《The trials of immortality》 The beginning of no end ¡°HOOLD!¡± a company leader yells with a resounding voice. ¡°KEEP IN FORMATION DON¡¯T LET THEM INTO THE CITY!¡± Our company of 100 stands behind the gates along with another two. Our once shiny guardsman armor now blemished in dirt and blood. ¡°REMEMBER YOUR WIFES AND CHILDREN, ONCE THEY BREACH THE GATES THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN YOUR FAMILY AND HELL IS YOU!¡± The man on my left pulls up his helmet only to puke his guts out before wiping his mouth and re adjusting his helmet back in place. ¡°Fuck this we aren¡¯t making it they are already on the walls¡± I can hear some of the men vent their fears behind me, At least they aren¡¯t in the front. I¡¯m willing to bet he was stationed here and has nobody he cares for in the city of Gray dale. Although most citizens were evacuated once the riders came back with news of movement from the Empire, but they are just as likely to starve as they are to die here. Maybe starving beats the stories I have heard from the prisoners of this war. Pieces of metal and wood splinters spray out as the battering ram finally breaks the large gate of wood and iron. The remaining pieces of the gates slamming to the ground in a cascade of dust, a metal ram head barely visible before pulling out. ¡°BRACE! BRACE!¡± The commanding officer yells as all the soldiers push their shields side by side overlapping. ¡°DRAW!¡± another commanding officer positioned on the 2 story stone houses behind our lines and a platoon of archers ready their bows, the creaking of wood heard even over the din of battle. Maybe I should have went and lived in the forest or something. ¡°DRUHAA!¡±I hear what sounds like the soldiers charging the gates accompanied by the sound of armor clinking and the thunder of footsteps. Damn helmet I can barely see through the slits. ¡°YAAAH!¡± The first enemy soldier bursts through the gates, light armor, he doesn¡¯t even have his shield up, looks like he just wanted to be the first into the gates. ¡°LOOSE!¡± a volley of 50 arrows scream over head, at least 6 aimed directly at the first guy the rest going into the crowd of shields and short swords charging in just behind him. ¡°SPEARS UP, SPEARS UP!¡± Officers yell down the line as the guards obey, shields and spears clanking in tune with our armor as we brace forming a wall of spikes. The air rumbling as imperial soldiers storm down shields up arrows thumping down from the rooftops. I wish I wasn¡¯t in the front. Maybe desertion, at least then I would live, I doubt the kingdom will survive anyways. thrusting my spear forward I manage to stick him in the neck, the spear slipping under his helmet causing a spray of blood... I should have closed my mouth. He falls to the ground clutching his neck, his life seeping through his fingers. ¡°KEEP THEM AT BAY DON¡¯T LET THEM PAST THE TIP OF YOUR SPEAR!¡± ¡°LOOSE!¡± Another volley of arrows going into the crowd of screaming empire troops. Another wave of troops crash into us bulging the line as shields bash into shields The guy next to me got a sword right under the plate body into his stomach and up gasping as he falls. Travis I think was his name. Good guy, family waiting back at home, wife and kids. One of the rear men rush in to take his spot, no way is Travis surviving a wound like that. In that fraction of a moment an empire soldier takes a swipe at me with his gladius pulling my attention back. Ducking under my shield I manage to avoid the swipe at my head and return it with all dues. A downwards thrust with my spear punches through his knee. He falls clutching his leg screaming in a language I don¡¯t understand as one of his comrades drag him back. ¡°LOOSE!¡± another volley whistles over head, 2 of the arrows hitting his the man trying to pull his friend out and another into the shoulder of the man with a hole in his leg, more screaming. For every man falling from the arrows more flood into the gate over the dead and injured bodies of their comrades with their black shields up. They are too many. This lasted 5 minutes before the enemy changed plans. ¡°DU VAS RUAT!¡± ¡°DU VAS RUAT!¡± A man yells outside the gate. ¡°hey what are they saying?¡± the man who replaced Travis next to me asks ¡°how the hell should I know I don¡¯t speak tripe¡± Turning to the man I respond, his eyes wide while he pants. His once shiny iron plate coated in blood and vomit. ¡°WHAT ARE THEY DOING?!¡± a man in the back yells. ¡°JUST HOLD THE LINES! THEY ARE REGROUPING!