The young boy's question lingered in the air like a fragile request for acknowledgment, one that the enigmatic white-haired man seemed initially hesitant to grant. Extending a cup of steaming hot coffee towards the boy, the man's response carried an air of deliberate detachment, as if intentionally resisting further engagement. And yet, even as the coffee's warmth embraced his senses, the boy's curiosity and need for connection pushed him to share his name—Luke Bounty. With a guarded nod, the man finally seemed to relent, revealing his own identity as Jared Anbassah.
The exchange between the two held an intriguing undercurrent, their energies almost dancing around each other—seemingly distant yet subtly entwined. With a slight furrow of his brows, Luke remarked on the rarity of Jared's surname, prompting a nod and a brief explanation about his Ethiopian heritage. The conversation turned towards their current location, a place that served as Jared's living quarters as well as his workspace.
Curiosity colored Luke's words as he inquired about the meaning of "workplace." Jared's concise yet cryptic explanation only served to pique the boy's curiosity further. Yet, as the conversation deepened, Luke's own circumstances emerged—he had no memory of how he arrived here, and he found himself with nowhere else to go.
Jared's seemingly aloof response to Luke's situation raised an unspoken question, an uncertainty that lingered in the air. And yet, it was Luke's candid amazement at the mention of supernatural beings that seemed to break through the surface. The conversation meandered towards the concept of the seven deadly sins, with Jared confessing his own "sin" as sloth. Luke's astute observation characterized Jared as "super lazy," a candid statement that elicited a faint smile of self-awareness from the older man.
The admission of a world beyond the ordinary sent shockwaves through Luke, his wide eyes speaking volumes about the complexity of his thoughts. Jared's affirmation of supernatural existence added layers to the intrigue, unveiling a realm that existed in parallel to the mundane. Inquisitive about the boundaries of science, Luke received a thoughtful response. Jared saw science and the supernatural as two sides of an intricate coin, and he referred to himself as a modern-day alchemist—a bridge between these two seemingly disparate worlds.
As Jared excused himself to make a phone call, Luke's weariness began to take its toll, and he surrendered to the embrace of sleep. The passage of time saw Jared returning with a bag of clothes, a gesture that set the stage for a new chapter of their encounter. The invitation to don the fresh attire and step outside held an air of mystery, prompting Luke's curiosity to surge once again. Where were they headed, he wondered, and what new revelations awaited?
The subsequent car ride provided Luke with the perfect opportunity to dig deeper into the purpose of Jared's company. The explanation that followed painted a vivid picture—a sanctuary for gifted individuals, a place where their extraordinary talents could flourish under the protective umbrella of a larger brand. Yet, beneath the surface of this seemingly altruistic endeavor lay a more profound motivation—a burning desire to unearth the truths hidden in the shadows, fueled by the need to navigate the complexities of life while also carving out a means of livelihood.
Their journey led them to a destination that invited even more questions from Luke's inquisitive mind. With each revelation, the layers of Jared's character seemed to peel away, revealing a multifaceted individual driven by both compassion and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. The introduction to a pale-looking man named Stephen cemented the idea that Jared's company was, in essence, a collective venture—a collaborative symphony of exceptional talents harmonizing towards a shared vision. Amidst the backdrop of ordinary surroundings, an aura of anticipation lingered—a silent promise of venturing into the uncharted territories of the extraordinary, united by the common thread of exceptional abilities and a relentless pursuit of truth.