Chapter One Hundred Thirty

Joe felt a moment of shock and panic as he was reminded of the children trapped in the log home he'd made. He turned to the tree line and immediately began running towards the tree line before quickly realizing several problems. After, his mad sprint slowed until he came to a stop with a grimace. No mana… lost my mana infusion… basically… Joe flipped open his status and saw how low his mana was and grunted with frustration, then looked around the area. Besides… at least two groups of people who really hate each other … let alone the slave master… Joe struggled to keep his hatred under control when he glanced at the man. And… he still has some people collared who would have to obey him… yeah… That…

Joe paused and turned back around, heading back to the center of the mess. Dulan noticed and called out.

"What's wrong, great one?"

Joe glanced at Dulan with chagrin, "Can't leave things like this. Need to wrap some of this up."

Dulan nodded and didn't reply, something Joe appreciated and quickly began preparing things, in quite a rush. He turned and marched over to the slave master still sprawled on the ground. The slave master stared up at him with fear that grew more obvious as Joe simply stood there. Joe stared back then took a deep sigh of relief, happiness flowing through him, the moment driving the epiphany of his freedom home just that little bit more. Free… really free.

A quick glance at the slave merchant showed the man was returning with his followers and when the slave merchant had returned to camp grounds, he settled into a defensive circle. Joe stared at the man for a time before a small bitter grimace marred his face. He grit his teeth then nodded before turning away. He didn't wait to see the nod back.

Joe turned his gaze across the rest of the field and saw his friends still frozen in place, unmoving and stuck while the guards forced themselves to crawl across the ground towards the slave master, moaning in pain as they dragged broken legs behind him.

"Right. Well, let's end this stupidity. Need to let the guards rest," Joe mused, before staring down at the slave master lying on the ground.

The slave master took the comment as a question and quickly replied, shaking his head while mumbling and pointing at his tongue. Joe noticed the slave master's frantic antics and grimaced, hiding a bitter twist of his lips.

"I know. I know..." Joe replied bitterly fighting with his desire to leave the man the way he was.

He sighed with bitter annoyance and frustration laced with impatience but realized he needed to act. Need mana to heal his tongue to free or atleast let Dulan and the lady get away from him… or… guess I could take him with me… or kill him, but… don't really want to carry him... and even so, still need my strength to lift the logs off the kids… need mana… and mana infusion for that… Joe sighed with frustration once again and bent down to grab the slave master. The man whimpered in fear, surprise dragging it out of him. Joe dragged him to his favorite log where he dropped him next to it, slightly propped up on the log then sat to meditate.

"Be quiet. I need a bit of work."

The entire field fell silent, even the crying whimpers of the struggling guards as they attempted to crawl across the field on shattered and broken limbs stilled slightly as the guards quieted in fear of his retaliation. It remained quiet for a good couple minutes before some few began speaking and that only in hushed whispers. The guard's moans also grew as Joe did not retaliate. However, Joe found his efforts to recover his mana infusion state a struggle, and grew impatient for the first few moments, driven by concern for the kids before finally wrangling his impatient thoughts under control. Slow down… focus… focused works… focused is fast… calm down.

As he began developing the construct for his mana infusion, he grew calmer and calmer until he was able to form the construct after about fifteen or so minutes. A cautious glance at his mana gave some relief as he found himself almost full again and enacted his mana infusion. Not full, but enough for this... if I'm a bit careful.

He didn't use any of his mana infusion, keeping it essentially off as he did not want to waste any mana he had. He stood then turned to the slave master.

"Right. Time to get you speaking," Joe pushed his healing skills, leaning into both his shaman and healer jobs before allowing the mana to be released into the slave master. He only focused on the man's tongue, not wanting to allow the man any movement. It took a bit of time, but soon the man's tongue had returned enough to facilitate speech. Joe didn't want to waste any more on it.

"OK. Give those guards some peace. They've been in pain this whole time."

The slave master stared back up at him, fear and anger twin worms threading through the man's face before he finally snapped out.

"Guards. At ease."

Joe nodded, some relief coming to him when the guards collapsed to the ground with cries of relief and more, the keening cries falling to moans as they stopped forcing themselves to move and exacerbate the pain.

"Nice. Now all the slaves."

The response was quicker this time, and the slave master quickly nodded, "Slaves, be at ease."

Joe glanced over to see Dulan collapse and the lithe woman at his side stumbling as they regained their movement, their collars still active and only the others actually free. Dulan and the woman simply stared with awe even as the rest of the group who were free all drifted to settle in beside Dulan. All watching and staring at Joe. Joe didn't really notice, his gaze turning back to the guards before sighing softly. He then turned back to look at the slave master. Joe struggled to keep the grin of gleeful expectation from his face, but failed rather blatantly. The slave master flinched back, and Joe felt a small twitch of thrill wind through him before he rapidly tried to throttle it. He didn't do very well.

"Don't worry. Your next. Soon. Be a good boy and stay right here," Joe reached down and petted the slave master's head, patting it like a dog's. Almost immediately, Joe felt a bitter self-recrimination for the petty act but a burning rage swamped it away almost quicker than the thought could form. Right… gotta… Joe grit his teeth in bitter anger, then calmed himself, the struggle to return to polite interaction, especially with this man, an almost Sisyphean effort. His mind rebelling time and again against his efforts to forgive and forget.

Joe stood from his squat over the slave master and turned to the guards. Right… gonna need some guards… keep this place under control. But… free them first? But take the chance they run… or… well… maybe not… they're all wounded. OK… that works.

"Free all the guards," Joe spoke with a glance towards the slave master.

The man growled up at him, bitter rage barely hidden behind incredible fear, "Guards here, listen. You are free."

Joe watched on as collars all across the guards curled up into balls and fell from their necks. Joe nodded. OK. Hmm… probably Dulan's friends, first… um… Joe turned to walk over to the group of people who had sided with him, and quickly ran through them, finding a couple suffering minor injuries Joe quickly healed. Once done, he turned back to look around the field. Now… a bit more cautious, but… still. He marched towards the closest guard and as he came close he slowed and called out.

"Toss all your weapons to the side."

The guard Joe was talking to didn't notice until he called out another couple times and then the man found his eyes glued to Joe's form wide eyed. He seemed stunned, pain forgotten for a bit until comprehension caught up and he threw his weapon to the side with alacrity.

Joe nodded, "My thanks."

Joe walked over and slid a foot across the weapon and it vanished into his inventory before he turned back to the guard, "Any other hidden weapons or things I should know?"

The man shook his head hard and Joe frowned, "Speak, please."

"No! Nothing!" the man replied rapidly although a hint of a moan shown through the statement.

Joe leaned on his priesthood skill and felt the truth of the statement before nodding and stepping forward, "Thank you for speaking the truth. Your collar now, please."

The once slave guard looked up at him before replying in shock, "What?"

"You're freed. You slave collar, please."

The guard reached up to his neck with trembling hands before almost sobbing with relief, wonder at his freedom almost enough to erase the pain from his injuries. The man quickly broke from his wonder and scrabbled into the dirt looking for the collar ball before handing it to Joe. Joe nodded, slipping it up to his neck before quickly claiming himself.

"Thank you. Now, just wait a bit."

He then knelt down beside the man and laid a hand on his thigh before willing his mana out into a forming healing rune. It formed too easily under the control of his job skill, but he didn't have time to waste, so allowed his job to guide the skill. His mana flooded into the man and quickly healed the bone, surprising the man as the pain vanished. Joe felt his mana ebb then end and he glanced over at the slave guard.

"All better?"

The guard stared at him dumbly for a minute before he jerked into action, shifting his body and checking the bone for health. A few moments later, he looked back up at Joe and nodded dumbly.

"Yes?"

Joe nodded then headed to the next guard, "Your weapons. Throw them away."

The firm voice and command caught the guard's attention and he quickly focused on Joe through the pain before tossing aside his weaponry. After verifying that the guard had no other hidden weaponry, Joe knelt and began healing this guard as well. To the side, Dulan watched on and quickly understood, turning to the others and waving them on before turning to the guards nearest him and demanding they drop their weaponry then hand over their collars now in ball form resting in the dirt below their neck.

Soon, all the guards around the area waited with quiet whimpers having divested themselves of their weaponry. Joe moved from guard to guard healing them of their broken bones, although the few guards of which he'd accidently shattered their bones took a significant chunk of mana but he still had enough to free the kids. Still, he had all guards healed relatively quickly in ten or so minutes.

During that time, Dulan had arrived at his side, dropping off a pile of weapons and handing over the collar balls. Joe quirked an eyebrow, noticing Dulan carrying all the weapons and wondered as he took the collar balls and added them to his collar. I claim myself.

"You can use all those weapons?"

Dulan's eyes widened and he leapt back with some fear, dropping all the weapons on the ground, "No. Great one! I cannot."

"You were carrying them all."

"I had no intention to use them."

"Ah… right," Joe mused.

Makes sense… merchants and blacksmiths would likely have to carry them, right? Joe dismissed the thought, not really curious enough to care at this time.

