The Magician of Miracles

[Jevan perspective]

While I was watching Adam confess to that woman, I was smiling behind the mask. I don't even know how to describe it… the whole thing felt like trying to hold a wedding ceremony in the middle of a hurricane.

It didn't look like the right time for this kind of thing, and yet… I don't know how to put it, but it felt nice? Or something close to that word.

But sadly, nothing nice lasts around me. Everything collapsed in less than a single second.

Without warning, the two of them turned into chunks of flesh that blasted toward me. I didn't even have time to scream or move. I froze in place, and all I could do was stare at the spot where they had been standing just moments earlier.

Then I heard a voice behind me. A familiar and unfamiliar voice at the same time… and disgusting.

"We meet again, you little bastard."

I turned. Behind me stood a tall man with a face covered in scars, a large black eyepatch over one eye. His hair was tied into thick braids, and a big deep scar ran across his nose.

The moment I saw him, I lifted my hand to set a new rule… but I couldn't even finish the first word.

He raised his hand before me, and my body was yanked into the air. My arms and legs tightened up violently. I tried to move, but it was pointless. My body was frozen like a stone statue.

The man walked toward me slowly, still holding his hand raised. He lifted the white paper crushed between his fingers.

"When this letter reached me, I didn't believe it was actually you who came."

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"But it seems today is my lucky day."

"You're a big fan, I see. Listen, I can sign your forehead if you want. Just put me down. No need for all this drama."

The pressure around my body increased. I felt like my bones were being completely crushed. I could barely breathe.

"It's time to settle the debt you left me."

His fingers slid over the large scar on his face, as if telling me you're the one who gave me this.

Great. Wonderful. The original Jevan was a genius at making enemies. Well done, you little bastard, making my life harder. Seriously, great work. A lunatic who likes stabbing people, and now a lunatic who likes crushing people. Can I get one day of rest? Of course not.

"Listen, I'm a very kind person. No need to repay anything. Keep the debt, take it as a gift, do whatever you want with it."

He lifted his hand higher, and this time I felt like my organs were being crushed from the inside out. With the mask, strong pain feels mild… but when the pain becomes something beyond natural? At that point, even the mask is useless.

I tried whispering any rule, any rule at all, anything… but he raised his other hand and with one motion ripped the glove from my hand and pulled it into his own.

I cursed him in my head with the worst insults I could think of, plus a little extra for the original Jevan. Not out loud, of course. This is not the best time for insults.

I whispered quickly,

"I wish the force crushing my body would disappear."

Nothing happened.

I tried again.

"I wish the authoritative force crushing my body would disappear."

Still nothing.

"I wish I could escape from here."

No matter what I tried, nothing worked. It seemed there was no miracle this time, not even a thin thread of hope.

With every failed attempt, I felt more and more desperate.

The colors around me started fading, and for the first time since taking over Jevan's body, I felt this feeling… fear. Real fear of death.

This time I felt like I was truly going to die.

Death means the end of everything, and I was not ready for that end. Not yet. Not before I find a way back home. But no matter how hard I resisted, it was useless.

I thought this was the end. The world around me turned completely black.

But without warning, I fell to the ground. I gasped hard, then lifted my head and saw the man still standing in front of me.

All he did next was toss the glove back at me.

"You're weak."

"Aren't you going to kill me?"

"You look exhausted from fighting Ricardo and breaking into the prison. I'm not the type who kills his opponent when he's in such pitiful shape."

He turned and started walking away.

"We'll meet next time, and you better be ready. Because I won't spare you."

He left just like that. As if he hadn't been about to kill me moments ago.

I didn't understand why he wanted to kill me or who he even was, but I was certain of one thing. If he wanted to finish me off earlier, he could have done it without the slightest effort.

I stood up and brushed the dirt off my coat, then slipped the glove back onto my hand. I tried taking a deep breath so I wouldn't collapse. I was exhausted enough to sleep right there, but this was a street, and sleeping here didn't sound like a good idea.

When I lifted my head, I saw the scene I didn't want to see. Adam's and Diana's remains scattered everywhere.

"Perfect… exactly what I needed."

I crouched down and gathered the pieces. The process was disgusting, but I kept going. I don't know why. Maybe because someone had to do it anyway.

After finishing, I searched for a nearby cemetery. I found a small one behind a stone wall and slipped inside. I dug a single grave because I couldn't distinguish between what was left of the two.

I placed the remains inside, closed the grave, then took out my dagger and carved on the marker: Adam and Diana.

I stared at the names for a long moment.

I didn't expect it, but for some reason I felt sad. I had known Adam for two days at most. Diana I had met only minutes before. Yet I still felt grief for their deaths.

The only times I felt something close to this were when Iris died in my arms, and when Raven died trying to protect me.

Strange?

I adjusted my coat, then walked out of the cemetery.