After being bought by a Celestial Dragon, Sasha didn't have much hope for the future. Her body ached from the many punishments she received for being disobedient, and she had endured a week of starvation.
She was even impressed that anyone wanted to buy her. Even compared to the other slaves, she was in much worse shape.
Besides, she had no talent for anything… if she was useful, her mother wouldn't have sold her to the island commander. Neither would she have been punished so much.
Once again, she wondered why she was still alive. But something, even if very faint, still burned inside her. A small wish to leave.
"Come on, little shit," a brute of a man came up, pulling her by the collar around her neck.
He dragged her from the holding cell, her bare feet scraping against the cold stone floor. She was taken to a small, tiled room where a single hose with a spray nozzle hung from the wall.
Without ceremony, he turned it on, blasting her with a jet of icy water. Sasha gasped, her frail body shivering violently.
It was over in less than a minute, leaving her clean but freezing and exposed.
Still dripping, she was hauled into a lavishly decorated chamber that stole the breath from her lungs. It was a gilded cage, every surface opulent and soft. In the center stood a massive, luxurious bed piled high with silk cushions.
The brute threw her onto it. The mattress was impossibly soft, a stark contrast to the stone and straw she was accustomed to.
Before she could even register the comfort, the man produced heavy shackles. He clamped the cold metal around her ankles and wrists, chaining them to the ornate bedposts with just enough slack to allow a slight shift in position, but no chance of escape.
He arranged her limbs, positioning her for display. One leg was slightly bent, an arm stretched above her head, crafting a posture that was comfortable enough to maintain but undeniably and vulnerably sexy.
"Your owner is coming soon, treat him well if you want to live." The brute left as quickly as he showed up.
For a long minute, Sasha had the chance to stay there, wondering about what was to come. Naturally, she was not even a little optimistic.
Life had taught her that things would always get worse. And she had heard rumors about the Celestial Dragons, they were even worse than the Marines back on her island.
And then, she heard footsteps approaching.
The brute from before opened the door, allowing a man in a ridiculous suit to enter. An instant later, the door slammed shut, leaving them alone.
Alone, Arlo removed his bubble helmet and mask, revealing his striking features. He still wore some makeup, but since Sabaody was a place where it was nearly impossible to run into anyone who had actually seen Varrel's face, he didn't have much to worry about.
Then he approached the woman, his strong eyes analysing her for an instant. A genuine smile played into his lips.
Sasha knew it was not the time to think about it, but he really was beautiful, almost angelical.
However in the next instant he pulled the woman by the collar on her neck. The woman gasped in pain, her empty eyes staring at Arlo in confusion.
"Did I annoy you in some way, master?" she asked with a weak voice, her body trembling.
But the man didn't give her any answers, instead he asked a question of his own:
"Do you wish to live?"
Sasha thought about answering immediately with a simple "yes," but when her eyes met his, she hesitated. There was something in Arlo's serious expression that forced her to truly think about it.
Her heart began to race, a chaotic mix of fear and frustration. Against her will, her mind drifted back through the years, replaying the endless moments of pain that had brought her to this point.
In all her life, she couldn't remember a single moment of genuine happiness. Not one.
And now, standing there, she doubted anything would ever change. So why keep struggling? Why cling to a life that had never once shown her mercy?
That faint, flickering spark within her, the one thing keeping her alive, was ready to die out. There was no reason to continue. Living under such circumstances felt utterly meaningless.
However…
"I… I don't know," she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Then think about it," Arlo replied, his tone calm yet merciless. His hand left the chain and closed around her throat.
Her breath caught. Panic clawed through her chest as her vision darkened. Slowly, her consciousness began to fade, slipping away into the comforting numbness of death.
So this was it…
Finally, she would be free, no more pain, no more fear. It would be like falling asleep and never having to wake again.
But…
A spark ignited. Then, suddenly, fire exploded outward. The heat was so intense that Arlo had to leap back, shielding his face as the flames roared.
For a brief, breathtaking moment, Sasha burned like a living torch. But just as quickly as it came, the blaze vanished, leaving behind faint wisps of smoke.
She was trembling, her body still glowing faintly with residual heat. It seemed she wasn't yet able to evoke her flames.
Arlo grinned, unbothered. "So… you've made your decision, haven't you?"
Sasha's once-empty eyes were no longer hollow Deep inside her, that tiny ember she thought had died began to blaze with renewed fury.
She didn't know why. But one thing she knew with absolute certainty, she couldn't accept dying like that.
Even if the world ahead was nothing but fire and torment…
"I'm not dying here!" she shouted, voice breaking but alive, burning.
"Then," Arlo approached again, but this time he broke her chains with his own hands in a surprising show of his strength. "Come live with me."
That man truly was beautiful.
So beautiful it was almost unfair. Anyone who looked at him would inevitably feel at least a little drawn to him.
"If you place your trust in me, I promise I will show you a bright future."
They barely knew each other, but when she looked at his bright blue eyes, it was impossible not to feel optimistic for the future.