The Mark beneath the skin.

Several days passed before Ryo took Shinji to see a specialist.

By then, Shinji had begun to recognise the sounds of District 7.

The morning whistle of the trains. The clicking of mechanical clocks. The hiss of steam beneath the streets. The distant bells from the city gates.

They had become part of the background.

Something he was slowly getting used to.

That morning, however, Ryo woke him earlier than usual. "Get dressed."

Shinji sat up.

"Why?"

"We have somewhere to go."

"Where?"

"Someone needs to look at your tattoo." Shinji immediately became quiet.

Ryo noticed.

"You aren't in trouble."

Shinji looked down at his hands.

"Will it hurt?"

"No."

Ryo paused.

"Probably."

Shinji frowned.

"Probably?"

Ryo smiled.

"Come on."

The clinic was located several streets away from Ryo's home.

It was an old building squeezed between a magical equipment shop and a pharmacy. A brass sign hung above the entrance.

MAGICAL IDENTIFICATION s ARCANE HEALTH Inside, the smell of herbs immediately filled Shinji's nose. Shelves covered almost every wall.

Glass bottles contained liquids of different colours. Some glowed.

Some bubbled.

Some had things floating inside them that Shinji decided he didn't want to identify. A receptionist looked up. "Good morning, Ryo."

"Morning, Elara." "You brought the boy." Ryo nodded.

"He's the one."

The woman looked at Shinji.

Then at his covered hands.

Her expression changed slightly.

"Natural-born?" Ryo nodded.

She lowered her voice.

"Very rare."

Shinji heard her.

"What does natural-born mean?" Ryo answered calmly.

"Someone born with a natural magical mark." The receptionist smiled.

"Most people aren't born with them." She pointed toward her own wrist.

A small artificial tattoo was visible beneath her sleeve.

"Most people who use magic need an artificial mark." Shinji looked at it.

"Why?"

"Because humans and most Demi-Humans aren't naturally connected to the same magical pathways."

She tapped the tattoo.

"This creates an artificial pathway." Shinji looked at his own arm. "So mine is real?" The woman nodded.

"Yours developed naturally." She looked toward Ryo. "How many have you seen?"

Ryo's expression hardened slightly.

"Not many."

The receptionist lowered her voice again.

"Exactly."

She looked back at Shinji.

"Natural-borns are extremely uncommon." Shinji frowned.

"Why?"

The woman hesitated. Ryo interrupted. "That's enough."

She understood.

"Of course."

Shinji looked between them. He knew they were hiding something. But he didn't know what.

A few minutes later, an elderly man entered the room. His hair was completely white.

A pair of magnifying lenses rested over one eye. He looked at Shinji.

"Palm."

Shinji held out his hand.

The man examined the tattoo.

He didn't touch it.

Instead, he held a small crystal above Shinji's palm.

The crystal glowed.

Then dimmed.

Then glowed again.

The man's eyebrows rose.

"Interesting."

Ryo stood behind Shinji.

"What?"

"The pattern is unusually developed for his age." "Is that bad?"

"No."

The man moved the crystal higher.

The light travelled up Shinji's arm.

His wrist.

His forearm.

His elbow.

Then disappeared beneath his clothing.

The crystal suddenly flashed.

The man pulled it away.

Shinji jumped.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

The man looked at Ryo.

"When did it first appear?"

"He was born with it."

"I assumed so."

The man studied the markings again. "Does it extend beyond the arm?" Ryo didn't answer immediately. "Yes."

"Neck?"

"Yes."

The old man became quiet. He

looked at Shinji.

Then back at Ryo.

"You're certain?"

"Yes."

The man slowly removed his glasses.

"Then he is a natural-born." Shinji looked up. "What's wrong with that?" The room became quiet.

Ryo crouched beside him.

"Nothing."

The old man looked at Ryo. Ryo gave him a warning glance. The man understood.

He turned back to Shinji.

"Your tattoo is simply part of you." Shinji nodded.

"Can I use magic?"

"Eventually."

"Now?" "No."

"Why?"

"Because your body isn't ready." Shinji frowned.

The old man smiled.

"You'll learn."

He placed the crystal back into its case.

"For now, don't attempt to activate the mark yourself."

"Why?"

"Because you don't know what you're doing." Shinji looked disappointed.

The old man laughed.

"Trust me. That's a good reason."

Before they left, Ryo purchased several small bottles.

Shinji watched him carefully.

"What are those?"

"Potions."

"What do they do?"

"Different things."

Ryo held up a blue bottle.

