Despite how much I hated it, I still showed up at the academy every day—usually a little late. Studying wasn’t really my thing, though there were a few subjects I could get lost in if they managed to grab my interest. Even then, I’d often take breaks just to keep myself from zoning out. Honestly, it wasn’t the worst strategy.


    Today, I was sitting with Alex, Lore, Vinico, Gina, and Henry at a café near the academy. We’d skipped one of our lectures under the excuse of grabbing coffee, though really, it was just an opportunity to chill and chat.


    I was quietly sipping my cold coffee when Vinico decided to break the silence with something completely random. “Have you guys seen Mr. Accord’s new merch?”


    I blinked, barely resisting the urge to groan. Of course, he’d bring something like that up.


    Henry beat me to it, thankfully. “Who cares about whatever crap some so-called superhero drops? What are you, eight?” He clicked his tongue, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe he even had to say it.


    At least I wasn’t the only one who thought Vinico was being childish.


    “What? come on,” Vinico shot back, his tone edging into defensive territory, "He''s cool."


    “I think he’s lame,” Lore cut in, her voice as sharp as ever. “He can barely be considered on the same level as The Crown.”


    I was surprised she even bothered to comment. Lore rarely entertained conversations like this. She was the kind of person who didn’t need to prove she was the smartest in the group—it was just obvious. When she spoke, people listened, even if they didn’t agree.


    “Crown is hot,” Gina said with a wistful sigh, dragging the mood into her personal fantasyland. Her tone had that syrupy sweetness that could only come from complete, unapologetic infatuation. She always gave me strange vibes. It wasn’t like the cosmic pull I felt with Jade, whose presence was almost otherworldly. Gina’s energy was more... carefree and casual. But every time her gaze landed on me, it was like I’d stumbled into a predator’s den—me, a clueless gazelle, and her, a lion deciding whether or not to pounce.


    Now she leaned forward, eyes gleaming with mischief or hunger—I couldn’t tell which. “I heard he has a ton of affairs. I wonder what he looks like up close,” she murmured, completely lost in some unrequited daydream.


    Everyone was tired of her.


    Out of nowhere, Alex turned to me, cutting through the drifting conversation. “What about you? Who’s your favorite superhero?”


    My favorite? Could I say myself? The thought popped into my head uninvited, absurd enough to make my skin prickle. Caught off guard, I scrambled for an answer and blurted the first thing that came to mind.


    “I like Discord,” I said, too fast and without thinking it through.


    The reaction was immediate. It was like I’d dropped a bomb in the middle of the table. Conversations screeched to a halt, and everyone turned to stare at me as if I’d just confessed to a crime. Even Alex furrowed his brow, his expression hovering somewhere between confusion and concern.


    “How can you say that?” Vinico blurted out, looking genuinely offended. “He’s a supervillain!”


    Oh no. I’d stepped in it. Big time.


    Desperate to salvage the situation and my reputation, I tried to backpedal. “What I meant is… his powers are cool,” I explained, hoping to smooth things over.


    Even that wasn’t a great defense. Discord had a history—a messy one. Sure, he’d turned over a new leaf in the future and started fighting for the good guys, but his methods? Still as morally gray as a rainy day. I couldn’t help but wonder about what had actually pushed him to switch sides. The rumors were all over the place, ranging from tragic betrayal to sheer boredom with being bad.


    Thankfully, the tension in the group eased slightly.


    Lore tilted her head, her analytical side taking over. “He does have a fascinating meta nature. It’s all tied to fractures. He can break anything—physical objects, abstract concepts, even systems—and then mirror them. It’s like a reflection that multiplies.”


    “People rarely stay sane after he strikes,” Alex added, his tone unusually somber. “Just being near him messes with their perception of reality. It’s like their minds can’t handle the way he warps things. his presence.”


    “...”


    As the conversation went on, I felt it—a familiar presence approaching.


    I squinted slightly, scanning the crowd until I caught sight of her. Jade.


