Back again: I must thank my reviewers since they gave me some rather ingenious ideas for future gauntlet forms (you know who you are ;)). I do not own Rising of the Shield Hero but I DO own my OCs and unique plot twists. Some of you asked where Rong was when Hazel was captured: my answer is it's in the last chapter, you just have to look. Thanks for your patience!
It was the revolting smell that woke her up; not the pounding headache or stiffness in her limbs or the cold. A vile mixture of shit, sweat, vomit, mold and rot clog her nose, making Hazel sneeze involuntarily. She forces her eyes open and sees bars of a cage? Jail? Her eyes are blurry from the after-effects of the poison and she almost vomits from nausea.
Hazel starts to sit up and stiffens when she feels an unfamiliar weight on her wrists and ankles.
Shackles?!
"Oh? You are awake already?" A cheerful voice calls out.
Hazel snaps her head around and sees her captor for the first time. Though it's gloomy, she can clearly see his rotund body in a fine suit, glasses and top hat. He smiles as he strokes his mustache, appraising her.
"Interesting! The sleeping dust usually lasts for several days, but you are already awake after one; your value continues to rise, young lady!"
Hazel narrows her eyes.
"My value?"
He nods, his smile broadening.
"Why yes! Your value as a slave, that is. It is rare to encounter young women with such an excellent physical condition and combat skills who are foolish enough to travel alone. If you are a virgin, your value would be even higher! It certainly helps you are pleasing to the eye as well- it would be a waste to sell you as a mere grunt. Hmm, perhaps a specialized bodyguard? The possibilities are rather numerous in your case, unlike some of your fellow slaves."
Hazel takes a shallow breath, forcing herself to not hyperventilate as the gravity of her situation sinks in.
"Admittedly, humans are not usually sold in Melromarc, but in your case I would not be lacking for buyers. The nobles in particular are always eager for new toys to play with!" He tsks.
Hazel stays quiet, all too aware of what that could entail- her history class covering slavery in the Deep South had been very thorough. Her captor minces closer, studying her through the bars.
"How unusual you are," He murmurs, tilting his head.
"In what way." She says flatly, her eyes cold.
He laughs.
"So matter of fact! You see, freshly caught slaves are rarely calm- they often scream for help or weep, unable to cope with their new status. You, on the other hand, are the opposite. It is fascinating to see. I cannot wait to see what becomes of you!"
He steps back, still smiling that sickening smile.
"We will be ready to give you that slave crest soon, young lady~!"
His footsteps fade as he disappears within the tent, but Hazel can still see the state he left his 'wares' in.
And he plans on making it my turn next if I don't figure a way out! She reminds herself harshly.
Breathe and think. What needs to happen?
Unwillingly she takes a deeper breathe, almost gagging on the smell.
I need to break the chains or get them off somehow. Next, get the cage door open without being caught. Then run like hell and try to find Rong.
… God, please let me get out or that Rong finds me- I wouldn't mind having a super skilled ninja right now.
Hazel starts inspecting her shackles, tugging for weakness and seeing how tight they are around her wrists. They are too tight and snag on Knokene and Rysty. Hazel growls in annoyance.
[Holy Weapons may not be removed!]
Hazel glares at them.
"Then do you two have any ideas for how to get these shackles off? 'Cause I'm not waiting around to become some asshole's bitch!" She whispers harshly.
[Slave seals have no effect on Heroes. Hero can utilize Ki or we may shift to break the shackles by changing form.]
Hazel blinks in surprise at the helpful suggestions then looks down at the cuffs.
"Well, it's worth a shot…" She mutters.
Elsewhere…
Rong is tearing down the road at her fastest speed, intent on her goal: the slave trader, Beloukas. The signs of conflict in the woods as well as the powder used are typical tactics of his. But Rong is thorough, interrogating the bartender until he cracked. He was put on a watch list for aiding the illegal slave trade and Rong pushes her limits, knowing she may not be in time to reach Hero Ilmatar.
Rong sighs as she thinks of the baffling Gauntlet Hero. Ilmatar was not what she had expected in a hero- practical, flexible and clever. Not gorgous, driven by justice or awe-inspiring.
Rong knows the other heroes are interested only in leveling up, doing impossible feats and hitting on girls- all very traditional pursuits. Ilmatar focused on learning how to read and write in Melromarc, cultural customs, how their money system works and practicing techniques with various gauntlet forms. If anything, Ilmatar probably practiced too much, but it isn't Rong's place to point that out.
Shaking her head, Rong breaks out of the forest, spotting the capital's walls at long last. She slips a knife free, knowing this is not the time for stealth.
