Cintra, 6th of Suncrest, year 305 UC

Bryan stood by the orphanage gate, feeling a bit nervous. He still couldn’t quite believe Millie had invited him. As the group approached, he straightened up, trying to hide his anxiety.

Millie smiling at Bryan waved.

"Hey, Bryan! Ready to go?"

Zeke gave a small nod, his arms still crossed.

"Yeah, let’s go."

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the town as Bryan stepped out with Millie and the others.

His heart was racing with anticipation as this was the first time he'd leave the orphanage. He's always been there, the only time he went outside was out back where the other kids played.

But today, things were different.

The town, with its cobblestone streets and brown brick buildings, was bustling with activity.

Everywhere he looked there were wooden stalls with vendors calling out their wares.

They were doing a good job too because Bryan couldn't take his eyes off some of the items he saw. From fresh fruit to baked goods, there were stalls for everything imaginable.

"Where are we going?"

He asked as he looked around.

"We're going to the bakery, it's not that far. Besides, we can't be gone for too long."

Zeke replied as he took the lead.

Dave slung an arm around Bryan, a gesture that felt oddly comforting.

"You've never been?"

Bryan shook his head. Dave should know he hasn't been outside the orphanage, everyone knew. It was not some secret.

Dave nodded his head.

"Well, there's a first for everything. Marlow's bread is the best! Trust me!"

Dave said before he let Bryan go.

He gave him a friendly smile, one that eased the tension Bryan was feeling unknowingly.

Bryan didn't reply but it felt nice being part of a group.

As they made their way through the streets, weaving past stalls and vendors Bryan's gaze was drawn to the people sitting along the road. Woolen blankets underneath them, various jewelry glinting in the sunlight. Each one was a marvel, he wondered how much those pieces cost. He had never seen anyone in the orphanage wearing one.

The woman on the blanket gave Bryan a soft smile.

Her old face was full of wrinkles but her blue eyes were comforting. He smiled back and saw her mouth something but he couldn't make out what she was saying. With everyone shouting to bring people to their stalls he could barely hear Dave and the others.

Walking beside Bryan, Millie noticed the way his eyes lit up as he took in the sights and sounds of the bustling town.

She felt a pang of guilt again, remembering their previous plans to hurt him. But now, seeing him so excited, she was determined to make this day a good one for him.

"It’s pretty amazing, right?"

She said, smiling at Bryan.

Nodding enthusiastically, he felt his nervousness slowly being replaced by excitement.

It felt nice being out and seeing the larger world.

Ms. Kelly always said she’d take him out on a trip around the city, but that never happened. She was too busy helping others, so they never got around to it.

"Yeah, it’s incredible. I never knew there was so much out here."

"Sometimes you get to see Magitech, and it's so cool!"

Millie said excitedly.

"Really?"

Bryan asked.

He couldn’t believe it.

Magitech, here? He saw pictures of them in some books, but to see one in person? That was another story.

If he could, he felt he might even encounter a mage.

Millie nodded with a smile on her face.

"Yeah! Last week we saw this mage tossing fireballs like this."

Millie started moving her hands around as if she were juggling something.

"He was selling a huge staff. There were so many people wanting to buy."

Brittney added as she walked close to Millie. She glanced at Bryan feeling a bit better now that they decided to leave him be.

"Wait, are you into Magitech?"

Brittney asked Bryan as she was unsure.

"I am! But, mages are better."

Bryan said proudly.

He wasn’t keeping it a secret, and often times he dreamed of being of a mage or wielding some sort of Magitech.

Being able to use spells was the coolest thing in the world.

Zeke who was leading the way next to Dave started laughing with his hands behind his head. Turning around he looked at Bryan.

"You're so dumb. Mages use Magitech!"

Bryan felt his cheeks burn as he looked down at the floor.

‘Not all of them…’

He thought to himself.

Millie and Brittney both glared at Zeke, but the young boy didn't stop laughing.

Millie bumped Bryan with her shoulder.

"Not all mages use Magitech."

"Yeah, the really good ones don't. Why need it when you can go pow, pow, pow. Or boom, bam, zap!"

Zeke started pretending like he was casting spells at them as he walked backward.

"You plan on being a mage?"

John asked, his voice a bit soft.

There was a glint in his eyes that was unmistakable.

"Me?"

Bryan asked as he looked up.

John nodded.

"I… don't know."

Bryan said.

Truth was, he did know, but he didn't want to tell them. It was best for him not to say he wanted to become one in case Zeke made fun of him again.

"Oh, ok."

John said before going back silent.

"Why not be one? You'll be super famous!"

Zeke said with a grin.

"Also, the spells!"

He started casting fake spells once more.

"You guys want to be one?"

Bryan asked.

"Yeah, but there's only a chance we will."

Brittney replied.

Bryan understood what she meant.

The number of people capable of becoming a mage was pretty low. But, he still hoped he would become one.

Because then, he’d be able to fit in.

He’d have many friends and he wouldn’t be alone anymore.

As the conversation died down a bit, he took a moment to observe his surroundings. To take it all in.

Many of the people on the road were wearing clean clothes, there were just as many who were clearly less fortunate.

