225 PROMISE OF A DATE
Startled, Selassie and Liama instinctively reached for their weapons, but Easiese raised a calming hand. "Relax. I invited her." He gestured to the woman. "This is Mother Cruenna of the Temple of Hera."
Selassie's demeanor shifted instantly. Rising from his chair, he bowed slightly. "Mother Cruenna, welcome. What brings you here today?"
Cruenna's lips curved into a faint smile, though her eyes remained cold. "Lord Selassie, let's dispense with pleasantries. You know why I'm here." Her voice was calm but firm, with an undercurrent of authority. "Shall we get straight to business?"
Selassie straightened, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Yes, of course. Let's talk."
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[At the Lilleo Megane Pharmacy Building]
Megane was always cautious. Despite her grueling schedule and the unrelenting demands of her work, she rarely left the safety of the Pharmaceutical Tower in Court La Mood. As the inventor of the Potion of Magic Gathering, A groundbreaking creation coveted and envied by many, her life was perpetually under threat.
One afternoon, an unexpected visitor arrived at her laboratory. A relative, pale and trembling, burst through the door.
"Megane, you must come home at once. It's your mother," the woman said, her voice trembling.
Megane froze, her heart pounding. "What's happened to her?"
"She's gravely ill," the woman replied, her hands shaking. "The doctor doesn't think she'll make it. You need to see her before it's too late."
A cold wave of fear swept through Megane. Her mother, usually vibrant and indomitable, was the last person she expected to fall ill.
"I need to leave immediately," Megane said, turning to Grammers, the head of her security detail.
"These are dangerous times," Grammers replied, his voice steady but grave. "We can't assemble a large escort on such short notice."
"I don't care," she snapped. "My mother needs me. I'm leaving, with or without protection."
Grammers sighed but moved swiftly to organize a small, well-trained team. Within the hour, they were on the road, leaving the towers of Court La Mood behind.
"I shouldn't have left her there," Megane murmured during the journey, regret heavy in her voice. "But she insisted. All her friends are in that neighborhood."
When they arrived, the house was unsettlingly quiet. Megane's anxiety deepened as she pushed open the door. "Where is she?" she demanded, turning to her relative.
The woman hesitated, her face pale. "She's... she's not here. The Cergontyn family took her."
Megane's heart sank. "What?"
"They threatened my child," the woman confessed, her voice cracking. "I didn't have a choice. I'm sorry, Megane."
Megane exhaled sharply, relief mingling with her fury. "At least she's not ill," she said, a surprising calmness overtaking her.
Grammers stared at her, stunned. "You're not worried about her being kidnapped?"
"They don't want her. They want me," Megane replied, unbuttoning her blouse and pressing a hand over her chest as she whispered an incantation.
Grammers turned away quickly, flustered. "Apologies, madam—"
"It's fine," she said, her tone light. "It's not the first time you've seen my breasts."
He coughed awkwardly, looking at the ground.
Megane smirked at his discomfort. "Grammers, are you married?"
"No, madam."
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
He shook his head. "No... and I don't join the others when they visit the girls in Court La Mood either." He made sure his clean habit was made clear to her.
Megane raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "If we survive this, will you go on a date with me? Not a human trial… but an actual date."
Grammers blinked and was caught off guard. "Erm... sure. But... why are you so calm? This is a dangerous situation."
"Just promise me the date," she said with a faint smile.
By the time they reached the Cergontyn family's imposing headquarters, Megane was a vision of composure. She stepped out of the carriage with the grace of someone completely in control.
Liama met her at the entrance, his expression faltering at Megane's lack of resistance.
"Release my mother," Megane demanded, her voice cold and steady. "I'm here, as you wanted. Let her go, and my escort will take her home. Then we'll talk."
Liama hesitated but nodded. "Very well."
Megane's mother was brought forward, her face lighting up with relief when she saw her daughter.
"Go with Grammers," Megane instructed gently.
Her mother hesitated, eyeing him suspiciously. "Who is he? Can I trust him?"
Megane smirked and kissed Grammers lightly on the cheek. "He's my date," she said, her tone playful but pointed.
Her mother arched an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but said nothing. She allowed Grammers to lead her away, leaving Megane standing alone to face the Cergontyn family.
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[At the temporary Headquarters of the Cergontyn family]
The office of the Cergontyn family buzzed with barely contained tension as Megane stepped inside. At the far end of a gleaming wooden table sat Selassie, the patriarch of the family, flanked by advisors and associates.
Their eyes locked on Megane, assessing her every move.
"What do you want from me?" Megane asked calmly, pulling out a chair and sitting without waiting for an invitation. Her tone was steady, her gaze unwavering.
The room fell into an uneasy silence. They had expected fear, perhaps anger—anything but the composed confidence she exuded.
"You know what we want," Liama finally said, breaking the quiet. "Your formula."
Megane crossed her arms, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "You already have it. I demonstrated the brewing process at the Pharmaceutical Association. Every step was laid bare. You were there, weren't you?"
Liama and Easiese exchanged uneasy glances. They remembered the demonstration vividly—Megane had brewed the coveted potion in full view of an eager audience. Every ingredient, every step had seemed transparent.
"Rumors suggest you tricked us," Liama pressed. "Some say the spike cactus isn't actually part of the formula."
Megane raised an eyebrow. "Rumors? You saw me add the spike cactus to the cauldron with your own eyes. How could I possibly deceive you in front of an entire audience? If someone's feeding you lies, it's probably to manipulate you into selling off what little you have left."
Her words struck a nerve, leaving the room stunned.