There was certain types of people coming to my coffee shop.

The ones who wanted rest - old ladies getting breakfast, travelers, or that one student that liked to sit in the back and i would always get him a pack of tissues with his sweet tea. He cried a lot and looked very ashamed of it, so I didn't mention and made sure to be extra nice with him.

The second type were the ones who wanted company - groups of friends, chattering cheerful, couples on dates. Sometimes the breakfast ladies again.

The last type was there for the shop itself - inspectors, gurmans, mayor even. He came to check if i am not, as they say, "a witch". It was a funny story, honestly, i didn't recognize him and he didn't notice. I treated him as I would any other customer and realized only after he started talking about how nice i am to the mayor. It was kind of funny, honestly.

This boy, homewer, was not a part of any of these. He wore black leather armor and people stopped their conversations when he came through the door. I could smell their fear. Which was honestly kinda strange, given that these people didn't fear me. It took him a moment to notice the "no weapons" sign and put aside his sword. The conversation slowly resumed, quiet and uneasy.

He sat down in the shadow between two plants, hidden from curious eyes. He put his hands in his lap awkwardly, not knowing where else to rest them without the sword by his side.

He was a cadet soldier. They had a camp nearby and sometimes you could catch a glimpse of them training - usually running in squads. All the same movements, all the same expression. I felt sorry for them - they were just kids. They should hang around and talk about dating, not learn how to kill people. But the authorities always fear for power and orphans, trained from an early age, have proved themselves to be exceptionally loyal and obedient.

I never saw any of them here. This was new. They were kinda notorious for hating magic. I came closer and slided the menu on the table - he looked up, cought my eyes and didn't let go. There was something deeply anxious in his gaze. He didn't come here for a coffee.

"How can i hel--"

"Do you know how to break a curse?"

I stopped, suprised. That was unexpectedly to the point. I did, indeed, know how to break a curse - most of them, anyways. I sat down right in front of him.

"What kind of curse?"

He inhaled, then exhaled - slowly and carefully. He probably had this answer scripted already.

"This medic boy - I don't even know his name - he did something to me. I don't know what. I can't stop thinking about him. I can't focus on my training. He tended my wounds two days ago, looked me in my eyes once and I haven't slept since. It's going to drive me insane. I'll do anything you want, just - please, help me."

I frowned a little. That sounded like an incubi spell. If it was an incubus, I didn't know if I wanted to interviene... it was better to not mess with those guys. But there was just no way I missed setting up a coffee shop in a cubi's territory, right? I would know that...

There was also the chance that there was no curse. That this guy just didn't handle falling in love for the first time very good. But with how dense he seemed, I'd probably prefer dealing with an incubi.

"Okay. I'll look into it. Find out where he lives and I'll go investigate. Try to not get too close."

He was silent for a moment, looking like he wanted to ask something, but uncertain if he should.

"Would... it stop if I killed him?"

Wow. That's concerning. Not suprising, though - he is a killer machine in training, after all.

"Do you think you could kill him though? If he has some kind of... supernatural abilities?"

"It most certainly makes me want to try."

There was venom in those words. Huh. I scanned him with my eyes. He had broad shoulders and dark hair tied back in a short, messy ponytail. He was wearing a dog tag.

"Not a big fan of magic, are you?"

"You have no idea how hard it was for me to come here. It disgusts me."

I smiled. His own eyes were a deep shade of purple. He had without doubt at least some magically gifted ancestors. And no idea, just like most descendands of the great order of Apophis. He was throwing around some strong words for someone who could do magic if they had a master. It was cute.

"You shouldn't feed hate for something you don't understand, Adam. It backfires."

I got up. There was brief panic in his eyes, probably caused by my unexpected knowledge of his name, and he looked like he was about to say something stupid, but I cut him off.

"Just fetch me his adress, okay? I'll talk to him. No one is dying. Now, do you want tea before you go?"

He shook his head and stood up as well. He was taller than me by a head and playing with his fingers awkwardly, not knowing what to do with hands. He looked nervous for a bit before he spoke again.

"What do you want for the help?"

"Oh, I don't know. Respect my pronouns, don't hate Marta and keep your eyes open, I guess. If you hear a dumb rumor going around, try to talk it out."

"Yeah... okay."

"Go off now. I know you should be somewhere else anyways. Try to not hurt any doctors."

-----

He brought me the adress next evening, just as i was helping marta clean up for the night.

"Here, have this," he told me and handed me a little slip of paper, "please deal with it as soon as possible... it's ruining my life."

"Yeah, don't wo--" I trailed off, looking up and noticing the big bruise on the side of his face. It was blue and yellow and seemed painful.
"Adam, what happened to you?"

At first it seemed like Adam wasn't going to answer. He wasn't even looking at me. But he wasn't leaving either, so i waited a little longer and it made him speak.

"I collapsed. In the middle of the training."

I frowned. It looked more like someone hit him with a metal pipe.

"You should ask someone to put some ice on it."

"Yeah, I am not doing that," he scoffed and I remembered it was the medic who was supposed to curse him.

"...then sit down. I'll do it."

"I'll pass. I'm not supposed to be here."

"Well you are here already, aren't you?"

He looked like he was getting worked up about this, so i mercifuly changed the subject.

"Do you know something new? About the guy?"

"...his surname is Palermo. This is his fourth year studying practical medicine. He is not sure if he is actually going to finish the entire thing, though, bacause they let him work on field already, so he doesn't see the point. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. There are hickeys on his neck and collarbones. Big ones, too. I think he has a girlfriend."

"Hmm. Do you have a girlfriend, Adam?"

He looked so uncomfortable and taken aback by that question it was almost funny. He didn't even manage to make himself sound angry.

"N-no?"

"Would you like to?"

Now his eyes went wide and his voice quiet and panicked.

"Are you... flirting with me? I can't-- i literally can't tell, i don't- I'm a warrior, I don't--"

I grabed his shoulders and shook with the poor man, "I am not, chill, I'm just collecting important details. Also I am way too old for you, not to say not even a girl."

"... ....what? How old are you, then? ...it can't be that bad... also what the fuck does not a girl mean? What are you?"

"I am made of magic and spite, Adam. Don't swear in my coffee shop," I got up, not giving him the time to respond. "Right now, I'll be on my way to visit Mr. Palermo, and you will be going back to the camp and making someone put ice on your face, does that sound good to you?"

"But-"

"If i learn something interesting, I'll wake you up."

"How-"

"I know how to find people. It'll be probably safer than making you risk problems by sneaking off anyways. Now go, you arrogant fool, I have a girl who needs help with closing in for the night."