“This one is a boy, isn’t he?” Guardian had to be sure.

“A boy. His name is Ithayiga.” A woman replied.

“Then I will take him.”

“Ye… Yes.” His choice surprised a woman. She thought Guardian would pick her oldest son, or daughter as she was almost old enough to become a full-fledged woman. She could already bear children but there was more than that about being an adult.

“Is papa all right?” The boy spoke. He asked what all of the children were thinking.

“Why don’t you come and see for yourself. Do you know what will happen to you?”

“I heard mama explaining to my older siblings.”

“And?”

“I will serve a nobleman to pay for papas debts. You saved the papa. He owns his life to you but our family needs him here so I will serve instead of him.”

The woman did not dye him in bad colours or tried to alienate him for her children. She chose wisely.

“Good boy. You will work hard so your mama and papa can be proud of you, yes?”

“I will work very hard.” The boy replied.

The woman ushered the rest of her children back inside. She did not want Guardian changing his mind about his choice. Though, she loved all of them; as cruel as it was Ithayiga was not her favourite child. The ones in the very middle tended to get ignored as she was too busy looking after the younger and lecturing the older ones.

The trio started to walk back to the inn. The young boy was wiping his tears away. He heard that the one taken away won’t be able to see his siblings or parents for a very long time. That made him sad but he had a resolve to pull through this. The family needed him to do what he had to in order to survive, or so he had heard.

“Do not cry Ithayiga, be strong. Remember that we love you for what you do. And remember to listen to the sir and do exactly what he asks of you.” She wanted to add one more line, ‘That is if you value your life and ours.’, but that would be too much for the boy to stomach and she did not want to scare him.

“By the way why do you need him?” She whispered to the Guardian. She has not asked this yet, and she dreaded the answer. She hoped that it will not be something sick and twisted. The mage asked for a child who was willing to serve after all. If he needed the meat he could have just abducted or bought any other poor soul.

“I need a servant.”

“I understand. But for what?” She thought that if he needed just a servant he could clearly afford to hire one. Someone competent in his or her tasks. That is where she was mistaken, he could afford to pay someone, but he did not want to pay if there was a way around it. Also, he believed in educating servants so they can become experts in their craft. What good it would be if he spent years training someone and then that someone just left him to serve someone else.

They were servants, not slaves. Everyone had a degree of freedom even in this wicked world. However, there were forms of ‘slavery’ just the wording was different. Forced labour as a punishment, service to pay the debt and the like. The unlucky ones under such condition had little choice, it was servitude or death.

“The usual. Running errands and the like.” He replied to the woman.

“That’s it?” she was suspicious. She could do nothing but worry, she was a mother after all. “Nothing unsavoury? Even if it is, please tell me. I will not change my mind. I just have to know.” She wanted to know if she was dooming her child.

“He might need to do battle once he gets stronger. Killing both beasts and men. You have seen yourself that I don’t live an uneventful life.”

“That is all? This is nothing…” This was completely normal, everyone killed for various reasons. “Why do you not get someone who is capable of such things? This boy is still a whelp. I don’t understand why you need him. I was expecting the worst.”

“Were you thinking I will be eating him or offer him as a sacrifice to the dark forces? Ha!” He laughed.

That was what she was thinking, and worse.

“I have my reasons.” Guardian continued.

“Yet I still worry.”

“There is little you can do. However, I can assure you, I will not harm him intentionally. That does not mean he will not get hurt. He will be responsible for his own life if a push became a shove.”

He was speaking the truth. The boy will have to fend for himself now. Actually, if he spoke the truth he would probably live better than he did now with her. And the lecture she gave to her children last night would not be a complete lie.

That night she told her children that one of them will have to serve instead of their dad. A noble would come and pick one of them. She lied to her children that they won’t have to worry about getting food anymore if they served for that noble. She also told them that if they behaved and followed his orders with the zeal they would gain his trust in time. If they gained the trust they would surely reap some rewards and freedoms. If they did it right they would rise above the status of poor slum dwellers, pick some skills and valuable experience, or so she hoped. Also, she told them to observe their master, learn about him and from him. It was a privilege to serve a noble, there was a reason nobles were rich and powerful so if they gritted their teeth and pulled truth the years they will learn something of value. In much grimmer tone, while looking at her firstborn daughter, she had added that they should never disobey the one they served, no matter how wicked or twisted he was. If he hurt them so be it; cry and wail but do not resist as nothing good would come from it. She stressed that it was an utmost importance to stay in favour with their master.

