Chapter 21: Contrasts Pt.2

From a distance, Servus 132-X could see the silhouette of a man sitting with his knees to his face. The pale glow of the moonlight lit the tree were the beastman sat since the afternoon. Servus 132-X is concerned for him, afterall, he's part of his ragtag team.

He approached the sobbing beastmean while trying to find words to say to the poor slave. As he walked closer, he noticed that the beast man had his own bowl and bread by his side untouched. He has no appetite, and understandably so.

"Hey," Servus 132-X called him out. "It's already near the time of Obscuros, comeback to the camp, let's talk there."

The beastman seemed to not hear him. He tried again, "It's going late now, maybe we should--"

"I heard you the first time," the beastman answered. "I want to get out of here. Can I run away?" He asked Servus 132-X.

"You know, you can't. You've seen what this collar can do, right?" Servus 132-X jiggled his collar.

The beastman stood up and started banging his head on the tree. "Why?Why?Why?!"

Servus 132-X tackled the beastman to the ground, trying to prevent him from harming himself further.

"L-let me go!" The beastman pushed Servus 132-X away. "Why is this my fate? I never wanted this! I was born free and I ought to die as one. But, this--aagghh!" He projected his frustration on the tree. He punched it so hard, it shook the ground.

"Enough!" Servus 132-X threw a punch at the beastman hitting him in the face. "What you're doing won't solve this!"

The beastman stood there silently, absorbing the hit he took.

"If you want change, you have to work for it!" Servus 132-X grabbed the beastman by his collar. "If you want to be free, you need to pay for it with your sweat and blood. Not with tears and brooding!"

Servus 132-X pushed the beastman away. "If you want to live free, then follow my lead. I will take you all to your desired freedom."

"H-how would you do that?"

"Watch me." Servus 132-X left the dumbfounded beastman and headed straight to the knights's camp.

There was audible laughing from the knight's camp. Servus 132-X bravely treaded towards them with his resolve in mind. He cannot wait for another day. He needed to act for their sake and for the other slaves as well.

It dawned on him while at the campfire how truly powerless they are towards these people. He doesn't want to live like that anymore. He's tired of his helplessness. He knew he could've done it sooner. But he was afraid, as afraid as the time he went to war with the armored invaders who landed at their shores during his life as Adlaw-on.

Now, he had to put some resolve to his actions. Not some half-hearted decision like what he did when he failed to save the world during his last incarnation. He's a hero of many legends from different worlds, a king from different lifetimes, and a legend sung by a thousand bards over 363 lifetimes. He must conquer this fear!

He took another step and suddenly his body froze. A looming sense of dread stopped him from his tracks.

"This feeling again!" He said to himself.

He took a deep breath and tried his best to overcome his greatest fear--failure.

He commanded his stubborn petrified feet to take a step. It took him a while to convince himself, but somehow he managed to make it move. Little by little he made his way to the knights' camp where everyone was taking their own supper.

He emerged right at the unlit side of their campfire. His presence startled the knights sitting in front of him.

"W-what do you want, slave?!" One of the startled knights asked while he tried to unsheathe his sword.

"I came here to talk with the Lord Commander."

"Y-you have no right to do that!" The knight pointed his blade on him. " Get lost before I struck you d--"

"There is no need for that," Tristam interrupted. " Stand down, good Ser. There has been too much bloodshed on this bloody mine, we cannot afford another one."

"Lieutenant!" The rest of the knights saluted him.

The other knight lowered his sword and sheathed it back to its scabbard. "He says, he wants to speak with the Lord Commander," he pointed at Servus 132-X while still glaring at the slave.

Servus 132-X could feel the knight's loathing towards him. But he didn't care about that, not anymore. This time, he has to assert his plan to Lord Prestonheim and make it work for the both of them.

"I am here to--"

"Talk to Lord Prestonheim, eh?" Lieutenant Tristam smiled. " Good timing! He's looking for you. Come, I'll escort you to his tent," the young knight offered.

Servus 132-X walked, pass the other knights that stared at him intently, as if disgusted by his presence.

Lord Prestonheim's tent is located at the other side of the mines. Situated near the entrance of the outside world, and away from the caves. It was a brief walk going to his tent, but during that time, Tristam took the opportunity to speak to him.

"I am sorry," the knight said.

"Sorry for what?" Servus 132-X asked.

"For everything that you people have to go through," the knight sighed. " For witnessing such brutality, for the--"

"I have to stop you right there, good Ser." Servus 132-X interrupted the grieving knight. " You don't have to apologize for those people!" He said bitterly.

" You don't have to apologize for our circumstances. You don't have to apologize, for our birth in this world. You don't have to apologize for the way this life is treating us. After all, your apologies are but words, words that will fade as time passes on. If you, really want to apologize, help us by giving us our freedom or abolish the slavery in your beloved Principalia."

"I-I can't do that. Even if I would, it takes a revolution to change it!"

"Then, spare me your apologies. They won't help us change the system."

Servus 132-X silenced himself after that. He glanced at Tristam, who looked disappointed after his comment.

A few moments later, they arrived at Lord Prestonheim's tent.

"Stay here for a while, I will let him know first." Tristam instructed as the knight entered the Lord Commander's tent.

Servus 132-X nodded. He knew this all too well--the protocol. At some point of his reincarnation he was at the receiving end of that greeting, or at times the one doing the knight's work. It was a fun memory to recall.

"He's ready for you." Tristam nodded at him, still looking downhearted after their last interaction.

Servus 132-X entered the Lord Commander's room. The dimly-lit tent made for a sombering atmosphere. Lord Prestonheim was leaning on his table, looking at the old hand drawn map of the mines, he got from the House Bieroff.

"Good, you came," Lord Prestonheim said, while still looking at the map. "What you saw earlier today was--"

"Pardon my interjection, Lord Prestonheim," Servus 132-X cleared his throat. "There is nothing more to explain. Those slaves that you executed earlier were all on me."

Lord Prestonheim was surprised with the slave's answer. He took a glance at him and sighed. "I need to do that to save this secret deal we have. If only there's another way."

" Let me offer you one then." Servus 132-X approached the table. "Let me explore it tomorrow."

"I cannot let you do that."

"Why? Aren't slaves dispensable to the Principalia?"

Lord Prestonheim punched the table in a fit of annoyance. "You…" he pointed at Servus 132-X while laughing hard, "You're funny and annoying too, now that I think about it. I am just awaiting orders from the Principalia I want to be well-equipped when we do the exploration."

"And what if the Principalia won't agree?"

Lord Prestonheim did not answer the question. Instead, he stared at him intently.

"My Lord, I know what you're thinking," Servus 132-X leaned his arms to the table. "You would still want to do it either way," he whispered.

Lord Prestonheim smirked. "I must admit you are smart for a slave. Maybe, too smart for your own good!" The Commander sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. He knew that this could become a very long night of planning.

Servus 132-X looked at him in the eyes, "I am determined, my Lord. I can survey that abyss for you, while waiting for the Principalia's reply."

"And if you die in the process?"

"Transfer the deal to the remaining slaves. They'll gladly take it."

"Hmmm…" the Commander paced by the table. " You will disappoint me if you die."

"Then keep your hopes, my Lord. Because, I won't die! Not when I'm still a slave."

Lord Prestonheim laughed again. "You are always full of surprises! I hope the gods guide you."

"In fact, they will as they see fit," the Commander smiled at him.