Eirian lefts school and strolls through the city, checking window of several shops and notice boards. The street is filled with pictures of food and merchandise but under their shadow is a small job posting paper every few blocks. Once he spotted one job posting every job post started to pop up everywhere where he never noticed them before.

Most of the job post give a simple detail of the labor and since Alana doesn’t have any law forcing each business to hire more than one species some jobs would state which races they would prefer to hire but at least no one put which races they don’t accept in the paper so technically any races could get a job here.

'What kind of work should I get? I could go be a simple customer service and serve food, but would that be too simple for Amiel?’

Eirian glance at MAM glove on a human who walks past him and considers work that uses magic since he could learn something about MAM too.

With more narrow goal Eirian look through detail on each job posting before stop in front of a big shop near city center name “Mechanize Magic Industry”

‘I think this one is from New Terra.’

Walking inside Eirian was hit by the smell of faint metallic smell, this store didn’t just sell MAM but a gun as well.

Seeing a row of guns placed on the shelf with big sign “Only for human” made Eirian mood turn sour.

‘No way I’m working here.’

Before Eirian can turn back someone call him “Hey Eirian, what you doing here.” said Deacon.

“Deacon?” Eirian looks at his classmate “I’m looking for a part time job.”

“Really? Do you need...I mean I know the manager of this place. If you want I can recommend you to him.”

“Thank for the offer but I...”

“Hey, you’re Eirian right” Brant walks out and interrupts him. “I’m Brant Marquis you might remember me from the class.”

“Yes, I remember nice to meet you.” Eirian remembers hearing him talk about being a son of governor in classroom.

“I was just talking to Eirian about this store. Eirian is looking for a part time job.”

“Then you come to a right place” said Brant “This is the official shop by the Republic of New Terra, all the best part and core from the forge come straight here making this the best MAM shop in the city. I got my core from here as well a class A core.” Brant shows off his MAM gloves.

“Thank for the offer Brant but I want to look around and check with other store first if you don’t mind.”

“Wait wait, Hey manager!” Brant calls the shop keeper out to convince Eirian.

“Brant Eirian say...” Deacon trying to stop his friend but Brant turns him down “we can’t let our classmate go work for those second-rate stores when we are the best.”

“Yes Mr. Brant?” an old man came out and being polite to Brant. They clearly know each other.

“My friend is looking for a part time job. Can you hire him with double salary? My classmate should work at the best shop in town.”

The manager looked impressed when he saw that Eirian is Amiel “Oh if it’s you sir we can pay triple the pay. After all, refilling a core is not a job anyone can do as well as an Amiel.”

‘Triple the pay? Wow I could get so much money back... but those guns.’

“Thank you so much for the offer sir but I still would like to look around first if you don't mind.”

“Of course, feel free to check other store Mr. Eirian but I assure you we got the best quality MAM here in Alana. No one make MAM like human and we are the best in business.”

Eirian thanks Deacon and Brant before left to walk around in another part of the city and found that the manager was right. There are shops open by other races that sell MAM but their MAM are usually not their main product or their quality is clearly subpar when compared to Mechanize Magic Industry.

“CAW! Stop being stubborn CAW!”

Hearing a familiar voice Eirian stops to look around to find who was shouting and looks up to see two black birds arguing.

‘Josh?’

“Why didn’t you come to me? I thought...”

Being so high up Eirian can only made out a part of their conversation.

‘The other bird is bigger than Josh. A raven? I think I saw him in class before—oh they fly away.’

‘I didn’t know Josh could be mad like that. The other guy must be a jerk to make Josh angry that much...as a team leader maybe I should ask him if he needs help.’

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Eirian tries to recall the raven face and his name while continue looking for job.

“I’m sorry we don’t have any opening that would suit you.” said one of the shop owners that sells secondhand MAM.

“Thank you sir” Eirian prepares to leave when a crow comes in.

“Hello, I want to apply for a job you post.” said the crow.

The owner suddenly gets uncomfortable “Oh sorry that position is already been fill.”

“But you just said that you are looking for people on that job.” said Eirian.

The owner found himself harder to breathe when the crow stared at him. “I’m just not feeling like accept a bird in this position.”

“I can use wind magic to lift your equipment, so you don’t have to worry about my strength. I done a job like this before I assure you I will accomplish any task you have for me.”

“I’m sorry...I just can’t hire you.”

The crow looks very annoy before walk up to the counter “This is a fourth shop who refuse to hire me without good reason, could you at least tell me why?”

With both Eirian and crow looking the owner give in “Alright...I didn’t want to hire you because there is a rumor—about the bomber.”

“Bomber?”

“Yeah the crow that die last night. They say that crow is the bomber and he accidentally kill himself, good riddance I said.”

