The white pillar of magical lighr collapsed, leaving Rem and Amaia standing in the narrow mouth of a back alley. The sky above was blocked by stone buildings and heavily fortified walls, the fortress city of Darkgloom rose high on every side. The muffled sound the city seeped into the alleyway wood on stone, wheels against cobblestone streets, the sound of hundreds of voices talking.
Rem moved her eyes over the stonework, the massive gates in the distance, and the defensive towers along the walls. She turned to Amaia, her expression curious. "Amaia so you're telling me the dwarves built this massive fortress city outside of the Dark Forest to protect the light races from the tide of the dark elves because they live in the Underworld?"
Amaia's grey eyes glowed faintly as her magi-core pulsing to come up with an appropriate answer. "My lady, what you call the Underworld is truly just a vast series of subterranean caverns. This planet appears to be supported by a massive underground ecosystem held in place by laws and magic I have not fully deciphered yet. After all this world is several hundred times the size of Earth. The dark elves live there, yes, but they are only one of dozens of races in the Underworld. They fight constantly against the surface races and against their own enemies underground to ensure their dominance and survival."
Rem waved her hand dismissively, her braid of hair swaying with the motion. "That's enough details for now Amaia. This doesn't need to be overly complicated. We just need to travel through the Dark Forest and into the Underworld. It's not going to be that hard. On our way there we can window shop, maybe check out some of Darkgloom City shops. And maybe see if this place has an Adventurers Guild." Rem said as her lips twisted upwards with amusement. "I've seen enough novels and movies to bet they do. Maybe we can even take on a quest and get paid to take out some monsters in the Underworld. That way we've got a legitimate reason in the eyes of everyone else to be there. No one questions a guild adventurer."
Amaia inclined her head, her orange braid shifting against her shoulder plates. "My lady, that is a brilliant plan. There is indeed an Adventurers Guild here. They issue special guild identifications that allow intercontinental travel across borders, they are protected by agreements between the ruling powers. This applies even between the surface and the Underworld. Guilds exist there as well, including one in the dark elf city of Verda. That is where our reconnaissance has located the dark elf queen."
Rem's eyes glowed with anticipation, her lips parting into a pleased smile. "Enough chit chat, Amaia. First we'll check out the local shops. I want to see firsthand the technological level these non-human races have reached and then the we can go to the Adventurers Guild. It looks like we have got a full day ahead of us."
With that, Rem walked out of the alley, Amaia falling into step at her side. The main street of Darkgloom stretched out before them, wide and bustling with commerce. Stalls lined both sides of the street, people selling metal, food, and strange artifacts. Elves with pointy ears sold things, dwarves with heavy hammers sold weapons, as other non-human races moved shoulder to shoulder in the crowd. The sight struck Rem immediately. They are not wearing any chains, or collars, there is no sign of slavery. Every race walked freely.
Rem's gaze lingered on them, noting the mingling of faces and trades. Amaia caught her look and spoke before the thought could leave her lips. "My lady, if you are wondering about slavery, you don't need to concern yourself with this. On this planet, the idea of slavery simply does not exist."
Rem turned her head sharply, astonishment flashing across her face. "Amaia you telling me none of these races have ever enslaved each other before?"
Amaia shook her head no in response. "No. From the research I have conducted, the races of Elsera prefer to kill eachother when they conquer. It's very efficient this way they have no mouths to feed, and no resources are wasted. If they choose not to kill people, the defeated are banished to countries willing to accept them. Those displaced repay this debt through hard labor building infrastructure, raising fortifications for their host country. Once this debt is paid, they are free to go. This is closer to a temporary serf class, not slavery."
Rem's brows rose as she took in the sight of the crowd, her red eyes narrowing as she watched the flow of elves and dwarves moving together. "That's efficient," Rem whispered, her voice low. "Bloody, but efficient." Rem adjusted the cuff of her black blouse, her gaze shifting to the banners hanging above the guild district in the distance.
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