¡± The lieutenant yells, looks like the commanding officer died. Each and every soldier in the 50 or so out of the original hundred in my company still alive have the look of a cornered animal, panting, eyes wide, fearing death. We all just want to go home to our family¡¯s, to the gals we like and finally tell them we like them before we die. Everyone is thinking about the regrets they have, only half of us remain and a whole army of them behind those walls. The enemy¡¯s thunderous retreating footsteps quite down after one last volley from the archers on the roofs. ¡°I don¡¯t like this¡± The man who replaced Travissays under is breath. ¡°Neither do I, It seems like they are definitely up to something. Hey what¡¯s your name anyways?¡± ¡°Fred, Its Fred¡± he responds in a rather sullen voice while wiping what I assume is sweat, maybe tears from his eyes, probably both. ¡°I tell you what Fred, when this is all over I¡¯ll buy you drinks so stay alive till then. My names Sam by the way." Before he gets the chance to respond another yell is heard outside the gate, this one accompanied by the thunder of hooves and chainmail, heavy cavalry. ¡°HOLD!!, SPEARS UP!¡± ¡°oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck¡± Fred panics besides me shifting his legs. I will admit the sight of armored cavalry charging straight at you with spears longer than yours is enough to make any man piss his pants, just a little though. A line of cavalry makes it through the large opening left by the gate and over the bodies. Our line is wavering, we may have spears but against heavy armor our wooden and iron tipped spears are more likely to snap than pierce. The thundering and clanking of the war horses and the spear wielding plated knights that ride them shouting gets closer. The line wavers with every other man taking a step back into the shields of the men behind them who are also bracing themselves. ¡°STAND TOGETHER MEN!¡± another companies commander yells at his troops who also look ready to flee. ¡°shit, shit, shit, shit¡± Fred starts to run into the crowd of men behind him pushing into shields as the first group of cavalry hits us with a thunderous roar, Fred being trampled by the first heavy cavalry that hit, one of its hooves hitting him In the back of his helmet as he¡¯s going down. The knights spear going straight through the wooden shield that the man directly behind Fred was holding and into his chest. I turned back just in time to be able to glimpse the horse that ran directly into me sending me into a world of darkness.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Imperial commanders tent ¡°Commander Ulvac!¡± an Imperial soldier runs into the large white tent used as the commanders briefing room. ¡°speak¡± the commander standing in front of a detailed map of the defenses of Gray dale speaks to the foot soldier who is showing his respect on one knee, right hand over his chest. ¡°Sir!¡± standing the soldier continues ¡°the southern gate is breached, our cavalry have broken the lines here.¡± The soldier points to the southern entrance of the town on the map. ¡°The remaining defenders of Gray dale are here being surrounded as we speak.¡± ¡°Good clear the remains of the town, take the survivors and bring them prisoner. I¡¯m sure they could use some more toys"Laughing the commander sits down on his small chair waving the soldier out. Sam Oh god my head hurts, I can feel the warmth of the blood dripping down my nose, must have hit my head pretty hard. Trying to move I find out that my hands are binded behind my back and my legs tied together. I can hear hooves and carriages moving, even with my eyes open I cant see a thing. ¡°hello?¡± No response A little louder this time ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°hey keep your voice down they will hear you¡± a whispered voice responds, a voice that sounds familiar. ¡°Fred? Is that you Fred?¡± ¡°Oh shit Sam?- So they got you too huh.¡± again Fred with the sullen voice. ¡°What is going on? Also where are we?¡± ¡°We have been taken prisoner, the town of Gray dale is gone.¡± Fred responds. ¡°Shit¡± I say almost biting my tongue as the carriage hits a bump. ¡°Hey shut up if one of the guards hear us again they will beat us¡± another voice adds into the conversation with a lisp. ¡°Wait there¡¯s more of us in here?¡± I ask ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m Stewie, but most just call me Stew, also Ron is in here, he don¡¯t talk much though. Don¡¯t bother telling me your names, I already got them since you guys are so damn loud.¡± I already don¡¯t like this guy. ¡°So Stew do you know where we are being taken?¡± ¡°My guess, they go¡¯ntake us for those damn mages in Latriel, heard some shit about that, really messup shit.