The Least of This

One morning on his way from work to home, Paulus saw at the market the selling of slaves. He has been looking for a slave to help Antonina at home and possibly another to assist him at work. Slaves could be expensive depending on their magical ability. The more magical affinity, the more useful a slave tends to be.

There are a couple of good slaves, but a homo sapiens pointy-ears female got my attention. Her skin is as white as the snow, her hair is blond, and she has beautiful green eyes. However, her condition appears neglected, and worst of all, her body looks heavier than average. That is a curse from the gods. It means you lack magical affinity. The useless people of the world. She is offered as a gift if you buy his son. The little kid looks promising, homo sapiens, pointy ears, green eyes, and sharp eyes. However, with a mother like that, it is hard to get your hopes up. He was still too young to know what he would be capable of. This mother-son deal will probably not last for long in the slave market. In their condition, they will die of sickness. Anyone who buys them would be taking a gamble with odds against them.

“Tell me about these slaves,” Paulus asked the slave trader.

“F*** off, only ask if you have the money.”

Of course, in his eyes, I was just like this woman. The worst of the worst. “Looked meathead.” I show him a bag of gold. “Now tell me how much.”

“Two silvers!”

“I will give you one silver.” Who does this guy think he is? I have been looking for slaves; I know how much they cost.

“Deal, take them quick, and get the f*** out of my face. You bring bad luck to my business.” He put copper bracelets on their wrists with my name on them.

“Let’s go. We are going home.” How am I going to explain this to my wife? What am I doing? That was a few days of work.

We kept silent on our way home. I didn’t ask anything. I was too worried about figuring out what I was going to say to Antonina.

...

When we got home, I told them to wait outside.

“Anto? Anto?”

“Booh!” someone came from a corner.

“Crosses! Cato! Where is Mom? I have something to tell her.”

“Mooooooom! Dad said a curse!” cried Cato while I was waiting in the host's room.

“What’s going on? Why is everyone screaming?”

“Well, I have something to tell you.”

“What did you do?” Antonina said seriously.

“I bought some slaves as we talked before.” Said Paul with a smile.

“Oh great! Let me see them, where are they?”

“Okay, but promise you are not getting mad.”

“Oh no, Paulus, what have you done? Show me.”

“Look! Look at this kid, promising right?” said Paul, trying to convince Antonina by showing the kid first.

“Okay? I thought we were getting me help.”

“Yeah, about that, look!” Paul showed the female slave. Immediately, the female slave bowed her head. “Nice, uh?”

“What have you done? What Is this? Look at her! She isn't worth anything! How much was this?”

“She was free for the kid. Only 10 coppers.”

“Not happening, give them back.”

“But Anto, look at them. What are they going to do? No one is going to buy them.”

“Mom, she is pretty, she is similar to Dad, and I will have a new brother,” Cato said to Mom while hugging her. “Please let them stay, Mom. Have you asked what they can do?” Antonina couldn’t say no to her daughter.

“What are your names?”

“I’m Albana, and this is my son Albus.” Said the slave mother, bowing to Mom.

“Look at me, open your mouth, I’m going to check your body. What can you do? Tell me about your son.” We all enter the house. Mom went with both of them to the bathroom, checked their bodies, and came back.

“I have low magical affinity, but I can perform basic fire and water magic. My strong suit is education; I know how to read and write, and I'm proficient in science, history, and math. Albus is seven, he can read and write and do a little math.”

“Basic magic, and you know how to read and write, and a little math. Can you do chores at home?”

“Yes, ma'am, my son can do chores too.”

“He looks promising. He might be able to be an adventurer in the future.” Said Mom, relaxing. “Okay, Albana and Albus, welcome to the family. Please, feel at home, and help me take care of my family.”

“Thank you, ma'am.” Said Albana, her cheeks red and her pointy ears moving.

…

I was nine when Dad bought Albana and Albus to help with the house chores and our education. Even though I still disagree with slavery, I would rather have them here than in a slave market. Albana knows magic, but has low magical affinity. Thus, she could make a little water and fire, but she excelled in writing, math, and history. She would teach me during the week, and reinforce Paul on weekends. Albus didn’t speak much, but we spent most of the day together. I follow him around, helping him with his chores. He was not just a friend, but a brother to me.

“Miss Cato, you are so good with writing and math. Did anyone teach you?”

“Ha ha ha, thanks. My Mom used to read to me when I was little, that’s how I learn to read, but the most important reason is that you are such a good teacher!” Albana was so cute and kind. Her boobs are the biggest I have seen in this world, and she has nice legs. I hope I can grow like her.

“Albana, I think you are beautiful. When I grow up, I want to look like you.” Albana would quickly blush, and her cute ears would move a little.

“Thank you, little miss, but I know you will be far beautiful than me.”

I know I’m doomed. Looking at my mom, I might end up with nothing. I have hope in my Dad's genes.

Albana helped me with pronunciation and also with the meaning of academic words that I could not understand. She also explained to me how people do math in this world; the symbols are different, but in the end, the equations are the same. Camillus is with us too during classes. Albus is smart, but very quiet. The only twerp is Paul. He is struggling in the Academy, so now he is studying at home on the weekends.

Actually, I thought that Paul would be more upset about having to study at home on the weekends. However, he seems to me very devoted to achieving better grades.