Janik, the industrial mining town that sat on the eastern peninsula of Dremetica. Tall chimneys belching continuous black smoke from their furnaces forced the sky into a constant grey overcast. Tightly packed red brick and grey stone buildings meshed together, creating a labyrinth for newcomers. It was where prisoners were sent to work the many mines the Dwarves opened.

The Dwarves were exiles and struck a deal with the Queen of Dremetica. In exchange for a new place to call home, the Queen wanted a portion of whatever they made to outfit her armies, including the war constructs and siege weapons. She further sweetened the deal by offering free labor in the form of prisoners. The Dwarves, in their greed, accepted the deal.

In Janik, Dwarvern overseers stood on tall platforms with enchanted whips that could reach the prisoners they kept an eye on as they worked. You were considered ‌lucky if you worked outside in the open. In the mines, you were treated worse. Unbeknownst to them, that only painted a target on their backs when Adeline, her grandfather, Ingram, and a few loyalists ventured into town. They had come for one purpose: liberation.

Adeline kept her gaze straight, doing her best not to grimace at the state of the prisoners. She knew there were a few here that deserved to be here for the crimes they committed, but most didn't, as they were only victims of the tyrannical noble houses who mingled in the Queen's inner circle.

She pulled the cloak and hood over her to better hide as she walked back to their hideout after another failed scouting attempt. People rarely visited Janik of their own free will unless they needed something. That, of course, usually caught the attention of the enslaved prisoners. The Dwarf overseers usually saw that as an opportunity to expand their businesses. Many approached Adeline, inquiring what she needed and was looking for, hoping their services would be contracted and with it, more money to fill their coffers.

She politely declined them until they stopped snooping around her altogether. Instead, they switched to keeping an ever-watchful eye on her. They did exactly as she hoped.

While Adeline kept their attention, Ingram and her grandfather snuck into the mines to find her father. They had two more mines to check, and she hoped that today would be the end of it. They already devised a plan in case they found him.

She ducked in between two buildings, taking a grey-colored bead from her inventory, holding it with two fingers. She sent some of her Magic into it, and the bead shined with a dusky grey color, reminiscent of moving clouds in a night sky.

"Ingram, status report. I've got two tails on me." She whispered into the orb.

There was slight static before Ingram's voice came through. "Checking this last shaft then moving into the last mine."

Adeline pursed her lips into a grim line when she realized this was taking too long. They had been here for a week with no luck on her father. "I'll circle back and meet up with you for the last mine."

"Understood, ma'am," Ingram replied, and the connection was cut when Adeline put the bead back into her inventory.

She walked out from between the buildings, coming face to face with armed Dwarven guards, who pointed their spears at her. She slowly raised her hands to remove her hood. The leader of the guard in steel plate stepped forward. "Come with us," he demanded with a thick accent.

Adeline winced. "I can't do that." She shook her head.

"It wasn't a request." The guard said more forcefully, gritting his teeth.

Quicker than any of them could react, Adeline reached behind her back, taking out a glowing flask called Bottled Sunshine and threw it at the ground between her and them. She covered her eyes and ran as the area was bathed in bright light, blinding the Dwarves.

An alarm was raised as one overseer in a tower saw what happened. Adeline took out the communication bead. "Change of plans, Ingram. Go straight for the last mine!"

She dashed past startled prisoners and guards, who screamed at her to stop. Her destination was the large borehole that ran deep into the earth. Runic-carved machine cranes and platforms operated around the borehole, bringing up materials and lowering down the enslaved workers.

Without hesitation, Adeline activated her armored boots, the white runes lighting up as she jumped, swan diving into the borehole at breakneck speed. Her cloak split down the middle, forming ‌white wings that she used to glide down. As she descended, she passed lightning lanterns that illuminated caverns where workers mined.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

From the intel she gathered from being here, it was a known fact that the strongest prisoners were at the lowest parts of the mines. Keeping them at the bottom would give ample response time to guards on the surface to mount a resistance should any prisoners get a little rowdy and mount an escape. Her plan was to head to the bottom, find her father, and free the other high powered slaves to use as a distraction for her escape.

She neared the bottom, willing her newly shaped wings to slow her descent until she touched the ground, gently gracing the ground. All around her, the mouths of the mines filled with prisoners as her armor dimmed from glowing white. Seeing a Holy Order's knight shocked them as many murmured amongst themselves.

