1 Animal Parasite

A verdant, full of life garden laid bare in front of a store. Everyone who walked past it couldn't help but stop and smell the sweet aroma produced by the beautiful flowers lined up one next to the other as they showcased their splendor to the world.

Their purpose, to attract customers into the store, but the flowers were so pretty that those without deep pockets didn't dare go inside. This normally wouldn't be a cause for concern as flowers are known for losing their luster rather quickly which pushes nobles and rich individuals to constantly replace their spoiled flowers. But, the flowers from Green Florists were different, they could retain their beauty for as long as they were maintained. This served as its unique blessing and as its doom as those who left with their flowers had no need to come back.

All of it was possible thanks to one special trait that only the Green family possessed. The ability to both create and control parasites, which gave them the name of parasite mages. A unique class that only the Green family has.

"I did it!"

Enthusiastically shouted the man who sat behind the counter of the store. He had just attained an impossible feat, one no other parasite mage had ever done before. He reached level 5.

[New Parasite Unlocked]

[Animal Parasite: A parasite that is able to manipulate animal forms of life.]

So I should be able to manipulate animals, right? Are humans included as well? He thought. Contemplating if humans were included in the target list for the new type of parasite he decided to test it out on the first person to enter the store.

He created an animal parasite and placed it on the petals from the exotic flower he was holding. Once he made sure the parasite was safely positioned in a way that it won't just fall off he placed the flower on the counter in front of him. Making sure that whoever entered the store looked at it. As he expectantly looked towards the door, eager to welcome its visitor who would, unfortunately, bear the task of being his lab rat.

Parasites made by a parasite mage are no normal parasites. With no free will of their own, they obeyed and followed their creator's will faithfully. They would invade others taking over their bodies and perform any changes their creator desired.

Sensing a commotion outside he quickly readied himself for the event a customer entered his store.

Like he had predicted the door opened and a beautiful woman walked in carrying herself with elegance and an air of importance. She wore an elegant blue dress with black lines that followed her figure and contrasted beautifully with her porcelain-like skin. It matched her sapphire eyes and black hair splendidly. She was clearly a noble lady, well, not any regular noble lady at that.

It was none other than Elena Bluepearl, the current head of the Bluepearl noble house, one of the most influential houses in the entire kingdom, and a close friend of the Queen. Who despite being a mother of twin daughters and being in her 40s she still looked young and lively.

With her head held high and a calm demeanor, she cruised through the store as she looked at the flowers. Her attendant walked closely behind her, he kept a watchful eye on Oliver, the man behind the counter, not because he suspected anything but because it was his duty as his lady's personal knight to protect her.

Oliver noticed as the guard's gaze shifted from him to the flower in front of him and told his lady about it. Sweat made its way down his face as the thought of the consequences that would come by having the knight or lady from the Bluepearl house be his lab rat. But, before he could swap the flower for another, Elena had already eyed the flower and proceeded to walk towards him.

Deep down Oliver knew that his fate was sealed, as he could not deny this woman's wish to check up on the exotic plant he had planted the parasite on. While at the same time he couldn't just remove the parasite without her knight noticing the action. Stuck between a sword and a hard place, he decided to just let it all play out and improvise as the situation progressed.

"This is quite the exotic flower you got there. May I know its name?" She said as she pulled the flower closer to her face so she could examine it in greater detail, but right before she could pull it close enough for her to smell its fragrance her knight held her arm.

"Careful, milady we don't know anything about this flower. As far as I know, it could be poisonous."

Heading to her trustworthy knight's advice Elena put the flower back on the counter.

"Speak now what is this flower that I have never seen before?"

"It is a blue with pink circular pattern orchid that was recently discovered called Aquarelle Orchid."

"So it is a newly discovered flower, is there anything about it that we should know?"

"It has an exquisite aroma that aids in the restoration of magic energy, which is why it felt pleasant as soon as you got closer to it."

After concluding that what Oliver said had no lies in it, the knight gave his lady the go.

Time slowed down to a crawl as Oliver's brain worked harder than it ever had before. What am I gonna do he thought, as he saw the flower slowly reach Elena's face. He had a rough idea about what was going to happen. Every time he used a parasite on a plant there would be an immediate reaction. Moreover, this was not only a new parasite, but it was also his first time testing it and he had no idea how the human body would react to it. Sweat trickled down his cheeks as he silently cursed how foolish he was for putting his parasite there while knowing that only people of importance walked into his store.

He loathed his naivety, but he remained hopeful. He observed the situation with utmost care knowing that as soon as the parasite took root in her body, he would fire a command that would mark the difference between being able to laugh it all off or having the public laugh at him as he waits for his execution.

Ignorant to the hidden gift that laid in wait at the orchid's petals, Elena pulled it close to her nose and exhaled the orchid's sweet scent. She closed her eyes as she savored and enjoyed the strong aroma.

To the surprise of everyone, Elena jumped while her body arched backward as she fell towards the ground motionless. In shock, the knight instinctively ran in to support her so she wouldn't hit herself with the floor. Eyes full of rage stared at Oliver who was rock solid as if petrified in the spot.

Unlike the knight, he was not surprised at what happened to Elena but at the message he received.

[Animal Parasite has successfully taken over Elena Bluepearl.]

It was similar to the message he would get when he used his plant parasites. Whenever his parasites took over a plant he would be able to use his magic to give them commands to alter how the plants functioned. That was his secret to creating such perfect flowers. But, that was with plants, now he had taken over a living being with its own personality and consciousness, this was a completely different matter.

Jolted back to reality at the realization that the knight was already unsheathing his sword ready to execute him on the spot after safely laying Elena on the floor. Without thinking, he casted a spell just as he would to any plant parasite, this time directed towards the parasite inside Elena.

Save me! He commanded the parasite as he foresaw his head rolling on the floor.

"Lucas stop what you are doing right now and help me up!"

Taken aback by her angry, commanding tone, which she never used directly towards her knight, Lucas. Who in a heartbeat turned completely submissive to his lady's attitude, resheathed his sword, turned around to Elena, and completely ignored Oliver who was looking at everything that had transpired with wide eyes.

"Milady are you alright?" He asked as he held her arm providing her support.

"Yes, I am fine, the scent was way stronger than I thought."

"I see, what a relief."

"Let's leave, I no longer hold any interest in this place."

"As you command milady."

And just like that the noble and her knight left the store bringing an end to this stormy event. But, before they left, Oliver used his magic on the parasite once again. He commanded her to come back tomorrow, this time by herself.

Having made sure that they were far away Oliver closed the store and dashed towards his room upstairs. His store is located on the ground floor of a two-story building with a basement used as a storage room. The building doubled as his store and house.

Once there he opened up a notebook and wrote in detail what had just transpired, specifically what a level 5 parasite could do. As soon as he was done documenting his discoveries he quickly went to bed, eager for tomorrow to come, eager to witness what his newfound power could accomplish.