It only took about a week for Saiph to heal to the point where he could walk around once more. The herb -- which his father did not let Saiph forget came from him -- had proved fruitful and kept up the healing process long after the initial danger had subsided.
The boy maintained a boring, mundane existence while he healed, but now that he felt mostly fine, he was up and about.
The first thing he did was take a stroll down the road and look around. Saiph took in the sights around him and lost himself in the movement.
Many hills laid bare. Most crops took between 70 and 100 days to harvest, of which corn took 90, generally. Hence, by this point, all but wheat was harvested. Most were even plowed and planted by now.
Walking was not too difficult for Saiph, despite breaking two legs just a few days ago. His joints felt stiff and he knew that running was a terrible idea, but he could hobble along well enough while wearing his casts.
Foot by foot, step by step, he walked, not paying much attention to his surroundings, just taking in the fresh air and watching his feet and legs move around.
Before he even knew it, Saiph had reached the river he had leaped into those few weeks ago to cool off his wounds. He approached the river bank and slowly sat down, reminiscing all the fun he had here with his sister all those years ago.
"Velvet… I'll be seeing you soon," Saiph said with a slight warm smile visible on his face.
The young boy sat alone atop the river bank for some time all alone. His expression was placid like he was wearing a mask almost the entire time. Even if someone walked by and observed Saiph, his current state of mind would be a complete enigma.
"Fine," he said out loud after a long time's silence.
"I'll do it."
…
That night, while his parents slept soundly enjoying their blanket and each other, Saiph sat alone in his bed with a chill permeating into his bones. He didn't mind the ache of the cold, though; he had to stay awake anyway and the ache helped that cause.
After he was absolutely sure that he wouldn't be disturbed, Saiph quietly got out of bed and sneaked out of the house after securing some rations for himself out of the cellar. His heart was pounding and ready to burst all the while, but Saiph was determined.
The night was dark and cold, but Saiph generally knew where he was going and the road was clear. He made his way towards his destination for a long time before stopping to take a water break. He reached to his belt, grabbed his canteen and gulped the now-palatable drink.
Normally, the taste of water irked Saiph. Today, however, it was a different story. Walking a few miles had parched the young boy quite quickly.
After a few minutes rest, he set off once again. This cycle continued until dawn. Just as dawn broke over the horizon, Saiph felt ready enough to collapse and never get up again, regardless of any superficial determination he had thought he had earlier.
Still, luck broke through for the boy and he saw his destination just over the hill: Exorsus.
It was the largest collections of humans Saiph had ever seen in his life. It was also the only collection of humans he had ever seen. He had been to the sole town in the area twice, as far as he knew.
It had a population in the few thousands and sustained many diverse professions. If one was lucky enough to have a successful Mage in their family, their family would have the opportunity to live in a town or maybe even a city.
People of the towns and cities weren't completely exempt from the Academy's taxes, but their quotas were typically much more lenient and held less labor-intensive jobs than the myriad farmers on Orion.
The professions that an urban-dweller had to choose from were semi-scarce. One could become a traveling merchant, a hunter, a shopkeeper of some form, or work for a shopkeeper.
What Saiph wanted to do was work for a shopkeeper- an Alchemist. His father was right: he had to get some form of skill to boast if he wanted to get into the Academy. Even if it turned out he didn't, it couldn't hurt to get a head start on his peers. It was possible that some scions of Mages had been trained in the magical arts for years now, so Saiph had to try to catch up.
The boy walked up through the main entrance to the town. There were no walls; anything that could prove a threat to a Mage wouldn't be stopped by any walls that could be put up around any old town.
"Stop!" Someone shouted as Saiph was just about to enter the city.
"Hmm?" The boy was worried that he had done something wrong and froze in his tracks. A sense of anxiety trickled into his heart and he worried about what was to happen to him. He hadn't been this far away from home before and was starting to feel the side-effects.
