Reincarnated As The Heroine?! I refuse!

S3: Seth (1)

"Kid, you've been bought."

As I heard the baldy's words, I snapped out of my daze.
Looking around, I saw a hooded figure outside my cell.
Who would buy a skin and bones slave?
I suppose it didn't really matter for them.

I might end up as another useless tool.
But that is fine. I'll take everything they throw at me.
If it means I will live.

☪ 

Being dragged while blindfolded is not the nicest feeling.
Fortunately, I was hauled over a cart with a few others.
I did not feel fear. I was done with that emotion ever since I was branded a slave.

Pain was the best method to feel alive.
But there was always a point when it wasn't, and only hunger would be left.

I was in the cart for several hours with no pause.
My exhaustion engulfed me in the middle of the journey.

When I awoke, I could finally see.
And what I saw was a barely lit stone cell.
From one cell to another.

"Eat." 

We heard a hooded man command us.
His voice was deeper, and his physic was larger than the one I saw the first time.
Do all the people here wear a hood?
At least their face couldn't be seen.

I looked at the offered food.
It was put in one big wooden container, much like one would find in a pigsty. 
But it's not like I would know the comparison.
I've only ever lived in cell since I was able to think.

With not much to think about, I dived at the mush-up food.
I realized I haven't eaten for 3 days.
Suddenly, I could feel myself alive.

☪  

The next day, we were gathered in a hall. 
I could see more hooded people on a podium.
The place was quite dark so it wasn't easy to observe my surroundings.

I heard them say a creed of sort.
And instructed us to choose a weapon of our choice.
Every slaves that were with me scurried to grab huge and heavy weapons,
thinking the heavier and the bigger the weapons were, the more chances they were going to survive.

Some were smarter than the others and chose a weapon most suitable for their physique.
Personally, I chose a dagger and a sword.
Fortunately, there were plenty of crude weapons to choose from.
From pins to bows,
swords to halberds and
shields to knuckles.

I suspected the hooded organization was huge.
And they wanted to add more in their numbers.
Slaves were easy to choose from as they are less likely to refuse and easy to brainwash.

I have half the brain to figure out where I place, 
so I followed their every word.

From the hall to an arena.
We were to fight one another one by one until only ten of us remained.
We came in as thirty.
I expected it wouldn't take too long with our malnourished body.

☪  

Fight after fight, I felt myself gaining experience.
But fight after fight, I was feeling myself grow even weaker.
We get a few hours of sleep.
Meager food to eat.
There simply was not enough to recover our energy for several battles a day, day by day.

Despite everything, I survived and remained in the top ten.
Thinking it was over, I relaxed and made friends in the next few days we were able to rest.
Not knowing what they had for us next, I became close with a kid my age.
His name was Warren.
No last name since we are slaves.
Just Warren.

A bright young boy who was determined to gain his freedom.
Strong and smart, he was admired by half of the survivalist. 

"Seth, did you know there are all kinds of beasts and spirits out there?"

"No." I said as I ponder over his words.

"Well, once we can get the chance, we should definitely explore our continent and collect precious stones!"

His grey eyes glowed with a certain brilliance.
One that has hope in sight.
One that is not easily extinguished.
I liked his eyes.
They were alive.
Opposite to what I feel.

"Okay." Was all I said after listening to his stories of possible encounters in the woods, cities and secret lands.

It weren't only us who were becoming friends, the others created their own partnership or groups too.

Noticing this change, I suddenly felt anxious.
My gut felt like it was churning from side to side, up and down.
My mind was racing of all sorts of possibilities.
Horrible possibilities.

☪ 

My gut feeling was not very far from the truth. 

2 months of living in the same cell with the rest of my fellow slaves,
I became arrogant.
Every day, I felt safer and safer without knowing what was to come.
Every day, we were getting adequate nourishment and exercise.
What we were getting were enough to keep us alive for several hours of journey by foot.

Then suddenly, an edict came.

"Another Battle Royal will be held in a week. 
"Prepare yourselves.
"You'll be put in an island, and will remain there until only one of you survives."

Realization struck all of us.
It created discord.
Everyone was looking at one another critically,
gauging each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Then I looked on Warren.
He looked at me.
And he smiled a cheerful one.

"Good luck to both of us, Seth."

Was all he said before leaving me in my corner.
Then I realized I actually liked him more than I thought I did.
He was optimistic and made me feel there was something else beyond my cell.
His stories made me feel like there was more to life than being a slave to someone else.

In the end, if we want something, we have to kill for it.
And I will kill to find my place.
I may be dead inside, but that's the reason why I will live for another day.

I will live until I find my reason for being here.