Jiao has only ever known the colosseum. He has only known the dungeons of the palace and what it means to hurt and starve while he watches all the noble eat and cheer for entertainment.

He’s only ever known the pain of having to fight to eat, fight to survive the next day. Jiao has grown big and tall and strong as a result. Trying to fight the cages that hold him, yet he’s never succeeded.

There was always someone that he felt needed freedom more. And old man, a young woman, a child just like he was before. The list grows long after each battle he wins and wishes for other people’s freedom gets fulfilled.

Jiao is a toy to the nobility. A tool. Not a person, but an object, a pet. Jiao wishes he could break free, escape from these cages. But as he grows older, that wish becomes dimmer and dimmer.

His kingdom gets in trouble with their powerful neighbor and next thing Jiao knows he is in a tiny cage being transported to the neighboring empire. He seethes when they reveal he’s a gift to the other empire’s leader. After everything he’s done he’s just being thrown away again.