Chapter 5 - Elixir

This was another reason why Aina stood out. She was not like everyone else. If her face was well drawn and perfectly symmetrical, this was not the case for the rest of the world. Normal people wore no expression, except that which the young woman imagined for them, based on the blurred shadows drawn by the discreet relief of their faces and which gave the illusion of replacing the features they did not possess. Their general appearance gave Aina the impression that they were someone and nobody at the same time, like a blurred silhouette that one would see in the reflection of a lake and whose characteristics one could not distinguish.

"Again ?" he wondered, crossing his arms over his chest.

The young woman sighed and shrugged.

"You know very well that I'm not the one choosing here."

Aina was content to do as she was ordered, without asking any questions. Daniel nodded and she almost felt like he would have rolled his eyes, if only he'd had some.

"Do your masters have no taste for good things?" he was offended, as if he had just been told to donate his precious shop. "Why continue to eat the same thing!"

Daniel was a trader at heart, living off the excitement of novelty and risk, so he didn't understand the "routine" way of life of the Signavit, who seem to be in his eyes only strange and boring people.

"Variety and innovation, miss!" he gesticulated, "it's the secret of a successful meal!"

The young woman nodded absently, disregarding his displeased and outraged voice, to observe his products. The butcher made the same remarks every time she came, like an old broken record. He was always surprised to see her buy the same foods and always told her over and over again how old-fashioned the routine of the family she was serving was.

She was used to his little outbursts since she had been coming here for several years now. She therefore let him complain and preach for his parish, without caring about what he might say and think. The man didn't seem to mind her attitude, because he didn't realize it, or simply because he was pretending not to see it.

She saw a nice piece of beef, placed on the display and almost salivated, suppressing the urge she had, to go beyond the instructions of her masters to take initiatives and change the menu.

[ Do only what you are asked and nothing else .]

She almost jumped when the memory of the cavernous and terrifying voice of the patriarch imposed itself on her and her hand which was stretched out towards the tempting dish stopped almost immediately, to return to her pocket.

She was reminded of the only time she had, without even knowing what had got into her, tried to break the rules of the mansion. She didn't remember that moment well, probably because she had been so shocked that her mind had briefly disconnected from reality. This memory was very hazy and indefinite, but her master's piercing and cold eyes had left her with an imperishable memory, contrary to the reason for which she had been scolded.

She couldn't remember what she had done that day. All she remembered was breaking one rule, even if she didn't know which one, and nearly getting punished for her slight. Fear... It was the only thing that had stuck in her.

" Everything's good ?" the butcher's voice pulled her out of her reverie.

Surprised, she raised her head, slightly shaken by the strange feeling that this memory had provoked in her.

'Focus Aina.'

As if to collect herself, she shook her head and cleared her throat. She didn't know how long the man had been watching her, but she hoped he hadn't witnessed her inner turmoil.

"Well, lamb it will be... And two bottles of milk with that."

This time, Daniel did not protest. He just nodded and disappeared behind the counter, before returning with a paper bag. It was strange to see him so silent, but Aina said nothing and placed a few coins in the palm of his hand, before turning on her heels.

"Miss!" he called out to her, as she had almost disappeared into the crowd.

She did not turn around and contented herself with stopping right in the middle of the cobblestones.

"If you have any problem, don't hesitate to come and see us!"

'He noticed.'

Aina felt embarrassed to have lost her means in front of this man, but she appreciated his consideration, although she could not express it. So she hurried away, as if fleeing, without even taking the time to answer him. It was at this moment that she encountered a wall, or rather what looked like it. The collision was so powerful that she tipped back, sending her little basket full of food flying in the process.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, closing her eyes as she waited for the fall.

But no pain came.

"Are you okay, Aina?" asked a male voice, which she recognized almost immediately.

"Mister Medicis ? she ventured, passing his large, imposing figure camouflaged under a long, snow-white cloak.

