he voice that he detested, the relentless presence in his mind, whispered once more, its eerie resonance amplifying the confusion in his thoughts. It sensed something elusive, something beyond his comprehension, and it urged him to venture into the heart of town. Specifically, it directed him to an unfamiliar cafe, a place he had never set foot in before. However, the voice issued a peculiar directive: maintain absolute secrecy regarding his destination and purpose. Yet, he found himself grappling with a profound lack of clarity, unable to discern much about this enigmatic mission aside from its connection to a seemingly ordinary cafe.
Nonetheless, he decided to heed the voice's counsel. After all, this internal entity had never steered him wrong in the past. It had been a loyal ally, assisting him and his comrades in their relentless quest to rid the world of magic users. To Keith, magic was merely a fragment of his identity, a troublesome anomaly he wished to eradicate. He often reassured himself that it constituted only a small, manageable portion of his being. "One day," he whispered to himself, "I will discover the means to rid myself of it entirely. But for now, it serves my purpose."
As he ventured into town, the mysterious cafe beckoned him, and he swiftly located it, slipping inside and approaching the counter. He ordered a coffee, the usual beverage for such a setting, and then selected a table tucked away in a quiet corner. From this vantage point, he could discreetly observe the cafe's patrons as he awaited his coffee, his mind buzzing with curiosity. It was midday, and the cafe was unusually serene. Keith found himself grappling with a multitude of questions. What was the purpose of his presence here? What did the voice intend for him to uncover on this tranquil day?
The enigma of the voice persisted. It and Keith were intertwined, yet remained strangers to one another. The voice existed to serve him, but he yearned to sever this peculiar connection, to be free of its constant presence. Keith harbored a deep loathing for the magic that coursed through him. He had vowed to expunge it from his being, once he had dealt with all the magic users. However, the timeline for achieving this goal remained uncertain, despite the assistance the magic provided in achieving his objectives.
Keith's desire to be rid of all magic, including his own, gnawed at him. The magic existed solely to serve him, recognizing no other purpose. But for now, these thoughts were secondary to the task at hand – waiting for the appearance of the elusive person or entity.
Then, a subtle shift in the atmosphere caught his attention. A young girl entered the cafe, her entrance accompanied by a peculiar occurrence: the door yielded to her will without any physical contact. It hovered an inch from her hand, a phenomenon almost imperceptible unless one was actively scrutinizing it.
"The voice in his head whispered to him again. 'Maaaaaaarrrrryyyy,'" it hissed ominously, as if unveiling the girl's name. Keith rose from his seat and approached her casually, his hand placed gently over his heart. "Hi," he began in a soft tone, "I'm so sorry to bother you."
Startled, the young girl turned to face him. "Oh, hello, it's no problem. What is it?" she inquired with a hint of nervousness.
"Your name is Mary, right?" Keith continued, seemingly informed by some unseen force. "I've seen you around, helping out in the library and at the nursing home. I just wanted to say that it's a wonderful thing you're doing for the community."
A warm blush graced Mary's cheeks as the barista, seemingly in agreement with Keith's sentiments, offered to cover her drink. With a grateful smile, Keith excused himself, leaving her with warm regards. Mary, too flustered to refuse his generosity, thanked him and watched as he exited the cafe. The barista, now one of her newfound friends, had advised her to follow Keith. A bond of trust and camaraderie was forming, and Mary couldn't help but feel that this newfound connection would lead her down an unexpected path, one she was willing to explore. As she approached the door, her thoughts were reassured: "He would never lead me astray."