A dark skinned man with a curly Afro and smooth skin that shined in the afternoon sun was walking leisurely. His destination being his Aunt’s Deli.


    He had a relaxed expression on his face while wearing sweatpants and an anime shirt… The man was carrying a gym bag with his right hand, and holding a phone with his left, quickly tapping away at it.


    <Damien> Hey Laz since I paid half of last month''s rent, and because of the accident, Maya and I are a bit short on money right now. Is it cool if you could front me $700, I can pay you back in 2 weeks.


    <Lazarik> Sure, I’ll send it in a bit.


    <Lazarik> Take care of yourself.


    <Damien> Appreciate you fam. You take care of yourself, too.


    The man named Lazarik had a satisfied smile after chatting with Dame. He recalled how Dame always seemed to be going through a rough patch. Every so often something always seems to happen to him.


    “Haaaa”


    Laz sighed after thinking that Dame should just relax more often, like himself. Why does he always do so many things? Just going to work and staying at home is enough for me. The more you relax, the easier life becomes.


    This was Laz’s life motto.


    People always called him Lazy Laz as a kid. It was quite an annoying nickname he had until he learned to embrace that title.


    ‘Anyway, it would be good if I could make it to Aunt’s Deli before it closes.’


    Laz hastened his footsteps after checking the time.


    He looked around after a short walk. The Deli store was right in front of him. It had a large sign hanging past the rain cover attached to the building.


    The sign had the words <Jenna’s Remarkable Deli> written on it. It was glowing in neon lights. The reflection gleamed in the eyes of Laz.


    ‘I''m seriously hungry, but I can''t get stuck talking to aunt, she talks so much it''s tiring. It would be impossible to get back home as fast as I wanted to.’


    ‘I’ll make this quick, I will not get stuck here. I just have to get in and get out, get in and get o-’


    As Laz was repeating those words to steel his determination to not get stuck in his aunts clutches. He walked leisurely with a glare at the signboard. At that moment, he was snapped out of his thoughts.


    “Meaoow!”


    Laz became startled from that noise that seemed so far away yet so close. It was a whisper and scream at the same time.


    ‘Watha fuck!’


    Laz’s eyes opened wide. He quickly tried to assess his surroundings. The noise he heard made him think it was coming from behind him.


    Laz turned around, he saw kitten peeking at him from inside a public trash bin.


    ‘Ah… a kitten?’


    Laz tilted his head in confusion. He noticed that the little kitten was barely hanging on the edge. It seemed struggling to get out.


    Its eyes were sparkling golden and a tinge of hazel. They were enchanting, almost wanting to draw you in and drown you. A sharp vertical pupil was staring directly into Laz’s eyes.


    ‘What the… now that I am lookin at it… it''s a normal cat?… huh, was that shit laced… did I smoke too much?’


    “Hey!... Is your name is Lazarik Castlevade nya?”


    “....”


    “W, why are you blanking ... out, …nya.”


    The cat seemed to be struggling to get out on its own. It glared at Laz.


    ‘What the hell? What is with this Secret Life of Pets ass cat?


    “Umm… You can talk?”


    Laz said as he pointed at the weird cat.


    “Tsk! Obviously! I am speaking now, aren’t I?”


    The weird cat retorted back as if it was not an anomaly.


    “Help me up! I got something for you.”


    “I don’t really need trash.”


    “I''M NOT GIVING YOU TRASH, YOUR IDIOT! JUST HELP ME OUT!”


    ‘Huh, what a weird cat.’


    Laz cautiously got closer to the cat. When Laz was near the bin, he saw the whole cat’s body. The cat''s lower half and hind legs seemed smoky, as if about to dissipate. Laz froze, staring at the cat with an indescribable expression.


    ‘What in the world, is this cat a ghost or some shit.’


    As some sort of smoke rose in the air. Laz looked back at the cat''s eyes. It seemed to be glaring at it him with a pompous expression.


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    “Hey! Are you not going to help me up? I can’t stay in this world for long. So let''s just get done with this”


    ‘Ah right.’


    Laz quickly picked up the weird half ethereal cat. The cat now in his arms started to dig its ears as it started chatting.


    “I am here to make a deal on behalf of my Contractor. Per Instructions of My Contractor, I have to let you know you have the right to refuse. So let''s get down to business.”


    “Can I ask what you are talking about? Also, what are you?”


    The cat blinked a few times at his question. As if questioning how he could not know something so obvious.


    “First of all, My name is Herazane, and I am a mighty Jinn, Second, the deal I spoke of is regarding going to the world I came from and that world is…”


    As Herazane spoke with a dramatic pause, its eyes sparkled.


    “Derythia.”


    It whispered.


    “Derythia?”


    “Yes, Yes, Derythia. It is the world I am from. That is all I can say. I can’t give you more information about this topic because of those useless and bothersome interdimensional rules.”


