The people moved through the streets like flowing water. Going about their day with little care, pushing and moving others out of the way. Not much caring where they step. Most were concerned with the goods for being sold. Whether they were the sellers or buyers, both had mouths to feed. The boy didn't care that the streets of people where largely apathetic to those around them. As a matter of fact he preferred it.

It made it easier for thieving, easier to slip under people, to walk under there boots and take what he needed and then to slip away unnoticed. That was the true trick to it though. To take what he needed, not what he wanted. Watching these streets he saw that was the biggest mistake thieves made. The took too much, got too greedy, and where caught.

An apple here, a pair there, that was never something a vender payed too much attention to. They would most likely assume it just fell off somewhere, and if they did suspect thievery he was gone long after they even began their suspicions. That was how one became a thief, or survived as one anyways. Today the streets were filled to bursting. People going every which way, and venders desperate to sell their merchandise.

While they were distracted there were so many people in the streets making a get away could prove difficult. The boy had to be cautious and patient. He watched them walk by while in the alley, obscured by boxes a the shadow of the buildings that sat next to him. The boy sat there patiently, watching the crowd of people like a poised predator.

He needed the crowd to be just a bit thinner so that he could easily make his way out. Finally after what felt like hours they began to thin, if only a little. He saw a vender to his left through the crowd. He was selling all different kinds of fruit, from bananas, to cherries to watermelons. He was facing toward the boy, although not looking at him. He was selling one of his fruits to someone deep in conversation and bargaining. That was the best time to take it, the moment was passing if he didn't act soon it would be gone. No no. I'll wait for another opportunity. Its too risky now

But then as soon as he finished that thought his stomach gave a low growl. It even began to hurt from the pain of him not eating the last few days. Would another opportunity come? He wasn't so sure. He needed to move, and it needed to be soon. The boy moved from the safety of the boxes and the shadows and began to make his way through the crowd to the vender. He quickly yet softly pushed his way through the crowd. He needed to be fast, but he didn't want to draw any attention to himself.

He spotted an alley to his right. He knew it well as it looped to an exit that sat right next to the vender. The boy made his way to the alley. Walking through he looked around the dirty place. Rats were moving around the walls, while half eaten food was strewn about the place. He saw an older man sleeping lying on his side. The snores ranged through the alley. It was a good way to mask the sound of his steps. The boy kept walking until he eventually came near the exit of the little alley way.

He crouched down and kept his eye on the vender. Thankfully he was still talking to his possible customer that he saw him with earlier. Or perhaps it was a different man, it didn't matter. Both men were still deep in conversation.

Vender "I'm telling you these are the freshest fruit you'll get east side of the kingdom. Freshly picked just the other day by may wife."

The vender had a gravely voice.

Customer "Hmm are you sure? I heard most goods come imported in this city."

Vender "HA! Many of these others might, but we grow and pick our own! Its why we're one of the best in town, if not the best!"

The maybe customer looked somewhat suspicious. He had an apple in his hand turning it over examining it. After a moment the man seemed convinced.

Customer "Well it does seem quite ripe. I suppose I'll take a few."

Vender "Good man! How many would you like? Would you like different kind?"

During this conversation the boy had made his way to the back of the vender. There was a wide variety of different fruits. He crawled down and began to pick some out of boxes. He grabbed an apple, a pair and a banana. these could keep him from going hungry for the night. Just as the boy was about to make his way out he heard the vender speak.

Vender "Let me get some of these fruit products for you sir."

He heard the stomping of boots and shuffling of boxes and crates. The boy shot directedly under a table that had a drooping clothe over it and a box under it. The clothe blocked the street while the box blocked everything on the vender's side of the table. Despite it being in the middle of the day, with the sun high in the sky. It was as dark as midnight under that table. He sat there waiting, his heart beating so hard he thought it was going to burst out from his chest. He heard more footsteps until they suddenly stopped. Despite himself the boy did a little peak out from the box.

He saw the three fruit he had grabbed sitting on the ground. Had it not meant his sure capture, he would have sworn. He could see the boots of the vender near them, he had clearly spotted them. He bent down to pick up one of the fruits, and grumbled to himself.

Vender "What in the, how did you three get here?"

