Yatsu left the fountain to gather the supplies he needed. Noon had barely passed as most around the fountain were being selected. He headed over to the nearby shop, where a frail man greeted him with a friendly grin. Yatsu slapped the silver coin on the wooden stand, "Three of your finest fruits, and if I could take that barrel off your hands."

The shop owner raised his eyebrows in annoyance but shrugged his shoulders, dipping under the table with three circular violet fruits, "Three orlas and a barrel." He slid the coin under the table, "Be careful; it is one of the stronger fruits. Too much will induce a deep sleep, sir."

"Oh, trust me, they aren't for eating," Yatsu said as he turned the barrel onto its side. Chills shot through his body with his plan coming to fruition. The town center itself was rather busy, but he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he could successfully maneuver around. He could nearly feel the quill in his hands, the feather ready to sign his new apprenticeship.

The smile on his face was the biggest he had made in some time. For once, he felt on top of the world. Sure the townspeople gave a few odd looks and glances, but overall it was going according to plan. Yatsu took out the three orlas and juggled them in the air. He had no need to watch his hands. As long as he glanced at them, they would be caught. He rolled around to the fountain and took a deep breath. It was time.

Rotating around the fountain itself, he juggled while shouting, "Magistrates, masters, townsfolk and alike, lend me your time as I show you why." He walked faster, allowing the barrel to pick up speed. "Yatsu is looking for work, and with an array of talents, it is simple to see how wise of a choice this would be."

Many onlookers shook their heads in embarrassment. The children cheered and clapped at sight, the general public raising their eyebrows, unsure of what to think. Yatsu watched his surroundings to gauge their reactions to his efforts. He noticed how annoyed those at the fountain with their glares.

Yatsu didn't care. This was his chance. They could have done the same thing if they had the bright idea. "You will not be disappointed in selecting me. I am a fast learner, able to adjust in difficult situations, and am rather loyal." He threw all three orlas to one hand and juggled while waving his hand out. He searched for potential work, but none seemed to stand out from the crowd. "Strength, heart, courage, knowledge, each is important qualities which I possess."

A man raised his hand to wave down Yatsu for his attention. He had caught someone's eye as he pumped his fist in victory. His feet shuffled to turn the barrel properly to head over to the man when his foot slipped with his balance going out the window. Yatsu hit his knee on the barrel, falling to the ground gasping for air. The barrel flung into the distance with everyone laughing at his despair.

Yatsu lifted his head up to keep track of the barrel as his eyes widened in fear. The barrel was aiming to slam into an alfboar pin. He frantically waved his hand, hoping by some miracle that would change the pathway to no avail. The barrel slammed into a post, breaking it apart and startling the alfboars. The mighty beast spooked, letting out a screeching roar as its horns thrashed into nearby stands destroying everything nearby. With a back kick of its legs, the flower carts rolled away into a pillar which tilted back and forth before collapsing onto the shop stands below.

"Oh no…" Yatsu broke out in a cold sweat watching the cataclysmic event unfold around him. He prayed to Valera that it would all stop, that time would reverse in some way, shape, or form, that all of this could be forgotten. Nope. What he imagined and what really was happening was completely opposite. People rushed away to safety as the carts continued to roll free, slamming into anything and everything in their path.

A few chickens were injured, obstreperously clucking summoning more chickens which overran the alfboars. A centaur roared, kicking with its hooves as it cleared a pathway for its escape. The people fled for their lives as the animals escaped causing more destruction around them. They were trapped with no clear path out, with the humans running through the exits. He could hear the crushing of wood, the dust of stone and wood creating a haze in the town center.

Yatsu rose to his feet, believing that he could stop the mayhem. He was great with animals. After all, they were his only friend. The main thing that brought them back home when they got out was the torchlight. He found a cart without an owner, commandeering a torch and lighting it. "High ground… High ground… If I could have the animals see me enough…" He said, spotting a cataclysmic stack of carts and supplied. "That's perfect!"