Joe then turned back to the slave master and stared at the man, bitter anger fueling a desire for revenge still burning hot within him. The time he'd taken to heal the guards wasn't enough to calm him, although it did allow him time to formulate plans for what he would do and it did give him enough time to wrestle his desire to torture and kill the man under control. He'll live… I'll make sure of that…

In that moment, however, Joe frowned and considered, a small worry gnawing at him. Are too many secrets revealed, however? Even with that thought, though, Joe glanced around and looked at all the people there, both his pseudo friends amongst the slaves and the other slaves and guards who all watched on in the once again deathly silent field. People stared at him like he was some form of monster or a mythical hero out of legend. Fear crawled across the faces of the guards and slave merchant, although the slave merchant did pretty well to maintain his façade of neutral observation. In contrast, the slaves who'd been by his side beamed with joyful victory while those who'd succumbed to the slave master's brutality looked on with terrified hope. The slave master simply stared on in horror.

Not much point, then… unless I want to kill every single person here… and … Joe's thoughts returned to the kids hidden in the forest as well as several of the youngest slaves in training who were no better than kids themselves and quickly dismissed the idea. Probably can ask them not to talk about things… but… His eyes turned to the guards, the passed over the slave merchant's group before turning to look back at the slave master who'd tortured him for almost a year. Not right now, though… gotta get the kids… and I wasted enough time as it is. Got the guards now… they can hopefully maintain the status quo here while I'm gone. Probably not many others can use weapons either. Stupid job system… But… Can't really trust the guards though… so… Joe's stomach twisted at the thought.

* * *

Dulan stared at the eccentric, fearful wonder spiking through his body in excitement and no small amount of joy. Dulan shivered then grinned, looking at his benefactor and relishing in the strength that had been portrayed, even as he struggled to understand what the man was. Combat, obviously… but can heal… and the strange door? What is it? What does it do? How does a job have such… Dulan watched on with curiosity and growing visions of a future unbound. It was almost impossible to keep the smile from his face.

* * *

The slave merchant stared on, eyes burning into the eccentric as each action and move revealed more and more about the man. And with each revelation came a burning desire to know just what legacy the man had uncovered to be so powerful. Healing… combat… some kind of storage skill, it seems, if I were to guess the large doorway… or possibly a moveable home? But… and…

"He's a priest," the slave merchant allowed the small burble of wonder to burst forth.

His son and protégé leaned forward, "What?"

The slave merchant realized he'd spoken aloud and turned to his son, repeating, "He's a priest of some kind. He demanded the guard to speak… he was checking the man for truth."

"Combat… and healing?"

"And storage. The door."

Wonder settled on his son's face, "Is he a cardinal? A patriarch?"

The slave merchant remained silent, his own wonder growing as well. Or more?

* * *

Joe turned to look back at the big pile of weapons on the ground, sucking them into his inventory before turning to look at Dulan, "Mind if you grab all the dropped slave collars and bring them to me? Make sure to get every one, please."

Dulan grinned and quickly nodded, marching across towards the scattered collars while waving several of his friends over. Joe nodded then turned back to look at the various people around the field. He headed back to his log then glanced around him. Hmm… He pointed to those behind him and slave merchant's group to his side.

"Everyone, on this side. And you… slave merchant dude, all you move across the field to the other side, and a bit further over."

The two groups reacted with alacrity, although the slave merchant's group moved in a defensive cluster until they were closer to the wide empty field behind the array of slave tents standing just off to the side of the slave tents. Now in the middle of the field that made up the camp, Joe felt a bit more comfortable about keeping track of the people in the clump that made up the slave merchant's group.

Turning to the rest of the group, Joe saw that they'd already pretty much separated into a couple groups as well consisting of all the guards and those that supported the slave merchant in contrast to the slaves that were in training. The latter group was again divided, with all the slaves that had sided with Joe at the front in an excited clump except for those who were still gathering up the collars that had spilled across the ground in their ball form.

Joe noticed these separations and called out to those who had supported him, "Alright, you guys," Joe called out to his group, "Come on and hang out over here."

The group that had sided with him whooped and took off to stand by his side, although still in front of him. Dulan and the few he'd taken to gather up the collar balls joined shortly after, walking through the shifting crowds as Joe further separated the people into different groups. The slaves he had stand opposite the slave merchant in a group by themselves, a good distance from the guards as some of them began to really eye several of the guards with burning rage.

The slave master's group split in two, separating into guards and support although even the guards split once again into two distinct groups, one small set of guards consisting of only four or five very much choosing to be far from the others. Joe noticed that his personal guard was in the smaller set. A quick glance at the slaves who stared at the guards with some burning rage had Joe pursing his lips with consideration as all the intense gazes seemed to be focused on the larger group of fearful slave guards. Joe frowned and scratched his head, lost in thought before he was suddenly interrupted.

"We can discuss this! I'm sure we can reach an accommodation. There is much we can discuss and much I can show and share. Please understand," the slave master began rattling off, starting with some worry then growing more confident as Joe did not immediately stop him. Joe, for his part, felt his calm shatter to shock then morph to swelling rage in an almost instantaneous flood.

"Shut. Up," Joe enunciated clearly, glancing at the man with flat dead eyes barely holding back volcanic rage.

No time for this… trying to save the kids you were going to kill!

The man's face paled instantly and he froze, mouth clicking shut before nodding quickly. Joe looked away, turning his face from the man before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, forcing himself to calm. Footsteps and a loud clump of a dropping object tore his eyes open and Joe looked up to see Dulan grinning, the crate of collar balls at his feet. Joe felt his own answering grin yank his lips upward and his smiled back. Dulan said nothing, simply nodding at Joe before turning and rushing to join the others in eager conversation. Joe glanced over, his smile growing to see their joy, then looked back down at the box of slave collars at his feet. His smile soured, then shifted to grim determination and he looked up back across the field.

"Look at your feet for any other slave collars. Bring them to me if you see them," Joe called out to the group that was standing around where the box of collars had spilled.

He then turned his gaze back to the collar box, then grit his teeth. Never again! He reached for the box then paused, glancing around. His group was off to his side a respectful distance, but the slave master sat directly at his feet, and Joe glanced down at him, staring hard. Right… Joe stood and turned to his group of people. He waved at the slave master at his feet and spoke.

"Don't hurt him. Don't let him move! And don't let him speak to anyone! Keep him silent!"

The group who'd all been animatedly speaking with one another in joy quickly grew silent and very serious, taking in the slave merchant dropped at their feet. Dulan took point and quickly nodded.

"Yes, eccentric!"

Joe smiled, "Joe. My name is Joe. Please just call me Joe."

Dulan stared back, then began nodding softly, "Yes, Joe."

Joe glanced back down at the slave master, "You cannot release Dulan or…" Joe waved in the general direction of the woman who'd charged with Dulan.

Dulan answered quickly, "Cassia, Great one."

"Ah… yeah, Cassia."

"No, Great One," the slave master immediately replied, the capital letters on his title easily heard.

Truth. Joe grimaced with bitter acceptance. He sighed. That means Dulan and Cassia are still under his control… Don't want to leave them here for him to do anything…

Joe turned to look at the two of them then looked across the field at all the other ex-slaves and guards.

"Who is still collared or controlled by the slave master?"

Only Dulan and Cassia raised their hand, and Joe nodded. That'll work!

"Right. You two come with me. Don't want the slave master to control you while I'm gone."

Dulan and the woman eagerly joined his side, but Dulan replied with worry, "We would love to, but…" he finished with a helpless wave and glance at the slave master.

Joe nodded, "I know. Slave master, tell them they are free to do as they will from today onward."

The slave master curled up his lips in frustration before he smoothed his face quickly, "Dulan, Cassia, you are free to do as you will for the day."

Joe nodded then looked to the two, "That work?"

Dulan sighed with relief while Cassia grinned, nodding with joy. Joe accepted their relief but then turned back to the slave master with hooded eyes.

"That was not, however, what I asked. Let me try again," rage peaked out, twisting his face into a snarl before smoothing and he continued, "I said to free them to do as they will from today onward! Let us try again. Now!"

The end of the sentence came out in an enraged bark and the slave master jumped with the shout before nodding quickly, "You are free to do as you will in perpetuity."

Dulan and Cassia sighed in even greater relief. Right… almost time. Joe nodded then looked back down at the slave master before grimacing. Easiest to just take his tongue again… but… He glanced at his mana, frowning. It wasn't too low, but he didn't want to waste any more on the man, either. Finally, he took out a tonfa and snapped him in the back of the head. Please… black out… The tonfa smashed into his skull rather firmly and Joe checked his health real quick before calming. Seems ok…

Joe then grabbed the collar box, dipping a hand inside to suck all the rest still left into his inventory before he pointed to the guards.

"Come here."

The guards marched forward, still separated into two groups.

"Line up!"

The guards lined up with alacrity but then quickly grew agitated when Joe took a slave collar and pressed it to the first guard's neck, "I claim you."

The man stared at Joe in consternation and fear before nodding, accepting the claiming, and Joe felt the collar settle into his own mind and grit his teeth against gagging. He had no way of controlling the men and he had no knowledge of whether the slaves, those close to him and those distant, could defend themselves. In a land of a job system that locked weaponry behind a job, the only ones here he knew could use weapons were the guards but had no way to control them but for the collar system. Joe steeled his heart and marched down the line, claiming each one.

