Unbreakable

There had been restless activity outside of his master's palace for an entire day. The master's soldiers had been on high alert for two days. But now they were scared.

Even from the dungeons, the sounds of combat on the surface were unmistakable. The screams and cries of his master's monstrous guards made him laugh. The bastards were finally getting what they deserved. Death.

But Alatus was still surprised as something outside struck one of the walls with enough force to rattle his chain and his neck and wrists. Many more of these huge strikes reverberated through the dungeons. Each one seemed a little closer than the last.

At the end of the wall of cells, a figure in obscenely fine velvet and silk scuttled along the row. Alatus growled. It was Orwen- the master's herald. The idiot was the most cowardly creature in the entire palace. It was no surprise to see the little weasel trying to escape the palace with his skin intact- and knowing him, his coin purse stuffed full of the master's gold and jewels…

Alatus watched from the shadows of his cell as the Herald stopped in front of his cell and dug a large ring of keys off of his belt. With shaking hands Orwen unsnapped the lock and tossed it on the ground.

"Come, slave."

Alatus snorted. "Why?"

"Haven't you heard the chaos outside? The godslayer is here. That bastard Morax and his army are slicing through the master's defenses like our men are holding still. Get over here, brat! Don't make me come in there after you!"

Alatus remained where he was. "What do you want with me?"

Orwen squinted into the darkness of the cell. "The God Morax is approaching our master now. But he has heard of the child adeptus that was taken from Liyue many years earlier. That would be you, brat! Now get out here so that I can trade you for my freedom!"

"What's an adeptus?" Alatus asked. The word was familiar but only distantly. He had not heard it since before he was brought here. And those memories were hazy at best.

"You. I remember your mother well, brat. She was an adeptus. She fought for you like a tigress, even with no weapons, she bested some of the master's elite guards… But the master put her on her back and everyone who was there that day got a turn with the little bitch. It's too bad there isn't more time today- because it pissed me off that the master was so determined to keep you to himself."

Alatus snarled as he leapt at the bastard. He knew his neck chain would never reach the door, but he had been itching to kill this bastard for as long as he'd been trapped here. Taking one last swing at him would be worth it.

The bastard laughed as Alatus' charge came up about 12 inches short of him and Alatus fell to the ground, coughing. "Brat, it's so easy to bait you."

The man moved to unchain him, but Alatus was faster and stronger. He stole the keys from the bastard's hand and rammed one of them straight into his throat.

Coughing and sputtering up blood, the Herald crumpled to the ground and Alatus calmly unchained himself. The silk clad man scrabbled at his feet but Alatus ignored his gurgling pleas and stepped out of the cell.

But before he could decide what to do next, the door opened at the far end of the hall. A tall man in the cloak of an archon stood silhouetted against the bright lights of the dungeon's main chamber.

His eyes were twin pools of molten gold. They were more beautiful than anything he'd ever seen. He couldn't stop staring. The man was beautiful, too perfect to be real. This was Morax- the God Slayer and Alatus thought he was ready to fight or run… but instead he froze under the weight of that gaze.

A woman stepped around Morax. The man tried to pull her back. But she approached Alatus anyway. She was beautiful- with lavender hair and deep blue eyes. She moved slowly, there was a gentleness about her that he was drawn to but couldn't bring himself to trust. "You're him, aren't you? The adeptus that the master of this awful place was keeping prisoner- you're him."

It was a long moment before he responded and even then he didn't know what an adeptus was, really. How did she know when he didn't? What if he nodded and it turned out he wasn't? He would be punished for lying!

Alatus knelt before her, barely able to look her in the eye. "I… don't know."

She sighed sadly. "You are, I can feel it."

"Stand back from him, Guizhong." The man with the amber eyes said sternly. "He is tainted- better to slay him now than to let that corruption fester. Look at his eyes."

Alatus cowered instinctively and hated himself for it.

"No, Morax!" The woman stood her ground. "His mother was my best friend and I failed to protect her. It is my fault that he is here, but I can feel her spirit in him. You will not harm him! What is your name, little one?"

"Alatus…" He didn't dare to look up.

"Kept in human form, but with no wings… I'm so sorry for what you must have endured…" Gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder and he flinched looking away from her. "I am Guizhong. And you are safe now, I swear it."

Slowly, she raised his chin but he still couldn't look at her. "It's alright. I won't harm you or let anyone else hurt you, Alatus. Let me take you away from this place. We'll get your wounds cleaned up at our camp."

He frowned, genuinely confused. "But- I'm not bleeding…"

"There are bruises and scars all over you. You need care. Stand up and come with me. You are only about 150 years old, right? How long ago were you brought here?"

"I- don't know…"

She sighed sadly, looking around at the condensation on the thick stone walls and the puddles on the flagstone floor. "I guess if you were kept in here, how could you know? I'm so sorry that it took me so long to find you."

