Katherine clapped her hands together, her grin bright enough to rival the sun. "This is perfect! The best toy maker in the city helping with my business? Zamir, you have no idea how much this ans to !"
Zamir let out a dry chuckle, leaning against his workbench. "You say that like I just agreed to craft you a crown."
"Oh, but you have!" Katherine declared dramatically, before imdiately shifting gears. "Or—wait, no—sothing even better! A café experience like no other!"
Zamir gave her a skeptical look, but she was already on a roll.
"Imagine this: tiny, interactive table designs! Oh! Or serving trays that double as puzzles! No, no—better! A special table where, if you press a hidden button, a mini carousel pops up! No, even better than that! What if custors got random prizes with their orders? Like a secret bonus! Oh, oh! A gacha system—except real!"
Zamir stared. "A what?"
"A ga! But tangible! You buy a pastry, and boom! You get to roll for a surprise reward!" She clapped her hands again. "It could be a free drink, a special pastry, a tiny toy—or maybe even just the thrill of the unknown!"
Zamir exhaled slowly. "That... sounds suspiciously like gambling."
Katherine waved a hand. "No, no, no—it’s wholeso!"
"Wholeso," he repeated flatly.
"Exactly! It’s excitent!" She spun in place, gesturing wildly. "People love randomness! It’s science! Or psychology! Or... sothing!"
Zamir pinched the bridge of his nose. "Katherine, I make toys. Not enchanted casino gimmicks."
"Oh, don’t be so dramatic," she huffed. "I’m just brainstorming! Besides, you already make little wooden people move with hidden chanics! Why not apply that to—oh! A dessert cart that delivers itself to the table? That would be adorable!"
Zamir looked up at the ceiling as though searching for divine intervention. "Why do I let you talk at for this long?"
"Because my ideas are brilliant," Katherine said proudly.
"Because you don’t stop talking until I give in," he corrected.
"Sa difference!"
Zamir sighed, shaking his head, but there was the faintest twitch of amusent at the corner of his lips. "Alright, alright. I’ll think about it. But I don’t usually make things ant for daily use. Toys are one thing, but café equipnt?"
"That’s what makes it fun!" Katherine bead. "It’s a challenge!"
Zamir gave her a long, asured look before exhaling in resignation. "I suppose I’ve already agreed, so I might as well give it a shot."
"That’s the spirit!" Katherine cheered.
But her mind was already racing again, jumping to the next big question. She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if she were about to share a dangerous secret.
"Zamir," she whispered, "do you think there’s magic that can make sothing age six months in just a few minutes? Or maybe a day?"
Zamir, who had just reached for a carving tool, froze.
Slowly, very slowly, he turned his head, one brow raised in deep suspicion. "...What?"
Katherine rocked on her heels. "You know, like, speeding up ti! But only for specific things. Hypothetically. For no particular reason."
Zamir put the tool down with the sa caution one might use when handling a particularly unstable potion. "Katherine, you do realize magic isn’t just so convenient kitchen shortcut, right?"
"I an, sure," she said quickly, "but that doesn’t an it can’t be!"
He folded his arms, watching her like one might watch a cat about to knock over a priceless artifact. "...What exactly are you trying to do?"
She hesitated, then waved a hand. "That’s not important right now!"
Zamir groaned, rubbing his temples. "Magic exists, but it’s not as simple as snapping your fingers and making sothing age faster. Even those who can use ti-related magic don’t have that kind of control."
Katherine pouted. "But surely soone can do it?"
Zamir drumd his fingers against the wooden table, thinking. "...Maybe the Tower could help. They specialize in more advanced magic."
"The Tower?" she echoed, tilting her head.
"Yeah. The temple with magic scholars across the city," Zamir explained. "They study all kinds of magic—elental, alchemical, enchantnts. If anyone knows a way to speed up ti on specific objects, it’s them."
Katherine’s eyes lit up. "I should go right away!"
Zamir barely had ti to react before she spun on her heel and bolted for the door.
"Wait—!" he started, reaching out a hand, but she was already gone.
Zamir stared at the empty space where she had been, then sighed, rubbing his temples. "She needs an appointnt first," he muttered. "Which is nearly impossible to get..."
A long silence.
Then he snorted, shaking his head. "Honestly? She’s just eccentric enough to fit right in."
***
Katherine arrived at the temple’s entrance, excitent practically vibrating in her bones—until reality hit.
She had rushed all the way here without actually asking Zamir how to submit a request.
Her enthusiasm deflated instantly.
"I’m dood," she muttered, staring at the grand doors.
Well. Maybe not dood. But definitely mildly inconvenienced, which was almost as bad.
Squaring her shoulders, she approached the reception desk, radiating what she hoped was the confidence of a woman who totally had an appointnt.
The receptionist barely looked up. "Do you have an appointnt, my lady?"
"Ah..." Katherine considered lying, but that probably wouldn’t end well. "No. But how do I make a request now? I’d like to speak to a... wizard?"
"The soonest available wizard is Rioli, but he’s leaving for vacation next month. No guarantees he’ll take requests when he returns."
Katherine frowned. A whole month? Did wizards even get vacations? What did a wizard vacation even look like? Floating over a beach? Levitating drinks to themselves?
Before she could spiral into this deeply important train of thought, a quiet voice interrupted her.
Katherine frowned as a voice called out her na.
"Lady Katherine."
She turned, surprised. A hooded figure stood nearby, his face mostly concealed in the shadow of his cloak. His presence felt oddly familiar—though that could have just been the general air of mystery he was clearly going for.
"My master has been expecting you," he said smoothly.
Katherine blinked. "Has he now?" She crossed her arms. "Is this the part where I follow a mysterious hooded man into a secluded room and end up cursed for eternity?"
