“This is the first shop.” Ben and Darek stood in front of the entrance and looked up at the sign.
“Flowerboutique, I’ve never been in something like that,” Ben said.
“Then let’s go,” Darek replied.
I can hardly wait, there will definitely be something fine for Seraphis here, yes maybe even something for me. A useful potion recipe or something like that.
They stepped inside and a little bell that was attached above the door began to ring softly. The shop was large, stylishly furnished, smelled good, and actually reminded one of a boutique. When entering, Darek had to pause for a moment.
Plants glowed everywhere around him in the most different colors and intensities, some bright, others more muted. His senses were practically flooded.
Fuck, that is a bit much all at once.
Darek let his gaze sweep through the row of plants, and immediately his alchemy intuition started working. A gentle glow settled onto every plant that was especially interesting for potions, while others only pulsed weakly.
“I have to be careful what I touch here, so that Seraphis doesn’t swallow everything here,” Darek murmured, and felt how Seraphis’ hunger was stimulated by the many impressions in the boutique.
“Let’s take a closer look at this one first,” Darek said, and sharpened his focus.
Darek directed his gaze at one of the more brightly glowing plants. It stood out next to the other flowers, even if not by much. The moment he focused on it, information flooded his mind.
?? Mountain Serpent Tongue
Name / scientific name: Mountain Serpent Tongue (Serpentina montis)
Appearance: Tiny emerald green leaves with a silver gray shimmer, and a gray stem that snakes along the ground, leading to a flat red bud.
Main component: Tongue blossom
Secondary component: Leaves
Occurrence: Rocky slopes and windy mountain peaks of Aquilara
Base effect: Sharpens the senses, promotes reaction ability
Synergies: Dragonscale Blossom → +15% effect durationPotency: Medium, 4 g per 100 ml potion
Dangers: Overdose → dizziness, light hallucinationsUse in potions: 7 known potions (3 medium quality, 4 low quality, reaction elixirs, vigilance potions, herbal mixtures)
Jackpot, I will take a few of those with me already. I am sure Seraphis will like that, Darek thought, satisfied, and let his gaze sweep once again across the glowing shelves of the boutique.
Darek smirked slightly, carefully took the first chosen plants into his hands, and noticed how the gentle rays of the blossoms almost hypnotized him. “Everything very carefully, Seraphis,” he murmured, and put a few of them into a small basket.
Darek noticed more plants that caught his attention, or rather, that his alchemy intuition called him toward. One of them stood out especially. It glowed just as brightly as the Mountain Serpent Tongue and seemed to glow almost from the inside.
?? Scaleberry
Name / scientific name: Scaleberry (Fructus squamata)
Appearance: Round fruits hidden in small leaves, growing on a bush
Main component: Fruits
Secondary component: Scale like leaves
Occurrence: Shrubby areas and light forests of the mountain region Aquilara
Base effect: Strengthens vitality, stimulates metabolism
Synergies: Frostcrest Moss → +10% effect durationPotency: Medium, 6 g per 100 ml potion
Dangers: Overdose → stomach upset, light restlessnessUse in potions: 8 known potions (1 medium, 7 low defense elixirs, herbal mixtures)
“This is going like clockwork,” Darek said satisfied, and put a few more of the plants into his shopping basket. With a pleased look, he made his way to the checkout.
Mhh, most of the plants seem to have no real use for potions. I probably had more luck than sense here. Most do not list any recipes for potions at all, and can probably only be rated as feed with low quality. One or another maybe as perfume.
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When they left the boutique, Darek grinned and said, “I already thought I would have to plunder my savings today, but it went really well. Now we go to the pet store, get something for Sokrates, and then we should have it done.”
???
The pet store
When they entered the pet store, they were immediately greeted by stuffy air, the smell of hay and animal food, and an ear splitting noise. Birds screeched, rodents darted around in cages, and a few exotic reptiles thumped dully against glass walls.
“Up front here are the things for parrots.” Ben made his way through the aisles. “Here are his favorite nuts, and he also likes a few insects in between.”
Darek followed him, but when he reached the shelf, he stopped. A glaring glow shot into his vision, so intense that he reflexively raised his arm and shielded his eyes with the bend of his elbow.
“Wha, what is that?” he muttered, irritated.
“What is wrong with you? Worms of course, what else.” Ben threw him a crooked look and shook his head.
But Darek knew immediately. That was something else. Seraphis’ inner presence reared up, almost greedy, as if he wanted to immediately throw himself at the source.
“Mhh, probably he has not had a proper meal in the last 600 years. I thought until now he only feeds on plants.”
Carefully, Darek blinked through the gap by his arm and discovered the cause of the glow. A shelf full of small plastic boxes filled with glassy, translucent worms. But one box stood out, shone so brightly that it was impossible to overlook.
Information streamed relentlessly into his mind.
?? Glass Vein Worm
Name / scientific name: Glass Vein Worm (Vermis vitrum venarum)
Appearance: literally like a worm made of glass
Main component: Crystallized vein secretion
Secondary component: Scale remnants from the molt
Occurrence: 1 out of 10,000 glass worms mutates in week 5 to 6 of life into a Glass Vein Worm
Base effect: Binding and strengthening of soul energies
Potency: High, 1 g can already permeate a potion of 100 ml
Dangers: Uncontrolled use can lead to soul hardening or internal fractures
Known potions: 3 (1 of high quality, 2 of medium quality)High: Soul Clear Draught (improvement of soul quality)Medium: Stabilization potion, Dreamcatcher infusion
“Wow, a potion of high quality. I have never seen something like that before.” Darek stared spellbound at the box. “Let’s see what it can do.”
