Chapter 2

The river water was icy cold sending chills down his spine. It helped ease tension in his back and lower body. His body was aching from the physical demands of the exercise routine. Once every last droplet disappeared from his hand Poof dried his hand on his purple overalls. Standing up from the river banks he brushed off the dirt and started his way towards the cave. His makeshift home since returning to the past. Buried deep within Dimmesdale National park. Only a few kilos away from a river that ran towards the city itself. Stepping inside the cave was very humid, damp with small trickles of water falling from a few stalactites. Towards the back end of the cave was a wooden table, bookshelves, and a man. He wore a brown cloak and was writing something by the wick of candle's light. "Ah senior I see you've returned," Poof nodded his head and approached him. "I expected as much."

"I'm still on the fence about him inheriting my visage. So far my impressions on him are rather...low." Poof said cutting to the chase. A small smirk crossed the man's lip. Poof took a spot right next to him and looked over. Which was a weird-looking quill, and some ink.

"Patients. Turner is a star who will light the heavens. Give us a second chance, ascend our revenge, and save our future. Quite like you, he's an extraordinary child, born in unfortunate circumstances. Though his life is grand he is as miserable as you are, time is of the essence. Speaking of your visage," the man turned Poof's attention towards the table. "This is a rare parchment. One of a kind, made of the same material El Rules were made off. Once merged with your visage, it will create a set of rules. Whichever is to inherit our visage, Turner, will be bound to. Even with all the magic, we cannot allow him to fall. If we wish to save the future we must stop my wife's fall. This is our way, so in your free time. Write, rewrite, and rewrite. Perfect it, in my free time I'll guide you. Once my dealings with Julius Cosma are complete. We finish the rules and complete the ritual. Securing our future, and your revenge."

"That can be done," Poof said. "I can't allow this to happen. I'll do anything to save my future. Even taking the weight of the world sins upon my shoulders."

"Good. Then sit here senior, and together. Let us craft a set of rules. One in which will change our future." Poof nodded his head and sat down next to the man, with that. A few hours before school to stare. "I have some free time. Once this is done, you'll understand the process for creating rules. It's rather...easy. So pay attention por favor. Time is of the essence." And so they wrote, chatted for hours. Till Poof's hand created a very rugged first draft which with time he would revise. A perfect set of rules was impossible, but something greater was needed.

From his jacket pocket, Poof pulled out a small plastic card. The DTA card was used to pay for the city's public transit. Which wasn't much. Most of it was just buses through the city and a light rail that was being built. Poof had no clue what a light rail was, but it sounded interesting. Though there was no money on it since he used magic to trick the scanners. With a beep he walked down the aisle, the bus was mostly empty. Very few if anybody rode the bus, or took it when he did. Since he couldn't poof as his body didn't have the magic to perform such a feat. He had to rely on other venues and so transit it was. "Ah nice to see you, Poof," he turned his head away from the window. As the bus started up to see an old woman standing in the aisle. Old for her age, she was twice his height. With dull gray hair, pink eyes, and wore a white shirt with pants. Wrinkles lined her forehead, and a sorrow lingered in her steps.

"Hello Melody," she was one of the first people he had interacted with. Who helped him immensely. "You can sit if you want. Just don't touch me." Poof said, and she nodded her head. The black bag in her hand dropped to the floor as she sat down in the seat next to him.

"So where to? You seem rather eager," she said with an observant tone. In an annoying infection that irked him.

"To the last part of Dimmesdale which I haven't seen," Poof said. "I don't expect to see much." A rather deep silence formed between the two. His head turned back towards the window. Watching the cars, people, buildings, and more fly by. He learned more about things in life by watching and observing. "So fastening. I must give it to you. Going to school was rather a good idea."

"I told you," she said. "You should listen to those who are old with a cautionary tale. Sometimes they have brilliant little tidbits lost in their age. Some things Poof must be experienced. Knowledge is one thing, but experience is another. Together, and they can light your path. Make things clear, which is why I sometimes wonder. Do you have any family or friends?"

"Some, but not many," Poof said with a sly response. He hated this woman's non-stop poking and prodding. Like a snake to a mouse, it would wrap itself around their victim and snarl out information. What she was digging for Poof would never give her, though he wasn't too sure what exactly she wanted. "You should get a friend. Someone different from yourself who could show you this world's splendors. Watching, and observing can teach you much, but there are some things. You can't find it by being in your head all the time."

"I'm fine," Poof said agitated. "I like it there." She tried a few more times to open up a conversation, but he never responded. His eyes turned towards the window and for the rest of the bus ride, they rode in silence. Finally, they came towards his stop, the last part of the city he'd yet to explore. It was mostly a rural, and business side of the city that from his inquiry this part was unimpressive. Standing up he moved towards the stairs to exit the bus and the woman spoke up.

"Poof you should smile more often. It would help with making friends, good luck, happy hunting." A smirk crossed her lips, and Poof paused.

"Good luck, happy hunting," Poof replied as he walked off the bus to enter the sprawling suburban areas. There was still almost two hours before school started, now what was he going to look for?