As Luke loitered inside the cathedral, still without any work to occupy his time, he found solace in the boys' room. The children were off elsewhere, leaving him alone with his thoughts and his magic tricks. He had recently stumbled upon a new trick online—a simple but effective illusion where he made a coin disappear and reappear seemingly out of thin air, using sleight of hand and misdirection.
Today, however, his mind wandered to the lighter he had found. He held it in his palm, examining the standard yet curious device. The lighter was the second most advanced thing he possessed in this medieval world, after his smartphone. He stared at the liquid inside the lighter's body, wondering if the people of Purewood even knew what it was. Fire in Purewood was made by sparks and burning wood, the old style. Oil, crude oil, in particular, was something he had yet to encounter here.
This led Luke to ponder the technological setting of this world compared to his own. Despite the many drawbacks and ancient practices, they had glass—decorative glass in the castle and even eyeglasses. Who had come up with such ideas? There had to be inventors or thinkers somewhere, but perhaps Purewood was not advanced enough to produce one of their own. This likely contributed to the slower pace of civilization here.
Lost in thought, Luke played with the lighter, flicking his thumb over the spark wheel and holding the lever to let the fuel out, creating a brief flame before letting it die out. He repeated this several times, the small fire illuminating his face in the dim room. It was during one of these moments that a voice startled him.
"Fascinating," the voice said, laced with amusement.
Luke's heart skipped a beat as he turned to see Mayor Kingsley standing at the boys' bedroom door, observing him with keen interest. Without a moment's hesitation, Luke hid the lighter away, realizing he had let his guard down. Gareth's warning from the previous day echoed in his mind.
"I apologize for the intrusion," Mayor Kingsley continued, stepping into the room. "But I couldn't help but notice your... activities."
"Mayor Kingsley, I didn't expect to see you here," Luke quickly stood up, attempting to maintain his composure.
The mayor smiled, a mixture of curiosity and authority in his expression.
"I came to speak with Father Wingate. He mentioned he had some matters to discuss. But I must admit, I was curious about you, Luke."
"Curious about what, exactly?" Luke felt a knot tighten in his stomach.
Mayor Kingsley took a step closer, his eyes never leaving Luke's.
"Your knowledge and skills are quite remarkable for someone claiming to be a mere traveller. Your involvement in the recent purge has certainly piqued my interest. Well, you did explain all about it back in the castle. Still, I felt like there is more to it."
"I've travelled far and wide, Mayor Kingsley. I've picked up various skills and knowledge along the way," Luke's mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation. He represents the same reasoning he used last time.
"Sure, if you say so. But I must ask, where did you learn about such devices as that firestarter there?" The mayor nodded slowly as if considering Luke's words.
"It was a gift from a merchant I met on my travels. He said it was a rare item from a distant land," Luke hesitated for a moment before responding,
Mayor Kingsley's eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to gauge the truth of Luke's words.
"A distant land, you say? Interesting. We don't see many such items here in Purewood. We refer to them as magic items, so I presume you already knew."
"If that is how you perceived it here then yes, Mayor. It's quite rare indeed," Luke felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back.
There was a long pause as Mayor Kingsley continued to study Luke. Finally, he nodded and took a step back.
"Very well, Luke. But do be careful. Such rare items can draw unwanted attention."
"Of course, Mayor. I understand," Luke replied, relieved that the conversation was seemingly drawing to a close.
"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to with Father Wingate," Mayor Kingsley said, turning to leave. But just before he stepped out of the room, he glanced back at Luke with a knowing smile. "And Luke, remember—sometimes, it's best to keep certain things hidden."
With that, Mayor Kingsley exited the room, leaving Luke alone once more. He let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, his mind racing with the implications of the encounter. Gareth's warning echoed again, and Luke knew he would have to be more cautious than ever.
Luke's mind raced as he sat alone in the boys' room, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and anxiety. The encounter with Mayor Kingsley had left him shaken, not because of the mayor's presence but because of his reaction—or rather, his lack thereof. Unlike Gareth, Sir Carrick, or the orphanage children, Mayor Kingsley had not shown the slightest surprise or curiosity about the lighter. Instead, he had seemed almost content, as if his mind had wandered to another place as if he had seen such things before.
This unsettled Luke deeply. Gareth had told him that mages, or those with special abilities, were revered and sought after, especially by the Noirists. Purewood, being a city of Noirist faith, should have been no exception. Mayor Kingsley, as a leading figure in Purewood, should have been a Noirist himself, and thus, according to Gareth, he should have been deeply interested in Luke's apparent magical abilities. But the mayor's reaction had been completely incongruous with what Luke had expected.
"Is this a mind game?" Luke wondered aloud, pacing the small room. "Or is Mayor Kingsley trying to test me?"
He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Mayor Kingsley than met the eye. The mayor's demeanour during their conversation had been unsettlingly calm, almost indifferent. Luke replayed the conversation in his head, analyzing every word, every gesture. The mayor had praised him for his role in the monster purge and had asked probing questions about his knowledge, but there had been no hint of the awe or reverence that Gareth had described.
"Fuck..." Luke muttered, running a hand through his hair.
He felt like he was missing a crucial piece of a puzzle, something that would explain Mayor Kingsley's strange behaviour. Was the mayor hiding something? Did he know more about Luke's true nature than he was letting on? Or was this all part of some elaborate test to see how Luke would react under pressure?
Luke's frantic thoughts were interrupted by a sudden realization. If Mayor Kingsley was indeed testing him, then he needed to remain vigilant and cautious. He couldn't afford to let his guard down again. He needed to be prepared for anything and everything. The lighter, which he had thought of as a simple tool for his tricks, had become a symbol of his precarious position in this world.
As he stood by the window, staring out at the bustling streets of Purewood, Luke resolved to tread carefully. He would keep practising his magic tricks, but he would also be more discreet about it. He couldn't risk drawing any more attention to himself, especially not from Mayor Kingsley.
His thoughts then turned to the Noirists and their beliefs. If they truly revered mages and those with special abilities, why had the mayor's reaction been so different? Was there a schism within the faith? Different interpretations or sects that viewed such abilities in varying lights? Or perhaps Mayor Kingsley had his reasons for his seemingly detached reaction.
Luke sighed, feeling the weight of his predicament pressing down on him. He knew he couldn't figure everything out at once, but he had to stay alert and adaptable. He needed more information about Mayor Kingsley, the Noirists, and the true dynamics of power within Purewood. Only then could he hope to navigate this complex web and protect his secret?
For now, though, he had to prepare for the next encounter, the next test, whatever form it might take. Luke took a deep breath, steadied his nerves, and began practising his magic tricks once more, this time with a renewed sense of caution and purpose. He would find a way to survive and thrive in this world, no matter how many puzzles and enigmas stood in his path.
He knew he needed to understand Mayor Kingsley's motivations and uncover the true nature of the Noirist faith in Purewood. His immediate priority was to gather information discreetly, to learn more about the power dynamics at play, and to stay under the radar while he did so.
The cathedral, with its steady stream of visitors and information, might hold the answers he sought. Luke resolved to be more observant, to listen carefully to conversations, and to ask subtle questions when the opportunity arose. In this unfamiliar world, every piece of knowledge was a potential key to his survival and success.