You might think someone wearing clothes several sizes too small for their tall, lanky body would draw the eye of people as we made our way down the street, but no, not in Kandon. With some people looking more like ghouls than actual people, it was usually pretty difficult to stand out in a crowd. Not that I had ever personally tested it, but on the main streets of Kandon you won’t find much more than a sea of strangers, all headed for their own little adventure in life.

Yet somehow, people were still staring at us.

Not because of the clothes; I could tell it wasn’t because of the clothes. There was something sinister about the looks we were getting. It wasn’t curiosity or even ridicule. This creeping feeling I was feeling- it was hostility. I turn to look up at Nugs who didn’t seem to notice. He always looks like he is in a different place, like he’s lost in distant thought and trying to recall something. Nevertheless, I push on holding his hand firmly. I know that the looks are targeted towards him. Could it be because he’s a Nomad? Are they able to tell at just a glance?

‘‘Emma.’’ Nuggets’ voice called me out of my daze.

I gasp and come to a screeching halt before the street I was trying to cross, an angry driver leaning into the horn of his car as he swears and shouts something I don’t catch before driving off. ‘‘What is it Nuggets?’’

‘‘I feel like… My head hurts?’’

‘‘Your head? Is it the noise?’’

‘‘I-I don’t know but…’’

‘‘Hey it’s okay, let’s slow down a bit okay? I was going too fast anyway. I just want us to get to the clinic quick.’’

‘‘How much… longer is it?’’

‘‘Not too much longer.’’ I glance around us and see that more and more eyes are looking our way. We can’t stay here for too long. ‘‘I know a shortcut, if we cut through the narrow alleyways we can be there in a couple minutes, but you need to stay close to me…” I look back up at the tall stranger “...okay Nugs?’’ He nods as he supports the side of his head with one hand. I speed up and take us down the nearest alley, the dingy industrial metal of the dark buildings growing more blurred as we zoom past back alley dealings and 24/7 nightclubs. Our trip through the alleyways are short, but I swear somewhere I heard footsteps following us, or was it just my imagination? By the time we reach the clinic both Nuggets and I are out of breath. I push him forward, encouraging him to go first, even with his headache. For a moment I stand there in the opening and out of curiosity, I glance back to see if anyone followed us. Sure enough, at the mouth of one of the alleyways I see five tall shadowy figures; unmoving, yet undoubtedly looking in our direction. I check the back of my hands for ghoul marks… Nothing. As a last retort I smirk and flip them off before heading inside.

As I enter Ganta’s Clinic I am immediately hit by the familiar smell of coffee. The interior is a lot more welcoming and clean than most of eastern Kandon. It almost makes you forget that the clinic is built into an old, repurposed factory. There’s a bunch of shops and services setup in the old factory, but as far as I’m aware Ganta is the only one who has bothered to redecorate the interior of his own establishment. Little potted plants flank the entrance on either side, an old analog clock idly ticks away on the walls which are colored white and a dark red, giving the place a look between clinic and diner. The heavy thud of a person flopping onto the surface of a newly purchased leather couch catches my attention as I witness Nuggets trying to lull himself to sleep. ‘‘Not now Nugs, we’re almost there.’’ I tug at his wrist and pull him back up.

After a quick check-in at the reception, we are led to Ganta’s office. As I push the red door open the smell of coffee grows stronger as my smile grows wider. ‘‘Hey Ganta!’’ I raise my hand in a small wave and walk inside, leading Nuggets in after me. The burly man, who is probably somewhere in his early 50s by now, pushes himself out of his chair and greets us with open arms, ‘‘Emma! Long time no see, how is it going?’’ He is shorter than both Nuggets and I, but no less of a character. His white lab coat is slightly stained and probably hasn’t been washed for a couple days, but his hands and exposed hairy arms are squeaky clean. Nothing is out of the ordinary, especially not Ganta’s head, which is a huge white tea cup full of coffee with cartoonishly large eyes and a wide mouth. The pattern on the side of the cup, or rather his head, is a gentle light blue and yellow with a floral motif. ‘‘Same old, same old.’’ I say with a bit of a chip on my shoulder, but before I can sulk about it Ganta pulls me into a big warm hug.

