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{Chapter: 55 - Chan Ho Yin}
Three Days Later
Hong Kong
The night in Hong Kong was alive with energy. The streets buzzed with the sound of chatter, the faint hum of neon lights, and the rhythmic clatter of footsteps on the wet pavement. Everywhere, the air was thick with excitement, the promise of both wealth and mystery in the city's thriving nightlife. The tall skyscrapers loomed overhead, their lights casting long shadows onto the crowded streets below. Stalls and street vendors lined every corner, offering everything from sizzling skewers of meat to trinkets that glittered in the neon glow. The intoxicating mix of aromas, from sizzling street food to perfume wafting from boutiques, added an extra layer to the vibrant, ever-moving energy of the city.
Among the masses, three figures stood out like a beacon. Aiden, Blink, and Marrow strode down the sidewalk with confidence, their appearance an interesting contrast against the flurry of asian people.
The crowd parted around them, some giving curious glances, others brushing past them without a second thought. There was something about their presence ā an undeniable aura, like they didn't belong to this city's usual rhythm.
Aiden, at the center of it all, moved with an air of calm purpose. His sharp eyes scanned the scene before him, a quiet intensity. Blink, standing at his left, was scanning the crowd as well, her eyes darting back and forth, ever alert. Marrow walked just to his right, her eyes wide with wonder, drinking in the scene for the first time. She had been to cities before, but Hong Kong had a different kind of energy ā it pulsed with too much life.
The busy street seemed to move in slow motion as the trio cut through it, each lost in their own thoughts, yet bound by a singular mission.
Aiden broke the silence first. "We're here to find someone. A man named Chan Ho Yin, but he goes by the name 'Scorch' in certain circles."
Blink, looking slightly amused, raised an eyebrow. "Scorch? Really? Sounds like a show-off."
Marrow, who had been watching the passing people with growing interest, turned to Aiden. "I've never been to Hong Kong before, so forgive me for asking, butā¦ is this city always this crowded?"
"Always," Aiden replied with a faint smile, "This city never sleeps, like New York. But that's part of why it's the perfect place for someone like Chan Ho Yin to hide in plain sight. He's here, using his flames not for anything big, just street magic. But he could be more. And that's why we're here."
Blink nodded thoughtfully, her lips quirking up in a smile. "So we're tracking down a magician. What's so special about him?"
Aiden's eyes flicked to Blink as they navigated through the crowds. "Magic is only part of the story. What we're really after is his ability to manipulate fire. It's not spectacular now, but it has the potential to be. Scorch's flame abilities are naturally strong, but he's nowhere near his full potential yet."
Marrow's eyes widened in realization. "Wait, so he's not just a regular street performer? This guy could be dangerous."
Aiden nodded, his gaze flicking forward. "Exactly. People like him ā people with latent power ā they don't always realize the full extent of their abilities. It's up to us to give him the right direction."
The trio continued their walk through the maze of vendors, traffic, and pedestrians, each lost in their own busy world, unaware of the three figures moving through the crowd with purpose. Finally, they stopped at a small intersection. Up ahead, on a slightly elevated platform, they saw the man they were looking for ā a street magician with unkempt hair and a worn, faded jacket. He was performing tricks for a small crowd, using his hands to conjure small, controlled flames that danced and flickered in the air.
His audience, however, was clearly unimpressed, and Aiden could hear a few muffled chuckles of disbelief. The magician's flame manipulation was far from impressive ā a few sparks here, a small fireball there. Nothing that screamed "dangerous."
Aiden led the way toward the magician, his strides purposeful.
When they approached, Blink couldn't help but glance at the performer and shake her head. "That's really the guy?"
Marrow shrugged, her expression doubtful. "Looks like someone's idea of a hobby."
Aiden's lips curved into a small, knowing smile as they approached. The magician had just finished a particularly lackluster performance and was now gathering his props ā his hat, his small collection of coins ā off the ground. The crowd was starting to disperse, the disappointment in the air palpable.
But as he reached for the coins, he noticed something ā a few hundred-dollar bills dropped into his hat. He glanced up, confused. The person who had contributed didn't look like anyone special, just a young man in a casual jacket.
"Thank you," the magician muttered, still looking around. The sincerity in his voice seemed almost lost in the sea of people passing by. But before he could gather his thoughts, the stranger spoke.
Aiden cleared his throat. "To tell you the truth, your magic was... pretty bad. But I think you've got something more. Why don't you show me the real stuff?"
The magician paused, his eyes flicking nervously over to Aiden. He looked at the group, taking in their confident demeanor, and then looked down at his own worn clothes, trying to hide his unease.
"Sorry, buddy. This is the best I've got," the magician said, his voice faltering slightly.
Aiden tilted his head, studying him carefully. "Really? Are you sure? Chan Ho Yin, or should I call you Scorch?"
The magician froze, his eyes wide with surprise. "How do youā?"
Aiden smirked, his voice calm and deliberate. "Let's just say I know exactly who you are."
Chan Ho Yin, also known as Scorch, took a step back, his heart racing. "IāI don't know what you're talking about. I'm just a trickster. Nothing special."
Aiden took another step forward, his gaze piercing. "You're lying. I came here to find you, and now we're going to talk. Somewhere else. You don't get a choice."
The magician hesitated, weighing his options. Finally, he sighed, resigned. "Alrightā¦ Let's go to my place."
But Aiden shook his head. "Your place isn't safe, Scorch. I don't trust it."
He turned to Blink and Marrow. "Let me introduce you to my companions. This is Blink," he said, gesturing to her with a flick of his hand, "And this is Marrow."
The magician stared at them, his eyes flicking nervously over the two women before Aiden ushered them toward a narrow alley. The city's noise grew quieter as they ducked into the shadows, the bustling street far behind them.
