Slayers II.

[Mr. Moon]

Eric #1 

After their raid on Romano City´s Port market, Slayers had enough supplies of food and clear water to make it on the Grand Line, yet Eric decided that they will stay in the Imperial´s waters for few more days to get another important resource, money. To get them he, together with Gabriel, planned attack on Naso, one of less protected towns of the empire famous for it´s pottery.

“The plan is quite simple”

Said Eric to his whole crew, that gathered on his command on upper deck for a short briefing.

“We will get to the island from north. There are some steep cliffs and less populated areas, so we will hide our ship there until the dark. Than, Michael will lead Demon quietly into the port. Unfortunately, our ship doesn´t have enough firepower to attack it directly, so we will have to use quick hit and run tactic. Meaning, that we will split ourselves into two different groups. Francis...”

He pointed on experienced middle-aged sailor.

“You will pick six men and together with Sarah, you will stay on the ship and protect it until our return. The second group will be led by me. We will carry the actual attack on the port. Michael can you…”

The black haired swordsman nodded and unfolded rather detailed map of the island and city.

“As you can see”

Eric continued.

“The port on this city is rather big, so to cover as much space as possible, our main force will split itself to four smaller teams, one lead by me, then second one lead by Gabriel, the third lead by Michael and the fourth by Ferrus. We will go together to this point...”

Eric pointed with his finger on a place on the map

“And then we will split with each team going by their specific route”

From the previous point Eric sketched all four routes with his finger.

“Keep it as quiet as possible. Kill anyone in your way and take cash and everything that can have some value. Once you´ll get at the end of your route, retreat back to the meeting point. If you will meet any resistance, kill them. If there will be too many or too powerful, signal to others and retreat back. Don´t play hero. Everything clear?”

Eric looked around himself and as he expected one of his guys raised his hand.

“Yeah captain, what about girls? Can we take some? It was quite nice distraction to have a pleasant company on the ship...”

Eric shook his head.

“On the way there, you need to be as fast as possible, so no. On the way back...if you´ll meet some and she will not slow you down...I don´t care. Other questions?”

Now there was silence.

“Good, in that case...Who we are?”

For the last sentence Eric significantly raised his voice.

“SLAYERS!”

His crew responded even louder.

“Good”

Eric smirked.

“Dismiss, oh and by the way.”

He turned on Anya.

“You are our newest recruit, so you will be in my team, happy?”

[Cat]

After what happened to her family, Anya had to solve two problems. The first problem was minor remorse she felt, but as she couldn‘t find anything that she could do differently, she soon recovered. The second problem was bigger, she had to get acquainted with the basic operations on the ship and entertain the crew with her performances.

When all members of the crew gathered, she stood calmly near taffrail and waited for the speech of her captain. She was silent and listened.

It looked like the captain really wanted more money and wanted to attack some city, exactly like the gossips said. Anya wasn‘t excited about it, but it was what she decided to do instead of being permanently guarded by her family. So she didn't complain.

When Michael showed a map, she weaved trough sailors closer to it, so she could saw the map from a shorter distance. As she concentrated on memorizing each route, she slightly frowned, but then she looked around and was a little confused. Other sailors around her didn‘t show any effort to memorize it.

She sighed and looked at Eric, who was talking about the details of his plan and then nodded, as the answer to his question. But it seemed that some thug was more interested in women‘s company then in quickly leaving the city with their loot.

After the captain responded she wanted to leave and prepare herself for the raid, when Eric addressed her directly.

„Yes, captain“

She nodded and slightly smiled. It looks like she was more relieved.

[Fennec]

The dry burning sun beat over the grey waters instead of their usual more tropical blue. A signal winter was approaching and summer was coming to an end. This dreadful setting mixed with the smell of dead bloated bodies and flies buzzing about.

