When it came to cities, Milly had always known that Xuberanth was an outlier, atleast insofar as the Azure kingdom was concerned. The city proper was located in a remote region, far from the center of the Kingdom and any enemy borders, and yet it was thriving.

It was a haven for the studious, the ambitious aswell as profiteers. Built from elegant white stone, the inner city housed the world famous Royal Academy, which even people from different countries came to attend. There was a strange sort of neutrality at work within the inner city. Due to this it was almost like its own small country in there.

Perhaps Milly would have some hope of escape if she was in the inner city, but out here? Out here was where all the filthy business transactions took place. It really was a strange thing, the way the city was split, and in her case it was also very unfortunate.

She thought back to the knights and how they had at one time appeared to her as arbiters of justice, shining exemplars of good behaviour. But since then, Milly found that everything has a dark side, even those purported justicebringers. Just like one side of the coin faced down, hidden while the other was visible, so too was human nature.

This separation of Xuberath was like a physical manifestation of this.

One could convincingly argue that the two were seperate cities that just shared the same name and space. Neither side mingled with the other much, and only on the main avenue that led up to the gates of the inner city would the two peoples mix.

Milly would've given anything to be able to choke the life out of that piece of shit Tarke, the bastard that had captured and raped her. After the incident, the sons of bitches met up with another group of slavers, exchanged some silver for more horses and sped along the path like the fucking thieves they were.

”3 Gold!” A man in the crowd shouted. She was inside a large warehouse. It was some sort of underground slavemarket run by a very large organization. The guards were all impeccable. Ever since her arrival here, Milly had been filled with more and more hopelessness at how meticulous the guards were.

She'd had no chance to slip a key from their pocket, to persuade, trick, or bribe... no chance to escape. They were too disciplined, and too numerous to count. She ran a hand through her tangled mane of red hair, letting out a strangled sigh.

”4 gold!” A fat middle-aged woman with a large cat riding her enormous trifecta of boobs and belly, shouted. Milly glanced over at the unfortunate boy. He couldn't be more than 13. He was thin and had numerous scrapes and bruises on his body.

He was pretty, had long blonde hair, a freckled face and a small, thin feminine body. Milly cursed Tarke. How could someone be so damn disgusting. Not content with raping just her, the man went on to rape this boy too. Several times. Infront of every single bandit. The boys cries of pain from yesterday night still echoed inside her skull.

She blamed herself for that particular turn of events.

Ever since she woke up a slave, Tarke had been leering at her, trying to make her a willing accomplice in his foul debauchery.

When he had tried to get her a second time, Milly had taken the opportunity to kick the man in the nuts. She then jumped him to try and lacerate his arterial vein with her teeth, since her hands were bound.

She failed, but ever since that incident, the men did not want to rape her anymore. They probably thought she was more like a rabid beast than a human being. That suited Milly just fine, but the problem was that the lustful degenerates couldn't be satisfied with just that.. so they fetched the boy... cleaned him... dressed him up....

”Dear God if you are there... but I know you're not... please, I don't care what happens to me but please.. let that goddamn bastard Tarke die. Horribly.” She muttered, clenching her fists.

”15 gold!” Suddenly, the sharp voice of a young man reverberated throughout the gathered throng of scumbubbers. She was surprised to find a young noblemans face staring at the boy in the cage, and eyeing her aswell. He had blazing red hair much like her own, and piercing blue eyes visible even from this distance.

For a moment she thought she recognized that person and hope swelled in her chest. But that couldn't be. He shouldn't be in Xuberanth.

”Going once, twice... Sold!” The auctioneer said, a satisfied grin spreading over his purple lips.

”Ge-ge-get a bonus for that one, yeesss yeeeeessssssssss.” the fat little pig muttered to himself as he passed close to Milly's cage. A gilded monocle somehow stuck to the fat mans greasy face, seeming to defy gravity.

She resisted the urge to spit at him, noticing with dread that a small silver pocketwatch dangled from his coat pocket. That in itself wasn't that unusual, but the pocketwatch had several chains around it, and small rings that looked like slave collars... this was the Chain Emporium! She was done for. Finished. No hope. No, she couldn't give up just yet. If only the guards would give her an opportunity. But it didn't seem all that likely.

Things proceeded smoothly, and more slaves were brought forth for the auction. She was among the goods on display, but they were saving her for last. After all, it wasn't every day you could get a kingdom trained knight as a sex slave and one so young too. She had wanted to be special, to stand out, but not like this.

