Across the stone table, Fenric exhaled slowly, the sound weary and heavy. He ran a rough hand over his swept-back dark hair, his pointed ears twitching slightly as he gathered his thoughts.

  ?"Let’s begin from the top," he muttered. "But before that, tea."

  ?He didn't wait for Kuro’s consent. Fenric moved to the kitchenette, the clatter of clay against wood filling the silence. The morning sun bled through the cracks of the wooden shutters, casting long, dusty beams across the rough-hewn table. The air inside the small home smelled of stale timber and the bitter, earthy aroma of the brewing leaves.

  ?Moments later, Fenric returned, sliding a chipped clay mug across the wood. Kuro stared at it. I literally just drank one of these, he thought, but he accepted it without complaint, wrapping his hands around the warmth.

  ?"Right. As I was saying," Fenric began, sitting down heavily. "Since you are essentially a toddler in a grown man’s body regarding common knowledge... Our world is called Aethelgard. It is home to countless beasts, species, and races." He gestured vaguely to the walls around them. "We are currently in a backwater town called Bear Path. Yes, as the name suggests—"

  ?Kuro gave a brief, dismissive shake of his head. "I can guess. Bears. Go on."

  ?"Right. Uhm. Where was I?" Fenric cleared his throat, thrown off by Kuro’s curtness. "We are under the jurisdiction of the Great Kingdom of Loz-Melvern. This town, the surrounding villages, and the major cities all fall beneath its shadow."

  ?Fenric traced a line on the table with his finger, drawing an invisible map.

  ?"If you travel straight north, past several villages, you will eventually reach the Second City: Euniem. That is the hub for lesser royalty and high-level merchants—the mid-level castes. I’ll circle back to the caste system in a moment." He took a bracing breath. "Past the Second City lies the First City: Loz-edna, the capital. That land is reserved for the Royals alone. The King resides there, in the massive castle known as Loz Eden. Folks say it's a spectacle to look at, as the name suggests it was covered in—"

  ?"No need for architectural details," Kuro interjected, sipping his tea. "Get to the people. The hierarchy."

  ?Fenric sighed, leaning forward. His amber eyes grew intense. "Okay. The complicated part. With so many different races and bloodlines, a caste system is a necessity—or so the gods believe."

  ?He tapped the table with a calloused finger. "Aethelgard is built on a staircase, Kuro. And gravity works harder the lower you are. There are seven steps. Remember them, or you’ll lose your head before the week is out."

  ?Fenric held up one finger.

  ?"Rank One. At the very apex, untouchable and unseen by the likes of us, are the Elves. They aren’t like the ones in fairy tales. They don’t just rule; they exist above the system. Godkin, as they say. Powerful beings." You can't see them in our kingdom as they're in the center of this world.

  ?He raised a second finger.

  ?"Rank Two: Overlords. These are humans, but not like you. They are born of high nobility, and the key difference is magic. They possess it by birthright. If you see a human casting spells without a tool, you bow. Understood?"

  ?Kuro nodded slowly, feigning wide-eyed ignorance. "Wait. Magic? You mean... like pulling pigeons out of a hat?"

  ?"What? No!" Fenric hissed, looking scandalized. "Shhh. Not parlor tricks. Real magic. Generating fire with their bare hands, casting spells to curse land or kill armies. Do you understand?"

  ?"Uh-huh," Kuro mumbled, nodding while his mind raced. So, they don't need weapons to kill. Mobile artillery units in human form. Dangerous. "Basically, they don't need any weapons."

  ?"Yes. And no. You see—why don't I give a class on magic another time?"

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  ?"Fine," Kuro grumbled. "Move on."

  ?"Rank Three: Lesser Lords and Nymphs," Fenric continued, his tone turning dismissive. "Humans with diluted noble blood—maybe a bastard child of an Overlord—or magical creatures. They have power, but it's watered down. They’re desperate to prove they belong at the top, which makes them volatile."

  ?Fenric took a long sip of his bitter tea before gesturing to the window, toward the bustling town outside.

  ?"Rank Four. This is the spine of the world. Dwarves, Fairies, and the ‘Named’ Humans."

  ?"Named?" Kuro asked, arching a brow.

  ?"Citizens with wealth, property, or a guild license. Normal humans with no magic, but they have the right to a surname. They have rights. Laws protect them." Fenric’s eyes darkened slightly. "Which brings us to Rank Five."

  ?He pointed a thumb at his own chest, then gestured vaguely at Kuro.

