"Severin, come here," Galen said. His thoughts from last week weighed heavily on his mind. Teaching a human magic went against everything he stood for, but Severin was different. Something inside of him urged him to teach the younger man.

"I'll be right there!" Severin called from the storage room. He heard pots being moved around. Then, Severin walked out of the room with dirt-covered hands. asking, "What did you need me for?"

"Sit," he gestured to the chair in front of the counter, "I have something to tell you."

"Now I'm worried." Severin sat down, "We should keep this chair by the counter. It gets more use over here."

"You like magic." He winced at his opening. He hoped Severin wouldn’t take it the wrong way.

"Um," Severin looked at Galen suspiciously, "Yes."

"That's nice."

"Is this what you called me over for?"

He ran a hand down his face. "Let me start over. I've noticed how interested you are whenever I do magic."

"Magic is amazing. I don't know how to explain it, but watching you cast spells and make potions is fascinating to me. Magic has unlimited possibilities, and I've barely scratched the surface on knowing what it can do." Severin let out a frustrated sigh, "I just want to know more."

He had an inkling this was how Severin felt. All the magicians he had met and interacted with said that their urge to learn magic started with an intense fascination in the art. When humans began learning magic, the subject was considered taboo. Those who learned it were treated with the same mistrust that asteris were given. He speculated that's why the hunting of the asteris began. Magicians needed to show that they were superior to the asteris. To show the rest of humankind exactly whose side they were on. He was certain Severin wouldn’t have the same fears. Severin wasn’t only fascinated with magic; he was fascinated with Galen's magic. Besides, magic wasn’t as taboo as it was 500 years ago.

"I want to teach you magic," he said.

Severin stiffened in his seat. He took in a deep breath before slowly exhaling it. "What?"

"I want to teach you magic," he repeated.

"You want to teach me magic."

"Yes, I’ve said it twice now. I'm not going to repeat it again."

Severin shot up from his chair. He rounded the counter and hugged Galen, who let out a tiny sound of surprise. Severin let go and stood behind Galen with a wide smile, trembling with excitement. The young man looked at Galen like he hung the stars in the sky. "Thank you! I'll be the best student you could hope for."

"You've already shown your commitment as a student. I only ask that you continue to be excellent."

"I won't let you down. When do we start?"

"Hm, we'll need to get astera parts. You won't be able to do magic without them."

Severin lost some of his excitement, "That's going to be hard."

"Yes, the lack of astera does pose a problem. We'll have to see if there’s a place that sells parts. For the time being, I'll provide my hair."

Severin was taken aback. "We're going to use your hair? Is that effective?"

"No, astera magic is concentrated in every part of the creature. Asteris magic is concentrated in our core. The magic in my hair is not potent, but I'm not willing to part with more than that."

"I wouldn't expect you to. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

He clapped his hands, "Now that we have that settled, we can go over the rules."

"The rules?" Severin straightened.

"I have three simple rules. One, do not try new magic when I am not around. Two, do not practice magic where someone can see you. Three, do not tell anyone that I am teaching you magic."

Severin nodded, "Absolutely. Rule 3 will definitely be the simplest, considering my lack of friends besides you."

He stared silently at Severin, "We'll have to fix that."

"Do you have any other friends?"

"Of course, I do. I just don't talk to them regularly or see them for extended periods of time. Anyway, let's start your training."

Severin perked up, "Where do we start?"

"Language lessons."

"When you casted that illusion, you didn't say a word. What language is there?"

"I don't have to say anything because I am a being made of magic. However, if I were to enchant something or make a rune, I would have to use the Oxuri language."

"Oxuri? I've never heard of that. Do magicians use the language?"

"Yes, any human who uses magic must know Oxuri. Even the most powerful magicians on the High Court must use it.”

"Do you think a magician could ever not need Oxuri?"

He hummed, "Their grasp of magic must be great enough so that they can visualize spells. I’ve never met nor heard of anyone not asteris who can do that, but I won’t say it’s impossible."

“Visualize?”

“I won’t waste my time teaching you something you can’t use. Maybe I’ll tell you in fifty years.”

“Fifty years!” Severin exclaimed.

