Ruby mage 2 a portal har.., p.4
Ruby Mage 2: A Portal Harem Adventure (Isekai Gem Mage), page 4
“I didn’t ask, but good to know.” I put the bottle down, hoping he would take the hint.
When he didn’t move away, I decided to accept the help. “I’m looking for a potion that can mimic the energy signature of a dryad.”
The young man bit his lip, going through the vast collection of potion bottles that lined the walls in his mind.
“I don’t think we carry that one, sir. But, let me ask my master.” He raised his hands telling me to stay where I was before running toward the back of the shop, presumably where the potion maker resided.
I turned back toward the shelves, interested in what else could be bottled and sold for a profit in this world.
“Master Trevor!” Susanna said excitedly, rushing to my side with an incredibly small bottle of some sticky blue liquid.
I accepted the outstretched item, reading the label. “Heat of the night. What is this?” I asked her, unsure what she was trying to show me.
“The description said it helps heat things up in the bedroom,” she responded with a seductive stare.
I’ve got all the heat we need, I thought to myself, but still found myself interested in what the words implied.
“It’s an aphrodisiac,” the young man murmured from behind me, having failed to announce his presence once again.
I nearly jumped away from the man, turning as I waved for Susanna to put the potion away while waiting for the answer to my question.
“I’m sorry, but we don’t carry what you seek in our store. My master said I should show you some other great potions that we do carry, if you are interested.”
“I’m not.” I cut him off, not wanting to be stuck placating the young man as he waltzed us around the crowded store.
Pushing through the store door, I signaled to Ginny, ready for her to lead us to store number two. The second store was slightly smaller in scale, a more rustic feel to the building. From the small windows at the front of the shop, we could see a few other customers within the store, the atmosphere a lot less hectic. The wooden door creaked when we pushed it open, a small bell alerting the owner of our presence.
“Welcome. I’m Marty. If ya need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” An older man with a thick brown beard said from behind the counter, his smile inviting despite his massive size.
I nodded, taking a minute to inspect the merchandise before I would take him up on his offer. Tables filled the room, each laden with potions and gems all holding a decent magical aura. The items seemed to be of better quality despite the smaller scale of the store and the lack of customers. This must be why the king recommended his shop first, I realized, seeing that Marty himself held a decent amount of magic.
When I didn’t find what I was looking for after a few laps around the store, I went over to the counter to address the burly man who tended it.
“I need a potion that will give me the aura of a dryad,” I told him, still unsure if it really existed or if the king was getting his revenge for what happened in his courtroom.
“I’m sorry, it’s not something I can make,” he said immediately, quite familiar with the merchandise he carried in the store. “Not sure many would be able to do that for ya. Have ya tried Milnard’s a few blocks over?” He questioned, referring to the popular magic store we had already visited.
“Yeah, they didn’t have it either,” I told him with a shrug.
At least he didn’t look at me like I was insane, meaning the item most likely existed.
“Thanks anyway,” I said, preparing to leave the store. “Susanna,” I called out in an even tone, seeing her across the room gazing at some of the higher-spec gems.
“Yes, Master!” She perked up when she heard my voice, eagerly rushing to my side.
I led her out of the store to where Ginny stood quietly.
“You said there was another shop?” I asked her, having little hope for this one as well.
“Yes, sir,” she replied meekly, avoiding eye contact.
“Master Mage Trevor,” I corrected her.
“Yes, Master Mage Trevor,” Ginny replied obediently. “It’s a bit off the beaten path though….if ya still want to go.” She wrung her hands together, unsure she should even bring up the topic.
“If there is a chance they have what I’m looking for, then yes, I want to go.” When she didn’t point out the direction we should head in after I agreed to follow, I added, “What are you waiting for? Lead the way.”
“Yes, of course. ‘Em sorry, Master Mage Trevor.” Her eyes hit the ground when she finally started to lead the way.
She wasn’t lying when she said it was off the beaten path. Not only was the place past the wall of the business section, it was in a cramped alley, garbage lining the pathway leading up to a hovel of a building. I remembered my own words—if they have what we need, it doesn’t matter what the place looks like—while trying not to judge too harshly by the putrid smell alone.
“Ginny, you will come in with us this time,” I told her, afraid she’d be carted off by the rough looking figures that seemed to prowl around in the dim lighting.
She nodded, getting in line behind Susanna as we walked through the small doorway in single file. The candles in the crude chandelier flickered when we entered, the store dark and dank from the lack of appropriately sized windows, the only two being long and thin, barely any light shining in from the outside.
No one was in the shop, making me believe the place was abandoned, the few items displayed taking on a disheveled appearance, laying haphazardly on the shelves and tables within the space.
“Anyone home?” I called out, not expecting an answer.
“They were open as of last week,” Ginny said quietly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was like this,” she apologized, her hand covering her nose, trying to muffle the strong smell of urine and mold.
“Here! I’m in here!” A desperate voice called out from the back room, and loud crash and the sound of breaking glass following the shouts. “Whew!” A rat-looking man burst through the back door, struggling to pull himself from the vortex of a mess that was the back room.
