The trio reached the backstage of the tent, where people were already signing contracts and paying to claim their newly purchased slaves.
"Sol! What now?" Felix whispered nervously.
"I say we just run; I really can't think of anything else," Sol replied.
"But can we get past those guards at the gates later?" Josh added, his fingers twitching.
"We'll just have to do whatever we can,"
They reached Simon, his head still covered in a sack.
"Psst, Hey Simon..." Josh whispered, but there was no reply.
"We'll get you out of here, so don't worry," Josh added.
After waiting, a slave merchant approached the three, a fake kind smile etched on his face.
"Hey folks!"
The trio turned, Sol in the center, his heart pounding.
"H-hello,"
the other two stammered, their arms moving awkwardly.
"Well, let's not dilly-dally, gentlemen. Come over here to the table and sign the paper," the merchant said enthusiastically. "After you've done that and paid the price, you'll be good to go!"
They moved to the table. The merchant placed a contract on it. Sol grabbed the pen.
It's okay, it's okay, we can do this! Sol's heart beat faster as the pen moved toward the paper.
Just as the pen made contact with the paper, Josh sent his palm to the merchant crashing it on the poor man's face, sending him stumbling down the stairs of the stage. Felix immediately grabbed the handcuffed Simon, sack still on his head, and bolted.
"What the hell?! My slave!" Sol yelled as the others ran.
The flustered merchant cradled his cheeks and asked, "They weren't your friends?"
"Hell no! I don't even know why they were following me; I thought they were also here to pay," Sol retorted.
The merchant pieced it together. "Don't worry, sir, we'll catch them!" he assured Sol. "Guards! Go! I apologize for the inconvenience. We'll definitely get your slave back! For now, sir, please sit down and wait."
"No! That slave is going to be a good bodyguard. I'll take action myself!" Sol rebuked him.
"Pardon?" The merchant was surprised.
"There's no more time to waste! I'm leaving!" Sol ran. Their plan worked perfectly.
Meanwhile, Felix and Josh ran, drawing glances of other slaves that were caged through the slave district, Simon still chained.
"Fuck! Why are we always running? I have no stamina! I can't run forever! Are you sure this will work?!" Josh yelled.
"Just shut up, endure and keep running!" Felix retorted, guiding the head sacked Simon.
They ran until they neared the guarded gate, then stopped.
"Just walk calmly; they won't suspect us," Felix whispered. Josh obeyed, controlling his breathing.
They walked toward the gates. The guards glanced at them. They almost got past when a guard called, "Hey, sirs, you forgot to— oi!" Before he finished, the three bolted again.
Later, Sol arrived at the gate, followed by the gasping merchant.
"Where did my slave go?!" Sol grabbed a guard's collar.
"S—sir, calm down! Hehe, we have more slaves, more capable than that man. What do you say? We'll also give you a discount as an apology," the merchant said.
"No, I need that man!" Sol declared. "But we can't afford to get him back!" The merchant retorted as he signaled the guards behind sol not to help.
It's only a hundred gold, we don't have to risk it. I've already earned enough, a slap to the face is nothing. Keke.
"Hmph! I'll get him myself, then, but I won't pay you no more!" Sol stated.
"I—it's alright, we get it, sir. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience!" the merchant said, feigning nervousness.
"Well, then, I'll be going!" Sol left. A mile away, he removed his mask, revealing glasses. He smiled.
It worked! I didn't know it was that simple. He smiled, attracting glances.
Minutes later...
Fuck, I'm lost.
Sol was lost, having only been in the city for two days.
Two days, huh? Yet here I am committing theft.
Sol found a small hill where he sat under the shade of a tree atop of it, staring at the city's factories and central castle.
I can't believe this is happening, a fantasy world indeed. Although I miss Earth's technologies and stuff, my heart feels like it belongs here.
As Sol pondered, a man in a suit and monocle appeared.
"Has life been troubling you lately, young man?" he asked, his coat flailed as the wind got caught by it.
Sol was confused for a bit, but answered calmly, "Haha... Rather than trouble, I feel like I've been living the life I wanted."
"Hmm? Is that so? Then I hope it stays that way," the man smiled.
The man left.
Well, that was random... Anyway, I have to get back.
Sol went to the castle for directions, receiving a map. While looking at it, he saw a ragged beggar. Feeling pity, he gave him some change. As the man received the coin, their eyes met. Both widened. "Simon?"
...
Back at the estate:
"Where the fuck is Sol?! And who the fuck is this?!" The two panicked.
The man they'd risked their lives for wasn't Simon; he was a random slave due to gambling debts. He knelt, head on the floor.
"Thank you, master!" he barked.
"What!?" Felix exclaimed.
"Didn't you just save me from those slave merchants?" the slave asked.
"Yes..."
"Anyways, where the hell is Sol? What kind of hole did he get into?" Josh said.
Felix circled the room, Josh cradled his temples.
Soon, Sol appeared, Simon behind him in a cloak, he took off his hood. "You've mistaken me for this motherfucker?"