The slums

 Earlier today, an early Saturday morning it was time for the trio's weekly Golf matches. There was a twist today. Mahir had a religious test and unfortunately wasn't able to attend. Usually this would mean havoc on the golf course for Mahir would diffuse their petty fights. Since Adrien was still injured, Kai was in good shape in just a day because of healing magic. Their parents had allowed them to come under the conditions that not a single clash between them. Since Kai can't keep himself from cheating. There will then be a quarrel among them all because of Kai's sly mouth. Today was an unfortunate Saturday there will be no golf matches. 

 " I am so disappointed today. Did I not pray to lady luck hard enough!? Why is she frowning upon me!? Has she decided to forsake me?" Kai spoke in a dramatic gesture as he clenched his heart. The onlookers spoke in whispers.

 Adrien rolled his eyes and said to match Kai's energy, "Oh, dear lady of death who eternally watches over us. I have been a devoted follower since my first breath. I do not deserve such heavy punishment. I cannot bear your anger"

After saying that in the middle of the entrance lobby to the golf course, he went on his knees and made a praying posture. Adrian closed his eyes. Kai seeing this went on his knees to pray piously to Lady Luck. He also closed his eyes. 

Meanwhile, somebody entered the lobby. The whisper stopped.

The blond-haired and green-eyed receptionist spoke, "Welcome here valued customer." 

 Kai and Adrien thinking it was Mahir opened their eyes which gleamed with excitement. Their eyes which were gleaming with excitement faded into disgust when they saw Sam Sandler. Sam Sandler was a man whose appearance matched his unsavory reputation. His golden eyes, though striking, had an unsettling quality, often described as predatory. His skin was leathery and tanned, a testament to years spent under the harsh sun, yet it did little to hide the deep lines and wrinkles that etched his face. His hair, once a rich brown, was now a greasy, thinning gray, slicked back in a vain attempt to maintain a semblance of youth.

He wore a tailored suit that, despite its expensive fabric, seemed to hang awkwardly on his gaunt frame. The suit was a deep shade of burgundy, a color that clashed with his sallow complexion. Around his neck, he sported a gaudy gold chain, the pendant of which was an ostentatious display of wealth—a large, glittering gemstone that caught the light with every movement.

Sam's grin, which seemed permanently plastered on his face, revealed yellowed teeth, some of which were missing or crooked. His breath carried a faint odor of stale cigars and alcohol, a combination that made those close to him recoil in discomfort. His hands, adorned with several chunky rings, were always in motion, either adjusting his tie, smoothing his hair, or gesturing animatedly as he spoke.

Despite his attempts to present himself as a figure of authority and power, there was an air of decay about him, a sense that his outward appearance was merely a facade, barely concealing the corruption and moral rot within. The current owner of Solia, the "mayor".

He approached Adrien and Kai who were still Kneeling on the ground with a grin that reached ear to ear. They both quickly stood up when he approached. Their eyes showed fear. They knew he wouldn't have approached them if Mahir was here. Even the great leader of the Sandler family avoided Mahir because to Mahir the consequences of her actions were more of an opinion in which she didn't believe in.

 "How have you both been … from the looks of it not well I assume. Would you boys like to get some "fun" drinks with me?" He spoke as he stroked his mustache. Internally Adrien screamed he was only seventeen.

How could Vrani a sweetheart be related to this incel.

 Kai gave him a disgusted look. Kai was about to scream. Adrien covered Kai's mouth quickly with his hands and spoke, "Yes, I recently fell down the stairs at school. I should have taken the elevator and teleported instead. We shall take our leave. Goodbye!"

 Adrian Grabbed Kai's arm after he removed his arm from his mouth and ran for his dear life. Sandler tried to grab them, but Adrien dodged his arm. The automated doors at the entrance of the lobby opened. He didn't stop until he arrived at the desolate parking lot. He could not go home early then his parents would assume that he got into a fight with Kai.

 "What should we do?" Adrien asked Kai.

 "Let's go downtown to near-death beach!"

 "Now why would we go there?"

 "Do you have a better idea?"

 "Yeah, I do. Let's go to the mall."

 "Oh, while we are at it. Let's go to the movies, hold hands and kiss."

 "Listen the mall has-"

 "Flop, Adrien. Pull out your phone. Take a picture of the map of our city. Now present the image as a hologram on the ground. I will roll the dice once. You will also roll the dice. The approximate middle ground between where they land is the area we will visit. Whatever we get we suck it up. No takes back."

 "I hate to admit it, but it sounds like a solid plan Kai. I will roll the dice first." He quickly got a holographic map of Solia on the ground. There was no one around in the back parking lot besides a few automated cars.

