Marlow panicked. As the woman stepped into the alleyway, he could feel his heart racing. It was like a child's hand in the cookie jar as a parent entered the room. His eyes widened as the woman first looked down the alley, then the other way, and spotted him instantly,

The pair stood there wondering what the other person would do next. Then Opal decided to get the ball rolling by laying an egg right then and there. The egg splattered on the ground, getting yoke on Marlow's shoes.

"Talk about timing." The cloaked mobster commented with a hint of a smile.

"Yeah. What are the odds?" Marlow chuckled, dropping his shoulders from the intense moment.

"So, what brings you here on this fine day?" Marlow asked, grinning, only to get a frosty look from the stranger.

"Work." He fidgeted with his free hand and felt Gwaner's head brush against his fingers.

"And what brings you into this neck of the woods?" She asked as she rolled her wrist. Marlow saw something glint from beneath the woman's cloak for a brief second. Unpleasant images of being ripped, a new one ran through his mind.

"Oh, I'm looking for the pet store, actually," Marlow answered honestly. Praying to the high heavens that he'd not be stabbed to death in a back alley. Immortal or not, getting stabbed was still scary.

"The pet store? How did you get these two pests? Without going to the pet store?"

"Oh, well. I work on a farm, actually. My boss gave me a few coins to go to the store. But I forgot to ask for directions and returned without them. Wouldn't… be good." The woman snickered at that and pulled off her hood. Revealing her hidden face.

"You're not the only one with a bad boss. But at least your boss isn't making you work all hours of the night. What I wouldn't give for one solid night's sleep."

"Yeah, you're not picking apples till your hands are raw."

"True, but your job doesn't entail paperwork." The two looked at each other, then smiled at what they were doing.

"Yeah, your boss sounds pretty mean. I better go." Marlow slowly backed away from the mobster. As he attempted to disengage from the conversation peacefully.

"Guess I'll see you around. I don't believe I got your name?" The woman asked as she took a step closer. Marlow's heart skipped a beat as he saw something glint from under the stranger's cloak again.

"Marlow, what's your name?"

"Lilith. It was nice seeing you."

"Yeah, hey. Isn't your break about to end?" Lilith squinted, scanning him up and down, the chicken he was holding, the rat climbing his leg, and the splattered egg, … and finally, spotting the slightly open window leading into the basement.

"How much did you hear?" Lilith coldly asked, her friendly demeanor gone.

"I didn't hear anything!" Marlow denied, squeezing Opal just a little bit tighter than he already was. Opal gave an alarmed squeal in return.

"Do you really think I'm that dumb? Did you think I wouldn't see through your disguise? You're a little too clean to be a hobo and still have a bit of muscle on your bones? Which gang are you with, huh? The Green Giants? The sea flags?" Lilith sneered as she pulled a long needle sharp from an arm brace.

"I'm not in any gang! I swear!" Marlow blurted, taking another step away from the mobster.

"Good, that makes my job so much easier." She dashed and stabbed at Marlow's throat. Marlow, however, slipped on the egg yolk, dodging the attack. But he accidentally headbutted Lilith's knee on his way down.

Marlow dropped Opal and held his throbbing head. While Lilith fell to the ground and held her newly dislocated kneecap. As she held her aching knee, Gwaner took a stand, leaned on the top of an arm brace, and began nibbling at the leather strap while Opal pecked at Lilith's exposed fingers.

Lilith attempted to wave off the pests only to have them nibble and peck at different places. Then, gritting her teeth, she reached into one of her boots and pulled out a knife. This scared off the duo. Marlow saw the blade now pointed at his throat and to his left foot.

Lilith rose from her seat with an eerie creak emanating from her leg, moving deliberately and unhurriedly. Gradually, she closed the distance, each step measured and deliberate, as if time conspired to elongate the suspense. Marlow took another step back but found himself against a wall. As she approached, his blood ran cold.

"Let's say you're right and not affiliated with anyone? I can't let you go in good conscience with leaving out mark." Lilith's voice dripped with malice, and her eyes gleamed with twisted delight. The corners of her mouth curled upward, forming a chilling smile that sent shivers down Marlow's spine. Then, she slashed at Marlow's collarbone twice, creating a small but legible 'x,' which began to bleed. She grabbed him by his shirt and shoved him down the alley.

"I hope you enjoy your first gift because the second will be much worse. Now get out of my sight." She snarled. Marlow ran, scooping up Opal and Gwaner on his way, praying not to get stabbed.

Hours later, a haggard Marlow slumped down on Benson's porch with a bag of rat food. He watched Benson and Mr. Bones cross the field while he rubbed the tight scab on his collarbone. As Marlow saw them slowly trek across farmland. He noticed that Benson carried a walking stick over a shoulder.