The man sighed amusedly, bringing the young woman back to her feet. He had caught her by the waist and was holding her basket in his hand with disconcerting ease. He was surprisingly skilled and athletic for an herbalist, though she wasn't sure that was his only activity.

"Be careful, you almost hurt yourself." he noted, slightly teasingly.

As soon as he let go of the young maid, she rearranged her rumpled clothes and her messy hairstyle, before bowing delicately, her eyes glued to the floor.

"I'm sorry..." she breathed as she picked up her basket, "I wasn't watching where I was going..."

"There is no harm done Aina." she shivered at the sound of her name in his mouth. "It's good that you are alright."

Sacha Medicis was a strange man. Genius herbalist and favored purveyor to the entire empire of miracle concoctions and life-saving remedies. He was someone important, whom one could generally only met on very rare occasions. However, Aina saw him on each of her outings, as if fate insisted that she would end up crossing paths with him. She couldn't quite explain it, but she was sure she had seen more of this man in a few years than most people in a lifetime.

"It's good that we met." he continued without waiting for her answer. "You were planning on coming to see me anyway, weren't you?"

The young woman did not refute his statements. It was true that this man's shop was part of her little routine, every time she came to town.

"...Have you brought it?"

She looked around, to see if anyone was watching her, slightly nervous. The hooded man, whose face she had never really seen, nodded, looking perfectly serene, despite the situation. He reached into his brown leather jacket, pulling out a small coal-black vial, engraved with what looked like a flower, although this one was perfectly unsightly. Given his attire and the situation in which they both found themselves, everyone could have believed that this strange and mysterious man was a murderer or a thief, when he was only a talented man who tried to keep his identity a secret. Herbalists of his level were rare in the empire, so much so that this person could have been in danger if he didn't camouflage his face properly during his excursions.

"Come on Aina." he sneered. "You know very well that I am perfectly competent in the field."

It was true that this man could not be more qualified, but his most appreciable trait was his discretion, which was in order when selling such products.

"I put you a little extra. Offered by the house, since you are my best customer."

The young woman did not appreciate the mocking tone that he always used with her, but she was careful not to express it. He was after all her main Elixir supplier and it went without saying that she couldn't afford to upset him. Without even taking the time to answer him, she placed a few coins in the palm of his hand, staring at him out of the corner of her eye with a bored expression.

"You still haven't told me what use you make of the Elixir of Dreams." he remarked, rubbing his chin.

'Always so curious...' she thought to herself, grimacing.

"I don't think I'm obligated to answer you." she replied more curtly than she would have liked.

For a moment, she thought the man was going to get angry, but he just laughed, putting his hand over his mouth, as if she had told him a good joke.

"Come on, don't be so on guard. You should know that I've been a trustworthy person since the beginning of our agreement."

Aina had been with him for at least three years and was beginning to understand his personality, although the contrary was also true. Sacha was the loyal type when it came to money. So she wasn't really bothered by his casual attitude, which she knew was just a facade.

" You should never trust a merchant too much ." she repeated, imitating the expression he had worn the day the two had met.

Sacha looked surprised to see her use his words, but that only amused him much more, given the smirk she saw on his lips in the shadow of his hood. As she stared at the man's brown hair, her gaze caught on the pocket watch hanging around his neck and that's when she realized what time it was.

'I dragged it for too long!' she panicked, gritting her teeth.

Seeing that she had been too distracted by her interlocutor, she eagerly slipped the small bottle into her basket and looked around for the fruit and vegetable vendor.

"Excuse me, I have to go." she muttered eagerly, not even meeting the gaze of the man, who was still watching her.

"Don't be in such a rush..." he started, but she cut him off, starting to walk away as if to tell him the conversation was over.

"I will come back to see you for the rest!" she called from afar, heading for the fruit and vegetable stand waiting for her a little further.

"Don't abuse this delicacy too much, miss, it's a powerful product!" he advised playfully, waving his hand in her direction to say goodbye.

He then disappeared into the crowd like a shadow and Aina cast a last glance in his direction, before continuing on her way, as if he had never been there.