The Magician of Miracles

Ash grabbed my shoulder and shook me violently while staring at my face as if begging me. But what exactly did he want me to do? Even if I wanted to help him, what did he expect? This fool sold his soul to a talking crow his problem, not mine. And he didn't stop there; he got tangled up with the Masked one as well, who apparently heads some mysterious cult or maybe a secret organization.

Frankly, that explains a lot. His sudden power, the rumors spreading all over the Lower District, even his memory loss. Maybe it's part of some initiation ritual for joining an organization? I remember Edmund once mentioned a secret group with rites like that. Could Corvin be one of them too? I don't think so he can barely look at the Masked without trembling. Obviously he knows something, but it's maddening that he refuses to speak.

We left the storeroom and saw the crow still in a deep sleep, muttering in his sleep. When we returned inside, Ash gripped my arm:

"Do something, I can't take this anymore!"

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

"You're close to the other Masked one act!"

"And why do you think I'm close to the other Masked one? I haven't spoken to them since I came here."

Ash blinked rapidly, flustered. Then he punched me in the face; he fell to the ground. I didn't give him time to recover. I grabbed one of the swords from the pile in the storeroom, leveled it at his face and said:

"Don't move."

He raised his head toward me.

"What are you doing?"

I brought the blade nearer.

"Do you think I didn't notice your lies?"

"What do you mean? Are you insane?"

"Stop dodging. How did you know I was close to the other Masked one?"

He tried to act calm.

"Why don't you put the sword down and we talk quietly?"

"Speak! Or I'll thrust this sword through your chest right now!"

Ash stood up, stepped closer to the blade, put his hands behind his back and said:

"Do it."

I didn't move, but he came closer until the sword nearly pierced his skin.

"Come on, kill me. What are you waiting for? Kill me your comrade and keep cooperating with that crazy Masked who slaughtered all your mates."

"How did you know about that?"

He gave a faint smile.

"And does it matter? Kill me, what's stopping you?"

I threw the sword on the floor with force. I couldn't do it and the bastard knew perfectly well I wouldn't.

When Ash saw me drop the blade, he sighed with relief and sat on a nearby wooden crate, saying:

"Looks like the other Masked didn't brainwash you."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know why you went with him and left Nila, but I'm sure you had a good reason."

"How did you know about that?"

He waved his hand lazily.

"Nila told me."

I scoffed sarcastically.

"When did she tell you? You live as a servant of a crow."

"Long story, but in short, Mork found me at a time when neither the Masked nor the crow were around."

"If that's true, then why didn't you run?"

He looked at the floor and said bitterly:

"As you know, I sold my soul to that Masked. The crow's orders were clear. I can't disobey them no matter what. Even stepping away from her is forbidden."

"Then why are you telling me all this now?"

He stretched out lazily before saying:

"I was just making sure you aren't under the other Masked's mind control."

"And why would you assume that in the first place?"

"Can you stop pretending to be stupid? Why in the world would you willingly go with that crazed Masked?"

"You haven't even met them what makes you so surprised?"

"From what Mork said, from the rumors about them, and because they seem to be the leader of the Masked who enslaved me it's natural to be surprised. It wouldn't be strange not to be surprised."

"All that doesn't matter now. Tell me, why are you telling me all this? What's your goal?"

He smiled.

"We're friends, don't I need a reason?"

"Cut the nonsense. What do you really want?"

He straightened up and stood properly, then said seriously:

"They're planning a trap to catch the Masked ones by tracking me."

"How did they learn about their connection? Even I didn't know. And how will they track you?"

He shook his head.

"I don't know the details."

"Then why tell me at all? Wouldn't it be better to stay quiet so the trap succeeds and you get your freedom? Don't tell me you expect me to help you."

"And who said I want the trap to succeed?"

"...What?"

"I do want freedom, of course, but if the trap succeeds I'll die too."

"You've truly lost your mind, sorry I doubted you were tortured."

"No, listen. Mork told me this. That Masked owns my soul now; if she dies, I die too."

I folded my arms over my chest.

"Then why not tell your master the crow and cut to the chase if you really want to stay alive?"

He ground his teeth.

"First, he isn't my master. Second, if he finds out I talked with Mork, he'll call it treason. Then... my situation will get worse than it already is."

"So at first you tried to push me to help you gain your freedom so you wouldn't die with the Masked. And when you realized I wouldn't help, you decided to tell the truth so you could save yourself."

A hint of annoyance crossed his face before he muttered irritably:

"It's annoying dealing with clever people."

He rose from the crate, walked to stand directly in front of me and said seriously:

"Look, I don't know exactly what kind of trap they're planning, but please warn the Masked about it. It's best for both of us."

As soon as he finished, he turned and left the storeroom. I remained standing where I was, my hand still tightly gripping the sword's hilt.