"How come you hang out with that asshat anyway? Even if he was your best friend once they are just using you now. You do know that that is not the way friends should behave, right?" Kael and Martin had been walking for a while now and had, with time and the added spice of a life and death situation, become more familiar with each other.

Not only had they lived through something quite traumatic, but once the adrenaline was gone and the events were in the past, they started to act more naturally with each other. Whatever preconceptions or doubts they might have had at first, they seemed so irrelevant after what they had just experienced. The hike was fun and, despite their exhaustion, made Kael laugh more than he had in the last few months combined.

"Yea. I know, but... somewhere during our first year he slowly changed. Small things at first, but after a while it became obvious. And still, it was better than being alone in school." The deep sadness and helplessness that was contained in that one sentence was something Kael could relate to.

Martin must have misunderstood his expression somehow and explained: "It's not a normal school. There are not that many students to begin with, and most of them knew each other from their old schools. By the time the situation with Jason got that bad it was already too late to join other groups. So I just stayed."

"Was it better than being alone though?" Kael asked. He knew that his experiences since he had been in school had changed him a lot, but hanging out with people like Jason seemed like a pretty terrible choice to him. Even if the alternative was being alone. "Probably not. But habit is a dangerous thing. Also, ever since I awakened my element and had its power tested, they kept their distance."

"Huh. Why? A healer should be pretty attractive, no? Can you heal stuff like cancer?" His close brush with possible death might be swinging his opinion there, but weren't doctors and healers quite popular usually? "Oh, yes. Healers are in demand for sure, but nature-based healing is not what most groups are looking for. Too slow. Requires touch. Oh, and it also drains the healer much faster. In addition to all of those deficits, I am also the least powerful caster in the entire class."

Martin held in a little before he continued. "Today was actually the first time my healing spell worked. Also, cancer is difficult since my magic is based upon regeneration. The cells are not inherently bad and I would only help them grow if I just used my magic. Get someone to cut the stuff out first, and I can close the wound easily. No scars even."

While there was a lot for Kael to unpack in what Martin had said, there would be more time to talk about it. For now, there were more important topics to discuss. "The first time your spell worked? How is that even possible? Well, for what it's worth, you are always welcome in my group. Your character makes more than up for whatever stupid problems the idiots in your class have."

After laughing for a while, their conversation turned to lighter topics. While Kael had questions he wanted to ask, both of them were much too tired to focus on anything important tonight. Battered and bruised, but with a smile on their faces, they walked through the dead of night.

~~~~~~~~~

The area where Martin lived was called Montero. Somewhat outside of the city center, the area was populated by modern one-family homes. While not the place to be for the very rich, Kael knew that only those with money could afford to live here. The walk must have taken them almost an hour since Martin pointed to one of the sidestreets and said: "Just around that corner and maybe four hundred meters down the road, then we are there."

Quickly they arrived before the imposing, post-modern-looking building that appeared to be Martin's home. The minimalist garden, only populated by grass and hedges, complemented the monstrosity of concrete, steel, and glass it was in front of. Standing before the entrance, Martin turned around to him. Complicated emotions played behind his eyes as Martin seemed to struggle with finding the right words. Kael gave him time and was rewarded for his patience when Martin spoke a few moments later.

"So. Two things before we both can get some sleep. First. We only met by coincidence today, but I enjoyed our walk despite everything. Would you maybe want to hang out again in the future?" Kael did not need to think long to answer in the affirmative. "Sure. I would love to. Hopefully without the involvement of a certain asshat this time."

„Thanks! Cool. Now, secondly there are some very important laws you have to be aware of and follow. These are rules that all people that know about magic have to follow." Seeing Kael nod and focus on him with clear eyes, Martin continued. "It is very illegal to use magic in public. There is a special school and all mages have to attend it from when they turn sixteen to learn about their powers and how to control them. You are not allowed to tamper with the barrier surrounding the country. Before you ask, no I can't tell you more and it is not important right now either. Don't use mind magic. Don't use soul magic. If there is a monster you run away and inform the police.“

Many, many questions were floating in Kael's head, but they could wait. For now, there was only one that he could not hold back. "That's the school you and Jason go to? They teach you magic?" - "Yes and no. The school is much more like a normal school only that there are more classes to be taken. We still have math, language, science and art classes in addition to some more magical topics. From what I was told there are even a not little part of the student base that never take the higher grade magical classes and go for majors in science or something like that."

„But can we talk about that some other time? No clue when my parents will let me leave the house again, but you want to meet next week? School ends early on Wednesday, so I should have some time after.“ Settling on a meeting place was easy, and Kael soon left the street, knowing that he would meet the teen again in just a few days. Martin had also given him a piece of paper with his phone number, just in case.

After saying goodby to Martin, he started the trip back home. Arriving at his home, he soon sat under his tarp on the makeshift roof. Taking a deep breath of the clear night air, he looked at the still brightly lit city he was residing in. Today he might not have anything, not even a roof over his head, but soon all of that would change.