 "All right," Kai spoke, he took out two dice from his pockets and gave one to Adrien. Adrien got to roll the dice first which meant he got to set the stage. He rolled the dice, and it landed on the third tallest building in Solia. It was a famous hotel for tourists called Avalanche. He hadn't aimed for it. He had Aimed for the building next to it. It was the biggest bank in Solia. The bank was the opposite to where death beach. This way no matter where Kai rolled, they wouldn't be able to go to the death beach or be close to it. Death beach was a Beach where only peasants and drug lords visited. Adrien would rather die than be seen there by a paparazzi and have his reputations stained.

Kai noticed what Adrien had done, enraged, he decided to roll the dice on the other edge near Rearose port now they would have to go to the worst slums in this city. Adrien glared at Kai thinking I hope lady death gives him a miserable death. A merciless death which would even make Adrien pity him. Why are there so many slums suddenly in Solia? Adrien had only seen death beach. He forgot about the rest.

 "Let's go then" Adrien said as he turned to his automated car. He was going to put all the expensive stuff he owned in the car.

 He never personally visited the slums, but he had learned from social media that there is thievery. He did not want anything expensive stolen. He will get a huge scolding from his father.

"Where are you going?" Kai asked directly.

 "To my car. I am going to put away all my important belongings." 

 "That is smart! I don't want my parents to get angry at me anymore for losing important things all the time." Kai hurried to the parking spot which he had bought for the day. His car rested there peacefully. 

 ***

 The slums as referred to by the wealthy were where many blue-collar workers who did all the meager labor to run Solia. The air was very filthy in the slums since all the pollution from the wealthy/trade center areas was redirected here. Another fact that remained hidden from the common public was that criminals especially pirates own a façade of an ordinary blue-collar worker as a last resort. This façade made it easier to enter Solia.

 Gasping for air Kai spoke, "I told you the subway was better! Do you know how far we had to run?"

 "I do not know. Please enlighten this humble man." Adrien mocked.

 "Shut up! I ran more than 16 whole miles. It took us an entire hour to run here. Race with me Kai It will be fun. Kai running is good exercise for the mind and the body. This is why you have no friends beside me and Mahir. My legs are sore, they ache, You did this on purpose you piece of turd." Kai screeched.

"You agreed to it. I didn't force you." Adrien may be terrible at using magic. His strength and stamina only a few could compete with him yet it still shattered his ego that Kai could still keep up with him. He had practiced diligently to beat them. After hanging out with them he realized the media hid their true strength. The media had stated he was a rogue mage with strength at a 4.2-dimensional level. Their lie was quite outrageous he was at least at a 5.1-dimensional rogue mage. Meaning he shouldn't be even allowed to be on earth. He is to be on the moon or in an entirely different dimension. A fifth-dimensional being could destroy an entire city in no way or shape are 4.2-level mage comparable to a 5 or above. The media had hidden these facts in order to not scare the public. Kai's abilities were far and strange. He could give people bad and good luck. He can send people into a blind fit. 

 "What are you thinking about?" Kai asked bitterly to Adrien who was staring at him condescendingly.

 Adrien held back his urge to say your father and instead simply said, "We have four whole hours until we are required to be present at home. Now how should we spend that time here in these stupid slums."

 "No, need to worry," He pointed then to the end of the street. His keen intuition told him trouble was approaching. The breeze blew, and a woman whose eyes were puffy red came into view. 

A woman at the end of the street suddenly hurled a high heel in their direction. Adrien and Kai swiftly dodged. Undeterred, she removed her other heel and threw it at them, forcing them to move aside once more. Her attire was striking: she wore a bright neon formal dress, a trend that had dominated global fashion for the past five years. Her round glasses magnified her distressed eyes. The woman appeared to be in her mid-twenties, clutching a cheap bottle of booze as if it were a lifeline. Her expression was one of utter despair, as though the world had crumbled around her. It was clear to Kai that she had lost something of immense importance.

"What's her deal?" Adrien asked, raising an eyebrow as he watched the scene unfold.

 "..." Kai didn't reply and an awkward silence dwelled on for a few seconds. He instead used his powers to make her go into a bling rage. 

The woman with strawberry blonde hair yelled, "Damn you Nancy rich kids!"

 She grabbed on tightly to a bottle of cheap booze and threw it at the ground in between her and the two of them. The cheap bottle of booze was made from plastic and did not shatter. All it did was make a bang sound down and spill the remaining booze inside the bottle. The woman then shrilled and yelled insults at the world.

" Lady luck does not exist for she is too cruel" she wailed. 

 When the anger that raged in her body was gone. Sorrow filled her up and she curled up and wailed like a newborn. She started praying to the lord who she just blasphemed. Praying for forgiveness and a better tomorrow. "The slums are all just filled with psychos," Adrien whispered to Kai who was very happy now. Kai enjoyed seeing people pathetically miserable. This was the reason why he loved going to the near-death beach with Mahir every Sunday. He could never understand Adrien's hatred for such places. He always wondered how Adrien could never enjoy seeing these people suffer till they suicide. 

 "Adrien?"

