"The Coin Collector" - A Short Story

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A huge thank you to the Writer's Block. This piece is all the better for their insight. Particularly @johnkingwriter. A good egg, he is.

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The coin flipped between his fingers seamlessly, almost as if it floated over each knuckle. He peered down at the boy. Adjusted his monocle.

“Do you know who I am, child?”

The scraggly boy in the chair opposite stared down at the steel table. It reflected the glow of a single orb floating between the two, embers flickering into the dark. He said nothing. The man with the monocle pursed his lips, pressed on:

“I am Lyth. Some know me as the Coin Collector.” His grey mustache twitched as he spoke. His green eyes told of patience, and as he waited for the boy to reply, he flipped the coin between his fingers.

The boy had tousled jet black hair. There was a particular sheen to it. Grease. The clothes he wore were ragged. Dirtied beyond what soap and water could rectify. He was a haggard-looking thing. Cheeks gaunt and eyes sunken into the sockets. Lyth tried to feed him some fresh bread but he refused to eat. The silence between them only grew.

After a time, the boy said something. His voice was feeble. Barely audible even in the deep quiet.

“Why am I here, sir?”

Lyth paused his coin-flipping and placed it flat on the table. Pure gold shined in the fire’s light. He adjusted his suit and straightened his tie. Cleared his throat.

“Truth is, young man. You’re a fairly powerful manipulator of ether. And I’m in need of that particular skill set.”

For the first time, the boy looked up from the table and directly at Lyth. His violet gaze widened.

“What?” His voice was slightly stronger. Less raspy.

Lyth went to explain, but before his open mouth could articulate the words, a knock from behind interrupted him. A frown flickered and he momentarily clenched his jaw.

“Come in,” he said, a hint of irritation in his tone.

Light flooded in from the open door and a man dressed in a suit of armor stepped inside. He was tall, blonde hair nearly shaven to the scalp. There was a scar that traced from his left eyebrow to beneath the eye itself. His jawline was strong. Cheekbones rounded. Smooth. He bent over and whispered into Lyth’s ear. When he was finished, Lyth nodded and waved him away. The man in armor bowed, glanced at the boy briefly and then left, taking the light with him.

Lyth rose from his seat.

“My apologies, but I’m afraid we’ll have to continue this discussion elsewhere. If you’d be so kind as to follow me.”

The boy hesitated.

“No time to waste, child.” There was a sense of urgency to him. The patience he had displayed earlier was now as fragile as thin ice. One false step could mean bad things for the boy. So he did as requested. Lyth nodded, plucked his coin from the table and walked out the door into the crisp night.

The moon was full and bright, and stars were splayed across a deep black sky. Their breaths could be seen in white puffs. The boy stuck close to Lyth, holding his hand tightly. The Coin Collector tossed a piece of copper into the street and snapped his fingers. The copper piece danced like the ground was shaking. Blue wisps began to emanate from it, their tendrils forming a large circle. Soon the circle filled in, its center a swirling storm cloud. Wind picked up and gained strength. Their clothes rippled toward the portal as they neared.

Lyth addressed the man in armor before he stepped through.

“Caero, when you’ve done with them, I’d like you to return. Hurry, if you can.”

Caero tilted his head slightly and then ran the direction they came, armor clinking as he moved. Lyth went through the portal. The boy stumbled after him. A storm raged and lightning cracked. Thunder rumbled. Then, in the span of a moment, the storm became green grass. Lyth stood tall in the open field as the boy fell on his back. He emptied his stomach.

“Sorry about that, child. We were in a bit of a rush and I didn’t have time to tell you that portal transportation is a bit… dizzying.” He went over to the boy and offered a hand. The boy clasped it and Lyth helped him to his feet.

“You alright now, Makon?”

The boy looked at him. Eyes questioning. Lyth chuckled.

“I know all there is to know about you, child. You’re going to do great things.”

“So… what’s ether?”

They traveled slowly through across this new world. The air was warm, the breeze gentle. Something like dust, shining a luminescent gold, drifted around them. Makon let his eyes wander. Lyth watched him. Brewed over how best to answer the question. He massaged his mustache, then said,“Ether is elemental energy. Sunlight. Fire. Water. The earth. All of which can be manipulated or controlled by a select few people. However, as with anything determined by balance, there is a downside to utilizing this power.”

“Downside?”

Lyth smiled weakly. “A caveat to even the scales, as it were.”

The other didn’t speak. Did not take his eyes off the older man.

“Each time the power is used, it takes from the user. Whatever is needed is whatever is given. Some tasks are so great they kill. Which is why I store ether in coins. As my energy rebuilds, I pour a little more each time into the coins. Some of them even sustain my life. I’m far older than I seem.”

The child was silent as a grave. To Lyth's satisfaction, he seemed to take everything in stride. Good. He stopped in his tracks. Faced Makon with a huge grin.

“You are different from any of us, Makon. You are ether. You can create and store at the same time. As such, you are the massive weight on the scale, tipping the universe in your favor. And, if you’ll have me, I hope to train you.”

“Train me for what?”

Lyth continued his walk. The boy stood still.

“For what, Lyth?”

“For the end, my dear boy. For the end,” he muttered.

They made the rest of the journey without speaking. As the day was drained of its color, they climbed a hill and sat under a large oak tree. Its leaves rustled. Lyth tapped the trunk with a silver coin. Twice. Then three times. At the roots, the ground opened up. Torches lit up, one after another on either side, revealing a staircase made of plants and dirt. Down it went and so did they.

Lyth flipped a bronze coin in the air and an orb exploded into view.

“Sometimes the torchlight is a bit weak,” said Lyth as they made their descent. He was proven correct when the torches started to die. Some weren’t lit at all. Makon shivered as the air grew colder. Finally, when they were chilled to the bone, teeth rattling, they came upon a large stone wall. Etched into the rock were various symbols. Hieroglyphics. Numbers. Suns. Moons. Lyth pulled out three coins of different material and let them clatter at the foot of the wall. It trembled. Tremors rolled beneath their feet.

The wall opened sideways. They walked through and inside was huge. When the stone door shut behind them, warm air immediately rushed to greet them. They both sighed relief. All around nailed to the stone walls were pictures. Black and white photographs depicting various figures. Many of them included Lyth himself. In the middle of the room was a large granite table, piled with books, some of which were tattered. Worn with age.

Papers were scattered around the room. A smaller wooden table in a far corner held beakers. Two of them bubbled over. Nailed to the overhang above the main table there were wood boxes sealed with glass, and in those boxes were coins of varying shape and size. There were bookshelves and a couple blackboards and a cage that held a sleeping bird with long red feathers. Its golden beak snapped shut.

“Welcome to my humble abode, dear Makon,” said Lyth. He made his way to the main table, scraping aside the massive pile of books. A shimmer appeared next to him. Formed into Caero.

“It’s done,” he said. His voice was silky smooth. Lyth smiled a face-wrinkling smile.

“Excellent. You’re a man of many talents, Caero. You should be proud of yourself.”

Caero simply bowed.

Lyth directed his attention toward Makon, still beaming.

“Are you ready to begin?”

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