"Name... Servus.... Age… 8"
The fat man with a white mustache read the collar plate hanging from Ser's neck.
"What a strange name. Perfect for a slave." He muttered, lips curling into a smirk.
At this very moment, Ser, along with various other slaves were being transported across the ocean to another land.
The ship carrying these slaves was far from grand, as it groaned with every wave.
Ser was born in a poor family of eight, as the youngest one. But, hunger ruled them, and to feed the rest, he was sold.
Not even twitching his void eyes, the dark-haired slave, Ser, stepped forward for another slave's registration. With each heavy step, his frail, pale body seemed as it might collapse anytime.
The weather was not so great either. Cold and chilly winds pierced the thin, tattered cloth that barely covered his body.
***
When the registration was over. A broad-shouldered man stepped forward, raised his hands, and clapped, drawing every slave's attention.
"Now, move to your cages! Quickly!" He barked.
Another lanky man emerged, holding a whip. With a cruel grin, he started cracking the whip through the air, the sound splitting the cold wind as a warning.
The slaves shackled in black chain, stumbled. Not daring to resist. They hurried, pushing and tripping one another. Each desperately trying to avoid the lash and the pain that followed.
The weather was getting worse. Heavy droplets of water bathed the groaning ship, waves crashed. Lightning flashed, followed by the deep growl of thunder.
The panic among the slaves continued. Just as the lanky man was about to release another lash, thunder split the sky.
A bolt of lightning struck the ship, and tore it down. Finding Ser, standing amidst the terrified crowd.
Chunks of wood scattered across the raging sea, as dead bodies rode the waves, Drifting among the debris.
Ser, struck by lightning, was not dead but still and silent.
Lost amidst undiminished darkness, he drifted through the dark sea, carried by the tide, floating miles away.
***
'Hey, slave' Ser heard someone calling him in an unpleasant tone.
"Hey... Hey…, Are you alive?"
Just barely resisting the urge to roll back his eyes, and continue his slumber. His void eyes struck open, meeting a dark sky covered in mist.
Looking down, he saw a woman sitting before him. Her hair a deep amethyst, shimmering faintly against the pale haze. Her white skin seemed to glow faintly in his dim vision. Her raven black eyes, gazed at him.
A feeling of worry washed her face, which in Ser's eyes seemed to be her only flaw.
Moving closer, placing her hands on his shoulders, and gently lifting his body. She said in worried tone.
"Hey, speak to me. Are you okay, kid?"
Ser, not being able to resist the urge to sleep any longer, again fell into darkness without a word out.
Looking at Ser's frail body, the woman could not help but notice something. The tip of his fingers, every one of them were raw and red.
Leaning closer, the flicker of curiosity in her eyes were swept away by quiet horror.
There were no nails.
Only scarred flesh, torn and uneven, as though they had been ripped away by force.
"Such cruelty…. on a child." She whispered under her breath.
Gently, she pulled the shackled body into her arms and started making her way towards the dark forest.
Behind her, waves swallowed the sand with each pulse, retreating only to strike again. The raging tides struck against the dark cliffs that crowned the island.
***
Servus was floating amidst undiminished darkness.
He could see, yet no eyes belonged to him.
He could hear, yet no ear received the sound.
He could talk, yet no mouth formed words.
He could think, yet no mind contained his thoughts.
He existed, yet no body contained his consciousness.
"Hey, slave, wake up!!"
"Oh, wake up already!"
"You worthless piece of shit!"
His mind twitched in pain through each one of these voices. He tried to shout; his voice came but it was swallowed, fading in silence.
The pain worsened. It grew, twisting endlessly, until each second stretched into eternity.
"You... You... stay away! You cannot be my son! Stay away!!"
The final voice struck him like lightning.
Ser's eyes flew open.
A plain, grey ceiling hung above him. For a while, he could not move. Then, awareness seeped back, the softness beneath him, the faint warmth wrapping his body.
Looking down, he was lying in a bed, covered in white sheet. He himself was covered in a white blanket. A small table stood nearby, resting the lamp that illuminated the entire room.
For the first time ever, he felt peace.
Not wanting to lose it, Ser stayed still.
The door near the table creaked opened. The woman from before stepped inside, a small bowl in her hands, a spoon resting within.
"Oh, you are awake." She said softly.
Ser did not answer. With a blank expression, his void eyes quietly followed her movements.
He watched as she put the bowl down, and pulled a small stool from beneath the bed and sat beside him.
"You don't have to be so wary of me, Servus." She said gently.
"Servus?" He said questionably.
"Yes, Servus. It is your name, no?"
"I don't know." He replied with a blank expression.
"I don't remember anything."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, but how do you know my name?" He asked.
"It was in that collar plate hanged on your neck." She replied.
"Do you really don't remember anything?" She asked with a worried expression.
Ser, locked his void-eyes onto Her's own and replied.
"Yes, I don't remember anything."
"I see." She murmured. Then, after a brief pause, her expression softened into a smile.
"My name is Liana. You may call me Lia."
"Lia," Ser repeated quietly.
"And, I will call you... hmm… Ser." She said warmly.
Ser simply nodded.
"Now, before talking further, you should eat something."
She said while again holding the bowl.
"Can you eat by yourself?" She asked.
Ser simply said, "No, I can't, Miss Lia."
"Then," Bringing the bowl closer to Ser's face.
"Open your mouth, and swallow it slowly. It is hot."
And began feeding him.