Chan Ho's voice trembled as he took in the surroundings. "Here? This doesn't exactly seem like the best place to talk."
Aiden didn't respond immediately. He simply turned to Blink, his expression unreadable.
Blink understood immediately. Her eyes narrowed as she pulled a pink crystal from her pocket and flicked it into the air. The crystal shattered into a cloud of glittering dust, expanding into a swirling vortex of pink energy. The portal flared into existence before them, and the magician's jaw dropped in shock.
"Whatā¦ What is this?" he stammered, his eyes wide.
"This," Blink said with a smirk, "is how we travel."
Aiden, his focus on the stunned magician, turned back to Blink. "Let's go. We're not wasting any more time."
Aiden grabbed Chan Ho's shoulder and walked through the portal. With that, the three of them stepped through the portal, leaving Chan Ho Yin standing in stunned silence in the alley, unsure of what was happening or what was to come.
---
As the pink glow of the portal faded behind them, Chan Ho blinked several times, disoriented by the sudden shift in scenery. The faint smell of ozone lingered in the air, a strange contrast to the bustling night markets of Hong Kong. Now, the cool, sterile air of a high-tech interior filled his lungs.
"This... what is this place?" he muttered, eyes wide as he took in the polished walls, humming overhead lights, and expansive windows showing a dark American skyline. "Where are we?"
"United States," Aiden answered, a calm smile resting on his lips as he tucked his hands into the pockets of his coat.
Chan Ho froze. "The United States?! No way. Thatā that's impossible! We were just in Hong Kong! How did I get here in a blink of an eye?"
He turned to face Blink, who stood casually beside Marrow near a door, arms crossed, eyes coolly observing him. "Was that... your power?"
Blink gave a sly nod. "I bend space. Not a magician's trick, either. It's the real deal."
Chan Ho's legs nearly gave way from under him. He stumbled to a bench, shaking his head as he tried to process everything.
"I can't believe this," he whispered. "Justā¦ who are you people?"
Aiden's expression hardened slightly. "We're not your enemies, that much I'll say. If anything, we're probably the only people who understand what you're going through right now. But before I explain more, I need to see something."
Chan Ho looked up cautiously. "See what?"
"Your ability. Show me what you can do."
There was a pause. Chan Ho's instincts screamed for him to be cautious, but something in Aiden's voiceāfirm, but not threateningānudged him forward. A voice in back of his mind telling him he can trust him.
These people had already displayed powers far beyond anything he'd seen. Maybe they weren't here to harm him after all.
"Alright," he said, slowly getting to his feet.
He raised his right palm, fingers spread wide. His face twisted in concentration. A few seconds passed before a flickering flame bloomed to life in his hand, the size of a lighter's flame at first. With effort, he fed it, shaping the fire into a small sphere, barely larger than a baseball. Its orange glow lit up his determined expression.
"Behold," Chan Ho said with a proud smile, "my power."
He turned his gaze to Aiden, expecting awe or praise.
Instead, Aiden's face remained passive, even slightly disappointed. Blink looked bored. Marrow raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"This is my unique and unmatched ability," Chan Ho added quickly, as if defending himself from an invisible insult.
Aiden finally sighed. "Sure enough, your flame isā¦ pitiful."
The words hit like a slap.
Chan Ho recoiled as if struck. "What did you say?!"
"I said your power lacks heat, intensity, and purpose. It's... underwhelming." Aiden stepped forward. "The flame you produce has no real bite. No weight. You couldn't even scorch steel with that."
Chan Ho's pride flared hotter than his flame. "Are you looking down on me?!" he shouted. "I've trained for years to master this ability. I thought it was a gift from above!"
Aiden didn't flinch. Instead, he gave a low chuckle and stepped back. "You think that is flame? Allow me to show you what real fire looks like."
With those words, Aiden's entire body suddenly ignited in a roaring blaze. The heat surged outward in waves, distorting the air around him like a mirage. His silhouette was consumed by fire, but he stood calmly amidst the inferno, eyes glowing like molten gold.
The room's lights dimmed automatically to compensate. Chan Ho stumbled back, mouth agape, his own flickering flame extinguished by the raw force of what stood before him.
Aiden's flames danced and surged, licking at the without leaving a single scorch mark around him. It was controlled, yet wild. Powerful, yet precise. He looked like a god of fire.
And then, just as suddenly, the flames withdrew. Aiden exhaled softly, his body returning to normal with not a single burn mark on his clothing or carpet he was standing on.
Chan Ho stared in silence, chest rising and falling. Then he looked at his palmāsmall, pale, and now flame-less.
"Iā¦" he started, his voice cracking, "I had no idea power like that was even possible."
Aiden walked closer, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder.
"Your ability is weak right now, yes. But it's only because no one taught you how to truly use it. I can. I've trained others like youāpeople with dormant power waiting to be unleashed. You have the spark, I can help you make it stronger. Follow me! I will make you stronger and let you see what real strength is! Chan Ho. I can make it into a firestorm."
Chan Ho looked down, silent. His shoulders trembled slightly, not from fear, but from suppressed emotion.
"I always dreamed of being more than some failed magician on a street corner," he said softly. "I believed I could be something greaterā¦ a hero, even. But people laughed. They said fire tricks won't save anyone. And after a while, I started believing them."
Aiden's voice lowered. "Then stop living by their standards. You don't need to prove yourself to street crowds. You need to become who you were meant to be. With usā¦ that's possible.
Be my Knight of Flames"
Chan Ho looked up, eyes shining with determination. "Then take me with you. Show me how to get stronger. Show me how to burn brighter."
Aiden gave him a rare, approving smile. "Good."
"So willā¦"
*****
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