Chapter 12: The Captive Apprentice

Darwinian Calendar Year 61639, Month 7, Coda Village, 160KM from the Gate of Peking.

The sun beat down harshly on the Coda labour camp, casting long shadows over the enslaved villagers toiling under the watchful eyes of their Russian overlords. Lelei La Lillehammer stood beneath the massive oak tree, her hands gripping the handle of the axe tightly. The weight of her situation bore down on her shoulders, but she refused to let it break her spirit. Sweat trickled down her forehead as she exerted her strength, determined to cut down the tree. She glanced down at her high-tech collar, a constant reminder of her enslavement.

The collar, a metallic device encircling her neck, was a symbol of her submission to her new overlords, the soldiers of the Greater Russian Empire. Its cold touch reminded her of the electric shock that awaited her should she dare to refuse any request or step out of line. It was a stark reminder of her helplessness, a constant threat that hung over her like a sword.

Her thoughts drifted back to a time when she was free, when magic held the promise of wonder and discovery. Lelei had always been fascinated by the mystic arts, her passion ignited when she witnessed arch-mages performing incredible feats during a chance encounter in her nomadic tribe. The memory of their power had stayed with her, igniting a desire to study magic and unravel its secrets.

Together with her older sister, Lelei had left behind her homeland and embarked on a journey to the walled city of Rondel. It was a place renowned for its wealth of knowledge and advancements in magic. Under the tutelage of the great sage Cato, she hoped to hone her skills and unlock her true potential.

The memory of her first successful spell still brought a smile to her face, a glimmer of hope in her darkened world. It had been a simple spell, performed with beginner's luck, but it had marked an important milestone in her magical education.

But those days of freedom and wonder seemed like a distant dream now, overshadowed by the grim reality she found herself trapped in. The dire frontline situation in the Naerok Peninsula had prompted a general mobilization of able-bodied men, including her master, Cato. He had been taken away from her, leaving a void in her heart that only grew with each passing day.

It had been weeks since her teacher had been called away to fight in the raging war against the Tyranid swarm. And then, her own fate had taken an even darker turn.

A month ago, a strange army had descended upon their village, rounding up its inhabitants and stripping them of their freedom. These soldiers, clad in intimidating metal exoskeletons, claimed to hail from another world called Earth, brought to this realm through a dimensional portal. They professed their allegiance to the mighty Tsar Charles the Great and declared the people of this land as heretics.

Lelei clenched her jaw as the memories flooded back. The Russian soldiers had enforced their rule with an iron fist, employing a massive flying machine that seemed to defy the laws of nature. She had witnessed her own people, brave Rurudo warriors, transform into towering Titans, desperate attempts to fight back against their captors. But their resistance had been futile against the overwhelming might of the enemy's flying machines. Lelei could still hear the agonizing cries and the sickening crack of bone as her people fell before the merciless blades of the invaders. The villagers were rounded up like cattle, stripped of their dignity and forced into labor.

And so, Lelei found herself toiling away, forced to work up to 18 hours nonstop, constructing new barracks for the Russian army. The collar around her neck ensured compliance, its tracking and listening devices ensuring that her every move was monitored by her enslavers.

She glanced around, taking in the sight of her fellow villagers, all working diligently under the watchful gaze of the Russian guards. A sense of despair had begun to settle over her fellow captives, some resorting to desperate measures to alleviate their suffering. Lelei had watched as women surrendered their dignity, selling their bodies in exchange for better working conditions and slightly improved meals. But she refused to let go of her pride, her sense of self-worth.

As Lelei labored under the scorching sun, the weight of hunger gnawed at her. The meager rations of bread provided by the Russians barely sustained her, leaving her weakened and famished. Each night, as she lay down to sleep, her stomach protested, aching for sustenance. The hunger only served to fuel her growing resentment toward her captors. She longed for her master, Cato, the only father figure she had ever known. The memory of his gentle smile and guiding hand fueled her determination to survive this ordeal.

