Looking at the newspaper, James frowned and turned to Xavier, showing it to him. forgetting he couldn't see. On the front page, a picture of Magnus took up half of it, his young, chubby face staring ahead with a bright smile on his face as his blue eyes dazzled from a barrage of camera light. There was no nervousness or fear one would expect from a young boy who had never known the spotlight; instead, it felt like he was made for it, feeding off attention and applause.
"A rising wonder. The Great Magician Magnus, aged 16, hosts a show that leaves viewers wanting more." Xavier dragged his fingers across the paper, reading the first line and smiled, "People love good news, especially the type that distracts." Holding Magnus picture up to James, he sighed, "And what's better to distract people after tragedy than a story about a young boy living his dream."
"You can see what's happening. They're training him under the guise of a show." James flipped through the paper. In the middle of it, he saw the headlines of Jack and the trail of bodies he had left behind from his request. The only reason a page was dedicated to him this time was that he had left his usual hunting grounds of Maryland and finally went into the other districts. "A reaction to this, maybe."
"No. To get a show in the Grand Hall means they prepared it beforehand. It's a coincidence, a real one this time." Xavier frowned, "I have always wondered why the Gentleman would have a child in his inner circle. The obvious answer is to groom him, but a child talented in illusions. That's a strange one to groom. Why do they need him? Why put so much effort into it?"
James frowned. Even he found it strange. Sure, he saw that Magnus was able to commit a murder with it and was likely one of the best illuisonist in the modern era, but the Gentleman was one who never hid his crimes. Rarely did he need to make something look like an accident or suicide unless it was someone too high-profile to get away with it. Even then, using a child was dangerous for such work, and from what he saw of Magnus, the boy was a person trapped in his own world, caring only for himself and his craft, not the type to have undying loyalty to The Gentleman or his goals.
"He didn't even bother to use his ability on him. They are letting him run free." That was the second point. If James saw that disgusting purple aura in Magnus, it would make sense. It would be a weapon, from what he had seen, under his total control when necessary.
"I've seen a couple of those puppets the Gentleman uses. Illiuson require an imagination to work. To have the boy become one, even in its tamest form, would stunt the effectiveness of his power. That is, unless that old man is as creative as the child, but I doubt it." Xavier tapped the dashboard of the car, "Maybe they need him to do something. The question is what?"
"Something to do with Zoktis?"
"Perhaps." Xavier closed his eyes and thought, but sighed and came up empty-handed. "I don't know, which is annoying. Theres to much we don't know about Zoktis to even make a guess." Clicking his tongue, he opened his eyes, "It would help if we knew what the child wanted at least?"
James eyes widened, remembering his time in Magnus shop. "Have you ever heard the story about Jinxus the Trickster?"
"Of course, it's a funny tale." Xavier smiled, "A man born during an age of heroes, demons, and angels with a terrible ability to cast illusions." Catching on, Xavier let out a low chuckle. "You can't be serious?" James nodded and spoke.
"When I spoke to Magnus, he was enamoured with the story, idolising Jinxus. What was Jinux's ending?"
"Jinxus first tricked the heroes, then the demons, and finally the angels. Slowly, he got better at his craft and came face-to-face with the Gods of the demons and angels who feared he would interrupt their game." Xavier's lips curled higher. "Jinxus challenged them to a game. If he won, he would become the third God; if he lost, he would give his soul to them. The Gods, focusing on his abilities after hearing so much," Xavier laughed again, "Were fooled by a sleight of hand. He tricked the Gods. The Greatest trick."
James paused, "If Magnus wished to follow this story, becoming the second Jinxus, then there is only one logical conclusion. He wants to trick a God."
"They don't exist, James. It's only a story."
"And he is a child who lives in his own world." James took a deep breath, "Hypotetically, what would you class as a God. Not from some belief but something that could actually exist at the moment."
Xavier thought for a minute before speaking, "If Zoktis is real and what is said about him is true, then that is the first and most obvious. But that is only possible once the door is open. The second." Xavier looked to the sky. Although he could no longer see it, he could remember everything about it, "The world itself. We know the world is alive in a way, after all, something must be controlling the evolution of abilities."