When he got to the last small group including the man who'd been his personal guard, Joe paused, grimacing then spoke softly, "I don't know you. I know nothing nor do I know anything of these others, but I have need to defend this place and protect the people here, including from the slave merchant."

"I would rather die."

Joe nodded, "I could not."

The man nodded, grimacing, "Nor could I."

Joe looked back at the man then spoke again, "I swear I will release you once again before the day is done. Children are near death."

The man's eyes widened with that last statement, but he still searched Joe's face and eyes carefully before nodding. Joe sighed in relief and nodded back.

"I just ask that the people here be protected and all remain as it is until I return."

He nodded again more firmly, and Joe took a single collar and pressed it to the man's neck before claiming him. The other outsider guards seemed to take the man's decision for their own, and allowed themselves to be collared as well before Joe then turned away. He paused then pulled out all the weapons he'd collected from the guards.

"Take your weapons and guard this place. Keep the status quo. I want everything to be as it is when I return. I should return within an hour."

The guards quickly leapt to Joe's command, picking up their weaponry and then standing guard around the place. Joe carefully kept his gaze away from the slaves who'd congregated in the corner, watching on with burning eyes. He doubted he could sufficiently explain and could only show with his actions when he returned. Joe nodded to the guards, almost offering thanks, but the words froze on his lips and he grimaced, gritting teeth before turning away, marching quickly into the woods.

"Nobody move. Nobody do anything. I'll be back soon. Don't make me find anyone gone! I will find you. Easily," Joe called out behind him as he walked away.

Dulan turned to the small group of slaves that had sided with Joe and nodded, all firming their own gaze in response with nods of their own. Joe didn't really notice but took off at a quick but mostly human speed and slid into the forest, Dulan and Cassia behind him. During the run, he pulled all the left over collars that had been collected from the freed slaves from his inventory and began slipping them all onto his own collar, chanting softly as he claimed himself. He added all the hundreds of extra collars by the time their journey was done. A ten minute jog later had them at the log pile, Joe desperately trying to conserve his mana till he needed it for the massive logs. When he arrived, he ripped the logs off the top with speed, uncaring of where they fell as he tossed them aside. Dulan and Cassia and started to help, then backed up with wide eyes as they watched Joe toss logs off into the forest until the cavity inside was revealed.

Then all three flinched backward in horror as the stench of sewage overwhelmed the area, grimaces and curses just as ineffective in protecting their sense of smell as was their hands that had naturally pulled up to cover noses. Joe forcibly fought back against his disgust and pulled another couple logs off to make it easy to enter before fearfully and eagerly crawling into the pile of bodies.

All seemed to be moving, calling out with inquiry and confusion, although many pulled back with fear when they felt him grab them and Joe struggle to hold back his own hurt at seeing their reaction. He pulled them out carefully and stood them outside the disgusting sewage filled home. Most stumbled, unable to stand easily and Joe had to lean them up against their log home. He pulled tangled body after body out of the pile until he finally found everyone, carefully cradling the last who curled up against his own body only because he pulled him close, arms and legs dangling without control.

Please… please! Joe panted softly to himself, hoping the kid's spine could still be healed. Can regrow entire limbs… so… this should be easy! Joe initiated the healing process, although out of caution, he added his shaman job to his healing class and it took quite a bit more effort than he realized. But soon, the kid was twitching and moving arms and legs. He'd wasted a bit of mana to heal the kid's ears, but his soft croons of all being well soon fell on hearing ears and the kid's brilliant smile made the effort all worth it.

Joe's sense of relief was immediate, and along with it came a sense of vindication and victory. Joe struggled to keep his focus on healing, but found his mind simply wandering in the relief of saving the kids. Soon, the kid was standing, although still blind like the rest.

"Let me get your sight back," Joe spoke, the kid smiling brightly when he heard him.

But when Joe started, his mana petered out and vanished and Joe grimaced, his mana emptied once again. Logs were too much… I guess… and the healing? His mana infusion dropped and while he was frustrated at losing it again, seeing his mana refilling gave him peace. Right… need mana again… head back to the camp at least? Recover mana as I walk then I can heal them there? Joe accepted the plan and prepared, glancing over the kids.

All the kids were a bit emaciated, a surprise given how much food he'd given to his kid, but Joe focused on getting the kids headed back to the camp, both to get them cleaned up and to be able to keep an eye on everything. He soon had all the kids lined up, holding hand to hand while Dulan led the way back to camp. Cassia, the woman who was the only other slave still stuck with her collar, marched up and down the line like Joe did, catching kids and guiding them as best they could.

The ten minute hike to the log pile turned into an almost half an hour return, as the kids stumbled blindly and struggled to walk, although all soon were taking overly high steps to make sure they continued moving forward. They'd learned quite quickly and Joe wondered at the life they'd lived that they learned this kind of thing so quickly.

When they made it back to the camp, things were not calm as all were deeply agitated. The guards he'd left behind remained where they were, doing their jobs as only the collar could enforce, but the large pile of slaves that had been strangers to Joe roiled with agitation and movement. The slave merchant's camp remained tensely still, and Joe stared at the group for a time before dismissing them. Later…

Dulan's group and the enslaved guards immediately began shouting out when Joe returned and Joe quickly caught on that a few of the slaves had fled into the forests after a bit of time. Joe simply dismissed it, although he did pause to think before turning to Dulan. Huh… maybe some of them figured they can do it now that I was able to? Knowledge that something is possible… yeah… that could maybe give them enough belief? If belief does it? Hmm…

"There're wild animals in the forest, yes? Beasts and monsters?"

"Not as many here, eccentric," Dulan responded immediately.

"Ah… so they will be ok?"

Dulan shrugged, "Possibly."

Joe sighed, then turned to the slaved guards under his command before grimacing and instead turned to Dulan and the group that surrounded him, "Do some of you … are some of you willing to head into the forest. Just shout that it's dangerous and they should come back, but if they want to leave, they can. I was going to lead everyone to a city and people could move on from there."

"Yes, eccentric," Dulan responded immediately before turning to face his group, directing them and sending them out.

"Don't spend too much time. I don't care if they come back or leave."

"Yes, sir," cried out all the people who'd agreed to run out.

Joe turned back to his log but was interrupted by a guard, "We do not need to bring back the runaway slaves?"

Joe glanced back and quickly shook his head, "They are free to come and go as they wish, although I do not want any killed by wild beasts or monsters."

"Then…" the guard hesitated before continuing, "Can the guards who went to get them come back?"

Joe quickly nodded, "Yeah. They don't need to keep going."

The guard smiled and nodded in thanks before quickly sending out a couple guards as well and Joe turned from them again before glancing around the field. OK… pretty much… everything important done… kids gotta wash, but… With the knowledge all the kids had made it, Joe was able to relax. He basked in the moment, feeling his freedom once again in too long a time, simply enjoying having it. He closed his eyes for a bit, looking upwards, then opened them again rather quickly when the paranoia of being unable to watch his surroundings ate at him and he then decided to simply enjoy the moment with open but suspicious eyes. He remained there for a bit before finally taking one last look around the area. Right… the kids.

The group of slaves across the field had now seemed to recognize the refuse covered group of kids and many were sobbing, memories of the children they'd lost quickly swelling emotions to overflowing. Joe felt for them, but was focused on the kids.

"Free them," Joe growled, waving towards kids while looking at the slave master.

The man quickly nodded, recognizing Joe's anger, "All children here. Listen. You are free."

The collars wrapped around their necks fell to the ground and Joe felt some relief. His eyes glanced down the row of kids then frowned. My kid isn't freed yet? Why? Joe's eyes snapped towards the slave master and the slave master quickly responded, recognizing Joe's anger and why.

"And the Halfling. You are free as well."

The collar around the halfling who'd been assigned to him fell, and Joe grinned, happy, but also rather curious. A halfling? Huh… Interesting. As much as Joe wanted to explore that curious new piece of information, Joe turned back to the moment. Kids… healing… then cleaning…

Dulan had come up with that and took all the collar balls, even as he wrinkled his nose in disgust, before running down to the stream to wash them off. Joe sat down on his log with something like exhaustion, the slave master still sprawled next to it, staring up at him with fearful consternation tinged with a bit of frustration that the man quickly erased from his face when he saw Joe watching. Joe stared at the man, his hatred rising and painting his face in blatant feral hatred before he breathed deep and smoothed it clear. The man flinched back, terror flooding his face but Joe simply dismissed the man, reaching out instead to the nearest kid; his. Ah… no… he's a halfling… I guess? Interesting… not a kid either, since he didn't get freed… explains his … rather too much maturity?

"Hey, man. Let's get you healed and all cleaned up. I'm so sorry… so sorry. I … I'm sorry, but I … it had to be done. It helped you live. I hope … I hope that it was enough… an excuse enough… what you went through…" Joe babbled even as his mana swirled into form, Joe pushing effort into healing the kid.

