《The Ice Witch》 Chapter 01 In the city of Halalem of Beamonait Kingdom one of the six human kingdoms of the Tokrorura continent 250 km away from the main capital of Beamonait and 20 km from the boarder of The Forbidden Highland ? As the sun peaks over the horizon, the chilly dawn air brings about a new day. With the calling of the sun almost all the citizens of something have already started their day. The men and women off to work, while the young boys are sent off to warrior training. **smack** In a small run down home located on the outer edge of the western section of Halalem, a large man standing 6 foot tall, this man has dark brown hair, green eyes with a scruffy face; his skin is a darker brown of a color that looks closer in skin color to a Mediterranean European. He looks like he is in his early 40''s, he is currently wearing a dull grey steel set of armor standard of the city guard looking over a little girl who is rubbing the side of her face while she cleans off the table. (Damalis): what did I tell you about having breakfast done before I wake up ? (little girl): it¡¯s important to finish cooking so you can get ready for work (Damalis): that is right, now hurry up and clean up this mess or the punishment will be worse when I get home (little girl) yyyess, father (Damalis): as further punishment for your disgrace to the family no breakfast for you today A woman who looks like her late 30''s is watching this happen with a frown on her face. She is 5 foot 6 inches; she has long blonde hair, light sandy color skin, and green eyes. She has above average looks, but not enough to turn every head in a bar. (Lillian): don''t hit her so hard, remember you can''t damage her looks (Damalis): I wouldn''t have to hit her if she did what she was told (Lillian): if you damage her we won¡¯t be able to continue to send Fabiano, and Omero to school much longer While they argue Fabiano, and scarf down the rest of the food on the table like it was their last meal leaving nothing behind. Fabiano is 14 years old this year, he looks like a smaller version of his father. Standing only 5 foot 7 inches he could pass as a younger version of his father. While Omero is 9 this year, he has dirty blonde hair, dark green eyes, with lighter skin. He stands only 5 foot. With the way he looks it is harder to tell he is part of the family as he has not grown out of his childish look. This is her morning ritual every morning an hour before anyone else in the family is awake this little girl starts her day brushing her hair followed by rushing to make breakfast. Breakfast is never an easy feat as nothing is prepped or easy to cook in this age. To cook something simple like eggs, cheese with some bread takes close to 40 minutes. Though she makes plenty of food she never gets much of it. She is not allowed to eat much because her importance to the family is low. She isn''t the eldest male son so she can''t pass the family name down. She isn''t a male so she can''t become a warrior like her father or her brothers. While she isn''t old enough to start working to provide income to the house. The only use she has is taking care of the house and being sold off when she is older to help her brothers achieve their dreams. This sad little girl''s name is Sophia; she has bright blonde hair, crystal clean green eyes that sparkle like jade, tanned skin standing 4 foot 5 inches. She is very small though physically, she is mostly skin and bones, coupled with heavy wool clothing that is patched up and fraying all over. Her outward appearance is not very cute for her age. Sophia watches as her family leaves the home one by one, leaving her in the tiny home all alone. Now the rush of the day starts, she must go shopping to make tonight¡¯s dinner and tomorrow¡¯s breakfast. She has to do the laundry for her family, clean the house, shine her father and brothers weapons left at home and make dinner before her father returns home from his guard duties. Sophia leaves her house heading down to the market, her father left her 10 copper today. It will be a stretch to buy enough food for everyone. (100 copper = 1 silver, 100 silver = 1 gold, 100 gold = 1 gold note it costs ~2 copper a meal a person) ( average pay for a normal citizen is 5-6 silver a month ) Sophia: hmmm, I guess I should make soup tonight. I can stretch this money a little more if I make some simple soup with a little meat and bread. The market is very vibrant, with people of all statuses wearing many different and colorful clothing are flooding the streets. The streets are lined with many tasty looking fruits, meats and beautiful clothing. While the venders yell out their products in hopes