Maji's eyes were wide open, staring at the ceiling of the cave. The soft moans and snores of the sleeping Depas filled the entire space. It was early in the morning.
His mind raced with countless thoughts. Why the hell am I a Depa now? Did something go wrong with the spell? What the hell happened? Why do I keep feeling this strong, magnetic pull to the palace? What's going to happen to me now? Am I going to live the rest of my life as a powerless slave?
A loud gong rang out, signaling the start of the work shift.
The sleeping Depas began to stir and shuffle out of the cave.
"Kila, wake up. It's our shift," Merida urged gently.
Maji groaned. I'm a prince, dammit!! I shouldn't be doing anything like this!
He cursed inwardly.
"The wound on your chest hasn't healed completely," Merida continued, her voice soft with concern. "Don't push yourself too hard."
Maji nodded, but his mind was far from the present moment. He followed her out, a heavy weight pressing on his shoulders as he began carrying loads of bricks, gold, and crystal slabs.
The stronger men were taken out to mine in the caves, under the watchful eyes of guards who followed their every move.
During lunch, the royal guards brought in food and began serving the Depas. Once served, the Depas walked away to find spots on the grass or stood while they ate.
Many gathered in small groups, chatting quietly.
Maji stood in line, his heart heavy. He received a bowl of thin porridge and a piece of stale bread.
He walked to a secluded spot on the field and sat, his body aching from the work. He took a spoonful of the porridge and grimaced, his face twisting into a disgusted expression.
"Is this thing even digestible?" he scowled aloud, poking at the half-cooked porridge that lacked any real flavor. It was little more than mush.
He pushed the bowl aside and opted to eat the bread instead.
Ham walked over to him, his expression casual. "Everything alright?"
Maji shook his head, his voice bitter. "I'm going to die if I keep living like this."
Ham chuckled, though it was more of a rueful laugh. "Here, have my bowl of rice," he said, handing Maji a bowl full of steaming rice and sitting down beside him.
Maji glanced at the porridge he had pushed aside. Ham picked it up and began sipping it slowly, seemingly unfazed.
Maji looked at him thoughtfully, then asked, "Are you my father?"
Ham's laughter erupted loudly, and he nearly choked on the rice. "Did you go insane from your injury, Kila? I'm your grandfather," he said, still laughing, though there was a hint of warmth in his voice.
Maji didn't know whether to feel relieved or confused. Ham seemed to sense his thoughts and quieted down, though they ate in silence for a while.
As they ate, Maji kept stealing glances at the distant imperial palace.
Ham noticed and frowned. "Why are you staring at the palace like that?" he asked, a hint of concern in his tone.
Maji hesitated, but something deep inside him urged him to speak. "I… I feel this magnetic pull toward it. It's like some kind of presence is calling me there," he explained, his gaze still fixed on the palace.
Ham sighed, a heavy, burdened sound that seemed to echo in the stillness around them. "That's the pull of the locket… the last Depa king's locket," he said softly. "We all feel its presence. We all know it's there, but we can't reach it—no matter how much we wish we could."
Maji's heart quickened. "Why would you want to reach it?" He turned his gaze to Ham, his curiosity burning.
Ham's eyes darkened. "Because if we ever do… it will be the first step to our freedom. It's the key to restoring our true selves, to gaining back what we've lost."
Maji's mind raced. "What are the next steps?" His voice was filled with quiet urgency.
Ham leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Step number two is to get one Depa to activate the locket's powers. Step three is to wait for the Depa to reach a certain rank, and then all our powers will be restored."
Maji's eyes widened in shock. "Depas have powers?!" he exclaimed, barely able to believe what he was hearing. His voice carried a hint of disbelief.
"Yes, we do—or at least, we once did," Ham confirmed. "But I warn you, Kila, don't even think about going after the locket. You will die if you try. Just like your friend Phal." He paused, his expression darkening. "Phal was our best shot at activating the locket."
"Why Phal?" Maji asked, his curiosity growing.
Ham looked away, as if the memory pained him. "It's said that the locket can only be activated by someone linked to King Havy, the last Depa king's bloodline. For the rest of us, it's either death or luck but high chance, death."
Maji's heart pounded in his chest. The realization hit him hard, but his resolve grew. "So, there's a chance for a Depa to have powers… a chance to be free…"
Ham stood up, shaking his head. "Yes, but don't get any ideas. The road to the locket is dangerous. Phal… Phal didn't deserve to die."
Maji's eyes narrowed. He felt something stir inside him, a flicker of determination. "so there is a way for a depa to have powers. This means, I have a chance to grow stronger… a chance to kill Hakili, to get my freedom. Even if it means dying trying… It is better to try than to be a sitting duck"
Ham barely looked at him look. He simply turned and walked away, leaving Maji with his thoughts.
Night crept across the field, and the Depas changed shifts. Some of them were actually rejoicing as they returned to their caves, exhausted but relieved.
"The best time of the day is when we see the moon, and go back to sleep in the caves, " a young Depalin girl, no older than ten, said cheerfully, her voice filled with innocence. She was being carried in her mother's arms.
Even the Depalins aren't spared from slavery, Maji thought bitterly. What the hell can a child like that even do?
That night, as he lay staring at the cave's ceiling, unable to sleep, three things were clear to him:
1. He couldn't continue living this miserable life.
2. He needed powers if he wanted freedom, if he wanted to stand a chance against the guards.
3. The locket was his only hope. It was the key to his freedom.
And with that final realization, Maji made up his mind. Tonight… he was going to get that locket.