The Elf Sisters

“Sister, I’m so cold…”

In the dark, secret room, within the cold cage, two frail figures huddled tightly together. The visibly smaller one couldn’t stop trembling.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here. Hold big sister tightly, big sister will transfer some body heat to you.”

Feeling the continuously trembling, thin figure in her arms, Aileen’s heart felt as if it would shatter.

Through their thin clothes, she could clearly feel her sister’s body temperature was abnormally cold.

Her sister’s constitution had been weak since birth. Now, after being captured by mercenaries, combined with the harsh environment and the scarce food and water provided to sustain life, a normal person imprisoned here for months would be frail and their spirit nearly broken.

Elves were inherently more emotional creatures than humans.

Her sister was timid and kind. If Aileen hadn’t been there to accompany her, her fragile spirit probably wouldn’t have endured until now.

And all of this was caused by those greedy human mercenaries.

Thinking of this, Aileen was so furious she almost ground her teeth.

That cunning group of human mercenaries had disguised themselves as passing merchants.

They didn’t dare venture deep into the Elf Forest, but they set their sights on the Wood Elves who lived year-round on its outskirts.

The kind Wood Elves, seeing that these passing humans weren’t wearing much iron armor or carrying many blades, grew wary but allowed them to stay near their village.

They never expected these guys to pretend to be friendly on the surface, while secretly searching for suitable targets.

Elves were darlings of nature; adult elves could naturally master high-level magic corresponding to their element.

A high-level mage was not something this group of beast-like mercenaries armed with bows and arrows could contend with, and most elf cubs were protected by their adult elves.

But every village always had one or two exceptions…

She and her sister were the only orphans in the entire Wood Elf village at that time.

Aileen’s parents died eighteen years ago from the Wilted Wood Plague, leaving behind only these two children.

Elves were inherently kind, and the orphaned Aileen and her sister were raised by neighbors and other kin in the village.

When they were young, the Aileen sisters were protected by the Wood Elf uncle next door.

However, last year, Aileen, nearly 199 years old, proposed taking her sister to live independently.

Elves matured at 200 years old, so 199-year-old Aileen was almost an adult elf.

An adult elf already possessed the ability to protect herself and her young.

Aileen decided not to cause too much trouble for the elf uncle next door and, after making her request, moved into a new independent home with her sister.

But it was precisely this action that sowed the seeds of the coming disaster.

The human mercenaries, who had been lodging there, gathered information about the village in a short time.

Then, one night, they abducted her sister, surrounded her house, and she personally witnessed those greedy-faced mercenaries hold a sharp knife to her weak sister’s neck.

Aileen believed that if she had cried for help at that moment, her neighbors would have immediately come to their rescue. But she couldn’t make a sound. The almost adult Aileen was no longer as naive as a child.

She had long seen how these mercenaries, with only money and cold greed in their eyes, would unhesitatingly slit her sister’s throat.

Ultimately, the mercenaries’ plan succeeded. She and her sister were both captured.

That group of mercenaries, taking their spoils of victory, fled the Elf Forest overnight.

Three months had passed since their capture, and in these three months, she had seen almost no hope of rescue.

On the contrary, due to being constantly held in this gloomy secret room, her sister’s physical condition was worsening.

As for why she didn’t resist?

Aileen looked at her abdomen and gave a wry smile.

The inwardly greedy and cunning mercenary leader, after capturing her, also said that if she didn’t obey, the mercenary, upon learning her true age, would unhesitatingly force her to drink magic potions that could destroy her body’s magic circuits.

‘I am now like a tiger with its claws and teeth pulled out. Even as an adult, I am useless. The lingering burning sensation in my abdomen persists, my magic circuits have been destroyed. I will be useless for the rest of my life.’

Through her keen hearing, she learned that today was the day she and her sister were to be auctioned.

Now, her greatest wish was that even if they were auctioned, they would be bought by the same person. If she and her sister were separated and auctioned individually…

‘Then Ifya, without my companionship and care, truly wouldn’t survive.’

When a person reaches a state of despair, they have no extravagant hopes.

To let herself and those around her live is her greatest wish. But now, her and her sister’s fate was in the hands of those humans.

The feeling of powerlessness in her hands made her mood increasingly heavy.