Adeline looked at them, seeing their sunken eyes, bones showing from the ratty clothing that became too big. Black slave collars and bands with red gems locked their magic and abilities, something she would soon rectify.

"I'm looking for Darius Ravindra!" She announced, turning in a circle, looking for a familiar face, but she saw none.

Hope was dying within her, fearing she was too late to save her father. She hadn't written to him in some time, frustrated that he refused to fight against being framed for the murder of her mother and other nobles they were tasked to protect during a mission. "Please be here," she pleaded more to herself as she frantically scanned face after face.

"Addy?" A familiar deep voice called, and her heart seized in her chest at the nickname. Slowly she turned and saw a man with matted brown curly hair, almond skin, and a long salt and pepper beard. The harsh look in his brown eyes softened when he recognized his daughter.

"Addy!" he called again, stumbling to her.

She ran to him and engulfed him in a firm yet gentle hug, afraid she would crush him with her own Strength. He was stunned that she was there in her arms as his mind raced to catch up and process that she was now in his arms. "Hi Dad," she choked back a sob.

"Wh-What are you doing here?!" he breathlessly said, squeezing her close to him. His heart thundered in his chest, fearing that this was another trick, but if it was, he would savor the moment. He pulled back, bringing his hand up to her face to brush away a stray hair that fell from her bun.

Adeline's green eyes brimmed with tears. "I've come to break you out. Grandpa is here too." She told him, choking back a sob. She looked at him, seeing he had aged and looked more haggard than she remembered. His time here hadn't been kind to him.

His clothes were too big for him, and his bones seeped through his skin, yet there was still a little light of life left in him. Then she eyed the slave collar around his neck and the bands clasped around his wrists keeping him contained. She frowned as she took his hand in hers to get a better look at it.

Darius still stared in disbelief, trying to wrap his head around what she said. "You can't! They'll swarm this place in a heartbeat the moment I break free!" He urgently warned, jerking his hands back.

"Not if we free everyone else too!" She countered. "Freedom will be yours!" She announced, taking a step away from her father to address the other prisoners.

The prisoners looked around skeptically until a beam of golden light appeared behind Adeline, spitting out Ingram and her grandfather. "I told you she jumped." Ingram smirked.

"Robert?" Darius asked incredulously, staring at his wife's father. He looked good, the years no longer affecting him as he looked more in his 60s than 70s when they first arrived on Grenora. He had a full head of silver hair along with a beard that was neatly trimmed to border stubble. Blue eyes stayed alert as he looked around him. The grey robes he wore glimmered with runic enchantments, as did his smooth white staff.

"It's good to see you, Darius. I am sorry we couldn't come sooner, but we are here now." Robert dipped his head, a smile forming at seeing his son-in-law. "I'm afraid pleasantries are going to have to wait. Let's get you out of those chains and restore you to your rightful self, shall we?" He wiggled his eyebrows and motioned his staff forward.

A misty white cloud of Magic formed and flowed around his staff, guiding it into the black collar and bands. The Magic in them pushed back against Robert's own, but with an extra grunt, it gave way and the collar and bands disintegrated.

Reestablishing Connection!

Welcome back, Darius Ravindra

Name: Darius Ravindra

Class: Earth-Shaper Lord

Level: 83

Tier: 5

Profession: Lore Seeker Level 56

The effect was instantaneous as Magic flowed back into him, refilling him to his appropriate stats. No longer was he gaunt and skeletal looking but healthy and fit, much how he was before being imprisoned. The Magic sang in his veins, quenching the thirst he never knew he had as it washed through him. He let it, closing his eyes. He cackled, low and deep, before turning into a maddening laugh. A laugh that screamed freedom.

Robert and Adeline shared a knowing glance as Ingram kept a watchful eye above, his hand never leaving the pommel of his blade. "We do not have much time, mi'lady." Ingram said, still staring upward.

"Grandpa, free the rest." Adeline said, and Robert waved his staff, beginning to break free the other enslaved prisoners. One by one, they all regained their Tier 4 and 5 Classes.

"Ready?" Darius asked, waving his hand, and the earth eagerly responded to his will as it formed a large platform below them.

Together, everyone piled on as he continued to make more platforms with the help of other Earth mages. It was time to return the favor to their masters. A favor returned tenfold and in blood.

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