In Beloukas' tent…
"Ki, huh? Well that could work. Let's see…"
Hazel closes her eyes and tries to meditate; she had found, after constant trial and error, meditation is one way to open her senses to Ki. In, out, in, out; Hazel settles into a steady rhythm and feels her awareness shift. Slowly, she opens her eyes and immediately regrets it.
So many…!
Hazel pales when she realizes all the sickly looking auras belong to slaves. She shivers and drag her attention to the shackles. They gleam with a dull grey light with black specs here and there. In a few spots they seem more concentrated. Experimentally, Hazel picks up the chain between her feet and feels it with her fingers. Something flakes off and Hazel can smell rust on her hands. Grinning, Hazel spreads her legs as far apart as they'll go, maximizing the tension between the links.
"Balloon gauntlets!" She requests.
Rysty obliges. Hazel shifts her hand positions so she can punch (and hopefully break) the chains. She lashes out in a right punch and feels the pressure on her ankles abruptly cease.
[Chain Gauntlets: (1/10), Locked. Skill- Chain Manipulation (Locked). +4 Stamina.]
Hazel stops herself from whooping and sets Rysty against the chains between her hands. The angle is awkward but she manages leading to another message from Rysty.
[Chain Gauntlets: (2/10), Locked. Skill- Chain Manipulation (Locked). +4 Stamina.]
"Nice! Hey, do you two think you can eat the bars?"
[Processing request.]
Hazel switches back to her normal vision, scanning the area. Movement far in the back catches her attention. She narrows her eyes at the slave huddled in the cage- a young girl… with cat ears?! Hazel gapes in surprise.
Holy shit, is that a for real cat-girl?! No! Stop! Don't get distracted! But fluffy cat ears~! No! That asshole slave trader is supposed to come back soon! Focus, Hazel, focus!
Hazel slaps herself and stands, the chains clinking on the cage floor. The cat-girl's eyes widen when she sees the chains are broken and Hazel rests what looks like a Red Balloon against the cage lock. Rysty starts gnawing on it, but doesn't make much progress before Hazel hears footsteps. She quickly sits back down and arranges the chains to look as if they're still whole. Rysty and Knokene shift back to their Jewelry forms.
The cat-girl stares at her openly, gaping. Hazel holds a finger up to her lips, making a hush motion. She nods slowly, still dumbfounded. The slave trader walks toward her, flanked by two beefy helpers. His smile is broad as he looks down at Hazel.
"We are ready for you now~!"
Rong's Point of View
Rong jumps over another roof, using the drainpipe to slide down to the ground and continues running. Entering the city was time-consuming, even with her disguise belt; security had been increased since the heroes' arrival. In the distance she spots the alleyway Beloukas hides his establishment and speeds up, only a blur to onlookers.
She tears through the opening in the tent and has her knives in hand. Rong spots Beloukas by a table with the tools of his craft, staring in shock at Hazel. One of his muscle men is on the floor whimpering, his leg clearly broken and clutching his privates. The other is currently fighting her, but screams as one of the gauntlets chomps on his face. Rong intercedes, slamming the hilt of her knife at the base of his skull and knocking him out. Hazel grins cheerfully at Rong.
"Hey Rong! Happy to see you!" She says with a savage smile.
Rong nods and turns to Beloukas.
"Beloukas-san, this is Hazel Ilamtar, the fifth hero summoned by the King. Her majesty has given her support to Ilmatar-san, so please learn her face so this never happens again." Rong's voice is a deadly threat unspoken.
"O-Of course! How silly of me! If she is sanctioned by her, then the Lady Hero of course will be given due respect. Such a shame, you would have been an excellent draw." He sighs, stroking his mustache.
"I'll take that as compliment. Now- let's talk restitution." Hazel's eyes gleam with a predatory light.
"Restitution?" Beloukas seems intrigued by this turn of events.
Hazel nods.
"You had me kidnapped and wasted my time with your antics- add on the conditions I was kept in and overall treatment, I am in a pisser of a mood."
Beloukas starts to speak but Hazel cuts him off.
"The only reason I'm not demanding your life is that Heroes are not affected by a slave seal. So, instead, I want a permanent discount of 30% on all merchandise, first pick of goods when I'm in the capital and free samples. Oh, and the keys to these shackles."
Rong and Beloukas stare at her in surprise before Beloukas chuckles.
"Oh ho? Very interesting! I see you are a very discerning client, Lady Hero. I agree to your generous terms! Now, what would you like to view first? Slaves, gear, monsters, monster eggs..?"
"Ilmatar-san, are you certain you wish to do this?" Rong questions her, worry showing in her voice.
Hazel nods firmly.