Just as the sisters huddled together for warmth, the door to the secret room suddenly opened, followed by chaotic footsteps.

An orange oil lamp shone in. Ifya was uncomfortable from the dazzling light, and Aileen, as her older sister, quickly reached out to shield her sister behind her.

“What do you want to do?!”

Aileen’s voice, though weak, remained calm.

She was the backbone in her sister’s heart.

If even she panicked, Ifya, whom she was protecting, would be even more despairing.

“Yo, it’s been three months, and you’re still so spirited?”

A mercenary in iron armor tapped the bars of the metal cage with his finger, letting out a lewd sneer.

The sound of the metal bars being struck continuously stimulated the sensitive nerves of the two sisters.

The mercenary’s malicious gaze made Aileen very uncomfortable, but she still endured this discomfort and met his gaze.

“What stubborn eyes, can only say worthy of an Elf, possessing such tenacious vitality. If it were a normal human, imprisoned here for three months, they would probably be unable to move by now, right?”

“And that sickly one, I originally thought she wouldn’t last until the auction three months later, but she’s still alive. One can only say the bond between sisters is strong, which will add another sum to my commission.”

The iron-armored mercenary’s gaze unhesitatingly swept over the two sisters. His bloodshot eyes, fixed on their exposed skin, were filled with greed.

“You scum! If it weren’t for your greed, how would we have fallen to such a state?!”

If it were just ordinary sarcasm and conversation, Aileen could still suppress the anger in her heart.

But as soon as her sister was mentioned, her grief and indignation erupted like a volcano.

“Oh oh oh, quite a temper, aren’t you? Three months, and it still hasn’t been put down. But it doesn’t matter, soon you’ll be sold to those noble lords…”

“Those noble lords aren’t like us here at the auction, who have to feed you and let you drink, ensuring you don’t die. To ensure the integrity of the merchandise, we can’t lay hands on you, but once you’re not considered merchandise…”

“You’d better think about how to please your future master in bed.”

The mercenary continued to use lewd words to provoke Aileen’s nerves.

He knew very well the importance elves placed on chastity, yet he repeatedly tried to break down her mental defenses and make her abandon all resistance.

“You wish!”

“That’s not up to me, it’s up to those noble lords. And you don’t need to keep being stubborn, we’re actually being kind. Those noble lords who like to play games have 100 ways to tame a wild mare like you.”

“What does it matter how pure you female elves are? When the time comes, just pour an aphrodisiac down your throat. No matter how unyielding and chaste you are when conscious, once you’re in bed, they’ll make sure you beg for life and beg for death.” The iron-armored mercenary was clearly accustomed to such matters, speaking of them with great fluency.

“My life belongs to me! Don’t even think about forcing my body to do anything dirty! Human, you underestimate the courage of elves. Elves are never afraid of death or clinging to life!”

Aileen gritted her teeth, and in her dark green eyes was the resolve to die.

“Haha, what excellent eyes, unyielding yet with a woman’s tenderness. Those nobles love elves like you. I know you’re not afraid of death, but what about your sister?”

The mercenary’s single sentence instantly froze the previously high-spirited Aileen.

The blood in her body, which had been gradually boiling due to emotional arousal, quickly cooled as if doused with cold water.

“Heh heh, if you want to die, I really can’t stop you. But if you die, I can’t guarantee what kind of treatment your sister will receive…”

“What exactly do you want to do?!”

Aileen clenched her fists, her head bowed, but her eyes held a hint of despair and powerlessness.

“What do I want to do? It’s simple. Now, obediently open your spiritual sea and cooperate with this Grand Mage beside me to successfully brand the s*ave mark into your spirit. If you agree, I might consider selling you and your sister as a package to the same customer.”

“You’re despicable!”

Her trembling voice carried unspeakable anger.

Aileen felt that the person before her merely possessed a human skin, but his inner self was already dirtier than the mud in the river.

“You must understand you have no choice. I’m well aware of your sister’s physical condition. Without you, she probably wouldn’t survive even three days. If you obediently comply…”

The mercenary’s eyes darted, and his words took on a tempting quality.