“Ah” the crow come to an understanding “Well thank for telling me, now I know to look for job own by fellow Avion.” The crow then leaves and fly off.

After leaving the shop Eirian then started to notice that some people in the street started to act weird when a bird shadow flew past them. They would get startled and head inside for cover.

‘This is bad. If everyone keep being scare of bird this might lead the Avion to be sperate from the rest community and seen as enemy to most people here.’

Eirian can only hope that this is temporary and everything will be back to normal soon. He can still see the desecrated village and a mass grave nearby where he was born clearly to this day. He does not wish to see anything like that happen again.

‘Alana is the only the that holds everyone together. Miss Hellen and other teachers must already have some plan right.’

Eirian tries to put the worry about bomber off his mind and keep searching for job.

“I’m sorry we only sell MAM, not modify or resupply magic.”

“Sorry sir”

“No”

“Yes but we can only pay you...”

“Have you consider working as intern for free...”

“We might have to consider firing some of our crow staff if their present make our customer uncomfortable.” Eirian heard one of manager talking and quicky left.

“Ahh why is looking for job this hard.” Eirian feels like he already visits every shop in the city but since Amiel doesn’t usually come work outside Elswyth; most shops don’t have a job or pay rate that suits his need.

‘Maybe Mechanize Magic Industry is my best shot’

When Eirian thinks of standing next to those horrible weapons of war and smelling them every day, it gives him more strength to search for one more shop.

Finally, he stands in front of some shop call “Mercurius”

From the outside Eirian can tell this one is different from other MAM shop. The marble statue of the bird in front is very well made. A MAM and a core that place at the front window is very beautiful and definitely class A which Eirian never see any other shop dare put them in front like this. Even Mechanize Magic Industry lock their Class A core far inside their shop to prevent robbery.

Walking inside the dark granite floor made Eirian feel like he just step in some kind of palace and at the center showcase is a core that shine and emit a powerful aura of magic he never see before.

I never see a core like this. Can someone really made this? So beautiful...’

“Hello sir how may I assis you today.” said a saleman.

“Yes, I was actually looking a part-time work. Do you perhaps have an opening?”

“I’m sorry sir we didn’t have any open position at this time but please feel free to look at our merchandise as long as you like.”

“Thank you” Eirian look around and noticed a scary wolf looking at him from a dark corner of the shop.

‘Maybe it’s time to leave.’

“Eirian?”

“Bill?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m looking for a job? You?”

“I work here, kind of.”

“Didn’t you work at the forge?”

“It’s complicated but you said you were looking for a job? Did I take too much of you money?” Bill word sound like he is worry but Eirian not sure what to feel.

“Let’s me introduce you to Mr. Bernays then maybe he can get a job for you here.”

Eirian wants to decline because he already knows there is no open position but seeing that this is a good chance to ask about those cores in the showcase he follows Bill.

“Sagax let’s me meet with Mr. Bernays” Bill march in and announced to the wolf whom to Eirian looked even more scary than the bear they fought.

‘Bill is braver than I thought’

“What did I say about Mr. Bernays not someone you can just pop in to visit at any time.”

“Please I just talk to him a moment ago so he shouldn’t get to meet anyone else yet and I got someone to introduce to him.”

Sagax made an unpleasant growl at Eirian but Eirian forces himself to not look away. ‘Can’t look weak in front of these wolf.’

Despite what Sagax speak he let Bill and Eirian enter and up the stair.

“Bill?” Bernays quickly hide a paper he was reading inside his suit and smile “I see you brought a friend. Mr. Eirian I presume?”

“You know me sir?”

“Who wouldn’t know the one and only first year Amiel student. It is a pleasure to meet you and please no need to be formal with me.”

“Pleasure to meet you as well Mr. Bernays.”

“Eirian is actually looking for a job. Do you perhaps have any opening for him Mr. Bernays?”

“Oh really?” Bernays walks closer to Eirian “This must be for a money you agree to give Bill right.”

“Wait Bill you told him about our arrangement?” Why would Bill do such a thing?

“Oh, Bill and I are like a family Eirian. He consults a lot of things with me. In fact, we were just having a conversation earlier about lowering the amount of money you need to pay Bill to 20,000 Nil instead.”

‘What? This guy convinces Bill to take less money? Is that even possible?’

“After all you only paying to help Bill get stronger. For Bill to take even more money from you is truly ill-manner.” Bernays turns to Bill.

“Yes” Bill looks at Bernays and bow to Eirian “I’m sorry for my short sighted.”

‘Am I hallucinating?’

“Don’t worry about it Bill” Eirian pretends to cough to not look at Bill.

“So, Eirian would you agree to work for me here at Mercurius?”