Caleb explained in detail who they were after nearly everyone fought over giving the best explanation and Arken let them tire out from cracking heads.
These were ostracized mages who from birth were ingrained with the ability to dissipate air and most atmospheric gases away from their immediate vicinities. Thus causing either unbreathable air or no suitable air to breathe at all.
Most were simply killed at birth while sparingly few settlements allowed dedicated magic societies to take them in, not wanting to commit bloodshed or sins, while not having to worry about that 'unlucky' spawn's future.
But most of these societies were more than likely traffickers or engaged in illegal research that entailed barbaric practices of experimentation, mostly on undesired or abandoned children, pets, animals.
As time went on such disperse mages formed their own dedicated groups to escape prosecution simply for their existence despite having successfully made outfits and gear that nullified their effect on their surroundings.
But hysteria was such a thing that it persists even after assurance and so they relegated themselves to a hidden minority, just content with merely existing, traveling around in packs to be safe and enjoying security in larger groups where they were less likely to be picked on or targeted.
When Caleb had finished he looked at Arken through his foggy lens, "we want no trouble. The air here has always protected us and prevented any upper dwellers from coming for us."
There was this pause that followed that where Arken could clearly read a hint of desperation to be 'believed'.
So the man continued with an even more insistent tone, "there....there was simply no reason for them to after all. That is after your people began to work down here."
He breathed heavily, worried and sweating but didn't want to show it, "I'm sure your men would've told you we didn't interfere in their work, but if it bothers you still we can simply leave."
Arken laughed suddenly and they stiffened, "what makes you think I will just let you go?"
"Kalni! Priests!" Arken barked and they passed Caleb to encircle the rest of them with pointed swords.
"You," Arken spoke to Caleb who stopped looking around in confusion, "come with me."
Both of them left the rest to walk further into the sewers and Caleb struggled to keep in pace, his mind split between worry and curiosity.
"What will happen to them?"
"Nothing mate, not unless you don't toe the line for the next few minutes."
They reached the end where it sloped upwards and the sky was visible. When Arken walked up, Caleb was hesitant.
Arken understood to a certain degree but he wanted to probe nonetheless. "Up there Caleb," he adddressed him with a warmer tone, "is where I will talk to you. Don't you worry now," he continued walking, "as long as I'm here no one's gonna dream of harming you or your people."
The dry air greeted them as they stepped out. They were now on the banks of the river that separated the slums into two parts, overlooking a small scale industrial network on the other side.
"That's the better parts of the slum or so I'm told," Arken scoffed and clasped his hands behind his back, "we're all in one pathetic situation after the other. Not as similar as yours though."
He sighed inwards and said, "would you believe me if I told you I'm not from here."
Caleb gulped, "what do you mean? This country?"
Arken smiled and nodded. "Something like that."
Caleb gasped, "that's crazy. A foreigner ruling over the Andluri slums."
Arken made a gesture with his index fimher and thumb, "half. But yes. Also where I'm from, I've never believed in magic." He ignored Caleb's stiffened demeanor at those words.
"So tell me, how do your people avoid your 'condition' these days?"
Caleb pointed to his mask, "we have built filters inside but mostly we try to disperse air in and around our bodies, sometimes it's fatal to us though when we can't control it."
Arken stared at the open river in front of them, "can you apply the same principle and like disperse toxic air, the fumes around this place. The sewers, the river surface?"
Caleb nodded, "it can be done—"
Arken interrupted, "but I don't want it all dispersed. Sure clear up the areas but those gases, I want them collected. Can you do that?"
Caleb blinked inside his mask, "it's never thought of before but yes it can be done. Although it's just toxic and unusable in any form, I don't really know what you wish to accomplish by collecting them."
Arken grinned and tapped Caleb's shoulder, "I have some ideas. I'll put you together with a like minded individual. Discuss with him the necessary materials for containing the stuff."
He paused before descending, "it goes without saying that if I'm asking for you to work for me, I'm offering you a place here. I can't promise anything against already existing prejudices but I'll say it again. Under me you will face no harm. What you will have is loyalty, brotherhood and a sense of purpose. Take it. It's your best play."
"Of course it is," Caleb murmured to himself and followed Arken back down.
☆
That afternoon Arken had a proper demonstration of their abilities.
The hooded figures gathered in small pockets here and there along one of the many sewer lines, and slowly raised their arms in unison.
Almost immediately the temperature warmed a little as the air around them shifted and Arken who had one of their masks on, clearly saw mists of thick green mucous like fumes dance and flow like visible gasses.
While some just dissipated into nothing, a few were directed into a heavily built container, that Rutma had fashioned in conjunction with Caleb and as soon it was full it was clamped shut and shown to Arken.
Arken inspected it and nodded before walking back to the surface.
A plan beginning to brew in his mind.