Beastmen: Divinity in the wild

CHAPTER - 14

The next morning, I awoke with a renewed sense of excitement. The first day of the festival had been magical, and I couldn't wait to see what new adventures awaited me today. I quickly got dressed and joined my brothers for breakfast.

"Good morning, everyone!" I greeted them cheerfully.

"Morning, Aria," they replied in unison, their faces lighting up at my enthusiasm.

"Are you ready for another day of fun?" Rael asked, ruffling my hair.

"Absolutely!" I replied, my eyes sparkling with anticipation.

As we made our way to the village center, the festive atmosphere enveloped us once again. The streets were bustling with activity, and the colorful stalls beckoned with their tempting wares. My brothers were in high spirits, eager to spoil me even more than they had the previous day.

"Look, Aria! There's a stall selling beautiful hairpins," Thorne pointed out, leading me towards it. The hairpins were adorned with delicate beads and feathers, each one more exquisite than the last.

I admired them for a moment, and before I could say anything, Kieran handed over some beast pelts to the vendor. "We'll take this one," he said, choosing a hairpin with a small, intricately carved fox.

"You didn't have to buy it so quickly," I said, giggling.

"We want you to have the best," Kieran replied with a smile, pinning the hair accessory in my hair.

As we continued to explore the festival, my brothers seemed to be in a constant battle to outdo each other. Whenever I looked at something for even a second too long, they would immediately try to buy it for me.

"Aria, do you like those sweets?" Finn asked, pointing to a stall with an array of colorful candies.

"Yes, they look delicious," I admitted.

Before I knew it, Rael had already bought a bag of sweets and handed them to me. "Here you go, Aria. Enjoy!"

"Thank you, Rael!" I said, hugging him tightly.

"Anything for our little sister," he replied, ruffling my hair.

As we moved through the crowd, I noticed a gathering of people up ahead. Curious, I made my way towards the crowd, my brothers following closely behind. As we reached the front, I saw a merchant standing on a makeshift platform, presenting a young boy to the crowd.

"Today, we have a rare offering!" the merchant announced. "A slave, bound to serve his master faithfully."

I turned to my brothers, confusion in my eyes. "What does he mean by 'slave'?"

Thorne sighed, his expression serious. "Slaves are very rare, Aria. They are individuals who have chosen to bind themselves to a master, to whom they must obey completely. If the master dies, the slave dies as well. To become a slave, both parties must agree, and only the master can free the slave."

"Why would anyone want to become a slave?" I asked, my brow furrowing.

Kieran shook his head. "It's not something many choose willingly. Slaves are in high demand because of their loyalty, but it's a difficult life. Most become slaves out of desperation or because they have no other choice."

The boy on the platform looked fierce yet vulnerable. My heart went out to him, and I felt a sudden urge to help. "I want to buy him," I said firmly.

My brothers looked at me in shock. "Aria, are you sure?" Finn asked, his voice filled with concern. "Why would you want to buy him?" He's a boy as if I'll ever let a stinky boy near my precious sister.