Chapter 1- Serith

Scarlet awoke in a dark room made of stone. There were no windows and water was dripping from the ceiling. In front of her was a steel door with multiple locks. All four of her limbs were chained to the wall. Her long red hair was unkempt. Her ocean blue eyes had dulled. Hopelessness now filled her. She was completely nude. Her hair just barely reaching the nipples on her breasts. She couldn't remember how she got here or how long she had been here but, one thing was for certain. The master would soon arrive to have his way with her body. No matter how much she resisted, it only seemed to excite him more. The prospect of the master being able to punish her was like drugs to him. She only hoped he wouldn't get her pregnant a tenth time. She didn't think she could withstand having to abort another child. Bringing one into the life of slavery with a monster for a father did not seem fair to the child. And if it were born a girl, Scarlett didn't want to imagine what the master would do to her. Scarlett thought of the dream she just had. She had dreamt of the day she met August. She wished he would come save her but the master relocated with all his slaves quite often and it would be difficult for even the best to track them. The masters fire Serith far surpasses her fathers. The thought of her parents angered Scarlett. Four years ago her Grandfather, the head of the Cianis household ordered for her to be sold into slavery. She was seemingly born without any Serith. And to her grandfather, that was disgraceful to the nobles. Her parents didn't even try to argue with him. If August had been there he would have fought my grandfather Scarlett thought to herself. The only thing here that kept Scarlett from insanity was Ophellia. She had long blonde hair that she often braided to one side. Her eyes appeared as if made of honey. She was rather short even for a woman. She was also almost unhealthily skinny. She wore the same dirty raggoty clothes as everyone else. She was one of the masters slaves. She had awoken a healing Serith after Scarlett had arrived. Her parents sold her before she turned sixteen. They didn't even wait to see if Ophellia had a Serith. Ophellia is currently nineteen, two years younger than Scarlett. The master has only kept Ophellia alive to have her heal Scarlett after the master punished her as to not tarnish Scarlett's good looks. Ophellia became Scarlett's best friend here. She secretly performed abortions when ever the master got Scarlett pregnant. Scarlett soon heard footsteps and knew that the time had come. No matter what she would resist Scarlett thought to herself. Suddenly the locks on the door began to turn one by one until the door opened slowly with a loud screech. The master entered the room. He was built like a mountain. His hair was jet black with amethyst eyes. His pointed ears were serrated like a cutting knife. He didn't wear a shirt and had scars all over his chest which had accumulated from the multiple fights he's been in. He wore black jeans with rope for a belt and a Battleaxe on his hip. Likely to intimidate the slaves.

"My my. Aren't you looking absolutely stunning today?" said the master with a diabolical grin on his face.

"Oh piss off. The way I look currently is not fitting for one of noble birth. No thanks to you, master" Scarlett spoke the word master with malcontent in her voice. The master's grin slowly faded and his face was filled with rage. He held out his hand and a raging white fire Engulfed it, lighting every corner of the room.

"Do I need to remind you of who I am? I am one of the King's chosen. He greatly enhanced my Serith. I am Ragren, bearer of the Hell flame. You are nothing more than a disgraced member of the Cianis household. One born without any Serith. You brought shame upon all nobles of this world our great king has conquered. He, who has brought prosperity to all of its people. The strong dominate while the weak bow before them. I am your master and I own you. How DARE you disrespect me. I so graciously give you my seed. You should be thanking me, for claiming your body as mine. And since I'm feeling ever so generous today, I'll give you one chance to apologize to me for your disrespect and I might just let you off the hook." Regren said smugly.

"Like hell I'll ever apologize to a monster like you. I swear, I'll awaken my Serith and I'll kill you. I'll have you begging for mercy with your throat beneath my foot. I'll set everyone here free." Scarlett uttered beneath her breath. However Ragren heard these words and became furious. He grabbed Scarlett's breast and let his flames encase the entire left side of her body. Agony filled every ounce of her body as she screamed and withered in pain. The chains which bound her, melted and the molten fused itself to her skin. Her skin began to rot away revealing bone. Ragren stopped within inches of Scarlett's life and immediately called in Ophellia to heal Scarlett before she succumbed to her injuries.

"Scarlett, you really should listen to and respect the master. You wouldn't receive such punishments. He let you off easily this time." Ophellia said regretfully. She knew she would be killed if she showed any disrespect to Ragren and wouldn't be around to heal Scarlett.

"Yes Scarlett, you should listen to me. Sweet ol' Ophellia is right. She clearly has your best interests in heart." Ragren let out a Maniacal laughter as he stuck his fingers inside Scarlett. "I'll come to pleasure you later darling. After Ophellia heals you, the two of you are to come to the court yard. I have a special announcement to make in front of the rest of my slaves." Ragren exited the stone room and closed the door behind him. His footsteps could be heard fading away as he got further from the two of them.