 "Yeah"

 " Watch- no enjoy what will unfold today" Kai whispered in a hushed voice. Adrien for some reason felt tremendously uncomfortable. Kai took out his phone and took a shot of her face. Immediately afterward he put the phone in his pocket. He then grabbed Adrien's arm and walked towards the lady. 

 "Madam, are you all right?" He spoke with the same accent as those rich old men he was forced to hang out with after school. He heard no response.

 " Me and my friend can call a cab for you?" He spoke again but he gave himself good luck.

" No, no need my house is only a few blocks down." She spoke her tears had dried. Kai looked at her eyes which were dark as midnight not an ounce of white.

 Getting up and close he realized there was no point in talking to her. He saw her eyes which were hollow. He did not need to do anything. This woman is fated to be dead by sunrise. Kai was utterly disappointed. He assumed she would be resilient and would not accept her fate when she cursed Lady Luck. He could just tell by the eyes when a person is going to die. Hallow eyes on a person mark death. He learned that this is not how most people perceive eyes. An average person sees a thing called an iris which is colorful and a round pupil.

 " I am so disappointed man. I thought I could finally show you how to push a person to their edge. Lady luck truly is frowning upon me. When I get home, I will pray all night."

 " you can't kill her?" Adrien needed to know how Kai's mind worked. The deeper he dived into their thought process the more confused he became.

 " I can! A thousand times! The reason is as they say you might be quick, but lady death is quicker" Kai took his inquiry as an insult to his strength.

 " Let's continue exploring the slums," Kai never liked to explain things he found it annoying. They walked till they came across a narrow street in the middle of which lay an old fat man. He was injured, he had cuts all over his body. He had golden eyes, a round face, and seemed to have done drugs for he could not stop shaking. His hair was still lush and golden. Kai quickly took a picture. Kai was boundlessly fond of photography. He was going to label this picture a perverted old man. The old man was a photocopy of Sam Sandler. This is going to go viral Kai assumed with a horrendous grin on his face.

"Will you kids help me out?" The old man could barely stand up his voice shaky.

" No way Sandler" Adrien spoke. When Kai heard this, he was flabbergasted. He wasn't the only one who thought this man was identical to their mayor. Kai conjured up something filthy in his mind.

 Kai goes up to the old man and puts on the same expression Mahir's mom does when she acts worried about Mahir. He wanted to put on his most convincing show. He was once convinced by her act that she was worried about her dear daughter.

 With a sympathetic look, he went up to the man and spoke, " Are you alright? Please do not mind my friend. He is an ill-mannered piece of turd. He has no ounce of empathy towards an injured old man."

He reached into his pockets, grabbed his handkerchief, and gave it to the old man. Surprised by Kai's reaction he seemed to relax with the coherent shaking of his hands.

" A thousand thanks. I would like to know your name. Would you be kind enough to tell me?"

 "Alkai Ekphrasis"

" What do you call yourself, dear gentlemen?"

"Marnie"

"The one behind me is called Adrien. He is quite the gentleman. You just met him on an unfortunate day, Sir."

 The old man's heart was warmed by Kai's respect for him. What a pure-hearted kid he thought. Well-mannered and with a clean-cut appearance.

 "Should I call an ambulance?"

 "No! I mean…"

 "All right then do you need assistance with anything else?"

"Can you kids take me to my house?" He asked with a shaking voice. He was deeply moved by them because he hadn't experienced this much care and concern after His wife died.

" Of course," Kai spoke then he put one of Marnie's arms around his back. Adrien never thought he would witness something like this in his lifetime. He was shaken. As Kai helped the old man walk. He could have easily lifted the old man and arrived at the man's house in less than a minute, yet Kai took his sweet time walking. Adrien followed behind closely witnessing it all.

 The front lawn of his house looked tattered. A man sat on the driveway. He wore a plain black and white suit. He smiled when he saw Marnie. Marnie stood and looked at the person silently. He almost looked like he was ashamed of facing him. The unknown man was tan and had grey eyes. His dull red hair was all disheveled.

 Then his eyes meet Kai's. Kai holds the stare and realizes this handsome guy looks familiar. Awfully familiar and soon the man broke eye contact.

 The man who was sitting in the driveway spoke, "Hello Father".

 "You seem eerily familiar," Kai spoke.

 "I think he is your long-lost son. Since you both look gay," Adrien spoke.

 "No, clearly he must be your son because he looks and sounds like a little girl" Kai rebutted to Adrien. The man bore no reaction to their conversation. Contradictory to many others. Their conversation was interrupted by Marnie.

 "You kids should leave" Marnie pleaded. Marnie had hoped they would stay however Kai had the inkling to leave after seeing that his magic he used on his son didn't work.

 Kai nodded as he turned back, and Adrien followed him. Then stopped and took a picture of Marnie's supposed son. He couldn't wait to show Mahir this picture. His son looked so eerily familiar.

 He took out his phone and opened the group chat he had with Mahir, Adrien and Kai.

 He texted, "Come over to my house. I found something interesting."

 She replied, "Fine, this better be interesting Kai." 

 ***