Alchemist's shop

by Cookie_Pone

Night terrors

Peritia wakes up in the middle of the night with a gasp. Her dreams have not been kind to her tonight. It takes her a couple minutes to collect her thoughts. After pulling herself together, she sits silently in the tent.

She gets a shock when she hears sounds outside, cautious footsteps of a large beast, slow and patient breathes. Peritia goes completely quiet, frozen in place. She wonders if it's a timber wolf, but they always hunt in packs, so it can't be. Before she can figure out what the stalking creature might be, she hears it leaving.

With a relieved sigh, her head falls against the ground and her eyes close. She soon returns to the realm of dreams, with a bit of trouble.

---

When the sun rises the next morning, Peritia is the first to get up. She makes sure her gear is secure before stepping out of the tent, immediately moving to wake Fortis. She doesn't feel safe alone here, especially not after last night.

Fortis awakens after a small shake, looking surprised when he sees Peritia before him. He stands slowly and puts his equipment on, yawning.

Soon, Peritia is brewing potions. Fortis keeps watch while Letalis rests. She must have exerted herself too much yesterday to be this late to wake. Thankfully the potions don't take long and soon the sleeping warrior is up.

Peritia gives a stamina potion to Letalis to get her going. She is reluctant to take it, but it doesn't take much to persuade her, she's too tired to be stubborn. With Letalis awake and Fortis prepared, the adventurers head off to leave Darkwood forest.

As the dying fire leaves their view, the darkness envelops them once more. It's still early in the day, but you wouldn't be able to tell. They walk for hours once more. When Peritia agreed to come, she hadn't considered how much walking they would do. It's not too much for her, but it does get boring fast.

The edge of the forest approaches mercifully quickly, the darkness disappears into the light and they each give a sigh of relief having made it through without incident.

As they start walking again, Peritia turns back to look one last time at the forest. When she peers into the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes peers back. She jumps, increasing her pace until she's beside Letalis. Peritia gets a weird look for her actions, nothing more comes of it though and soon she returns to the back.

The three are much further apart now that the shadows do not threaten them. For some reason Letalis seems to dislike being too close to Fortis while walking, Peritia has adopted the same attitude towards her. They've started crossing more plains now, Darkwood forest in bordered by them.

Peritia remembers reading somewhere that the forest's spread threatened to swallow a nearby village once, but it was contained by a masterful mage, allowing it to grow into the huge town it is today. Her spell has lasted over a century and shows no sign of faltering. She wants to meet that mage, who's magic is so honed and knowledge so vast as to prevent an entire forest from growing. Maybe she will, now that they're here.

The town quickly approaches, only a few kilometers from Darkwood forest. It's a sight to behold, Shadowedge. It acts as a trading hub, buying supplies from the East and periodically sending caravans through the deadly forest to sell their products. Much of the growth to the West is owed to Shadowedge, even Peritia's hometown would not be possible without it.

As the group grows nearer, ponies come into view, rushing around the busy streets. Pegasi fly above the rest, even the skies are packed around the town. A couple of guards notice the adventurers, walking over to greet them.

Fortis seems to be occupied scribbling down a list of some sort, so Letalis steps forward to explain who they are. The guards don't seem to find any reason for doubt and return to their posts, allowing the three to enter Shadowedge. Soon Fortis is finished and he starts walking.

As soon as they enter the streets they're again closer to eachother, the crowds are thick and they need to stay together. They come to a quieter part of the town, sitting down to discuss the plan. It seems Fortis wishes to spend a small time here restocking, he says it is his first time here and that there is much they need to see, for adventuring purposes of course. Letalis is given a list of items to purchase, she leaves quickly, not seeming to admire the town as much, Fortis takes his own and Peritia is left to explore leisurely.

The two adventurers split off in two different directions, not looking back. Peritia stays for a moment, feeling lost before something clicks in her head. She jumps up excitedly, heading for the heart of Shadowedge, the mighty mage's tower.

