“Reason for visit?”

“Well, my son and I here are visiting some family.”

The guard operating the gate looked between my ‘father’ and me, finally shrugging as if he couldn’t be bothered to care any longer.

“Make no trouble. Dimal Row is always open to visitors.”

“We won’t, Sir.” My ‘father’ said with an unnervingly charming smile before ushering me in as the gate opened.

“What was that?” I leaned in, whispering under my breath after making our way past the guard.

“Tact, you would do well to learn some.’

“Bollocks. Tact is watching what you say. Where did you learn charm?”

“I’m over a thousand years old. You think I haven’t picked something that simple up?”

My look must have done all the necessary talking as he grumbled.

“Little punk. Shoulda left him back in the forest.”

“I can hear you; you realize that?” I whispered back.

“I know. That was the point.”

My mentor walked away for several seconds before turning around, arching an eyebrow at me.

“Ahh, right. Never been in a city like this before.”

I could only nod as my senses were overwhelmed. Everything I could imagine seemed to explode before me, sights, sounds, smells, everything so vibrant and full of life. The street we had been walking had bled into a market square if one could even call it that. Everywhere I looked, merchants were hawking their wares and yelling over one another.

“…..Fresh bread, get your fresh bread!”

“…..Toys, scarves, and knick-knacks of all assortments!

“…..Lover’s Respite! For just a few pench, you too can be the talk of the town!”

On and on, I heard shouts as people attempted to catch the crowd’s attention as people milled through the area. Before I could take another step, the strength left my knees as I caught a whiff of something amazing.

“What is that?” I caught my mentor’s attention, pointing toward the scent I had picked up.

“That-” My mentor wrinkled his nose as if analyzing the smell. “-is Vilchma bread.”

“Vilchma bread?”

“A sort of fried spiced sweet bread.”

“It smells amazing.” I could feel my mouth watering increasingly as the scent danced about my nose.

“Well, I guess you haven’t eaten in several days.”

“I-what?”

“I said you haven’t eaten.”

“But… you didn’t like, I don’t know, feed me?”

“What do you want me to do? Chew your food for you?” My mentor snapped back, turning up his nose as he did. “Besides, hunger builds character.”

“And who told you that?”

“My own father.”

I stared at my mentor. In all the talk of him being over a thousand years old, I had forgotten that he, too, had once been nothing more than a child.

“But wait-” I scrunched my face up in confusion. “-weren’t you a magic-”

I was silenced as a hand was placed against my mouth, my mentor dangerously close.

“Remember what I told you before?”

I could only nod and mumble, unable to form words with his hand stifling any potential coherent sounds.

“Good. And to answer your question, we may have spoken a different language than that of… your sort, but it wasn’t as if we couldn’t speak.”

Oh.

It was another thing I hadn’t given much thought to. I’d assumed that magical beasts were little more than mindless animals, a critically mistaken belief.

“C’mon now. Let’s put some food in your mouth. At least you can’t say stupid things then.”

I felt my cheeks flush, but I nodded, unable to deny my hunger. We quickly wove through the sprawling market area. While I had no idea where I was, far too overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, my mentor seemed like a fish in water for how easily he slid through the throngs of people.

“And here we are.”

We stood before a small stand where two middle-aged women were currently bickering.

“Havia, I swear I don’t care. I will beat you until you are blue.”

“Try me, Daeya. I remember the last time you tried, you were icing a bruised face for a week.

“Hah, only because you got lucky that a guard was nearby.”

“If you really want to, we can-”

My mentor coughed once into his closed fist, exaggerating the sound to interrupt the bickering.

“What do you want- oh, customers.” One of the women, Daeya, if I’d heard her name correctly, quickly forced her scowl into a rather unconvincing smile. “And what can we do for ya?”

“Two things of Vilchma bread.” My mentor smiled at them, dropping several bronze-colored coins on their stand.

“Two things of Vilchma bread.” The other lady, Havia, smiled sweetly, a much more convincing act than her partner. “Coming right up!”