He was wearing ragged pants and a matching scratchy shirt since he had not visited his master's bedchamber for a few days. When the master required him- either to kill someone for his amusement or for sex, Alatus would be brought into the master's chambers and bathed and dressed in clean clothes so as not to soil the bed. Then once the master was finished with him he was dragged back to his cell, still covered in blood or… other bodily fluids.

He always cleaned himself as well as he could. Unfortunately he was not given extra water rations in his cell, so baths were a rare and precious thing.

But Guizhong didn't seem to notice. She even took off her fine silk cloak and wrapped it around his shoulders. He flinched at her closeness. But as they moved through the dungeon, he was glad of her presence.

And the man with the golden eyes watched him warily. He was jealous of him being so close to his woman. But if Guizhong noticed she gave no sign of it.

She kept her attention on him, and Alatus wasn't sure if he should be worried or relieved about that.

Outside of the dungeon, the palace was little more than a ruin. Alatus saw the carcass of his master lying broken on a pile of shattered stone and smirked at the holes torn through him.

He wished he could've been here to see the bastard fall. But for now it was enough to have seen him dead with his own eyes.

A few of the soldiers with Morax pointed and stared at him with Guizhong. But most of them were watching a dozen of his master's soldiers who had been penned in together, disarmed and were probably awaiting death.

Alatus could only hope that this wasn't some kind of a trick. His master had been fond of such mindgames. But the woman's concern for him felt genuine. That feeling was completely alien to him. But it was also pleasant- even if it would be short lived.

No matter how hard Alatus tried to be 'good', his master had always found an excuse to starve or beat him- or rape him.

He hated all of the things he was used for… especially killing and torturing humans stealing their dreams to devour them. No matter how hard Alatus tried to resist, eventually starvation would pull him back in again. He could hardly stomach human food or even the green food he had eaten as a child. Those stolen dreams were more like a drug than sustenance and yet that was how he'd survived. He hated himself for craving them even now.

He hadn't eaten dreams or anything else in days, and he was embarrassed when his stomach growled as they passed a food tent in the camp.

"Are you hungry?" Guizhong asked. "It's alright. Let's get you into a bath and some fresh clothes and then we'll see about preparing dinner. Morax and I haven't eaten either. I would like you to join us."

Alatus shook his head. "N-No…" He didn't want to sound ungrateful but he couldn't let her continue to lower herself to his level. "I'm just a slave. You've already shown me far more kindness than I deserve."

"Don't be silly. You deserve every kindness. Your mother was precious to me and I am ashamed that I didn't know you had survived her death until a few days ago. I feel stupid. I should have known when your body wasn't found that that monster had simply taken you with him."

Alatus didn't know what to say so he stayed quiet as Guizhong led him into a tent at the back of the camp. It was much larger and more ornate than the other tents. She led him inside it.

Three servants met them, each bowed hastily. While the three women looked at him, none of the three seemed surprised or taken aback by his appearance. "Please have the soldiers set up a hot bath with fresh clothes for this boy. Alatus, stay here and let them take care of you. I have to speak with Morax."

"Please don't fight because of me…"

Guizhong smiled, and ruffled his hair. "He seems intimidating. But I assure you he's kind, intelligent and deeply loyal."

Alatus wanted to argue but the servants were already done ordering the soldiers around. His hot bath was ready and he was promptly urged into it.

His bath water was scented with lotus flowers and the soap they chose was lightly scented with cucumber and melon- very different from the lavender and sandalwood his master had favored.

As a slave, he carefully kept his eyes lowered and allowed the servants to follow their mistress' orders, neither complaining nor asking any questions. The women worked quickly and efficiently, not conversing amongst themselves either.

The silence was more disconcerting than the mocking gossip about him that he was used to from his master's servants. They couldn't wait to talk in front of him.

By the time they were done rinsing the shampoo out of his hair, Alatus thought they were done. But instead they used a conditioner on him too. Finally rinsed of that, he got out of the bath and was allowed to dry himself. The servants waited with fresh garments for him- each of them held a different set of colors.

He blushed, uncertain of what Guizhong would have ordered so many clothes for. How was he supposed to pick? They were all of very fine quality but looked surprisingly plain. How was he supposed to look alluring in this? These were normal clothes. They covered up his body rather than showing it off…

But Alatus had no sooner dressed in the nearest set of garments than a man came in. He was a doctor and the servants left silently. "Hello, I'm Dr. Tang."

The doctor gently poked and prodded and cataloged his bruises and finally asked. "How do you feel? Are you in pain anywhere?"

Alatus shook his head. "No."

"The two large scars on your back- are they-"

Alatus sighed. "The stumps of my wings…"

"Sadly, I can't restore them. But would you like me to get rid of the scars?"