He picked up the other two, and thankfully went on his way. The man hummed a toon as he packed the fruit that the customer had bought. He sat there, a cold sweat breaking out across his entire body. He dared not breath, because he was sure it would lead to his capture. Every moment felt like an eternity, every minute twice that. Finally he heard the customer and the vender say their goodbyes. The large patting of booted footsteps slowly being lost in the wave of others stomping and stirring. He could faintly hear the vender speak to himself.

Vender "HA! Fool, I don't even have a wife."

He heard the man take steps towards the alley way. The boy sat there and waited. He began to breath again, and the cold sweat and ceased. He took another peak around the box and didn't see the man standing their. Should he wait? slowly, ever so slowly he crawled out from behind the box. One step after the next, with each one his heart beat slowed and steadied it. Finally he was out from behind the old box. He made his from behind the vender's table.

The man lurched from the shadows of the alley with no warning, making a grab for the boy. All of his instincts and experience lead him to just dodging his grab. The vender came fully out of the shadow, his face contorted by rage. Redder then his own apples the man made for another grab at him. This time the boy being ready dodge easily.

Vender "Get back here you little shit!"

The man was more spitting then talking. A rage had filled him like none the boy had ever seen. In a panic he ran into the crowd of people ducking and weaving under them. Some shouted complaints at the boy, but he didn't hear them. Thankfully he was having much more luck than the vender. He tried to push and shove, screaming for the others to move, but they weren't listening to him. As they began to scream and shove back at him.

The boy got lucky, and was able to slip into the crowd out of the vender's sight. He ran down the street and into another dirty alley. Grime and trash were strewn about the place. He walked down it looking for a place to plant himself, so that he could catch his breath. Eventually he came across of pair of barrels. One had a lid on and was sealed tightly. The other however was open and empty for him to sit in. He always felt more comfortable in the dark. The dark could hide you, could make it so that you were invisible to those who wanted to wish harm on you. In the light you were exposed and vulnerable. There was safety in the dark. In the barrel the boy curled into a ball, and sleep took him away.

He awoke to a night sky that was filled to bursting with stars. He blinked the sleep from his eyes and gave a small yawn. He only now realized how poor the barrel had made a bed. When he tried to stand his body protested in aches and pains. He climbed out the barrel his body still sore, and stretched. The night had made the alley almost pitch black, he had to strain just to see two feet in front of him. The boy enjoyed the dark, but even this was a little much. He began to make his way down the alley. In the distance he spotted a few torches that lit up the streets. No longer full of people stamping about, it was now empty and quite. If he strained his ear, he was sure he could hear the squeaking of rats if he strained his ear.

The boy began making his way down the street. Covered by darkness, only being illuminated by the occasional torch, that hung on peoples walls. He made his way down the street, not truly going anywhere. It was often like that, he would find a new place in the city to stake out, and begin his thievery. The only place he frequented was an under ground portion of the city, built long ago, and unkempt. It was a place the poor, starved and outcast would gather. Now that he thought about it, he should make his way there, he just needed to find one of the entrances littered across the city.

He began his search in the ally ways as those were most likely to hold the entrances to the underground. The first few held none, the boy began to grow somewhat frustrated, until finally sitting at the bottom of a dark stare well lay an old wooden door. Covered in moss and nearly looking like it was about to fall apart. The stairs had to be walked down slowly or else fear of slipping and falling. Not only was it dark, but much like the door, the stairs were old and unkempt. Step by step, and hugging the wall, the boy slowly made his way down the stairs. Finally after what felt like hours he was standing in front of the large door.

He grasped the handle and pried open the large door. It was a difficult thing, due not only to the fact that the door has been unseen to for so long, but also hits weight. Finally after much pulling it began to slide open. The resulting creek echoing through out the stair well and ally way. He made his way through the door, into the dark tunnels. If it was dark in the ally way, it was pitch black in the tunnels. Sometimes, if you were lucky, there would be torches lit down them. Doesn't seem luck was on his side at all this day. He could feel some water, or he hoped it was water, socking his feet. With each passing step, he could hear the echo of his feet slapping against the concrete, while also stepping into the occasional puddle.

He hugged the wall with his right hand, and stretched his left hand out in front of him. Occasionally he would come across a crossroads, to which he would turn left. He remembered overhearing a conversation about a man being lost in a maze, and that you should always turn left. He didn't remember who had sad that, but he did remember the advice. He walked for what felt like hours. No real feeling of time passing, or of him going anywhere. Endless wondering that could be leading him anywhere. The boy began to feel a small sense of panic grow in his gut. He began to think he made the wrong decision in coming down here.

