The Magician of Miracles

Inside the building, the masked woman was staring at Morc, who was holding that wooden staff. He waved it before her again, then extended his hand and said:

"So, do we have a deal?"

But before she could reply, a massive explosion occurred outside. The building shook and its walls cracked under the force, yet neither of them moved. Morc's smile stayed on his face, while the masked woman remained silent. Each of them knew very well what this meant. A certain assimilator had just died.

Morc cast a glance through the window and saw scattered pieces of flesh and organs. And although his smile remained, it carried much gloom. He turned back to her and said:

"It seems things have gone off track."

He threw a yellow card toward her. She caught it with her hand without taking her eyes off him. He continued:

"I'll change my offer. Hand over the shop owner to me if he's still alive, and the man who sold his soul to you, and in return I'll give you this staff."

As soon as he finished his words, he vanished from the place. The masked woman stared at the card for a moment before leaving the place.

Outside, Corvin was sitting on the ground next to Jevan, whose chest had a huge hole in it, his skin cracked to the point that bone was visible in some spots. All the Claw men had already fled, leaving only Vensen, who stood staring at Jevan with a mixture of astonishment and concern. Corvin noticed those looks.

Meanwhile Jevan stood up from the ground and brushed the dust off his clothes, then looked at the masked woman:

"Now you show up? After all this chaos is over?"

She didn't answer. She simply shifted her gaze to Corvin, who was still sitting on the ground with his black sword beside him. Jevan reached out to the crow perched on her shoulder, grabbed it firmly and stared straight into its eyes:

"Where did you disappear to?"

Nok replied in a thick voice:

"I went to…"

Jevan cut him off and returned him to her shoulder:

"Look, it doesn't matter."

Then he turned toward Corvin and extended his hand to him, saying:

"I think we should leave this place quickly."

Corvin hesitated but eventually took his hand. Jevan pulled him up from the ground, then glanced at Vensen who was still standing in place and waved at him:

"Hey Vensen, we're leaving now. Gather your things if you have anything worth taking."

But Vensen didn't move. He kept staring in amazement at the giant hole in Jevan's chest. Corvin got up from his place and went into the shop, his black sword in his hand. His vision was still blurry, but he began collecting papers and some necessary items. As for Vensen, he stood still for a moment before following him.

Inside, while Corvin was putting the papers into a small bag he had hung at his waist, he turned to Vensen, who was standing behind him, and said:

"It seems you've known the masked man for a long time, right?"

Vensen didn't answer. Corvin cast a brief glance at him, then straightened up and headed toward the door. At the threshold he said:

"Look… I may not be close to you and maybe I have no right to say this, but it's better for you to stay away from him. You have the chance now to hide and run far away."

Vensen kept staring at his back until he left the shop. Then he continued searching for Ash. He wandered through the shop until he reached the storeroom. There, he found him lying between some old armor, trying to hide among them. At the sight of this scene he kicked him hard, making him scream:

"What are you doing?!"

But Vensen replied as he extended his hand to pull him up:

"We need to get out of here now."

Ash shoved Vensen's hand away forcefully:

"You want to sacrifice your life, that's your business, but don't drag me with you!"

Vensen replied:

"The battle's already over."

Ash was confused:

"We lost? I knew we would lose. I shouldn't have betrayed the Claw. Now I'll die in the worst way, and all because of that masked bastard… I should have…"

Vensen cut him off:

"No, we won."

Ash looked at his face in shock and then shouted with joy:

"I knew I made the right decision! But why do you look so grim?"

Vensen didn't answer his question. He simply turned and left his back to him:

"If you don't believe me you can stay here if you want."

Ash quickly got up from the ground and followed him, picking up one of the old swords from the corner along the way. They went out together, and as soon as they reached the outside they found Jevan standing at the doorframe, a massive opening in his chest and his skin cracked to the point that some of his bones were exposed.

Ash stumbled at the sight of the scene and almost fell, but Vensen grabbed his arm and stopped him from falling. As for Jevan, he was adjusting his cloak, stained with human entrails, then said while turning his back to Vensen:

"Are you ready to leave?"

Vensen nodded, and then Jevan immediately moved toward Corvin and the masked woman, who were standing a few steps away in front of him. Vensen turned and cast one last glance at the shop behind him, then followed them.

…

At night

The street was empty of passersby, and there was only the creaking sound of the wind. In the middle of the street, Morc appeared out of nowhere. As soon as he appeared, he walked until he stood before the body of the short man. He bent slightly and closed his eyes. Then he raised his head and looked at the scattered remains of the giant man's body. He extended his hand, and the scattered body parts vanished from everywhere to gather in a cloth bag he was carrying.

He waved his hand again, and he and the bag and the body moved to the cemetery of the Fifth District. There, Nila was standing next to an old lady, and behind them three children: one blond with blue eyes, one with black hair and red eyes, and another with dark brown hair. Beside them was a young woman in her thirties carrying a small child. All of them were dressed in black, and their faces were steeped in gloom.

As soon as Morc appeared, the woman ran toward the body of the short man. She knelt before him and burst into tears over his chest, holding his body in her arms. Soon she stood up and approached Morc, and when she stood directly in front of him she slapped him hard across the face while sobbing:

"You're the reason, you bastard! You're the reason he died!"

Nila tried to intervene, but Morc raised his hand to stop her. The woman continued angrily, screaming and raising her hand again to slap him even harder than the first:

"I told him not to go with you! Everyone knows that whoever goes with you never returns alive. But he trusted you!"

She gasped as her tears began to pour:

"And now you're smiling as if nothing happened!"

She fell to her knees, covered her face with her hands and broke down crying. As for Morc, his smile remained on his face but it couldn't hide the deep sadness in his eyes. The old lady's son stepped toward him, looking at Morc's face, at that terrifying smile. Morc tried to hide his face from him, then continued walking until he stood before the old lady. There he hesitated, but the old lady took the bag from him quietly.

She opened the bag, then looked at the torn remains, yet maintained her composure. She raised her eyes to him and said in a steady voice:

"I know it's not your fault. You don't have to carry all this blame."

But Morc shook his head, the smile not leaving his face despite the gloom on his features:

"No, Madam Agatha, that's not the case. I think he asked you not to blame me if he died, but the truth is that I really am the reason for all of this."