Chapter 2
He flicked his finger lightly.
The gold coin traced a graceful arc and dropped straight into the tattered pocket at my chest.
It felt icy against my skin.
I froze.
I lowered my head, reached into my pocket, and fished out the coin.
It was pure gold, dazzling even in the dim light.
There was no king's face on it, only an intricate, unfamiliar arcane sigil.
Not in this life, or the previous, had I ever seen gold this pure.
He said with a teasing grin, "Didn't you say I never gave your mom a gold coin?
"Now, I grant it to you, a non-believer."
He drifted closer, an invisible pressure radiating from him, making it hard for me to breathe.
He lowered his head, his golden eyes so close they nearly brushed against my skin.
I could see my terrified reflection in his eyes.
"Show me," he said, "what kind of life you can build with this coin."
His body dissolved into a shower of golden sparks and vanished into thin air.
Only his voice lingered in the air. "The game begins."
The hallway fell silent again.
It was as if everything that had just happened was my illusion.
Only the gold coin in my palm reminded me otherwise.
That unnatural chill made it clear: I was in serious trouble.
Clutching the coin, I scrambled all the way back home.
My "home" was little more than four empty walls.
A worn wooden bed, a table with a broken leg, and two shaky stools were all we owned.
Mom was home, nibbling at a piece of black bread as hard as a brick.
When she saw my flustered face, her cloudy eyes filled with worry.
"Sylsha, what's wrong?" she asked.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
How was I supposed to say this?
I cursed at the Divine One in the cathedral and got caught by him.
Instead of killing me, he gave me a gold coin and said he wanted to play some kind of game.
She'd think I'd lost my mind.
Or maybe she'd drop to her knees and thank the Divine One for his "mercy."
I clenched the coin tightly in my fist and shook my head. "It's nothing. I just hurried back."
I made up an excuse, slipped into a corner, and turned my back to her.
Only then did I open my hand.
The gold coin rested silently in my palm.
It was perfect in every way: the shape, the weight, the shine.
The sigil looked ancient and intricate, seemingly brimming with some mysterious power.
I brought it to my mouth and gave it a bite.
My teeth sank right in, leaving a clear mark.
It was real gold, incredibly high-purity solid gold.
With this, I could easily buy an entire bakery, let alone plain black bread.
I could get a spacious house, a soft bed and warm clothes to wear.
I could bid farewell to these precarious, starving days.
The rush of joy almost knocked me out.
But in the next instant, a cold chill shot up from my feet, snuffing out my excitement.
Would a god who toyed with me really be that kind?
His words echoed in my ears. "The game begins."
Was this gold coin a reward or a trap?
I couldn't be sure.
But one thing was clear: I had to use it.
I was so hungry I could barely think straight.
*****
Early the next morning, I tucked the gold coin away and, for the first time, headed for the business district of St. Laurent.
On ordinary days, I never dared set foot in this place.
The shops here were gorgeously decorated, filled with well-dressed townsfolk and merchants.
My ragged clothes made me stand out like a sore thumb.
I walked into the largest-looking grain store in sight.
The owner, Gareth Cobb, was a fat, middle-aged man. He was slumped over the counter, dozing off.
I stepped up to him.
He didn't even glance my way. "What do you want? If you're looking for a handout, try the cathedral."
I remained poised, placing the gold coin upon the counter.
The crisp clink of the coin hitting the counter snapped him awake.
His eyes zeroed in on the coin, as if he was hypnotized.
"This is..." His breathing turned rough, and pure greed flashed in his eyes.
He snatched up the coin, inspected it from every angle, and even gave it a bite.
"What fine gold," he muttered under his breath.
My heart leapt with excitement. Looked like this coin was spendable.
I started listing off everything I'd dreamed of eating.
"I want white bread, flour, butter, bacon..."
Yet Gareth paid no heed, his gaze fixed firmly on the gold coin.
His face kept shifting: first greedy, then confused, and finally, wary.
He looked up at me scrutinizingly. "Where'd you get this coin?"