Alright, let’s start from the beginning, yeah? Big bang, stardust, black holes, blah blah blah. Fast forward through most of that and you get to the most important part, life. Apollo wasn’t really an astronomy kid so he didn’t really pay attention to the cosmos TBH. He was pretty sure that was an accurate historical record though. One thing he would admit, those moments when the universe gets something right? It’s not too bad. Nature, chemistry, and the music of his environment were his happy place. He lived in a very average two-bedroom apartment in sunny but very mundane Greenacres, Florida. They call it one of the retirement capitals of the world, apparently. It’s also the perfect mild-mannered hideout for a bad ass superhero of EPIC status! Apollo hadn’t quite discovered any magical superpowers yet but stayed tuned folks...

Anyway, the apartment was in one of those gated communities where all the buildings were clones. They had a tan yet almost peach color on the outside. It’s supposed to be a “calming yet interesting tone of color” or something. Apollo had yet to feel this effect but hey, he wasn’t a realtor. The indoor eggshells didn’t really spark joy either. Despite that, he loved every single inch of this place though for one single reason. He lived there with his best friend, Obun. They had been inseparable ever since they traded juice boxes in 2nd grade. When Apollo told him that he was moving out of Auntie Shauna’s house, Obun didn’t hesitate to join in the fun.

His Auntie Shauna was his foster mom, but she’s always been family to him. He never met his parents. Apparently, they died when he was really young. It didn’t really matter to him though! Auntie Shauna raised him. The only reason he didn’t call her mom is because she insists on being called auntie. She told him it’s important to honor a mother’s memory, so he just went with it. More importantly though, back to the adventures of Obun and App- “YO EARTH TO APOLLOOOOOO 69”

Apollo nearly jumped five feet into the air off of the couch and slammed his ass on the ground. He squinted his eyes and glared at his so-called best friend grinning ear to ear on the couch. Obun put on a mock pouting face and spoke with a sympathetic tone, “Aw, did I wake you from your internal monologue, Mr. Armstrong?” Obun’s black curly 3C hair hung in front of his eyes as he leaned down and smirked.

Obun’s interruption yanked Apollo out of his thoughts about the mundane nature of his surroundings. He chuckled and nudged Obun with his elbow. “You know, one day I'm going to unlock some magical powers, and then you’ll be sorry for interrupting my cosmic musings, Obun.”

Obun laughed, a hearty sound that always lightened the atmosphere. “Magical powers, huh? Maybe you can magic up a job while you're at it.”

Ah, the dreaded job hunt. Apollo groaned, slumping back into the couch. “Don't remind me. I've been at it for weeks, and every potential employer seems to think I lack 'experience' or some other mystical quality.”

Obun raised an eyebrow, “Maybe they’re onto something. Ever considered gaining some 'experience'?”

“I’ve considered it,” Apollo said with a smirk, “but I'm saving my extraordinary talents for the right opportunity.”

Obun chuckled again, but the humor faded from his eyes. “Seriously, though, Apollo, maybe we should try something different. A new approach. We can brainstorm after I make us some sandwiches. Deal?”

“Deal,” Apollo agreed, watching him head to the kitchen. Little did he know that the monotony of the job hunt was about to be interrupted by an unexpected twist.

As Obun prepared lunch, the front door creaked open, and the mail slipped through the mail slot. Among the pile of letters, one caught Apollo’s attention – a black envelope. It looked mysterious, out of place among the mundane bills and advertisements.

He picked it up, examining the elegant handwriting that addressed it to him. The air around him seemed to shimmer with unusual energy, and a sense of anticipation filled the room.

“What’s that?” Obun asked, noticing the peculiar envelope.

“I have no idea,” Apollo replied, his curiosity piqued. As he tore it open, he couldn't help but wonder if this was the moment the universe decided to throw him a curveball.

