Abel led Nick to a park that was usually empty by that time of night. Only a few passing figures could be seen in the distance while the two of them sat down on a bench. Abel kept quiet, choosing to wait for Nick to speak first.
"It's hard..." Nick suddenly spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. He leaned forward and gripped his knees. "Living in a place where you aren't accepted. My dad never liked me. I always struggled to find out why that was, but when I was old enough, I found out. My mother died giving birth to me and he always held it against me." His shoulders began to shake as his voice turned into a dry rasp.
"It's okay." Abel placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Nick shook his head, his blond bangs covering his face from view.
"I always wanted to be a Tower Runner." He held his hands before him. A warm golden wave of energy covered his palms, surprising Abel. "I wanted to help save people who might need it. A Sage is always welcome in any party. Whether high leveled or not, they're always welcome. He wouldn't let me, saying that if I couldn't let my mother live, then I shouldn't have the chance to try saving others."
(A/N: Just a small recap. A Sage is a mage, but one who is more attuned with the element of life, and as such, specializes in Healing Magic. Sages make up just three percent of the entire mage society, making them a very rare class.)
As Abel listened to Nick's words, he felt a tight bundle of emotions building up in him. Now he knew why Nick was so timid. He had never been given the chance to grow; always suppressed by his own father. It was a sad fate, one that Abel hoped he could help Nick escape. As a Sage, his talent was incredibly useful and sought after.
"Nick." Abel called out softly, bringing the boy out of his deep thoughts with a jerk of his head. Nick looked up at him hesitantly. Everyone who had heard that Nick's mother died upon his birth had never looked at him in a good light after finding out. But when he looked up at Abel, he didn't find an ounce of disgust or hatred that he was usually met with. All he saw was compassion.
"Do you want to leave?" Abel asked slowly. "You should be old enough to make your own decisions, right? Do you want to leave your home behind? To come to a place where no one will hold anything against you?"
"What?" Nick was confused by the offer at first. His mind turned as it tried to process what Abel said.
"I've got enough room in my home for an extra person. And the old man I stay with wouldn't mind." He grinned at the smaller blond haired boy.
"I-I... I'm nineteen, by the way. I can make my own decisions." Nick whispered as he turned back to look at his feet. He sucked on the inside of his tongue as he thought over Abel's offer. He was open to the idea because Abel seemed like a nice enough guy, but he still didn't know Abel well enough to know if he didn't have any ulterior motives. In fact, if it weren't for his pushover attitude, he wouldn't even have agreed to Abel taking him for a meal.
"So? What do you think?" Abel probed.
"... I'll think about it, I guess. I can't make such a big decision without thinking about it properly." Nick replied as he twiddled his thumbs. He stood up. "I should be getting back home now. My dad will be wondering where I am by now."
"Alright. I'll walk you back. It isn't safe at night, walking alone." Abel stood up too. The two of them left the park, and Nick led them deeper into the city. It was a bit past ten now, and the streets were starting to empty out. The people of Seneris had never been the type to stay up at odd times of the night.
"Whoa..." Abel whistled when he set his eyes on the house that Nick lived in with his father. It was large, nice, and fancy. It was so large that Abel couldn't help the stray thought that it was built with the thought of a large family in mind. Lots of kids running about, with a happy couple watching over them.
He glanced over at Nick and that bundle of emotions that had built up in his chest throbbed. His heart went out to the boy. He really helped he could help.
"Okay, I guess I'll see you... Later." Nick bid goodbye before walking into the house. Abel nodded and turned, also leaving. This time on his way back home, the streets had almost cleared out completely, giving certain areas a creepy vibe. If he wasn't confident in his strength, then he might have been a bit more intimidated.
"Hey you!" A grunt echoed through a dark alley as he passed by. A large, bulky man sauntered out of the darkness, stopping before Abel. Abel caught sight of a sharp blade, hidden underneath the man's sleeve. "Drop your wallet and I won't have to hurt you." He breathed through his teeth.
Abel couldn't help but scrunch up his face as the man's breath spread over his face. "I think I should. Maybe you could buy a couple mints." He coughed and waved his hand over his nose.
"Wha-" Before the man could even respond to Abel's insult, he was flipped on his head, landing harshly on the back of his neck.
"As for you thugs who think you can hide in the shadows, I believe it would be best if you all ran home and thought about pursuing a different career path."
With those parting words, he continued on his way home, leaving a bunch of terrified thugs, and an injured thug thinking on how they could contribute to society, rather than trying to drag it into the mud.