I wanted to know more.

I wanted to ask where mom was and what happened to her and Rina after I left but… it was no longer any of my business and so I downed my piping hot coffee.

“Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Rina and, once again, you have my condolences,” I said.

“Are you going back to Acan?” Rina asked while standing up.

“Yep. I can’t go back to Edenton but life on earth is quite exciting. I have many things I’d like to see and do, so yeah.” I said as Rina slipped into her coat.

She then accompanied me outside and we stood by the sidewalk for a moment as the sun steadily rose.

“Oh, alright. It was a pleasure meeting you Mr. Kenos.” Rina said before walking towards her car. A dark grey sedan.

I nodded to myself before making my way to a nearby alley where I remained for a few moments while my racing heart slowly calmed itself.

I looked up into the clear blue sky and reached out to it.

[Don’t even think about it!] Kenos hissed.

“Don’t worry. I wasn’t even considering it.” I said before making my way to a nearby group of taxis.

I boarded one and began my journey back to the Vectrain station.

I then made my way back to Acan where I returned to the motel beneath the highway.

I sat still for a moment.

My hands rested on the wheels of my chair and… I felt alive.

Which is awkward, all things considered.

[Look at ya, all smiles and shit. So… what now?] Kenos asked but I shook my head while softly chuckling.

“I have no idea. You?”

[Mmm… why don’t we help Zuri and that Quinn guy with their operation.]

“Mmm… sure but I don’t see how we could help,” I said while grabbing my phone.

I then called Zuri while carelessly smiling.

[Kenos?]

“Nope, its Katsíki.”

[Oh. Is there anything I can help you with?]

“Quite the opposite. I wanted to ask if you or Mr. Quinn needed any help.”

[Wait, are you saying that you are going to come here and help us?] Zuri asked.

“Yes.”

[Oh- well then yes, we would really appreciate it although I am not sure if you will be able to hide your identity indefinitely.]

“Bah! We’ll worry about that when it becomes a problem.”

[Oh- alright. Give me a moment. I will have to ask Mr. Quinn for permission first.] Zuri said before ending the call.

I placed my phone on my lap before sighing.

[Never mind, I think we should take over this world as its new overlord!] Kenos said but I shook my head.

“Too late. You should’ve said that earlier. Now… I really want a drink.”

[And I really want to fuck something but we don’t always get what we want.] Kenos groaned but I chuckled in response.

“That may be true but I must ask… what is it that you truly want?”

A brief silence followed.

[Nothing.]

I nodded before glancing at my phone as it rang.

I answered the call and placed the phone by my ear.

“Yo.”

[I spoke with Mr. Quinn and he said that he wanted to speak with you regarding the ways you could help.]

“Alright. Send me your location and I’ll be right over.”

[Alright.] Zuri said before ending the call.

I then took a deep breath, packed my things and made my way to Cynosure using a Vectrain.

I mostly ignored the grandeur of the capital as the train approached the station.

I mean, it’s not like I was missing out on anything important. The city had a cold, grey appearance and the sky, for anyone on street level, was blocked out by countless skyscrapers.

After arriving at the station, I made my way onto Cynosure’s streets and made my way towards one of the many office buildings in the central business district.

I looked at my destination and saw that the building, which stood ten storeys tall, had a vintage aesthetic reminiscent of that found on buildings from the early twentieth century.

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It was also not wheelchair friendly.

I moved over to the stairs and sighed before grabbing my phone and calling Zuri.

[Kenos?]

“Err, no its Katsíki. I’m at the building although I don’t know how I’ll be able to get in.”

[What’s wrong?] Zuri asked.

“Stairs.”

[Oh… give me a moment, I’ll open the garage and you’ll come in through there.]

“Alright.”

I waited for about a minute and it wasn’t long after that Zuri arrived. She wore a black suit and a plain white shirt. Her weird crown thingy was missing but I paid more attention to the lines on her skin. A dead giveaway that one was from Edenton. Well, for anyone who knew their truth.

“Hello, Katsíki.” She greeted.

“Hello. I may be less mobile but I am still the host of darkness so if there’s anything I can do to help, be sure to name it.”

Zuri nodded before gesturing that I follow her down the ramp that led into the garage, which had been opened when she came out. Within it, apart from black cars which had their windows tinted, were people dressed in black suits and they were seemingly sorting through countless documents which filled the countless boxes in the garage.

They paid Zuri and I little mind as she led me to an elevator which took us to the topmost floor which was a grand office that was also filled with boxes full of paper.

“Countless calls come in every day. People want answers. They want to know where the people they cared for are. Mr. Quinn’s employees offer them counsel and provide answers while governments around the world work in secrecy.” Zuri said before gesturing that I park myself next to a duo of leather couches in the centre of the office.

I did so and Zuri sat next to me.

She then joined me in looking at the windows, which were actually screens that displayed the single image of a sun soaring across a grassy plane.

“Huh… I find it hard to believe that the same Mr. Quinn you described is doing all this.”

“Indeed, and although it is commendable I have nothing to say about the change in his character.”

I nodded before raising my left hand and creating a ball of darkness that was about the size of an apple.

“Alright, so… how can I help?” I asked while condensing the ball to the size of an egg.

“As you know, Mr. Quinn also offers shelter to people from Edenton before they are taken by the Erties but this job can often prove perilous for his employees and so I’d like you and him to discuss how to leverage your power to help his cause.”