‘‘And this must be your friendahhh… Is he okay?’’ Ganta said, extending a hand towards Nuggets who had been kind of swaying in place. ‘‘Ah yeah, he’s having some head pain trouble so he is a bit distracted.’’ I reply on behalf of the stranger, figuring he won’t be saying much. ‘‘Head pain hm? Is that all? I’ll fix him right up. Please, have a seat.’’ Ganta gestured to another brand new leather couch, to which we as patients both sat on. Turning to his desk, the porcelaine-headed doctor started setting up his medical su- oh, a tea set? “And how are you feeling Emma?’’ He asked without looking over, his heavy-headed body slowly turning in our direction. ‘‘I’m good, and no thanks.’’ I said with a grin, one hand raised as if to kindly turn down his offer, knowing from experience he would make me a cup if I didn’t. ‘‘Then that makes three spoonfuls of sugar, five cups of milk and a little dash of whipped cream.’’ Ganta talked to himself as he went through the process of mixing ingredients into his head-coffee step by step. The black coffee within slowly changed color to a milder brown as he gently stirred with one hand.

‘‘So, you really went and found yourself a Nomad? And a fresh one at that.’’

‘‘A fresh one?’’ I gave him a look, confused by his choice of words.

‘‘There’s no doubt, the marks over his eyes confirm it.’’ Ganta stopped stirring and tasted his own head coffee carefully, before pouring it into a kettle. ‘‘You can really tell that quickly?’’ I accept a cup on the behalf of Nugs and look over at him. ‘‘We get a lot of them stopping by here for help. Those that don’t hit up a clinic first usually end up with my friend in the morgue, or worse.’’

‘‘Worse than death?’’ I ask as I put a hand on Nuggets’ shoulder to help stabilize him for the drink.

‘‘Careful, it’s still hot, we don’t want him burning his tongue.’’

Heeding the doctor’s warning, I gingerly pour a little bit of magic coffee into Nuggets’ mouth and wait for a reaction. Almost instantly he seems to be pulled back into our world again, as if he had been rudely awakened from a nap. ‘‘Emma?’’ He mumbles my name in a half-dazed tone.

‘‘That’s right, hold this and continue drinking from it, it’ll help with your head.’’ I hand him the warm beverage so he can drink it at his own pace.

‘‘I see. Thanks.’’ He replies, eyes fixed on the black liquid in his cup.

‘‘How are you feeling young man?’’ The now coffee-headed man intersects, taking a seat in a chair opposite us.

‘‘Emma.’’ Nugs said, slightly more alarmed than before.

‘‘Yeah?’’

‘‘I think a giant cup spoke to me just now.’’

‘‘No way, what did it say?’’

‘‘It asked me how I’m feeling.’’

‘‘Well, how are you?’’

‘‘Am I?’’

‘‘Feeling. How are you feeling?’’

‘‘Better now, I don’t know what this dark stuff is but it tastes great.’’

Ganta broke our back and forth with his jovial laughter, taking a couple of seconds to recover. I couldn’t help but giggle as well. ‘‘You really are brand new to this world aren’t you? My name is Ganta, I’m the doctor Emma took you to for your physical check up.’’ As Ganta explained the situation to the clueless Nuggets, I could see the gears turn in his head as he looked between the both of us, ‘‘Oh.’’ With a quiet sip he continued to cherish the coffee.

‘‘A physical check-?’’ Nuggets reverberates the doctor’s previous statement.

‘‘We are here to find out who you are.’’

‘‘Who I am…’’

‘‘Yes, right here and right now. Who are you?’’

‘‘I’m… Nuggets… With Mayonnaise?’’ He looked towards me as if he was seeking some kind of validation or approval. His name should sound weird to anyone, but Ganta brushed right past it with a smile. ‘‘Nuggets With Mayonnaise, fantastic! Tell you two what- since it is a longer process how about we run through your check up first Emma? That way Nuggets can finish drinking his coffee and see what it’s all about.’’

‘‘Works for me!’’

It started with fairly standard stuff, getting weighed and measured. I gawk the number; 62 kilos. It was always a struggle to keep my weight in the same place, but being that I am fit and remember to get my exercise in, I am already doing a lot better than most. My height however, I can do nothing to change… 172 centimeters. I haven’t grown an inch since I turned 15.

‘‘I’m gonna point at a letter, tell me what you see.’’

‘‘A, T.’’

There’s nothing wrong with my eyes, there never has been as far as I’m aware. The verdict is the same as always; I’m a normal healthy adult. For the most part check ups are pretty boring, assuming that you are doing okay of course. The really unpredictable part always comes last.