He rushed over, climbing up the crates to reach the top of the toppled cart. A chicken flew into his face, the talons ruthlessly slashing about. Yatsu let out a helpless scream, flinging back to avoid further harm when he released his grip of the torch. He caught himself, gained control of the chicken, but was fearful of where the fire was left to lay.

Slowly Yatsu turned to see the flame starting to torch a fireworks display. Yatsu's shoulders slouched as he looked to the heavens. "Just my luck." He muttered as the collection exploded, tossing him into the fountain. Fireworks shot in every direction, detonating in the sky and town center. Yatsu didn't dare peek over as rockets flew overhead.

After some time had passed, the rockets ceased leaving the world around Yatsu eerily quiet. He rested his arms on the finish of the fountain, watching the end of the chaos he created. "Might have gone better if this town kept their chickens under control," Yatsu said to himself as a cart on fire slowly rolled by. He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Well, at least I won't have to bathe tonight."

In a matter of minutes, the town center was cleared out. What was the busiest center in the kingdom was now a ghost town. The crackling of fire rose as the untold destruction engrossed around him. Not a single shop survived; those livelihoods forever altered, and it was Yatsu's fault. He slouched, allowing his body to sink into the fountain as his mind rolled in despair at the thought of those lives he affected.

"Yatsu!" A familiar voice shouted. Yatsu flinched but stood up in the fountain to discover the voice's origin, knowing full well who it was. His father stood with his arms folded and a sly grin across his face. His father's delight at Yatsu's misfortune weighed further on his heart.

Yatsu tried to recover from the embarrassment and magnitude of the mistake. "Fancy seeing you outside the farm… As you can see, I am handling life on my own rather well." He nervously responded. When nothing was said back, he looked around to bring up any change of topic, "Look, managed to wash my clothes as well." Yatsu pointed out, pulling his shirt outward.

He stepped out of the fountain with a chicken flailing around in front of them. Twiddling his fingers, he dipped his head in shame, "I just thought it would make a difference…" Yatsu painfully admitted. His waterlogged shoes squeaked with each heavy step towards his father. He kept his head down to not see the look his father was getting but instead kept walking past him and continued onto the pathway home.

He would never be allowed in the town again. In fact, they would probably be out for his arrest for the destruction of property he caused. Still, nothing brought more shame than knowing he failed and his father would be able to bask in it. He had brutally failed beyond all expectations.

There was no bed for him tonight and no town gathering tomorrow to look for work. He was homeless and sleeping in the woods for the foreseeable future. No doubt his father was going to follow him out of town and assist with the guards of Blacksteer to come after him. There was no greater sorrow that he had felt than in that moment, but as fate would prove, it was about to get much worse.

Yatsu walked out of Blacksteer, the fire blotting out the sun above them. It was a constant reminder of his mistakes, something that would be seen far past the farm. His father followed closely behind him, striving with all his might to bring Yatsu down further. The stream beside the path gave no concealment to the words, nor did the bristling trees. He had no choice but to take the verbal beating the entire way back to the farm.

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"Downright, good-for-nothing, excuse for a human." His father called out. "This has been your issue from day one. You've never let go of your idea of what the world is. Everything is magical, anything is possible, and yet again, you proved that at the destruction of Blacksteer." He picked up a rock, tossing it barely over Yatsu's shoulder. "It's a lie you told yourself. You're far from special. You can't even do magic like your brother."

Yatsu checked over his shoulder, noticing the joy his father was taking in this. "You once believed you were gifted with magic, but you must be blessed by Allicane, the god of death because that's all you're ever good for. If you died tonight, I could happily admit that no one would mourne you."

Another rock was thrown, hitting Yatsu's back. He could tell instantly that it would bruise. His father laughed before continuing, "Shameful, unforgiving! Seriously, there is nothing more you could do at this point to disgrace this family, Yatsu."

