The 7 hours passed by gruelingly. By the time they had arrived, the sun was just on the horizon. Julian's head, hanging low, finally lifted up to look at the grey steel gates, being opened by two tall guards wielding halberds. The slaves were marched forward.
Finally, Julian got his first break. There were three large rooms, filled with shabby bunk beds. It was packed, and some people had to sleep on the dirty floor. Julian was lucky enough to not be one of those individuals.
"…"
He closed his eyes. It stung a little bit, having to keep his eyes open without a long rest.
"…"
His eyes shot open.
His dirty bedsheets felt moist. They were no longer made out of cotton. Instead, mushy flesh. Blood seeped down the bunk bed, onto the floor.
Julian shrieked. He hopped off the bed and onto the ground. But just like his bed, everything else was coated in viscera, and entrails. The pungent stench attacked his nostrils, and he scrunched his nose up
Everyone was dead. Piles of flesh occupied each bed.
The horrendous sight was too much for Julian.
"If you can't handle at least this, you won't be able to survive in this world."
His head snapped, locating the eerie voice. It came from behind.
A corpse stood in front of him. A woman with a rag for clothes. Her head was… no longer. Bones stuck out in places where they weren't supposed to. Flesh and muscle hung from her face. It did not make sense that she was able to produce sound.
"…"
Julian stared.
Suddenly, she jumped at him.
!
Julian sprang awake. His forehead was covered in sweat, and his shirt clung to his wet back. He panted, heavily. Finally, he caught his breath and stopped.
There was no way he was gonna get any sleep.
Not with… that sight…
Julian trembled. He climbed the bunk bed's ladder, lowering himself onto the ground. Gently placing his feet. Even more carefully, he traversed through the dark room, being extra sure to not step on anybody.
He reached the exit.
The guards were situated outside the camp, at the gates. Being aware of this, Julian assumed it would be relatively safe to at least explore a little bit.
Now that he was outside, he noticed the sound of commotion. Loud thudding, like the clashing of… wooden swords?
"I… don't wanna die. But I'm awfully curious!" He quietly spoke. He began to approach the noise.
It was at a far corner of the camp. Next to the cafeteria (the word 'cafeteria' is used very lightly, it was more like something akin to a food center). A plot of packed dirt surrounded by wooden fences.
To his surprise, he was not the only one outside. Several slaves were there. Some fighting, sparring, or just chatting with each other. It was nearly pitch dark outside. Julian could barely see.
"Yoo-hoo! New guy!"
He heard a familiar voice.
"I never got your name."
He couldn't see her. Only her short silhouette.
"Julian," he quickly said. "I… didn't know people could just go outside like this."
"It's not allowed, but it's not discouraged, either. Everyone comes out here to hang out. We aren't able to use mana besides weak applications, so we can all just see in the dark like that. Has a bit of a homely feel to it."
"You guys aren't… tired in the slightest?"
"Why would we be?"
"…"
I guess in this world everyone is just stronger than the average individual. How inconvenient… even in the previous world I lived in I was physically inept.
"And… I'd really appreciate it if you'd stop looking at my chest."
Julian's eyes shot wide open. His head turned to the side, and his cheeks blushed red. He stammered profusely.
"I-I-I didn't know- I'm not…not proficient with mana… ah-so I can't see anything at all. Really… I apologize!" he quickly blurted out. A few awkward seconds passed by, before she burst out in laughter.
Julian stared nervously.
"It's alright, it's fine. Jeez. What a kid. I'm only teasing you. I can tell that you can't see. Bring your head, I got you."
Julian slowly lowered his head, hesitantly. After a few seconds, he felt small, rough hands cupping his ears. A warm feeling coursed through his head.
He blinked a few times. The scenery around him was illuminated.
"Now you can see the spar. That guy… I think it's Oscar, or something like that. He's pretty good. At swordsmanship, that is. They're doing this kind of tournament, and so far he's been undefeated. Even without the application of mana… man, he's like some kind of beast!" she said.
Julian looked beyond her, at the training grounds. There, he saw the aforementioned Oscar, standing above a man who had just been sent to the ground by him, his wooden sword a meter away from his grasp.
His hair was snow white, unkempt, and long, comparable to the mane of a lion. His skin was a bit pale, though not to the point of sickness. A pair of crystal-like blue eyes rested comfortably within his sockets.
There was a mysterious aura that he exuded. A barrier that separated him from everyone else. Like he was in the center of an icy cold tundra, quietly waiting.
He was considerably built and tall for an individual who was likely malnourished.
Oscar stuck his hand out, showing good sportsmanship. The losing slave took his hand, springing back up. And then the next spar happened, just like that.
"Hey… mm… Veind. Right, Veind. You guys all seem very strong. If you guys are so strong, why don't you all revolt? I believe you all have the collective capability to do so."
"…"
Veind's arm shot forward, startling Julian. He grabbed at the chain around his neck, one that he had not even noticed until now.
"These things stop us from properly utilizing our mana. Basically rendering us useless against people who can use mana. With this, that's how they control us!" she said raising a finger up.
"You had mentioned before that… you break out of the slave camps often. How do you manage that?"
"… There's one simple answer for that, Julian."
"…"
"I always find myself surrounded by like-minded clever individuals!"