The hooded figure hesitated. "...No."
"That pause was way too long," she pointed out.
"It was a normal amount of hesitation," he replied evenly.
Katherine squinted. "That sounds exactly like sothing a person leading into a trap would say."
The man sighed, as if already tired of this conversation. "My master is a wizard of the tower. He wishes to speak with you."
Katherine tilted her head. "Why?"
"You will find out when you et him."
"Mm. Suspicious. Very suspicious," she muttered to herself. Then she shrugged. "Well, whatever. Lead the way, Secretive Cloak Man."
The hooded figure didn’t react, rely turning and gesturing for her to follow.
Katherine grinned. "You totally regret talking to , don’t you?"
"...This way, my lady."
She laughed but followed without further protest.
***
The tower was... not what she expected.
She had pictured dim corridors, flickering candlelight, and wizards hunched over bubbling cauldrons muttering cryptic spells. Instead, she found herself walking through what looked suspiciously like a magic university.
Students bustled through the halls carrying scrolls and books. Offices lined the walls, and she caught glimpses of lectures on alchemy and enchantnts. Candles and enchanted lanterns illuminated everything with a cozy glow instead of eerie shadows.
"Okay," Katherine muttered to herself. "Way less ominous than expected. Kinda disappointed, honestly."
The hooded man remained silent, stopping in front of a large wooden door. With a smooth, practiced motion, he gestured toward it. "We have arrived. This is Maestro’s office."
His tone was calm, unwavering—completely unaffected by Katherine’s earlier antics.
Katherine, however, leaned in slightly, eyeing the door with suspicion. "Are you sure? This isn’t so kind of ominous setup where I walk in and mysteriously disappear, right?"
The hooded man exhaled slowly. "It is just a door, Lady Katherine."
She narrowed her eyes. "That’s exactly what soone leading into a trap would say."
Without acknowledging her remark, he simply pushed the door open.
The door was slightly ajar. Peeking inside, she spotted a man seated at the desk.
Black robe. Tousled black hair. Red eyes that looked like they saw far too much at any given mont.
A very calm, very composed aura.
Sothing about him seed familiar.
Then it hit her.
She had seen this man before.
At the café.
Katherine slowly stepped inside, tilting her head. "Hello, Maestro?"
"Greetings, Lady Katherine," the man responded smoothly, his face utterly neutral.
She narrowed her eyes, trying to place his na. "Yes, how are you, Sir...?"
"Eldritch. Call Eld."
Katherine squinted slightly. "We have t before, haven’t we?"
"We have."
"...Okay, but where?"
He simply looked at her.
She snapped her fingers. "Wait! You’re the guy from the café!"
"I am."
Her eyes widened. "You were staring at weirdly!"
"I was observing," he corrected. "With standard facial positioning."
"Your ’standard facial positioning’ made feel like a bug under a magnifying glass."
Eldritch did not react.
Katherine sighed. "Okay, fine. So you called here. Any particular reason why?"
"I was curious about the marchioness’s niece who wanders the city making peculiar requests," he replied. "It is not often we receive such... unique visitors."
Katherine crossed her arms. "Alright, since I am here, I actually do have a request."
Eldritch raised a brow—though his expression still didn’t change. "Oh?"
"I need magic that can make sothing age six months within a day. Or even a few minutes."
A pause.
Eldritch did not blink. He did not frown. He did not react at all.
Then, very calmly, he said, "That is an unusual request."
Katherine gave him finger guns. "Not impossible though, right?"
Eldritch studied her for a long mont. "...Not impossible."
"Excellent."
"But certainly not common."
"Still excellent."
He steepled his fingers. "The magic you seek is a form of temporal acceleration. An advanced technique that requires delicate control over energy flow."
Katherine nodded sagely. "Ah. So it is possible, but with extra steps."
"Correct."
"Can you do it?"
"Perhaps."
She bead. "Great! Then let’s get started."
Eldritch, perfectly calm, continued, "But I am curious. Why does the marchioness’s niece require such magic?" His crimson eyes glead faintly. "Aging wine? Cheese? Or sothing... more delicate?"
Katherine waved a hand. "Food preparation."
"Food," he repeated.
"Yes, food. I need ingredients to be properly aged in a short ti."
Eldritch did not move. "How... unconventional."
Katherine put her hands on her hips. "Will you help or not?"
Eldritch did not move. "I suppose I can be persuaded."
Katherine brightened. "Fantastic! How much?"
His red eyes glead. "Nothing in this world is free, Lady Katherine."
She narrowed her eyes. "If this turns into so weird magical blood pact, I am walking out that door."
"Nothing so dramatic," he assured, completely unfazed. "A simple favor. A minor request. Harmless, even."
Katherine squinted. "That’s exactly what soone planning sothing dramatic would say."
Eldritch’s expression did not shift. "And yet, I am simply stating facts."
Katherine sighed. "Alright, fine. But before I agree to any mysterious wizard errands, I have another form of paynt."
She reached into her pocket, pulled out a small pouch of gold coins, and tossed it onto the desk. It landed with a soft clink.
Eldritch, completely composed, picked up the pouch and loosened the string slightly, peering inside. "Ah," he said. "Now this is a lady who understands proper negotiations."
Katherine gave a confident smile, casually crossing her arms. I have no idea how much gold coins are worth, but this better be impressive.
"Is that enough?" she asked.
Eldritch tied the pouch back up and tucked it away into his robes. "A good start."
Katherine sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "Alright, alright. If you can do what I need, then I’ll help you."
Eldritch extended his hand, his face perfectly neutral. "Then we have a deal, Lady Katherine."
She shook his hand. A strange crackle of energy passed between them, and a chill ran down her spine.
...She had a very bad feeling about this.
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