Chapter 1
Fate is Funny Like That
“So… What would it be, child?”
Wrinkle lips twisted into a sage like smirk as my clear crystal orbs glance at her selection; the old woman had such a selection within her shop of knick knacks. Plus I, being that today is my 17th Birthday, was very picky for my personal gift. The shop smelt of well-aged books and knowledge, a preverbal Nirvana for bookish types, the elder woman before me; behind the counter watched me behind her thick glasses as I tried to make my choice.
“Um, Ma’m?”
“Please, dear child… Dez.”
“Oh, well… Um, Miss. Dez, what are your selections again?”
I just had to question again, due to the fact the woman just right up and asked me right out of nowhere as soon as I enter this den of inquiry. The elder woman adjusted her glasses and raised her gray bushy brows as if she noticed something.
“My apologies, it seems I…may have gotten a bit ahead of myself.” She lightly chuckled, her chuckle soon turning into a dry cough. A look of worry from me caused her to raise her hand in the universal sign of ‘okay’.
Her cane tapped as she wobbled out from behind the counter to give me a grand tour of her knick knack shop. The elder woman named Dez seem to own a shop filled with items that had a mystic feel to it, almost each items belong to some grand tale; a key to a quest, if one will. She pointed to the many of books that colonized her dusty, cob webbed shelves; each one being a tomb of forgotten magic or verbal biblical readings for different magically races that mankind deems nonexistent. Miss. Dez pointed to variable objects of odd shapes and even odder history; one that seem to stand out to me the most was what looked like a ceiling decoration, it dangled with what looked like feathers, strange leathery skins and scales but most disturbing was what looked like bones… were they… human bones?
Shaking my head of the eerie thought I brought my attention back to elder woman as she wobbled her way back behind the counter, thus ending our little creepy show and tale. I swallow thickly as I glance around the dimly lit shop once more before resting my blue eyes back on the shop owner.
“Know I due hate to sound like I am in a hurry, but this is a business I am running, so…”
“O-oh, yes…ummm.”
I hesitated, honestly wouldn’t anyone, such a shop filled with odd knick knacks; even more the shop owner clamming that there might be magic too them, what do I look like, 5? No, I should just walk out and find a better way to spend my grandmother’s birthday money; I mean there was that new video game I wanted. But the more I tire to steer my mind away from these items from my nightmare, the more I want them… I… I just couldn’t explain this unusual want I suddenly have, but it was leaning more and more to hat odd and eerie ceiling decoration.
“Well, that Ceiling decoration, the one with the...” I gulped, “Bones.”
“Oh.” Miss. Dez nodded slightly, “The Sprite attractor?”
“Sprite?”
The old woman nodded in confirmation as she adjusted her glasses, licking her dried wrinkled lips she began the explanation. “Sprites are spirits that can grant humans powers, though they are on the lowest chain when it comes to then power chain. If a Sprite is able to make a pact with a human with an amazing heart and will that is equal in imagination. They both can be a force to be reckoned with.” This sort of confused me, Miss. Dez must have seen the puzzlement in my eyes, “With this items you can attract a sprite to make pact with and be granted amazing powers.” She further explains.
Powers, Pact, what is this; an anime, this is real life nothing like this could ever happen…But, things like this do attract me. I always had a liking toward things that deals with legend, lore and myths. It’s something that always made me smile even when I was young, now, I wasn’t getting this because of the chance of power; I scoff at such-a-wives tales, I just love the mystery and mystic sensation behind such an odd item.
“Yes, I’ll take the Sprite Attractor.”
“Excellent choice,” Beamed Miss. Dez, “ How much are you willing to part with?”
“Uh,” I reached into my jean pocket, “I got $100.”
“50 and it’s a deal, Child.”
I was taken back by this, did this woman not know how to haggle or was she just an eccentric old person? I choose not to question it and handed the money to the woman, with a smile and a shaken hand the woman took the currency and handed me my purchase. I placed the odd smelling item in my book bag, with a kind thank you and nod I turn towards the door. Just before I could push my way out the woman called out to me.
“It was a pleasure doing business with you, child… though can I please get your name?”
“Oh, um, it’s…” I kinda don’t wanna give this creepy old lady my name, but my grandma always told me to never judge and never lie so, “Clover, My name is Clover Leaf.” Pushing the door open, the shop was emerushed into the sound of the city’s afternoon rush hour. “Bye, Miss. Dez.”
“Please, just call me Destin-“
The door rang behind me as the shop door suddenly closed, that’s odd I did not get her full name. Well, whatever, it’s not like I’m coming back to this shop anyway. I slightly had worry on my mind, thinking maybe Grandma might be able to smell the putrid oder from my bag. Maybe I was had, oh well I still got $50 left of Grandma’s birthday money, I could still find a good sell at the Game Shop close to home. Thinking nothing more of, what I deem, trash that was in my back pack.
