((A/N: I’m sorry for not uploading anything. I’m in high school now and I have lots of homework. This is a short story that’s for my English class. Hope you enjoy it.))

Sidewalk Café Magic

Every country in this world has its own type of magic. Some bring joy while some bring pain and evil. However, some are kept hidden. Perhaps this is out of fear that one country will gain another’s magic and become too powerful. And sometimes, just sometimes, it’s because the magic itself is much too powerful.

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“Boy, do you have some spare change?” An elderly crone grabbed a boy’s arm. Her unfocussed eyes peered into the boy’s bright sapphire ones. She held out a cracked porcelain cup. It was empty.

Smiling weakly he said, “I’m sorry, I don’t. However…” He took the cup from her hands after setting down his suitcase. There was a blinding noise that caused the crone to squeeze her eyes tightly shut. She heard a jingling noise and felt the cup back in her hands. It was overfilling with gold coins.

“Are there solid gold?” she stuttered. The boy nodded, picking up his suitcase. “T-thank you! Thank you very much!” He smiled and gave her a small wave and continued walking down the busy road. Most of the buildings were lofty in this area of the city; they seemed to tower over the many people who were walking about. Another arm reached out of the crowd, grabbing him by the shoulder.

“What type of magic was that?!” a tall man asked him, “It’s certainly not of our country!”

“Just another country of this land,” the boy smiled once more, escaping the man’s grip. He walked faster now. He soon seemed to reach his destination; a small street-side café. The door’s bell rang merrily as he opened the door. The young woman working behind the counter looked up at the ring and grinned widely at him.

“Ah, Christopher!” she said as he walked up to the counter. “How was the trip to the capitol building?”

“It went well, the boss said he’d let me stay awhile longer,” said Christopher, scanning the menu written on a large chalkboard. “I’ll have a cup of the Earl Grey Tea.”

“Coming right up!” She poured hot water in a hefty mug. Her hand grabbed a tarnished silver container. She opened the lid and extracted out a light lavender packet. “It’s good to hear you’ll be in this country longer.”

“Yeah, well, personally it’ll be nice to leave when the time comes,” he watched her rip open the packet where a tea bag lay inside. She tossed it into the steaming mug.

“Why?”

“I’ve gotten a little bored after living here for a year. The only reason I’m staying is because I don’t feel like going to find a new country.”

“How much longer did the High Master say you could stay?” She handed him the mug of tea.

“A month,” He grabbed the mug and handed her a few coins which she threw into the register box.

“That’s not long at all!” “Long enough for me to find a new country,” he turned around and walked to a booth where he sat down. Opening his suitcase he pulled out some books and set them around him.

“Darn…” the girl muttered. She turned to her co-worker, who was washing a cup. “Hey, Sachiko, can I you cover for me, I need to take a little break.”

“Sure thing,” Sachiko shrugged. The girl jumped over the counter and plopped down in the seat opposite to Christopher.

Looking up from his books he sighed. “What now Akina?”

“Why couldn’t you get a longer grant from the High Master?”

“Because I didn’t want one.”

“Why!?”

He took a sip from his tea. “This country is going to war. You’ll be a country who has a large drawback too, and I don’t want to be tied up in that sort of thing.”

“You don’t have to fight if there is a war!”

“I know, but if you loose the war and the other country takes over I might get thrown out unexpectedly or executed. I don’t want to be here when the war is taking place or when it’s over.”

Akina bit her lip. “I guess so… It’ll be lonely without you.”

Christopher smiled. “You’ve only known me for a year, how lonely can it be?” He looked back down at his books. “For now I need to find a new country to go to.” He brushed a lock of black hair from his eyes.

Akina was silent, watching him read for a few moments. Then, she said, “What if I came with you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, there’s no point tagging along with me. I’m a cursed being. You don’t want to get too close to me.”

Akina thought if she should ask him exactly why he was cursed, but thought better of it. “Maybe you could go back to your home.”

“That’s impossible,” he laughed, “I’d never be able to find it again.”

She stood up suddenly. “I should get back to work. You’ll still come her for this last month, right?”

“Well, it’s a good place to study on where to go next, so, yeah.”

Akina grinned. “Great.” She walked back to the counter and jumped over it once more.

Christopher sighed again and flipped the page of his book. “Now which country…” he muttered.

A few hours later, after the sun was starting to go down and the last bit of tea was cold, he slammed his books shut.

“Done for the day?” Akina asked, looking up from the dished she was washing.

“Yeah,” he stretched his arms, lifting them above his head. “I should head back to my apartment now.” After putting away all his books he pushed himself up and out of the booth. “G’night!”

