Jano rose early. He prepared his wife some scalding hot coffee and a lumpy bowl of oats as she was slowly waking up. They ate this most days, but he always insisted on preparing it for her where he could. After all, she did so much for him. The coffee was bitter and tasteless and nothing on what she might be allowed at her employer’s home from time to time, but it provided a sharp jolt in the morning. Coin was particularly tight, so he ate nothing himself. If his wife asked, he would say that he’d eaten something small already. It was only a small lie, but one he’d had to justify many times before and likely, many times to come. His stomach rumbled at the thought of food, so before he lost his nerve he kissed his sleepy wife on the forehead and headed out to the workhouse.

It was raining, as it so often did in the dismal Slums and the thick clouds above didn’t suggest that it would change any time soon. The water was gathering around his feet and the smell of stagnant water was pungent. Not another flood, he thought. His paper thin shoes offered no resistance against the water, or whatever was sloshing around inside it. Not long ago the Slums had had to deal with a real problem with leeches, which the Higher Mages had reluctantly solved only when it started spreading disease outside of the Slums.

As he walked, wooden lean to’s were replaced with the familiar sight of grey stone as he got closer to the Middle. Nothing so permanent as stone fixings were trusted to the poor. The night was just beginning to lift and the streets were still quiet. The Middle was named so because it was the bustling centre of the city. But it would not remain this way for long. Jano began to hurry now, as the ‘good’ jobs would be taken if he lingered too long. Despite the early hour, there was a slow trickle of people trickling out from the Slums. The tenuous nature of work in Qursa rewarded those who got there earliest. Jano shifted nervously as city Guards stood chatting to each other under the dwindling lamplight. The Guard themselves maintained the lights and looked on at the ‘Slummers’ with obvious disgust. It would be daylight soon, but it wasn’t uncommon for Slummers to be taken away for random intrusive searches or blamed for a crime which had been committed the night before where no suspect had yet been found.

He passed by the Commercial District. His mind raced back to his encounter in the bank and he felt a deep spike of shame in his stomach. How could he have gotten his hopes up? “Jano…?” He turned and looked at a man around his age, a little smaller in stature 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 north?”

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 me visiting the Slums.” He said. “They think we’ll spread some disease or something.” He laughed and Jano knew he should do the same. There was a small part of him which felt an intense jealousy.

Mill 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 now I can bind the stone with some rare metal they want in their garden wall 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.

“Just imagine, arranging a Class Advancement for the sake of putting a nice pattern in your garden wall.” Jano muttered.

Mill looked unimpressed and his face darkened. “Well you would do so if you could.” He snapped. Then he looked at his old friend and his features softened once more. Mill had once worked for Jano after all. It all felt like forever ago to Jano however.

“I’m sorry my friend. I forgot myself.” Jano apologised. Mill was quick to smile once more. Though it was more from sympathy than happiness.

“Do not trouble yourself. I had forgotten your situation and how insensitive my words might appear. Rubbing it in your nose like this. No no. Please accept my apologies.”

Jano managed a smile and just as he was about to respond, Mill clapped him 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 shook his head and decided against it before walking 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 niceties of the Commercial District. As he got closer, a small stream of people was already 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 quarter coin. The patrols were just a catch-all phrase, Slummers used to be made to patrol the outside of the wall, defending Qursa from wild 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 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 for an extended period of time. Stunts like breaking into a shop could only be done when he had built up his reserves.

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 more formal duties to the Empire or for senior posts in 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. “A turner eh? Right. Get to the belt on level two. Hand the chit in at the end for payment” 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.