I wasn’t sure what to do, but my mentor gestured toward the side, leading me to an empty bench I hadn’t noticed a short bit away from the bread stand.

“Now what?” I questioned.

“Now we wait. They may not seem like it, but those two make the best Vilchma bread you’ll ever try.”

“You’ve been here before?”

“Of course.” My mentor looked at me as if I had something exceedingly stupid. “I’m old as sin, remember?”

“Oh.” I frowned, having forgotten that part. “Right. Why didn’t they recognize you, though?”

“Do you know how many people live in this city? Much less how many people come and go on any given day? A single face is easily forgotten, even one like my own. You tell me, how likely would you be to remember a random face in crowds like this every single day?”

I shrugged, kicking a pebble.

“Not likely.”

“Mhmm.”

“Okay. Another question then.”

“What is it?” My mentor was twirling his index finger in small circles. A tiny bubble would appear with each completed circuit, floating a finger length away before popping in a faint mist.

“I- what is that?”

“Magic.”

“But you’re not using any commands.”

“For something this simple? Of course not. Anyway, I don’t use magic the same as most do.”

‘Most,’ I assumed, was his way of saying humans.

“Was that your question?”

“Uh, no.” I shook my head, straightening out my thoughts. “So, why exactly did we come here.”

“Over a week of travel, and you just now decide to ask?”

“I wasn’t thinking about it,” I answered, shrugging as if it was apparent.

“Your head is screwed on loose, kid.” My mentor hummed. “We are here to rest for a few days. There are a few people here I plan to meet up with as well.”

“About me?”

“No, not about you. The world isn’t just your own little story, you know.”

I deflated at the comment but tried not to let it show on my face. “What about me then?”

“I don’t know. Go play with a ball or something while I’m gone.”

“Play with a ball,” I repeated, my face stone.

“Well, what else do kids of your sort do for fun?”

I brushed aside the fact that by ‘your sort,’ he meant human, instead ruffling at the silly question before I took a moment to consider it.

What exactly do kids my age usually do?

I had spent my entire life living with a mage for a mother, away from the village we technically called home. My lone friend was a girl who could conjure all five primal elements of wild magic, not really the typical childhood friend. Furthermore, entertainment for me had often turned into swinging a sword around for hours.

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I don’t think I know what kids my age are supposed to do.

“First off, I’m fifteen. I’m not a kid,” I answered defensively, realizing I’d been referring to myself as a kid in my own head.

“Yeah, okay, kid.”

“Second, I, uh, I. I’ll check the city out. I guess.”

“If that’s what makes you happy, go for it. Just don’t get yourself in trouble. If you end up in Dimal Row, I’m letting you stew for a few days. Not like I’m in a rush.”

“That’s r- what’s Dimal Row? The guard mentioned it as well.”

“Dimal Row is where they lock people up, be it actual criminals or drunks who got a little rowdy. Not a nice place.”

“You’d just leave me there for a few days?”

“Of course. It’s not like you’d be sent to the depths. You’d probably just be thrown in a cooling cell for a few days.”

“Well, I won’t get myself into trouble either way.” I waved my hands, dismissing the idea entirely. “Anyway, what about the food?”

I heard one of the ladies from before calling our attention as if on command.

“Oye! Yer’ bread is ready!”

My mentor quickly got to his feet, dragging me along as we returned to the stand. One of the ladies, I had already forgotten which was Daeya and which was Havia, was holding two long loaves of fried bread in shiny-looking bags. The smell was like a drug, so intoxicating my knees began to buckle.

That or the days of unintended fasting were getting to me.

I watched as my mentor grabbed the loaves, handing one over to me, my mouth salivating.

“Thank ya for ya business, sweeties.” The ladies smiled at us, but when it appeared we were no longer paying attention, they turned dirty looks toward one another, resuming their earlier dispute.

“Is that okay?” I questioned as we walked away from the two, tearing a chunk of bread off the loaf.

“What, want us to play business dispute solver?”