‘‘Let’s get a reading on your magic.’’ Ganta says, gesturing for me to lean back in one of his patient chairs. I catch Nuggets out of the corner of my eye, licking his cup clean for drops of coffee. ‘‘I’m going to take your blood sample now, Emma.’’ I nod and look away. I don’t hate needles but I don’t feel like watching the process either. I feel the prick for only a moment and then it’s gone, like a big mosquito bite. ‘‘All right, that does it, you can go back on the couch now.’’ I have always wondered how reading magic through a blood sample actually works. I watch as Ganta goes over to a telescope-looking device and puts my sample under a strong spotlight, adjusting some handles and buttons on the side of it before giving a satisfied nod. ‘‘Your magic is nice and stable Emma, although your output is a little under your average. Are you making sure to eat healthy?’’ He looks back at me and I crack an awkward smile. I have been replacing more healthy meals with fast, unhealthy meals lately.

‘‘And that’s it! Do you think you’re ready for yours Nuggets?’’

‘‘Oh. Yeah sure.’’

‘‘I just stand on this and it gives me a number?’’ As I sit back in the soft leather cushions I watched him figure out how a weight worked for the first time with an amused grin, ‘‘It reads 65.’’ Nuggets said.

‘‘65 kilograms,’’ the Doctor repeated and scribbled down on his notes, ‘‘and your height.’’

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

‘‘190 centimeters.’’ I say, seeing it clearly from my angle, giving Ganta a quick thumbs-up as he turns to look at me.

‘‘Good, let’s move on to your eyesight. I’m going to point at the letters on this board and you tell me what you see.’’

To no one’s surprise nothing out of the ordinary happened. He was a completely healthy young man. After having gone through the basic tests, Nuggets joined me on the couch for a glass of water as Ganta double-checked his fancy paper notes that made him look professional. ‘‘Wait Nugs, before you drink.’’ I hold out a small spray bottle with clear liquid inside and tap it a couple times to spray into his glass, much to Nuggets’ deadpan curiosity.

‘‘What’s that?’’ He picked up the glass to inspect it closer.

‘‘It’ll help clean out the Ganta’s magic from your body.’’

‘‘Ah, thank you Emma. Once your glass is empty we’ll get your magic reading done, so make sure to drink up.’’ Ganta said whilst hunched over his desk rearranging and filing papers.

‘‘My magic?’’

‘‘Everyone has one Nugs, in fact I’m pretty sure Nomads remember having magic too.’’ I look to Ganta for confirmation.

‘‘That’s right, while it isn’t impossible to fathom that some might not know it, most Nomads have been reported to figure it out within minutes or hours of first appearing.’’

‘‘Mmm.’’ The Nomad squinted and stared at the wall, clutching his now empty glass in one hand, ‘‘What kind of magic do you have Emma? Does it also turn you into a cup?’’

‘‘Of course not,’’ I said with a giggle as I put my glass down, ‘‘To put it simply, it’s ball magic.’’

‘‘So, you turn into a ball?’’

‘‘No no no, magic comes in many different types, may I?’’ After getting a confirming nod from Ganta I stretch out my index finger and concentrate my sludge into one point to create a small black ball. ‘‘Here, catch!’’ With a gentle flick I fling the ball towards Nuggets, who almost drops his glass as he desperately tries to catch it. It’s the most worked up I’ve seen him all day.

‘‘It’s so soft…’’ Nuggets remarks as it bounces from hand to hand. We both watch him for a moment before Ganta speaks up. ‘‘While all sludge looks the same in our veins, the different magical properties of the sludge are nearly endless. As humans we naturally try to categorize everything, which works to an extent, but our system isn’t flawless. For instance, my magic which you have already tasted is classified as transformation magic. I transform part of myself to use it, but it’s also healing magic because of the effects of my coffee.’’

‘‘I see,’’ Nuggets stopped the ball and handed it back to me, ‘‘What does that make Emma?’’

‘‘I’m in a bit of a gray area, my magic is both what you would call utility and offensive magic, but that mainly comes down to how I have tweaked it.’’ With one touch the ball crumbles and sinks back into my hand.

‘‘And you can never turn into a ball, or cure headaches?’’

‘‘I can't. The only rule if you can call it that, is that everyone has one thing they can do. A skill we are all born with and have to live with-’’ Even if you didn’t choose it. Well, really no one chose what magic they have. Some really get screwed over because of it.

‘‘There is only one exception to the rule,’’ Ganta chimes in as he leans forward, holding up two fingers, ‘‘Those who are born with dual type magic. I can only ever have my coffee heal people, no matter how hard I try it will never do anything else. Someone with dual type magic isn't so restricted. Put simply, a dual type magic user would be able to breathe fire and produce ice at the same time. Do you understand?’’

