Miki, Aka, Both?

“You can’t just sell me,” Miki said, tears starting up in her eyes,

“I’m trading you.” Sato comforted her with a head pat,

“You freed Sunya, but-” Miki sniffled. “You're selling me?”

“It’s ok. I’ll remember you for as long as I see you.” Sato said, turning away from her, “I need this turtle girl.”

“Sato, maybe the problem here is your greed and cruelty,” Prix said, pointing at him,

“Can you pay for her then?” Sato asked, putting on a nice tone,

“No. I will not participate in slavery.” Prix declared grandly,

“Then can you please not get involved, princess?” the man said, pulling out a scroll. “This is her deed,” the man said as he hit a part of the circle on the deed. The girl in the turtle got up, flinching, putting her hands on her forehead,

“How did you do that?” Sato asked, pulling out three deeds, “Idalec, which one do you think is Miki’s?”

“Pick the one you think belongs to her,” Idalec said, slouching against the wall,

“What kind of advice is that?” Sato demanded angrily as he put away two of the deeds. “I think it’s this one, but how do I know it’s Miki’s?”

“Sato,” the man said, “Just think of flicking Miki’s forehead as I did, and if she reacts, it’s her deed.”

“That’s cruel,” Prix said,

“Please, princess,” the man said, raising a hand in peace, “These are Sato’s slaves, and if you keep interrupting, I ask you to leave my home.”

“Owch!” Miki winced as Sato tapped the circle,

“Wait, I could have done this all along?” Sato asked in amazement. He tapped the deed again,

“I don’t even want to be with you!” Miki was crying as she kept her hands on her forehead,

“You kept making fun of me.” Sato tapped the page. “But this is for being bratty to me.” Sato tapped again,

“Stop it!” Tears streamed from Miki’s face,

“Ok I believe that it’s her deed,” the man said. “Now do you know how to transfer the deed to me?”

“No, you do it first,” Sato said as he stopped tapping the page,

“You can run away if I transfer the deed over first,” the man said, “But I can’t stiff you if you transfer your deed to me first.”

“Nah, you should go first.” Sato said, reclining in his seat, “You already took my money, so you should have to go first.”

“I’m not the one who brought along a small army,” the man said, looking at everyone else in the hero's party.

“Fine.” Sato said after over five minutes of silence, “I hereby transfer this deed to its new true owner.” Sato said, looking at the man, the deed lighting up before Sato handed the deed to the man, who tested it by hitting Miki, making her wince,

“Ok.” The man repeated the same incantation with the turtle girl's deed, transferring it to Sato, who also tested it in the same manner. “Come to me, turtle girl~” Sato threw open his hands,

“Yes, master,” the turtle girl said, though gritting her teeth, trying to keep the obvious disdain from her face.

“Out with you seven.” The man stood up and grabbed Miki by the wrist,

“What! Do you think-” Miki protested as the man tapped around on the deed, which stopped her from trying to shake him off. Miki simply stood silently, looking angry,

“I’m going to call you…” Sato looked at her. “Aka... Anyway, let's go.”

“Yes, master.” The turtle girl grumbled, following Garia, Carrot, Idalec, and a very horrified Prix outside. Leaving Miki behind.

“Should I be surprised~” Luna laughed from the rooftop as the six heroes left the man home, the fur around her mouth shimmering in the morning light,

“Get down from there, Luna,” Idalec said, to which Luna obeyed, jumping down,

“Now let’s go!” Sato detached his mace, Swordomizer 32K, and pointed it forward. “Onwards to victory! Onwards to Sigfire,” before he started walking and lowered his mace.

The group stayed silent as they made their way out of Pinkgrad, Prix constantly throwing back glances.

“What weighs on you, Prix?” Idalec asked, walking beside Prix,

“It’s not right.” Prix came to a full stop,

“Which part is?” Idalec asked, ‘Maybe killing all those two groups of demons wasn’t the right choice? I hoped I wouldn’t have to use Pure Attack, and here I used it twice again.’

“I think we should free Miki.” Prix declared, looking from Idalec and back down,

“It’s your choice.” Idalec shrugged,

“Can you help me?” Prix asked, making puppy eyes,

Idalec breathed slowly as he looked back at the town, “Sato, wait here for a bit.” Sato slowed down, looking back at Idalec,

“Why-isn’t Prix going to get so mad since we’re stopping?” Sato hissed over,

“No,” Idalec said as he started to walk slowly back to Pinkgrad,

“Let’s do this quickly!” Prix broke out into a jog, holding up part of her dress as she ran.

Prix knocked on the man's door, panting as Idalec trailed behind.

“Did you forget something, Princess Maria?” the man asked angrily,

“I want to buy Miki off you,” Prix said out of breath

The man looked between Idalec and Prix. “Why?”

“Are you going to sell her or not?” Prix demanded,

The man shrugged. “I’ll be marking her up. If you have 77 silver, she’s yours. Take it or leave it,” the man said, waiting for a second before he started closing the door,

“Do you have change?” Prix dug out a gold coin,

“I do,” the man grumbled, letting them in again into his living room. Miki was sitting on the couch, bawling her eyes out in silence,

The man came back with thirteen silver coins and a deed. “I hereby transfer this deed-” the man started,

“I want you to transfer it to Miki,” Prix said, pointing at Miki, causing her to look up at Prix,

“Uhmm, that would free her then,” the man said as he regarded Miki,

“That’s what I want,” Prix said,

“No take-backs then,” the man said, handing Prix the thirteen silver,

“Do that spell and give Miki the deed,” Prix said forcefully. The man shrugged before chanting the spell, Miki’s deed lighting up before he handed the deed over just for it to turn to ash.

“Ahh.” Miki breathed out in relief,

“Now leave,” the man barked as Miki scurried out of the house,

Prix then exited the house just as Idalec had managed to arrive at the door. “I had to do that all by myself.”

“I’m proud of you.” Idalec gave her a warm smile, recognition.

“Th-thank you, Prix.” Miki said, wiping the tears off her face and snot, “I-I-” she started with gritted teeth, “I will never forgive Sato.”

“You're free, Miki,” Prix said,

“My name is Amy, not Miki.” Miki snapped at Prix,

“Well, Amy, you're free to do whatever you like now,” Prix responded with kindness,

“Thank you.” Amy looked down at the ground apologetically.

“It’s ok.” Prix accepted, handing her a couple of silver coins before she started walking, Idalec following her.