Seqina was wandering around, looking for a good place to hide. She decided to go in a desolated house, which happened to be near the place she wanted to go to. As soon as she entered the house, she concealed herself using magic, and went on her way.

Seqina moved quietly, walking in an alleyway lined with cloaked figures that she could only see because of her magic. The cloaked figures were not aware of her presence. She passed, undetected by all of them, and arrived in a dead end. She continued on and walked through the end. She passed through the illusory wall, and finally arrived to her destination.

After passing through the shabby wooden wall, her magic disappeared and she became visible. Seqina found herself in a room with stone walls, stone floor, and stone ceiling. There’s no door to enter or go out to, nor is there a window to look outside. The room have long tables with several jars of solid and liquid materials on top of them. There is a small collection of books cramped in a single desk in the far corner of the room. Despite the fascinating things in the room, Seqina focused her gaze towards a mundane wooden chair. On that chair was a woman, the owner of the room, the person she wanted to find.

“As always, your skill shame my guards. I’m lucky that you’re not one of the king’s servants”, the woman said. She had an open book in her hands. She didn’t look away from the book, as she was praising Seqina’s ability. “So, how’s life treating you, my adorable pupil?”

The woman made a slight smile, but it was not clear whether it was intended for Seqina or for what she was reading in her book. Seqina was happy to see the woman, and began her greetings.

“I’m glad you’re well teacher”, Seqina said. She meant those words.

“I’m not for pleasantries, my little fledgling”, the woman stated. She closed the book in her hand, and finally looked at Seqina. “But, since it’s you, I’ll make an exception”

The woman stood, leaving the book on the chair and walked to Seqina. As she reached one of the long tables, she took a jar with dried leaves in it, and she also reached for another jar with white fibrous stems inside it.

“Do you want some tea?”, the woman said.

“Spare me, teacher”, Seqina replied, nervously laughing, as she looked at the jar of dried leaves.

The woman smiled. She praised Seqina for still knowing that the dried leaves are poisonous if used as tea leaves. She returned the jars to the table, and led Seqina to the book filled desk.

“So, will you tell me your objective, or should I assume you just missed me so much?”

Seqina smiled, hearing the woman’s question. It felt nostalgic to her that her teacher didn’t change even a little bit. Before she could answer the question, the woman spoke again.

“You look worried, darling. It seems like you have a harrowing problem”, the woman said.

“It is as you said teacher”

“That’s why you came to me”

“Yes”

“What can I do to help?”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Seqina was hesitant to say her request. She felt that her teacher will reject her immediately. But, in the moment of hesitation, she remembered Kael’s horrible state before. Kael almost sacrificed himself for them, which is something Seqina didn’t want to happen again. She erased her hesitation and took her chance.

“Teacher, could I have some of your “potion one hundred”?”, Seqina asked. Her teacher was about to open another book when she asked the question. The woman looked at her and said a short, but devastating response.

“No”

Seqina expected that the woman will deny her request, but she kept on asking. As expected, the woman rejected her request every time.

“Such concoction of mine should never be used, until Lord Lucien returns to us”, the woman declared.

“But, you have been waiting for so long. Maybe–”

“My faith is firm, you know that sweetheart. My great potion should only serve someone as great as my lord”

“You don’t understand teacher”

“Then let me, darling”

“We’re.. we’re against demons”

Seqina’s words halted the escalation of emotions. The woman looked at Seqina’s eyes, and saw no lies from her.

“Did you say demons? Are my ears deceiving me?”, the woman asked.

“You heard right teacher. Demons are in this town”

Hearing Seqina’s confirmation made the woman angry. As a believer of Lucienean faith, she knew that her lord loathed those malicious beings.

“Those vile demons..”, the woman uttered to herself, raring to go with Seqina. However, she couldn’t decide whether to bring her “potion one hundred” or not. She thought for awhile to weigh the possible consequences of her decision.

“So, teacher, would you let me have some of it?”, Seqina asked.

“No”, the woman replied. Seqina felt sad, as she failed on persuading her teacher to use the powerful potion. But, even if the woman decided to not give Seqina some of her “potion one hundred”, she still wanted to help Seqina, knowing that they were fighting against demons.

“I will go with you”, the woman said.

Seqina was surprised. Her original plan was to acquire some of her teacher’s powerful potion, thinking that her teacher, being one of the kingdom’s enemy, will not get out of her hideout. She didn’t consider the possibility that her teacher would join her in the fight. It was unexpected, but it was greater than what she hoped for.

“Are you sure, teacher? Many people will recognize you”

“Demons are far more troublesome. I can’t stay idle, knowing that Lord Lucien’s enemies are here”, the woman said. “Plus, my adorable pupil needs my assistance”

Seqina thanked the woman, and decided to return home, but before she turns around, a cloaked figure entered the room using the secret passage.

“Master! A–”

The cloaked figure was surprised to see Seqina. It was baffling to him that someone managed to get to his master without him knowing. He was thankful that nothing happened to his master, but he felt like a failure.

“What is it? What happened?”, the woman asked.

“Something strange happened outside”, the cloaked figure said. “It’s best for you to witness what happened master”

Seqina and the woman looked at each other. They listened to the cloaked figure, and went outside. What waited for them was the sky covered by dark clouds.

“I don’t think we talked for long”, Seqina said, talking to the woman while looking up. The cloaked figure informed them that the darkness suddenly enveloped the whole place. Seqina had a bad feeling about it, but at the time, she had no idea that her instinct was right.