"Look at him!" a boy whispered quietly, but loud enough for Siege Damon to hear.
"He's that useless orphan, isn't he?" a girl shouted, giggling restlessly right after.
Siege hung his head low, ignoring the endless taunting that followed. It was a day like any other. The verbal bullying had become a daily routine for Siege Damon. He continued walking out of the school building.
*Sigh*
"Why is the world so cruel?"
As he made his way along an alleyway, he thought about his future. Unlike all the other students at his school, Siege didn't make plans for the future. In his society, you were either rich or poor, weak or strong. Only the most powerful kids his age would be able to summon the powers of magic.
When he finally got to the place he called home, he immediately shut the door and got to work. Siege knew it was false hope, but he knew his life would never be the same if 'The Process' detected magic.
'Standard' humans were useless to the Divine Government. All they needed were humans who could fight... or magic users.
"If I pass, I'd never have to worry about poverty again..."
He went over to a cupboard and carefully slid his hands underneath and produced seven stones. He laid it on his small table and stared at it with keen interest. "What are you?" Siege whispered to himself, picking up the stone and staring at it...
Everything inside the small home was owned by the Divine Government. Siege was a fifteen year old orphan. He didn't mean much to the government as he was yet to show any physical signs of magic. He remembered the first time he came into this neighborhood:
*******
The government official had dragged him out of his car.
"This is where you will be staying from now on!" he shouted, dismissing the crying eleven-year-old boy laying on the floor.
The frustrated man sighed.
"Don't you get it?" he said, showing no signs of remorse. "Nobody wants a useless piece of crap like you!"
He rummaged his pocket and threw a key at the boy's feet.
"That's the key for the front door" he said, a strange smile on his face.
"I want him" said a female voice. Both Siege and the Government official looked up in surprise.
"I will take him" the stranger had said. Siege didn't have any rights back then. So when the man got in his car and drove off, Siege had no choice but to accept his new home... and his new carer: Victoria.
*******
*DING DONG*
The doorbell broke Siege out of his trance. He opened the door and found Victoria standing outside. "Hello Victoria" he said, staring at the floor. He refused to look at her, even after he felt her strong presence.
"Hey Siege. I'm just here to check up on you. How was school?" she said, trying to sound optimistic. Things have not been looking good between them. Siege was always grateful of Victoria for taking him under her wing, but times have changed...
The truth was that she was getting too old to check up on Siege everyday. She knew Siege would have to take his own path soon...
"It was alright" Siege said, trying not to meet her gaze. He didn't want to worry her. He had known her for more than 7 years, yet he had never told her about the constant harassment taking place at school.
Victoria nodded and brought out a large bowl out of her bag. "These are for you" she said, stretching her bony arms towards the boy.
"What are they?" Siege asked, excited. A genuine smile appearing on his face. He knew Victoria's cooking was the best. Perhaps that was because he had never tasted anything other than stale food sent over by the Divine Government. Siege realized that the Government were starting to forget kids like Siege who were living in poverty.
'The Divine Government only care about the rich...' Siege thought, clenching his fists.
"You'll have to wait and find out" Victoria replied, as she turned around to leave.
"I'll see you later" she said, waving him goodbye.
But before could close the door, Victoria stood turned around.
"Wait..."
"Don't forget about 'The Process' next week" she whispered, whipping her head around. Victoria was nearing the end of her life, and she felt bad for leaving the boy in hell. Victoria knew he was capable of so much more...
"Pass that test... and get out of this hellhole!" she shouted, leaving Siege stunned.
Now, he was more determined than ever to pass the test and get a spot at a training center...