Caleb awoke slowly to what he assumed was the next day with the sun high above the clear roof above him. He attempted to sit up slowly, but barely had the strength and had to lay back down. He barely saw someone rushing over to help him. They seemed to be saying something but he couldn’t hear since his ears were ringing too loudly. He closed his eyes trying to relax and try to alleviate the pain. Then there was something cool placed on his forehead and over his eyes. The pain started to dull a little with it and his breathing began to steady. His hearing slowly started to come back as well and was able to hear those around him fussing over his health. He wanted to tell them not to worry, that he was fine but his voice wouldn't work.
He settled for a mental message to the ones close by, “I’m fine, no need to worry.” He was able to sense their confusion before the realisation that it was him.
“You've been out for two days!” he now heard clearly from the person beside him. “I think we are well warranted to fuss over you.” Caleb sighed realizing just how much he did. He never got to the point of passing out before and it made him nervous. He knew he had to press onwards, so he forced himself to gather his strength and sit upright much to his caretaker’s dismay.
“I can’t sit still forever,” he barely choked out. He then quickly puts his arm out to the side reaching into his mini pocket dimension where he stores small items. He then pulls out a crystal and squeezes it between his palms causing the stored energy to rush over him. He exhales relieved and feeling reinvigorated while those around him look in wonder. He puts the crystal back and closes the dimension after. Now with his energy filled, he takes off the towel that was over his eyes and takes a good look around. He immediately figures out he was inside the tower above the tunnel by seeing the casino outside the window.
“You really are giving us heart attacks every few seconds. I’m nearly missing you being asleep.” Caleb gave them a look not understanding it was a joke. “Hey relax, I was only teasing you. It’s all right, just try not to do too much yet.”
“I know, I know,” Caleb sighed this time with his voice back. “I just like to keep moving forward. Sitting still too long makes me anxious.” He pulled out the compass from his pocket and saw it spin around before landing on the casino. ‘Why would it land on the casino?’ he wondered. It took him a minute of looking around at everyone, plus the small space with few beds to realize. “Is this the only safe space you all have?”
“That I know of.”
“Hmm… if I were to buy the casino. That should have more than enough space for Supers.”
“What!? Buy the casino?? How would you even do that? Are you secretly filthy rich?”
“No but I have this,” he began to use his elemental power to forge another crystal like the one he has in his pocket dimension. Water and air alike being crushed by earth with fire smoothing it together. When he was done, another crystal was between his hands. “See? If I sell these to different people for a good price, we might be able to get the casino in no time.”
“It doesn't use too much of your energy right? You're not going to pass out on us again?”
“It barely uses any of my energy to control the elements. Plus I have this,” Caleb then uses his duplication ability to make another one identical to the one in his other hand. Now everyone was realising just how much this kid could do. Teleport, Turn invisible, control the elements, and seemingly duplicate anything. They then began to wonder how much more he could do, and were happy that he was on their side. “Now where to sell these? Bank?”
“You probably could do that, or we can talk to the jeweler downtown who might be open to buying them. We just have to come up with a story as to how you acquired them. Abilities like yours will probably frighten already frightened people.”
“Family is rich and I don't want them anymore? Something like that? I mean you said something along the lines of that earlier.” They nodded in agreement. It could work. “Well I can do that quickly, they know your faces but don't know mine. I’ll be back!” Caleb jumped out of the bed and started duplicating the crystals while walking over to where it was. He remembered seeing the building on his way to the church on the first night and was there fairly quickly.
He knocked on the gate surrounding it lightly and waited. Nothing. He knocked again this time a bit harder and it pulled open. He took a breath and walked up to the now open door with someone behind it. “Uh… hi there!” Caleb greeted them to which they only opened the door wider for him and he walked inside. “So… My parents decided to ground me and I got mad at them so I want to sell these for money so I can buy their house from them.”
He was met with a long stare, then a chuckle, “So that's what it is, eh? As long as you agree that everything is my property after you do and don't sue me, I’ll see what I can do.”
“Yes! So this is what I have. Not much but a good collection of their favourite gems.” Caleb spread the gems that he had put in his pocket onto the table. “They can probably get more if they wanted, but it should cause them a good enough headache for now.”
“Hmm,” the jeweler began to examine the stones in front of them. “Do you know what the names of these are? I don't believe I have seen anything like it.”
“I don't know honestly, I just know they get them from their private mine overseas. They build some of their wealth off them.”
