"Once I grow up, I'll be the greatest god of all time. The God—God of magic."
That's what I said when I was a kid. Hayssss—Those were days.
"SHERMAN! HOW DO YOU GET A 'B',
A 'B' IN YOUR PHYSICS EXAM!" my mother said, throwing the exam results in my face. The food is long overcooked, now blackening and smoking on the stove. "I'LL SEE HOW MANY MAGIC TRICKS YOU CAN PERFORM!" she said, her yelling blasting my ears.
I'm smiling, I'm smiling not cuz I like it. I smile because I always smile. I somehow can't make any other expression, and that pisses my mother even more.
"Hmhm~" my sister, the red-haired witch, she's giving me a bombastic side eye with a smug smile.
"Witc—" before I can finish, I saw the frying pan flying at me and I crouched down.
Yep, no chance of facing her now. I'd probably get some black eyes. I immediately left the kitchen.
I'm in my room, door locked, windows closed. I lie on my bed. " Uffffff", I let out a very unique sigh.
"Physics is hard, I'm gonna be God of Magic, not Physics or something else. What does she think of me? I'm not Albert Newton, the so-called 'God of Relativity.' I'm not even Isaac Einstein."
I press a button under my bed. It opens a trapdoor that leads down to my hidden basement. Good thing we live on the ground floor, I can make secret basements under my room. Ground floor and magician privilege.
I go down, parting my long white silky hairs from the middle.
Just with a flick of my hand, my whole outfit changed to a magician's outfit.
A black waistcoat on top of a white shirt that has cape sleeves. A big black hat that has 2 fountain pens designed as feathers. Round, semi-rimless sunglasses with gold accents and red-tinted lenses on my eyes.
Matching black pants and a cane which has a compass as the head.
I also have my favourite watch. I call it Lorex.
And, to finish it all, a cape! which's one side is red, the other side is black.
I walk down the stairs and then ascend a ladder that was at the end of the stairs.
"GREETINGS MR. ARMER!"
I exit from a door at the top of the ladder; it's right next to a fruit stall. He's bulky and strong. He has a long brown beard but with a single white stripe in the middle.
I greet him every time I pass through my secret passway. Only I can go through this door, cuz I made this passage with my magic.
"Sherman, you had breakfast yet? Here, take these apples."
He handed over a tetrad of apples. "Ohh, very generous of you, Mr. Armer! I definitely am starving."
A girl bumped into me. Her clothes are dirty, muddy, and uhh soggy? She's homeless, isn't she? I can tell judging by her clothes and untidy hair…
She pinched her fingers and gestured toward her mouth… she's hungry. I think she hadn't eaten anything for the past few days?
I can skip a meal, but she needs these apples more than I do. I give her the apples, then pat her head. I crouch down and meet her eye level.
"Eat them, young princess. These might not be much, but at least you can manage for a few more hours…"
Then I feel weight on my back. Mr. Armer rested a bag full of something on my back. "Give her these."
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Armer."
I checked the bag. It's filled with fruits, about 2 kilograms or so. I hand it to the girl, "Take care, young princess. Stay safe."
I saw her taking these fruits over to a corner, sharing with an older woman. That might be her mother. It's the harsh reality: the gods reign supreme and those who are below, they live in poverty.
"Look at these kids, begging for just two grains of rice, and look at those bloodsucker gods. They won't just suck their fortune when they're alive, but also suck more after death."
"Enough badmouthing them. Don't babble in front of guards, they don't like complaints," Mr. Armer said while giving me another tetrad of apples.
"Oh Mr. Armer, you don't have to give me more. I won't die from skipping a meal."
"Take 'em kiddo, kids your age should eat properly and grow up healthy."
"..."
I didn't say anything, just bowed with appreciation. "May the lanterns of your house be lit with warm blessings,"
I said, and parted ways.
————————————————————
I am standing below the usual spot where I perform my magic—a giant mechanical watchtower. Well, actually I am the caretaker of this watchtower, and no one cares to visit this building anyways. Pretty sure the owners, I mean the Adamant family, never cared about the tower as well. They're actually selling this tower, and I'm collecting money to buy it.