¡± Then begun the long carriage ride to hell. My ass hurts, I have not seen sun in days because of this damn sack tied on my head that they make me wear even when I take a piss which, tends to be on myself since they don¡¯t let me out for that. I now understand why Stew was so adamant that we be quite, the couple of times the guards heard us talking in here he climbs back from the front just to beat us a bit. Swear that guy waits for us to make noise so he can do it, sadistic bastard always hits the same spot. Ron hadn¡¯t spoken a single word for the first few days, we found out he died from infection, the guards just threw him out the back. I am thirsty and hungry, they only feed us enough so that we don¡¯t die which is just a couple of pieces of bread. The insanity inducing and mind-numbing darkness with only the ability to squirm a little with my restraints is making me go crazy. ¡°Hey Fred?¡± I ask with a coarse voice. ¡°mm¡± Fred responds with a greater lack of enthusiasm than usual, which is saying a lot for Fred. ¡°What do you suppose they will do with us once we get there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, stop asking that¡± Fred responds in a slightly irritated voice. ¡°OI!- Du bar veas killean!¡± the carriage driver yells as he gets ready to jump back handing the reins to the less sadistic carriage driver. ¡°fuck¡± I hear Stew mutter under his breath. 2 weeks pass with nothing happening but long roads and the occasional stops for the soldiers walking to rest. I can feel my stomach eating itself, now most of us in this carriage rarely talk save for at night. ¡°Hey when do you think we will reach Latriel?¡± Fred asks Stew ¡°Dunno if thats were they takin us, but the distance between Gray dale and Latriel is bout 2 n a half weeks by horse so, we should be there in a couple days¡± Stew continues ¡°I tell you what, I ain¡¯t looking forward to it, I think I would rather stay right here in this shit hole of a carriage.¡± ¡°You said you heard stories about what happens with prisoners in Latriel?¡± ¡°Oh yeah messed up shit, that¡¯s what¡± Stew says ¡°what happens?¡± Fred asks, I can already imagine Fred leaning forward in his seat like a kid listening to a horror story from their parents. Conversations are not as fun when you cant see. ¡°Oh you want to know what ha-ens do ya?¡± Stew says as if Fred had not just asked the exact question. ¡°Well I tell you what I heard from an old friend of mine, he says he met a man who escaped from there, dug a tunnel he did, anyways the things those damn mages are trying. Forcing 2 body parts from different people to grow onto anotha person, forcing fluids into your skin. says there was a person who¡¯d been in dat prison for 3 years, was missing half is body.¡± ¡°What are they trying to do there¡± Fred asks at this point a little fear in his voice is evident. ¡°lotsa stuff, immortality, regrowing lost body parts, bringing the dead back to life, you name it they¡¯ll probly try it on ya.¡± Stew pauses for a moment. ¡°Well that¡¯s just what I heard, no use gettn so freaked out bout it.¡±he adds. ¡°Yeah really helping Stew¡± I scoff as I roll back over hoping to get some sleep. 3 Days later border of Latriel ¡°Hey, is it me or are the guards being a lot more talkative today?¡± I ask Fred ¡°Yeah, they definitely don¡¯t talk that much, wish I could understand what they are saying.¡± Fred says with curiosity. Suddenly the usual sound of the carriage rocking and creaking down the road with the sounds of the horse clops comes to an abrupt stop. The usual guard¡¯s voices pick up along with a new one just outside of the back of the carriage, followed by the sounds of the guard getting into the carriage. ¡°There are 3 prisoners in this carriage," gesturing to the 3 dirty prisoners with burlap sacks over their heads. "Followed by 30 others in the following carriages.¡± Prison train warden Skvet talks to the old man in a black robe wearing the gold insignia for the Imperial mages. ¡°Hmm¡± the old man starts with the voice of a man who has been smoking pipe for years. ¡°I only need around half that number, the rest can go to the mines in Valra.