I'm flabbergasted. If today was a rollercoaster, then everything up until now was a gut-wrenching drop, and this moment now is the equally sickening swoop upwards. But, now's not the time to show that. I stop slouching into the fluffy couch, straightening my sitting posture. I swallow my entire cup of tea, then rest it on the table. Just for confirmation, I ask,

  "Could you say that again?"

  Not looking even a little perturbed at this point, Irene reiterates, "I'd like to join your agency. In fact, I'd much prefer it over you joining us." This is a weird development, because I can't think of anything I did to earn me any favors down there in the sewers. My excitement is beginning to boil over into unease. "Can I ask why...?"

  Without missing a beat, she plops back down onto her couch, and starts on another seemingly well rehearsed monologue. "For three reasons. First of all, I'd hold a higher position in a newly founded group than in this already well-established one. Secondly, my boss here is hard to be around. He's too demanding, too frivolous, too boisterous, far too arrogant, much too loud, money hungry, and secretive. Which leads me to my third point: I feel like you're somebody I can trust. Intentionally or not, you wear your heart on your sleeve."

  It's pleasing to be called trustworthy. Looks like I didn't make as much of an ass of myself as I had thought "Um... well, thank you. I mean, thank you for choosing us at 'Last Minute'. We should dis-"

  "Is that what you called it?" Her remarks are dagger-like.

  "Yes. It's pretty clever when you consider the context around it and it's easy to come up with one-liners and catchphrases around it." This is explained firmly and she gives up quickly on objection. Of course, there can't be revolt ten seconds into my reign. "Okay, moving on, though I am willing to drop everything here and join you, there is a condition. If you are to lead me, I want to see proof of commitment and conviction. Today was the first time you've been pushed like that, right?"

  I just nod. I don't really feel like talking too much about it. I've had another round of healing, and yet still my wounds burn. "So, I can't be certain you still have the will to continue, much less be a proper leader. So, prove yourself. I'll make it a bit more interesting for you, too. Once our deed is confirmed and the reward is processed, it won't go to Irene Set Fisher alone. Instead, it'll go to the Eagle's Hand, and I'll get a cut according to my contract. If you want to grab the full one hundred thousand, you have, let's say nearly twelve hours."

  I sink a little bit seeing the limit of her trust. She's much too measured of a person. "Uh, how do I prove myself, though? That's a bit vague." Suddenly, her fixed smile becomes a grin with a full set of teeth.

  "See, it's the leader's job to know that."

  The passage of time is unforgiving. Just today, I embarked on a new path in life, and already nearly died twice. I've exhausted almost all of my prana, so I don't see what I can even do at this point. In order to prove myself, I figured I'd have to hunt down another beast to show my combat readiness or recruit another mage to show my leadership, neither of which seem doable with twelve hours.

  Rationally, I think I should give up on the deadline. Neither monsters nor mages just pop up out of thin air, and even if they did, what am I supposed to do? Right now, I'm equal to any one of the people walking down the street alongside me.

  In my heart, I know that I can't. Though I haven't had many opportunities to, I've felt failure before in life, so I'm certain this is a test I can ace. I am a mage at my core, I know this better than anything. Whatever I desire must be accomplished. Hence, I'll make something remarkable happen and claim my prize.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  But first, break time. Triumph budding in my chest, I've returned to the fleeting overpriced crappy cafe. I'm a bit lost on what to order, so I just settle on the kind of espresso I got used to at the office. A few moments later, the barista thrusts the cup and saucer at me, the cashier gives me my change in all wilted bills, and I'm hurried away.

  I sit down, and wonder why everyone in the building appears to hate me. I'm being treated like I'm a criminal who got off on a technicality! Beginning to get uncomfortable in my chair, I pull out my phone. The calls from my landlord sit there unanswered in front of me so long the coffee begins to cool.

  I'd like to keep dreaming about why he's calling me.

  But, the dream’s end is inevitable. Grabbing my suitcase, I pick myself up and make my way through a metal door marked “WC”. I walk past myself in the mirror, but when I turn to look, I’m a bit taken aback. The blinding blue lights illuminate the image perfectly, but it’s not right. Every mark and mar are painfully clear. There’s a new scar ending right below my knuckles.

  Somebody walks into the bathroom, and I tear my eyes away from the glass, moving towards a stall. As I move to open the door, I find it locked. I reach out to the stall beside it, and then the one after, but none of them will open. As my confusion is mounting, I hear the snap of the door shutting, and quickly turn around.

  The man who walked in stands quietly at the end, the Cafe apron wrapped around him. I find him looking up at me silently. There’s a suffocating tension in the room and animosity in his eyes. I begin to move past him, but he raises a slender arm, blocking my path.

  Everyone here is crazy and hates me. There’s nothing to say but that. “Bunch of creeps,” I snap at him. I try to push past him, but I stop dead in my tracks. His erect arm is as solid as stone. I’m shoved into the sink, and silver flashes through the air. I throw myself to the side, spinning down and hitting the ground with a thud, my suitcase landing just a few meters away, and occupying where I just was is the end of a knife.

  I swing my hand out, aiming at him without a second thought. Everything freezes for a moment, and then, absolutely nothing happens. I scream out in terror, but a boot to the chest silences me, leaving me grunting in pain a few paces away. A soft voice tells me, “There’s nowhere to hide. I’ve locked all the doors. It’s hard to hear us from in here, as well. Don’t make this hard.”

  Pushing off the floor, I turn around and run, but there’s nowhere to go. The mage lunges at me again, and I narrowly dodge, leaping onto the countertop and sprinting across the sinks towards the bathroom door. The world goes sideways, as I swing off solid footing and crash onto the ground. I can hear the sound of running water from taps that were closed moments ago overhead.

  Blade in hand, the man bears down at me. His knuckles are white with the intensity of the grip, yet his hands are shaking wildly. “No, no, stop! Stop it, please, don’t…! You won’t get away with it!”

  His face, tense and grim, suddenly splits wide open into a hysterical smile, his body almost spasming in his sickening laughter. “Get away? It’s beyond that now! You did this! It’s your fault I’m here in the first place! If I have to kill an Association mage to get away from that witch, then so be it!”

  Everything is collapsing around me. I cower under my arms, blocking the blinding lights. Find a way out, find a way out, find a way out!

  “I’m not one! I’m not an Association mage!”

  The words spill out of my lips with my eyes closed, expecting oblivion, yet I remain intact. I look out into the world to find my attacker stopping. “Prove it,” he says, his voice a bit shaky. “I can,” I catch my breath, “show you my hunter’s certificate.”

  I point towards my suitcase, hoping dearly to stay within the bounds of his patience. He gingerly gets off of me, and walks over to it. Crouching over it, he rummages through, and eventually draws out the laminated certificate. He slowly falls back, leaning against one of the stall doors.

  I’m drenched in sweat and saturated with disbelief. Once I finally bring myself to stand up, I look in his direction cautiously, and I am instantly stunned.

  Is he crying?