2 To be Born under a Cursed Star
There was a group six children with their age ranging from six to eleven, and along with four adults. The children were poorly dressed and malnourished.
"Waaah, Uwahhh!" A sudden shriek echoed throughout the woods scaring the birds. The cried came from a young eight years old boy, Lyndon. Lyndon was born with a condition that stunted his growth mentally, thus, he would occasionally throw a random tantrum. He could not properly manage his emotions, especially under these poor conditions.
Out of the four men, one of them wore an expensive outfit glared fiercely at Lyndon. Loy was a slave merchant and was requested to bring new slaves by one of his clients. Normally he would not bother to personally deliver the goods but for this transaction, it was an exception. The person who requested the slaves was a ranker in a Sedict, "Spirit Order." A Sedict is a group of people who go against the government in providing the use of magic to commoners, those without magic affinity, for profits. A Sedict belief is that magic should be used only when you earn it by oneself through hard work, and not by utilizing mass-produced technologies.
Seeing how Lyndon was still throwing a tantrum, Loy looked at one of the mercenaries following beside him.
"Shut the brat up. I do not care how you do it, but be gentle. The client expected six children, although, we should not worry about that one. None the less, do not overdo it, got it?" Loy explained.
"Yes, sir. Just looking at him annoys me. Unlucky for him, he happens to be born under a cursed star. No wonder his parents sold him. He would never grow up to be anything but a burden."
"Enough with your explanation of why… Just do it fast before something else can hear it."
The other children anxiously made way for the man as he walked to Lyndon.
"Waah!" Lyndon cried even louder and refused to budge as he laid on the ground.
The mercenary kicked him. Lyndon rolled as he screamed in pain. The more Lyndon screamed, the more strength the man put into his kick. He looked at Lyndon with disdain as if he was a dog. Lyndon did not utter a sound after that.
"Get up…" The man spoke.
Lyndon could not understand. He continued to lay on the ground as he tears flowed out.
The man grabbed Lyndon hair and pulled him up. Lyndon was about to utter a moan before he was fiercely slapped causing a wide scratch on his cheek.
"Don't make a sound. Don't dare disobey what I say. And don't look at me, you cursed star." Lyndon said nothing nor did he budged. When the man let go of Lyndon's hair, Lyndon ran behind the some of the other children. The children Lyndon was hiding behind wanted him to go away in fear of getting punish. Lyndon got uncomfortably to them that they could felt his haggard breathing.
"Let us keep moving. The Yellow Stone mountain is up ahead." Loy called out. Some of the children had no choice but to ignore how close Lyndon was to them. The man who punished Lyndon walked where he was.
"This Yellow Stone Mountain is said to be dangerous with beasts venturing about. Therefore, I suggest that no one is to make a sound." After that threat, the man walked back to the front where the other two mercenaries and Loy were.