Eventually the boy saw a faint light at the end of a tunnel he turned down. Without thinking he began to run to it. His legs were tired, but the possibility of the end to the seemingly endless tunnel system he had been walking, filled him with a sense of energy. At the end of the tunnel it opened up to a large room, with a small pond of water in the middle. The light he had seen was a lit torch. There were people strewn about the room. Some elderly men and women, some children, boys and girls, and even a few men and women who were adults. He didn't know most of the people that were hear. Despite how difficult the place could be. New people were coming and going all the time.

He began to walk towards the small pond to get a sip of water. He was hungry, so hungry it hurt. His only hope was that the water could stop the aches and pains, to stave off the hunger. The water, surprisingly, tasted quite good and fresh. It was rain water that would leak down hear after storms. He grabbed as much as he could with his hands and shoved it down his throat. After a few more handfuls he began to search the large room. Outside of a few hanging torches the room was mostly empty of all things, outside of people. He looked around, not familiar with any of the faces he saw, until finally he spotted a small sickly little boy, sitting by himself near the back of the large room.

He made is way to the other boy. Sitting next to him. The other boy wore a ragged shirt and pants, that had gone brown from how dirty they were. His face sunken, and sharp, With stringy black hair that sat on top of his head. His eyes were a piercing brown.

The boy "Hey, were you able to get a good hall today?"

The other boy nodded and drew two apples from his shirt. The boy looked at them, hunger clear in his eyes. His stomach growled, and his mouth began to drool uncontrollably. The other boy handed him an apple. It was a green apple, that was clearly not as ripe as the other one he had. It had blotches dotted across it. He couldn't complain much, given that he couldn't get anything for himself these past few days. He got up from where he was sitting and made his way to the water to clean off the apple. It was something like a ritual for him, and many others. To clean the fruit, and to wash it of the sin that came from stealing it.

After pulling it out of the water he bit down into it. It was sour, but all green apples are. The juice leaked from his mouth as he ate it. It didn't take long for him to get to its core. He stared at it, whishing he had savored it more. He walked back to the other boy and sat back down. He'll dispose of the eaten apple once he leaves the room. It was an unspoken rule not to litter this room. Weather they men, women or children, you didn't throw your garbage away down here. It was one of the few places were the nobodies could gather in peace. Keeping it clean, well somewhat clean, was the least they could do. The boy yawned as sleep called to him again. This time he slept much deeper and, much more comfortable.

When he woke he felt much better then he had before. He sat up and stretched. When he looked around he saw that it was filled with people he saw before he slept, but he also saw new people from before his sleep. As he was scanning the room he heard a voice that startled him.

??? "Would you wanna go up together?"

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He looked down and saw the other boy, sitting there staring up at him. His voice was quiet and squeaky. It also sounded faint and weak. He had met the other boy years ago, when he saw him down here. He looked like he was starving, and so gave him some of his food he had stolen that day. After that he took him under his wing of sorts. Teaching him how to steal, how to get away with stealing. How to survive on the street, without a place to call home. He nodded to the boy, and he made his way up on his feet. It had been a while since they both went out to steel food together. Doing it with two could easily be better then with one.

The two boys made there way through the dark tunnel system. One boy hugged the wall while the other reached out into the darkness. Their arms linked with one another. After a while they stumbled across a large, old wooden door. With the two of them it was much easier to open. The door creaked and groaned as it open, revealing the light of the sun on the other side. It flooded through, blowing away the darkness, engulfing them, and much of the tunnel in light. The boys made their way up the steps in, the alley, and on to the street. Much like yesterday the street was crowded with people going every which way.

Despite how thick the crowd of people were, and how fast they moved. None seemed to bump into each other. It was just as impressive today, as it was yesterday, and all the days after. The two boys peered at the large crowed of people from the edge of the ally.

The other boy "So many."

He seemed nervous. Lots of eyes. A large crowed to slip into was always useful, but you never knew who could play the hero. Maybe that's happened to him before. He wanted to reassured the other boy.

The boy "Don't worry. Its unlikely that anyone will help the vender's, and we won't get seen anyways. So it won't matter besides."

