Author's Note:

Well, it begins. Anything in Italics is the main character's  thoughts. Enjoy the ride.

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A tall, lanky figure in tattered rags leaned against the wall of Ion's Blacksmith shop.  He eyed a flock of well-to-do merchants walking down Scholar's Path; there were pompous elven men and haughty Academy applicants, each of them looking at the area in disgust. A predatory gleam shined in the tall figure's eyes.

He slipped behind a portly Elven man that was straggling behind the group, bumbling through the path. Then he bumped him, sending the elf stumbling forwards onto his face.

"Sorry, are you okay?" Tall figure

"Watch where you're going idiot" he said.

The tall figure scooped him up and lifted him to his feet with ease. He apologized profusely while patting the dirt off of the elf's clothes. The elf started to get flustered and his face turned a scarlet color with veins bulging from his forehead. His jowls were shaking with each breath. In the confusion of it all, the tall man deftly swiped the mans pocket, retrieving a bag of coins.

"That's enough," the elf said."That's enough!" he yelled, pushing the tall figure away with all the strength he could muster.

The tall figure stumbled away, "Sorry sir, I'll be on my way!"

The tall figure hurried away, slipping behind Ion's Blacksmith shop. The elf's voice grew fainter and fainter. He cut through an alley and ended up behind a public bath house. He counted his spoils; there were 10 silver coins and 3 bronze coins. Bastard probably spent all his money on alcohol.

"Johan!" a voice called out.

The tall figure spun around, hiding the bag of coins behind him. A small, earthen green orc stepped around the wall into view. He was a good 7 inches shorter than Johan, putting him at 5 feet 5 inches. His almond shaped, turquoise-green were as clear as a fresh pond. The hook nose and square, rugged jaw that he sported were trademarks of his race. He padded forward like a panther, his footsteps not making a single sound.

"Darin," Johan breathed out. If it were someone dangerous, he might have had to give up all the money he just filched.

"What did ya get?" Darin asked, trying to peak around to his back.

"Only a couple of silver coins," Johan shrugged. "It's still early. I'm probably going to go back for more. You?"

"Some bronze coins," he said, taking his haul out from his pockets. "Let's head to the Forum. It's testing week for the Academy, there should be some marks up there we can pinch."

The two of them walked to the main road. Crumbling beige mud brick houses towered over them. The stench of exposed garbage and dry urine hung heavy in the air. Nearby, several bodies laid scattered about in tattered clothes; it was hard to tell if those were living bodies or just corpses. That didn't stop the flies from gathering. Johan and Darin walk as if used to this world; as if it's not worth mentioning.

"What do they do for the Academy trial anyway?" Johan asked.

"Hrm. I heard that you need to show some kinda magic talent. Lift something heavy, break something hard, something like that," Darin said.

"Sounds easy. If Arcane books weren't so damn expensive, I'd probably be in the Academy right now."

"You should try out anyway, you never know!"

"Try out and do what? Sing them a song? I can't control mana. Somehow, trying out for an arcane school without any knowledge of the arcane sounds silly to me."

"Smart ass. Sometimes they let people in if they show promise. With memory like yours, they might let you in."

"My memory's nothing special. Yours just sucks."

Darin punched Johan on the shoulder. They headed down Scholar Path and entered the Forum. It was filled to the brim with people from all corners of the continent; Brawny orcs, pretentious elves, stocky humans, brazen dwarves. Merchant stands lined the path selling everything from potions, scribed artifacts, clothing to jewelery.

Johan and Darin stuck out like a sore thumb. Johan wore a stained shirt and stood a head taller than most of them. Darin was a hard looking kid with clothes that were just barely better than Johan's. They looked like a pair of beggars that stumbled into the wrong part of town.

"Find a mark," Darin said. "Meet up at Safe Place if you run into trouble."

"Yes boss!" Johan saluted him and walked off.

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Johan stalked into the cacophony of this prosperous crowd. He kept his head down and didn't make eye contact with anyone. Occasionally he would meekly whisper, "A little money for some food, sir?". People ignored him and kept going on about their business.

He waded through the crowd, his deft hand invading numerous pockets. People were none the wiser. He filled his pockets with ease, while his eyes kept darting around looking for a big win. He spied a tall, burly orc flirting with a curvy human woman by an alchemy stand. The orc leaned against the stand and was loudly telling tales of his adventures, working in a joke here and there making the woman laugh.

Johan cut through the crowd and prowled behind him. He walked up behind the man and swiped his pocket with ease, then darted into the crowd. The orc glanced in Johan's direction then patted his pocket out of reflex. His eyes widened and he let out a snarl of rage.

Johan shoved his way through the crowd and ran for the alley. The powerful orc bullied through the crowd with ease. Johan bounded over a cart that abruptly moved in his way, effortlessly continuing his run upon landing. The orc didn't bother avoiding the cart; he barreled through it, sending food and wood flying in all directions. The man pulling the cart was thrown against the wall like a rag doll. Johan winced at the sound of the impact.

The orc screamed, "I'll kill you!"

Johan didn't even look back. He darted through the maze-like alleys like a mouse through a maze. He reached the Sinclair river and leapt in without hesitation. The cold water shocked the breath out of him, but he still swam desperately down the river, the orc bellowing curses at him as he did.

He left the river some ways down, and headed into the heart of the Lower City. He was completely soaked. His clothes now weren't only tattered and dirty, but they were wet and the clung to his body. He also lost a shoe while swimming, leaving one foot exposed. He arrived at an abandoned house. Part of the roof collapsed, leaving a pile of mud brick and the inside of the building exposed to the elements. This building was on it's last legs. He walked around back and scaled the wall to the roof. At the center of the roof, just before the area that collapsed, was a crate.

The blazing yolk-yellow sun began to set. Johan stripped off his clothes and wrung the water out of them, then laid them down in the crate. He let out a heavy sigh, dropped onto his back and stared at the clear sky. His muscles ached and his heart was still thumping loudly from the excitement. He closed his eyes and relaxed his body. He loved the way the wind hugged his body, caressing old wounds and breathing new life into him. He lost himself in the feeling.

"Here already, huh?" Darin says.

Johan sat up and stretched a bit, "Yeah, got chased around by some brute."

"Gotta pick your marks better than that," Darin said. He pulled out a hefty bag of silver coins and juggled it in his hand. "I made out alright".

"Bah, you're not impressing anybody." Johan waved his hand dismissively.

Darin walked over and sat down near Johan, staring into the night sky.

"What're you gonna do with all the money you're saving?" Darin asked.

Johan sat there for a while in deep thought, "I'm going to buy an arcane book on cultivation. After I study it for a while, I'll apply to the Academy."

"I can't picture you up there with those snobs," he started to laugh. "Knowing

you, it'll probably happen though."

"Don't jinx it."

"I think I wanna apprentice some blacksmith. People always need weapons and I'm

good with my hands," he wriggled his fingers around.

"Why not do that here? There are a couple of decent smithys here."

"Nah, the culture here is rotten. People only care about what family you're

from or how much money you have. It's stupid."

"Where then?"

"Probably Abramiln. Hopefully a dwarf there will take me in."

They sat there in a deep, comfortable silence. Johan reached into the crate and pulled out a thick sheet. He laid it on the roof and laid down heavily.

"I'm gonna get some sleep. Have to be up early tomorrow," he said.

"Still sleeping on the roof?" Darin shook his head. "See ya tomorrow."

Johan went to sleep with a fire in his heart. He nearly has enough money to

purchase an arcane book and enter the Academy. His life can soon begin.