“That doesn’t look much like a business dispute,” I mumbled as I hastily tore another bite free from the loaf.

However good one could imagine the Vilchma bread to have been, I promise you, it was better.

“Business dispute, bickering friends, lover’s quarrel. Either way, not our business.”

I shrugged, having no time for words or breathing as I continued devouring the bread.

No, really; I probably would have traded both my arms and a lung for another bite at that moment.

Following my mentor for half an hour, I finally sucked in a breath, my brain turning to things other than eating.

“Now what?” I tasted the air, having forgotten what it felt like to breathe.

“We find an inn.”

“An inn?”

“Yes. It’s a place where you exchange currency for lodging.”

“I know what an inn is.” I snapped, my mentor grinning at my annoyance.

“Well, since you know what an inn is, we’ve spent so long walking about because we are looking for somewhere to stay outside the range of where Herons like to spend their time.”

“Herons?”

“It’s what we call the eyes and ears of the current crown. When they see or hear anything suspicious or interesting, they take off, like a heron, to inform higher-ups.”

“Interesting such as a Sa-”

“Yes, idiot.” My mentor growled at me. “Like that. Unless you want more people like those that appeared at your village coming after us, you’d be better off not bringing it up Every. Other. Minute.”

“Why, though?” I looked down at my hands, trying to wrap my head around why. “Like, I get why they obviously want information about them, but it’s not like I have anything of interest to share.”

“You are not interesting, correct.” My mentor said it so matter-of-factly that I almost forgot to feel annoyed that he had insulted me.

Almost.

“But the events around you have been interesting, to say the least. And more than that, your current traveling partner would be a matter of interest to them.”

“My current traveling partner?” I narrowed my eyebrows as I tried to figure out what he meant; with a loud smack, I palmed my forehead a moment later. “Oh. You mean you.”

“Yes, I mean me.” My mentor grabbed my shoulder, stopping me as we turned around. “And by the way, we’re here.”

“I, wait, this place?”

“It’s a dandy place, isn’t it?”

“It looks like I’m going to catch something here.” I huffed, staring at the building before us. It wasn’t so much that the building was dilapidated; it simply gave off the impression of unfriendliness and ill will.

A brick fell away from the roof, crashing to the ground outside the building.

Okay, maybe a little dilapidated.

“Well, it’s a safe place, at the very least. Herons avoid places here like the plague.”

“Why?”

“Because they might get stabbed if they don’t.” My mentor said with an amused chuckle, a thought that I felt was much less amusing when I considered I would be going in there.

“Relax, kid.”

“I am relaxed.”

“You don’t look it. You’re as tense as a stuck deer.”

“Well, what do you expect from me? I don’t want to get stabbed.” I threw my hands up, exasperated that I had to say it aloud.

“You’re not going to get stabbed.”

“And how do you know?”

My mentor peered at me before laughing. “First, you shouldn’t be such an easy target that you get stabbed. Second, you’re letting your ignorance of the city show, and third, while you’re with me, do you think anyone will even get the chance?”

“I guess you have a point.” I sighed.

“Well, if you understand, then follow me.”

Walking behind my shaggy mentor, begrudgingly, we soon entered the shoddy-looking inn. I had expected some greeting, but there was no sound upon walking in; the few I saw were too busy drowning their problems away in drinks.

“I thought this was an inn.” I leaned in toward my mentor, questioning whether he had been mistaken.

“Inn and tavern. Popular in the… less well-off parts of the big cities.”

“Oh,” I whispered, taking in the room again. The scent of smoke hung in the air, several patrons burning something within pipes as they rotated between taking puffs and taking pulls of their mugs filled with frothy-looking ale. The décor was, as far as I had imagined for an inn in one of the regional capitals, about as bland as it could have been. A limestone fireplace was crackling in a corner with a deer head on the wall above it, a bristly rug lay on the ground, and the tables were plain wood.

All in all, I guess it could be worse.