¡± The guard drags me out and stands me up after cutting the bindings on my feet. I still can''t see a thing, however I am quite glad to be able to stretch my legs. Standing alongside who I assume are Fred and Stew, it sounds like there are a lot of others next to me as well. ¡°you¡± A pipe smokers voice with a imperial accent sounds down the line. ¡°you¡± ¡°you¡± Several ¡°yous¡± later and he¡¯s right next to me. Sounds like he skipped the guy next to me, hopefully I get skipped to, from what Stew was saying I would rather be anywhere else. ¡°you¡± The voice says right in front of my face wafting the smell of old tar ridden teeth, the guards pull me forward draggingme to god knows where. After around 3 minutes of dragging I finally get my first glimpse of light, I would say it was beautiful if my eyes were not about to explode from the sudden impact of light. The guard tosses me into a cell hard, landing on hay I take in my surroundings, a small dark damp cell with some hay to sleep on. Moving to the bars at the entrance I can see that there are cells all around me, the guy in the cell across from me looks to be missing half of his body just the arms torso and head. "Well I guess it could be worse,at least I havehay to sleep on"Ilaugh to myself in self pity. ¡°Oh you must be new here¡± a voice says from across the bars. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± I speak moving towards the bars to find the source of the voice. ¡°I¡¯m the one directly across from your cell, you must have really bad luck to end up in this place¡± the voice says Wait the guy missing half of his body is still alive? I think Stew had mentioned something about something similar. ¡°Yeah¡± I say laughing at my poor luck ¡°What happens now?¡± I ask, the man missing both legs up to his pelvis stands up, when I say stand up he stood up on his hands. His long brown and greasy hair nearly longer than his body, it looks like he hasn¡¯t been able to cut it in ages, his face guant. ¡°Well shit hah what aren¡¯t they gonna do to you? I mean look at me.¡± He says on borderline tears the black circles around his already sullen face appear even darker ¡°Even if I could escape from here what am I going to do? I can¡¯t work and there is no way I would be able to return to my family like this. I look like the god damn dead. 4 years I have been here, 4 YEARS¡± he leans himself back onto the stone wall behind him, taking a deep breath. ¡°If your lucky they will decide to use you for a specific experiment. They usually keep the ones they want used alive and healthy as possible." He pauses to take another deep wheezy breath of air. "Well define healthy¡± he laughs again in an exasperated tone. I get the feeling that talking to this guy will make my day even worse than it already is. I want to ask him what happened to him but, I''m not sure I really want to know that judging by the way he looks. Leaning back into my hay only growing increasingly worried about what will happen to me now. ¡°Hey¡± I call out to him once more ¡°I heard that someone managed to escape a while back, he mentioned something about you, do you remember anything?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. Ever since Brian escaped anyone found trying to escape gets a punishment worse than death, I mean way worse than death.¡± The half man continued shaking his head. ¡°Your best bet is to play the obedient dog. Tyril tried escaping a couple months back got caught and every prisoner in this cell block could hear his screams for the next month.¡± he says gesturing with his hands as if to encompass the cell block. ¡°So you---¡± ¡°SSHH!¡± he interrupts me as the two guards comes back into the cells with another prisoner, throwing him into the last cell before walking out, presumably to grab another prisoner. ¡°So your saying I have no chance?¡± ¡°Yes¡± the sunken faced half man said definitively ¡°Unless by some miracle you manage to escape without ending up like Tyril¡± Well that didn¡¯t help ease my conscience at all. chapter 2-Experiment number 4 Day 1 I wake up in the cell after only getting a couple hours of sleep, my mind kept me awake until I was to tired to think anymore. ¡°Prisoner name¡± a voice from the entrance to the cell demands with a cold uncaring tone. ¡°Sam, Sam Ondale¡± The guardsman wearing a simple tunic and leather pants with a small wooden bat on his waist writes on the small leather-bound book in his hand ¡°Alright you, put your hands through the food tray¡± Looking down from his rather oddly square face I notice in the middle of the bars is a small square large enough to fit your hands through. ¡°O-Ohkay¡± putting my hands through the small square the guard immediately hits them with the wooden bat. ¡°FUCK!