While her father didn’t end up buying anything from the store they had started making it a point to visit the same shop in the mornings. Her father told her that he had some things to talk about with Buni’s father. Amanda didn’t mind however, Buni and her would meet up with some of the other children in the city. Most of the children that Buni knew lived close by, so they left their fathers to sit around and talk about boring things and took to the streets to meet up and play with the other kids.

They had already been in the city for over a week, and Amanda now spent her evenings practicing without taking the medicine, though she still took the medicine in the morning still. Overall She was excited to have someone to play with and she could see more of the city. She didn’t know most of the kids' names, but she did know a few. Buni of course she knew, and Buni was close to another girl who was about Amanda’s height who’s name was Tia.

Tia was a huma with brownish skin, with bright almost pink eyes and blonde hair that was tied up in braids. Her clothing unlike Buni’s and Amanda was finer, with fancy trim that she hated getting dirty. Her clothing was so fancy that she usually showed up each day to play with completely different clothes. Something her and Buni thought was sort of funny.

It seemed like everyone in the area had their own schedule, which made sense after her father had explained that most kids would help their parents some depending on what they did. Some might work at a bakery, others might help carry things, while others might help mind shops during the day.

It just so happened that Tia spent her days under tutors, Buni helped mind their families shop later in the day, and Amanda and her Father came over early. So they got to play quite a bit during the mornings.

One particular morning Tia, Buni and Amanda were playing a game with some chalk that Tia had brought along. Tia had explained the game in long winded form, but the basics were that each circle on the ground had a number, and tossing stones you could get points based on which number was in the circle. Then they would throw a bunch, and keep score.

Tia and Amanda were both pretty good at numbers so they kept track of the points. While they were playing one of the boys that they had played with another day showed up watching them.

“What are you doing?” He asked, staring at the numbers curiously.

While Amanda threw her four stones from the starting line with little results Tia tried to explain the game to the boy. Amanda frowned at her own stone placement, only getting two points for that round. Buni who went after her managed to land her stones inside a circle with each throw.

“You’re really good!” Amanda announced, even if she was a bit jealous.

Buni grinned, “We used to have colored hoops to play this game.”

“Colored hoops?’ Amanda asked.

Buni nodded as she collected her stones, “Of wood, we had to clean them but we used to play a lot before. Then one of the kids from the docks broke them.”

“They broke them?!” Amanda asked, mortified by the idea.

Buni nodded sadly, “So we could-” She was cut off when Tia suddenly let out a scream.

Buni and Amanda both turned to see one of the other boys had appeared behind her, muddy hands grasping for Tia.

Amanda had no idea what had happened, but rushed to help. She shoved the boy onto his back THe sudden sprint made her feel a bit off balance

From there things got worse as the other boy shoved Amanda to the ground. Then Buni hit him square in the face.

The boy that Amanda had shoved got up and started spreading mud everywhere on Amanda’s clothes with a gleeful grin on his face.

Amanda didn’t understand, but his grin was infuriating, so she grabbed what mud she could from the ground and threw it back at the boy. The bulk of it smacking right in his face, some even going up his nose.

The boy made a face, and tried to put some space between them. Amanda pressed her advantage, grabbed more mud, and chased after him, throwing the mud as she went, though it went wide and splattered on the wall.

It was all over in a flash and Amanda stood victorious, if covered in mud. The two boys rushed off into an alleyway away from her and Buni.

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Amanda huffed to herself from the excitement, glad she had managed to not fall from the dizziness. But more than anything exalting in the thrill of victory.

“Are you ok?” Buni asked Tia, who had gotten a bit of mud on her dress.

Amanda turned to see as well, now that the boys were out of sight.

Tia nodded, “I’m alright… They always do that!”

“Do what?” Amanda asked, still having no idea what had been the problem in the first place.

Buni explained, “Tia gets in trouble when her dress gets dirty, and the boys heard about it. So when they have nothing better to do they try to get her in trouble.”