The flaxen rays of the sun-glazed themselves over Myles' strawberry pink hair as a cold wind from the north cut his face making him feel more bitter and uncomfortable than he already was. Four days... it had been four days since he was placed on that post out to Sea for the ocean to claim his soul and the ravens to eat his eyes out.

As the thought of ravens came over Myles' mind a black feather fell before his bloody and bruised face. He lifted his face up to see a flock... no a murder of them perched across the crossed shape pole he was on. This surely spelled his doom... Myles was not a superstitious fellow but he heard enough talk among the arena warriors... talk that if one heard the cries of a raven that surely spelled one's imminent doom. He watched as the birds bit off bits of flesh off the dead bodies near him a repugnant sight to witness.

Myles let out a sigh as he looked down at the water... he really wanted it to end already. His death in effect would be his freedom. The freedom he so much desired an escape from the iron bars he had been forced into. As for revenge that would be something he would seek in hell someone like Senator Julianos was sure to end there as well. He would take it out on him in the afterlife if there even was one. It had all been pointless his fighting, his hopes, his aspirations as a human being. The sacrifices of his surrogate mother... all pointless. But that's the hand society had handed him to be born a slave... to die like a dog. Myles raised his face looking at the horizon a metaphor for his freedom in essence and as he did he smiled with tears rolling down his face. This was just another hurdle one that would end sooner rather than later.

[Mr. Moon]

Eric #2 

After Eric dismissed them, all of the Slayers went to their posts to prepare themselves and their ship for the upcoming battle. As usual, Eric himself disappeared to his cabin and let Gabriel as the second in command to handle the rest.

According to their plan, Michael led the ship to the close proximity of the Baetica Island. Hidden by it´s high and steep cliffs, the crew waited until nightfall before making their move. As the sun went down and the ship started to move again, Eric went back to the upper deck. When his white hairs appeared on the staircase, few nearby sailors saluted to their captain as if they were members of the military and not a pirate crew.

Noticing his captain´s presence, Gabriel went to report him.

“Eric, boys are ready. I let them double check their weapons and there were some attempts to switch between the teams, but in the I...persuaded them to stay in the teams you created.”

Without any unnecessary words, Eric nodded and went to the bow of his ship to watch the sunset. Soon enough, the darkness welcomed them in her embrace and the whole ship became silent as no one wanted to risk captain´s wrath by disobeying his direct order.

Slowly, minute after minute they were coming closer and closer to the port. In one moment, Eric noticed lights from a two patrol ships but they were far away on the sea to notice them. Then just a few minutes before entering the port itself, Gabriel addressed him.

“Eric, do you see that?”

He pointed to the cross shaped poles which were standing in the water hundred or so meters away from the cost. Eric night vision wasn´t really bad, but at that distance, he couldn´t recognize more than outlines of the poles themselves and the long dead bodies bounded to them.

“Yeah, why?”

It didn´t even crossed his mind that his friend could be intimidated by such clumsy threat, so he was sincerely curious what attracted his attention.

“One of them is still alive”

Eric raised his eyebrow.

“How do you know?”

Gabriel shrugged.

“Fine, go to Michael, let him get the ship close to the living one. Sarah. Either it will be someone worth recruiting or we will be at least able to end his suffering.”
Eric sighted. This was completely out of their original plan but who knows, maybe it was sign from a destiny.

[Cat]

After Anya left Eric, she had to hurry. She needed to prepare her staff and ideally find someone, who who would give her willingly spare flask of alcohol. She quickly found her favorite place at infirmary, which was much calmer then rest of the cabins on the ship and as bonus she and Sarah had quiet agreement, because they were only women in crew.

After she checked her staff and fabric on it, she raised her head to ask Sarah for alcohol, but she went somewhere outside probably to Gabriel‘s place, when Anya didn‘t pay attention to her so Anya was alone.

„I need to find someone else, I suppose“

Anya muttered and went outside. After a moment of thought she decided to look for Francis. If someone kept good track of bottles of alcohol and other things for regular sailors, it was rather him then officers. After a while, she found him in sailor‘s cabin. He was sitting on the ground, leaning his back against the wall, with one of his pistols in his hands.

