Fur Tempus

"Don't show your face around here again!" Thalia shouted as she slammed the door shut. Aegar had landed a few feet away after she had kicked him out of the door. 

"She didn't have to kick me..." he muttered as he rubbed his butt. Scratching his head he looked up at the sky. It was about midday. 

The orphanage sat on one of the side streets leading towards the market. It was on the nicer side of the city, though. Not quite in the commons but also not quite in the noble's district. In fact the city was split into five quadrants. 

Starting from the center of the city, also known as Market Circle, you have the Noble's quadrant to the north, easily encompassing the largest landmass. Many of the homes are spread out with at least forty acres of land! The City Lord also lives in this quadrant. 

To the east you have the Commons. Every day people live here, but mostly work either in the noble quadrant or the Market Circle. A few brave souls work in the third quadrant. The third quadrant was the shadiest, but being a coastal city, it was equally as important.

The third quadrant was the Docks. The most lascivious taverns, hardiest drunks, and cutthroat sailors made their trade and lived their lives here. Ships from other cities along the coast and sometimes dignitaries from the theocracy far to the north stopped here temporarily. 

To the south of the Commons and the Docks was the Slums. Sometimes called Poverty's End. All of the buildings on this side were ramshackle and falling apart. And it also abutted a cliff overlooking the sea. The Slums might have fallen in already were it not for the city wall to protect it from heinous sea monsters. 

The final quadrant is actually the Market Circle! Better known as the Merchant's Quarters. Any one in the business of business not only own a shop, but also their housing is just a street or two away! The city was designed with the Merchant's Quarters as the center, so every street flows outwards in a thoughtful concentric design! 

The orphanage is actually on a quieter street between the Commons and Market Circle. And it is here that Aegar stood scratching his head, not sure what to do next. Everything was provided by the orphanage, he lacked for nothing.

He would have even been able to join the guard if he awakened something useful during his Coming of Age Ceremony in two year's time. Alas, it was all for naught. 

"No good deed goes unpunished." Aegar muttered to himself when he thought of the sword. Also, what kind of sword goes flying and imbeds halfway into a wall on it's own?! He only tackled Brax! The sword shouldn't have gone flying!

Aegar kicked a random rock lying on the ground. It sailed a few feet into a wall. It bounced sadly and landed near Aegar, rolling to a stop nearly in front of him. He felt a lot like that rock. Aggrieved at the injustice of what just happened.

"I guess...I better look for some work?" His stomach chose that particular time to start grumbling. He took his first few steps away from the orphanage. Time to look for a job!

***

In the Director's Office a few moments after Aegar was kicked out...

The Director pulled a small orb out of his desk and carefully set it on a stand. His hands glowed for a second before the orb suddenly burst to life in a fit of bright colors. A voice emanated from it.

"I trust you have good news, Phago. Tell me, did the plan succeed?" The voice sounded very interested in the next few words. 

"No, my lord. The ritual was interrupted by that blasted boy, again." Director Phago stated.

"Is that so? Tell me, how has one child inadvertently foiled not one, not two, but seven different plans in the span of a year?!" The voice from the orb was not quite shouting, but it was evident that it was angry. 

"My lord, please calm down. There is something strange about that child." Director Phago furrowed his brow as he tried to think of what it could be. Then he thought back to every incident Aegar was involved in.

"His eyes, my lord. He can see aura." Phago realized, his eyes widening in shock.

"Impossible! He is but a child! He has not even gone through his ceremony!" The voice from the orb shouted in disbelief. 

"Be that as it may my lord, that is the only thing I can think of. After all, in every incident this year, he was chasing objects and people imbued with the aura." Phago said. 

"Hmph. Well, now that you have tossed him on the street see to it that he does not live to see the morrow." 

"As you say, my lord." Phago responded as the orb dimmed in color until it was as clear as crystal. Phago put it in the desk before locking the drawer. He then stood up and tugged on his suit, settling it back in place.

"It seems I will have to visit those people again."

***

Meanwhile, back in Market Square...

Aegar spent the whole day fruitlessly trying to get a job, but being that he hadn't gone through his ceremony, everyone he talked to politely declined him. 

He tried the blacksmith, but he was only taking those who had awakened a talent for fire or the hammer.

Then he tried the tailor, but who would have thought there was a talent for needling?! Needless to say he had been rejected. 

He tried the docks, but you had to have a talent for strength, sailing, or the sea! 

Aegar leaned against brick building in Market Circle and sighed. His prospects for jobs were looking grim, if only it were easier to get a job. 

Suddenly, a scratchy voice from the alley next to him spoke, startling him.

"Hey kid, you looking for work?"