Revived: The Archmage's Return to the Urban World

Chapter 3

The next day, Jake woke up with a grumbling stomach. He forgot to eat after all what happened yesterday. So, he stood up to get some food but to his dismay, there was nothing left in his apartment. 

He closed his eyes and thought of a spell that he could use to create food. But he couldn’t remember any. So, with a frowning face, he stood up and started to rummage around his almost empty room. And under his bed, he found a dollar, just a dollar and that’s it.

“Seriously? This can’t even buy a loaf of bread,” he said while staring at the bill in his hand. “I guess I really have to earn money again.”

He threw the bill on his bed and went to take a shower. He savored the cold water running on his skin and his teeth clenched when he  remembered what Rosalie said last night. Then he recalled how the people around him treated him before.

He deeply sighed. “I am not the same Jake you know. This time I am going to take what’s supposed to be mine.” Then he smirked.

He looked for good clothes to wear. However, there were only two plain black shirts and jeans in his closet. He had no choice but to wear those. He wanted to go to the city center. So, he raised his hand and casted the teleportation spell; however, nothing appeared. 

“Ah! I don’t have enough energy to use my magic!” he grunted  then he slammed his hand on the wall. “I guess I have no choice but to walk there. This is so annoying.”

So he set out on foot into the city center, where buildings were everywhere and streets were always packed. This was something he didn't miss. He despised jams of traffic and the blasting sounds from passing cars. 

“This place is nothing compared to Eldramoria,” he said while looking around. “This place is ruled by money and power. And I need those to survive here.”

He walked two more blocks till he reached one of the city's tallest buildings. The Drummond Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Corporation's headquarters. He raised his head and sighed heavily. It was one of his least favorite places there.

He felt the stares of others around him as he nonchalantly stepped into the door. He touched the Aetherlock, then his right temple, and his senses were heightened. He could now hear their conversation.

“Isn’t that Jake Drummond? The legitimate son of the President?” a woman with black curly hair in the corner asked the other beside her.

“Yes,” the other woman answered. “But it was rumored that he was estranged and disowned by the president because of him… being so dumb, weak and useless.”

What he heard made him grimace, but he said nothing. He simply kept going towards the information table. 

“I want to talk to the president, please,” he said to the receptionist, whose eyes widened as she noticed him.

“Uhm… Do you have an appointment with him?” the receptionist with neatly combed brown hair asked while looking at him.

“No, I don’t,” Jake replied. “Just tell him my name and he will allow me to come up for sure.”

“I am sorry… but…” the receptionist started to look around her table for no reason, looking for a reason to kick him out of the building.

Jake brought his face closer to the receptionist and whispered. “Tell him that Jake Drummond is here. Ready to blast this building if necessary.” Then he grinned. “Just kidding. Just tell him I’m here and that I’ll go as far as I can to talk to him now.”

The receptionist nodded and was about to make a phone call when Jake was suddenly surrounded by five men in black suits. Then he heard a very familiar voice.

“Look who’s here! My stupid step brother, Jake,” said the tall man wearing white coat and trousers. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. “This is a freaking surprise!”

“Sebastian…”

The man approached him, looking at him from head to toe, then chuckled “What brings you here? This is a place for smart people. You’re not supposed to be here. And how did you wake up? I thought you’re asleep for good!”

“I want to talk to dad,” he replied.

“Dad?” The man laughed. “How dare you call him dad, if he doesn’t consider you as a son?” 

Jake didn’t respond, he just looked at Sebastian. He knew he couldn’t be so reckless, he couldn’t suddenly use his magic in front of many people. 

“But seriously? How did a dumb man like you survive that accident?” Sebastian asked. “I saw you in that vegetative state. I saw how hopeless your condition was. Even the hospital gave up, and just sent you home.”

“Let’s just say, I am lucky,” Jake answered with a smile.

“Lucky my foot!”  Then, all of a sudden, Sebastian threw a wide right hook punch. But Jake was able to block it with one hand. “What the hell? How can you suddenly block my punch when you were just punching bag?!

Sebastian threw another right punch, then followed by a left one. But all of those punches were easily blocked by Jake. 

“Can we just stop this? I just want to talk to dad. Please,” he said, then stepped back twice away from Sebastian.

But the man really wanted a piece of him. Sebastian took off his white coat and he slammed it on the floor while breathing heavily. The people also started to gather and murmur around them. 

“Sebastian, I am telling you. This is not a good idea!” He raised his hand and gestured stop to Sebastian.

“As if that would stop me!” 

Sebastian dashed towards him. He also put up a fighting pose to defend himself when a familiar loud voice echoed in the hall. And that stopped both of them. Then, the people who were watching started to bow their heads down.

“Stop, both of you!” 

Sebastian immediately took his coat and put it on. “Mr. President. Why are you here?” he asked while looking at his feet. 

“How dare you ask me that question? This is my company. I can be here anytime of the day I want,” the old man in black striped suit and trousers angrily replied. He was gorgeous even at his old age. He was around 6 feet tall, with gray hair that was nicely brushed up and a neatly groomed mustache. 

The old man walked towards Sebastian, and slapped the man hard on the face. “Don’t you have any decency? You were the CEO of this company yet you act like a child! Now, scram! We’ll talk later!”

Sebastian didn’t say anything. He just bowed his head then he dashed upstairs then his bodyguards followed him. The spectators also vanished in an instant.

“You,” the old man faced Jake. “What in the world brought you back here? Didn’t I tell you not to step on this building again?!” 

“I’m here to talk to you, father,” Jake replied while looking at the floor. He doesn’t want to offend his father anymore or else he would have a harder time convincing the old man “I am here to prove myself to you.”

“You possess the two things I hate the most. Being stupid and being so damn weak. You’re a disgrace to this family! So, get lost and never come back!” Then the old man turned away from him and started to walk towards the elevator. 

“Is that a valid reason for a father to disown his own son and take an illegitimate child as his heir?” Jake asked while looking at his father’s back and that again made the remaining people around whisper.

The old man stopped and took a deep breath before facing him. “How dare you talk to me like that?”

“You’re not my father anymore, right? So, I guess I can talk to you like this,” Jake replied. 

His father chuckled and walked towards him. “There is something different from you. “But okay, I want to see what you can do now. You want to redeem yourself?”

“I need money.”

“Alright,” his father said while nodding. “I’ll give you a chance. I want you to beat Sebastian in a mixed martial art fight.”

Jake tilted his head and squinted his eyes. “Mixed martial arts fight?”

“Yes, I am into that sport lately. And in case you don’t know, aside from being the CEO, Sebastian is my champion in underground MMA fights. And everybody here earns a lot from his fights,.” the old man proudly said.

“So, you want me to beat the ass of your illegitimate heir? Then, what happens next?” he asked.

“I’ll give you the money you need. Then we’ll discuss the rest after,” his father replied. “But I am telling you. Sebastian is a monster in the octagon. And I am sure he’ll beat you into pulp. You seem to survive being in a coma, but I doubt you'll survive it the second time around.”

Jake put his hands in his pocket. He stared at his father’s eyes and his shoulders started shaking. Then that was followed by a laugh. “Alright then, we’ll see. I take the challenge.”