One day, as she labored under the scorching sun, a lieutenant named Dmitry approached her. His eyes glimmered with a mix of curiosity and disdain, taking in her petite frame and unwavering determination. His eyes gleamed with malice as he observed her struggle to fell the tree. He approached Lelei, his boots crunching on fallen leaves, and his mouth twisted into a devilish grin.

"Having trouble, little girl?" Dmitry taunted, his voice dripping with malevolence. "Maybe you need a bit of motivation."

Before Lelei could react, he pressed a button on a remote control, and a surge of electric current coursed through the collar. Pain seared through her body, causing her muscles to spasm involuntarily. She crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath.

"You're lucky the Tsar allows scum like you to serve," Dmitry sneered, relishing in her suffering. "Remember your place, or else the consequences will be far worse than a mere shock."

Lelei, trembling and weakened, forced herself back to her feet. The anger that simmered within her was temporarily quelled by the fear of further punishment. She knew that her survival depended on keeping her head down and enduring the torment.

Suddenly, a chilling scream tore through the air, cutting through the monotony of the labor camp. Lelei's heart skipped a beat as she turned her gaze in the direction of the sound. Luke, her friend and fellow captive, writhed in agony as electricity coursed through his body. The metallic taste of bile rose in Lelei's throat as she watched the gruesome scene unfold before her.

"Stop! Please, stop!" Lelei's cry fell on deaf ears as the guards continued to deliver painful jolts of electricity to Luke. Tears streamed down her face, mingling with the sweat and dirt, as she desperately fought against her restraints.

The lieutenant's derisive laughter filled the air as he taunted the young boy, his words dripping with contempt. "Ah, Lelei, it seems your friend here is a disgusting Faggot. How shall we punish him, hm? Perhaps a public flogging? Or maybe a week of solitary confinement? What do you think, mage girl?"

Lelei's voice trembled as she forced herself to respond. "Please, Lieutenant Dmitry, spare him. He has done nothing wrong. We are but humble villagers, seeking to live our lives in peace."

Dmitry's derisive laughter filled the air around them. "Peace? Peace is a luxury that only the strong can afford, little girl. We are not here to grant your wishes or maintain your tranquility. We are here to conquer, to dominate. And you will bow before the might of the Greater Russian Empire."

Lelei's blood boiled with fury, but her survival instinct forced her to play the obedient servant. She dropped her ax and fell to her knees, her head bowed in submission. "Please, Lieutenant Dmitry," she whispered, her voice filled with desperation. "Spare him. Punish me instead."

A cruel smirk twisted Dmitry's lips as he considered her plea. "Very well, mage girl," he spat, delivering his verdict with sadistic delight. "You want to protect your little friend? Then crawl. Crawl naked like a dog in front of the entire camp, and perhaps I shall reconsider."

Lelei's heart sank, a mixture of shame and rage engulfing her. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she blinked them away, mustering the strength to endure. She stripped off her clothes, feeling the prying eyes of the soldiers burning into her exposed flesh. With a trembling breath, she lowered herself to all fours and began crawling, her pride shattered but her resolve unyielding.

"Almost there", Dmitry said, his voice filled with amusement. "But first, I have a little treat for you."

Lelei's heart sank as Dmitry tossed a bar of chocolate in front of her. She knew what he wanted, and she didn't have a choice. She reached out with her mouth and grabbed the chocolate, tears streaming down her face as she tasted the sweetness. But the moment was short-lived as Dmitry grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back.

"Did I say you could eat it?" he growled, his grip tightening. "No, you little slut. I said you could lick it off the ground like the dog you are.

"Go on, little bitch, fetch your reward. Know that even in your misery, you owe your masters gratitude for the simplest of pleasures."

Lelei's heart raced as Dmitry forced her to lick the chocolate off the ground, her tears mixing with the dirt as she obeyed. She could hear the soldiers laughing and cheering, but all she could focus on was the humiliation and degradation she was being forced to endure. As she tasted the chocolate, bitterness mingled with the sweetness, a reminder of the bitter truth that she was no longer a free girl. But hidden beneath the surface, her determination grew, silently vowing to protect her friend.

