They followed the saleswoman down a cellar as another man took over her position.
Round and round, they kept going down, stepping over moldy stairs. A thick whiff of rusted iron hit Kai's nose as the witch took out a large key, puffing for air meanwhile. The metal creaked quizzically when she opened the door.
The noise of a million insects stridulating deafened Kai's ears.
The sound was so harsh, and yet enchanting, that Kai felt himself losing his mind in search of pleasant dreams.
But when his eyes fell on Petyr, this sensation turned into horror. The character, who hadn't been affected by anything so far, was blurring in and out of existence like a specter. If he wasn't standing behind the witch, she would have seen right through him.
"These rascals!" the witch cursed, taking out her wand. "Stop!"
A tap from her wand on one of the wooden crates followed her shout.
Kai felt the fluctuation of Mana and the buzz stopped. Petyr looked pale as if someone had taken a bucketful of blood out of him. He looked at Kai, and Kai understood one more unfortunate incident like this, and the Character would return to the Book.
"Pardon, young men," the witch said apologetically. "I need to store many insects for the Potion-masters."
"I… I understand perfectly well, my lady," Petyr managed to say, though his one hand was still blurry like mist trying to become water. "Insects. Wonderful creatures for the strangest of the Potions. I thank you from all the Potioneering Community."
"Oh…" the saleswoman hid a giggle. "Come. Here, let me light it up. Lumos!"
The witch chanted and flicked her wand.
Kai gawked like a boy as the tip of the wand lit up like a white bulb. The dim surrounding presented itself to them, then. Big, heavy wooden crates were lined up against the walls. The floor was full of wet straws and the smell was just short of retching.
"Serpents…" the saleswoman trailed off as if she would talk about anything but serpents. "Well, they are not the most sought-after creatures. And that's the nicest thing to say about them, with all the dark tales that revolve around them. I have only one magical serpent and a few ordinary serpents for milking."
Kai took the lead, then. "Show us the magical one."
The witch gave the nastiest look to Kai. Even Kai's Charisma seemed lacking to counter her aversion to serpents, and to those who talked about them with odd enthusiasm and eagerness.
She looked away from Kai, staring at Petyr. Her loathing calmed down, seeing Petyr frowning at the crates lying in front of them. "Magical one?" she asked, confirming Petyr's will at this.
Petyr nodded. "If it's possible, my lady," he said. "Non-magical serpents won't last the process."
"Oh, yes," the witch agreed, taking out a smaller key. "I remember now. Very well."
What the actual fuck?! Kai cursed, gritting his teeth. This bastard is spitting nonsense one after another, and the slut thinks he is a master of potions or something. Tch!
Under the incredulous gaze of Kai, the witch opened the smallest rectangular crate.
A sudden hiss resounded, echoing off the walls of the densely stuffed cellar. Kai felt complete hearing the hiss. The hunger within him was on the verge of exploding. Even the sheer Will didn't seem enough to hold him back.
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A hand gripped Kai's wrist.
Kai jumped out of his trance-like state and saw Petyr looking at him. The character let go of his hand, and Kai licked his lips, approaching the crater silently, slithering with every next step.
When Kai leaned over the witch's shoulder, he saw white and silver intermixing into the purest form.
The little serpent was coiled inside the congested box, its white scales glistening ghostly silver under the glow of the witch's spell.
"Ghost Serpent, a white cobra from India," the witch introduced. "It's a 3-months-old hatchling, and 1 ft long. We have to keep it in an enchanted box. Otherwise, it changes into its specter form and passes through almost all things."
Kai had never desired something so beautiful before. As if sensing his presence, the hatchling lifted its head and stared at Kai. Its eyes were red, peeking into one's soul. A tiny black forked tongue slithered out before it yawned, opening its mouth wide.
Contrast to the pure colors outside, the insides of mouth were stark black like staring into the abyss itself.
Petyr meaningfully shook his head. "It's quite young," he said, hesitating. "I will have to rear it myself. That can be a strenuous task, my lady. You know the times. A potioneer rearing an albino snake in his backyard. What would the people say? I don't want the Ministry wizards knocking on my door."
Kai knew what Petyr was doing. A play of words and emotions.
But there was too much at stake for Kai to appreciate Petyr's efforts. The anger was just hanging by the back of his throat.
Fortunately, the witch replied in time. "No, no," she said, licking her lips. "They are highly venomous, and would need regular milking, but they are the quietest of their kind. Look at it. If it was another serpent, it would have raised its hood menacingly by now. It's no pet, I know. But you won't find a better deal anywhere else."
"And what is that deal, my lady?" Petyr asked, kindly. "For this hatchling."
Just pay her already, Kai's soul screamed, his breath pulsating with anticipation.
*
*
Morning, November 6
Leaky Cauldron
The awaited day had come.
Kai was sitting in a meditative position on the floor, steam rising off his glistening red body. There was a small box in front of him, with a key in its lock, just waiting for someone to turn it and let the being inside come out.
60 Galleons was the price they had paid for it. Not a single knut more or less. It was a monstrous amount, considering that the common pets were around 10 galleons each or less. But Kai would have paid up to 100 for it. Not that the witch hadn't asked for it. Kai wondered if it wasn't for Petyr's glib tongue, how much he would have needed to pay for it.
Kai’s eyes snapped open. They were two serpentine slits, hazel and moist. He remembered the notifications he had gotten after leaving the shop.
…
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai Stormborn
You have achieved a Milestone
…
Milestone: Buy your first magical creature
Milestone Rewards: Breath +1
…
Milestone: Diagon Alley Exploration (30%) - roam through the Diagon Alley, visiting some major and minor shops
Milestone Rewards: A 10% discount on the first 10 items bought from the Diagon Alley
]
…
The serpent wasn't the only thing Kai had bought out of the shop.
A syringe was lying beside him, its needle capped. Kai had asked for a syringe that can penetrate the magical creatures with the thickest skin. The stare he had got in return was condemning. Nonetheless, Petyr had negotiated the price down to 10 Galleons.
It wasn't an Item. But it might as well have the strongest Item in his arsenal considering the future.
"You are awake," a sweet voice came from his right. "I thought you have gone to sleep, sitting there like a priest."
Kai didn't have the time for Cersei.
Like Petyr, he had left her on the bed, forbidding her to leave it without thinking of a solution for his second problem. But instead of gaining some words of inspiration, all he had got out of her were scowls and sulking shoulders.
Kai again looked at the enchanted box and took a deep breath.
It was now or never.
With a grave, but anticipating, expression, Kai’s hand reached towards the box and opened it.