The people call us Blessed Ones, people from another world that had the power to level up and use Skills. Apparently even the descendants of us Blessed Ones could do so. We are summoned to destroy him, this Demon King. Apparently, he’s a Blessed One too. I’ve heard whispers that he’s level 100. I’m only level 15 now, so I can’t imagine that power gap. But I’m growing stronger each day. I can feel it. So much stronger…

The Commons were awoken early in the morning, when the snow of the night stopped falling. They were given shovels to clear out the camp. It was long hard work, and of course it was still cold. They worked for hours, starting with the Master’s cabin, then the equipment, then finally the slave quarters.

Markus sighed, shoveling away a large chunk of snow. Last night’s snowfall had been heavy, and it was still summer. When the Deep Winter comes, the sun will disappear for days at a time. Snow will fall continuously, to the point it would be impossible to mine more coal. That was why the Master’s were especially rough. They didn’t want to die.

After shoveling, the slaves were allowed a meager breakfast. Markus made sure that Fel got the largest piece of the single loaf they shared. Fel was lucky. She was smart, so the Masters used her for ledgers and such, so she only stayed out in the cold at night. It also meant that her beatings were lighter. They need her careful hands to write after all.

Soon, the time came to head to the mines. Markus waved Fel goodbye, hoisting his pickaxe over his shoulder. They walked in long straight lines, the five miles it took to reach the mine. There, they were each given a small glow stone light. Getting caught stealing one of these was grounds to be sent to the Experience Mines. So, slaves were careful not to lose them.

They stepped into the shaft, loaded onto the wooden elevator till there was no more room, and lowered into the dark.

Markus hated the dark, but he had grown used to it. He hated mining, but it was his comfort. It took away from his thoughts. He could not think when he was hammering.

They remained in the mines till the sun began to set. When it was time, the masters asked for count from the Task Slave. The Task Slave was the one in charge of keeping counts of loads and any causalities or dangers. It was a good job, particularly since you didn’t have to endanger yourself, but it was also dangerous. An upset master will often take their anger out on the Task Slave.

And so, Markus hammered. And mined. He loaded his pile of coal and hammered again. This was his life. Day in, and day out. When the time came, the survivors were carted up, only after there coal loads had gone.

They came out, only an orange glimmer of the sun remaining. Then they walked, walked in their straight lines back to camp while the masters yelled and screamed. And so they received their coal shares, and the cycle continues.

“Forty Pieces.” Fel said.

“Forty-one.”

“Forty-Two.”

“Forty-Three.”

“Forty-Four.”

“Forty-Five.”

Each day the stock pile grew.

It was one day, when he war returning home, now on the forty nineth coal, that Fel was waiting for him. Her face was filled with dread, frozen tears streaming down her face.

“What is it?” Markus fell to his knees, letting his pickaxe fall into the snow.

“Our coal…” She said, holding back another tear. “It’s gone.”

“What?”

“Master Krell found out. He was digging through our home. He took it all and sent it to the Capital.” She said. “I’m sorry. I messed up. I shouldn’t have told him about my book…” She shook.

Markus flared with fury. He wanted to kill Krell. But there were more important things to worry about. “Don’t worry.” He comforted the girl. “It’s okay.”

“But we were so close. So close for you to never have to work in the mines again. So close.” She cried.

Markus reached into his pocket, pulling out his single share of coal. “How about we burn this tonight?”

“But it’s our last piece…” She said.

“It’s all right. We deserve to sleep warm tonight.” He said.

“But our plan…”

“Don’t worry. The plan is still going on. I have an idea.”

“An idea?” She said, tilting her head.

“Don’t worry about it. Let’s go get warm.” He said.

Markus eyed the Masters’ Cottage off in the distance, a bellow of smoke erupting from its chimney. Steal from us huh? Let’s see how you like it.