slaves were brought to the clearing in the middle of the scorching heat. The knights beat the slaves into a pulp and their wails of agony, the slow mid-morning air.

"Why, my Lord?!" The bloody beaten dwarf pleaded for an answer, but Lord Prestonheim stood there silently--emotionless.

"Ahhhh!!!" The young beastman whimpered as a scabbard struck his back.

Servus 132-X stood there unable to do anything about it. Their own beastman tried to step forward to help the pleading men, but was stopped by Servus 132-X and the dwarf. They have to drag him away from the scene.

"What do you think your doing?!" Servus 132-X asked the beastman as he struggled to restrain the stronger being. He dragged him out of the scene and into a nearby shade away from the appalling view.

"I will save--" the dwarf put his hand on the beastman's mouth to avoid him from speaking anything that might upset their new employer.

They both struggled to wear him down. The beastman became stronger by the moment as the wails grew louder. The three of them rolled and tussled in the grassy shade beneath a tree. The beastman was able to get up when the dwarf caught both of his knees. Both of them stumbled to the ground and then the struggle continued.

"L-lad don't do it," The dwarf clinged on the beastman's knees, pinning him down. " I-I b-beg you lad, don't--" the dwarf took a pummeling to the face.

Dazed, the dwarf finally let go. The beastman rose up from the tussle only to be tackled back down again by Servus 132-X, knocking him back to the ground. Another struggle ensued, but this time, it was only a brief struggle.

The raging beastman grabbed Servus 132-X by the next and flung him over to the tree, opening his wounds. Servus 132-X got winded and fainted in pain. It was only at the intervention of the elf that the beastman finally tamed down.

The feral beastman, seeing what he has done, broke down in tears. The elf hugged him tight and tried to console him the best way she could, holding back her own tears as the wails finally stopped.

Night time came. The wounded Servus 132-X and the dwarf hunched themselves by the heat of the campfire. Their faces were battered with bruises and scratches. It has been a crazy day for them. After being knocked around by their raging beastman, they have to help establish an opening for the collapsed cave.

They have to drag their injured bodies to the collpased cave site, picking up rocks and debris while the being scrutinized by the prying eyes of the other slaves. Some of them would spit at the ground they would pass by. While others would spat curses at them when the knights aren't looking.

"Look! It's the dogs of the Principalia!" one slave mocked. " Bark you fucken dogs! Woof! Woof!"

"Look, it's the killers!"

"They fucken killed those other slaves to get merits!"

It was a mess. A whole big mess, no thanks to what happened earlier during the day. Or is it really about it?

Servus 132-X started to doubt his decisions. Even with the persuasion of that mysterious woman, it didn't felt right at all. The mysterious woman's promises of guidance seemed to be of naught. He felt his burden becoming heavier as other lives are increasingly becoming dispensable because of his gamble.

But what can he do? He only wanted to live. Or should've he just kicked the bucket all along and be done with it? He's grown weary of the decision every single day. Not to mention, that they hadn't heard anything yet from Lord Prestonheim or the Principalia about approving their expedition to the burrow of abyss.

The thought of it is slowly eating him up. Hopefully, that mysterious lady from his dreams, would be true to her promise and help them as she said. Now, here he is again praying for help from an unknown deity. A very frustrating thing, that he promised he won't do again.

"It looks like old habits never die." Servus 132-X mumbled.

"Whut iz that ya say?" The dwarf overheard him and decided to break the silence.

"Nothing. I am just…" Servus sighed. "..those people died because of--"

"Us?" The dwarf interrupted. "Listen, lad. We all 'ave a part to play in this. I knew from the very start that something like this might occur. I just didn't think it could be much sooner."

"It was on me. I started this--" Servus wanted to place the blame to himself, when suddenly the dwarf grabbed his slave collar.

"Listen 'ere, lad!" the angry dwarf bumped his head with Servus 132-X. "I don't wanna hear another shet like that coming out of yer mouth!" He clenched his jaw in frustration.

"I followed yah because of yer plan," the dwarf pushed him back. "I wanna believe, that we can make it. Or maybe it's just me and my overly positive outlook to one day be free once more. But please, lad. Please, push through with yer plan and don't leave us hanging like what--" the dwarf bit his lip and held himself from speaking any further.

There was another air of cold and awkward silence. Servus 132-X felt the dwarf's words.

Not soon after, the elf made her way to them with a tray of boiled beans in tomato soup and some bread. She passed gave their portion and sat at the opposite side of the campfire. The warm food should've whetted their appetite, but no one was eating. Instead, the silence continued until Servus 132-X broke it.

"Where is he?" Servus 132-X referring to the beastman.

"He's still under the tree, sitting there. I checked," the dwarf read the elf's gestures. "There was really nothing we can do about what happened earlier. I told him that," she added.

"We are slaves," the dwarf slowly sipped his soup. "But, maybe we can make that difference."

Servus 132-X stared at his soup, trying to somehow get answers on the swirls from the delicious liquid. But who was he kidding? He can never find it there.

He glanced at his new friends faces and saw their painful struggles and their dreams. He knew that only he can make it happen. If he would just stop sulking over things that he cannot control and focus on the things that he can change.

Maybe, if he makes the first move, like what the mysterious lady told her to do, it might make the difference.

Maybe, he shouldn't rely too much on that deity, after all that became his downfall the last time.

Maybe, he should rise up to the occasion, after all, he was a hero for 364 lifetimes.

Servus 132-X has finally decided. He left his warm bowl by his seat and walked out of the campfire.

" Where are ya goin?" the dwarf asked.

" To do something," he walked out of their campfire and went to find the beastman.