The cold wind crept onto the wizard's skin leaving her shivering. Night had fallen on the mountainous Era Town leaving the young wizard known as Charlotte Sharp to navigate the streets based on previous experience and magical light posts. Eventually, Charlotte found the squat brown building where her client was supposedly waiting for her. She sighed. The job given to her didn't seem in the slightest appealing, but a fellow wizard had encouraged her to take it despite the long walk.

   Charlotte strolled toward the door that had the name 'Gaud Teller' in big gold letters on the center of the door. She barely knocked on the door when it was opened by (what she guessed) her client. He was a giant man towering over her by at least an entire foot. He had a big bushy, brunette beard that covered most of his square jaw. He had kind brown eyes but also had a calculating glint indicating his mischievous nature.

   "You must be Charlotte I got your letter accepting my request. Please come in it's cold outside." He ushered her inside to a warm room with rare collectibles decorating the brown walls. Charlotte smelled a stew brewing in the other room (she guessed probably beef) and was enticed by the aroma. As Gaud went to check on the stew, Charlotte sat on a very comfortable, dark brown couch in the center of the room. He returned with two big bowls of soup and handed one of them to Charlotte.

   "I'm sorry, but I'm not hungry." She said trying to put on an air of professionality. However, it was very hard to resist such a tempting offer.

    "Oh please-"

   "I'm sorry but I came to complete a job not to eat food." She said stubbornly.

   Gaud backed off and placed both bowls on the couch. "I'll be right back."

   Charlotte immediately felt regret bubbling in her stomach. 'Why couldn't you have just taken one of the bowls it's not like it will kill you,' she thought to herself.

   Gaud returned with a relatively new map and a bright, neon pink jacket. "Please bring these with you, they will serve you well as you complete your quest." Charlotte put on the jacket, wondering why he could possibly have a girl's jacket, and stuffed the map into her denim short's back pocket. "You wouldn't happen to know the location of the alley, would you?"

   "Aye it's several blocks down, you must hurry if you wish to make it to the meeting on time." He put the bowl of soup into her hands as well as several thousand jewels to complete the transaction.

   "But I didn't want the soup-"  

   "Oh don't complain and get moving. And remember the item you are transacting for is a gigantic tooth. Don't forget." And she was sent out the door back into the freezing cold.

The alley she was searching for wasn't on the map. Or if it was she definitely wasn't in the right place. The few people that were still out after dark were no help either as they have heard of the alley (it was known as 'Dark Wizard Lane') but not of its location.

  The darkness began to creep Charlotte out. Every shadow began to look like a scary demon. Every footstep gave her goosebumps. The dark had always freaked her out, especially as a young girl. As she got older the fear started to apply only to shadow wizards but her childhood fear has still has stuck with her.

  Eventually, she came across a woman who knew exactly where the alley was and directed her there. The woman gave Charlotte cryptic advice, "Be careful shady wizards deal there."

  As she entered the alley the air suddenly got sultry. Charlotte had to take off her jacket because of the sudden heat change.    

  "Hello." A voice said behind Charlie. She jumped and fell to the floor repeating multiple times, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

  "I didn't see you there." Charlie stumbled on her words as she gawked at the man. He was clothed from head-to-toe in raven black cloth. He had a large bag slung over his shoulder. He practically radiated magical power giving off a magical "heat".
   
  "I know. I'm seen, I'm unseen. I'm both and neither."

  Even as smart as Charlotte was she was clueless to what that meant.

  "What do you have in your hands?" the clothed man said referring to her bowl of beef stew.

  "Uh, just soup."

  "But why?"

  "I was... I mean... I don't know." She said shyly. Truth was that she was scared of this man and what he could do to her. Any wrong word and he could wipe this girl from existence.

  "Do you have the money?"

  She pulled out the jewels she was given, "Ye-yes."

  He pulled off the bag and revealed a giant tooth inside of a (most likely) humongous creature, "I assume you're satisfied."

  "Yes, very much so thanks and bye!" She replied gratefully taking the bag, putting the money in his hand and running out of there as fast as she could run. Soon the anxiety of being killed lightened until it dissipated.

  She realized when she reached Gaud's house that she left the soup bowl back in the alley. When Gaud opened the door she placed the bag in his hand and gave him all of his stuff back, except for the jacket. "Keep it I have no use for it anymore." He said bitterly about the item. Which was good because she thought the jacket was very comfortable.

  "Here is your reward." He handed the jewels to her and she left his home so he could properly examine the tooth.

Charlotte walked outside feeling the cold air brush against her skin. After facing the clothed man earlier the cold was welcome to her. She looked at the sky and grinned. "One adventure down Mom, I hope you're proud." She thought for a second that a star winked at her, but dismissed it as her imagination. She looked toward the road ahead and wondered what adventure will fall her way next.

*1051 Words*