"Walk quicker children" Ordered the butler as he led them down the halls of a dark basement looking place. With leaks and chips in the concret, smelling of dirt and gravel.
The kids looked around cautiously and quickened their pace. They were frightened from this dreary place and scared because they have no idea what will happen to them now.
"I am assuming that you three don't have names?" The butler stopped in front of a large metal doorway and turned to face them.
The three nodded their heads.
None of the three had names, as in the kingdom of the humans, where they lived, it was customary to not be granted a name until one's awakening.
In this world, there exists an energy called Ki. Ki is in everything and every being, it exists on the planet in equal encompassing as the air, the sky and the land.
Some even believe that it was Ki that shaped the world.
Upon reaching the age of 13, every sentient being will be awakened to the ability to sense and feel Ki in their surroundings.
They will also find that a holographic screen will appear in front of them, depicting their character status and attributes.
This awakening allows one the chance to use Ki to create truly magical and wondrous phenomena, based on one's elemental affinity.
During one's awakening, where their affinity is determined, they are then to be named.
"You will now be number 102, 103, 104" The butler declared before turning around. These children were simply slaves of the Count now, after all.
What use did they have for names?
He thought that there was no need to name them during awakening because that would hardly change their situation.
'Number, I got named a f*cking number' the oldest boy thought enraged.
'MY FAMILY GOT NAMED AFTER NUMBERS?' The oldest boy thought as a vein popped out on his forehead.
He decided to add this butler to his growing list of enemies.
The littlest child didn't care about his name, he was infinitely more worried about his life from now on and still hurt at his father giving them away.
'I don't wanna be in this scary place' he thought, frightened.
Their sister was indifferent on the outside, however, inwardly she was trying her best to find a way to escape this place.
The butler tapped a specific code on the metal door and it opened. As it opened the frame of the door glowed a brown color after the butler stepped back.
*CREEAK*!!
After the door opened, the butler led them inside and started to explain what was expected of them.
"Each cell in this dungeon has a number on it, after each day you will return to your designated cell" The butler told them, outlining their duties
"There will be bells for when it's time to work, time to eat, and time to return to your cells. If you are caught not being in your designated area by any of the guards, you will be punished severely" The butler's tone was firm and cold, leaving no room for objection.
"You three will be working in the minor position, which is a relatively good one to have in here honestly, consider yourselves lucky" The butler had an amused tone as he made this dark joke.
"Notice how nobody laughed" The young girl, 103, muttered under her breath, making her brothers smile.
The butler turned to her and frowned, staring at her for a few seconds, before he grunted and walked them to their cells.
"Your owners will be here soon" The butler said as he shut the cell door on them.
He left, and as soon as he was out of the dungeon, Number 102 spoke gently, "We need to look out for each other in here, guys" he then grabbed his cell bars firmly and his voice became resolved and firm.
"I still want to live" He spoke, leaving no room for argument
"Agreed" Number 103 said.
"Yes" The littlest one, 104, did the same.
They all chatted in an attempt to lift the mood.
"You think anyone else is here?" Number 104 asked, as he hadn't seen another person since coming here.
"Definitely" Number 102 said, also looking around and finding it a bit odd.
Number 103 then said, "The butler said that there were bells to be places, I imagine that since father brought us here in the morning, it's time to work"
The other two agreed as they had no other explanation and it sounded logical as well.
After hearing a loud bell sound, they all went quiet as they heard other cells opening. They all looked out of their cells and saw a few children, ranging in ages, eating food in their cells.
Although they were hungry, they were also cautious of going out of their cells, who's doors were now open.
Not being unfamiliar with the sensation of hunger, they all stayed in their cells. And because of the other people in the cells, they all stayed quiet as well.
An hour passed and the bell rang again for five minutes, during which time the kids in their cells returned to wherever it is they came from.
They once again resumed their conversations, however, the tint of anxiety coated their minds for the moment.
"Why were they so quiet, nobody said a thing?" Number 103 pondered with a confused expression.
None of them had an answer but all three of them had the same guess.
This place was so horrible that talking was a luxury! This thought made them anxious to be in this dungeon.
In truth, they were lucky to have been brought here during the morning, just after everyone left. If they had arrived any other time, they would have seen guards patrolling.
Unfortunately, later on, they will come to understand that luck is a fickle lady, who doesn't give a da*n about anyone.
The bell rang once again, and now, there were many prisoners returning to their cells, all of the cells locking as they stepped in.
After the bell rang, the three of them saw guards hit each cell with a baton, one of the guards stopped at Number 102's and shouted, "FOUND SOME SKIPPERS" with a sadistic anticipation welling from inside of him.
'He's not much older than me,' Number 102 thought as he stood up defiantly, glaring at the guard's twisted smirk.
After saying that, the guard asked him, "You three arrive today?"
He nodded. The guard then said, "~If you get caught skipping your work, you get beat with these here batons, y'know~" while rubbing his baton with a sadistic expression.
"It's your first day, and you probably didn't know what to do, so technically I could let you off" The guard said, feigning a pitying expression.
'You ain't doing that' Number 103 called bullsh*t immediately, dismissing the guards failed attempt at an acting career!
"Hmm how about this, since one is a girl and the other looks like he's about to piss his pants while the other is glaring at me, I'll let one of you take the punishment for all three of you" The guard said, a twisted smile on his face.
Like he enjoyed playing with them!
Number 104 then spoke up, his voice stuttering in fear, "I-I'll do–"
"Well, what are you waiting for, you ba*tard" Spat Number 102, interrupting his little brother, glaring angrily at the guard.
The guard really shouldn't do something like this, however, the way this boy looked at him pissed him off, so he wanted an excuse to beat him some more.
The guards in this place were actually prisoners, once upon a time! That's why the guard looked so young.
The adults were kept in a separate dungeon on the Counts estate!
Being guards, their punishment was death if they were caught breaking the rules by the 4 wardens.
So, this guard had to do this roundabout game to beat the sh*t out of Number 102, legally, that is.
Number 102's cell opened and the guard stepped in. He didn't say anything else, just swung his baton at 102's stomach!
*Thwack*!
102 recoiled from the blow, but didn't let out a single tear, nor even a sound. He simply continued to glare menacingly at the guard, which pissed the guard off even more.
Number 102 got hit, again and again, barely grunting by the 30th and final blow. By the end, he was laying on the ground, covered in bruises and numerous shallow cuts.
Number 103 covered her ears and eyes with an enraged expression, not able to bear her brother's pain.
Number 104 cried silently, understanding that his brother would be upset with him if he made a sound. Although he wanted to take away some of his brother's pain, his brother did this for them.
He would be pissed at them if they dared to interfere.
The guard wanted to keep swinging, to hear this arrogant brat cry out in pain, however, his punishment was over.
There was no longer anything the guard could do.
*Ptui*
The Guard spat on the ground in front of the beaten boy, laying quiet on the ground," Welcome to the Dungeon, rest assured it won't be a pleasant place for you"
.....
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