Hope jokes to hide its bruises.

  The older sibling stirred, but still lethargic and aching all over. She wanted nothing more than to drift back into slumber again. And she did momentarily, before feeling some cold metal beneath her moving steadily.

  She found the automatic motion oddly comforting, for it meant she no longer had to walk, especially with her sprained ankle.

  Ah yes... my ankle... it still hurts.

  Her consciousness almost slipped back into lull, when a rough jerk brought her into reality.

  Her eyes shot open and she quickly sat up. Looking around, she saw no mountain peaks or towering canopies, only a compact metal box which was moving. But she was not alone. Five more children, roughly her age were also inside the box.

  They wore matching brownish garments, and were covered in shabby blankets. Only the older sibling stood out with her lavender blouse. She noticed her other muddied and drenched clothes were placed at a corner.

  Pipsqueak?!

  Her senses flared. She threw the blanket aside and limped across the metal box, scouring it. Her search soon came to an end, with no sign of her little sister. She felt dread engulf her whole body; it surpassed anything she had endured so far—and she had endured a lot.

  A sudden restlessness took over. Her body shivered under the chill—and utter helplessness—until she forgot how to breathe altogether.

  Gasping for air, she fell down, hurting her sprained ankle and letting out a stifled yelp.

  She clenched her fist and rapidly thumped the floor as she slowly tried to breathe.

  "Hey, hey, calm down—your sister is fine. She is just in another carriage, okay. Calm down," a boy spoke.

  Catching her breath, the older sibling grabbed the boy's collar, and questioned, "Where is she?!"

  The boy raised his arms upwards to show he meant no harm, and replied, "She was unconscious when masters found her. They are having her treated in the front carriage. Please relax, alright."

  The older sibling could feel no strength in her arms, she knew the boy could easily overpower her at any moment but chose not to. Still, she did not let him go, and probed further, "And you know this how—sitting inside this windowless cage. Explain!"

  "Well, the masters opened the door to place you inside, then I heard them saying: this one's been poisoned, we need to treat her or she won't be awake by the time of presentation. I swear, this is all I remember."

  She finally let him go and dragged herself back to where she was earlier.

  The boy let out a small breath of relief, and added, "You wouldn't let go of her even when asleep, three masters had to gather to separate you two."

  Wrapping herself tightly in the blanket, the older sibling asked, "How long was I asleep?"

  Sitting opposite to her, the boy covered himself loosely in the blanket as well: "Ah... One and a half days, I think."

  That explains why I'm feeling so feeble and drained, the older sibling thought.

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  "Have your masters left anything to eat or drink for me?"

  The boy lightly knocked his own head, then answered, "My bad, it completely slipped my mind. They've left some fish and water for you. Here let me..."

  He walked toward a corner and grabbed a water jug and a piece of folded fabric. He placed them before her and opened the fabric, revealing four fried fishes inside it.

  Extending a warm smile, he said, "There you go, now eat."

  The older sibling tried to return his gesture, but her awkward smile was far from sincere.

  "Thank you..."

  "Teo. My name is Teo Holm. And you are?"

  She did not respond and focused on eating.

  "Oh, it's totally fine, if you don't want to tell me. I'm all for the silent and mysterious type. But personally I lean more toward a strong and carefree persona myself—or that's what everyone told me," Teo said with a bright grin on his face.

  Too much weighed on the older sibling's mind for her to amuse herself or even pay attention to Teo's antics.

  Seeing her glum, Teo raised himself slightly and in a dramatic voice acted: "You don't believe Teo, lady. Here witness my muscular arms—but do not dare to watch too closely lest you dazzle yourself and fall in love."

  He rolled up his sleeve to his shoulders, and began flexing his minimal muscles. The older sibling lifted her gaze, she found Teo's drama oddly endearing.

  "Haa, what do you think? Don't tell me I stole one more heart, girl."

  The older sibling squinted her eyes.

  "And scene," Teo hastily concluded his play, and began lowering his sleeves.

  The older sibling caught a glimpse of Teo's forearm. It was marred by numerous erratic scratch marks. She opened her mouth to question, but decided otherwise as more pressing questions took priority.

  Taking a look around again, she asked, "Who are these children?"

  "They are the poor, unwanted, abandoned, and orphans. I belong to the first category, by the way. Anyway, our parents sent us with the masters, though in some cases, like yours, masters voluntarily take it upon themselves to give us new homes."

  "Who are these masters of yours?"

  "Ah... they are no one special actually, but everyone they take in calls them masters, at least that's how it was back in my village."

  "They sound very noble. Are they from the Covenant of Eldara?"

  Briskly moving from his spot, Teo placed a finger at her mouth and replied in a hushed voice, "Never take the Covenant's name openly in Glaswold. That's the most basic lesson for any traveller here—don't you know that?"

  "I'm more of a geography person myself, so can't say I know too much about politics or history," the older sibling replied, and noticed that Teo's nails were unevenly chipped, as if they had been gnawed at in anxiety.

  Teo removed his finger and leaned back comfortably: "That's fine, just remember what I said, if you want to survive even a day in Glaswold."

  "Fine, fine. But what's the big deal? Why's the C-word a taboo?"

  Teo raised an eyebrow: "Lady, do you think a muscle guy like me studies, at all. I just know this because it's common knowledge in these parts."

  "Fair enough. Do you know where we are headed, Teo?"

  "The outskirts most likely."

  "Outskirts?"

  Teo was surprised for a moment, then he began laughing uncontrollably.

  "You'll wake everyone up, be quiet," the older sibling said.

  "Yes, sorry about that," he let out another small giggle. "It's just that I can't believe, I'm teaching someone. I've always been the fool of the village, that's why my parents sent me away—not that I hold it against them. I really was a trouble maker, big time."

  Sitting properly, he continued, "The outskirts are sort of a junction used mainly for trade by merchants and travellers. People can then travel from there to Bleakmoor Hearth through the Silent Heights."

  He looked at the older sibling, who had a puzzled expression on her face.

  "Yes, yes, I know you don't know anything. Bleakmoor Hearth is like the biggest place of Glaswold. But from what I've heard there's no law and order there, it's basically a land of chaos. And Silent Heights are very big mountains spread all across Glaswold's borders."

  "And how does one cross these big mountains?"

  "There are a handful of roads that go inland, though they are unusable during blizzards or heavy snow."

  "I see. Thanks a lot, Teo, for everything."

  Smiling sheepishly, he replied, "You don't have to—really, it's okay... But if you really want to thank me, then you can accept my marriage proposal when we become adults. What say you, girl?"

  Putting down the fish she was eating, the older sibling glanced up.

  "And scene," Teo concluded another one of his purported plays.

  Finishing her food, she said, "Your family was wrong, Teo. I don't think you're stupid at all."

  "Right! I mean, masters wouldn't have given that much for a stupid boy—I must be worth a lot. Take my muscles for..." He kept rambling idly, though the older sibling grew tense.

  Her hair stood on end as she discerned the true meaning behind Teo Holm's words.

  He was sold.

  She glanced around one more time: the shabby clothes, poor, abandoned children, and a metal cage.

  These are enslaved children.