It was time to face the reality. Today exactly one year ago, I made an agreement with Rand. The agreement was simple. I would work for the village for one year, with specific rules in place. After that one year, I would receive my freedom. I didn't go out to do my tasks anymore, I went straight to Rand's residence. Just as I arrived at his house, a young man was already standing there waiting for me. He seemed older than me, but surely before his thirties. He wore leather clothes, that matched well to his body, and seemed rather strong. A sword was hanging on his side, while he himself looked at me alone. He wasn't very handsome, but wasn't ugly either. Funny enough, it was the same guy who always shouted "GET BACK TO WORK", when my break got too long. I arrived in front of him, while he said "Follow me". We walked inside, and headed upstairs. 'Rand's place surely looks much more luxurious than those other houses in the village. He even has some art in here' I thought while we walked upstairs. The guy with a sword stopped in front of certain doors, and knocked. Rand's voice sounded from behind the doors, "Enter". We did just that. The room looked like a study or office. Dark oak furniture was everywhere, and gave the room a specific atmosphere. Rand sat behind his large wooden desk, with papers all over it. "So you are here. Have a seat". I walked further inside the room, and just stood there. I didn't have to do what he said, and besides, I preferred to stand. The swords guy went outside, while me and Rand were left alone in the room. He looked at me for a while, then asked "How have you been doing this past year?". 'Why the hell would you care?' I thought. Either way, I answered "Alright I guess. Is there anything you wish to say?". He smiled, and asked another wuestion "What do you want to do now?" I replied, "Travel I guess, explore other places. That sort of stuff". His face changed suddenly. "What if I tell you, you can't leave?". I laughed, while replying "And that is because? I took care of my part of the deal. I don't see why I can't leave". I was already prepared for it, but I had no intention of leaving anyway. He replied, "Can you prove that we made this agreement? For all we know, you are just a slave here. Can you prove otherwise?". I replied with a laugh "Can you prove I'm a slave? You can claim whatever you want as well. I can just stand up, and leave. As much as you don't give a shit, I don't give a shit even more". He laid back with a smile "Leave then. If you can of course". I stood up, replied "See ya", and walked towards the doors. I knew he would make a move. If not him, the guy behind the doors would. 'I might not be able to predict it 100%, but I'm pretty sure he will make a move' I thought. I wasn't wrong. He left his chair, and quickly approached me from behind. I could hear him no problem, but of course I didn't react. He punched the back of my head, and I fell down "unconscious". 'I thought he will use more strength. No matter, time to act a bit' I thought. They would pay for whatever they did in the past. The whole village would pay. They were fortunate enough that I had to stay inside that village, otherwise I would already break a few bones in Rand's body. I laid there patiently, until the doors opened. The sword guy asked, "What should we do with him?". Rand responded, "Don't worry, he is not dead. We still need him for the work. Grond said that his smithing skills aren't bad, and he has good experience with Purified Steel Ingots. Grond said that this kid was able to create two ingots, during the time we assigned to him. Grond alone is only able to create maximum of four ingots a day". The sword guy asked, "What if he doesn't want to do it?". Rand replied, "We won't feed him. If he wants food, he will have to work for it". When I heard that comment, I almost sneered and laughed. 'If that was your plan, then good luck with it! HAHAHAHA' I laughed in my mind. The sword guy added, "You forget that he can fish at the river, He doesn't need our food really". Rand sneered in response, then said "We just have to make it difficult for him". The sword guy was much more reasonable though. His logic was not flawed like that of Rand's. He asked "And if he still refuses? He didn't seem to fear us that much, what if he does the same thing as he did to that woman?". When I heard this, I got a bit angry. 'Fucking bastards. You drove her to wish for her own death. This, you will pay for too' I thought. Rand didn't take it well, he replied with a shout. "I told you to not mention this anymore! If she broke down, maybe she would release some information about the Manual. These idiots just had to rape her. I don't care if they did, but this idiot killed her...". I felt rage like never before. For the first time in my life, I wished someone the worst possible death. A while of silence later, Rand continued. "We will offer him to work at the Blacksmith's Workshop. He will not be a slave, but he will have to stay in the village. We will pay him some sort of low wage, and tell him we had to deduce the cost of housing and food.... This should settle it. Give him 10 Coppers a day as his wage, and tell him that the rest is a deduction for food and house". 'Other than the ridiculous wage, this is not so bad actually. For someone who has nowhere to go, this would be perfect' I thought. Of course, I had to stay in the village anyway, so such opportunity was not that bad. Besides, I also required a weapon or rather weapons. Working at the Blacksmith's Workshop, was also very useful. Access to the tools, and perhaps materials as well. 'I can just steal some later, or use the leftovers. Either way, I will be able to produce my own weapons' I thought. Rand continued, "Take him to that house, and wait for him to wake up. When he does, tell him about the work here. He will be paid, and so on. Just as we discussed. Now go, leave me alone". The sword guy replied "Yes", and picked me up. He carried me back to my house, where I was throw onto the bed. He didn't leave though, he just stood in front of the doors waiting, like a loyal dog. 'I wonder how patient you are... Well, if you want to wait, let's wait' I thought.