conflict

As the geers clamors echoed through the rocks and tunnels, the young adventurers squatted deeply concerned with a closer look at the camp that crowded with peoples, demons and also half breeds stone-miners while others were moved to work by the levers.

"All these geers and yet this one have been handmade rather with a machine, most likely made by those slaves" Luka stated examining the tunnel they hid in.

He has his indifferent thought about what he sees, although the Greens are no saints using all the means to gather materials, but still, they dare not to use demons or half breeders. At least not this way, of course they're not afraid of someone or halt on ethic issues, but simply, they're more valuable and useful as experiments than this.

The guards settled on chairs near another tunnel, they were carefree enough to laze around instead of inspecting the area or the slaves.

"Those gurads are strangely careless, so what's the plan?" Asked Sky.

"I am not sure if the greens family know about this place existence,...well not that it matters, finding the way to get us out of here is our first priority right now"

While Sky and Natalie nodded, Feng grinned his teeth.

"Doesn't matter!! Do you half breeds are not just rare but on the verge of extinct?! They struggle the moment they are born for a live and expect them to believe their life doesn't matter so they should accept slavery?! The hell with that!" Feng was agitated, he made his point clear crossing his arm with bold statement hinting how Luka is heartless. However, the latter replied calmly;

"Yes it doesn't, it's their own fault for being born like this, they just have to suck it up and hold a grip of life while they can, better than hopeless..."

Sky wanted to stop him but Feng's fist reached him first knocking him down into ground.

" I should've known. you are no different of those families,...a garbage!".

Feng walked away, he wanted to be alone. Luka rubbed his cheek with a sigh sitting straight.

"You went too far" Sky stated thinking he deserved that punch.

"I'm sure you've noticed it Luka. You're harsh on him, and disturbing the team's harmony"

Sky's eyes sparked with confusion from what Natalie said.

"Guys, am I missing something here?" Sky asked.

"Feng had told us about his half beast blood, and he is sensitive about it since one of his goals is to make a place half breed can live in. Where ever they go, half breeds are treated like freaks".

Sky did notice those small bumbs on his head so that wasn't surprising,.. but that big dream specially with the fog troubling humans, they will continue interfering with their life. Just like they did to their own kind. Camo isn't that massive kingdom to embrace everyone.

"I had to... so he focuses on finding an exit before playing the hero. You all noticed his first glance at them, he's driven to rescue them no matter we say" Luka then smirked with a sneer, "Thus I wanted to test his ore".

"Yea, yet still that was asshole move".

Sky turned her back to him and went to join Feng who rubbed his back with disturbed expression. Luka clicked his tongue annoyed as well.

"Don't defend him" Feng said.

Chuckling, Sky squatted crossing her legs.

"Don't worry I won't, instead I want an honest answer"

Feng didn't seem to mind talking with her, so she went on.

"Let's assume,...you saved them and all of us got out somehow, then what? How are you gonna take care of them? Well they really be able to live out there? And what about the academy? Can you continue without thinking on how their lives turned into?"

"I....not...sure ... " Feng averted his eyes.

"From what I saw they all seemed round the age of ten or eleven, they're children and need to be taken care of. Of course you might became their hero, so they'll count on you instead of learn to count on themselves"

Feng looked startled getting what she was trying to say, but he didn't interpret her.

"...If you can hold such responsibilities then we will do our best to help as your friends but,.. if its compulsive desire... then think carefully because we'll risk our lives for it".

Although he didn't like her words, she spoke the facts. How can he take care of them when he himself had runaway from City's (B) orphanage when he was six.

Shaking his head from memories of past, Feng got up.

"Then... you're pointing to let them save themself?"

"I never thought of it... but yea... sort of."

"Sort of?"

"If they can, why not give a push? So let's hear his plans first, shall we? He might be jerk sometimes but he meant good".

Glancing at Sky as she got up and walked toward the other two, with noticeable awkwardness Feng joined them again.

Lifting his head, Luka was relieved then pointed for them to sit, ignoring Sky's mockery expression as it saying 'how manly of you'.

"From what I gathered so far thanks to Jim here" Referring to the mechanical spider hopping around him, Luka continue explaining;

"...They good news is, this camp is divided into three levels or layers to be precise. The bad news, we're on the last layer, which put us in tight spot making it hard to find an exit".

"How so?"

Shifting his eyes, he answered Sky's question.

"By common sense, its mines sliver stones, they must be transferred then grimed and lastly shipping it to surface, and that's that"

"So by level you mean this process? So we're in the transfer level?" Natalie inquired. He nodded then added:

"That explains why the security is poor down here, they are so sure no slave is stupid enough to escape the tunnels they're fully gurad"

"Can we just use this tunnel to get out?"

"Can you fly to the sky, Sky?"

Smack her lips answering with a no, Luka's eyes twitched.

"So what plan we have?"

There was a hint of surprise popped in Luka's face as Feng stopped sulking.

"Disguise as slaves then figure out the exact time they transfer the stones, but we need a distraction while we sneak in..." He paused to grip a deep breath then continued...

"I will attack the excavation machine, while I'm at it... you guys join the slaves, alright?"

"Wait, isn't that a bit risky?" Feng enquired.

"Not really, however, if things didn't go as planned, I'll have no other choice to announce my identity as a Green to protect myself, which I prefer to avoid that, and here..."

Luka handed them white pills similar to what they took before.