Chapter 44 - Just Can’t Keep A Good Slave Down

My mana is being stolen?! Again?! Did he punch me so hard that it reopened my injury?

Jiran ignored the man looming over him and concentrated on the flow of his mana. He breathed an audible sigh of relief when he realized his mana was steadily leaking from his skin and into the strange collar the man had clipped around his neck.

He raised his hands and touched the cold, smooth metal. A tingle ran through the tips of his fingers as more of his mana flowed into the collar as his contact with it increased.

Oh hell no.

Jiran unleashed the pent-up emotion he saved for emergencies. His rage bubbled forth and locked onto his mana like a steel chain, instantly halting its progress toward the collar.

He grabbed every molecule of the precious energy throughout his body and jerked it back into the ball in his chest. The mana leaped to obey his call like a well-trained soldier.

That’s better. Now, what to do about this guy.

Jiran opened his eyes. Two calm surfaces concealed a sea of churning rage.

https://imgur.com/Nh5MP0Y

“That’s a right cheeky look you’re giving me, boy. You have a death wish?

“Hah! Wouldn’t matter if you did, you belong to Silence now and you’ll learn to obey,” A vicious grin spread across the man’s face as his foot slammed into Jiran’s side faster than he could react.

Jiran rolled across the ground from the force of the blow. He spit out a mouthful of blood as he examined the damage.

He put a lot of strength into that and I only got a little internal bleeding. He’s not that much stronger than me.

A quick application of Restoration fixed the damage enough for the debuff to vanish from his status. Jiran sat up, resuming his same cold stare.

If the man noticed Jiran healing himself, he gave no indication as he sauntered over to once more lord over the injured child.

Only twenty percent of my mana left. Not much I can do for now, I need to buy some time. I could try to act weak and scared but I’m really not feeling it after they tried to steal my mana.

“Not sure how you got down there, but nobody enters Lord Markhiss’s lands without punishment. Going into that mine was the last mistake you’ll ever make.” The man gloated.

“Who is—

When Jiran tried to speak, the man moved in a blur once more as his fist connected with Jiran’s jaw so hard his head bounced off the ground.

“Guess I was wrong, maybe that was the last mistake you’ll ever make.

“Slaves keep their mouths shut until they’re asked a question.

“Do you understand me, slave?”

Slave?

The word echoed through the ringing in his skull. Another application of Restoration returned clarity to his thoughts. Blinking rapidly, Jiran moved to sit up again.

“C’mon, Clift. Let’s go, you can train your new pet after Markhiss gets a look at him. You know how he hates it when we damage the merchandise.”

Jiran saw the second man appear from behind the corner of a nearby shed. He cracked his neck as he came into view.

Rough hands grabbed Jiran by his shirt, pulling him to his feet. He was spun around and a boot kicked him in the back, sending him stumbling forward before he regained his balance.

“Fine,” Clift responded with a snarl, clearly unhappy about the interruption.

Slavers, really? Slavery is illegal in the central metropole. Do these idiots really think they can drag me all the way to the Mashraha Desert?

This guy’s not fast enough to be above tier four. I can see him moving at least. Are a couple tier four’s really gutsy enough to attempt a slave trade in the empire?

Tier four…

Unable to help himself, Jiran blinked at his timer which was still steadily ticking down.

13:18:41

No, absolutely not. No way am I killing a person just to refresh my timer. That’s completely disgusting.

Killing them because they are disgusting slavers is one thing, doing it for personal benefit is crossing a line.

I have plenty of time left, I’ll kick their asses as soon as I have some mana back then find a beast to reset my timer.

“Move yah daft git!” Clift shouted behind him, spurring Jiran to reluctantly move forward one step at a time.

When his speed wasn’t fast enough, another swift kick came from behind, sending him stumbling forward again.

Samris hits harder in his sleep. This guy is scum but at least he’s done trying to actually hurt me.

Jiran glanced at the sky and clicked his tongue.

Crap, none of the clouds look anywhere near bursting. This could take a while.

They steadily advanced along a well-worn trail through hilly terrain. Jiran was kicked in the back two more times before he increased his pace.

He kept his eyes lowered, allowing his rage to simmer into his mana where it maintained a strong connection to keep the collar from claiming what was his.

An hour later showed the clouds no closer to being ready to unleash a wave of wild density.

Why is it taking so long today? I need more mana so I can deal with these cretins.

Wait, if this collar can absorb mana, does that mean it holds mana, or does it just release it?

Jiran created a Coating between his skin and the collar. The moment his mana touched the collar he could feel it fighting to drain the energy. With unrelenting resolve, Jiran maintained the connection and his mana.

Suck on this!

Mana Siphon.

Like two opposite magnets repulsing from each other, his mana technique failed to penetrate into the stubborn metal.

Mana Siphon + 1

I don’t have a clear mental image. The last time I used this was on Niya after I already put enough of my mana inside her to get a good look around.

I need to see inside this thing.

Jiran extended a sliver of his mana and wormed it into the collar one millimeter at a time before it stopped abruptly. The metal resisted him mightily as it created a feedback loop of static that exploded into his brain, causing an instant headache.

