《Un-Shackled》


 Prologue

    The heels echoed through the dimly lit chamber, each footfall sending a shiver down the prone figures. The prostate figures didn¡¯t rise or lift their heads. The clicks stopped, and a lifeless voice spoke, ¡°Show me.¡± those simple words lit a fire under the figures as they sprung to their feet, and they ran to set up a summoning circle. An eight-point star was quickly etched into the floor under the icy glare of the woman, her lithe fingers tapping on her crossed arms, her teeth slightly gritted in annoyance. ¡°My queen.¡± The woman turned her head to a bowing man with golden hair running down his back in a neat braid. Though what stood out most was his eyes glowed with unhidden malicious glee, ¡°Professor, it¡¯s a pleasure as always.¡± A grin crossed the woman''s face, though it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. Reaching out a hand, the man took it and kissed it. ¡°My queen, your ritual is done.¡± With that, the two looked toward the ritual; all eight points pointed to the eight human captives. Everyone was bound and gagged, many of them also having been hobbled just in case they tried to run. The area was devoid of all furnishing aswell, only the cold stone floor that seemed to hum with power. The robbed men and women seemed to shiver in anticipation, though their movements were jerky, close to a puppet having their strings yanked by trembling hands. That brought a slight sparkle to the woman''s lifeless eyes as she walked toward the middle of the ritual circle, her arms raising as magic swirled around her, and the woman took a long and deep breath.


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    The smell of burnt ozone and cooking flesh met her nose as one of the captives was boiled alive by the swirling vortex of power, the seven others quickly following. Their gagged screams cut off before they could scream out; taking her time, she weaved the last bit of the foundation of the spell before the ritual snapped the spell, completing with a loud clap of thunder. The woman sighed deeply and turned towards the Red-haired man, her smile sending a shiver up his spine; her lifeless eyes were filled with manic glee as she spoke. ¡°Gather the four you find the easiest to control and send the others to the pits. I¡¯d love to see those dogs fighting..for their pitiful lives..¡± With that, the man bowed and quickly left, the woman raising her arms as the world seemed to shatter around her fingers before it quickly sealed itself back together. ¡°Let the great game begin once more~.¡± the twitching figures fell over like their strings were cut; though the bodies still existed, the souls didn''t.

 Chapter 1

    <h2>Daimain lay in the hospital bed, the heart monitor beeping in a melodic tone; a doctor arrived in the sterile room with an IV bag in hand. She was looping its hook onto the metal pole at Damien''s bedside and replacing the old bag with a fresh one. The cold healing fluid uncomfortably entered the ailing man''s bloodstream. "Hey doc, I got a question for you." His voice was weak but still had a thread of his old strength; the doctor turned her head and smiled at him. "Yes, Mr.Tahir?" "Be honest; I don''t get long, right?" The doctor''s face fell as she shook her head. The woman felt as if she was aging twenty years, and she gazed at his smiling, sickly form. Her eyes said it all, but Daimian had to hear her say it. "You want to know?" He only nodded, his heart thudding in his chest, though his face showed no emotion. She sighed and gave him a tight smile. It was drenched in pity.</h2>


    "4 weeks, the cancer has reached your vitals. You''re dying." Damian breathed from his nose before he rubbed the bridge of his nose, all his hope draining. "Well, shit, I didn''t know I barely have enough time to see the end of one piece¡­.not like it would end any time soon" He smiled at his dry humor, the doctor sighing and patting his shoulder in attempted comfort as she walked outside, stopping at the door as she looked towards him. "Your family is coming in soon, so it would be good to cherish the time you have now." Damian smiled at her and nodded, waving as she turned back around. "You''re the boss, doc!" When she left the room, Damian''s mask fell, his smile slowly morphing into an agony-filled scowl, and angry tears came unbidden down his face. Though he wept not out of sadness, only of anger at the thought of leaving his family behind, they needed him, and he didn''t want to leave them as he did. Damian''s heart rate increased as he remembered the man who had abandoned his family, leaving him and his mom with a newborn to fend on their own. For years, he did things he didn''t like to remember for money, all for his family since the family was the only thing he had. "DAMMIT!" He roared in his silent room, his fists hitting the sheets with a soft puff; the only response was the machine''s melodic beeping, the only sound he heard in his dreams or, more like, his nightmares. He gazed up to the ceiling, gazing at the uniform tiles as the words slipped out his mouth, "Why¡­I don''t want to die¡­not yet¡­please¡­not ye.." He wiped away his tears as he heard familiar, fast steps running to his room. He quickly wiped away his tears and schooled his emotions as a little girl almost fell into the room. They won''t see him cry; he has to be strong for both of them.