He found himself driven, and while the regenerative runic structure formed, he strove to force another rune from his healing job to form as well, hoping that any amount of extra healing would only speed the process. However, it seemed that he could only grasp the singular regenerative rune as the healing rune formed and collapsed, never completing. That said, the fact that he was able to begin the formation of a second mana construct had Joe excitedly considering the ramifications but the current situation put that intellectual curiosity deep on a back burner.

Instead, he dropped his attempts and simply focused on healing. Since his ears and spine had already been healed, Joe bent his efforts to healing the kid's eyes and then voice box. The healing of the eyes became quickly apparent as he flinched from the brightness of the sky before turning to look at Joe and smiling with soft relief. A short while later, his voice returned and the halfling laid a hand on Joe's shoulder.

"I live," he offered with a smile.

Joe guffawed and nodded, "And all others, too."

The halfling looked around then back at Joe, nodding, "So we did."

Joe smiled for a bit, then the smile fell a bit with the self-recrimination swelling and the halfling quickly shook his head, "No! We survived. Thank you!"

Joe nodded, falling silent a bit before continuing, "A hafling, huh?"

The halfling grinned, "Sent to spy on you… and die, it seems."

His grin soured at the last bit, turning to a grimace that Joe duplicated, "Yeah."

The two fell silent for a bit before the kid nodded, "Thank you, though."

Joe looked back up and grinned, then grimaced rather sourly as he nodded, "Then why don't you wash off. You stink horribly."

Joe's smile turned more natural at the halfling's laughter and the halfling jogged off to the river, "I'll help with the others after I wash off."

"Thanks!" Joe called out before turning to the next kid and starting the process again.

Soon, he had another kid healed up, staring around in wonder while looking at Joe with some fear. The halfling returned and grabbed him, pulling him to the side and whispering in urgent conversation. Another healed one joined in and the halfling pulled them both along to the river, still whispering urgently and answering questions. By the time all three returned, the other two were looking at Joe with heroic worship even as they began pulling aside each newly healed kid and starting another urgent conversation, this time leading the dirty kids to the river one by one.

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In the midst of all this, Dulan had returned with the now cleaned collar balls and showed them to Joe. Joe nodded and simply asked for them to be put in the box of collar balls still full with many. He then turned his focus back to finishing off the healing. Healing all the kids took a bit longer than the guards, surprisingly, his mana bottoming out a couple times before it was all said and done, but Joe didn't even notice the lengthy effort, simply basking in the grateful joy of returning all the kids to health. By the time he was done, the sun was low in the sky, and Joe simply sat there, the kids playing softly behind him and Dulan with his group chatting joyfully at his side. The halfling did not join the kids, sitting beside Joe and the others speaking with much more adult conversation with them all. Huh… makes sense if the slave master wanted me … yeah… probably a command to act like a kid… now without the collar… doesn't need to.

He sighed deeply, then grimaced as he glanced around the field, then blinked in surprise when he realized the guards were still standing guard and still collared. Joe hid his own grimace, although he did berate himself for forgetting and stood.

"Guards. Toss all weapons here, please," Joe pointed to an area to the side.

All the guards came forward, their calm demeanor quickly shifting to anxious worry as they dumped their weapons. Joe, for his part, mostly ignored them and waited until all guards were weaponless before standing and sliding a foot across each weapon and sucking it into his inventory. The pile of weapons and shields disappeared with rapidity and then he turned to look at the guards.

"If you could, please line up here," Joe gestured in front of himself.

The guards came forward, some obviously compelled by the collar although his personal guard came forward quickly and first. Joe nodded to see him and frowned with self-deprecation.

"I'm sorry. I hate this collar and never want to see it ever used again. But I didn't want the slaves over their killing you in a rage… nor did I want the slave merchant to get away. I release you," Joe spoke as he reached up and pulled the collar from the man's neck.

The man stared at Joe, then glanced over at the crowd of slaves, quickly seeing many seething amongst the crowd and he looked back at Joe before nodding, "I understand… and thank you."

Joe nodded in reply and the man offered his hand in the odd sliding hand shake which Joe easily accepted. He stepped aside and soon Joe was offering a quick apology or at least an explanation to the guards before releasing them all. Once they were all released, Joe marched back to his log and settled to the ground next to the slave master and simply sat and stared for a time. He glanced around the field, seeing he still enslaved slaves and came to a decision.

Joe stared down at the slave master before waving a hand encompassing the field and all the other slaves, "Release them all."

The slave master stared at Joe then nodded quickly, "All here in this field released!"

Joe noticed the man's qualification, almost calling him on it before stopping and shutting his mouth. Not yet! More important thi… Joe turned back to look at the field of slaves he had now freed and saw the rage burning in those who'd been captured and tortured for too long.

Joe looked over at all the ex-slaves, trainees and guards. Not again…

"Bring all the collars to me!"

Everyone stirred and Dulan reacted the quickest, grabbing the slave collar box and marching across the field, collecting collars from the slaves and from the guards before returning to Joe's side.

Many began whispering amongst themselves as well, his name passing with something akin to reverence between them all. Joe turned away, uncaring and too drained. After a while, Dulan returned and dropped the slave collar box at his feet, his eyes falling upon the box as well. He reached forward and dipped his hand into the box and scooped up a handful of collar balls, dozens laying in his hand, before bringing it up to his neck.

"I claim myself. I claim myself. I claim myself. I claim myself. I claim myself," Joe began to chant, a mantra that was whispered silently and no one could hear.

Ball after ball merged with his collar, shifting collar from the platinum to more and more brilliance until his shifted completely to pearlescent shifting rainbows. Joe didn't stop, claiming himself dozens, hundreds, and even thousands of times, even as he felt his own connection to himself and the collar grow, solidifying in brilliant absoluteness. As his hand dipped in each time, pulling more and more collars into his own and claiming himself each time, people around the field began to notice, and the soft susurrus of conversation that had grown again died to tomb like silence as people watched on.

Several of the people who'd been searching for any last collars came forward when he noticed them holding slave collar balls and he took them without comment before slipping them into his own collar. They backed away, watching on with confusion and seeming horror, but Joe simply continued to add more and more. Never again!

After the box and his inventory was empty and he'd added thousands of collar balls to his own, Joe turned his gaze back to look at the slave merchant once more. The grin he gave only increased the horror on the face of the slave master and that only gave Joe an increased grim satisfaction. Joe half stood and reached over to the slave master, grabbing the man by the arm and dragging him a bit closer to where he sat..

Joe sat once again, feeling even greater relief. Gotta huge buffer, now… that'll be hard for any to take me away ever again. Joe glanced at the slave master, a rabid anger spiking and he fled from it, seeking distraction. Should get my mana infusion back again… I think. Don't really want to not have it. And so Joe found something else to delay the necessity of dealing with the slave master that one more time. He took around fifteen or so minutes to redo his mana infusion state, and ironically, because he wasn't putting as much effort into attempting it, he was able to reset his mana infusion state about the fastest and best he'd ever done. He wasn't dumb and made a mental note of that, returning himself to mana infusion with full mana. Guess it's like everything else. Smooth and careful gets better and faster…

But now, he had nothing else to delay, having done everything he felt was needed. Joe glanced down at the slave master, gritting his teeth. He continued gritting his teeth every once in a while before he glanced down at the slave master and back up again. Silent rage built but he had nothing else to distract himself with. Everything he felt he needed to do was done, and he finally turned to look down at the slave master. He was still a little out of it, so Joe washed him with healing magic, bringing him back to full awareness. Joe caught the slave master's eyes.

"You are likely one of the most evil men I have ever met. You believe you know what is best for another and you believe you should… must forcefully turn any person to your will. And you actually think this is a good thing. Tell me, now that your fate is in my hands, do you find such a feeling… think such a situation is 'good?'"

The slave master stared up at Joe and said nothing, fear ratcheting up. Joe stared back, continuing.

"Do you feel comfortable… happy right now?"

The slave master's fear spiked, terror oozing outward and Joe allowed a rather feral grin to form on his face.

"It doesn't feel good, does it? But if you say it doesn't feel good, or what I do is bad… If you say that and I'm a fickle man enraged by the idea that I could be evil… That you would call me evil. Or that I could act in a way that harms others. Well, then you fear that I will beat you for insulting me… Or," Joe's tone turned mocking, even as bitterness flared, "…for assuming that I, such a great man… such a great 'master,' could cause terror and fear in you.

"But, maybe… do you lie? Do you say that you feel only hope and joy being in my control? Am I too foolish to understand such thoughtless sycophancy? Or am intelligent enough to see such and I will be insulted by such a statement and punish you for it? What will I do? What words do I want to hear? If you say the wrong thing, you may lose a limb! What do you do? What do you do? The fear itches at you, terrorizing you as you struggle to figure out how to placate the master who holds your life in their hands. What do you do for such a great master who terrorizes you… who torturers you… who delimbs you again and again and again, losing arms and legs. What do you do? What do I do? I lost many. So, so, so many."

