"We're here."
Devin announced nearly forty minutes later, pulling up to a massive glass-and-steel structure. The Professional Shop Center towered twenty stories above them, its façade adorned with holographic displays showcasing the latest skill crystal offerings.
The rain had lessened to a drizzle, but puddles still dotted the gleaming plaza leading to the center's entrance. Devin deployed the ramp, and Marcus wheeled himself out onto the wet pavement.
"Need me to wait?"
Devin asked, expecting a rejection.
"Yes."
Marcus replied.
"I shouldn't be long."
He handed Devin an extra fifty credits, far more than the waiting fee, drawing a surprised smile from the driver.
This young man has a good heart. Devin thought to himself.
"Take your time, Mr. Thorne. I'll be right here."
The entrance to the Professional Shop Center featured wide automatic doors, a concession to accessibility that Marcus silently appreciated. Inside, the atrium rose all twenty stories, each level ringed with specialty shops offering different categories of crystals and services.
Directory screens near the entrance highlighted the organizational scheme: basic skills on the ground floor, intermediate on the next five, advanced on the upper levels, with the top three floors reserved for "exclusive clientele" and private consultations.
Marcus navigated toward the basic skills section, ignoring the curious glances from other shoppers. It wasn't often that someone in a wheelchair came seeking skill crystals. Most people with physical disabilities prioritized temporary healing crystals over skill enhancement, if they could afford either option.
Furthermore, if they were wealthy, they could afford a true healer, a professional who specializes in treating others, rather than relying on consumable healing crystals. In short, only those with limited means resorted to consumable healing crystals.
The Basic Skills emporium occupied nearly half the ground floor, its interior designed to resemble an upscale jewelry store. Glass cases displayed crystals of various colors and sizes, each resting on velvet cushions under targeted lighting. Sales associates in crisp white uniforms attended to customers, their practiced smiles never quite reaching their eyes. Everyone in the shop recognized these expressions as professional masks required by their occupation.
Marcus approached a display case containing elemental crystals, scanning for the distinctive pale blue of Wind. A young woman in a white blazer noticed him and glided over, her smile firmly in place.
"Welcome to Crystal Artisans."
She greeted, her voice melodic and practiced. Her name tag identified her as Lydia, the same name as his deceased girlfriend. Seeing someone with the same name elicited an overwhelming melancholy, but Marcus pushed the feeling aside, refusing to dwell on painful memories.
"How may I assist you today?"
Her voice brought him back to reality.
"I'm looking for a basic Wind crystal."
Marcus stated, keeping his voice neutral.
Lydia's eyebrows rose slightly, the only break in her professional demeanor.
"Wind? Are you sure? Given your..."
She gestured vaguely toward his wheelchair, her meaning clear.
"Many clients with mobility concerns find more benefit from Earth crystals for stability or even basic Healing crystals for temporary relief. But I recommend the consumable healing crystal in your case."
Irritated by her undisguised disrespect, Marcus fixed her with a cold stare.
"I asked for Wind."
Lydia recovered quickly, her professional smile returning.
"Of course. Wind crystals are quite versatile. They start at three thousand credits for our standard model, but I would recommend our premium grade at forty-five hundred. The energy signature is cleaner, resulting in more efficient activation and reduced mental fatigue during use."
"Standard is fine."
Marcus replied, noticing how she masked her anger at his curtness beneath her practiced smile.
"As you wish."
Her disappointment was palpable, but Marcus couldn't care less.
"Will you be registering with the Transcendent Authority today as well? We can process the paperwork for a small fee."
"No."
Lydia's smile faltered again.
"I should mention that using skill crystals without proper registration is technically a violation of Municipal Code 352-B. While basic skills aren't strictly monitored, we do recommend registration for all users."
"Just the crystal, please."
Marcus insisted, growing irritated by her persistence.
