Emerald, The Slave Girl

The look in Emerald's eyes vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her staring blankly at him, devoid of any emotion. She viewed him as just another customer in her Master's bustling stall, but Kai was determined to change that.

"Don't worry, I'll save you," he declared, earning a confused glance from her. This was the first step he needed to take.

"Take me to your Master," he continued.

Emerald lowered the sign she held and tucked it under her arm before walking toward the stall where her Master sold his wares. The sun beat down relentlessly; sweat trickling down her forehead as she trudged on.

'Save me? What does he mean by that?' Emerald pondered. She was ten years old, appearing older than this boy, yet he spoke with an unusual confidence.

Soon, they reached the stall, which stood prominently among the others. Emerald's Master sold weapons and armor for Adventurers and Magus alike; everyone venturing into the dungeon's jaws needed protection. His stall had one of those rare doors leading inside.

As they entered, Kai was taken aback by what he saw: several display cases lined with gleaming weapons.

'They must be magical weapons,' Kai thought, eyes wide with desire. But he quickly recalled the Brandon family's storage, which already contained valuable weapons, some lost during the Imperial city's fall. In this timeline, he intended to prevent that from happening.

In this world, two kinds of weapons existed—Regular and Magical. Regular weapons were sharp and effective but lacked magical energy. In contrast, Magical weapons were crafted from rare ores and highly sought after. Once a perfect weapon hit the market, it was swiftly bought by a noble, fetching prices far beyond what a commoner could afford. Emerald's Master possessed numerous Magical weapons, indicating his wealth, especially after spotting a noble exiting the stall just as they approached.

The Master sat at a wooden table, counting his profits. Kai swallowed hard upon seeing the stack of silver Asura coins and a few gold ones. It was far more than a commoner should have. With such wealth, he could expand his stall and still have plenty left over.

"Master," Emerald's voice cut through his thoughts. "He says he wants to speak with you."

Her Master, a bulky middle-aged man with a scar running down from his forehead to his chin, looked up. Kai stepped forward, unfazed as the man's eyes widened in disbelief.

'What's a Brandon doing here?' the man thought, shock mingling with respect. The Brandon family was notorious throughout the city—Xavier's reputation at the Institution of Magic and Markus Brandon's past feats loomed large in everyone's minds, 'I shouldn't anger him.'

"Ah, good afternoon, Young Brandon," the Master said, his voice laced with respect. Emerald was taken aback by the absence of cockiness, making her question the boy's true identity.

"Good afternoon," Kai replied, halting a respectful distance from the table. "I'd like to make a request, if you don't mind."

"A request?" The man raised an eyebrow, hoping the boy sought magical weapons. Such a sale could boost his business.

"Yes," Kai said, bowing slightly. "I'd like to buy your slave from you."

The Master's eyes widened in surprise, flustered before quickly regaining composure. This was a potential business opportunity.

'I can finally get rid of that girl,' he thought, eyeing Emerald out of the corner of his eye. 'I was planning to keep her until she was old enough to sell in the red-light district, but if this young Brandon wants her, he can have her… for a price, of course.'

"Raise your head, boy," the man commanded, and Kai looked up, a small smile forming on his lips. The Master noticed a strange gleam in the boy's eyes but dismissed it quickly.

"I can give her to you for fifteen silver coins."

'Outrageous!' Kai shouted inwardly but maintained his composure. 'Child slaves typically go for five silver coins, and the older ones at most for ten. How can he raise the price, banking on my ignorance?'

Kai quickly formulated a plan. He understood human greed all too well and knew that he didn't need to divulge more money than needed.

"Fifteen silver coins?" Kai asked, feigning disbelief. "You must be joking. I know the worth of a child slave, I was taught by the Maids at home. I can get her for five, and that's being generous."

The Master narrowed his eyes, sensing the challenge. "You think you can find a better deal? In this market, child slaves are scarce, especially ones with potential."

Emerald's heart raced as she listened. She had grown used to being treated as a commodity, but something about Kai's voice ignited a flicker of hope within her frail slightly malnourished figure.

Kai held his ground. "Potential? Is that what you call it? She's just a tool to you, a means to an end. I've seen how you treat her. I know her worth isn't fifteen silver coins, at most you would've ended up selling her to the Red Light district if I didn't come along,"

Emerald's gaze darted between them, her breath hitching in her throat. She wanted to believe this boy could help her, but the tension in the air felt suffocating.

The Master grunted, his face hardening as soon as he heard that – his heart skipped a beat, it was almost like his mind had been read by the boy. "What do you suggest, then?"

"I'll give you seven silver coins, that's the highest I can go," Kai countered, his voice steady. "Take it or leave it. You can keep your precious slave and sell her to someone else, but you'll regret turning down this offer."

The Master hesitated, weighing his options. The boy was persistent, and there was something about him that felt different. Emerald could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"Fine," the Master said, gritting his teeth. "But you better not think of reselling her for a profit. If I hear even a whisper…"

Kai nodded, interrupting him. "You have my word."

As the Master collected the coins, Emerald felt a spark of something she hadn't felt in a long time—hope.

"Thank you," she whispered to Kai, her voice barely audible but filled with gratitude.

"Now, let's get you out of here," Kai replied, offering her a reassuring smile.

He still needed to deal with the Slave ownership change before she officially became his property but he was satisfied, he finally changed her path.