Chapter 3

Chapter Three: Eldoria 

Silas aka Adam Bishop 

I woke up with a start, gasping and trying to catch my breath. It felt like I had just run a mile. 

I looked around the room I was in. If it can even be called a room judging by how small it is. Even my old room was not as small. The ceiling is low and I think I can reach it, the things and furniture all look... old. 

My brain processed what's going on and I remembered what happened. I died, I woke up in a place between heaven and hell, met a man in white cloak who gave me another chance and I was transmigrated to another world as a... what even am I?

As if on cue, memories I never had or experienced before flooded my mind. About who I was and what I am. 

"My name is Silas." I muttered and glanced at my body, noticing how frail it was. I wasn't technically skinny but I sure do need some fats and muscles in me. 

The body I was in is a seventeen-year-old teenager named Silas. He was a son to a man named Okka. He's part of the indigenous people. His father works as a servant to a rich family while Silas works as a stable boy. 

"Even in another life, I just can't catch a break, huh?" I scoffed and finally stood up to wash my face and start my day. I don't remember how I got here, but I remember fainting in the middle of a market. 

I am here now anyway. Might as well live as Silas and do the damn mission. I couldn't help but wonder what happened to the original Silas. Is he dead? Or is his situation like mine?

I walked out of the room and I was met with the sight of a man preparing breakfast. When he noticed me, he placed whatever he was holding to the table and went to touch my forehead. 

"Poko and Demi saw you in the market and brought you here. You're lucky there was no horse or you would have been trampled on by now. How are you feeling? I told you not to leave if you're not feeling well." He scolded me and I was speechless for a minute, surprised by the touch, but almost moved by the care of a father. 

In my memory, Okka is a good father. She lost her wife to an illness not long ago and he dedicated himself to taking care of his son. 

"I'm... I'm fine. I can go back to work." I found myself responding after a while and he dragged me to a simple table made out of an old tree. 

"You never really listen to me. If you're gonna be like that. You better eat, but don't push yourself too hard, okay?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to say anything. I watched him eat for a second before picking up the spoon and the bowl to eat. The food wasn't familiar to me but it was human food, so I guess I can eat it. 

According to Silas' memory, both him and his father are humans, as well as most of the servants. The wealthy ones or the royal ones are mythical creatures like wolves, vampires, fairies or... demons. Humans and the creatures work together, but of course, discrimination will always be there in any world or era. The strong ones rule, while the weak ones serve them. 

I tried to find answers about the prince in his memory, but I just can't find anything. 

One moment, we were peacefully eating and the next thing I heard was commotion outside. 

"What's happening?" I asked Okka, my father, in panic. 

"The bandits! Quick, hide! If they find you, they will mostly sell you to the vampires as their familiar!" Okka told me and I scrambled to hide but where will I hide in such a small place?! 

In the end, I managed to hide behind the space of an old and worn out closet. Thanks to my thin and small body. Talk about irony. 

I held my breath and heard Okka arguing with some men. I could hear their loud voices from where I was and I felt terrified for his life. We are not related in any way, but I'm still borrowing his son's body and memories so there is still a connection between us. 

"I am alone!" Okka insisted and I heard them smashing things. I felt sick to my stomach. 

"We know you have a young son, Okka! Where is he?! Give them to us or you will not see the sun again!" 

I shivered in fear at the threat and my eyes widened when I saw men holding him while the one who seemed to be their leader, had a knife pointed at his eyes. 

Will I just really hide and leave him to die like a coward?! 

Just when they were about to stab his eye, I came out of my hiding spot. 

"No! Stop it! I'm here! You want me, right?! Let him go!" 

They pushed Okka to the ground and he still tried to protect me but I just shook my head at him. The leader walked closer to me and watched me. He yanked my arm and looked at every part of my body, leaving me feeling violated. 

"Soft, smooth skin, complete set of teeth. A bit skinny but looked healthy. I bet we can sell him for a good price." The man with yellow teeth and patches in his left eye grinned maliciously.

"No!" Okka exclaimed and tried to stand up but they kicked him. 

"Stop it! I'm coming with you. Just please don't hurt him!" I pleaded and sent a reassuring smile at him. "I'll be fine, f-father. I promise." It felt strange calling someone else that, but there was still a sense of familiarity. 

They dragged me outside and made me sit in a truck with five more people who appeared to be my age. Four boys and one girl. They all looked afraid and I was too, but I have learned to mask my feelings. As they went around the poor town, they were able to take two more girls and two boys before we left. The girls stayed together and cried, while the boys looked lost. 

I looked around the place and noticed that it doesn't look that different from my world. The trees, flowers and even the people are the same. The only difference is everything looks old. Like a period era of a local american series I used to watch when I had the time. The language is the same as well, but they don't speak old english. It sounded more of a modern one with different accents. Does that even make sense?

I couldn't help but wonder if this was another dream and I will wake up and find myself back in that white place. But something inside me tells me that this is real. This is the new life I live and as long as my mission is incomplete, I will have to do my best to stay alive. 

I just hope they won't sell me as a vampire or wolf's food. That sounds terrible. And I wouldn't know how to survive. 

"I heard they're taking us to be slaves and concubines of those creatures." The boy beside me said and I looked at him. 

The girls cried harder and the boys buried their faces between their knees. 

"That sounds terrible. Can't we escape?" I asked him and he gave me a blank look. 

"To where? Do you think our fate will change even if we escape? Some of us are willingly sold by our parents."

I pursed my lips at that, speechless at what I heard. How could their parents sell them like animals?!

Night came and we entered what appeared to be the town where the palace is. The original Silas have never been here. His father was always protected by him and he managed to hide him from the bandits for years. They will apparently buy and take children, women and men against their will and they will sell them for a higher price. 

We were separated and I have never felt so powerless, unable to do anything but watch as they drag the boys and girls away to God knows where. They dragged me to a house and I noticed how beautiful and rich this place is. I could see the palace from where we were. 

As we turned a corner, I was shocked to witness such a lewd scene never in my mind I thought I would ever see. I gasped and my eyes widened when the two bandits started making out in front of me, their hands exploring each other's bodies. 

What is happening? I wondered, my huge eyes watching straight and gay couples have sex in the middle of the road like it was the natural thing in the world. Even the two bandits are now pleasuring each other. 

I froze when my eyes connected with a pair of red eyes. They were sitting in the dark and I couldn't make out their faces. I blinked and I gasped loudly when they suddenly appeared in front of me. 

God, he was terrifyingly... gorgeous. 

"Hm, what is this? Why are you not affected? Interesting." His deep voice said and I couldn't understand what he was talking about. He leaned closer to whisper, making me shiver. "I will be seeing you again soon, human."

Just as fast as he appeared, he also disappeared in a blink of an eye and as if snapped out of their trance, the orgy suddenly stopped and it turned to a fight. 

What the hell just happened?