With a slight shrug, Lydia retrieved a key from her blazer pocket and unlocked the display case. She selected a crystal approximately the size of a golf ball, its pale blue surface cloudy rather than transparent. This was the hallmark of basic skill crystals—unrefined, mass-produced, and significantly less powerful than their premium counterparts.
"Will you be paying with credit or direct transfer?"
She asked as she placed the crystal in a small velvet box.
"Credit."
Marcus answered, withdrawing his card from his wallet.
The transaction completed quickly, with Lydia making one last attempt to sell him a protective case for the crystal ("Essential for maintaining energetic purity!") before finally handing him the purchase in a sleek shopping bag with the store's logo.
"Thank you for choosing Crystal Artisans."
She recited, her attention already drifting to another customer entering the store.
"Remember, wind is the element of freedom. May your skill bring you liberation."
The irony of her words wasn't lost on Marcus as he made his way back toward the entrance. Freedom. Liberation. Such concepts had seemed foreign to him for seventeen years. Even with a basic skill crystal nestled in his lap, they felt like distant possibilities. It was rather a cruel joke on her part.
Devin was waiting as promised, scrolling through social media feeds on his phone. He perked up when he saw Marcus approaching and quickly moved to deploy the ramp.
"Successful shopping trip?"
He asked conversationally as he secured Marcus's wheelchair in the van.
"Yes."
Marcus nodded, clutching the bag containing the crystal while seated in the van.
The return journey passed in silence, with Marcus too preoccupied with thoughts of what came next to engage in small talk. He could feel the crystal pulse gently through the bag, though he knew that was likely his imagination. Basic crystals remained inert until activated through the specific process outlined in the user manual included with each purchase.
When they arrived at his apartment building, the rain had stopped completely, leaving the streets glistening under the afternoon sun. Devin helped Marcus down the ramp despite his earlier rejection, and this time, Marcus didn't protest. He was too focused on what awaited him upstairs.
"Need help getting up to your apartment?"
Devin offered.
"No
"Marcus replied, then added after a moment's thought.
"Thank you."
Devin nodded with a smile.
"Hope to see you again, Mr. Thorne. Been a pleasure."
As the van pulled away, Marcus turned toward the building entrance. The lobby seemed different somehow. The walls, floor, and security desk were the same, but now viewed through the eyes of someone with purpose and conviction—something his previous self had lacked.
The elevator ride to the seventh floor passed in a blur of anticipation. Marcus's hands trembled slightly as he unlocked his apartment door, entered, and locked it behind him.
Finally alone, he removed the crystal from its velvet box. It sat in his palm, unassuming and small, nothing like the powerful artifacts depicted in advertisements. The user manual suggested a quiet, meditative space for first activation, away from electronic devices and other potential energy interferences.
Following these instructions, Marcus moved to his bedroom, placed the skill crystal on his nightstand, and transferred himself onto his bed. He picked up the crystal again, feeling its cool surface against his skin. According to the manual, activation required focus, intention, and physical contact, preferably with both hands.
He closed his eyes, cupping the crystal between his palms. The manual had warned of possible discomfort during first activation: a tingling sensation, light-headedness, or occasional nausea. It had also outlined the expected timeline for activation, stating that between five and ten minutes of focused intent was needed before a basic skill crystal would respond.
Marcus concentrated on the concept of wind—moving air, currents, and flow, the feeling of a breeze against skin. He thought of freedom, of movement unfettered by physical limitations. He thought of Mrs. Abernathy, of his parents, of his girlfriend, of the creature with ember eyes that had taken everything from him.
And beneath it all, he focused on his hatred, the burning desire for revenge that had kept him alive when despair would have claimed him.
Minutes passed with no response from the crystal. Marcus's arms began to ache from maintaining the position, but he refused to relent.
Ten minutes. Fifteen. Twenty.
There was still no response.
What's going on?
Marcus thought doubtfully. He suddenly wondered if the skill crystal sold to him was genuine or fake.