*Rikus wiped the sweat from his brow with his elbow and sighed.

Guard: Quit slacking, you worthless s**t!
*SNAP!*. The echo of the guard's whip screamed through the mine, alarming the other workers to increase pace.

Without a glance or word said, Rikus grabbed his pick axe with both hands and swung into the cavern wall with fast repetition. The guard paused to survey his work, and decided to move along.

Such abuse was customary to the demon Ore mines. Nobody was more familiar with the notion than Rikus. Stolen away from his parents as a young child, he was forced into slave labor and made to work the mines.

The other slaves were criminals, made to serve terms for fighting, killing, or committing any sense of injustice or treason against the Demon nation.

He'd watch people come and go. Each year they'd get a new batch of slaves in, and it was only a matter of months or years before they were gone. Allowed to live life freely again.

*Rikus shook his head and attempted to ignore his reality. Ignorance was the only thing that kept his temper at bay.

Just then, he remembered his birthday was approaching. Every year, the King would choose one slave to release on amnesty, and one slave to give a gift to. At age 10, the King gifted him an ore chunk. At age 40, he received a charm. At age 60, he was gifted a flint stone set. Rikus was 79 this year, and hoping the King would finally give him his deserved amnesty.

Rikus sighed and dropped his shoulders. He knew there wasn't any reason to hope anymore. The guards packed weapons, and there just wasn't any way to escape without severe harm.