"WELL, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT YOU MADE IT BACK IN ONE PIECE, LAD. I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU HAVE ANY CHANGE LEFT OVER, DO YA?" Marlow pulled out a handful of coppers and dumped them in Benson's hand.

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"DID YOU RUN INTO ANY TROUBLE? ANY GANGS?"

"Yeah, I did. They roughed me up a little but didn't take anything."

"GOOD, GOOD. DON'T YOU EVER GET INVOLVED WITH THOSE HOOLIGANS? IT'S LIKE JOINING THE GUARD. IT'S GOOD AT FIRST. BUT WHEN THE FIRST ARROW FLIES, IT ONLY GOES DOWN FROM THERE. TELL ME, LAD. DID YOU TELL THEM WHERE YOU LIVE?"

Marlow's heart sank as he remembered sharing that he worked on a farm. But that couldn't be enough information to track him here, could it? He lied to Benson, and that is how he became his apprentice, so what's one more lie, right?

"No, I didn't tell them where we live."

"WE'LL, THAT'S GOOD. IT'S CRAZY ENOUGH TO GO INTO THE CITY AS IT IS, AND I'D RATHER NOT HAVE IT COME KNOCKING ON MY DOORSTEP. YOU'RE A GOOD KID, LAD. ARE YOU READY TO SEE YOUR FUTURE FAMILIAR?" Marlow nodded excitedly. He was going to witness magic firsthand, after all.

"BEFORE I SHOW YOU, LET ME EXPLAIN THIS ITEM A LITTLE. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS SNAKE HAS THREE EYES. EACH OPEN EYE SHOWS HOW MANY COMMANDS IT CAN DO FOR THE REST OF THAT DAY. TO USE THE STAFF, TAP IT TO THE GROUND AND GIVE IT A SIMPLE COMMAND. LIKE BRING ME MY SHOES, SCARE OFF THOSE MICE, OR DEFEND ME WHILE I SLEEP." Benson waited for Marlow to nod in understanding before he pressed on.

"AT WHICH POINT, THE STAFF WILL TRANSFORM INTO ITS CONSTRUCT FORM AND DO THE COMMAND. IT CAN ONLY DO ONE COMMAND AT A TIME. So, NO, DON'T ADD 'AND' OR 'IF' INTO THE COMMAND. THE STAFF CAN NEVER HURT A LIVING BEING BUT CAN TRAP OR HOLD SOMEONE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Marlow nodded, eager to see what magic actually looked like. Benson shook his head and put the butt of the staff on the ground. He muttered a few words under his breath, and as he did, a wisp of purple energy snaked out from the staff. It slithered towards Marlow, circling him once before resolving into a snake's head.

Marlow marveled at the snake's head, counting its scaly head to see if it was poisonous or venomous. Then, just as he got to ten, the head dove into his chest. Marlow tried to block, but it passed right through his hands.

As it entered his chest, Marlow body burned. But just as quickly as the pain came, it disappeared. He checked his hands and found that his veins were slightly more purple.

"CONGRATULATIONS, LAD! THE SNAKE SPIRIT HAS ACCEPTED YOU!"

"What did it do?"

"WELL, LAD. YOU NOW HAVE A MINOR POISON RESISTANCE! SO, YOUR BAR TAB MAY BE A BIT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN YOU WERE EXPECTING. BUT IN TIME, YOU MIGHT EVEN GAIN POISON IMMUNITY! WOULDN'T THAT BE SOMETHING."

"Oh, cool… I guess." Marlow mumbled while Benson cheerfully went on.

"AND NOW FOR THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL, THE STAFF. FROM THIS POINT, I WANT YOU TO KEEP THIS STAFF ON YOU AT ALL TIMES. BECAUSE THE MORE YOU GROW, THE MORE IT GROWS. AND ONE DAY, IT WILL BECOME YOUR PERSONAL FAMILIAR. AT WHICH POINT IT WILL EVOLVE BASED ON YOUR DESIRED GOALS."

He meticulously infused Benson's exceptionally crafted workmanship into the staff adorned with a mesmerizing three-eyed snake. Meanwhile, Marlow sat patiently, eagerly anticipating the moment he would finally receive the mystical artifact. Like a father letting their child venture out into the world for the last time, he reluctantly surrendered the cherished object, a mix of pride and reluctance intertwining in his heart.

"I'D START OFF SIMPLE, LAD. WHY DON'T YOU GO OVER THERE AND ASK IT TO BRING YOU THE BAG OF RAT FOOD?" Benson pointed at a dying piece of grass for Marlow to stand on. Marlow did as instructed and lay the butt of the staff on the ground before asking aloud:

"Could you get me my bag of rat food?" The staff that Marlow held rippled from where Marlow's hand touched the stick outward to both ends. The rugged, stiff bark shifted to soft, flexible scales.

