A Wish
He Who Yearns for a Heart

“Hmm... A lizard’s tail should do the trick.” Stein said tohimself as he examined the movements of the bubbles in the jar. He remainedstoic and composed despite the tone he was using in expressing. He was inside acramped room with multiple jars contained with different preserved items. Thelights were too dim for a normal person to be in. There was no telling whetherit was morning, afternoon or night. Crumpled papers were scattered across thefloor. The place was too inappropriate for anyone to live in.

Stein walked across the room, kicking the crumpled papers inthe process. He grabbed a jar with preserved lizard’s tail. His eyes trailed tothe jar with an empty slot. He paused for a moment then headed back to his workplace. He lowered the temperature of his new mixture then tossed in two—threetails. The concoction shifted its color from green to blue to red until thecolor settled down to pink. He made circular motions with his hand and liftedthe jar in space. He snapped his finger and got a test tube out of nowhere. Themixture was poured into in and on cue, the jar turned into particles.

“I am sure they won’t complain this time.” Stein muttered tohimself as he contemplated on the quality of today’s potion.

Stein looked across the room to see the amount of mess hedid this time. He brushed his finger on the broom and mop and gave them acleaning order. He clapped his hands twice and called the marionettes to helpin cleaning today’s heap of mess.

He got out of his house with the modified potion in a testtube following him behind. As he got out of the house, his casual clothesturned into formal attire. His black hair was covered with top hat. His simpleripped shirt was morphed into a suit—making him so much of a gentleman. And hisjeans turned into slacks to match the suit. Stein caught the floating test tubethen disappeared upon having it slammed against his palms. “I’ll retrieve thislater.” He said.

He walked the streets of Midtown. The harsh rays should’veaffected him at some point since he was wearing a suit with so many layers.There was no reaction however. Stein brisk walked to reach his destinationsince it was a bit far and he couldn’t afford to use more magic ALL BECAUSE HISCLIENT DIDN’T LIKE THE SMELL OF THE POTION.

“Hey! YOU!” Shouted one of the vendors.

Stein turned his head to check if he really was the personthe vendor was referring to. He pointed at himself to see if there is reactionwith the vendor.

The vendor nodded.

Stein headed to the vendor, “Up close, you look small yet solarge.”

“Watch your mouth, brat.” He scoffed. The vendor was a dwarfjudging by the ears. The vendor just shook his head to remove the last event,“Anyways, I’m here to ask if you know the immortal who was searching for aguy.”

Stein shook his head, “This is the first time I got out ofmy house after three weeks...” He dumbly commented, “Are you new here?”

The vendor gave an exasperated look, “Smart word, yes, I’mnew here!” He exclaimed as he made a fanning motion with his left hand, “Anyways!What are you doing with your life?”

“Make things from nothing... Clean houses...” Stein lookedup to ponder more about his odd jobs, “In any case, I mostly do requests andchores.”

“While looking like that?!” The vendor exclaimed, “I’m sosorry boy but the way you are dressed, you look more like a dignified noblethan a petty lackey.”

“People say that every time.” Stein lazily replied. Helooked around before getting back to the main topic, “You were saying about animmortal searching for a guy.”

“You see...” The vendor looked left and right before leaningover towards Stein. He made cups with his hand then whispered, “Rumor says thatshe guns for any guy and haves the guy all to herself for seven days!”

Stein didn’t look interested, “What does she do during thoseseven days?”

The vendor winked then gave this lecherous grin. He made aring with his right hand then a stick with the left. He inserted the fingerwithin the ring, “What else than this?”

“Hmmm... I’m pretty sure only a succubus and incubus doesthose things ever-so-often...” Stein plainly replied. He sighed, knowing thathe is late with the appointment with his client, “In any case, may I know thedetails in regards with the looks of this person?”

The vendor chuckled, “I see that you want the sensation aswell!”

“I can see that you misunderstood well, but fine. Just giveme details.”

“She has long violet hair and she wears this weird dressthat reveals the chest area... Let’s see... the chest part was protected withsome sort of armor, so I’m guessing she’s luring men with that kind ofget-up...” The vendor shut his eyes tight to try and remember the otherdetails, “Oh yeah... and she’s short... Incredibly short!”

“Shorter than you?”

“Nah... Not that short—HEY!” The vendor was about to throw atomato at Stein but he saw that he was pointing to his side while covering itwith his other hand, “What’s that for?” He asked. The vendor looked to the sideand saw the very person he was describing, “I AM SO SORRY OH LOOK AT THE TIME!”He said then went underground that very instant.

“It seems as though you are popular...” Stein commented ashe went his way to meet his client.

The girl followed Stein to wherever he was headed. Therewere no introductions howsoever and there were no conversations. Steincontinued to walk gradually getting faster by the moment so he can shake offthe girl who was following him. The girl didn’t back down as she did the sameaction to keep up with him. Stein casted a little sticky spell to stop the girlin her tracks but for some reason unknown, she was able to evade the trap.

