My Choice (2)

As I closed the door to the store, I looked a bit through the gap in the door and saw the owner of the store entering along with Mahina in that door behind the counter. Mahina's face had turned cold again and her eyes were once more dull.

Urgh, I can't get this girl out of my head, what the hell! I should be more concerned with selling some things I had, not worrying about a girl I didn't even know until yesterday... why am I so guilty about leaving her?

When I turned around, there were some men cleaning a cart near the store, they were wearing clothes similar to Mahina's but much cleaner. I approached them a little and after greeting them, I asked them:

-"Excuse me for asking, but... are you slaves?"

- "Hehe, I understand, don't worry... but yes, we are slaves of that store owner.

- "Right, I was going to buy a slave, but I couldn't find one I liked... but there was a girl though, she had short hair and dark eyes... I think her name was Mahina-chan or something..."

They looked at each other for a bit, and giggled :

- "I'm sorry, did I say something funny?

- "A no forgive us, but it's just... it's weird to see someone calling a slave by name, but yes, we know Mahina."

- "Right, well, can you tell me a little bit about her ?"

They nodded and started to give me details about Mahina.

- "Mahina is the longest living slave here, as far as I know, she came here when she was a small child and since then she has never been bought by anyone."

- "Pardon me for interrupting, but isn't that strange ? even though she is mistreated, she is a young girl, why would no one be interested in buying her ?"

- "Well, Mahina, despite being young, is from a race that is not well regarded by people, she is a demi-human of the black wolf race, a race that for a long time has been in conflict with humans. Because of this, she has always been very badly regarded by people."

- "That explains a lot..."

- "Yes, besides that, she has always had a very rebellious behavior among the slaves, trying to escape every day in every possible way, disobeying the master in every way, refusing to put on Rubbold-sama's slave tattoo, among other things."

-"..."

- "And because of that, she always got beaten a lot every day. All slaves, especially in the beginning get beaten a lot trying to escape because they don't want to face reality, but she since she was little until today, she has always been beaten practically every day, tortured in many ways and left without food for several days, but still, she always tries to escape with courage."

- "I... I didn't know that..."

- "Despite the bad treatment of the nobles, nobles and civilians with Mahina,she is very respected by us slaves and we feel a lot of affection for her."

- "So, that's why her clothes..."

- "Yes, most of the other slaves, because they already accept slavery and our reality, don't get beaten and many even manage to eat one day or another. But Mahina for trying to run away and disobey Rubbold-sama, gets beaten and tortured continuously every day."

- "But... why does she do that..."

-"Many of us have asked her to give up, but she never listens to us. We don't know the reason for her such determination, the only thing we know is that she always says : "

-"They are waiting for me."

-"We love her very much, and over time we've stopped telling her to stop trying to run away, because we feel like cowards for trying to weaken her resolve, but... if she keeps getting beaten like this... I'm sure she won't be able to handle going to the trunk one more time..."

Wait a minute ?! Trunk ?!

- "When you say "trunk" you mean that..."

I point to those three wooden poles.

-"Yes, Rubbold-sama's cruelest form of torture."

I... I had no knowledge that she suffered so much. She is such a strong girl...much stronger than I can be.

- "I know we are slaves, sir, perhaps this may sound very selfish, but..."

- "Please save Mahina-chan !!! We beg you!!!"

They all prostrated their heads to the ground.

- "Please... don't let her die..."

Their crying voices carried an honest feeling and a pure desire to save her.

-"Hunf, I didn't even need to say..."

Their faces that were sad, soon became smiles of hope.

- "I will save Mahina."