    "IAN!" the girl lunged onto his chest, knocking the wind out of his damaged lungs and making him gasp as he patted the curly-haired-skinned girl. "Wheeze, Lily¡­you need to stop that." The same small girl fished through her pockets and bag before displaying the sickly man with several small snacks. He smiled as he looked at the small hand filled with snacks. He knew he couldn''t keep them down but would put on a show just for her. He held up a chocolate bar towards him and took it with a smile. "This for you! I remember you said that when you get better, you want a lot of chocolate bars! So I bought a lot just for you!" Lily excitedly leaned against the plastic railing that framed Damian''s hospital bed.


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    Damian smiled as he waved his hands slightly at her joy. "That sounds nice¡­you left Mom in the dust, right?" Lily smiled and gave him a cheeky grin as she nodded, "Mama was right behind me, but she''s very slow! Unlike the Flash!" She said as she shoved a comic into his face. The Flash. She always loved that hero. Damian would miss hearing his sister''s voice rambling on about it... Damian only nodded as he pointed towards the comic book. Fighting Batman, raising his eyebrow, "Batman man fighting the Flash huh?


    One of the mind control plots, huh?" This got his little sister going, ranting about how stupid this series is, but she enjoys the artwork. It was pleasant to Damian''s ears the pure child-like joy with which she spoke of her interest; this may be his last day hearing it, so he''d let her rant just a little longer. That was until an older, worn-looking woman slowly entered the sterile room. Lily was a carbon copy of her. Dirty and stained blue scrubs adorned her form. Battered and abused from her line of demanding work. "Mom, Lily is ranting about Superman again." Damian groaned as he rolled his eyes in playful annoyance. This made the woman smile and speak up. "You know how she gets when she starts, sweetheart." This made Damian smile. It was fine if she could smile, and he could give her happy memories. "Lily, how about you get more snacks for your bro?" Lily only smiled and delicately placed the book into her backpack. "Lily, you don''t have to," Damian objected, but it was too late. Lily had already decided to leave the bag at his side as she dashed off with a crisp five-dollar bill. Looking towards his mom, he gave her a tired smile, "I''m sorry, Mom¡­ I''m losing badly." His mom grimaced as she grabbed his skeleton-like limbs, all skin and bones, so gaunt and almost lifeless. "Oh, baby, don''t say that. You''re going to be alright and live a happy life! You- you-" her voice became choked up with tears. Her eyes fought them from pouring down her worn features. He interrupted her with a shake of his head, that movement using most of his dwindling energy reserves. "4 weeks, Mom¡­we got four weeks to make sure Lily is prepared, alright?" He smiled as he gazed at his crying mom. Her shoulders trembled with each sob. It broke his heart, but she needed to prepare Lily for when he was gone; raising his arm, he wiped away the tears and shook his head. ¡°No tears¡­alright, no tears, those are for dead¡­we got four weeks¡­¡± She gripped his hand tightly as she sniffled and nodded. Though it hurt, he smiled as he let his tears flow freely, his mask falling away instantly like a kid who had to grow up too quickly to cry in his mother''s arms. "Don''t deserve such a son like you¡­I love you, Damian." Her arms squeezed her one and only son tightly. ""Love you too, Mom¡­" They hugged for a few moments longer. Damien relished in his mother''s comforting, safe warmth before they parted. "" will get your sister alright¡­and we will discuss this as a family.."" he stood up and left the room, leaving Damian alone with his thoughts. He was just about to get lost in a spiral of despair when a thundering thrumming invited his ears. His body froze as a sense of dread flooded through his very soul. As he looked toward the all-encompassing sound, his eyes widened. He laid his eyes upon it and saw an Elf! A literal elf! ""ake¡­Kravice¡­szairae.."" ith that, the elf grabbed hold of him, the lithe form having the strength so immense it broke his wrist. As the elf dragged towards the buzzing, a rift in reality quickly appeared before he was pulled inside, his brain just now catching up to try and scream for help before he was dragged into the portal¡­as everything went dark.


    <h2> </h2>

 Chapter 2

    Damian woke up as he felt a healing light pass through his body, a feeling of rightness, no more aches. His lungs didn''t hurt when he breathed in and out; he felt like him more than ever. Hell, his broken arm was fixed. "How did¡­" His eyes fluttered open as he looked around. What he saw widened his eyes; thirty others stood in some arena. Many of the people were office workers, students, and, in some cases, patients just like him, but what truly caught his eye were the glares the elves shot down toward them. Hate, Disgust, and maliciousness were the only things those glares held, especially one whose hand stopped glowing as she hit a look that chilled him to the bone. So much killing intent was the best thing Damain could describe; it made his heart speed and his adrenaline spike as he pushed himself up to his feet and got into a fighting stance. A couple of the humans in the arena gave him a side eye; a beautiful Japanese girl''s eye lingered on him the longest before her gaze turned back to the elves. "Hey, man¡­you ok..?" a nervous voice spoke up, Damains eyes shooting to a Red-haired man who flinched at the sudden movement, his green eyes widening before he held up his hand and smiled nervously. "Woah! Woah! Easy there, name Issac¡­but no offense, you look like a dead man walking...but I think¡­" Issac looked around conspiratorily before leaning in with a smile. "We were isekied!" The joy in the man''s tone made Damain stop before he shook his head and grimaced. "I don''t think this is a story¡­I was dragged here; how about you?" He asked as he looked around the arena, his eyes looking for any escape, a quick route to run and get away as soon as possible. "I¡­I don''t remember¡­" Issac frowned as he rubbed his head in thought before sighing with a smile. "But who cares¡­we might be able to leave soon! You know, go questing for riches! Slay dragons! Become legends!" This got a small smile from Damian, who shook his head at the man''s enthusiasm.


