When morning came, the two headed back out into the city streets. Typical of the morning, people were making their way to work or whatever things they might need to do that day. But the streets were also dotted with groups of decaying, wailing people.
It was disturbing how the citizens had become so accustomed to the sight that it was no different from dogs barking from behind gates, or roosters crowing at dawn.
"It's disgusting... so the stink wasn't from shit but these people?" Linnie said, pinching his nose.
"Well... probably both. Don't look over there," Alwyn grimaced, covering Linnie's eyes.
"Oh, he was totally taking a dump on the side of the road, wasn't he?" he laughed. "That's foul!"
"Let's just find the magic items place. I'd like to meet the alchemist, too. They said the two were right near each other."
"What're we going to the alchemist for?"
"I'm curious about this illness. I've never heard of anything like it. I just hope the alchemist actually knows more."
"You don't think we'll catch it, do you?"
"...I hope not. Avoid contact with others, though. Especially the ones that are sick."
The two stopped at the sight of a commotion.
"I don't give a rat's ass if you're sick, alright? Pull the damn carriage!"
"But—cough—sir, my—"
"Did I ask you for excuses? Either you work until you're dead, or you're dead! Is that so hard to understand!?"
"No sir..."
A plump man was sat inside an ornate carriage. Strapped to the front was not a horse, but a large, tan man. A slave, and from the south, of course.
"Why're you having a man pull your carriage? A sick one, too, no less. Seems a little inefficient, doesn't it?" Alwyn asked.
"Who—what? Why do you care, peasant. Mind your business!"
"Do I look like a peasant?"
"...Well, ahem, all my horses have died from the sickness going around. Isn't it a slave's duty to do what its master asks? Even if it's pulling my carriage! Pull! Pull!"
"I'm sorry, sir, I'm trying..."
"Oh, wow. This is so pathetic, I think I might cry!" Linnie thought. "A slave... how sad do you gotta be to be a slave?"
"Fix your face, idiot. This isn't something to laugh about," Alwyn said, pulling Linnie away from the scene.
"But the man's treating him like a horse, isn't that funny?"
"No, it's sick. Slavery's a disgusting thing."
"I thought slaves deserve it, though? What's wrong with that?"
"These aren't those types of slaves, Lin."
"Huh... oh, look! Isn't that the place?"
"Let's hope!"
The doorbell rang as they pushed it open and walked inside. The place was filled with dusty shelves which held various baubles and trinkets. The only light came from the windows, with light streaming from the small dome of glass in the roof.
"This would be a nice place to nap..." Linnie thought, yawning.
It was very quiet.
"Hello? Anyone here?" Alwyn called out.
"Oh, just a second!" a voice called out from behind a curtain. "I'll be right there! You can look around, if you'd like."
"What're we looking for?" Linnie asked.
"I'm looking for a couple ingredients and hopefully a magic stone."
"What's a magic stone do?"
"Well, it's used for various things, but I want one so we can see how much mana you've got."
"I thought you said you could tell how much mana I have already?"
"You're right. I can vaguely estimate your level based on how much mana leaks from you, but it's inaccurate, since everyone will leak a different amount of mana. These stones can tell you exactly where you fall on the spectrum, based on the color it glows."
"Oh... wow! What am I hoping for?"
"You don't really have to hope for anything..." Alwyn scratched his head. "I already know you have a lot, so whatever you get is gonna be way above average. The levels go from red, to orange, to yellow, which is average, to green, to blue, then purple, then pink, and if you're super talented, it'll glow white."
"What color did yours glow?"
"Give up," he laughed. "I'm different, alright? It doesn't mean you're not special, I'm just... the specialist."
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, alright? I get it... not all of us can be... gifted."
"You...! I'm saying that because the stone shattered into dust! I have too much mana for a mana stone to read."
"What!? As if!"
"You don't have to believe me! The fact is, I'm the most—"
"Talented wizard to ever live. Riiiight. Well, what brings you here, Winny?"
The lady had appeared from behind the curtains. She was incredibly tall, compared to Linnie at least. Though her skin was pale, she was an overwhelmingly dark presence, covered in black from head to toe.
Even on her face, she wore blacked-out, round glasses.
"Aliza...? Oh fuck no, we're leaving," Alwyn said, grabbing Linnie.
"Hold on, leaving so soon? And right after showing up with some cutie... wait, no way—" The lady clapped her hands over her mouth. "You had a kid!? Tell me, who's the unlucky lady?"
"You two know each other? Wow, what a small world!"
"You did this on purpose, didn't you?" Alwyn asked.
"What? I set up shop just so you would stop by? So I could do what, exactly? Torture you? Gaud, you're a miserable bastard."
"You bit—ahem, Lin, I believe I said we were leaving?"
"Wait, don't we needa buy that magic stone? What's the matter if she's the one selling them?"
"She's an evil... evil—AHAHA! I WON'T LET YOU MAKE ME THE VILLAIN, NOT AGAIN!"
"How ironic. No one's doing anything like that, you're the one screaming in my store all on your own," she laughed sarcastically.
"...Just tell us where the alchemist is and we'll be on our way."
"The alchemist? We share this building. She's over on that end," she said, pointing to the other side of the store's desk. "I'll call her over for you two."
The two walked to the other side of the store, and approached the desk.
"Actually, I'm, like, the alchemist, too." She let out a dry laugh.
"You—"