¡± I yell pulling my bruised hand back into the cell while taking a step back, I can hear one of the other prisoners snickering. ¡°when you put your hands through that hole you do it facing away from me¡± The guard calmly states like this is common knowledge to me. Perhaps I have trust issues but I get the feeling that if I do it facing the other way he¡¯s just going to hit me again. ¡°If you don¡¯t do it you get to eat the dead rats we catch here for the next week¡± The guard stares me dead in the eye to show he''s serious, what¡¯s with the imperials all being like this. I guess I have no choice, slowly turning around and putting my hands through the hole while facing the wall the guardsman binds both my hands together. ¡°Alright follow me your going to find out what your JOB is today¡± laughing a bit to himself after emphasizing job he opens the cell. ¡°Also, don¡¯t even think about running there are 2 floors to the exit and 20 guards to there, after that there are walls with archers and more guards with orders to capture or kill. If you are captured you will be tortured as an example for the rest of the prisoners.¡± Square-face talks while waving another guard over. Stepping out of the dank cel Square-face begins to lead the way the other guard walking behind me. This is the point when I realize just how massive this place is, its like a maze of cells and corridors guards at every corner. Many of these cells seems to have an awful lot of blood in them, everywhere you go it smells and yet all the prisoners are practically silent. This place feels more like a graveyard than a prison, the more cells I pass and the more people I see the more I notice everyone has the same look of defeat on their faces. Except that guy, that guy Is just beating his head repeatedly against the wall. ¡°GRIS! SUV VRE VOLDRBEK!¡± square-face yells as he notices, another guard comes running unlocking the cage and tackling the man before another 2 guards come running to help drag the prisoner out of the cell screaming while violently clawing on the hard stone floor. ¡°That will happen sometimes¡± Square-face nonchalantly says in the typical imperial accent while facing the crazed prisoner being dragged. Stepping out of the prison I realize that the whole prison is underground, just a small outhouse as an entry. Outside of the outhouse is what appears to be a large courtyard completely walled in by stone walls and towers, Square-face really wasn¡¯t lying when It came to this place. ¡°you see that building over there¡± square-face points to a large 3 story stone block building with a flat top. ¡°yeah¡± I respond taking in the entireity of the compound. ¡°That¡¯s where you work¡± square-face starts walking again. 8 towers 1 at each corner of the wall and one in between each section of stone, these must be at least 50 feet high, way too well guarded for a regular prison. The entire courtyard is hard earth and rock, it would take a lot of work to dig this out, I wonder how that Brian guy managed that. ¡°AH veist ist un roka!¡± a group of patrolling guards in tunics laugh as they walk by, for some reason I feel as though they are laughing at me. A group of 4 plate mail soldiers stand guard at the entrance to my supposed place of work, each having shiny broadswords and full plate helms. Square-face promptly hands them a piece of paper that they check before letting him pass through the thick iron doors with a wave of the hand. Inside of the door is like a waiting room with 2 stairs on both ends, in the middle a man sits at a desk in front of a line of prisoners. ¡°Wait in line, once you get to the front the man at the desk will tell you where you go.¡± Square-face says before walking back out. Stepping into line I notice that all these prisoner¡¯s wear clothes just like mine a brown shirt with the symbol of Gray dale on it. They must have all been taken at the same time as me, maybe Fred or Stew is here.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°next¡± the line moves up one, I can vaguely hear what is being said but I don¡¯t really understand any of it. ¡°next¡± This continues until my turn is up. ¡°name?¡± The stone faced front desk man asks while still looking at his papers. ¡°Sam Ondale¡± I respond while staring at the top of his bald head. The stoic man looks up at me while mumbling to himself. ¡°brown hair, male, green eyes.. Age?¡± ¡°20¡± I respond ¡°height?¡± He adds one more question before turning back to his paperwork to scribble on a sheet of unknown words. ¡°5¡¯11¡± ¡°fair complexion, alright you will be assigned E4 go up the stairs on your right and fourth door on the left¡± as he finishes a guard comes and moves me along the right hand staircase and to a room labeled E4. The whole corridor is just doors with labels E1 through E9, well no screams of pain can be heard so that¡¯s good right? The guard opens the oak door leading to E4 waving me in before shutting the door behind and walking off. These bindings are so tight that my hands are beggining to feel numb. Inside the room looks just like a study, old books a bookcase, chair and a table sitting in the center with various parchment and ink. A man wearing an oversized robe sits at the desk looking at me, if it wasn¡¯t for the robes and where I was I would think he was an ordinary guy in his late 30s with long blonde hair, although blonde hair is fairly rare. ¡°So you are my new subject?