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

They had dirt on their face, thin arms to where you could make out their bones, and tattered clothing. All of them were begging for food, any kind of food, they'd even take scraps if they could. A couple were asking for tales, even a bronze tale would do.

From the little knowledge he knew, Bryan knew that tales were the currency that was used.

It took a few bronze tales to buy a loaf of bread, and the most expensive tale was platinum if he recalled correctly.

Ms. Bertha taught them a bit of history, and long ago obsidian tales were used instead of platinum. However, obsidian was a limited resource and was used for crafting armor and weapons, thus the Scott family introduced a new currency. Replacing obsidian with platinum.

Bryan remembered that clearly because he was interested in that part of history.

The Scott family was the wealthiest family on the continent and created many inventions that made life easier for everyone.

He wondered what it was like to be born into a family like that.

They were essentially royalty.

The founder was a man named Richard who revolutionized the marketplace and created a trade empire.

While his feats were amazing, Bryan was more interested in his daughter Anitta who invented various medical techniques. She was also one of the first known mages in the world.

Bryan felt something touch his head.

Touching his white hair he didn't feel anything, then he felt it once more. Again and again. Holding his hand out small water droplets continued to fall into his outstretched hand.

‘Rain?’

It was raining, but it was still sunny out.

The others seemed to notice this as well, but it didn't seem to bother them as much.

"Let's hurry before it gets dark."

Britteny said as she overtook Zeke.

"Hey!"

Zeke said as he darted after her.

Bryan hurried behind them trying his best to keep up.

Millie was beside him, her height was similar to his and neither one of them were fast like the others.

Nearing the bakery, Bryan saw a sign above the door that read Marlow's.

Dave, Millie, and the others entered giving him a moment to himself.

This was it, and the smell coming from the shop was to die for. He couldn't wait to taste one, as the bread they ate was usually stale at the orphanage.

The sky that was clear of clouds was now full of them, and the pitter-patter of raindrops continued.

At this rate it would begin to pour, meaning their adventure outside would be cut short. Thinking about that made him sad. He did not want the day to end, he wanted to see what else the town had to offer.

Bryan didn't waste any more time, he entered the bakery following after the others.

A large man with a friendly smile was carrying a large silver tray full of bread. He could see steam rising from it.

"Hey, you kids up for some fresh bread? This just came out of the oven, not even one minute ago."

He said as he sat the silver tray down on the stone counter.

Bryan's eyes lit up, and he instinctively moved forward, but Dave's hand on his shoulder held him back.

With a subtle shake of his head, Dave gestured towards Millie, Zeke, and Brittney.

"Keep him busy."

He whispered, nodding towards the baker.

"Bryan and I will handle the bread."

‘We will?’

This sudden plan caught Bryan off guard.

He noticed a flicker of something - hesitation, perhaps guilt - cross Millie's face, but it disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

"Come on, Bryan."

Dave urged, slipping behind a shelf, out of the baker's line of sight.

Bryan lingered, a knot of uncertainty forming in his stomach.

Dave glanced back, a challenging edge to his voice.

"What's the matter? You're not scared, are you? Don't you want to be one of us?"

‘I do.’

He didn't want to be the outsider anymore. He would be one of them.

"All you need to do is grab as much bread as you can and make a run for it. Head down the alley; we'll catch up with you."

Bryan hesitated.

"I don't know... This feels wrong."

Was this what they were supposed to do?

Didn’t they have to pay for this?

It just didn’t sit well with him, but as Dave gave him a look, Bryan knew he had to act or else he’d be back to playing the demon.

"It's not wrong, Bryan. Just a bit of fun. Nothing will happen. The others will distract the baker. We grab the bread and get out. Easy."

Despite his misgivings, Bryan found himself following Dave’s lead.

They moved stealthily, reaching for the bread on the shelves taking as much as they could.

Dave had a brown sack with him that he gave to Bryan to use. Bryan wasn't sure why he had it, but then it dawned on him that this was Dave's plan the entire time.

As they were stuffing the bread into their sack, the bell above the bakery door jingled. An older woman stepped in, her eyes scanning the shop. Spotting Bryan and Dave, her expression shifted from mild interest to shock.

"Thief!"

She cried out, her voice echoing throughout the bakery.

‘Thief? Who? Me?’

Bryan's heart lurched. The word hung in the air, a damning accusation. He saw the baker’s face turn towards them, morphing from warm welcome to shock and anger.

This was wrong, he knew it, he could feel it.

Stealing was bad, and they shouldn’t be doing this. He shouldn’t be doing this.

Panic surged through him, and he bolted, the door slamming behind him. The laughter of the group was gone, replaced by the pounding of his own heart and the splashing of his feet against the rain-soaked streets.

Turning the first corner he saw Bryan ran with all his might, fearing what would happen if he was caught. He didn't glance back over his shoulder to see if the others were there. There was no time, he had to escape.

He had a bad feeling about what would happen if Ms. Kelly found out what he just did.

He collided with a figure. Tall, and well-built wearing a blue coat with golden embroidery.