"Damn bastard. I swear I'll fucking kill him. He'll soon rue the days he has tortured me." Scarlett said, wincing in pain.

"Scarlett, even if you did awaken your Serith, you'd still be noviced. He has over a decades worth of experience. His fire has been greatly enhanced by the King's arcane arts over the years. I want him dead too. But we'd need the heads of at least 3 of the households to take him down head on. And none of them dares to defy the kings will. And after my failed assassination attempt last night he'll surely keep his guard up." regret was imbued into Ophellia's words. She had hoped to kill Ragren to relieve Scarlett of her pain but she was noticed by him. He was usually asleep during those hours. It was a miracle that Ragren let her live.

"Wait, you tried to do what? Why did you not tell me of this plan of yours Ophellia?" questioned Scarlett.

"I didn't want you to get involved. Your punishment would have been massive. I most likely would have gotten off easy. He needs me alive to heal you. He may have finally just killed you." Ophellia explained.

"You are an absolute fucking idiot Ophellia. You could have easily gotten yourself killed." Scarlett scolded. She looked at Ophellia and noticed she had brought clothes for her to wear. After her wounds were completely mended she through on her clothes. It was a simple shirt and pants, yellowed due to lack of washing and holes from the years of work. Scarlett hated having to wear such things but she had no choice.

"We should get the courtyard Scarlett. Otherwise the master might punish us" Ophellia explained. The pair began to exit the room, their footsteps splashing in the puddles of water. Outside of the room was a long hallway, lit by lanterns on the walls with about a dozen doors on each side. At the end of the hallway was an extravagant door, there to impress those who have never entered these chambers before. They walked the hallway in silence not knowing of what's to come. When they reached the door they paused. Something didn't feel right to them. The master never wanted a meeting with all the slaves. Was this about Ophellia's assassination attempt last night? Did the master find out that Ophellia was secretly performing abortions? Scarlett dreadfully thought to herself. They exited the chambers into the courtyard. The two stars, one to the east and another to the west lit up the sky in a light blue almost white color. The stars blinded their eyes. When their vision adjusted the familiar sight of the courtyard became clear. About a hundred slaves gathered there. The courtyard was surrounded by an electric fence powered by Serith Shards, crystal like formations made of pure Serith. They are. typically used to power the world and make every day life easier. Sometimes they are used in weapons and armor to enchant and enhance their strength. Oftentimes adding an Element that complements or matches the user's Serith. To those without any Serith, these were useless. Long ago they were accessible to everyone, when it was said that three divine beings traveled Tarturan and granted Serith to those born without it. They were called the balancers of the world, primordial gods capable of miracles. However when the king appeared, they vanished. Some say he killed them and stole their powers due to him ruling over the planet for over a thousand years. In the center of the courtyard stood a small stage, one that was not there before. On it stood Ragren. He saw Scarlett and Ophellia and a smile stretched from ear to ear.

"So, you may be wondering why I have called you here today. Well you see, one of you had dared to defy my iron will. I have discovered a dirty secret, and an assassination attempt took place last night. One of you here has stepped out of bounds and now must be punished." Scarlett's heart dropped at these words. She knew what was coming. Ophellia was in serious danger.

"However first, I need a certain someone to come up here and announce the secret he discovered. Upon discovery he desired to keep it to himself, although I offered him and his little girlfriend a feast as well as freedom if he told me. So Trojan, hurry along. You and that girl's freedom awaits." A young boy who looked around the age of fifteen walked up to the stage, tears streaming down his face. As if he did not wish to bring the masters wrath upon anyone. His skin appeared as if it was glued to his bones. He wore baggy pants and no shirt. His hair a dirty white and Emerald green eyes.

"I-I- I saw O-Ophellia... performing, a uh" Trojan stuttered, unable to get his words out in a flowing sentence. His words backed with fear and pain. The wind quickly began to gust. The grass dancing in the newfound breeze.

"Come on Trojan, don't be nervous. Nothing bad will happen to you and Triana if you just tell me what I want to hear." Ragren tilted his head as he laughed out loud. Trojan took a slow deep breath and exhaled

"I saw Ophellia performing abortions on Scarlett. They... they didn't want the master to find... to find out" Trojan looked down in shame. Rage began to fill Scarlett. Her heart beat ever faster. Somehow for the first time, she could sense Serith in the wind, at least that's what she assumed she felt. Ragren however, appeared blind to it. Scarlett tried to bend it to her will however nothing changed. Was it her mother? Scarlett thought to herself.

