When the doors opened again in that time of the day when they never do. Raijen knew as his belly squeezed hard and his body started shaking, something was wrong.

He knew at some point this day will come, but was hoping he had just a little bit more time.

Feeling himself falling into a trance he watched the men shout out orders, not really hearing anything, but he knew what they wanted. As the one who seemed to always know which ones were to be taken looked in his direction, the sword guards green eyes met his.

There was no urgency, just a mechanical stare he gave to people as he assessed them. Slowly, Raijen hugged Alysha around shoulders and kissed her forehead as he rose from the ground where they played the game just a moment ago.

Looking down at Alysha he gave her a smile, wondering how his face looked, with stiff lips in a grimace of a smile and watering eyes. Her eyes went wide and her lips quivered, grabbing his leg she held onto it with all her strength.

“Don’t go Raijen.”

Her voice cracked and tears spilled from her eyes.

Noticing one of the guards closing on them Raijen panicked and untangled himself from her grasp, going for the line forming near the doors.

Part of him was oddly excited about the prospect of finally seeing the outside world. But much bigger part forced him to drag his feet on the rough surface of the room in dread. Unexplainable fear of what is beyond that door and what kind of cruelty is waiting for him.

“You promised never to leave me! Don’t go!”

Turning around Alysha was scrambling to her feet preparing to run to him.

“Don’t go! You promised!”

Finally getting up she started going in his direction, screaming so the whole room could hear her. She has drawn the attention of every guard in the room.

Knowing what would happen if they run out of patience which they didn’t have much from his experience, Raijen put his hand up to stop her.

“Stop there, you can’t go with me, you know that. I know what I said, but we both knew this day will come.”

She stopped hesitating, staring at him her face showed nothing but anger. Lowering his head Raijen attempted to turn around, watching her eyes he knew she wasn’t done, but hoped she would listen to him at least his one time.

“I don’t care! You said you would never leave me. Did you just lie to me?!”

Turning around and walking away from her, Alysha screamed back again.

“You are just a liar! I hate you Raijen! Why did you lie to me all this time?"

Clenching his fists he kept walking towards the line, to bear her anger burned his eyes, cold sweat broke all over his body.

I have to leave before something happens, I have to keep going, I’m sorry Alysha.

Glancing to the side one of the guards passed around him clenching wooden stick high in the fist.

“Raijen, please…”

Alysha’s voice cracked again and she started wailing as her knees hit the ground.

The calmness overwhelming Raijens senses stopped him from realizing his legs carried him right back to her. Past the men who were now swinging to stop her, wrapping arms around Alysha.

The sting of the wood on his back brought him back to reality.

The echoing smack of wood on the flesh pulled Alysha from her stupor as she stared in his pain strained face.

“Don’t say that Alysha, you know I love you.”

Giving her his best smile with left eye closed, expecting another smack any moment. Raijen braced any muscles his scrawny body had to protect him.

“I can’t keep that promise, but I will give you diff--.”

Another hit on the flesh echoed in his ears. No one else could hear it as much at that moment, but for him, it was the loudest sound ever.

“I will come for you. Alysha, one day, I will find you and take you away.”

Feeling his back going numb he looked into her beautiful eyes.

“Can you believe me one more time?”

As he forced the last words through his teeth, his hands slumped down over her back.

She was frantic again, realizing what was happening and without a doubt blaming herself. Raijen couldn't blame her, she was just a child, for him there was no one to blame but them, but he couldn’t force himself to say more for the pain his body was in.

“I love you too.”

Sniffing she put her hands on his skinny chest.

“I will wait, just don’t make me wait too long.”

Nodding, his lips parted to answer but another hit, hit his head, turning his vision dark. Feeling his body being lifted and carried away Raijen hanged on the verge of unconsciousness.

Losing track of time, he realized what was happening when they carried him through some kind of corridor. The walls were made from grey cut stone and the floor was covered by hardened gravel, metal enforced boots echoing through the halls.

But what twisted knot in his stomach was when he saw another door, same as the one on his room. For a brief moment thinking it was just him seeing things from the delirium, but when they turned a corner there was another long corridor.

Raijens throat went dry as he saw many sets of doors, some opened, some being opened by other guards and taking children out. Forming lines, same as theirs and being escorted deeper into the tunnels.

The scope of this place is huge If each of these doors is hiding another room like the one I was in. And we may have passed dozens of them, and how many others I didn’t see? Then does it mean this place contained hundreds or thousands of slaves, people raised to be slaves?

For what purpose?

Noticing he was awake, the guard forced him to continue on feet. Following two columns they were led outside of the tunnels. The hopes to finally see the sky turned to ashes as they exited into a huge hall. The place was massive, easily ten times bigger than the room he spends the last five years in, since being born in this world.

Same as the smaller room the only windows which brought in the wind were long slits near the roof, there was no way to climb it and the slits were barred by steel bars. They brought in some light, but most of the light was provided by torches, candles in chandeliers and four fires in the corners.

