It was a funny thing, you could purchase just about anything in the right place. For Gabriel, walking into the Briar River's stores, he found his greatest desires made manifest. Magic, he craved it, as a balm to the horrors that was the world they lived in. As a foster kid, he had seen his fair share of dark deeds and days, and really even at thirteen he found himself wanting to fix it all. By any means. 

The first place he looked, the first store of interest, was a store called Calie's Circle, looked promising, so he walked in. The air felt cool, like mint on the skin. He loved it, with it's dozens of charms and wind chimes and hundreds of books lined on crowded shelves. Gabe knew, just knew, he'd find his goal here.

'If there are any gods, help me help myself.' And to his shock, as he walked down the isle, a book literally fell to the floor, startling the daylights out of him. Turning, he grabbed it from the floor. "Did I bump this, or maybe?.." He shook his head, looking at the beautiful book. It was black with a gray omega on its front, simple yet elegant.

"Ah, a good find." He turned, seeing a wispy haired woman approaching him. She had a name tag, Calie it said. "I wrote that myself. It's full of entry level magics as well as protective charms, to ward of illness and misfortune."

Stolen story; please report.

"How much?"

She smiled, looking years younger. "For a true believer, as I sense you are... let's say three dollars." She led him to the register. "I'll include some things to get you started. Crystals, herbs, and salts."

He smiled, warmed. "I appreciate that... I'm-"

"Gabriel Michaels, you've been studying magic for years. It's all you dream of."

He froze, eyes wide and heart fearful. "What?"

"I see with more than just my mortal eyes, my sweet... now, if you are a true believer, as I sense, you'll adapt to this new reality and use the book to come into your own." She frowned while his heart swelled with so many emotions it was hard to focus. " Your determination is something else,... it fills your, charges the air around you. Tell you what, I'll make you a better deal, actually...Magic is hard, almost impossible to learn without an innate talent for it. Real magic, like you want, needs assistance. A mentor if you will. I need someone to help me with the shop. Stay with me, work the shop for a few years, and I will pass along to you all the knowledge I can manage. Sound fair?"

It was an easy -" YES!"

"Perfect, now... why don't you sit at that table and work on your magic. We'll discuss it later."

And so he did, happily devouring this new path he was allowed to walk.