Begging Beggar, Sickly Mommy

His name is Sabrathan, and his mother named him after an ancient sky dragon, Sabathon The Wise. He lived with Rahmiel, his mother, who her mother named her after one of the 10 Great Angels in the Thamrel religion. Sabrathan always lived a blissful life. He was used to running on the street with the other kids and playing tag and hide-and-boo. But after his father died protecting Rahmiel, who was about to be kidnapped by the slave merchant, Sabrathan and Rahmiel had no choice but to run away, leaving his father with a sword pierced his chest, then burned while conscious because the candle's oil spilt over the floor. A magician used fire magic only to show off his power.

He was never appropriately buried. He was cremated inside their own house, while Sabrathan and Rahmiel had no time to grief but to keep running away. And at the end, they already ended up in the slum district of Brelas city, the capital of Ragna Empire, led by Emperor Purandar Conomor von Helian.

"This's not enough, ya brat!"

He raised his right leg and swung it to Sabathran's belly.

Stomp

"Ah! I-am sorry! I'll make sure! I'll make sure to fill today's quota tomorrow! I beg yo-"

Stomp

"Ugh!" Sabathran, standing, is now kneeling while holding his hurt belly.

His superiors are currently scolding Sabatrhan for not filling the quota for today's pickpocketing.

He grabbed Sabathran's hair, "Listen, brat. I don't care how, when, or what. Ya don't fill me quotas, and ya feel me kicks. Ya catch it?"

His muscular and big body intimidates Sabathran, making him shiver and tremble in fear.

"Ye-yes, please, let me go. I need the drug for my mother," Sabathran holds his superior's hand and begs for a particular drug.

"No quota, no drug fo' today."

Sabathran is speechless. He lowers his dignity and pride equal to that of an animal, licking his superior shoes to clean them and beg like a dog only to ask mercy and that particular drug. The humiliation he receives from the glares of the other in this room is too high for a kid his age.

"Now now, don't be like that, Orlan. I know deep down there you pity this little friend of ours, and I don't like seeing him in this state," said someone with a robe that has a hood covering his face.

"What'cha mean?" Orlan asked.

"How about we give him his drug for Black Blood today? But in turn, he must double his quota for tomorrow," he explained.

"Ye-yes! Yes! Please! I will fill tomorrow's quota! My mother is dying! Please give me the drug!"

"Do whatcha want with this dog here, Hambard. Mine don't care tiny bits," said Orlan.

"Well, why yes, Orlan," said Hambard while he reached his pocket and pulled out a small pouch.

"This is your drug. Give it to your mother and keep working."

Sabathran received that pouch and lowered his head even more.

"Thank you, thank you, Sir Hambard."

"Leave now."

"Yes, yes."

Sabathran hurriedly left. He closed the door before he left and stopped for a glance at the inside of the pouch, only to make sure that he received the right amount of drugs. Then, he smiled after he got what he needed, and it was in the right amount.

"Did you hear that? He called me Sir, haha," Sabathran heard Hambard's voice behind the door.

"That brat knows nothing, fact about Black Blood," Orlan spoke.

"Well, yes, that makes it even better, don't you think? He'll keep working to death for that addictive drug that can't even cure Black Blood," another voice heard behind the door, not Hambard's or Orlan's.

"Yes, I heard that only Dragon's Tear could restore one's energy and purify it. Hence, only then Black Blood can be cured," said Hambard.

"I'd be damned, wouldn't mine, eh? Those cursed Black Bloods, me not even dare get close to 'em," said Orlan.

"Anyway, I'll get some more meads. See you later then," that other voice start to get closer to the door where Sabathran is standing up.

As Sabathran felt the danger of being caught red-handed listening to them conversing, he quickly left that place.

"Only Dragon's Tear that could cure Black Blood? Where could I get them? They must be costly. I think it must be around one gold or two golds, but I only have 40 coppers on me," Sabathran spoke to himself.

"They deceived me. This drug is worthless."

Sabathran threw the drugs he acquired by breaking his bones and dumping his pride in the trash pile. He felt anger and grief.

"I must get home soon," said him while he shed his teary eyes, trying not to cry.

"In the end, haah, I will die, right?" asked Rahmiel in her bed, to Sabathran, who told her everything as he stood near the bed.

She was in the worst Black Blood state; insanely high fever, excessive sweating, drying skin and inner membranes like eyes, nose, and mouth. Sabathran couldn't help but see her mother was getting darker every day in this room with a faint light of a candle.

"When, when-haah, I completely turned into black, bury me, haah, under a lush tree."

"Stop talking, Mother. I will get that Dragon's Tear whatever it costs," said Sabathran, and at the same time, he was packing his supplies to go to the palace.

"I heard from a porter that came from Tursa a while ago. He said that the palace would sell Dragon's Tear tomorrow morning. I'll buy one, then, you'll be cured."

"Sabathran."

Sabathran turned his face to Rahmiel, "Yah?"

"In case you can't get it, don't be sad, and don't mind me. Lucia will take care of me. So, take your time," said Rahmiel with her light panting.

"I'll get it, and I'll get home before you know it."

Sabathran left the house without looking back, not that he didn't care about her mother. He just didn't want her to see that her son was in his weakest state. He must be vital for his mother and can't afford to lose.

As the porter said to Sabathran, there was a sale in the palace in the morning. They were selling 10 Dragon's Tears to those who could afford it.

People gathered on the east side of the palace, from poor people to the wealthiest nobles. Then, an older man with colourful clothes came out and stood on the stage.