Realm of Mu'in: Given a Chance

Chapter 1

            "Quit your snoring Remus, you want the whole crew to hear us?" Half asleep and half awake, he had little time to respond to his friend's jape before the cooked flesh of a potato bounces off his cheek. Slightly burning his skin. Still, he couldn't blame his friend entirely. Uncountable months on the road away from anything close to home, two weeks cramped between crates in the open water is sure to drive any one mad. At least they knew enough to stowaway near some food supplies. "Made us breakfast. Added a pinch of rojoko to the spud."

I'd rather you hadn't. Remus felt the spices scrape his nose as sandpaper breezing against cloth beddings. It's moments like this he curses half his blood for this irritant. Of course, all those with elven blood suffer the ailment of cat's tongue even if only halved. "Did you soak this in spice?" he groaned.
"My fault, friend. You being a half-breed left my mind." Across his softly wrecked face, a thin line formed a smile which held back a small laugh. Why should I ever expect more from you? Nothing new of course, Feran always has been one to take no pity for others. Even ones he claims as friend. Something Remus came to regret after the fact.

"Naturally, should I expect any less?"

"And yet I still cooked that spud with my bare hands. Be glad I don't have the sense to commit murder. Plus, who'll be a scoundrel with me in the empire?"

Ay Feran, ever more childish than yesterday. He groaned. "You ought to plan for that." Annoyed yet hungry, Remus dug into the crushed spud. Ignoring any potential filth on its surface. Weeks cramped in the cargo hold of a ship, the two grew accustomed to the unbearable conditions. Their first day involved being stuffed in crates covered in bird shit that stank throughout. Even now, relief is nowhere in sight; poor food, sea sickness, the occasionally crew member inspecting their area. To call Remus's new venture 'stressful' is an understatement. Sometimes I wonder if Zyn put me here to test me. Then again when hasn't he? Despite his sins against the one god's word, Remus prayed to him for a safe journey out of a bit of desperation, much to Feran's distaste. "Do you even have a plan? You aren't exactly a thenorus in elementism."

"Not yet. They say the empire allows commoners to learn magic. Have some whole 'college' for it in their capital."

"Is this ship even going there?"

Feran's face went expressionless. "No idea, just heard it was sailing to the empire."

Remus sighed. "At least we won't be some noble's arcane gifted luvvie or worse." It was the faith of many in the Ummar at least for the commoners. He remembers when the smith's son was taken away after casting magic in the market. Soldiers in lead-lined chainmail broke down the smith's door, dragging his son kicking and screaming into a carted cage. His mother breaking down in tears in the street while the father pleaded for his son's freedom, resorting to bribery than assault with his tools. Without mercy the guards gutted the old smith in his own home. "I still remember when they came for the boy. Poor lad's family sank into poverty trying to raise funds to buy their son back."

"I'm just glad I hid my blue blood." Feran smiled almost smugly.

"Yeah, me as well."

"Oh, you'd be fine. You aren't that good at casting, you know?"

Good enough to burn off that goat face of yours. Remus couldn't help knowing it is partially true. Sure, any blue blood is at risk, yet its skill that makes them so wanted. Potential is what they seek. Only potential I have is as a lowly rat scuddling in sewers. "A few lies, and any arcane guild could accept me. It's only a crime if you get caught."

"Certainly must be a crime if you lie about your mastery."

"I may not be a master, but you're no better than some child with his father's sword. You forgot the time you made the old croon fall on her knees with your 'aeromancy'?"