    She was distinctly dressed, as always—wearing a pleated denim skirt with frayed edges and colorful bead accents, cozy tan fur-lined boots with extra fur details, and an oversized light blue fuzzy sweater with subtly distressed edges. Her style was bold, unorthodox, yet effortlessly captivating. Despite her somewhat eccentric style, she always managed to look impeccable.


    “Thanks for calling her,” Henry said with a sly wink, already pulling out a chair beside him for her.


    Jade shot him a look, somewhere between strange and unimpressed, before taking the seat.


    I couldn’t help but think that if not for her notoriously aggressive nature, Jade would probably be quite popular among our classmates. Naturally, I had invited her to come—it was an attempt to help her make some friends. What I still couldn’t figure out was why she’d been so confrontational at the start, fighting brutally in the defense class, which drove others to isolate her.


    “Hello,” Jade greeted as she took the offered seat, flashing a small, polite smile at the group.


    Her presence seemed to shift the energy at the table, the conversation faltering as everyone turned to look at her. A few of them stared a bit longer than they probably realized, the sudden attention stretching into an awkward silence.


    Lore, ever the composed one, stepped in to smooth things over. “Hi,” she said, her voice calm and inviting. “You should join us more often when you have the time. After all, we’re all first-years. Might as well get to know each other better.” Her tone was warm but measured.


    Jade nodded slightly, her usual intensity dialed back. “I’ll try,” she said softly.


    Vinico jumped in, his easy going nature breaking the lingering tension. “And hey, don’t be a stranger. Say hi if you see us in the hallway,” he said with a friendly smile.


    The group gradually began to relax, the initial awkwardness dissolving under everyone’s effort. Everyone took turns introducing themselves, keeping things casual. When it came to Jade, she responded politely but didn’t say much more than necessary, as if testing the waters. Though the atmosphere felt more comfortable, it was clear she still held part of herself back, her guard firmly in place.


    Sitting directly across from me, she occasionally glanced my way. I simply responded with a warm smile, hoping it might help her feel a little more at ease.


    “I have to say, I love your style,” Gina blurted out, leaning forward slightly. Her enthusiasm felt sincere. “Like, that skirt? And the sweater? The colors. It’s all so cool! You have to tell me where you shop from.”


    If there was one thing about Gina, it was that she didn’t seem to see boundaries when it came to admiration, whether it was for men, women, or anything in between.


    Jade’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Thanks,” she said softly.


    “Do you make your own clothes?” Gina pressed, clearly intrigued.


    “No,” Jade replied, shaking her head. “I just like putting things together differently. Mixing pieces that don’t seem to fit.”


    Gina nodded approvingly. “Well, it works. I could never pull that off.”


    Before the conversation could drift, Alex leaned forward, his curiosity getting the better of him. “Okay, I have to ask,” he said, his voice light but a little cautious. “What’s your meta nature?”


    The table quieted instantly. Everyone was clearly curious but hadn’t wanted to be the first to bring it up.


    Jade’s silver eyes flicked to Alex, calm and unreadable. “I can shift probabilities,” she said simply, her tone even.


    The table stilled, her words hanging in the air as everyone processed them.


    “Wait,” Vinico said, leaning forward, his brow furrowed. “Probabilities? Like… making impossible stuff happen? Or stopping something from happening?”


    “Not impossible,” Jade corrected, her gaze steady. “Just less likely. I can nudge the odds, increase or decrease them. In this way, I can also affect the fortune and misfortune of something or someone. It’s hard to explain in just a single word or sentence—there’s a lot of nuance to it, and it works in layers.”


    Lore nodded thoughtfully, leaning forward slightly. “So, it’s not just a single action—it’s more like a chain reaction? Adjusting one thing shifts everything connected to it?”


    “Exactly,” Jade replied, her voice calm but with a hint of relief that someone seemed to understand. “It’s like pushing dominoes. You touch one, and the whole line falls, but you don’t always know what’s at the end.”


    “That’s… kind of terrifying,” Alex admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “Like, you’re not just making a choice for someone—you’re changing everything around them.”


