Magnificent Magnus Mace

The vibration in Magnus Mace's pocket felt like a countdown. It was the hospital notification again. The third one today. If he did not transfer the funds for his sister Maya's dialysis within the hour, the administration was going to discharge her.

​He tightened his grip on the strap of his faded canvas bag and stepped into the circle of students gathered near the university fountain. They were not looking at the cascading water. They were staring at the sleek, matte black sports car parked illegally on the pedestrian path.

​And they were looking at the girl standing next to it.

​"Jennifer?"

​Magnus's voice was rough, barely a whisper over the murmurs of the crowd.

​Jennifer Hayes turned. She looked stunning in a cream coat that probably cost more than his tuition for the semester. When she saw him, her expression did not soften. It hardened into something resembling pity mixed with intense annoyance.

​"You were not supposed to be here, Magnus," she said, her voice clipped. "I sent you a text."

​"A text? You break up with me after two years via text?" Magnus stepped forward, ignoring the snickers from the students around them. "I did not even get it. My phone service was cut this morning. Talk to me, Jennifer. We were planning our future just yesterday. What is happening?"

​The driver door of the sports car opened. Trent stepped out.

​The heir to the Sterling construction empire adjusted his designer sunglasses, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. He walked around the car and draped an arm possessively around Jennifer's waist.

​"She is upgrading, Mace," Trent said, his voice loud enough for the back row of the crowd to hear. "It is basic economics. You hold onto a depreciating asset only for so long before you dump it."

​Magnus felt the blood rush to his ears. He looked at Jennifer, pleading with his eyes for her to step away, to deny it.

​"Is this true?" Magnus asked. "For him? You used to hate him. You called him a shallow narcissist last week."

​Jennifer looked down at her designer heels. "I was tired, Magnus. I am tired of walking to class in the rain because you cannot afford a bus pass. I am tired of splitting a single ramen cup for dinner. Trent... he can give me the world. You cannot even give me a movie ticket."

​"I am working three jobs," Magnus said, his voice cracking. "I am doing everything I can. The medical bills are drowning us."

​"That is not my problem!" Jennifer snapped, finally looking him in the eye. "I am twenty years old. I should not be suffering because your sister is sick. It is pathetic."

​The word hung in the air like a slap.

​Trent laughed, a dry and barking sound. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a thick stack of cash. Fresh, crisp hundred dollar bills. The scent of new money seemed to drift across the gap between them.

​"Do not be too hard on the beggar, babe," Trent said. He riffled the stack near Magnus's face. "He has a dying sister, right? That is tragic. Truly. My father sits on the city hospital board. They are clearing out non paying patients today."

​"What do you want, Trent?" Magnus ground his teeth.

​"I want to help," Trent said, his eyes gleaming with malice. "I am a philanthropist. I see a starving stray dog on the street, I feel obligated to feed it."

​Trent tossed the stack of cash into the air.

​The bills fluttered down, landing in the dirt and the puddles formed by the fountain spray. The crowd gasped. It was at least five thousand dollars. Enough for the dialysis. Enough to keep his sister safe for another month.

​"Pick it up," Trent commanded.

​Magnus froze. His fists clenched at his sides. Every fiber of his pride screamed at him to punch Trent in the jaw, to spit on the money and walk away.

​But then he thought of the notification. He thought of Maya lying in that hospital bed, pale and hooked up to machines that beeped the rhythm of her life.

​"I said pick it up!" Trent barked. "Or are you too proud? Does your pride pay the doctors, Mace?"

​"Do not do it, Magnus," a student whispered from the crowd, but Magnus could not hear them.

​Slowly, agonizingly, Magnus Mace bent his knees.

​He lowered himself to the pavement. The cold dampness of the ground seeped into his worn jeans. He reached out a trembling hand and grasped a muddy hundred dollar bill.

​Jennifer looked away.

​"Good boy," Trent sneered. "See? Everyone has a price. Even trash."

​Magnus gathered the bills, his chest burning with shame. He had the money. He could save Maya. He started to stand up, clutching the dirty cash to his chest.

​"I did not say you could leave," Trent said.

​Magnus looked up. "I did what you asked."

​"You did," Trent nodded to two burly guys standing near the fountain... Tyson Blake and Jaxon Steele, linebackers for the university team. "But now I am bored. And I do not like the way you looked at my girlfriend."

​"Trent, do not," Jennifer murmured, but she did not step in.

​"Teach him a lesson, boys," Trent ordered. "Show him what happens when trash touches treasure."

​Tyson moved first.

​Before Magnus could react, a heavy fist connected with his stomach. The air exploded from his lungs. He doubled over, dropping the money.

​"No..." Magnus wheezed.

​Jaxon kicked him in the ribs, sending him sprawling into the mud.

​The beatdown was brutal and efficient. They did not hit his face too much... they focused on the body, the ribs, the stomach. Magnus curled into a ball, trying to protect the cash, but they kicked it away, scattering the bills into the fountain water where they floated away, useless and ruined.

​"Pathetic," Trent laughed, lighting a cigarette as he watched Magnus gasp for air in the dirt. "Come on, Jennifer. This place smells like poverty."

​The engine of the sports car roared to life.

​Magnus lay in the mud, one eye swollen shut, his ribs screaming in agony. He watched through blurred vision as the taillights faded into the distance. The crowd dispersed quickly, nobody wanting to be associated with the victim.

​He was alone.

​He tried to push himself up, but his arms collapsed. He had lost his dignity. He had lost the girl. And now, with the money floating in the fountain, he was going to lose his sister.

​"I am sorry, Maya," he whispered into the wet pavement. "I am so sorry."

​A sound cut through the rain that had started to fall.

​Ringing.

​Magnus frowned, wiping mud from his eyes. His phone service was suspended. The battery had died hours ago. Yet, from his front pocket, the unmistakable default ringtone of his cheap smartphone echoed loudly.

​With shaking fingers, he reached inside and pulled it out. The cracked screen was glowing brightly. An unknown international number flashed across the glass.

​He tapped the screen to answer.

​Magnus coughed, spitting out a little blood. "Hello?"

​"Mr. Magnus Mace. Can you hear me clearly?" a deep, professional human voice spoke from the other end.

​"Who is this?" Magnus rasped, looking around to see if this was another one of Trent's pranks.

​"My name is Corbin. I am the lead executor for the Apex Paramount Trust," the man replied calmly. "I am calling to inform you that your grandfather passed away this morning. The torch has been passed to you, Mr. Mace. The Trial of Poverty is officially concluded. You have endured your three years of exile. Now, you must rule."

​"Rule what?" Magnus asked, his breathing shallow. "I am lying in a puddle. My sister is going to die today because I cannot pay the Sterling family hospital board."

​"You will rule everything," Corbin said, his tone unwavering. "Starting with the complete acquisition of the Sterling construction empire and their hospital holdings. The global funds have been unlocked."

​Magnus stared at the cracked phone. The pain in his ribs seemed to fade, replaced by a cold, burning heat in his chest.

​"How much do I have?" Magnus asked.

​"Unlimited," Corbin answered. "I require only your verbal confirmation to authorize the transfer and claim your birthright."

​Magnus looked at the fountain where the ruined bills floated. He looked at the direction Trent and Jennifer had driven. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

​"I accept," Magnus said.

​"Transfer complete," Corbin stated. "Welcome back to the world, sir.”