The man was short and stocky, a few stubbles of hair gracing his forehead. His front teeth were longer than the rest of his teeth, protruding from his mouth. If he wasn’t a half-fey, he definitely had me fooled.
“Greetings customers. Welcome to my humble shop,” the man said, taking in our attire and deciding we were well-off. “What can I do for ya?” He folded his hands on the counter in front of him, trying to appear professional despite the squalor surrounding him.
A shelf fell from the wall behind him, the bottles shattering when they hit the ground, but he didn’t flinch, his smile unwavering as he awaited our response.
“I need a potion that will give me the aura of a dryad. Two if you have them,” I repeated my needs while side-eying the shop, my expectations lowering with each new discovery in the room.
“Of course, valued customers. Here at Lumiere’s we have all yer potion needs. One sec, if ya please,” he said, rushing off toward the back room. He stuck his head back out of the doorway and added, “Don’t be going nowhere now, ya hear?” He smiled, the facial movement looking more sinister than friendly.
I feigned a smile back, my skin crawling. When he left, I examined the goods with a more discerning eye, all of the vials showing no signs of holding magic. Picking up a small container from the table behind me, I swirled the yellow-green liquid around, seeing if any spark of magic was revealed. Nothing. Reaching for another, I felt disgust building in me, knowing the place was nothing but a scam.
“Found them. Yes-siree.” The man reappeared holding two vials of slightly different colored liquids. “Just drink this baby down and voila! Dryad? Human? Who knows, right? A perfect solution for ya needs.”
“Is that so?” I held out my hand, taking the potion from him.
Tipping the jar, the green sludge sloshed in the container, somehow looking even more unappetizing than when it was stationary. The top half of the glass container was dyed a faded green, the liquid seeming to have evaporated over time. Still no traces of magic appeared from the potions.
“How much are you asking for this?” I was curious how much money he would try to steal from us for this concoction that would probably leave us hurling for hours.
The man paused, mulling it over as he judged how much money he thought we might carry on our person.
“One gold coin…each,” he said confidently, trying to persuade us of the rareness of the item we held.
“A gold coin? That much… really?” Susanna couldn’t contain her shock at the exorbitant amount of money the man sought.
“I mean it is a rare commodity. Not gonna find this one in any other shop in this city, let me tell ya. Just here. And only two of ‘em too. Supply and demand and all that, right? This be a business after all.”
I felt my anger rising, but I tried to contain it, wanting to give the man the opportunity to confess his lies.
“Are you sure this actually works? I don’t want to be killed or sent into servitude because I entered dryad territory without a disguise,” I told him, letting him know that the potions validity was a matter of life or death for us.
“One hundred percent. Just drink it before the border and stroll through the streets with ease.” He smiled, rubbing his hand together thinking about the money he would make if he sold us his lies.
I narrowed my eyes, leaning in closer to him before asking, “and what if I told you I’m aware there is no magic in these potions? That they’re nothing more than goop in a jar. Would you still try to sell them to me for a gold coin each?”
“Good, sir. I don’t know who told you that, but my products are the real deal. I make ‘em myself. You won’t find this nowhere and if I sell out, the next time I make them the price will be doubled!” He retorted, starting to get defensive
“Alright, then you drink it.” I held the container still in my possession out to him. “If I can sense a dryad’s aura in you, then I will pay not only for the remaining one, but also the one that you drank—no questions asked.”
His grimy face paled, eying the jarred food poisoning.
“D-don’t you need two? I wouldn’t want to drink up the stock, ya know.” He tried his best to talk his way out of it, only further grating on my nerves.
Reaching my breaking point, I threw the vial to the ground, the green sludge staining the floor when the glass broke. I couldn’t stand the thought of this man scamming his customers without an ounce of remorse.
“You’re gonna have ta–” he began to say, his face distorted in anger.
I lit my hand on fire, holding the flame inches from his face, cutting off his words.
“I’ll ask again. Are you selling legitimate potions in your store?”
The flame reflected in his eyes, his attempt to make words failing him as they came out in mere stutters.
“Do any of these do anything you claim they do?” While he leaned closer to the wall behind him, wishing he could phase through to the other side, I turned to the stocked table beside me, grabbing the closest bottle. “Tears of a puffin fly–smooth out your wrinkles with just one sip.” I read out the label, looking to him for confirmation.
He shook his head repeatedly, confirming what I already knew. I let the glass bottle drop to the floor, picking up the one next to it.
“Essence of the horned rabbit–increases your energy ten-fold.” Again, I raised an eyebrow in his direction, his head movements reflecting the truth. Another bottle hit the floor and finished with the charade, I swiped my arm across the table, sending all of his merchandise to the floor. The glass shattered on impact, the liquid inside being absorbed by the thick layer of dust that coated the worn, wooden floorboards.
“Stop! I’m sorry. I’m sorry!” He held his hands out in front of him, his palms facing me, trying to calm my fury at his schemes. “I shouldn’t have tried to con you like that. They aren’t real, it’s all fake. Okay? Okay? Are we good?”
As I glared at him, the door to the shop swung open, a man in his twenties entering. He paused when he saw the mess on the floor, his eyes shifting from the shop owner to myself, unsure what to make of the situation.
