On a blazing hot day in the desert kingdom of Rupidel, the slaves were lined up in a long row, their hands chained together as they waited to be sold.

The silence in the market was almost unnerving, with only the sound of the wind and the heat of the sun bearing down upon them. Forsythia, a fierce and unwavering girl, was dragged to the back of the line by one of the guards, her profanities and attempts to break free falling on deaf ears.

The guards slapped her into submission and held her by the hair, dragging her down the line in defeat. The heat and the dust of the desert kingdom made for an unrelenting and harsh existence, especially for those who were forced to bear the burden of servitude.