Addu's... Addu is just... fast asleep. What has got into him?
Under the veil of darkness, the moon's faint glow illuminated the quiet hallways of the boarding house. I tiptoed through the corridor, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpeting, carrying with me an unusual concoction. In my hands, I held a small bundle of cat's fur, delicately gathered from a nearby feline companion, and a piece of pork meat, fresh- I mean not so because it's from a grocery store, and awaiting its mystical transformation. If the book's contents are real.
With careful precision, I placed the cat's fur over the pork meat, their energies intertwining in a mysterious dance. It was an ancient ritual, whispered to me through the pages of esoteric texts and whispered rumors. The combination of the feline essence and the earthly essence of the meat held a significance that only those who could comprehend can comprehend.
To complete the alchemical fusion, I broke the stone containing the spirit of harm with my fingers, revealing an awfully-smelling liquid. It was quite fragile. The liquid, with its unsightly iridescence, cascaded onto the pork and cat's fur, and a faint hum seemed to emanate from the mixture as if acknowledging the power it contained.
It's ready. I glanced at my roommate, still quite asleep seeing me do some odd stunts.
With cautious steps, I ventured into the sprawling backyard of the boarding house, its familiar terrain now imbued with an aura of mystery. The moonlight filtered through the branches of towering trees, casting eerie shadows that danced across the ground. I sought out a secluded spot, a hidden sanctuary where I could bury the mystical amalgamation. The backyard.
As I dug into the soft earth, a sense of reverence washed over me. With each shovel full of dirt, I could feel the weight of the ancient secrets seeping into the ground, merging with the earth's energy. Finally, I carefully placed the mixture into the hole, covering it with soil, and patting it gently as if sealing a pact.
The grimoire in my hands, as I buried the weird set of items, glowed and instantly floated right in front of me and opened its hardbound. Suspended in mid-air, the mystifying grimoire hovered gracefully, its ethereal pages adorned with arcane symbols and intricate illustrations. With an air of anticipation, the mystical tome unfurled itself, as if guided by an unseen force, revealing a page.
Emblazoned upon the parchment was a succinct message: "Spell has been cast. It shall manifest if it's time." These words, penned in elegant calligraphy, bore an unmistakable aura of power and enigma. The immaculate craftsmanship of the letters, seemingly etched with the essence of ancient wisdom, captured my attention.
The faint glow of the grimoire had slowly dimmed and it started to fall. Oops!
I caught the book, the pages that it depicted just a second ago, gone.
The boarding house's backyard had become a sanctuary of hidden magic- haha. Why am I so poetic about this? Now what...?
And then I remembered something...
Ah shit, the floor. With a quickened heartbeat and a sense of urgency, I stealthily made my way through the dimly lit hallway of the boarding house. As I reached the kitchen, I glanced around to ensure that no one was watching. I washed my hands first, by the way. The landlady had a habit of keeping a stash of tools under the sink, hidden away in a cluttered corner. My eyes landed on a glint of metal among the jumble, and I knew it was the sandpaper I sought.
Keeping a watchful eye, I quickly retraced my steps back to our room, my heart pounding in my chest. The weight of the sandpaper pressed against my palm was a symbol of hidden potential and a silent rebellion against the stagnant state of things. Entering the room, I closed the door behind me with a soft click, enveloping myself in a veil of privacy. Addu was still asleep. A deep sleep.
Here we go. I sat on the floor where I had carved some mystical symbols.
As I meticulously moved the sandpaper across the wooden floor, my gaze remained fixed on the task at hand. The rhythmic back-and-forth motion of my hands and the racing thoughts in my mind. I wanted to rid the floor of any lingering evidence of the carvings, hoping to erase the scene from Addu's memory. Nobody must know... I decide that now. I curse anyone that might know the book or my secrets...
"Granted.", a whisper reached my eyes, but the gritting of the floor overpowered it.
What was that? Am I hearing things?
The grinding sound of the sandpaper against the wood filled the room, drowning out the silence and any semblance of the mystical symbols that had once adorned the floor. I pressed down with just the right amount of force, working diligently to ensure that no trace of those markings remained. With each pass, a thin layer of dust rose, veiling the room in a cloud of particles. Despite the noise, however, Addu didn't wake up. Did he convince himself a little too much that it was all a dream?
As the night settled around me like a comforting embrace, I prepared myself for the day ahead. It's my first day of school here in Barter, huh? The weariness from the day's activities seeped into my bones, nudging me toward the solace of my bed. With a grateful sigh, I slipped beneath the covers, seeking respite in the welcoming cocoon of warmth and softness.
As I nestled into the plush pillows and snuggled beneath the weight of the blankets, a sense of tranquility washed over me. The worries and stresses that had plagued my mind throughout the day seemed to dissolve, melting away into the quiet stillness of the night.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The morning fowl called the day.
And then, as the first light of dawn began to peek through the curtains, I gradually stirred from my restful slumber. The peacefulness of the night lingered in my being, casting a gentle glow upon the dawning day. With a renewed sense of calm, I stretched and yawned, feeling the remnants of serenity still resonating within me. As I prepared to face the challenges of the day ahead, a lingering sense of peace accompanied me. No coffee, no breakfast... I need to eat by the time I reach school. What can I buy with 20 pesos?
I walked towards the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror, a critical eye assessing the state of the shower. The water droplets from my morning shower still glistened on the tiles, but my attention was drawn to the shower head. It hung there, a little too short for my liking, forcing me to stoop slightly to wash away the remnants of sleep and refresh myself for the day.
