Chapter 7

Nefi lead Naro through the Old District, weaving between buildings with ease and following unseen paths until they reached their destination. Nefi stopped in front of what looked like an old wooden shack, there was a brown tarp covering the entrance which Nefi walked into without hesitation, Naro following after him.

The inside looked as decrepit as the outside, the wood was old but not rotting but it was clear from the cobwebs and dust that no one had lived inside the place for a while. The abode had a single room to it, random objects strown about the wooden floor, but there was a small blanket resting on the ground that seemed usable.

“You can stay here,” Nefi said motioning to it.

“Huh?” Naro questioned looking at him. “Wait you’re giving me a home?”

“I’m not giving you anything. This place is abandoned. It used to be Beso’s place back when he lived in the Old District. Since he’s gotten money though he’s staying in the Northern District, since he took all his stuff when he left, it’s unlikely he’ll come back, especially since he hates staying here.”

Nefi pointed at the walls before continuing.

“It barely blocks the cold out but it’s better than sleeping in the street and there is a blanket here.”

Naro looked around and placed a hand against one of the pillars of his new home, it was barely put together but he couldn’t help smiling at the idea of actually having a roof over his head again.

“Thank you Nefi, this means a lot to me,” Naro said looking over at the youth.

“No need for thanks,” Nefi said. “We Beastkin return favors. We’re even on the chasing thing with the food you gave me…but my sister can’t repay you in her current state, so just think of this as her repaying you.”

“Well please pass my thanks onto your sister.”

“No.”

Naro eyes twitched a bit at the sudden response but felt pressing the matter wasnt’ worth the trouble that would follow.

“Anyway we’re even now, so never approach my home again. I’ll pretend I don’t know you when we pass each other in the neighborhood, you do the same.”

Nefi head towards the door and Naro stepped out of his way, watching the boy’s back however he clenched his fist before his mouth opened.

“Hold on a moment Nefi.”

The Beastkin stopped and glanced over his shoulder at Naro, the fact he listened actually caused Naro to pause but swallowing down what nervousness he could he spoke up again.

“How about we make a deal. Food for information.”

The furrow of Nefi’s brow made Naro think he was going to ignore him but the boy instead turned fully towards him.

“Explain,” he said simply crossing his arms.

“I have a way to get food. It…may not be everyday but I should be able to get bread like that again. If I bring you that food could you teach me what you know? I know next to nothing about Uliaz…or well anything. At the very least you know some things about Beso and since I’m trying to avoid him that information alone is worth sharing my food.”

Nefi eyes rested on Naro for a long moment, the boy observing his face in silence. Just as Naro wondered if he’d gone to far that Nefi spoke up.

“You’re a strange one. I figured as such but you’re a fool aren’t you?”

“Um..may I ask where this is coming from.”

“You’re in an enclosed space with a Beastkin, your guard has been down this whole time when you don’t have a weapon on you. I also don’t sense any mana from you so you’re not a mage either. I doubt you’re a martial artist…I could have slit your throat at any time.”

Naro reached up and touched his neck at this, but something Nefi had said echoed in his head.

“Wait you can sense mana?”

“All Beastkin can sense mana, at least a little…that’s common knowledge. Did you grow up in some remote village or something?”

“That…sounds about right, yeah. I doubt it’s a place anyone would know.”

Since it wasn’t in this world, he supposed that counted as ‘remote’ in a sense.

The young Beastkin averted his eyes and tapped a clawed finger on his arm, Naro didn’t move and was also thinking too much about his exposed neck, waiting to hear Nefi’s answer.

“...I decide the splitting of the bread,” Nefi said pointing at him. “I can also end the deal at anytime.”

“Huh? Oh uh, deal! I’m fine with that.”

“Then we have an agreement,” Nefi said holding his hand out. “Long as you don’t cheat me, I’ll share what I know for each loaf you bring.”

“I appreciate it! Really!” Naro said shaking the youth’s hand.

Without magic or any skill in fighting he would need any information he could get, the more he knew the less chance he’d get into trouble.

The days passed by slowly as Naro adapted to his new life, he’d spend his days wandering around looking for any manner of work, and coming up short. He’d drink from the stream a few times a day, and would meet with Venilis to speak about random matters, accepting bread when he could share, and merely thanking him for company when he couldn’t. He shared with Nefi each time, the youth meeting him at his new home. If there was no food he’d leave and come back the next day.

Between the two of them Naro gained more of an understanding about the world, they were on the continent of Vikorith, Uliaz is one of the smaller towns around Velinumo, the Capital of the Desert continent, which was on the western half of Vikorith.

Four Capitals existed in each cardinal direction, Velinumo lying to the west, the East was apparently Lunaki named after another Sage. The North and South remained a mystery to him.

There was an incident on Lunaki’s side of the continent which lead to many crossing the ocean to escape.

The escape was his story in this world now, his remote village was affected and he left home.

While Venilis was well informed about the world having been a traveler in his youth, Nefi was extremely well informed about Uliaz especially the Old District. It was here he learned that Beso was also a Vagrant who came here, unlike other Vagrants however he knew magic.

Naro took a bite out of his bread as Nefi finished his own piece, it’d had become normal for the boy to eat with him whenever information was shared.

“So Beso’s magic is the reason everyone deals with him,” Naro said rubbing the back of his neck.

“That’s right. Not many people can use magic around here. Even the guards are just swordsmen, they deal with desert bandits, not mages. Granted if Beso went too far they’d probably swarm him…but he could take on a few of them at one time and probably win. His presence also makes bandits think twice about attacking the town so he’s tolerable to them.”

Naro learned from Venilis that magic wasn’t rare, but it wasn’t common either. In the cities to the east there were plenty of people who wielded magic, a fair amount were even in the capital.

“Anyway that’s enough for today,” Nefi said standing up. “I’m heading out.”

“Thanks as always Nefi, I hope I’m not bothering you keeping you from your sister.”

“You needn’t worry about my business human…but it was my sister who told me to visit. She said I should take walks that don’t involve running…”

Raising a hand Nefi left through the tarp and Naro smiled a little jealous Nefi at least had someone in this world. Standing up he decided to head to the stream, after getting some water he’d turn in for the day and try for work again tomorrow.

“I can’t rely on Venilis kindness forever after all.”

Cupping a bit of water Naro drank a bit before moving away from the stream and splashing a bit on his face. People didn’t bathe near the upper parts of the canal, it was a politeness to do it downstream. He remembered the man who tried to wash his face near the water and the beating that soon followed. Most didn’t care about washing one’s face so long as you moved away. At least that what he had observed, thus why he was confused why everyone seemed to be staring at him.

The few people around were watching him from a distance, they didn’t look angry more…scared if he had to put it into words. They also weren’t coming anywhere near the water, they would keep a few feet from him, but they never stood more than ten feet away. It was the only place to drink water, people tolerated each other here.

He smelled himself wondering if that was the reason when a shadow suddenly covered him.

Turning he saw a familiar trio, a particular redhead staring down at him. He felt his blood run cold as the man’s lips curved into smirk.

“...Beso.”