"Get out of the way or die, idiot!"
It was the last thing Jonas heard the truck driver yell at him before the tires screeched on the asphalt.
In the blink of an eye, he was reborn into this world, with his mind completely intact. The next thing he knew, he had a new life with new parents, but with the same name and the same terrible fate.
In this world, there are only three layers of hierarchy: the slaves and undesirables are at the bottom, artisans and freeborn workers in the middle, and the ruling elite and powerful Mages at the top.
Becoming a Mage is the greatest gift that someone could ever receive, and to be one is a matter of luck. It involves an annual ascension ceremony, a ritual of some sort that awakens the dormant affinity within a person.
In this tradition, everyone must participate, even the slaves. It was not just an opportunity to be free from the shackles, but it was also a method used by the Empire to recruit Mages.
For the last fifteen years, Jonas was a slave to this province's minor nobility, Lord Hans Geisler, a Mage who earned his estate through years of service in the Empire.
The proud Lord Hans and his rotten son, Adolf, were on their way to the province's biggest and only town, where the annual ascension ceremony was being held.
They rode in a horse-drawn carriage. It had a cabin with a bench seat that could be raised to reveal a storage compartment beneath. Inside that cramped space, directly under where his master sat, Jonas was crammed in a fetal position.
I should consider myself lucky, Jonas thought to himself. Mom and Dad must be tired. We've been traveling for at least an hour!
Jonas grew worried about his parents. Hans permitted them to join their son, but there was no more room in the carriage, and the other compartments were too small. Instead, they were forced follow their master on foot.
As he thought hard, Jonas showered in his sweat, his legs were numb, but he couldn't stretch. Adolf forbade him from doing so. He steeled himself, enduring a little more before this is all over.
"Why are we bringing Jonas!?" Adolf, restlessly annoyed, had his arms crossed over his large gut, and his lips pouted.
"For the last time," Hans sighed, "It is the mandate, son."
"But today is my ascension day! It should've been only me! Just me! Me!"
Hans rested his chin on his palm, looking outside the window. "All the children in the province at the age of fifteen will be there, son."
"Aren't you a Lord? Tell them they can try again next year!" Adolf stomped.
"I don't hold the province son, only a small piece of it, but look at the bright side," Hans said, "You'll get to meet your peers."
Adolf perked up, his eyes widened in arousal. "Am I going to be betrothed to a girl, Father?"
Hans glanced at his fat son and raised a brow, "Uh," he put his attention back outside, he saw the stone, storied walls as they approached, "Oh, look. We're here!"
Adolf stumbled with his large legs as he peeked from the window. They have finally arrived at the town gates of Vechta.
Jonas heard, and he was relieved that their journey had finally come to an end. He also smiled at the excitement of the whole tradition, a chance to be free, but he still couldn't help but be worried for his parents.
The noise outside the compartment grew louder as the carriage entered the town square. When the horses stopped, it sounded more like a celebration.
As Hans and Adolf disembarked the carriage, they were greeted by the town's Lord Mayor to welcome their arrival.
Jonas could hear them from the inside, but couldn't make up the words. Then, he heard a loud bang.
It was Adolf. He kicked the compartment again, "Wake up, Jotard! Rise and shine, we're here!"
Jonas witlessly raised the heavy cushioned bench, but the cruel Adolf maliciously jumped and sat on it to trap his slave for a quick second. It struck Jonas in the head, and he went down in pain.
Jonas groaned. He remembered the same treatment from his past life, how people could be so sadistic, and the only difference was that there were no more lords and slaves on Earth. That, or they changed the words. He couldn't really tell anymore since every day of his life in this world, he served to survive another day. Bit by bit, memories of the past slowly faded.
Jonas cautiously raised the bench again, and sunlight violated his vision. It was a blur at first, but when his eyes settled, he could see the colors.
