‘Cold’

‘Everything is so cold.’

‘Mom, Anyone. Save me.’

‘They took me while I was playing in the forest. Chained me to their wagons, pissed on me because I was weak.’

‘Haha, yeah. I am weak.’

‘All to be their pretty little slave to sell.’

‘Why? Because I am weak.’

‘Not because I was an elf.’

‘That’s just a fact, they picked me because I was unable to fight back.’

‘This world can burn for all I care.’

‘They better hope I don’t get strong, because if I do, I’ll give them a nightmare that will never end.’

…

“Boss, we got the package and the new Galien boy for ransom.”

“Excellent. Finally, things are going my way. I’ll be coming over with the buyer soon. Is the elf slave still alive?”

“Yessir, she’s still breathing.”

“Good, make sure she stays that way. We’ve kept her this long now, we’re going to get paid for it and as soon as we get the ransom for the Galien’s, we’ll be rich.”

Jerry hung up and instructed his men, sighing inwardly. He felt guilty about the elf slave and the Galien boy. She was still only six years old and the buyer, some pompous noble or a rich, middle-aged merchant. The boy was also innocent, probably scared shitless by the kidnapping.

‘But playing nice has never paid the bills,’ He thought, convincing himself that after this whole shenanigan was over, he would live an honest life.

…

Evan woke up several hours later with his head still ringing from the impact the clubbing had kindly left.

‘Ugh, how many times have I already fainted in this life? Must be a lot’

His vision slowly focused as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He could see that he was in some sort of dark, underground room, slightly damp and filled with some sickly sweet scent.

‘Semen,’ he thought. ‘A slave market?’

He tried to get up, but his feet were bound. He tripped falling flat on the rough stone floor of the basement..

‘That’s gonna leave a mark.’

A slight snort came from behind him. He turned around and saw another figure in the darkness who was observing him.

Curiosity, Amusement

‘Wow, is that an elf? She’s pretty.’

The elf slave was sitting up against the wall, bound similarly to how Evan was tied up. She was scantily clothed, but for Evan, it only showed him the effects of malnourishment on her.

Her beauty, however, was not affected by much. She was 1.2 m tall with straight, pale green hair that fell to her shoulders with long, pointed ears that betrayed her species. She had long bangs that came halfway to her eyebrows. Her turquoise green, almond shaped eyes were filled with one emotion: determination. To what end, Evan did not know.

Anyone with that look though, he could respect.

When she saw Evan staring at her, she blushed and whispered hoarsely.

“S-Stop looking at me like that. They stare at m-me like that too.”

“I’m sorry,” Evan apologized as he looked downwards. Evan could only guess what horrors the child had gone through as a slave.

“Did-did they catch you too? Are you going to be sold as a slave? D-don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” She said, puffing out her chest out slightly,

“Thank you, I’m Evan Galien by the way.”

“I’m Felarya Aubernot Triscan, but you can call me Fel.” The elf said with a smile.

“Alright, Fel. What are elves like? Where do you live? Do you practice magic? What’s it like living as an elf?”

…

Odd.

This human boy was odd.

Was he too weak to understand that this was not some sort of vacation?

“Wait! Are you not afraid that you will be sold as a slave?” Fel asked him.

“Oh, is this a slave market then?” he replied, hopeful.

I shook my head.

“No, this is just a warehouse they use. I am already sold to a nobleman who is coming tonight.”

“Shame. Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I was hoping I could steal some things while I’m breaking out of here if this were a slave market, but oh well. There might still be some interesting trinkets in here.”

Fel stared at him in silence.

‘Nope, not odd. Just insane.’

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I-”

“Never mind, do you know what the chant for fire is?” Evan asked.

“Y-yes, it’s Fir.” She said, trying to remember what her teacher had taught her.

“Hmm, no differences in the activation of the magic system we use then. I see, thank you.” Evan said while sitting up against the wall like Fel. He then closed his eyes, moving mana from his heart close to his hands and feet.

“Fir Minim.” He chanted. Suddenly, the ropes that bound him burst into flames.

‘What? How?’

Finally free, Evan rubbed his sore wrists and stretched his legs. Only when he was done did he notice Fel staring at him with wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

“Magic.” He said weakly, unsure of why she was staring at him like that.

“You, you can use such powerful magic?”

“Powerful is an overstatement.”

“The air is damp and you… how old are you?”

“I’m turning four in about a week.”

“What?! You’re almost four, but you’re so small.” Fel exclaimed.

Those words hurt Evan more than anything else in this world had.

Ever since he was born, Evan had been quite short for his age, not even a meter tall yet, which he convinced himself would change as soon as he hit his growth spurt.

As a 1.83 m tall man even without exercise and minimal contact with the sun in his previous life, he was worried about what would happen if his growth spurt failed him.

He had been butt end of many pranks and quips in his family because of his height, so hearing the elf girl call him short was a blow to his pride.

‘Don’t worry, Evan. When you hit your growth spurt, you'll show them, you’ll show them all that Evan Galien is not a shorty.’

“Aww, don’t cry. It’s alright, you’re still young and you can still grow.” The elf said, trying to cheer Evan up.

“Easy for you to say, but thanks Fel.” Evan grumbled. “Please turn around.”

“Why? What are you going to do?” Fel asked, suddenly afraid of what the young boy might do. She was still traumatized by the things the slavers did to her. How they…

“Calm down.” Evan said, noticing her anxiety and stopping her thoughts from spiraling out of control. “I’m just going to cut the ropes on your hands and feet, unless you prefer to stay here.”

“Oh, please do.” Fel said, turning a shade of red.

Evan stretched out a hand towards the ropes binding Fel and chanted.

“Tor Ferria.”

A wind blade shot out from Evan’s open palm and cut the ropes tying Fel’s hands and feet.

Slowly, she stood up stretching her thin, cramped legs.

‘Huh, I’m free-’

As she tried to walk after weeks of imprisonment, she suddenly fell over, clutching Evan for support who, unfortunately, was too small to properly support both of them. Both former prisoners fell over on the ground, with Fel on top.

‘Oh gods,’

She blushed wildly, realizing the position they were in and quickly got up. Evan, however, had a slower regeneration rate and the damage she had dealt to him was too severe. He was dazed, staring off into empty space.

“Evan, Evan, EVAN, wake up!” She said, slapping him on the cheek.

“I’m sorry, officer. I swear it was an accident!” Evan cried out.

“Oi, keep it down in there!” Someone yelled from outside the room.

“Godamnit, that kid’s having fun with the elf while I’m here on guard duty. Fuck it, screw the boss! I can guard her while having fun at the same time.”

‘No.’

The door then slammed open and a bald, pudgy man with a full beard and a lecherous look walked in the room.

"Hehe, hey kiddo. Like what you see?"

‘No.’

‘Stop.’

But the thug did not stop. He kept approaching, his smile growing wider every step.

“Come to daddy,”

Then, everything froze.

…

Cold.

So very cold.

Evan recognized the trash’s voice.

‘He was the one that said he wanted to play with Cara, huh?’

Crack.

The pentagram construct was breaking, like a reactor going overload.

‘Heh’

‘Hahahahahaha!!!’

‘You want to play? Then let’s have one hell of a time!’