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Aestus Jenar was born to a poor Bomborian merchant, who made his living shuttling lumber between the shores of Dustari and Bomboria. His father was a heavy alchoholic, he spent most most of his wages, and time, in the taverns. He was killed when his ship was captured and destroyed by pirates.
His mother had died due to labor complications while birthing Aestus, and now an orphan, he was thrown into the streets of Bomboria. He was forced to run odd jobs for various citizens, making pitiful wages and barely keeping himself alive.
Once, delivering a message, he looked down at the strange symbols covering the paper in fascination. The recipient, a kindly librarian, was amused by his fascination with the writing, and offered him basic lessons in reading and writing, rather then gralats, in exchange for any jobs she had for him. Against his better judgement, he reluctantly agreed.
The librarian, surprised by his genuine desire to learn and his raw intelligence, began inventing jobs for him, eager to teach him more every day. She was constantly amazed to see how quickly he mastered difficult concepts. With proper schooling at a University, she was certain he would become one of the brightest minds in the nation. Yet she had little more money than Aestus, whose finances were dwindling as he spent more time at the library then at work.
Of particular interest to him was military theory. He would ignore his hunger, reading for hours at a time, analyzing the tactics and battles described. He plunged into defensive and offensive strategies, studying the latest fortifications, and mentally noting where it could be improved. He was appalled by the lack of innovation the generation's commanders had put forth. There was so much he could do, he thought, if only given the chance.
At the age of nineteen, having spent nine years in the cold, freezing and starving to further his own makeshift education, he came to the gates of Dustari. There, he felt, was the place to put his skills to use. He was accepted as a squire, and now lives for the chance to prove his worth in battle. |