In the city of Halalem of Beamonait Kingdom one of the six human kingdoms of the Tokrorura continent 250 km away from the main capital of Beamonait and 20 km from the boarder of The Forbidden Highland ?

As the sun peaks over the horizon, the chilly dawn air brings about a new day. With the calling of the sun almost all the citizens of something have already started their day. The men and women off to work, while the young boys are sent off to warrior training.

**smack**

In a small run down home located on the outer edge of the western section of Halalem, a large man standing 6 foot tall, this man has dark brown hair, green eyes with a scruffy face; his skin is a darker brown of a color that looks closer in skin color to a Mediterranean European. He looks like he is in his early 40's, he is currently wearing a dull grey steel set of armor standard of the city guard looking over a little girl who is rubbing the side of her face while she cleans off the table.

(Damalis): what did I tell you about having breakfast done before I wake up ?

(little girl): it’s important to finish cooking so you can get ready for work

(Damalis): that is right, now hurry up and clean up this mess or the punishment will be worse when I get home

(little girl) yyyess, father

(Damalis): as further punishment for your disgrace to the family no breakfast for you today

A woman who looks like her late 30's is watching this happen with a frown on her face. She is 5 foot 6 inches; she has long blonde hair, light sandy color skin, and green eyes. She has above average looks, but not enough to turn every head in a bar.

(Lillian): don't hit her so hard, remember you can't damage her looks

(Damalis): I wouldn't have to hit her if she did what she was told

(Lillian): if you damage her we won’t be able to continue to send Fabiano, and Omero to school much longer

While they argue Fabiano, and scarf down the rest of the food on the table like it was their last meal leaving nothing behind. Fabiano is 14 years old this year, he looks like a smaller version of his father. Standing only 5 foot 7 inches he could pass as a younger version of his father. While Omero is 9 this year, he has dirty blonde hair, dark green eyes, with lighter skin. He stands only 5 foot. With the way he looks it is harder to tell he is part of the family as he has not grown out of his childish look.

This is her morning ritual every morning an hour before anyone else in the family is awake this little girl starts her day brushing her hair followed by rushing to make breakfast. Breakfast is never an easy feat as nothing is prepped or easy to cook in this age. To cook something simple like eggs, cheese with some bread takes close to 40 minutes. Though she makes plenty of food she never gets much of it.

She is not allowed to eat much because her importance to the family is low.

She isn't the eldest male son so she can't pass the family name down.

She isn't a male so she can't become a warrior like her father or her brothers.

While she isn't old enough to start working to provide income to the house.

The only use she has is taking care of the house and being sold off when she is older to help her brothers achieve their dreams.

This sad little girl's name is Sophia; she has bright blonde hair, crystal clean green eyes that sparkle like jade, tanned skin standing 4 foot 5 inches. She is very small though physically, she is mostly skin and bones, coupled with heavy wool clothing that is patched up and fraying all over. Her outward appearance is not very cute for her age.

Sophia watches as her family leaves the home one by one, leaving her in the tiny home all

alone. Now the rush of the day starts, she must go shopping to make tonight’s dinner and tomorrow’s breakfast.

She has to do the laundry for her family, clean the house, shine her father and brothers weapons left at home and make dinner before her father returns home from his guard duties.

Sophia leaves her house heading down to the market, her father left her 10 copper today. It will be a stretch to buy enough food for everyone. (100 copper = 1 silver, 100 silver = 1 gold, 100 gold = 1 gold note it costs ~2 copper a meal a person) ( average pay for a normal citizen is 5-6 silver a month )

Sophia: hmmm, I guess I should make soup tonight. I can stretch this money a little more if I make some simple soup with a little meat and bread.

The market is very vibrant, with people of all statuses wearing many different and colorful clothing are flooding the streets. The streets are lined with many tasty looking fruits, meats and beautiful clothing. While the venders yell out their products in hopes of attracting customers to sell their wares.

Sophia being as small as she is and wearing basically rags is ignored by most venders and pushed/shoved while she walks through the crowd. She is making her way to the venders that are selling their slightly damaged or food that will spoil soon to cut a few coppers.

Sophia: hello Mr. George, do you have any deals today on meat?

George: for you little Sophia, of course I have a good deal. I can sell you a kg of tough meat for 4 coppers. How about it?

Sophia: hmmm, can you make it 3 coppers? Father didn't give me very much today.

George: he never gives you much money; alright I can give it to you for 3 coppers.

Sophia: thank you so much Mr. George.

* She beams him a very bright smile*

George: alright, I have other customers I can't spend too much time on you. Off you go

// hmm so I need to still get bread, eggs and some veggies, with 7 copper left I should be able to get everything. So I should head off and get the eggs and veggies first. Mrs. Hughes should give me a cheap price but her stall is on the other side of the market. I am going to have to take the back alley ways to reach there.