of attracting customers to sell their wares. Sophia being as small as she is and wearing basically rags is ignored by most venders and pushed/shoved while she walks through the crowd. She is making her way to the venders that are selling their slightly damaged or food that will spoil soon to cut a few coppers. Sophia: hello Mr. George, do you have any deals today on meat? George: for you little Sophia, of course I have a good deal. I can sell you a kg of tough meat for 4 coppers. How about it? Sophia: hmmm, can you make it 3 coppers? Father didn''t give me very much today. George: he never gives you much money; alright I can give it to you for 3 coppers. Sophia: thank you so much Mr. George. * She beams him a very bright smile* George: alright, I have other customers I can''t spend too much time on you. Off you go // hmm so I need to still get bread, eggs and some veggies, with 7 copper left I should be able to get everything. So I should head off and get the eggs and veggies first. Mrs. Hughes should give me a cheap price but her stall is on the other side of the market. I am going to have to take the back alley ways to reach there. Through the alley, she passes the vagrants and prostitutes that line the alleyways of the city. It reminds her that even though life is horrible, if she attempts to leave her home she would at best end up as one of these people. While with the way she is dressed, and looks nobody pays much attention to her because of her poor appearance. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. As she arrives at Mrs. Hughes stall she notices she is in an unusually good mood today. Sophia: Mrs. Hughes!! Do you have some cheap veggies and eggs for me today? Mrs. Hughes: I think I have some, but they aren''t in the best condition. Sophia: yesss please, can I have 4 copper worth? Mrs. Hughes: you know you¡¯re always buy the stuff I am just throwing away, if you can guess why I am so happy today I will give it to you for free Sophia: REALLY !?! for free?? Mrs. Hughes laughs a little: yep, but you have to guess correctly *She places her finger under her chin and tilts her head* attempting to think really hard, if she wasn¡¯t dressed in rags, and was fed properly she would look very cute right now. Sophia: your son was accepted to a school?? Mrs. Hughes: Not just any school, he was found to have talent in wind magic. My son is going to be a great magician Sophia: wow that is so cool; magicians make lots of pretty things and are so strong. Mrs. Hughes: you should see if your parents will let you take the magician exam. Children from the ages of 10 - 16 can be tested to see if they have any magical talent. Just don''t get your hopes up to high little girl, not many people pass. Sophia: really? I can take the test? But I am a girl and it probably costs money father would never spend the money to take the test for me. She depresses herself just thinking, *her eyes becoming slightly watery* *Patting Sophia on the back*, Mrs. Hughes: don''t be depressed, the test is free and anyone can become a magician, if you pass ill even introduce you to my son. He is really handsome *wink* Sophia: *blushing* uhmm ttt-hank you, Mrs. Hughes I will ask my father if he will take me With the thought of taking the magical exam the day flies past her and before she knows it she is serving dinner to her father and brothers. Sophia: ummm father, can I ask you for a favor? (Damalis): maybe, but only if it helps your brothers out. Nervously she thinks over how to ask to take the exam // father would never agree to let me take the exam; maybe he will let me if it helps older brother out somehow? (Damalis) angrily: I do not have all night Sophia spit it out. Sophia: father, can you take me to do the magical exam tomorrow? They are still testing children my age and if I show talent maybe I can be married to someone with more money or I could even use my magic to earn some money outside Sophia watches as her father¡¯s face changes from a look of anger, to a complicated face while thinking over this. (Damalis): what do you think, Fabiano ? (Fabiano): it does not hurt to let her try, if she has magical talent then me and Omero will be able to attend better schools, but if she fails it doesn''t hurt us (Damalis): okay Sophia we I will take you tomorrow morning for the exam, but you have to clean my armor. If it isn''t done right then forget about going. Sophia: YES father Sophia face brightens up; the feeling of hunger from lack of food washes away as the excitement to know if she can do magic she rushes into her father¡¯s room and grabs the heavy armor is too heavy for her small under nourished body to lift. For the next