Chapter 2 - Interlude 1 Part II - Slave Sacrifice
My name is, well I guess it doesn't really matter much now what my name is does it?
I am a Former duke's daughter brought low into slavery for lese majeste for refusing the king's command to marry a pig of a man twice my age.
My father was outraged at my rebellion, citing it was my duty as one with the blood of the royal family to continue on this lineage, but still, I refused.
Then I became a slave after he cast me out, I didn't even make it to a slave trader they kept me confined in the castle dungeon, the maids who brought me scraps of food also brought news that I was most likely going to be gifted to that same pig duke as a wedding present when he marries another woman.
That was the plan but then one day I was released and led to the castle foyer where I was joined by a bunch of other young adults and children too messy and skinny to be called anything less than slum dwellers or mistreated slaves.
"Bring in the slaves!"
The knight captain's shout caused most of the slaves to quake in fear, from within the group of 50 slaves wearing scraps of cloth just enough to cover themselves are lead, dirtying the carpets they tried upon with their bare feet, I made sure to do my duty dirtying it as much as I could and while it might not be ladylike I cared not, allowing my drool and other bodily fluids to flow and sullying the royal families possessions like they intended to sully me.
A look of anguish rises on most of the slave's faces as they march forward and those without these looks have dead eyes believing the end has already come, most muttering prayers or words of kindness once spoken to them.
They are led by their knight escort into the deep recesses of the castle until they come to their destination, a magnificent great hall that most if not all the slaves had never seen the like before, and as of this moment would never see again.
[This is..., so that's how it is]
They were pushed and manhandled around the hall until all of them were forming 3 separate rings with the smallest at the centre.
Beneath their feet, a floor of solid stone etched with a mosaic pattern which shone lightly as they stood upon it.
[So rather than become the plaything of that slob, I instead become the catalyst for the hero summoning since the ancient scriptures do state that a price of royal blood needs to be given to begin the rite.
"We are gathered here today, and pay homage to those who are about to die... in thanks for the great gift for which we are about to receive"
[What an ass, Great Uncle is using me like a log to fuel a fire]
Glaring up at a man standing on a balcony overlooking everything dressed extravagantly in a velvet red regal cape, and golden short staff encrusted with jewels speaking to the entire room offering words of thanks and condescending condolences upon the slaves.
"With your very life essence, we shall perform that ancient rite, calling forth our nation champion and saviour. As your souls cross the silver skies they shall be the key that opens the doorway to another world"
The slaves all around her began trembling knowing full well that once this king's longwinded speech ended the mages standing a ways further back from them would complete the chant they were speaking softly deploying their magic and killing everyone here as fuel for their spell.
[With my life being used up, I wish for a chance of reincarnation with the goddess's grace in the near future so that I might return to seek vengeance upon this land]
"Enjoy the time you spend with the Great Goddess until she sends your souls back unto us"
"""""Wiotuho tuhoeru purvaneruro urfu mukhnrg vaneru koukhulul upurn tuhoeru fueruvan tuur saukhvaeru ururo vanurrould furourm koukhulukhmioturg, oho groeruukhtu hoerurour derusaerunkod ukhnd sahourvaneruro usa vaniotuho rgururo vaniosadurm"""""
The king's speech having ended early the last few chants became audible but after the last word is spoken the etching upon the floor lights up with a pale blue light dazzling all who look upon it, until the pale blue begins to shift turning into a poisonous purple.
The slaves still standing in rings stare in wonder at what is transpiring until they all begin to double over clutching their stomachs a look of worry upon their faces.
[Urgh arrrrgh the pain is so great, like I'm being torn apart from the inside]
Some clasp their hands to their mouth as if they feel the intense need to vomit
[Something wants to come out, but even if I try nothing does, curse you, curse all of you!]
The spells' colour continues to change colour, as more and more of the slaves fall to the ground and cease all movement looks of pain frozen on their now lifeless faces.
The world she sees in her eyes fades to black her body falling flat upon the ground a feeling like falling and intense cold flood her senses.
Until a bright light shines high above causing her to raise her arms up to block the light from invading further into her light-deprived eyes.
'Blink blink'
[What the...]
As her eyes adjust, she finds she's standing still in the same ringed pattern as all the other slaves, but now instead of the castle temple, they are standing in a field of golden splendour.
Not too far away a black road with horseless carriages shooting past at breakneck speeds.
[Is this the god's realm?]
The other slaves around begin to converse, break down into tears, and take off running having been freed from the death sentence about to befall them.
One of the larger carriages stopped on the side of the road and a man came out walking towards those who had not run off, but when he spoke all of them could do nothing but tilt their heads as the words he spoke were not ones they knew.
As their self-appointed representative with manners befitting of a royal on her side, she strode forward towards the man, before bowing and giving an introduction.
"My name is Alice, a free woman!"
Having cast away her real name she adopted the name of her favourite storybook hero, starting a new chapter in her life, and as she'd later come to know a new life in a new world, on a planet called Earth.