‘‘I think so,’’ Nuggets answers half-heartedly, ‘‘but that sounds really unfair.’’

Ganta let out a light chuckle and gave a carefree shrug, ‘‘Life isn’t fair, Nuggets.’’

Afterwards he gestures for him to take a seat in the chair next to his desk so they could begin the magic reading. ‘‘There is one disadvantage the dual types have to get used to.’’ He finishes as Nugs gets settled. ‘‘And what is that?’’ The young Nomad asked, to which the doctor smiled, ‘‘They tire much, much faster than us single types.’’ With the last bits of preparation in place I cross my legs and put my hands in my lap as I look up at the ceiling idly. My mind drifts as I think about my early shift tomorrow. Just the thought of David shouting at me again for being late is enough to give me a headache.

‘‘How strange… I have never gotten these readings before, do you mind if I take another sample, Nuggets?’’

‘‘Sure.’’

I look over and see Ganta, the most confused I have ever seen him as he frantically looks through another sample of Nugs’ blood. A sparse amount of sweat drops are starting to form on the brow of his cup head. ‘‘This is… Impossible. This is medically impossible. I need to get Ramona, please stay here for a moment.’’

‘‘Oh, okay. Why did he react like that Emma?’’

‘‘Can’t say,’’ I reply staring blankly at the wall before looking back at Nugs ‘‘I’ve never seen him so confused before.’’

Soon Ganta emerges through the door again, his assistant Ramona in tow. She’s wearing a standard white lab coat and has a pair of thick goggles pushed up to her forehead, her bright red eyes doing a quick scan of me and Nuggets as she walks past. Her hair is tied back in a long braided ponytail and it has this almost otherworldly hue to it with shades of green, red and yellow blending together. Dotted around her hair were little flower buds that had yet to fully bloom, but were all at varying stages of their life cycle. Tiny gentle autumn leaves danced and swayed in a trail behind her before decorating the floor with a fresh aroma.

“What’s this then, what did you want me to see?” Her brow was furrowed and her hands firmly on her hips as she looked at her colleague, who led her to Nuggets’ health results with a dumbfounded shrug.

“Is this for real? Are you sure the test wasn’t faulty Ganta?”

“What is going on? Am I magic?” Nuggets look between the two doctors during the ping-pong of their conversation.

I looked at Nuggets as he spoke up, he didn’t seem at all bothered by their reactions and asked rather flatly. I smiled and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, “everyone has magic Nugs, that’s just part of life.”

“Not him.” Ramona shook her head gently.

“What?”

“Your friend here has no magic.” Ramona mimicked Ganta’s dumbfounded shrug.

“None at all? Not even a little bit?” I ask with a bit of urgency in my voice.

“Allow me to explain. As you know people all have varying amounts of magic, some have a large capacity, some have less and some barely have any, but we are always able to trace it.” Ganta picked up the blood sample and held it up to a lamp. “The black sludge in our veins is living proof that we are magical beings and capable of producing some form of magic, no matter how small the capacity.” With a gentle flick of his wrist, Ganta stirred the blood sample, the liquid churning calmly before coming to a rest.

“It’s completely red. There’s not a single trace of sludge in your body, it's just… Blood.” Ganta remarked as he held the sample up.

“Does that mean I’m not magic?”

“Nuggets, that's your name right?” Ramona stepped forward, putting a hand on the back of her neck as she looked off to the side, “I hate to say this, but you have no traces of magic in you, you should be dead right now.”

“Is it that rare? Is he gonna die?” I let my eyes wander in between the blood sample and its host.

“We don’t know. He isn’t just rare, Emma, as far as we know this has never happened before.” Ganta admitted, which would explain why I had never seen him react the way he did earlier.

Nuggets sat in silence for a moment and fiddled with his hands idly. I can’t imagine what being in his shoes must be like. He just woke up yesterday and his future is already uncertain? Part of me wanted to reach out and comfort him, but to be honest I had no idea how to act either. Finally the silence was broken by Ganta putting on a wry smile as he picked up his kettle, “would you like another cup of coffee?”