hour she spends it shining the armor with the utmost care. As soon as she finishes cleaning the armor, she walks back into the kitchen to drink some left over broth. The veggies and meat have already been devoured and what is left of the bread has to be used for tomorrow¡¯s breakfast. Sipping the broth slowly, she cleans the table and washes the dishes. When she finishes her tasks it¡¯s already very late at night, she walks into her shared bedroom with her younger brother and changes into her sleepwear. The vast difference between how Sophia''s brothers and her are treated can be seen just looking into the bedroom. Where her brother is sleeping on a small light wooden bed, with a large blanket to keep the cold of the night away. At the end of the bed is a medium sized wooded dresser, with his small tarnished iron sword resting on the top of the dresser. While on Sophia''s side of the room there is at what at first glance looks like a pile of rags. This is actually her bed; it¡¯s just a collection of old cloth unusable for clothing. This pile of cloth rests on the hard wooden floor and it doesn''t protect very well against the slightly chilly nights. At the end of this pile of cloth, is a small wooden box. This box contains everything Sophia owns, just a few sets of patched up skirts and blouses. She nudges her little brother Sophia: brother, can we continue tonight teaching me how to read? This has been going on for quite a while, because her younger brother has started to learn how to read a year ago. Sophia has been asking her brother to teach her what little he knows every night behind her parents back. If her father knew she was learning how to read, he would surely beat her. Smart woman are not always wanted as concubines or wives as they might talk back. Her pace isn¡¯t exactly very fast even learning how to read for the past year, she cannot be considered very well. Her level of reading would be a 3rd or 4th graders if you were to compare. Omero: okay but you have to be quiet, and remember to wake up early enough tomorrow. You can''t keep neglecting your sleep to learn how to read. Hugging her younger brother, Sophia: thank you The next hour she learns in secret from the rest of the family how to read a little more before getting her 5 hours of sleep. Chapter 2 The day of the test. (Damalis): It seems everything is taken care of this morning. You are finally getting your choirs done. Sophia: yyess thank you, when do we leave for the test ! (Lillian): someone is very excited I see *Sophia blushes a little* Sophia: yyyes, magicians are sooo cool I really hope I can be one (Fabiano): good luck, little sister Omero: I hope you pass the exam Wow my older brother spoke to me, this is the first time he has spoken to me in such a soft tone. Maybe if I become a magician my family will love me. *************************************** The magical exam is held in a large church on the east side of the city. With the test open to everyone aged 10-16 the line is already more than 500 people long even though it¡¯s so early in the morning. Everyone is clamoring for their child to hopefully show talent in magic. Sophia dressed in slightly better rags than yesterday standing next to her father dressed in finer clothing than usual. A well-dressed middle aged male and a well-dressed young man are standing off to the side watching people take the magical exam. A young boy steps up to the orb and places his hand on it, after a few seconds it doesn''t light up signaling he failed. The boy being told he failed start to cry while his mother drags him off. The next 50 or so children with varying degrees of emotions all have failed the exam. Some parents in the line start to get worried that none of their children will pass the test. A young girl steps up and places her hand on the large orb on the table. This time it lights up red, a priest in a shining white robe announces she has a fire affinity and she can take the 2nd half of the exam. The crowd starts to get noisy seeing her walk over to an engraved circle on the floor that lights up when she steps into it. A priest in a bright yellow robe, off to the side mumbles a few words and the circle start to brighten up little by little. While the young girl''s face starts to flush red before she falls to her knees. Priest: fire affinity average, soul space of 12. Qualified to be a magician. (well dressed man): what do you think of her? (young male): she looks ok, but she is only the first person to pass. Let¡¯s wait to see if there is someone better. (well dressed man): very true today is only the 2nd day, we still have 4 more days to find somebody for you. 2 hours pass and