Suddenly, the doors to the large warehouse banged open, and a small group of guards rushed in. ”What's the meaning of this!” The small fat auctioneer bellowed.

”Si-sir! It's terrible, the HQ crystal is.. it's...” One of the guards stammered. Milly watched with some satisfaction as the fat mans face turned ghostly white in an instant. It was almost magical how such a red and sweaty face could suddenly turn as white as snow...

”What? Don't be ridiculous. The master is there. Nobody messes with him, even the Empire is afraid of him.” The fat auctioneer muttered, his fat lips undulating nervously as spittle flew from his disgusting maw. He was a revolting creature that needed to be put down. She would, if she ever got the chance.

The crowd that was there to buy, started to shout and yell, but soon they were overwhelmed by guards and ushered out. Once the noisy crowd of people was gone, a tense silence descended on the warehouse. Perhaps this was her opportunity.

All the guards were either outside, or huddled around the fat man speaking in hushed tones. She wanted to know what it was that had made the auctioneer piss his trousers, but escaping was more urgent.

”Hey you, kid.” Milly said, speaking to the blonde boy that had been sold but not yet delivered to its costumer. He startled at being addressed, but turned to her.Those large, green eyes of his looked vacant, dazed and haunted.

”You still have it? Now's the time.” She pressed. The boy nodded, reaching into his pants to pull out two thin pieces of metal. She had no idea how the boy managed to hide them from Tarke, or how he'd had the presence of mind to grab them after being used by Tarke and his gang of thugs.

Milly took the thin metal sticks in a flash, jumping over to the padlock on the cage. It was a simple thing, more of a decoration than an actual lock. Since the slaves were usually guarded around the clock, no expensive locks were needed. ”What's your name kid?” Milly asked as she got to work, prodding the lock with the metal sticks and listening for the telltale click.

”Al-albern.” he said, his voice quiet and hoarse. ”Albern? What a weird name.” Milly replied. She noticed that the normally lifeless slaves were starting to come to life behind her. She was glad to see that they had atleast a little bit of spirit left in them.

”Ne-nein. Stu-stupid question.” She couldn't help but frown. ”How is that a stupid question? I just wanted to know your name.”

”Name, Maximillian Ludus Nephus Thek.” As soon as he had said that, Milly finally heard a click and felt the lock give.

She wasn't the only one who knew what that sound meant, and so had no time to ponder the boys strange and long name. Not wanting to leave his wellbeing to fate, Milly grabbed the boys hand as the cage exploded outwards with a stream of slaves.

She wanted to go to the auctioneer, disarm the guards and kill him slowly, but looking back at the boy she was currently dragging along behind her she reconsidered. She should live to fight another day, and save this boy.

The guards noticed the jailbreak, rushing the large group of slaves. However, due to them being vastly outnumbered, they were hard pressed to catch anything at all. The real obstacle would be getting out from the warehouse, since most of the guards were stationed outside.

”Riif hat'ak!” A dark, raspy voice rang out from seemingly nowhere, sounding like it was everywhere. The slaves froze in their tracks upon hearing that demonic, otherworldly growl reverberating through their very being.

Then, the screaming began. Horrible, blood curdling howls of agony came from outside... from every direction. It was like hell itself had descended upon the guards. Just what the hell was going on outside?

Milly shook, but clenched her jaw and pushed on. It was now or never. She had to get out. She'd rather die trying to get free, than be a slave the rest of her days. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried dragging the boy along, but he was hesitating.

”Come on Max, we gotta get out of here.” She said, imploring him to move. It would be so much easier if he would run by himself, he was almost like a deadweight.

”Judgement for the mortals! Judgement from the Master.” The voice rasped, laughing sinisterly. ”So long... it's been so long. Ah yes, to unmake mortal flesh again!”

By now, the slaves were kneeling or collapsing on the floor, clutching at their heads trying in vain to keep the painful scratching voice out. Milly too, felt that raspy voice scratching at the inside of her skull, but she resisted the pain and pushed on ahead.

Just a few more steps and she would be free, just a little further.

Suddenly, the door through which she had intended to escape, burst open with a crash. A guardsman jumped through it, flailing desperately as he tried to get away from whatever was killing everything outside. His eyes were wide with madness, while snot and tears stained his face.

He didn't even see Milly or the fist she threw at his face. After dropping the scum, she relieved him of his sword and slit his throat, leaving him to bleed out on the floor.

Milly was just about to step through the door and make the dash to freedom, when she remembered the strange boy and looked back. He had stopped, and a guard was rushing up behind him. It was too late. The boy was a goner.