Determined to protect Luke from further suffering, Lelei hatched a daring plan. With desperation fueling her every move, the next night she made her way to the lieutenant's room. Clenching her fists in a mix of fear and resolve, she steeled herself for what she was about to do.

As she entered the room, the scent of stale tobacco and unwashed bodies assaulted her senses. Dmitry sat behind a desk cluttered with maps and reports, his eyes narrowing as they settled upon her. A malicious smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he regarded her with an intensity that made her skin crawl.

"What brings you here, little witch?" Dmitry sneered, venom dripping from his words. "Are you finally ready to display your usefulness to your Russian masters?"

Lelei swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, her voice barely above a whisper. "I offer myself to you, Lieutenant Dmitry," she said, her words laced with a mixture of defiance and resignation. "In exchange for better food and lighter workload for me and Luke."

Dmitry's eyes widened in surprise, his cruel smirk fading into a contemplative expression. He leaned back in his chair, savoring the control he held over the situation. "How amusing," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think you can bargain with me, little witch?"

Lelei's heart pounded in her chest, her desperation mingling with a newfound sense of determination. She was willing to sacrifice her dignity, to subject herself to the depravity of Dmitry's desires if it meant sparing Luke from further torment. In this twisted world, where survival was fought on one's knees, she knew she had to play her part, no matter how humiliating.

"I can be of great service to you, Lieutenant," she said, her voice breaking with a mix of fear and resolve. "Think of the pleasure I can provide, the release from the burden of this wretched existence."

A flicker of surprise flashed across Ivanov's face before he burst into laughter. "You? Think I would be interested in a scrawny girl like you?" he scoffed, his arrogance oozing from every pore.

Lelei fought back tears, her dignity crumbling under the weight of her depravity. "Please, Lieutenant, give me a chance."

Dmitry leaned in closer, his rank breath assaulting her senses. "Alright, girl. I'll take you up on your offer. But remember, I own you now. Don't think for a second that you're worth anything more than a cheap trinket to me."

Dmitry's gaze narrowed, his eyes gleaming with a perverse delight. Slowly, he rose from his chair and approached her, his presence oozing with dominance. "Let's see if you can truly ease my burdens."

And with those words, Lelei's fate took an even darker turn, as she braced herself for the unspeakable acts she was about to endure in her quest for survival.

Two weeks later

Lelei La Lillehammer stood in the scorching sun, her trembling form adorned in the revealing outfit that Lieutenant Dmitry had demanded she wear. The fabric clung to her body uncomfortably, exposing far more than she was comfortable with. The heat beat down upon her, matching the anxiety that swelled within her chest. She had come a long way from her humble beginnings as a nomadic girl fascinated by magic. Now, she found herself trapped in a nightmarish Russian forced labor camps, forced to endure grueling labor and demeaning treatment at the hands of the Russian Empire.

Lieutenant Dmitry, a cruel officer, had singled her out for his own sadistic pleasure. Lelei's encounter with Lieutenant Dmitry had been equal parts desperation and survival instinct. In a twisted world where power was in the hands of the conquerors, offering her body was a means to secure even a modicum of better treatment and sustenance. It was a choice born out of necessity, stained with shame and self-loathing.

On this fateful day, Lieutenant Dmitry approached Lelei with a disturbing proposition. He demanded that she dress in a revealing outfit and present herself as a gift to the womanizing General Youji Itami, who was scheduled to visit the camp. Fear gripped her heart as she contemplated the horrors that awaited her at the hands of this man.

As Lelei stood in line, she couldn't help but think back on how her life had taken such a drastic turn. Her once beloved teacher and mentor, the Great Sage Cato, was now fighting on the frontlines against the Tyranid swarm. She missed him dearly, his guidance and wisdom serving as a beacon of hope in these dark times.

She had always admired Cato's dedication to knowledge and magical advancement. It was his belief in her prodigious abilities that had earned her the title of a prodigy, a label she was hesitant to embrace. But now, as she faced the unknown horrors that awaited her under the watchful eyes of General Youji Itami, Lelei couldn't help but feel that her magical talents might be her only salvation.