"Basic restorative." Then a green one. "Helps with fatigue." Then a clear bottle.

"Antiseptic."

Shinji looked at the bottles.

"Do they use magic?"

"Alchemy."

"What's that?"

"Another thing you'll learn later." Shinji sighed.

Ryo smiled.

"You ask too many questions."

"You don't answer them."

"Fair."

Their next stop was a tailor.

The shop was narrow but warm.

Clothing hung from wooden rails along the walls.

Coats. Shirts.

Trousers.

Boots.

Gloves.

Scarves.

The owner immediately noticed Shinji.

"That the boy?" Ryo nodded. "Needs a new wardrobe." The weaver smiled.

"He's smaller than I expected." Shinji looked up.

"I can hear you."

The woman laughed.

"Good. That means your ears work." She measured his shoulders.

Then hisarms.

His legs.

His neck.

She took several measurements before disappearing into the back room.

Shinji watched the sewing machines.

They weren't ordinary.

The machines moved by themselves.

Small magical stones powered the mechanisms.

Needles moved rapidly.

Click-click-click-click-click.

Thread passed through fabric.

A sleeve slowly took shape.

Shinji stared.

"Magic?"

The weaver smiled.

"Of course."

Ryo sighed.

"Don't encourage him."

"He's curious."

"He asks questions about everything."

"That's how children learn." Shinji looked at her.

"What kind of magic is that?"

"Just enough to make my work easier." She tapped the machine. "Magic doesn't have to destroy mountains." Shinji looked at her.

"It can sew?"

"It can sew." She smiled.

"Magic is useful when you understand how to use it."

By afternoon, Shinji had several new sets of clothes. A dark coat.

Two shirts.

Trousers.

Boots.

Gloves.

A scarf.

Ryo paid the weaver.

Shinji carried the clothes in a small bag.

He liked the boots most.

They fit perfectly.

Their final stop was somewhere Ryo clearly enjoyed visiting. A small wooden sign hung above the entrance.

It read:

heir final stop was on a quieter street away from the main market. Ryo stopped in front of a narrow three-story building. A wooden sign hung above the entrance. The letters had been carved by hand.

RUKKI'S ATELIER

Beneath the name was a small carving of a loaf of bread surrounded by curling leaves. The building itself looked much older than the shops around it.

Its lower half was made from pale stone, while the upper floors were constructed from dark timber. Ivy climbed around the windows, though small brass pipes ran between the wooden beams, carrying warm steam through the building during the colder months.

A row of flower boxes sat beneath the windows.

Despite the snow outside, tiny purple flowers grew from them.

Shinji stared.

"Flowers?"

Ryo smiled.

"Magic-heated soil."

"Everything is magic."

"Not everything."

Ryo opened the door. A

small brass bell rang.

Ding.

Warmth immediately washed over Shinji.

The smell reached him next.

Fresh bread.

Butter.

Cinnamon.

Honey.

Roasted nuts.

And something sweeter he couldn't identify.

Shinji stopped in the doorway.

The inside was much larger than the building appeared from outside. The entire ground floor had been converted into a bakery and tea room.

Wooden tables were arranged beside the windows, each one different from the next. Some were made from dark oak, while others had been constructed from pale wood with small brass decorations embedded into their edges.

Hanging lamps descended from the ceiling.

Instead of ordinary flames, each contained a tiny amber-coloured magic stone suspended inside a glass sphere.

The stones gave off a gentle golden light. Along the walls were shelves filled with tea.

Hundreds of little glass jars were arranged in rows. Some contained black leaves.

Others were green.

Some were filled with dried flowers, berries, herbs or strange purple petals. Each jar had a handwritten label.

Shinji recognised almost none of the names.

Behind the counter was the bakery.

Large wooden shelves held freshly baked loaves. Round breads.

Sweet rolls.

Fruit-filled pastries. Cakes covered in cream.

Small biscuits shaped like animals.

A large brick oven occupied most of the back wall.

Copper pipes ran from the oven into the ceiling. Every few moments, the pipes released a gentle hiss. The oven wasn't heated by ordinary fire.

A cluster of red magic stones had been built into its base.

Their glow travelled through the metal frame, keeping the oven at a constant temperature.

Near the entrance stood a small blackboard.

Written across it in chalk was:

TODAY'S TEA

Honey Black Tea

Winterberry

Moonflower

Roasted Barley Lamb's Rest

Shinji stared at the last one.

"Lamb's Rest?" Ryo smiled. "Rukki's favourite." "Does it taste like lamb?" Ryo laughed.

"No."

A voice came from behind the counter. "Unfortunately." A woman stepped into view.

