Childhood (3)

'We'll see,' my ass. I was getting nowhere again.

I should've stalled more while we were in the market, I didn't get to go to the antiques shop I always visited. Before I typically went back to the pub, I'd grab an interesting looking book and skim through a few pages up till the man who owned the shop told me off, scolding me for attempting to steal. Albeit mostly I'd be browsing.

I had just finished washing the dishes from a steel bucket atop a stepping stool, using a bar of animal fat to clean them, placing them all on a towel to dry for customers tomorrow. When I went out to the lounge area, I placed those menus by the spirits and alcohol before I asked about those cards again. James responded as he cleaned the counter;

"Oh, that. Later, alright? Dad's working," nudging me out of the back bar to go sit in some corner. This happened the next day, and the next one, and the day after that…

I wanted to go outside and look for things that could jog my memory. I also wanted to talk with that lady again, as magic was much more interesting than listening to people whine and hog and sob at a bar. But another week had already passed at this point since this couple grounded me, opting to get food themselves. I kept pestering, but they were unfaltering. I didn't know how long I'd be stuck here. I might just try to sneak out if it got to a certain point…

I crinkled the corner of an old, yellowed page between my fingers. I was thinking about how I could get away with going outside while having such attentive parents, when James began walking towards me.

I think he was trying to compensate by making me dessert, some type of cake.

I was in my wooden chair by the entrance waiting for more regulars to trickle in, a copy of 'The Liberators Son' from my chest of books sitting in front of me. It was pretty thin, entirely in Latin, and well above my level when I first tried reading it when I was 2. I started it a week ago, and I’d only managed to get halfway. The only illustration it displayed was its hardcover, a small kid raising his burnt, charred hands out to the sun atop a cliff.

When James stopped and placed the dish on the table, I strangely recalled how some people would put candles atop this dessert as he slid it over, though he and Alva hadn't done that for me yet. Alva and James had opted more for books and other inedible gifts throughout my birthdays.

"Here, I made this and not your mom. We don't make cake because it’s expensive, but it's your birthday soon, which is good reason for us to have some and to take your mind off magic."

That was the nuance I found in the way he said everything, and while I was interested in the food he brought, he wasn’t accomplishing the latter.

"Don't you wanna learn how to make it, Will? We can make it again on your birthday."

"Maybe later. Thank you," I took a bite of the small slice with the small spoon I was provided, and I have to admit, it tasted good. It might've been the best thing - no, it was definitely the best thing I've had since I was born here. It was dense and sweet, still warm from our bake oven, much better than the usual boring butter and bread, eggs, carrots and cabbage soup.

But Alva's objectively the better cook, she likely would've made it better, and I had to be as unfaltering as they were. He's trying to get my mind off my current objective... a shamefully obvious ploy.

Not that I wouldn't finish what was given to me. When I got to the last spoonful, I felt more hollow than usual.

"This is very good, father. Can you show me how to use that card?" I said right after spooning the last huge bite into my mouth, smiling.

James stood there silently, thinking of how to say 'no' differently for the 12th time this week. He was growing tired of this, I could tell.

"I'd also like some more, please." I slid my plate back.

"What exactly did that witch say for you to act like…" he sighed as he rubbed his temples, automatically picking the dish up. "You know what, how about this? If you want more of my cake, no more questions about cards!"

We had a staring contest until James tilted his head up in protest, "What's with you? I'll get you a piece if you promise me. If not, I'm going to go clean this." He waited for me to talk before he'd leave. How cruel… I used to be a bedridden man, and now a child, which has made me come to expect some leniency from everyone.

"HEY!" A person called, echoing through the empty pub. "Where's my eggs and juice?!" I peered around James and saw the regular in chainmail armor who walked in just minutes after we opened. He's always the first one in.

"Just a moment! Sorry!" James shouted right back, slapping our table a few times, pressing me to hurry. "I'm waiting."