"The King is currently more influential than Merillia-san, which means I can't got to most shops to resupply. That leaves quasi-legal or illegal means. And Beloukas is one of the best from what I heard eavesdropping. So,"
Hazel faces Rong and keeps her gaze steady.
"I will use what he has to offer. I may hate what he is and what he represents, but beggars cannot be choosers."
Rong keeps silent, seeing Hazel has made up her mind.
Beloukas hands Hazel two keys for her shackles with some regret. She removes the shackles quickly and feeds them to the gauntlets. Beloukas' starts to ask questions but Rong clears her throat, warning him. With a sigh, Beloukas begins to show off his wares, starting with gear. Hazel and Rong inspect and choose several items- light armor, adventurer packs, rope, an assortment of herbs and drugs.
Then he brings them to the monsters; dragons, Filolials and more. Hazel considers them and looks at Rong.
"What is the difference between the monster eggs and them?" She asks Beloukas.
"Hmm, well if you raise them from an egg they take more time to become useful. These are already full-grown and can be put to work immediately. However, if raised from an egg the monster develops a deeper bond with its master."
"So what you're saying is the ones I don't raise myself will be of a lower quality?" Hazel murmurs, eyeing them.
"As you say!" Beloukas says, delighted by her insight.
"Hmm, in lieu of a full grown monster, I will take two monster eggs." Hazel decides.
Beloukas swiftly leads Rong and Hazel to the monster egg lottery. Hazel quirks her eyebrows at the eggs displayed.
"So, it's a game?"
He nods and explains the rules and chances of earning a Knight's dragon. Hazel considers the eggs with narrowed eyes then closes them, her hand drifting over the eggs slowly. Rong blinks.
What an odd way to choose…
Hazel's eyes open and she selects two eggs, cradling them carefully.
"I choose these." She tells Beloukas.
He nods and notes down the monster egg numbers, then blinks and checks them again. He checks a third time.
"Beloukas-san, what's the matter?" Rong asks, standing between the slave trader and Hazel.
"She-! She picked the Knight Dragon egg!" He stammers, sweating.
"Eh?" Hazel and Rong say together.
Hazel's Point of View
"Wait- seriously?!" Hazel yelps, stunned by her good luck.
"I made meticulous notes concerning my stock: the numbers do not lie! You picked the winning egg, worth 20 gold coins at maturity!" Beloukas tells her excitedly.
… Holy SHIT. I have a freaking DRAGON!
Hazel tries not to jump up and down with joy, then a thought occurs to her.
"What's in the other one?" She demands.
Beloukas consults the ledger and frowns.
"A Filolial, Lady Hero. Perhaps you would like to exchange it for another egg?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Filolials and dragons do not get along, Hero Ilmatar." Rong answers for Beloukas.
Hazel quirks her eyebrows.
"So… Like cats and dogs?" She guesses, frowning as she tries to put it together.
Rong shakes her head.
"Worse. They are natural enemies and try to kill one another if they are too close together."
Hazel looks down at the eggs. Doubts begin to plague her- should she pick another egg? Or should she keep both of them? Staring down at them, she remembers the feeling of certainty, of rightness when she held her hands over the eggs.
… Well, she was never one to back down from a challenge.
"No. I'll keep both of them."
Her words surprise them, eliciting protests. Hazel glares them both down. She turns to Beloukas and holds out her eggs.
"There is a ceremony to preform, correct? Then let's get started."
Beloukas swallows his protests at Hazel's potentially bad buy and imprints both eggs with Hazel's blood. After cleaning the cut, Hazel and Rong are lead to the slaves. Rong radiates a steady disapproval, but Hazel ignores it in favor of looking the slaves over.
A mix of beastmen and Demi-humans, the quality ranged from excellent to broken down. Hazel has to work to keep nausea at bay as she surveys the potential buys.
"And here is a battle slave, a wolf-beastman. He is a rather good specimen, all considering." Beloukas tells her, glasses glinting.
Hazel meets the wolfman's eyes and holds his gaze, considering. Then she shakes her head.
"No. You said he is experienced in combat- but for all I know that means he tore his enemies apart with no technique, only brute strength. I would rather have someone with minimal or no fighting experience so I can teach them myself. That way I know how good they are, along with what they are and are not capable of."
Beloukas nods slowly, understanding her logic.
"It would be quite an investment." He points out.
Hazel snorts.
"One well worth it: given a month I can teach basics along with more specialized techniques for ending enemies. Or I can teach weapons if they have the feel for it. But if they are already trained in a fighting style, it's hard to correct ingrained mistakes or moves that will get them killed."
Beloukas chuckles.
"I cannot seem to beat you, Lady Hero. Very well! Here is the bottom of the barrel, the most unskilled of the lot!"
