A man and a witch walk out on the sidewalk of a skyscraper, leaving a very strange situation. Stepping free, they both take a relieved breath before turning to each other.
Jillian looked between the building and Nick, “That was insane, right?”
Nick let out a forced laugh, “I thought they were going to try to lock me up or something.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t have been surprised. I had no idea we had suits like that.” She had worked for a few big companies but had never seen anyone in the magical community taken outside of moves.
“Worlds bigger than either of us knew.”
Jillian could only stare at the man who, only a half hour ago, she thought was a very creative liar, possibly delusional, with a touch of talent for making artifacts. Even the compass of desire she had asked in compensation for helping was more because she thought this would be fun. The item wasn’t even in the back of her mind. Now she knew it was a powerful artifact, not the trinket she had thought it was. Jillian had no idea what she would use it for. I can finally get Grace to admit she’s into Adam. A Wicked smile appeared on her face.
“I’m not sure I like that smile,” Nick said, leaning back.
She had forgotten she was staring at Nick. “It's a good smile, though it's more for a friend of mine.”
“Well, that sounds fun.”
“It will be.” She said, rubbing her hands menacingly. Catching herself, she cleared her throat, feeling her face grow warm, “But I can’t believe all that stuff you told me was true.”
Nick just smiled as he started toward the car, “Surprised you came along with me, honestly. I know how insane I sound.”
“I have to say it was curiosity, then It was kind of fun. I don’t get to use spells like these. Most of the time, it's crystals, and people do not believe in a crystal healer. Getting yelled at, then the person healing, and not believing I did anything or worse. Believe they can do the same with my own crystals. And I’m ranting about work.” She had seen it all too often; so many people thought she was a fraud or they were hippies who thought they knew how crystals worked, almost making the patient worse.
Nicki let out a laugh, “Hey, you got to see a bit of my job. You’d be shocked at how many people just start screaming.”
“That is the least surprising thing about that whole situation.” She said seriously. In fact, she would probably be one of the screaming people.
They were in front of the parking garage when Nick turned to her, “So, can I give you a ride home? Or have you had enough of me?”
“I’ll take that ride, Nick.”
He smiled, looking slightly shy, “Call me Nicki.”
“Ha, magical isekai man is called Nicki. This really has been a lot of fun.”
“Can you believe it was insurance, of all things?”
“I know, right? Despite all the magic shit, it's all just ordinary people underneath.”
“Yes, ordinary people and a mummy.” Nicki corrected.
Walking to the car, she cheekily asked, “So when is our next adventure?”
“I think I’m done out here for a while, but if you ever need anything.”
“Coven does a weekly get-together on Tuesday. You should come.”
Nicki paused before nodding, “Sounds like fun.”
Jillian was looking forward to Tuesday.
#
In a city filled with people near the top of a skyscraper, where a man, a woman, and a mummy watch on a monitor as two people leave the building. A witch and a man that none of them understand.
Alice was still in shock at everything. When she was handed the book, she felt something she had never felt before from it. It was like it was acknowledging her as the owner, not just another reader. She could feel the book in her hand, her power flowing through it and back into her. Whispering secrets of the arcane—well, they weren’t really words, just a strong desire to teach her.
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Looking back up to the monitor where Nicholas Knight stepped into a parking garage, she couldn’t stay quiet anymore.
“So we’re just letting them leave?”
“Why would we keep them?” Aillil sounded genuinely curious.
“I don’t know. Isn’t that what this job is?” It sounded like something they would handle. Actually, she didn’t know how they would handle it. Do they have a jail? Would they get them sent to normal jail, or do they have holding cells? It was only now that she was starting to really wonder what the job would fully entail. What did I agree to?
She looked up over to Mercer, who looked just as confused as her. Seeing our reaction, Aillil laughed, “It can be. But they aren’t really a threat. We treat people like people here, Miss Bennet. Just because they have potential for bad doesn’t mean we take them down.” He said mock, offended, before turning serious. “We deal with things that can’t be reasoned with.”
Trying to gather more information, she decided to ask a question she should have asked before accepting the job: “Will the cases be like the one we did on Nicholas Knight?” It felt like a waste for a lot of nothing at the end. Except, maybe, for her new grimoire.
