The carriage landed on the ground, signaling our arrival with the doors opening and stairs unfolding for us to use as we got off. There were no windows that allowed us to enjoy the scenery during the flight, leaving me clueless as to our current surroundings.

The noise of chatter and music was the first thing I noticed on my very first step out of the carriage. We landed at the entrance to the red light district. Even this I could tell by the change in aesthetics when it came to the surroundings. Instead of endlessly blinding signs, things maintained the same dark yet reddish and pink tone.

“We have to continue the rest of the way on foot.” Jade turned to the direction we needed to go and led the way once I acknowledged with eye contact.

Walking through the wide cobblestone path there seemed to be a rule set in place to ban transportation for this area. I thought about how it promoted business of the various clubs and vendors since everyone had to walk past them. That and the possibility of being a security measure against crimes. It was many times harder without the insurance of a getaway driver.

I tried my best to focus my thoughts on serious matters all to distract my mind from the sights around us. Many of the venues advertised prostitution in conjunction with clubbing and other such functions. It altered from the slave district that was topside. Prostitution seemed like a gray area and they didn’t outright publicize it.

Here though literally half of the pedestrians were top-tier exhibitionists. Most of them didn’t even wear a mask to hide their identities. It made me wonder if they didn’t care or lived down here without ever having the intent to leave. I couldn’t tell if they were all slaves but my guess was a mix of both.

There were even guys that caused Selka to glance over in interest a couple of times. Judging from her tastes though, Nathan would be in for some bulking in the future if he wanted to pursue her.

If it wasn’t for being surrounded by beauties every day at home, all of the inviting gestures would have already tempted and led me to indulge in some of their so-called relaxations. I couldn’t see Jade’s reaction since she was upfront and Eris held her emotionless poker face. Selka was the only one that seemed to be affected other than me.

With some walking, we eventually arrived at an oriental-themed entrance. The large red wooden gates were opened and connected to solid stone fencing that wrapped around the entire premises. Lantern posts lined the path to the main structure in the center with well-maintained shrubbery and ponds adding to the calm environment.

A man and woman greeted us as we continued further in. “We missed you!” The guy spoke as the woman hugged Jade. “Why haven't you visited sooner, you always make us worry!” The woman and Jade had their own conversation as the guy introduced themselves.

“Jade is like family to us, sorry for the scene. Madam Ella asked us to show you to her private garden.” He bowed his head and I wondered how much Jade had spoken ahead of time with them about us.

“I’m glad she has you guys.” I didn’t know much about Jade and this was a welcome surprise. “Thanks for showing us the way, ...looking forward to meeting her.”

They seated us in a room with an open area balcony overlooking a wide arrangement of flowers and decorations. We were sitting cross-legged on cushions spread around a table. Food and beverages started to file in from attendants entering from the same sliding doors we passed by earlier.

It ended up turning into a feast of food in front of us with Eris helping herself to several dishes of her liking as the rest of us waited until everything was set.

“What kind of person is Ella?” I wasn’t too interested in finding out prior but my anxiety pushed me to ask, waiting for her to appear.

“She carries a lot of power down here. This place is her means to gather intel on others. She raised me until I decided to work together with Marcus.” Jade went over some of her past that only led to more questioning.

“Raised you? Then is she family?” The initial greeting with the two people felt like it could be a family relationship.

“Family..., you could say that. I’m an orphan, I never knew my birth parents.” Before Jade could explain any further we both turned our heads to another set of sliding doors, opposite from where we entered in through.

A pale and elegantly dressed woman wearing a kimono stepped through. Her long blonde hair was held together into a stylish bundle by a striking red hair ornament.

“Finished with your adventures, ...finally ready to come home?” Madam Ella’s entrance was followed by several servants as she made her way to the seat across from us.

“I’m not here to come back.”

“You promised to never step foot in here again unless you were…” Jade’s refusal caused me to be the subject of intense glaring and focus.

“What’s going on, I thought you told her our situation?” I leaned over to whisper into Jade’s ear, uncomfortable from the attention of Ella and her servants standing nearby.

“It’s better to tell her in person, trust me. She doesn’t know that I have stopped working with Marcus.” Jade chose to respond to my whisper before answering Ella’s question. “Allow me to introduce you to my new master, Volatis. As you can see, I am no longer obligated to our promise.”

“I allowed you to stay with Marcus but this is going too far.” I could feel the rage coming from across the table with the only odd one, Eris picking away at the wide selection of food on display without concern. “How much?...”

“Uhh…, what?” I was confused or rather surprised by her insinuating question and chose to feign ignorance.

“Here, this should suffice.” Ella made a hand signal to a nearby servant. They lowered into a bow with both hands in front, offering over a silver ring.

“Jade will have the slave seal removed immediately. I can’t believe you would willingly fall into slavery.” Ella shook her head side to side in a what's wrong with you type of manner.

I attuned with the silver ring now in my grasp to verify the amount inside. A simple ring like this should only be able to hold a very limited space, based on comparisons with the ones inspected in stores.

‘A ruby coin...’ I stared at the ring dumbfounded as the cost of Jade and the others averaged around five emerald coins each. A single ruby coin was worth one-hundred emerald coins, way beyond the amount I paid to obtain her.

The way Ella spoke regarding Jade and slavery made me consider several possibilities. It was my original assumption that Jade became a slave the moment Marcus found her. Though now it sounded like the other way around. Almost as if Jade was the one that sought out and wanted to work together with Marcus as equals, not as a slave.