Desires of Men ~SEQUEL TO THE LIFE I LIVE~

Albert Almondseed

"Ok, now all you have to do is wave your hands over the book like this." Penguin demonstrated strange movements over the book, as if summoning something. "You can mutter things under your breath too, that'll really convince them." Albert took a deep breath, preparing himself for the first stunt.

"Ok, I've got this."

"You've got this." Shachi repeated, steering him in the direction of the town. "Now, go get 'em!"

"I've got this!" He confirmed, setting off towards the woman's yelling voice.

Penguin and Shachi didn't follow, instead watching as Albert tripped on a root poking through the soil. In the next instant, he'd landed facefirst onto the dirt, a muffled groan his only response. The two engineers deadpanned at the show of clumsiness.

"He's so doomed." Shachi said. His friend nodded along with him.

"Yep."

~~~

"Has anyone seen my black hen? She was just here an hour ago when I was feedin' the birds. Please, did anyone see anything?" The older woman pleaded, wandering through the village in distress.

Albert emerged from behind a building, carrying the 'mystical book' with confidence. Walking over, he bowed slightly.

"Pardon me, ma'am, but I couldn't help but overhear your plight. My name is..." He hadn't thought about what his name would be. He thought quickly in his head. "A-almondseed. Albert Almondseed." The older woman look flustered.

"Well, that's all well and good, Mr. Almondseed, but unless you've seen my black hen, I don't believe you can help me." He wagged a finger with a grin.

"Ah, but you see, I'm a seer. I can, in fact, help you in your search. Please, allow me to assist." He pulled out the book in a flourish, turning to a random page in the middle and tracing the words with his finger.

"A seer? Why, there isn't no such thing!" The woman exclaimed, crossing her arms.

"Please, I just need to concentrate. Then, I promise, I will help you find your hen."

The woman looked doubtful, as if this whole situation was stupid, but she eventually nodded in reluctance. "Fine."

Going back to the book, Albert wiggled his fingers over the pages, muttering nonsense under his breath so the woman wouldn't hear. Touching the pages delicately, he looked up and closed his eyes.

"I see..." He paused for dramatic effect. "I see many trees...but no buildings." He furrowed his brows in thought. "And...a net or some sort."

Opening his eyes, he took in the crossed arms and raised eyebrows of the woman. "That's all you've got?" She asked. He frowned.

"Well, do you know of any place like that around here?" The woman thought a moment before nodding.

"Well, we've got the woods a little behind the town. Maybe the hen wandered there. I suppose it's worth a look." She sighed, not wanting to walk so much to find her hen.

~~~

Albert accompanied the older woman, along with a few other townspeople wanting to help, to the edge of the forest. He resisted the urge to walk straight towards the tree that held the hen. That would come off as too suspicious.

Walking along the edge of the forest first, they were slowly nearing where the hen was supposed to be. Albert tried not to be visibly jittery and nervous, so he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

It took another five minutes before the group saw the tree. "Look, it's the hen!" One of the townspeople pointed in the general direction of the tree. FInally seeing the hen cawing loudly and flapping its wings, the group rushed forward. The older woman was left to walk as quickly as she was able.

Upon nearing the tree, she gasped in surprise. "Someone's trapped my hen in a tree! What kinda sick criminals would do such a thing!"

Albert helped another man undo the netting around the tree and restrained the bird without incident. The old woman took the bird and smoothed its feathers down in a comforting motion.

"There, there, Margaret. Everything's gonna be fine. Don't you worry about any bird-nappers again. Mama's gonna keep a watchful eye on you from now on." Clearing his throat, Albert stepped forward.

"Ma'am, I'm so happy to have been able to assist you today. Please, take care." He began to walk away but she spoke up.

"Wait, sir!" He turned. "I suppose an apology is in order, after all your seer abilities is what helped me find my Margaret." She dug in her pockets a moment before producing two coins. "Here's payment for your services."

At first he waved it off. "Oh, you don't have to-" He was cut short by her thrusting the money into his hands.

"Just take it." The group of townspeople began to walk back with the old woman, leaving Albert to stare at the money in his hand in wonder. Suddenly, the two engineers appeared from within the woods.

"We were watching the whole time, and it looks like you convinced them." Shachi said, but Penguin was shaking his head in shame.

"Almondseed? Really? That's got to be the absolute worst seer's name I've ever heard in my life. Why in the heck would you say Almondseed?"

Albert shrugged. "I saw a lady eating almonds nearby and it was the first thing that popped into my head."

"Well, whatever. The plan worked, so now you just have to continue making these prophecies and stuff and you'll be rich soon enough."

"Wait, you're not leaving me are you?" He glanced between the two, noticing their tired expressions. "I can't do all this on my own! I need your help."

"We can only help you so much. The rest is up to you, but we'll be watching just to make sure you don't get yourself killed." Penguin answered, turning away towards the town. Shachi followed suit, leaving Albert by the tree. He furrowed his brow, gazing down at the coins in his hand once more.

The power that being a seer held was quite magnificent. The opportunity to expand upon his power was within his grasp and he grinned. All he had to do was keep up the persona of a seer and give vague prophecies and the rest is history.

'This will be too easy.' He thought.