Yatsu dragged his feet on the dirt path, attempting to do all in his power to block his father's profuse name-calling and yelling. He had already humiliated himself beyond belief, nearly shattering what little confidence he had in himself. He kicked a rock into the tall grass and looked out at the sun covered in smoke.

Kicking a pebble, Yatsu listened to the mindless slander his father buried into his mind. He blocked it out, looking around at the scenery to find a momentary distraction. The insects around him lit up as they flew around the brush and tall grass. The wind softly blew as the scorching day became cool. The world around him seemed more simple, and Yatsu appreciated that.

"If your brother was here, he would leave you behind, no doubt in my mind. That's exactly why he never came back to take you away. He knew how pitiful you've become. The only thing you would be alongside him is a burden." His father yelled.

Yatsu's head shot up in offense, with an angry glare, mouth wide open, yet nothing came out. He wanted with all his might to fight back, but there was little to no point. His father's mindset of his son was already set in stone, and no matter how hard he tried, that was never going to change. "Never born…" He mumbled to himself, disheartened.

His father grabbed Yatsu's shoulder and forced him to turn around, slapping him across the face. "What?! Speak up, you behemoth of a fool. You going to just take it? Crawl into that hole of yours you call a mind, and lock yourself in?" He threw his hands out. "Even in your own mind, you're not good enough, so what makes you think you'll make any difference?"

Yatsu attempted to open his mouth once more to speak up, as he was slapped again. He licked his lip, faintly tasting the blood while his eyes watered. Each stab was another wound in his broken heart. He had heard this his entire life to the point where it was his world. Still, something sparked in his mind as a trickle of a flame flickered alive. "You wish I was never born?" Yatsu mumbled, his eyes avoiding any direct contact with his father.

His father forcefully grabbed Yatsu's chin, "To have you never born would make Alluvion a better place. If you were never born, I would still have my wife." He turned back and continued stomping down the path. "Gods know she was a far better person than you would ever be. You're a curse needing to be rectified."

Yatsu's heart stopped cold, the twist of the knife pierced his soul. He almost stopped breathing right then and there. There was no point in going on. He had nothing. No loved ones, no home, no job, nothing. The day Donns left to become a Highborn of the Magi Syndicate was the day Yatsu came to the terms that he was utterly alone.

Another smack stung across his face. Yatsu couldn't help but allow the tears to flow. If his father didn't claim his life here and now, the wilderness in the coming days would. They were nearing the farm's front gate, at which point he had no idea where to turn. The path would continue into the woods, where he would find himself in the darkness of the night.

At this point, it didn't matter what direction. What mattered was how fast he could put distance between his father. Yatsu tried to back away but was held by his father to remain where he stood. His father swept Yatsu's foot, pushing him to the ground and kicking him.

Yatsu's entire life had been a letdown and disappointment when dealing with his father's relationship. From day one, he was a curse. No matter how hard he tried, nothing was good enough. He glanced at the mud beside him and felt as though that was far better than him.

The pent-up anger, the nights spent crying, the days he left blood on the trees as he released his anguish with each punch. Nothing cured the ever-growing void in his heart.

The ultimatum was swiftly approaching. It was now life or death with each kick that landed in his side. Yatsu had a choice to make as this was his one chance to release everything. All the pain, agony, heartbreak would be unleashed right here and now. He was done being the victim to someone who never appreciated him.

Yatsu inhaled what little breath he could muster and gripped his father's foot, pulling violently, sending his father on the ground. Groaning as he carefully rose to his feet, he held out his fist in defiance. "You are no father of mine!" He spat on the ground, "Not in the slightest. No father would ever want his son dead, and no father would ever despise his son because of actions beyond his control. I'll admit I've screwed up a ton in life..." Yatsu pointed directly at his father, "But you cursed me from day one, left me to die like an infected monster. Everything you did was to destroy what chance I had at greatness!"

