POV Eliza
Over the next few days my life in the new world calmed down significantly. First of all, I got to know all the other members of the circus. In addition to Vigo, the director, and Erma, the cat beastkin, there were three other people. On the one hand, it was Carolo, the strong one. He was a so-called half-man and partlion. He specialized in all kinds of feats of strength, such as weight lifting or bending poles. Then there was Cylo, a declared demon man who is in charge of the animals or monsters. To me, he was a normal human, with two horns glued to his head and his skin painted reddish. In addition to the caravans, there were also three cage wagons. In one was a large wolf with bluish fur, with light electrical sparked visible at the end. In a second cage was a bear with very sharp and dangerous looking claws. But here there was more appearance than reality, because the claws had been artificially lengthened. In the third was a red lizard that spat a small flame on command. The three monsters were called Lightning Wolf, Claw Bear and Dragon Salamander. The third and final person in the group was Nyla, an elf woman. While the two men were sociable and talked a lot, she was very quiet. I didn't say a word to her in the first few days. She juggled and shot arrows at small targets like me. So I had to stand in front of a target and it shot around me. Carolo was the announcer and gave tours of the monsters while Erma performed acrobatic exercises on horseback.
I was immediately put into a rigorous training program. Balance exercises, stretching, endurance, handling the horses, and all sorts of other physical exercises. But the hardest thing turned out to be standing still while Nyla shot at me with her bow. That was also the attraction that I had to take part in from day one. The circus had a performance every evening and welcomed an audience. Carolo led the show and for a small additional fee, the audience was also allowed to touch the non-humans. This affected everyone except Erma. I was sold as a new sensation because my skin and hair color made me clearly different from the elves known here. It seemed to be my fate that people kept groping me, and it was very frustrating. On the fourth day of my arrival at the circus, Vigo, as usual, gathered us at lunchtime for one of his typical speeches. Otherwise his words were always very pompous and extravagant, because he liked to talk to himself. But this time his words were unexpectedly serious.
“Tonight we will have extraordinary guests. The new heroes have announced themselves and our circus has been booked exclusively by the Imperium. Do your best and make an effort. Don't shame me because there's a lot at stake for me. I’m counting on you!”
The heroes? Are there heroes in this world? I had to ask someone about it later.
After Vigo finished his speech, we went back to our training as usual. I still had to deal with the horses today. I joined Cylo on the way to the animals. We were feeding when I asked him about the heroes.
“You, Cylo, what are the heroes?”
“You don’t know what the heroes are? Oh yes, you come from the slums, so people hardly notice it. The heroes are special people. They can be recognized by their unique Hero ability. They are supposed to help defend humankind. That's why they should receive special training. All I know is that they should be around your age.”
Was I mistaken or had he said that without any apparent emotion? This confirms my suspicion that he was actually a human and not a demon.
“They are supposedly people from another world, I heard. For more information you would have to go into town and you are not allowed to do that. So you'll have to wait until tonight and see it for yourself."
Heroes from another world? That sounded like a story come true to me. Why couldn't I be reborn as a hero? They had it much better than me.
The evening was approaching and we were preparing for the show. Since I was supposed to be waiting backstage to exit, I couldn't see when the heroes arrived. But it became visibly louder as many people approached the camp. I risked a look and looked around the tent. I could see many guards and several carriages. Before the carriages even stopped, I lost sight of them and had to rely on my hearing. Vigo greeted the newcomers in his familiar manner and I could only understand him because he was talking loudly. Unfortunately, the answer was lost in the general noise. So I only noticed that her entourage went into the tent after a few minutes. My curiosity was great, but I had to be patient. After a long wait it was my turn. I entered the tent with Nyla and went to my place in front of the target. Then I had time to look around. Next to the guards I saw several very well-dressed, obviously noble people. In the middle, in the semi-darkness, I spotted four children surrounded by guards and the center of attention. On the one hand, there is a handsome boy with an arrogant look who was dressed in a magnificent white and yellow cloak. There was a girl practically glued to his left arm, who adored him. Judging by the clothing, it could be a priestess or something similar. To his right sat a boy of the same age, almost shirtless, although he had few muscles. The last of the four was a boy with glasses wearing what I would describe as a magician's outfit. I had a burning feeling that I had seen the four of them before, but I couldn't remember. I hardly knew any small children in my old world.
Then the impact of an arrow that landed next to my head broke me out of my thoughts. My heart almost stopped. More arrows struck in quick succession, tracing the outline of my body. A short time later Nyla was finished, we bowed to the audience and left the tent. I was just glad that I didn't lose control of my bladder today, as had happened regularly in the beginning. The show in the tent continued for almost an hour and then the unpleasant part began again. I stood next to Erma again in front of our caravan as the heroes and their entourage went to the outside tour. There they spread out and listened to the stories about the individual monsters. I was rarely groped today, but I was insulted by the nobles. I learned that only non-humans were enslaved and that slavery was the only form of living that was tolerated for them. They all gushed about the superiority of the human race with an arrogance that made me struggle not to vomit. Then the heroes approach and I get the feeling of knowing the four again.
“The monsters are all too weak to be a threat to me. She doesn’t have the slightest chance against my ax, Cornelius.”
“Yes, you’re right, Ansgar. My charisma and my beauty alone are enough to make them flee.”
“You are always so majestic, Cornelius. That’s what I love about you.”
“Hmmhmm, hold back a little, Eleonore. You can flirt somewhere else.”
“Leave me alone, brother. You’re always so stiff.”
“Harhar, she’s right, Javier. Relax a little.” (Ansgar) “Hmmhmm, my little sister is still too young for that. After all, I have to take care of her.”
“Nothing will happen to her in my presence. Who will dare to stand against me? These non-humans here in particular pose no danger.”
I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew the four of them. Their names in particular seemed familiar to me. Cornelius first looked at Erma next to me, but she only bowed briefly. I noticed a slight satisfaction in his eyes as he turned to me. The look in his eyes was full of confidence.
“I've never seen anything like this before. A black elf? Will they be sold to me? She's so cute. She will do well in my harem.”
What, harem? The guy was 5 at most! And how come he spoke like an adult? Was he reincarnated too?
Then he leaned forward and reached towards my face with his right hand. Something inside me clicked and, out of reflex, I bit his hand. I noticed a metallic taste in my mouth. Cornelius screamed and threw up his hand. Shocked at myself, I followed my first instinct and ran away from him. I could hear screaming behind me, but I concentrated entirely on running. I found myself unconsciously walking towards the moon and heard the river approaching.
'If I can somehow get across the river, I can definitely escape.'
That's the only thought I could think of right now. I hesitated for a moment when I reached the river bank. The river was at least 50m wide at this point, but I saw trees behind it. A forest! That was my salvation! I had just taken 2 steps into the cool water when I was thrown forward. I felt a sharp pain in my left leg that overwhelmed me almost immediately. I staggered further forward and was immediately caught in the current. I struggled to stay on the surface, but I had already swallowed water. I made a desperate internal prayer.
'Please, whatever God hears me, I don't want to die yet. I'll do anything you want too.'
I was close to losing consciousness. However, I believe I hear an answer to my prayer in my heart, like a gentle touch. I immediately felt warm and my panic disappeared. Then I finally lost consciousness.