She had cream-coloured hair that fell around her shoulders. Two soft lamb-like ears poked through it.

Her eyes were warm and brown.

And behind her was an enormous fluffy tail.

It was almost comically long, trailing behind her as she walked. Shinji stared.

Rukki noticed. She smiled.

"You're Shinji."

He nodded. "You're a lamb."

Ryo immediately sighed.

"Shinji."

Rukki burst into laughter.

"He's fine."

She crouched in front of him. "Yes. I'm a Demi-Human." Shinji looked at her ears.

Then her tail. "Can I touch it?" Rukki blinked.

Then smiled.

"Maybe after you eat something." Shinji nodded, and blushed. "Okay." Ryo shook his head.

"That was easy."

Rukki led them toward one of the tables. "Sit down. I'll make tea."

Shinji climbed onto a chair. Ryo placed a leather satchel on the table. Rukki looked at it.

"What's that?" "Something I need you to look at."

Her expression changed immediately.

"Alchemy?" Ryo nodded.

He opened the satchel.

Inside were several small glass bottles.

One contained a pale blue liquid.

Another was green.

Another was completely clear.

The last one was a dark amber colour.

Rukki picked up the blue bottle. She held it toward the light. The liquid moved slowly inside. She shook it gently.

"Where did you get these?"

"Made them."

Rukki looked at him.

"You?"

"Yes."

"Since when?"

"Since before I stopped working." Rukki smiled.

"Show-off."

Ryo laughed.

"Can you appraise them?" "Of course."

She carried the bottles behind the counter.

Shinji followed with his eyes.

Rukki placed the blue potion onto a small circular device.

It was made from brass and glass.

Several tiny crystals surrounded its edge.

She touched the centre.

Her own tattoo glowed faintly.

The device came alive.

Click.

Click.

Click.

The crystals illuminated one after another. A thin beam of light passed through the potion. Numbers appeared on a small glass display.

Rukki frowned.

"Interesting."

Ryo leaned forward.

"What?"

"Your restorative potion is stronger than the last batch." "How much?"

"About twelve percent."

Ryo smiled.

"Good."

Rukki picked up the green bottle.

"This one's for fatigue?"

"Yes."

She examined it.

"Good quality. But the stabiliser is slightly weak." Ryo nodded.

"I thought so."

"You thought so?" "I didn't have enough moonroot." Rukki gave him a look.

"Then why did you bring it to me?" "Because you know more than I do." She smiled.

"At least you're honest." She examined the clear potion.

Her expression became more serious.

"This one is good."

"Antiseptic?"

"Yes."

She held it against the light.

"Very clean."

Ryo leaned back.

"Useful?"

"Very."

She placed it beside the others. Then she picked up the amber bottle. Her expression changed. "What's this?" "Something experimental." Rukki stared at him.

"That usually means I should be worried."

"It's harmless."

"That's what you said about the tea that made my tongue numb." Ryo laughed. "That was one time." "It lasted three days."

Shinji looked between them.

"What's inside?" Rukki smiled.

"That's what we're trying to find out."

She placed the amber potion onto the appraisal device.

The crystals illuminated.

Once.

Twice.

Then— CRACK.

The glass display went dark.

Rukki froze.

Ryo's smile disappeared.

"What?"

Rukki slowly removed the bottle.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" "I mean the device can't identify it." Ryo stared at the potion.

"That's impossible."

Rukki looked toward Shinji.

Then back at Ryo. "Where did you get the ingredients?" Ryo didn't answer.

The bakery suddenly seemed quieter. The warmth remained.

The smell of bread still filled the room. But something had changed.

Rukki placed the bottle carefully back into the satchel.

"We'll discuss this after Shinji leaves the room." Ryo nodded.

Shinji frowned.

"What?"

Rukki immediately smiled.

"Nothing."

She walked back toward the kitchen.

"Now..."

She returned carrying a plate.

On it were three warm pastries.

She placed them in front of Shinji.

"These are free."

Shinji looked at them.

"Why?"

Rukki smiled.

"Because you're Ryo's nephew." She paused.

"And because you look hungry." Shinji picked one up.

Steam rose from the centre.

He took a bite.

His eyes widened.

Rukki laughed softly.

"There it is."

"What?"

"That face."

Shinji looked confused.

"The face children make when they discover good food." Ryo smiled.

For a moment, he simply watched Shinji eat. The strange potion disappeared into the satchel. The questions could wait.

There would be plenty of time for secrets. For now, Shinji was eleven years old.

And he deserved to have a pastry.