"So you're saying you died, but then you came back in time a day, killed a man, and now you're here?" asked Nakaris shaking his head.
"For the thousandth time yes!" shouted Issar.
The duo currently sat adjacent to each other, bickering in a run-down apartment. Nakaris was three years older than Issar at nineteen but his frail arms and pale brown skin made him seem like a sickly child. His lackluster appearence made people look down on him but Issar knew better, he was one of the only person Issar trusted afterall.
"Well it's not that I don't think you're telling the truth but I can't just accept something like that so easily. I mean sending somebody back in time, even an Arch-mage couldn't do something like that."
"Shit you think I don't know that, I'm confused here too." Issar spat back.
A silence overtook the room, neither knowing quite what to say.
Damn, I probably sound insane, thought Issar, who would believe a story like that?
Nakaris sighed, "Alright, so what are you gonna do?"
"Well I can't stay in South Harbor," replied Issar, "Once they find the body the city guard will be on a manhunt."
"And your family?" he asked.
"That's what I was gonna ask you about, my mother and sister, could you watch over them?"
Nakaris hesitated, "Well I mean of course I'll try but it's not like I'm living that well myself." he gestured around the desolate room. "I mean shit I haven't eaten in 3 days."
Issar smiled as he placed the mana stone on the wooden table. The light it emanated had a faint red glow, tingeing their surrounding with a sinister ambiance.
"Is that..."
"Yup, a mana stone" Issar cut him off.
"I assumed you gave up on it when you came back injured, but to think you got it."
Issar slid the stone across the table, "Once you sell this you'll never have to worry about money again."
"You're giving it to me?" Nakaris looked perplexed.
"It's the least I can do If you're helping out my family," Issar said, "besides I owe you for all the times you've bailed me out."
"Well, I guess there's some truth to that," Nakaris said while inspecting the stone.
After their father left, Issar's family was left destitute in the slums, they had no property or wealth to speak of, and the kids were still too young to get a proper job. Nakaris had been the one to take Issar and Isani under his wing, teaching them the art of stealing, or as he called it 'expropriation'.
"Alright," Nakaris nodded, "I have a friend that works the docks at night, he'll get you on a ship to the Southern Continent if you pay him right."
Issar shook his head, "No, it's alright, I've already decided where I'm going."
"Oh and where's that?" he asked.
Issar grinned, "Well that part's a secret."
After he was finished speaking with Nakaris, Issar made his way across town to his family's apartment. They lived in the basement of a two-story building that housed three families in total, Issar rarely spent the night since things were already so cramped.
As he was making his way down the stairs the smell of his mother's stew floated up to him. Issar stood in the doorway for a minute trying to compose himself, he felt more nervous now than when he had faced down the guard earlier in the day.
"Well you gonna go in or what," asked a voice from behind him.
"Yeah, my bad, Mom," Issar walked into the one-bedroom apartment followed by his mother.
"I didn't realize you'd be coming for dinner tonight," she said, her voice laced with accusation.
"Yeah, I didn't either," Issar chuckled awkwardly.
"Well that's alright, we should have enough for you," she responded, "Kijana, come help your brother with dinner! And Issar why are you wearing such weird clothes."
Before he knew it Issar found himself stirring a pot while his sister set the table.
"How was work today Mom?" Issar asked.
"Fine, I guess, Mr. Izik is raising the rent again, I'll have to pick up more hours at the apothecary soon."
"Didn't he just raise it last month? What a greedy piece of shit."
"Language!" Naiya chided, "I don't want your sister taking after your bad habits."
Issar couldn't help but feel a bit sorrowful realizing that he wouldn't have these little moments with his family anymore.
"Hey I'm back, I brou... Issar? What are you doing here?" Isani asked with a scowl on his face.
"What I can't have dinner with my family?" he shot back.
"Well, nice of you to finally join us I guess." Isani replied.
Issar frowned as he brought the stew over to the dining table, this was the first time they'd eaten as a family in over a week and the brothers were already throwing jabs at one another.
After they had all sat down their mother lead them in a prayer.
"May Fate's guidance lead us forward, may her mercy keep us safe, may her strength be our own."
As soon as the prayer was finished they began eating, bread and stew wasn't the finest meal but it got the job done, besides, anything else would cost an arm and a leg. Kijana ws too young to remember when they had enjoyed delicacies like meat and coffee but Issar remembered, that was before their father left.
"Uhum," Issar cleared his throat drawing the attention in the room to himself, "I actually have something important to say. I um, I'll be leaving South Harbor soon."
"And why is that?" Naiya asked, her tone calm but authoritative.
"I can't say why but I have to leave," Issar repeated.
"Bullshit!" Isani slammed the table, "As if running the streets comitting crimes wasn't enough now you're just gonna leave? Let me guess, one of your little 'jobs' went wrong and now you need to skip town."
"That's... " Issar stammered, searching for a response.
"Yeah I'm right aren't I," said Isani, you're gonna run away just like our father."
"That's enough Isani!" their mother shouted, "But Issar, if you're gonna leave I need to know why."
Issar hesitated, his family's gaze weighing down on him, "I got caught in the Lakanis estate and I need to leave town soon."
"Tch, I told you." commented Isani.
"But don't worry, I already spoke to Nakaris he agreed to help out with money, and I'll get a job, a real one this time so I can send money back." Issar hurriedly added.
Naiya sighed, she looked tired, as if she had expected this but stil wasn't prepared for it. Isani on the other hand was shooting daggers at Issar from across the cramped table and Kijana was struggling to keep the tears welling up in her eyes from falling.
"Where are you planning to go?" Naiya asked.
There's the question.
"The Arcane Citadel" Issar replied.
"Is it because of your father?"
"That's part of it," he nodded, "but I also want to become a mage, if I succeed we'll never need to worry about money again"
"Do you think you can become a mage just because you want to?" Isani snapped, "Besides no institution would accept someone untrained at your age, especially not the Arcane Tower."
"Your brother is right Issar, even if you were accepted we don't have the money to afford tuition." his mother sighed.
"I've already thought of that," Issar replied, "Kajara said I can stay with her, and she offered to write me a letter of recommendation."
"You trust that woman?" Isani asked, anger burning deep in his eyes, "After she left us to live with father and all the other noble scum?"
"She's still our sister," Issar replied, "And yes I trust her."
Issar turned to face his mother, he would have to leave regardless but he wanted her permission anyway, ut didn't feel right to leave home without her blessing. Naiya was deep in thought while Issar waited for her answer, nervous beads of sweat lining his forehead. Isani had gone silent waiting for their mother to speak while Kijana tapped the table with her spoon.
Finally, she spoke, "Alright, however, promise me that you'll write often and that you'll take care of yourself." she declared.
"Yes, I promise," Issar quickly replied, relief flooding his body, "The next time you hear from me I swear I'll be an apprentice at the Arcane Tower."