Chapter 1

Yuu kicks a rock and watches it roll down the dirt path, wincing at the slight tug against his back. The sun is beaming down on him and the pain is still fresh in his mind with the evidence all over him, from his cut hands to his aching back. It's a beautiful clear day, the dirt roads empty, trees lining each side of the road in case he needs 's even a slight breeze ruffling his hair. It's a perfect day for traveling, but he can't enjoy any of it. He's in too much pain.

Every bead of sweat stinging his back is a constant reminder of how he barely escaped with his life from that beating. His attacker had been huge with muscles stretching the thin fabric of his shirt. It only took him a second to realize the enormous mistake he'd made, but by then, the leather strap was already cutting into his skin from the man's blows. He had held up his hands to protect himself, though one hit to his hands with the strap was all he needed to recognize the blows would be less damaging to his back, even with the loss of a precious shirt that the strap easily tore through.

All because he was hungry.

He couldn't help it though, the food he'd managed to steal had run out days ago and he'd been keeping himself full on water since then. He was desperate for food. When he'd caught the scent of cooking stew and glimpsed it through the window, he'd lost all rational thought. The moment the woman had stepped out of her house, he'd slipped inside. He never even reached the bowls before the man had stepped around the corner, face morphing from surprise to rage as he reached for a weapon. Only the woman's shocked cries at his lashing had given him a brief reprieve to escape, just not soon enough.

Yuu hated small villages like those, so picturesque, quiet and clean, houses neatly lined up on wide streets. People going about their business, but they never had any extra food he could scrounge for and the next city was still at least a two days walk. After that he hadn't wanted to push his luck there, word travels fast in a small place like that. Better to leave before he was run out, so he'd refilled his canteens from the well and left with the exact same meager possessions he'd arrived with.

Plucking agitatedly at his shirt, he really wished he'd been able to steal another one. He only had one extra now and this one was nearly crusted to his back with blood from the lacerations. Changing shirts now would only ruin both of them, then he wouldn't have any. If the threadbare fabric even counted as a shirt anymore, it was almost translucent at this point.

He had no clue what he would do once Winter came, hope he could find somewhere that would let him pass the season in relative peace. He didn't need much, just shelter from the wind at night and to be left alone. Yuu shudders, the familiar tingle manifesting in his fingertips then his body repressing it immediately on instinct, followed by the usual dizziness and nausea. He collapses against a tree with a tired sigh. You'd think after eight years without magic, this would have stopped.

His head falls back against the bark and he wills the symptoms to pass, he has miles to go. It's not safe sleeping alone out in the open at night. Staggering back to his feet, he continues on, letting his feet guide him as his head slowly returns to normal.

It seems he can't win, no matter what choice he makes. He's not sure how much longer he can last like this. Why couldn't he have been born without magic? It's never done him any good anyway.

The minute he showed the first sign of magic, he was thrown out on the street by the orphanage despite his young age and no one would have anything to do with him.

Fear of magic from anyone not associated with the Mages was ingrained into society from the oldest members to the youngest. If you weren't a Mage, then your magic must be from demons or so people were told. A stupid superstition to him because he'd know if he was evil. He would have killed every person at the orphanage when they threw him out, but he hadn't.

Instead he'd repressed every spark of magic inside him in hopes of passing as any other pathetic kid stuck on the streets and it worked, for the most part. Until the dizziness, headaches, and weakness had started. He'd thought those symptoms wouldn't last forever, only until his body adjusted through its magical puberty or whatever was happening, yet eight years later and they still persist.

But, his only other choice is try a clumsy attempt at using magic, have a target on his back, and probably incite a mob to hunt him down and kill him. He'd be nowhere skilled enough to protect himself. Normal society has no place for those with extra abilities. He's pretty sure his parents weren't Mages and there's no place for him within their pure blood circle. He's an outcast from both. It's fine, though, he's been taking care of himself this long and he'll continue to survive.

Although sometimes he wonders, what's the point? To keep struggling through each day with no hope for the future? After all, there's nowhere for someone like him to go. Drifting from place to place until he dies? No thanks. He doesn't need anyone, but if he's honest with himself, life would be a lot less shitty if he had at least one person. But, he's well aware his personality isn't welcoming of close friendships. No one he's met has stuck around more than a few months, not even the others his own age. Although, that might be because of their circumstances. A single individual is far less noticeable than a group of kids.

Yuu jumps as a wild cat dashes across his path with a hiss and disappears into the trees. He really does need to start preparing for night time. There's so many things that could go wrong traveling alone, he may be a lone wolf, but he's a city lone wolf.

The best place is away from the road, probably far enough inside the tree line that no one will stumble onto him, but not too far in that a wild animal might find him. There are wheel tracks leading off the path just ahead which likely means a water source nearby. If he can get there, refill his canteens without being noticed, then get out, he'll walk until the sun starts to set and park it for the night up in a tree. He's usually pretty good about waking up by daybreak and if he does, he can make it to the city by tomorrow night and finally get more food.

