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Anthonn liked to think he was a strong man or at least strong enough to administer a massive circus held by spiritual magic right under the noses of the Kalgratti government. Though sometimes even he felt sick at the sight of what human cruelty was capable of.
He watched the boy mumble in his sleep, he rolled over and the cloth on his forehead dropped to the floor. Anthonn sighed, got up from his chair, picked up the cloth, and placed it on the basin at the side of the bed. Rainah said the boy's name is Sahed. She found him right at the limit of the circus all bloodied and beaten with a patch tied up to his forehead covering his third eye. It was obvious he was running from one of those research centers. He and Rainah tried to patch him up as best they could. There are no healers in the troupe—is not like most of them needed anyway—there will be scars, terrible scars. From the placement of some of those wounds, it was evident that they had experimented on him. Anthonn felt the fury reignite inside him.
The boy opened his eyes. He looked at him, eyes dazed from the fever. Oh, he was beautiful even though he was badly hurt, his face was carved by angels. Anthonn took a step back and tried to say something—maybe apologize?—but Sahed closed his eyes and fell asleep again.
Relieved he released the breath he was holding and sat back in his chair to watch over Sahed for the rest of the night.