The day went by slow, maybe it was the dark fog that blanketed the gorge, or the muffled cries of the slaves. Either way. The guards ordered the slaves to return to their caves.
The caves weren't allocated, it was based on strength, the closer you are to the core of the gorge, the warmer it gets.
Alexander and Elandor were still around the outskirts of the gorge. Their cave was just a slight arch from outside, the cold was biting.
The guards didn't waste time removing the shackles on the slaves legs, Alexander watched calmly as they used a key inscribed with sorcery to unlock them.
He immediately felt his channels open, essence flowed freely from his soul sea, it made a quick rotation through his body, and returned to settle in his soul sea.
Alexander heaved a sigh of relief, the chilling cold finally vanished.
Elandor's shackles were also undone, but she didn't feel much better, although her ability to channel has returned, she still needed Alexander and his soul sea.
She was definitely in a dire situation, much more so than the average slave.
They quietly returned to their cave, luckily they weren't much competition for the spot.
Elandor was covered in red whip marks, some with thick blood dripping, Alexander fared slightly better, although he still couldn't escape the abuse of the guards.
"Are you alright? Elandor".
She clicked her tongue aggressively.
"Do I look alright to you? Alex".
Alexander's expression didn't change.
"No, you look ghastly, one might think you would have dropped dead by now".
Elandor chuckled lightly, but that simple action made her feel like her skin was being flayed off.
Alexander held her hand, he channeled his essence into her, she then used the golden essence to warm her body, her wounds also partially healed.
"You have finally learnt how to channel, but you're still not using the Tyrannical Saint Devil Technique, if not, my wounds would have completely healed, and you would be able to channel even with the enchanted shackles on your ankles".
"You keep saying that, but I don't get it, I'm channeling ain't I… So then why doesn't the Tyrannical saint devil technique activate on its own".
Elandor coughed. "It won't activate if you don't understand it, just replicating the path I channeled through your body doesn't make you a Tyrannical saint devil, you have to comprehend the essence of the technique, or it will be no different from your average channeling technique".
Alexander went quiet, comprehend what exactly? He always felt like he was getting somewhere and nowhere at the same time. following the same pattern Elandor channeled, granted him the ability to channel, and the blueprint for the Tyrannical saint devil technique.
But no matter what he did, he couldn't use the actual technique, he didn't understand it, it was like a body without a spirit, it was hollow.
Alexander sat back down, with an exasperated sigh. "I'm gonna go explore the interior of this cave network, maybe I can find an empty spot for us, we can't keep using essence to stay warm".
"Go, I need to focus on breaking my seal". Elandor nodded slightly before closing her eyes.
…
Alexander moved deeper into the gorge.
He didn't venture too far, just enough to leave the reach of the cold mist curling at the entrance. The deeper he went, the more horrid the stench of blood and corpses.
Fists slammed into flesh as those with lesser strength fought for better shelter.
Still, the luminous rocks embedded in the walls cast a steady glow, soft and silver. He could see everything, perhaps too clearly.
He kept walking.
Then he heard a scuffle, rounding a bend, Alexander's steps halted by the sound of deep voices.
Down below, within a wide basin.
A group of five men stood around a woman, she was pale and small. Just like any other slave, she had long brown curly hair, her skin was like milk, but still had a dark tan to it.
He didn't recognize the woman, but he knew the men. They had stolen another slave's bread earlier in the day.
He didn't move. Just lowered himself behind a stack of broken stone and watched silently, Alexander has never felt compelled to save anyone.
Just then, the woman spoke, her voice calm and even.
"This is uncalled for. Friends, why don't we act like civilised people… treating a defenseless woman with such roughness is barbaric and primitive".
One of the bald men chuckled darkly, a cruel smile spread across his face.
"Did you just call my brothers and I savages?".
The woman shook her head gently, her expression completely relaxed, if not for the muscular men surrounding her, one would think she wasn't being harassed.
"No, of course not… the exact words I used were barbaric and primitive, and I believe that would make you guys worse than the average savages, if there ever was a hierarchy to such things".
The men growled.
"That's enough from you bitch".
One of the men reached out, intending to grab her by the neck, but he missed by a hair's breadth.
His eyes instinctively looked down, crouched below was the woman, her eyes predatory.
Without hesitation she rose, followed by a punch to the man's jaw, her fist was small, but when it made contact with the man, a snapping sound rang out, loud and clear.
The man's teeth cracked and then snapped, bits and pieces embedding themselves into his gums, but that wasn't the end, the bones in his jaws cried out, then his skull.
Before his companions could react, the man was flung high into the sky, his lifeless body crashing next to Alexander.
The woman flexed her shoulders with a short sigh, his companions remained frozen, while Alexander glanced down, stunned by the corpse next to him.
The man's face has been completely obliterated.
"What outstanding physical strength, I didn't sense any soul essence from that attack, it was pure physical prowess".
Alexander once more focused on the fight down below, the other four men finally snapped back to reality, they roared in rage.
"Break her legs and drag her to the Boss".