"Zoktis is obvious, so we will ignore that for now." James looked down at the paper, staring at Magnus face, "Do you think he is delusional enough and talented enough to trick the world?"
"Delusional. Probably. From how you describe him, he still sees the world as a story he can copy. Talented however. James, tricking the world isn't a matter of illusions. That's re-writing reality. Where do you even begin to do that?" James nodded, realising he was letting his worst fears get the better of him.
"Then it's likely training him for soemthing to do with Zoktis?" Xavier nodded in agreement. "Did you ever come to a conclusion on what that book I read meant? Jewels and children."
"Yeah, but it's something I don't want to be true." Xavier hunched forward, his tone deadly serious, a kind of James had never heard. "The man you saw had Ruby eyes and controlled time. Two things that match with the book the Children had." Xavier paused, "You always said Samuel Hopkins gave you a strange feeling. I brushed it off before, but after hearing what you said, it clicked. His eyes, their colour, were exactly the same as the emeralds on the key I had. I thought it was a coincidence again. After all, many people have unatrual colours features in this world." Xavier tilted his head, "When did I believe coincidences were so common?" Chuckling to himself, he shook his head.
James tensed up. Xavier could feel and shift back to a serious tone, "Earth, Space, Time, Knowledge, Fate. The strongest wielder of time I have ever heard had eyes like rubies. I contemplated it, peering into the pass to see if I was deluding myself. But everything I, even Fredrick, came up with always led back to one answer. The book spoke about both people and the keys. The Children of Zoktis are exactly that, his children."
James gulped and shook his head, "That can't be. Samuel didn't have an ability..." His words trailed. When he looked at Samuel on results day, he didn't have any abilities, but he wasn't like a usual person. Instead, it was like a void. He brushed it off, thinking that was the strangeness in Samuel he always got, but with Xavier's thinking, he gulped, "No, he definitely didn't have an ability. So what was it that was different?" James grabbed his head in pain, feeling something in his mind, cracking. "What... why don't I know?"
"James." Xavier calmly spoke, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down." His words were like a bandage on his mind. "Your eyes didn't lie, but maybe you couldn't understand what you saw either. If what I think is right, Samuel hasn't lived for centuries as one single person. After all, he has birth certificates, proof of a childhood if you dig for it and parents. Instead, and I can't believe I am saying it, instead, maybe it's reincarnation. That may be what was strange about him."
James chuckled at the absurdity of the thought, wondering how Xavier could say it with a straight face. "No. That can't be possible. It's too far-fetched."
"Then can you explain what the book meant in any other way?" James was silent, not having an answer. "We need answers before we can move." Looking at the club Maria worked at across the road, Xavier took a deep breath, "And she may have them."
James glared at the building and nodded.
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Alannah stood silently as Lucas twirled a coin between his fingers, his glare dangerously cold as if he could lash out at any moment and kill someone. The door opened, and a man in a suit from the Gentleman Society walked in, nervously making his way to Lucas.
"He has attacked again." The coin in Lucas's fingers stopped as he took a deep breath.
"Get out." The man quickly bowed and left at the command. "Alannah, can you deal with this?" Alannah took a sharp breath, afraid to answer. Working up the courage, she shook her head.
"I must stay close to Magnus at the moment. He has drawn a lot of attention." Lucas slowly nodded and pulled out his phone.
"Alexander." Coldly saying, "I need a favour. Give me Freya for a moment." There was a tense silence. Alannah held her breath waiting for the moment the request was denied. All of them worked under Alexander, but Freya was an exception among them. She never left the man's side, acting as both his personal guard and source of travel. Not once had she ever moved because Lucas had wanted it.
Watching Lucas, she saw his lips curl in delight, "Thank you, my friend. I promise you I will fix things. Word of warning. Beware, Adrian, in these coming days. He will be sure to notice I'm stretched thin."