Though I'm almost a thousand gold coins short, haha…
Ting, T-Tring~
I walk in, passing through the revolving door that chimes each time customers step inside. It's made out of Shyrphen tree wood and metallic glass.
The inside is much bigger than what you expect. It's not just 'a watchtower.' It's also a library filled with many old stories and much—Much wisdom.
I haven't counted how many books this tower has. But, I know for sure. I have just a fraction of the knowledge this tower has to offer. Everyone thinks these books are just crap though.
Well.. It's not always empty. There are visitors who actually come here to borrow a book. That number is low, but not zero yet. Seeing someone taking interest in these books has the same rarity as seeing a meteor shower at night, low but not zero.
And regularly, I'm seeing a curious bird humming at the reception center. He should be here soon.
Ting, T-Tring~
It's a boy who's been having a liking toward these books.
He wears a nun-like attire that has dramatic sleeves like I do. He has a white crispy-looking collar. It fits his slim body very well.
He has a slit on his skirt that reveals his thighs; he wears a pair of black high stockings with a cross-shaped garter.
It adds both modesty and seductiveness to his personality.
He has a mix of grey and black, slightly tousled with long bangs, that complement his cute feminine face. On top of that, his pinkish purple eyes make him even prettier.
Being honest, I never thought a man could look so cute. What do people call these kinds of men? Femboy, was it?
Feminine boy, not bad.
"It's you again," I say, stepping down the stairs. I head over to the reception counter. "Good day, isn't it? How may I help you today?"
"I'd like to return this book I borrowed yesterday, can I?" he said, his voice very gentle and smoky.
"Very well, why not?" I say with a silvery tone, taking the book and using my magic to sort where it belongs.
"Isn't it a bit too quiet here?" he said. He looks nervous.
"Well, it is the everyday face of this old watchtower. Anyone barely glances at it."
"That's sad. This library holds so many beautiful books." He looks up, spiraling staircase until at the top where the engine and calibrator of the watch is. "Is there any other wisdom you dream to acquire?" I said, smiling.
"Y..yes!" he stutters. "D..do you have a book about Goddess Nedhra? The goddess of the Ni—" I don't let him finish his words. I already pulled the book out from my hat. It wasn't already in my hat, I just used magic to take it.
"We do, we do have a book about the Goddess Nedhra, the Mother of Night and rest," I say, presenting the book on the counter.
"Alastor, was it? Alastor Escario. Sign here please." I also handed him the borrower's register book and one of the golden feather pens on my hat.
He takes both the register book and the pen and writes his name,
'𝒜𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇 𝐸𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑜'
and then takes the book about the goddess. "He has very elegant handwriting." I compliment his handwriting in my mind.
He turns to leave, but swiftly turns back at me. "I.. I've been wondering for a few days… Were you always so good with.. magic?"
"I won't say I am. I'm just a simple magician."
"Ca..can you tell me.. m..more about yourself?" He's nervous asking that question. "I want to learn it as well," he asked, his voice wobbly and soft at the same time.
I didn't reply for a few seconds, then I said, "Very well, why not?" We take a seat at the couches. With a flick of my fingers, every dust has blown away. I placed my hat down and then lifted it.
There's a tea set underneath. I place and lift it again, now there're pastries. I do the same thing another time. Now it's the apples Mr. Armer gave me this morning; these apples are nicely cut and equally divided.
He silently claps his hands, stars in his eyes. "You're mesmerizing."
"Here, take these. The pastries should be freshly baked," I say, sliding the plate to him. I flicked another time, and the tea starts pouring from the kettle to the cups.
"Th…thanks." He's smiling, then takes a sip of tea. I follow him as well, taking a sip. The aroma of freshly brewed tea calms my heart rate.
"About magic you wanted to know about? Let's play a game while I explain how it works, shall we?"
He nods with a soft smile on his face. I pull a deck of cards from the back of my head.