One day, while navigating the bustling streets of the market, I saw a heart-wrenching sight that made me stop in my tracks. An elf girl, her half-burned face a stark contrast to her delicate features, was being harshly beaten by her master outside a brothel. The man's anger was palpable, his frustration spilling over as he shouted at her. From his words, I gathered that a wealthy noble had harmed the girl, ruining her face and, in the process, her value to her master.
Driven by a surge of compassion and anger, I hurried over to intervene. "Stop!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the din of the marketplace. The man turned to me, his eyes blazing with frustration. "This is none of your business," he snarled. "Do you know what it's like to lose your only source of income? She was the only one who earned me a lot of money, and now look at her."
Ignoring his outburst, I focused on the girl. Her eyes, filled with a mixture of fear and pain, met mine briefly before she looked away, as if bracing for more cruelty. "How much does she cost if I were to buy her from you?" I asked, my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions within me.
He glared at me, disbelief etched on his face. "She cost a lot—50 gold—when she was unblemished. But now, in her condition, I'll let her go for 20 gold."
I took a deep breath, realizing the gravity of my decision. "Come with me," I said to him, trying to keep my voice calm and authoritative. We walked through the busy market streets back to our home, the elf girl trailing behind us, her steps uncertain but hopeful.
Upon reaching home, I called for Eric. "Eric, I need your help," I said, explaining the situation briefly. Eric's eyes widened slightly, but he nodded, understanding the urgency and gravity of the situation.
We led the man to a quiet corner of our home, where Eric counted out the 20 gold pieces. "But first," I said firmly, "we need to make this official. I want proper registration of this transaction to ensure she is free from any claims you might try to make in the future."
The man grumbled but eventually agreed. We made our way to the registrar's office, where the transaction was documented and sealed with official records. The elf girl, now free from her abusive master, looked at us with a mixture of disbelief and cautious hope.
As we walked back home, I turned to the girl and said gently, "You're safe now. We'll take care of you." She nodded, tears welling in her eyes, and for the first time, a flicker of a smile touched her lips. Together, we stepped into our home, ready to start a new chapter in her life.