I sighed. "Fine." James obviously wouldn't help me, so I might as well take his offer. His eyes lit up instantly, satisfied as he went to get the food Alva would prepare. I waited for James to come back with my 2nd helping ("No more after this, the suns barely risen.") and the chainmail guys food to be provided before attempting to strike up conversation.

"Holler if you need anything," I heard James say up until he went into the back, where he'd routinely chat with Alva before the usual breakfast crowd came.

I hoisted myself up as soon as the wooden door shut. I brought my plate with me, sitting on a stool beside him. The man began eating quietly, and didn't see I was there until my spoon clinked on the plate.

He peeked over then, choosing to ignore my presence at first, concentrating on his meal.

I ate beside him, I didn't bother for any peeking. I noted his accessories, his metal boots, shoulder plates, the pointed helmet placed on the bar and the shield on his back. The belt he adorned was leather and had a few straps on it. It also had a built in leather pouch, fastened with a button. You wouldn't be able to fit much in it. Some chips could be in there. Maybe it could also fit a dagger? Or…

It dawned on me you could store cards in it, as it was the exact shape and size a card box would be. My eyebrows raised.

"…"

I got the impression he was uncomfortable as in the middle of eating as he kept glancing over. He also scooted his plate away from me somewhat.

…I didn't mind. I decided to point him out then; "Why do you always eat here?"

"Eh?" He finally turned his head. I didn't repeat my question, so he scratched the side of his lip, wiping oil from his food off his mouth.

"Well… It's cheap here."

"Not that cheap." His meal costs 3 copper. You could get a whole bundle of groceries from the market with that.

He grumbled in reply. "Then how about this place has the best quality for its chips? It might be a little more expensive than the rest, but you get a good meal out of it."

"That doesn't change how you eat it everyday. Doesn't it get boring eating the same eggs every morning?"

"The eggs here taste good, that's why I eat it every morning."

"That's not what I asked. Doesn't it get boring?"

He looked around, a little annoyed. "What do you mean? No, I've gotten used to eating it… Likely before you were even born. You knew that already, didn't you?" No.

"Don't act like you haven't seen me… You're the owners son. Don't you want me to get stuff here?"

"Sorry, I was curious." I responded, scraping the rest of the crumbs on my plate into my mouth. He seemed to loosen up at my admission.

"Speaking of stuff… you have a lot of stuff on you. Is that your money?" I gestured to his belt.

"This?" He patted it. "No, much more valuable than that… I bet you've heard of mana cards." His expression shifted understandingly, "Is that why you approached me?" He gave me a knowing smirk as he unbuttoned the pouch, choosing to humor the fact.

He's much more easygoing than I thought. "If you don't mind."

He placed his cards on the table. 3 club cards, 4 diamond cards, and a few hearts. No spades... "Magic cards're really expensive, so don't get anything on them. I'll have to pay for the next ones I get."

I gnawed on my spoon. He didn't pay for them? Who was providing these, then? He never talked about himself so I couldn't really determine. Perhaps he was a soldier? Or a bounty hunter? I haven't seen any of those yet as far as I know, but he wears chain-mail like the Liberator's son and a lot of warriors in the book had. However, the son was both of those occupations… and he was also a mage, and a healer, and a military commander, and a demigod, sent by the Liberator from the highest… that isn't a good source for reference.

I put my utensil down and reached for his cloth he got with his meal, wiping my hands with it. He gave me a disapproving look as I grabbed a card, but what did he expect? I didn't have anything else to clean with.

2 of clubs... I held it with an ace of hearts. They didn't seem all too unusual, it was laminated paper. The one thing that stood out was the ink had this iridescent quality to it - if you held it up and moved it to a degree, black would switch to dark green and blue, the red would morph into a pearly orange and pink.

"Where do you work?" I asked as I messed around with the cards. The back of his cards were black with detailed design, a tiny, hand-written watermark on the bottom left corner on each front; Mages Association of Animus - Bleed and Serve.