¡± the man asks checking me out. ¡°uh- I suppose so?¡± I respond in a questioning and worried manner of my own. ¡°What exactly is it that I do here?¡± The middle-aged man smiles while looking up at me from his sitting position and speaks in a soft voice like one of the dentists about to beat a tooth out with a hammer. ¡°well if you haven¡¯t figured it out yet, the E in E4 stands for experiment number 4. Every time we lose a subject or complete an experiment a new one opens up, which is why you are here now.¡± He says still smiling. ¡°Experiment number 4 is the experiments on immortality¡± he finishes with a sad look on his face and looks back down before continuing ¡°We were so close with the last experiment but unfortunately it failed and the subject died.¡± He continues after switching to a smile and looking back at me again waving his hand as if to welcome a guest ¡°Which is why you are here¡± Day 7 I wake up after repeating the same dream I have had since being stuck in the carriages. I dream of my family before the war burnt our village, when I was still a kid. Back when Iused to sit under the old oak tree on the outskirts of the village with the blacksmiths girl, Bell was her name. We would sit there and look at the clouds trying to come up with things that they look like, I return home to my family and my mother welcomes me home while cooking, right as she starts to turn around I awake in this hell. I have gotten used to myroutine here now, I think I may have gotten off a little easier than most of the others. Since I have gotten here at least 4 of the 10 from the same cell block as I have disappeared. The first couple of days I could hear whimpers of pain coming from the cell block, I have yet to see the half man do anything but lean against the corner of his cell. The samethingevery day, wake up when the guard calls and meet with Algrix the blonde haired mage who for the most part this week has just made me drink random concoctions mixed by the alchemists. The first couple of days were hell, every night I was sweating and vomiting, my body would feel like its on fire in agonizing pain. Then I would wake up in the morning feeling just fine like it was just a case of the flu, however it definitely isn¡¯t. Something about the things he makes me drink feel horribly wrong, whatever he puts in there I think I would be better off not knowing. Apparently these concoctions are to prepare my body for the real test. ¡°Hey Max, mind if I ask you something?¡± I ask the half man, being one of the only sociable people here Max has been the only person I¡¯ve talked to, although I think the reason he¡¯s willing to talk is because he doesn¡¯t care anymore. ¡°Shoot¡± Max replies in his normal crackly voice while still leaning againsts the back corner of his cell. ¡°What exactly did they do to you?¡±¡­. silence, the sound of the occasional shuffle of the people in the neighboring cells, seems like they are listening in on our conversation. ¡°You ever notice a lot of us missing arms legs and more?¡± Max responded with a question of his own staring at the wall. ¡°Yeah at least 1 in 5 are missing something but what does that have to do with it?¡± ¡°I got unlucky, my first day here they set me up in E2. E2, they never told me what it was but they sawed both my legs off for it. Funny thing is that now I¡¯m in E3 where they see if they can regrow limbs. Why do you suppose they have a separate experiment to take limbs and another one to give them, shouldn¡¯t that be all in E2?¡± ¡°What?¡± I ask still confused on what he means ¡°They took so many body parts but I have yet to see any of those used in an experiment. These 4 years I have been here i''ve kept an eye on the other prisoners when the guards drag me to try something new. Those 4 from our cell block that disappeared, they were not sick enough that they would have died. All of em went to E2 whatever they are doing in there is bad news. ¡°I don¡¯t understand, they take body parts and people for an experiment in E2? What on ea-¡° Max quickly cuts me off by putting a finger to his lips, turning towards me for the first time this conversation. ¡°There¡¯s a reason they don¡¯t want us to know what it is, I think we are better off not talking about it. However, I will say this, Brian the guy who used to be in your cell before was the gravedigger.