He pushed as hard as he could but it felt like a physical barrier prevented his mana from penetrating any deeper.

He grit his teeth and pressed on. Dual Mind spun up to assist him and a flash of Restoration kept the headache at bay so he could concentrate.

Focused as he was, Jiran stumbled on a rock, causing the collar to shift on his neck and drive his spike of mana into it like a nail. A world of information opened up to him the moment his mana was finally inside.

His coating had pierced a filmy, oil-like layer. Just beyond it, mana flowed through the metal in a circular groove like a race track. The mana was deposited into minute honeycomb fissures packed full of some kind of dust where it adhered to the metal, reinforcing the entire structure.

So cool! It’s like a battery cell except the more mana inside, the stronger the pull on any mana it comes into contact with.

Jiran formed an image of draining the mana from only the circular groove, not wanting to drain the reinforcing honeycombs which might break it.

With a clearer image and a direct connection, the mana within the collar flowed smoothly into Jiran’s chest.

Mana Siphon + 4

“Think this one will play nice with the others?” The second slaver asked Clift.

“I hope he doesn't! We aren’t allowed to touch them, but it would be fun to watch if he did.”

Them? Do they have more slaves?

“Oh, I know, let's make them fight over the food, the winner gets to eat.” Clift’s braying laughter rang through the air.

That’s not good. How many people have they captured? We aren't that far from Feylon. What if they took someone I know? I have to find out. I guess I’ll be holding off on kicking their asses for a little longer.

Do I really want to risk waltzing right into their hideout? What if there is someone a lot stronger than them?

I’ll just have to hope there isn't anyone above tier four.

If I escape to get help from Lenton and Samris, would we ever find them again? What kind of life would I be consigning those people to if I failed to help them?

Do I even want to help people I don’t know?

Jiran kept his pace up to avoid more abuse while he struggled internally with what the best course of action was.

At least my mana is full again, and with a battery around my neck, these guys are so screwed when I finally decide what to do.

                                                              Olive

Olive stood within a narrow valley tucked between two massive mountains. The wind blew so fiercely, she couldn't have stood on her own. Only with her father’s aura supporting her was she able to remain on the ground within the raging tempest while only at the first tier.

“Wind is an element of duality. It is both destructive and freeing. When I was a child, this valley was a mountain as tall as its brothers. Nothing more than wind has reduced it to the whimpering fissure you see now.

“Yet the wind sets us free. It lifts us into the heavens and brings with it the scents of the seasons. Gentle and powerful.”

Suddenly he was gone and Olive was left alone within the raging gusts. She clung desperately to a rock. Her feet were lifted into the air and she screamed. She clung to her bastion of safety until her arms grew tired and her fingers lost their purchase. Just as the wind lifted her into the air, her father returned.

Olive’s eyes snapped open and she gasped. The memory brought with it the feelings of terror she experienced at the time.

I think that’s enough of the past for today.

She noticed that both Cameron and Dommell wore frowns on their faces as they stared solemnly at the ground.

They’re bored. Oh, I know!

“Let’s play a game!” She packed as much enthusiasm as she could into her words.

“Why?” Came Dommell’s surly response.

“Because you’re both far too glum. You must realize my father will be here soon. It’s simply not possible for them to keep us hidden from him much longer.”

“He’ll probably just leave me in here after rescuing the two of you.”

“That’s preposterous, Dommell. There is no way Father would leave you behind. Now come over here, I know just the thing to cheer us up.”

“Fine,” He said with a tsk.

“Hey, something is happening,” Cameron whispered.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, not desiring the pain of turning her head.

Two men were walking toward their cage pushing a boy before them. She immediately recognized the bandit who purposefully sloshed their precious gruel onto the ground the other night. The other man looked no less intimidating with the cold, vicious glint in his eyes.

https://imgur.com/uIwJAjV

“Who is that? Look at his neck, that’s a mana-draining collar.” Cameron noted.

“I’d rather have that and be able to walk around than be stuck in this cage. He’s so lucky.”

“Seriously Dommell? That’s quite rude, even for you.”

Olive heard Dommell mumble something incoherent after her criticism. Not interested in arguing with him further, she inspected the boy who looked about their age.

Tier two by the way he moves. Strangely calm for a commoner about to be thrown into a mana-cage.

Shouldn’t he be thrashing about in a panic seeing the fate that awaits him?

I certainly had a hard time keeping it together but I’ve been trained for seasons on maintaining the dignity expected of my station.

His clothes certainly don't look like they belong to a noble.

The man with the vicious glint in his eyes ran off to the north, leaving the cruel one to watch over the collared boy.

“Is this it?” The boy suddenly stopped walking and turned to face his guard.

“Keep your fucking mouth shut, Slave!”

The vile man lashed out in a blur that Olive could barely follow. She gasped as she heard the crack of knuckles meeting skin. The strike to his face lifted the boy’s body and he sailed through the air to land less than a meter away.

No! That bastard is at least two tiers above him. Is he still alive?

With wide eyes, she frantically searched for a sign he had survived the terrible blow. The last thing she expected to see was the boy looking back at his captor with a grin on his face.