    “It can be,” Jade said simply. “But I can usually stop a domino half way if I don’t want it to fall. Unless the reaction gets too out of control or goes beyond my bounds.”


    Lore’s eyebrows lifted slightly, impressed. “So, you’re not just causing changes—you can control how far they go?”


    “To a point,” Jade replied.


    Gina tilted her head. "Have you ever... you know, used it on yourself?"


    Jade hesitated for a moment. "Occasionally," she admitted. "But it''s tricky. Influencing my own luck can create loops that are hard to break."


    "Loops?" Henry asked, raising an eyebrow.


    She sighed softly. "Imagine changing something to avoid a problem, but that change leads you back to the same problem in a different way. It''s like running in circles."


    "Sounds exhausting," Alex said sympathetically.


    "It can be," Jade agreed. "But I''ve learned to live with it."


    There was a brief silence as everyone absorbed her words.


    "Well," Lore said finally, offering a small smile, "I think it''s impressive that you''re so mindful about it. A lot of people wouldn''t be so considerate."


    Jade met her gaze and returned the smile, albeit faintly. "Thanks."


    Vinico cleared his throat, trying to lighten the mood. "Okay, serious question: Can you help me pass our next exam?"


    Everyone laughed, the tension easing.


    Jade shook her head, but there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Sorry, I don''t do requests."


    "Can''t blame me for trying," Vinico said with a grin.


    I watched the conversation unfold, very happy with how things were progressing. Jade wasn’t the easiest person to read, but I could tell she was trying very hard by answering their curiosities. And that was enough for now. I wasn’t one to push people too hard—it never worked. Everyone had their own pace for stepping out of their comfort zones. Sometimes all they needed was a gentle nudge, and I figured bringing Jade here today was mine. The rest would be up to her.


    Henry leaned forward, his usual enthusiasm bubbling over. “So, Jade, we were talking about our favorite superheroes earlier. Who’s your ideal?”


    The group turned toward her, their curiosity clearly piqued. Even Lore raised an eyebrow, as if genuinely interested in her response.


    Jade paused, her silver eyes flickering with thought. “No one in particular,” she said at first, her tone measured. But then she added, “If I had to choose, it would be Cheat Engine.”


    At the revelation, the table erupted in chaos.


    “Come on!” Vinico groaned, throwing his hands in the air. His face was a mix of exasperation and disbelief, like Jade had just broken some unspoken rule.


    Henry and Alex weren’t far behind, their expressions reflecting a similar sense of disappointment. “Cheat Engine?” Henry repeated, his voice almost pleading. “Seriously?”


    “Why?” Alex demanded, leaning forward as if Jade owed them an explanation.


    Jade offered a weary smile, her confusion evident. She glanced at me, silently asking for an explanation. I could only shake my head, equally puzzled. Perhaps there had been some sort of secret bet among them? The possibility seemed plausible, but without context, it was impossible to tell.


    “Good choice!” then Gina proclaimed, her grin wide and sincere as she nodded enthusiastically. “We can be best friends!”


    The moment passed, and the conversation moved on.


    "Hey, North, we''re going to the SuperNot–Convention this weekend. Want to come?" Lore asked as we were packing up our stuff.


    The café was quieting down for the evening, and our cups were mostly empty except for the cold dregs at the bottom.


    I thought about my usual weekend—gaming, procrastinating on homework until Sunday night, and generally avoiding the outside world. Maybe a change of pace wouldn’t be the worst idea. “Sure, I’ll come.”Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    “Great!” Lore’s grin widened, and she turned to Jade, clearly ready to extend the same invitation.


    But before Lore could even finish forming the words, Jade cut in, her voice firm and decisive. “I’ll come.”


    The suddenness of her response made Alex and the others pause, exchanging surprised glances. The usually stoic Jade agreeing so readily? It wasn’t what anyone expected.


    Lore just smiled, though, a look of quiet satisfaction crossing her face. “Perfect,” she said smoothly, as if Jade’s response had been a foregone conclusion.