only 3 more people pass, 11 year old boy with a high earth affinity and a soul space of 10, a 14 year old boy with average wind affinity and a soul space of 13, and a 12 year old girl with an average darkness affinity soul space of 10. (well dressed man): it seems like there is not much to choose from today (young man): there are still a few more people in line (well dressed man) well we have waited all day, we mine as well stick around for the last 10 children to take the exam (young man): the next one in line looks like a homeless girl, she will probably fail (well dressed man): magic affinity can show up in anyone, let¡¯s see what her outcome is While these two are talking Sophia is nudged to place her hand on a cloudy orb in front of her. As she does this she feels a strange sensation in her body and the orb in front of her glows very bright blinding not only herself but also the priest in front of her administrating the test Priest: high affinity to both water and light, this is truly rare. If you can pass the soul test you can be a truly great magician in your future Everyone in the room quiets down to watch the little girl walk into the magic circle Sophia''s legs are shaking in a mixture of excitement and nervousness while the priest starts the test (well dressed man): what do you think of her? (young male): Let¡¯s see if she passes the test or not. She could end up being worthless still (well dressed man): perfect if she passes I will obtain her for you The priest slowly increases the pressure on Sophia, while her face flushes red under the pressure.10,11, 12, 13,14 Sophia''s weak body passes out under the pressure exerted on her body and soul. Priest: high affinity for water and light, soul is 14 she is qualified to be a magician. A man who is dressed in slightly fine clothing for a commoner walks over to the passed out girl and with one hand picks her up by her hair. Seeing her not awaken from this he tosses her over his shoulder with no care for her body. Looking around the room with a large smile across his face, he starts to walk out of the church. //(well dressed man): this person must be her owner *taking a quickened pace to catch up to this man* (well dressed man): Sir, I am wondering what your relationship with that young girl over your shoulder is. (Damalis): she happens to be my daughter //(well dressed man): DAUGHTER?? but the difference between the man and this young girl are so vast. He is dressed semi nicely, looks well fed and looks like he does warrior training, but she looks like she is starving on the streets (young male): Good sir may we get your name? We would like to talk about the your Umm daughter there (Damalis): my name is Damalis Kosta. What do you wish to know about her? (well dressed man): I do not believe this is the correct place to talk about this matter, would you like to follow me to my hotel ? I believe we can have a better formal conversation there, Damalis. well-dressed man and the young man, lead out Damalis onto the streets of the city for their short walk to the hotel. //(well dressed man): the way she is just hanging off his shoulder without care shows he must abuse her to no end, what kind of man does this to his own child ? O well this will only help in our favor The hotel they are staying at is named the Gentle Dream Hotel, it is a slightly better than average hotel that caters to low nobility and semi rich merchants visiting the city center of Halalem. The price to stay in a regular room is 50 coppers this keeps the lower class out. The Gentle Dream is also very cleanly and does not ask questions, so when these three men walked in with a passed out little girl nobody raised any flags. (well dressed man): can you place her on the bed, I would like to check for scars on her body if that is ok with you? (Damalis): yes that is fine, she should be scar free. I made sure not to damage her to much Damalis starts to laugh while the young man gives him a cold stare for a reply Luckly for Sophia she is still passed out, otherwise the emotional damage from 2 men strip searching her while her father laughs might cause issues. //(well dressed man): it looks like besides not being fed very well she is in good shape, no visible scars, cuts or bruises. Though if she doesn''t start eating more food she might actually starve to death. This Damalis doesn''t even seem to care instead he seems happy we have taken interest in his daughter (well dressed man): Damalis, let¡¯s have a little talk down stairs. We can leave your daughter here to rest while we talk business. Isaak, you stay up here and keep an eye on her in case she wakes up (Isaak): Okay, can you send some food up