Awakening Chronicles

Chapter 36

"It feels like forever since I last saw you. How are you doing, Nia?" Ziva asked as I helped her up and started to brush off her tattered clothing. She looked the same as the last time I saw her. Her honey brown hair hung just below her shoulders and was in a tight french braid.

"I am doing well. I was just about to explore the city in detail for a while before I head back to the Academy. Would you like to join me?"

"Sure, there are some stalls that are only open at night anyways that I want to visit before I head home." I extended my arm out for Ziva to take, which she did, and we started to walk through the side streets towards the merchant district.

"So, how is the Academy so far?" Ziva's words seemed to cut the silent air like a knife.

"It's going, I suppose. Most of it is rather boring. I only really care about the magic aspect of it." I replied honestly to her.

"I see. I wish I could afford to go to a school like that. I know my mom is trying her hardest to save up money, but it's really hard in these times." As she spoke, a troubled look appeared on her face.

"Why what's happening?" I asked her, trying to get a feeling for current events.

"There is a war looming on the horizon with the Church, along with a growing number of attacks by the green beast. The taxes have been steadily increasing to try and prepare, but it's only hurting the lower class more and more." She explained to me as we finally got into the merchant district and worked our way through the small groupings of people that were out.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Ziva. If there is anything I can do to help, just let me know, okay?" I tried to reassure her, and she glanced up at me and smiled.

"It's alright. I suppose." She glanced down, and the look on her face told me there was more to the story, but I wouldn't press her on it yet. But I would do my best to take her mind off of it.

"Alright, well, for the meantime, let's enjoy the night, and I will make sure that you get home safe, alright?" Ziva pursed her plump lips and nodded. "Good. Now let's explore."

We wandered around the city for a time and visited the various stalls that were just opening up. Some offered specialized magical spells, and others were a bit more nefarious in operation. The worst part of what I saw was slave auctions that were held in merchants plaza that we happened to stumble across.

A crowd of people was gathered around the large wooden stand that held a small group of beings that were chained up and had matching asymmetrical marks on their forehead. There were two humans. One was a male that looked to have just become an adult. He was covered in scars and had his head shaved bald. The female-only wore a thin covering that barely covered her genitals, but was in a much better condition than the male. The other four were an equal mix of male and female Drow and Dark Elves. The males' heads were shaved, and the females only wore enough clothes to be covered.

I felt a wave of icy anger start to build in my veins as I dragged Ziva away from the plaza and into an alleyway. "What is that?" I hissed out, trying to stay quiet mostly because I didn't want to attract attention to ourselves. I was furious that there was a slave trade on my planet. I was also partially angry that Nemesis did nothing to stop it.

"That was a slave auction, and before you say anything, Orsalon only allows for slaves if they were captured in war or committed a serious enough crime to warrant it." She replied calmly and pulled me into a reassuring hug. "I know it seems wrong, but as far as I know, no one is kidnapped, and they are only bound as a slave until their sentence is up."

I took a few deep breaths and calmed myself. It still bothered me that slavery existed, but at least it seemed to have a basis. I would need to keep an eye on it to make sure it didn't get any worse. I also plan on phasing it out of existence over time so the system wouldn't be abused. After I managed to calm myself, I grabbed Ziva's hand and pulled her away from the plaza. I wanted to get as far away as possible from that place.