“He will be alright.” She said to herself trying to calm down.

“He will if he makes good choices.”

Then their conversation halted to a stop and she motioned the boy to get closer to them. He was further away so that he does not eavesdrop.

“Ah, at last, we are here. Your place was further away than I estimated.” It took a while to go to the slums and back but it was still an early morning.

“Do I get to see papa now?”

“It is for the best if your mother wakes him up first and explains the situation. He might need to be convinced, if not you know what will happen, do you woman?.”

“I do. I will properly explain to him what happened.” She ran upstairs leaving her child with Guardian.

The guardian sniffed the air, he could smell the food cooking. He forgot that his rent included the meals. He ate a sack of vegetables yesterday so he did not need to eat today, he ate only once in a few or so days. There was no point in wasting it.

“The breakfast is almost ready. Are you hungry…” he forgot the boy’s name “What is your name again?”

“Ithayiga. What is your name?”

“People call me Guardian, but it I have been told that someone in your situation should call me Master.” They were not friends so this felt appropriate. Also, it was so that others won’t get the wrong idea about the boy’s status and their relationship.

“Master, I am starving. I did not have anything to eat yesterday. Papa did not return with food.” He said sadly.

“Your father is alright. Let me get something to eat for you.”

He brought a large bowl of gruel for the boy to eat. The boy consumed it greedily, stuffing his face with his hands. The wooden spoon was left untouched on the table. After a few minutes the boy was literally forcing the food to his stomach, but there was no more space for it. Yet, the bowl was still half fool.

The food was cheap and bland but the portions were big enough to feed a hard labourer.

“Do not force yourself. There will plenty of it for you to eat in the evening.”

The boy did not believe that he will get another such generous portion later on the same day. He would eat once a day at best and there was very little food to go in-between all five of the children.

“Stay here, while I check on your father.”

He went upstairs to see his ‘patient’. The beastman froze upon seeing him. A chunk of meat dropped from his mouth.

“You are eating, this is good. What is this?” He motioned at the jug which reeked unpleasantly.

“Booze to make his food go easier.”

“Smells disgusting, how can he drink that?”

“It also eases his pain. He said the pain is unbearable; is there anything you can do?.”

“Not paid to. He is alive and kicking, that is what our deal was all about. He is alive. He will have to ignore it.”

“Booze helps.” The man groaned meekly.

“Ah, should I run and borrow some from your friends?” The woman asked her husband. He nodded in response.

“You better have no bad ideas. Do not even think of telling your kind where I am. I am sure you know by now what will happen if you seek revenge.” He was suspicious that the woman would gather some gang to attack him.

“We are fully aware of your power and possible reach.”

“Do you know about the deal?”

“He knows.” The woman replied for her man.

“And are you fine with it? There won’t be any more trouble? After all, Next time you might not get this lucky.”

Beastman looked at his injured shoulder and shook his head sideways.

“Did I make him a mute too?”

“He can talk fine. It is just that… he is still terrified of you.”

“Booze” The man groaned again.

“Okay, Okay. I am going.”

The woman ran off to get some local variety of ‘painkillers’.

“Wanna see your kid for the last time?”

The beastman shook his head again. It was a no.

“No? Well, you are seeing him, want it or not. I know the boy won’t stop pestering me about you otherwise.”

Guardian opened the door and shouted for the boy to come.

“Ith… Itha… Itha-whatever come inside your father wants to see you.” His tongue could not roll enough to pronounce the boy’s name.

The boy ran haphazardly inside and hugged the man.

“Papa your arm!? What happened? Are you going to be okay?”

Beastman just nodded and patted the boy with his left hand, trying to calm him. He hugged the boy and whispered in his ear.

“Be good.” Was all he had said. Then he pushed the boy away and motioned him to leave the room. His face was serious and the boy obeyed without question. As soon as the boy left, beastman’s eyes moistened and a few tears rolled down his cheeks.

“This is the last time you will be seeing him, he is mine now. You would do good to remember that. You nor should your men approach him anymore, that is if you value your life.” Guardian threatened the beastman. “I am a powerful and wealthy man. Even if you run I would spare no expense to hunt you down.” He added a bit of a convenient and convincing untruth, just to get his point across.

Then Guardian went and looked around his room making sure no stuff was missing. He locked his valuables in the coffer but he could never be too careful when dealing with someone from slums. Nothing was missing, this meant that the woman did not have the audacity to rob him.