„Uhm, Francis?“

She asked uncertainly.

„What do you want? Don´t you have enough work?“

He obviously wasn‘t in good mood.

„I wanted to ask, if you don‘t know, about some spare flask of alcohol?“

She asked, this time she was more confident.

Francis laughed.

„It isn‘t good idea to get drunk now, you know“

He laughed again, it was obvious, that he teased Anya on purpose.

„Yes, I know, but I need it for fire breathing...“

Anya started to be annoyed, but then she stopped talking and inhaled.

„So would you be so kind and give me some advice where to find one? Please?“

She tried to smile nicely, but it looked more like she was considering killing him. He laughed again, this time with much better mood.

„Hey guys, can someone miss one flask?“

He stood up and patted Anya on her head.

„Our little girl needs it.“

All thugs in cabin started to laugh.

„I hate you Francis“

She muttered and stomped on his leg with her heel as hard as she could, but he began to laugh even more.

„When you all are in such good mood, can you give me one damn flask? I know that all of you have at least one.“

She smiled angrily.

„I can give you one, missy … If you ask me nicely“

One sailor pulled out one of his flasks. Anya inhaled and closed her eyes for a moment as she was trying to calm herself down.

„Fine. Would you be the nicest person on this ship and would you give your flask to me? Please?“

Laughter echoed again through the cabin.

„Good girl“

He went directly to Anya and patted her on her head again, then he handed her the flask.

„Thank you“

She replied with tone promising really painful death. Then she went out of the sailors cabin, refilled the bottle and went back to infirmary to check her staff again and enjoy short nap.

When sun was setting down she went up to the deck and silently watched captain and happening around him. Night was slowly coming and her ability to see was worse and worse, so when Gabriel pointed on cross shaped poles she almost didn't see anything. For her there was nothing interesting, things like this were always happening in this country.

But after a while she understand the ruckus about it, one of the convicts was still alive. She had to admit it was impressive as someone like this must be really tough person. She curiously waited for moment, when she could saw this person.

[Fennec]

The sun had set on the endless horizon... the freedom. And the full moon began to rise over the sea its pale visage acting like a spotlight for Myles shining light on his bruised face covered in scabs of dry blood.

His lips cracked and bloodied from dehydration he stuck his tongue out it was dry like a sponge out of water. Then licked his lips slowly in an attempt to apply what little moister he had in his body. His eyes red now from lack of sleep... the madness of the sea was slowly taking over as he stared blankly at the silhouette of an incoming ship.

"Is this a hallucination?" Myles asked in a hushed yet audible tone. "A vision?"
He paused for a bit allowing his words to be carried across the dark waters of the coast

"Perhaps the ferryman of the underworld has come for me already." His tone began to change a bit as his voice began to raise just a tad bit. Myles narrowed his eyes to try and see better but it was all hazy from the lack of food or water. Perhaps it wasn't delirium perhaps it was sailors who came to mock him? He didn't care either way.

"Will the bodies of the dead start to speak to me? Ushering me into the gates of hell?" He finished his questioning. "If that is so... then don't leave me here... drag me down already... I DON'T FEAR DEATH!" Myles yelled that last part already. He let out a sigh, as he felt a cold chill of sorrow go down his spine. Those last words reminded him of someone special. "Gaia... my surrogate mother... I'll see you soon." He whispered to himself looking down at the ocean below. A smile creeped up in his face as he looked up at the ship ahead.

[Mr. Moon]

Eric #3 

Surprisingly, Gabriel was right. As the ship was getting closer to the wooden crosses Eric heard one of the prisoners talking to himself.

“Alive? Maybe. Sane? Barely”

He noted for himself, when the ship firstly slowed down and than stopped right next to the sole survivor.

“Someone, get him on the board and quickly, we don´t want to lose to much time.”

