Chapter 7: Arcturus

Arcturus didn’t expect Eclipse to come with him today, or even pay a visit to the apothecary at all. Yet here she was, sent with him on a walk to the botanist’s.

He just hoped he wouldn’t embarrass himself again.

How could you have forgotten about the Cavern Sage?

“So, where to?” Eclipse Soleil asked dryly as they strolled past the neighboring shoe shop, sounding slightly annoyed.

“Well, Miss Soleil,” he responded, “Mrs. Marsica is the only botanist in the marketplace that carries Windroot, so I suppose that’s where we’re headed. The only problem is that it’s quite a long walk.”

She rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get on with it.”

The sky was a vibrant blue, with white clouds hanging overhead as the sun shined down on the market. The village was particularly festive this time of year with the summer solstice approaching soon. Banners and posters depicting sun-inspired designs decorated the streets, and shop doors and windows were thrown open to let in the summer breeze.

Arcturus peeked over at Eclipse, her eyes set along the path. He was taller than her by a good head, but she still managed to walk with an air of elegance. Strangely, he found himself examining her a little too closely. She was pretty, with warmly colored skin and bright lips. Her long black hair hung in gentle waves, making the dark shirt she wore look light in comparison. A brown shawl draped over her shoulder, with intricate leather boots at her feet, marking her high status. Her matching brown satchel hung at her side, bouncing against her hip as she walked. He wondered why she wore such dark clothing on a warm day.

She glanced back at him, catching his stares with an eyebrow raised.

Arcturus cleared his throat. “So, your mother is the Sinistra Soleil?”

“Yes.” She didn’t add anything else.

“So…why does she send you to get her remedy? I would assume she would send a servant, not her daughter.”

“That is none of your concern.”

“I’m just curious, that’s all. You come to us pretty often.”

She looked straight at him this time, studying him with her deep brown eyes.

“My mother doesn’t trust our servants with her remedy. She has a condition that could be detrimental to her reputation if it got out through a foolish worker’s lips.”

“Would I be the right person to tell then?” Arcturus asked as he waved to one of the shopkeepers passing by. Mr. Enan, that was his name.

Eclipse smirked. “You’re more like the benign type. You wouldn’t be one to gossip about it.”

“We barely know each other, how can you be sure?”

They both ducked under a banner being strung up. “I can tell. You seem to be a good person, Mr. Sarir.” She said that last bit with a teasing tone.

Arcturus looked away, frowning as he felt his neck prickle with heat.

“Besides,” she sighed, “I don’t think she can stand the thought of some low servant knowing about her…circumstances.”

A short pause. “Well, you always come to buy Metarone,” Arcturus thought out loud. “And…well…that is usually used to treat Wither’s Disease.” He looked over at Eclipse, his eyes wide.

She burst out laughing, suddenly clutching Arcturus’s arm. He hesitantly smiled with her, unsure if it was appropriate to laugh, but enjoyed the sound of her laughter anyway.

“Yes, Arcturus, the great Sinistra Soleil, master of Persuasion, has Wither’s Disease. She tries very hard to keep that a secret.”

Arcturus nervously looked around, unsure if any passerby had heard. Although it wasn’t his own family’s reputation, he was bewildered at how easily Eclipse seemed to announce the secret.

Eclipse and Arcturus both flinched as a young girl suddenly appeared in front of their path without warning. She had come straight out of the wall of the shop at their side.

A Phaser.

The girl quickly apologized for cutting through and dashed across the street, vanishing as quickly as she appeared.

“So, what is your Gift, Arcturus?” Eclipse abruptly asked, watching the little girl run off.

“Mine? Levitation.”

“Interesting. You know, I’ve always been fascinated by the Scales’ Gift.”

“I’m sure yours is equally fascinating. What is it?”

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“Persuasion, like my mother,” she declared as she rolled her eyes. “And so I’m stuck in the miserable Ash Court.”

“Persuasion?” he said as his step faltered. “That Gift is quite powerful isn’t it?”

“Only if you’re strong with it,” she shrugged, “as are all the Gifts.”

They continued walking, Arcturus trailing slightly behind, with a small smirk forming along his lips. “You aren’t planning to Persuade me, are you?” he teased.

“I might just will if you don’t hurry along.”

Arcturus’s smirk instantly disappeared, unable to tell if she was joking or not. He scurried forward to match her fast pace.

Eclipse chuckled at his worried expression. “You’re fun to mess with, Arcturus Sarir.”

Arcturus started to laugh with her, before spotting Marsica’s shop ahead. The usually dragging trip had felt oddly short this time.

“Here we are, Miss Soleil.”

She rolled her eyes at the remark, “What are you, a servant? You can call me Eclipse, you know.”

Arcturus pushed open the door, and an earthy smell greeted the pair as they stepped inside. A tiny bell jingled at the top of the door, fading out quickly. Sunlight filtered in through glass panels in the roof, dancing over the hanging green vines and blooming flowers dispersed throughout the shop. Arcturus always thought the room seemed more like an exotic jungle than a store, with its overlapping plants and bursting baskets of greenery.

