Compared to the lush lands that covered the nation, Stolital was no beauty. The city walls stood tall in front of them. Soot-colored buildings reached even further into the sky, swallowing the horizon. Thick smoke left a haze over everything. Citizens of Erasima considered the city a blight on the nation. The royal family considered the city a symbol of their power.
Galen knew little of the technology hidden behind the city walls. Industrialization, which originated in the militant nation of Zamsune, moved too quickly for him to understand. Cities containing thousands to hundreds of thousands seemed to spring up overnight. Zamsune's advancements encouraged the rest of the world to establish themselves in the new sphere as fast as possible. Erasima, a young country of only 50 years, felt they had the most to prove. Queen Malika spearheaded any and all initiatives that spread the country's transition from agriculture to industry. Her knack for business and the country's plentiful natural resources had the industrial sector growing faster than any other country, letting Erasima carve a place out for themselves in the world.
Galen felt out of his depth. The magnitude of the city awed him, but the harsh divide between the vivacious landscape and the drab buildings caused the city to feel out of place. Like it had been made somewhere else and then dropped in the middle of the country, leaving it contained in its own bubble. He wondered what Severin felt. The boy had never left his peaceful town before, and now he stood before a modern technological marvel.
Galen slowed the horse as they approached the gate. Two guards covered in heavy armor and holding sharp swords stood vigilant. The taller guard said, "State your names."
"Galen Sehrae and Severin Roscoe."
"What is your purpose in the city?"
"We're here to look for supplies, and perhaps strike a trading deal."
"How long will you be staying?"
"For one night. We will be leaving tomorrow morning."
The guard gestured to his partner. The other guard nodded and left. "You will receive travel papers that are valid for two days. Keep them on you at all times as guards will inspect them at random."
"How will they know that we're not residents of the city?"
"Because of this." The guard who left returned with two other guards and two branding irons. The first guard grabbed Galen's arm and said, "This will hurt."
Before Galen could move, the shorter guard slammed the iron onto Galen's hand. The hot metal seared his flesh, and the acrid smell of burning skin wafted into the air. Galen screamed and desperately tried to throw off the guard's grip, but the man had him immobilized. Behind him, Galen could hear Severin letting out similar sounds of agony. The shorter guard lifted the iron, leaving city's insignia etched into Galen's skin. Unbidden tears fell from his eyes as he cried out from the pain.
"Try not to touch the mark. The pain will leave within the hour," the guard said as he released Galen's arm.
"Why the fuck did you do that?" Severin shouted.
"Guards who see this mark will ask you for your papers."
"Am I going to have to live with this burned onto my hand?" Severin asked, aghast.
"No, the insignia is enchanted to disappear once you leave. The High Magician of Stolital casted the enchantment, so do not worry about it being permanent."
"Why do this in the first place?" Galen finally managed to catch his breath.
"This is an effective way to regulate visitors. We have had overwhelming success."
Galen stared at the mark on his hand. His skin was reddened and raised where the insignia laid. "Can we enter the city now?"
"Yes. Please enjoy your stay."
Galen said nothing in return, but Severin grumbled, "Fuck off."
Entering the city, smog immediately entered the two's lungs. Galen and Severin coughed and covered their eyes, protecting them from the smog's harmful effects. Squinting, Galen looked at the city walls. Runes shone faintly, painstakingly drawn every ten meters. The runes kept the smog and smoke from escaping into the wildlife that surrounded the city. Severin must have uncovered his eyes because Galen heard him take in a surprised breath. A breath that quickly turned into coughing. Galen peered into the city in front of him. People milled the streets, and shouting from store venders added to the busy atmosphere. The streets were narrow and lined with cobble that was slathered in grime.
"We should find a place to stay," Severin suggested. Galen nodded his agreement, and led his horse down the main street as he searched for an inn or a tavern.
"Over there," Galen pointed to a sign, "Prichard Inn."
"Let's see if they have any rooms open, " Severin said.
The duo made their way to the entrance of the inn. Once there, Galen slid out of the saddle. Severin moved to follow him, but Galen stopped him. "No, you stay here. I don't want to leave our bags unattended."
"Got it."
Galen entered the inn. The only person in the sitting area was the woman behind the front desk. Galen approached her and asked, "Do you have any vacancy?"
The woman did not stop washing the desk when she answered, "Yes, we've got one room left."
"How many beds?"
"One, but we can add a cot if you need one."
"Yeah, that'll do. I would like the cot. We're staying for one night only."
"That will be 50 silver pieces."
Galen sighed and fished the money out of his wallet, setting it down on the desk. "Do you have somewhere we can put our horse?"
"There's a stable out back." The woman gave Galen his room key.
"Thank you."
Galen left the inn and motioned for Severin to follow him. Severin took the reins and steered the horse behind him. Galen walked down to the stable and opened the first empty stall. Severin left the saddle, guiding the horse to rest inside it. Galen helped Severin remove the saddlebags, giving the horse an affectionate pat when they finished. Taking half the bags, Galen carried them into the room. Severin set down the other half of the bags next to Galen's pile.
"Only one bed?" Severin inspected the room.
"They'll bring in a cot by tonight."
"Okay, next on the agenda is to find a shop that sells asteran parts."