He shows her a row of cages in the back of the tent, reeking of sickness and death. Rong tenses when she notices just how 'damaged' the slaves are.
"Ilmatar-san…"
"I know." Hazel says softly, her eyes not leaving the slaves.
Beloukas specifically shows them four slaves: a rabbit man with a deformed arm, a lizard beastman, a sickly tanuki girl and the cat girl from before. Hazel squats to take a closer look at the four of them, noting muscle development and overall health.
"… Not the rabbit man. His arm would make it nearly impossible to do most martial arts or weapons." She tells Beloukas.
"The tanuki girl would need medicine before I can teach her anything… that leaves the beastman and the cat girl." Hazel muses.
The beastman snarls at her while the cat girl stays quiet, tense and ready to do… something. Probably dodge a blow, if Hazel doesn't miss her guess.
"…"
Hazel eyes her for a moment longer before standing up. At closer inspection, the girl has golden ears and a tufted tail with dark amber eyes.
"Are you a lion Demi-human?" Hazel asks her.
The girl flinches, eyes flickering to Beloukas. Hazel sighs and raises her eyebrows at him.
"She is! Her species are hard to find, but she's the bottom of the barrel in terms of temperament and skills. She suffers from panic attacks, same as the tanuki girl, but reacts violently to any attempts to waken her. Her past owners did not feel safe keeping such a volatile slave around, even with the slave seal."
"Huh. Sounds fine to me- I would rather have someone willing to fight, if only to protect themselves. We'll take her." Hazel says calmly, dusting off her pants.
Later…
The slave sealing ceremony concluded, Hazel snags the plate containing her blood in the ink and dumps it on the gauntlets. Paranoia at its best (or worst). Rong finds a cloak from somewhere for their new companion, covering the tell-tale ears and tail.
Hazel tugs up her own hood, mind drifting to the conversation she had with Beloukas before she left the tent.
"With the right settings your slave will not attack, lie to or otherwise disobey you."
"Huh. Useful if morally unsettling." Hazel comments, cradling her monster eggs.
"It is a basic part of the slave seal magic- it would hardly be effective if it did not work! If I may, you will need a better disguise for wandering the capital- try this hair dye." He offers a packet of powder.
Hazel quirks an eyebrow at him.
"Well, aren't you all helpful now," She says coldly.
He smiles broadly at her.
"It is rare to meet a discerning customer such as yourself- consider this a parting gift and a token of my appreciation for your skills."
"… I'm gonna have Rong take a look at this before it goes anywhere near my hair." She tells him before accepting it.
Then she pauses and considers Beloukas for a moment.
"Would you say a slave cannot betray you? No matter what?"
"It would be impossible if the slave seal is used correctly." He replies, quirking an eyebrow.
"Lady Hero, what are you thinking about? I cannot help if I do not have details!"
His tone isn't exactly whining, more like wheedling, but it still makes Hazel sigh and makes a snap decision.
"If you see a young human man about my age with scruffy black hair, green eyes and a silver shield with a green gem inset into it, bring him by here. You may have what he needs most right now."
"Oh? Do you mean perchance the Shield Hero?"
Hazel rolls her eyes.
"I don't think that's his name, but yes."
"Why would you help a man accused of rape?" Beloukas prods her.
She considers the question for a moment.
"He may be guilty- but he also could be innocent. I don't have all the facts, so I won't judge him. But what I do know is he needs a companion he can trust- and that's where you come in."
"I see… this could be beneficial! Very well, Lady Hero, I will see if I can coax him to my humble establishment."
"Try the shit you attempted earlier on him and I'll leave you immobilized for the rest of your natural life span." Hazel says it flatly, meaning every word.
"I will, of course, be a perfect gentleman. You need not worry, Lady Hero. I will see to his needs!"
"Do your best."
Hazel shakes her head to get rid of the memory and glances at Rong, now disguised as an experienced adventurer.
"We need to get some clothes and rooms to stay the night; might as well enjoy the warm beds while we can."
Rong nods stiffly. Hazel sighs.
"… if you're gonna yell at me, do it in private, alright?"
"It is not my place to argue with your decisions."
"I call bullshit."
Rong blinks at her.
"Excuse me?"
"I said, I call bullshit." Hazel repeats calmly.
"If you have a problem with my choices, say so- don't pretend it's alright when it's not. How are we supposed to work together if we can't be honest with each other?" Hazel lets her frustration show, not bothering to hide it.
Rong stays quiet then finally speaks.
"Then I will be speaking with you after we have our rooms for the night."
"Sounds good."
The odd trio vanish into the crowds, hiding in plain sight.
And that's another wrap! Hope you enjoyed it ;) Until next time!