My mentor walked past the tables, staring straight ahead as he ambled toward the bar area, an ordinary-looking counter with several stools. I watched as he sat down, following his lead as he tossed several brown-looking coins on the table, five pench to be exact.

“Two ales.”

I glanced toward my mentor, I had never had ale before, and he casually leaned in closer.

“You’d be better off with the ale than the water here.”

I nodded, trying my best to not look so thoroughly out of my element.

The barwoman snatched the coins up without a second glance, turning around and fetching mugs and filling them with the same frothy ale I’d seen other patrons drinking. After a moment, she turned around, pushing the cups before us.

“Two ales.”

“Thanks.” My mentor gave her a short nod before tossing his head back, gulping away for half a minute before he slammed the mug down.

It was empty.

I stared between my mug, my master, and then the bartender, waiting to see if anyone would react.

“No free refills.”

Smiling, my mentor tossed several more pench on the table. “I know.”

The barkeep nodded to herself before looking at me. It felt like I was suddenly fixed to my seat as she held me in place with her gaze.

“Don’t get a lot of kids your age around here.”

“I, uh, with my dad.” I anxiously nodded toward my mentor, who was downing a second mug of ale the lady had handed him.

The bartender raised an eyebrow before looking between us, shrugging as if it weren’t her business.

“Whatever you say, kid. Now, are you going to drink that?”

I looked down at my drink.

I’d fought a magic knight.

Met a Great Sage.

Been taken under the tutelage of a magical beast.

And yet, none of them compared to the anxiety I felt looking at the drink.

Just do it.

Swallowing, I snagged the mug by the handle, throwing my head back as I forced myself to drink.

Several seconds passed before I pounded my own mug down. It wasn’t empty as my mentor’s had been when he had downed his drink, but I’d made a big enough dent that the woman seemed satisfied, turning to face my mentor again.

“Your kid ain’t half bad.”

“Gets it from me.” My mentor shot her one of his creepily charming smiles before sliding two bronze coins, two dansh worth ten pench each. “We’ll be taking a room for the night.”

“Second room on the left.”

I looked around, confused. While drinking, I’d looked the room over several more times but saw no stairs or hallways leading anywhere.

That was until the lady smacked the wall behind her, a staircase appearing next to her as if it had always been there.

“Wha-?” I barely stifled a jump of surprise, unable to process what I saw.

My mentor shot me a look that told me had was annoyed with my reaction, but he said nothing as he downed yet another mug of ale that he was handed.

How does he do that so easily?

“If you’re wondering-” My thoughts were interrupted as the barkeeper leaned in toward me from her side of the bar. “-it’s my Kin magic.”

“Should you just be sharing that information?” I questioned, deciding that even if the question was dumb, she would probably think nothing of it other than me being an ignorant kid.

Not exactly like she’d be far off.

“Hah. What’s the harm when my Kin magic is something so trivial?”

“What do you mean? Making stuff appear out of nowhere doesn’t exactly seem trivial.”

“Oh, the ladder?” The woman shot me her first smile of the night as if what I said amused her. “It was always there.”

“Wait, like an illusion?” It felt too good to be true, running into someone else with their own variation of illusion magic.

“No, not quite.” She shook her head, dismissing my assumption and crushing my hope. “You know when you’re looking for something you can’t find, only to realize it was in front of you the entire time? That’s what my Kin magic does, tricks the eyes into looking past things that were always there.”

“That seems amazing to me,” I answered honestly.

“Hah, it only works for as long as someone doesn’t know something is there or if they lack magical capabilities, to begin with.”

“Oh.” I nodded, realizing that by not seeing what had obviously been there, I had made it known that I hadn’t the magical capability to see past her optical interference.

“I can see you two aren’t from here.” The barkeeper snorted, but my mentor shook his head.

“The ki- my son, isn’t, but I lived here when I was younger.”

“I see.” The woman glanced between us once again before shrugging. “Well, is there anything else I can get you two?”

“Jerky, and one more ale.” My mentor tossed the last few pench on the table, which the woman picked up, rolling the coins expertly between her fingers.

