10 The Alchemist

The trio walked inside into what seemed like an office room. There were numerous documents piled in neat stacks around the room and on the mahogany table. On the other side of the table there sat a boy with bleach white hair and a calm smile. To his side there stood a girl who lacked facial expressions and another boy who had pitch black hair and pale-white skin... a vampire.

"Ahhh... so good to see you again Maximillian. What favour have to come to ask this time?"

"Good to see you too, Geraldus. Peresphone, Kathina, this is my good friend, Geraldus Parafilodox. He is an alchemist that may help us deal with Persephone's situation."

"Oh so you're the so-called hate magic caster Persephone... it really is rather a shame that you're not the same the class as me. It would have been rather interesting..."

Peresphone felt uncomfortable under Geraldus' inquisitive gaze. He stared at her as if she were rare specimen. As if she wasn't even human. The thought of this made Persephone sick in her stomach. Just what kind of person must the Alchemist be to be insane enough to artificially make vampires? And not just the vampire but the girl that stood by Geraldus' side who lacked any emotion whatsoever, as if she were a hallow doll. Just what is she and what did he do to her?

"Oh where are my manners. To my right is Marrionette and to my left is Alucard, however, they rarely take part in negotiations and are simply here for the formalities so please don't mind them."

"Of course not. After all we are here on business and that's all we need to think about."

"Correct you are Maximillian... Well then. What do you require?"

"I'm looking for an ample supply of a specific potion to... support a friend in need."

"Ohhhh... Normally that would be a very hard demand to complete since with your conventional potions, the magic effect you want must be infused into the potion during its conception. More complicated potions take longer and are harder to pull off but I'm confident in my ability to mass produce standard health and mana potions since they are such general magic effects. However..."

Geraldus' eyes locked onto Persephone's own as he said this.

"I get the feeling that normal health potions are not what you are looking for... if that was all, Maximillian can easy hoard a couple dozens using his royal family's name. So that means you're looking for more obscure consumables... correct?"

"You may be blind to how the society views your sociopathic tendencies but you still are a shrewd business man when it comes to your own trade. Yes, we are not looking conventional health potions, we need something that can replicate Kathina's magic essence or at least her aura."

"Hoh... that would normally be very complicated since Kathina herself is required to infuse her magic in correct ratios into the potion."

"You said 'normally.' That means you got another way Geraldus?"

"Ahhh yes. I wasn't planning on opening this product to the public, however, since it's you Maximillian I'm willing to make an exception."

"My Lord! Please re-think this"

"Boss! Are you sure about this?"

Both the vampire and expressionless girl suddenly impulsively shouted simultaneously but before they could continue on, Geraldus raised his hand, signalling them to stop.

"Now, now Marrionette. Alucard. Both of you may calm down. I am well aware of the risks of this action but I'm confident that Maximillian won't expose our little secret. Like he always said. 'He is tied to this place and therefore equally guilty'. That means that there would be no risk in this course of action."

"I apologise immediately for my transgression, my lord. This one will try her hardest to understand and fulfil your wishes to the best of her ability."

Marrionette was the first to respond. Her voice, much like her face was void of any emotion. However, when Persephone looked deeply into her eyes she can see a staunch loyalty that will do whatever it takes to complete her masters objective. Wether that was something born naturally or something artificially forced through Geraldus' 'operations' or maybe even both, Persephone didn't know which one was scarier.

"Ahhh yeh sorry boss."

Alucard on the other hand replied in a boorish and nonchalant manner in stark contrast to the doll on his right.

"Hearing these words of loyalty pleases me. And please pay your previous action no heed, I prefer for my 'companions' to have an opinion of their own."

"My Lord is truly magnanimous. This one shall multiply her efforts tenfold to achieve my Lord's goals!"

"erm... thanks boss?"

Persephone felt at a loss for words at the bizarre scene displayed in front of them. While Marrionette seemed to be lacking in any emotion they can clearly see how faithfully devoted she is to Geraldus while Alucard on the other hand, the dangerous one would expect to have completely brainwashed into servitude to Gerladus was completely nonchalant and haphazard is his manners. Maximillian seemed unfazed on the other hand as if he was already used to this.

"We're getting off track here Geraldus. What is this product?"

"My own invention. I call it "G-Pills".

As Geraldus explained his new product he took out from the drawer a couple of tiny pills which he displayed on his palm.

"G-Pills are unique in that one can infuse their magical aura into it then swallow the pill at any other time with water. The pill's effect on the body depends on what kind of magic trait one infuses into it."

"So the idea is to have Kathina infuse these pills with her magic? It's that simple?"

"Why yes. I came up with this concept when pondering about a shortcut to the potion dilemma I previously explained."

"What will be it's price?"

"Simple..."

With that one word, Geraldus pointed one finger at Persephone. With that action alone Persephone suddenly found herself shouting.

"No way! Don't be ridiculous! As if I woul-"

"Persephone now is not the time for one of your hissy fits... Geraldus explain."

"I don't need the girl herself. Just her magic. How about this? I will give you 2 G-pills for free. However, if you want more, you will need to give me a pill infused Peresphone's magic. I believe one Persephone pill for two empty G-pills would work fine?"

[Of course not! That's ridiculous! As if I'd give you pieces of my magic! As if I'd give your sneaky-crude ass anything!] That was what Persephone wanted to shout but Maximillian spoke up before she could do so.

"Yes that will do just fine. I'll take these 2 pills now."

Taking the pills, Maximillian turned around to leave.

"Come ladies, we aren't need here anymore."

And with that they left the Alchemist's lair.