His father raised his eyebrows while tilting his head, "Oh? So Yatsu now has courage. He can speak for himself. Adorable. Look at you, no, seriously, look at you. Have you seen yourself? It's laughable. Nothing about you says respect, and when anyone sees you, they will see that's the truth."

Yatsu was worthless. That was his reality. No matter how powerless he appeared, he was going to rise up and prove his strength. "I am worthless, but let me tell you right here and now with Valera as my witness: I will be great! You put me at my lowest point, and you know what, that's just fine. From here, I am going to rise up and achieve greatness, and you will have absolutely no idea."

The time for change was now. The fact that his father forced him out of the house was the best thing to happen to him. He was going to go out and succeed. He had little idea of how that was going to happen, but he was determined. The rage of his father's ramblings fueled his fortitude, ignited his heart, and allowed for the courage to take over.

Yatsu continued, "Push me away, show me how I am a failure in everything I do, and I will prove every point wrong. All I've wanted is for you to accept me, for you to be proud of me, but I've known for years that's far too much to ask. I'm just sad you only saw me as a burden instead of your son, but mark this, you'll see my name across the heavens one day."

His father scoffed at the thought, "You? The nice thing about kicking you out is that I will never see you again and that I believe will be due to nature claiming you in the first week. It's a blessing to Alluvion that you rest with the gods. You can be their problem." He stood back up, dusting himself off.

The broken fence was within eyesight. They had reached the farm. A tear fell down Yatsu's eye as he turned away to leave his father behind. He stared at the stream, knowing full well that this challenging time would pass as the water. Yatsu kept his chin up and started to walk down the path.

His father threw his hands out in aggravation, "Walking away, huh? Can never face your problems. Typical Yatsu. Glad you're at least walking, on your own, you could lose a little weight." He said while he waved his arm out.

He stopped. There was one final thing he needed to say to his father before he put this dreadful farm behind him. When he faced his father, a twinkle of light caught the corner of his eye. Yatsu's attention shifted to the farm, "Who's at the house?" he asked, noticing movement near the front door.

Across the wheat fields, they both saw a floating flame moving across the outside of the house. "That's my business and mine alone. You are not allowed on the property."

Yatsu felt there was little his father could do to stop him from a distance between them. The stranger was a Highborn; there was no doubt about that. Yatsu safely assumed they were from the Magi Syndicate, but it wasn't his brother. Donnus would have allowed himself in instead of waiting outside with a small wagon.

Yatsu bolted towards the farmhouse to reach it before his father, knowing he wouldn't retaliate in front of anyone. Reaching the Highborn would allow Yatsu to travel with him for the time being. It would be vital to know that he was safe for a short while. His muscles tightened at the thought of a Highborn at the house. To have one visit unannounced usually meant misfortune.

Yatsu could feel the pit in his stomach sink deeper the closer they got to the house. The news this Highborn carried in no way could be good news. Recalling what the townsfolk talked about with the falling stars. When a Highborn died, a meteor shower would cover the night sky, which only solidified his fears.

He passed the goblins who were preparing for the night work in the field. The Highborn looked out at Yatsu, running towards him, and turned to greet him. Yatsu's mind couldn't escape the feeling, not until the Highborn would deny his suspicions. The sigil of a crescent moon inside a shining sun signaled the Highborn was from the Magi Syndicate.

The rustle of the wheat behind him signaled his father also approaching. Yatsu's father passed by, ignoring his son, and held up both his hands, greeting the Highborn, "Good evening, and what honor brings a representative of the Magi Syndicate to my home?"

"Evening, and may the gods bless you with fortune. I am Doriath. We have met in the past a few times over the years. You better know my son, Gideon, who trained alongside your son." Doriath responded. His blue eyes showed the sorrow in the tale he was going to share. The graying, faded, brunette beard moved when he said, "It's about Donnus… I regret to inform you of his passing."