for her though? (well dressed man): sure (Damalis): Are we going to talk business or are you two just going to chat all day. I do have things to do besides wait around. //Isaak: I just can''t take this anymore, if I come across this man ever again I will kill him as slow as possible just to make him feel what this girl has felt (well dressed man): please this way, Damalis, we will chat in the lounge area (Damalis): very well walking down the stairs, on the way to the lounge area, the well-dressed man passes a young hotel staff lady. (well dressed man): miss, if you will please bring two mugs of beer to our table and send up some food for two people to my room. (waitress): yes sir The well dressed man drops a silver coin into her hand and continues down the stairs. Damalis sharp eyes catches this expensive tip to the waitress and grins with excitement. The two men sit down at a table far away from any regulars and wait for their beers before beginning to speak. (Damalis): so let¡¯s talk business, how much are you going to offer for my daughter? (well dressed man): well a girl of her age is worth about 5 gold in healthy condition, though there are no scars she is very under nourished so she is worth closer to 4 gold. (Damalis): she is a dual magician; the priest clearly said she is rare she is worth much more than a few gold coins. If you will not offer more I will be taking her back with me. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. (well dressed man): With the way she is treated, and from what I can tell you cannot afford to send her to magic school to train. (Damalis): it doesn''t matter she is just a worthless daughter to me, but she seems valuable to you. So if we are done here I will be taking my daughter and leaving now Damalis downs his whole beer in one gulp and stands up from his chair (well dressed man) : 30 gold coins (Damalis): 50 gold (well dressed man): 35, that¡¯s more than a commoner can spend in 10 years. (Damalis): 35 gold, new sword and shield (well dressed man): fine, it¡¯s a deal. Give me a day for your weapons (Damalis): I want a steel long sword, and a mirror shield (well dressed man): that can be arranged The well-dressed man drops a bag on the table, and takes out a few gold coins (well dressed man): this bag has 35 gold in it, tell me where you live and tomorrow morning I will have a new sword and shield delivered to you (Damalis): thank you for doing business good sir //(well dressed man): I can''t believe he never asked for my name, or what I plan on doing with his daughter. commoners are truly scum ************************** While this exchange is occurring upstairs in the hotel room something else is going on. What happened, I was taking the magical test then...? Sophia: AHHH I must have failed the exam A voice from the side: No, you passed Sophia: eeep A quick snap of her neck Sophia: umm who are you? and where am I ? boy: well first I would cover your body up Cover my body? *looks down* As fast as she can humanly move throws the covers over her whole body Sophia: WHY AM I NAKED ???? *her eyes start watering* boy: well we had to check your body for infections and scars. Those rags you had on had to be tossed. Sophia: wwwhere ammm I? what is going on? who are you? wha.. boy: WOW you do not shut up Sophia: Iii am sorry ( in a soft voice ) Boy: uggh, well whatever. I have left something for you to change into at the end of the bed. Please get dressed and tell me when you finish *slam* Seeing how father isn''t here, and how that boy talked to me. Father must have sold me off to slavery. How come he sold me to slavery? I have talent as a magician he should have loved me more and treated me like my brothers. Why?? Well I can only hope my master isn''t to mean, I don¡¯t think I am strong enough to take many beatings Well I should put on the cloths he left behind for me, before he gets mad. *slowly gets out of bed* *wobbly walks to end of bed still weak from the test and her abusive carrying to the hotel, and picks up the dress and underwear left behind for her* Wow these cloths are so pretty, I don¡¯t think I have ever seen a blue dress this cute. *she quickly changes into these fresh clothes, and starts admiring herself in the mirror* *knock knock* muffled voice: are you finished changing? Sophia: uh, YES *he walks in holding two trays full of food* OMG that smells so good *Grumbling tummy followed her cheeks turning a light shade of pink* The food smells so good, and I didn''t get to eat much this morning Sophia: Umm I am sorry boy: come sit down Sophia: O-okay *She watches as this boy drops both trays on the small table and begins to stuff his face like a starving