Exalted Warlock - 16 Chapter 5

Magnus sat on the curve of the street, begging for some coins as people passed by. Even though it was degrading work and Magnus would have never believed he would have to stoop so low, it was necessary to get by.

After a week on his own, Magnus could safely say that he learned the trick to begging; you always have to look them in the eyes. That always works magic since it making the passerby feel a ting of sympathy and guilt and the cute looks that Magnus is endowed with goes a long way with helping things along.

Magnus looked up towards the sky, the two suns, Vrox and Avax, were at the apex in the sky, overlapping with each other and creating a beautiful hue of dark dusky gold while also signaling noontime. Magnus opened his palm and looked down at his day’s earning, it was 7 iron shims.

That much money was a good earning for an orphan but in the grand scale of things that was chump change. If Magnus’s calculations were correct this much money only amounted to 70 cents in old U.S currency.

This much money would do nothing to alleviate the orphanage’s problem at all, it was only a few drops of water in an ocean of financial difficulties.

Magnus sighed as he got up from the street and pocketed the money in a safe pocket away from thieving hands. The young mech builder had to collect the other kids since they would be expected to return for lunch.

So Magnus wandered the streets grabbing each child from whatever they were doing, mostly begging like he was until finally all eleven of them were accounted for.

Magnus lead the way as all of them made their way to the orphanage while doing that he opened up conversations. “So how much did all of you guys make so far today?”

Each child quoted how much they earned, some did very poorly with only 1 or 2 iron shims to their names, others did a good job like Magnus with 5 to 7 iron shims. In total, the amount that all of them collected together was 61 iron shims.

That was a little bit over the amount which Magnus took from those older boys who jumped him, which was a good amount for an individual. However, for a whole group of people which was made up of 30 children and 3 adults, that was basically nothing.

Magnus put aside his worries for now as the orphanage came into view. Inside a hot, pleasant meal awaited him and it was well deserved after a long day being out in the chilly morning.

—————————————-

Magnus walked out of the orphanage with his belly well satisfied, before he left– Magnus and the other children made sure to drop off their earning into the donation box. It was both amusing and depressing to have the people who needed the donations to be the only ones putting anything in.

The orphanage does not require its occupants to turn in a share of their earnings at all, the kids simply do it because they want to, it is their own very little way of helping out.

In Magnus’s opinion that is a much better system since from what Magnus learned most orphanages require that you turn in a certain appoint or you get kicked out. It is no wonder that those kids who grow up in those sorts of places turn out to be real bastards.

Bluebird Orphanage has the right amount of loving, caring, fun, pleasantry, strictness, and responsibility– which helps produce great kids. So if Magnus wants this good thing to stay open he needs to do something and fast.

As Magnus lead way with his band following behind, his mind drifted to the other things. Magnus couldn’t help thinking about what he earned when he stole from those four thugs, it was nearly the same amount as all of them earned today and also when he stole those apples which is a delicacy not rarely found here in the cold mountains.

Magnus could safely say that a life of crime does pay well yet Codex words came back to him, “It only takes one slip up and you are finished.” However, what else could he do when he would be doomed anyway if he does nothing.

Magnus stopped in his tracks making the closest person near him bump into his back, creating a domino effect that made everyone else halt in their tracks as well. Magnus turned to look over all of them if he wants to carry out this crazy idea that popped into his mind, he needs the help of all of them.

All Magnus needs to do is creating a starting fund, that money would help keep the orphanage afloat but it does not end there. This is where Magnus’s crazy idea starts, just keeping the orphanage afloat is not enough, you would still be at ground zero.

What the orphanage needs are different avenues of funds and how do you go about doing that? Well, the simple answer is donations, but here lays the problem nobody gives a fuck about orphans so who is going to donate?

Well, nobody except for other orphans!

Yet we never see these orphans and that is because they too like this orphanage have there own financial problems. This system we are in is a vicious cycle, it needs to be broken and the way to do that is to get to the root of the problem. Meaning we need self-sufficient orphans then that leads to a self-sufficient orphanage.

If orphans are given jobs that pay well instead of unwanted, dangerous jobs that lets them get by then these orphans will be able to support these institutions because they feel for it.

What needs to be done here is for the orphanage to get out of this vicious cycle and enter a virtuous one but money would be needed– a lot of money in fact.

