Olivier had been impressed with Marcus's meticulous experiments previously. Learning from his customer he decided to do the same with Valentino. The latter took the monocle and left the café, appearing in the familiar alley.
"The barista said to focus on various objects…"
Valentino murmured to himself as he turned the monocle left and right between his fingers. It was cool to the touch. Upon closer inspection it gave Valentino a mysterious feeling but if someone else got their hands on it they wouldn't find anything amiss.
Having already decided to trust the café Valentino didn't hesitate. He placed the monocle before his eye and observed the world around him. He focused on a trashcan, a door, a window. Yet there was nothing new to his vision.
Valentino frowned faintly. Perhaps he didn't focus enough? Valentino turned his head back to the trashcan and focused with a piercing gaze. One second, three seconds, five seconds…
Valentino took a deep breath. There was still no change. Before Olivier let him leave with the monocle they had come up with a few theories. The theory that the monocle couldn't be used by other people was among those. But perhaps it might also be the case that the monocle wouldn't react to mundane objects.
In order to test this, Valentino brought the music box out. He lowered his head and looked at the intricate little wooden box in his hands. Now that he knew more about it, Valentino felt some apprehension. He was also considering whether Leon knew about the box's effect. Perhaps this was why he didn't dare to bring it out often?
"Damn it…"
Valentino cursed lightly. While he was lost in thoughts a dozen seconds had already passed yet there was no sign of the monocle working. He shook his head and decided to go back in.
Inside the café Olivier was waiting for Valentino to come back. He was quite curious himself. How would the monocle work if used by others? Would it work even if not in the same world as him?
While Olivier was asking himself these questions, there was suddenly a change in his vision. He was taken aback as a green, dirty trashcan appeared before him. Well, it was more of an illusionary model, slightly transparent and small enough to fit into his hand. It floated in front of him with some information next to it.
[Old trashcan
A trashcan to throw away your trash. At least five years old. Infested with rats. Set to be emptied every tenth day. Hasn't been emptied in at least fourteen days.]
Olivier was surprised, not only because this object suddenly appeared in his vision, but also because it was a mundane object without a magical nature. When Olivier used the monocle in the café previously it didn't react to mundane objects. Only to things like the coffee beans or his tailcoat. Did it have to do something with the person who used it or with the world? Olivier couldn't tell.
A few seconds later the trashcan disappeared from his vision and was replaced by a regular window, followed by a door, before it was back to the trashcan. Olivier was quite amazed. Just from this he got some ideas about what Valentino's home looked like.
However, the next item appearing in front of him was something familiar. It was the music box. There was no change in the information provided.
After the music box also disappeared it didn't take long until a sound came from the door and Valentino came in, looking somewhat dejected.
"Barista, I fear it doesn't work. But thank you for trying."
"It worked. Just not the way we expected it to."
Olivier gave Valentino a quick explanation, causing the latter's expression to ease up. This was good as well. In Valentino's mind Olivier was more qualified to deal with these magical things anyways.
After the first experiment proved the feasibility of their plan, the two tried whatever they could think of. Olivier found out that he could recall the monocle at any time and from anywhere. Or rather it was not 'recalling' it was more like dismissing the old monocle and creating a new one.
He slowly got a feel for it. The monocle was less of a physical object and more a manifestation of an ability. He also tried to manifest more than one monocle, but this seemed impossible. However, his instincts told him that there should be a way. Perhaps there was a way to train abilities?
Olivier felt like he got a deeper understanding of his newfound talents and the magic around him.
After a while Valentino and Olivier made no new discoveries. Thus, Valentino went home with the monocle. Now it was time to wait until he could meet Angel again.
***
A new day arrived. Valentino woke up in a luxurious bed. This was his new home in Three Towers Hotel. Unfortunately, it couldn't compare to Leon's fancy suite. The artist got out of bed and prepared himself for the day.
Today he was set to meet Angel and receive his new ingredients from him. To say he was nervous would be an understatement. He glanced at the monocle on his nightstand. Now he could only hope that Angel wouldn't be able to see through its nature.
Valentino put on his clothes, choosing something fancier today so the monocle wouldn't seem too out of place. Next, he placed the monocle on a chain and hung it around his neck. He and Olivier had already found out that Valentino didn't need to wear the monocle on his eye for it to show its effect.
As the seconds ticked by Valentino didn't know what to do with himself. He and Leon were supposed to eat lunch with Angel. Perhaps he should read a book until then? He tried, but there was no way he could concentrate right now. Was time always passing this slowly? Did he even want it to pass faster?
Valentino was just short of going through a crisis when his phone rang. He picked up and the voice of the receptionist could be heard:
"Good morning, Mister Amico. I hope I am not disturbing you. There is a Miss Three here wishing to see you."
Valentino was taken aback. He had never heard this strange name before.
"Miss Three? Did she say what she wants?"
"Yes. She says she is here under orders of a certain Mister Angel to deliver something."
"Deliver?"
Valentino froze for a moment. The only thing he could think of were his ingredients. But wasn't he supposed to get them from Angel during lunch?
"Mister Amico?"
"Oh, sorry. I'll be there in a second."
"Thank you."
With deeply furrowed brows Valentino put the phone down. He left his room and took the elevator towards the lobby. When he got out, he was swiftly approached by someone. It was a gorgeous woman with a blond ponytail, but her stern face and straight suit gave the impression of someone who was not easy to mess with.
"Valentino?"
"Yes. You are Miss Three?"
"Just Three is enough. I came here to deliver your goods."
"My… ingredients?", asked Valentino uncertainly.
"Sure. If you want to name it that. Here."
Three was quite direct, pushing a black briefcase into Valentino's arms. The latter was overwhelmed for a moment, subconsciously taking the case.
"Didn't Angel say he'd give me the ingredients during lunch today?"
"Unfortunately, Angel is not available today. He asked me to cancel your appointment."
"Wh…"
Valentino was stunned. A shiver ran down his spine. Yesterday he brought the strange music box to the café and today the lunch was cancelled? He would never believe that this was a coincidence.
"Anything else? No? Alright, then goodbye."
"Ehm… yeah… goodbye."
Valentino stared at Three's back with a confused expression. All the nervousness, the preparation, could it be for nothing? He didn't even have a method to contact Angel. Only Leon did.
Right, if the appointment got cancelled, did this affect Leon as well? Valentino was just about to head for his friend's suite when he realized that he had a briefcase full of ingredients in his hands. He should first store it away before doing anything else.
Valentino went back to his room. He checked the briefcase and couldn't help but grin seeing multiple vials containing perfect, ruby-red liquid. He couldn't wait to begin his next painting. He was about to create an unprecedented masterwork!
But before that Valentino still went to see Leon. The latter had barely woken up when Valentino arrived. After hearing about the cancellation Leon was surprised. He checked his messages and found that he had been informed as well.
"Well, must be busy."
Leon nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. He didn't overthink it. Valentino was sure it wasn't so simple, but he didn't talk to Leon about it.
"Since you're already here, want to stay for breakfast?"
Valentino drove away all his distracting thoughts and agreed. The two men ate a sumptuous breakfast together before Valentino returned to his room. Whatever was going on with Angel shouldn't stop him from finally creating a new painting!