The slave owners like any shop owner are getting ready for doing business and bringing out their slaves. There are no ropes or chains as all the slaves have the slave mark. The mark is a series of gentle looking runes running in a circle around the neck of each slave. It is scary to think that nothing will remove that mark. It will be with them until they die, and until then all they can do is obey their master.


    "Come, lets see what you can do." To my surprise the merchant leads me into a small tent that seems to serve as his office. The merchant barks an order at a small slave girl standing in the corner. "Go and fetch number 221." The girl runs off and the merchant turns to me.


    "It is not often I get a C rank hunter coming to me for a favor. I hope you understand I will be taking a risk letting you practice healing magic on my products." What a sly merchant. He seems to be wanting to make me indebted to him for the future. The girl returns with another following close behind.


    "He called you number 221, but what is your name?" "I was called Dia before." How did you become a slave?" "My father sold me to clear his debt." I know all too well how common this girls life story is. For every good father there seems to be a bad one willing to sell his daughter into slavery to save his own skin.


    My mind is filled with an understanding of her condition. She seems to have some minor internal injuries that are stubbornly refusing to heal naturally, and a number of fractures and some bones that have healed poorly after breaking. The bruises should be the easiest to heal, but give a bit more time they would heal naturally. Looking at this from the merchant''s perspective, he just wants her to be healthier and pretties.


    Sitting behind her with my hands on her shoulders I focus on the other injuries and scars. About two hours later I am content that there is nothing else for me to heal. All she needs now is food and rest, and hopefully a master who will not mistreat her. I instruct the other girl to fetch the merchant.


    "Feel free to review the rest of my stock. I will order one of my more experienced slaves to assist you." Turning to the girl again he orders her to fetch number 211. "What is with the numbers?" My question is out before I can reconsider. "When you deal with as many slaves as I do, names are meaningless. Numbers are just more practical. Besides, their new owner often give them new names anyway."


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    Healing for about three hours straight seems to be my limit at the moment, but if I take regular breaks and slow down the process I should be able to continue throughout the day. Calita proves to be good company in the breaks. She has a mountain of common knowledge that I find fascinating. "Do you know anything about the old elves." The question seems to trouble her. "I am sorry young master, but I only know about human society. I am aware of my terrible ancestors who set the dragons loose on the humans, but that is all I know of them."


    Should I have seen that one coming? Why would she ask me to buy her? Would I want to? I know the answer to the last one. My own imagination betrays me. I have never been with an elf. I can try to tell myself that they are no different than human girls. Their ears are just a bit differently shaped than humans. I am such a hypocrite. Hang on, I got my wives and Pia. No need to add to them.