“That's terrible!” Amanda cried out, feeling for her new found friends.

Buni gave a nod but gave Amanda a worried look, “Are you not going to get in trouble?”

“For what?” Amanda asked, brushing some mud off her tunic with a hand, though it might have made it worse.

“For being dirty?” Tia asked, clearly put off by the state of Amanda.

Amanda shrugged, “I don’t think so.”

“You’re dad must be really nice.” Buni said with wide eyes.

“He’s great!” Amanda agreed.

It was about that time that her father showed up. Though Amanda frowned at seeing him. “It's not time yet!” she cried out, she was sure of it the sun wasn’t even that high yet.

Her father gave her a confused glance, and looked around at all of them. “I’m just checking on what happened with those boys.” He explained.

Amanda blinked, realizing she misunderstood. Wasting no time she told him what Tia and Buni had said. Finishing her story with how she and Buni had chased them off proudly.

Her father nodded and gave her a smile, “Alright. I’m glad to see none of you were hurt.” He said, and leaned down next to Amanda patting her on the head, “But we’ll need to give you a proper bath tonight, it's in your hair.”

Amanda fingered a few bits of slightly drying dirt in the silver strands, “It doesn't bother me.”

Her father nodded simply, “Alright.” Then glancing up he took measure of the time, “A bit longer until noon, so have fun until then.”

Amanda waved to her father who slipped back around the corner and back towards the shop.

“How did he see what happened from inside there?” Buni asked, surprised and shocked at the fact that Amanda’s father had somehow known to come out.

“He can see through walls!” Amanda explained.

Tia blinked, “You’re dad is a magus?”

Amanda nodded, “He sure is! I’m going to be one too!” She proclaimed with certainty.

“Being a magus isn’t that easy.” Tia said with a dismissive attitude.

“I know.” Amanda said her volume raising with a bit of anger. “I’ve been trying really hard.”

“He’s teaching you?” Tia asked with a squeak.

Amanda nodded, “Sure is! I can already see through things too.”

“No you can’t!” Tia yelled back.

“Can too!” Amanda barked back.

“Prove it!” Tia shot back.

“I will!” Amanda shouted back with a stomp of her foot.

Tia stared on in expectation.

Buni looked back and forth between both of them somewhat confused by the development, and by the lack of any progress after a few moments.

After a minute Tia gestured, “Well?”

Amanda blinked, “Well what should I look at?”

Buni chimed in, “How about you tell how many fingers she's got held up?”

Tia grinned, “Good idea!” And she held up her hand behind herself. Taking a moment to carefully ensure that Amanda couldn’t see with her eyes.

“Well?” Tia asked.

“Three fingers, you’re middle, pointer, and pinky.” Amanda replied easily.

Tia blinked in shock.

Buni blinked too and did the same, “What about mine?”

Amanda replied, “Two fingers, pinky and thumb.”

Buni swapped them, “And now?”

“Now your two middle two fingers are up.” Amanda replied without any effort.

“That's amazing! How do you do that?” Buni announced with excitement.

“My dad calls it aura sight.” Amanda explained, “We can sense the aura.”

“What's the aura?” Buni asked.

Tia replied, “It's the energy all around us.” She stared at Amanda with obvious envy, “I can’t believe you’re already learning how to be a magus… My mom told me that they would send me to Vanshimer only if I still wanted to try once I was old enough.”

Amanda shifted on her feet, “You want to be a magus too?”

Tia nodded, “My older brother is a magus. He taught me a little about them.”

Buni chimed in, “He's how we met, Tia’s older brother works with my papa.” After a moment she continued, “If you both are going to become Magus maybe I should too.” she said.

“That would be great, we could all go to Vanshimer together!” Tia said, before glancing at Amanda, “But we’d have to catch up to Amanda.”

Amanda snorted, “I’ll be a full magus by the time you all go to wherever that is.”

“We’ll see...” Tia pouted.