The Magician of Miracles

I kept staring at the masked girl standing in front of me for a moment while sitting on the floor. She stood there motionless. Had she been outside the whole time? I was sure I hadn't seen her when I opened the window the first time.

I got up and brushed the dust off my clothes.

"What are you doing here?"

As usual, she didn't answer. She just kept looking at me. But this time her eyes narrowed behind the mask. I don't know how, but somehow I could tell she was asking me: Where are you going? Why are you looking at me as if you're about to run away at any moment? What promise had the original Jevan made her to make her expect my help? This was a problem.

I'm not responsible for his promises… I'm not him. But I can't say that to her directly. Who knows what she'd do if she found out?

I said:

"I need to go out and take care of something."

Luckily she didn't press further… I mean literally, she doesn't talk. But she stepped aside and I vaulted out of the window with all the grace I could muster.

I ended up stumbling and falling to the ground, but quickly stood up, dusted myself off and kept going as if nothing had happened… until I tripped over a piece of stone and fell again.

Rago, who was floating next to me, started laughing at me. It wasn't the fact that he was laughing that annoyed me so much as how he laughed that horse like bray. I exhaled, got back up carefully this time, adjusted my posture, and when I turned I found the masked girl still walking beside me.

I said with a bored tone, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye.

"Why are you still walking behind me?"

She didn't reply. She just kept walking without a word.

Fine… looks like I have no choice but to go and fulfill that last soul's wish with her. Whatever… my current goal is to fulfill that soul's wish, and her presence might help somehow.

I started looking for any carriage driver on the street. Luckily, I knew his name and face I'd met him before when Corvin hailed that carriage to the cemetery. I knew how to find him. Simple: I'd use the same method I used to find Timaeus when Iris asked me…

I muttered.

"I wish I could find Methal."

All I had to do now was walk around at random. I was sure I'd find him in less than half an hour at most. That's what I thought but an hour passed, then another, and I still hadn't found the man I was looking for.

Worse, I seemed to be lost. The buildings were much shorter than usual, the houses in even worse shape. Even the walls were half collapsed, the streets cracked. The place was so dark that if my eyes hadn't adapted to the darkness, I'd have been completely blind.

I kept walking aimlessly, hoping the wish would work. As I moved down the street, a group of pale faced people with hostile looks surrounded me. From their appearance it was obvious they weren't here to welcome me.

Before they could do anything, a man came from afar. Short hair, a small scar on his face, arms somewhat large. He walked up to me and asked in a rough voice,

"What are you two doing here at this hour?"

I answered right away with a sideways smirk.

"I'm looking for Methal."

I don't know why I told him the truth it's not like he'd know him but I didn't think I had anything to lose by trying. Unexpectedly, he didn't say he didn't know him.

"Why do you want to see him?"

So this man did know the carriage driver named Methal. But I didn't tell him my real reason for coming here. It's not like he looked like a good man. And while judging people by appearances is stupid, something inside me made me uneasy about him.

I said, adjusting my coat collar;

"I have a message I need to deliver to him."

His face showed some confusion but he quickly replied,

"I'll take you to him myself."

I nodded, mentally preparing for the possibility that this was a trap to lure me into a dark alley and rob me of everything. But honestly, I felt very calm. This man didn't pose any threat to me. If he tried anything I'd simply knock him down and rob him instead. Either way, I didn't care much anymore, especially after the bounty on me as Jevan had been lifted following my recent actions as the masked man.

I walked behind him, watching his back warily. The streets here were narrower and darker than usual; oil lamps on the walls gave off a weak yellow glow barely lighting the way. The smell of mud and rust hit my nose immediately.

We finally arrived at a house in worse shape than the others; its walls half collapsed, its doors no better, windows stuffed with old cloth. The man stood at the door and knocked. After a few minutes, a man in his early twenties opened dark brown hair, eyes the same color. I recognized him. It was Methal, the one I'd been looking for.

I glanced to my right but didn't see the masked girl. Looked left, then behind me no trace of her anywhere.

How had she vanished so fast?

Anyway, I didn't dwell on it. The man who'd brought me here was speaking with Methal. After a short conversation I couldn't hear, he pointed at me.

Methal walked toward me until he stood right in front of me and said,

"How can I help you?"

I could sense the tension in his voice. There was something off in the way he looked at me.

Still, I said:

"I have a message for you from Martin."

He spoke with a gloomy expression, averting his eyes from mine as if trying to avoid my gaze,

"Let's talk inside."

Even so, I caught a flicker of shame on his face.

Despite everything he opened the door and we went inside. The hallway was so narrow my shoulders almost touched the walls. I followed him until we reached a small, low ceilinged room. On the wooden table in the center sat remnants of cold coffee and old plates. A single candle was almost melted away.

He gestured for me to sit on a wooden chair at the table, so I did. He sat opposite me, hands clasped over his knees, trying to say something but saying nothing.

I didn't wait any longer. I went straight to the point and said:

"Martin told me to hand over all his wealth to you in the event of his death."