3 Pacified

From then on I waited to be sold and abused by some noble. But it never happened I was just a scrawny little boy maybe no one had weird proclivities.

That day was especially hot the sun nearly blinding me. When an old man in a robe came in, he had an awe-inspiring presence. But I couldn't tell what was making feel that way, I was certain it was some form of suppression. A hierarchy of power and I knew I was below him.

He walked around inspecting all of the other slaves in the men's section then he went to the women's section. At that moment I saw him look at Anna, my heart nearly stopped.

When he was done inspecting the manager who was following behind him with a smile both went to a tent at the end of the market. I was able to hear some of the words as I had snuck near there.

"Grand Mage Remmie, which slaves are you interested in buying today." Said the manager with an ingratiating smile

"I'll take all your specimens here." The Grand Mage said with arrogance.

I felt anger build up in me, that word specimens. As though we aren't even humans that we are just toys to be played with.

But I knew my anger was useless and only a threat to me so I calmed myself down and started to sneak away.

But before I could escape the Grand Mage and the manager both left the tent and saw me. The Grand Mage looked at me with curiosity and the manager's face distorted in anger.

The manager balled his hand into a fist and was about to swing it when.

"I've already bought him so don't harm the merchandise." Said the mage while examining me.

I stood still in fear a Grand Mage was someone I couldn't interest without terrible consequences. For now, I just need to become insignificant or else this attention will backfire on me.

"Run along back to where you were, boy." Said the mage with an indifferent face.

I knew at that moment I was extremely lucky if he took an interest in me it wouldn't ever good. I would definitely become his chief specimen. The one that will get to try his various experiments and tortures.

That day we were all brought into a caravan and all shipped. The men and women went somewhere else. But all the kids were put on the same caravan as we went through the desert.

We were dropped off at a camp where a middle-aged knight in faded silver armor waited for us. We were organized into little groups of 3, I ended up in a group with Anna and someone else.

I wanted to speak to Anna but I knew now was not the time so I stayed quiet. The middle-aged knight spoke to us.

"You have three paths ahead of you, we will train you to be a knight, a mage or you can just die is that understood? I will be your teacher Tiberius, I am a Grand Knight. Those that show excellent talent will be my disciples those that fail are sent back to the slave market" He said in a yelling voice

"We understand." We all said in unison by this point all of us couldn't care about what happens next or what we will suffer, those who made it here just want to escape the hell hole at all costs.

With that started our training regime we were sent into the desert in our groups. We would run to another camp while following Tiberius. I didn't know the distance between them, I just knew my feet ached after all the running.

The hardest part about running was the hot sand, we ran without shoes and we had a hard time running on sand. I even heard someone of the other kids screaming from the pain or getting bit by a scorpion.

As we ventured out further and further we found a gigantic scorpion. With its red eyes gleaming as it stared at us.

All the kids froze up in fear as we were stared down by the beast. But Tiberius unsheathed his sword much to the scorpion's chagrin and sliced it in half with one strike.

We all watched in awe at that slash, I didn't even see him move his sword after he unsheathed it. Yet he was able to slay that beast in one strike is that the power of a Grand Knight.

"This is a corrupted Fey Beast not many should be around this area. Keep running the camp very close."

In a short distance, we saw the camp there were enough tents for all 30 of us. We were organized into our tents with our groups.

"We will wake you up tomorrow for now sleep."

That night in the tent Aaron our 3rd member went to sleep. Anna and I were still awake we were lightly whispering.

"What do you think they want from us?" Anna asked.

"They probably just want to pick the talented ones and train us for their kingdom."

I knew the truth that we were just specimens but I didn't want to destroy Anna's hope. Ever since we were brought here, her eyes had been shining with happiness.

"Then let's both get selected okay." She said with a beautiful smile as she extended her hand outside of her sleeping bag.

We had already been close since the slave market, so I did the same and held her hand. I felt serene peace I haven't felt my whole life.

The next morning we were given stew and some bread. Then Tiberius took us and brought us to a training field on the camp. Around it were targets, weapons, and dummies to fight against.

"All of you grab a sword."

He brought out a bunch of wooden swords of varying length. We all went up and picked one appropriate to us.

"Now get into your groups we selected before."

I paired up with Aaron and Anna while holding my wooden sword.

"Now there are 30 people here, only 15 can remain, do whatever is necessary," Tiberius said indifferently

We looked at him confused after a few moments of no one moving. Someone couldn't handle the tension and swung the sword at one of his team members.

With that, all the tension exploded as everyone started swinging at each other. I trusted Anna but I looked over at Aaron he was nervous but he wasn't swinging, at least not yet.

"Aaron, Anna let's work together there are 15 spots and 3 of us as long as we work together things will work out fine," I said to them

Anna smiled at me and Aaron calmed himself, we saw the other kids fighting and few groups not fighting. Only 5 other people were still in a group, one of two and one of three.

No one approached us because we were a united group of 3. The other kids were fighting until someone came on top.

As the fighting continued as the fighting continued the loners started to make groups and we reached a stalemate. There were 21 people left with 7 groups of 3 wandering around. Two groups needed to be eliminated the first to strike would be struck down by everyone else.

We need to make an alliance with a nearby group if we want to survive. But we can't be too obvious about it or else they'll want to attack us.

Before I could contact another group 3 kids broke from pressure and attacked a team next to them. With that we everyone joined intake down the 2 fighting groups.

A little boy with pearly eyes was crying as he swung his sword at me. I pivoted around him dodging the sword. Then swung it at his knee joint making me fall to his knees.

I swung my sword against the back of his head and he fell down cold. With that, I retreated and Anna switched with me.

Another kid ran with his sword at Anna she parried the sword out of his hand and kicked him in the solar plexus. He fell to the ground gripping his stomach.

Aaron switched with Anna as he blocks an incoming hit from a kid behind Anna. With that, the other group was eliminated by the rest of the kids that left 15 people.

"Time," Tiberius said.

"Well done those who have failed, do not have the will to be knights you will be sent off."

With that, the 15 other kids who were hurt and crying were organized into the caravan and sent off. Wherever that was I wouldn't know but I do know that it wouldn't be good.

But I know for a fact that their fate is far worse than going back to the slave market. They just pacified us with familiar fears, rather than unfamiliar circumstances.