As we grew closer and closer to executing some of Bob’s plans, I noted that Han was a lot more distracted than usual whenever I talked to her, which I hadn’t noticed immediately, mainly due to me not seeing her that much. When I did finally notice and ask, she told me she was working on some alchemy with Glenn, who was the alchemist I’d seen a week ago. She seemed very happy to finally have someone to talk to alchemy about and work with.
I was happy for her, but also a bit jealous, which wasn’t an emotion I was used to. Despite my prior condition, I had never been envious of the things others had, either material or mental, because deep down it hadn’t mattered. When I’d lost everything and decided to make my apartment my tomb, such things had faded as had any ambition for the future save for short-term things such as a video game and anime release.
But I was envious that this Glenn had the time to work with Han, while I was currently working for my life and future. Bob had made it very clear, that if the ender found us, death was preferable to what I'd be put through. He’d be locked up, but I’d be lucky to remain myself. He used it to push me on, and soon the time came to perform another summoning.
But first, I had to collect some final ingredients from Han.
I entered her shop and frowned when she didn't immediately pop up. Ever since she’d put new defenses and alarms in place, whenever I arrived, she was only seconds away from jumping through the back door, and shouting “Ricky.” No such thing this time. I headed to the front and rang the bell a few times. I waited, but after a few minutes, I headed into the back. Han and I were close enough that she didn't mind me moving around the store.
As I guessed she was in her lab, but as I neared, I didn't hear her usual muttering, but her voice, clear, and another voice, posh and smooth. Glenn. I found them stooped over a workbench, and a flash of jealousy ran through me at their closeness. He was pressed up to her side while she slowly dipped some sort of green stick into a vial of dark, bubbling liquid. I decided to wait, and as I did, Glenn’s eyes flicked over to me, and he smiled, and though it was friendly, I couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t genuine.
The liquid calmed, and the stick melted as she slowly dipped it in. It scarcely took a few seconds and when all was said and done, the liquid was an azure blue and was giving off a familiar aroma.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
It’s a mana potion. Potent one at that.
Han sighed and looked up. She blinked, then rushed over. “Ricky!” I met her hug and felt relief. I caught Glenn’s eyes and swore I could see a slight tightening of his smile. I returned his smile, and if it was a bit smug, well, I couldn't help it.
“You came for the ingredients?”
“I did, but also to check up on you. How are you doing?”
“Good.” She smiled. “Me and Glenn are working on a new type of mana potion.”
“Oh?”
Glenn coughed. “Yes, we’re trying to create a low-cost potion that relieves the mental strain of using mana while also refueling a practitioner. It is one of the biggest limits of mana potions. Most will increase the generation of mana or simply pour a set amount into a practitioner, but they don’t take away the mental strain. It's why you can’t just keep downing mana potions, that and mana fatigue, and mana strain, along with all the other nasties that can happen when taking too much condensed mana in.”
Han nodded excitedly. “There's plenty of potions that do it, but they're all pricey. I want to make one for everybody.”
“She’s quite the alchemist, and with a noble heart at that” Glenn said, and there was something in his voice I couldn't read. “She should be working with much more, don't you agree?”
“I suppose,” I said.
Han snorted. “I don't want to work for any of the corps. No thank you.” She released me and headed over to pick up a bag. “Everything’s in here, packed nice and safe.”
“Thanks, Han.” I leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. “Talk later, ok?”
She nodded and moved back to the workbench as I left. I caught Glenn’s eyes one more time, and they flashed with an emotion I couldn’t read. He seemed nice, but there was something about him that rubbed me wrong. Although maybe it was just me looking for a reason to dislike him due to my feeling of jealousy.
With the bag in hand, I headed home. Bob would be waiting and we had a summoning to perform. We needed more magical energy for some of our other plans and contingencies.