As I reached down to look at the rubber mat, my vision grazed against its worn surface. The once vibrant colors were faded, and there were signs of wear and tear along the edges. It had faithfully served its purpose over time, providing a safe haven from the slippery floor, but now it was almost chipped away, revealing the fraying edges beneath. It was a subtle reminder of the passing of time and the need for renewal. Hmm, Barter is simply not it. Why did I even choose to engulf myself in this madness? Curse this... Barter.
Turning away from the bathroom, I made my way back to the bedroom, a sense of purpose guiding my steps. Opening the worn Lenin bag that rested on my bed, I rummaged through its contents, searching for something casual to wear. Within the depths of the bag, I found a comfortable pair of jeans and a soft, well-worn T-shirt. As I slipped into the familiar garments, a sense of familiarity and ease enveloped me. As I was getting ready, Addu- also doing the same thing, broke the early morning silence which lingered around us.
"I had the weirdest dream last night while being stoned.", he said.
"Yeah?", I wore my outfit. "What was it?", I paused for a moment. "You were stoned?!"
"Yeah, and I dreamed about me doing my shit while you were there acting weird, and then you collected some stuff like water and candles, and then you performed some kind of sorcery which lit the candles-" Shhh.
I didn't let him finish.
"Sssh.", I hushed his statement. "That's just some weird dream I don't want to hear about.", I chuckled. "That's normal..."
Dreaming weird things is normal, but being stoned isn't. I don't want to make this issue big. I'm going to let Addu do his thing. I'm not making my Barter experience more fucked up than it already is.
"It is?", he asked while shaving his prominent mustache that isn't going anywhere.
I simply winked. Hehe.
And so, we were ready.
We stood outside the boarding house, the morning sun casting its golden rays across the loud city street. Addu and I had made a pact to arrive at school separately- walking in different ways, ensuring that no one would associate a Magnifico lackey like me with a Pioneer Captain like him. It was essential to maintain our separate identities and keep any potential rumors at bay.
Bzz... I could feel the book buzzing in my school bag. I don't know what it needs, but I need to check on it later.
"You see.", he explained to me a couple of days ago. "Barter is divided into seven districts. Our boarding house is in District 2, while our school is in the capital, district 1.", he resumed. He then suggested I'll take the District 2 bus and arrive at the District 1 bus stop and then walk from there to school, while he takes a cab going to the District 7 bus stop and stop at the school. Though I told him that it'd be too expensive in his route, he brushed it off saying that he isn't poor and he's completely aware of it.
Though I told him that it'd be too expensive in his route, he brushed it off saying that he isn't poor and he's completely aware of it [https://img.wattpad.com/964923e9ebfa264b23109c28eb77911a39afbeda/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4357726f6a49695330376a7a59673d3d2d313334383239323335372e313736356430303534393062663666373337383834343636323634372e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
As we stood on the doorstep, exchanging final nods and words of encouragement, I could feel the weight of our decision. The air was charged with anticipation and a touch of melancholy, knowing that our paths would diverge before we even reached the school gates. With a bittersweet smile, I watched as Addu turned in one direction, his determined steps taking him further down the street as he waits for a cab. Meanwhile, I walk towards this district's bus stop.
Bzz! The book buzzed once more.
Now, what?!
"A secret is being revealed to you.", the pages opened by themselves. And just like that, an unhinged set of memories entered my head like a rogue rhino.
And it went like this... It was a tale of a misfortunate businessman who owned 78 businesses, and all failed.
There lived a man adorned with a boundless spirit and an insatiable hunger for success, he embarked on a journey paved with ventures and profit.
His first endeavor, a feline emporium- he wanted to sell cats. Yet fate, with its cruel sense of irony, orchestrated a malevolent dance. An invisible ailment swept through his cherished feline companions, stealing their lives with a merciless hand. The symphony of mews, once harmonious, turned to haunting echoes of loss.
Undeterred, he rose from the ashes of his feline misfortune, seeking refuge in new ambitions. Like a wounded phoenix, he sought solace amidst the embers of his former glory. But alas, destiny played its fickle game once more. In a twist of cosmic irony, his path led him to a marketplace nestled within a tapestry of faith.
In his 78th and last business, he dared to trade in the swine's succulent embrace- a pork meat shop. But alas, his choice of locale bore the seeds of his downfall. He sold pork in a Muslim area. For in the heart of a devout community, his presence became a clash of beliefs, a discordant note in their sacred symphony. The whispers of dissent grew louder, and the gusts of condemnation brought his endeavors to an abrupt halt.
Adrift upon the tumultuous sea of life's trials, the man found himself standing at the precipice of despair. In the shadowed depths of his soul, a revelation emerged like a solitary star piercing the night sky. He turned his gaze towards the abyss, embracing the darkness that lay within.
With a deftness honed by untold failures, he embraced the art of becoming an artist of death. Each contract was an elegy of redemption, a dance of precision and discretion. The air itself trembled at his passing as if nature itself recoiled from the twisted path he treads.
And thus, in the macabre ballet of life's vicissitudes, he found his true calling amidst the crimson tide. The man, once burdened by the weight of countless failures, now found solace in the delicate balance between life and death. For in this paradoxical existence, his misfortunes birthed an unlikely mastery, transforming him into a whisper in the abyss, an artist of the night.
He was a failure in being a businessman, but he was an... influential hitman.