¡± For a brief second he pauses. ¡°He was always saying we are missing people.¡± Day 14 He upped the dosage yesterday. The pain did not go away when I woke up. So much pain. The guards have to drag me to see Algrix today. Chapter 3- Imperial reinforcements Day 24 I can¡¯t sleep, my mind is occupied with more important things. During yesterdays meeting with Algrix he said something about day 30 and a, well I did not understand the word he used, must be a word that can¡¯t be translated. I did however understand the word transplant, I think day 30 is when I am likely going to die. My body must be gaining a resistance to whatever is in what he makes me drink, after a week of doubled doses the pain started going away when I woke up again. Square-face told me we will be getting new prisoners today to replace the ones lost in this cell block. I want to know what is going on on the outside of this cage, maybe one of the new prisoners will have news. The Empires war path started 5 months ago and by the time they had taken Gray dale more than half of the coastal kingdom of Legre had already been conquered. I really want a change of clothes almost a month of the exact same clothes is beginning to disgust me. It looks like they are bringing in the first prisoner, two guards dragging a smaller man struggling against the two larger guards with a burlap sack over his head gets dragged down the line of cells. ¡°FUCKERS¡± the man struggling against the two guards shouts while being dragged before getting hit in the back of the head. ¡°FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN YOU SONS OF WHORES!¡± The mans words come out with a slur, he is probably already missing a few teeth from the ride here. ¡°STOP STRUGGLING¡± the guard huffs beating his fist into the back of the mans head one final time with enough strength that he goes limp, one thing I have noticed is that all of the guards here are fairly buff. ¡°De vais Ruat¡± The guard speaks in an exhausted tone, throwing the unconscious man 2 cells down from me before walking off huffing. ¡°That guy will be dead within 2 days.¡± Max speaks softly from his usual corner staring at the wall. ¡°I think that¡¯s a possibility for all of us here¡± Muttering under my breath while moving back to my pile of hay and bugs that have recently taken up residence in my bed. After just meeting with Algrix and having to drink another set of vile liquid I can already feel my stomach churning, sleep is a good reprieve from this place. Or so I would have, had not a half hour later Mr. small guy wakes up. ¡°HHHEEEEYY!¡± The man yells violently shaking the bars of his cell. Shocked awake from my dreams of home by the violent yelling of the newest prisoner, as mean as it is I kind of hope a guard comes to knock him out again. ¡°Keep your voice down.¡± Another prisoners voice I have yet to hear speaks up in a venomous tone, must be another new guy. ¡°I will not be confined in a cage like an animal!¡± Although I can¡¯t see his face I can imagine the spit flying from his mouth as he yells. I think I can hear the guards coming, this guy seriously needs to stop. A series of 6 footsteps approach our cellblock as the man continues to yell and shake the bars. All the prisoners hold their breath staying as silent as possible, except Small guy. ¡°HEY! WHATS ALL THIS RACKET!¡± The leading guard clearly a cut above the rest judging by the gold insignia of a V on his tunic yells while speed walking this way. I should probably hide in the corner of my cell, yeah that sounds like a good idea. ¡°OVER HERE YOU IMPERIAL PIGS!¡± He yells again causing the lead guard to snap his head towards his cell before slowly walking towards it. ¡°ah the little rat has a problem with his stay here?¡± The guards tone giving me chills from two cells over. ¡°Vol en ceil, foval pas drei¡± a chorus of ¡°Ya Colemvra!¡± passes through the 5 guards standing behind the lead guard. Followed by the jingling of a set of keys and a pair of 5 footsteps.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°COME AT ME YE BASTARDS!¡± frantic shuffling and thumping, I¡¯m quite glad this happening more than 1 cell away. ¡°LET ME GO YOU TRI-p-huuu¡± The sound of a wump and an exhale of air stops him mid-sentence. ¡°Did you know the part of the human body that is most sensitive to pain is the tips of your fingers?¡± The guard speaks while the sound of a blade being unsheathed echoes through the cell block. ¡°AH-AAAAA you- AAAAGH!¡± His high-pitched screaming intensifies while the whole prison remains silent. 