‘Sorry I don’t know if we have anyone for you guys this time around’

‘Hmm can’t say I know of any in particular but Georgie might know something.’ a clerk says.

‘I don’t know anything about this one either but if you go to some of them alley shops then they can maybe tell you some things but be careful over there.’ the other clerk answers from the back of the store.

‘Looking for alternate energy users huh, well I can tell you that they’re two for sure in the city and for a price I could maybe tell you a little more than that.’ a clerk answers while the group of three stand a slightly secluded shaded area.

‘Tell you what Mr, I’ll give you 3 gold and you tell me everything you know and answer a couple questions.’ Braz counters confidently knowing 3 gold is more than enough.

Knowing he's unlikely to get a better deal the shopkeep answers, ‘Well I think that's more than reasonable.’ he smiles while gesturing them into his shop to sit.

Once they’ve all gotten settled he turns to them and sets a tray of spiced tea in front of them and begins speaking, ‘I’ll be upfront if you could get the two of them out of the city then everyone would be grateful but you won’t have an easy time convincing their parents to let them go.

Cela braces herself and cuts in, ‘Are they being abused, mistreated, used as a power source?’ she questions rapidfire and looks over at Braz to ask, ‘The academy will understand if we make just a little collateral damage right?’

Sighing Braz answers, ‘While the academy does allow a certain amount of leeway when it comes to getting potential students out of danger, until they are actual official students we have to be a bit more subtle if possible. Before anything else though let's make sure they’re actually in danger or not.’ Braz finishes and looks back at the shopkeep blankly but with a very distinct stillness that some will recognize as a warrior on the edge of his fury.

Seeing that he’s not in imminent danger the shopkeep hurries to speak, ‘no no, the children aren’t in any danger, in fact it’s much the opposite. The issue is that the children are the city rulers own and he refuses to believe that his children aren’t blessed to use Qi or Mana so he forces them to practice things they can’t do and they give it their all everyday. The city rulers don't physically abuse them or anything but we can see the wear and tear it's having on them. Our culture puts much emphasis on family, and that counts double for the ruler’s family. They are expected to be the model for the people and contrary to outsiders beliefs that doesn’t mean be the most powerful. It asks them to show us what it means to love and accept each other, to take each of us as we are, and with the city lord relentlessly training them and the despair in their eyes growing deeper everyday when they can only use their respective energies instead of Qi or Mana, it’s starting to push the people against the lord and lady. They say they have strayed from the path, that the children should be allowed to leave and go where they can gain the most but his pride in the city runs so deep that he refuses to believe they can learn more outside of it than it.’ the shopkeep finishes while shaking his head sadly. ‘This is why I said the cities people would be grateful if you could get them out of here, if you can convince them to let the children go peacefully instead of us helping them escape with you as we fear we’ll have to then we can avoid the city going through a revolt that will make us a prime target for the enemies on the outside.’

‘...tsk, it would have been easier if it was the stuff if I said at first, if it's just misguided parenting then that's way harder to deal with, can’t just punch that away.’ Cela grumbles.

‘You’re right, we can’t. So it looks like we’ll need to get into the city rulers presence, though this does explain why they didn’t call us to their castle like the academy said for us to expect. He also couldn’t just refuse us entry or tell us to leave either because the city is on cose terms with the academy. Let me guess, the children are one of those secrets that everyone knows about but isn’t typically mentioned to outsiders?’ he asks while looking at the shopkeep.

‘Indeed, exactly so. All the citizens know of the children and since for the most part we keep to ourselves here we’ve been able to keep it under wraps but the children will get older and eventually their fathers expectations will cause a rift that will break their family apart but the city as well, so please I beg you, even if you can’t convince the Lord we’ll help you get them out.’ the shopkeep pleads while looking at them.

‘Sigh, let's hope it doesn’t come to that. Thank you for the information sir, we’ll use it well. Come on you two, the others messaged me earlier that they already found an inn to meet up at, this is gonna require a plan.’ Braz gestures to the other two and starts to head out. Seeing this Seren climbs back onto Cela’s back and they head out.