Beneath the Stagnant Sky

CHAPTER V

SUMMONING THE WISH GIVER

Eli still couldn't believe it—she had been sleeping soundly for three consecutive nights. Three days had passed since she last saw Caelum at her café, yet she still hadn't decided what to wish for next. She obviously didn't need any material things—she was well off, after all.

"Maeve, is something bothering you?" Grandma Sera asked. It was Friday, and they were at the clinic for her grandmother's regular check-up. Eli had informed her staff that she wouldn't be coming in today. Even though she owned the café, she wanted to make sure everyone felt equal. She didn't want them to feel awkward around her, and besides, she needed something to keep herself occupied, which was why she insisted on working there.

Eli had graduated with a degree in Business Administration, though it wasn't her choice. She had taken it to fulfill the wishes of her grandmother and father. After all, she was expected to inherit the family business in the future. But if it had been entirely up to her, she would have pursued BS Psychology—she had always found human behavior fascinating.

"Nothing, La. Don't worry about me," Eli reassured her with a small smile before quickly changing the subject. "By the way, La, have you heard from Dad?"

Her grandmother sighed heavily. "Three months ago, Hun. That was the last time your father checked in on us."

As Eli had expected, her father doesn't care.

He had never attended any of her graduation ceremonies, never once made an effort to be there. He only returned to the Philippines three times a year—to oversee his businesses. Even when he did, he never visited her. The only thing he ever provided was financial support, but Eli had long stopped touching the money he sent.

She leaned back in her chair, glancing at her grandmother, who looked exhausted despite her composed demeanor. The check-up had gone well, but Eli could tell that time was slowly catching up to her. It terrified her.

Maybe that's what I should wish for next.

She clenched her fists on her lap. If she could use one of her wishes to prolong her grandmother's life, she would do it in a heartbeat. But she already knew the answer—wishes cannot bring back the dead nor change the course of fate.

She exhaled sharply. "La, do you need anything before we head home?"

Her grandmother shook her head with a gentle smile. "Just your company, my dear."

Eli forced a smile back. If only it were that easy.

>>

Later that evening, after bringing her grandmother home, Eli found herself alone in her room, staring at the ceiling. She wondered if Caelum would show up on his own again or if she should look for him. Then, a thought struck her—the silver coin.

She immediately sat up and rummaged through her nightstand until her fingers brushed against the cool metal. Pulling it out, she held it in her palm, examining the intricate design under the dim glow of her bedside lamp.

Would this really work?

She exhaled slowly, closed her eyes, and focused. Caelum.

She wasn't sure why she was doing this, but she knew one thing—she needed him here.

The moment she thought of his name, a faint shift in the air made her eyes snap open. Standing by the window, as if he had been there the whole time, was Caelum.

"You called?" he said with an amused smirk.

Eli nearly dropped the coin. "What the hell—can you not do that?"

He chuckled. "You used the coin. That's how it works. Call for me, and I'll come." He stepped closer, tilting his head slightly. "So, what do you need, Eli? Are you ready to make your second wish?"

She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes."

Caelum's expression turned serious. "Then, tell me—what is it that you desire this time?"

Eli clenched the coin tightly in her fist, her heart pounding. She had been thinking about this ever since she left the clinic. There were so many things she could wish for—things that could make her life easier, things that could grant her temporary happiness. But there was only one thing she truly wanted.

"I want my grandmother to be healthy for as long as possible," she said firmly, meeting his gaze.

Caelum's smirk faded, replaced by something unreadable. He studied her for a long moment before sighing. "You know I can't change fate, right?"

"I know," Eli whispered. "I just... want her to be okay for as long as she can. No sudden sickness, no unbearable pain—just a life where she's not struggling."

Caelum remained silent before finally nodding. "That's within my power." He reached out his hand. "Give me the coin."

Eli placed the silver coin in his palm, watching as it slowly dissolved into faint golden light. A rush of warmth passed through her, subtle but comforting.

"It's done," Caelum said simply. "Your grandmother will be in good health for as long as fate allows."

Eli exhaled, a weight lifting off her chest. "Thank you."

Caelum leaned against her desk, watching her with that same unreadable expression. "You could have wished for anything—money, power, something for yourself. But you didn't."

She scoffed. "I don't need those things."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Interesting."

Eli rolled her eyes. "Is that all you have to say?"

"For now," he said, pushing himself off the desk. "But I'll be around. Call me again when you're ready for your next wish."

And just like that, he vanished, leaving Eli alone once more.

But this time, she felt just a little lighter.

<<

Caelum's POV

A sharp tug in his chest made Caelum pause. He was sitting on the rooftop of an old building, watching the city lights flicker like dying stars when he felt it—an unmistakable pull.

She's calling me.

He smirked to himself, twirling the silver coin between his fingers. "Took you long enough, Eliana."

The coin pulsed faintly, responding to her wish. With a deep breath, Caelum flicked it into the air, watching as it vanished into nothingness. In the next instant, he was gone, pulled toward the girl who unknowingly tied herself to his fate.

***