"Yes, thank you for the information Trojan. You and Triana are free to go. I'll prepare a feast and the two of you can can be on your merry way." Trojan walked off stage and within moments, the wind shaped itself into spears and struck Ragren in the back leaving holes. He screamed in pain and blasted fire at Trojans back, however a wall of black appeared and absorbed the flames. The wall of black disappeared and in its place stood a young girl. She wore the same clothes as everyone else, raggedy and yellowed. Her vanta black hair braided down her back as if a black hole appeared and swallowed up the space on her head. Her pointed ears had 4 holes on each ear, presumably from wearing piercings. Her eyes a honey brown shining fiercely in the light.

"I'm terribly sorry master but we'll be taking our own freedom. We've recently awakened Serith and we're no longer going to be your slaves. Did you really think that we'd believe you'd just let us go? Don't make me laugh. You'll die where you stand" Suddenly darkness gripped Ragrens legs and blades of wind pierced through Ragrens chest, purple blood pouring onto the ground he stood on. Ragren lit himself in flames, burning his open wounds shut. Suddenly he burst forward towards the girl, his battleaxe held in his right hand and swung downwards. However Trojan used his wind to blow the pair of them back avoiding the swing. Without hesitation he blasted himself in the air and twisted his body in such a way that allowed him to drop a powerful kick to the back of Ragren's head. Ragren blasted white flames towards Trojans flames but yet again, darkness appeared and absorbed it. As if on cue the wind carried Trojan in front of Ragren and a wind blade pierced through Ragren's stomach. Ragren coughed up blood, infuriated. It appeared as if he had enough of this. Scarlett watched this unable to move. She needed to be the one to kill Ragren. Not those two fucking kids, Scarlett thought to herself. The feeling she felt in the wind earlier, there was no mistaking it. It was Serith. One born without any Serith shouldn't be able to sense it. Flames began to cover the entire area and Ragren's amethyst eyes could be seen shining in the white flames. The girl's dark Serith couldn't keep up.

"Dammit. I'm sorry babe. I don't think we'll win this fight. He was holding back." said the girl.

"It's okay Triana. We were most likely gonna be killed anyways. At least we put up a fight" He leaned in and kissed her, saying their goodbyes. They knew their fate was sealed and death was what awaited them. They collapsed from the heat. The flames dissipated and their skin burned. Their bodies appeared lifeless to everyone around. Ragren walked back to the stage and began to speak.

"This is what happens when you defy me. You will be killed without mercy. All of you are my property and thus, I will do what I want whenever I want. I am Ragren, bearer of the Hell flame. Those who attempt to kill me will be burned to a crisp. Those who defy me, defy our GLORIOUS king. Now there is a second matter I must discuss. Of course I am referring to the assassination attempt. Who is the filthy culprit you may ask? Well it was the dirty little whore Ophellia. Now Ophellia, your punishment should be clear. You will be executed" Ragren stated. Anger still filled his eyes. Scarlett looked over at Ophellia, who was visibly shaking as if she did not expect this outcome. Tears filled her eyes. Terror shaking her to her very bones. Ragren lunged forward and grabbed Ophellia by the throat throwing her to the stage. She stood up unable to stand straight as she coughed up blood. Her entire body shaking, paralyzed from fear. Ragren then grabbed Scarlett by the hair and dragged her to the stage.

"Please spare Ophellia, I'm begging you. I'll never disrespect you again master" Scarlett moaned. She had broken down into tears not wanting her best friend, the person who kept her from insanity to die. Ragren wasn't having none of it.

"She brought this upon herself. She knew she would be punished and now I must make an example out of her." Ragren spoke. He lifted up his battleaxe and with a single swing chopped off Ophellia's head, blood splattering onto Scarlett's face and chest. Ophellia's head rolled past Scarlett as her lifeless corpse fell to the ground. Scarlett looked at Ophellia's head, her eyes still wide open. The sight was scarring. Scarlett broke down screaming uncontrollably. Anger and grief filled her soul. Her heart was now beating dangerously fast and as she looked up she saw three ghostly figures. Unable to make out what they were she heard them speak in unison.

"Oh little one, born into this world without any Serith. We're sorry things turned out this way. We shall grant you a Serith capable of killing the king. You must master it before the time to end the throne arrives. Surround yourself with powerful allies. We do not have much time left to speak. Take this'' said the ghostly forms. Scarlett saw a red light appear before her in their outstretched hands. She reached her hand forward and her eyes began to glow as she touched it. She felt a change within herself. A new power began to fill her very essence and bind itself to her DNA. She felt a rush of strength and slowly stood up. She stared Ragren dead in the eyes. Determination, anger, and desire for revenge now drove her. Her heart still beat fast as the skin on her arms burst open and formed dual blades made of blood now being held in her hands. Her body healed itself. She had been granted a Serith. The ability to manipulate blood.