“You’re talented, but magic is not natural for humans. To visualize, your skill must go beyond mastery. When I was first learning how to use my magic, I had to use Oxuri. However, my use of magic is innate, so I got the hang of it pretty quick.”

“It sounds like you’re bragging.”

He turned around, so he could give Severin an unimpressed look. “Anyway, are you ready to learn Oxuri?”

"I'm ready."

"Put the closed sign up for the shop, and we'll begin."

Severin rushed to do as he said. He was happy to see Severin so excited about learning. Oxuri was the language of the asteris. It was the language of magic, and the reason why asteris initially thought humans had no ability with magic. Humans who learned Oxuri, no matter the fluency, still couldn’t use it. Turns out they needed both Oxuri and astera parts. He had never taught Oxuri before, but he had a long history of learning languages. He knew six of the major languages of the world, as well as the regional languages in three countries. He knew where to start and how long the journey would be. Severin wouldn’t need to be fluent or even proficient in Oxuri to perform basic to intermediate magic. However, he would need to be fluent if he wanted to be powerful.

Severin asked, "Where do we start?"

"I'll start by showing what the language sounds like. Don't be deterred."

"I'll try not to be."

He closed his eyes, concentrating. Lifting his hand in front of him, he said, "Etlu ehrate eéb iyref."

A flame appeared in the palm of his hand. It flickered for a moment before extinguishing.

"That’s amazing! I'll be able to do that?" Severin asked.

"Hopefully. The pronunciation doesn't seem too hard, right?"

"It sounds impossible. I have no idea how I will produce those sounds."

He laughed, "You will in time. Let me get some paper. We'll begin with the alphabet."

***

Galen glared at the sweltering sun. The one downside of living in Erasima was its climate. The temperature stayed constant year-round, and humidity moistened the air. While he melted, Severin was perfectly fine. In fact, most of the residents of Sunmesto remained unaffected. He seemed to be the only one suffering.

"If you sweat any more than that, you'll make a puddle," Severin commented, holding a basket of roots.

He fanned himself. He and Severin were walking back from one of their routine trips out to gather materials and practice magic. The dense forest provided both cool shade and protection from prying eyes. However, the trees couldn’t protect him from the humidity. "I'm dying, Severin. Dying!"

"I can tell. Why'd you move here if you couldn't take the heat?"

"I didn't know it was going to be like this!" He had lived in hot places before, but none had been the sticky heat of Erasima. The type of heat that stuck clothes to skin and made everything uncomfortable. "How come you aren't suffering?"

"I've lived here my whole life. I've become a little immune."

"A little?" He ran a hand through his short hair. If there was a small miracle, it was how much hair it took to train Severin. The close crop stopped hair from sticking to the back of his neck.

Severin watched him brush his hand through his hair. "We have to get asteran parts. At this rate, all your hair will be gone."

"Yeah," he sighed, "I've got no idea where to get them, though."

"We could try the city."

He did see merit in the idea. A town like Sunmesto had no use for asteran parts. A major city, on the other hand, might attract some magicians who would need a regular stock of the resource. "What's the biggest city in Erasima?"

"The capital city, Stolital. "

"We'll have to make a trip there. I'll close the shop for the next two days."

Severin readily agreed. "I've never been outside Sunmesto. I wonder what a city's like."

"Well, you'll see tomorrow. Let's get this stuff back to the shop."

"Got it."

Tomorrow arrived faster than he expected it to. He spent the previous night getting ready for their trip, which included making sure they had an ample amount of money. Severin had agreed to meet him at the outskirts of town with a rented horse. As he approached the entrance, he was stopped by Sheriff Morstat.

"Hello, Galen! How are you this fine morning?"

Ever since he had learned what Morstat had done to Severin and his family, he tried to avoid him. He was furious with the man and needed to keep himself from doing something drastic. "Sheriff. I'm fine. You?"

"Good, I'm good. I couldn't help noticing that you and Severin were leaving town. Planning to leave for long?"

He gritted his teeth, "We're taking a visit to Stolital. We'll be back tomorrow."

"I see. I see. You and Severin have been spending a lot of time together. It's got people talking."

"Oh, people talking. That's never good."

"It can be if they're talking about the right thing. Although, I can't say that's the case for you."