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The black envelope felt peculiar in his hands, its regal font and mysterious aura seeming out of place in his drab flat. He furrowed his brows, his skepticism growing, as he carefully opened it. The letter inside was written in elegant script, further deepening the sense of unreality that hung in the air. The letters shimmered with a faint glint of Gold embossed on thick high-quality stock paper. The glimmer of the ink caught the light in a way that made Apollo almost believe it was real gold adorning the ivory sheet. As tiny flakes of dried gold ink fell from the page, he lifted it closer to read:

Dear Mr. Apollo,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at the Etherium Academy of Arcane Studies. Our esteemed academy has recognized your exceptional potential for magical aptitude, and we invite you to join us for the upcoming term. Enclosed, you will find details about your enrollment, the necessary materials, and a list of required magical instruments.

We look forward to welcoming you to a world of wonders and unlocking the true extent of your magical abilities.

Sincerely,

Headmaster Aetherius

Apollo stared at the words, his eyebrows shooting up in disbelief. The Elysium Academy for the Mystical Arts? Magical aptitude? It read like something out of a fantasy novel. The absurdity of it all struck him, and he couldn't help but chuckle. The universe, it seemed, had a peculiar sense of humor.

Despite being an eccentric soul who reveled in metaphysics and mystical merriment, the letter felt too fantastical to be true. Apollo, the enthusiast of cosmic musings, found himself unable to take it seriously. He couldn’t help but feel like this was evidence of secret listening devices in his home more than anything else. Either that, or it was a prank or scam of some kind. Trick the eccentric weirdo who just turned 18 into spending a ton of money on tuition to an imaginary college.

Apollo glanced at Obun, who had returned with sandwiches and was now watching his bemused expression. He shook his head, handing him the letter. "Looks like I've been accepted to a magical academy. What do you think, Obun? Ready to fly off to Hogwarts with me?"

Obun took the letter, scanning its contents with a playful grin. In his best Hagrid impression, he retorted with more snark, "You're a wizard, Harry!" The absurdity of his attempt at a British accent only added to the surreal atmosphere.

Apollo chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, if I'm a wizard, then you must be my faithful companion, Obun."

Sliding back into his slightly southern accent, Obun replied with a sly grin, "Great, I've always wanted to be a companion. Do I get a cool wizard hat too, or is that an advanced-level companion perk?"

As the laughter subsided, Apollo crumpled the black envelope and tossed it into the trash. "Just another piece of spam mail," he thought.

Returning to his job hunting endeavors, a few more hours passed uneventfully. The magical academy letter remained a curious memory, a brief interruption in the monotony of his search for employment.

After pushing himself for hours to apply for more jobs on Indeed, the persistent pings of rejection emails weighing on his spirit, Apollo finally admitted defeat. The job market was tougher than he anticipated, and his radiant personality wasn't impressing potential employers as much as he hoped.

He looked over at Obun, who had been lounging on the couch, his black attire blending with the drabness of their flat. "Alright, Obun, I surrender. Let's take a break. I need some fresh air before my brain turns into mush."

Obun perked up, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of a new prospect. "Finally! I was getting bored just waiting for you to finish applying for more jobs. You know, the waiting game is not my style."

Apollo rolled his eyes. "All you've done for the last two hours is complain about that very thing."

Obun smirked, unfazed by Apollo’s observation. "Well, what can I say? I'm a creature of contradiction. Boredom is my eternal nemesis, yet patience eludes my darkened soul."

Apollo sighed, realizing that resistance was futile. "Alright, let's turn a mall trip into a quest. A quest for the most obscure and unique items the mall has to offer. Maybe we'll find something to lift our spirits."

Obun's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Now you're talking, Apollo! I've been itching to explore the depths of the mall's alternative stores. We might discover treasures beyond our wildest dreams."

As they left the apartment, the monotony of job hunting temporarily forgotten, they ventured into the realm of consumerism with a newfound purpose. Apollo looked forward to hearing the mall's fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting a nostalgic glow on the polished floors. It reminded him of childhood days spent wandering through shopping centers with Auntie Shauna, the smell of pretzels and the hum of the crowd filling the air.

A passing thought tugged at him, a reminder to call Auntie Shauna soon. There would be time for that once he had news of a new job, hopefully. However, for some strange reason he couldn't shake the feeling it would be a while before he got in touch with her.