The tower wasn't always the centerpiece of the town, but after the protection its inhabitant has long provided, houses have been built around it, being closer to the tall construction apparently made ponies feel safer.

Peritia rushes up the stairs to the large wooden double doors, there's no need for them to be so big, or so beautifully decorated, but the fact that they are makes it feel like she's standing outside the chambers of a royal. In a way she is, she thinks. This pony had protected this town for many years, is that not worthy of a crown? Before she can pursue the thought, her hoof has knocked against the door.

A magical blue aura surrounds the handles of the doors, pulling them open slightly. Light shines from the other side of the doors, silhouetting the head of a figure. Peritia's heart pounds in her chest, her voice unable to work. Luckily, the mage seems happy to be the first to speak.

"A visitor? You... You aren't from around here, a trader perhaps? No, you do not haul around products. Hm? Potions? An alchemist, perhaps? Ah, yes, I see now, a young alchemist come to me to talk. Please, come in." The mage figures, her fast speech giving Peritia no time to answer. She doesn't bother though, stepping inside as the doors open further then close behind her. She is bathed in a blueish-white light as she enters, looking up she spots a glass lamp holding a flying bug of some description, giving off a strong glow.

"Ah, you must be from beyond Darkwood. Brilliant, don't you think? We call them Lumins, they're native to the forest. Very rare, very elusive, but we've managed to collect enough to breed them. They give off such a marvelous light, wouldn't you agree?" The mage admires the Lumin in the lamp for a moment, lost in thought before her eyes snap back to her visitor. Peritia smiles nervously, still unable to speak. She never imagined they'd talk this much. She opens her mouth to say something but is cut off.

"Oh, I've forgotten my manners, apologies, I ramble sometimes! You've heard of me, but I'm aware my name hasn't yet made it through the thick darkness. Tuitio, Tio if you wish, you are?" The great mage extends a hoof forward in greeting, Peritia takes it, shaking it carefully before finally getting to say her first words.

"Peritia, ma'am. It's an honour to meet you. As you guessed, I'm an alchemist, I travelled from my hometown with two adventurers. They're buying supplies right now. I was wondering if you might know anything that may assist me, I believe we will be staying overnight and I'm not very capable if we face a threat." Peritia introduces herself, posing a question to Tuitio. She does her best to hide her true reasoning for visiting, but the excitement shines through her voice. The mighty mare smiles down at her, her mind clearly full of thoughts.

"It is a lovely name you have, your parents must also practice the craft. For an alchemist, what might I have? Training perhaps? There are spells for someone like you, but you aren't able to channel them. Hm.. Give me a moment." Tuitio turns and rushes upstairs, leaving Peritia alone suddenly.

She sighs, looking around the first floor. There's a desk to one side with an open book on it, next to it sits a quill in ink and an unlit candle. Beside it is a semi-circular table protruding from the wall, atop it is a simple bit of alchemy equipment and a scroll with some formulas scralled on it. A large bookshelf is built into the wall, stocked full of various books, the bottom shelf is filled with different alchemy ingredients.

Looking up, she's surprised to find the walls are covered in beautiful designs. There's a spiral with a menacing eye in the center, a purple portal with a magical glow, the symbol of the night and the silhouette of a pony she doesn't recognise.

Soon, Tuitio returns carrying something. Some kind of silver pendant holding a red gem, the gem has a slight glow to it, giving away its magical nature. She gives the item to Peritia to hold. It feels warm in her hooves, a lot of magic flows through this object, she notes.

"When you put this on, be prepared. Your body isn't used to the feeling of magic, but it'll adapt with time. Try it!" The tall mare commands, excited. Peritia looks at her, confused at her words. Nevertheless, she trusts the mage and places the pendant around her neck.

As soon as the pendant is secured, the gem glows more brightly. A tingling feeling runs all through Peritia's body, from skin to bone, every part of her. She loses track of the world, the sensation growing more intense. She slumps to the floor, unconscious as the pendant works.

Comments

[Luminous Lead]

Mage's tower seems really neat, but I get a biiig uh oh from that pendant.