"That won't be easy in a city this big."
"Probably not."
Finding their way back to the main road, Galen and Severin started their search for the shop. The task proved to be as hard as they imagined. The two were swept up in the bustle of the city, blending into the busy people surrounding them. Vendors, trying to sell their wares, pulled them out of the crowd. Unfortunately, none of them were selling asteran parts. Severin pulled Galen into a random shop, exclaiming that he needed to rest.
"It's exhilarating, isn't it?" Severin grinned.
"Exhilarating? More tiring than anything." Galen's feet hurt and he longed to sit down. Looking around the shop, he spotted a chair on the other side of the room. Galen walked to it and sat down. Severin followed him.
"Think about it, Galen! Nobody cares who you are. I could walk the same street every day for a month and not a single person would remember my face. And the shops! I saw more professions in one night than I would my whole life in Sunmesto. You could be anything here!"
Galen understood why the anonymity provided by city life was tempting to Severin. Towns had the allure of a quiet life and friendly neighbors, but they did not forgive nor forget any transgressions. A man suffering at the hands of that aspect of town life might find a city's sinister undertones a welcome reprieve. Severin was one such man.
"Well, I'm tired. I just want to find a store that sells asteran parts and get on with it."
"Asteran parts?" a new voice asked.
Galen and Severin whipped their heads to face the man who appeared in the shop. Severin answered, "Yes, know where to find them?"
"Of course. This is the shop."
Severin and Galen glanced at each other. The shop was completely empty except for a table and a couple of chairs. Galen said, "It doesn't look like you sell much of anything."
"The parts are very expensive and hard to get here in Stolital. I like to keep my stock in the basement. Follow me."
Galen hesitated, but Severin followed right behind the man. Galen shook his head at Severin's impulsivity, yet he too descended the stairs. The basement differed drastically to the main room. Rows and rows of product laid upon shelves. The light was dim and the walls were covered in hides.
"What exactly are you looking for?" the shop keeper asked.
Galen said, "My apprentice here is a new magician and we need a steady flow of parts to our town Sunmesto, thirty miles north of here."
"Oh, a fledgling. More and more crop up every year. How far along are you in his studies?"
"Only a couple of months. We've focused on Oxuri for the time being."
"Si ueh agodeni yllwie?"
"I iumeaágnieè ayhtto ehi lluwi aoceèbemy a oópeilrwufu aiaaemncygi oni ion uemta."
"Yleurlaá?"
"Syue, ai eèileybevo nï mhui."
Severin watched Galen and the shop keeper's faces. His understanding of Oxuri was not enough to keep track of the conversation. He realized he had a lot more to learn.
The shop keeper smiled, "You speak Oxuri beautifully. Who taught you?"
"I taught myself."
"Impressive," the shop keeper pulled out a piece of paper from his front pocket, "Tell me where Sunmesto is again."
Galen brightened, "You'll trade with us."
The shop keeper nodded, "I must trade with someone who can speak Oxuri that well."
The three men hashed out a plan for the shop to stock Galen and Severin with asteran parts twice a month. Returning to their room at the inn, Galen flopped onto the cot. Severin laid down on the bed.
"What did you say to Mr. Zelenka?" Severin was curious about what Galen said, especially since it was enough to convince the shop keeper to supply them.
"All I said was that you were an excellent student."
Severin blushed, "That's all?"
"That's it. I'm sure that it was my pronunciation that sealed the deal."
"I would hope that a native speaker would sound the best at the language."
"Yeah," Galen sank further into the cot. Although it was not as good as his bed, it still felt amazing after a long day. Galen climbed under the covers and closed his eyes. Severin could be heard shifting in his own bed.
"Hey, are you still awake?" Severin whispered.
"I can't fall asleep that fast."
Severin was silent for a moment before saying, "I heard what Morstat said to you earlier."
Galen's eyes shot open, and he froze. "You heard that?"
"And what you said back. Thank you."
"I meant it," Galen rolled over to face Severin, "Every word."
"Thank you," Severin whispered again, "You have no idea what that means to me."
"It was the right thing to say. You're my friend, and I'm not going to let anyone bad mouth you or let someone bully me into leaving you."
Severin clutched his comforter with trembling fingers, "After my renouncement, all my friends turned there backs on me. All those years of friendship for nothing.”
"I would never."
"You know, I didn't know how terrifyingly alone I would feel after my parents died, or how silent the house would become. But then I met you and you made me feel alive again. Like I wasn't just living because I couldn't die. My apprenticeship has given me purpose and strength, and I don't know how I'll ever thank you for that."
"You don't have to thank me."
"This city is like a breath of fresh air for me. Ironic considering how its covered in smog. No one would know I was renounced, and I could have a new start doing whatever I want. Could you see me living here?"
"I think you would flourish wherever you set your roots down." Galen tried not to think about how Severin moving to Stolital would mean leaving him.
Severin smiled. "Really?"
"Really." Galen yawned, "That's my cue to wrap up this conversation. It's been a long night and we need to get some sleep."
"You're right. I'll see you in the morning. Good night."
"Good
night." Galen curled up under the blanket and squeezed his eyes shut
tightly, willing sleep to take him, and it did. Not even ten minutes later did
Galen find his rest.
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