Marlow dropped the snake, worried the animal might suddenly turn on him. But, as it fell, it finished its transformation and became a light brown snake with three eyes. The snake flicked its tongue, feeling out the grass ahead of it before slithering off.

As Marlow observed the snake slithering away, he couldn't help but notice that it didn't quite resemble a typical snake. Its body was conspicuously segmented, reminiscent of a toy snake rather than an authentic serpent. Moreover, the lack of lifelike precision further confirmed its artificial nature. The abrupt, jerky movements of the snake-not-snake's tail betrayed its true identity, dispelling any illusion of it being a genuine creature from the natural world.

As the snake vanished into the tall grass, Marlow patiently anticipated its reappearance, keeping his gaze fixed on the precise spot where it had disappeared. After a brief pause, the snake emerged from the grass, directly in front of the spot where it had initially entered. With measured steps, it approached Marlow and onto the porch. Wrapping its serpentine body around the handle strap of the bag, the snake commenced pulling it slowly but steadily in Marlow's direction.

After a few more minutes, the snake successfully brought the bag to Marlow's side. Then, the snake lifted its head into Marlow's hand. The moment it made contact, the snake transformed into a staff.

"WELL, THAT WAS A NICE TEST RUN. NOW, WHY DO WE GET BACK TO HARVESTING?" Marlow gave Benson a look.

"LOOK, YOU'VE GOT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH YOUR STAFF. WE'VE GOT TO HARVEST AS MUCH BEFORE THE KINGDOM TAKES MY LAND FOR COMMUNITY USE." Marlow signed, looking down at his staff.

'DON'T WORRY, LAD. YOU CAN USE YOUR STAFF TO HELP. WHY IT MIGHT EVEN GIVE YOU A BIT OF EXPERIENCE USING IT." Benson chuckled.

The pair of them worked late into the evening. The sun almost disappeared from the sky as the duo returned to Benson's house.

"My hands hurt." Marlow looked at his aching palms with the purple veins pulsing in time with his heart. Benson merely smiled as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of leather worker's gloves.

"You had those the whole time!"

"OH, OF COURSE, IT HAD THEM THE HOLD TIME. I DIDN'T GIVE THEM TO YA JUST TO MAKE PICKING EASIER FOR YA! I DIDN'T GIVE THEM BECAUSE WHERE YOU'RE GOING HAVING NO GLOVES IS PREFERABLE! WITH MY TEACHING, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHAT IS WRONG WITH AN ANIMAL WITH A SIMPLE TOUCH! OH YES, TOMORROW I PLAN TO ACTUALLY TEACH YOU BEAST-KEEPING MAGIC!" Benson beamed as Marlow smiled and looked away.

"Benson, this-"

"IS IT TOO SUDDEN? WELL, I KNOW YOU DON'T PLAN TO STAY HERE FOREVER AND THAT YOU'D RATHER BE WITH YOUR FAMILY. SO I'M GIVING YOU MY BEST. TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN FIND THEM IN THIS CRAZY WORLD. THERE'S NOTHING I WOULDN'T GIVE TO PROTECT MY FAMILY." Benson laughed as he patted Marlow on the shoulder. Marlow was just about to sit on the bench when Benson continued to pull him inside.

"HONEY, WE'RE HOME. IS THE ROOM READY?"

"Yes, dear!" A sweet voice trickled from the kitchen. Benson's smile grew even more prominent. He dragged him down a hallway, past a room with children playing named Jimmy, then another room named Mandy, and into an empty space with barren walls, a chest, a closet, and a neatly made bed.

"WELCOME TO YOUR NEW ROOM, LAD. I KNOW IT'S NOT MUCH. BUT I HOPE YOU FIND IT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THE BENCH YOU WERE SLEEPING ON."

"Benson, this is too much! I-I-"

"PAY ME BACK? LAD, AS LONG AS YOU CONTINUE TO DO GOOD BY ME, YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE TO STAY UNDER MY ROOF. NOW LET'S GO HAVE SOME DINNER!" Benson smiled.

After a delightful meal, Marlow returned to his new room with Opal and Gwaner. The kids were overjoyed to have new playmates, but after a motherly look, the kids withdrew. Asking if they could play with the animals politely. Marlow promised that they could in the 'morning.' After another look from Benson.

Marlow investigated the room, opening every cabinet before turning to the chest. Inside the trunk, he found a dismantled crib with a name plaque for the door reading 'Sammy.'

He looked around the room again and noticed a spot on the floor where a crib would have sat. The lack of dust there was quite telling. Not wanting to think of the sad truth anymore, Marlow crawled into bed and turned out the lamp.