Ehh… what are Erties again?

[That’s the colloquial term for the E.R.T. or Extraterrestrial Retrieval Taskforce founded by the leading nations of the world. You can guess what their job is.] Kenos explained.

I nodded before thoughtfully tapping my chin.

There was a near-infinite amount of things my powers could be used for.

I destroyed the dark ball and watched as the darkness seeped into my hand.

“Katsíki?” Zuri called.

“Mmm? Oh- yeah. I’m on board. So, how are we going to approach this? I’m assuming Mr. Quinn has warehouses or something?”

“Yes. Although you will have to discuss the finer details with him in person.”

“And where is he right now?” I asked.

“I called to inform him that you were coming and he said he would be here before long.”

I nodded before narrowing my eyes slightly.

“And why are you here?”

“Well, Mr. Quinn and I spoke and decided that, since he is a busy man, I will be stationed here to act as a medium for communication between his staff and himself. He still has his advisors, managers and other key staff members and so-“

“So, you’re kinda like a secretary?”

“Yes.”

“I see,” I said before looking up in thought.

The elevator doors then opened and I glanced to my right to find a middle-aged couple entering the office. One being Mr. Quinn. A man whose head was nearly entirely covered in thinning grey hair. Beneath his eyes sat puffy bags and he walked with a slight forward slouch. Adorning his tanned face were deep laugh and frown lines. He wore a dark grey suit and carried with him a fairly small briefcase. As for the woman walking alongside him, she had a head of obviously dyed brown hair but unlike the man, she walked with an upright posture and although her face had wrinkles, they were far and few between. She wore a navy-blue formal skirt and a loose-fitting white silk blouse.

The two walked up to the couches where Zuri and I sat before promptly sitting down in front of us.

Mr. Quinn’s eyes focused on me. He then took a single breath before extending his hand.

“Pleasure to meet you again Mr. Katsíki. My name is George Quinn and this is my wife, Khalindra.”

I shook his hand before shaking that of the woman next to him.

“Zuri has told me much about you. Although there’s a lot more I’d like to know.”

“Like?”

George’s eyes widened a little.

“You… can use magic right?” He asked. His voice shook ever so slightly.

“Yes. Would you like a demonstration?” I asked with an amused smirk.

“Yes, please!” George said and even Khalindra joined him on the edge of the couch.

I raised my left hand and created another dark ball.

I then watched as Khalindra clung to George’s arm.

The two stared at the floating ball with eyes filled with awe and even a bit of fear.

“Amazing,” George muttered.

“True,” I said before turning the ball into a cube.

“Zuri said that you are involved in the retrieval of people from Edenton, the other world. How would you like me to help with this noble endeavour of yours?”

“Well… that’s not what I’d like your help with right now.”

“Oh?” I sounded.

“Y-yes. Is there a way you could use your powers to help find Adia?”

“Ah- that I cannot do. I am something known as a darkness magician. I hold no sway over the aspect of space and so I won’t be of much use in help in finding anyone,” I sighed.

George’s eyes fell for a moment but just as quickly as they did they returned to mine only his brows were slightly heavier.

“I-I see. Using your dark powers would you be able to containers? My company not only deals with offering counsel to those in need but we also provide those who have lost people they care for with basic necessities. Goods that have to be shipped all across the world. If possible, I’d like you and I to design a… crate that is durable enough to reach those who need it.” George said in a rather monotone voice.

“Mmm… sure.”

George gave me a curt nod before looking up in thought.

“I will also prepare a handful of other things I could use your help in making, if that’s alright.”

“Sure. Just make sure to bring highly detailed schematics and we’ll be good to go.” I said making George nod again.

“Oh- and rest assured, you will be duly compensated for your work.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. I will do it free of charge under the condition that if you abuse the tools I give you, you will be forfeiting your life.” I said unblinkingly.

George’s eyes shot open.

“I… understand.”

“Hopefully.” I yawned.

“Now, get me a warehouse and some schematics and I’ll get to work.”

“How long does the creation process usually take?” George asked.

“I can create a thousand things in an hour. It’ll all ultimately depend on how comprehensive the schematics you get me are.”

“I see. Then could I ask that we meet again tomorrow? I’ll have to prepare everything in the meantime.”

“Sure,” I said.

George nodded before standing up.

“Allow me to accompany you out.”

He led me into the elevator and we silently made our way out of the building.

It was here that I saw that the building was now surrounded by men in black suits. They stood defensively around George and the building.

“Umm… do you… do you perhaps know of a magician who could help us find Adia?”

I turned around to face George and saw that his face was twisted with what looked to be a mixture of concern and desperation.

“I’m pretty sure the only person who could do that is on Edenton.”

“I… I see. Well, goodbye for now then. I look forward to seeing your work.” George said with a weak smile.

I nodded before making my way down the street.

[Motel or back to Acan?]

Motel. I really don’t want to travel cross-country tomorrow all over again-

I stopped upon feeling that my phone was vibrating and so I pulled it out of my pocket and my eyes narrowed upon seeing that the number was unknown.

I answered the phone and cautiously placed it on my ear.

“Hello?”

[Hello, Mr. Kenos. It’s Rina. I was wondering if you are free this Saturday?]