Stein gave up and stopped only to fall flat forward becausethe girl failed to stop on time. Stein remained like that, “Must you followsomeone?”

The girl stood up so that Stein can stand as well. The girllooked at the sky, pretending that she didn’t do anything wrong, “I justhappened to be heading the same way as yours...”

Stein didn’t look so convinced with the reason, “Were youheading Intown?”

The girl rolled her eyes to the side, “... Yes...”

“Too bad, it’s in the opposite direction. Bye.” With that,Stein dashed to get away to the girl.

The girl was left speechless at the lack of subtleness inhis escape. She pouted then looked at the side, “You could’ve just properlyturned me down...”

~o0o0o~

“My~ my~ this has a lovely fragrance! I’ll take it! But Iwant a discount for your tardiness.” The old lady sharply said as she grabbedher purse.

Stein just sighed in dismay. You reap what you sow as theysay. He looked around the shop, “Do you sell hearts by any chance?”

“No... no... no...” The old lady said. She scratched herhead as she found herself lost in her counting, “Hearts these days are veryrare... No one wants to die that early,you see...” The old lady pulled out an insanely long scarf out of her purse soshe can replace more coins for the payment, “Well, only an immortal can give aheart... but unfortunately not everyone can get it that easily...WELL unlessthe person is willing to give the heart that is...”

Stein just scratched his head then sighed, “Why is it hardto get their heart..?”

The old lady once again sighed as she lost count again, “Youhave to make it beat! A cold heart has no use for anyone!” She then proceededto counting the coins once more.

Stein took note of it, “How can I get one once it beats?”

The old lady exasperatedly sighed. She probably lost countagain, “The immortal will give it to you.”

“Where can I—hm?” Stein felt a finger press down on his lipsso hard that it might bruise him if it presses any harder.

“Son, I can answer your answers later AFTER I finishcounting my payment to you!” The old lady sternly said. Stein dumbly nodded.

Moments later, the old lady was finished with counting,“Here you go son! Ten jewels!”

“Didn’t we agree that you pay me fifteen..?”

“Well! You were tardy and that deducts on your performance!”

Stein sighed, “Theregoes my lunch...” He mentally said.

“I heard that!” The old lady gave him a playful look thenwinked. She placed a plate of pasta for Stein, “I suddenly feel sorry. It’s onme.”

Stein took the food without any second thought. Today was astressful day. First, he had to redo a potion all because of the stench itreleased. Second, he had to use all his money to buy the ingredients. Third, hemeets this weird girl who wouldn’t let him out of her sight. And fourth wasthat he didn’t make so much as a profit. He took a few bites, “As I was saying,where can I see an immortal?”

The old lady gave a sceptical look, “Now I’m curious as towhy you need that heart so badly...” She just raised a brow as she stared atStein’s stoic face then sighed in resignation, “Immortals replace you not theother way around. Say, why do you need that heart anyway?”

Stein remained calm despite of his internal turmoil, “I needit for a potion...” He smoothly lied.

The old lady didn’t seem to be convinced given that shecould read minds. She took a sip of her drink, “Well, I say you are lucky.There’s this girl who’s looking for someone to make her heart beat...” Shecheekily grinned then made a pointing gesture with her head.

Stein looked at the pointed direction. He stood up from hisseat, “YOU!”

“Hm... So you know her...”

“She was following my tail not too long ago.” Stein replied.He stared in disbelief at the sight of the person in front of him, “You’re animmortal!” He said. He brisk walked to the girl, “And you ARE short as thedwarf said!”

The girl ignored Stein’s hurtful words as she went past theguy, “I was rudely rejected a while ago...”

The old lady stole a look at Stein’s face then smirked asshe drank the last of her drink, “I have a good idea who he was.” She winked atthe girl, “Trust me, I can tell.” She gestured for the young man behind her,“Risette, meet Stein.”

Risette turned around to see an incredibly tall guy loomingover her, “You’re the rude magician.”

“How do you spell your name... Reset..?” Stein made the wordin the air to which Risette shook her head to.

Risette dispersed the letters. She glanced up with a deadpanlook, “Very funny...” She flatly said. She sighed in defeat, “Change the first‘e’ to ‘i’ then add another ‘t’ finally end it with an ‘e’...”

Stein recreated the name, “Risette?”

The girl nodded, “Now please go away.” She turned her backagainst Stein then made a conversation with the old lady.

“I need your heart.”

Ignored.

“This is a matter of life and death.”

Ignored.

Stein sighed in defeat as he knelt down, “Please...”

Risette turned around to see the defeated look on Stein, “Iam very picky and you only have seven days to prove your worth.”

Stein nodded. Unbeknownst to the other people, he wasunconsiously grinning at the very fact that he has a chance to attain a heart.