Joe's thoughts turned introspective at the end, the cold rage turning hot. He reached a hand out, turning his palm down to face the earth then called out his pinky third knuckle from his inventory. It tumbled through the air and puffed up a small cloud of dust when it hit the ground. He had a collection of almost three hundred of each of his knuckles, three per finger, two per thumb, for a total of fourteen sets of almost three hundred knuckles that had been sliced from his hand several times every night.

"So many."

More of his pinky knuckles tumbled from his palm until almost all three hundred had tumbled out, creating a small conical pile of quickly growing knuckles.

"That's only one knuckle on my left pinky finger."

Middle knuckles joined the stream of knuckles tumbling from his palm, the double pull from his inventory putting a small strain on him as well as bringing a bit of a wild scattering as knuckles tumbled against each other midair before falling into the cone of still slightly leaking fresh cut knuckles below. The cone lost its beautiful singular point, gaining an erratic set of extra peaks in random locations.

"I have just as many middle knuckles."

Joe raised his hand slightly higher as the pile continued to grow and then exploded when Joe simply brought out the entire set of all pinky knuckles at once. The small pile was engulfed by the remaining last pinky knuckles. Then it was swamped once again when he immediately pulled out his the middle knuckles of his pinky. Rage shredded patience and he simply willed all his remaining knuckles from his left pinky finger out as well as all the knuckles of his right hand pinky finger. An explosion of bloody flesh in small bite sized pieces swamped the ground, the cone grew so large the pile of knuckles pressed up against the log and began tumbling over the tops of his feet and ankles.

"So, so many… and so many more fingers left. This is only my pinky fingers."

Joe stretched out to sit his palm further from his side, even turning it to face away from himself in the hopes of having the cascading fall of snipped fingers fall on the far side of the mound and not swamp over his seat. He then willed out all the rest of the cut knuckles of both hands, and a veritable stream, slow and languid, but still rather massive in size, fell to the ground and spread across the ground. He stood and leaned further past the newly formed larger cone to let the last of his knuckles to spill forth. Thousands upon thousands of knuckles tumbled to the ground, covering the middle of the grounds where he stood.

The crowd of people around stepped back in horror and disgust, whispers rising quickly to a dull roar but Joe noticed nothing, eyes and rage seeing only one thing. The slave master stared back at Joe, horror and panic mounting even as he stared back and forth between Joe's raging face and the massive pile of severed fingers scattered across the floor.

"I don't have as many legs," Joe continued, his rage turning feral as his face turned to a snarl.

His outstretched hand fell back to his side as he lifted out his other hand, stretching it out passed the slave master before a left leg erupted from his inventory then fell straight to the ground, landing with a heavy thump right next to the slave master. The slave master jumped with fear, eyes turning to the side to see Joe's severed leg slamming to the ground. This one obviously had been one of the first cut cause very little blood leaked from it, having bled most of its blood before Joe was able to pull it into his inventory after the torturers had left.

Another leg tumbled out, chosen at random from the pile of left legs he had. This one was definitely much fresher, blood immediately leaking out and staining the ground next to the slave master. More and more legs came out, forming another conical pile and the slave master whimpered even as he crawled with arms back and away from the now encroaching pile of legs.

"I only have about two hundred of each leg. Took a bit more effort on your healer's part to heal me so they only did that a few times before shifting to just taking my hands. Most of these legs are from my own amputation."

The slave master jerked his gaze away from the growing pile of legs to look up at Joe in horror with that statement.

"I had to still move around camp… practice and continue developing my skills. Can't easily do that without legs."

The slave master's eyes widened in dawning horror.

"So, yeah. I won't hold my legs too much against you. Even my knuckles… but the kids! The kids!"

Joe's rage ignited and all his remaining legs exploded from his inventory at once. It proved a tame display of his rage, falling out of his inventory space in a lackluster and limp tumbling of legs and not with the explosive filling of space he was expecting. Still, the legs tumbled to the ground and the mound of legs soon tumbled over the top of the slave master's body and legs, leaving only his head free, burying him under bleeding limbs. Joe stared down at the man, his rage igniting further and not mitigated at all, reaching down to grab the man and pull him from the pile of limbs and knuckles further down the log. At a cleaner and clear space, Joe simply dropped the man to the ground and sat back down on a less comfortable seat that Joe's irrational anger blamed upon the slave master. Joe wasn't really thinking by then, however, his rage towards the man already fully formed and consuming.

"To take kids and use them as disposable teaching aids," Joe ranted, raspy growls replacing calm speech, grabbing a hand and ripping it up and towards the log he sat on, slamming it down upon it between his knees.

"That… that is unforgivable," Joe's growling bent to rage, his voice becoming ever more feral and monstrous.

He gripped the slave master's hand by the wrist in his left hand, even as a knife blade formed in his right hand, pulled from inventory. A flip had the knife tossed into the air until the handle slapped down in his palm, the blade now where it needed to be. He stabbed the point down into the wood, just to the side of the man's pinky finger, right at the last knuckle. The slave master yelped and began babbling in fear, pulling hard against Joe's iron grip and not moving it an iota. Joe heard nothing of the man's pleas.

"Every life is precious. Unique and worthy of being treasured… allowed to live and explore this amazing world."

Joe brought his hand up and forcibly curled the man's ring, middle, and index finger up under the palm of his hand. The slave master grew more panicked, wildly spasming and jerking away from Joe as best he could.

"To see the beauty here. To enjoy life. To wonder, explore, and live!"

The knife slammed down, pulled forward like a lever as it sliced down and into the slave master's left pinky knuckle. The man screeched like a stuck pig, a wild terror filled squeal that rolled across the field. Joe didn't use any mana or enhancement, only his natural human strength, and the blade hammered down upon bone and stuck.

"The alternatives. The alternatives…"

The knife slithered back and forth across the knuckle, seeking the joint between the last and middle knuckle, scraping skin and across bone. The squealing climbed in pitch and pain.

"They… they are horrible."

The knife snicked into place, seated between the joints and Joe pushed down, the knuckle snapping off much like precut prefabricated pieces pulled from a mold. The slave master jerked, spasming even as his breath caught, then he bellowed in horror and terrible loss.

"The alternatives are people like you."

The knuckle tumbled from the log off to the side, making a small puff in the dust and leaking slowly into the dry ground.

"And things like this."

The knife slammed down next to the middle knuckle.

"Do you like this? Is this enjoyable? Is this what you want for your children? For your family? Your friends?"

The slave master sobbed in pain, lost in the horror of it all but Joe had moved from the rhetorical to a bloody and demanding lesson; one in which his student would join in the learning process and not simply be a passive learner.

"Hey. Hey! I asked a question!"

Joe jerked the man's hand a few times then slammed it down upon the log. The slave master fought, then froze in realization and quickly turned his gaze to look back up at Joe, horrific pain marring his face but terror bringing just that little bit of focus as he looked up at Joe.

"Do you like this?" Joe spoke slowly.

The man stared back, terror growing. Joe growled in some anger.

"Do. You. Like. This?"

The man shook his head quickly, panic driving him.

"And do you want this for your family… your children?"

The man quickly shook his head again, tears sliding down his cheeks as he struggled to maintain focus on what Joe was saying.

"Then why do you do it!" Joe roared in rage.

His knife snicked down again and slammed into the finger, aimed for the middle knuckle joint. The slave master went wild, spasming wildly in full body contortions and bucks but mana had long flooded Joe's left arm and chest but not his right. Joe's strength utterly overwhelming and the man's wrist did not move at all. Wild moans and squeals began again.

"Is this a good life?"

Joe returned to the rhetorical even as his knife quested through the man's flesh seeking the knuckle joint before snipping through. Another knuckle tumbled from the log to the ground, lonely and far from the first. The man's gasps of pain were silent this time, no breath left as the moment occurred just before the man could catch his breath.

"Maybe I'm naïve. Am I naïve? To not want a world with… this!"

A grunt and another slice, and the pinky was severed completely, nothing left of it as the last knuckle tumbled off the log. That pain shocked a breath and the squealing returned, then grew desperate and terrified as Joe pulled out the man's ring finger.

"To not want anyone, adult or child, to live through this?!"

The knife slammed upon the log, right next to the last knuckle of the man's ring finger. It quivered in the log, vibrating since Joe pulled his hand back, bitter anger slithered through him, but the anger was a withered husk and disgust swelled through him. Joe quashed it rather quickly, looking at the slave master writhing on the ground.

"Am I so foolish to believe something like this is so… cruel… so evil, that none should ever experience it. That none should ever even fear it?"

Joe turned his gaze to look at the people who watched. The slaves grinned in feral glee and several of the guards even watched with schadenfreude, joyful for the slave master's pain. Dulan's group remained rather carefully blank faced, although he could tell all supported Joe, pride and some soft happiness on faces. The slave merchant's group was the only one silently tense and withdrawn.

Joe's burning rage remained, but a calm returned and he turned from his torture, disgust at what he'd done quickly firming choices.

Joe looked down at the slave merchant, "Why are you so certain that this is the way? How could any, seeing such complete pain, believe such is acceptable?"

