Zuri stepped back as Makun entered, keeping the small table between them. Her apartnt looked the sa as this morning. Cluttered shelves. The sll of incense and coffee. But sothing felt different.
Her.
She was studying him with those sharp eyes, head tilted slightly like she was trying to solve a puzzle.
"Sit." She pointed at the sa cushion he had used hours earlier.
Makun sat. "What do you see?"
"You’re different." She remained standing, arms crossed. "Sothing has happened to you since this morning, right?"
Different. The word hit him like cold water. She can tell. Just by looking at .
Makun knew she was ntioning the thing that happened with the Presence. But he had to make sure she told him exactly what she ant.
"Different how?"
"You have access now. To things most people can’t see or touch."
Why is she so vague, Makun thought.
"What kind of things?"
Zuri walked to her kitchen counter, leaned against it, creating distance between them.
"Reality isn’t what most people think it is. Hidden behind our everyday life, there is a whole other world. Most people have no way to access it. But you, sohow, have been given a way in."
Makun sat on the spot, confused. By design, or by circumstance, he was a very logical guy. If it was not for one of his exes ntioning him being cursed, he would never have given another look to Zuri.
But here he was, seated in front of her, having to believe there was a whole other world hidden underneath this one.
If it was not for the experience he had in the bathroom, he would think of her as mad.
"A way into what?" He had to know.
She was quiet for a long mont. Helping him was going to bring her great trouble. She knew that from the readings. But he sounded so convincing when he begged her to let him in.
Here they were. She was giving him information when she wanted nothing to do with him.
She sighed, like she was making a decision she would regret.
"When I did your reading this morning, I saw very strong spiritual forces behind you. Attached to you. I’ve never seen anything like it in fifteen years of practice. People do have bad luck, curses, karmic ties. But yours, yours was sothing I could not explain."
Fifteen years.
The number stuck. Makun was dumbfounded. Zuri looked so young. That ant she had been doing this since she was a kid.
And she’s never seen anything like what was on . Just what is on for it to be this bad.
"What kind of forces? Why is it happening to ?"
"I do not know why you. But it is the kind of force that doesn’t let go. The kind that follows bloodlines. Generational curses. Things that get passed down." She rubbed her arms, like she was cold. "But now sothing’s changed. Those forces, they’re not the sa. Now that you have access to the Veil, to this world, you might have a chance."
Bloodlines. Generational curses. Veil. Makun’s chest tightened. He had no knowledge of what any of this ant. No knowledge of who his family was. What could he have inherited.
By now he could feel there were a lot of holes in her explanations. But what did he know to judge her.
Makun leaned forward. "What world?"
"The Mystic World. Hidden. Layered over everything normal people see." Zuri’s voice was flat, matter of fact. "Like I said before, people are born and they die without ever knowing sothing like this exists. Now you know."
Of course he knew. But that was not enough. The entity had ntioned him diving deep into mysticism. He needed to know more.
"How do I learn about it?" Makun asked, his tone almost desperate.
"Trust , Makun. You don’t want to learn about it. I advise you against learning about it." Her voice sharpened. "It’s treacherous, dangerous, and full of vice. People will use you, manipulate you, consu you if they get the chance. Everything has a price. Everyone wants sothing. As long as they could benefit, it did not matter who they destroyed."
"But I need to know." Makun’s desperation leaked through. "You said no one can help . That ans I have to help myself. If I don’t learn about it, how can I survive?" He paused, looked at her. "You’re right. Sothing did happen. I can see things now. Particles, energy, things I don’t understand. My head feels like it’s splitting open. If I don’t understand what’s happening to ..."
"You’ll go insane." She finished the sentence. "Or worse."
Silence.
Zuri stared at him for another long mont. Then she pushed off from the counter.
"There are places where you can learn. Markets. Here in our city, they appear between midnight and 4 AM in different locations around the lower city. Mystics trade there. Knowledge, objects, services. I think you can get what you need from there."
"How do I find them?"
"Follow the energy. You can feel it now, right? You see it, right?" She waited for his nod. "The markets draw that energy like magnets. You’ll feel the pull if you’re walking in the right areas after midnight."
"What do I look for once I get there?"
"Just walk from stall to stall. You might et people who trade spiritual knowledge for paynt. They’ll deal with anyone if the price is right. So are trustworthy. Most aren’t." She walked to a drawer and pulled out a pen and paper. "There are signs. Ways to recognize who’s safe and who’s not."
She wrote quickly. A list.
"Mystics who wear silver jewelry openly are usually safe. I’m not sure, but I heard they belong to an institution that enforces order. Avoid anyone who won’t make eye contact. The eyes are windows to the soul. They might be hiding sothing. Avoid anyone who asks about your family or bloodline in the first conversation. And never, ever make a deal with soone from the Hollow Court."
"What’s the Hollow Court?"
"No idea. We don’t even know how to detect them. But that is information passed around." She handed him the paper. "The markets move. Pier district on Monday nights. Warehouse district on Wednesdays. Old Town Plaza on Fridays. But they’re not always in the sa place twice."
Makun looked at the list. Her handwriting was sharp, precise. I need to be careful. Really careful. One wrong move and... He understood he was entering a place he had no idea how it functioned. Danger might be everywhere.
"How do I pay for information?"
"Cash works for basic stuff. But real knowledge costs more. mories. Favors. Years off your life. Resources. Potions. Anything that can benefit a practitioner on their Route works. Just be careful what you agree to."
Years off my life. Makun’s blood went cold. They can actually take that. What kind of world is this.
"Is there anyone I can trust?"
"No." The answer was imdiate. "Trust yourself. Everyone else has their own agenda."
Makun folded the paper and put it in his pocket. "I know I’m imposing on you. Thanks for your help."
"I didn’t do it for you. I did it for my own conscience." She walked to the door and opened it. "This is all I can give you. Don’t co back here."
"What if I need more help?"
"Find soone else." She held the door open wider. "I’ve already risked too much by telling you this."
Makun stood and walked to the door. In the hallway, he turned back.
"Thank you."
Zuri’s expression softened for just a mont. "Be careful. This world eats people like you for breakfast."
The door closed. Locks clicked.
Makun stood in the hallway, staring at the wood.
He had direction now. A place to start.
But he also understood sothing else.
He was completely on his own.
The mystical world was out there, waiting. And according to Zuri, it was full of people who would use him, manipulate him, consu him.
But what choice do I have. Stay ignorant and go insane. Or learn and risk everything.
It was also the only place he might find answers.
Makun headed for the stairs.
Ti to see what the Night Market had to offer.
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