The narrow row houses towered over him, their timbered walls slightly touching each other, and their foundations stood on the cobblestone. The street was decorated with ribbons and colorful knots. Jonas stood in awe, eyes wide with amazement.
"Fraulein Kinburg, ascended, fire affinity! Next, Gerard Wagner."
Jonas turned toward the voice. It was an announcement from a raised wooden platform adorned with Empire flags, where a dozen uniformed Mages assessed the ascension participants. Jonas watched as the newly ascended girl lost her balance and was escorted down the platform. He was then pulled by the shoulder by Hans, who looked irritated.
"Jonas, you'd better behave and stay close. The Lord Mayor told me that they started earlier at dawn, and they're still halfway through the ceremony. I paid that imbecile five hundred dragonmouths so that he could push us up on the list. I want this over with. I'm sick and tired of Adolf's whining! The sooner we're done here, the earlier we get home. Got it?"
Jonas lowered his head for his master, "Master, where are my parents?"
Hans slapped Jonas with a backhand, "Didn't you just hear what I said?"
Jonas staggered. He immediately cupped his cheek, "Yes, my Lord!"
"Good." Hans then went to watch the ceremony, "Now, where is my fat son?"
Jonas stared into a blank space between his bare toes. His master couldn't afford him sandals, and his feet grew rough with callus. But it didn't matter. His eyes grew distressed. He wanted to know where his parents were.
"Gerard Wagner, ascended, shadow affinity! Next, Wilhelm Helm."
The announcement went on as the Mages assessed the participants. Those who ascended were blindfolded after they were done with them. It was part of the ritual as those who succeeded momentarily struggled with their vision.
The ceremony was simple. The Mages would cast a spell similar to a smite, then they would know whether someone passed or not.
"Wilhelm Helm, ascended, shadow affinity! Next, Ham Knecht."
Jonas thought it was simple indeed. He couldn't imagine someone going to the ceremony and waiting in line for hours, only to fail and remain a slave. His lips formed a smirk in anticipation.
"Don't look too excited, Jotard," Adolf said as he stood beside Jonas, "You will be my slave forever, you can't become a Mage, your parents were slaves after all!"
Jonas was used to Adolf and his fetish to elicit rage from him, "There is always a chance. My parents said so." Over the years, he grew fond of his new parents. In his past life, he never had the warmth of two loving individuals. To him, it was an addictive experience to be loved.
"Ham Knecht, slave, no affinity! Next, Thomas Knecht."
The crowd gasped, but it was suppressed. The following two participants were slaves of another minor nobility after all, everyone acknowledged it and moved on.
"See that? Slaves will always be slaves. Once I become a Mage, I'll turn you into my little practice dummy!"
"I don't care, as long as I have my family."
"Thomas Knecht, slave, no affinity! Next, Adolf Geisler."
"Adolf, we're next!" Hans was elated.
But before he goes, Adolf stared down Jonas wickedly, "Oh, you didn't know? Your parents died an hour ago, and we left their bodies on the road! I bet they were so tired after all that walking. Why didn't you share your tiny space with them? You're such an ingrate, Jotard!"
Jonas shivered on the spot. He felt a sudden chill, and his eyes remained wide open as he watched Adolf skip flamboyantly towards the platform, taking his time, annoying the Mages.
Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Hans. "There is something you must know before you go up there, Jonas," his master said.
Jonas expected the worst, "What is it, my Lord?" his voice cracked and stammered.
"When I was young, you and your mother did something regrettable. Long story short, you're my illegitimate son. You're a bastard, Jonas, my bastard. So, there's a high chance you'll be a Mage. But I want you to know that once you are one of us, I will arrange for your needs when you are sent to the Academy. If not, well, who gives a damn?"
"What?" Jonas muttered, his voice broke, and Hans ignored him. But he kept his eyes on his master. He wondered how Hans could utter those words so nonchalantly.
"Adolf Geisler, ascended, blood affinity! Next, Jonas Geisler."