Joe's grip upon the slave master's hand tightened, and the man's terror spiked as his writhing grew more frantic once again. Joe ignored it, mana swelling and flooding into regeneration once again, and a short time later, the man's hand was restored although his legs Joe left incapacitated. Tears of relief replaced those of pain and the slave master stared up at Joe in continued horror and fear. Joe shook his head and stood, walking from the slave master.

"Is this your 'good' world?"

Joe stood, silent for a moment, "Maybe I am a naïve fool, but I'd rather a naïve fool hoping for a world where my children never… never… see or know this. EVER! Even to the poor and destitute, it would not even be a distant possibility. Am I an idiot to dream of such a place? Of such a world?"

Joe looked around, his angry demands turning to pleading wonder, desperate to see if he was such a fool. The field remained silent. None spoke. None said a thing.

Joe turned away, soft, "It feels like some of us did… or it felt that way with my family."

Joe's idyllic childhood reared in full violent conflict with the bloody field around him, knuckles and legs in meter tall piles leaking blood across clay clumped reddish piles of wet mud and a quiet trembling group of about a dozen recently feces covered children. Joe turned his gaze away from the children and turned to look at the others. But he only saw blank faced stares or soft smiles of glee.

Joe turned away in disgusted horror, stomach roiling under his bitter rage and his pleas for understanding turned to loathing as he sneered, looking out across the field of men and women before turning to look down at the man who'd represented and enforced it all on everyone in the small clearing where they stood. Joe grit his teeth, grimacing, his rage and hatred swelling again. Rage warred with moral principle and Joe found his integrity wanting, rage demanding action that Joe found abhorrent yet desperately desired. Unable to remain strong, Joe fled, turning his back upon the slave master in a desperate attempt to calm his rage, leaving him in his refuse, phlegm, and tears.

He marched across towards the slaves who had been in training, speaking quickly but unable to hide his disgust, "Do what you want… except harming others around here. Go where you want. I don't care. Don't speak about what happened here. Don't speak about me. You can leave now. Or wait till I leave. I can get you safely to a town but once there, go where you will!"

The ex-slaves fidgeted, many turning to speak amongst themselves but Joe didn't wait, turning away and marching across to the guards.

"You, wait."

The guards didn't like that, some preparing to argue with him, but Joe marched away, anger driving him to ignore them. He turned towards the slave merchant's group, staring at them before turning to look at the merchant, lips twisted up in disgusted anger. He grit his teeth then looked back over the group.

"Everyone who is a slave here, move over here," Joe pointed to the ground to his right.

The slave merchant said nothing, poorly hiding a grimace, but the young man at his side prepared to speak. The slave merchant reached over to put a hand on the young man, stopping him. All the slaves, including slave guards, marched to the side, fearful but still failing to hide glimmers of hope. Joe stared at the non-slaves for a time before turning his gaze back to all the slaves.

"Who wants to be free?"

Almost everyone raised their hands, and Joe pointed to another spot off to the side, "Those who want to, move to the side."

Four were left, cowering fearful where they stood and Joe looked at them, "Why?"

The four looked at each other but said nothing and Joe waited for a time before repeating his question. A few moments later, one finally spoke.

"I'm hungry. Always hungry. But now not."

Joe nodded, "You could not find a job?"

The man shook his head, "Too hard."

Joe frowned before nodding, "How do you …"

"He's not right in the head," a voice called out.

Joe frowned further, knitting eyebrows and turned to look at who spoke. The young man at the side of the slave merchant called out again.

"He's a good worker. Hard worker. But he is not… right in the head."

The man nodded, "Thinking… hard."

"Always?" Joe asked, confusion setting.

What am … can I help?

"Yes. Always."

"Do they treat you well?"

"Yes."

"Do they hurt you? Punish or… do they make you cry?"

"No? Not always… almost never."

Joe frowned again at that, "But they do?"

"If I break… or hurt other."

Concern slipped away and Joe sighed, "And you others?"

The three others looked at one another before one of them spoke, "It's easy. Food, bed, and all we have to do is work. It's a good life. Better than the streets."

Another young man chirped up, "And it helps my family."

Joe's frown grew, "Your family?"

"Yes."

"How so?"

"Their shop is well protected… and they can grow and feed my brothers and sisters."

"They needed money?"

"Yes."

"If you…" Joe trailed off, thoughtful before continuing, "If you could move to a new place with your family and open the shop there, would you be willing? You and your family and your shop?"

The young man quickly shook his head, "We are in a good place with friends and family. Why would we leave?"

"You want this."

"Yes."

"All of you?"

The others quickly nodded their heads, agreeing, "Yes."

"And … are you harmed?"

"No. No more than any other in any city."

Joe grimaced at that thought but then decided to leave it alone. They could evaluate their own lives and what they wanted as easily as he could, and they wanted what they felt was an easier life, so he sighed and turned away.

He looked at the bigger group of people, "You all seek your freedom."

"Yes," many called, excitement swelling and Joe nodded.

He turned to look at the merchant, a flat look now on his face, and the merchant growled a bit before sighing and waving a hand at the entire group, "All in that group be released."

Collars peeled away from skin and slithered back into balls before collapsing to the ground. Joe held out a hand at that.

"All the collars, please."

The former slaves clambered across the field, picking up collars and lining up to drop them off for Joe. Joe saw a couple sneaking a collar into their pocket, and at first, he couldn't care less, but then realized he didn't want them using it on another so grew adamant that all be turned in to him. Each one was simply added to his own rainbow pearlescent collar. Wait… is it… Joe's hand rose up to touch the collar around his neck, tracing and feeling it but found it to be unchanged in size or composition, at least to his touch. Nor did its weight appreciably change. Huh… that's… gonna be interesting to figure out!

Joe turned to look at the slave merchant, but the man simply stared at him, deeply thoughtful before nodding, "We are free to go now, great eccentric?"

Joe stared at the man, softly grinding his teeth in thought, "You have other slaves."

The man said nothing, watching Joe for a time before nodding his head, "Yes, we do."

Joe chewed his lips, "And if I forced you to release them now?"

The man replied, "They would all be released."

Joe felt an eyebrow twitch at that. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the man but said nothing for a bit before the man replied.

"I would release those willing to leave."

Joe's eyebrows knit with some confusion, and narrowing further, "You would?"

"If I can join you."

Joe paused at that, thoughtful, "Why?"

"There are superior paths to power and wealth… and you seem capable."

"This is a family trade," Joe asked with some resignation as recognition hit and he remembered how limiting the job system must have been, especially in a lineage.

"Yes. Generations."

"And you seek freedom from it?"

"I never thought to do so before. I never thought it possible."

"Why now?"

"Maybe I am being naïve," the man offered with a chagrined self-recriminating smile, "but you have ignited some hope within me as well. And a possible path for me, if you are willing."

Joe paused, "What would happen with the other slaves?"

The man raised an eyebrow at that and replied with some confusion, "They would be free?"

"No. If you freed them now, would they understand?"

"Ah," the man raised his head in thoughtful understanding, "They would… no. Never."

"And their options, if freed?"

"For many, they would be… few."

"Worse off than under your care."

"Yes."

"And you cared for them? Care for them?"

The man did not reply and simply turned to the recently freed slaves, waving an arm to them, "Any who have been with me longer than five years, please speak freely with the eccentric."

Joe turned with a feeling of shocked disconnect, not really expecting the quick change in the slave merchant's reactions but found a half a dozen stepping forward. After a quick discussion with them, the man seemed to be quite respected. Joe took each of their statements, weighing things cautiously before looking back at the merchant.

"Who hates you the most?"

The merchant sighed, "He… is not here. But …"

Joe cut him off, "Free the slaves you have… those who seek freedom but explain why and what you are doing. Explain to them who I am and why you seek me out. Offer them the same. They may come if they wish, they and their families. If they have shops or homes, they may sell them and I will attempt to help them… it is not a big place, but there is much space.

"I will likely accept all who have a good heart and a willingness to work hard. You… I will listen to whoever 'he' is and hear his words and what he thinks of you. Whether you may join… that will depend on what 'he' has to say."

The slave merchant thought on this for a bit, considering before nodding, "He will not speak kindly of me."

Joe nodded, "Why he does will weigh more in my measurement than his anger. If he has good reason, I will be… concerned."

The man nodded, seeming to calm down at that and continued, "So you would offer my slaves a fair place? A safe place?"

Joe snorted, "I don't know if I can. I can only hope. A monster or an army…" Joe trailed off with that and shrugged.

The slave merchant paused and considered for a time before stepping forward, offering his hand, "Then I will accept the chance."

Joe shook the man's hand and then stepped back, turning away with thoughtful bewilderment at what had just happened. OK…. That… happened.

* * *

The slave merchant traveled from the camp with a much reduced caravan, choosing this time to walk alongside the couple wagons they had. His son usually rode the second just as he did the first, but while driving a wagon was remarkably easy, the animals directing the wagon as much as the driver, his mind still raced too much to give the focus needed to keeping his wagon safe. His mind raced at the possibilities and sought only what essentially would be his future.

