After hearing the virtual Fairy, Elias fell into thought, his gaze fixed on the empty space of the cafe. He exhaled slowly, trying to grasp the magnitude of what he had just heard. He desperately scanned the area around him, looking for hidden cameras or clues suggesting a setup. "Could someone be playing a prank on me? Is this some sophisticated joke or a reality show? How could they have known about the croissant?" flashed through his mind. Finally, his voice sounded quiet, almost a whisper: "Is... is this really happening to me?"
?He remembered her words about how selfish desires limit her power. With an involuntary smile, he decided to test the boundaries of her capabilities and his own moral principles.
?Then he looked up at the gadget, a clear note of sarcasm slipping into his voice, mixed with anxiety and the remnants of the naive hope he once jokingly shared with Elizabeth: "So, I won't be getting a million today?"
?In response came the Fairy's calm voice, devoid of the slight smile present in her previous words. It was direct and specific: "No, Elias. I cannot materialize a million before you. But I can make it so that you can earn it."
?Elias frowned, his sarcasm turning into pure bewilderment. "Well, and how will I earn it if I've been without a job for two years?" he asked, his voice sounding tired rather than irritated.
?The Fairy's voice changed slightly, taking on a confident tone, as if she saw what was hidden from Elias himself. "I know you are a decent artist, Elias. You have always stood out for your creativity and abstract thinking in your art."
?Elias looked up, his sight accidentally falling on a massive billboard outside. There, life-sized, was an opera diva against a background of colorful concert scenery. He froze, and then, as if illuminated by a new thought, spoke, activating the chat: "Can you get me two tickets for the concert of Diva Serafina? Elizabeth and I have been looking at that billboard from our apartment window and dreaming of going for a whole week, but unfortunately, we can't afford it."
?The Fairy's voice sounded again, now with distinct resolve: "I cannot place these two tickets on your table, Elias. But believe me, you will attend this concert tonight."
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?A minute later, his phone rang. Elizabeth's photo lit up the screen. Elias pressed the green button and said, "Hello, darling." From the other end of the line came an ecstatic voice. Elizabeth was practically screaming into the phone: "You won't believe it, honey! My firm's manager is flying to Hawaii today and won't be able to make it to the concert! She kindly offered me two free tickets to Diva Serafina's opera!"
?"That's wonderful, darling!" Elias exclaimed, his voice now trembling with wonder and joy. In response, he heard a quick: "Got to run! Wait for me, I have to work."
?Elias ended the call and froze, staring at the gadget. He looked around the completely empty cafe, then the street. It made no sense: she couldn't have known. Nox, Otis, the dream of Serafina—all of this was his quiet world. Only after he nearly laughed from nervous tension did he open the chat and, addressing the Fairy, said: "I still think this is some kind of prank."
?"I told you, Elias, these are not miracles," the Fairy replied calmly. "This is the manipulation of actions in space."
?"Fine, dear Fairy," Elias said. "But I have a more pressing problem. And I believe it is noble because it does not concern me personally."
?"I have nothing to feed my friends. I need to get food for the birds and animals," Elias stated, his voice serious.
?"First, finish your croissants," the Fairy replied. "You'll convince yourself they are materialized at the same time," she added with a slight jest.
?Having eaten the croissants with a special appetite and finished his cup of coffee, Elias stood up and walked down the street toward the pet store where he usually bought specialized food for his pets.
?At the entrance to the store, he was met with a smile from old Joko.
?"Joko, I'm ashamed, but I need to take some food for the birds and for my four-legged friends," Elias said. "I'll pay you back the debt next week, including for these bags as well."
?"My dear Elias," Joko replied, his smile widening even further. "We had a big inventory check in the shop, and there were colossal surpluses! Our owner kindly provided them to be given away to people with animals. So you can take a full supply."
?"How can I verify this situation?" Elias muttered, speaking more to himself than to Joko. "Why is he giving it away instead of selling it?"
?"They are still good, but the expiration date is approaching fast," Joko explained. "So you can safely feed them for another two months. Elias, take as much as you want, I'll even lend you a cart."
?Elias thanked Joko, loading the bags into the cart. He knew that this "surplus" and "inventory" were just as much of a "coincidence" as the manager flying to Hawaii. He didn't get a million, but the Universe had just built an ideal, free route for him: a croissant, a concert, and food. He felt the space of possibilities closing around him, guided by an invisible force, and it was far more magical than any prank.
