Ali stared down at the desk, unwilling to look up at Ahuru who was studying him intently. Both Belen and Kurata were in the room earlier. When the man asked them to leave, they obliged. The teenager felt excitement sharing his interaction with Thomas but even he soon sensed the tense atmosphere in the room. He realized that Ahuru wasn’t amused with what he shared, wishing he hadn’t said so much. Now, the two of them were the only ones in the room. The silence dragged on until Ahuru stood up.

“Let’s go for a walk!”

Shit! I’m dead, aren’t I? He’s gonna kill me in a dark alley somewhere.

Too afraid to refuse, Ali followed the man out of the building into the streets. Night had fallen but the streets were still lit up by some magical contraptions. Given what was happening, the teenager couldn't exactly check out the contraptions. He only focused on keeping up, not wanting to give the man another reason to murder him. They walked for several minutes until they stood outside a gate. The teenager looked at the sign.

“The Dalcis Orphanage?” he said out loud.

“In Usnana, among those who lack magic, boys are preferred over girls because there are far more heavy labor jobs in this nation than any other job. Therefore, there’s a disproportion of the genders in orphanages with the girls being ten times the number of boys. For most of those girls, their future is bleak as they are only valued for their ability to have babies.”

Ahuru then signaled Ali to follow him to another place. The teenager followed but his mind was racing as to what the man was trying to convey. A few minutes later, the man asked a sudden question.

“What were your first impressions of Marciso?”

The question caught Ali by surprise so he took a moment to think. Then, he just went with his gut.

“He was respectful towards even those who deliver goods to others. I saw what he had on display. He was a master at what he did. Overall, I’d say he’s a great person I wished I had known better.”

Ali realized that he really meant the last bit. Yet, he didn't have time to dawdle as Ahuru didn't slow down at all. The two of them then arrived before an empty lot. At least, Ali thought it was an empty lot until he took a closer look. He could see what was left of a building that once stood in the lot. He then looked at the adjacent buildings.

“Was this Marciso’s store?”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“This was a targeted attack,” Ahuru said softly.

“Why?” Ali studied the man hoping this was a joke.

“Marciso had a dream after his wife died. He wanted to teach the girls at the orphanage how to make jewelry even if they don’t have magic. The skill could at the very least help them make their ends meet. If they can survive on their own, then they aren’t worth much to Thomas.”

“Because the man wants soldiers and martyrs to fight for him?”

Ali recalled the final words of the man who blew himself up. The man was a fanatic who would happily blow himself up for his cause because he believed it so deeply. The teenager had read books on the matter because Juraj deemed it necessary for him to learn more of their world.

I was such a fool to believe him. The man really knew how to use his charisma.

“Why do you seek power?” asked Ahuru unexpectedly.

When Ali didn’t answer, the man stepped into the center of the destroyed store.

“Thomas seeks power so he can rule over Usnana. He won’t hesitate to use anyone until he reaches his goal. To him, this is all a game that will end with him on top. Are you seeking power for the same reason? Do you wish to rule over a nation?”

Lacking an answer of his own, Ali returned the question to Ahuru.

“Me? I don’t have magic naturally so I grew up in the mines. I worked, ate and slept in the mines. That was my life.” Ahuru pointed at the emblem on his uniform. “As an overseer, I can improve the lives of those who work in the mines. The boys with promise get a chance at studying in a school, learning a trade or joining the Dark Cult. That’s why I seek power. I wish to change their lives….just like Marciso.”

After hearing Ahuru’s reason, Ali fell silent. The man didn’t force an answer from him and instead led the way back.

“Why does no one stop him?” asked Ali when they were outside the building.

“You’ve met him, haven’t you? His charisma is something else. He can play both sides like a puppet master. I’m certain he has plenty of pawns to sacrifice should he ever get in danger.”

The teenager thanked the man before heading to his sleeping quarter. Once he laid down on his bed, he thought about his reason for seeking power. An hour later, he packed his bags and quietly exited his room. He sneaked down the hallway and, once the coast was clear, he went downstairs. After successfully exiting the building, the teenager headed straight for the infirmary where he met Thomas earlier that day. Despite the hours being late, there were two guards standing outside. He approached them and said the code Thomas gave him.

“Welcome to the revolution, brother!”

One of the guards led Ali inside where they met the receptionist. After hearing why Ali was present, the receptionist quickly put together the paperwork. She was then thrilled to learn Ali was literate which made the entire process much easier.

“Why do you wish to join the revolution?”

“Thomas is a hero who will lead us to a brighter future! I want to stand by his side and see that future come to fruition!”

“Wonderful! Have you thought about how you’ll contribute?”

“Yes, I will be one of his soldiers!”

And I will be strong as a result!