The smoke had begun to clear revealing the space around us. Tonics of ever type hung on canisters which rested on top of tables and desks made of aged oak inscribed with letters of glowing neon.

Pulsing gems of power rested in jars of spiders eyes, reminding me of the Prince and a narrowly escaped death.

Alchemy, I muttered.

Yes boy but not what your type uses.

This is true and old and…

Her eyes were the first that came out from the fog. A deep purple pierced the haze.

They stunned, causing our bodies to freeze in place as if attached to the very ground, anchored by a power so surreal, yet real.

Dangerous...she finished as the rest of her appeared.

She was not the decrepit crone surrounded by age and death that I had imagined.

A slender, young, beauty was before us.

Covered by a cloak made of all parts of the raven. The cloak of its feather, the shoulders it's bones, and the buttons it's talons.

A medallion composed of the heart of some creature, clearly powerful as my system began to vibrate and the gold glow hovered over the amulet.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Scrunching her eyes, she grabbed at her amulet and broke the golden trail with a strained fist.

Don't want that infesting your mind with terrible decisions.

You can see it?

Barely, but yes.

Don't always trust it boy. It acts for itself, using you as its instrument.

I nodded in a silent resignation.

After the haze had cleared we took in the room. One side held crystals that seemed to grow more crystals, like a living breeding pool. Another side held bubbling pots and boiling pans, something was brewing.

This place lives with old magic.

With lost art, I thought to myself as the rest of the party's eyes wandered around the revealed space.

We don't have much time

So I'll make it quick.

The Garden sisters.

Your third sister, the lost one, is out there and she has grown thorns.

Be wary.

Rose and Lily did not react, not from not believing, but from their minds both deciding that shutting down was the best course of action. Sometimes our minds do that, to protect us.

They would need time, and I would make sure they were given that.

The boy with the past of a pack mule.

Don't cling to your new master.

He won't always be along for the ride.

Fredrick, buckled, but remained stalwart.

Good, I thought.

She's right after all.

I won't always be here.

Now, the girl is in love with an illusion.

Men are men.

They will always disappoint.

But don't let that break you.

Shelly turned her gaze to me.

Within the glaciers held tears that were held back.

A dam that would one day break.

I must anticipate it's flood.

And for the system breaker.

You will be met with your opposite soon.

Will you chose to mimic him?

The man who brandishes the world.

Or the man who gives it all for the world.

You will chose.

Whichever the case is…

A silence joined the room.

One that mingled with the concoctions and brewed up something vicious.

It all culminated into her final words.

It's all bad.

Regardless of the path.