Elementals | Volume I: The Awakening

Broken Chains - Chapter 1

     As Drako wiped the sweat off his forehead, he looked at the giant ship that he and his fellow Solites had spent 9 months building. The Solites were what they called the part of the population that had no magical aptitude. The ship looked magnificent as it was, but the master requested it be adorned with golden railings and expensive decorations. He turned to look at the other Solites who were lining up in front of the enforcer for their hourly water break and quickly joined the queue. 

     As the line moved forward, Drako noticed that several Solites at the front had hidden hammers and tools in their hands. He flinched, all the other attempts to escape had failed, and all those involved were made an example of before being sold off or killed. He felt a hand force him forward and onto the ground, forcing him out of his thoughts. He tried to get up but flinched when the enforcer put his boot on his back, forcing him down. The enforcer grunted and spoke, "Are you defective?" he asks before continuing, "Get up and keep walking you little shit." he removes his boot and Drako gets back up, staying silent because most Solites learn that speaking back earns you a whipping at best. He continued walking, averting his focus back onto the group. He watched the events unfold, and his sad expression quickly changed once he saw that they managed to knock the enforcer out. The other Solites broke the line and ran to the unconscious enforcer, beating him to death. They all knew that this was the furthest they've ever gotten to freedom and they weren't going to fail now.

     After they took down the enforcer, the Solites rushed forward, looting the enforcer and starting to run for it. Drako wasted no time in making a break for it with the others with a look of bewilderment, they had never made it this far in any of the previous attempts. It was quickly wiped away, however, by the sight of several enforcers grouping up at the gate with shields and sparkfire spells at the ready. Drako's eyes widened as he realized what was about to occur, the momentary feeling of dread being replaced by a sharp pain all over his body, his skin burning from the explosions that knocked his burned body back, his body crashing into wooden crates.

     Drako felt nothing as his body lay against the crates, the loud ringing sound was all he could hear as his eyes scanned the scene. It was gruesome, most Solites laid dead or were severely burned. As he tried to get up, he finally felt the pain all over his body and screamed. His hands were covered with giant welts and burns, and he could only guess that the rest of him was too. The enforcers walked through the site, checking for any survivors. As they approached, Drako started panicking. They were getting closer, and Drako was helpless and unable to move.  Drako just sighed and waited, accepting his fate.

     One of the enforcers finds Drako and shouts to the others, grabbing him and putting him with the other survivors. Drako looks at them for a split second before turning away, they looked horrible. Their skin was burned, and a lot of their muscles were exposed, not to mention that they were covered in blood. Eventually, the enforcers gathered up all the survivors and prepared to fire death spells to finish them all off. Drako looked down, the blinding light from the corner of his eye started to get closer, before Drako closed his eyes.