“Stay here and wait for your mate.” Guardian grabbed some of his stuff and went downstairs.

The boy was sitting at the table. He looked anxious and unsure what to do. As soon as he noticed Guardian he ran to his side.

“Learn the names of these things.” He showed the boy some of the Aiu’s produce naming each of the things. Boy did his best to remember how each of the items was called. The lesson was short, the boy will have plenty of time later to practice. Then, Guardian went to the innkeeper to show his wares.

“That is quite the good stuff you have. I am impressed with the quality. Way better what we have here.”

“I use the freshest ingredients.”

The alchemists here had to import their ingredients from the villages which were further away, whereas Aiu processes them fresh because she lived in the forest.

“I will take that herbal soap. All 12 bars of it, my wife runs a bathing house so we need it. Also, I will take some of that fragrant water, my missus will be happy to get it as a gift.”

The man took some healing salves and ointments as well. He was quite wealthy even though he did not look like it, all thanks to his penny pinching and being overly shrewd.

“How much for all of this?”

“3 gold.”

“Wow. That is quite a discount. Thank you, friend.”

Guardian was not selling it at the discounted value, it was the normal price. It meant that the stuff he had was valued more highly here. He will have to find out proper pricing later. Not being let in the merchant guild house has bitten back at him again.

“it is fine. ‘FRIEND’.” Guarding still did not think that they were friends, but went along with it.

The boy was quietly observing. His eyes looked like they will pop out. The innkeeper used a gold coin and some silver to pay for the goods. Ithayiga have never seen such money in his life, he had never seen gold before. He knew instantly that it was gold, it was very shiny, he was awestruck. He realised that his Master must be very wealthy.

His mother came through the doorway wielding a few jugs of cheap booze.

“Hey, this is not allowed here! This is not a tavern.”

“Could you make an expectation for me? FRIEND.”

“Hmm, normally I wouldn’t. But for you, I will.”

Apparently being ‘friends’ had some benefits.

“Here is a copper for a small room”

He grabbed the key and went upstairs with the woman, the boy followed.

“You stay downstairs.” He ordered the boy.

Ithayiga wanted to come with his mum but he had to be good.

The woman hauled her husband to a different room. He was still too exhausted to walk, mental trauma was more responsible for it than the physical one. It was the arm, not a leg he lost.

“He will have to stay in a bed and rest for the day. Go easy on that booze stuff and you will be fine. My part of the deal is now done.”

“Thank you for your kindness.” The woman was sincere.

The beastman just glared at him. He did not feel grateful at all, the monster ruined his life after all. The woman’s husband knew his place and was smart enough not to act on his feelings. He remained quiet.

“You can stay here till the evening. By the night time, I expect you gone. Give him this to help him to walk.” He left a stamina potion on a small table and closed the doors.

The boy was waiting patiently for him downstairs. He was holding two more bowls of the gruel.

“Innkeeper said that these are for you.”

“I am not hungry, but It would be a waste to throw it away.”

He actually could have given it to the beastmen couple, but they already have eaten and drank. He warned them that they will have to get their own food.

“My siblings! Can they have this?”

“Good idea, let’s go and see them for the last time while your ma nurse your pa.”

Before they left Guardian grabbed the remainder of his stuff from his room.

“I might not need to rent the room anymore. So feel free to let in someone else. Oh and those two, kick them out by the evening, I am not paying for their stay after that.” He let the innkeeper know of his intentions.

“Well, that copper you paid would get that man a meal in the evening and a full night’s stay. Is he not sick anymore?”

“Kick him out by the evening.”

“You are paying, you are the boss.” The innkeeper had no reason to argue with him. He just assumed there was some falling out or something between the Guardian and the beastmen couple.

“One last thing. Can I have this for takeaway?” He pointed at the bowls boy was holding.

“I can get this in a pot if you pay for the pot itself. I will even add some extra gruel. You have been a good customer so please come back.”

Guardian paid for the pot, it was only a copper as it was used and chipped. He gave it to the boy to carry and they went outside.

As they were walking away Ithayiga heard his mother shouting through the window.

“Goodbye, my boy! I wish you luck.”

“Bye-bye.” He shouted back. He wanted to wave too but his hands were full.

He did not realise this was the last time he would see his parents.

“Do you know the way back to your house?” Guardian asked.

“I will find it. It is just the city I am unfamiliar with. We will get out and I will show the way.”

Guardian led the boy to the rough location of the slums and then the boy took over.