"You could already guess," He rubbed his nose, "Don't you know His Grace, the Duke of Chartinal? I work under him as a knight. It's a very honorable position, and many wish they could be in my place."

"Yeah, I wish I was a knight," I commented vacuously as I appraised the cards until presenting the ones in my hand to him. "What do these do?"

"Do you? Be ready for a lot of training," he meekly smiled, tapping the top of a club card. "…This suit here helps treat your wounds. Say like a scrape or a paper cut. Or you could mend a dress with it.

this heart here - you can create just about anything with it, but it can't be above your skill level. Don't try using it when you're older unless you know what you're doing."

"That's interesting..." I put down those two and grabbed his 3 of diamonds, a bit more yellowed than the rest. If these are so expensive, they should be durable. I started to bend it, a little-

"No!" He snatched it back with a scowl. "don't do that. Especially this one. This one has.. it-it's important."

…

He's like that old woman, in the sense of being a stickler. Me not saying anything might've spurred the man on to keep going, wanting to fill the longer-than-comfortable silence.

"It's my teachers…"

"Oh." I replied. "Did they teach you magic?"

"Yes. He taught me everything I know since I was 8, and he helped me become a knight. He thought I had talent."

"How old are you?"

"24, still young." He looked much older.

"I'm 8," I replied. I'd be lying even if I said I was 4. I still think this man could teach me despite that.

"Could you show me how to use cards?" As the words left my mouth, he frowned and crossed his arms.

"..,No."

"Why not?" Great, am I going to have to find another person? He was one of the only notable regulars.

"There's lots of other experienced mages." He answered. "Go to school instead. You don't need a person like me to teach you."

"I want you to teach me." I'd rather not wait.

He appeared confused, as if the notion of him teaching was impossible. "I said no, I can't."

"I don't see any reason why you can't. Your master taught you at the same age." I might have to consider his suggestion, but I have a hunch it's expensive. I haven't heard Alva and James talk about it at all, and it seems much more realistic they make me work here at this pub instead.

"Yeah, but.." He shook his head, hesitant. "I really don't think I should."

"What, is it illegal?"

"No, not necessarily... I'd need your parents to sign a few contracts first and get them approved, and that's a whole pot of crap and paper. You know what a contract is? It's for record. So I can take you under an apprenticeship." Ah. Alright.

"Did your master have to do the same with you?"

"…No, but-" So he's being like this for no reason. I frowned and he tried to compensate with something sheepish. "look, my master was licensed to teach! I wasn't his only pupil."

"Then should I find him instead?"

"That'd be quite hard," The knight grunted, slowly losing his smile. "I haven't seen him in forever." With the 3 of diamonds, he brought it to stand on the tip of his thumb with the flick of a wrist.

"You see, my Master gave me this. He wasn't supposed to distribute number cards to us yet, but I kept begging to try one early. This was one of his personal ones.. I've had it for years now." He sounded bittersweet as he adjusted himself in his barstool, his eggs and bacon abandoned.

"You could start off by giving me his name if you want me to find him."

He shook his head. "And how are you, a little kid, going to find him? Tell me that first."

"I will,"

"Yeah, you will, won't you?" That got a snort out of him as the pub's entrance chimed behind us, a boisterous group of 4 prattling on as they sat down nearby.

"How can I find a lead if you don't tell me anything?" I retorted, frowning further. It only made him chuckle more.

"I'm just messing with you… Why does everyone take me so seriously.." He muttered, continuing; "If you really want it though, his name is Tavel." he scrambled my hair with greasy fingers and I felt myself recoil. I watched as he stood up, grabbed his helmet and put it on.

"Where're you going?"

"Work," His voice reverbed in the helmet as he put his cards in his pouch and fished out some copper chips, giving them to me. "I'll be late. Give those to your pops.”

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End notes:

Hmm.... whos this master guy...

Bit of a shorter chapter, next will be longer. Next chapter coming on Sunday the 12th :)