Chapter 294: History’s Greatest Enchanter

Enki finished wiping off his the last of his tables in his restaurant before walking around to his employees and asking them about their shift.

"Lin, were the customers giving you too much trouble today?"

Lin shook her head.

"No, Boss. In fact, it feels like today was one of the best shifts I’ve had since you gave me this job! I’ll be able to get back on my feet in no time at all!"

Enki smiled warmly.

"It’s been hard ever since the "piss incident" occurred here at my shop. I truthfully didn’t know what it was, but that didn’t make the people any less angry with me."

Enki coughed heavily and kneeled over. Lin ran over to him and helped him stand up.

"Boss!"

She looked at his palm where blood was now painted.

"You’re... sick."

Enki pushed her away gently.

"I’m okay. I’m simply getting too old for these kinds of things. Perhaps I should retire soon."

"What will we do without you? The staff needs you; the community needs you!"

Enki looked outside one of his windows, watching the people walk the streets with their families back to their homes.

"Humanity always has a funny way of holding on for dear life, even when things they rely on to survive get taken away. Do you know why that is?"

"Why, Boss?"

"It’s because there’s always someone willing to fight for them. Every single one of them."

Lin ran her fingers through her green hair.

"Gah! I hate when you talk like that. It reminds me that I’m going to be old like you one day and probably talk the same!"

Enki laughed and coughed a little more.

"Go home now, Lin. Your children will get fussy without you."

Lin packed up her belongings and ran out the door. Before she left, she turned and waved Enki bye.

"See you tomorrow, boss! It’s going to be another great day!"

Enki nodded his head and walked back into his shop. Looking around at the empty tables made him feel slightly lonely. He looked at the table where Lidia and Maria were arguing at before. His mind drifted back to the adventures he had with them, the experiences they shared, and the bonds they forged.

"To think I was one of them at a time. If I were younger, I’m sure I would have gone with them on that final assault."

He walked over to the table before sitting down himself and staring out at the fading light of the sky.

"I truly envy their bravery."

Suddenly, Enki heard a small knock on his door. He lifted his head and looked back.

"Who is it?"

No response.

"We’re closed if you’re trying to get in. If you really want something, I’ll have to charge you double for it."

Silence. Enki raised his eyebrow before standing back up and walking to the front door. He opened it slowly. There was nobody there.

"They must have walked off. Hm?"

Sitting on the ground was a small glimmering piece of paper. Enki bent down and picked it up, studying the strange symbols scattered across the sheet.

"A business card? What is this? I can’t even read it."

Enki looked around once more before closing his doors and walking to his chambers in the back. He gently placed the note on his desk before searching his office for a tool.

"Ugh, where did I put those things? I don’t want to make another one if I can help it."

Finally, he picked up a small pair of glasses and placed them gently on the end of his nose.

"There we are. Let’s see what this says."

Enki walked back over to the note and sat down to read it. The symbols slowly blurred into a language he could understand. Enki scratched his head before taking off the glasses and tapping them a few times.

"Are these broken, or is this really what is written on the note?"

He put them back on after cleaning their lenses.

"...’Your roots, a sanctuary. You, a savior or pusillanimous? Your choice, humanities fate.’ Is this some kind of prank? What does this even mean?"

Enki grabbed the card and tore it up before dropping its contents in a small bin. He walked over to his bed and laid down before resting his eyes.

’Got a long day tomorrow. I should rest now before-’

Another loud knock sounded on his door, this one more urgent than before. Enki shot up in his bed.

"Ugh, what now? If this is a prank, I’m going to curse whoever is doing this!"

However, he could hear Lin’s voice yelling through the door.

"Enki! Enki! Please, open the door! Something is terribly wrong! Please, boss!"

Enki’s heart dropped. He ran out of his chambers and right up to the door. As he opened it, he was greeted by Lin and her two children, no older than seven and nine.

"Lin? What’s wrong? Why do you have your kids with you? Is everything okay?"

"No! Look at the sky! Something horrible is happening and no one knows what it is!"

Enki pushed his way past Lin and looked up into the sky. He assumed the light outside was fading because of the approaching night, but he was terribly mistaken. There was still a sun outside, but now it was as black as a shadow. The entire world had gone dark, and with it, an ominous feeling of dread spread through the streets like a plague. A horrible feeling grasped Enki’s heart.

’No... it couldn’t already be happening. This has to be something else. This can’t be it, right?!’

Both of Lin’s children were crying and shoving their face into her as she held them tight.

"I know about your skills, boss. I know you try to hide it from the employees, but we all know. Is this something that someone like you can do?"

Enki continued staring into the sky, dumbstruck. The implications of this event were clear. Calamity was on its way. He looked over at the cowering family. They were so much younger than him but still couldn’t find an ounce of courage within themselves. The streets started turning into a panic. People screaming, pointing at the sky, and running around the place.

"Another monster is attacking us! What will we do?!"

"We still have the military! We’ll be fine!"

"Where are the heroes?! I bet they can handle something like this!"

However, only Enki knew there were no heroes who could save them, nor were there any coming back. This was it. Lin shook his shoulder, snapping him out of his weird trance.

"Tell me, boss. Is everything going to be okay?"

Enki hesitated. However, if this truly was the end of humanity, he was going to make sure of one thing: humanity was not going to go down without a fight.

"Truthfully, everything is not okay, but it will be."

Enki began walking towards the kingdom’s palace with a stern expression.

"What does that mean? Are my kids going to be okay?"

Enki looked back at her while smiling.

"Let’s just say, I’m not going to be retiring any time soon it seems. You and your kids can have my shop and everything in it. I’m entrusting all of the money I have to you as well."

Lin could hardly produce anymore words hearing Enki’s claim.

"B-But, boss... I-"

"I’m not your boss anymore. Please stay inside my shop as long as you wish. Goodbye, Lin."

With that, Enki was lost in the crowd of people who were anxiously roaming around the streets.

Pelo Kin heard a loud knock on his door. He looked up from reading his reports and called out.

"Who’s there?"

One of his royal guards responded.

"Sir! A man who claims he knows you is requesting your presence! He claims to have been a part of the group who was sent to finish the Monlo’s!"

"Bring him here."

The guard opened the door, allowing Enki to slowly walk by and take a seat across the emperor’s desk. Pelo smiled and chuckled.

"Ah, you were the one in the group who wanted the easy life after coming to Paria. So, what brings you here? Did your business go under after you served that dragon piss and you need help?"

"My business recovered well. I’m sure it will prosper even more now that I am gone. I left the shop to one of my workers, you see. However, that is not important right now. Are you aware of what’s going on outside?"

The emperor nodded.

"Indeed. It is nothing short of an astronomical phenomenon. I am most sure it will resolve itself given enough time."

"I believe otherwise."

The emperor raised his eyebrow, prodding Enki to continue.

"I am a man of magical prowess, one may say. This atmosphere is brimming with an unholy power that is raining fear across the lands as far as the horizon stretches. This is no mere astronomical event, my lord."

"Hm. Then what is it you think is causing this?"

Enki cleared his throat.

"Sir, the Great Calamity has begun."