The city had long since quieted, the cacophony of merchants' calling and drunks' laughter distant behind them. The road was unevenly paved, the old buildings huddled together, leaning against one anotherl ike worn travelers.

  Kaelen followed the old man in silence, his steps light and cautious while thinking, 'Even without the shackles, I can still feel the chains binding me. Maybe it's an old habit I've learned from years of survival. I'm free to leave, yet something tells me to follow the old man. I don't know. Is it curiosity? Or stupidity?'

  The old man finally came to a stop before a narrow, crooked house, squashedbetween its bulkier neighbours. The wood was dark with age, the stone foundation cracked but solid. A hanging lantern by the door flickered weakly, casting long shadows against the walls.

  Kaelen frowned looking at the building and couldn't help but think, 'I-Is this is where he lives?'

  The old man retrieved a ring of keys from his robe and slid one into the lock. The door groaned open, revealing darkness beyond.

  The smell hit Kaelen first-dried herbs and burnt parchment, something metallic. Not blood, but close. The air inside was warm, not from a hearth, but from something deeper, as if the very walls were alive with unseen force.

  The old man stepped inside and gestured for Kaelen to follow.

  Kaelen hesitated, thinking, 'This could be a trap. He could be luring me in, waiting to strike.'

  His eyes flicked to the street behind him. The empty road stretched into the shadows. No guards. No merchants. No safety.

  'Doesn't matter?', He thought again, 'The world out there isn’t any kinder.'

  Taking a slow breath, he stepped inside and the door shut behind him with a click.

  His eyes adjusted quickly. The walls were lined with shelves, cluttered with books, vials, and other strange trinkets. A large, wooden deskdominated the center of the room, resplendent with parchment, quills, and an assortment of tools that Kaelen didn't recognize.

  A spiral staircase curved upward to an upper floor, and beyond an arched doorway, a chamber was partially lit. The ceiling was low, andt hick with an energy he couldn't quite name.

  He asked, "You live here?”

  The old man chuckled, tossing his green cloak over a nearby chair and replied, "Why? Does it disappoint you?”

  Kaelen crossed his arms and replied, "I expected something… cleaner. Something that is typical of someone who can do magic."

  The old man smirked, moving toward a shelf and pulling down a small wooden box and said, "Magic isn’t always neat, boy.”

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  Kaelen remained by the door, scanning the room, 'No signs of other people. No cages. No chains. But that doesn't mean that I am not in danger. Just because the blade isn’t drawn doesn’t mean it isn’t there.'

  The old man set the box of wood on the table, popped the lid open, revealing a fistful of small, wrapped packages inside. He unwrapped one, took a bite-dried fruit, from the smell of it.

  He noticed Kaelen staring at the dried fruit and asked, "Hungry?”

  Kaelen’s stomach tightened at the word. He hadn’t eaten properly in days, but he wasn’t about to let his guard down. So, he shrugged and said, "Not stupid enough to eat something from a stranger.”

  The old man laughed, shaking his head and complemented, "Good instincts.”

  Still chewing, he tossed another wrapped piece toward Kaelen. It landed at his feet.

  The old man grinned and said, "But if I wanted to poison you, there are faster ways than dried fruit.”

  Kaelen eyed the wrapped piece for a long moment before snatching it up and unwrapping it. He took a small, cautious bite and thought, 'Hmm... My body didn’t seize. I didn't get any sharp pain nor any numbness. So that means, I am safe. For now.'

  Coming to that conclusion, he finished it quickly.

  The old man watched him amusingly and said, “You’ve survived a long time on your own, haven’t you?”

  Kaelen’s jaw tightened and he asked cautiously, "What do you want from me?”

  The old man leaned against the table, crossing his arms and questioned back, "What makes you think I want something?”

  Kaelen narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Everyone wants something.”

  The old man smiled and nodded, “You’re not wrong.”

  Kaelen stayed near the doorway, his back to the wall. The old man hadn’t made a move toward him, but that didn’t mean Kaelen trusted him.

  Changing the subject, he said, “You said my name back then.”

  The old man nodded, prompting Kaelen to ask, "How?"

  The old man tapped his temple and said in a nonchalant way ,"Magic.”

  Kaelen frowned and said, "That’s not an answer.”

  The old man smirked and said, "It’s the only one you’ll get.”

  Kaelen clenched his fists and angrily said, "You’re toying with me.”

  The old man leaned back in his chair and grinned while saying, "A little.”

  Kaelen exhaled sharply through his nose in frustration and thought, 'He's toying with me.'

  The old man snapped his fingers and a cup and kettle materialized out of thin air. Pouring himself a cup of tea, he asked, "Do you know why no one else bid on you?”

  Kaelen stiffened and sadly murmured, "... Because I’m cursed.”

  The old man chuckled and shook his head, "Because they’re fools.”

  Kaelen frowned and sarcastically asked, "And you’re not?”

  The old man grinned and accpeted, "Oh, I’m the greatest fool of them all.”

  Kaelen watched him, searching for any sign of malice and asked, "What do you want from me?”

  The old man took a sip of his tea and revealed, "I want to teach you magic.”

  There was an uncomfortable silence between them for a few seconds until Kaelen burst into laughter, "Hahaha! You must be mad.”

  "Quite possibly.”

  Kaelen shook his head and said while wiping the tears from his eye, "I can’t use magic. I’ve tried before. I have no scope.”

  The old man stayed silent as he drank his tea and then said, "No, you can't use magic not because you don't have a scope but because..."

  "... Because?"

  "Because you have a seal."

  Kaelen froze in shock and the only words that escaped his lips were, "..What?”

  The old man’s eyes gleamed as he revealed, "Someone has placed a seal on you, boy. One that blocks your magic.”

  Kaelen’s chest tightened and he thought, 'A-A seal? I-It can't be?!?! All these years, I had believed that I was just... powerless. Less than nothing.'

  And now, this strange, mad old mage was telling him it wasn’t true.

  For the first time in years, something flickered inside Kaelen.

  Hope.