“I’m sorry. Excuse me,” he said, slowly backing out of the shop.
I didn’t care and let him go, not bothering to explain myself to the bystander. His presence made me realize just how much of a disservice this man was doing to the city of Crimm. As shitty as his shop appeared and as obscure of a location, people still came to him with legitimate needs and this man swindled them—giving them dirty water in exchange for their hard-earned money.
“Get out,” I growled, pointing at the door behind me.
The man looked confused, wondering if he had heard me wrong.
“You no longer have a business here in Crimm. Get out, or go down with your ‘ship,’” I repeated the demand in different words, expecting him to respond or at least move at my suggestion.
When he made no effort to obey, I shot a fire orb at the side wall, the wood and glass cracking on impact. He protected his head, cowering in fear, but still refused to leave the shop.
“I’d get out if I were you,” Susanna said with a giggle, enjoying the show.
Ginny slunk away from me, retreating to the corner, fear reflecting in her eyes.
“Get her out of here.” I pointed to the guide and Susanna rushed to her side, pulling her arm as she led her out of the smoke-filled space.
With the girls safely out of the way, I let my rage run wild, lighting every last table of merchandise on fire. I went into the room behind the checkout desk, the office space littered with paperwork and important documents, and I lit those on fire too. When I moved from the shop owner’s view, he screamed, taking it as his opportunity to flee from the shop. That was always an option, so I didn’t bother chasing him, the flames continuing to flow freely from my hands, devouring every inch of the building.
I turned to leave the office, when a bright light coming from the broken desk caught my attention. I pushed back the flames that threatened to consume the object, pulling an emerald gem from the rubble. Hmph, so there is something that contains real magic in this crummy shop, I thought to myself, slipping the gem into my pocket.
Walking through the flames, I made my way outside, finding Susanna standing with her foot on the downed shop owner, keeping him from escaping.
“I suggest you find a new line of work,” I said, crouching down closer so that he could hear my words. Standing back up, I admired my handy work, the flames eating through the sorry excuse for windows at the front of the store.
“Let’s go,” I waved the girls to follow me, leaving the man to wallow in the collapse of his potions shop.
∞∞∞
The eagle-kin were ready and waiting when we returned to the castle, the king having no complaints about us leaving as soon as possible. I thanked Ginny for being our guide, the poor girl barely able to utter a response before scurrying away–I guess I could have handled that better, but oh well. When we were alone with the eagle-kin, I figured that meant we were safe to leave, so I had Susanna strap herself in, ready to get home and prepare for our next mission. Before I could get in the harness myself, the king showed up with his entourage of guards.
Waving an authoritative hand my way, he called me over, needing to speak with me again. I sighed inwardly, just ready to be on my way.
“I’m sorry that you didn’t find what you were looking for,” he said, nodding his head apologetically. “Oh, and thank you for cleaning up a bit of the scum in Crimm.” He laughed heartily, having already heard about the shop we destroyed before we even made it back to his castle.
I got the feeling he made sure Ginny led us to that hovel. There was no way he would whole-heartily recommend it to a Master Mage knowing the quality of the merchandise the owner peddled. I remained quiet, not wanting to go into details about the destroyed shop, but also figuring the king had heard enough about it without the need for me to explain myself.
Pulling out a small, rolled up parchment from his pocket, King Partel held it out to me as he said, “this came for you while you were out.”
Accepting the missive, I unrolled it eagerly, wondering what was so important that it couldn’t wait for my return.
Master Mage Trevor,
Your father arrived in Arenia Harbor shortly after your departure. He came with news of your niece’s birth back in Pangea. He wishes for you to pass this message along to Lidia and to bring her to the mansion as soon as possible to meet the baby. He offered to do it himself, but I advised him against it, not wanting to mess up the entry and exit points after you had just figured them out. After much grumbling, he returned to his home world, but promised to be back in one week’s time if he received no word from you. I apologize I was unable to do more.
Norlan
I sighed in an overexaggerated manner, already changing my plans in my head. Although a bit of a hiccup to the original travel schedule, I was at least grateful that Norlan was able to get my father to leave from the same place he appeared, my entry place into Lornia remaining unchanged.
“Everything alright?” The king asked, still standing by.
“Yep, just need to take a slight detour before I head back to Arenia Harbor is all. My sister had her baby.” I smiled, letting him know it was a happy occasion.
“Congratulations to her. A joyous occasion indeed.” He responded sincerely, his smile reaching his eyes.
“I promise to assemble my soldiers as soon as I return from Trimi,” I assured him, knowing that his congratulations were nothing more than platitudes.
“Thank you for your cooperation. I look forward to seeing you again soon,” the king said, turning to leave with his guards in tow.
Feeling that things had concluded in Crimm, I headed back to where the eagle-kin and Susanna waited, quickly telling them of our plan changes. In a way, the detour benefited us, since we’d be able to check out Lim’s shop while we were in Trimi. Although night was nearing, we decided to leave anyway, Ciyin ensuring that flying in the dark would be fine. Strapped into the harness, I reached for the gem’s power, heating the space around us so that we wouldn’t freeze on the flight to Trimi.
