Mark was surprised, as he had expected someone like a mother or a little girl to have seized him, with the option of the little girl shaking him and yelling that she wanted this toy. Luckily, he was spared this. Instead, he noticed it was grabbed by a middle-aged man, dressed smartly and quite dignified-looking who placed him in a basket and went to pay at the cash register, polite to the owner of the store to the end. Mark assumed he had been bought as a present for the daughter or niece of this man, which frankly wasn't much better. As a girly toy, Mark had no pleasure in facing the foreseeable future being shaken around, banged ion things, left around, treated like a baby or used to play tea party. The fact that he was a ballerina doll made it even worse as he felt the shame of being much too feminine now. If he had had the choice, he would have preferred being a boy toy. At least there was less stigma around it. Of course, Mark did not pause to think that maybe his thoughts were a tad misogynists and outdated. His hatred of the color pink in favour of the color blue was not really logical or fair, but he was quite understandably more concerned of what would occur to him as he was placed in a paper bag. Mark could not help but wonder at how delicate the man's movements were though.
Mark saw nothing of the trip back to the man's place, naturally, barely glimpses. It felt like a long time and the man went into several other stores. He left the bag containing Mark on a counter and went to do other chores and things. Mark could only wait, pondering on what would happen to him.
Finally, the man brought Mark out of the paper bag and sat him on the counter. Mark saw immediately that no children appeared to live here. Then, the man made a few gestures over Mark and spoke a few words and amazingly, Mark felt he could move again. Really move again. It was incredible!
"How....? How did you?..." he stammered.
"I am a warlock," simply answered the man. "I sensed a cursed object and followed its trail. And I found you, ha human trapped. Now I want to know you came to be this doll."
Mark told him about his wish and the story with the idol.
"I see," said the warlock. "Unfortunately, I cannot offer you your life back."
As Mark looked positively horrified, the warlock felt he had to be more precise in his explanations.
"You see, you made a bargain with an idol. A god. That's magic beyond my capacities. But I can help you."
"How?"
"You made the wish but, as most humans do, you were not precise enough with your wording. So this means I can alter your body or existence to something more... appropriate, as long as the wish itself remains respected."
"Oh yes, that would be great!" exclaimed Mark. "Please do! Thank you!"
The warlock smiled inwardly. Mark might be too quick in assuming the man's good intentions. Warlocks can be tricky and can be evil just as much as benevolent, after all.