“Do you mind if I grab my equipment? I want to make sure these are real and not just plastic. Not as though I don't believe you, but I have to make sure you didn't grab the wrong set just in case.” The jeweler put the gem back onto the table and left for a few moments to their basement. Caleb decided to look around their place a little more. In the corner of the room looked to be a workstation where he presumed they made their pieces. He saw a set of stairs leading up to a second floor which he remembered had a balcony above their garden. He wanted to see the hidden garden but didn't know how to ask.
“Ok! Here we go!” The jeweler got back up with a device he didn't know of. They got everything set up before taking a crystal from him and putting it inside. Caleb watched curiously as they moved the crystal around. “Yes, quite.” They didn't elaborate so he just sat forward trying to see what they saw. “Uh huh… yes.” The jeweler suddenly pushed the machine away and grabbed a strange pair of glasses from their desk. They flipped a few lenses in front of it and looked more at it. “You said you didn't know the name of it?” Caleb shook his head. “Mm.. well whatever it is, it is certainly beautiful. I could probably find ring and necklace buyers for it fairly quickly. But it looks hard to mold…”
Caleb, though inexperienced, knew where this was leading. “You want to give me a low cost so you can profit more?”
The jeweler hesitated for a moment, “nooooo! Of course not! Why would I-”
“Because I’m an inexperienced kid. Trust me, my parents have told me the value of things since I was little. I just want to see how much I can get right now. I know you can make a lot out of that because of the size. Might lose some, but you’ll make a lot more than you lose. From there, I know I’ll be able to buy my parents house easily with that being worth at least a million for even a carat right? Since I know you want to profit on them, maybe a good $750 000 each would suit them?” Caleb knew he was bluffing and pulling numbers out, but he didn't once let the other get a sense of his falsehood. He loved seeing the jeweler’s face more from contempt, shock, to a smile seeing that this kid was more along then he previously assumed.
“Maybe maybe… what about $500 000?”
“You're really trying to twist my arm aren't you? No deal. I'm already giving you a good discount since it was unexpected. The least I could go is $700 000 each. And yes, I know you're going to offer me less but this is the lowest I can go. If you wont give me this much, I can take my business elsewhere. I do still have enough time before my parents are back from their “luxury cruise around 7 destinations”. Your move dealer.”
This time the jeweler let out a hefty chuckle. “You really are good kid. Alright I’ll see what I can do. Just have to run out to the bank. You have five of them right?”
“Yep, and more can come if my parents decide to ground me again.”
“I’ll hope so then,” The jeweler laughed heading out to the bank down the road. Caleb decided to prepare himself for an attack if the jeweler decided to take them by force. He didn't mind losing the gems, but getting severely injured didn't seem very fun. His preparations were unneeded though as the jeweler walked in with a case of money for him. “There is everything you need there. I won't double cross you I promise. If you’d give me this deal for those every time, I don't want to lose your sale. If there is even a single bill out of place, feel free to take your gems back. Can I ask for continued patronage?”
“I've heard good things about your shop so I’ll consider it,” Caleb smiled at them walking out of the store keeping his guard up just in case. He also expanded his mental abilities to watch those around him in case someone decided to try and steal his money from him. Luckily people weren’t desperate enough to steal from a “weak kid” so he made it back safely.
He controlled the air to open the trapdoors and leap through to see the expectant eyes of those around him. “$700 000 thousand each, and there were five, someone want to do the math for me…?”
There were a few seconds of silence until someone volunteered, “3 500 000…” There were a few seconds of stunned silence while Caleb smiled.
“So does anyone want to go and buy it? A kid selling rare gems like this is suspicious enough. Buying a casino is a little much.”
“I’ll do it,” the one who looked to be the temporary leader of them said. “Normal people don't know my face, and if I get caught, I can rely on you to help me out again, right?”
“Is that even a question?” Caleb laughed as they headed out and he laid on one of the beds. “I need some rest after all of this… I was bluffing the whole time. Half of the time I didn't know what words were coming out of my mouth. I still don't understand how they believed me. Oh and if we need more money, they are willing to buy more from me.” Everyone murmured their joy in what he was doing while he looked up to the sky trying to relax his racing mind and heart.
YOU ARE READING
Realm One
Adventure-Don't mind the bad writing- Caleb was born in the body of an adult in the void between realms. From there he learned he was chosen to become the next Favourite of Nature. He practiced his powers there for a while before going to earth as a year old...