“Will do.”

I blinked in surprise as the woman vanished as if the air hid her.

“Look closer.” My mentor leaned in once again, murmuring quietly.

Doing as he instructed, I forced my eyes to squint, staring as hard as possible.

“I’m not sure I see- wait.” I stopped midsentence, an open doorway made of smoke appearing from where the woman vanished. “I see it.”

“Good. You’re accustomed to the world being exactly as it appears, and therefore, you miss things you shouldn’t.”

“A-are you saying I should have been able to see the stairs from the start.”

“Mhmm.”

I saw a silhouette approaching the door before it transformed into the woman as she walked out from the hazy doorway, my brain still processing it.

“Jerky and another ale.” The woman sat down a bag of smoked meat in front of us before handing my mentor one last mug of ale.

“Thank you very much.” My mentor said with a smile, tipping his head back and downing the ale in one go a moment later. Slamming the mug down, he let out a satisfied-sounding exhale.

“That has got to be the best ale I’ve had.” My mentor was grinning, but the woman arched an eyebrow.

“You mean that shit? If by ‘best’ you mean ‘strongest,’ then sure. The owner doesn’t want to pay extra for clean water, so he makes the alcohol stronger to compensate.”

I felt suddenly queasy at the thought of the ale being made with dirty water, but my mentor only grinned as if it were natural.

“Well, I guess if you like it.” The woman shrugged before looking back at me. “I’m surprised you drank it as well as you did.”

I rubbed at the back of my neck, stifling an embarrassed flush. “I sort of didn’t bother tasting it.”

“Hah. You just might fit in here.”

“Thanks.”

“That’s not a good thing.” She said with another snort. “Anything else?”

“No.” My mentor said before his smile turned down slightly. “-one thing. Those two that have been creepin’ in aren’t with your establishment, are they?”

The barkeeper seemed surprised, but she let out an ugly laugh. “No. We don’t care what happens to them.”

“Good.” My mentor smiled something dark before it was as if he vanished, moving from his seat to get in the face of two large men who had been approaching.

Two men who I may mention I hadn’t noticed until now.

“May I help you two?”

The two large men seemed surprised to find their prey suddenly standing before them, entirely unphased even as they stood a head over him each.

“No? Well, then, let’s make this quick.”

As if the man weighed no more than one of the mugs he had been throwing back, my mentor grabbed one of the men by the collar before tossing him across the room, the large man crashing into a currently occupied table.

“Whoops.” My mentor shrugged as the other man stared between my mentor and where his partner had been flung.

“Well?”

The man surprised me.

He backed off, hands raised, turning to the door where he left without a word.

“Exciting, but you will pay for anything you break.” The barkeeper scolded my mentor, who raised his hand briefly.

“Apologies. I figured they wouldn’t get the message any other way.”

“Didn’t say you were wrong now, did I?” The woman half smiled before she began wiping the counter down.

“I like you.” My mentor pointed at her before gesturing toward me. “C’mon, kid.”

“Where to?” I questioned, but my mentor gave me a quick smack to the back of the head, light enough that it didn’t hurt but hard enough to know how he felt about the question.

“Our room.”

Probably should have guessed that.

I quickly followed the man as we made our way toward our room. I stepped through the door as he gestured me in, and a second later, I heard the door click closed.

The room contained a single crappy-looking bed and a poorly cushioned reclining chair.

“So-”

My mentor cut me off, and I watched silently as he closed his eyes. A moment later, I heard a soft pop sound as my mentor opened his eyes, clearly satisfied.

“Was making sure we wouldn’t have any eavesdroppers.”

“With magic?”

“No, by asking nicely. Yes, of course, with magic.”

“So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?” I questioned, curious about what he needed to soundproof the room for.

My master stretched his arms out, covering his mouth as he yawned, forcing me to wait until he was done. After he finished his dramatic yawn, he crossed his arms across his chest, looking at me as if I was an interesting puzzle.

“Kid, it’s time we start figuring out your affinity.”