Stepping away from the wheel tracks and into the clearing, Yuu's eyes light up at the sight in front of him, he's finally having some good luck for once. A river for fresh drinking water and an abandoned shirt laying out on a giant rock in the sun to dry, all he needs now is food. He takes a quick glance around and there's no one in sight, in and out without any trouble. Before anyone has a chance to show up, he's racing towards the shirt, intent on disappearing into the trees until it's safe to come back for water.

"Shit!" The second his fingers touch the fabric, Yuu's tumbling backwards through the air as his fingers grasp frantically for purchase on the rock's surface before he lands headfirst in the river.

Yuu breaks the surface, coughing up water from his unexpected submersion and hears bubbly laughter. "Hey! That's not funny!" He yells, swiping the water from his eyes to get a better look at his attacker.

Perched cross-legged on the rock is a well-fed, bare chested boy close to his own age giving him a wide smile, bright cerulean eyes flicking over his features curiously. The difference in their sizes makes him suddenly glad for the water hiding his own gaunt body. "Find your own shirt then."

"I did!"

"No, I'm afraid this one's mine."

"If you wanted it, you shouldn't have left it!"

"It was drying and clearly I didn't leave it because I'm right here."

Yuu mutters a few choice words before treading water to the shore, hauling himself out of the water on shaking arms, and collapsing on the warm earth with a shiver. That short swim took more out of him than he had to give. He really might not make it to the next city.

"Hey, you okay?"

A soft nudge to his ribs and he's cracking his eyes open to see the other boy staring down at him. Yuu squints up at him, taking in the sunlight reflecting off his noticeably blonde hair. "I'm better now that your enormous head is blocking the sun, so thanks."

His concerned expression immediately morphs into a scowl, "Forget I asked. I'm leaving and taking my shirt with me."

"W-wait!" Yuu sits up quickly, slightly disoriented from the height change. "Where are you going?"

"Why does it matter?"

"We might be going the same way."

He cocks his head to the side in curiosity, "And you think I should travel with a thief?"

"I'm not a thief!" Yuu protests.

"You tried to steal my shirt."

"Borrow."

"And when were you planning to give it back?"

Yuu's eyes dart to the side, "...Later?"

The other boy rolls his eyes with a scoff, "Later when I never saw you again?"

"Maybe."

The blonde shakes his head, "Fortunately, I'm not as careless as you."

"You just caught me off guard."

"Uh huh," he looks Yuu over with a critical eye, "I doubt you'd be able to do much even if you had seen me coming."

Yuu glares back at him self consciously, aware of how the soaked shirt clings to his ribs, "I'm a lot stronger than I look."

"Did you almost pass out a few minutes ago?"

"No."

"Really?" He brings a finger to his chin in contemplation, "I'm pretty sure I saw your arms give out."

Yuu scowls back, "Just because I don't swim much doesn't mean I'm weak."

"Right, well, weakling or not. I've got places to be and you're untrustworthy extra baggage, so goodbye."

Yuu sighs and slumps against the ground, he barely even gave me the time of day. They could've at least walked to the next town together. Two people were more likely to make it than one. And more importantly, he probably had food. Ah well.

Green eyes look up questioningly at the sound of footsteps when the blonde returns, this time fully dressed and with a bag slung over his shoulders. "Here," he shoves an apple and half a loaf of bread towards Yuu. "You look like you haven't eaten in days and I'd feel a little guilty if you died after I threw you in the water."

For the briefest second Yuu considers letting his pride win out and rejecting the food, but his body makes the choice for him, arms reaching out and snagging the food before the other boy has a chance to withdraw the offer.

"You're welcome?"

"Thanks," Yuu mutters reluctantly around a mouthful of bread.

The blonde shakes his head and readjusts his bag, "Maybe next time, be a little more careful."

"Trust me, I don't need advice from you."

He only shrugs and Yuu watches as he turns, walking off without a single backwards glance. It's probably for the better, hanging around with someone like that would have made him stand out just that much more. Yuu won't deny he was cute with his bright blue eyes and curls of flaxen hair, not to mention his smile was killer, but all that combined with his foreign looks no doubt turn heads wherever he goes, attention that Yuu doesn't need or want.

Then the obvious fact that he was clearly from the upper levels of society. No one looks that perfect or confident outside of those privileged people. Yeah, he dodged a bullet by being rejected.

Yuu picks up the apple and studies it, the green skin tantalizing to his malnourished body. It's been so long since he's had fresh fruit and he should probably save it until he's almost to the next city, yet already he's sinking his teeth in, grinning at the tart taste as juice drips down his chin. He finishes it in less than five minutes, discarding the core and standing up with a stretch.

"No point staying here," he muses aloud. It's still a day's walk to the next city and that meal will only last him so long. Squeezing the remaining water from his shirt, Yuu takes in the sun's position. No more than a few hours until sunset, he better move if he wants to avoid trouble and find somewhere to rest before nightfall.