Nice.

We began walking in the dark while I assaulted him with a barrage of questions. It turned out we were in a complex tunnel system that had been supposedly mined out by a predecessor civilization of sorts, or at least that’s what it sounded like. Classic backstory.

The tunnels, as well as the portal and the civilization’s ruins that had been found above, were the reason they settled here in the first place. More and more things clicked into place, and it began to seem doubtful that anyone would know more about the portal other than that otherworldly travelers came through occasionally. Still, I was grateful that I’d been lucky to meet someone as knowledgeable as Tultius immediately upon waking up.

He was strange though. He was overly formal and reserved, yet beneath it all something was off. I couldn’t put my finger on it.

He also knew more than he let on, that much I could tell. He knew his way around pretty well, not needing even a moment to figure out which path to take at the fairly common tunnel forks, all the while stuffing his face with food.

“How long does it usually take to get to the surface?” I asked. He chuckled through a mouthful of some form of sandwich wrap.

“Anywhere from one to two hours, depending on your guide,” he gave me a crumb-filled, earnest smile, “luckily for you, I am the best.”

My stomach grumbled, and he paused.

“Ah, I have been so rude, you must be hungry.”

I nodded, a little embarrassed. I wasn’t going to say anything.

“Here.” He handed me the other, uneaten half of his sandwich wrap gingerly, before continuing to walk. I followed him, looking at the wrap carefully. It seemed they had something akin to naan bread in this world, as well as some kind of mystery meat. I took a bite, chewing.

Not bad.

“You like it?”

“Yes,” I said, and the surprise must have been evident in my tone because he laughed again.

“Worry not traveler Alex, our food is clean and nutritious. You have nothing to fear.”

We continued to walk for a few minutes, and I began to feel a little tired. My pace slowed.

“Are you alright?” he asked me, eyes...off, once again. Something wasn’t right about them, I felt.

“I think so. We can keep going.”

We walked for another few minutes, and then I was sitting.

I stared at the stone ground. It was kinda squared off at the edges.

Wait, why am I sitting?

My HUD flashed.

-WARNING-

Immortal Paralysis Poison of the Snail [level ??] detected - no immunity.

I tried to stand, but a bony claw of a hand fell heavy on my shoulder, pushing me back into the ground. I looked up to see Tultius, a self-satisfied smirk on his face.

“Perhaps you should rest, traveler,” he said, mockingly.

I slid sideways, onto the ground. His voice. I struggled to remember.

[Status - Paralyzed]

“You’re not gonna believe me, but you really were lucky to have found me, kiddo,” he said, “you would’ve probably starved to death without me.”

It was the accent, I realized. It was gone, replaced by something almost crude. Violence was poised in his speech in a way that it hadn’t been before.

I could no longer move.

“Hnghh.” I tried to speak.

“Hush now. That’s immortal snail venom right there, very hard to come by. You won’t be able to move for at least five or six hours. I couldn't risk you hurting yourself.” He rummaged around, pulling a glove out of his bag.

[Active Ability: Adaptive Hibernation] auto-activating.

My mind was suddenly blanketed by a syrup of sleepiness.

“You’d better be worth it, coming through the portal and all,” he said, pulling on the glove and walking over to me. He placed his hand on me, over my wrist. He closed his eyes, mumbling.

“Hmmm. Very weak. Pitiful, almost. But definitely an awakener. A Sek. And a little bit of something else,” he trailed off under his breath.

All of a sudden he straightened, grinning. His bun bounced in excitement.

“You’ll fetch a nice price, kiddo.”

He began pulling at my feet, and my head, with no muscular support, banged on the stone. A headache set in as I drifted off into sedated sleep.

***

I came too, listening to the muffled sound of Tultius talking with someone. The display flashed up in front of me as several messages appeared.

Immortal Paralysis Poison of the Snail [level ??] synthesized.

[Passive Ability Tree: ‘Immunity’] activated.

[Passive Ability: ‘Alchemist Immunity’] acquired.

[Passive Ability: ‘Royal Immunity’] acquired.

[Passive Ability: ‘Assassin Immunity’] acquired.

A pause.

[Passive Ability: ‘Immortal Immunity’] acquired.

Ignoring the display, I tried to listen to the conversation.

“Oh yeah, and where’d you find this one.”

“He came through the portal.”

“Sure he did.”

“I swear, Eric. This time it’s true.”

“Well this time, his family better not come looking, or I’ll come looking for you after I deal with them.”

My fake guide chuckled.

“So you do want him, I take it?”

“I dunno. Doesn’t look like much to me.”

Silence.

“He’s a Sek, Eric.” Tultius’ voice was nervous now. Fidgety.

More silence.

“On my mother Eric, I promise, I checked him myself.”

“He’s a child, Shaek, looks to be barely twelve. Even if he is a Sek, what the hell am I supposed to do with him?” Shaek huh. Guess I wouldn’t give my real name either if I was going to drug and kidnap a child.

“Throw him in the Arena. See what happens.”

Arena?

The man, Eric, grunted.

“Maybe. He’s still a child.” Pause.

“I’ll give you no more than thirteen copper pieces,” Eric said finally.

Shaek scoffed. “Thirteen copper pieces? Are you out of your mind? He’s a Sek, you fool. He’d fetch at least twice that in the markets.”

“Then sell him there.”

Silence again, for a moment.

“Twenty.”

“Fifteen.”

“Sixteen, final offer.”

“Done.”

The sharp jingle of coins echoed harshly through my aching skull.

“If he doesn’t awaken, Shaek, I’ll gut you myself.”

“He will. I’ll tell you right now, I’ve never sensed something like him. He had something...special. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Worth a show, at the very least.”

“He’d better be.”

My pride bristled slightly.

I’d better be? I don’t care who you are or what I’m doing, I’m not just ‘worth a show.’

My mind worked while I tried to figure out just what was going on. Clearly, I had been sold, but what was the Arena? What was a Sek?

Shaek. I thought to myself. I’ll remember you, buddy.

I’ll remember you.