Two sailors obeyed their captain´s order and with a knives ready climbed down from the ship to the cross right at the moment, when Miles started to yelling that he doesn´t fear death.

“Shut up you fool. If you´ll expose us, captain will literally rip your head off.”

With this warning, that two men cut his bonds and dragged him up on the board.

Curious, Eric slowly walked to the small circle of his subordinates which naturally appeared around Miles and Sarah, rather small, petite girl in her early twenties, who was examining his condition.

“How is he?”

Asked Eric, when he finally made his way through the crowd.

“Not good”

She said to him.

“Some one beat him up pretty badly and on top of that he is heavily exhausted and dehydrated. It´s miracle that he is still alive.”

Frowning Eric watched that guy who looked like someone on verge of collapsing.

“Tough one...”

He muttered.

“Alright, lock him on the infantry and let someone to watch over him. I´ll speak with him, after we´ll raid the port. Anya!”

He raised his voice a little bit with that last word to get that girl´s attention.

“Gather the men. On this mission, you will act as my second in command. Take it as your...promotion exam.”

With that, he signalized to Michael to get the ship moving again as they couldn´t afford to lose any more time.

[Cat]

The man was really alive and his first words, which Anya heard, were „I don‘t fear death“. She raised her eyebrows. He had really interesting philosophy or was mad. She tried her best to be one of the first people, who saw him. She wanted to help Sarah to get him to the infirmary, but then Eric made his way to this guy.

Anya listened silently to the whole conversation between Eric and Sarah and then she wanted to disappear in the crowd. Her help wasn‘t needed anymore.

She made one step back and Eric said her name. She stopped and then raised her head and looked up at her captain. His order was strange, she doubted her ability to accomplish it, but she didn‘t want to show any weakness, so she hid her doubts and calmly replied.

„As you wish captain“

With that, she made her way down to the sailor‘s cabin, six of seven men from her group were there together with some other from different groups.

„Time is up. Get your weapons and go up.“

She tried to sound confident.

„Yeah, little girl. Give as ten minutes or are you going to sue to officers?“

Everyone laughed at her. She was patient and made a few steps to the man who spoke before.

„No and no. You are going up now.“

She raised her voice slowly and took her staff to her right hand. She was tired of being a laughingstock. That wasn‘t the reason why she murdered her family members, she wanted to be free.

„Hey little girl, you really don't want to provoke us. Put the staff down“

Another man spoke and stood up, with a pistol in his hand.

„Shut up“

Her voice was cold as ice out of blue. Her eyes changed, kindness in her eyes was replaced with cruelty and anger. With the one really fast swing of her staff, she knocked out the pistol from the hands of the unprepared sailor.

„Captain said that it is time for gathering of our group.“

Sailors were obviously surprised by the change of her behavior and as they heard it was ordered from the captain, they understand, it is not the right time for arguing.

„But don‘t think, you can give us orders.“

She swiftly swung with her staff again and hit that cheeky sailor.

„Yes, I can if you have a problem with it. You know the rules of this crew how to replace me.“

Everyone lost their words for a while and Anya wasn‘t an exception.

„Fine but wait after the raid, girl. We will show you who...“

„Belt up and just go up“

She surprised herself again how cold can she be. Her six men and few others stood up, quickly picked up their weapons and left her alone in the sailor‘s cabin. She needed a few seconds to restore her self confidence and hide her surprise. After that, she calmly went up just right behind the sailors.

[Fennec]

By the time the sailors got him off and put him on deck Myles was already in a daze his body's exhaustion was too much. Everything was like a blurry surreal dream to him.

He found it comical that he was being saved, he couldn't believe what was happening. To him this was all a figment of his imagination... his mind was in a desperate attempt to save him from insanity. Little did he know he was truly being saved... Myles looked up at Eric's face he stared blankly and said nothing.