“Come in, come in! I’ll be right out!”

Mrs. Marsica’s kind voice rang from the back of the shop. Arcturus stood with Eclipse near the middle, who was marveling over the plants that hung above her.

“Which ones do you recognize?” he asked. “She carries many of the ingredients we use.”

Eclipse glanced at him briefly before searching again. “Well, I can see your typical Sessile Fern, Speckled Tulip, Vasamon, and Dragon’s Nettle on that shelf there, but everything else is lost on me.”

Arcturus tilted his head to the side, scanning each of the shelves masked by the hanging vines. “I don’t see any Dragon’s Nettle.”

“You’re right. There isn’t any. I was just testing you.”

Testing me? An apothecary’s apprentice? The audacity of this girl.

Mrs. Marsica came rushing in, a bucket of water in each hand. Her apron was streaked with dirt, and her white hair was bundled in a messy bun, bouncing as she stepped forward. Arcturus spotted a crinkled, yellow leaf stuck between the scruffy locks. As usual, Marsica stood completely barefoot on the patchy wooden floor.

“Here, let me help you with those pails,” offered Arcturus, moving forward to help her.

“Arcturus, my dear, you are too kind. These pails are simply a pain! I’m really not as strong as I was in my youth.” The botanist smiled at Arcturus as he reached for the buckets. Before he could take them from her hands, she gave him a fleeting wink. He narrowed his eyes, slightly confused, before realizing Eclipse was still standing in the room.

“And who is this? Arcturus, be a gentleman and introduce this nice girl to me.”

“Oh, of course. My apologies. This is Eclipse Soleil. She came with me to purchase an ingredient for her remedy.”

Mrs. Marsica didn’t seem to take notice of Eclipse’s last name, which most people usually did. Arcturus wasn’t even part of the Ash Court, yet he heard much talk of the Councilman and his notorious wife. How could anyone in Ophelia not know of them?

“Welcome to my humble emporium, Miss Soleil.” Eclipse returned her greeting with a warm smile. Mrs. Marsica turned to Arcturus. “How may I assist the two of you?”

“We are in need of a restock in Windroot, but since we’re already here, we could also buy some Felonwood and Thimbleweed for the apothecary.”

“Will you be paying now or should I add it to Iros’ tab?”

“Adding it to his tab would be great.”

“Excuse me, but why are you barefoot?” Eclipse blurted. Arcturus and Marsica simultaneously turned to look at her, standing elegantly with her hands held together in front. Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink at the attention.

Marsica smiled softly at her. “Why, my dear, I choose not to wear shoes because it is much easier for me to move around. I prefer to brush against the earthly soil and truly relish the comfort of nature. Besides, my old, worn feet can’t stand the feel of shoes.”

Eclipse nodded, still slightly bewildered. Mrs. Marsica went back to gathering their ingredients, moving around her shop with graceful ease. Arcturus set the heavy pails down near the back corner, struggling to keep the water from spilling out. He noticed Eclipse gazing at the botanist, her eyes filled with curiosity as Arcturus came forward to join her.

As he watched the lady briefly retreat to the back room, a burst of red caught the corner of his eye: a rose of a radiant scarlet hue bloomed from a hanging basket. On a whim, he lifted his hand, channeling his Gift through the air, and used it to gently pluck the flower from its roots and float it over to his palms. He cupped his hands around the rose, and brought the delicate thing before Eclipse.

“What’s this?” she asked with a perplexed look at the flower.

Arcturus didn’t say anything. With one arm, he softly reached for her hands, holding them open. He lifted the rose above them, and gently dropped the flower onto her palms. Her eyes held a curious shine as she stared at him, though still confused.

“What—” she tried to start.

Arcturus quickly looked down, embarrassment flooding through him. It was so unusual, so unlike him, but felt so…right.

Before Eclipse could say anything, Mrs. Marsica came bustling in from the back room, carrying a small basket of glass vials and dried bundles tied together.

“Here you are, dear. That should be all of it. Do tell your master I said hello.”

“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Marsica. I promise I’ll be back soon with the tab payment.”

“Of course, of course, don’t worry. Now off with you two, enjoy the day,” said Mrs. Marsica, pushing them to the door. As Eclipse started to head out, Arcturus hesitated for a brief second.

The botanist seemed to read his mind. “You don’t have to pay for the rose. My gift to you,” she said with a grin.

Arcturus smiled with gratitude, and tried to hide his very visible blushing as he walked out into the sunlight and let the wooden door of the shop slam shut behind him.

“Well then, Arcturus, let us be on our way,” Eclipse said cheerfully, already walking ahead of him. Slowly glancing at her, he noticed the striking rose resting neatly in her hair, the vibrant red making her eyes shine even more. She confidently strode along, trying to keep a large distance ahead, as though she was in some sort of race.

Arcturus smiled to himself before following her back to the apothecary.