He reached for the door handle, but Akina’s voice stopped him. “Wait!” His hand stopped. “Why did you say you were cursed?”

He turned around to face her and smiled. “Let’s just say that I did some pretty bad things back home.” He grabbed the door handled and walked out with the bell merrily ringing once again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The next day Christopher came back to the café again, reading books once more. And once again Akina sat down across from him. His books were scattered across the table, but he was reading a newspaper.

“It sounds like the war will start soon,” he said. “And all because they stole your magic. I’ve never seen the point in fighting wars over that sort of thing. Magic is magic. People should share it, and keep out of the bad magic.”

“Magic is a country’s pride,” said Akina, “Stealing it is like stealing its culture.”

Christopher shrugged, taking a bite out of his coffeecake. “Well, on the bright side a murder was captured.”

“You mean the man who killed his wife and daughter? Yeah, I heard about it. Good thing they locked that psychopath up.”

“I wonder what his reason was for killing them.”

“He’s a psycho, that’s why.”

“People always have a reason for something.” There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

“I suppose so.” There was no reason to argue with him; if there was one thing Akina had learnt about Christopher in that past year it was that he supported his beliefs extremely strongly, even if he seemed humble.

“Wow, there’s so much bad stuff happening in this world,” he said, his eyes scanning the paper, “So many sins committed.”

“Well, maybe there’s just so much good happening always that no one cares anymore.”

“That’s my point. I’d like to go to a country where people treasure all the good deeds,” he threw down the paper and went back to his books. “With luck maybe there’ll be one.”

Wouldn’t it be nice to finally have a home?”

“Not really. I don’t want people to find out about the type of magic I use,” Christopher was on his fifth cup of tea for the day.

“But you said before people should share their magic! You could become a hero and help our country by sharing!”

“And what, gain fame and fortune? That’s what some people might want, but not me. And as for my magic… it’s the type I think is best left unknown to most people.”

“Gosh, you’re such a hypocrite!” She went back to the counter, ignoring him for the rest of the day.

As the sun starting to sink once again and Christopher was about to leave he said “Goodbye. See you tomorrow.” She ignored him, counting the day’s earnings.

The next day seemed as if it would be just a repeat of the previous day. When he said “Good morning,” she ignored him. When he got his food and drinks Sachiko always seemed to be at the register.

But as he got up to leave once again Akina grabbed his shoulder. “Listen… I’m sorry about what I said earlier yesterday,” she looked down, “And I suppose you have your reasons for not wanting to share your magic.”

Christopher smiled, “I’m glad you understand.”

“…Will you tell why you’re cursed?”

He sighed. “I just… the only reason my magic is so powerful is because I sacrificed some people back in what used to be my home. It was an accident…but still. It was enough for me to hate using this power.”

Akina gazed at him with wide eyes. She had heard of such magic, but never had she seen someone who had done this. “You preformed the ritual to gain cursed magic?”

“At the time I didn’t know. I was young and dumb. I know better now. And that’s why I left and why I no longer have a home.” With this he left living Akina dumbstruck.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“I’ve decided where I’m going to move to,” Christopher said the next day. Akina felt a pain in her chest, remembering he would be leaving in less than a month. She had decided not to talk anymore about the cursed magic too.

“Where?”

“Here,” he pointed to a small country on the map on one of the pages in his book.

“Ha-na-je?” she read, “But that’s so far away! How can I visit you?”

“I guess you can’t,” he said softly. They sat there for a moment, in silence.

“What’s it like?”

“A peaceful country full of pacifists and philosophers. Sounds like somewhere I could fit in,” he closed the book and opened another one, “And almost all of them are against magic.”

“Why is that a good thing?”

“No wars over that. No one will want to know what kind of magic I use. I don’t have to use it either. Maybe I’ll make that my new home.”

Akina bit her lip. “But… why not here?”

“I already told you, war isn’t something I want. We’ll just have to make the most of the days we have left together.”

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“Tell me more about Hanaje,” Akina asked one day. The shop was closed, however Akina and Christopher remained in the shop.

“Well,” he said as he put away his books, “Most people don’t think much of it, since they don’t use magic. They don’t think it’s a strong country. However, with the absence of magic some other things have developed. Like technology. Did you know people from Hanaje invented the gun a long time before most people throughout the land even knew what one was? And, also, there they have high-powered things called trains that transport people places. Powered by steam! They put the rest of the land’s horses and carriages to shame.”

“Sounds like a crazy place to be,” said Akina, “Why don’t they merge the magic and technology?”