What happened next was even more blurry for him. He was taken to the infirmary and tended by a doctor. During his time there he didn't speak much other than mutter the occasional delirious nonsense. As he stared into the lights over the bed he was placed in... the brightness overwhelmed his sites as he passed out.

---

Six Years Ago, Naso Senator's Palace

Sunlight crept through the lavish palace of Senator Thade as he sat on his marble throne. Next to him one of his favorite mooks simply stood his ground... Brutus an idiot with more muscle than brains.

"Welcome Oracle Delphine! I welcome you before my presence today!"

The Senator spoke like an old lady in a black cowl made her way toward him. She leaned on a walking stick decorated with an assortment of black feathers... she was small, thin, and frail with wrinkles adorning her old face.

"Thank you for summoning me Senator Thade. It is always a pleasure to foresee for you. What is it you wish to know?" She spoke in a soft cunning voice.

"Ah yes, I wish to enroll my best warrior Brutus in the lines of gladiators who fight in the arena! I wanted to know whether or not he would win."

The Senator asked with a smile, he seemed very confident in Brutus winning.

"Mmm I see."

The old woman said looking at Brutus, she the scratched her chin and pulled out a crystal ball she began to stare into the item.

"I see... I see... defeat for Brutus... for he is not the greatest fighter in the arena no... there are those stronger than him."

At this, the Senator's smile became a scowl as his face got red.

"Nonsense!!!! This is utter nonsense! Begone from my presence, you insolent Witch!"

He demanded. But the old lady calmly looked at him.

"I only told you what you wished to know... don't go thinking you can change the future... I mark my words changing it will only bring dire consequences for you." Suddenly the woman was covered in a cloud of smoke as she turned into a crow and flew away.

---

Back to the present Myles' eyes opened up immediately being met with Sarah's face as she looked up over him. Myles narrowed his eyes and made an attempt to get up. But the pain was too much, he panted heavily trying to get up once more this time a bit harder.

[Mr. Moon]

Eric #4 

Eric watched as his men escorted that pink haired giant to the infantry. It was quite obvious, that he is really in bad condition as he was basically unconscious the whole time, but still, he send two sailors to guard Sarah, just in case.

To his surprise, just a minute or so afterwards, Anya showed up, followed by all members of their group. When she came to him, Eric nodded approvingly.

“Good job, I knew you have it in yourself.”

With that he turned himself back to the bow of the ship, which was slowly but steadily approaching the port.

It didn´t take more than five minutes, before the Demon landed at the pier. It was fifteen minutes after the midnight and the port was almost empty, with the sole exception of a single custom officer and few sailors who were completely drunk.

“Wait for the signal.”

Eric ordered to his crew, before he jumped from the ship right before that elderly officer, who slightly jumped from the fright.

“Oh, I am sorry, you startled me, who...”

He couldn´t say anything more, as Eric turned him around with swift hit to his shoulder, after which he broke his neck. When the body hit the wood, rest of the crew went silently from the ship, with their weapons ready as that was the signal, they were supposed to wait for.

---

At the same time, under the deck, Sarah was checking on the Myles who was unconscious for the majority of the time. As he was heavily dehydrated, she gave him an infusion of fluids and electrolytes. She was expecting that he will stay out for hour or two, but surprisingly, Myles opened his eyes in only few minutes.

“No.”

Sarah put her hand on his shoulder and gently pushed him back to the bed.

“You are in no condition for getting up.”

As they noticed, that the giant of man was finally conscious, two sailors, who were standing next to the doors to infantry reached for their guns.

“Carefully Sarah, we know nothing about him, it´s quite possible, that he is some kind of dangerous criminal.”

Hearing this words coming from Greg, Sarah slightly smiled.

“Yeah, remind me please, how many people you killed until now?”

Greg grimly smiled.
“Honestly? I don´t know, I lost counting somewhere around twenty or so...but with use, you are safe, because we like you. He, on the other hand...”

Obviously, he didn´t care about the fact, that Myles could hear him.