While his family was remarkably wealthy with their role as merchants, wealth was worthless next to power. What use was wealth when a single powerful person or clan could come and easily take what they wanted. His grandfather and even great grandfather had envisioned shifting their family to one of power, but even wealth could do very little in the face of power and those with power had little need for gifted wealth. They took what they wanted so who would sacrifice their road to power for any wealth offered.

But now… this man is a good man. And if he is willing… His son slid up next to him, walking silently by his side and the merchant looked at his son. Probably too old… too late for him… but for his children…. The merchant quickly considered the women that might match with his son. It is time for him to have his second wife. Two is good. His people often married two to one, women born two to one compared to the men. But the second… a martial wife… she would not accept being the minor wife. His thoughts whorled, lost and struggling when his son interrupted him.

"Who's gonna tell my moms?"

The slave merchant froze for a split second, actually stutter stepping before smoothly beginning again and he took a couple long steps to catch back up with his son.

"You will need a second wife; I think an adventurer or a martial one."

It was his son's turn to stutter step and he slid back up to his father's side, growling, "I will not allow her … only if she is the minor wife."

His father sighed, falling silent. His son's love for his wife was known, as was hers for his son. This had been a powerful benefit to the family, much to the consternation of the wife's family. But now… The merchant grimaced. It is a significant block to any future for the family.

His son interrupted his thoughts again, this time recognizing the oddity in his father's request, "Why an adventurer?"

The slave merchant looked at his son with a smile, "You think the eccentric will not soar to the heavens? And take any with him?"

That brought instant interest with no little amount of greed even as his son's eyes narrowed in thought, "You seek to shift our family's fortunes?"

"It is too late for me… for you, likely, as well. But for our family? For our children?"

His son struggled to keep his excitement down, even as his grin grew. The two walked in silence for a time until finally the son spoke again.

"You still gotta explain to the moms."

The slave merchant growled, this time in humor and reached out to catch his son who skipped away with humor.

"I may call in that favor," the merchant called out, ending the chase for the sake of dignity.

His son grimaced and glanced back before smirking, "I think I'll decline!"

"Decline! Debts are owed… and they will be paid!" the father mocked growled back.

The two continued marching down the road in good humor, excitement fueling a shiver of thrill through both of them as they saw a future both had thought impossible. And while the two fell into a good humor and conversation, the slave merchant's thoughts turned to planning. Coushar… never heard of it… such a small town… and Laketown… even smaller?

* * *

Joe turned from the merchant and his eyes fell back on the field full of recently freed slaves and the staff who'd once run this camp. Many slaves had already scattered, fleeing into the woods. The merchant gathered his people and the few slaves who wanted to remain or travel with him and also headed out along the trail back the way they'd come. And Joe found his rage writhing, again.

Joe's eyes searched the field, looking over every person but stayed clear of where the slave master whimpered upon the ground, lying against the log he always sat at, whittling his pieces for a chess game. Joe grit his teeth, even as his lips twitched to a snarl. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, seeking calm. A second and third breath settled his body, offering a positive biofeedback loop that proved useless as his thoughts till snarled with twisted raging emotion. The feeling, though, seemed enough and his eyes opened even as his face blanked to careful neutrality. I can do this. I can do this. Control. Stop thinking… stop thinking! Focus! Clear… I did it… got out. I'm free… in control… Got out… he will never control me again. I won! I won! Calm… clear thoughts… He only did what he thought he must… what he thought was the righ… Joe's thoughts shattered against the rock solid disgust at such a thought and calm rocked even as Joe closed his eyes again, breathing a few times. The feeling of calm returned again, his body relaxed and he grit his teeth even as he wrestled with his mind.

Calm… a deep breath. Calm… a deep breath. Calm... a deep breath. His heart settled and tension fled from his core even as his stomach fully relaxed. Calm… Don't think. Time to do… Get… move on… get it done, then deal… His thoughts twisted at that and he breathed deep once again, calm settling back as he continued. Focus … Focus … Focus … Clear my mind… focus on what I gotta do next… What? Go home… Relief flooded through him at the thought even as a deep lost part of him took that thought. What home? Which home? Who? Mom… dad! Sis… Grief welled and rocked his thoughts and, only for the shortest time, partnered with rage to destabilize.

He'd turned from the slave master in a desperate attempt to distance his rage; to give himself enough time to calm himself. Joe glanced around, looking everywhere but at the slave master and saw the children, playing once again but much more subdued, with the halfling at there side beside all the other slaves who had been by his side. His thoughts turned to the children, grateful that they were now free and as safe as he could make them. But with the sight of them came the memory of what he'd done; blinded, deafened, starved, and some even muted and paralyzed. Joe felt guilt rear its ugly head, and he struggled, fighting against the thought, reminding himself it had been for their own good. For their own good! For their own good! Remember… you did it to save them. For their own good. But with that acknowledgment came the reality that this world and the slave master had pushed him to make such a choice for a child's own good. That's… for their own good!?! That thought hammered home in a way that was absolute and unyielding. And his fury raged. He greatly underestimated it and his control slipped, warped, then shattered. His rage swelled, and overwhelmed him, he succumbed to his rage. Will and reason shattered before grief and hatred. Thought erased from existence along with any worry or concern; that small part of himself that still stood in righteous indignation over injustice was crushed under a tsunami of wrath, silencing any attempt to withhold himself.

His march across the field was slow and deliberate, quickly shifting to a sprint, his face turning feral even as his rage broke through, voicing bitter growling howls. The slave master's terror was immediate, backing away as fast as he could on scrabbling arms as he dragged his legs behind him. It was futile. Mana flooded from his chest in copious volumes in amounts greater than he'd ever accomplished before. Time almost froze even as he moved with the wild abandon of a beast lacking all control. Feet scrabbled across the ground in wild slippery fumbling, kicking up clouds of dust as mana roots failed to form properly to offer the grip he needed or even didn't appear as thought vanished. He collapsed to all fours and simply fell into a bestial rage, using his hands to add to the effort to get to the slave master that little bit faster.

The wild scrambling lasted only moments, but too long for Joe as he wildly crawled or leapt forward until he was finally able to reach a semblance of a run. The slave master lay frozen, terror widening eyes and mouth, frozen in the moment Joe had given himself.

If his start was a wild scramble, his ending was a worthless tumble that had him sliding past the slave master at too fast speeds, hand desperately reaching out to grasp the man on his way by. His hand grasped a calf but failed to grip it, even as his nails clawed their way down the shin and across the top of the foot, wrist unable to quite twist around quickly enough to grab on until just as his grip slipped across the end of the man's foot. Joe caught a grip just for a moment. Fingers and thumb pinched together to hold the man, and his grip slipped down the foot until it finally found grip upon the large toe, catching just at the joint.

He clutched at the man desperately, the leg jerking against his mass as he tumbled away. Inertia proved too much and Joe tumbled by with a bloody big toe in his grip. He didn't even notice, simply dropping what was in his hand in a mindless rage as the man got away from him once again. His return proved more successful if still as uncontrolled, and he soon found himself hunched over the man, a wild enraged beast.

"Do you know what you have done?!"

The man still stared in the direction where the slave merchant was standing, where Joe had started his wild rush, horror and fear still painting his face. Joe didn't notice nor care, screaming into the man's face.

"Do you know what was 'good' for those kids because of you!?"

An axe formed in his hand and he gripped down around the blade and his fingers immediately sliced off as his rage blinded him to caution. He cared not, simply gripping the handle with his other hand and prepared even as his fingers reappeared before the onslaught of thousands of HP.

"It was better…"

Joe heaved with grunt, cutting off speech as his axe swung around. Even as it did so, a small part of himself whispered in glee. Yes! But then rage snapped back. Too easy. Too easy! His axe twitched, then shifted its aim with violent effort towards a leg, shifting into a wild angled tangent for the foot. It didn't quite make it, but his rage relished the result, whispering in pride for an action well chosen.

The man's foot sliced off at the ankle, tumbling away even as the force of his axe strike punched through the man's leg like butter and buried into the ground underneath all the way to the shaft of the axe.

"… to blind…"

Joe heaved with a mighty grunt, pulling up on the axe shaft.

"… a kid…"

He pushed the axe shaft back down, loosening the grip the earth had upon his axe blade.

"… than leave him…"

He pulled back up once again, the axe begrudgingly ripping from the earth and Joe took a single staggering step back before catching his balance, already prepared for his next action.

"… with you."

His axe swung once again, this time perfectly aimed in eager agreement with the gleeful whispers of revenge.

"To stab the kid…"

The axe chunked into the earth, snipping through the ankle of the slave merchant only an inch or two above where he'd last removed the man's foot, the small inch or two column of flesh snapping off to tumble into the sky, just behind the still tumbling ankle which had just started to leave a spiraling trail of bloody droplets.

"… in the ear…"

He heaved up, pulling the axe just a bit out from the dirt with enormous effort.

"… to deafen the kid…"

He grunted and pushed the blade down then jerked up with a mighty heave, freeing the axe from the grasp of the earth, this time with more ease and grace.

"… than let him hear…"

His axe came thundering back down, taking off another couple inches of shin and calf, that slice of the leg tumbling into the sky after the still tumbling other two pieces.

"… you coming!"