The other boy nodded, but he still looked pale and nervous. They made their way on the street. They made sure to keep close, but not too close as to not rouse any suspicion. If someone saw them together that could be bad. They searched the streets looking for any sort of vulnerable target. Finally they spotted a vender near the lake. The other boy looked at him and nodded. They both knew the plan. One to distract, the other to steal. The other boy began to make his way up to the vender. The crowds of people helped mask the two boys, so much so that the vender didn't spot the other boy, until he was right in front of him and his vender.

The other boy "Um, hello sir do you think you could spare sum fruit?"

Vender "What? No, get out of here kid, you'll scare people off."

He put up his hand in a shooing motion.

The other boy "Please sir, I'm so hungry, my tummy hurts."

Vender "I said no!"

As this entire conversation was happing the boy had made his way into the back of the vender's storage. His heart began to beat and his hands became clammy. It took him a moment to realize that he was nervous. Yesterday had not gone well, had not been for his fast reflexes and a lot of luck. He might be sitting in an alley bloody and beaten. He closed his eyes and took some deep breathes. He needed to calm himself yesterday was yesterday, today was today, and this time he had a partner. He opened his eyes and scanned the back of the vender.

There he had found a plethora of fruits, vegetables, and even some meat. He wanted to take the meat, but it was useless, even dangerous if they couldn't find a good fire to cook it, Then it would be dead weight. The boy decided to take his chance. He grabbed some fruit, vegetables, and pieces of meat. He worried he had gotten too much, but with the vender so distracted, and another person to carry all the weight, he thought he could be greedy, at least for today.

Vender "I said get out of hear kid! You'll scare away customers!"

That was his queue to go, he made his way out from behind the vender's table, and ran off into the crowed. The other saw him at the corners of his eye. He let out a sigh and walked away from the vender. All while the vender stood there, oblivious. It was so funny he could laugh, before he realized the other boy was next to, giggling to himself. He handed some of the goods to the other boy as they ran off.

Later, the two boys sat enjoying there meals. They sat in another dirty ally, they kept laughing as they wolfed down the food. The meat sat on a near by box untouched. They would need to find a fire for that. They would also need to keep it safe. As many other street rats would try to take it from them. We might need to find a weapon. A knife would do. He contemplated this as he stuffed himself with the food. It crunched and gushed juice with ever bite. He could feel it pouring out the sides of his mouth. Perhaps he shouldn't be so wasteful. Finally after the last bite he laid down and yawned. His stomach had never been so full before.

The other boy was still eating. He had taken his time with it, something he never did. He laid there listening to other boy much on his food. Not much thinking about anything. Just trying to enjoy the moment, trying to enjoy having a full stomach. After a while the other boy had stopped eating and had laid down next to him. Neither said anything, before long the boy heard a scuttling to his left. Turning his head he saw two rats, eating crumbs of food together. It struck him just how similar they were to those rats. Fighting for, what amounts to scraps of food. Living in the dirtiest, darkest places they could find, because it was the only place they could find peace.

He hated it, and was sick of it, not knowing if he'll have a nice meal tomorrow, or have a meal at all. The constant hunger, and the possibility that today, or the next day, or the day after could be his last. Not knowing if he'll finally get caught thieving, and be beaten to death, or if someone comes along and just doesn't like the look of him and kills him, and of course there is the slow insidious killer that is starvation. Everyday was a struggle, a fight. All he wanted to do was lay down and not have to worry about anything. He wanted a new life, but how could he get one? Before long the other boy stood up.

The other boy "I'm thirsty. I'm gonna go to the lake."

He decided that was a good idea, and got up as well. The two boys made their way up to the lake. Making sure to avoid the direction of the vender they just stole from. Soon enough they were once again at the lake, no vender in sight. A dock sat below them that men would use to hold there ships. Usually for fishing. The two boys made there way down to it. The lake water didn't make for good drinking, it was dirty with all kinds of things. He remembered seeing a man piss in it a few days ago, and watched another throw trash in it. Sadly it was the easiest place to find it. He and the other boy knelt there heads down and began to drink from the lake.

It tasted terrible. yet simultaneously it was refreshing. The boy finally took his head up for air. He looked over and saw the other boy still drinking. Finally after a time the other boy brought his head up gasping for air. He sat there in silence until eventually, he spoke up.

The boy "Have you thought about... maybe... trying something else?"

The other boy "What do you mean?

The boy "I mean like also the thieving, all the living in the tunnels. Like rats."

The other boy stared at him .

The other boy "Well what do you think we should do? Should we find work? What kind of work can we do?"

