Unlucky

I darted away from the child and into the streets weaving through the oncoming traffic, people cried out but I doubled my speed launching myself inbetween the gap of carriages. I twisted my body and clung onto the side of the carriage.

I watched as the kid proceeded into the alleyway thinking I went there and breathed a sigh of relief.

Since he knew where I lived, I couldn't go home.

Instead, I found myself at work.

Opium was in his tent counting money.

He glanced at me.

"What is it? Why are you here? I don't have any work for you."

What else could I say that wouldn't be a lie?

"I missed hearing your voice."

He gave me a long look.

"Okay, I came to butter you up."

"What for?"

"The coin Musias gave you, the owner is looking for it."

"Hmmm." Opium's cut brow rose, and he proceeded to separate his rolls of cash and documents. "You don't expect me to give it back do you?"

"Not for free."

"So you know? Okay, so what is it you think you can do for me. And I'm warning you if you say something dumb... I won't forgive it."

"Is there something you particularly need?"

"What other skills do you have?"

"I'm a good cook! I can also do your laundry!"

Opium sighed.

"What about magic, can you use it?"

"Oh..."

"You can't right? so-

I took centerstage in the room and made a hand flourish, water pooled out of my hand taking shape of an apparitus in the form of a ribbon.

It had been a long time since I've ever touched one, but... I performed a brief performance for him. Spinning, leaping, cartwheeling and eventually catching the falling ribbon as I rolled on the floor. I had definitely lost my touch, it was a lousy performance. Well I had long transition from rhythmics....

But Opium look electrified as he had even rose from his seat.

"You...."

He pointed at me, a vein bulging out of his temple.

"You could use magic this whole time?!"

"..."

He looked like he wanted to hit me, instead he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"That damn Musias, why didn't he tell me?! He knows how long I've been looking for one..."

"Oh, well he didn't know so..."

My performance hadn't been acknowledged at all. It wounded my pride a bit, I got up from the floor, retracting my semi frozen water whip slightly embarrassed.

"So then... the coin..."

"Ah, that. Why are you trying so hard to return it?"

"They know where I live."

"Sounds like a personal problem."

Oooh! So cold! I mean I don't dislike it but this situation is serious here!

I slapped my frozen chest waiting for it to thaw as he fished around to look at his papers.

He held a flyer out to me.

"Here."

"What's this?"

"The town festival is coming up and they're paying a hefty sum for magicians to put on something pretty to celebrate, but nowadays all magicians know how to do is join the military, fuck things up."

I blinked, thinking of my Dad who wandered around with me in a cloak. He wasn't a violent guy. In fact he taught me how to use my magic in a fancy and conventional way- well, it was the way we played...

Ahhh, let's not remember. It just makes me remember how fluffy my childhood could have been if he stayed.

In the end I always return to that feeling, that takes over my whole day and follows me into weeks.

"So, what do I have to do?"

"I don't fucking know figure it out, just show up and talk to the musicians. I was told to keep an eye out and that's what I did, I've done my part."

I blinked at him. He seemed really excited about me a magician but now he doesn't seem to care at all. Why is that? Did I miss something?

I don't exactly know his position in society but at times it seems he's like a back door Human Resources worker...

What was the catch? What did he receive for telling me a bout another job that could conflict with my own? Or perhaps it wouldn't?

"So you don't get any of my pay?"

He eyed me. "Who said you're getting paid? I get a fee for referral."

He's lucky I've always been helping with festival preparations and never gotten paid up til now otherwise I might have cried from a broken heart.

"...So you're not going to give back that coin?"

Opium stifled a laugh.

"So we're back to that? Look, I no longer have it."

"Then who does?"

He just smirked at me.

"Someone who won't lose it."

_____

There was no one around the house.

I poked my head inside only to find the place empty.

The place felt too quiet, I didn't dare proceed. I slept on a roof in a cardboard box. Climbing down at the sound of hammering.

The crinkled flyer of the festival poked me in the side as if in reminder of my new job and I shuffled over to the address.

A dusty and old but obviously grand auditorium. It was once an opera house. It went under when all the singers leveled up and left Little Man's Beard to live in the capital. Once upon a time, my Mother used to sing here as an extra during her youth.

For a second mom's mentality rubbed off on me as I surveyed the high dome and hummed a tune she always sung on her way to the outhouse.

(Did someone sprinkle diamonds on me in my slumber?

I woke up feeling absolutely wonderful,

Like if I shit right now,

I'd poop out pearls and gold.

Whatever I do

it'd be le-gen-da-reh!~

cause I'm feeling like tonight I have a soul!)

The darkness shifted giving me great pause.

A man sleeping in the stands sat up at the sound of my humming.

A fake mustache hung off the side off his face as he eyed me, his eyes thick with lethargy.