    As we split up outside the café, Jade fell into step beside me instead of heading home. The evening was cooling down, and the streets were getting that soft, golden look they get just before sunset.


    Jade glanced at me, her silver eyes flickering with curiosity she was trying to mask.


    “Where are you taking me?” she asked, her tone casual, though her expression said she already suspected I had a plan.


    “Somewhere special,” I whispered, leaning slightly closer, close enough that our shoulders almost brushed.


    Jade’s silver eyes glimmered with curiosity, her expression softening into a half-moon smile. Whispering back, she matched my energy. “Where?”


    The train ride took us through the heart of the city to the outskirts of the South District. We watched buildings blur past, neither of us feeling like we had to fill the silence. Thirty minutes later, we stepped out into the older part of town. The atmosphere here was different, quieter, and more intimate. Narrow cobblestone streets wound between old brick buildings, their facades softened by ivy and decades of weather. Streetlamps buzzed softly, casting a golden glow over the uneven pavement.


    Jade slowed her pace slightly, her gaze sweeping across the scene. “I didn’t know this part of the city existed."


    “Most people don’t,” I replied, glancing at her. “That’s kind of the point.”


    I led us to a convenience store—the kind you’ve passed a million times without ever really noticing. The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead, and faded posters in the windows curled at the edges, advertising deals that probably hadn’t been updated in years. Jade stopped just short of the door, raising a single eyebrow at me, her expression making it very clear she was questioning my definition of “special.”


    “Come on,” I urged, holding the door open for her.


    The bell chimed softly as we stepped inside.


    The interior was exactly what you’d expect. Flickering lights cast a harsh, uneven glow over rows of snacks and canned goods that looked like they’d been gathering dust since the store opened. The faint smell of detergent mingled with something vaguely plasticky, and in the corner, two beat-up lottery machines blinked garishly, their flashing lights reminiscent of neglected arcade games.


    “Tada!” I announced, spreading my arms toward the machines and trying to channel some overly enthusiastic game show host energy.


    Jade’s response was immediate and brutally deadpan. She raised her other eyebrow, her silver eyes narrowing slightly as her gaze flicked from the machines to me. “You came all this way… just to play the lottery?” The judgment in her voice was enough to make a jury shudder.


    What would an arrogant dragon know about money when she sleeps on a hoard of gold? I thought, irritated but refusing to let her attitude kill my mood.


    I can see today’s winning ticket is going to be here,” I said casually, leaning back against one of the shelves as if it was the most reasonable statement in the world.


    Jade’s silver eyes flicked toward me, her head tilting slightly. For a moment, I couldn’t tell if she was confused or suspicious—or maybe both. “You can see that?” she asked, her tone carefully neutral, but her raised eyebrow betrayed her skepticism.


    “Yep,” I replied, popping the ‘p’ for emphasis. “Clear as day. A winner’s just waiting to be picked.”


    Her gaze narrowed slightly, studying me like I was a puzzle she hadn’t decided whether to solve or walk away from.


    “How would you know that?” she asked, folding her arms.


    “I have my ways,” I said, shrugging as if it was no big deal. “Call it… meta intuition by my meta nature.”


    Jade’s lips pressed into a thin line, her expression unreadable. “You’re lying. Because I know those big organizations have very good methods against people using their meta nature to cheat and win.”


    I raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the shelf beside me. “Cheating?” I repeated, a mock-wounded tone in my voice. “That’s a harsh word. I prefer... leveling the playing field.”


    Jade tilted her head. "So what do you want from me?"


    “Is it possible to increase our luck for a few minutes?” I asked, keeping my tone casual. Still, there was a hint of urgency in my voice.


    Without her help, my chances weren’t terrible, but they weren’t great either. And a loss? That’d sting more than I cared to admit.


    She hesitated, and for once that ever-present confidence seemed to crack. "Sure," she finally said, "but there''s a rule of equality we have to follow. If we change our luck in our favor, for an equal amount of time afterward, we''ll only experience misfortune. Are you sure you want to do it?"