animal* boy: Why aren''t you eating? Sophia: I can eat this food? boy: Ugh, why would someone bring so much food into a hotel room if not to eat? Sophia: Ttt-hank yyou *boy returns to stuffing his face* boy: Why aren''t you eating still? Sophia: Wwwelll umm, don''t I have to wait for you to finish eeattin? boy: If you do not start eating on your own, I will force feed you Sophia: OKAY! *wam, the door flies open* An older man: Isaak, did she wake up yet? Isaak: yes, she awoke just after you left older man laughing: he practically gave her away to me, it only cost us 35 gold and some cheap weapons I am worth 35 gold? I have never even seen a gold coin before. How is that cheap that¡¯s enough money to never work a day in my life. Isaak: wow that is pretty cheap, Father should be very happy with us older man now grinning: We have enough money left over to buy another mage or enjoy ourselves plenty on the ride home. Isaak: Dominic, we shouldn''t play around. We need to get this one back home for her training, but if you like we can spend another long day standing around watching petty commoners checking there magical talent Dominic: Yeah, let¡¯s not do that again. Two days of standing around is not enjoyable. Isaak: By the way, we need to have the staff send up a bath. If I have to share a carriage with this smell I will probably throw her off a bridge. Dominic: I will have the staff prepare the bath Isaak: It is starting to get late. Take this girl to her room and let¡¯s head out *The man named Dominic grabs my arm and drags me out of the room* I don¡¯t understand if my new masters will be nice or not, but that is the most food I have ever eaten. It feels so good to have a full stomach. I wonder if I will be able to eat this good every day. This man named Dominic leads me into a much smaller room down the hall, but still much larger than the bedroom at my former home. Dominic: So this is how it¡¯s going to go little miss. We will be leaving tomorrow morning to head to the capital of the Beamonait Kingdom. This trip should take between 6 and 7 days to accomplish. Seeing the condition you are in, we will have to put some weight on you. Otherwise you will not survive what awaits you in the capital. Sophia saying shyly: Uhh... okay .... so um what do I call you? Dominic: you will address me as Sir Dominic, the young master you will address as Master Sophia: yyess Dominic: I will have the staff prep your bath and bring some more food. Go to bed early the trip to the capital will be harsh for someone who has never traveled before. *Sir Dominic quickly leaves the room after his statement and slams the door behind him* He doesn''t seem bad. They are going to feed me lots of food, but what will happen to me when I get to the capital. Did master and my father speak, is it because I am used to beatings he will beat me for fun? *knock knock* muffled voice: may I come in? Sophia waking up from her thoughts jumped: Umm Yes Please Do *door opens with a woman in her early 20''s* *woman walks into a door on the side of the hotel room revealing a room with a large barrel on top of a metal table* I wonder what a large barrel is doing inside here? It seems to be full of water. *woman places some charcoal under the barrel and ignites the charcoal* Woman: The bath is ready miss; I will bring your food up while you bath Sophia: Thank you ? *woman leaves with a quickened walk* So I am I meant to get inside the barrel? It won¡¯t cook me alive? Maybe this is how I am to die, master must be watching from somewhere and wishes to see someone boil alive ? *slowly undresses* *starts to cry a bit while shaking at the thought of boiling alive* *enters the large barrel* 5 minutes pass *still crying* This water feels really good right now 10 minutes pass *starts to sniffle as there are no more tears to be made* The water hasn''t gotten hot enough to burn me yet, why hasn''t this happened? 15 minutes pass *has the just finished crying face, but has stopped crying* The water still feels good, what is going on? 20 minutes pass Is this the bath Sir Dominic was talking about? It feels so great *Sophia leaves the barrel after 30 minutes of her mind changing between why haven''t I died yet and why does it feel so good* That felt really good; maybe they will be good to me? *slips out from the water not knowing to dry herself off, puts on the blue dress that was given to her earlier* That woman really did bring more food for me too. These last two meals are more than I have eaten in the past week at least. *She starts to eat the food like it will be her last meal on earth, leaving nothing behind.* I guess I will head to bed then and await my fate tomorrow.