He sat there and thought about this. They weren't good for much. Both the boys were small and skinny. Likely do to the fact they could barely find food. So they couldn't do manual labor. Maybe they could find some one to apprentices under. He had heard of something like that. Young men working under experienced teachers to learn a some form of trade. But would someone like that take rats like them as there apprentices. Somehow he doubted that. Once again the two boys sat there, the silence never more deafening.

The other boy "I think we should get going."

He nodded and stood up and made there way to back to the city. His mind still racing, trying to figure out something, anything to crawl out of this hole. This pit they were trapped in. Or maybe that was there fate, to be trapped on these streets homeless, cold and, hungry. To die either of hunger or because some one had finally caught them. Or maybe it would be the cold winter. Whatever it was he hoped his death would be quick. The other boy looked at him, hoping to say any words of encouragement, but the only thing to came out was...

The other boy "LOOK OUT!"

This time the boy had no time to dodge. Something hard smashed into his face. Pain, like fire, filled him. The world became a blur as he fell to ground. Vaguely somewhere far off. He could hear the other boy screaming. Although he couldn't make out what he was saying. It was just white noise happening somewhere else. Eventually the world came back to him. Sound and sight coming back to him, he could hear the other boys shouts now.

The other boy "STOP! STOP! GO AWAY!"

He heard him grunt. It sounded like he was shoved. The world had finally come back to him. He tired getting back on his feet, when something hard hit him in the stomach. All the breath left him as he crumbled to the grown once more. His ribs felt as if they were on fire. He tried to pull himself up, but his arms and legs were like noodles. Then he felt a pull on his hair that ripped at his scalp.

??? "I've finally found you boy."

The man more spat then spoke, as saliva now covered his face. His breath smelled of alcohol that made the boy wince away, but he was quickly pulled back.

??? "I'll teach you from trying to steal from me!"

Now he had put it together. It was the vender he had tried, and failed, to steal from. If this was the reaction he had from a failed attempt. He was thankful to not have been successful. A fist crashed into his face, pain engulfed his entire head. Instead of the world going blurry, it started to go completely black. His consciousness quickly slipping away from him. Holding on to it as best he could, but the more time that passed, the more it was like trying to grip water. He could taste the blood in his mouth, and feel it trickling down his nose.

The other boy "Stop! STOP!"

He could hear the slapping of soft fist. It was the other boy trying everything he could to stop him. But it was pointless, he was too small, and far too weak. He heard another much heavier and louder punch. The only sound he made was his body hitting the ground. He wanted to get up, he wanted to fight, and help, but it was everything he could do to just stay conscience. Lifting himself up, but it was all but hopeless. The blackness that threatened to engulf his world, started to dissipate. He needed to move, he needed to run away, but he couldn't even stand. His breathing was heavy, grasping for any air that could fill his lungs, when he he felt a strong pull on his scalp.

The vender had gotten hold of him again. Sure he was going to kill him, the boy tried to slap at the vender. Desperate for him to let him go, but it was all in vain. He could barely muster the strength to slap at the man, much less punch him. Even if he could summon the strength to punch, he knows it wouldn't do much good. Damn it! Damn this frail body! Damn this man! Damn these people who just stand by and watch. Damn this cruel world! Damn everything and everyone in it!

??? "Now, now. There is no need to be so violent with the young man."

He felt his grip loosen. The vender looked around and saw a man approaching him. He was a tall man, standing almost a head taller then most other men on the street. Dressed in a black robe that covered his entire body. It went well with his long straight black hair, that fell well past his shoulders. Almost down to his waist. His beard was short and cleaned cut. His eyes were what stood out most about him. They were piercing, as if he was staring, not only at you, but through you, as if he could tell all your deepest darkest secrets. With merely a glance. He walked up to them, slowly but surely, until he was only a few feet away from them.

The boys vision finally became clear again, and he looked up at the two men. He was startled at the other mans appearance. Not only at how he looked, but that he was there at all. Beside him, he heard a light groan. Looking over he saw the other boy begin to stir. Pulling himself up from the ground, trying to sit up. He was groggy almost like he was waking from a deep sleep. His eyes half open, almost as if the sun was too bright for his eyes. He went to him making sure he wasn't too hurt. A large lump was clearly forming on his cheek. The two boys watched, as the men stared each other down.

Vender "Who the hell are you? This ain't none of your business."

??? "Come now, violence against innocent young boys, is of course my business."