    "Yeah, whatever you say, Issac. Names Damian¡­" He held out a skeleton-like hand, which Issac quickly took and shook enthusiastically. "Pleasure to meet you, Damian! So what games did you play-" The sound of heels stopped his words; that simple sound made the thirty people chattering fall silent, a weight crashing into his body. Falling to one knee, Damian coughed up blood onto the dirt before he fell into a coughing fit, spattering blood onto the sand. "Hurts¡­" Grabbing his chest, he swore he felt something pop inside of his body, but that was before the clacking of heels stopped and the pressure eased up. Looking around in distress, his instincts kicking in, "Run¡­you gotta escape¡­" he thought, slapping Issac''s trembling form on the back. He looked towards the man.


    "We gotta escape¡­.we got-" His words were cut off as an angelic voice spoke up. "Humans! You gaze upon Queen Lumanira! First of her name, the defender of the Luminat gate! Destroyer of the orc barbarians of the east and your new ruler." A well-kept Elf spoke, his silver armor gleaming in the artificial light, which made his curved sword look wicked rather than regal. Though what made his hackles rise was the gleam in his eyes, he knew that gleam was a peof the characteristics of a person who enjoys hurting people. "Fuck¡­" He growled as he touched Issac''s trembling back, "Stay calm¡­he wants us to fear him¡­" He whispered into Issac''s ear, who looked at him with a tight smile. "Well, it''s working¡­I need new pants.."" This got a small snort from Damian, who cast the Elf''s eyes upon his form. He met the Elf''s gaze, his eyes hardening to a razor''s edge as he smiled and whispered something into the queen''s ears.


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    Who shared his wicked grin. Then she spoke in a deadpan tone that chilled the thirty humans to the bone. ""I''ll all but 3." "Those simple words made the elves move like dancers performing an elegant play of death. Thirty was cut down to fifteen in an instant without even thinking. Damian tackled Issac to the ground, an arrow slamming into his back as he barely saved the other man. "FUck!... Agh... you ok, man¡­"" Breathing heavily, Damian looked down at Issac as he gazed up in horror; his voice came out trembling as tears came to his eyes. ¡°Ah¡­ah¡­why?...why¡­¡± Damian shook his head as he started to feel faint; he was losing blood badly. ""Don''t...D-Don''t worry about it.."" He hissed in pain once more as a cut was racked across his back, his pained whimpers coming out as he rolled to the side only to look up at the well-kept Elven face. Growling at the man, Damian tried to get up to fight; he tried to lash out, but his body would not listen to him, though his eyes told it all the rage he felt for his weakness and inept, which made the elf laugh as he raised his blade to strike down Damian, the smile forever etched into his mind before everything went black.


    ---


    Issac screamed internally as the skeleton-like man was cut across the back, skin parting as easily as paper to the blade that came down like an executioner''s sword. This wasn''t like the stories he read, it wasn''t right they were meant to be heroes save the realm! Fight some demon lord, not be in something like this. Issac felt himself shaking as the man''s blood drenched his hand; it was so warm. "Oh- god-oh fuck-" With unsteady hands Issac pulled Damian close, keeping pressure on the wound. "Ok- you keep pressure on cut wounds, right? So they don''t bleed as much...fuck that so much blood- Fuck- what would someone in the stories do!"


    His mind raced; he had no cheat skill, no prior knowledge that could save him, not even a shred of magical know-how that everyone got when they were transported into a new world. "Ah- It seems our three lucky ones have been chosen." Issac''s head snapped up to look around; he had to hold back the bile that threatened to escape his mouth. Twenty-seven dead bodies surrounded him and his bleeding-out savior. While one entirely calm woman stood, she was human like the two. What honestly freaked Isaac out was how dead her eyes looked; those orbs gazed around the area like nothing mattered. Like she didn''t notice she was somewhere different. "Guards, heal them of their wounds and take them to the cells they need to be...educated." The queen said, her voice coming with a slight twinge of glee at the carange. Issac could barely understand what was happening as rough hands pulled him away from Damian, healing green light surrounding the skeleton of a man before he too was picked up and hauled away.


    Issac only knew one thing and one thing alone: he was scared shitless.