Michael felt like his heart dropped. But the tone of his voice changed. Instead of the taunting manner, he sounded more collected.
"Looks like he wanted to save his own skin instead of the child." he smacked his lips in disappointment. "This land sickens me every day, no matter who I meet."
Michael couldn't get a look at his face. "What's…your name?"
"Nasir," he said. "I'm part of the frontline for the Tempest guild."
Michael had no idea what that was.
Nasir scoffed. "Yeah, you never heard of me. I shouldn't even say I'm part of it anymore, because I know they're kicking me out when they see me."
"Why are they kicking you out?"
"I hate their guts, they hate mine, and they give me some impossible quest to make a fool out of me."
"Is that why you're beating me up—ow! Hey, that hurts!"
Nasir elbowed him again. "You know, I should kill you!"
"Then why don't you," Michael wriggled around. "Are you trying to make fun of me, too?"
Nasir raised his elbow again and stopped. He cursed under his breath and slid off Michael, releasing the weight pressed against him.
Michael rolled away and rubbed his back. There were definitely bruises across his body that would ache for weeks now. Sleeping would be a bigger issue in all cases, actually, that would be something for Michael to figure out whenever he makes it back.
"Why aren't you scared," Nasir asked, sitting across from him. "Or are you just that stupid to understand anything?"
Michael continued rubbing his back with a pouting face.
"You're not even crying about me beating you up. What the hell's going on with your life?"
"They do the same thing at the union." Michael admitted. "Only you just hit harder than them."
"How old are you, kid?"
"I'm fifteen."
"You're fifteen and they still let you work at the union? You got some shitty parents, man."
"My parents are dead."
"Yeah, I figured," he studied Michael. "Are you planning to be a slave at the union your entire life or what?"
Michael shook his head.
"Then what do you want to be?"
"I…" Michael hesitated. "I want to be an adventurer. And I want to do whatever I want, and nobody could tell me what to do ever again. I want to eat free food, I want to sleep somewhere clean, I want to—"
"Woah, woah, slow down," he cracked a smile. "You've got good aspirations already but you're barely enough to even try."
Michael even found himself smiling too, even just thinking about the pleasures of whatever he liked.
"First, you oughta learn mana," he showed his hand. "It's the fundamental of all things. Everyone is born with it, honing it and learning to weaponize that force is a different story. You probably can't see it at all, can you?"
Michael shook his head again.
Nasir balled his fist. "You concentrate that force and distribute it, that's how you fight with mana. But everything isn't so physical. There's spells of wonders that you probably can't even imagine."
"I've seen spells before." Michael said. "The people at the festivals would blow fire into the air and it'd be really bright—ow!"
Nasir flicked his head again. "Don't compare spells with plays of a jester, that's offensive to every mage that exists."
Michael rubbed his forehead. "So…I have to learn spells?"
"You need to learn mana," Nasir pointed at his chest. "Even that cowardly old fart that ran away could learn mana. Nobody is restricted by any law to become stronger, no matter the status of your family. It's your own birthright."
Michael stared at his hands. "I…don't even know where to start."
"You can start by leaving that damn union, or else they'll work you until you grow old with wrinkles."
Michael shuddered at that thought. "But, it's impossible to leave. I won't have anywhere to go."
"Maybe you do," Nasir stood from the ground. "Maybe fight off a guard, I don't fucking know how it works there but I wouldn't take any shit from someone else telling me what to do. Noble or not, I don't listen to anyone who talks to me like I'm a joke."
Michael thought about his time in the workers union. It wasn't pleasant at all but that place was able to sustain him when he had nowhere else to go. He had no family, no home, and nobody to return to. Maybe after all this time, he just wanted someone to talk to. Nasir seemed nice enough, not judging their first encounter, but he seemed to pivot Michael more in the right direction. Maybe running along the streets and sleeping under roofs was better than being treated like trash at the union.
Uncle didn't even try to stay for him, what if Michael had actually died? It wouldn't even change anything, and Michael knew that.
"Where would you go?" Michael asked. "I thought your guild was kicking you out?"
"Yeah, I know," he scratched the back of his head. "But I still have some shame in me saying goodbye to the people there. I can't believe I thought killing some old man and his kid would make me feel better."
"I—don't think they would kick you out."
Nasir turned to him.
"If they knew you would fail, maybe it was for building character? You don't sound like a bad guy to me—"
Nasir bursted out laughing, even slapping his own knee.
Michael looked around, maybe afraid he said something sensitive.
"Man," he choked. "You really don't understand anything, do you?"
"I don't?"
"Listen, kid, the strong always feed on the weak. That's how it's always been, even for animals."
Michael didn't understand that analogy.
"Even if they don't kick me out, the captain won't ever look at me the same again. Which sucks, because…I actually liked staying there."
"Then, why don't you tell them that? That you don't want to leave."
He looked back at Michael, ready to burst into another fit of laughter.
"Whatever you failed, I'm sure they would understand?"
"Yeah, right," Nasir shrugged. "You don't know anything about anything, so I don't even want to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"Here," Nasir tossed a pouch in front of him. "Buy something nice for yourself, I don't really care anymore."
Michael picked around the pouch. It was filled with gold coins, more than he ever held in his hand.
Nasir yawned and looked at the sky. "Damn, I'm probably making them wait longer than usual. Whatever, right? They would understand?"
Michael nodded with the coins in his hand.
Nasir snorted. "Later, kid, don't get eaten by wolves."
Michael watched him walk in the opposite direction. It was a strange interaction overall but Michael thought this was one of the best things that happened to him. Being bruised and almost breaking his back just for a handful of gold coins, was an absolute victory in his mind. Nasir seemed like a good guy, but Michael would be lying if he said he wasn't scared at first. Hearing him laugh though sort of made him feel more human. Maybe adventurers were all scum but Michael would make sure he wouldn't end up like that.
He picked himself off the ground and stuffed the pouch inside his drawers, away from his pocket to not arouse any suspicion. The people at the union had keen eyes whenever pockets looked stuffy. With everything prepared and a brand new mindset, Michael went back to his walk to the town.