The central plaza lay at the end of the long and wide bazaar. Buildings here were made of the same black stone used everywhere, but their blocks dwarfed the usual ones.

There were many institutions and businesses, from smitheries to armouries, a store selling those cubes that mages used, the Adventurer’s Guild, a library, and many more. 

Some buildings had functions that eluded me. One in particular was amongst the largest and had huge black clouds spewing from chimneys.

“Uncle, where I come from, buildings have windows. Why does yours not have any?” Somani asked.

Hambara and Soamni stood beside a wide fountain with dozens of sculpted men and women. In front of them lay the government office, a huge building that looked more like a fortress than a government institution. Just behind it was the white wall I had seen atop Hambara’s rooftop. Its height reached just above the government office, an impressive feat as the structure was already the height of a hundred Somanis stacked atop each other.

“Cervita is a frontier city that has stood for centuries against the Jungle Elves and now the Republic. Its complex alleys are meant to confuse enemies. Its houses are meant as second walls if the main one is breached. It’s ugly, but has a purpose.”

After taking a sip of water from the statues’ fountain, we entered the stream of people heading for the office.

Before we entered, a sign of carved marble hung above the entrance; it read: To those who seek the blue-blooded ones, they shall find sanctuary, but those who oppose us shall burn from the wrath of the Eternal Empire—Cervita branch office of the secretary of internal affairs.

Inside was a great hall that had wide columns supporting a vaulted ceiling. There were many offices here, with long lines of waiting people stretching from them.

We took a line and started waiting for our turn. This office had a sign that read: Citizenship Pathway Counselling.

It took us a while, but we finally reached the woman in charge of this office. She had black hair with some greying strands, and as we talked to her, she didn’t raise her head nor acknowledge us in any way until…

“And so, I can’t bear children, and this slave of mine has appealed to me. Is there a chance he can get a citizenship if I fathered him?”

The woman raised her head to look at Hambara when he had spoken the word ‘slave’.

“Sir, you know that slaves aren’t allowed entrance into government institutions. Especially one with no collar. I’d ask you to leave.”

Hambara acted surprised.

“Slave? Which slave? This here is my friend. Now, can you please tell me if it’s possible to obtain the citizenship for a slave I fathered?”

The woman sighed while scratching her forehead.

“No, sir. The only way to get citizenship is to be born to a legally wed couple holding it, or if their highness, the Noblesse, were magnanimous to grant you one. Any more questions?”

Hambara didn’t even answer the woman. He just slapped ten copper coins in front of her face before grabbing my hand and dragging me away.

I heard him mumble something about, “Stupid Empire. If only…” the rest was too quiet to make out.

“What now, Uncle?” Somani asked what I told him.

Hambara glanced at me with the side of his eye before answering. “Now, we make you bear my family name, Huberes.”

“But the woman said that I won’t be given the citizenship even if we did so,” Somani asked of his own accord.

“Doesn’t matter. As my child, it’ll be easier to move around, and you’ll be freed of your slave moniker.”

After standing in another line, we reached another office that read: Adoption Corner.

The man gave Hambara a paper with lots of questions to fill out. He took a seat, forfeiting his place in the line, and wrote all the answers.

Waiting in line for the third time, we reached the man again.

“Perfect. Now, give me the slave contract, and we should be done.”

“He… I purchased him on the trail. We didn’t write a contract.”

The man pressed his lips together before shaking his head.

“Unfortunately, sir, you can’t father him then.”

“What?! No, no, no. He’s my slave… Why?”

The man beckoned for Hambara to lean in closer before whispering something into his ear. He then looked at me and gave me a reassuring smile and nod.

Hambara stormed off again, but this time we didn’t head for another line; no, we exited the building entirely.

“Uncle, what did he say to you?” Somani asked as we headed to a wide street left of the fountain.

“That bastard said he can’t help me because you could be a stolen slave and needed papers to verify your status.”

“So… we failed?”

Hambara’s wrathful expression morphed into a sinister smile.

“Of course not.”

***

Apparently, we were heading for the slave market.

For some reason, the slave market was located in the nicer area of the city. Here, the streets were wide and clean. Each building had an entire city square to itself, and peeking inside showed me their beautiful central courtyards filled with different statues, trees, and other weird stuff.

The market occupied an entire plaza. Rows upon rows of chained humans sat on rugs under the sun, organised neatly in columns.

‘Grandpa, don’t you think we could find my mother here?’

‘Maybe. But even if we were to find her, we can’t help her?’

I didn’t want Somani to find his mother right now as that might wain his purpose, which would affect his training.

‘Why?’

‘Because Hambara is probably helping us in the hopes of selling you to your real parents, who he thinks are rich. So if we are to tell him that your mother is actually another slave, he might start doubting our background, or worse, inslave us for real.’

‘No! Uncle Hambara wouldn’t do that.’

Hmm…

It was the first time Somani hadn’t taken my words at face value. I hadn’t prepared another response, and no other reasonable one came to mind, so I was left with only one option.

‘This is an order, Somani. Make no mention of your mother to Hambara, am I clear?’

‘But, Grandpa. The man has been nice, he—‘

‘Somani, you don’t know humans as well as I do. We will save your mother, I promise, but not now. Now I want you to say: I won’t mention any of this to Hambara.’

‘…’ I could feel how much turmoil Somani’s emotions were in, but I didn’t back down.

‘Say it.’

‘…Yes, Grandpa. I won’t mention any of this to Hambara.’