[Cat]

Anya felt the deadly gazes, which were stabbing her back when she was approaching Eric. After she came to him, she heard Eric‘s praise, but she wasn‘t sure if anyone else had the same opinion as him.

„Thank you, captain“

She quietly replied and stayed at the same place even after Eric left. She was preparing herself for her first battle after that incident with her family. Her specialty wasn't fighting she was more an artist and thief than a fighter. She wasn‘t sure what to expect or how can she be helpfull with gathering loot in the group where were monsters like Eric and seven other strong men. Her robbery experiences so far were with the more calm and smaller company then a bunch of eight brutes. But if she had time to ask someone about it, she missed it and at the moment was already late.

Captain jumped from their ship in front of some man and before he finished his question his body fell dead on the ground. It seemed, that killing someone was a signal for their crew every time. Anya smiled in amusement.

Anya took out a match from her pocket and hide it in her palm she behaved like the match was valuable and not just little wooden stick. After that, she joined the crew and with others went from the ship. She didn‘t want to be the last one so she carefully weaved through their silent procession. She stopped near Eric and his officers

[Fennec]

Myles settled down after the nurse touched his chest. He gave up on trying to give up it seemed she was a doctor and as such probably knew what she was talking about.

"Fine..."

He exhaled, while he was conscience now he still felt a bit dazed and drowsy. He heard the man speak in the background... his words made his blood boil but he bit his tongue. These people whoever they where had just saved him from certain death.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that shitface... I would never hurt this little lady she has done nothing but help me."

Myles gave a sigh, he looked up at the small nurse and then at the men at the door. He gave a little chuckle which devevoled into coughing and hacking followed by wheezing. After he settled down he continued.

"...Now that we have the formalities out of the way. Who do I owe my thanks for helping me cheat death yet again?"

Myles said, again with an exhale. He licked his lips slightly much like when he was at the post.

"The same man has tried to kill me twice and twice I have survived... I guess... I guess that makes me..."

Myles coughed and hacked a bit more before finishing his sentence.

"...one lucky bastard."

He began to laugh it was a slow start sounding something like an engine before letting loose. "Bururururi-bururururururiririri." He bit his lips and turned his attention to Sarah.

"When will I be able to walk again...? I want to stand."

[Mr. Moon]

Eric #5 

Once out of the ship, Eric led his men through the port to a big, marble statue of the current emperor, which was located on a small square right in the middle of the port. Of course, quickly moving armed group as big as they were, attracted a lots of attention, but Michael, together with Gabriel and few knives wielding sailors quickly dispatched any potential witnesses.

Once they got to the statue, Eric split his main force into the four teams leaded by the individual Combatants including himself. His group was targeting the westernmost part of the square with adjacent streets, that should have been the seat of several rich merchants and craftsmen. From all that houses on the square, Eric picked the one, which looked best maintained and led his seven men and one women to it. As he was approaching it´s front doors he didn´t even slowed down and instead of it ran through them as if they were from a paper. They ended up in a dark and quiet entrance hall from which led two doors one on each side and staircase, that was leading upstairs.

As their entrance was rather noisy, the quiet didn´t last long.

“Hey! What´s going on? Who is there?”

Male voice spoke upstairs followed by quick footsteps.

“What are you waiting for?”

Asked Eric members of his crew.

“Raid this house. Take everything valuable, kill all witnesses, I will take care of anyone who would try to run away”



At the same time on the ship, Sarah gently smiled on Miles.

“Now, now, there is no reason to be rude at each other.”

She said to both the guards who were protecting her and Miles, who was lying on the bed.

“And to answer your question, we are Slayers, quite recently established pirate Crew, which is currently raiding this beautiful island.

“Sarah, you shouldn´t say him that”

One of the sailors warned her, but she just waived her hand.

“Why? If he is ally, there is no reason to not tell him and if he is an enemy, he will not leave this ship alive anyway.”

With that, both guards obviously calmed down a little, but still kept their hands close to their guns.