    I blinked, the weight of her words sinking in. “Wait, what?” I said, frowning. “Why haven’t I heard about this before?”


    Jade shrugged, her expression unreadable. “It’s not something I advertise,” she said flatly. “But it’s always been the way it works. Luck isn’t free—it’s a balance. Push it one way, and it has to push back the other.”


    Time was running out. That explained a lot, actually. Come to think of it, I’d never seen Jade have a bad day—not even a minor inconvenience like spilling her drink or losing her keys. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe her powers shielded her, kept the backlash from touching her directly. But me? I didn’t have that kind of protection.


    But an opportunity like this... The sound of the store''s bell interrupted my thoughts as another customer walked in, making a beeline for the lottery machines.


    I turned back to Jade, lowering my voice. “So, if I win, we’re cursed for—what? A few minutes or hours?”


    She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by my attempt to downplay it. “It’s not that simple. The duration and severity of the misfortune depend on how much luck you’ve shifted. A big win could mean big consequences. Think it through before you decide.”


    I hesitated. My brain raced through the possibilities. What could go wrong? A stubbed toe? A flat tire? Or something worse?


    “Fine,” I said, the word coming out sharper than I intended. “Let’s do it. Just give me the boost.”


    Whatever happened later, I''d handle it. Right now, all I could see was the chance right in front of me. Furthermore, I was already extremely lucky to know the winning ticket timing and location.


    Jade’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes held a flicker of something—amusement? Or maybe caution. “Alright,” she said simply.


    I was prepared to dump the last few thousand I had left into the machine, like some desperate gambler in a bad movie montage.


    The fluorescent lights of the convenience store buzzed overhead, casting a harsh glow on the stream of red tickets emerging from the machine.


    The man beside me clearly had the same idea—our eyes met for a brief, awkward moment before he turned back to his machine with laser focus. It wasn’t hostility, not yet, but it was clear we were both in it to win it.


    As I slid another bill into the slot, something shifted in my vision. The plain red tickets, which had initially seemed indistinguishable, began to shimmer faintly. Their colors and textures subtly changed, the corners of certain tickets glowing with a soft, golden hue.


    The increased fortune was working.


    I grabbed the golden-cornered tickets and handed them to Jade, who was standing beside me with an expression that could only be described as intense curiosity with a dash of skepticism. Her silver eyes gleamed as she took them, holding them like they might bite. The rest of the tickets—the “no-chancers”—went straight into the bin. Why waste time? I could tell their entire history and future just by glancing at their Likeness.


    Meanwhile, the man beside me was working his machine like a concert pianist on speed. His fingers flew over the buttons, and his posture practically screamed, I will win or die trying.


    Then there was a third guy, who had somehow appeared out of nowhere, arms crossed and tapping his foot like he was in line for the last ticket to the moon. He kept glaring at us. Poor guy. I almost felt bad for him—almost. He was the original winner, I realized, noting his dry, lackluster aura. His Likeness was as brittle as an old branch, devoid of any shine. It told me he wasn’t a threat.


    But the man beside me? He was different.


    Suspicious.


    His luck manifested differently than others—it flowed around him like a gentle spring wind, carrying ghostly cherry blossoms that gleamed not pink but gold. Above his head, visible only to those who knew what to look for, hung a sun of impossible brightness, radiating power.


    Another person with luck-based powers? The idea made my stomach churn. His presence here couldn’t be a coincidence. My mind raced through the possibilities. Was he an anomaly? A wildcard? A byproduct of my actions—or maybe Jade’s?


    Hopefully, he won’t start fighting with me over the drawn tickets in the store, that would be crazy.


    However, the man''s aura suddenly shifted, cherry blossoms swirling more aggressively around him like a storm building momentum. His Likeness was transforming, becoming something predatory—I''d seen this before in others with luck type meta nature. When greed takes over, luck turns hungry. The golden sun above him pulsed brighter, casting shadows that shouldn''t exist under the store''s fluorescent lights.