We reached a crowd that was gathering around a merchant with a large belly. He was describing the goods of a slave, a half-naked woman. She had a blank expression on her face.

The bidding started. People started shouting their offers. It took a while, but finally, the woman was sold off for two gold coins.

After the auction was concluded, Hambara headed towards that man.

“Sir, I have an offer for you,” Hambara said, catching the man’s attention who was almost drooling on the gold coins in his hand.

“What? Ah, welcome, gentlemen! I’m Hama.”

The man offered his hand for a shake, which Hambara completely ignored.

“I want a slave contract for this boy here. Can you get me one?”

Hama shook his head, although a faint smile was on his lips.

“Sadly, sir. I don’t deal in illegal activities.”

Hambara gripped his fists tightly by his sides; he was getting frustrated.

“Look, fatso, I know your scum kind. Just ask for the price, and I’ll pay.”

That got Hama to widen his smile.

“Ah, I really love intelligent customers. 10 gold coins and you’ll have your contract.”

“What?! You can’t be serious.”

“Sir, you’re disturbing my business. I’ll ask you to leave before I bring the enforcers.”

“You… ugly fat pig. I want one ready in a short while, stamped and everything.”

Hambara threw the gold coins at Hama, who started collecting them from the ground. By the end, the fat human was huffing and puffing from the simple effort.

“What’s the kid’s name?”

“Stello.”

The man then entered a tent, and after a bit of time came out with a yellow parchment that had swirly lines written on it.

“Congratulations, kid, you’re finally going to be free!”

“How did you know?” Hambara asked.

Hama just smiled, not offering any answer.

“You know what, I don’t care. Let’s go, Stello.”

“Pleasure doing business with ya!” The man shouted after us.

We headed back towards the government office. After the fourth-line wait, we handed the man our papers.

“This is clearly forged, sir. I—”

Hambara didn’t wait for the man to finish his sentence. He handed him a silver coin, and that seemed to get him to shut up and work.

“All done. Now, you only have to get these two papers stamped by the branch manager.”

As we reached the second floor, Hambara finally stopped cursing something called bureaucracy.

Here, offices were larger and had real walls separating them, not thin ones made of a material I couldn’t figure out.

The manager saw through our forgery, and we had to pay him too. Three gold coins to be precise.

By the end, I had managed to discover three new things: Human opinions could be changed with money, bureaucracy was complex and unnecessary, and Hambara knew some colourful curses.

Finally, I’m starting to understand humans more.

***

We brought cooked food and then headed home.

When we reached home, the afternoon had come.

This time, the food was different. It had something called rice combined with onions and meat; It tasted amazing.

Hambara spent the rest of the afternoon in his room, reading his book while Somani did the dishes and cleaned some clothes on the ceiling. He used a bucket of water and green soap to do that. After that, he dusted the living room.

Before sunset came, they both climbed the ladder to the ceiling and trained. Although this time the training was less violent than last time, it still hurt and gave Somani some injuries that I’d work on healing later that night. Somani didn’t do much better this time, but Hambara’s corrections seemed fewer.

As we sat on the roof, watching the sunset, Hambara asked me a question.

“I’ll be taking a mission from the guild in a week. Would you like to join, kid?”

Somani waited for my permission, and I gave it.

“Yes.”

Hambara smiled before returning to look at the sunset.

“You know, this is the first time I’m taking a mission with another man, kid… I’ll try to choose an easy one.”

Somani nodded. I ordered him to ask a question.

“What about the class thing?”

“Don’t worry about it. Now, I want to test something.”

Hambara stood up and drew his blade—the real one made of steel, not wood. He then pointed at my face.

‘Grandpa!’

‘Waite.’

Somani gulped as he held his breath.

Finally, Hambara drew his sword back with a sinister smile. Putting its sharp edge against his forearm, he drew.

Tickle… tickle

Blood started hitting the ground from the cut. Looking at it through my spherical vision, it was neither deep nor shallow.

“Can you heal this, kid?”

‘Say—‘ I was about to advise Somani, but then…

“Are you stupid?!”

Hambara and I were both surprised by the outburst.

‘What has gotten into you, kid. Just heal his injury.’

“Hahaha. Ya, I’m stupid. Now, can you heal this, eh, kid?”

Somani crossed his arms and turned his back to Hambara.

“Yes, I can heal it, but I won’t.”

“Kid, this wound is serious. I’d have to go to the hospital to heal it, so help me out, will ya?”

‘What are you doing, Somani?’

‘Wait, Grandpa. I have a plan.’

Somani turned to face Hambara

“I’ll heal it only on one condition. My mother… she’s in the slave camp. Save her, please.”

‘Somani! this—‘

‘Please, Grandpa. She might get sold like that woman. We have to save her now.’

I didn’t say anything, waiting for Hambara’s response.

This behaviour from the kid is unacceptable. He concocted a plan behind my back and went against my order. I have to teach him a lesson so he won’t do that again, but how?

Hambara's face turned serious.

“Of course, boy. Why didn’t you say that from the start?”

“I… I was scared of you.”

Hambara’s face blanked for a second before he pulled Somani into a hug.

“Don’t worry, kid. You’re safe with me.”

‘See Grandpa!’

‘Congratulations!’

After healing Hambara’s injury, they headed to the slave market, wanting to find Somani’s mother. In the meantime, a plan was starting to be concocted in my brain.

A plan to retaliate against Somani without him finding out, and to make him never plan behind me again. Plus, it’d make sure he continues his training with even more rigour.

You’re part of me, Somani, and if a part were to go against my orders, it’ll face consequences.