Cynric stared. "... um...." He looked to Violet, only to find the same shock on her face as well. He went to look at Cyrus, finding a somber expression set on his face. "Are we in the right place?"

This was nothing like how Violet described new lands.

They had arrived on a decaying island, filled with crowding and sorrow. The people were bustling and seemed to be in the middle of trade, but Cynric couldn't believe his eye-sockets.

They were trading off people.

Rows upon rows of people- Young, old, women, men, even babies- they all had a price. Two wealthy looking men smiled at one another while exchanging terrified women. He watched a woman drag a struggling child to a man with a whip, the child screaming and clawing at their restraints. Another pair threw a baby onto the ground, deeming it to small and worthless too be allowed to live. He watched as a woman from a line cried out as the child was dropped, instantly killed.

Cynric felt sick. He covered his mouth and stared in horror.
Was this what the world was like?
WAS THIS THE AWFUL WORLD HE LIVED IN?

"Violet-" he hurriedly clutched onto her arm, his breathing becoming quicker and quicker. "We- We need to help those people-"

"We can't do anything." Cyrus quietly sighed, watching with a sort of somber familiarity. "We can't do sh*t."

Cynric turned to Cyrus in horror. "What do you mean?! Surely they'll listen to us-" He stopped when Cyrus met his gaze, cold and firm.

"We need to go." Cyrus ordered, looking back to the crew on the ship. "Pack up everything and set sail-"

"But why?!" Cynric yelled, stomping his feet to the ground. "WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING-"

Cyrus turned back. "Cynric. Listen to me." He approached with slow caution, gently cradling the prince's face in his hands. "Those people- they are willing to put a price on ANYONE, no matter their background. Royalty ESPECIALLY." He glanced to the island that they docked at before turning back. "The only thing that will keep them off of you is a single slave license. That's it."

Cynric stared terrified into Cyrus' eyes. "What do they do to those people?"

Cyrus quieted, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Many things. Many, horrible things." He got even quieter, breaking eye contact. "Sex slaves, labor slaves, dolls to be toyed with, things to beat when you're mad, obedient people which have to do whatever they say or... Or die."

Cynric felt Cyrus' hands shaking. He lifted his own hand to hold the other's, soothing it. "...I see."

Cyrus leaned in and touched their foreheads together, quietly sighing. "Let's go."

"Right."

And then they pulled away. Cyrus turned and helped the crew set off.

Soon, they were on the ocean again.

"Let's never go back there." Cyrus said with relief. "Right Cynric?" He turned and looked around. "Cynric?"
Panicked, he searched the whole ship, growing anxiety reaching up into his chest. Hurriedly, he demanded to have a telescope, peering back at the island. "GOD DAMN IT."

Violet frowned. "Was this a good idea?"

Cynric cautiously looked around at the slave lines, sucking in a breath. "I had to do something."