Immense, dark clouds stretched across the sky, churning and dense, signaling an impending storm. Ace looked up at the ominous scene and smiled with quiet satisfaction; this time, he'd remembered to bring his umbrella.
"I told you, didn't I?" a voice came suddenly from his left. "That it would rain."
Ace glanced to his shoulder, where a sleek, beautiful snake coiled around his arm. Its scales were as dark as midnight, and its eyes gleamed like amber, catching the dim light with an otherworldly glow.
Despite the creature's eerie presence, Ace remained calm. "Predicting rain doesn't prove you're a god," he said with a smirk. "Any meteorologist could do that."
"You simply refuse to believe me, don't you?" the snake asked, its tone laced with frustration.
Ace shook his head, "I don't want to believe you"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ace suddenly found himself back on the crowded streets, surrounded by people rushing to escape the impending rain. The sounds of bustling cars filled his ears, mingling with the faint, earthy scent of rain in the air.
Following their lead, Ace pulled an umbrella from his bag and opened it, seamlessly blending into the scene.
As Ace walked on, the snake leapt from his shoulder, shifting in midair. It transformed into an owl with beautiful brown leathers and the same amber mystical eyes.
Ace was unimpressed by the scene, already accustomed to the presence of the mysterious snake/owl that had appeared a few days before. The creature claimed to be a god, capable of granting any wishes, but Ace wasn't interested. He had firmly refused its offer, yet the so-called god was persistent.
Now Ace simply tried to ignore the floating creature beside him.
Then Ace turned in the opposite direction and walked back. Noticing the sudden shift, the owl asked, "Aren't you going to school?"
"Aren't you a god? Shouldn't you have all the answers?" Ace shot back with a smirk.
"You know, it's kinda frustrating talking to you"
"Well, I told you to leave. I'm not interested in any kind of wish you can fulfill"
Raindrops began to patter softly against his umbrella, cutting their conversation short. Within seconds, the drizzle turned into a downpour; the storm hitting full force, seeing that Ace quickened his pace, and the man followed him behind.
They stepped off the sidewalk and crossed the street while the signal was green, reaching the other side just in time. Ace noticed a drenched boy in a school uniform sprinting desperately to make it across before the light changed, but he wasn't fast enough.
The signal turned red, and the boy skidded to a halt beside Ace, panting heavily. Worry spread across his face as he glanced at his watch.
"I'm going to be late…" the boy muttered anxiously.
Seeing his uniform, Ace recognized from which school it was, then he glanced ahead seeing the path he was taking toward his home. Ace exhaled and extended his umbrella to the boy.
The boy was taken aback, about to protest—likely refusing—but Ace spoke up. "If you turn that corner," he said, pointing toward an alley, "you'll end up in a narrow passage. Take the second right, and you'll find a footbridge. Cross it, and your school will be right ahead."
With that, Ace handed the umbrella to the boy and started walking, unfazed by the heavy rain soaking him to the bone. Once they were out of the crowded area, the owl on his shoulder spoke up.
"Why help him?"
Ace didn't answer the question, and the two of them walked in silence all the way back home.
Standing in front of his house, Ace pulled the keys from his pocket. Just as he reached for the door, the owl spoke again.
"This is it for today. Are you sure you want to refuse?"
"Yes."
"Think carefully. I can grant you anything—money, power, women, whatever you desire. All I ask in return is a small favor."
"No. I refuse. Now, please leave."
The owl let out a low chuckle. "I'll return in a few days."
"Please, don't," Ace said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I will," the owl replied with a grin. "I'm sure you'll change your mind."
The owl transformed into particles of light, which swiftly dissipated and vanished from sight. Ace watched the scene with a tired sigh before unlocking the door and stepping inside his home.
As Ace opened the door, a well-kept living room greeted him. A large, plush sofa sat facing a short coffee table, with a massive TV mounted on the wall above it, the centerpiece of the space.
Beyond the living room, the kitchen came into view, separated by a sleek counter. Modest yet fully equipped, it featured a small table for four, a fridge, a sink, and a stove—though Ace rarely had any need for the latter.
The familiar scent of ink filled the air as he entered. Ace barely noticed it anymore, so used to it that it had become part of the background of his life.
"Anyone home!?"
He quickly heard hurried footsteps from above, descending the staircase that stood in the corner to his right. An Old man soon appeared at the bottom of the steps.
If anyone saw him, they'd never guess he was over seventy.
He had a medium build with a strong, muscular frame, his gray curly hair swept back except for a few strands falling across his face. A neatly trimmed beard of the same color framed his deep black eyes, and he wore a simple blue shirt paired with dark shorts.
The man is Marcus, Ace's adoptive father, someone that has been taking care of Ace for a long time.
As soon as Marcus saw Ace, his eyes narrowed in confusion, "Didn't you take your umbrella with you this time?"
"I lost it"
A scoff escaped the Old man's lips, as he said, "Is that so?"
Suddenly, a silence fell over the scene as the Old man approached Ace. Ace lowered his head, knowing full well that he should be at school. When the Old man drew closer, Ace instinctively closed his eyes, bracing for whatever would come next.
But nothing happened. The Old man simply bent down, picked up the drenched shoes from the floor, and said, "I'll take care of these. You go take a shower."
"Okay…" Ace said, heading to the bathroom quickly.
But just as he reached the stairs, Marcus' voice stopped him.
"Oh, wait, I just remembered!" Marcus called out, his tone suddenly animated, as if the information was important. "Outer Tales just released its new chapter."
That caught Ace's attention. He turned back, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
Marcus nodded eagerly, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Yep, and apparently, it's the final chapter. Let's read it together, okay?"
Ace paused for a moment, then nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips, before heading to the bathroom.