Astral's Rise Part 21.5: A Parlor Man

Magic Mike was a simple man who performed cheap magic parlor tricks. Growing up he was stuck in the ghettos making a living with sleight of hand tricks. He would work odd jobs to get by, being a cashier, cleaner, cook, closer, and bouncer. Never finding success for more than a sustained month.

Being covered by a box under a bridge he was approached by a man smiling. "You are a great magician. Why don't you stick with that?" The man held out photos of the kids smiling from his tricks and how he pulled them off.

"I am not an entertainer." Mike spoke out as the box dampened from the rain. "I hate kids and my tricks aren't for sale." He sat up, his body tattered from the poor conditions, covered in mud and rags revealing his skin and bone.

The man tossed a book on the ground. "You realize the planet is only for the strong. If you have a change of mind." A card lay atop of the book as Mike grabs it. Looking down at it, reading, 'For all your magical needs.' His eyes shot upwards to curse the man out as he vanished.

"Dam you, I guess I will just beat the shit out of you the next time we meet." Mike grabbed the book. Opening the cover and reading. These words made sense as they seemed like they were in a foreign text. All of them looked scrambled and unintelligible.

His wonder filled his mind as he read the book till the sun went down, leaving his box and heading to the cafe. Grabbing a small coat from the trash that did more than cover his shriveled body.

He sat down in the corner booth by himself as the server came over. "Hey man, aren't you a college dropout? I remember you from high school. Fucking loser." He tossed a menu as it slid to the ground. Mike dove and picked it up to compare similar words.

"How pathetic." The server walked away. "It's clear you have no money so I won't bother you more." Mike set the menu and book down as he went to the register and grabbed a pen.

He would write down phrases that looked similar. Coordinating them and slowly figuring out the letters and their meanings. He made it to the final page and on it in plain words. 'If you made it to this point. It did not consume you, the powers that be believe in you. Incantatum Oppis Maximus.'

He was puzzled as he read the book. Looking at the call card it had vanished, fading into ash as the server came over once more. "Hey, no smoking in here. Be glad you can loiter about for a few hours yet."

"Incantatum Oppis Maximus." Mike spoke as his mind raced, he was filled with rage, all the people who have wronged him in his life. He will be done being made fun of. A voice whispered in his ear.

"You have to mean it." The angelic voice was quiet as only he heard it. The server was confused.

"You fucking weirdo, get out before I call the police." The server pulled out his phone as he pointed to the door.

"INCANTATUM OPPIS MAXIMUS!" Mike's voice would hurl out as it leveled the city block. The explosion of energy feeling released. All that was left standing in the wake was the table with the book on it and the cash register.

Mike looked down at his own hands, did he just level the block? Looking around, no one was near him. He walked over and broke into the register, taking all of the money before grabbing the book and bolting across town.

The police showed up and had no way to find out who did this, none of the camera's were left. They did see Mike head across town but waived him off as a scared homeless person.

He got to the megastore and looked in awe as he bought himself a durable pair of pants, wallet, chain with a loop for the book, and a shirt. He ripped off the sleeves from the small jacket turning it into a vest as he got a hat and backpack. Both of which looked like the galaxy.

Mike walked out of the mall, his bag refreshed with goodies and eating a hot beef sandwich on his way out. Content to go back under the bridge. He looked up and saw the bright blue sky and went to visit the park on the upside of town. It would be peaceful since the park doesn't let in the homeless.

Once he got there the guards let him pass, he looked like an overzealous college student at the nearby school. Sitting under a huge acatica tree. Its leaves dangling shaped like a cat's head blocking the sun.

He reopened the book from the beginning, and all the words made sense. He read the first page. The bubble charm, protecting from all of the elements. How to control fire, water, ice, wind and earth. How to control and harness your magic.

He flipped through all of the pages, each one having a checkmark in the bottom, seeming like a requirement needed to be met. He wanted a nap, so much to be realized at once. He looked at the book and on page three he saw a spell he wanted to test.

"Glow." He stated as he pointed to a singular leaf. It shined like a star as he rested on the tree. Falling asleep easily for a few hours. Once he woke up he stretched out as two officers were standing in front of him.

"Sir, we need to ask you a couple of questions." The lady officer in her dazzling uniform asked.

"Well, go ahead." Mike let loose words from his tired mouth.

"Where were you approximately four hours ago?" The male officer in his studded vest asked.

"Oh, I was under a freeway bridge hiding from the weather." Mike answered as he stood up. Trying to jog his mind of certain spells to help him, his mind going blank.

"Did you happen to pass the Vanilla Cafe on your way to here?" The female leaned in closer.

"What cafe?" Mike stared into her eyes as the man pushed Mike to the ground. He may have ate but he is still frail. Landing on his hand it broke as Mike winced in pain.

"You did, you are coming with us for further questioning." The male reached down to grab him as Mike looked up into his eyes, trying to silently plead.

Once the officer grabbed him by the vest to hoist him up he had no choice. "GO AWAY!" Mike screamed out pointing his free hand at the male who vanished. The female had a look of fear in her eye as Mike landed on his feet. "Blank your mind. I was never here." Mike started sprinting out of the pack as the female stood there dazed.

Mike went into the local motel lobby. Seeing the clerk. "I was never here." He waved his left hand as the teller said nothing. Mike grabbed a room key and booked it up the stairs reading the book. A page about regeneration popped up.

He read the page as it stated this all was dangerous and draining. He pointed his free hand at his broken one. "Heal." It would snap all in place as Mike screamed out in pain. He flicked the wrist and it was as good as new. More pages became visible as he flicked through the book once more. It was stated there were three other tomes to find.

"Help me find all the tomes and unlock their secrets." Mike talked to the book.

"For now young one, seek it at a later date." The angelic whisper returned and gave the message, he still needed money to live but he felt safer for now.