I didn't really know what to make of the old man's offer, but my stomach was full for the first time in days, and the warmth of the greasy fast food still lingered in my body. I had to admit, the guy had something about him—something that made me curious. Even after all his talk about magic, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe he knew something I didn't."So, what's your name, kid?" he asked, breaking the silence as we left the rundown joint.I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing. I hadn't given my name much thought. It was something that didn't matter for the longest time. I looked at him, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about his calm, probing gaze made me trust him, at least for now."JLC," I finally said. The name felt foreign on my tongue, but it was mine.
"JLC, huh?" He repeated it slowly, as if weighing it in his mind. "Alright, JLC. Got a place to stay?"I glanced around at the grimy streets of the south side, the place I'd been stuck in for longer than I cared to remember. Trash bags lined the alleys, the air stank of piss and weed, and the occasional scream or car horn blared in the distance. A place to stay? Yeah, right.
"No," I admitted. "Nowhere."
Smoosh scratched his beard, his face thoughtful. "Well then, you'll come with me. Got a place across town. Better than this dump." He gestured to the decaying surroundings with a sweeping hand.
I wasn't about to argue with that.We walked for a long time, leaving behind the familiar filth of the south side, venturing into areas I'd never seen before.
The streets became cleaner, wider, and eventually, the grime of the slums gave way to polished buildings, high-end shops, and the hum of wealth. The change was startling. We had entered the north side of Prime City, a place called Wehangzone—though I only knew the name because Smoosh mentioned it offhandedly. It felt like a different world altogether.
Before long, we stood in front of a towering apartment complex. It gleamed under the city lights, the kind of place you'd expect rich businessmen or celebrities to live in—not some old ex-Magician and a guy like me. I stared up at it, unsure if I was even supposed to be here.Smoosh led the way inside like he owned the place, and I followed, feeling out of place in my tattered clothes. Everything was so clean—too clean. The lobby was massive, with sleek
modern furniture and sparkling floors. The people passing by gave me sideways glances, but Smoosh didn't seem to notice.
"I'll get you a room here for a while," he said casually, as if that was a completely normal thing to say to someone he just met. "You'll need a place to crash if we're gonna start workin' together.""Yeah... thanks," I muttered, still trying to wrap my head around this sudden generosity. But something gnawed at me. "But what exactly am I gonna have to do for you?"
He chuckled, walking ahead as if he expected the question. "Train, boy. First off, you gotta awaken your magic. Right now, you've got it in you, but it ain't ready yet."Magic again. The word still felt strange. I glanced down at my hands, wondering what kind of power was supposedly buried inside me.
"And how do I do that?" I asked."That's what I'm here for." Smoosh gave me a sly smile. "I'll teach ya."---The training started the next morning. It felt ridiculous at first, standing there, doing weird exercises that were supposed to unlock some inner power I wasn't even sure existed. But Smoosh insisted, and after a few hours, something clicked.