“Sometimes, but let's get you started. Mercer here has finally decided to join my team. I’ve been trying for years to get him to join up.”
“She just needs someone who she knows has her back,” Mercer commented offhandedly. Alice felt odd at that but still appreciated having someone she was familiar with.
“Doesn’t matter,” Aillil said offhandedly. “I’m just glad you joined. Now, you two will work with our senior associate on a few insurance cases.” The door to the office opened, revealing a gruff, disheveled man. And here he is.”
He looked around the room from Alice to Mercer, looking annoyed. “Aillil, I told you I don't need kids to look after.”
Mercer looked annoyed, “Kids? I‘m thirty-five.”
“And I’m twenty-four,” Alice commented, feeling like she needed to say something.
“A kid and an old man then. Seriously, I don’t need rookies underfoot.”
“Jeremy, we’ve discussed this.” The two glared at each other before Jeremy broke contact. “Fine. But I get to do more research on the Grey mansion.”
Aillil tapped his fingers on the desk, seeming to think. “Fine, but only on your downtime. You can join the next expedition.”
With a wolfish grin, Jeremy turned to Alice, “Alright, rookies. We have a case down in Indiana. There's apparently a babbling brook who won’t stop whispering lies.”
#
A man steps through a door into his apartment—an apartment he should, rightly, not be able to afford. Ignoring his own home, he steps through, passing a couch with memories of nights watching odd movies with a doll. This was where he would sit to let the world pass by, a place of moments. He steps past and to another door—one that should lead to a simple pantry.
A pantry was still left empty, with no scrap of food or any storage given. Unwilling to fill the room. A mark of what they truly used the door for. Grabbing the nob, he turns, opening it to an impossible place. A place of true dreams, to some nightmares, a place of beginnings. Stepping through, a little doll sits in an office chair, spinning. “Weeee!” Having the time of her life. Nicki smiles. Watching as she stops and stumbles out of the chair, giggling all the while as she attempts to walk a straight line. She falls, lying on her back, staring up at the ceiling.
“Having fun?”
“Oh yeah.” She stood and looked at the desk, looking for something, “So she wasn’t a Hero?”
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
“She never appeared here, and there’s no folder.”
“She doesn’t need a folder to be a Hero. You should know by now how a story begins can be just as important as how it ends.” Nicki took the office chair as Drystia sat up. “Even in our world. Where magic is only beginning to reemerge, heroes can be found starting their journey. From the police girl who stole a book.” Nicki had finally realized where he recognized her from, a passing contact, barely a few words between them. So long ago. “To the fae girl best friend, maybe she’ll be a sidekick or something more. I don’t know. I am just a beginning even there. Sometimes, rarely, I get to see the end.”
Drystia looked at Nicki with concern. “Being a bit melodramatic, aren’t we.”
“I’m feeling a bit of ennui right now.”
“Fancy word.” Her smile grew sly, “Do you even know what it means.”
“Possibly, I’m fifty-fifty if I’m using it right. I’m feeling a bit melodramatic right now.”
“Do you know what that means?”
He picked up a pillow that was not there yet always there and threw it at the giggling doll. “Yes. It’s just that I’m realizing how big our little office is when there's so much simply right outside.”
“What thinking of starting a local branch?” She asked an eyebrow raised.
That gave Nicki pause. Would he like to start a branch where he somehow helps the local people just on the cusp of becoming heroes? Find the moments before they make the choice that would bring them on a self-inflicted Hero’s journey. “Nah. To much work. I think I’m done exploring this world.”
Drystia gave him a look that made him realize that had been a lie.
“Okay. I know I’ll still explore. It's still my world, and there are so many fascinating things out there, and I’ve been having fun.”
“So you actually going to do work?”
“Apparently, I was already doing it. But yeah, I’ll be back in the office.”
Drystia began to twirl her red dress fanning out, “We should do some more dance classes. Those were fun, and I need to get out more.”
“Yeah.” He had been having fun going out and doing classes before the book was taken, so it would be nice to get back into just doing things for him. “You think Jillian would come?”
“You’d have to ask first.” She laughed, “A witch, a doll, and -- whatever you are. Walk into a dance class.”
“Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
* * *