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 Galen melted, Severin was perfectly fine. In fact, most of the residents of Sunmesto remained unaffected. Galen 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.
Galen 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 could not protect Galen 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!" Galen 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?" Galen 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," Galen sighed, "I've got no idea where to get them, though."
"We could try the city."
Galen did see the merit in that 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 Galen expected it to. He spent the previous night getting ready for their trip, which included making sure they had an ample amount of money. He closed and locked the door to the shop. 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 Galen 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?"
Galen 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," Galen 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."
Galen 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." Galen gave him a sickly smile, "I don't want to keep Severin waiting, so if you'll excuse me."
Galen turned and started to walk away when Morstat grabbed his arm, "Galen--"
"No!" Galen wrenched his arm out of the sheriff's grasp, "I've made myself very clear. Do not bother me again, and please refer to me as Mr. Sehrae from this point on."
Galen proceeded to storm off. He approached Severin, and watched him fix the saddlebags. He schooled 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."
Galen 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. Galen asked, "Do you have the map?"
"Yes, I just need to unfold it. Give me a second." Galen 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."
Galen 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!" Galen could feel 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?"
Galen 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. We can look for books when we get to the city."
"Hopefully, we'll find something."
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," Galen said.
Severin hummed his agreement, sliding out of the saddle. Galen 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." Galen 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?"
"Yeah, I feel brand new."
"We should keep on going. I want to make it there before nightfall." Galen and Severin climbed back onto the horse. Taking the reins, Galen led the horse south.
"Severin," Galen said, "I left you off the hook for the majority 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. Galen was in the middle of explaining the past tense when Severin slapped his shoulder. "Galen! Look!"
"What?" Galen faced forward.
There it was.
Stolital, the capital city of Erasima.
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