Magnus looked at each child in turn, he felt guilty for bringing them into this but this operation requires all hands on deck. “Before we move on I have something important to tell you guys.”

The vexed and angry looks that were being flung in Magnus’s direction for making them bump into each other quickly transformed into interested and curious looks. One of the kids spoke the question on everyone’s mind, “What is this important thing, big brother?”

Magnus steeled himself up, he already got all of them interested, there was no way of going back right now. Yet even though he trusted all of them he needed some guarantee that they would keep this on the down-low.

So clearing his throat Magnus spoke up, “Before I tell this thing, I want all of you to swear to the Great Sage that you would keep this a secret. I wouldn’t have done this if this wasn’t so important.”

Everyone became silent once Magnus made his address, what he was asking of them was quite a lot.

The Great Sage is a very important figure in the Starry Mountains, he isn’t some God, but still, he is very well known and respected some even pray to him for wisdom and guidance. When somebody swears by him it is expected that he keeps his word or else he would be the most damned of the lot.

For a long minute silence reigned in the area until one boy one or two seasons younger than Magnus broke the silence. “I believe in you, big brother and I know I can trust you. By the Great Sage, I swear to keep your secret.”

After the first young boy took up the challenge others followed in his footsteps until all of them swear by the Great Sage. Magnus smiled happily at all of them, it is great to see the sort of trust they are willing to place on him.

Magnus nodded his head to each child in turn, showing his appreciation and respect to all of them then Magnus moved on. “As I said before, I wouldn’t have done this if it wasn’t important. What I am about to tell you is quite shocking so please do not panic. I have recently found out that our funding has been cut!”

Even with the warning that Magnus gave out, shouts and yells erupted out of everyone. These children are very smart, they have to be with no loving parents looking out for them. They all knew what this meant, if funds are cut that means the orphanage would shut down and that would make them end up in the streets.

Magnus held out his hand to calm them down yet the kids continued on with their incessant questions and blabbering untilled they gave up as Magnus just stood there silent and steadfast.

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With the last of the kids quieting down Magnus continued on with his little speech, “I know that this is frightening news but WHAT are you going to do about it? Are all of you going to run around like a headless chicken, are you going to cry like little babies, are you going to sit there and just take it? OR are you going to do something about it?”

From the looks on each child’s face, it was clear what option they picked, “What we need to do is earn a lot of money. The amount we earn will not cut it, even if we beg all day and night or work hard until our backs are broken. So what are we to do?”

Magnus knew that there was only one option but he begged and prayed that somebody, anybody would come with a better idea than the one he had.

Nobody did so. Everyone just remained silent without any better idea than the one he had, just like he feared.

Magnus carried on without any inflection in his tone, “I will tell you what we have to do to save the orphanage, we need to take the wealth with our own hands.”

Magnus looked at the kids, they felt uncomfortable at Magnus’s deceleration, the mothers and Matron have truly done a good job of raising them but now Magnus must destroy that goodness.

“Owww, so you guys are too high to do that huh? Well, I wonder will you be that high when the orphanage closes down? Will you be too high when you end up in the streets? Will you be too high when you have no roof over your head? Will you be too high when you go hungry? HUH? ANSWER ME!”

Nobody answered Magnus’s question. All the kids hung their heads in shame and guilt, Magnus too wanted to do the same for playing to the kids’ fears and insecurities. However, he needed to keep up appearances, “The question is simple will you do something or will you do nothing?”

Once more it was the brave little boy who took up to the challenge, Magnus had to give it to him that kid is gutsy.

—————————————–

The next morning Magnus’s little squad line up like soldiers outside the orphanage, Magnus found the sight funny but he was pleased with the determination.

Yesterday after they made their little pact he let them carry out with their usual work, if he was going to do this properly he needed to plan everything out very well. A master plan takes time in the making and he also needed to be dedicated 100%.

Magnus lead his squad of new thieves, he had the perfect first target planned out.

As he continued on his way Magnus’s mind drifted to Codex, she was silent for quite a while, not saying anything at all or even trying to stop it. So he decided to broach the topic, “Hey Codex you’re awfully quiet, do you want to talk?”

Codex remained silent for so long that Magnus though she wouldn’t even respond back until she said, “You know I care about you, right?”

