Chapter 44: Help
This land was once known by the name, Land of Slaves.
It was a kingdom not ruled by nobles or warriors, but by slavers. Here, every kind of human misery had a price tag. Slaves were bought, sold, and exchanged like currency, with no regard for identity, background, or age. But what made this place infamous even among slaver territories was the way they controlled their slaves.
They used special chains unlike any other. These shackles didn’t just restrain bodies; they subdued the will. It was said that a slave wearing them would bow no matter their power. Even if they could crush their master with a glance, they would kneel instead.
When their reputation was at its peak, they literally raked in coins to their vaults. Everything was going well until one day, something that had never occurred happened..
A slave broke free.
On that day, everyone died.
Slaves, slavers, merchants, visitors, and beasts, every living thing perished. And when an investigation party finally entered the region, all they found were endless rows of skeletons and a deathly fog that reeked of death.
As time passed, like many ruins before it, rumors spread. Whispers of treasure hidden in the depths. Ancient secrets, artifacts of gods, cursed relics, and unlike the hellish domain of Ashenfall, this place was considered more accessible, dangerous, yes, but it was also a practical training ground for the ambitious youth of powerful families.
The place was then called the mortuary ruin.
Maybe only one person present today knew with certainty that a treasure truly awaited at the ruin’s heart, Baines.
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