Chapter 16: Around the Fire Pt.2

He laughed so hard, that the soup ejected from his mouth and nose. Servus 132-X coughed harder as he struggled from the soup, irritating his throat and nose. The dwarf put down his bowl and bread and began patting his back loudly.

" Oi, lad what's wrong wit ya?"

Servus wasn't able to answer. His throat still felt like some residue of the soup had clogged its way there. He coughed violently until finally his throat was clear from the liquid. He glanced towards his comrades who were worried about him.

" I am o-okay," he reassured them. His voice was raspy and there was a little bit of pain every time he swallowed, but he was alright nonetheless. " I am okay. I apologize you just reminded me of people from my past."

" Past?" the dwarf translated the intricate hand signs the elf did.

He looked at all of them and nodded.

" The past, eh?" The dwarf relaxed himself in the stool that he sat and sighed. " The good'ol days." The dwarf caressed his chin, and began to reminisce.

The beastman stares intently at the fire, looking as if hypnotized by the dancing flames on top of the burnt wood. While the elf gave them glances and just ate her meal happily.

Servus 132-X broke the silence, " I want to thank you guys, for saving me--"

" There's no need to thank us…" the beastman interjected. " Y-you saved us at the cave, you know, and now this one," he awkwardly glanced at Servus 132-X before looking at the ground.

" The lad is right," the dwarf placed his bulky hands on Servus 132-X's shoulder. " Ya saved us more times than ya could ever count."

Their statements only put a huge burden in Servus 132-X's heart. It dawned on him, that what he did for them could have condemned them to a fate worse than death. They never signed up for this! It was only him who pushed it through because he was told by that mysterious girl from her dreams. After 365 incarnations, he still hadn't learned his lesson-- never talk to dieties, especially the ones who show up in your dreams.

By now, he should've understood already how this works. He gets reincarnated, a god or a goddess shows up, he becomes an anointed hero and then his off to save the world. That has been his cycle--365 times. Yet, every time he comes back, he really couldn't resist it.

" You don't have to this one, you know," Servus 132-X looked at them with pity. " I mean... I just...you know--"

" What are ya talking about, lad?" the dwarf firmly held on to his shoulder and slapped it hard.

" OW!"

" There's yar awakening!" The dwarf smiled, " Lad, I would rather die fighting for me freedom than dying in chains. You gave us that opportunity and for that I will forever be grateful!"

" M-me too!" The beastman spurted. " I would like to go back to home alive...to the Ordulla Forest."

" I would like ta journey this world once I'm free," the dwarf read the elf's hand gestures, " I am sick of being chained! I would rather die for my freedom than live a life like this!" The elf added.

" So brighten up, lad! We shall seek this freedom together," the dwarf smiled. " Whether we make it or not, I shall forever be grateful to ya!"

Servus 132-X's somber mood began to fade as he looked at the smiles of his new-found friends. The elf, the dwarf and the beastman.

" I, too, shall forever be grateful for your company." Servus shook hands with all of them, forming a new alliance that night, that would stand the test of time.

" My name is Servus 132-X."

" D-do you have another name?" the beastman awkwardly asked.

" Another name?"

The elf elbows the beastman on the side.

" Ow!" The beastman squirmed. " Sorry!"

The dwarf shrugged his head and sighed. " Yes, a name."

Servus 132-X was born a slave in this lifetime. He doesn't know who his parents are. What he remembered was being in a care of a slave woman that he thought to be his mother. When he was 6, he later found out that it wasn't his real mother. The woman slave was a wet nurse that the barracks had. All the newborn children are sent to her group, so they can nurse them until they're 6 years old. By then, the children would then be transferred to the other part of the barracks where they will be collared and branded.

He remembered that the woman only called them by a common name, boy for the males and girl for the female children. It was only after he was given a brand and collar that he was called by the name he uses today--Servus 132-X.

Since his memories from his past selves only emerged when he was around 10 years old, he wasn't able to give himself a name. If he did it now, that could spell doom for him. He was warned that if you give yourself a name while having a collar, it will instantly kill you. It happened to one of his friends when they were around 11 years old-- his head exploded.

Since then, the brand stuck to him as his name Servus 132-X although, he really hated it, he doesn't have a choice.

" Servus 132-X is my name. I know nothing else."

" By the gods! Are ya one of those children born inside a slave farm?" the dwarf asked in distraught.

" Yes." Servus 132-X nodded.

" I-I thought it was just a story to scare us when we were young!" the beastman astounded with what he heard.

" Clearly, it won't matter what race you are. There will always be monsters!" the elf signed.

" By the gods, lad!"

Servus 132-X nodded again. " I was born there. I know nothing of my parents nor where they're from. But I want my freedom as badly as you all do, because, this world…" he smiled at them again.

" I gotcha, lad," the dwarf smiled back. " But you know, for a slave, you have a very good noggin!"

" It's a gift, I guess."

" W-well, thank the gods for that g-gift!" the beastman stuttered.