Amaro sat on his heels and yanked the boy’s head up by his hair, “You’re the son? Then tell me where Calkos is before I break your other leg.”

“He’s dead! Whatever he did to you I had nothing to do with it! I’m sorry!” He sobbed, “The Venator Knight got him, all because I brought the curse upon us last year. I thought we’d be okay, but… You’re not him right? Please! I’ll do anything, just let me live!”

Amaro didn’t know what he was talking about, but he knew this was a dead end. Either way, he needed to make sure he tied up this loose end, “Don’t worry, I’m not one of them. In fact, I wasn’t here, understand?”

Prepo nodded frantically.

“Good. Then if you and your friends want to live, you will never steal from anyone ever again. I will know if you do. So please make an honest living and work hard to strive for more. Because if I ever catch you mugging someone again, you’ll end up like your dear old dad.”

“I’m already working in the mines all hours of the day and I can barely feed myself!”

Peasants really were uneducated. Amaro could already think of plenty of jobs he could do which paid better. Such as becoming a scribe, or working as an craftsman’s apprentice, “You’ll find your way. Just get a better job.” Amaro said as he walked away.

“Easy for you to say, bloody silver spooned prick.” He muttered thinking Amaro couldn’t hear him.

Amaro stopped in his tracks, he wasn’t going to let that insult go, “And what do you mean by that? I hope I misheard you.” Amaro said with a cold glare.

Prepo stiffened up, “Nothing, it’s nothing, forget I said anything!”

“No no. Tell me. You think you can’t get robes like mine if you work for it? Maybe if you made better decisions in life and didn’t spend your time mugging people you’d be able to get further than your father did as a corrupt guardsman. Attend schools, train as a craftsman’s apprentice, do anything beyond being a lowlife scum of society. You live in a house and yet you felt the need to steal and that’s low.”

“The only place a kid like me can make money is the mines. My father’s debt now falls onto me.” Prepo said, frustrated,”The landlords are already going to reclaim my house, so I'm gonna be on the streets. What am I to do? If I can’t steal then I can’t eat!”

“Your father was a pitiful xio, then. Learn from his mistakes and just do better.”

“No he wasn’t! He worked hard for me. He did everything he could and it still wasn’t enough for you bloody nobles! We nearly built something of ourselves and now it’s all gone just like that,” he shouted.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Amaro didn’t like how pitiful this xio was. Sure, his situation was tough, but it wasn’t unmanageable, “You’ll figure it out. Just quit feeling sorry for yourself and work hard. If you can’t learn to write or craft then join the military, they’ll feed you and you can build a new life after your service.”

Amaro could see the boy grinding his teeth, “Fine, I’ll do as you say.”

He gave Prepo a smile, and tossed him the last of his silver coins, “Good answer. Use that to start off.”

It was likely more money than the boy had ever seen in his life. If that didn’t help him get on his feet, nothing would. Prepo looked around, frantically stuffing the money into his clothes.

“Share it with your friends. This is all the help you’re getting from me, the rest is up to you.” Amaro said as he walked away.

Even if his search had come to a dead end for the day, he’d at least taught one of the peasants how to better his life. It was a hard truth to hear, but Prepo had taken the advice in the end and that’s what mattered.

Amaro was proud that he had changed someone’s life for the better today. For now, he was satisfied so he went home.

This would be a story he’d keep in his back pocket for later. Amaro would soon craft his legacy as a good and fair noble who lifted the poor out of poverty. It would no doubt be an impressive story to tell when he made it to the Tibur camp.

He could already see how that red haired girl was looking. Amaro was even imagining how they’d get together.

He was daydreaming his way back up the mountain when he crossed paths with Kadmus.

“Off to try for another kid, father? I’m hoping for a sister,” Amaro said sarcastically.

Kadmus smirked, “When did I raise such a vulgar child?”

“When the child had to watch his vulgar father fraternizing with other xia in front of his wives and children.”

“Ah yes, that’s right. Unfortunately ten children is more than a handful for even myself. Perhaps when you’ve grown enough to be on your own and out of my hair I’ll consider it.”

Amaro laughed dryly, “I feel I might enjoy the Tibur’s lifestyle. What if I never come back?”

“Oh is that why you’ve been aloof since yesterday? I was thinking you had met a girl you actually liked.”

Amaro jolted. How did he know?

“What are you doing outside of the manor anyways? Dressed in rags, no less.” Kadmus continued.

“I merely wished to enjoy the festivities without being bothered. I bought this mask from one of the vendors. Quite a bit of lovely food as well.”

“And you’re already retiring? It’s only the afternoon.”

“I might go back outside sometime later tonight. I’ve exhausted my personal funds already, I’m afraid.”

Kadmus rolled his eyes, “First you sell your rings for that silly trinket and now this? Remind me never to let you be in charge of the family’s coffers when you come of age. ”

“Oh I’ll likely forget to tell you, father,” Amaro said cheekily.

Kadmus let out an exhausted sigh, “Let’s hope you grow out of your rebellious stage before you entice me to commit filicide.” He roughly palmed Amaro’s head as he walked past, “Be on your way, my son.”

Amaro clicked his tongue and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He was going to walk away, but something possessed him to take a risk.

“Hey father, do you happen to know who The Jackal is?”