Chapter 3: Daily Routine

After that, we continued with training. I found out that I had apparently possessed both kinetic and creation type magic, and because Cersei was only proficient in the former that was what she taught me. From that day forward we made an agreement to practice and train at least two days a week with each other. Training with Cersei mostly consisted of her teaching me how to move small objects and lift myself a few feet off the ground at small intervals of time, Other times we would really just talk.

It was nice, really, really nice.

Outside of training with Cersei I had spent a good amount of time talking with Simon. Having spent a good amount of time with only my mother I never had a chance to interact with an actual beastman. I didn't want to pester him with unnecessary questions as I, myself, knew how it could make one uncomfortable. I did my best to keep our conversations outside of the topic of origins and instead I bothered him with questions about the Deadline and Arc.

"So… I know you said that the Deadline was the home for the rebellion but what exactly is that?" I had asked him a few days after arriving.

"The Deadline?" he started. "Well Robin you're a magician correct?" he asked.

I nodded and he continued.

" Right. So I assume that you know a fair share about the treatment of non-humans in our society. The Deadline serves as a somewhat of a sanctuary for those who have been labeled as outcasts so they can find others like them and try to make a living judgment free." he explained.

"But you said it was a rebellion?" I pushed.

"Yes, while the deadline serves as a safe space for those who simply wish to live quiet lives there is also an organized group who plans attacks and protests aimed at the government in hopes to take down those in charge."

Simon seemed to be proud of himself for his explanation of everything but I had still been confused.

"How do you stay hidden though?"

Simon looked down at me and grew a large smile.

"We don't"

I had been confused and before I could ask him anything else he had walked away after telling me that we could talk about it more the next day.

The last person who I would make my round to usually was Arc. After reaching the Deadline it had become harder to meet up with him. I would see him with Simon but he would always be off to go somewhere else before we could even finish exchanging greetings. Somedays I would have to spend all day with Simon before I could even see him. While it was hard to talk and I hadn't yet understood why he was so busy I could tell it was never intentional. Simon had provided us with rooms in one of the Deadlines group homes and sometimes If I had stayed up late enough I would see Arc come in, even though he looked tired he would always stay up a little longer to talk to me.

One night I stayed up late and Arc arrived. He looked significantly more tired than usual but still wanted to talk with me nonetheless.

"Sorry I couldn't speak with you this morning." He said softly.

"Again." I clarified, we couldn't talk again.

"Yes, sorry I couldn't speak with you again this morning." he said with a tired smile.

He flopped down on my bed and looked towards the ceiling and then at me before sighing and speaking up again.

"How was your day?" He asked.

I couldn't help but wonder if he liked to hear me talk. He knew that the answer never really varied but whenever he had the chance he would always ask.

"It's the same as it is everyday." I said.

"Yes, I know. But I'd still like you to tell me anyway".

I furrowed my brows in confusion but I told him regardless. I spoke about how I worked on a new trick and how Simon brushed off my questions. In between the usual details I would talk about a passerby I had seen that stuck out to me.

"You would've been shocked too! He didn't have legs, it was just a snake tail and he was still able to do it!" I explained to him

He let out a chuckle and I carried on with my usual routine. Eventually, I noticed that he had stopped making notable responses to the things I said and fell asleep. It was then that I would use the magic Cersei showed me to move him to his bed so that He could at least sleep comfortably. I never knew how long Arc actually slept though, whenever I would wake up he would never be there. Probably off doing whatever he would busy himself with every day.

After a few weeks of keeping up with the same schedule, I had developed a determination to figure out what it was exactly that Arc had been up to during the daytime. Knowing he woke up before me I had decided that it would be better to stay up so that I could catch him leave. It took a few days to actually catch him leaving as I had fallen asleep a few times, however when I managed to finally catch him I wasn't going to let my chance slip by.

When he left he had brought along a bag with him, I had never actually watched him carry a bag of any kind so it struck my curiosity. I followed him out of the group home and watched as he approached a group of people in front of another tunnel entrance. The group each wore a dark cloak so I hadn't been able to make out their faces but they all seemed to be on friendly terms with Arc. As their group entered the tunnel I quickened my pace so that I didn't lose sight of them.

To my surprise the tunnel was quite crowded, although it was early in the morning the area was nearly packed with people of all kinds, Including humans. I kept close to their group and watched as they approached a booth with a poster for paid fights. The line for the booth was surprisingly quite long and was filled with people who looked like they came from all walks of life. As I watched people purchase tickets, wether for participation or viewing I didn't know. I entered the line and found out that viewing was free, but as I watched people go in I saw the Arc had purchased a ticket. Was Arc going to participate in a fight? Did he know magic, was he even a magician? I had realized that after knowing him for as long I never figured out what exactly he was.