"Spit it out," he said impatiently.

"Severin's been renounced, and your reputation is taking a hit. We've been lenient 'cause you're a foreigner and all, but people have started, you know."

"Talking."

"Yes, and if you want people to stop, I would stop your acquaintance with Severin."

He took a deep breath to calm himself. "I will not stop my friendship with Severin. You and this town will not bully me into abandoning him."

Sheriff Morstat shook his head slowly. "Galen, you're making a mistake."

"No, I don't think I am." He gave him a sickly smile, "I don't want to keep Severin waiting, so if you'll excuse me."

He turned and started to walk away when Morstat grabbed his arm, "Galen--"

"No!" He wrenched his arm out of the sheriff's grasp, "I've made myself very clear. Don’t bother me again, and please refer to me as Mr. Sehrae from this point on."

He proceeded to storm off. He approached Severin and watched him fix the saddlebags. Schooling his expression into a friendly smile, he tapped Severin on his shoulder and laughed when he jumped.

"Lalai, you scared me! How'd you sneak up on me?"

"You were too interested in the saddlebags to notice me walking up."

"Yeah, yeah. Ready to go?"

"I am."

He climbed into the saddle and waited for Severin to climb in behind him. Once Severin was comfortable, Galen took the reins and steered the horse onto the main road. He asked, "Do you have the map?"

"Yes, I just need to unfold it. Give me a second." He heard the rustling of paper behind him and felt the map brush against his back when Severin fully unfolded it. "We have to stay on this road for the next twenty miles."

He could already feel the soreness in his body. "That will take a few hours. Luckily, I brought some potions to deal with the aches we’ll get from sitting in a saddle for hours on end."

"Really!” He felt Severin shifting behind him. "Which bag?"

"We don't need it right now. I'll show you when we take a break."

"Okay," Severin resettled, "When can I make potions?"

He peered at Severin over his shoulder, "I'm not exactly excited to teach you that one. I'll have to drink them to make sure you got everything correct, and that will be unpleasant."

"How bad will it be?"

"I almost threw up the last time I had a magician's potions. I've seen people actually throw up too."

Severin let out a groan. "Is there any possible way to make them not horrific tasting?"

"None that I know of.”

Four hours passed in relative silence. Both men were lost in their own thoughts. They came across a sign that read, 'Stolital, ten miles to the south. Wytaris, thirty miles to the east.'

"Only two more hours before we arrive. Let's rest here and stretch our legs," he said.

Severin hummed his agreement, sliding out of the saddle. He followed soon after and looked through the bags for the potions he packed. He pulled out two bottles filled with a green liquid that had a reddish sheen. Looking at the potion, he was reminded of when he first moved to Sunmesto. It seemed like an eternity ago.

"What does the potion do?" Severin asked.

"It'll just take away the soreness." He handed Severin one of the bottles.

"Should I swallow it in one go?" Severin inspected the bottle that was handed to him.

"It doesn't really matter as long as you drink all of it."

"Looks unappetizing, but whatever." Severin downed the potion in one large swallow. He looked at Galen in surprise. "It's not gross."

"Savor that while you can because yours will be."

Severin frowned, "Great."

"Are you feeling better?"

"I feel brand new."

"We should keep on going. I want to make it there before nightfall." He and Severin climbed back onto the horse. Taking the reins, he led the horse south.

"Severin," he said, "I left you off the hook for most of the trip, but this is prime studying time."

Severin sighed, "Do we have to?"

"If you want to be fluent in Oxuri, we have to keep the information fresh. Let's start with the verbs I taught you last week."

Severin sighed again. The latter half of their ride passed quickly, but this time filled with verb conjugations instead of silence. He was in the middle of explaining the past tense when Severin slapped his shoulder. "Galen! Look!"

"What?" He faced forward.

There it was. Stolital, the capital city of Erasima.

Compared to the lush lands that covered the nation, Stolital was no beauty. The city walls stood tall in front of them. Soot-colored buildings reached even further into the sky, swallowing the horizon. Thick smoke left a haze over everything. Severin had told him that citizens of Erasima considered the city a blight on the nation. The royal family considered the city a symbol of their power.

