You had heard stories about Kingdom Helfheim—the heart of the southern continent, a kingdom said to be built on ideals of harmony, purity, and freedom, a place where humans, elves, dwarves, beastfolk alike, and monsters lived as equals under sapphire skies and golden sun, you remember the first time you passed through the marble gates—your breath stolen by the vibrant fusion of colors, voices, and cultures, laughter echoed through the market square, and even the air smelled like honey and spice

Weeks passed in a blink

Your days were spent chasing quests from the adventurer’s Guild, exchanging stories in cozy taverns, meet some friends and everything, wandering bazaars overflowing with artifacts and trinkets from across the realm, it was… perfect

Until the day you found the tunnel

A hidden path behind a broken barrel, half-covered in moss and shadow, at first, it felt like a curious detour, but the deeper you walked, the colder it became, the light disappeared, the joy of Helfheim faded with every step, when you emerged on the other side, your stomach turned

The air stank of blood and smoke, dimly lit torches revealed a place that should not exist: a hidden underbelly, not a kingdom of freedom—but of secrets

“What… the hell is this…?” you muttered, heart pounding

It was a market, but not the kind you’d grown to love, this was darker, filthy, twisted, you saw cages, shaking hands through iron bars, bruised bodies, hollow eyes

Slavery

You explore the new found underground city, it was disgusting to say the least, drug dealer, prostitution, and many more crimes, its far from the once beautiful city, you know it was too perfect, then you come across a slave market

And then—you saw her

Small elf girl, no older than thirteen by human age from her body, she look like once have-silver hair and now it was tangled and dirty, bruises bloomed across her pale skin, she didn’t cry, she just stared, empty and still, like she’d long forgotten how to hope

“Looking to buy, eh?” croaked a greasy man waddling beside you, his yellow teeth peeked through a smug grin, “elf’s is rare one, ten gold coin, no less”

Ten gold, enough to buy a manor, or a even some nice and good equipment

But gold was meaningless in that moment

“Deal” you said, without hesitation

The man blinked, surprised, but quickly bound her to you with an old slave seal, as her cage opened, she flinched—but stepped out

She followed you silently through the underground and back into the light

You said nothing, not at first, just walked, she never left your side, eyes down, breath shallow

Finally, you reached a nearby tavern, warmth met your skin again

“Order anything you want, eat for tonight” you said gently

She said nothing, can't even look at you, so you just sigh and order a food for her, she's must been through a lot that make her scared to even talk as the food come you look at her

"Eat, no need to talk, just eat" you said it carefully and gentle

She silent for a bit, then her hands trembled as she lifted the spoon, Her lips parted, and slowly… she ate