"Grandpa, Nathan, we've been moving from store to store—what exactly are you looking for?" Serena asked with a dazed expression on her face.
"Is it a new potion or elixir for sothing?"
After Nox and Nyx went on their mission to the Tristan Kingdom, Nathan hadn't returned just yet. This was because he still had so unfinished business to deal with in the capital.
At this precise mont, he was in the heart of the capital, standing in front of a shop. From the windows, one could see several potions and herbs arranged on shelves, making it obvious that this was an alchemist's shop.
However, this wasn't just any shop—it was actually their fifth shop of the day, which left Serena slightly perplexed.
Whenever her grandpa, Nathan, t with the shopkeeper, he didn't allow her to listen to the content of their conversation for so reason. If she were much younger, the archer would've asked questions, but it was clear from Nathan's actions that he didn't really want her to know.
The reason she was asking now was that she was fed up.
"It's for sothing important," Nathan said, stroking Serena's head. The beautiful, light-skinned girl blinked, her chocolate eyes shining in delight.
But the next mont, her eyes snapped back to normal.
No, she refused to fall for this silly old man's trick again. He had been doing this for the past hour.
This ti, she would get her answers.
But before she could even speak, Serena felt a gentle pull on her hand, followed by Nathan's old voice. "Co on, let's go in."
"But..."
---
The familiar scent of herbs and alchemical reagents filled the air as Serena stepped inside the dimly lit shop. The scent was a mix of bitter roots, pungent spices, and the faintly sweet aroma of rare elixirs. The wooden shelves, covered in dust, were stacked with all manner of potions, powders, and preserved ingredients sealed in glass jars. Strange bubbling noises ca from deeper within, where an old cauldron rested on a rune-engraved table.
At the counter stood a hunched figure—a gaunt, sharp-featured man with greasy black hair and a permanent scowl. His skin had the pallor of soone who rarely saw sunlight, and he seed to be missing an eye. He looked like he hadn't slept in days, or maybe he simply preferred looking unpleasant.
"Ugly."
Serena flinched as if she had seen a ghost the mont she laid eyes on the man. He was by far the ugliest person she had ever seen. She glanced at her grandpa Nathan and suddenly found him very pleasing to look at in comparison.
"Let tell you a secret," Nathan suddenly whispered.
Because the figure was hunched, he either didn't notice their presence or was outright ignoring them.
Nathan leaned in, his spine cracking slightly. A flicker of worry crossed Serena's chocolate eyes, but Nathan didn't so much as grimace, aning he was fine.
"There's a saying," he whispered. "The uglier the potion dealer, the stronger the effect."
A frightened expression crossed her features, and she nearly stumbled if not for Nathan's grip on her shoulders.
So far, all the alchemists they had t weren't good-looking. They were all ugly or disabled in one way or another.
This guy… he was not only ugly, but he also had poor skin, his face looked like it was falling apart, and to top it off, he was missing an eye.
"Grandpa, are you planning to buy a drug from this man?" Serena gasped.
"Yes. Hopefully, this will be our final stop."
"No!" Serena protested, stepping back.
"Why?" Nathan raised his nonexistent eyebrow.
"You said it yourself—the uglier the potion dealer, the stronger the effect. What if… what if..."
"What if what, Serena?"
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"What if you go mad after taking a potion from this man?"
"Eh?" Nathan was about to speak when suddenly a voice sounded behind him.
"Well, well, if it isn't Nathan again," the alchemist sneered, his voice raspy and dripping with mockery. "Didn't find what you were looking for in the last four shops? Or did they finally throw you out for wasting their ti?" He let out a wheezing chuckle, rubbing his hands together like a vulture.
Nathan wanted to ask the man how he had known, but he quickly rembered that almost all the alchemists in the capital were acquainted. One of them must have told him.
"Grandpa is really famous," Serena muttered under her breath.
So far, all the shopkeepers had known Nathan's na. However, she could tell that Nathan wasn't particularly pleased with this potion dealer.
Nathan didn't rise to the provocation. Instead, he t the alchemist's gaze evenly and said, "I wouldn't be here if the others had what I needed, Jarvis."
Jarvis sneered. "Hah. Figures. You never co for the simple stuff. What are you after this ti? Sothing to reverse ti? A potion to make you young again?" He cackled before leaning in slightly. "Or is it sothing more… discreet? Sothing to make you look more handso than ?"
"No disrespect, old man, but you look hideous!" Serena blurted out, an annoyed look on her face.
Then that annoyance soon crumpled into horror as she realized Jarvis's face had turned beet red with anger.
"Oops, that was supposed to stay in my head."
"Ignore the kid," Nathan quickly said. "Why don't we go discuss sowhere more private?"
The two walked into a much smaller room. After shutting the door, Nathan began to explain.
"It's about Doombringer."
Nathan exhaled through his nose, unimpressed.
"The overgrown lizard?"
His expression twisted slightly, but he sucked in a deep breath and nodded. "Y-yes."
Nathan began to explain the ordeal with the Order of the Flaming Rose and how they had corrupted Doombringer. Jarvis listened while wiggling his teeth with his long, dainty fingers.
"So you want sothing that could bring back its mories?" Jarvis scratched his chin, then walked toward a shelf. After rummaging through several locked compartnts, he finally produced a small, obsidian-glass vial filled with a swirling, silver liquid that shimred like liquid moonlight.
Nathan's eyes lit up when he saw this.
---
The Royal Castle, the King's Chambers.
"My King, you have a package!"
King Aldric, who was subrged in a pool filled with cold enchanted water, opened his eyes.
"Package?" His eyes shot open as he looked at the royal knights standing beside him. "What package? I'm not expecting anything from anyone, nor did I order one."
"Your Highness..." The royal knight stuttered, fumbling with his words as if he wanted to say sothing but was hesitating.
The king's golden eyes narrowed in irritation. "Speak," he ordered, his voice cold and commanding.
The knight swallowed hard and finally spoke. "The package, Your Majesty… it's… dripping with blood."
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