  ?"Half-beasts. And the Nameless." Fenric’s voice dropped an octave, gritty with resignation. "That’s us, Kuro. Half-beasts are considered labor. And the Nameless? They are humans too poor to buy a surname or born into debt. We have no protection. We are the fuel the city burns to keep the lights on."

  ?Kuro processed this. In his old world, rank was determined by insignia on a collar. Here, it was determined by blood and coin. "We’re low," Kuro observed dryly. "But not the bottom?"

  ?"Not quite," Fenric grunted. "Rank Six are the Full Beasts. Orcs, Trolls. Savage races. They aren’t citizens; they’re usually hunted or enslaved."

  ?Fenric’s expression twisted into pure disgust as he finished.

  ?"And at the very bottom, Rank Seven. Devilkin. Cursed blood. If you see one, cross the street. Not because they’re dangerous—though they can be—but because if you’re seen helping one, the Citadel will burn you along with them. They are lower than dirt."

  ?Fenric slammed his mug down, the sound echoing in the small room. "That’s Aethelgard, Kuro. Seven steps. And right now? You and I are standing on step five, looking up at a mountain of people who would happily kick us down to six."

  ?Kuro shifted on the bench, the hidden blade pressing against his ribs with an almost comforting weight. He looked around the room. "But having a house gives you an identity, right? Even though you own property?"

  ?Fenric let out a soft, rueful sound. "It doesn't work that way for Half-Beasts, especially not in a town like this. I'm sure you've already guessed that by the way the townspeople look at me." His amber eyes held a flicker of weary acceptance. "My stones keep the wind out, but they don't buy me respect on the street."

  ?"But I can climb the ladder, right?" Kuro asked.

  ?"Yes. Just one step gives you respect, but it's a long journey," Fenric said, his eyes drifting to Kuro's pack. "However... you have a one-of-a-kind item right there. The Mosrel Horn. With the tip completely intact, it will fetch you unbelievable wealth. Enough to buy land, buy a name... maybe even a life." He finished the sentence with a heavy sadness.

  ?"So what do you think?" Fenric asked.

  ?Kuro kept his face utterly blank. Does it matter what I think? Rules are there to follow or to break. I don't care about their balance unless it gets me my answers. "It is what it is," Kuro said aloud, his voice flat.

  ?Fenric felt a complicated mix of hurt at the indifference and a strange relief that he didn't have to defend the injustice. "Right. Well. Moving on. About the High Beasts... there are a number of them, like the Ravmor and the Mosrel—"

  ?"I think that's enough history for now," Kuro interjected. "Next time."

  ?"Fine then. It is becoming a boring lecture," Fenric admitted. "So what's next?"

  ?Kuro leaned forward. "So the Lesser Lords... they can use magic, right?"

  ?"Yes."

  ?"And they live in the Second City, Euniem?"

  ?"Yes... why?"

  ?"Because my journey goes there."

  ?Fenric frowned. "What do you mean?"

  ?"They use magic," Kuro said, tapping his temple. "So they can do something about my memory loss, right?"

  ?Fenric’s face tightened with concern. "I mean, yes, probably. But it's not an easy matter to just walk in and ask."

  ?"But," Kuro pressed, "it's possible."

  ?Fenric hesitated, running a hand through his hair again. "Yes, there are ways. Some take a long time, but considering you seem eager to go now, I'd say the shortest way is through gold. Smuggling you in. But it is very dangerous, and the risk of getting caught—especially looking like you do—is very high."

  ?"Huh. Very funny."

  ?"Option two," Fenric continued, "is to join a Guild. Rise through the ranks, get notified, and earn an identity—become one of the Named. But considering you don't own property, you have to reach at least A-Rank to get the identification papers required to pass through to the Second City. Or..." He trailed off, a grin forming.

  ?"Or?" Kuro pressed.

  ?"Well," Fenric grinned, a teasing glint in his amber eyes. "There is a faster way involving hunting a High Beast. But since you’ve already had a horrible experience where you ran crying and moaning, nearly passing out from a bear... maybe that can wait?"

  ?Kuro’s jaw clenched. "It’s okay. It can wait," he ground out, angry not at Fenric, but at the web of lies he had spun that forced him to swallow the insult. He stood up. "The Guild it is, then. Lead the way, guide."

  ?"Uh-huh. Of course," Fenric retorted, a genuine smile playing on his lips as he stood. "The lost kid needs a mother, it seems. Or he might get lost again in this small, little town."

  ?He turned and started toward the door, glancing back just in time to catch Kuro’s inevitable scowl.