Bargained Freedom

With the guidance of Resa's earth magic, we emerged safely from the hidden passage swinging open a circular metal door with a loud creak as cobwebs and vines parted away. A breeze of clean air hair invaded our nostrils as each of us took a comforting breath.

All was quiet in the vicinity, except for the nearing sound of footsteps. Pulling himself out first Resa pulls the two of us out as Jai and her crew along with Takata and his envelop us in a swarm of mixed emotions. Some were clearly displeased to see us in one piece while others sat back hiding their true expression.

After a deathful glare from Takata, three people approached us sending Resa and Leifa on edge, the latter starting tiny imperceptible vibrations in the earth while Leifa's hands shoot back to her spear. Quickly grabbing their hands, I hold them both back earning a look of shock as I give a subtle shake of my head only furthering their anxiety.

"Play along, at least until we get back to save Thalia, please. There's more unfolding here than what you realize."

"But Reis-"

"I'm begging you Resa, we have our ticket out of this place, but I need your cooperation. Fighting under these conditions while you're exhausted isn't going to help anyone."

"...Alright, I just hope you're right about this."

Ceasing his spell, the three of us hold out our hands in compliant surrender yet again; restraining us we're cuffed and gagged like before and dragged back to the camp, Jai giving me a knowing look as she passes us by.

We're roughly sat down at a table upon our return Jai and Takata on either side of us with their groups on their respective sides squaring off like we weren't there. The growing tension was apparent even cutting through with a knife wouldn't ease the discomforting aura radiating about.

"So, I think it's safe to say around six hundred thousand Mol is a fair price, given their performance I'd say that's a generous deal."

"Six hundred? Let's not forget two of them died, that depreciates their worth a fair bit."

"They died only because you wanted to give them a test run."

"No one's going to pay premium dollar for anything broken. I couldn't take your words at face value you'll sell me whatever no matter the condition it's in."

"...Five hundred thousand."

"Four hundred fifty."

"That's the bargain I let you off with last time. There were six of them but none of them brought anything special which isn't the case this time. The one in the middle there seems to be a strategic fighter and in great shape, he's worth at least three hundred by himself."

"Seven hundred thousand final offer take it or leave it."

"Oh, you went up a bit."

"As they say time is money, it's valuable and you're wasting some of mine here. ...So, what'll it be Jai?"

"Five hundred seventy-five thousand and I'll give you a bonus of twenty thousand atop that given you provide the boys with some new clothes. They're rather dirty and I only have female apparel on my ship after all," Jai spoke tucking a loose strand of her wavy red hair behind her ear leaning in with a devious seductive smile as she changed the way she sat moving the slit in her dress revealing her porcelain thighs.

Takata leaned his head back, lighting a cigar propping his feet on the table. He tapped them against each other rhythmically nodding his head as he whistled pondering on his thoughts calmly, blowing a puff of smoke as he turned to look at Resa, Leifa, and I.

"Thirty thousand. For a total of six hundred and five thousand Mol."

"..You've got yourself a deal doll face."

Snapping her fingers one of Jai's subordinates places the coins in her hands which she places on the table. Takata took no time at all to count the two stacks of coins before looking back at one of the thugs we met in Asteli.

"Nercal, go get them changed."

"You've got it, be back in no time at all."

Grabbing us by the scruff of our necks Resa and I are taken away by Nercal and three other men taking us to one of the houses in the back where we're tossed inside onto the carpet floor.

"Get them changed, no need to remove their cuffs Tak will do it before they leave."

Slamming the door Nercal waits outside leaving us with the three men, his large shadow visible under the door. Pushing a button, one of the walls slides apart unmasking a large walk-in closet. Numerous shelves were filled with apparel from casual wear to luxurious nightgowns.

Picking out a simple choice of a shirt, jacket, pants, and a pair of boots the three men walked towards the both of us. Shooting Resa a quick look with my eyes I hit the closest man with my cuffed hands square under the chin knocking him out instantly as he crashed into a dresser not far away.

The two men dropped the items replacing them with two small silver daggers they drew from pockets glaring with malic intent. Dodging an attempted swipe at my torso I sweep Resa off his feet narrowly avoiding the strike aimed for his chest.

Instead, his attention turns to me as I kick him in the stomach pushing him into the other thug as they stumble into each other kneeling on the floor.

Without pause they regain their composure flinging a dagger at me each. Jumping over the projectiles they fly into a mirror breaking it into pieces as I hit them with a flying dropkick taking them off their knees, Resa smashing both of them across their skull as I roll out of the way in perfect sync.

The door opens from the outside with a loud bang Nercal's large hand leaves an imprint in the wood as his piercing gaze lands on us a few meters away from his unconscious trio. Rolling his neck around in a disgusting crack he presses a red button on his side and alarms begin to blare from the outside ringing across the junkyard.

Pulling two long black sickles from inside his coat he licks his lips adorning a blood-curling smile.

"I was genuinely hoping you two would cause a ruckus which is why I didn't walk in when hearing the glass shatter. I've been wanting to kill you, especially after the cruel way you treated my pets, now, I finally get a reason."

His tongue hanging out the muscular figure sprinted for us swinging his weapons in a psychotic manner as I pushed Resa behind me raising my hands in front of me for another fight.