Beneath the Stagnant Sky

CHAPTER III

SIGNED AND SEALED

The warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as the morning rush settled. The hum of conversations, the clinking of cups, and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine created a comforting symphony inside Maeve's Corner. Eli stood behind the counter, expertly pouring steamed milk into a cup, forming a delicate heart atop a caramel latte.

"Boss, you really have to start charging extra for your latte art," teased Marco, one of the café's baristas. "People come here for the coffee, but they stay for the free entertainment."

Eli rolled her eyes with a playful smirk. "If I start charging, you'd be my first customer, Marco. Maybe I should deduct from your paycheck instead."

Their banter was met with laughter from the staff and a few regular customers seated near the counter. Maeve's Corner had always been more than just a coffee shop—it was a place where people found warmth, connection, and a little escape from reality.

As she wiped down the counter, a fleeting thought crossed her mind. Last night was the first time in years she had fallen asleep without dreams—no nightmares, no restless tossing and turning, just peaceful, uninterrupted sleep.

Her hands froze for a second.

Was it because of him?

She had brushed off Caelum's words as nonsense, but this—this was real. Had he really granted her wish?

Before she could dwell on it further, one of the baristas nudged her playfully. "Eli, you totally zoned out just now. Thinking about a secret admirer?"

Eli forced a laugh, shaking off the thought. "More like thinking about how to get through today without strangling any of you."

The teasing continued, and she let herself indulge in the moment, pretending everything was fine. But deep down, a small part of her couldn't ignore the creeping realization—Caelum wasn't lying. The wishes were real.

Eli's POV

Wait... how am I supposed to talk to Caelum again?

Shit. I forgot to ask for his number. I know nothing about him.

I excused myself from my coworkers for a short break. Taking out my phone, I opened the blue app and searched for his name—Caelum Ybañez. Tons of results popped up, but I couldn't find him. I then checked the rainbow app, but he was nowhere to be found there either. Is he using a different name?

I sighed and shook my head. I shouldn't overthink this. Coincidences happen. Maybe it wasn't because of him.

Standing up, I adjusted my cap and walked back into the café—only to freeze in place.

Sitting in a corner was Caelum, looking right at me.

He smiled and waved.

I heard my co-workers snickering in the background, clearly enjoying the scene.

I marched toward him, still processing the shock. That smug smile never left his face. He wasn't like this yesterday. What's his deal?

"H-How did you know where I work?" I asked, completely taken aback. As far as I remembered, I hadn't given him any personal details—just my name.

Instead of answering, he tilted his head slightly and said, "How was your sleep?"

My breath hitched.

For a moment, I could only stare at him.

Because the answer was obvious—I had slept deeply, peacefully, without a single dream or nightmare. Something I hadn't experienced in years.

"Judging by your reaction," Caelum mused, resting his chin on his hand, "I'd say it worked."

I swallowed. "So... the wishes are real."

He leaned back in his seat, looking entirely too satisfied with himself. "Of course they are. I don't make empty promises, Eli."

I pulled out the chair across from him and sat down, trying to collect my thoughts. "Then... what now?"

Caelum's playful expression darkened just slightly. "Now, we need to make things official."

I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean?"

He slid a piece of folded paper across the table. "A pact."

I hesitated before picking it up. As I unfolded it, my heart pounded at the words written in elegant, almost ancient script.

"By making this pact, the wish-bearer acknowledges the weight of each wish and the price that comes with it. The contractor shall fulfill all granted wishes, and in turn, the wish-bearer shall..."

I skimmed past the part about the price. It doesn't matter.

Instead, I went straight to the limitations.

Wishes Cannot Bring Back the Dead.
No exceptions—not a lost loved one, a pet, or even myself if I die early.

Wishes Cannot Change the Past.
No undoing regrets, no fixing mistakes. No matter how much I want to change things, I can't.

Wishes Cannot Directly Harm Others.
No revenge, no violence. Even if I wanted someone to disappear, I can't wish for it.

Wishes Cannot Alter the Fundamental Nature of the Curse.
So no way to remove the 25-wish limit? That's... ominous.

The Cursed Man Cannot Directly Benefit from the Wishes.
Meaning Caelum gets nothing out of this. Why?

Wishes Can't Make People Forget.
No erasing painful memories—not mine, not his.

Wishes Cannot Be Used to Change Human Nature.
I can't wish for people to be kind, to stop crime, or to make the world better? What's the point then?

The Cursed Man Can Only Grant One Wish Per Day.
So I can't just use them all at once and be done with it.

I let out a slow breath, setting the paper down. "That's a lot of restrictions."

Caelum shrugged. "Wishes have consequences. If they were limitless, they'd be too dangerous."

I leaned back, crossing my arms. "Fine. What do I have to do?"

Caelum's smirk returned as he placed a pen in front of me. "Sign the pact, and we continue our deal."

I didn't hesitate. Without another thought, I grabbed the pen and scrawled my name at the bottom of the page.

Because the truth was, I didn't care about the consequences.

I just wanted my wishes.

***