No, she would NOT accept that. Gritting her teeth, Milly threw the shortsword she had stolen from the guard. Max's eyes widened, and a look of anguish and betrayal flashed across his face before he closed his eyes. Foolish boy.

With a wet thud, the shortsword embedded itself in the guards face. He fell just within arms reach of Max. The boy should've jumped at the clang produced by the guardsmans sword rattling to the ground, but he remained still, his eyes closed. Stupid kid, does he not want to live?

Cursing up a storm, Milly turned and rushed back to the boy, shaking him.

”Pull yourself together Max, we're getting out of here! She yelled.

Finally, he opened his eyes. When he saw the dead guardsman, Max's eyes widened, then rolled back. He fainted. Bloody fucking damn this kid, he was such an arse ache. She quickly picked him up, resting his lolling head against her shoulder as she carried him to the small side door.

Readying herself for more screaming guards, Milly angled her body sideways so she could kick at any potential attackers, then she breached the door with her shoulder. Jumping out, she looked around but there was nothing. It was indeed a warehouse, in what looked like a run down, decrepid part of outer Xuberanth, but there were no guards here. Even if this was a small courtyard and not the main one.... there should atleast be some guards, or their corpses.

But there was not a trace left of them, just cold cobbles beneath her bare feet.

Looking up, Milly's mouth opened, then closed. The fuck? A void black dome stretched across the sky, blocking everything out. She couldn't even tell if it was day or night. Occasionally, purple lightning flickered across the surface of the barrier with a fizz and a crackle.

Still staring up at the black dome, Milly almost lost her balance when Max stirred in her arms. Whatever was going on, it seemed that there would be no escape from the black dome, but... she had hope.

That raspy voice did not seem very friendly towards the slavers, so perhaps this dome was its doing? No matter how powerful the Chain Emporium was, Milly doubted that a small warehouse such as this, had such a powerful defensive mechanism installed.

This looked like something which would appear when Kingdoms made war on each other and countless mages amassed their powers to perform a defensive dome for their army. It was on such a level, so why was it appearing here?

With a groan, Max opened his eyes. She met them. Her sharp blue gaze piercing his soft, green orbs. ”Wo...?” he asked, but then his eyes widened as he remembered everything.

”We're still not out yet.” Milly said quietly, trying to soothe him. His long golden hair was a tangled mess. Much like her own, she guessed. ”Warum... mich??” the boy mumbled.

”You and I, we're in the same boat.” Milly said. ”We're gonna get out of here, and when we do, I'm gonna hunt down that piece of shit Tarke and before gutting him, I'll make him eat his own filthy dick. Hows that sound?” Max froze and he opened his mouth, but no sound came from those red, glistening lips. Gosh, could he look any more like a girl?

”Well said, human girl. Master would like you.”

Milly jumped at the raspy voice. Somehow, the scratching inside of her skull was getting more and more bearable.

A burning red eye materialized before her, making her jump with a fright. If she wasn't holding Max, she might've bolted at the sight of that ominous eye floating in mid air, twitching about as it cast its surroundings in an eery blood red glow.

”You... you saved us?” Milly managed to say. A hollow, dark raspy laugh echoed. ”I do not save.” It said darkly. ”Then what do you do?” She asked the thing, preparing herself for a fight she knew she would lose.

”I make into nothing those who dare oppose my Master. I unmake the unworthy.” It rasped. Milly seized on those words, hoping she had a chance to escape this place with her life. ”So, that was the slavers right? We didn't do anything.”

”I disagree.” It said. Somehow, Milly got the impression that the grotesque thing was smiling, and a shiver ran down her spine. ”You escaped, killed two guards, hurgh.”

It let out a strangled sound, then started to fade into darkness. ”The Master.... comes...” it rasped.

Those words frightened her more than the being itself, for surely, that thing's Master was an unfathomably evil existence on a completely unbelievable level.

She found its presence strange though. Why would it care about slavers. Actually, she supposed the real question was why the Master of such a creature would care, since it seemed to act under his orders in coming here.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a tug on her arm. ”You can... let down...” Max said, and she complied. Her arms were starting to ache anyway and there was no point in continuing to carry him around once he'd regained consciousness.

Like a gentle breeze blowing in from the west, the black dome that had enclosed them faded away, revealing the blood red glow of the afternoon sun spilling over into the blue canvas of the darkening sky.

Momentarily distracted by the red and yellow sea spilling forth, Milly failed to notice the exact moment when a small figure cloaked in a black robe appeared a few feet from her.