“Yeah, mom,” Magnus said amusedly but still very serious.

“Good, but just be careful and stop you, I am always with you 100%.”

“Thanks!” Magnus simply responded then with renewed vigor he was on his way.

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The first target that Magnus picked out was Feathers Way, it was a nice little area that the average households comes by to shop for goods. It was a good spot since there wasn’t the rougher sort who would beat you senseless if they catch you digging into their pockets nor was there guards to haul your ass off if somebody shouted thief.

Magnus immediately spotted his first target of the day, it was a mother and her son who were shopping.

Magnus signaled for his group to move out, they have already discussed the tactics that they would be using so everybody knew what to do.

Once the mother and her son walked into an area which was not so crowded, two orphans walked out of the shadow. “Iron shims, ma’am? Please!”

The mother looked on at the orphans with unconcealed suspicion and a bit of disgust. The orphans weren’t too shabby looking but the clothes that they had on were all patched up here and there, and dirt stains that refused to get washed out smeared them.

Before the woman could voice out a clear no, six more orphans can forth- two from the left, two from the right, and two from the back. This tactic Magnus calls Overwhelming.

The woman drew her child close as she shouted in trepidation thanks to the situation she found herself in. “Go away you little brats, I have no money!”

While she was looking elsewhere Magus who came from the back with another orphan, took out his shiv and silently sliced her money purse. With the prize in hand, Magnus nodded his head and everyone fled away like the wind.

Quickly all of them meet back in the agreed place after their heist was complete, without a single word Magnus emptied the whole purse on to the floor. From the money purse fell out a 7 copper thumbs and 45 iron shims, in grand total that would be 115 iron shims.

All the kids looked on in shock and amazement at what they made in a single pilfer, the thought that passed through their minds were all the same, ‘What would they make in a day or a lifetime?’

Magnus was going to find out about that. So he got up from the ground, put away the coins, faced the lot of them, and said, “Let’s get back to work.”

——————-

After a hard day of work, Magnus counted up how much they made. They were able to rob 3 more people using the overwhelming tactic since it was the only one that Magnus trained them up with.

The first lady that the robbed had the most money, the others had a total of 43 iron shims, 5 copper thumbs and 22 iron shims, and lastly 4 copper thumbs and 31 iron shims.

In grand total, once you add up everything, it came up to be 301 iron shims.

As a reward for working hard, Magnus took all of them to a bakery that was a bit upscale. There he bought them all sweet bread which was filled with lamb and calf meat topped with hot spices.

As a new habit that he gained, Magnus haggled the price with the baker and was able to get a good price of a dozen at the price of nine. So he paid the man his 90 iron shims and lead the kids back to the orphanage, wrapping the day to a close.

———————-

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, the end of the year drew closer and closer.

Magnus’s little squad made more and more progress as each day passed and they became better and better at their craft.

They developed fun and interesting tactics like for example; the Mudball tactic. This is where they would post people on the roofs, side alleys, and the front entrance after that they would rain down mudballs on to their target with slingshots that Magnus helped develop. In their blind rage, the target would chase after the only people they could see– those at the front entrance, and Magnus would come up from behind to steal the money purse.

Another tactic that they developed was I Want My Mommy for this one they would have one of the kids cry their eyes out in the middle of the street which causes a distraction and as we all know distraction are the perfect opportunity for thieves.

Another tactic was ****, and I guess we all know what that one does. With all the tactics they develop Magnus always makes sure that he is the one taking the most important and deadly role, the one stealing the money purse. He would have it no other way.

Also, Magnus has a policy were they never rob an area twice yet even with this rule they have run into pretty close calls. They have been caught with there hands in the cookie jar, they have been chased down, fought, beaten up, and even capture but still, they have come up stronger and smarter with each encounter.

The money that they earned did not always go into the donation box, Magnus made sure that every child had an extra pair of clothes, boots, and cloaks. This went a long way for everyone, now everyone had more than just one pair of clothing.

In addition to that Magnus also bought toys for the little ones and gifts for the Mothers and Matron.

They had a suspicion deep down for where Magnus was getting this wealth but they said nothing because this money was needed to get by.

One time the Matron even spoke to Magnus in vague terms and said to him, “Be careful and do not do something stuiped.” Magnus knew what she meant and silently nodded his head.