CHAPTER 22

"So, where are we going?" Winter inquired.

"Not we, you are waiting here for now," Sapphire ordered.

"What?" Winter exclaimed. "You can't abandon me here."

"I am not abandoning you idiot. I am going to buy a hat and cloak for you." Sapphire hissed, examining Winter's outfit. "And just why are your clothes exactly like mine?"

"They aren't exactly like yours. Yours are completely black, no designs or anything. Mine are white with very light blue snowflake designs. Mine are better," Winter informed proudly.

"And easy to spot." Sapphire pointed out, flicking Winter's forehead. "Whatever," she sighed, "I am getting you a white hat and a white cloak, whether you like it or not."

Winter silently sat down and Sapphire took one last glance at her looks before leaving to grab some supplies. Hair white as a sheet of snow, light blue eyes like frozen ice over a lake. Both of them were similar in build, Winter just being a bit taller and stronger looking.

Sapphire disappeared into the shadows from right in front of Winter and only waited for a moment to see the shocked expression on Winter's face. Seeing her ally disappearing in the blink of an eye left Winter somewhat shook and she uneasily studied her surroundings. Sapphire teleported to a quiet corner of the village market, walking the rest of the way. She spotted a white hat and cloak on a stall, just like hers, and went straight there to buy them.

"I would like the white hat and the cloak." Sapphire requested, standing on her toes to peek above the stall's table.

"That will be three silver and thirty bronze coins." The stall owner informed after counting for a moment.

Retrieving the coins from her pocket Sapphire placed them on the stall, collected the hat and cloak before leaving. She wondered if she should carry some food items, but disregarded the idea. Since there were two wolves now, they can easily hunt, something Sapphire thought would be more efficient than carrying food along with her. She still decided to visit a potions shop to see if there was anything useful there, afterall Kurai informed her before how useful potions can be. As she entered the shop she saw racks lined with colorful potions, which made no sense to Sapphire, if she didn't have Appraisal that is.

"Status-Condition Removal Potion (Lesser)(2 Silver), HP Instant Restore Potion (Lesser)(2 Silver), HP Regeneration Potion (Lesser)(3 Silver), MP Instant Restore Potion (Lesser)(3 Silver), MP Regeneration Potion (Lesser)(3 Silver), Stamina Instant Restore Potion (Lesser)(2 Silver), Stamina Regeneration Potion (Lesser) (2 Silver), Speed Boost Potion (Lesser)(2 Silver), Attack Boost Potion (Lesser)(3 Silver), Defense Boost Potion (Lesser)(3 Silver), Status-Condition Removal Potion (Greater)(8 Silver), HP Instant Restore Potion (Greater)(8 Silver), HP Regeneration Potion (Greater) (10 Silver), MP Instant Restore Potion (Greater)(10 Silver), MP Regeneration Potion (Greater)(10 Silver) Stamina Instant Restore Potion (Greater)(8 Silver), Stamina Regeneration Potion (Greater)(8 Silver), Speed Boost Potion (Greater)(8 Silver), Attack Boost Potion (Greater) (10 Silver), Defense Boost Potion (Greater) (10 Silver), Elemental Damage Boost Potion (Lesser)(5 Silver), Physical Damage Boost Potion (Lesser)(5 Silver), Elemental Resistance Boost Potion (Lesser)(5 Silver),Physical Resistance Boost Potion (Lesser)(5 Silver), Elemental Damage Boost Potion (Greater)(15 Silver), Physical Damage Boost Potion (Greater)(15 Silver), Elemental Resistance Boost Potion (Greater)(15 Silver),Physical Resistance Boost Potion (Greater)(15 Silver)."

That is a lot of potions. Which ones do I even take?

"Hello, are you an adventurer by any chance?" The shop owner questioner, leaning on the counter.

It was a young girl with black hair and emerald eyes and a dark complexion. Her attire was that of a witch, a large hat on her head, a staff with a crystal orb on one end placed in a rack. She stood behind a counter and beckoned Sapphire to come closer. Sapphire hesitantly walked to the counter and nodded.

"Having trouble choosing the potions eh? I can help you with that," The girl offered with a smile

"That won't be necessary. I would like 10 of each of the greater potions, only 5 of the resistance and damage boost potions however," Sapphire requested.

"Oh, uh, on it." The girl responded, slightly shocked as she turned to retrieve the potions.

Collecting potions from multiple racks and drawers she placed them on the counter. After a moment she started counting the potions and their total price.

"These will be..." She mumbled, still thinking.

"Twelve gold coins?" Sapphire asked.

"Uh, yes, yes, twelve gold coins," The girl agreed, slightly baffled at Sapphire's speed, which actually was her own and not Appraisal.

How do I carry so many now? Sapphire wondered looking at the pile of colorful potions. They were small, but it didn't make carrying so many any easier with a proper container.

"Since you are buying so many potions of every kind, how about I offer you a potion bag? It's just five silver," The girl offered.

"That will be nice," Sapphire replied..

The girl presented the potion bag, which was a small bag, almost a box, which Sapphire could easily tie onto her belt. Inside it contained separate sections for separate kinds of potions each section having enough space to carry sixteen potions in each section. The fifteen section grid of the box didn't take long to be filled, fourteen of those nearly filled by the potions Sapphire bought, only one remaining empty.

"Uh, since you are buying so many potions, allow me to offer you a special potion." The girl offered with a clap of her hands.

"Sure," Sapphire agreed with a smile.

The girl presented an ominous looking potion, filled in thin small glass bottle just like the others, but the liquid inside seemed completely black unlike the others. 

"Unknown Potion, Effects Unknown. Probability of harm from usage: 0%."

I guess it's fine if it doesn't cause any harm. Sapphire shrugged as she placed the potion in the last section.

Sapphire walked out of the shop, turning around and waving once to the owner before closing the door. She went to a dark secluded street, making sure no one spotted her before using Shadow Movement to teleport back to Winter. Winter jumped from her spot on a tree and snarled at Sapphire, her ears standing in shock and alarm. As Winter recognized Sapphire and calmed down Sapphire tossed the hat and cloak onto Winter's head, covering her face.

"Put them on fast, we are leaving now." Sapphire ordered as she walked past Winter.

"Yeah, yeah," Winter sighed, removing the cloak from her face and fixing the position of the hat on her head before following Sapphire.