    I couldn''t shake the thought: I would have really lost if Jade hadn''t been with me.


    Her presence was the deciding factor, her powers tilting the scales in my favor.


    “Uh, Jade,” I muttered, handing her another golden-edged ticket. Her expression lit up as she accepted it, her grin growing wider with each ticket I gave her, “we might have a problem.”


    She didn’t even look up from the tickets. “If it’s that guy waiting for the machine, I don’t care. He can wait.”


    “No, not him,” I said, nodding toward the overly lucky guy next to me. “That guy. Tell me you see it too.”


    Jade glanced over, her silver eyes narrowing as she sized him up. “Huh. That’s… he has a lot of chances in his favor,” she said, her voice casual, but I could tell she was intrigued. “You think he’s cheating?”


    I laughed, low and nervous. “I think I’m the one cheating, and I don’t look half that suspicious. What’s his deal? Secret billionaire? Luck wizard? Or—” I dropped my voice conspiratorially, “—time traveler?”


    Jade raised an eyebrow, finally looking at me like I’d lost my mind. “Or maybe he’s just good at picking tickets,” she said dryly.


    “Sure, sure,” I said, nodding dramatically. “And I’m here for the snacks.”


    But then, as if on cue...


    “Hey, why don’t you stop? You’ve been withdrawing tickets for the last five minutes,” the man beside me snapped, his glare sharp enough to cut glass.


    I turned to him slowly, arching an eyebrow. Oh, the irony. Look who’s talking—the pot calling the kettle black. The guy had been feeding his machine non-stop like it owed him rent. Was he seriously looking for a fight?


    Before I could respond, something incredible happened. His expression shifted dramatically as the ticket machine in front of him gave a sudden, violent pop! A thin plume of smoke rose from the slot, followed by a flicker of sparks. And then, in a moment that could only be described as pure poetic justice, the entire machine burst into flames.


    I glanced sideways at Jade, who stood beside me, her arms crossed and her silver eyes narrowed with an icy precision that made even me shiver. The intensity in her gaze could have frozen lava, and it was clear who’d just delivered the karmic smackdown.


    Yes, you tell him, girl. I bit back a laugh, though the glee bubbling inside me was hard to contain. These rude people didn’t know how to behave.


    The man stumbled backward, his face a perfect picture of terror. His jaw dropped so far I briefly wondered if it might actually hit the floor. Just as he was about to bolt, the machine—miraculously—spat out a single ticket.


    But it wasn’t just any ticket.


    It was a gleaming golden ticket.


    I wasn’t sure if it was golden only in my perception or if his own perception also showed him something similar to my Likeness. Either way, there was no way I was letting him keep it.


    “Thank you,” I said smoothly, plucking the ticket from the machine before he could react. I turned and handed it to Jade, who accepted it without hesitation


    The man’s face twisted into a mask of pure outrage, his frustration practically radiating off him. For a moment, I thought he might lunge at me, but his gaze darted back to Jade. She wasn’t even looking at him anymore


    He hesitated, his lips working soundlessly like he was trying to decide if a clever retort was worth his life. Then, suddenly, he turned on his heel and bolted, his voice cracking as he shouted over his shoulder, “You just wait!”


    Jade and I watched as he disappeared through the door, nearly tripping over a display of potato chips on his way out.


    The silence that followed was broken only by the cashier stumbling to open the fire extinguisher to stop the flames from the ticket machine spreading eveeywhere.


    “You’ve got to admit,” I said, turning to Jade with a grin, “that was extremely satisfying.”


    She shrugged, her expression calm, though the faintest smirk tugged at her lips. “I didn’t do much,” she said, feigning innocence.


    I gestured to the still-smoking machine. “You mean to tell me that wasn’t you?”


    Jade looked at the machine, then back at me, her smirk growing slightly. “Maybe it was the universe balancing itself.”


    “Sure, let’s go with that,” I said, chuckling as I pocketed another golden-cornered ticket. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”


    “You’ve been warned,” She chuckled cutely.


