As the night settled over the city, the familiar weight of guilt clung to Wei's chest like an anchor. The confrontation with his sister earlier in the day had left him restless, her words echoing in his mind, reminding him of every failure, every scar he couldn't heal.
Wei sat on his bed, staring at the old, worn-out wooden box in his hands. It had belonged to his late grandfather, passed down through the family for generations. Inside was a single high-grade stone—a shimmering, deep blue gemstone that caught the light in the dim room. His grandfather had once told him the stone had immense value, not just in its rarity but in its symbolic meaning. "For those in need, it holds power," his grandfather had whispered when he'd given it to Wei years ago, shortly before he passed.
Wei had never truly believed in its power, but now, with his sister's scars and her pain haunting him, desperation drove him. Maybe Mr. Shen could help. Maybe the stone could finally do something good. He wasn't sure what it was worth, but he was ready to trade it if it meant helping his sister heal.
The thought of returning to the Midnight Pawnshop that night wasn't easy. The shop was a place of deals, secrets, and sometimes dark outcomes, but Wei had witnessed the power of the artifacts that passed through its walls. He'd seen lives changed—sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But tonight, he didn't care about the risks.
The decision was made.
The narrow alley leading to the pawnshop was quieter than usual, the air thick with an almost tangible tension. Wei's hand gripped the box tightly as he approached the familiar, creaking door of the Midnight Pawnshop. As always, the shop's sign hung slightly askew, illuminated by the dim, flickering light from within.
Taking a deep breath, Wei pushed the door open and stepped inside. The bell above the door jingled softly, and the smell of old wood, incense, and something slightly metallic filled his nose. The shop was just as he remembered—crowded with shelves filled with strange and magical artifacts. Everything felt heavy with meaning and mystery.
Mr. Shen stood behind the counter, his dark eyes immediately locking onto Wei as he entered. He raised a brow, his usual calm expression showing a flicker of curiosity. "Liang Wei," he greeted, his voice smooth as always. "What brings you here tonight? You seem… troubled."
Wei swallowed hard, stepping closer to the counter. "I need to make a trade," he said, his voice steady but his hands trembling slightly.
Mr. Shen's gaze drifted to the box Wei was holding. "A trade, you say? And what is it that you seek in return?"
Wei took a deep breath. "I need something to heal scars. My sister… she was hurt in a fire years ago. Her arms and legs—" His voice caught, but he pushed through. "I need something that can heal her scars. Completely."
Mr. Shen's expression didn't change, but there was an undeniable shift in the air. He leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the counter. "A healing artifact, then. Something potent enough to erase old scars… That is no small request."
"I know," Wei said quickly, opening the box and revealing the blue gemstone. "I'm willing to trade this. It's a high-grade stone, passed down from my grandfather. It's valuable—more valuable than anything else I have."
Mr. Shen's eyes flickered with interest as he studied the stone, though his face remained inscrutable. He reached out, his fingers brushing over the smooth surface of the gem. "A high-grade stone, indeed," he mused, turning it in the light. "Your grandfather was a wise man. This stone carries with it not only material value but a certain… resonance. It could fetch a considerable trade."
Wei's heart pounded in his chest. "Then it's enough for the healing cream?"
Mr. Shen smiled faintly, though there was something unreadable behind his eyes. "Perhaps. But you should know, Wei, that healing comes at a cost. Physical scars are easy to mend, but emotional wounds are far more complex. The cream you seek will heal your sister's scars, yes, but it cannot erase the memories that come with them."
Wei stiffened. "I don't care about the memories. She needs to stop feeling like she's broken. I need to fix this, Mr. Shen."
The shopkeeper held his gaze for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Very well." He turned, walking toward the back of the shop, his movements silent and deliberate.
Wei's mind raced as he waited. The weight of his guilt pressed down on him harder with every second that passed. His sister's accusations, her pain—it all replayed in his mind. This trade was the only way he could make things right.
Moments later, Mr. Shen returned, carrying a small, ornate vial. Inside, a shimmering cream swirled, its color shifting between silver and gold. It seemed almost alive, glowing faintly in the dim light of the shop.
"This is the cream you seek," Mr. Shen said, placing the vial gently on the counter. "It will heal the physical scars instantly. But remember what I said—there is no cure for the wounds of the heart."
Wei nodded, barely hearing the warning. His eyes were fixed on the vial. "What do I need to do?"
Mr. Shen's smile returned, though this time it held a trace of something darker. "You give me the stone, and the cream is yours. A simple exchange. But be warned, Wei—this is no ordinary healing. It will not just mend the skin; it will alter her fate."
Wei hesitated for a brief moment, the weight of the words sinking in. Alter her fate? What did that mean? But the thought of his sister, of the scars she bore because of him, pushed all hesitation aside.
"I'll do it," he said, placing the gemstone on the counter.
Mr. Shen's eyes gleamed as he accepted the stone. "Very well. The trade is made." He slid the vial toward Wei. "Use it wisely."
Wei took the vial, feeling its cool surface against his palm. His chest tightened with both relief and unease. He had the cream now. He could heal her. But as he turned to leave, Mr. Shen's final words echoed in his mind.
Alter her fate.
Outside, the night was cold and quiet as Wei stepped back into the alley, the vial clutched tightly in his hand. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted, that the trade had set something in motion. But for now, all that mattered was getting this cream to his sister. He would deal with the consequences later.
As he walked away from the pawnshop, he couldn't help but glance back one last time. The sign above the door creaked in the wind, the light flickering faintly, as though the shop itself was watching him.
Whatever the cost, Wei was ready to pay it.