Chapter 217: The Past of A Former Slave
Elis couldn’t contain her overwhelming sorrow any longer. The tears streamed down her face, their intensity matching the depth of her pain. She sought solace beneath the shelter of a tree, desperate to conceal her anguish from prying eyes.
Her mind drifted, haunted by the dreadful memories that had plagued her since that fateful day. Her life had become an abyss of unending suffering, devoid of any glimpse of joy.
Abuse, sorrow, fear, and shame had become her constant companions, overshadowing any semblance of a normal existence. Every day was a battle for survival, a cruel reminder of the life she was trapped in as a slave.
But then, an unexpected ray of hope pierced through the darkness. The Knights of Gerhard arrived with their commander, like a divine intervention she had never dared to dream of. It was as if a miracle had descended from the heavens.
Their appearance marked the end of the unimaginable torture she had endured. Unexpectedly, the commander, who was also the Grand Duke of Gerhard, in accordance with his agreement with the Count of Abinair of Dracor, took her and the other slaves into his hands.
Elis had braced herself for yet another ordeal, expecting the worst to follow. However, what transpired was far from her expectations. The grand duke not only freed her and the others from their torment but also returned them all to their homes.
It was a new aspiration, a lifeline that offered the possibility of reclaiming her humanity. No longer treated as possessions or mere animals, she dared to dream of a life restored, where she could once again be recognised as a human being.
Despite the deep scars etched into her soul, Elis yearned for a fresh start—a life of tranquillity and restoration. She longed to rebuild what she had lost, to find solace in the embrace of a supportive community back home.
However, those who had known her and witnessed her growth turned a blind eye in her time of need. When the catastrophe befell her life and loan sharks snatched her and her sister to sell them to slave traders, the people she once trusted remained silent, their indifference a painful betrayal. Those who were meant to shield and safeguard her shut her out completely.
Upon her return, freed from the clutches of slavery, Elis discovered that her hometown had transformed into a cesspool of disdain. The townsfolk treated her as if the misfortunes that had befallen her were of her own making.
Bruised, battered, and isolated, she mustered every ounce of strength to endure, for the town was the only place she had ever called home. But on that dreadful night, when intruders invaded her home, intent on violating and extinguishing her life, Elis could bear it no longer. She fought back like a frenzied spirit, wielding a knife to defend herself before fleeing into the unknown.