His voice was silky and smooth. Soft yet also strong and firm. It put the boy at ease, but it seemed to make the vender uncomfortable, as he took a step back when the other man spoke.

Vender "These rats ain't innocent they're thieves, all they do is take up space and food when they're alive, and make us sick with their corpse when they're dead."

At this point the boy had thought to leave, but a quick look around said that wasn't going to happen. A crowed had gathered now, a large one. Watching and waiting, anxious, even a little excited, to see what will happen next. If he tried to run they would likely stop him, and even if they didn't. He doubted the other boy was in any comedication to run. He probably should have, but he couldn't leave him. He was staying, and hoping the robed man could talk the vender down.

??? "They steal because they have no choice. Since coming here, I've been watching this city closely, and its clear to me that these children merely need help."

The vender spat at he robes man feet, the saliva nearly hitting him. It made the robes man smile tighten, although it was barely noticeable.

??? "If I can't talk you down good sir, Then I'll have no choice, but to use force."

This declaration shocked the vender, and he took a few steps back. He quickly regained his composure however. His anger making braver, and dumber, then he should have been.

Vender "Ghrian's spear pierce you for threating me like that. I ain't just gonna walk away. You should be the one to leave, before you get yourself hurt!"

At those last words the vender pulled a wooden bat from his side. The boy's stomach plummeted as he was sure he planned on using that on him. For his part the robed man didn't seemed threatened by the appearance of the bat at all. He merely sighed.

??? "If you insist on escalating this then I'm afraid I have no choice. May the mother forgive me for what I'm about to do."

The vender started to inch closer and closer to the robed man, until finally he was in striking distance. The boy and the crowed all watched, all waiting not a single person made a sound. The robed man had not moved from where he stood just watching the vender. Although his smile was gone. The two men stared each other down. Not a single person blinked. Finally after what felt like years the vender made his move. Bringing the bat up he made to smash the robed mans head in. He was surprisingly fast, but the stranger was faster, much faster. In a flash a knife, a glowing blue knife, pulled seemingly from nothing was in the mans hand, he moved like lighting strike the vender in the throat.

The boy had barely any time to process it. One moment the vender was striking at the man, the next a glowing knife was sticking out of his throat. He was left in awe. The man crumbled to the ground. The crowed yelled and gasped, quickly baking away from the seen. As if this isn't exactly what they wanted to see. For his part, the boy wouldn't, or rather, couldn't back away. Shock had taken hold of him. It's not that he had never seen a corpse before. He had seen plenty of those, both on the streets and in the tunnels. He had even seen men kill other men before, although that was much less common. Its not like the kill was particularly gruesome either.

Remembering another time of when two venders that wanted to set up shop in the same area. The two had gotten into a shouting match. They screamed at each other until they're faces were more red then the apple he had stolen from one of them. He watched this play out from across the street, munching on said apple. Eventually after the men shouted them selves horse. It had escalated from shouting to throwing fist. The two men had beat themselves senseless. Like today many people watched, although many also just kept walking. Suppose they were too busy that day. During the scuffle one of them had grabbed hold of a piece of wood and began to beat the other man with it.

It was a violent and brutal sight. As the beaten man's head cracked under the assault. The crowed quickly broke as people ran and called for guards. The damage had already been done however. He laid there not moving, as brain and blood oozed from his cracked skull. The boy left the seen soon after the crowed, had he not the apple he just ate would have come back up. This was different however. The vender's wound wasn't nearly as brutal as the other mans that day, but the way the robed man had moved. How fast and accurate he was. Most of all that knife. That knife he seemingly pulled from nothing. That knife that was there and then... He gazed at the corpse of the vender. The knife slowly fading away, back to the nothingness from which it came. The blood still gushing form the hole it made.

The robed man was dusting himself off. An expression of annoyance on his face.

The boy "H-how did you do that? W-with the knife?"

The man looked up surprised, the boy was still there.

??? "Oh, that? Just a little bit of astral magic. Nothing too fancy."

He said it with a shrug, as if it were no big deal, as if it were nothing. But it was everything, he wanted to know exactly how he did it. Not just the knife, but the way the man moved. The speed and accuracy. It was over as soon as it began.

The boy "Can you teach me?"

The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. For his part the robed man didn't seem shocked. Actually he seemed quite happy.

??? "I don't see why not. I have plenty to teach. First however, I need to know, where can I find other children such as yourself?"