The moment General Itami convoy appeared, the atmosphere in the camp grew tense. His reputation as a womanizer had spread far and wide, and the fear of his intentions loomed over the captives. Dmitry, with a sinister smirk, whispered in Lelei's ear, relishing in her fear and vulnerability.

"Ah, my dear little Lelei," Dmitry crooned, his voice a sickening melody. "Aren't you just a pretty little piece of meat? You see, my dear Lelei, General Itami is a man of insatiable desires. He prides himself on his conquests, both on and off the battlefield. I'm sure you can imagine what fate awaits you if he takes an interest in you. If you play your cards right, perhaps your fate may take a turn for the better."

Lelei clenched her fists, her body trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. She had endured so much already, trapped in this nightmare, and she refused to let General Itami break her spirit.

As General Itami arrived at the camp, his commanding presence seemed to fill the air, casting a shadow over the oppressive atmosphere. His eyes, weary yet piercing, scanned the captive faces, searching for something elusive. But as General Itami surveyed the line of captives, his eyes fixed on Lelei. His gaze seemed different, curious rather than predatory. He approached her, his demeanor surprisingly calm.

Lelei braced herself for the worst. But to her surprise, his first words were not lewd or condescending. Instead, he posed a question that would forever alter the course of her fate. "Who among you can read and write at least 60 native languages of this world?" General Itami's voice boomed with authority.

Lelei's heart skipped a beat. She was an expert in languages, a skill she had honed during her studies under Cato. With her hand shaking, she raised it timidly, hoping against hope that this newfound talent would offer her some form of reprieve.

Confusion and intrigue danced in the eyes of the general as his gaze fell upon her. Approaching with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, he scrutinized Lelei, as if trying to discern her true abilities.

"What's your name, girl?" General Itami's voice held an unexpected hint of genuine interest.

"I am Lelei La Lillehammer," she replied, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins.

Itami mused, his gaze becoming more intense. "Tell me, how did a young girl like you come to possess such knowledge?"

Lelei hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to reveal her past as a prodigy. But the desperation for a chance at freedom compelled her to speak. "I come from a nomadic tribe, and my fascination with magic led me to study in Rondel under the guidance of the Great Sage Cato. I have a passion for languages, and I have dedicated myself to learning as many as I can."

A spark of recognition lit up General Itami's eyes, and a small smile tug at the corner of his lips. "Interesting. It seems you have stumbled upon an opportunity, my dear Lelei. I have need of someone with your talents."

"You," he said, pointing directly at her. "Come with me."

Dmitry's face contorted with rage as Lelei was whisked away from the line, leaving the other captives shocked and in disbelief. He opened his mouth to protest, but the general's stern gaze silenced him. Lelei felt a surge of satisfaction at seeing the lieutenant's arrogance crumble before her eyes. She followed General Itami, her steps filled with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, uncertain of what lay ahead.

As they entered a small tent, General Itami gestured for Lelei to take a seat. His demeanor had shifted, no longer that of a womanizer but of an intrigued strategist.

"You possess a rare talent, my young girl," General Itami spoke with a voice filled with respect. "The ability to read and write in 60 native languages is a remarkable skill. I am in need of a native secretary who can assist me in navigating the intricacies of this land."

Lelei's eyes widened in surprise. This unexpected turn of events had caught her off guard. She had expected abuse and further suffering, not an opportunity to leverage her knowledge and escape the clutches of her captors.

"I... I am honored, General," Lelei stammered, her voice filled with mixed emotions. "I will do my best to assist you."

General Itami smiled warmly, a glimmer of hope shining through the darkness that had surrounded Lelei for so long. "Then let us work together, Lelei La Lillehammer, and perhaps we can find a way to bring an end to this nightmarish existence for us all."

And so, with that agreement, Lelei's path took an unexpected turn. She would don the mask of a loyal secretary, concealing her inner turmoil and using her skills to gather information and form alliances among the oppressed. The darkness of this new world threatened to consume her, but she would fight, clawing her way towards a sliver of hope.