First week in the quarry

"Wood" Gulfram said, holding a piece of plank in front of my face, "Repeat it."

I stared at the plank for a second before clearing my throat, "W-Wood.." the moment the word left my mouth, I could already tell that the pronunciation was a little bit off.

Gulfram chuckled briefly, then gestured toward the fireplace in the corner of his room, directing my attention to the crackling firewood nestled on the hearth.

"Wood" I repeated the word once again, despite the funny accent and pronunciation, Gulfram was nodding his head in approval, a small smile plastered on his craggy face.

Then, he raised all of his fingers in front of me, "Ten repeat" he blankly stated.

Clearing my throat once more, I began repeating the word 'Wood.' However, on the eighth try, my tongue slipped, turning the word into an incomprehensible jumble. This mishap elicited another chuckle from Gulfram.

"Again.. from start." Gulfram said while crossing his arms

With a sigh, I embarked on the process once more, only to stumble once more on the fifth attempt.

"Again..."

Taking a deep breath, I repeated the process, only to fail once again at the fourth try. It was also at this moment that I realized that I was rushing the repetition, eager to finish this quickly.

"Again.."

Frustration gnawing at me, I scratched my head and took a deep breath, bracing myself for the fourth attempt. This time, I approached it with meticulous care, pronouncing each word painstakingly. By the time I finished, beads of cold sweat had already formed on my forehead.

Gulfram smiled, nodding his head in approval once more. Despite his small reaction for a small thing I've accomplished, I couldn't help but feel proud at myself.

Afterward, Gulfram rose from his chair and walked over to a shelf situated along the left wall. As he searched for whatever items he was looking for, I began to rhythmically tap on the table, the tapping synchronizing with the crackling of the fire in the fireplace.

As I waited for Gulfram to come back, my mind began to drift somewhere, particularly on how I find myself learning Artanian under Gulfram in the first place.

After the cloaks departed from the scene during the commotion that occurred a week ago, Gulfram led us, along with the wagon filled with food, to his residential quarters, the very place I find myself in now. Together with everyone, we enjoyed our dinner. Unfortunately the food were limited and only us who were part of the commotion were able to get our fill.

During that time, I personally requested Gulfram to teach me Artanian to which he didn't hesitatingly agreed. Not to mention he would also do it every day with me after work.

Surely, everything comes with a price right? But that wasn't the case with Gulfram, When I inquired about what he wanted in exchange for teaching me, he simply shook his head and offered a warm smile in response.

Such a good man... a rarity in this land full of cold blooded assholes.

However, this dinner proved only to be a rare occurrence. In the days that followed, we were provided with nothing more than a small piece of bread, and it wasn't even enough for everyone. Many other groups of miners toiled away on empty stomachs.

Fortunately, my group usually managed to secure our share of food most of the time. However, there was one unlucky day when we found ourselves working on empty stomachs, having never received our portion of food. Despite the overwhelming exhaustion and pain, we somehow managed to meet the daily quota, but it was a distressing ordeal filled with difficulties and pain.

But then again, Consuming just a small piece of bread in a day, or even none at all, seemed to make little difference. It was akin to adding a drop of water to a bucket already brimming to the top.

Regarding my fractured left arm, it had been numb since yesterday, and the discomforting ache that had accompanied me since then had finally subsided. However, that was only the case as long as it remained still. The slightest movement would send a sharp jolt of pain coursing through me.

If I continue to let it heal like this... then maybe, I would finally be able to use my left arm once again and then life here would be so much easier.

My heart rate begins to increase as I felt a sense of excitement wash over me, I didn't even notice that a grin was already forming on my face.

That was, until another thought crossed my mind.

For that to happen, I must avoid myself getting involved in any problems that would lead to scuffles and fights... However, the predicament lay in the fact that even when I tried to evade these issues, new problems inevitably found their way to me. Then, the image of the smiling cloak captain, forcing Gulfram to lick his shoes, quickly surfaced in my mind.

A shudder coursed through my entire body as that memory resurfaced. The excitement that had been boiling within me just moments ago now lay extinguished, replaced by a fluttering sensation in my chest; a mixture of determination and caution.

Clenching my right fist tightly on the table, I failed to notice the approaching footsteps of Gulfram until his figure suddenly emerged before sitting at the table in front of me.

"Oh?" My eyebrows rose in curiosity and slight anticipation as I observe the wooden box on his hands, It's also one-third the size of a meter.

Opening it, it revealed a small assortment of various items. Some were crafted from wood, others from metal, and a few were made from materials I had no knowledge of.

Then, Gulfram picked up a small pin and held it in front of my face, its tip glistening in the fiery glow from the fireplace.

"Metal" He stated before bringing up another item; a nail. "Metal" he repeated, bringing it up in front of me, "Now repeat.. my word."

A small part of me was slightly disappointed at the fact that it was not a gift for me, Although I was still quite satisfied that I could still continue learning Artanian under Gulfram.

And just like that, we spent the next hours learning the basic words of Artanian just like the other days, but with the laughing that took place inside of Gulfram's quarters right now, I already bet the neighbors outside are now struggling to sleep in their quarters.

"Spoon" I repeated one last time, staring at the rusty silver utensil resting between Gulfram's fingers.

After the word left my mouth, Gulfram seemingly nodded his head in approval before taking a deep and long breath.

"Tomorrow again, same time." Gulfram stated with a smile, offering his hand to me.

"Okay, thank you.." I responded, shaking it at the same time.

With that completed, I rose from my chair and began to dust off my pants. My eyes shifted from my newly acquired old tunic down toward my pants, the same ones I had brought with me when I first arrived in these unfamiliar lands.

I then rub my chest as I began to make my way towards the door, my fingers tracing the contours where my ribs now protruded due to my current state of extreme thinness. Since my arrival in the quarry, I had noticed the considerable weight loss and the prominence of my bony limbs.

If those in charge of this quarry continue to provide rations to us miners in the same meager fashion, then it's going to be a matter of time before I become a pile of bones.

God fucking save me... if there's even one anyway.

Upon reaching the door, I cautiously pushed it open, and it emitted a creaking sound. The town appearing before me as I stepped outside of Gulfram's quarters, before closing the door behind me.

The cold night breeze swiftly wrapped around me, causing a shiver to course through my entire body. I glanced around the dimly lit surroundings before finally making my way towards my group's shed.

Inhaling a lungful of cold air, I continued walking on the pathway, passing a group of miners on their way to their night shifts, most of them topless. I could even notice some of them shivering, with their famished bodies, they barely look any different from a dead person.

In that instant, I couldn't help but recollect the trade I had made: my sweater in exchange for a ragged tunic and a meager piece of bread, all from a fellow miner a block away from our shed. I had my reasons for it. The sweater had been stifling to wear while toiling under the scorching sun, and now, with the tunic, although it might be stifling as well, it would at least offer some protection against freezing to death during the night. The other reason was plain and simple: the gnawing hunger in my belly.

Sometimes, even gold would probably lose it's value in the face of pure desperation...

With that, I continued to walk through the night, alone in my thoughts.

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CHAPTER DONE!!