Away from the incessant plotting and the hideous face of the corruption of the insufferable upper echelon of society, the common people went about their daily activities. Working hard enough to get food to eat and pay their absurd taxes. This day was like any other except for the surprising news let out by the royal family the day before. An astonishing report about the day of coronation which was on the lips of the masses...but that was a story for another day.
A pale young man walked out of a broken, dilapidated house. He was dressed in light clothing with different patches on them, those screaming a lot about his present predicament. He looked at the blue sky which looked calm unlike him and sighed. Walking out of his rotten fence, he joined the innumerable crowd walking to their destinations.
After walking for quite a bit, he dipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out two nickels. This was it, if he wasn't able to get a job today then he might as well die there, after all, there is no one to return to anyway.
After another round of walking, he arrived at the bustling market. Looking around, he saw people buying and selling while some just looked around. His gaze finally fell on a large stall that sold jewellery and a few people gathered around.
This was it, he thought.
He walked ahead with huge strides and stood a few metres away from the stall. He had been trying to get in for the past week but it was futile as to why he chose this stall out of the numerous others, well it was because he heard something and he wished to test it today.
His brown eyes glistened with resolve and with quick steps he arrived in front of the people gathered here. He quickly knelt without hesitation, drawing in a few gazes.
"Sir Herbert, I beseech you to hire me. I can do anything, from cleaning to advertising to washing. Anything."
His shout drew additional gazes and while others moved on without a care, many came to check the situation.
They all recognised him the moment they came closer and as such, they began whispering amongst themselves.
"What a poor boy. He was here yesterday too."
"I have been seeing him since last week. I pray the owner has pity on him and hires him."
"Will he though, he hasn't even paid attention to him."
Austin sighed in relief, this was the tactic he wished to use, the appeal to pity. It always worked.
Even as the crowd had gathered, the people in the stall turned a blind eye to the boy and continued selling their goods.
Austin gritted his teeth when he saw this but he didn't give up. Well, it was not like he had a choice, it was either this or his death and from all the things he learnt from his mother, he understood that it would be better for him to work till the end than give up. He continued kneeling till afternoon, most people had left by now with the rest newcomers or buyers from the stall.
His head ached and his body felt sore from being in the same posture for close to five hours but he didn't give up.
This went on for another four hours and just when he felt he was about to lose consciousness to the blazing sun, an old man with a walking stick walked out.
Austin's vision was quite blurry at this point so the most he could see was a person walking out, for the person's features, it was unseeable. He bit his lips and then shouted, hoping to draw the attention of the man which he did.
"Sir Herbert, I am Austin. I wish for you to hire me but if you do not believe in my ability to endure, I will show you."
Without hesitation, he banged his head on the scorching ground. Blood oozed out of the point of contact but he didn't react much.
His purpose was achieved as the old man paused and stared at him in interest. He had been told of a young man who had been bothering their stall for the past days but he didn't know the young was this...persistent. Not the bad persistent he was quite interested in him.
He watched the skinny young man bang himself a few more times before he stopped him.
"What is your name, young man?" The old man asked with interest.
"I am Austin, sir Herbert," Austin replied, hope flickering in his brown eyes which were irritated by the blood and sweat.
"Austin, you say you can do anything, right?"
Austin replied quickly while keeping his head bowed.
"You are hired. Your first task is to give this money to a friend in Clocwood." The old man, known as Sir Herbert, threw a pouch of gold coins at him.
Austin stood dazed long after the old man was gone, it all felt like a dream. He had come here intending to fall to the cold embrace of death but...it seemed death had passed him by. With tears of joy flowing from his eyes, he walked out on his journey. Meanwhile, amidst the crowd of people, there were two figures with an ugly expression on their countenance.
They had been watching the whole drama go on and to tell the truth, they were not happy one bit.
How could their punching bag get a job while they were jobless? In a way, didn't it mean, they were useless?
They exchanged glances and nodded at each other, they would not allow the inflator of their ego to become pompous. They had to break his budding wings in the worst and harshest way possible.
They made their way towards the market gate, intending to follow the ignorant Austin.
Also, watching all this unfold was a beautiful woman in a bluish-black cloth. She looked quite young, unlike the old man who stood beside her.
"So what do you think? I think he is worthy enough. He just has to pass this test." The familiar old man who employed Austin spoke lightly, his tone nothing like what he spoke with but calm and full of excitement.
"Hmm. They are following him." With that, the girl also joined the crowd, getting mixed among them.
Sir Herbert shook his head slightly with a bitter smile.