Galen knew little of the technology hidden behind the city walls. Industrialization, which originated in the militant nation of Zamsune, moved too quickly for him to understand. Cities containing thousands to hundreds of thousands seemed to spring up overnight. Zamsune's advancements encouraged the rest of the world to establish themselves in the new sphere as fast as possible. Erasima, a young country of only 50 years, felt they had the most to prove. Queen Malika spearheaded any and all initiatives that spread the country's transition from agriculture to industry. Her knack for business and the country's plentiful natural resources had the industrial sector growing faster than any other country, letting Erasima carve a place out for themselves in the world.

He felt out of his depth. The magnitude of the city awed him, but the harsh divide between the vivacious landscape and the drab buildings caused the city to feel out of place. Like it had been made somewhere else and then dropped in the middle of the country, leaving it contained in its own bubble. He wondered what Severin felt. The boy had never left his peaceful town before, and now he stood before a modern technological marvel.

He slowed the horse as they approached the gate. Two guards covered in heavy armor and holding sharp swords stood vigilant. The taller guard said, "State your names."

"Galen Sehrae and Severin Roscoe."

"What is your purpose in the city?"

"We're here to look for supplies, and perhaps strike a trading deal."

"How long will you be staying?"

"For one night. We’ll be leaving tomorrow morning."

The guard gestured to his partner. The other guard nodded and left. "You will receive travel papers that are valid for two days. Keep them on you at all times as guards will inspect them at random."

"How will they know that we're not residents of the city?"

"Because of this." The guard who left returned with two other guards and two branding irons. The first guard grabbed Galen's arm and said, "This will hurt."

Before he could move, the shorter guard slammed the iron onto his hand. The hot metal seared his flesh, and the acrid smell of burning skin wafted into the air. He screamed and desperately tried to throw off the guard's grip, but the man had him immobilized. Behind him, he could hear Severin letting out similar sounds of agony. The shorter guard lifted the iron, leaving city's insignia etched into his skin. Unbidden tears fell from his eyes as he cried out from the pain.

"Try not to touch the mark. The pain’ll leave within the hour," the guard said as he released Galen's arm.

"Why the fuck did you do that?" Severin shouted.

"Guards who see this mark will ask you for your papers."

"Am I going to have to live with this burned onto my hand?" Severin asked, aghast.

"No, the insignia is enchanted to disappear once you leave. The High Magician of Stolital casted the enchantment, so do not worry about it being permanent."

"Why do this in the first place?" He finally managed to catch his breath.

"This is an effective way to regulate visitors. We have had overwhelming success."

He stared at the mark on his hand. His skin was reddened and raised where the insignia laid. "Can we enter the city now?"

"Yes. Please enjoy your stay."

He said nothing in return, but Severin grumbled, "Fuck off."

Entering the city, smog immediately entered the two's lungs. He and Severin coughed and covered their eyes, protecting them from the smog's harmful effects. Squinting, he looked at the city walls. Runes shone faintly, painstakingly drawn every ten meters. The runes kept the smog and smoke from escaping into the wildlife that surrounded the city. Severin must have uncovered his eyes because Galen heard him take in a surprised breath. A breath that quickly turned into coughing. He peered into the city in front of him. People milled the streets, and shouting from store venders added to the busy atmosphere. The streets were narrow and lined with cobble that was slathered in grime.

"We should find a place to stay," Severin suggested. He nodded his agreement and led his horse down the main street as he searched for an inn or a tavern.

"Over there," he pointed to a sign, "Prichard Inn."

"Let's see if they have any rooms open, " Severin said.

The duo made their way to the entrance of the inn. Once there, he slid out of the saddle. Severin moved to follow him, but Galen stopped him. "No, you stay here. I don't want to leave our bags unattended."

"Got it."

He entered the inn. The only person in the sitting area was the woman behind the front desk. He approached her and asked, "Do you have any vacancies?"

The woman didn’t stop washing the desk when she answered, "Yes, we've got one room left."

"How many beds?"

"One, but we can add a cot if you need one."

"Yeah, that'll do. I would like the cot. We're staying for one night."

"That’ll be 50 silver pieces."

