The Magician of Miracles

[Jevan Perspective]

After hours of wandering aimlessly trying to find my way back to that cheap inn, Iturned to my right the masked woman popped up again out of nowhere. This lady really loves disappearing and reappearing, I swear to God. Why does she do this?

I decided to ask her even though I was sure she wouldn't answer:

"Do you know the way back to the inn?"

She nodded. At that moment I felt instantly stupid. Great… I could've saved myself all this free tour if I'd just asked her in the first place.

I gestured for her to lead the way, and she walked ahead while I followed. It didn't take us long to get back to the inn.

I jumped through the window and landed inside, then flopped straight onto the bed next to Timaeus, who was still snoring peacefully. I let out a long sigh, staring at the ceiling.

My head wouldn't stop spinning. Merelda isn't who she used to be, not that cheerful woman anymore. Something's wrong with her. Maybe she's grieving the others… or maybe she's made a deal with a demon. Or maybe I'm just overthinking after all this madness.

I hope she finds some peace and gets through what happened though that's hard. Not everyone's like me… able to let go of revenge and keep moving on as if nothing happened. But it's strange we met like this. What a coincidence, isn't it?

I glanced at Timaeus sleeping peacefully beside me and muttered to myself with a smirk:

"At least someone's getting a good night's sleep."

I guess I should find someone to look after this cat soon. The next stage of my journey won't be peaceful… not that the previous stages were. But I need to find a place for this little one. I don't know what life's got in store for me, and I don't want to know.

Just as I was about to close my eyes, there was a knock at the door. I sighed, got up from the bed, put the mask back on my face, and headed to the door. When I opened it, Vensen was standing there, looking exhausted, his eyes half-shut.

I said flatly:

"What do you want at this ungodly hour?"

Vensen yawned and answered:

"Corvin said we need to move quickly from here."

I went back inside and gently scooped up Timaeus, looking at him stretching sleepily, and said with mock affection:

"Come on, furball, looks like we're moving again."

Then I walked out. Behind Vensen stood Corvin and that other idiot who sold his soul to the talking crow. The crow flew through the air, and when it spotted me it darted over and perched on my shoulder. It then glanced at Timaeus sleeping in my arms and said sharply:

"Master, why are you carrying this disgusting furry creature?"

Those words made me shove it off my shoulder instantly. It flapped off sulkily to Vensen's shoulder with a gloomy face. I didn't feel even a shred of sympathy for it. How dare it insult Timaeus?

We left the inn after Vensen spoke briefly with the owner. Corvin led the way while Vensen and the other man chatted behind us. I walked with the masked woman reappearing from thin air at my side. When she appeared, the crow flew from Vensen's shoulder to hers and started "talking" to her in some way.

Anyway, we kept walking. Using the mask's power, I made us less noticeable. But what I didn't expect was to end up back in the same district I'd just left… we even passed the same street I'd been in earlier.

We kept moving until we stopped in front of a shop. Corvin pulled a piece of paper from his coat pocket and read it quickly, then pushed the door open and stepped inside, making the little bell above the door ring.

Inside, the shop was dimly lit by strange lamps on the walls, and it smelled of old wood. At the counter sat a man who looked to be in his early thirties, his face sharply defined. As soon as we entered he raised his head and looked at Corvin, who stepped forward, placed his hand on the counter, and said quietly:

"Adam, since when do you own a shop?"

Adam replied in an irritated tone, folding his arms across his chest:

"I've got an assignment in this area. This is just a cover. But what brings you here exactly? I didn't think you liked leaving that junk shop of yours."

A flicker of annoyance passed over Corvin's face before he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over without a word. Adam read the paper, then slowly raised his eyes past Corvin to where we were standing, but his gaze lingered on me in particular.

I didn't care what was going on between Corvin and Adam. Honestly, I was more interested in looking around the shop itself. And honestly again, the place was pretty ordinary. Pale wooden walls, a smell like old paper mixed with oil, shelves crammed with mismatched stuff. Nothing special at least at first glance.

I was still scanning the place when Corvin finished speaking with the man named Adam. Then Corvin walked toward me and stopped in front of me, his hand trembling slightly but his voice steady:

"He wants to talk to you alone."

When I heard that, I gestured for the masked woman and the others to leave. I waited until they were all out, then stepped forward until I was standing in front of Adam. I ran my fingers lazily through my hair:

"Alright, what exactly do you want from me?"

I immediately noticed how his expression changed once everyone else had left. A moment ago he'd been composed, cold faced, indifferent. Now tension was etched all over him. Then, to my utter surprise, he stood up from behind the counter, knelt down, and bowed on the floor before me, saying:

"Honorable Masked One… can you help me with something… I'm willing to give my life in exchange."

"First of all, can you stand up? This is making me uncomfortable. And second, what do you want my help with?"

He rose, clearly embarrassed:

"Can you help me save someone?"

Save someone? Great, I'll just add this to the list of bizarre situations I've been through lately. But what was even stranger than his request was what I felt through the mask. Despite everything, I could sense the desire radiating from him strong and sincere in a way that was unsettling. Even with the mask on, I could see his intent glowing around him in white.

I didn't care what was going on between Corvin and Adam. Honestly, I was more interested in looking around the shop itself. And honestly again, the place was pretty ordinary. Pale wooden walls, a smell like old paper mixed with oil, shelves crammed with mismatched stuff. Nothing special at least at first glance.

I was still scanning the place when Corvin finished speaking with the man named Adam. Then Corvin walked toward me and stopped in front of me, his hand trembling slightly but his voice steady:

"He wants to talk to you alone."

When I heard that, I gestured for the masked woman and the others to leave. I waited until they were all out, then stepped forward until I was standing in front of Adam. I ran my fingers lazily through my hair:

"Alright, what exactly do you want from me?"

I immediately noticed how his expression changed once everyone else had left. A moment ago he'd been composed, cold faced, indifferent. Now tension was etched all over him. Then, to my utter surprise, he stood up from behind the counter, knelt down, and bowed on the floor before me, saying:

"Honorable Masked One… can you help me with something… I'm willing to give my life in exchange."

"First of all, can you stand up? This is making me uncomfortable. And second, what do you want my help with?"

He rose, clearly embarrassed:

"Can you help me save someone?"

Save someone? Great, I'll just add this to the list of bizarre situations I've been through lately. But what was even stranger than his request was what I felt through the mask. Despite everything, I could sense the desire radiating from him strong and sincere in a way that was unsettling. Even with the mask on, I could see his intent glowing around him in white.

In the end I said:

"Well, this is interesting. Go ahead, tell me your story. Who do you want to save?"