    “Interdimensional rules?”


    The cat''s eyes widened. It paws instantly covered its mouth, with earwax still on its nail.


    “Oops… hahaha.”


    A nervous chuckle came out of the cat.


    “I, I wasn’t supposed to say that. Hahah…”


    As if reacting to this, the lower half of the half ethereal cat started to dissipate, more of its body started to turn ethereal.


    “Act like you never heard it. But anyway, the time I have here is shrinking. So answer my question, are you Lazarik Castlevade?”


    Herazane spoke with a serious look.


    “Um, Yeah?”


    “Good, now on behalf of my contractor, I am giving you a once in a lifetime chance to go to Derythia.”


    ‘This is interesting. Keke.’


    “What’s so special about Derythia?”


    Laz spoke, trying to hide his anticipation. He eyes, however, could not hide the excitement.


    “I have said all I can say about Derythia. In return for this excellent opportunity. You have to pay for the cost.”


    “And what is that?”


    “Your existence in this world.”


    ‘Existence?’


    “What do you mean by that?”


    “In addition, you have to fulfil one request from my contractor when you meet her.”


    “Hold on, What do you mean my existence?”


    “Yes. Your existence here in this world will be no longer. Your blood and flesh, your hopes and dream, your fate. Essentially everything, expect your soul and memories, will be used as payment.”


    ‘Wow…’


    “And once you’ve transmigrated, it will be like you never existed in this world. Everyone you know and love, will not know of you”


    ‘Damn.’


    Laz became disgruntled as his eyes went to the window of Jenna’s Remarkable Deli. The reflection of the neon light signboard caught in his eyes.


    “So, If choose I to go with you, My aunt won’t have to grieve?”


    Laz spoke solemnly


    “Yes, that is correct, That is one of my specialties, My services always leave the client satisfied. Any other THING in my field of work is incomparable to me. Hahaha.”


    Herazane continuously nodded while bragging about its capabilities. It patted its belly, which was getting more and more ethereal and smoky.


    Laz just ignored the weird cats vaunts, as he stared at the window. Complicated thoughts stirring up in him. Laz never knew his mother. His Aunt was the one who looked after him. Even though his Aunt Jenna and him weren’t blood related, she took care of him. She was the one who shared stories about his father and mother. She was the one to tell him her brother and Laz’s father died out at war a couple of months before he was born. His aunt was the one who told him how her best friend died from illness a year after giving birth to him.


    “Anyway, Do you accept the deal or not?”


    Herazane spoke, not caring about the thoughts going through Laz’s head.


    ‘I should go see her. Maybe I should hear her ramble one last time.’


    “Hey Kid! I don''t have much time, you know.”


    “You said I have to fulfill a request from your contractor?”


    Laz spoke, his eyes still locked on the window of the deli.


    “Yes, that''s right.”


    “What’s this request?”


    “I told you, didn’t I? You’ll know once you meet her. Also, what are you hesitating for. I can tell you want to drop everything and go.”


    Laz kept silent. It''s eyes staring into Laz’s eyes, which were focused away from it. Taking it as a confirmation, Herazane continued to speak in a whisper-like voice.


    “I know you are dissatisfied, you always felt like something was missing, right? Something that if you had, No if the WORLD had, you would not be so bored? You had no thrill, no excitement, no… sense of exhilaration. Right?”


    Herazane tilted his head


    “And once you couldn’t find anything to occupy you. You retract yourself. You sit around and do nothing. What have you accomplished in life? What passions do you have? Or is anything not worth your time?”


    Herazane’s eyes now looked deep, as if it lived countless years, and saw countless sorrows.


    “Boy, don’t look down on me. I can see it in your gaze. He-he, It''s almost as if this is what you’ve been waiting for your entire life.”


    Herazane chuckled at the sight in front of him. Herazane thought no matter how long he lived, he would never fully come to understand humans. Their actions and words are different from what they truly want. Herazane couldn’t understand why this human was hesitating, even though it told him that his loved ones won’t have to grieve because it’ll be like he was never there in the first place, the human still seemed to struggle with this simple decision.


    “Hey, Herazane. I’ll be right back, so wait for me in the bin or whatever.”


    Laz spoke as he tried to place the weird cat back into the trash bin.


    Herazane’s eyes widened as if it was being sent into hell.


    “Hey WAIT! Don’t just stuff me back in!”


    Herazane was now yelling in fear.


    “I can go with you!”


    “Oh, Okay then.”


    ‘Why is it so bothered by the trash bin, when it literally came out of it a second ago.’


    Laz thought to himself, as he placed the mostly ethereal cat in his arms again.


    “Hey Kid, We don’t have much time, you have about 45 seconds, no 44 now to get whatever you wanted done.”


    “Yeah, Yeah whatever.”


    Herazane scoffed at this immature brats attitude toward a mighty Jinn.