Taking the First Steps

Lucien stepped cautiously into the bar, its dim, smoky atmosphere and cacophony of laughter, hushed whispers, and clinking glasses filling the air. His eyes scanned the room until he found Soleli sitting with a few of his gangmates. Soleli was tall and rugged, with a sly grin that betrayed a keen intelligence lurking behind his jovial demeanor. He noticed Lucien approaching and gestured toward a seat across from him with a friendly nod.

"Ah, Lucien!" Soleli greeted warmly, his eyes flickering with a hint of curiosity. "What brings you here?"

Lucien settled into the chair, with Mar slipping silently onto a stool beside him, and returned the greeting, keeping his tone lighthearted. They talked briefly, Soleli asking how Lara was doing, clearly still invested in her well-being. Lucien smiled and replied, "She's alright. Still keeping up with the usual grind. You know how she is."

Soleli laughed, nodding knowingly. "That's Lara, all right. Stubborn as they come. Guess that runs in the family." He paused, his gaze sharpening slightly as he observed Lucien's expression. "But I don't think you're here just for a chat about your sister, are you?"

Lucien took a steadying breath, then decided to lay it out. "Actually, I'm here because I want to join the gang." He watched Soleli's face for a reaction, but the man simply leaned back, a thoughtful smile tugging at his lips.

"Well," Soleli said after a moment, "you do have potential. And, truth be told, I've thought about bringing you in. But I held off out of respect for Lara. She's… made it clear she doesn't want you involved in this life." He glanced at Mar and then back at Lucien, his expression shifting to one of genuine curiosity. "But if you want to join yourself, that's not something I have the right to stop. So tell me, Lucien, why do you want to be a part of the gang?"

Lucien didn't hesitate, his voice steady and measured. "I'm not joining for some reason like courage or honor. I just want access to more knowledge."

Soleli's gaze lingered on him, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he shook his head, chuckling quietly. "That's a bold answer," he said. "Most who come around looking to join spout off about proving themselves or fighting for their place here. Knowledge is a rare motivator. Still, if that's all you're after, I could just loan you a few books, maybe get you some information. Why bother with the whole gang ordeal?"

Lucien met Soleli's eyes, unflinching. "Books would be nice," he admitted, "but I'd read through your delivery faster than you could supply them. Besides, I want access to advanced Maguscraft, to understand it fully and use it in my own experiments. If I join the gang, I get that access firsthand."

Soleli's lips curved into a sly smile as he observed Lucien thoughtfully. "Hmm. Like father, like son," he murmured. Lucien's eyes widened, a slight spark of surprise flashing across his face.

"You knew my father?" Lucien asked, his voice hushed with a mixture of intrigue and reverence.

Soleli nodded, his eyes softening. "I did. He was a mentor to me, and a good one at that. In some ways, you remind me of him. He was a brilliant man, very much like you, though quieter, more… reserved."

The revelation hung heavily in the air, and Lucien felt a flicker of pride in knowing his father had left such a strong impression. Soleli leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"There are different ways you can join," he said, his tone becoming serious. "But I have a feeling you'd be most interested in the aspiring Magus path. It's not easy, but it'd give you access to what you want."

Lucien's eyes brightened, his interest clearly piqued. This was exactly the kind of path he'd been hoping for — one that aligned with his ambitions and would allow him to push beyond the limits of his current knowledge. He nodded eagerly. "Yes, I want to take that path."

Soleli smiled approvingly, then turned his gaze to Mar, who had been sitting quietly beside Lucien, observing the conversation with her usual calm intensity. "And you?" Soleli asked, his tone sharper, appraising. "What's driving you, Mar? And it better not be some naive notion."

Mar held his gaze unflinchingly, her eyes sharpening with an unusual fierceness. "I'd walk through flames and face the anvils of war to have Lucien's back," she replied evenly, her voice low but unwavering.

Lucien blinked, caught off guard. He could feel his face warm slightly, and a faint blush spread across his cheeks. Wait… am I… am I accidentally encouraging something here? He thought to himself, mildly embarrassed at the depth of her loyalty. He quickly pushed the thought aside, focusing on Soleli's response.

Soleli's eyebrows rose, and after a moment, he let out a low chuckle. "Fair enough, Seems like your girlfriend is very determined for your sake." he said, clearly impressed by her answer. "But this path isn't easy. If you're willing to go through with it, you'll need to prove yourself."

He glanced at Lucien and stood up, nodding toward the far end of the bar. "Alright, Lucien, tomorrow night, come back here and look for my friend, Razor." He pointed toward a shadowy figure sitting a few seats away, a man wearing a half-mask that obscured his nose and mouth, leaving only his cold, piercing eyes visible.

"As for you," he said, turning to Mar, "you'll meet me at a different location." He gave her a slip of paper with a hastily scrawled address. "I'll personally test you. If you pass, I'll make sure you get the training you'll need."

Lucien gave Soleli a nod of thanks, relief and excitement swirling in his chest. This was his chance, the beginning of something that might finally give him a foothold in this city — a path to the knowledge and power he'd craved. He glanced at Mar, who nodded back, determination shining in her eyes.

"Thank you, Soleli," Lucien said sincerely, bowing his head slightly. With their parting arrangements made, he and Mar left the bar, stepping back into the maze of corridors.

The chilly air outside was a stark contrast to the muggy warmth of the bar, and as they made their way back, Lucien found his mind racing, processing all that had happened. His father, who he'd known only through scattered memories and vague stories, had been a mentor to someone in this gang, a man respected for his knowledge and his skill. And now, Lucien was following in his footsteps, setting off down the same path — albeit for different reasons.

They walked in comfortable silence until they were halfway back, and Lucien glanced over at Mar. "Thanks for coming with me tonight," he said quietly. 

Mar offered him a small, rare smile. "We're in this together. You've done a lot for me, Lucien. This is the least I can do."

He nodded, the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips as they continued. Despite the weight of the decision they'd just made, there was a strange sense of hope simmering within him — a feeling that maybe, just maybe, they were on the edge of something big, something that might change their lives forever.

As they reached their home, Lucien glanced back at the endless corridors stretching behind them, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. Tomorrow would bring him a chance.