Chapter 2 Wealth Without Source

Elion sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the screen of his phone like it was a loaded gun. The balance was still there - glaring at him in bold numbers.

$12,950.00

He hadn't touched it. Not a cent.

He'd spent the day convincing himself it was a mistake. Some rich guy must've typed the wrong account number. Or maybe it was a scam and the bank just hadn't caught on yet. He had even considered reporting it - until he remembered the dream.

That voice. That mark. That woman.

The goddess.

He didn't even believe in gods. Not in the spiritual sense. He had always imagined himself too rational, too grounded, too... broken for things like that. Life had never been kind to him. Or generous. Or magical. He wasn't the kind of person stories happened to.

And yet, here he was. The poor, invisible warehouse laborer who'd barely managed to afford rent a week ago - now sitting on a five-figure account balance with no explanation.

And a burning mark that sometimes shimmered on his chest when he was alone.

He hadn't told anyone. Not even Jax, his only friend at work. He didn't trust anyone with this. Not because he was paranoid, but because he knew how the world worked. Sudden money brought sudden enemies. And this - this wasn't normal.

He remembered the way the goddess had looked at him. Not with affection, but ownership. Like she had claimed him. Like she had found something... useful.

And the whisper. Always the whisper.

"Elion..."

He closed the banking app, set the phone aside, and stood. His apartment looked the same as ever - dim, quiet, lifeless. But something about the air felt different. Charged.

He walked to the window, parting the curtain just enough to peer outside. The street was still wet from the evening drizzle, glistening under the pale glow of the streetlight. A cat darted across the alley. A man two doors down lit a cigarette.

Everything looked... ordinary.

Except him.

He turned away from the window and went to the small wardrobe in the corner. Inside hung the same three shirts and two pairs of jeans he always wore to work. He grabbed one shirt and started to pull it over his head - then paused.

There it was.

That glowing symbol again - right in the center of his chest. Intricate lines shaped like interlocking flames and stars, pulsing softly beneath his skin like it was alive. He watched it in the cracked mirror, heart hammering.

He touched it.

A wave of warmth surged through him. Not painful, but powerful. Like something ancient had just acknowledged him.

A knock at the door broke the moment.

Three short taps.

He froze.

It was nearly 11:00 p.m. Who could be knocking at this hour?

Another knock. Firmer this time.

"Elion, open up. It's Jax."

Relief and dread collided in his chest. Jax was the closest thing he had to family, but he wasn't ready to explain any of this.

He opened the door.

Jax stood there in a hoodie and jeans, carrying a plastic bag. His brow furrowed when he saw Elion.

"Bro, you look like you've seen a ghost."

"I might have," Elion muttered.

Jax pushed past him, dropping the bag on the counter. "Got you fried chicken and fries. You didn't show up to work today. Boss was pissed."

"I wasn't feeling well."

Jax glanced at him. "You sure that's it? You look like someone who just found out he's adopted by aliens or something."

Elion smirked but didn't answer.

"Anyway," Jax continued, pulling out the food, "word going around is you hit some kind of jackpot. You didn't show up, but suddenly you paid your landlord three months in advance? People talk, man."

Elion stiffened. "How do you know that?"

"I bumped into Mr. Grayson on the way over here. He was all smiles. Said you cleared your debt and dropped cash like you were Jay-Z or something."

Elion cursed under his breath.

Jax leaned on the counter, eyes narrowing. "You wanna tell me what's going on?"

"I don't know," Elion said truthfully.

"That's not an answer."

Elion hesitated. The truth sounded insane. But lying to Jax wouldn't help. He sat on the couch and rubbed his face.

"I had a dream," he began. "A woman... no, something more. She was glowing. Her eyes-"

"A dream?" Jax cut in. "Bro, don't tell me you joined one of those spiritual wealth cults or something."

"I didn't!" Elion snapped. "I swear. I just... I dreamed of her. She touched me. And the next day, the money was there. From an unknown source. Twelve thousand dollars, Jax. Just like that."

Jax stared at him, frowning. "That's not how life works."

"I know! That's the problem."

Silence.

Then Jax sighed. "Look, man, I don't know if you're playing with crypto, fraud, or some mystic sugar mommy. But if money like that shows up without a reason, there is a reason. And sooner or later, it's going to come knocking."

Elion nodded slowly. He knew that too.

But when he closed his eyes that night, the dream returned - more vivid than before.

This time, the goddess was closer. Her lips brushed his ear. Her breath was warm.

"You are mine now, Elion," she whispered. "And I always claim what is mine..."

He woke up gasping.

And this time, the mark didn't fade.