Through the alley, she passes the vagrants and prostitutes that line the alleyways of the city. It reminds her that even though life is horrible, if she attempts to leave her home she would at best end up as one of these people. While with the way she is dressed, and looks nobody pays much attention to her because of her poor appearance.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

As she arrives at Mrs. Hughes stall she notices she is in an unusually good mood today.

Sophia: Mrs. Hughes!! Do you have some cheap veggies and eggs for me today?

Mrs. Hughes: I think I have some, but they aren't in the best condition.

Sophia: yesss please, can I have 4 copper worth?

Mrs. Hughes: you know you’re always buy the stuff I am just throwing away, if you can guess why I am so happy today I will give it to you for free

Sophia: REALLY !?! for free??

Mrs. Hughes laughs a little: yep, but you have to guess correctly

*She places her finger under her chin and tilts her head* attempting to think really hard, if she wasn’t dressed in rags, and was fed properly she would look very cute right now.

Sophia: your son was accepted to a school??

Mrs. Hughes: Not just any school, he was found to have talent in wind magic. My son is going to be a great magician

Sophia: wow that is so cool; magicians make lots of pretty things and are so strong.

Mrs. Hughes: you should see if your parents will let you take the magician exam. Children from the ages of 10 - 16 can be tested to see if they have any magical talent. Just don't get your hopes up to high little girl, not many people pass.

Sophia: really? I can take the test? But I am a girl and it probably costs money father would never spend the money to take the test for me.

She depresses herself just thinking, *her eyes becoming slightly watery*

*Patting Sophia on the back*,

Mrs. Hughes: don't be depressed, the test is free and anyone can become a magician, if you pass ill even introduce you to my son. He is really handsome *wink*

Sophia: *blushing* uhmm ttt-hank you, Mrs. Hughes I will ask my father if he will take me

With the thought of taking the magical exam the day flies past her and before she knows it she is serving dinner to her father and brothers.

Sophia: ummm father, can I ask you for a favor?

(Damalis): maybe, but only if it helps your brothers out.

Nervously she thinks over how to ask to take the exam

// father would never agree to let me take the exam; maybe he will let me if it helps older brother out somehow?

(Damalis) angrily: I do not have all night Sophia spit it out.

Sophia: father, can you take me to do the magical exam tomorrow? They are still testing children my age and if I show talent maybe I can be married to someone with more money or I could even use my magic to earn some money outside

Sophia watches as her father’s face changes from a look of anger, to a complicated face while thinking over this.

(Damalis): what do you think, Fabiano ?

(Fabiano): it does not hurt to let her try, if she has magical talent then me and Omero will be able to attend better schools, but if she fails it doesn't hurt us

(Damalis): okay Sophia we I will take you tomorrow morning for the exam, but you have to clean my armor. If it isn't done right then forget about going.

Sophia: YES father

Sophia face brightens up; the feeling of hunger from lack of food washes away as the excitement to know if she can do magic she rushes into her father’s room and grabs the heavy armor is too heavy for her small under nourished body to lift.

For the next hour she spends it shining the armor with the utmost care.

As soon as she finishes cleaning the armor, she walks back into the kitchen to drink some left over broth.

The veggies and meat have already been devoured and what is left of the bread has to be used for tomorrow’s breakfast.

Sipping the broth slowly, she cleans the table and washes the dishes.

When she finishes her tasks it’s already very late at night, she walks into her shared bedroom with her younger brother and changes into her sleepwear.

The vast difference between how Sophia's brothers and her are treated can be seen just looking into the bedroom. Where her brother is sleeping on a small light wooden bed, with a large blanket to keep the cold of the night away. At the end of the bed is a medium sized wooded dresser, with his small tarnished iron sword resting on the top of the dresser.

While on Sophia's side of the room there is at what at first glance looks like a pile of rags. This is actually her bed; it’s just a collection of old cloth unusable for clothing. This pile of cloth rests on the hard wooden floor and it doesn't protect very well against the slightly chilly nights. At the end of this pile of cloth, is a small wooden box. This box contains everything Sophia owns, just a few sets of patched up skirts and blouses.

She nudges her little brother

Sophia: brother, can we continue tonight teaching me how to read?

This has been going on for quite a while, because her younger brother has started to learn how to read a year ago. Sophia has been asking her brother to teach her what little he knows every night behind her parents back. If her father knew she was learning how to read, he would surely beat her. Smart woman are not always wanted as concubines or wives as they might talk back. Her pace isn’t exactly very fast even learning how to read for the past year, she cannot be considered very well. Her level of reading would be a 3rd or 4th graders if you were to compare.

Omero: okay but you have to be quiet, and remember to wake up early enough tomorrow. You can't keep neglecting your sleep to learn how to read.

Hugging her younger brother,

Sophia: thank you

The next hour she learns in secret from the rest of the family how to read a little more before getting her 5 hours of sleep.