My eyes widened.
“Err… yeah, I think so. Why do you ask?” I asked with a racing heart.
[I… I want to hear more about my brother’s otherworldly adventures. I wanted to know what he did with the life our parents gave him. I also want to learn more about you since it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that you are an alien, hehe.]
“Yeah, I guess. So- umm- yeah, I’ll head on over to Ix Chel on Saturday then.”
[Won’t that be too costly? I could always come to Acan.]
“No, don’t worry. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you to such high a degree. Acan is also… not in the best shape and so it would be safest if I came to Ix Chel.” I said as the sun steadily set, casting Cynosure in a deep orange light.
[I’ve heard that place was crime-ridden… wait, so why are you living there? I could always help you find a place here.]
“No! There’s no need for any of that. Anyway, bye. I have to go but rest assured, I will be there on Saturday.” I said before ending the call.
[Sheesh. So pushy.]
“True but she meant well,” I said before making my way to a nearby motel. This one was far cleaner and bigger than the one in Acan. Also, most, if not all of its lights worked.
I then got a room and, after ordering some food and eating, I crawled onto the way more comfortable bed and sighed.
It was Thursday meaning that I’d be able to help George with his problem and prepare a gift or something for Rina.
[Aww… sweet but don’t forget, I need to deal out vigilante justice tonight!] Kenos yelled making me roll my eyes.
Not happening! At least, not in Cynosure. Also, if we ever get caught by the cops we may never be able to see Rina again.
[Don’t worry. I’ll be extra careful.]
I rolled my eyes before closing them and allowing unconsciousness to wash over my mind.
.
..
I awoke the next day with a determined frown.
I bathed, grabbed a change of clothes from the V.O.H. and waited for Zuri or George to call.
In the meantime, I sat on the motel bed and created a diorama of what Coh looked like.
[You do this to yourself, you know?] Kenos commented as I recreated lower Coh using wisps of darkness that poured out of my fingers.
“And what would you have me do? Forget?”
[I didn’t say that. I’m just confused as to why you do it even when knowing it will hurt.]
“I… don’t know,” I said before glancing at the miniature version of the heart.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“I honestly don’t know.”
My phone then rang and I promptly answered.
“Yo.”
[Kenos?]
“Katsíki.”
[Oh, Mr. Quinn says he has prepared a space for you to work and has gathered some specialists at the location which I will send to you in a moment.]
“Will you be there?”
[No. There is nothing of value I could offer in this endeavour so I will go to the office and do as instructed.]
“Alright. Bye, then.”
[Bye.]
I placed my phone in my pocket and, after leaving the motel, got into a taxi and made my way to a warehouse which was located on the outskirts of Cynosure.
I eventually arrived at the massive building and I eyed the countless armed guards that lined the building’s perimeter.
My brows also furrowed upon seeing, standing by the front gate, George Quinn.
I wheeled myself towards him and he approached me, revealing his reddened puffy eyes.
“G-good morning, Mr. Katsíki. This way, please.” He said before leading me into the warehouse which was about the size of four football fields.
Within it, by the corner closest to the front entrance, around a table, stood seven people. Five men and two women.
George led me to them and they all looked me over.
“Gentlemen, this Katsíki. He will be conducting the manufacturing procedure after you detail each schematic to him.”
I glanced at the countless documents on the table as George spoke.
[You just had to help, huh?]
“Umm… Pardon my scepticism but could Mr. Katsíki demonstrate his capabilities before we move forward? I understand you said he is a capable magician but, apart from the fact that we know next to nothing about him, we don’t even know the extent to which he can use magic.” One of the people, a man dressed in formal and a pale grey fedora said.
George glanced at me and I nodded before raising my left hand.
I then erected a ten meter tall wall a few meters away from the table and I sighed as the warehouse was filled with gasps.
“Is there anything else you’d like me to show you?” I sighed.
“Err… could you create vehicles?”
“I can only create that which I know and understand and I can only make those things from darkness. Cars and such are complex machines made from various materials and so no, I cannot create conventional vehicles.”
The group then discussed various things and Mr. Fedora walked up to George with a document in hand while I destroyed the wall.
“Sir, have him create as many of these as possible.” Mr. Fedora said but George shook his head.
“You’ll have to tell him that yourself and make sure to be as thorough as possible.”
Mr. Fedora nodded before nervously walking to me.
He then handed me the document which contained the blueprint and additional details of what appeared to be a sturdy-looking storage unit which looked about as big as a shipping container. It was made of seven parts. A rectangular frame and six removable sides which I assumed would make accessing the goods easier.
“Err… as you can see…”
I ignored MR. Fedora while flipping through the pages of the document.
“How many of these do you want?” I asked while looking through other documents.
“Let’s start with a thousand,” George yawned.
“Alright,” I said before raising my left hand and filling the warehouse with black smoke. George and the others rushed to the nearby wall while the darkness fell and condensed, forming the frames and sheets that would go on to make the containers.
A few minutes passed and by then, one thousand sets of pieces were sitting on the warehouse floor.
“Is there anything else you’d like me to make?” I asked prompting a wide-eyed George to hand me a handful of other documents.
I then spent the next hour making all manner of equipment used in the business of shipping goods and at some point, I realized George was just using me to cut costs in his seemingly altruistic endeavour.
My work eventually concluded and I watched, mildly amused as George’s associates gawked at what I’d created.
I glanced at George who stood next to me. His eyes were narrowed and his brows were knotted.
“Thank you.” He said without facing me.
“Don’t worry about it.”
George nodded.
I then left the warehouse and made my way to the front gate where I ordered a taxi back to Central Cynosure.
I then made my way to a mall where I began my search for a possible gift for Rina but…
I…
I did not know what she would want.
And even if I did, it would be strange if a stranger brought her what she wanted.
[Chocolate!] Kenos yelled.
I wanted to argue otherwise but… Chocolate was a good pick and so I bought a box and made my way to a nearby Vectrain station.
I then made my way back to that dingy old motel where I placed the box of chocolates on the bedside table.
I crawled onto the bed and, after letting out a tired sigh, I slept.