Too fancy for a lowborn like him, and his heart sank even further. His brown eyes bore into Bryan as if he was trying to burn him where he fell.

“What is this filth?”

The noble spat, his eyes raking over Bryan’s tattered clothes and the stolen bread now tumbling from his hand.

“I-I’m sorry, sir.”

Bryan stammered, the words tasting like ash in his mouth.

“Sorry? Your kind knows nothing of sorry.”

The noble sneered.

“Guards! Teach this street rat a lesson he won’t forget.”

At his command, three men advanced, each clad in leather vests and brandishing weapons that looked menacingly.

Bryan cursed his luck and couldn't help but think of Ms. Kelly. He wished she were here to save him like she always did.

**********

Ms. Kelly spotted Dave and his little group rushing back to the orphanage with smiles and laughter. She wanted to ask them if they saw Bryan, but of course they did. Right?

One of the other kids said that Bryan left with them, but she only found out about it after they left. She's been searching for him since.

Knowing that nothing Dave and the others were up to was good news. She'd reprimand them later on if Bryan was hurt.

‘I’ll give them a piece of my mind later, guess that punishment wasn’t enough for them to learn.’

‘Why can’t you just stay away from them Bryan? Are they that important to you?’

Her thoughts churned with worry, particularly about Bryan's naive approach to friendships. His social cues often misfired, leaving him vulnerable.

In her haste, the idea of simply asking the returning group about Bryan's whereabouts slipped her mind entirely.

As she rounded a corner, a disturbing scene unfolded before her. A group of men stood in a circle, their movements harsh and rhythmic, as if stomping on something—or someone.

At first, Ms. Kelly thought they were assaulting a local beggar, a common sight.

She was about to continue on when a flash of white caught her eye.

It was hair. White hair.

Her heart leaped into her throat.

‘It couldn't be… there’s just no way.’

But as she inched closer, the dreadful truth dawned on her. There, amidst the circle of brutality, was a small, crumpled figure with unmistakably white hair.

Bryan.

‘No. Bryan!’

Ms. Kelly charged forward, her focus solely on the crumpled form of Bryan.

He was on the ground, defenselessly curled into a ball, enduring relentless kicks.

As she shoved a guard aside, she shouted in a desperate plea.

"Stop it! Move!"

But her efforts to reach Bryan were futile against the overpowering guards.

The nobleman, observing her struggle, sneered contemptuously.

Thinking that someone was trying to be a hero, to interrupt his fun.

He swiftly raised his cane, striking her with such unexpected speed that she barely registered the blow.

Her head whipped to the right, her balance faltering.

Her face which was unblemished now had a gash across it. She raised her hand to the side of her face as her eyes went wide.

Someone struck her, she couldn't believe it.

"You foolish woman, do you realize what you've done?"

The nobleman hissed, his gaze cutting through her like knives. His brown eyes showed no hint of remorse or regret.

"You dare defy House Victor?"

He bellowed, pointing at a guard who was brutally stomping on Bryan.

"Kill her."

‘Kill me?’

This wasn’t what she pictured happening, she would just save Bryan as she had always done. But, he wouldn’t really kill her would he?

Trying to stop him from beating a child to death warranted such an act?

Without hesitation, the guard unsheathed his sword, advancing towards Ms. Kelly.

She had seen swords before, but never had one been directed at her with such lethal intent.

Before she could utter a word, or put her hands up they already acted.

With a quick slash, her brown shirt was cut down the middle revealing more than just skin.

"No!"

Bryan screamed tore as he witnessed Ms. Kelly collapse, her shirt stained crimson.

‘B-bryan…’

She reached towards him, her hand trembling, as her strength was fading. Blood bubbled from her lips as her hand fell limply to the ground.

The nobleman coldly stepped on her arm, his smug grin unwavering.

To him, this was the natural order – the powerless at the mercy of the powerful.

He was confident that his status would ensure the incident was dismissed, perhaps at the cost of a trivial fine.

"Kill the boy."

He ordered emotionlessly.

This wasn't how his day was supposed to go. He was going out to be with the other children, that’s all.

Was it too much to ask for?

Why him? Why? What did he do that caused people to hate him?

Was being born a little different so wrong?

Bryan clenched his teeth and bawled his fist. His nails dug into his skin.

The rain slid down his face mixing in with the blood leaking from his nose.

His body hurt, he was in pain, and he was alone.

No one was around, no one was here to help him. Ms. Kelly tried, he should have listened to her. He should have listened.

This was his fault, he caused this. If only he had stayed back at the orphanage and ignored Millie's offer.

If only…

He hated them, this wasn't his fault.

Why was he at fault? What did he do wrong? Everyone picked on him.

"Don't cry, it'll be over soon."

The nobleman mocked, signaling his guards to close in on Bryan.

Something swelled inside of Bryan as he pictured Dave and the other's faces before they ran off. Laughing at him.

This man, this noble in front of him was laughing too.

Unbeknownst to them all, beneath Bryan, something started to happen. Blood began to pool and rise, forming shapes that went unnoticed by Bryan, the guards, and the nobleman alike.

image [https://i.imgur.com/GRpOEJD.jpg]