The Wanderer (Paperback, New edition)

Chronicles of the Riftlands: Book One After centuries of traveling the continent of Kita and fighting the extradimensional monsters known as Riftspawn, mage Lyuc is tired and ready to back away from the concerns of humanity.  But the world isn't done with him yet.  While traveling with a merchant caravan, Lyuc encounters Yan, an Unnamed, the lowest caste in society. Though Yan has nothing but his determination and spirit, he reminds Lyuc what passion and desire feel like. While wild magic, a snarky, shapeshifting, genderfluid companion, and the plots of men and monsters seem determined to keep Lyuc from laying down his burden, only Yan's inimitable spirit tempts him to hang on for another lifetime or so.  All Yan wants is to earn the sponsorship of a guild so he can rise above his station, claim a place in society, and build the family he never had.  After hundreds of years of self-imposed penance, all Lyuc wants is Yan.  If they can survive prejudice, bandits, mercenaries, monsters, and nature itself, they might both get their wish… and maybe even their happily ever after.