The preparation formed inside his head.
?? Soul Clear Draught (high quality)
Effect: Clarifies and strengthens the soul permanently in a fine nuanceIncreases perception, vitality, and soul resilience
Strengthens spiritual metabolism, faster regeneration of inner energy
Ingredients: (for 1 dose / 100 ml):‘1.5 g vein secretion of the Glass Vein Worm3 petals of the Silver Mist Bell5 ml Frostcrest Moss extract0.5 g Soul Blossom ash100 ml pure spring waterTrace of crystal resin
Special feature: The effect is not only time limited, it “polishes” the soul permanently, even if the effect is only weakly noticeable.
“Mainly for strengthening the soul, I have never heard of something like that. That is way too over the top, almost too good to feed him.” Darek breathed deeply, still stunned.
“I will take some of those too!” he finally said to Ben, a satisfied grin on his lips.
Darek said goodbye to Ben and set off for home full of anticipation.
I do not want to promise too much, but the way you reacted, Seraphis, I think we found some really great things here. It will definitely taste good to him.
???
Back home, the feast begins
When he arrived at home, he immediately rushed into his room, closed the door behind him, and laid the loot out in front of himself. The Mountain Serpent Tongue, the Scaleberries, and the box with the Glass Vein Worm.
“Then let’s begin with the feast.”
He stretched his hand over the ingredients. One after another, they were wrapped in a white, illusory light and sucked into his palm.
Darek sat down cross legged on his bed, closed his eyes, and sank into his Soul Mirror.
There he already saw Seraphis, how he had joyfully devoured the Mountain Serpent Tongue and the Scaleberries. And Iris, who hovered above Seraphis. Darek crossed his arms, pride was written all over his face.
“Looks like you found something exciting,” said Iris, who floated over to Darek, and directed his gaze at Seraphis as well.
“Seems like it. Does it taste good, Seraphis?”
The snake lifted his head briefly, nodded satisfied, and then turned to the Glass Vein Worm. With widened eyes he licked over his lips, then he swallowed the Glass Vein Worm, which desperately tried to flee, in a single bite.
Whether that was already enough, I dare to doubt. I mean, for me something like that definitely would not be enough after 600 years of fasting.
A moment of silence, then Seraphis’ body began to change. His scales flowed faster, glowed in liquid light, until the silver stream suddenly began to flicker. One after the other, the flowing scales detached from his body, as if he were shedding an old skin. His body stretched and he grew, from a slim snake barely 70 cm long into a strong being over 1.30 m long. His gaze was now deeper, more grown up, as if newly born. The silver flowing scales of his body looked more solid, as if they had gained hardness, and shone brighter than before.
Darek could only stare, speechless.
What is going on here. Is that normal?
In that moment Iris spoke with a complicated eye.
“It seems he did not only grow…” His voice sounded astonished. “My gaze tells me: better metabolism, increased vitality, sharpened perception, and above all a soul of much higher quality.”
“Those are exactly the effects of the ingredients!” Darek called out, thrilled, almost laughing in disbelief.
Iris would have crossed his arms if he had any, he studied Seraphis and muttered to himself.
“Hmpf. Then he is probably a walking brewing cauldron, like an effect swallower, that almost feels like a cheat code, his potential is hardly predictable…”
“And Iris, I do not know you like this at all, so calm and thoughtful,” Darek said full of joy. “I have never heard of such an ability.”
“Let’s put it like this: someone does not like my visit here. I am betting on jealousy,” Iris replied dryly.
Hardly had Seraphis finished his development when Darek also felt that his soul had become clearly stronger.
“Mhh, I also feel somehow different,” he murmured, thoughtful.
“Of course, you dummy. You share one and the same soul. Everything that has to do with soul quality, you share. With physical changes it does not look like that,” Iris explained.
“Wow, Seraphis really has it. First this alchemy intuition, and now also improving our soul.”
Hardly had Darek finished the sentence when something completely unexpected happened.
The scales that had been shed during Seraphis’ development suddenly began to gather together, as if drawn by an invisible force. They rotated at such a speed that a silver stream formed, which became brighter and more intense, until it exploded in a blazing white.
The entire Soul Mirror shone, as if the sun itself had risen inside it.
Darek and Iris had to cover their eyes with their arms, the light burned into every fiber of their awareness.
“WHAT, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, IRIS?!” Darek shouted desperately against the roaring sound that seemed to accompany the light.
As the brightness slowly stabilized, he dared to look toward the source.
Iris, however, was already standing there rigid and unmoving, eyes wide open, as if she was not even truly present anymore.
“Iris! IRIS! What is that?!” Darek shouted in panic, his voice trembling.
But Iris did not respond immediately. Her lips trembled, her voice broke when she finally stammered,
“Th, th, th…”
“Then say it already!” Darek stepped a step toward her, impatient, half insane between curiosity and fear.
“Th, th, that…” Iris’ gaze was fixed on the rotating light, tears ran down her cheeks without her noticing.
Then, finally, she formed the words, as if she could hardly believe what she was saying herself.
“That… is… a soul.”