“Elves are treasures in human eyes. Those noble lords wouldn’t bear to make a precious gem like you work like other slaves. As long as you’re well-behaved and a bit proactive in bed, you might even escape s*ave status and get a better position…”

“If you can please the noble lords, your living conditions and your sister’s treatment will naturally be much better than now. Even if you don’t think about yourself, you should think more about your sister. She’s still so young, I can’t even bring myself to touch her, and there are so many twisted nursery rhymes among those eccentric noble lords…”

“Stop talking! Stop talking!”

In despair, the strong girl’s mental defenses were shattered inch by inch. Finally, she broke down in tears, and all resistance in her heart turned to ashes.

“I promise you.”

Upon hearing the desired answer, the mercenary’s face revealed a satisfied smile.

He then gestured to the mage beside him, indicating he could proceed, and left the secret room, closing the door.

A junior mercenary guarding the door saw his boss come out and quickly stepped forward to light the cigarette for the boss who was fumbling for one.

The old mercenary nodded with satisfaction and pride.

“Boss, is the job done?”

“Of course, who am I? There’s never been a job I’ve undertaken that wasn’t successful!”

As the old mercenary’s words fell, Aileen’s screams came from inside the tightly closed secret room.

The junior mercenary looked at the iron door of the secret room, a slight fear on his face.

“That female elf is screaming so loudly, she won’t be tortured to death, will she?”

“No, no, no, but she’ll definitely have to suffer a bit. A s*ave mark is like branding your skin with a hot iron, except this mark is branded on the spirit. The pain is certainly beyond what physical pain can compare to.”

The old mercenary skillfully puffed on his cigarette, his leisurely eyes showing no trace of guilt.

“Boss, why do we have to sell both elves together? Wouldn’t we earn more if we auctioned them separately?”

“You kid, use your brain. That smaller elf looks sickly, doesn’t she? If the older elf wasn’t by her side, she would have died already. Even if we sold them separately, people aren’t blind. How much money can a dying elf sell for?”

“If the quality of the elves is poor, fewer lords will come here to buy slaves next time. It’s better to go with the flow and sell both together. Although the overall price might seem less profitable, the ‘elf sisters’ gimmick has a strong appeal to some people.”

“But the most crucial one is the older elf. At 199 years old, she’s almost an adult. If this were human terms, she would be a female elf who just turned 18! The adult elves we usually sell are ‘ripe’ ones, but every medicine has side effects. Those ‘ripened’ elves, though seemingly plump, are all short-lived. Some are even silly and confused after being injected with potions…”

“Having finally caught such a naturally aged live one, we can’t let her die so easily. She’s the highlight of today’s auction. I’m counting on her to set the highest single-item price ever for me.”

The old mercenary exhaled a thick puff of smoke, his greedy eyes filled with anticipation.

“The next auction item will be the highlight of this auction, Item Number 9, the naturally grown Wood Elf sisters, just captured by the Sirius Mercenary Group!”

The beautiful auctioneer’s opening line immediately stirred the hearts of most customers below. Rain-like shouts and applause made the entire venue incredibly lively.

The masked customers clamored, urging her to quickly start the bidding.

The beautiful auctioneer smiled triumphantly, making a welcoming gesture with one hand.

The staff on stage pushed a small square trolley forward. The moment the curtain was lifted, two elves in revealing, seductive lingerie appeared before everyone’s eyes.

“These two elves are new captures from the Elf Forest. In this auction, both elves will be sold together. These close neighbors are blood-related sisters. Although the younger sister has a slightly weaker constitution, the older sister is a pure, natural 199-year-old female elf! Elves in this age group are only one year away from full maturity, oh!”

“After expert estimation, the minimum auction price for this pair of elf sisters is 30,000 gold coins. Customers who are interested, please raise your bid cards as soon as possible. I now declare the auction open!”

The moment the wooden hammer struck, whether it was the ordinary customers on the first floor or the VIP customers on the second floor, red and blue bid cards sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

Every customer almost savagely competed with bloodshot eyes, madly scrambling for the two precious and rare elf slaves.

At this moment, the bidding humans became bloodthirsty wolves, and the elf sisters locked in the cage became lambs in the wolves’ eyes.

Sitting on the second floor of the VIP box, Selina, still in Avia’s arms, watched this grand feast calmly and indifferently.