“Because they don’t believe that magic should be used. They think that it’s just something that makes us lazy and not want to work.”

“I see… I guess you could say it does that,” she looked at the clock on the wall, “Ack, we should go now.” They got out of the booth and walked out of the café. Akina locked the door and stuffed the keys in her pocket.

“See you tomorrow!” Christopher waved, starting to walk away.

“You too!”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Christopher was walking to the café the next day when a large man stepped in front of his path. “Excuse me,” he murmured, maneuvering around the man. But he stepped in front of Christopher again.

“The High Master requests your presence,” he grunted.

“Huh?”

“Please come, there’s a carriage that’s waiting,” The man grabbed his arm and practically dragged Christopher into the carriage.

“Why does he need me?” he asked the man as he climbed in the seat behind Christopher.

“I’m not sure.”

Christopher sighed, and sat back in his seat knowing a long and bumpy ride was ahead of him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In about an hour or two the carriage came to a sudden stop. Christopher, who had fallen asleep, awoke jerkily. The building he had visited only about a week ago lay in front of him once again. Taking a deep breath and exhaling it, he walked up the steep marble staircase. Two men opened the great double doors, allowing Christopher in. The room he entered was enormous with a large sunroof containing a stain glass pattern, causing colored designs to appear on the spotless marble floor. He walked swiftly through the grand entrance room and into a hallway. He wanted to get this over with. Another two men opened a large oak door. As in creaked open a bulky man sitting behind a desk was revealed.

“Ah, Christopher,” the man said crisply. “It’s so nice to see you! Take a seat!”

“You too, High Master,” Christopher sat down on the edge of a chair in front of the desk. As soon as he sat down the High Master straightened up.

“You know me; I’m going to get straight to the point. I just recently heard of your magical ability. Creating gold out of nowhere, are you? Well you obviously know of the war that’s about to occur…”

“I thought you were going to get to the point.”

“Ah yes. You’re ability would be of great use to our country. You only have a few more days here, but if you help us out I’d be willing to let you stay the entire duration of the war, and fifteen years after. Perhaps longer.”

“Thank you, but no. I’m prepared to leave this country, and my magic behind.”

“Yes I’ve heard where you’re going. I have my sources, you know.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“Well, I don’t think it suits you. I highly recommend you take up on my offer.”

“Once again, I’m not interested.”

The High Master frowned. He expected this might happen. “Please, Christopher. It will be easier on all of us.”

“I’m not interested,” Christopher was beginning to feel like a broken record. “I disapprove of war and refuse to take place in it.”

The High Master sighed. The boy was too stubborn. If he forced him it would make a bad image for the country. “Well, do as you please. If you become interested again, please come and see me.”

Christopher got up from his chair. “I’m not interested.”

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“So tomorrow you leave.” Christopher was back at the café with Akina. “I can’t believe you didn’t take up on his offer.”

“As I said before, I hate war,” he said. He looked at his watch. “I need to pack. I’ll come tomorrow to say goodbye.” He walked out of the door once more, the bell’s tune sounding a little more sorrowful.

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Akina anxiously had been waiting for him to come the next day. What’s taking him so long? He was later than usual. She sighed, looking down at the register.

Within ten minutes the bell jingled and she looked up slowly. Christopher was wearing his jacket and caring two suitcases.

“I leave in fifteen minutes,” he said, “I’d like some tea to go, please.” So she made him his last drink and handed it to him after putting some of her own money in the register.

“Be careful,” she tried not to sound horribly miserable, even if she was feeling that way in her heart.

“I will be. It’ll be a little hard to adjust, but I’m used to it,” he grabbed the tea in one hand and held the suitcases in the other.

“I’m really going to miss having you around…”

“As will I. I’d say you could visit sometime but it will be hard with the war and all.” He set the tea down and held out his hand. “And I’ve been thinking. Even if I am cursed I don’t want you to do get hurt in this war.” He grinned. “How well are you at packing quickly?”

She starred at him for a moment. And then she laughed. “I’ll get my stuff.” She ran beyond a small door and came back down in five minutes with a suitcase stuffed to the brim. His hand will still outstretched.

For a moment she thought about him. She knew that he had killed people, even if it had been an accident, for the sake of powerful magic. He was, as he put it, cursed; a tainted being. Not to mention many countries would want him and his power on their side. It would be dangerous. But still…

She took his hand with her own and then grabbed his tea. Her head turned to Sachiko. “Tell the boss I’m quitting and moving out. He can take the rent from my paycheck.” Sachiko shrugged and went back to her work.

“Well, we have a carriage to catch!” They ran out the door, and got lost into the bustling crowd.