He pushed down and then jerked up, the axe ripping free with great effort but faster, his desperation to release his fury driving his actions.

"To dig a dagger…"

The axe came back down once more, slicing another couple inches off the upper shin, now quite close to the knee. It tumbled into the air from the mighty strike just like the other pieces, joining the arc the others traced, the ankle and foot just now finally returning to the earth before it took a bounce.

"… through a kid's…"

The axe slammed down directly through the knee cap, more shattering it than slicing it before separating the knee joint, the last of the lower leg joining the others in the long slow arc through the sky. The ankle took one bounce with a slow tumble before returning to the earth.

"… larynx so he couldn't…"

The axe raised again, this time pulling free with greater ease despite having plunged further into the earth.

"… call out to you!"

The axe came back down and took the bottom portion of his thigh off, sending it skyward as well even as his rage sighed with satisfied justification and Joe turned his gaze to the other foot.

"To paralyze…"

The axe rose from the earth, Joe no longer even feeling the effort.

"… a kid completely…"

The axe slammed into the slave master's line of toes, the five tumbling off in a graceful arc in line after one another.

"… to keep him…"

The axe rose once again.

"… from crawling back…"

The axe sliced down, right across the top of the foot, cutting the foot in half and lopping the end of it off.

"… to you…"

The axe rose again.

"… to die!""

The axe fell, snipping through an ankle.

"To leave kids…"

The axe rose.

"… in their own feces…"

The axe fell, taking the bottom part of the shin.

"… and urine…"

The axe rose.

"… for their own…"

The axe fell, another small portion of shin joining the tumble of others still slowing spiraling through the air.

"… good!"

The axe rose. And Joe lost his ability to articulate, even as he screamed in a wild rage. The axe fell. His howl rose to the skies, a desperate rage that drove all thought from his mind. The axe rose. Never again… The axe fell. No more kids! The axe rose. Never again… The axe rose. A low rumbling growl, almost sub-harmonic, began to itch at Joe's ears. The axe fell. Confusion narrowed his eyebrows together, even as rage demanded actions, and… The axe rose. The sound grew louder and more insistent, and his rage softened before worry and confusion. The axe fell. The growl rapidly increased in volume, wild and unconstrained, yet somehow so deep and terrifying; the growl of a massive beast so large even the softest growl vibrated the very air around it. But… it … this … something's off… Joe's actions slowed and worry grew as wonder sought an answer. Not… it's weird… His eyes glanced around, small subtle twitches. The axe rose. He saw nothing of worry, the people around him frozen and unmoving, even as many just now started showing looks of horror and terror. Afraid? Where… The tree line was empty, and he quickly glanced again, wildly in all directions but found no danger. Up!? A quick look up showed clear skies and he pulled his gaze back down. The axe fell. The volume of the deep howl spiked, and Joe frowned in wonder even as his axe rose once again and his actions slowed even as his mana swelled to incredible amounts, mana flooding his system and mind.

Time slowed and the growl turned even deeper and more menacing. Concern for such a deep growl pulled his rage back under iron control and Joe found himself turning mores lowly, seeking what surely must be a threat with much more concern and deliberateness. His slow turning proved much more effective and quickly helped him pinpoint the location of the sound as his head whipped back around and quickly found the source of the low rumbling howl. The slave master, eye's closed in horrific pain, arched his back even as his face twisted in agony. Why? Confusion swamped him for a split second until a quick rapid glance showed the shredded remains of the slave master's legs.

The man's right leg ended just above his knee on his lower thigh, but the left leg was cut almost to his hip. Blood had barely started to pool at the wound sight on the left leg while the right leg had just formed a small pool even as blood spurted slowly from both legs. Several pieces of the left leg were still tumbling through the air, and blood spattered from all the pieces covered the ground at the feet of the slave merchant. The man's face was contorted in horrific pain but it was the wild butchery of the man's legs that threw a cold splash of water on his anger, instantly cooling it and giving his will the necessary moment to clamp down. A feeling of peace and calm quickly swamped through him, even as his rage and bitterness battered unsuccessfully at it.

Joe panted, horrified at his own actions, but despite his horror at himself, he still felt a twisted delight in the man's pain and despite his efforts to pull back his anger and to feel some remorse, a small voice at the back of his mind whispered the man deserved every bit of his pain, and possibly even more.

Joe took a step back and a deep breath. He held no pity for the man, but the blood continued to pool out and darken the sandy dust so Joe grimaced as he knelt and sent out a wash of healing into the man's legs and a small amount into the blood vessels. His mana swelled and covered his stumps and cut off the bleeding even as the mana in the arteries and veins swelled to plunge into the larger bones and draw out a magically enhanced response of increased blood. His mana flowed until the healing was complete and Joe pulled his hand back before standing and stepping back once more, calm finally restored, even if he'd decided to ignore any effort to process the moment.

* * *

Gwenvair groaned. Joe had been both exuberant and in a rage of a level she couldn't comprehend. He was happier than she'd felt in a long time, but this last bought of rage was almost so overwhelming she couldn't resist the gasp that slipped her lips. No! No! Calm! All is well! Gwenvair fought, desiring peace for her husband. Happiness and relief. But his rage was so overwhelming.

* * *

Dulan watched as the eccentric turned from the slave merchant, some kind of agreement made amicably, then turning back to take in the rest of the field of slaves. The eccentric stood silently, eyes closed for a time before looking across the field until he then turned his gaze to the slave master. As soon as he did so, the eccentric's gaze locked upon the man and Dulan sighed softly, both in relief and sadness.

"Let it out, lad."

Dulan whispered so softly only he heard, no breath even gracing the words as only his tongue formed them. He was no fool. Even at a young age, the man was an eccentric of great power. A remarkably restrained and kind one, but still one of great power. Only fools would anger power and Dulan had no desire to do so.

The eccentric marched across the field and Dulan nodded both in relief and no little amount of glee. The man would get what he deserved and the eccentric would be the instrument of that justice. Dulan wanted his own rage spent as well, but trusted his justice to the eccentric's hands. He had no choice but to do so; the eccentric was the greatest power here.

The eyes told the story, and the eccentric began a slow march towards the slave master and at any other time and in any other situation, Dulan would have felt pity for the person who garnered the attention of a power. But his own rage at what the slave master had done crushed any pity he might once have had.

The march quickly devolved as rage took over and then Dulan's eyes widened in shock as the eccentric vanished, a cloud of dust the only thing left behind even as a wild scream of rage climbed in jagged spikes of layering sound. Dulan knew exactly where to look, and his gaze rapidly turned towards the slave master, his head turning as fast as it ever had even as his ears were inundated with a cacophony of noise, hints of words and meaning hidden behind screams of rage and anger. His eyes finally made it back to the slave master even if his head had only just started to turn and then his eyes widened in shock even as he tried to turn his head faster.

Blood and flesh tumbled through the air in a rain of horror even as movement blurred over the slave master's prone body. Moments later, pain filled cries screeched to the sky as flesh continued to shred from the slave master's legs, arcing in a never ending waterfall from each of his legs. The slave master's cry grew and deepened in a roar of pain with each passing moment and then it all suddenly stopped. Blurring movement ceased and the slave master's shriek faded to whimpering horror and relief and the eccentric came into view again, bent over the slave master's stumps, blood pooled widely around the slave master's legs.

Dulan panted, fear and awe laced inseparably, blanketing his heart.

* * *

Joe stared down at the man and the slave master stared back up at him, fear contorting his face even as tears and phlegm stained his cheeks. Joe felt nothing but contempt and a still burning rage twisting through him. But the rage had calmed, and he could twist it down into a small compartment, crushing it within a vice before storing it in a deep and dark hole.

Then, Joe felt nothing, only clarity remained. He breathed deep in cathartic release and turned away, marching a half a dozen steps towards the clear tree line before stopping and simply staring for a time. This is gonna suck later, but… for now… Joe knew regret would come, but he couldn't really find the resolve to care or feel any remorse. Maybe later… But… still not enough… not enough…

Despite his still burning rage, Joe felt a deep sense of disappointment and regret settling in, and he turned towards the slave master then turned away once again. Its enough… for now… it has to be enough. I… His mind revolted against the thought once again but this time he was able to twist the rage and hatred back under control. It would take much longer for him to ever come close to forgiving the man, but at least he cut off the desire for torture and physical pain. His mind shifted back to what he'd just done, and a shiver of fear laced through him. He turned back to look at the mangled remains of the man's legs and Joe forced himself to look at the results of his handiwork. But every time his gaze noticed the slave master, seeing his face, remembering who he was trying to feel empathy for, his rage would wash away all his efforts and Joe finally had to simply remove the man from the equation. He saw his handiwork purely in the effects of it, divorced from the individual who he'd done this to, and he felt his disgust welling. He finally turned away and continued on towards the edge of the forest before squatting to the ground and curling his arms around his knees. He remained like that a few moments before collapsing to his hands and knees and dry heaving for a time. It didn't take much time, at least from Joe's perspective, although it consumed him utterly until he finally was able to stand. Never again. Never again.

Joe didn't know if he spoke of his captivity, or how he'd tortured a person, but his will was iron.