“Well, I am afraid, that if you are lucky or not will be determined by our captain after he will come back, but until now, you should definitely rest. I mean...”

She stopped herself for a moment to find a proper words.

“Usually it usually takes something between two to three days to be able to walk after something like that, but you look like a quite tough person, so when you will feel ready, you can give it try.”

This time, she traded her gentle smile for encouraging one.

[Cat]

Anya followed Eric to a small square. It seemed that almost the whole city and port were sleeping. With every other step through the night city, she felt more relaxed and confident. Nights were previously her time when she was free to do what she wanted, until the moment when her family‘s circus became her prison.

If someone looked at her just before Eric broke the doors of a mansion, she looked much happier then ever. But when she saw Eric‘s method of the opening door she was surprised as it wasn‘t a silent method at all. Her worries were confirmed when after entering the stair hall they heard man‘s voice from upstairs.

„Don‘t kill the owner of the house until he tells you the password to safe ... if he has some.“

She said quickly as she wasn‘t sure if Eric and his thugs knew about something like it.

„Money will probably be in desk in the library or office, safe hidden behind some painting in the same room. Jewelry will be probably in drawers of makeup tables in women‘s bedrooms.“

She spoke quickly and began her quest for the family room. Smaller amounts of money and other precious things could be found there too. She headed left and open first room and found an empty dining room and behind the next doors was hidden the kitchen.

„Who‘s there? I … I have a weapon!“

Anya heard a frightened woman‘s voice from the room next to the kitchen, which had the door half-opened. Anya took one of the kitchen knives laying on the kitchen counter.

„Of course you have, come out and I will not hurt you.“

She spoke and her voice was amused. The woman behind the doors didn‘t reply.

„As you wish“

Anya kicked to the door and behind them saw an older frightened maid holding chair above her head. Anya pointed her pistol on her. As the maid saw it, she let the chair fall on the floor.

„Where is your employer hiding his money? Tell me and I will let you go“

„I don‘t...“

„What a pity“

Anya made a step closer to her with a cruel smile.

„Library under the carpet!“

Anya stopped and hide her pistol and leaned against her staff. Seeing it, the maid hurriedly continued to talk.

„ Second doors from the main hall on left! “

Anya smiled at her and at the same moment, she hit the maid with her staff to the belly. The woman looked at Anya with surprise. But Anya didn‘t stop and agile moved behind her back.

„W...“

The maid never finished her sentence, because Anya's knife was faster. After that Anya headed back to the hall, knife dirty from blood in her left hand.

„Library, under the carpet.“

With that, she opened second doors on the left to the library. It seemed like someone already searched it, but carpet wasn't touched.

[Fennec]

The pink-haired man gave a nod to Sarah and began to speak.

"Slayers? Pirates? I don't... I don't know much about pirates other than they are sailors who commit crimes."

Myles shrugged.

"At least that is what I read in an old dusty book I found in the arena basement."

Myles sighed as he was reminded of the arena grounds where he spent most of his life. It seemed so distant now even if it had been just a couple of days ago.

"I grew up all my life locked up like a caged tiger in a zoo. Occasionally let out to maul some poor bloke."

He explained, Myles shrugged once more. To him that's all the life he knew... eat, exercise, read a little, fight, and sleep. That was more or less his routine and the routine of every other slave fighter. For him into was nothing different... he never had a choice as he is never given one before hell he was even force-fed a Devil Fruit. No one had asked him if he wanted it. Not a soul, no one asked him about the name he was given... no one asked him about his role as an Arena Child... to be trained from childhood and raised to be beast. Raised to kill and destroy... he wanted more though... there must be more! Like in the books be read there had to be more! So much more!

"I... just... want... freedom..."

Myles turned to face all of them. "Does your leader offer me freedom? Does he offer me the ability to be unbound? Unchained? Unshackled? Unrestrained from all law? Free to roam like the wild tiger and not be confined like a caged one?"