Alatus nodded before he realized what he was doing- expressing an opinion? That would have earned him several beatings… "Yes. I-I mean, thank you."

"Don't worry. Lord Morax and Lady Guizhong are very kind. You are safe here. I have a potion to go make for you. But I will be back in a few days when it is ready."

"I… thank you."

"You're welcome. Even for an adeptus, you're lucky. In spite of you being severely dehydrated and underweight, the worst of your injuries have somehow healed on their own. But you should still rest and let the bruising on your body heal. Eat a lot, especially protein and leafy, green vegetables. You'll probably never get any taller, but you can still put on some more muscle."

"What is protein?" Alatus gasped when he realized he had spoken out loud.

"Relax. No one will hurt you here. Meat is usually recommended as the main source of protein, like beef, chicken or fish. I would stay away from rich foods and desserts for a while. Mild food for now. Like a grilled chicken breast, steamed vegetables and some rice would be a good starting place for you."

The servants came back into the room. "It is time for dinner. Come this way, please. When they led him out of the main room he expected to see a bedroom and perhaps a small table.

Instead, the inside of the tent was larger than the outside. The room was spacious and the table was large enough to seat ten people though it was only set for three.

Guizhong hurried over to take his hand and led him to the table. "Please, sit down."

'I… can't.' Alatus wanted to say. But he quietly stood still instead, staring at the floor.

Across the room, the god, Morax watched him for a moment then said. "My love, I think we need to separate him from his previous identity. Alatus is a good, powerful name for an adeptus, but to him it will always be a symbol of his former master. A new name for a new identity. A new life of freedom?"

Alatus looked up and Guizhong smiled. "That's a splendid idea. Would you accept this and join us tonight?"

Alatus nodded though he wasn't sure he had a choice either way, he liked the idea. He hated being caged and used over and over in every way imaginable. To be free of that past for even a moment seemed too good to be true.

"Well then," Morax said, "How about Xiao? Does that sound acceptable?"

"Yes… on the condition that you will let me fight for you, my Lord."

"You want to face even more bloodshed?"

"You saved me. My life is yours… It is all I have to repay your kindness, my Lord."

"W-Wait. Don't you want to think about it some more?" Guizhong looked between them.

Alatus shook his head. "Please, my Lady. It would be my highest honor to serve you..."

"Well then," Morax said, "I gratefully accept, Xiao. After dinner we will make arrangements for sleeping quarters and your training. But, for now, please join us in celebrating your freedom. It's not every day that we meet a pure blooded adeptus who was born in the mortal realm."

"Yes, come," Guizhong smiled, patting him on the shoulder as Xiao reluctantly sat down beside her.

His heart was pounding. He had not eaten at a table since he was young. And he wasn't even sure he remembered how to hold chopsticks. In his cell he had to eat quickly when food came or the rats and bugs would crawl through it. There were always bugs in the dumplings, but he didn't like adding to it.

He sat with his hands in his lap as the food was brought out. He watched Lord Morax and Lady Guizhong for cues on how to hold the chopsticks and the relaxed pace at which they ate.

"Eat," Lady Guizhong said softly. "Please? You need to eat to build your strength. This is a time of war, I don't want to lose my friend's only child so soon after finding you."

He blushed, quickly picking up the chopsticks and fumbling awkwardly with them. "Human food tastes strange to me, but I will… try."

"Is there anything that you do like? We can have the cook come up with something else."

"N-No my lord… This is fine…" Xiao said quickly.

"Well then, eat. Because for dessert we shall have Almond Tofu!" Lady Guizhong said.

Xiao tried a bite of the chicken on his plate and decided it wasn't terrible. But he disliked the steamed vegetables. And the rice was bland but that at least, was familiar.

He remembered the doctor's orders and ate a lot of the chicken. And almost immediately felt full. But Lady Guizhong wanted him to eat so he ate to be polite.

Finally the servants brought out a trio of elegant plates of something white and cut into squares. It smelled sweet and he wondered if it was really tofu made out of almonds.

"This is a wonderful dessert," Lady Guizhong said. "It's not actually tofu. It's mostly milk, almonds and sugar."

Xiao sighed. More human food? But to be polite he tried it. And it was really good! It was sweet, smooth and tasted just like dreams he used to eat. He found himself wondering how the humans managed to make something so amazing.

"Well, we've stumbled upon one thing you like," Lord Morax said dryly.

Xiao was almost done with his before he realized that his lord and lady were still eating at their normal pace. He blushed, awkwardly putting down his spoon. He hoped that dinner would be over soon so he could forget how embarrassing today had been.

"Eat and don't worry," Lady Guizhong whispered conspiratorially, "There's more in the kitchen because it's my favorite thing too. Let's have some more brought out, shall we?"