4 Years Later,


    The sea was bigger than what I imagined.


    My eyes traced for its ends, but it crossed the horizon in every direction. I had seen it in the books, but words could never capture what I am seeing right now. The books didn''t depict that the sea would reflect the sky like a giant mirror.


    I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket. "Get into the port as a worker. Join the Shipping Guild. We will tell you when to go to the mainland."


    I couldn''t see how I left Khanjar island, my home. It''s been 4 years since I saw my parents. My mother''s tears are still clear in my mind. All these years I lived in and around the tower, working hard. Finally, I got a chance to leave.


    I pulled my hood lower, stepping aside as a group of dockworkers walked past me. Their barrels were big but their bellies were bigger. They were the fattest people I have ever seen in my life.


    As I neared the docks, the smell of rotten fish and damp wood hit my nose. No amount of training could stop me from flinching to this. I made my way to a group of dockworkers. I had to find a job.


    A guy stood leaning to the pole. His scars looked like a blade''s cut. His mouth moved slowly as he chewed on something. His gaze shifted to me, scanning me up and down. But his face turned away quickly.


    Am I that ugly? What is wrong with guy? I walked away from him, moving towards a younger guy. He seemed... approachable. His hands were lean and his posture was slouched.


    "I want to sign up", my enthusiasm overtaking my composure. "I can start with any work you give me."


    His face turned, facing me. Dirt over his face and clothes too light for the cold wind. His large dark circles made his face a few shades darker.


    "Think you can just walk up and join?", his voice too weak to continue.


    "I can work", I grabbed the piece of paper inside my pocket. "Steady hands, and a will."


    "Whatever", he pointed his finger to what seemed like an office of some sort. "Go there and fill the form."


    I rushed towards the office. "Thank you", my voice barely audible to him.


    One Month Later


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    "Faster, boy. Before the tide kills us all!"


    The mop slipped from my hand, alongside me. I laid on the floor, my handing burning and my back stiff. This is not what I expected at all. I thought I would learn how to sail a ship, and learn how to fight pirates. But no, everyday, I am some ship''s mop boy.


    "I said faster, not sleep!"


    I clenched my teeth and stood up. I thought of anything useful I heard in this time. Just cruel jokes and rude insults. Swearing like a sailor was true, at least, not like my adventure.


    "Boy, get below and help unload the cargo. Go!"


    I ran towards the stairs, leaving the mop as it was. The below was thicker, and warmer. But the smell was so much worse. Moldy wood and smelly fish, with nasty sailors whose mortal enemies seemed to be taking a bath.


    After what seemed to be eternity, the ship finally stopped. I walked up the stairs, able to see land after so much time.


    So, this is Vareland. It is a dream come true but sadly, no cleaners could leave the ship. The strong sailors went to small boats to shift the cargo to the port.


    I didn''t know the name of this town. It surely was not one of the cities, the only places whose names were known to someone from Khanjar.


    Oft-times, I would eavesdrop. Just to know about the locations and other things which would be obvious to the sea-people.


    I went to my bed, more like rags stitched together. As I slept, all the muscles in my body ached. Wish I could heal myself right now. But the Lord had strict order on magic use. Life or death situations only. This is life or death to me.


    As we were returning, I overheard some senior sailors. "More coins to the Guild. Less for us!", one sailor was angry.


    "What can we do? We should vouch for a union like those in Pahuch", the other trying to calm him down.


    Pahunch, finally a place I know. As per the books, it is the second largest city after the capital. I wish I could get on a ship to Pahuch.


    Few months later


    The first time I used magic here was by mistake. A fight had broken out on the docks. A drunk jumped at me, with a knife on his hand. He had the intend to kill. I moved, before anyone could react. I reached behind his back and threw him to the water.


    The last I saw of that drunk was the surprise on his face. Thankfully, no one believed his tale. But I had been getting a few stares, more than usual, after that incident.


    A few of the men had started acting very kind of me since that day. I have been getting promoted pretty quickly for a newbie. In a few months, I moved up to logistics.


    The job was easy, you just had to make sure that the cargo was safe and not damaged. No more running from the pirates with no help. The sailors would fight to save me.


    Then came the big offer.


    "Boy, I want you to supervise the dried food barrels to Neopur", my supervisor announced. His smiling face seemed rather intimidating. "Why is your smile so creepy?", I asked, realizing too late of what I just did.


    "You won''t get a second chance. I see my son in you", his hand patted my head. "I wish he was as diligent as you."


    I made my way to the big ship. The ship was bigger than any other ship in the whole shipyard. But not the largest I had ever seen.


    Everything was smooth sailing in that ship, literally. The sailors were polite, the captain was very friendly. They were not from the Guild of Mrig. They were from Neopur port.


    From what I had heard, this ship belonged to a noble. A rich landlord who owned acres and acres of farmlands near Neopur. Harish was his name.