Page 37 of The Tricksters Deception

“Your ears...I was wondering if I could…touch them?” A fierce blush crossed his cheeks as I spoke. I guess he wasn’t expecting me to ask. “You can say no, I mean I know what you said about people pulling on them and-”

“It’s okay. I just had to remember that my ears alone are really different for you and you don’t know much about Elves, Pixies or Tricksters.”

“Really?” He smiles and nods. I feel a little awkward now but to get past it quicker I should probably just touch them. He sits perfectly still as I lift my left hand to his right ear. Delicately I touch the lobe and trace my thumb upward toward the point where his single earring sat. “This is crazy, not that you’re not real or anything,” I continue tracing it up and down out of curiosity, “, but this is just so surreal. I know some fantasy folks that would kill to have ears like-”

“Okay, stop.” Corvu flinches away from my touch. I feel really bad now. Clearly it makes him uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry.” I state. Maybe it's because his ears used to get pinched as a child? Maybe they're sensitive and I should have just given them a quick poke instead.

“No, don’t be.” He pushes a smile but otherwise it was probably best to forget the subject.

“Come on, I have a beanie for you and a coat you can wear. It’s going to be cold.”

Corvu looks surprisingly human with a beanie on, as long as he doesn't bare his teeth. I tell him to keep his mouth closed as we enter a nearby convenience store. It's difficult for him not to ask questions—I can see that in his curious eyes darting around the small space filled with unfamiliar items.

The store is bustling with people grabbing quick snacks and drinks. Corvu's eyes widen at the bright lights and the variety of products lining the shelves. I guide him towards the deli section, where sandwiches are displayed in a chilled case.

“Stay close and try not to draw attention,” I whisper to him. He nods, keeping his mouth firmly shut as he marvels at the colorful packaging around us.

As I pick out a sandwich for Shelia, Corvu's attention is caught by a display of candy. He picks up a bright red package and turns it over in his hands, looking at me questioningly.

"That's candy," I explain quietly. "Sweet treats that people enjoy eating."

He nods, carefully placing the candy back as if it's a rare treasure. I can tell he's fascinated by everything in this small store. We move to the register, where I quickly pay for the sandwich. Corvu's eyes are glued to the transaction, clearly intrigued by the concept of money and exchange.

The cashier gives us a friendly smile. "Nice day out, isn’t it?"

I nod, returning the smile. "Yes, it is. Thanks."

As we leave the store, Corvu finally allows his curiosity to spill over. "How do all these items get here? And what was that you gave the person in exchange for the food?"

I laugh softly. "That's money. People use it to buy things they need or want. The items come from different places, made by different people. It's a system we use to make sure everyone can get what they need."

He seems to mull this over as we step back into the street. The nearby clock strikes one, its chimes echoing through the city. We start heading towards the fountain, the sandwich for Shelia tucked safely in my bag.

Corvu looks around, taking in the bustling city life. "Your world is so... organized. Structured."

I nod, understanding his amazement. "It is. But it can also be chaotic in its own way."

As we walk, I notice Corvu's gaze lingering on various things—the cars rushing by, people hurrying along the sidewalks, and even a street performer playing a lively tune on his guitar. Everything is new to him, and it's clear he's absorbing it all with a mix of wonder and bewilderment.

We finally reach the fountain, and I spot Shelia sitting on a bench, looking around expectantly. I feel a sense of relief wash over me. This is our next step in figuring out how to get Corvu back home, and hopefully, understanding more about the amulet and its powers. Today is cold but it isn't particularly snowy, which is good for us. I tap her on the shoulder from behind and she looks at me, a wide smile across her face.

“Hello, dear.” She says. Corvu and I come around the bench and face her.

“Hi, Shelia. This is my friend-”

But Corvu interrupts me, "Mother?" What did he just say? Shelia looks at him up and down a couple of times before standing.

"Corvu?" She says aloud, tears swelling up in her eyes, which then burst into a proper cry as she embraces Corvu. He's stunned for a moment but hugs her back. He looks at me, complete confusion across his face. I shrug my shoulders because I'll be honest, I know less about what is happening than he does. Pulling back from him, she has us sit on either side of her on the bench.

"I don't understand," I say. "Corvu, I thought you said your mother died in a fire."

"I also told you I wanted to use that amulet to find out for sure, didn't I?" That was true. Perhaps if Shelia was really a Witch, she used her power to send me to Corvu, and the amulet brought him back here to her? I am thoroughly confusing myself.

"Oh, you kept it on? Good girl," Shelia smiles as I pull it out from around my neck. "I was worried you might consider it junk jewelry."

I sigh, "I couldn't very well consider it junk after it teleported me to Skiora." Shelia's eyes widen as I speak.

---