We all sat down and went over the details of what we should do next, as well as what we should prepare for. Obviously life was going to be very difficult for Nuggets since our society was entirely built up around the use of sludge. Simple tasks like flipping on a light switch, using the phone, or even taking a bus would be pretty much impossible for him to do alone. However, while Ganta and Ramona talked all I could think about was Nuggets. I hadn’t even known him for a full day, he was by all means a complete stranger to me. I owe him nothing and could turn him away after this visit was over. I could easily throw him out into the streets with nothing to his name, but the results about his lack of magic had changed everything. I couldn’t in good conscience leave him alone in Kandon with no way to fend for himself. He wouldn’t last a day in these streets and the odds of him making it to another district before sundown were even slimmer.

“It’s a lot to ask of you Emma, but-“ Ganta started up, he sounded sorry for me, but before he could finish I interjected.

“No I’ll do it, my apartment isn’t big, but until we figure out what to do I can take him in. Do you mind that Nugs?”

“Do I get to eat nuggets with mayonnaise again?” The food named person perked up.

“Sure, but not every day.”

“Then it’s a deal.”

I grin and lean back in my seat, I’m glad that he wasn’t too hung up on his bad luck, “But I’m not your nanny, you’re gonna have to learn to take care of yourself too.”

“I can do that. I bet I’m a real fast learner.”

As the conversation was wrapping up and we were getting ready to leave, Ganta rushed to the back of his office to fetch a little box of syringes. “Here Nuggets, take this. Your headaches are most likely magic induced and since magic permeates everything in this city you’ll need some medicine to keep it at bay.”

“Nice. Thanks Coffee Man.”

As we started our walk back to the apartment I looked down at the ground, wondering how I could start a conversation after such a big revelation had dropped. I snuck glances up at Nuggets occasionally and he looked a lot less bothered by the news than I was. His eyes were focused on what was ahead of him, his stare a little blank as usual, but I had accepted that maybe that was just his resting face at this point.

“I’m sorry that you’re not magic.” I finally broke the silence.

“It’s not your fault, is it?”

“No, but I’m still sorry.”

“It’s no big deal really, it’s not like I wanted a cup head. And look at this,” he held the box of syringes up and shook it gently like a wrapped gift, causing the content to rattle around. “I got free stuff.”

I let out a light chuckle and point down to his exposed midriff, “I guess the next thing we should do is get some clothes that actually fit you.”

“And food too, I’m starving.”

Little by little the bustle of people around us started dying out as we entered the quieter and more dangerous small streets of Kandon. Nugs didn’t seem bothered by it and neither was I; I frequently took shortcuts through them just to get around faster. In a way the quiet was more comforting, less people also meant the odds you got caught up in a ghoul attack were smaller.

“Emma.”

“What is it Nugs?”

“I’ve been meaning to ask, I have this tightness in my chest.”

“Does it hurt?”

“Kind of, but not like ‘ow’ hurt… Are there different types of hurt?”

“Well… Yeah I guess there’s many if you put it that way.”

“Hey you two! Stop right there!”

A man with a piercingly high pitched voice yelled out from further down the street, he was flanked by four other dudes who were dressed in the same getup as him. Black baggy pants and white t-shirts, all of which were dirty and frayed. Their green skin, sharp teeth and pointed ears clued me in on who they were the second I saw them. I immediately decided that the guy in the middle, the one who had raised his voice, was the leader; because he was also the only one wearing a red beanie.

“Do as we say and no one gets hurt.”

They were each brandishing some form of makeshift weaponry, ranging from crowbars to just a plank of sharpened wood.

“Are these your friends, Emma?” Nugs blinked and looked between me and the goblins.

“Far from it Nugs, stay back or you’ll get hurt.”

“Are they bad?”

“They’re goblins, you’ll be lucky if they just kill you. I can handle them, just stay back.”

I walk forward leaving Nuggets behind as I approach the group of green misfits. I get no more than a few steps in before the leader raises his voice again, “Hey now don’t do that, I told you to stay put woman!” Taking a closer look at them I notice he is the only one not holding a weapon. “What do you want? We’re in a hurry.”

“We want your valuables… and stuff! What’s that thing your friend is holding over there?” The goblin grinned and curled out a twitchy finger to point at the box of medicine in Nugs’ hands. As he did, Nugs quickly hid it behind his back. “A Nomad with fresh goods? Why not hand him over to us? We might just let you go if you do.”

“No can do. He’s my friend.”

“Friend? That’s annoying, but if you insist we’ll just kill you both and take it!”

With calculated effort I turn my palm upwards and begin to let the sludge pool together, gathering into a lumpy mass the size of a human head in my hand, twitching and slithering before taking the shape of a round ball. “Oh, but I insist.”