Jano rose early. He prepared his wife some scalding hot coffee and some oats as she was stirring, slowly waking up. They ate this most days, but he always insisted on preparing it for her. After all, she did so much for him. The coffee was bitter and tasteless, but it provided a sharp jolt in the morning. Coin was particularly tight at the moment, so he ate nothing himself. His stomach rumbling at the thought of food, he kissed his sleepy wife on the forehead and headed out to the workhouse.

It was raining once more and the thick clouds above didn’t suggest that it would change any time soon. He paced through the slums with a heavy stomach. The water was gathering around his feet and the smell of stagnant water was pungent. Not another flood, he thought. His thin shoes offered no resistance against the water, or whatever was sloshing around inside it. Not long ago the slums had a real problem with leeches, which the Higher Mages had reluctantly solved when it started spreading disease.

Wooden shacks were replaced with the familiar sight of grey stone as he got closer to the Middle. The night was just beginning to lift and it was strange to see the streets so quiet. But it would not remain this way for long. He began to hurry now, as the jobs would be taken if he lingered too long. There was a slow trickle of people coming from the various slum exits. It was still early, but the tenuous nature of work in the City rewarded those who got there earliest. Guards stood chatting to each other under the dwindling lamplight. The guards themselves maintained the lights and looked on at the ‘Slummers’ with obvious disgust.

He passed by the commercial district. Remembering the bank and feeling a deep spike of shame drive into his stomach. “Jano…?” He turned and looked at a man around his age, smaller than Jano but with a kind face tarnished with dark circles under his eyes. He almost didn’t recognise him.

“Mill? Is that you? I heard you were working on one of the mansions in the Mage’s Quarters?”

Mill was a former colleague and a talented stonemason. He looked down. “I am, I am. Just down here to check on my Han. I’m not able to visit as often because they look down on visiting the Slums.” He said. “They think we’ll spread some disease or something.”

He stuck out his arm and Jano’s stomach dropped. “Class Six?” He said, trying to keep his face composed. Jealousy ate away at his insides as he looked at the ‘VI’ slowly pulsating on Mill’s forearm.

“That’s right, the Mage I’m working for arranged it with their administrator. They were pleased with the job I was doing for them and wanted some extra work done. It’s only temporary for now, but I can craft the stone with some rare metal they want with the extra power. If I do a good job, they might even let me remain a Class Six. I would be able to leave the Slums behind forever then.” His eyes sparkled.

He clapped Jano on the shoulder. “I really must go. We’ll catch up soon. I’m sure of it.” He said and walked away quickly, heading for the commercial district. Jano debated running after his old friend and begging him for a job. Anything would be better than the workhouse. He decided against it and walked on quickly. He could feel the anger building in his chest, he tried to dismiss it but it wouldn’t listen.

The workhouse was around two hundred paces from the Commercial District. As he got closer, a small stream of people was heading inside. It was a huge building and they posted the notices for work available on a board outside. Potential applicants had to fight for the notice and once they were gone, it meant better luck tomorrow. They were posted every day and there was no consistent work. No job security at the workhouse. If there was no work, then the poor souls caught wandering the streets by the Guard were taken for the patrols.

Those on patrol were given a square meal, and if you managed four days in a row, they’d pay you a quartercoin. The patrols were just a catch-all phrase, Slummers used to be made to patrol the outside of the wall, defending the City from creatures. After the City grew and the Guard became better stocked and professional, it could be anything they deemed too low for their station. Whatever it was, it was always backbreaking and if Jano could avoid it, he would.

The rain was coming down hard now. He walked to the job board. He was early so there were still some notices left. He quickly began scouting to see what was available. ‘Gar cleaner’, ‘Scab Turner’, ‘Enforcer.’ These jobs meant nothing to Jano. But he’d give anything ago for some coins. He was looking for ‘Stone Turner’. In his time doing odd jobs in the workhouse, this is the work he was suited to best. As a Class Ten, the only thing he could do all day was control a tiny stone wheel forcing it to pull a conveyor belt. As this was a very easy job, opportunities were harder to find.

He had been able to do much more with his magic when he was a Class Seven, but his current contract didn’t allow him to draw on any more power.

He saw what he was looking for and grabbed the ticket. Turning and facing the gaping maw of the workhouse, he walked in.

Noise surrounded him as he walked through the entrance. The workhouse produced many different products, from magical contraptions to decorative sculptures. It was basically a workforce for hire. When someone wanted something made, they would contract with the workshop managers and a price would be given. It was usually very low.

On this day, Jano saw the bright green of leaf Essence being poured into a dye. He saw fire Essence starting up the massive kilns at the back; the oppressive heat already alerting his skin.

Some managers of the workhouse were very well paid, some were even low ranking Mages. They weren’t powerful enough for duties to the City or the University, but they were giants in comparison to people like Jano.

He handed the chit he had taken from the board outside to one of the foreman.

The man, already coated with soot and sweat, looked at Jano like dirt on the bottom of his shoe. “Turner eh? Right. Get to the belt on level two.” Jano felt a massive hand push him between his shoulder blades and he walked on.

As he climbed the stairs, he looked over the massive space below, filled with snaking conveyor belts and racks of storage. Already the building was filling up with people as the Slummers began looking for work. Soon, they would begin to turn people away.

He approached the belt and the stone wheel he was to power the entire day. The foreman of level two was busy shouting at some poor soul who had dropped a green glass swan on the floor.

“YOU’VE JUST EARNED YOURSELF TWO DAYS WITHOUT PAY!” He screamed down at the man who hurried to pick up the broken glass with his bare fingers.

“Belt starting in two minutes. Two minutes.” Another voice said behind him. It was a thin man in brown robes, his face buried behind a clipboard. They didn’t bother to look up.

Jano took up his position behind the stone wheel. It was a strange hope, that he wished to be able to do this for a full twelve hours and earn a full day’s wage. Half a day would only result in half the wages. He started to draw on stone Essence and cursed himself as he did so.