A man wearing leather armor of some sort approached Saiph and looked down at him. While the man did have a sword hilt poking out of the sheath on his belt, he showed no signs of wishing to draw it.
"What business are you here for, kid? Trying to sell something for your parents?" The man's voice was coarse and serious.
"Oh, umm, yeah. I, uh, am here to get an apprenticeship to an Alchemist before the admission exam in 24 or so weeks." Saiph fidgeted with his hand a bit and sheepishly replied.
"Hmm. That's a tricky position. The only Alchemist around here who'd take in a disciple of any sort would probably be old man Mayers. I wouldn't count on it, but maybe. Just head down the main road until you see a shop with a buncha flowers and plants outside. Anyways, I'm back to it. Good luck, kid." He nodded to Saiph and started walking back to his post.
"Thanks!" Saiph called back and went into the town.
He did as told and walked up to the door of the shop that fit the man's description. He knocked gently and pushed the door open. Inside, a similarly vast array of plant life was spread out before him, widening his horizons in an instant. Different plants were placed in pots on a few tables, hung up on the walls, on the counter, or even growing on the walls and ceiling, like An Ever-Growing Wonder.
Behind a counter in the back, there was an old man probably approaching his father's 'death date' soon.
"Hello, are you Mister Mayers?" Saiph gently called across the room.
The old man in the back merely nodded and beckoned for Saiph to come closer.
Saiph walked over to the old man, navigating through the haphazard layout of the plant life.
"What can I do for you, boy?" the old man asked once Saiph had almost reached him.
Saiph took a good look at the old man in front of him. He looked like any other native Orioner- dark, brown hair and dark tan skin sporting many sunspots. It was just that his hair was receding and was slightly grayed out.
"Could you possibly teach me a bit about Alchemy so I can have a better chance of doing well at the Academy if I have the potential to become a Mage?"
Saiph felt his chest tighten as he spoke the words. What if the old man didn't know Alchemy? What if he berated Saiph right now and kicked him out? What if…
"Why?"
The old man's soft reply shook Saiph's spirit. That was a good, fair question, after all- one that Saiph had not fully considered.
The boy felt his chances waning already and honestly replied, "There is no reason why you should. I just would like to learn. I cannot pay you or offer anything of value. The most I can do is entertain you and help with chores."
The old man stared back at Saiph for a few moments with half-closed eyelids.
"Where are your parents?"
Lying was bad- Saiph knew that. His mom had always taught him that telling half-truths was also lying, so just answering, 'Out in the country,' wouldn't do.
Saiph sighed slightly and answered, "Back at our home. I ran away last night because my pa didn't want me to leave."
The boy was aware of the hardships and troubles this peculiar scenario could potentially bring the old man and wouldn't blame him for turning him down right now because of it.
"Honesty is a virtue," the old man replied while nodding. "That's fair, boy. Tis quite. Entertain me, you say? Let's hope we see it."
"What?" Saiph couldn't believe the old man's words. He had accepted him, just like that? Was this a trick?
"What's your name, boy?" Mr. Mayers' voice was soft and warm, but held a genuine purpose. It felt like the fate of the world hinged on his question being answered.
"I'm, uh, Saiph- Glendoveer. Saiph Glendoveer. Nice to meet you, Mr. Mayers." Saiph scratched his head and looked down, slightly awkwardly. This situation was far too bizarre for his taste.
"Well, Saiph, before I really accept you as an apprentice, let's see if you have what it takes to really become an Alchemist. Heaven knows how many kiddos dream of making diverse and profound Potions or Incantata that can shake the worlds above but turn out to not even being able to memorize the difference between a Wolf-Back Elder Knot and a Dog-Back Elder Knot!" His voice echoed a bit through the shop as he raised his voice incrementally at the end of his spiel.
"Sorry, don't mind me. Come this way into the back; it's where I keep my equipment."
Saiph nodded his head hurriedly and followed behind the old man- Mr. Mayers.