He sighed and fished the money out of his wallet, setting it down on the desk. "Do you have somewhere we can put our horse?"

"There's a stable out back." The woman gave Galen his room key.

"Thank you."

He left the inn and motioned for Severin to follow him. Severin took the reins and steered the horse behind him. He walked down to the stable and opened the first empty stall. Severin left the saddle, guiding the horse to rest inside it. He helped Severin remove the saddlebags, giving the horse an affectionate pat when they finished. Taking half the bags, he carried them into the room. Severin set down the other half of the bags next to his pile.

"Only one bed?" Severin inspected the room.

"They'll bring in a cot by tonight."

"Okay, next on the agenda is to find a shop that sells asteran parts."

"That won't be easy in a city this big."

"Probably not."

Finding their way back to the main road, he and Severin started their search for the shop. The task proved to be as hard as they imagined. The two were swept up in the bustle of the city, blending into the busy people surrounding them. Vendors, trying to sell their wares, pulled them out of the crowd. Unfortunately, none of them were selling asteran parts. Severin pulled him into a random shop, exclaiming that he needed to rest.

"It's exhilarating, isn't it?" Severin grinned.

"Exhilarating? More tiring than anything." His feet hurt, and he longed to sit down. Looking around the shop, he spotted a chair on the other side of the room. He walked to it and sat down. Severin followed him.

"Think about it, Galen! Nobody cares who you are. I could walk the same street every day for a month and not a single person would remember my face. And the shops! I saw more professions in one night than I would my whole life in Sunmesto. You could be anything here!"

He understood why the anonymity provided by city life was tempting to Severin. Towns had the allure of a quiet life and friendly neighbors, but they didn’t forgive nor forget any transgressions. A man suffering at the hands of that aspect of town life might find a city's sinister undertones a welcome reprieve. Severin was one such man.

"Well, I'm tired. I just want to find a store that sells asteran parts and get on with it."

"Asteran parts?" a new voice asked.

He and Severin whipped their heads to face the man who appeared in the shop. Severin answered, "Yes, know where to find them?"

"Of course. This is the shop."

Severin and Galen glanced at each other. The shop was filled with an assortment of baubles. Nothing looked more expensive than a few silver pieces. He said, "It doesn't look like you sell much of anything."

"The parts are very expensive and hard to get here in Stolital. I like to keep my stock in the basement. Follow me."

He hesitated, but Severin followed right behind the man. He shook his head at Severin's impulsivity, yet he too descended the stairs. The basement differed drastically to the main room. Rows and rows of product laid upon shelves. The light was dim, and the walls were covered in hides.

"What exactly are you looking for?" the shop keeper asked.

He said, "My apprentice here is a new magician, and we need a steady flow of parts to our town Sunmesto, thirty miles north of here."

"Oh, a fledgling. More and more crop up every year. How far along are you in his studies?"

"Only a couple of months. We've focused on Oxuri for the time being."

"Si ueh agodeni yllwie?"

"I iumeaágnieè ayhtto ehi lluwi aoceèbemy a oópeilrwufu aiaaemncygi oni ion uemta."

"Yleurlaá?"

"Syue, ai eèileybevo nï mhui."

The shop keeper smiled, "You speak Oxuri beautifully. Who taught you?"

"I taught myself."

"Impressive," the shop keeper pulled out a piece of paper from his front pocket, "Tell me where Sunmesto is again."

Galen brightened, "You'll trade with us."

The shop keeper nodded, "I must trade with someone who can speak Oxuri that well."

The three men hashed out a plan for the shop to stock he and Severin with asteran parts twice a month. Returning to their room at the inn, he flopped onto the cot. Severin laid down on the bed.

"What did you say to Mr. Zelenka?" Severin asked.

"All I said was that you were an excellent student."

Severin blushed, "That's all?"

"That's it. I'm sure that it was my pronunciation that sealed the deal."

"I would hope that a native speaker would sound the best at the language."

"Yeah," he sank further into the cot. Although it wasn’t as good as his bed, it still felt amazing after a long day. He climbed under the covers and closed his eyes. Severin could be heard shifting in his own bed.

"Hey, are you still awake?" Severin whispered.

"I can't fall asleep that fast."