He was standing in the middle of the front rows, hidden behind lines of children waiting for what was to come. The fact that he was probably the only one really understanding what is going on here, and that he couldn't do anything about it made his knees shook, his guts twisted in fear and anticipation.

As all were ushered in and doors closed with those black iron bolts crushing any hope for escape another door opened and men walked in.

Dividing the children into groups of girls and boys separately, and further into smaller groups by some criteria which eluded him.

Once the group consisted of forty they were taken out a separate way. Passing an old man scribing into an old looking leather book.

Raijen was forced into the fifth group of boys, and as they passed the old men asked them for the name they were assigned by the guard.

“Where do these go?”

“East, Valdag, this is the last group in that direction.”

Answered the guard to the old men.

Raising a wrinkled eyebrow, the old men signed, shrugging.

“There is no one acceptable in this batch, all scrawny and meek, move them out of here.”

The soldier stared at the boys next to him grunted, glancing at the men.

“Serg, if you don’t take someone, we are going to have a problem with Vultures.”

Pointing a wrinkled finger at the children he shook his head.

“They are going to be more pissed off if we send them someone like them.”

The torrent of thoughts and emotions that rushed through Raijens head made him uncomfortable.

They want to send us to a different city. From what I saw so far these people are really primitive, so the next city is probably really far away.

Which means I will never see Alysha again if they send me away.

But what can I do?

Is there even something I can do, or try? Run, fight, what would it do other than bring me the pain of being beaten by these soldiers?

I could die.

Is there even point in fighting this?

Looking down on his hands they were scrawny, like twigs of the sapling with unhealthy skin, from never being on the sun combined with restricted food and water, Raijen looked like walking death.

Entertaining the idea to just let them take him wherever they wanted to and try his luck in different place Raijens brain froze.

Wasn’t that exactly what you wanted the first time? To escape your old miserable life and get another chance in a different world? How could I forget it? That was everything I hoped for, for years upon years of my old mediocre life.

And yet, now that the wildest dreams of my life were fulfilled I just go on as before.

Nothing really changed, was I really thinking about letting this world carry me through like before? Worse was, where am I gonna end this way? I’m a slave, just one tool among possible thousands, I don’t matter to them or to anyone else in this world.

Only Alysha.

Without realizing, his body stopped moving, one of the guards poked him in the back with the bottom of the spear.

“Don’t stop, move it.”

Raijen turned around and not thinking about it run his hand up between the legs of the men. Giving it all the momentum and strength he could muster his fist connected and the guy with scream grabbing his balls started collapsing.

Wheezing and sobbing the men went to the ground without any resistance.

Staring at him Raijen was surprised at how effective it was. Shaking from their stupor, from the unexpectedness of the action the other guards around snickered in amusement as they regarded their fallen comrade.

“No one is going to believe this shit when they hear about it.”

The next moment their sight switched to Raijen and all the mirth disappeared from the guard's faces.

A cold sweat broke on his back as one of them lifted his spear and made his way towards him, pushing other kids to the side as murder screamed from his eyes.

Raijens legs trembled and he knew this was it.

If I want to make at least some difference, to choose a way this new life will go it has to be now.

I may have no extensive fighting training or strength and I doubted I had any speed or reflexes. But I have a shit load of experience of watching, studying and training martial arts as a hobby. And my biggest advantage right now is, that he doesn't expect any of this, he will never expect me to even retaliate beyond what I already did.

Pushing his right leg back and switching his weight so he could dodge that first lunge the guard will throw at him, Raijen stayed still.

Raijen knew he would either die here or be forced into whatever plan they had for him, there was no way to live this life his way.

So I might as well give it my all here, as a protest to this shitty second chance.

Watching the point of the spear going for his torso Raijen ducked down, his small frame easily evading the attack as he went for a tackle to get the guy on the ground and maul him for what he was worth.

But once Raijen rammed his shoulder into the guard's leg, he stopped dead on the spot. The men didn’t even budge in answer to the boy's attack.

Like a bug bitting with all his strength into the leather boot, one doesn’t really realize it is happening unless he pays attention.

And the guard did, plated elbow slamming into Raijens back pushed all the air from his lungs and crushed him to the gravel under them.

Not feeling his body, red dots appeared in Raijens vision. Expecting to be released from this hell at any moment, someones shout brought a slight smile to his cracked lips.

“Stop!”

“What?! This little fucker will die by my hand.”

The second voice was much gruffer and composed, almost happy.

“No, he won’t, you asked if someone will be sent to the mountains?”

His steel capped boots stopped next to the Raijens head.

“Here is your answer.”

The butt of the spear poked into Raijens back.

“We will send him to Vultures, they can enjoy themselves for all I care with him.”

Feeling his body is once again lifted from the ground, the guard's stinking breath tickled Raijens ear.

“You will enjoy it there, the Marak mountains are hell all on it is own.”

Before another fear could take him one last strike of pain freed Raijen from the pain into blissful darkness.