Making my way back out of that convoluted maze I found myself re-entering the upper shopping district, crowded with mages, and aspiring mages walking around with shopping bags as if it was a mall of some sort, laughing and giggling. The noise around me was ambient. That was until suddenly... people started to crowd around a Tall figure shrouded in a black cloak as if they were about to watch someone perform a magic trick, intrigued I decided to step forward to check it out for myself.
''Oh my god! I cant believe a famous Mage has arrived in our city!''
''Right?! Toy maker arriving here of all places?? I definitely need to post this on Mana-tube!''
''Hey dude we have to hurry!''
These are the voices of the people running ahead of me as I walk at a hesitant pace. ''..i found him the toymaker is really here? W-what should i even do…'' I think to myself as I approach the crowd as well. I decided to get in line, leaving my headspace for a moment. I look up and notice this mage is surrounded by more people than I expected.
''Thank you, thank you, haha nice to meet you all! Your all so wonderful''
He says as he signs autographs left and right. The tall slender man with a beautiful face does greeting bows to the people around him. One by one people come up to take pictures with this man admiring him like he's a celebrity
''Hey excuse me sir can you show us some <
The person in line ahead of me calls out, it piqued my interest immediately because, naturally, I wanted to see the same thing. To be sure this was who I was looking for. I've never seen the toymaker in person. Let alone was given a good enough description. I pull my Mana Phone out of one of my pockets to play the message.
From: Anna
To: Agni
You'll know when you find him just look for a toy :)) !
<
Annoyed, I closed the message and put it back in my pocket.
''Very well! I'll use a make magic spell on the spot!''
The tall slender man says while holding his hand out. A magic circle appears energy starts to collect and radiate within that circle as if it was a vacuum. until suddenly a voice appears
''HEY GEPPETTO I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!'''
''Geppetto?'' I think to myself, unable to trace it i start to look around actively and suddenly i look up, a child with a elongated arm flys straight for the crowd *Snap!* his blue hair was all i saw before he crashed into the Mage we were all pursuing, protecting my face with both my arms i slowly let them down and realized the child in front of me...has a wooden texture.
''A...Toy?''
I murmur out loud, immediately after I cover my mouth. Thinking to myself ''Anna...said when you find him just look for a toy but….i didn't think…. it was a living thing.'' cutting off my thoughts the child announces
''Hey! Your not Geppy!''
''Rest assured, he's definitely not sir geppetto''
A child and the small toy insect on his shoulder speak while they rest on the mage they toppled over. Groaning the mage gets up and pushes his hair back. Pushing the child and insect off of him he stands and immediately reactivates his spell, he whispers:
''Mana..drain''
My eyes widen, the magic circle re-opens and starts sucking in the life energy of the crowd around us. The People around me start collapsing, I look over at the toy child unfazed he stands back up rubbing his head from the impact. I think to myself ''Is he..also a mage? He must be otherwise his mana would be unprotected. But to imagine... At this age …''
''Hey wake up cricket!''
The toy child shakes the insect by the leg at a childish attempt to wake it up. The wind starts to blow aggressively. The hat that was placed on the insects head starts to ride the current. The child looks up, noticing the hat and what seemed to be to far to reach for a normal person, holding out his arm it shoots out *Click! Click! Click!* 4 feet away from the ground he grasps the hat and his arm retracts instantaneously *Snap!* In shock, both me and the toymaker imposter focus our vision on the child.