    “It’s time to leave,” I said, Jade nodded in agreement. We’d drawn enough attention for one day, and it wasn’t worth lingering.


    Before we left, I stopped by the counter and handed the shopkeeper a couple of tickets as a peace offering for the smoldering remains of one of his lottery machines. “For the damages,” I said, flashing an apologetic smile. The shopkeeper looked from the tickets to the wreckage, then back to me, his expression a mix of confusion and resignation.


    There was no need to check the tickets in person anyway—we could verify everything online, and the winnings would be transferred directly to our accounts. No need to leave a trail or risk being identified.


    As we stepped out of the store, the cool evening air hit me, and a wave of satisfaction and relief washed over me. This gamble had paid off, and with Jade by my side, I couldn’t help but feel an odd confidence that we’d made the right call—misfortune or not.


    I smiled to myself, content with the day’s work, already imagining the payout and the freedom it would bring.


    Beside me, Jade was quiet, but I could feel her energy. I glanced at her and caught her stealing glances at me, those silver eyes practically glowing with barely contained excitement. It was like watching a kid who’d just gotten away with raiding the cookie jar without getting caught.


    Her expression shifted, and before she could stop herself, the question burst out of her. “How much do I get?”


    I laughed, the sound echoing down the empty street. “You don’t waste time, do you?”


    A saying crossed my mind: People will betray their closest friends and family for money, and bullets never differentiate between friend and enemy. Chuckling inwardly, I decided to play a little.


    “It’s all yours,” I said lightly, playing the magnanimous card, expecting some gleeful acceptance.


    But Jade’s reaction caught me completely off guard.


    “Don’t say that,” she snapped, her voice tinged with genuine frustration.


    “It’s all your hard work,” she muttered, her gaze darting to the sidewalk as though it was suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world. Her usual composure cracked, and for the first time, I saw her flustered. But then, in true Jade fashion, she followed up slyly, “I’ll just take the rest of the tickets, okay?”


    I couldn’t help it—I laughed softly, shaking my head. She never fails to surprise me.


    Her lips quirked into a smirk, the earlier tension melting away.


    “Deal,” I said, handing over the remaining tickets like I was passing her some rare treasure. Her eyes sparkled as she accepted them, and I couldn’t help but think she looked way too pleased with herself.


    The moment was almost endearing. Almost.


    I stepped off the curb, ready to cross the street, when—wham!


    A bicycle shot past me, the wheel rolling right over my foot. A sharp pain exploded through my toes, and I yelped, hopping on one foot like a monkey.


    The man on cycle stopped and looked back, “Watch where you’re going, you idiot!” he yelled, his voice echoing across the quiet street.


    My jaw dropped. Excuse me?! HE had run over ME, and yet here he was, screaming curses like I’d just sabotaged his dreams.


    I was about to unleash some choice words of my own when a cold realization hit me.


    The balance.


    Jade had warned me, hadn’t she? If we used her powers to tip the scales of fortune in our favor, the universe would swing back just as hard. And here it was—misfortune, in all its irritating glory.


    I glanced at Jade, still clutching the tickets, her silver eyes widening slightly as she took in the scene.


    “Don’t look at me,” she said, holding up her hands innocently. “This is all you.”


    “Really?” I hissed, still wincing as I gingerly tested my weight on the injured foot. “You’re not even going to help?”


    Jade shrugged, her lips twitching as if she was trying not to laugh. “You wanted the luck. This is just the price you pay.”


    The cyclist huffed dramatically and sped off, leaving me standing in the middle of the street, one foot throbbing and my dignity in tatters.


    I turned back to Jade, who was now openly grinning.


    “Oh, you think this is funny?” I asked, gesturing wildly toward my foot.


    “A little,” she admitted, her smirk widening.


    I groaned, limping back to the sidewalk as she watched me, clearly enjoying herself far too much.


    And, I suddenly couldn’t imagine what else I would have to endure before finally reaching the safety of my home