This was Raijens first time outside in the real world and he was bound in the chains, experiencing what it really was like to be a slave. Just the meat for sale, hands, and legs for the use at labor or entertainment of others.

What is really on the other side of this? And how far do I need to walk this road before I get there? Then again, there aren’t many things they can do to me, that are worse then what I was already through.

The noise of the main square brought him out of his reverie. As if waking up from a dream, Raijen’s ears were assaulted by noises of all kinds, from laughter to angry shouts. Giggles of delight to the sobbing of the children.

Lost in the moment he felt the end of the spear in his back forcing him to move forward, he felt like he was always forced to move forward and never allowed even one step back. Going up the stairs he found himself on the wooden platform, staring down at all the people whoe came to observe or bargain for the new goods.

He got a momentary rush of excitement from being higher than all of them, somehow above them all in a space which they couldn’t enter. It lasted but a moment before the voice next to him shouted to the masess.

“And here we have a special offer from the Captain of the Atagi! Mandar Atagi himself sends his regards with slaves for the good folk of Merqes! Fresh meat from the pits of battle! Slave of the Kargar, trained for combat no less! We start on a hundred!”

Raijen’s legs almost gave out, his stomach turned over and anxiety started to set in, he wasn’t the one to look down on them. It was they, they had all the power. Judging, evaluating, deciding if he was good enough, strong enough and worth enough.

How much am I worth to pay for?

Feeling all the power being taken from him put bile in his mouth, just barely containing himself from puking all over the floor, undoubtedly promising even more pain and embarrassment. He wanted to stand with dignity, to take at least some of the control back, to decide his own fate. Looking at the sky he remembered a name from the time he was just a small child in the room.

Mowri, you bastard, are you really going to claim me as yours? You know I fucking hate you, I will kill them all, chains or not. I will slaughter them all, carve my way in the blood of every men, women, and child who ever rises the leash or touches the chains!

Looking down he saw the hungry eyes of the merchants and traders bidding for his flesh. Watching the faces of the men, Raijen wondered, if they even cared about his fate or if they were just indifferent to his struggle to regain some kind of fragile pride.

In the attempt to hold onto his humanity, he felt grasp on his shoulders, the fingers were cold, diging into the flesh over the clothes. His muscles flexed and he could feel the coldness penetrating his body. Bright green hue escaped his tightly wrapped fists before Raijens shoulders were pulled back to square which forced his body into the proper posture. Hands grabbed his bonded wrists taking him off the stage. With the final price for his sale being called, Raijens pride crumbled and he felt like his energy and will to live was sucked right out of him.

His shoulders were slouching, his head pulled down to hide the shame. His legs carefully were lifting from the ground as to not pull even more skin off of them. When he was put into the line with the other slaves, waiting to be processed, staring at his feet the whole time Raijen tried to find comfort in his mind. Little corner, place to stop the constant thinking about what was to come, what to do next. It became apparent that there was nothing he could do.

They will force me to do their bidding. They always do. These people were doing it to each other for generations, finding the most effective ways how to break each other. My mind is uselless, I might be better of not knowing any different. Being the same as others, content in the situation might even make me happy.

Feeling his body was moving as the line of slaves bound to each other started for the new place he forced one leg in front of others.

I remember the time in my old life, when I fantasized about this situation, hating characters for being unable to do anything. “Why don’t they fight back?! If I was there I would fight! I would get away and somehow survive in the wild, or die fighting rather than to live the slave's life.”

Looking at the sky Raijen saw small red birds circling above the city. Wondering for a moment about their, freedom he shook the tears in his eyes away. Staring at the sand on the ground.

There was no way for me to escape that cage as the others did. Would it be better if I let myself be turned into the sect member? Maybe if I was as fanatical, as dedicated to the cause as others I could forget about the consequences and just put at risk everything in order to please the master and gain some reward by escaping the city.

Raijen new it was impossible, he knew that desperately clinging to his sense of justice and holding his morals too close to his heart was to his detriment. Yet, he was unwilling to let them go, they were the only thing that defined him as Theo, keeping him from turning into the pawn of the dark lady. He caught himself finding comfort in her arms in his darkest moments.

Fuck my morals, where did it lead me, what did I gain from them? Just more pain, of course! There is no way some random guy from my world can survive here without giving in. Clinging to the old life will lead to the confusion, knowing there is something more than being obedient would just make one more misserable. Thinking that there is something beyond life in the cage or beyond the enforced order is crushing my soul.

Squeezing the palms together, with interlocking fingers his knuckless turned white.

Doing what others tell you, will bring you less pain, less suffering. When deciding on my actions based on what I knew, which is now irrelevant, will not serve me for survival in this place. I need to adapt faster, take the ways of these men for my own.

Lifting his head, Raijen could see the back of another man, scarred flesh run from his neck to the lower back. Red lines in the skin marked the whipped body into the submission.

That is the fate for those who stick out of the fold. For those who question, or contemplate over their choices and never do what needs to be done. If I follow I will live, If I follow I won't have to suffer as much. I’m smarter, I have an advantage over them, my training with Vultures proved that.

Looking to the side he spotted another line of slaves. At the end of it was a figure of a man covered in grey cloth, with a body where everything looked wrong, from the way he walked to the fur on his bare hands. He was the only one with a heavy iron chain over his wrists and ankles. Poeple kept their distance yet still stood near to watch and satisfy their curiosity despite the fear.

If I just let go of the past and embrace what I’m to become here and now. I can lead a decent life, maybe even find fulfillment in the process instead of focusing on a future that I can’t see.

Days filled with the hard work and little free will seemed much more temting, compared to the wishfull future of glory that will never follow.

But that is easier, isn’t it? If you just follow without questions your life should become much more simple. With no need to take responsibility for your actions or care for the consequences as they are someone else’s problem.

Feeling his shoulders relax, his head rose little higher and Raijens ears opened to the sounds around him. The red birds in the sky were still circling while chirping between each other. Drops of water hit his face as they passed fountain in the center square while surrounded by rows of other slaves, who for some reason appeared much more misserable compared to just a moment ago.

While looking forward to meeting the one he should follow. Raijens mind became more clear and focused, wondering if this was his fate Raijen let out a sight of relieve.

Just follow Raijen, just follow and you will be fine.