In the heart of Pembroke, Eden stood out like a diamond in the rough. Here, riches and rags dined at the same table, and justice? It didn't play favorites. The gossiped tale of a wealthy man's execution for the murder of a mere farmer's wife was proof. In this remarkable city, Lord Siorus's grand estate rested, a beacon of power. Yet, its neighbors ranged from freed giants, once shackled in chains, to commoners seeking Eden's fabled fairness. This mosaic of life gave young Eli restless dreams of adventures to spread this goodness elsewhere.

  Racing on the road's edge, Eli's rapid steps were a blur, barely touching the polished cobblestones. His agility was almost theatrical, making him believe he could give martial artists a run for their money. Ordinarily, he'd mount his steed, but today, congested streets courtesy of a bustling merchant caravan made foot travel the wiser choice.

  Without warning, a figure with waterfall-like platinum locks and glacial eyes stepped from a grand carriage. Clasped in his hand was a staff, crowned with an aqua gem that pulsed with power. As Eli tried to weave past, the man's staff pointed directly at him, and ancient, eerie words slipped from his lips, sending a paralyzing chill up Eli's spine.

  _"I can't move? Oh, this is going to hurt,"_ Eli thought, panic setting in. The ground rushed up to greet him, but instead of meeting cold stone, he found himself caught mid-fall by a sturdy arm.

  "Young Siorus," the stranger intoned, "your mind is yet unguarded against sorcery."

  Dizzied, Eli's mind scrambled. _"That staff... That's a royal one, isn't it? Only the high and mighty have something like that."_

  _And what just happened was. Real magic? From a real Jinn?_ Excitement, mixed with a healthy dose of fear, pounded in his heart. He'd seen Jinn before, begged them to teach him, but they'd all turned him down.

  _"Not the right time", "Not the right Jinn",_ their excuses echoed in his mind. He'd been shut out, time and time again. But this guy... he caught me. He didn't have to, but he did, he was a good guy.

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  _ So, a Jinn that's also a king? That's like seeing a two headed moki._

  Could this be it? Could this be my big break? _My heart's pounding like I'm standing before a dragon. But hey, isn't that where the best loot is found?_

  A grin tugged at the corners of Eli's mouth. _Yeah, this could be stupid. But isn't adventure always a gamble? Here goes nothing..._

  "Are you... a king?" Eli stammered.

  "Indeed, King Rune Tor of Lazarus," the man confirmed, his voice dripping with regal authority. "Your father's vivid letters painted quite the portrait of you. I trust I haven’t kept you?"

  Eli remembered stories of Lazarus. _"Dad, who have you been talking to about me? A king, huh? King Rune Tor of Lazarus, no less,"_ his thoughts raced, a smirk playing at the corners of his mind. _"All those stories about Lazarus, about a brutish warlord donning a king's mantle. Gotta admire the guts, and he sure wears it well,"_

  His mind wandered back to the wild tales of Lazarus—a realm of rogues and rabble-rousers. _"Anyone who could herd that pack of cats must have some serious mettle. And here he stands... in the flesh, a certified badass."_

  Cobbling together a bow, feeling like he'd just blundered into a dragon's den without his trusty sword, he said, "Your Majesty's presence graces Eden. I have a request of you. I have always dreamed of becoming a Jinn. Would you please give me the chance to train under you and learn the ways of sorcery?"

  The king remained silent. Eli's heart sank, its depths echoing with a familiar pang.

  "Another rejection, it seems," Eli thought, a twinge of resignation in his heart. "Perhaps it was too ambitious to seek mentorship from a king." With a deep breath, he lifted his head, his eyes meeting the king's enigmatic gaze.

  A cryptic smile played on the king's lips, his gaze piercing into Eli's very soul. "Young Eli," King Rune Tor began, a tantalizing promise in his voice, "how would you feel diving into the profound arts of the Jinn?"

  The weight of the proposal left Eli breathless. As a child, he'd been enchanted by stories of the Jinn, powerful beings who manipulated magic as effortlessly as breathing. The very thought of being under the tutelage of such an entity was a dream Eli had nearly given up on.

  King Rune Tor seemed to read Eli's racing thoughts, his voice deepening, "Jinns have walked this earth in the shadows of mankind. Our powers, once harnessed, are unparalleled." Pausing for effect, he added, "My daughter, gifted but in need of a companion in learning, will be your peer. Together, you shall unravel the mysteries of magick."

  Eli sensed destiny unfurling before him, its doors wide open. His heart pounded, not from the physical exertion of his earlier sprint, but from the overwhelming significance of this instant. He nodded, a fervent motion reflecting his inner turmoil. Excitement parched his throat, rendering speech a challenge. He managed to muster a voice tinged with reverence, "Your Majesty, I would be honored.”

  Their agreement sealed with the weight of destiny, Eli continued on his way, his mind a whirlwind of possibilities. Yet, the world still held more surprises for him. As he passed the ornate carriage, a gaze locked onto his — aquamarine eyes set against skin as alluring as a snow. They belonged to a young woman, her hair cascading like liquid gold, catching the light in a dance of shimmering ripples. That brief eye contact held all true magic, an unspoken connection. Eli's heart, still reeling from the Jinn's offer, now thudded for an entirely different reason. In that fragment of time, he realized that the city of Eden was just the beginning of his story.