Severin was silent for a moment before saying, "I heard what Morstat said to you earlier."

His eyes shot open, and he froze. "You heard that?"

"And what you said back. Thank you."

"I meant it," he rolled over to face Severin, "Every word."

"Thank you," Severin whispered again, "You have no idea what that means to me."

"It was the right thing to say. You're my friend, and I'm not going to let anyone bad mouth you or let someone bully me into leaving you."

Severin clutched his comforter with trembling fingers, "After my renouncement, all my friends turned their backs on me. All those years of friendship for nothing.”

"I would never."

"You know, I didn't know how terrifyingly alone I would feel after my parents died, or how silent the house would become. But then I met you, and you made me feel alive again. My apprenticeship has given me purpose and strength, and I don't know how I'll ever thank you for that."

"You don't have to thank me."

"This city is like a breath of fresh air for me. Ironic considering how its covered in smog. No one would know I was renounced, and I could have a new start doing whatever I want. Could you see me living here?"

"I think you would flourish wherever you set your roots down." He tried not to think about how Severin moving to Stolital would mean leaving him.

Severin smiled. "Really?"

"Really." He yawned, "That's my cue to wrap up this conversation. It's been a long night and we need to get some sleep."

"You're right. I'll see you in the morning. Good night."

"Good night." He curled up under the blanket and squeezed his eyes shut tightly, willing sleep to take him, and it did. Not even ten minutes later did Galen find his rest.

He opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. He was confused for a moment before he remembered that he was in a room at Prichard Inn. He turned his head and found Severin hanging out of the bed with the blanket pushed all the way to the end. He tried to stifle his snickers, but the muffled sound was enough for Severin to wake up.

"Huh?" Severin leaned forward in the bed, ruffling his hair.

"Good morning," he greeted.

"Oh," Severin stared blearily before groaning and flopping back down, "I'm not ready to get up."

"That's too bad because we need to get a move on."

Severin groaned again. He reluctantly rolled out of bed, rubbing his eyes. As his arm fell back to his side, he glimpsed at the insignia on his hand. He brought the hand closer to his face to investigate the mark closer. Severin had forgotten about it due to the excitement of being in the city. He poked at it with his other hand, but he felt nothing. He asked, "Do you really think this thing goes away?"

"The enchantment looks solid."

Severin frowned, "That word again. I forgot to ask yesterday, but what are enchantments? I remember you mentioning them once when I first started learning Oxuri."

He hummed, trying to think of a good way to word what he was about to say. "Enchantments or hnnuenmatceèta as they are called in Oxuri are casted when magic is infused with an object. In this case, the enchantment was infused with those branding rods. "

"How does the enchantment stay on the mark left behind?"

"Do you see the words etched on the insignia? Because the iron leaves a perfect imprint on the skin, the enchantment works on the brand too."

Severin inspected the insignia. He could see small words written along the inside of the circular mark. "What does it say?"

He peered at his own mark. "It's hard to read because the words are so small, but it appears to say, 'Ehtu cyait efo yelsoet inadu seakome.' Sounds like a moniker for the city."

"Can all enchantments be transferred?"

"No, most inscriptions can’t be removed or put on something else. Some materials like gold can resist enchantment. Putting the words on a branding iron is an interesting way around that."

Severin remembered what he saw on the walls. "What about those symbols on the city walls? The ones that glowed. Are they also enchantments?"

"No, they are reuûn or runes. They are similar to enchantments, but they do not need to be infused with an object. This makes them significantly harder to cast. While the runes were drawn on the wall, they would work even if the wall crumbled beneath it."

"Why haven't you talked about them before?"

"Unlike potions or spells, enchantments and runes require advanced knowledge of Oxuri to work. Knowledge that you don't have."

Severin sighed, "I have so much to learn."

He slung an arm over Severin’s shoulder, "Don't worry. As long as we keep up your practice, you should be able to do everything in no time, especially now that we have a steady supply of asteran parts."

Severin went to complain more, but his stomach growled before he could say anything. Severin covered his stomach in embarrassment. He grinned and said, "Let's see if the inn has breakfast."

The two walked down the stairs into the main room of the inn. Unlike yesterday, the front desk woman wasn’t alone. Another woman was sitting at a table near the back door. Her head angled down toward the table.