3 days North of Latriel at the coastal town of Thes¡¯l A fleet emptied of its fresh troops from the mainland of the Empire sails away from the lone soldier standing at the docks staring longingly at them. ¡°There you are Tarbul¡± placing my hand on his shoulder before Tarbul quickly smacks it away. ¡°Why do you have to touch everybody when you talk to them ya weird bastard.¡± He speaks while brushing his already clean shoulder. ¡°Hahaha¡± giving a quick hearty laugh before I get my bearings ¡°Come, all the other men are getting their assignments and here you stand like a lost kitten.¡± Putting my hand around his shoulder and squeezing him while dragging the tan blonde haired fool towards the town. ¡°Good Thar! Would you quit with the damned touching?¡± He speaks while flailing his arms trying to force his way out in a spastic fashion. I don¡¯t think I will be. A long line of soldiers stands in front of several officers slowly separating them based on destination. The town center devoid of life save for the numerous soldiers. The town of Thes¡¯l being the location where the Empire purchased land from the newly found continent only to amass its troops from across the seas to prepare for the war years before the war actually started. ¡°Thars will, I could have made it myself, you freakishly strong bastard.¡± Tarbul states between huffs. ¡°Yeah well what¡¯s the fun in that?¡± I laugh while patting his shoulder ¡°Anyways I¡¯m getting in line, you should as well, with luck we can end up in the same place¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I would call that luck..¡± he says in the voice of a defeated man with his shoulder getting endlessly patted. Standing in line was getting boring so I decided to pester Tarbul some more. 30 minutes of a man with a hatred towards people touching him being touched later the line dwindles down. A lone robed figure eyes an unusually large man with logs for arms poking the red faced angry soldier in front of him repeatedly. The robed person whispers into the ear of a highly decorated general proudly watching the troops. He could work. Poke Poke Poke, oh I can see his ears getting red, he¡¯s probably furious. Since we are waiting in line in front of all the commanding officers he has to face forward and from back here they can¡¯t see me messing with him. ¡°Soldier¡± a voice from my left speaks in a gruff voice, my finger out and pointed at Tarbul. Turning to the voice I see a man with greying hair and a weathered face. The older man wearing a golden breastplate signifying someone far outranking me. ¡°Sir!¡± turning to face and show my respects with a hand over my chest, my face stern as I internally sweat thinking about any possible punishment. ¡°Relax soldier, it¡¯s about your assignment.¡± The decorated man says with a ramrod straight back not breaking eye contact once. ¡°See that small group over there?¡± He points to a group of 4 soldiers standing behind a robed man that is looking directly at me. ¡°The robed person will decide your assignment.¡± He finished quickly before walking away, clearly not interested anymore than he is required to be. Ok.. Well, is that a good thing? Stepping out of the line I make my way over to the man in a black robe watching me walk over. The moment I get into conversation range I realize that I have no idea how to greet this man. ¡°Sir!¡± standing at attention I choose the one way I know. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about showing respects, I¡¯m not in the military. Although your orders are to follow my orders.¡± The figure speaks cracking a bit of a smile at my expense. ¡°My name is y¡¯verra.¡± The women? Continues ¡°I am a researcher¡± ¡°You mean that you¡¯re a mage?¡± I ask incredulously, I¡¯ve only ever heard of mages before. massaging her thumb and pointer finger against her eyelids she speaks dejectedly. ¡°There is no such thing as mages¡± finally shaking her head she continues ¡°Whatever, the moral of the story is that we are looking for more guards to- guard our *Research* and from what I see you might just fit that bill. Think about it, you don¡¯t have to fight on the front and you get fed 3 meals a day.¡± At this point she is staring at me as if anticipating my answer. ¡°Well, do I get a choice?¡± I ask while massaging my shoulder. I was kind of hoping to see if I could go with Tarb- ¡°No¡± she interrupts my thoughts with a monotone answer. Slightly taken aback at the rapid response I pause for a moment before nodding at her, confirming that I will go. Though the choice was rather limited between going with and well... going with. ¡°Good, good, I knew you had it in you.¡± She says while smiling. Well there goes that. ¡°So, when are we leaving and where are we going?¡±