The front desk woman looked up, "If you want breakfast, it will be ready in fifteen minutes."

"Thank you." He steered Severin toward the other empty table next to the woman. From his seat, he had a good view of the only other occupant. A breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful. He glanced at Severin and could see the man was also stunned by her beauty.

Severin whispered, "Is it just me or is that the most beautiful woman I have ever seen?"

"No, I see it too," he whispered back.

The woman raised her head and made eye contact with the two. A dazzling smile spread across her face. He shyly smiled back. Severin cleared his throat. They gazed at each other silently before the woman rose from her seat. She walked over the few feet between her chair and the vacant chair at Severin and Galen's table. She sat down and waved at them.

"Hello," she cheerily said.

"H-hello," Severin stammered.

"What're your names?"

"I'm Severin, and my friend here is Galen."

"I like those names. My name is Amiria." Galen and Severin were rendered speechless. When they failed to respond, she continued, "Do you live in the city?"

"Ah, no." He lifted his hand to show her the insignia branded onto his skin.

"Ouch." She gave a sympathetic wince. "I live near the wall, so I can sometimes hear people getting their identifiers."

He said, "I screamed pretty loud when it happened to me."

"Why have you come to the city?"

"We're here to get asteran parts," Severin answered.

"Oh," Amiria's eyes widened, "Magicians. Can you show me some magic?"

Severin glanced at Galen quickly, searching for his approval. He assented. Severin took out a lock of Galen's hair with one hand and flicked the other toward Amiria. A purple glow emitted as he chanted, "Bgiurn aehte layeg owdïn."

Wind manifested from Severin's fingers, blowing Amiria's hair out of her face. She looked delighted and said, "That’s just wonderful."

"I'm glad you liked it," Severin said.

"What do you do?" he asked.

"I'm a hitman," Amiria smiled. There was a beat of silence. Amiria burst out laughing, and they soon followed her lead. "I can't believe you bought that!"

Still chuckling, Severin said, "You never know. This city has crazy people in it."

"I think it would be bad for business if I announced something like that to anyone."

The front desk woman approached their table, carrying a tray filled with food. Everyone at the table dug in as soon as the plates hit the table. The next twenty minutes consisted solely of the sound of eating. Once Amiria cleared her plate, she said, "I've had a fun time talking to you, but I have to go. Thanks for the company."

He wiped his mouth. "We have to leave too. You were lovely. Maybe one day we'll meet again."

"How long are you guys staying? We could meet up."

"This is our last day, sorry."

"No worries. I enjoyed our time together no matter how short it was."

Severin said, "Us too."

Amiria stood up and walked to the door. She called, "Come find me next time you're in the city."

"We will," he called back. With that last reply, Amiria left through the door.

Severin turned to him, "She was nice. Look at that, I've only been here one day, and I've made a new friend."

"Good job." He pat Severin's head condescendingly. Severin swatted the hand away, crossing his arms and pouting. "Oh, don't be like that. Come on, we've got to leave too."

Severin and Galen went to their room to grab their bags. They left to pack the horse, getting it ready for their departure. Once they were sure they had everything, they climbed into the saddle. He took the reins and guided the horse back out of the stable and onto the road. While they were making their way toward the entrance, Severin said, "I'll miss this place."

"You were only here for a day. What's there to miss?"

"The people! And all the shops. Even the smog."

"Halt!" A guard shouted as he marched their way.

"Will you miss that?" he grumbled as he slowed the horse to a stop.

"Definitely not." Severin replied.

"Papers." The guard extended his hand.

Severin rifled through the saddle bags, pulling out the papers and handing them to the guard. The guard scanned through the information, looking between the paper and the duo. The guard grunted, "All clear."

Severin shoved the papers back into the bags as Galen pulled on the reins. They continued their steady pace. Soon they reached the gates of the city. He nodded to the guards who made no movement to suggest they saw them.

"I definitely won't miss the guards," Severin said.

He and Severin reached Sunmesto before nightfall. He exited his seat, and Severin did the same behind him. "Here is where we part ways. I'll see you tomorrow," he said.

"See you tomorrow."